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ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBl  I 


3  1833  01053  2940 


O.  W.   SIIAW. 


THE  HISTORY 

—  OF— 

Mower  County  Minnesota 


ILLUSTRATED 


EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

FRANKLYN  CURTISS-WEDGE 

ASSISTED    BY 

John  H.  Skinner,  Esq.;  Gertrude  Ellis  Skinner;  Nathan  E.  Banfiold,  Esq.;   Herbert 
L.  Banfield,  Esq.;  Lafayette  French,  Esq.;   Col.  Arthur  W.  Wright;  Arthur  W. 
Allen,  M.  D. ;  Grace  B.  Sherwood ;  Lyman  D.  Baird,  Esq. ;  Nicholas  N.  Nichol- 
son, Esq. ;  L.  N.  Griffith,  Esq. ;  Ralph  E.  Crane,  Esq. ;  Jacob  S.  Decker,  Esq. ; 
O.  J.  Ehoades,  Esq.;  Col.  Charles  L.  West;  0.  J.  Simmons,  Esq.;  Eev.  C.  D. 
Belden;   Prof.  George  A.  Franklin;   Jennie  G.  Keith;   Mrs.  Lyman  A. 
Sherwood;  George  E.  Anderson,  Esq.;  C.  F.  Greening,  Esq.;  Hosmer 
A.    Brown,    Esq.;    Ealph    Preseott,    Esq.;    L.    W.    Sherman,    Esq.; 
William  Nordland,  Esq. ;  Henry  Weber,  Jr. ;  George  Sutton,  Esq. ; 
Ferdinand   G.   Eay,   Esq.;    Lorenzo   S.   Chapman,  Esq.;    A.   F. 
Stiles,  Esq.;  Mrs.  Ealph  E.  Crane;   Bert  A.  Johnson,  Esq.; 
Paul  C.  Keith,  Esq. ;  John  C.  Hawkins,  Esq. ;  and  many  others. 


CHICAGO 

H.  C.  COOPER.  Jr..  &  CO. 

1911 


1630S31 


TO  THE 

STUEDY  PIONEEES  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

AVIIO,   AMID  INNUMERABLE  HARDSHIPS,  BLAZED  THE   WAY 

FOR  THE  PRESENT  GENERATIONS  ; 

AND  TO  THEIR 

DESCENDANTS  and  SUCCESSORS 

THIS  VOLUME  IS  DEDICATED 
BY  ALL  WHO  HAVE  ASSISTED  IN  ITS  CONSTRUCTION 


FOREWORD. 

It  is  with  a  i'eoliiig  of  considerable  pride  and  jdeasure  lliat  the 
publishers  present  this  history  for  the  approval  of  the  people  of 
Mower  county.  The  undertaking  has  not  been  an  easy  one  and 
the  difficulties  have  been  many,  so  many  indeed  that  this  publica- 
tion would  not  have  been  possible  without  the  liberal  assistance  of 
the  citizens  of  the  county.  The  chief  contributors  and  editors 
have  given  freely  of  their  time  and  talent ;  business  men,  church 
officials,  fraternity,  association  and  corporation  officers,  maniafac- 
turers,  professional  men  and  bankers,  often  at  great  personal 
sacrifice,  have  laid  aside  their  regular  duties  to  write  of  their 
communities  and  special  interests;  educators  have  written  of  the 
schools,  and  men  and  women  in  all  walks  of  life  have  given  the 
information  at  their  command,  regarding  themselves,  their  fami- 
lies, their  activities  and  their  localities.  To  all  of  these  the 
readers  of  this  work  owe  a  lasting  debt  of  gratitude,  and  to  each 
and  every  one  the  publishers  extend  their  heartfelt  thanks. 

In  handling  the  vast  amount  of  material  gathered  for  this 
work,  it  has  been  the  aim  of  the  entire  statf  to  select  such  matter 
as  is  authentic,  reliable  and  interesting.  Doubtless  facts  have 
been  included  that  many  will  deem  of  little  moment,  but  these 
same  facts  to  others  may  be  of  the  deepest  import.  It  may  be 
also  that  some  facts  have  been  omitted  that  many  readers  would 
like  to  see  included.  To  such  readers  we  can  only  say  that  to 
publish  every  incident  in  the  life  of  the  county  would  be  to  issue 
a  work  of  many  A^olumes.  and  in  choosing  such  material  as  would 
come  Avithin  the  limts  of  one  volume  we  believe  that  the  matter 
selected  is  that  Avhich  will  prove  of  greatest  interest  to  the 
greatest  number  of  readers,  and  also  that  which  is  most  woi'thy 
of  being  handed  down  to  future  generations,  who  in  this  volume, 
in  far  distant  years,  may  read  of  their  large-souled,  rugged-bodied 
ancestors  and  predecessors,  who  gave  up  the  settled  peace  of 
older  communities  to  brave  the  rigors  of  pioneer  endeavor. 

A  few  omissions  may  be  due  to  some  of  the  people  of  tlic 
county,  themselves,  as  in  several  instances  repeated  requests  for 
information  iiave  met  with  no  response.  In  such  cases  informa- 
tion gathered  from  other  sources,  while  authentic,  may  be  lacking 
in  copious  detail. 

Before  passing  hasty  judgment  on  apparent  errors,  one  should 
consider  carefully,  not  relying  on  tradition  or  memory.  In  many 
cases  we  have  found  that  persons'  nu^nories  are  faulty  and  tradi- 
tion erroneous  when  measured  by  the  standard  of  official  records, 
even  in  the  case  of  comparatively  recent  events,  while  in  many 
instances  families  are  under  the  impression  that  their  forebears 
arrived  in  the  county  long  ])efore  it  was  possible  for  them  to  do  so. 
We  have  endeavored  to  follow  a  uniform  sy.stem  of  the  spelling 
of  proper  names,  althougli  various  spellings  of  even  the  most 
familiar  names  appear  in  the  ncwsjjapers  and  records. 

Among  the  authorities  consulted  and  in  many  cases  quoted 


vi  FOREWORD 

copiously  are :  History  of  Mower  County,  published  in  1884 ; 
Souvenir  of  Austin,  issued  by  the  Austin  Herald;  Minnesota  in 
Three  Centuries ;  the  histories  of  southern  Minnesota  counties  by 
the  editor  of  the  present  work ;  the  various  publications  of  the 
state  of  Minnesota  and  the  United  States  government,  as  well  as 
the  publications  of  the  Iowa  and  Minnesota  historical  societies, 
and  many  other  biographical,  historical  and  archaeological  works 
of  reference.  The  files  of  the  newspapers  of  this  and  neighboring 
counties  have  been  carefully  perused,  as  have  the  county,  town- 
ship, city,  church  and  village  records.  Hundreds  of  minute  books 
have  been  examined  and  thousands  of  letters  and  original  manu- 
scripts carefully  scanned.  To  all  who  have  extended  us  courtesies 
during  our  search  for  these  records  we  extend  our  thanks.  To 
John  H.  and  Gertrude  Ellis  Skinner  special  thanks  are  due  for 
many  writings  in  this  book  to  which  their  signatures  are  not 
affixed,  and  also  for  work  on  the  proofs. 

The  biographies  have  all  been  gathered  with  care  from  those 
most  interested,  and  with  a  few  exceptions  have  been  revised  and 
corrected  by  the  subject  of  the  biography  or  by  a  relative  or 
friend.  This,  however,  refers  to  the  dates,  and  sequence  of  events, 
all  personal  estimates  being  the  work  of  the  editors,  and  inserted 
in  biographies  onlv  after  consultation  Avith  other  members  of  the 
staf¥. 

That  this  history  is  faultless  we  do  not  presume ;  it  is  probably 
not  within  the  power  of  man  to  arrange  a  work  of  this  kind 
without  mistakes  of  one  sort  or  another;  that  it  will  meet  the 
unqualified  approval  of  all  we  dare  not  expect,  but  we  trust  that 
the  inei'its  of  the  history  will  ovei'balance  any  shortcomings  that 
may  be  discovered. 

Our  association  with  the  people  of  IMower  county  has  been  a 
most  pleasant  one.  We  have  conscientiously  performed  our  task, 
and  in  placing  the  history  in  the  hands  of  those  Avhom  it  most 
conceims,  our  hope  is  that  we  have  done  our  work  well. 

H.  C.  COOPER,  JR.,  &  CO. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENT 

CHAPTER  I. 
NATURAL  PHENOMENA. 

i'AGE. 

lutroduction  —  Location  and  Area  —  Surface  and  Topog- 
raphy— Material  Resources 1-5 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  ORIGINAL  INHABITANTS. 

Primeval  Solitude — Origin  of  Human  Life  in  Minnesota — - 
The  Lowland  Mound  Builders — The  Highland  ]\Iound 
Builders — Mower  County  a  Hunting  Place  for  the 
Indians    5-11 

CHAPTER  III. 
INDIAN  TREATIES. 

Visit  to  AVashington — Boundary  Lines  Between  Indian  Tribes 
Defined — Territory  Now  Mower  County  Included  in  the 
Sioux  Jurisdiction — Second  Treaty  of  Prairie  Du  Chien 
— Some  of  Wabasha's  Men  Killed  by  the  Foxes  South  of 
Austin  in  Iowa — Strip  of  Territory  South  of  j\Iower 
County  Ceded  by  Treaty — The  Doty  Treaty  and  Its 
Failure — Treaty  of  Traverse  Des  Sioux — Treaty  of  Men- 
dota,  by  AYhich  Mower  County  AVas  Opened  to  Settle- 
ment     11-17 

CHAPTER  IV. 

GOVERNMENTAL  HISTORY. 

Early  Claims  of  Title — Spain,  France  and  England — Treaties 
and  Agreements — The  Louisiana  Purchase — Indiana — 
Louisiana  District — Louisiana  Territory — IMissouri  Ter- 
ritory— Northwest  Territory — Illinois  Territory — Alichi- 
gan  Territory — Wisconsin  Territory — Iowa  Territory — 
No  Man's  Land — Sibley  in  Congress — IMinnesota  Terri- 
tory— Minnesota  State — Compiled  from  Alanuscripts  of 
Hon.  F.  M.  Crosby 17-36 

CHAPTER  V. 

EARLY  EXPLORATION. 

No  Evidence  That  the  French  Explorers  Ever  Saw  IMower 
County — United  States  Dragoons  the  First  White  ^len 
to  Leave  a  Record  of  Having  Visited  This  Localitv — 


viii  COXTEXTS 

PAGK. 

Expedition  of  1835 — Four  Companies  Under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Stephen  W.  Kearney,  Avith  Albert  Lea  in  Com- 
mand of  Company  I,  Cross  Mower  County  Twice — ]Major 
Lawrence  Taliaferro,  Dr.  John  Emerson  and  the  Slave, 
Dred  Scott,  Visit  the  County  in  1836— Henry  H.  Sibley, 
Alexander  Faribault,  John  C.  Fremont  and  William  H. 
Forl)es  Here  in  1840 — Surveying  Party  in  1852 — Another 
in  1853 — Township  and  Section  Lines  Are  Surveyed..  .  .37-44 

CHAPTER  VI. 
FIRST  SETTLERS. 

Colony  of  the  Borderline  Between  Racine  Township  and  Fill- 
more Colony — Arrivals  in  Le  Roy  Township — Early  Set- 
tlement in  Lyle  and  Lansing — Settlers  of  1854 — Influx 
of  Population  Begins 44-46 

CHAPTER  VII.  . 
ORGANIZATION  AND  BOUNDARY  LINES. 

Mower  County  Included  in  Wabasha  and  Rice  Counties — 
Mower  County  Created — Organized  by  Governor  Gor- 
man— Commissioners  Meet  at  Frankford — Old  Election 
Precincts — Township   Boundaries 47-53 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

COUNTY  GOVERNMENT. 

Doings  of  the  Consecutive  Boards  of  County  Commissioners 
— County  Officials — Registers  of  Deeds — Treasurers — 
Auditors — Sheritifs^ — County  Attorneys — Clerks  of  the 
District  Court — Judges  of  Probate — Superintendents  of 
Schools — County  Buildings — Location  of  County  Seat — 
County  Court  House  —  County  Jail  —  County  Poor 
Farm    54-70 


CHAPTER  IX. 

COUNTY  REPRESENTATION. 

i\Iower  County  in  Seventh  and  Fourth  Council  District — 
Fillmore  and  Mower  Counties  Made  the  Eighth  Council 
District — First  Representative  From  This  County  Takes 
His  Seat — Constitutional  Convention — Mower  and  Dodge 
Counties  Become  the  Thirteenth  Legislative  District — 
Mower  and  Dodge  Counties  Become  the  Fifteenth  Dis- 
trict— Mower  County  Becomes  the  Fourth  District — 
Changed  to  the  Third  District— Later  to  the  Sixth  "Dis-^ 
trict — Congressional  Representation 70-78 


CONTENTS  ix 

CHAPTER  X. 
BENCH  AND  BAR. 

PAGE. 

Judicial  History  of  IMowei-  County — Judges  "Who  Have  Pre- 
sided in  the  Courts  of  This  District — Their  Life,  Ability 
and  Characteristics — The  Men  AVho  Have  Made  Up  the 
Bar  of  the  County — Notable  Cases  That  Have  Been  Tried 
Here — By  Attorney  Lafayette  French 78-05 

CHAPTER  XL 

COMING  OF  THE  RAILROADS. 

Old  Land  Grant  Roads  "With  Extensive  Concessions — Road- 
bed Graded  Through  I\Iower  County — Engine  Reaches 
Le  Roy — Freight  Car  Passes  Through  Mower  County 
from  New  York  to  St.  Paul — Later  Growth  and  Develop- 
ment of  the  Railroad  System  in  tlie  County — Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul — Chicago  Great  Western — Illi- 
nois   Central 95-103 

CHAPTER  XII. 

AGRICULTURE. 

Importance  of  the  Farming  Interests  of  ]\Iower  County — 
Character  of  the  Men  Who  First  Came  Here — Failure  of 
Wheat  Crop — Development  of  Diversified  Farming — 
Advantages — Mail  and  Trading  Facilities — Nature  of 
the  Soil — Sheep  and  Poultry  Breeding — The  Pork  Indus- 
try— Registered  Stock  Predominant — Homes  of  the 
Farmers — Agricultural  Societies — Storm  and  Floods — 
Grange  Movement,  Insurance  Companies 104-117 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

HORTICULTURE. 

Importance  of  Fruit  Growing  in  ]\Iower  County — "Experi- 
ences of  a  Veteran  Horticulturist,"  by  John  C.  Hawkins 
— Fruit  Growing  in  the  Early  Days — The  Minnesota  and 
Mower  County  Horticultural  Societies  Organized — Diffi- 
culties Encountered  in  Developing  Mower  County  as  a 
Fruit  Growing  Section  —  Persistent  Efforts  —  Oldest 
Orchard  in  Mower  County — Seedlings  Raised  Here. .  .118-122 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

COUNTY  SCHOOLS. 

State  and  County  School  System — First  Schools  and  First 
Districts  in  Mower  County — State  Aid — Equipment — 
Literary  Societies — ^Meetings  for  Officers,  Teacliers  and 
Pupils — Exhibits  and  Contests — Institutes  and  Summer 
Schools — Parochial  Schools — Story  of  the  Districts — 
Prepared  With  the  Assistance  of  i\Iiss  Grace  B.  Sher- 
wood  122-142 


X  COXTEXTS 

CHAPTER  XV. 
ANECDOTES  AND  ADVENTURES. 

PAGE. 

First  ]\Iarriage — Hunting  and  Trapping — Early  Days  in 
Cedar  City — Pioneers  of  Frankford — Frontier  Experi- 
ences by  Jacob  S.  Decker — Independence  Celebration — 
Early  Days  in  Lansing — By  0.  J.  Rhoades 142-151 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

EARLY  AUSTIN. 

City  Founded  at  the  Old  Water  Ford — Coming  of  Austin 
Nichols — Arrival  of  Chauncey  Leverich — Beginning  of 
Settlement — Platting  the  Village — Pioneer  Days — Im- 
portant Events — Murder  of  Chauncey  Leverich — Stories 
of  the  Small  Beginnings  of  What  Has  Become  an  Impor- 
tant   City 155-180 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

MUNICIPAL  AUSTIN. 

Incorporation  of  the  Village  in  1868 — Incorporated  as  a  City 
— Changes  in  Charter — Elective  and  Appointed  Officers 
AVho  Have  Served  the  Municipality — Important  Acts  of 
the  Successive  Councils — Home  Rule  Charter  Adopted 
—Edited  by  John  H.  Skinner 181-200 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

INDUSTRIAL  AUSTIN. 

Importance  of  the  Mercantile  Interests — Beginning  of  Indus- 
try—Austin in  1867— The  Railroad  Era— Austin  in  1876 
—Austin  in  1884 — The  IModern  Period — Manufacturing 
Interests — First  Mill — Former  Industries — Modern  In- 
dustries—Edited by  Charles  L.  West 200-211 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

AUSTIN  MANUFACTORIES. 

First  Mill — Former  Industries — Present  Interests — Story  of 
the  Growth  and  Development  of  the  Various  Plants 
Which  Have  Assisted  in  the  Progress  of  the  City — ]\Iinor 
Activities    ". 212-227 

CHAPTER  XX. 

AUSTIN  FRATERNITIES. 

Masonic  Orders — Odd  Fellows — Pythian  Orders — Catholic 
Orders— Order  of  Elks— Oth.'r  Fraternal  Orders— Patri- 
otic Orders — Catholic  Orders — Railroad  Orders — Fra- 
ternal Insurance — Scandinavian  and  Teutonic  Lodges — 
Industrial — Driving  Associations — Edited  by  Osmau  J. 
Simmons 227-241 


CONTENTS  xi 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
MODERN  AUSTIN. 

PACE. 

Advantages  of  the  City,  Written  by  Rev.  C.  D.  Belden — 
Religious  Activities,  by  Robert  L.  Moore — Austin  Clubs, 
by  Miss  Jennie  G.  Keith — St.  Olav  Hospital  and  Training 
School — Austin  Schools,  by  Prof.  George  A.  Franklin — 
Austin   Hotels " 241-284 

CHAPTER  XXn. 

BANKS  AND  BANKING. 

Story  of  the  Growth  and  Development  of  the  Financial  Inter- 
ests of  the  County,  Told  by  Nathan  F.  Bantield— First 
Bank  in  the  County — Banks  of  Austin,  Grand  IMeadow, 
LeRoy,  Lyle,  Adams,  Racine,  Rose  Creek,  Dexter,  Sar- 
geant,  Brownsdale,  AValtham,  Taopi — Summary  of  Bank- 
ing Conditions  in  Mower  County 285-298 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

PIONEER  GIRLHOOD. 

Reminiscences  of  Mrs.  Lyman  A.  Sherwood — Trip  From 
Winona — Incidents  on  the  AVay — Arrival  in  Austin — 
Austin  as  a  Pioneer  Village — Fourth  of  July  Celebration 
- — Incidents  of  the  Early  Days — Life  in  "Old  Headquar- 
ters"— Work  on  the  Cemetery — Off  for  the  Civil  War — 
Indian  Scare— Other  Anecdotes 299-308 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  NEWSPAPERS. 

Introduction  by  Gertrude  Ellis  Skinner — Story  of  the  First 
Newspaper  in  the  County — History  of  the  Founding, 
Growth,  Development  and  Present  Status  of  the  Journals 

of  Mower  County 309-318 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  PHYSICIAN. 

His  Proud  Achievements — His  Solemn  Oath — His  Ethics — 
The  True  Physician — His  Reward — His  Delicate  Relation 
to  the  Human  Family — His  Inventions  and  Discoveries 
Free  Gifts — The  Pioneer  Doctor — His  Cliaracter  and 
Services — His  Limitations — The  Pioneer  Physicians  of 
Mower  Countv — The  IMower  County  ^Medical  Association 
—Edited  by  A.  W.  Allen,  M.  D 319-328 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

CIVIL  WAR  HISTORY. 

Outbreak  of  the  War — The  First  AVar  .Meeting  in  Slower 
County — Newspaper  Clippings  of  Stirring  War  Events 
— List  of  Veterans  AVho  Enlisted  from  ]\Iower  County, 


xii  COXTEXTS 

TAGE. 

AVitli  History  of  Their  Eegiments  —  Houoi*  Roll  of 
Mower  County  Heroes  AVho  Laid  Down  Their  Lives  for 
the  LTnion — Col.  Henry  C.  Rogers  and  His  Record — By 
Col.  A.  W.  Wright.  /. 328-346 

CHAPTER  XXVn. 

POSTAL  HISTORY. 

Growth  and  Development  of  the  System — First  Offices  in 
]\Iower  County — Stories  of  the  Stage  Coach  Drivers — 
History  of  the  Present  and  Discontinued  Postoffices  of 
MoAver  County — Edited  by  George  E.  Anderson 346-358 

CHAPTER  XXVni. 

GRAND  MEADOW  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Soil  of  Township — Early  Settlement — Organi-  . 
zation — Village  of  Grand  INIeadow — Opening  of  the  Set- 
tlement    and    Early     Business     Interests  —  Societies  — 
Churches — Postoffice — Library  —  Catastrophes  —  Early 
Events— Village    Government." 358-373 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

RED  ROCK  AND  BROWNSDALE. 

Red  Rock  Township — Early  Settlement — First  Events — 
Organization  —  Brownsdale  Village  — "Organization  — 
Early  Business — Serious  Water  Spout — Brownsdale  m 
1871 — Brownsdale  in  1885^Modern  Brownsdale — Fra- 
ternities, Churches  and  Industries — Edited  by  Hosmer 
A.  Brown . 374-388 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

LE  ROY  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Area — First  Events — Early  Settlement — Or- 
ganization— Old  Village — LeRoy  Village — Beginning  the 
New  Village — LeRoy  in  1868 — Early  Business — LeRoy 
in  1871  —  LeRoy  in  1884  —  Religious  —  Cemeteries  — 
Modern  LeRoy— Disasters 389-410 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

LYLE  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — First  Events — Cedar 
City — Village  of  Lyle — Able  Articles  by  William  Nord- 
land  and  L.  W.  Sherman — Development  of  the  Village — 
City  -Hall  —  Fire  Department  —  Churches  —  Fraternal 
Orders  —  Industries  —  Telephone  Company  —  ^Municipal 
History— Recollections  of  Early  Lyle 410-428 


CONTEXTS  xiii 

CIIAPTEK  XXXIl. 

DEXTER  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

p.vai:. 
Dexter  Township — Location  and  Soil — Settlement — Organi- 
zation— Religious — Dexter  Village — Location  and  Settle- 
ment— Village  Plats — Village  Incorporation  and  Officers 
"With  Village  Improvements  —  Churches  —  Edited  by 
Henry  "Weber,  Jr.— Renova— Sutton 428-439 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

WINDOM  TOWNSHIP. 

Location,  Advantages  and  Area — Early  Settlement — First 
Events — Organization  of  the  Township — Religious — 
Rose  Creek  Village — Location,  Platting,  Incorporation 
and  Officers — Business  in  the  Early  Days — Churches — 
Edited  by  George  Sutton  and  Ferdinand  G.  Ray 489-4.31 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

LODI  AND  TAOPI. 

Location  and  Area — Soil  and  Waters — Early  Settlement — 
First  Events — Organization — Immense  Farm — Village  of 
Taopi  —  Taopi  in  1875  —  Taopi  in  1884  —  ^Modern 
Taopi  452-456 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

WALTHAM  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — Organization — Reli- 
gious— First  Events — Old  AS'altham  Hoiase — Cemetery — 
Old  Waltham  Village — New  Waltham  Village — Modern 
"Waltham  —  Business  Interests  —  Church  —  School  and 
Creamerj^ — Edited  by  Lorenzo  S.  Chapman 456-464 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
RACINE  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — Organization — Reli- 
gious— Hamilton  Village — Racine  Village — Edited  by 
A.  F.  Stiles r 464-468 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

SARGEANT  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — Organization — Early 
Hotel  and  Store — St.  John's  Church — Sargeant  Vil- 
lage     469-472 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

AUSTIN  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Natural  Advantages — First  Settlement — First 
Events — Organization — Religious  History — IMill  Sites — 
Cemetery  472-478 


siv  CONTEXTS 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
LANSING  TOWNSHIP. 

PAGE. 

Location  and  Area  —  Early  Settlement  —  Organization  — 
Bounty — Churches — Railroads — First  Events — ]\Iills  — 
Cemeteries  —  Lansing  Village  —  Early  Interests  —  ^la- 
sonie  Lodge — Ramsey  Junction — Corning  Village.  .  .  .478-487 

CHAPTER   XL. 

ADAMS  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Advantages — Early  Settlement — Organization 
- — First  Events — Religious — Frozen  to  Death — Village  of 
Adams  487-495 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

FRANKFORD  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Soil — Early  Settlement — Frankford  Village — 
Bear  Creek — Norwegian  Settlement — History  of  Town- 
ship and  Village  by  Mrs.  Ralph  E.  Crane 495-504 

CHAPTER  XLII. 

PLEASANT  VALLEY  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — Organization — First 

Events — Religious — Town  Hall  and   Cemetery 504-506 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 

CLAYTON  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Advantages — Early  Settlement — Organization 

— Name — Cemetery 506-507 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 
MARSHALL  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — Organization 507-510 

CHAPTER  XLV. 
UDOLPHO  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — First  Events — Reli- 
gious— Accidental  Deaths — Origin  of  Name — Cemetery 
— Madison  Village — Red  Oak  Grove  Settlement  and 
Church 510-521 


CONTEXTS  XV 

CHAPTP]K  XLVI. 
BENNINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 

PAGE. 

Location  and  Advantages — First  Settlement — Early  Events 

— Organization — Religious — Norwegian    Settlement .  .  .521 -.')2:? 

CHAPTER  XLVII. 

NEVADA  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Area — First  Settlement — Organization — First 
Events — Religious — Industries — Six  Mile  Grove  Settle- 
ment   523-.'328 

CHAPTER  XLVHI. 

MINNESOTA   NATIONAL    GUARD. 

Second  Infantry  M.  N.  G. — Company  "G"  of  Austin — Com- 
pany "G"  in  the  Twelfth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry, 
Spanish-American  AYar — Officers  and  Men — First  and 
Present  Officers— By  Col.  Arthur  W.  AVright 528-532 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 

EARLY  POLITICAL  HISTORY. 

Story  of  Early  Political  Parties  and  Contests  Told  by  Jacob 
N.  Nicholsen — East  and  West  Side  Fights — Nominees 
and  Results  of  Elections  in  Ante-Bellum  Days — AVar 
Time  Politics — Exciting  Days  for  Mower  County. . . . 532-5 i2 

CHAPTER  L. 

EARLY  SETTLERS. 

Land  Office  Records — Date  of  First  Claims  Taken  in  Each 
Township,  With  the  Names  of  the  Pre-emptors — Honor 
Roll  of  Those  Who  Braved  the  Hardships  of  Pioneer  Life 
and  Fultilled  the  Government  Requirements  of  Actual 
Residence  in  the  Earliest  Days — Old  Settlers'  Asso- 
ciation   542-553 

CHAPTER  LI. 
DAIRY  INTERESTS. 

Importance  of  the  Dairy  Industry  in  Slower  County — A.  V. 
Ellis  the  Father  of  Dairy  Farming  In  This  Vicinity — 
Story  of  the  Present  Day  Creameries — The  Dairy  Cow, 

Her  Worth  and  Virtues— By  H.  L.  Bantield 553-555 

Note — The    biographical   index   will   be   found   in   the   back 

part  of  this  volume. 


History  of  Mower  County 


CHAPTER  I. 

NATURAL  PHENOMENA. 

Introduction — Location   and   Area — Surface   and   Topography — 
Material  Resources. 

Situated  iu  the  southeastern  portion  of  that  rolling  sweep  of 
country  known  as  southern  Minnesota,  is  a  pro.sperous  county  that 
has  taken  its  name  from  John  E.  Mower,  an  early  member  of  the 
Minnesota  Territorial  Legislature. 

A  rolling  prairie,  interspersed  with  natural  and  domestic 
groves,  beautified  by  meandering  streams,  and  surfaced  with  rich, 
deep  soil,  the  county  has  advantages  which  have  placed  it  in  the 
foremost  ranks  of  Minnesota's  agricultural  and  grazing  districts. 
The  elevation  of  this  stretch  of  land  above  the  sea,  its  fine  drainage 
and  the  dryness  of  the  atmosphere,  give  it  a  climate  of  unusual 
salubrity  and  pleasantness.  Its  latitude  gives  it  correspondingly 
longer  days  in  summer,  and  during  the  growing  seasons  about 
one  and  a  half  hours  more  of  sunshine  than  in  the  latitude  of 
St.  Louis.  This  taken  in  connection  with  the  abundant  rainfall 
in  early  autumn,  accounts  for  the  rapid  and  vigorous  growth  of 
crops  in  this  vicinity  and  their  early  maturity.  The  refreshing 
breezes  and  cool  nights  in  summer  prevent  the  debilitating  effect 
of  heat  so  often  felt  in  lower  latitudes.  The  winter  climate  is 
also  one  of  the  attractive  features.  Its  iiniformity  and  its 
dryness,  together  with  the  bright  sunshine  and  the  electrical 
condition  of  the  air,  all  tend  to  enhance  the  personal  comfort  of 
the  resident,  and  to  make  outdoor  life  and  labor  a  pleasure. 

Embracing  as  the  county  does,  so  pleasing  a  prospeet  to  the 
eye,  and  so  fruitful  a  field  for  successful  endeavor,  it  is  natural 
that  the  people  who  from  the  earliest  days  were  attracted  here, 
should  be  the  possessors  of  steady  virtues,  ready  to  toil  and  to 
sacrifice,  that  their  labors  might  be  crowned  witli  the  fruits  of 
prosperity  and  happiness.  The  cities  and  villages  of  tlie  county 
1 


2  IIISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

have  had  their  part  in  the  general  commercial  upbuilding  of  the 
state,  and  furnish  excellent  trading  and  shipping  facilities  for  the 
rural  districts.  In  these  centers,  manufacturing  is  carried  on  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent ;  the  milling  business  is  naturally  important ; 
and  the  dairy  and  creamery  interests  are  paramount. 

The  rural  districts  are  the  scene  of  peace,  prosperity  and 
contentment.  The  homes  are  substantially  built,  and  furnished 
with  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  modern  life,  stock  is 
humanely  housed  and  well  pastured,  the  farm  land  is  extensively 
tilled  and  productive,  and  the  churches  and  schools  Avhich  are 
seen  on  every  side  testify  to  an  interest  in  the  higher  things 
of  life  by  a  law-abiding,  progressive  and  loyal  people. 

Tt  is  indeed  in  its  men  and  women,  rather  than  in  its  grains 
and  vegetables,  its  live  stock  and  fruit,  its  factories  and  commerce 
that  Mower  county  takes  its  greatest  pride.  From  her  farms, 
from  her  cities,  and  from  her  villages,  have  gone  out  those  who 
have  taken  an  important  part  in  the  activities  of  the  world,  and 
who  whether  in  commerce  or  diplomacy,  in  the  professions  or  in 
the  trades,  have  maintained  that  steadfastness  of  purpose  and 
staunchness  of  character  that  mark  true  Mower  county  men  and 
women  wherever  they  may  be  found. 

Usually  blessed  by  nature  with  deep  soil  and  abundant  natiiral 
resources,  and  endowed  with  a  wealth  of  prehistoric  and  historic 
lore,  the  county  is  a  fitting  home  for  the  sturdy  people  who  have 
here  made  their  dwelling  place.  Hard-working,  progressive, 
educated  and  prosperous,  they  have  appreciated  the  gifts  which 
nature  has  spread  for  them,  and  have  added  their  own  toil,  and 
the  fruit  of  their  intellects,  to  the  work  of  the  elements,  making 
the  country  one  of  the  beautiful  spots  of  the  earth.  On  the  slopes 
of  land  graze  cattle  and  sheep,  while  the  level  lands  respond  to 
the  eiiorts  of  the  spring-time  sower  and  planter  with  a  Avealth  of 
harvest  in  the  summer  and  autumn.  On  nearly  every  quarter 
section  is  reared  a  comfortable  home  and  commodious  barns, 
while  from  the  crest  of  every  swell  of  land  are  visible  the  churches 
and  schools  wherein  the  people  worship  the  Giver  of  all  Gifts, 
and  educate  their  children.  Thus  blessed  by  God  and  beloved  by 
man,  the  county  today  stands  for  all  that  is  ideal  in  American 
life  and  is  forging  ahead  to  still  wider  influence  and  more 
extended  opportunity. 

Location  and  Area.  The  county  of  Mower  lies  in  the  south- 
eastern portion  of  I\Iinnesota,  only  two  counties  separating  it  from 
the  Mississippi  river,  while  it  forms  one  of  the  southern  tier  of 
counties.  The  county  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Dodge  and 
Olmsted  counties;  on  the  east  by  Fillmore  county,  the  west  by 
Freeborn  county;  and  on  the  south  by  the  state  of  Iowa.  The 
county  comprises  an  area  of  about  453,120  acres,  or  708  square 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEU  COUNTY  3 

miles.  It  includes  congressional  townships  101,  102,  103  and  104, 
north,  ranges  14,  15,  16,  17  and  18  west  of  the  Fifth  principal 
meridian,  except  sections  1  to  6,  in  township  104,  ranges  34  and  15, 
which  were  cut  oft*  and  annexed  to  Olmsted  county,  ]\Iay  22, 
1857.  This  territory  is  organized  into  the  following  civil 
townships:  Udolpho,  AValtham,  Sargeant,  Pleasant  Valley, 
Racine,  Frankford,  Grand  Meadow,  Dexter,  Red  Rock,  Lansing, 
Austin,  Windom,  Marshall,  Clayton,  Bennington,  LeRoy,  Lodi, 
Adams,  Nevada  and  Lyle. 

Surface  and  Topography,  The  general  surface  features  of 
Mower  county  can  more  accurately  and  more  readily  be  seen  by 
a  glance  at  the  description  of  the  various  townships,  than  can 
possibly  be  given  in  a  general  chapter.  The  surface  of  the  county 
is  somewhat  diversified;  yet  the  whole  is  gently  undulating. 
Nowhere  within  the  limits  of  the  county  does  the  surface  approach 
the  character  properly  called  hilly,  but  maintains  throughout  its 
general  smoothness,  and  susceptibility  of  cultivation.  The  situation 
is  necessarily  healthful  and  free  from  malaria.  The  cold  springs 
of  crystal  water  that  burst  through  the  surface  of  the  soil,  feed 
the  numerous  streams  that  flow  in  every  direction  from  the 
borders.  The  elevation  is  an  effectual  and  perpetual  injunction 
against  the  inroads  of  fevers  of  any  kind.  The  Red  Cedar  river 
iu  the  western  tier  of  townships,  receives  the  waters  of  Rose, 
Dobbins'  and  Turtle  creeks  from  the  east  and  flows  soutlnvard 
into  Iowa.  The  little  Cedar  river  is  in  the  south  central  part  of 
the  county,  and  further  south,  in  Iowa,  joins  with  the  Red  Cedar 
river  to  form  the  Cedar  river,  which  stream  in  turn  joins  the  Iowa 
river  and  thus  reaches  the  Mississippi.  The  Wapsipinicon  river, 
Avhich  rises  in  the  south  central  part  of  the  county,  flows  through 
Iowa  to  the  Mississippi.  A  branch  of  the  upper  Iowa  rises  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  county.  In  the  northeast  and  eastern  part 
of  the  county,  are  many  tributaries  of  the  Root  river,  which  river 
flowing  northeast  and  east  reaches  the  Mississippi  river.  The 
county  has  also  several  small  creeks,  and  a  number  of  springs. 

As  an  agricultural  and  stock  raising  region  Mower  county  is 
not  excelled  by  any  county  in  the  state.  The  soil  is  A'ery 
productive;  being  a  rich,  dark  sandy  loam,  well  adapted  to  all 
cereals  common  to  this  latitude.  It  is  also  excellently  adapted 
to  the  production  of  cultivated  and  indigenous  grasses,  and  the 
raising  of  stock,  both  common  and  blooded,  attracts  the  general 
attention  of  the  intelligent  class  of  farmers  who  have  located  here. 
Timber  is  found  in  considerable  quantities  along  the  banks  of  the 
water  courses  and  distributed  in  beautiful  groves,  botli  natural 
and  domestic,  all  over  the  county.  The  general  varieties  of  timber 
are  oak,  maple,  ash,  hickory,  walnut,  basswood,  elm.  cottonwood, 
poplar,    etc.     Four     nuts     grow     here — hickoi'v     nuts,     walnut;'. 


4  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

hazelnuts  and  butternuts.  The  wild  lands  are  covered  with  the 
richest  and  most  nutritious  grasses,  eminently  adapted  to  grazing. 

From  the  Geological  and  Natural  History  Survey  of 
]\Iinnesota  from  1872  to  1882,  as  compiled  by  Prof.  N.  H.  Winchell, 
assisted  by  Warren  Upham,  Ph.  D.,  we  make  several  extracts  of 
that  portion  relating  to  Mower  county : 

Estimates  of  the  average  height  of  the  townships  of  this 
couuly  arc  as  follows:  Racine,  1,300  above  the  sea;  Frankford, 
1,320;  Bennington,  1,325;  LeRoy,  1,300;  Pleasant  Valley,  1,350; 
Grand  JMeadow,  1,360;  Clayton,  1,360;  Lodi,  1,325;  Sargeant, 
1,360;  Dexter,  1,360;  Marshall,  1,330;  Adams,  1,275;  Waltham, 
1,340;  Red  Rock,  1,270;  Windom,  1,240;  Nevada,  1,230;  Udolpho, 
1,260;  Lansing,  1,225;  Austin,  1,190;  Lyle,  1,190.  The  mean 
elevation  of  jMower  county  is  approximately  1,300  feet  above 
the  sea. 

The  soil  of  IMower  county  is  everywhere  dependent  on  the 
nature  of  the  drift.  The  underlying  rock  has  affected  it  only  so 
far  as  it  may  have  mingled  with  the  general  mass.  It  is  hence 
primarily  a  gravelly  clay,  that  being  the  character  of  the  subsoil 
throughout  the  county.  This  gravelly  clay,  however,  is  not 
prominently  displayed  as  the  immediate  soil  of  the  surface. 
Indeed,  the  farmer  in  plowing  rarely  penetrates  to  it.  It  lies 
below  a  rich  loam  usually  at  depths  varying  from  zero  to  two 
or  three  feet,  or  even  more.  The  surface  soil  itself,  which  has 
resulted  from  it  through  the  agency  of  the  forces  of  the  atmosphere 
and  of  vegetation,  is  of  a  dark  color,  and  in  general  may  be 
designated  as  clayey  loam,  or  a  sandy  loam,  depending  on  the 
nature  and  completeness  of  the  local  drainage.  In  low  grounds 
this  loam  is  thick  and  of  dark  color.  It  is  also  apt  to  be  more 
clayey  in  low  ground  than  it  is  on  the  hillsides  or  slopes  ad.joining, 
and  on  high  hills  or  steep  slopes  it  is  thin  or  wanting,  the  wash 
of  the  surface  having  carried  it  into  valleys.  Along  the  streams 
it  often  consists  of  an  arenaceous  loam  variously  mingled  witli 
the  detritus  of  the  flood-plain. 

The  soil  of  the  county  is  everywhere  characterized  by  the 
strength  and  fertility  that  the  drift  soils  of  the  Northwest  are 
noted  for.  They  are  the  most  reliable  soils  for  all  the  purposes 
of  the  farmer  that  are  known.  The  states  that  are  regularly  and 
deeply  l)uried  in  drift  deposits  are  known  as  the  best  farming 
states  of  the  Union.  Certain  rock  soils,  endowed  with  special 
qualities,  may  excel  in  tlie  production  of  certain  crops,  especially 
ill  rjixorablc  seasons,  luit  for  general  tillage  they  cannot  com- 
])c1('  Willi  llic  lioiiioiicncous  drift  soils,  througli  which  are  disscm- 
ii);i1  cd  llic  <;(i(i(l  (|iiali1i('s  ol'  tli(>  various  rocks  concerned  in  their 
production,  in  llic  |)roi)oi1i()iis  that  make  stability  and  diversity 
c(]ually  ccrliiiii. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  5 

A  detailed  account  of  the  geologic  features  of  Mower  county 
may  be  found  in  the  published  reports  of  the  "Geological  and 
Natural  History  Survey  of  ]\Iinnesota, "  to  which  reference  has 
already  been  made. 

Material  Resources.  With  tlie  exception  of  the  central  high 
prairie  portion  of  Mower  county,  it  is  tolerably  well  supplied 
with  wood  for  common  fuel.  On  the  prairies  referred  to  wood 
is  rare.  Along  the  valleys  of  the  streams  in  the  eastern  and 
western  portions  of  the  county  the  first  settlements  took  place. 
The  principal  natural  wealth  of  the  county  lies  in  its  soil  and  its 
agricultural  adaptations.  The  people  are  generally  farmers.  The 
growth  of  the  county  in  all  respects  will  be  primarily  dependent 
on,  and  co-ordinate  with,  the  settlement  of  the  farming  lands, 
and  their  protitable  tillage.  Quarrying  is  carried  on  to  some 
degree,  lime  is  burned,  cement  is  made,  and  from  the  early  days 
brick  have  been  manufactured  in  the  county.  At  the  present 
time  brick  and  tile  making  in  Austin  is  a  most  important  indus- 
try. Many  wells  have  been  sunk  in  the  soil  of  the  county  and 
the  water  thus  obtained  is  uniformly  excellent. 


CHAPTER  H. 

THE  ORIGINAL  INHABITANTS. 

Primeval  Solitude — Origin  of  Human  Life  in  Minnesota— The 
Lowland  Mound  Builders — The  Highland  Mound  Builders — 
Mower  County  a  Hunting  Place  for  the  Indians. 

From  the  first  existence  of  the  earth  to  the  time  of  the  coming 
of  man  many  aeons  passed,  and  after  countless  ages  this  locality 
awaited  human  habitation.  Primeval  nature  reigned  in  all  het 
beauty. 

"The  buffalo,  the  elk,  and  the  deer,  for  centuries  roamed  the 
wild  prairies  and  woodlands;  fishes  basked  undisturbed  in  its 
rippling  streams;  the  muskrat,  the  otter,  and  the  mink  gamboled 
upon  the  ice  in  winter  with  no  man  to  molest  them.  Ducks, 
geese,  and  other  aquatic  fowls,  in  countless  numbers,  covered 
the  streams  in  summer,  and  chattered  and  squawked  and  frolicked 
in  all  their  native  glory  and  liappiness.  The  prairie  wolves 
howled  upon  their  little  hillocks,  and,  cowardlike,  were  always 
ready  to  attack  and  destroy  the  weak  and  defenseless.  Pocket 
gophers  went  on  with  their  interminable  underground  op<'ra- 
tions,  all  unconscious  of  the  inroads  later  to  be  made  upon  their 


6  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

dominions  by  the  husbandman.  Grouse  and  prairie  chickens 
cackled,  crowed  and  strutted  in  all  their  pride.  Blizzards  and 
cyclones  swept  unheeded  across  its  domains. 

"The  autumnal  prairie  fires,  in  all  their  terrible  grandeur  and 
weird  beauty,  lighted  the  heavens  by  night  and  clouded  the  sun 
by  day.  Age  after  age  added  richness  to  the  soil  and  prepared 
it  to  be  one  of  the  most  productive  fields  of  the  Avorld  for  the 
abode  of  the  husbandman  and  for  the  uses  of  civilized  man." 

At  some  period  of  the  earth's  history,  mankind  in  some  form 
took  up  its  abode  in  the  area  that  is  now  Mower  county.  The 
origin  of  human  life  in  Minnesota  has  been  made  a  subject  of 
special  study  by  Dr.  Warren  Upham,  secretary  of  the  Minnesota 
Historical  Society,  and  the  thoughtful  student  is  referred  to  his 
various  articles  on  the  subject;  a  detailed  discussion  being  be- 
yond the  scope  of  this  work. 

It  is  possible  that  this  region  may  have  been  occupied  by 
primitive  man  in  glacial,  inter-glacial  and  pre-glacial  times.  Prof. 
Edward  W.  Schmidt,  the  distinguished  INIinnesota  archreologist, 
has  investigated  the  mounds  lying  in  the  lowlands  and  on  the 
prairies  of  Minnesota  and  Iowa,  and  it  is  possible  that  a  new 
chapter  will  soon  be  added  to  the  world's  knowledge  of  pre- 
historic life  in  this  region. 

There  are  some  of  these  lowland  mounds,  so  called,  on  the 
road  between  Austin  and  Faribault,  and  many  on  the  prairies 
between  Grand  IMeadow  and  Le  Eoy.  The  name  lowland  mounds 
is  given  to  distinguish  this  class  of  mound  from  the  highland 
mounds,  so  well  known  on  eminences  along  the  Mississippi  and 
its  larger  tributaries. 

The  mounds  between  Grand  Meadow  and  Le  Roy  have  thus 
far  l)een  the  subject  of  little  more  than  superficial  notice,  but 
Vv'ill  be  investigated  more  thoroughly  at  a  later  date.  They  are 
first  seen  surrounding  a  marsh  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  across, 
about  two  miles  and  a  quarter  south  of  Grand  Meadow.  About 
twenty  are  here  visible,  rising  each  about  two  feet  above  the 
surface.  Farther  south  they  increase  in  number,  extending  three 
or  more  miles  toward  the  south  and  southwest.  Probably  500 
could  be  counted,  some  being  five  feet  high.  They  are  scattered 
promiscuously  over  the  upper  prairie.  The  surface  has  the  ap- 
pearance of  having  been  poorly  drained  formerly,  and  was  per- 
haps covered  with  shallow  water  till  late  in  the  summer  season. 
It  is  thought  that  they  occur  where  the  ground  is  wet  and  tlie 
clay  near  the  surface.  Yet  south  of  the  region  designated  they 
do  not  exist,  thoiigh  there  is  no  apparent  diflt'erence  in  the  prairie. 
Tlie  material  of  which  they  consist  is  the  ordinary  loam  of  tlie 
surface  soil.  Several  of  them  have  been  removed,  when  near 
tlie  higliway,  and  the  material  hauled  into  the  street  for  grading. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  7 

There  is  no  record  or  knowledge  of  any  human  bones  or  oth(>r 
relics  having  been  found  in  them. 

In  regard  to  these  lowland  mounds,  Professor  Schmidt  has 
said:  "These  mounds  are  undoubtedly  of  the  kind  I  have  boon 
studying.  They  are  a  conundrum.  After  examining  so  many 
similar  mounds  in  many  different  places,  and  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  so  far  there  is  no  positive  evidence  at  hand  to  tell  us  how 
these  mounds  came  to  be,  it  is  perfectly  proper  to  ask :  How  are 
these  mounds  made?  Are  they  geological  features  of  the  coun- 
try? If  so,  let  the  geologist  explain  them.  Or  have  they  been 
formed  by  plants  or  animals?  If  so,  let  the  biologist  explain 
them.  If,  for  example,  animals  have  made  them,  either  by  their 
OAvn  efforts  or  by  the  help  of  natural  agencies,  then  it  may  be 
that  many  of  the  highland  knolls  which  are  now  counted  and 
mapped  as  Indian  mounds  may  prove  to  be  of  a  similar  origin. 

"A  prolonged  observation  of  these  mounds  in  the  various  lo- 
calities where  they  occur  seems  to  justify  this  conclusion  that  by 
far  the  greater  number,  if  not  all  of  them,  are  Indian  mounds. 
These  mounds  are  either  artificial  or  else  they  are  not  artificial. 
Either  view  has  its  difficulties  in  our  present  state  of  knowledge. 

"The  following  are  some  of  the  reasons  which  point  to  an 
artificial  origin:  The  mounds  are  invariably  sound  and  are 
made  of  the  same  kind  of  soil  as  occurs  on  the  land  on  which 
they  are  situated.  Some  people  call  them  gopher  hills,  or  ant- 
hills, or  remnants  of  haystacks,  or  swells  in  the  land  marking 
the  site  of  a  buried  boulder.  As  regards  the  view  that  the 
mounds  are  the  remains  of  haystacks,  we  may  say  that  haystacks 
leave  no  residual  soil  of  this  kind  when  hay  is  left  to  rot.  The 
mounds  are  often  located  where  hay  was  never  stacked,  for 
example,  in  woods.  On  one  tract  of  land  that  was  being  cleared 
of  its  timber  some  of  the  mounds  located  in  the  woods  had 
trees  growing  on  them.  Nor  do  haystacks  leave  remains  of  soil 
with  sand,  gravel  and  pebbles  in  them.  Nor  do  they  occur  in 
woods  with  old  trees  growing  on  them.  Some  of  the  mounds 
occur  in  places  where,  at  least  for  a  part  of  the  year,  it  is  very 
wet,  where  no  farmer  would  stack  hay,  nor  any  gopher  burrow, 
nor  ants  build  their  homes.  It  is  true  that  ants  are  to  be  found 
in  the  lowlands,  but  the  structures  reared  to  mark  the  sites  of 
their  nest  are  never  in  these  localities  more  than  a  fcAV  inches 
over  a  foot  in  height.  The  width  of  the  antliills  is  about  one 
foot,  and  the  flat  truncated  top  usually  slants  in  a  southerly 
direction,  facing  the  sun.  Very  likely  such  frail  structures 
would,  when  deserted,  disappear  in  a  short  time  under  the  at- 
tack of  the  elements.  In  no  instance  were  ants  found  living  in 
the  mounds. 

"That   p('0i>le   call  these   mounds    go])li('r   hills   is   easily   ex- 


8  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

plained  by  the  fact  that  gophers  occasionally  burrow  in  mounds. 
Immediately  the  inference  is  drawn  that  the  gophers  built  the 
whole  mound.  Closer  observation  shows  that  wherever  burrow- 
ing animals  are  found  inhabiting  mounds,  the  mound  loses  its 
smooth,  convex  outline  and  becomes  roughened  and  warty  in 
appearance  on  account  of  the  small  heaps  of  dirt  thrown  up  by 
the  animals.  Hence  Ave  may  readily  see  how,  in  the  lapse  of 
long  centuries,  some  of  the  mounds  may  have  been  inhabited  for 
a  time  by  gophers  and  made  rough  on  the  exterior.  This  would 
account  for  the  bossed  surface  that  some  mounds  have.  Mounds 
can  be  found  in  localities  so  Avet  that  it  is  doubtful  if  a  gopher 
ever  lived  there.  .Gophers  do  not  live  in  wet  places  any  more 
than  in  woods.  Again,  Ave  knoAV  that  gophers  abound  in  many 
places  Avhere  no  mounds  Avhatever  occur.  Why,  for  example, 
does  not  the  enormous  number  of  gopliers  in  other  counties 
build  mounds  on  the  high  prairies,  or  along  the  AAiiole  lengths 
of  riA^er  courses?  ^Vhy  do  they  not  build  intermediate  mounds 
as  Avell  as  mounds  twenty  to  forty  feet  across?  I  never  met  a 
man  who  knew  of  gophers  building  large  mounds. 

"These  considerations  seem  to  warrant  the  conclusion  that 
these  mounds  are  not  the  accumulations  of  rotted  grass,  nor  of 
gopher  and  ant  diggings.  Nor  does  there  seem  to  be  a  natural 
agency  to  Avhich  the  making  of  so  many  mounds,  so  regularly 
alike,  in  such  different  localities,  can  be  inferred.  If  it  be  sug- 
gested that  they  might  have  been  formed  by  upturned  roots 
of  trees  that  were  blown  over,  or  by  the  drift  material  of  SAVollen 
waters,  or  by  springs,  a  number  of  questions  can  be  raised  at 
once  to  throAV  great  imx^robability  on  such  an  origin  of  the 
mounds.  While  Ave  may  conceive  of  some  mounds  having  been 
formed  in  this  Avay  in  certain  places,  none  of  the  suggested 
modes,  nor  a  combination  of  them,  will  explain  the  mounds  in 
these  places.  Why  should  not  these  agencies  have  formed 
mounds  in  vastly  larger  areas  Avhere  we  know  there  are  springs, 
where  winds  overturn  trees,  Avhere  flooded  streams  form  A^ery 
numerous  drift  accumulations  but  not  mounds?  Nor  are  these 
mounds  small  dunes  bloAvn  up  by  the  Avind.  The  character  of 
the  land  is  such  as  to  preclude  all  possibility  of  their  formation 
by  the  wind.  Much  of  the  ground  is  too  wet  to  permit  the 
drifting  of  soil ;  some  of  the  pebbles  and  rocks  found  in  the 
mounds  would  require  a  terrific  Avind  to  transport  them.  Again, 
dunes  built  by  the  Avind  are  not  uniformly  circular.  Rather  they 
are  oblong,  Avith  the  highest  elevation  not  in  the  middle  but 
tOAvards  one  end.  It  Avere  odd  indeed  that  the  Avind  should  build 
such  dunes  in  low  places,  or  in  Avoods,  or  in  groups,  or  string 
them  along  creeks  and  not  build  them  in  places  that  are  ap- 
parently  much   better   adapted   to   Avind-Avork.      There   are   also 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEl?  COUNTY  9 

other  considerations  which  give  color  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
mounds  were  built  by  man,  and  that  by  the  Indians.  The  shape 
of  all  the  mounds  is  that  of  the  ordinary  round  mound.  In  size 
they  vary  from  fifteen  to  thirty  feet  across  the  top.  Few  exceed 
thirty  feet.  One  mound  measured  fifteen  paces,  or  about  forty- 
five  feet  across.  In  general,  the  height  varies  from  one-half  to 
two  and  one-half  feet.  A  number  exceed  this  and  may  form 
very  conspicuous  objects  on  the  meadow  where  the  grass  is  burned 
away.  A  number  of  mounds  have  circular  depressions  around 
them  as  if  dirt  had  been  removed  thence.  After  a  thaw,  water 
may  stand  in  the  ring  and  make  it  very  noticeable. 

"At  first  it  seemed  to  me  very  probable  that  the  mounds 
served  as  tenting  places.  The  diameter  and  circumference  of  the 
mounds  would  suggest  this,  but  the  seeming  absence  of  the  action 
of  fi.re  does  not  support  this  view  unless  the  Indians  camping 
there  did  not  build  fires.  In  other  respects  there  is  no  reason 
why  Indians  might  not  have  camped  there,  as  there  was  plenty 
of  water,  and  an  abundance  of  game.  In  ancient  times,  the 
region  of  these  mounds  between  Grand  Meadow  and  Le  Roy  was, 
doubtless,  a  great  marsh,  and  possibly  even  a  marshy  lake,  drained 
by  what  are  now  tributaries  of  the  Root  river,  a  probable  traffic 
way  for  the  savages  from  the  IMississippi  river. 

"There  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  fancy,  or  some  definite  cause, 
such  as  the  capture  of  game,  brought  Indians  to  all  parts  of  this 
country;  hence  it  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that  pre-historie  Indians 
did  the  same  thing.  Our  inability  to  find  a  conclusive  reason  at 
present  why  Indians  should  camp  or  build  mounds  in  these  places 
is  no  proof  that  the  mounds  are  not  of  Indian  origin.  Should 
closer  study  prove  the  mounds  to  be  burial  places,  then  they  are 
witnesses  both  of  the  large  number  of  Indians  biiried  there,  as 
well  as  of  the  much  larger  number  of  population  which  was 
not  honored  with  a  monument  of  earth. 

"If  it  is  true  that  these  mounds  are  the  products  of  human 
activity  in  prehistoric  times,  then  they  present  us  Avith  a  new 
and  unexpected  phase  in  the  mound  builders  choice  of  location  for 
mounds.  To  a  person  accustomed  to  seeing  large  effigy  mounds 
in  Wisconsin,  or  other  larger  mounds  along  the  Mississippi,  it 
would  naturally  be  a  puzzle  to  find  mounds  in  a  location  where 
his  former  experience  would  not  have  prompted  him  to  look  for 
mounds.  The  unexpected  may  also  turn  up  in  the  experience  of 
the  mound-hunter,  and  there  is  nothing  unreasonable  in  thinking 
that  these  mounds  are  another  link  in  the  chain  of  Minnesota 
archeology,  throwing  light  on  the  life  of  the  prehistoric  builders. 
It  merely  shows  that  Indians  built  mounds  also  in  other  places 
than  on  high  terraces  and  shores. 

"But  should  further  study  ever  show  that  these  mounds  are 


10  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

not  the  work  of  wandering  savages,  then  they  ought  to  be  ac- 
corded a  place  in  that  science  whose  province  it  will  be  to  ex- 
plain them.  So  far  I  have  utterly  failed  to  find  any  adequate 
cause  or  principle  mentioned  in  geology,  biology  or  physiog- 
raphy, which  will  explain  all  of  these  in  all  places.  If  these 
mounds  were  not  built  by  Indians,  then  it  may  be  that  in  any 
other  mounds  now  reckoned  as  Indians'  mounds  may  also  be 
explained  by  the  action  of  some  other  agency." 

The  first  actual  residents  of  this  vicinity,  whose  occupation 
of  the  region  has  been  conclusively  demonstrated,  were  the  High- 
land Mound  Builders.  Many  relics,  such  as  arrow  heads  and  the 
like,  have  been  found  along  the  Cedar  river.  No  scientific  inves- 
tigation has  been  made  of  Highland  mounds  in  Mower  county, 
but  studies  that  have  been  made  of  these  mounds  to  the  north 
and  east,  inside  of  a  radius  of  100  miles,  would  seemingly  form 
the  premises  of  a  fairly  safe  conclusion,  that  the  Highland  mound 
building  race  ranged  the  prairies  of  Mower  county.  Scholars 
at  one  time  held  to  the  belief  that  the  Highland  ]\Iound  Builders 
were  a  distinct  race  of  a  now  exterminated  people,  much  superior 
to  the  Indians  in  intelligence  and  habits  and  related  closely, 
indeed,  in  civilization  to  the  highly  cultured  Aztecs  of  Mexico. 
Present  day  scholars,  however,  are  of  the  belief  that  the  High- 
land Mound  Builders,  of  North  America,  were  the  ancestors  of 
the  Indians  found  here  by  the  early  explorers,  and  dift'ering  from 
them  in  no  important  characteristic  of  intelligence,  habits,  morals 
or  education.  The  Highland  Mound  Builders  of  this  immediate 
vicinity  were,  doubtless,  the  ancestors  of  the  Sioux  and  the  Iowa 
Indians,  it  being  well  known  that  these  two  races  were  branches 
of  the  same  great  family. 

None  of  the  early  explorers  mention  any  permanent  Indian 
villages  within  the  present  limits  of  Mower  county,  and,  although 
the  Sioux  Indians  claimed  this  stretch  of  land,  this  prairie  was 
doubtless  crossed  from  time  immemorial,  by  bands  of  the  Sioux, 
lowas.  Sacs  and  Foxes. 

The  vague  traditions  of  the  Sioux  having  been  driven  out 
of  "Wisconsin  by  the  Chippewas,  their  settlement  about  Mille 
Lacs,  and  their  gradual  distribution  along  the  Avest  banks  of  the 
upper  Mississippi,  as  well  as  their  alleged  conquest  of  the  lowas, 
who,  according  to  tradition,  formerly  occupied  the  latter  locality, 
is  beyond  the  scope  of  this  work.  The  words  Dakota  and  Sioiix, 
though  exactly  opposite  in  meaning,  are  applied  to  the  same  race 
of  Indians.  Dakota  (variously  spelled)  is  the  name  applied  by 
the  race  themselves,  and  means  friendly  or  joined  together  in 
friendly  compact,  the  Sioux  nation  being  a  confederation  of 
tribes.  The  word  Sioux  comes  from  the  word  Nadowayscioux, 
applied  by  the  Chippewas  and  meaning  enemies.     The  diaries  of 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  11 

the  early  hunters  along  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  lead  us 
to  believe  that  the  vicinity  embraced  in  Mower  county  was 
familiar  to  all  the  Sioux  Indians  living  along  that  river,  and  that 
annual  hunting  parties  visited  this  region.  Many  sanguinary 
wars  were  also  fought  here,  for  the  Sacs  and  the  Foxes  were  not 
far  away,  and  even  the  Chippewas  occasionally  braved  the  wrath 
of  their  enemies  and  came  here  after  game. 

With  the  coming  of  the  white  settlers,  the  Sioux  Indians 
became  rather  plentiful  in  Mower  county,  although  at  that  time 
the  treaties  which  relinc[uished  the  Indian  rights  of  title  had 
already  been  signed. 


CHAPTER  III. 
INDIAN  TREATIES. 


Visit  to  Washington — Boundary  Lines  Between  Indian  Tribes 
Defined — Territory  Now  Mower  County  Included  in  the 
Sioux  Jurisdiction — Second  Treaty  of  Prairie  Du  Chien — 
Some  of  Wabasha's  Men  Killed  by  the  Foxes  South  of  Aus- 
tin in  Iowa — Strip  of  Territory  South  of  Mower  County 
Ceded  by  Treaty— The  Doty  Treaty  and  Its  Failure— Treaty 
of  Traverse  Des  Sioux — Treaty  of  Mendota,  by  Which  Mower 
County  was  Opened  to  Settlement. 

From  prehistoric  days  up  to  the  time  of  the  treaty  signed  at 
Mendota,  August  5,  1851,  ratified  and  amended  by  the  United 
States  senate,  June  23,  1852;  accepted  with  amendments  by  the 
Indians,  September  4  and  6,  1852,  and  proclaimed  by  President 
Fillmore,  February  24,  1853,  the  territory  embraced  in  Mower 
county  remained  in  the  undisputed  possession  of  the  Indians, 
being  used  as  a  hunting  ground  by  the  Sioux  Indians,  but  also 
being  visited  by  other  Redmen.  Before  this  treaty,  however,  sev- 
eral agreements  were  made  between  the  Indians  of  this  vicinity 
and  the  United  States  government,  regarding  mutual  relations 
and  the  ceding  of  lands. 

Visit  to  Washington.  In  the  spring  of  1824  the  first  delega- 
tion of  Sioux  Indians  went  to  Washington  to  see  their  "Great 
Father,"  the  president.  A  delegation  of  ChippcAvas  accompanied, 
and  both  were  in  charge  of  Major  Taliaferro.  Wabasha,  then 
properly  called  Wa-pa-ha-sha,  the  head  chief  of  the  band  at 
Winona ;  and  Little  Crow,  head  of  the  Kaposia  band ;  and  Wah- 
natah,  were  the  principal  memliers  of  the  Sioux  delegation.     The 


13  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

object  of  the  visit  was  to  secure  a  convocation  of  all  of  the  upper 
Mississippi  Indians  at  Prairie  du  Chien  to  define  the  boundary 
line  of  the  lands  claimed  by  the  separate  tribes  and  to  establish 
general  and  permanent  friendly  relations  among  them.  The  party 
went  in  keel  boats  from  Fort  Snelling  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  and 
from  there  to  Pittsburg  by  steamboat,  thence  to  Washington  and 
other  eastern  cities  by  land. 

Prairie  du  Chien  Treaty  of  1825.  The  treaty  of  Prairie  du 
Chien,  signed  in  1825,  was  important  to  the  Indians  of  this  vicin- 
ity, in  that  it  fixed  certain  boundaries.  The  eastern  boundary 
of  the  Sioux  territory  was  to  commence  on  the  east  bank  of 
the  ^Mississippi,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  "loway"  (now  the 
upper  Iowa)  river,  running  back  to  the  bluffs,  and  along  the  bluffs 
to  the  Bad  Ax  river;  thence  to  the  mouth  of  Black  river,  and 
thence  to  "half  a  day's  march"  below  the  falls  of  the  Chippewa. 
The  boundary  lines  were  certainly,  in  some  respects,  quite  indefi- 
nite, and  Avhether  this  was  the  trouble  or  not,  at  any  event,  it  was 
but  a  few  months  after  the  treaty  when  it  was  evident  that  neither 
the  Dakotas  (Sioux)  nor  Ojibways  were  willing  to  be  governed 
by  the  lines  established — and  hardly  by  any  others.  The  first 
article  of  the  treatj^  provided:  "There  shall  be  a  firm  and  per- 
petual peace  between  the  Sioux  and  the  Chippewas;  between  the 
Sioux  and  the  confederated  tribes  of  Sacs  and  Foxes ;  and  between 
the  'loways'  and  the  Sioux."  But  this  provision  was  more 
honored  in  the  breach  than  the  observance,  and  in  a  little  time 
the  tribes  named  were  flying  at  one  another's  throats  and  engaged 
in  their  old-time  hostilities.  On  the  part  of  the  Sioux  this  treat}'' 
was  signed  by  Chiefs  AA-'abasha,  Little  Crow,  Standing  Buffalo, 
Sleepy  Eye,  Two  Faces,  Tah-sah-gliee,  or  "His  Cane";  Black 
Dog,  Wah-ah-na-tah,  or  "The  Charger";  Red  Wing,  Shakopee, 
Penishon  and  Eagle  Head,  and  also  by  a  number  of  head  soldiers 
and  "principal  men."  The  Chippewa  signers  were  Shingauba 
Wassa,  Gitche  Gaubow,  Wis  Coup,  or  "Sugar,"  and  a  number 
of  sub-chiefs  and  principal  men. 

Second  Treaty  of  Prairie  du  Chien.  In  1830,  the  second  treaty 
Avith  the  northwest  Indian  tribes  was  signed  at  Prairie  du  Chien. 
A  few  Aveeks  previous  to  the  convocation,  Avhich  Avas  begun  July 
15,  a  party  of  AVabasha's  band  of  Sioux,  and  some  Menomiuees, 
ambushed  a  party  of  Fox  Indians  some  tAvelve  or  fifteen  miles 
beloAV  Prairie  du  Chien  and  killed  eight  of  them,  including  a 
sub-chief  called  the  Kettle. 

The  Foxes  had  their  village  near  Dubuque,  and  Avere  on  their 
Avay  to  Prairie  du  Chien  to  visit  the  Indian  agent,  Avhom  they  had 
apprised  of  their  coming.  They  were  in  canoes  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  as  they  reached  the  loAver  end  of  Prairie  du  Pierreaux, 
tliey  paddled  up  a  narroAV  channel  Avhich  ran  near  the  eastern 


HISTORY  OF  M0^YEI1  COUNTY  13 

shore.  At  this  point  their  concealed  enemies  opened  fire.  The 
Foxes  returned  to  their  village,  bearing  their  dead,  while  the 
Sioux  and  Menominees  went  home  and  danced  over  their  victory. 
A  few  weeks  previous  the  Foxes  had  killed  some  of  Wabasha's 
band  on  the  Red  Cedar  river  in  Iowa,  a  few  miles  south  of  Austin, 
and  the  Sioux  claimed  that  their  part  in  the  Prairie  du  Pierreaux 
was  taken  in  retalliation  for  the  Red  Cedar  affair.  In  June  of 
the  following  year,  a  large  number  of  Menominees  were  camped 
on  an  island  in  the  Mississippi,  less  than  half  a  mile  from  Fort 
Crawford  and  Prairie  du  Chien.  One  night  they  were  all  intox- 
icated— men,  women  and  children — when  two  hours  before  day- 
light the  Dubuque  Foxes  took  dreadful  reprisal  for  the  killing  of 
their  brethren  at  Prairie  du  Pierreaux.  Though  but  a  small  band, 
they  crept  into  the  Menominee  encampment,  fell  upon  the  in- 
mates, and  in  a  few  minutes  put  numbers  of  them  to  the  gun, 
tomahawk  and  the  scalping  knife.  Thirty  Menominees  were 
killed.  "When  the  entire  Menominee  band  had  been  aroused,  the 
Foxes,  without  having  lost  a  man,  retired,  calling  out  in  great 
exaltation  that  the  cowardly  killing  of  their  comrades  at  Prairie 
du  Pierreaux  had  been  revenged. 

Because  of  the  Prairie  du  Pierreaux  affair,  the  Foxes  at  first 
refused  to  be  present  at  the  second  treaty  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  but 
finally  came. 

Delegates  were  present  from  four  bands  of  the  Sioux,  the 
MedaAvakantons,  the  Wapakootas,  the  Wahpatons  and  the  Sisse- 
tons,  and  also  from  the  Sacs,  the  Foxes  and  lowas,  and  even  from 
the  Omahas,  Otoes  and  Missouris,  the  homes  of  the  last  three 
tribes  being  on  the  Missouri  river.  At  this  treaty  the  Indian 
tribes  represented  ceded  all  of  their  claims  to  the  land  in  western 
Iowa,  northwestern  Missouri,  and  especially  the  country  of  the 
Des  Moines  river  valley.  The  lower  bands  had  a  special  article 
inserted  in  the  treaty  for  the  benefit  of  their  half-blood  relatives: 

"The  Sioux  bands  in  council  have  earnestly  solicited  that  they 
might  have  permission  to  bestow  upon  the  half-breeds  of  their 
nation  the  tract  of  land  within  the  following  limits,  to-wit :  Be- 
ginning at  a  place  called  the  Barn,  below  and  near  the  village  of 
the  Red  Wing  chief,  and  running  back  fifteen  miles ;  thence,  in  a 
parallel  line,  with  Lake  Pepin  and  the  Mississippi  river  about 
thirty-two  miles,  to  a  point  opposite  Beef,  or  O'Boeuf,  river, 
thence  fifteen  miles  to  the  Grand  Encampment,  opposite  the  river 
aforesaid,  the  United  States  agree  to  suft'er  said  half-breeds  to 
occupy  said  tract  of  country,  they  holding  the  same  title,  and  in 
the  same  manner  that  other  Indian  titles  are  held." 

Certificates,  or  "scrip"  were  issued  to  many  half-breeds,  and 
there  was  much  speculation  in  them,  and  litigation  over  them, 
in  subsequent  years,  a  matter  of  whicli  will  Ix'  treated  later  in 


14  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

this  history.  The  Sioux  also  ceded  a  tract  of  land  twenty  miles 
wide  along  the  northern  boundary  of  Iowa  from  the  Mississippi 
to  the  Des  J\Ioines,  the  consideration  for  Avhieh  was  $2,000  in 
cash  and  $12,000  in  merchandise.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  as 
early  as  1830  the  Indians  relinquished  their  title  to  the  land  just 
south  of  Mower  county.  The  strip  in  question  was  for  many 
years  known  as  the  "Neutral  Land." 

The  Doty  Treaty.  The  Doty  treaty,  made  at  Traverse  des 
Sioux,  in  July,  1841,  failed  to  be  ratified  by  the  United  States 
senate.  This  treaty  embodied  a  Utopian  dream  that  a  territory 
of  Indians  could  be  established,  in  which  the  Redmen  would 
reside  on  farms  and  in  villages,  living  their  lives  after  the  style 
of  the  whites,  having  a  constitutional  form  of  government,  Avith 
a  legislature  of  their  own  people  elected  by  themselves,  the  gov- 
'^rnor  to  be  appointed  by  the  president  of  the  United  States,  much 
nlong  the  plan  still  followed  with  the  Cherokees  in  the  Indian  ter- 
ritory, except  that  it  embodied  for  the  Indians  a  much  higher 
type  of  citizenship  than  is  found  in  the  Indian  territory.  The 
Indians  were  to  be  taught  the  arts  of  peace,  to  be  paid  annuities, 
Eind  to  be  protected  by  the  armies  of  the  United  States  from  their 
Indian  enemies  on  the  west.  In  return  for  these  benefits  to  be  con- 
ferred upon  the  Indians,  the  United  States  was  to  receive  all  the 
lands  in  what  is  now  Minnesota,  the  Dakotas  and  northwestern 
Towa,  except  small  portions,'  which  were  to  be  reserved  for  the 
Redmen.  This  ceded  land  Avas  not  to  be  opened  to  the  settlement 
i>f  the  whites,  and  the  plan  was  to  have  some  of  it  reserved  for 
Indian  tribes  from  other  parts  of  the  country  who  should  sell 
their  lands  to  the  United  States,  and  who,  in  being  moved  here, 
>vere  to  enjoy  all  the  privileges  Avhich  had  been  so  beautifully 
planned  for  the  native  Indians.  B^^t  no  one  can  tell  what  Avould 
have  been  the  result  of  this  experiment,  for  the  senate,  for  politi- 
cal reasons,  refused  to  ratify  the  treaty,  and  it  failed  of  going 
into  effect.  This  treaty  was  signed  by  the  Sisseton,  Wahpaton 
nnd  AYahpakoota  bands  at  Traverse  des  Sioux,  July  31,  1841, 
and  by  the  Medawakanton  bands  at  Mendota,  August  11  of  the 
^'iame  year. 

Treaty  of  Traverse  des  Sioux.  In  the  spring  of  1851  Presi- 
dent Fillmore  appointed  Governor  Alexander  Ramsey  and  Luke 
Lea  as  commissioners  to  open  negotiations  Avith  the  Indians  for  the 
purpose  of  opening  to  settlement  Avhat  is  now  the  greater  part  of 
Minnesota.  The  conference  Avas  held  at  Traverse  des  Sioux,  be- 
tween the  chiefs  and  head  men  of  the  Sisseton  and  Wahpaton,  or 
Upper  Bands,  as  they  were  called,  and  the  tAvo  commissioners. 
The  Indians  were  accompanied  by  their  families  and  many  prom- 
inent pioneers  were  also  present.  The  meeting  Avas  held  under  a 
brush  arbor  erected  by  Alexis  Bailly,  and  one  of  the  incidents 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  15 

of  the  proceedings  was  the  marriage  of  two  mixed  blood  people, 
David  Faribault  and  Nancy  "Winona  McClure,  the  former  the  son 
of  Jean  Baptist  Faribault  and  the  latter  of  Lieut.  James  McClure. 
The  treaty  Avas  signed  July  22,  1851,  and  provided  that  the  upper 
bands  should  cede  to  the  United  States  all  their  land  in  Iowa  as 
well  as  their  lands  east  of  a  line  from  the  Red  river  to  Lake 
Traverse  and  thence  to  the  northwestern  corner  of  Iowa. 

Treaty  of  Mendota.  From  July  29,  1851,  to  August  5,  Men- 
dota  was  the  scene  of  the  conference  which  opened  Slower,  Steele 
and  surrounding  counties  to  white  settlement.  The  chiefs  and 
head  men  of  the  lower  bands  were  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
proceedings  of  the  Indians  and  the  representatives  of  the  United 
States  at  Traverse  des  Sioux  and  all  were  on  hand  that  bright 
August  day,  waiting  for  the  negotiations  to  open  at  Mendota. 
The  first  session  was  held  in  the  warehouse  of  the  Fur  Company 
at  that  place,  but  the  Indians  found  the  atmosphere  stifling,  and 
not  in  accord  with  their  usual  method  of  outdoor  councils,  so  the 
consideration  of  the  treaty  was  taken  up  under  a  large  brush 
arbor,  erected  by  Alexis  Bailly,  on  an  elevated  plain  near  the  high 
prominence  known  as  Pilot  Knob.  Dr.  Thomas  Foster  Avas  secre- 
tary for  Commissioners  Lea  and  Ramsey;  the  interpreters  were 
Alexander  Faribault,  Philander  Preseott  and  Rev.  G.  H.  Pond; 
the  white  witnesses  were  David  Olmsted,  W.  C.  Henderson,  Alexis 
Bailly,  Richard  Chute,  Henry  Jackson,  A.  L.  Carpenter,  W.  H. 
Randall,  A.  S.  H.  White,  H.  L.  Dousman,  Fred  C.  Sibley,  Martin 
McLeod,  George  N.  Faribault  and  Joseph  A.  "Wheelock.  After 
much  deliberation  and  many  disagreements,  the  treaty  was  signed 
August  5,  1851.  Little  Crow  was  the  first  signer.  To  the  treaty 
Little  Crow  signed  his  original  name,  Tah  0-ya-te  Doota,  meaning 
His  Red  Nation.  "Wabasha  Avas  the  next  to  sign,  making  his  mark. 
Then  the  other  chiefs,  head  soldiers  and  principal  Avarriors 
croAvded  around  to  affix  their  marks.  In  all,  there  Avere  sixty-five 
Indian  signatures. 

At  Mendota,  as  at  Traverse  des  Sioux,  Avhen  the  treaty  Avas 
concluded,  each  Indian  signer  stepped  to  another  table  Avhere 
lay  another  paper  Avhich  he  signed.  This  Avas  called  the  tradei'fe' 
paper,  and  Avas  an  agreement  to  pa.y  the  "just  debts,"  so  called, 
of  the  Indians,  including  those  present  and  absent,  alive  and 
dead,  OAA-ing  to  the  traders  and  the  trading  company.  Some  of 
the  accounts  Avere  nearly  thirty  years  old,  and  the  Indians  avIio 
had  contracted  them  Avere  dead;  but  the  bands  Avillingly  assumed 
the  indebtedness  and  agreed  that  it  might  be  discharged  out  of 
the  first  money  paid  them.  The  territory  ceded  by  the  two 
treaties  Avas  declared  to  be:  "All  their  lands  in  the  state  of 
Iowa,  and  also  all  their  lands  in  the  territory  of  ^Minnesota  lying 
east  of  the  folloAving  line,  to-Avit :     Beginning  at  the  junction  of 


16  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Buffalo  river  with  the  Red  River  of  the  North  (about  twelve 
miles  north  of  Morehead,  at  Georgetown  station,  in  Clay  county), 
thence  along  the  western  bank  of  said  Red  River  of  the  North, 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Sioux  "Wood  river ;  thence  along  the  western 
bank  of  said  Sioux  AVood  river  to  Lake  Traverse;  thence  along 
the  western  shore  of  said  lake  to  the  southern  extremity  thereof ; 
thence,  in  a  direct  line,  to  the  juncture  of  Kampeska  lake  with  the 
Tehan-Ka-Sna-Duka,  or  Sioux  river;  thence  along  the  western 
bank  of  said  river  to  its  point  of  intersection  with  the  northern 
line  of  the  state  of  Iowa,  including  all  islands  in  said  rivers 
and  lakes." 

The  lower  bands  were  to  receive  $1,410,000,  to  be  paid  in  the 
mamaer  and  form  following:  For  settling  debts  and  removing 
themselves  to  the  new  reservation,  $220,000,  one-half  to  the  ]Meda- 
wakanton  bands,  and  one-half  to  the  single  AVahpakoota  band ;  for 
schools,  mills  and  opening  farms,  $30,000.  Of  the  principal  of 
$1,410,000,  the  sum  of  $30,000  in  cash  was  to  be  distributed 
among  the  two  bands  as  soon  as  the  treaty  was  ratified,  and 
$28,000  was  to  be  expended  annually,  under  the  president 's  direc- 
tion, as  follows:  To  a  civilization  fund,  $12,000;  to  an  educa- 
tional fund,  $6,000;  for  goods  and  provisions,  $10,000.  The 
balance  of  the  principal,  or  $1,160,000,  was  to  remain  in  trust 
rtdth  the  United  States  at  5  per  cent  interest,  to  be  paid  annually 
to  the  Indians  for  fifty  years,  commencing  July  1,  1852.  The  $58,- 
000  annuity  interest  was  to  be  expended  as  the  first  installment — 
$30,000  in  cash,  $12,000  for  civilization,  $6,000  for  education,  and 
$10,000  for  goods  and  provisions.  The  back  annuities  under  the 
treaty  of  1837  remaining  unexpired  were  also  to  be  paid  an- 
nually. Their  reservation  was  to  extend  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Yellow  Medicine  and  Hawk  creek  southeasterly  to  the  mouth 
of  Rock  creek,  a  tract  twenty  miles  wide  and  about  forty-five 
miles  in  length.  The  half-breeds  of  the  Sioux  were  to  receive 
in  cash  $150,000  in  lieu  of  lands  allowed  them  under  the  Prairie 
du  Chien  treaty  of  1830,  but  which  they  had  failed  to  claim. 

The  written  copies  of  the  Traverse  des  Sioux  and  the  Alendotu 
ti'eaties,  duly  signed  and  attested,  were  forwarded  to  "Washington 
to  be  acted  upon  by  the  senate  at  the  ensuing  session  of  congress. 
An  lanreasonably  long  delay  resulted.  Final  action  was  not  had 
until  the  follo^^'ing  summer,  when,  on  July  23,  the  senate  ratified 
both  treaties  Avith  important  amendments.  The  provisions  for  les- 
.jrvations  for  both  the  upper  and  lower  bands  were  stricken  out, 
and  substitutes  adopted,  agreeing  to  pay  ten  cents  an  acre  for 
ooth  reservations,  and  authorizing  the  president,  with  the  assent 
of  the  Indians,  to  cause  to  be  set  apart  other  reservations,  wliieh 
were  to  be  within  the  limits  of  the  original  great  cession.  The 
provision  to  pay  $150,000  to  the  half-bloods  of  the  lower  bands 


HISTOEY  OF  MO\YErt  COUNTY  17 

was  also  stricken  out.  The  treaties,  with  the  changes,  came  back 
to  the  Indians  for  final  ratification  and  agreement  to  the  altera- 
tions. The  chiefs  of  the  lower  bands  at  first  objected  very  stren- 
uously, but  finally,  on  Saturday,  September  4,  1852,  at  Governor 
Eamsey's  residence  in  St.  Paul,  they  signed  the  amended  articles, 
and  the  following  Monday  the  chiefs  and  head  men  of  the  upper 
bands  affixed  their  marks.  As  amended,  the  treaties  were  pro- 
claimed by  President  Fillmore  February  24,  1853.  The  Indians 
were  allowed  to  remain  in  their  old  villages,  or,  if  they  preferred, 
to  occupy  their  reservations  as  originally  designated,  until  the 
president  selected  their  new  homes.  That  selection  was  never 
made,  and  the  original  reservations  were  finally  allowed  them. 
The  removal  of  the  lower  Indians  to  their  designated  reservation 
began  in  1853,  but  was  intermittent,  interrupted  and  extended 
over  a  period  of  several  years.  The  Indians  went  up  in  detach- 
ments, as  they  felt  inclined.  After  living  on  the  reservation  for 
a  time,  some  of  them  returned  to  their  old  hunting  grounds, 
where  they  lived  continuously  for  some  time,  visiting  their  reser- 
vation and  agency  only  at  the  time  of  -the  payment  of  their  an- 
nuities. Finally,  by  the  offer  of  cabins  to  live  in,  or  other  sub- 
stantial inducements,  nearly  all  of  them  were  induced  to  settle 
on  the  Redwood  Reserve,  so  that  in  1862,  at  the  time  of  the  out- 
break, less  than  twenty  families  of  the  Medawakantons  and  Wah- 
pakootas  were  living  off  their  reservation.  With  the  subsequent 
history  of  these  Indians  this  volume  wnll  not  deal  in  detail ;  the 
purpose  of  treating  with  the  Indians  thus  far  in  this  chapter 
having  been  to  show  the  various  negotiations  by  which  I\Iower 
county  and  the  surrounding  territory  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  whites  and  was  thus  opened  for  settlement  and  development. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

GOVERNMENTAL  HISTORY. 

Early  Claims  of  Title — Spain,  France  and  England — Treaties  and 
Agreements — The  Louisiana  Purchase — Indiana — Louisiana 
District — Louisiana  Territory — Missouri  Territory — North- 
west Territory — Illinois  Territory — Michigan  Territory — Wis- 
consin Territory — Iowa  Territory — No  Man's  Land — Sibley 
in  Congress — Minnesota  Territory — Minnesota  State — Com- 
piled from  Manuscripts  of  Hon.  F.  M.  Crosby. 

The  liistory  of  the  early  government  of  what  is  now  southern 
Minnesota,  is  formulated  with  some  difficulty,  as,  prior  to  the  nine- 
teenth centurv,  the  interior  of  the  county  was  so  little  known. 


18  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUXTY 

and  the  maps  upon  which  claims  and  grants  were  founded  were 
so  meagre,  as  well  as  incorrect  and  unreliable,  that  descriptions 
of  boundaries  and  locations  as  given  in  the  early  treaties  are 
vague  in  the  extreme,  and  very  difficult  of  identification  with 
present  day  lines  and  locations. 

The  Hon.  J.  V.  Brower,  a  scholarly  authority  upon  this  sub- 
ject, says — ("The  Mississippi  Eiver  and  Its  Sources"):  "Spain, 
by  virtue  of  the  discoveries  of  Columbus  and  others,  confirmed  to 
her  by  papal  grant  (that  of  Alexander  VI,  May  4,  1493),  may 
be  said  to  have  been  the  first  European  oAvner  of  the  entire  valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  but  she  never  used  this  claim  as  a  ground  for 
taking  formal  possession  of  this  part  of  her  domains  other  than  in- 
cidentally involved  in  De  Soto's  doings.  The  feeble  objections 
which  she  made  in  the  next  two  centuries  after  the  discovery,  to 
other  nations  exploring  and  settling  North  America,  were  success- 
fully overcome  by  the  force  of  accomplished  facts.  The  name  of 
Florida,  now  so  limited  in  its  application,  was  first  applied  by  the 
Spaniards  to  the  greater  part  of  the  eastern  half  of  North  Amer- 
ica, commencing  at  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  proceeding  northward 
indefinitely.  This  expansiveness  of  geographical  view  was  par- 
alleled later  by  the  definition  of  a  New  France  of  still  greater 
extent,  Avhich  practically  included  all  the  continent. 

"L'Escarbot,  in  his  history  of  New  France,  written  in  1617, 
says,  in  reference  to  this:  'Thus  our  Canada  has  for  its  limits  on 
the  Avest  side  all  the  lands  as  far  as  the  sea  called  the  Pacific,  on 
this  side  of  the  Tropic  of  Cancer;  on  the  south  the  islands  of  the 
Atlantic  sea  in  the  direction  of  Cuba  and  the  Spanish  land;  on 
the  east  the  northern  sea  Avhich  bathes  Ncav  France ;  and  on  the 
north  the  land  said  to  be  unknoAvn,  toward  the  icy  sea  as  far  as 
the  arctic  pole.' 

' '  Judging  also  by  the  A'arious  grants  to  individuals,  noble  and 
otherAvise,  and  'companies,'  AAdiich  gave  away  the  country  in  lati- 
tudinal strips  extending  from  the  Atlantic  Avestward,  the  English 
were  not  far  behind  the  Spaniards  and  French  in  this  kind  of 
effrontery.  As  English  colonists  never  settled  on  the  Mississippi 
in  pursuance  of  such  grants,  and  never  performed  any  acts  of 
authority  there,  such  shadoAA^y  sovereignties  may  be  disregarded 
here,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  it  Avas  considered  necessary,  many 
years  later,  for  A-arious  states  concerned  to  conA-ey  to  the  United 
States  their  rights  to  territory  Avhich  they  never  actually  ruled 
over. 

"Thus,  in  the  most  arbitrary  manner,  did  the  Mississippi  river, 
though  yet  unknoAvn,  become  the  property,  successively,  of  the 
Iberian,  Gaulish  and  Anglo-Saxon  races — of  three  peoples  who, 
in  later  times,  by  diplomacy  and  force  of  arms,  struggled  for  an 
actual  occupancy.     Practically,  hoAvever,   the  upper  Mississippi 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  19 

valley  may  be  considered  as  having  been  in  the  first  place 
Canadian  soil,  for  it  was  Frenchmen  from  Canada  who  first  vis- 
ited it  and  traded  with  its  various  native  inhabitants.  The  further 
prosecution  of  his  discoveries  by  La  Salle,  in  1682,  extended 
Canada  as  a  French  possession  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  though  he 
did  not  use  the  name  of  Canada  nor  yet  that  of  New  France. 
He  preferred  to  call  the  entire  country  watered  by  the  Missis- 
sippi river  and  its  tributaries,  from  its  uttermost  source  to  its 
mouth,  by  the  new  name  he  had  already  invented  for  the  pur- 
pose— Louisiana.  The  name  of  Canada  and  New  France  had 
been  indifferently  used  to  express  about  the  same  extent  of 
territory,  but  the  name  of  Louisiana  now  came  to  supersede 
them  in  being  applied  to  the  conjectural  regions  of  the  West. 
Although  La  Salle  has  applied  the  latter  expression  to  the  entire 
valley  of  the  Mississippi,  it  was  not  generally  used  in  that  sense 
after  his  time,  the  upper  part  of  the  region  was  called  Canada, 
and  the  lower  Louisiana;  but  the  actual  dividing  line  between 
the  two  provinces  was  not  absolutely  established,  and  their 
names  and  boundaries  were  variously  indicated  on  published 
maps.  Speaking  generally,  the  Canada  of  the  eighteenth  century 
included  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  country  drained  by  their  tribu- 
taries; the  northern  one-fourth  of  the  present  state  of  Illinois, 
that  is,  as  much  as  lies  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Rock  river ;  all 
the  regions  lying  north  of  the  northern  Avatershed  of  the  Mis- 
souri, and  finally  the  valley  of  the  upper  Missouri  itself."  This 
would  include  Mower  county. 

But  it  is  now  necessary  to  go  back  two  centuries  previous 
and  consider  the  various  explorations  of  the  Mississippi  upon 
which  were  based  the  claims  of  the  European  monarchs.  Pos- 
sibly the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  had  been  reached  by  Span- 
iards previous  to  1541,  possibly  Hibernian  missionaries  as  early 
as  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century,  or  Welch  emigrants  (Madoc), 
about  1170,  discovered  North  America  by  way  of  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  but  historians  give  to  Hernando  de  Soto  and  his  band 
of  adventurers  the  credit  of  having  been  the  first  white  men  to 
actually  view  the  Mississippi  on  its  course  through  the  interior 
of  the  continent  and  of  being  the  first  ones  to  actually  traverse 
its  waters.  De  Soto  sighted  the  Mississippi  in  ]\Iay,  15-11,  at  the 
head  of  an  expedition  in  search  of  gold  and  precious  stones.  In 
the  following  spring,  weary  with  hope  long  deferred,  and  worn 
out  with  his  adventures,  De  Soto  fell  a  victim  to  disease,  and 
died  May  21,  1541.  His  followers,  greatly  reduced  in  number  by 
sickness,  after  wandering  about  in  a  vain  searching,  built  three 
small  vessels  and  descended  to  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi, 
being  the  first  white  men  to  reach  the  outlet  of  that  great  river 
From  the  interior.    However,  tlicy  were  too  weary  and  discour- 


20  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 


to  lay  claim  to  the  country,  and  took  no  notes  of  the  region 
through  which  they  passed. 

In  1554,  James  Cartier,  a  Frenchman,  discovered  the  St. 
Lawrence,  and  explored  it  as  far  as  the  present  site  of  Quebec. 
The  next  year  he  ascended  the  river  to  Mont  Real,  the  lofty  hill 
for  which  Montreal  was  named.  Thereafter  all  the  country 
drained  by  the  St.  Lawrence  was  claimed  by  the  French.  Many 
years  later  the  King  of  France  granted  the  "basin  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  all  the  rivers  flowing  through  it  to  the  sea,"  to  a 
company,  whose  leader  was  Champlain,  tlie  founder  of  Quebec, 
which  became  the  capital  of  New  France,  whose  then  unex- 
plored territory  stretched  westward  to  well  wdthin  the  bounda- 
ries of  Avhat  is  now  Minnesota.  In  1613-15  Champlain  explored 
the  OttaAva  river,  and  the  Georgian  bay  to  Lake  Huron,  and 
missions  were  established  in  the  Huron  country.  IMissionaries 
and  fur  traders  were  the  most  active  explorers  of  the  new  pos- 
sessions. They  followed  the  shores  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  then 
penetrated  further  and  further  into  the  wilderness.  As  they 
went  they  tried  to  make  friends  of  the  red  men,  established 
trading  posts  and  raised  the  Christian  cross.  In  1641  Jogues 
and  Raymbault,  Jesuits,  after  a  long  and  perilous  voyage  in  frail 
canoes  and  bateaux,  reached  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  where  they 
heard  of  a  large  river,  the  Mich-is-ip-e,  flowing  southward  to  the 
sea,  and  of  a  powerful  Indian  tribe  dwelling  near  its  head- 
quarters. Stories  of  vast  fertile  plains,  of  numberless  streams, 
of  herds  of  buffalo,  and  of  many  peoples,  in  regions  far  to  the 
west  and  south,  roused  missionaries  and  traders  anew,  and  the 
voyages  and  trips  of  the  explorers  became  more  frequent. 

In  1659-60  Radisson  and  Groselliers,  proceeding  westward 
from  Lake  Superior,  entered  what  is  now  Minnesota.  They  spent 
some  time  in  the  "forty  villages  of  the  Dakotas,"  in  the  vicinity 
of  Mille  Lacs,  and  probably  were  the  first  white  men  to  set  foot 
on  the  soil  of  this  state.  The  contention  that  these  adventurers 
spent  a  part  of  the  years  1655-56  on  Prairie  Island,  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi just  above  Red  Wing,  is  disputed  by  most  historians,  but 
still  forms  au  interesting  subject  for  study  and  conjecture. 

Some  writers  also  claim  that  the  Frenchman,  Sieur  Nicollet, 
who  should  not  be  confused  with  the  Nicollet  of  a  later  d;)te, 
reached  the  Mississippi  in  1639. 

Rene  Menard,  a  Jesuit  missionary,  reached  the  Mississippi  in 
1661  by  way  of  Wisconsin.  This  was  twelve  years  prior  to  its 
discovery  by  Marquette  and  Joliet,  and  to  Menard  historians  in 
general  give  the  honor  of  the  discovery  of  the  upper  waters  of 
the  great  river.  Menard  ascended  the  Mississippi  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Black  river.  Wis.,  and  was  lost  in  a  forest  near  the  source 
of   tliat    stream   while    attempting   to    carry    the    gospel    to    the 


HISTOEY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  31 

Hnrons.  His  sole  companion  "called  him  and  sought  him,  l)ut  he 
made  no  reply  and  could  not  be  found."  Some  years  later  his 
camp  kettle,  robe  and  prayer  book  were  seen  in  the  possession 
of  the  Indians. 

In  the  summer  of  1663  the  intelligence  of  the  fate  of  ]\Ienard 
reached  Quebec,  and  on  August  8,  1665,  Father  Claude  Allouez, 
who  had  anxiously  waited  two  years  for  the  means  of  convey- 
ance, embarked  for  Lake  Superior  with  a  party  of  French 
traders  and  Indians.  He  visited  the  Minnesota  shores  of  Lake 
Superior  in  the  fall  of  1665,  established  the  Mission  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  at  La  Pointe,  now  in  "Wisconsin,  and  we  are  told  "was 
the  first  to  Avrite  'Messipi'  the  name  of  the  great  river  of  the 
Sioux  country,"  as  he  heard  it  pronounced  by  the  Chippewas,  or 
rather  as  it  sounded  to  his  ears. 

May  13,  1673,  Jaques  Marquette  and  Louis  Joliet,  the  former 
a  priest  and  the  latter  the  commander  of  the  expedition,  set  out 
with  five  assistants,  and  on  June  17  of  the  same  year  reached 
the  TMississippi  at  the  present  site  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  thence 
continuing  down  the  river  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois, 
which  they  ascended,  subsequently  reaching  the  lakes. 

In  1678,  the  Sieur  Duluth,  Daniel  Graysolon,  under  commis- 
sion from  the  governor  of  Canada,  set  out  from  Quebec,  to  ex- 
plore the  country  west  of  the  Lake  Superior  region.  He  was  to 
take  possession  of  it  in  the  name  of  the  king  of  France,  and 
secure  the  trade  of  the  native  tribes.  Duluth  entered  IMinnesota 
in  1679,  reaching  the  great  Sioux  village  of  Kathio  at  Mille  Lacs, 
on  July  2.  "On  that  day,"  he  says,  "I  had  the  honor  to  plant 
His  Majesty's  arms,  where  a  Frenchman  never  before  had  been." 

La  Salle,  however,  was  the  first  to  lay  claim  to  the  entire 
valley  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign.  After  achieving  perpetual 
fame  by  the  discovery  of  the  Ohio  river  (1670-71),  he  conceived 
the  plan  of  reaching  the  Pacific  by  way  of  the  northern  Missis- 
sippi, at  that  time  unexplored  and  supposed  to  be  a  waterway 
connecting  the  two  oceans.  Frontenac,  then  governor-general 
of  Canada,  favored  the  plan,  as  did  the  King  of  France.  Ac- 
cordingly, gathering  a  company  of  Frenchmen,  he  pursued  his 
way  through  the  lakes,  made  a  portage  to  the  Illinois  river,  and 
January  4,  1680,  reached  what  is  now  Lake  Peoria,  in  Illinois. 
From  there,  in  February,  he  sent  Hennepin  and  two  companions 
to  explore  the  upper  ]Mississippi.  During  this  voyage  Hennepin, 
and  the  men  accompanying  him,  were  taken  by  the  Indians  as 
far  north  as  Mille  Lacs.  He  also  discovered  St.  Anthony  Falls. 
Needing  reinforcements,  La  Salle  again  returned  to  Canada.  In 
January,  1682,  with  a  band  of  followers,  he  started  on  his  third 
and  greatest  expedition.  February  6,  they  reached  the  IMissis- 
sippi  by  Avay  of  Lake  Michigan  and  the  Illinois  river,  and  ^lareh 


22  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUJsTTY 

6,  discovered  the  three  great  passages  by  which  the  river  dis- 
charges its  waters  into  the  Gulf.  Two  days  later  they  reascended 
the  river  a  short  distance,  to  find  a  high  spot  out  of  the  reach 
of  inundations,  and  there  erected  a  column  and  planted  a  cross, 
proclaiming  with  due  ceremony  the  authority  of  the  king  of 
France.  Thus  did  the  whole  Mississippi  valley  pass  under  the 
nominal  sovereignty  of  the  French  monarchs. 

The  first  definite  claim  to  the  upper  Mississippi  is  embodied 
in  a  paper,  still  preserved,  in  the  colonial  archives  of  France, 
entitled  "The  record  of  the  taking  possession,  in  his  majesty's 
name,  of  the  Bay  des  Puants  (Green  bay),  of  the  lake  and  rivers 
of  the  Outagamis  and  IMaskoutins  (Fox  rivers  and  Lake  Winne- 
bago), of  the  river  Ouiskonche  (Wisconsin),  and  that  of  the 
Mississippi,  the  country  of  the  Nadouesioux  (the  Sioux  or  Dakota 
Indians),  the  rivers  St.  Croix  and  St.  Pierre  (Minnesota),  and 
other  places  more  remote,  May  8,  1689."  (E.  B.  0  "Callahan's 
translation  in  1855,  published  in  Vol.  9,  page  418,  "Documents 
Relating  to  the  Colonial  History  of  the  State  of  New  York") 
This  claim  was  made  by  Perrot,  and  the  proclamation  is  supposed 
to  have  been  issued  from  Fort  St.  Antonie  (Anthony)  near  the 
present  site  of  Trempealeau. 

The  previous  proclamations  of  St.  Lusson  in  1671  at  the  out- 
let of  Lake  Superior,  of  De  Luth,  in  1679,  at  the  west  end  of 
the  same  lake  and  at  Mille  Lacs,  had  no  definite  bearing  on  the 
land  now  embraced  in  Mower  county,  but  nevertheless  strength- 
ened the  French  claims  of  sovereignty. 

For  over  eight  decades  thereafter,  the  claims  of  France  were, 
tacitly  at  least,  recognized  in  Europe.  In  1763  there  came  a 
change.  Of  this  change,  A.  N.  Winchell  (in  Vol.  10,  "Minnesota 
Historical  Society  Collections")  writes:  "The  present  eastern 
boundary  of  Minnesota,  in  part  (that  is,  so  far  as  the  Mississippi 
now  forms  its  eastern  boundary),  has  a  history  beginning  at  a 
very  early  date.  In  1763,  at  the  end  of  that  long  struggle  during 
which  England  passed  many  a  mile  post  in  her  race  for  world 
empire,  while  France  lost  nearly  as  much  as  Britain  gained — 
that  struggle,  called  in  America  the  French  and  Indian  war — - 
the  Mississippi  river  became  an  international  boundary.  The 
articles  of  the  definite  treaty  of  peace  were  signed  at  Paris,  on 
February  10,  1763.  The  seventh  article  made  the  Mississippi, 
from  its  source  to  about  the  31st  degree  of  north  latitude,  the 
boundary  between  the  English  colonies  on  this  continent  and 
the  French  Louisiana.  The  text  of  the  article  is  as  follows: 
(Published  in  the  "Gentleman's  Magazine,"  Vol.  33,  pages  121- 
126,  March,  1763). 

"VII.  In  order  to  re-establish  peace  on  solid  and  durable 
foundations,  and  to  remove  forever  all  subjects  of  dispute  to  the 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  33 

limits  of  the  British  and  French  Territories  on  the  continent  of 
America; — that  for  the  future,  the  confines  between  the  domains 
of  his  Britannic  majesty  and  those  of  his  most  Christian  majesty 
(the  king  of  France)  in  that  part  of  the  world,  shall  be  fixed 
irrevocably  by  a  line  drawn  down  the  middle  of  the  river  Missis- 
sippi, from  its  source  to  the  river  Iberville,  and  from  thence,  by 
a  line  drawn  along  the  middle  of  this  river,  and  the  Lake  Maure- 
pas  and  Pontchartrain,  to  the  sea."  The  boundary  from  the 
source  of  the  river  further  north,  or  west,  or  in  any  direction, 
was  not  given ;  it  was  evidently  supposed  that  it  would  be  of  no 
importance,  for  many  centuries,  at  least. 

This  seventh  article  of  the  definite  treaty  was  identical  with 
the  sixth  article  in  the  preliminary  treaty  of  peace  signed  by 
England,  Spain  and  France,  at  Fontainebleau,  November  3,  1762. 
On  that  same  day,  November  3,  1762,  the  French  and  Spanish 
representatives  had  signed  another  act  by  which  the  French  king 
"ceded  to  his  cousin  of  Spain,  and  his  successors  forever  *  *  * 
all  the  country  known  by  the  name  of  Louisiana,  including  New 
Orleans  and  the  island  on  which  that  city  is  situated."  This 
agreement  was  kept  secret,  but  when  the  definite  treaty  was 
signed  at  Paris  the  following  year,  this  secret  pact  went  into 
efi'ect,  and  Spain  at  once  became  the  possessor  of  the  area 
described. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  territory  east  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  north  of  the  31st  parallel,  passed  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  United  States.  By  the  definite  treaty  of  peace 
between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  ratified  at  Paris, 
September  3,  1783,  a  part  of  the  northern  boundary  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  western  boundary  thereof  was  established, 
as  follovv'S:  Commencing  at  the  most  northwestern  point  of  the 
Lake  of  the  Woods  and  from  thence  on  a  due  course  west  to  the 
Mississippi  river  (the  Mississippi  at  that  time  was  thought  to 
extend  into  what  is  now  Canada),  thence  by  a  line  to  be  drawn 
along  the  middle  of  said  Mississippi  river  until  it  shall  intersect 
the  northernmost  part  of  the  31st  degree  of  north  latitude.  (U.  S. 
Statutes  at  Large,  Vol.  8,  page  82.) 

In  1800,  by  the  secret  treaty  of  San  (or  Saint)  Ildefouso 
(signed  October  1),  Spain  receded  the  indefinite  tract  west  of  the 
Mississippi  to  France,  which  nation  did  not,  however,  take  formal 
possession  until  three  years  later,  when  the  formality  was  made 
necessary  in  order  that  the  tract  might  be  ceded  to  the  United 
States,  Napoleon,  for  France,  sold  the  tract  to  the  United  States, 
April  30,  1803.  The  region  comprehended  in  the  "Louisiana 
Purchase,"  as  this  area  was  called,  included  all  the  country  west 
of  the   Mississippi,   except   those   portions   west   of   the   Rocky 


24:  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

mountains  actually  occupied  by  Spain,  and  extended  as  far  north 
as  the  British  territory. 

By  an  act  of  congress,  approved  October  31,  1803,  the  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  was  authorized  to  take  possession  of 
this  territory,  the  act  providing  that  "all  the  military,  civil,  and 
judicial  powers  exercised  by  the  officers  of  the  existing  govern- 
ment, shall  be  vested  in  such  person  and  persons,  and  shall  be 
exercised  in  such  manner  as  the  president  of  the  United  States 
shall  direct."  (United  States  Statutes  at  Large,  Vol.  2,  page 
245.) 

December  20,  1803,  Louisiana  was  formally  turned  over  to 
the  United  States  at  New  Orleans,  by  M.  Laussat,  the  civil  agent 
of  France,  Avho  a  few  days  previous  (November  30)  had  received 
a  formal  transfer  from  representatives  of  Spain. 

Louisiana  District.  By  an  act  of  congress,  approved  ]\Iarch 
26,  1801:,  all  of  that  portion  of  the  country  ceded  by  France  to  the 
United  States  under  the  name  of  Louisiana,  lying  south  of  the 
33d  degree  of  north  latitude,  was  organized  as  the  territory  of 
Orleans  and  all  the  residue  thereof  was  organized  as  the  district 
of  Louisiana.  That  act  contained  the  following  provision:  "The 
executive  power  now  vested  in  the  government  of  the  Indiana 
territory  shall  extend  to  and  be  exercised  in  said  district  of 
Louisiana."  The  area  set  oif  as  the  territory  of  Orleans  was 
admitted  as  the  state  of  Louisiana  in  1812. 

Louisiana  Territory.  By  an  act  of  congress  approved  March 
3,  1805,  all  that  part  of  the  country,  embraced  in  the  district  of 
Louisiana,  Avas  organized  as  a  territory,  called  the  territory  of 
Louisiana. 

Missouri  Territory.  By  an  act  of  congress  approved  June  4, 
1814,  it  Avas  provided  that  the  territory  hitherto  called  Louisiana 
should  be  called  Missouri,  and  Avas  organized  as  a  territory. 
The  struggles  in  congress  Avhich  led  to  the  Missouri  compromise ; 
the  agreement  that  all  territory  west  of  Missouri  and  north  of 
parallel  36°  36'  should  forever  be  free  from  the  curse  of  slavery, 
and  the  final  admission  of  Missouri  Avitli  her  present  boundaries, 
by  presidential  proclamation,  August  10,  1821,  are  outside  of 
the  province  of  this  history.  Sufficient  is  it  to  say  here  that  this 
admission  left  the  land  to  the  northAvard,  including  MoAver 
county,  Avithout  a  fountain  head  of  territorial  government  from 
1hat  date  until  June  28,  1834,  Avhen  it  Avas  attached  to  Michigan. 


It  is  noAv  necessary  to  turn  to  the  events  that  had  been 
trans]>irJiifr  in  regard  to  tlie  government  of  the  area  east  of  the 
^Mississippi  and  iiort Invest  of  the  Ohio  river. 

The  Northwest  Territory  embraced  all  the  area  of  the  United 
States  nortliAvcst  of  the  Ohio  river.     By  the  provisions  of  the 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COl'NTY  25 

famous  "Northwest  Ordinance, "  passed  July  V\  1787,  by  the 
Congress  of  the  Confederation  (the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  not  being  adopted  until  September  17),  tlie  Ohio  river 
became  the  boundary  of  the  territory.  The  fifth  article  of  the 
ordinance  reads  as  follows:  "Art.  5.  There  shall  be  formed  in 
the  said  (i.  e.,  the  Northwest)  territory,  not  less  than  three,  nor 
more  than  tive  states,"  *  *  *  the  western  state  in  the  said 
territory  shall  be  bounded  by  the  Mississippi,  the  Ohio  and  the 
Wabash  rivers;  a  direct  line  drawn  from  the  Wabash  and  Post 
Vincents,  due  north,  to  the  territorial  line  between  the  United 
States  and  Canada;  and  by  the  said  territorial  line  to  the  Lake 
of  the  Woods  and  the  Mississippi.  (See  Executive  Documents, 
3d  session,  46th  congress,  1880-81,  Vol.  25,  Doc.  47,  Part  4,  pages 
153-156;  also  United  States  Statutes  at  Large,  Vol.  1,  page  51, 
note  a.) 

Indiana  Territory.  Tlie  ordinance  of  1787  provided  for  the 
organization  of  three  "states''  out  of  the  Northwest  Territory. 
That  same  year  the  constitution  of  the  United  States  was  adopted. 
In  1799,  Ohio  organized  a  territorial  government,  but  the  middle 
and  western  "states"  did  not  have,  separately,  sufficient  popula- 
tion to  warrant  the  establishment  of  two  separate  governments. 
Congress  solved  the  difficulty  by  uniting  the  two  under  the  name 
of  Indiana.  The  act  was  passed  May  7,  1800,  and  its  first  section 
reads  as  follows:  "Section  1 — Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  that  from  and 
after  the  fourth  day  of  July  next,  all  that  part  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States,  northwest  of  the  Ohio  river,  which  lies  to  the 
westward  of  a  line  beginning  at  the  Ohio  opposite  the  moutli  of 
the  Kentucky  river,  and  running  thence  to  Fort  Kecovery,  and 
thence  north  until  it  shall  intersect  the  territorial  line  between 
the  United  States  and  Canada,  shall,  for  the  purpose  of  tempo- 
rary government,  constitute  a  separate  territory,  and  be  called 
the  Indiana  Territory."  (U.  S.  Statutes  at  Large,  Vol.  2, 
page  58.)     Indiana  was  admitted  as  a  state  in  1816. 

Michigan  Territory.  By  an  act  of  congress  passed  June  11, 
1805,  Michigan  territory  was  fornfed.  The  boundaries  were 
described  as  follows:  "All  that  part  of  the  Indiana  territory 
which  lies  north  of  a  line  draAvn  east  from  the  southerly  bend  or 
extreme  of  Lake  Michigan  until  it  shall  intersect  Lake  Erie,  and 
east  of  a  line  drawn  from  the  said  southerly  bend  througli  the 
middle  of  said  lake  to  its  northern  extremity,  and  thence  due 
north  to  the  northern  l)Oundary  of  the  United  States,  shall  for 
the  piu'pose  of  temporary  government  constitute  a  separate  terri- 
tory, to  be  called  iMichigan.  (U.  S.  Statutes  at  Large,  Vol.  2, 
page  309.)  Additions,  noted  further  along  in  tliis  artich",  were 
later  made  to  this  territory. 

Illinois  Territory.     In  1S09,  settlers  had  comk'  in  so  fast  timt 


26  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

there  were  sufficieut  citizens  in  Indiana  territory  to  snpport  two 
governments.  Accordingly,  the  territory  of  Illinois  was  estab- 
lished, February  3,  1809,  by  the  following  enactment:  "Be  it 
enacted,  etc.,  That  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  March,  next,  all 
that  part  of  the  Indiana  territory  which  lies  west  of  the  Wabash 
river  and  a  direct  line  drawn  from  the  said  Wabash  river  and 
Post  Vincennes,  due  north  to  the  territorial  line  between  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  shall  for  the  purpose  of  temporary 
government  constitute  a  separate  territory,  and  be  called  Illinois. 
(U.  S.  Statutes  at  Large,  Vol.  2,  page  514.)  Illinois  was  admitted 
p.s  a  state  in  1818. 

Michigan  Territory.  The  population  of  Illinois  continued  to 
increase,  and  the  people  were  eager  for  a  state  government.  The 
southern  portion  was  therefore  granted  statehood  privileges,  and 
the  northern  portion,  mainly  unoccvipied,  Avas  cut  off  and  added 
to  the  territory  of  Michigan,  previously  created.  This  transfer 
of  territory  was  authorized  in  section  7  of  the  act  passed  April  18, 
1818,  enabling  Illinois  to  form  a  state  government  and  constitu- 
tion. The  terms  of  the  act  are  as  follows:  "Section  7.  And  be 
it  further  enacted.  That  all  that  part  of  the  territory  of  the 
United  States  lying  north  of  the  state  of  Indiana,  and  which  was 
inebided  in  the  former  Indiana  territory,  together  with  that  part 
of  the  Illinois  territory  which  is  situated  north  of,  and  not 
included  within  the  boundaries  prescribed  by  this  act  (viz.,  the 
boundaries  of  the  state  of  Illinois)  to  the  state  thereby  authorized 
to  be  formed,  shall  be  and  hereby  is,  attached  to  and  made  a 
part  of  the  Michigan  territory.  Thus  matters  remained  for 
sixteen  years. 

Missouri,  in  the  meantime,  had  been  admitted  as  a  state 
(1821),  and  the  territory  north  of  that  state,  and  Avest  of  the 
Mississippi,  was  practically  without  organized  authority  from 
that  year  until  1834,  when  the  increase  of  settlement  made  it 
advisable  that  the  benefits  of  some  sort  of  government  should  be 
extended  to  its  area.  Consequently,  Michigan  territory  Avas 
extended  to  include  this  vast  region.  The  act  so  enlarging 
Michigan  territory  passed  congress  June  28,  1834,  in  the  folloAA'- 
:ng  terms :  "Be  it  enacted,  etc..  That  all  that  part  of  the  territory 
of  the  United  States,  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Mississippi  river, 
on  the  south  by  the  state  of  Missouri,  and  a  line  drawn  due  Avest 
from  the  northwest  corner  of  said  state  to  the  Missouri  river;  on 
the  soutliAvest  and  Avest  by  the  Missouri  riA^er  and  the  White 
Earth  river,  falling  into  the  same,  and  on  the  north  by  the  north- 
era  boundary  of  the  United  States,  shall  be,  and  hereby  is,  for  the 
purpose  of  temporary  government  attached  to  and  made  a  part 
oi,  the  territoiy  of  Michigan."  (U.  S.  Statutes  at  Large,  Vol.  4, 
page  701.)     In  less  than  two  years,  certain  territory  Avas  set  apart 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  27 

to  form  the  proposed  state  of  Michigan.  This  act  passed  congress 
April  20,  1836,  but  Michigan  was  not  admitted  until  January  26, 
1837.    (U.  S.  Statutes  at  Large,  Vol.  5,  pages  10-16.) 

Wisconsin  Territory.  When  AVisconsin  territory  was  organ- 
ized by  an  act  of  congress,  April  20,  1836,  all  the  Louisiana  pur- 
cliase  north  of  the  state  of  Missouri  was  placed  under  its  jurisdic- 
tion. This  included  Mower  county.  The  boundaries  as  given 
at  that  time  were  as  follows:  "Bounded  on  the  east  by  a  line 
drawn  from  the  northeast  corner  of  the  state  of  Illinois  through 
the  middle  of  Lake  ]\Iichigan  to  a  point  in  the  middle  of  said 
lake  and  opposite  the  main  channel  of  Green  Bay  and  through 
said  channel  and  Green  Bay  to  the  mouth  of  the  Menominee 
river,  thence  through  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  said 
rivr-r  to  that  head  of  said  river  nearest  the  Lake  of  the  Desert, 
1  hence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  middle  of  said  lake,  thence  through 
tlie  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Montreal  river  to  its 
mouth  ;  thence  with  a  direct  line  across  Lake  Superior  to  where 
the  territorial  line  of  the  United  States  last  touches  said  lake, 
northAvest,  thence  on  the  north  with  the  said  territorial  line  to  the 
White  Earth  river  (located  in  what  is  now  Wood  county.  North 
Dakota).  On  the  west  by  a  line  from  the  said  boundary  line,  fol- 
lowing down  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  White  Earth 
river  to  the  Missouri  river,  and  down  the  middle  of  the  main 
channel  of  the  Missouri  river  to  a  point  due  west  from  the  north- 
Avesi  corner  of  the  state  of  Missouri;  and  on  the  south  from  said 
point  due  east  to  the  northwest  corner  of  the  state  of  Missouri,  and 
thence  with  the  boundaries  of  the  states  of  Missouri  and  Illinois 
as  already  fixed  by  act  of  congress.  (U.  S.  Statutes  at  Large, 
'Vol.  5,  page  18.)  It  is  interesting  to  note  in  this  connection  that 
two  sessions  of  the  Wisconsin  territorial  legislature  were  held  at 
whfit  is  now  Burlington,  Iowa. 

Iowa  Territory.  The  territory  of  Iowa  Avas  created  by  the 
act  of  congress,  June  12,  1838,  which  act  divided  the  territory 
of  Wisconsin  along  the  Mississippi  river  and  named  the  western 
part,  Iowa.  The  act  provided :  ' '  That  from  and  after  the  third 
day  of  July,  next,  all  that  part  of  the  present  territory  of  Wis- 
consin AA'hich  lies  west  of  the  INIississippi  river  and  west  of  a  line 
draAvn  due  south  from  the  head  waters  or  sources  of  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  territorial  lines,  shall,  for  the  purpose  of  temporary 
government,  be  and  constitute  a  separate  territorial  government, 
by  the  name  of  loAva."  The  area  noAV  embracing  ]\IoAver  couuty 
Avas  included  Avithin  these  lines. 

loAva  remained  a  territory  from  1838  to  18-16.  The  greater 
part  of  southern  and  southeastern  INIinnesota  Avas  Avithin  the 
jurisdiction  of  Clayton  county.  Henry  11.  Sibley  Avas  a  justice 
of  the  peace   in   that   county.     The  county  seat    Avas  2r)0  miles 


28  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

distant  from  his  home  iu  ^leudota,  and  his  jm'isdietion  extended 
over  a  region  of  eountry,  which,  as  he  expressed  it,  was  "as 
large  as  the  empire  of  France."  A  convention  of  duly  authorized 
representatives  of  the  people  remained  in  session  at  Iowa  City 
from  October  7  to  November  1,  1844,  and  framed  a  state  consti- 
tution. It  was  provided  that  the  constitution  adopted,  together 
with  any  alterations  which  might  subsequently  be  made  by  con- 
gress, should  be  submitted  to  the  people  of  the  territory  for  their 
approval  or  re.jection  at  the  township  elections  in  April,  1845. 
The  boundaries  of  the  proposed  new  state,  as  defined  in  the  con- 
stitution, were  in  part  as  follows:  ''  *  *  *  Thence  up  in  the 
middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  river  last  mentioned  (the 
I\lissouri)  to  the  mouth  of  the  Sioux  or  Calumet  river;  thence  in 
a  direct,  line  to  the  middle  of  the  main  channel' of  the  St.  Peter's 
(Minnesota)  river,  where  the  Watonwan  river — according  to 
Nicollet's  map — enters  the  same,  thence  down  the  middle  of  the 
main  channel  of  said  river  to  the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  river ; 
thence  down  the  middle  of  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning." 
This  would  have  included  in  the  state  of  Iowa  Mower  county,  and 
in  fact,  all  the  counties  of  what  is  now  IMinnesota  that  lie  south 
and  east  of  the  Minnesota  as  far  as  Mankato,  also  including  Fari- 
bault county  and  nearly  all  of  Martin,  the  greater  part  of  Blue 
Earth  and  portions  of  AVatonwan,  Cottonwood  nd  Jackson. 

Congress  rejected  these  boundary  lines,  and  March  3,  1845, 
in  its  enabling  act,  substituted  the  following  description  of  the 
proposed  boundaries:  "Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Des 
Moines  river,  in  the  middle  of  the  Mississippi ;  thence  by  the 
middle  of  the  channel  of  that  river  to  the  parallel  of  latitude 
passing  through  the  moiith  of  the  IMankato  or  Blue  Earth  river ; 
thence  west  along  said  parallel  of  latitude  to  a  point  where  it  is 
intersected  by  a  meridian  line  17°  30'  west  of  the  meridian  of 
Washington  City;  thence  due  south  to  the  northern  boundary 
line  of  the  state  of  Missouri;  thence  eastwardly  following  tliat 
boundary  to  the  point  at  which  the  same  intersects  with  the  Des 
Moines  river ;  thence  by  the  middle  of  the  channel  of  that  river 
to  the  place  of  beginning."  Thus  the  soutliern  boundary  of 
Minnesota  would  haA^e  been  on  a  line  due  east  from  the  present 
city  oC  ]\Iankato  to  the  Mississippi  river  and  due  west  from  the 
same  point  to  a  point  in  Brown  county.  This  would  have  included 
in  Iowa  all  but  a  small  fraction  of  the  counties  of  Winona,  Olm- 
stead.  Dodge,  Steele,  AVaseka  and  Blue  Earth,  portions  of  Brown, 
Watonwan  and  Martin;  and  all  of  Faribault,  Freeborn,  Slower, 
Fillmore  and  Houston.  This  reduction  in  its  proposed  territory 
was  not  pleasing  to  those  citizens  of  Iowa  who  wished  the  state 
to  have  its  boundaries  to  include  the  Minnesota  river  from  the 
Blue  Earth  to  the  ^Mississippi  and  the  Mississippi  from  the  Minne- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEU  COUNTY  29 

sota  river  to  the  Missouri  state  Hue.  This  chaugiug  in  the  bound- 
ary was  really  a  political  measure,  a  part  of  those  battles  in 
congress  over  free  and  slave  states  which  preceded  the  Civil  war. 
The  boundaries  as  proposed  by  congress  were  rejected  by  the 
people  of  Iowa  after  a  bitter  campaign.  August  4,  1846,  congress 
passed  a  second  enabling  act,  which  was  accepted  by  the  people 
by  a  narrow  margin  of  456,  the  vote  being  9,492  for  and  9,036 
against.  This  second  act  placed  the  northern  boundary  of  Iowa 
still  further  south,  but  added  territory  to  the  west.  The  northern 
boundary  of  Iowa,  as  described  in  the  enabling  act,  was  identical 
with  the  parallel  of  43°  30'  north,  from  the  Big  Sioux  river  east- 
ward to  the  Mississippi.  This,  with  the  exception  of  the  short 
distance  from  the  Big  Sioux  river  to  the  present  western  boundary 
of  Minnesota,  is  the  present  southern  boundary  of  our  state. 
Minnesota's  southern  boundary,  as  thus  described,  was  carefully 
surveyed  and  marked  within  six  yeai's  of  its  acceptance  by  Iowa. 
Tlie  work  was  authorized  March  3,  1849,  and  two  appropriations 
of  $1,500  each  were  soon  made.  The  survey  was  completed  during 
the  years  1849  to  1852,  at  a  total  cost  of  $32,277.73.  Although  the 
work  was  done  with  the  best  instruments  then  known,  an  error  of 
twenty-three  chains,  evidently  due  to  carelessness,  was  discovered 
within  a  year.  Iowa  was  admitted  as  a  state  December  28,  1846. 
Wisconsin  State.  Wisconsin  soon  wished  to  become  a  state. 
The  northwestern  boundary  provoked  considerable  discussion 
both  in  congress  and  in  the  two  constitutional  conventions  whicli 
were  called.  There  were  some  who  wished  to  include  all  the 
remaining  portion  of  the  northwest  territory  within  the  boand- 
aries  of  the  new  proposed  state.  The  two  prevailing  coteries, 
however,  were  the  ones  between  whom  the  fight  really  centered. 
One  body  wished  the  northwestern  boundary  of  the  new  state 
(Wisconsin)  to  extend  up  the  Mississippi  as  far  as  the  Rum  river, 
where  the  city  of  Anoka  is  now  situated,  thence  northeastAvardly 
to  the  first  rapids  of  the  St.  Louis  river  and  thence  lo  Lake  Supe- 
rior. The  residents  of  the  St.  Croix  valley,  and  those  living  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  between  the  St.  Croix  and  the 
Hum  river,  constituted  the  other  party  and  objected  to  being 
included  in  the  proposed  state  of  Wisconsin.  They  declared  tJuit 
they  were  separated  from  the  settled  portions  of  Wisconsin  l)y 
hundreds  of  miles  of  barren  land,  and  still  more  greatly  separated 
ty  a  ditiPerence  in  the  interests  and  character  of  the  inhabitants. 
They  proposed  that  the  northwest  boundary  of  the  new  state 
should  be  a  line  drawn  due  south  from  Shagwamigan  bay,  on  Lake 
Superior,  to  the  intersection  of  the  main  Chippewa  river,  and 
from  thence  down  the  middle  of  said  river  to  its  debouchure  into 
the  Mississippi.  Residents  of  the  district  affected  and  also  about 
Fort  Snelling  and  on  the  west  bank  of  tlic  ^Mississij^pi  furtlicr  u|> 


30  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

joined,  in  a  memorial  to  congress,  citing  the  grave  injustice  tliat 
would  be  done  the  proposed  territory  of  ]\Iinnesota  if  it  were  left 
without  a  single  point  on  the  Mississippi  below  St.  Anthony's 
falls,  the  limit  of  navigation.  Among  those  who  signed  this 
memorial  were  H.  H.  Sibley  and  Alexander  Faribault.  The  result 
of  the  controversy  was  a  compromise  adopting  a  middle  line  along 
the  St.  Croix  and  St.  Louis  rivers. 

The  enabling  act  for  the  state  of  AA'isconsin,  approved  August 
6,  1S46,  provided:  "That  the  people  of  the  territory  of  AViseonsin 
be  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  form  a  constitution  and 
state  government  *  *  *  with  the  following  boundaries,  to-wit : 
*  *  *  thence  through  the  center  of  Lake  Superior  to  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  Louis  river,  thence  up  the  main  channel  of  said  river 
to  the  first  rapids  in  the  same,  above  the  Indian  village,  according 
to  Nicollet's  map;  thence  due  south  to  the  main  branch  of  the 
River  St.  Croix ;  thence  down  the  main  channel  of  said  river  to 
the  Mississippi ;  thence  down  the  maua  channel  of  said  river  to  tlie 
northwest  corner  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  thence  due  east  *  *  *." 
This  is  the  first  and  incidentally  the  present  description  of  Alinne- 
sota's  eastern  boundary.  (United  States  Statutes  at  Large,  Vol.  9, 
page  56.) 

The  convention  that  framed  the  constitution  of  AVisconsiu  in 
1847-48  strongly  desired  the  Rum  river  as  their  eastern  boundary. 
After  accepting  the  boundary  chosen  by  congress  the  convention 
recommended  a  line  which,  if  agreeable  to  congress,  should  replace 
the  one  in  the  enabling  act.  The  proposed  boundary,  which  was 
rejected,  was  described  as  follows:  Leaving  the  aforesaid  bound- 
ary line  at  tlie  first  rapids  of  the  St.  Louis  river,  thence  in  a 
direct  line,  bearing  southwestwardly  to  the  mouth  of  the  Isko- 
dewabo  or  Rum  river,  where  the  same  empties  into  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  thence  down  the  main  channel  of  the  said  Mississippi 
river  to  the  aforesaid  boundary.  (Charters  and  Constitutions  of 
the  L'nitod  States,  Part  ii,  page  2030.) 

Minnesota  Territory.  The  events  which  led  up  to  tlie  estab- 
lishing of  Minnesota  as  a  territory  can  be  given  but  brief  mention 
here.  Sulficient  is  it  to  say  that  for  three  years  after  the  admis- 
sion of  Iowa  (in  1846)  the  area  that  is  now  Minnesota,  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  Avas  practically  a  no-man's  land.  December  18, 
1846,  Morgan  L.  Martin,  delegate  from  AVisconsin  territory,  gave 
notice  to  the  house  of  representatives  that  "at  an  early  day"  he 
would  ask  leave  to  introduce  a  bill  establishing  the  territorial 
government  of  Minnesota.  The  name,  which  is  the  Indian  term 
for  Avhat  was  then  the  river  St.  Peter  (Pierre)  and  has  now  become 
its  official  designation  was,  it  is  believed,  applied  to  the  proposed 
territory  at  the  suggestion  of  Joseph  R.  BroAvn.  During  its  con- 
sideration by  congress  the  l)iU  underwent  various  changes.     As 


HISTOL'Y  OF  .MOWKR  COlWrV  31 

reported  back  to  the  house,  the  name  "Minnesota"  had  been 
changed  by  Stephen  A.  Douglas  to  "Itasca."  Mr.  Martin  imme- 
diately moved  that  the  name  "Minnesota"  be  placed  in  the  bill  in 
place  of  ' '  Itasca. "  "  Chippewa, "  "  Jackson ' '  and  ' '  Washington ' ' 
were  also  proposed.  After  many  motions,  counter  motions  and 
amendments,  "Minnesota"  was  placed  in  the  bill,  which  with  a 
minor  change  passed  the  house.  In  the  senate  it  was  rejected. 
A  second  attempt  was  made  two  years  later.  January  10,  1848, 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  gave  due  notice  to  the  senate  that  "at  a 
future  day"'  lie  would  introduce  a  bill  to  establish  the  territory 
of  Minnesota.  He  brought  in  the  bill  February  23.  It  was  several 
dmes  read,  was  amended,  referred  to  committee  and  discussed, 
but  congress  adjourned  August  l-l  without  taking  ultimate  action 
on  the  proposition. 

In  the  meantime  "Wisconsin  Avas  admitted  to  the  Union  ]\Iay  29, 
1848,  and  the  western  half  of  what  was  then  St.  Croix  county  was 
left  outside  the  new  state.  The  settled  portions  of  the  area  thus 
cut  off  from  Wisconsin  by  its  admission  to  statehood  privileges 
were  in  the  southern  part  of  the  peninsula  of  land  lying  between 
tlie  ]\tississippi  and  the  St.  Croix. 

The  people  of  this  area  were  now  confronted  with  a  serious 
problem.  As  residents  of  the  territory  of  Wisconsin  they  had 
enjoj'ed  the  privileges  of  citizenship  in  the  United  States.  By 
the  creation  of  the  state  of  Wisconsin  they  were  disfranchised 
and  left  without  the  benefits  of  organized  government.  Thus, 
Stillwater,  which  had  been  the  governmental  seat  of  a  growing 
county  (St.  Croix),  was  left  outside  the  pale  of  organized  law. 
Legal  minds  disagreed  on  the  question  of  whether  the  minor  civil 
officers,  such  as  justices  of  the  peace,  created  under  the  territorial 
organization,  were  still  qualified  to  exercise  the  authority  of  their 
positions.  At  a  meeting  held  at  St.  Paul,  in  July,  1848,  the  citizens 
of  that  (then)  village  considered  the  necessity  for  the  formation 
of  a  new  territory.  August  5  a  meeting  of  citizens  of  the  area 
west  of  the  St.  Croix  was  held  at  Stillwater,  and  it  was  decided 
to  call  a  general  convention  at  that  place,  August  26,  1848,  for  a 
three-fold  purpose :  1 — To  elect  a  territorial  delegate  to  congi-ess. 
2 — To  organize  a  territory  with  a  name  other  than  Wisconsin. 
3 — To  determine  whether  tlie  laws  and  organization  of  the  old 
territory  of  Wisconsin  were  still  in  effect  now  that  a  part  of  that 
territory  was  organized  as  a  state.  In  the  call  for  this  meeting, 
the  signers  called  themselves,  "AVe,  the  undersigned  citizens  of 
Minnesota  territory."  Tlie  meeting  was  held  pursuant  to  tlie 
call.  Action  was  taken  in  regard  to  the  first  proposition  by  the 
election  of  II.  H.  Sibley,  who  was  authorized  to  proceed  to  Wash- 
ington and  use  such  efforts  as  were  in  hi^s  power  to  secure  the 
organization   of  the   territory    of  ^Minnesota.      In    regard    fo   the 


32  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

second  proposition  a  memorial  was  addressed  to  the  president  oC 
the  United  States,  stating  the  reasons  why  the  organization  of 
Minnesota  territory  was  necessary.  The  third  proposition  pre- 
sented technical  points  worthy  of  the  attention  of  the  wisest  legal 
minds.  The  state  of  "Wisconsin  had  been  organized,  but  the  terri- 
tory of  Wisconsin  had  not  been  abolished.  AVas  not,  therefore, 
the  territory  still  in  existence,  and  did  not  its  organization  and 
its  laws  still  prevail  in  the  part  of  the  territory  that  had  not  been 
included  in  the  state  1  If  territorial  government  was  in  existence 
Yvould  it  not  give  the  residents  thereof  a  better  standing  before 
the  nation  in  their  desire  to  become  Minnesota  territory  ?  IMight 
not  this  technicality  give  the  delegate  a  seat  in  congress  when 
otherwise  he  must,  as  simply  the  representative  of  an  unorganized 
area,  make  his  requests  in  the  lobby  and  to  the  individual  mem- 
bers? John  Catlin,  who  had  been  secretary  of  the  territory  of 
Wisconsin  before  the  organization  of  that  state,  declared  that  the 
territory  still  existed  in  the  area  not  included  in  the  organized 
state  and  that  he  was  the  acting  governor.  Accordingly,  the 
people  of  the  cut-off  portion  organized  as  the  "Territory  of  Wis- 
consin," and  named  a  day  for  the  election  of  a  delegate.  In  the 
closely  contested  election,  held  October  30,  1848,  Sibley  won  out 
against  Henry  M.  Rice  and  accordingly  made  his  way  to  Wash- 
ington, technically  from  the  "Territory  of  AVisconsin,"  actually 
as  a  representative  of  the  proposed  territory  of  Minnesota.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  indeed,  Sibley,  living  at  Mendota,  had  ceased  to  be 
a  citizen  of  the  territory  of  Wisconsin  in  1838,  when  Iowa  territory 
was  created,  and  was  a  resident  of  the  part  of  Iowa  territory 
which  the  organization  of  the  state  of  Iowa  had  left  without  a 
government,  rather  than  of  that  territory  in  question  (between 
the  Mississippi  and  the  St.  Croix)  which  the  admission  of  Wis- 
consin as  a  state  had  left  without  a  government.  Sibley  was,  how- 
ever, after  much  opposition,  admitted  to  congress  and  given  a 
seat  January  15,  1849.  He  at  once  set  about  securing  friends  for 
the  proposition  to  create  Minnesota  territory.  December  4,  1848, 
a  few  days  previous  to  Sibley's  admission  to  congress,  Stephen  A. 
Douglas  had  announced  that  it  was  his  intention  to  introduce 
anew  a  bill  to  establish  the  territory  of  Minnesota.  Like  the  pre- 
vious attempt,  this  bill  underwent  various  vicissitudes.  As  passed, 
March  3,  1849,  the  act  creating  the  territory  read  as  follows:  "Be 
it  enacted,  *  *  *  That  from  and  after  the  passage  of  this  act, 
all  that  part  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States  which  lies 
within  tlie  following  limits,  to-Avit :  Beginning  in  the  Mississippi 
river  at  a  point  where  the  line  of  43°  and  30'  of  north  latitude 
crosses  the  same,  thence  running  due  west  on  said  line,  wliieli  is 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  state  of  Iowa,  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  said  state  of  Iowa ;  thence  southerly  along  the  west- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  33 

ern  boundary  of  said  state  to  the  point  Avhere  said  boundary 
strikes  the  Missouri  river;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the  main  cliau- 
nel  of  the  Missouri  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  White  Earth  river ; 
thence  up  tlie  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  White  Earth  river 
to  the  boundary  line  between  the  possessions  of  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain ;  thence  east  and  south  of  east  along  the  bound- 
ary line  betvi^een  the  possessions  of  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain  to  Lake  Superior ;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the  northern- 
most point  of  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  in  Lake  Superior;  thence 
along  the  vpestern  boundary  of  the  state  of  Wisconsin  to  the 
Mississippi  river ;  thence  down  the  main  channel  of  said  river  to 
the  place  of  beginning,  and  the  same  is  hereby  erected  into  a 
temporary  government  by  the  name  of  the  territory  of 
Minnesota." 

The  executive  power  of  the  territory  of  IMinnesota  was  vested 
in  a  governor,  (appointed  by  the  president,  whose  term  of  office 
was  four  years,  unless  sooner  removed  by  the  president),  who 
was  also  superintendent  of  Indian  atfairs.  The  legislative  power 
was  vested  in  a  governor  and  a  legislative  assembly,  consisting 
of  a  council  of  nine  members,  whose  term  of  ottice  was  two  years, 
and  a  house  of  representatives  of  eighteen  members,  whose  term 
of  office  was  one  year.  It  was  provided  that  the  number  of  mem- 
bers in  the  council  and  the  house  might  be  increased  by  the  legis- 
lative assembly  from  time  to  time  in  proportion  to  the  increase 
in  population,  but  that  the  whole  number  should  not  exceed  fifteen 
councillors  and  thirty-nine  representatives.  It  was  provided  that 
the  first  election  should  be  held  at  such  time  and  place  and  be  con- 
ducted in  svich  manner  as  the  governor  should  appoint  and  direct. 
and  that  the  persons  thus  elected  to  the  legislative  assembly  should 
meet  at  such  place,  and  on  such  days  as  the  governor  should 
appoint,  but  thereafter  the  time  and  place  and  manner  of  holding 
and  conducting  all  elections  by  the  people,  and  the  apportioning 
the  representatives  in  the  several  counties  and  districts,  to  tlie 
council  and  house  of  representatives,  according  to  the  population, 
should  be  prescribed  by  law,  as  well  as  the  day  of  the  com- 
mencement of  the  regular  sessions  of  the  legislative  assembly,  but 
that  no  session  should  exceed  sixty  days. 

Every  white  male  inhabitant  above  the  age  of  twenty-one,  who 
was  a  resident  of  the  territory  at  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the 
act  organizing  the  same,  was  entitled  to  vote  and  eligible  to 
office  at  the  tirst  election.  But  the  qualification  of  voters  and  of 
holding  office  at  all  subsequent  elections  should  be  such  as  should 
be  prescribed  by  the  legislative  assembly.  It  was  provided  by 
the  act  that  all  laws  passed  by  the  legislative  assembly  should  bi- 
submitted  to  congress,  and  if  disapproved  by  it.  should  be  null  and 
of  no  effect.    The  laws  in  force  in  tlie  li-rrilory  of  Wisconsin  after 


34  HISTORY  OF  .AlOWEIf  t'OUXTY 

the  date  of  the  admission  of  the  state  of  Wisconsin  Avere  con- 
tinued to  be  valid  and  in  operation  in  the  territory  of  ^Minnesota 
so  far  as  not  incompatible  Avith  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  organi- 
zation of  the  territory  of  jMinnesota,  subject  to  be  altered,  modified 
or  repealed  by  the  governor  and  legislative  assembly  of  said  terri- 
tory. All  justices  of  the  peace,  constables,  sheriffs  and  all  other 
judicial  and  ministerial  officers  who  were  in  office  within  the  limits 
of  the  territory  at  the  time  of  law  organizing  the  territory  was 
approved  were  authorized  and  required  to  continue  to  exercise 
and  perform  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices  as  officers  of  the 
territory  of  Minnesota  temporarily  and  until  they,  or  others, 
should  be  appointed  and  qualified  in  the  manner  therein  described 
or  until  their  offices  should  be  abolished. 

The  governor  was  given  the  veto  power,  and  the  council  and 
iiouse  could  pass  a  bill  over  his  veto  ])y  a  two-thirds  vote.  The 
judicial  power  of  the  territory  was  vested  in  a  supreme  court, 
district  court,  probate  court  and  in  justices  of  the  peace.  Tlie 
supreme  court  consisted  of  a  chief  justice  and  two  associate  jus- 
tices, appointed  by  the  president,  whose  term  of  office  was  four 
years  and  whose  salary  was  $1,800  a  year. 

The  territory  was  by  the  act  of  organization  required  to  be 
divided  into  three  judicial  districts,  and  the  district  court  to  be 
held  therein  by  one  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court  at  such 
times  and  places  as  might  be  prescribed  by  law,  and  the  judges 
thereof  were  required  to  reside  in  the  districts  assigned  to  thorn. 
The  clerks  of  said  courts  were  appointed  by  the  judges  thereof. 

The  United  States  officers  of  the  territory  were  a  governor, 
secretary,  chief  justice,  two  associate  justices,  attorney  and  mar- 
shal, appointed  by  the  president  with  the  advice  and  consent  of 
the  senate  of  the  United  States.  The  governor  received  a  salary 
of  •'l!l,500  a  year  as  governor  and  $1,000  a  year  as  superintendent 
of  Indian  affairs.  The  chief  justice  and  associate  justices  and 
secretary  received  a  salary  of  $1,800  a  year,  and  the  members  of 
the  legislative  assembly  $3  a  day  during  their  attendance  upon 
the  sessions  thereof  and  $3  each  day  for  every  twenty  miles  tniv- 
eled  going  to  and  returning  therefrom. 

State  of  Minnesota.  Tlie  people  of  the  territory  of  ]\Ininesota 
were  ]]ot  long  content  with  a  territorial  government.  In  the 
wovds  of  A.  N.  AVincliell,  "December  24,  1856,  the  delegate  from 
tlie  territory  of  .Minnesota  introduced  a  l)ill  to  authorize  the 
people  of  that  territory  to  form  a  constitution  and  state  govern 
ment.  Tlie  l)il]  limited  tlie  proposed  state  on  the  west  liv  tlie 
]^-<1  Kiver  of  file  Xortii  antl  the  Big  Sioux  I'iver.  It  was  I'cferred 
to  the  committee  on  territories,  of  which  Mr.  Grow,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  eluiiinum.  January  31,  1857,  the  chairman  reported  a 
subslitute,  whicii   dift'ei'ed   from  the  original   bill   in  no   essential 


16^0831 

HISTOIJY  OF  MOWKIf  CorX'l'V  35 

respect  except  in  regard  to  the  western  boundary.  The  change 
tliere  consisted  in  adopting  a  line  through  Traverse  and  Big  Stom; 
lakes,  due  south  from  the  latter  to  the  Iowa  line.  The  altered 
boundary  cut  ott'  a  narrow  strip  of  territory,  estimated  by  Mr. 
GroAv  to  contain  between  five  and  six  hundred  square  miles. 
Today  the  strip  contains  such  towns  as  Sioux  Falls,  Watertowu 
and  Brookings.  The  substitute  had  a  stormy  voyage  through  con- 
gress, especially  in  the  senate,  but  finally  completed  the  trip  on 
February  25,  1857." 

The  enabling  act,  as  passed  and  approved  February  26,  1857, 
defined  the  boundaries  of  Minnesota  as  follows:  "Be  it  enac^ted, 
*  *  *  That  the  inhabitants  of  that  portion  of  the  territory  of 
Minnesota,  which  is  embraced  with  the  following  limits,  to-wit : 
Beginning  at  the  point  in  the  center  of  the  main  channel  of  the 
Red  River  of  the  North,  where  the  boundary  line  between  the 
United  States  and  the  British  possessions  crosses  the  same ;  thence 
up  the  main  channel  of  said  river  to  that  of  the  Bois  des  Sioux 
river ;  thence  (up)  the  main  channel  of  said  river  to  Lake  Travers ; 
thence  up  the  center  of  said  lake  to  the  southern  extremity 
thereof ;  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  head  of  Big  Stone  lake ; 
thence  through  its  center  to  its  outlet ;  thence  by  a  due  south  line 
to  the  north  line  of  the  state  of  Iowa ;  thence  east  along  the  north- 
ern boundary  of  said  state  to  the  main  channel  of  the  Mississippi 
river;  thence  up  the  main  channel  of  said  river  and  following 
the  boundary  line  of  the  state  of  AVisconsin,  until  the  same  inter- 
sects the  St.  Louis  river;  thence  down  said  river  to  and  through 
Lake  Superior,  on  the  boundary  line  of  Wisconsin  and  IMichigan, 
until  it  intersects  the  dividing  line  between  the  United  States  and 
the  British  possession ;  thence  up  Pigeon  river  and  following  said 
dividing  line  to  the  place  of  beginning;  be  and  the  same  are 
thereby  authorized  to  form  for  themselves  a  constitution  and  state 
government,  by  the  name  of  the  state  of  Minnesota,  and  to  come 
into  the  Union  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  original  states,  accord- 
ing to  the  federal  constitution." 

These  boundaries  were  accepted  witliout  change  and  are  the 
boundaries  of  the  state  at  the  present  time.  The  state  Avas 
admitted  May  11,  1858. 

It  will  therefore  be  seen  that  the  territorial  claim  of  title  to 
IMower  county  was  first  embraced  in  the  papal  gi-ant  to  Spain, 
May  4,  1493.  It  was  then  included  in  the  indefinite  chiiins  made 
by  Spain  to  lands  north  and  northwest  of  liei-  sett  leiiieiils  in  Mex- 
ico, Florida  and  the  West  Indies;  by  tiie  Englisli  to  jjinds  west  of 
their  Atlantic  coast  settlements,  and  by  tlu^  French  to  hinds  south, 
west  and  southwest  of  their  Canadian  setllemenls.  'I'he  first 
definite  claim  to  territory  now  embracing  .Mowei-  county  was  made 
by  La  Salle  cit  tlie  mouth  of  the  Mississi|)i)i.  .Maivli  S.  1(1S2.  in  tin- 


36  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUXTY 

name  of  the  king  of  France,  and  the  second  (still  more  definite) 
by  Perrot  near  the  present  site  of  Trempealeau,  Wis.,  May  8,  1689. 
This  was  also  a  French  claim.  France  remained  in  tacit  authority 
until  February  10,  1763,  when,  upon  England's  acknowledging 
the  French  authority  to  lands  west  of  the  Mississippi,  France,  by 
a  previous  secret  agreement,  turned  her  authority  over  to  Spain. 
October  1,  1800,  Spain  ceded  the  tract  to  France,  but  France  did 
not  take  formal  possession  until  November  30,  1803,  and  almost 
immediately,  December  20,  1803,  turned  it  over  to  the  United 
States,  the  Americans  having  purchased  it  from  Napoleon  April 
30  of  that  year. 

]\Iarch  26,  1804,  the  area  that  is  now  ]Mower  county  was 
included  in  Louisiana  district  as  a  part  of  Indiana  and  so 
remained  until  March  3,  1805.  From  March  3,  1805,  to  June  4, 
1812,  it  was  a  part  of  Louisiana  territory.  From  June  4,  1812, 
until  August  10,  1820,  it  was  a  part  of  Missouri  territory.  From 
August  10,  1821,  until  June  28,  1834,  it  was  outside  the  pale  of 
all  organized  government,  except  that  congress  had  general  juris- 
diction. From  June  28,  1834,  to  April  20,  1836,  it  was  a  part  of 
Michigan  territory.  From  April  20,  1836,  to  June  12,  1838,  it  was 
a  part  of  Wisconsin  territory.  From  June  12,  1838,  to  December 
28,  1846,  it  was  a  part  of  the  territory  of  Iowa  and  was  included 
in  the  boundaries  at  first  proposed  for  the  state  of  Iowa.  From 
December  28,  1846,  to  March  3,  1849,  it  was  again  without  terri- 
torial affiliation.  From  March  3,  1849,  to  May  11,  1858,  it  was  a 
part  of  Minnesota  territory,  and  on  the  latter  date  became  an 
integral  part  of  that  sovereign  state. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWKlf  CorXTY  37 

CHAPTP]R  V. 

EARLY  EXPLORATION. 

No  Evidence  That  the  French  Explorers  Ever  Saw  Mower  County 
— United  States  Dragoons  the  First  White  Men  to  Leave  a 
Record  of  Having  Visited  This  Locality — Expedition  of  1835 
— Four  Conipanies  Under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stephen  W. 
Kearney,  with  Albert  Lea  in  Command  of  Company  I,  Cross 
Mower  County  Twice — Major  Lawrence  Taliaferro,  Dr.  John 
Emerson  and  the  Slave,  Dred  Scott,  Visit  the  County  in  1836 
— Henry  H.  Sibley,  Alexander  Faribault,  John  C.  Fremont 
and  William  H.  Forbes  Here  in  1840— Svxrveying  Party  in 
1852 — Another  in  1853 — Township  and  Section  Lines  Are 
Surveyed. 

From  time  immemorial  until  some  time  after  the  coming  of 
the  whites,  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Mower  county  was  the 
hunting  ground  of  the  Indians.  As  there  were  no  permanent 
Indian  villages  here,  and  little  of  geographic  interest  in  the  sweep 
of  prairie  now  embraced  in  southern  Minnesota  and  northern 
Iowa,  none  of  the  earlier  explorers,  so  far  as  we  know,  visited 
Mower  county.  Hennepin  with  his  two  companions,  Pickard  du 
Guy  (Auguelle)  and  JMiehael  Accault  (Ako),  who  explored  the 
upper  Mississippi  in  1680;  Perrot,  who  had  trading  posts  about 
Lake  Pepin  as  early  as  1685 ;  LeSueur,  who  built  a  fort  near  Red 
Wing  on  Prairie  Island  in  1695,  and  one  near  ^Mankato  in  1700; 
La  Hontau,  who  wrote  marvelous  accounts  of  adventures,  and 
who  is  now  entirely  discredited  by  historians;  Jonathan  Carver, 
who  ascended  the  upper  ^Mississippi  in  1766 ;  Lieutenant  Zebulon 
M.  Pike,  who  explored  the  upper  jMississippi  in  1805-06 ;  Colonel 
Henry  Leavenworth,  who  is  1819  started  at  IMendota  in  what  is 
now  Dakota  county,  the  fort  which  was  afterward  moved  across 
the  river  and  became  Fort  Snelling;  ]Major  Stephen  H.  Long,  who 
explored  the  upper  iMississippi  in  1817  and  1823;  Governor  Lewis 
Cass,  who  in  1820  explored  the  principal  sources  of  the  :\Iissis- 
sippi  and  then  descended  the  river;  William  ^Morrison,  Avho  vis- 
ited Lake  Itasca  in  1802  and  is  usually  credited  as  tlie  discoverer 
of  the  source  of  the  ^lississippi ;  Henry  R.  Sclioolcraft,  who  in 
1832  explored  northern  ^Minnesota ;  George  Featlierstone,  who 
made  a  geological  survey  of  the  ^Minnesota  valley  in  1835;  George 
Catlin,  who  made  a  faitliful  study  of  the  Indians  of  Minnesota; 
Jean  Nicollet,  whose  activities  in  the  thirties  and  forties  con- 
tributed much  to  ^Minnesota  geography,  and  David  Dale  Owen, 
who  explored  large  portions  of  tlic  state  in  1847.  '48,  '4!)  ami  '50, 


38  HISTOKY  OF  MOWKi;  ("OFXTY 

and  whose  names  are  honored  as  the  early  explorers  of  Minne- 
sota, all  failed,  so  far  as  we  know,  to  make  Mower  county  a  visit. 
The  explorers  of  the  rivers  of  Iowa  which  have  their  source  in 
Mower  county,  also  failed  to  reach  this  county  in  the  early  days. 

It  is  possible  that  missionaries,  renegades,  traders  or  hunters 
visited  this  region,  in  the  days  of  the  early  exploration,  but  of 
this  historians  have  no  record  or  knowledge,  although  those  who 
enjoy  speculation  and  conjecture  think  it  quite  possible  the 
Frenchmen  from  the  posts  of  Perrot  on  Lake  Pepin,  the  stockades 
at  Frontenac,  or  the  forts  at  Prairie  Island  and  Mankato  may 
have  come  here  after  game. 

The  first  record  that  historians  have  obtained  of  a  visit  to 
Mower  county  by  the  whites  is  contained  in  a  manuscript  edited 
and  published  by  the  Iowa  Historical  Society,  and  entitled  "A 
Journal  of  Marches  by  the  First  United  States  Dragoons,  1834- 
45,"  and  published  in  the  July,  1909.  issue  of  the  "Iowa  Journal 
of  History  and  Politics." 

The  First  United  States  Dragoons  was  a  military  organization 
created  by  Congress  in  March,  1833,  for  the  more  perfect  defense 
of  the  frontier,  and  was  as  fine  a  body  of  men  as  had  ever  been 
gathered  for  a  similar  purpose,  having  been  recruited  from  espe- 
cially selected  men  in  every  state  in  the  Union  in  the  summer 
months  of  1833.  Tlie  commanding  officer  of  this  regiment  of  ten 
companies  were  Colonel  Henry  Dodge.  The  rendezvous  of  the 
regiment  was  Jetiferson  Barracks,  near  St.  Louis,  where  tlie  com- 
panies were  drilled  and  instructed  in  the  fall  of  1833. 

The  Journal  records  the  four  distinct  marches  or  campaigns 
in  which  Company  I  participated.  Of  these  the  fourth  only  is  of 
interest  to  the  people  of  IMower  county.  The  authorship  of  the 
Journal  has  not  yet  been  determined.  At  two  different  places 
the  author  has  signed  himself  as  "L"  and  he  states  that  he  was 
a  member  of  Company  I,  commanded  by  Captain  Browne.  At 
one  time  the  authorship  was  attributed  to  Colonel  Albert  ]\Iiller 
Lea,  but  internal  evidence  in  the  Journal  would  seem  to  prove, 
hoAvever,  that  such  is  not  the  case,  and  that  it  was  written  either 
by  an  officer  of  lower  rank  or  by  a  private. 

The  fourth  trip,  which  has  so  much  interest  to  the  people  of 
Mower  county,  records  the  story  of  a  march  of  1,100  miles  by 
Companies  B,  H  and  I,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stephen  AV. 
Kearney.  On  June  7,  1835,  this  detachment  left  Fort  Des  ^loines 
and  marched  between  the  Des  Moines  and  Skunk  rivers  to  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Boone  river.  Then  taking  a  northeastwardly 
convse  across  Iowa,  they  entered  what  is  now  ^linnesota.  crossed 
Mower  county,  and  reached  AVabashaw's  village  on  the  ^lissis- 
sip])]  ;it  in-actically  the  present  site  of  Winona.  After  remaining 
tlici'c   a})Out   a    Avcek,   the   comiianics   marclied    somewhat   to   the 


HISTORY  OP  MOWER  COUNTY  30 

soutli  of  westwardly.  They  crossed  the  present  ]\Io\ver  county 
and  continued  westward,  then  turning  southward,  and  entering 
Iov.\i  in  what  is  now  Kossuth  county,  reaching  tlie  Des  Moines 
river  safely.  After  crossing  this  river,  they  descended  it  on  the 
lower  side  and  reached  Fort  Des  Moines  on  August  19.  1835. 
without  the  loss  of  a  single  horse  or  man.  Lieutenant  Albert 
INIiller  Lea,  commanding  Company  I,  of  the  expedition,  was  the 
ofTicial  topographer,  and  in  his  honor  Nicollet  afterward  named 
a  previously  undesignated  lake  which  the  expedition  passed  in 
the  present  Freeborn  county. 

On  the  evening  of  Sunday,  June  28,  1835,  tlie  Dragoons,  on 
their  northeasterly  course  from  the  Des  Moines  river,  camped  on 
the  banks  of  the  Red  Cedar  river  in  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  near 
Osage.  The  soldiers  killed  several  buft'alo  and  captured  a  buffalo 
calf.  The  next  day  they  crossed  the  Red  Cedar  and  marched 
twenty-five  miles,  bringing  them  well  into  Mower  county.  The 
following  entry  is  found  in  the  Journal:  "Tuesday,  June  30, 
1835,  marched  twenty-five  miles.  Land,  kind  of  oak  barren.  By 
the  appearance  of  some  deserted  wigwams,  we  suppose  the  Soux 
(Sioux)  have  been  here  lately."  The  next  day's  march  of  twelve 
miles,  carried  the  soldiers  out  of  the  coiinty  and  toward  the 
present  site  of  Winona. 

On  the  return  journey,  the  expedition  reached  ]\Iower  county 
on  ]\tonday,  July  27,  1835.  The  soldiers  crossed  the  upper  Iowa 
near  the  present  site  of  Le  Roy  and  the  Red  Cedar  near  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Austin,  continviing  on  their  way  into  the  present  Free- 
born county.  The  entries  in  the  Journal  are  as  follows:  "]\[on- 
day,  July  27,  1835.  An  early  start.  Came  only  ten  miles.  Crossed 
the  Iway  (the  upper  Iowa).  Spent  seven  hours  in  crossing.  Bad 
traveling  and  bad  encampment.  Tuesday,  July  28.  This  day 
we  marched  fifteen  miles.  Crossed  the  south  fork  of  the  Iway 
(now  the  Red  Cedar  river).  Spent  three  hours  in  passing. 
Marching  bad.  Encampment  good."  It  will  be  seen  from  this 
that  the  writer  of  the  Journal  underestimated  the  distance  that 
the  Dragoons  traveled  from  the  upper  Iowa  to  the  Red  Cedar 
river. 

In  1836,  one  year  after  the  trip  of  the  Dragoons,  and  six  years 
after  the  ceding  of  the  "Neutral  Strip"  (just  south  of  Mower 
county),  a  party  of  officers  started  on  a  hunting  trip  from  Fort 
Snelling.  They  reached  the  present  site  of  Faribault,  came  down 
the  source  of  the  Straight  river,  touched  tlu^  head  waters  of  the 
Zumbro  branch  east  of  Blooming  Prairie,  and  then  reached  the 
Red  Cedar,  passing  tlirough  what  is  now  Slower  county.  Some- 
where after  leaving  the  Zumbro,  and  l)efore  reaching  the 
"Neutral  Strip,"  they  camped  for  the  night,  and  from  the  loca- 
tions  given   in   TaliaFcrro's   jouiMiiil.   tlic    ciim])    must    have   b.'cii 


40  HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY 

somewhere  neai'  what  is  now  Austin.  Tlie  party  was  headed  by 
Major  Lawrence  Taliaferro,  and  among  the  hunters  was  Dr.  John 
Emerson,  the  surgeon  at  Fort  Snelling. '  With  Dr.  Emerson  was 
his  slave  Dred,  who  had  just  been  married  to  Harriett,  whom 
Major  Taliaferro  had  sold  to  Dr.  Emerson.  This  Dred  afterward 
became  world  famous  in  the  "Dred  Scott  case,"  which  was  on;.- 
of  the  incidents  in  the  train  of  events  which  did  not  end  until 
tlif  close  of  the  Civil  Avar. 

A  party  of  famous  pioneer  hunters  visited  IMow^er  county  in 
1840.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  Henry  H.  Sibley,  Alexander  Fari- 
bault, William  H.  Forbes  and  John  C.  Fremont  started  with  a 
party  of  Sioux  and  two  Canadian  voyageurs  for  the  "Neutral 
Land"  which  the  government  had  purchased  from  the  Sioux,  the 
Sax  and  the  Foxes.  Jack  Eraser  joined  the  party  near  the  pres- 
ent city  of  Faribault.  The  party  reached  the  Red  Cedar  river 
somewhere  in  the  present  ]\Iower  county.  At  some  point  on  this 
river  a  camp  was  made,  and  Sibley,  Eraser  and  two  Canadians 
accompanied  Fremont  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  where  Jean  N.  Nicol- 
lett  aw^aited  him.  Leaving  Fremont  at  that  point,  the  four 
returned  to  the  camp,  being  accompanied  a  part  of  the  way  by 
a  hunter  named  Reed.  A  few  days  later  the  party  of  white  men 
left  the  Sioux  in  camp  on  the  Red  Cedar  and  returned  to 
Mendota. 

In  October,  1841,  H.  H.  Sibley,  then  thirty  years  of  age,  was 
agent  at  Mendota,  across  the  river  from  Fort  Snelling,  Minne- 
sota, for  the  American  Fur  Company.  He  was  active  and  vigor- 
ous to  obtain  skins  and  peltries  for  the  company.  He  made  a 
feast,  invited  the  Sioux,  killed  two  fat  oxen  and  provided  wild 
rice  and  other  inducements  suitable  for  an  Indian  holiday.  Invi- 
tations had  been  sent  out  to  the  neighboring  villages,  and  nearly 
a  thousand  men,  squaws  and  children  came  to  the  feast.  After 
the  Indians  had  satisfied  their  hunger  and  had  smoked  his  tobacco, 
Sibley  explained  to  them  that  his  object  was  to  enlist  a  party  to 
go  to  the  south  that  coming  winter  and  hunt  on  the  neutral  ground 
and  around  the  headwaters  of  the  Red  Cedar.  Small  sticks  six 
inches  long  and  painted  red  were  produced  and  one  was  offered  to 
each  grown  hunter.  It  had  been  explained  to  them  that  whoever 
voluntarily  accepted  one  of  these  red  sticks  thereby  enlisted  for 
the  winter's  hunt.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  thus 
enlisted.  These  men  then  assembled  a  short  distance  from  the 
scene  of  the  feast  and  chose  ten  of  their  number,  whom  they 
called  soldiers,  to  have  control  of  the  hunting.  These  ten,  after 
consulting  together,  announced  the  rules  to  govern  the  hunt  and 
notified  the  enlisted  men  to  appear  on  the  hill  south  of  j\Iendota 
in  six  days  thereafter  with  their  ponies,  squaws,  dogs  and  buffalo 
skin  tcnis  ready  to  start. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  41 

At  the  appointed  time  the  party  assembled  and  started  south. 
The  chief  Indian  of  the  party  was  Little  Crow,  father  of  the  cliiei 
of  the  same  name  who  took  part  in  the  massacre  of  1862.  Tlie 
usual  day's  progress  was  about  ten  miles.  They  went  from  j\Ien- 
dota  south  over  the  prairie  until  they  struck  the  Cannon  river, 
near  Northfield,  then  up  that,  and  the  Straight  river,  by  Fari- 
bault and  Owatonna,  to  near  Cooleysville,  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  Steele  county.  There  they  crossed  over  to  the  Cedar  river 
and  came  down  its  right  hand  bank  to  the  timber  at  this  place, 
Austin,  or  a  little  south  of  here,  and  camped  for  the  winter. 

Sibley  was  with  them,  clad  in  Indian  costume,  with  double- 
barreled  rifle,  pistols  and  two  big  wolf  dogs  at  his  heels.  He  had 
with  him  two  French-Canadians  and  a  number  of  kegs  of  powder 
and  other  goods  on  carts,  to  sell  to  the  Indians  and  hold  claim 
to  the  furs  and  skins  which  the  hunt  should  produce. 

On  his  advice,  the  Indians  built  here  a  stockade.  Posts  with 
crotch  on  their  tops  were  set  firmly  into  the  ground.  Poles  were 
laid  on  top  from  post  to  post.  Then  other  posts,  ten  feet  or  more 
in  length,  Avere  set,  one  end  on  the  ground  and  the  other  leaning 
against  the  poles.  Brush  and  the  tops  of  trees  were  cut  and  piled 
by  the  squaws  with  great  industry,  outside  against  the  line  of 
posts  until  it  was  impossible  for  an  enemy  to  break  through  with- 
out consuming  a  good  deal  of  time,  all  the  while  exposed  to  the 
fire,  through  loopholes,  of  the  good  marksmen  within.  This  was 
the  first  structure  of  any  kind  built  in  what  is  now  Mower  county. 
Sibley  and  the  Indians  alike  put  small  trust  in  the  treaty  of  amity 
concluded  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  They  well  knew  that  such  treaties 
between  Indians  usually  end  in  treachery  and  bloodshed.  Now 
that  they  were  on  the  border  of  their  own  country  and  about  to 
hunt  over  the  neutral  ground,  where  in  fact  they  had  no  right, 
they  deemed  it  expedient  to  build  this  stockade  as  a  safeguard. 
There  was  a  great  abundance  of  game  on  this  neutral  ground,  as 
it  had  not  been  hunted  over  since  its  relinquishment  eleven  years 
before,  to  the  United  States,  by  the  treaty  of  July  15,  1830. 

One  day  Sibley  Avent  out  early  with  his  two  wolf  dogs  for  a 
still  hunt,  alone.  In  his  absence  Little  Crow,  always  reckless  and 
daring,  Avent  off  south,  down  toward  the  forks  of  the  Cedar,  near 
Avhere  Charles  City  now  stands,  for  a  three  days'  hunt  on  the 
border  or  even  over  the  line  in  the  enemies'  country.  He  took 
Avith  him  nearly  all  the  young  men  of  the  camp.  "When  Sibley 
returned  at  sunset,  the  squaAvs  told  him  of  Little  CroAv's  absence 
and  that  a  hostile  Indian  spy  had  been  seen  lurking  in  the  vicin- 
ity. He  at  once  sallied  forth  Avith  liis  dogs  to  verify  the  report. 
There  Avas  no  mistake,  for  in  the  light  snoAv  on  the  ground  he 
saAv  the  moccasin  tracks  of  the  spy.  He  armed  the  old  men  and 
boys   remaining    in   the    camp,    assigned    to    each    his    place    jind 


42  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

awaited  the  expected  attack.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, the  Indian  dogs  outside  began  to  bark  furiously.  The 
women  screamed  and  the  old  men  sang  their  death  songs.  Sibley 
ordered  silence  and  directed  that  every  pistol  and  gun  be  shot  oft' 
as  rapidly  as  possible  and  reloaded.  He  himself  fired  five  shots 
from  his  gun  and  pistols.  The  enemy  were  thereby  deceived  as  to 
the  number  of  fighting  men  in  camp  and  made  no  attack.  After 
sunrise  next  morning  the  ground  was  examined  and  it  was  appar- 
ent that  at  least  fifty  hostile  warriors  had  tied  their  horses  to  trees 
in  a  grove  at  some  distance  away.  An  Indian  boy  Avas  sent  with 
all  speed  to  Little  Crow's  camp  doAvn  the  river,  to  tell  the  news 
and  order  him  to  return  without  delay.  About  midnight  the 
hunters  returned  and  Sibley's  tense  nervous  anxiety  abated. 

At  the  close  of  each  day,  when  the  Indians  ca-me  in,  the  ten  so- 
called  soldiers  would  announce  the  direction  and  limits  of  the 
next  day's  hunt.  This  limit  would  be  about  ten  miles  away,  indi- 
cated by  a  stream  or  slough  or  a  grove  or  by  some  other  natural 
object.  Early  next  morning  some  of  these  soldiers  would  go 
forward  and  station  themselves  along  the  limit  line,  to  detect  and 
punish  anyone  who  should  attempt  to  pass  and  frighten  away  the 
game  beyond.  The  penalty  for  violation  of  the  rules  was  in  the 
discretion  of  these  ten  so-called  soldiers.  In  aggravated  cases 
they  would  slit  down  and  cut  up  the  offender's  lodge,  break  his 
kettles  and  do  other  damage.  This  enterprising  trader  (after- 
ward first  governor  of  this  state)  says,  in  his  narrative  of  the 
winter's  events,  that  on  one  occasion  he  inadvertently  got  beyond 
the  line  fixed  for  that  day's  hunt.  One  of  the  soldiers,  hid  in  the 
tall  grass,  sprang  up  and  rushed  upon  him,  seized  his  fine  double- 
barreled  gun,  snatched  his  fur  cap  from  his  head  and  ordered  him 
back  to  camp,  saying  lie  would  cut  up  his  tent  when  he  returned 
in  the  evening.  It  was  a  cold  day  and  Sibley  had  to  ride  bare- 
headed, ten  miles  to  camp.  The  soldiers  had  supreme  command  of 
the  hunting  and  all  its  rules  and  regulations.  It  was  considered 
very  disgraceful  for  any  one  whether  hunter,  trader  or  even  chief 
of  the  tribe  to  disobey  or  resist  these  governors  of  the  hunt.  On 
the  M^ay  in  he  devised  a  plan  to  mollify  the  soldiers  and  save  his 
fine  buffalo  skin  lodge.  He  got  together  all  the  good  things  he 
could  muster  and  when  the  soldiers  came  in  that  night,  he  went 
out  and  invited  all  the  ten  to  have  supper  with  him  in  his  lodge. 

The  temptation  was  too  strong  and  they  accepted,  ate  his 
supper,  smoked  his  tobacco  and  each  accepted  a  small  present  and 
agreed  with  him  to  overlook  for  once,  his  infraction  of  the  rules. 
His  cap  and  gun  were  restored,  and  as  they  say  in  diplomacy,  the 
incident  ended.  But  he  fiunigatead  that  cap  before  wearing  it 
again. 

The  hunt  was  successful.     Over  2,000  deer,  fifty  elk,  as  many 


HISTOKY  OF  MOAVEK  COUNTY  ,         43 

bears,  five  panthers  and  a  few  buffalo  skins  Avere  ol)taine(l.  Tlie 
fur  company  sold  for  $20  guns  tliat  cost  $6  in  St.  Louis.  They  got 
pay  not  in  money  but  in  furs,  at  their  own  price.  This  is  a  speci- 
men of  the  profits  of  the  fur  trade.  The  Indians  broke  camp  and 
returned  to  Mendota  in  March,  before  the  spring  thaw  rendered 
the  sloughs  and  streams  impassable. 

From  1849  to  1852  the  northern  boundary  of  Iowa  was  sur- 
veyed, the  Mower  county  portion  of  the  line  being  surveyed  by  a 
party  under  Captain  Andrew  Talcott  in  1852. 

The  First,  Second  and  Third  Guide  Meridians,  the  second  being 
just  east  of  Austin,  were  surveyed  by  the  late  Hon.  Thomas  Simp- 
son, of  Winona,  in  1853. 

The  First  Standard  Parallel,  which  forms  the  northern  bound- 
ary of  Udolpho,  Waltham  and  Sargeant,  was  surveyed  in  1853 
by  E.  S.  Morris. 

The  boundaries  of  townships  101,  102,  103  and  104  in  rajige  14, 
were  siirveyed  in  1853  by  John  Ball,  and  subdivided  into  sections 
the  same  year  by  John  Tylor. 

The  boundaries  of  townships  101,  102,  103  and  104  in  range  15, 
were  surveyed  in  1853  by  John  Ball,  and  subdivided  into  sections 
the  same  year  by  John  Quigley. 

The  boundaries  of  townships  101,  102,  103  and  104  in  range  16, 
were  surveyed  in  1853  by  John  Ball.  Andrew  Talcott  subdivided 
township  101,  range  16,  in  1854;  John  Quigley,  townships  102  and 
103,  range  16,  in  1853 ;  and  John  Fitzpatrick,  township  104,  range 
16,  in  1853. 

The  boundaries  of  townships  101,  102,  103  and  104,  in  range  17, 
were  surveyed  in  1853  and  subdivided  the  same  year.  In  town- 
ship 101,  range  17,  John  Ball  and  Andrew  Talcott  surveyed  the 
boundaries  and  C.  Phipps  and  E.  Fitzpatrock  surveyed  the  sec 
tion  lines.  In  townships  102  and  103,  range  17,  the  boundaries 
were  surveyed  by  John  Bell  and  E.  S.  Morris,  and  the  section 
lines  by  AVilliam  J.  Anderson.  In  township  104,  range  17,  E.  S. 
Morris  surveyed  the  township  boundaries  and  John  Fitzpatrick 
surveyed  the  section  lines. 

The  boundaries  of  townships  101,  102,  103  and  104,  in  range  18, 
were  surveyed  in  1854  and  the  section  lines  drawn  the  same  year. 
In  township  101,  range  18,  the  boundaries  were  surveyed  by  J.  B. 
Reymond  and  E.  S.  Morris  and  the  section  lines  by  AYilliam  A. 
Anderson  and  Andrew  Talcott.  In  township  102,  range  18,  the 
boundary  lines  were  siu'veyed  by  J.  B.  Reyman  and  E.  S.  ]\Iorris, 
and  the  section  lines  by  AVilliam  A.  Anderson.  In  townships  103 
and  104,  range  18,  the  boundary  and  sections  lines  were  surveyed 
as  in  township  102,  range  18,  l)y  the  same  persons. 

In  1872,  while  digging  a  well  on  Bridge  street,  L.  G.  Basford 
discovered  at  a  deptli  of  twelve  feet,  two  spherical  shells  of  iion. 


14  HISTORY  OF  M0WP:R  COUXTY 

eio]!t  inches  in  circumference,  containing  coarse  white  sand  and 
Avhat  was  believed  to  be  evidences  of  black  powder.  No  authori- 
tative theory  has  ever  been  advanced  to  account  for  the  presence 
of  these  relies. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
FIRST  SETTLERS. 


Colony  of  the  Borderline  Between  Racine  Township  and  Fillmore 
Colony — Arrivals  in  Le  Roy  Township — Early  Settlement  in 
Lyle  and  Lansing — Settlers  of  1854 — Influx  of  Population 
Begins. 

The  first  settlement  within  the  present  limits  of  ]\Iower  county, 
of  which  tiiere  is  any  record,  was  probably  made  July  4,  1852,  in 
what  is  now  Racine  township,  section  1,  township  103,  range  14. 
by  Jacob  McQuillan,  Sr.,  and  his  party,  which  consisted  of  nine 
eldldren — of  whom  Jacob,  Jr.,  brought  his  wife  and  family — and 
a  son-in-law,  Adam  Zadyger.  At  that  time  no  survey  had  been 
made,  and  as  a  matter  of  fact  the  land  was  not  open  to  settle- 
ment, for  although  the  Indian  treaty  of  Mendota,  which  ceded  the 
land  to  the  whites,  had  at  that  time  been  signed  by  the  Indians, 
and  approved  with  amendments  by  the  senate,  the  amendments 
had  not  been  accepted  by  the  Indians,  nor  the  official  proclama- 
tion issued  by  the  president.  Upon  their  arrival,  the  party  camped 
by  what  is  now  known  as  the  Hamilton  spring.  Before  unhitch- 
ing his  team,  ]\Ir.  McQuillan  nailed  a  coffee  mill  to  a  tree,  as  a 
visible  sign  of  his  claim  to  a  homestead.  For  a  time  the  family 
lived  in  the  wagons,  later  they  took  up  their  abode  in  a  rude  cabin 
of  rough  poplar  logs.  Near  the  place  of  the  settlement  were  two 
springs,  some  ten  rods  apart.  Jacob  McQuillan,  Sr.,  took  the  Avest 
spring,  and  the  land  west  of  it,  while  his  son,  Jacob,  Jr.,  took  tlie 
land  east  of  this  line,  thus  including  in  his  property  the  most 
eastern  of  the  two  springs.  The  county  line  now  runs  a  few  rods 
to  the  eastward  of  the  line  between  the  claims  of  the  McQiiillans, 
Senior  and  Junior. 

In  1854  a  man  named  Booth  pre-empted  the  quarter  sectioii 
that  young  IMcQuillan  had  claimed,  the  claim  being  located  in 
what  is  now  Fillmore  county.  This  created  trouble,  and  a  force 
of  the  McQuillans"  friends  congregated,  well  armed,  to  put  the 
intruder  out  of  the  way.  Booth's  friends  gathered  to  meet  the 
opposition,  and  a  party  of  them  spent  the  night  in  readiness  for 
the  fray.    Tlie  ^IcQuillfui  party  sent  out  an  advance  guard,  which 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COU^^TY  45 

was  met  by  a  few  of  Booth's  friends,  near  tlie  present  site  o\' 
Hamilton.  When  the  McQuillan  party  discovered  tliat  Booth  ;iiu' 
his  friends  were  prepared  to  meet  them  and  defend  his  claim,  they 
soon  dispersed.  The  place  was  in  litigation  for  some  time,  nnd 
resulted  not  only  in  a  victory  for  Booth,  but  also  in  the  financial 
ruin  of  the  McQuillans.  This  land,  as  has  already  been  stated, 
was  just  over  the  line  in  Fillmore  county,  and  included  the  site 
of  the  village  of  Hamilton. 

Jacob  McQuillan,  Sr.,  occupied  his  claim  in  ]\Iower  county 
several  months  and  then  moved  to  Fillmore  county,  renting  his 
claim  to  Thomas  W.  Corey.  About  a  year  later  he  sold  his  Mower 
county  property.  He  improved  a  claim  in  Fillmore  county,  and 
there  lived  until  after  the  war.  At  the  age  of  seventy-three  he 
returned  to  Ohio,  and  there  died  shortly  afterward.  He  was  a 
powerful  man  with  an  iron  constitution;  very  kind  and  hospit- 
able, and  well  liked  generally,  though  he  was  uneducated,  and 
possessed  of  the  roughness  and  gruffness  of  the  typical  fore- 
runners of  pioneer  settlement. 

Thomas  W.  Corey,  already  mentioned,  made  the  second  set- 
tlement in  Racine  township  in  the  spring  of  1853.  He  was  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  and  came  from  Illinois,  overland,  by  way  of 
Davenport  and  Decorah.  He  settled  on  the  McQuillan  claim  and 
erected  a  log  cabin,  18  by  22,  in  which  he  often  entertained  trav- 
elers, the  cabin  being  on  the  then  traveled  route  between  Decorah 
and  Mantorville.  The  charge  was  usually  forty  cents  for  two 
meals  and  lodging.  Their  postofflce  and  trading  point  was 
Decorah,  Iowa. 

After  a  time  Mr.  Corey  moved  across  the  line  into  Fillmore 
covinty  and  erected  the  first  hotel  in  Hamilton.  In  1880  he 
removed  to  Tennessee  and  died  there  two  years  later. 

The  second  point  of  settlement  in  Mower  county  was  also 
near  the  border  line.  In  1852  Isaac  Van  Houghton,  who  assisted 
in  surveying  the  boundary  line  between  the  state  of  Iowa  and  the 
then  territory  of  Minnesota,  was  much  pleased  with  the  vicinity 
of  what  is  now  Le  Roy  township.  A  year  later  he  induced  several 
of  his  fellow  citizens  of  Lansing,  Iowa,  to  join  him  in  a  colonizing 
venture.  Consequently,  some  time  during  the  summer  of  1853, 
Isaac  Van  Houghton,  George  Squires,  J.  S.  Priest,  ]\Ioses  Niles 
and  Isaac  Armstrong  came  to  the  extreme  soutlieastern  part  of 
Le  Roy  township.  Van  Houghton  claimed  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  36  and  Squires  the  northeast  quarter  of  flu-!  same  sec- 
tion. Tliis,  however,  was  before  the  survey,  and  wlicii  the  lines 
were  laid  it  was  found  that  their  claims  were  on  scliool  lands  and 
not  subject  to  homestead  entry.  Armstrong  clainuHl  the  west  half 
of  section  33,  while  Priest  and  Niles  claimed  the  southeast  half 
of  section   35.     These   ehiims   ;ire   located   ni)pr()xiinately,    for,   as 


46  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

before  stated,  no  section  lines  were  drawn  until  later  in  the  year. 
All  five  of  these  claimants  sold  out  within  a  short  time. 

The  western  part  of  the  county  received  four  settlers  in  1853. 
"Hunter"  (H.  O.  or  0.  P.)  Clark,  who  settled  in  Lansing  town- 
ship ;  one  Woodbury  and  his  son-in-law,  Pinkerton,  who  settled  in 
Lyle  township,  and  Austin  Nichols,  who  settled  on  the  present  site 
of  Austin. 

Clark  took  a  claim  and  settled  in  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  3-1,  in  Lansing  township.  He  built  a  log  cabin  a  short  dis- 
tance northeast  of  where  Oakwood  cemetery  is  now  located.  May 
8,  1855,  he  sold  his  claim  to  "William  Baudler  and  moved  west. 
The  last  seen  of  him  was  in  Idaho. 

One  Woodbury,  accompanied  by  a  son-in-law,  Pinkerton,  came 
to  Lyle  township  in  the  fall  of  1853  and  claimed  a  large  tract  of 
land  bordering  on  the  Red  Cedar  and  on  the  creek  that  bears  his 
name.  He  erected  a  log  cabin  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 33.  AVoodbury  sold  his  claim  in  June,  1855,  and  moved  to 
Olmsted  county. 

Austin  Nichols  hunted  along  the  Cedar  in  1852,  and  in  1853 
reached  the  present  site  of  Austin.  In  his  reminiscences  he  does 
not  state  whether  he  spent  the  winter  of  1853-54  here.  At  any 
rate,  he  drove  his  first  claim  stake  June  8,  1854. 

In  1855  the  real  influx  of  settlers  began,  and  from  then  until 
1860  the  pioneers  came  in  rapidly.  A  full  account  of  the  settle- 
ment of  the  various  localities  in  the  county  is  found  in  the  sepa- 
rate township  histories  in  this  volume. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  47 

CHAPTER  VH. 
ORGANIZATION  AND  BOUNDARY  LINES. 

Mower  County  Included  in  Wabasha  and  Rice  Counties— Mower 
County  Created — Organized  by  Governor  Gorman — Commis- 
sioners Meet  at  Frankford — Old  Election  Precincts — Town- 
ship Boundaries. 

Mower  county  was  included  in  the  original  limits  of  AValiasha 
county  (then  spelled  Wabashaw),  which  was  one  of  the  nine 
counties  created  by  the  first  territorial  legislature. 

Governor  Alexander  Ramsey,  the  first  territorial  governor, 
arrived  in  St.  Paul,  May  27,  1849,  and  on  June  1,  1849,  issued  his 
first  proclamation.  June  11  he  issued  a  second  proclamation, 
dividing  the  territory  into  three  judicial  districts.  Mower  county, 
then  unpopulated,  was  included  in  the  third  judicial  district,  with 
Judge  David  Cooper  on  the  bench.  Court  for  this  district  was 
to  be  held  at  Mendota. 

July  7,  1849,  the  governor  issued  a  proclamation  dividing  the 
territory  into  seven  council  districts  and  ordering  an  election. 
Mower  county  was  included  in  the  seventh  district. 

The  first  session  of  the  legislative  assembly  of  the  territory  of 
IMinnesota  was  held  at  St.  Paul,  commencing  September  3,  1849. 

By  an  act  approved  October  27,  1849,  the  territory  was  divided 
into  the  counties  of  Washington,  Ramsey,  Benton,  Itasca,  Waba- 
shaw, Dakota,  Wahnahta,  Mahkahto  and  Pembina.  Only  the 
covinties  of  Washington,  Ramsey  and  Benton  were  fully  organ- 
ized for  all  county  purposes.  The  others  were  organized  only  for 
the  purpose  of  appointment  of  justices  of  the  peace,  constables, 
and  such  other  judicial  and  ministerial  offices  as  might  be  spe- 
cially provided  for.  They  were  entitled  to  "any  number  of  jus- 
tices of  the  peace  and  constal)les,  not  exceeding  six  in  numl)er, 
to  be  appointed  by  the  governor,  and  their  term  of  office  was 
made  two  years,  unless  sooner  removed  by  the  governor,"'  and 
they  were  made  conservators  of  the  peace. 

Wabashaw  county,  as  "erected''  by  tbe  act  of  October  27, 
1849,  comprised  practically  all  of  the  southern  part  of  the  ])n'S(Mit 
state  of  Minnesota.  Its  northern  boundary  was  the  parallel  I'liii- 
ning  through  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Croix  and  the  moutli  of  (ln' 
Yellow  Medicine  rivers;  its  southern  boundary  was  the  Iowa  line: 
its  eastern  the  ^Mississippi,  and  its  westci-ii  the  Missouri,  mikI  it 
also  included  the  big  peninsula  l)etweeii  the  .Missouri  jiikI  the  Hiir 
Sioux  rivci's,  ami   all   of  wlint    i.s  ;it   prcsciil    southeast cni   South 


48  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Dakota.  Of  this  A'ast  county  the  present  ]\Iower  eovuity  was  a 
part. 

Chapter  1,  Bevised  Statutes  of  Minnesota  of  1851,  divides  the 
territory  in  Benton,  Dakota,  Itasca,  Cass,  Pembina,  Ramsey, 
AVashington,  Chisago  and  Wabashaw  counties  and  defines  their 
l)oundaries.  Under  the  revised  statutes,  all  the  territory  west  of 
the  Mississippi  river  and  east  of  a  line  running  from  jMedicine 
Bottle's  village  at  Pine  Bend,  due  south  to  the  Iowa  line,  was 
erected  into  a  separate  county  to  be  known  as  Wabashaw.  This 
included  in  Wabashaw  county  a  portion  of  what  is  now  Dakota 
county  as  well  as  all  the  present  counties  of  Goodhue,  AVabasha, 
Dodge,  Olmsted,  Winona,  Mower,  Fillmore  and  Houston.  The  line 
south  from  Pine  Bend  in  the  Mississippi  strikes  practically  the 
western  boundary  of  Mower  county,  the  exact  line  being  impossi- 
ble of  verification  as  the  Medicine  Bottle  tepee  were  differently 
located  at  various  times,  always,  however,  being  within  a  few 
rods  of  the  bend  in  the  river. 

Rice  county  was  created  by  act  of  the  territorial  legislature, 
March  5,  1853.  Section  7,  Chapter  15,  General  Laws  of  Minne- 
sota, 1853,  gives  the  boundaries  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  Dakota  county,  thence  west  along  said  county 
line  to  Lake  Sakatah,  thence  south  to  the  Iowa  state  line,  thence 
east  along  said  state  line  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Fillmore 
coiiuty,  thence  along  the  west  lines  of  Fillmore,  Wabasha  and 
Goodhue  counties  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  starting  point  of  Rice  county, 
as  tlien  constituted,  was  at  the  "southwest  corner  of  Dakato 
county."  The  west  and  south  lines  of  Dakota  county  are 
described  in  the  act  as  follows:  "Beginning  in  the  Minnesota  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Credit  river,  thence  on  a  direct  line  to  the  upper 
l)ranch  of  the  Cannon  river,  thence  down  said  river  to  its  loAvest 
fork."  The  upper  branch  of  the  Cannon  river  is  the  Straight 
river,  and  consequently  this  boundary  line  of  Rice  county  started 
at  the  confluence  of  these  rivers,  at  the  present  site  of  Faribault, 
ran  southwestward  to  Lake  Sakatah ;  and  thence  south,  crossing 
Waseca  and  Freeborn  counties  about  on  the  range  line  between 
ranges  twenty-two  and  twenty-three,  to  the  Iowa  line.  Thence  it 
ran  along  to  the  Iowa  border  to  a  little  village  called  Granger  in 
township  101,  range  eleven,  Fillmore  county.  Thence  it  ran  in  a 
direct  line,  due  northwest  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Rice  county  therefore  took  in  only  a  part  of  tlie  present  Rice 
<'()uiity.  11  iiichidcd  tlic  I'dur  castci-n  townsliips  in  Waseca  county, 
and  all  lint  llic  foui'  wcsIcimi  townsliips  in  Freeborn  county.  It 
;i]so  look  ill  i)rac1ically  all  of  Mower  and  Steele  counties,  about 
oiie-Hiii-d  of  Dodge,  a  \rvy  small  jioi'tioii  of  Fillmore  and  Good- 
line,  and  possibly  a   few  sections  in  Olmsted  eoniity. 

Ill  Kebniarv,  IS.')!,  the  government  sin-\'ey  having  been  made. 


H18T01?Y  OF  MOWER  C'OUXTY  49 

the  eastern  boundary  was  altered  somewhat  and  assumed  definite 
lines,  the  line  between  what  is  now  Fillmore,  and  that  part  of 
tlu^  then  Rice  county  which  is  now  Mower  county,  being  the  pres- 
ent boundary  between  ]\Iower  and  Fillmore  counties. 

February  20,  1855,  the  counties  of  Mower,  Brown,  Carver, 
Dodge,  Faribault,  Freeborn,  Olmsted,  Renville,  Steele,  Stearns 
and  AVright  were  created  by  the  legislature,  and  some  changes  of 
name  made  in  others.  Mower  county  included  townships,  101,  102, 
103  and  104,  north;  ranges  14,  15.  16,  17  and  18,  west  of  the  Fifth 
principal  meridian.  In  May,  1857,  sections  1  to  6,  inclusive,  in 
township  104,  ranges  14  and  15,  were  cut  off  and  added  to  Olm- 
sted county.  Since  then,  no  changes  have  been  made  in  the 
boundary  lines  of  the  county.  The  county  contains  453,120  acres, 
or  708  square  miles.  The  congressional  survey  was  made  in 
1853-54,  being  completed  in  February,  1854,  sufficiently  for  a 
definite  description  of  the  coimty  boundaries  by  the  legislature. 

March  1,  1856,  Governor  Gorman,  agreeable  to  the  act  of  the 
legislature,  and  upon  representations  made  to  him  that  Mower 
county  was  sufficiently  populated  to  warrant  its  being  duly  fur- 
nished with  county  government,  organized  the  county,  and 
appointed  a  temporary  board  of  county  ocmmissioners,  consisting 
of  George  "White,  Philip  Howell  and  William  Russell.  This  boara 
was  given  full  power  and  authority  such  as  usually  devolves  upon 
such  boards,  with  the  additional  duty  of  locating,  temporarily,  the 
county  seat. 

These  commissioners  met  April  7,  1856,  iu  the  village  of  Frank- 
ford,  and  presumably  located  the  county  seat  temporarily  in 
that  place.  They  appointed  officers  as  follows:  Register  of  deeds 
and  clerk  of  the  board  of  commissioners,  Timothy  M.  Chapman ; 
treasurer,  Lewis  Patchin ;  judge  of  probate,  C.  J.  Felch ;  surveyor, 
Moses  Armstrong ;  sheriff,  G.  AY.  Sherman.  These  Avere  the  only 
ofKcers  for  which  appointments  were  then  made. 

OLD  PRECINCT  BOUNDARIES. 

Tile  early  county  commissioners  divided  the  county  into  elec- 
tion precincts,  road  districts  and  school  districts.  The  old  elec- 
tion precincts  were  the  parents  of  the  present  townsliips  and  in 
many  cases  the  original  names  still  survive. 

Following  is  the  summary  of  the  precincts,  created  from  the 
time  of  the  meeting  of  the  first  elected  board  of  county  cominis- 
sioners,  April  7,  1856,  down  to  April  16,  1858,  when  the  t()wnshi])s 
of  the  county  were  defined  and  given  the  authority  to  mainlaiii 
local  government. 

Austin.  Originally  created  as  an  eh'ction  precinct  Ai>rii  7. 
1S56,  and  contained  at  tliat   liuie  the  present   lowns  of   Tidlpho, 


50  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Waltliam,  Lansing,  Red  Rock,  Austin,  Windom.  Tjyle  and  Nevada. 
July  7,  1856,  the  boundaries  of  the  preeinct  were  curtailed,  and 
made  to  contain  the  south  halves  of  the  present  towns  of  Lansing 
and  Red  Rock,  and  all  of  Austin,  "Windom,  Lyle  and  Nevada. 
April  ]6,  1856,  it  was  still  further  curtailed,  leaving  only  the  south 
halves  of  Lansing  and  Red  Rock,  and  all  of  Austin  and  AVindom. 
April  16,  1858,  the  township  assumed  its  present  boundaries,  and 
was  duly  organized  May  11,  of  that  year. 

High  Forest.  Originally  created  as  an  election  precinct,  April 
7,  1856.  It  comprised  the  present  towns  of  Racine,  Pleasant  Val- 
ley and  Sargeant. 

Frankford.  Originally  created  as  an  election  precinct,  April  7, 
1856,  and  contained  at  that  time  the  present  towns  of  Dexter, 
Grand  Meadow,  Frankford,  Marshall,  Clayton,  Bennington, 
Adams,  Lodi  and  Le  Roy.  Le  Roy  was  cvit  ofif  July  7,  1856.  April 
27,  1857,  a  piece  was  taken  oft'  at  the  north,  and  Adams,  Lodi  and 
Clayton  were  also  cut  off.  April  6,  1858,  the  town  was  given  its 
present  name  and  boundary,  but  for  purposes  of  local  government 
all  of  the  present  Grand  Meadow  and  the  north  halves  of  Clayton 
and  Bennington  were  attached  to  it.  It  was  on  this  date  that 
Frankford  lost  the  six  sections  that  are  included  in  its  congres- 
sional township,  but  politically  belong  to  Racine.  The  northern 
half  of  Bennington  was  cut  off  from  Frankford  in  1860,  the  north- 
ern half  of  Clayton  in  1873  and  Grand  Meadow  in  1863. 

Red  Rock.  Originally  created  as  an  election  precinct,  July  7, 
1856,  out  of  what  had  previously  been  Austin.  At  the  time  of 
its  creation  it  consisted  of  the  present  towns  of  Udolpho,  Waltham 
and  the  north  halves  of  Red  Rock  and  Lansing.  The  southern 
part  of  what  is  now  Red  Rock  township  remained  in  Austin. 
April  27,  1857,  the  present  town  of  Udolpho  was  cut  off',  under 
the  name  of  Madison.  By  the  act  of  the  county  commissioners, 
April  16,  1858,  Red  Rock  assumed  its  present  boundaries,  but  all 
of  the  present  town  of  Dexter,  and  the  southern  part  of  Sargeant, 
was  attached  to  Red  Rock  for  purposes  of  township  government. 
According  to  the  records,  Dexter  was  then  known  as  Grand 
Meadow,  and  Sargeant  as  Beaubien.  In  1866,  Avhen  Waltham 
was  organized,  it  took  in  the  western  part  of  what  is  now  Sar- 
geant, but  whether  the  eastern  part  remained  attached  to  Red 
Rock  the  records  do  not  state.  At  any  rate,  Dexter  Avas  organ- 
ized in  1870  and  Sargeant  in  1873,  thus  leaving  Red  Rock  witli 
its  present  boundaries  and  government. 

Le  Roy  w;is  created  as  an  election  pr(M'inrt  July  7,  1856,  out 
of  Frankford,  with  its  present  boundaries.  April  27,  1857,  the 
present  towns  of  Lodi  and  Adams  were  added  to  it.  but  later  in 
the  same  day  Adams  was  <ulded  to  Six  I\Iile  Grove,  and  Clayton 
Avas  added  to  Le  Rov,  tliiis  livning  Li'  Kov  coiisisling  of  the  iii-cs- 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  51 

ent  towns  of  Le  Roy,  Lodi  and  Clayton.  April  KJ,  IS.IS,  tlic  Idwii 
assumed  its  present  boundaries,  but  Lodi,  and  the  southern  lialvcs 
of  Clayton  and  Bennington,  were  attached  to  it  for  government 
purposes.  Clayton  was  then  called  Providence,  and  Bennington 
was  then  called  Audover.  Bennington  was  cut  off  in  1860,  Clay- 
ton in  1873  and  Lodi  in  187-1,  leaving  Le  Roy  with  its  present 
boundaries  and  government. 

Six  Mile  Grove  was  created  as  an  election  precinct  August 
16,  1856,  out  of  what  had  previously  been  Austin.  It  consisted 
of  the  present  towns  of  Lyle  and  Nevada.  April  27,  1857,  th^- 
present  town  of  Adams,  which  up  to  that  day  had  been  included 
in  Frankford,  and  which  a  few  hours  earlier  in  the  day  had  been 
added  to  Le  Roy,  was  added  to  Six  Mile  Grove,  while  the  present 
toM^n  of  Lyle  was  cut  off  and  created  as  Cedar  City  election  pre- 
cinct. April  16,  1858,  Adams  and  Nevada  were  each  given  their 
present  names  and  boundaries,  and  Adams  was  annexed  to  Ne- 
vada for  purposes  of  local  government.  Nevada  was  organized 
in  1858.    Adams  was  cut  off  and  organized  1859. 

Madison  was  created  as  an  election  precinct  April  16,  1858, 
and  consisted  of  the  present  town  of  Udolpho.  It  was  created 
out  of  a  part  of  Red  Rock,  which  precinct  had,  in  turn,  been 
originally  a  part  of  the  precinct  of  Austin.  April  16,  1858,  the 
name  of  Madison  was  changed  to  Udolpho,  and  that  townslup 
assumed  its  present  boundaries.  "Waltham  and  the  northern  pi.'.rt 
of  Beaubien,  now  Sargeant,  were  attached  to  Udolpho  for  pur- 
poses of  local  government.  The  present  boundaries  and  goAern- 
ment  have  remained  unchanged  since  1866,  when  Waltham  was 
organized. 

Cedar  City  was  created  as  an  election  precinct  April  27,  1857, 
and  comprised  the  present  township  of  Lyle.  Lyle  was  organized 
Avitli  its  present  boundaries  April  16,  1858. 

Hamilton  was  created  as  an  election  precinct  April  27,  1857, 
and  occupied  an  irregular  piece  taken  from  what  was  then  the 
precincts  of  High  Forest  and  Frankford,  and  consisting  of  por- 
tions of  what  are  now  the  towns  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Racine, 
•jrrand  Meadow  and  Frankford.  The  name  Hamilton  was  given 
lo  the  present  town  of  Racine  April  16,  1858,  but  on  .May  11  of 
Ihat  year  the  people  changed  it  to  Racine.  May  22,  1857,  the  tier 
of  six  sections  to  the  north  were  cut  oft'  and  added  to  Olmsted 
30unty,  and  on  April  16,  1858,  the  six  tiers  to  the  s(nith  were 
added  to  Hamilton,  now  Racine. 

TOWNSHIP  BOUNDARIES. 

On  April  16,  1858,  tlic  state  (•(nislilutiou  havin<r  Ix'cm  adoplcd. 
tl  e- (■>)^nt^    ('(iminissifjiicrs   iiu't    for   tlic   jJiirposc   of   dividing   the 


53  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

cGunty  into  townshij's.  On  May  22,  1857,  sections  1,  2,  3,  4,  5  and 
6,  in  township  10-i,  ranges  IJ  and  15,  had  been  cut  off  and  added 
to  Olmsted  county.  AA''ith  l]i]s  exception  Mower  county  w.'is  and 
is  a  parallelogram,  thirty  miles  by  twenty-four  miles,  compris- 
ing congressional  townships  101,  102,  103  and  104,  ranges  14,  15, 
in,  17  and  18.  AVith  the  exception  of  the  tier  of  six  sections 
in  tlie  northern  part  of  township  103,  range  14,  which  was  at- 
tached to  the  township  north,  the  townships  which  were  created 
to  the  number  of  tAventy  followed  the  congressional  division,  as 
follows:  Township  101,  range  14,  Le  Roy;  15,  Lodi;  16,  Adams; 
17,  Nevada;  18,  Lyle.  Township  102,  range  14,  Andover;  15, 
Providence;  16,  York;  17,  Brooklyn;  18,  Austin.  Township  103, 
range  14,  Frankford;  15,  Poplar  Grove;  16,  Grand  Meadow;  17, 
Red  Rock;  18,  Lansing.  Township  104,  range  14,  Hamilton, 
Weet;  15,  Farmington;  16,  Beaubien;  17,  AA^altham :  18,  Udolpho. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  name  Grand  ]\Ieadow  was  given  to 
Avhat  is  now  Dexter,  while  the  present  Grand  AleadoAV  Avas  then 
called  Poplar  Grove.  Lansing,  Austin  and  Lyle  were  ordered  to 
liHA^e  separate  and  distinct  organizations  for  tOAv^nship  purposes. 
The  olliers  Avere  grouped  in  various  Avays. 

Udolpho  Avas  organized  at  once.  To  it  Avere  added  AValtham 
and  the  northern  part  of  Beaubien,  now  Sargeant.  AValtham. 
then  consisting  of  the  present  town  of  AA^altham  and  the  Avestern 
half  of  the  present  toAA-n  of  Sargeant,  Avas  cut  off  and  organized 
in  ]866. 

Waltham  Avas  organized  in  1866  and  consisted  of  the  present 
toAvn  of  AValtham  and  the  Avestern  part  of  Avhat  is  noAV  Sargeant. 
Sargeant  Avas  cut  off  and  organized  in  1874. 

Sargeant,  Avhich  Avas  originally  known  as  Beaubien  and  then 
as  Stanton,  after  being  attached  in  part  successively  to  Udolpho, 
AValtham  and  Red  Rock,  Avas  organized  in  1873. 

Pleasant  Valley,  called  liy  the  county  commissioners  Farm- 
ington, was  ordered  to  ])e  attaclied  to  Hamilton,  uoav  Racine,  for 
government  purposes,  but  tlie  records  shoAv  tluxt  it  Avas  duly 
s('[)arat(>ly  organized  Alay  11,  1858. 

Racine,  called  by  the  county  commissioners  Hamilton,  or  more 
formally  Hamilton  AVest,  Avas  ordered  to  liave  Farmington,  noAV 
Pleasant  Valley,  attaclunl  to  it,  Init,  as  in  the  case  of  Pleasant 
A'^alley,  the  toAvn  Avas  organized  separately  and  distinctly  and 
Avith  its  present  boundaries  May  11,  1858. 

Lansing  Avas  organized  as  at  present  Alay  11,  1858. 

Red  Rock  Avas  organized  in  1858,  and  Grand  AleadoAV,  now 
Dcxlci',  and  th(>  southern  half  of  Beaul)ien,  noAV  Sargeant,  Avere 
ad  ached  to  it  for  townshii)  i)uri)OHes.  AVliat  Avas  then  Grand 
Alrjidow  Avas  organized  in  1870  and  is  now  Dexter.  AVImt  Avas 
ilieii   Heaubien  Avas  oi'gani/ed  in  1873  and  is  now  Sargeant. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  53 

Dexter,  originally  called  Grand  ]\readow.  and  for  some  years 
attached  to  Red  Rock,  was  organized  in  1870. 

Grand  Meadow,  formerly  called  Poplar  Grove,  and  originally 
attached  to  Frankford,  was  organized  in  1862. 

F'rankford,  from  whose  congressional  township,  the  northern 
tier  of  sections  is  detached,  was  organized  in  1858  and  to  it  were 
attached  Poplar  Grove,  now  Grand  Meadow,  and  the  northern 
halves  of  Providence  and  Andover,  now  Clayton  and  Bennington. 
Grand  Meadow,  formerly  Poplar  Grove,  was  organized  in  1862 ; 
Clayton,  formerly  Providence,  in  1873,  and  Bennington,  formerly 
Andover,  in  1860. 

Austin  was  organized  in  1858  as  at  present. 

Windom  included  the  towns  of  Brooklyn  and  York  and  was  or- 
ganized in  1858.  Brooklyn  became  Canton,  then  "Windom.  York 
was  cut  otf  in  1870. 

Marshall,  originally  York  and  later  Beach,  was  organized  in 
1870,  having  previously  been  attached  to  what  is  now  AVindom. 

Clayton,  originally  called  Providence,  the  northern  half  of 
which  was  originally  attached  to  Frankford  and  the  southern 
half  to  Le  Roy,  was  organized  in  1873. 

Bennington,  formerly  called  Andover,  the  northern  part  of 
which  was  originally  annexed  to  Frankford  and  the  southern 
half  to  Le  Roy,  was  organized  in  1860. 

Lyle  was  organized  in  1858,  as  at  present. 

Nevada,  to  which  was  originally  attached  Adams,  was  organ- 
ized in  1858.    Adams  was  organized  in  1859. 

Adams,  originally  a  park  attached  to  Nevada,  was  organized 
in  1859. 

Lodi,  originally  attached  to  Le  Roy,  was  organized  in  Febru- 
ary, 1874.     For  a  time  the  town  was  known  as  Belleview. 

Le  Roy  was  organized  in  1858,  and  to  it  were  attached  the 
southern  halves  of  Providence  and  Andover,  now  Clayton  and 
Bennington,  and  all  of  Lodi.  Lodi  was  cut  oft'  in  1874 ;  Clay! on 
m  1873  and  Bennington  in  1860. 


54:  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

CHAPTER  VHI. 

COUNTY  GOVERNMENT. 

Doing's  of  the  Consecutive  Boards  of  County  Commissioners — 
County  Officials — Registers  of  Deeds — Treasurers — Auditors 
— Sheriffs— County  Attorneys — Clerks  of  the  District  Court 
— Judges  of  Probate — Superintendents  of  Schools — County 
Buildings — Location  of  County  Seat — County  Court  House — 
County  Jail — County  Poor  Farm. 

Tiie  first  meeting  of  the  board  of  county  eonmissioners  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Gorman,  was  held  in  the  village  of  Frank- 
ford,  April  7,  1856,  Frankford  having  been  established  as  the 
temporary  county  seat.  The  county  commissioners  present  were 
Phillip  Howell  and  George  White.  The  first  business  to  come  before 
the  board  was  the  appointment  of  the  first  county  officers,  which 
resulted  in  the  selection  of  the  following  named:  Timothy  M. 
Chapman,  register  of  deeds  and  clerk  of  the  board  of  county 
commissioners ;  C.  J.  Felch,  judge  of  probate ;  Lewis  Patchin, 
county  treasurer;  M.  K.  Armstrong,  county  surveyor;  G.  AA^.  Sher- 
man, sheriff  and  collector  of  taxes. 

The  precincts  created  were  named  High  Forest,  Frankford 
and  Austin.  High  Forest  embraced  ranges  l-i,  15  and  16,  of  town- 
ship lOJr.  Frankford  comprised  townships  101,  102  and  103, 
ranges  14,  15  and  16.  Austin  embraced  townships  101,  102,  103 
and  104,  ranges  17  and  18.  In  High  Forest  precinct  Thomas  Arm- 
strong was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace ;  Orson  Lyon,  consta- 
ble ;  John  Robinson,  assessor,  and  J.  S.  Stimson,  Nathan  Lyon  and 
Geo.  I.  Covin,  judges  of  election.  In  the  Frankford  precinct 
David  D.  Frazier  was  appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace ;  John  Far- 
quer,  constable ;  George  Hunt,  assessor ;  D.  D.  Frazier,  G.  AV. 
Sberman  and  Griffin  Frazier,  judges  of  election.  In  Austin  pre- 
cinct, Silas  Dutcher  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace ;  L.  AA"a- 
tions,  constable;  Orlando  AVilder,  assessor;  J.  H.  Burns,  A.  B. 
A'^aughan  and  V.  P.  Lewis,  judges  of  election. 

Alay  30,  185(),  the  second  meeting  of  the  board  of  commission- 
ers was  held.  This  meeting  was  attended  by  tlie  full  board — 
Philip  llowcll.  chairman;  George  AVliite  and  AVilliam  Russell.  It 
was  found  that  certain  officers  appointed  at  the  previous  meeting 
had  failed  to  ([luilify,  and  in  consequence  of  this  Sylvester  Smith 
WHS  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  Austin  precinct;  AVash- 
ington  Mason,  assessor,  and  Charles  Ferris,  constable.  July  7, 
1856,  the  commissioners  again  met,  with  Phillip  Howell  chairman, 
George  AVhite  and  William  Russell,  present.     At  this  time  a  peti- 


HISTORY  OF  M0WP:R  COUNTY  55 

tion  was  presented  from  W.  B.  Spencer  and  others,  asking  that  a 
new  election  precinct  be  created  under  the  name  of  LeRoy,  to 
comprise  township  101,  range  14.  The  petition  was  granted  and 
the  following  officers  were  appointed  for  the  new  precinct :  Sam- 
uel P.  Bacon,  justice  of  the  peace ;  William  B.  Spencer,  constable, 
and  Henry  Edmunds,  S.  P.  Bacon  and  AV.  B.  Spencer,  judges  of 
election.  At  the  same  session  the  precinct  of  Red  Rock  was  cre- 
ated in  response  to  a  petition  from  John  L.  Johnson  and  other.'-. 
It  then  embraced  the  north  half  of  township  103,  and  the  whole  of 
township  104,  ranges  17  and  18.  The  following  officers  were  ap- 
pointed: Moses  Mapes,  Andrew  Brown  and  Charles  F.  Hardy, 
judges  of  election,  and  Charles  F.  Hardy,  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  Hilliard  Tilton,  constable.  Opposite  this  entry,  regard- 
ing the  creation  of  Red  Rock,  on  the  record,  is  written 
the  word  "error";  but  as  nothing  is  found  in  the  record  to 
contradict  the  entry,  it  is  here  presented.  Several  school  districts 
were  created  at  this  time,  and  the  first  bills  against  Mower  county 
M'ere  allowed.  The  first  bill  was  that  of  Lewis  Patchin  for  $19  for 
services  as  road  commissioner.  From  a  report  made  to  the  board 
it  is  learned  that  in  1856  the  taxable  real  and  personal  property 
in  the  county  was  as  follows :  Frankford  district — personal  jDrop- 
erty,  $24,473 ;  real  property,  $233,855.  High  Forest  district— per- 
sonalty, $17,257 ;  realty,  $77,743.  Austin  precinct — personalty, 
$12,132 ;  realty,  $92,072.  Total  in  county,  $457,533.  The  amount 
of  tax  levied  by  the  commissioners  was  $2,287.60.  The  amount  of 
orders  issued  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  county  was  $1,753. 

The  first  general  election  was  held  October  14,  1856,  at  which 
374  votes  were  cast,  and  the  following  officers  elected:  J.  M. 
Berry,  representative ;  R.  L.  Kimball,  register  of  deeds ;  J.  B. 
Yates,  sheriff';  S.  P.  Bacon,  treasurer;  M.  K.  Armstrong,  county 
surveyor ;  A.  B.  Vaughan,  judge  of  probate  ;  Dr.  0.  Allen,  coroner ; 
W.  B.  Spencer,  George  H.  Bemis  and  H.  C.  Blodgett,  commission- 
ers. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  new  board  was  held  on  January  6, 
1857,  at  the  village  of  Frankford,  when  George  H.  Bemis  was 
chosen  chairman.  After  organizing,  the  board  adjourned  until 
the  following  day,  when  they  again  met.  At  this  session  the 
county  seat  question  came  up,  and  a  resolution  was  offered  by  H. 
B.  Blodgett  and  adopted  by  the  board,  locating  the  county  seat  on 
section  3,  in  Austin  village.  In  ]\Iarch,  1857,  the  county  com- 
missioners engaged  the  office  of  A.  S.  Everest,  in  Austin,  to  lie 
used  as  an  office  for  the  register  of  deeds,  and  a.  place  of  meeting 
ror  the  board.  At  the  same  meeting  Ormanzo  Allen  was  ap- 
pointed the  first  county  attorney  for  ]\Iower  county.  In  the  mean- 
time additional  election  pi-ecincts  had  been  created  under  the 
names  of  Six  ]\Iile  Grove,  Brownsdale,  ]\Iadison,  Cedar  Citv  and 


56  msTOJJY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Hamilton.  July  G.  1857,  the  fouuty  seat  question  again  occupied 
the  attention  of  the  board,  and  a  resolution  was  passed  locating 
the  county  seat  in  block  23,  in  Davidson's  addition  to  Austin. 
The  total  valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  is  stated  as 
being  $1,108,304. 

The  board  of  county  commissioners  for  1858  consisted  of 
George  H.  Bemis,  W.  B.  Spencer  and  C.  F.  Hardy.  Mr.  Bemis  was 
again  elected  chairman.  On  January  5,  1858,  the  resignation  of 
M.  K.  Armstrong  as  county  surveyor,  was  tendered  the  board. 
April  16,  1858,  the  commissioners  organized  twenty  townships, 
but  attached  a  number  of  them  to  neighboring  ones  for  the  pur- 
pose of  township  government. 


SUPERVISOR  SYSTEM. 

In  1858  there  began  in  ^linnesota  a  system  of  county  govern- 
ment still  in  vogue  in  AVisconsin  and  other  states.  Under  this 
system,  the  county  was  governed  by  a  board  of  supervisors,  con- 
sisting of  tlie  chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  each  town- 
ship. 

In  all  of  the  counties  then  organized  in  the  state,  this  board  of 
supervisors,  or  "Court,"  as  it  was  commonly  called,  met  in  the 
summer  of  1858,  and  it  is  supposed  that  such  a  meeting  was  held 
in  Austin,  but  no  record  has  been  preserved.  The  same  system 
was  in  operation  in  1860,  but  these  records  are  likewise  lost  in 
Mower  county.  The  minutes  of  these  two  boards,  that  of  the 
latter  half  year  of  1858  and  that  of  the  year  1859,  were  doubtless 
kept  in  a  separate  book,  and  then  mislaid.  The  present  commis- 
sioner system  came  into  being  in  1860,  and  the  county  conunis- 
sioners  of  jMower  county,  three  in  number,  met  in  January  of 
that  year.  Should  the  old  record  of  the  year  and  a  half  Avheu 
IMower  county  was  under  the  commission  system  ever  lie  l)i'ought 
to  light,,  it  will  be  of  untold  historical  value. 


COMMISSION  SYSTEM. 

In  1860  tlir  lioani  ronsistcd  of  Oi'inanzo  Allen  (chairman).  C. 
F.  Hardy  and  S.  P.  Bacon.  In  Sei)teinbcr.  1860,  i).  H.  Johnson, 
Jr.,  resigned  the  of^fice  of  county  auditor.  Ormanzo  Allen  re- 
signed as  chairman  of  the  l)oard,  and  was  ai)pointed  auditor.  S. 
P.  Bacon  was  elected  chairman  of  llic  lioai-d.  J.  Stewart  was 
elected  commissioner  to  fill  vacancy. 

On  New  Year's  day,  1861,  th(>  hoard  of  coimly  commissioners. 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWKH  COT  XT  Y  57 

for  the  ensuing  year  met  and  qualiticd.  Tlic  nicinlicrs  wci'c  Milo 
Frary,  Samuel  Looinis  and  J.  Stewart.  Tlic  l)()ai'<l  organized  l)y 
the  election  of  ]\Iilo  Frary,  chairman. 

On  January  7,  1862,  the  commissioners  convened  for  tlie  sixth 
annual  session.  At  this  time  the  board  consisted  of  G.  T.  Angell, 
R.  C.  Heath  and  6.  II.  Bemis.  The  last  named  was  elected  chair- 
man. In  February,  1862,  the  name  of  Brooklyn  township  was 
changed  to  Canton.  At  the  same  time  a  petition  was  presented 
from  the  legal  voters  ol!  township  103,  range  15,  asking  that  the 
territory  be  organized  as  Grand  Meadow  township.  The  petition 
Avas  granted.  On  August  13,  1862.  a  special  meeting  of  the  board 
Avas  held,  at  which  it  was  "resolved,  that  $50.00  be  paid  to  each 
and  every  volunteer  who  should,  before  August  20,  1862,  enlist  in 
the  sixth,  seventh  or  eighth  Minnesota  Regiments  and  be  credited 
to  Mower  county."     Later  tlie  time  was  extended  to  October  1. 

1862.  In  September  the  following  school  examiners  were  ap- 
pointed by  (he  board:  H.  T.  Parker,  for  the  first  commissioner 
district;  Richard  Hoppiu,  for  the  second,  and  A.  J.  Harris,  for  the 
third. 

The  seventh  annual  session  of  the  board  began  on  January  6, 

1863.  The  board  was  composed  of  R.  C.  Heath,  G.  T.  Angell  and 
Alanson  Beach,  the  latter  being  the  newly  elected  member.  Mr. 
Beach  was  elected  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  second 
day  of  the  session  the  board  divided  the  county  into  military  dis- 
tricts as  follows:  First,  to  be  composed  of  the  townships  of 
Adams  and  Nevada;  second,  Lyle,  Windom  and  Austin;  third, 
Lansing;  fourth.  Red  Rock  and  Udolpho;  fifth.  Pleasant  Valley 
and  Grand  Meadow ;  sixth,  Racine ;  seventh,  Frankford  and  Ben- 
nington; eighth,  LeRoy.  Bennington  township  was  ordered  or- 
ganized at  the  same  time.  In  September,  1863,  the  commission- 
ers appointed  the  following  school  examiners:  J.  B.  Talhnan.  C. 
F.  Hardy  and  Saekett  Sears. 

On  January  5,  1864,  the  board  convened  for  the  eightl;  annual 
session.  Charles  N.  Stimson  had  been  elected  to  succeed  R.  C. 
Heath,  so  the  commissioners  for  the  ensuing  year  were  Alanson 
Beach,  W.  B.  Spencer  and  C.  N.  Stimson.  Alanson  Beach  was 
elected  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year.  J.  B.  Tallman  was  ap- 
pointed superintendent  of  common  schools  of  Mower  county,  at 
an  annual  salary  of  $100;  to  hold  his  office  one  year  from  Septem- 
ber 1,  1864.  On  ]\Iay  2,  1864,  the  board  of  commissioners  voted 
"to  allow  each  volunteer  soldier  who  had  gone  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States  and  been  accredited  to  ]\Iower  county,  the  sum 
of  $100;  and  for  eacli  veteran  soldier  who  has  gone  or  may  go, 
$100  nu)re;  provided  that  no  bounty  shall  be  issued  to  deserters; 
that  the  anu)unts  already  drawn  as  bounty  he  deducted  from  the 
$100;  provided  further,  that  no  soldier  who  has  been  discharged 


58  IIISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

from  service  shall  receive  a  bounty,  unless  he  has  been  permanent- 
ly disabled  while  in  service."  "Provided  further,  that  where 
towns  have,  during  the  last  year,  paid  a  bounty  of  $100  to  soldiers, 
the  bounty  from  ^Mower  county  shall  be  paid  to  the  towns  instead 
of  the  soldiers ;  or  if  the  said  towns  have  paid  soldiers  any  fraction 
of  the  $100,  then  the  town  shall  receive  the  fraction  and  the  sol- 
diers the  balance." 

January  8,  1865,  the  board  convened  pursuant  to  law  for  its 
ninth  annual  session.  W.  E.  Harris  had  been  elected  commission- 
er to  succeed  W.  B.  Spencer,  so  that  the  board  for  the  ensuing 
year  was  composed  of  Alanson  Beach,  C.  N.  Stimson  and  AV.  E. 
Harris.  No  record  is  found  of  the  election  of  a  chairman.  In 
September,  1865,  Ormanzo  Allen  tendered  his  resignation  as 
county  auditor,  which  was  accepted,  and  II.  iM.  Allen  was  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  vacancy.  At  about' the  same  time  Charles  N. 
Stimson,  one  of  the  commissioners,  sent  in  his  resignation,  and  the 
judge  of  probate,  register  of  deeds  and  county  auditor  appointed 
C.  F.  Hardy,  of  Red  Rock  township,  to  fill  the  vacancy.  J.  B. 
Tallman  was  appointed  county  superintendent  of  schools,  for  one 
year,  commencing  January  1,  1866.  His  salary  was  fixed  at  .$;300 
per  year.  C.  J.  Short,  the  county  attorney,  was  allowed  an  annual 
salary  of  $100. 

At  the  annual  meeting  which  commenced  January  2,  1866, 
there  were  present  Alanson  Beach,  C.  F.  Hardy  and  AVilliam  E. 
Harris.  ]\Iessrs.  Beach  and  Hardy  were  the  newly  elected  mem- 
bers. Alanson  Beach  was  chosen  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year. 
The  first  business  to  come  before  the  board  was  the  offering  of  a 
reward  for  the  apprehension  of  Patrick  ]\IcEntee,  who,  December 
18,  1865,  had  murdered  I.  AV.  Padden.  A  reward  of  $400  was 
offered.  At  this  session  the  board  voted  to  allow  A.  B.  Alorse. 
rharles  E.  AVhite  and  Thomas  Talbot  the  sum  of  $50  each  as  sol- 
diers' bounty,  their  names  not  appearing  upon  the  adjutant  gen- 
eral's list  of  credits.  At  the  same  time  township  104,  range  17, 
and  the  west  half  of  township  104,  range  16,  was  set  off  as  A\'al- 
tham  township,  and  civil  organization  was  authorized.  On  Sept- 
ember 5,  1866,  Sherman  Page,  of  Austin,  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  schools.    His  salary  was  fixed  at  $400  per  annum. 

Oil  January  11,  1867,  the  l)oard  of  county  commissioners  (net 
in  Miiiiual  session  pursuant  to  law,  at  the  auditor's  office  in  Austin. 
K.  .1.  Slimsoii,  the  commissioiicr-cl('<-t  succeeding  0.  F.  Hardy, 
(|u:ililit(l,  aiKJ  look  his  seat.  Tiu'  lioard  for  the  year  consisted  of 
Alan.son  lieacli,  AVilliam  E.  Harris  and  E.  J.  Stimson.  Alanson 
Beach  was  elected  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year.  In  Septemlier. 
Slicrman  Page  was  re-appointed  superintendent  of  scIukJs.  His 
sahiry  was  fixed  at  the  same  amount  as  in  tlie  preceding  year. 

January  7,  1868,  the  l)oard  nu>t  for  their  twelftii  amiual  ses- 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWKi:  CorXTY  59 

sion.  At  this  time  the  members  were  Alanson  Beaeli,  E.  J.  Stim- 
son  and  Joseph  McKnight.  The  last  named  was  the  member-elect 
succeeding  William  E.  Harris.  Mr.  Stimson  was  elected  chairman, 
but  in  April  resigned  and  A.  Beach  was  elected.  At  this  session 
the  board  divided  the  county  into  five  commissioner  districts  in 
place  of  the  former  three,  it  being  found  that  there  were  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  votes  to  entitle  a  representation  on  the  county 
board  of  two  additional  members.  The  districts  as  then  set  oft' 
comprised  territory  as  follows:  District  No.  1,  embraced  Udol- 
pho,  Red  Rock,  Waltham  and  Pleasant  Valley  townships,  E.  J. 
Stimson.  District  No.  2,  embraced  Racine,  Frankford  and  Grand 
Meadow  townships,  D.  P.  Putney.  District  No.  3,  was  composed 
of  Adams,  LeRoy  and  Bennington  townships,  J.  H.  ]\IcKnight. 
District  No.  4,  embraced  Lyle,  Nevada  and  Windom  townships, 
Alanson  Beach.  District  No.  5,  embraced  Austin  and  Lansing 
townships,  George  AV.  Bishop.  At  the  same  session  the  board 
directed  the  sheriff  to  offer  a  reward  of  $500  each  for  the  appre- 
hension of  Oliver  Potter  and  AVilliam  Kemp,  two  of  the  supposed 
murderers  of  Chauncey  Knapp.  At  the  March  session,  1868,  D. 
P.  Putney  and  George  AY.  Bishop,  members-elect  from  the  ncAvly 
created  districts,  appeared  and  qualified.  At  the  same  meeting  a 
committee,  consisting  of  J.  McKnight  and  G.  W.  Bishop,  was  ap- 
pointed to  examine  farms  that  had  been  offered  the  county  as  a 
poor  farm.  This  matter  culminated  on  ]March  14,  Avhen  it  was 
A^oted  to  accept  Mr.  Caswell's  proposition  to  sell  his  farm  in  Le- 
Roy township  to  the  county  for  a  poor  farm,  and  also  to  buy 
eighty  acres  of  W.  Hayes,  adjoining  the  Caswell  farm,  at  $23  per 
acre.  On  April  9,  it  was  resolved  "that  the  register  of  deeds  be 
instructed  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to  transfer  all  records  of 
deeds  and  mortgages  (not  satisfied)  now  recorded  in  Houston 
county,  Minnesota,  on  lands  lying  in  Slower  county,  to  the  records 
of  this  county."  At  this  meeting  bids  were  received  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  county  building,  and  that  of  D.  J.  Tubbs  being  the 
lowest,  the  contract  was  awarded  to  him  in  the  sum  of  $6,450.  A 
building  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  ^lessrs.  Beach. 
Stimson  and  Bishop.  The  building  was  to  be  completed  September 
5,  1868.  On  September  11,  the  commissioners  passed  a  resolution, 
declaring  tliat  they  had  the  greatest  confidence  in  the  integrity 
and  efficiency  of  the  county  officials.  In  October,  Sheldon  T.  ()tis 
was  appointed  county  superintendent  of  scliools  for  the  ensuing 
year. 

On  January  5,  1861),  the  l)()ar(l  iiu't  in  annnal  session.  Alanson 
Beacli,  I).  1'.  Putney  and  George  W.  Bishop,  commissioners-elect, 
qualified.  Tlie  members  holding  over  were  Josepli  McKnight  an<l 
K.  J.  Stimson.  Alanson  Beach  was  cho.sen  chairman  for  the  ensil- 
ing yeai'.     On  ]March  13,  18()!),  Sylvester  Smitli  resigned  tlu^  office 


60  IIISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

of  county  treasurer,  and  Solomon  Snow,  the  treasurer-elect,  was 
appointed  to  fill  the  unexpired  term. 

On  January  4,  1870,  the  Board  convened  for  their  annual  ses- 
sion, with  Alauson  Beach,  G.  W.  Bishop,  D.  P.  Putney  and  J.  Mc- 
Knight,  members  holding  over,  present.  John  P.  AVilliams,  the 
member-elect  from  the  first  district,  qualified  and  took  his  seat 
Avith  the  board.  Alanson  Beach  was  unanimously  chosen  chair- 
man for  the  ensuing  year.  In  May,  1870,  the  township  of  Dexter 
was  created  and  ordered  organized.  It  embraced  Congressional 
tOAvnship  103,  range  1(J.  At  the  same  time  township  102,  range  16, 
was  set  off  and  "ordered  organized  as  Beach  township.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1870,  II.  E.  Turner  presented  his  credentials  as  member-elect 
of  the  board,  and  qualified.    He  succeeded  ^Ir.  AYilliams. 

On  January  S,  1871,  the  board  met  in  annual  session,  pursuant 
to  law.  At  this  time  the  following  named  gentlemen  were  mem- 
bers :  Alanson  Beach,  H.  E.  Tanner,  C.  J.  Felch,  G.  AV.  Bishop  and 
E.  F.  IMcKee.  Alanson  Beach  was  chosen  chairman  for  the  ensuing 
year.  In  February,  G.  AY.  Bishop  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by 
^Y.  AI.  Howe.  On  June  26,  1871,  a  special  meeting  of  the  board 
was  held  at  which  it  was  decided  to  bring  legal  action  against 
Sylvester  Smith,  former  treasurer  of  the  county,  for  alleged  irreg- 
ularities in  connection  Avith  the  county  finances.  This  was  a  mat- 
ter which  for  a  ninnber  of  years  agitated  the  county.  In  justice 
to  .Mr.  Smith,  it  should  be  stated  in  this  connection  that  his  honor 
and  integrity  came  out  unscathed  from  the  long  and  bitter  litiga- 
tion which  followed.  In  September,  L.  Bourgard  presented  his 
resignation  as  county  attorney,  and  E.  O.  AVheeler  was  appointed 
to  fill  the  vacancy. 

On  January  2,  1872,  the  board  met  in  annual  session.  A.  C. 
Bisbee,  commissioner-elect  from  the  fourth  district,  qualified.  The 
board  for  tiie  ensuing  year  was  composed  of  C.  J.  Felch,  AV.  M. 
Hov.-e,  II.  E.  Tanner,  E.  F.  McKee  and  A.  C.  Bisbee.  Organization 
Avas  effected  by  the  election  of  C.  J.  Felch,  chairman. 

The  annual  meeting  for  187."}  commenced  on  January  7.^  11.  E. 
Tanner  had  been  re-elected  from  the  first  district,  so  the  board  re- 
mained as  before,  the  members  being  C.  J.  Felch,  AV.  M.  Howe,  A. 
C.  Bisbee,  E.  F.  iMcKee  and  II.  E.  Tanner.  C.  J.  Felch  was  elected 
chairman  for  the  ensuing  year. 

On  September  3,  1873,  township  104,  range  l(i,  t'oi'nici'Iy  known 
as  Beaubien,  was  set  off  and  ordered  organized  as  tlie  civil  town- 
sliip  Stanton.  Clayton  township  was  created  at  tlie  same  time, 
comprising  lownsliip  102,  range  15,  fornu'rly  known  as  Provi- 
dence. 

On  January  6,  1S74,  llir  hoard  met  again  in  annual  session.  C. 
J.  F(4cli  liad  1 n  rc-rlrrfd.     Tlic  iii.'nilins  liolding  over  were  AV. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  (Ol'XTY  61 

M.  Howe,  H.  E.  Tanner,  A.  C.  Bisbee  and  James  Grant.  C.  J. 
Felch  was  elected  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year.  On  ]\Iareh  19, 
1874',  E.  F.  Morgan,  of  LeRoy  township,  was  appointed  superinten- 
dent of  schools  for  the  ensuing  year.  In  July,  Lafayette  French  was 
appointed  county  attorney  to  fill  a  vacancy.  At  the  same  meet- 
ing in  response  to  a  circular  from  the  governor,  the  board  appro- 
priated $500  from  the  county  funds,  for  the  relief  of  grasshopper 
sufferers. 

On  January  5,  1875,  the  board  of  commissioners  met  in  annual 
session,  with  the  following  as  its  members:  C.  J.  Felch,  II.  E. 
Tanner,  James  Grant,  \Yilliam  Richards  and  R.  J.  French.  C,  J. 
Felch  was  elected  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  board  of  county  commissioners  for  1876  was  composed  of 
C.  J.  Felch,  \Yilliam  Richards,  James  Grant,  A.  J.  French  and  F. 
W.  Kimball.  AYilliam  Richards  was  elected  chairman  of  the 
board  at  the  annual  meeting  January  4,  1876.  On  June  14,  1876, 
the  following  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  board  of  county 
commissioners :  Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  $100  or  so  much  there- 
of as  may  be  necessary  be  set  apart  for  the  purpose  of  collecting 
and  preparing  a  statistical  history  of  IMower  county,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  proclamation  of  the  president.  Messrs.  Richards 
and  French  were  appointed  a  committee  to  carry  out  the  inten- 
tion of  the  board. 

The  annual  session  for  1877  began  on  January  2.  At  tliis 
time  the  members  were  "William  Ricliards,  A.  J.  French,  F.  W. 
Kimball,  G.  W.  Allen  and  W.  B.  Spencer.  AYilliam  Richards  was 
elected  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year.  During  the  summer  1877, 
O.  C.  La  Bar  succeeded  Commissioner  Kimball. 

For  the  year  1878,  the  board  consisted  of  AYilliam  Richards, 
G.  W.  Allen,  W.  B.  Spencer,  0.  C.  La  Bar  and  M.  M.  Trowbridge. 
"William  Richards  was  elected  chairman  on  January  1,  1878,  for 
the  ensuing  year. 

The  annual  session  of  1879  began  January  7.  wluni  the  board 
organized,  by  the  election  of  "William  Richards,  chairman.  Tlie 
board  was  composed  of  AYilliam  Richards,  O.  C.  La  Bar,  G.  W. 
Allen,  "W.  B.  Spencer  and  ^M.  ^I.  Trowbridge.  P.  T.  :\lclntyre,  in 
August,  1879,  was  appointed  county  treasurer  to  .succeed  I.  Ing- 
mundson,  deceased. 

On  January  6,  1880,  the  board  met  in  regular  session,  with  the 
following  named  as  members:  "William  Richards,  M.  ]\I.  Trow- 
bridge, 0.  C.  La  Bar,  O.  AV.  Case  and  AV.  B.  Mitson.  Mr.  Rich- 
ards was  chosen  chairman.  'Slv.  Case  died  in  ^lay,  1880,  and 
Charles  L.  Schro^ler,  of  Racine,  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

On  January  4,  1881,  the  board  met  and  organized  for  tlie  ensu- 
ing year,  by  electing  O.   C.   La  Bar,   chairman   for   the   ensuing 


G2  IIISTOI.'V  OF  MOWKIJ  COUNTY 

year.  The  members  of  the  l)oard  of  commissioners  at  this  time 
were :  O.  C.  La  Bar,  AY.  B.  Mitson,  R.  A.  Donaldson,  O.  Avers 
and  Hans  C.  Anderson. 

The  board  for  1882  was  composed  of  AY.  B.  Mitson,  II.  C. 
Anderson,  Oscar  Ayers,  J.  B.  Graves  and  R.  A.  Donaldson.  AV.  B. 
INIitson  was  elected  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year. 

At  the  annual  session  which  began  January  2,  1883,  the  fol- 
.  lowing  were  the  members :  Oscar  Ayers,  H.  C.  Anderson,  J.  B. 
Gravfs,  C.  L.  Schntder  and  John  Gilligan.  Oscar  Ayers  was 
chosen  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year. 

On  New  Year's  day,  1884,  the  board  convened  for  tlieir  annual 
session.  Oscar  Avers  was  elected  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year. 
Tlie  iiienibers  were:  Oscar  Ayers,  H.  C.  Anderson,  J.  B.  Graves, 
C.  L.  Schra^der  and  John  Gilligan. 

In  January,  1885,  the  l)oard  consisting  of  H.  C.  Anderson,  J.  B. 
Graves,  C.  L.  Sehnrder,  John  Gilligan  and  Oscar  Ayres,  met  and 
named  the  latter  as  chairman. 

Since  1885,  the  commissioners  have  been  elected  as  follows: 
1886— P.  Christ gau,  C.  H.  Lockwood,  AY.  AY.  Sweet,  John  Beach, 
E.  C.  Dorr.  1888— AY.  T.  Johnson,  C.  H.  Lockwood,  AY.  AY.  Sweet, 
John  Beach,  A.  E.  Christie.  1890— N.  T.  Johnson,  AYilliam 
Brown,  W.  AY.  Sweet,  John  Beach,  A.  E.  Christie.  1892— INI. 
Stephenson,  AYilliam  Brown,  AY.  AY.  Sweet,  John  Beach,  J.  AY.  C. 
Dinsmoor.  1894 — AI.  Stephenson,  AYilliam  Brown,  AY.  AY.  Sweet, 
K.  Amundson,  J.  AY.  C.  Dinsmoor.  1896 — AI.  Stephenson,  AYilliam 
Brown,  Frank  E.  Hambrecht,  K.  Amundson,  J.  AY.  C.  Dinsmoor. 
1898 — M.  Stephenson,  AYilliam  Brown,  Frank  E.  Hambrecht,  K. 
Amundson,  J.  AY.  C.  Dinsmoor.  1900 — AI.  Stephenson,  AYilliam 
Brown,  Frank  E.  Hambrecht,  K.  Amundson,  Joseph  Keenan.  1902 
— AI.  St(^phenson,  AV.  P.  Lewis,  Frank  E.  Hamlirecbt,  P.  O'AIalley. 
Joseph  Keenan.  1904- D.  L.  Tanner,  AV.  P.  Lewis,  Frank  E.  ILim- 
l)reciit,  John  R.  Johnson,  AVilliam  Ciiristie.  1906 — D.  L.  Tanner. 
AV.  H.  Goodsell,  Frank  E.  Hambrecht,  John  R.  Johnson,  William 
Christie.  1908— Cliarles  L.  Schwartz,  AV.  II.  (Joodsell,  Frank  E. 
Hambrcclil,  Jolui  H.  Johnson,  AYilliam  Christie.  1910— Charles 
L.  Schwartz,  W.  II.  Goodsell,  Frank  E.  IIainl)recht,  John  R.  John- 
son. William  Christie. 

The  (Miuiily  commissioners"  districts  are  at  present  divided  as 
Follows:  1,  Dexter,  Sargeant,  AYaltham,  Udolpho  and  Red  Rock; 
2,  Frankford,  Hacine,  Pleasant  Valley  and  (irand  .Meadow;  .'?,  Le- 
Roy,  Bennington,  Lodi  and  Adams;  4,  .Marshall,  Wiiidnm.  Nevada 
and  Lvle;  T),  Austin  and  iiansing. 


HISTORY  OF  :\I()\VKI{  ("Or.NTV 


COUNTY  OFFICIALS. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  elective  ofticei's  ol'  .Mower  coiiuty, 
since  its  organization  in  1856 : 

Auditor — The  office  of  county  auditor  was  cr-ciilcii  to  take  ct- 
fect  in  1859.  The  business  now  performed  liy  liiiii.  Iiad  liccii  |)ci-- 
formed  prior  to  that  date  by  the  register  of  deeds  and  clerk. 
The  auditors  have  been  as  follows:  D.  B.  Johnson,  Jr.,  1859-18fiO; 
Ormanzo  Allen,  1860-1865;  H.  M.  Allen,  1865-1871,  Henry  M. 
Shook,  to  fill  vacancy;  J.  P.  Williams,  1871-1875;  P.  T.  McTntyre, 
1875-1879;  J.  M.  AVyckoff,  1878-1880;  II.  AV.  Elms,  1880-1887;  C. 
H.  Wilbour.  1887-1893;  R.  L.  Johnson,  1893-1903;  George  Robert- 
son, 1903-1913.    The  deputy  at  the  present  time  is  C.  H.  Wilbour. 

Treasurer — Lewis  Patchin,  1856-1857  (appointed)  ;  S.  P. 
Bacon,  1857-1858;  A.  S.  Everest,  1858-1860;  T.  J.  Lake,  1860-1862; 
Sylvester  Smith,  1862-1869;  Solomon  Snow^  1869-1870;  J.  S. 
Irgens,  1870-1874;  I.  Ingraundson,  1874-1879;  P.  T.  Mclntyre, 
1879-1881 ;  G.  L.  Case,  1881-1887  ;  A.  Requa,  1887-1893 ;  G.  Seebach, 
1893-1903;  S.  A.  Smith,  1903-1913. 

Register  of  Deeds — Timothy  M.  Chapman,  1856-1857  (ap- 
pointed) ;  R.  L.  Kimball,  1857-1858;  David  Blakely,  1859-1861; 
Solomon  Snow,  1861-1869;  R.  L.  Hathaway.  1869-1871 ;  George  AV. 
Robinson,  1871-1875 ;  AVilliam  IM.  Howe,  1875-1882 ;  ^I.  I\I.  Trow- 
bridge, 1882-1887;  Eugene  AVood,  1887-1913. 

Sheriff— G.  AV.  Sherman,  1856-1857;  J.  B.  Yates,  1857-1859; 
George  AV.  Bishop,  1859-1861;  E.  D.  Fenton,  1861-1865;  AV.  F. 
Gruramons,  1865-1867;  D.  J.  Tubbs,  1867-1869;  Allan  iMollison, 
1869-1873 ;  George  Baird,  1873-1875 ;  R.  0.  Hall,  1875-1878 ;  H.  B. 
Corey,  1878-1885  ;  Allan  Mollison,  1885-1895  ;  John  C.  Johnson.  Jr., 
1895-1905;  Nicholas  Nicholsen,  1905-1913. 

Attorney — Ormanzo  Allen,  1857-1859;  D.  B.  Johnson,  Jr.,  1859- 
1860;  C.  J.  Shortt,  1860-1864;  H.  R.  Davidson,  1864;  D.  B.  John- 
son, 1864-1865;  C.  J.  Shortt.  1865-1867;  E.  O.  AVheeler,  1867-1869; 
C.  J.  Shortt,  1869-1871;  L.  Bourgard,  1871-1874;  Layfette  French, 
1874-1878;  C.  C.  Kinsman,  1878-1880;  George  F.  Goodwin,  1880- 
1882;  John  M.  Greeman.  1882-1887;  L.  F.  (Mausen,  1887-1889;  D. 
B.  Johnson,  Jr.,  1889-1893;  S.  D.  Catlierwood,  1893-1899;  R.  E. 
Shepherd,  1899-1903:  A.  AV.  AVri-lit.  1903-1911;  Otto  Baii(!!er. 
1911-1913. 

Probate  Judgt — C.  J.  F.'Ich.  lS5(i-1857  (ai)p()inled )  ;  A.  B. 
Vaughn,  1857-1859;  G.  M.  Camcn.n.  1859-1861  ;  Robert  Lylc,  1861- 
1866;  Ormanzo  Allen,  1866-1869;  C.  F.  Hardy,  1869-1870;  E.  O. 
AVheeler,  1870-1871  ;  Jesse  Rose.  1871-1874:  AV.  H.  Crandall,  1874- 
1875;  S.  Ilarter,  1875-1876;  G.  M.  Cameron.  1876-1879;  John  O. 
Farmer.    1879-1S,S0:   Onuau/.o    .Mien,    1SS()-]SS7:    \V.    W.    Raiinev. 


64  HISTOK'Y  nv  :\i()\vi:i;  rorxTY 

1887-1891;  S.  S.  Washl)urn,  1891-1903:  John  :\r.  Greeimian.  1903- 
1911;  Henry  Weber,  Jr.,  1911-1913. 

County  Surveyor— G.  H.  Allen,  1885-1893;  M.  N.  Clausen. 
1893-1897;  G.  H.  Allen,  1897-1901;  M.  N.  Clausen,  1901-1903;  V. 
A.  Nason,  1903-1907:  :\1.  N.  Clausen.  1907-1909;  Y.  A.  Nason, 
1909-1913. 

Coroner— J.  P.  Squires,  1885-1889:  A.  W.  Allen,  1889-1893;  W. 
L.  Ilollister,  1893-1905;  AY.  N.  Kendriok,  1905-1907;  Charles  S. 
Lewi.s,  1907-1911;  A.  E.  Henslin.  1911-1913. 

Clerk  of  the  District  Court — V.  P.  LeM'is  (by  appointment), 
1855-1858;  J.  E.  AVillard,  1858-1861;  L.  A.  Sherwood,  1861-1870: 
J.  F.  Atherton,  1870-1874;  F.  A.  Elder.  187-1-1877;  S.  Sweningson, 
1877-1895;  0.  J.  Simmons,  1895-1907;  George  S.  Burnham,  1907- 
1913. 

Court  Commissioners — Ormaiizo  Allen,  1885-1887;  AV.  V.  Ran- 
ney,  1887-1891  ;  S.  S.  Washburn,  1891-1899;  A.  C.  Page,  1899-1913. 

School  Superintendent— J.  B.  Tollman,  1864-1867;  Sherman 
Page,  1867-1869;  0.  T.  Otis,  1869-1870;  A.  S.  Pike.  1870;  J.  T. 
Williams.  1870-1872;  A.  A.  Harwood,  1872-1874;  E.  F.  Morgan, 
1874-1875;  N.  M.  Holbrook,  1875-1877;  A.  H.  Tuttle,  1877-1881;  C. 
D.  Belden,  1881-1891;  Gertrude  C.  Ellis.  1891-1901;  Fannie  G. 
Gies,  1901-1909;  Grace  B.  Sherwood,  1909-1913. 


LOCATING  THE  COUNTY  SEAT. 

The  location  of  the  county  seat  was  the  first  official  question 
of  importance  that  occupied  the  attention  of  the  people  of  the 
ncAvly  organized  county.  The  first  board  of  county  commission- 
ers, Avho  were  appointed  by  Governor  Gorman  in  1856,  were 
George  White,  Phillip  Howell  and  William  Kussell.  On  April  7, 
1856,  these  temporary  commissioners  nu^t  in  the  village  of  Frank- 
ford  and  appointed  the  various  county  officers.  It  was  also  their 
business,  iinder  authority  of  the  legislature,  to  locate  a  county 
seat  and  the  record  of  such  an  act  siiould  have  been  made  in  the 
county  commissioiici-s  book  of  record  ;  l)ut  no  such  record  was 
tlicn  iiia.ic.  I)u1  some  liiiic  liitrr  tlic  rollowiiig  record  appeared  on 
llic  lly  leaf  of  HooU  ••.\'"  of  deeds  and  marked  "iiage  1."  Tiiis  is 
Ihe  (inly  record  of  the  location  of  the  county  seat   of  Frankford  : 

'■  Accordiiijr  to  an  ;ict  of  tlie  Minnesota  liCgisiature.  approvi'd 
-Miircli  1,  bsr.ti,  (;eor-e  Wliite.  I'liillip  [lowell,  and  William  Kus- 
sell, were  ai)poin1ed  coniinissioners  to  locate  the  seat  of  Mmver 
county.  Said  commissioners  met  A])ril  7.  1856,  and  located  the 
county  seat  of  Mowei-  county  at  the  following  place,  to-wit:  In 
the  vilhi'.'e  of  KranUford.  situate  on  the  southwest  (piarter.  of  the 
southeast    (|uarter.   and   the  southeast    (piarter  of    the    southwest 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  65 

quarter,  of  seetion  13,  township  103,  range  14,  west  of  the  fifth 
principal  meridian.  AVitness  our  hands  this  7th  day  of  April. 
1856.  Phillip  Howell,  William  Russell,  George  White,  commis- 
sioners. Attest:  Timothy  N.  Chapman,  clerk  of  the  board  of 
county  commissioners." 

Mower  county  at  that  time  was  entitled  to  one  representative 
in  the  legislatiire,  and  his  election  took  place  in  October,  1855,  the 
first  election  held  within  the  county.  The  polls  at  High  Forest 
were  located  under  an  oak  tree,  a  board  with  the  ends  placed  on 
two  barrel  heads  served  as  a  judge 's  desk.  The  east  side  nomin- 
ated W.  B.  Covell,  a  Democrat,  and  the  west  side  A.  B.  Vaughan, 
a  Republican.  Ninety-seven  votes  were  polled ;  Vaughan  received 
the  majority,  and  received  his  certificate  of  election  from  the 
judges,  and  applied  at  the  house  for  his  seat.  In  the  meantime 
Covell  had  made  the  retiu-ns  of  the  election  to  the  register  of 
deeds,  in  Houston,  and  from  him  received  his  certificate  of  elec- 
tion, proceeded  to  the  house,  and  Avas  duly  qualified  as  the  first 
member  of  the  legislature  from  ]Mower  county. 

The  first  general  election  held  in  the  county  occurred  October 
14,  1856.  Two  local  tickets,  without  regard  to  politics,  were  put 
in  nomination.  On  the  west  side,  the  People's  ticket,  with  J.  M. 
Berry,  for  representative ;  R.  L.  Kimball,  for  register  of  deeds ;  J. 
B.  Yates,  sheritf ;  S.  P.  Bacon,  treasurer ;  N.  P.  Todd,  surveyor ;  W. 
B.  Spencer,  of  LeRoy,  G.  H.  Bemis  and  H.  C.  Blodgett,  as  commis- 
sioners ;  A.  B.  Vaughan,  judge  of  probate,  and  Dr.  0.  Allen,  for 
coroner. 

On  the  east  side  the  Union  ticket  placed  in  the  field,  T.  II. 
Armstrong,  for  representative ;  W.  B.  Covell,  register  of  deeds ;  J. 
S.  Pierson,  sherift';  G.  P.  Covell,  treasurer;  M.  K.  Armstrong,  sur- 
veyor; William  Spencer,  of  LeRoy,  C.  F.  Hardy  and  N.  Goodsell, 
as  county  commissioners;  C.  J.  Felch,  as  judge  of  probate,  and  J. 
Pierce,  as  coroner. 

The  "People's  ticket"  was  elected  with  a  majority  of  46  votes 
out  of  374  polled,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Todd,  who  was  de- 
feated by  74  votes.  Heretofore  the  east  side  had  had  all  except 
three  minor  offices,  but  in  this  election  the  west  side  gained  the 
power. 

The  first  question  of  any  importance  wliich  came  l)cfore  tlie 
newly  elected  county  commissioners  was  that  of  estalilishing  a 
permanent  county  seat. 

The  people  of  the  west  side  of  the  county  argued  that  it  would 
be  easier  to  locate  the  county  seat  at  Austin,  than  it  wduld  he  to 
go  to  Frankford  to  transact  the  county  l)usiness. 

When  it  was  established  at  Frankford  by  the  tii-st  ( tcinijoi'ary) 
county  commissioners,  it  was  by  them  declai'cd  tliat  it  could  not 
be  removed  except  by  a  vote  of  tiie  peoj)!)'  of  the  county.     Twn  of 


66  HISTOJJY  OF  MOWKIJ  COUNTY 

the  newly  elected  commissioners,  George  H.  Bemis  and  H.  C.  Blod- 
gett  favored  its  removal,  and  took  it  upon  themselves  to  remove  it 
to  Austin,  having  passed  the  following  resolution  at  the  meeting 
or  January  7,  1857.  "That,  whereas,  the  act  of  the  territorial  leg- 
islature of  ^Minnesota,  of  A.  D.  1856,  made  it  the  duty  of  the  com- 
missioners appointed  under  the  provisions  of  said  act  to  locate  the 
county  seat  of  the  county  of  INIower,  and,  whereas,  it  does  not  ap- 
pear upon  the  records  of  the  doings  of  said  commissioners  on  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  A.  D.  1857,  that  any  such  location  was 
made,  or  any  place  provided  for  the  transaction  of  the  county 
husiness  according  to  law ;  therefore,  resolved,  that  we  do  hereby 
locate  the  county  seat  of  said  ]\Iower  county  at  the  village  of 
Austin,  on  section  3,  in  township  102,  range  18  west,  until  otlier- 
wise  provided  by  law.  This  entry  is  signed  by  George  H.  Bemis, 
chairman  of  the  board,  and  Joseph  Badger,  deputy  register. 

As  the  county  had  erected  no  building,  the  records  and  little 
tin  box  which  contained  them,  constituted  the  county  seat,  and 
wherever  these  were  there  it  was  also. 

About  noon  Sheriff  Yates  and  Vaughan,  with  the  little  tin  box 
on  which  rested  the  future  of  both  Frankford  and  Austin,  in  their 
sleigh  started  for  Austin.  That  night  they  stopped  at  the  Tatter- 
soll  House,  in  High  Forest.  The  landlord  took  the  tin  box  and  hid 
it  away,  with  instructions  to  deliver  to  no  one  but  Yates  and 
Vaughan.  In  a  short  time  Sheriff  Sherman  (Yates  had  not  yet 
duly  qualified)  with  a  posse  of  men  from  Frankford.  arrived  and 
arrested  Yates,  Vaughan,  Bemis  and  Tattersoll  (who  was  the  land- 
lord), for  grand  larceny.  He  then  posted  guards  around  the  hotel 
and  went  to  obtain  a  search  warrant,  as  the  landlord  would  ]iot 
give  up  the  tin  box  containing  the  records.  "While  lie  was  gone, 
Yates  made  a  bargain  with  W.  Sykes,  by  which  Sykes  was  to  re- 
ceive $20,  if  he  woiild  ol)tain  the  box  and  deliver  it  to  Yates,  in 
case  they  succeeded  in  removing  the  county  seat,  if  not  he  was  to 
have  $5.00  which  was  paid  down.  At  a  signal  from  Yates  (he  was 
to  pass  out  of  the  door)  tlie  man  was  to  take  it  out  and  hid'-  it. 
The  evening  being  quite  cold,  Yates  soon  induced  the  guards  to 
come  in  and  take  a  drink,  and  they  became  quite  convivial,  and 
supposed  as  long  as  they  watched  the  persons  imder  arrest  that 
their  duty  would  be  i)erformed,  and  that  the  box  would  be  safe. 
Soon  Yates  passed  out  of  the  front  door  (the  signal  agreed  upon) 
and  down  into  the  timl)er  a  sliort  distance.  Three  of  tlie  guards, 
wlio  saw  him  go  out,  foUowed  him,  but  he  eluded  them  by  taking 
advantage  of  a  short  turn  in  the  road,  and  jumped  into  the  brusli, 
wliih'  llic  tlii'cc  guards  |)ass('il  dii-cctly  on.  In  the  meantime  Sykes 
li!id  co-opci'alcd  willi  Yates  in  caiTving  out  the  plans  already  laid, 
and  was  seen  liy  Y;itcs  in  liic  act  of  hiding  tlw  liox.  Yates  th(Mi 
took  Die  l)ox  and  al'tci-  Sykes  had  gone  to  the  iiouse  took  the  box 


HISTOKY  OF  M0WP]1{  COUNTY  67 

some  distance  and  hid  it  beneath  the  mantles  of  snow  which  then 
covered  the  earth  to  quite  a  depth,  and  covered  it  with  rails;  it 
remained  there  for  three  or  four  days.  After  hiding  the  box, 
Yates  went  about  a  half  mile  and  stopped  a  few  hours  at  the  house 
of  ?.rr.  Pierce,  and  then  returned  to  the  hotel.  He  afterward  deew 
a  diagram  of  the  grounds  where  the  box  had  been  hidden,  and 
gave  it  to  John  Patterson  and  C.  C.  Hanehett,  who  dug  it  up  from 
beneath  the  snow  and  conveyed  it  to  Austin,  where  it  was  secreted 
in  the  hardware  store  of  E.  L.  Kimball.  The  officers  procured  a 
search  warrant,  which  only  allowed  them  to  search  within  the 
store  proper,  and  not  in  the  upper  story,  which  was  used  by  Mr. 
Kimball  as  a  residence.  While  search  was  being  made  about  the 
store  room,  it  is  said  that  some  one  carried  the  tin  box  under 
cover  of  a  shawl  to  the  cellar  and  there  stowed  it  away  within  a 
pile  of  potatoes.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  the  search  was  made  in  vain. 
George  Bemis  had  the  book  containing  the  proceedings  of  the 
county  commissioners  under  his  coat  the  night  they  all  remaiaed 
at  Tattersoll's  House,  and  the  following  morning  he  and  Yates 
walked  about  eighty  rods  from  the  hotel  and  there  deposited  it 
under  the  snow,  at  the  foot  of  an  oak  tree,  disguising  the  marks 
they  had  necessarily  made  in  the  snow,  by  a  certain  method  which 
their  quick  wit  suggested. 

The  book  remained  there  a  short  time,  and  was  then  taken 
back  to  Frankford  and  carried  by  Mr.  Bemis  throughout  the  trial, 
closely  guarded  beneath  his  coat  and  vest. 

Armstrong,  Morse,  Willis  and  Belden  appeared  in  the  trial  for 
the  prosecution,  and  Jones  Ripley  and  Gordon  E.  Cole  for  the  de- 
fense. The  citizens  from  the  west  part  of  the  county  having  hefird 
of  the  arrests  which  had  been  made,  proceeded  at  once  to  Frank- 
ford,  to  liberate  the  prisoners,  all  going  well  armed  as  it  Avas 
feared  by  some  that  something  serious  might  transpire.  But  all 
soon  passed  off  without  the  shedding  of  blood,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  false  alarm  that  caused  no  little  consternation  among 
about  tifteen  men,  who  Avere  sleeping  in  Levi  Patchin's  old  log 
tavern,  the  examination  proceeded  without  further  trouble.  Yates 
and  Bemis  were  each  bound  over  for  the  sum  of  $3,000,  to  appear 
at  the  next  term  of  the  Pilmore  county  seat. 

Before  the  session  of  the  court  convened  the  matter  had  been 
settled. 

In  jMarch,  1857,  the  county  board  engaged  the  office  of  A.  K. 
Everest,  in  Austin,  to  be  used  as  the  county  seat  headquarters. 
June  1,  1857,  the  people  of  the  county  voted  on  the  county  seat 
question,  and  decided  in  favor  of  Austin,  consequently  the  county 
seat  controversy,  both  among  the  people  and  in  the  courts  was 
dropped.  At  this  election,  the  people  of  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county  voted  not  for  Frankford,  but  for  Brownsdale.    But  High 


68  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Forest  with  its  voters  was  cut  off  from  IMower  county  just  iu  time 
to  give  Austin  the  balance  of  power. 

July  6,  1857,  the  board  passed  the  following  resolution : — 
"Pursuant  to  an  act  during  the  eighth  session  of  the  legislative 
assembly  of  the  territory  of  Minnesota,  convened  on  the  7th  day 
of  January,  and  adjourned  on  the  7th  of  March,  1857,  granting 
the  legal  voters  of  the  county  of  Mower,  the  privilege  of  perma- 
nently establishing  the  county  seat  of  said  county,  by  an  election 
to  be  held  for  that  purpose  on  June  1,  1857;  and,  whereas,  it  ap- 
pearing by  a  canvass  of  the  votes  cast  at  said  election,  that  a  ma- 
jority of  the  votes  were  cast  for  the  location  of  the  county  seat  on 
Davidson's  addition  to  Austin.  Resolved,  That  we,  the  commis- 
sioners of  said  county  of  Mower,  at  this  our  regular  session,  July 
6,  1857,  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  a  majority  of  the  legal 
voters  of  said  county,  as  expressed  by  the  election,  do  hereby 
locate  the  county  seat  of  Mower  county  on  block  23,  in  David- 
son's addition  to  Austin,  as  said  addition  appears  on  record  iu 
the  office  of  the  Register  of  Deeds  of  IMower  county." 


COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE. 

In  March,  1857,  the  country  board  of  commissioners  engaged 
the  office  of  A.  S.  Everest,  in  Austin,  to  be  used  as  county  seat 
headquarters.  The  register  of  deeds  offieed  there  and  this  was 
the  place  for  holding  the  meetings  of  the  board  of  commissioners. 
This  and  other  small  office  rooms  served  for  county  seat  buildings 
until  the  fall  of  1868,  when  a  court  house  was  completed,  through 
an  act  of  the  board  of  commissioners  of  April  9,  1868.  At  this 
meeting  bids  were  received  for  the  erection  of  a  county  building, 
and  D.  J.  Tubbs  being  the  lowest  bidder,  the  contract  was 
awarded  to  him  in  the  sum  of  $6,450.  A  building  committee  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Beech,  Stimson  and  Bishop.  Tlie 
building  was  to  be  completed  by  September  5,  1868.  This  was  a 
two-story  brick  structure  and  was  located  on  the  corner  of  IMain 
and  IMaple  streets,  opposite  the  present  court  house.  This  build- 
ing served  the  county  well  until  1881,  when  it  was  the  will  of  the 
people  that  a  new,  larger  and  better  court  house  be  provided  the 
rapidly  progressing  county.  In  accordance  with  this  manifest 
wish,  tlie  board  of  county  commissioners  commenced  laying  plans 
to  erect  more  spacious  quarters.  At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of 
corrunissioners,  held  ]\rarch  29,  1881,  block  13,  the  old  public 
square,  owned  l)y  various  parties,  was  piirchased  for  the  total 
sum  of  $1,925.  A  building  committee  was  tlicn  api)ointed,  wliich 
consisted  of  Oscar  Ayers,  O.  C.  L;iBar  and  AV.  B.  IMitson.  l^ids 
were  solicited  for  const i-uctiiig  the  l)as(Mn('iit  of  tlu'  contemplated 
court  house. 


^^^^^ 

m^;mj:-^.    1    !J?5t  -  ^-^^^ 

— -^-^^P-^Tp^  ■" 

^HWBHH^^^H  ffi^2.!^rT^^^^^H 

1" 

B^ 

^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B^^^^^ 

MOWER   COUNTY   POURT   TroUSK. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  69 

D.  J.  Tubbs,  whose  bid  of  $9,200.00  was  the  lowest  ofifered, 
was  awarded  the  contract  and  completed  the  work  in  a  very  satis-' 
factory  manner.  H.  J.  Anderson  was  appointed  as  superintend(!nt 
of  construction,  and  received  for  his  services  $30  per  week. 

The  building  committee  took  much  pains  to  become  thorough- 
ly conversant  with  the  various  kinds  of  architecture,  making  trips 
to  Milwaukee,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  other  points,  to  view 
and  study  into  the  plans  of  such  building,  and  finally  engaged  the 
services  of  W.  H.  Dennis,  of  Minneapolis,  as  their  architect  and 
designer.  June  14,  1882,  the  contract  for  erecting  the  super- 
structure was  awarded  to  Snow  &  Allsip,  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Snow 
was  the  Solomon  Snow  whose  name  appears  throughout  this 
history,  as  one  of  the  early  residents  of  Mower  county.  The 
amount  called  for  in  this  contract  was  $52,291.  The  work  of  con- 
struction went  on,  and  the  building  was  completed  and  first  occii- 
pied  in  the  month  of  March,  1884. 

About  seven  years  before  the  completion  of  the  new  court 
house,  the  board  of  county  commissioners  began  to  stOAV  away  a 
fund  for  that  purpose,  by  levying  a  light  tax  each  year,  thus  the 
tax  payers  were  not  burdened  by  a  heavy  tax  any  one  year,  or 
compelled  to  pay  interest  on  a  large  bonded  indebtedness,  as 
most  counties  have  done,  in  this  and  other  states.  No  small  credit 
is  due  to  the  enterprise  and  public  spirit  of  the  city  of  Austin, 
who  taxed  herself  to  the  amount  of  $6,000  as  an  aid  toward  erect- 
ing the  court  house.  The  total  cost  of  the  building,  lots,  and 
heating  apparatus,  Avas,  in  round  numbers  $67,900,  divided  about 
as  follows:  $51,500  for  building;  $1,925  for  grounds;  and  $4,500 
for  furniture  and  fixtures.  After  deducting  the  $6,000  paid  by 
the  city  of  Austin,  the  cost  to  the  people  of  Mower  county,  was 
about  $61,916. 

The  new  court  house  was  fittingly  dedicated  by  the  formal 
opening  of  the  first  session  of  court  within  its  walls. 

In  the  early  part  of  1879,  an  effort  Avas  made  to  have  the 
county  seat  removed  to  Ramsey.  The  effort  was  made  on  the  part 
of  the  people  of  Racine,  Frankford,  Pleasant  Valley,  Grand 
Meadow  and  other  towns.  A  remonstrance  was  signed  by  2,204 
legal  voters  of  the  county,  this  being  more  than  two  thirds  of  tlie 
total  vote  east  at  the  previous  general  election.  The  removal  bill 
failed  to  pass  the  legislature. 

COUNTY  POOR  FARM. 

Prior  to  1868  the  paupers  of  ]\Iower  county  W(>re  cared  for  by 
some  of  the  citizens,  who  were  paid  by  the  county.  At  that  dite 
a  farm  was  purchased  by  the  county  in  LeRoy  towusliip  find 
fitted  up  for  that  purpose.     April  16,  1868,  the  l)oard  of  couiify 


70  HISTOK'Y  OF  MOWER  C'OFXTY 

eommissiouers,  purchased  seventy-five  acres  of  land  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  28.  township  101,  range  14,  of  Daniel  Cas- 
well and  wife,  for  the  sum  of  $1,500;  and  also  eighty  acres  of  W. 
Hayes  for  $1,8J:0.  This  constituted  the  first  poor  farm  in  the 
county.  Proper  improvements  were  made  and  the  poor  were 
cared  for  at  that  place  until  1876,  when  it  was  deemed  best  to 
exchange  this  property  for  the  present  poor  farm,  which  is  lo- 
cated on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  31,  township  103,  range 
18,  which  is  in  the  township  of  Lansing,  and  is  about  three  miles 
distant  from  the  city  of  Austin.  This  place  was  bought  (or 
traded  for)  of  John  S.  Lacy  and  wife  February  11,  1876.  This 
farm  is  an  excellent  piece  of  land  and  now  contains  very  good 
improvements,  including  all  necessary  buildings. 

County  Jail.  The  county  jail  is  a  brick  structure  with  stone 
trimmings.  It  is  fireproof,  steam  heated  and  sanitary  throughout. 
The  sheritf's  residence  is  a  good  brick  building  with  stone  trim- 
mings. It  adjoins  the  jail  and  is  located  a  few  rods  from  the  court- 
liouse  on  the  east  side  of  Chatham  street. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

COUNTY  REPRESENTATION. 

Mower  County  in  Seventh  and  Fourth  Council  Districts— Fillmore 
and  Mower  County  Made  the  Eighth  Council  District — First 
Representative  From  This  County  Takes  His  Seat — Consti- 
tutional Convention— Mower  and  Dodge  Counties  Become  the 
Thirteenth  Legislative  District — Mower  and  Dodge  County 
Become  the  Fifteenth  District — Mower  County  Becomes  the 
Fourth  District — Changed  to  the  Third  District— Later  to  the 
Sixth  District — Congressional  Representation. 

On  July  7,  18-1!),  Governor  Alexander  Ramsey,  l)y  proclama- 
tion, divided  the  territory  into  council  districts;  Mower  county, 
with  ihc  rest  of  southern  ^linnesota  (exclu.sive  of  the  settlements 
on  the  banks  of  tlic  ^Missi.ssippi"),  coming  witliin  tlie  limits  of  the 
Hcveiith  district. 

184i) — The  first  territorial  legislature  met  on  Septeiulier  3,  and 
adjourned  November  1.  The  seventh  district  was  represented  in  the 
council  by  Martin  McLeod,  of  Lac  qui  Parle;  and  in  the  house  by 
Alexis  Biiilly,  of  .Meiidola.  and  Oideon  II.  Pond,  of  Oak  Grove. 
Although  Mower  county  was  included  in  the  seventh  district,  no 


HISTOT?Y  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  71 

settlers  had  at  that  time  located  within  the  present  limits  of  the 
county. 

1851 — The  second  territorial  legislature  assenihled  January  1 
and  adjourned  IMarch  31.  The  seventh  district  was  represented 
in  the  council  hy  IMartin  McLeod,  of  L/ae  qui  Parle ;  and  in  the 
house  by  B.  H.  Randall,  of  Ft.  Snelling,  and  Alexander  Faribault, 
of  Faribault.  IVIower  county  was  still  without  settlers.  By  the 
apportionment  of  this  legislature,  the  territory  having  been  di- 
vided into  counties,  the  fourth  district  was  made  to  constitute 
Wabasha  and  Washington  counties,  and  the  precincts  of  St.  Paul 
and  Little  Canada  jointly.  It  was  understood  that  Wabasha 
county  was  to  be  one  representative  district.  The  present  Mower 
county  was  then  included  in  Wabasha  county. 

1852 — The  thii-d  territorial  legislature  assembled  January  7, 
and  adjourned  ]\Iarcli  6.  The  fourth  district  was  represented  in 
the  council  by  Lorenzo  A.  Babcock,  of  Sauk  Rapids;  and  in  the 
house  by  Fordyce  H.  Richards,  of  Reed's  Landing. 

1853 — The  fourth  territorial  legislature  assembled  Januar}^  5, 
and  adjourned  March  5.  At  this  session  the  boundary  lines  of 
many  of  the  counties  were  changed,  and  Mower  county  was  in- 
cluded within  the  limits  of  Rice  county.  The  boundaries  of  the 
legislative  districts,  however,  remained  the  same,  and  the  present 
j\Iower  county  remained  in  the  district  -which  comprised  the  area 
included  in  Wabasha  county  by  the  act  of  1851.  At  the  session 
of  1853  the  fourth  district  was  represented  in  the  council  by 
Lorenzo  A.  Babcock;  and  in  the  house  by  James  ("Bully") 
Wells,  of  a  settlement  at  the  head  of  Lake  Pepin. 

1854 — The  fifth  territorial  legislature  assembled  January  4 
and  adjourned  March  4.  The  fourth  district  was  represented  in 
the  council  by  AVilliam  Freeborn,  of  Red  Wing;  and  in  the  house 
by  0.  M.  Lord,  of  what  is  now  Dodge  county. 

1855 — The  sixth  territorial  legislature  assembled  January  3 
and  adjourned  ilareh  3.  The  fourth  district  was  represented  in 
the  council  by  William  Freeborn;  and  in  the  house  by  Clark  AY. 
Thompson,  of  the  present  Houston  coimty.  At  this  session  Mower 
county  was  created  with  practically  her  present  boundaries,  with 
the  exception  of  the  twelve  sections  that  were  annexed  to  Olm- 
sted coiinty.  May  26,  1857.  The  creation  act  passed  February  20, 
1855.  At  the  same  session,  Houston,  Fillmore  and  Mower  county 
were  constituted  the  eighth  district. 

1856 — The  seventh  territorial  legislature  assembled  Jamuiry 
2  and  adjourned  ilarch  1.  In  the  meantime  tlie  Republican  party 
had  been  organized,  and  a  convention  met  at  St.  Paul,  July  25, 
1855.  Of  sixteen  delegates  selected  from  Freeborn  and  ^Mower 
counties.  l)ut   one  was  present.     Tlie  Democratic   convention  as- 


73  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

sembled  July  25,  1855.  and  was  better  represented  from  this 
county.  A  third  party  had  also  been  organized  by  delegates  se- 
ceding from  the  Democratic  convention.  Clark  W.  Thompson, 
of  Houston  county,  and  Benjamin  F.  Tillotson,  of  Fillmore  county, 
represented  the  eighth  district  in  the  sixth  territorial  legislature. 
The  representatiA'es  in  the  house  from  this  district  were  W.  B. 
Gere,  Samuel  Hull.  "William  F.  Dunbar,  William  B.  Covell  and 
Martin  G.  Thompson.  "William  B.  Covell  was  a  Democrat  from 
the  east  end  of  Mower  county.  At  the  election  of  October  9,  1855, 
there  had  been  two  candidates  for  the  legislature  in  this  county, 
Covell,  Democrat,  from  the  east  end,  and  Alanson  B.  "Vaughan, 
Republican,  from  the  west  end.  Vaughan  was  elected  by  a  good 
majority  and  obtained  a  certificate  of  election  from  the  judges, 
but  upon  application  to  the  house  for  admission,  he  found  that 
Covell  had  made  returns  of  election  to  the  register  of  deeds  in 
Houston,  and  thus  equipped,  had  been  dvily  admitted  to  a  seat  in 
the  house.  Thus  "Vaughan  was  the  first  elected  representative 
from  Mower  county,  and  Covell  the  first  to  hold  the  seat. 

1857 — The  eighth  territorial  legislature  assembled  Januarj^  7 
and  adjourned  j\Iarch  7.  Clark  "W.  Thompson  and  Benjamin  F. 
Tillotson  again  represented  the  eighth  district  in  the  council.  The 
representatives  in  the  house  were  "William  B.  Gere,  D.  F.  Chase, 
"W.  J.  Howell,  John  M.  Berry  and  M.  G.  Thompson.  Berry  was 
from  Mower  county.  An  extra  session  of  this  legislature  assem- 
bled April  27  and  adjourned  ]\Iay  23.  It  was  this  eighth  terri- 
torial legislature  that  on  May  26,  1857,  set  off  twelve  sections  of 
]\rower  county  and  added  them  to  Houston  county. 

Under  the  enabling  act  of  congress,  approved  March  3,  1857, 
a  constitutional  convention  of  108  members  (each  council  dis- 
trict to  elect  two  delegates  for  each  councilman  and  representa- 
tive it  was  entitled  to)  was  authorized  to  meet  at  the  capitol  on 
the  second  Monday  in  July,  to  frame  a  state  constitution,  and 
to  submit  it  to  the  people  of  the  territory.  The  election  was  held 
on  the  first  Monday  in  June.  July  13  the  delegates  met,  but  a 
disagreement  arising  in  the  organization,  the  Republican  mem- 
])ers  organized  one  body  and  the  Democrats  organized  sepai-ately. 
Each  of  these  bodies  claiming  to  be  the  legal  constitutional  con- 
vention, proceeded  with  the  work  of  forming  an  instrument  to  be 
.submitted  to  the  people.  After  some  days  an  understanding  was 
effected  between  them,  and  by  means  of  a  committee  of  confer- 
ence the  same  constitution  was  framed  and  adopted  l)y  both 
bodies.  On  being  sul)initfcd  to  the  ]ieopl(\  ()ctol)er  13.  it  was 
ratified. 

In  tlie  Kcpiihlican  wiiij;',  the  eighth  district  was  represented  by 
Alanson  B.  Vaughan,  C.  W.  Thompson,  John  A.  Anderson, 
Cli.irles  A.   Coe,   N.  P.   Colburn,  J.  A.   :\rcCann,   II.   A.   Billings. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  73 

Charles  Hanson,  H.  W.  Holley,  John  Cleghorn,  A.  H.  Butler, 
Robert  Lyle  and  Boyd  Phelps.  In  the  Democratic  wing,  the 
eighth  district  had  but  one  representative,  James  C.  Day. 

By  the  apportionment  of  1857,  set  forth  in  the  state  consti- 
tution adopted  October  13,  Mower  and  Dodge  counties  were  con- 
stituted the  thirteenth  district,  with  two  representatives  in  the 
senate  and  three  in  the  house. 

1857-58 — The  first  state  legislature  assembled  December  2, 
1857.  On  March  25,  1858,  it  took  a  recess  until  June  2,  and 
finally  adjourned  August  12.  The  thirteenth  district  was  repre- 
sented in  the  senate  by  Edward  W.  Somers  and  Boyd  Phelps. 
For  some  reason  the  records  show  only  one  member,  George  0. 
Way,  in  the  house  from  this  district,  though  the  district  was  en- 
titled to  three  representatives. 

1859-60 — The  second  state  legislature  assembled  December  7, 
1859,  and  adjourned  March  12,  1860.  Henry  C.  Rogers  and  A.  J. 
Edgerton  represented  the  thirteenth  district  in  the  senate,  and 
T.  F.  Hunt,  Peter  ^Mantor  and  B.  F.  Langworthy  in  the  house. 
This  legislature  reapportioned  the  legislative  districts,  and  Mower 
and  Dodge  counties  became  the  fifteenth. 

1861 — The  third  state  legislature  assembled  January  8  and 
adjourned  March  8.  The  fifteenth  district  was  represented  in 
the  senate  by  J.  AY.  Flake :  and  in  the  house  by  Peter  Mantor  and 
Thomas  J.  Hunt. 

1862 — The  fourth  state  legislature  assembled  January  7  and 
adjourned  ]\Iarch  7.  The  fifteenth  district  was  represented  in 
the  senate  by  Joseph  H.  Clark,  and  in  the  house  by  S.  Bostwick 
and  H.  C.  Rogers.  On  account  of  the  Indian  outbreak,  an  extra 
session  was  called  by  the  governor,  and  it  assembled  Septem- 
ber 9  and  adjourned  September  29. 

1863 — The  fifth  state  legislature  assembled  January  6  and  ad- 
journed March  6.  The  fifteenth  district  was  represented  in  the 
senate  by  Joseph  H.  Clark,  and  in  the  hoiise  by  B.  D.  Sprague 
and  S.  P.  Bacon. 

1864 — The  sixth  state  legislature  assembled  January  5  and  ad- 
journed March  4.  D.  B.  Sprague  represented  the  fifteenth  district 
in  the  senate  and  Royal  Crane  andAugustus  Barlow  in  the  house. 

1865 — The  seventh  state  legislature  assembled  January  3  and 
adjourned  IMarch  3.  The  representatives  from  the  fifteenth  dis- 
trict were  D.  B.  Sprague  in  the  senate  and  Royal  Crane  and  C.  D. 
Tuthill  in  the  house. 

1866 — The  eighth  state  le"gislature  assembled  January  2  and 
adjourned  March  2.  The  fifteenth  district  was  represented  in  the 
senate  by  Samuel  Lord,  and  in  the  house  by  C.  J.  Felch  and  D.  B. 
Johnson,  Jr.,  botli  from  Mower  county.     This  legislature  reappor- 


74  IIISTOIJY  OF  MO\Vf:K  COUNTY 

tioncd  tlic  tlistricts,  hut  Mower  and  Dod^e  founties  reinaiiu'd  the 
tiftci'iitli  district   with  one  senator  and  two  representatives. 

18fj7 — The  ninth  state  legislature  assemhled  January  8  and 
adjourned  Mareh  8.  The  tifteenth  district  was  represented  in  the 
senate  hy  Samuel  Lord,  and  in  tlie  liouse  by  C.  J.  Feleh  and  D.  B. 
Johnson,  Jr. 

1868 — The  tenth  legislature  assembled  January  7  and  ad- 
journed ]\Iareh  6.  The  fifteenth  district  Avas  represented  in  the 
senate  by  W.  E.  Harris,  and  in  the  liouse  l)y  D.  A.  Shaw  and  E.  K. 
Proper. 

1869 — The  eleventh  legislature  assembled  January  5  and  ad- 
journed ^lareh  5.  W.  E.  Harris  represented  the  fifteenth  district 
in  the  senate,  and  T.  J.  Hunt  and  E.  K.  Proper  in  the  house. 

1870 — The  twelfth  legislature  assembled  January  4  and  ad- 
journed ]\Iarch  4.  The  fifteenth  district  w^as  represented  in  the 
senate  by  Samuel  Lord,  and  in  the  house  by  G.  ^L  Cameron  and 
H.  A.  Brown. 

1871 — The  thirfeenth  legislature  assembled  January  8  and  ad- 
journed March  3.  The  fifteenth  disfrict  was  represented  in  the 
senate  by  Samuel  Lord,  and  in  the  house  by  Harlan  AV.  Page,  of 
Mower  county,  and  AV.  G.  Telfer.  This  legislature  reapportioned 
the  state,  and  for  the  first  time  Alower  county  became  a  district 
by  itself,  being  designated  the  foui-th  district,  with  one  senator 
and  two  representatives.  Since  that  time  Mower  county  has  re- 
mained in  a  separate  district. 

1872 — The  fourteenth  legislatiu-e  assemhled  January  2  and 
adjourned  ]\Iarch  1.  Sherman  Page  represented  the  fourth  dis- 
trict in  the  senate,  and  John  T.  AVilliams  and  J.  ]\L  Wyckoff  in  the 
house. 

187;? — The  fifteenth  legislature  assembled  Januai-y  7  and  ad- 
journed Marcii  7.  Tlie  representatives  from  the  fourth  district 
were  N.  K.  Nobh-  in  the  senate  and  O.  O.  Finhart  and  E.  J.  Stim- 
son  in  the  house. 

1874 — The  seventeentli  h'gisjature  asst 
adjourned  .March  6.  Mowei'  (•dunty  was  I'e 
by  E.  H.  Wells  and  in  the  liouse  by  (iundc 
Perd<. 

187.") — The  scvcuteentli  legislature  assembled  Janiuiry  .")  and 
adjourned  .Man-ii  .'>.  K.  II.  Wells  represented  Alow-er  eounly  in 
the  senali',  and  John  S.  ii-gens  and  (Muirles  F.  (Ii-eening  in  flic 
house. 

187() — The  eigliteenth  legislature  assembled  January  4  and  ad- 
journed March  'A.  Mower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 
by  1{.  1.  Smith,  and  in  the  house  by  IL  F.  Deming  and  C.  F.  Green- 

1877- Tiu>  niiiclcrnth  Icgislatuiv  assembled  Jammry  2  and  ad- 


mbh 

'd 

January 

6  and 

)res( 

'lit 

ed  in 

the 

S(uiat( 

r  Ha 

lV( 

;)rson 

and 

A    E 

HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  75 

journed  March  2.  Mower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 
by  R.  I.  Smith,  and  in  the  house  by  S.  J.  Sanborn  and  Hosmer 
A.  Brown. 

1878 — The  tAventieth  legislature  assembled  January  8  and  ad- 
journed IMarch  8.  Mower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 
by  George  W.  Clough,  and  in  the  house  by  S.  J.  Sanborn  and  H. 
K.  Volstad. 

1879 — The  twenty-first  legislature  assembled  Jamiary  7  and 
adjourned  jMarch  7.  IMower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 
by  \V.  H.  Officer,  and  in  the  house  by  J.  F.  Goodsell  and  J.  D. 
Allen. 

1881 — The  twenty-second  legislature  assembled  January  4  and 
adjourned  March  4.  IMower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 
by  W.  H.  Officer,  and  in  the  house  by  J.  D.  Allen  and  P.  A.  Peter- 
son. An  extra  session  called  to  consider  a  constitutional  question 
in  regard  to  action  taken  on  the  state  railroad  bonds  at  the  regular 
session,  assembled  October  11  and  closed  November  13.  This  legis- 
lature reapportioned  the  state  and  Mower  county  became  the 
third  district. 

1883 — The  twenty-third  legislature  assembled  January  2  and 
adjourned  March  2.  The  third  district  was  represented  in  the 
senate  by  "W.  L.  Hollister,  and  in  the  house  by  John  Frank  and 
J.  F.  Carson. 

1885 — The  twentj^-fourth  legislature  assembled  January  6  and 
adjourned  March  6.  Mower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 
by  W.  T.  Wilkins,  and  in  the  house  by  H.  W.  Light!  ey  and  J.  F. 
Carson. 

1887 — The  twenty-fifth  legislature  assembled  January  4  and 
adjourned  March  4.  IMower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 
by  O.  W.  Gibson,  and  in  the  house  by  J.  J.  Furlong  and  E.  S. 
Hoppin. 

1889 — The  twenty-sixth  legislature  assembled  January  8  and 
adjourned  April  23.  Mower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 
by  O.  W.  Gibson,  and  in  the  house  by  E.  S.  Hoppin  and  H.  W. 
Lightley. 

1891 — Although  a  reapportionment  had  been  made  in  1889, 
Mower  county  still  remained  the  third  district.  The  twenty- 
seventh  legislature  assembled  January  6  and  adjourned  April  20. 
The  third  district  was  represented  in  the  senate  by  Oscar  Ayers 
and  in  the  house  by  J.  -J.  Fiirlong  and  G.  W.  Benner. 

1893 — The  twenty-eighth  legislature  convened  January  3  .nid 
adjoiu'ned  April  18.  IMower  county  was  represented  in  the  third 
district  by  Oscar  Ayers  and  in  the  house  by  J.  J.  Furlong  and  G. 
W.  Benner. 

1895 — The  twenty-ninth  legislature  convened  January  8  and 
adjourned  April  23.    Mower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 


76  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

by  S.  Sweuingson,  and  in  tlie  liouse  hy  J.  J.  Furlong  and  John 
]\Iathison. 

1897 — The  thirtieth  legislature  assembled  January  5  and  ad- 
journed April  21.  Mower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 
by  S.  Sweningsen,  and  in  the  house  of  C.  L.  "West  and  L.  C. 
Seribner.  In  the  reapportionment  of  this  legislature  IMower 
county  became  the  sixth  district,  with  one  senator  and  two  repi'e- 
sentatives. 

1899 — The  thirty-first  legislature  assembled  January  3  and 
adjourned  April  18.  The  sixth  district  was  represented  in  the 
senate  by  S.  Sweningsen,  and  in  the  hoiise  by  C.  L.  West  and  L.  C. 
Scribner. 

1901 — The  thirty-second  legislature  assembled  January  8  and 
adjourned  April  12.  Mower  county  was  represented  in  the  senate 
by  S.  Sweningsen,  and  in  the  house  by  George  W.  AV.  Harden  and 
W.  A.  Nolan.  An  extra  session  assembled  February  4,  1902,  and 
adjourned  ]\Iarch  11  of  the  same  year. 

1903 — The  thirty-third  legislature  assembled  January  6  and 
adjourned  April  21.  i\Iower  county  was  represented  in  the 
senate  by  A.  S.  Campbell,  and  in  the  house  by  W.  A.  Nolan  and 
H.  W.  Lightley. 

1905 — The  thirty-fourth  legislature  assembled  January  3  and 
adjourned  April  18.  Mower  county  was  represented  in  the 
senate  by  A.  S.  Campbell,  and  in  the  house  by  W.  A.  Nolan  and 
G.  W.  W.  Harden. 

1907 — The  thirty-fifth  legislature  assembled  Januar.y  8  and  ad- 
journed April  24.  Mower  county  was  represented  in  the  sen- 
ate by  A.  S.  Campbell,  and  in  the  hoi;se  by  W.  A.  Nolan  and  W. 
L.  ITollister. 

1909 — The  thirty-sixth  legislature  assemliled  January  5  and 
adjourned  January  5.  jMower  county  Avas  represented  in  the 
senate  by  A.  S.  Campbell,  and  in  the  house  by  "W.  "\V.  Nolan  and 
Hubbard  Carey. 

1911 — The  thirty-seventh  legislature  assembled  January  3, 
1911.  Mower  county  was  represented  in  tlie  senate  by  Charles  F. 
Cook,  and  in  th(>  house  by  Ralph  Crane  and  Frank  S.  Christie. 

CONGRESSIONAL  REPRESENTATION. 

The  first  congressional  district,  in  which,  from  the  time  of 
the  admission  of  Minnesota  as  a  state,  IMower  county  has  l)een 
included,  has  been  represented  in  congress  as  follows:  J.  A. 
Cavanaugh,  Democrat,  IMarch  12,  1858,  to  ]\Iarch  4,  1859;  Will- 
iam Windom,  Republican,  I\Iarch  4,  1859,  to  March  4,  1869; 
Morton  S.  Wilkinson,  Republican.  :\Iarcli  4,  18()9,  to  :\rarch  4, 
1871;  Mark  11.  Dunnell,  Republican,  .Alareh  4,  1871,  to  IMarch  4, 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  1 

1883 ;  Milo  White,  Republican,  March  4,  1883,  to  March  4,  1887 
Thomas  Wilson,  Democrat,  March  4,  1887,  to  March  4,  1889 
Mark  H.  Dunnell,  Republican,  March  4,  1889,  to  March  4,  1891 
W.  H.  Harries,  Democrat,  March  4,  1891,  to  March  4,  1893 
James  A.  Tawney,  Republican,  March  4,  1893,  to  March  4,  1911 
Sidney  A.  Anderson,  pro^essive  Republican,  1911-13. 

Until  Minnesota  became  a  state  it  had  only  one  representa- 
tive in  congress,  a  territorial  delegate,  who  was  not  allowed  to 
vote.  The  first  territorial  delegate  from  Minnesota  was  Henry 
H.  Sibley,  who  was  first  sent  ostensibly  as  a  delegate  from  the 
territory  of  Wisconsin,  though  living  on  the  present  site  of 
Mendota,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Minnesota  river.  He  sat  as  a  ter- 
ritorial delegate  from  January  15,  1849,  to  December  5,  1853. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Henry  M.  Rice,  who  served  imtil  December 
7,  1857.  W.  W.  Kingsbury  was  elected  to  succeed  him  and  served 
until  December  6,  1858.  As  has  been  noted,  the  United  States 
senate,  February  23,  1857,  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  people 
of  Minnesota  to  form  a  constitution  preparatory  to  their  admis- 
sion to  the  union.  In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this 
enabling  act,  a  constitutional  convention  was  held  July  13,  1857, 
at  the  territorial  capital.  October  13,  1857,  an  election  was  held, 
when  the  constitution  was  adopted  and  a  full  list  of  state  officers 
elected.  Three  congressmen  were  also  elected  at  this  time — 
George  L.  Becker,  W.  W.  Phelps  and  J.  M.  Cavanaugh — but  it 
was  afterward  found  that  Minnesota  was  entitled  to  only  two 
congressmen  and  the  matter  was  amicably  adjusted  by  the  with- 
drawal of  Mr.  Becker.  By  this  election,  the  Messrs.  Phelps  and 
Cavanaugh  became  the  first  members  of  congress  from  the  state 
of  Minnesota. 

In  the  winter  of  1857-58  the  legislature  divided  the  state  into 
two  congressional  districts,  the  southern  part  becoming  the  first 
congressional  district  and  the  northern  part  the  second.  Mower 
county  thus  becoming  a  part  of  the  first  congressional  district. 

By  the  apportionment  of  1872,  the  state  was  divided  into  three 
congressional  districts.  The  first  district  contained  the  counties 
of  Winona,  Houston,  Olmsted,  Fillmore,  Dodge,  Steele,  Mower, 
Freeborn,  Waseca,  Faribault,  Blue  Earth,  Watonwan,  Martin, 
Jackson,  Cottonwood,  Murray,  Nobles,  Pipestone  and  Rock. 

By  the  apportionment  of  1881,  the  state  was  divided  into  five 
congressional  districts.  The  first  district  contained  the  counties 
of  Houston,  Fillmore,  Mower,  Freeborn,  Steele,  Dodge,  Olmsted, 
Winona  and  Wabasha. 

By  the  apportionment  of  1891,  the  state  was  divided  into 
seven  congressional  districts.  The  first  district  contained  tlie 
counties  of  Dodge,  Fillmore,  Freeborn,  Houston,  IMower,  Olmsted, 
Steele,  Wabasha,  Waseca  and  Winona. 


78  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

By  the  apportionment  of  1901,  the  state  was  divided  into  nine 
congressional  districts.  This  apportionment  has  continued  to 
the  present  day.  The  first  district  now  consists  of  the  counties 
of  Dodge,  Fillmore,  Freeborn.  Houston,  Mower,  Olmsted,  Steele, 
"Wabasha,  "Waseca  and  "Winona. 


CHAPTER  X. 
BENCH  AND  BAR. 


Judicial  History  of  Mower  County — Judges  Who  Have  Presided 
in  the  Courts  of  This  District — Their  Life,  Ability  and  Char- 
acteristics— The  Men  Who  Have  Made  Up  the  Bar  of  the 
County — Notable  Cases  That  Have  Been  Tried  Here — By 
Attorney  Lafayette  French. 

Nearly  forty  years  ago  there  came  to  this  county  a  young 
lawyer,  just  starting  his  career,  who  at  once  took  an  active  part 
in  the  stirring  events  which  for  so  many  years  made  Slower 
county  the  maelstrom  of  political  and  legal  conflicts.  He  has 
continued  to  remain  here,  has  filled  various  offices,  and  has  al- 
ways stood  for  clean,  vigoroiis  manhood  in  public  and  private 
life.  As  an  attorney  he  is  particularly  gifted,  having  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  law,  forensic  abilities,  acute  perceptions 
and  keen  mind.  Few  lawyers  in  the  state  have  tried  as  many 
cases  before  the  higher  courts,  and  none  have  won  a  higher  per- 
centage of  important  suits.  In  securing  such  a  man  to  write  of 
the  Bench  and  Bar,  the  publishers  of  this  work  are  especially 
fortunate,  for  aside  from  his  other  equipment,  he  came  here  only 
sixteen  years  after  the  arrival  of  the  first  Mower  county  attorney, 
and  has  since  been  in  active  practice.  Therefore  the  following 
article  by  the  Hon.  Lafayette  French  will  not  only  be  of  deepest 
interest  at  the  present  time,  but  will  also  be  a  valuable  work  of 
reference  tlirougbout  the  coming  years. 


THE  BENCH. 

By  an  act  of  the  legislature  passed  ]\Iarch  1,  1858,  the  county 
of  Mower  was  declared  to  be  an  organized  county.  Commission- 
ers were  appointed  lo  establish  llie  (-(tunty  s(>at.  and  later  it  was 
made  a  pari  ol'  Hie  liflh  .judiciiil  district,     lion.  N.  M.  Donaldson 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  79 

was  elected  the  first  judge  of  the  fifth  judicial  district,  and  the 
first  term  of  court  held  in  Mower  county  was  September,  1858. 
"When  the  fifth  judicial  district  was  organized  there  were  but 
six  judicial  districts  in  this  state.  Judge  Donaldson  presided 
over  the  fifth  judicial  district  until  January  1,  1872,  when  his 
successor,  the  Hon.  Samuel  Lord,  ofificiated.  At  the  time  of  his 
retirement  Judge  Donaldson  was  a  man  well  along  in  years. 
He  possessed  a  good  deal  of  dignity,  candor  and  fairness.  There 
was  little  business  during  his  term  of  office  to  transact  in  this 
county,  and  the  suits  involved  were  chiefly  those  for  money 
demand.  He  resided  at  Owatonna,  and  died  a  few  years  after 
he  ceased  to  be  judge.  Judge  Samuel  Lord,  who  was  elected  as 
Judge  Donaldson's  successor,  lived  at  Mantorville,  Dodge  county, 
Minnesota,  and  held  but  two  terms  of  court  in  this  county. 
He  was  a  fair  judge  and  gave  general  satisfaction.  In  the  winter 
of  1872  a  new  judicial  district  was  created  composed  of  the 
counties  of  Houston,  Fillmore,  Mower,  Freeborn,  and  at  fall 
election  the  Hon.  Sherman  Page  was  elected  judge  of  the  newly 
created  district.  Judge  Page  held  office  during  the  term  of  six 
years.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  ability  and  possessed  of  an 
analytical  mind  of  large  perception,  and  was  quick  to  dispatch 
business,  but  he  was  too  much  of  a  partisan  to  be  a  judge.  Nat- 
urally combative,  quick  to  form  conclusions,  he  took  sides  on 
every  matter  that  came  before  him.  He  was  a  man  of  strong 
feelings,  but  when  he  did  not  allow  his  judgment  to  be  warped 
by  prejudice  against  the  attorneys  of  parties  of  the  cause  before 
him  he  was  a  very  able  judge.  In  the  fall  of  1878  the  lower 
house  of  the  legislature  prepared  articles  of  impeachment  and 
he  was  put  upon  his  trial  in  May.  1878,  before  the  senate  sitting 
as  a  court  of  impeachment.  The  prosecution  lacked  the  requisite 
number  of  votes  to  convict  him  and  he  was  acquitted.  The 
charges  consisted  largely  of  allegations  of"  wrongful,  malicious  and 
oppressive  conduct,  while  judge."  After  his  impeachment  trial 
he  again  was  a  candidate  for  election,  but  was  defeated  by  Hon. 
J.  Q.  Farmer,  of  Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  county.  Judge  Farmer 
continued  to  preside  over  the  district  for  thirteen  years,  when 
he  voluntarily  and  of  his  own  motion  retired  from  office.  "While 
Judge  Farmer  was  not  a  student,  he  possessed  a  judicial  mind, 
and  was  eminently  fair.  Jurors,  suitors  and  attorneys  in  his 
court  felt  instinctively  that  they  had  been  dealt  with  in  all  fair- 
ness. He  was  loved  and  esteemed  by  both  the  laity  and  the  bar 
of  his  district.  He  was  one  of  the  most  conscientious  and  fair- 
minded  men  that  presided  over  the  courts  of  this  state.  He  was 
not  a  learned  lawyer,  did  not  profess  to  be,  but  he  had  a  judicial 
mind    with    rugged    common    sense    and    a    love    of   justice    that 


80  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

iiiado  him  almost  an  ideal  judge.  There  are  few  judges  that 
were  more  universally  loved  and  esteemed  by  the  people  of  his 
judicial  district  than  he.  Judge  Farmer,  refusing  to  serve  longer 
upon  the  bench,  was  succeeded  by  the  election  of  the  Hon.  John 
Whytock,  of  Albert  -Lea,  Freeborn  ccTunty.  He  acted  as  judge 
for  the  full  term  of  his  office,  six  years,  and  at  the  November 
election  he  was  re-elected.  In  November,  1897,  while  holding 
court  at  Preston,  Fillmore  county,  he  was  taken  ill  and  a  few 
weeks  after  died  at  his  home  in  Albert  Lea.  Judge  Whytock 
was  a  good  lawyer  and  had  many  qualifications  that  fitted  him 
for  a  jiidge,  but  he  was  hard  of  hearing,  and  considerably  more 
so  than  he  realized.  There  was  some  difficulty  in  transacting 
business  before  him.  He  did  not  hear  all  of  the  testimony  and 
hence  in  ruling  upon  questions  of  the  admissibility  of  evidence 
appeared  to  disadvantage,  but  he  w^as  a  good  man,  intended  to 
be  fair,  and  aside  from  the  defect  of  hearing,  made  a  good  judge. 
Governor  Clough  appointed  as  his  successor  the  Hon.  Nathan 
Kingsley,  of  Austin,  Mower  county,  and  he  has  been  re-elected 
judge  of  this  district  without  opposition  to  the  present  time. 
He  has  served  with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  bar  and  the  people 
of  this  district.  He  is  peculiarly  fitted  and  qualified  for  a  good 
judge.  He  has,  in  a  marked  degree,  a  judicial  mind.  He  is 
studious,  painstaking  and  careful  and  above  all  he  possesses  that 
candor  and  fairness  which  is  becoming  to  a  judge.  Industrious, 
he  is  diligent  in  his  search  for  the  right,  and  his  sense  of  justice 
is  tempered  by  his  mild  and  humane  manner.  Patience,  studious^ 
ness  and  the  love  of  justice  are  some  of  his  distinctive  character- 
istics. He  is  still  the  presiding  judge.  Judge  Kingsley  is  also 
a  prominent  Mason,  and  is  Grand  High  Priest  of  the  Grand  Chap- 
ter, R.  A.  M. 

THE  BAR. 

The  first  attorney  to  establish  himself  in  the  law  business  at 
Austin  was  Ormanzo  Allen,  who  came  from  Wisconsin,  July  2, 
1856.  He  continued  to  reside  here  until  his  death  a  few  years 
ago.  He  was  engaged  in  the  trial  of  but  few  cases.  He  Avas  an 
office  lawyer  and  confined  his  labors  to  conveyancing  and  giving 
advice.  He  was  an  exemplary  citizen,  and  at  one  time  was  con- 
sidered quite  wealthy,  but  in  later  years  lost  the  l)ulk  of  his 
property  in  speculation. 

The  second  lawyer  lo  ('stal)]isli  liiiiiscll'  in  Austin  was  Aaron 
S.  p]verest.  He  came  from  High  Forest  in  Augu.st,  1856,  and 
was  formerly,  it  is  believed,  a  resident  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
His  education  was  limited,  but  he  possessed  a  good  deal  of  native 
al)ility  and  was  naturally  a  good  lawyer.  He  was  quite  active 
in   ]in]iti('s  while  lie  resided  in  tliis  cnnnty.     In  ISTO  lie  rcnioved 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  81 

to  Athison,  Kansas,  where,  in  connection  with  his  partnei",  j\Ir. 
Wagner,  he  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  business.  He  died 
some  seven  or  eight  years  ago  at  Atchison,  Kansas. 

Another  lawyer  of  considerable  note  was  D.  B.  Johnson,  Jr. 
He  came  to  Austin  in  1856.  He  engaged  in  surveying  and  mer- 
chandising until  the  term  of  court  held  in  September,  1858,  when 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Like  most  lawyers  he  was  engaged 
in  politics,  and  held  the  offices  of  justice  of  peace,  county  attorney 
one  term,  and  county  auditor  one  term.  In  August,  1871,  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  associate  justices  of  the  territory  of  New 
Mexico,  but  resigned  in  1872.  From  1858  until  1871  he  was 
associated  in  the  practice  of  laAv  under  the  firm  name  of  Cameron 
&  Johnson.  After  his  retirement  from  the  bench  in  1872  he  was 
in  practice  alone  until  1888,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
S.  D.  Catherwood.  Later  in  the  eighties  he  was  elected  county 
attorney,  and  after  his  retirement  from  office  moved  to  Portland, 
Oregon,  where  he  died  twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago.  Judge  John- 
son was  a  man  of  more  than  the  ordinary  ability.  He  was  pos- 
sessed of  a  fair  education  and  was  quite  studions.  He  possessed 
a  quick  and  logical  mind,  and  would  have  been  a  splendid  trial 
laAvyer  if  he  had  been  more  aggressive  and  possessed  of  con- 
fidence in  his  own  ability.  He  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest 
trial  lawyers  in  the  county. 

C.  J.  Short  came  to  Minnesota  in  1856  and  settled  in  North- 
field,  where  he  engaged  in  surveying.  He  was  educated-  in  the 
Vermont  State  University,  where  he  graduated  in  1855.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  in  1857,  with  Bachelor  &  Buckam,  of 
Faribault,  and  in  1858  was  admitted  to  practice.  In  the  spring 
of  1859  he  removed  to  Austin  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
Ormanzo  Allen,  which  continued  for  several  years.  He  was 
elected  county  attorney  in  1860  and  held  that  office  in  1860-61- 
62-63-65-66-69  and  70.  He  then  moved  to  the  town  of  Dexter, 
in  this  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  six  years.  In 
1881  he  returned  to  Austin,  where  he  resided  until  his  death. 
He  lacked  the  force  and  energy  necessary  to  make  him  a  suc- 
cessful lawyer.  He  was  studious,  and  was  reputed,  in  his  day, 
to  be  the  most  scholarly  lawyer  at  the  bar. 

George  M.  Cameron  came  to  Austin,  November  27,  1856.  He 
was  a  Canadian  by  birth  and  educated  in  the  district  school  and 
at  the  State  University  at  Madison,  "Wisconsin.  In  1858  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Austin  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  jNIinne- 
sota.  He  always  enjoyed  a  good  practice  while  he  lived  and 
was  in  practice.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  probate  judgf  in 
1860  and  was  again  elected  in  1876  and  1878.  He  was  the  first 
mayor  of  the  city  of  Austin.  He  wa.s  honorable  in  his  profession 
and  ranked  high  as  a  trial  lawyer.    When  not  serving  as  probate 


83  HISTORY  OF  MOAYER  COUNTY 

judge  he  was  constantly  in  active  practice  nntil  he  retired  in 
1887.  He  possessed  a  logical  mind  and  a  keen  perception  of 
what  a  controversy  in  question  was  about.  He  was  looked  upon 
as  an  able  and  honest  lawyer.  The  fact  of  his  being  repeatedly 
chosen  to  important  offices  testifies  as  to  his  popularity  as  a  man 
and  recognition  of  his  worth  as  a  citizen.  He  was  engaged  as 
chief  or  associate  counsel  in  all  of  the  important  eases  that  were 
tried  in  this  county  while  he  was  in  active  practice.  He  was 
kind  and  benevolent  to  the  poor.  His  charges  for  his  services 
were  reasonable  and  just.  In  1887  his  mind  gave  way,  and  he 
remained  on  his  farm  near  Brownsdale  in  this  county  until  the 
time  of  his  death. 

In  1866  Sherman  Page  and  E.  0.  Wheeler  came  to  Austin  and 
formed  a  partnership  in  the  practice  of  law.  Mr.  AVheeler  coming 
direct,  it  is  believed,  from  New  York,  which  was  his  home,  Mr. 
Page  coming  from  Decorah,  Iowa.  Prior  to  that  he  had  been 
at  Lancaster,  "Wisconsin,  for  a  number  of  years  engaged  as  super- 
intendent of  the  schools  of  both  Decorah  and  Lancaster.  Mr. 
Page  was  originally  from  Vermont.  The  firm  of  Page  &  AVheeler 
continued  until  the  election  of  Mr.  Page  as  judge  of  this  district 
in  1872.  They  did  a  large  commercial  business  and  also  dealt 
largely  in  real  estate.  Mr.  Wheeler  was  a  tine  office  lawyer,  as 
well  as  a  good  counselor.  After  Mr.  Page  was  elected  judge 
Mr.  Wheeler  continued  the  practice  of  law  either  alone  or  in 
partnership  with  his  brother,  R.  B.  Wheeler,  until  1879,  when 
he  moved  to  Auburn,  New  York,  to  engage  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  with  Judge  Howland  of  that  city.  Judge  Page  re- 
mained upon  the  bench  until  his  term  of  office  expired  January  1, 
1880.  He  practiced  until  1882,  when  he  removed  to  California. 
Judge  Page  was  a  forcible  and  pleasant  speaker.  As  a  trial 
lawyer  he  had  few  equals,  if  any,  in  the  state. 

L.  Beauregard  practiced  law  for  a  short  time  in  Austin.  He 
was  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Aaron  S.  Everest  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  under  his  tutelage.  He  was  elected  county 
attorney,  but  subsequently  had  to  resign  the  office,  and  he  re- 
moved to  ITtali  and  from  there  to  New  ]\Iexico. 

In  1871  John  J\I.  Greenman  came  to  Austin.  He  was  a  native 
of  New  York,  but  when  a  young  man  removed  to  the  state  of 
Wisconsin.  He  formed  a  partnership  with  I.  N.  Hawkins  and 
llic  fii-in  (-(mtinued  initil  1873.  Tii  18D()  he  formed  a  partnership 
witli  R.  J.  Dowdall.  He  has  served  as  county  attorney,  city 
attorney  and  judge  of  probate.  Except  while  holding  the  office 
of  judge  of  probate  IMr.  Greenman  has  been  in  active  practice 
and  one  of  the  prominent  attorneys  of  this  county.  He  is  a 
pleasant  gentleman  and  a  good  lawyer. 

Mr.  Hawkins  discontinued  Ihe  ])ractice  of  law  after  tlie  dis- 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  83 

solution  of  the  firm  of  Greenmau  &  Hawkins.  He  served  as  city 
attorney,  and  in  1873  was  a  candidate  for  senator  but  was  de- 
feated for  that  office.  His  defeat  was  due  to  the  Grange  move- 
ment, which  swept  the  entire  state,  except  that  the  Republicans 
elected  their  candidate  for  governor.  Mr.  Hawkins  was  suffering 
from  a  wound,  which  he  had  received  in  the  civil  war.  He  was 
a  pleasant  and  amiable  gentleman,  and  was  a  man  possessed 
of  considerable  means.  He  removed  from  the  state  shortly  after 
his  defeat  for  the  legislature. 

In  the  early  fall  of  1871  Lafayette  French  came  to  Austin, 
and  at  the  September  term  of  court  of  that  year  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  January  1,  1872,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  W. 
H.  Crandall  in  the  practice  of  law.  In  1878  the  firm  was  dis- 
solved, Mr.  Crandall  retiring  for  the  purpose  of  going  into  the 
insurance  business.  Mr.  Crandall  was  a  fair  lawyer,  but  the 
turmoil  and  strife  of  an  active  life  in  the  legal  profession  was 
distasteful  to  him.  Mr.  French  has  continued  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  until  the  present  time. 

In  1870,  Eugene  B.  Crane  opened  an  office  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  law.  He  soon  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business. 
He  remained  in  Austin  for  several  years  and  afterwards  removed 
to  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  where  he  is  engaged  in  his  profession. 

W.  H.  jMerrick  studied  law  with  his  father  in  ]\Iilwaukee, 
Wisconsin.  He  came  to  Austin  and  engaged  in  merchandise. 
Some  years  later  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  practiced  four 
or  five  years.  In  1882  he  removed  to  Portland,  Oregon,  where 
he  now  resides. 

In  1875  or  1876  C.  C.  Kinsman  came  to  Austin  and  opened 
an  office  for  the  practice  of  law.  In  the  fall  of  1878  he  was 
nominated  and  elected  county  attorney.  In  January,  1880,  he 
declined  a  renomination  and  was  elected  court  commissioner. 
In  1881  he  moved  to  Cumberland.  Wisconsin,  where  he  continued 
in  practice  until  his  death.  He  was  a  well  read  lawyer,  but  lacked 
force  and  aggressiveness.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  splendid  habits 
and  a  good  citizen. 

In  1882  James  D.  Sheedy  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  this  coun- 
ty. He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  was  in  the  office  of 
Lafayette  French  about  four  and  a  half  years,  but  the  profession 
of  the  law  was  not  lucrative  enough  and  so,  finally,  he  drifted  into 
real  estate  and  became  connected  with  the  Alliance  Fire  and  Hail 
Insurance  Company  and  afterwards  became  president  of  that  com- 
pany. The  law  was  not  to  his  taste.  In  his  chosen  field  of  labor 
he  has  been  very  successful  and  is  a  prominent  worthy  citizen. 

In  1883  R.  B.  Wheeler,  who  succeeded  the  firm  (^f  E.  O. 
Wheeler  and  R.  B.  Wheeler,  removed  to  St.  Paul.  The  tinn  of 
Richardson  &  Day  succeeded  to  his  business. 


84  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Richardson  &  Day  -were  young  men  who  had  graduated  at  our 
high  school  in  Austin.  They  did  a  commercial  and  real  estate 
business  similar  to  that  of  R.  B.  Wheeler.  They  associated  with 
them  L.  A.  Pierce,  who  came  from  Auburn,  New  York,  in  1887. 
Mr.  Pierce  was  an  able  lawyer,  but  his  desire  for  office  and  ex- 
travagant habits  prevented  him  from  succeeding  as  a  lawyer.  In 
the  fall  of  1887  AV.  E.  Richardson  and  F.  A.  Day  removed  to  Du- 
luth  in  this  state,  where  they  continued  to  follow  the  law  and  real 
estate  business. 

In  1887  Arthur  AV.  AVright  and  LaFayette  French  bought  out 
the  business  of  Richardson  &  Day  and  formed  a  co-partnership 
under  the  firm  name  of  French  &  Wright,  Mr.  Wright  looking 
after  the  real  estate  and  loans  of  the  office  and  Mr.  French  seemg 
to  the  law  business  of  the  firm.  Tliey  continued  in  business  until 
1898,  when  the  lirm  dissolved  by  mutual  consent,  ]\Ir.  Wright  suc- 
ceeding to  the  business  and  Air.  French  continuing  the  practice  of 
law  alone.  Since  then  Mr.  AVright  has  had  a  large  business  in 
commercial  law  and  real  estate.  He  was  elected  county  attorney 
and  re-elected  without  opposition  for  eight  years,  when  he  volun- 
tarily withdrew  as  a  candidate  for  that  office.  Perhaps  the  cou-aty 
was  never  more  fortunate  than  in  the  selection  of  Colonel  AVriiz:lit 
for  county  attorney.  For  honesty,  efficiency  and  ability  the  coun- 
ty has  been  well  served.  He  is  still  in  active  practice,  with  many 
years  of  usefulness  before  him.  He  served  as  major  in  the  Span- 
ish-Amei-ican  war  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  men  at  the  bar  in 
this  coiinty.  His  correct  life  and  high  sense  of  lionor  and  clean 
habits  make  him  justly  an  ornament  to  the  bar. 

In  1886  or  1887  Nathan  Kingsley  and  R.  E.  Shepherd  moved 
over  from  Chatfield,  Alinnesota,  to  Austin.  They  opened  an  office 
under  the  firm  name  of  Kingsley  &  Shepherd.  The  firm  continued 
until  Governor  Clou<i:h,  about  t^^'elve  years  ago,  appointed  Air. 
Kingsley  judge  of  the  tenth  judicial  district.  Both  gentlemen 
were  possessed  of  a  higli  sense  of  honor  and  were  leading  attor- 
neys here  until  the  dissolution  of  the  firm.  The  firm  was  continu- 
ously engaged  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  important  litigation  in 
this  and  adjoining  counties.  The  firm  did  a  successful  business. 
Air.  Kingsley  })eing  especially  strong  as  a  trial  lawyer.  Upon  the 
dissolution  of  the  firm  Air.  Shepherd  was  alone  some  two  weeks 
and  was  succeeded  by  tlie  firm  of  Shepherd  &  Catlierwood.  Air. 
Slicplni'd  was  ch'clcd  county  jittorncy  for  two  oi-  three  terms  and 
made  ;i  good  and  efficient  oriiccr.  lie  was  a  good  lawyer  and  an 
enterprising  citizen.  Ue  ])ossesse{l  a  lovable  nature.  conil)i]u^d 
with  Avit  ami  lininor.  that  made  him  wry  popular  with  his  brother 
lawyei-s.  Some  four  or  five  years  ago  tlie  firm  was  dissolved  and 
he  removed  to  liillings,  Alontana,  where  he  engaged  in  tlie  real 
estate   Mud    liankiu''-   business,   which    was  moi'c   congenial    to   his 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  85 

taste  than  the  practice  of  law.  His  partner,  S.  D.  Catherwood, 
succeeded  to  the  business  of  the  firm.  Mr.  Catherwood  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  Austin  or  in  the  adjoining  county  of  Freeborn. 
Pie  is  a  graduate  of  the  State  University  and  not  only  possesses 
a  good  academic  education,  but  is  Avell  grounded  in  the  law.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1888,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
the  practice  at  the  city  of  Austin.  He  has  been  county  attorney 
for  tlu-ee  terms,  and  that  is  the  only  office  he  has  aspired  to.  He 
has  not  engaged  in  any  other  business  except  the  practice  of  law. 
He  stands  high  in  the  rank  of  lawyers  in  southern  Minnesota,  and 
in  the  state.  His  life  demonstrates  what  a  young  man  who  has 
fair  ability,  with  industry  and  close  attention  to  business  can  ac- 
complish in  a  lifetime.  ]\Ir.  Catherwood  is  in  the  prime  of  life  and 
enjoys  a  lucrative  business.  He  is  a  good  all  around  lawyer.  One 
year  ago  he  formed  a  co-partnership  with  J.  N.  Nicholsen,  and  the 
firm  promises  to  be  one  of  the  strongest  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  state. 

Mr.  Nicholsen  is  a  graduate  of  the  Austin  high  school,  read 
law  in  the  office  of  Kingsley  &  Shepherd,  and  attended  the  law 
school  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan.  He  was  thoroughly  equipped  for 
the  practice  of  his  profession  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
3902.  Shortly  after  his  admission  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Frank  E.  Putnam  at  Blue  Earth,  under  the  firm  name  of  Putnam 
&  Nicholsen.  The  firm  continued  until  1909,  when  it  was  dis- 
solved, j\Ir.  Nicholsen  coming  to  Austin  and  forming  a  partner- 
ship with  S.  D.  Catherwood.  Tlie  firm  lias  a  Avide  and  extensive 
practice. 

W.  W.  Ranney  is  a  graduate  of  the  law  department  in  the 
State  University  of  Iowa,  in  1876.  In  1878  he  located  at  Grand 
Meadow  in  this  county,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  then  removed  to  Austin,  where  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  probate  judge.  He  has  been  more  of  an 
office  than  a  trial  lawyer.  He  is  a  good  citizen  and  highly  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  him. 

In  1882  Lyman  D.  Baird  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was 
city  attorney  of  Austin  in  1884.  Since  1885  he  has  confined  him- 
self chiefiy  to  the  real  estate  business,  in  which  he  has  been  a  de- 
cided success.  Mr.  Baird  is  considered  a  shrewd  man  of  business 
and  an  enterprising  and  public  spirited  citizen,  and  one  of  the 
most  progressive  young  men  in  the  city  of  Austin. 

In  April,  1884,  L.  F.  Clausen  moved  from  Blooming  Prairie  to 
Austin,  opened  an  office  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  until 
about  1902,  when  he  removed  to  North  Dakota,  where  he  is  still 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes.sion.  Mr.  Clausen  was  elected 
county  attorney  of  this  county  a  short  time  after  moving  here. 
He  was  born  in  Mitchell  countv,  Iowa,  in  1856,  and  is  a  son  of 


86  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen,  the  founder  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Austin, 
and  one  of  the  earliest  ministers  of  that  denomination  in  Austin, 
^Minnesota. 

In  1896  R.  J.  Dowdall,  a  Canadian  by  birth,  came  to  Austin 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  M.  Greenman  for  the  practice 
of  law.  Mr.  Dowdall  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  ability  and  came 
from  a  family  of  some  prominence  in  Canada.  He  continiu-d  in 
the  practice  of  law  at  Austin  some  five  or  six  years,  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  He  was  a  strong  trial 
lawyer,  but  was  not  discriminating  enough  and  often  appeared 
on  the  wrong  side  of  a  ease. 

Ten  years  ago  T.  H.  Pridham  came  to  Austin  and  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  law  until  the  summer  of  1910.  Mr.  Pridham  was 
industrious  and  painstaking  in  the  business  entrusted  to  his  care. 
He  was  city  attorney  for  six  or  eight  years  and  resigned  that  office 
when  he  removed  to  Helena,  Montana.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
good  habits  and  cpiite  promising  in  his  profession. 

In  1900  Fay  W.  Greenman  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  is  a 
son  of  J.  M.  Greenman  and  upon  his  admission  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Greenman  &  Dowdall,  the  name  being  changed  to 
Greenman,  Dowdall  &  Greenman.  "When  the  firm  was  dissolved 
and  his  father  elected  to  the  office  of  judge  of  probate,  he  prac- 
ticed his  profession  alone.  He  graduated  from  the  high  school  of 
Austin  with  honors.  He  is  a  young  man  of  good  habits,  studious 
and  industrious.  In  his  social  relations  he  is  a  most  agreeable 
young  man.  In  the  ten  years  that  he  has  been  in  practice  he  has 
built  up  a  good  business  for  a  young  man.  He  has  tried  a  good 
many  cases  and  many  with  credit  to  himself. 

In  1909  Frank  G.  Sasse  came  to  Austin  from  Fairmont,  IMinne- 
sota,  and  formed  a  co-partnership  with  LaFayette  French.  Mr. 
Sasse  graduated  from  the  academic  departnu^ut  of  the  State  Uni- 
versity witli  honor  in  1898  and  from  the  law  department  of  that 
institution  in  1900.  He  practiced  his  profession  at  St.  Charles, 
^Minnesota,  for  two  or  three  years,  when  he  removed  to  Fairmont 
where  lie  formed  a  partnership  under  the  name  of  Mathwig  & 
Sasse.  In  the  fall  of  1908  he  was  elected  county  attorney  of 
.Martin  cuiuity,  but  resigned  the  office  when  he  moved  to  Austin 
to  become  associated  with  ^Ir.  French.  He  is  very  studious  and 
has  all  the  qualifications  for  making  a  successful  lawyer. 

In  addition  to  the  lawyers  of  Austin  there  have  been  several 
at  LeRoy  village.  Grand  Meadow  village  and  the  village  of 
Rrownsdale.  F.  .M.  Goodykoontz  was  the  first  lawyer  at  the 
village  of  LeRoy,  coming  there  in  1867  from  Iowa.  He  formed  a 
co-partnership  with  J.  M.  AVykoff.  AVhen  the  firm  was  dissolved 
he  removed  to  Nora  SpriYigs,  and  from  there  to  Mason  City, 
Iowa,  and  in  1884  he  moved  to  South  Dakota.    He  was  a  lawyer 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  87 

of  a  good  deal  of  ability  and  his  removal  from  tlic  state  was  a 
decided  loss  to  the  profession. 

J.  M.  Wykofif  continued  to  do  business  alone,  but  his  practice 
has  been  confined  chietly  to  real  estate,  conveyance  and  office 
work. 

Joseph  McKnight  Avas  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Austin  in  1882. 
together  with  J.  P.  Trask,  E.  J.  Kingsbury  and  J.  S.  Bish.op. 
They  constituted  the  bar  at  LeRoy  until  about  1895. 

G.  W.  W.  Harden  is  a  graduate  of  the  law  school  of  the  State 
University,  has  been  village  attorney,  and  in  1901  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  state  legislature.  He  is  a  good  lav/yer  but  his 
work  is  confined  mostly  to  commercial  business  and  real  estate. 
He  is  still  in  practice  at  LeRoj^. 

Judge  Ranney  was  formerly  at  Grand  IMeadow,  but  being 
elected  judge  of  probate,  moved  to  Austin. 

About  1878  George  F.  Goodwin  opened  an  office  at  Grand 
Meadow.  In  1880  or  1881  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county 
attorjic}'.  Ho  prosecuted,  while  county  attorney,  the  case  of  the 
state  vs.  John  A.  Riley  for  attempt  to  murder  Judge  Page.  He 
was  assisted  in  that  case  by  Hon.  J.  M.  Burlingame,  of  Owatonna; 
Minnesota.  In  1884  he  removed  to  North  Dakota  and  was  elected 
attorney  geiieral  of  that  state  shortly  after  it  -was  admitted  into 
the  Union.  He  held  the  office  one  term  and  then  moved  to  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah.  He  is  a  studious,  painstaking  young  lawyer, 
and  since  leaving  this  state  has  gained  considerable  prominence. 

Capt.  A.  J.  Hunt  came  to  Brownsdale  village  in  1873.  He  was 
formerly  from  Wisconsin,  He  opened  an  office  and  was  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  and  dealt  in  real  estate  until  1888,  when 
he  moved  to  Georgia. 

Otto  and  Carl  Baudler  are  graduates  of  tlie  Austin  liigh 
school,  and  from  the  law  department  of  the  State  University. 
They  commenced  the  practice  of  law  three  years  ago  at  Blooming- 
Prairie,  in  Steele  county.  In  1909  they  moved  to  Austin  and 
opened  an  office.  In  the  fall  of  1910  Otto  Baudler  was  elected 
county  attorney  of  this  county  by  a  handsome  vote.  They  are 
brothers  and  sons  of  William  Baudler,  who  is  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Austin.  They  are  clean,  studious  young  men  and  they  promise 
to  be  quite  an  acquisition  to  the  bar.  This  comprises  the  law- 
yers who  reside  and  practiced  in  ]Mower  county. 

In  1890  A.  C.  Page  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  since  which  time 
he  has  been  in  the  office  of  L.  D.  Baird.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
exemplary  habits  and  is  given  more  to  real  estate  and  collections 
than  to  trial  practice.  At  present  he  is  alderman  at  large  in  the 
city  of  Austin. 

In  1903  Edward  P.  Kelly  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  For  three 
years  he  read  law  under  the  direction  of  Lafayette  Frencli  and 


88  HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

attended  the  Summer  Law  School  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  for  two 
years.  After  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  formed  a  partnership 
•with  Lafayette  French  under  the  firm  name  of  French  &  Kelly, 
which  continued  until  1905,  when  he  removed  to  Carrington, 
N.  D.,  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  Mr. 
Kelly  is  well  equipped  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  from 
the  time  of  his  admission  until  the  present  time  he  has  met  with 
splendid  success  in  his  profession. 

In  1907  Henry  Weber,  Jr.,  was  admitted  to  practice  law.  He 
was  located  at  Dexter,  in  this  county,  and  continued  in  the 
practice  until  the  fall  of  1910,  when  he  was  elected  probate  judge 
of  this  county,  which  office  he  fills  at  the  present  time.  ^Ir. 
Weber  is  an  exemplary  citizen  and  his  honor  and  integrity  are 
beyond  question. 

CIVIL  AND  CRIMINAL  CASES. 

Tliis  article  would  be  incomplete  Avithout  stating  some  of  tli'^ 
most  important  criminal  and  civil  cases  witli  which  the  lawyers 
of  this  county  were  connected. 

The  first  homicide  ease  was  that  of  Chauncey  Leverich.  Lever- 
ieh  was  in  a  saloon  in  Austin  in  the  month  of  August.  1856,  and 
was  killed  by  Horace  Silver  and  "William  Oliver.  Silver  and 
Oliver  were  arrested  for  assault  and  battery  and  Silver  fined 
$20.00  and  Oliver  $10.00.  The  prosecution  was  conducted  bj^ 
Jolm  Tift  and  the  defense  "i)y  Arron  S.  Everest  and  0.  Allen. 
When  the  defendants  learned  that  Leverich  would  not  recover, 
they  paid  their  fines  and  left  the  country.  Leverich  died  from 
the  wounds  he  received  a  Aveek  later.  The  county  Avas  ucav  and 
this  case  illustrates  the  ci-ude  Avay  in  Avliicli  justice  Avas  adminis- 
tered in  an  early  day. 

In  1868  John  and  Oliver  Potter  and  George  and  William  Keni]) 
with  others  Avere  arrested  for  killing  Chauncey  Knapp.  C.  J. 
Short  appeared  for  the  state  and  John  Q.  Farmer,  of  Fillmore 
county,  Avho  afterAvards  became  district  judge  of  this  district, 
and  his  brother,  J.  D.  Farmer,  appeared  for  the  defendants. 
George  and  AVilliam  Kemp  were  tried  and  acquitted.  A  change 
of  A'enue  was  granted  the  Potters  and  the  case  sent  to  Fillmore 
county.  Judge  Donaldson  Avas  the  presiding  judge.  None  of  the 
parties  Avas  ever  punished  for  tliis  foul  murder. 

In  187:3  the  case  of  tlie  State  of  ^Minnesota  against  OK'  Bang, 
charged  Avith  homicide,  Avas  tried.  Bang  Avas  convicted  of  man- 
shiughter  and  sentenced  for  four  years  in  the  state  prison.  The 
prosecution  Avas  conducted  ])y  Vj.  O.  Wheeler,  the  then  county 
Mflonicy.  Till-  (Icrcndaiit 's  couscl  was  Sliei'mau  Page,  .ludge 
Saiiiurl   Lord  |)resi(ling. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  89 

The  most  important  criminal  case  was  tried  at  the  March 
term  of  the  district  court  in  1881,  the  State  of  Minnesota  vs.  John 
A.  Riley.  Riley  was  charged  with  an  attempt  to  assassinate  Judge 
Sherman  Page.  George  P.  Goodwin  was  the  then  prosecuting 
attorney,  and  he  was  ably  assisted  by  J.  M.  Burlingame,  Esq.,  an 
able  attorney  from  Owatonna.  The  defendant  was  represented 
by  Lafayette  French,  G.  M.  Cameron,  of  this  city,  and  W.  W.  Er- 
win,  of  St.  Paul.  Judge  Daniel  A.  Dickenson,  who  was  then  dis- 
trict judge  at  Mankato  and  later  one  of  the  associate  justices  of 
tlie  Supreme  Bench,  was  called  by  Judge  Farmer  to  preside  in  his 
place.  The  case  was  an  important  one.  It  probably  created  as 
much  talk  and  newspaper  comment  as  any  case  tried  in  the 
county.  Judge  Page,  whom  Riley  was  charged  with  attempt 
to  assassinate,  was  a  prominent  person.  Riley  was  brought 
by  Pinkerton's  detective  from  the  neighboring  state  of  Wiscon- 
sin into  Minnesota  to  answer  to  the  charge.  He  was  confined  in  a 
jail  outside  the  county.  The  sentiment  in  favor  of  and  against 
Page  was  intensely  partisan.  There  was  a  great  deal  of  feeling 
displayed  during  the  trial  by  the  atto"rneys  and  parties  interested 
in  t]ie  case.  After  a  lengthy  trial  the  jury  brought  in  a  verdict 
of  "not  guilty"  and  Riley  was  discharged  from  custody.  The 
case  Avas  ably  handled  by  the  attorneys  for  the  state.  Mr.  Erwin 
made  (he  closing  argument  for  the  defense.  He  was  then  in  his 
prime,  forty  or  forty-five  years  of  age,  and  had  a  great  reputation 
as  a  criminal  lawyer.  Probably  his  argument  was  the  finest  ever 
made  to  a  jury  in  this  county.    Two  years  ago  he  died  in  Florida. 

In  January,  1874,  was  tried  the  case  of  the  State  of  Minnesota 
vs.  AV.  D.  Jaynes.  The  defendant  was  indicted  on  the  charge  of 
rape.  The  immediate  parties  stood  high  in  social  circles  and  the 
arrest  of  Jaynes  created  a  great  sensation  in  this  county.  The 
state  was  represented  by  LaFayette  French,  the  county  attornej^, 
and  Colonel  Kerr,  of  St.  Paul,  and  the  defendant  by  E.  0.  Wheeler 
and  Gordon  E.  Cole,  of  Faribault.  Judge  Page  was  presiding 
judge.  The  first  trial  resulted  in  the  conviction  of  Jaynes,  but 
a  new  trial  was  granted  on  the  ground  that  the  prisoner  was  not 
present  in  court  but  was  confined  in  the  county  jail  at  the  time 
the  jury  returned  the  verdict.  The  case  was  afterwards  tried 
twice.  The  second  time  the  jury  disagreed  and  the  third  time 
Jaynes  was  acquitted.  In  the  last  two  trials  the  state  was  repre- 
sented by  Lafayette  French  and  M.  J.  Severance,  of  Mankato, 
and  the  defendant  by  Wheeler  and  Cole.  During  the  trial  there 
was  an  immense  crowd,  and  only  about  half  of  the  curious  ones 
could  get  into  the  court  house.  i\[.  J.  Severance  closed  for  the 
•state  and  Gordon  E.  Cole  for  the  defendant.  They  were  both  able 
lawyers  and  had  a  state  wide  reputation. 

In  June,  1898,  the  case  of  the  State  of  .Minnesota    v.s.   :iiilt 


90  HISTORY  OF  MOAVEK  COUNTY  . 

Williams  was  tried.  "Williams  was  charged  with  the  murder  of 
one  Flymi.  Williams'  mother  kept  a  hotel  in  the  city  of  Austin. 
Flyun  and  "Williams  had  been  drinking  one  evening,  and  while 
engaged  in  conversation  with  t\A'o  girls  who  worked  for  ^Irs. 
Williams,  ]\Ii]t  shot  Flynn.  Williams  was  a  young  man,  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  who  had  been  petted  and  humored  by  his  mother. 
He  was  mixed  up  in  several  fights  before  this  one.  The  state  was 
represented  by  S.  D.  Catherwood,  who  was  then  county  attorney, 
and  Lafayette  French.  Greenman  &  Dowdall  represented  thu 
defendant.  Judge  Whitoek  was  the  presiding  judge.  The  trial 
lasted  for  several  days.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  excitement 
during  the  trial.  The  jury  found  the  defendant  guilty  as  charged 
in  the  indictment.  Afterwards  W.  W.  Erwin  was  called  into  the 
ease  and  a  motion  made  for  a  new  trial  and  argued  and  the  same 
denied  by  the  court.  An  application  to  the  pardoning  board  was 
made  in  behalf  of  Williams  and  Erwin  succeeded  in  getting  Wil- 
liams' sentence  commuted  from  murder  in  the  first  degree  to 
murder  in  the  second  degree,  and  he  was  sentenced  to  the  peni- 
tentiary for  life.  He  and  Iris  counsel  stipulated  that  no  further 
pardon  or  commutation  of  his  sentence  would  be  asked  for.  Too 
much  credit  cannot  be  given  to  Mr.  Catherwood,  the  then  county 
attorney,  in  his  management  of  the  case.  Flynn 's  body  had  been 
shipped  to  Buti'alo  within  a  day  or  two  after  the  shooting  and 
without  Mr.  Catherwood 's  knowledge.  There  were  several  things 
in  the  prosecution  that  would  have  prevented  the  conviction  had 
it  not  been  for  the  skill  and  industry  displayed  by  the  county  at- 
torney. The  conviction  of  Williams,  who  had  an  unsavory  repu- 
tation, Avas  due  to  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Catherwood. 

Jn  1900  John  B.  Anderson  was  indicted,  charged  with  the 
crime  of  murder.  Anderson  was  a  farmer  living  in  the  town  of 
^larshall,  and  had  a  wife  and  several  small  children.  He  killed 
his  wife  by  beating  her  brains  out  with  a  flat-iron.  When  the 
neighbors  discovered  her  she  was  lying  on  the  floor  in  a  pool  of 
blood.  A  nursing  child  who  had  attempted  to  reach  its  mother's 
breast  to  nurse  had  crawled  through  tliis  blood.  Anderson 
was  found  concealed  in  a  straw  stack.  It  was  a  horrible  crime 
and  the  community  was  very  much  wrought  up.  On  his  arraign- 
ment he  entered  a  plea  of  not  guilty.  The  state  was  repre- 
sented by  R.  E.  Sheperd,  the  then  county  attorney  of  this  county, 
and  the  defendant  by  Lafayette  French,  who  had  consented  to  ap- 
pear for  Anderson  through  the  entreaties  of  his  friends.  After 
a  thorougli  investigation  of  the  matter,  the  defendant's  counsel 
became  convinced  that  Anderson  was  insane  at  the  time  he  com- 
mitted the  crime.  He  had  fallen  from  a  mast  of  a  ship  years 
before,  receiving  an  injury  to  his  head,  from  which  he  suffei'ed 
thereafter.     This  injury  to  the  brain,  liis  counsel  l)elievod.  had 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  91 

affected  his  mind  to  sucli  an  extent  that  he  was  not  responsible 
for  the  act,  but  that  he  was  a  man  that  onght  not  to  be  turned 
loose,  and  for  the  protection  of  society  ought  to  be  confined  in 
some  safe  place.  After  mature  deliberation  and  a  conference  witli 
the  attorney  general,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  have  him  with- 
draw his  plea  of  not  guilty  and  to  enter  a  plea  of  guilty  of  mur- 
der in  the  second  degree.  The  action  of  the  court  and  the  counsel 
in  the  disposition  of  this  case  was  generally  commended  through- 
out the  county. 

In  January,  1903,  Frank  W.  Bell  was  indicted  and  charged 
with  murder  in  the  first  degree.  The  state  was  represented  by 
Col.  A.  W.  Wright,  the  then  county  attorney,  and  S.  D.  Cather- 
wood,  and  the  defendant  was  represented  by  Lafayette  French. 
Judge  Kingsley  was  presiding  judge.  Bell  was  the  station  agent 
of  the  Chicago  Great  Western  Railway  Company  at  Elkton,  in 
this  county.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Cole  had  shipped  a  car  of 
lumber  to  Elkton  to  be  unloaded  and  to  be  hauled  by  team  near 
the  village  of  Grand  Meadow.  Cole  employed  Nelson  S.  Green, 
with  his  team,  to  draw  the  lumber.  The  ear  had  been  at  Elkton 
for  several  days  and  there  was  some  demurrage  charges  against 
it.  Green  came  after  the  lumlier  in  the  morning  but  Bell  refused 
to  break  the  seal  and  open  the  car  until  the  demurrage  charges 
were  paid.  Gr'^en  was  a  large,  muscular  man,  while  Bell  was 
a  dinjinutlve,  frail  man.  Green  attempted  to  break  the  seal  of 
the  car  and  Bell  tried  to  prevent  him.  Cole  telephoned  Green 
to  break  the  seal  and,  if  necessary,  break  Bell's  head.  Green 
picked  up  a  piece  of  board  for  the  purpose,  it  was  claimed  by  the 
state,  to  l)reak  tlie  car  seal,  but  defendant  claimed  that  it  was  for 
the  purpose  of  striking  Bell.  Bell  drew  a  revolver  and  shot 
Green  twice.  Either  shot  would  have  proved  fatal  in  time.  Green 
died  within  a  few  hours  afterwards.  There  was  a  great  deal  of 
feeling.  Green  being  a  prominent  farmer,  a  Mason  and  a  Grand 
Army  man.  It  was  almost  impossible  at  the  first  trial  to  secure 
an  impartial  verdict.  The  jury  rendered  a  verdict  of  giiilty 
within  a  few  moments  after  retiring.  The  defendant  moved  for 
a  new  trial,  which  was  granted,  and  a  special  term  held  in  March. 
1903.  On  a  second  trial  the  defendant  was  acquitted.  The 
trial  of  this  case  illustrates  how  easily  public  sentiment  can  be 
changed  by  a  knowledge  of  the  facts.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
first  trial  the  people  clamored  for  the  defendant's  conviction,  but 
at  the  second  trial  public  sentiment  had  changed  and  he  was  ac- 
quitted. Bell  was  a  weak  man  physically  and  mentally.  He  was 
unbalanced,  and  shortly  after  the  last  trial  lie  became  insane  and 
was  sent  to  an  asylum  in  IMichigan. 

In  1871  the  board  of  county  commissioners  of  Mower  county 
commenced  an  action  against  Sylvester  Smith.     Smith  had  been 


93  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

county  treasurer  of  the  county  for  eight  years.  The  system  of 
bookkeeping  in  vogue  in  the  several  county  offices  was  very  lax 
and  crude.  Smith  was  considered  an  honest  man  hy  people  who 
knew  him,  but  an  accountant  hired  by  the  county  to  examine 
the  books  found  that  he  was  short  about  $42,000.  Suit  was 
brought  by  the  county  against  Smith  to  recover  this  sum.  Page 
&  Wheeler  and  Bachelor  &  Buckham  were  attorneys  for  the 
county  and  Cameron  &  Johnson,  Gordon  E.  Cole  and  R.  A.  Jones 
appeared  as  attorneys  for  Smith.  The  case  was  referred  to  three 
referees,  whom  the  court  appointed  to  hear  and  try  the  ease  and 
report  judgment.  After  a  somewhat  lengthy  trial  the  referees 
so  appointed  found  a  judgment  of  about  $20,000  against  Smith. 
Smith  appealed  the  case  to  the  Supreme  Court  and  the  case  was 
sent  back  for  another  hearing.  Mr.  Page  in  the  meantime  had 
been  elected  judge  of  the  District  Court,  and  having  been  of  the 
counsel  was  ineligible  to  sit  and  try  the  case.  The  parties  agreed 
and  the  court  appointed  three  other  referees.  The  case  came 
on  for  second  trial,  and  Lafayette  French,  the  then  county  attor- 
ney, E.  0.  Wheeler  and  Bachelor  &  Buckham  appeared  for  the 
county,  and  Cameron  &  Johnson.  Gordon  E.  Cole  and  R.  A.  Jones 
appeared  for  Mr.  Smith.  After  a  lengthy  trial  the  referees  re- 
ported judgment  in  favor  of  Mr.  Smith.  The  county  records  were 
kept  so  imperfectly  that  it  was  impossible  to  tell  whether  Smith 
should  be  charged  with  the  shortage  or  not.  Smith  was  believed 
to  be  honest,  and  that  the  discrepancy  of  the  books  and  shortage 
in  his  accounts  were  due  to  the  loose  manner  of  keeping  the 
books  and  accounts. 

In  1870  a  complaint  was  sworn  out  against  Sherman  Page  for 
tearing  up  a  sidewalk.  A  warrant  was  issued  and  placed  in 
the  hands  of  Allan  Mollison,  the  then  sheriff,  for  service.  He 
went  to  the  office  of  Page  &  Wheeler  to  make  the  arrest  late  one 
afternoon.  After  a  scuffle  and  words  with  the  defendant,  who 
refused  to  go,  the  curtains  were  pulled  down  and  Page  lit  his 
lamps.  The  sheriff  then  stepped  to  the  window  and  called  his 
deputy,  Colos  Fenton,  to  a.ssist  him.  He  found  the  door  leading 
to  the  office  locked,  and  after  calling  to  Page  to  unlock  the  door 
and  a  refusal  on  his  i)art  to  do  .so,  he  knocked  the  door  down 
and  went  in  and  arrested  him.  Mollison  was  sued  by  Page  for 
false  imprisonment,  holding  that  as  the  charge  was  a  mere  mis- 
demeanor he  could  not  legally  be  arrested  after  dark.  Fenton 
Avas  sued  for  breaking  the  door  and  entering  the  office  in  an  action 
of  trespass.  The  case  against  Fenton  cmiiic  on  for  trial  at  the 
September  term  in  1871.  Page  &  Wheilcr  wci'c  tlicir  own  attor- 
neys and  G.  ^L  Cameron  and  R.  A.  Jones,  of  Rochester,  were 
attorneys  for  Fciitoii.  The  case  came  on  for  trial  before  Judge 
Donaldson  and  a  jui'V.     The  case  hinged  largely  upon  llie  point 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY  93 

whether  the  ari-est  was  in  the  night  time.  Mr.  Page  summed 
up  for  the  plaintiff  and  R.  A.  Jones  for  the  defendant.  It  is  a 
comment  on  the  crude  manner  in  which  the  courts  were  conducted 
in  those  days  to  note  that  all  the  counsel  did  in  the  summing  up 
of  the  case  was  to  abuse  each  other.  The  .jury  after  being  charged 
returned  a  verdict  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff  for  $(500.  Judgment 
was  entered  and  later  paid  in  full. 

In  1884  a  fire  occurred  at  Brownsdale  in  the  saloon  and  cloth- 
ing store  of  George  E.  Rolph.  The  insurance  companies,  three 
in  number,  under  a  pretext  that  they  were  investigating  the  facts, 
required  that  Rolph  submit  to  an  examination,  before  a  justice 
of  the  peace  at  Grand  Meadow.  The  examination  disclosed  noth- 
ing but  what  the  loss  was  a  legitimate  one  and  ought  to  be  paid 
by  the  insurance  companies,  but  they  refused  to  pay  it.  Proofs 
of  loss  had  not  been  made  or  submitted  to  the  companies.  Later 
proofs  of  loss  were  made  and  served  upon  the  companies.  They 
were  returned  and  rejected  on  the .  ground  that  they  were  not 
made  within  the  time  required  by  the  policies.  Suit  was  then 
commenced  against  the  companies  to  recover  the  insurance.  The 
companies  answered  and  claimed  that  Rolph  had  set  fire  and 
destroyed  the  property;  that  he  had  sworn  falsely  in  his  state- 
ment in  regard  to  the  amount  of  property  he  had;  that  proofs 
of  loss  were  not  furnished  in  time  as  provided  in  the  policies,  and 
that  the  policies  were  void  because  he  had  no  license  to  sell  in- 
toxicating liquors  at  the  time.  The  case  against  the  insurance 
companies  came  on  for  trial  before  Judge  Farmer  and  a  jury. 
Lafayette  French  appeared  for  the  plaintiff  and  Laing  &  Moly- 
neaux  appeared  for  the  defendants.  The  plaintiff  had  to  rely 
for  the  most  part  upon  a  waiver.  The  jury  found  a  verdict  for 
the  plaintiff  in  the  three  cases.  One  of  the  insurance  companies, 
the  Concordia,  of  Milwaukee,  after  the  trial,  paid  up  the  amount 
recovered  against  that  company.  The  other  two  companies,  the 
Milwaukee  Mechanics'  Mutual  and  The  German,  of  Freeport,  made 
a  motion  for  a  new  trial,  which  was  denied,  and  the  cases  were 
taken  to  the  supreme  court  on  appeal.  "While  the  two  civil  suits 
against  the  companies  were  pending  in  the  supreme  court  Rolph 
was  arrested,  charged  with  the  crimes  of  arson  and  perjury.  He 
had  testified  in  the  civil  suits  as  to  what  property  was  in  the  build- 
ing at  the  time  of  the  fire  and  that  he  did  not  know  how  the  fire 
took  place.  In  the  criminal  cases  of  the  state  vs.  Rolph,  J.  M. 
Greenman,  the  tlien  county  attorney,  and  J.  W.  Lusk,  of  St.  Paul, 
appeared  for  t'.'c  state  and  John  A.  Lovely  and  Lafayette  French 
appeared  for  the  defendant.  The  state  claimed  that  Rolph  fired 
the  building,  and  that  some  of  the  property,  a  large  anuiunt  of 
liquor,  was  r('mi)V('<l  l)y  Rolph  and  l)uri('(l  upon  llie  farm  of  one 
"Warren.     Tlic    insin-aiicc    coinpanics    had     liircd     Pinkerton    de- 


94  HISTORY  OF  MOWEl?  COUNTY 

tectives  and  they  had  found  the  liquor  concealed  on  Warren's 
farm.  Warren  and  his  wife  had  made  the  confession  to  the 
detectives  that  they  had  assisted  Rolph  in  concealing  the  liquor. 
Rolph  was  tried  on  the  indictment  charging  him  with  perjury. 
Counsel  for  the  state  and  for  the  defendant  agreed  to  submit 
the  case  upon  the  evidence  and  the  judge's  charge,  without  argu- 
ment, although  it  was  well  known  that  J.  W.  Lusk,  who  appeared 
for  the  state,  was  one  of  the  most  able  and  skillful  jury  advocates 
while  John  A.  Lovely  had  a  reputation  for  being  a  most  eloquent 
and  able  advocate.  The  jury  retired  and  returned  a  verdict  of 
"Not  guilty.''  The  state  dismissed  the  other  indictments.  The 
appeal  cases  of  the  insurance  companies  were  likewise  dis- 
missed. The  liquor,  Avhich  had  been  found  on  Warren's 
farm  by  the  detectives,  was  turned  over  to  the  county  attor- 
ney to  lie  used  upon  the  trial  of  the  ease  against  Rolph.  After 
the  termination  of  the  criminal  cases  the  court  entered  an  order 
for  the  county  attorney  to  turn  over  the  liquor  to  his  counsel, 
who  had  taken  a  bill  of  sale  of  the  liquor  from  Rolph.  After 
the  arrest  the  liquor  was  safely  kept  in  the  cellar  of  the  county 
attorney.  When  the  liquor  was  opened  and  counsel  were  ready 
to  dispose  of  it,  they  found  that  the  liquor  had  been  drawn  out 
of  the  casks  and  water  substituted  in  its  place.  While  consider- 
able fun  was  had  at  the  expense  of  the  county  attorney,  no  one 
thought  seriously  that  he  was  responsible  for  disposing  of  the 
liquor. 

Probably  the  most  important  civil  case  that  was  ever  tried 
in  this  county  was  the  suit  brought  by  Louis  Rex  Clay,  by  his 
guardian  ad  litem,  Ida  B.  Clay  vs.  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & 
St.  Paul  Railroad  Company  and  Thomas  H.  Bennett,  to  recover 
damages,  Avhich  the  plaintiff  sustained  at  the  village  of  Lyle, 
^Minnesota,  on  December  7,  1905.  The  case  came  on  for  trial  at 
the  January  term,  1907.  On  the  first  trial  the  jury  disagreed 
and  the  second  trial  of  the  case  came  on  a  few  weeks 
later.  At  both  trials  the  plaintiflf,  Louis  Rex  Clay,  was  unable 
to  be  present  in  court.  On  the  suggestion  of  his  counsel,  the  jury 
and  the  lawyers,  clerk  of  court  and  the  sheriff,  as  well  as  Judge 
Kingsley,  who  jircsidcd  at  the  trial,  adjourned  to  his  father's 
residence  and  his  testimony  was  given  while  l.ying  in  bed.  He 
was  paralyzed  from  his  should(>rs  down.  He  wa.s  a  mere  skeleton 
and  unable  to  use  any  part  of  his  body  from  below  his  head, 
lint  his  iniiid  iind  intellect  was  as  cb'ar  as  it  ever  was.  He  entered 
the  ciniiloyinciit  of  liic  compniiy  in  the  fall  of  1905  as  a  freight 
brakcman.  He  wa.s  struck  by  an  elevated  jilatform  at  the  station 
of  Lyle  and  was  thereby  swept  from  the  west  side  of  a  coal  car 
lui  whicli  lie  was  hanging  and  Ihcreliy  injured.  Tlie  plaintiff  was 
;i    vdnnii'   in;in    nlinnt    eighteen    years   ohl,    bi'ight    and    intelligent. 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  !J5 

His  father  was  an  old  conductor  in  the  employ  of  the  {'Oiiipany. 
The  negligence  charged  in  the  complaint  was  that  the  company 
constructed  and  maintained  the  elevated  platform  in  question 
in  too  close  proximity  to  passing  cars;  that  without  any  advice 
or  instruction  or  information  as  to  the  dangerous  character  of 
the  platform,  he  was  directed  and  ordered  to  ride  upon  a  gondola 
car  of  unusual  width  by  this  platform.  The  second  trial  lasted 
several  days,  and  when  the  ca.se  was  submitted  to  them  the  jury 
returned  a  verdict  for  $35,000  against  the  company.  Eighteen 
days  after  the  verdict  the  plaintiff  died  from  his  injuries.  The 
company  made  a  motion  for  a  judgment,  notwithstanding  the 
verdict,  and  in  case  that  was  denied,  for  a  neAv  trial.  Both  motions 
were  denied  and  the  case  was  taken  on  appeal  to  the  supreme 
court.  Owing  to  the  importance  of  the  case  the  rule  was  sus- 
pended and  counsel  were  allowed  as  much  time  as  they  wished 
for  argument,  and  were  unlimited  as  to  the  number  of  counsel 
who  were  to  argue  the  case.  The  case  was  ably  argued  by  counsel 
for  the  railroad  company,  but  after  due  consideration  by  the  court 
the  case  was  affirmed.  In  the  trial  the  plaintiff  was  represented 
by  Lovely  &  Dunn  and  Lafayette  French,  and  the  defendant  by 
S.  D.  Catherwood  and  M.  B.  AVebber,  of  Winona.  On  May  4, 
1908,  the  company  paid  this  verdict, which  amounted  to  .$37,857.93, 
the  largest  verdict  in  a  personal  injury  case  that  the  supreme 
court  of  this  state  has  ever  affirmed. 


CHAPTER  XL 

COMING  OF  THE  RAILROADS. 

Old  Land  Grant  Roads  With  Extensive  Concessions — Roadbed 
Graded  Through  Mower  County — Engine  Reaches  Le  Roy — 
Freight  Car  Passes  Through  Mower  County  from  New  York 
to  St.  Paul — Later  Growth  and  Development  of  the  Railroad 
System  in  the  County — Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul — 
Chicago  Great  Western — Illinois  Central. 

]\Iower  ccmnty  is  crossed  by  the  lines  of  three  great  railways: 
The  Chicago,  ^Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul,  the  Chicago  Great  Western 
and  the  Dubuque  &  Sioux  City,  operated  by  the  Illinois  Central. 
The  Chicago,  ^Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  has  two  lines  and  five  divisions 
in  the  county.  The  Iowa  &  ^Minnesota  line  has  stations  in  this 
county  at  Lansing.  Ramsey,  Austin,  Rose  Creek,  Adams,  Taopi 
and  Lc  Rov.     The  :\Lis()ii  Citv  to  Austin  line  lias  stations  in  tliis 


96  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

county  at  Lansing,  Ramsey,  Varco  and  Lyle.  These  two  lines 
embrace  the  following  divisions :  Iowa  and  Minnesota ;  Mason  City 
to  Austin;  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Des  Moines;  and  the  Minne- 
apolis, St.  Paul  &  Kansas  City.  The  Southern  Minnesota  division 
has  stations  in  this  county  at  Ramsey,  Brownsdale,  Dexter  and 
Grand  Meadow.  The  Chicago  Great  Western  has  also  three  lines 
in  this  county.  The  Minneapolis  &  St.  Paul-Council  Bluffs  & 
Omaha  Short  line  has  stations  in  this  county  at  Waltham,  May- 
ville,  Austin,  Varco  and  Lyle.  The  Minneapolis  &  St.  Paul- 
Chicago  &  Dubuque  line,  which  in  this  county  is  identical  with 
the  Minneapolis  &  St.  Paul-Des  Moines,  St.  Joseph,  Leavenworth 
&  Kansas  City  short  line,  has  stations  in  this  county  at  Sargeant, 
Renova,  Elkton  and  Taopi.  The  Minneapolis,  St.  Paul,  Red  "Wing, 
Rochester  and  Osage  line,  leased  from  the  "Wisconsin,  Minnesota 
&  Pacific  Railway  Company,  has  stations  at  Racine  and  Le  Roy 
in  this  county.  The  Dubuque  &  Sioux  City,  operated  by  the  Illi- 
nois Central,  has  one  branch,  the  Cedar  Falls  &  Minnesota  in  this 
county,  and  one  station,  Lyle. 

These  roads  have  been  built  at  various  times,  and  under  vary- 
ing circumstances.  The  proposition  for  a  railroad  in  Mower 
county  was  made  in  1854,  when  the  JMinnesota  &  Northwestern 
Railroad  Company  was  incorporated  by  the  legislature  to  con- 
struct a  line  from  Lake  Superior  by  way  of  St.  Paul,  by  the  most 
practicable  route  to  the  Iowa  line.  This  company  was  given  a 
grant  of  alternate  sections,  six  sections  wide,  on  either  side  of 
the  road  it  should  build  from  the  Iowa  line  northward,  anywhere 
^between  ranges  9  and  17.  This  would  have  made  it  possible  for 
the  company  to  have  secured  control  of  considerable  land  in 
Mower  county.  In  1838  the  grant  to  this  company  was  made 
still  more  definite,  and  inchuling  the  building  of  a  line  road  that 
should  leave  the  Iowa  line  west  of  section  thirteen  and  pass 
through  Austin.  The  provisions  of  the  grant  were  not  complied 
with  by  the  road,  and  the  company  never  came  into  possession 
of  the  grant.  In  1858  the  grade  for  the  Minneapolis  &  Cedar 
Valley  road  was  made  in  this  county.  Then  came  nine  years  of 
waiting,  during  which  time  various  propositions  and  wildcat  plans 
were  afloat.  After  this,  on  September  9,  1867,  the  first  railroad 
engine  ever  operated  in  I\lower  comity  reached  Le  Roy. 

The  Minnesota  &  Northwestern.  On  June  29.  1854,  the  T'nited 
States  congress  passed  an  act  to  aid  the  territory  of  ^Minnesota 
in  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  the  southern  line  of  the 
territory,  commencing  at  a  point  between  ranges  9  and  17;  thence 
by  way  of  St.  Paul,  by  the  most  practicable  route  to  the  eastern 
line  of  the  territory  of  Lake  Superior.  The  act  granted  every 
alternate  section  of  land,  six  sections  in  width,  designated  by  odd 
numbers  on  both  sides  of  road  as  it  should  be  built.    In  the  terri- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  97 

torial  legislature  of  1854,  Joseph  R.  Brown  introduced  a  bill  to 
incorporate  the  Minnesota  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company. 
It  was  passed  at  midnight,  on  the  last  day  of  the  session,  and, 
contrary  to  expectation,  Governor  Gorman  signed  it.  The  route 
designated  was  from  some  point  on  Lake  Superior  by  way  of  St. 
Paul  to  the  Iowa  line  in  the  direction  of  Dubuque.  As  will  be 
seen,  the  proposed  route  of  the  Minnesota  &  Northwestern  Rail- 
road Company  was  identical  with  that  mentioned  in  the  land 
grant.  After  alterations  and  amendments,  and  charges  of  fraud 
both  in  the  territorial  legislattire  and  in  Congress,  the  land  grant 
act  was  repealed  by  congress.  The  company,  however,  contended 
that  congress  had  no  right  to  appeal  the  act.  The  higher  courts 
also  upheld  the  congressional  repeal.  The  matter  caused  much 
discussion  in  succeeding  sessions  of  the  legislature,  but  in  1855 
the  legislature  passed  an  act  to  amend  the  incorporation  of  the 
Minnesota  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company  over  the  governor's 
veto.  In  1856  the  time  for  the  building  of  the  road  was  extended, 
and  the  extension  approved  by  the  governor.  The  road  was 
chartered  May  23,  1857,  to  build  a  line  from  the  Iowa  state  line, 
somewhere  west  of  section  thirteen,  via  Austin,  Mankato,  etc., 
to  New  Ulm,  Minn.  In  1858,  in  a  joint  session,  the  legislature 
confirmed  the  territorial  land  grant  of  1854,  congress  in  the  mean- 
time having  made  liberal  provision  for  the  giving  of  land  grants 
to  such  railroads  as  should  build  in  Minnesota.  It  was  as  the 
Minnesota  &  Northwestern  that  the  Chicago  Great  "Western  line 
from  Hayfield  to  Omaha  was  first  laid  in  this  county. 


THE  LAND  GRANT  ROADS. 

An  act  Avas  approved  by  the  Minnesota  territorial  legislature 
May  22,  1857,  creating  four  railroad  corporations,  and  granting 
them  alternate  sections,  designated  by  odd  numbers,  six  miles  in 
width  on  each  side  of  the  roads  and  their  branches,  this  being 
in  accord  with  the  liberal  railroad  land  grant  by  congress.  These 
four  railroad  corporations,  viz..  the  Minnesota  &  Pacific  Railroad 
Company  (changed  to  St.  Paul  &  Paeifie  Railroad  Company)  :  the 
Minneapolis  &  Cedar  A^alley  Railroad  Company;  the  Transit  Rail- 
road Company  (changed  to  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad  Com- 
pany) ;  and  the  Root  River  Valley  &  Southern  Minnesota  Railroad 
Company.  The  first  named  was  created  originally  by  this  act. 
The  latter  three  had  already  been  organized.  The  companies 
were  to  pay  three  per  cent  of  their  gross  earnings  in  lieu  of  taxes 
and  assessments,  and  the  lands  granted  by  congress  were  to  be. 
exempt  from  all  taxation  vantil  sold  and  conveyaneed  by  the  com- 
panies.    The  corporations  were  generally  given  ten  years  to  con- 


98  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

struct  their  respective  roads.  The  financial  embarrassments  of 
1857 -retarded  the  progress  of  railroad  building;  and  it  also  be- 
came evident  that  the  parties  who  had  obtained  the  railway  char- 
ters mentioned  had  neither  the  money  or  credit  to  complete  these 
great  highways  of  internal  improvements. 

The  territory  of  ]\Iinnesota  was  admitted  to  statehood  May  11, 
1858.  The  constitution  ratified  and  adopted  October  13,  1857, 
provided  in  article  10,  section  2,  that  "no  corporations  shall  be 
formed  under  special  acts  except  for  municipal  purposes";  and 
it  still  further  provided  that  "the  credit  of  the  state  shall  never 
be  given  nor  loaned,  in  the  aid  of  any  individual,  association  or 
corporation. ' '  Notwithstanding  the  strong  feeling  worked  up  over 
the  talk  of  getting  bonds  in  the  aid  of  railroads  so  badly  needed 
in  the  state,  the  first  act  of  the  legislature,  which  was  approved 
March  9,  1858,  before  the  state  was  admitted,  was  to  submit  an 
amendment  to  the  constitution,  providing  for  loaning  the  state's 
credit  to  the  four  land  grant  roads  to  the  extent  of  $1,250,000 
each,  or  $5,000,000  in  all.  provided  $100,000  for  every  ten  miles 
to  be  graded,  and  $100,000  for  every  ten  miles  when  the  cars  were 
running  regularly.  In  return  it  required  the  roads  to  pledge  the 
net  income  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  bonds,  and  to  convey  the 
first  240  sections  of  land  from  the  government  grant  to  the  state, 
and  to  deposit  in  first  mortgage  bonds  an  amount  equal  to  the 
loan  from  the  state  for  security.  This  proposal  occasioned  much 
uneasiness  among  the  most  prudent  of  the  citizens  in  the  state; 
and  though  public  meetings  were  held  denouncing  the  measure, 
it  was,  however,  upon  being  submitted  to  the  people,  on  the  ap- 
pointed day  of  a  special  election,  April  15,  1858.  carried  by  a 
large  ma.jority,  there  being  25,023  in  favor  to  6,733  against  the 
amendment.  The  measure  afterward  became  known  as  the  Five 
Jlilljon  Loan  Bill.  The  state  bonds  were  of  $1,000  denomination, 
had  twenty-five  years  to  run  with  interest  at  seven  per  cent,  the 
railroad  companies  to  pay  the  interest,  and  were  to  be  delivered 
to  the  incorporators  of  the  companies  when  ten  miles  of  the  road 
was  graded  and  ready  for  the  superstructure.  Owing  to  techni- 
calities it  was  extremely  difficult  to  market  these  bonds.  Times 
were  luird  jind  tlie  companies  were  unable  to  pay  the  required 
interest. 

On  the  ;isseiul)liii<,'  of  llie  le-i-islatun^  in  18(i0  the  inlerest  on 
the  state  ])onds  liaviiig  l)een  defaulted,  an  amendment  to  the  con- 
stitution was  ad<)])ted  and  submitted  to  tlie  people  expunging  the 
section  sanctioned  and  approved  by  them.  April  15.  1858.  reserv- 
ing only  the  state's  rights.  The  electors  of  the  state  at  the  general 
election  of  Novemlx'i-  G,  18(i0.  with  unanimity,  by  a  vote  of  27.023 
1(1  733,  ;i|i])i-(ive(l  of  llie  jiuiendineiit.  For  Iwo  years  tliereafter 
i-aiii'iiad  mnllei's  in  the  slate  laid  dormant. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUA'TY  Of) 


CHICAGO,  MILWAUKEE  &  ST.  PAUL  RAILWAY. 

The  Minneapolis  &  Cedar  Valley  Railroad  Company  was  cIimi- 
tered  Marcli  1,  1856.  with  a  capital  stock  of  $3,()()0,()00  to  construct 
a  railroad  from  Minneapolis  to  a  point  of  junction  with  the  Root 
River  Valley  &  Southern  Minnesota  Railroad  in  Dakota  county, 
from  one  to  six  miles  from  IMendota,  and  thence  in  a  southerly 
direction  via  Faribault,  through  the  valley  of  the  Straight  river, 
to  the  southern  boundary  line  of  the  territory  at  the  Cedar  river. 
They  were  also  to  have  the  right  to  build  at  any  time  a  line  from 
the  Mendota  Junction  to  St.  Paul;  also  a  like  road  to  Hastings. 
After  the  passage  of  the  amendment  to  the  constitution  in  1858 
a  mortgage  was  executed  and  bonds  issued  and  deposited  with 
the  state,  for  which  the  company  received  .$600,000,  state  bonds. 
The  company  defaulted  in  the  payments.  September  1,  1859,  the 
foreclosure  was  demanded.  The  trustees  advertised  and  sold  the 
property  August  16,  1860,  and  bid  it  in  for  the  state.  The  prop- 
erty, franchise,  etc.,  were  conferred  March  10,  1862,  upon  the 
Minneapolis.  Faribault  &  Cedar  Valley  Railroad  Company.  Quite 
an  amount  of  grading  had  been  done,  but  no  track  liad  been  laid. 

The  Minneapolis,  Faribault  &  Cedar  Valley  Railroad  Company 
was  incorporated  by  the  legislature  of  Minnesota  March  10,  1862. 
Under  this  name  the  state  transferred  to  Alexander  James,  Syl- 
vester Smith,  William  H.  Dike,  Charles  A.  Wheaton,  Franklin 
Steele,  Henry  Chapin,  Thomas  A.  Harrington,  Eli  B.  Ames,  John 
]\r.  Oilman,  William  Gr.  LeDuc  and  Rufus  J.  Baldwin  all  the  prop- 
erty, franchises,  etc.,  of  the  Minneapolis  &  Cedar  Valley  Company 
acquired  by  foreclosure  August  16,  1860,  and  authorized  a  re- 
organization under  the  original  charter.  The  same  rights  had 
been  conferred  upon  Erastus  Corning  and  associates  in  ]\Iarch. 
1861,  and  upon  N.  D.  Barney  et  al.  in  March,  1863,  but  they  failed 
to  comply  with  the  conditions  and  forfeited  them.  By  an  act 
of  the  legislature  which  was  approved  February  1,  1864,  the  name 
was  changed  to  the  Minnesota  Central  Railway  Company. 

The  Minnesota  Central  Railway  Company  was  named  in  ar. 
act  of  the  legislature,  approved  February  1,  1864,  to  take  over  the 
franchise  and  rights  of  the  Minneapolis,  Faribault  &  Cedar  Valley 
Railroad  Company.  Acts  Avere  passed  at  different  times  extend- 
ing the  time  of  completion  of  the  road,  also  an  act  authorizing  the 
connection  with  the  Iowa  road  at  the  state  line.  The  road  was 
completed  from  ^linneapolis  via  ^lendota  to  Owatonna,  a  distancr 
of  seventy-one  miles,  in  1866,  and  the  branch  was  built  from  ]\Ien- 
dota  to  St.  Paul.  September  18,  1866,  tlie  capital  stock  of  tlie 
road  Avas  sold  to  the  ^McGregor  &  Western  Railroad  Company  for 
.$2,000,000,   payable   in    a    like   amount    of   the    latter   company's 


100  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

stock.  All  the  property  except  the  land  grant  lands  was  con- 
veyed June  26,  1867.  This  sale  was  practically  a  consolidation. 
The  corporate  existence  of  the  company  was  continued  by  virtue 
of  its  land  stock,  and  no  interest  in  its  lands  ever  passed  to  the 
McGregor  &  Western  Company  or  its  successors.  The  company 
was  required  by  the  land  grant  to  build  from  Austin  to  the  state 
line,  but  had  not  done  so  when  it  was  transferred  to  the  McGregor 
company.  The  ^Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway  Company  (which 
later  on,  February  7,  1874,  became  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & 
St.  Paul),  after  acquiring  the  line  of  the  consolidated  company, 
August  5,  1867,  reconveyed  to  the  Minnesota  Central  Company  in 
April,  1868,  that  part  of  the  line  between  Austin  and  Mona,  a  dis- 
tance of  eleven  miles,  to  enable  it  to  earn  the  land  grant. 

As  before  stated,  the  first  regular  passenger  train  reached  Le 
Roy  from  Cresco  September  9,  1867.  This  was  an  important  day 
for  Mower  county,  and  on  that  day,  for  the  first  time,  the  county 
had  connection  by  rail  with  the  Atlantic  seaboard.  In  October, 
1867,  the  line  was  completed  from  Owatonna  to  Austin,  and  for 
a  short  time  the  lines  ending  at  Austin  and  Le  Roy  were  con- 
Qected  by  the  stage  route  of  Nichols  &  Cotter.  Later  in  the  month 
the  line  was  completed  from  Austin  to  Le  Roy.  In  the  same 
month  a  through  freight  car  passed  through  Austin  from  New 
.York  to  Minneapolis,  thus  bridging  by  rail  the  distance  from  the 
Atlantic  ocean  to  the  head  of  Mississippi  navigation. 

Work  was  also  pushed  to  the  southward  from  Austin  to  the 
state  line,  and  trains  started  running  in  January,  1870.  April, 
1870,  the  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  road  took  a  deed  to  the  line  from 
Austin  to  Mona,  paying  1,760  shares  of  common  stock  and  a  like 
amount  of  preferred  stock.  In  January,  1870,  the  Illinois  Central 
started  running  its  trains  from  the  state  line  south  in  Iowa. 

November  3,  1870,  the  portion  of  the  Iowa  Central  from  the 
Minnesota  state  line  to  Mason  City,  now  owned  by  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul,  was  completed,  and  cars  were  put  in  oper- 
ation. In  December,  1871,  the  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids  &  i\Iin- 
nesota  Railway  tapped  this  line  at  Plymouth,  in  Cerro  Gordo 
county,  Iowa,  and  leased  a  right  of  way  to  Austin,  thus  practic- 
ally extending  its  line  to  Mower  county.  A  year  later  th6  Central 
Railway  of  Iowa  began  running  trains  from  Austin  to  St.  Louis 
over  the  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids  and  TMinnesota,  via  the  Iowa 
Central. 

The  McGregor  and  Western  Railway  Company  was  organized 
January  19,  1863,  and  was  authorized  to  construct  a  road  from  or 
from  near  McGregor,  westward  and  northwestward  in  Iowa. 
Later  the  charter  was  modified,  allowing  the  company  to  con- 
struct a  line  from  the  state  line  to  Austin,  in  ]\Iinnesota.  In  1866 
the  company  purchased  the  I\linnesota  Central  Railway  Company, 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  101 

and  gave  in  return  $2,000,000  of  its  bonds.  Tlie  McGregor  com- 
pany was  authorized  March  7,  1867,  by  the  Minnesota  legislature, 
to  construct  a  road  via  Austin,  to  Owatonna,  and  to  exercise  the 
franchise  of  the  IMinnesota  Central  Railway  Company.  Articles 
of  incorporation  Avere  filed  in  Minnesota  June  8,  1867,  and  later 
in  the  month  a  deed  was  taken  of  the  IMinnesota  Central  Com- 
pany, then  built  from  Minneapolis  to  Owatonna.  The  line  was 
immediately  transferred  to  the  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Company, 
which  February  7,  1874,  became  the  Chicago,  INIilwaukee  &  St. 
Paul.  The  building  of  the  McGregor  line  is  recorded  elsewhere 
in  this  chapter. 

The  Root  River  Valley  &  Southern  Minnesota  Railroad  Avas 
chartered  by  the  territory  of  Minnesota  March  2,  185.3.  The  act 
to  incorporate  was  passed  on  the  above  date  by  the  territorial 
legislature,  and  amended  February  27,  1857.  The  charter  granted 
the  privilege  of  covering  almost  everything  in  the  southern  end  of 
the  state,  provided  the  eastern  terminus  remained  at  Hokah,  viz. : 
"from  the  village  of  Hokah,  in  the  county  of  Houston,  and  terri- 
tory of  Minnesota,  westward  by  the  most  feasible  and  practicable 
route  to  some  point  between  the  south  line  of  the  territory  and 
the  point  where  the  township  line  between  110  and  111  crosses 
the  Minnesota  river,  thence  west  by  the  most  direct  and  practi- 
cable route  to  the  great  bend  of  the  Missouri  river,  with  the  priv- 
ilege of  a  branch  starting  from  Hokah  and  running  to  the  west 
bank  of  the  Mississippi,  via  Target  Lake  to  Eagle  Bluff  in  AVinona 
county.  Also  the  privilege  of  building  a  branch  from  some  point 
on  the  main  line  east  of  range  12,  west  of  the  fifth  principal 
meridian,  and  Avestward  through  the  counties  of  MoAver,  Free- 
born and  Faribault,  to  the  Avest  line  of  the  territory;  also  the 
privilege  of  constructing  a  ship  canal  from  the  main  channel  of 
the  Mississippi  river  to  Target  Lake."  May  22,  1857,  the  terri- 
tory of  the  road  was  extended,  and  all  the  land  grants  applicable 
to  its  route  duly  conferred.  This  was  one  of  the  original  land 
grant  roads  bought  in  by  the  state  of  Minnesota,  Avhich  later  re- 
issued its  charter  and  loaned  the  credit  of  the  state. 

The  Southern  Minnesota  Railroad  Company  Avas  the  name 
taken  by  the  Root  River  Valley  and  Southern  ^ilinnesota  Railroad, 
]May  23,  1857,  the  day  after  the  land  grant  Avas  conferred.  The 
company  executed  a  mortgage,  issued  bonds  and  deposited  them 
Avith  the  state,  receiving  therefor  $575,000  in  state  bonds.  The 
company  defaulted  on  the  payments  April  1,  1860,  and  the  gov- 
ernor advertised  and  sold  the  property  and  conveyed  the  sani'i  to 
the  state.  The  state  conferred  the  property,  etc.,  on  divers  o.jca- 
sions  to  various  parties  during  the  years  1861  and  1863,  but  tliey 
failed  to  comply  Avith  the  conditions.  The  rights  pertaining  to 
the  line  througii  the  southern  tier  of  counties  Avere  conferred  upon 


102  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

T.  B.  Stoddard  and  associates  March  4,  1864,  under  the  name  of 
the  Southern  J\Iinnesota  Railroad  Company,  thus  reviving  the  old 
title.  The  company  received  aid  from  various  municipalities.  The 
road  was  completed  to  Rushford  in  1867 ;  to  Lanesboro  in  1868 ; 
from  Ramsey  to  Wells  in  1869 ;  Lanesboro  to  Ramsey  and  from 
Wells  to  W^innebago  in  1870,  making  a  total  of  1671/2  miles.  After 
various  litigation  the  Southern  Minnesota  Railway  Company  was 
organized  under  chapter  50  of  the  laws  of  1876. 

The  Southern  Minnesota  Railway  Company  was  organized 
I\Iareh  8.  1877.  Tlie  Southern  Minnesnfa  Railway  Extension  Com- 
pany was  also  organized.  January  1,  1880,  the  Southern  Minne- 
sota, after  receiving  a  deed  from  the  Extension  company,  deeded 
its  road  from  the  Mississippi  river  to  Sioux  Falls,  and  the  branch 
from  Wells  and  Mankato,  to  the  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Compauy, 
the  latter  issuing  bonds  and  taking  possession  of  the  road  INIay  1, 
1880. 

The  year  1887  was  an  eventful  one  for  Austin.  The  C,  M.  & 
St.  Paul  moved  its  shops  here  from  "Wells,  and  also  built  a  '"Y" 
from  Ramsey  so  that  the  trains  on  the  old  Southern  Minnesota 
line  ran  into  Austin,  thus  doing  away  with  the  old  stage  coach 
that  liad  hitherto  done  duty  between  Austin  and  Ramsey.  As  a 
bonus  for  locating  the  shops  here  Austin  gave  $10,000  and  ten 
acres  of  land. 

CHICAGO  GREAT  WESTERN  RAILROAD. 

The  Chicago  Great  Western  Railroad  Company,  operating 
what  is  known  as  the  Corn  Belt  Route,  in  1910  succeeded  the  Chi- 
cago Great  Western  Railway  Company,  which  operated  what  v.-as 
then  known  as  the  Maple  Leaf  Route.  The  latter  company  was 
organized  in  Illinois  January  5,  1892,  to  effect  the  reorganization 
of  tlie  Chicago,  St.  Paul  and  Kansas  City  Railway  Company,  which 
was  an  Iowa  corporation  and  had  absorbed  the  ]\Iiunesota  and 
Northwestern.  The  early  construction  of  the  route  in  ^Minnesota 
was  commenced  in  1884  and  completed  in  the  summer  of  1885, 
when  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  were  built  from  Minneapolis  to 
the  Iowa  state  line,  passing  through  Mower  county,  touching 
points  that  are  now  Waltham,  Mayville,  Austin,  Varco  and  Lyle, 
and  connecting  at  the  latter  place  with  the  Illinois  Central.  The 
station  at  Austin  Avas  opened  July  24,  1885,  with  0.  B.  Johnson  as 
first  agent.  A  grand  excursion  to  St.  Paul  took  place  August  20, 
1885.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  a  junction  was  made  with  the 
Iowa  (Central  Railroad  at  Manley  Junction,  Iowa.  In  1887  the  line 
from  Ilaytield  to  Dubiuiue,  Iowa,  passing  through  INIower  county 
and  luiving  stations  at  points  that  ai'c  now  Sargeant.  Renova.  Elk- 
ton  and  Taopi.  was  completed,  as  was  the  line  from  Chicago  to 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  103 

South  Freeport,  Illinois.  The  next  year  the  missing  link  between 
Dubuque  and  South  Freeport  was  completed,  thus  completing  the 
line  from  ]Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul  to  Chicago.  On  August  1, 
1887,  the  first  passenger  train  made  the  run  between  Chicago  and 
St.  Paul  in  thirteen  and  one-half  hours.  This  was  the  inaugura- 
tion of  the'  fast  passenger  train  service  in  the  West.  Under  an 
agreement  with  the  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and  Pacific  Railway- 
Company,  the  Chicago  Great  Western  operates  their  lines  of  271 
miles  from  Mankato  to  Red  Wing  and  another  from  Red  Wing 
to  Osage,  Iowa,  with  branches  from  Winona  to  Simpson  and  from 
Claybank  Junction  to  Claybank.  The  line  from  Red  Wing  to 
Osage  crosses  the  extreme  eastern  portion  of  Mower  county,  pass- 
ing into  Fillmore  county  and  then  curving  back  into  Mower  coun- 
ty. In  this  county  it  has  stations  at  Racine  and  LeRoy.  The  Wis- 
consin, Minnesota  &  Pacific  Raihvay  Company  is  a  reorganization 
of  one  of  the  early  ^Minnesota  companies  and  was  incorporated 
in  Minnesota  in  April,  3894.  This  line  was  started  in  1890,  the 
company  at  that  time  being  the  Winona  &  Southwestern. 

ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  RAILROAD. 

The  Dubuque  &  Sioux  City  Railroad,  which  is  operated  by  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  is  a  reorganized  company  hold- 
ing its  franchises  by  charter  granted  by  the  state  of  lovs-a,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Albert  Lea  &  Southern  Railroad  Company,  in- 
corporated September  20,  1899,  under  the  general  laws  of  Minne- 
sota. This  road,  which  extended  from  the  Iowa  state  line  to 
Gleuville  Junction,  thus  crossing  IMower  county  from  Lyle  west- 
ward, was  consolidated  with  the  Dubuque  &  Sioux  City  Railroad 
Company,  July  1,  1902. 

Aside  from  the  roads  mentioned  scores  more  have  at  various 
times  been  projected,  in  which  Austin  people  have  been  inter- 
ested. But  they  have  not  yet  reached  IMower  county,  though  even 
to  the  present  day  there  is  talk  of  another  road  being  put  through. 


104  HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUXTY 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

AGRICULTURE. 

Importance  of  the  Farming  Interests  of  Mower  County — Char- 
acter of  the  Men  Who  First  Came  Here — Failure  of  Wheat 
Crop — Development  of  Diversified  Farming — Advantages — 
Mail  and  Trading  Facilities — Nature  of  the  Soil — Sheep  and 
Poultry  Breeding — The  Pork  Industry — Registered  Stock 
Predominant— Homes  of  the  Farmers — Agricultural  Societies 
—Grange  Movement — Storm  and  Flood — Insurance  Companies. 

Mower  county  is  acknowlodg't'd  as  being  among  the  best  and 
most  prosperous  agricultural  and  stock  raising  counties  in  Minne- 
sota. Its  people  are  wide  awake  and  keep  step  with  the  pro- 
gressive march  of  the  times  in  all  that  pertains  to  a  civilization  of 
happiness,  industry  and  culture.  Like  all  this  portion  of  the 
Northwest,  the  agricultural  history  of  Mower  county  must  record 
some  disastrous  failures.  The  whole  southern  and  soutliAvestern 
portions  of  Minnesota,  as  well  as  the  greater  part  of  Iowa,  have 
had  serious  disadvantages  to  contend  with  and  obstacles  to  en- 
counter. The  first  settlers  of  the  county  were  mostly  farmers, 
and  they  were,  with  but  few  exceptions,  poor  men,  as  is  the  case 
in  the  history  of  every  agricultural  region.  In  fact,  few  had  more 
than  enough  to  barely  get  settled  upon  their  lands ;  but  they 
came  with  that  which  was  in  those  days  equal  to  it — training  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  brawny  hands  that  Avere  able  and  not 
ashamed  to  work,  and,  in  connection  with  industrious  habits,  the 
energy  and  determination  to  win  success.  The  country  Avas  new, 
and  there  was  no  alternative  but  that  success  must  be  wrought 
from  the  soil,  which  was  their  only  wealth  and  their  only  hope. 
And,  in  spite  of  all  the  obstacles  and  inconveniences,  notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  the  whole  aim  of  the  farming  community 
has  changed,  success  has  attended  their  efforts.  Nor  is  the  end 
yet  reached,  but  the  county  has  a  mine  of  wealth  yet  undeveloped, 
which,  as  years  roll  on,  will  grow  more  and  more  valuable  as  the 
agricultural  population  become  more  and  more  able  to  utilize  it. 

Early  in  the  development  of  this  country  wheat  Avas  the  main 
product,  and  for  a  juunber  of  years  excellent  crops  were  raised 
with  scarcely  a  failure.  At  the  present  time  wheat  has  given  up 
its  former  place  to  other  cereals,  and  farmers  find  many  other 
avenues  in  which-  to  devote  their  time  and  energy. 

Mower  cotuiIv  is  in  tlic  most  southern  tier  of  the  counties  of 
Minnesota.     Its  soiillicni  boundary  forms  a  portion  of  the  state 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  105 

line  between  the  great  wheat  state  of  Minnesota  and  the  great 
corn  state  of  Iowa.  It  lies  in  the  grain  belt  and  also  in  the  corn 
belt.    It  is  also  the  center  of  the  great  dairy  belt. 

Mower  county  occupies  with  but  few  exceptions,  all  of  which 
are  in  northern  Minnesota,  the  highest  land  in  the  Mississippi 
valley.  The  mean  elevation  above  the  sea  is  1,300  feet,  the  highest 
point  being  in  the  central  and  southern  portion  where  the  eleva- 
tion rises  to  1,360  feet.  The  lowest  elevation  of  the  county  is 
1,119  feet,  which  is  600  feet  higher  than  the  Union  station  at  St. 
Paul.  Owing  to  the  gradual  rise  toward  the  center,  Mower  county 
has  perfect  drainage,  it  being  one  of  the  few  counties  of  the  state 
without  a  lake  or  large  pond.  Numerous  small  streams  flow 
through  the  county,  which  is  blessed  with  an  abimdance  of  good 
Avater.  Beside  the  creeks  and  rivulets,  there  are  innumerable  flow- 
ing springs,  gushing  from  the  earth,  many  flowing  300,000  gallons 
a  day  and  some  to  exceed  a  million  gallons  in  twenty-four  hours. 

The  high  altitude  gives  to  Mower  county  an  ideal  climate.  Its 
mean  temperatiire  for  summer  is  70  degrees,  the  same  as  middle 
Illinois,  Ohio  and  southern  Pennsylvania.  The  extreme  heat  that 
is  felt  in  these  states  is  here  tempered  by  the  breezes  of  the  ele- 
vated plateau.  Its  higher  latitude  gives  two  hours  more  of  sun- 
shine than  at  Cincinnati.  This  with  an  abundance  of  rainfall, 
26.36  inches  annually,  on  a  rich  soil,  accounts  for  the  rapid  and 
vigorous  growth  of  crops  and  their  early  maturity.  There  is  a 
uniformity  of  temperature  during  the  winter  season  in  southern 
Minnesota,  with  bright  sunshine,  dry  atmosphere,  good  sleighing 
and  infrequent  thaws  that  make  life  a  pleasure  in  this  bracing, 
healthy  climate. 

The  soil  is  for  the  most  part  a  deep,  rich,  warm  loam  with  clay 
subsoil.  There  is  but  little  gumbo  soil  in  this  county.  Cultivation 
is  easy  and  "irrigation  and  dry  farming"  that  one  hears  so  much 
about  to-day,  and  which  is  so  necessary  to  secure  a  crop  on  much 
of  the  new  lands  that  are  being  opened  up  in  the  West,  at  so  great 
an  expense,  are  not  needed  here.  During  the  past  few  years  a 
number  of  farms  have  been  tiled  and  with  such  marked  success 
that  within  a  few  years  most  of  the  farms  will  be  improved  in 
this  respect.  The  lay  of  the  land  is  such  that  almost  every  farmer 
gets  good  drainage  without  difficulty.  Two  large  factories,  one 
manufacturing  a  cement  tile  and  the  other  a  clay  tile,  are  located 
at  Austin  and  have  a  tremendous  total  output. 

Mower  county  ha.s  good  roads  and  in  several  road  districts  its 
roads  are  as  fine  as  a  city's  street,  thanks  to  the  efficient  work 
of  townships  good  road  organizations  and  to  the  use  of  the  King 
split-log  drag. 

Mower  county  Avas  the  first  county  in  the  United  States  to 
have  a  coiiiiilcte  i-ni-al  mail  route  system  installed.     Tliis  was  done 


106  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

in  1904,  and  there  is  hardly  a  farm  in  the  county  that  is  above 
half  a  mile  from  a  rural  route.  The  entire  population,  aside  from 
the  county  seat  and  the  villages  with  postofifices,  is  served  by  this 
excellent  system.  Each  route  serA^es  llO^families  or  an  average 
of  600  people,  and  each  route  has  an  average  length  of  twenty- 
seven  miles.  Mower  county's  rural  routes  center  as  follows:  Aus- 
tin, BroAvnsdale,  Dexter,  Grand  Meadow,  Taopi,  Rose  Creek, 
Adams,  Le  Roy,  Lyle,  Racine,  Elkton.  Waltham,  Sargeant. 

Mower  county's  farms  are  all  within  easy  access  of  a  market, 
there  not  being  a  farm  above  seven  miles  from  a  village  and  not 
above  a  score  are  a  greater  distance  from  a  village  than  six  miles. 

]\Iower  county  is  a  great  corn  country,  raising  over  a  million 
and  a  half  bushels  yearly.  Mower  county  is  one  of  the  big  barley 
counties  of  the  country,  raising  a  million  bushels  yearly.  Mower 
county's  oat  crop  exceeds  4,000,000  bushels  yearly.  Mower 
county's  other  big  crops  are  wheat.  200,000  bushels,  and  potatoes, 
400,000  bushels.  Mower  county  also  raises  the  finest  of  hay  on  its 
73,753  acres  of  meadow.  Mower  county  is  annually  sliipping  thou- 
sands of  dollars'  worth  of  apples  from  its  100,000  apple  trees. 
Mower  county's  phmis,  picked  from  20,000  trees,  are  of  excellent 
({uality  and  find  a  ready  market.  Mower  county  has  two  large 
nurseries,  selling  home-grown  fruit,  ornamental  and  shade  trees, 
guaranteed  to  be  true  to  name  and  to  grow.  Mower  county  has 
two  farmers'  mutual  insurance  companies,  the  Mower  County 
Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  and  Lightning  Company,  carrying  $5,250.- 
000  of  insurance,  and  the  Austin  Mutual  Hail  Insurance  Company 
of  Minnesota,  insuring  crops  from  loss  by  hail  all  over  the  state. 
Mower  county  has  a  splendid  system  of  bridge  building,  a  ma- 
jority of  the  bridges  being  of  iron  and  concrete.  It  is  the  policy 
of  the  county  board  to  replace  old  bridges  with  those  of  iron  and 
concrete.  Mower  county's  all-grain  farmers  have  been  moving  to 
the  unbroken  prairies,  leaving  their  farms  here  to  be  taken  by 
progressive  diversified  farmers  of  the  older  states.  Mower  county 
is  one  of  the  great  thoroughbred  cattle  counties  of  the  state. 
]\Iower  county  farmers  find  a  ready  market  for  their  hogs  with 
the  Hormel  Packing  Company,  located  at  Austin,  which  has  a 
daily  capacity  of  turning  5,000  milk-fed  hogs  into  the  famous 
Dairy  Brand  hams  and  bacon.  iMower  county  farmers  find  a  ready 
market  for  garden  truck  in  the  city  of  Austin  and  the  villages 
of  the  county. 

The  farms  of  Mower  county  are  similar  to  the  farms  of  any 
other  county  having  a  rich  soil.  It  has  its  good  farms  and  its 
poor  farms.  Or  better  stated,  it  has  its  good  farmers  and  its 
poor  farmers.  Agriculture,  like  every  other  trade  or  profession, 
his  its  successes  and  its  failures,  but  perhaps  not  as  many  com- 
plete failures. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  107 

The  first  settlers  found  here  a  rich,  unbroken  virgin  soil,  a 
land  that  had  had  none  but  nature's  care  from  time  immemorial. 
Century  after  century,  year  after  year,  the  grasses  grew  in  all 
their  richness  and  the  prairie  tiowers  bloomed  to  waste  their  fra- 
grance on  the  summer  air.  No  foot  trod  the  unbroken  stretches 
save  that  of  wild  beast  or  bird,  or  the  red  warrior.  No  plow- 
share turned  the  green  sod,  nor  was  it  torn  by  the  iron  tooth  of 
the  harrow,  from  the  time  an  almighty  power  had  unrolled  it  like 
a  carpet  until  1852,  when  Jacob  McQuillan  and  party  drove  to 
this  land  from  Ohio  in  wagons  and  nailed  their  coffee  mill  to  a 
tree  in  what  is  now  Racine  township.  They  turned  the  first  sod 
and  sowed  "wheat,"  and  wheat  was  the  crop  that  the  land  of 
Mower  county  raised  in  abundance  until  1878.  Then  came  the 
wheat  failure.  For  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  land  had  let 
man  take  crop  after  crop  of  the  finest  cereal  from  her  without 
putting  anything  back,  and  then  it  protested.  Then  the  farmers 
tried  the  next  year  and  the  next  and  hardly  got  their  seed  back. 
Then  those  who  could  afford  it  went  further  north  and  west 
where  there  were  other  virgin  lands.  But  some  were  too  poor 
to  go.  Some  of  these  turned  their  attention  to  other  crops  and  a 
few  to  stock  raising.  But  as  late  as  1884  Mower  county  had  but 
four  creameries.  In  that  year  came  the  discussion  of  diversified 
farming  for  ]\Iower  county,  but  for  several  years  but  little  was 
done  along  that  line.  Within  the  last  few  years  the  dairy  farmer 
has  come  upon  the  scene.  Some  came  from  other  states  and  have 
thriven  and  grown  prosperous  on  the  land  which  the  wheat 
farmer  thought  was  exhausted.  The  county  has  grown  prosper- 
ous with  this  change  of  farming  and  during  the  last  few  years 
hundreds  of  up-to-date  farmers  from  Illinois,  Indiana,  Iowa  and 
Wisconsin  have  taken  up  their  abode  on  Mower  county  farms. 
Here  they  find  a  rich  soil  from  two  to  five  feet  deep,  ready  for 
them,  a  land  covered  with  rich  grasses  and  ready  to  yield  abun- 
dance in  oats,  barley  and  other  small  grains,  and  producing  corn 
that  vies  with  that  of  the  states  above  mentioned.  Here  they 
find  land  as  rich  and  yielding  as  heavy  crops  as  the  $150  land 
they  had  left  and  selling  at  from  $50  to  $80  an  acre,  because  the 
owners  were  ready  to  retire  or  desired  to  go  to  the  land  of  a 
single  crop,  wheat.  With  their  coming  there  is  a  great  increase 
in  tlie  valuation  of  farm  property,  farm  products  and  live  stock. 

With  the  coming  of  these  farmers  from  the  older  states  has 
come  farm  tiling — open  ditches  have  been  used  for  years  but 
hardly  a  rod  of  tile  was  laid  by  the  all-grain  farmers.  Now  there 
are  thousands  of  rods  being  laid  each  year. 

There  is  at  present  a  strong  movement  toward  sugar  beet  (  ul- 
ture.  It  has  been  found  that  the  warm,  deep  loam  of  Slower 
county  permits  of  large  development  of  root.     Two  large  sugar 


108  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

beet  factories,  one  at  Waterloo,  Iowa,  and  the  otlier  at  Chaska. 
Minnesota,  take  all  the  crop  raised. 

AYhile  Mower  county  is  not  a  sheep  raising  county,  it  is  the 
breeding  place  of  thoroughbreds  which  are  in  demand  in  Mon- 
tana, Wyoming  and  Idaho,  to  which  places  many  find  their  way. 
Following  are  the  leading  breeds  in  Mower  county:  Merinos, 
Cotswold,  Shropshire,  Soutlulowns,  Lincoln,  Oxfords,  Hampshires 
and  Horned  Dorsets. 

The  poultry  fanciers  are  the  most  numerous  of  all  the  thor- 
oughbred raisers.  Space  forbids  mention  of  all  the  varieties  of 
poultry  that  are  to  be  found  in  this  county.  At  a  recent  county 
fair  123  A'arieties  Avere  shown,  of  which  99  were  of  the  hen,  six 
of  the  turkey,  eleven  of  the  duck  and  seven  of  the  geese  family. 
Alfred  Ziemer,  of  this  city,  has  a  Buft'  Orpington  cock  valued  at 
$1,000,  the  highest  priced  bird  of  the  breed  in  the  United  States. 
The  Mower  County  Poultry  Association  is  the  largest  organiza- 
tion of  its  kind  in  the  state,  and  its  annual  show  is  larger  than 
any  other  except  those  held  at  St.^Paul  and  Minneapolis.  Slower 
county  birds  in  the  last  shows  in  the  Twin  Cities  took  more  prizes 
than  any  other  county  in  the  state. 

There  is  one  farmer  in  the  county  who  claims  that  every  do- 
mestic animal  on  his  place,  from  the  driving  horse  to  the  family 
cat,  is  thoroughbred  and  registered. 

I\IoA\er  county  has  no  state  highways  of  macadam.  Tlie  roads, 
which  are  made  of  the  soil  of  the  county,  on  the  whole  are  good, 
and  some  of  them  are  kept  in  the  best  of  condition.  This  county 
was  one  of  the  first  in  the  state  to  undertake  road  building,  and 
it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  first  bill  ordered  paid  by  the 
first  board  of  couny  commissioners  Avas  a  bill  presented  Jul\  7. 
1856,  by  Louis  Patchin,  for  work  as  road  commissioner. 

There  was  a  time  iu  ]\lower  county  when  like  all  new  lands, 
the  first  consideration  Avas  to  build  good  barns  for  tlie  housing  of 
the  liocks  and  lierds  and  the  home  Avas  the  most  inconspicuous 
object  in  the  landscape.  As  the  farmers  prospered  the  log  house 
disappeared  and  now  there  are  not  a  half  dozen  log  hoiises  in 
th>'  entire  county.  Now  the  farmers'  house  vies  Avith  the  city 
residence  and  has  many  of  tlie  modern  conveniences.  AVhere  elec- 
tric light  and  poAver  cannot  be  secured,  gasoline  engines  furnish 
power  and  a  number  of  farm  houses  are  lighted  by  their  OAvn  gas 
plants.  By  the  use  of  elevated  tanks  in  the  house  or  barn,  or 
pneiunatic  tanks  in  cellars,  farm  houses  often  have  all  the  sani- 
tary conveniences  of  a  house  in  tOAvn.  Our  farmers  recognize 
the  value  of  keeping  their  ])roperty  in  the  best  of  shape.  Houses 
and  l)arns  are  Avell  painted.  laAvns  are  carefully  kept  and  fioAver 
gardens  sliow  iliat  our  jx'ople  recognize  that  the  things  Avhich 
beautify  add  a  value  to  life  as  well  as  to  property. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  10!) 

AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETIES. 

Mower  County  Agricultural,  Horticultural  and  Mechanics' 
Society.  On  the  third  of  September,  ]86;i,  the  l)oard  of  eounty 
commissioners,  consisting  of  R.  C.  Heath,  Alanson  Beach  and  G. 
T.  Angell  published  a  call  for  the  organizing  of  a  society  of  the 
farmers  of  the  eounty.  Agreeable  to  this  notice  a  number  of 
prominent  citizens  of  the  county  met  at  the  postoffice  in  Austin 
September  22,  1863.  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  B.  F. 
Jones,  upon  whose  motion  J.  P.  Jones,  of  Nevada  township,  was 
elected  chairman.  B.  F.  Jones  was  elected  secretary.  After  some 
discussion  Ormanzo  Allen,  Olivar  Somers  and  Sylvester  Smith 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  draft  a  constitution  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  soeiet}^ 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  first  officers  of  the  so- 
ciety :  President,  Hon.  Robert  Lyle ;  vice-presidents,  John  M. 
Morrell,  Geo.  N.  Conkey  and  John  M.  Wyckoff  from  the  first, 
second  and  third  districts  respectively;  recording  secretary,  B. 
F.  Jones ;  corresponding  secretary,  Solomon  Snow ;  directors — 
Austin,  V.  P.  Lewis;  Lyle,  S.  R.  Hughson;  Windom,  Alonzo  Fair- 
banks; Red  Rock,  A.  D.  Brown;  Udolpho,  Charles  Stimson;  Ne- 
vada, J.  P.  Jones;  Lansing,  J.  J.  Rosenberg;  Pleasant  Valley, 
Robert  Reed;  Grand  MeadoAV,  Col.  B.  F.  Langworthy;  Racine, 
Addison  Harris;  Frankford,  N.  Goodsell;  Bennington,  Edwin 
Angell;  Adams,  Mathew  Rooney:  LeRoy,  Daniel  Caswell.  This 
society  held  its  first  fair  at  the  village  of  Lansing  during  the  sec- 
ond week  of  October,  1864.    It  Avas  an  acknowledged  success.. 

Mower  County  Agricultural  Society.  During  the  year  1868 
the  project  of  organizing  a  second  agricultural  society  was  agi- 
tated. On  July  31,  1868,  a  number  of  prominent  citizens  met  at 
the  brick  school  house  in  Austin.  J.  L.  Davidson  was  chosen 
chairman,  and  Lyman  A.  Sherwood,  secretary  of  the  meeting. 
A  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  C.  H.  Davidson.  Capt. 
A.  S.  Everest,  G.  G.  Clemmer  and  Thomas  Gibson,  to  draft  a  con- 
stitution and  by-laws. 

Tlie  following  were  the  first  officers  elected:  President,  An- 
drew D.  Brown ;  secretary,  E.  C.  Door ;  treasurer,  S.  Snow ;  vice- 
presidents,  Sylvester  Smith,  Austin  City;  Abe  S.  Lott,  Austin 
township ;  Alanson  Beach,  Lyle ;  Guitder  Halverson,  Nevada ; 
^latthew  Rooney,  Adams ;  W.  B.  Spencer,  LeRoy ;  G.  T.  Angell, 
Bennington ;  D.  P.  Putney,  Frankford ;  ^V.  E.  Harris.  Racine  -.  B. 
F.  Langworthy,  Grand  Meadow ;  Richard  Iloppin,  Pleasant  Val- 
ley: James  H.  Stewart,  Red  Rock;  A.  B.  Vaughan.  Lansing; 
Thomas  Richardson,  Udolpho ;  A.  P.  Lounsberry,  AValtham ;  John 
Tiiompson.  AVindom.  Executive  committee — V.  P.  Lewis,  chair- 
man: AV.  L.  Austin,  Austin;  Thomas  Gibson,  Lansing;  Orlando 


110  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Wilder,  Lyle :  Alanson  Wright,  Windom ;  J.  J\I.  Wyckoff,  LeRoy ; 
Harvey  Anderson,  Red  Rock ;  D.  Chandler,  Austin ;  J.  W.  Gregg, 
Nevada;  H.  M.  Irgens,  Adams;  Capt.  J.  S.  McKnight,  Benning- 
ton; Chas.  Lamb,  Frankford;  Jonathan  Stewart,  Racine;  0.  W. 
Case,  Grand  Meadow;  Ben.  Carll,  Udolpho;  H.  Edward,  Wal- 
tham. 

This  society  held  its  first  fair  on  October  14  and  15,  1S68. 

The  present  society  was  organized  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Grange  council,  held  October  1,  1874,  when  it  was  found  that  the 
farming  class  was  anxious  to  organize  an  agricultm-al  society, 
such  as  existed  in  many  other  counties.  After  the  usual  pre- 
liminaries, the  farmers  proceeded  to  organize  a  society  by  elect- 
ing officers  both  from  within  and  without  the  Grange.  The  society 
was  to  be  called  the  Mower  County  Agricultural  Society,  and  its 
object  was  the  promotion  of  agriculture,  horticulture  and  the 
mechanical  arts.  G.  W.  Grimshaw  was  elected  president ;  C.  J. 
Felch,  vice  president;  Miles  M.  Trowbridge,  secretary;  H.  F. 
Deming,  treasurer.  The  executive  committee  consisted  of  nine 
members:  S.  Y.  Paddock,  M.  C.  Potter,  Merril  Mason,  N.  H. 
Thompson,  William  Rutherford,  H.  Knudson,  E.  I.  Stimson,  J.  F. 
Cook  and  W.  L.  Austin.  The  society  was  incorporated  March  31, 
1875.  The  annual  county  fair  is  now  held  at  Austin,  and  the  live 
stock  exhibit  at  the  fairs  exceeds  that  of  any  county  fair  in  the 
state. 

The  Mower  County  Poultry  Association  is  one  of  the  strong- 
est organizations  of  this  nature  iu  the  state,  and  there  is  nut  a 
more  enthusiastic  class  of  breeders  tJiau  the  men  who  form  this 
association.  The  association  holds  an  annual  poultry  show  which 
is  largely  attended.  A.  W.  Edson  is  president  of  tlie  association 
and  Alf.  A.  Ziemer  is  secretary. 

THE  WHEAT  FAILURE. 

In  1877  Mower  county  farmers  reaped  the  last  of  the  liig 
wheat  crops,  which  for  twenty  years  had  made  this  the  land  of 
Eldorado  of  the  settler  from  the  East.  The  history  of  this  county 
from  the  year  of  the  wheat  failure  in  1878  to  the  present  time  is 
of  unusual  interest.  To  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  the  time  of 
the  failure,  we  quote  the  diary  of  one  of  the  early  settlers.  ' '  Au- 
gust 19,  1877.  To-day  I  threshed  forty  acres  of  wheat,  got  1,156 
bushels,  which  went  sixty-two  pounds  to  the  bushel."  August  26, 
1878.  It  has  rained  almost  every  day,  mud  everywhere;  have 
tried  to  cradle  a  little  wheat  for  seed,  and  have  saved  but  little. 
Am  very  blue." 

"Am  very  liliic"  is  tli(>  e]iitoine  of  the  history  of  almost  every 
farmer  of  that  section,  for  not  only  1878  but  for  the  next  five 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  111 

years.  During  these  years  the  farmers  tried  time  and  time  again 
to  raise  wheat  as  they  had  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  previous, 
and  each  year  saw  the  debt  against  the  farmer  growing  larger 
and  larger.  Many  who  could  do  so  left  the  county  and  went  west 
to  the  Dakotas.  But  from  the  year  of  the  big  wheat  failure  dates 
the  real  growth  of  the  county.  In  the  failure  of  the  wheat  the 
farmer  was  driven  to  adopt  other  methods  of  agriculture,  and 
diversified  farming  took  the  place  of  the  one-crop  system.  The 
adoption  of  the  new  plan  was  necessarily  slow.  To  the  farmer 
who  had  in  1876  purchased  160  acres  and  paid  for  it  with  his 
wheat  crop  in  1877  diversified  farming  seemed  a  long  and  hard 
road  to  the  material  prosperity  of  the  individual.  But  there  were 
men  who  in  their  younger  days  were  raised  in  this  school  and 
who  were  quick  to  see  what  could  be  done  with  the  rich  early- 
worked  soil,  and  they  became  the  pioneers  of  the  movement.  To- 
day they  are  the  rich  and  prosperous  farmers  of  the  county. 
Thirty  years  ago  the  county  from  boundary  to  boundary  line  was 
one  great  sea  of  golden  wheat.  To-day  its  surface  is  like  a  great 
mosaic  of  corn,  barley,  oats,  clover,  timothy,  and  pasture  bh;e 
grass.  Herds  of  pure-bred  Shorthorn,  Holstein,  Jersey,  Gallo- 
ways, Aberdeen- Angus,  Hereford,  Red  Polled,  Guernseys,  and  Ayr- 
shires  may  be  found  in  all  parts  of  our  county,  and  thousands  of 
pure-bred  sheep  of  Merino,  Cotswold,  Shi'opshire,  Southdown,  Lin- 
coln, Oxford,  Hampshire,  and  Horned  Dorset  breeds  may  be  found 
there.  The  following  breeds  of  horses  are  raised  in  the  county: 
Norman,  Persian,  Clydesdale,  French  draft  and  English  shires, 
besides  a  high  grade  of  coach,  draft  and  trotting  horses.  Hog 
raising  is  a  feature  of  every  farm,  and  the  following  breeds  are 
found :  Berkshire,  Poland-China,  Chester  White,  Duroc-Jersey, 
Sutfolk,  improved  Yorkshires,  and  small  Yorkshires.  At  the 
annual  fairs  of  the  Mower  County  Agricultural  Society  all  the 
above  breeds  are  shown  in  registered  animals.  The  livestock 
exhibit  is  one  of  the  greatest  attractions  of  the  fair,  and  is  yearly 
growing  larger.  It  is  not  the  intention  of  the  writer  to  mention 
the  individual  efforts  that  have  brought  about  the  present  pros- 
perity and  demonstrated  the  value  of  diversified  farming.  Their 
work  speaks  for  itself.  But  we  are  glad  to  say  that  many  of 
those  pioneers  of  diversified  farming  in  Minnesota  yet  live  to 
see  their  plans  come  to  fruition  and  to  see  those  who  laughed  at 
them  when  they  entered  upon  the  breeding  and  raising  of  regis- 
tered stock  here  adopt  a  similar  method  in  order  to  keep  up  with 
the  progress  of  the  age.  But  the  farmer  of  thirty  years  ago  did 
not  realize  these  advantages,  and  if  he  did,  the  single  crop  method 
was  the  most  advantageous  up  to  the  year  1878.  Mower  county, 
lying  on  the  boundary  line  of  Iowa,  lies  witliin  the  corn  belt  aiul 
at  the  same  time  is  within  tin'  small   ^-I'aiii  belt.     Coi'n  of  as  iine 


113  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

a  growth  as  that  of  Iowa  is  raised  in  great  quantities  to  fatten 
the  droves  of  hogs  to  be  found  on  every  farm.  At  Austin,  the 
county  seat,  is  a  packing  house  with  a  capacity  of  2,000  a  day, 
where  the  highest  market  price  is  paid,  and  which  is  within  easy 
reach  of  the  farmer  with  hogs  to  sell.  Oats  and  barley  are  the 
other  big  crops  raised  in  the  county,  and  there  are  fourteen 
trading  points  besides  the  city  of  Austin  at  which  the  farmer 
can  dispose  of  his  produce.  Reaching  from  Austin  are  two  tele- 
phone systems  that  ramify  every  corner  of  the  county  and  reach 
over  1,100  farm  houses,  besides  the  950  homes  within  the  city. 
Mower  county  Avas  the  first  county  of  Minnesota  to  have  in- 
stalled a  complete  rural  mail  route.  Three  lines  of  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul,  three  lines  of  the  Chicago  Great  Western, 
and  one  of  the  Illinois  Central  traverse  the  county  so  that  bi;t 
little  land  lies  as  far  as  ten  miles  from  railroad  facilities.  These 
are  the  changes  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  of  diversified  farming 
not  fully  perfected.  But  Mower  county  is  yet  to  be  known  along 
another  line — that  of  apple  raising.  It  has  been  sufficiently 
proven  that  apples  can  be  raised  on  her  soil.  For  instance,  F.  W. 
Kimball,  of  Austin,  in  1907  shipped  his  apples  to  Illinois  and 
netted  from  his  two  and  a  half  acres  of  orchard  over  $700,  after 
paying  $148  for  barrels,  besides  the  expense  of  picking  and  pack- 
ing. Within  the  past  few  years  more  and  more  apple  trees  have 
been  planted  by  the  farmers  of  the  county,  and  this  industry  will 
count  among  the  valuable  assets  when  some  future  writer  twenty- 
five  years  hence  shall  speak  of  the  remarkable  prosperity  and 
growth  of  one  of  the  richest  and  most  representative  agricultural 
counties  of  the  Northwest. 


(By  C.  L.  Rice.) 

Tlie  Grange  movement  in  Mower  county  has  been  an  important 
one,  and  although  but  two  of  the  original  societies  remain  within 
the  county  at  the  present  time,  the  movement  accomplished  its 
purpose  in  the  bettering  of  farm  conditions  and  the  dignifying  of 
the  agricultural  interests  of  the  county.  In  1873  and  1875  the 
Grangers  elected  E.  II.  Wells,  of  Lansing,  to  the  Minnesota  senate, 
on  a  Farmers'  Alliance  ticket,  and  in  several  campaigns  took  an 
active  part  in  the  Anti-Monopolist  movement  in  politics.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  the  prices  paid  by  farmers  for  commodities  were  low- 
ered by  the  establishment  of  Grange  stores  at  various  places,  and 
in  fact  it  may  trutlifully  be  said  that  the  Grange  in  this  county 
Avas  the  forerunner  of  the  general  idea  of  farmers'  co-operation 
which  has  resulted  in  creameries  and  stores  on  the  community 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  313 

plan.  It  also  fathered  the  Mower  County  Agricultural  Society, 
which  has  held  successful  fairs  at  Austin  for  so  many  years. 

On  March  18,  1873,  and  in  the  few  months  following,  nineteen 
granges  were  started  in  this  county.  They  were :  Hope  Grange, 
Andrew  Peters,  master ;  Pleasant  View  Grange,  George  Elliot ; 
Brownsdale  Grange,  H.  E.  Tanner;  Rose  Creek  Grange,  D.  S.  B. 
Mollison ;  Lyle  Grange,  R.  B.  Foster ;  Union  Grange,  D.  Austin ; 
Enterprise  Grange,  No.  181,  J.  C.  Hawkins;  Frankford  Grange, 
G.  Tryer ;  Prairie  Grange,  B.  F.  Langworthy ;  Cedar  River  Grange, 
M.  Teeter;  Nevada  Grange,  G.  Halverson;  Hamilton  Grange, 
E.  W.  Elder;  Cedar  Valley  Grange,  W.  J.  Merrick;  Riverdale 
Grange,  M.  M.  Trowbridge ;  Woodlawn  Grange,  A.  K.  Vander- 
walker ;  Lansing  Grange,  L.  Hawley ;  Nevada  Union  Grange,  Sher- 
man Clow.  These  Granges  were  very  progressive  and  did  a  great 
deal  of  good  for  the  interests  of  agriculture,  horticulture  and 
animal  industry.  Many  advantages  were  also  received  in  a  social 
way,  as  the  farming  people  became  better  acquainted  with  each 
other. 

June  30,  1873,  a  County  Grange  was  organized  at  the  Baptist 
church  in  Brownsdale.  This  was  designated  the  Mower  County 
Council.  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  F.  A.  Elder,  the 
deputy.  B.  F.  Langworthy  was  elected  chairman  and  George  C. 
Weed  secretary  of  the  temporary  organization.  Twelve  Granges 
were  represented,  seventy-five  delegates  being  present.  The  fol- 
lowing officers  of  the  council  were  elected  to  serve  for  one  year: 
Master,  J.  S.  Bowers ;  overseer,  L.  E.  Pearco ;  secretary,  George 

C.  "Weed ;  chaplain,  George'  Elliot ;  steward,  De  Los  Tanner ;  lec- 
turer, F.  A.  Elder ;  assistant  steward,  S.  R.  Pearco ;  gate  keeper, 

D.  D.  Pratt ;  treasurer,  G.  AV.  Grimshaw ;  Ceres,  Mrs.  B.  F.  Lang- 
worthy ;  Flora,  Mrs.  Bettie  Peters ;  Pomona,  Mrs.  L.  E.  Pearco ; 
lady  assistant  steward,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Hunt. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  council  held  October  1,  1874,  it  was 
found  that  the  farming  class  was  anxious  to  organize  an  agricul- 
tural society,  such  as  existed  in  many  other  counties.  After  the 
usual  preliminaries,  the  farmers  proceeded  to  organize  a  society 
by  electing  officers  both  from  within  and  without  the  Grange. 
The  society  was  to  be  called  the  Mower  County  Agricultural  So- 
ciety and  its  object  was  the  promotion  of  agriculture,  horticul- 
ture and  the  mechanical  arts.  G.  AV.  Grimshaw  was  elected  presi- 
dent ;  C.  J.  Felch,  vice  president ;  Allies  AI.  Trowbridge,  secretary ; 
H.  F.  Deming,  treasurer.  The  executive  committee  consisted  of 
nine  members :  S.  Y.  Paddock,  Ar.  C.  Potter,  Alerril  Alason,  N.  H. 
Thompson,  AVilliam  Rutherford,  H.  Knndson,  E.  J.  Stimson,  J.  F. 
Cook  and  AV.  L.  Austin. 

The  Agricultural  Society  continued  to  live,  l)ut  after  a  while 
the  interest  in  the  Grange  movement  died  out.    On  April  2,  1910, 


114  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

after  many  years  of  inactivity,  Enterprise  Grange,  No.  181,  was 
reorganized  as  No.  604  by  C.  B.  Hoyt  at  the  Enterprise  school- 
house.  The  following  officers  were  elected :  Master,  C.  L.  Rice : 
overseer,  C.  B.  Sayles ;  lecturer,  Mrs.  C.  B.  Sayles ;  steward,  E.  V. 
Hart ;  assistant  steward,  Arthur  Loucks ;  chaplain,  Mrs.  C.  L.  Rice  ; 
secretary,  F.  G.  Page;  treasurer,  H.  R.  Mills;  gate  keeper.  Con. 
Downey ;  Flora,  Rosabel  Pike ;  Pomona,  Mrs.  F.  G.  Page ;  Ceres, 
Mrs.  E.  B.  Loucks ;  lady  assistant  steward,  Ruth  Eraser;  organist, 
Mrs.  F.  G.  Page.  The  officers  were  installed  by  C.  B.  Hoyt  and 
the  members  were  obligated.  At  that  time  Enterprise  Grange  had 
a  membership  of  103.  It  is  now  the  banner  grange  of  the  state. 
This  and  Lansing  Grange,  No.  605,  Arthur  Parkins,  master,  are 
the  only  ones  now  in  existence  in  the  county. 

The  grange  is  considered  of  great  benefit  to  all  patrons  of 
husbandry,  agriculturally,  educationally,  and  a  great  help  in  co- 
operative buying  in  large  quantities,  greatly  to  the  benefit  of  the 
consumer.  Educationally  and  socially  it  is  a  great  benefit  to  any 
community.  It  was  the  cause  of  getting  rural  free  delivery,  and 
long  defunct  Granges  are  now  rapidly  springing  into  new  life  on 
every  side.  It  is  surely  a  great  organization  to  get  the  producer 
and  consumer  together,  thus  avoiding  too  many  middlemen's 
profits.  It  is  also  against  the  big  combination  and  trusts.  It  has 
subordinate  county,  state  and  national  Granges  which  are  doing 
a  splendid  work. 

STORM  AND  FLOOD  OF  1908. 

The  month  of  June,  1908,  brought  to  Mower  county  a  series 
of  severe  storms  that  culminated  on  the  afternoon  of  Saturday, 
June  20,  with  the  most  disastrous  one  that  has  ever  swept  the 
county  vdthin  the  memory  of  man.  The  loss  to  buildings  and  to 
crops  was  estimated  at  the  time  to  be  about  $750,000,  and  this 
was  followed  on  June  22  by  a  flood  at  the  city  that  did  damage 
to  the  amount  of  many  thousands  of  dollars. 

For  several  days  there  had  been  an  unusual  degree  of 
humidity.  On  Thursday,  June  18,  there  were  cyclonic  conditions. 
That  evening  a  brilliant  electrical  storm  swept  the  entire  county 
and  several  buildings  were  destroyed  by  lightning.  At  9:30  p.  m. 
a  tornado  struck  the  village  of  Adams,  doing  damage  to  the 
amount  of  $2,500.  The  path  of  the  tornado  was  four  rods  wide 
and  e."xtended  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  There  were  small  twisters  in 
Dexter  and  Sargeant  townships.  The  lightning  caused  a  $10,000 
fire  at  Sargeant  village.  The  bolt  set  fire  to  the  ]\Iartin  Stephen- 
son grain  elevator  which  liurned  to  the  ground.  The  fire  extended 
to  the  coal  sheds,  to  the  Chicago  Great  Western  depot  and  a 
freight  car  was  there  totally  destroyed.     Lightning  also  struck 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  115 

the  steeple  of  the  German  Lutheran  church  in  the  Seebach  dis- 
trict in  Dexter,  practically  destroying  it.  Several  barns  were 
destroyed  by  fire,  caused  by  lightning,  and  much  live  stock  was 
killed. 

On  the  succeeding  night,  Friday,  June  19,  another  wonder- 
fully brilliant  electrical  storm  SAvept  the  county,  killing  inuch 
live  stock  and  burning  several  barns. 

Saturday,  June  20,  came  with  an  increase  of  the  cyclonic  con- 
ditions. The  morning  was  warm  and  the  air  was  filled  with 
moisture.  As  the  day  wore  on  the  sultriness  increased.  Soon 
after  noon  the  storm,  clouds  again  appeared.  By  3:15  it  was  so 
dark  that  lamps  were  lighted  in  stores  and  workshops.  Just 
i)erore  i  o'clock  a  deep  black  cloud  came  up  from  the  southwest 
Avith  an  advance  line  of  foaming  whitish  cloud  that  reminded  om- 
of  the  surf  beating  against  the  shore.  Just  behind  this  lighter 
cloud  appeared  the  sign  of  the  approaching  tornado — a  copper 
colored  band.  The  storm  cloud  caused  intense  fear  and  hun- 
dreds sought  shelter  in  cellars.  The  tornado  marked  cloud 
veered  to  the  west  of  the  city,  but  the  black  cloud  that  followed 
passed  directly  over  Austin.  A  few  drops  of  rain,  followed  by 
hail  varying  from  the  size  of  a  pea  to  the  size  of  a  walnut,  fell. 
"With  the  hail  came  a  wind  storm  which  lasted  forty  minutes. 
The  course  of  the  wind  in  that  short  space  of  time  changed  from 
the  southwest  to  the  north.  Houses  were  racked  to  the  founda- 
tion and  many  Avere  unroofed.  Barns  and  sheds  Avere  bloAvn 
doAA'n,  trees  that  had  AA-eathered  the  elements  for  half  a  century 
were  torn  out  by  the  roots  and  rolled  about  as  playthings  of  the 
storm  king.  The  electric  current  Avas  turned  off  from  the  station, 
for  hundreds  of  electric  light,  telephone  and  telegraph  Avires  were 
strcAvn  about  the  streets.  Hardly  a  street  was  passable  and  the 
fire  department,  street  department  and  half  a  hundred  men  AA'erc 
put  to  work  as  soon  as  the  storm  abated  to  cut  a  direct  Avay 
along  the  streets  of  the  city.  At  Evergreen  Farm  a  thousand 
evergreen  trees  were  destroyed.  Great  damage  Avas  done  at 
beautiful  OakAvood  cemetery.  Some  of  the  heaviest  losers  bj"^  the 
storm  in  Austin  Avere :  The  Hormel  Packing  Company,  Avhich 
had  fine  l)uildings  partly  unroofed,  thousands  of  doUars  Avorth 
of  sugar  and  saltpeter  spoiled  by  tlie  rain,  Avhich  also  ruined  a 
large  amount  of  printed  labels.  Loss  about  $15,000.  At  the 
county  fair  grounds  the  grand  stand,  fine  art  building,  ladies' 
building,  poultry  exhibit  hall,  besides  many  of  the  sheds  and 
barns,  Avere  destroyed.  The  loss  there  was  about  $10,000.  The 
round  liouse  and  machine  shops  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  road  Avere  damaged  about  $8,000.  A.  N.  Kinsman's  green 
houses  Avere  riddled  Avith  hail  and  tlic  aaIiuI  tAvisted  the  frames. 
His  loss  Avas  estimated   at  $5,000.     'I'hc   two   tdeplione  systems 


116  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

were  damaged  $5,000  each.  "Wind  and  rain  damaged  the  Grand 
hotel  about  $2,000.  Some  of  the  other  heavy  losses  by  the  storm 
were  Austin  Cement  Stone  Company,  building  damaged  $3,000; 
Austin  Steam  Laundry,  $2,000;  George  Hirsh,  $1,500;  Donovan 
&  Goslee,  $2,000;  S.  M.  Normal  College,  $1,000;  Franklin  school 
Iniilding,  $1,000;  Gripman  Bros.,  $1,000.  Twenty-two  other 
buildings,  damaged  $200  to  $1,000.  Besides  this  almost  every 
building  in  the  city  was  damaged  to  some  extent.  Lightning 
struck  the  steeple  of  St.  Augustine's  church  and  tore  out  a  rock 
of  brown  stone  Aveighing  300  pounds. 

The  loss  in  the  country  to  buildings  and  crops  ran  into  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  dollars.  A  tornado  swept  across  the  town- 
ship of  Udolpho,  cutting  a  path  two  to  three  rods  wide  and 
extending  to  Waltham  township.  Along  this  line  the  wind  and 
hail  destroyed  every  blade  of  the  growiag  crops.  The  damage 
at  Lansing  was  light,  most  of  it  occurring  near  the  Austin  line. 
The  storm  at  Dexter  made  the  fields  look  as  if  they  had  been 
plowed.  At  Grand  Meadow  the  hail  storm  v.'as  so  severe  that 
scarcely  a  pane  of  glass  was  left  in  the  windows  on  the  north 
side  of  any  iiouse  in  the  township  or  village.  Racine  escaped 
Avith  little  rain  and  hail.  In  Waltham  and  Sargeant  the  storm 
did  damage  estimated  at  $30,000.  In  Adams  village  600  panes  of 
glass  were  broken  by  the  hail.  This  township  suffered  severely 
in  loss  of  crops,  windmills  and  barns.  Lodi  suffered  heavily  from 
liail.  In  some  parts  of  the  county  the  hail  congealed  into  jagged 
chunks  of  ice  as  big  as  a  man's  fist  and  hogs  and  horses  were 
killed  in  the  fields.  Trees  were  stripped  of  every  vestige  of 
bark.  There  seems  to  have  been  several  tornadoes  connected 
Avith  the  storm,  for  the  ruins  left  in  Avidely  separated  toAvnships 
shoAved  the  marks  of  tlie  tAvister. 

THE  TLOOD  OF  JUNE  22. 

On  Sunday  everybody  was  out  viewing  the  ruins  of  the  Avind 
storm.  There  was  no  thought  of  more  damage  to  come.  Monday 
morning  found  the  Cedar  river  rapidly  rising  and  before  the 
day  ended  the  Avaters  had  taken  out  the  iron  bridge  which 
spanned  the  Cedar  on  Bridge  street,  swept  through  the  Kinsman 
greenhouses,  doing  thousands  of  dollars  Avorth  of  damage.  They 
fiooded  the  electric  light  station,  shutting  doAvn  the  poAver  and 
leaving  the  city  in  darkness.  The  Austin  gas  plant  Avas  sub- 
merged and  damaged  $2,000.  The  plant  of  the  Austin  Weed 
Externiinator  Company  Avas  under  water  and  damaged  about 
$1,000.  The  Avater  Avas  so  high  a  couple  of  men  rowed  a  boat 
into  Brown's  barber  shop  Avhich  was  then  located  in  the  basement 
of  the  George  Hirsh  block.    There  was  no  way  to  drive  across  the 


HISTORY  OF  MO  WEE  COUNTY  117 

Cedar  river  as  all  the  bridges  were  submerged  excepting  the 
Chicago  Great  "Western  railroad  bridge.  Practically  all  work  in 
the  city  was  suspended  and  the  people  went  out  to  watch  the 
greatest  flood  the  city  had  ever  seen. 

INSURANCE    COMPANIES. 

The  Mower  County  Farmers'  Fire  and  Lightning  Mutual 
Insurance  Company  is  a  permanent  feature  in  this  county.  It 
has  2,499  policies  in  force  at  the  present  time  amounting  to  some 
$5,717,-758.  The  company  was  organized  as  the  Mower  County 
Fire  Insurance  Company  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  court  house 
September  16,  1885.  W.  D.  Medbery  Avas  in  the  chair  and  R. 
Eckford  acted  as  clerk.  The  nine  directors  elected  were:  G.  L. 
Case,  Robert  Eckford,  H.  W.  Lightley,  J.  J.  Furlong,  G.  Seebach, 
J.  A.  Thompson,  Daniel  Williams,  Ole  0.  Finhart  and  E.  S.  Hop- 
pin.  The  officers  were:  President,  G.  L.  Case;  secretary,  R. 
Eckford;  treasurer,  E.  S.  Hoppin.  The  name  was  soon  changed 
to  the  Farmers'  Fire  and  Storm  Mutual  Insurance  Company. 
Business  was  commenced  December  1,  1885,  and  one  year  later 
203  policies  were  in  force,  covering  insurance  of  $271,226.  In 
1891  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Austin  Farmers'  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company.  Early  in  1901  it  became  the  Austin  Farmers' 
Fire  and  Lightning  Insurance  Company,  and  on  May  8  of  the 
same  year  it  assumed  its  present  name.  The  present  officers  are : 
President,  J.  J.  Furlong :  secretary,  A.  Hotson ;  treasurer,  C. 
Proeschel;  J.  H.  DeRemer,  Frank  Haney,  D.  L.  Tanner,  C.  L. 
Schroeder,  H.  F.  Kezar  and  Nils  Anderson. 

The  Austin  Mutual  Hail  Insurance  Company  A\as  started  in 
]Mankato  in  1896  and  Avas  moved  to  various  places.  Senator 
Charles  F.  Cook  took  hold  of  the  concern  some  two  years  ago 
and  moved  the  headquarters  to  Austin.  This  has  given  it  new 
life,  and  it  is  growing  rapidly.  About  one  thousand  policies  are 
in  force  and  some  hundred  agents  employed.  The  officers  are: 
President,  C.  F.  Cook ;  vice  president,  Andrew  French ;  treasurer, 
H.  L.  Banfield. 


118  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

HORTICULTURE. 

Importance  of  Fruit  Growing  in  Mower  County — "Experiences 
of  a  Veteran  Horticulturist,"  by  John  C.  Hawkins — Fruit 
Growing  in  the  Early  Days — The  Minnesota  and  Mower 
County  Horticultural  Societies  Organized — Difficulties  En- 
countered in  Developing  Mower  County  as  a  Fruit  Growing 
Section — Persistent  Efforts — Oldest  Orchard  in  Mower 
County — Seedlings  Raised  Here. 

There  are  no  statistics  of  a  more  recent  date  than  1900  which 
could  be  secured  on  which  to  base  an  estimate  of  the  number 
of  apple  trees  growing  in  Mower  county,  but  a  conservative  esti- 
mate built  on  the  number  reported  in  1900  and  the  sales  of  local 
nursery  men  puts  the  figure  well  past  the  two  million  mark. 
Apples  are  yearly  shipped  out  of  the  county  to  Illinois  and  other 
states.  The  State  Horticultural  Society  does  a  splendid  work  in 
educating  our  people  and  also  in  the  encouragement  of  fruit 
growing  and  the  raising  of  seedlings.  Hundreds  of  horticulturists 
are  now  experimenting  in  the  hope  of  getting  a  winter  apple 
that  will  equal  the  Baldwin  in  all  particulars  and  exceed  it  in 
some,  and  also  win  the  reward  of  $1,000  which  the  state  society 
offers  for  such  an  apple.  Good  winter  apples  are  now  raised, 
but  the  state  wants  an  apple  that  will  bring  to  jMinnesota  as 
much  fame  as  its  butter  has  done.  Mower  county  horticulturists 
are  members  of  the  Southern  jMinnesota  Horticultural  Society, 
which  meets  yearly.  The  society  has  over  one  hundred  members, 
Avho  are  enthusiastic  in  the  work. 

Some  idea  of  the  horticultural  resources  of  our  county  was 
given  at  our  county  fair  held  at  Austin  in  September,  1909,  when 
sixty  varieties  of  apples  and  twenty-three  varieties  of  plums  were 
displayed  for  premiums.  Grapes,  pears  and  peaches  were  also 
shown. 

John  C.  Hawkins  is  one  of  the  veteran  entliusiasts  in  Mower 
county  on  the  subject  of  apple  and  plum  growing  in  this  vicinity. 
For  many  years  he  has  labored  in  this  cause,  and  has  lived  to 
see  his  work  bear  fruit.  The  folloAving  article,  entitled  "Ex- 
])eriences  of  a  Veteran  Ilorticultnrist,"  has  l)eeii  prepared  by 
him  expres.sly  for  this  history. 

What  do  1  knoAV  about  horticulture^  from  tlie  standpoint  of  a 
veteran?  Veteran,  I  suppose,  means  old  j'nd  worn  out,  and  in 
that  respe-t  !  nm  .-iblc  1o  fill  Hie  lull.  1  mi;,'ht  as  well  state  before 
T  begin  that  "1  w;is  horned  on  the  liorder  of  the  Old  Dominion, 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  119 

right  dare  among  the  niggers,  but  was  fetched  up  among  de 
white  folks  and  know'd  some  of  de  fust  families  berry  well." 
They  always  wore  seedy  hats  and  manifested  a  general  appear- 
ance of  that  sort,  talked  politics  exclusively  and  knew  but  little 
else. 

We  had  no  horticultural  societies  then.  They  are  all  creatures 
of  a  later  growth.  Our  friiits  were  all  seedlings,  and  no  one  sup- 
posed that  we  could  improve  on  nature.  We  now  claim  that  some 
of  our  best  fruits  have  originated  from  sports  widely  different 
from  the  parent  tree.  All  the  "sports''  we  knew  anything  about 
at  that  time  were  our  fast  young  men.  If  one  tree  happened  to 
bear  better  fruit  than  the  other,  all  the  boys  in  the  neighborliood 
knew  about  it,  and  the  owner  must  be  content  with  what  he 
could  get.  Hence  he  did  not  care  to  improve  his  fruits — not 
even  for  the  sake  of  the  boys.    I  was  there,  and  I  know. 

We  used  to  have  glorious  times  at  the  apple  parings  which 
Avere  held  around  in  the  neighborhood,  and  where  each  boy 
paired  off  with  his  best  girl,  or  at  least  tried  to.  We  had  no 
such  thing  as  fruit  dryers  then.  The  sun  did  the  business  with 
the  assistance  of  the  flies,  the  bees  and  the  bugs.  The  fruit  was 
placed  upon  scaffolds  out  of  doors,  or  hung  on  strings  about  the 
old  fire  place.  Pumpkins  were  sliced  and  strung  up  in  the  same 
manner  to  dry,  and  such  delicious  pies  Auntie  could  make ! 
"Auntie,"  you  understand,  was  not  a  real  name,  but  meant  par- 
excellence  and  denotes  the  highest  degree  of  honor  bestowed 
upon  the  darkey  cook. 

The  fruits  grown  at  that  time  were  not  very  inviting,  and 
consequently  there  was  little  market  for  them ;  in  fact,  no  one 
thought  of  growing  fruit  for  that  purpose.  I  never  saw  a  culti- 
vated strawberry  until  after  I  was  grown.  There  were  some 
wild  ones  growing  along  a  ditch  in  my  father's  meadow,  and  he 
used  to  trounce  me  for  tramping  down  the  grass  to  get  a  taste 
of  those  berries,  so  is  it  any  wonder  that  I  am  such  an  enthusiastic 
horticulturist  ? 

I  believe  it  was  Massachusetts  that  first  set  the  ball  in  motion 
with  such  men  as  Marshall  P.  Wilder  in  the  lead.  What  has  been 
the  result?  Horticultural  societies  have  been  formed  and  ex- 
tended throughout  every  state  and  almost  every  county  in  the 
Union.  What  are  we  doing?  Experimenting;  not  blindly,  but 
scientifically  in  the  production  of  newer  and  better  varieties  of 
fruits  and  flowers,  always  holding  fast  the  best  until  something 
better  is  attained.  But  how  has  tliis  wonderful  result  been 
brought  about?  Through  the  means  of  influence  of  any  particu- 
lar section  or  society?  No;  but  through  the  united  eft'orts  of  all 
the  societies  of  all  the  states  combined  working  together  for  the 
common  good.     This  concentrated  action  in  a  measure  controls 


1?0  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

the  markets,  systematizes  the  handling,  packing  and  shipping  of 
fruits,  and  regulates  charges,  commissions,  etc. 

Now  let  us  turn  to  Minnesota  as  one  of  those  states  having 
a  distinct  yet  undivided  interest  in  common  Avith  all  the  other 
states.  She  has  been  the  child  of  circumstances  from  her  birth, 
located  so  far  north  as  to  be  almost  beyond  tlie  limits  of  fruit 
growing.  It  has  been  said,  and  I  believe  truthfully,  that  any 
country  that  could  not  grow  its  own  fruits  sufficient  for  the 
common  wants  of  the  people  could  never  attain  to  a  high  state 
of  civilization.  Does  anyone  suppose  if  all  the  difficulties  that 
lay  in  the  way  could  have  been  foreseen  that  anyone  of  these 
veterans  would  have  been  crazy  enough  to  have  attempted  to 
form  a  horticultural  society  in  Minnesota  1  But  necessity  knowa 
no  law.  We  must  have  fruit,  and  we  "went  it  blind,"  often- 
times reaching  out  our  hands  in  error,  expecting  a  prize  but 
receiving  only  a  blank.  When  I  look  into  the  face  of  experience 
it  reminds  me  of  the  chaplain  in  the  Confederate  army  who 
prayed  most  fervently  that  the  Lord  would  give  the  soldiers 
more  courage,  when  a  veteran  cried  out,  "We  have  courage 
enough  already:  pray  for  victuals."  Ye  veterans  who  have  been 
fighting  so  long  against  such  fearful  odds,  going  a  little  here 
and  a  little  there,  begin  now  to  see  the  silver  lining  that  skirts 
the  cloud  that  reflects  the  light  from  the  opening  gates  of  heaven ! 
But  in  order  to  carry  out  this  great  work  there  must  be  united 
effort  on  the  part  of  every  horticulturist,  and  I  would  especially 
call  your  attention  to  the  efficiency  of  the  ladies.  Nothing  in 
life  stimulates  action  so  much  or  makes  our  burdens  so  light 
as  the  sound  of  a  happy  voice  with  the  light  of  a  pleasant  eye. 
Those  who  wish  to  attend  the  apple  paring  should  always  come 
in  "pairs."  Our  younger  members  in  all  probability  will  not 
be  required  to  sacrifice  time  and  means  with  so  little  reward 
a.s  those  who  have  preceded  them.  The  work  of  the  Minnesota 
society  has  been  well  laid  out  and  skillfully  managed.  We  have 
the  State  Experimental  Farm  that  is  doing  a  grand  work  in 
the  interests  of  horticulture,  and  then  we  have  auxiliary  stations 
in  different  parts  of  the  state  that  make  their  annual  reports  to 
the  central  head  station.  All  these  reports  come  before  this 
society  and  are  published  in  its  transactions,  and  in  addition 
runners  are  sent  abroad  everywhere  to  spy  out  the  land  and 
gather  in  goodly  fruits  for  the  benefit  of  the  commonwealth  at 
large. 

In  regard  to  myself,  I  can  only  say  that  my  pride  runs  parallel 
with  that  of  a  friend  of  mine  who  always  boasted  of  having 
been  born  in  Boston,  and  declared  if  he  had  to  be  born  again  a 
hundred  limes  he  would  go  straight  back  to  Boston  every  time. 
I  have  111)  wisli  to  live  my  time  over  again,  not  even  to  correct 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  121 

the  "mistakes  of  Moses,"  but  if  the  mantle  of  youth  could  be 
thrown  around  me  again  I  should  fall  in  with  this  society  and 
pitch  my  tent  within  some  garden  of  roses. 

Small  fruits  of  all  kinds  can  be  successfully  grown  in  Mower 
county.  I  planted  my  first  fruit  trees  in  1868,  bought  of  Jordan 
&  Co.,  Rochester,  ]\Iinn.  They  survived  a  few  years — and  went 
to  the  brush  pile.  Then  I  tried  Rockford,  111.  They  soon  went 
the  same  way.  About  this  time  I  joined  the  Minnesota  State 
Horticultural  Society  and  got  aeciuainted  with  J.  S.  Harris,  of 
La  Crescent,  Minn.,  who  kindly  gave  me  much  fatherly  advice 
and  direction  in  planting  and  care  of  a  young  orchard.  My 
neighbors  began  to  take  notice  and  ask  questions.  Do  you  ex- 
pect to  grow  apples  and  plums  in  this  cold,  bleak  climate?  "Why, 
certainly!"  "Well,  I  guess  not."  But  I  kept  tramping  along, 
leaving  my  footprints  all  over  this  county,  so  that  I  am  known 
to  everyone  as  the  "Apple  Crank  and  Plum  Fool."  We  finally 
felt  the  need  of  a  local  organization.  So  Bro.  F.  W.  Kimbal, 
of  Austin,  and  Bro.  Clarence  Wedge,  of  Albert  Lea,  got  together 
and  organized  the  Southern  Minnesota  Horticultural  Society.  It 
was  a  success  from  the  start.  Fillmore  county  came  in,  then 
Steele  county,  and  we  now  have  four  counties  'in  our  territory. 

There  are  hundreds  of  young  orchards  in  this  county  just 
coming  into  bearing,  ranging  in  size  from  a  few  trees  to  fifteen 
hundred  and  two  thousand. 

Some  time  ago  I  visited  the  oldest  orchard  in  this  county, 
planted  by  E.  D.  Ames,  of  Lyle  township  in  1857.  Mr.  Ames 
said  that  in  1863  this  orchard  bore  some  fruit,  in  1864  a  fair 
crop,  and  has  borne  every  year  since  with  the  exception  of  this 
last  year.  A  great  many  varieties  died,  but  there  are  some 
"grand  old  trees"  left  yet  that  are  producing  fine  crops  every 
year.  I  especially  noticed  two  varieties,  "Haas"  and  "Dutchess" 
are  inscribed  on  their  trunks  and  they  are  good  for  another  half 
century. 

There  are  several  seedlings  originated  in  this  county.  E.  D. 
Ames  has  a  fine  Avinter  variety.  Decker's  seedling  has  been 
growing  between  thirty  and  forty  years  on  the  farm  of  J.  S. 
Decker,  just  east  of  the  city  of  Austin.  This  is  a  large  apple, 
somewhat  in  shape  and  color  between  Malinda  and  Northwest 
Greening.  L.  W.  Prosser  has  a  seedling  apple  named  after  him- 
self. It  is  probably  a  seedling  from  the  Wealthy.  This  is  a  fine 
apple,  medium  size,  color  yellow,  ground  splashed  with  red,  mild, 
sub-acid.  Some  trees  are  more  prepotent  than  others.  The 
Wealthy  is  remarkable  in  this  respect.  It  has  produced  the 
Peter,  almost  identical  with  itself,  and  the  Evelyn  and  Perfect 
hav<'  many  jxiiiits  in  coiinuon  witli  it.  The  Pros.ser,  supposed 
to  be   a   seedling  of  it,    i-csciiil)l('s    it   in    size   and   color  of  fruit. 


123  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

The  Southern  Minnesota  Horticultural  Society  a  few  years  ago 
(distributed  hundreds  of  seedlings  from  the  Wedge  nursery  at 
Albert  Lea  that  will  be  heard  from  in  the  near  future. 


CHAPTEE  XIV 
COUNTY  SCHOOLS 


State  and  County  School  System — First  Schools  and  First  Dis- 
tricts in  Mower  County — State  Aid — Equipment — Literary 
Societies — Meetings  for  Officers,  Teachers  and  Pupils — Ex- 
hibits and  Contests — Institutes  and  Summer  Schools — Pa- 
rochial Schools — Story  of  the  Districts — Prepared  with  the 
Assistance  of  Miss  Grace  B.  Sherwood. 

In  the  story  of  American  civilization  the  establishment  of  the 
school  and  the  church  has  been  coincident  with  the  building  of 
home. 

However,  at  the  formation  of  the  Union,  and  later,  when  the 
federal  government  was  established,  there  was  no  definite  line  of 
action  as  to  public  education,  although  at  the  same  time  that 
the  Constitution  was  adopted  the  last  session  of  the  Continental 
Congress  was  being  held  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the  Ordi- 
nance of  1787  was  passed,  regulating  the  affairs  pertaining  to  the 
Northwest  territory,  including  that  portion  of  Minnesota  lying 
east  of  the  Mississippi  river.  In  this  ordinance  much  attention 
was  given  to  the  question  of  providing  a  means  of  public  educa- 
tion, by  giving  one  section  in  each  congressional  township  for 
educational  purposes.  Later,  Avhen  the  purchase  of  Louisiana 
was  effected,  and  Minnesota  sought  admission  into  the  Union, 
still  further  provision  Avas  made  for  education  by  giving  two 
sections  in  each  congressional  township  for  such  purposes.  This 
gave  impetus  to  the  natural  tendency  toward  educational  mat- 
ters, and  we  find  that  one  of  the  first  efforts  in  the  ncAv  settle- 
ments was  to  prepare  to  educate  the  children.  The  church  and 
the  school  building,  Avhen  not  one  and  the  same,  Avere  practically 
always  found  side  by  side.  The  hardy  pioneers  of  the  Great 
NorthAvest — of  which  Minnesota  was  a  part — did  not  Avait  CA^en 
for  a  territorial  government,  but  set  to  work  at  once  to  establish 
schools.  The  first  one  in  Minnesota,  for  the  education  of  Avhite 
children,  Avas  organized  by  Dr.  Williamson,  at  the  present  site 
of  the  city  of  St.  Paul.  We  are  told  that  investigation  demon- 
strated  thiit   tlicrc   Avei'c  about   tliirtv-six   children   in   the  settle- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  123 

ment  who  might  attend  a  school.  A  log  house,  10x12  feet,  covered 
with  bark  and  chinked  with  mud,  previously  used  as  a  black- 
smith shop,  was  secured  and  converted  into  a  schoolhouse,  and 
taught  by  Miss  Bishop.  Here,  then,  while  the  United  States 
troops  were  gaining  such  signal  success  in  the  war  with  Mexico, 
was  begun  the  system  of  education  which  has  become  one  of  the 
best  in  this  great  nation.  In  this  same  little  schoolhouse,  in 
November,  1849,  Avas  held  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  system  of  public  education,  based  upon  the  congressional 
act  of  March,  1849,  establishing  Minnesota  territory.  Alexander 
Ramsey,  of  Pennsylvania,  when  appointed  governor,  proceeded 
at  once  to  assume  the  duties  of  his  office.  In  his  first  message  to 
the  territorial  legislature,  in  the  fall  of  1849,  he  emphasized  the 
need  of  wise  measures  looking  to  the  establishment  of  a  system 
of  public  education  in  these  words:  "The  subject  of  education, 
which  has  ever  been  esteemed  of  first  importance  in  all  new 
American  communities,  deserves,  and,  I  doubt  not,  will  receive 
your  earliest  and  most  devoted  care.  From  the  pressure  of  other 
and  more  immediate  wants  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  your 
school  system  should  be  very  ample,  yet  it  is  desirable  that  what- 
ever is  done  should  be  of  a  character  that  will  readily  adapt  itself 
to  the  growth  and  increase  of  the  country,  and  not  in  future 
years  require  a  violent  change  of  system." 

In  response  to  this  appeal  for  legislation  in  school  matters  we 
find  that  a  committee  on  education  was  appointed,  and  a  very 
able  report  was  made  by  the  chairman,  Hon.  Martin  McLeod. 
This  report  was  formulated  into  an  act  relating  to  public  schools 
in  Minnesota,  which  act  was  passed  on  the  last  day  of  the 
session,  November  1,  1849.  It  organized  the  territory  into 
districts,  of  which  the  township  was  the  unit,  and  provided  that 
if  a  township  had  within  its  limits  five  families  it  should  be 
considered  as  one  district,  but  if  it  contained  ten  families  it 
should  be  divided  into  two  districts.  Tax  levy  was  provided, 
and  a  system  of  management  arranged.  The  first  superintendent 
of  common  schools  for  the  territory  was  Rev.  E.  D.  Neill,  who 
served  till  1853.    His  salary  was  $100  a  year. 

The  first  school  instruction  in  IMower  county  was  given  in 
the  pioneer  homes  by  mothers,  who,  though  they  had  come  to  a 
new  country,  did  not  wish  their  children  to  grow  \\p  in  ignorance. 
The  public  system  in  the  county  started  in  1856,  and  in  that  year 
many  schools  and  school  districts  were  organized.  It  is  not 
known  definitely  where  or  when  the  first  public  school  was  opened 
in  Mower  county,  l)ut  the  school  taught  by  IMaria  Vaughan,  in 
Austin,  in  a  log  house  on  the  north  side  of  what  is  now  AVater 
street,  west  of  the  ("liieago  Great  Western  tracks,  was  one  of 
the  earliest.     Tliis  was  in  1855.     A  school  was  also  opened  in 


1-ii  HISTOEY  OF  MO^YER  COUNTY 

Le  Roj'  at  about  the  same  time.  The  first  sehoolhoiise  erected  in 
the  county  was  in  what  is  now  district  No.  4,  in  Le  Roy  town- 
ship. This  was  built  of  logs,  donated  and  put  up  by  the  citizens 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  southwe.st  quarter  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  29.  township  101,  range  14.  This  land 
Avas  donated  for  school  purposes  by  J.  M.  "Wykoff,  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Le  Roy,  the  site  of  this  pioneer  school  being  now  a  part 
of  the  John  Frank  farm.  The  old  building  is  still  in  existence, 
and  is  located  on  the  farm  occupied  by  George  Klapper.  The 
first  teacher  in  this  old  schoolhouse  was  Melissa  Allen,  daughter 
of  David  Allen,  and  afterward  wife  of  Isaac  C.  Spencer.  The 
teachers  who  followed  her  were  N.  B.  Todd,  A.  J.  Porter,  Isaac 
Smith,  Celinda  Burnap,  Eliza  Pierce  and  Emma  Knapp.  N.  B. 
Todd,  the  second  teacher,  was  a  brother-in-law  of  J.  M.  Wykoff. 
Probably  the  only  pupil  still  remaining  in  this  vicinity  who 
attended  the  session  of  this  early  school  is  Mrs.  L.  "W.  Prosser, 
who  lives  near  Le  Roy.  Mrs.  Prosser  is  a  daughter  of  W.  B. 
Spencer,  who  was  a  prominent  pioneer  of  the  early  days. 

The  ^rst  three  districts  organized  by  the  commissioners  of 
]Mower  county,  July  7,  1856,  Avere  district  number  1,  now  dis- 
trict number  IG,  in  Frankford  township;  district  number  2,  all 
of  what  is  now  Red  Rock  township,  and  district  number  3, 
now  districts  number  35  and  36  in  Racine  township.  District  1 
included  sections  13.  14,  23,  24,  25  and  26  and  the  east  half  of 
sections  15,  22  and  27  in  township  103,  range  14.  The  petition 
was  presented  by  J.  "\V.  Farquir  and  others.  District  2  included 
all  of  township  103,  range  17,  and  the  petition  Avas  presented  by 
John  L.  Johnson.  District  3  included  the  south  half  of  section 
1  and  all  of  sections  2,  3,  10,  11  and  12,  toAvnship  103,  range  14. 
The  petition  Avas  presented  by  Louis  Chamberlain.  March  16,  1856, 
the  county  commissioners  levied  a  tax  for  school  purposes  equal 
to  one-quarter  of  one  per  cent  on  the  amount  of  the  assessment 
roll  as  returned  in  July. 

The  schools  in  the  coiimioii  disti-ic-ts  arc  under  tlie  immediate 
supervision  of  a  board  of  trustees  in  each  district,  consisting  of 
three  members,  the  special  and  independent  districts  having  a 
board  of  education,  consisting  of  from  five  to  seven  members. 
The  county  superintendent  liiis  general  supervision  of  the  schools 
in  the  county.  It  is  lier  duly  to  visit  each  school,  advise  teachers 
and  school  officers  in  regard  to  the  best  methods  of  instruction, 
the  most  approved  plans  for  building,  improving  and  ventilating 
schoolhouses  and  ornamenting  school  grounds:  conduct  teachers' 
and  officers'  meetings  and  make  reports  to  the  state  superin- 
t'udent  of  public  instruction. 

The  state  grants  special  aid  to  schools  coming  up  to  certain 
standards  of  requirements — $1,750  to  high  schools,  $600  to  graded 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COLT>s^TY  125 

seliools,  $300  to  semi-graded  schools,  $150  to  first  class  rural 
schools,  and  $100  to  second  class  rural  schools.  Mower  county 
at  the  present  thne  receives  special  state  aid  for  four  high  schools, 
three  graded  schools,  five  semi-graded,  twenty-seven  first  class 
rural  and  twenty-seven  second  class  rural  schools. 

Progressive  educators  hopefully  look  forward  to  tlie  time,  in 
the  near  future,  when  the  country  boys  and  girls  will  be  af- 
forded facilities  equal  to  the  best  in  the  cities — when,  as  a  re- 
sult of  consolidation  and  the  establishment  of  local  agricultural 
graded  and  high  schools,  each  teacher  will  not  be  required  to 
teach  more  grades  than  she  can  handle  to  best  advantage,  and 
the  pupils  be  enabled  to  secure  a  good  elementary  and  high 
school  education  without  leaving  home. 

There  are  now  139  organized  districts  in  the  county.  Of  these, 
four,  Austin,  Lyle,  LeRoy  and  Grand  IMeadow,  are  city  schools 
with  first  class  high  schools.  Three  are  graded  schools,  Adams, 
Brownsdale  and  Dexter,  each  with  four  teachers.  Five  are  semi- 
graded,  Taopi  and  Lansing  and  Waltham,  each  with  two  teach- 
ers, and  Racine  and  Rose  Creek,  each  with  three  teachers.  The 
others  are  one-roomed  schools.  There  are  ten  districts  which  are 
joint  with  other  counties  and  of  these  eight  have  their  school- 
houses  out  of  Mower  county.  Eleven  schools  have  an  enrollment 
of  less  than  ten  pupils  and  forty-two  have  an  enrollment  of  from 
ten  to  twenty.  The  largest  enrollment  is  forty-eight  pupils,  in 
district  65,  in  the  northern  part  of  Adams,  and  the  smallest  is 
five  pupils,  in  district  6,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Adams. 

During  the  past  year  seventeen  districts  had  nine  months  of 
school ;  seventy-one  schools,  eight  months ;  twenty-two  schools, 
seven  months;  sixteen  schools,  six  months,  and  three  schools, 
five  months.  Most  of  the  short-year  school  districts  have  a  de- 
nominational session  a  part  of  the  year.  Four  of  the  districts 
have  no  school  in  session. 

During  the  year  1909-10  seventy-two  pupils  received  cei-tifi- 
cates  certifying  that  thoy  had  completed  eighth  grade  studies 
v/ith  credit.  During  the  present  year  some  300  are  planning  to 
take  the  examinations. 

Most  of  the  schools  are  well  equipped  Avith  those  things  which 
are  required  for  efficient  work.  IMany  of  the  schoolhouses  are 
new  and  the  old  ones  are  in  an  excellent  state  of  repair.  In 
the  whole  county  there  are  probably  not  more  than  six  schools 
that  could  be  called  in  poor  condition.  Eighty  schools  have  pat- 
ented lieating  plants  and  fifteen  of  the  rural  schools  have  fur- 
naces, wliich  are  well  looked  aftcf.  All  but  three  have  libraries. 
During  the  present  yeiii-  eiglity  seliools  will  meet  the  require- 
ment for  state  aid  in  addition  to  the  seven  higb  and  graded 
schools. 


126  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

The  teachers'  training  schools,  which  are  conducted  in  the 
county  every  other  summer,  do  much  to  increase  the  efficiency 
of  the  teachers.  These  schools  are  paid  by  the  state  and  are 
conducted  under  the  direction  of  the  county  superintendent  and 
a  conductor  appointed  by  the  state  department  of  public  in- 
struction. Instruction  is  given  in  all  the  branches  required  for 
ji  teacher's  cei-tificate.  In  addition,  there  are  classes  in  various 
other  subjects.  These  schools  are  free  and  are  well  attended. 
It  is  expected  that  225  will  be  enrolled  this  year. 

There  are  various  literary  and  debating  societies  in  the  schools 
and  the  reading  circle  for  the  teachers  is  well  patronized.  An 
institute  is  held  every  other  spring  and  three  teachers'  meet- 
ings are  held  annually.  A  school  officers'  meeting  and  a  spelling 
contest  are  also  held  each  year.  The  annual  graduating  exercise 
were  held  last  year  at  Dexter,  with  a  picnic,  sports  and  various 
other  profitable  and  pleasant  events.  At  the  county  fair  each 
year  the  exhibits  of  the  children  make  an  excellent  showing,  a 
building  having  been  erected  for  this  purpose.  Last  year  280 
prizes  were  aAvarded  to  children  between  the  ages  of  eight  and 
sixteen  for  the  excellence  of  their  exhibits. 

Parochial  schools  have  l)een  conducted  in  various  communities 
ever  since  the  early  days.  There  are  various  types  of  these 
schools.  The  Catholics  have  excellent  schools  in  Austin,  Adams 
and  Johnsburg  (Adams).  In  these  schools  the  usual  graded  and 
high  school  subjects  are  taught,  and  religious  instruction  is  also 
given.  There  is  a  Norwegian  school  in  section  15,  Nevada 
township,  and  German  schools  are  located  in  section  29, 
"Waltham  township,  section  32,  Dexter  township  and  section  18, 
Pleasant  Valley  township.  In  some  communities,  as  has  already 
been  noted,  the  district  schoolhouses  are  used  for  sectarian  in- 
.struction  when  the  regular  public  school  is  not  in  session.  Schools 
are  held  also  in  several  of  tlie  churches  of  the  county. 

One  commercial  institution,  tlie  Southern  IMinnesota  Normal 
College,  is  located  at  Austin. 

In  the  graded  and  high  schools  of  the  county  there  are  2.020 
jmpils  enrolled  and  in  the  country  schools  there  are  2,899.  There 
are  204  teachers  employed.  La.st  year  the  expense  for  graded 
and  high  schools  was  .^96,675.97  and  the  expense  for  the  common 
schools  was  .^88,629.50. 

Udolpho.  Tlie  first  school  in  what  is  now  Udolpho  township 
was  a  select  school  taught  by  Eliza  A.  Wilcox  in  a  part  of  heB 
fatlier's  residence.  This  was  a  three  months'  term  in  the  Avinter 
of  1856-57.  Eliza  also  taught  a  term  of  district  school  in  the 
summer  of  1857  in  the  house  of  Thomas  Richardson,  in  section  16. 
For  lier  services  the  teacher  received  $2  a  week  and  boarded 
around.     District  49.     The  first  school  in  this  district  was  kept 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  1^7 

in  the  summer  of  1857  in  the  home  of  Thomas  Richardson,  by 
Eliza  A.  Wilcox.  The  district  was  organized  in  1859,  and  a  log 
schoolhouse  was  built  in  section  16.  Eliza  A.  Wilcox  was  also 
the  first  teacher  in  this  house.  It  was  used  for  school  purposes 
until  1870,  when  it  was  replaced  by  a  frame  building  located  on 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  8.  Rosa  Carey  taught  the  first 
school  in  this  building.  District  50.  The  first  school  in  this  dis- 
trict was  a  summer  school,  in  1857,  and  Priscilla  Miller  Avas  the 
first  teacher.  The  school  was  held  in  a  log  house  erected  for  the 
purpose  by  the  neighbors,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  26.  This  building  was  used  for  school 
purposes  until  the  spring  of  1866,  when  it  was  replaced  by  a  brick 
building,  erected  during  the  fall  of  1865,  on  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  section  24.  This  building  has  been  replaced  with  a  wooden 
structure.  District  119  joint.  This  district  was  organized  as 
district  57  October  9,  1869,  and  the  first  school  was  held  that 
winter  at  the  house  of  John  Tuekerson  in  section  30,  Carlos  Man- 
chester being  the  teacher.  School  was  held  in  this  house  until 
1872,  when  a  small  house  was  erected  in  the  southeast  corner  of 
section  19.  Mr.  Manchester  was  also  the  first  teacher  in  this 
house.  District  60.  This  district  was  organized  in  the  winter  of 
1868  or  1869.  A  schoolhouse  was  erected  the  next  spring  in  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  2.  This  was  a  frame  house  and  the 
lumber  was  hauled  by  team  from  Red  Wing.  The  first  school 
after  the  completion  of  the  building  was  a  summer  session  kept 
by  Mrs.  Mary  Timber,  wife  of  E.  Thuber,  then  living  in  section 
10.  The  schoolhouse  was  afterward  moved  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  11.  District  76.  This  district  was  organized  in 
1869.  The  first  school  was  held  in  the  house  of  S.  H.  Smith  in 
section  33,  the  teacher  being  Hattie  L.  Sanford.  School  was  held 
in  the  house  of  Mr.  Smith  until  1876,  when  a  new  frame  house 
was  built  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  28.  Hattie  Ricker  was  the  first  teacher.  District  111 
joint  was  organized  by  the  legislature  during  the  session  of  1881- 
82,  and  the  schoolhouse  is  located  just  over  the  Freeborn  county 
line  in  Neury  township.  Myra  Maxwell  was  the  first  teacher, 
the  first  session  being  the  summer  term  of  1882.  District  70  and 
district  70  joint.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was  held  in 
the  dwelling  house  of  John  Torkelson,  in  1868-69.  Carlos  Man- 
chester was  the  teacher.  In  1870  a  schoolhouse  was  built  on  the 
old  Knut  Thompson  place.  Carlos  Manchester  was  also  teacher 
here.  That  school  was  maintained  until  1888.  In  1889  there  was 
a  division,  and  each  district  erected  a  new  schoolhouse.  The  first 
teacher  in  the  new  schoolhouse  in  district  79  joint  was  Gertrude 
^r.  Carll.  of  Fdolpho.  The  above  facts  were  gatliercd  by  Jolm  T. 
Aldal. 


128  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Lansing.  District  43.  The  first  school  in  Lansing  township 
Avas  a  summer  school  held  in  1858.  by  Ann  ]\Iathieson,  in  a  small 
house  built  for  a  residence  by  John  Pettibone,  in  section  11. 
The  first  schoolhouse  was  a  frame  building  erected  in  the  fall 
of  1858,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section  11.  The  first  term 
was  taught  that  winter  by  George  Wood.  The  material  for  this 
was  native  lumber  sawed  at  the  steam  mill  at  Lansing.  The 
district  failed  to  pay  for  the  lumber  and  the  house  reverted  to 
the  parties  who  furnished  it.  It  was  sold  to  Mrs.  C.  S.  Rolph. 
In  1866  a  brick  building  was  erected,  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  2.  The  first  school  in  this  house  was  a  winter  term 
taught  by  John  E.  Robinson.  In  the  fall  of  1871  a  frame  addi- 
tion was  built.  District  43  embraces  the  village  of  Lansing.  Dis- 
trict 44,  Ramsey  village.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was  a 
small  log  house  situated  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  27.  The  first  school  was  kept  by  Charles  Oaks, 
in  the  winter  of  1857-58.  The  old  log  house  was  used  for  school 
purposes  until  the  summer  of  1866,  when  a  brick  building  was 
erected.  This  house  was  located  near  the  section  line  on  the 
east  side  of  section  22.  The  first  school  in  this  house  was  kept 
by  Romanda  S.  Carpenter.  In  1909  a  modern  brick  building  was 
erected.  This  is  one  of  the  best  rural  schools  in  the  state, 
equipped  with  all  the  latest  improvements.  Alice  ]\IcCarthy  was 
the  first  teacher.  In  1910,  Mrs.  Addie  Cook,  who  owns  one  of 
the  largest  farms  in  the  district,  presented  the  school  with  a 
piano.  District  45.  This  district  was  organized  in  1858,  and  a 
log  house  was  built,  gratutiously,  by  the  neighbors.  The  first 
school  was  taught  by  a  Miss  Richardson  in  the  summer  of  1858. 
This  house  was  used  as  a  school  until  1868,  when  a  frame  house 
was  built.  Ella  J.  Cook  was  the  first  teacher  in  this  building. 
District  101.  A  frame  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  section  13 
in  the  fall  of  1876,  with  Patrick  Gilroy  as  teacher.  District  122 
was  organized  in  1893,  and  a  schoolhouse  built  the  same  year  in 
section  20.  Paula  Brown  was  the  first  teacher.  District  72, 
joint.     This  school  is  located  in  Corning  village,  section  6. 

Austin.  District  27.  This  district  embraces  the  city  of  Aus- 
tin. The  first  school  in  Austin  township  outside  the  limits  of 
the  city  was  taught  in  the  winter  of  1857,  in  the  building  of 
Robert  Autis.  District  26.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was 
taught  in  the  house  of  M.  J.  Woodson  by  his  son  Henry  in  the 
summer  of  1858,  the  young  man  receiving  $10  a  month  for  his 
services.  James  Johnson  tauglit  the  second  term  of  school  in 
the  same  liouse.  In  1859  a  log  liouse  was  erected  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  10.  George  and  Oliver  Beemis  gave  the 
h)gs  wliicb  wcic  cut  and  drawn  to  the  spot  l)y  M.  J.  and  W.  A. 
Woodson  and  II.  Van  AVinkle.     Abbie  Litchfield,  now  Mrs.  Eu- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  120 

gene  Crane,  of  ^Minneapolis,  was  the  first  tear^her  in  this  house. 
George  Emery  was  tlie  first  teaclier  in  the  frame  house  built  on 
the  southwest  corner  of  section  11.  District  28.  This  district 
was  originated  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  D.  L.  Chandler 
in  the  winter  of  1856-57.  Welcome  Osborne,  D.  L.  Chandler  and 
George  Phelps  were  the  first  officers  in  this  district.  In  the 
summer  of  1857  a  log  schoolhouse  was  built  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  32.  Delang  Richard- 
son was  the  first  teacher  in  this  house,  which  was  in  use  five 
years..  Then  a  house  was  built  in  the  southwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 28.  Mary  Hoag  Avas  the  first  teacher.  District  29,  Varco 
Station.  The  first  schoolhouse  in  this  district  was  erected  in 
1857,  at  a  "bee"  of  the  neighbors,  being  built  from  logs.  Money 
was  raised  by  subscription  to  complete  the  building.  Delang 
Richardson  was  the  first  to  teach  in  this  house.  The  building 
was  located  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  23.  In  1864  the 
building  was  burned  and  a  stone  house  was  erected  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  25.  Forest 
Marsh  was  the  first  teacher.  In  1879  this  building  was  torn 
down  and  a  frame  building  was  erected.  Mary  Hood  was  the 
first  teacher  in  this  house.  District  55.  The  first  school  in  this 
district  was  taught  by  Elizabeth  Stone,  in  a  claim  shanty  located 
on  the  southwest  corner  of  section  8.  This  was  in  1865.  In 
1869  a  frame  building  was  erected  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  17,  Mary  Scullen  being  the 
first  teacher.  District  128  has  a  schoolhouse  in  the  eastern  half 
of  section  21.  The  house  was  built  in  1900  and  Pearl  Bowers 
was  the  first  teacher. 

Lyle.  District  13.  The  first  school  in  this  district,  as  well 
as  the  first  taught  in  the  town,  was  in  session  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1856.  taught  by  IMaria  Vaughan,  in  a  log  house  built  by 
one  Pinkcrton  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  32.  Zillah 
Beach  afterward  taught  in  Lorenzo  Moshier's  house,  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  29.  Thomas  Parker  was  an  early  teacher 
here.  Rev.  Samuel  Loomis  taught  in  Samuel  Surface's  house. 
In  1860  the  district  purchased  a  frame  building  in  Otranto  and 
moved  it  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  23.  T.  J.  Locke,  C.  R.  Houston,  ErAvin  Lyle  and  Dora 
Clappsaddle  were  early  teachers  in  that  house,  which  was  in 
use  until  1874.  In  this  year  was  built  a  house  in  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  32.  S.  Anna  IMcCune  was  the  first  to  teach 
in  this  house.  In  the  spring  of  1908  this  building  was  burned' 
and  was  replaced  by  a  modern  frame  building  on  the  same  site. 
The  first  teacher  in  this  l)uilding  was  Dora  Drcwes.  District  12. 
About  the  year  1859  the  first  school  was  taught  in  this  district 
by  Rev.  Samuel  Loomis  in  a  log  house  standing  in  section  3.    Not 


130  HLSTOUY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

long  after  this  a  schoolhouse  was  built  through  the  united  efforts 
of  the  people.  James  Foster  fui-nished  poplar  logs  for  the  body 
of  the  house.  C.  H.  Huntington  furnished  the  burr  oak  logs  for 
the  foundation.  The  men  of  the  district  cut  down  trees  and 
erected  the  building.  A  new  house  was  erected  on  the  same  site 
about  1879.  Al.  Hieock  was  the  first  teacher  in  this  house.  Dis- 
trict 14.  A  log  house  situated  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 5  and  formerly  owned  by  John  Tiftt,  housed  the  first  school 
in  the  district.  School  was  kept  here  four  terms,  beginning  in 
1856,  with  Nellie  Hawkins  as  first  instructor.  In  1870  a  frame 
building  was  erected  for  the  school  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  5.  The  first  who  taught  in 
tliis  house  was  Amelia  Houghton,  afterward  Mrs.  M.  B.  Slocum. 
The  building  was  later  removed  to  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  5.  District  15.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was  taught 
by  Thomas  Parker  in  a  log  house  on  the  property  of  Josopli 
Thompson  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  27.  This  was  re- 
placed in  1867  by  a  frame  building  in  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  34.  The  first  teacher  in  this  Avas  a  Miss  Carpenter  from 
Michigan.  Five  years  later  in  1872  a  larger  house  was  erected 
on  the  same  site,  J.  W.  Weiser  Avas  the  first  teacher  in  this 
building.  This  building  was  destroyed  by  cyclone  and  replaced 
with  a  frame  edifice.  A  beautiful  surrounding  grove  was  also 
destroyed  by  the  storm.  District  70.  This  district  was  organ- 
ized in  1867  and  the  first  school  taught  by  Emma  Smith,  in  a 
small  frame  house  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  19.  In 
1874  a  larger  building  was  erected  on  the  old  site.  District  54. 
This  district  was  organized  in  1867  and  the  first  house  was  built 
of  logs  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  12,  the  first  teacher 
being  Cynthia  Addington.  In  1881  a  good  frame  house  Avas 
erected  on  the  southAvest  quarter  of  section  13.  Nina  Bisbit 
Avas  the  first  teacher  in  this  house.  District  57.  This  school 
is  located  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  15.  District  57, 
according  to  \V.  G.  Pace,  was  organized  August  17,  1892,  and  a 
schoolhouse  built  the  same  fall  on  the  west  side  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  15.  Araminta  W.  Ileseman  was  the  first 
teacher.  District  !)0.  Tliis  district  has  a  fine  school  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Lyle.  Kxcclb'iit  Avork  has  been  done  in  manual  train- 
ing and  agriculture  in  addition  to  the  usual  school  duties.  The 
schoolhouse  is  a  Avcll-cquipii.'d  building  of  brick  and  nine  teach- 
ers are  employed.  A  liistory  of  tliis  district  is  given  in  connec- 
tion Avith  tlie  history  of  the  village  of  Lyle. 

Waltham.  Di.strict  58.  Waltham  village.  This  district  Avas 
organized  in  1866  and  a  frame  house  erected  on  the  nortlnvest 
corner  of  section  15.  Tlic  first  school  was  a  Aviiiter  term  in  1868. 
Dorothy  Johnson   AValkcr  was  llic  iir-st    teacher.     The  school  is 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUiNTY  131 

now  housed  in  a  two-roomed  frame  building,  one  of  the  best 
equipped  in  the  county.  The  pupils  have  a  reputation  for  win- 
ning more  prizes  in  industrial  and  educational  contests  than  any- 
other  school  in  this  part  of  the  state.  District  61.  This  district 
was  organized  in  ]866.  The  first  school  was  a  summer  term  in 
18G7,  taught  by  Emma  Hoy.  in  a  schoolliousc  completed 
Ihat  year,  located  on  the  northwest  cornc%r  of  section  27.  Dis- 
trict 89.  This  district  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1874.  A 
frame  house  was  erected  during  the  summer  of  the  following 
year  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 35.  The  first  school  was  the  winter  term  of  1875-76  and 
was  taught  by  J.  L.  Dole,  siibstituting  for  his  daughter  Addie, 
who  after  being  engaged  to  teach  was  taken  ill.  The  schoolhouse 
is  now  located  in  the  soiithwest  qiiarter  of  section  26.  District 
93.  Tliis  Avas  organized  in  the  fall  of  1875  and  the  following 
spring  a  frame  schoolhouse  was  built  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  30.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Belle  Leighton.  Dis- 
trict 110  was  organized  in  1881  and  the  first  school  kept  by 
Flossie  Brown,  a  frame  hoiise  having  been  erected,  in  the  south- 
east corner  of  section  6.  District  124  has  a  school  in  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  1.  According  to  John  P.  Johnson,  the 
district  was  organized  in  1893  and  a  schoolhouse  Iniilt  the  same 
year  on  the  present  site.  Nora  0.  Chandler  was  the  first  teacher. 
In  1910  the  foundation  was  raised  and  laid  with  cement  blocks, 
a  new  fioor  was  put  in  and  a  Smith  heating  and  ventilation  sys- 
ti'm  installed.  District  126  has  a  schoolhouse  in  the  north  half 
of  section  23.  This  district  Avas  organized  in  1897.  The  school- 
house  was  brought  from  district  107  and  moved  west  to  its  pres- 
ent location. 

Red  Rock.  District  38,  Brownsdale  village.  This  district 
was  organized  in  1856  and -a  schoolhouse  built  that  year.  The 
first  teacher  was  Sarah  Ticknor.  This  house  was  burned  in  1858, 
but  immediately  rebuilt.  This  house  in  turn  was  burned  in  1871 
and  at  once  replaced  by  a  fine  building.  The  village  now  has  a 
four-room  schoolhouse  set  in  a  beautiful  grove.  It  became  a 
graded  school  last  year  and  is  well  equipped  for  excellent  work. 
District  37.  The  first  school  taught  in  this  district  was  a  select 
one  under  the  management  of  Mrs.  Angeline  A.  Tanner,  in  tlie 
summer  of  1859  at  the  house  of  Elder  Milo  Farril  in  section  13. 
The  first  district  school  was  in  the  winter  of  1860-61,  held  in 
tlie  log  granary  of  E.  E.  Tanner  in  section  12.  In  1862  a  frame 
house  was  erected  in  section  11.  The  first  school  in  this  house 
Avas  taught  l)y  S.  P.  SteAvart.  District  39  Avas  organized  in  the 
summer  of  1858  and  a  two  months'  term  of  school  taught  by 
Tina  Perry  in  the  Redbu.sh  house  in  section  5,  sessions  being  held 
in  the  homes  of  the  district  until  1864.  Avhcn  a  frame  house  Avas 


132  HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

built.  The  school  was  erected  in  section  5.  The  first  school  in 
this  house  was  under  the  management  of  Eliza  A.  Simes.  Dis- 
trict 41.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was  in  the  summer  of 
3863,  kept  by  Emma  Hoy  in  a  small  house  in  section  33.  The 
following  summer  the  neighbors  erected  a  temporary  building 
of  poles  set  in  the  ground  and  board  up  in  section  34.  The  first 
school  in  this  building  Mas  kept  by  Mary  Lynch.  This  district 
was  organized  in  1865  and  a  frame  house  erected  in  section  34 
the  following  summer.  The  first  school  in  this  house  was  also 
kept  by  Emma  Hoy.  District  42.  The  first  school  in  this  dis- 
trict was  the  summer  term  of  1865  in  a  board  shanty  erected 
for  the  purpose  by  the  district  and  located  in  section  23.  Susan 
Bacon  was  the  first  teacher.  In  the  fall  of  1866,  the  district 
erected  a  schoolhouse  on  the  site  of  the  shanty  and  Mrs.  Sarah 
E.  Brown  was  the  first  teacher.  In  the  fall  of  1876  the  build- 
ing was  removed  to  section  24.  District  68.  In  1869  an  eifort 
was  made  to  organize  this  district,  but  owing  to  some  irregu- 
larities nothing  further  Avas  done  until  1876,  when  the  district 
Avas  fully  organized  and  a  frame  house  erected  in  time  for  the 
summer  term,  Avhich  Avas  taught  by  Lyle  Lynch.  The  school  is 
located  in  section  29.  District  115.  This  district  AA'as  organized 
in  1878  and  a  frame  schoolhouse  erected  the  folloAving  spring 
on  the  southwest  corner  of  section  35.  The  first  school  in  this 
house  was  taught  by  ]\lary  HathaAvay,  Avho  later  became  ]\Irs. 
EdAvard  Slocum.  District  116  Avas  organized  by  the  legislature 
of  1881.  and  the  first  school  AA^as  taught  that  spring  by  jMary 
Rugg.    The  school  is  in  the  northwest  corner  of  section  23. 

Windom.  District  40.  This  district  Avas  originally  a  part  of 
district  23.  The  first  school  was  taught  in  the  spring  of  1857  by 
Jane  Reeves  in  a  board  shanty  in  section  6,  oAvned  by  Henry  Fero. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  a  log  schoolhouse  Avas  erected  in  the 
southAvest  corner  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  6.  This  Avas 
the  first  building  erected  for  educational  purposes  in  the  toAvn- 
ship.  ]\Iaria  Slocum  Avas  the  first  teacher  in  this  building.  In 
1867  the  district  Avas  divided,  and  district  40  assumed  its  present 
number.  Lumber  was  purchased  for  a  schoolhouse,  but  for  a 
time  school  was  taught  in  a  temporary  shanty  erected  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  6.  ]\laggie  Smith,  now  Mrs.  Man- 
chester, of  Minneapolis,  taught  the  first  term  there.  Soon  after 
a  frame  building  was  erected  on  the  same  site,  and  Amelia  Hough- 
ton was  the  fir.st  teacher.  District  23  originally  included  the  pres- 
ent district  40.  After  the  separation,  in  1867,  a  temporary  build- 
ing was  erected  in  the  southAvestern  part  of  the  northAvest  quarter 
of  section  7.  Amanda  Streavor  taught  the  first  term  in  this 
building.  In  1868  a  frame  house  Avas  built.  R('l)ecca  Otis  taught 
the  first  seliddl    in   this   building.     l)istri<'t   24  Avas  organized   in 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWEI{  COUNTY  133 

i  ^ 
1857.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Mrs.  Horatio  Marsh  in  her 
home.  Mary  Slaven  completed  the  term.  The  following  year  a 
schoolhouse  was  erected  on  the  north  half  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  20,  by  subscription.  Kate  Bailey  was  the  first  teacher 
in  the  house.  In  1868  a  frame  house  was  erected  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  29,  Avith  Agnes 
Hull  as  the  first  teacher.  District  88  originally  included  dis- 
trict 25,  which  now  embraces  Rose  Creek  village.  The  district 
vv-as  organized  as  No.  25,  in  1859,  and  the  first  school  was  taught 
in  Patrick  O'Maley's  house,  with  Sarah  Slaven  as  first  teacher. 
School  was  afterward  taught  in  Michael  Slaven 's  house.  In  1864 
a  log  house  was  erected  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  23,  in  which  Eosetta  Fuller  taught  the  first 
term  of  school.  In  1874  the  district  was  divided,  and  the  south 
half,  now  Rose  Creek  village,  retained  the  old  number.  In 
1876  a  frame  house  was  erected  in  the  south  part  of  section  13. 
District  25.  After  Rose  Creek  was  designated  as  district  25,  in 
1874,  and  the  remainder  of  the  district  set  off  as  No.  88,  a  frame 
house  was  erected  in  the  village  and  Mary  J.  Gregory  taught  the 
first  term.  In  the  summer  of  1908  a  four-room  bi'ick  building 
was  erected  in  Rose  Creek,  modern  in  every  respect.  District  22. 
This  district  was  organized  in  1865  and  a  frame  house  erected  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  10,  in 
which  ]\Ielinda  Brown  taught  the  first  school.  Roswell  Slocum 
donated  half  an  acre  for  the  schoolhouse  site.  The  lumber  was 
drawn  from  Winona,  Obadiah  Smith  erecting  the  building.  Dis- 
trict 46  was  organized  in  1869.  During  the  following  yea:r  a 
board  shanty  was  erected  on  the  southwest  corner  of  section  32. 
The  first  term  of  school  was  taught  in  that  building  by  Maggie 
Smith.  In  1874  a  frame  house  was  erected  on  the  same  site. 
James  Woodard  was  the  first  teacher  in  this  house.  District  73 
was  organized  in  1869.  The  first  building  was  a  cheap  struc- 
ture erected  on  the  southwest  corner  of  section  14.  Alice  French 
Avas  the  first  teacher.  In  1876  a  good  building  was  erected  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  22,  in 
which  Newell  Slocum  was  the  first  teacher.  District  82.  The 
first  school  in  this  district  was  taught  in  1867  by  Maggie  Smith 
in  a  house  erected  by  Thomas  Smith  in  the  northeast  quai'ter  of 
section  12.  After  three  weeks  a  frame  house  was  erected  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  1,  in  which  Addie  Fairbanks  was  the 
first  teacher.  District  123.  This  district  was  organized  and  a 
schoolhouse  erected  in  1893.  Olive  Savage  was  the  first  teacher. 
Nevada.  District  9.  In  1857  the  scholars  living  within  the 
present  limits  attended  a  school  taught  by  Osroe  Peterson  in  the 
home  of  Hans  Swenson.  School  was  taught  in  other  private 
houses  until  the  winter  of  1865-66,  when  a  log  schoolhouse  was 


134  HISTORY  OF  MOWP]U  COUNTY 

built  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section  31,  the  money  being  raised 
by  subscription.  Afterward  a  tax  was  levied  and  the  money 
refunded.  Christiana  Goby  was  the  first  teacher  in  this  house. 
In  1882  a  frame  house  was  erected  a  few  rods  west  of  the  old 
site.  District  11.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was  held  in  a 
board  shanty  owned  by  James  Gerard,  located  in  section  21.  The 
next  term  was  taught  by  Belinda  Robinson  in  a  claim  shanty  in 
section  22.  The  first  schoolhouse  in  the  town  and  district  was 
built  in  1858,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  28,  Martin  Hanson  having  given  one  acre  for  school  pur- 
poses. In  1872  a  new  house  was  erected  on  the  old  site.  The 
first  teacher  in  this  house  was  Nels  Kalkon.  District  10.  The 
first  school  in  this  district  was  taught  by  Sarah  Austin  in  1858, 
in  a  claim  shanty  belonging  to  Gregg  &  Austin.  In  1860  a  log 
house  was  erected  for  school  purposes  in  the  southeast  corner  of 
section  7.  Delang  Richardson  was  the  first  teacher.  Later  a 
frame  house  Avas  erected,  and  S.  Clow  was  the  first  teacher. 
District  87.  This  district  was  organized  in  1870  and  a  school- 
house  erected  the  following  year  in  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  23.  IMary  Gregg  was  the  first  teacher.  District  104  was 
organized  in  1878  and  a  frame  house  erected  that  same  year,  in 
the  southwest  corner  of  section  3.  The  first  teacher  was  ]\Iinda 
H.  Ruland.  District  56.  A*  frame  schoolhouse  was  erected  in 
this  district  in  1865  and  the  first  school  was  taught  the  follow- 
ing year.  The  house  is  located  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  1. 

Sargeant.  District  !»1.  The  first  schoolhouse  built  in  the 
town  was  in  this  district,  in  1875,  in  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  15.  Jn  the  summer  of  that  year  Eliza  W.  Sargent  taught 
the  first  scliool.  A  Norwegian  school  was  started  in  the  same 
house,  with  Knud  Arhns  as  the  first  teacher.  The  schoolhouse 
is  located  in  the  southern  half  of  section  2.  District  111  was 
organized  in  1879.  A  schoolhouse  was  built  that  year  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  26.  Ella  King  was  the  first  teacher. 
District  113  was  organized  in  1880,  and  a  schoolhouse  built  on 
!).  Tiie  first  school  was  taught 
The  srhoolhouse  in  this  district 
located  .just  over  tlic  line  in  sce- 
Tliis  is  tlie  village  school  of 
.'hoolhousc  in  this  disti'ict  is  lo- 
cated in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  32. 

Dexter.  District  78.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was  the 
first  in  the  touii  of  Dexter,  and  was  taught  by  Mrs.  G.  \V.  Bowles, 
at  her  home  in  a  log  house  at  the  northeast  (juarter  of  section  33. 
in  1868.  A  sciiooliiouse  was  built  the  following  year  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  southwest  <|uarter  of  section  27.     Dis- 


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The 

HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  135 

trict  108  was  organized  in  1877.  The  schoolhouse  was  built  the 
same  year  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  36.  The  first 
teacher  was  Jennie  L.  Schryver.  District  106  was  organized  in 
1877,  and  a  schoolhouse  erected  in  1878  in  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  29,  Jennie  Fairbanks  being  the  first  teacher.  District 
98  was  organized  in  1878  and  the  first  school  taught  that  year  in 
the  home  of  Nelson  Huntington,  by  his  daughter  Mary,  with  a 
single  pupil,  her  sister  Rose.  Later  the  territory  of  this  district 
was  attached  to  Dexter  village.  In  1877  the  district  was  set  apart 
and  a  schoolhouse  built  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  2.  Andrew  Quinn  and  Cora  Chadbourne  were 
two  of  the  earliest  teachers  in  this  building.  District  86.  Dexter 
village.  This  district  was  organized  in  1874.  The  first  school 
was  a  temporary  building,  put  up  that  year.  School  was  taught 
in  the  winter  of  187J:-75  by  Jesse  King.  In  1877  a  new  building 
was  erected.  At  present  there  is  a  modern  four-room  school,  well 
equipped  in  every  .respect.  District  121.  The  schoolhouse  is 
located  in  the  sovithwest  quarter  of  section  16.  This  district, 
according  to  William  Newbauer,  was  organized  February  4,  1889, 
and  a  schoolhouse  built  the  same  year  on  the  present  site.  The 
first  teacher  was  Mary  Siegel.  District  125.  The  pupils  of  this 
district  attend  school  in  a  schoolhouse  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  11.  According  to  G.  B. 
Harvey  the  district  was  organized  about  1895,  and  the  school- 
house  erected  the  same  year.  Ethel  H.  Wilsie  was  the  first 
teacher.  District  129.  This  district  has  a  school  in  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  5.  It  is  the  youngest  of  all  the  IMower 
county  school  districts,  and  was  organized  July  12.  1905,  under 
the  good  offices  of  W.  L.  Lewis.  D.  L.  Tanner,  F.  E.  Hambreeht, 
J.  Johnson  and  William  Christie.  A  schoolhouse  was  built  the 
same  year,  and  Anna  Hanson  was  the  first  teacher.  W.  M. 
Phillips  was  the  first  clerk. 

Marshall.  District  65  was  organized  in  1867.  The  first  term 
of  school  was  taught  in  Helga  Errickson's  house,  by  Rosella 
Bourgard.  The  school  was  built  in  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  85.  In  1879  it  was  moved  to  the  northwest  quarter  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  25.  Ida  Waite  was  the  first 
teacher  after  the  removal.  District  81  was  organized  about  the 
year  1876.  when  a  frame  house  was  erected  in  section  2.  School 
was  first  taught  in  1878  by  Ida  Waite.  This  is  the  village  school 
of  Elkton.  District  105  was  organized  in  1879  and  a  school- 
liouse  erected  in  the  northwest  corner  of  section  .84.  the  first 
school  being  taught  by  Annie  Christopherson.  District  108. 
This  district  was  organized  Se|)tember  20,  1879.  A  hou.se  was 
erected  tiiat  fall  in  the  sontlieast  coimht  of  seetion  17,  and  the 
first  term  was  taught  by  Georgf  Kmery  in  tlie  winter  of  1879-80. 


136  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

District  120.  The  school  in  this  district  is  located  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  9.  According  to  C.  E.  Thompson  the  dis- 
trict was  organized  in  1888  and  the  schoolhouse  built  that  fall. 

Adams.  District  6.  This  district  was  organized  in  1858  and 
a  small  schoolhouse  was  erected  of  logs  and  covered  with  hay. 
The  building  was  located  in  section  29.  The  term  of  school  in 
this  house  was  taught  in  the  winter  of  1858-59  by  R.  M.  Rooney. 
The  house  was  burned  by  a  prairie  fire  the  following  summer. 
Another  log  house  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  one,  and  in 
this  Mr.  Rooney  was  also  the  first  teacher.  This  building  was 
likewise  burned  and  a  good  substantial  frame  was  erected  one- 
half  mile  south  of  the  old  one  in  section  32.  The  first  teacher  in 
this  house  was  Nils  Nason.  District  7  was  organized  in  1858. 
A  schoolhouse  was  located  in  section  8.  The  house  is  now  located 
in  section  9.  District  8  is  the  village  school  of  Adams.  It  was 
organized  in  1858,  and  a  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  section  11  in 
1873.  At  present  there  is  a  four-room  graded  school.  District  71. 
This  district  was  organized  in  1871,  and  the  first  school  was  held 
the  same  year  at  the  house  of  John  Fagans,  Robert  Carter  being 
the  teacher.  In  1872  a  frame  schoolhouse  was  erected  on  section 
25.  The  first  teacher  in  this  house  was  Lizzie  Boding.  The  pres- 
ent building  is  in  section  26.  District  72  Avas  organized  in  1871 
and  the  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  section  22.  Catherine  Mad- 
den taught  the  first  school.  The  school  is  now  located  in 
section  27. 

Pleasant  Valley.  The  first  school  in  this  township  was  taught 
by  Carolina  Hoag  in  the  summer  of  1858.  The  sessions  were 
held  in  a  small  cabin,  twelve  by  twelve,  and  eight  feet  high. 
This  house  stood  on  runners  and  during  winters  was  used  as  a 
preemption  shanty,  remaining  on  one  claim  long  enough  for  the 
occupant  to  "prove  up,"  and  then  being  hauled  by  an  ox  team  to 
another  claim.  In  siunmers  it  was  generally  stationed  on  sec- 
tions 11  or  12  and  devoted  to  school  purposes.  Later  it  was 
converted  into  a  wood  shed.  District  47.  In  the  winter  of 
I860,  before  the  organization  of  this  district,  a  school  was  taught 
Avithin  its  limits  in  the  house  of  John  Rowley.  The  first  teacher 
was  Alden  Douglas.  The  district  was  organized  in  1862.  A 
schoolhouse  was  built  the  following  season  on  the  northern  part 
of  section  29.  The  first  teacher  here  was  C.  D.  Douglas.  Dis- 
trict 48  was  organized  in  1863.  Two  early  terms  were  taught 
in  the  house  of  E.  B.  Blakelec  by  Alden  Douglas.  The  school- 
house  was  built  in  1864  in  the  southwest  part  of  section  15. 
Mary  Iloag  taught  the  first  school.  The  present  house  is  about 
half  a  mile  north  of  the  old  site.  District  51.  The  first  school 
in  this  district  was  taught  in  1861,  by  jMary  lloag,  in  Robert 
Reed's  milkhouse.     The  organization  was  in  1865,  and  a  building 


HlSTOJfY  OF  MOWEH  COUxXTY  137 

was  erected  in  1867,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  8.  The  first  teacher  was  Alice  Sargent.  Dis- 
trict 62.  A  school  was  taught  in  Dan.  AVilliam's  house  in  this 
district  in  1865.  The  district  was  organized  March  30,  1867,  and 
the  schoolhouse  built  the  same  j^ear,  in  the  southeast  cjuarter  of 
section  11.  In  1909  a  new  schoolhouse  was  built  a  mile  south 
of  this  site.  District  75.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was 
taught  by  Artemisia  Way.  The  district  was  organized  in  1869 
and  a  frame  building  erected  in  section  32.  The  first  teacher 
was  Hattie  Hoppin.  District  94.  The  first  school  in  this  dis- 
trict was  erected  in  1874  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  35, 
but  was  afterward  moved  a  mile  west  to  where  it  now  stands. 
Alba  G.  Paddock  was  the  first  teacher. 

Grand  Meadow.  The  schools  in  this  township  are  located 
as  follows:  District  112.  northeast  quarter,  section  7;  District 
53,  southwest  quarter  of  section  ]0;  District  26,  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  12;  District  21,  south  half  of  section  35;  District 
77,  village  of  Grand  Meadow,  section  22 ;  District  69,  southeast 
quarter  of  section  29.  District  20,  according  to  G.  J.  Gilbert- 
son,  was  organized  May  1,  1868,  with  A.  O.  Finhart  as  treasurer, 
0.  W.  Case  as  clerk  and  B.  F.  Langworthy  as  director.  A  new 
schoolhouse  was  built  in  1884,  replacing  the  one  erected  when 
the  district  was  organized.  Later  a  belfry  was  added  and  a 
fine  bell  purchased.  The  building  is  equipped  with  the  Smith 
heating  and  ventilating  system,  a  good  supply  of  slate  black- 
hoards  and  a  sanitary  water  fountain.  A  first  grade  teacher 
has  been  employed  for  the  past  ten  years,  and  the  school  is  doing 
excellent  work.  District  21,  according  to  C.  A.  Grimm,  waa 
organized  some  forty-three  years  ago.  The  records  have  all 
been  lost,  and  the  memory  of  the  old  inhabitants  is  vague  on  the 
subject.  District  53  is  also  one  of  the  old  districts  of  the  county. 
James  Joyce  has  interviewed  a  number  of  old  settlers  on  the 
subject,  among  them  being  Patrick  Conlon  and  wife,  who  came 
liere  in  1860,  and  according  to  the  information  which  he  has 
gathered,  there  was  a  sod  or  sod  and  log  schoolhouse  in  this 
district  in  the  earliest  times,  and  a  Miss  Anker  was  the  first 
teacher.  All  records  have  been  lost.  June  3,  1873,  a  half  acre 
in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  9  was 
deeded  to  the  district,  and  in  1897  the  schoolhouse  was  moved 
from  that  location  to  the  present  site  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  10.  District  69,  according  to 
Fred  Dickens,  was  organized  in  1869,  and  a  house  built  that  year 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  29. 
In  1879  it  was  moved  to  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Northeast 
quarter  of  section  29.  In  1890  a  new  schoolhouse  was  built  across 
the  street,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 


138  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

section  29.  The  first  teacher  in  the  district  was  Ella  Austin. 
Her  father,  Gus  Austin,  built  the  first  schoolhouse.  The  records 
of  the  early  days  in  the  district  has  not  been  kept.  District  77 
is  treated  at  length  in  the  history  of  the  village  of  Grand  Meadow. 

Clayton.  The  first  school  in  Clayton  town.ship  was  a  summer 
term  kept  at  the  house  of  W.  S.  Root  in  1872,  by  Mina  Hanna. 
District  74.  This  district  had  the  first  schoolhouse  in  the  town- 
ship. It  was  erected  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  28,  and 
the  first  teacher  was  Henrietta  Bevier.  The  house  is  now  located 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  28.  District  83.  A  schoolhouse 
was  erected  in  this  district  in  the  northwest  corner  of  section  32 
in  1876.  Miss  D.  K.  Lee  was  the  first  teacher  in  this  building. 
The  present  site  is  one-half  a  mile  north.  District  109.  The  first 
teacher  in  this  district  was  G.  G.  Dallen.  and  the  building  is 
located  in  the  south  half  of  section  11.  District  117.  The  school- 
house  in  this  district  is  in  the  west  half  of  section  25.  It  was 
built  in  March,  1885,  and  three  months'  school  held  before  it  was 
finished.  It  was  then  plastered  and  seats  piit  in,  so  that  school 
was  held  that  winter.  The  first  teacher  was  Delia  McDonnough. 
District  127.  The  pupils  in  this  district  attend  school  in  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  8.  The  district  was  organized  Jan- 
uary 4,  1900,  and  Sarah  Seanlan  was  the  first  teacher. 

Lodi.  District  67.  The  school  in  this  district  was  the  first  in 
the  township,  and  was  built  in  1868  on  section  14,  the  first  teacher 
being  Nettie  Spencer.  This  house  was  burned  by  a  prairie  fire 
in  1871.  A  new  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  the  same  section  abotit 
80  rods  from  the  old  site.  Mary  Gregory  taught  the  first  term 
of  school  in  the  new  building.  The  modern  schoolhouse  now 
standing  is  equipped  with  the  only  school  hot  water  heating 
plant  in  the  county.  District  96  was  provided  with  a  schoolhouse 
in  1876,  located  on  section  29.  A  Miss  Haley  taught  the  first 
school.  Prior  to  this,  however,  a  school  had  been  held  at  the 
home  of  John  Hubbard  by  ]\Iaggie  Carr.  The  district  was  organ- 
ized in  1865  through  the  efforts  of  John  Hubbard,  who  gave  one- 
half  acre  of  ground  for  a  building  site.  District  80.  A  school 
was  erected  in  this  district  on  section  26  some  time  before  the 
organization  of  the  district  in  1877.  Etta  Bevier  was  the  first 
teacher.  In  1909  a  modern  building  was  erected  on  the  old  site. 
District  100  was  organized  in  1877  and  a  schoolhouse  built  oil  the 
northeast  cornc'r  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  7.  Ella 
Smith  was  the  first  teacher  in  the  house.  A  modern  building 
now  occupies  the  site.  District  99  is  the  village  school  of  Taopi 
and  was  organized  in  1878.  The  first  school  in  the  village  was 
laiuglit  in  the  winter  of  1877-78,  in  a  private  house.  In  1880  a 
frame  sclioolhouse  was  l)uilt  in  the  village,  the  first  teacher  therein 
being  Ida  Wells.     A  two-roomed  l)uilding  has  since  been  erected. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  139 

Racine.  The  first  school  in  this  township  was  built  in  1856. 
Rev.  Thomas  J.  Lake  was  an  early  teacher.  Old  district  3.  which 
included  the  present  districts  35  and  36,  was  organized  July  7, 
1856.  The  schoolhouses  in  Racine  are  located  as  follows:  Dis- 
trict 30,  southwest  quarter  of  section  11 ;  District  31,  southeast 
quarter  of  section  7;  District  32,  southeast  quarter  of  section  19; 
District  33,  west  half  of  section  27 ;  District  34,  village  of  Racine ; 
District  36,  southeast  quarter  of  section  5 ;  District  64,  southeast 
quarter  of  section  6 ;  Di.strict  66,  south  half  of  section  34.  District 
30.  The  records  of  this  district  have  been  lost.  The  old  school- 
house  stood  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  11.  In  1892  a  new  house  was  built  on  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  same  quarter.  The  first  teacher  in  the  new  building 
was  Jennie  Kelly.  For  this  information  the  publishers  are 
indebted  to  Aug.  Buekholz.  District  31,  like  so  many  of  the 
districts,  has  not  preserved  its  early  records.  According  to  H.  0. 
Lewis,  a  schoolhouse  was  built  in  section  7  in  1863  and  was  burned 
in  September,  1905.  It  was  rebuilt  the  same  fall  on  the  old  site. 
District  32  was  organized  in  1867.  William  Brown,  clerk  for  fif- 
teen years,  says:  "The  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1868  and  still 
stands  on  the  same  spot,  although  it  has  been  raised  and  shingled. 
The  early  records  were  burned  when  Henry  Schroeder's  house  was 
destroyed.  We  cannot  find  whether  school  was  taught  in  1868,  but 
we  think  not.  Alden  Douglas  taught  in  1869-70.  Frank  Glover, 
now  of  Racine,  taught  the  school  in  1871.  We  came  in  1868,  but 
lived  in  section  8,  Pleasant  Valley,  and  did  not  move  to  section  24 
until  1870."  District  33,  according  to  L.H.Eastman,  was  organ- 
ized about  1860,  and  the  schoolhouse  erected  the  same  year  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  south  sixty  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  27.  Miss  Quigley  was  the  first  teacher.  In  1884  a  new 
schoolhouse  was  built  on  the  corner  of  the  north  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  27.  District  34  is  treated  elsewhere.  Dis- 
trict 36,  according  to  John  Hovda  and  Arne  Anderson,  Avas  organ- 
ized in  1857  and  Mrs.  Henry  Moore  was  the  first  teacher,  the  board 
consisting  of  Ola  Finhart,  Sr.,  Hans  Anderson  and  a  IMr.  Conkins. 
For  two  years  school  was  taught  in  a  farm  house.  In  1859  a  log 
schoolhouse  was  built  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  5,  once  Frankford,  now  Racine.  A  Miss  Connor 
was  the  first  teacher  in  this  schoolhouse.  This  was  truly  a  pioneer 
school,  the  seats  being  hewn  out  of  logs.  The  funds  were  derived 
from  local  subscription.  Until  1883  district  36  Avas  three  miles 
square.  In  that  year  the  district  was  divided  and  District  64  set 
off.  The  school  in  section  36  stands  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
section  5.  District  64  was  a  part  of  District  36,  as  above.  After 
the  division  in  1883  a  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  section  6  in  1884, 
and  here  school  has  since  been  held.     District  66  was  organized  in 


140  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

1869  and  the  sehoolhouse  was  built  the  same  year  in  the  southwest 
quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  34.  The  first  teacher 
was  Mrs.  S.  B.  Gove.  In  1900  the  sehoolhouse  was  rebuilt  on  the 
same  site. 

Frankford.  District  16.  This  district  was  originally  organ- 
ized as  District  1  and  Avas  the  first  district  in  the  county.  The 
first  school  taught  in  Frankford  township  was  in  a  room  over 
Francis  Tebout's  store  in  the  village  of  Frankford  in  1856.  Miss 
Cunningham  was  the  first  teacher.  The  first  sehoolhouse  built  in 
this  district  was  in  1867.  in  section  24.  It  was  built  of  stone. 
The  first  teacher  was  N.  W.  Boyes.  District  17.  The  first  per- 
manent school  in  this  district  was  built  in  1873,  on  section  36,  and 
G.  A.  Elder  taught  the  first  school  in  this  building.  Prior  to  this 
time  a  temporary  board  shanty  12x14,  costing  $25,  was  used.  The 
first  teacher  was  Mrs.  Lamberton,  who  taught  three  months  at 
$25  a  month.  District  19.  The  first  school  in  this  district  Avas 
taught  by  AV.  F.  Grummings,  in  1857,  in  a  log  house  built  by 
Bothomel  Canady,  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  22.     In 

1870  the  district  erected  a  frame  building  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  21.  District  35.  The  first 
sehoolhouse  in  this  district  was  erected  of  logs  in  1856,  and  was 
located  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 11.  The  first  teacher  was  either  Frank  Johnson  or  John  Fell. 
In  1877  the  log  house  was  torn  down  and  a  new  building  erected. 
District  84.  The  first  sehoolhouse  in  this  district  was  erected  in 
1877  in  the  northwest  corner  of  section  34.  The  first  teacher  was 
Lyda  Goodsell.  District  97.  This  district  was  organized  in  1876. 
The  first  teacher  Avas  A.  S.  Woodworth.  The  house  is  located  in 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  31. 

Bennington.  District  3.  The  first  school  in  this  toAvnship  Avas 
taught  by  Mary  IMcKinney.  A  sehoolhouse  Avas  erected  about  1860 
in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  30.  A  new  modern  building 
occupies  the  old  site.  District  85.  A  sehoolhouse  Avas  built  in  this 
district  in  1874  and  the  first  teacher  Avas  Clai'a  Mehurin.  District 
18.  The  sehoolhouse  in  this  district  Avas  erected  in  1875  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  southAvest  quarter  of  section  12.  The 
sehoolhouse  is  noAV  located  one-half  mile  Avest  of  the  old  site. 
District  92.  The  sehoolhouse  in  this  district  was  built  in  1875 
on  the  southAvest  quarter  of  section  25.  The  first  teacher  Avas 
Katie  ^lehurin.  District  95.  The  sehoolhouse  in  this  district  A\'as 
built  in  1876,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  8.  The  house  is 
on  the  northAvest  corner  of  section  9.  District  102.  A  school- 
house  was  erected  in  1877  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  34. 
The  first  teacher  Avas  N.  0.  BorsAvold.  District  118.  The  school 
in  this  district  is  located  in  the  Avest  half  of  section  17. 

Le  Roy.     District   4.     The   early  history   of  this  district   has 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWEIf  ("OUXTV  111 

already  beon  related.  In  1871  the  present  site  was  selected  and  a 
building  erected  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  31.  'Around  the  schoolhouse  in  this  district  there 
still  cling  fond  recollections  of  pioneer  days.  Here  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  class  was  organized,  and  here  the  first  revival 
meeting  was  held  by  Rev.  Norton.  Then  there  were  the  debating 
society  gatherings  and  many  other  public  meetings  of  much 
importance  in  the  social  and  political  life  of  the  early  days. 
District  1  had  its  first  school  within  its  present  limits  at  the 
home  of  Henry  Meyers  in  the  summer  of  1866.  The  school  was 
taught  by  Adaline  Gates.  The  next  season  Emma  Klapper 
taught  in  the  same  house.  In  the  summer  of  1867  a  stone  school- 
house  was  erected  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  1.  In 
this  building  Emma  Peters  taught  the  first  term  in  the  summer 
of  1868.  A  new  modern  building  has  been  erected  one-half  mile 
west.  District  59.  This  district  at  an  early  date  was  provided 
with  a  school,  which  was  kept  in  the  building  of  Elihu  Morse, 
built  for  a  granary.  The  first  teacher  was  Syreua  Lytle.  In 
1868  the  district  erected  a  frame  schoolhouse  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  7,  in  which  A.  M.  Maxfield  taught  the  first 
school.  In  the  fall  of  1882  this  building  was  moved  to  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  6.  This  district  now  has  a  beautiful 
modern  building.  District  52.  The  first  school  in  this  district 
was  taught  by  Mrs.  J.  T.  Williams  in  the  summer  of  1863  at 
J.  M.  Morse's  house.  That  fall  a  house  was  built  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  18,  in  which  John  T.  Williams  was  the 
first  teacher.  In  1869  a  grout  or  concrete  school  building  was 
erected  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  20,  in  which  Julia 
Crittenden  was  the  first  teacher.  A  modern  building  now  occu- 
pies the  site.  District  2.  This  district  was  provided  with  its 
first  schoolhouse  in  1861.  It  was  located  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  9.  The  first  teacher  here  was  Flora  Raynolds. 
In  1871  a  new  frame  building  was  erected  on  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  9.  James  Pierce  taught  the  first  term  of  school  in 
this  house.  The  children  from  this  district  are  now  transported 
to  the  village  school  of  Le  Roy.  District  79.  This  district  had 
its  first  school  in  a  house  belonging  to  Charles  jMcNeal,  located 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  22.  This  was  in  1870.  Later 
the  district  purchased  a  log  house  from  James  Sample,  together 
Avith  an  acre  of  land,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  22.  This 
was  used  a  short  time,  after  which  a  frame  building  was  erected. 
A  modern  building  now  occupies  the  site.  District  5,  Le  Roy 
village.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was  held  in  a  house  be- 
longing to  Daniel  Caswell,  in  the  sunnner  of  1857.  That  fall  a 
stone  schoolhouse  was  built  in  Die  old  villiige  of  Le  Roy.  Tliis 
building  "served  as  schoolhouse,   I'liiiicli    and    |)iililii'   hall.     AI'tiT 


14-2  HISTORY  OF  MOWEU  COUNTY 

the  advent  of  the  railroad  and  the  building  up  of  the  new  village 
of  Le  Roy  this  was  sold  to  the  Lutheran  church  organization  and 
a  new  schoolhouse  was  erected.  Le  Roy  now  has  a  fine  high 
school  building.  District  63.  The  first  school  in  this  district 
was  taught  in  1857  by  Lydia  Bonestell,  in  a  small  frame  house, 
located  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  36.  Soon  afterward 
a  small  building  was  moved  from  Fillmore  county  and  located 
on  section  35.  Serena  Lytle  and  Mary  Prentice  were  early  teach- 
ers in  this  house.  Later  a  frame  building  was  provided  near  the 
same  site,  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  26. 

The  first  superintendent  of  schools  of  i\Iower  county  was  J.  B. 
Tollman.  He  was  appointed  by  the  county  commissioners,  Jan- 
uary 5,  1864,  at  an  annual  salary  of  $100,  to  serve  one  year,  from 
September  1,  1864.  He  served  until  1867.  Following  him  the 
superintendents  have  been :  Sherman  Page,  1867-69 ;  0.  T.  Otis, 
1869-70;  A.  S.  Pike,  1870;  J.  T.  Williams,  1870-72;  A.  A.  Har- 
wood,  1872-74;  E.  F.  Morgan,  1874-75;  N.  M.  Holbrook,  1875-77; 
A.  H.  Tuttle,  1877-81;  C.  D.  Belden,  1881-90;  Gertrude  Ellis, 
1890-1900:  Fannv  Gies.  1900-07;  Grace  B.  Sherwood.  1907. 


CHAPTER   XV 

ANECDOTES  AND  ADVENTURES 

First  Marriage — Hunting  and  Trapping— -Early  Days  in  Cedar 
City  —  Pioneers    of    Frankf ord  —  Frontier    Experiences    by- 
Jacob  S.  Decker — Independence  Celebration — Early  Days  in 
Lansing  by  0.  J.  Rhoades. 

To  some  historians  cold  facts  and  exact  dates  alone  are  in- 
teresting. Others  study  the  great  underlying  causes  of  the 
world's  movements,  and  are  interested  in  detailed  events  only 
as  they  constitute  a  visible  effect  of  these  eternal  causes.  But  to 
tlie  reader  of  local  history  nothing  is  so  interesting  as  the  remi- 
niscences of  the  old  settlers,  in  which  real  actors  in  the  stirring 
adventures  of  frontier  days  relate  for  the  benefit  of  posterity 
llioso  stories  and  anecdotes  that  form  so  intimate  a  jKU-t  of  the 
life  of  the  pioneer,  but  which  liiid  no  ))iacc  in  wi-itlen  records. 
In  preparing  the  "Hi.story  of  .Mower  County"  it  has  been  the 
aim  to  gather  as  many  ol'  llusc  I'cminiscences  as  possible,  and 
tliey  are  here  presented  for  the  perusal  of  the  present  and  future 
generations,  that  they  may  learn  here  the  sunshine  and  shadows 
ill  tlie  lives  of  those  wlio  l)l;izc(l  1li(>  trail  for  civilization  to  follow. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  143 

FIRST  MARRIAGE 

The  first  mari'iage  in  Mower  county  was  that  of  Caleb  Stoek 
and  Mary  Watkins,  Avigust  24,  1856.  The  golden  anniversary 
of  this  event  was  celebrated  in  Austin,  August  24,  1906,  and  on 
that  occasion  was  read  an  address  prepared  by  Mr.  Stock.  The 
address,  in  part,  Avas  as  folloAvs :  In  i\Iay,  1856,  a  company  was 
getting  ready  to  go  to  IMinnesota,  and  among  them  were  my 
friends  from  Burlington,  AVis..  conspicuous  among  them  being 
Mary  Watkins.  The  AYatkins  family,  father  and  mother,  five 
boys  and  three  girls,  were  starting  then  to  Mower  county,  Minne- 
sota, overland  with  prairie  schooners.  I  took  the  railroad  to 
the  Mississippi,  then  the  steamboat  to  Brownville,  then  the  stage 
to  Elliota  and  Frankford,  and  then  on  foot  over  the  prairie  to 
Austin.  "VYe  crossed  Dobbin's  creek  and  the  Cedar  river  and 
found  Austin,  only  a  few  log  houses  and  a  store,  Yates  &  Lewis', 
with  no  hotel.  I  took  my  first  meal  with  Father  Brown,  who 
was  living  in  a  tent  and  a  Avagon.  This  was  early  in  June,  1856. 
Mv.  Lewis  showed  me  around  and  took  me  down  to  see  friends, 
Phelps  and  Chandler,  who  were  boarding  with  Uncle  Eben 
JMerry.  Inquiring  for  the  friends  who  were  coming  by  schooner, 
I  learned  that  they  had  not  arrived.  Soon,  however,  we  heard 
that  the  caravan  was  in  camp  on  Rose  creek.  The  next  morn- 
ing after,  we  surprised  them  by  an  early  call.  They  were  glad 
to  find  a  haven  of  rest  after  six  weeks,  with  ox  team  over  wild 
prairies,  crossing  creeks  and  rivers  without  bridges.  There  were 
tvrenty-seveu  in  the  company.  Their  hotel  had  been  their  camp- 
i;]g  ground,  and  their  bill  of  fare  their  own  cooking  by  the  camp 
fires.  We  all  crossed  the  Cedar  river  at  Tiff's  ford,  and  here 
we  built  our  first  log  house.  There  were  no  shingles  in  the 
country  and  we  had  hard  work  to  find  boards  for  our  roof.  We 
found  some  at  Otranto,  Iowa.  We  could  get  no  lime  to  plaster 
with,  but  our  house  was  up,  and  the  next  move  was  to  get  a  wife. 
I  went  to  Austin  to  find  a  minister,  but  the  one  who  had  been 
there  was  gone.  This  fact  was  a  great  setback  to  me.  I  learned 
there  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  town,  'Squire  Smith.  I  found 
him  and  told  him  my  business.  He  thought  he  could  do  the  job 
correctly.  The  day  was  settled,  Augvist  24,  1856,  and  'Squire 
Smith  tied  the  loiot  so  tight  it  was  never  broken.  Father  Wat- 
kins  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  David  Watkins.  Caleb 
Stock  and  John  PJielps  erected  a  saw  mill  at  Cedar  City  in  1856, 
and  in  1857  Ave  added  a  run  of  burrs  to  grind  Avheat  and  corn. 

In  1856  the  AvintiT  Avas  the  most  severe  I  can  remember.  In 
1856  and  the  early  ])art  of  1857,  times  were  good  but  money 
failed,  and  the  iHttcr  part  of  1857  it  Avas  hard  to  get  it  at  from 
25  to   40   pel-   cent    interest.      The   crop   of   1857   Avas   a    failure. 


lU  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Scarcely  any  wheat  was  raised,  and  the  corn  was  frost-bitten. 
Supplies  came  mostly  from  West  Union  and  Auburn,  Iowa,  where 
Ave  secured  our  first  stock  for  housekeeping.  We  brought  the 
outfit  with  two  ox  teams  over  the  prairies  and  through  the 
streams.  In  1858,  the  spring  and  most  of  the  summer  were  very 
wet,  and  in  August  our  mill  Avas  washed  down  the  river.  Pro- 
visions were  very  scarce.  Streams  were  high,  and  we  could  not 
get  out  for  supplies.  We  were  nearly  destitute.  I  remember 
well  Avheu  we  started  with  five  teams  for  flour  and  corn  meal. 
Those  who  were  to  share  in  the  supplies  left  their  bags  with  old 
Mr.  Brown  at  the  store.  He  numbered  them  and  arranged 
them  in  order  to  be  filled  when  the  goods  came.  We  had  to  go 
nearly  to  Mississippi  for  our  goods,  and  some  families  lived  on 
little  but  fish  until  we  returned.  There  were  a  few  Indians  about 
during  our  first  years,  and  my  wife  was  very  much  alarmed 
lest  they  should  take  away  our  little  babe,  Ella. 

Our  early  markets  were  LaCrosse  and  McGregor.  We  had  to 
pay  $1  a  bushel  for  potatoes,  oats,  corn  or  Avheat.  The  first 
wheat  Avo  sold  we  drcAV  to  the  ]\Iississippi  and  sold  for  fifty  cents 
per  bushel.  Eggs  brought  four  cents  a  dozen,  dressed  pork  .$2.50 
per  hundred  in  ]\Ic6regor.  Cows  Avere  worth  $10  to  $20  each. 
Men's  AA-ages  Avere  from  fifty  cents  to  $1  a  day.  Money  still 
brought  25  per  cent  interest  in  1858-59. 

But  those  pioneer  days  have  passed  and  the  ox  cart  is  sup- 
planted by  more  modern  vehicles.  The  market  of  the  world  is 
at  the  end  of  our  telephone.  We  have  battled  Avith  fate  and 
with  the  elements  and  avc  noAV  enjoy  the  moniunents  that  our 
struggles  have  builded. 

HUNTING  AND  TRAPPING 

Tlie  folloAving  i'l'oiu  tlic  pen  of  S.  D.  ^lead,  Avhile  difl:'ering 
from  generally  accepted  historical  accounts,  is  nevertheless  in- 
teresting as  coming  in  evident  sincerity  from  one  Avho  claimed 
to  have  visited  the  present  site  of  Austin  in  1853.  The  "Austin 
Nickles"  spoken  of  therein  is  evidently  the  Austin  Nichols  Avho 
Avas  the  first  settler  on  the  present  townsite  of  Austin. 

'The  first  Avintc  innii  tliat  came  to  Aiistin  was  Austin  Nickles, 
wlio  <'niii('  as  a  Imiitcr  in  1lii'  fall  of  1852  from  his  home  in  Clay- 
ton county.  Towa.  'I'lie  next  fall,  1853.  he  came  back  to  this 
locality,  and  1  caiuc  with  him.  T  Avas  then  fourteen  years  old. 
Nickles  sflecti-d  a  claiui  enihracing  a  part  of  Avhere  Austin  now 
stands.  Thai  a\  inter  we  look  nine  ])uft"alo  skins  and  many  deer, 
mink,  otter  and  hcavei',  but  F  do  not  knoAv  hoAV  many.  I  do 
remember  that  Avhat  T  killed  Nickles  gave  me,  and  I  sold  them 
Avhen  T  reached  home  for  $190  in  gold.     I  got  one  elk  near  Avhere 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  145 

the  Mihvaukee  station  now  stands  that  measured  nine  feet  from 
tip  to  tip.  I  have  hunted  some  in  my  life,  but  I  was  never  in 
a  place  where  the  game  was  so  plentiful  and  where  such  a  great 
variety  was  to  be  found.  At  that  time  we  could  get  out  and 
kill  a  deer  in  an  hour  any  tin\e  in  the  morning  or  evening,  and 
we  did  kill  all  that  we  wanted.  Prairie  chickens  were  plenty, 
and  geese  and  ducks  could  be  found  in  any  place  on  the  river. 
Mink,  otter  and  beaver  were  plenty,  with  now  and  then  a 
panther,  but  the  latter  were  scarce.  Prairie  wolves  were  every- 
where. 

"The  next  year  (1854)  Nickles  sold  his  claim  and  went  to 
Blue  Earth.  The  next  year  (1855)  my  step-father  (Horace  Sil- 
ver) with  four  other  families  moved  to  Austin.  Robert  Autis, 
Lym.  Gifford,  Wilson  King  and  the  widow  Lockwood,  each  with 
their  families,  comprised  the  company,  but  the  latter  did  not 
settle  here.  The  rest  took  claims  along  Turtle  creek,  Autis  and 
King  near  the  mouth,  Gitford  about  due  south  of  the  present  fair 
grounds,  and  my  step-father,  Horace  Silver,  took  his  claim 
farther  up  the  creek,  near  the  large  boiling  spring  on  the  west 
side.  My  step-father  worked  for  Chauncey  Leverich  that  sum- 
mer in  a  saw  mill  which  stood  about  ten  rods  down  the  river  from 
wliere  the  grist  mill  now  stands,  and  on  the  same  side  of  the 
liver. 

"My  step-father  owned  oxen,  as  did  also  Autis,  and  with  these 
I  helped  break  the  first  ground  ever  broken  in  or  near  Austin, 
O.  "W.  Shaw's  residence  stands  on  the  east  side  of  the  first 
twenty  acres  of  land  ever  broken  in  Austin.  There  was  con- 
siderable heavy  timber  along  the  Cedar,  and  a  little  south  of 
where  the  packing  liouse  now  stands  there  was  a  maple  sugar 
camp  where  the  Indians  made  sugar.  The  Sioux  Indians  Jmd 
their  camp  on  the  ])ank  in  front  of  the  0.  W.  Shaw  residence, 
a  little  to  the  south.  In  the  winter  of  1855  and  1856  there  Avere 
about  200  Sioux  Indians  wintered  on  the  bottom  lands  in  back 
of  the  Gibson  hotel.  There  was  heavy  tiniber  there  then.  The 
Indians  and  the  whites  were  always  friendly." 

EARLY  DAYS  IN  CEDAR  CITY 

In  regard  to  early  d^iys  in  Slower  '•ounty,  my  wife  and  I 
drove  from  Burlington,  Racine  county,  Wis.,  with  a  team  of 
liorses,  to  find  a  home  in  the  territory  of  ^linnesota.  "We  arrived 
at  David  Chandler's  farm,  October  13,  1856.  In  the  spring  of 
that  year  I  was  married  to  Hannah  Phelps,  the  daughter  of 
-Jerimiah  and  Margarette  Phelps,  who  moved  to  iMower  county, 
from  Burlington,  Wis.,  with  tlie  following  families:  Thomas  Bor- 
mella,  George  and  AVilliam  Phelps,  Diadamy  and  ]\Iary  Phelps 


146  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

and  John  "Watkins  and  family,  composed  of  eight  sons  and 
daughters.  John  Phelps  had  preceded  them  and  was  on  the 
ground  with  E.  Merry  and  family,  David  and  John  Chandler, 
John  Osborne  and  family,  Caleb  Stock  and  a  Mr.  Smith.  The 
two  last  named  with  John  Phelps  composed  the  mill  company. 
Next  came  Welcome  Osborne  and  his  family,  also  Joshua  Welch 
and  Abijah  Pinkham  with  their  families.  These  with  a  Mr. 
McKee  and  Means  comprised  the  neighborhood  settlement  in 
the  winter  of  1856-57.  In  the  spring  came  Welcome  Chandler 
and  Andrew  Gemmel  and  tlioir  families.  Before  my  wife  and  I 
arrived,  Caleb  Stock  and  Mary  Watkins  had  spent  their  honey- 
moon. After  their  marriage  John  Phelps  went  back  to  Racine 
county,  AVisconsin,  and  tliere  married  a  INIiss  Lyon,  which  made 
another  very  valuable  addition  to  our  young  but  growing  society. 
Then  Timothy  Gosley  won  the  affections  of  Ann  Watkins.  These 
three  were  the  first  on  the  list  of  marriages  of  Cedar  City. 
Cedar  City  mill  Avas  pushed  to  completion  and  began  grinding 
in  due  time.  But  alas,  the  June  freshet  took  the  pioneer  mill 
down  with  its  rapid  current  and  our  young  city  grew  no  more 
and  like  many  western  towns  ceased  to  live. 

Several  houses  were  erected  by  these  families.  The  first 
covering  for  houses  were  indeed  novel,  hay,  bark,  rails  and  sod. 
Abraham  Dickerson  and  father  built  the  first  good  frame 
liouse  and  barn  in  the  community.  A  school  house  was  built  on 
land  owned  by  Caleb  Stock.  The  logs  and  other  timber  were 
donated  by  the  settlers,  and  it  was  built  in  the  spring  of  1857. 
Diadamy  Phelps  was  the  first  teacher;  she  afterward  married 
John  B.  Niles,  who  owned  Tefts  mill  property.  Stephen  and 
David  Chandler,  Solomon  Custer,  and  John  and  Evan  Watkins 
also  married  early  school  teachers  of  Cedar  City. 

The  earliest  birth,  I  think,  was  a  son  born  to  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs. 
«Tohn  Osborne.  The  second,  a  daughter  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alfred 
Cressey,  and  perhaps  the  third  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caleb  Stock. 

Perhaps  it  may  be  of  interest  to  record  the  style  of  preparing 
breadstuff  in  those  early  times  —  no  mills,  no  railroads  and 
pretty  nearly  no  food  at  times.  Personally,  I  went  to  Austin 
three  times,  with  money  in  my  pocket,  to  buy  flour,  and  finally 
succeeded  in  getting  eleven  pounds  of  flour  of  old  Mr.  Brown  of 
the  Log  Store.  When  corn  was  nearing  maturity  the  settlers 
took  tin  pans  and  punched  holes  through  the  bottom,  and  upon 
these  circular  graters  managed  to  get  enough  corn  grated  to 
furnisli  bread  Un-  a  time  till  they  could  do  better.  Welcome 
Chandler  hollowed  out  a  Iol''.  i)ut  it  in  the  ground,  attached  a 
sweep  similar  to  a  well  swcc])  and  by  means  of  a  pounder,  work- 
ing like  a  druggist  "s  nioi'tjM-,  succeeded  in  pounding  out  corn, 
wbicli    irood    Sistei-    ( 'Imiullei-    iiiiide    into    a    first-rate    "Johnny 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  147 

cake."  Others  resorted  to  their  coffee  mills  aud  ground  corn  in 
them. 

The  settlement  saw  close  times  financially  as  the  days  one  by 
one  rolled  away.  Money  was  hard  to  obtain,  and  the  money 
loaners  often  charged  as  high  as  three  or  four  per  cent  a  month 
for  loans  on  the  very  best  of  security. 

Among  the  first  of  the  good  men  to  preach  the  gospel  were 
Eevs.  Beach  and  Loomis.  The  traveling  peachers  of  that  time 
Avere  Revs.  Mapes  and  J.  L.  Dyer,  of  the  Methodist  denomination. 
Rev.  Dyer  held  a  "protracted  meeting"  in  the  log  school  house 
which  his  own  hands  helped  to  make.  He  had  a  voice  which 
could  be  readily  heard  a  half  mile  away.  Most  of  the  neighbor- 
hood were  converted  and  a  grand  reformation  followed.  I  did 
not  like  him,  he  was  too  rough ;  a  sample  of  his  talk,  by  way 
of  introduction  to  me,  was:  "You  are  going  to  hell,  ain't  you?" 
However,  I  attended  his  meetings  afterward,  and  now  honor 
him  for  his  work's  sake.  In  those  early  times  we  were  building 
and  found  it  best  to  use  oxen  and  carts  for  drawing  logs,  etc. 
One  night  I  took  my  young  wife  and  babe  on  one  of  these  rude 
carts  and  went  to  meeting.  On  going  home  we  had  to  cross  the 
creek,  and  my  wife  with  her  babe  in  her  arms  slipped  off  the 
cart,  but  she  held  on  to  the  babe  with  one  hand  and  to  the  cart 
with  the  other,  the  oxen  drawing  her  and  the  infant  to  the  shore. 

I  can  testify  to  the  good,  honest  work  of  Brother  John  L. 
Dyer,  the  pioneer  preacher.  God  honored  him  by  his  brethren 
of  a  frontier  conference  sending  him  as  a  delegate  to  the  general 
conference.  I  joined  afterwards  under  another  preacher  in 
charge. 

Such  are  a  few  of  the  notes  in  early  days.  Jeremiah 
and  M.  Phelps  had  four  sons  in  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  AVatkins  two, 
Essler  two  and  Chandler  one.  So  I  think  Cedar  City  and  her 
people  have  done  something  for  God  and  our  country  worthy  a 
place  in  the  history  of  Mower  county. — Alfred  Cressy. 

PIONEERS  OF  FRANKFORD 

]\Iy  father,  James  B.  Glover,  Avith  his  family  of  four  children, 
three  daughters  and  one  son,  moved  to  the  then  far  "West,  from 
Skancatels,  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.,  arriving  at  Frankford 
Minn..  June,  1856.  There  were  but  few  houses  to  be  seen  here 
at  that  time,  but  new  arrivals  were  quite  frequent  and  houses 
went  up  as  if  touched  by  magic  hand.  AYhere  in  early  morning 
would  be  a  bare  clearing  at  nightfall  the  gleam  of  a  lighted 
candle  could  l)e  seen  from  the  windows  of  some  rude  yet  cosy 
cabin  home,  showing  the  progress  of  a  single  day. 

The  first  church  in  iMower  county  was  built  here  tlie  Jiext 


148  niSTOIJY  OF  MOWEU  COUNTY 

year,  the  principals  in  the  work  being  Elders  Reeves  and  Wal- 
dron.  The  following  Avinter  it  was  formally  dedicated  as  a  house 
of  worship.  About  the  same  time  Frank  Teabout  built  the  first 
public  hall.  This  was  24x60  feet.  It  was  used  that  Christmas 
day  and  evening  for  a  ball,  over  100  couples  being  present.  Mrs. 
Heidel,  an  aunt  of  the  proprietor,  and  Henry  Metzgar  provided 
the  bountiful  supper  for  the  gay  and  happy  company. 

The  company  was  composed  of  all  classes,  from  Fillmore  and 
i\rower  counties.  Goodly  numbers  came  from  Austin  and  Chat- 
field.  The  music  was  furnished  by  our  own  home  pioneer  band, 
the  greater  part  of  Avhom  were  married  men  living  near  here, 
George  Hunt,  Samuel  ]Metcalf,  Hazard  Titus  and  Gideon  Sherman 
being  among  the  number  who  constituted  this  band. 

We  had  a  good  and  large  school  at  this  point  that  winter. 
It  numbered  about  seventy  pupils.  Professor  Hotehkiss,  of  Ober- 
lin,  Ohio,  was  the  teacher,  with  myself  as  his  assistant.  At  that 
time  we  had  the  county  seat  at  this  place  and  felt  quite  im- 
portant. But  the  county  seat  honors  were  taken  away  from  us, 
and  our  dreams  were  not  realized. — Mrs.  Matilda  Lamb. 


FRONTIER  EXPERIENCES 

At  the  time  of  my  arrival  in  Minnesota,  and  settlement  east 
of  Austin,  in  1856,  there  were  but  two  stores  in  Austin.  J.  B. 
Yates  and  V.  P.  Lewis  were  the  proprietors  of  one  and  A.  B. 
Vaughan  of  the  other.  One  was  located  on  the  corner  of  Mill 
and  Chatham  streets  and  tlie  other  was  south  of  where  J.  F. 
Fairbanks  now  has  his  warehouse.  A.  B.  Vaughan  was  post- 
master. Mr.  Day  had  a  blacksmith  shop  built  of  logs  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Water  streets.  Chauncey  Leverieh,  com- 
monly called  "Chance,"  liad  a  saw  mill  located  about  where 
A.  S.  Campbell's  mill  is  now  standing.  George  H.  Beemis  had 
a  shoe  store  on  the  corner  of  Chatham  and  ]\Iill  streets.  Frank 
Blank  had  a  shingle  machine  located  where  the  electric  light 
and  pumping  station  is  now  located.  There  was  a  log  hotel 
located  on  Water  street,  between  Franklin  and  Chatham  streets. 
At  the  time  T  ai'i-ivcd  there  were  no  clnirches  or  schoolhouses. 

Til  1h('  moiiUi  of  June,  on  a  beautiful  Sunday  morning,  we 
lieard  the  iir.st  sermon  in  Austin  preached  by  a  ^Methodist  min- 
ister iiauicd  Erastus  Mapcs.  Tlic  meeting  Avas  held  in  a  frame 
house  which  I\lr.  Levciidi  was  l)uilding  for  a  hotel.  In  August, 
Rev.  Stephen  Cook  arrived  in  vVustin  from  01)erlin,  Oiiio,  with 
a  commission  from  tlie  American  Home  Missionary  Society  to 
organize  a  Congregational  eluirch.  He  held  meetings  in  private 
houses  nntj]   Avinter.     Ijate  tliat   fall   the  town  people  erected  a 


HI  STORY  OF  MOWKU  COUNTY  14!) 

building  called  "Headquarters,"  foi-  a  store  and  mccliii>;'  place, 
and  for  day  school  and  Sunday  school. 

The  second  trip  I  made  from  home  after  arriving  in  Austin 
was  to  "Winona  with  two  yoke  of  oxen  for  lumber  for  this  "Head- 
quarters" building.  I  arrived  home  October  34  and  found  that 
the  prairie  fires  had  sAvept  the  whole  county  in  my  absence. 

During  the  summer  of  1856  I  joined  ox  teams  with  one  of  my 
neighbors  and  broke  about  fifteen  acres,  on  Avhieli  I  raised  some 
buckwheat.  In  December,  John  "Willson,  one  of  my  neighbors, 
joined  teams  with  me,  took  my  wood-shod  sled  and  started  Avith 
my  buckwheat  for  Preston,  Fillmore  county.  Arriving  at  Carri- 
mona,  we  found  a  grist  mill  and  exchanged  the  buckwheat  for 
flour.  "\Ve  obtained  wheat  flour,  corn  meal  and  shorts,  and  started 
for  home.  Ours  was  the  last  team  to  cross  the  prairie  between 
Frankford  and  Austin  that  winter.  The  road  between  Austin 
and  High  Forest  and  thence  to  ^\"inoua  was  kept  open  all  winter. 
The  county  seat  Avas  then  at  Frankford. 

In  the  spring  of  1857,  I  sold  my  two  yoke  of  oxen  and  took 
up  a  note  I  had  given  to  pre-empt  my  land.  Consequently  I  had 
no  team.  I  raised  corn  enough  that  season  to  trade  for  a  yoke 
of  oxen  with  John  Phelps.  In  the  summer  of  1857  I  exchanged 
work  with  mj"-  neighbors  and  had  sixteen  acres  broken.  In  the 
winter  of  1857-58  I  cut  and  split  oak  rails  enough  to  exchange 
with  George  N.  Coukey  for  fourteen  bushels  of  seed  wheat.  T 
sowed  the  wheat  in  the  spring  of  1858.  In  the  fall  I  cradled  and 
bound,  threshed  and  cleaned,  and  thus  secured  seven  bushels  of 
wheat  all  told.  In  the  spring  of  1859  I  sowed  that  seven  bushels 
and  never  raised  better  wheat.  That  same  spring  a  party  con- 
sisting of  James  T.  Sargent,  Hugo  ]\Iills,  John  Whalasky,  "Will- 
iam Baker  and  myself  went  to  Ilesper,  a  Quaker  settlement  in 
Iowa,  and  secured  flour,  corn  meal  and  middlings.  In  the  fall 
of  1860  I  went  to  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  for  flour.  This  time  I 
took  wheat  of  my  own  raising.  That  same  fall  I  exchanged  my 
yoke  of  oxen  and  a  small  stack  of  wild  hay  for  a  three-year-old 
Arabian  horse.  I  also  exchanged  120  bushels  of  wheat  for  a 
three-year-old  mare.  The  first  trade  was  made  with  James 
Carver  and  the  latter  with  Abraham  Lott.  Then  I  had  no  har- 
ness. I  worked  for  a  neighbor,  John  "Watkins,  and  took  a  mule- 
iron  tug  harness  for  pay.  This  harness  had  no  lines,  but  I 
bought  a  bell  cord  and  made  a  pair  of  lines  which  I  used  two 
years.  In  the  latter  part  of  December,  1862,  I  loaded  forty 
bushels  of  wheat  and  a  400-pound  dressed  hog  for  a  merchant  of 
Austin,  George  B.  Hayes,  and  started  for  Winona,  our  nearest 
wheat  market.  "When  about  luilf  way  between  Brownsdale  and 
Beaubien  Grove  the  tire  on  one  of  the  wheels  of  my  wagon 
liroke.     I  stopped  immediately.     There   1   was.  all  alone.     The 


150  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

around  was  frozen  hard  and  there  "was  no  snow.  But  fortune 
favors  the  brave.  The  porker  was  on  top  of  my  load.  I  took  the 
end  boards  out  of  my  wagon  box,  piled  up  the  wheat  sacks  as 
high  as  the  bottom  of  my  box,  slid  the  hog  out  on  sacks,  un- 
leaded the  balance  of  the  wheat,  and  then  took  the  broken  tire 
and  returned  to  Brownsdale,  where  I  had  it  set.  Then  I  went 
back  as  far  as  Mr.  Tanner's,  the  last  farm  house,  and  there 
stayed  all  night.  The  next  morning  after  breakfast  I  started  for 
my  load  of  wheat  and  pork.  "When  I  reached  the  spot  everything 
was  as  I  had  left  it,  and  the  prairie  Avolves  had  not  scented  the 
feast.  I  backed  up  to  the  pile  of  wheat,  slid  the  hog  in  the  box, 
reloaded  the  pile  of  wheat  and  made  another  start  for  Winona, 
Avhich  place  1  reached  Avithout  further  mishap. 

In  the  winter  of  1865-66,  I  think  it  was  in  January,  Obadiali 
Smith,  A.  V.  Ellis  and  myself  planned  to  start  on  a  Friday 
morning  for  Casson  with  wheat.  In  the  morning  it  looked  very 
stormy,  so  I  was  the  only  one  that  started.  I  arrived  in  Casson 
in  time  to  sell  and  unload  my  wheat.  That  night  it  snowed  all 
night.  I  started  for  home  the  next  morning.  The  roads  were 
badly  drifted.  When  I  came  to  the  last  farm  house  I  had  the 
farmer  go  with  me  and  start  me  across  the  lone  prairie.  After 
looking  around,  he  advised  me  to  go  back  with  him  and  stay 
until  Monday  morning.  This  was  Saturday  afternoon.  I  did 
so.  Monday  morning  was  cloudy  and  it  looked  like  snow.  There 
was  nothing  to  guide  me,  no  sun  Avas  visible,  and  it  Avas  not  less 
than  fifteen  miles  to  the  settlement  north  of  BroAvnsdale.  How- 
ever, I  started.  There  Avas  no  evidence  of  the  summer  road  to 
guide  me.  The  grass,  weeds  and  hazel  bushes  Avere  all  snoAved 
under.  The  railroad  had  been  finished  to  Casson  the  fall  ])efore. 
After  I  had  gone  about  tAvo  miles,  it  w^as  apparent  that  the  team 
was  lost.  I  stopped,  tied  the  lines  to  the  box,  dropped  on  my 
knees  and  prayed  to  the  Lord  to  guide,  the  horses  to  the  settle- 
ment on  the  other  side  of  the  prairie.  I  did  not  touch  the  lines, 
but  let  the  team  go  as  thej'  pleased,  and  did  not  hurry  them. 
In  the  afternoon  T  came  to  the  settlement  about  one  mile  north 
of  the  right  road.  I  Avas  very  happy  after  striking  tlie  right 
road.    That  is  the  only  time  I  Avas  ever  lost. 

In  February,  1865,  James  T.  Sargent,  George  N.  Conkey, 
Henry  Carter,  Isaac  N.  Peterman,  Hugh  IMills,  James  Mills  and 
myself  started  for  St.  Paul  Avith  loads  of  oats.  The  Avheeling 
was  good,  and  all  the  ground,  except  the  roads,  Avas  about  cov- 
ered Avith  snow.  We  sold  our  oats  in  St.  Paul  and  drove  across 
the  country  to  Minneapolis.  That  Avas  my  first  trip  to  the  TAvin 
Cities.  The  rest  of  tlie  parly  loaded  tlicir  wagons  Avith  lumber 
for  a  Methodist  chui'di.  1  loaded  mine  Avith  pine  siding  and 
flooring  to  finisli  an  addilioii  to  my  lionse. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  151 

May  5.  my  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  we  lost  every- 
thing except  AA'^hat  we  had  on  our  backs.  The  building  was 
insured  with  the  Madison  Mutual  of  Wisconsin  for  $300.  In  Au- 
gust of  the  same  summer,  I  took  a  load  of  wheat  to  Winona, 
accompanied  by  our  oldest  son,  Calvin.  We  camped  out  along 
the  way  and  slept  under  our  wagon  nights,  except  when  in  the 
city.  At  AYinona  we  sold  our  wheat,  purchased  a  carload  of  lum- 
ber,  and  shipped  it  by  rail  to  Rochester.  We  followed  the  train 
to  Rochester,  unloaded  the  lumber,  brought  a  load  home  and 
finished  the  house  in  time  to  move  in  November  16. 

My  wife  helped  me  in  all  my  work  until  the  boys  were  old 
enough  to  take  her  place.  With  heroic  fortitude  she  loaded  and 
stacked  hay  and  grain,  cut  corn,  dug  potatoes,  milked  the  cows 
and  did  her  housework.  My  Avife  and  I  are  charter  members  of 
the  Congregational  church  of  Aiistin,  Avhich  we  helped  to  organ- 
ize July  6,  1857.  We  also  had  the  pleasure  of  assisting  in  the 
celel)ration  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary,  July  6,  1907.  I  am  a  life 
member  of  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  a  life  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Home  IMissionary  Society,  a  member  of  the 
JMinnesota  Territorial  Pioneers'  Association;  helped  to  organize 
the  Austin  Co-operative  Creamery  Association,  and  Avas  its  first 
president;  was  president  of  the  Mower  County  Old  Settlers' 
Association  eighteen  years,  and  have  been  a  member  of  the  Aus- 
tin toAvn  board  for  a  number  of  terms,  as  well  as  town  treasurer 
and  a  justice  of  the  peace. — Jacob  S.  Decker. 

INDEPENDENCE  CELEBRATION 

M.  J.  Slaven  has  furnished  this  Avork  AA'ith  an  interesting 
account  of  an  early  Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  Rose  Creek. 
'"What  an  event  our  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration  was  to 
those  of  us  who  had  knoAvn  no  play  for  a  year!  It  was  the 
people  along  Rose  Creek  Avho  took  the  lead.  A  fcAV  days  before 
the  Fourth  we  called  our  neighbors  together  to  prepare  for  the 
coming  of  the  great  day.  Mrs.  Aaron  Draper  and  i\Irs.  Catherine 
Slaven  were  appointed  as  a  flag  committee.  They  procured  their 
OAvn  material  and  experienced  something  of  the  satisfaction  and 
joy  of  Betsy  Ross  at  the  wonderful  results  accomplished.  Mrs. 
Patrick  0']Malley,  Mrs.  Thomas  Smith,  Mrs.  Stephen  Sutton  and 
]\Irs.  AndrcAv  Robertson  planned  the  feast  and  the  men  AA'ent  at 
their  Avork  Avith  zeal.  At  sunrise  on  the  Fourth  the  sound  of 
Draper's  anvil  awoke  the  echoes  and  people  began  to  gather  at 
the  O'Malley  farm,  near  the  site  of  the  i)resent  village  of  Rose 
Creek.  People  came  from  Austin,  BroAvnsdale,  Frankford,  Le 
Roy,  Nevada,  and  in  fact  from  the  whole  length  of  Rose  Creek. 
AVhat  a  jolly  crowd  it  was  that  greeted  our  tiag,  Avhich  floated 


152  HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY 

from  the  top  of  an  oak  tree  which  had  been  stripped  of  its 
branches.  There  was  a  program,  of  course.  Thomas  Smith  read 
the  Declaration  of  Independence.  James  Slaven  delivered  the 
oration  and  then  came  a  bountiful  dinner,  followed  by  games  and 
races.  Then  the  tables  were  spread  again,  for  we  were  a  healthy, 
hungry  race,  and  though  not  epicurean  in  our  tastes  the  joys  of 
the  table  certainly  appealed  to  us.  As  evening  came  on  the 
older  people  prepared  to  go  home.  Not  so  the  younger  ones, 
who  clamored  for  a  dance.  The  Fourth  did  not  end  for  them 
until  the  dawn  of  the  following  day,  when  after  a  hot  breakfast 
they  were  obliged  to  start  for  home.  Perhaps  it  was  this  gath- 
ering more  than  any  other  which  promoted  a  feeling  of  interest 
in  one  another  among  the  people,  and  that  interest  has  not 
entirely  died  out,  as  witnessed  by  the  yearly  gathering  of  the 
steadily  decreasing  circle  of  those  who  are  privileged  to  call 
themselves  old  settlers." 

EARLY  DAYS  IN  LANSING 

Clymer,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  was  the  place  of  my  birth, 
September  17,  1845.  From  there  I  moved  with  my  parents  to 
Warren  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  stayed  six  years.  Then,  in 
the  fall  of  the  year,  our  family  started  for  Iowa  with  a  team. 
After  a  long  journey  we  reached  Maquoketa,  Jackson  county,  the 
night  before  Christmas.  Then  we  went  to  a  farm  near  where 
Delmar  Junction  is  now  located.  There  we  stayed  four  years. 
Then  we  changed  our  horses  for  two  yoke  of  oxen,  and  made  our 
way  to  Gundy  county,  Iowa.  We  arrived  there  in  May,  1856. 
We  did  not  like  the  place,  however,  and  in  August  of  that  year 
we  started  for  Minnesota.  We  found  a  place  that  suited  us  and 
on  August  25,  1856,  we  pitched  our  tent  in  what  is  now  section 
22,  Udolpho  township.  There  we  started  to  make  a  home. 
When  we  reached  here  father  had  two  yoke  of  oxen,  one  cow, 
and  thirty-five  cents  in  money.  The  third  day  after  we  arrived 
father  was  taken  ill  with  malaria  and  rheumatism  and  had  to  be 
helped  to  get  out  of  bed.  We  badly  needed  some  hay  cut  for 
the  winter  use  of  the  cattle.  I  mowed  what  I  could,  but  I  was 
barely  eleven  years  old,  my  eleventh  birthday  coming  in  Sep- 
tember of  that  year.  Mother  bunched  up  what  hay  I  could  mow 
and  then  we  hauled  it  and  stacked  it  around  some  crotches  and 
poles,  thus  making  a  place  to  sleep  in.  We  had  the  stove  in  a 
tent  made  of  the  wagon  cover.  We  had  an  early  frost  and  this 
killed  the  grass,  so  I  could  cut  no  more  hay.  Then  I  started  to 
cut  logs  for  a  house,  father  being  just  well  enough  to  get  out  and 
show  me  how.  Our  first  visitors  were  five  Indians  on  horseback, 
who  seemed  mucli  interested  in  al!  tluit  we  were  doing.     Later 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  153 

the  forest  fires  began  to  run.  I  secured  a  plow  and  plowed  some 
guards.  I  thought  this  made  us  safe,  but  one  windy  day  a  fire 
came  and  while  mother  and  I  were  getting  father  where  it  was 
safe  the  fire  jumped  the  guards  and  burned  everything  we  had, 
except  the  clothes  on  our  bodies,  and  even  those  clothes  were 
of  the  very  poorest.  I  went  out  and  found  the  frightened  oxen 
and  took  father  and  the  rest  to  one  of  the  neighbors,  where  we 
spent  the  night.  The  next  day  we  went  to  Austin  and  sold  one 
pair  of  oxen,  thus  securing  money  to  buy  provisions  and  clothes. 
While  we  were  gone  the  neighbors  had  been  about  and  gathered 
some  bedding  and  clothing  for  us,  so  with  what  we  purchased 
we  managed  to  get  along.  Some  of  the  men  from  Lansing  came 
and  cut  logs,  with  which  they  built  us  the  body  of  a  house,  one 
story  high.  We  laid  some  poles  across  and  a  neighbor  loaned  us 
a  tent  to  put  over  for  a  roof.  We  chinked  the  cracks  and  plas- 
tered the  logs  with  mud,  and  in  this  edifice  we  lived,  keeping 
the  cattle  in  the  other  end.  In  November  I  went  to  Brownsdale 
and  got  a  load  of  oak  timber  for  floors  and  doors.  Provisions 
were  scarce  and  high.  Corn  meal  was  $5  a  hundred  and  pork 
$15  a  hundred.  Flour  we  did  not  dare  even  think  of.  Winter 
set  in  early  and  very  cold.  We  had  to  sell  our  last  team  and 
wagon  to  get  food  and  clothing  for  the  winter.  In  the  spring 
we  wanted  to  get  some  breaking  done.  It  cost  us  $5  an  acre. 
Wages  were  fifty  cents  a  day,  when  one  was  fortunate  enough  to 
get  work.  Father  secured  the  use  of  two  yoke  of  oxen  for 
br,eaking  ten  acres  each.  Then  he  joined  with  another  man  who 
had  two  yoke  and  secured  a  twenty-four-inch  grub  plow  and 
broke  all  summer.  Thus  we  lived  through  the  summer.  I  drove 
four  yoke  of  oxen  and  father  worked  out  when  he  could  find 
anything  to  do,  in  the  meantime  doing  things  to  make  the  house 
more  comfortable.  Our  clothes  wore  out  and  mother  colored 
cotton  meal  sacks  with  bark  and  made  dresses  for  herself  and 
the  girls,  and  trousers  and  jumpers  for  father  and  me.  We 
killed  game  and  caught  fish  for  food,  and  had  one  cow  to  furnish 
milk.  The  second  winter  father  worked  at  burning  charcoal. 
He  also  had  some  traps  made  and  caught  animals,  from  which  he 
sold  some  fur.  W^ith  this  money  we  purchased  a  little  flour  and 
some  clothing.  In  the  spring  I  worked  four  days  for  a  bushel 
of  potatoes,  so  small  that  each  one  would  go  through  an  inch 
tiole.  But  they  made  good  seed  and  we  raised  good  potatoes, 
[n  the  spring  of  1859  father  had  $15,  which  he  had  received  from 
curs.  With  this  he  hoped  to  buy  a  hog,  but  the  man  who  brought 
ihem  in  from  Iowa  wanted  fourteen  cents  a  pound  and  would  not 
cut  one  up.  So  we  could  not  buy.  But  a  man  said  he  Avould 
sell  a  three-year-old  cow  for  $15,  so  we  brought  the  cow  home. 
This  we  traded  for  a  four-year-old   bull.     Soon   avo    j)urchased 


154  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

another  bull  at  Brownsdale  for  $17  and  broke  in  the  pair  to 
work  together.  We  had  a  wagon,  so  we  made  a  wooden  sled, 
which  had  to  answer  for  freight  and  pleasure.  Then  we  joined 
with  two  of  our  neighbors  and  broke  ten  acres  apiece.  One  of 
the  neighbors  had  a  stag  and  a  cow  for  his  team,  the  other  had  a 
good  yoke  of  oxen,  and  we  had  the  bulls.  In  the  spring  of  1862 
we  sowed  fifteen  acres  to  wheat  and  broke  some  more  land. 
August  9  we  commenced  to  harvest.  Father  cut  with  a  cradle, 
mother  raked  in  the  sheaves,  and  I  bound,  while  the  two  girls 
placed  it  in  shocks.  That  day  father  enlisted  in  Company  C, 
Ninth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantrj',  and  went  to  Ft.  Snelling, 
from  which  place  he  went  out  after  the  Indians.  Mother  and  I 
harvested  the  crop.  I  cradled,  mother  raken  in,  and  then  would 
carry  the  cradle  back  and  I  would  bind  it.  This  took  a  long 
time.  Father  came  home  on  a  furlough  and  helped  stack  it. 
Then  I  secured  a  threshing  machine  and  threshed  it.  We  had 
no  granary,  so  I  laid  iip  a  rail  pen  and  thatched  the  sides  and 
roof  with  straw  and  put  the  wheat  in.  We  needed  some  clothing 
and  desired  to  change  the  wheat  into  money.  So  we  had  to  get 
it  taken  to  Winona.  I  could  not  haul  with  my  team,  so  we  hired 
a  neighbor  to  take  a  load  for  us.  He  charged  twenty-five  cents 
a  bushel.  When  we  reached  Winona  all  he  could  get  for  it  was 
thirty  cents  a  bushel.  It  cost  seven  cents  to  get  it  threshed. 
So  he  took  it  to  the  Stewartville  mill  and  had  it  ground  into 
flour.  He  gave  me  half  the  flour  and  kept  the  bran  and  the 
shorts  to  feed  his  team.  That  is  the  way  I  made  money.  But  I 
got  enough  to  eat  and  managed  to  get  along.  Father  went 
south  with  his  regiment  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of 
Guntown.  Pie  was  starved  to  death  by  the  rebels  in  Milan 
prison.  I  stayed  in  Udolpho,  paid  for  the  place  and  took  care 
of  mother  and  furnished  a  home  for  the  girls  until  they  were 
married  and  had  homes  of  their  own.  Mother  died  January  1, 
1910.  I  have  never  had  time  to  get  married,  so  I  am  still  single. 
—0.  J.  Rhoades. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  155 

CHAPTER  XVI 

EARLY  AUSTIN 

City  Founded  at  the  Old  Water  Ford — Coming-  of  Austin  Nichols 
— Arrival  of  Chauncey  Leverich — Beginning  of  Settlement — 
Platting  the  Village — Pioneer  Days — Important  Events — Mur- 
der of  Chauncey  Leverich — Stories  of  the  Small  Beginnings 
of  What  Has  Become  an  Important  City. 

Austin,  the  county  seat  of  Mower  county,  is  situated,  broadly 
speaking,  in  sections  2,  3,  10  and  11,  in  Austin  township,  and 
sections  34  and  35,  in  Lansing  township.  The  exact  incorporate 
limits  are  as  follows: 

All  of  section  3 ;  the  north  half  and  the  southwest  quarter, 
and  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  2 ; 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  10 ;  and  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  11,  all  in  township  102,  range  18.  Also  the  south  half 
of  the  south  half  of  section  34,  and  the  south  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter,  and  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  35.  Also  a  strip  of  land,  40  feet  wide,  oE  from  the 
west  side  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
same  section  34.  Also  the  land  within  and  known  as  Oakwood 
cemetery,  being  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  the  same  section  34,  township  103,  range  18. 

The  city  is  three  miles  from  the  western  line  of  the  county  and 
midway-  north  and  south.  It  is  built  on  both  the  east  and  the 
west  banks  of  the  Red  Cedar  river,  which  raises  in  Dodge  county 
to  the  north  and  flows  south  into  the  state  of  Iowa.  Austin  was 
laid  out  in  the  fall  of  1855  by  Chauncey  Leverich  and  A.  B. 
Vaughan.  and  regularly  platted  in  the  spring  of  1856. 

FIRST  SETTLEMENT 

The  first  settler  on  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Austin  was 
Austin  Nichols,  who  located  here  in  1853.  He  sold  his  claim  in 
1854  to  Chauncey  Leverich. 

Chauncey  Leverich  was  a  young  man.  from  twenty-five  to 
thirty  years  of  age.  naturally  bright  and  ambitious,  with  an  eye 
to  business.  He  pre-empted  160  acres  of  land,  described  as  fol- 
lows :  The  south  one-half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  3, 
and  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  same 
section,  and  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  2.  The  latter  piece  of  hind  inclndcd  the  mill  site.  He 
immediately  commenced  building  a   saw   mill,   whieh   was  com- 


156  HISTOBY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

pleted  early  the  next  year.  He  started  in  business  with  good 
prospects,  but  his  career  was  suddenly  brought  to  an  end  in  1856. 

During  the  same  year,  1854,  the  following  named  came:  D.  J. 
Tubbs,  Benedict  Brown,  Robert  Dobbins,  David  L.  and  Willard 
Smith,  and  a  inan  named  Pinkham.  Late  in  1854,  or  early  in 
1855,  Winfield  Loveland  and  Francis  Stuhfell  came. 

D.  J.  Tubbs  was  born  in  Steuben  county,  New  York,  in  1825. 
On  coming  to  this  county  he  entered  and  bought  land  in  this 
vicinity,  but  continued  to  work  at  his  trade.  He  built  a  saw  mill 
in  1854  on  the  site  of  the  present  flouring  mill  of  Engle  &  Co.  lu 
1856  he  built  a  saw  mill  for  himself  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
south  of  Austin  on  the  Cedar  river.  These  were  among  the  first 
mills  erected  in  ]\Iower  county.  Mr.  Tubbs  remained  in  Austin, 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building,  and  became  a  substantial 
citizen. 

Benedict  Brown  was  a  son  of  Aloysius  Brown.  He  erected  a 
small  frame  building  near  Fay  R.  Smith's  residence  and  enter- 
tained travelers  for  a  time.  He  pre-empted  the  northwest  of 
section  3.  In  January,  1856,  he  sold  three  forties  of  this  land  to 
Yates  &  Lewis.  He  remained  a  resident  of  the  place  two  or 
three  years.  He  afterwards  engaged  in  farming  in  Lansing. 
In  1879  he  removed  to  the  Dakotas. 

Robert  Dobbins  claimed  the  southwest  of  section  3.  In  the 
fall  of  1855  he  sold  to  David  Oliver.  He  then  went  to  Lansing 
and  later  to  Clarksville.  Butler  county,  Iowa. 

David  L.  Smith  was  born  in  Genesee  county.  New  York,  Jan- 
uary 22,  1820.  In  1854  he  and  his  wife,  Emma  Tierney,  started 
in  a  prairie  schooner  to  seek  a  home  in  the  territory  of  Minne- 
sota. He  arrived  at  Chauncey  Leverich's  house  on  October  19. 
He  had  left  his  family  in  Fayette  county,  Iowa.  After  remaining 
here  two  weeks,  returned  for  his  family,  bringing  them  to  Mower 
county.  They  spent  the  winter  on  the  present  site  of  the  city  of 
Austin.  In  the  spring  of  1855  he  built  a  cabin  on  his  claim  in 
the  town  of  Lansing;  lived  there  a  few  months,  then  purchased 
eighty  acres  in  section  2,  town  of  Austin,  where  he  lived  ten 
years,  after  which  he  sold  and  bought  a  farm  in  section  5,  town 
of  Windom. 

Willard  Smith,  brother  of  David  L.,  spent  the  winter  of 
1854-55  in  Austin.  He  afterward  settled  in  section  2,  where  he 
resided  until  the  time  of  his  death. 

Pinkham  made  but  little  impress  upon  Austin,  and  after  a 
short  time  departed  without  leaving  even  a  record  of  his  first 
name  or  initials. 

Winfield  Loveland  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  purchased 
a  piece  of  land  now  occupied  by  ]Mrs.  G.  jM.  Cameron  and  there 
erected  a  set  of  log  l)uil(liiigs.     He  was  a   lover  of  fast  horses. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  157 

and  was  the  owner  of  a  running  horse  that  was  so  well  trained 
that  after  having  been  once  led  over  a  piece  of  road  he  would  go 
over  the  same  stretch  to  beat  another  horse  or  against  time 
without  a  rider.  Loveland  remained  here  but  two  or  three  years. 
After  his  removal  the  stable  which  he  had  used  was  taken  down 
and  moulds  for  making  gold  and  silver  coins  were  found  secreted 
between  the  logs.  It  was  remembered  that  he  had  several  times 
passed  counterfeit  money,  but  had  always  willingly  redeemed  it, 
and  thus  avoided  trouble. 

Francis  Stuhfell  was  a  Canadian  Frenchman.  He  purchased 
the  lot  later  occupied  by  Sylvester  Smith's  family.  He  erected  a 
shanty  and  made  shingles  for  a  time.  In  the  fall  of  1855  he  sold 
to  Sylvester  Smith  and  located  elsewhere.  He  went  away  with 
Loveland.     A  part  of  the  time  while  living  here  he  kept  a  saloon. 

SETTLERS  OF  1855 

The  people  who  spent  the  Avinter  of  1854-55  here  were  obliged 
to  subsist  to  quite  an  extent  on  wild  game,  which  was  quite 
abundant.  The  spring  of  1855  opened  with  brighter  prospects, 
quite  a  number  of  settlers  coming  that  year.  Among  those  that 
came  were  the  following:  George  and  Oliver  Bemis,  J.  B.  Yates, 
V.  P.  Lewis,  Sylvester  Smith,  Levi  Watrous,  Abe  Haveling  and 
"Wild  Cat"  Brown,  G.  W.  Mason  and  a  man  named  Hayes. 

George  Bemis  settled  on  the  lot  east  of  Sylvester  Smith's  place ; 
was  one  of  the  men  prominently  connected  with  the  "stealing  of 
the  county  seat."  He  was  an  honored  resident  of  the  county 
until  1869.  when  he  removed  to  Utah,  where  he  engaged  in 
mining.     His  death  occurred  there  in  August,  1884. 

Oliver  Bemis,  from  Maine,  in  1855  pre-empted  160  acres  near 
the  present  city,  built  a  shanty  and  started  breaking  the  land. 
The  following  year  he  sold  this  land  and  purchased  a  farm  in 
section  11.  Four  years  later  he  sold  this  place  and  bought  a 
farm  in  section  3,  Windom  township,  at  about  the  same  time 
starting,  with  his  brother  George,  the  first  shoe  store  in  Austin. 

J.  B.  Yates  and  V.  P.  Lewis  were  both  natives  of  York  state 
and  of  a  speculative  turn  of  mind,  and  were  engaged  in  business 
here  for  many  years.  Yates  continued  to  reside  in  Austin. 
Lewis  remained  here  iintil  1882,  when  he  removed  to  Hopkins, 
Mo.,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  trade. 

Sylvester  Smith  was  from  Canada.  He  purchased  Stuhfell's 
place.  He  snon  became  prominent  in  county  affairs  and  remained 
a  resident  of  Austin  until  his  death. 

Abe  Haveling  (or  Haling)  Avas  a  hlacksinith  by  trade,  was 
one  of  a  roving  disposition;  remained  here  but  a  short  time. 

"Wild  Cat"  Brown  was  a  frontiersman  of  the  roughest  type. 


l.-iS  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COU^'TY 

Civilizcitioii  did  not  seem  to  agree  with  hiiu,  so  he  left  iu  1856. 

G.  W.  Mason  purchased  an  interest  in  the  town  plat  from 
Leverich.  It  was  he  with  Vaughan  that  had  the  race  to  Frank- 
ford  to  beat  Yates  and  Lewis  and  get  their  plat  recorded  first, 
but  like  otliers  that  raced  with  the  same  parties  got  left. 

Levi  Watrous  was  from  Iowa  and  with  his  brother  had  a  claim 
in  section  12.  He  lived  here  about  two  years.  Afterward  he 
entered  the  ministry.  He  was  a  chaplain  in  the  army.  The  last 
heard  from  he  was  near  Elkader,  la.,  pastor  of  an  Adventist 
clnu'ch.  It  is  said  that  iu  the  spring  of  1855  Watrous.  Leverich 
and  ]Mason  were  one  day  sitting  under  a  tree  speculating  as  to 
the  future  of  the  place  and  during  the  conference  named  it 
Austin,  in  honor  of  Austin  Nichols,  the  first  settler.  The  place 
at  the  time  was  known  as  Leverich 's  mill. 

Hayes  was  generally  called  Black  Hayes,  to  distinguish  him 
from  G.  B.  Hayes.  He  was  a  speculator  in  land;  remained  here 
but  a  short  time. 


SETTLERS  OF  1856 

In  1856  the  following  named  were  among  those  who  came: 
J.  H.  McKinley,  Charles  Ferris,  George  E.  AVilbour,  Solomon 
Snow,  R.  L.  and  W.  S.  Kimball,  Orlenzer  and  Ormanzo  Allen, 
Joshua  L.  Davidson,  Hiram  L.  Coon,  G.  B.  Hayes,  D.  B.  Johnson, 
Jr.,  Aaron  S.  Everest,  G.  ]\I.  Cameron,  Colbert  C.  Hanehett, 
Loyal  AV.  Sjirague,  Dr.  J.  N.  Wheat,  Rev.  Stephen  Cook  and  his 
son,  John  F.,  Harvey  M.  Allen,  Samuel  Little,  S.  W.  Rice,  Luther 
S.  Morgan,  James  C.  Ackley,  Albert  Galloway  and  L.  N.  Griffith. 

J.  H.  McKinley  cMinc  early  in  Ihc  spring  and  purchased  a 
frame  bnilding.  which  he  opened  as  a  hotel,  the  first  in  the  place. 
He  managed  it  but  a  few  months,  when  he  sold  and  moved  to 
^Mitchell  county,  Iowa. 

Charles  Ferris  Avas  ]\lcKinley 's  son-inJaw.  He  came  at  the 
saiii(>  time  and  went  away  witli  him.  lie  was  a  carpenter  by 
traile. 

Solomon  Snow  and  George  E.  Wilbour  were  from  j\Iassachu- 
setts.  They  Ijonght  the  liotel  fi-oni  :McKinley  and  entertained 
travelers  three  years,  wlicn  Wilbour  returned  to  ^Massachusetts. 
In  1869  he  cam.'  back. 

R.  L.  and  W.  S.  Kimball,  natives  of  New  Hampshire,  came 
Ajn-il.     They    soon    opened    tiie   first    hardware 

Ormanzo  Allen  were  twin   hrotiu'rs,  natives  of 

•a me  iiere  from  AVisconsin.     The  former  was  a 

;t  to  locate  in  Austin.     He  practiced  here  until 

loved  to  ^lilan.  Rock  county,  AVis.,  where  he  since 


I'lM 

mi    Illinois 

in 

Sid 

iri'  in  the  j) 

lac 

Orlenzer  a 

lid 

Yd 

rk  slate,  ai 

id 

I'll 

ysicifin,  the 

fii 

18' 

(■(),  when  he 

m- 

IIlSTOh'Y  OK  MOWKK'  COUNTY  15!) 

died.  Ormanzo  was  a  lawyor  by  profession,  lie  caiiu"  in  tlie 
month  of  July  and  lived  here  luitil  his  death. 

Joshua  L.  Davidson  was  born  in  New  Hanii)shii-e,  in  Deeeniber. 
1812.  AVhen  a  lioy  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Allei^heny 
eouiity.  New  York,  in  the  town  of  New  Hudson,  near  Cul)a.  lie 
married  in  his  young  manhood  Phoebe  Ann  Woodford,  who  was 
own  cousin  to  Lucius  Robinson,  ex-governor  of  New  York.  Fi\e 
or  six  years  after  their  marriage  they  moved  West,  settling  in 
Lake  county.  Illinois,  near  Chicago.  He  there  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. xVfter  four  years  there  he  removed  to  Rockford,  111.  This 
was  about  1851,  and  he  remained  there  till  1855,  during  wliich 
time  he  made  several  trips  into  the  great  Northwestern  territory, 
of  which  Minnesota  is  now  a  part.  In  the  spring  of  1855  he  came 
to  Winona.  Minn.,  where  he  purchased  a  large  interest  in  the 
town  site  of  that  city.  His  wife  died  the  spring  he  left  Rockford. 
1855,  and  November  24,  1856,  in  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.,  he  married 
his  second  wife.  Mrs.  H.  Attilla  Albro.  In  the  early  spring  of 
1856  he  came  to  Austin  and  bought  large  interests,  among  which 
was  the  land  known  as  ''Davidson's  addition  to  Austin."  He 
was  a  speculator  in  real  estate  and  a  busy  worker  at  whatever 
his  hands  found  to  do.  He  moved  his  family  to  Austin  in  the 
spring  of  1857,  having  already,  in  company  with  John  F.  Cook, 
D.  M.  V.  Stuart  and  11.  C.  Bolcom,  built  the  first  frame  building 
of  any  size.  This  was  known  as  the  "Headquarters."  The 
pine  lumber  used  in  the  erection  of  this  old  landmark  was  hauled 
from  Winona,  a  distance  of  nearly  a  hundred  miles.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  built  the  Davidson  House — the  second  hotel  of  the 
place.  He  leased  this  property  until  the  last  year  of  his  life, 
when  he  operated  it  himself.  I\Ir.  Davidson  was  deacon  of  the 
Austin  church  from  the  time  of  its  organization  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  February  27,  1873.  He  donated  the 
lots  upon  which  the  Congregational  church  now  stands  at  Austin. 

Hiram  L.  Coon  was  a  physician.  He  remained  but  a  short 
time. 

G.  B.  Hayes  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  He  was  the 
leading  merchant  of  Austin  for  somi^  years. 

D.  B.  Johnson,  Aaron  S.  Everest  and  G.  M.  Cameron  weie  all 
lawyers  liy  profession.  Tlie  two  foi'mei-  wci-e  natives  of  York 
state,  the  latter  of  Canada. 

Colbert  C.  Hanchett  and  Loyal  W.  Sprague  cauie  fi-om  Wis- 
consin and  ciigagcd  in  mercantile  trade,  in  \\liicli  tlicy  contiiuied 
anout  tlii'ce  years.  Ilanchclt  was  aftci'ward  in  tiic  army  as  a 
sutler.  He  died  in  tiic  South  during  tiic  war.  'I'iie  last  licai'd 
from  Sprague  he  was  at  Whitewater,  AVis. 

J.  W.  Wheat  was  a  native  of  New  Ilampsiiire;  a  physician. 

James  C.  Ackly  pui-cliascd  a  oni'-fourth  interest  in  the  village 


160  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

plat.  He  afterward  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade.  After 
the  war  he  moved  to  southern  Missouri  and  later  to  Atchison, 
Kan.,  where  lie  died. 

Albert  Galloway  was  born  in  the  town  of  Newburg,  Orange 
county,  N.  Y.,  October  6,  1822.  In  1856  he  started  for  Minne- 
sota, intending  to  locate  at  Minneapolis.  ^Yhile  on  the  boat 
between  Dunleith  and  Winona  he  met  friends  who  induced  him 
to  go  to  Chatfiield  with  them.  They  started  from  "Winona  on 
foot  and  walked  to  Chatfield.  After  a  short  stop  there  they  pro- 
ceeded on  their  journey  and  walked  to  Frankford.  He  there 
procured  a  ride  to  Austin.  This  was  in  the  fall  of  1856.  He 
immediately  pre-empted  a  claim  in  section  17,  town  102,  range 
18.  He  proved  up  on  that  claim  in  November  of  that  year  and 
engaged  diiring  the  following  winter  as  clerk  in  Hanchett  & 
Sprague's  store.  In  1857  he  formed  a  partnership  with  D.  R. 
Johnson,  Jr.,  and  engaged  in 'mercantile  business.  He  had  cut 
some  logs,  which  he  sawed  at  Leverich's  mill,  and  erected  the 
store  building.  The  lumber  for  siding  and  floor  he  drew  from 
Winona.  Galloway  &  Johnson  dissolved  partnership  about  one 
year  later,  after  which  Mr.  Galloway  continued  in  business  alone, 
carrying  a  good  stock  of  goods.  He  remained  in  business  until 
1868. 

L.  N.  Griffith  was  born  in  Allegany  county,  New  York,  No- 
vember 18,  1824.  He  removed  when  a  child  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio.  He  was  postmaster  of  Austin  postoffice  from  1857  to  1858, 
and  was  also  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years. 

Others  that  were  known  to  have  been  here  as  early  as  1856 
were  Dennis  Crandall,  John  E.  Hallett,  Samuel  Wheeler,  C.  P. 
Carpenter,  Charles  and  George  Bodle,  J.  M.  V.  Stuart,  John  M. 
Fleming,  A.  W.  Billings. 

John  E.  Hallett  engaged  for  a  time  clerking  in  Yates  &  Lewis' 
store. 

J.  M.  V.  Stuart  and  John  M.  Fleming  were  from  Canada. 
The  former  had  money  to  invest  in  land.  After  two  or  three 
years  he  moved  to  Kansas.  Fleming  was  a  young  man  with  a 
good  education.  He  was  for  a  time  deputy  register  of  deeds. 
He  remained  a  resident  of  Austin  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
whicli  occurrrcd  in  an  early  day. 

Charles  Bodle  remained  here  two  or  three  years,  during  which 
time  lie  drove  stage. 

C.  P.  Carpenter  was  also  a  stage  driver.  Two  or  three  years 
later  he  went  back  to  New  Hampshire,  where  he  lived  a  fcAV 
years.    Then  returned  to  Austin,  where  he  died. 


Ill  STORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  IGl 

FIRST  EVENTS 

The  first  man  to  locate  in  the  vicinity  of  Austin  was  "Hunter" 
Clark,  who  built  a  log  cabin  near  the  grounds  of  Oakwood  ceme- 
tery in  the  fall  of  1853.  The  first  frame  house  in  Austin  was 
erected  by  Chauncey  Leverich,  in  the  autumn  of  1855.  In  1866 
the  first  brick  dwelling  house  in  town  was  the  Congregational 
parsonage,  corner  of  Maple  and  St.  Paul  streets.  The  second 
by  J.  B.  Y''ates,  corner  of  Kenwood  avenue  and  Mill  street.  The 
bricks  were  made  in  Austin  by  Y^ates  &  Lewis,  who  started  the 
first  brick  yard.  The  first  white  child  born  in  Austin  was  Austin 
Bemis,  son  of  George  H.  and  Eleanor  Merrick  Bemis,  born  No- 
vember 17,  1855.  The  second  child  born  in  the  place  was  Carrie 
]\I.  "Wheat,  daughter  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  J.  N.  Wheat.  She  was 
born  December  6,  1856.  She  became  the  wife  of  E.  G.  Bascorab, 
of  Rochester,  Minn.  The  first  piano  owned  in  the  city  was  pur- 
chased by  Dr.  J.  N.  Wheat.  The  first  church  organ  was  played 
by  Mrs.  Johnson,  at  the  Methodist  church,  in  1863.  The  first 
brick  business  house  in  Austin  was  erected  in  1866,  by  Harlan 
Page,  for  a  bank,  with  laAV  offices  above.  This  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1869,  and  the  present  First  National  Bank  building  erected 
on  its  site.  The  first  goods  were  sold  by  A.  B.  Vaughan,  in  1855. 
George  H.  Bemis  ran  the  first  shoe  shop.  The  first  death  within 
the  place  was  that  of  Chauncey  Leverich,  in  the  early  fall  of 
1856.  Old  settlers  declare  that  David  Oliver  broke  the  first 
ground  on  the  forty  acres  now  platted  and  known  as  "Parker  & 
Brown's  addition  to  Austin." 

EARLY  DAYS  IN  AUSTIN 

Judge  Ormanzo  Allen,  some  years  ago,  in  an  address  before 
the  Old  Settlers'  Association,  admirably  summed  up  the  early 
histoiy  of  Austin  in  the  following  words  :^ 

In  the  year  1853  the  territory  embraced  in  Mower  county  was 
surveyed  into  townships  and  seetionized.  Prior  to  that  time 
and,  as  for  that  matter,  several  years  thereafter,  Mower  county 
was  the  home  and  hunting  grounds  of  the  wild  Indian,  and  the 
early  settlers  of  Mower  county  have  seen  them  in  their  native 
independence  as  they  have  been  by  scores  in  their  teepees  and 
wigwams  along  the  Cedar  river ;  and  many  of  you  have  seen 
them  in  their  native  dependence  as  they  have  begged  for  bread 
in  your  houses,  where  they  have  entered  \inannounced  and  un- 
invited, and  you  have  heard  their  simple  language. 

In  the  fall  of  1852  some  camps  were  made  along  the  Cedar 
river  by  trappers  from  Iowa,  but  were  al)andoned  in  tlie  follow- 
ing wintiM-.     In  thi'  fall  of  1853,  near  where  Oakwood  cemetery 


162  HISTOKY  OF  MOAVEE  COUNTY 

now  is,  a  man  by  the  name  of  "Hunter"  Clark  settled  and  built 
there  the  first  log  house  in  the  eastern  part  of  Mower  county. 
About  this  time  came  Austin  Nichols,  who  built  a  log  house  just 
back  of  where  Judge  Cameron's  house  afterward  stood.  Austin 
was  named  in  honor  of  tliis  first  settler  on  the  to-\vn  plat  of  Aus- 
tin. Austin  Nichols  soon  moved  west.  That  same  winter  of 
1853-54  and  in  the  spring  of  1854  other  settlements  were  made 
along  the  Cedar  river  and  Deer  creek  and  loAva  river,  Lewis 
Patchin  being  among  the  number  of  settlers  along  Deer  creek. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  3854,  and  in  the  year  1855,  set- 
tlers began  to  come  in  from  Iowa  and  Wisconsin,  among  whom 
were  Alanson  B.  Vaughan,  who  settled  at  Lansing;  John  Rob- 
inson, who  settled  near  High  Forest ;  John  Tift,  who  settled  eight 
miles  south  of  iSustin;  Chauneey  Leverich,  who  bought  out 
Austin  Nichols;  Abraham  8.  Lott,  C.  H.  Huntington,  James  and 
Return  B.  Foster,  who  all  settled  four  or  five  miles  .south  of 
Austin  along  the  Cedar  river.  September  14,  1855,  the  first  land 
was  taken  and  proved  upon  by  Chauneey  Leverich,  Jeremiah  B. 
Yates  and  Velorous  P.  liewis.  Sylvester  Smith,  Henry  and  Will- 
iam Baudler  and  many  others  came  this  year,  1855. 

During  the  year  1856  hundreds  came  to  Austin  and  ]\Iower 
county,  and  among  them  your  obedient  servant.  So  that  at  the 
close  of  the  year  1856  there  were  estimated  to  be  600  people  in 
Mower  county  and  abcnit  100  people  in  Austin. 

The  first  deed  for  the  conveyance  of  real  estate  in  Mower 
county  is  now  on  file  at  the  office  of  the  register  of  deeds  of 
Goodhue  county,  in  the  city  of  Red  AVing.  Many  deeds  were 
filed  and  recorch^d  in  Houston  county,  and  several  years  ago 
William  Carey  Snow,  then  deputy  register  of  deeds  for  Mower 
county,  went  to  Caledonia  and  copied  such  deeds  upon  our 
records. 

The  first  minister  tluit  ever  preached  a  sermon  in  Austin  Avas 
the  Rt^v.  Ml".  IMapes,  then  stopping  f(n'  a  sliort  time  near  Browns- 
dale.  Following  close  on  to  this  was  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  ^Mr. 
Phelps.  These  sermons  were  l)oth  by  Methodist  ministers,  and 
botli  preached  in  the  Snow  &  AVill)our  hotel.  Rev.  Stephen  Cook, 
John  F.  Cook's  father,  a  Congregational  minister,  was  the  third 
person  to  i)i'c;icli  in  Austin.  lie  preached  during  August,  1856, 
and  tlic  succecdiim'  iVw  moutlis  in  a  small  house,  then  iised  as  a 
schoolroom,  and  on  1lu"  spot  wlici-e  Tliomas  Riley's  dwelling  Avas 
later  en-tcd.  Duriiit:'  1hc  winter  of  1856-7,  Rev.  E.  F.  Gurney 
and  Steplu'n  Cool^  prcjirlicd  in  pi'ivate  liouscs  about  town  as  they 
were  invited. 

The  first  sdionl  in  Ausliii  was  laugiif  by  Alaria  Vauglian  in 
a  log  bouse,  whicii  was  afterwards  occupied  by  yours  truly 
and  liis  wilV   lor  a   (iwcUing  house  and  stood  on  the  north  side 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWE]J  COUNTY  16a 

of  Water  street,  where  James  Anderson's  was  later  erected.  The 
second  school  was  taught  by  one  Sarah  Berais,  sister  of  Oliver 
and  George  Bemis.  The  third  by  Kate  Conkey,  sister  of  George 
N.  Conkey.  Both  these  schools  were  located  in  a  small  building 
where  Thomas  Riley's  dwelling  house  was  later  erected.  The 
fourth  and  last  primitive  school  was  taught  in  the  winter  of 
1856-7  by  a  young  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Saxon,  the  pay- 
ment of  whose  wages  caused  the  arrest  and  sale  of  several  thou- 
sand shingles,  by  your  most  obedient  as  district  clerk,  belonging 
to  two  merchants  whose  names  I  forbear  to  mention.  Those 
young  merchants  severely  threatened  that  faithful  clerk  of  the 
school  district  with  a  long  and  tedious  lawsuit,  but  the  suit  has 
never  come  oflP  yet,  as  I  have  heard.  The  first  schoolhouse  built 
in  Austin  was  later  occupied  and  used  as  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

The  first  ])arties  married  in  the  county  were  Caleb  Stock  and 
^lary  "\Yatkins.  This  was  in  1856,  Sylvester  Smith,  a  justice  of 
the  peace,  officiating.  The  first  birth  was  that  of  Austin  Bemis, 
son  of  George  and  Eleanor  Bemis,  in  the  year  1855.  The  first 
death  was  that  of  Mary  Robinson,  of  High  Forest,  daughter  of 
John  Robinson,  in  the  year  1855.  The  first  town  site  recorded 
was  the  town  of  Austin,  M^hich  was  partly  surveyed  and  platted 
by  Yates  &  Lewis  and  is  now  Y''ates  &  Lewis'  addition  to  Austin. 
Then  followed  the  village  of  Au.stin. 

Several  once  live  and  famous  town  sites  have  long  since 
passed  in  their  chips.  I  refer  to  the  city  of  Madison,  ten  miles 
north  of  here  on  the  Avest  side  of  Cedar  river,  which  once  had  its 
hotels,  stores  and  saw  mill.  I  refer  also  to  the  city  of  Two  Rivers, 
one  mile  and  a  half  south  of  here,  at  the  confluence  of  the  Turtle 
and  Cedar  rivers,  which  6nce  had  a  famous  hotel,  kept  by  Robert 
Autis,  and  for  a  time  bid  fair  to  eclipse  Aiastin.  I  refer  also 
to  Cedar  City,  six  miles  south  of  here,  wlijch  once  had  its  saw  mill 
and  its  flour  mill,  and  Justice  Meanes,  before  whom  long  suits 
at  law  were  wont  to  be  tried  in  ancient  days.  But  the  floods  of 
August,  1858,  swept  out  the  last  vestige  of  that  city.  I  refer 
also  to  Troy  City,  eight  miles  south  of  here,  which,  unlike  its 
predeees.sor  of  ancient  lore,  never  had  any  wooden  horses  to 
l)eguile  the  unsuspecting  and  overcredulous,  but  it  had  its  hotel 
and  saw  mill  and  grist  mill,  which  the  floods  of  1858  and  finan- 
cial reverses  swept  away.  There  were  also  some  misadventures 
upon  the  east  side  of  the  county  in  founding  cities,  like  Frank- 
ford  and  old  LeRoy,  which  have  nearly  faded  oiit. 

The  first  frame  house  built  in  the  county  was  built  by  Chaun- 
cey  Leverich  on  lot  5,  in  block  2,  in  the  village  of  Austin,  near 
where  the  dwelling  house  of  James  T.  Sargent  was  later  erected. 
By  so  doing  the  Leveriehs  were  accused,  at  that  time,  of  putting 


164  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COr>s'TY 

on  "airs,"  •which  frame  house  long  since  went  down  before  the 
corroding  tooth  of  time.  The  first  saw  mill  built  in  the  county 
was  built  by  Chauncey  Leverieh  in  the  year  1855,  where  Eugle's 
was  later  erected. 

The  first  newspaper  ever  published  in  the  county  was  by 
David  Blakely  in  Austin  in  the  fall  of  1858,  called  the  ]\Iower 
County  Mirror.  Blakely  started  this  paper  in  consideration  of 
being  elected  to  the  lucrative  office  of  register  of  deeds  of  Mower 
county.  He  published  this  paper  for  about  one  year,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rufus  K.  Crum,  Avho  published  the  paper  for  about 
another,  at  which  time  the  paper  was  removed  to  Rochester, 
]\Iinn.  About  four  months  thereafter  B.  P.  Jones  commenced  the 
publication  of  the  Courier,  which,  by  various  devices,  was  con- 
tinued for  some  two  years,  when  Jones  went  into  the  United 
States  service,  and  in  July,  1863,  the  Mower  County  Register 
•was  started  by  Herman  R.  Davidson,  just  out  of  Oberlin  college, 
and  son  of  Joshua  L.  Davidson,  who  published  the  paper  for 
about  one  year  and  until  his  death,  when  C.  H.  Davidson  con- 
tinued the  publication  of  the  paper.  Then  came  the  Transcript 
and  other  papers. 

The  hasty  glance  Avhich  we  have  taken  contrasting  the  present 
with  the  past  shows  that  IMower  county  has  indeed  made  great 
progress  in  every  material  and  A-ital  matter  pertaining  to  and 
affecting  the  interests  and  the  true  interests  of  her  citizens,  and 
that  Mower  county  is  well  abreast  with  other  counties  in  our 
state  in  her  mechanical  and  agricultural  interests,  as  well  as 
schools,  churches,  railroads,  buildings,  bridges  and  every  in- 
ternal improvement  calculated  to  build  up  and  develop  the 
wliole  country.  ,  , 

HEADQUARTERS 

In  the  winter  of  1856-57,  the  building  known  as  Headquarters 
was  built.  It  was  built  by  Joshua  L.  Davidson,  J.  F.  Cook, 
J.  M.  V.  Stuart  and  H.  C.  Bolcom.  It  was  located  on  Main  street. 
The  lower  story  was  used  as  a  store  for  many  years.  The  upper 
story  was  all  that  can  possibly  be  meant  by  the  word  "head- 
quarters." Within  tliis  building  the  Mirror,  the  first  paper  in 
Mower  county,  was  started  by  David  Blakely,  and  its  newspaper 
honor  did  not  close  till  it  had  been  used  as  the  office  of  the  INIin- 
nesota  Courier,  the  Register  and  Transcript,  thus  being  the  birth- 
place of  four  of  Mower  coiinty's  solid  journals.  The  first  court 
ever  held  in  Mower  county  convened  here.  It  was  also  used 
for  school  and  religious  purposes.  Some  of  the  early  settlers 
will  remember  how  the  pioneers  came  in  from  the  country  with 
ox-   tenms  to   worsliip   at   tliis  place.     There   were  the   old   and 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  165 

young,  and  among  the  number  might  have  been  seen  pretty 
maidens  with  their  shaker  bonnets,  and  sometimes  in  their  bare 
feet.  This  was  also  the  place  for  holding  all  the  public  gather- 
ings, festivals,  dances  and  other  events.  Could  its  walls  but 
speak,  what  a  tale  it  would  tell  of  days  long  since  passed  into 
oblivion.    The  Austin  National  Bank  now  occupies  the  site. 

OLD  TERRITORIAL  ROAD 

In  the  early  fifties  of  the  last  century,  a  half-broken  trail 
wound  its  way  from  the  Iowa  state  line  to  what  are  now  the 
Twin  Cities.  In  time  the  trail  became  known  as  the  territorial 
road.  At  one  point  it  made  an  abrupt  turn  to  take  advantage 
of  a  ford  in  a  beautiful  stream  that  bubbled  and  gurgled  over 
pebbles  and  ever-shifting  sand.  Along  the  trail  and  down  to 
the  ford  came  army  horses  and  mules  to  plunge  fetlock  deep  and 
thrust  their  dust-filled  nostrils  in  the  cooling  water.  Here  the 
troopers  used  to  tarry  on  their  way  through  the  Northwest. 
Here  emigrants  in  canvas-covered  wagons  rested  while  their 
tired  oxen  browsed  on  the  rich  herbage.  The  Sioux  from  his 
tepee  on  the  banks  watched  the  ever-increasing,  never-ending 
tide  of  caravans  that  were  to  crowd  the  red  men  toward  the 
setting  sun.  Trappers  of  the  mink  and  of  the  otter,  and  hunters 
of  the  deer,  came  and  pitched  their  tents  beneath  the  cotton- 
woods. 

In  the  meantime  came  Austin  Nichols.  Others  followed.  Then 
came  Chauncey  Leverich.  He  came  to  the  crossing  of  the  Avaters 
on  his  way  to  the  Northwest,  where  he  sought  the  fur-bearing 
creatures  of  forest  and  stream.  Standing  on  the  banks  of  the 
Cedar,  he  said:  "Here  will  I  pitch  my  tent,  here  Avill  I  found  a 
city."  Here,  therefore,  the  city  was  built  upon  the  bank  of  the 
Cedar,  whose  waters  once  swept  noisily  through  this  valley  to 
join  the  far  away  Mississippi,  now  harnessed  for  the  needs  of 
man,  forms  a  lake  dotted  with  islands,  among  which  dart  the 
swiftly  driven  launches  of  pleasure  seekers.  Along  the  banks 
of  the  river,  parks  are  laid  out,  not  to  spoil  but  to  preserve  the 
wildness  of  spots  which  nature  made  lovely  in  wanton,  reckless 
prodigality.  There  are  some  places  where  it  would  seem  that 
nature  had  set  out  to  make  more  beautiful  than  any  other  spot 
some  places  where  she  seemed  to  have  worked  to  display  what 
the  poet  has  called  "her  wilder  majesty."  Aeons  of  time  she 
spent  to  enrich  the  soil  and  then  set  the  deep  and  everlasting 
springs,  some  to  pour  forth  like  fountains,  some  mere  trickling 
streams  of  liquid  crystal  to  flow  from  the  black  loam,  others 
she  set  to  form  deep  pools  and  put  in  perpetual  motion  the  sil- 
very sands  to  roll  about  the  bottom  as  thougli  blown  by  some 


166  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

spirit  of  the  deep.  luto  the  soil  she  scattered  with  a  prodigal 
hand  the  seed  of  a  thousand  flowers  and  grasses  that  the  land 
might  flow  with  milk  and  honey.  After  they  who  spied  out  the 
land  had  returned  with  the  grapes  of  Esehol,  others  came  to 
this  goodly  land.  The  pioneer  followed  the  trail  of  the  trappex\ 
The  lowing  of  the  kine  was  heard  where  the  wolf's  long  howl 
had  echoed  down  the  flights  of  years.  The  preacher  came  to 
plant  the  cross  where  the  Indian  had  pitched  his  wigwam.  The 
teacher  came  and  the  schoolhouse  was  set  like  a  lamp  upon  a 
hill.  The  railroad  supplanted  the  trail  itself  and  the  electric 
spark  told  that  Austin  was  born  on  the  spot  where  Chauncey 
Leverich  stood  when  he  declared  to  his  trappers  fifty-three  years 
ago,  ' '  Here  Avill  I  build  a  city. ' ' 

That  was  over  half  a  century  ago.  The  old  ford  is  no  more. 
The  rapids  above  it  are  harnessed  and  the  wheels  they  turn  grind 
the  grain  that  grows  where  the  hunter  lay  in  wait  for  the  buffalo 
and  deer.  The  trapper  comes  no  more  to  the  stream,  for  he  has 
passed  on  with  the  Indian,  the  mink  and  the  otter.  The  terri- 
torial trail  has  become  a  legend  with  which  the  old  settlers  love 
to  beguile  an  hour  with  the  newcomer.  Its  windings  were  long 
Hgo  made  straight,  and  brick  paving  covers  the  soil  once  trod 
by  trooper  and  emigrant.  Automobiles  rush  along  the  city 
streets  where  the  covered  wagon  caravan  creaked  over  the  prairie 
trail.  The  cottonwoods  are  no  more.  They  were  patricians  in 
those  days  but  plebeians  in  this.  The  places  they  occupied  are 
now  filled  with  graceful  elms,  fragrant  catalpa  and  handsome 
maples,  spirea  bow  their  wreaths  in  the  boulevards  over  a  car- 
pet of  deepest  green.  The  sky  line,  once  formed  by  the  trees 
of  tlie  virgin  forest,  is  now  marked  by  the  spires  and  crosses  of 
a  half  a  score  of  ehvirches  and  by  the  smokestacks  of  factories  and 
the  roofs  of  happy  homes. — John  H.  Skinner. 

Leverich  bought  out  Austin  Nichols  and  settled  on  the  original 
village  of  Austin,  Davidson's,  Berry's,  Brown's  and  Parker's 
and  a  forty  of  railroad  additions;  D.  J.  Tubbs  built  a  saw  mill 
for  Leverich;  Robert  Dobbins  settled  on  the  Balcora  quarter; 
Benedict  J.  Brown  on  Yates  &  Lewis'  and  Brown's  additions.  In 
.September,  C.  H.  Huntington.  A.  S.  Lott,  Calvin  Powers  and 
Moses  Rolfe  took  claims  east  of  the  Cedar  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  town,  and  D.  L.  Chandler  began  the  Cedar  City  settlement. 
The  Averys,  father  and  two  sons,  settled  the  Strever  farm  and 
other  land  near.  David  L.  and  Willard  Smith  came  in  October. 
1S.")4.  Fi-ancis  Stuhfell  and  Winfield  Lovel,  or  Loveland.  a 
l)l;i<ksinith,  came  later,  perhaps  early  in  1855.  The  first  mad<' 
shiiigh^s  and  for  a  time  ran  a  saloon ;  the  last  loved  fast  horses 
and,  so  the  old  settlers  allege,  made  counterfeit  money.  Game 
wns   abundant   ;ind   n   principal   means   of  sii])sist(>nce.     In    1855 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  167 

George  and  Oliver  Bemis,  shoemakers;  J.  B.  Yates,  V.  P.  Lewis, 
Sylvester  Smith,  Levi  Watrous,  Abe  Haling,  A.  B.  Vaughn,  G.  W. 
Mason,  Black  Hayes  and  Wild  Cat  Brown  and  others  were  added 
to  the  city  population.  There  settled  in  the  town  Robert  Autis, 
on  section  10 ;  Alexander  Nigus,  on  the  Ellis  farm ;  Reuben  Wat- 
rous, Widow  Lockwood,  George  and  Thomas  Phelps,  Clem  Smith, 
Daniel  McPherson  and  M.  J.  Woodson.  In  1856  there  came 
early  J.  H.  McKiuley,  and  built  the  first  hotel,  Avhich  he  sold  to 
Sol  Snow  and  G.  E.  AVilbour,  arriving  later,  and  Charles  Ferris, 
carpenter ;  R.  L.  and  W.  S.  Kimball,  hardware ;  four  attorneys, 
Ormanzo  Allen,  Aaron  S.  Everest,  D.  B.  Johnson,  Jr.,  and  G.  M. 
Cameron;  three  doctors,  Orlenzer  Allen,  H.  L.  Coon  and  J.  N. 
Wheat,  and  G.  B.  Hayes,  Hanehett  and  Sprague,  merchants; 
-J.  L.  Davidson,  John  F.  Cook,  Luther  S.  Morgan,  James  C.  Ack- 
ley  and  L.  N.  Griffith,  town  proprietors ;  Rev.  Stephen 
Cook,  Albert  Galloway,  S.  W.  Rice,  Samuel  Little,  H.  M. 
Allen  and  J.  j\I.  Berry,  afterwards  judge  of  the  supreme 
court.  That  year  there  settled  in  the  township,  among  others, 
Jacob  S.  Decker,  AV.  A.  AVoodsou,  John  Chandler,  H.  VanAVinkle, 
John  AA^atkins,  Caleb  Stock,  Alfred  Cressey,  Thomas  Bonnallie, 
John  Rose,  H.  E.  Case,  Thomas  Varco,  H.  G.  Prouty  and  AVel- 
come  Osborne. 

In  the  fall  of  1855,  Leverich,  with  the  services  of  A.  B. 
A^aughn  as  surveyor,  staked  out  a  village,  including  the  village 
of  Austin  and  Davidson's  addition,  but  did  not  properly  survey 
and  record  the  same.  Yates  and  Lewds  had  bought  the  S%,  of 
B.  J.  Brown's  claim,  NEJ4  of  3,  and  tried  in  vain  to  have  Lever- 
ieii  make  the  principal  street  on  the  quarter  line  of  three,  now 
AA'est  Main  street.  Leverich  platted  tlie  sides  of  his  lots  clear 
up  to  the  line.  Abates  and  Lewis,  with  ]Moses  Armstrong  as  sui-- 
veyor,  laid  out  their  addition  and  Brown's,  but  in  the  evening, 
learning  of  the  movements  of  A^'aughn  and  INIason,  platted  Austin, 
consisting  of  blocks  1  to  6  in  their  addition,  so  as  to  be  entirely 
surrounded  by  their  future  addition  and  coming  only  wnthin  a 
block  of  AYest  IMain  street.  Vaughn  and  Mason  had  bought  in 
with  Leverich,  and  in  his  absence  learned  of  Armstrong's  sur- 
vey, completed  their  survey  of  the  fall  before  and  late  in  the 
evening.  April  16,  1856,  crossed  the  Cedar  in  a  boat  and  started 
on  foot  for  Frankford,  the  county  seat,  to  file  tlieir  plat.  A'ates, 
Lewis  and  Armstrong  drew  tlieir  plat,  mounted  horses,  tried  at 
various  points  to  ford  the  swollen  Cedar,  gave  it  up,  the  night 
being  very  dark,  staid  all  night  at  John  Pettibone's  in  Lansing, 
crossed  in  his  boat  in  the  morning,  swimming  their  horses  behind, 
and  passed  Afason  and  Vaughn  about  four  miles  this  side  of 
Frankford.  They  found  the  .iustice  al)sent,  sent  for  Felcli,  pro- 
bate  judge,  and  acknowledged  and  filed  their  plat.    A''aughn  and 


168  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

i\:rason  arrived  half  an  hour  late,  altered  their  plat  by  dropping 
the  forty  that  became  Davidson's  addition,  and  christened  the 
other  forty  "Village  of  Austin,"  and  filed  two  hours  later. 

Leverieh's  saw  mill  was  the  first  business  established.  A.  B. 
Vaughn  and  son,  P.  D.,  opened  the  first  store  in  the  spring  of 
1855,  and  sold  out  to  Aloysius  Brown  in  1856.  Yates  &  Lewis 
opened  the  second  store;  Sprague.&  Hanchett  and  the  Kimballs 
opened  stores  soon  after. 

The  growth  of  the  town  was  from  the  mill  westward  on  Water 
street  and  the  street  south.  Yates  and  Lewis  moved  the  few 
buildings  erected  in  their  town  to  the  village.  The  increase  in 
numbers  was  less  in  1857  than  in  1856.  J.  S.  Lacy  built  tlie  sec- 
ond hotel  pretty  well  out  of  town,  where  the  Fleck  House  stands. 
In  1858  Avas  the  first  period  of  railroad  construction.  What  is 
now  the  Milwaukee  line  from  IMinneapolis  south  Avas  surveyed 
in  1857,  and  in  1858  graded  for  half  the  distance,  not  continu- 
ously, but  in  patches.  Bank  notes  secured  by  bonds  issued  by 
the  state  for  each  ten  miles  of  this  grading,  furnished  circulating 
medium  till  they  collapsed  in  the  spring  of  1859.  The  crops 
succumbed  to  the  high  water  in  the  summer  of  1858.  A.  Brown 
distributed  the  supply  of  flour  and  meal  that  kept  the  inhabitants 
alive.  ]\Tost  of  it  was  drawn  from  Chatfield  and  Decorah,  Iowa. 
The  state  of  the  roads  was  such  that  it  often  required  many  days 
to  make  the  journey.  When  it  Avas  noised  that  teams  Avere  gone 
for  a  ncAV  supply,  sacks  and  cash  Avere  deposited  to  make  sure  of 
a  portion.  The  demand  sometimes  exceeded  the  supply,  so  that 
but  ten  or  fifteen  pounds  could  be  allowed  to  a  family.  Gold 
Avould  not  buy  more  and  everyone  received  in  proportion  to  their 
family.  ToAAmship  and  A'illage  together  in  1860,  462 ;  in  1865, 
760;  in  1870,  2,632,  toAvnship  being  592  and  the  village  2,040; 
in  1875,  the  village  had  2,601;  in  1880,  2,305;  in  1885,  2,505;  in 
1890,  3,901;  in  1895,  5,087;  in  1900,  5,471;  in  1905,  6,489;  in  1910, 
6,960. 

LETTER  FROM  A.  R.  NICHOLS 

In  1906,  John  II.  Skinner  Avrote  to  A.  R.  Nichols,  tlie  first 
white  settler  on  the  present  site  of  Austin,  and  asked  his  help  in 
ascertaining  certain  facts.  At  that  time  Mr.  Nichols  was  liA'ing 
at  Nichols,  Minn.,  of  AA'hich  he  had  previous  to  his  resignation 
been  postmaster  for  twenty  years.  In  reply,  Mr.  Nichols  gave 
the  folloAving  interesting  information:  "I  Avas  born  in  the  town 
of  Hopkinton.  St.  LaAvrence  county,  Juno  13.  1814.  In  1817  I 
was  taken  to  Livingston  county,  in  tlie  same  state,  and  in  1818 
Avent  by  sleigh  through  Canada  to  Detroit,  ]\Iich.,  Avhich  at  that 
time    contained    a    cnmplpnu'nt    of   Ignited    States   soldiers    quar- 


iiJ STORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  IGi) 

tered  in  the  historic  fort,  and  a  few  French  settlers  along  the 
river.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  we  went  back  to  Michigan  and 
settled  at  the  lakes  on  the  Huron  river.  In  1841  we  "set  sail" 
in  a  prairie  schooner  for  the  West,  crossing  the  Mississippi  on 
Christmas  day,  1841.  Then  I  went  to  the  lead  mines  in  Galena, 
111.,  and  Avorked  five  or  six  years,  then  came  back  to  Iowa  and 
spent  a  winter  at  Cedar  Lake,  hunting  buffalo.  The  following 
summer  I  went  to  Cedar  river  at  St.  Ansgar.  That  summer  the 
state  line  was  located.  That  fall,  1852,  and  again  the  following 
fall,  1853,  I  hunted  along  the  Cedar  river,  and  possibly  the  first 
fall  got  as  far  north  as  Austin.  When  I  reached  Mower  county 
in  the  late  fall  of  1853,  there  were  only  three  settlers  in  this  part 
of  the  county :  Mr.  AVoodbiiry  and  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Pinkerton, 
at  Woodbury  creek,  north  of  the  Iowa  state  line,  and  O.  P.  Clark, 
in  a  shack  to  the  north  of  what  is  now  Austin.  June  8,  1854,  I 
drove  the  first  claim  stake  in  Austin,  and  a  short  time  afterward, 
O.  P.  Clark  brought  his  family  and  several  head  of  cattle  to  his 
claim,  which  Avas  above  mine.  The  next  settlers  were  Eobert 
Dobbin,  jMiller  Clayton  and  ]\Ir.  Pinkham.  I  sold  to  Mr.  Leverich. 
Then  I  left  Austin  and  went  to  Blue  Earth  river  in  Faribault 
county  and  settled  doAvn  to  farming  until  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  I  then  sold  out  and  went  to  IMinneapolis,  stayed  there  sev- 
eral years,  and  then  came  to  ]\Iille  Lacs  lake,  Avhere  I  am  at 
the  present  time." 

PLATTING  THE  VILLAGE 

In  the  fall  of  1855,  Chauncey  Leverich  and  A.  B.  Vaughan 
staked  out  a  village  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  3,  but  did  not  properly  survey  and  record  the 
name.  On  April  16,  1856,  J.  B.  Y'ates  and  V.  P.  Lewis  procured 
the  services  of  M.  K.  Armstrong,  county  surveyor,  and  com- 
menced to  plat  a  village  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  3. 
The  siirvey  Avas  not  completed  until  late  that  evening.  Vaughan 
&  Mason  (the  latter  having  bought  an  interest  in  the  plat)  saAV 
Yates  and  LcAvis  at  Avork.  Their  suspicions  Avere  at  once  aroused, 
and  thinking  to  checkmate  them  they  also  effected  a  regular  sur- 
vey of  the  lands  Avhich  they  had  staked  off  the  previous  autumn, 
and  late  in  the  evening  Mason  and  Vaughan  (Leverich  being 
absent)  crossed  the  Cedar  river  in  a  boat  and  started  on  foot  to 
Frankford,  the  county  «eat,  to  file  their  plat  ahead  of  Yates  and 
Lewis.  But  the  latter  party,  being  fully  equal  to  such  an  emer- 
gency, mounted  their  horses  and  rode  up  the  river  several  miles, 
trying  at  various  points  to  ford  the  sAVollen  stream  and  get  to 
the  county  seat  in  advance  of  them.  The  night  being  very  dark, 
they  finally  .stayed  all  night  at  John  Pettibone's,  in  the  tOAvnship 


170  HISTOEY  OF  MO  WEE  COUXTY 

of  Lansing.  In  the  morning  Mr.  Pettibone  took  them  across  the 
river  in  his  boat,  while  they  swam  their  horses  behind.  "When 
tliey  came  within  about  four  miles  of  Frankford  they  overtook 
Mason  and  Vaughan,  who  had  started  the  night  before  on  foot, 
and  had  spent  the  night  upon  the  prairie,  and  when  first  seen 
were  hun-ying  along  at  a  rapid  gait  for  the  county  seat,  in  order 
to  have  their  plat  placed  on  file  first.  Neither  party  had  had 
their  papers  acknowledged  by  a  .justice  of  the  peace,  as  was 
required  by  law,  and  when  Yates  and  Lewis,  who  arrived  at 
Frankford  first,  found  that  the  justice  of  the  peace  was  not  at 
home,  they  sent  for  Judge  C.  J.  Felch  to  come  and  acknowledge 
their  papers   that   they   might   place   them   on   record   at    once. 

Vaughan  and  ]\Iason  arrived  a  half  hour  later,  but  were  too 
.late,  as  Yates  and  Lewis  had  filed  a  plat  of  "Austin."  Two  or 
three  hours  later  Mason  and  Vaughan  filed  their  plat  as  the 
"Village  of  Austin." 

Recorded  Plats — Tlie  following  describes  the  filing  of  each 
plat  in  what  now  comprises  AiTstin:  Austin,  Yates  &  Lewis,  filed 
April  17,  1856;  M.  K.  Armstrong,  surveyor.  Village  of  Austin, 
April  17,  1856;  A.  B.  Vaughan,  surveyor;  proprietors,  "Washing- 
ton Mason,  Chauncey  Leverich,  A.  B.  Vaughan.  Bolcom's  Addi- 
tion, August  25,  1856;  N.  F.  Hilbret,  surveyor.  John  iNI.  Berry's 
Addition,  October  7,  1856;  D.  B.  Johnson  and  A.  W.  Billings, 
surveyors.  Davidson  &  iMorgan's  Addition,  March  17,  1857; 
D.  B.  Johnson,  surveyor.  Brown's  Addition,  August  6,  1857; 
Charles  E.  Carter,  surveyor.  Yates  &  Lewis'  Addition,  August  3, 
1857;  Daniel  B.  Johnson,  surveyor.  Parker  &  Brown's  Addition, 
August  19,  1867;  C.  J.  Shortt,  surveyor.  Railroad  Addition, 
January  1,  1868;  James  A.  Case  and  A.  B.  Rodgers,  surveyors. 
Palmer's  Addition,  December  22,  1869;  James  A.  Case,  surveyor. 
Yates'  Addition  to  Austin,  December  17,  1872;  George  W.  Clough, 
surveyor.  Fay  R.  Smith's  Addition,  November  1,  1883;  E.  B. 
Crane,  surveyor.  Galloway's  First  Addition,  April  8,  1872; 
Galloway's  Second  Addition,  ^Vlay  5,  1887;  Galloway's  Third 
Addition,  May  16,  1887;  Lewis  Park  Addition,  July  4,  1887; 
Blaven's  Addition.  July  2,  1887;  Duggan's  Addition,  December 
31,  1887;  outlots,  section  30,  November  21,  1887;  Lake  Park  Ad- 
dition, December  9,  1887;  outlots,  section  2,  December  7,  1888; 
Oak  Park  addition,  August  1,  1890;  Ranney's  Addition,  June  6, 
1891  ;  West  Park  Addition,  September  5,  1891  ;  Woodlawn  Park 
Addition,  May  7,  1892;  Hayes'  Addition;  May  31,  1892:  outlots, 
section  11,  June  13,  1893;  outlots,  section  26,  June  13,  1893;  out- 
lots, section  2.  June  13,  1893;  Elmwood  Addition,  August  9, 
1893;  outlots,  section  11,  August  2,  1894;  outlots,  section  2,  Au- 
gust 10,  1895;  Galloway's  Addition  to  AVest  Park  Addition.  Oc- 
tober 4,  1893;  Varco's  Addition  to  Austin,  December  4,  1895; 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  171 

outlots,  section  9,  December  31,  1895 ;  outlots,  section  2,  April  22, 
1896;  outlots,  section  2,  May  18,  1896;  irregular  survey,  in  sec- 
tion 4,  December  31,  1896;  outlet,  section  2,  May  21,  1898 ;  Jacob's 
Addition  to  Austin,  June  24,  1899. 


MURDER  OF  CHAUNCEY  LEVERICH 

In  August,  1856,  Chauncey  Leverieh.  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Austin,  came  to  an  untimely  death  at  the  hands  of  a  crowd 
of  drunken  roughs.  The  affair  has  been  generally  believed  to 
have  happened  in  about  the  following  manner:  It  took  place  at 
a  saloon  where  the  new  Elk  hotel  now  stands.  The  parties 
committing  the  crime  were  intoxicated  and  making  loud  noises 
and  acting  very  boisterous  about  Mr.  Leverieh 's  place,  and  he 
finally  put  them  out  of  doors  and  they  began  pounding  the  side 
of  the  building,  whereupon  Leverieh  went  out  determined  to 
drive  them  away,  but  in  the  engagement  he  was  struck  by  a  bar 
of  some  kind,  which  fractured  his  skull.  He  lived  about  a  week 
and  was  buried  upon  the  corner  of  the  same  lot  upon  which  his 
building  stood.  The  parties  charged  with  the  crime  of  killing 
him  were  Horace  Silver  and  William  Oliver,  who  were  tried  for 
assault  and  battery,  and  fined  respectively  $20  and  $10.  Upon 
learning  of  Mr.  Leverieh 's  serious  injury  they  both  left  the 
place. 

S.  D.  Mead,  a  stepson  of  Horace  Silver,  one  of  the  men  who 
was  convicted  of  the  assault  on  Leverieh,  has  the  following  to 
say  of  this  tragic  incident:  "I  was  not  in  the  saloon  at  the  time 
of  the  affair  which  cost  Leverieh  his  life  and  my  people  their 
home,  but  I  have  my  information  from  Autis,  who  was  there  and 
saw  the  trouble,  as  well  as  from  vay  own  people.  This  saloon 
row  occurred,  as  most  such  affairs  do,  when  the  whiskey  was 
flowing  freely.  Now  this  was  a  friendly  gathering.  Silver  and 
Leverieh  were  the  best  of  friends,  as  were  Oliver  and  Leverieh. 
But  this  was  the  grand  opening  night  of  the  saloon  and  free 
whiskey  flowed  plentifully.  The  crowd  grew  merry  and  was 
liaving  all  kmds  of  fun,  but  the  fun,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases,  soon 
turned  into  a  row,  which  ended  in  a  general  fight,  during  which 
no  one  seemed  to  know  or  care  M^ho  was  hit  or  what  thej'  hit 
Avith.  The  consequence  was  that  in  the  general  melee  Leverieh 
received  a  blow  which  laid  him  oiit.  I  heard  the  trial  of  Silver 
and  Oliver  before  Justice  Smith,  but  tlien-  wns  no  evidence  pro- 
duced to  show  who  struck  the  blow  or  witli  wlint  it  was  struck. 
My  father  always  said  he  had  no  enmity  against  Leverieh  and 
always  mentioned  that  he  did  not  strike  the  fatal  blow.  He 
always  said  that  the  first  he  knew  that  Leverieh  was  hurt  he 
heard  someone  cry  out  in  the  crowd:     'For  God's  sake,  stop  the 


173  HISTOHY  OF  MOWEK  COUXTY 

row;  Leverich  is  killed.'  This  was  the  story  he  still  held  to  on 
his  deathbed.  After  the  trial  he  said  that  if  Minnesota  were  a 
state  and  had  state  laws  he  would  stay  in  Austin  and  stand  trial. 
But  it  was  a  territory  and  he  was  told  that  he  better  get  away 
or  he  might  be  lynched.  So  he  and  Oliver  left  on  foot.  My 
step-father  walked  all  the  way  to  Michigan,  where  his  brother 
lived,  and  we  neither  saw  nor  heard  from  him  for  two  years. 

"After  he  had  gone  my  mother  was  nearly  insane  with  grief 
and  anxiety.  I  worked  and  cared  for  mother  and  four  children 
for  nearly  two  years.  I  then  disposed  of  our  cattle  and  personal 
property  and  went  back  to  Michigan.  Our  home  in  Austin  was 
taken  from  us  on  an  execution  for  a  debt  of  $15.  Father  then 
took  his  family  and  was  a  good  father  and  husband  as  long  as  he 
lived.  The  loss  of  everything  he  owned,  however,  broke  him  all 
up  and  he  was  never  the  same  man  after  the  unfortunate  atfair 
took  place.  He  died  in  Michigan  in  1874  and  my  mother  lived 
until  1886." 

Samuel  Rice  is  an  early  settler  whose  veracity  is  absolutely 
relied  upon.  His  story  differs  decidedly  from  the  other  versions 
of  the  affair,  is  as  follows:  "In  the  summer  of  1856  Chauucey 
Leverich  built  a  store  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Bridge  and 
Chatham  streets,  "where  subsequently  stood  the  buildings  until 
recently  owned  by  D.  B.  Smith,  which,  after  his  death,  were  sold. 
He  planned  to  open  a  saloon  on  the  north  side  of  the  store  and  a 
grocery  department  on  the  south  side.  Samuel  Rice  had  hauled 
the  first  load  of  groceries  from  Wabash,  arriving  the  very  eve- 
ning of  the  murder.  On  the  way  to  Austin  the  rear  spring  of 
his  democrat  wagon  broke,  so  he  removed  it,  and  arriving  at  his 
destination  left  the  spring  outside  of  the  building  by  the  door- 
way. The  store  was  unfinished.  A  carpenter  bench  stood  in 
the  center  of  the  floor  and  rubbish  lay  about  the  place,  which 
as  yet  had  not  been  opened  for  business.  Leverich  had  suggested 
that  he  and  I\Ir.  Rice  go  to  a  dance  at  Ed  Merry's  when  the  inci- 
dent occiirred  which  resulted  instead  in  the  death  of  Leverich. 
Horace  Silver  and  William  Oliver  were  lounging  about.  Lev- 
erich, smoking  a  cigar,  seated  himself  on  the  carpenter  bench 
near  Silver,  who  carelessly  picked  up  a  chisel  laying  on  the  bench 
and  deliberately  knocked  the  cigar  from  Leverich 's  mouth,  who 
exclaimed,  'Quit  that!'  bent  down,  picked  up  the  cigar  from  the 
floor  and  resumed  smoking.  Silver  knocked  it  out  of  his  mouth 
a  second  time,  at  which  Leverich  became  angry  and  swore  that 
if  he  did  it  again  he  would  lick  him.  Leverich  put  the  cigar  in 
his  mouth  again  and  Silver  delil)erately,  when  the  opportunity 
presented  itself,  tapped  the  cigar  with  the  tool  again,  sending 
it  to  Ihr  floor.  Levei-ich  swore  violently,  jumped  up  and  struck 
Silver    a    I)low    wliicli    sent    him    staggering    against    the    wall. 


HISTOIJY  OF  :M()\VEI{  COUNTY  17:3 

Oliver  theu  stepped  forward  and  taking  hold  of  Leveridi  liy  llic 
arm,  said,  'Hold  on,  Chauncey;  you  are  too  hasty.'     Lcvcridi 

swung  around,  saying,  'You  take  it  up,  will  you,  you,' 

and  struck  him  a  hard  blow.  Silver  and  Oliver  went  out  of  the 
store  by  the  front  door.  A  few  minutes  later  they  told  Leverich 
to  come  out  and  they  would  fix  him.  It  was  a  very  dark  night. 
One  of  them  picked  up  the  spring  with  the  heavy  wood  piece 
attached,  laying  near  the  door,  and  when  Leverich  came  out 
threw  it  at  him,  point  first.  The  wood  hit  him  over  the  eyes 
and  crushed  his  skull.  He  fell,  unconscious.  Bystanders  in  the 
building  lifted  him  up,  carried  him  in  and  laid  his  senseless  body 
on  the  buffalo  robe  spread  on  the  carpenter  bench.  Dr.  O.  Allen 
was  called,  and  under  his  direction  Leverich  was  taken  home. 

"He  died  in  about  three  days.  In  the  meantime  Oliver  and 
Silver  were  arrested,  arraigned  before  Justice  Sylvester  Smith, 
and  fined  $15  and  $20,  respectively.  After  the  death  of  Leverich 
and  before  papers  charging  them  with  murder  could  be  served, 
they  escaped.  Silver  returned  to  town  secretly  some  years  later 
to  settle  his  affairs.  The  body  of  Leverich  was  buried  under  the 
back  window  of  his  store.  His  wife  moved  to  the  rooms  upstairs 
and  for  years  the  kitchen  slops  Avere  thrown  on  his  grave.  Later 
it  was  disinterred  by  his  heirs  and  moved  away.  Leverich  was 
an  extensive  land  owner  and  a  prosperous,  progressive  man.  He 
owned  several  sections  of  land  and  also  city  property,  besides 
other  interests.  His  wife,  according  to  well  authenticated  reports, 
was  deliberately  robbed  by  several  men  of  the  town.  The  various 
pieces  of  land  Avere  auctioned  off  for  but  a  fraction  of  their  real 
value.  Although  Chauncey  Leverich  Avas  a  man  of  rough  exterior, 
he  Avas  at  heart  good,  and  his  progressive  spirit  might  have  done 
much  for  the  groAving  toAA'n." 

IMPORTANT  EVENTS 

The  folloAving  accounts  of  important  events  of  the  early  days 
are  Avorthy  of  preservation  in  this  work,  as  they  recall  pictures 
of  life  in  the  sixties  and  seventies,  long  since  forgotten  by  all 
except  the  oldest  inhabitants. 

January  2  the  Lake  building,  after  having  tAvice  caught  fire 
tlie  previous  day,  Avas  entirely  consumed  before  help  could  be 
obtained  to  extinguish  it.  In  the  loAver  room  Avas  the  store  of 
]\Ir.  Keeny.  The  most  of  his  goods  Avere  saved.  Upstairs  Avas 
the  photograph  gallery  of  A.  B.  Davidson  and  the  drug  store  of 
3Iorse,  Daily  &  Co.  All  the  stock  of  both  firms  Avas  entirely 
consumed.  The  insurance  on  the  gallery  AA'as  $150;  on  the  drug 
store,  $400. 

January  27,  1865,  a  schoolhouse  situated  a  fcAv  miles  south  of 


174  HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUXTY 

Austin,  on  Rose  creek,  was  consumed  by  fire.  The  building  was 
a  small  log  structure.  During  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day 
some  timbers  remaining  from  the  fire  were  carried  from  the 
spot  to  Mr.  Ames'  house,  near  by.  for  fuel  and  placed  in  the 
woodshed,  with  the  result  that  some  smouldering  embers  caused 
the  house  to  burn  down. 

On  May  3,  1865,  the  residence  of  Jacob  S.  Decker,  about  two 
miles  east  of  Austin,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  together  with  nearly 
all  its  contents.  The  loss  reached  .$1,000;  insurance,  $300.  The 
fire  originated  in  the  roof. 

On  June  10,  1863,  it  is  said  by  the  Courier:  "Horse  thieves 
are  getting  very  numerous  in  this  section  of  the  country  and 
that  portion  of  Iowa  bordering  on  Fillmore,  j\Iower  and  Free- 
born counties  in  particular.  We  have  had  calls  during  the  past 
week  from  no  less  than  seven  persons  on  the  lookout  for  horses 
stolen.  Three  horses  were  stolen  on  Wednesday  evening  last 
from  C.  H.  Owen  and  Daniel  Ames,  residents  of  Lyle  tOAvnship. 
They  will  get  $100  for  the  recovery  of  the  horses  and  the  thieves, 
or  $25  apiece  for  each  horse  or  thief." 

October  20,  1868,  the  Democrat  said:  "The  Austin  Academy 
and  Commercial  Institute,  for  ladies  and  gentlemen,  will  open 
without  fail  on  Monday,  October  26,  1868,  in  the  third  story  of 
Hunt  &  Basford's  brick  block,  corner  of  ]\Iain  and  Bridge  streets, 
with  J.  H.  Johnson  as  principal." 


Austin's  Disastrous  Fire.  ^Marcli  3,  1869.  Austin  was  visited 
by  its,  first  big  fire.  There  was  a  strong  wind  blowing  froni  the 
north  at  the  time  and  the  thermometer  stood  15  to  18  degrees 
below  zero,  which  tended  to  prevent  the  citizens  fron:  collecting 
as  soon  as  would  otherwise  have  been  the  case.  However,  quite 
a  number  were  promptly  on  the  ground,  but  the  fire  had  got  under 
such  headway  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  extinguish  it  with 
the  facilities  at  hand.  In  three  hours  from  the  time  the  fire 
was  first  discovered  four  two-story  brick  buildings  on  the  east 
side  of  Main  street  were  burned  to  the  ground,  nothing  being  left 
but  the  demolished  walls.  The  fire  was  first  discovered  in  the 
dry  goods  store  of  Case  &  Shepley,  the  north  building  of  the  four, 
the  direction  from  which  the  wind  was  blowing.  How  the  fire 
originated  was  a  mystery,  but  it  was  supposed  it  caught  from  the 
stove.  Witliiii  a  short  tiiiu>  a  ci-owd  of  three  or  four  hundred 
X)ersons  were  on  llie  ground  and  it  was  decided  as  impossible  to 
save  tlic  brick  l)uildings,  so  the  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to  save 
111!  cdntcnts  as  far  as  possible  and  to  prevent  the  fire  from 
sju-eading.  The  major  part  of  the  dry  goods  and  groceries  of 
JMessrs.  Solner  &  Morgan  were  saved,  and  a  few  things  from  the 
second  storv  over  Paddock  Bros.'  store.     Nearlv  all  the  contents 


HISTORY  OF  ^iOWKR  COUNTY  ITo 

of  the  First  National  Bank  building,  consisting  of  the  fixtures 
belonging  to  the  bank  and  to  the  law  and  land  office  of  Page  & 
"Wiieeler  were  saved.  The  contents  of  the  post  office  and  Griffith's 
book  store,  also  a  portion  of  the  dry  goods  and  groceries  of 
Austin  &  Richardson,  and  the  liquors  from  the  billiard  saloon 
of  W.  Simpson  were  removed.  The  small  frame  building  belong- 
ing to  J.  F.  Atherton,  and  occupied  by  him  as  a  grocery  store, 
standing  next  door  north  of  the  row  of  brick  buildings  was 
promptly  torn  down  and  remo^'ed.  Soon  the  fire  reached  the 
corner  building  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  tear  away  the 
small  frame  building  occupied  as  a  meat  market  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  the  fire  to  the  east  along  Bridge  street.  This  was 
promptly  done  and  the  fire  was  confined  to  the  brick  structures. 
At  the  time  the  entire  loss  Avas  estimated  at  from  $40,000  to 
$50,000. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  losses  as  published  at  the  time  of 
the  conflagration:  J.  F.  Atherton,  one  brick  building  and  a  small 
frame,  household  goods  and  part  stock  of  groceries;  insurance, 
$2,200.  Case  &  Shepley,  stock  of  dry  goods  and  groceries,  books, 
papers,  etc.;  insurance,  $4,000.  Creditors  of  Paddock  Bros., 
stock  of  dry  goods  and  groceries.  Solner  &  Morgan,  part  of 
stock  of  dry  goods  and  groceries;  insurance,  $5,000.  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  brick  building,  counters,  etc. ;  insurance,  $2,000. 
Barnes  &  Baird,  brick  building;  insurance,  $2,000.  Lewis  &  Rob- 
erts, bi-ick  building :  insurance,  $2,000.  Dr.  E.  C.  Dorr,  dental 
tools  and  machinery,  books,  papers,  etc.  Dr.  E.  P.  Hudson,  dental 
tools,  etc.  Page  &  Wheeler,  furniture,  a  few  books,  papers,  etc. 
A.  Galloway,  frame  biiilding.  Frederick  &  Sammons,  a  few  tools, 
meat,  etc.  IMrs.  INIarshall  and  ^Miss  Nerton,  dressmakers,  sus- 
tained some  loss.  J.  AVoodward  and  Mr.  Carter  lost  their  house- 
hold goods.  Dr.  Barnes  sustained  some  loss  in  his  office.  Austin 
&  Richardson,  W.  Simpson,  R.  Griffith  and  Postmaster  Phelps  all 
sustained  some  loss  by  the  removal  of  goods. 


In  June,  1869,  complaint  was  made  to  Sheriff'  IMollisou,  by  a 
gentleman  from  the  rural  districts,  to  the  eff'ect  that  a  woman 
had  stolen  a  horse  from  him,  and  giving  a  description  of  the 
woman  and  horse.  It  seems  that  before  the  woman  had  got  a 
great  distance  from  the  starting  place  the  horse  escaped  and 
came  to  town.  The  gentleman  recovered  his  horse,  and  the  thief 
was  heard  from,  being  in  the  country  a])0ut  three  miles  distant. 
The  sheriff  desired  to  let  the  woman  come  to  town  and  claim 
the  horse  before  arresting  her,  but  was  urged  on  until  he  pro- 
ceeded into  the  country  with  papers  and  brought  the  woman  to 
town  and  to  trial.  It  seems  that  she  "smelt  a  mice"  and  con- 
cluded that  hers  was  a  "horse  of  another  color."     She  swore 


176  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

that  she  had  aeyer  seen  the  horse,  which  was  alleged  to  have 
been  stolen,  and  there  being  no  proof,  the  horse  not  being  found 
in  her  possession,  she  Avas  discharged.  The  authorities  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  it  took  a  sharp  man  to  trap  a  woman. 

June  26,  1870,  William  Simpson  was  drowned  in  the  Cedar 
river  at  Austin,  just  back  of  his  residence,  near  the  foot  of  St. 
Paul  street. 

On  September  22,  1868,  Henry  Hyer,  a  boy  about  twelve  years 
of  age,  was  accidentally  killed  near  the  depot.  The  boy  at- 
tempted to  jump  upon  a  handcar,  when  in  motion,  and  the  lever 
struck  him  on  the  head,  crushing  in  his  skull  and  killing  him 
almost  instantly. 

In  its  issue  of  December  1,  1868,  the  Democrat  contained  the 
following  item:  "Three  native  Americans — no  carpet-baggers — 
stopped  at  the  Central  House  in  this  place  last  night.  Two  of 
them  were  chiefs  of  the  Menominee  nation,  one  of  Avhich  killed 
five  Sioux  Indians  in  the  war  of  1862-63,  fighting  on  the  side  of 
the  whites.  He  has  five  marks  made  in  India  ink  upon  his  arm  to 
'designate  the  fact.'  The  tribe  lives  upon  the  Black  river,  in 
"Wisconsin.  These  chaps  have  been  out  west  trapping,  and  are 
now  returning  to  their  tribe.  They  are  very  large,  robust  men, 
capable  of  taking  care  of  a  large  amount  of  rations." 

The  Austin  Democrat,  February  23,  1869,  states  that  "genuine 
stone  coal  has  been  foimd  in  Mower  county."  In  that  issue  ap- 
pears the  following  article:  "Thomas  Smith,  of  "Windom  town- 
ship, in  this  county,  has  left  with  us  a  very  fair  sample  of  stone 
coal,  and  informs  us  that  he  has  taken  from  the  mine  which  he 
is  now  prospecting,  some  lumps  as  good  as  any  ever  taken  from 
a  Pennsylvania  coal  field.  ^NTr.  Smith  is  something  of  a  geologist, 
and  had  discovered  signs  of  coal  on  his  place,  in  the  bluff  along 
Rose  Creek,  some  time  since,  and  a  few  days  ago  determined  to 
investigate  the  matter  and  prospect  for  a  large  deposit  which  he 
had  reason  to  believe  existed  in  the  vicinity.  He  employed  an 
experienced  miner,  and  the  two  went  to  work,  tunneling  into  the 
bluff,  and  the  present  indications  are  that  a  rich  bed  of  coal  will 
soon  be  discovered.  Two  or  three  Aveeks  more  will  tell  the  story. 
The  importance  wliich  would  attend  the  discovery  of  an  exten- 
sive bed  of  coal  in  Windom,  lying  as  it  does,  in  the  center  of  a 
large  prairie  country,  could  not  be  overestimated.     *     * 

On  April  1,  1870,  Carl  Chanbery,  a  young  man  who,  the  pre- 
vious spring,  li;i(l  come  with  his  aged  mother  from  SAveden,  and 
settled  in  Austin,  Avas  drowiu'd  in  CcMlar  river. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  .July  17,  1870,  David  Caswell,  a  iiroiii- 
inent  citizen  of  LeRoy,  left  his  residence  for  the  purpose  of  look- 
ing at  some  grass  land  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant  on  the 
farm,  ;ni(l  as  w;is  soinctinics  bis  cusloni.  look  Avith  liiiii  a  double- 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  177 

barreled  shot  gun.  Later  in  the  day  his  dead  body  was  found 
with  a  shot  gun  wound  in  the  left  side,  with  every  indication  that 
the  gun  had  gone  off  while  he  was  in  the  act  of  loading  it. 

On  August  14,  1870,  a  Norwegian  named  Jens  Jenson,  about 
54  years  of  age,  who  lived  a  short  distance  from  Adams  station, 
committed  suicide  by  hanging  himself  in  a  grove. 

.  On  September  2,  1870,  John  Fredell,  a  Swede,  23  years  of 
age,  was  drowned  in  the  Cedar  river.  The  young  man  had  come 
from  INIinneapolis  about  three  Aveeks  before  his  death  and  had 
been  in  the  employ  of  the  railroad  company.  He  had  shown  un- 
mistakable signs  of  insanity. 

On  Monday,  February  13,  1871,  at  between  3  and  4  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  the  warehouse  of  Guns  &  Anderson,  at  Browns- 
dale,  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire.  The  flames  soon  reached  the 
warehouse  of  Mr.  Eowell,  and  the  building  was  entirely  de- 
stroyed. The  Avarehouse  of  Guns  &  Anderson  contained  6,000 
bushels  of  wheat,  3,300  bushels  of  flax  seed,  1,000  pounds  of  tow, 
about  1,000  grain  sacks,  a  fanning  mill,  and  the  articles  usually 
kept  about  a  grain  warehouse.  Nothing  at  all  was  saved  and 
tlieir  loss  Avas  about  $13,000,  Avhieh,  however,  Avas  fully  covered 
by  insurance.  Mr.  RoAvell's  Avarehouse  was  empty  at  the  time. 
The  total  loss  on  both  Avas  about  $15,000. 

On  February  20,  1871,  Austin  Avas  visited  by  a  disastrous  fire. 
At  about  1  o'clock  the  Fleck  House  Avas  discovered  to  be  on  fire, 
and  the  flames  spread  so  rapidly  that  it  was  impossible  to  save 
the  building.  There  were  about  sixty  persons  in  the  house  at 
the  time,  and  all  succeeded  in  making  their  escape.  The  property 
was  valued  at  $9,000,  including  the  grounds,  and  Avas  insured 
for  $3,500.  The  hotel  at  the  time  Avas  under  the  management  of 
George  Hay,  who  had  leased  it  and  taken  possession  about  ten 
days  prcAHous  to  the  time  of  the  fire.  The  fire  caught  from  a 
defective  flue. 

On  May  9,  1871,  a  fatal  accident  occurred  at  the  depot  of  the 
C,  M.  &  St.  P.  R.  R.  in  Au.stin,  resulting  in  the  death  of  "William 
AValsh. 

On  December  27,  1875,  the  iron  foundry  belonging  to  Geo.  B. 
"Wright,  located  on  the  east  side,  Avas  burned  to  the  ground.  The 
cause  of  the  fire  Avas  unknoAvn.  The  building  and  contents  were 
a  total  loss  of  about  $10,000.  The  foundry  Avas  the  only  one  in 
the  city,  and  its  loss  not  only  fell  heavily  upon  its  owners  but 
upon  the  business  interests  of  Austia  as  Avell. 

On  the  morning  of  December  30,  1873,  tlie  building  on  the 
corner  of  Chatham  and  IMill  streets,  occupied  by  tlie  store  of 
the  Farmers  and  IMfchanics  Grocery  Association,  Avas  l)urned  to 
tho  ground.  A  portion  of  the  goods  Avas  removed.  Tlicre  Avas 
an  insurance  on  the  stock  of  $2,000. 


178  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

On  April  22,  1873,  Ole  Gordon,  of  Northwood,  Iowa,  was  in- 
stantly killed  while  grinding  plov>'s  in  the  shop  of  Seymour  John- 
son, in  Austin,  by  the  bursting  of  the  revolving  stone.  One  frag- 
ment weighing  nearly  500  pounds,  struck  the  unfortunate  man  in 
the  forehead,  at  the  corner  of  the  right  eye,  and  carried  away  a 
large  portion  of  his  skull  and  scattered  his  brains  over  the  entire 
room.  It  passed  through  one  end  of  the  building  and  struck  in 
the  street  some  sixty  feet  distant.  The  stone  was  entirely  new 
and,  as  far  as  could  then  be  discovered,  perfectly  sound.  It  Avas 
driven  by  horse  power,  and  at  no  more  than  the  usual  speed. 

The  month  of  January,  1877,  was  a  disastrous  one  in  Austin, 
three  fires  occurring  within  six  days.  The  first  of  these  took 
place  on  the  morning  of  January  13,  when  six  stores  and  one  shop 
were  cleaned  out,  the  historic  row  of  wooden  buildings,  long 
landmarks  in  Austin,  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street  being  laid 
in  ashes.  Buildings  on  the  east  side  of  the  street  were  also  dam- 
aged by  an  explosion  of  powder  in  one  of  the  burning  buildings. 
The  total  loss  was  about  $13,000,  the  firm  of  Hazelwood  &  Tuttle 
being  the  heaviest  losers.  On  the  same  day  a  dwelling  house  on 
Maple  street,  owned  by  C.  W.  Freeman  and  occupied  by  W.  D. 
Phillips,  was  entirely  consumed.  Four  days  later  three  frame 
buildings  on  the  corner  of  Mill  and  Chatham  streets,  owned  by 
A.  Matson,  were  destroyed. 

On  October  5,  1880,  Austin  M-as  visited  by  a  fire  that  laid  in 
Avaste  four  business  buildings  and  caused  a  loss  of  about  $24,000. 
F.  A.  Richardson,  dry  goods,  and  Fernald  &  Kimball,  furniture, 
were  the  heaviest  losers.  Others  who  lost  were  Ferd.  Kirchoil", 
meats:  Mrs.  R.  I.  Smith,  millinery;  J.  E.  Slocum,  sewing  machine 
agent;  Dr.  J.  N.  "Wheat;  L.  N.  Griffith;  J.  J.  Hayes  &  Bro.,  jew- 
elry: Clemmer  &  Pooler:  ]Mrs,  N.  C.  Mc^Iillan,  millinery;  Mrs. 
John  Morrison,  restaurant. 

The  Tenvperance  Leagues,  among  the  ladies,  were  powerful 
infiuences  toward  preserving  the  law  and  order  of  the  com- 
munity in  the  early  days.  In  writing  on  this  subject  in  1876,  Mi-s. 
R.  L.  Kimball. said: 

Til"  crusade  against  whisky  began  in  Austin  in  the  winter  of 
IS'iG.  At  that  time  not  a  saloon  was  to  be  foiuid  in  the  place,  but 
at  some  of  the  stores  intoxicants  could  be  purchased.  Accord- 
ingly tlie  women  started  a  crusade  and  threatened  to  boycoit 
merchants  who  sold  strong  drinks.  To  this  agreement  thirty- 
two  ladies — at  that  time  all  but  three  of  them  lady  residents  of 
Austin — subscribed  their  names.  Twenty-eight  of  these  names 
liave  been  preserved,  and  arc  as  follows:  Imogene  A.  Kimball, 
Hattie  A.  Adams,  Ilainiali  E.  Leveiich,  Jennett  W.  Cook,  Julia 
A.  Wheat,  Triphcna  Griffith,  Lucy  L.  Wheeler,  Bettie  M.  Vande- 
grift.   Eleanor   Biiiiis,   Sai-ah    Iv   l^cmis,    Cornelia   Benson,   'Mary 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVEH  C'OFXTY  179 

Ann  H.  Decker,  Amanda  Adams,  Elizabeth  Brown,  Mary  Mc- 
Daniels,  Eunice  L.  Smith,  Lois  Brown,  Martha  L.  Sanford,  Emma 
Allen,  Almeda  E.  Allen,  Mary  A.  Colwell,  Eliza  A.  Allen,  ]\Iaria 
M.  Everest,  Mary  A.  Padden,  Naomi  M.  Revord,  Harriet  Ferris, 
Eliza  A.  McKinley,  Elizabeth  Tubbs.  The  merchants  were  then 
■visited  and  asked  to  pledge  themselves  not  to  sell  liquors.  Three 
signatures  were  obtained,  Rufus  L.  Kimball,  W.  I.  Brown,  and 
Aloysius  Brown.  In  1857,  a  Ladies'  Temperance  Society  was  or- 
ganized by  ]Mrs.  ,1.  L.  Davidson 

The  Father  i\ratthew  Temperance  Society  was  organized  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1871,  with  eighteen  charter  members.  February  19,  they 
decided  to  celebrate  St.  Patrick's  Day,  and  appointed  a  committee 
to  make  arrangements.  The  committee  deciding  to  have  a  ban- 
ner called  on  the  printers  but  failed  to  obtain  satisfactory  samples 
for  even  a  temporary  article.  Mrs.  W.  I.  Brown's  proposal  to 
embroider  one,  with  green  silk  on  white  merino,  was  accepted, 
and  work  commenced.  They  were  soon  out  of  silk  and  sent  a 
sample  to  St.  Paul,  but  found  none  there.  A  few  skeins  were 
found  in  IMcGregor,  but  not  enough.  Luckily,  Mrs.  Oscar  Ayers 
had  enough  to  complete  it.  The  committee  found  it  necessary  to 
employ  all  the  ladies  they  could  to  get  it  completed  in  time,  and 
their  fingers  w^rought  on  each  successive  letter  until  the  "Father 
Matthew  Temperance  Society  of  Aiistin"  was  complete.  Mrs. 
L.  A.  Sherwood  was  among  these  ladies.  At  the  first  annual  con- 
vention held  in  St.  Paul,  February  12,  1872,  the  society  joined 
the  state  union  wdth  only  eight  members.  The  majority  of  those 
lost  were  by  resignation  or  non-payment  of  dues,  and  not  for 
violation  of  pledge,  which  has  been  the  case  up  to  this  time.  At 
the  second  convention  the  society  won  the  Gold  Medal  for  having 
gained  the  greatest  percentage  of  membership  of  any  society  in 
the  State,  being  100  per  cent.  At  the  third  convention,  held  at 
Winona,  May  6,  1874,  the  society  had  seventy-five  members,  l)ut 
lost  the  medal,  it  being  won  by  Father  Ostar's  Society  of  Belle 
Plaine.  At  th"""  fourth  convention,  in  Faribault,  June  18,  1875, 
Austin  reported  sixty-eight  membei-s.  The  Catholic  church  at 
Austin  has  still  a  strong  Total  Abstinence  Society. 

The  Sewing  Societies  of  Austin  have  always  been  an  impor- 
tant factor  in  its  charitable  and  social  life.  In  1876,  ^Irs.  "\V.  AV. 
Brownson  spoke  as  follows  in  regard  to  those  at  that  time  in 
existence : 

One  can  scarcely  estimate  all  that  has  Ix-cii  accomplished 
and  all  we  enjoy  today  that  has  been  obtained  through  the  perse- 
vering efforts  of  little  bands  of  ladies  in  our  different  churches, 
known  and  often  spoken  of  derisively  as  sewing  societies.  To 
them  is  due  the  credit  of  many  of  t!io  comfortable  surroundings 
of  our  churches,   the  result   of  sonicthing  very   different    from 


180  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

gossip.  Tn  early  times,  Avhile  men  were  anxiously  planning  and 
toiling  to  secure  comparatively  comfortable  homes  for  their  fam- 
ilies, and  provide  houses  of  worship,  their  wives  and  daughters 
were  not  idle.  They  organized  sewing  societies  with  good  re- 
sults. The  ladies  of  the  Methodist  church  organized  the  first  one 
in  Austin,  jNIay  17,  1865,  since  which  time  it  has  furnished  $1,500 
of  the  money  raised  by  the  society  for  church  erection  and  char- 
itable purposes. 

June  12,  1865,  the  ladies  of  the  Baptist  church  organized  their 
sewing  society,  and  in  less  than  two  years  it  raised  and  paid  .$125 
of  the  expense  of  the  bell  to  their  chux-ch  edifice  .and  other  pur- 
poses. 

November  8,  1865,  the  ladies  of  the  Congregational  church  or- 
ganized their  sewing  society,  which  has  contributed  about  $2,200 
to  the  charitable  and  other  objects  of  the  church.  A  Circle  of 
Industry,  belonging  to  the  church,  has  also  raised  $550  to  apply 
on  the  purchase  of  the  bell. 

The  Busy  Bees,  a  society  of  children,  organized  in  the  fall  of 
1874,  for  the  purchase  of  chandeliers  for  the  church,  have  raised, 
through  public  entertainments  and  fairs,  $40. 

In  1868  the  ladies'  sewing  society  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
was  organized,  but  there  are  no  records  of  its  Avork  until  1870, 
between  which  time  and  May,  1873,  it  raised  for  church  purjioses 
$330.    Since  then  the  sewing  society  has  had  no  existence. 

In  1865  the  ladies  of  the  Episcopal  church  organized  their 
society,  which  has  since  had  a  vigorous  existence,  but  no  records 
have  been  kept,  and  I  am  unable  to  give  results. 

The  Universalist  sewing  society  was  organized  in  1868,  and 
has  earned  $360. 

The  Universalist  Sunday  School  Gleaners,  a  society  organized 
in  1875,  for  the  purchase  of  a  Snbbath  School  library,  have  raised 
$60  toward  their  object. 

The  ladies  of  the  Lutheran  church,  soon  after  its  organiza- 
tion, organized  a  sewing  society,  which  existed  about  a  year  and 
a  half.  They  raised  $75,  Avhieli  Avas  paid  toward  the  debt  of  the 
cbureh. 


LYMAX  D.  BAIKD. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  IS] 

CHAPTER  XVir 

MUNICIPAL  AUSTIN. 

Incorporation  of  the  Village  in  1868 — Incorporated  as  a  City- 
Changes  in  Charter— Elective  and  Appointed  Officers  Who 
Have  Served  the  Mvinicipality— Important  Acts  of  the  Suc- 
cessive Councils — Home  Rule  Charter  Adopted— Edited  by 
John  H.  Skinner. 

In  the  early  part  of  1868,  the  people  living  in  the  hamlet  of 
Austin  began  to  feel  the  need  of  a  government  other  than  the 
supervisor  system  under  Avhieh  hamlet  and  township  in  common 
had  been  existing.  Consequently  a  petition  was  circulated 
among  the  citizens  and  presented  to  the  legislature,  asking  for  a 
village  government.  There  being  no  real  opposition  to  the 
measure  the  act  was  passed  IMarch  6,  1868,  and  a  tract  of  laud 
taking  in  the  hamlet  and  lying  west  of  the  Red  Cedar  river  in 
tlie  north-central  part  of  the  township  was  duly  set  aside  and  in- 
corporated as  the  village  of  Austin. 

The  act  provided  that  Tyler  W.  AYoodward,  William  L.  Aus- 
tin and  Jeremiah  B.  Yates  should  act  as  .judges  of  the  election, 
which  was  ordered  to  be  held  May  5.  The  charter  authorized 
the  election  of  a  mayor,  a  recorder,  an  assessor,  a  justice  of  the 
peace  who  should  be  village  justice  and  three  aldermen.  The 
aldermen  and  mayor  were  to  appoint  a  treasurer,  a  marshal,  an 
overseer  for  each  of  road  districts  into  which  the  village  should 
be  divided,  an  attorney  and  a  village  surveyor. 

At  that  time  factional  feeling  ran  high  in  city  and  county 
and  a  fusion  ticket,  proposed  by  some  of  the  more  conservative 
minds,  did  not  materialize.  Instead,  there  were  two  Republican 
and  one  Democratic  ticket  in  the  field.  One  Republican  party, 
which  will  be  here  designated  as  the  independent  Republican 
party,  held  a  caucus  without  having  published  a  formal  call,  and 
nominated  a  ticket.  Another  faction,  which  will  be  here  desig- 
nated as  the  regular  Republicans,  held  a  meeting  in  pursuance 
to  a  call,  and  nominated  a  ticket,  taking  W.  L.  Austin  from  the 
independent  ticket  and  placing  him  in  nomination  as  mayor,  and 
also  borrowing  the  name  of  Seymour  Johnson  from  the  independ- 
ent ticket  and  nominating  him  as  alderman.  The  independents 
then  informally  nominated  two  other  candidates  for  aldermen  to 
take  the  place  of  the  IMessrs.  Austin  and  Jolinson.  The  Dein- 
oerats  nominated  a  regular  ticket. 

The  Republicnii  party,  wliich  liad  llio  majority  of  votes  in 
the  city,  being  tluis   split,   hist   tlic   cUTtion.     There   were  some 


182  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

charges  of  fraud,  it  being  alleged  that  many  of  those  voting  were 
railroad  men  who  were  not,  in  the  strict  meaning  of  the  word, 
residents  of  Austin.  G.  M.  Cameron  was  elected  mayor.  W.  L. 
Austin,  the  regular  Republican,  received  126  votes  and  Dr.  0. 
W.  Gibson,  the  independent  Republican,  received  fifty-six.  B.  J. 
VanValkenburgh,  with  166  votes,  and  J.  B.  Yates,  with  159  votes, 
were  elected  aldermen.  C.  C.  Hunt,  with  150  votes,  was  tied  with 
Jacob  Johnson  for  alderman,  with  150  votes.  Of  the  other  two 
regular  Republicans,  E.  P.  VanValkenburgh  received  137  votes 
and  Seymour  Johnson  125.  Of  the  independent  Republicans,  H. 
AV.  Page  received  sixty-two  votes.  C.  M.  Fernald,  forty-three,  and 
A.  Matson,  thirty-nine.  For  recorder,  George  Baird,  Republican, 
received  155  votes  and  L.  R.  Hathaway,  Democrat,  188,  the  latter 
being  elected.  E.  Maloney,  Democrat,  was  elected  assessor  with 
161  votes,  against  J.  C.  Ackley,  regular  Republican,  avIio  received 
118  votes,  and  J.  F.  Atherton,  independent  Republican,  who  re-' 
ceived  sixty-two.  L.  N.  Griffith,  Democrat,  Avas  elected  village 
iind  civil  justice,  with  166  votes.  C.  J.  Shortt,  regular  Repub- 
lican, received  135,  and  Robert  Mathes,  independent  Republican, 
received  thirty-two.  The  Democrats  thus  appear  to  have  won 
out  for  every  office.  A  A-ote  was  also  cast  for  civil  justice  and 
constables,  though  no  provision  for  such  election  was  made  in 
the  charter. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Austin  village  council  was  held  in  the 
law  office  of  Cameron  &  Johnson,  ]\Iay  16,  1868.  The  council  was 
called  to  order  by  Mayor  Cameron,  and  Aldermen  B.  J.  Van 
Valkenburgh  and  J.  B.  Yates  were  present.  By  reason  of  the 
tie  vote,  the  office  of  the  third  alderman  was  declared  unfilled, 
and  the  appointment  of  Jacob  Johnson  Avas  made  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy, wliereupon  Mr.  Johnson  took  his  seat.  The  folloAving  ap- 
pointments Avere  made:  Treasurer,  "William  T.  Brown;  attorney, 
A.  S.  Everest;  surveyor,  D.  B.  Johnson;  marshal,  Carlos  Fenton. 
The  road  overseers  Avere  selected  as  folloAvs:  1,  east  of  Main 
street,  W.  T.  Manderville;  2,  south  of  Maple  and  Avest  of  IMain ; 
8,  north  of  Maple  and  AA'est  of  j\Iain,  James  Kennevan.  Fire 
limits  Avere  established,  and  a  lock-up  provided  for. 

In  1868,  about  the  time  of  incorporation,  the  Aallage  contained 
six  churches,  two  schoolhouses,  one  of  Avhich  was  a  brick  struc- 
ture, costing  about  $6,000,  two  newspapers,  nine  dry  goods  stores, 
four  grocery  stores,  three  drug  stores,  four  hardware  stores,  tAVO 
clotliing  stores,  one  book  store,  two  confectionery  stores,  three 
boot  and  shoe  stores,  four  millinery  stores,  tAvo  jcAvelry  stores,  four 
fiour  and  feed  stores,  and  one  agricultural  store.  In  the  manufac- 
turing line  there  Avere  one  ploAV  manufactory,  one  foundry  and 
machine  shop,  one  planing  mill,  one  sash  and  blind  factory,  one 
steam  saAvmill,  three  flouring  mills,  three  brick  yards,  four  lum- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK'  COUNTY  183 

ber  yards,  one  carriage  shop  and  two  furniture  manufactories. 
There  were  also  two  livery  stables,  three  restaurants  and  three 
billiard  halls.  Already  four  large  business  blocks  had  been  built. 
There  were  six  tloui-ishing  churches,  one  Masonic  lodge,  one  lodge 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  two  bodies  of  Good  Templars.  11.  W.  Page 
had  a  bank  here,  three  good  hotels  were  in  operation,  and  the 
C.,  M.  &  St.  Paul  was  still  the  only  railroad,  although  there  were 
rumors  of  many  others. 

In  1869  an  amendment  to  the  charter  passed  the  legislature, 
providing,  among  other  changes,  for  the  election  by  the  people  of  a 
maj'or,  recorder,  assessor,  justice  of  the  peace  who  should  be 
village  justice,  two  other  justices  of  the  peace,  a  marshal,  a  city 
treasurer,  and  three  aldermen.  A  road  overseer,  a  village  attor- 
ney and  a  village  surveyor  were  to  be  appointed. 

At  the  election  of  1869,  two  tickets  were  presented.  The 
People's  Reform  ticket  Avas  largely  a  temperance  move,  while 
the  opposition  party  called  itself  the  Citizens"  Union  ticket.  W. 
L.  Ausli.i  headed  the  People's  Reform  ticket,  P.  B.  Basford  Avas 
nominated  for  mayor  on  the  Citizens'  Union  ticket,  and  John  F. 
Cook  was  the  rallying  point  of  those  w^ho  favored  neither  of 
these  parties.  AA'ith  two  exceptions,  the  entire  People's  Reform 
ticket  was  elected  as  follows :  Mayor,  "W.  L.  Austin ;  aldermen, 
A.  J  Phelps,  J.  S.  Day  and  Orlenzer  Allen;  recorder,  L.  Boure- 
gard ;  treasurer,  Stephen  M.  Darrah ;  marshal,  Ilenrj^  J.  Gillham 
(Gillham  ran  on  the  Citizens'  Union  ticket  and  defeated  Andrew 
Knox);  assessor,  E.  Maloney;  ''city  and  civil  justice,"  C.  L. 
Chase:  "civil  justice,"  J.  H.  MeClentic  (McClentic  ran  on  the 
Citizens'  Union  ticket  and  defeated  AY.  L.  Manderville  of  the 
People's  Refoi'm  ticket  and  B.  J.  Jones,  who  ran  independently). 
The  charter  of  the  village  provided  for  the  election  of  a  village 
justice  and  tAvo  justices  of  the  peace,  and  it  will  be  seen  that 
neither  the  designation  nor  the  number  of  justices  elected  agreed 
Avith  the  charter.  A  village  surveyor  and  constables  were  also 
voted  for,  although  there  Avas  no  proA'ision  for  such  balloting  in 
•  the  charter,  and  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  it  had  expressly  been 
proA'ided  that  the  A'illage  surA'cyor  should  be  appointed  and  not 
elected.  E.  D.  Fenton  and  George  Litchfield  Avere  the  tAvo  receiv- 
ing votes  for  the  office  of  constable,  and  S.  Burke  Aviis  tlie  only 
one  A'oted  for  as  A-illage  surveyor.  The  council,  at  its  first  meet- 
ing, shoAved  a  like  disregard  for  the  charter,  Avhen  three  road 
overseers  instead  of  one  Avere  appointed  as  follows:  1.  J.  F.  Key- 
ser;  2,  A.  S.  Hall;  3,  J.  C.  Smith.  D.  B.  Johnson.  Jr.,  was  ap- 
pointed attorney.  Later  McClentic  Avas  replaced  by  "\Y.  T.  Man- 
derA'ille  as  "Civil  Justice,"  Hall  AA^as  replaced  by  O.  W.  Firkins 
as  road  overseer  of  district  No.  2 ;  and  D.  B.  Johnson.  Jr.,  Avas  re- 
placed hy  A.  S.  Everest  as  attorney.    January  18,  1870,  Orlenzer 


18i  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUXTY 

Allen  resigned  as  alderman  and  was  replaced  by  W.  W.  Brown- 
son,  and  on  July  3,  1870,  Sylvester  Smith  took  the  place  of  Alder- 
man Day,  who  also  resigned. 

In  1870  the  charter  was  still  further  amended.  It  was  pro- 
vided that  the  village  limits  should  be  all  of  section  3,  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  2,  and  the  Avest  half  of  the  west  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  2,  all  in  township  102,  range  18. 
It  was  also  provided  that  there  should  be  elected  a  mayor,  three 
aldermen,  two  justices  of  the  peace  (to  serve  for  two  years),  a 
recorder,  an  assessor,  a  treasurer,  and  two  constables  (to  serve 
for  two  years).  The  marshal,  the  attorney  and  the  road  over- 
seer were  to  be  appointed  by  the  council. 

The  election  of  1870  resulted  in  a  victory  of  a  Union  ticket 
over  the  Republican  and  Independent  tickets,  the  entire  Union 
ticket,  with  the  exception  of  one  constable,  being  elected  as  fol- 
lows :  Mayor,  J.  F.  Cook ;  aldermen,  W.  ^A^.  Brownson,  P.  B.  Bas- 
f ord  and  H.  S.  Smith ;  recorder,  John  AA'alsh ;  treasurer,  I.  A. 
Wood;  assessor,  R.  I.  Smith;  justices,  A.  J.  Phelps  and  W.  H. 
Merrick;  constables,  0.  J.  Johnson  (Republican)  and  T.  K. 
Kaiser.  The  council  appointed  G.  M.  Cameron,  village  attorney; 
John  Minette,  marshal;  H.  L.  Percival,  road  overseer.  I.  A. 
Wood  died  October  11,  and  G.  G.  Clemmer  was  named  in  his  place 
as  village  treasurer. 

In  1871,  the  Adllage  received  practically  a  new  charter.  The 
people  were  to  elect  six  aldermen,  three  justices  of  the  peace, 
three  constables  and  one  assessor.  The  six  aldermen,  who  were 
to  represent  the  three  wards  into  which  the  village  was  divided, 
were  to  appoint  a  president,  a  recorder  and  a  treasurer  from 
their  own  number,  and  in  addition  to  this  Avere  to  name  road 
overseers,  attorney,  marshal  and  printer. 

For  the  first  time,  the  election  Avas  held  in  each  of  the  three 
Avards.  In  the  first  Avard,  Avhere  three  tickets,  Citizens',  Repub- 
lican and  Democratic,  were  presented,  the  Citizens'  ticket  Avon, 
and  Sylvester  Smith  and  L.  N.  Griffith  Avere  elected  aldermen. 
In  the  second  Avard  the  Democratic  candidates,  H.  J.  Gillham 
and  J.  H.  C.  Huxhold,  Avon  against  the  Republican  candidates. 
In  the  third  ward  the  Republicans  Avon  out  against  the  Dem- 
ocrats and  elected  E.  W.  Kells  and  Charles  Cook.  William  Rich- 
ards, Democrat,  was  elected  assessor.  At  the  organization  of  the 
council,  Sylvester  Smith  Avas  appointed  president,  L.  N.  Grif- 
fith, recorder,  and  H.  J.  Gillham,  treasurer.  The  folloAving  ap- 
pointments were  also  made :    Road  oA^erseers :    1,  T.  Hinchey ;  2, 

BreAver ;  3,  R.  J.  Tyler ;  attorney,  G.  M.  Cameron ;  mar- 

slial,  Carlos  Fenton.  During  the  year,  Kells  resigned  as  alder- 
man, and  on  December  1,  1871,  his  place  Avas  taken  by  T.  W. 
Hazleton. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  185 

In  3872,  the  charter  was  again  amended.  The  amendment 
took  the  appointive  power  practically  ont  of  the  hands  of  the 
council.  The  people  were  to  elect  six  aldermen,  three  justices  of 
the  peace,  three  constables,  one  assessor,  one  street  commissioner, 
one  village  attorney  and  three  road  overseers,  while  the  coun- 
cil was  to  select  from  its  own  numbers  a  president,  a  recorder 
and  a  treasurer. 

The  election  was  devoid  of  much  of  the  discord  that  had  char- 
acterized the  previous  selection  of  officers.  A  straight  Republican 
ticket  was  placed  in  nomination  against  Citizens',  People's  and 
Democratic  tickets.  The  following  officers  were  elected:  At 
large:  J.  M.  Greenman ;  assessor,  D.  J.  Tubbs;  street  commis- 
sioner, J.  B.  Yates.  First  ward,  aldermen,  G.  G.  Clemmer  and 
Seymour  Johnson ;  justice  of  the  peace,  W.  H.  Merrick ;  constable, 
W.  B.  Graham;  road  overseer,  Thomas  Hinchy.  Second  ward, 
aldermen,  H.  J.  Gillham  and  J.  H.  C.  Huxhold  (Huxhold,  W.  T. 
AVilkins  and  N.  K.  Noble  were  tied,  but  upon  the  casting  of  lots 
the  choice  fell  iipon  Huxhold)  ;  justice  of  the  peace,  T.  W.  Wood- 
ard;  constable,  James  Konkel;  road  overseer,  Patrick  Garaghty. 
Third  ward,  aldermen,  W.  W.  BroAvnson  and  G.  L.  Seofield ;  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  Jesse  Rose;  constable,  John  Minette ;  road  over- 
seer, Thomas  Hinchy.  The  only  ones  elected  on  the  straight 
Republicaji  ticket  were  Rose,  Clemmer  and  Whipple.  Brownson, 
Seofield  and  Minette  were  elected  on  a  straight  Democratic 
ticket.  The  others  were  elected  on  People's  or  Citizens'  tickets, 
or  in  the  ease  of  the  three  officers  at  large,  on  a  combined  Dem- 
ocratic, People's  and  Citizens'  ticket.  At  the  organization  of  the 
council,  G.  G.  Clemmer  was  made  president;  Seymour  Johnson, 
recorder,  and  "W.  W.  Brownson,  treasurer.  Mr.  Clemmer  re- 
signed July  22,  and  his  place  was  taken  by  A.  J.  Phelps ;  Mr. 
Seofield  resigned  April  22,  and  his  place  Avas  taken  by  F.  A. 
Engle. 

February  23,  1873,  the  village  charter  was  amended  in  several 
particulars,  and  the  word  "city"  substituted  throughout  for 
"village."  Each  ward  was  to  have  three  aldermen,  one  con- 
stable and  one  overseer  of  roads.  There  were  to  be  elected  at 
large  a  city  recorder,  a  city  treasurer,  a  street  commissioner,  a 
city  attorney  and  a  city  assessor. 

Two  tickets  were  in  the  field,  one  put  up  by  tlio  Republicans 
and  the  other  by  a  mixture  of  Democrats  and  Republicans,  called 
the  People's  ticket.  The  latter  was  victorious,  witli  the  excep- 
tion of  one  alderman  eacli,  in  the  second  and  third  wards  respec- 
tively, and  the  city  attorney.  These  candidates  were  tied  in  the 
returns,  but  as  two  votes  had  been  cast  for  T.  '^L  Hawkins  the. 
judges  decided  to  regard  the  intention,  and  counted  these  votes 
in  favor  of  I.  N.  Hawkins,  giving  him  the  election  by  two  votes 


186  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

over  J.  X.  Greenman.  The  ticket  elected  follows :  At  large:  At- 
torney, I.  N.  Hawkins ;  treasurer,  W.  T.  Wilkins ;  recorder,  0.  H. 
Shepley;  assessor,  D.  T.  Tubbs;  street  commissioner,  C.  P.  Ken- 
yon.  First  ward,  aldermen,  P.  0.  French,  A.  Frederick  and  C.  N. 
Beiseker ;  road  overseer,  Geo.  B.  Morse ;  constable,  Knut  Good- 
son.  Second  Avard,  aldermen,  Peter  Gies,  D.  B.  Smith  and  H.  A. 
Fairbanks;  road  overseer,  P.  Geraghty.  Third  ward,  aldermen, 
J.  H.  Benson,  L.  B.  Abbott  and  J.  H.  Totten ;  justice  of  the  peace, 
John  Houk ;  road  overseer,  A.  Whipple ;  constable,  John  Minette. 
It  will  be  seen  that  only  the  third  ward  voted  for  a  justice,  and 
practically  only  the  third  ward  for  constable,  Mr.  Goodson  re- 
ceiving but  six  votes.  The  council  selected  D.  B.  Smith  as  presi- 
dent. J.  H.  Totten  resigned  October  6,  and  his  place  was  filled 
November  4,  by  T.  F.  Armstrong ;  0.  H.  Shepley  resigned  October 
6  and  his  place  was  filled  November  4,  by  Russ  B.  Davis;  Isaac 
N.  Hawkins  resigned  October  13,  and  his  place  was  filled  Novem- 
ber 4,  by  G.  M.  Cameron. 

In  1874  and  1875  there  were  no  changes  in  the  city  charter. 

In  1874,  two  tickets  were  in  the  field.  One  was  designated  as 
the  ''Anti-Monopolists'  "  and  the  other  as  the  "People's."  In 
the  third  ward,  the  former  party  only  was  in  the  field,  though 
there  were  several  independent  candidates  in  the  field  in  that 
ward.  A  preconcerted  efi^ort  was  made  throughout  the  city  to  de- 
feat the  Anti-Monopolists'  candidates  for  justice  of  the  peace  in 
all  the  wards,  but  the  cfi'ort  Avas  successful  only  in  the  second 
Avard,  where  R.  I.  Smith  defeated  T.  ^Y.  Woodard.  The  ticket 
elected  Avas  as  folloAvs :  Recorder,  R.  B.  Davis ;  city  attorney,  G. 
M.  Cameron ;  city  assessor,  "William  Richards ;  city  treasurer,  C. 
W.  Austin;  street  commissioner,  Christian  Johnson;  aldermen, 
-John  F.  Cook,  Seymour  Johnson  and  B.  F.  Morgan ;  J.  C.  Kaiser, 
R.  N.  Paden  and  D.  B.  Smith ;  J.  F.  Atherton,  John  Bache  and 
John  Varger ;  justices  of  the  peace  L.  N.  Griffith,  R.  I.  Smith  and 
J.  S.  Putnam ;  constables,  "William  Olson,  George  Martin  and  John 
Minette ;  road  overseers ;  R.  J.  Tyler,  P.  Geraghty  and  J.  Gal- 
lagher. Bache  resigned  and  Varger  did  not  qualify.  An  election 
was  held  April  17  to  fill  the  vacancies,  and  Thomas  Meany  and 
C.  B.  Slade  Avere  elected.  The  president  of  the  council  this  year 
Avas  D.  B.  Smith. 

In  1875,  the  folloAving  officers  Avere  elected:  Recorder,  Robert 
Griffith;  city  attorney,  John  T.  Carey;  treasurer,  Rudolph  Dun- 
kelman ;  assessor,  John  Walsh ;  street  commissioner,  John  F. 
Cook ;  aldermen,  R.  0.  French,  0.  E.  Anderson,  A.  Friedrich ;  E. 
C.  Dorr,  F.  J.  Mayhew,  D.  B.  Smith,  Michael  Collins,  Charles  B. 
Slade,  D.  G.  Wachlin ;  road  overseers,  S.  Gates,  Patrick  Geraghty, 
Patrick  Conlon:  constable,  C.  H.  Gatfield. 

Till'   iiicorporntiou    of   tbe   city   of  Austin    really   dates   from 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  187 

February  28,  1876,  although  the  name  "city"  had  been  used 
since  1873.  The  new  city  charter  described  the  limits  of  the  city 
as  follows:  The  north  half  of  section  3;  all  the  south  half  of 
section  3  lying  west  of  the  Cedar  river ;  all  that  part  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  2,  surveyed  and  platted  as  part  of  Bal- 
com's  addition  to  the  village  of  Austin;  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  2 ;  and  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
2,  all  in  tOAvnship  102,  north  of  range  18,  west.  There  were  to  be 
tliree  wards,  one  on  the  west  side  of  the  Red  Cedar,  and  two  on 
the  east  side,  divided  by  the  center  line  of  Bridge  and  Center 
streets.  There  Avere  to  be  elected  a  mayor,  treasurer,  recorder 
and  one  assessor,  at  large ;  and  from  each  ward,  two  aldermen, 
one  justice  of  the  peace  and  one  constable. 

The  election  took  place  March  12.  Not  for  several  years  had 
there  been  exhibited  so  great  an  interest  in  a  local  election. 
There  were  two  tickets  in  the  field,  the  People's  and  the  Repub- 
lican. In  the  first  and  third  wards  the  former  ticket  won  out, 
while  in  the  second  the  latter  triumphed,  with  the  exception  of 
the  constable.  W.  T.  Wilkins,  the  candidate  for  treasurer  on 
the  People's  ticket,  threw  his  influence  on  the  side  of  the  oppos- 
ing candidate,  but  even  then  was  defeated  by  but  one  vote.  The 
following  were  elected,  all  being  on  the  People's  ticket  unless 
otherwise  indicated.  At  large :  !Mayor,  P.  0.  French ;  assessor, 
William  Richards  (Republican)  ;  recorder,  Robert  Griffith  (no 
opposition)  ;  treasurer,  R.  Dunkelman.  First  ward,  Joseph 
Schwan,  H.  E.  Anderson,  aldermen;  L.  N.  Griffith,  justice; 
Thomas  Riley  (independent),  constable.  Second  ward,  E.  P. 
VanValkenburgh,  Oscar  Ayers  (both  Republican),  aldermen:  T. 
"W.  Woodard  (Republican),  justice;  James  Konkle,  constable. 
Third  ward,  Thomas  Meany.  Lewis  Beckel,  aldermen;  J.  S.  Put- 
nam, justice;  John  iMinette,  constable.  The  office  of  Lewis 
Beckel  was  taken  in  January,  1877,  by  C.  C.  Kinsman.  Patrick 
Geraghty  was  appointed  street  commissioner  and  Thomas  Riley, 
chief  of  police. 

The  election  of  1877  was  cjuiet,  and  while  there  were  two 
tickets  in  the  field,  the  candidates  for  most  of  the  important  of- 
fices were  identical  on  both  sides.  In  the  second  ward,  Joseph 
Reinsmith  and  E.  J.  Phillips  wc-re  tied  for  alderman,  and  by  lot 
the  choice  fell  on  the  former.  It  was  also  found  that  the  electors 
had  made  a  mistake  in  the  middle  initial  of  C.  A.  Pooler,  but 
that  matter  was  also  satisfactorily  settled.  The  following  officers 
were  elected:  ^Mayor,  E.  C.  Dorr;  treasurer,  C.  A.  Pooler;  as- 
sessor, Robert  ^McDonald :  recorder.  Robert  Griffith ;  aldermen 
first  ward.  George  H.  "Wilbour;  second  ward,  Joseph  Reinsmitii : 
third  ward,  C.  C.  Kinsman.  Aldermen  Schwan,  VanValkenburgh 
{<nd  ]Meany  held  over  from  the  previous  year. 


188  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COU^sTY 

In  1878  the  question  of  license  and  no  license  was  the  principal 
issue,  the  temperance  people  winning  out  on  the  no  license  propo- 
sition by  a  vote  of  406  to  155.  Republican  and  Democratic  tick- 
ets were  in  the  field.  In  the  following  list  of  officers  the  word 
"Union"  does  not  signify  a  Union  ticket,  but  indicates  that  the 
candidate  mentioned  was  nominated  on  both  tickets :  Mayor,  E. 
P.  VanValkenburgh  (Union)  ;  recorder,  Robert  Griffith  (Union)  ; 
treasurer,  C.  A.  Pooler  (Republican)  ;  assessor,  Oscar  Ayers  (Re- 
publican). First  ward,  aldermen,  J.  B.  Yates  (Democrat);  jus- 
tice, L.  N.  Griffith  (Democrat)  ;  constable,  Thomas  Riley  (Union). 
Second  ward,  aldermen,  James  McGrath  (Union)  ;  justice,  N.  K. 
Noble  (Republican);  constable,  R.  J.  McDonald  (Republican). 
Third  Avard,  aldermen,  Thomas  Meany  (Democrat)  ;  justice, 
Jesse  Rose  (Republican)  :  constable,  John  Minette  (Democrat). 
Aldermen  "\Yilboiir,  Reinsmith  and  Kinsman  held  over  from  the 
preAdous  year.  J.  B.  Yates  retired  October  21,  1878,  and  his 
place  was  taken  by  Seymour  Johnson.  Joseph  Reinsmith  re- 
tired the  same  date  and  his  office  was  filled  by  E.  C.  Dorr.  Pat- 
rick Geraghty,  wlio  was  appointed  street  commissioner,  resigned 
July  1,  and  his  place  Avas  taken  by  J.  Woodard.  Thomas  Riley 
Avas  chief  of  police. 

In  1879  the  city  Avent  back  to  the  license  plan,  the  vote  being 
283  to  239.  The  People's  ticket  Avas  Adctorious,  AAath  the  excep- 
tion of  one  instance  in  the  second  Avard,  AA'here  H.  W.  Page,  the 
temperance  candidate,  Avon  out  over  W.  L.  Hollister.  The  entire 
list  of  officers  for  the  year  1879  is  as  folloAVs:  Mayor,  H.  B. 
Ball;  aldermen,  Seymour  Johnson  (held  OA^er),  George  E.  "Wil- 
bour,  James  McGrath  (held  over),  Harlan  "VY.  Page,  Thomas 
Meany  (held  over),  and  Jacob  Weisel;  recorder,  Robert  Griffith; 
treasurer,  C.  A.  Pooler;  assessor,  Oscar  Ayers;  street  commis- 
sioner, T.  K.  Keyser ;  chief  of  police,  Thomas  Riley. 

In  1880,  the  officers  of  the  city  were  as  folloAvs :  Mayor,  H.  B. 
Ball ;  treasurer.  Fay  R.  Smith  :  recorder,  Robert  Griffith ;  assessor, 
E.  D.  Fenton ;  aldermen,  Peter  Gies,  E.  J.  Phillips,  A.  Fairbanks ; 
justices,  L.  N.  Griffith,  N.  K.  Noble,  E.  H.  Gerard;  constables, 
Thomas  Riley,  James  Konkle,  John  IMinette.  The  vote  in  favor 
of  license  Avas  249  to  180.  The  hold-over  aldermen  w^ere  George 
E.  Wilbour,  Harlan  W.  Page  and  Jacob  "Weisel.  The  place  of  A. 
Fairbanks  Avas  taken  by  D.  J.  Ames,  May  7,  1880.  Patrick 
Geraghty  was  appointed  street  commissioner  and  Thomas  Riley 
chief  of  police. 

In,  1881,  the  Republican  ticket  Avas  elected  throughout,  Avith 
the  exception  of  one  alderman  in  the  first  Avard,  George  W.  Fish 
being  elected  over  George  E.  Wilbour.  The  complete  list  of  of- 
ficers follows:  'Mayor.  E.  C.  Dorr:  recorder,  Robert  Griffith; 
treasurer.  F.  R.  Smitli ;  assessor,  Josepli  Adams:  aldermen,  George 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  18!^ 

W.  Fish,  R.  0.  Hall,  Jacob  Weisel.  Vote  in  favor  of  court  house 
bonds,  398  to  14;  vote  in  favor  of  license,  246  to  106.  Alderineu 
Gies,  Phillips  and  Ames  held  over.  The  street  commissioner  and 
chief  of  police  were  the  same  as  during  the  previous  year. 

In  1882,  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Mayor,  E.  C. 
Dorr;  treasurer.  Fay  R.  Smith;  assessor,  G.  E.  Wilbour;  recorder, 
Robert  Griffith;  aldermen.  Orris  Hayes,  E.  J.  Phillips,  Thomas 
Meany :  justices,  L.  N.  Griffith,  N.  K.  Noble  and  J.  B.  AYaddick ; 
constables,  Thomas  Riley,  Y.  T.  Cameron  and  William  Way. 

In  1883  the  officers  elected  were:  Mayor,  E.  C.  Dorr;  asses- 
sor, George  E.  Wilbour;  treasurer,  J.  H.  Patterson;  recorder, 
Robert  Griffith ;  aldermen,  H.  S.  Smith,  R.  0.  Hall,  J.  Weisel.  A. 
Frederick,  who  was  nominated  for  mayor,  declined  to  run. 

In  1884,  E.  C.  Dorr  was  again  elected.  The  other  officers 
elected  were :  Assessor,  G.  E.  Wilbour ;  treasurer,  J.  H.  Patter- 
son; recorder,  Robert  Griffith;  justices,  James  D.  Sheedy  and  N. 
K.  Noble ;  aldermen,  Ed.  A.  Dallager,  Geo.  II.  Litchfield  and  C.  J. 
Miller;  constables,  Thomas  Rilev,  Y.  T.  Cameron  and  William 
H.  Way. 

In  1885,  Lafayette  French  became  mayor.  The  other  officers 
elected  were:  Recorder,  Robert  Griffith;  treasurer,  J.  H.  Patter- 
son ;  assessor,  F.  K.  Keyser ;  aldermen,  Joseph  Adams,  P.  C.  Sul- 
livan and  H.  Herzog. 

In  1886  all  the  Republican  candidates  were  elected  except  one, 
A.  H.  Loucks,  a  Democrat,  being  elected  treasurer.  The  full  list 
of  officers  elected  consisted  of:  Mayor,  Lafayette  French;  re- 
corder, Robert  Griffith ;  treasurer.  A.  H.  Loucks ;  assessor,  George 
E.  Wilbour ;  aldermen,  C.  H.  Davidson.  Andrew  Knox,  C.  J.  Mil- 
ler; justices,  N.  K.  Noble,  M.  J.  Engle,  J.  D.  Sheedy;  constables, 
Thomas  Riley,  Jolm  Beckel,  William  Way. 

In  1887  the  new  charter  provided  for  the  election  of  an  alder- 
man at  large  as  well  as  one  from  each  of  the  wards.  The  officers 
elected  were :  Mayor,  Lafayette  French ;  recorder,  J.  H.  JNIake- 
peace ;  treasurer,  A.  H.  Loucks ;  assessor,  George  E.  Wilbour ; 
aldermen,  C.  N.  Beiseker,  L.  E.  Day,  B.  W.  Lovell,  D.  A.  McFad- 
den:  constables  (to  fill  vacancies),  E.  R.  Earl,  John  Beckel. 

In  1888,  the  Democrats  elected  a  mayor  and  the  alderman  at 
large.  The  officers  elected  were :  Mayor,  O.  W.  Gibson  ;  recorder. 
Johan  Wold ;  assessor,  George  E.  Wilbour ;  trea.surer,  N.  F.  Ban- 
field  ;  aldermen,  William  Todd,  Seymour  Johnson.  C.  L.  West,  C. 
J.  Miller;  justices,  James  Sheedy,  N.  K.  Noble,  E.  Myers;  eon- 
stables,  C.  Ed  Clark,  Jerry  Ingalls,  John  Beckel.  The  council 
elected  Patrick  Geraghty  street  commissioner.  ^Tayor  Gib.son 
nominated  Y.  T.  Cameron  chief  of  police,  but  the  council  refused 
to  confirm  the  appointment.  As  soon  as  the  vote  was  announced. 
Mayor  Gibson  nominated  J.  H.  INFakepeace  for  the  place  and  he 


190  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

also  failed  of  confirmation,  so  Jerry  Ingalls  continued  to  hold 
the  office  of  chief  of  police.  Dr.  Phillips  resigned  as  chairman 
of  the  board  of  health  and  Dr.  J.  N.  Wheat  was  appointed  to  till 
the  vacancy.  It  was  in  this  year  that  Ira  Padden,  who  for  so 
many  years  represented  the  third  ward,  came  to  the  city  council. 
A  special  election  was  held  on  April  19  of  this  year  to  elect  an 
alderman.  Thomas  Meany  received  102  votes  and  William  Du- 
gan  103  votes.  When  the  council  came  to  canvass  the  vote,  it 
passed  a  resolution  declaring  the  election  invalid ;  the  returns 
appeared  illegal  on  the  face.  Another  election  Avas  held  May  1, 
Avhen  Ira  Padden  secured  all  but  seven  of  the  votes  east  at  the 
election.  J.  M.  Greenman  was  elected  city  attorney  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  water  works.  J.  H.  Makepeace,  who  failed  to 
become  chief  of  police,  was  made  fire  marshal  July  6. 

In  1889,  the  following  ticket  was  elected:  Mayor,  0.  W. 
Gibson ;  alderman  at  large,  T.  F.  Leonard ;  treasurer,  N.  F.  Ban- 
field  ;  assessor,  George  E.  Wilbour ;  recorder,  Johan  Wold ;  alder- 
men, L.  E.  Day,  E.  J.  Phillips,  Ira  Padden;  justice  of  the  peace, 
E.  Myers.  Appointments  were  made  as  follows:  Chief  of  po- 
lice, J.  E.  Ingalls;  J.  M.  Greenman,  city  attorney  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  water  Avorks ;  E.  J.  Ames,  fire  marshal.  Alder- 
man Phillips  resigned  November  1,  and  B.  'W.  LoA'ell  Avas  chosen 
by  the  council  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

In  1890  the  ticket  elected  was:  Mayor,  0.  W.  Gibson;  treas- 
urer, N.  P.  Banfield ;  assessor,  George  E.  Wilbour;  recorder, 
Johan  Wold;  aldermen,  Joseph  Adams,  Seymour  Johnson,  C.  L. 
West,  J.  T.  Sargent,  L.  G.  Campbell ;  justices,  J.  D.  Sheedy,  N.  K. 
Noble,  F.  H.  Stokes;  constables,  F.  Riley,  J.  E.  Ingalls,  John 
Beckel.  The  folloAving  appointments  were  made:  Joseph 
Lamping,  street  commissioner :  E.  J.  Ames,  fire  marshal.  October 
3,  Lamping  resigned  and  E.  J.  McGovern  was  elected  to  fill 
the  vacancy.  Greenman  continued  to  hold  the  offices  of  superin- 
tendent of  Avater  Avorks  and  city  attorney  and  Ingalls  Avas 
chief  of  police. 

In  1891,  the  folloAving  ticket  Avas  elected:  ]Mayor,  C.  H. 
Johnson ;  treasurer,  N.  F.  Banfield ;  assessor,  George  E.  Wil- 
bour;  recorder,  Johan  Wold;  aldermen,  Joseph  Adams,  L.  A. 
Foots,  J.  T.  Sargent,  Ira  Padden ;  justices  of  the  peace,  W.  H. 
Hazel,  W.  W.  Ranney.  The  following  appointments  Avere  made: 
J.  I\r.  Girreenman,  city  attorney  and  superintendent  of  Avater 
Avorks;  Jerry  Ingalls.  chief  of  police;  E.  J.  Ames,  fire  marshal; 
E.  J.  McGovern,  street  commissioner.  William  Todd  was  appointed 
to  succeed  M.  Becker,  chief  engineer  of  the  Avater  works.  This 
year  the  council  voted  to  use  the  old  Methodist  church  for  a 
city  linll.     T!i(>  building  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Carnegie  Public 


HISTOKY  OF  MO\VEI{  COUN'J'Y  l!il 

Library.  The  question  of  liquor  license  had  been  submitted  to 
the  people,  the  vote  being,  for  license  498,  and  against  119. 

In  1892,  the  officers  elected  were:  Mayor,  C.  II.  Johnson; 
treasurer.  N.  F.  Banfield;  assessor,  G.  E.  Wilbour;  recorder, 
Johan  Wold;  aldermen,  Joseph  Adams,  John  Robertson,  Wilson 
Beach  (for  one  year),  H.  S.  Merrill  (for  two  years),  L.  G.  Camp- 
bell ;  justices  of  the  peace,  C.  J.  Short,  W.  AV.  Ranney,  F.  II. 
Stokes ;  constables,  Frank  Riley,  J.  E.  Ingalls,  Grant  Miller.  The 
following  appointments  were  made :  City  attorney  and  superin- 
tendent of  water  works,  J.  M.  Greenman ;  fire  chief,  E.  J.  Ames ; 
street  commissioner,  E.  J.  McGovern ;  chief  of  police,  Jerry  In- 
galls. On  May  20,  Alderman  Foote  resigned  and  George  Burn- 
ham  was  elected  by  the  council  to  fill  the  vacancy.  H.  S.  Merrill 
also  resigned  from  the  board  and  T.  F.  Leonard  was  elected 
hy  the  council  to  fill  the  vacancy.  It  is  interesting  to  know  that 
the  council  passed  the  first  street-paving  resolution  and  also 
inaiigurated  the  present  sewer  system  as  mapped  out  by  Expert 
Engineer  Tchirgi. 

In  1893,  the  following  officers  were  elected  and  appointments 
made  :  Mayor,  C.  H.  Johnson  ;  recorder,  Johan  Wold ;  treasurer, 
J.  L.  Mitchell;  assessor,  George  E.  Wilbour;  aldermen,  E.  C. 
Dorr,  A.  W.  Wright,  T.  F.  Leonard  (to  fill  vacancy),  R.  E.  Shep- 
herd, Ira  Padden;  constable,  third  ward,  N.  N.  Wilsey.  For 
license  395,  against  233.  City  attorney  and  superintendent  of 
water  works.  J.  M.  Greenman;  fire  marshal,  Thomas  Dugan; 
chief  of  police,  J.  E.  Ingalls ;  street  commissioner,  Chris  Han- 
son; chairman  board  of  health.  Dr.  Wheat.  The  records  show 
that  on  ]\Iay  5.  James  M.  Gait  became  chief  of  police. 

LTp  to  this  time  Austin  had  used  the  ordinary  kerosene  lamps 
for  street  lights  and  each  council  was  called  upon  to  decide  who 
should  be  official  lamp  lighter  from  among  a  large  number  of 
applicants.  In  the  summer  of  1893,  a  private  concern  known  as 
the  Austin  Electric  Light  Company  asked  the  city  to  enter  into 
a  contract  for  lighting  the  city  with  electricity.  This  innova- 
tion met  with  unanimous  approbation  of  the  council  and  the  of- 
ficial lamp  lighter,  like  Othello,  lost  his  occupation. 

In  1894,  a  Republican  mayor  was  elected  for  the  first  time  in 
seven  years,  being  placed  in  office  by  a  majority  of  twenty- 
five  votes,  out  of  1,049  cast.  The  complete  ticket  elected  was: 
Mayor,  Lyman  D.  Baird :  recorder,  Johan  Wold ;  treasurer,  H.  L. 
Banfield ;  assessor,  J.  C.  Belding :  aldermen.  Jacob  Weisel,  John 
Robertson.  Henry  Curtis.  John  Gulden:  justices.  J.  E.  Robin- 
son, AV.  AV.  Ranney.  F.  II.  Stokes:  constables.  J.  AI.  Gait,  John 
Alanning,  L.  N.  AAlllsey.  Tlie  year  1894  was  a  strenuous  one. 
The  great  railway  strike  had  thrown  many  men  out  of  work, 
and  the  council,  to  keep  the  unemployed,  hired  many  of  them 


193  HISTOKY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

to  work  on  city  improvements.  Feeling  against  the  railroads 
ran  high  and  when,  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  road  built  a  high  board 
fence  along  the  east  side  of  its  yards,  shutting  off  all  travel  on 
certain  streets  that  crossed  the  yards,  there  was  great  indigna- 
tion. The  council  held  a  special  meeting  and  passed  a  resolu- 
tion condemning  the  action  of  the  railroad  in  "unlawfully  ob- 
structing some  of  our  streets"  and  ordered  street  superintendent 
Chris  Hanson  to  tear  down  the  fence  where  Bridge  street  crossed 
the  tracks.  Tlie  railroad  got  busy  and  at  the  next  meeting  of 
the  council,  which  was  held  March  2,  1895,  the  same  council 
that  ordered  the  fence  torn  down,  ordered  the  same  street 
superintendent  to  erect  the  fence  and  put  it  in  as  good  condi- 
tion as  if  was  originally.  A  petition  addressed  to  the  railroad 
company  by  the  council  asked  that  the  company  allow  the  use 
of  a  foot-path  across  the  tracks,  the  city  agreeing  to  pay  the 
salary  of  a  flagman  to  be  stationed  at  the  crossing.  The  coun- 
cil also  asked  the  county  commissioners  to  erect  a  A'iaduct 
over  the  tracks.  That  body  Avas  not  sure  that  the  county  funds 
could  be  expended  for  such  a  purpose,  but  agreed  to  erect  such 
a  structure,  provided  the  city  would  agree  to  repay  the  county 
the  sum  of  $5,000,  the  cost  of  the  viaduct,  should  the  courts 
decide  that  the  couny  board  had  ordered  contrary  to  law.  The 
iron  bridge  which  spans  the  yards  at  the  east  end  of  Water 
street  is  a  monument  to  the  council  of  1894.  That  council  elected 
was :  L.  D.  Baird,  mayor ;  Jacob  Weisel,  alderman  at  large ; 
John  Robertson,  Henry  Curtis  and  J.  L.  Gulden;  H.  L.  Banfield, 
treasurer;  Johan  Wold,  recorder.  The  latter  died  in  October 
and  Herman  Gunz  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Other  elective 
officers  that  year  were :  Justice  of  the  peace,  J.  E.  Robinson,  W. 
W.  Ranney,  F.  H.  Stokes;  constables,  J.  AV.  Manning  and  L.  N. 
Wilsey.  The  city  voted  for  license,  664  to  302.  The  appointive 
officers  were:  J.  M.  Gait,  chief  of  police;  Chris  Hanson,  superin- 
tendent of  streets ;  Thomas  Dugan,  fire  chief,  and  J.  M.  Green- 
man,  city  attorney  and  superintendent  of  tlie  water  works. 

In  1895,  three  independent  candidates  were  elected,  C.  H. 
Johnson,  T.  M.  Foster  and  A.  W.  Wright.  The  entire  list  elected 
was  as  follows :  Mayor,  C.  H.  Johnson ;  treasurer,  H.  L.  Banfield ; 
recorder,  T.  M.  Foster;  assessor,  J.  C.  Belding;  aldermen,  A.  W. 
AVright,  S.  A.  Emerson,  M.  J.  Haney  and  Ira  Padden.  The  city 
voted  for  license,  but  a  curious  fact  is  that  the  records  of  the 
city  do  not  show  what  the  vote  was,  the  statement  being  made, 
"On  motion  the  license  vote  was  placed  on  file."  The  appointive 
officers  that  year  were,  cliief  of  police,  J.  M.  Gait;  city  attorney 
and  superintendent  of  water  works,  J.  M.  Greenman ;  fire  chief, 
Tliomas  Dugan ;  street  superintendent,  B.  Maxwell. 

The  year  1896  found  the  city  divided  into  two  factions,  the 


HISTOIJY  OF  .A[()\VP]R  COUNTY  i:);i 

uorthenders  and  the  southeuders.  'I'lie  foi'inci-  Avanlcd  llic  noi'lli 
end  of  the  city  developed,  the  others  wanted  to  sec  tlie  south, 
end  grow.  The  fight  came  on  in  a  contest  for  the  k)cation  of  a 
city  hall.  L.  D.  Baird  ofifered  the  city  a  deed  for  land  at  the 
north  end  of  Main  street.  F.  A.  Ticknor,  acting  for  the  south- 
enders,  ofifered  the  city  the  McKenna  lots  at  the  corner  of  Bridge 
and  River  streets.  The  council  adopted  a  resolution  accepting 
Mr.  Baird 's  land.  The  newly  elected  Mayor,  F.  I.  Crane,  promptly 
vetoed  the  resolution.  The  council  as  promptly  passed  it  ovet 
his  head  and  an  architect  Avas  ordered  to  draw  plans  for  the 
new  biiilding.  Those  plans  are  now  buried  under  the  dust  and 
await  other  years  for  city  development.  The  election  of  1896 
resulted  as  follows :  IMayor.  F.  I.  Crane ;  treasurer,  J.  L.  Mitchell ; 
recorder,  T.  M.  Foster :  assessor,  J.  C.  Belding ;  aldermen,  George 
A.  Hormel,  Joseph  Adams,  H.  A.  Avery,  J.  L.  Gulden;  justices 
of  peace,  J.  E.  Robinson,  W.  AY.  Ranney,  F.  H.  Stokes ;  constables, 
J.  M.  Gait,  John  Manning,  John  Beckel;  chief  of  police,  J.  M. 
Gait;  street  superintendent.  Burr  Maxwell;  attorney  and  superin- 
tendent of  water  Avorks,  J.  M.  Greenman.  Dr.  AA^heat,  Avho  for 
many  years  had  been  chairman  of  the  board  of  health,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Dr.  McKenna. 

In  1897  the  result  of  the  election  was:  Mayor,  F.  I.  Crane; 
trea.surer,  J.  L.  ^Mitchell ;  assessor,  J.  C.  Belding ;  recorder,  T.  N. 
Foster;  aldermen,  George  Hormel,  S.  A.  Emerson,  John  Robert- 
son, ]\I.  J.  Haney  and  Ira  Padden.  James  D.  Smith  was  ap- 
pointed street  commissioner.  The  other  officers  remained  the 
same  as  in  1896.  License  carried  by  a  majority  of  sixty-one, 
wliich  was  an  indication  of  the.groAving  "dry"  sentiment. 

In  1898  there  Avas  a  strenuous  temperance  campaign,  result- 
ing in  a  victory  for  no  license  by  102  votes.  This  Avas  the  first 
time  that  Austin  had  been  "dry"  in  tAA'enty  years,  and  the  usukl 
crop  of  "blind  pigs"  resulted.  The  entire  ticket  elected  AvaS: 
Mayor,  F.  I.  Crane ;  treasurer,  J.  L.  Mitchell ;  recorder,  T.  M. 
Foster ;  assessor,  J.  C.  Belding ;  aldermen,  AY.  C.  Holmes,  John 
Robertson,  Percy  Bump  and  Alex.  S.  Campbell;  justices,  John 
E.  Robinson,  AY.  AY.  Ranney.  F.  H.  Stokes;  constables,  J.  M. 
Gait  and  Herbert  Bordy.  The  appointments  Avere  as  follows: 
Chief  of  police,  J.  M.  Gait;  city  attorney,  A.  AY.  AN^right.  This 
year  the  Austin  Gas.  Light  &  Heating  Company  Avas  granted  a 
franchise.  A  controversy  arose  as  to  Avhat  caused  the  death  of 
shade  trees  on  Chatham  street.  Some  belicA-ed  that  gas  leaking 
from  the  mains  Avas  the  cause.  The  council  held  several  meet- 
ings, at  which  the  subject  AA'as  thoroughly  discussed.  In  July; 
1899,  the  company  surrendered  its  charter.  It  is  perhaps  sig- 
nificant tbat  the  city  council  began  to  look  for  an  additional 
Avater  supply  Avitliin  three  months  after  the  citj'  had  voted  out 


194  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

the  saloons.  Tliis  year  the  Herzog,  Holmes  and  Saehse  springs 
were  measured,  pipe  was  purchased  and  the  right  of  way  se- 
cured for  bringing  the  water  to  the  city.  The  council  of  the 
following  year  sold  the  pipe,  rescinded  the  resolution  to  buy  the 
springs  and  had  several  new  wells  sunk  at  the  Avater  works 
station. 

The  year  1S99  was  one  of  much  discussion  of  the  liquor  ques- 
tion. The  Prohibition  forces  printed  a  weekly  paper  called 
the  "Search  Light,"  which  was  edited  by  a  number  of  the  Austin 
clergymen.  Many  who  had  voted  "dry"  in  1898  felt  that  public 
sentiment  was  not  strong  enough  to  secure  law  enforcement  and 
they  swung  over  to  the  "wet"  side.  The  discussion  grew  most 
bitter  as  election  day,  March  14,  drew  near.  On  election  morn- 
ing an  extra  edition  of  the  "Search  Light"  had  been  distributed 
before  breakfast  to  the  home  of  every  voter.  At  8  a.  m.  the 
"W.  C.  T.  U.  paraded  the  streets  in  a  snow  squall.  They  carried 
a  large  picture  of  Frances  Willard  and  a  score  of  banners  with 
inscriptions,  "Will  Austin  Surrender  to  Rum  Rebellion?"  "Woe 
to  the  Man  Who  Putteth  the  Bottle  to  his  Neighbor's  Lips,"  etc. 
When  the  votes  were  counted  it  was  found  that  Austin  had  gone 
Avet  by  a  majority  of  216  A'otes.  That  night  the  extreme  "wet" 
element,  provided  with  brooms,  bottles  and  other  articles,  pa- 
raded the  streets.  The  ticket  elected  was:  Mayor,  Alex.  S. 
Campbell:  treasurer,  J.  L.  Mitchell;  recorder,  T.  M.  Foster;  as- 
sessor, S.  A.  Smith ;  aldermen,  H.  Birkett,  C.  F.  Cook,  Thomas 
Mann,  Ira  Padden ;  justice,  J.  C.  Hemer. 

Mayor-elect  Campbell  resigned  his  position  as  alderman  of 
the  third  ward,  and  the  council  elected  George  H.  Sutton  to  fill 
the  vacancy.  J.  M.  Greenman  was  chosen  city  attorney.  Dr. 
W.  L.  Hollister  became  chairman  of  the  board  of  health.  Thomas 
Dugan,  fire  marshal :  J.  D.  Smith,  street  commissioner,  and  J.  M. 
Gait,  chief  of  police. 

The  council  had  the  names  of  its  members  inscribed  on  a 
marble  tablet  and  set  in  the  Avails  of  the  municipal  plant.  The 
contract  that  the  city  had  Avith  the  Austin  Electric  Light  plant 
expired  in  1899  and  the  company  asked  for  a  reneAval.  The 
council's  ansAver  was  a  resolution  passed  April  8,  1899,  authoriz- 
ing the  purchasing  committee  to  bviy  machinery  for  an  electric 
light  plant.  On  May  5,  this  resolution  Avas  rescinded  and  the 
committee  Avas  ordered  to  secure  information  as  to  the  cost  of  an 
electric  light  plant.  June  2  an  expert  electrician  was  brought  to 
the  city  from  St.  Paul  to  give  the  desired  information.  On  Sep- 
tember 15  plans  were  adopted  and  bids  were  accepted  for  a  plant. 
The  Austin  Electric  Company  secured  an  injunction.  The  coun- 
cil held  a  special  meeting  and  passed  a  resolution  to  sever  all 
business    relations    Avitb    the    comiKiny    October    .'11.      Tlie    eas(^ 


HISTOIJY  OF  .MOWFK  COUNTY  195 

dragged  on  through  tlie  rest  of  the  year  and  M^as  not  settled 
until  tlie  council  of  1900,  on  April  10,  purchased  the  Electric 
Light  plant  for  $16,000  and  added  it  to  the  new  one.  The  coun- 
cil of  1899  had  other  troubles,  for  Austin  had  an  epidemic  of 
smallpox  and  the  council  purchased  a  piece  of  land  in  tlie 
southeast  part  of  the  city.  The  building  was  just  ready  for  oc- 
cupancy when  it  was  burned  to  the  ground.  The  council  offered 
a  reward  of  $500  for  evidence  leading  to  the  discovery  of  the 
fire  bug,  but  the  city  never  had  to  pay  the  reward. 

1900 — Officers  were  elected  this  year  as  follows:  Mayor, 
Alexander  Campbell;  recorder,  T.  M.  Foster;  treasurer,  Alfred 
Johnson ;  assessor,  S.  A.  Smith ;  aldermen,  H.  Birkett,  John  Rob- 
ertson, Percy  Bump,  George  Sutton;  justices,  J.  E.  Eobinson,  H. 
N.  Lane,  J.  Hemmer;  constables,  R.  A.  Carmiehael,  J.  M.  Gait 
and  Tony  Beckel.  License  carried  by  a  majority  of  356.  The 
following  appointments  were  made:  Chief  of  police,  J.  M.  Gait; 
city  attorney,  A.  W.  "Wright;  city  surveyor,  M.  N.  Clausen;  fire 
marshal,  J.  L.  Gulden:  street  commisisoner,  J.  D.  Smith;  chair- 
man board  of  health.  Dr.  AV.  L.  Hollister.  The  council  received 
a  petition  that  remains  a  novel  one  to  this  day  in  the  annals  of 
the  city.  This  petition  came  from  the  saloonkeepers,  asking  that 
the  council  nail  up  all  rear  and  side  entrances  to  the  saloons  and 
enforce  the  law  in  regard  to  minors  entering  saloons. 

1901 — Officers  were  elected  as  follows:  Mayor,  C.  L.  West; 
treasurer,  Alfred  E.  Johnson;  recorder,  T.  M.  Foster;  assessor, 
S.  A.  Smith;  aldermen,  George  A.  Hormel,  Fred  E.  Gleason,  Dr. 
H.  A.  Avery  and  John  L.  Gulden.  License  vote  677,  against 
228.  The  following  appointments  Avere  made :  City  attorney, 
A.  AY.  AYright :  surveyor,  M.  N.  Clausen ;  fire  marshal,  Thomas 
IMann ;  street  commissioner,  Barney  Bushman ;  chief  of  police,  J. 
M.  Gait ;  chairman  board  of  health.  Dr.  AY.  L.  Hollister ;  superin- 
tendent of  water  works,  AYilliam  Todd.  George  Sutton  resigned 
as  alderman  on  April  5,  and  the  council  elected  John  A.  Ander- 
son to  fill  the  vacancy.  On  July  19,  the  council  ordered  another 
v;ell  to  be  driven  to  increase  the  water  supply  of  the  city  and 
installed  water  meters.  On  November  28,  Lafayette  French  an- 
nounced to  the  council  that  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Thomas  Beatty  had 
given  three  acres  of  land,  E.  G.  Tompkins  three  acres  of  land, 
and  that  five  acres  more  had  been  purchased  by  popular  sub- 
scription, all  lying  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Cedar  and  south  of 
the  city  for  park  purposes.  Later  two  acres  more  were  pur- 
chased. The  council  in  recognition  of  the  work  done  by  Afr. 
French  in  securing  the  land  for  park  purposes,  gave  it  the  name 
of  Lafayette  park.  The  folloAving  summer  a  "grubbing  bee" 
was  held,  at  which  lawyers,  doctors,  merchants  and  laboring 
men  devoted  a  day  to  improving  the  property. 


196  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

1902 — The  following  officers  were  elected:  Mayor,  Dr.  C.  II. 
Johnson;  treasurer,  A.  E.  Johnson;  recorder,  T.  M.  Foster;  as- 
sessor, S.  A.  Smith;  aldermen,  George  A.  Hormel,  John  Robert- 
son, P.  Bump,  John  Konovsky;  justices,  J.  E.  Robinson,  H.  N. 
Lane,  J.  Hemmer;  constables,  R.  A.  Carmichael,  J.  M.  Gait  and 
Tony  Beckel.  The  following  appointments  were  made:  City 
attorney,  A.  W.  Wright;  surveyor,  G.  Allen;  fire  marshal,  Thos. 
Mann ;  eliief  of  police,  J.  M.  Gait ;  street  commissioner,  Barney 
Bushman.  In  Api-il,  1902,  a  meeting  was  held,  to  Avhich  the 
property  owners  of  Main  street  had  been  invited  to  discuss  the 
question  of  paving  that  street.  Tliere  was  much  opposition  to 
the  proposed  improvement. 

On  May  20.  the  property  of  the  Christian  church  at  the  corner 
of  Maple  and  Chatbam  streets  was  purchased  for  a  hose  houst,' 
and  the  church  altered  for  this  new  usage. 

On  Juno  30,  the  sum  of  $15,000  was  appropriated  to  erect  a 
building  for  the  Southern  Minnesota  Normal  College. 

On  August  5,  the  council  decided  to  install  a  day  electric 
service  to  be  ready  for  use  November  1.  F.  H.  McCuUoch,  a 
printer,  was  the  first  to  use  the  new  power. 

During  the  years  1900  and  1901  there  had  been  much  agitation 
for  the  paving  of  ]\Iain  and  Water  streets.  The  charter  restricted 
the  action  of  the  council  along  permanent  improA'ement  lines.  On 
March  26,  1902,  a  petition  of  ten  per  cent  of  the  voters  who  had 
voted  at  the  last  election,  Avhich  had  been  held  but  two  weeks 
previous,  was  x^resented  to  Judge  Kingsley  of  the  district  court, 
requesting  him  to  name  a  board  to  prepare  and  submit  to  the 
voters  a  new  charter.  In  compliance  with  that  request  the  fol- 
lowing were  named :  James  D.  Sheedy,  Seymour  Johnson.  La- 
fayette French,  C.  I.  Johnson,  H.  A.  Avery,  Ed  Barr,  C.  L.  West, 
A.  W.  Wright,  George  Merrick,  J.  M.  Greenman,  E.  C.  Kenney, 
Alex  S.  Campbell,  J.  L.  Gulden,  Ira  Padden  and  Joseph  Regner. 

The  board  met  and  elected  C.  L.  West  president,  and  Arthur 
Wright  secretary.  It  held  frequent  meetings  during  the  ensu- 
ing months,  and  on  January  2,  1903,  the  new  charter  was  pre- 
sented to  the  city  council.  It  Avas  signed  by  but  nine  of  the 
board,  C.  L.  West,  A.  W.  Wright,  J.  L.  Gulden,  C.  I.  Johnson, 
Lafayette  French,  Hoyt  A.  Avery,  J.  ]\I.  Greenman,  E.  C.  Kenney, 
and  J.  D.  Sheedy, 

On  January  16,  a  petition  signed  by  eighty-tAvo  citizens  Avas 
presented  to  the  city  council  requesting  that  a  special  election 
be  called  for  February  L3,  to  vote  upon  the  charter.  In  the 
raeanAvhile  the  proposed  charter  had  been  printed  in  the  daily 
papers  and  much  opposition  had  appeared.  The  people  of  the 
third  Avard  objected  to  a  redistricting  of  the  city  into  four  AA-^ards, 
Avliifli   Avould  make  material   changes  in  the  boundaries  of  that 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  197 

■ward.  The  no  license  people  objected  to  a  provision  that  made 
it  necessary  to  secure  twenty-five  per  cent  of  the  voters  on  a 
petition  to  have  the  liquor  question  submitted  to  the  people. 
'Under  the  old  charter  it  required  but  ten  per  cent.  Many  of 
the  voters  objected  to  a  section  that  barred  ail  but  free  holders 
from  holding  office.  The  liquor  interests  opposed  the  new  meas- 
ure because  it  provided  for  the  mandatory  revocation  of  liquor 
licenses  for  the  violation  of  any  city  ordinance  or  state  law  per- 
taining to  the  business. 

In  order  to  pass  the  charter  four-sevenths  of  the  votes  cast 
were  required  to  be  in  favor  of  the  charter.  The  vote  was  272 
in  favor  and  262  against. 

The  board  again  met  and  on  March  3  were  ready  with  an 
amended  charter.  This  was  printed  in  full  in  the  daily  papers 
Avith  explanatory  notes  by  A.  W.  Wright.  A  mass  meeting  was 
also  held  at  the  court  house.  The  objectionable  features  hacj 
been  eliminated  and  the  charter  went  before  the  people  at  an 
election  held  March  10.  There  was  still  much  opposition  to  the 
proposed  measure  and  it  was  carried  by  a  majority  of  less  than 
one  vote. 

The  new  cliarter  provided  for  biennial  election,  all  of  the 
old  aldermen's  terms  to  expire  at  the  same  time,  the  aldermen 
holding  office  at  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the  charter  to  hold 
until  their  time  expired.  Under  the  new  charter  the  municipal 
electric  plant  and  water  works  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  com- 
mission, and  from  the  control  of  the  city  council. 

The  new  charter  has  been  of  great  advantage  in  some  re- 
spects, but  in  others  there  is  no  doubt  but  the  city  could  have 
made  more  permanent  improvements  under  the  statute  laws  of 
tlie  state  than  under  the  home-rule  charter. 

The  officers  elected  in  1903  were:  Mayor,  C.  F.  Cook;  treas- 
lu-er,  J.  L.  Mitchell ;  recorder,  T.  M.  Foster ;  assessor,  E.  P.  Kelley ; 
aldermen,  P.  H.  Zender,  Peter  Johnson,  Frank  Hall  and  George 
Beckel.  The  new  charter  went  into  effect  April  11,  1903.  Mayor 
Cook  appointed  as  commissioners  of  the  electric  light,  power  and 
water  board,  S.  D.  Catherwood,  for  one  year;  J.  D.  Sheedy,  for 
tAvo  years;  A.  S.  Campbell,  for  three  years;  George  A.  Horrael, 
for  four  years,  and  J.  L.  Gulden  for  five  years.  ]Mr.  Catherwood 
resigned  from  the  board  November  6,  and  was  succeeded  by 
A.  M.  Smith. 

Mayor  Cook  appointed  for  the  first  park  board,  Thomas 
Beatty,  one  year;  F.  E.  Gleason,  two  years;  George  A.  i^uttoii, 
three  years;  Lafayette  ^''rencli,  four  years,  and  Anton  Friedrich 
for  five  years. 

The  council  elected  B.  Bushman,  street  commissioner;  Tliomas 
Dugan,  fire  chief,  and  Thomas  Pridham,  city  attorney. 


198  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

The  council  granted  a  franchise  to  the  new  organized  Inter- 
state Telegraph  &  Telephone  Company,  passed  an  anti-spitting 
on  the  sidewalk  ordinance  and  in  January,  1904,  condemned  the 
opera  house  and  several  other  places  of  public  amusement,  as 
fire  traps.  The  owners  of  the  opera  house  announced  to  the 
council:  "The  building  will  never  again  be  opened  as  an  opera 
house."    Later  a  part  of  the  stage  caved  in. 

1904-1905— Mayor,  C.  F.  Cook;  treasurer,  J.  L.  Mitchell;  as- 
sessor, L.  B.  Fairbanks ;  aldermen,  Thomas  Riley,  Percy  Bump, 
W.  J.  Bell,  Peter  Johnson,  F.  0.  Hall,  Geo.  Beekel,  Ira  Padden; 
justices,  J.  E.  Robinson,  H.  N.  Lane,  George  Bailey.  The  fol- 
lowing appointments  were  made  :  T.  H.  Pridham,  city  attorney ; 
Nels  Jensen,  fire  chief;  Barney  Bushman,  street  commissioner; 
G.  H.  Allen,  city  surveyor.  On  September  16,  received  a  peti- 
tion for  the  paving  of  Main  street.  On  September  26,  the  council 
met  with  the  property  holders,  several  of  whom  were  much  op- 
l)0sed  to  the  proposed  improvement.  The  city  had  a  floating  in- 
debtedness of  something  over  $20,000,  and  a  special  election  was 
held  November  8,  at  which  bonds  were  voted  to  take  up  this  iu- 
debtetlness  and  at  the  same  time  an  amendment  to  the  charter 


On  March  5,  1905,  the  council  passed  the  necessary  resolu- 
tions for  the  paving  of  Main  street  between  Oakland  avenue  and 
Lansing  avenue,  a  block  each  way  on  each  of  the  intei'secting 
streets,  and  Water  street  from  Railway  street  to  St.  Paul  street. 

1906-1907 — Mayor,  George  Sutton;  treasurer,  J.  L.  Mitchell; 
assessor,  L.  B.  Fairbanks;  aldermen,  Peter  Johnson,  AY.  J.  Bell, 
T.  C.  E.  Officer,  Dr.  A.  M.  Lewis,  C.  J.  McNally,  Ira  Padden. 
P.  H.  Zender ;  justices,  John  Fairbanks,  H.  N.  Lane,  J.  C.  Hemer. 
T.  M.  Foster  was  appointed  recorder.  The  following  appoint- 
ments were  made :  City  attorney,  T.  H.  Pridham ;  city  engineer, 
M.  N.  Clausen;  fire  chief,  N.  P.  Jensen;  street  superintendent. 

B.  Bushman.  The  council  appropriated  $250  for  the  San  Fran- 
cisco earthquake  sufferers.  The  paving  question  was  taken  up 
February  1,  1907,  and  on  February  15  the  council  advertised  for 
Inds  for  paving  Water  street  with  brick.  A  strong  remonstrance 
was  made  by  some  of  the  property  owners,  who  engaged  Attorney 
Fay  Greenman  and  H.  H.  Dunn,  of  Albert  Lea,  as  counsel  for  the 
protestants.  A  special  meeting  of  the  council  was  held,  at  which 
the  attendance  was  so  great  that  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
the  court  room.  As  a  majority  of  the  property  owners  favored 
]iaving,  the  woi'k  was  carried  to  completion. 

1908-1909— ^layor,  George  Siitton ;  treasurer,  J.  L.  Mitchell; 
assessor,  Jacob  Gute ;  aldermen,  Joseph  Fitzhun,  C.  F.  Stillmau, 

C.  M.  Emmons,  Percy  Bump,  Ira  Padden,  Jolm  j\IcCormick, 
P.  n.   Zender;   justices,   Jolui   ?'iiirl)iinks,   W.   W.   Ranny,   David 


IlISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  1!)!) 

Cooper.  T.  ]M.  Foster  was  appoiuted  recorder.  The  election  was 
a  close  and  bitter  one  for  the  position  of  alderman-at-large,  P.  H. 
Zender  defeating  Peter  Johnson  for  the  office.  The  latter  asked 
that  the  council  appropriate  the  sum  of  $500  to  investigate  the 
charge  that  there  had  been  illegal  voting  at  the  election,  his  point 
being  that  certain  (S.  M.  N.)  college  students  had  voted  who 
v/ere  not  residents  of  the  city.  The  council  took  no  action  on 
tlie  matter. 

The  board  of  aldermen  took  up  the  question  of  building  a  fire 
engine  house,  armory  and  city  hall,  all  in  one  building,  and  had 
plans  drawn  which  were  accepted.  It  went  before  the  people 
at  a  special  election,  when  the  proposition  was  carried  to  build 
a  city  hall,  armory  and  engine  house  at  an  expense  "to  exceed 
$5,000."  The  council  then  voted  to  build,  but  before  it  got  to 
work  the  terms  of  the  aldermen  had  expired  and  another  set  of 
plans  and  specifications  were  added  to  those  already  accepted 
ten  years  previous.  Mayor  Sutton  presided  over  the  council 
for  the  last  time  April  7,  1909,  and  Alderman  Zender  became 
acting  mayor.  He  then  went  to  Omaha  and  entered  the  Omaha 
General  Hospital  for  treatment,  where  he  died  July  1,  the  news 
being  broken  to  the  people  by  the  tolling  of  the  church  bells. 
The  body  Avas  brought  to  the  city  over  the  C.  G.  W.  road,  and 
was  met  at  the  depot  by  a  large  and  sorrowing  body  of  citizens. 
On  Saturday,  July  3,  the  body  was  taken  to  the  corridor  of  the 
court  house,  where  it  lay  in  state,  guarded  by  four  members  of 
Co.  G,  M.  N.  G.,  in  uniform.  From  4  to  5  o'clock  all  the  stores 
were  closed,  and  970  of  our  people  filed  past  the  casket.  The 
funeral  occurred  on  Sunday,  July  4,  the  escort  being  Co.  G, 
Mclntyre  Post,  G.  A.  R. ;  the  firemen,  Austin  Lodge,  414,  B.  P. 
0.  E.,  and  other  orders.  The  service  was  held  in  Christ  Epis- 
copal church  and  the  body  was  buried  in  Oakwood  cemetery. 

1910-1911— :\Iayor,  Alex  S.  Campbell;  treasurer,  J.  L.  Mitch- 
ell ;  assessor,  John  Reding ;  aldermen,  A.  C.  Page,  W.  J.  Bell,  F.  E. 
Gleason,  A.  Hotson,  P.  A.  Reilly,  Ira  Paden,  Franklin  Clay; 
justices,  John  Fairbanks,  W.  AY.  Ranney,  Ray  Chaffee.  The  fol- 
lowing appointments  were  nuide:  Recorder,  Frank  Cronon;  chief 
of  police,  J.  M.  Gait;  chief  of  fire  department,  N.  P.  Jensen; 
chairman  of  board  of  health.  Dr.  H.  F.  Pierson;  street  commis- 
sioner, Robert  Parkins.  T.  H.  Pridham,  who  was  appointed 
attorney,  moved  from  the  city  and  the  council  elected  Jacob 
Nicholsen  for  the  unexpired  term. 

A  special  election  was  held  and  bonds  to  tlie  amount  of 
$.30,000  were  voted  to  purchase  the  Sargeaut  Springs  and  to 
bring  the  water  to  the  city  for  domestic  purposes.  The  council 
was  also  authorized  to  purchase  the  farm  on  which  the  si)rings 


200  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUXTY 

Avere  located  for  the  sum  of  $18,500.  The  council  at  once  bought 
the  farm  and  springs  and  closed  a  contract  for  bringing  the 
■water  to  the  city.    The  work  was  completed  June  1,  1911. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

INDUSTRIAL  AUSTIN 

Importance  of  the  Mercantile  Interests^Beginning  of  Industry — 
Austin  in  1867— The  Railroad  Era— Austin  in  1876— Austin 
in  1884 — The  Modern  Period — Manufacturing  Interests — First 
Mill  —  Former  Industries  —  Modern  Industries.  —  Edited  by 
Charles  L.  West. 

Austin's  Avholesale  and  retail  trade  covers  twenty-two  blocks 
of  the  city's  streets.  Every  line  of  commercial  trade  is  repre- 
sented. Not  for  ten  years  has  there  been  a  commercial  failure 
of  any  importance.  Austin's  business  houses  are  all  on  a  tirm 
financial  basis  and  are  conducted  conservatively.  Several  of  the 
merchants  have  been  in  business  here  for  over  thirty  years.  The 
stores  are  modeim  and  the  stock  carried  up-to-date,  the  mer- 
chants going  to  Chicago  and  New  York  to  personally  inspect  the 
stock  of  goods  which  they  place  before  the  people.  Prices  are 
reasonable  in  all  lines,  and  it  is  not  an  unusual  thing  for  an 
Austin  merchant  to  ship  goods  to  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis  to 
customers  who  have  found  it  cheaper  to  buy  certain  lines  of 
goods  in  this  city. 

BEGINNING   OF   BUSINESS 

The  first  move  toward  business  here  was  in  the  fall  of  1854, 
when  Chauncey  Leverieh  commenced  the  building  of  a  saw  mill, 
which  was  completed  in  the  spring  of  1855.  The  first  store  in 
the  place  was  opened  by  A.  B.  Vanghan  and  his  son,  P.  D. 
Vaughan,  who  came  here  in  the  spring  of  1855,  bringing  a  stock 
of  goods  with  them  from  Wisconsin.  In  1856  they  sold  to 
Aloysias  Brown,  and  moved  to  Lansing. 

Aloysius  Brown  was  born  near  Emmetsburg,  Md.,  January 
18,  1793,  and  married  Elizabeth  Drury.  In  1856,  he  came  to  Aust; 
tin  and  engaged  in  trade  as  before  stated.  His  stock  of  goods 
was  procured  at  Winona  and  IMcGregor,  and  were  drawn  here  by 
ox  teams.  In  1857-58  the  people  depended  upon  ^Nlr.  Brown  to 
furnish  thoni  with  flour  and  corn  meal,  wliicli  was  drawn  from 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  201 

Chatfield  and  Decorah,  lo^va.  At  times  the  roads  were  so  bad 
that  it  was  almost  impossible  for  a  team  to  pass  over,  or  rather 
through  them,  and  it  required  many  days  to  make  the  journey. 
As  soon  as  it  was  learned  that  teams  had  been  dispatched  for  a 
)iew  supply  of  meal,  gold  coin  and  sacks  with  the  names  of  the 
owners  and  amount  of  meal  required  securely  tied  to  each,  were 
deposited  with  Mr.  Brown  to  make  sure  of  a  portion  of  the  meaj: 
On  its  arrival  the  amounts  were  put  into  each  sack  and  set  away 
for  those  who  had  paid  for  it.  The  demand  Avould  sometimes 
exceed  the  supply,  so  the  amount  dealt  out  to  each  would  be 
diminished  until  ten  or  fifteen  pounds  would  be  the  most  he  would 
sell  to  any  one  family.  "When  the  meal  Avas  all  distributed  and 
there  were  yet  families  not  supplied,  a  raid  would  be  made  on 
the  sacks  that  were  filled  and  the  contents  distributed  among 
tliose  that  had  no  flour  or  meal  to  eat.  In,  one  instance  a  Nor- 
wegian woman,  having  a  large  family,  came  before  noon  and 
stayed  until  9  o'clock  trying  to  buy  more  than  fifty  pounds  of 
meal,  but  when  she  saw  the  last  of  the  meal  carried  away  by 
littles,  she  gave  it  up  and  Avent  home.  Mr.  Brown's  death  oc- 
curred February  23.  1864;  Mrs.  Brown's,  April  3,  1868. 

The  second  store  in  Austin  was  opened  by  J.  B.  Yates  and 
V.  P.  Lewis. 

General  Stores.  In  the  winter  of  1856-57  George  B.  Hayes 
started  into  mercantile  business  in  a  building  located  in  the  block 
east  of  the  Windsor  House.  He  afterward  did  business  in  the 
building  known  as  "headquarters."  He  carried  a  large  stock 
of  general  merchandise  and  was  the  leading  merchant  here  for 
some  time.  Hanchett  and  Sprague  opened  a  general  store  here 
in  1856.  in  a  frame  building  north  of  the  present  iMcCuUough 
printing  plant.  They  were  in  business  two  or  three  years 
George  ^Jlitchell  came  here  from  Geneva,  New  York,  in  1857,  and 
•started  the  first  furniture  store.  Albert  Galloway  and  D.  B. 
Johnson.  Jr..  foi-med  a  partnership  and  opened  a  general  store  in 
July,  1857,  in  a  building  east  of  where  the  postofifice  now  stands. 
The  next  spring  they  dissolved,  Galloway  continiiing  in  the  trade 
until  1868.  He  then  sold  to  Olfson  &  Peterson,  who  ran  two  years 
and  closed  out.  In  the  fall  of  1858  Ruford  Kimball  erected  a 
small  frame  building  and  embarked  in  the  grocery  and  dry  goods 
trade,  and  failed  the  coming  season.  In  1859  James  Clock  started, 
a  general  store.  He  operated  the  same  about  a  year,  when  he 
failed.  F.  King  opened  a  general  store  in  1863  and  in  1878 
George  M.  Fish.  Jr..  became  a  partner,  under  the  firm  name  of 
King  &  Fish.  Philips,  Sawyer,  Smith,  Baird  and  others  were  in 
business  here  in  the  sixties.  N.  P.  Austin  opened  a  general  store 
in  1865. 

Meat  Dealers.     The  first  meat  business  in  Austin  was  done  bv 


-202  HISTOEY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY 

W.  A.  "Woodson,  in  1856.  He  was  living  about  two  miles  from 
town,  where  he  dressed  the  beef.  He  brought  the  meat  to  town 
In  a  wagon  and  drove  from  house  to  house  to  supply  his  cus- 
tomers.    Eyre  &  Rankin  opened  a  market  here  in  1865. 

Drugs.  The  first  drug  store  in  Austin  was  started  by  Dr. 
Orlenzer  Allen,  in  1856.  He  closed  out  in  war  times.  Dr.  Brewer 
was  the  second  druggist,  closely  followed  by  Dr.  Barnes.  Early 
in  1866  Woodard  &  Dorr  opened  a  drug  store.  J.  J.  and  G.  G. 
Clemmer  opened  a  little  later  the  same  year. 

Millinery.  The  first  milliner  in  Austin  was  Mrs.  Sarah  H. 
Bemis,  who  settled  here  in  1855.  She  was  in  the  business  until 
after  the  war. 

Smithing-.  The  first  blacksmith  in  Austin  was  Winfield  Love- 
land,  who  is  spoken  of  as  coming  late  in  1854,  or  early  in  1855. 
In  1857  he  moved  away.  During  that  time  Abe  Haveling  and  a 
man  named  Day  worked  at  the  trade  here  for  a  short  time. 
Other  early  black.smiths  were  Samuel  Rice  and  Llewellyn  and 
Piper. 

Tailoring.  In  1861  Henry  Jacobs,  a  merchant  tailor  by  trade, 
opened  a  shop  here  and  put  in  a  stock  of  ready-made  clothing. 
He  is  .still  in  business  here.  Mr.  Jacobs  has  been  in  business 
longer  than  any  other  man  in  Austin. 

Boots  and  Shoes.  George  and  Oliver  Bemis  put  in  the  first 
stock  of  boots  and  shoes  in  the  spring  of  1857. 

Livery.  The  first  livery  stables  in  Austin  were  started  in 
1864.  In  that  year  there  were  two  stables  opened :  one  by  A.  B. 
Davidson  and  William  Brown,  the  other  by  E.  D.  and  Calos  Fen- 
ton.  In  1868  W.  T.  Mandeville  succeeded  to  the  business  started 
by  Davidson  &  Brown.  Leonard  Gillett,  Joshua  Davidson,  Hicks 
&  Phelps,  Cobb  &  Son,  M.  C.  Gratton  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness here  in  an  early  day. 

Jewelry.  Gustav  Schleuder  has  been  in  the  jewelry  business 
in  Austin  since  1863,  and  next  to  Henry  Jacobs  has  been  in  busi- 
ness longer  than  any  other  man  in  Austin. 

Hardware.  Charles  C.  Hunt  opened  a  hardware  store  in 
Austin  in  the  sixties. 

Express  Companies.  The  first  express  business  done  at  Austin 
was  that  operated  by  Nichols  &  Cotter,  who  ran  the  stage  line  from 
.Rochester,  also  from  AVaverly,  la.,  northwest  into  Minnesota. 
The  United  States  Express  Company  establi.shed  a  regular  otfice 
at  this  point  and  Harlan  W.  Page  was  appointed  the  first  agent. 
A  little  later  the  American  J]xpress  Company  established  an  office 
also,  and  made  Mr.  Page  joint  agent.  This  was  the  first  joint 
office  of  these  two  companies  in  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Page  Avas  succeeded  by  Phelps  and  Hathaway,  wlio  lield 
the  offices  till  tliey  divided,  each  having  a  separate  office.     C.  J. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  203 

Paddock  was  the  first  agent  for  the  United  States  Company  after 
they  divided,  and  James  Hutchins  for  the  American  Company. 
Abont  1870  AV.  T.  Wilkins  became  agent  for  the  United  States 
Company  and  he  in  1872  was  succeeded  by  L.  M.  Ober.  L.  R. 
Hathaway  was  finally  succeeded  in  1875  by  L.  E.  Day,  who  con- 
tinued till  1884,  when  J.  E.  Crews  took  the  office. 


AUSTIN  IN  1867 

A  directory  of  Austin,  published  in  June,  1867,  gives  the  fol- 
lowing names  of  those  engaged  in  business  and  in  the  professiolis 
here  at  that  time.  Attorneys :  Ormanzo  Allen,  Cameron  &  John- 
son, Everest  &  Wright,  Page  &  Wheeler,  Shortt  &  Jones.  Auc- 
tioneer: LeRoy  Hathaway.  Band:  Austin  Cornet  Band,  R.  L. 
Kimball,  leader.  Agricultural  implements :  E.  D.  Fenton, 
Wi'ight  and  Azure.  Architects  and  builders :  Andrews  Brothers, 
C.  Chapin,  George  Baird,  D.  Bosworth,  Campbell  &  Dodge,  W.  C. 
Cassell.  Oscar  Eyres,  C.  Ford,  George  Johnson,  L.  W.  Smith, 
Thomas  Tremple,  William  Tucker,  James  Williams.  Banker: 
Harlan  W.  Page.  Billiard  hall:  William  Simpson.  Bakery: 
Stephen  Rice.  Blacksmiths:  Hunt  &  Clark.  Allan  Mollison,  L. 
Piper,  Hiram  Smith.  Boots,  shoes,  etc. :  J.  C.  Ackley  &  Co., 
J.  B.  Revord.  Barber :  W.  H.  Bullock.  Brick  makers :  Morse 
&  Tuttle,  Webb  Brothers.  Churches:  Baptist,  PI.  I.  Parker; 
Congregational,  Alfred  Morse ;  Episcopal,  L.  W.  Gibson ;  Metho- 
dist. W.  Carver;  Presbyterian,  H.  A.  Mayhew;  Roman  Catholic, 
Father  McDermott.  County  officers:  H.  M.  Allen,  auditor;  Syl- 
A-ester  Smith,  treasurer ;  Soloman  Snow,  register  of  deeds ;  D.  J. 
Tubbs,  sheriff;  E.  0.  Wheeler,  attorney;  Ormanzo  Allen,  probate 
judge:  L.  A.  Sherwood,  clerk  of  district  court;  Sherman  Page, 
superintendent  of  schools.  Clothing  and  cloths:  J.  C.  Ackley 
&  Co.,  R.  Buckelmann,  A.  J.  Phelps.  Dentists :  Dr.  E.  C.  Dorr, 
Dr.  E.  P.  Hudson.  Dry  goods  and  groceries:  X.  P.  Austin, 
George  B.  Hayes,  Johnson  &  Brother,  F.  King,  Olson  &  Cnutson, 
Paddock  Brothers,  Soule  Brothers.  Drugs  and  medicines:  J.  J. 
and  G.  G.  Clemmer,  Johnson  Brothers  &  Co.,  Woodard  &  Dorr. 
Express  companies:  American,  Harlan  W.  Page;  United  States, 
same.  ^Merchants'  Union:  Charles  W.  Sawyer.  Fanning  mills 
and  washing  machines:  William  Truesdell.  Furniture:  Hop- 
kins &  Fernald.  William  Ludwig.  Flour  and  feed :  AV right  & 
Azure.  Good  Templars :  Austin  Lodge,  No.  14,  I.  O.  G.  T.  Gro- 
ceries :  J.  C.  Ackley  &  Co.,  J.  F.  Atherton,  Cook  Bros,  A.  Matson, 
Wright  &  Azure.  Hotels:  Davidson's  Hotel.  Fleck  House, 
Farmers'  Home.  Hardware,  stoves,  etc.:  Austin  &  Sniout,  J.  F. 
Atherton.  Kimball  &  Hunt,  V.  P.  Lewis.  Harness  and  saddlery: 
Hathaway  &  Kaiser,  Frank  Raymond.     Insurance  agents :     LeRoy 


204  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Hathaway,  Page  &  Wheeler,  Harlan  AY.  Page,  C.  AY.  Sawyer,  R.  I. 
Smith,  Soloman  Snow.  Ice  dealer :  B.  F.  Jones.  Jew6lry,  etc. : 
Gustav  Schleuder.  Job  printing :  Register  office.  Lumber  deal- 
ers :  Crooker  &  Brother  &  Lamoreux,  Clay  &  Leach,  A.  Matson. 
Livery  stables :  A.  B.  Davidson,  E.  D.  Fenton  &  Brother.  Ma- 
sonic :  Fidelity  Lodge,  No.  39,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Austin  Chapter, 
IT.  D.  Millinery  and  dressmaking :  Cook  &  Bemis,  Mrs.  S.  Hed- 
ding,  Mrs.  D.  A.  Lord,  Miss  M.  A.  Sample,  Mrs.  Q.  A.  Truesdell. 
Merchant  tailors :  D.  Banks,  R.  Dunkelmann,  A.  Matson.  Meat 
market:  Eyre  &  Frederick.  Newspaper:  Mower  County  Reg- 
ister. Physicians  and  surgeons :  Dr.  Orlenzer  Allen,  Dr.  R.  A. 
Barnes,  Dr.  P.  C.  Berry,  Dr.  0.  AY.  Gibson,  Dr.  W.  C.  Jones. 
Photograph  gallery :  R.  I.  Smith.  Painters :  AVeseman  & 
Hickok.  Plasterers:  R.  J.  Tyler,  AYilliam  Vandergrift.  Res- 
taurants :  Huxhold  &  Yan  Campen.  Sewing  machine  agents : 
J.  C.  Ackley,  Mrs.  Orlenzer  Allen,  C.  H.  Davidson.  Stone  and 
brick  masons :  Patrick  Barrett,  AYilliam  Gutherless.  U.  S.  offi- 
cers :  Deputy  collector,  Sol.  Snow ;  deputy  assessor,  H.  M.  Allen. 
A'^eterinary  surgeon :  Dr.  M.  M.  AYalker.  AA^agon  shops :  AY.  I. 
Brown,  Holt  &  jMaloney. 

THE  RAILROAD  ERA 

Prior  to  the  advent  of  the  railroad  to  Austin  the  business  of 
the  place  was  not  classified,  but  general  stocks  prevailed.  But 
at  this  time  a  revolution  took  place  which  really  marked  a  new 
era  in  the  commercial  history  of  Austin.  The  history  of  a  ma- 
jority of  the  business  houses  which  operated  previous  to  the 
coming  of  the  railroad  has  already  been  given.  In  this  connec- 
tion will  be  given  the  general  development  of  the  various  branches 
of  trade  from  1867,  when  the  railroad  was  completed,  up  to  1884, 
when  the  modern  period  begins. 

Mercantile.  Soon  after  the  coming  of  the  railroad  N.  P.  Aus- 
tin sold  an  interest  in  his  general  store  to  F.  A.  Richardson  and 
later  sold  his  remaining  interest  to  Frank  Mayhew  and  went  to 
California.  After  a  few  years  Mayhew  sold  his  interest  to  Rich- 
ardson and  followed  Austin  to  California.  Richardson  continued 
in  the  business  until  1880,  when  his  stock  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
James  C.  Day  started  in  the  dry  goods  business  early  in  this  era. 
After  about  one  year  he  sold  to  Stoaley  &  AYilliams.  Their  busi- 
ness was  managed  by  AY.  H.  Merrick  two  years,  when  they  closed 
out.  The  C.  L.  AYest  Dry  Goods  Company.  In  the  spring  of 
1869  C.  L.  AYest  left  Osage,  la.,  where  he  had  been  employed 
as  a  clerk  in  the  general  stores  of  II.  AY.  ]\IcNabb  and  Fonda  and 
Redfearn  for  three  years  past,  and  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  the  drug 
store  of  Johnson  Bros,  for  about  three  months,  after  which  he 


iiisTOijY  OF  :\i()\vi<:i,'  coiwi'v  ^o:. 

was  employod  iu  the  general  store  of  Austin  &  Richardson  for 
about  three  years.  In  the  fall  of  1871  he  decided  to  go  into  busi- 
ness for  himself.  He  first  thought  of  going  into  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  some  small  town,  but  on  counting  the  cost  of  a  small 
grocery  stock  he  decided  that  the  small  amount  of  money  he  had 
was  not  enough.  He  finally  decided  that  the  biggest  show  for 
the  least  money  was  in  the  crockery  business.  He  went  around 
town  and  persuaded  the  dealers  to  sell  their  stocks  of  crockery  to 
him  and  agree  to  keep  out  of  the  business.  He  conducted  this 
business  until  June,  1873,  when  R.  0.  Hall  moved  from  Dixon, 
111.,  to  Austin,  when  they  went  into  partnership  under  the  firm 
name  of  Hall  &  West,  and  opened  a  general  store.  After  two 
years  the  grocery  department  was  discontinued  and  an  exclusive 
dry  goods  business  continued  until  June,  1899,  when  Mr.  Hall 
retired,  since  which  time  the  business  has  been  continued  by  ]Mr. 
"West  up  to  the  date  of  this  writing,  making  a  continuous  period 
of  forty  years  that  Mr.  West  has  been  in  business  in  Austin.  No 
sensational  or  radical  methods  have  been  employed,  only  such 
methods  as  have  appealed  to  an  old  merchant  as  progressive  and 
honest  have  been  the  governing  policy  of  this  store.  L.  S.  Wil- 
lard  established  a  dry  goods  business  in  Austin  in  1876.  Christian 
tian  Johnson  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade  in  Austin  a  few 
years  after  the  railroad  was  built  with  his  brother  Jacob,  who 
died  a  fev/  months  later.  After  eight  years  Mr.  Johnson  sold  out 
and  engaged  as  a  clerk. 

Groceries.  Among  the  grocery  dealers  at  the  commencement 
of  this  era  was  L.  G.  Basford,  who  continued  in  the  business  until 
the  falling  of  the  Basford  block  in  1883.  James  C.  Day,  after 
selling  his  stock  of  dry  goods,  opened  an  extensive  grocery  store, 
from  which  he  drove  the  first  delivery  wagon  in  town.  He  was 
succeeded  by  S.  W.  Day.  Dalager  Bros,  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  in  1880,  one  of  the  brothers,  Edward,  having  been  in  the 
same  line  since  1872,  while  the  other  brother,  Andrew,  had  been 
engaged  in  the  sale  of  farm  machinery  since  1878.  Edward  A. 
Dalager  is  still  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Austin.  Fred 
Radermaeher  opened  a  grocery  store  in  Austin  in  1869,  and  in 
1876  engaged  in  the  bakery  and  restaurant  business. 

Fiirniture.  The  furniture  trade  of  Austin  was  represented  in 
1867  liy  George  Mitchell,  Hopkins  &  Fernald.  Mitchell  continued 
in  the  trade  until  his  death.  Hopkins  &  Fernald  continued  the 
business  until  1875,  when  Hopkins  sold  and  moved  to  Boston, 
^Mass.  Fernald  was  joined  in  business  by  A.  W.  Kimball.  They 
continued  in  business  until  their  stock  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
Fernald  started  in  business  soon  after.  S.  C.  Olson,  who  at  first 
worked  in  Fernald 's  store,  commenced  l)usiiiess  for  liimsi'lf.  lie 
was  in  trade  in  1884. 


206  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Drug  Trade.  The  drug  business  at  the  commencement  of  this 
era  was  represented  by  Woodard  &  Dorr,  and  J.  J.  &  6.  G.  Clem- 
mer.  The  firm  of  Woodard  &  Dorr  was  soon  changed  to  Door  & 
Wold.  K.  0.  AVold  is  still  in  business  here.  The  Clemmer  Bros, 
were  in  business  but  a  few  years  when  G.  G.  withdrew  from  the 
firm  and  went  to  Hampton,  la.  J.  J.  was  never  a  resident  of 
Austin.  Soon  after  G.  G.  withdrew  the  firm  became  Clemmer  & 
Pooler.     Charles  A.  Pooler  is  still  in  business  here. 

Lumber.  The  business  was  first  represented  in  Austin  by  Mr. 
Washburn,  in  1866,  and  he  remained  in  the  business  two  years. 
The  same  year  a  yard  was  started  by  P.  G.  Lamoreaux  on  Main 
street.  William  Leach  opened  a  yard  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  on  Mill  street,  east  of  the  yard  established  by  Washburn. 
JMr.  Leach  continued  in  business  about  one  year.  The  lumber 
trade  in  Austin  in  1867,  after  the  completion  of  the  railroad,  was 
an  immense  business.  From  this  point,  all  the  territory  between 
Albert  Lea  and  ]\Iason  City  had  to  obtain  lumber  from  Austin. 
The  lumber  manufacturers  of  Minneapolis  had  yards  of  their  own 
for  several  years  and  did  an  extensive  business.  In  1868  there 
were  six  yards  in  the  city.  Among  the  dealers  who  continued  in 
the  trade  after  the  boom  had  ceased  was  William  Richards,  whose 
yard  was  at  the  depot.  He  sold  to  E.  H.  Gerard  and  he  to  S.  B. 
Woodsum.  Bray  &  French  were  also  early  dealers  in  lumber. 
Frank  I.  Crane  succeeded  Bray  &  French  in  1876.  William  M. 
Leach  came  to  Austin  in  1866,  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade,  and 
later  took  charge  of  the  lumber  yards  of  Frank  I.  Crane.  The 
Crane  yard  is  still  in  existence  and  is  in  charge  of  Ralph  P. 
Crane. 

Grain  Business.  The  first  to  engage  in  the  grain  business  at 
Austin  in  the  railroad  era  Avere  B.  J.  and  E.  P.  Van  Valkenburgh, 
who  located  a  warehouse  soon  after  the  railroad  came  in.  Among 
the  other  earl.y  dealers  were  Ames  &  Co.,  William  W.  Cargill,  John 
Crandall  and  Yates  &  Lewis.  The  railroad  company  built  a  low, 
flat  v/arehouse  shortly  after  the  road  was  built  in  and  about  the 
same  time  the  firm  of  B.  J.  and  E.  P.  Van  Valkenburgh  dissolved. 
Bassett  &  Iluntting  built  an  elevator  about  1875,  which  had  a 
capacity  of  60,000  bushels,  and  B.  J.  Van  Valkenburgh  managed 
it,  having  an  interest  in  the  same.  In  1868  Yates  &  LcAvis  built 
a  warehouse  and  handled  grain  a  few  years.  In  1884  the  grain 
l)usiness  was  in  tlie  hands  of  Bassett  &  Hunting  and  Charles 
Whitton. 

Leather  Goods.  The  first  harness  made  in  Austin  was  by 
LoRoy  Hatliaway,  in  I860.  Mr.  Hathaway  was  at  that  time  at 
work  for  George  B.  Hayes,  Avho  started  the  first  harness  shop.  In 
the  spring  of  1865  Hathaway  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  and 
in  Octobci-  of  that  year  ~S\v.  Kaiser  l)ecame  his  partner  in  business. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  207 

This  partnership  eoutinued  about  one  year.  Mr.  Kaiser  was  then 
alone  in  business  until  July  25,  1868,  when  Mr.  Guiney  became 
associated  with  him. 

Boots  and  Shoes.  Joseph  Schwan  is  the  oldest  established  boot 
and  shoe  dealer  now  in  business  in  Austin.  He  began  business 
October  23,  1867.  He  began  on  a  small  scale  in  a  small  frame 
building  only  ten  feet  in  width,  kept  a  small  stock  of  ready-made 
goods  and  also  did  custom  work.  Mr.  Schwan  is  still  successfully 
engaged  in  business.  In  December,  1867,  James  Truesdell,  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  started  an  exclusive  boot  and  shoe  store.  In 
1869  he  moved  to  Ira  Jones'  building,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  and  from  there  moved  to  the  east  side  of  Main  street,  into 
a  building  which  he  bought.  In  1880  Mr.  Truesdell  sold  his  stock 
to  Frank  Tieknor.  J.  C.  Ackley  purchased  the  boot  and  shoe 
stock  which  George  B.  Hayes  carried  in  connection  with  his  gen- 
eral store  and  operated  until  1873,  and  then  sold  to  J.  P.  Revord. 
In  two  or  three  years  he  sold  to  John  Lambert,  continued  a  few 
years  and  moved  to  southern  Iowa.  Samuel  Sweningsen  and 
Charles  I.  Johnson  embarked  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  in 
1880  and  were  among  the  dealers  in  1884.  Charles  I.  Johnson  is 
still  engaged  in  the  footwear  business  in  Austin.  Amos  H.  Hill 
came  to  Austin  in  February,  1876,  and  for  a  time  was  in  partner- 
ship with  John  Lambert  in  the  general  grocery  and  boot  and  shoe 
trade. 

Clothing.  The  clothing  business  has  always  l^een  well  repre- 
sented in  Austin.  Henry  Jacobs,  the  pioneer  dealer,  was  still  in 
trade  in  1884.  R.  Dunkleman  established  business  here  late  in 
1866,  and  Joseph  Levy  early  in  1867.  Dettleburgh  Brothers, 
better  known  as  Cheap  Charley,  established  their  business  here 
about  1878. 

Photographers.  Dr.  Brewer  was  the  first  photographer  to 
locate  at  Austin.  He  was  assisted  by  A.  B.  Davidson,  who  suc- 
ceeded him  in  the  business.  In  1884  Orville  Slocum  and  G.  S. 
Hildahl  were  each  engaged  in  the  business. 

Hardware  Business.  Charles  C.  Hunt,  who  is  spoken  of  as 
being  in  the  hardware  business  previous  to  the  railroad  era,  con- 
tinued in  trade  until  1870,  when  he  sold  to  Ira  Jones,  who  was  in 
trade  the  greater  part  of  the  time  until  1883,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Cook  &  Davidson.  J.  H.  Patterson,  general  hardware 
dealer  purchased  a  building  of  J.  B.  Reeurd  in  1883.  The  busi- 
ness of  Mr.  Patterson  was  established  by  Crane  &  Patterson  in 
1880.  The  latter  purchased  his  partner's  interest  in  February. 
1882.  H.  O.  Jahren  and  H.  S.  Hammond  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
farm  machinery  in  the  firm  name  of  Jahren  &  Hammond  in  1884, 
purchasing  the  business  established  by  Goodwin  &  Jalircn  in  1S74. 
A.  O.  Jahren,  a  lirother  of  H.  ().,  suecedcd   to  tlic  Imsiufss  t'ol- 


© 


208  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

lowed  by  H.  O.  W.  H.  Sutton  engaged  in  the  general  hardware 
business  in  Austin  in  November,  1883,  under  the  firm  name  of  Fish 
&  Sutton.  Mr.  Si;tton  became  sole  owner  in  May,  1884.  In 
August,  1883,  he  sold  his  hardware  stock  to  J.  F.  Andrews  &  Son. 
D.  B.  Smith  started  dealing  in  general  farm  machinery  in  Aiistin 
in  the  fall  of  1871.  Austin  Foundry  was  established  near  the 
Milwaukee  depot  in  1867  by  William  W.  Brownson,  who  continued 
the  business  successfully  until  his  death  in  1873.  In  the  agricul- 
tural implement  business  there  have  been  numerous  dealers. 
William  Allen,  about  the  first  regular  dealer,  after  railroad  times, 
operated  about  five  years  and  then  closed  out  and  removed  to 
Wells,  Minn.  Next  came  Alanson  Wright,  Avho  did  quite  an 
extensive  business  in  this  line.  Next  came  E.  P.  Van  Valken- 
burgh,  who  was  succeeded  by  Oscar  Ayers,  who  was  in  business 
for  a  few  years. 

AUSTIN  IN  1876 

In  1876,  Centennial  year,  the  business  and  professional  prog- 
ress of  Austin  was  represented  as  follows : 

Main  street — Austin  &  Chase,  hardware ;  Noble  &  McWhorter, 
grocers;  Oleson,  Smith  &  Co.,  dry  goods;  C.  H.  Brewster,  mer- 
chant tailor;  J.  J.  Hayes  &  Bro.,  jewelers;  George  Baird  &  Son, 
stationers ;  L.  L.  Gable,  organs ;  Miss  W.  C.  Soper,  milliner ; 
Charles  Rommel,  meat  market ;  Hall  &  West,  dry  goods  and  gro- 
ceries; Fernald  &  Kimball,  furniture;  Clemmer  &  Pooler,  drug- 
gists; C.  B.  Staples,  dentist;  J.  A.  Dunston,  barber;  Robert  Grif- 
fith, groceries  and  stationery ;  Mrs.  E.  M.  Benson,  milliner ;  John 
B.  Revord,  groceries  and  boots  and  shoes;  Bullock  &  Pierce,  bar- 
bers ;  AVitham  &  Robinson,  painters ;  James  Cronou,  cigars,  to- 
bacco and  notions ;  George  Foote,  confectionery ;  W.  H.  Anderson, 
baker  and  grocer;  Joseph  Levy,  clothing;  M.  M.  Brey,  tobacco 
and  cigars ;  F.  King,  dry  goods ;  Dorr  &  Wold,  druggists ;  G. 
Schleuder,  jeweler;  M.  T.  Grattan,  reaper  agent;  E.  Dunkle- 
mann,  clothing ;  Solner  &  Morgan,  general  store ;  Davidson  &  Bas- 
f ord,  publishers  Register ;  Rabe  &  Avery,  dentists ;  T.  W.  Wood- 
ard,  justice  of  the  peace;  Merrick  &  Knox,  hardware;  H.  A. 
Fairbanks,  harness  maker ;  L.  Piper,  blacksmith ;  Smith,  Wilkins 
&  Easton,  Mower  County  Bank ;  L.  M.  Ober,  express  agent  and 
deputy  revenue  officer;  J.  A.  Waters,  sewing  machines;  P.  Zeller, 
proprietor  European  hotel ;  Dr.  W.  L.  Hollister,  pliysician  and 
surgeon;  Dr.  S.  P.  Thornhill,  physician  and  surgeon;  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  O.  W.  Shaw  president,  II.  AV.  Page  cashier;  E.  0. 
Wheeler,  lawyer  and  real  estate  agent;  E.  Mapes,  groceries; 
H.  F.  Kunz,  dry  goods;  Joseph  Schwan,  boots  and  shoes;  H. 
Luithlen,  confectionery  and  restaurant;  D.  B.  Jolinson,  Jr.,  at- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  (XJLLXTY  300 

torney  at  law ;  Crandall  &  French,  lawyers ;  L.  W.  Griffith,  justice 
of  the  peace ;  H.  H.  Harwood,  proprietor  of  the  Transcript ; 
George  B.  Hayes,  loan  hroker;  Kaiser  &  Guinney,  harness  makers; 
Frank  Raymond,  harness  maker;  Padden  &  Noble,  druggists; 
James  Truesdell,  boots  and  shoes;  Tallmadge  &  Ball,  grocers; 
F.  A.  Richardson,  dry  goods ;  Greenman  &  Abbey,  insurance 
agents  and  lawyers;  George  E.  "Wilbour  &  Son,  merchant  tailors 
and  clothiers;  Engle  &  Co.,  miller's  office;  L.  Ed.  Day,  express 
agent;  Hazlewood  &  Tuttle,  hardware;  H.  M.  &  S.  Cowing,  milli- 
ners ;  Col.  J.  H.  Mansfield,  proprietor  DaA'idson  House ;  L.  Hturte- 
vant,  musical  instruments. 

Mill  street — John  Walsh,  grocer;  William  Newman,  shoe- 
maker;  Frank  Gibbons,  confectionery;  J.  J.  O'Maley,  wines  and 
liquors;  S.  Chandler  &  Bro.,  grocers;  Adrian  Drost,  silversmith; 
H.  L.  Burgess,  gunsmith ;  A.  0.  Jahren  &  Co.,  farm  machinery ; 
Leo  Anderson,  bakery :  C.  0.  Berg,  tailor ;  Sever  Oleson,  pro- 
prietor Scandinavian  House ;  A.  Nelson,  liquors ;  H.  J.  Minar, 
marble  yard;  S.  Hutchins,  proprietor  Ramsey  stage  line;  Henry 
Kothe,  proprietor  Austin  House ;  J.  S.  Corning,  proprietor  Grand 
Central  Hotel ;  D.  Heffner,  billiard  hall ;  Frank  Anderson,  liquor 
dealer;  M.  J.  Cuddy,  liquor  dealer;  Katz  &  Driesner,  wholesale 
liquor  dealers;  0.  E.  Slocum,  photographer;  T.  F.  Armstrong, 
liquors ;  John  McCormick,  liquors ;  Kyle  &  Feihn,  meat  market ; 
Henry  Jacobs,  tailor;  Mrs.  D.  A.  Lord,  millinery;  P.  Zender, 
liquors;  A.  M.  Radermacher,  grocer;  H.  S.  Smith,  plow  manu- 
facturer; Dr.  J.  N.  Wheat,  physician  and  surgeon. 

Bridge  street — L.  G.  Basford,  grocer ;  G.  K.  Hanson,  wagon 
maker;  W.  A.  Hotehkiss,  proprietor  Republican  ;  Dr.  J.  P.  Squires, 
physician  and  surgeon ;  A.  H.  Alsip,  brick  maker ;  Joseph  Rliein- 
smith,  blacksmith:  AY.  I.  Brown,  farm  machinery;  H.  S.  Smith, 
blacksmith ;  J.  Cota,  shoemaker ;  Ole  Sorenson,  shoemaker ;  A.  E. 
]\Ieigs,  postmaster;  S.  AY.  Day,  notions;  Frederich  &  Gies,  meat 
market:  James  Geraghty,  liquors;  Cameron  &  Crane,  lawyers  and 
land  agents ;  Anderson  &  Royce,  coal  dealers ;  H.  G.  AA^achlin, 
liquors;  James  Bates,  wagon  shop;  J.  A.  Donaldson,  wood  and 
iron  worker;  AL  Feeny,  boarding  and  liquors;  John  O'Brien,  pro- 
prietor American  House:  A.  AI.  Delaire,  blacksmith;  T.  Dugan. 
blacksmith  ;  Oleson  &  Nieholaison,  furniture. 

Around  Public  square — D.  B.  Smith;  J.  AYeisel,  iniiicral  wjitoi-: 
Fleck  &  Hay,  proprietors  Fleck  House;  T.  Hillam.  billiard  hall; 
Carlos  Fenton,  livery;  W.  Patterson,  blacksmith;  Thomas  Ed- 
-vards,  photographer;  E.  P.  A^'an  A^'alkonburgh,  farm  machinery; 
George  C.  Alartin,  hardware. 

Aliscellaneous— Dr.  O.  AY.  Gibson,  ])liysiciaii  and  surgeon: 
P.  O.  French,  pump  manufacturer  and  agent  For  farm  luachiuer;.  : 
Grattan  &  Cox,  livery;  Brey  &  French,  hiiiilxr:  AV.  T.  Afaiidc- 


210  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

ville  livery;  J.  F.  Atherton.  proprietor  railroad  eating  house; 
AVilliara  Richards,  lumber;  J.  Fischer,  proprietor  Burlington 
House ;  C.  W.  Ransom,  grain  buyer ;  J.  M.  Flowers,  grain  dealer ; 
George  B.  Wright,  foundry;  A.  W.  Powers,  manufacturer  of 
fanning  mills ;  V.  Richard,  manufacturer  of  fanning  mills ;  Thos, 
Meaney,  liquors :  Michael  Collins,  liquors ;  W.  H.  Valleau,  grain 
buyer:  J.  H.  C.  Huxhold,  brewer;  Frank  Livingstine,  brewer; 
J.  S.  Putnam,  justice  of  the  peace;  C.  N.  Beiseker,  cooper;  Peter 
Parker,  painter ;  W.  H.  Officer,  miller ;  Jonathan  Gregson,  miller ; 
Mathew  Gregson,  miller;  Warner,  Crane  &  Co.,  millers;  J.  Mc- 
Grath,  station  agent;  William  Olesou,  painter;  D.  Banks,  tailor; 
Peter  McCormick,  proprietor  Farmers'  Home. 


AUSTIN  IN  1884 

The  commercial  interests  of  Austin  in  August,  1884,  were 
represented  as  follows :  Dry  goods :  Hall  &  West,  J.  Solner  & 
Co.,  L.  S.  Willard  and  F.  King.  Groceries :  C.  W.  Taylor  &  Co., 
Dalager  Bros.,  F.  P.  McBride,  A.  H.  Hill  &  Co.  Boots  and  shoes : 
J.  Schwan,  Sweningsen  &  Johnson  and  F.  A.  Ticknor.  Clothing : 
R.  Dunkleman,  Dettelbach  Bros.,  ("Cheap  Charley")  J.  Levy 
and  F.  E.  Jacobs.  Hardware :  Cook  &  Davidson,  J.  H.  Patterson, 
J.  'R  Andrews  &  Son.  Drugs:  Dorr  &  AVold  and  Clemmer  & 
Pooler.  Agricultural  machinery:  D.  B.  Smith,  Oscar  Ayei'S, 
Keenan  Bros.,  Jahren  &  Hammond.  Restaurants:  G.  F.  Rode- 
macher.  R.  P.  Boyles.  Harness  shops:  Kaiser  &  Guiney  and 
Frank  Rayman.  News  depot:  James  Cronan.  Jewelers:  G. 
Schleuder  and  Hayes  Bros.  Hotels :  Fleck  House,  kept  by  A.  M. 
Fleck  ;  Mansfield  House,  kept  by  J.  H.  Mansfield ;  Windsor  House, 
kept  by  John  E.  Robinson ;  Davidson  House,  kept  by  S.  F.  Gib- 
bons; Railroad  House,  kept  by  Bannard  &  Horrabin;  American 
House,  kept  by  Andrew  Noonan ;  Burlington  House,  kept  by  J. 
Fischer;  German  House.  Lumber  yards:  F.  I.  Crane  and  S.  B. 
Woodsum.  Grain  buyers:  Bassett  &  Hunting  (per  H.  A.  Fair- 
banks) and  C.  H.  Whitton. 

The  folloAving  named  were  ones  wlio  at  one  time  had  carried 
on  business  in  Austin,  but  who,  as  early  as  1884,  had  gone  out  of 
business :  Groceries :  Noble  &  McWharter,  Paddock  Bros.,  S.  W. 
Day,  Sprague  &  Co.,  Paden  &  Simmons.  .  Drugs :  Noble  &  French. 
Hardware:  Austin  &  Smith,  C.  L.  Chase.  Dry  goods:  Fleetwood 
&  Merril,  J.  C.  Smith  &  Co.,  Walker  &  Lidgerwood,  Knud  Knud- 
son.  Agricultural  implements:  W.  J.  Brown,  E.  J.  Gratton, 
Nelson  Bros.,  II.  H.  Kent,  G.  H.  Azure.  Boots  and  shoes :  Jehial 
Woodward. 

Of  those  in  business  here  in  1884,  Ihe  following  are  still  act- 
ively engaged  in  iiicrcantile  pursuits  in  1911  :  Chas.  L.  West,  dry 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  211 

goods,  cloaks  and  suits;  Edward  A.  Dalager,  groceries;  Frank 
P.  McBride,  groceries;  Charles  I.  Johnson,  footwear;  Joseph 
Schwan  (J.  Schwan  &  Son),  footwear;  Gustav  Schleuder,  jew- 
elry; Knud  0.  AVold,  drugs;  Charles  A.  Pooler,  drugs;  Frank 
Raymond,  harnesses,  and  Hayes  Bros.  (J.  J.  and  Orris),  jewelry. 
Ralph  Crane  conducts  the  lumber  business  of  his  father,  Frank  I. 

THE  MODERN  PERIOD 

In  1885  began  the  modern  mercantile  period  of  Austin.  The 
companies  that  have  started  in  business,  lived  for  a  time  and 
then  sold  out,  have  but  little  historical  importance.  There  are  at  the 
present  time  a  number  of  business  houses  which  have  been  estab- 
lished for  mgny  years  and  which  by  reason  of  their  stability  and 
standing  are  worthy  of  their  names  being  handed  down  to  future 
generations  as  representatives  of  the  mercantile  interests  of 
Austin  at  the  present  time.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned: 
George  Hirsh,  clothing  (see  biographical  sketch)  ;  Philip  H. 
Friend,  clothing  (see  biographical  sketch)  ;  Hormel  Provision 
House,  food  products  (see  sketch  of  George  A.  Hormel)  ;  John 
A.  Maurek,  general  store ;  Ernest  Myers,  tobacco  business ; 
Holmes  Hardware  Company ;  Donovan  &  Goslee,  furniture ;  Aus- 
tin Furniture  Company' ;  Decker  Bros.,  hardware  (see  biograph- 
ical sketch);  G.  Fred  Baird,  undertaker;  Urbatch  Bros.,  hard- 
ware; Frank  O.  Hall,  groceries;  Lars  P.  Nelson,  harness  maker;* 
John  Briebach,  meats ;  Fred  E.  Gleason,  jeweler,  established  in 
1890 ;  Joseph  Fitzhum,  harness  maker ;  M.  J.  Keenan,  musical 
instruments ;  John  F.  Fairbanks,  fuel ;  Fiester  &  Thomas,  general 
store;  J.  S.  R.  Seoville.  jeweler;  Mathias  S.  Fisch,  department 
store  (see  biographical  sketch)  ;  Frank  M.  Zender,  cigars;  W.  C. 
Horrooin,  groceries ;  Paul  H.  Zender,  bakery ;  Dunfee  Bros., 
cigars ;  Fred  L.  Williams,  cigars ;  Austin  Cigar  Company ;  Robert 
R.  ]\Iurphy,  dry  goods;  William  D.  Bassler,  clothing;  Albert 
Thon,  dry  goods ;  Ormanzo  J.  Benton,  footwear ;  John  E.  Malloy, 
drugs;  William  R.  Earl,  furniture;  Guy  H.  Burlingame,  notions; 
Austin  Candy  Company ;  OAvatonna  Fruit  Company ;  Austin 
Plumbing  Company,  Clefton  Pluming  Company. 


212  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

AUSTIN  MANUFACTURIES 

First  Mill — Former  Industries — Present  Interests — Story  of  the 
Growth  and  Development  of  the  Various  Plants  Which  Have 
Assisted  in  the  Progress  of  the  City — Minor  Activities. 

"While  not  primarily  a  manufacturing  town,  Austin  neverthe- 
less has  a  number  of  important  factories,  and  the  packing,  rail- 
road, printing,  milling,  clay  products,  cement,  farm  implement, 
Tagon  making,  creamery,  bottling,  corrugated  iron,  bookbinding, 
rugmaldng,  gunmaking,  farm  machinery,  bakery,  post  card, 
greenhouse,  nursery,  building  and  illuminating  industries  are 
important. 

Naturally  the  milling  industry  was  the  first  to  occupy  the 
attention  of  the  people  of  this  vicinity. 

FIRST  MILL 

The  first  mill  and  factory  in  Austin  is  the  subject  of  an  article 
prepared  many  years  ago  by  Q.  A.  Truesdell.  "The  first  mill 
in  Austin  was  of  a  primitive  kind,  made  and  used  by  the  Indians. 
'  It  Avas  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Cedar  river,  about  twenty 
rods  above  Engle's  (now  Campbell's)  dam.  A  white  oak  stump 
v.'as  hollowed  out  in  the  top  in  the  shape  of  a  mortar,  and  with 
a  wooden  pestle  the  corn  was  pounded  fine,  mixed  up  with 
Avater  and  baked  in  the  hot  coals.  Some  of  the  corn  was  begged 
from  the  inhabitants  and  some  stolen.  In  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber, 1858,  the  Truesdell  brothers  started  up  the  first  water  mill. 
The;  mill  was  made  of  iron,  and  ran  night  and  day  part  of  the 
time.  It  Avas  valuable  at  the  time  for  grinding  corn,  there  being 
no  other  mill  nearer  than  a  distance  of  thirty  miles.  Mr.  Rose, 
of  Rose  Creek,  brought  the  first  sack  of  Avlieat  and  had  it  ground 
into  flour,  and  when  we  met  afterwards  he  told  me  the  bread 
made  from  the  flour  \\^as  very  black  and  not  fit  to  eat.  Most 
of  the  pioneers  well  remember  what  was  called  the  "Water 
Johnny  Cake  Period,"  when  there  was  little  else  than  corn  meal 
for  bread,  and  not  enough  of  that.  Aloysius  Brown  Avas  in  trade 
at  that  time  and  did  a  large  business  in  furnishing  flour  to  the 
settlers.  He  had  teams  draAving  flour  from  Chatfield  and  Deco- 
rah,  loAva;  but  this  whole  country  Avas  Avet  and  soft  that  but 
small  loads  could  be  brought  in  and  it  took  a  long  time  to  make 
a  trip.  Our  supplies  Avere  chiefly  draAvn  from  Winona.  They 
could  not  be  procured  to  keep  up  Avith   the   demand,  and  such 


HLSTOUY  OF  .AIOWEII  COUXTY  ai3 

was  Mr.  Brown's  imijartiality  that  he  caused  tlio  sacks  to  be 
distributed  in  such  a  manner  that  every  family  should  receive 
each  a  sack  before  any  supplied  were  allowed  to  purchase  the 
second.  The  settlers  who  came  in  years  later  knew  but  little 
what  privations  the  first  ones  endured.  The  first  steam  mill  was 
built  by  J.  Bourgard  and  Asa  jMarsh,  on  the  east  side  of  town, 
and  after  a  while  it  was  fitted  up  with  buhrs  for  grinding,  and  it 
was  operated  by  Mr.  Bourgard.  In  the  fall  of  1856,  Q.  A.  and 
W.  Truesdell  put  machinery  in  a  building  where  "Warner's  mill 
(on  Dobbin's  creek)  now  (1876)  stands,  and  for  a  long  time 
manufactured  furniture,  but  after  a  time  the  dam  went  out  and 
the  premises  were  abandoned. ' ' 

FORMER  INDUSTRIES 

In  the  seventies  and  eighties,  Austin  had  four  important  in- 
dustrial plants,  the  Engle  mill,  now  Campbell's;  the  "Warner  mill, 
now  the  lower  Campbell  mill;  the  plow  manufactory  of  Johnson- 
&  Smith,  which  is  still  in  operation,  and  the  Austin  Canning 
Company,  now  out  of  existence.  Quarrying,  lime  burning  and 
brickmaking  were  also  important  in  those  days.  The  brick  manu- 
factured here  has  entered  into  the  construction  of  many  im- 
portant buildings  in  the  Northwest,  including  the  postoffice  at 
LaCrosse.  The  stone  quarried  here,  however,  has  shown  an 
inclination  to  crumble  and  is  not  Avell  suited  for  building  pur- 
poses. 

The  Austin  Pressed  Brick  Company  was  started  in  1887,  and 
for  a  time  was  very  successful.  Tlie  plant  was  burned  and  never 
rebuilt. 

The  Engle  Mill  was  owned  by  Joe  Engle  &  Sons,  who  oper- 
ated a  fine  corrugated  roller  mill  erected  in  1881.  These  gen- 
tlemen came  to  Austin  in  1871  and  purchased  Anderson's  mill. 
The  mill  at  that  time  was  a  small  aflt'air,  containing  but  one  run  of 
stone,  and  was  built  by  Mr.  Anderson  in  1864.  Immediately 
after  their  purchase  the  firm  began  reconstructing  the  property, 
and  practically  rebuilt  the  mill,  enlarging  the  building  and 
adding  two  sets  of  Imhrs,  which,  with  other  improvements,  added 
to  the  first  cost  of  the  property,  amounted  to  $30,000.  They 
operated  this  mill  until  February,  1881,  when  it  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  They  began  immediately  to  rebuild,  but  on  a  much 
more  elaborate  plan.  The  site  of  this  mill,  just  east  of  "Water 
f;treet  bridge,  is  now  occupied  by  A.  S.  Camp])ell 

The  Austin  Canning  Factory. — The  idea  of  establishing  a 
canning  factory  al  Austin  was  conceived  by  C.  H.  Davidson,  the 
propiietor  of  the  Austin  Transcript.  Ilis  attention  was  called 
lo  the  matter  by  a  gentleman  who  had  a  factory  of  this  nature 


214  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

at  Gilman,  Iowa.  Mr.  Davidson  agitated  the  matter  by  talking 
up  the  project  with  some  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Austin 
and  G.  Schleuder,  Eev.  A.  Morse,  John  Walsh  and  others  were 
awakened  to  the  fact  that  it  would  be  an  important  enterprise 
among  Austin's  industrial  interests.  This  Avas  in  the  fall  of 
1882.  The  company  began  canning  September  4,  1883,  arrange- 
ments having  been  made  with  the  farmers  in  the  vicinity  for  the 
raising  of  sweet  corn.  The  factory  had  been  in  operation  but 
three  days  when  the  boiler  of  the  engine  exploded,  instantly  kill- 
ing the  engineer,  Fred  G.  Knox.  This  sad  occurrence  ended  the 
work  of  the  factory  for  1883.  The  company  was  organized 
]\Iarch  28,  1883.  The  first  board  of  directors  was  composed  of 
the  following  named  gentlemen:  John  "Walsh,  C.  H.  Davidson, 
H.  W.  Page,  G.  Schleuder,  W.  H.  Sutton,  D.  J.  Ames  and  AV.  T. 
Wilkins.  John  Walsh  was  elected  president  and  C.  H.  Davidson 
secretary.  The  company  prospered  for  a  time,  but  is  now  out  of 
existence.  The  buildings  were  located  on  the  south  side  of  Bridge 
street,  just  east  of  the  river.  A.  B.  Hunkins  also  conducted  a 
canning  concern  here  in  1896  and  1897. 

The  Austin  Plow  and  Harrow  Works  is  the  oldest  of  Austin's 
industries,  putting  out  ploAvs  and  harroAvs  of  exceptional  Avear- 
ing  qualities.  The  company  Avas  formerly  knoAvn  as  the  Smith  & 
Johnson  Company  and  its  name  is  a  familiar  one  to  all  agricul- 
tural implement  dealers  and  farmers  of  the  NorthAvest.  The 
^^  Everlasting  steel  harrOAV,  made  in  the  Austin  PIoav  and  HarroAV 
Works,  is  shipped  to  all  agricultural  states.  It  is  a  hand-made 
product  and  the  best  of  material  enters  into  its  construction. 
The  company  Avas  established  in  1867  by  Seymour  Johnson  and 
R.  0.  Hunt.  In  1870,  L.  S.  IMitchell  entered  the  firm  in  place  of 
Islr.  Hunt,  and  in  1872,  H.  S.  Smith  replaced  Mr.  Mitchell.  jMr. 
Smith  died  in  1893,  and  in  1900,  ]\Ir.  Johnson  sold  out  to  the 
Smith  heirs. 

MODERN  INDUSTRIES 

George  A.  Hormel  &  Co.,  pork  packers  and  provision  dealers, 
operate  Austin  "s  largest  industry ;  and  Avith  the  railroads  this 
company  constitutes  the  eliief  source  of  revenue  of  Austin's 
laboring  population.  It  has  also  been  an  impoi'tant  factor  in 
deA'eloping  the  dairy  and  swine  interests  of  the  surrounding 
country  districts.  Dui'ing  the  past  year  tlie  sales  of  this  com- 
pany have  amounted  to  over  $4,000,000.  The  total  tonnage  of 
this  year's  business  Avas  59,179,521  pounds,  an  increase  of  some 
4,000,000  over  the  previous  year.  Tlie  product  is  marketed  in 
Jill  parts  of  the  United  States  and  in  England,  AA'hen  conditions 
ill  tliat  market  are  favorable. 


GEORGE  A.  TIORMEL  &  CO. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  215 

In  1887,  a  young  man,  George  A.  Hormel,  who  had  previously 
had  considerable  experience  in  the  provision  and  packing  trade, 
selected  the  prairies  of  southern  Minnesota  as  the  field  of  his 
future  operations;  and,  as  a  beginning  of  greater  work  which 
he  hoped  l^ater  to  accomplish,  came  to  Austin,  and  with  Albert 
L.  Friedrich  engaged  in  the  retail  meat  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Friedrich  &  Hormel.  October  1,  1891,  this  partnership 
was  dissolved  and  in  Janiaary,  1892,  IMr.  ITormel  started  in  the 
retail  meat  business,  this  being  the  beginning  of  the  present 
institution  of  George  A.  Hormel  &  Co.  In  November,  1901,  the 
company  incorporated  with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000,  equally 
divided  between  preferred  and  common,  the  organizers  being 
George  A.  Hormel,  Herman  G.  Hormel,  A.  L.  Eberhart,  John  G. 
Hormel  and  B.  F.  Hormel.  These  gentlemen  are  still  identified 
with  the  company,  and  being  particularly  well  fitted  for  their 
positions  they  have  labored  together  for  what  has  become  the 
Hormel  "idea"  and  "ideal."  Realizing  that  the  superior  quality 
of  the  Hormel  product  is  responsible  for  the  growth  of  the  busi- 
ness, the  men  Avho  have  been  active  in  its  development  have  had 
an  unusual  incentive  to  maintain  its  high  standard.  In  their 
personal  supervision  of  the  various  departments,  this  is  their 
constant  aim.  The  first  officers  were  as  at  present:  President, 
George  A.  Hormel ;  vice  president,  Hennan  G.  Hormel ;  secretary, 
A.  L.  Eberhart;  treasurer,  John  G.  Hormel;  director,  B.  P, 
Hormel. 

The  packing  business  of  the  concern  was  inaugurated  on  the 
present  site  of  the  plant,  in  a  small  frame  building,  in  1892. 
During  that  year  €lO  hogs  were  slaughtered.  From  this  begin- 
ning the  plant  has  increased  until  it  now  has  a  capacity  of  2,000 
hogs  daily.  Buildings  have  been  erected  and  extensive  altera- 
tions made  every  year  as  the  business  has  increased.  At  the 
present  time  the  plant  has  224.000  square  feet  of  floor  space,  and 
from  300  to  550  men  are  employed,  according  to  the  season  of 
the  year.  April  13,  1906,  the  capital  stock  was  increased  to 
$1,000,000.  and  May  1,  1909,  to  $1,150,000.  Aside  from  the  pack- 
ing plant  the  company  conducts  a  model  provision  market,  which 
is  one  of  the  most  modern  and  sanitary  in  southern  ^Minnesota. 

Ever  since  the  beginning,  it  has  been  the  aim  of  the  company 
to  reacli  out  for  the  fancy  meat  trade,  which  is  supplied  with 
Dairy  Brand  hams,  bacon  and  lard,  which  for  quality  and  fine 
flavor  have  no  equal.  The  hams  and  bacon  are  cured  by  a  special 
Tirocess  discovered  by  ^Ir.  Hormel  after  a  quarter  of  a  century 
of  experimenting.  The  brand  "Dairy"  is  placed  upon  the  highest 
grade  of  meats  only.  The  pig  from  which  this  brand  of  meats  is 
made  is  found  only  in  the  dairy  districts  of  southern  ^Minnesota. 
This  pig  is  fed  on  skim  milk  from  the  creameries  and  upon  corn. 


216  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUXTY 

This  kind  of  food  produces  a  rich  lean  ham  and  bacon.  In  estab- 
lishing the  plant  in  Austin  the  purpose  was  to  be  at  the  center  of 
the  dairy  districts,  where  hogs,  fattened  under  ideal  conditions 
of  climate,  pasturage,  pure  air  and  sparkling  spring  water,  might 
find  a  market  at  home,  with  none  of  their  excellencies  marred 
by  long  travel.  Absolute  cleanliness  has  been  the  idea  and  per- 
fection the  ideal.  In  addition  to  the  minute  care  exercised  by  the 
Hormel  company,  the  government  also  maintains  a  corps  of  skilled 
veterinarians  and  inspectors  at  the  plant. 

With  Austin  as  headquarters,  lirauc-hes  are  maintained  at 
IMinneapolis,  St.  Paul  and  Duluth,  and  the  business  is  constantly 
growing'. 

The  Minnesota  Farmers'  Brick  and  Tile  Company  is  one  of 
Austin's  newer  industries,  but  already  gives  promise  of  becoming 
one  of  its  most  im_portant.  The  Indians  who  hunted  through  this 
county  used  clay  from  the  vicinity  of  Austin  for  their  rude  pot- 
tery. Soon  after  the  settlers  came,  the  value  of  the  clay  deposit 
here  was  realized,  and  at  various  times  efforts  have  been  made 
to  manufacture  and  market  clay  products.  For  various  reasons 
none  of  these  efforts  except  the  latest  one  continued,  although 
each  successive  effort  demonstrated  more  thoroughly  the  excel- 
lence of  the  clay  and  shale  found  here. 

In  the  fall  of  1909,  a  body  of  men  determined  to  take  advan- 
tage of  this  rich  deposit  by  manufacturing  tile  and  brick  on  an 
extensive  scale.  A  company  was  therefore  duly  organized  and 
incorporated  and  capitalized  at  $400,000,  divided  equally  between 
common  and  preferred  stock.  The  officers  were:  President, 
L.  A.  Smith;  vice  president,  AY.  PI.  Gleason;  treasurer,  R.  L. 
Johnson ;  secretary,  "W.  H.  Gleason,  Jr.  The  directors  were  L.  A. 
Smith,  W.  M.  Colby,  K.  L.  Johnson,  W.  H.  Gleason,  W.  H.  Glea- 
son,  Jr.,  J.  A.  Sullivan  and  "W.  M.  Sweiger. 

The  buildings  were  started  December  16,  1909,  and  the  first 
carload  of  finished  product  was  shipped  July  16,  1910.  The  daily 
oulput  is  now  about  ten  carloads.  The  present  officers  are  as  at 
first.  About  one  hundred  men  are  employed.  The  company  owns 
100  acres  lying  on  the  main  line  of  the  Chicago  Great  AVestern, 
and  it  is  expected  that  quite  a  village  will  spring  up  around  the 
plant.  At  the  present  time  the  site  is  occupied  by  an  office 
building  wliich  demonstrates  the  beauty  of  the  brick  manufac- 
tured by  the  company,  twelve  kilns,  a  large  brick  dryroom  four 
stories  high,  a  millroom  where  the  manufacturing  is  done,  a  boiler 
and  engine  house  and  an  electric  light  and  power  plant,  as  well 
as  the  large  clay  pit. 

The  process  starts  at  the  clay  bed.  This  deposit  of  clay  is 
fully  described  in  the  United  States  geological  survey  report,  and 
is  too  lengthy  for  reproduction  here.     It  is  sufficient  to  say  that 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  ;il7 

i'or  its  own  particular  purpose  this  deposit  has  no  superiors  in 
the  Northwest,  its  peculiarity  being  its  conjunction  Avith  a  fine 
quality  of  shale.  The  clays  are  varied  in  color,  running  through 
bright  greens,  blues,  reds  and  yellows,  with  all  their  shades  and 
tints.  The  quantity  and  quality  of  the  deposits  have  been  thor- 
oughly examined  and  tested,  both  chemically  and  structurally. 
It  has  been  demonstrated  that  the  material  is  practically  pure  and 
entirely  free  from  any  substance  that  can  be  detrimental  to  its 
use.  The  discovery  of  this  deposit  will  be  more  fully  appreciated 
Avhen  its  physical  properties  are  fully  understood.  The  bed  of 
clay  lies  high  above  the  railroad  and  has  an  absolutely  perfect 
natural  drainage.  It  is  easily  secured,  as  it  is  covered  by  an 
average  drift  of  less  than  twelve  inches,  and  in  some  spots  no 
stripping  at  all  is  required. 

The  material,  which  is  soft  and  putty-like  as  it  lies  in  its 
pocket,  is  excavated  and  placed  in  storage,  where  after  a  few 
days  it  becomes  thoroughly  seasoned.  From  this  storage  the  clay 
is  loaded  into  iron  cars  and  is  drawn  by  steel  cables  to  the  mixer, 
which  is  at  the  top  of  the  building.  From  the  hopper  into  which 
the  material  is  dumped  the  clay  goes  into  the  granulator,  where 
whatever  is  coarse  is  ground  into  powder.  Never  ceasing  its 
motion  from  the  time  it  leaves  the  pit,  the  clay,  now  graulated, 
moves  in  to  the  pug  mill,  is  there  dampened  and  then  forced  out 
through  the  die,  in  one  continuous  piece,  of  the  shape  and  size 
desired.  An  automatic  cutter  cuts  the  product  the  desired 
length,  and  the  pieces  of  brick  or  tile,  as  the  case  may  be,  are  then 
loaded  on  cars  and  run  through  the  drier.  The  product  as  soon  as 
cured  is  taken  to  the  kilns  and  burned  with  soft  coal,  after  which 
it  is  loaded  into  railroad  cars  or  piled  in  the  yard  and  is  ready  for 
shipment.  The  principal  product  of  the  plant  is  biiilding  mate- 
rial and  drainage  tile,  though  other  departments  of  the  clay- 
working  industry  are  being  investigated  and  experimented  with. 

The  product  thus  obtained  is  a  much  superior  one.  The  tile 
is  of  a  ware  practicably  indestructible.  It  is  as  hard  as  stone, 
it  rings  like  a  bell  when  struck,  its  glazed  surface  is  as  smootli 
as  glass,  it  is  waterproof  and  dustproof  and  impervious  to  acids 
and  alkalies.  Nothing  sticks  to  it  and  nothing  harms  it.  Frost 
and  heat,  wear  and  weather  have  no  eflfect  on  it.  It  lasts  prac- 
tically forever.  The  government  has  accepted  the  brick  as  meas- 
lu-ing  fully  up  to  government  contract  standard. 

Tlie  company  has  done  much  and  will  do  still  more  for  the 
development  of  southern  ]\linnesota.  It  furnishes  (>in])lovment 
for  a  number  of  men,  it  is  increasing  the  manufacturing  im- 
portance of  Austin,  it  affords  an  oppoi-tunity  for  safe  investment, 
and  it  is  becoming  a  campaign  of  education  by  which  the  farmers 


218  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

are  coming  to  realize  more  and  more  the  advantage  of  subsoil 
drainage. 

The  Gilbert  Improved  Corrugated  Company  conducts  one  of 
the  growing  industries  of  Austin.  The  heavily  galvanized  steel 
culvert  which  this  company  manufactures  is  unlike  that  of  any 
other  make,  by  reason  of  a  fastener  used  in  joining  the  parts. 
This  fastener  is  not  a  rivet,  which  leaves  an  unprotected  line  the 
entire  length  of  the  culvert  which  sooner  or  later  rusts  out,  but  a 
contrivance  which  is  galvanized  and  lasts  as  long  as  the  culvert. 
The  company's  i:)lant  is  located  on  the  Chicago,  IMilwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  line,  so  that  the  product,  which  is  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the 
Northwest,  can  be  loaded  onto  the  cars  at  the  firm's  very  doors. 
The  machinery  for  making  the  culverts  and  the  fasteners  was 
invented  and  patented  by  the  company.  A  branch  is  maintained 
at  Aberdeen,  S.  D.,  and  there,  in  addition  to  culverts,  tanks  and 
smokestacks  are  made.  The  concern  was  incorporated  October 
20,  1908,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $25,000.  The  incorporators  were 
Jens  Larson,  John  Larson,  W.  E.  LeBaron,  C.  E.  Gilbert,  A.  O. 
Nelson,  J.  F.  Austin,  T.  E.  Wilson  and  L.  A.  Sherman.  The  first 
officers  were :  President,  Jens  Larson ;  vice-president,  W.  E. 
LeBaron ;  treasurer,  A.  O.  Nelson ;  secretary,  L.  A.  Sherman ;  gen- 
eral manager,  C.  E.  Gilbert.  The  present  officers  are  the  same, 
with  the  exception  of  L.  A.  Sherman  is  now  both  secretary  and 
treasurer.     The  capital  stock  has  been  increased  to  $35,000. 

The  Austin  Weed  Exterminator  Manufacturing'  Company, 
manufacturers  of  the  Austin  Quack  Grass  Destroyer,  conduct  one 
of  Austin 's  growing  industries.  The  officers  are  :  President,  A. 
W.  Wright;  vice-president,  Matt.  Smith;  secretary,  E.  H.  Smith; 
treasurer,  T.  A.  Revord ;  assistant  secretary  and  manager,  T.  A. 
Revord;  directors,  A.  W.  Wright,  R.  R.  Murphy,  Matt.  Smith, 
T.  A.  Revord,  E.  H.  Smith,  J.  L.  Gulden,  J.  E.  Pitzen,  N.  Nicholseu 
and  C.  A.  Hegge.  This  company  was  incorporated  in  1905  and  for 
the  first  three  years  put  out  a  machine  which,  while  it  did  good 
work,  was  far  too  expensive.  About  two  years  ago  the  company 
started  another  Quack  Grass  Destroyer,  which  sells  for  half  what 
the  first  machine  did  and  still  does  very  much  better  Avork.  No 
farmer  need  have  nnich  fear  of  this  pest  while  such  a  machine  can 
be  obtained.  The  company  is  selling  a  great  many  of  the  ma- 
chines, being  behind  on  orders  most  of  the  time.  Several  dealers 
buy  the  machines  in  carload  lots,  as  where  they  have  been  intro- 
duced thry  sell  very  easily. 

The  Austin  Gas  Company  supplies  some  600  customers  and 
puts  out  about  1. 000, 000  culjic  feet  of  gas  a  month.  The  company 
was  incorporated  for  the  maniifaeture  and  distribution  of  gas 
August  25,  1905,  with  the  following  officers:  President,  John  R. 
Howie;  vice-president,  F.  J.  Gates;  secretary,  C.  Leckbank.     The 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  21!) 

incorporators  were  these  gentlemen  and  R.  J.  Breckinridge  and 
LaFayette  French.  The  present  officers  are :  President,  John  R. 
Howie ;  vice-president,  R.  J.  Breckinridge ;  secretary,  F.  J.  Gates. 
The  capital  stock  is  $60,000.  The  office  of  the  company  is  at  133 
Bridge  street  and  the  plant  is  on  the  east  side  of  River  street, 
north  of  East  Winona.  May  6,  1911,  the  plant  was  sold  to  Z.  T.  F. 
Runner,  of  Freeport,  Illinois. 

The  F.  H.  McCulloch  Printing  Company  Avas  established  in 
1892  under  the  lirra  name  of  Hunkins  &  McCulloch,  Mr.  Ilunkins 
then  publishing  the  Austin  Daily  Herald  and  Mr.  McCulloch 
having  charge  of  the  job  printing.  This  partnership  was  dis- 
solved in  1894:  by  the  purchase  by  Mr.  McCulloch  of  Mr.  Hun- 
kins' interest  in  the  job  department.  The  job  printing  business 
was  then  conducted  separate  from  the  Herald  under  the  firm  name 
of  the  F.  H.  McCulloch  Printing  Company.  This  business  was 
first  conducted  in  the  rooms  over  the  building  on  the  corner  of 
IMain  and  "Water  streets.  Later  it  was  moved  to  the  south  end 
of  Main  street,  and  after  a  period  of  one  year  removed  back  to 
the  old  quarters.  Owing  to  increasing  business  in  1900  larger 
quarters  were  secured  in  the  Schleuder  block,  Avest  of  the  court- 
house, and  in  1902,  again  becoming  cramped  for  space,  they 
removed  to  the  Joseph  Keenan  one-story  building,  on  Bridge 
street,  where  they  occupied  the  entire  building  until  1910,  when 
they  removed  to  the  present  location,  200-202  Chatham  street. 
In  1908,  owing  to  the  fast  increasing  business  and  the  necessity 
for  more  capital,  the  business  was  incorporated  under  the  firm 
name  of  The  F.  H.  iMcCulloch  Printing  Company,  with  an  author- 
ized capital  of  $50,000.  The  first  officers  under  the  corporation 
being:  F.  H.  McCulloch,  president  and  manager;  A.  M.  Lewis, 
vice-president;  W.  B.  Edwards,  secretary,  and  J.  L.  Mitchell, 
treasurer.  The  same  officials  are  holding  the  same  positions  at 
the  present  time.  Printing  and  publishing  is  the  business  of  the 
company,  making  a  specialty  of  the  finest  kind  of  catalog  work, 
both  in  color  work  and  half-tones.  Their  product  is  shipped  to 
every  state  in  the  Union  west  of  the  Mississippi  river  and  to  a 
few  states  in  the  East.  An  up-to-date  linotype  plant  is  run  in 
connection,  setting  the  type  for  from  twelve  to  fifteen  newspapers 
in  this  section.  From  fifteen  to  twenty  people  are  constantly 
employed  and  the  prospects  indicate  that  this  number  will  be 
doubled  in  the  next  two  years.  At  the  present  time  tAvo  floors  of 
the  building  occupied  are  devoted  to  the  business,  with  the  third 
floor  held  in  reserve  for  future  needs.  This  year  a  new  line  of 
business  has  been  added  in  the  importing  and  jobbing  of  wall 
pockets,  leather  goods,  aluminum  goods,  advertising  novelties 
and  the  manufacture  of  calendars,  which  necessitated  a  salesman 
being  placed  on  the  road.     This  establishment  is  equipped  with 


220  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUXTY 

the  latest  and  best  maehinery  for  the  execution  of  high  class 
printing  and  its  present  large  clientage  is  an  excellent  criterion 
for  its  future  success. 

Tlie  Peerless  Rolling  Mills.  Since  the  earliest  days  the  east 
side  of  the  Red  Cedar  river,  near  where  Water  street  crosses  it. 
has  been  the  site  of  a  mill.  For  many  years  the  Engle  mill  was 
there,  and  in  modern  times  the  Peerless  Roller  Mills,  owned  and 
operated  by  A.  S.  Campbell,  occupy  the  same  site.  The  modern 
history  of  the  mills  dates  from  1886,  when  A.  S.  and  L.  G.  Camp- 
bell purchased  a  small  mill  near  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  railroad  sta- 
tion. In  1890  they  purchased  the  old  Engle  mill.  Alexander  S. 
Campbell  is  now  the  sole  proprietor.  The  mills  are  run  partly 
by  power  derived  from  a  water  wheel,  but  the  greater  part  of 
the  power  is  generated  in  the  lower  mill,  some  miles  down  the 
river,  and  transmitted  by  wire  to  the  mills  on  Water  street, 
where  it  is  belted  to  the  main  driving  shaft. 

The  Austin  mills  have  a  capacity  of  200  barrels  of  flour  every 
twenty-four  hours.  They  manufacture  the  celebrated  Peerless, 
Diamond  White  and  White  Rose  wheat  flour,  not  only  for  domes- 
tie  trade,  but  for  export,  the  company  making  large  shipments 
to  Great  Britain.  They  also  manufacture  buckwheat  flour  and 
corn  meal.  A.  S.  Campbell  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Peerless  Flour 
Mills  in  Austin  and  also  of  the  Red  Cedar  Mills,  which  are  located 
five  miles  south  of  the  city.  These  mills  run '  constantly,  never 
shutting  down  except  for  repairs.  The  product  is  the  equal  of 
any  in  the  great  flour  state  and  enjoys  a  reputation  with  the  best. 
It  is  in  greatest  demand  by  the  discriminating  housewife  and 
baker. 

The  Red  Cedar  Mills,  located  south  of  the  city,  are  under  the 
same  ownership  as  the  Peerless  Roller  Mills.  The  mills  were 
built  in  1867  and  1868,  by  Jonathan  Gregson.  In  1875  the  build- 
ing was  enlarged  and  improvements  were  again  made  in  1879. 
The  first  roller  system  in  this  county  was  introduced  in  this  mill. 
The  plant  is  now  equipped  with  a  dynamo,  which  furnishes  power 
for  the  mills  and  also  for  the  Peerless  Mills  at  Austin. 

The  Schleuder  Paper  Company,  wholesale  paper  dealers  and 
manufacturers  of  souvenir  postal  cards,  was  started  in  January, 
1901,  at  305  Main  street.  Later  it  was  moved  to  124  Bridge 
street,  where  the  company  expects  soon  to  open  a  large  retail 
store,  to  be  devoted  exclusively  to  the  stationery  business.  The 
building  and  warehouses  were  erected  in  1903,  and  all  the  build- 
ings now  occupied  by  the  concern  furnish  a  floor  space  of  about 
15,000  square  feet.  About  twenty  hands  are  employed.  The 
printers'  stock,  wrapping  paper,  stationery  and  bags  handled  by 
the  company  find  a  ready  market  in  Minnesota,  Iowa  and  North 
and  Soutli  Dakota,  while  1lic  souvenir  postal  cards  made  liere  are 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVEIl  COUXTY  221 

sold  from  coast  to  coast.  The  concern  manufactnres  a  great 
many  of  its  specialties,  such  as  tablets,  etc..  and  has  a  large  plant 
devoted  to  the  making  of  souvenir  postal  cards  and  to  the  hand 
coloring  of  local  view  post  cards.  The  officers  of  the  company 
are :  President,  G.  Schleuder ;  vice-president  and  treasurer,  F.  A. 
Schleuder. 

Sven  Anderson  &  Son  started  in  the  implement  and  carriage 
business  ]\Iarch  1,  189().  in  a  building  at  212  Bridge  street,  on  the 
present  site  of  the  Elk  Hotel.  About  January  1,  1897,  the  monu- 
mental and  cut  stone  business  was  added  to  the  implement  busi- 
ness. During  the  winter  of  1899-1900  the  building  at  216-218 
North  Chatham  street  was  erected  and  occupied.  There  the  busi- 
ness was  conducted  until  February  15,  1909,  when  the  implement 
department  was  sold  to  Anderson  &  Brown.  The  monument  de- 
partment was  continued  at  its  present  location.  January  1.  1906. 
the  shop,  stock,  etc.,  of  T.  J.  Abrahams  was  purchased  and  con- 
ducted at  the  corner  of  Water  and  Franklin  streets  until  the 
lease  of  the  grounds  expired,  August  1,  1908,  at  which  time  the 
present  shop  building  was  completed  and  occupied.  The  business 
is  principally  confined  to  the  making  and  setting  of  monumental 
work  in  this  and  adjoining  counties,  although  work  has  also  been 
done  in  all  of  the  adjoining  states.  The  soldiers  and  sailors' 
monument  and  in  fact  all  the  larger  monuments  in  the  local  ceme- 
tery are  from  this  concern,  as  indeed  are  most  of  the  larger 
monuments  throughout  the  county.  In  connection  with  the 
monumental  work  the  company  furnishes  cut  stone  work  and  has 
executed  many  heavy  contracts  in  this  line  in  Mower  and  Free- 
born counties,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  ]\Iinnesota  and  in  Iowa. 

Railroad  Industry.  The  railroads  in  Austin  give  employment 
to  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  In  1867  the  machine  shops  and 
roundhouse  of  the  C,  JM.  &  St.  P.  were  constructed  here.  In 
1887  this  company  moved  its  shops  here  from  \Yells,  receiving  as 
a  bonus  from  the  city  $10,000  in  money  and  ten  acres  of  land. 
Austin  is  one  of  the  big  railroad  centers  of  Minnesota.  Here 
passengers  change  cars  going  north,  south,  east  and  west,  for 
Austin  is  the  division  point  of  six  divisions  of  the  Chicago,  ilil- 
waukee  &  St.  Paul  railroad.  Through  the  heart  of  the  city  runs 
the  through  line  of  the  Chicago  Great  Western,  between  St.  Paul 
and  Omaha.  Through  the  city  will  pass  the  fast  freights  from 
Pugot  Sound  to  Chicago  over  the  Chicago,  ]\Iilwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
road.  Fourteen  passenger  trains  and  forty  freight  trains  run 
into  and  out  of  Austin  on  an  average  every  day  in  the  year.  The 
Chicago.  ^Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  Company  pays  from 
$23,000  to  $2r),000  every  month  to  its  employes  in  this  city.  The 
shops  and  roundhouse  of  this  company  give  employment  to  a 
large  and  increasing  force  of  the  best  mechanics,  for  here  every 


•2-22  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

engine  on  1,000  miles  of  road  eomes  to  be  repaired  and  refitted  at 
stated  intervals.  Forty-six  of  these  iron  horses  are  eared  for 
exclusively  in  these  shops.  Every  day  from  thirty  to  thirty-five 
locomotives  may  be  counted  in  the  yards  and  the  roundhouse. 
Austin  is  the  inspecting  point  and  every  time,  night  or  day,  that 
a  train  comes  into  this  city  on  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
line,  every  Pullman  car,  every  day  coach,  every  freight  car  is 
inspected.  There  are  fifty-tM'o  Pullman  and  day  coaches  cleaned 
here  daily  and  their  sanitary  condition  inspected. 

The  Austin  Dairy  Company  was  organized  April  1.  1903,  under 
the  name  of  Austin  Co-Operative  Milk  Company,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  bottling  and  selling  milk  and  cream,  and  later  for  buying 
hand-separated  cream  for  making  butter.  The  company  was 
organized  with  a  capital  stock  of  $6,000-,  with  F.  W.  Kimball, 
president ;  C.  B.  Dibble,  treasurer,  and  J.  J.  Rugg,  secretary  and 
manager.  The  business  was  located  on  the  corner  of  Chatham 
street  and  Oakland  avenue.  On  September  30,  1905,  a  meeting 
of  the  stockholders  was  held,  at  which  time  the  capital  stock  was 
increased  to  $20,000,  the  name  changed  to  Austin  Dairy  Com- 
pany, the  same  officers,  except  treasurer  (D.  H.  Stimson  being 
elected  for  that  place),  elected,  and  the  company  incorporated. 
The  building  at  112  East  Maple  street  was  bought  and  put  in 
shape  to  be  used  as  a  milk  station  and  creamery,  and  the  latter 
part  of  October,  1905,  the  company  moved  from  their  old  quar- 
ters to  their  own  building.  In  the  fall  of  1906  the  building  Avas 
enlarged  and  ice  cream  machinery  piit  in,  since  which  time  they 
have  manufactured  ice  cream  during  the  summer  time.  After 
the  death  of  Mr.  Stimson  in  July,  1907,  ]\Irs.  D.  H.  Stimson  was 
elected  treasurer.  Othei-wise  the  officers  have  remained  the  same. 
In  the  fall  of  1910  the  company  bought  the  property  on  the  corner 
of  Mill  and  Franklin  streets,  known  as  the  Majors  building,  since 
which  time  they  have  been  carrying  on  a  produce  business  in 
eggs  and  poultry.  The  company  employs  six  men  and  two  women 
regularly,  and  in  rush  seasons  a  half  a  dozen  more  men  are 
employed. 

The  North  Star  Dairy  Company  also  does  a  flourishing  busi- 
ness. A  history  of  this  concern  is  found  in  the  biographical 
sketch  of  Charles  B.  Dibble,  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Austin's  Cement  Products.  Cement  drain  tile  has  been  dem- 
onstraled  to  bo  one  of  the  best  materials  for  farm  drainage. 

Nels  Mickelson  manufactures  not  only  cement  block,  brick  and 
tile,  but  also  cement  sewer  pipe  two  feet  in  diameter.  The  city 
of  Austin  has  used  much  of  this  sewer  pipe  and  finds  it  as  satis- 
factory as  the  vitrified  clay  product. 

C.  E.  Dickens  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  cement  Avorkers  and 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  223 

beside  the  oi'dinary  cement  product  he  produces  much  orna- 
mental cement  work. 

Thomas  Rochford  also  manufactures  fine  grades  of  cement 
block.  He  makes  a  steel  reinforced  cement  post  that  is  much  in 
use  for  fencing  pastures  and  fields. 

M.  P.  Underberger  lays  cement  sidewalks  and  does  cement 
working. 

The  Austin  Cement  Stone  and  Tile  Company  was  organized 
and  incorporated  under  the  state  laws  of  Minnesota,  April,  1908, 
for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  cement  drain  tile,  building 
blocks,  brick,  fence  posts  and  such  other  articles  as  pertain  to 
cement  construction.  The  original  capital  stock  Avas  $50,000 
preferred  and  common,  the  incorporators  and  first  officers  being : 
President,  C.  H.  AVebber :  secretary,  J.  L.  Mitchell ;  treasurer  and 
manager,  E.  W.  Marsh.  The  officers  still  remain  the  same.  The 
plant  is  located  in  the  city  of  Austin,  just  south  of  the  George 
A.  Hormel  &  Co.  plant,  and  the  building  is  of  heavy  concrete 
block,  equipped  with  the  latest  modern  machinery,  including  a 
forty  horse-power  boiler  and  a  twenty-five  horse-power  electric 
motor.  The  plant  has  a  floor  space  of  9,000  square  feet,  including 
three  steam-tight  curing  rooms.  Some  fifteen  to  eighteen  men  are 
employed.  The  daily  output  of  the  drain  tile  varies  from  3,000 
to  5,000  per  day,  according  to  the  size.  The  drain  tile  and  build- 
ing blocks  find  a  large  market  in  Austin  and  vicinity,  but  much 
i.s  also  shipped  to  distant  points.  This  plant  is  the  first  of  its 
kind  started  in  this  city,  and  has  been  very  successful.  Its  aim 
is  to  excel  in  the  quality  of  its  manufactured  goods,  and  all  its 
products  are  steam-cured  and  made  by  the  latest  improved 
methods.  The  company  owns  the  land  upon  which  the  plant  is 
located  and  also  a  fine  sandpit  of  fifteen  acres.  The  office  is  at 
321  North  ^Main  street. 

Woodworking.  Austin  lias  two  Avoodworking  establishments, 
those  of  r.  F.  Stillman  and  Henry  Waterman.  The  story  of  tliese 
plants  is  told  in  the  sketches  of  their  respective  owners. 

Printing  and  Binding.  Austin  has  an  excellent  book  bindery, 
that  of  J.  M.  Beck,  and  each  of  the  newspapers  have  .iob  printing 
departments.     The  MeCulloeh  company  is  mentioned  elsewhere. 

Machine  and  Wagon  Shops.  Austin  has  two  splendid  machine 
sliops,  each  employing  mechanics  capable  of  doing  any  repair 
work  and  doing  it  well  and  quickly.  There  are  two  Avagon  shops 
Avhere  A'ehicles  are  not  only  repaired  but  AA'here  ncAV  ones  are 
built  for  the  trade.  A  gunmaker  is  also  located  here.  The  ma- 
cliine  shop  proprietors  are  J.  E.  Hanson  and  Arthur  Carlson: 
the  Avagon  makers,  J.  Z.  Rogers  and  "W.  ]\r.  Hanson,  and  the  gun- 
maker  is  Henry  C.  "Waldecker.  There  are  three  exclusive  l)lack- 
smith  establishments,  Sorenson  &  Neilson  and  Lars  Hansen. 


224  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Austin  Candy  Company  manufactures  all  grades  of  pure  con- 
fections from  taft'y  to  creams.  It  ships  goods  as  far  west  as 
McLeod,  Mont.  It  also  manufactures  for  the  jobbers  in  the 
Twin  Cities  and  for  the  local  trade.  Experienced  candy  makers 
are  employed. 

The  Cummings  Brush  Manufacturing  Company  has  been  in 
operation  since  August,  1910,  and  while  only  a  new  business,  it 
lias  created  a  great  demand  for  its  manufactured  goods.  The 
Cummings  brushes  are  on  the  market  in  many  of  our  largest 
cities,  handled  by  jobbers  and  wholesalers  in  Cincinnati,  New 
York  City,  Philadelphia,  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  Des  Moines,  Kansas 
City,  Omaha,  Council  Bluft's,  Minneapolis,  St.  Paul,  LaCrosse/, 
Dubuque,  Waterloo,  Cedar  Rapids  and  many  other  towns  and  vil- 
lages. Mr.  Cummings  has  put  out  a  very  neat  and  up-to-date 
catalogue  and  his  system  of  putting  manufactured  goods  on  the 
market  has  proved  a  success  in  every  line  he  has  undertaken. 
Mr.  Cummings  will  add  more  machinery  and  increase  the  capacity 
to  meet  the  demands  for  liis  manufactured  goods. 

T.  F.  Cummings  Bottling  Works. — In  February,  1894,  this  con- 
cern was  started  in  a  small  way  and  now  its  daily  capacity  is 
500  cases.  All  kinds  of  soft  drinks  are  made  and  bottled  here. 
The  water  used  is  from  the  Trio  Siloam  springs.  These  springs 
are  of  the  purest  water  and  as  they  have  medicinal  qualities  are 
carbonated  and  bottled.  Mr.  Cummings  prides  himself  that 
every  constituent  that  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  his  bottled 
goods  is  the  purest  that  the  market  affords.  Mr.  Cummings  also 
has  a  large  trade  in  table  and  bar  glassAvare. 

E.  H.  Smith  Land  &  Loan  Company.  This  business  was  estab- 
lished November  I,  1900,  with  E.  H.  Smith  as  manager  and 
remains  the  same  at  this  date.  For  several  years  the  business 
consisted  principally  of  buying  and  selling  western  lands  par- 
ticularly in  western  Minnesota  and  North  Dakota,  also  doing 
considerable  business  in  western  Canada.  Since  1905"  the  firm 
has  done  a  large  business  in  Montana  in  both  irrigated  and  dry 
lands.  Commencing  with  the  fall  of  1909  it  has  done  a  large 
business  in  southern  Minnesota  and  northern  Iowa  selling  prin- 
cipally to  central  Iowa  and  northern  Illinois  farmers,  and  during 
this  period  has  located  nearly  one  hundred  well-to-do  farmers 
from  the  east  and  south  in  southern  ]\Iiunesota  and  northern 
Iowa.  It  also  does  an  extensive  farm  loan  business,  marketing 
its  securities  principally  in  the  east.  It  also  has  one  of  the  lead- 
ing fire  insurance  agencies  in  the  city.  The  E.  H.  Smith  Land  & 
Loan  Company  was  the  first  exclusive  real  estate  and  loan  busi- 
ness established  in  the  county.  Mr.  Smith  was  born  and  raised  in 
Mower  county,  has  traveled  extensively  through  the  middle  and 


JIISTOHY  OF  MOWKK  I'OUXTY  2-^-) 

western  states,  aud  is,  witliout  tloulit.  one  of  the  best  j)()slc,l  i-eal 
estate  men  in  the  Noitliwest. 

Austin  Cement  Works.  Jn  the  s[)ring-  of  tlie  year  1893  Frank 
Fowler,  the  senior  meinlier  of  the  eopartnership  of  Fowler  &  Pay. 
quarry  owners  and  nianut'aeturers  of  building  materials  of  IMan- 
kato,  Minn.,  finding  that  the.  trade  required  something  better  for 
stone  and  briek  building  purposes  than  the  mortar  in  general 
use  at  that  time,  and  being  a  geologist  of  more  than  the  average 
knowledge  and  a  chemist  of  no  mean  ability,  he  started  a  general 
search  for  a  particular  kind  of  stone  from  which  a  first  class 
grade  of  natural  cement  could  be  manufactured.  After  much 
seeking  over  this  and  adjoining  states  aud  an  almost  discourag- 
ing number  of  fruitless  experiments  with  the  different  kinds  of 
stone  found,  the  particular  kind  of  stone  wanted  was  finally 
located  in  Mower  county,  Minnesota,  three  and  one-half  miles 
south  of  the  city  of  Austin  on  the  banks  of  Rose  creek  (a  tribu- 
tary of  the  Cedar  river)  near  both  the  Chicago  Great  Western 
and  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railways,  thereby  affording 
the  best  of  shipping  facilities.  The  necessary  land  containing 
this  stone  was  immediately  secured,  all  preparations  made  and 
the  building  of  this  works  stai'ted  early  in  the  following  year 
(189-i).  This  work,  consisting  of  opening  a  stone  quarry,  grad- 
ing for  the  railroad  tracks,  erecting  buildings  containing  about 
two  acres  of  floor  space  and  installingthe  machinery  was  rushed 
to  completion  in  record  time  under  the  able  personal  supervision 
of  the  then,  as  now,  only  members  of  the  firm,  Frank  Fowler  and 
Frank  B.  Pay,  at  a  cost  of  about  $50,000  and  named  the  Austin 
Cement  Works.  After  a  short  period  of  successful  manufacture 
of  a  first  class  grade  of  cement  known  as  Austin  natural  cement, 
the  entire  works  were  destroyed  by  fire.  This  calamity  coming 
so  soon  after  the  expense  of  building  the  works  and  creating  a 
demand  for  its  product  would  naturally  be  very  discouraging  to 
the  strongest  hearts  and  a  much  larger  bank  account,  but  the 
owners  of  the  remaining  pile  of  ashes  and  ruined  machinery  being 
men  of  the  "never  say  die"  type  immediately  resumed  work 
where  they  had  so  recently  finished  and  erected  buildings  one- 
third  larger  than  those  destroyed  by  the  fire.  This  work,  as 
before,  was  rushed  to  completion  aud  the  finished  product  placed 
on  the  market  in  the  shortest  possible  time  without  having  sold 
or  offered  any  stock  for  sale.  Fowler  &  Pay  still  being  the  sole 
owners  and  operators.  The  works  have  been  in  almost  constant 
operation  since  the  time  of  rebuilding  and  employ  twenty-five 
men  daily,  improvements  having  been  made  from  time  to  time 
that  have  increased  the  capacity  to  100,000  barrels  annually  of  a 
better  grade  of  natural  cement  and  bricklayers"  cement  than  any 
natural  cement  works  in  this  country.     This  cement  is  recom- 


226  H18T0KY  OF  MOWEK  COU^'TY 

mended  for  all  kinds  of  brick  and  stone  building  purposes,  under 
street  paving,  cellar  floors  and  cisterns,  as  it  sets  quite  rapidly 
under  water;  a  market  for  the  bulk  of  this  material  is  found 
throughout  the  great  Northwest.  In  connection  with  the  Austin 
Cement  Works  there  are  five  family  houses  and  a  large  boarding 
house  for  the  convenience  of  the  employees  who  desire  to  live 
near  their  work,  also  a  large  farm,  a  part  of  which  the  resident 
employees  have  for  pasture  and  gardening  purposes,  rent  free. 
It  has  always  been  the  policy  of  this  firm  to  treat  its  customers, 
employees,  neighbors  and  friends  with  the  utmost  consideration 
in  all  business  or  other  affairs,  and  they  have  shown  their  appre- 
ciation for  seventeen  years  by  there  never  having  been  any 
serious  litigation,  labor  troubles  or  any  disturbance  that  is  so 
disastrous  to  the  good  will  that  should  exist  between  all  parties 
concerned. 

Other  industries  of  Austin  are  as  follows :  Real  estate  and 
insurance:  E.  H.  Smith  Land  Company,  Four  Counties  Land 
Company,  Southern  Minnesota  Land  Company,  Gilbert  Sorflaten, 
James  Sneider,  F.  P.  Dawes  &  Co.,  F.  A.  Tichenor,  Lyman  D. 
Baird,  Alfred  C.  Page,  Rockford  Land  Company,  C.  H.  Webber, 
J.  D.  SheedJ^  Fuel :  Gripman  Bros.,  John  F.  Fairbanks,  Mower 
County  Co-operative  Elevator  and  Fuel  Company,  and  all  the 
lumber  yards.  Stock  dealers:  F.  P.  Dawes,  A.  R.  Thompson, 
W.  P.  Miner,  Elihue  B.  Smith.  Horse  dealers:  Edward  D.  and 
Michael  J.  Feeney.  Junk  dealers:  Charles  Dubinsky,  R.  Rosen- 
thal. Telephones:  Interstate,  Northwestern.  Liveries:  Furtney 
&  Bassett,  H.  0.  Peck.  Hacks  and  carriages:  John  R.  Mears. 
Bakeries:  Home  bakery,  People's  bakery,  A.  V.  McConnell. 
Barbers:  Roy  Woodard,  Martin,  Lee,  A.  M.  Lee,  A.  C.  Hanson, 
Gyp.  Ilillam,  George  Heimer,  C.  W.  Brown,  Roy  Chaffee,  William 
Bump,  Putnam  &  Casper.  Tailors :  H.  0.  Herman,  F.  C.  Price, 
AVilliam  Cutter,  Henry  Jacobs.  Auctioneers:  Lovell  &  Herzog, 
J.  S.  Attlesey.  Contractors  and  Iniilders:  Sullivan  &  Schroedel, 
George  Beckel,  Lars  P.  Erickson,  T.  Beatty,  Torger  Martinson, 
C.  F.  Stillman,  Henry  Waterman.  Greenhouse :  A.  N.  Kinsman. 
Nurseries:  J.  M.  Lindsey.  C.  F.  Woodle.  Painters:  W.  J.  Avery, 
J.  L.  Cooley.  Theaters:  Idle  Hour,  Bijou.  Photographers:  Fair- 
banks Bros.,  George  Bucklin,  II.  C.  Bishop,  ^l.  II.  Vosburgli. 
Tee:  Gripman  Bros.,  S.  L.  Young.  Austin  Rug  Co.  Austin  Brush 
AVorks.  Fjuinlx'i'  yai'ds:  F.  T.  Ci-ane,  Slower  County  Liunl)ei- 
Company.  Ei']ii)S('  l^uinljci-  Company.  Elevators:  Iluntting  Ele- 
vator Company,  W.  TJ.  Symes.  Gi-iin  buyers:  E.  T.  Beemis, 
Af.  B.  O'llalloraii,  AV,  TI.  Syuu-s.  Restaurants:  Normal  res- 
taurant, the  Gem,  Antliony  .N.  Roble.  PTotels:  Elk,  Fo.x.  Grand. 
Depot,  Harrington,  Central,  German,  American.  Agricultural 
ittipleiiicnts :  .\ustiti  I'luiiibing  and  Healing  Com]>any,  AV.  A.  Alur- 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEPi  COUNTY  227 

ray,  AVm.  Christie  &  Son.  Meat  dealers:  J.  P.  Zender,  11.  P. 
Zender,  Central  Market.  Laundries:  Austin  Steam  Laundry, 
Austin  Purity  Laundry.  Electricians:  liursli  &  Wood,  Iluinmcl 
Company. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

AUSTIN  FRATERNITIES 

Masonic  Orders — Odd  Fellows — Pythian  Orders— Catholic  Orders 
— Order  of  Elks — Other  Fraternal  Orders— Patriotic  Orders — 
Catholic  Orders  —  Railroad  Orders  —  Fraternal  Insurance  — 
Scandinavian  and  Teutonic  Lodges  Industrial — Driving  Asso- 
ciation— Edited  by  Osman  J.  Simmons. 

The  sociability  and  spirit  of  brotlierliness  which  exists  in 
Austin  is  shown  by  the  number  of  societies  and  clubs  tliat  flourish 
here.  Practically  all  the  standard  organizations  are  represented, 
some  of  the  local  lodges  dating  back  to  the  seventies.  In  order 
to  furnish  a  meeting  place  for  this  large  niimber  of  orders,  halls 
have  been  equipped  as  follows:  ^Masonic  hall,  Elks'  hall,  Colum- 
bus hall,  Kinsman's  hall,  G.  A.  R.  hall,  Harmona  hall,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
hall.  Commercial  Club  rooms,  and  the  "Woodmen's  hall  (Hirsch). 
All  these  halls  are  conveniently  located,  nicely  furnished  and 
well  adapted  to  the  purpose  for  which  they  are  intended. 

In  this  chapter  it  has  been  the  aim  to  give  briefly  the  history 
of  the  leading  fraternities  of  Austin.  The  societies  Avhose  his- 
tories do  not  appear  here  are  those  whose  secretaries  have  re- 
fused to  furnish  the  desired  information. 

MASONIC  ORDERS 

iMasonry  in  Austin  dates  back  to  the  first  year  of  the  Civil 
Avar.  The  Masons  of  the  city  now  have  a  fine  liall  and  are  rep- 
resented by  four  local  bodies:  Austin  Chapter,  No.  14,  R.  A.  ^I. ; 
St.  Bernard  Commandery,  No.  13,  Knights  Templar;  Fidelity 
Lodge,  No.  89.  A.  F.  &  A.  :\r..  and  Unity  Cliapter,  No.  29,  O.  E.  S. 

Fidelity  Lodge,  No.  39,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  organized  Dccembei- 
5,  186],  under  a  dispensation  granted  by  tlie  Right  AVorshipful 
Grand  ^Master  of  tlic  State  of  Minnesota,  tlie  meeting  Ix'ing  held 
at  "Masonic  hall.  The  officers  and  members  pn'sciil  were  as  fol- 
loAVS:  B.  F.  Jones,  AV.  ^[.-  E.  W.  Lord,  S.  AV. :  A.  S.  Lott,  J.  AV. : 
II.  C.  Huntington,  treasurer;  Oliver  Somers,  secretary;  E.  Parli- 
nuvn,  T. ;  J.  L.  Clark,  A.  Galloway.    A  charter  was  granted  by  the 


228  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

grand  lodge  October  28.  ]863,  and  sigued  by  the  folloAving  grand 
officers :  Most  Worshipfnl  A.  T.  C.  Piersou,  grand  master ;  Right 
Worshipfal  S.  Y.  ^Mc^Masters,  D.D.,  LL.  D.,  depi;ty  grand  master ; 
Right  Worshipful  Levi  E.  Thompson,  grand  senior  warden; 
Right  Worshipful  Clark  W.  Thompson,  grand  junior  warden. 
The  following  were  named  as  officers :  B.  F.  Jones  to  be  ^Y.  M., 
James  C.  Ackley  to  be  S.  W.,  and  Oliver  Somers  to  be  J.  W.  The 
lodge  was  constituted  February  3,  1864,  and  AY.  M.  James  C.  Ack- 
erly,  who  had  previously  been  installed  by  A.  T.  C.  Pierson, 
G.  M.,  installed  the  following  officers :  0.  Somers,  S.  W. ;  V.  P. 
Lewis,  J.  W. ;  A.  D.  Fenton,  treasurer ;  LeRoy  Hathaway,  secre- 
tary; 0.  W.  Sawyer,  S.  D. ;  J.  C.  Smith,  J.  D. ;  H.  Houseman,  T. ; 
H.  C.  Huntington,  S.  S. ;  A.  S.  Lott,  J.  S.  The  following  have 
been  grand  masters:  B.  F.  Jones,  1861-63;  James  Ackerly,  1864; 
Oliver  Somers,  1865-66;  LeRoy  Hathaway,  1867-70;  Daniel  B. 
Johnson,  Jr. ;  A.  J.  Phelps,  1869 ;  G.  G.  Clemmer,  1871-73 ;  John 
M.  Greenman,  1874;  William  T.  Wilkins,  1875-1880-81;  I.  Ing- 
mundson,  1876-1878-79;  J.  AY.  Eldridge,  1877;  Charles  L.  AVest, 
1882-1886;  Joseph  Adams,  1883-84-85;  William  Todd,  1887-88- 
89-1905;  Lewis  E.  Day,  1890;  Sumner  A.  Emerson,  1891-92-93; 
Russell  E.  Shepherd,  1894-95 ;  Alfred  C.  Page,  1896-97 ;  Fred  B. 
Wood,  1898-99;  John  H.  Anderson,  1900-01-02;  John  H.  Robert- 
son, 1903-04;  M.  O.  Anderson,  1906-07;  George  Dutcher,  1908: 
Peter  Hanson,  1909-10 ;  Fred  C.  IJlmer,  1911.  The  present  officers 
are :  Fred  C.  Ulmer,  W.  M. ;  Fred  L.  AYilliams,  S.  AY. ;  Gustave 
Butzke,  J.  AY. ;  Charles  L.  AA'^est,  treasurer ;  Floyd  H.  Ober,  sec- 
retary; O.  J.  Benton,  S.  D. ;  AA'illiam  P.  Bennett,  J.  D. ;  Rev. 
B.  H.  AA^histon,  C. ;  J.  AY.  Hare,  S.  S. ;  Guy  V.  Burlingame,  J.  S. ; 
Charles  E.  AA^arren,  T.  The  present  Masonic  hall  on  the  second 
floor  of  the  Schleuder  building  is  owned  jointly  by  the  Blue 
Lodge,  Chapter  and  Commandery.  A  site  has  been  purchased 
on  AA'ater  street,  facing  the  north  end  of  Chatham  street,  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  thereon  a  Masonic  temple.  John  AL  Green- 
man  is  the  oldest  living  past  master  of  the  lodge,  and  Charles  L. 
West,  one  of  the  past  masters,  is  pa.st  deputy  grand  master  of 
the  state  grand  lodge. 

Austin  Chapter,  No.  14,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  was  organized 
under  a  dispensation,  Alarcli  8,  18(17,  tlie  following  officers  having 
been  appointed  by  Grand  Iligli  Priest  B.  F.  Smith:  Charles  H. 
Paddock,  H.  P.;  Solomon  Snow,  K. ;  A.  B.  Vaughan,  S.  The 
companions  present  were  E.  C.  Dorr,  C.  B.  Staples,  AA^.  AA^.  Brown- 
son,  B.  F.  Jones,  J.  F.  Sargent  and  C.  Tripp.  The  dispensa- 
tion had  been  granted  to  the  following  companions :  Charles  H. 
Paddock,  C.  B.  Staples,  E.  C.  Dorr,  Solomon  SnoAV,  S.  Partridge, 
B.  F.  Jones,  A.  W.  Wliite,  A.  B.  Vaughan  and  AA^.  AY.  Brownson. 
A  charter  was  <.'raiife(l  by  1he  grand  chapter,  October  23,  1867, 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVP]H  COUNTY  229 

and  sig-ned  by  tlio  following  grand  officers:  B.  F.  Smith,  G.  H.  P.; 
Charles  N.  Danils,  D.  G.  H.  P. ;  A.  T.  C.  Pierson,  G.  K. ;  C.  W. 
Nash,  G.  S.,  being  consecrated  December  25,  1867.  The  following 
officers,  who  had  previously  been  elected,  were  installed:  C.  H. 
Paddock,  II.  P. ;  S.  Snow,  K. ;  A.  B.  Vaughan,  S. ;  H.  M.  Allen, 
C.  of  H. :  C.  J.  Paddock,  P.  S. ;  L.  R.  Hathaway,  R.  A.  C. ;  B.  F. 
Jones,  M.  of  third  V. ;  L.  A.  Sherwood,  M.  of  second  V. ;  G.  G'. 
Clemmer,  31.  of  first  V. ;  S.  Smith,  treasurer ;  J.  C.  Smith,  secre- 
tary; L.  W.  Smith,  sentinel.  The  following  have  been  high 
priests:  Charles  H.  Paddock,  1867-68;  C.  J.  Paddock,  1868-69; 
A.  J.  Phelps,  1869-70;  C.  J.  Paddock,  1870-71;  Solomon  Snow, 
1871-73;  A.  J.  Phelps,  1873-74;  R.  B.  Davis,  1874-75;  I.  Ingmind- 
scn,  1875-76 ;  Charles  L.  West,  1876-77 ;  I.  Ingmundson,  1877-78 ; 
Charles  L.  West,  1878-82 ;  Eugene  Wood,  1882-88 ;  Nathan  Kings- 
ley,  1888-90 ;  Charles  L.  West,  1890-93 ;  William  Todd,  1893-97 ; 
George  W.  Bliss,  1897-1900:  R.  L.  Johnson,  1900-01;  George 
Doehne,  Jr.,  1901-03;  Wallace  Gregson,  1903-07;  Thaddeus  S. 
Thompson,  1907-08;  John  H.  Anderson,  1908-09;  I.  T.  Tollifson, 
1909-10;  Thaddeus  S.  Thompson,  1911.  The  present  officers  are: 
Thaddeus  S.  Thompson,  H.  P. ;  Peter  Hanson,  K. ;  G.  ]\I.  F.  Rogers, 
8. :  William  Todd,  treasurer :  Floyd  H.  Ober,  secretary ;  F.  L. 
AYilliams,  C.  of  H. ;  R.  L.  DeGroodt,  P.  S. ;  Guy  Burlingame, 
R.  A.  C. ;  AY.  P.  Bennett,  M.  of  third  V. ;  C.  A.  Carlson,  M.  of  sec- 
ond Y. ;  Irvin  Fox,  M.  of  first  V. ;  C»  E.  Warren,  sentinel.  Of  the 
past  high  priests,  C.  L.  West,  William  Todd  and  Nathan  Kingsley 
are  past  grand  high  priests  of  the  state  grand  chapter,  and  Judge 
Kingsley  is  grand  high  priest  of  the  genei'al  grand  chapter  of 
Royal  Arch  Masons  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  her 
dependencies. 

St.  Bernard  Commandery,  No.  13,  Knights  Templar,  had  its 
beginning  January  20,  1881,  when  the  Grand  Commander  of  the 
State  of  Minnesota  granted  to  D.  B.  Smith,  as  E.  C. ;  Eugene 
Wood  as  G.  and  J.  S.  Anderson  as  C.  G.,  permission  to  organize 
a  commandery  at  Austin.  The  first  conclave  was  held  January 
31,  1881,  and  the  above  named  officers  were  present.  The  emi- 
nent commander  appointed  the  following  officers:  D.  B.  Johnson, 
Jr.,  prelate  ;  J.  G.  AYarner,  S.  A\\  ;  Stephen  Ives,  J.  AY. ;  E.  C.  Dorr, 
treasurer:  C.  H.  Davidson,  recorder;  John  ]\Iahoney,  standard 
bearer ;  AI.  E.  Frisbee,  S.  AY. ;  John  Frank,  warden  :  A.  K.  A'^andei-- 
walker,  sentinel.  The  charter  was  granted  by  the  grand  com- 
mandery, January  24,  1881,  and  was  signed  by  the  following 
grand  officers:  AYilliam  AA^'illiston,  G.  C. ;  Robert  L.  AlcCormick, 
D.  G.  C:  Luther  Z.  Rogers.  G.  G. ;  AYilliam  G.  Bronson.  The 
commandery  was  duly  constituted  July  28,  1881,  by  Grand  Com- 
mander R.  L.  McCormiek,  assisted  by  L.  Z.  Rogers,  G. ;  Henry 
Birkett,  C.  G.-.  L.  AViieelock,  P.    Tbo-e  were  present  twenty-tliree 


230  HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Sir  Knights  of  the  eomniaudery  at  Owatonna,  and  the  following 
officers  were  duly  installed:  D.  B.  Smith,  E.  C. ;  Eugene  Wood, 
G. ;  J.  S.  Anderson,  C.  G. ;  E.  B.  Crane,  P. ;  E.  C.  Dorr,  treasurer ; 

C.  H.  Davidson,  recorder ;  W.  H.  Sutherland,  S.  W. ;  F.  D.  Decker, 
J.  W.;  A.  Friedrich,  St.  B. ;  E.  R.  Daniels,  S.  B. ;  E.  H.  Gerard, 
warden;  J.  B.  Beecher,  George  Haraberg,  H.  W.  Wilson,  guards; 
A.  K.  Vanderwalker.    The  following  have  been  the  commanders: 

D.  B.  Smith,  1881-85;  Eugene  Wood,  1885-87;  J.  S.  Anderson, 
1887-88;  A.  Friedrich,  1888-89  and  1894-95;  C.  L.  West,  1889-90; 
C.  I.  Johnson,  1890-91 ;  B.  F.  Farmer,  1891-92 ;  Nathan  Kiugsley, 
1892-94;  N.  S.  Gordon,  1896-97;  Henry  Birkett,  1897-98;  A.  Mol- 
lison,  1898-99;  George  W.  Bliss,  1899-1900;  F.  B.  Wood,  1901-02; 
John  Ober,  1902-03;  George  Doehne,  Jr.,  1903-04;  George  E.  An- 
derson, 1905-06;  William  Todd,  1906-07;  Wallace  Gregson,  1907- 
08;  C.  F.  Lewis,  1908-09;  A.  C.  Page,  1909-11;  J.  H.  Anderson, 
1911.  The  present  officers  are:  J.  H.  Anderson,  E.  C. ;  William 
Crane,  G. ;  A.  C.  Page,  C.  G. ;  F.  L.  Williams,  S.  AY. ;  G.  M.  F.  Rog- 
ers, J.  AY. ;  J.  L.  Mitchell,  treasurer ;  W.  P  Bennett,  recorder ; 
C.L.AYest,  prelate  ;  Peter  Hanson,  St.  B. ;  Jacob  Nicholson,  Sw.  B. ; 
AA'illiam  Cutter,  AY. ;  C.  E.  AYarren,  sentinel.  Eugene  AA^ood  is  the 
oldest  living  past  commander.  C.  L.  AYest,  a  past  commander, 
lias  been  grand  commander  of  the  state  commandery. 

Unity  Chapter,  No.  29,  0.  E.  S.,  was  organized  INIarch  20,  1890. 
Tlie  first  officers  were:  Mrs.  Alibie  L.  Crane,  worthy  matron; 
Eugene  AVood.  worthy  patron ;  Sirs.  Fannie  Gordon,  secretary. 
Tlie  present  officers  are:  Airs.  Eloise  AYilliams,  Avorthy  matron; 
Floyd  Ober,  worthy  patron ;  Mrs.  Edith  K.  Robinson,  secretary ; 
Mrs.  Lena  Dawes,  treasurer ;  Cora  Dovenburg,  conductress :  Kate 
Todd,  assistant  conductress ;  Ada,  Airs.  Gladys  Dockstader ; 
Ruth,  Helen  Olson;  Esther,  ATrs.  Eva  Hope;  Alartha,  Airs.  Alice 
Hall ;  Electa,  Frances  Lewis ;  chaplain.  Airs.  Rose  Pettingill ;  mar- 
slial.  Airs,  Jesse  Hall;  organi.st.  Airs.  Nellie  Allen;  warden.  Airs. 
Nellie  DeGroodt :  sentinel,  Airs.  E.  C.  Sutherland. 


ODD  FELLOWS 

Odd  Fellowship  in  Austin  dates  from  1867.  The  order  is  now 
represented  in  Austin  l)y  tliree  bodies,  Austin  Lodge,  No.  20, 
I.  0.  0.  F. ;  Austin  Encampment,  No.  29,  T.  0.  0.  F.,  and  Esther 
Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  4,  I.  O.  0.  F. 

Austin  Lodge,  No.  20,  L  0.  0.  F.,  received  its  charter,  Decein- 
l)cr  5,  1807,  and  tlie  lodge  was  instituted  with  the  following 
cliartcr  members;  II.  A.  Alaliew,  E.  P.  LeSuer,  O.  S.  Druery, 
Stephen  Ives,  L.  G.  Dudley.  Oliver  Somers,  Aaron  S.  Everest, 
I>.;isil  Smout.  L.  AY.  Smitli.  Tyler  AY.  AA^iodard,  A.  J.  Phelps,  L. 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  231 

Bouregard,  N.  P.  Austin,  R.  J.  Smith  and  Joseph  Schwau.  Tlie 
first  meeting  was  held  in  a  building  on  the  site  now  occupied  by 
the  Austin  Furniture  Company.  Afterwards  meetings  were  held 
on  the  third  floor  of  Richards'  block,  corner  of  Main  and  Mill 
street.  The  lodge  owns  the  west  half  of  Odd  Fellows  block,  and 
is  free  from  debt,  with  a  good  surplus  in  its  treasury.  It  has  at 
tlie  present  time  420  members  on  the  register,  and  is  in  a  most 
flourishing  condition.  On  two  occasions  it  has  been  honored 
signally  by  the  selection  from  its  ranks  of  grand  masters  as  fol- 
lows: H.  A.  i\Iahew,  1869;  D.  II.  Stimson,  1897.  Both  of  these 
gentlemen  served  the  state  lodge  with  credit  and  distinction.  The 
first  elective  oiificers  of  Austin  lodge  were  H.  A.  Mahew,  N.  G.  ;• 
Oliver  Somers,  V.  G. ;  E.  P.  LeSuer,  secretary ;  0.  S.  Druery,  treas- 
urer. The  present  elective  officers  are  Frank  Felch,  N.  G. ;  James 
King,  V.  G. ;  E.  F.  Peck,  secretary ;  Fialler  Mann,  treasurer ;  H.  P. 
Chapin,  chaplain. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  early  No))le  Grands :  H.  A.  May- 
hew,  Oliver  Somers,  A.  S.  Everest,  R.  I.  Smith,  C.  H.  Davidson, 
Joseph  Schwan,  Herman  Gunz,  A.  G.  Lawyer,  George  F.  Fren- 
vvith,  E.  P.  Van  Valkenburgh,  John  Chandler,  Rush  B.  Davis,  F. 
J.  ^layhew,  A.  E.  Meigs,  P.  0.  French,  Joseph  Reinsmith,  Lafay- 
ette French,  D.  H.  Stimson,  A.  W.  Kimball,  C.  H.  Wilboiir,  H.  W. 
Elms,  Edward  Bigelow,  "\Y.  H.  H.  Bullock,  John  V.  Owens  and 
S.  Sweningsen. 

Esther  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  4,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted 
March  10,  1870.  with  twenty-four  charter  members.  It  has  been 
prominent  in  charitable  work  and  has  furnished  a  pleasing  so- 
cial feature  to  Odd  Fellowship  in  Austin.  The  present  officers 
are :  ilrs.  ^laria  Edson.  N.  G. ;  Mrs.  Fannie  Herzog,  V.  G. ; 
]Mrs.  Inez  ]M.  Elward,  secretary ;  ]Miss  Myrtle  Edson,  treasurer. 


PYTHIAN  ORDERS. 

The  principles  of  the  Pythian  fellowship  are  represented  in 
Austin  by  two  bodies,  Austin  Lodge,  No.  55,  K.  P.,  and  F'lora 
Temple,  No.  26.  Pythian  Sisters. 

Austin  Lodge,  No.  55,  K.  of  P.,  was  instituted  May  27,  1889, 
with  forty-three  charter  members.  The  first  officers  were:  C.  C, 
H.  R.  Wood;  V.  C,  L.  Dettlebach;  prelate,  R.  O.  Hall;  M.  of  E., 
A.  B.  Ilunkins;  M.  of  E.,  William  INI.  Rol)erts;  M.  of  A.,  Fred  B. 
Wood;  I.  G.,  Sam.  L.  Collins;  O.  G.,  W.  H.  Benedict;  trustees, 
E.  B.  Sterling,  E.  G.  Potter  and  R.  0.  Hall.  The  present  officers 
are:  C.  C,  W.  J.  rrl)atch ;  V.  C,  W.  L.  Van  Camp;  prelate,  C.  F. 
Cook;  K.  of  H.  and  S.  and  M.  of  F..  William  Cutter;  M.  of  E.. 
II.  A.  Goslee;  M.  of  W.,  O.  J.  Simmons. 


2'62  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

ORDER  OF  ELKS. 

Tlie  Elks  in  Austin  are  in  flourishing  condition,  the  member- 
ship is  of  a  high  degree,  and  the  quarters  are  very  pleasant. 

Austin  Lodge  No.  414,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks  was  instituted  February  16,  1898,  by  District  Deputy  Grand 
Exalted  Ruler  Jolm  E.  King,  of  St.  Paul.  The  ceremony  of  in- 
stitution was  held  in  the  court  room  of  the  court  house.  The 
lodge  then  leased  what  is  noAv  known  as  Odd  Fellows'  hall  and 
remained  there  until  February  15,  1901,  Avhen  they  dedicated 
their  present  home.  The  first  officers  of  the  lodge  were :  Exalted 
ruler,  R.  J.  Dowdall;  E.  L.  K.,  J.  J.  Furlong;  E.  L.  K.,  R.  R, 
Murphy;  E.  L.  K.,  T.  C.  Grant;  secretary,  W.  A.  Kubat;  treas 
urer,  E.  Wood;  tyler,  J.  J.  Hayes:  trustees,  J.  M.  Greenman,  Jos 
Keenan  and  S.  Sweningsen.  The  following  have  served  as  pre 
biding  officers  of  the  lodge:  R.  J.  Dowdall,  J.  J.  Furlong,  0.  J. 
Simmons,  A.  S.  Campbell,  L.  D.  Baird,  W.  N.  Kendrick,  W.  D 
Rosbaeh,  J.  S.  Wood,  A.  C.  Page,  J.  L.  Gulden,  C.  I.  Riley,  and 
E.  H.  Elward.  The  present  officers  are :  Exalted  ruler,  Harry 
Rutherford ;  E.  L.  K.,  R.  A.  Woodward ;  E.  L.  K.,  J.  J.  Scallan ; 
E.  L.  K.,  M.  F.  Dugan;  secretary,  J.  S.  Wood;  treasurer,  W.  J. 
Urbatch ;  tyler,  A.  P.  ]\loonan ;  trustees,  P.  Bump,  0.  J.  Simmons 
and  W.  E.  Terry.  This  lodge  has  been  honored  in  the  fact  thf\t 
0.  J.  Simmons  was  district  deputy  grand  exalted  ruler  under 
Grand  Exalted  Ruler  William  J.  0  'Brien  in  1904-05. 


OTHER  FRATERNAL  ORDERS. 

Lookout  Aerie,  No.  703,  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  and  a  nest 
of  the  Order  of  Owls,  are  located  here,  and  have  a  fair  member- 
ship among  the  young  men  of  the  city. 

Lookout  Aerie,  No.  703,  F.  0.  E.,  was  instituted  May  3,  1904, 
by  J.  AV.  Shadewald,  8.  D.  G.  P.,  with  a  charter  list  of  sixty-six 
members.  The  fir.st  officers  were:  J.  H.  Bryon,  P.  W.  P.;  J.  J. 
Adams,  W.  P. ;  W.  R.  Terry,  W.  V.  P. ;  J.  D.  Smith,  W.  C. ;  W.  L. 
Van  Camp,  W.  S. ;  Frank  Sargent,  W.  T. ;  George  Dolan,  W. 
Cond. ;  Max  Erdman,  I.  G. ;  C.  A.  Gibson,  0.  G. ;  trustees,  Charles 
Kaufman,  H.  J.  Zender,  J.  E.  Pitzen ;  aerie  physician,  C.  J.  Lewis. 
The  present  officers  are:  P.  W.  P.,  C.  F.  Lewis;  W.  P.,  George 
Robertson ;  W.  V.  P.,  H.  W.  Boody ;  W.  C,  J.  C.  Taney ;  W.  Cond., 
L.  G.  Kappauf ;  secretary,  F.  M.  Zebder;  treasurer,  F.  C.  Wilbour; 
trustees,  W.  R.  Terry,  M.  A.  Morgan,  L.  H.  Grau ;  physician, 
H.  F.  Pierson.  The  present  membership  is  360.  Since  the  organi- 
zation i|^6,200  has  been  paid  in  sick  benefits.  Funeral  benefits 
liave  amounted  to  .$350.     The  society  pays  a  seven-dollar-a-week 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOAVEK  COliXTY  233 

sick  benefit  and  a  $50  funeral  benefit.  The  aerie  has  at  present 
$2,000  at  interest  and  $600  in  the  treasury  as  a  working  balance, 
with  an  income  of  about  $270  a  month. 

The  Order  of  Owls  is  one  of  the  youngest  of  the  local  fra- 
ternities. The  charter  officers  were:  President,  II.  J.  Zender: 
past  president,  Thomas  Rochford;  vice  president,  T.  Lembrick; 
invocator,  AY.  J.  Rice ;  treasurer,  Ben  Hart ;  secretary,  Peter  Ca- 
pretz;  warden,  Lester  Woodward;  sentinel,  Tracey  Smith; 
picket,  Thomas  Tracy;  trustees,  M.  J.  Mayer,  Joseph  Wolf  and 
Otto  H.  Jensen.  The  present  officers  are:  President,  H.  J.  Zen- 
der ;  past  president,  Thomas  Rochford ;  vice  president,  A.  Speck ; 
invocator,  B.  Speck ;  treasurer,  Ben  Hart ;  secretary,  Peter  Ca- 
pretz;  warden,  C.  Ward;  sentinel,  Eldred  Ondrick;  picket,  J.  C. 
Harris;  director,  C.  H.  Johnson;  trustees,  M.  J.  Mayer,  Joseph 
Wolf  and  Otto  H.  Jensen. 

PATRIOTIC  ORDERS. 

There  are  four  patriotic  orders  in  Austin,  the  Mclntyre  Post, 
No.  66,  G.  A.  R. :  Mclntyre  Corps,  No.  27,  W.  R.  C. ;  the  Ladies  of 
tlie  G.  A.  R.,  and  tlie  Spanish-American  War  Veterans. 

Mclntyre  Post,  No.  66,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  About 
1872,  a  Post  was  organized  at  Austin  and  conducted  for  a  time, 
but  like  many  of  the  original  G.  A.  R.  posts,  it  soon  disbanded. 
jNIcIntj^re  Post,  No.  66,  Avas  organized  March  7,  1884,  by  A. 
Swift,  assisted  by  Comrades  C.  A.  Warren,  M.  B.  Johnson,  B. 
iNlaxwell,  N.  N.  Parmenter,  B.  E.  Stimson  and  others,  of  the 
Henry  Rogers  Post  No.  11,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Brownsdale.  The  fol- 
lowing were  the  first  officers:  Capt.  W.  H.  Sutton,  post  com- 
mander: A.  E.  Christie,  sen.  vice  commander;  G.  L.  Case,  jun. 
vice  commander ;  Rev.  W.  E.  Stanley,  chaplain ;  H.  W.  Lightly, 
officer  of  the  day ;  John  V.  OAvens,  quartermaster ;  C.  N.  Beiseker, 
officer  of  the  guard;  Seymour  Johnson,  adjutant;  M.  M.  Trow- 
bridge, sergeant  major;  H.  B.  Corey,  Q.  M.  sergeant.  It  was 
voted  to  call  the  Post  Mclntyre,  after  Capt.  P.  T.  Mclntyre,  of 
the  18th  Wisconsin,  and  formerly  county  auditor  and  treasurer, 
wlio  died  in  Austin  about  1881.  The  vote  stood  twenty-six  for 
"]McIntyre,"  and  twenty-five  for  "INlcPhorson, ''  in  honor  of 
General  ^NlcPherson. 

Below  is  appended  a  list  of  tlu^  members  who  joined  Alarch 
1  and  lo,  1884,  with  the  regimental  connection  of  each:  P.  J. 
Cratzer,  Co.  F,  lolst  Ind. ;  Seymour  Johnson,  Co.  A,  32d  Wis.; 
W.  H.  AYhitham,  Co.  B,  106th  N.  Y. ;  W.  E.  Stanley,  29th  Co., 
Mass.  II.  A.  Vol. :  J.  A.  Pierce,  Co.  A,  3d  Wis.;  George  Fiehn,  Co. 
A,  13th  Wis.:  J.  R.  Evans,  Co.  H.  Batal.  V.  S.  I.  16th  Reg. ;  J.  IT. 
^VLansfield.  Col.  Keng's  Staff:  D.  E.  Bero,  Co.  C,  9th  Minn.;  Sam. 


234  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

H.  Judd,  Capt.  Co.  H,  153d  Til. ;  H.  W.  Lightly,  Co.  H,  29th  Wis. ; 
Francis  Neller,  Co.  H,  2d  Minn. ;  Jerry  Ingalls,  Co.  I,  26th  N.  Y. ; 
R.  M.  Boyd,  Co.  B,  37th  AVis. ;  Chas.  J.  Miller,  Sergt.  Co.  A,  1st 
Wis.;  Wilson  Beach,  Corp.  Co.  H,  1st  Minn.  M.  R. ;  Geo.  W. 
Varco,  Co.  B,  2d  Minn.  Cav. :  J.  H.  DeRemer,  Co.  F,  3d  Minn. ; 
J.  C.  Hawkins,  Corp.  2d  Ohio  H.  Art. ;  William  Bracken,  Co.  C, 
9th  Minn. ;  John  Connor,  Co.  G,  6th  Wis. ;  Abram  Newell,  Co.  I, 
17th  111.  Cav. ;  M.  M.  Trowbridge,  Sergt.  Co.  C,  1st  Wis. ;  A.  E. 
Christie,  Sergt.  Co.  D,  19th  Wis. ;  Henry  B.  Corey,  Corp.  Co.  A, 
2d  ]\Iinn.  Cav.  Reg. ;  John  V.  Owens,  Co.  K,  5th  N.  Y.  H.  A. ;  W. 
H.  Sutton,  Capt.  Co.  I,  31st  Ohio. ;  G.  L.  Case,  Capt.  Co.  H,  122d 
IT.  S.  C.  T. ;  Samuel  Pinkham.  Co.  C,  3d  Wis.  Cav. ;  H.  H.  Kent, 
Landsman  U.  S.  Navy ;  J.  D.  Woodward,  Co.  I,  1st  N.  Y.  L.  Art. ; 
Orrin  H.  Brown,  Sergt.  Co.  B,  115th  N.  Y. ;  W.  D.  Hogan,  Corp. 
Co.  K,  1st  Conn.  H.  Art.;  James  Donaldson,  Sergt.  Co.  E,  28th 
Wis. ;  S.  AA".  Rice.  Co.  C,  9th  Minn. ;  M.  Becker,  Co.  D,  22d  Wis. 
Inft.;  G.  S.  Cooper,  Co.  G,  12th  AVis.;  Simeon  Chapman,  Co.  I, 
105th  Pa.;  H.  G.  Case,  Sergt.  Co.  A,  2d  Minn.;  John  E.  Robin- 
son, Corp.  Co.  B,  2d  Minn.  Cav. ;  E.  P.  Spooner,  Sergt.  Co.  C,  9th 
Minn. ;  R.  Brooks,  Co.  C,  17th  Ind. ;  C.  N.  Beiseker,  Co.  F,  67th 
N.  Y. ;  Jos.  Stephenson,  Co.  C,  117th  N.  Y. ;  Isaac  N.  Howe,  Co. 
M,  12th  111.  Cav.;  Jehial  AVoodward,  Co.  B,  116t.h  N.  Y. ;  A.  J. 
Sharpstine,  Co.  K,  142d  N.  Y.  ■  Henry  Peck,  Co.  B,  2d  Minn. ;  D. 

B.  Johnson,  Jr.,  1st  Lieut.  1st  Reg.  INIinn.  M.  R. ;  AValter  F. 
Sutherland,  Sergt.  Co.  B,  U.  S.  Eng.  Bat. ;  E.  L.  Merry,  Co.  F, 
5th  Minn.;  John  Robertson,  Sergt.  Co.  F,  42d  AVis.;  Robert 
O'Brien,  Co.  H,  44th  AA^is. ;  William  H.  AA^aye,  Co.  I,  38th  AVis.; 

C.  P.  Bell,  Co.  B,  2nd  Minn.  Cav. ;  M.  C.  Little,  Co.  K,  32d  AVis. ; 
E.  R.  Lathrop,  chaplain,  10th  Minn.;  L.  B.  Fairbanks,  Co.  I,  3d 
A^t.  •.  Henry  A.  Chapin,  Co.  I,  1st  Minn. ;  A.  H.  Chapin,  Co.  C,  9th 
Ivlinn. ;  L.  Griffin,  Co.  H,  1st  Minn.  Rangers ;  I.  J.  Densmore, 
Sergt.  nth  AVis.;  J.  S.  Anderson,  Co.  I,  24th  AVis.;  A.  D.  Fair- 
banks, Co.  E,  2d  United  States  sharpshooters;  P.  Bump,  1st  Lieut. 
Co.  E,  22d  Wis.;  C.  R.  Paddock,  Co.  C,  115th  N.  Y. 

In  all  220  veterans  have  joined  Melntyre  Post.  Of  these 
sixty-six  are  still  members  and  eighty-seven  are  dead.  Sixty- 
seven  have  moved  away  or  been  suspended.  The  Post  has  a 
meeting  hall  of  its  own,  having  purchased  a  lot  and  building 
December  15,  1890.  The  present  officers  are:  Commander,  John 
Fairbanks ;  senior  vice  commander,  Peter  Cratzer ;  junior  vice 
commander,  R.  N.  Boyd ;  quartermaster  serge.ant,  P.  Bump  ;  officer 
of  the  day,  J.  C.  HaAvkins:  officer  of  the  guard,  E.  AVatkins; 
chaplain,  J.  D.  Smith ;  siu'geon,  John  Harpraan ;  adjutant,  J.  H. 
DeRemer.  The  Post  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  in  the  state. 
In  June,  1889.  it  had  the  pleasure  of  entertaining  the  Southern 
^Minnesota  G.  A.  R.  Association. 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  235 

Mclntyre  Corps,  No.  27,  W.  R.  C,  was  organized  April  5, 
1887,  with  twenty-two  charter  members.  The  first  officers  were 
as  follows :  President,  Elizabeth  Mclntyre ;  senior  vice  presi- 
dent, Lottie  Baird;  junior  vice  president,  Louisa  Engle;  secre- 
tary. Lizzie  Sutton:  treasurer,  Mary  Lovell;  conductor,  Lida 
Sutherland ;  assistant  conductor,  Emma  Dorr ;  guard,  Katie 
Jolmson :  assistant  guard,  Maggie  Ingalls ;  chaplain,  Mary  Beach. 
The  corps  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition,  with  102  members. 
The  present  officers  are:  President,  Madge  Smith;  senior  vice 
president,  Mary  Horrobin;  junior  vice  president,  Anna  Gregg; 
secretary.  Marietta  Bump;  treasurer,  Clara  Urbatch ;  chaplain, 
Emma  Neller ;  conductor,  Mattie  Fairbanks ;  guard,  Abbie  Hilker ; 
patriotic  instructor,  Elizabeth  Mattice ;  press  correspondent,  Eva 
Davison ;  assistant  conductor,  Anna  Seares ;  assistant  guard, 
flattie  AVilliams;  musician,  Lulu  Pitcher;  color  bearers,  Nellie 
Hartley,  Lou  Hendricks,  Laura  Eddlebeck  and  Libby  Roebuck. 
The  corps  is  working  in  harmony  with  IMcTntyre  Post,  and  in 
1906  erected  a  •i<l,200  monument  on  the  soldiers'  lot  in  Oakwood 
cemetery. 

The  I.  K.  Mertz  Circle,  No.  44,  Ladies  of  the  G.  A.  E.,  was  or- 
ganized in  Austin.  November  3,  1898,  by  Julia  E.  Lobdell.  This 
organization  is  a  patriotic  one,  similar  in  many  respects  to  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  its  membership  is 
restricted  to  the  wives,  sisters,  blood  nieces,  and  direct  female 
descendants  of  veterans  of  the  Civil  war ;  war  nurses.  Civil  war 
veterans,  and  male  deseendents  of  Civil  Avar  veterans  being  ad- 
mitted to  honorary  membership.  The  organization  will  be  per- 
petuated by  lineal  deseendents.  The  first  officers  of  the  local 
circle  were :  President,  Maggie  Goodwin ;  senior  vice  president, 
Hannah  Bazter;  secretary,  Eva  Webster;  treasurer,  Anna  Fo- 
garty;  chaplain.  Frances  Rice;  conductress,  Ella  jNIady;  assistant 
conductress,  INFay  Carter;  guard,  INIaria  Hall:  assistant  guard. 
]\Iary  E.  Bero.  The  present  officers  are :  President,  Eva  Web- 
ster ;  senior  vice  president,  Florence  Chapin ;  junior  vice  presi- 
dent. Frances  Watkins;  chaplain,  Eva  Carter;  treasurer,  Eunice 
Floyd :  conductress,  Florence  Wait ;  assistant  conductress,  Sarah 
Ondrick ;  guard,  ]\Iary  Boyd ;  assistant  guard,  Isabelle  Watkins. 


CATHOLIC  ORDERS. 

Four  organizations  in  Austin  recruit  their  members  from  tlie 
Catliolic  chuj'ch.  They  are:  St.  Augustine  Court.  No.  of)?,  Cath- 
olic Order  of  Foresters;  St.  ^Monica  Court,  No.  374,  Women's 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters;  Austin  Council,  No.  1201,  Kniglits 
of  Columbus  and  the  Catholic  Total  Abstinence  Society. 


236  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

RAILROAD  ORDERS. 

The  importance  of  the  raih-oad  industry  in  Austin  naturally 
brings  hundreds  of  railroad  employes  to  make  their  home  here, 
and  as  a  consequence  all  the  great  railroad  orders  haA^e  Austin 
divisions.  Cedar  River  Division,  No.  283,  Brotherhood  of  Rail- 
road Trainmen ;  Austin  Division,  No.  215,  Order  of  Railroad  Con- 
ductors: Austin  Division,  No.  102,  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 
Engineers,  and  Comet  Lodge,  No.  126,  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 
Firemen  and  Engineers,  each  have  a  goodly  membership,  and 
the  ladies'  auxiliary  to  each  of  these  organizations  are  also  im- 
portant features  in  the  life  of  the  railroad  people  of  the  city. 

Austin  Division,  No.  215,  Order  of  Railroad  Conductors  Avas 
organized  August  30,  1 906,  with  the  following  charter  members : 
E.  E.  Brooks,  W.  F.  Clay,  E.  T.  Dexter,  A.  J.  Fox,  W.  B.  Harter, 
Harry  Hill,  "William  James,  Martin  Keavy,  Thomas  Keating,  C. 
T.  Paine,  "W.  R.  Terry,  AVilliam  Plummer,  Peter  Gallagher,  George 
Franklin,  F.  C.  Tipp,  Jacob  Oleson,  H.  M.  AVarfield,  A.  F.  Mc- 
Lean, Frank  McAdams,  John  Richard.  The  first  officers  were: 
Chief  conductor,  Thomas  Keating;  assistant  chief  conductor,  H. 
M'.  Warfield;  secretary  and  treasurer,  W.  R.  Terry;  senior  conduc- 
tor, W.  F.  Claj' ;  junior  conductor,  William  Plummer ;  inside  sen- 
tinel, George  Franklin;  outside  sentinel,  Jacob  Oleson.  The 
present  officers  are:  Chief  conductor,  J.  D.  McCormiek;  assist- 
ant chief  conductor,  Joseph  Tucker ;  secretary  and  treasurer,  W. 
B.  Harter;  senior  conductor,  W.  F.  Clay;  junior  conductor,  W. 
K.  Terry ;  inside  sentinel,  Joseph  Kane ;  outside  sentinel,  Ole  Tol- 
bertson.  From  a  membership  of  twenty,  Austin  Division  has 
grown  to  a  membership  of  fifty-three.  This  division  is  one  of 
tlie  best  in  its  class  -and  nearly  every  conductor  running  out  of 
Austin  on  the  five  divisions  of  railroad  is  a  member  of  Division 
215.  Each  member  is  a  good  citizen  and  all  are  ready  at  all 
times  to  boost  for  Austin.  The  growth  of  the  division  has  kept 
pace  with  the  progress  of  the  city  and  every  member  is  true  to 
the  motto,  Fidelity,  Justice  and  Charity. 

Volunteer  Division,  No.  123,  Ladies  Auxiliary  to  the  Order 
of  Railroad  Conductors,  Avas  instituted  May  19,  1898,  with  the 
folloAving  officers:  President,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Terry;  vice  president. 
Mrs.  Ida  Clay:  secretary  and  treasurer,  Mrs.  W.  D.  Plummer. 
The  present  officers  are :  President,  Mrs.  J.  D.  McCormiek ;  vice 
president.  Mrs.  George  Taylor;  secretary  and  treasurer,  Mrs.  H. 
:\I.  Warfi(>ld. 

Austin  Division,  No.  102,  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  En- 
gineers, is  one  of  the  oldest  fraternal  societies  in  Austin.  It  Avas 
organized  Fe])ruary  19,  1870,  by  Simon  R.  Clark,  assisted  by 
T.  "NV.  TIazelton.     R.  R.  dark  Avas  elected  chief  engineer  and  ^l. 


HISTORY  OF  ]M0\VP:1{  COLLXTY  237 

E.  Telfair  first  assistant  engineer.  William  Anderson  is  the 
present  chief  engineer  and  Harry  Matthews  is  the  secretary  and 
treasurer.  The  Austin  division  has  a  membership  of  ninety,  witli 
$130,000  life  and  accident  insurance  in  force. 

The  J.  D.  Beeoher  Division,  No.  187,  Ladies  Auxiliary  to  the 
Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers,  was  organized  January 
25,  1894,  by  Mrs.  C.  J.  Clark,  grand  organizer,  of  Winona,  with 
the  following  chapter  members:  Mrs.  Wm.  Anderson,  Mrs.  J.  D. 
Beecher,  Mrs.  C.  Campbell,  Mrs.  A.  F.  Mattice,  Mrs.  P.  Cham- 
bers, Mrs.  G.  Smith,  Mrs.  M.  Davey,  Mrs.  D.  Sharrah,  Mrs.  H. 
Furtney,  Mrs.  J.  Shook,  Mrs.  Thos.  Flannigan,  ]\Irs.  J.  Taylor, 
Mrs.  C.  Gilleece,  Mrs.  C.  F.  West,  Mrs.  J.  Harriman,  Mrs.  E.  G. 
Goth,  Mrs.  D.  Hunt,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Ober,  Mrs.  R.  Haseltine,  Mrs.  T. 
Claneey,  Mrs  J.  McDonald,  Mrs.  J.  Murphy.  Of  these  there  are 
twelve  who  are  still  members  of  the  order.  The  first  officers 
were :  President,  Mrs.  AVm.  Anderson ;  vice  president,  Mrs.  E. 
Goth ;  secretary,  Mrs.  H.  Furtney ;  treasurer,  Mrs.  G.  Smith ;  in- 
surance secretary,  Mrs.  Harriman;  chaplain,  Mrs.  A.  F.  Mattice; 
guide,  Mrs.  C.  Campbell:  sentinel,  Mrs.  T.  Claneey;  pillars,  Mrs. 
C.  Gilleece,  Mrs.  J.  McDonald,  Mrs.  J.  Harriman,  Mrs.  R.  Hasel- 
tine. At  present  this  order  consists  of  thirty-seven  members. 
The  present  officers  are :  Past  president,  Mrs.  D.  S.  Barr ;  presi- 
dent, Mrs.  M.  Mclnerny;  vice  president,  Mrs.  C.  Gilleece;  insur- 
ance secretary,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Pettengill;  secretary,  Mrs.  E.  H. 
Kough  ;  chaplain,  Mrs.  D.  Hunt ;  treasurer,  Mrs.  L.  Nelson ;  guide, 
Mrs.  C.  Erickson ;  sentinel,  Mrs.  M.  Lang ;  marshals,  Mrs.  A. 
Damm,  Mrs.  R.  Haseltine;  musician,  Mrs.  Wm.  Cook;  pillars, 
Mrs.  J.  Lorenz,  Mrs.  T.  Damn,  Mrs.  A.  F.  Mattice,  Mrs.  H.  J. 
]\reDonald. 

Pearl  of  Cedar  Lodge,  No.  223,  Ladies  Auxiliary  to  the 
Brotherhood  of  Railroad  Trainmen,  was  organized  July  29,  1901, 
with  fifteen  charter  members  and  with  the  first  vice  grand  mis- 
tress, Jeanette  Turner  in  the  chair.  The  meeting  was  held  in 
the  Engineers  Hall,  on  East  Water  street,  and  the  following  of- 
ficers were  elected:  Councilman,  George  C.  Taylor;  past  mis- 
press, Lizzie  Brohm ;  mistress,  Mary  Nockels;  vice  mistress,  Julia 
Dineen;  treasurer,  Mary  Taylor;  chaplain,  Luej'-  Ellingson;  sec- 
retary, Mayme  Bi;shman :  conductress,  Ada  Plum ;  warden.  Olga 
Gordon;  inner  guard,  Mai-y  Bushman;  outer  guard,  Emma 
Franklin.  The  charter  Avas  a  gift  to  the  ladies  from  the  Cedar 
River  lodge,  No.  283,  Brotherhood  of  Railroad  Trainmen.  The 
present  officers  are:  President,  Mayme  Bushman;  vice  presi- 
dent, Nellie  Smith ;  chaplain,  Anna  Jeffries ;  treasurer,  Mattie 
Fairbanks;  secretary.  Hazel  Harmaney;  conductress,  Viuuie 
Montey;  warden,  Ijouisa  Darr:  inner  guard.  Blanch  Larson; 
outer  guard,  Elizabeth  Bloomfield;  delegate,  Nellie  Smith;  alter- 


238  ITISTOIIY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

iiate,  Kate  Weise.     There  are  at  present  thirty  members,   and 
meetings  are  held  in  the  Order  of  Railroad  Conductors  Hall. 

FRATERNAL  INSURANCE. 

The  oldest  fraternal  insurance  order  in  Austin,  antedates  in 
its  date  of  organization,  all  the  present  orders  in  Austin  except 
the  Masons,  the  Odd  Fellows  and  tlie  Brotherhopd  of  Locomotive 
Engineers.  The  fraternal  insurance  orders  now  in  existence  in 
Austin  are:  Austin  Homestead,  No.  443,  Brotherhood  of  Amer- 
ican Yeomen;  Austin  Tent,  No.  16,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees; 
Queen  Hive,  No.  20,  Ladies  of  the  Maccabees ;  Austin  Council,  No. 
53,  jModern  Samaritans ;  Van  Dusko  Camp,  No.  243,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America;  Austin  Council,  No.  1654,  Royal  Ar- 
canum ;  Cedar  Camp,  No.  205,  Royal  Neighbors ;  Austin  As- 
sembly, No.  204,  Equitable  Fraternal  Union;  Austin  Lodge,  No. 
31,  Degree  of  Honor;  Austin  Lodge,  No.  840,  Mystic  AYorkers  ot! 
the  World. 

Austin  Lodge,  No.  32,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  was 
organized  in  Austin,  October  24,  1877,  with  charter  members  to 
the  number  of  thirty.  The  first  officers  of  the  lodge  Avere :  Past 
master  workman,  D.  B.  Smith;  master  workman,  L.  6.  Wheeler; 
foreman,  A.  W.  Kimball ;  overseer,  F.  A.  Richardson ;  recorder, 
C.  H.  AVilbour;  financier,  E.  P.  Van  Valkenburgh;  receiver,  Ed- 
win French ;  guide,  W.  K.  Hunkins ;  inside  watchman,  F.  H. 
Sterling;  outside  watchman,  John  Chandler.  The  ma,jority  of 
the  first  officers  and  members  are  still  living.  Some  have  dropped 
from  the  order,  l)ut  a  large  number  are  still  faithful  members  ■ 
after  nearly  thirty-four  years  of  continued  membership.  The 
A.  0.  U.  AV.  was  the  pioneer  fraternal  insurance  order  and  the 
first  to  establish  lodges  in  Minnesota  and  also  the  first  in 
Austin.  Austin  Lodge,  No.  32,  has  grown  from  a  few  members 
to  an  enrollment  of  over  600,  and  a  present  membership  of 
225,  and  has  paid  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  its  de- 
ceased members  jfi85,000.  A  record  of  which  it  may  well  be 
proud.  The  records  of  the  lodge  show  that  the  men  who 
have  governed  the  lodge  and  helped  to  build  it  up  are  scat- 
tered from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  as  the  following  list 
of  the  past  master  workmen  will  show :  D.  B.  Smith,  L.  E.  Day, 
Jas.  Cronan,  P.  PL  Zender,  0.  H.  Harris,  C.  J.  Hull,  S.  A.  Smith, 
Geo.  Robertson,  E.  C.  Dorr,  E.  J.  Phillips,  Thos.  F.  Leonard,  I.  R. 
Wagner,  John  Rustad,  E.  W.  Brennan,  Peter  Hanson,  H.  A. 
Gosler,  W.  K.  Hawkins,  L.  Dettlebach,  K.  0.  AVold,  N.  J. 
Strever,  A.  E.  Hall,  S.  H.  Harrson,  L.  C.  Fairbanks. 

The  officers  for  the  year  1911  are:  Past  master  workman,  H. 
A.  C.nsler:  mnstcr  workman,  AI.  P.  Underberger :  foreman,  Lafay- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  239 

ette  Crandall ;  overseer,  John  Evenson ;  i-ecorder,  L.  C.  Fair- 
banks; financier,  P.  H.  Zender;  receiver,  J.  L.  Mitchell;  guide, 
E.  J.  Blomily;  inside  watchman,  Jos.  Leohmen;  out'side  watch- 
man, Frank  i^dams;  grand  representatives,  P.  H.  Zender  and 
H.  A.  Gosler;  trustees,  E.  A.  Dalager,  Gorm  Hanson,  Peter  Han- 
son. The  A.  O.  U.  W.  order  rates  of  assessments  were  changed 
two  years  ago  to  an  absolutely  adequate  basis  of  rates  and  a 
large  surplus  has  been  accumulated.  This  year  the  Minnesota 
jurisdiction  seceded  from  the  national  organization  and  Minne- 
sota is  now  an  independent  organization  with  over  21,000  mem- 
bers. Aiistiu  lodge  is  adding  new  members  and  is  in  a  very 
prosperous  condition,  with  prospects  of  paying  many  more 
thousands  to  more  firmly  establish  the  home  for  those  who  are 
left  to  mourn. 

Van  Dusko  Camp,  No.  243,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  was 
organized  September  18,  1886,  with  thirty-seven  charter  members. 
The  charter  was  granted  October  20,  1886.  Among  the  first 
officers  were  G.  T.  ]Mills,  C.  A.  Pooler  and  L.  F.  Clausen.  The 
cainp  now  has  a  membership  of  467.  There  have  been  forty-three 
deaths  in  the  camp  and  over  $80,000  has  been  paid  in  benefit 
certificates.  The  present  officers  are:  Consul,  R.  L.  Furtuey; 
advisor,  R.  J.  Thomson;  banker,  H.  A.  Goslee;  clerk,  E.  H. 
Sterling;  managers,  William  Cutter,  J.  E.  Detwiler  and  H.  C. 
Waldecker. 

Austin  Council,  No.  1654,  Royal  Arcanum,  was  organized 
and  chartered  October  7,  1895,  with  thirty-six  members.  The 
first  officers  were :  Regent,  N.  S.  Gordon ;  vice  regent,  G.  F. 
Baird ;  orator,  A.  M.  Lewis ;  past  regent,  A.  C.  Page ;  secretary, 

E.  "W.  Davis;  collector,  J.  A.  Sands;  treasurer,  H.  M.  McGill- 
vary;  guide,  H.  F.  George;  chaplain,  H.  D.  Fairbanks;  warden, 
A.  E.  Dearborn ;  sentry,  F.  A.  Brietlow ;  trustees,  G.  Schleuder, 
T.  J.  Abrahams,  C.  F.  Cook.  The  officers  for  the  year  1911  are 
as  follows:  Regent,  R.  L.  DeGroot;  vice  regent,  F.  W.  Green- 
man;  orator,  A.  C.  Page;  past  regent,  F.  E.  Daigneau;  secre- 
tary, J.  M.  Beck;  treasurer,  G.  F.  Baird;  collector,  J.  E.  Crip- 
pen;  chaplain,  H.  D.  Fairbanks;  guide,  Charles  Mady;  warder, 

F.  G.  Page;  sentry,  F.  B.  Davison.  Since  the  organization  of 
Austin  Council  there  has  been  but  one  death  claim  paid,  on  the 
death  of  a  local  member.  Mayor  George  F.  Sutton,  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  was  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  his  widow 
was  paid  the  death  benefit.  The  Royal  Arcanum  is  a  fraternal 
insurance  order,  organized  in  Boston,  ^lass.,  June  23,  1S77, 
and  has  been  successful  and  economical  in  its  inanagcineiit  dur- 
ing the  thirty-four  years  of  its  existence 

Cedar  Camp,  No.  205,  Royal  Neighbors  of  America,  Avas  or- 
oanized  October  2.').  189.').  witli  a   good  iiienibcrsliip.     :\rrs.  Alma 


240  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Kessler  Avas  the  first  oracle  and  Mrs.  Flora  E.  Cota  the'  first  re- 
corder. They  were  assisted  by  a  band  of  loyal  workers.  The 
lodge  membership  has  grown  to  nearly  200,  and  the  present 
officers  are:  Oracle,  Mrs.  Mattie  Fairbanks;  vice  oracle,  Mrs. 
Libbie  Aultfather;  past  oracle,  Mrs.  Lania  Dawes;  chancellor, 
Mrs.  Carrie  "Wright;  recorder,  Mrs.  Tracy  Young;  receiver,  Mrs. 
Ida  Wyatt;  marshal,  Mrs.  Mabel  Boyd;  assistant  marshal,  Mrs. 
Lillian  Peterson ;  inner  sentinel,  Mrs.  Mary  Horrobin ;  outer  sen- 
tinel, Mrs.  Ella  Mayland;  managers,  Mrs.  Jessie  Ward,  Mrs. 
Ellen  Brown  and  Mrs.  Maud  Cutter. 

Austin  Tent,  No.  16,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  received  its 
charter  May  23,  1893.  The  fi.rst  oflfieers  were:  Commander,  E. 
C.  Kinney;  record  keeper,  G.  M.  Merriman;  finance  keeper,  P. 
Goodwin.  The  present  officers  are:  Commander,  A.  E.  Hilker; 
record  and  finance  keeper,  J.  "W.  Gebhart. 

Austin  Council  53,  Modern  Samaritans,  was  organized  several 
years  ago  and  the  present  officers  are:  Good  Samaritan,  F.  H. 
Mayer ;  past,  ~W.  J.  Bell ;  vice,  Sallie  E.  Hill ;  high  priestess,  Mrs. 
R.  Peterson ;  financial  scribe,  Peter  Capretz ;  treasurer,  John  Ur- 
batch ;  C.  M.,  Carl  Johnson ;  J.  M.,  Roy  Pace ;  centurian,  Mrs. 
Carl  Johnson;  Avatchraan,  John  Jensen;  medical  examiner,  Dr. 
C.  P.  Lewis. 

Austin  Homestead,  No.  443,  Brotherhood  of  American  Yeo- 
n*en,  has  some  260  members.  The  officers  are:  Honorable  fore- 
man, L.  H.  Gran ;  master  of  ceremonies,  Carrie  Wright ;  cori'e- 
spondent,  A.  L.  Lickteig ;  master  of  accounts,  Mattie  Fairbanks ; 
chaplain,  Mary  NeAvcomb. 

SCANDINAVIAN  AND  TEUTONIC  LODGES. 

The  Scandinavian  and  Teutonic  element  in  Austin  is  repre- 
sented by  three  societies:  Als  Lodge,  No.  Ill,  Danish  Brother- 
hood; Hamar  Lodge,  No.  84,  Sons  of  NorAvay,  and  the  Harmonia 
Germania  Society. 

INDUSTRIAL. 

The  Carpenters'  Union  in  Austin  has  been  in  existence  for 
some  time,  and  is  of  much  mutual  benefit  to  its  members. 

DRIVING  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Austin  Driving  Association  was  organized  February  26, 
1909.  The  first  officers  were:  Geo.  Sutton,  president;  H.  W. 
Hurlbut,  treasurer,  and  A.  C.  Page,  secretary.  Shortly  after  its 
organization,  tlie  president,  Mr.  Sutton,  was  taken  sick  and  went 
to  a  sanitarium  for  treatment.  E.  D.  Feeny  Avas  elected  vice 
president  and  acted  as  executive  officer  during  that  year's  race 
meet.     The  association  has   given  tAvo   very  successful   summer 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  2-11 

race  meetings  during  the  month  of  June,  1909  and  1910.  They 
are  planning  their  race  meet  for  the  current  season  for  July  3, 
4  and  5.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  0.  J.  Simmons, 
president;  M.  F.  Leffingwell,  vice  president;  H.  W.  Hurlbut, 
treasurer;  A.  C.  Page,  secretary. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
MODERN  AUSTIN. 


Advantages  of  the  City  Written  by  Rev.  CD.  Belden — Religious 
Activities  by  Robert  L.  Moore — Austin  Clubs  by  Miss  Jennie 
G.  Keith — St.  Olav  Hospital  and  Training  School — Austin 
Schools  by  Prof.  George  A.  Franklin — Austin  Hotels. 

Austin,  the  Pearl  City  of  southern  Minnesota  and  the  county 
seat  of  Mower  county,  is  located  in  one  of  the  most  attractive 
and  fertile  portions  of  the  great  Northwest.  It  has  a  population 
of  6,960,  according  to  the  United  States  1910  census,  and  it  is 
large  enough  to  enjoy  all  the  advantages  and  improvements 
found  in  much  larger  centers.  Mower  county  has  steadily  in- 
creased in  population  during  all  the  migrations  and  changes  of 
the  past  decades,  as  each  succeeding  census  has  shown.  Today 
we  have  22,640  within  our  county  borders.  From  the  early  pio- 
neer days  this  city  has  been  on  the  great  highway  of  travel  and 
has  attracted  the  best  class  of  residents  by  her  pre-eminent 
advantages. 

Sixty  years  ago  there  were  two  streams  of  travel  coming  into 
this  section.  One  was  from  the  east  by  way  of  Chatfield,  where 
a  land  office  had  been  established,  and  the  other  came  in  from 
the  southeast  following  up  the  banks  of  the  Cedar  river  and  con- 
tinuing on  in  the  old  territorial  road  to  St.  Paul.  Austin  was 
on  this  latter  route.  In  the  early  settlement  of  Mower  county 
the  county  seat  was  established  on  the  east  end  at  Frankford, 
but  the  Cedar  valley  soon  gathered  a  larger  immigration  and 
the  county  seat  was  changed  to  Austin.  The  old  stage  route 
from  Dubuque  to  St.  Paul  passed  through  Austin  and  the  outer 
world  soon  discovered  that  this  was  a  vcrital)le  garden  spot. 
Here  were  timber,  the  purest  of  water,  the  Ijrightcst  of  sunshine, 
the  healthiest  of  climate,  the  most  fertile  of  soil.  Tln'  Cedar 
river  flowing  thrcmgh  the  city  furnished  abundant  water  i)Ower 
for  saw  mill  and  grist  mill  .md  .\nstin  soon  came  into  its  deserved 
prominence. 


2A2  HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COU^vTY 

The  pioneer  problems  of  1854  were  very  different  from  what 
are  known  today.  Then  the  railroads  were  slow  in  extending 
west  and  they  waited  until  the  settlers  had  pushed  ahead  and 
had  made  improvements  and  established  centers.  Today  the 
railroads  reach  out  hundreds  of  miles  into  uninhabited  regions 
and  carry  the  first  settlers  to  their  locations  and  furnish  them 
with  transportation  and  abundant  communication  with  the  out- 
side world.  It  was  not  so  with  the  pioneers  of  this  locality  who 
waited  for  years  for  the  railroad  while  they  hauled  their  grain 
a  hundred  miles  to  the  Father  of  Waters.  In  1859  there  was  not 
a  mile  of  railroad  in  Minnesota  and  the  nearest  railroad  point 
was  Dubuque.  But  shut  in  as  were  the  pioneers  so  largely,  they 
were  thrown  together  in  an  intimacy  and  equality  which  the  so- 
cial sets  of  the  later  years  never  know  of.  Thrown  upon  their 
own  resources  and  with  everything  new  and  unplanned,  they  were 
really  the  foundation  builders  and  we  today  enjoy  a  substantial 
superstructure.  The  first  settlers  in  this  locality  were  largely  of 
sturdy  native  American  stock  with  a  valuable  addition  of  thrifty 
emigrants  from  northern  Ei;rope.  They  brought  high  ideals  in 
education,  morals  and  home  life  and  their  influence  is  a  posi- 
tive factor  for  good  today. 

The  city  of  Austin  is  located  on  both  sides  of  the  Cedar  river. 
It  is  surrounded  by  a  finely  improved  and  productive  prairie- 
country  in  all  directions.  From  the  days  of  Austin  Nichols,  who 
came  here  in  1853  and  from  whom  the  city  was  named,  and  of 
Chaimeey  Leverich,  who  bought  out  his  claim  in  1854.  there 
has  been  a  healthy,  persistent  growth.  Its  location,  about  a  hun- 
dred miles  from  Minneapolis,  La  Crosse  and  other  large  shipping 
points,  gives  it  a  territory  largely  its  own.  It  is  an  industrial 
and  railroad  center  of  prominence.  The  first  railroad  to  enter 
here  was  in  1867  and  today  we  have  five  lines  of  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  road  coming  here,  and  we  are  on  the 
direct  line  of  the  Great  Western  between  Minneapolis  and  Omaha. 
Our  shipping  facilities  are  superior.  The  division  point  of  the 
Milwaukee  road  and  one  of  its  car  shops  are  here  and  they  have 
an  Austin  payroll  at  present  of  $55,000  each  month. 

Austin  is  pre-eminently  a  city  of  homes.  A  larger  propor- 
tion of  the  residents  own  their  own  in  most  cases.  The  resi- 
dences are  the  pride  and  joy  of  the  city,  many  of  them  built  with 
the  latest  improvements  and  with  attractive  architectural  ideas. 
The  Austin  Civic  Improvement  League  is  helpful  in  keeping  the 
general  appearance  of  the  city  neat  and  attractive.  Two  very 
pretty  parks  give  the  people  ample  chance  for  convenient  outing. 
Lafayette  i)ark  lies  at  the  foot  of  Main  street  where  the  Cedar 
is  bridged.  Central  park  is  adjacent  to  the  city  water  plant  on 
Water    strei't. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  243 

The  schools  of  Austin  are  of  the  highest  efficiency.  The  pub- 
lic schools  are  provided  with  the  large  central  high  school  build- 
ing and  also  five  up-to-date  grade  ward  schoolhouses.  The  year 
of  1910-1911  required  a  total  force  of  thirty-eight  teachers,  with 
special  work,  domestic  science,  manual  training,  music,  normal 
department,  drawing  and  gymnastics.  The  graduating  class  of 
1911  consists  of  thirty-one  members.  In  addition  the  St.  Augus- 
tine's parish  has  established  the  Columbus  parochial  school  with 
eight  departments,  all  of  them  in  grade  work.  The  Southern 
Minnesota  Normal  College,  founded  in  1897,  is  located  here  and 
has  a  yearly  enrollment  of  over  1,000  pupils  from  all  the  north- 
western states.  In  this  connection  we  mention  the  splendid  li- 
brary facilities  of  the  city.  In  addition  to  the  fine  school  and 
private  libraries  we  have  a  public  library,  the  building  for  which 
was  provided  by  Andrew  Carnegie.  This  building  was  completed 
in  April,  1904.  There  are  about  7,000  volumes  at  present.  The 
nucleus  of  this  library  was  a  gift  of  3,500  volumes  from  the 
Austin  Floral  Club,  which  was  organized  in  March,  1869,  to 
promote  taste  and  skill  in  horticulture  and  to  establish  a  circu- 
lating library.  Austin  is  a  city  of  churches.  There  are  eleven 
fine  church  buildings  and  the  clergymen  rank  high  in  preaching 
ability  and  in  personal  worth  and  influence.  Fifteen  of  the  prin- 
cipal denominations  are  well  represented  in  the  city. 

Austin  is  a  prominent  business  city  and  commercial  center. 
Its  wholesale  and  retail  trade  covers  twenty-two  blocks  of  our 
streets.  Every  line  of  commercial  trade  is  represented.  Its  hand- 
some business  blocks  fronting  upon  its  brick  paved  streets  and 
its  enduring  cement  sidewalks  are  a  mark  of  enterprise  and 
thrift  that  attract  all  visitors.  In  the  way  of  manufactures  we 
excel.  Roller  mills,  tow  mills,  plow  and  harrow  works,  cement 
tile  factories,  immense  Farmers'  Brick  and  Tile  plant,  weed  ex- 
terminator plant,  the  second  packing  house  in  size  in  Minnesota, 
Austin  greenhouses,  marble  and  granite  works,  steel  culvert  fac- 
tory, machine  shops,  foundries,  carriage  building  are  among  our 
prominent  industries.  "We  have  two  telephone  systems  connect- 
ing with  all  the  surrounding  country  and  bringing  us  in  touch 
also  with  the  large  centers.  A  city  hospital  shows  advanced  serv- 
ice for  the   afflicted. 

Although  Austin  is  essentially  a  liomo  town,  tliere  is  fine  hotel 
service  here  for  the  traveling  public  and  the  four  loading  hotels, 
the  Fox.  the  Grand,  the  Elk  and  tlie  Railway,  make  this  city  an 
attractive  stopping  place  sought  by  all  who  can  make  it  con- 
venient. In  connection  with  the  business  interests  we  mention 
the  three  national  l)anks.  whose  total  deposits  in  March.  1911, 
were  $3,072,120.81.  and  a  total  capital  and  surplus  of  $625,729.71. 
The   Austin   Commercial    Club,   the   successor   of   the   Board   of 


244  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Trade,  organized  in  1874  and  reorganized  in  December,  1903,  is 
an  active  body  looking  after  the  development  and  growth  of  the 
city. 

One  of  the  commanding  buildings  of  the  city  is  the  fine  county 
courthouse,  occupying  a  w^hole  square  on  Main  street.  It  Avas 
occupied  in  March,  1884,  and  is  the  just  pride  of  the  county.  A 
new  federal  building  for  the  postoffice  and  other  government 
officials  was  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1910  and  will  be  completed 
at  the  close  of  1911.  It  is  50x65  feet  and  will  cost  $50,000.  Plans 
are  also  accepted  for  a  new  city  hall  to  cost  $40,000. 

Austin  feels  proud  of  its  military  company.  Back  in  the  war 
of  '61- '65  this  community  sent  its  full  quota  to  the  front  and 
the  soldierly  spirit  has  never  Avaned.  Company  G,  Second  Minne- 
sota National  Guard,  was  organized  by  Capt.  James  S.  Ander- 
son in  September,  1882.  An  appropriation  from  the  state  legis- 
lature in  April,  1911,  gives  the  company  $10,000  for  an  armory 
here  and  the  city  will  add  to  this  to  make  a  suitable  permanent 
drill  hall  for  them. 

Austin  has  one  of  the  most  successful  municipal  water,  elec- 
tric light  and  power  plants  in  the  United  States.  Its  low  rate 
for  electric  power  has  made  it  famous.  The  city  owns  and  con- 
trols its  own  plant.  Previous  to  about  1885,  Austin's  water 
supply  Avas  AvhoUy  from  pri\^ate  wells  and  its  fire  protection  was 
from  cisterns.  With  the  growth  of  population  the  demand  was 
for  modern  Avater  supply.  A  132-foot  Avell  Avas  put  doAvn  and 
Smedley  &  Co.,  of  Dubuque,  put  in  the  first  pumps,  tAvo  of  them, 
each  with  a  million-gallon  daily  capacity.  John  M.  Greenman 
Avas  the  first  superintendent.  From  this  beginning  other  and 
deeper  wells  were  sunk  later  as  the  demand  increased  and  in 
1910  a  more  ample  supply  of  water  Avas  obtained  by  the  pur- 
chase of  the  famous  Sargent's  springs  east  of  the  city  with  a 
flowage  of  1,300,000  gallons  of  purest  water  daily.  This  water 
Avas  piped  into  the  city  in  the  summer  of  1911.  It  comes  wholly 
by  gravity  to  the  reservoir  at  the  power  plant.  The  Avater  mains 
Avhich  at  first  covered  only  our  principal  business  section  noAV 
run  to  all  parts  of  the  residence  portion. 

The  city  municipal  electric  and  poAver  plant  Avas  established 
in  1900,  when  the  city  bought  out  a  private  concern  for  the  sum 
of  $16,000.  The  Pierce  Brothers  put  in  the  original  plant  in 
April,  1889.  This  furnished  only  the  stores  at  first  AA^th  light, 
but  later  the  city  made  contracts  for  street  lighting  and  the  use 
of  electric  lighting  was  extended  to  residences.  The  city  rebuilt 
the  plant  when  it  bought  it  in  1900  and  in  1903  the  entire  man- 
agement was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  board  of  water,  electric, 
gas  and  poAvor  commission.  The  plant  has  been  steadily  devel- 
oped until  it  had  iu  May,  1911,  a  750-horsepoAver  dynamo  sys- 


HISTOfiY  OF  MOWEH  COUNTY  24.1 

tern,  supplying  lights  to  940  different  consumers,  power  to  fifty 
users  and  light  for  121  arc  street  lights,  besides  seventy-five 
smaller  street  lamps.  It  is  a  fact  that  the  Austin  municipal  plant 
furnishes  cheaper  power  and  light  to  consumers  than  any  other 
successful  electric  plant  in  this  country.  The  present  members 
of  the  water  and  electric  board  are :  John  L.  Gulden,  president ; 
Mayor  A.  S.  Campbell,  J.  D.  Sheedy,  Al.  M.  Smith  and  C.  A. 
Pooler;  superintendent,  "William  Todd.  Austin  lias  an  efficient 
fire  department  and  excellent  fire  protection. 

The  streets  of  Austin  are  Avorthy  of  mention.  There  are  many 
miles  of  cement  sidewalks  wnth  many  bovilevards,  which  give  a 
substantial  appearance.  In  the  summer  of  1906  the  main  business 
portion  of  the  city  along  Main  street  and  adjacent  blocks  was 
paved  with  vitreous  brick  and  in  the  following  summer  ten  blocks 
were  paved  from  Main  street  to  the  Milwaukee  station,  making 
it  possible  to  reach  all  the  business  poi-tions  by  it.  This  makes 
Austin  one  of  the  best  paved  cities  of  its  size  in  the  Northwest. 

The  city  has  kept  pace  with  its  growing  population  and  the 
improvements  of  the  day,  and  the  resident  here  finds  every  con- 
venience afforded  much  larger  cities.  The  Austin  Gas  Company 
is  a  private  corporation,  whose  service  adds  to  the  comforts  of 
the  home,  and  with  annual  Chautauqua  in  summer  and  lecture 
and  concert  courses  in  the  winter,  with  churches  and  schools  and 
library  of  the  highest  merit,  with  ample  water  supply  and  ex- 
tensive sewerage,  with  the  best  of  electric  light  and  power  and 
in  the  midst  of  a  prosperous  farming  commimity,  located 
near  the  height  of  land  in  southern  ]Minnesota  and  with  a  cli- 
mate unexcelled  for  its  many  healthful  conditions,  Austin  knows 
the  reason  why  during  business  depression  and  prosperity  she 
has  maintained  a  steady  and  permanent  growth. 

FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

A^^stin  has  excellent  fire  protection  and  a  well-equipped  fire 
department.  Hose  Company  No.  1  has  its  house  at  the  corner  of 
Chatham  and  Maple  street  and  Hose  Company  No.  2  has  its  house 
at  the  foot  of  Bridge  street.  There  are  also  companies  at  the 
Plormel  plant  and  at  the  ]Milwaukee  yards.  Plans  are  under  way 
for  the  building  of  a  combination  city  hall  fire  house  and  armory 
at  the  corner  of  Chatham  and  Maple  streets.  The  state  has  ap- 
propriated $10,000  for  the  building  of  an  armory,  and  plans  have 
been  drawn  for  a  combination  l)uilding.  to  be  erected  at  a  cost 
of  some  .$42,000. 

The  fire  department,  whidi  is  a  volunteer  one.  is  organized  as 
follows:  Fire  warden.  Xcls  1'.  .Iciis.'ii ;  liosc  cart  No.  1.  fore- 
man, Frank  E.  J.   Christie;   jissistaiit.  .1.   .1.   Kugg:   liydrantmen, 


246  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Leonard  Hall  and  Archie  Moreland;  pipemen,  George  Fitzthuvn 
and  James  Anker;  steward  and  treasiirer,  Edward  H.  Elward; 
secretary,  Louis  Duclos.  Hose  Comany  No.  2:  Foreman,  M.  J. 
.Mayer;  assistant  foreman,  George  Umhoefer;  hydrantmen,  C.  W. 
MeNally  and  J.  Mayer,  Jr. ;  nozzlemen,  Frank  Hummel,  Alvin 
Setterloff,  D.  J.  Sheehan ;  secretary,  J.  H.  Mayer;  treasurer,  Frank 
jMayer;  steward.  J.  Mayer,  Jr. 

The  Austin  Volunteer  Hook,  Ladder  and  Bucket  Company  was 
organized  March  11,  1870.  The  first  officers  elected  were:  Presi- 
dent, W.  I.  Brown ;  foreman,  Capt.  H.  J.  Gilham ;  first  assistant, 
J.  D.  Jennings;  second  assistant,  H.  L.  Burgess;  secretary,  A.  M. 
Hutchinson;  treasurer,  George  H.  Litchfield.  On  April  27  No. 
2  of  the  east  side  was  organized.  In  Septemher,  1895,  the  city 
hired  its  first  team  and  driver,  Oscar  Hill  securing  the  position. 
Among  those  who  in  the  past  have  assisted  in  fire  department  af- 
fairs in  some  official  capacity  may  be  mentioned :  A.  J.  Phelps, 
H.  B.  Hall,  D.  B.  Smith,  Tom  Eiley,  John  Walsh,  C.  A.  Pooler. 
C.  Bieseker,  Tom  Dugan,  Jesse  Makepiece  (the  first  chief  of  the 
Austin  fire  department),  E.  J.  Ames,  Henry  Trenary,  John  Gul- 
den, Edward  Elwood,  Tom  Mann,  Mile  Mhyre,  Nels  Jensen,  Frank 
Eeynolds  and  many  others. 

OAKWOOD  CEMETERY. 

Austin  -was  a  village  of  400  people  before  a  move  was  made  t.p 
have  a  place  to  lay  its  departed.  The  dead  were  laid  away  in  the 
vacant  lots  of  the  platted  city.  The  body  of  Chauncey  Leverieh, 
who  was  murdered,  was  buried  near  where  the  Swen  Anderson 
building  stands  on  Chatham  street.  On  the  banks  of  the  Cedar 
near  the  South  Bridge  the  bones  of  Don  and  Jack  Fleming  molded. 
They  came  here  from  New  England  for  their  health,  as  they  were 
both  suffering  with  consumption.  It  was  not  until  1862  that  a 
move  was  made  to  secure  a  cemetery.  A  few  of  the  ladies  of  the 
city  got  talking  about  the  needs  of  the  city  and  a  meeting  was 
called  February  ],  1862,  at  the  home  of  J.  L.  Davidson  for  the  pur- 
pose of  organizing  a  society  for  the  purchase  of  suitable  lauds 
for  a  burial  ground.  At  that  first  meeting  Mi's.  J.  L.  Davidson 
was  elected  president  and  Mrs.  Ormanzo  Allen  secretary. 

The  name  adopted  for  the  society  was  "The  Mite  Society  and 
Cemetery  Association"  and  the  meetings  were  to  be  held  every 
tv.'o  weeks  at  the  homes  of  the  members  in  alphabetical  order. 
Each  member  was  to  pay  ten  cents  at  each  meeting.  The  at- 
tendance at  these  meetings  was  between  eighty  and  100,  for  there 
was  little  doing  in  the  pioneer  village  in  those  days. 

Th*^  first  regular  meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  ]\lrs.  J.  L. 
Clnrlc.     Here  it  was  voted  to  have  the  men  buv  the  land  and  the 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY  247 

Mitt;  society  promised  to  build  the  feuee.  A  subscription  paper 
was  passed  among  the  business  men  and  twenty  agreed  to  take 
lots  at  $5  each.  On  March  15,  1862,  the  men  met  and  organized 
the  cemetery  association.  Solomon  Snow  was  chairman  of  the 
meeting  and  Ormanzo  Allen  secretary.  The  following  trustees 
were  elected:  For  one  year,  L.  N.  Griffith  and  Ormanzo  Allen; 
for  two  years,  John  S.  Lacy  and  Oliver  Somcrs;  for  three  years, 
Solomon  Snow.  A  committee  had  been  sent  out  to  secure  land 
and  on  the  suggestion  of  the  Mite  society  looked  over  the  Baudler 
farm.  The  committee  found  the  land  suitable  evidently,  for  it 
purchased  five  acres  at  a  cost  of  $100.  D.  B.  Johnson  surveyed 
the  laud,  laying  it  off  in  lots  twenty  feet  square,  and  Squire 
Giifnth  made  a  map.  The  $100  was  raised  by  twenty  men,  each 
of  wiiom  bought  a  lot  at  the  cost  of  $5. 

The  story  of  the  cleaning  up  of  the  grounds  l)y  the  ladies,  as- 
sisted by  the  men,  is  told  elsewhere  by  Mrs.  L.  A.  Sherwood.  ]\Irs. 
Sherwood  says  that  the  first  body  buried  in  the  cemetery  was 
that  of  Katie,  the  eight-year-old  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Clark.  The  little  girl  died  of  diphtheria  and  Mrs.  Sherwood  as- 
sisted in  the  care  of  the  little  girl.  That  was  the  first  case  of  diph- 
theria that  had  appeared  in  the  little  village  of  Austin.  Having 
bought  the  land  and  laid  it  out  as  a  place  to  bury  the  dead,  the 
cemetery  seems  to  have  received  but  little  attention,  each  lot 
owner  being  supposed  to  care  for  his  own  lot.  In  1895  the  Oak- 
wood  Cemetery  Association  bought  160  acres  of  land  of  the  Adler 
farm  adjoining  the  cemetery.  They  sold  about  thirty  acres  lying 
east  of  the  river  to  D.  B.  Smith.  D.  H.  Stimson  was  one  of  the 
prime  movers  in  this  purchase.  Anton  Friedrich  was  elected  svi- 
perintendent  of  the  cemetery  and  has  been  in  charge  from  that 
day  to  this.  The  cemetery  was  graded,  the  imsightly  grave 
mounds  all  being  leveled,  flower  gardens  were  laid  out  and  each 
year  saw  the  place  still  further  beautified.  Now  it  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  resting  places  for  the  dead  in  the  state.  On  March 
7,  1904,  the  trustees  were  authorized  to  erect  a  chapel  and  vault, 
not  to  exceed  the  sum  of  .$5,000,  and  this  beautiful  Imilding  was 
dedicated  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  William  Baudler  had 
opened  up  a  private  cemetery  on  the  northern  line  of  his  farm 
adjacent  to  the  Oakwood  cemetery  and  the  lot  owners  of  this 
cemetery  wanted  those  lots  taken  in  as  a  part  of  beautiful  Oak- 
wood.  This  petition  Avas  presented  by  Mrs.  Hiram  Smith  at  a 
meeting  held  November  12,  1904.  She  stated  that  $430  had  been 
subscribed  and  guaranteed  that  $70  moi'e  would  be  raised,  mak- 
ing the  amount  $500  for  the  purchase  of  the  unsold  lots  in  the 
Baudler  cemetery.  On  December  3,  1904,  a  meeting  of  the  ceme- 
tery a.ssociation  was  licld  to  consider  the  proposition.  At  that 
meeting  the  Baudlci-  cciiKtcry  lot  owners  were  ready  to  pay  $500 


248  HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COrXTY 

to  the  Oakwood  cemetery  to  secure  possession  of  the  Baudler  lots 
so  that  the  two  cemeteries  might  be  united.  The  board  of  trus- 
tees offered  to  take  over  the  Baudler  cemetery,  lots,  alleys,  streets, 
etc.,  on  the  payment  of  $2,000.  N.  F.  Banfield  said  he  would  be 
responsible  for  the  amount  and  the  proposition  was  accepted. 
Soon  after  the  old  fence  was  torn  down,  both  cemeteries  were 
made  one,  the  Baudler  cemetery  being  graded  and  beautified  to 
conform  with  Oakwood.  On  August  23,  1905,  the  cemetery  asso- 
ciation purchased  four  rods  of  land  adjoining  the  old  Baudler 
cemetery  on  the  east,  paying  for  it  $75.  On  March  2,  1906,  Mc- 
Intyre  Post  G.  A.  R.  exchanged  their  old  lot  for  a  lot  in  the  cen- 
ter of  Section  3  of  the  new  cemetery  and  the  bodies  of  the  dead 
heroes  were  removed  to  their  new  sleeping  place.  On  this  lot  a 
beautiful  soldiers'  monument  was  erected  and  dedicated  in  1907. 

RELIGIOUS  ACTIVITIES. 

(By  Robert  L.  ^Nloore.) 

AVhile  Austin  is  on  seven  railroad  divisions,  it  is  also  on  fif- 
teen divisions  of  the  King's  highway,  all  having  one  grand  termi- 
nal point.  These  are  the  divisions :  Roman  Catholic,  Episcopal, 
Lutheran,  Methodist,  Congregational,  Presbyterian,  Baptist,  Chris- 
tian, Jewish,  Christian  Scientist,  Seventh  Day  Adventist,  German 
Evangelical,  Universalist,  Children  of  the  Dawn  and  Christadel- 
phian.  Eleven  of  these  denominations  have  church  buildings,  all 
practically  free  from  debt. 

The  many  church  spires  like  indices  pointing  heavenward  sug- 
gest to  the  stranger  that  Austin  is  a  city  of  churches.  Approach- 
ing the  city  from  any  direction  the  first  object  to  greet  the  eye 
is  the  cross  of  Christ  in  the  skyline.  The  rays  of  the  rising  sun 
first  rest  upon  it  and  the  last  dying  rays  of  day  are  reflected  by 
it.  Austin  is  a  religious  city,  but  it  is  not  a  bigoted  one.  Sec- 
tarianism that  has  rent  other  communities  has  never  been  known 
here.  No  man  disputes  with  another  which  is  the  direct  route 
to  heaven.  Religious  4iberty  is  here  enjoyed  to  the  fullest.  Aside 
from  the  distinctly  church  organizations,  the  club  and  social  or- 
ganizations never  consider  church  affiliation  as  a  qualification  for 
membership. 

All  the  churches  are  liberally  supported  and  well  attended. 
The  buildings  are  as  a  rule  superior  to  church  buildings  in  cities 
of  the  size  of  Austin. 

First  Congregational  Church. — Members  of  this  denomination 
had  their  fii'st  incotings  in  Austin  in  what  was  known  as  the 
"Headquarters,"  which  stood  on  the  corner  where  the  Austin 
National  Bank  now  stands,  gathered  there  together  by  their  first 
pastor.  Rev.  Stephen  Cook,  on  July  fi,  1857.     There  were  fifteen 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWKK  COUNTY  21!) 

cliarter  members,  as  follows:  J.  L.  Davidson,  Mrs.  II.  A.  David- 
son, Rev.  Stephen  Cook,  Mrs.  Jeunett  Cook,  J.  N.  Cook,  Mrs. 
L.  A.  Cook,  J.  N.  AVheat,  J.  S.  Decker,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Decker,  Oba- 
diah  Smith,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Smith,  Mrs.  Amanda  Adams,  J.  Baker, 
Miss  E.  Bennett.  Rev.  Cook  served  as  pastor  of  the  church  for 
three  years,  resigning  in  May,  1860.  His  successor  was  Rev.  Nel- 
son Cook,  who  held  the  pastorate  from  May  ],  1860,  to  October, 
1860.  He  was,  in  turn,  followed  by  Rev.  Stephen  Cook,  who  held 
services  from  October,  1860,  until  May,  1861.  Next  was  Rev. 
C.  C.  Humphrey,  May,  1861,  until  May,  1863.  Following  the  last 
named  Rev.  W.  S.  Clark  preached  from  May,  1863,  to  November, 
1863. 

In  March,  1864,  Rev.  W.  J.  Smith  was  called  to  Austin,  dur- 
ing which  year  the  Baptist  church  was  completed,  and  an  invita- 
tion was  extended  to  the  Congregationalists  to  worship  there. 
The  invitation  was  accepted  and  for  two  years  both  sects  wor- 
shiped there.  In  November,  1864,  Rev.  Smith  resigned  the  pas- 
torate and  was  succeeded  in  December  by  Rev.  Alfred  Morse, 
who  continued  until  December,  1868.  During  his  stay  here  or 
in  the  year  1866  the  next  place  of  worship  was  the  "Brick  School 
House"  on  the  site  where  the  Carnegie  Library  now  stands.  In 
October,  1868,  the  first  building  of  this  denomination  was  dedi- 
cated, it  being  built  on  the  same  site  as  the  present  building,  the 
lot  having  been  donated  by  J.  L.  Davidson  some  years  before. 
Soon  after  its  dedication  Rev.  Morse  tendered  his  resignation  and 
he  and  his  beloved  wife  left  for  other  fields  of  duty.  His  suc- 
cessor was  Rev.  E.  M.  Williams,  December,  1868,  until  December, 
1870.  Other  ministers  in  close  proximity  were :  Rev.  J.  T. 
Graves,  from  January,  1871,  to  January  1873,  and  Rev.  Henry 
Ketcham,  from  June,  1873,  to  September,  1874.  Rev.  C.  E.  Wright 
eonmienced  his  labors  Avith  the  church  in  December,  1874.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  personality  and  influence  and  his  long  stay 
of  twenty-four  years  were  fruitful  ones  to  the  church.  Not  only 
by  the  spiritual  help  were  the  people  of  this  church  benefited, 
but  also  by  a  new  building,  which  was  erected  in  1892  and  dedi- 
cated February  26,  1893.  While  the  new  edifice  was  being  erected 
Sunday  school  services  were  held  in  the  coui'troom  of  the  Court- 
iiouse  and  devotional  meetings  in  the  Grand  Army  hall.  The 
dedicatory  hymn  sung  on  the  occasion  was  one  of  rare  merit, 
being  the  same  as  was  sung  at  the  dedication  of  the  old  build- 
ing twenty-seven  years  l)efore  and  composed  by  ^Irs.  Samuel 
;\[orris,  wife  of  the  former  pastor.  When  the  resignation  of  Mr. 
Wright  was  tendered,  November,  1898,  it  was  met  with  a  feel- 
ing of  deep  regret,  for  those  who  had  known  him  so  long  and 
to  whom  he  had  administered  in  their  sorrow  and  cares  were  wont 
to  say  that  in  the  loss  of  him  the  church  had  lost  one  of  its  most 


250  HISTOEY  OF  MOAVEE  COUNTY 

valuable  assets.  The  other  ministers  after  him  were  Rev.  E.  T. 
AYheeler,  1898  to  1902,  and  Eev.  Arthur  Dascumb,  1902  to  1904. 
The  present  pastor,  Rev.  F.  E.  Knopf,  came  to  the  church  in 
September,  1905.  He  was  born  of  German  parents  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  1858.  But  upon  the  death  of  his  parents  while  he  was  yet 
seven  years  of  age,  he  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  twenty-eight 
miles  from  Columbus,  where  in  the  district  school  he  received  his 
common  school  education.  His  desire  to  rise  in  the  world,  how- 
ever, did  not  keep  him  on  a  farm,  for  later  he  entered  the  Univer- 
sity of  Wooster,  Presbyterian  College,  where  after  a  few  years 
he  completed  the  prescribed  courses.  After  leaving  the  univer- 
sity he  was  elected  superintendent  of  schools  at  Columbus  Grove. 
Later  he  held  the  position  of  professor  of  Latin  and  Greek  at  the 
Tri-State  Normal  college,  remaining  with  that  institution  for  four 
years.  In  1889  he  was  ordained  minister  and  labored  with  the 
Congregational  church  at  Elkhart,  Ind.  Since  then  he  has  held 
pulpits  at  Michigan  City,  Ind.,  Sabetha,  Kans.,  and  Cheyenne, 
Wyo.,  from  which  last  named  place  he  came  to  Austin.  During 
his  pastorate  up  to  date  one  hundred  members  have  been  added 
to  the  church.  In  1907  occurred  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the 
church  and  many  of  the  former  pastors  were  present.  The  church 
has  two  of  its  members  in  missionary  work,  Arthur  McBride, 
missionary  teacher,  stationed  at  Bombay,  India,  and  Olive 
Vaughan  at  Hadfin,  Turkey.  The  societies  are  few  in  number, 
being  the  Ladies'  Aid,  president,  Mrs.  E.  H.  Smith;  vice-presi- 
dent, Mrs.  Dr.  M.  J.  Hardy ;  secretary,  Mrs.  F.  I.  Crane ;  treas- 
urer, j\Irs.  Eunice  Rice.  The  Sunday  school  is  a  very  large  one 
and  is  lead  by  Eansome  Thompson  as  superintendent.  The  Y.  P. 
S.  C.  E.  was  organized  during  Rev.  Wright's  pastorate  and  since 
then  has  grown  to  a  very  prominent  organization.  It  first  met 
at  the  home  of  Harlan  Page,  with  Fanny  Eastman  as  presi- 
dent. The  present  officers  are :  President,  Helen  Banfield ;  vice- 
president,  Leonard  Decker;  secretary,  Josephine  Catherwood; 
corresponding  secretary,  Alice  Hayse;  treasurer,  Neil  Cooke; 
pianist,  Thekla  Knopf.  The  Woman's  Missionary  Society  was 
organized  by  ]\Irs.  E.  M.  Morse,  wife  of  the  former  pastor,  who 
was  president  of  the  state  missionary  board,  first  president  of  the 
society  here  and  also  founder  of  the  Floral  Club  of  Austin.  The 
present  officers  include  Mrs.  C.  H.  Decker  as  president;  Mrs. 
IT.  A.  Avery,  vice-president ;  Mrs.  John  Rutherford,  secretary,  and 
Mrs.  Arthur  Cole,  treasurer.  The  Boys'  Junior  Endeavor  has  at 
the  head  Harry  Emery  as  superintendent.  The  church  officers 
are:  Deacons,  O.  W.  Shaw,  F.  P.  McBride.  H.  A.  Avery,  C.  L. 
West,  W.  0.  Page,  Jacob  S.  Decker.  The  latter  and  Mrs.  J.  S. 
Decker  and  llrs.  Obadiah  Smith  were  original  charter  members 
of  tlic  cliurcli  and  arc  vet  active  mcnil)ers.     The  trustees  of  the 


IIISTOKY  OK  .MOWEi;  COUNTY  251 

C'luu-L'li  include  Mr.  C.  F.  Cook,  Dr.  A.  M.  Lewis,  Mr.  A.  L.  Eber- 
hart,  A.  C.  Page,  J.  E.  Crippen,  L.  A.  Sherman  and  II.  L.  Ban- 
field.    The  two  latter  are  elerk  and  treasurei',  respectively. 

St.  Olaf  Lutheran  Church.  The  Lutheran  church  of  Austin 
was  organized  by  Kev.  C.  L.  Clausen,  October  28,  1867.  The 
same  pastor  had  preached  the  first  sermon  of  this  denomination 
at  Austin  about  two  years  previous  to  that  time.  The  first  serv- 
ices were  held  at  the  home  of  Nels  Johnson,  with  the  following 
persons  as  charter  members :  Syver  Olson  and  family,  Peter  Knud- 
son  and  family,  Iver  Nelson  and  family,  Carl  M.  Bolnner,  Nels 
Johnson  and  family,  John  Halverson,  Jacob  Johnson,  Ole  Jacob? 
son,  Ole  Mickleson  and  family,  F.  B.  Frost  and  family,  Nels  Olson 
and  family.  On  November  14,  1867,  the  second  meeting  was  held 
at  the  home  of  Seymore  Johnson,  at  which  time  by-laws  were 
adopted  and  Carl  M.  Bolnner  was  elected  secretary  of  the  church. 
During  the  illness  of  Eev.  Clausen  in  1869  the  devotional  meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  courtroom  of  the  Courthouse.  On  October 
5,  1870.  a  meeting  was  called  together  at  the  office  of  John  Ir- 
gens.  This  was  for  the  purpose  of  deciding  on  the  name  and  the 
incorporation  of  the  church  and  upon  the  advisability  of  pur- 
chasing the  old  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  name  selected 
was  the  St.  Olaf  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of  Austin.  The 
old  ]\Iethodist  church  was  purchased  and  trustees  chosen :  J.  S. 
Irgens,  Carl  M.  Bolnner,  O.  J.  Johnson,  0.  H.  Johnson,  the  two 
former  being  treasurer  and  secretary,  respectively.  On  May  25, 
1870,  Rev.  Ostby  commenced  his  labors  with  the  church  and  all 
continued  well  during  his  pastorate.  Resigning  in  November, 
]878.  he  was  succeeded  bj'  Rev.  Clausen,  who  continued  serving 
with  Svend  Strand  as  assistant  (appointed  1879)  until  January, 
1885,  at  which  time  he  tendered  his  resignation.  Rev.  Ostby  was 
recalled  in  May.  1885,  owing  to  the  severe  illness  of  Rev.  Clausen, 
and  remained  with  the  church  until  the  arrival  of  Rev.  0.  Glasoe, 
December,  1889.  who  held  the  pastorate  until  September,  1891. 
Next  to  succeed  him  was  the  Rev.  E.  T.  Rogne,  who  came  in 
]March,  1892.  During  his  labors  with  the  church  the  congrega- 
tion increased  so  that  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  erect  a  new 
building.  Subscriptions  being  secured  the  new  (present)  build- 
ing, costing  $16,000,  was  commenced  in  the  early  part  of  1895 
and  dedicated  in  1896  by  Rt.  Rev.  G.  Iloyme.  On  the  occasion 
all  the  former  pastors  were  present,  excepting  Rev.  Clausen,  who 
had  previousl.v  passed  to  his  eternal  reward.  Rev.  Rogne  resigned 
in  the  fall  of  1898  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Roseland. 
who  entered  upon  his  duties  in  February,  1899,  and  served  eight 
years  until  the  fall  of  1907.  During  Rev.  Roseland 's  work  with 
the  church  the  Hayfield  church  services,  which  liad  been  in  charge 
of  the  former  pastors,  was  discontinued.    He  introduced  the  F]ng- 


253  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COU:sTY 

lisli  language  into  the  services  of  this  church,  which  resvilted  in 
holding  six  English  conducted  services  and  tvi'o  of  Scandinavian 
for  the  month.  Kev.  Koseland  went  from  Austin  to  Chicago  and 
a  call  having  been  issued  to  Kev.  J.  A.  E.  Naess,  the  present  pas- 
tor, he  came  in  December,  1907.  Mr.  Naess  is  a  young  man  of 
about  thirty-nine  years  of  age,  alert  and  ready  to  fulfill  the  needs 
of  his  parish.  Born  on  a  farm  in  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin,  he 
learned  early  the  labors  of  life.  He  received  his  grammar  school 
education  in  the  town  of  Boscobel,  Wis.,  from  Avhich  place  he 
graduated  and  entered  the  St.  Olaf  college  at  Northfield,  Minn. 
Upon  the  completion  of  prescribed  courses  at  that  institution  in 
1895,  he  affiliated  himself  Avith  the  United  Church  seminary  of 
Minneapolis.  On  June  12,  1898,  he  was  ordained  a  minister  and 
shortly  afterward  went  back  to  Boscobel  and  served  the  parish 
there  for  four  years.  Resigning  that  position,  he  next  went  to 
Albert  Lea,  Minn.,  from  whence  he  removed  to  Austin.  In  the 
course  of  construction  now  is  an  addition  to  the  church  Avhich 
Avhen  completed  will  nearly  double  the  seating  capacity  of  the 
church,  and  aside  from  that  is  to  be  the  installation  of  a  pipe 
organ  which  will  cost  $2,000.  Throughout  the  history  of  thjs 
denomination  the  growth  has  been  of  a  steady  nature  and  prog- 
ress marks  the  path  of  years  gone  by.  At  this  time  the  member- 
ship shows  the  enrollment  of  750  souls.  The  church  has  no  par- 
sonage, the  present  minister  having  purchased  his  own  home.  The 
societies  of  the  church  are  as  follows:  Ladies  Aid,  president, 
Mrs.  C.  I.  Johnson ;  vice-president,  Mrs.  W.  R.  Earle ;  secretary, 
Mrs.  Carl  Johnson ;  treasurer,  Mrs.  W.  E.  Brown.  Young  People's 
League,  president,  Harry  Rassmussen ;  vice-president,  Erwin  John- 
son ;  secretary,  Allen  Peterson ;  treasurer,  Minnie  Johnson.  Men's 
Society  Social  and  Literary,  president,  George  E.  Anderson ;  vice- 
president,  Peter  Hanson;  secretary,  Carl  Johnson.  The  Sunday 
school  has  an  attendance  of  190  and  the  superintendent  is  W.  M. 
Peterson. 

Seven  Day  Adventist.  The  organization  of  this  sect  was 
began  in  Austin,  September  22,  1889,  with  Elder  A.  Kinsman  as 
presiding  officer  and  eleven  members.  Mrs.  Hattie  E.  Varco  was 
elected  clerk  and  their  first  meetings  Avere  held  at  the  home  of 
A.  N.  Kinsman.  During  the  year  1890,  on  September  14,  a  sub- 
scription was  taken  with  which  to  erect  a  place  of  worship.  The 
church  became  an  organization  in  October  of  that  year  and  A.  N. 
Kinsman,  M.  E.  Varco  and  H.  Hanson  were  elected  trustees.  It 
then  became  a  part  of  the  Northern  Union  Conference.  During 
the  summer  of  1891  a  church  was  built  and  on  December  20  of 
that  year  it  was  dedicated  by  Elder  A.  J.  Breed,  president  of 
the  conference.  Unlike  other  churches,  this  one  instead  of  sup- 
porting a  resident  pastor  bonds  every  effort  and  contributes  to 


IIISTOIJY  OF  -M()\VK1{  CorXTV  j;n;j 

the  maintenance  of  such  in  the  foreign  fields.  Among  the  elders  pre- 
siding since  the  organization  in  Austin  are  as  follows :  A.  N.  Kins- 
man, 1889  until  1896;  Elder  H.  Hanson,  January  10,  1896,  until 
January  18,  1899;  Elder  Rien,  March.  1899,  until  March,  1900; 
Elder  A.  N.  Kinsman,  1900  until  1901;  J.  Jaeobson  was  elected 
January,  1901,  and  continued  as  leader  until  January  13,  1907. 
Succeeding  him  was  Mr.  A.  N.  Kinsman,  who  still  continues  to 
serve.  The  present  officers  are':  Mrs.  A.  Hobson,  clerk;  Charles 
Rosenthal,  deacon  and  treasurer;  Mrs.  Hattie  Vareo,  secretary 
of  mission  work.    The  church  has  fifty  souls. 

Christ  Church,  Protestant  Episcopal.  The  first  services  of  this 
church  can  be  said  to  have  had  their  beginning  in  the  year  1862, 
at  which  time  Bishop  Whipple  made  Austin  a  stopping  place  in 
which  to  hold  services.  For  three  years  or  until  1865  occasional 
services  were  held  by  this  good  bishop,  during  which  time  the 
children  of  E.  W.  Ford  and  James  L.  Clark  were  baptized  by  him. 
Other  occasional  preachers  during  that  period  were  Rev.  Messrs. 
Woodard,  Burleson  and  Johnson.  However,  in  October,  1865,  the 
Rev.  E.  Steele  Peake,  a  pioneer  missionary,  was  stationed  at  Aus- 
tin and  gathered  around  him  a  flock  of  worshippers  to  whom  he 
preached  the  gospel  in  a  portion  of  the  Baptist  church.  During 
the  year  1886  Christ's  church  parish  Avas  organized  as  a  branch 
of  the  diocese  of  Minnesota,  Rev.  Peake  as  rector  electing  the 
vestry,  J.  M.  Vandergrift  and  James  Clark  as  warders,  with  I.  M. 
Lewis,  Andrew  Grinnel,  Samuel  Dodge,  D.  L.  Merrell,  D.  P.  Bos- 
worth  and  S.  F.  Austin  as  members.  Rev.  Peake  remained  until 
June  24,  1866,  at  which  time  he  went  to  California.  Succeeding 
him,  however,  on  January  30,  1867,  was  Rev.  L.  W.  Gibson,  Avho 
was  appointed  to  the  Austin  parish  by  Bishop  "Whipple.  Some 
time  in  i\larch  of  that  same  year  land  Avas  purchased  for  church 
property  and  during  the  following  ]May  a  church  22x26  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $800.  In  November,  1867,  the  southern  eon- 
vocation  met  at  Austin  and  the  cornerstone  was  laid  by  Bishop 
Whipple.  The  first  services  were  held  in  the  new  church  on 
Thanksgiving  day,  1868.  In  1869  Rev.  Gibson  resigned  and  his 
successor  the  following  year  Avas  Rev.  Thomas  E.  Dickey,  who 
retained  the  position  until  February,  1872.  During  the  month  of 
April,  that  year.  Rev.  Jerome  I.  Townsend  became  the  resident 
pastor  and  during  his  rectorship  the  church  was  consecrated  by 
the  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  Ben.i'amin  Whipple,  D.  D.  Resigning  his  posi- 
tion on  November  30,  1875,  Rev.  ToAvnscnd  Avas  succeeded  by  Rob- 
ert Reed  Goudy,  Avho  continued  the  pastorate  for  one  year,  resign- 
ing June,  1877.  The  next  rector  Avas  Rev.  John  Anketell,  coming 
to  Austin  April,  1878,  and  resigning  his  post  February,  1880.  The 
church  was  then  without  a  rector,  holding  occasional  services  un- 
til the  coming  of  Rev.  C.  H.  Beaubien,  Jr..  in  February,  1882,  who 


254  lllSTOI.'Y  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY 

remained  with  the  parish  until  1883.  After  that  time  and  up 
until  the  year  1886  the  church  was  again  without  a  pastor,  and 
held  occasional  services  until  the  coming  of  the  Rev.  Peabody  in 
September  of  that  year.  Other  rectors  who  followed  in  succes- 
sion were:  Rev.  Edwin  Johnson,  July,  1888,  until  October,  1889; 
Rev.  AVellington  McVetter,  January,  1890,  until  January,  1892; 
Rev.  Charles  Pullen.  June.  1892,  until  August.  3896;  Rev.  J.  S. 
AV.  Somorville.  November,  1896,  imtil  November,  1904;  Rev.  J.  S. 
Budlong.  April.  1905,  until  September,  1909.  During  the  rector- 
ship of  the  last  named  the  church  building  was  remodeled  and 
rectory  enlarged.  In  .November,  1909,  Rev.  C.  "\V.  Holmes  was 
appointed  to  the  Austin  parish.  He  was  born  at  Seneca,  Kaus., 
1867,  of  English  parentage.  Later,  at  the  age  of  twelve,  he  re- 
moved to  Racine.  Wis.,  where  ho  attended  the  College  Grammar 
school.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion and  went  out  into  commercial  work.  In  the  year  1906  he 
entered  the  Seabury  Theological  school  at  Faribault  and  was  or- 
dained deacon  in  1907  and  priest,  December,  1908.  Mr.  Holmes 
is  a  man  much  liked  by  his  congregation,  one  who  is  firm  in  his 
purpose  of  advancing  the  cause  to  which  he  is  now  engaged,  and 
a  man  greatly  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  community.  Un- 
der his  rectorship  the  church  has  greatly  increased  in  membership, 
having  now  200  communicants.  The  present  officers  are:  Sen- 
ior warden,  C.  F.  Lewis;  .junior  warden,  F.  L.  "Williams;  E.  S. 
Selby,  secretary:  J.  W.  Hare,  treasurer.  The  societies  of  the 
church  are:  Woman's  Guild,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Hare,  president;  Mrs. 
Cassius  Terry,  vice-president;  Mrs.  T.  L.  Williams,  secretary; 
IMrs.  W.  L.  Van  Camp,  trea.surer.  Woman's  Auxiliary,  Mrs.  Ar- 
nold Johnson,  president ;  Mrs.  C.  W.  Holmes,  vice-president ;  Mrs. 
F.  L.  Williams,  secretary  and  treasurer.  St.  Agnes  Guild,  presi- 
dent. Edna  Clegget;  vice-president.  Lulu  ]\Ieyers;  secretary  and 
treasurer,  Dorijie  Abrahams.  Junior  Aiixiliary,  Mrs.  C.  W. 
Holmes,  directorist;  president,  Edna  Eastman;  secretary,  Dorris 
Gregson;  treasurer,  Dorothy  p]astman.  Rev.  Holmes  is  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school  and  has  for  officers :  Secretary, 
Inez  Eastman  :  treasurer,  Lulu  ]\leycrs. 

Evangelical  Lutheran  St.  John's  Church,  U.  A.  C.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1907.  Rev.  C.  A.  Affeldt.  after  locating  four  German  Lutheran 
families  northwest  of  Austin  and,  being  urged  to  look  after  spii-- 
itual  welfare  of  German  Lutheran  students  attending  the  South- 
ern Minnesota  Normal  college  and  such  of  his  Waltham  charge 
as  lived  in  Austin  permanently  and  temporarily,  began  to  conduct 
services  in  the  Adventist's  church  building,  corner  College  and 
Kenwood  aveinie.  Tliese  services  lieing  appreciat<'d  by  many,  new 
families  arriving  and  an  organization  being  thought  expedient, 
a  meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  Julius  ]\Iaas,  711  Park  avenue, 


HISTORY  OF  MOWKI!  COrNTY  j}55 

and  a  previously  drawii-up  constitution  was  adopted.  This  was 
September  18,  1908,  at  10  p.  m.  Present  were  Julius  Maas,  Jacob 
TIartje,  Adolf  Ott,  Gustav  Klingfuss,  H.  Klingfuss,  Franz  Jung- 
l)lut,  Adolf  Gruenwald,  August  Kranz,  L.  Kalinsky,  Willie  Mar- 
tin, J.  W.  Gruenwaldt.  At  present  services  are  conducted  every 
two  weeks  at  the  Adventist's  church.  The  present  membership 
is  twelve  voting  members,  fifty-one  souls  and  thirty-one  commu- 
nicants. Preliminary  measures  have  been  taken  towards  estab- 
lishing its  own  pastorate  with  the  aid  of  the  missionary  board 
of  the  Minnesota  and  Dakota  district  of  the  Missouri  Synod.  The 
officers  are:  C.  A.  Aflfeldt,  Waltham,  Minn._,  pastor;  Franz  Jung- 
lilut.  Rose  Creek.  Minn.,  and  Ide  Louden,  Austin,  Minn.,  elders. 

The  First  Baptist  Church.  The  First  Baptist  church  of  Aus- 
tin has  a  worthy  history.  It  was  organized  in  "Old  Headquar- 
ters,"' January  31,  1858.  Rev.  Edward  F.  Gurney,  a  graduate 
of  Granville  college  and  of  Rochester  Theological  seminary,  was 
the  first  pastor.  There  were  nine  constituent  members.  The  church 
was  formally  recognized  by  a  council  June  20,  1858.  He  labored 
without  fixed  salary  for  the  first  two  years  and  then  received  $400 
a  year.  He  preached  in  surrounding  centers  also.  In  the  summer 
of  1861  a  subscription  of  several  hundred  dollars  was  gathered 
for  a  meeting  house  of  their  own  and  the  present  site  of  the  church 
property  was  purchased.  Elder  Gurney  resigned  in  November, 
1861,  on  account  of  failing  health.  Rev.  Hervey  I.  Parker,  the 
second  pastor,  was  with  the  church  from  February,  1862,  until 
November,  1872,  when  he  went  to  California.  The  church  building 
project  was  revived  by  him  and  in  January,  1863,  a  building  com- 
mittee took  hold  of  the  work.  The  building,  28x40,  was  occupied 
for  the  first  time  in  January,  1874,  and  was  formally  dedicated 
June  14,  1864.  The  Congregationalists  occupied  this  house  for 
a  while  on  alternate  Sundays.  The  church  prospered  under  Elder 
Parker  and  there  were  155  additions.  Rev.  C.  T.  Emerson  was 
a  faithful  pastor  for  one  year  from  October,  1873.  Rev.  C.  D. 
Relden  commenced  an  eight  years'  pastorate  in  November,  1874. 
resigning  in  1882  to  take  charge  of  the  county  public  school  work. 
There  were  119  additions  under  him  and  the  church  was  very 
active  in  work  in  the  surrounding  country.  Rev.  "\Y.  E.  Stanley 
became  pastor  in  October,  1882,  remaining  until  January,  1891.  At 
the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  church  held  in  1883  it  was  re- 
jiorted  that  the  church  had  received  a  total  membership  of  340, 
of  whom  135  at  that  time  remained.  Rev.  C.  T.  Hallowell  became 
l)astor  in  ]\Iay,  1891,  remaining  two  years.  During  his  pastorate 
tlic  mutter  (if  a  new  church  edifice  was  agitated  and  the  work  was 
plaiuird,  Tlie  foundation  of  the  present  beautiful  hou.se  of  wor- 
sliip,  (17x75  and  costing  over  .+17.000.  was  laid  in  the  fall  of  1893. 
Rev.  F.  C.  AVhitncy  comiuem-cd  his  ])astorate  September  1,  1893. 


356  HISTORY  OF  ]\rOWErj  COUNTY 

remaining  until  October,  1900,  when  he  went  to  Eochester.  The 
new  church  was  dedicated  February  26,  1895,  and  four  months 
later  the  fine  chapel  built  by  the  Oakland  branch  of  the  church 
was  dedicated.  There  was  a  total  of  282  additions  during  Eev. 
Whitney's  pastorate.  Rev.  Frank  L.  Anderson  became  pastor  in 
December,  1900,  and  gave  the  church  four  years  of  splendid  serv- 
ice, resigning  in  February,  1905.  Rev.  R.  E.  Sayles  Avas  pastor 
from  May,  1905,  to  October,  1907.  A  large  accession  of  members 
came  under  him  from  the  "W.  A.  Sunday  tabernacle  meetings.  Rev. 
H.  B.  Ilazen  became  pastor  in  November,  1907,  resigning  March  1, 
1909.     The  semi-centennial  of  the  church  was  held  Januarj^  31, 

1908.  A  total  membership  for  the  fifty  years  was  reported  as 
1,033,  with  a  present  membership  of  420.  Average  pastorate  over 
five  and  a  half  years.    Rev.  J.  H.  Carsteus  was  pastor  from  May  1, 

1909,  until  November  15,  1910.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  W.  L. 
Riley,  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  took  up  his  work  as  pastor  April  1,  1911. 
The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Austin  has  a  worthy  record  and  has 
been  one  of  the  strong  factors  for  righteousness  in  this  whole 
community. 

St.  Augustine's  Church.  In  the  year  1858  Rev.  Father  Pender- 
gast,  of  AYinona,  came  to  Austin  to  conduct  services  in  this  vicin- 
ity. They  were  held  at  the  residence  of  Aloysius  Brown,  in  what 
is  now  the  German  hotel.  After  two-  years  of  occasional  services 
by  Fatlier  Pendergast,  he  Avas  followed  by  Father  George  Keller, 
of  Faribault.  This  reverend  gentleman  held  services  once  every 
two  months  up  until  the  fall  of  1866.  As  a  result  of  his  laborious 
work  in  this  vicinity,  to  Father  Keller  is  due  the  honor  of  estab- 
lishing and  putting  on  a  firm  basis  the  first  congregation  of  St. 
Augustine's  parish.  Soon  after  the  leave  of  this  gentleman  he 
was  succeeded  in  1866  by  Father  McDerraot,  the  first  resident 
priest,  who  remained  and  worked  with  his  parish  until  1869.  Dur- 
ing this  time  money  for  the  erection  of  a  church  was  solicited 
and  three  gentlemen  of  Austin,  Messrs.  Lewis,  Yates  and  Fake 
(non-Catholics),  generously  donated  a  lot,  comprising  a  whole  city 
block.  Then  came  Father  C.  Geuis,  a  French  clergyman,  who  la- 
bored incessantly  and  with  profit  for  the  spiritual  necessities  of 
his  little  parish.  He  remained  until  the  year  187-4  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Father  Pavlin,  who  remained  but  one  year.  Father 
Arthur  Hurley  was  next  appointed  priest  of  the  Austin  parish. 
He  carried  on  his  good  work  until  the  year  1882  and  then  Avent  to 
Rosemound,  near  St.  Paul.  Father  Genis  returned  during  that 
year  and  immediately  set  to  work  building  the  present  parsonage, 
but  was  unable  to  finish  it.  Following  closely  after  the  leave  of 
the  last  named  priest  Avas  the  late  Daniel  0 'Sullivan,  to  AA-hom  Ave 
are  indel)ted  for  the  present  structure.  He  Avas  a  much  beloved 
priest  ;uid  to  liiiii  may  be  attributed  many  of  the  good  Avorks 


IIISTOUY  OF  :\rOWET^  COUNTY  '457 

accomplished  in  this  vicinity.  His  death  occurred  in  June.  1896. 
and  was  a  great  loss  to  the  parish.  In  the  year  1895,  or  the  last 
year  of  Father  0 'Sullivan's  pastorate,  Kev.  Father  E.  H.  Devlin, 
the  present  pastor,  came  as  a  resident  priest  of  Austin.  He  is  of 
Irish  descent  and  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Kenosha  county,  AViscon- 
sin.  where  he  worked  until  the  age  of  thirty  years.  He  then  went 
to  St.  Thomas  College,  where  he  completed  the  prescribed  courses 
of  that  college.  Upon  graduating  from  St.  Thomas  he  went  to 
Eome  and  remained  there  more  than  three  years.  Upon  his  re- 
turn he  held  pastorate  in  New  Richland  five  months  and  was  then 
transferred  to  Austin.  Father  Devlin  may  be  characterized  as  a 
man  of  great  executive  ability,  educated  in  many  branches,  and  a 
man  firm  in  his  purpose  of  elevating  the  cause  of  humanity.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  the  St.  Augustine  church,  started  by  Father 
0 'Sullivan,  was  dedicated  on  Thanksgiving  day,  November  i6, 
1896.  This  is  a  handsome  red  pressed  brick  building  with  trim- 
mings of  red  sandstone  to  match  the  substantial  looking  founda- 
tion. It  has  a  frontage  of  seventy-seven  feet  and  a  depth  of  169 
feet.  Two  towers  stand  out  slightly  from  the  main  body  of  the 
church,  the  larger  being  170  feet  in  height  and  the  smaller,  while 
not  near  as  tall,  is  of  no  less  pleasing  architecture.  Both  are  sur- 
mounted by  a  gilded  cross ;  thus  they  become  the  striking  features 
of  the  facade  of  magnificent  beauty.  The  arched  doorways  and 
the  six  granite  columns  which  support  them  give  the  approach  of 
the  church  a  somewhat  classic  finish.  On  the  cornerstone,  which 
is  a  highly  polished  block  of  granite,  is  inscribed,  "Deo  et  Sancto 
Augustino  dictum.  J.  B.  Cotter.  Antistite.  D.  0 'Sullivan,  Rec- 
tore.  A.  D.  MDCCCXCIII"  ("To  God  and  St.  Augustine.  J.  B. 
Cotter,  Bishop.  D.  O 'Sullivan,  Rector").  But  impressive  as  is 
the  outside  of  the  church,  it  is  the  interior  that  gives  the  pleasure 
to  one  who  has  any  love  for  what  is  beautiful.  The  combined 
eifects  of  statuary  and  rich  colors  to  be  found  therein  is  "as  if 
Nature  had  fashioned  this  edifice  and  placed  it  here  as  a  fitting 
place  in  which  to  worship  her  God."  From  the  250  families  of 
which  the  congregation  was  composed  upon  the  arrival  of  Father 
Devlin  this  number  has  been  increased  to  350  families,  thus  show- 
ing a  steady  growth  of  this  parish. 

Not  alone  to  the  woi'k  of  the  parish  has  this  pastor's  attention 
been  turned,  but  through  his  efforts  a  magnificent  school  has  been 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $35,000.  There  the  rich  and  poor  alike  may 
share  the  advantages  of  an  education.  This  school  is  known  as  the 
Columbus  school.  It  was  started  in  the  spring  of  1908  and  dedi- 
cated in  the  year  1909.  The  sisters,  or  teachers,  are  furnished  by 
the  Franciscan  order,  and  none  better  are  to  be  found  anywhere. 
Children  of  all  ages  may  be  found  here,  as  the  school  is  graded 
from  the  primary  to  the  second  year  high  school.     There  are  at 


258  inSTOIIY  OF  .MoWEIf  l'()r^■TY 

present  eight  teachers  and  about  275  scholars  enrolled,  the  school 
being  a  non-tuition  one  and  supported  by  the  parish.  Father 
Devlin  has  also  attained  distinction  in  his  profession,  having  been 
first  appointed  vicar  general  by  Bishop  Ileft'ron  and  later  ap^ 
pointed  bj'  the  Pope  as  Domestic  Prelate  of  the  People  of  the 
Household. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  oldest  yet  still  existing  societies  of  the 
church  is  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  founded  in  the  early 
seventies,  and  ■which  still  continues  to  flourish  under  the  leader- 
ship of  J.  M.  Lindsay,  who  is  present  chief  ranger.  Next  in  line 
are  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  T.  M.  Callihan,  grand  knight ;  also 
the  Catholic  Total  Abstinence  Union,  originally  the  "Father 
Mathew  Total  Abstinence  Society,"  Avith  present  officers:  Presi- 
dent, Lou  O'Malley ;  vice-i)residcnt,  Fred  Dugan  ;  secretary,  Frank 
Christie. 

Then  there  are  the  women's  societies,  which  take  an  important 
part  in  the  welfare  of  the  church.  There  is  the  Con-Fraternity  of 
the  Rosary ;  Mrs.  J.  D.  Sheedy,  president. 

Then  there  is  the  Woman's  Order  of  Foresters;  Mrs.  J.  E.  Mal- 
loy  the  presiding  officer.  Last  but  not  least  is  the  order  of  the 
unmarried  women,  the  Sodality  of  the  Sacred  Heart;  Elizabeth 
Kelly,  president;  Addie  Kennan,  secretary;  Ella  Sheedy,  treas- 
urer. Among  those  prominently  identified  with  the  early  history 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  at  Austin  may  be  mentioned  the 
following  gentlemen :  A.  Brown,  Thomas  Gibson,  William  Ruther- 
ford, William  Furlong,  Jr.,  Cornelius  Kenavan  and  W.  I.  Brown. 

McCabe  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  -The  Methodist  move- 
ment ill  tlie  vicinity  of  Austin  had  its  beginning  in  1854,  when 
Samuel  Clayton  and  wife  came  to  Mower  county  and  settled  in 
what  is  now  Lansing  township,  on  the  big  bend  of  the  Red  Cedar 
river,  just  above  the  present  city  of  Austin.  To  their  cabin  early 
in  1855  came  a  Rev.  W.  E.  Ilolbrook  from  more  than  100  miles 
down  the  Red  Cedar  valley  and  preached  the  first  Methodist  ser- 
mon in  I\Iower  county.  The  first  class  was  organized  at  this  cabin, 
with  R.  Dobbin  as  leader,  and  P^lsie  Dobbin,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel 
Chiytnii  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  G.  Perry  as  members.  The  first 
(|n;irlcily  meeting  was  held  at  this  same  cabin  in  June,  1855,  and 
Hir  \\rv.  ^\y.  Colctn/m,  presiding  elder,  was  present.  The  Rev. 
.Mr.  Ilolbrook  di'sci'vcs  more  than  passing  mention.  .He  was  a  man 
of  loiii,'!!  exterior  and  appearance  but  with  a  heart  of  gold.  He 
had  a  rrooked  nose  and  distorted  mouth,  and  on  making  his  first 
appearance  in  a  locality  was  wont,  lialf  facetiously,  half  seriously, 
to  remark  thai  il'  sudi  a  crooked  stick  as  he  eonid  be  of  any  serv- 
ice he  would  be  a  very  willing  servant. 

Shortly  afterward  the  Rev.  Sylvester  i1ieli)s  organized  what 
was  known   as  the  Cedar  Mission   within   the   [iresent  limits  of 


HlSTOJi'Y  OF  .M()\Vi:i,'  COlNI  ^'  -^jl) 

Austin  city.  The  first  quarterly  conference  was  held  at  the  home 
of  Silas  Dutcher  in  the  village  of  Austin,  October  18,  1856.  In 
the  fall  of  1857  came  Moses  Mapes,  who  had  just  been  licensed  to 
preach.  These  early  services  were  held  in  the  old  Headquarters 
building,  and  also  in  the  Lake  building  on  Mill  street,  on  the  land 
now  occupied  by  the  H.  C.  Waldecker  buildings.  In  December, 
1S57,  under  his  pastorate  the  first  movement  was  made  toward 
securing  church  property  in  Avistin,  and  a  committee  was  ap- 
l)ointed  at  that  time  to  confer  with  the  town  authorities  with 
reference  to  purchasing  lots  for  a  church  and  parsonage,  l)ut  it 
was  not  until  May,  1861,  that  the  lots  were  fully  secured. 

In  the  spring  of  1858  came  a  most  interesting  character  in 
Kev.  J.  C.  Dyer,  who  was  known  as  "Father"  Dyer.  He  had 
been  a  miner  in  "Wisconsin,  and  was  a  man  of  splendid  physique 
and  very  strong.  He  became  a  circuit  rider  through  this  and 
Freeborn  counties.  He  wore  a  dilapidated  plug  hat  and  rode  a 
raw  bone  horse.  He  did  not  possess  much  of  this  world's  goods, 
and  L.  N.  Griffith,  who  was  second  postmaster  of  Austin,  recalls 
giving  Father  Dyer  stamps  for  his  letters,  as  the  reverend  gentle- 
man never  had  anything  to  buy  with.  He  conducted  revival  serv- 
ices at  Cedar  City  and  won  all  the  inhabitants  to  the  church  except 
three  or  four.  He  also  held  a  camp  meeting,  the  first  ever  held 
in  the  county,  on  the  land  now  used  for  Oakwood  cemetery.  A 
life  story  of  this  rough  but  noble  soldier  of  the  cross  would  be 
one  of  intense  interest.  In  the  state  capitol  at  Cheyenne,  Wyo., 
is  the  statue  of  this  early  circuit  rider  of  Mower  county,  the  statue 
being  in  memory  of  the  work  that  this  rough  old  crusader  did 
among  the  mountaineers  and  miners  of  Wyoming.  Father  Dyer 
was  on  the  circuit  but  a  year. 

In  1859  Moses  Mapes  again  returned,  and  in  the  fall  of  1860 
came  Rev.  F.  A.  Conwell,  with  whom  was  associated  Rev.  George 
E.  Strobridge.  The  latter  remained  but  part  of  the  year.  In  the 
fall  of  1861  Rev.  D.  Tice  became  preacher  in  charge,  with  J. 
Lambert.son  as  assistant.  In  1862  the  circuit,  which  had  embraced 
fourteen  appointments,  Avas  divided,  and  Austin  became  a  part  of 
the  Austin  circuit.  In  the  fall  of  1863  S.  T.  Sterret  became  pastor, 
lie  was  followed  in  1864  by  William  C.  Shaw.  In  1865  Austin 
was  attached  to  the  Lansing  circuit,  with  W.  II.  Soule  and  S.  N. 
Phelps  as  pastors.  At  this  time  the  Cedar  City  circuit  was  organ- 
ized. In  the  fall  of  1866  Austin  was  made  a  station,  with  Wayne 
Carver  as  pastor. 

The  first  Methodist  meetings  in  Austin  were  held  at  the  lionie 
of  ^Irs.  Chauncey  Leverich.  Other  early  Methodist  services  were 
held  in  the  old  Headquarters  building  and  in  a  building  on  the 
corner  of  Mill  and  Chatham  streets,  both  these  l)uildings  being 
siiared  as  meeting  places  with  the  Congregationalists  and  the  Hap- 


260  II I  STORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

tists.  In  1861.  under  the  Rev.  Tire,  the  first  flmreli  was  built. 
There  were  only  twelve  members  of  that  early  ehureh.  and  most 
of  these  were  women.  They  purchased  the  land  where  the  Luth- 
eran church  now  stands,  and  there  erected  their  building.  The 
preacher  himself  dug  the  rock  from  the  river  bed  with  a  erow 
bar.  A  bell  was  put  in  the  steeple,  and  its  peal  was  the  first  that 
broke  upon  the  air  of  Mower  county  in  call  to  wor.ship.  The 
church  cost  $1,400  in  money,  and  much  more  in  sacrifice.  Soon 
after  the  completion  of  this  building  a  revival  was  held,  and  many 
names  added  to  the  church  rolls.  A  cabinet  organ  was  purchased 
later,  this  being  the  first  ever  brought  into  iMower  county.  The 
church  was  in  debt  $300,  but  the  people  Avent  ahead  and  built  a 
parsonage,  and  it  was  not  imtil  1876,  ten  years  later,  that  the  $300 
del)t  could  be  paid. 

In  1868  came  that  unfortunate  affair  that  nearly  wrecked  the 
church  and  retarded  its  progress  many  years.  The  pastor.  A.  J. 
Nelson,  and  some  of  the  members  conceived  the  plan  of  buying 
three  lots  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Water  streets,  and 
erecting  a  two-story  building.  The  upper  floor  was  to  be  used  for 
an  auditorium  or  church,  and  the  lower  floor  was  to  be  rented  for 
stores,  thus  providing  an  income  for  the  church.  To  carry  out  the 
plan  the  church  already  erected  was  mortgaged,  and  paid  in  on 
the  lots  which  were  to  cost  $3,000.  No  money  could  be  raised 
for  the  building,  and  the  previous  indebtedness,  with  the  failure  of 
the  scheme,  cost  the  Methodists  their  church  and  parsonage.  The 
St.  Olaf  Scandinavian  church,  which  was  organized  in  1867,  pur- 
chased the  mortgaged  church  for  $1,500,  and  the  building  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  Lutherans  until  they  were  ready  to  build,  at  which 
time  it  was  moved  to  the  west  part  of  the  city.  Rev.  Nelson 
resigned  in  the  fall  of  1868  and  was  followed  in  the  fall  of  1869 
by  J.  M.  Rogers,  who  only  remained  one  year,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  J.  R.  Creighton.  The  last  named  gentleman  resigned  in 
October,  1870. 

In.  1871,  under  A.  B.  Bishop,  a  new  place  of  worship  was  se- 
cured. An  excursion  to  Minneapolis  netted  the  church  a  goodly 
ain'ount  after  paying  all  outstanding  debts,  and  the  old  brick 
school  house  on  the  corner  where  the  Carnegie  library  now  stands 
Avas  rented  from  December,  1871,  to  June,  1873.  On  the  latter  date 
the  society  bought  the  building  for  $1,500,  making  the  last  pay- 
ment JuTTO  6,  1883.  In  1887  the  building  was  sold  back  to  the 
cily. 

After  the  affairs  of  the  church  were  practically  straightened 
Rev.  Bishop  resigned  his  position  here  and  for  a  long  while  the 
work  of  the  church  went  on  practically  the  same.  Those  who  suc- 
ceeded the  Rev.  Bishop  were  as  follows:  Rev.  Levi  Hall,  1873  to 
1875;  Rev.  IT.  J.  Crist.  1S75  until  1877:  Rev.  A.  Williams.  1877  to 


IIISTOK'Y  OF  MOWHU  COUNTY  261 

1879:  Rev.  Alfred  Cresscy,  1879  to  1881;  Rev.  E.  R.  Lathrop,  1881 
until  June  of  1883,  Avhen  Rev.  E.  P.  Robinson  eame  to  fill  the  un- 
expired year.  Rev.  A.  AV.  Edwards  came  1884  and  remained  until 
1887.  In  October  of  that  year  the  Rev.  S.  II.  Dewart  came  to 
Austin  and  under  his  pastorate,  or  the  year  1888,  the  congregation 
dedicated  a  wooden  church  on  the  present  site  of  the  IMcCabe 
church  at  a  cost  of  about  $7,000.  After  his  resignation  in  the  year 
1890  the  next  succession  of  pastors  were :  Rev.  S.  L.  Shumate  for 
one-half  year  and  Rev.  George  Cook  for  the  balance  of  that  year ; 
Rev.  G.  S.  Briggs,  1891  to  1893 ;  Rev.  S.  C.  McAds,  1893  to  1896 ; 
Rev.  F.  H.  Cone,  1896  to  1900;  Rev.  J.  M.  Brown,  1900  to  1904. 
Rev.  G.  W.  Lutz  commenced  his  labors  with  the  church  in  October 
of  1904.  He  set  to  work  building  up  the  congregation  of  his 
church  and  during  the  great  revival  campaign,  conducted  by 
"Billy"  Sunday,  the  noted  CA'angelist,  in  the  spring  of  1906,  many 
members  Avere  added  to  the  church.  In  July  of  1906  the  old 
Avooden  church,  Avhich  had  done  service  for  twenty  years,  was  torn 
doAvn  to  make  room  for  the  present  building.  The  foundation  Avas 
started  in  September  of  that  year  and  the  work  Avas  in  progress 
for  tAvo  years.  The  beautiful  ncAV  edifice  Avas  dedicated  June  28, 
1908,  the  cost  of  the  structure  being  about  $40,000.  The  building 
is  of  the  Roman  style  of  architecture,  Avith  a  Greek  gable  to  the 
south  and  an  approach  of  fourteen  steps.  It  is  78x98  feet,  sur- 
mounted by  a  beautiful  art  glass  dome.  The  auditorium  occupies 
the  entire  main  floor,  AAdth  the  exception  of  vestibule,  choir  loft, 
choir  room  and  pastor's  study.  It  Avill  seat  800  people  and  has  a 
gallery  seating  400,  making  an  entire  seating  capacity  of  1,200. 
The  building  is  practically  fireproof,  Avith  nothing  A\'hich  could 
burn  except  the  furniture,  AvoodAvork  and  OA^erlying  floor.  The 
basement,  which  is  finished  in  white  brick,  contains  an  assembly 
room  seating  300,  around  Avhich  are  eleven  class  rooms.  There  are 
also  laA'atories,  cloak  rooms,  dining  room,  kitchen  and  boiler  room. 
The  fuel  house  is  outside  the  church. 

Rev.  Lutz  remained  AA-ith  the  church  here  until  1909,  at  Avhich 
time  he  moved  to  Minneapolis,  and  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Stout,  of  the  St. 
Paul  district,  Avas  called  to  serve  the  Austin  congregation.  He  is  a 
broad-minded  man,  of  executive  influence,  firm  in  his  purpose  to 
administer  to  the  Avants  of  his  pulpit.  Dr.  Stout  Avas  born  in  the 
hamlet  of  Potter,  Yates  county,  Ncav  York,  from  Avhere  at  the  age 
of  five  he  moved  into  the  state  of  loAva  and  attended  the  country 
schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  NortliAvestern  Uni- 
versity, at  Avhich  place  he  took  both  the  preparatory  and  regular 
university  courses,  and  graduated  1875.  Upon  leaving  college  he 
.ioined  the  Illinois  conference  and  preached  at  a  number  of  places, 
including  Pittsfield,  Springfield,  Quiney,  Danville  and  Blooming- 
ton.     After  the  last  named  place  he  removed  to  Minnesota,  1887, 


262  mSTOUY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

aud  served  the  Clinton  Avenue  Church,  St.  Paul,  afterward  the 
First  Church  of  Minneapolis ;  also  at  Mankato  and  Red  Wing,  and 
thence  again  to  St.  Paul,  from  which  place  he  Avas  called  to  Austin. 

The  church  continues  to  flourish  and  many  societies  are  in 
prominence,  the  Woman's  Home  Missionar.y  Society,  the  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  Ladies'  Aid,  the  Priscillas,  the  Young  Men's 
Club,  and  Sunday  school,  of  which  last  named  Roy  Furtney  is 
superintendent. 

Presbyterian  Church.  In  1867  Rev.  H.  A.  Mayhew  visited  Aus- 
tin for  the  special  purpose  of  looking  up  Presbyterians  who  had 
not  connected  themselves  with  any  church  organization.  He  col- 
lected a  number  together  and  preached  to  them  at  such  times  as  he 
could  procure  a  room.  August  20,  1867,  he,  assisted  by  Rev.  Shel- 
don Jackson,  by  authority  of  the  Presbytery  of  Southern  Minne- 
sota, organized  the  first  Presbyterian  church  of  Austin.  On  the 
20th  of  October,  1867,  Rev.  Mayhew  organized  the  society  into  a 
business  meeting,  which  elected  the  following  board  of  trustees : 
Ira  Jones,  Lyman  A.  Sherwood,  James  C.  Day,  T.  W.  Woodard 
and  Joseph  G.  "Warner.  The  board  organized  by  electing  Ira 
Jones  chairman,  L.  A.  Sherwood  clerk  and  James  C.  Day  treas- 
urer. The  congregation  authorized  the  trustees  to  purchase  a  lot 
and  erect  a  suitable  house  of  worship.  This  they  did,  and  pur- 
chased property  on  the  corner  of  North  St.  Paul  street  and  West 
]\Iill  street,  and  in  the  spring  of  1868  erected  the  house  of  worship 
where  June  11,  1868,  the  congregation  met  and  elected  George 
Johnston  and  Robert  F.  Rankin  ruling  elders.  On  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  the  same  month  the  church  edifice  was  dedicated  to  the 
services  of  God,  the  dedicatorial  sermon  being  preached  by  Rev. 
Sheldon  Jackson.  At  the  close  of  the  service  $500  was  raised  by 
subscription  to  pay  off  the  church  debt.  At  that  time  the  mem- 
bership numbered  seventeen,  with  Rev.  H.  A.  Mayhew  as  pastor. 
This  building  is  now  used  by  the  Grand  Ai'ray  of  the  Republic. 
However,  the  Presbyterian  cause  grew  dimmer  and  not  until  the 
fall  of  1877  did  it  show  much  progress.  In  that  year  the  Pres- 
bytery of  AYinona  revived  the  organization,  changing  the  site  to 
the  Third  ward,  placing  in  charge  Rev.  D.  P.  Grosscup,  who  re- 
mained four  years.  During  1890  a  building  was  erected  there, 
and  after  a  long  effort  was  paid  for.  Following  Rev.  Grosscup 
was  Rev.  Llewellyn  for  two  years.  1891  to  1893.  In  March.  1894, 
Rev.  William  Henry  Hormel  came  to  Austin  and  during  his  pas- 
torate the  organization  of  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church  was 
projected,  and  January  24,  1895,  the  new  organization  was 
launched.  ]\rcanwhile  the  Third  ward  church  Avas  closed  and  the 
mcml)ers  invited  to  join  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church.  After 
the  starting  of  the  neAV  Baptist  church  by  that  denomination  the 
old  one  framed  in  native  oak  was  purchased  and  removed  to  the 


HISTORY  OF  JIOWER  COUXTY  2G3 

corner  of  West  Water  and  North  St.  Paul  streets.  It  was  remod- 
eled and  became  the  church  home  of  the  new  organization.  Mr. 
Ilormel  ministered  to  this  church  continuallj^  until  December, 
1900.  During  his  term,  of  service  the  church  grew  rapidly  and 
prSmised  speedily  to  develop  into  a  strong  church.  The  next 
minister  was  Rev.  Rhinehart,  who  began  his  labors  February  1, 
1900,  resigning  November  1  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Rhinehart  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  B.  H.  Kroeze,  who  served  as  stated  supply 
from  March  1,  1901,  to  January  1,  1903.  After  a  vacancy  of  .three 
months,  Rev.  Arthur  B.  Miller  became  pastor  April,  1903,  and  re- 
signed January  1,  1904.  A  vacancy  of  six  months  followed.  July 
1,  1904,  Rev.  T.  M.  Cornelison  began  as  pastor,  resigning  November 
1.  1905. 

The  chiirch.  weakened  by  vacancies  and  short  pastorates, 
racked  with  dissensions,  which  naturally  arise  under  such  condi- 
tions, was  illy  prepared  to  endure  another  six  months  without  a 
minister.  It  was  a  dreary  outlook,  when  March  1,  1906,  Rev. 
AVilliam  E.  Sloan,  Ph.  D.,  took  charge.  In  seven  months  the  or- 
ganization grew  to  a  solid  membei'ship  of  205.  In  addition  to  the 
splendid  growth  a  new  house  of  worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
.$15,000.  Rev.  Sloan  resigned  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  J.  C. 
Davis,  who  remained  a  time,  and  since  his  leaving  the  church  has 
been  without  a  pastor.  The  societies  represented  in  the  church  are 
the  "Woman's  Missionary,  Ladies'  Aid,  Help-a-Man  Brotherhood, 
and  the  Sunday  school. 

Christian  Science.  The  birth  of  Christian  Science  in  Austin 
Avas  in  the  year  1889,  when  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Engle,  who  was  tlieu 
an  invalid,  hearing  of  its  wonderful  cures,  procured  a  copy  of  its 
text-book.  Science  and  Health,  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,  by 
]\Iary  Baker  Eddy,  the  discoverer  and  founder  of  Christian 
Science.  She  was  soon  healed  of  all  her  ailments  and  began  to 
hold  regular  services  in  her  own  home  with  only  a  few  members 
of  the  family  for  audience.  This  was  continued  for  three  years, 
with  two  or  three  others  becoming  interested.  In  the  spring  of 
1893  interest  had  grown  sufficiently  to  enable  this  little  band  to 
form  a  class  for  Christian  Science  teaching  by  one  of  ]\Irs.  Eddy's 
loyal  students.  These  students  organized  a  Christian  Science 
society  and  held  regular  services  in  the  Engle  home  until  the 
year  1896,  when  the  growth  of  the  society  demanded  larger 
quarters  and  a  more  public  meeting  place.  The  Woodman  hall 
on  Main  street  was  rented  for  this  purpose.  In  1897  the  .society 
organized  into  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  according  to  the 
statutes  of  the  state  of  Minnesota  and  in  conformity  with  the 
rules  and  l)y-laws  of  the  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Boston, 
]Mass.  There  were  five  charter  mcml)ers.  Francis  A.  Engle,  Mrs. 
Mary  A.   Engle,   :\Irs.   Uu-inda   Bm-k,   .Miss   Isabell   Pliillii)s   and 


■2(U  HISTOIJY  OF  MOAYEK  COU^'TY 

Robert  AVaddell.  At  the  first  communion,  which  was  held  in 
April  of  the  same  year,  twelve  new  members  were  admitted. 
Early  in  1898  a  move  was  made  to  the  Hayes  Bros,  hall,  which 
was  better  fitted  for  religions  services.  Another  move  was  made 
in  1900  to  the  Elks'  neAv  hall,  Main  street,  which  was  finely 
located  and  beautifully  finished  and  furnished.  Public  reading 
rooms  were  opened  in  the  same  building.  In  the  year  1905  the 
church  edifice  on  Maple  street  was  purchased  from  the  Univer- 
salists  for  a  church  home.  At  that  date  the  membership  num- 
bered between  fifty  and  sixty.  The  consideration  for  this  prop- 
erty was  $2,500  and  they  proceeded  at  once  to  refurnish  it 
entirely,  within  and  without,  until  it  reached  its  present  valua- 
tion of  $5,000.  From  the  date  of  its  organization,  1898,  to  1911 
this  church  has  given  thirteen  free  public  lectures  by  members 
of  the  board  of  lectureship  of  the  mother  church,  the  First  Church 
of  Christ,  Scientist,  Boston,  ]\Iass.  According  to  the  rules  and 
by-laws  of  the  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Boston,  Mass., 
"The  Bible  and  the  Christian  Science  text-book  are  our  only 
preachers."  The  "scriptural  texts,  and  their  correlative  pas- 
sages from  our  denominational  text-book"  are  read  by  first  and 
second  readers,  elected  by  ballot  at  the  annual  church  meeting. 
At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Christian  Science  Society, 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Engle  was  first  reader  and  John  C.  Engle  second 
reader.  At  the  present  time  (1911)  the  first  reader  is  Mrs.  Etta 
M.  Ousley  and  ]Mrs.  Anna  Franklin  is  second  reader. 

It  is  not  the  custom  of  Christian  Science  churches  to  dedicate 
their  churches  until  free  from  all  indebtedness.  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Austin,  Minn.,  is  now  free  from  all  financial  incumbrances 
and  announcement  has  been  made  for  its  dedication  on  May  21, 
1911. 

Christian  Brotherhood.  The  Christian  Brotherhood  is  an  inter- 
denominational organization  composed  of  some  600  men.  Its  pur- 
pose is  to  upbuild  the  kingdom  of  God  in  the  most  practical  and 
effective  manner  possible  and  tends  to  promote  a  feeling  of 
brotherly  love  and  co-operation.  It  is  purely  a  laymen's  organi- 
zation. Meetings  are  held  every  Sunday  afternoon  in  Music  Hall. 
The  officers  are :  A.  M.  Lewis,  president ;  F.  H.  McCulloch,  vice- 
president  ;  L.  H.  Stefflre,  secretary ;  E.  A.  Dalager,  treasurer,  and 
it  is  governed  by  an  executive  committee  composed  of  two  lay 
members  of  each  church. 

CARNEGIE  LIBRARY. 

Tlie  Austin  Carnegie  Lil)rary  is  one  of  the  important  features 
of  Austin  life.  The  library  building  is  of  the  Grecian  style  of 
architecture,  one  story,  with  basement  throughout.    It  is  built  of 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  ^65 

Bedford  (Indiana)  buffstoue,  with  stone  cornice  and  roofing.  All 
the  roof  valleys  and  gutters  are  of  copper. 

The  building  measures  56  by  56  feet.  The  main  entrance  is 
from  the  corner,  facing  northeast,  the  vestibule,  the  lobby  and  the 
stack  room  running  continuously  across  the  building,  diagonally  to 
the  southwest  corner.  On  entering  one  comes  first  into  the  spacious 
vestibule  16  by  16,  with  floor  of  terrazzo  tile  and  Mosa'ic  border. 
The  lobby,  20x20  feet,  is  in  the  center  of  the  building,  with  desk 
at  the  further  end.  The  book  stack  room,  20  by  20  feet,  is  in  the 
southwest  corner.  East  of  the  lobby  is  the  main  reading  room,  15 
by  30,  fronting  along  St.  Paul  street.  A  reference  room,  14x14 
feet,  is  on  the  south  side  between  the  reading  room  and  the  stack 
room,  and  on  the  north  side  is  the  children's  room,  15  by  24.  The 
librarian  also  has  a  private  room.  The  whole  interior  is  in  quar- 
tered oak,  and  the  floors  throughout  are  covered  with  heavy  lino- 
leum. The  basement  contains  a  large  audience  room,  as  well  as 
smaller  rooms.  In  addition  to  the  main  entrance  there  is  a  side 
entrance  on  the  northwest  corner. 

Frank  I.  Crane,  the  first  president  of  the  library  board,  served 
until  his  death  in  1909.  A.  S.  Campbell,  then  vice-president,  was 
elected  president  in  1910.  The  present  librarian,  Mrs.  Flora 
Crane  Conner,  has  served  since  the  building  was  opened.  She 
received  her  training  in  the  University  of  Minnesota  summer 
school.  The  library  contains  some  7,000  volumes,  appropriately 
divided  into  reference  books,  fiction,  biogi-aphy,  literature,  travel 
and  history. 

Historical  summary :  On  March  16,  1869,  twelve  ladies,  as  has 
been  noted  in  the  history  of  the  social  activities  of  the  city,  met 
and  organized  the  society  known  as  the  Austin  Floral  Club.  They 
adopted  a  constitution  and  by-laws  and  elected  officers.  Meetings 
were  held  semi-monthly  and  the  annual  membership  fee  was  25 
cents.  Austin  was  then  a  village  of  some  2,040  inhabitants.  The 
first  money  received  was  expended  for  plants  and  seeds  with 
which  to  beautify  the  village  homes  and  develop  a  taste  for  flori- 
culture. Their  marked  success  in  this  encouraged  them  to  give  a 
floral  show  together  with  a  literary  entertainment  and  concert, 
from  which  they  realized  $100,  which  was  expended  for  books. 
One  hundred  and  twenty-three  volumes  were  received  by  donation. 
Thus  with  about  225  volumes  the  ladies  laid  the  foundation  for. 
the  Austin  Circulating  Library.  November  9,  1869,  the  library  was 
formally  opened.  The  constitution  and  by-laAvs  of  the  Floral  club 
were  amended  so  as  to  constitute  it  a  library  association ;  a  charter 
Avas  secured  and  the  membership  fee  increased  to  $1.  The  by- 
laws were  subsequently  amended  making  $2  the  annual  fee  for  the 
use  of  the  library  by  persons  not  members  of  the  association.  The 
club  then  had  a  membership  of  fifty.    The  ladies  for  many  years, 


266  HISTORY  OP  MOWER  COUNTY 

through  literaiy  entertaiuments,  concerts,  lectures  and  the  like, 
made  constant  additions  to  the  library  by  the  purchase  of  books 
and  through  the  donations  from  the  government  and  individuals. 
]\Iarch  28,  189-4,  was  observed  the  silver  anniversary  of  the  club. 
The  records  showed  that  there  had  been  227  members  up  to  that 
date.  Upon  completion  of  the  new  court  house  in  1886  a  room 
in  the  basement  was  fitted  up  and  set  apart  by  the  county  com- 
missioners for  the  use  of  the  library,  Avhere  the  library  has  re- 
mained until  removed  to  the  new  library  building.  For  some  time 
the  members  had  been  actively  engaged  endeavoring  to  found  a 
new  public  library.  At  the  solicitation  of  its  members,  acting 
through  W.  G.  Cameron,  they  received  a  proposition  from  the  Hon. 
Andrew  Carnegie  to  donate  to  the  city  of  Austin  $12,000  to  be 
used  in  the  construction  of  a  library  building  on  condition  that 
the  city  donate  a  proper  site  for  the  building  and  agree  to  raise  a 
tax  of  $1,200  a  year  to  maintain  and  keep  up  a  library.  While  the 
proposition  was  being  considered,  Lyman  D.  Baird  made  a  trip 
to  Washington  and  secured  an  interview  with  Mr.  Carnegie's  rep- 
resentatives. Later  the  donation  of  Mr.  Carnegie  Avas  increased 
to  $15,000  for  the  erection  of  the  library  building. 

On  November  1,  1901,  the  common  council  of  the  city  of  Austin 
accepted  the  generous  gift  of  Mr.  Carnegie  and  agreed  to  annually 
levy  a  tax  of  $1,200  and  also  set  apart  the  lots  on  the  corner  of  St. 
Paul  and  Bridge  streets  for  a  site. 

On  July  19,  1902,  a  library  board  was  elected  at  an  election 
held  for  that  purpose.  The  board  elected  was  organized  July  23, 
1902.  The  board  took  the  necessary  steps  to  procure  plans  and 
specifications  and  immediately  thei'eafter  commenced  the  construc- 
tion and  erection  of  our  present  beautiful  library  building.  The 
building  was  completed  in  April,  1904.  Upon  completion  of  the 
building  the  Floral  club  turned  over,  without  cost  to  the  library, 
about  3,500  volumes. 

AUSTIN  CLUBS. 

(By  Jennie  G.  Keith.) 

Austin  is  pre-eminently  a  social  town.  Not  only  is  there  a  club, 
society  or  coterie  for  every  class,  age  and  condition  of  residents, 
but  it  would  be  hard  to  find,  in  places  twice  the  size  of  Austin,  so 
many  hospitable  homes  and  accompli.shed  hostesses  where  enter- 
tainment is  so  royal.  Good  cheer  and  hospitality  are  among  the 
first  articles  of  the  creed  of  Austinites.  Strangers  soon  find  their 
social  status  where  they  are  most  at  home  with  congenial  com- 
panions and  find  the  entertainment  which  they  most  enjoy.  Every 
one  of  our  many  diurches  have  their  own  particular  societies, 
where  members  may  enjoy  the  social  life  which  the  church  fur- 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  267 

iiishes.  For  those  who  desire  study  there  are  reading  eireles  and 
clubs  in  which  the  membership  is  not  limited  and  where  one  can 
follow  his  own  particular  line  of  study  with  intelligent,  able  lead- 
ers. Those  who  turn  to  works  of  charity  and  find  their  chief 
pleasure  in  lending  a  helping  hand  can  find  societies  of  this  nature 
already  organized,  where  they  will  be  Avelcomed  as  workers.  Those 
who  look  to  society  for  recreation  and  enjoyment  can  surely  find  a 
place  in  the  score  or  more  of  purely  social  clubs  of  our  city. 

Austin  is  distinctively  a  home-keeping  city.  The  ladies  since 
the  earliest  days  have  taken  their  share  in  all  public  movements, 
and  in  fact  many  improvements  have  been  inaugurated  by  the 
ladies,  unassisted  by  the  sterner  sex.  But  Austin  is  not  a  club 
city.  The  women  are  domestic,  and  care  for  clubs  not  from  a 
liking  for  club  life  but  simply  for  the  work  which  the  clubs  may 
accomplish.  Consequently  we  do  not  find  in  Austin  that  multi- 
jilicity  of  clubs  which  is  criticised  in  some  places. 

There  arc  but  two  federated  clubs  in  the  city.  Some  organiza- 
tions have  sprung  into  being  as  the  women  have  seen  the  neces- 
sity for  effort  along  particular  lines,  and  have  been  allowed  to  die 
out  when  the  work  which  called  them  into  existence  has  been 
accomplished.  Others,  however,  are  still  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion. 

The  first  women's  movement  in  Austin  was  an  effort  in  1856  to 
keep  the  general  merchants  from  illegally  selling  whisky,  and  the 
Avomen  pledged  themselves  not  to  patronize  the  merchants  who 
refused  to  sign  a  resolution  promising  not  to  sell  intoxicants. 
A  regular  temperance  organizatioji  was  perfected  by  the  women 
in  1857.  The  next  women's  movement  of  consequence  was  the 
organization  of  the  Mite  Society  on  February  1,  1862.  This  society 
was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  and  improving  a  ceme- 
tery plot.  Many  ladies'  aid  societies  were  also  organized  at  an 
early  day. 

An  event  of  historic  importance  to  Austin  took  place  in  March. 
1869.  when  the  Floral  Club  was  organized.  This  club  is  still  in 
existence  and  has  affiliated  with  the  IMinnesota  Federation  of 
"Women's  Clubs.  The  other  federated  club  in  Austin  is  the  Art 
and  Travel  Club.  Another  women's  organization  is  the  Era  Club, 
which  affiliates  with  the  National  federation. 

The  Stoddard  and  St.  Augustine  Reading  clubs  hold  interest- 
ing meetings.  The  Sunshine  Society,  which  is  independent  of  the 
state  society,  has  done  much  in  a  charitable  way ;  the  Y.  "W.  C.  A. 
is  working  for  the  young  ladies,  and  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  is  aggressively 
engaged  in  temperance  activities.  The  Esperanto  Club  has  at- 
tracted considerable  attention,  and  the  High  School  Alumni  Asso- 
ciation and  the  Birthday  Club  have  been  pleasant  and  important 
social  factors.    Two  organizations  among  the  high  school  boys,  the 


268  IllSTOUY  OF  :\I()\VEi;  COI'XTY 

Duodecim  and  the  Kuights  of  the  Round  Table,  have  done  much 
to  advance  literary  interest  among  the  younger  portion  of  the 
population. 

Youngf  Women's  Christian  Association.  In  1906  a  Y.  W.  C.  A. 
was  perfected  in  Austin,  ]\Irs.  Charles  L.  West  being  one  of  the 
prime  movers  in  the  organization.  Neat  and  attractive  rooms  were 
fitted  up,  and  these  have  served  as  rest  rooms  for  people  in  the 
city  and  from  the  country  as  well  as  a  place  for  social  and  re- 
ligious gatherings  by  the  young  ladies.  In  1906  there  were  275 
members,  with  forty  in  the  Bible  class.  A  year  later  the  member- 
ship Avas  250,  and  still  a  year  later  it  was  200.  In  1909  it  had 
dropped  to  150,  and  that  year  a  general  secretary,  Miss  Ruby  St. 
Amour,  was  engaged.  The  membership  is  now  540,  and  the  work 
is  in  a  most  flourishing  condition.  The  Philathea  Bible  class  has  a 
large  membership,  and  the  gymnasium  classes  under  a  special 
physical  director  are  well  attended.  Monthly  Sunday  vesper  serv- 
ices are  held,  and,  aside  from  work  along  the  regular  lines,  life 
talks  are  given  and  information  is  imparted  in  domestic  science, 
household  art,  home  nursing,  and  other  subjects.  Mrs.  C.  L.  West 
was  president  until  1910,  when  the  present  president,  Mrs.  F.  I. 
Crane,  was  elected.  The  other  officers  are :  Vice-president,  Mrs. 
AV.  R.  Terry;  treasurer,  Helen  S.  Banfield;  secretary,  Mrs.  M.  J. 
Sorflaten;  county  secretary,  Gertrude  B.  Sly.  Work  has  been 
done  toward  perfecting  a  county  organization,  with  a  view  to 
special  work  in  the  villages  and  rural  districts. 

The  Ladies'  Floral  Club.  This  club  has  been  an  important 
factor  in  the  literary,  social  and  moral  development  of  Austin, 
and  is  worthy  of  more  extended  mention  than  can  be  given  it  in 
this  volume.  Its  concerts  and  entertainments  have  been  a  part 
of  the  history  of  Austin,  and  many  public  movements  have  re- 
sulted directly  from  its  efforts.  March  16,  1869,  twelve  ladies 
met  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Orlenzer  Allen  and  organized  the  Austin 
Floral  Club.  The  following  were  the  original  members :  ]\Irs. 
H.  I.  Parker.  Mrs.  M.  J.  Mayhew,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Morse.  Mrs.  Q.  A. 
Truesdell,  Mrs.  H.  A.  Davidson,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Brownson,  Mrs.  M.  S. 
Lamoreaux,  ]\Irs.  A.  E.  Allen.  Mrs.  C.  C.  Crane,  Mrs.  L.  A. 
Sherwood,  Mrs.  J.  G.  Warner,  Mrs.  P.  I.  Sargent,  and  Miss  A.  J. 
Lowry.  Mrs.  E.  M.  Morse  will  ever  be  venerated  as  the  real  in- 
stigator of  the  club.  She  was  a  great  lover  of  nature,  and  the 
club  was  the  result  of  her  proposition  that  the  ladies  assist  in 
developing  a  taste  for  horticulture  and  floriculture.  ]\Irs.  Morse 
was  the  first  president  and  IMrs.  F.  A.  Brownson  the  first  secre- 
tary. The  .season  was  favorable  for  flowers  and  it  Avas  decided 
to  give  a  floral  show,  and  with  the  proceeds  therefrom  to  lay  .the 
foundation  for  a  Ladies'  Circulating  Library.  The  shoAV  ex- 
tended  several    days,   and   truly   beautiful   displays   of   flowers 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COFXTY  5^6?) 

-were  made.  Books  were  purchased  with  the  proceeds,  and  many- 
were  donated,  so  that  November  9,  1869,  the  library  of  225  vol- 
umes was  formally  opened  in  the  old  court  house,  southwest  of 
the  present  court  house.  During  the  next  few  years  entertain- 
ments of  various  sorts  were  held  to  provide  funds.  Mrs.  J.  N. 
Wheat,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Davidson  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  King  each  in  turn 
opened  her  hovise  to  receive  the  books  and  to  serve  as  librarian. 
In  1884  the  library  was  moved  to  quarters  in  the  basement  of 
the  present  court  house.  The  first  regular  librarian  was  Miss 
Sarah  Beatty,  who  afterward  became  Mrs.  J.  R.  Webb.  She  was 
followed  by  Mrs.  H.  H.  Kent,  who  served  for  many  years.  Mrs. 
Morse  served  as  president  thirty-tAvo  years.  Her  work  lives  in 
the  hearts  of  her  associates.  Mrs.  F.  A.  Brownson  and  Mrs. 
Sarah  L.  Davidson  served  many  years  as  secretary.  Mrs.  Gibson 
was  for  ten  years  treasurer  and  eight  years  chairman  of  the 
hook  committee.  Mrs.  L.  A.  Sherwood  gave  much  time  and  effort 
in  the  early  years  in  arranging  for  concerts  and  musicals.  Others 
who  assisted  in  many  ways  were  the  Mesdames  N.  P.  Austin, 
O.  Ayers,  E.  B.  Crane,  J.  F.  Cook,  C.  H.  Coates,  H.  H.  Kent,  D.  B. 
Johnson  and  many  others.  The  club  was  federated  in  1908  and 
Mrs.  0.  H.  Hegge  is  the  president.  The  club  celebrated  its  silver 
anniversary  in  1894.  As  the  work  of  the  library  increased  the 
bui'den  became  too  heavy  for  the  Floral  club  to  carry  alone  and 
in  1892,  at  the  request  of  the  ladies,  a  library  board  of  the  city 
of  Austin  was  elected.  When  the  Carnegie  Library  opened  in 
1904  the  ladies  turned  over  3,500  volumes. 

Art  and  Travel  Club.  This  club  was  organized  in  1903  for 
the  purpose  of  mutual  improvement,  a  prime  mover  in  the  or- 
ganization being  Mrs.  L.  D.  Baird.  The  club  is  limited  to  thirty 
members  and  meetings  are  held  twice  a  month  at  the  home  of  one 
of  the  members.  At  each  meeting  papers  are  read  prepared  by 
various  members  and  roll  call  is  responded  to  by  some  current 
event  item.  The  club  has  taken  up  for  study  the  important  cities 
of  the  United  States,  the  West  Indies  and  South  America,  Eng- 
lish cathedral  towns,  English  history,  London  and  vicinity,  the 
British  empire.  The  present  year  the  club  is  engaged  in  study 
of  the  Mediterranean  countries.    Mrs.  J.  H.  Skinner  is  president. 

Era  Club.  The  Era  Club,  whose  members  are  of  the  opinion 
tliat  the  name  is  more  attractive  than  "The  Woman  Suffrage" 
club,  is  devoted  to  political  equality.  It  was  founded  by  Miss 
Laura  Gregg,  of  Kansas,  national  organizer,  ten  years  ago.  Miss 
Gregg  was  accompanied  to  Austin  and  otlier  points  by  Rev.  Ida 
C.  Hultin.  The  women  of  all  the  Austin  churches  were  invited 
to  attend  and  meetings  were  held  in  the  afternoon  and  evening 
in  an  edifice  since  used  as  a  Christian  Science  church.  Mrs. 
Boostrom  was  elected  president  when  the  club  was  formed  and 


2'*<0  lUSTOliY  OF  :\I()\VEH  COUXTY 

served  in  the  executive  capacity  seven  years.  ]\Irs.  John  D. 
Smith  is  now  serving  as  president.  •  The  club  has  entertained  the 
state  suffrage  convention  twice  in  its  history  and  its  influence  is 
wide. 

A  prominent  member  is  jNIrs.  Lizzie  Catherwood,  through 
whose  efforts  the  local  end  of  the  organization  was  brought  to  a 
successful  issue  ten  years  ago.  At  the  monthly  meetings,  held 
throughout  the  year  at  the  homes  of  members,  the  attendance  is 
notably  large,  particularly  at  the  evening  meetings.  Lawyers, 
ministers,  teachers  and  newspaper  Avriters  have  addressed  the 
meetings  from  time  to  time  and  the  influence  of  the  suffragists  is 
brought  to  bear  on  all  visitors.  The  club  membership  numbers 
157.  Its  aim  is  to  create  interest  in  political  equality  for  women 
and  it  takes  a  part  in  all  efforts  to  advance  the  interests  of 
women  and  childi'cn.  It  has  invariably  sent  delegates  to  the 
state  convention,  and  occasionally  to  the  national  convention. 

Esperanto  Club.  The  Esperanto  Club  has  been  organized 
several  years  and  has  numbered  a  considerable  membership.  Dr. 
F.  E.  Daigneau,  who  was  instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the 
club,  and  who  has  been  president  since  it  was  organized,  has  re- 
ceived a  preliminary  diploma  and  advanced  diploma,  and  is  first 
vice-president  of  the  American  Esperanto  Association.  Consider- 
able foreign  correspondence  has  been  the  result  of  the  study  of 
this  universal  language. 

The  Duodecim.  The  Duodecim  Society  is  composed  of  young 
men  in  and  graduates  from  our  high  school.  The  object  is  good 
fellowship,  self-improvement  and  development  along  the  lines  of 
debate  and  extemporary  speaking.  The  society  was  organized  in 
1903  and  is  limited  to  a  working  membership  of  twelve.  The 
alumni  members  are  formed  into  an  honorary  society,  which 
numbers  fifty.  The  society  meets  every  other  week  and  renders 
a  ju-ogram  consisting  of  two  or  three  papers  on  some  up-to-date 
topic  and  a  debate. 

An  elaborate  annual  l)an(|uet  is  one  of  the  features  of  the 
year's  woi"k. 

The  Knights  of  the  Round  Table  liave  an  organization  similar 
in  many  ways  to  tlie  Duodecim.  dating  from  1909.  They  were 
organized  for  the  development  of  the  young  men  mentally, 
morally  and  socially.  Tlieir  mcmljcrship  is  limited  to  thirteen. 
An  annufil  l)anquet  is  a  club  feature. 

The  Stoddard  Club.  The  Stoddard  Club  was  organized  in 
I90(),  ]\Irs.  P.  11.  Friend  being  one  of  the  prime  movers.  Since  its 
organization  it  has  been  engaged  in  the  reading  of  the  Stoddard 
Lectures.  Tlie  club  meets  every  other  Thursday  at  the  home  of 
some  one  of  tlie  members.  Two  readers  are  appointed  for  each 
meeting  and  a  rouiul  table  of  current  events  form  a  part  of  the 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEU  COUNTY  271 

program  of  each  meeting.  The  elub  has  given  to  the  public 
library  a  set  of  the  Stoddard  Lectures  and  a  copy  of  Zona  Gale's 
Pelleas  and  Etarre.  The  membership  is  not  limited.  ]\lrs.  \V.  II. 
Albertson  is  president  and  i\Irs.  J.  L.  Mitchell,  treasurer. 

St.  Augustine's  Reading  Circle.  St.  Augustine's  Reading 
Circle  is  a  societj'  of  women  composed  of  members  of  St.  Augus- 
tine's Catholic  Church,  who  have  organized  for  the  purpose  of 
study  especially  connected  with  their  faith.  They  were  organ- 
ized as  a  club  in  February,  1907,  with  Mrs.  T.  H.  Pridham  the 
first  president.  Their  work  consists  of  a  study  of  Stoddard's  Lec- 
tures, and  at  present  the  study  of  the  gospel  of  St.  John  and  the 
sacraments  and  commandments  of  the  church.  The  circle  meets 
the  second  Thursday  of  the  mouth  for  study  and  is  at  present 
under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  J.  Z.  Rogers  as  president.  There 
were  fourteen  charter  members  and  the  membership  has  been 
limited  to  that  number. 

Ladies  of  the  Hospital.  In  October,  1908,  a  number  of  ladies 
under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  R.  S.  Holmes  organized  an  auxiliary 
to  the  St.  Olaf  Hospital  Association.  The  original  membership 
was  seventeen;  it  is  now  100.  Few  if  any  societies  in  our  city 
have  accomplished  as  much  as  the  Ladies  of  the  Hospital.  During 
the  year  they  have  done  the  necessary  sewing  for  the  hospital, 
hemming  sheets,  pillow  cases  and  towels,  etc.  'They  have  fur- 
nished neatly  and  completely  a  room  in  the  hospital.  They  have 
purchased  a  wheeled  chair,  to  lighten  the  work  of  the  nui'ses. 
They  have  contributed  an  annual  gift  of  jellies  and  canned  goods 
to  the  hospital.  Through  their  efforts  and  leadership  a  fine  am- 
bulance, costing  nearly  .$1,000,  was  purchased  and  presented  to 
the  city,  a  place  provided  for  its  housing  and  the  society  has 
undertaken  keeping  it  in  repair.  The  object  of  the  society  is  to 
further  the  good  work  of  the  hospital  and  to  assist  the  nurses  in 
their  labor.     ]\Irs.  R.  S.  Holmes  is  president. 

Austin  High  School  Alumni  Association.  The  father  of  the 
Alumni  Association  is  L.  N.  McWhorter.  It  Avas  through  his  de- 
sire to  have  an  organization  that  Avould  be  helpful  from  a  social 
standpoint  in  keeping  the  interest  in  the  high  school  and  also 
through  his  energy  that  the  association  was  organized.  During 
the  summer  of  1894  he  made  a  house  to  house  canvas  of  the 
graduates.  Later  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  assembly  room  of  the 
high  school,  at  which  time  a  constitution  modeled  after  the  con- 
stitution of  the  General  Alumni  Association  of  ]Minneapolis  was 
presented  and  adopted. 

The  organization  meeting  was  held  in  the  high  school  assem- 
bly room,  July  13.  1894.  with  forty-three  charter  members.  The 
first  annual  mooting  was  held  at  the  Evergreen  Farm,  in  tlie 
suiniiicr  of  ISO.").     All   graduates  of  Iho   ,\ustiii  High   School  and 


272  HISTOl^Y  OF  MOWER  COUJCTY 

their  spouses  are  eligible  to  membership.  An  amaual  publication, 
the  Altruist,  is  issued.  The  presidents  of  the  association  have 
been  :  1895,  A.  0.  Dinsmoor ;  1896,  L.  M.  McWhorter ;  1897,  Wini- 
fred Ober  Reed;  1898,  Gertrude  Ellis  Skinner;  1899,  Ida  Eccel- 
ston  French;  1900,  Ada  Morgan  Crane;  1901,  Ida  Smith  Decker; 
1902,  Etta  Barnes  Decker ;  1903,  F.  W.  Greenman ;  1904,  George 
E.  Anderson;  1905,  Fred  C.  Ulmer;  1906,  Cecil  Freeman;  1907, 
Wallace  Gregson ;  1908,  Thaddeus  Thompson;  1909,  Chester 
Johnson;  1910,  Ralph  Crane;  1911,  J.  N.  Nicholsen. 

Birthday  Club.  The  club  in  Austin  which  has  had  perhaps 
the  most  unique  and  clever  social  programs,  and  which  is  distinc- 
tively social  in  its  function,  is  the  Birthday  Club,  founded  in 
1903  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  A.  M.  Smith.  The  membership  is  prac- 
tically Qomposed  of  young  married  people  and  the  programs  and 
meetings  occur  at  irregular  intervals,  depending  upon  the  circum- 
stances, the  main  one  of  Avhich  is  the  birthday  date  of  the  indi- 
vidual member. 

The  Civil  Improvement  League  has  done  much  toward  beauti- 
fying the  city,  planting  flowers  in  waste  places,  cleaning  up  alleys 
and  promoting  civic  pride.  Mrs.  Flora  Conner  and  Mrs.  W.  C. 
Holmes  were  instrumental  in  its  formation.  It  was  fostered  by 
the  Commercial  Club,  and  encouraged  by  the  work  of  the  State 
Federation  of  W^omen's  Clubs.  The  league  Avas  organized  in 
1910. 

Sunshine  Association.  Early  in  September  of  1907,  in  response 
to  a  suggestion  made  by  Mrs.  John  H.  Skinner,  the  Y.  W.  C.  A. 
undertook  the  distribution  of  clothing  and  other  necessities  to 
the  needy.  This  work  had  long  been  done  by  the  Herald,  but 
it  was  felt  that  closer  supervision  was  needed.  Mrs.  J.  E.  Robin- 
son, then  secretary  of  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  willingly  added  this  to  her 
other  duties.  The  Ladies'  Relief  Society  of  Austin  was  invited  to 
hold  its  meetings  in  the  rooms.  This  had  been  for  many  years  a 
splendid  organization  of  representative  women,  Avho  had  gener- 
ously ministered  to  the  needs  of  the  poor  and  imfortunate.  Owing 
to  illness,  death  or  removal  from  the  city  only  three  members  of 
the  organization  were  active  at  this  time,  and  the  working  force 
Avas  composed  almost  entirely  of  new  members.  At  the  annual 
meeting  in  April,  1908,  it  was  decided  to  change  the  name  of  the 
society  to  the  Sunshine  Association  of  Austin,  to  incorporate  and 
to  engage  a  general  secretary.     This  was  done  at  small  expense. 

The  society  has  about  fifty  members.  Meetings  for  work  are 
held  Thursday  afternoons  from  October  to  June,  although  many 
women  Avlio  wish  to  help  a  good  work  along  visit  the  rooms  on 
itliei'  ;ifternnf)ns.  where  Flora  Johnson,  the  secretary,  always 
hiis  AV(irl<    I'oi-  willing  Ii;inds. 


O.    II.    HK(iGK,   M. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  537:3 

A  vast  amount  of  work  has  been  done  by  this  organization. 
Many  comforters  have  been  made  and  distributed,  thousands  of 
gfarments,  new  and  partly  worn,  have  been  passed  on,  and  dozens 
of  complete  outfits  for  infants  have  been  made  and  given  to  des- 
titute mothers.  During  the  cold  months  an  average  of  200  gar- 
ments a  month  are  passed  on  by  charitable  persons  through  the 
agency  of  the  society.  An  average  of  ten  calls  a  week  is  made  by 
the  visiting  committee.  Every  cry  of  distress  that  comes  to  the 
ears  of  a  Sunshiner  is  quickly  investigated  and  relief  always 
given  to  helpless  women  and  little  children.  The  association 
has  been  enabled  to  do  this  work  by  financial  contributions  from 
the  Elks,  Masons,  Eagles,  Christian  Endeavorers  of  the  Congre- 
gational church,  a  lecture  by  Kev.  J.  F.  Budlong  and  generous 
gifts  from  other  friends  too  numerous  to  mention.  Last  June 
the  Herald  generously  otfered  the  society  rooms  rent  free,  and  the 
Smishine  headquarters  are  now  in  the  Herald  building.  At  the 
present  time  Mrs.  C.  L.  West  is  president ;  Mrs.  George  Sutton, 
vice-president;  Mrs.  P.  A.  Reilly,  secretary;  Mrs.  W.  R.  Terry, 
treasurer ;  and  Miss  Flora  Johnson,  general  secretary  of  the 
organization.  Too  much  credit  cannot  be  given  Mrs.  C.  L.  "West 
for  her  work  in  this  capacity.  Energetic,  capable  and  self-sacrific- 
ing, she  has  labored  in  every  good  cause  which  has  solicited  her 
attention,  and  her  name  is  beloved  in  the  many  households  which 
she  has  benefited. 

St.  Olav  Hospital  and  Training  School.  St.  Olav  Hospital  and 
Training  School  is  an  outgroAvth  of  a  private  hospital  conducted 
by  Drs.  Hegge  &  Hegge,  in  some  rented  rooms  over  the  Daily 
Register  office  in  Austin,  Minn.  Owing  to  the  rapid  gi'owth  and 
steadily  increasing  practice  of  these  physicians,  it  soon  became  ap- 
parent that  a  hospital  should  be  established  in  Austin  on  a  more 
permanent  basis,  and  Dr.  0.  H.  Hegge  accordingly  Avent  to  the 
aimual  meeting  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church,  assembled  at  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  in  June,  1896,  and  spoke  before  the  convention  of 
Lutheran  clergymen  about  his  plan  of  having  a  hospital  organ- 
ized in  Austin.  This  meeting,  however,  could  not  be  prevailed 
upon  to  take  any  direct  interest  in  the  establishment  of  this  hos- 
pital; but  a  special  meeting  of  some  of  the  local  clergymen  and 
some  of  the  interested  laymen  was  called,  and  Dr.  Hegge  did  not 
give  up  his  efforts  until  the  Austin  Hospital  Association  was 
formed  and  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state  of  IMinne- 
sota.  The  first  board  of  directors  was  elected  the  5th  day  of 
June,  1896,  as  follows :  Rev.  J.  Mueller  Eggen,  Lyle,  Minn.,  presi- 
dent; Rev.  S.  O.  Rondestvedt,  Grand  Meadow,  Minn.,  vice- 
president;  Rev.  E.  T.  Rogne,  Austin.  Minn.,  secretary  and  treas- 
U1-C1-.     P.  K.  Everson,  TTnstad,  Iowa;  L,  F.  Clausen,  .\ustiii.  Minn.. 


274  HISTOIJY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

and  Dr.  0.  H.  Hogge,  Austin,  ^Minu.,  Avere  the  other  members  of 
the  board  of  directors. 

The  Austin  Hospital  Association,  as  the  corporation  was  called, 
inmiediately  acquired  sufficient  ground  at  916  Lansing  avenue 
for  tlie  hospital  and  training  school.  Lena  Nelson,  a  Lutheran 
deaconess  from  Minneapolis,  -was  called  as  sister  in  charge,  and 
Drs.  O.  H.  and  C.  A.  Ilegge  constituted  the  regular  hospital  staff, 
although  the  hospital  also  opened  its  doors  to  all  regular  physi- 
cians and  surgeons  in  Austin  and  vicinity.  The  hospital  is  located 
in  the  best  residence  district  ip  Austin,  overlooking  the  banks 
of  the  Red  Cedar,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  business  center,  and 
removed  from  the  noise,  dust  and  smoke  of  the  factories  and 
railways. 

St.  Olav  Hospital  proved  a  success  from  the  start,  and  in  1910 
it  was  necessary  to  build  a  large  addition,  as  more  room  was 
needed  both  for  the  patients  and  for  the  training  school.  At  this 
time  two  new  operating  rooms  with  complete  surgical  equipment 
were  also  added,  as  well  as  a  fine  new  ambulance,  which  Avas 
donated  by  the  ladies  of  Austin. 

The  Corporation.  The  general  purpose  of  this  corporation, 
according  to  the  articles  of  incorporation,  "shall  be  the  owning, 
erecting,  maintaining  and  conducting  a  public  hospital  for  the 
medical  and  surgical  care  and  treatment  of  persons  afflicted 
with  disease,  admitted  as  patients  therein,  and  to  do  and  perform 
all  the  business  incident  and  necessary  to  the  successful  operation 
of  a  public  hospital.  The  corporation  is  organized  for  benevolent 
purposes  and  not  for  profit,  and  shall,  Avhen  able  to  do  so,  care  for 
and  nui'se  worthy  poor  patients  admitted  into  the  hospital  free 
of  charge.  The  location  of  said  hospital  shall  be  in  the  city  of 
Austin,  in  the  county  of  Mower,  in  the  state  of  Minnesota." 

^Membership.  A.  "Tlie  voting  members  of  this  association 
shall  be  members  of  any  Lutheran  church  who  shall  have  paid  a 
membership  fee  of  $5  and  an  annual  fee  of  $1.  No  member  shall 
have  more  than  one  vote.  B.  Lutheran  clergymen  in  and  about 
the  city  of  Austin,  Minn.,  shall  be  honorary  members  of  this  cor- 
poration, but  may  become  voting  members  In-  paying  tlie  fees  as 
prescribed  in  the  by-laws." 

The  board  of  directors  of  the  Austin  Hospital  Association  in 
1911  are:  Rev.  J.  A.  E.  Naess,  Austin,  Minn.,  president;  Rev. 
E.  0.  Hofstad,  Hayfield,  vice-president ;  W.  R.  Earl,  Austin,  Minn., 
secretary;  Gust.  Sehleuder,  Austin,  Minn.,  treasurer;  Rev.  0. 
Jolmson,  Blooming  Prairie,  Minn.,  and  Seymour  Johnson,  Austin, 
Minn.  Mr.  Jolmson  has  for  several  years  been  active  manager  of 
tlie  liospital.  and  under  his  careful  and  economical  business 
miinagi'iiient  llic  instilulion  has  greatly  prospered. 


C  A.  HIAAmE,  M.  h. 


ilSTUI.'Y   OF  MOWKi;  C'orX'I'V 


AUSTIN    SCHOOLS. 

The  first  public  school  in  Austin  was  organized  in  the  suinuier 
of  1856.  It  was  taught  by  Maria  Vaughan  in  a  log  house  which 
was  afterward  occupied  by  Ormanzo  Allen  for  a  dwelling.  It 
stood  on  the  north  side  of  Water  street,  where  James  Anderson '.s 
dwelling  was  afterward  erected.  The  following  winter,  school 
was  held  in  a  frame  dwelling,  remodeled  for  the  purpose,  on  Maple 
street,  southeast  of  where  the  Fleck  house  (occupied  by  the 
McCulloeh  Printing  Company)  now  stands.  Sarah  Bemis  was  the 
teacher.  The  third  term  of  school  was  taught  in  the  same  place 
by  Kate  Conkey.  The  next  move  was  made  to  the  old  "Head- 
quarters" in  a  room  Avhich  on  Sundays  was  used  for  church 
services.  This  school  was  taught  by  a  young  man  named  Saxon. 
About  this  time  Mr.  Pike  taught  in  the  Hunt  &  Bassford  building 
across  from  the  court  house.  "Headquarters"  was  the  place  of 
holding  school  till  1866,  Avhen  the  first  school  house  was  erected 
on  the  present  site  of  the  Public  library.  It  was  a  one-story,  two- 
room  brick  building  costing  $2,750.  It  was  later  used  by  the 
Methodist  church,  and  still  later  used  again  for  school  purposes. 
It  was  removed  to  make  room  for  our  fine  Carnegie  library  build- 
ing. After  the  fire  of  1890,  Marian  Miller,  now  Mrs.  E.  H. 
Sterling,  had  103  first  primary  pupils  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  this 
school  house.  Superintendent  Fitch  suggested  that  as  the  weather 
was  too  warm  to  need  a  fire,  the  children  might  be  put  in  the 
stove.  W.  T.  Mandeville  taught  the  first  school  therein,  com- 
mencing in  February,  1866.  In  1868  the  school  was  first  graded 
into  departments.  Other  teachers  in  this  building  during  the 
early  years  Avere  Mr.  Otis  and  daughter,  and  Miss  Davidson. 

In  1869  it  was  found  necessai'y  to  provide  more  school  room, 
and  a  fine  three-story  brick  structure  was  erected  on  the  block 
now  occupied  by  the  Franklin  high  school.  It  was  built  by  D.  J. 
Tubbs,  one  of  Austin 's  pioneers,  at  a  cost  of  $35,000.  It  was  not 
completed  till  1870.  September  12,  1870,  Mr.  Tubbs.  Avhile  at 
work,  fell  two  stories,  breaking  tAvo  ribs.  The  first  teachers  in 
this  building  Avere  Horace  L.  Strong,  superintendent.  ^Misses  E.  L. 
Eastman,  Eva  D.  Sherbondy,  Julia  Hobart,  Ella  Cook,  and  Loi 
Cook.  It  Avas  here  that  the  high  school  Avas  organized  by  Superin- 
tendent E.  BigeloAV,  and  Avhere  superintendents  taught  Avho  have 
since  achieved  success — James  J.  Doav,  superintendent  of  the 
State  School  for  the  Blind,  at  Faribault;  Judge  W.  W.  Keysor, 
professor  in  the  laAV  school  of  Washington  Universitj',  St.  Louis. 
Mo.;  A.  AV.  Rankin,  professor  in  the  ITniversity  of  ^linnesota. 
and  George  B.  Aiton.  state  high  school  inspector.  This  old  his- 
toric building  Avas  burned  April  28.  1890.    The  fire  broke  out  at 


276  IIISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  before  the  teachers  and  i^npils  had 
reached  the  building. 

The  present  Franklin  high  school  was  built  immediately  on 
the  same  site  and  was  opened  March,  1891.  It  Avas  remodeled  in 
1907  and  is  one  of  the  best  buildings  in  the  state. 

The  following  ward  schools  have  been  built :  Lincoln  school, 
in  the  third  word,  in  1887.  First  it  was  a  four-room  building.  In 
1893  two  rooms  were  added,  and  in  1907  two  rooms  more.  This 
school  house  was  burned  early  in  the  morning  of  January  8,  1909. 
A  beautiful  eight-room  brick  building  Avas  erected  on  the  same 
site  and  fitted  up  with  the  latest  and  best  school  house  equipment. 

The  Whittier,  a  two-room  school  at  the  south  bridge,  Avas 
built  in  1893. 

The  Webster,  a  one-room  school  east  of  the  Mihvaukee  tracks, 
was  opened  in  1891. 

The  Sumner,  a  four-room  brick  school  in  the  north  part  of  the 
city,  was  erected  in  1894. 

The  "Washington,  a  four-room  brick  school,  AA^as  erected  in 
1907.  It  is  across  the  road  from  the  high  school  building,  and  the 
entire  basement  is  occupied  by  the  high  school  gymnasium,  Avith 
shoAA^cr  baths  and  dressing  rooms.  It  is  heated  from  the  high 
school  plant. 

The  Franklin,  Lincoln,  Sumner  and  Washington  schools  haA'e 
fan  A^entilation.  The  Washington  building  is  unique  in  that  the 
heating  coils  and  fan  are  located  in  the  attic,  the  Avarni  fresh  air 
being  bloAA'u  doAA^n  instead  of  up,  as  is  usually  done.  The  build- 
ings are  all  in  first-class  condition  and  great  care  is  taken  to  keep 
them  clean  and  sanitary. 

The  people  of  Austin  have  ahvays  taken  great  pride  in  their 
school  and  have  not  been  satisfied  Avith  anything  but  the  best.  The 
first  class  to  graduate  from  the  high  school  Avas  in  1877.  It  con- 
sisted of  tAvo  members,  Rose  E.  Litchfield  and  Olie  Crane.  A  class 
lias  graduated  each  year  Avith  the  exception  of  1885.  The  total 
number  to  receive  diplomas,  including  the  class  of  1911,  is  621 — 
i48  girls  and  173  boys.  There  is  a  noticeable  increase  in  the  per- 
centage of  boys  in  the  classes  during  the  last  fcAV  years,  although 
the  class  of  1882  Avas  all  boys — Frederick  R.  CIoav,  Adelbert  0. 
Dinsmoor  and  Eugene  B.  Summy.  Many  have  attained  distinc- 
tion. The  leading  men  and  Avomen  of  Austin  are  numbered  among 
the  alumni.  A  large  number  have  finished  their  education  in 
liigher  institutions  of  learning  and  are  successful  in  the  various 
professional  and  business  lines. 

The  High  School  Alumni  Association  is  a  "live  Avire."  Among 
oilier  up-to-date  enterprises.  The  Altruist  deserves  special  men- 
tion. Tiie  tentli  issue  (June,  1910)  is  before  me.  It  is  a  twenty- 
fiv('-])agi'  annuiil  edited  by  Estella  Slaven,  Daisy  MaxAvell,  Helen 


HI8T0KY  OF  :\ro\vp:R  (orxTY  2rr 

Banfield  and  Wallace  Gregeson.  It  contains  history,  reminiscence, 
wit,  and  humor  which  every  alumnus  will  enjoy  and  appreciate 
more  and  more  as  the  years  roll  by.  The  alumni  association  is 
doing  much  to  form  and  keep  alive  school  spirit  and  interest. 

The  school  curricula  embrace  the  latest  in  educational  thought. 
Courses  are  offered  to  meet  any  demand,  whether  in  academic  or 
industrial  lines.  Athletics  and  gymnasium  work  is  encouraged  for 
the  purpose  of  developing  manly  and  womanly  qualities  and 
physical  health  and  vigor.  From  "Milestones  of  the  Austin  High 
School,"  in  The  Altruist,  I  quote:  1881,  the  first  laboratory 
started;  1888,  first  juniors'  reception  to  seniors;  1894,  alumni 
association  organized,  organization  of  the  first  football  team  (Mr. 
Selleck  organizer),  the  introduction  of  music  into  the  high  school 
curriculum;  1895,  first  alumni  banquet;  1896-7,  organization  of 
the  first  baseball  team;  1903,  first  eighth  grade  commencement 
year;  1906,  introduction  of  manual  training;  1907,  remodeling  of 
interior  of  high  school ;  1908,  domestic  science  finds  a  place  in  the 
course ;  1909,  a  high  school  gymnasium  opened,  forge  work  began, 
pottery  woi'k  introduced.  Alumni  Athletic  Association  formed. 

In  1909  the  Columbus  Parochial  School  was  opened  in  a  beauti- 
ful new  building,  Avith  an  enrollment  of  about  240  pupils.  In 
September  last  a  high  school  class  of  about  twenty-five  was 
formed. 

Our  public  school  enrollment  the  present  year  is  1,264,  263 
being  in  the  high  school.  Thirty-eight  teachers  are  employed. 
The  school  board  members  are :  H.  A.  Avery,  president ;  C.  I. 
Johnson,  clerk;  Alex  S.  Campbell,  treasurer;  Joseph  Keenan, 
C.  H.  Decker  and  George  Hirsh. 

Following  is  a  list  of  superintendents :  Horace  L.  Strong, 
about  1869-1874;  James  J.  Dow,  1874-1875;  E.  Bigelow,  1874-1879; 
W.  ^Y.  Keysor.  1879-1881 ;  A.  W.  Rankin,  1881-1884;  H.  L.  Gibson, 
1884-1885;  George  B.  Alton,  1885-1886;  E.  T.  Fitch,  1886-1891; 
AV.  E.  Aul,  1891-1892;  W.  F.  F.  Selleck,  1892-1901;  Andrew 
Nelson.  1901-1906;  George  A.  Franklin.  1906. 

SOUTHERN  MINNESOTA  NORMAL  COLLEGE, 
A  recent  writer  has  said  that  the  story  of  the  Soutliern  ^linne- 
sota  Normal  College  reads  like  a  romance.  The  first  conception 
of  such  an  institution  took  root  when  one  of  its  founders  was 
denied  the  privilege  of  going  to  school  because  of  not  having  the 
necessary  means  of  paying  his  tuition. 

Immediately  after  this  refusal  he  walked  down  and  out  of  the 
regi.stration  room  of  one  of  Illinois'  educational  in.stitutions,  and. 
pausing  a  moment  on  the  sidewalk,  shook  his  fist  at  the  president's 
window  and  said:  "I  will  have  an  institution  some  day  where 
any  boy  or  any  girl  can  go  to  school,  no  matter  how  poor  and  no 
matter  wliat  is  the  stage  of  their  advancement."    This  determi- 


2?8  niSTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

nation  finally  resulted  in  the  founding  of  the  Southern  Minnesota 
Normal  College  and  Austin  School  of  Commerce. 

In  1896,  Charles  E.  Boostrom  made  a  trip  to  Minnesota  to 
determine  upon  a  location  for  the  school,  visiting  Crookston,  Ked 
Wing,  Kenyon,  Detroit  and  other  promising  cities.  Upon  this 
trip  he  met  Dr.  E.  M.  Shelde,  who  was  at  that  time  conducting  a 
pi-ivate  normal  school  at  Kenyon.  Minn.  Professor  Boostrom 
became  acquainted  with  Dr.  Shelde  partly  through  correspond- 
ence and  partly  through  a  mutual  friend,  0.  G.  Jackman. 

On  March  16,  1897,  Dr.  Shelde,  Charles  R.  Boostrom  and  0.  G. 
Jackman  met  at  Kenyon,  Minn.,  and  drew  up  articles  of  agree- 
ment to  incorporate  and  found  a  school  somewhere  within  the 
boundary  of  the  state.  The  next  morning,  March  17,  found  them 
in  Austin,  ready  to  lay  their  proposition  before  the  city  council. 
The  late  Frank  I.  Crane,  who  was  at  that  time  mayor  of  Austin, 
immediately  called  a  meeting  of  the  city  council  and  of  the  citi- 
zens, to  hear  the  proposition  to  be  made.  Professor  Boostrom 
•was  chosen  to  set  forth  the  purposes  of  the  institution  to  be 
founded,  as  follows :  To  provide  an  institution,  first,  for  those 
poor  in  money  put  rich  in  intellect,  and  whose  early  education  had 
been  neglected.  Second,  for  teachers  who  had  had  little  time  to 
prepare  for  teaching  and  who  desired  to  raise  the  grade  of  their 
certificate.  Third,  for  those  who  desired  a  thorough  business  and 
shorthand  education,  and,  in  fact,  anyone,  no  matter  how  young 
or  how  old,  how  rich  or  how  poor,  who  desired  the  foundations 
of  an  education. 

Very  little  was  asked  from  the  city  except  that  five  acres  of 
land  should  be  provided  as  a  suitable  location  for  the  future  place 
and  that  the  school  should  be  given  quarters  rent  free  for  one 
year. 

Twenty  years  ago  the  schools  were  not  good  in  the  Nortli- 
Avest.  The  settlers  were  poor  and  unable  to  send  their  children  a 
long  distance  to  school.  As  a  result,  throughout  the  Northwest 
there  are  many  adults  Avho  possess  merely  the  rudiments  of  an 
English  education.  The  founders  of  Austin's  independent  normal 
school  had  the  idea  of  building  up  the  large  institution  by  pro- 
viding adult  classes  in  common  school  branches  for  the  class. 

The  following  committee  was  appointed  by  Mayor  F.  I.  Crane 
to  complete  arrangements  with  the  institution:  Gus  Schleuder, 
Dr.  II.  A.  Avery,  E.  W.  Doer,  George  Hirsh  and  Ira  Padden. 

The  citizens  of  Austin  readily  saw  that  such  an  institution, 
properly  and  carefully  managed,  Avould  become  a  great  factor 
in  the  development  of  their  town,  and  provided  temporary  quar- 
ters, in  Avhat  had  hocu  the  old  Flock  house,  for  the  new  school. 
Meager  indeed  were  llie  e(|uipnuMits,  and  perhaps  only  a  score 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY  279 

or  two  of  students  met  on  the  beginning  dny  of  the  first  session, 
September  21,  1897. 

When  the  proprietors  arrived  to  take  cliarge  of  the  work  the 
building  was  verj-  much  in  need  of  a  complete  renovation.  The 
citizens  of  Austin  delight  in  telling  how  Professor  Boostrom 
donned  a  pair  of  overalls  and,  procuring  a  spade,  proceeded,  him- 
self, to  dig  at  the  debris  that  obstructed  the  basement. 

From  the  very  beginning  the  growth  of  the  school  was  rapid. 
By  the  end  of  the  first  year  over  150  students  had  been  attracted 
by  the  excellent  instruction  and  the  moderate  cost  of  board,  room 
and  tuition. 

E.  ]\r.  Shelde  became  the  tirst  president,  Charles  R.  Boostrom, 
vice-president  and  treasurer,  while  Ole  Jackson  became  the  first 
secretary.  This  arrangement  continued  for  the  first  three  years, 
when,  on  account  of  the  failure  of  Dr.  Shelde 's  health,  he  retired 
from  the  corporation  and  Professor  Boostrom  succeeded  to  the 
presidency. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  year  the  college  company  erected  a 
small  frame  structure  on  a  tract  of  five  acres  of  land  given  it  by 
Albert  Galloway,  a  public-spirited  citizen  of  Austin.  The  fol- 
lowing summer  John  Harpman  erected  a  dormitory  and  boarding 
hall  for  the  use  of  the  college,  and  the  building  erected  soon 
proved  too  small  for  the  "baby  giant"  of  an  institution.  In  an 
inconceivably  short  time  the  attendance  had  doubled  and  had 
doubled  again  and  again,  students  coming  from  nearly  every 
northwestern  state,  for  here  they  had  found  the  place  where  worth, 
not  wealth,  where  industry,  not  raiment,  determined  their  posi- 
tion. The  student  body  consists  of  every  shade  of  religion  and 
of  political  belief  and  of  almost  every  nationality  under  the  sun, 
all  being  ciiltivated  and  educated  in  the  law-abiding  restraints 
which  distinguish  the  American. 

To  provide  quarters  for  the  rapidly  increasing  institution  the 
citizens  of  Austin  unanimously  voted  to  erect  and  equip  a  building 
to  accommodate  not  less  than  1,000  students.  This  was  but  three 
years  ago,  yet  so  rapidly  had  the  news  of  an  institution  of  this 
kind  spread  over  the  Xoi-fhwcst  that  the  facilities  are  already 
becoming  crowded. 

Perhaps  nothing  is  more  indicative  of  the  spirit  pervading  the 
institution  than  the  remark  made  to  the  committee  by  Professor 
Boostrom  when  the  new  building  was  under  discussion.  "Gentle- 
man." he  said,  "you  can't  give  us  this  l)uildiiig.  If  you  ])uild  the 
building  for  this  school  you  must  build  with  tlie  understanding  that 
we  shall  haA'c  the  privilege  of  paying  for  the  same  at  the  rate  of 
$1,000  a  year  until  the  debt  is  entirely  wiped  out.  Any  institution 
that  cannot  pay  its  way  in  the  world  isn't  fit  to  live." 

Perhaps  the  institution  would  not  have  been  possible  had  it 


280  HISTORY  OF  MOWP:i!  COUNTY 

not  been  for  the  tireless  and  constant  assistance  of  the  Avives  of 
its  proprietors  during  the  early  years  of  its  history — Mrs.  Shelde, 
Mrs.  Boostrom,  Mrs.  Harpman  and  Mrs.  Heilman — in  their  ambi- 
tion to  aid  their  respective  husbands  in  their  own  way  and  make 
the  institution  a  success.  In  the  class  room  and  also  at  the  bed- 
side of  sick  students  their  work  had  been  done,  and  well  done. 

The  students  are  scattered  all  over  the  United  States  from 
i\Iaine  to  California;  some  are  in  the  treasury  department  at 
AVashington;  one  has  recently  distinguished  himself  as  astron- 
omer at  the  United  States  observatory  at  Flagstaff,  Ariz. ;  two 
hundred  or  more  of  them  are  stenographers  and  bookkeepers  in 
the  Twin  Cities;  many  of  them  are  traveling  salesmen;  while 
hundreds  of  them  are  meeting  with  marked  success  as  teachers. 
For  instance,  one  young  man  who  Avas  Avorking  on  the  farm  for 
$15  a  month  six  years  ago  is  now  traveling  auditor  for  one  of  the 
largest  lumber  companies  in  the  Northwest.  Two  others  have 
charge  of  the  Chicago  branch  of  the  Success  Publishing  Company. 

February  6,  1906,  Avas  red  letter  day  in  the  history  of  the 
institution,  for  then  it  was  that  the  college  had  as  distinguished 
guests  GoA'ernor  John  A.  Johnson,  State  Superintendent  John 
Olsen,  and  Gen.  F.  B.  Wood.  The  guests  Avere  entertained  at 
1  o'clock  luncheon  at  the  home  of  President  and  Mrs.  Boostrom, 
where  they  were  met  by  two  score  of  Austin's  elite,  after  which 
they  were  escorted  to  the  college  chapel,  AA^here  several  hundred 
expectant  students  gave  them  a  rousing  reception.  When  the 
governor  was  introduced  the  students  fairly  Avent  wild,  for  in 
him  they  recognized  one  Avho  had  the  same  privations  and  had  to 
fight  the  same  battles  in  the  effort  to  gain  an  education. 

During  the  summer  of  1909  a  ncAV  department  was  added  and 
a  ncAV  building  Avas  built,  knoAvn  as  the  steam  engineering 
building. 

In  May.  1910,  Vice-President  A.  F.  Harpman  sold' his  interest 
in  the  institution  to  William  W.  Meiners,  who  was  a  graduate  of 
the  scientific  course  of  the  institi;tion  and  had  also  been  one  of  its 
former  instructors  in  the  teachers'  department.  In  June  of  the 
same  year  Professor  0.  C.  Heilman  succeeded  Professor  Harpman 
as  vice-president  and  treasurer,  and  Professor  W.  W.  ]\Ieiners  Avas 
elected  secretary  to  succeed  Professor  Heilman. 

AUSTIN    COMMERCIAL    CLUB. 

In  other  days  there  have  been  vai'ious  boards  of  trade,  but  the 
present  club  had  its  beginning  in  1903,  Avhen  the  Austin  Pro- 
gressive League  Avas  organized.  A  preliminary  meeting  Avas  held 
November  18,  at  Avhich  A.  W.  Wright  Avas  chairman  and  I.  B. 
Sherwood  secretary.    Fifteen  Avere  present.    At  the  next  meeting, 


HISTORY  OF  :\[0\VK1{  {'OUNTY  2S1 

November  25,  a  large  number  of  professional  and  business  men 
Avere  present  and  the  following  officers  were  elected:  President, 
A.  W.  Wright;  vice-president,  A.  L.  Ebcrhart;  secretary,  T.  II. 
Pridham ;  treasurer,  A.  JM.  Smith  ;  directors,  J.  D.  Sheedy,  Nicholas 
Nicholsen  and  C.  F.  Cook;  membership  committee,  F.  II.  McCul- 
loch,  Coyt  Belding,  John  Skinner,  E.  P.  Kelley  and  Dr.  A.  W. 
Allen.  Since  then  the  presidents  have  been  A.  W.  Wright,  S.  D. 
Catherwood,  R.  R.  Murphy,  Dr.  A.  W.  Allen  and  0.  J.  Simmons.' 
There  are  at  present  176  members,  and  the  present  officers  are: 
President,  O.  J.  Simmons;  vice-president,  J.  S.  Sheedy;  treasurer, 
F.  C.  Wilbour ;  directors,  F.  E.  Gleason,  E.  M.  Doane,  R.  L.  Stim- 
son,  L.  W.  Decker,  W.  L.  Bassler  and  T.  A.  Revord.  The  club 
associates  Avith  the  ]\Iinnesota  Federation  of  Commercial  Clubs. 

Its  work  has  resulted  in  a  general  betterment  of  business  con- 
ditions in  Austin.  The  club  was  sponsor  of  the  paving  movement ; 
it  has  brought  industries  here ;  it  has  fostered  the  Civic  Improve- 
ment League;  it  was  active  in  having  the  beautiful  hiunane  foun- 
tain erected  here  by  the  National  Humane  Alliance,  and  it  has 
helped  to  advertise  the  city  in  various  ways.  It  has  also  been  an 
important  social  feature.  The  name  was  changed  from  the  Austin 
Progressive  League  to  the  Austin  Commercial  Club,  Aug.  4,  1909. 

When  the  club  was  organized  the  first  few  meetings  were  held 
in  Harmouia  hall,  at  115  East  Bridge  street.  Rooms  were  later 
opened  at  325  North  Main  street,  over  the  store  of  C.  L.  West. 
The  present  quarters  were  occupied  September  1,  1909,  having 
been  ecpiipped  for  the  special  purposes  of  the  club.  Few  com- 
mercial clubs  outside  of  the  very  large  cities  have  more  commo- 
dious, comfortable  and  well-furnished  club  rooms.  A  glance  at 
the  views  presented  will  give  a  faint  idea  of  Austin's  commercial 
club's  quarters.  The  floors  are  of  polished  birch,  the  walls  deco- 
rated in  old  gold  and  green.  The  lights  are  tungsten  lamps  in 
clusters.  The  woodwork  is  all  old  mission  oak,  and  the  furniture 
is  upholstered  in  leather.  There  are  two  pool  and  two  billiard 
tables  and  a  shuffle-board  in  the  amusement  room,  besides  a  dozen 
card  tables,  the  latter  separated  from  the  other  by  an  old  mission 
partition  four  feet  high.  The  amusement  room  is  50  x  50  feet. 
The  general  assembly  room  is  the  same  size  as  the  amusement 
room.  Here  the  floor  is  covered  with  fine  rugs.  This  room  is 
also  used  as  a  reading  room.  On  the  north  and  south  sides  of  the 
assembly  room  are  consultation  and  conference  rooms.  There  are 
two  telephone  booths,  each  of  which  is  provided  with  everything 
necessary  for  recording  conversation.  There  are  also  cloak  rooms, 
lavatories  and  everything  to  afford  comfort  and  pleasure  to  its 
members. 

The  business  men  also  have  an  organization  known  as  the 
Austin  Business  Men's  Association,  which  meets  to  determine  the 


282  HISTOHY  OF  MOWEH  COrXTY 

hours  of  closing  the  stores,  for  the  discussion  of  matters  per- 
taining to  their  line  of  work.  They  are  also  members  of  a  county 
organization  known  as  the  Mower  County  Merchants'  Association, 
which  has  for  its  purpose  mutual  protection,  collection  of  bills,  etc. 
Once  a  year  the  organization  meets  to  listen  to  reports  from  offi- 
cers and  to  addresses  from  able  lecturers  brought  here  for  the 
purpose  of  instruction  in  promotion  of  trade. 

AUSTIN    HOTELS. 

Austin  is  a  good  hotel  town.  J]very  traveling  man  Avho  has 
ever  "made"  the  town  will  tell  you  so.  The  first  hotel  was  estab- 
lished here  one  year  after  the  village  was  "staked  out"  in  1855. 
A  year  later  Austin  had  two  hotels.  The  city  grew  up  around 
its  hotels,  and  even  today  its  hotels  do  much  to  advertise  it. 

First  Hotel.  The  first  hotel  in  Austin  was  opened  by  J.  H. 
McKinley  early  in  1856.  Previous  to  this  time  the  traveling 
public  had  been  entertained  at  private  house  and  by  B.  J.  Brown, 
who  kept  a  boarding  house.  McKinley  purchased  from  Leverich, 
who  had  also  kept  a  sort  of  a  boarding  house,  a  frame  building 
located  on  the  present  site  of  the  Windsor  house. 

The  Snow  House.  In  June,  1856,  J.  H.  McKinley  sold  his  hotel 
to  George  E.  "VVilbour  and  Solomon  Snow,  who  took  charge  in 
September  of  that  year.  This  was  then  known  as  the  Snow  house, 
and  contained  eight  rooms.  One  of  these  rooms  was  large  enough 
for  eleven  beds,  and  was  called  the  school  section.  Snow  &  "Wil- 
bour  managed  the  hotel  until  1859,  when  Mr.  Wilbour  returned 
east,  and  Mr.  Snow  occupied  the  house  for  a  time  as  a  private 
residence.  Afterward  a  hotel  was  conducted  in  the  building  by 
various  persons.  The  site  is  at  the  corner  of  Mill  and  Franklin 
streets. 

In  1876,  George  E.  "Wilbour  made  the  following  remarks  in 
regard  to  his  hotel:  "I  did  not  keep  the  first  hotel.  There  were 
three  before  mine,  kept  by  Leverich,  Brown  and  McKinley. 
McKinley  built  the  first  building  for  hotel  purposes  erected  in 
Austin,  on  the  present  site  of  the  Central  house.  Solomon  Snow 
and  myself  became  proprietors  of  tliis  building  in  1856,  by  pur- 
chase, after  which  it  was  known  as  the  'Snow  house.'  Although 
I  was  not  the  first  landlord  in  the  place,  I  represent  the  first  first- 
class  hotel.  "We  had  four  lodging  rooms,  and  from  twenty  to 
forty  guests  every  night.  To  accommodate  them  we  were  obliged 
to  open  'the  school  section,'  in  which  were  eleven  beds.  Our  beds 
were  filled  with  prairie  hay.  Our  bill  of  fare  Avas  pork,  biscuit 
and  dried  apple  sauce  for  breakfast ;  fried  pork,  biscuit  and  apple 
sauce  for  dinner;  and  about  the  same  or  some  of  both  for  supper. 
But  as  it  was  first  class,  and  as  I  do  not  wish  to  misrepresent, 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEU  COUNTY  283 

would  say  we  occasionally  had  a  little  fresh  beef.  From  9  to  12 
o'clock  every  evening  the  boys  held  a  literary  sociable,  consisting 
of  original  recitations,  interspersed  Avith  more  or  less  music." 

The  Windsor  House  was  completed  on  the  site  of  the  old  Snow 
house  in  1866.  It  was  a  frame  house,  containing  forty  rooms  and 
veneered  in  brick.    The  site  is  now  used  for  business  purposes. 

Lacy  House.  In  1857,  J.  S.  Lacy  built  the  second  hotel  in  the 
town.  It  was  a  two-story  frame  biiilding  with  an  "ell"  attached. 
It  occupied  the  present  site  of  the  Fleck  house.  Lacy  sold  this 
house  to  Asa  Brown,  who  in  the  fall  of  1865  sold  to  a  man  named 
Cole,  who  in  the  spring  of  1866  sold  to  Jacob  and  A.  M.  Fleck, 
who  changed  the  name  to  Fleck  house,  raised  the  main  part  of 
the  building,  and  put  in  a  basement  and  added  a  story  to  the  "ell" 
part.  As  thus  enlarged  it  contaiiaed  thirty  rooms.  In  1872  this 
building  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  Fleck  House.  In  1872,  A.  M.  Fleck  erected  the  Fleck 
house  at  an  expense  of  $16,000.  It  replaced  the  old  Fleck  house 
which  was  erected  in  1857  as  the  Lacy  house  and  changed  to  the 
Fleck  house  in  1866,  being  destroyed  by  fire  in  February,  1872. 
The  edifice  is  a  brick  structure  and  three  stories  in  height  above 
the  basement.  The  building  is  seventy-two  feet  in  length  by  forty 
feet  in  width,  with  a  Aving  28  x  32  feet.  July  28,  1887,  Mr.  Fleck 
sold  the  place  to  C.  G.  Ubelar,  of  Chicago.  It  passed  through 
various  hands  and  is  now  occupied  by  the  McCulloch  printing 
plant. 

Davidson  House.  This  house  Avas  built  in  1857-58,  by  Joshua  L. 
Davidson,  as  a  private  residence.  It  Avas  a  commodious  house 
and  AA-as  used  by  him  as  a  private  residence  until  war  times,  when 
he  made  an  addition  and  opened  it  to  the  traA'eling  public.  He 
managed  it  a  year  or  more,  then  rented  it  to  J.  S.  Lacy.  In  the 
year  1870,  Mr.  DaA'idson  made  a  large  addition  to  the  house.  As 
thus  enlarged  the  house  contains  forty  rooms.  In  1872,  Mr.  David- 
son again  assumed  the  management  of  the  house.  He  died  there 
about  a  year  later.  This  house  passed  through  various  hands, 
and  Avas  conducted  for  some  years  by  Justice  John  E.  Robinson. 
Later  part  of  it  Avas  moved  to  the  northAvard  by  Lyman  W.  l^aird. 
The  Ilirsch  block  Avas  built  on  the  old  site. 

Railroad  Hotel.  This  house  Avas  built  by  the  Chicago,  Mihvau- 
kee  &  St.  Paul  Raihvay  Company  in  1872.  It  is  a  frame  building, 
brick  veneered,  tliree  stories  in  height,  and  contains  thirty-seven 
rooms.  It  Avas  first  managed  by  John  McConnell  and  Nathan 
Hammond.  After  one  year  Hammond  sold  his  interest  to  Joseph 
McConnell.  The  jMcConnell  brothers  Avere  succeeded  by  Ather- 
ton  &  Sons ;  they  by  SherAvin  &  French,  and  they  by  Hall  &  Hay, 
Avho  managed  it  from  1881  to  18S4.  The  lioti'l  is  at  present  con- 
ducted })y  Mrs.  George  H.  Sutton  niul  is  now  known  as  tlie  Depot 


284  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

hotel.  It  has  wide  patronage,  and  Mrs.  Sutton,  who  assumed  the 
management  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  jMajor  Sutton,  is  an 
ideal  landlady. 

Mansfield  House.  The  ^lansfield  house  was  built  in  1879  by 
J.  H.  ]\Iansfield  and  opened  by  him  late  that  year.  It  is  a  frame 
building  three  stories  in  height,  the  front  veneered  with  brick. 
The  house  contains  thirty-five  rooms  most  conveniently  arranged. 
It  is  now  knowTi  as  the  Grand  hotel  and  is  conducted  by  B.  E. 
Shutt. 

The  Grand  Hotel.  This  is  a  commercial  and  family  hotel,  well 
situated  and  Avell  conducted.  B.  E.  Shutt,  the  genial  landlord, 
and  his  wife  personally  look  after  the  comfort  of  their  guests,  and 
the  house  is  popular  and  well  patronized.  The  rooms  are  airy, 
well  lighted  and  well  kept,  and  the  cuisine  is  excellent.  The  hotel 
was  originally  called  the  Mansfield  house  and  was  built  in  1879. 

The  Elk  Hotel  is  a  modern  European  hotel.  Its  rooms  are 
well  furnished  and  supplied  with  running  hot  and  cold  water. 
The  cafe  service  is  excellent.  The  hotel  is  pleasing  in  appearance, 
both  as  to  interior  and  exterior,  and  enjoys  a  good  transient 
patronage.  The  proprietor  is  "W.  H.  Nangle.  The  Elk  hotel  is 
located  on  an  historic  corner,  the  site  being  the  location  of  the  old 
Leverieh  buildings.  The  hotel  was  built  in  1909,  on  the  site  of  a 
livery  conducted  by  B.  E.  Shutt.  Burt  Churchill  Avas  the  first 
manager. 

The  Fox  Hotel  is  one  of  the  leading  hostelries  in  Austin.  In 
1890,  Charles  Fox  came  here  and  purchased  land  on  the  corner 
of  Water  and  Main  streets.  In  1893  he  erected  a  fine  brick  hotel 
and  opened  for  business  in  October  of  that  year.  The  hotel  is 
modern  in  every  particular,  and  the  geniality  of  the  landlord  won 
a  large  patronage.  Mr.  Fox  died  in  the  spring  of  1911.  The 
appointments  of  the  hotel  are  excellent  and  the  table  and  rooms 
are  all  that  could  be  desired. 

The  Harrington  Hotel,  a  modern  brick  structure,  is  located 
near  the  ]\rilwaukee  station  and  occupies  the  site  of  a  previous 
hotel,  which  Avas  a  wooden  frame  building.  The  hotel  does  a 
good  business. 

The  American  House  and  the  Garman  House  are  also  num- 
bered among  the  hotels  of  Austin. 


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HISTOJfY  OF  MOWKi;  COUXTY  385 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

BANKS    AND    BANKING. 

Story  of  the  Growth  and  Development  of  the  Financial  Interests 
of  the  County,  Told  by  Nathan  F.  Banfield— First  Bank  in 
the  County — Banks  of  Austin,  Grand  Meadow,  Le  Roy,  Lyle, 
Adams,  Racine,  Rose  Creek,  Dexter,  Sargeant,  Brownsdale, 
Waltham,  Taopi — Summary  of  Banking  Conditions  in  Mower 
County. 

The  Bank  of  Southei'ii  Minnesota  was  established  at  Austin  in 
the  early  sixties  by  A.  L.  Pritchard  and  A.  M.  Pett,  and  con- 
tinued in  business  for  about  two  years.  It  was  followed  in  1866 
by  the  "Banking  and  Exchange  Office  of  Harlan  W.  Page,"  who 
came  to  Austin  that  year  from  his  native  state  of  New  Hampshire. 
He  conducted  this  as  a  private  bank  for  about  two  years,  during 
which  time  the  business  increased  to  such  proportions  as  to 
require  additional  capital  to  properly  care  for  the  needs  of  the 
community.  In  the  fall  of  1868  he  enlisted  the  interest  of  ex- 
Governor  Samuel  Merrill,  of  Iowa,  and  his  brother,  J.  H.  Merrill, 
of  McGregor,  Iowa,  in  organizing  a  new  bank.  Associated  with 
the  Merrills  in  business  at  McGregor  was  Oliver  W.  Shaw,  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire,  who  had  known  the  Merrill  brothers 
and  Harlan  W.  Page  at  Tamworth,  in  that  state,  before  coming 
west,  and  they  sent  him  to  Austin  to  look  the  field  over.  After 
doing  so  he  decided  to  unite  with  them  in  the  banking  business  at 
Austin.  As  a  result  of  his  decision  and  action,  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Austin,  Minn.,  was  incorporated  and  a  charter  granted 
to  it  liy  the  United  States  government,  October  27,  1868,  with  a 
paid-in  capital  of  $50,000.  It  took  until  the  15th  of  February 
following  to  complete  the  organization  details,  and  on  that  date 
the  new  bank  opened  for  business,  having  bought  out  and  taken 
over  the  private  banking  business  of  Harlan  W.  Page.  The  first 
officers  were  O.  W.  Shaw,  president,  and  H.  W.  Page,  cashier, 
and  they,  together  with  J.  H.  Merrill,  N.  P.  Austin  and  E.  0. 
"Wheeler,  composed  the  first  board  of  directors.  The  site  selected 
for  the  banking  house  was  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Bridge  streets,  which  has  continued  to  be  the  First  National  Bank 
corner.  In  ]\I^y,  1870,  George  F.  Trenwith,  who  had  been  a  book- 
keeper in  the  bank,  was  chosen  assistant  cashier.  In  January, 
1872,  Edward  A.  Rollins,  a  capitalist  at  Philadelphia,  and  brother- 
in-law  of  O.  W.  Shaw,  having  become  a  large  stockholder,  was 
elected  a  director  in  place  of  J.  H.  Merrill.  The  bank  continued 
under  the  same  management  until  July  1.  1885,  when  II.  "\V.  Page 


28&  II18T0KY  OF  M(JWP:H  COU.XTY 

disposed  of  his  holdings  and  resigned  as  cashier  to  accept  the 
position  of  financial  secretary  of  Carleton  College,  at  Northfield. 
Minn.  He  was  succeeded  as  cashier  by  Nathan  F.  Banfield,  whose 
native  place  is  West  Roxbiiry,  Mass.,  and  who  entered  the  employ 
of  the  bank  in  March,  1879,  through  his  acquaintance  with  E.  A. 
Rollins.  He  had  been  appointed  assistant  cashier  in  April,  1882, 
and  elected  a  director  in  January,  1884,  succeeding  George  E. 
Skinner,  of  St.  Paul.  In  June,  1903,  he  was  appointed  vice- 
president  and  cashier.  In  May,  1892,  Herbert  L.  Banfield,  of 
AYorcester,  Mass.,  who  entered  the  employ  of  the  bank  in  i\Iarch. 
1886,  was  appointed  assistant  cashier,  and  in  January,  1902,  was 
elected  a  director.  In  November,  1907,  Henry  J.  Drost,  a  native 
of  Holland,  was  appointed  assistant  cashier  and  Avas  elected  a 
director,  he  having  entered  the  employ  of  the  bank  in  April,  1887. 
In  1902,  Edward  H.  Sterling  was  elected  a  director,  succeeding 
his  father,  James  M.  Sterling,  Avho  had  served  in  that  capacity 
for  thirteen  years,  E.  H.  Sterling  having  been  in  the  employ  of  the 
bank  since  April,  1896.  In  January,  1909,  Nathan  F.  Banfield,  Jr., 
who  entered  the  employ  of  the  bank  in  August.  1904,  was  elected 
a  director.  These  men  constitute  the  present  officers  and  directors 
of  the  bank,  and  by  their  faithful  and  conscientious  attention  to 
its  affairs  have  contributed  in  a  large  measure  to  its  success. 
The  organization  number  of  this  bank  in  the  national  system  is 
1690 ;  its  first  charter  period  of  twenty  years  was  renewed  Octo- 
ber 27,  1888,  and  the  second,  after  forty  years  of  business,  was 
renewed  October  27,  1908,  for  a  third  twenty-year  period.  During 
a  career  of  forty-two  years  the  bank  has  been  most  fortunate  in 
having  as  its  head  and  guiding  spirit  its  worthy  and  beloved  presi- 
dent, Oliver  "W.  Shaw,  who  is  still  active  in  its  management.  In 
January,  1902,  the  capital  of  the  bank  was  increased  to  $100,000, 
commensurate  with  the  increase  in  deposits.  Its  surplus  fund  is 
also  $100,000,  and  undivided  profits  are  $30,000.  The  taxes  paid 
the  county  on  capital  and  surplus  average  about  $-±.000,  and 
for  the  year  1910  exceeded  $4,200.  Interest  paid  to  depositors 
for  several  years  past  on  time  deposits  has  averaged  $15,000  per 
annum.  The  business  has  steadily  increased  until  the  deposits 
now  average  more  than  $900,000,  having  at  certain  times  in  the 
year  exceeded  $1,000,000.  The  total  resources  March  7,  1911, 
date  of  last  report  to  the  comptroller  of  the  currency,  reached  the 
sum  of  $1,312,301.  Tliese  figures  show  not  only  the  extent  to 
which  lliis  bank  ti-ies  to  fulfill  its  mission  and  perform  its  duty  ti) 
the  community,  the  territory  properly  tributary  to  it.  and  its  pat- 
rons, wherever  they  may  be,  but  they  also  plainly  show  how  m\ich  it 
owes  to  its  friends  and  patrons  for  their  loyalty  and  confidence 
during  these  many  years.  Owing  to  the  fact  of  having  surplus 
and  undividi'd  ]>r()fits  exceeding  the  capital,  it  occupies  a  place  on 


FIRST    NATIONAL    BANK,   AUSTIN 


HISTORY  OF  MOWKIf  COUNTY  287 

the  roll  of  honor  of  The  Financier,  a  distinction  enjoyed  by  com- 
paratively few  banks  in  the  state.  In  many  instances  Messrs. 
Shaw  and  Banfield  are  doing  business  with  the  thirrl  generation. 
For  this  liberal  patronage  so  long  continued,  they  feel  grateful 
and  express  due  appreciation  and  hope  to  merit  its  continuation  in 
the  years  to  come. 

Several  young  men  who  have  served  the  bank  for  periods 
varying  from  five  to  eighteen  years,  and  did  their  part  in  pro- 
moting its  welfare,  have  been  called  to  responsible  positions  in 
other  places,  and  to  mention  them  may  not  be  out  of  place :  F.  R. 
Cordley.  who  became  assistant  cashier  of  the  National  Exchange 
Bank,  Boston,  now  Avith  Charles  R.  Flint  &  Brother,  of  New  York ; 
T.  W.  Andrew,  who  went  to  the  same  bank,  and  is  now  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Bank,  Philadelphia;  A.  "W.  Wright,  who 
became  a  lawyer  and  has  been  a  practicing  attorney  of  this  city 
for  many  years ;  J.  N.  Nicholsen,  who  also  became  a  lawyer  and 
is  now  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Catherwood  &  Nicholsen,  of 
this  city ;  C.  J.  Sargent,  who  removed  to  Red  Wing,  Minn.,  where 
he  is  cashier  of  the  Goodhue  County  National  Bank ;  W.  E.  AYal- 
dron,  who  went  to  Billings,  Mont.,  where  he  is  cashier  of  the 
Yellowstone  National  Bank ;  L.  E.  Wakefield,  who  became  assist- 
ant cashier  of  the  Northwestern  National  Bank,  of  Minneapolis, 
and  is  now  treasurer  of  the  Wells  &  Dickey  Company,  of  that  city. 

The  policy  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Austin  has  always 
been  conservative;  it  has  adhered  to  true  banking  principles  and 
its  officers  haA'c  concentrated  their  energy  and  attention  to  the 
aflFairs  of  the  bank,  believing  the  public  approved  of  that  kind  of 
management  and  service ;  and  the  position  the  bank  occupies,  and 
the  esteem  in  which  it  is  held  at  home  and  Avherever  it  is  known, 
seems  to  confirm  that  theory  as  correct.  It  has  passed  safely 
through  the  panics  «of  1873,  1893.  1896  and  1907,  and  through 
other  hard  and  trying  periods ;  has  always  stood  for  solidity 
and  strength,  and  the  people  of  Austin  and  Mower  county  take 
.iustifiablc  pride  in  this  sound  financial  institution  that  has  served 
them  so  well  for  forty-two  years.  The  First  National  Bank  is  a 
designated  depository  of  the  United  States  and  is  strictly  a  home 
l)ank,  as  its  stock  is  all  owned  in  Austin.  The  +ast  published 
statement  of  its  condition,  made  to  the  comptroller  of  the  currency. 
]\rarch  7.  1911,  is  as  follows: 

Resources. — Loans  and  discounts.  $729,32r).98 ;  overdrafts. 
.l!3.040.39;  IL  S.  bonds  to  secure  circulation,  .'jilOO.OOO;  V.  S.  and 
other  bonds,  -I?! 37,828.-34 ;  banking  house.  .+18,000;  due  from  banks 
and  V.  S.  treasurer.  .$242,356.04;  cash  on  hand,  $81,760.40;  total, 
.$1,312,301.65. 

Liabilities.— Cai)iti.l  paid  in.  $100,000;  surplus  fund,  $100,000; 


288  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

undivided  profits,  less  expenses  and  taxes,  $32,720.26 ;  circulation, 
$95,600;  deposits,  $983,981.39;  total,  $1,312,301.65. 

The  Mower  County  Bank  was  organized  at  Austin  shortly  after 
the  First  Xatioual  Bank,  in  the  year  1869,  by  Sylvester  Smith, 
formerly  county  treasurer,  of  Austin;  W.  T.  Wilkins,  formerly 
treasurer  of  Fillmore  comity,  of  Preston,  and  J.  C.  Easton,  a 
capitalist  of  La  Crosse,  Wis.,  under  the  firm  name  of  "Smith, 
"Wilkins  &  Easton,  Bankers."  In  the  year  1882,  Mr.  Easton  with- 
drew from  the  bank,  as  well  as  from  numerous  other  banks  in 
which  he  was  interested  in  towns  on  the  Southern  Minnesota  rail- 
road; and  Sylvester  Smith  having  died,  the  firm  was  reorganized 
by  W.  T.  Wilkins  and  Fay  R.  Smith,  a  son  of  Sylvester  Smith, 
who  had  for  some  years  been  identified  with  the  bank  under  the 
firm  name  of  "Wilkins  &  Smith,  Bankers."  They  had  built  up 
a  good  business  and  enjoyed  a  liberal  patronage,  and  their  depos- 
its reached  a  total  of  $100,000,  which  was  large  for  that  time  in 
our  history.  Owing  to  unwise  management  and  injudicious  invest- 
ments, coupled  with  the  hard  times  experience  at  that  period,  the 
bank  failed,  June  12,  1886,  and  passed  into  the  hands  of  F.  I. 
Crane,  receiver,  who  settled  up  its  affairs. 

The  Austin  State  Bank  was  incorporated  by  C.  H.  Davidson, 
G.  Schleuder,  F.  I.  Crane  and  R.  E.  Shepherd,  February  1,  1887, 
with  C.  H.  Davidson,  president;  R.  E.  Shepherd,  cashier,  and 
C.  H.  Davidson,  Jr.,  assistant  cashier.  The  bank  had  a  paid-in 
capital  of  $25,000  and  opened  for  business  in  the  building  for- 
merly occupied  by  the  Mower  County  Bank.  This  was  conducted 
as  a  state  bank  until  September,  1889,  when  the  Austin  National 
Bank,  of  Austin,  Minn.,  Avas  organized  and  succeeded  to  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Austin  State  Bank.  The  first  officers  and  directors 
were :  C.  H.  Davidson,  president ;  G.  Schleuder,  vice-president ; 
Henry  Birkett.  cashier ;  R.  L.  McCormick,  R.  D.  Ilatheway,  F.  I. 
Crane  and  C.  11.  Davidson,  Jr.  The  capital  stock  of  the  bank  was 
$50,000  and  it  first  opened  for  business  in  the  building  formerly 
occupied  by  the  Austin  State  Bank.  It  occupied  those  quarters 
until  March,  1905,  when  it  moved  into  its  own  handsome  new 
building  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Bridge  streets. 

It  has  had  during  its  existence  but  few  changes  in  its  official 
corps,  its  first  president  being  as  stated  above,  who  was  succeeded 
in  1895  by  G.  Schleuder.  He  continued  as  president  until  he 
resigned  in  1898,  when  C.  H.  Davidson  again  became  president. 
On  the  death  of  Mr.  Davidson  in  September,  1901,  F.  I.  Crane 
became  president  and  retained  that  position  until  January,  1909, 
Avhen  he  was  succeeded  by  C.  II.  Ross,  of  Minneapolis.  The  present 
officers  aiid  directors  are  C.  H.  Ross,  president ;  C.  II.  Davidson, 
Jr.,  and  J.  L.  :\Ii1ehelI,  vice-presidents;  P.  D.  Beaulieu,  cashier; 


HISTOK'Y  OF  :\I()\VEI{  COUXTY  389 

F.  C.  Wilbour,  assistant  cashier.  These  to^-ether  with  Klhcl  I). 
Mitchell  constitute  the  directorate. 

C.  II.  Ross  became  first  connected  with  the  institution  in 
January,  1909,  in  his  present  capacity.  C.  II.  Davidson,  Jr.,  has 
been  a  director  of  the  bank  since  its  organization,  becoming  vice- 
president  in  Januarj',  1909.  J.  L.  Mitchell  became  assistant 
cashier  of  the  bank  in  January,  1890,  and  in  December  of  the 
same  year  became  cashier,  holding  that  position  continuously 
until  his  election  as  vice-president  in  January,  1909.  P.  D.  Beau- 
lieu,  the  cashier,  was  elected  to  his  office  in  January,  1909,  coming 
to  this  city  from  Graceville,  Minn.  Following  is  the  published 
statement  of  its  condition  March  7,  1911 : 

Resources. — Loans  and  discounts,  $232,803.67;  overdrafts, 
$902.94;  U.  S.  bonds  to  secure  circulation,  $50,000;  other  bonds, 
securities,  etc.,  $10,751 ;  banking  house  and  fixtures,  $30,000 ;  other 
real  estate  owned,  $55,817.69 ;  due  from  banks  and  U.  S.  treasurer, 
$79,901.68 ;  cash  on  hand,  $21,747.15 ;  total,  $131,930.78. 

Liabilities.— Capital  paid  in,  $50,000;  surplus  fund,  $10,000; 
undivided  profits,  less  expenses  and  taxes,  $7,647.19;  circulation. 
$48,800;  deposits,  $315,483.59;  total,  $431,930.78. 

The  Citizens  National  Bank  of  Austin  was  organized  in  May, 
1893,  by  C.  L.  West.  J.  AV.  Scott,  M.  J.  Slaven,  Seymour  Johnson, 
Jacob  "Weisel  and  L.  G.  Campbell,  and  those  men  constituted  its 
first  board  of  directors ;  C.  L.  West  being  president ;  M.  J.  Slaven, 
vice-president;  J.  W.  Scott,  cashier;  A.  E.  Johnson,  assistant 
cashier;  the  capital  being  $50,000.  The  bank  purchased  the 
building  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Mill  street,  of 
C.  L.  West,  formerly  used  by  him  as  a  dry  goods  store,  which  is 
still  their  banking  house.  About  two  years  later  C.  L.  West  sold 
his  interest  and  retired  from  the  bank.  L.  D.  Baird  was  chosen 
to  succeed  him  as  president  and  director.  He  served  as  such  until 
his  appointment  as  national  bank  examiner,  when  he  sold  his 
stock  and  resigned  his  position.  J.  W.  Scott  was  then  elected 
president  and  A.  E.  Johnson  cashier.  A.  S.  Campbell  succeeded 
L.  G.  Campbell  as  director,  the  latter  having  removed  to  Blooming 
Prairie,  Minn.  The  bank  continued  under  this  management  until 
in  1902  ]\Iessrs.  Seymour  Johnson  and  A.  E.  Johnson  sold  their 
stock  and  withdrew  from  the  bank.  B.  J.  Morey,  who  had  been 
cashier  of  a  bank  in  Chester,  Iowa,  was  chosen  cashier  to  succeed 
A.  E.  Johnson,  and  he  and  Henry  W.  Lightly  were  added  to  the 
board  of  directors.  In  1903,  Jacob  Weisel  sold  his  stock  and 
resigned  as  director.  J.  E.  Crippen,  who  came  from  Ortonville. 
!Minn.,  was  appointed  assistant  cashier  and  became  a  director  soon 
after  Mr.  Morej^'s  connection  with  the  bank.  With  these  officers 
and  directors  the  bank  continued  until  the  fall  of  1908,  when 
^Messrs.  Scott,  I\Iorey,  Slaven  and  Lightly  retired  as  officers  and 


290  HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY 

directors  and  transferred  their  interests  in  the  bank  to  Eobert 
Thompson,  of  Cresco,  Iowa,  and  Lafayette  French,  P.  H.  Friend 
and  J.  D.  Sheedj%  of  Austin,  who  became  directors  of  the  bank. 
In  1909  the  control  of  the  bank  changed  again  and  passed  into 
the  hands  of  H.  W.  Hurlbut  and  Sam  A.  Rask,  and  they  two, 
with  A.  S.  Campbell,  Robert  Thompson  and  J.  E.  Crippen,  com- 
pose the  present  board  of  directors,  with  H.  "W.  Hurlbut,  presi- 
dent; A.  S.  Campbell,  vice-president,  and  J.  E.  Crippen,  assistant 
cashier.  Vice-President  Campbell  is  owner  of  Peerless  Mills  and 
has  been  honored  by  various  positions  of  trust  by  the  people ;  is 
now  serving  as  mayor  for  a  second  time.  The  officers  are  good 
business  men,  and  the  bank  en.joys  liberal  patronage  and  is  con- 
servatively managed,  as  the  following  last  published  statement  of 
March  7,  1911,  shows: 

Resources. — Loans  and  discounts,  $119,552.35 ;  overdrafts, 
$2,487.72;  U.  S.  bonds  to  secure  circulation,  $50,000;  banking 
house  and  fixtures,  $20,326.15  ;  due  from  banks  and  LL  S.  treasurer, 
$48,603.89 ;  cash  on  hand,  $14,865.25 ;  total,  $255,834.56. 

Liabilities. — Capital  paid  in,  $50,000;  undivided  profits,  less 
expenses  and  taxes  paid,  $2,502.33 ;  circulation,  $50,000 ;  deposits, 
$152,876.82 ;  reserve  for  taxes,  $455.41 ;  total,  $255,834.56. 

GRAND    MEADOW. 

The  Exchange  State  Bank.  The  history  of  the  original  bank 
in  Grand  i\Ieadow  is  a  most  unique  one,  as  it  was  not  the  inten- 
tion of  the  originator  to  go  into  the  banking  business.  As  a  mer- 
chant, C.  F.  Greening  was  engaged  in  the  hardware  business,  at 
the  same  time  acting  as  paymaster  for  several  grain  firms.  During 
the  fall  of  1871  he  paid  his  bills  by  draAving  sight  drafts  on  the 
commission  men  in  Milwaukee.  In  the  spring  of  1872,  having 
been  elected  to  the  office  of  town  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Grand 
Meadow,  which  then  included  the  town  of  Clayton,  and  some 
$1,200  of  fluids  being  turned  over  to  him,  he  was  at  a  loss  what 
to  do  with  the  money,  not  having  a  safe  in  which  to  keep  it. 
Being  in  Austin  shortly  afterward  and  transacting  business  witli 
the  First  National  Bank  there,  he  noticed  they  used  the  Union 
National  Bank,  of  Chicago,  and  the  Chemical  National  Bank,  of 
New  York,  as  correspondents.  He  thought  if  those  two  banks 
were  good  enough  for  the  First  National  of  Austin  they  Avere 
good  enough  for  him.  He  at  once  expressed  the  town  funds  to 
tlie  Union  National  Bank  as  his  bank  capital,  and  a  check  book 
of  fifty  stamped  checks  was  ordered.  He  paid  eastern  bills  with 
cheeks  on  the  town  money  and  paid  town  orders  with  store  money, 
and  was  now  fully  equipped  to  do  an  exchange  business.  The 
merchants  soon  "caught  on,"  and,  instead  of  expressing  money 


irisToiJv  OF  M()\vi:i,'  cocN'rv  291 

or  registering  letters  to  pay  eastern  bills,  they  bought  the  new 
bank  cheeks.  The  farmers  also  found  it  convenient,  and  some 
little  deposits  were  left  with  the  new  bank.  A  good  safe  was 
purchased,  with  time  lock,  and  the  bank  was  then  named  "The 
Exchange  Bank,"  and  the  rates  then  established  for  exchange 
have  never  been  changed.  The  Chicago  correspondent  was  not 
changed  until  the  consolidation  of  the  Union  National  Bank  with 
the  First  National  of  Chicago,  the  latter  bank  having  since  been 
its  Chicago  correspondent.  For  thirty-nine  years  it  has  had  an 
account  with  the  Chemical  National  Bank,  New  York.  The  bank 
was  run  in  this  way  until  the  spring  of  1874,  when  F.  K.  Warner, 
a  brother-in-law  of  C.  F.  Greening,  was  added  to  the  firm  and 
the  business  carried  on  mider  the  firm  name  of  Greening  & 
Warner's  Exchange  Bank,  until  1882,  when  C.  F.  Greening  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Mr.  Warner  and  continued  as  sole  owner 
of  the  bank.  The  capital  was  at  this  time  $5,000,  and  gradually 
increased  until  1906,  when  it  had  reached  .$25,000.  Having  grown 
to  such  proportions,  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  organize  as  a 
state  bank.  This  was  done  in  December,  1906,  and  the  incorpora- 
tion took  effect  January  2,  1907,  when  the  doors  were  opened  as 
"The  Exchange  State  Bank."  The  first  officers  were:  C.  F. 
Greening,  president ;  P.  T.  Elliott,  vice-president ;  Elgar  F.  Green- 
ing, cashier;  and  they,  with  S.  Y.  Hyde,  Henry  Neumann,  E.  j\I. 
Hoff,  W.  D.  Lockwood,  C.  L.  Engen,  Adolph  Stoltz  and  George 
Kuhn,  Sr.,  constituted  the  first  board  of  directors.  The  capital 
stock  was  $25,000,  fully  paid  in,  and  the  bank  opened  for  business 
in  the  same  building  that  had  been  occupied  by  the  Exchange 
Bank  for  the  previous  twenty  years,  at  12  Main  street.  The 
business  increased  so  rapidly  during  the  first  three  years  after 
incorporation  that  it  was  decided  to  build  a  new  bank,  which  was 
done  during  the  year  1910,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Second 
streets.  The  new  building,  costing  over  $12,000,  was  occupied  on 
the  14th  day  of  December,  1910,  a  beautiful  structure,  modern 
in  all  particulars,  built  of  Indiana  Oriental  brick  and  Lake  Supe- 
rior sandstone,  26%  x  75  feet,  full  two  stories  and  basement, 
with  hot  water  heating  plant,  storage  vault  below,  two  vaults  on 
the  main  floor,  one  for  customers'  safe  deposit  boxes,  the  other 
for  the  bank  cash  and  books.  The  ea.sh  safe  is  one  of  the  latest 
improved  manganese  steel,  screw  door,  triple  time  lock  safes, 
weighing  nearly  a  ton  and  a  half.  In  addition,  the  vault  is 
protected  with  the  electric  alarm  system. 

The  present  officers  are:  C.  F.  Greening,  president;  P.  T. 
Elliott,  vice-president ;  E.  F.  Greening,  casliier,  wlio  has  held  tluit 
office  over  twenty-one  years,  or  since  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age, 
being  at  that  time  the  j'oungest  cashier  of  a  bank  in  the  state  of 
^Minnesota.    The  present  directors  are  C.  F.  Greening,  P.  T.  Elliott, 


293  lIlS'roiJY  OF  MOWEK  COUXTY 

E.  F.  Greening,  C.  L.  Engeu,  Adolph  Stoltz,  Henry  Neumann, 
W.  D.  LockAvood,  W.  R.  Peyton,  August  Detloff.  Sr.,  Frank  S. 
Ilambleton  and  Andrew  Lybeek. 

The  present  capital  is  $25,000;  surplus,  $4,000;  undivided 
profits.  $1,964.78.  The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  bank  as 
reported  to  the  superintendent  of  banks  on  March  7,  1911: 

Resources. — Loans  and  discounts,  $177,381.28;  overdrafts, 
$808;  bonds  and  premiums,  $16,320;  banking  house  and  fixtures, 
$13,697.78 ;  other  real  estate,  $1,625 ;  due  from  banks,  $50,593.23 ; 
cash  on  hand.  $6.807.10 ;  total,  $267,232.39. 

Liabilities.— Capital  stock,  $25,000 ;  surplus,  $4,000 ;  undivided 
profits,  $1,964.78;  deposits,  $236,267.61 ;  total,  $267,232.39. 

The  capital  of  the  bank  remains  the  same  as  when  incorporated 
and  has  made  annual  dividends  of  six  per  cent,  besides  accumu- 
lating a  surplus  and  undivided  profits  of  $5,964.78  in  its  four 
years  of  life  as  a  state  bank.  The  policy  of  the  bank  has  been  to 
render  to  the  community  all  the  usual  facilities  of  a  conservative 
country  bank,  buying  and  selling  exchange,  making  loans,  col- 
lecting and  discounting  notes  and  securities,  fire  and  insurance 
agents,  selling  passage  tickets  to  and  from  Europe,  and  all  other 
business  incident  to  banking.  The  bank  does  a  safe,  conservative 
business  and  points  with  pride  to  the  record  of  thirty-nine  years 
since  its  inception ;  that  it  has  always  met  every  demand  on  pre- 
sentation ;  that  it  has  never  limited  a  depositor  in  his  withdrawals, 
but  paid  in  full  on  demand,  during  panics  and  financial  fli;rries, 
Avhen  many  others  did  not.  It  is  not  one  of  the  "get  rich  quick" 
style  of  banks,  but,  like  the  walls  of  its  new  home,  is  one  of  the 
permanent  fixtures  of  Grand  Meadow;  and  of  the  sixteen  banks 
in  Mower  county  it  stands  sixth  as  to  capital  and  surplus,  third 
as  to  deposits  and  loans  and  discounts,  and  fourth  as  to  total 
resources. 

The  Bank  of  Grand  Meadow  was  organized  as  a  private  bank 
ill  the  early  seventies  by  IL  M.  Lovell,  a  merchant  of  that  place, 
and  J.  C.  Easton,  of  La  Crosse,  Wis.,  who  was  interested  in  a  line 
of  banks  along  the  Southern  Minnesota  railroad.  It  was  managed 
by  II.  M.  Lovell  as  cashier.  This  was  continued  for  about  ten 
years,  until  J.  C.  Easton  withdrew  as  a  partner  from  the  banks 
with  which  he  was  connected,  and  H.  M.  Lovell  not  caring  to 
continue  in  the  business,  it  was  discontinued,  Mr.  Lovell  devoting 
his  attention  to  his  mercantile  business  in  the  firm  of  Lovell  & 
Sheldon,  and  to  his  land  interests,  the  Exchange  Bank  then 
oci-upying  tlie  field  alone. 

First  National  Bank  of  Grand  Meadow.  In  1904  the  First 
National  P.aiik  of  Grand  ^Meadow  was  organized  by  R.  E.  Crane, 
G.  A.  Wright,  Benjamin  AVriglit,  W.  H.  Goodsell  and  F.  M. 
Higbio,  the  first  two  named  being  president  and  cashier  respec- 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWElf  COUNTY  293 

tively.  Capital,  $25,000.  They  built  a  convenient  banking  house 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Second  streets,  and  while 
thought  by  some  at  the  time  of  its  organization  there  would 
hardly  be  a  field  for  two  banks,  they  have  worked  up  a  very 
satisfactory  business,  the  other  bank  in  Grand  Meadow  having 
at  the  same  time  made  a  steady  growth,  thus  showing  the  thriving 
condition  of  the  village  and  the  prosperity  prevailing  in  the 
counti-y  tributary.  R.  E.  Crane  has  been  succeeded  as  president 
by  Benjamin  AVright,  and  he  with  W.  H.  Goodsell,  vice-president, 
G.  A.  Wright,  cashier,  and  C.  W.  Higbie,  assistant  cashier,  com- 
pose the  present  officers.  They  have  a  surplus  of  $4,000 ;  average 
deposits,  $120,000;  average  loans  and  discounts,  $125,000,  and, 
considering  the  time  the  bank  has  been  in  business,  it  is  making  a 
very  creditable  growth. 

LE  ROY. 

In  the  early  seventies  a  private  bank  was  established  at  Le 
Roy  by  G.  L.  Henderson  &  Co.,  bankers,  known  as  the  Le  Roy 
Bank.  After  a  few  years  of  not  very  active  life  it  proved  unsuc- 
cessful and  went  out  of  business.  It  was  followed  by  the  banking 
house  of  D.  C.  Corbitt,  who  conducted  it  until  in  the  early  nine- 
ties, when  he  was  succeeded  by  Strong,  Farmer  &  Edwards,  of 
Spring  Valley,  Minn.,  a  firm  of  private  bankers,  under  the  name 
of  Bank  of  Le  Roy.  This  in  turn  was  succeeded  in  1893  by  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Le  Roy,  of  which  Wentworth  Hayes  was 
president.  M.  T.  Dunn,  cashier,  and  A.  J.  Hayes,  assistant  cashier. 
The  bank  has  a  capital  of  .$25,000;  surplus  and  undivided  profits. 
$15,000;  average  deposits,  $150,000,  and  average  loans  and  dis- 
counts of  $150,000.  Its  present  officers  are  W.  K.  Porter,  presi- 
dent ;  M.  J.  Hart,  vice-president ;  A.  J.  Hayes,  cashier ;  Lynn  A. 
Porter,  assistant  cashier;  M.  T.  Dunn  having  sold  his  interest  in 
the  bank  and  removed  to  Brainerd,  Minn.,  to  engage  in  the 
banking  business  at  that  place.  It  is  a  successful,  conservatively 
managed  bank,  and  has  a  good  record  and  standing  in  the 
community. 

In  May,  1901,  John  Frank,  C.  Hambrecht,  S.  Englesen,  W.  M. 
Frank,  William  Allen  and  F.  E.  Hambrecht  entered  the  banking 
business  in  Le  Roy  under  the  firm  name  and  style  of  "Citizens 
Bank,"  which  they  conducted  as  a  private  bank  until  January, 
1904,  when  they  incorporated  the  First  National  Bank  of  Le  Roy, 
into  which  the  business  of  the  Citizens  Bank  was  merged,  and 
of  which  William  Allen  was  president;  C.  IIaml)recht,  vice-presi- 
dent; W.  M.  Frank,  cashier;  Merrill  Bowers,  a.ssistant  cashier. 
The  bank  owns  its  building;  has  a  capital  of  $25,000;  surplus  artd 
undivided  profits  of  $10,000;  average  deposits,  $175,000;  average 
loans,  discounts  and  bonds,  $165,000.     Tiie  general  policy  of  the 


294  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

bank  is  conservative  and  aggressive.  It  is  ably  managed  by  its 
strong  directorate  and  present  officers,  the  latter  being  C.  Ham- 
breeht,  president ;  F.  E.  Hambreclit,  vice-president ;  W.  M.  Frank, 
cashier ;  Merrill  Bowers,  assistant  cashier ;  and  is  liberally  patron-" 
ized,  as  the  above  figures  indicate. 

LYLE. 

In  1892,  A.  H.  Anderson  opened  the  Exchange  Bank  of  Lyle, 
of  -which  he  was  sole  proprietor  and  which  he  conducted  as  a 
private  bank  for  nine  years.  During  the  early  part  of  that  time 
the  business  Avas  moderate  in  volume,  but  gradually  increased 
until  in  January,  1901,  it  had  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  it 
was  deemed  advisable  to  incorporate  the  business  and  increase 
the  capital.  Accordingly,  the  First  National  Bank  of  Lyle  was 
organized  in  January,  1901,  by  A.  H.  Anderson,  L.  W.  Sherman, 
F.  M.  Beach,  A.  B.  Wilder,  John  Beach  and  J.  H.  Goslee,  all  of 
these  men  being  the  first  board  of  directors,  the  officers  being  as 
follows:  A.  H.  Anderson,  president;  L.  W.  Sherman,  vice-presi- 
dent; F.  M.  Beach,  cashier.  In  1908,  Miss  J.  C.  Reirson  became 
assistant  cashier.  The  bank  owns  its  banking  house,  at  the  corner 
of  First  and  Grove  streets.  The  present  officers  are  F.  M.  Beach, 
president;  L.  W.  Sherman,  vice-president;  R.  A.  Anderson,  cash- 
ier, and  J.  C.  Reirson,  assistant  cashier.  The  directors  elected 
at  the  last  annual  meeting  were  F.  M.  Beach,  L.  W.  Sherman, 
R.  A.  Anderson,  A.  B.  "Wilder  and  B.  J.  Robertson.  The  capital 
is  $25,000 ;  surplus  and  undivided  profits,  $10,000 ;  average  depos- 
its, $215,000;  total  resources,  $260,000.  It  is  an  ably  managed 
bank,  has  been  successful  during  its  entire  career,  and  has  well 
earned  the  confidence  of  the  public. 

ADAMS. 

The  tliriving  village  of  Adams  having  been  without  banking 
facilities  until  1898,  in  January  of  that  year  Mrs.  Sophronia  Dean, 
of  Northfield,  Minn.,  and  J.  G.  Schmidt,  a  banker  of  that  place, 
together  with  William  W.  Dean,  opened  a  private  bank  known 
as  the  Bank  of  Adams,  owned  and  operated  by  Dean,  Schmidt  & 
Dean,  with  William  W.  Dean  resident  partner  and  active  manager. 
They  purchased  a  lot  and  built  an  attractive,  convenient  banking 
house,  which  they  occupied  as  soon  as  completed.  The  business 
was  conducted  as  a  private  bank  until  January,  1906,  when  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Adams  was  organized,  into  which  the 
private  bank  was  merged.  Its  first  officers  were  J.  G.  Schmidt, 
president;  W.  W.  Dean,  cashier.  Upon  the  retirement  of  J.  G. 
Schmidt,  I\rrs.  S.  Dean  was  chosen  to  succeed  him.     The  present 


HISTORY  OF  MOWKi;  COl'XTY  •.'!).-. 

officers  and  directors  are  as  follows:  Mrs.  S.  Dean,  president; 
Michael  Krebsbach,  vice-president;  W.  W.  Dean,  cashier;  A.  J. 
Krobsbach,  assistant  cashier;  and  L.  H.  Carter,  John  II.  Krebs- 
bach and  Warren  H.  Dean.  The  bank  has  a  capital  of  $25,000; 
surplus,  $5,000;  average  deposits,  $215,000;  total  resources, 
$270,000.  The  First  National  Bank  has  been  an  important  factor 
in  promoting  the  growth  of  Adams,  has  been  a  successful  institu- 
tioUj^aud  has  the  confidence  of  the  public. 

RACINE. 

This  A'illage,  located  in  the  northeastern  township  of  tlie 
county,  was  without  local  banking  facilities  until  the  year  lS!)cS, 
when  the  "Bank  of  Racine,"  a  private  institution,  was  opened  by 
Silas  Utzinger,  C.  F.  Kumm  and  S.  H.  Hale,  the  active  manager 
being  Silas  Utzinger.  In  February,  1908,  this  private  bank  was 
converted  into  the  Racine  State  Bank,  Avhich  was  incorporated 
at  that  time  by  the  same  interests.  The  business  has  steadily 
grown  in  volume,  the  bank  now  having  capital  of  $15,000,  sur- 
plus $2,000,  and  average  deposits  $75,000.  The  present  officers 
and  directors  are  Silas  Utzinger,  president ;  Chris  Schwartz,  vice- 
president ;  R.  "W.  Chadwick,  cashier;  E.  G.  Utzinger,  assistant 
cashier,  and  C.  H.  Stephan,  S.  J.  Sanborn,  J.  G.  Schroeder  and 
J.  F.  Bollinger.  Owing  to  their  geographical  location,  many  of 
Iheir  customers  are  residents  of  the  adjoining  counties  of  Fill- 
more and  Dodge.  The  bank  has  been  a  large  factor  in  develop- 
ing tlie  interests  of  this  prosperous  community  and  enjoys  a  high 
rating. 

ROSE  CREEK. 

Augustus  Vaux,  a  lumber  merchant  of  Rose  Creek,  in  company 
'"ith  F.  M.  Beach,  John  Cronan,  C.  ^^\  Lacy  and  E.  W.  Decker, 
opened  the  Bank  of  Rose  Creek,  a  private  institution,  with  F.  M. 
Beach,  president ;  John  Cronan,  Aace-president,  and  Augustus 
Vaux,  cashier,  in  the  year  1902.  These  persons  sold  their  inter- 
ests in  the  liauk  to  ]\Ir3.  S.  Dean,  William  W.  Dean  and  Warren 
H.  Dean  in  February,  1906,  and  they  conducted  it  as  a  private 
institution  until  ]\larcli.  1908,  when  it  was  incorporated  as  the 
"State  Bank  of  Rose  Creek."  The  following  were  elected  officers 
at  tliat  time  and  liave  been  re-elected  annually:  ^Irs.  S.  Dean, 
president;  John  Cronan,  vice-president;  W.  II.  Dean,  cashier. 
The  bank  occupies  its  own  building  erected  in  l*t()2. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  State  Hnnk 
of  Rose  Creek  at  the  last  call  on  ]March  7,  1911  : 

Resources. —  i.oans  ;ui(l  disenunls,  $85,;i()5..'5() ;  overdrafts, 
$(;7<i.l2;  r.  S.  and  otlier  lioiids,  $12.iM)n;  l.aidsing   house  and  fix- 


2dG  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

tures,  $5,085.21 ;  cash  on   baud  and  in  other  banks,   $27,596.75 ; 
total,  $130,723.38. 

Liabilities. — Capital  stock,  $10,000;  surplus  and  undivided 
prolits,  $1,646.97;  deposits,  $119,076.41;  total,  $130,723.38.  This 
J)ank  is  closely  connected  with  the  First  National  Bank  of  Adams, 
having  substantially  the  same  shareholders,  and  the  foregoing 
figures  tell  their  own  story  of  the  growth  and  healthy  condition 
of  the  bank. 

DEXTER. 

In  October,  1902,  F.  C.  Hartshorn,  of  Clarion,  Iowa,  who  had 
bought  several  farms  in  the  vicinity  of  Dexter,  together  with  his 
son-in-law,  D.  L.  Mills,  and  Lee  T.  Jester,  of  Grand  Meadow, 
organized  a  private  bank  known  as  the  Bank  of  Dexter,  with 
$25,000.  They  built  a  handsome,  convenient  banking  house,  and 
under  the  management  of  D.  L.  Mills  as  cashier,  conducted  the 
bank  for  four  years,  during  which  time  they  worked  up  a  good 
business.  In  January,  1907,  they  sold  the  business  to  G.  A. 
AA^right  and  W.  A.  Nolan,  of  Grand  MeadoAV,  and  Henry  "VVeber, 
Jr.,  F.  M.  Conklin  and  G.  J.  Schottler,  of  Dexter,  Avho  incorpo- 
rated the  business  under  the  name  of  the  First  State  Bank  of 
Dexter,  with  the  above  named  gentlemen  as  directors,  G.  A. 
Wright  being  president  and  F.  M.  Conklin,  cashier.  About  two 
years  ago  the  stock  held  by  Grand  ]\Ieadow  people,  represented 
by  Messrs.  Wright  and  Nolan,  was  sold  and  they  retired  from 
the  bank.  Its  present  officers  are  Henry  AVeber,  Jr.,  president ; 
G.  J.  Schottler,  vice-president;  F.  M.  Conklin,  cashier;  Theodore 
Kramer,  assistant  cashier.  Capital  $10,000;  surplus,  $2,500; 
average  deposits,  $80,000.  The  bank  is  i\-e]]  patronized  and  doing 
a  successful  business. 

SARGEANT. 

The  Bank  of  Sargeant  was  organized  as  a  private  bank  by 
McD.  AVilliams,  of  Dodge  Center,  and  Thomas  Doig,  of  Claremont, 
and  F.  W.  Blanch,  son-in-law  of  the  latter,  they  three  being, 
respectively,  president,  vice-president  and  cashier,  who  conducted 
it  until  its  sale  in  1906  to  W.  G.  Shaffer,  of  New  Hampton,  Iowa  ; 
W.  H.  Schoonmacher  and  F.  AV.  Smock,  of  Riceville,  Iowa,  who 
incorporated  it  as  the  State  Bank  of  Sargeant,  witli  AY.  G.  Shaft'er, 
president,  and  F.  AA^.  Smock,  cashier,  the  latter  being  the  resident 
and  active  officer  of  tlie  bank.  It  has  a  capital  of  $10,000;  surplus 
and  profits,  $2,000;  average  deposits,  $35,000.  The  bank  occupies 
its  ov.'n  building,  having  erected  a  new  banking  office  two  years 
ago.  Its  owners  ar"  connected  with  banking  interests  in  lowii 
and    stand   highly    in    ib'-ir    respective    communities.      It   does   a 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  2!>7 

general  baukiug,  collection  and  real  estate  business,  its  lerritory 
extentiing  into  the  adjoining  county  of  Dodge. 

BROWNSDALE. 

The  Bank  of  Erownsdale  was  organized  as  a  private  bank  in 
February,  1904.  with  $.").000  capital,  the  co-partners  being  N.  K. 
Dahle,  AVilliani  AVaterraan,  J.  H.  Ruprecht,  M.  Stephenson  and 
W.  G.  Weisbeciv,  the  first  two  named  being  president  and  cashier 
respectively.  In  January,  1905,  William  "Waterman  resigned  as 
cashier,  sold  his  interest  in  the  bank  and  removed  to  Nebraska. 
George  M.  Shortt  Avas  chosen  cashier  to  succeed  him.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1908,  having  run  as  a  private  bank  for  four  years,,  the 
business  was  incorporated  and  the  name  adopted  was  the  State 
Bank  of  Brownsdale.  Its  present  oflicers  are  N.  K.  Dahle,  presi- 
dent ;  M.  Stephenson,  vice-president ;  George  M.  Shortt,  cashier, 
and  they,  together  with  F.  E.  Gerbig  and  W.  G.  AVeisbeck,  con- 
stitute its  present  board  of  directors.  It  has  a  capital  of  $10,000 ; 
surplus,  $1,100 ;  average  deposits,  $50,000.  It  is  a  prudently  man- 
aged institution,  and  the  progress  it  has  made  reflects  credit  upon 
its  officers  and  is  evidence  of  the  prosperity  of  the  community  it 
serves. 

WALTHAM. 

The  Bank  of  Waltham,  a  private  bank,  Avas  opened  by  Vebleu, 
Rask  and  company,  in  1903,  Avith  a  capital  of  $10,000;  0.  A. 
Veblen,  president;  O.  P.  Rask,  vice-president,  both  of  Blooming 
Prairie,  Minn.,  and  at  that  time  connected  Avith  the  First  National 
Bank  of  that  place,  and  C.  E.  Sanders,  cashier.  It  Avas  so  con- 
ducted until  June,  1908,  Avhen  the  Waltham  State  Bank  Avas 
incorporated,  taking  over  the  business  of  the  Bank  of  Waltham, 
A.  A.  Morsching  having  succeeded  C.  E.  Sanders  as  cashier. 
Built  and  owns  its  banking  house ;  is  located  in  a  thrifty  German 
settlement  and  doing  a  safe  and  satisfactory  business.  Has  a 
capital  of  $10,000;  surplus,  $2,000;  average  deposits,  $40,000. 
Present  officers  are  0.  A.  Veblen,  of  Minneapolis,  president ;  J.  A. 
Stephan,  vice-president;  L.  S.  Chapman,  cashier;  W.  A.  Clui])man. 
assistant  cashier,  all  Avell  and  favorably  knoAvn,  and  the  pub- 
lished statements  of  the  liank  shoAV  it  to  be  in  a  prosperous 
condition. 

TAOPI. 

In  the  spring  of  1906  L.  E.  Bourquin,  of  Butler  county,  Iowa, 
believing  Taopi  afforded  a  favoraldc  opening  for  a  l)ank.  decided 
to  locate  there,  and  in  ^lay  of  that  year  oi)ened  a  private  bank 
called  the  -'Bank  of  Taopi,"'  in  the  Aliemaii  store  Imiiding.  whiT(> 


298  HISTOPiY  OF  MOAA'ER  COUNTY 

they  transacted  business  until  the  completion  of  the  two-story 
brick  banking  house  erected  that  summer.  In  IMarch,  1908,  the 
bank  was  converted  into  a  stat?  organization,  adopting  as  its 
corporate  name  "The  First  State  Bank  of  Taopi,"  the  incorpo- 
rators being  W.  F.  Jordan,  Tliomas  Kough,  P.  J.  Peterson  and 
L.  E.  Bourquin,  with  P.  J.  Peterson,  president ;  Thomas  Kough, 
vice-president ;  L.  E.  Bourquin,  cashier,  and  A.  J.  Bourquin, 
assistant  cashier.  In  October,  1910,  L.  E.  Bourquin  sold  his 
interest  to  G.  W.  Pitts,  vice-president  of  the  Bank  of  North- 
Avestern  Iowa,  at  Alton,  in  that  state,  and  his  son,  G.  S.  Pitts,  of 
the  same  place,  who  then  assumed  the  management  of  the  bank. 
Directors  are  P.  J.  Peterson,  W.  F.  Jordan,  Thomas  Kough,  G.  W. 
Pitts  and  G.  S.  Pitts,  and  the  officers  are  G.  W.  Pitts,  president ; 
Thomas  Kough,  vice-president ;  G.  S.  Pitts,  cashier,  and  Gladys 
C.  Pitts,  assistant  cashier. 

The  last  statement  made  to  the  superintendent  of  banks  ]\larcl! 
7,  1911,  is  as  folloAvs : 

Resources. — Loans  and  discounts,  .^20,374. 79  ;  bank  building 
and  fixtures,  $4,300;  cash  and  due  from  banks,  $10,475.17;  other 
resources,  $77.27;  total,  $35,227.23. 

Liabilities. — Capital  stock,  $10,000 ;  surplus,  $500 ;  deposits, 
$24,727.23 ;  total,  $35,227.23. 

G.  W.  Pitts  purchased  about  2,500  acres  of  what  is  known  as 
the  "Big  Taopi  Farm,"  and  has  erected  new  farm  buildings  on 
some  of  the  places,  and  is  subdividing  the  large  tract  into  smaller 
farms,  and  is  active  in  promoting  the  interests  of  that  locality. 

The  Mower  County  Transcript,  one  of  the  oldest  newspapers 
published  in  Austin,  for  some  time  past  has  collected  the  state- 
ments of  the  ditferent  banks  in  the  county  and  from  them  has 
compiled  a  condensed  statement  of  all  the  banks,  showing  their 
capital  and  surplus,  deposits,  loans  and  discounts,  and  total 
resources.  The  one  taken  from  the  last  reports,  made  March  7, 
1911,  in  response  to  the  call  made  by  the  comptroller  of  the  cur- 
rency to  the  national  banks,  and  by  the  superintendent  of  banks 
to  the  state  banks,  is  as  follows : 

Condition  of  Banks  of  Mower  County,  Minnesota,  March  7,  1911. 

fupita:  an.l  T.ital  I.oins  and 

Surplus 

First    National,    Austin $  232.720.26 

.\ustin    National,    Austin 67.047.1!) 

Pitizens    National,    Austin r.2,n02.3.'5 

First    State,    I.eRoy .Xi.OOO.OO 

First    National,    LeRoy 30,000.00 

First  National,   Grand  Meadow.  2».63o.7.'> 

ExchanBe  State,  Grand  Meadow  29,000.00 

First    National,    Lyle 33.223.28 

First     National,     Adams 30,000.00 

First   State,    Rose  Creek 11,200.00 

State    Bank,    Brownsdale 11,000.00 

First     State,     Dexter 12.,->00.00 

Waltham   State.   Waltham 12.200.(10 

State    Bank,     SarKeant 12.000.00 

Racine   State   Bank.    Racine 37,000.00 

First    State,    Taopi 10.000.00 

Totals    *    (i2,VrTn".71      .$3,072,120.31      *.3,Sm4,4.3.-..69     .$2,389,885.1)0 


Deposits 

Resources 

Discounts 

983,981.39 

$1,312,301.65 

$    729.325.08 

31.'),483..')0 

431,9.30.78 

232.803.67 

l.'-.2,876.82 

255.834.50 

119.552.35 

160,840,5.') 

204.543.71 

151, 219,59 

190.898.01 

180,076.05 

2:;:'.  t.w,  mi 

lis, .-.(111. 57 

236,267,61 

217.200,99 

2(!(1,424.-- 

173. ',1011.  (17 

214,40,1,51 

ii;s.(iii4.;u 

119,076.41 

i:!i.7(;:!.44 

.S.-,,:!I15.30 

48,625.05 

:!fi.(!S3.1t!l 

82,324.28 

'.I4,:!24.2S 

i;4.o.si.4i 

41,292.41 

.-.3.5,s:{.:!i 

44.173.8!) 

29,014.68 

41.12.3.25 

29,713.11 

74,966.75 

92.347.63 

,56,007.46 

24,730.21 

35.814.40 

20,374.79 

HISTOBY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  299 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

PIONEER  GIRLHOOD. 

Reminiscences  of  Mrs.  Lyman  A.  Sherwood— Trip  From  Winona— 
Incidents  on  the  Way  —  Arrival  in  Austin  —  Austin  as  a 
Pioneer  Village — Fourth  of  July  Celebration — Incidents  of 
the  Early  Days — Life  in  "Old  Headquarters"— Work  on  the 
Cemetery  —  Off  for  the  Civil  War  —  Indian  Scare  —  Other 
Anecdotes. 

Austin  is  fortunate  in  having  as  a  resident  one  who  came  here 
as  a  girl,  and  has  lived  through  the  events  wliieh  have  made 
Austin  what  it  is  today.  Spriglitly  as  a  woman  half  her  years,  it 
seems  almost  impossible  that  she  saw  Austin  when  but  a  cluster 
of  houses  existed  here.  There  have  been  few  movements  in 
which  she  has  not  taken  a  part,  and  she  is  still  in  the  prime  of 
her  activities,  loved  by  the  few  left  Avho  knew  her  as  a  girl,  and 
revered  and  held  in  the  deepest  affection  by  the  younger  genera- 
tion. The  following  article  by  Mrs.  L.  A.  Sherwood,  formerly 
.Vita  Belle  Albro,  contains  a  few  of  her  experiences,  the  hearing 
of  which  when  she  consents  to  tell  them  gives  so  much  pleasure 
to  her  friends. 

"Reminiscing"  I  find  rather  difficult,  especially  where  on;i  is 
writing  for  others  to  read.  The  events  of  the  past  come  crowding 
so  thick  and  fast  that  it  is  hard  to  clioose  that  wliicli  will  be  the 
most  interesting.  I  find  myself  going  back  to  the  beginning,  or 
rather  to  the  time  Avhen  the  J.  L.  Davidson  family,  consisting 
of  father,  mother  and  six  children  (the  eldest  brother  being  at 
Oberlin  college  at  the  time),  moved  from  AVinona,  Minnesota,  to 
Austin.  Moving  in  those  days  was  not  "altogether  a  thing  of 
beauty  and  a  joy  forever."  There  were  no  railroads  and  no  easy 
transportations.  One  thing  we  did  have,  and  that  was  bad 
roads  and  plenty  of  them.  Having  had  a  good  bit  of  travel,  for  a 
child  of  my  age,  before  coming  to  Minnesota,  both  by  rail  and 
l)oat,  I  was  anticipating  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  in  having  a 
four-day  trip  "overland."  We  were  not  going  in  a  "prairie 
Schooner"  or  with  oxen,  as  many  did.  We  had  fine  horses,  and 
with  a  part  of  our  household  goods  well  packed  in  two  respect- 
able looking  wagons,  and  the  two  cows  tied  behind,  we  made  a 
very  good  appearance.  It  was  on  AVednesday,  tlie  24th  day  of 
31ay.  1857,  that  we  left  AVinona  for  Austin.  Fatlier  couldn't  talk 
of  anything  else.  It  was  going  to  l)e  another  Cliicago  right  away. 
Getting  started  rather  late  in  the  afternoon,  we  only  went  as  far 
as  Stockton  the  first  dav.     1  remember  what  a  cosv  little  nest   it 


300  TITSTOllY  OF  :\IOWER  COUXTY 

looked,  nestled  in  among  the  hills.  1  thought  I  wouldn't  mind 
staying  there  always.  The  weather  was  beautiful — birds  wort- 
singing,  tiowers  springing  up  all  around,  and  the  grass  was  liko 
velvet,  and  I  can  remember  as  we  drove  along  the  next  day  how 
I  enjoyed  the  winding  up  and  down,  in  and  out,  around  and 
about  of  that  road  that  led  us  over  the  bluffs  "and  far  away."' 
We  were  to  leave  the  bluffs  Thursday,  and  I  was  enjoying  every 
minute  of  the  time.  We  had  our  lunch  at  noon  in  a  beautiful 
spot  between  two  bluffs.  I  had  wanted  several  times  during  tlu' 
forenoon  to  get  down  from  the  load  and  gather  flowers,  but  no ! 
there  was  no  time  for  that ;  we  were  moving.  So  I  made  a  hasty 
meal  at  luncheon  time  and  spent  the  rest  of  the  time  we  were 
to  stop  in  gathering  the  flowers  and  moss  I  had  so  much  wanted. 
As  we  rode  along  on  our  "winding  way"  we  could  often  touch 
the  bluffs  on  one  side,  while  on  the  other  look  way,  way  down, 
two  or  three  hundred  feet  or  more,  and  just  discern  a  little  stream, 
trickling  along,  singing  its  own  little  song.  When  we  were  on 
the  top  of  one  bluff  we  could  look  across  and  see  where  we  would 
be  on  the  next  one  if  we  ever  got  there.  I  had  been  cautioned 
when  Ave  started  about  sitting  very  still  when  I  Avas  on  the  load 
alone,  for  the  seat  was  just  laid  on,  and  so  far  I  think  I  must 
have  remembered  to  "sit  still,"  for  nothing  had  happened.  We 
were  on  the  top  of  the  last  bluff.  The  road  down  was  very  steep. 
Father  called  and  said  "The  wheels  must  be  chained."  So  Ave 
stopped,  brother  got  down  from  the  Avagon,  and  I  was  thinking 
hoAv  would  we  ever  get  down  that  hill,  with  the  wheels  chained, 
and  I  Avanted  to  see  how  they  chained  the  Avheels.  So  I  leaned  over 
the  side  and  down  I  Avent,  and  the  next  thing  I  knew  I  Avas  going 
doAvn  hill  at  quite  a  speed.  I  Avas  frightened,  of  course,  but  I  luid 
learned  to  roll  down  hill  wiien  quite  a  little  girl  at  Susan  B. 
Anthony's  beautiful  home,  Avhere  I  used  often  to  vist  with  my 
mother,  and  I  thought  as  I  found  myself  going  doAA'n,  "If  I  can 
only  steer  aAvay  from  those  big  rocks  perhaps  I  Avon't  get  hurt." 
However,  I  think  I  must  have  been  too  much  frightened  to  steer 
straight,  for  I  was  soon  caught  in  a  clump  of  bushes.  I  picked 
myself  up  and  climbed  to  the  top  of  tlie  hill.  iMotlier  Avas  so 
frightened  Avhen  she  saAV  me  fall  tluit  she  jumped  from  the 
wagon,  forgetting  all  about  the  bird  cage  which  she  Avas  carrying 
and  had  dropped.  She  Avas  going  after  me.  Father  saw  I  Avould 
soon  be  in  those  bushes.  So  he  held  her  back.  After  they  found 
1  Avas  not  liurt  and  the  birds  safe,  they  had  a  good  laugh,  very 
nuich  at  my  expense,  I  am  afraid.  The  Avheels  Avere  cliained  and 
motlier  and  I  Avere  back  in  our  places.  Father  told  rae  that  here- 
after I  had  better  keep  my  face  to  the  front  and  my  eyes  looking 
straiglil  jilipad.  The  idea  of  giving  a  child,  and  a  girl  at  that. 
sucli  ail  order!     Regardless  of  the  chained  Avheels,  we  reached 


HISTOUY  OF  :\rOWEI?  COUNTY  301 

the  bottom  of  the  hill  in  safety.  The  horses  pricked  up  their 
ears  and  started  otf  on  a  brisk  trot.  It  looked  like  fair  sailing 
now,  and  as  we  had  left  the  birds  behind  (except  our  own)  we 
began  singing  ourselves  to  while  away  the  time.  After  a  while 
we  began  having  little  patches  of  mud.  Then  there  were  more 
of  them.  They  were  larger,  and  deeper.  The  wagon  would  go  up 
on  one  side  and  down  on  the  other.  I  was  beginning  to  wonder 
how  father  expected  me  to  keep  my  face  to  the  front  and  eyes 
looking  straight  ahead,  or  stay  on  the  wagon  either,  but  I  hung 
on  to  something  and  did  the  best  I  could,  for  I  hadn't  had  a  father 
A-ery  long,  and  I  confess  I  was  a  little  bit  afraid  of  him.  Finally 
these  mud  holes  were  so  bad  we  couldn't  get  through  them  with 
one  team,  so  it  took  the  four  horses  to  pull  the  load  through,  then 
they  would  go  back  and  get  the  other  load,  and  that  is  the  way 
it  was  the  most  of  the  time  till  we  reached  High  Forest  Friday 
night.  All  this  while  we  had  had  beautiful  weather,  but  Saturday 
morning  there  was  a  change.  Clouds  began  coming.  It  wasn't 
quite  as  warm,  but  we  started  bright  and  early,  for  it  was  our 
last  day.  About  10  o'clock  it  was  raining  hard  and  growing 
colder.  The  rain  changed  to  snow  and  sleet.  By  noon  we  could 
hardly  see  the  horses,  and  they  finally  stopped  and  refused  to 
go  any  further.  There  we  were,  on  that  bleak  prairie,  not  a  tree 
or  shrub  of  any  kind  in  sight,  and  not  a  house.  There  was  one 
''lone  tree,"  as  it  was  called,  somewhere,  but  nowhere  near  us. 
Anyone  who  has  never  crossed  that  prairie,  in  the  old  days,  com- 
ing from  Winona  to  High  Forest,  don't  know  what  they  have 
missed.  As  the  horses  wouldn't  go  another  step,  we  concluded 
to  stay,  too,  and  make  ourselves  as  comfortable  as  possible.  The 
wagons  were  put  together  in  shape  of  a  "V,"  the  cows  tied  close 
behind  and  the  hoi'ses  close  to  the  wagon  box  in  front.  Our 
bedding  was  put  in  the  corner  and  mother,  Delia  (sister)  and  T 
and  the  birds  were  in  and  covered  up  with  more  bedding,  and 
told  to  keep  still.  We  had  tried  to  eat  our  lunch,  but  were  so 
cold  it  Avas  impossible.  I  don't  know  just  how  long  avc  stayed 
there.  If  seemed  a  very  long  time  to  me,  probably  an  hour  and  a 
half,  when  one  of  the  boys  said  he  believed  he  heard  an  empty 
wagon  coming.  The  storm  was  beginning  to  pass  aAvay.  and 
soon  a  man  with  an  empty  wagon  stopped  beside  us.  He  said  he 
was  going  our  way,  and  the  women  folks  could  be  put  into  his 
wagon.  This  was  done,  bedding  under  us  and  bedding  over  us. 
He  said  he  had  only  to  stop  at  Pierson's  a  minute,  then  he  could 
go  right  on.  When  the  wagon  stopped  we  knew  we  must  be  at 
Pierson's.  A  man  came  to  the  wagon  and  said,  "What  you  got, 
Col])y,  a  load  of  hogs?"  and  began  lifting  the  quilts.  Very  sud- 
denly the  quilts  Av<'re  dropped  and  we  concluded  the  man  didn't 
like  the  looks  of  Colby's  pork.     Our  stop  was  very  sliort  and  we 


303  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

•were  soon  on  the  way  again.  ]\Ir.  C'olhy,  the  gentleman  who  had 
befriended  ns,  lived  two  miles  out  of  Brownsdale,  towards  Aus- 
tin. AVhen  wr  reaehed  his  house  we  found  it  was  tive  o"eloek. 
Fatlier  ajid  the  boys  came  a  Avhile  after  with  the  teams.  It  was  so 
late  in  the  afternoon  Mr.  Colby  thoutilit  we  had  better  stay 
there  till  Monday,  which  we  did.  and  were  very  grateful  for  the 
kind  otfer.  AVe  thought  we  never  would  get  warm  again.  The 
Colby  home  consisted  of  one  room  down  stairs  and  one  above. 
There  were  three  children-in  the  Colby  family.  Thinking  of  our 
stay  there  in  after  years,  I  wondered  how  they  managed  to  stow 
us  ail  away  at  night,  but  they  did,  and  Sunday  afternoon  there 
was  a  Methodist  class  meeting  there.  "We  could  do  anything  in 
these  days. 

Leaving  the  Colby  family,  whose  hospitality  we  were  so  grate- 
ful for,  we  reached  Austin  Monday  morning  al)out  ten  o"eloek, 
the  twenty-ninth  day  of  May,  1857.  We  came  into  town  by  the 
"Old  Territorial  road,"  now  known  as  "Lansing  avenue."'  AVe 
had  a  very  good  view  of  our  future  home.  At  the  head  of  Main 
street,  where  the  Fox  residence  is,  was  the  home  of  L.  N.  Griffith. 
.  To  the  Avest  on  "Water  street,  where  the  George  Hormel  residence 
is,  was  the  home  of  the  Rev.  Stephen  Cook.  That  completed  the 
houses  of  any  description  west  of  Main  street.  ]\Iain  street  at  that 
time  was  nothing  but  hazel  brush.  There  were  no  streets.  One 
could  go  where  one  chose.  "We  drove  to  the  hotel  kept  by  Snow 
&  AVilbour,  the  only  hotel  in  the  town,  located  on  ]\Iill  street,  on 
the  site  of  the  Williams  house.  To  go  the  same  way  today  would 
take  us  through  Murphey's  dry  goods  store  and  tlie  meat  market 
of  John  Briebach.  Across  from  the  hotel  there  were  two  or  three 
small  buildings,  one  occupied  by  Yates  &  Lewis  as  a  store.  Dr. 
Orlenzer  Allen,  the  father  of  Dr.  A.  W.  Allen,  now  here,  luul  ;i 
drug  store  in  the  same  building.  A  little  further  east  on  the 
south  side  of  the  street,  where  the  German  hotel  now  stands,  was 
a  log  building,  the  home  and  store  of  Fathei-  Brown.  Water 
street  had  a  few  buildings.  J.  C.  Ackley  lived  where  the  express 
ofifice  now  is,  or  a  lot  below.  Then  there  were  perhaps  half  a 
dozen  more  going  toward  the  river.  A  Mr.  "Walters  lived  in  one. 
A  Mr.  Brown  lived  in  another.  Esquire  Sylvester  Smith  and  Dr. 
and  Lawyer  Allen  lived  in  others.  Possibly  tliere  were  a  few 
(itliers.  "i'liei'e  were  three  houses  on  Chatham  street,  where  tlie 
Elk  hotel  now  stands.  K.  L.  Kimble  and  his  brother  had  a  liard- 
wai'e  store  in  the  first.  The  postoffice  was  also  there,  and  llie 
family  lived  in  the  second  floor.  The  next  store  was  that  of 
Sprague  &  ITanchett.  The  last  was  the  home  of  Chauncey  Lev- 
ericli.  I  lliiiik  these  were  all  the  buildings  with  the  exception. 
jiossilily,  of  one  or  two  others  right  in  the  same  vicinity.  1  liad 
lal<en  llieiii  all  in  while  wailing  for  father  and  mother  to  decide 


HISTORY  OF  :\r0WElJ  COUNTY  ;'.<)•'> 

what  to  do  about  ri'inaining  at  the  liotel.  Of  course'  1  tlid  iu)t 
then  kuoAv  the  naiiu's  of  the  people,  but  learned  them  afterward. 

And  I  am  reminded  right  liere  how  the  first  Dr.  Allen  hap- 
pened to  make  his  home  in  Austin.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he  started 
from  his  home  in  Wisconsin  with  his  wife  and  son  George  for 
Faribault  to  locate.  Coming  by  way  of  McGregor,  they  i-cachcd 
Austin  In-  night.  So  they  were  obliged  to  stay  here  until  tlic 
next  day.  The  hotel  was  so  full  they  could  not  be  accommodated 
there.  Mr.  Snow  took  them  over  to  a  Mr.  Brown's,  son  of  the 
merchant,  living  on  Water  street,  where  the  large  double  house 
now  stands.  Tliey  found  they  could  have  a  room  for  the  night. 
Tliey  had  been  there  but  a  few  minutes  when  a  man  came  for  the 
doctor  to  pull  a  tooth.  This  he  did  for  fifty  cents.  The  next 
morning,  while  at  breakfast,  a  man  drove  up  to  the  door  in  great 
haste.  He  said  he  had  heard  that  there  was  a  physican  there. 
He  wanted  him  to  go  and  see  his  wife,  who  was  very  ill.  The 
doctor  being  a  very  kind-hearted  man,  could  not  refuse.  So  he 
went  and  did  not  go  on  his  way  to  Faribault,  as  he  had  intended, 
tlie  next  day.  The  result  of  this  hurry  call  was  that  Mower 
county  had  one  more  voter,  and  Dr.  Allen  decided  to  remain  in 
Austin,  where  it  was  apparent  he  was  very  much  needed.  Thus 
he  became  our  first  physician  and  remained  here  for  many  years, 
finally  going  back  to  AVisconsin,  where  lie  felt  that  his  duty 
called  him.  When  he  left  here  he  retained  his  property,  thinking 
to  return.  The  time,  however,  never  came,  as  he  was  called  to 
his  eternal  home.  His  son  came  a  few  years  later,  bringing  the 
dear  mother  with  him.  Mrs.  Allen  was  one  of  our  first  callers, 
and  the  friendship  begun  in  those  early  days  continued  until  the 
day  of  her  death,  which  was  only  four  or  five  years  ago,  when  she 
was  in  her  eighty-second  year. 

"But  to  resume,"  as  "Samanthy"'  says.  We  found  after 
going  into  the  house  that  the  people  were  glad  to  see  us  and  glad 
that  we  had  come  to  town.  But  it  was  Monday  morning,  the 
house  was  full  and  there  was  not  much  to  eat,  and  to  have  seven 
more  come  to  dinner  looked  like  a  mountain  to  Mrs.  Snow,  as 
she  confided  to  us  after  we  became  better  acquainted.  We  decided 
to  go  over  to  the  house.  Father  had  bought  a  piece  of  salt  pork 
and  potatoes  from  Mr.  Colby,  we  had  brought  some  provisions 
with  us,  and  thus  could  get  om-  own  dinner.  So  we  started  cross- 
lots  again  through  hazel  brush  and  I  am  afraid  right  through 
"The  First  National  Bank."  But  that  did  not  matter  in  those 
days.  On  reaching  the  building,  mother  did  not  know  whether 
to  laugh  or  to  cry.  H  looked  like  a  great  barn.  The  front  below 
was  not  inclosed.  The  stairs  were  on  the  outside.  On  going 
ui)stairs  we  found  one  large  room.  Not  a  word  was  said,  but  1 
tliink  father  must  have  Iciiowii  liow  wi'  felt,  for  lie  said:    "Well. 


304  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

this  is  the  only  place.  We'll  have  to  stay  here  till  the  house  is 
ready  for  us."  Sis  said:  "Every  back  is  fitted  for  its  burden," 
so  w.e  went  to  work.  The  stove  was  immediately  set  up ;  by  noou 
the  table  was  set,  and  a  good  dinner  ready  to  be  eaten,  and  what 
is  more,  seven  hungry  people  ready  to  eat.  By  night  we  had  a 
very  comfortable  looking  home.  Carpets  and  sheets  were  used  for 
partitions,  and  if  we  didn't  have  all  the  comforts  of  life,  we  had 
a  place  to  stay. 

We  had  brought  with  us  quite  a  supply  of  provisions,  half 
barrel  of  butter,  sacks  of  codfish,  coflt'ee  and  everything  in  that 
line,  for  father  said  it  would  be  hard  to  get  things  to  eat.  What 
we  wanted  most  was  fresh  meats.  Once  in  a  while  a  farmer  would 
sell  a  pig,  but  unless  one  had  ordered  it  or  happened  to  get  to  the 
man  first  when  he  came  to  town,  one  was  not  so  sure  of  getting  a 
piece.  The  farmers  hadn't  many  pigs  to  kill,  and  beef  was  out 
of  the  question.  Callers  began  coming  the  very  next  day  after 
our  arrival.  AVe  thought  it  very  kind  in  them  to  come  and  not 
to  be  formal  about  calling,  and  then  they  had  a  curiosity  to  see 
how  we  looked.  They  had  been  here  all  winter  long  and  not  a 
new  arrival.  We  found  there  was  another  reason  in  several 
cases.  Mrs.  Kimbal  was  the  first  to  come.  How  well  I  remember 
her — her  black  eyes  snapping,  with  the  fun  that  was  in  her. 
She  stayed  quite  a  while.  Finally  she  said  I  like  the  looks  of 
those  cows  about  as  much  as  anything;  don't  you  think  you  could 
let  me  have  milk  right  along?  There  was  no  reason  why  we 
could  not,  so  mother  said  yes,  she  could  have  it  by  the  quart, 
brother  didn't  know  how  much  it  would  be  as  yet.  ]Mrs.  Kimbal 
said  she  had  been  paying  ten  cents  a  quart  all  the  time ;  that  Avas 
what  everybody  paid.  Mother  thought  if  that  was  the  case, 
that's  what  we  would  charge,  but  it  was  terrible.  The  callers 
didn't  always  want  something  to  eat,  but  when  they  did  they 
knew  they  could  have  it.  The  boys  were  going  to  Winona  every 
week  for  lumber  for  the  house,  and  they  could  always  bring  out 
supplies  of  some  kind,  and  in  this  we  all  did  quite  a  bit  of  trading, 
which  finally  led  to  our  having  a  store  of  our  own.  No  man 
would  go  to  the  "river"'  for  goods  of  any  kind  unless  others  were 
going.  It  wasn't  safi>.  Tlie  roads  were  in  such  a  terrible  condi- 
tion the  ino.st  of  the  time  that  they  might  find  themselves  going 
lo  China,  and  no  one  to  help.  So  if  there  wasn't  two  teams  to  go 
no  one  went,  or  it  was  very  seldom  one  would  start  out  alone. 
And  it  was  so  easy  to  get  out  of  things.  One  little  incident  T  must 
mention.  Father  came  in  one  day  and  said :  "Wife,  have  you  any 
darning  needles?"  Mother  answered  :  '"*  Yes,  two  or  three.  Why, 
did  you  want  them?"  "No,  T  was  just  down  to  Brown's  store;  a 
man  from  tlic  country  caiiic  in  for  supplies,  among  tlicni  darning 
needles.     Mr.   Brown   had   but    two;  llie  man   wanted   both.      .Air. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  305 

Brown  woiildu't  let  him  have  both;  it  woukl  break  his  assort- 
ment, and  besides  someone  else  might  want  one.  I  lliought  if  you 
didn't  have  any,  I'd  go  and  get  that  one." 

The  second  Sunday  we  were  here  there  was  a  terrific  storm 
came  up  in  the  afternoon.  It  came  so  quickly  there  was  no  time 
to  think  what  to  do.  We  were  all  outdoors,  mother,  Delia  and  I. 
We  hurried  upstairs  as  fast  as  possible,  but  could  hardly  get  up, 
the  wind  was  so  bad.  We  were  in  just  in  time  to  see  the  west 
windows  blown  in.  We  couldn't  keep  the  door  shut,  so  I  found 
a  stick  and  braced  it  against  the  door,  then  sat  on  it  to  keep  it 
in  place.  Milk  pans  were  blown  otf,  shelves  and  everything  went 
lielter  skelter.  We  expected  the  house  would  go  over.  The  men 
couldn't  get  upstairs,  and  they  expected  every  minute  to  see  the 
building  go  over.  Galloway 's  new  building  blew  down ;  also  Mr. 
Ackley's  new  house,  which  was  being  built  where  the  "Hub" 
building  now  stands,  was  blown  down,  but  we  were  spared  any 
serious  accident.  Every  one  in  town  was  ready  to  come  to  our 
assistance   and  vras  watching  our  building  till  the   storm  had 


We  had  a  Fourth  of  July,  too,  that  first  summer.  The  exer- 
cises were  held  somewhere  near  Kenwood  avenue,  west,  under 
the  beautiful  oaks,  which  at  that  time  might  have  been  taken  for 
a  good  sized  orchard.  We  had  a  "fife  and  drum"  to  head  the 
procession.  Esquire  Smith  was  president  of  the  day.  Judge  Allen 
read  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  Rev.  Mr.  Gurney  gave  the 
address,  Rev.  Cook  offered  the  prayers,  and  the  singing  was  what 
might  have  been  expected  from  a  much  larger  town.  The  singers 
were  Wm.  Cook,  John  F.  Cook,  Rufus  Kimble,  John  Hallot, 
Quincy  Andrews,  Mrs.  Dr.  Wheat,  Mrs.  R.  Kimble,  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Davidson  and  Hattie  Adams.  I  was  too  small  to  be  in  the  chorus, 
but  my  hoop  skirt  was  there,  borroAved  for  the  occasion  and  worn 
by  one  of  the  ladies. 

Flowers  decked  the  speakers'  stand,  ciilled  from  nature's 
green  house.  Everything  had  passed  oft'  finely.  They  had  come 
to  the  end  of  the  program  when  the  president  arose  to  make  his 
last  remarks,  closing  by  saying,  "We  have  been  hearing  about 
all  kinds  of  institutions  this  morning,  now  we  will  adjourn  to  the 
bread-and-butter  institution,"  when  doAvn  went  the  platform  and 
everybody  on  it.  It  had  been  built  rather  high,  and  not  very  se- 
cure, and  was  so  surprised  with  the  amount  of  talent  Au.stin  had 
displayed  that  it  just  collapsed.  No  damage  was  done.  Every- 
one felt  so  happy  on  that  beautiful  day  that  they  were  not  going 
1o  let  a  little  thing  like  that  mar  their  pleasure.  Ample  justice 
was  done  to  the  good  things  that  had  been  prepared  to  make  men 
liappy.  P('Oi)l('  came  from  far  niid  iicai-.  witli  ox  teams,  horse 
icaiiis  and  on   foot.  1o  tliat  first  ••Fourth   nf  .Inlv    "  celebration. 


306  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Austin  was  always  an  adventurous  town,  it  seems,  adding 
a  good  deal  of  spice  to  every  undertaking.  Austin  had  been 
chosen  the  county  seat,  but  we  had  to  steal  the  records  in  order 
to  get  them.  These  were  hid  under  a  bed  for  safe  keeping  until 
the  excitement  had  died  out.  The  county  treasurer  did  not  know 
what  he  could  do  for  excitement,  but  finally  decided  to  burn  the 
books.  J.  E.  Willard,  deciding  to  return  east  (or  rather  his  Avife 
deciding),  determined  to  let  his  friend,  Ed.  Ford,  have  his  office 
as  clerk  of  the  court.  Another  man,  however,  went  to  Judge 
Donaldson  and  got  his  official  appointment,  feeling  quite  gay  that 
he  had  for  once  outwitted  someone.  But  when  he  wanted  the  be- 
longings to  the  clerk's  office,  those  holding  them  would  not  give 
them  up.  Thus  some  time  passed.  Finally  a  plan  was  made  by 
which  to  get  the  desk  and  records,  the  desk  being  nothing  but  a 
table  about  three  feet  long  with  a  box  containing  a  few  pigeon 
holes.  The  clerk's  office  at  the  time  was  in  Galloway's  store  by 
the  front  window,  behind  the  counter.  A  customer  was  found 
that  would  go  some  night  after  dark  and  purchase  some  goods 
that  was  kept  in  the  cellar.  As  one  small  lamp  was  the  only  light 
kept  in  the  store  in  the  evening  that  light  had  to  be  taken  to  the 
cellar.  AVhile  the  parties  were  in  the  cellar  with  the  light,  Allen 
Mollison  jumped  over  the  counter,  which  was  quite  near  the  door, 
and  the  "clerk's  office"  was  easily  lifted  over  the  counter  and 
went  to  its  new  home.  Everything  seemed  to  be  all  right,  but 
the  "seal."  That  could  not  be  found,  and  it  was  some  time  be- 
fore it  was  found.  Then  in  some  mysterious  way  it  came  to  light 
again  and  was  hid  in  a  pile  of  calicoes  in  ^Irs.  Davidson's  store, 
till  it  was  thought  safe  to  produce  it. 

The  first  concert  given  in  Austin  was  by  the  Sherwood  broth- 
ers, assisted  by  John  Hallot,  a  yoiuig  gentleman  living  in  Austin 
at  the  time.  It  was  given  in  Headquarters  the  latter  part  of  July, 
1857.  A  little  later  a- family  by  the  name  of  Baker  came  and 
gave  us  a  treat  in  the  musical  line.  So  from  the  first  Austin  has 
always  been  called  a  musical  town. 

The  women  of  Austin  have  always  been  foremost  in  work  for 
the  betterment  of  our  town.  How  Avell  I  remember  the  time  when 
a  meeting  had  been  called  at  our  house  for  forming  a  society,  by 
which,  in  some  way,  we  could  earn  money  to  purchase  grounds 
for  a  cemetery.  There  had  been  several  deaths  here  and  no  place 
to  bury  our  dead.  The  society  was  formed  and  called  the  "Ladies' 
Mite  Society  of  Austin."  The  men,  hearing  of  what  we  had  done, 
thought  it  time  for  them  to  go  to  work.  This  they  did,  and  they 
purchased  the  ground  that  is  knoAvn  as  the  old  part  of  the 
cemetery.  A  very  small  portion  up  in  front  was  surveyed  and 
laid  out  in  lots.  The  ladies  took  the  work  of  fencing  the  ground. 
The  men  did  nothing  more  towards  finishing  the  survey  or  lay- 


lllSTOlfY  OF  :\rOWEI{  COUNTY  :50T 

ing  out  the  vest  of  the  blocks.  Several  years  passed.  When  the 
ladies  thought  it  was  time  again  for  them  to  do  something,  we 
decided  on  a  day  (I  think  it  was  a  day  in  September,  1864)  for 
work  on  the  cemetery  grounds  and  invited  the  men  to  help  us. 
We  were  to  give  them  their  dinner  and  supper.  Early  in  the 
morning  of  the  day  appointed  one  could  see  men  and  women 
carrying  implements  of  all  kinds,  wending  their  way  to  the 
cemetery,  and  all  day  one  could  see  men  and  women  working, 
the  women  driving  stakes,  holding  chains,  picking  brush  and 
burning  it.  The  dinner  and  supper  were  served  across  the  street 
in  the  yard  belonging  to  AVilliam  Crane.  Austin  certainly  looked 
like  a  deserted  village  that  day,  and  the  work  which  the  ladies 
begun  has  been  kept  up  till  now  we  have  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful resting  places  for  one's  loved  ones  "gone  before"  in  Minne- 
sota. 

Shall  I  ever  forget  the  day  the  little  company  of  men,  headed 
by  Captain  Mooers,  marched  into  town  ?  It  was  known  they  were 
coming.  A  "war  meeting"  was  to  be  held  in  the  afternoon,  and 
I  had  thought  to  have  my  little  school  dismissed  before  they  ar- 
rived. But  when  the  sound  of  that  "fife  and  drum"  broke  upon 
our  ears  we  all  rushed  to  the  door,  pupils  and  teacher,  and  we 
were  there  ready  to  receive  them.  So  they  came  to  a  halt  before 
the  door,  and  it  is  needless  to  say  they  were  received  with  cheers 
and  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs  from  the  little  band  of  scholars 
that  were  there  to  receive  them. 

Before  that  company  of  soldiers  left  town  that  night  their 
numbers  had  been  increased  by  several  of  our  own  townsmen, 
and  many  will  remember  that  that  brave  captain  was  one  of  the 
first  to  fall  for  "his  country"  in  a  very  few  months  after  going 
to  the  front.  The  ladies  of  Austin  purchased  a  silk  flag  for  the 
company  with  the  names  of  the  donors  printed  upon  its  silken 
folds.  It  has  been  through  many  a  battle,  but  never  was  trailed 
in  the  dust.  It  was  brought  home  by  the  captain,  George  Baird. 
after  the  close  of  the  war  and  is  now  in  Mrs.  Baird 's  possession. 

The  people  who  lived  in  Austin  in  October.  1862.  will  never 
forget  the  night  we  expected  the  Indians  and  they  didn't  come. 
We  made  great  preparations  for  them  and  posted  our  sentinels 
on  the  outskirts  of  town.  The  blacksmiths  were  running  bullets 
all  night.  A  company  had  just  been  raised  in  Austin  and  the 
towns  and  country  around  and  had  gone  to  reinforce  General 
Sibley,  who  was  then  fighting  the  Indians,  so  our  force  of  men 
was  not  as  large  as  it  would  otherwise  have  been.  We  had  brave 
ones  left,  however,  and  they  worked  with  a  will.  Nearly  all 
thought  it  not  possible  for  the  Indians  to  got  here,  but  the  people 
were  coming  in  so  thick  and  fast,  hotel  and  private  houses  filling 
and  manv  would  not  leave  tlieir  wagons  for  fear  they  would  not 


308  IIISTOKY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

reach  them  in  time  to  get  away.  When  the  Indians  did  come, 
such  a  frightened  lot  you  never  did  see — children  were  brought  in 
half  dressed,  women  with  no  shoes  on,  or  perhaps  one  shoe.  It 
was  enough  to  frighten  anyone,  knowing  what  had  just  been  done 
around  New  Ulm.  Father  and  mother  were  away  and  would  not 
return  till  next  day,  so  sister  and  I  were  all  alone.  We  had 
friends  that  came  to  stay  with  us  and  finally  two  or  three  families 
that  came  to  the  hotel  and  couldn't  get  in  wanted  to  come  to  our 
house  and  we  were  glad  to  have  them. 

Mr.  Ackley  told  me  if  I  could  get  father's  papers  and  our 
small  silver  in  any  shape  that  wouldn't  take  up  any  room  I  had 
better  get  them  ready;  we  would  want  some  quilts,  he  would 
have  his  horses  ready  and  could  take  all  that  was  at  our  house 
if  the  Indians  should  come.  I  put  three  dresses  on  my  sister  and 
three  on  myself,  put  the  silver  and  papers  into  two  towels,  sewed 
them  securely,  then  put  one  on  Delia  (my  sister)  and  I  wore  one, 
bustle  .shape,  and  in  that  condition  we  waited  and  waited.  Three 
shots  in  quick  succession  was  to  be  the  signal.  Sometime  after 
midnight  the  first  one  came.  We  were  at  the  door  in  an  instant, 
each  with  a  bundle  of  silverware.  But  the  other  shots  were  never 
heard  and  about  daylight,  after  much  pleading  and  many  tears, 
I  allowed  Delia  to  take  off  some  of  her  extra  adornments. 

And  so  ended  our  Indian  scare. 

In  looking  over  the  past  fifty-four  years  and  thinking  what 
Austin  was  and  what  she  is  today  we  feel  we  can  well  be  proud 
of  our  little  city.  We  have  never  had  a  boom  and  for  many 
years  had  no  railroad.  We  had  a  great  many  things  to  contend 
Avith,  but  we  have  come  out  of  the  fray  with  our  banners  flying 
and  we  are  a  "city  of  homes." 

Of  the  J.  L.  Davidson  family  that  reached  Austin  on  the 
twenty-ninth  day  of  ]\Iay,  1857,  only  two  remain.  The  rest  are 
lying  in  our  beautiful  Oak  Wood  cemetery,  waiting.  The  two 
are  :    Adella  Davidson  Mandeville  and  Alta  Belle  Albro  Sherwood. 


H1ST01{Y  OF  :\rOWER  COUNTY  im 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  NEWSPAPERS. 

Introduction  by  Gertrude  Ellis  Skinner  —  Story  of  the  First 
Newspaper  in  the  County — History  of  the  Founding,  Growth, 
Development  and  Present  Status  of  the  Journals  of  Mower 
County. 

The  newspaper  of  today  is  the  history  of  tomorrow.  Kdilor.-> 
seldom  think  they  write  history.  Your  copy  of  the  local  paper 
may  be  used  to  wrap  the  family  laundry,  cover  the  pantry  shelf 
or  be  placed  under  the  carpet.  In  a  month  from  the  time  a 
newspaper  is  issued,  it  would  be  difficult  to  locate  a  single  copy, 
but  in  the  newspaper  office  itself,  it  has  been  preserved  and  placed 
upon  file.  These  files  become  an  asset  of  the  office  and  increas« 
in  value  as  the  papers  become  yellow  with  age.  Here  in  the 
musty  volumes  is  found  the  history  of  your  toAvn,  your  county, 
your  state.  The  history  of  this  county  could  not  be  written  were 
it  not  for  the  records  of  newspaper  files.  The  State  Historical 
Society  recognizes  the  value  of  newspaper  history  and  a  complete 
file  of  every  newspaper  in  the  state  is  kept  by  the  Historical 
Society.  Inaccurate  history,  do  you  say?  Perhaps  so,  and  yet 
the  most  accurate  it  is  possible  to  get,  and  infinitely  more  nearly 
accurate  than  almost  any  other  historical  source.  The  editor  of  a 
newspaper  not  only  means  to  get  correct  information  but  uses 
the  source  method  for  every  important  article  he  prints.  Each 
day,  if  he  edits  a  daily,  each  week,  if  a  weekly,  his  effort  stands 
before  the  bar  of  pul)lic  criticism.  His  critics  are  those  intimately 
concerned  in  the  articles  published.  They  do  not  trust  to  memory, 
hearsay,  legend  or  tradition.  They  are  eye  or  ear  witnesses  or 
star  actors  in  the  passing  drama.  They  surely  are  trustworthy 
critics.  With  them  the  newspaper  must  pass  muster.  If  facts 
are  not  stated  correctly,  they  are  corrected.  What  other  history 
could  stand  this  crucial  test?  The  newspaper  that  is  not  substan- 
tially accurate,  cannot  and  does  not  live.  Time  gives  authen- 
ticity. Criticism  is  forgotten,  minor  inaccuracies  overlooked  and 
the  newspaper  record  stands  as  the  accepted  history  of  an  event. 
A  newspaper  is  not  mere  gossip.  It  is  a  record  of  passing  events. 
Reports  of  buildings,  new  industries,  biographies,  social  events, 
religious  movements,  births,  deaths,  politics,  policies,  honors  tlial 
come  in  people,  crimes  which  blacken  our  record,  onward  and 
backward  moves  in  pr-ogi-ess,  disasters,  amusements,  accidents, 
epidemii-s — all  make  up  the  newspaper  liistoi-y  of  a  coimnunit \ . 
It  is  the  niiri-or  of  life  as  it  is  dailv  liv.'d  here  and  now. 


310  HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

The  newspaper  is  everywhere  recognized  as  the  adjunct  of 
civilization.  The  new  town,  however  far  removed  from  the  busy- 
marts  of  trade,  clamors  for  a  newspaper.  Never  satisfied  until  it 
gets  one,  and  never  satisfied  after  it  has  one.  The  newspaper  is 
the  nucleus  of  criticism  for  the  entire  community.  Everyone 
knows  how  it  should  be  run  better  than  the  editor.  Its  policies 
and  its  literature  are  criticized  and  yet  people  want  it  and  at 
heart  are  loyal  to  it,  for  they  recognize  its  value.  They  read  it 
and  M-ant  it  to  push  along  movements  they  are  interested  in. 
A  religious  revival,  county  fair,  market  day,  civic  improvement 
measures,  new  policies  or  politicians — all  need  the  newspaper  to 
give  them  an  impetus.  The  press  must  arouse  the  people. 
Through  no  other  avenue  can  so  many  be  reached.  A  mass  meet- 
ing can  touch  but  a  mere  handful  compared  with  the  numbers 
reached  in  each  issue  of  a  newspaper. 

The  more  progressive  a  community,  the  more  they  read  news- 
papers. Mower  county  has  always  been  a  good  field  for  the  press, 
because  of  the  intelligence  of  its  people.  There  are  but  few 
families  in  the  entire  county  where  the  local  newspaper  is  not 
read.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  this  county  has  never  had  a 
newspaper  printed  in  a  foreign  language. 

Mower  county  has  eight  newspapers — seven  weeklies  and  one 
daily.  They  are  :  The  Grand  ^leadow  Record,  The  LeRoy  Inde- 
pendent, The  Adams  Review,  The  Lyle  Tribune,  The  Mower 
County  Republican,  The  Mower  County  Transcript,  Tlie  Austin 
Weekly  Herald,  The  Austin  Daily  Herald. 

AUSTIN. 

]\rower  County  ]\Iirror — Mower  county  had  been  organized 
about  two  years  before  a  paper  was  printed  wathin  its  borders. 
Several  etforts  were  made  to  secure  the  establishment  of  a  paper, 
but  each  failed.  Finally,  David  Blakely,  who  was  then  publishing 
a  paper  called  the  Pioneer,  at  Bancroft,  Freeborn  county,  was 
induced  to  come  to  Austin  and  establish  the  IMower  County 
Mirror.  The  consideration  of  this  removal,  it  is  said,  was  the 
election  of  Mr.  Blakely  to  the  office  of  register  of  deeds  of  Mower 
county.  Bancroft,  where  Mr.  Blakely  had  been  engaged  in  the 
publication  of  the  Pioneer,  was  an  embryo  village,  located  a  short 
distance  northwest  of  Albert  Lea.  It  was  then  a  competitor 
against  Albert  Lea  for  the  county  seat  honors,  and  Mr.  Blakely 's 
paper  took  an  active  part  in  the  tight  which,  however,  ended  in 
the  securing  of  the  coveted  prize  l)y  Albert  Lea.  Early  in  the 
fall  of  lsr)S,  tli(^  office  was  removed  to  Austin,  and  with  the  same 
malerial,  tin-  Mower  ('(Hiiity  ^lirror  was  l)rouglit  into  existence. 
The  heatl  of  liie  new  paper  was  delayed  in  reaching  here,  and 


HISTOEY  OF  MO  WEE  COUNTY  311 

for  several  weeks  the  paper  was  issued  at  Austin,  hearing  the 
old  head,  "Bancroft  Pioneer."  C.  H.  Davidson  rolled  the  forms 
and  set  type  for  the  first  issue  of  the  Mirror,  being  then  a  lad 
of  eleven  years  of  age.  During  the  years  1859  and  18()(),  Mr. 
Blakely  held  the  office  of  register  of  deeds  and  continued  the 
publication  of  the  paper.  Finally,  early  in  the  fall  of  1860,  he 
removed  the  press,  type  and  material  to  Rochester,  and  tliere 
established  the  Rochester  Post. 

The  Minnesota  Courier. — After  the  publication  of  the  Mirror 
ceased  Mower  county  was  without  a  paper  for  several  months. 
The  want  of  a  newspaper,  however,  was  soon  supplied  by  the 
establishment  of  the  Minnesota  Courier.  The  first  issue  made  its 
appearance  December  5,  1860,  as  a  six  column  folio,  all  published 
in  Austin.  The  founder  was  B.  F.  Jones.  Among  the  home  adver- 
tisers in  the  first  issue  were  the  following:  Attorneys,  Aaron  8. 
Everest,  Allen  &  Shortt,  D.  B.  Johnson,  Jr.,  G.  M.  Cameron. 
Physicians,  Drs.  J.  N.  Wheat  and  Orlenzer  Allen;  T.  J.  Lake, 
county  treasurer;  Piper  &  Hunt,  blacksmiths,  J.  S.  Lacy,  hotel; 
S.  AV.  Rice,  blacksmith;  H.  B.  Kimball,  painter;  G.  W.  Bishop, 
sherifl!;  E.  Parleman,  jeweler;  H.  S.  Holt,  wagon  maker;  and 
G.  "\V.  Mitchell,  cabinet  shop.  The  publication  of  the  Courier  was 
continued  until  January  4,  1864,  when  it  ceased  to  exist.  The 
editor,  B.  F.  Jones,  had  gone  into  the  service,  and  his  father, 
William  C.  Jones,  took  charge  and  managed  the  paper  for  some 
time  previous  to  the  last  issue. 

The  Austin  Register. — The  first  issue  of  the  Mower  County 
Register  made  its  appearance  July  2,  1863.  H.  R.  Davidson  was 
editor  and  proprietor.  The  paper  was  then  a  six-column  folio 
sheet,  all  printed  at  home.  The  subscription  price  was  .$1.50  per 
year.  Among  the  advertisements  in  the  first  issue  were  the  fol- 
loAving:  W.  Truesdale,  farm  machinery.  Allen  &  Shortt,  Aaron 
8.  Everest  and  H.  R.  Davidson,  attorneys.  H.  Jacobs,  manufac- 
turer and  dealer  in  ready-made  clothing.  J.  S.  Lacy,  proprietor 
Lacy  House ;  V.  P.  Lewis,  hardware  dealer.  Lansing  advertise- 
ments :  Hartly  &  Sons,  plow  manufacturers  and  blacksmiths. 
"AVestern  Home  House,"  S.  T.  Wells,  proprietor.  E.  F.  Arm- 
strong, manufacturer  of  men's  boots  and  shoes.  Brownsdale 
cards:  Thomas  Allred,  boot  and  shoe  store.  Heath  House,  R.  C. 
Heath,  proprietor.  One  of  the  local  items  in  the  second  issue  was 
the  following:  "AVe  want  no  Jeff.  Davis!"  H.  R.  Davidson  con- 
tinued the  management  of  the  paper  until  his  death,  wliich 
occurred  ^May  4,  1864.  At  tliis  time  C.  H.  Davidson,  a  l)r()tliti' 
of  the  foimder,  took  charge  of  the  paper,  and  shortly  afterward 
the  firm  name  "C.  H.  Davidson  &  Co."  appeared  at  the  mast 
liead.  In  the  issue  of  July  14,  1864,  it  is  announced  tliat  James  T. 
Wheeler,  of  St.   Cliarles,  III.,   had  become   associated   with   Mr. 


312  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Davidson  in  the  publication  of  the  Register.  The  firm  became 
Davidson  &  Wheeler.  The  new  member  of  the  firm  did  not,  how- 
ever, remove  to  Austin,  and  in  a  short  time  his  connection  with 
the  paper  was  severed.  After  this  C.  H.  Davidson  continued  to 
conduct  the  Register  alone,  until  August,  1868,  when  H.  0.  Has- 
ford  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  paper,  and  the  firm  of  David- 
sou  &  Basford  Avas  formed.  In  April,  1871,  D.  AY.  Craig  became 
a  partner  of  Davidson  &  Basford  in  the  publication  of  the  Reg- 
ister. June  29,  1871,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Austin  Register. 
Davidson  &  Basford  continued  the  publication  of  the  Register 
until  June  13,  1878,  when  that  firm  was  dissolved,  C.  II.  Davidson 
selling  his  interest  to  H.  0.  Basford.  After  retiring  from  the 
Register  Mr.  Davidson  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Transcript. 
In  August,  1883,  the  Register  office,  with  the  balance  of  Basford 's 
brick  block,  fell  to  the  ground,  causing  a  great  loss  to  all  the 
owners.  The  cause,  it  is  supposed,  was  the  poor  quality  of  stone 
used  in  the  foundation  of  the  building. 

]\Ir.  Basford  ran  the  paper  alone  until  January  12,  1899,  when 
he  took  his  son  Harry  into  partnership.  In  1901  the  paper  Avas 
leased  to  S.  SAveningsen,  then  postmaster,  who  ran  it  for  a  year 
AAnth  W.  6.  Cameron  of  Winona,  as  editor.  H.  0.  Basford  &  Son 
then  resumed  management.  Mr.  Brooks  purchased  an  interest 
and  the  firm  became  Basford,  Brooks  &  Basford.  INIr.  Brooks 
remained  but  a  short  time.  The  next  change  came  Avhen  Johu 
Bingham  purchased  a  half  interest  and  the  same  year  the  Basfords 
sold  their  interest  to  W.  J.  Tyler.  Mr.  Bingham  retired  and  I\Ir. 
Tyler  ran  the  paper  until  May,  1908,  AA'hen  the  Register  suspended 
publication.  A  daily  Avas  published  from  December,  1890,  until 
1908. 

MoAver  County  Republican. — The  equipment  of  the  Register 
Avas  purchased  by  Miss  Jennie  Keith  and  Paul  C.  Keith  and  the 
neAV  publication  called  The  MoAver  County  Republican  started 
August  21,  1908,  Avith  Keith  &  Keith  as  editors.  The  next  April 
]\Ir.  Keith  Avent  to  Adams  to  assume  charge  of  the  Adams  RevicAv. 
Avhich  the  firm  had  purchased,  and  Miss  Keith  took  sole  charge  of 
the  Republican. 

MoAver  County  Transcript. — This  paper  made  its  first  appear- 
ance on  April  16,  1868,  at  the  village  of  Lansing.  It  Avas  then  a 
seven-column  folio,  neatly  printed  and  edited.  Cohvell  Brothers 
AA'ere  the  publishers,  and  A.  J.  Burbank  editor.  Those  were  the 
most  bitter  days  in  the  history  of  Mower  county,  and  the  Avarfare 
of  the  "Page"  and  "anti-Page"  factions,  as  they  Avere  called, 
brought  Mower  county  into  notoriety  throughout  the  Avhole  West. 
The  Transcript  Avas  started  in  the  interest  of  the  Page  faction,  and 
the  Register  assumed  the  "anti"  side.  A  few  years  later  the 
Transcript  changed  its  vieAvs  and  both  papers  vigorously  prose- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  01 3 

ented  a  common  cciiise.  A  few  Aveeks  after  the  first  issue  tlie  name 
of  Sherman  Page  is  hoisted  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  columns  as 
editor  of  the  teacher's  or  educational  department.  At  tliat  time 
he  was  county  superintendent  of  schools.  A  few  months  later  the 
name  of  A.  J.  Burbank  was  taken  from  the  columns  as  editor,  and 
the  Colwell  Brothers  are  stated  to  have  succeeded  Mr.  Burbank. 
Still  later  it  appears  that  Prof.  J.  H.  Johnson,  Mrs.  Maria  Doolittle 
and  Ella  Cook  had  charge  of  the  educational  columns. 

The  Transcript  was  published  at  Lansing  until  the  issue  on 
December  17,  1868,  which  was  dated  at  Austin,  the  office  having 
been  removed  to  that  place.  The  Colwell  Brothers  remained  in 
charge  of  the  paper  until  the  issue  of  April  1,  1869,  when  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Colwell  &  Boardman.  The  former, 
A.  N.  Colwell,  was  the  senior  member  of  the  old  firm  of  Colwell 
Brothers.  A  few  weeks  after  the  change  of  proprietorship  the 
paper  was  enlarged  to  a  nine-column  folio.  For  several  months 
during  the  summer  of  1869,  the  paper  was  run  without  any  name 
or  names  at  the  head  of  its  editorial  columns,  but  finally  in  the 
issiie  on  September  30,  1869,  the  announcement  is  made  that 
"George  W.  "Wright  assumes  the  editorial  and  business  manage- 
ment." He  retired  with  the  issue  of  November  25,  1869,  and  was 
succeeded  by  George  H.  Otis.  At  this  time  the  Transcript  was 
owned  by  what  was  called  the  Transcript  Company.  George  H. 
Otis,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Wright,  conducted  the  paper  alone  until 
the  issue  of  March  2,  1871,  when  Col.  C.  A.  Lounsberry  secured 
a  half  interest  in  the  paper,  and  the  firm  of  Lounsberry  &  Otis 
was  formed.  I\Ir.  Lounsberry  took  the  editorial  and  i\Ir.  Otis  the 
business  management.  Col.  Lounsberry  remained  with  the  Tran- 
script until  May  25,  1871,  when  he  withdrew. 

After  the  withdrawal  of  Colonel  Lounsberry,  George  H.  Otis 
continued  the  management  of  the  Transcript  until  August  31, 
1871,  when  the  paper  was  purchased  by  A.  A.  Harwood.  Mr. 
Harwood  owned  and  conducted  the  Transcript  for  a  number  of 
years.  On  July  23,  1874,  the  paper  was  changed  to  an  eight- 
column  folio,  having  for  some  years  been  smaller.  During  the 
spring  of  1877,  S.  C.  Eldred  became  associate  editor  and  business 
manager.  Mr.  Harwood  had  become  postmaster  of  the  Austin 
office,  and  ^Ir.  Eldred,  who  had  been  foreman  of  the  office,  was 
taken  into  partnership.  His  connection  with  the  paper  in  that 
capacity,  however,  was  brief,  and  IMr.  Harwood  again  assumed 
sole  charge.  In  this  shape  the  paper  was  continued  until  the  issue 
on  June  13,  1878,  when  the  paper  and  outfit  was  purchased  by 
C.  II.  Davidson  and  J.  N.  AVheeler,  and  the  name  of  th<'  firm 
Davidson  &  Wheeler  appears  at  the  head  of  the  columns,  succceit- 
ing  lliat  of  A.  A.  Harwood.    ^Ii-.  Harwood  was  a  treucliant  writer 


314  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

in  one  of  the  stormiest  political  periods  in  the  county's  history. 
He  died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  August  17,  1884. 

Davidson  &  Wheeler  conducted  the  paper  until  January  2,  1879, 
when  C.  H.  Davidson  purchased  his  partner's  interest.  ^Ir. 
Davidson  sold  to  Parke  Goodwin  and  C.  L.  Barnes  Decemher  17, 
1886,  and  they  sold  to  S.  S.  Washburn  and  N.  S.  Gordon  of 
Waseca,  April  1,  1887.  The  paper  was  changed  January  14,  1S87, 
to  its  present  form  of  eight  pages,  six  columns.  Mr.  AYashburn 
sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Gordon  December  25,  1889,  and  Mr. 
Gordon  erected  the  two-story  brick  block  on  Mill  street,  still  occu- 
pied by  the  Transcript.  In  April,  1891,  the  Transcript  became 
all  home  print.  October  16,  1893,  Mr.  Gordon  sold  a  half  interest 
to  C.  D.  Belden  and  devoted  himself  to  the  mechanical  depart- 
ment. ]Mr.  Belden  bought  out  Mr.  Gordon  December  10,  1898, 
and  has  since  been  editor  and  sole  proprietor. 

The  Austin  Herald. — In  1881  the  Mower  County  Democrat 
was  first  issued,  with  Campbell  &  Hunkins  as  editors,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, whose  home  was  in  Spring  Valley,  running  a  Spring  Valley 
department.  In  May,  1890,  A.  B.  Hunkins,  who  was  then  running 
the  paper  alone,  conceived  the  idea  of  issuing  a  paper  every 
Saturday  evening  and  delivering  it  by  carrier  to  the  various 
homes  in  the  city.  The  plan  was  to  be  tried  for  three  months 
and  the  subscription  price  25  cents.  The  paper  mXist  have 
proved  popular,  for  on  November  9,  1891,  the  Austin  Daily 
Herald  was  issued.  It  was  printed  in  a  large  room,  on  the  second 
floor  of  the  brick  building,  corner  of  Water  and  Main  streets.  In 
August,  1892,  F.  H.  McCulloeh  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  job 
department.  Mr.  Hunkins  secured  a  site  at  the  head  of  Main 
street  and  erected  a  small  frame  building  of  peculiar  style  of 
architecture,  which  was  the  home  of  the  Herald  until  1890,  when 
a  lot  was  purchased  on  Lansing  avenue  and  a  three-story  brick 
veneer  building,  16x24,  erected.  Mr.  Hunkins  was  appointed  post- 
master and  Mr.  McCulloeh  ran  the  paper  for  one  year,  from  Jan- 
uary, 1895,  to  January,  1896.  During  this  time  the  daily  issue 
was  discontinued  and  only  the  weekly  edition,  the  IMower  County 
Democrat,  issued. 

On  January  13,  1896,  F.  H.  McCulloeh  bought  the  job  depart- 
ment and  C.  F.  Ellis  and  Frank  Roble  the  newspaper.  The  pub- 
lication of  the  Daily  Herald  was  resumed  and  under  different 
ownership  has  been  published  continuously  since.  October  1, 
1897,  John  H.  Skinner,  of  Holyoke,  Massachusetts,  bought  Frank 
Roble 's  interest  and  for  a  year  and  a  half  Ellis  &  Skinner  were 
owners  and  publishers.  Under  their  management  the  politics  of 
the  paper  changed  from  Democratic  to  Independent  Republican 
and  the  name  of  the  weekly  publication  was  changed  from  the 
IMower  County  Democrat  to  the  Austin  AVeekly  Herald. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  ;315 

July  1,  1899,  Mr.  Skinner  became  sole  owner  by  purchase  of 
Mr.  Ellis's  interest  and  ran  the  paper  with  his  wife,  Gertrude 
Ellis  Skinner,  as  associate  editor,  until  December  1,  1907,  when 
Fred  C.  Ulmer  purchased  a  half  interest  and  under  the  owner- 
ship and  management  of  Skinner  &  Ulmer  both  publications  of 
the  Daily  and  Weekly  Herald  are  at  present  issued. 

The  Herald  has  outgrown  its  quarters,  which  were  ample  ten 
years  ago,  and  has  built  a  new  building  of  cement  stone,  includ- 
ing the  old  building  and  exactly  twice  its  size.  Two  type-setting 
machines  (Typogx'aphs)  have  replaced  hand  composition  and  a 
new  Duplex  "Web  Perfecting  Press  has  been  installed. 

The  success  of  the  Herald  has  demonstrated  that  a  newspaper 
can  be  run  independent  of  the  financial  aid  of  politicians  or  a 
political  party,  as  the  Herald  has  never  taken  money  in  politics, 
and  therefore  claims  its  title  of  Independent  with  some  pride. 

The  Austin  Democrat. — This  newspaper  was  first  issued  July 
8,  1868.  The  founders  were  Isaiah  Wood  and  Milo  Lacy.  The 
paper  was  an  eight  column  folio  sheet,  all  published  at  home  and 
Democratic  in  politics.  The  firm  of  Wood  &  Lacey  continued  the 
publication  of  the  Democrat  until  February  23,  1870,  when  Milo 
Lacey,  on  account  of  ill  health,  withdrew  from  the  firm,  and  was 
succeeded  by  a  Mr.  Cook. 

On  October  11,  1870,  Isaiah  Wood,  the  senior  editor  of  the 
Democrat,  after  a  prolonged  illness,  died  of  quick  consumption, 
aged  a  little  over  twenty-eight  years.  In  November,  Milo  Mc- 
Whorter  purchased  the  Wood  interest  in  the  Democrat,  and  the 
firm  became  McWhorter  &  Cook.  In  a  short  time,  however,  Mr. 
McWhorter  became  sole  proprietor  and  conducted  the  paper  alone, 
until  its  publication  was  suspended.  The  last  issue  was  that  of 
July  12,  1871. 

The  Independent. — This  paper  was  established  at  Austin  on 
August  26,  1874,  by  B.  F.  Jones,  formerly  editor  of  the  Minne- 
sota Courier,  as  editor  and  publisher,  and  G.  W.  Haislet,  pro- 
prietor. The  publication  of  this  paper  was  continued  until  May, 
1875,  when  it  died. 

The  Mower  and  Fillmore  County  Republican. — The  Mower 
County  Republican  appeared  August  27,  1875,  printed  at  Preston, 
Minn.,  with  T.  F.  Stevens  as  editor  and  A.  E.  Meigs,  business 
manager.  Five  or  six  weeks  thereafter  Maj.  W.  A.  Hotchkiss  re- 
moved the  Fillmore  County  Republican  to  Austin,  and  consoli- 
dated with  the  first  named  paper,  as  the  Mower  and  Fillmore 
County  Republican. 

The  Austin  Times. — The  Times  was  started  in  June,  1895,  by 
Tom  Hutchinson,  who  ran  same  as  "Hutchinson's  Times"  until  the 
first  of  February.  1896.  when  he  deserted  the  paper.  The  plant 
was  purchased  under  cliiittrl  mortgage  foreclosure  by  S.  II.  Ilar- 


316  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

rison,  who  then  took  possession  of  the  paper  and  plant,  issuing  the 
first  number  February  22,  1896.  He  remained  as  its  proprietor 
from  then  until  February,  1903.  During  this  time  it  was  for  two 
years  the  official  paper  of  Mower  county  and  also  issued  from  the 
same  plant  a  morning  daily  for  about  six  months — from  May, 
1901,  until  November  of  the  same  year,  when  the  plant  was 
burned.  In  February,  1903,  E.  B.  Kottek  and  John  Jensen  be- 
came the  editors  and  proprietors  by  sale  and  published  the  same 
until  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  when  the  publication  and  the  plant 
became  the  property  of  the  holder  of  the  mortgage,  Ira  Padden. 

The  LeRoy  Independent. — This  newspaper  was  founded  by  a 
man  named  Haynes  in  1875,  as  the  "LeRoy  News."  He  continued 
it  for  about  six  months  and  sold  to  C.  B.  Kennedy,  who  was  its 
editor  and  proprietor  for  three  years  and  then  leased  the  office  to 
James  A.  Henderson,  who  managed  it  a  year,  with  C.  F.  Burdick 
as  assistant  for  about  three  months.  J.  S.  Bishop  then  purchased 
the  office  and  operated  the  same  nearly  three  j'^ears,  and  then  sold 
to  J.  McKnight,  who  took  possession  April  16,  1883.  After  J. 
IMcKuight  there  were  several  changes.  Then  came  S.  C.  Wheeler, 
B.  T.  Barnes  and  A.  E.  Pennell,  successively.  William  M.  Frank, 
John  Frank  and  C.  F.  Hambrecht  then  owned  the  paper  for  a 
while.  They  sold  to  S.  E.  Brouson,  and  after  him  came  Harlan 
G.  Palmer,  Avho  in  February,  1908,  sold  to  Ralph  Prescott,  the 
present  editor. 

Grand  Meadow  News. — The  first  newspaper  at  Grand  ]\Ieadow 
was  called  the  News.  It  was  started  in  1878,  by  the  Dunlevy 
Brothers,  who  came  from  Lansing,  Iowa.  It  was  Republican  in 
politics;  a  bright,  newsy  sheet,  and  for  some  time  received  sub- 
stantial encouragement.  It  Avas  run  at  Grand  Meadow  for  about 
two  years,  when  it  was  removed  to  Lansing,  Iowa. 

Another  paper,  also  called  the  News,  was  later  established  in 
Grand  Meadow.  It  was  started  in  the  spring  of  1880,  by  M.  V. 
Scribner,  a  photographer.  He  ran  the  paper  for  about  one  year, 
then  removed  it  to  Fairmont;  and  later  to  Wells,  Minnesota. 

The  Grand  Meadow  Record. — This  publication  had  its  first 
issue  in  Grand  Meadow  in  December,  1882.  L.  G.  Moore  founded 
this  journal.  The  early  files  have  not  been  preserved.  Bert  A. 
Johnson  is  the  present  editor  of  the  paper. 

Grand  Meadow  Mercury. — In  the  spring  of  1880,  B.  F.  Lang- 
worthy  &  Son  established  the  Grand  Meadow  Mercury.  They 
conducted  it  here  for  a  little  over  one  year,  then  removed  it  to 
Austin.  In  the  early  summer  of  1882  the  paper  was  removed  to 
Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  county,  and  the  name  changed  to  Spring 
Valley  Mercury. 

Brownsdale  Journal. — Voliiiiic  1,  nuiiil)er  1  of  this  six  column 
folio,  made   its  appearance   July   1,   1884.     Rosa  E.  Moore  was 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  C'OUXTY  .Ti: 

editress  and  assistant  manager,  lier  husband,  L.  G.  Moore,  being 
the  owner  and  manager. 

The  Brownsdale  Leafllet.— On  August  6,  1890,  B.  A.  Johnson, 
son  of  M.  B.  Johnson,  Avith  a  small  hand  lever  press  and  a  few 
fonts  of  type,  launched  forth  the  first  issue  of  the  Brownsdale 
Leaflet,  size  9x12.  It  was  later  enlarged.  On  July  1,  1891,  the 
News  outfit,  a  paper  whose  life  was  but  three  months,  was  pur- 
chased from  J.  W.  Burchard  and  the  paper  enlarged  to  a  six 
column  folio.  On  October  1,  1892,  L.  L.  Quimby  moved  from  New 
Richmond,  Wisconsin,  and  purchased  a  half  interest  and  the 
paper  was  enlarged  to  a  five  column  quarto.  On  June  1,  1893, 
Mr.  Quimby  purchased  a  half  interest  with  B.  E.  Baldwin  in  the 
hardware  and  implement  business,  which  interest  he  held  until  the 
following  March,  selling  to  D.  L.  Tanner.  About  a  month  later, 
April  19,  Mr.  Quimby  purchased  Mr.  Johnson's  interest  in  the 
Leaflet  and  conducted  it  alone  until  May  17,  1907,  when  he  was 
forced  to  give  it  up  on  account  of  his  growing  telephone  business. 
Since  that  time  Brownsdale  has  had  no  paper. 

The  Lyle  Tribune,  an  independent  paper,  is  printed  and  pub- 
lished at  Lyle  by  Wm.  Nordlaud.  The  paper  was  established  in 
1893.  Elmer  T.  AVilson  Avas  one  of  the  early  editors.  The  paper 
was  published  by  John  Gould  &  Co.  from  1896  until  January  1, 
1902,  when  sickness  forced  him  to  retire  from  business.  At  that 
time  the  paper  was  leased  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  Ferris,  w^ho  managed 
it  until  July  of  the  same  year,  when  Chas.  Gould  &  Co.  took  charge 
of  the  paper,  until  December  1,  1902,  when  it  was  purchased  by 
the  present  owner.  The  printing  office  has  been  located  in  various 
parts  of  the  village,  but  never  had  a  permanent  home  until  No- 
vember 1,  1909,  when  the  present  building  was  purchased.  In 
the  early  years  of  the  paper  an  old  Washington  hand  press  and  a 
few  fonts  of  type  was  the  equipment,  but  in  1907  a  cylinder  press 
and  gasoline  engine  were  installed,  Avhieh,  together  with  the  other 
modern  equipment  that  had  been  added  from  time  to  time,  put  the 
plant  on  a  substantial  basis,  enabling  it  to  turn  out  the  work  re- 
quired by  the  thriving  village  in  which  it  is  located.  Under  the 
present  management  the  circulation  of  the  Tribune  has  nearly 
doubled,  and  the  .job  department  has  become  one  of  the  strongest 
features  of  the  plant. 

The  Adams  Review. — The  Review  is  the  youngest  of  the 
Mower  county  newspapers,  and  was  established  in  1897  by  V.  "W. 
Sabin.  Two  years  later  W.  F.  St.  Clair  of  Nebraska,  acquired  an 
interest  in  the  paper.  Mr.  St.  Clair  increased  the  business  and 
subscription  list  of  the  paper  considerably  and  enjoyed  an  excel- 
lent patronage.  In  190(5  he  sold  the  plant  and  business  to  K.  L. 
Niles,  and  in  April,  1909,  'Slv.  Niles  disposed  of  the  property  to 
Keith  &  Keith,  who  are  also  owners  of  the  Mower  County  Re- 


318  HISTOJ^Y  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

publican,  Austin.  Paul  C.  Keith  is  the  resident  editor  and  man- 
ager, and  is  well  supported  by  the  enterprising  business  men  of 
Adams.  The  Review  aims  to  furnish  all  the  local  news  that  is 
news,  and  has  a  large  list  of  subscribers  in  southern  Mower 
county.  The  paper  gives  evidence  of  a  continued  prosperous 
career. 

Alumni  Altruist. — When  interest  in  the  Austin  High  School 
Alumni  Association  began  to  wane,  Ida  Smith  Decker  conceived 
the  plan  of  publishing  a  paper  to  be  circulated  among  the  absent 
as  well  as  the  local  members  of  the  association,  the  paper  to  con- 
tain greetings  and  news  from  the  various  classes  and  graduates. 
Mrs.  Decker  was  the  author  and  editor  of  the  first  edition,  Avhich 
was  published  ready  for  the  annual  alumni  meets  in  June,  1901. 
It  served  its  purpose  admirably  and  interest  was  at  once  awak- 
ened. It  has  been  published  every  year  since  with  the  exceptioii 
of  1903.  The  omission  was  so  marked  and  the  call  for  the  paper 
so  insistent  that  at  every  alumni  meeting  since  a  fresh,  crisp  copy 
of  the  Altruist  has  been  the  central  attraction.  Unlike  some  of 
our  county  publications,  it  has  always  been  self-supporting. 

Copies  are  mailed  to  members  all  over  the  country.  It  is  the 
only  publication  of  its  kind  in  the  state  and  has  done  more  to 
make  the  association  a  success  than  any  other  factor. 

The  following  have  served  as  editors:  1901,  Ida  Smith  Decker, 
'81 ;  1902,  Etta  Barnes  Decker,  79 ;  1904,  Gertrude  Ellis  Skinner, 
'81 ;  1905;  Ada  Morgan  Crane,  '92 ;  1906,  The  Todd  Sisters,  '99, 
'02,  "04 ;  1907,  George  E.  Anderson,  '93 ;  1908,  Grace  Kimball,  '95  ; 
1909,  Fred  C.  Ulmer ;  1910,  Stella  Slaven;  1911,  Lucile  Gilbertson. 

Among  the  newspapers  of  the  county  started  Avithin  the  last 
decade,  which  lived  but  a  few  months  and  then  ceased  publica- 
tion are:  "The  Racine  Recorder,"  "Rose  Creek  Rose  Bud"  and 
"Austin  "Weekly  Journal."  For  several  years  "The  Dexterite" 
was  published  in  Dexter  and  then  for  lack  of  patronage  sus- 
pended publication. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  319 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  PHYSICIAN. 

His  Proud  Achievements — His  Solemn  Oath — His  Ethics — The 
True  Physician — His  Reward — His  Delicate  Relation  to  the 
Human  Family — His  Inventions  and  Discoveries  Free  Gifts — 
The  Pioneer  Doctor  —  His  Character  and  Services  —  His 
Limitations — The  Pioneer  Physicians  of  Mower  County — The 
Mower  County  Medical  Association — Edited  by  A.  W.  Allen, 
M.  D. 

"j\Ien  most  nearly  resemble  the  gods  when 
They  afford  health  to  their  fellow  men." 

In  an  age  when,  in  tlie  combat  of  man  against  man,  heroes  are 
worshiped  according  to  tlie  number  'they  slay  in  battle,  it  is 
inspiring  and  eleA'ating  to  be  permitted  to  pay  tribute  to  the  meii 
who  Avon  glory  in  fighting  disease  and  through  whose  devotiori 
and  skill  thousands  of  useful  lives  have  been  saved  and  been 
made  happy. 

"For  every  man  slain  by  Ca?sar,  Napoleon  and  Grant  in  all 
their  bloody  campaigns,  Jenner,  Pasteur  and  Lister  have  saved 
alive  a  thousand."  The  first  anfesthetic  has  done  more  for  the 
real  happiness  of  mankind  than  all  the  philosophers  from  Socrates 
to  Mills.  Society  laurels  the  soldier  and  the  philosopher  and 
practically  ignores  the  physician.  Few  remember  his  labors,  for 
what  Sir  Thomas  Browne  said  three  hundred  years  ago  is  surely 
true:  "The  iniquity  of  oblivion  blindly  scattereth  her  poppy  and 
deals  with  the  memory  of  men  without  distinction  to  merit  to 
perpetuity." 

"i\Iedicin(^'  is  the  most  cdsinopoiitan  of  the  three  great  'learned' 
professions.  ]\Iedicines  never  built  a  prison  or  lit  a  fagot,  never 
incited  men  to  battle  or  crucified  anyone.  Saint  and  sinner, 
white  and  black,  rich  and  poor,  are  equal  'and  alike  when  they 
(U'oss  the  sacred  portals 'of  the  temple  of  Aesculapius."  No  other 
secular  profession  has  ever  reached  such  a  consciousness  of  duties 
Avhich  it  corporately  owes  to  the  rest  of  the  woi'ld.  ^Vhat  are  the 
principles  which  a  profession,  more  profuse  in  its  disinterested 
charities  than  any  other  profession  in  tlie  woi'Id  lias  established 
for  its  guidance? 

It  was  about  2,300  years  ago  that  the  ])ractitioners  of  the,  art 
of  healing  liegan  to  take  an  oath  eiiipliasizing  the  responsibilities 
whieli  the  nobility  and  lioliness  of  the  art  imposed  upon  them. 
Hippocrates,  forever  to  be  revered,  gave  the  oath  his  name.   AVheii 


320  HISTOKY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

a  Greek  physician  took  the  Hippocratie  oath  and  a  graduate  of 
the  modern  medical  school  takes  it,  the  act  is  one  not  only  of 
obligation  for  himself,  but  of  recognition  of  a  great  benefactor 
of  mankind.  Tlie  Hippocratie  oath  assumes  that  when  a  man 
has  learned  the  art  of  restoring  the  sick  to  health  he  has  passed 
into  a  realm  in  Avhich  the  rules  of  personal  selfishness  are  imme- 
diately abridged,  if  not  expunged,  and  recognized  in  a  system 
of  principles  and  rules  governing  all  licensed  physicians,  and 
enforced  and  respected  by  high-toned  and  cultured  gentlemen — 
a  standard  of  professional  honor  so  sacred  and  inviolate  that  no 
graduate  or  regular  practitioner  will  ever  presume  or  dare  to 
violate  it. 

Robert  Louis  Stevenson,  seeing  the  life  of  the  medical  man 
only  from  without,  Avas  not  far  wrong  when  he  spoke  of  the 
modern  scientific  medical  man  as  probably  the  noblest  figure  of 
the  age.  The  noble  and  exalted  character  of  the  ancient  profes- 
sion of  medicine  is  surpassed  by  no  sister  science  in  the  mag- 
nificence of  its  gifts.  Reflecting  upon  its  purity,  beneficence  and 
grandeur  it  must  be  accorded  to  be  the  noblest  of  professions. 
Though  the  noblest  of  professions,  it  is  the  meanest  of  trades. 
The  true  physician  will  make  his  profession  no  trade,  but  will 
be  accurate  in  diagnosis  and  painstaking  in  prescribing.  He  will 
allow  no  prejudice  nor  theory  to  interfere  with  the  relief  of 
human  suflfering  and  the  saving  of  human  life;  and  will  lay 
under  contribution  every  source  of  information,  be  it  humble  or 
exalted,  that  can  be  made  useful  in  the  cure  of  disease.  He  will 
be  kind  to  the  poor,  sympathetic  Avith  the  sick,  ethical  toward 
medical  colleagues  and  courteous  toward  all  men. 

The  true  physician  is  he  who  has  a  proper  conception  and 
estimation  of  the  real  character  of  his  profession;  whose  intel- 
lectual and  moral  fitness  give  weight,  standing  and  character  in 
the  consideration  and  estimation  of  society  and  the  public  at 
large.  His  privileges  and  powers  for  good  or  for  evil  are  great; 
in  fact  no  other  profession,  calling  or  vocation  in  this  life  occu- 
pies such  a  delicate  relation  to  the  human  family. 

There  is  a  tremendous  dcA'eloping  and  educating  power  in 
medical  work.  Tlie  medical  man  is  almost  the  only  member  of 
the  community  who  does  not  make  money  out  of  his  important 
discoveries.  It  is  a  point  of  honor  with  him  to  allow  the  whole 
world  to  profit  by  his  researches  when  lie  finds  a  new  remedy 
for  disease.  The  greatest  and  best  inedical  and  surgical  discov- 
eries and  inventions  have  been  free  gifts  to  suffering  humanity 
the  moment  their  value  was  demonstrated.  The  reward  of  the 
physician  is  in  the  benefit  which  the  sick  and  helpless  receive,  and 
in  the  gratitude,  which  should  not  be  stinted,  of  the  community 
at  large.     Medical  men  are  not  angels;  they  are  in  fact  very 


ITTSTORY  OF  MOWET^  COUNTY  321 

(nimau  cveaturt'S  with  haul  work  to  do,  tmd  often  many  mouths 
to  feed;  but  tiiere  is  a  strain  of  benevolence  in  all  their  work. 
From  the  beginning  they  are  taught  a  doctrine  of  helpfulness 
to  others,  and  are  made  to  think  that  their  lifework  should  not 
be  one  in  whicli  every  service  must  receive  its  pecuniary  reward. 
The  physician  is  a  host  in  himself,  a  natural  leader  among  his 
fellow  men,  a  center  of  influence  for  the  most  practical  good,  an 
etiflcient  helper  in  times  of  direst  need,  a  trusted  and  honest 
citizen.  What  more  can  any  prophet  ask  than  honor  in  his  own 
country  and  a  daily  welcome  among  his  ow^n  friends ! 

It  does  not  take  long  for  the  waves  of  oblivion  to  close  over 
those  who  have  taken  a  most  prominent  and  active  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  day.  The  life  of  the  pioneer  doctor  is  no  exception 
to  this  law,  for  as.  Dr.  John  Browne  tells  us,  "It  is  the  lot  of  the 
successful  medical  practitioner  to  be  invaluable  when  alive,  and 
to  be  forgotten  soon  after  he  is  dead,  and  this  is  not  altogether 
or  chiefly  from  any  special  ingratitude  or  injustice  on  the  part  of 
mankind,  but  from  the  very  nature  of  the  case."  However,  the 
pioneer  physician  still  lives  in  the  memory  of  many  of  us,  though 
he  is  now  more  rare  as  an  individual  than  in  the  years  gone  by, 
and  is  gradually  passing  out  of  existence.  The  history,  written 
and  xinw^'itten,  of  the  pioneer  physician  of  Mower  county,  as 
elsewhere,  presents  him  to  view  as  working  out  the  destiny  of  the 
wilderness,  hand  in  hand  with  the  other  forces  of  civilization  for 
the  common  good.  He  was  an  integral  part  of  the  primitive 
social  fabric.  As  such  he  shared  the  manners,  the  customs,  the 
aims,  and  the  ambitions  of  his  companions,  and  he,  with  them, 
was  controlled  by  the  forces  which  determine  the  common  state 
and  the  common  destiny.  The  chief  concern  of  himself  and  com- 
panions was  materially  engaged  with,  the  serious  problem  of 
existence.  The  struggle  to  survive  -was,  at  its  best,  a  competi- 
tion Avith  nature.  Hard  winters  and  poor  roads  were  the  chief 
impediments.  Only  rough  outlines  remain  of  the  heroic  and 
adventurous  side  of  the  pioneer  physican's  long,  active  and 
honored  life.  The  imagination  cannot,  unaided  by  the  facts, 
picture  the  primitive  eonditons  with  which  he  had  to  contend. 
Long  and  dreary  rides,  by  day  and  night,  in  summer's  heat  and 
winter's  cold,  through  snow,  and  mud,  and  rain,  w^as  his  common 
lot.  He  trusted  himself  to  the  mercy  of  the  elements,  crossed 
unbridged  streams,  made  his  way  through  uncut  forests,  and 
traveled  the  roadless  wilderness.  He  spent  one-fifth  of  his  life 
in  his  conveyance,  and  in  some  cases  traveled  as  many  as  two 
hundred  thousand  miles  in  the  same. 

Dr.  Oliver  "Wendell  Holmes  has  graphically  described  the  old 
doctor's  daily  routine:  "Half  a  dollar  a  visit — drive,  drive, 
drive  all  day:  get  up  in  the  night  and  harness  your  own  horse — 


322  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

drive  again  ten  miles  in  a  snowstorm;  shake  powders  out  of  a 
vial — drive  back  again,  if  you  don't  happen  to  be  stuck  in  a  drift ; 
no  home,  no  peace,  no  continuous  meals,  no  unbroken  sleep,  no 
Sunday,  no  holiday,  no  social  intercourse,  but  eternal  jog,  jog, 
jog  in  a  sulky." 

He  always  responded  to  the  call  of  the  poor,  and  gave  freely 
his  services  to  those  who  could  not  pay  without  hardship.  "Who 
can  narrate  the  past  events  in  the  life  of  such  a  man  ?  His  deeds 
were  "written  upon  the  tablets  of  loving  and  grateful  hearts, 
and  the  hearts  are  now  dust.  The  long  and  exhausting  rides 
through  storm,  or  mud,  or  snow;  the  exposure  to  contagions; 
the  patient  vigils  by  the  bedside  of  pain;  the  kindly  deeds  of 
charity ;  the  reassuring  messages  to  the  despondent ;  the  shield- 
ing of  the  innocent;  the  guarding  of  secrets;  the  numberless 
self-abnegations  that  cannot  be  tabulated,  and  are  soon  for- 
gotten, like  the  roses  of  yesterday."  Wealth  did  not  flow  into 
the  old  practitioner's  coffers;  in  fact,  he  needed  no  coffers.  He 
was  a  poor  collector,  and  with  all  his  efforts  he  obtained  but 
little,  and  never  what  was  his  due.  As  an  offset  to  the  generally 
acknowledged  abilities  of  the  old  doctor  in  every  other  line  of 
his  Avork,  it  must  also  be  admitted  that  he  was  greatly  deficient 
in  business  tact.  Often  content  with  the  sentiment  of  apparent 
appreciation  of  services  rendered  to  his  patrons,  of  lives  saved, 
of  sufferings  assuaged,  and  of  health  restored,  he  was  too  easily 
satisfied  with  the  reflection  that  he  had  a  very  noble  profession, 
but  a  very  poor  trade. 

Though  poor  in  purse,  he  was  rich  in  heart,  in  head,  and  in 
public  esteem.  He  made  at  least  a  very  measurable  success  ot: 
life,  if  success  consists  in  being  of  some  small  use  to  the  com- 
munity or  country  in  which  one  lives ;  if  it  consists  in  having  an 
intelligent,  sympathetic  outlook  for  human  needs ;  if  it  is  success 
to  love  one's  work ;  if  it  is  success  to  have  friends  and  be  a  friend, 
then  the  old  doctor  has  made  a  success  of  life. 

He  was  a  lonely  worker,  and  relied  largely  on  his  own  unaided 
observation  for  his  knowledge.  Isolated  by  conditions  of  liis 
life,  he  did  not  know  the  educating  influences  of  society  work. 
He  was  a  busy  man,  with  little  leisure  for  the  indulgence  of  liter- 
ary or  other  tastes.  He  possessed,  however,  what  no  books  or 
laboratories  can  furnish,  and  that  is:  a  capacity  for  work,  willing- 
ness to  be  helpful,  broad  sympathies,  honesty,  and  a  great  deal 
of  common  sense.  His  greatest  fame  was  the  fealty  of  a  few 
friends;  his  recompense  a  final  peace  at  life's  twilight  hour.  He 
was  a  hardworking  man,  beloved  and  revered  by  all.  He  was 
discreet  and  silent,  and  held  his  counsel  when  he  entered  the 
sick-room.  In  every  family  he  was  indispensable,  important,  and 
oftentimes  a  dignified  personage.     He  was  the  adviser  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  323 

family  in  matters  not  always  purely  medical.  As  time  passed, 
the  circle  of  his  friends  enlarged,  his  brain  expanded,  and  his 
heart  steadily  grew  mellower.  Could  all  the  pleasant,  touching, 
heroic  incidents  be  told  in  connection  with  the  old  doctor,  it 
would  be  a  revelation  to  the  young  physician  of  today;  but  he 
can  never  know  the  admiration  and  love  in  which  the  old  doctor 
was  held.  "How  like  an  angel  light  was  his  coming  in  the 
stormy  midnight  to  the  lonely  cabin  miles  away  from  the  nearest 
neighbor.  Earnest,  cheery,  confident,  his  presence  lightened  the 
burden,  took  away  the  responsibilitj',  dispelled  the  gloom.  The 
old  doctor,  with  his  two-wheeled  gig  and  saddle  bag,  his  setous, 
crude  herbs,  and  vet?esections,  resourceful,  brave  and  true ;  busy, 
blunt  and  honest,  loyally  doing  his  best — who  was  physician, 
surgeon,  obstetrician,  oculist,  aurist,  guide,  philosopher  and 
friend — is  sleeping  under  the  oaks  on  the  prairies  he  loved  so 
well." 

"We  shall  ne'er  see  his  like  again, 

Not  a  better  man  was  found. 

By  the  Crier  on  his  round. 
Through  the  town." 

The  early  history  of  the  pioneer  physician  is  naturally  a 
story  of  feeble  resources.  His  professional  limitations  were, 
therefore,  necessarily  great.  To  enable  us  to  understand  these 
limitations  we  must  take  a  retrospective  glance  at  the  condi- 
tions of  medicine  sixty  years  ago.  Imagine,  if  you  can,  the  for- 
lorn condition  of  the  doctor  without  our  present  means  of 
physical  diagnosis,  without  the  clinical  thermometer,  the  various 
specula,  the  hypodermatic  syringe,  the  ophthalmoscope,  the  oto- 
scope, the  rhinoscope,  the  aspirator,  and  many  other  similar 
instruments;  without  the  aid  of  hematology,  of  anaesthetics,  of 
antisepsis,  of  the  modern  microscope,  without  our  laboratories 
and  experiments,  our  chemistry,  our  bacteriology,  our  roentgen 
rays,  our  experimental  pharmacology,  and  our  antitoxins — with- 
out anything  except  his  eyes,  his  ears,  his  lingers,  his  native  vigor 
and  resourcefulness;  then  we  can  appreciate  the  professional 
limitation  of  our  fathers,  appreciate  no  less  the  triumphal  marcli 
of  medicine  during  a  single  lifetime.  It  requires  no  prophet's 
power  to  foretell  the  fact  that  the  science  of  medicine  stands  at 
this  hour  upon  the  threshold  of  an  era  which  will  belittle  all 
the  past.  In  this  most  wonderful  era  of  the  world's  history,  this 
magic  age,  the  science  of  medicine  is  rapidly  being  elevated  into 
the  position  of  one  of  the  bulwarks  of  society  and  one  of  tlie 
mainstays  of  civilization.  It  made  possible  the  building  of  the 
Panama  canal,  made  Havana  a  clean  city,  and  diminislied  the 
possibility  of  introducing  yellow   fever  among  us.     It   has  kept 


32-i  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

cholera  in  check,  pointed  out  the  danger  of  bubonic  phiguc 
through  the  rat-infested  districts  of  San  Francisco,  and  it  uow 
urges  that  the  government  shall  maintain  sentinels  to  guard  the 
gulf  coast  from  yellow  fever,  the  ^Mississippi  from  cholera,  the 
whole  United  States  from  bubonic  plague.  It  also  discovered  the 
stegonyia  as  a  yellow  fever  carrier,  and  the  rat  and  ground 
squirrel  as  plague  distributors. 

The  medical  history  of  Mower  county  begins  with  J.  C.  Jones, 
Avho  located  in  LeRoy  township  in  the  spring  of  1855.  His  wife 
was  also  a  physician.  They  remained  until  1866  and  then  re- 
moved to  Missouri. 

AUSTIN. 

The  pioneer  physician  of  Austin  was  that  venerable  practi- 
tioner of  the  kindly  old  school,  Dr.  Orlenzer  Allen,  who  came  in 
April,  1856,  and  practiced  until  1870,  when  he  removed  to  Wiscon- 
sin, where  he  lived  until  the  time  of  his  death,  April  5,  1883.  He 
was  born  at  Alfred,  New  York,  in  1830,  and  located  in  "Wisconsin 
in  1842.  His  medical  education  was  received  at  the  Rush  I\Iedical 
College,  at  Chicago,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1856. 
Dr.  Allen  was  an  ideal  country  physician,  kindly,  self-sacrificing 
and  able.  His  twin  brother,  Ormanzo,  was  also  a  prominent  figure 
in  Austin  and  Mower  county  in  an  early  day.  The  next  physician 
to  locate  in  Austin  was  Dr.  J.  N.  Wheat,  a  homeopath.  He  came 
in  September,  1856.  Dr.  Wheat  was  born  in  Old  Hadley,  Massa- 
chusetts, January  16,  1818,  spent  his  boyhood  in  New  York  and 
Ohio,  and  graduated  in  medicine  at  Buffalo  in  1852.  He  became 
one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  Mower  county.  Dr.  S.  P.  Thorn- 
hill  came  in  tlie  winter  of  1869-70.  He  was  born  in  Rockingham 
county,  Virginia,  March  21,  1821,  and  studied  medicine  at  West 
Carlisle,  Ohio.  He  served  as  regimental  and  brigade  surgeon  in 
the  Civil  war,  and  subsequently  c^me  to  Austin,  where  he  died 
in  1879.  Dr.  Hiram  L.  Coon  graduated  from  the  Rush  Medical 
College  in  1855,  came  to  Austin  in  1856,  remained  a  few  years 
and  then  moved  to  Northfield.  Dr.  W.  C.  Jones  came  to  Austin 
during  the  Civil  war,  practiced  a  few  years  and  died  about  1879. 
He  was  the  father  of  B.  F.  Jones,  at  one  time  a  newspaper  editor 
and  politician  of  Austin.  Dr.  W.  L.  Hollister  came  to  Mower 
county  in  1867,  lived  at  Lansing  a  while,  and  then  came  to  Austin 
in  1871.  He  still  resides  here.  Dr.  0.  W.  Gibson  came  to  Austin 
in  February,  1867.  He  was  born  in  Tioga  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1839.  During  the  C^ivil  war  he  served  in  both  army  and  navy 
as  surgeon.  Dr.  James  P.  Squires  came  to  Austin  in  1873.  He 
was  born  in  Livingston  county.  New  York,  in  1825,  and  graduated 
in  medicine  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  in  1851.  He  was  an  array  sur- 
geon and  came  here    from    Faribault    county,    this    state.     Dr. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  325 

Thomas  Phillips,  a  homeopath,  came  in  May,  1882.  He  was  born 
in  Canada,  graduated  from  the  University  of  Chicago  in  1880  and 
later  from  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  in  the  same  city.  Dr. 
Ellen  M.  Fairbanks,  wife  of  Alonzo  Fairbanks,  came  to  Austin 
Avith  her  husband  in  1859.  In  1881  she  graduated  from  the 
Woman's  Medical  College  at  Chicago.  A  Dr.  McDonald,  a  grad- 
uate of  McGill  University,  Montreal,  practiced  here  a  few  years 
in  the  early  eighties.  Dr.  C.  H.  Johnson  came  to  Austin,  June  16, 
1884.  He  was  born  in  Canada,  in  1855,  graduated  from  McGill 
University,  Montreal,  and  came  here  at  once.  With  this  the  story 
of  the  earlier  physicians  of  Austin  ends,  those  coming  since 
the  middle  eighties  being  numbered  among  the  comparatively 
modern  physicians  of  the  city. 

BROWNSDALE. 

Brownsdale  was  the  home  of  a  number  of  physicians  at  an 
early  day.  Dr.  Hunter  came  to  Brownsdale  in  the  fall  of  1871 
and  died  the  following  year.  Dr.  Eryhmy  came  from  Preston, 
Minnesota,  in  the  spring  of  1871  and  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1874,  Avhen  he  went  to  California,  where  he  died  a  few  years 
later.  Dr.  Bidell,  another  early  physician,  stayed  in  this  county  a 
year  or  so,  either  in  Brownsdale  or  Grand  Meadow,  and  then  went 
to  the  Dakotas.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  Chicago  Medical 
school.  Dr.  A.  S.  Britz  came  in  1876  and  stayed  until  1880.  He 
was  born  in  Indiana,  March  1,  1844,  served  in  the  Civil  war,  and 
graduated  in  medicine  at  Chicago.  After  leaving  here  he  went 
to  Clearwater,  Minnesota.  Dr.  Hall  came  from  Preston  in  1876 
and  after  remaining  a  iew  months  went  to  Lake  City.  Dr.  Mink- 
ler,  who  graduated  in  medicine  in  Canada,  came  here  in  1875,  but 
in  a  short  time  returned  to  Wisconsin.  Dr.  Dodd,  a  graduate  of 
the  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  came  in  1880.  In  1882,  owing 
to  failing  health,  he  went  to  California,  where  he  died.  Dr.  David 
Ivyto,  Avho  had  graduated  in  medicine  at  Indianapolis,  practiced 
here  a  short  time  in  1883.  Dr.  C.  S.  Beaulieau  came  in  1880 ;  Dr. 
Gray  in  1883;  Dr.  Johnson  in  1884;  and  Dr.  Foward  in  1884.  Dr. 
G.  W.  Gray  was  born  in  1851  and  came  to  Minnesota  in  1877, 
practicing  in  Grand  iMeadow  until  1883,  when  he  came  to  Browns- 
dale. Dr.  Frank  M.  Johnson  was  born  in  AVisconsin  in  1854.  He 
graduated  from  the  Rush  Medical  College  in  the  class  of  1882, 
and  came  to  Brownsdale  in  the  fall  of  1883. 


DEXTER. 

Dr.  R.  Simmons  was  tlie  tirst  pliysician  in  Dexter.     Tie  came 
1873.    ri'iiiaiiicd    a    t'l-w    vears.   lhcii    vcturiicd    to    Indiana,    liis 


326  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

former  home.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  Cincinnati  Medical  Col- 
lege. The  next  physician  to  locate  here  was  L.  D.  Johnson,  who 
afterward  moved  to  Grand  Meadow.  Dr.  McCormick  practiced 
here  for  a  while  and  then  moved  to  the  Dakotas. 


GRAND  MEADOW. 

The  first  physician  at  this  point  was  Dr.  Samuel  Jenks,  who 
came  in  1872.  He  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  a  graduate  of 
Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  class  of  1872.  He  was  a  well  edu- 
cated successful  physician.  He  remained  till  1880,  when  he  moved 
to  the  Dakotas.  The  second  physician  was  Dr.  Wilder,  who  came 
in  the  fall  of  1876,  and  was  associated  with  Dr.  Jenks,  both  in 
practice  and  in  the  drug  business.  He  removed  to  Iowa  City  in 
1878.  He  came  from  Wisconsin  and  was  not  a  regular  graduate 
in  his  profession.  Dr.  0.  A.  Case  came  to  Grand  Meadow  in 
1877..  He  removed  from  here  in  1878.  Dr.  Remington  came  in 
the  winter  of  1881  and  left  the  following  summer.  Dr.  L.  D.  Jack- 
son located  in  Grand  Meadow  in  March,  1879.  He  was  born  in 
Vermont  in  1851,  and  graduated  from  the  Rush  Medical  College 
in  1877.  Upon  coming  to  this  county  he  practiced  in  Dexter  be- 
fore coming  to  Grand  Meadow. 

ROSE  CREEK. 

Dr.  Obadiah  Wheelock,  the  first  physician  in  Rose  Creek,  was 
born  in  New  York  in  1828,  graduated  in  medicine  at  New  York, 
and  came  to  Rose  Creek  in  1872.  He  belonged  to  the  eclectic 
school. 

LANSING. 

Dr.  Josef  Allays  was  the  first  to  practice  medicine  in  Lansing. 
He  came  in  1857  and  settled  in  section  one.  He  was  a  Catholic 
priest,  and  combined  the  duties  of  priest,  physician  and  farmer. 
He  moved  from  here  to  Chicago.  Dr.  R.  Soule  came  in  1865.  His 
career  is  told  elsewhere.  Dr.  Lafayette,  a  Frenchman,  came  to 
Lansing  from  Red  Wing,  in  the  fall  of  1866.  He  was  of  the 
eclectic  practice.  After  remaining  here  three  years  he  went  to 
Missouri. 

LEROY. 

Dr.  Jones  came  here  from  Pennsylvania  in  1855,  and  settled 
on  the  Joe  Mason  farm.  When  Dr.  Alsdorff  came  he  gave  up 
practice  and  in  1866  went  to  IMissouri,  where  he  took  up  farming. 
Dr.  G.  M.  Alsdorflf.  an  eclectic,  came  to  LeRoy  in  1864.  He  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  November  '^4,   1824,  and  there  remained 


A.  E.  HENSLIN,   M.  D. 


C.  LECK,  M.  D. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  3-^7 

until  coming  to  Minnesota.  When  the  new  village  was  laid  out, 
in  1867,  Dr.  Alsdorff  opened  an  office,  and  the  following  year 
moved  to  the  new  location.  Dr.  Bingham,  a  graduate  of  the  Rush 
JMedical  College  at  Chicago,  practiced  for  a  short  time  and  then 
went  to  Lanesboro,  where  he  died  of  smallpox.  Dr.  E.  J.  Kings- 
bury came  from  Decorah  in  1869.  He  Avas  born  in  New  York  state 
in  1832,  and  in  1854  graduated  from  the  American  Medical  Insti- 
tute at  Cincinnati.  In  1855  he  came  to  Mower  county,  preempted 
land  in  Bennington  township,  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
town  and  became  a  prominent  citizen.  Subsequently  he  prac- 
ticed in  Spring  Valley  and  Decorah  before  coming  to  LeRoy.  Dr. 
Corbitt  came  from  Michigan  in  1868,  and  remained  here  at  inter- 
vals until  his  death  in  1880.  He  was  an  allopath,  and  graduated 
in  medicine  at  New  York.  Dr.  C.  W.  Thrall  came  here  from 
Wisconsin  and  entered  into  partnership  with  Dr.  Kingsbury.  He 
was  a  regular  and  a  graduate  of  the  Rush  Medical  College,  Chi- 
cago. From  here  he  went  to  LaCrosse.  In  the  spring  of  1880, 
Dr.  F.  C.  Davy  came  here  and  became  a  partner  of  Dr.  Alsdorff. 
After  leaving  here  he  attained  considerable  distinction  as  a  chem- 
ist. In  the  spring  of  1881,  Dr.  Aldenkirk,  a  homeopath,  came 
here.    Later  he  went  to  Iowa. 


LYLE. 

The  first  physician  to  locate  in  Lyle  was  Dr.  A.  Truane,  who 
came  in  1870.  He  moved  from  Lyle  to  Wisconsin.  Dr.  Tanner,  a 
homeopath,  came  in  1870,  and  made  a  short  stay.  In  1881,  Dr.  M. 
6.  Gordon,  of  Montreal,  located  here.  He  remained  but  a  short 
time. 

MOWER  COUNTY  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

In  the  preceding  paragraphs  has  been  related  the  story  of  the 
early  physicians  of  Mower  county.  The  present-day  physicians 
are  nobly  following  in  their  predecessors'  footsteps.  The  Mower 
County  Medical  Association  was  organized  October  3,  1902.  The 
meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Dr.  W.  S.  Fullerton,  state  or- 
ganizer, and  Dr.  C.  A.  Hegge,  the  former  being  made  temporary 
chairman  and  the  latter  temporary  secretary.  The  officers  elected 
were:  President,  AVilliam  Hollister;  vice  president,  W.  F.  Cobb; 
secretary,  C.  A.  Hegge ;  treasurer,  G.  F.  Schottler.  The  physicians 
present  at  the  organization  were :  A.  W.  Allen,  0.  H.  Hegge,  C. 
A.  Hegge,  William  Hollister,  W.  H.  ]\IcKenna,  F.  Kimball  Fiester. 
C.  F.  Lewis,  II.  F.  Pierson,  E.  H  Washbrrn-Rodgers,  O.  C.  Marck- 
lien,  George  W.  Gray,  G.  J.  Schottler,  W.  W.  Freeman,  W.  F.  Cobl) 
and  W.  A.  Frazer.     Since  then  the  presidents  have  been:    1903. 


328  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

William  Cobb ;  1904,  A.  E.  Henslin ;  1905,  H.  F.  Pierson ;  1906,  G. 
J.  Schottler;  1907,  W.  A.  Frazer;  1908,  C.  C.  Leek;  1909,  M.  J. 
Hart;  1910,  C.  F.  Lewis.  The  society  has  done  much  to  sustain 
the  ethics  of  the  profession,  to  promote  the  sanitation  of  the 
county,  to  protect  the  health  of  the  community  and  to  guard 
against  charlatanry  in  all  guises  and  forms.  The  society  is  now 
constituted  as  follows :  President,  C.  F.  Lewis ;  secretary,  Clifford 
C.  Leek,  Austin;  other  members,  A.  W.  Allen,  Austin;  W.  F 
Cobb,  Lyle;  A.  N.  Collins,  Austin;  W.  A.  Frazer,  Lyle;  G.  W 
Gray,  Brownsdale;  M.  J.  Hart,  LeRov;  C.  H.  Hegge,  Austin;  0 
H.  Hegge,  Austin ;  A.  E.  Henslin,  LeRoy ;  C.  H.  Johnson,  Austin 
R.  S.  Mitchell,  Grand  Meadow ;  Homer  F.  Pierson,  Austin ;  G.  M 
F.  Rogers,  Austin;  G.  J.  Schottler,  Dexter;  E.  V.  Smith,  Adams 
P.  T.  Torkelson,  Lyle. 

Other  physicians  in  the  county  are :  F.  E.  Daigneau,  Austin 
"VV.  H.  McKenna,  Austin;  Alb.  Plummer,  Racine;  C.  B.  Lynde, 
Rose  Creek,  and  H.  L.  Baker,  Waltham. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

CIVIL  WAR  HISTORY. 

Outbreak  of  the  War — The  First  War  Meeting  in  Mower  County — 
Newspaper  Clippings  of  Stirring  War  Events — List  of  Veterans 
Who  Enlisted  from  Mower  County,  with  History  of  Their 
Regiments — Honor  Roll  of  Mower  County  Heroes  Who  Laid 
Down  Their  Lives  for  the  Union — Col.  Henry  C.  Rogers  and 
His  Record.— By  Col.  A.  W.  Wright. 

When  President  Lincoln  issued  his  call  for  75,000  of  the  mili- 
tia of  the  several  states  to  maintain  the  Union  April  15,  1861, 
Mower  county  was  but  six  years  of  age,  as  an  organized  county, 
and  had  a  population  of  less  than  3.500,  all  pioneers  in  a  new 
state  which  became  a  part  of  the  Union  less  than  three  years  be- 
fore the  outbreak  of  the  war.  It  was  a  cruel  time  to  take  the  men 
from  field,  store,  shop  and  home.  They  had  little  on  which  to  de- 
pend save  the  labor  of  their  hands,  and  their  families  needed 
them.  But  an  attack  had  been  made  on  Fort  Sumter,  the  flag 
of  the  Union  had  been  fired  upon,  and  the  hearts  of  these  hardy 
patriotic  men  and  women  were  fired. 

At  this  time  Alexander  Ramsey,  governor  of  Minnesota, 
chanced  to  bo  in  Washington  and  immediately  sought  Secretary 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  .Iv'f) 

Cameron,  and  in  writing  tendered  1,000  soldiers  from  Minnesota  in 
defense  of  the  government,  which  offer  was  presented  to  the  presi- 
dent and  by  him  accepted.  The  governor  telegraphed  these  facts 
to  the  adjutant  general  of  the  state,  with  orders  to  make  a  call 
for  troops.  The  call,  however,  did  not  reach  Mower  county  in 
time  for  any  of  her  sons  to  be  included  in  the  first  regiment,  except 
Allen  Mollison,  who  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  man  to  en- 
list from  Mower  county. 

The  people  were  busy  breaking  farms  and  building  homes  and 
villages,  and  the  magnitude  of  the  secession  movement  was  not 
realized.  While  the  Minnesota  Courier,  the  only  paper  published 
in  Mower  county,  was  filled  with  war  news  in  every  issue,  the 
vital  need  of  men  to  defend  the  union  did  not  strike  home  to 
]\Iower  county  men  until  the  fall.  The  Courier  of  May  8,  1861, 
contained  the  information  that  about  twenty-five  of  the  young 
men  of  Austin  and  vicinity  had  enrolled  their  names  in  response 
to  their  country's  call,  but  no  names  were  given  in  the  published 
article.  In  June  of  that  year,  H.  B.  Kimball,  Fred  McCormick 
and  William  Mills  enlisted  in  the  Mantorville  company. 

The  first  real  war  meeting  in  Mower  county  was  held  at 
"Headquarters,"  September  4,  1861.  At  about  the  same  time 
Captain  White,  of  Freeborn  county,  was  in  Austin,  with  the 
proposition  that  if  Mower  county  could  not  raise  a  full  company 
that  the  two  counties  unite.  However,  it  was  decided  that  Mower 
county  could  raise  a  full  company,  and  the  meeting  for  this  pur- 
pose was  accorded  much  enthusiasm.  The  meeting  was  called  to 
order  by  Ormanzo  Allen,  and  Milo  Frary  was  elected  chairman. 
On  motion  of  L.  A.  Sherwood,  B.  F.  Jones  was  named  as  secre- 
tary. Capt.  R.  P.  Mooers  made  a  speech,  and  on  liis  motion  a 
committee  of  ways  and  means  was  appointed  as  follows :  W.  B. 
Spencer,  J.  W.  Fake,  J.  P.  Jones,  G.  W.  Bishop,  Ormanzo  Allen, 
S.  W.  Bostwick,  J.  Stewart,  A.  D.  Brown,  H.  H.  Heartley,  George 
Conkey,  E.  S.  Moodey  and  John  Rowley.  Ormanzo  Allen,  J.  W. 
Fake  and  6.  W.  Bishop  were  appointed  a  central  county  com- 
mittee, and  J.  W.  Fake  was  empowered  to  procure  speakers  to 
make  a  tour  of  the  county.  The  following  recruiting  officers  were 
appointed:  R.  P.  Mooers,  Lyle ;  J.  P.  Jones,  Nevada;  W.  B. 
Spencer,  LeRoy ;  G.  W.  Bishop,  Austin ;  Lewis  Hardy,  Frankford ; 
J.  W.  Stewart,  Racine;  A.  D.  Brown,  Red  Rock;  A.  J.  Clark, 
Brownsdale;  H.  C.  Rogers,  Udolpho;  H.  Hartley,  Lansing;  W. 
Reed,  Pleasant  Valley;  H.  Irgins,  Adams. 

As  a  result  of  this  meeting  a  military  company  was  raised 
and  a  meeting  of  the  volunteers  held  October  13,  1861.  B.  F. 
Jones  was  elected  chairman,  and  R.  P.  Mooers,  secretary.  The 
company  was  authorized  to  elect  a  first  lieutenant,  and  the  first 
ballot  resulted  in  eighteen  votes  f(n-  W.  B.  Spencer,  ten  for  G.  W. 


330  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Bishop,  and  one  for  R.  P.  Moores.  On  the  next  ballot,  Mr.  Spencer 
was  elected  over  G.  W.  Bishop  by  a  vote  of  22  to  8. 

On  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  October  15,  1861,  the  military 
company  that  was  afterwards  known  as  the  Mower  County 
Guards,  Co.  K,  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  left 
Austin,  thirty-two  strong,  with  the  intention  of  joining  the  Third 
Regiment  at  Fort  Snelling.  Before  departing  the  boys  were  ad- 
dressed by  Rev.  Stephen  Cook.  The  personnel  of  the  company 
was  as  follows :  First  lieutenant,  W.  B.  Spencer ;  privates,  R.  P. 
Mooers,  P.  E.  Jenks,  George  Carrier,  William  Gifford.  Henry 
Loomis,  William  Pace,  Kobert  P.  Tifft,  Marion  Lyle,  A.  C.  Smith, 
James  Morrison,  A.  J.  Clark,  Augustus  Rose,  Thomas  Edelman, 
Samuel  Parks,  James  Gray,  Samuel  Shutz,  I.  N.  Morrill,  George 
Mail,  V.  W.  Houghton,  T.  J.  Bishop,  W^  H.  Bullock,  Brayden 
Lincoln,  John  Frank,  Samuel  Surface,  Horace  Barber,  S.  C. 
Matthews,  H.  B.  Bourgard,  E.  E.  Earl,  Eugene  Parmeter,  Nathan 
M.  Thomas  and  Soloman  Tallaman.  Of  the  above  I.  N.  Morrill  and 
Hon.  John  Frank,  at  least,  are  still  living. 

During  the  week  of  October  23,  1861,  several  of  the  men 
came  home  on  parole,  five  or  six  of  them  being  under  age,  and 
seeking  the  written  permission  of  their  parents  or  guardians.  At 
about  this  time  the  company  was  increased  by  the  enlistment  of 
Charles  Hiuit,  George  Baird,  Caleb  Powers,  William  "Whitford, 
Charles  Smith,  Samuel  Clayton  and  A.  C.  Houghton.  The  name 
Mower  County  Guards  was  given  by  General  Sanborn. 

September  10,  1862,  the  Mower  County  Rangers  had  been 
organized,  transferred  to  the  Seventh  Regiment  and  sent  against 
the  Indians.  The  original  officers  were:  Captain.  H.  C.  Eogers; 
first  lieutenant,  E.  W.  Ford;  second  lieutenant,  L.  A.  Sherwood; 
orderly  sergeant,  M.  "Whitford. 

On  October  15,  1862,  a  letter  was  received  in  Austin  from 
Captain  Mooers  of  Co.  K,  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, announcing  the  battle  of  luka,  September  20,  and  the 
wounding  of  George  S.  Hutchinson,  Aaron  B.  Morse,  Isaac 
Dczotell,  John  E.  McCun,  Saul  M.  Milhollin  and  Martin  Kiefer. 
On  October  3,  1862,  before  this  letter  reached  Austin,  Captain 
Mooers  was  killed  at  the  Battle  of  Corinth.  He  was  born  in  New 
York,  came  west  in  1855,  and  gave  up  his  profession  as  an  en- 
gineer for  farming  in  Lyle  township.  He  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain of  the  Mower  County  Guards  and  killed  in  action. 

January  6,  1863,  the  county  commissioners  divided  Mower 
county  into  eight  military  districts  as  follows :  1 — Adams  and  Ne- 
vada. 2 — Lyle,  "Windom  and  Austin.  3 — Lansing.  4 — Red  Rock 
and  Udolpho.  5— Pleasant  Valley  and  Grand  Meadow.  6— Ra- 
cine.   7 — Frankford  and  Bennington.    8 — LeRoy. 

May  12,  1863,  the  military  election  under  the  military  act  took 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  331 

place  at  Browusdale,  and  resulted  as  follows:  Colonel,  B.  F. 
Langworthy,  Grand  Meadow;  lieutenant  coloned,  P.  G.  Latiu)- 
reaux,  of  Lansing;  major,  Ornianzo  Allen  of  Austin. 

NEWS   CLIPPINGS. 

The  newspapers  of  the  period  give  us  a  true  picture  of  con- 
ditions dm-ing  the  Civil  war,  and  for  that  reason  the  following 
clippings  relating  to  war  affairs  are  here  reproduced : 

Minnesota  Courier. — September  4,  1861.  Contrabands  in 
Town.  On  Friday  last  v,'e  learn  that  two  negroes — fugitives 
from  Missouri — passed  through  town  on  their  way  to  Canada. 
They  were  mounted  on  horses,  which  they  took  from  their  mas- 
ters to  assist  them  on  their  journey.  Those  who  saw  them  say 
they  Avere  fine  looking  fellows,  and  worth,  perhaps,  in  Missouri 
from  eight  to  twelve  hundred  dollars  each. 

November  27,  1861.  Flag  for  Mower  County  Guards.  The 
material  was  purchased  in  St.  Paul  by  Mrs.  B.  F.  Lindsey  and 
Mrs.  J.  L.  Clark,  is  all  silk,  and  is  said  by  the  lady  who  made  it 
up,  and  who  has  furnished  several  other  companies,  to  be  the 
finest  one  and  manufactured  of  the  best  materials.  The  Guards 
promised  to  send  it  down  by  some  of  the  company  during  the 
winter  provided  they  remained  at  the  fort  and  were  not  ordered 
south.  On  receiving  the  flag  Mr.  Martin,  on  behalf  of  the  com- 
pany, Captain  Mooers  being  absent,  received  the  flag  and  re- 
turned the  thanks  of  the  company  in  a  brief  and  appropriate 
speech,  which  was  responded  to  by  the  company  with  three  rous- 
ing cheers  for  the  ladies  of  Austin,  and  the  burning  of  the  usual 
amount  of  powder.  "We  think  it  no  more  than  right  that  the 
ladies,  who  have  given  their  time  and  energy  in  raising  the 
money,  by  soliciting  subscriptions  to  furnish  the  company  with 
a  flag,  should  at  least  receive  a  passing  notice  from  us,  and  the 
thanks  of  our  lady  friends  generally.  We  are  of  the  opinion  that 
if  Mrs.  Clark  and  Mrs.  Lindsey  had  not  taken  the  matter  in  hand, 
our  company  would  today  have  been  without  a  flag.  They  have 
done  their  part  well,  and  from  what  we  know  of  the  ladies  of 
Austin  they  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  The  cost  of  the  flag  was 
$16.98. 

August  6,  1862.  Volunteering  and  Being  Drafted.  A  volun- 
teer receives  the  full  bounty — $25  advance  bounty,  one  month's 
pay  ($1.3)  in  advance,  and  $75  at  the  end  of  his  time  of  service, 
together  with  the  usual  160  acres  of  bounty  land.  Besides  all 
this  his  family  receives  pecuniary  assistance  during  his  absence 
The  drafted  militia  receive  but  $11  per  month,  and  no  money 
bounty.  They  can  be  held  to  service  out  of  the  state  three 
months  by  order  of  the  governor.    Let  no  one,  however,  deceive 


33-2  HI8T0BY  OF  MO^YER  COUNTY 

himself  with  the  idea  that  drafted  sokiiers  will  serve  only  threi' 
mouths,  for  after  the  militia  are  drafted,  Congress  can  easily 
hold  them  to  serve  during  the  war. 

August  13,  1862.  "Private  Bounty.  Grand  Meadow,  August 
7,  1862.  I  will  give  to  every  volunteer  that  may  join  any  com- 
pany noAV  forming  in  this  county  from  Pleasant  Valley,  Grand 
Meadow,  Eacine,  Frankford  and  LeRoy,  a  bounty  of  $2  for  single 
men,  and  to  every  married  man  five  bushels  of  wheat  for  the  use 
of  his  family,  extra.  Volunteering  to  be  from  this  date  to 
August  31.    Respectfully,  B.  F.  Langworthy." 

August  20,  1862.  The  citizens  of  Adams  township  have  raised 
by  private  subscription,  $142,  to  be  paid  in  cash  on  or  before  two 
months,  provided,  however,  this  bounty  will  prevent  drafting  in 
Adams  to-^vnship. 

Capt.  E.  W.  Ford  left  this  place  on  Saturday  last  for  Fort 
Snelling  with  upwards  of  seventy  men,  all  from  this  county,  to 
be  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  imder  the  call  for 
600,000  men.  Mower  county  will  furnish  her  quota  without  re- 
sorting to  a  draft.  On  Sunday  last  four  more  started  for  the  fort 
to  join  Mr.  Ford's  company,  and  we  hear  of  several  others  who 
are  ready  to  go,  provided  they  can  get  into  the  company  from 
this  county. 

The  war  meetings  which  have  just  been  held  at  Austin,  Frank- 
ford  and  Brownsdale  were  well  attended,  and  the  result  is  that 
Mower  county  has  almost  raised  her  quota.  The  three  towns 
above  named  we  believe  are  now  exempt  from  the  draft.  The 
town  of  Lansing  is  awake  and  will  this  week,  in  all  probability, 
raise  the  quota  of  that  to"\vn.  It  is  time  for  the  other  towns 
to  be  looking  out  if  they  expect  to  escape  the  draft. 

September  3,  1862.  The  draft  is  postponed  until  October  3. 
*  *  *  When  we  get  the  600,000  men  into  the  field  who  are 
now  organizing  for  the  war,  thus  swelling  our  grand  army  to 
over  a  million,  we  can  sweep  the  rebels  from  the  face  of  the  earth 
in  a  month  or  two.  We  can  then  form  a  solid  column  of  bayonets 
and  cannon,  reaching  almost  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi, 
and  by  one  determined  "forward  march,"  drive  all  the  traitors 
and  rebels  down  into  the  gulf,  like  a  drove  of  frightened  swine. 
It  will  be  a  privilege  to  belong  to  that  great  army  of  the  Union — 
a  glorious  thing  to  think  of  and  talk  about  after  the  war,  and 
for  your  children  to  be  proud  over  through  coming  generations. 
"I  was  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Union  that  saved  the  Re- 
public," will  be  as  proud  a  title  to  the  respect  of  your  country- 
men and  of  the  world,  as  now  is  the  claim  of  those  few  remaining 
veterans  who  can  say,  "I  was  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  and  fought  under  Washington." 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  X]?> 

Mower  County  Register.  March  2,  1865.  The  draft  hangs  by 
a  liair !  At  any  moment  it  may  descend  upon  us.  How  shall  wo 
avoid  it?  By  going  into  the  army  in  person  or  by  proxy;  by  going 
ourselves  or  sending  substitutes.  Where  volunteering  goes  on 
briskly,  the  draft  will  not  reach;  where  volunteering  ceases,  the 
conscription  will  be  ordered  to  commence.  Rouse,  then,  and  let 
us  make  every  exertion,  and  exert  every  energy  for  the  recruit- 
ing of  our  army.  By  sundry  alterations  at  the  Provost  Marshal's 
office,  the  town  of  Austin  has  to  furnish  under  the  last  call  for 
300,000  thirteen  men.  "We  learn  further  that  movements  are  now 
progressing  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  town  bounty  as  an  in- 
ducement to  volunteer. 

July  21,  1864.  News  from  the  boys  of  Company  C,  Ninth 
regiment :  Through  the  kindness  of  Mrs.  Stephen  Chandler  we 
have  been  shown  a  letter  from  her  husband,  which  enables  us  to 
secure  knowledge  of  the  whereabouts  of  our  liberty-defending 
patriots.  Mr.  Chandler  is  a  prisoner  in  Meridan,  Mississippi. 
Those  of  Company  C  yet  prisoners  are :  Capt.  E.  W.  W.  Ford,  A. 
Avery,  J.  Clark,  William  Breckon,  Ludoviso  Bourgard,  A. 
Wheeler,  Duane  Philes,  C.  Steward,  J.  Woodbury,  S.  H.  Ames,  AV. 
Lyons,  Conrad  W.  McCaskill,  I.  Bisgrove,  E.  Rice,  W.  Rice,  C.  D. 
Rhodes,  T.  H.  B.  Vandegrift,  John  Barnett  and  Stephen  N. 
Chandler. 

January  28,  1864.  Promotions.  The  following  worthy  promo- 
tions have  been  made  in  the  Fourth  regiment :  First  Lieutenant 
S.  T.  Isaac  to  be  captain ;  First  Lieutenant  D.  L.  Wellman  to  be 
captain ;  First  Lieutenant  C.  C.  Hunt  to  be  captain ;  Second  Lieu- 
tenants Orlando  Graham  and  S.  W.  Russell  to  be  first  lieutenants ; 
Orderly  Sergeant  C.  W.  Douglass  to  be  second  lieutenant. 

In  the  same  issue  the  announcement  is  made  that  Co.  K, 
of  the  Fourth  Minnesota  regiment,  has  re-enlisted  for  "three 
years  or  during  the  war" — every  man  except  two.  The  following 
is  a  list  of  members  who  re-enlisted :  Captain — Charles  C.  Hunt. 
First  Lieutenant — C.  W.  Douglass.  Sergeants — Geo.  Baird,  Mar- 
ion R.  Lyle,  V.  W.  Houghton,  Samuel  M.  Clayton.  Corporals — 
R.  S.  Perkins,  Stephen  Maxon,  John  Mullen,  S.  E.  Morse,  A.  M. 
Kenniston.  Privates— W.  H.  H.  Bullock,  Henry  B.  Burgor,  F.  H. 
Belot,  N.  Barnes,  A.  Chapel,  Jacob  II.  Epler,  N.  Frost,  McConnell 
Fitch,  John  Frank,  A.  C.  Hursh,  A.  O.  Hollister,  P.  E.  Jenks,  M. 
Kiefer,  W.  S.  Kimball,  S.  Mathews,  C.  Powers,  E.  A.  Parker,  John 
Rochford,  S.  Giflft,  Geo.  Thernott,  Solomon  Tallman,  E.  A.  Whit- 
comb,  0.  H.  Wiley.  Up  to  this  time,  January,  1864,  Mower  county 
has  furnished  275  men  for  the  service.  Geo.  Baird  became  first 
lieutenant  of  the  company,  and  for  a  considerable  time  had  com- 
mand of  the  company. 


334  HISTORY  OF  MOWEl?  COUXTY 

PRECIOUS  RELIC. 

Mower  county  has  a  precious  relic  in  the  shape  of  a  battle- 
stained  flag,  carried  through  the  Civil  war  by  the  valiant  Co. 
K,  of  the  Fourth  ]\Iinnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  ]\Iany  ]\Iower 
county  people  contributed  for  its  purchase,  and  the  silk  was  ob- 
tained in  St.  Paul  by  Mrs.  B.  F.  Lindsey  and  Mrs.  J.  L.  Clark, 
who  went  to  St.  Paul  by  stage  to  buy  a  flag,  but  finding  none 
purchased  silk  ribbon  and  made  one.  It  was  presented  to  the 
company  at  Fort  Snelling,  before  the  regiment  was  ordered 
south.  Following  are  the  names  of  the  men  and  women  who  con- 
tributed to  the  purchase  of  the  flag:  F.  D.  Lewis,  Fernald  ]\Ior- 
gan,  William  Simpson,  L.  A.  Sherwood,  Ian  Osdel,  H.  Sutherland, 
J.  L.  Smith,  L.  Stone,  M.  Graves,  E.  Chapin ;  the  Mesdames  G.  W. 
Bishop,  R.  L.  Kimball,.  S.  W.  Paul,  E.  Parliman,  J.  S.  Lacy,  J.  Bo- 
dine.  J.  Stage,  H.  Allen,  0.  Allen,  S.  Smith,  L.  Hunt,  G.  W. 
Mitchell,  J.  L.  Davidson,  H.  I.  Holt,  W.  W.  Cook,  J.  H.  Mclntire, 
AV.  Brown,  H.  Jacobs,  W.  L.  Kimball,  Q.  E.  Truesdell,  George 
Baird,  J.  B.  Niles,  Wm.  Hunt,  E.  W.  Ford,  L.  Piper,  A.  Galloway, 
D.  B.  Johnson,  R.  0.  Hunt,  B.  F.  Jones,  O.  Allen,  E.  D.  Fenton, 
G.  M.  Cameron,  O.  Somers,  T.  J.  Lake,  L.  N.  Griffith,  A.  S.  Everest, 
J.  C.  Ackerly,  J.  W.  Fake,  C.  J.  Shortt,  J.  B.  Yates,  G.  H.  Bemis, 
B.  F.  Lindsaj^,  J.  L.  Clark,  and  the  Misses  Hattie  Adams,  Philenda 
Deming,  A.  J.  Wheat,  A.  B.  Albro,  Lizzie  Johnson,  A.  Loomis. 

The  flag  was  carried  through  the  following  engagements: 
1862 — Siege  of  Corinth,  INIississippi,  May ;  Battle  of  luka,  Missis- 
sippi, September  19;  Battle  of  Corinth,  Mississippi,  October  3  and 
4.  1863 — Port  Gibson,  Mississippi,  May  1 ;  Forty  Hills,  ]Missis- 
sippi.  May  3;  Raymond,  Mississippi,  May  12;  Jackson,  Mississippi. 
May  14 ;  C^hampion  Hills,  Mississippi ;  Vicksburg,  ]\Iay  and  June ; 
Mission  Ridge,  Tennessee,  November  24  and  25.  1864 — Altoona, 
Georgia,  October  5 ;  Savannah,  December.  1865 — Columbia, 
South  Carolina,  February  17 ;  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  ]\Iarch 
20  and  21 ;  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  April  14.  Upon  the  company 
being  mustered  out  of  the  service,  this  flag  was  placed  in  the 
keeping  of  Lieut.  Geo.  Baird  by  a  vote  of  the  company  as  a  token 
of  the  regard  of  the  members  of  the  company  for  him,  for  many 
of  whom  he  had  been  a  personal  friend,  adviser  and  comforter, 
also  because  of  his  conspicuous  gallantry  and  bravery  in  the  field. 

FALL  OF  VICKSBURG. 

When  the  news  of  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  received  at 
Austin,  a  grand  jubilee  meeting  was  held  at  Headquarters  hall, 
on  \hv  cvciiiiig  of  .Inly  10,  18(i3.  J.  11.  C.  AVilson  was  caUed  to 
the   chair,   and   T.  .1.    Lake   ajjpointcd   secretary.     Speeches   were 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  335 

made  by  Revs.  Parker,  Tiee,  Clark  and  Lake,  also  by  Colonel 
Lewis,  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Wisconsin,  who  had  just  returned 
from  the  "seat  of  war,"  and  Judge  Ormanzo  Allen.  Colonel 
Lewis'  speech  was  most  interesting.  Fresh  from  the  army  and 
having  endured  all  the  hardships  of  the  war,  he  could  talk  as 
soldiers  only  can  talk  on  such  occasions,  and  his  remarks  pro- 
duced the  wildest  enthusiasm.  He  closed  by  saying  "Copper- 
headism  is  worse  than  secession  among  the  soldiers.  When  his 
comrades  found  he  was  coming  north,  each  said,  "Kill  a  copper- 
head for  us!"  Amid  much  enthusiasm  the  following  resolution 
was  adopted:  "Resolved,  That  the  soldiers  of  the  Minnesota 
Fourth,  always  in  the  advance,  and  always  victorious,  have 
achieved  for  themselves  honor  and  glory  worth  more  than  all 
the  achievements  that  can  be  possibly  made  by  the  greatest  and 
most  distinguished  civilian  in  the  land,  in  the  capture  of  Vicks- 
burg — the  Sebastopol  of  Rebeldom." 

ROLL  OF  HONOR. 

In  this  connection  has  been  compiled  from  the  adjutant-gen- 
eral's report,  the  names  of  the  soldiers,  who  enlisted  from  Mower 
county.  If  any  are  omitted,  it  is  not  intentional,  for  great  care 
has  been  exercised  in  collecting  this  matter,  and  none  have 
greater  veneration  for  the  brave  soldier  than  the  compilers  of 
this  volume.  As  the  only  possible  way  to  ascertain  the  where- 
abouts of  each  soldier,  is  to  depend  upon  the  official  reports  as 
published  under  authority  of  the  state,  any  mistakes  in  spelling 
names  or  the  omission  of  them  entirely,  should  be  charged  to 
such  official  reports. 

Mower  county  was  represented  in  the  Union  army  as  follows : 

FIRST  INFANTRY. 

Allan  Mollison,  so  far  as  known  the  only  member  of  this  regi- 
ment from  ]\Iower  county,  enlisted  in  Company  G.  When  the  call 
came  for  volunteers,  Allan  Mollison  was  a  blacksmith  in  Austin, 
and  the  sole  support  of  a  widowed  mother.  He  walked  alone  to 
Owatonna  and  there  joined  others.  Then  all  walked  to  Fari- 
bault, to  enlist  in  a  company  raised  by  Captain  McCune.  They 
marched  thence  to  Fort  Snelling  and  INIollison  was  mustered  into 
service  as  a  private  in  Company  G,  First  ^Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  on  his  twenty-fifth  birthday,  April  29,  1861.  He  was 
afterward  promoted  to  corporal. 

The  Fii-st  Regiment  was  hurried  on  to  Washington,  and  took 
part  in  the  first  Battle  of  Bull  Run.  It  was  here  that  Mr.  ^[olli- 
•son  first  showed  that  daring  which  made  him  the  idol  of  his  com- 
pany.    In  the  retreat  of  the  regiment.  Captain  ^FcCune  was  shot 


336  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

down.  The  regiment  reformed  later  and  the  battle  was  resumed. 
Between  the  firing  lines  lay  the  wounded  captain.  Volunteers 
were  called  to  go  out  amid  the  hail  of  bullets  and  bring  back 
the  captain.  At  once,  Allan  Mollison,  the  sturdy  blacksmith, 
responded.  He  ran  out  across  the  shot-torn  field,  raised  the 
wounded  captain,  and  brought  him  safely  to  his  company.  The 
wound  received  by  Captain  MeCune  was  a  fatal  one,  however. 
Mr.  Mollison  saw  as  much  real  war  as  any  man  in  the  army. 
The  battles  of  the  First  Minnesota  are  a  part  of  the  history  of 
the  nation,  and  in  them  all  he  took  his  share.  He  was  at  Balls 
Bluff,  where  General  Baker  was  killed,  went  through  the  penin- 
sular campaign  with  McClellan,  and  fought  at  South  IMountain, 
Antietam,  the  Wilderness  and  Gettysburg.  After  Gettysburg  he 
was  transferred  to  the  First  United  States  Cavalry,  was  in  Gen- 
eral Grant's  campaign  as  far  as  Cold  Harbor,  and  accompanied 
General  Sheridan  in  his  raid  through  the  Shenandoah  valley. 
He  was  wounded  live  times  and  was  a  prisoner  at  the  rebel  prison 
of  Belle  Island  for  three  weeks.  He  served  three  years  and  four 
months.  He  was  born  in  Airdrie,  Scotland,  April  29,  1836,  and 
died  at  Austin,  Minnesota,  July  6,  1906.  His  brother  Thomas 
was  killed  in  the  Union  service  and  his  brother  Edwin  served  and 
was  killed  as  a  colonel  in  the  Rebel  cavalry. 

SECOND   INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  July,  1861,  and  originally 
commanded  by  Horatio  Van  Cleve.  Ordered  to  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, in  October,  1861,  and  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Ohio. 
It  was  engaged  in  the  following  marches,  battles,  skirmishes  and 
sieges,  viz.:  Mill  Spring,  January  19,  1862;  siege  of  Corinth,  in 
April,  1862,  then  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee; 
Bragg's  Raid,  Perryville.  October  8,  1862;  skirmishes  of  the 
Tullahoma  campaign,  Chickamauga,  September  19  and  20,  1863; 
Mission  Ridge,  November  28,  1863.  Veteranized  in  January,  1864, 
and  participated  in  the  battles  and  skirmishes  of  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  viz. :  Resaca,  June  14,  lo  and  16,  1864;  Kenesaw  ]Moun- 
tain,  June  27,  1864;  Jonesboro ;  Sherman's  March  through  Geor- 
gia and  the  Carolinas,  and  Bentonville,  ]\Iarch  19,  1865.  The 
men  were  mustered  out  at  liouisville,  Ky.,  and  discharged  at  Fort 
Snelling,  ]\Iinnesnta,  July  11,  1865.  This  regiment  covered  itself 
with  laurels  at  the  luittlc  of  ^Mission  Ridge,  where  they  were 
l)adly  cut  up  in  a  cluirgc  Ihey  made  on  the  enemy's  works.  Few 
^linnesota  regiments,  if  any,  performed  moi'c  long  and  laborious 
marches  than  the  "Bloody  Second." 

Company  A — Sergeant  II.  (I.  C.isr. 

Company     B — Originally     (•(Huniaiided     by     Captain     William 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  337 

l\[arkham;  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  for 
three  years,  on  June  26,  1861,  by  Capt.  A.  D.  Nelson,  mustering 
officer.    Privates — Daniel  Ames,  Henry  Peck. 

Company  C — Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  Peter  Mantor, 
mustered  into  the  United  States'  service  June  26,  1861,  by  Capt. 
A.  D.  Nelson,  mustering  officer.  First  lieutenant — AVilliam  T. 
Mills.  Privates — Headly  B.  Kimball,  George  H.  Ames,  Robert  A. 
Dermin,  William  J.  Johnson,  Frederick  McCormick,  Edwin  R. 
IMorrill,  Asaph  Mayo,  Edvsdn  Frazier,  Nelson  C.  Frazier,  Philan- 
der Scheffield. 

Company  H — Francis  Neller. 

THIRD  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  October,  1861,  and  originally 
eoamianded  by  Col.  Henry  C.  Lester,  of  Winona.  Ordered  to 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  in  March,  1862.  Captured  and  paroled  at 
jMurfreesboro  in  July,  1862.  Ordered  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
thence  to  Minnesota.  Engaged  in  the  Indian  expedition  in  1862. 
Participated  in  the  battle  of  Wood  Lake  in  September,  1862. 
Ordered  to  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  in  November,  1863.  Veteran- 
ized in  January,  1864.  Engaged  in  battle  of  Fitzhugh's  Woods, 
March  30,  1864.  Ordered  to  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas,  in  April,  1864 ; 
thence  to  Duvall's  Bluff  September  2,  1865.  Mustered  out  at 
Duvall's  Bluff  September  2,  1865.  Discharged  at  Fort  Snelling, 
Minnesota. 

On  account  of  the  ill-advised  surrender  of  the  regiment  at 
Murfreesboro,  a  number  of  the  officers  were  dismissed  from  the 
service,  which  partially  demoralized  portions  of  it,  and  they 
Avere  sent  north  to  guard  the  frontier.  Their  lack  of  experience 
in  the  arts  of  war  had  more  to  do  with  the  surrender  than  lack  of 
courage,  as  the  regiment  subsequently  proved  by  their  behavior 
on  the  field  of  battle. 

Company  C — Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  John  R.  Ben- 
nett, was  mustered  in  service  October  25,  1861,  A.  D.  Nelson, 
mustering  officer.  First  lieutenant — Lewis  Hardy.  Sergeant — 
William  F.  Grummons.     Corporal — George  McKay. 

Company  F — J.  H.  DeReamer. 

Company  I — Private — Andrew  J.  Clark. 

Company  K — Private — Oscar  Haws. 

FOURTH  REGIMENT  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  originally  commanded  by  Col.  J.  1^.  San- 
born, of  St.  Paul,  organized  December  23,  1861  ;  ordered  to 
Benton  Barracks,  Missouri,  April  19,  1862;  assigned  to  army  of 
the  :Mississippi,  May  4,  1862.  parti<-ipated  in  the  following 
mai'i-hcs,  battles,  sieges  and  skii'iiiislies :     Siege  of  Coi-iiitli.  .\pti!. 


338  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

1862;  luka,  September  19,  1862;  Corinth,  October  3  and  4,  1862; 
siege  of  Vieksburg,  Forty  Hills,  Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion 
Hills,  assault  on  Vieksburg,  capture  of  Vicksbiu-g,  July  4,  1863. 
Transferred  from  Seventeenth  to  Fifteenth  corps;  ]\lissiou  Ridge, 
November  25,  1863;  veteranized,  January,  1864;  Altoona,  Octo- 
ber, 1864 ;  Sherman 's  march  through  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas ; 
Bentonville,  March  20,  1865,  and  Raleigh,  April  14,  1865;  mus- 
tered out  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  19,  1865 ;  discharged  at 
Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota. 

Company  A — Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  Luther  B. 
Baxter,  was  mustered  into  service  October  4,  1861,  by  A.  D. 
Nelson,  mustering  ofifieer.  Captains — Charles  W.  Douglass, 
Charles  C.  Hunt  (Company  G).  First  lieutenants — Ira  N.  Mor- 
rill, George  Baird.  Second  lieutenants  —  A.  E.  Wood,  "W.  B. 
Spencer. 

Company  E — Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  Ebeuezer 
LeGro,  was  mustered  into  service  November  27,  1861.  Corporal — 
Elijah  F.  Armstrong.  Privates — Austin  Rosenburgh,  Harrison 
H.  Hartley. 

Company  F — Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  Asa  W.  White, 
was  mustered  into  service  October  11,  1861.  Privates — Nathan 
M.  Thomas,  John  McCaskel. 

Company  I — Private — Ashley   Cameron. 

Company  K  —  Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  Robert  P. 
Mooers,  was  mustered  into  the  LTnited  States  service  for  three 
years,  December  23,  1861,  by  Capt.  A.  D.  Nelson,  mustering 
officer.  Captain — Robert  P.  Mooers.  Second  lieutenant — AY.  B. 
Spencer.  First  Sergeants — Ira  N.  Morrill,  Charles  C.  Hunt, 
George  Carrier,  Marion  Lyle,  George  W.  Bishop.  Corporals — 
John  E.  Hussey,  Samuel  B.  Rolfe,  George  Mail,  Alonzo  C.  Hough- 
ton, Samuel  Surface,  John  Frank,  Vincent  B.  Lincoln.  Musi- 
cians— William  B.  Whitford,  James  Davis.  Wagoner — Ambrose 
C.  Smith.  Privates — Thomas  I.  Bishop,  W.  H.  H.  Bullock,  George 
Baird,  AVilliam  H.  Bogart,  Asa  B.  Carlton,  Nathaniel  Trost,  James 
Guy,  Thomas  Greene,  George  S.  Hutchmson,  Horace  Barber, 
Henry  Bugor,  Israel  Baker,  Samuel  j\I.  Clayton,  Ethan  R.  Earl, 
Harvey  B.  Earl,  William  H.  Gift'ord,  Virgil  AV.  Hughton,  Plymp- 
ton  E.  Jenks,  Wilbur  S.  Kimball,  Asa  C.  Lawrence,  James  Morri- 
son, Stephen  Maxon,  Samuel  E.  ]\Iorse,  AVilliam  ]\r.  Pace,  Caleb 
Powers,  Robert  S.  Perkins,  Samuel  Shutz,  Robert  T.  Tiflft,  Syl- 
vanus  AVoodworth,  Miles  M.  Trowbridge,  E.  A.  AVliitcomb, 
Stephen  Tifft,  Henry  Loomis,  Samuel  Loomis,  Samuel  J.  Alathews, 
John  Mullin,  Joseph  F.  Owen,  Samuel  Parks,  Eugene  E.  Par- 
menter,  Joseph  H.  Reed,  Charles  Shuler,  Solomon  Tollman,  Peter 
G.  Mills,  AV.  C.  Sommers,  Ole  S.  Oleson,  Edwhi  A.  Park(>r,  Sher- 
win  Clow,  Jacob  H.  Epler,  Abram  0.  Hollister. 


HISTORY  OF  M0WP:R  COUNTY  339 

FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  ^lay,  1862,  and  originally  com- 
manded by  Col.  Rudolph  Borgesrode,  of  Shakopee.  Ordered  to 
Pittsburg  Landing.  Jlay  9,  1862,  leaving  a  detachment  of  three 
companies  in  Minnesota,  garrisoning  frontier  posts.  Participated 
in  the  following  marches,  battles,  sieges  and  skirmishes :  Siege 
of  Corinth,  April  and  May,  1862.  The  detachment  in  Minnesota 
engaged  Avith  the  Indians  at  Redwood,  Minnesota,  August  18, 
1862,  and  siege  of  Fort  Ridgely,  August  20,  21  and  22,  1862;  Fort 
Abercrombie,  Dakota  Territory,  in  August,  1862.  The  regiment 
was  assigned  to  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps  and  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  luka,  September  18,  1862,  and  at  Corinth,  October  3  and 
4,  1862;  Jackson,  May  14,  1863;  and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg;  as- 
sault of  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863 ;  Mechanicsburg,  June  3,  1863 ; 
Richmond,  June  15,  1863 ;  Fort  De  Rusrey,  Louisiana,  March  14. 
1864;  Red  River  expedition  in  March,  April  and  May,  1864;  Lake 
Chicot,  June  6,  1864,  and  Tupelo  in  June,  1864.  Veteranized  in 
July,  1864;  Abheyville,  August  23,  1864;  marched  in  September, 
1864,  from  Brownsville,  Arkansas,  to  Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri, 
thence  by  boat  to  Jefferson  City ;  thence  to  Kansas  state  line ; 
thence  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  ordered  to  Nashville,  November. 
1864 ;  battle  of  Nashville,  December  15  and  16,  1864 ;  Spanish  Fort 
and  Fort  Blakely  in  April,  1865 ;  mustered  out  at  Demopolis,  Ala- 
bama, September  6,  1865,  and  discharged  at  Fort  Snelling,  Minne- 
sota. It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  record  this  regiment  was  in 
active  service,  yet  comparatively  very  few  were  killed  in  battle. 

Company  B.  Originally  commanded  by  John  S.  Marsh,  was 
mustered  into  service  March  24,  1862,  for  three  years.  Private — ■ 
Webster  G.  Andrews. 

Company  F.  E.  L.  Merry. 
Company  H.  Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  Otis  S.  Clark, 
was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  for  three  years 
on  the  29th  day  of  April,  1862,  by  Capt.  A.  D.  Nelson,  mustering 
officer.  Privates — William  F.  Smith,  Newton  Anderson,  Hans. 
Christiansen,  John  P.  Clark,  Orlo  F.  White. 

Company  I.  Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  Luther  E.  Clark, 
was  mustered  into  service  April  30,  1862,  for  three  years,  by  Capt. 
A.  D.  Nelson,  mustering  officer.  Second  Lieutenant — ]MiIton  II. 
Pember.     Privates— Calvin  H.  Patchin,  Charles  E.  White. 

SEVENTH  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  originally  commanded  by  Col.  Stephen 
Miller  of  St.  Paul,  afterwards  governor  of  the  state.  It  was  or- 
ganized ill  August.  1862.  and  ordei-ed  ujidii  tlu'  Iiidiiiii  ex]>edition 


MO  HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY 

that  year,  and  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Wood  Lake,  Minnesota. 
The  regiment  was  stationed  at  frontier  posts  until  May,  1863, 
when  it  was  ordered  upon  the  Indian  expedition  in  the  West 
under  General  Sibley,  and  was  engaged  in  battle  with  the  Indians 
July  24,  26,  28,  30  and  31  of  that  year.  They  returned  from  this 
expedition  and  were  ordered  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  October  7, 
1863;  thence  to  Paducah,  Kentucky,  in  April,  1864;  thence  to 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  assigned  to  the  sixteenth  army  corps, 
in  June,  1864.  The  regiment  participated  in  the  following 
marches,  battles,  sieges  and  skirmishes:  Tupelo,  in  July,  1864; 
Tallahatchie,  August  7  and  8,  1864 ;  the  march  in  pursuit  of  Price 
from  Brownsville,  Arkansas,  to  Cape  Girardeau;  thence  to  St. 
Louis,  Missouri ;  in  the  battles  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  December 
15  and  16,  1864 ;  Spanish  Fort  and  Fort  Blakely,  in  April,  1865. 
The  discharge  of  the  regiment  took  place  at  Fort  Snelling,  Minne- 
sota, August  16,  1865. 

Company  D.  Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  Rolla  Banks, 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  three  years  on 
the  30th  day  of  October,  1862,  by  Lieut.  E.  Haight,  mustering  of- 
ficer. First  Lieutenant — Hardy  Lewis.  Corporal — Ferdinand 
Elder. 

EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  August  1,  3862,  and  originally 
connnanded  by  Col.  Minor  T.  Thomas,  of  Stillwater,  Minn.  It 
was  stationed  at  frontier  posts  until  May,  1864,  when  it  was 
ordered  upon  the  Indian  expedition.  It  was  engaged  in  the  fol- 
lowing battles,  sieges,  skirmishes  and  marches :  Tah-cha-o-ku-tu, 
July  28,  1864;  Little  Missouri,  battle  of  the  Cedars,  Wilkinson's 
Pike,  December  7,  1864;  near  Murfreesboro,  December  8,  1864, 
and  Overall's  creek.  Ordered  to  Clifton,  Tenn.,  thence  to  Cincin- 
nati, thence  to  Washington,  thence  to  Newbern,  N.  C. ;  at  the 
battle  of  Kingston,  March  8,  9  and  10,  1865.  The  men  were  mus- 
tered out  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  July  11,  1865,  and  discharged  at 
Fort  Snelling,  Minn. 

LicutiMiant-Coloiicl — Henry  C.  Rogers.  ^Musician — Azariah  II. 
Cliiipin. 

NINTH  INFANTRY. 

This  rcgiinciil  was  organized  in  August,  1862,  and  stationed 
at  Frontier  posts  until  Sej)tember,  1863.  when  they  were  ordered 
1o  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  from  there  to  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  and  dis- 
trii)uled  among  several  posts  in  the  interior  of  the  state.  In  May, 
1864,  they  were  ordered  1o  St.  Louis,  and  from  there  to  ^leinphis, 
Tenn.  They  were  engaged  in  the  following  battles,  marches, 
sieges  and  skirmishes:  Guntown  exi)edition,  August,  1864;  Talla- 
hatchie, August,  1864;  marched  in  pursuit  of  Price  from  Browns- 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  341 

ville,  Ark.,  to  Cape  Girardeau,  thence  by  boat  to  Jefferson  City ; 
thence  to  Kansas  line;  thence  to  St.  Louis.  They  fought  heroic- 
ally in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  December  15  and  16,  1864;  also 
at  Spanish  Fort  and  Fort  Blakely  in  April,  1865.  They  were  dis- 
charged at  Fort  Snelling,  Minn.,  August  24,  1865. 

Company  C — Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  Henry  C.  Eogers, 
was  mustered  into  service  for  three  years,  October  5,  1862,  by 
Lieut.  E.  Haight,  mustering  officer.  Captains — Henry  C.  Rogers, 
Edwin  W.  Ford.  First  Lieutenants — Lyman  A.  Sherwood,  Francis 
Merchant,  Edwin  W.  Ford.  Second  Lieutenants — Lyman  A.  Sher- 
Avood,  Benjamin  I.  Lindsey.  First  Sergeant — Marcius  Whitford. 
Sergeants — Jeft".  E.  Davis,  Benj.  F.  Lindsey,  William  T.  Evering- 
heim,  Francis  Merchant.  Corporals — Henry  C.  Sutherland,  David 
O.  Pratt,  Thomas  H.  Vandergrift,  John  B.  Sylvester,  Byron  A. 
Van  House,  Martin  B.  Johnson.  Musician — ^Azariah  C.  Chapin. 
Wagoner — Joseph  T.  Hammond.  Privates — John  Arnold,  Lewis, 
E.  Andrews,  Alonzo  Avery,  Hartland  S.  Ames,  Charles  B.  Adams, 
Benj.  F.  Bartholomew,  Ludovico  Beauregard,  German  C.  Baldwin, 
Truman  Butler,  John  Barnett,  Charles  N.  Bostwick,  George  H. 
Bullard,  Isaac  Bisgrove,  Daniel  E.  Bero,*  James  H.  Carver,  Edwin 
L.  Clapp,  Stephen  N.  Chandler,  George  W.  Dunton,  Samuel 
Emerson,*  Joshua  C.  Epler,  David  F.  M.  Felch,  Zara  Frysbie,  Carl- 
ton A.  Geer,  George  W.  Henderson,  Henry  L.  Holt,  John  W.  Hart- 
ley, V.  B.  Leathers,  William  N.  Lent,  Thomas  J.  Lake,  Joseph 
Lamping,  Noah  McCain,  William  McCaskell,  John  L.  Neller,* 
Duane  Philes.  Robert  H.  Phillip,  Ira  W.  Padden,  James  Parmenter, 
Joshua  T.  Pye,  Nathan  Parmenter,*  Isaac  Peterman,  John  W. 
Quinn,  Edson  M.  Rice,  William  AV.  Rice,  John  B.  Revord,  0.  D. 
Rhodes.  Francis  Rafferty,  Charles  C.  Stewart,  Christopher  Swan- 
son,  Edgar  P.  Spooner,*  Robert  W.  Shook,  Daniel  D.  Sargeant,* 
L.  D.  Stewart,  Erastus  Slocum,  Oscar  L.  Tanner,  John  A.  Thomp- 
son,* James  M.  Tanner,  Archibald  Taylor,  Benjamin  Vaughan,* 
Daniel  B.  Vaughan,*  James  C.  Vail,  John  Watkins,  Jr.,*  Arad 
Welch,  Adial  Wilcox,  Siloam  AVilliams,  Evans  Watkins,*  James 
N.  Woodbury,  Augustus  Whitney,  William  Brecken,  S.  W.  Rice.* 
Company  E — Private — Hiram  Cummings. 


*The  star  following  name  indicates  that  the  soldier  is  still 
living. 

BRACKETTS  BATTALION  CAVALRY. 

Companies  1,  2  and  3  were  organized  in  October  and  Novem- 
ber, 1861.  They  were  ordered  to  Benton  Barracks,  Mo.,  December. 
1864,  and  assigned  to  a  regiment  called  Curtis'  Horse.  They  were 
ordered  to  Fort  Henry,  Tenn..  in  February,  1862.  Tlie  name  of 
the  regiment  was  tiiiallv  changed  to  the  Fifth  Iowa  Cavalry,  th<^ 


342  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Minnesota  companies  being  Companies  G,  D  and  K.  They  engaged 
in  the  siege  before  Corinth,  in  April,  1862.  In  1864  they  were 
ordered  to  the  Department  of  the  Northwest,  and  there  engaged 
in  an  Indian  expedition.  They  were  mustered  out  by  companies 
between  May  and  June,  1866. 

Company  C — Private — George  Corell. 

Company  D — Sergeant — John  W.  Farquar  (still  living).  Sad- 
dler— Joseph  H.  Sticke.  PriA-ates — Samuel  J.  Bacon,  Charles  Bell, 
Daniel  B.  Cowles,  Robert  Headfint,  Harry  Hunter,  Calvin  Hunt- 
ley, B.  Kenneday,  James  ]\Iulann,  William  Pye,  Jr.,  Charles  Smith, 
William  Saddler,  Simon  Vargarson. 

SECOND  MINNESOTA  CAVALRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  January,  1864.  and  ordered 
out  on  an  Indian  expedition  in  the  month  of  May.  They  had  sev- 
eral engagements  with  the  Indians  in  July  and  August  of  that 
year.  They  were  stationed  at  frontier  posts  until  they  were  mus- 
tered out  by  companies,  between  November,  1865,  and  June,  1866. 

Company  A — Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  John  R.  Jones. 
Privates — Eli  Leonard,  Freeman  Leonard.  Corporal — Henry  B. 
Corey. 

Company  B — Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  B.  F.  Jones.  Cap- 
tain— Lewis  J.  Patch.  First  Lieutenant — Richard  0.  Hunt.*  Com- 
missary Sergeant — Wm.  "W.  Catherwood.  Sergeants — Thomas  B. 
Merrill,  Rochester  J.  Eyles,  Herman  L.  Burgess,  Ezra  Bacon.  Cor- 
porals— John  N.  Rosenburg,  Lester  Van  House,  Samuel  Sommers, 
Herman  L.  Burgess,  C.  P.  Bell,  Freeman  A.  Carll.*  John  E.  Robin- 
son. Farrier — Mark  Johnson.  Saddler — Edmond  S.  "Wells.  Trum- 
peters— Luman  Carter*  and  Daniel  J.  Butts.  Privates — Timothy 
B.  Andrews,  Roy  Anderson,  Ardol  H.  Bush,  Alvin  C.  Blackeslee, 
Goerge  A.  Carter,  R.  J.  Cropland,  Artemus  H.  Colwell,  Harding 
A.  Colwell,  Silas  Dutcher,  Jr.,*  Samuel  Daniels,  Orson  A.  Dickin- 
son, Thomas  Ellis,  William  H.  Earl,  Charles  C.  Emerson,  Henry 
Fitch,  Simeon  GifiPord,  Henry  Hollingshead,  T.  L.  Johnson,  Hans 
Jergeson,  Edgar  L.  Jones,  Edmund  W.  Kirk,  Horace  Kennison, 
John  Parker,  Charles  M.  Perkins,  John  Ryan,  Samuel  C.  Robb, 
Thomas  Rhomcs,  John  C.  Ruland,  Charles  C.  Sargent,  Charles 
Whitney,  John  Osborn,  George  W.  Varco,  Harcor  Lyons. 

*Star  iiulicatcs  soldier  is  still  living. 

Company  C — Captain — Aaron  S.  Everest.  Privates — Martin 
Poland,  William  IMoran,  Ole  Sjurson,  H.  M.  F.  Irgens,  Peder 
Joliansen,  George  Parker,  George  Thompson. 

Company  D — Originally  commanded  l\v  Ca])t.  James  N.  Payne. 
Saddler — Alexander  ]\Iarsh. 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  343 

FIRST  HEAVY  ARTILLERY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  April,  1865,  and  originally 
commanded  by  Col.  William  Colville,  of  Red  Wing;  ordered  to 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  and  stationed  at  that  point  until  mustered 
out  of  regiment  in  September,- 1865. 

Battery  B  —  Privates  —  Johannas  Boryeson,  Jacob  Jacobson, 
Charles  E.  Hancock,  George  W.  Stevens. 

SHARPSHOOTERS. 

First  Company — Private — Robert  Crippen. 

FIRST  REGIMENT  MOUNTED  RANGERS. 

Organized  in  March,  1863,  and  originally  commanded  by  Col. 
Samuel  McPhail,  of  Caledonia,  Houston  county.  Stationed  among 
frontier  posts  until  i\Iay,  1863,  when  they  were  ordered  upon  the 
Indian  expedition.  Engaged  with  the  Indians  July  24,  26,  28,  30 
and  31.  1863.  Stationed  at  frontier  posts  upon  the  return  of  the 
expedition  until  mustered  out.  Mustered  out  by  companies,  be- 
tween October  1,  1863.  and  December  30,  1863. 

On  July  28,  1863,  while  the  main  army  were  battling  with  over 
4,000  Indians,  two  miles  west  from  the  camp,  thirty-two  members 
of  Company  M,  commanded  by  Lieuts.  D.  B.  Johnson,  Jr.,  and 
John  Hanley,  were  detailed  to  guard  teams  one  and  one-half  miles 
west  from  the  camp,  they  suddenly  discovered  a  band  of  Indians 
swooping  down  upon  them.  The  little  band  resolved  to  sell  their 
lives  dearly.  Between  them  and  the  Indians  there  were  two  knolls 
a  few  rods  apart.  In  the  second  ravine  the  little  band  gathered, 
but  had  hardly  formed  in  line,  partly  covered  by  one  of  the  small 
hills  or  knolls,  when  the  Indians  came  in  sight  over  the  other  hill. 
The  Indians,  not  seeing  the  thirty-two  men,  fired  at  the  teamsters 
and  their  teams.  Company  M  immediately  opened  fire  and  con- 
tinued firing  until  Black  Bear,  the  Indian  chief  who  was  leading 
the  Indians,  received  two  bullets  in  his  body,  whereupon  he 
wheeled  his  horse  around  and  started  on  a  wild  retreat.  The  little 
band  was  then  ordered  to  charge.  Black  Bear  received  two  more 
bullets  in  his  head  and  fell  from  his  horse,  to  which  his  body 
was  attached  by  a  lasso.  His  horse  and  all  his  accoutrements  of 
war  were  captured.  When  the  chief  wheeled  his  horse  for  a 
retreat  all  his  warriors  followed  his  example.  The  engagement 
lasted  but  a  few  minutes,  and  was  so  hotly  contested  that  the 
Indians  could  not  carry  away  their  dead,  Avhich  they  always  do 
if  possible.  They  left  the  body  of  the  dead  chief  and  three  others 
on  the  field.  The  fortunate  circumstance  of  killing  the  Indian 
chief  saved  this  heroic  little  band  from  utter  annihilation.     Not 


344  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

one  of  them  was  killed  and  some  are  alive  to-day  to  tell  the  tale. 
The  locality  of  this  battle  is  known  as  Dead  Buffalo  Lake. 

Company  H — Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  George  S.  Ruble. 
Sergeant — Ewing  Lyle.  Quartermaster  Sergeant — Richard  Will- 
iams.   Corporal — Wilson  Beach.    Private — Samuel  Loomis. 

Company  i\I — Originally  commanded  by  Capt.  James  Starkey. 
First  Lieutenant — Daniel  B.  Johnson,  Jr.  First  Sergeant — W.  B. 
Spencer.  Corporal — Alonzo  W.  Cowles.  Teamster — Simeon  Gif- 
ford.  Privates — James  Bodine,  Richard  Huntly,  Caleb  Lewis,  Lu- 
cius Woodworth,  W.  M.  Wright,  Orville  Slocum,  John  H.  Wood- 
worth,  Patrick  Frost,  Joseph  Kellen,  AVarren  Macke.  George 
W^ood,  J.  F.  Smith. 

THIRD  BATTERY  ARTILLERY. 

Private — James  Feely. 

FALLEN  HEROES. 

The  following  comprises  a  list  of  those  gallant  soldiers  who 
left  their  homes  and  took  np  their  muskets  for  the  defense  of  their 
country,  never  to  return,  who  laid  down  their  lives  for  the  Union : 

Edwin  Frazier  died  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  November  14,  1864 ; 
John  D.  Ripley  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  November  20,  1862; 
Capt.  Robert  P.  Mooers,  killed  in  action  at  Corinth,  October  3, 
1862;  James  A.  McCabe  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Lake  Shicott, 
June,  1864;  Samuel  B.  Rolfe  died  July  15,  1862,  near  Farmingtou, 
Miss. ;  Ambrose  C.  Smith  died  at  Quincy,  111.,  November  24,  1862 ; 
Israel  Baker  died  May  22,  1863,  at  Vicksburg,  Miss. ;  AVilliam  H. 
Bogart  died  at  St.  Louis,  August,  1863 ;  George  S.  Hutchinson 
died  at  luka,  Miss.,  of  wounds,  September  27,  1862 ;  Henry  Loomis 
died  June  9,  1863,  at  Memphis,  Tenn. ;  James  IMorrison  died  near 
Farmington,  Miss.,  July  23,  1862 ;  Samuel  Parks  died  October  29, 
1862,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo. ;    Eugene  E.  Parmenter  died  February  3, 

1864,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Robert  T.  Tifft  died  of  a  gunshot  wound. 
May  22,  1864 ;  Calvin  H.  Patchen  died  September  5,  1862,  at  luka. 
Miss.;  Hardy  Lewis. was  killed  at  Tupelo,  Miss.,  July  15,  1864; 
Benjamin  Bartholomew  died  at  Fort  Ridgley,  Minn.,  March  22, 
1863;  Truman  Butler  died  July  L^,  ]863,  by  premature  discharge 
of  a  cannon,  at  Fort  Ridgely,  on  July  4,  1863;  Alden  II.  Chatiin 
died  October  23,  1864,  at  Memphis,  Tenn. ;  James  II.  Carver  died 
at  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  November  1,  1863 ;  David  F.  M.  Felch  died 
at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  October  ],  1864;  William  N.  Lent  died  August 
4,  1864,  at  Memphis,  Tenn.;   Oscar  L.  Tanner  was  killed  April  8, 

1865,  at  Spanish  Fort,  Ala. ;  Adial  Wilcox  was  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  16,  1864;  Augustus  Whitney  was 
killed  June  10,  1864,  at  battle  of  Price's  Cross  Roads;    Simeon 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  345 

Gifford  died  November  22,  1864,  at  Port  Wadsworth;  Henry  Hol- 
lingshead  died  December  2,  1864,  at  Fort  Wadsworth ;  Pliney 
Conkoy,  it  is  supposed,  died  in  JMilan  prison,  in  the  State  of 
Georgia.  Samuel  Surface  was  killed,  place  unknown  ;  AV.  C.  Som- 
mers,  killed  in  front  of  Vieksburg;  Roy  Anderson,  drowned  at 
Big  Stone  Lake,  on  an  Indian  expedition. 

The  following  died  in  Andersonville  prison :  Hartland  Ames, 
Stephen  N.  Chandler,  Henry  Eolfe,  Isaac  Bisgrow,  Byran  A. 
Vanhouse,  Albert  E.  "Wheeler,  Franklin  C.  "Wilson,  James  N. 
"Woodbury. 

COLONEL  ROGERS'  CAREER. 

Col.  Henry  C.  Rogers  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1834.  He  re- 
moved to  Minnesota  in  1856  and  settled  in  Mower  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  and  mercantile  business.  In  1862  he  was 
a  member  of  the  house  of  representatives  in  this  state  and  in  the 
fall  of  that  j^ear  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Eighth  Minnesota,  and  held  that  position  until  mustered  out  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  was  elected  secretary 
of  state  and  was  re-elected  in  1867,  when  his  health  precluded  his 
longer  holding  that  position.  In  the  winter  of  1869-70  he  was 
appointed  pension  agent  of  Minnesota,  and  held  that  position  until 
his  death.  At  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  in  December,  1864, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Eogers  Avas  in  command  of  his  regiment. 
Colonel  Thomas  having  command  of  the  brigade,  and  his  troops 
were  ordered  to  hold  a  position  in  an  open  field  against  the  enemy 
located  in  the  woods  adjacent.  The  fire  became  so  hot  that  Colonel 
Rogers  ordered  his  men  to  lie  down,  while  he,  with  that  courage 
which  knew  no  fear,  rode  up  and  down  the  line,  a  conspicuous 
target  for  the  enemy.  He  faced  the  bullets  in  safety  until  just 
as  the  victory  was  won,  when  a  bullet  struck  his  right  arm,  passed 
through  it,  and  would  have  gone  through  his  body  but  for  the 
fortunate  interposition  of  a  belt  buckle.  From  this  Avound  he 
never  recovered,  and  his  health  imtil  his  death  remained  in  a 
precarious  condition.  He  died  May  8,  1871,  at  Brownsdale.  The 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  post,  formed  at  Brownsdale  in  1882, 
took  his  name.  The  monument  fund  Avas  started  in  the  spring  of 
1883,  through  the  energetic  exertions  of  Albert  Swift,  post  com- 
mander. He  was  materially  aided  in  his  efforts  by  A.  C.  Hawley. 
of  St.  Paul.  Henry  C.  Rogers  Post  contributed  $25.  The  remain- 
der came  from  prominent  men  in  St.  Paul,  among  whom  are  the 
Hon.  Alex.  Ramsey,  Gen.  J.  B.  Sanborn,  Gen.  J.  T.  Averill,  Gen. 
J.  H.  Baker,  the  Hon.  William  R.  ^Marshall,  Col.  AVilliam  Crooks. 
Gen.  A.  C.  Hawley,  the  Hon.  AV.  AV.  Braden,  the  Hon.  Charles 
Kittleson.  the  Hon.  S.  P.  Jeiniison.  the  Hon.  David  Day,  the  Hon. 
Albert  Scheffer,  the  Hon.  Af.  D.  Flower,  the  Hon.  A.  R.  AlcGill  and 


346  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

the  Hon.  Samuel  Nichols.  The  monument  is  located  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  south  of  Brownsdale,  in  GreenAvood  cemetery.  It  is  a 
cottage  monument  in  design,  made  of  blue  Vermont  marble. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 
POSTAL  HISTORY. 


Growth  and  Development  of  the  System — First  Offices  in  Mower 
County — Stories  of  the  Stage  Coach  Drivers — History  of  the 
Present  and  Discontinued  Postoffices  of  Mower  County — 
Edited  by  George  E.  Anderson. 

The  postal  service  has  existed  within  the  memory  of  every  per- 
son living,  and  is  therefore  a  matter  of  such  every-day  concern 
that  probably  few  persons  realize  that  it  is  a  feature  of  govern- 
ment as  old  as  the  written  history  of  man.  The  influence  and 
accomplishments  of  the  postal  service  have  practically  extended 
the  progress  of  commercialism  throughout  the  world.  So  far  as 
history  records,  a  system  of  communication  was  evidently  con- 
ceived by  Cyrus  shortly  after  his  conquest  of  the  Persian  empire 
in  the  year  550  B.  C.  That  systematic  ruler  sought  to  keep  in 
touch  with  the  affairs  of  his  vast  domain,  and  to  that  end  required 
his  governors  to  write  to  him  frequently  about  their  several  dis- 
tricts. In  order  to  make  these  communications  safe  and  expedi- 
tious he  built  post  roads  throughout  the  empire  and  established 
posthouses  at  distances  along  these  roads.  The  service,  however, 
both  in  ancient  and  medieval  periods  was  established  for  the  gov- 
ernment alone  and  not  for  the  general  public. 

The  first  postofifiee  which  was  established  for  the  general  pub- 
lie  was  in  1516,  between  Berlin  and  Vienna.  In  1823  England 
established  a  postal  system,  but  it  was  only  used  for  communica- 
tions between  the  royal  family. 

The  postal  system  in  America  dates  from  1639,  when  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  Massachusetts,  by  an  ordinance,  legalized  such  a 
system  and  directed  that  all  letters  brought  from  across  the  sea 
or  to  be  sent  to  parts  of  the  colonies,  should  be  left  at  the  house 
of  Richard  Fairbanks,  in  Boston,  and  by  him  sent  to  the  proper 
destination.  He  was  allowed  a  peiuiy  compensation  for  the  trans- 
mission of  each  letter  and  was  accountable  to  the  authorities  for 
any  dereliction  of  duty.  The  postal  system.  lioAvever.  in  tlie  early 
colonial  days,  was  somewhat  of  a  go-as-you-please  system.  In 
1785  the  colonies  decided  to  manage  the  postal  business  on  their 


HISTOllY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  ;Mr 

own  responsibility,  and  appointed  Ben.  Franklin  postmaster,  at 
$1,000  a  year.  lu  1776,  the  total  number  of  postofftces  in  opera- 
tion was  only  twenty-eight,  fourteen  of  which  were  in  Massa- 
chusetts. Real  developments  of  the  postal  service  in  the  United 
States  began  in  1789,  and  the  marvelous  progress  which  has  been 
made  since  that  time  is  a  matter  with  which  the  public  is  more  or 
less  familiar.  In  that  year  there  were  seventy-five  offices,  yielding 
a  revenue  of  less  than  $40,000.  Today  we  have  over  60,000  post- 
offices,  yielding  a  revenue  of  over  $200,000,000.  The  service  has 
grown  and  expanded  to  such  a  degree  that  twenty  years  ago 
would  have  been  considered  extravagant,  and  yet  the  service  is 
practically  in  its  infancy.  But  it  already  forms  an  intricate  net- 
work over  all  our  land  and  extends  to  the  far-off  island  posses- 
sions, and  yet  its  achievements  are  not  nearly  at  an  end.  It  is  in 
view  of  these  facts  that  a  short  historical  sketch  of  the  postal 
service  and  its  development  in  this  covmty  may  be  of  interest  in 
this  work. 

In  the  days  of  the  earliest  settlement  there  were  no  postoffices 
in  the  county,  but  letters  were  often  brought  by  travelers  to  set- 
tlers from  friends  back  east  or  in  the  old  country.  The  first  post- 
office  in  Mower  county  was  called  Elkhorn,  and  was  established 
in  1855  with  Jacob  ]\IcQuillan  as  postmaster.  It  was  on  the  old 
stage  route,  and  mail  was  received  once  a  week. 

Next  came  the  offices  at  Frankford  and  Austin,  established 
within  a  short  time  of  each  other,  and  the  old  Chandler  postofflce, 
which  was  opened  shortly  afterward. 

In  those  early  days  mail  was  brought  to  this  county  by  stage, 
or  sometimes  by  friendly  disposed  travelers  coming  in  from  Mis- 
sissippi points.  The  roads  were  scarcely  more  than  a  trail,  and 
often  all  passengers  on  board  a  stage  had  to  get  out  and  assist  in 
prying  the  stage  wheels  from  the  mud  with  rails  cut  from  road- 
side saplings.  Sometimes,  too,  the  mail  pouches  were  carried  on 
the  shoulders  of  the  stage  driver,  while  the  passengers  with  their 
baggage  waded  through  swamps  over  which  it  was  impossible 
for  the  stage  to  pass  when  weighted  with  any  burdens.  The 
stories  of  the  old  stage  coach  days  would  fill  many  volumes. 

The  stage  driver  was  often  an  important  personage.  He  was 
one  who  saw  life  in  various  forms  in  various  places,  and  the 
opinions  with  which  he  favored  the  crowds  gathered  at  the  stop- 
ping points  along  the  line  were  listened  to  with  the  deepest 
respect.  Especially  was  this  true  during  the  Civil  war,  when 
the  stage  driver  brought  the  latest  war  news  and  opinions  from 
the  larger  centers.  At  that  time  the  people  of  the  villages  of 
Minnesota  had  little  sympathy  with  those  who  were  lukewarm 
in  the  Union  cause.  Consequently  the  complaint  was  universal 
when  N.  'SI.  "Wilder,  the  stage  driver,  expressed  the  opinion  tluit 


:m8  history  of  mower  couktty 

there  might  be  some  virtue  in  the  Secession  oanse.  On  June  18, 
1862,  the  contract  for  carrying  the  mail  from  Owatonna  to  Osage 
A'ia  Austin  was  annulled  by  reason  of  what  was  termed  Mr.  Wild- 
er's  too  free  expression  of  sympathy  with  the  Confederate  move- 
ment. For  a  time  the  contract  thus  taken  from  Wilder  was 
restored  to  the  previous  carriers,  Williamson  &  Cotter.  Later, 
however,  Mr.  Wilder  demonstrated  his  loyalty  and  the  contract 
was  again  placed  in  his  hands. 

In  1867  the  railroad  was  put  through,  touching  at  Lansing, 
Ramsey,  Austin,  Le  Roy  and  other  points.  Some  stage  lines,  how- 
ever, continued  to  exist,  and  as  late  as  1870  the  following  list 
appears  in  the  newspapers  as  the  correct  enumeration  of  the  stage 
mail  routes  in  Mower  county: 

From  Austin  to  Albert  Lea ;  Rochester  to  Le  Roy ;  Kasson  to 
Mower  City;  Mower  Citj'  to  Spring  Valley;  Mower  City  to  Aus- 
tin ;  Nevada  to  Austin ;  Austin  to  Moscow ;  Lansing  to  Neury ; 
Albert  Lea  to  Austin ;  ]\Iitchell  to  Adams ;  West  Mitchell  to 
Lyle ;  Riceville  to  Le  Roy ;  Northwood  to  Austin  ;  Minneapolis  to 
Lansing,  Austin,  Rose  Creek,  Adams  and  Le  Roy.  All  were  stage 
routes  except  the  one  from  Austin  to  Albert  Lea  and  the  one  from 
Minneapolis  to  points  in  this  eount3^ 

AUSTIN  POSTOFFICE. 

Austin  postoffice  was  established  about  1856  with  Alanson  B. 
Vaughan,  the  first  merchant  at  this  point,  as  postmaster.  His 
store  in  which  he  opened  the  office  was  situated  near  the  present 
site  of  the  Elk  hotel  at  the  corner  of  Chatham  and  Bridge  streets. 
Mr.  Vaughan  Avas  succeeded  in  1857  by  L.  N.  Griffith,  who  moved 
it  to  a  small  building  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Hormel 
provision  market.  This  small  building  Avas  erected  by  ]\Ir.  Grif- 
fith and  the  boxes  were  put  in  by  Jonas  Haney.  The  rental 
charges  Avere  ten  cents  a  quarter  for  a  box,  and  Mr.  Griffith,  AAdio 
is  still  a  hale  and  hearty  resident  of  Austin,  informs  us  that  the 
patrons  considered  that  an  exorbitantly  high  price  to  pay  for 
such  service.  The  appointment  of  Mr.  Griffith  was  the  result  of 
an  effort  to  keep  the  center  of  the  village  somcAvhere  near  the 
present  court  house  square.  Mr.  Vaughan  Avas  a  Republican,  and 
he  realized  that  President  James  Buchanan  Avould  soon  appoint 
a  Democrat  to  the  office.  The  leading  Democratic  candidate  for 
the  appointment  Avas  Jerry  B.  Yates,  whose  aim  Avas  to  move  the 
postoffice,  and  consequently  the  center  of  the  village,  to  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  Catholic  church,  Avhere  most  of  his  property  Avas 
located.  In  tliose  days  a  postmaster  who  resigned  had  the  priA'i- 
lege  of  appointing  his  oAvn  successor.  Consequently  ]\Ir.  Vaughan 
resigned  in  favor  of  INIr.  Griffith,  Avho  was  a  Democrat,  thus  plac- 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  349 

ing  in  office  oue  who  was  of  the  same  political  faith  as  Buchanan, 
and  at  the  same  time  keeping  the  center  of  the  village  near  where 
the  majority  of  the  citizens  desired  it.  When  Mr.  Griffith  first 
assumed  the  duties  of  the  office,  the  cancellation  and  fees 
amounted  to  about  one  dollar  and  a  half  a  day,  the  patrons  com- 
ing from  a  radius  of  twenty  miles  or  more.  But  as  other  offices 
were  established  the  business  decreased  to  about  twelve  dollars 
per  month,  and  consequently  Mr.  Griffith  resigned.  He  appointed 
as  his  successor  A.  S.  Everest,  who  assumed  office  in  1858  and 
purchased  the  office  building  and  fixtures.  Mr.  Griffith  relates 
that  in  those  days  all  the  mail  was  carried  in  one  pouch,  for  all  the 
points  along  the  stage  line.  When  the  pouch  reached  an  officCj. 
the  postmaster  unlocked  it,  took  therefrom  the  mail  directed  to 
the  patrons  of  his  office,  placed  therein  the  mail  deposited  at  the 
office  for  other  points,  and  then  locked  the  pouch  again.  Mr. 
Everest,  Avho  succeeded  Mr.  Griffith,  was  an  attorney,  served  as 
coiuity  treasurer,  and  the  county  headquarters  for  a  number  of 
years  were  maintained  at  his  office.  He  was  an  extensive  land 
owner,  and  a  part  of  his  farm  is  now  that  part  of  Austin  west 
of  Kenwood  avenue  and  south  of  Oakland  avenue.  Everest  was 
succeeded  by  J.  S.  Lacy,  who  was  an  early  hotel-keeper,  having 
erected  the  Lacy  House  on  the  present  site  of  the  McCulloch 
Printing  Company  plant.  He  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  C.  J. 
Shortt,  who  was  also  an  attorney,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was 
a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Austin.  Mr.  Shortt  resided  in  Austin 
until  his  death,  after  which  his  family  moved  back  east.  After 
Mr.  Shortt  came  Lyman  A.  Sherwood.  Mr.  Sherwood  was  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Civil  war,  and  was  clerk  of  the  district  court  nine 
years  before  being  appointed  postmaster.  George  Baird  was  the 
next  postmaster.  Mr.  Baird  came  to  Mower  county  in  1856.  He 
was  a  captain  in  the  Civil  war  and  served  for  many  years  as 
sheriff  of  the  county.  Charles  Sawyer  was  appointed  to  succeed 
Mr.  Baird.  He  was  employed  in  Ackley's  shoe  store.  After  him 
came  J.  C.  Smith.  A.  J.  Phelps,  who  was  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
was  the  next  postmaster.  He  in  turn  was  followed  by  C.  H.  David- 
son. Mr.  Davidson  was  born  in  Illinois,  March  13,  1846.  He  came 
to  Austin  in  1857,  with  his  father,  Joshua  L.  Davidson,  and  was 
employed  in  the  first  newspaper  office  in  Mower  county,  which 
was  then  the  Mirror.  In  1863,  in  company  with  his  brother,  he 
started  the  Mower  County  Register,  a  paper  which  is  now  suc- 
ceeded by  the  j\Iower  County  Republican.  Later  he  purchased 
the  Transcript,  which  he  conducted  until  1886.  Mr.  Davidson  was 
prominently  identified  with  every  movement  which  was  for  the 
betterment  of  the  county  and  community.  A.  E.  Meigs  was  the 
next  postmaster.  He  conducted  the  office  in  connection  with  a 
news  stand,  east  of  what  is  now  the  First  National  Hank  buildiiit,'. 


350  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

He  was  succeeded  by  A.  A.  Harwood,  who  was  also  an  editor.  Mr. 
Harwood  came  originally  from  Owatonna.  After  Mr.  Harwood 
came  R.  I.  Smith,  a  photographer,  who  afterwards  conducted  a 
gallery  over  Pooler's  drug  store.  Subsequently  C.  H.  Davidson 
was  reappointed.  After  this  came  H.  0.  Basford,  who  kept  the 
office  in  the  building  where  the  Normal  Restaurant  is  now  located. 
Mr.  Basford  was  then  the  editor  and  sole  owner  of  the  Mower 
County  Register,  and  later  started  the  first  daily  in  Mower  county, 
if  not  in  southern  Minnesota.  He  now  spends  his  summers  in 
Austin,  and  is  a  highly  respected  citizen.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Christ  Johnson,  who  after  his  term  of  office  was  a  merchant  in 
partnership  with  the  father  of  T.  A.  Revord,  in  the  hardware 
business,  the  store  being  located  in  the  building  now  occupied  by 
K.  O.  Wold's  drug  store.  After  selling  his  interest  there  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  son-in-law  in  the  clothing  business, 
the  store  occupying  the  present  site  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  He  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Buffalo,  Minn.,  where  he  now  resides.  After 
Mr.  Johnson,  George  Baird  served  a  second  time,  but  died  before 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office.  President  Grover  Cleveland 
then  appointed  A.  B.  Hunkins  for  a  term  of  four  years.  Mr. 
Hunkins  was  owner  and  editor  of  the  weekly  Democrat,  which 
has  been  succeeded  by  the  Herald.  The  first  rural  route  in  Mower 
county  was  inaugurated  under  Mr.  Hunkins,  as  was  also  the  city 
free  delivery  system,  which  was  established  ]\Iarch  1,  1898.  After 
leaving  the  postmastership,  Mr.  Hunkins  conducted  the  Austin 
Canning  Factory  for  a  number  of  years,  and  later  was  engaged  for 
some  time  in  perfecting  an  addressing  and  folding  machine.  He 
secured  a  patent,  and  later  moved  to  Mason  City,  Iowa,  where  he 
became  a  manufacturer.  Mr.  Hunkins  was  succeeded  as  post- 
master by  S.  Swenningsen,  who  was  then  a  member  of  the  upper 
house  of  the  Minnesota  legislature.  Previous  to  his  holding  the 
postmastership  he  had  been  a  merchant  and  for  many  .years  clerk 
of  court.  He  was  associated  in  business  with  C.  I.  Johnson,  who 
is  now  a  shoe  merchant  in  Austin,  and  F.  E.  Gleason,  now  an 
Austin  jeweler.  Mr.  Swenningsen  now  lives  in  California.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Swenningsen 's  term,  the  rural  carrier  roiites  were  in- 
creased to  six,  emanating  from  this  office  in  all  directions  and 
forming  a  complete  rural  service,  covering  a  radius  of  ten  miles 
or  more  from  the  city.  For  some  time  previous  to  Mr.  Swenning- 
sen's  administration,  the  postoflice  was  located  on  the  present  site 
of  the  Hormel  provision  market.  This  was  seemingly  a  favorite 
location  for  the  postoflfice,  as  the  site  was  occupied  for  postal 
purposes  at  several  different  periods  of  Austin's  history.  After 
conducting  the  office  at  this  point  for  four  years,  Mr.  Swenningsen 
moved  the  ofifice  to  the  present  site,  corner  of  Main  street  and 
Oakland  avenue.     After  Mr.  Swenningsen,  came  0.  J.  Simmons, 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  351 

who  assumed  office  April  1,  1907,  and  was  reappointed  by  Presi- 
dent AVilliam  Taft,  in  1911.  ]\Ir.  Simmons  has  proven  an  able  and 
capable  officer,  and  the  efficiency  of  the  service  he  has  maintained 
demonstrates  his  fitness  for  his  responsible  and  often  trying  posi- 
tion. ]\Ir.  Simmons  may  well  be  proud  of  the  fact  that  he  will  be 
the  first  postmaster  in  the  handsome  government  building  now  in 
the  process  of  construction. 

The  official  roster  of  the  Austin  postoffice  at  the  present  time 
is  as  follows :  Postmaster,  0.  J.  Simmons  ;  assistant  postmaster, 
George  E.  Anderson ;  clerks,  C.  I.  Eiley,  W.  J.  Eice,  G.  E.  Sharp- 
stene,  H.  F.  Olson;  city  letter  carriers,  "William  L.  Wells,  T.  S. 
Thompson,  C.  L.  Carter,  F.  I.  Scullin,  Sven  Anderson,  Jr. ;  rural 
letter  carriers,  M.  J.  Smith,  J.  A.  Mills,  Carl  Johnson,  C.  B.  Kearns, 
"W.  0.  Johnson  and  H.  A.  Rutherford ;  substitute  city  carrier, 
Ralph  Craig;  substitute  rural  carriers,  I.  S.  Van  House,  H.  C. 
Aldrich,  B.  A.  Campbell  and  P.  A.  Riley;  special  delivery  mes- 
senger, Charles  H.  Earl.  In  addition  to  these  employes,  there  are 
a  number  of  railway  postal  clerks  who  make  this  their  permanent 
headquarters,  Austin  being  a  terminal  for  several  of  the  railroad 
mail  routes. 

Austin  became  a  money  order  office  in  1866.  The  first  order 
was  issued  to  James  C.  Ackley,  remitter.  Payee,  F.  W.  Detome, 
Milwaukee,  Wis.  Amount,  $13.80.  Date,  August  6,  1866.  The 
first  order  paid  was  to  Ormanzo  Allen.  Amount,  $8.50.  Date, 
August  13,  1866.  It  became  a  presidential  office  in  1867.  The 
first  postal  note  was  purchased  by  Prof.  A.  W.  Rankin,  drawn  in 
favor  of  parties  in  Wisconsin,  for  $4.99. 

It  is  conceded  that  the  growth  of  the  postal  receipts  is  an 
accurate  barometer  by  which  may  be  judged  the  growth  of  any 
community.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  know  that  during  the  fiscal 
year  ending  June  30,  1881,  there  were  1,904  domestic  money  orders 
issued  at  the  Austin  postoffice,  while  thirty  years  later  we  find 
that  there  were  issued  during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1910, 
10,286  domestic  orders,  amounting  to  $70,497.13,  yielding  fees  of 
$592.71.  During  the  same  year  there  were  8,481  domestic  orders 
paid,  amounting  to  .$51,049.92.  There  were  issued  during  the  year 
174  international  orders,  to  the  amount  of  $2,109.82,  yielding  fees 
of  $24.28.  Twenty-nine  international  orders  were  paid  during  the 
year,  amounting  to  $733.55.  During  the  same  year  there  were 
registered  at  this  office  3,388  pieces,  enumerated  as  follows :  1,856 
domestic  letters,  1,171  domestic  parcels,  110  foreign  letters,  26 
foreign  parcels,  225  official  free  and  registered  matter.  There 
were  3,261  pieces  of  registered  pieces  received  for  delivery.  Dur- 
ing the  past  ten  years  the  receipts  of  the  office  have  been  as  fol- 
lows:  1900.  ,$12,226.43  ;  1901,  $13,044.54;  1902,  $14,196.11 ;  1903, 
$14,419.57;    1904,  $15,116.13;    1905,  $15,491.77 ;    1906,  $16,737.47 ; 


352  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

1907,  $18,076.67;  1908,  $20,999.17;  1909,  $21,004.67;  1910,  $22,- 
804.31. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Congressmau  J.  A.  Tawney,  who  was 
for  a  number  of  years  chairman  of  the  appropriations  committee 
of  the  national  House  of  Eepresentatives,  Austin  secured  an  appro- 
priation of  $58,000  for  the  purpose  of  buying  a  site  and  erecting 
a  suitable  government  building.  A  tract  of  land  fronting  102  feet 
on  Bridge  street  and  125  feet  on  St.  Paul  street  was  purchased 
eight  years  ago  by  the  secretary  of  the  treasury,  under  whose 
supervision  government  buildings  are  erected,  but  it  was  not  until 
August  22,  1910,  that  active  building  operations  were  begun  on  the 
two-story  building  which  will  serve  as  a  permanent  postoffice  home 
in  this  city  for  many  years  at  least. 

The  Northern  Construction  Company  of  Milwaukee  was 
awarded  the  contract  for  constructing  the  building,  and  B.  F.  Jud- 
son,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  represents  the  government  as  super- 
intendent of  construction.  Cold  weather  interfered  with  the  con- 
stroiction  during  1910,  and  labor  was  not  resumed  officially  until 
April  12,  1911,  when  the  corner-stone  was  laid  with  great  cere- 
mony by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Minnesota,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  The 
Grand  Master  and  other  grand  officers  were  in  attendance  to  assist 
in  the  exercises,  which  were  preceded  by  the  biggest  fraternal 
parade  ever  witnessed  in  Austin.  Since  this  event  rapid  progress 
has  been  made  and  it  no  doubt  will  be  ready  for  occupancy  by 
January  1,  1912. 

The  building  will  be  forty-nine  feet  on  Bridge  street  and 
seventy-six  feet  on  St.  Paul  street.  At  the  north  will  be  a  fine 
lawn,  while  on  the  east  will  be  a  vitrified  brick  drive.  There  will 
be  an  entrance  on  each  street.  Its  style  of  architecture  will  be 
Kenaissance  and  its  beauty  will  be  enhanced  by  a  carefull^y 
selected  combination  of  materials. 

The  foundation  which  is  already  completed  is  built  of  granite 
and  extends  to  the  first  floor  line,  above  which  Bedford  limestone 
and  gray  brick  is  used.  It  will  be  one  of  the  most  attractive 
buildings  in  the  city,  and  certainly  one  of  the  finest  government 
buildings  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

In  the  basement  will  be  found  the  city  carriers'  swing  rooms, 
which  will  be  used  by  the  carriers  when  not  on  duty.  There  will 
also  be  a  janitor's  room,  a  postoffice  storage  room,  fuel  and  boiler 
rooms,  and  lavatories.  A  steam  heating  plant  will  be  installed, 
also  a  secondary  hot-water  system  for  Avarm  seasons. 

The  entire  first  floor  will  be  devoted  exclusively  to  postal  pur- 
poses. The  postmaster's  room  will  be  located  in  the  southeast 
corner,  and  will  be  finished  in  harmony  with  the  prominent  posi- 
tion it  occupies  with  respect  to  the  entire  building.  The  money 
order  and  registry  department  will  be  located  in  a  14x20  room,  in 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  ;553 

the  northwest  eorner.  At  the  east  end  of  this  room  will  be  a  7x8- 
I'oot  vault,  which  will  be  used  for  the  storage  of  surplus  postal 
supplies,  also  the  postal  and  money  order  records.  Directly  back 
of  this  room,  on  the  east,  will  be  the  mailing  vestibule  and  plat- 
form, which  will  be  used  by  the  mail  messenger  as  storage  place 
for  incoming  and  outgoing  pouches  and  sacks.  In  the  east  center 
will  be  located  the  workroom  proper.  It  will  be  32x40  feet,  and 
will  extend  the  entire  two  stories  of  the  building,  thi;s  making  a 
high,  light,  airy  and  comfortable  workroom.  This  room  will  also 
be  finished  in  harmony  with  the  general  plan  of  the  building,  and 
will  also  be  equipped  with  a  vault.  The  lobby,  which  will  be  situ- 
ated on  both  the  St.  Paul  and  Bridge  street  sides  of  the  building, 
Avill  be  an  architectural  feature.  The  floors  will  be  terazzo,  fin- 
ished with  marble  borders.  The  screen  work  will  be  constructed 
of  marble  and  oak.  On  the  St.  Paul  street  side  will  be  found  the 
general  delivery,  stamp  window  and  drops.  There  will  be  376 
lock  boxes  of  four  different  sizes,  divided  into  three  sections,  in 
each  of  which  will  be  a  window  for  the  delivery  of  such  packages 
as  are  too  large  for  the  boxes.  Two  writing  desks  of  handsome 
design  Avill  be  provided  for  public  use,  as  well  as  directory  cases 
and  bulletin  board.  The  lobby  walls  above  the  marble  and  oak 
wainscoting  will  be  of  handsome  design,  the  construction  of  which 
will  be  composed  of  plaster  pilasters,  molded  caps  and  cornices. 
The  design  of  the  ceiling  will  be  an  elaborate  one  and  in  perfect 
harmony  with  the  general  plan  of  the  lobby.  The  entrances  will 
be  furnished  with  revolving  doors.  The  main  floor  will  be  of  rein- 
forced concrete  instead  of  the  usual  wood  construction.  The  main 
stairway  starts  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  building  and  leads 
to  the  second  story,  which  comprises  five  unassigned  rooms,  four 
of  which  are  14x15  feet,  and  one  14x42  feet.  This  floor  will  also 
be  ecjuipped  with  all  modern  conveniences  and  will  afford  ideal 
office  rooms  for  other  government  departments.  A  stairway  from 
this  floor  leads  to  the  attic,  which  may  be  used  for  surplus  storage 
quarters. 

The  main  entrances  will  each  be  lighted  with  two  large  lights 
suspended  on  ornamental  brackets,  and  the  lighting  throughout 
will  be  furnished  from  combination  gas  and  electric  fixtures. 
The  lavatories  will  be  of  marble  floors  and  marble  wainscoting 
throughout.  Not  to  leave  anything  in  the  way  of  modern  improve- 
ment undone,  a  complete  telephone  system  will  be  installed. 

OTHER  POSTOFFICES. 

Lyle  PostoflBce.  The  government  has  been  represented  in  the 
village  of  Lyle  l)y  a  regularly  appointed  postma.ster  since  the 
organization  of  tlic  villa ge.  l)ut  records  are  not  available  Avhereby 


354  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

a  glimpse  of  the  past  maj'  be  had  earlier  than  July  1,  1887,  when 
C.  P.  Collins  officially  canceled  postage  behind  closed  doors.  0.  G. 
Myhre  succeeded  Mr.  Collins  in  the  office.  May  1,  1889,  and  for 
three  years  served  the  patrons  of  the  office.  Mr.  Stanley,  better 
known  as  Captain  Stanley,  was  next  in  order,  authorized  by  the 
government  to  administer  the  afl'Jiirs  of  the  office,  which  he  did 
creditably  until  October  17,  1894,  when  the  Cleveland  administra- 
tion ushered  in  a  change  in  the  local  office  and  Frank  B.  Losey 
stood  at  the  helm.  Losey 's  term,  however,  was  shorter  than 
Cleveland's,  his  term  closing  January  1,  1896,  when  George  Rob- 
ertson assumed  the  roll  of  postmaster  in  the  Lyle  office.  On  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1903,  Burton  J.  Robertson  succeeded  his  father  and  has 
since  had  charge  of  the  office.  The  office  has  had  a  steady  growth 
from  the  beginning,  luitil  at  present  it  serves  mail  to  about  one 
thousand  people,  with  the  following  force  in  charge :  B.  J.  Rob- 
ertson, postmaster;  Chris  Johnson,  assistant  postmaster;  Grace 
Sherman,  assistant  postmistress;  John  Carter,  Chris  Johnson  and 
AVill  Murphy,  carriers.  Instead  of  being  annexed  to  some  other 
business  establishment  as  a  side  issue,  it  occupies  a  building  by 
itself  and  receives  and  delivers  mail  from  and  to  nine  incoming 
and  outgoing  trains  daily.  Since  1908  the  office  has  been  in  the 
third  class.  Routes  1  and  2  were  established  ]\Iay  2,  1904,  and 
No.  3  was  established  October  1,  1908.  The  annual  business  done 
amounts  to  $3,300. 

Grand  Meadow  Postoffice.  The  Grand  Meadow  postoffice  was 
started  in  1860  on  the  farm  of  B.  F.  Langworthy,  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  12,  in  Avhat  is  now  the  township  of  Grand  Meadow. 
In  1870,  when  the  railroad  came  through,  the  office  was  removed 
to  the  village.  The  office  became  a  registry  office  in  1870.  It  was 
changed  to  the  third  class  October  1,  1909.  The  office  was  made 
a  money  order  office  in  1879.  The  first  order  issued  was  by  Rol- 
land  Dunbar,  July  7,  1879,  the  amount  being  $1.  The  first  order 
paid  was  to  Peter  Rose,  July  23,  1879,  the  amount  being  $28.35. 
The  postmasters  have  been  B.  F.  Langworthy,  Hicks  and  Vining, 
C.  F.  Greening,  R.  Dunbar,  John  Criswell,  S.  Y.  Paddock,  and  the 
present  incumbent,  C.  E.  Hovda.  The  assistant  is  Addie  B. 
Doherty.  The  carriers  are  W.  F.  Rice,  Charles  Nashold  and 
Joseph  Sorben,  routes  Nos.  1,  2  and  3  having  been  established 
June  4,  1900;  May  15,  1901,  and  February  1,  1903,  respectively. 
The  office  does  a  good  annual  business  and  Mr.  Ilovda  has  proven 
a  most  capable  official. 

Adams  Postoffice.  The  Adams  postoffice  was  established  in 
1859,  on  section  8,  in  Adams  township.  Later  it  was  moved  to  the 
village.  The  first  money  order  was  issued  to  Ole  A.  Bergens,  July 
27,  1892.  The  first  order  was  paid  to  Erick  Jenson,  August  24, 
1892.     Johnsbnrg  was  discontinued  into  this  office  December  31, 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  355 

1900.  Rural  Route  No.  1  was  established  January  2,  1901,  with 
O.  H.  Njos  as  carrier.  Route  No.  2  was  established  March  2,  1903, 
with  Louis  Slindes  as  carrier.  The  postmasters  have  been  John 
S.  Irgens,  Harold  Irgens,  A.  D.  Harris,  P.  M.  Rooney,  Mathias 
Krebsbach,  A.  Torgerson,  Anton  Kinn,  James  Slindee,  E.  L.  Slin- 
dee.  Mr.  Slindee  is  assisted  by  Mrs.  Annie  C.  Slindee,  assistant 
postmistress,  and  N.  P.  Gurvin,  clerk. 

Brownsdale  Postoffice.  Brownsdale  postoffice  was  established 
in  the  fall  of  1856.  with  John  L.  Johnson  as  postmaster.  The 
office  was  kept  in  his  store.  Mails  were  received  once  a  week, 
brought  from  Austin  on  horseback.  Mr.  Johnson  remained  in 
charge  of  the  office  until  1858,  when  H.  W.  Shook  received  the 
appointment  of  postmaster.  He  was  relieved  in  turn  by  A.  D. 
Brown,  R.  C.  Heath,  E.  J.  Stimson,  H.  Tilton,  A.  Stevens,  Stephen 
Ives,  A.  J.  Hunt  and  W.  S.  Woodard.  Mr.  Woodard  was  suc- 
ceeded by  E.  J.  Stimson,  who  was  followed  by  Albert  Swift  in 
1891.  He  held  the  office  till  1897,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  "Wm. 
H.  Palmer,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  office  was  created  a  money  order  office  July  1,  1874.  The 
first  order  was  issued  Julj^  6,  1874,  to  Mons  Erickson,  of  Browns- 
dale, in  favor  of  Ole  "Wilson,  of  Kasson,  Dodge  county,  Minnesota  ; 
amount,  $5.  The  first  order  paid  was  issued  at  Dublin,  Va.,  to 
George  "W.  "Weiser,  in  favor  of  James  M.  Weiser;  amount,  $50; 
was  paid  July  18,  1874. 

Dexter  Postoffice.  This  office  was  established  in  1874.  For  a 
time  it  was  kept  at  the  railroad  station  by  Amasa  Converse,  the 
first  postmaster,  who  was  succeeded  by  the  following  postmasters : 
John  L.  Gaskill,  L.  M.  Gaskill,  George  W.  Buck,  0.  J.  Dickens, 
P.  Sheridan,  B.  S.  Benner  and  E.  W.  Dorr,  the  last  named  being 
the  present  incumbent.  He  has  served  since  June  17,  1901.  The 
Manilla  and  Sutton  offices  have  been  discontinued  into  this  office. 
Mr.  Dorr  has  an  assistant  and  a  clerk.  Two  rural  routes  emanate 
from  this  office,  and  were  established  in  1900  and  1904.  respect- 
ively. The  carriers  are  the  Messrs.  Chase  and  Gilmore.  The 
annual  business  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  $2,000. 

Racine  Postoffice.  Racine  postoffice  was  originally  established 
in  1878  with  T.  W.  Stewart  as  postmaster.  The  present  postoffice 
was  established  in  1890,  when  the  railroad  came  through.  Among 
the  postmasters  have  been  Robert  Eiehhorn  and  0.  B.  Morse.  The 
present  postmaster  is  Chris  Schwarz.  The  first  money  order  was 
issued  May  23,  1899,  to  H.  Mork.  The  first  order  was  paid  the 
same  day  to  G.  Preibl.  Rural  routes  Nos.  1  and  2  were  estab- 
lished respectively  on  May  15,  1901,  and  May  2,  1904.  The  annual 
business  done  is  about  $1,000. 

Rose  Creek  Postoffice  was  esta])lislied  in  1868  and  Isaac  :M.  Ray 
was  appointed  tlic   first   postmastci-.     The  office  was  kept   in   iiis 


356  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

residence  in  the  Patrick  Mealy  house.  After  the  first  postmaster 
came  C.  R.  Varco,  George  Sutton,  F.  G.  Raj^  Thomas  Cronan,  and 
then  again  F.  G.  Ray.  who  is  still  serving.  The  office  was  made  a 
money  order  office  in  1878.  The  first  order  was  drawn  July  1. 
1878,  by  John  Hallin,  for  $10,  in  favor  of  Andrew  Peet,  Independ- 
ence, Kan.  The  first  order  was  to  J.  A.  Priest,  July  5,  1878.  the 
amount  being  $5. 

Lansing  Postoffice.  The  Lansing  postoffice  was  established  in 
the  summer  of  1858,  with  P.  D.  Vaughan  as  postmaster.  The  office 
was  kept  at  his  house  in  section  3,  where  it  remained  until  about 
1864  or  1865,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  store  building,  with 
A.  B.  Vaughan  as  postmaster.  The  office  remained  here  until 
about  1868,  when  the  office  was  moved  across  the  street  to  the 
store  building  in  section  11,  Mr.  Vaughan  retaining  the  office. 
October  29,  1875,  W.  B.  Vaughan  received  the  appointment  of 
postmaster.  The  office  was  created  a  money  order  office  July  1. 
1878.  The  first  order  drawn  was  for  $2.90,  by  P.  D.  Vaughan,  in 
favor  of  Walter  H.  Shupe,  of  New  York,  dated  July  1,  1878.  The 
first  order  paid  was  for  $3.65,  to  Mrs.  J.  S.  Greeley,  from  ]\Irs. 
Josephine  Miller,  of  Beaver  Falls,  Minn.  After  W.  B.  Vaughan 
came  George  W.  Bartlett,  who  was  appointed  April  25,  1886.  His 
successor  was  H.  M.  Mclntyre,  the  present  incumbent,  who  re- 
ceived his  commission  May  21,  1889.  Coi'uing  was  discontinued 
into  this  office,  October  1,  1906.  One  rural  route  was  established 
March  2,  1903.  The  present  force  in  the  office  consists  of  H.  M. 
Mclntyre,  postmaster;  assistant,  H.  S.  Mclntyre;  clerk,  A.  E. 
Mapes ;  rural  carrier,  E.  W.  Carll ;  substitutet  rural  carrier, 
F.  A.  Carll.  The  annual  business  done  is  about  $1,000.  The  money 
order  business  amounts  to  about  $5,000. 

Waltham  Postoffice.  Waltham  postoffice  was  established  in 
1866,  with  Col.  A.  J.  Burbank  as  postmaster.  The  office  was  kept 
at  the  Waltham  House,  of  which  he  was  landlord.  The  mail  route 
from  Brownsdale  to  Kasson,  in  Dodge  county,  passed  by  this  office, 
from  which  route  it  was  supplied.  The  office  remained  here  until 
1868,  when  Moses  Boliou  was  appointed  postmaster,  and  the  office 
removed  to  his  house  in  section  9,  where  it  remained  until  1872, 
when  it  Avas  discontinued.  The  present  office  was  established 
INIarch  9,  1886,  with  J.  A.  Stephan  as  postmaster,.  IMr.  Stephan  is 
still  serving  in  that  capacity,  and  has  the  longest  term  of  service 
of  any  postmaster  in  the  county.  The  first  money  order  was 
issued  January  4,  1899,  to  Rev.  F.  C.  Milius,  and  the  first  order 
was  paid  February  22,  1899.  Rural  service  was  established  from 
this  (iffice  iMiircli  2,  1893,  and  covers  a  wide  territory. 

Taopi  Postoffice.  This  postoffice  was  established  in  tlu>  spring 
of  1875,  will]  William  P.raiiicrd  as  llie  first  postmaster.  It  was 
first  kc|)1   ill  a  coop"!-  shop  in  block  3,  and  later  moved  into  C. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  357 

Alleman's  store,  on  Main  street,  block  2.  In  course  of  time  C. 
Alleman  was  appointed  postmaster,  and  held  the  office  until 
Frank  Lyons  was  appointed  by  President  Grover  Cleveland.  It 
was  then  moved  further  down  on  ]\Iain  street.  J.  JM.  Lukens  was 
next  appointed,  and  was  succeeded  by  M.  H.  Lyons,  who  kept  the 
office  in  the  old  Corbitt  building  on  Main  street.  G.  I\I.  Campbell 
was  ajipointed  postmaster  December  1,  1897,  and  was  followed  by 
Jane  Campbell,  who  was  appointed  December  18,  1902.  The  first 
money  order  was  issued  January  13,  1894,  to  Peter  Kasel,  and  the 
first  order  paid  was  to  Mrs.  Anthony  Loftus,  January  19,  1894. 
The  rural  service  was  established  May  1,  1904.  John  Johnson  is 
now  serving  as  rural  carrier. 

Other  Offices.  There  are  also  postoffices  at  Sargeant,  Renova, 
Elkton  and  Mayville.  It  is  impossible  to  give  a  history  of  these 
offices  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  postmasters  have  refused  to  fur- 
nish the  information  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  several  letters  of 
inquiry  have  been  addressed  to  them. 


DISCONTINUED  POSTOFFICES. 

Among  the  discontinued  postoffices  in  Mower  county  may  be 
mentioned  Coi'uing,  Frankford,  Johnsburg,  Ramsey,  Root  River, 
Sutton,  Udolpho,  Chandler  postoffice,  Madison,  Brooklyn,  Ben- 
nington and  others. 

Coming.  The  postoffice  at  this  point  continued  for  many 
years,  but  was  discontinued  in  October,  1906. 

Chandler  Postoffice,  This  office  Avas  established  in  1856,  with 
"\V.  Means  as  postmaster.  It  was  on  the  route  between  Osage  and 
Owatonna,  and  mail  was  received  once  a  week.  The  successor  of 
Means  was  D.  L.  Chandler,  who  kept  the  office  at  his  house,  sec- 
tion 33.  township  of  Austin. 

Elkhorn.  This  was  established  in  1855  with  Jacob  jMcQuillan 
as  postmaster.  ]Mail  was  received  from  Chatfield  once  in  two 
weeks.  The  office  was  discontinued  when  Hamilton  was  estab- 
lished. 

Udolpho  postoffice  was  established  about  1874,  with  Samuel 
Duunell,  brother  of  Hon.  Mark  H.  Dunnell,  as  postmaster.  The 
office  was  kept  at  his  house  in  section  2.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Philip  Setzer,  as  postmaster,  and  the  office  moved  to  his  house  in 
section  1.  It  remained  here  a  short  time,  when  Joseph  Reynolds 
received  the  appointment  of  postmaster  and  the  office  removed  to 
liis  house  in  section  1.  It  Avas  again  removed  and  Gideon  Stod- 
dard appointed  postmaster.  The  office  Avas  kept  at  his  house  on 
section  2.  ]Mrs.  ^lalina  S.  Carll  kept  the  office  at  her  house  in 
section  2. 


358  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

The  first  mails  were  received  Twice  a  week,  via  Brownsdale. 
Walthain  postoffiee  and  this  office,  to  Blooming  Prairie. 

Brooklyn.  The  first  postoffiee  in  AVindom  township  was  estab- 
lished in  1858,  nnder  the  name  of  Brooklyn.  It  was  on  the  mail 
route  from  ^McGregor  to  Austin.  The  name  was  afterward  changed 
to  Canton.  Horatio  Marsh  was  the  first  postmaster.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded a  few  years  later  by  Walter  Fuller,  who  resigned  shortly 
after  the  railroad  was  built,  and  the  office  was  discontinued.  ]\Ir. 
Fuller  turned  over  the  records  of  the  office  to  George  Sutton,  then 
postmaster  at  Rose  Creek. 

Frankford  Postoffiee.  This  office  was  established  in  1856. 
Lewis  Patehen  was  appointed  postmaster.  Early  postmasters 
were  T.  M.  Chapman,  Charles  Lamb  and  Lewis  Patehen. 

Madison.  A  i)ostoffice  was  established  at  this  point  about 
1857  by  AVarren  Brown.  Later  the  postoffiee  was  re-established 
in  charge  of  Moody  &  Co.  Later  E.  Bassett  took  the  office  and 
continued  it  about  twelve  years,  but  later  gave  it  up. 


CHAPTER  XXVHL 

GRAND  ME.A.DOW  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Soil  of  Township — Early  Settlement — Organization 
— Village  of  Grand  Meadow — Opening  of  the  Settlement  and 
Early  Business  Interests  —  Societies  —  Churches — Postoffiee — 
Library — Catastrophes — Early    Events — Village    Government. 

Grand  ]\Ieadow  township  embraces  congressional  township  103 
north,  range  15  west  of  the  fifth  principal  meridian.  Its  bounda- 
ries are  Pleasant  Valley  township  on  the  north,  Frankford  town- 
ship on  the  east,  Clayton  township  on  the  south.  Dexter  township 
on  the  west.  The  soil  is  of  excellent  quality,  well  adapted  to  the 
growth  of  all  the  crops  commonly  cultivated  in  this  section  of  the 
country.  This  is  a  prairie  township.  The  surface  in  the  northern 
part  is  rolling,  while  in  the  southern  it  is  quite  level.  An  agree- 
able variety  is  imparted  to  the  landscape  by  groves  of  trees,  which 
have  been  planted  with  a  liberal  hand  to  aid  and  supplement  the 
work  of  nature.  The  attention  of  the  farmers  of  this  district. 
until  within  a  few  years,  mainly  devoted  to  the  production  of 
wheat  and  other  grains,  is  now  being  largelylurned  to  the  inter- 
ests of  stock  raising  and  the  dairy.  Deer  creek,  which  takes  its 
rise  in  Clayton  township,  flows  through  the  southeastern  part  of 
Grand  IMeadow,  mostly  in  sections  85  and  'M).    In  the  northeastern 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY  351) 

quarter  are  two  branches  of  Bear  creek,  one  of  which,  rising  in 
section  3,  passes  through  sections  2  and  12.  The  other  lies  farther 
south,  and  crosses  the  eastern  lioundary  of  the  township  in  sec- 
tion 13. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  town  of  Grand  Meadow  was  made 
by  Erlund  Olson,  in  the  autumn  of  1854.  Olson  was  a  native  of 
Norway.  He  came  here  from  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  settled 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  12.  The  log  house  built  by 
him  here  was  the  first  in  the  town.  After  remaining  here  for  some 
years.  Olson  sold  his  place  and  removed  to  the  town  of  Racine. 
The  next  settlers  were  Arthur  McNelly  and  Andrew  McCabe — 
the  former  a  native  of  Ireland,  the  latter  of  New  York  state. 
They  took  claims  on  section  13.  In  August,  1856,  B.  F.  Lang- 
worthy  made  a  claim  on  section  12.  He  purchased  other  land  near 
by.  at  $2.50  per  acre,  until  he  acquired  in  all  960  acres.  In  1875 
he  sold  it  at  $25  per  acre,  and  removed  to  Spring  Valley.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  1856,  S.  H.  Rice,  a  native  of  the  Buckeye 
state,  settled  on  the  northwest  cjuarter  of  section  35,  which 
remained  his  home  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1881.  Mr.  Rice 
was  one  of  the  original  signers  of  the  Grand  Meadow  railroad 
bonds,  issued  to  the  Southern  IMinnesota  Railway  Company.  Isaiah 
Peterson  came  with  his  family  to  Grand  Meadow  in  the  spring  of 
1857,  and  settled  on  section  6,  where  they  remained  but  two  years. 
In  1858  two  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  died  of  croup.  A 
son,  named  Peter  Peterson,  was  born  to  them  in  the  fall  of  1857. 
AVilliam  Seabern  settled  at  an  early  day  in  the  township 's  history 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  32.  Joseph  Ross,  coming  a  few 
weeks  later,  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  33,  adjoin- 
ing Seabern 's  land.  Ross  was  from  Nova  Scotia.  He  enlisted  in 
the  northern  army  in  1862,  and  died  in  the  service  at  Nashville, 
Tenn,  About  the  year  1858,  L.  E.  Pearce  came  from  Pennsylvania 
and  took  a  claim  on  section  26.  After  making  a  little  improve- 
ment, he  returned  to  the  Keystone  state,  where  he  married.  In 
the  course  of  a  few  years  he  came  back  and  settled  on  his  farm. 
He  was  engaged  for  some  time  in  the  grain  and  lumber  business 
at  Grand  Meadow  village ;  later  he  did  a  commission  business  in 
]\Iilwaukee.  In  1858,  one  William  Pye,  who  came  from  ^Michigan, 
settled  on  section  34.  After  living  here  some  years,  he  went  to 
Wisconsin,  where  he  was  subsequently  joined  by  his  family,  Gil- 
bert Christopherson  took  a  claim  in  section  11,  in  1856.  lie 
remained  in  the  township  two  or  three  years  and  then  returned  to 
Dane  county,  Wisconsin.  Andrew  Halverson,  Ole  Sortlatten  and 
Ilelge  Johnson  were  Norwegian  settlers  of  1858.  Halverson  set- 
tled in  the  northern  jnirt  of  section  14.     Sortlatten  came  directly 


360  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

from  Norway  and  settled  in  the  south  part  of  section  11.  John- 
son came  here  from  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  settled  in  the 
north  part  of  the  town.  About  the  year  1879  he  went  back  to 
Wisconsin.  0.  E.  Sorben,  A.  Finhart  and  Ole  Loe  were  also  among 
the  early  Norwegian  emigrants.  Clark  Markham.  with  his 
brothers,  Erastus  and  Joseph,  came  here  about  the  year  1859, 
and  settled  in  section  16.  C.  B.  Remington  settled  in  section  8, 
in  1859.  A  Mr.  Parker,  Avho  settled  in  section  17,  went  away  in 
1864.  William  Fineudall  and  D.  Vandenover  came  to  Grand 
]\Ieadow  township  in  the  year  1860,  or  near  that  time,  and  settled 
in  secton  5.  Henry  "Weber  settled  in  the  northern  part  of  sec- 
tion 4.  A  Mr.  Gleason  and  his  son-in-law  settled  in  sections  17 
and  18.  They  afterward  removed  to  Rochester.  Chauncey  Kuapp, 
mentioned  elsewhere,  Avas  also  an  early  settler. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  town  of  Grand  ]\[eadow  was  organized  in  1862.  The  first 
town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  B.  F.  Langworthy,  in  sec- 
tion 12,  on  April  20  of  that  year.  B.  F.  Langworthy,  Chauncy 
Knapp  and  Orson  W.  Case  were  appointed  judges  of  election, 
Alonzo  Avery,  clerk.  The  following  is  the  list  of  town  officers 
elected:  B.  F.  Langworthy,  chairman;  C.  Knapp,  0.  W.  Case; 
A.  Avery,  clerk;  G.  C.  Parker,  treasurer;  C.  B.  Remington  and 
S.  H.  Rice,  justices  of  peace;  W.  A.  Lunt,  asse^^sor;  N.  C.  Mark- 
ham  and  J.  j\r.  McCabe.  constables. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  store  for  the  sale  of  general  merchandise  in  the  town 
Avas  that  of  D.  B.  Colman. 

The  first  hardware  store  was  C.  F.  Greening's,  opened  in  1871, 
and  still  doing  business. 

The  first  child  not  of  aboriginal  parentage,  born  within  the 
limits  of  this  township  was  Forest  E.  Langworthy,  later  editor  of 
the  Spring  Valley  Mercury,  published  at  Spring  Valley,  Fillmore 
county,  Minnesota. 

The  first  deatli  was  of  a  child  of  ]Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  George  Chat- 
Avood. 

Tlie  first  school  liouse  in  tlie  toAvn  stood  on  tlie  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  115.    Delia  Evans  Avas  tlu>  first  teacher. 

The  first  girl  Ixii'ii  in  tiic  township  Avas  a  daughter  to  ]\Ir.  and 
]\Irs.  John  Peterson. 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  NAME. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  fifties  a  gentleman  from  one  of  the 
hilly  eastern  states  Avas  looking  over  the  lands  of  this  neighbor- 


HISTOPvY  OF  MOWEI?  COU^'TY  3G1 

hood,  and  standing  on  an  eminence  with  one  of  the  few  residents 
of  that  time,  he  remarked,  as  he  looked  over  the  great  expanse  of 
fertile  lands,  "AVhat  a  Grand  Meadow."  His  exclamation  was 
truthful,  and  that  name  was  adopted  for  all  time.  Grand  Meadow- 
is  certainly  a  beautiful  piece  of  country.  Gently  undulating,  suf- 
iieient  to  give  ample  drainage,  no  swamps,  rocky  hills,  or  sand 
dunes,  all  good  available  land,  with  the  beautiful  groves  dotting 
the  prairies,  streams  and  little  lakes,  with  a  soil  unsurpassed  for 
fertility  and  ease  of  cultivation.  There  are  cosy  and  comfortable 
homes,  and  a  better  grass  or  pasture  country  can  hardly  be 
found.  In  fact  it  led  to  the  remark  of  one  of  a  party  of  Elgin, 
Illinois,  dairymen,  who  were  here  a  short  time  ago,  to  exclaim: 
"I  do  not  wonder  that  Minnesota  can  equal  or  even  surpass  Illi- 
nois in  dairying  when  they  can  raise  such  grass  as  I  see  here." 

THE  VILLAGE  OF  GRAND  MEADOW. 

The  trai-t  of  land  upon  which  this  village  is  platted  was  en- 
tered in  1858  by  one  X.  Albee,  w4io  sold  it  to  Henry  Martin,  of 
Connecticut.  A  transfer  was  made  by  Mr.  Martin  to  Messrs. 
Hall,  Easton,  Thompson  and  Holly,  who  thus  became  proprietors 
of  the  original  village  site.  F.  H.  Armstrong,  of  Alpena,  Mich- 
igan, and  L.  E.  Pearce  laid  out  lots,  and  offered  them  for  sale  on 
the  south  side  of  the  railroad  track.  The  price  of  these  being 
much  less  than  that  asked  for  the  lots  of  the  afore-named  com- 
pany, many  were  induced  to  buy  them  in  preference  to  the  others. 
Thus  the  south  side  became  gradually  settled,  became  the  most 
desirable  part  of  the  village  for  residence.  It  should  here  be 
mentioned  that  the  village  was  laid  out  in  1870,  the  railroad  at 
that  time  having  been  built  as  far  as  the  creek  east  of  the  village 
site. 

Lumber  was  hauled  from  Spring  Valley  to  put  up  the  first 
buildings,  two  warehouses  and  a  lumber  office,  the  latter  owned 
by  Richards  &  Bray.  It  was  later  occupied  by  John  Tyrrell  as  a 
residence.  The  first  house  built  for  a  dwelling  was  that  later  oc- 
cupied by  E.  M.  Barnard.  Its  builder.  L.  E.  Pearce.  moved  to 
]\Iorris.  Stevens  county,  in  1875.  Pearce  also  l)uilt  the  first  ware- 
house. 

EARLY  BUSINESS. 

The  first  .store  Avas  kept  by  D.  B.  Coleman  in  the  building  later 
used  as  a  postofifice.  Then.  1870,  it  stood  in  the  street,  but  was 
afterward  moved  to  where  C.  F.  Greening's  brick  block  was  later 
erected.  For  this  small  room  ]Mr.  Coleman  paid  rent  at  the  rate 
of  .^40  per  month.     Tlie  building  was  later  used    for    a    licpior 


302  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

saloon.  Most  of  the  older  dwelling  houses  in  this  part  of  the  vil- 
lage were  built  in  the  years  1870  and  1871.  The  Bell  house, 
George  Chatwood  proprietor,  was  the  first  to  be  finished  and 
opened  as  a  hotel  at  Grand  Meadow.  After  a  lapse  of  three  or 
four  years  it  was  leased  for  a  period  of  five  years  by  John  Mc- 
Devitt.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  W.  T.  Hughart  undertook  its 
management.  Mr.  Hughart  put  an  addition  on  the  north  side  by 
moving  across  the  street  the  Centennial  house,  built  by  him  in 
1876.  Mr.  A.  Axtell  was  next  in  charge  for  a  brief  season,  and 
later  the  hotel  wa.s  discontinued.  The  Brown  house  was  built  by 
John  Brown.  It  was  first  kept  by  him  and  afterward,  for  a  few 
months,  by  Frank  Dunbar.  In  1877  ]\Ir.  Brown  sold  the  property 
to  F.  M.  Pierson.  At  one  time  this  was  the  only  public  house  in 
the  village,  continuing  to  be  such  until  George  J.  A.  Correll  be- 
gan to  entertain  guests  at  his  place  of  business.  Two  elevators 
were  built  here  in  1875.  Bonner  &  Hyde's  was  the  earlier  begun, 
but  Cargill's  was  first  completed.  The  latter  was  burned  in  1880. 
Another  was  built  in  its  place.  During  the  years  1876  and  1877 
immense  quantities  of  grain  were  marketed  here.  It  is  said  that 
in  the  last  four  months  of  1877  the  freight  bills  of  the  shippers 
amounted  to  $22,000  per  month.  A  Mr.  Plummer  was  the  first 
to  wield  a  sledge  hammer  within  the  village  precincts.  ]\Ir.  Plum- 
mer came  from  Hamilton,  but  he  did  not  come  to  stay.  AVhere- 
fore,  when  John  Peterson  put  up  a  shop  opposite  the  Collins 
house,  establishing  himself  and  his  trade  in  Grand  Meadow  for 
life,  as  it  woiald  seem,  he  gained  a  right  to  be  considered  really 
the  pioneer  blacksmith  of  the  place.  George  Xewson,  the  first 
village  barber,  came  here  in  1876.  J.  Skyburg  engaged  in  busi- 
ness in  company  with  M.  H.  Fjelstad,  in  June,  1874,  who  had 
previously  been  engaged  in  trade  here.  They  ran  the  business 
together  until  1878.  when  Mr.  Skyburg  sold  his  interest  in  the 
business  to  Mr.  Fjelstad.  The  next  year  (1879)  Mr.  Skyburg 
again  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  in  company  with  Ole 
Johnson.  This  firm  remained  in  business  about  one  and  a  half 
years,  when  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Skyburg  con- 
tinuing the  business. 

GRAND  MEADOW  IN  1873. 

In  1873,  Grand  ^Meadow  had  tlie  following  business  houses:  H. 
P.  Coleman,  general  store  and  drugs,  two  stores;  RoUin  Dunbar, 
deputy  postmaster,  general  store;  A.  Fjelstad,  general  store;  An- 
derson &  Clausen,  furniture  dealers;  Ed.  Peterson,  harness  maker 
and  saddlery;  August  Fischer,  shoemaker;  Lore  &  Luttenberger, 
carpenters;  Brown's  hotel.  Jolin  Brown,  proprietor;  C.  C.  Cole, 
blacksmith  and  plowmaker;  John  Peterson,  blacksmith;  Charles 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  3G3 

F.  Greening,  hardware  and  bank.  B.  F.  Langworthy  was  post- 
master, Dr.  S.  M.  Jenks,  B.  F.  Wood,  S.  M.  R.  R.,  station  agents. 
L.  E.  Pearee  dealt  in  produce  and  machinery,  as  did  also  M.  F. 
Vening,  H.  W.  Elms  and  G.  W.  AVood.  U.  S.  Potter  was  a  grain 
buyer.  F.  M.  Peirson,  a  resident  of  the  village,  has  lived  a  longer 
time  in  this  county  than  any  other  person  now  living  within  its 
limits. 

GRAND  MEADOW  IN  1885. 

In  the  fall  of  1885,  Grand  Meadow  had  four  churches.  Congre- 
gational, Methodist,  Lutheran  and  Catholic;  a  postoffice,  a  rail- 
road station,  a  schoolhouse,  two  hotels,  a  boarding  house,  a 
dentist,  a  physician,  a  Turkish  bath,  a  feed  mill  and  several  stores. 
The  G.  A.  R.  post,  H.  B.  Sheldon,  commander,  was  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition.  Following  is  a  brief  business  directory  of  the  vil- 
lage at  that  time :  C.  F.  Greening,  general  merchant  and  bank- 
ing; Lovell  &  Sheldon,  general  merchants;  S.  S.  Baken,  drugs  and 
decorations ;  J.  Skyburg,  dry  goods ;  Hudson  &  Elliott,  hardware ; 
A.  Thiel,  shoes;  Mrs.  L.  M.  Hughart,  meals;  H.  Orth,  furniture; 
W.  A.  Nolan,  harness  shop;  Charles  Martin,  farm  machinery;  C. 
P.  Gladen,  wagon  maker;  Nels  Green,  blacksmith;  Peterson  & 
Grimes,  blacksmiths;  J.  J.  Gilbertson,  farm  machinery;  E.  E. 
Myhre,  tailor;  "W.  "W.  Ranney,  general  merchant ;  Phillip  &  Brown, 
meats;  John  Criswell,  postmaster  and  jeweler;  Dr.  Jackson,  phy- 
sician; F.  M.  Pierson,  proprietor  of  the  Brown  house;  W.  H. 
Bentley,  skating  rink;  J.  Larkins,  station  agent;  George  New- 
sum,  barber;  M.  0.  Wilsie,  lumber;  E.  M.  Barnard,  Alrah  Hunt, 
C.  W.  Martin,  grain  buyers ;  Geo.  J.  A.  Corell,  hotel  and  grocery ; 
A.  Folsom,  dry  goods ;  Barnard  &  Elliott,  Mrs.  Lettie  Palmer,  mil- 
liners; W.  T.  Hughart,  justice;  A.  B.  M.  Lindsley,  president,  C. 

F.  Greening,  treasurer,  H.  M.  Lovell,  secretary  of  creamery;  Ed- 
ward Lewis,  drayman;  H.  M.  Lovell,  bird  fancier;  Thomas 
AVagoner,  buttermaker ;  Charles  "Wood,  hay  presser ;  Lars  Frank- 
son,  feed  mill;  W.  T.  Hughart,  Turkish  bath;  Mrs.  S.  A.  Nolan, 
boarding  house. 

INCORPORATION. 

An  act  passed  the  legislature  early  in  1876  authorizing  M.  F. 
Vining,  C.  F.  Greening  and  AV.  H.  Bentley  to  conduct  a  village 
election  in  Grand  ]Meadow.  The  election  was  held  on  the  first 
Monday  in  April,  1876,  and  the  following  officers  elected :  Presi- 
dent, E.  M.  Barnard ;  recorder,  B.  F.  AVood ;  AA^m.  Bentley,  Gilbert 
H.  Allen,  S.  M.  Jenks.  The  present  officers  of  the  village  arc: 
President.  T.  J.  Grimes ;  recorder,  N.  O.  AVilsie ;  C.  L.  Sehroeder, 

G.  AY.  Day,  C.  A\\  Alartin. 


3CA  HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY 


MODERN  GRAND  MEADOW. 

Grand  Meadow  is  a  prosperous  village  with  a  population  of 
some  600  inhabitants.  It  is  well  laid  out,  has  some  excellent  ce- 
ment sidewalks,  and  is  planted  with  many  shade  trees.  Its  citi- 
zens are  progressive  and  the  buildings  modern  and  sightlj\ 

Among  the  activities  of  Grand  Meadow  may  be  mentioned : 
Five  churches,  Methodist  and  Congregational  resident  pastors, 
one  lumber  yard,  one  fine  high  school,  two  hotels,  one  newspaper, 
three  general  stores,  city,  Masonic  and  M.  W.  A.  halls,  one  opera 
house,  one  hardware  store,  one  drug  store,  one  clothing  store, 
one  merchant  tailor,  one  jeweler,  one  dentist,  one  furniture  and 
undertaking  establishment,  one  harness  shop,  one  automobile 
garage,  two  blacksmith  establishments,  one  creamery,  two  car- 
penter shops,  one  woodworking  establishment,  one  saw  mill,  one 
physician,  one  livery,  two  custom  grist  mills,  two  restaurants,  one 
millinery  store,  one  pool  and  billiard  hall,  one  barber  shop,  one 
meat  market,  one  telephone  company,  two  land  companies,  one 
feed  and  coal  establishment,  one  draying  line,  two  painting  estal)- 
lishments,  and  a  postofifice.  The  Exchange  State  Bank  has  the 
finest  bank  building  in  this  part  of  Minnesota. 

Among  the  older  settlers  still  represented  in  the  business  of 
the  village  are  C.  F.  Greening,  Exchange  State  Bank ;  John  Peter- 
son, blacksmith;  P.  Schleiger,  drugs;  M.  0.  AVilsie,  lumber  yard: 
Erick  Torgrimson,  general  store  (business  conducted  by  son, 
G.  T.)  ;  Erick  Myhre,  merchant  tailor;  C.  W.  Martin,  conducting 
the  Hyde  elevation;  Fred  Pierson,  "Old  Brown  House";  AV.  A. 
Nolan,  harness  and  automobiles;  Thomas  J.  Grimes,  blacksmith; 
George  Day,  woodwork ;  Jolm  Peterson,  blacksmith  ;  Lars  Frank- 
son,  grist  mill. 

Streets.  Tlie  streets  of  Grand  IMeadow  present  an  excellent 
appearance.  Few  villages  in  the  state  are  better  supplied  with 
sidewalks,  and  the  trees,  pleasant  residences,  and  sightly  public 
and  business  buildings,  add  much  to  the  attractiveness  of  life 
here.  For  several  years  the  streets  were  lighted  with  oil.  Lamps 
of  gasoline  gas  are  now  provided,  and  an  acetylene  plant  is  under 
advisement. 

City  and  Masonic  Hall.  This  is  a  pretty  structure  built  of 
brick  and  erected  in  1890.  The  lower  tloor  is  used  as  a  village 
hall  and  the  upper  tioor  is  well  furnished  and  devoted  to  Masonic 
purposes.  The  waterworks,  tower,  pump  and  well  were  put  in 
in  lilOl. 

M.  W.  A.  Hall  and  Opera  House.  In  1909  a  stock  company 
was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  l)uilding  to  be  used  for 
a  fraternity  hall  and  place  of  entertainment.     The  building  was 


HIST01?Y  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  oG5 

started  in  1909  and  dedicated  in  1910.  It  is  of  ))nck  with  an 
ornamental  t:ront.  The  place  is  well  lighted  with  gas,  and  iew 
stages  in  southern  Minnesota  are  as  well  equipped.  The  building 
is  100x50  feet.  The  auditorium  is  50x66  and  the  stage  24x50  feet. 
A  fme  balcony  adds  to  the  seating  capacity.  The  Woodman  Hall 
Association  was  organized,  as  stated,  in  1909.  The  otRcers 
Avere:  President,  E.  F.  Greening;  secretary,  W.  D.  LockAVOod ; 
treasurer,  G.  A.  Wright;  directors,  F.  M.  Higbie,  C.  W'.  Martin, 
Andrew  Haugen,  C.  B.  Hovda,  August  Biederbeck  and  G.  G.  Tor- 
grimson.  The  present  officers  are  the  same  with  the  exception 
that  Fred  Seabern  is  secretary. 

Fire  Protection.  Grand  Meadow  is  excellently  equipped  to 
guard  against  fire.  In  the  early  days  the  village  had  various 
bucket  brigades.  The  present  Grand  Meadow  Hose  company  was 
organized  September  18,  1894.  At  that  meeting  H.  B.  Sheldon 
was  the  chairman  and  C.  F.  Greening,  secretary.  The  first  otifieers 
elected  were :  Foreman,  W.  A.  Nolan ;  assistant,  P.  W^ilson ;  sec- 
retary, John  J.  AVeeks;  treasurer,  C.  F.  Greening;  standing  com- 
mittee, F.  H.  Townsend,  P.  McDonough  and  Ed  Bartlett.  The 
present  oificers  are:  Foreman,  W^.  A.  Nolan;  assistant,  Tlieo. 
Bratrud;  secretary  and  treasurer,  E.  F.  Greening. 

The  Grand  Meadow  Cemetery  is  suitably  located,  and  well 
cared  for.  On  March  11,  1873.  a  meeting  of  citizens  was  hold, 
and  various  sums  were  subscribed  for  the  purchase  of  a  ceme- 
tery. Temporary  officers  were  appointed  as  follows:  President, 
0.  W.  Case;  treasurer,  L.  E.  Pearce ;  secretary,  B.  F.  Langworthy. 
A  committee  of  three,  consisting  of  0.  W.  Case,  H.  P.  Colemau 
and  AYilliam  Lewis  Avas  appointed  to  draft  the  by-iaws.  Pho 
Grand  Meadow  Cemetery  Association  was  then  formally  organ- 
ized, the  directors  being  O.  AY.  Case,  B.  F.  Langworthy,  L.  E. 
Pearce,  A.  R.  Austin,  C.  F.  Greening,  N.  C.  Markham  and  AYil- 
liam  Lewis.  C.  F.  Greening  Avas  the  first  actuary.  The  first 
burial  Avas  probably  that  of  Arthur  AA'ood,  October  7,  1873.  The 
present  officers  are:  President,  John  Peterson;  treasurer  and 
actuary,  C.  F.  Greening;  secretary,  Philip  T.  Elliott;  C.  AV.  IMai- 
tin,  A.  D.  Moore,  L.  AI.  Lindsley  and  W.  P.  Lewis. 

Grand  Meadow  Library.  In  November,  1883,  tlie  sum  of  H'B-l 
was  raised  liy  suliscription  among  the  citizens  of  the  place  for 
the  beginning  of  a  public  library.  Of  this  amount,  the  village 
council  gave  $10,  in  order  to  carry  out  the  design.  An  associa- 
tion Avas  formed,  Avith  the  following  officers:  Rev.  (}.  B.  Caplc. 
lu'csident;  AV.  AY.  Ranney,  librarian;  Airs.  H.  B.  Sheldon  iiiid 
Airs.  H.  B.  ALirtin,  directors. 

The  library  is  now  in  a  fiourishing  conditon,  and  has  roon.s 
over  the  postoffice.  The  present  officers  are:  President,  F.  H. 
.\i-iiistroiiir ;  secretarv   and   treasurer,   A.   T.   Keeler ;    Mrs.    V.   P. 


366  HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Peyton,  Clare  Peterson,  ^Irs.  C.  F.  Greening,  AV.  D.  Loekwood. 
Dr.  R.  S.  Mitchell  and  P.  F.  Elliott. 

Home  Telephone  Company.  C.  V.  Greening,  lianker  of  Gran^l 
iMeadow,  ^v;^s  a  ]>ioiicer  in  the  telephone  business.  He  built  a 
little  line  for  family  use.  In  1898  some  of  his  )ieigiibors  wanted 
to  have  telephones  connected  to  his  line.  Incidentally  he  con- 
nected up  a  few  telephones.  He  did  not  realize,  at  the  time,  that 
he  was  laying  the  cornerstone  for  tlie  great  telephone  industry. 
He  added  telephones  to  his  exchange  until  he  had  nearly  three 
hundred  telephones  in  Grand  jMeadow  and  Dexter.  In  1906  he 
sold  his  telephone  system  to  the  Home  Telephone  Company,  which 
was  organized  that  year.  C.  F.  Greening  was  elected  sec^'.^a'-;.' 
of  this  new  company;  AY.  H.  Goodsel,  president;  and  ]\i;u'tin 
Axness,  general  manager.  The  company  sold  the  Dexter  exchange 
to  the  Dexter  Telephone  Company  and  the  business  grew  so  that 
the  Grand  Meadow  Exchange  had  over  three  hundred  telephones 
in  1911.  The  company  owns  half  inter'^st  in  the  to-l  lijics  con- 
necting the  neighboring  towns:  Racine,  Stewartville,  Spring  Yal- 
ley,  LeRoy,  Ostrand'n-,  Adams,  Elkton,  and  Dexter. 

The  Nolan  Auto  Company  is  one  of  the  important  conceru.s 
of  Grand  iMcadow.  It  is  said  that  tlie  company  sells  more  auto- 
mobiles than  any  other  agency  in  this  part  of  the  state.  An 
excellent  garage  and  warehouse  is  maintained,  and  the  members 
of  the  company  have  put  much  energy  and  ability  into  its  man- 
agement. The  officers  are:  President,  AV.  A.  Nolan:  secretary, 
G.  T.  Torgrimson ;  treasurer,  G.  A.  \Yright. 

The  Farmers'  Grain  Company.  This  company,  wliicli  does  a 
general  grain,  coal  and  feed  liusiness,  was  organized  ]\Iarch  16, 
1907,  and  purchased  the  old  Ripley  elevator  building.  Tlie  first 
officers  were :  President,  C.  L.  Schroeder ;  vice  president,  Henry 
Corcoran;  secretary,  G.  A.  Wright;  treasurer,  R.  E.  Crane:  A. 
Lybeck,  H.  Neuraan;  P.  M.  Iligbie,  George  AY.  Coon,  Jr.  S.  Y. 
Moen  was  the  buyer.  The  present  officers  are:  President,  F.  M. 
Higbie;  vice  president,  M.  H.  Corcoran;  AV.  H.  Goodsell,  C.  1j. 
Schroeder.    Edward  Christgau  is  the  buyer. 

Grand  Meadow  Cooperative  Butter  and  Cheese  Association. 
This  creamery  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Alinnesota.  It  was  organ- 
ized Marcli  14,  1889,  and  l)uilt  a  creamery  at  once.  The  first 
officers  were :  President,  A.  D.  Aloore ;  vice  president,  AVilliam 
8eabern;  secretary,  0.  E.  Low;  treasurer,  E.  Torgrhnson ;  11.  J. 
Lockwood,  L.  M.  Lindsley,  0.  K.  Lestrud,  P.  E.  Peterson,  C.  J. 
Higbie.  The  present  officers  are:  President,  A.  G.  Daleu;  vice 
president,  L.  N.  Lindsley;  secretary  and  treasurer,  G.  A.  AVrigiit : 
George  F.  Brown,  S.  J.  Olson,  AV.  H.  Goodsell,  John  Krause  and 
John  Joyce,  Jr.  The  creamery  does  a  large  trade  and  enjoys  a 
Avide  patronage. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  3G7 

Grand  Meadow  Creamery  Association.  This  organization  was 
perfected  Februaiy  4,  1882,  with  A.  B.  Lindsay,  president;  C.  F. 
Greening,  treasurer;  H.  M.  Lovell,  secretary.  Business  was 
started  with  a  stock  capital  of  $3,000.  A  suitable  building  was  at 
once  erected,  and  furnished  with  the  most  approved  machinery, 
run  by  a  steam  engine  of  fifteen-horsepower.  In  the  autumn  of 
188:3.  a  feed  mill  was  added,  at  a  cost  of  $500.  A  dividend  of 
10  per  cent  was  declared  on  June  1,  1884,  leaving  a  sufficient 
capital  to  carry  on  the  business.  In  1883,  from  the  milk  of  about 
seven  hundred  cows,  were  made  90,000  pounds  of  butter,  which 
was  sold  for  $21,000.  This  association  did  not  prove  a  success, 
and  the  building  is  now  used  l)y  Lars  Frankson  as  a  feed  mill. 

GRAND  MEADOW  HIGH  SCHOOL. 

Independent  School  District.  No.  77,  was  organized  in  1872. 
The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  the  southeast  cjuarter  of  block 
2.5,  Proprietors  addition  to  the  village,  and  at  the  present  time 
the  district  owns  the  whole  block.  The  first  site  was  donated  to 
the  district  by  the  townsite  proprietors,  so  long  as  it  shall  be  used 
for  school  purposes.  The  balance  of  the  block  has  been  acquired 
since  at  various  times  by  purchase.  The  original  school  house 
was  a  one-story,  14x20,  frame  building  -without  ceiling  or  plaster, 
and  unpainted.  This  was  used  for  the  first  year  and  the  first 
teacher  was  Lizzie  Anker,  of  Frankford  township.  In  1863  a 
new  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,000  by  G.  W.  Lore  and 
Louis  Lutenberger,  under  contract  between  District  77  and  D.  B. 
Colman,  and  w^as  paid  for  wuth  district  bonds  drawing  twelve  per 
cent  interest.  The  building  was  used  until  1894,  when,  becoming 
overcrowded,  it  was  sold  to  John  Hudson,  who  moved  it  down 
onto  Second  street,  where  it  was  burned  in  the  great  fire  of 
1900.  A  new  building  was  erected  during  1894,  of  four  rooms, 
by  John  Kingsley,  of  Chatfield,  was  occupied  the  same  fall,  and 
was  burned  January  24,  1895,  the  fire  originating  in  the  hot  air 
pipes,  i^chool  was  in  session  at  the  time  and  the  flames  and 
smoke  developed  so  suddenly  that  had  it  not  been  for  the  splen- 
did discipline  and  fire  drill  of  the  scholars,  under  Prof.  P.  C. 
Tonning  (now  assistant  state  superintendent  of  schools),  many 
of  the  pupils  mu.st  have  been  injured,  if  not  killed  in  escaping 
from  the  upper  rooms.  As  it  w'as,  most  of  the  furniture,  books 
and  supplies  were  destroyed.  With  the  energy  and  resourceful- 
ness of  Professor  Tonning,  the  school  was  in  session  again  tlirce 
days  after,  in  the  town  hall  and  two  churches  (]\Iethodi.st  and 
Congregational),  as  though  nothing  had  happened.  Another 
building  was  erected  on  the  same  site  and  of  the  same  dimensions 
as  the  one  burnt'd  during  the  summer  of  1895.  and  school  again 


3G8  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

opened  in  September  of  that  year.  This  was  operated  until 
1903,  when,  it  becoming  so  crowded,  a  special  school  meeting  was 
called  February  20,  for  the  purpose  of  voting  on  the  question  of 
organizing  as  an  independent  school  district.  Out  of  fifty-five 
votes  cast,  but  two  were  in  opposition. 

Another  special  meeting  was  held  April  27,  1903,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  voting  on  a  proposition  to  build  an  addition  to  the  present 
school  and  to  inaugurate  the  state  high  school  system.  The  vote 
stood  fifty-six  for  and  fiftj'-four  against  the  proposition.  It  was 
then  voted  to  issue  $6,000  of  school  bonds  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  the  new  building.  The  vote  stood  fifty-two  in  favor  and 
eight  against  the  proposition.  Plans  were  drawn  and  the  con- 
tract let  to  Tosten  A.  Stenvig,  of  Harmony,  Minnesota,  for  the 
sum  of  $3,450,  the  basement  for  $583,  and  the  steam  heating  plant 
for  $1,965,  or  a  total  of  $5,998.  The  building  was  completed  in 
time  to  hold  the  fall  term  of  school  as  a  state  high  school,  and 
has  so  continued  to  the  present  time.  The  value  of  the  school 
property  at  the  last  annual  meeting  was  something  over  $14,000. 
All  the  high  school  branches  are  now  being  taught,  with  a  corps 
of  eight  teachers.  Under  the  able  management  of  Prof.  "W.  A. 
Alexander,  an  agricultural  course  has  been  added  to  the  regular 
studies,  and  for  all  of  the  drawbacks  from  the  dry  season,  our 
students  carried  off  many  prices  at  the  county  fair  in  1910  for 
their  garden  products.  The  present  school  board  consists  of  Hon. 
AV.  A.  Nolan,  president;  Philip  T.  Elliott,  secretary;  C.  F.  Green- 
ing, treasurer  (for  last  thirty-five  years)  ;  S.  P.  Hambleton,  ]\Iartin 
Sorom  and  6.  T.  Torgrimson.  The  faculty  consists  of  the  follow- 
ing: Superintendent,  Prof.  W.  A.  Alexander;  principal.  Villa 
Harris ;  assistant  principal,  Gladys  Putnam ;  eighth  grade,  Nellie 
Keenan ;  seventh  grade,  Irene  Warren ;  fifth  and  sixth  grades, 
Grace  F.  Leonard ;  third  and  fourth  grades,  Emma  Warren ;  first 
and  second  grades,  Eva  Barber;  .janitor,  Anton  Odden.  Nine 
months  school  is  always  held,  with  an  average  attendance  of 
about  200.     Grand  Meadow  is  .instly  proud  of  her  high  school. 

SOCIETIES. 

Booth   Post   No.    130,    Department   of   Minnesota,    G.    A.    R. 

January  23,  1SS5,  sixteen  of  the  "old  lioys""  nu'1  in  llie  skatinu 
rink  and  organized  as  ;i  (Jrand  Army  post.  Lieut.  W.  W. 
Ranaey.  C'npt.  Alhetl  Swill,  iuid  Alfred  Lounsbury,  of  Post  11, 
Brownsdale,  aded  as  nmsleriii^-  (.llicers,  and  Bootli  Post  130  was 
duly  iiistituled.  and  a.lded  tu  the  dcpai-tuieul  rolls.  W.  W.  Ran- 
iK'v  hein-'  a  ivsid.'iit  of  (ifan^l  .Meadow,  hroii.ulit  his  liMiislVr 
eai'd  and  was  <lnly  nnisleivd  in  as  on.-  of  the  charter  meinl.ers. 
P.ooth  Post  was  named  after  one  of  the  hov  soldiers  of  llaniiltnn, 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  3(i'J 

in  Fillmore  county,  who  went  to  the  war,  and  gave  liis  all,  his 
life,  for  the  country.  The  charter  members  are  as  follows: 
H.  B.  Sheldon,  Company  I,  First  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry; 
A.  J.  Scribner,  Company  I,  Sixth  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry; 
"NV.  "W.  Ranney,  lieutenant,  Company  A,  Twenty-sixth  Kentucky 
Volunteer  Infantry ;  James  F.  Carson,  Company  — ,  Fourth  Mas- 
sachusetts Cavalry;  Oliver  Lewis,  Company  K,  Forty-ninth  Wis- 
consin Volunteer  Infantry ;  C.  F.  Greening,  Company  A,  Elev- 
enth, and  Company  H,  Twenty-third  AViseonsin  Volunteer  Infan- 
try ;  R.  A.  Donaldson,  Company  K,  First  Minnesota  Heavy  Artil- 
lery ;  H.  H.  Hartley,  Company  E,  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry;  J.  W.  Farquar,  Company  C,  Twelfth  United  States 
Infantry,  and  Company  D,  Brackett's  Battalion,  Minnesota  Cav- 
alry ;  C.  P.  Gladen,  Company  — ,  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  New 
York  Volunteer  Infantry ;  A.  J.  Stewart,  Company  A,  Fovirth 
^Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry;  Benjamin  Wright,  Company  C, 
Twenty-second  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry ;  E.  0.  Hovda,  Com- 
pany K,  First  Minnesota  Heavy  Artillery;  C.  N.  Bostwick,  Com- 
pany C,  Ninth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry ;  Nels.  Seaverson, 
Company  K,  First  Minnesota  Heavy  Artillery ;  N.  S.  Green,  Com- 
pany A,  Twenty-third  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry.  Of  the 
above  named  sixteen  charter  members,  all  have  answered  the 
"last  roll  call"  except  four — Lieut.  AV.  AV.  Ranney,  A.  J.  Scrib- 
ner, C.  F.  Greening,  and  Benjamin  AA'right.  The  following  Averci 
the  first  officers  of  the  post :  Commander,  H.  B.  Sheldon ;  senior 
vice  commander,  C.  P.  Gladden;  junior  vice  commander,  R.  A. 
Donaldson;  adjutant,  AA'".  AY.  Ranney;  surgeon,  A.  J.  Scribner; 
chaplain,  C.  N.  Bostwick;  quartermaster,  C.  F.  Greening;  0.  D., 
A.  J.  Stewart;  0.  G.,  Benjamin  Wright;  S.  M.,  N.  S.  Green; 
quartermaster  sergeant,  H.  H.  Hartley. 

The  first  representative  to  a  state  encampment  was  C.  P. 
Gladen.  John  Espenscheid,  who  was  one  of  the  early  recruits 
to  the  post,  was  the  first  mem])er  to  answer  the  "last  roll  call." 
He  passed  away  on  November  10,  1885.  The  first  memorial  serv- 
ices were  held  in  the  Alethodist  church  on  Sunday,  May  23,  1887. 
Rev.  Allen  delivered  the  address,  assisted  by  Rev.  Colwell,  of  the 
Congregational  churcli.  j\Iemorial  Sunday  lias  Itccn  kept  ever 
since,  first  by  the  Mctliodist  society,  and  then  tlio  Congrega- 
tional society,  alternately.  In  the  fall  of  1889,  the  mothers,  wives 
and  daughters  of  soldiers  organized  a  AVoman's  Relief  Corps. 
Booth  Corps  No.  62,  and  justly  proud  the  post  is,  of  that  si)lendid 
auxiliary.  Their  main  aim  seems  to  be  to  aid  the  suffering  and 
needy.  August  17.  1891,  it  was  decided  to  build  a  home  for  the 
post  and  corps.  A  .subscription  list  was  circulated,  and  in  te.v 
days  .+523  liad  been  secured.  The  building  was  started,  and  the 
ln'Miitiful  little  home  was  <-()iii|>Ic1(m1  and  occupied  the  s;ime  fall. 


370  HISTOKY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

That  noble  body  of  women  composing  the  W.  E.  C.  donated  the 
sum  of  $115  towards  the  new  home.  At  the  tirst  meeting  in  the 
new  building,  it  was  unanimously  voted  that  the  post  hall  should 
never  be  used  for  any  purpose  except  for  the  meetings  of  the 
post  and  corps,  so  long  as  the  post  survived.  That  agreement 
has  been  religiously  kept,  and  will  be  kept  so  long  as  the  post 
exists,  and  thanks  to  the  W.  E.  C,  we  have  the  neatest  and 
cleanest  post  hall  in  the  state  that  we  have  seen.  On  the  comple- 
tion of  the  building  it  was  found  that  we  were  free  from  debt, 
and  no  debt  has  ever  been  held  against  the  post.  With  no  rent 
to  pay,  we  have  always  had  a  nice  balnce  in  the  treasury,  both 
general  and  relief  funds.  At  a  meeting  of  the  post  in  January, 
1906,  the  question  Avas  discussed  as  to  what  should  be  done 
with  the  hall  when  the  post  ceased  to  exist.  It  was  unanimously 
voted  that  the  trustees  of  the  post  should  at  once  execute  a  deed 
of  the  property,  running  to  the  trustees  of  the  W.  E.  C,  and  their 
successors  in  office,  as  a  mark  of  love  and  esteem  to  that  band  of 
women  who  had  been  our  helpers  for  so  long.  The  deed  was 
duly  executed  and  is  held  in  escrow  so  long  as  the  post  holds  its 
organization.  And  when  the  numbers  are  so  few  that  the  post 
ceases  to  exist,  the  survivors  are  to  place  the  deed  ou  record  and 
deliver  to  our  successors,  the  Woman's  Belief  Corps,  to  do  with 
as  they  may  deem  best,  well  knowing  that  the  little  home  will 
never  be  disgraced  or  used  for  a  wrong  purpose.  There  have 
been  associated  Avith  the  post  during  its  twenty-six  years  of  life, 
sixty-three  members,  twenty-eight  of  whom  are  known  to  have 
died,  twenty-one  have  been  granted  cards,  or  have  moved  away, 
and  fourteen  still  remain  in  good  standing.  C.  F.  Greening  has 
been  its  quartermaster  for  the  whole  twenty-six  years,  and  in 
1908  was  elected  at  the  state  encampment  to  the  office  of  senior 
vice  commander  of  the  Department  of  Minnesota.  The  post 
meetings  are  held  the  first  Saturday  of  the  month,  in  the  after- 
noon. The  W.  E.  C.  meets  every  other  Saturday.  The  present 
officers  are :  Commander,  Benjamin  Wright ;  senior  vice  com- 
mander (vacant,  by  the  death  of  J.  W.  Farquar,  in  December, 
1910)  ;  junior  vice  commander,  A.  W.  Thornhill ;  adjutant,  M.  B. 
Johnson ;  quartermaster,  C.  F.  Greening ;  surgeon,  A.  J.  Scribner ; 
chaplain,  D.  C.  Sanborn ;  0.  D.,  George  Nugent ;  patriotic  in- 
structor, M.  B.  Johnson;  O.  G.  (vacant,  by  death  of  Amirand 
Finhart)  ;  S.  M.,  G.  D.  Pierce;  quartermaster  sergeant  (vacant,  by 
death  of  G.  AV.  Hayes). 

Meadovir  Camp,  No.  1918,  ]\I.  AV.  A.,  was  organized  February 
14,  1893,  with  the  following  officers:  George  A.  Correll,  V.  C; 
AVilliam  J.  Smith,  W.  A.;  clerk,  K.  J.  AVeeks;  banker,  John  J. 
AVeek.s,  Jr.  The  other  members,  L.  D.  Bentler,  F.  L.  Dean,  Dr. 
F.  O'Connor,  H.  A.  Phillips,  F.  II.  Townsend  and  T.  M.  Stewart, 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  .in 

also  held  minor  offices.  The  present  officers  are :  V.  C,  W.  A. 
Alexander;  W.  A.,  A.  F.  Dettloff:  C  AV.  Iligbie ;  B.,  G.  T.  Tor- 
griuison  ;  physician.  R.  S.  IMitchell. 

Meadow  Lodge,  No.  121,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  organized  by 
dispensation  in  1875.     The  first  officers  were  I\I.  O.  Wilsie,  AV.  ]\I. ; 

C.  F.  Greening,  S.  AV.;  S.  S.  Bacon,  secretary;  AV.  II.  Bentlcy, 
treasurer;  F.  R.  Warner,  S.  D. ;  A.  Keith,  J.  D.  A  charter  was 
issued  and  the  lodge  constituted  February  11,  1876.  JM.  O.  Wilsie 
was  master  until  1879.  Following  him  in  order  came:  F.  E. 
lilinier,  M.  0.  AVilsie.  Geo.  F.  Goodwin,  AI.  0.  AVilsie,  AV.  F.  Bent- 
ley,  J.  AV.  Barber,  AA\  A.  Nolan,  G.  AV.  Day,  Geo.  A.  Correll,  G.  A. 
AVright,  AI.  0.  AA'ilsie  and  E.  F.  Greening.  The  present  officers 
are:  AI.  AV.,  E.  F.  Greening;  J.  AV.,  Eriek  Lund;  treasurer,  Philip 
Sehleiger:  secretary,  P.  F.  Elliott;  S.  D.,  C.  E.  Martin;  J.  D., 
August  Dettloff;  S.  S.,  C.  AV.  Higbie ;  J.  S.,  F.  H.  Townsend  -,  tyler, 
A.  J.  Biederbeck. 

Mecca  Chapter,  No.  162,  0.  E.  8.,  was  instituted  in  December, 
1904.  and  is  in  a  Hourisliing  condition,  having  been  of  much  mate- 
rial assistance  to  the  Alasonic  body  here. 

The  ladies  have  a  flourishing  AA^.  C.  T.  U.  lodge  here.  The 
I.  0.  O.  F.  lodge  has  surrendered  its  charter,  and  the  members 
now  affiliate  with  the  lodge  at  Racine. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  sermon  in  the  village  was  preached  in  a  saloon  by 
Rev.  A.  Oleson,  Norwegian  Methodist  minister.  At  a  subsequent 
date  a  sermon  was  preached  in  Coleman's  drug  store  by  one 
Elder  AVhite.  an  eccentric  man,  of  what  denomination  cannot  now 
be  stated.  For  some  time  religious  exercises  were  held  in  the 
railroad  depot. 

First  Congregational  Chnrch.  This  church  was  organized 
April  15,  1878,  and  the  church  was  built  in  1885,  the  parsonage 
being  erected  just  ten  years  later.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev. 
Cyrus  Stone.     Following  him  came  H.  J.  Cohvell,  A.  L.  Brown, 

D.  E.  Smith,  Airs.  H.  AI.  Alullenix,  T.  AV.  Alinnie,  Benjamin  James, 
James  Oakey,  E.  C.  Lyons,  C.  E.  Bain.  The  present  pastor  is  the 
Rev.  John  A.  Hughes,  who  also  served  the  congregation  at  Dexter. 
The  clerk  of  the  church  is  E.  J.  van  Bronkhorst.    The  deacons  are 

E.  F.  Greening,  AV.  D.  Lockwood  and  L.  AI.  Lindsley.  The  treas- 
urer is  E.  F.  Greening  and  the  Sunday  school  superintendent  is 
Airs.  AV.  A.  Nolan. 

First  Methodist  Episcopal.  The  Alethodists  agitated  tlu'  sub- 
ject of  l)uilding  a  clnirch  at  an  early  day,  but  took  no  active 
measure  until  1883,  wlien  they  purchased  a  lot  at  a  nominal  price 
and  proceeded  to  collect  tlie  necessary  funds  for  building.     Tliey 


372  IIISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

then  had  a  convenient  and  comely  house  of  worship.  Rev.  W.  II. 
Barkaloo,  1877-78;  Rev.  Mr.  Mattson,  1879;  Rev.  W.  R.  Wash- 
born,  1880;  Rev.  W.  Copp,  1881-82.  and  Rev.  G.  R.  Caple,  1883-84, 
were  among  the  early  pastors.  A  parsonage  was  erected  some 
fifteen  years  ago.  The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  E.  L.  Quien,  who 
also  serves  the  Iloppin  church,  so  called. 

St.  Peter's  German  Lutheran  Church.  German  services  have 
been  held  in  this  vicinity  since  the  earliest  days.  In  1903  the 
church  incorporated  and  purchased  a  church  building  from  the 
Norwegian  Lutherans.  The  congregation  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition and  is  served  by  the  Rev.  Bernard  Thier,  Avho  is  also  pastor 
of  the  German  church  in  Racine  township. 

Grand  Meadow  Catholic  Church.  The  Catholic  church  was 
erected  in  1879  under  the  care  of  Father  Hurley,  of  Austin.  The 
first  religious  services  for  Catholics  in  Grand  Meadow  were  held 
by  Father  Pendegast  in  1858,  in  section  13,  at  the  house  of  Arthur 
McNally,  in  section  13.  Fathers  McDermott  and  Keller  served  in 
the  early  days.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Henry  Germinder,  of 
Spring  Valley.  Plans  are  now  under  way  for  the  erection  of  a 
fine  new  church.  The  building  committee  consists  of  John  Ra^ 
hilley  and  Thomas  J.  Grimes.  The  trustees  are  Henry  Corcoran 
and  James  McDonough. 

The  Grand  Meadow  Evangelic  Lutheran  Church  had  its  begin- 
ning in  the  early  seventies  when  meetings  were  held  in  the  village 
for  the  benefit  of  families  who  had  moved  in  from  the  Bear  Creek 
church  neighborhood.  The  church  was  organized  March  26,  1876, 
at  the  house  of  Jens  Jorgensen.  A  church  was  built  a  short  time 
afterward.  The  first  preacher  was  the  Rev.  P.  G.  Ostby  from 
Austin.  The  organizers  of  the  church  were :  0.  E.  Loe,  Jens 
Jorgensen,  0.  B.  Larson,  C.  Anderson,  H.  C.  Anderson,  A.  D. 
Saniso,  A.  Hansen,  Peter  Clausen,  Peter  Nilsen  and  Peter  Mad- 
sen.  The  directors  were  Jens  Jorgensen,  0.  E.  Loe,  and  A.  D. 
Samso.  Interest  in  this  church  waned.  June  7,  1893,  a  corpora- 
tion was  formed  with  A.  E.  Hovda,  secretary,  P.  E.  Peterson, 
treasurer,  and  John  Skyburg  and  A.  D.  Samso  directors.  This 
corporation  purchased  the  old  church.  Services  Avere  held  in  this 
edifice  until  1902,  when  it  was  decided  to  sell  it  to  the  German 
Lutherans.  The  present  church  was  dedicated  in  the  fall  of  1903. 
The  pastor  of  the  church  is  the  eloquent  and  able  Rev.  A.  H. 
G.ievre.  of  Bear  Creek.  The  church  holds  a  school  one  month  dur- 
ing the  summer,  and  ha-s  a  fine  Sunday  school  and  Ladies'  Aid  so- 
ciety. The  prescTit  officers  are:  Secretary,  C.  E.  Tlovda  ;  treas- 
urer. E.  E.  :\Iylirr;  directors,  T.  :\1.  Lokke,  Andrew  I\ryhre  and 
II.  A.  Hoc. 

A  Scandinavian  Methodist  churcli  was  organized  in  Grand 
IMeadow  township  in  1866,  by  Rev.  P.  A.  Birch.    About  eight  fam- 


HISTOEY  OF  :\rOAYEE  COUNTY  373 

ilies  composed  the  congregation.  A  church  and  parsonage  -were 
built  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.  This  congregation  has  gone  out  of  exist- 
ence and  the  church  edifice  is  now  used  as  a  residence. 


CATASTROPHES. 

During  the  years  in  Avhich  this  village  has  had  an  existence,  it 
has  been  visited  by  several  destructive  tires.  The  losses  by  the 
first  ones  were  a  railroad  tank  in  1873,  a  house  owned  by  Robert 
Magary,  occupied  by  M.  F.  Vining,  and  a  barn  with  horses  owned 
by  E.  McCloskey.  The  next  was  much  more  serious,  and  resulted 
in  losses  as  follows:  F.  M.  Pierson,  dwelling,  $800,  no  insur- 
ance; Geo.  F.  Goodwin,  office  building,  $150;  F.  M.  Pierson, 
saloon  building,  $200;  Daniel  Heising,  saloon  building,  $1,000;  R. 
Dunbar,  postoffice  building,  $300;  J.  C.  Easton,  meat  market 
building,  $100;  August  Fischer,  dwelling  and  shops,  $300;  P.  A. 
Huss,  building  and  household  goods,  $800;  S.  S.  Baken,  building, 
$1,500,  and  a  portion  of  stock,  probably  $1,000;  M.  H.  Fjelstad, 
building,  $1,500 ;  AY.  W.  Ranney,  a  portion  of  stock  and  house- 
hold goods,  probably  $1,500.  There  were  various  smaller  losses, 
probably  footing  up  another  $1,000,  making  a  grand  total  of 
$10,100  swept  away  in  an  hour.  Of  this  about  $6,000  was  covered 
by  insurance. 

Grand  Meadow  was  visited  by  a  serious  fire  May  16,  1900.  The 
loss  was  about  $25,000,  partly  covered  by  an  insurance  of  $10,000. 
the  losers  being  C.  F.  Greening,  W.  A.  Nolan,  P.  Schleiger,  John 
Lindelin,  A.  D.  Moore,  C.  T.  Bussell,  C.  E.  Lawrence,  Geo.  F. 
Barnard,  John  Criswell,  Johnson  &  Jones,  E.  "W.  Bartlett,  N.  El- 
liott. H.  C.  Thiel,  S.  E.  Ellesson,  G.  Hestad  and  M.  David.  The 
fire  was  discovered  by  George  Goodsell,  but  had  obtained  such 
headway  that  it  was  impossible  to  cheek  the  blaze  even  by  tlie 
use  of  dynamite.  The  buildings  destroyed  constituted  the  prin- 
cipal business  portion  of  the  city.  This  has  been  completely  re- 
built with  good  substantial  brick  buildings. 


374  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COrNTY 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

RED  ROCK  AND  BROWNSDALE. 

Red  Rock  Township— Early  Settlement — First  Events— Organiza- 
tion— Brownsdale  Village — Organization — Early  Business — 
Serious  Water  Spout— Brownsdale  in  1871 — Brownsdale  in 
1885 — Modern  Brownsdale — Fraternities,  Churches  and  Indus- 
tries— Edited  by  Hosmer  A.  Brown. 

Red  Rock  township  lies  iu  the  second  tier  from  the  north  and 
west.  The  township  is  well  watered,  three  sufficient  streams  sup- 
plying an  abundance  of  that  needful  element.  Roberts  creek 
enters  the  town  from  "Waltham,  in  section  3,  runs  in  its  tortuous 
course  through  sections  4,  5  and  6,  from  Avhere  it  leaves  the  town- 
ship. The  north  branch  of  Dobbins  creek  tinds  its  way  to  the 
township  in  section  13,  runs  in  its  varied  course  through  sections 
24,  23,  22,  15,  16,  21,  28,  29.  30  and  31,  from  which  section  it 
enters  Lansing  township.  The  south  branch  of  Dobbins  creek 
rises  in  section  26,  runs  in  a  southwesterly  course  through  sec- 
tions 35,  27  and  34,  and  leaves  the  town  at  section  33,  re-enters 
the  township  in  the  same  section,  running  through  section  32,  and 
leaves  the  township  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  31.  The 
natural  timber  follows  the  course  of  the  streams,  but  so  many 
groves  have  sprung  up,  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  settler, 
that  the  general  appearance  is  of  a  well  wooded  country.  The 
general  inclination  of  the  land  is  rolling,  and  is  usually  good 
arable  land.  Whatever  land  there  is  that  is  low  and  wet  fur- 
nishes such  long  succulent  grasses,  making  fine  pasturage  for 
stock,  that  but  little,  if  any,  land  can  be  called  waste.  The  soil 
is  generally  a  dark  sandy  loam  with  a  clay  subsoil,  and  contains 
all  the  elements  of  fertility  to  a  very  large  extent. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  to  settle  in  the  town.ship  of  Red  Rock  were  three 
families  of  Norwegians,  Gunder  Nereson,  a  man  named  Olson  and 
one  other,  who  came  here  in  the  spring  of  1855.  Nereson  and 
Olson  settled  in  section  3,  and  the  other  on  section  10.  They 
joined  teams  and  broke  across  the  three  claims  that  season. 
Their  cabins,  about  10x12  feet,  were  built  of  small  poles,  covered 
with  prairie  sod.  They  remained  here  until  the  spring  of  1856, 
when  Hilliard  Tilton  purchased  Nereson 's  claim,  together  with 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  375 

forty  acres  of  timber  land,  for  which  he  paid  $300,  $100  for  the 
claim  and  $200  for  the  forty  acres  of  timber.  Olson  sold  his  claim 
to  John  L.  Johnson,  and  the  other  Norwegian  sold  to  Charles  F. 
Hardy.  Having  thus  disposed  of  all  their  land  they  left  the 
township,  going  across  the  country  to  the  Minnesota  river.  They 
were  well  to  do  for  new  settlers.  They  took  with  them  when 
they  left  the  township,  seventy  head  of  cattle.  Gunder  Nereson 
and  a  daughter  of  Olson,  were  the  only  ones  among  the  Norwe- 
gians who  could  talk  English.  They  are  remembered  as  being 
very  hospitable. 

John  L.  Johnson  came  to  the  town  of  Lansing  in  company 
with  A.  B.  Vaughan,  in  1855,  when  he  took  a  claim  and  did  some 
breaking,  after  which  he  returned  to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  for 
his  family.  On  his  return  to  Lansing  he  found  his  claim  had  been 
.jumped.  He  then  came  to  Red  Rock  township  and  built  a  shanty 
in  Red  Rock  grove  in  section  4.  The  name  of  the  grove  was  sug- 
gested to  Mr.  Johnson  by  a  large  red  rock  in  the  grove,  the  only 
one  of  the  kind  to  be  found  for  miles  around.  His  family  moved 
into  the  shanty  the  last  of  November,  and  the  fblloAving  spring 
moved  from  the  grove  into  a  shanty  on  the  land  in  section  10, 
purchased  of  a  Norwegian.  In  this  shanty  in  August,  1856,  was 
born  the  first  white  child  in  the  township,  Minna,  a  daughter  of 
John  L.  Johnson,  her  name  being  given  in  honor  of  the  territory 
where  her  parents  had  so  lately  found  a  home.  The  family 
remained  here  until  1876,  when  they  removed  to  AVashington. 
Martin  B.  Johnson  came  to  Red  Rock  with  his  brother,  John  L., 
October  18,  1855.  Mr.  Johnson  enlisted  in  the  Ninth  Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry  in  1862,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
Hilliard  Tilton,  Elijah  Sanborn  and  Hilliard  S.  Brown,  came 
from  Fremont,  New  Hampshire,  to  Decorah,  Iowa,  where  the.v 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  Charles  F.  Hardy.  He  had  lately 
returned  from  Minnesota,  and  being  somewhat  familiar  with  the 
country  they  induced  him  to  accompany  them  here.  When  they 
reached  Jordan,  Fillmore  county,  they  hired  him  to  act  as  guide 
to  the  belt  of  timber  in  Red  Rock  township,  where  they  arrived 
^larch  7,  1856.  Mr.  Tilton  purchased  land  in  section  3.  Elijah 
Sanborn  preempted  land  in  section  3,  in  the  spring  of  1856.  The 
tirst  death  in  the  township  was  that  of  his  daughter,  Calista 
Sanborn,  who  died  of  fever  early  in  December,  1856.  His  wife 
died  of  consumption  in  August,  1857.  They  were  both  buried  on 
the  farm  near  the  house.  In  the  siuumer  of  1863  their  remains 
were  disinterred  and  buried  in  Greenwood  cemetery.  ]\Ir.  San- 
born returned  to  New  Hampshire.  Rev.  ]\Iilo  Frary,  a  Baptist 
clergyman,  came  here  from  Nortli  Stonningham,  Connecticul,  in 
the  fall  of  1856.    The  house  he  built  and  occupied  on  Main  street, 


37G  HISTOEY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY 

Browusdale,  has  been  lorn  down.  He  preached  quite  reguhirly 
in  the  school  liouse  in  the  village.  He  remained  here  until  aFtei' 
the  death  of  his  wife,  when  he  returned  to  Connecticut.  Freeman 
M.  Brown  was  born  in  Caledonia  county,  Vermont,  came  to 
Mower  county  in  October,  1856,  and  settled  in  section  27,  in  Red 
Eoek  township.  H.  S.  Brown  also  took  a  claim  in  section  3, 
adjoining  that  of  IMr.  Sanborn.  On  this  he  built  a  log  house, 
wiiich  he  occupied  until  the  summer  of  1870,  when  he  exchanged 
his  land  for  a  building  in  the  village  of  Brownsdale,  where  he 
opened  a  hotel,  in  which  business  he  continued  until  the  spring 
of  1884,  when  he  removed  to  Grand  Meadow.  John  Setzer  and 
family  came  from  Shenandoah  county,  Virginia,  to  Red  Rock 
township,  in  1856,  locating  on  section  3,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death,  July  17,  1863.  His  wife  died  February  22,  1875.  Nehe- 
miah  Woodward  came  from  Vermont  in  the  spring  of  1856,  locat- 
ing on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  3.  He  died  in  April,  1870. 
Eudolphus  Heath  came  here  in  the  summer  of  1856,  from  ]\Iar- 
quettc  county,  Wisconsin.  He  established  the  first  nursery  of 
fruit  and  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs  in  the  township.  He  also 
built  a  large  house  on  Main  street,  used  for  a  time  for  a  hotel, 
called  the  Heatli  House.  He  moved  to  LaPoi-te  City,  Iowa,  iij 
1865.  John  L.  Lishen,  a  Free  Will  Baptist  clergyman,  came  from 
Marquette  county,  Wisconsin,  in  1856,  preached  here  for  a  tew 
years,  when  he  moved  to  Iowa.  N.  R.  Hoadly  came  from  near 
Binghampton,  New  York,  in  the  summer  of  1856,  preempted  land 
and  remained  here  two  or  three  years,  when  he  returned  to  his 
former  home.  In  the  spring  of  1871  he  came  back  with  his  wife 
was  here  about  two  years  when  he  returned  to  New  York  state. 
Leland  B.  Lewis  came  from  New  Hampshire,  in  the  spring  of 
1856.  He  settled  on  section  27,  remained  here  until  1880,  wlien 
with  his  family  he  moved  to  Martin  county.  Abram  E.  Howard 
came  from  Iowa,  in  1856,  and  located  a  claim  in  section  2.  He 
was  a  surveyor,  having  been  in  the  employ  of  the  government. 
He  remained  here  two  or  three  years  and  then  went  to  Colorado. 

Among  others  who  came  in  1856  were :  L.  J.  Ellsworth,  Henry 
C.  Eogcrs,  H.  A.  Brown,  George  M.  Cameron,  J.  Y.  Gilmore,  Wil- 
•  liam  0.  Palmer,  from  Nova  Scotia ;  Henry  Shook,  from  Ohio : 
James  Stewart,  from  Ohio ;  E.  J.  Stimson,  J.  D.  Rugg,  from  New 
York;  J.  B.  Wright,  George  Colby,  from  New  Hampshire,  who 
located  in  section  5  for  a  short  time,  and  J.  D.  Lean,  from  New 
Hampshire,  who  settled  in  section  28. 

I.  N.  Hine  came  in  1857,  and  that  same  year  came  Harvey  E. 
Anderson,  Alden  Petty,  Orrin  J.  Hills,  Zalmon  Ames  and  others. 
Ebenezer  E.  Tanner  and  De  Los  Tanner  came  in  1857,  and  Samuel 
Dodge  came  at  about  the  same  time. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEIi  COUNTY  377 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  that  of  Ililliard  Tilton 
and  I\Iiss  Mary  E.  Setzer,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  parents 
in  Brownsdale,  October  1,  1857,  by  Charles  F.  Hardy,  a  justice  of 
the  peace.  Both  came  to  Eed  Rock  in  1857.  The  first  birth  was 
tliat  of  Minna,  dai;ghter  of  J.  L.  Johnson.  The  first  death  was 
that  of  Calista,  daughter  of  Elijah  Sanborn. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  first  election  within  the  present  limits  of  Red  Rock  was 
held  in  the  house  of  John  Anson,  in  Brownsdale,  in  the  fall  of 
1856,  sixteen  votes  being  cast.  At  that  time  Red  Rock  precinct 
extended  over  a  considerable  territory.  The  town  was  organized 
May  11,  1858,  but  no  records  have  been  preserved  of  the  first  town 
meetings.  Various  townships  were  attached  to  it  for  government 
purposes,  as  related  elsewhere.  The  town  owns  a  fine  town  hall 
in  the  center  of  the  township. 

BROWNSDALE. 

The  village  of  Brownsdale  was  laid  out  in  sections  9  and  10, 
township  103,  range  17,  in  the  summer  of  1856,  by  A.  D.  and  H.  A. 
Brown  and  John  L.  Johnson,  who  had  M.  K.  Armstrong  survey 
and  plat  about  160  acres.  Brown  Bros,  soon  purchased  the  inter- 
est of  J.  L.  Johnson,  and  became  sole  proprietors.  The  village 
grew  rapidly  for  a  year  or  two,  and  then  remained  nearly  sta- 
tionary until  the  advent  of  the  Southern  Minnesota  in  1871. 
It  is  now  a  flourishing  village. 

INCORPORATION. 

The  village  of  Brownsdale  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the 
legislature,  in  February,  1876.  By  this  act  0.  A.  Sleeper,  J.  C. 
Sanborn  and  A.  D.  Brown  were  made  judges.  The  first  election 
was  held  at  the  store  of  A.  L.  Sleeper  &  Sons,  on  ^lareh  14,  1876. 
At  this  meeting  C.  S.  Barbour  was  chosen  moderator  and  AV.  S. 
AVoodard  clerk.  The  officers  elected  at  this  meeting  were  as 
follows:  Couneilmen,  H.  H.  Shook  (president),  H.  J.  Sprague, 
B.  F.  Bacon;  recorder,  O.  A.  Sleeper;  treasurer,  E.  J.  Stimson; 
justice  of  the  peace,  A.  D.  Brown;  assessor,  Stephen  Ives;  mai'- 
sluil,  J.  N.  Priest. 

EARLY  BUSINESS. 

Tlie  first  store  in  Browiisd.-ih-  was  opened  hy  .John  L.  .jolinson 
in  the  summer  of  1856,  in  a  small  frame  building  at  the  corner 
of  ^lain  and  ^lill  streets.    He  kejit  a  stock  of  groceries  and  such 


378  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

merchandise  as  is  usually  fouud  at  a  country  store.  In  the  spring 
of  1857  he  took  H.  E.  Anderson  as  a  partner,  enlarging  his  stock 
and  increasing  his  business.  The  partnership  continued  for  u 
year  or  two,  when  the  building  was  purchased  by  Barney  Devclin, 
and  by  him  converted  into  a  residence,  which  he  occupied  only 
for  a  short  time,  Avhen  it  was  removed  to  the  town  of  Waltham 
for  a  farm  house. 

The  first  boot  and  shoe  store  was  built  for  Thomas  Aired,  in 
1857.  He  occupied  it  as  a  place  of  business  for  several  years, 
when  he  removed  with  his  familj'-  to  Winona,  and  the  building 
was  moved  out  into  the  country.  Mr.  Aired  did  not  remain  long 
in  Winona.  On  his  return  he  erected  another  store  on  Main 
street.  He  was  in  business  here  until  the  spring  of  1871,  when  he 
moved  to  Nashua,  Iowa.  William  F.  Smith  came  from  Dunkirk, 
New  York,  to  Brownsdale,  sometime  in  1856,  when  he  engaged 
in  mercantile  business.  He  served  through  the  war  in  the  Ninth 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  In  the  summer  of  1857,  L.  J. 
Ellsworth  had  a  frame  building  erected  on  the  corner  of  Market 
and  IMain  streets,  where  he  kept  a  stock  of  groceries  and  provi- 
sions. He  continued  in  business  but  a  short  time,  disposing  of  his 
stock  to  John  Dunton,  wlio  was  in  business  but  a  few  months, 
when  he  sold  out  to  W.  F.  Smith,  who  kept  a  general  grocery 
store.  He  continued  in  business  until  1861,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  C.  H.  Coates,  who  kept  a  general  stock  of  merchandise, 
dry  goods,  groceries,  etc.  In  the  spring  of  1866  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  H.  E.  Anderson.  This  continued  until  the 
spring  of  1868,  when  they  sold  out  to  L.  J.  Ellsworth,  who  occu- 
pied the  store  until  1871,  when  it  was  purchased  by  V.  Richards, 
of  Austin,  Mr.  Ellsworth  moving  his  goods  into  a  larger  and  more 
commodious  store  he  had  erected  in  the  same  block.  Mr.  Rich- 
ards used  the  store  as  a  harness  shop,  also  as  a  residence  for 
his  family.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  New  Year's  Eve,  1873, 
the  family  being  absent  at  the  time. 

One  of  the  first  buildings  erected  in  Brownsdale  was  a  steam 
saw  mill,  built  by  A.  D.  and  H.  A.  Brown,  the  necessary  machin- 
ery being  shipped  to  Homer,  a  small  place  just  below  Winona,  on 
the  ]\Iississippi  river.  From  there  it  was  brought  by  oxen,  under 
as  discouraging  circumstances  as  one  could  well  imagine — no 
roads,  no  bridges,  the  ground  soft  and  streams  swollen  from 
frequent  and  heavy  rains.  The  mill  was  soon  in  running  order 
and  furnished  the  people  for  miles  around  with  lumber  to  com- 
mence building  their  homes.  It  was  run  for  several  years,  until 
timber  began  to  grow  scarce,  when  it  was  sold  and  taken  to  some 
place  in  the  Avestern  part  of  the  state.  Nearly  all  the  first  build- 
ings erected  in  tiic  town  were  l)uilt  of  hard  wood  lumber  sawed 
in  that  mill. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY  379 

The  first  cat  that  ever  was  iii  the  village  was  bought  iu  Winoua 
and  rode  across  the  prairie  in  the  boiler  of  that  mill. 

The  first  hotel  in  Brownsdale  was  ere(_-ted  in  the  fall  of  1S56, 
by  H.  A.  Brown,  th(>  lumber  being  sawed  at  the  mill  of  Brown 
Bros.  It  was  mostly  built  of  hard  wood,  oak,  ash  and  walnut. 
The  building  was  inclosed,  and  John  L.  Johnson  opened  it  as  a 
hotel  about  December  the  same  year.  He  occupied  it  until  the 
following  spring,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  E.  J.  Stimson,  who 
was  followed  by  C.  H.  Coates,  and  later  by  Andrew  D.  Brown, 
and  others.  The  present  hotel  proprietor  in  Brownsdale  is  C.  D. 
Hollbrook. 

Thomas  Aired  came  to  Brownsdale  in  1856,  and  entered  into 
the  manufacture  and  sale  of  boots  and  shoes.  He  was  justice  of 
the  peace  for  several  years. 

Benjamin  F.  Bacon  commenced  trade  here  in  1865,  keeping  a 
stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  boots,  shoes,  etc.  His  store  was  lo- 
cated on  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Mill  streets.  He  con- 
tinued in  business  until  December  2-1,  1872,  when  the  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  a  small  portion  only  of  the  contents  being 
saved.  Mr.  Bacon  had  a  fine  brick  building  erected  on  the  site 
of  the  other,  in  which  he  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  until 
1880.  His  store  was  rented  for  a  short  time  only  to  I.  C.  Thatcher. 
In  the  spring  of  1870  Messrs.  Bacon  and  L.  J.  Ellsworth  were  the 
only  merchants  in  the  village.  The  S.  M.  R.  R.  was  built  through 
the  town  that  summer,  and  Herman  Gunz,  of  Austin,  rented  the 
new  and  until  then  unoccupied  store  of  L.  J.  Ellsworth,  stocking 
it  with  general  merchandise.  Mr.  Gunz  remained  in  business  only 
a  few  months,  moving  his  goods  to  "Wells. 

The  first  hardware  store  was  built  on  Mill  street,  for  H.  J. 
Sprague,  who  came  here  from  Bellevue,  Iowa,  in  the  spring  of 

1871.  He  kept  a  large  stock  of  hardware,  and  had  an  extensive 
business  until  failing  health  obliged  him  to  relinquish  it.  He  sold 
the  store  and  contents  to  Ira  J'-.nes,  of  Austin,  in  the  summer  of 

1872.  In  1873,  about  a  year  later,  the  stock  was  sold  to  Rufus 
Kimball,  and  the  succeeding  summer  was  sold  to  Stimson  & 
Woodward.  They  were  in  business  but  a  few  months,  when  in 
1875  they  sold  the  stock  at  about  .$1,800  to  T.  K.  Dahle,  of  Ro- 
chester, who  also  purchased  the  building  thej^  occupied  of  Ira 
Jones. 

In  the  spring  of  1871,  John  Aten,  of  Bellevue,  Iowa,  built  a 
store  on  the  lot  adjoining  H.  J.  Sprague.  He  occupied  one  half 
as  a  grocery  store,  renting  one  half  to  A.  L.  Sleeper  &  Sons,  for 
the  sale  of  drugs.  Mr.  Aten  did  a  large  and  successful  business. 
In  the  summer  of  1876,  he  associated  with  himself  John  Muncey, 
of  Bellevue,  under  the  name  of  Aten  &  ^luncev.     The  new  firm 


380  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

extended  their  business,  building  a  warehouse  for  the  purchase 
of  grain,  hides,  etc.,  and  opened  a  lumber  yard  near  the  rail- 
road depot.  In  the  summer  of  1876  their  warehouse  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  This  they  at  once  replaced  by  building  a  fine  elevator. 
They  continued  their  business  until  1878,  when  Mr.  Aten  sold 
his  store  to  A.  H.  Marsh,  and  in  1880  sold  his  elevator  to  Cargill 
Bros.,  of  LaCrosse. 

The  first  furniture  store  was  built  by  Jas.  N.  Priest,  of  Preston, 
Minnesota,  who  occupied  it  until  the  winter  of  1872,  when,  becom- 
ing dissatisfied,  he  disposed  of  his  stock  and  rented  his  store  to 
the  firm  of  Warren  Bros.  They  continued  business  but  a  few 
months,  selling  out  in  the  spring  of  1873  to  A.  L.  Sleeper  &  Sons, 
who  removed  their  drugs  from  the  store  of  John  Aten,  thus  adding 
groceries  to  their  former  business. 

A.  L.  Sleeper  came  from  Vermont  to  Brownsdale  in  1862.  His 
sons  became  associated  with  him  in  business  in  1871.  The  story 
of  the  Sleeper  enterprises  is  told  in  their  biographies. 

John  C.  Sanborn  opened  the  first  butcher  shop  in  Brownsdale 
in  1871.  He  sold  out  to  Billings  &  Robinson  and  then  for  some 
time  engaged  in  the  sale  of  agricultiu'al  implements. 

In  the  spring  of  1872  Samuel  Dundee,  of  Belfast,  Ireland; 
Herman  Gunz,  of  Austin,  and  Harvey  E.  Austin,  of  BroAvnsdale, 
entered  into  a  partnership  known  as  the  Brownsdale  Bagging 
Company,  their  object  being  the  manufacture  of  coarse  cloth  from 
flax,  suitable  for  encasing  cotton  bales.  For  this  purpose  a  large 
stone  building  was  erected,  called  the  "Brownsdale  Bagging  Com- 
pany," the  stone  being  brought  from  Fountain  for  its  construc- 
tion. The  machinery,  which  was  quite  intricate,  was  brought 
from  Belfast,  where  Mr.  Dundee  had  been  engaged  in  similar 
business.  For  a  time  the  enterprise  promised  success.  Many  of 
the  farmers  in  the  vicinity  pledged  themselves  to  raise  flax,  an 
amount  being  contracted  to  the  company  sufficient  to  supply  all 
demands.  But  a  poor  crop  of  flax,  together  with  the  removal  of 
the  duty  on  jute,  so  disheartened  the  company  that  they  aban- 
doned operations  after  sustaining  no  small  pecuniary  loss.  In 
the  spring  of  1875  the  mill  was  sold  to  "jMarston  Bros.  &  Law- 
rence," the  firm  consisting  of  Frank  Lawrence,  of  Vermont,  and 
his  stepsons,  George  Marston,  of  Cincinnati,  and  Edwin  Marston, 
of  Austin,  by  whom  new  machinery  was  purchased,  converting  it 
into  a  flouring  mill.  This  did  not  prove  a  financial  success  and 
the  mill  was  sold  by  them  a  year  later  to  H.  E.  Anderson  and  A.  I. 
Brown,  who  manufactured  flour  for  a  year  or  two.  It  was  used 
as  a  flouring  mill  by  various  persons  with  varied  success  until 
1882.  when  tlie  macliincry  was  sold  to  S.  Alderson,  of  Austin,  and 
removed  to  Tliniiijtnii.  Iowa. 


IJISTOKY  OF  MOWEIJ  C'OL^XTY  381 

SERIOUS  WATER  SPOUT. 

A  water  spout  occurred  three  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Browns- 
dale,  June  20,  1874.  About  fifteen  inches  of  water  fell  in  a  short 
time,  washing  away  one  of  the  abutments  to  a  railroad  bridge. 
A  passenger  train  passed  over  the  bridge  safely,  but  a  freight 
train  was  not  so  fortunate,  and  the  engine  and  nine  cars  broke 
through.  The  engineer,  J.  D.  Brown,  was  badly  injured,  and  the 
fireman,  ]\I.  J.  Cummings,  was  killed. 

BROWNSDALE  IN  1871. 

In  1871,  Browiisdale  had  the  following  improvements  :  Twenty- 
five  dwellings,  including  three  boarding  houses,  and  five  portions 
of  stores  used  as  dwellings ;  eleven  buildings  used  for  mercantile 
and  manufacturing  purposes,  including  one  flax  factory,  one 
wagon  shop,  one  hardware  store,  one  grocery  store,  three  of  gen- 
eral merchandise,  one  harness  shop,  one  boot  and  shoe  and  mil- 
linery shop,  one  butcher  shop,  one  saloon,  and  a  postoffice  build- 
ing; five  buildings  for  the  handling  of  grain,  including  one  ele- 
vator, and  four  warehouses — two  of  these,  however,  having  been 
destroyed  by  fire  during  the  winter — a  church  and  public  school 
house;  two  lumber  yards  and  a  flax  factory  were  also  in  operation. 

BROWNSDALE  IN  1885. 

In  the  fall  of  1885,  Brownsdale  had  two  churches.  Baptist  and 
Christian,  a  well  laid  out  cemetery,  a  postoffice  and  a  school.  The 
following  were  the  business  men  of  the  village  at  that  time: 
G.  W.  Gray,  F.  il.  Johnson,  physicians ;  A.  J.  Hunt,  attorney  and 
real  estate;  E.  J.  Stimson,  postmaster;  A.  L.  Sleeper,  B-  F-  Bacon, 
W.  H.  Lawrence,  merchants ;  T.  K.  Dahle,  hardware  dealer ;  R.  "SY. 
Stowe,  dealer  in  farm  machinery;  Ole  Hanson,  Peter  Stendel, 
blacksmith ;  Jens  Jepsen,  wagon  maker ;  Chas.  L.  Knox,  meat 
market ;  P.  L.  Kramer,  furniture  dealer ;  Paul  Hinze,  boot  and 
shoe  store;  AY.  D.  ]\Iiner,  hotel  and  livery;  G.  E.  Rolph,  J.  AYinans. 
refreshments ;  C.  L.  Colman,  Hodges  &  Hyde,  Cargill  Bros.,  AYig- 
ins  &  Davis,  grain  dealers;  Charles  Gage,  insurance  agent;  J.  B. 
Graves,  Steve  Ires,  J.  N.  Thatcher,  A.  Swift,  contractors;  Mrs. 
V.  A.  Lamb,  dressmaker;  Mi's.  Susan  L.  Foward,  IMrs.  Jane  San- 
born, milliners;  Prof.  AY.  G.  Elliott,  Helen  S.  AA^ilder,  teachers; 
Albert  Swift,  barber;  A.  D.  AA'ilson,  station  agent;  J.  H.  AVide- 
man,  hay  dealer;  ]M.  B.  Johnson,  drayman;  S.  Peek,  shooting  gal- 
lery; Fred  Hatch,  restaurant;  Caroline  Cassedy,  laundry;  Sleeper 
&  Sons,  creanierv  and  stock  vards. 


382  HISTOBY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

MODERN  BROWNSDALE. 

Brownsdale  is  a  prosperous  and  busy  village  on  the  Southern 
Minnesota  railroad,  and  contains  some  three  hundred  souls.  It  is 
well  laid  out,  presents  a  busy  appearance  and  has  a  number  of 
prosperous  business  concerns.  Here  are  found  Baptist  and  Meth- 
odist churches,  a  hotel,  an  opera  house,  elevators,  a  creamery,  fly 
paper  factories,  general  stores,  a  school,  a  cornet  band,  a  tele- 
phone exchange  and  a  number  of  comfortable  residences.  One 
of  the  features  of  the  landscape  is  the  verdure  which  furnishes  a 
refreshing  shade  in  the  summer  months.  These  trees  were  planted 
from  seed  gathered  by  H.  A.  Brown  on  the  banks  of  the  Cedar 
river.  These  trees  are  of  ash  and  elm,  and  many  are  now  six 
feet  in  circumference.  There  is  a  fire  water  supply  system  and  a 
pumping  station  also. 

SOCIETIES. 

Prominent  among  the  fraternal  organizations  of  Brownsdale 
are  La  Fayette  Lodge,  No.  116,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Mizpah  Chapter, 
No.  36,  0.  E.  S. ;  and  the  Henry  Rogers  Post,  G.  A.  R. 

La  Fayette  Lodge,  No.  116,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Brownsdale,  was 
organized  under  dispensation  March  5,  1874.  The  first  officers 
were  Stephen  Ives,  W.  M. ;  0.  R.  York,  S.  W. ;  E.  W.  Connor,  J. 
W. ;  N.  A.  Sumner,  secretary ;  John  Steen,  treasurer ;  H.  Hons- 
man,  S.  D.;  A.  McGoAvan,  J.  D. ;  L.  L.  Lamb,  tyler.  The  lodge 
worked  under  dispensation  until  January  13,  1876,  when  a  char- 
ter was  issued  by  the  Grand  Lodge,  under  which  the  lodge  has 
since  been  working.  The  charter  membei's  are  Stephen  Ives,  0. 
R.  York,  John  Hoy,  A.  McGowan,  J.  B.  Graves,  E.  J.  Stimson,  A. 
Lonsbury  and  L.  L.  Lamb.  All  of  these  have  joined  the  Grand 
Lodge  above  except  J.  B.  Graves,  A.  Lonsbury  and  0.  R.  York. 
The  lodge,  in  its  first  days,  held  their  meetings  in  the  second  story 
of  a  house  belonging  to  E.  J.  Stimson.  They  now  own  their  large 
two-story  building,  30x74.  The  upper  story  is  used  for  a  lodge 
room  and  dining  room  and  the  lower  room  for  opera  house.  The 
lodge  room  is  well  equipped  with  furniture,  carpets  and  organ. 
The  dining  room  is  furnished  with  dishes  and  silverware,  due  to 
the  management  of  the  ladies  of  the  Eastern  Star.  The  present 
membership  of  the  order  is  sixty-eight.  The  Past  Ma.sters  are 
Stephen  Ives,  N.  A.  Sumner,  J.  B.  Graves,  L.  Kirkland,  0.  A. 
Sleeper,  Charles  Gage,  D.  L.  Tanner,  C.  Erickson,  G.  W.  Gray, 
Geo.  Foster,  T.  F.  Bacon,  A.  B.  Warren,  J.  N.  Thatcher,  F.  0. 
Tanner  and  M.  J.  McGowan,  all  of  whom  are  alive  but  Stephen 
Ives.  The  lodge,  since  it  was  organized,  has  made  129  Ma.ster 
Masons.  The  present  officers  are :  AV.  B.  Sleeper,  W.  M. ;  Henry 
Stephenson,  S.  W. ;  S.  K.  Dahle,  J.  W. ;  N.  K.  Dahle,  treasurer ; 
J.  N.  Thatcher,  secretary ;  A.  B.  Warren,  S.  D. ;  0.  D.  Lambert, 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  383 

J.  D. ;  T.  F.  Bacon,  S.  S. ;  U.  S.  Gillette,  J.  S. ;  E.  P.  Merrill,  chap- 
lain :  C.  F.  Hoy,  tyler. 

Mizpah  Chapter,  No.  36,  0.  E.  S.,  was  organized  May  22,  1888. 
The  charter  members  were:  H.  A.  Brown,  J.  B.  Graves,  E.  J. 
Stimson,  Chas.  Gage,  D.  L.  Tanner,  J.  N.  Thatcher,  John  Hoy,  A. 
B.  Warren,  W.  B.  Sleeper  and  the  wives  of  each.  The  first  of- 
ficers were :  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Brown,  W.  M. ;  E.  J.  Stimson,  W.  P. ; 
Mrs.  Aurelia  Thatcher,  A.  M. ;  Chas.  Gage,  secretary;  Mrs.  E.  G. 
Tompkins,  treasurer;  Mrs.  Lydia  Stimson,  C. ;  Mrs.  Margaret 
Graves,  A.  C. ;  Mrs.  Emma  Tanner,  Ada ;  Mrs.  Percival  Hoy, 
Ruth;  ]\Irs.  Emma  Sleeper,  Esther;  Mrs.  Anna  Gage,  Martha; 
Mrs.  Emma  Warren,  Electa ;  J.  N.  Thatcher,  W. ;  H.  A.  Brown,  S. 
Of  the  charter  members,  E.  G.  Tompkins,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stimson, 
Mrs.  Mary  Brown,  Mr.  Hoy  and  Mrs.  Tanner  have  been  called  to 
the  "land  where  death  comes  not."  The  chapter  has  grown  and 
prospered.  There  have  been  109  initiated,  with  a  present  mem- 
bership of  seventy-four.  Mizpah  Chapter  has  always  occupied 
the  Masonic  hall,  and  has  worked  in  harmony  with  the  brother- 
hood. The  first  piece  of  furniture  the  chapter  bought  was  the 
organ,  and  it  is  still  in  use.  When  the  Masons  built  and  moved 
into  their  new  hall  it  was  the  chapter  that  bought  the  carpet, 
curtains,  stove  and  in  a  few  years  the  new  chairs  and  lamps. 
There  is  also  a  well  equipped  dining  room  and  kitchen  connected 
with  the  hall.  The  chapter  has  bought  fully  half  the  furnishings. 
The  chapter  is  on  a  good  financial  basis,  and  socially  it  has  been 
a  success.  There  have  been  lasting  friendships  formed,  and  a 
true  fraternal  feeling  exists  between  its  members.  Mrs.  Emma 
Sleeper  is  the  present  W.  M. ;  W.  H.  Lawrence,  W.  P. ;  Mrs.  Leota 
Hoy,  A.  M. 

Henry  Rogers  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  was  organized  February  4,  1882. 
Commander  R.  A.  Burleson,  of  Post  No.  3,  of  Spring  Valley,  Fill- 
more county,  was  detailed  to  muster  the  new  Post.  The  first 
ofHcers  were  :  Albert  Swift,  C. ;  Alfred  Launsbury,  S.  V.  C. ;  Burr 
]\Iaxwell,  I.  v.  C. ;  Henry  Harris,  S. ;  C.  S.  Beaulieu,  chaplain; 
Charles  Gage,  0.  D. ;  C.  A.  Warren,  adjutant ;  M.  B.  Johnson,  Q. 
M. ;  F.  A.  Carll,  0.  G. ;  N.  N.  Palmeter,  sergeant  mayor ;  George 
R.  Church,  Q.  M.  Sergeant.  These,  with  the  following,  constitute 
the  charter  members :  B.  M.  Carll,  A.  J.  Hunt,  W.  W.  Lamb,  John 
Hedigard,  Samuel  Church,  Alonzo  Rose.  The  Post  was  named 
"Henry  Rogers"  in  honor  of  the  gallant  services  rendered  by 
Colonel  Henry  C.  Rogers  during  the  rebellion,  and  the  noble  traits 
of  character  exhibited  by  him  in  afte:>-  life,  both  as  a  private  citi- 
zen and  a  public  officer.  The  story  of  the  monument  erected  to 
him  is  told  elsewhere. 

On  February  4,  1911,  twenty-nine  years  after  its  organization, 
twelve  of  its  charter  members  were  known  to  he  living  and  seven 


384  HISTOBY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

were  still  members  of  the  post.  Since  its  organization  it  has  mus- 
tered fifty  comrades,  but  carries  on  its  reports  at  present  oulj' 
eleven. 

JMemorial  Day  and  Memorial  Sunday  are  still  fittingly  ob- 
served, and  as  a  rule  the  people  generally  lay  aside  their  worldly 
cares  on  these  occasions  and  mingle  with  the  survivors  of  the 
Civil  war  in  paying  tribute  to  the  memory  of  those  who  struggled 
and  those  who  fell  to  continue  the  life  of  the  grandest  country 
and  the  best  government  on  earth. 

In  the  summer  of  1899  a  fire  occurred  on  the  corner  of  ilain 
and  Mill  streets,  by  which  eight  buildings  were  burned.  In  that 
fire  the  Post  record  book  was  burned.  In  the  years  following. 
Albert  Swift  served  as  commander  until  December  8,  1888,  when 
C.  A.  Warren  was  elected  and  served  two  years.  December  10, 
1910,  Albert  Swift  was  again  chosen  to  command. 

CHURCHES. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  first  Methodist  Episcopal 
services  in  Brownsdale  were  held  by  the  Rev.  Moses  Mapes,  in 
the  year  1856.  A  year  later,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dyer  organized  the 
work;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  Schimmerhorn,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Call  and  Mrs.  F.  M.  Drown  were  among  the  charter  members. 
Among  the  prominent  preachers  of  early  days,  besides  the  two 
above  mentioned,  were  the  Rev.  Trowbridge,  Rev.  David  Tice  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Satterlee.  As  yet  they  had  no  church  building,  services 
were  not  held  regularly  and  the  work  was  not  very  strong.  In 
May,  1889,  Rev.  Robert  Forbes,  D.  D.,  presiding  elder  at  that 
time,  reorganized  the  work,  and  Rev.  H.  L.  St.  Clair  was  appointed 
the  first  resident  pastor.  In  the  spring  of  1890  work  was  begun  on 
II  new  house  of  worship,  and  in  the  fall  of  1891  the  present  church 
was  finished  and  dedicated,  during  Rev.  B.  E.  Sherwin's  pastox*- 
ate.  In  the  summer  of  1895,  while  Rev.  A.  McCausland  was 
pastor,  a  parsonage  was  built.  The  church  has  maintained  its 
place  and  made  steady  progress  since  its  organization,  being  now 
the  head  of  a  circuit  of  three  churches.  The  Brownsdale  church 
has  a  membership  of  eighty-two  with  a  flourishing  Sunday  school 
of  !143  memliers.  Rev.  Harry  W.  Bedford,  the  present  pastor,  was 
appointed  to  the  cliurch  in  October,  1909. 

First  Baptist  Church.  In  the  spring  of  1856,  among  the  early 
settlers  of  the  township  was  Rev.  Milo  Frary,  a  Baptist  clergy- 
man, from  Connecticut.  He  seems  to  have  been  devoted  to  his 
calling,  for  asking  little  or  no  compensation,  lie  preached  quite 
regularly  at  the  schoolhouse  in  Brownsdale,  for  two  or  three 
years.  After  he  left,  other  ministers  of  the  same  denomination 
preached  here  at  irregular  intervals.    Prominent  among  tlu'm  was 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  385 

Rev.  H.  I.  Parker,  formerly  of  Beaver  Dam,  then  a  resident  of 
Austin.  Rev.  Mr.  Parker  organized  a  Baptist  church  May  26, 
1867,  at  the  residence  of  A.  H.  Marsh,  consisting  of  the  follow- 
ing members:  A.  H.  Marsh,  Mrs.  A.  H.  Marsh,  L.  W.  Thompson, 
jMrs.  L.  Edwards.  At  the  same  time  the  following  were  accepted 
as  candidates  for  baptism,  that  rite  being  administered  the  ensu- 
ing Sunday :  Lucius  Edwards,  E.  W.  Conner,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Conner. 
Mr.  Parker  continued  to  preach  to  them  and  at  the  Baptist  church 
at  Austin  on  alternate  Suntiays,  until  the  following  November, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  N.  Whittemore,  who  preached  to 
them  until  July,  1868,  from  Avhich  time  the  church  was  witliout 
a  pastor  until  January,  1869,  when  Mr.  Parker  resumed  his 
pastoral  relations  with  it,  continuing  to  preach  here  as  before, 
on  alternate  Sundays,  until  the  spring  of  1871. 

The  meetings  had  been  held  in  the  schoolhouse,  but  by  previ- 
ous notice  the  citizens  of  Red  Rock  gathered  at  the  store  of 
B.  F.  Bacon  on  June  25,  1869,  to  see  about  the  erection  of  a 
Baptist  church  building.  As  A.  D.  and  H.  A.  Brown  donated 
tlie  corner  on  Oak  and  Main  streets  for  a  site,  the  soliciting  com- 
mittee soon  reported  $1,795  subscribed,  six  citizens  signing  $100 
each  and  the  rest  signing  from  $75  down  to  $10.  The  building 
was  erected  in  1870  by  J.  B.  Graves. 

In  September,  1871,  Rev.  Thomas  Weaver  was  called  to  the 
pulpit.  He  remained  with  the  church  until  October  2.  187i.  From 
this,  time  no  regular  preaching  services  were  held  in  the  church 
for  several  years,  after  which  being  somewhat  in  debt  for  their 
church  building,  they  sold  it  to  the  Congregational  society,  receiv- 
ing money  enough  to  pay  their  indebtedness,  and  taking  a  mort- 
gage to  secure  the  payment  of  the  balance.  The  Congregational 
society  finding  themselves  unable  to  meet  obligations,  relinquished 
all  claim  on  the  church  building,  which  thus  came  again  into  the 
possession  of  the  Baptist  society.  The  church  has  had  no  regular 
preaching  until  the  fall  of  1882,  when  Rev.  C.  D.  Belden  took 
charge  of  the  same,  holding  service  here  once  in  two  weeks.  In 
January,  1884,  a  series  of  meetings  was  commenced  by  Mr.  Belden 
and  continued  about  six  weeks,  resulting  in  the  addition  of 
twenty-one,  the  membership  then  being  thirty-four.  j\Ir.  Bel- 
den supplied  the  pulpit  at  intervals  until  August,  1887,  when  the 
church  was  supplied  with  new  pews.  From  September,  1887, 
until  May,  1888,  Rev.  T.  S.  Eigelberner  supplied  the  pulpit.  In 
October,  1889,  W.  J.  Sanborn  came  from  New  Hampshire  and 
supplied  the  pulpit  for  a  year.  In  September,  1891,  Rev.  M. 
Stadtfelt  of  Byron,  became  pastor,  remaining  until  April,  1893. 
In  1895  the  residence  of  A.  J.  Hunt  was  purchased  for  a  parson- 
age. The  following  have  been  pastors  since  in  the  order  named : 
Rev.  S.  IMcMinis,  June.  1898.  to  August.  1894;  Rev.  E.  Williams, 


386  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

October,  1894,  to  November,  1895 ;  Rev.  U.  B.  Critchett,  Novem- 
ber, 1896,  to  October,  1897 ;  Parker  Smith,  January,  1898.  to  Feb- 
ruary, 1899 ;  S.  A.  Middleton,  August,  1899,  to  August,  1900 ;  N.  J. 
Lee,  May,  1901,  to  INIay,  1903;  J.  G.  Johnson,  July,  1903,  to  March, 
1904;  A.  L.  Holden,  August,  1904,  to  August,  1905;  T.  B.  Frizelle, 
May,  1906,  to  January,  1908;  T.  M.  Gilpin,  December,  1909,  to 
March  15,  1911.  The  church  has  enjoyed  special  services  at 
various  times  until  tlie  membership  now  reaches  ninety  members. 

Christian  Chvirch,  The  first  members  of  the  Christian  church 
in  this  place  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Setzer  and  their  daughter, 
Mary,  from  Virginia,  who  came  to  this  state  in  July,  1857.  The 
first  religious  services  of  this  denomination  were  held  in  the 
schoolhouse  in  Brownsdale,  June,  1858,  by  Elder  Grant,  of  Browu- 
ville,  Minn.  A  few  weeks  later,  in  July,  1858,  a  church  was  organ- 
ized by  Elder  Charles  Le  Van,  consisting  of  the  following  mem- 
bers: John  Setzer,  Abegal  Setzer,  Hilliard  Tilton,  Mary  Tilt  on, 
Henry  C.  Rogers,  Lydia  A.  Stimson,  Philip  Setzer,  Emily  Setzer, 
Thomas  Aired,  Sarah  Aired,  Harvey  E.  Anderson,  Ann  Anderson, 
Frank  Wood,  Barbary  Rugg,  Charles  F.  Hardy,  Augusta  Dunton 
and  Amanda  Setzer.  During  the  summer  of  1876  the  church 
erected  a  small  church  edifice  costing  something  over  $1,000. 
After  a  time  the  congregation  was  scattered.  The  building  was 
sold  and  the  money  gNen  to  the  Christian  church  at  Austin. 

Free  Will  Baptist  Church.  This  church  was  organized  some- 
time in  1859,  by  Rev.  ]\Ir.  Reeves,  of  Pleasant  Grove,  who  Avith 
Rev.  Mr.  Chamberlain,  of  Fillmore  county,  held  a  series  of  meet- 
ings in  the  schoolhouse  in  Brownsdale.  Among  the  first  members 
were:  Mrs.  Nehemiah  AVoodard,  Mrs.  Almeda  Johnson,  J.  L. 
Leshcr,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Lesher. 

Rev.  John  L.  Lesher,  the  first  settled  pastor,  came  from  Wis- 
consin to  this  place  in  1859.  He  preached  here  for  several  years, 
when  he  moved  to  Udolpho,  and  subsequently  to  Iowa.  After 
he  left,  the  church,  never  a  strong  one,  became  so  reduced  by 
removals  and  deaths  that  its  organization  Avas  given  up.  This 
church  was  merged  in  the  other  Baptist  church, 

INDUSTRIES. 

The  Red  Rock  Creamery  Association  was  incorporated  in 
1883  Avith  a  capital  stock  of  $10,000,  Avith  the  folloAving  officers: 
President,  L.  Kirkland;  secretary,  Charles  Gage;  treasurer,  J.  B. 
Graves;  directors,  Peter  Hanson,  T.  K.  Dahl,  and  D.  L.  Tanner. 
CoAvs  not  being  plenty,  the  creamery  struggled  along,  manufac- 
turing from  25,000  to  50,000  pounds  of  butter  annually  until  1903, 
Avhen  the  present  management  took  hold  of  it,  and  built  it  up  to 
the  present  mark  of  190,000  pounds  a  year,  a  record  which  Avas 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  387 

reached  in  1910.  The  present  officials  are:  President,  W.  B. 
Sleeper ;  treasurer,  J.  B.  Graves ;  secretary  and  treasurer,  W.  H. 
Lawrence ;  directors,  H.  E.  "Woodard,  George  W.  Foster  and  A.  B. 
Warren. 

Cargill  Elevator.  Joe  Starkey  took  charge  of  the  elevator 
August  1,  1890,  and  remained  in  charge  for  three  years.  Earl 
Miner  then  took  charge  for  five  years,  until  1898.  Ralph  Muney 
took  charge  for  one  year,  until  1899.  Then  Mr.  Schroeder  took 
charge  for  three  years  until  1902.  Then  Martin  Stephenson 
bought  the  Cargill  elevator  and  operated  it  until  1905,  selling  it  to 
the  Pierce-Stephenson  Elevator  Company.  In  1907  Mr.  Stephenson 
bought  back  the  elevator  and  has  owned  it  ever  since.  The  La 
Crosse  Grain  Company,  of  which  ]\Ir.  Stephenson  is  president, 
owns  elevators  at  Dexter,  Renova,  Racine  and  Sargeant. 

Martin  Stephenson  came  to  the  United  States  March  28,  1877, 
from  Denmark,  and  located  in  Brownsdale,  working  on  the  rail- 
road until  1879.  He  then  worked  in  the  elevator  for  Bonner, 
Wheeler  &  Hyde,  being  in  their  employ  for  two  years.  Bonner  & 
"Wheeler  withdrew  from  the  company  and  the  firm  of  Hodges  & 
Hyde,  was  organized  and  Mr.  Stephenson  was  employed  by  this 
firm  for  ten  years.  Mr.  Hodges  then  withdrew  from  the  com- 
pany and  the  S.  Y.  Hyde  Elevator  Company  was  organized  and 
^Ir.  Stephenson  worked  for  this  company  for  fourteen  years, 
uutil  the  Pierce-Stephenson  Elevator  Company  was  organized. 
This  firm  continued  for  two  years,  until  the  La  Crosse  Grain 
Company  Avas  organized,  and  Mr.  Stephenson  is  now  the  president 
and  manager  for  tliis  company.  Mr.  Stephenson  was  married  in 
1881  to  Caroline  Thompto,  five  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
Henry,  Marion,  Stanley,  Grace,  and  Knute,  all  living. 

The  Huntting  Elevator.  Stokes  and  Drown  built  an  elevator 
about  the  year  1890,  and  operated  it  for  four  years,  when  they 
sold  out  to  George  AV.  Hunt,  who  operated  the  elevator  for  ten 
years,  selling  out  to  the  Huntting  Elevator  Company  in  1904,  who 
have  operated  the  elevator  ever  since,  C.  M.  Syek  being  their 
buyer. 

Brownsdale  Telephone  Exchange.  In  1899  Avhile  engaged  in 
the  newspaper  business,  L.  L.  Quimby  conceived  the  idea  that  it 
would  be  a  fine  thing  to  have  a  telephone  in  the  depot.  In  tins 
the  business  men  concurred,  each  purchasing  their  own  teleplione 
instrument  and  Mr.  Quimby,  Avith  the  financial  assistance  of 
(i.  M.  Sliorlt,  the  depot  agent,  put  up  the  line,  Avith  nine  telephones 
on  it,  charging  each  subscriber  50  cents  per  month.  Later  I^lr. 
Shortt  sold  his  interest  to  :Mr.  Quimby.  In  the  fall  of  1900  the 
storekeeper  at  ]\rayville  called  for  a  phone  and  Avith  a  fcAV  farm- 
ers on  between,  the  line  Avas  put  up,  George  "Wuertz  being  the  first 
fanner  to  sign  up.     Alost  of  tlie   farmei-s  Avere  ratlier  skeptical 


388  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

at  first,  but  it  has  proved  to  be  such  a  good  thing  that  nearly 
everyone  began  calling  for  phones.  The  exchange  has  grown  so 
that  it  now  embraces  the  villages  of  Lansing,  Brownsdale,  Wal- 
tham,  Sargeant  and  Mayville  and  the  farmers  between,  and  the 
lines  are  continually  being  extended.  Telephone  rentals  are  $1 
per  month,  with  night  and  day  service  and  long  distance  connec- 
tion so  that  the  farmer  can  talk  to  the  nearest  market  or  the 
remotest  city. 

Present  Business.  Among  the  present  business  houses  of 
Brownsdale  may  be  mentioned:  A.  E.  Warren,  general  mer- 
chant ;  State  Bank  of  Brownsdale,  N.  K.  Dahle,  president ;  George 
M.  Shortt,  cashier;  N.-  K.  Dahle  &  Co.,  hardware,  furniture, 
machinery  and  agricultural  implements ;  commercial  hotel,  De 
Witt  Holbrook,  proprietor;  C.  F.  Coleman  Lumber  Co.;  'M.  G. 
Braun,  city  meat  market ;  C.  0.  Sleeper,  patent  medicines,  notions 
and  groceries ;  Brownsdale  Telephone  Exchange  Comi^any,  L.  L. 
Quimb.y,  secretary  and  manager;  Huntting  Elevator  Company, 
grain  and  seeds,  established  in  1860,  J.  H.  Ellsworth,  president ; 
C.  E.  Huntting,  treasurer;  D.  S.  Baird,  secretary;  C.  A.  Sleeper, 
dry  goods  and  notions;  James  Fries,  general  blacksniithing  and 
plow  work ;  J.  W.  Dishon,  shoes,  harnesses,  blankets  and  whips ; 
La  Crosse  Grain  Company,  grain,  seeds  and  coal,  M.  Stephenson, 
president ;  N.  K.  Dahle,  vice  president ;  George  M.  Shortt,  secre- 
tary and  treasurer ;  Ole  Hanson,  blacksniithing ;  J.  N.  Thatcher  & 
Sons,  contractors  and  builders ;  Pace  &  Iverson,  painters  and 
paper  hangers ;  Mrs.  Carlos  Sleeper,  millinery  goods ;  Hunt  & 
Sleeper,  real  estate ;  George  Gammell,  live  stock  and  poultry ; 
J.  P.  Knoz,  barber ;  Charles  Hoy,  drayman ;  H.  C.  Volkmann, 
stone  mason;  A.  L.  Sleeper  &  Sons,  Sleeper's  Lightning  Fly 
Poison;  George  Gilleland,  feed  mill;  Red  Rock  Creamery  Asso- 
ciation, W.  B.  Sleeper,  president ;  J.  B.  Graves,  treasurer ;  W.  H. 
Lawrence,  secretary  and  treasurer. 


DISASTROUS  FIRES. 

Brownsdale  was  visited  January  9,  1880,  by  a  fire  which 
destroyed  Cargill  &  Van's  elevator  and  ruined  or  burned  35,000 
bushels  of  grain,  entailing  a  loss  in  all  of  about  $50,000. 

In  the  summer  of  1899,  the  village  was  swept  by  a  fire  which 
devastated  the  corner  of  Main  and  Mill  streets  and  destroyed 
eight  buildings,  causing  a  heavy  loss. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  389 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

LEROY  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Area — First  Events — Early  Settlement — Organiza- 
tion— Old  Village — LeRoy  Village — Beginning  the  New  Vil- 
lage— LeRoy  in  1868 — Early  Business — LeRoy  in  1871 — LeRoy 
in  1884 — Religious — Cemeteries — Modern  LeRoy — Disasters. 

This  is  the  southeast  corner  township  of  Mower  county,  and 
comprises  congressional  township  101  north,  range  14  west.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Bennington  township,  on  the  east  by 
Fillmore  county,  on  the  south  by  Howard  county  in  Iowa,  and  on 
the  west  by  Lodi  township. 

The  general  surface  of  the  township  is  undulating  prairie 
land,  the  soil  of  which  is  a  dark  rich  loam,  Avith  sand  enough  in 
its  composition  to  make  it  one  of  the  most  productive  in  the  entire 
county.  Along  the  streams  for  a  considerable  distance  back  there 
is  a  limestone  base,  with  somewhat  of  a  lighter  soil,  but  none  too 
much  so  for  the  production  of  abundant  crops.  The  whole  town- 
ship is,  by  nature  and  formation,  calculated  for  successful  farm- 
ing.   All  the  grains  and  grasses  grow  in  all  their  luxuriance. 

The  principal  water  courses  of  the  township  are  the  upper 
Iowa  and  its  branches.  The  former  enters  the  township  on  sec- 
tion 19,  passing  across  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  30,  on 
through  sections  29,  28,  27,  thence  across  the  northeast  portion  of 
sections  31  and  35  to  section  36,  from  which  section  it  flows  into 
Howard  cormty,  Iowa,  and  so  on  down  to  the  Mississippi  river. 
A  branch  of  this  stream  drains  the  northern  and  central  parts  of 
the  township  and  makes  a  confluence  with  the  main  stream  on 
section  28. 

Another  everflowing  stream  courses  through  sections  30  and 
31.  This  is  known  as  Spring  Creek,  and  enters  the  upper  Iowa 
river  from  section  30.  There  are  also  numerous  cold,  pure 
springs  gushing  to  the  surface  in  various  parts  of  the  township. 
They  make  their  appearance  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  waters  of 
the  upper  Iowa  river  and  usually  become  covered  by  the  river 
waters  at  its  high  stages.  One  peculiarly  striking  and  valuable 
spring  bubbles  up  from  the  earth  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  29.  This  is  a  strong  mineral  spring,  partaking  of  iron. 
The  township  is  amply  supplied  with  the  best  of  building  stone. 
It  is  the  best  quality  of  limestone  which  is  near  the  surface,  in 
ledges  ranging  from  four  to  eighteen  inches  in  thickness,  and  ex- 
tending nearly  a  mile  back  from  the  streams.  From  this  stone 
the  .best  of  lime  is  burned. 


390  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

SETTLEMENT. 

The  beginuing  of  settlement  iii  this  township  dates  back  to 
1853,  when  Isaac  Van  Houghton,  George  Squires,  J.  S.  Priest, 
Moses  Niles  and  Isaac  Armstrong  came  to  a  county  all  untried  by 
white  men,  and  here  set  about  making  homes  for  themselves. 
Van  Houghton  came  with  the  state  line  surveyors  in  1852.  He 
Avas  pleased  with  the  county  and  its  future  prospects,  concluded 
to  claim  lands,  and  also  induced  the  other  members  of  the  party 
just  mentioned  to  come  and  seek  a  home  with  him.  They  all 
came  from  the  same  neighborhood,  near  Lansing,  Iowa.  Van 
Houghton  claimed  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  36,  and 
Squires  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  same  section.  This,  how- 
ever, was  prior  to  the  subdivision  of  land  into  sections,  and  when 
it  came  to  be  thiis  surveyed  it  was  found  their  lands  were  on  the 
school  section,  and  as  they  could  not  prove  up  on  it.  Van  Hough- 
ton sold  his  claim  improvements  in  June,  1851:,  to  Fayette  Lin- 
coln and  at  once  returned  to  Iowa,  remained  a  few  years,  and 
from  there  moved  to  Michigan,  where  he  died.  Squires  sold  his 
claim  to  Daniel  Caswell  in  1855,  and  soon  after  moved  to  Owa- 
tonna,  where  he  remained  till  1859,  and  then  moved  to  California. 
Niles  and  Priest  claimed  the  southeast  half  of  section  35.  They 
also  disposed  of  their  lands  before  the  war  broke  out.  Niles 
moved  to  Anoka  eoiinty  and  Priest  to  Nebraska,  where  he  w^as 
killed  in  a  well.  Armstrong  claimed  the  west  half  of  section  33. 
In  1851  he  sold  to  William  Gilson  and  went  to  Steele  county.  In 
1858  he  returned  to  this  county,  lived  a  year  and  then  moved  to 
Buchanan  county,  Iowa.  He  served  in  the  LTnion  army,  and  while 
in  the  service  died.  In  June,  1851,  Lafayette  Lincoln,  a  native 
of  Vermont,  came  from  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  bought  Van 
Houghton's  claim.  He  erected  a  frame  house — the  first  in  the 
township — broke  forty  acres  and  lived  thereon  till  1856,  when  he 
sold  to  James  W.  Prentice  and  moved  over  the  line  into  Howard 
county,  Iowa.  Prentice  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  but  came  from 
Postville,  Iowa,  to  this  township.    He  died  prior  to  1882. 

During  the  same  year,  1854,  George  and  John  Britt,  Samuel 
Bacon,  Palmer  H.  Stevens,  Moses  Vargason  and  Wentworth 
Hayes  came  in  to  swell  the  already  fair-sized  colony  of  pioneers. 
The  Britts  were  from  Indiana.  George  claimed  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  19,  where  he  built  a  log  cabin  and  broke  about 
ten  acres  of  land.  In  1855  he  sold  to  P.  F.  Iluntly  and  made  a 
claim  on  section  20,  which  he  sold  the  following  autumn  to  A.  D. 
Parks.  He  moved  to  Chain  Lake,  Iowa,  at  which  point  he  had 
trouble  with  the  Indians,  and  by  whom  he  was  shot  and  badly 
wounded.  Later,  he  moved  to  his  native  state.  Vargason  was  a 
native   of   Pennsylvania,   coming   from   Waukon.    Iowa,    to    this 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  391 

place.  He  preempted  the  west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  33.  He  lived  there  about  ten  years,  then  sold  out  and 
bought  land  on  section  35,  on  which  place  he  died  in  1879.  Hayes 
was  from  New  Hampshire.  He  preempted  the  north  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  29,  and  west  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  28. 

The  winter  of  1854  having  come  and  gone  and  the  spring  of 
1855  far  advanced,  there  were  others  who  made  settlement. 
Among  this  number  were  A.  J.  Palmer,  Nathan  McNeil,  Ziba  B. 
Dailey,  Lester  Congdon,  David  Allen,  LeGrand  Johnson,  J.  C. 
Jones,  "VY.  B.  Spencer,  James  Sample,  P.  F.  Huntly,  John  Frank, 
A.  D.  Park,  Henry  Edmonds,  Joseph  Lytle,  Sylvester  McArthur, 
Ed.  Whitcomb,  Daniel  Caswell,  James  Story,  E.  F.  McKee,  Reu- 
ben Allen.  IMcNeil  came  from  Illinois,  but  by  nativity  was  a  Ca- 
nadian. He  preempted  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  34,  which 
is  the  land  upon  which  the  village  of  LeRoy  now  stands.  He  was 
of  a  restless  nature  and  hence  never  stopped  long  in  one  place. 
In  1857  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Howard  county,  Iowa.  Later, 
he  moved  to  Dakota.  Dailey  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  com- 
ing from  Boone  county,  Indiana,  to  this  township,  settling  on 
section  34.  Congdon  came  from  Belvidere,  Illinois,  and  located 
on  the  southeast  cpiarter  of  section  28,  where  he  lived  some  years, 
but  later  moved  to  Bradford,  Bremer  county,  Iowa.  Park  came 
from  New  York.  He  settled  on  section  20,  where  he  remained,  in 
1884.  Lytle  came  from  Pennsylvania,  settling  on  the  southeast 
of  section  17.  In  1864,  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Nebraska.  John- 
son was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  also.  He  preempted  land  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  35.  He  died  there  the  summer  of 
1861.  Spencer,  another  Pennsylvanian,  located  on  a  claim  bought 
from  John  Britt,  on  sections  20  and  29.  Later  he  preempted  an- 
other farm.  James  Sample,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Canada,  came  from 
Illinois  to  Mower  county,  and  made  a  claim  on  section  6,  which 
he  sold  a  year  or  two  later  to  Elihue  Morse,  after  which  he  made 
another  claim  in  Fillmore  county,  where  he  died.  Frank  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  born  at  Frankfort-on-the-Main.  He  came  on 
in  1855,  but  did  not  make  an  actual  settlement  until  1856,  when 
he  bought  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  30,  where  he  still 
lives,  having  become  one  of  the  leading  men  of  southern  Minne- 
sota. Hi;ntly  was  formerly  from  New  York,  coming  from  Iowa 
here,  and  buying  a  claim  of  George  Britt  on  section  19.  Palmer 
was  also  from  New  York.  He  came  in  the  month  of  June  and  pre- 
empted the  northeast  quarter  of  section  34.  For  a  time  he  lived 
in  the  old  village  of  LeRoy,  where  he  had  an  interest  in  the  mill. 
John  was  a  practicing  physician — the  first  to  settle  in  the  town- 
ship. He  preempted  120  acres  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
29.     It  was  nearly  all  timber  land.     He  built  a  log  hous(>.  culti- 


392  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

vated  a  garden  spot  and  remained  till  1857,  when  he  sold  out  and 
located  on  section  8,  Avhere  his  mother  had  preempted  land.  In 
1865  he  sold  to  J.  R.  Mason  and  moved  to  Missouri.  His  wife  was 
also  a  physician.  Allen  was  another  representatiA^e  from  New 
York ;  he  was  a  grandnephew  of  Ethan  Allen.  He  had  b'ien 
brought  up  on  the  frontier,  being  a  pioneer  in  Canada,  Michigan, 
and  Illinois.  He  was  a  great  hunter,  and  accounted  an  excellent 
shot.  As  the  eountj'-  was  fast  settling  up  he  became  restless,  and 
in  1859  sold,  and  with  his  family  Avent  to  California.  Edmonds 
had  settled  in  Fillmore  county  in  1854.  He  bought  the  Avater 
power  and  adjacent  land  of  Henry  Stevens,  who  preempted  it 
and  had  erected  a  saw  mill.  He  sold  to  Palmer,  Caswell  &  Shook, 
and  returned  to  his  farm  in  Fillmore  county,  four  miles  east  of 
the  present  village  of  LeRoy.  EdAvard  Whitcomb  came  from 
"Wisconsin  and  preempted  120  acres  on  section  21,  and  later  moved 
to  section  31,  Avhere  he  died  in  1883. 

In  1856,  F.  Bevier,  LcAvis  MathcAVS,  Horace  Barber,  Isaac 
Smith,  J.  M.  Wyckofie,  A.  J.  Porter,  Elder  Tabor,  N.  P.  Todd,  Eli- 
hue  Morse,  George  Clapper,  Samuel  Hale,  W.  A.  Gilson,  Chas. 
Bell,  Albert  Estlie  and  many  others  came  in  for  settlement. 
Morse  was  from  Connecticut,  coming  here  from  Indiana,  and 
settled  on  the  northAvest  quarter  of  section  6,  and  was  the  first 
settler  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township.  Charles  Bell  came 
from  Indiana  in  the  month  of  June,  and  claimed  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  19.  He  sold  this  place  in  1861,  and  moved  to 
section  17.  Bevier  Avas  from  Ncav  York.  He  preempted  the  east 
half  of  the  southAvest  quarter  of  section  27,  and  the  Avest  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  that  section.  MathcAvs  Avas  also  a  native 
of  New  York,  but  came  here  from  Rock  county,  Wisconsin.  He 
first  settled  at  the  old  town  of  LeRoy,  where  he  bought  an  in- 
terest in  the  mill  property  on  section  26.  He  lived  in  the  tOAAai 
about  ten  years,  then  sold  and  moved  to  Montour,  Tama  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in  banking  and  merchandising.  Smith 
was  a  native  of  Maine.  He  preempted  the  south  half  of  section 
19.  He  was  a  man  finely  educated  and  a  teacher.  In  1870  he 
moA'ed  to  Dodge  county,  Minnesota,  and  still  later  to  Mapleton, 
Blue  Earth  county.  He  represented  that  county  in  the  legisla- 
ture at  one  time.  He  was  ordained  a  Free  Will  Baptist  minister 
while  there.  He  died  in  the  fall  of  1882.  Barber  Avas  a  native 
of  Vermont,  coming  here  from  Illinois,  settling  on  section  35. 
He  was  a  single  man  at  the  time,  but  married  in  1858.  He  died 
about  1878.  Wyckoff  and  Todd  Avere  both  natives  of  Ncav  Jersey, 
and  came  directly  to  Minnesota.  The  former  settled  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  30,  where  he  lived  until  1862.  He  is 
now  living  in  tlw  village,  where  he  is  a  venerable  and  distin- 
guished citizen.   Todd  settled  on  the  soutlnvest  quarter  of  section 


HISTORY  OF  MOWET^  COUNTY  393 

30.  In  1859  he  returned  to  his  native  state.  Gilson  was  a  native  of 
Albany,  New  York.  He  went  hack  to  that  state  in  a  year  or  two 
and  married.  He  preempted  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  and 
east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  33.  He  lived  there 
till  1857  and  built  a  house  and  store  in  the  old  town  of  LeRoy, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business. 

Elder  John  Tabor,  of  the  IVIethodist  denomination,  was  a 
native  of  England.  He  settled  on  section  10,  where  he  lived  two 
years.  In  1883  he  moved  to  New  IMexico,  to  a  point  a])out  forty 
miles  from  Trinadad. 

Among  others  avIio  came  in  1857  were  Justus  Nason,  FAms 
Gardner,  George  Emery,  C.  H.  Cotton,  AY.  H.  Graham,  Robert 
Hedatint  and  Rudolph  Miller;  also  Caleb  Lewis  and  Charles 
Smith.  Nason  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  coming  from 
Boone  county,  Illinois,  settling  on  section  13.  Gardner  came  from 
Illinois,  settling  on  section  26.  In  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he 
sold  and  returned  to  that  state.  Emery,  a  native  of  ]\Iassachu- 
setts,  settled  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  13  and  lived 
there  about  two  years,  when  he  returned  to  the  east.  C.  H.  and 
T.  AY.  Cotton,  brothers,  were  formerly  from  New  York,  but  came 
here  from  Illinois.  The  former  preempted  the  north  half  of  the 
south  half  of  section  23.  T.  W.,  his  brother,  entered  the  north- 
west of  section  24.  A  few  years  later  he  sold  out  and  moved  to 
Faribault  county.  Hale,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  came  from 
Illinois  and  settled  on  the  northeast  of  section  9.  Graham  and 
Hedafint  both  came  from  Ireland.  The  first  named  settled  on  the 
northeast  of  section  23,  and  later  moved  to  St.  Louis.  Hedatint 
settled  on  section  14,  and  in  1884  lived  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa. 
Alilier,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  settled  on  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  12.  Later  he  moved  across  the  line  into  Beaver  town- 
ship, Fillmore  county.  Caleb  Lewis  also  came  that  year,  from 
Indiana,  and  bought  Mr.  Jennings  out  on  section  7.  He  built  the 
first  brick  farm  house  in  LeRoy  township. 

During  the  year  1857  the  first  Norwegian  settlements  in  the 
town  were  made  by  E.  Burns  and  Soren  Engelson.  The  former 
claimed  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  10,  and  the  latter  the 
southeast  of  the  same  section.  They  built  a  shanty  of  poles,  which 
they  roofed  w^ith  sod  and  grass.  The  shanty  was  placed  on  the 
line,  so  as  to  cover  both  claims.  After  proving  up  on  these  claims 
they  returned  to  Illinois.  In  1858  Burns  returned  and  settled  on 
his  land.  He  was  a  resident  of  the  town  until  1867,  when  he 
moved  to  "NYinona.  In  1858  Aling  Thompson  and  Andrew  Larson 
came.  Thompson  settled  in  section  3;  but  later  moved  to  section 
10.  where  he  now  resides.  Larson  first  settled  on  section  3.  He 
afterward  moved  to  section  22,  where  he  died.     Ole   Knudson 


394  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COITXTY 

Sterlay  came  later  in  the  same  year,  and  claimed  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  one. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

John  Van  Houghton  and  J.  S.  Priest  were  the  first  to  settle  in 
the  township.  They  came  in  1853.  The  first  log  house  was  raised 
in  the  spring  of  1853,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Iowa  river,  on  the 
west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  36,  by  John  S.  Priest. 
The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Ottis  T.  Caswell,  born 
early  in  1856.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Isaac  Van  Hough- 
ton and  a  Miss  Armstrong,  sister  of  Isaac  Armstrong.  This  took 
place  in  the  spring  of  1853.  As  this  was  prior  to  the  county  being 
organized,  there  was  no  justice  of  the  peace  by  whom  the  mar- 
riage ceremony  eoiild  be  performed,  consequently  they  went  over 
the  Iowa  state  line  into  Oakdale  township,  Howard  county,  and 
there  under  an  oak  tree,  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  11, 
township  100,  range  14,  the  marriage  rite  was  performed.  The 
first  death  was  a  son  of  Fayette  Lincoln,  in  the  winter  of  1856. 
He  was  frozen  to  death. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  township  of  LeRoy  was  organized  at  a  meeting  liehl  at 
Daniel  Caswell's,  May  11,  1858.  John  D.  Cowles  Avas  cho>cii 
moderator  and  Enos  A.  Hall  clerk  of  the  meeting.  The  follow- 
ing were  the  first  officers  elected:  N.  P.  Todd,  clerk;  Chailes 
Smith,  assessor;  A.  J.  Porter,  collector;  George  AV.  Bishop.  ZiI)h 
B.  Daily,  William  B.  Spencer,  supervisors ;  B.  Wakefield  and  P.  C. 
Sheffield,  justices  of  the  peace;  A.  J.  Porter  and  Winslow  Kay- 
mond,  constables;  Daniel  Caswell,  overseer  of  roads. 

In  November,  the  same  year,  B.  Wakefield  resigned  as  justice 
of  the  peace  and  John  D.  Cowles  was  appointed  to  succeed  him. 
G.  W.  Bishop  also  resigned  as  chairman  of  the  board,  and  Isaac 
Smith  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  At  the  first  township 
meeting  the  following  resolutions  were  passed :  Resolved,  That 
$125  be  raised  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  township  for  the 
ensuing  year;  That  swine  be  not  allowed  to  run  at  large  at  any 
season  of  the  year;  That  sheep  be  not  allowed  to  run  at  large; 
That  a  lawful  fence  shall  consist  of  not  less  than  one  four  and 
one  half-feet  high,  containing  not  less  than  three  rails  or  boards 
to  each  panel;  Tliat  all  liorses  and  cattle  not  known  to  ])e  breechy 
are  allowed  to  run  at  large. 

Among  others  who  held  office  at  an  early  day  Avere:  J.  M. 
Wyckoff,  Elias  Gardner,  J.  C.  Jones,  William  A.  Gibson,  Lester 
Congdon,  T.  P.  Ropes,  James  Grant,  James  M.  IMason,  C.  H.  Cot- 
ton, E.  F.  McKee,  J.  T.  Williams,  G.  M.  Alsdorff  and  C.  A.  Roy. 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  395 


OLD  VILLAGE  OF  LEROY. 

The  original,  or,  as  it  is  usually  styled,  the  "old  towu  of 
LeRoy, "  is  located  on  the  Little  Iowa  river,  on  section  28,  town- 
ship 101,  range  14.  When  the  railroad  was  built  through  the 
township  in  1867,  a  station  was  made  at  what  is  now  LeRoy  vil- 
lage. This  absorbed  all  the  commercial  interests  of  the  older 
place,  and  finally  left  it  a  defunct  village,  the  remains  of  which, 
financially  speaking,  are  only  dear  to  the  memory  of  a  generation 
whose  mortal  race  is  nearly  run.  A  mill  and  a  beautiful  park 
now  occupy  a  part  of  the  site  of  the  old  village. 

The  first  actual  settler  in  what  was  known  as  the  "old  vil- 
lage,"' Avas  Henry  Edmonds,  who  came  from  Wisconsin  in  1854, 
and  located  first  in  Fillmore  county,  but  a  few  months  later  came 
to  this  point.  April  13,  1855,  he  raised  a  saw  mill  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Little  Iowa  river,  at  a  point  on  the  southeast  cjuarter  of 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  28,  township  101,  range  14  west, 
within  what  was  afterward  the  limits  of  the  old  village  of  LeRoy, 
the  lands  being  bought  by  him  of  P.  H.  Stevens  and  wife,  October 
9,  1855. 

In  the  spring  of  1856,  Mr.  Edmonds  sold  the  mill  together 
with  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  and  the  west  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  said  section,  to  Daniel  Caswell,  Martin  L. 
Shook  and  Adoniran  J.  Palmer.  In  the  summer  of  that  year 
(1856),  Mr.  Shook  sold  his  interest  to  Lewis  Mathews,  who  came 
from  Wisconsin.  The  company,  as  then  composed,  surveyed  and 
platted  the  "old  village"  of  LeRoy,  April  24,  1857.  In  1858 
Daniel  Caswell  sold  his  interest  in  the  saw  mill  and  all  that  part 
of  the  "old  village"  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  to  Palmer 
and  Mathews,  and  purchased  of  Palmer  and  Mathews  their  inter- 
est in  all  that  portion  of  said  village  west  of  the  river.  In  1858-59 
Palmer  and  ^Mathews  changed  the  saw  mill  into  a  grist  mill.  Later 
on  Mathews  sold  his  interest  to  A.  J.  Palmer,  Avho  still  later  sold 
to  I.  H.  Thompson,  Avhose  son,  F.  J.  Thompson,  now  owns  it. 

In  1856,  Henry  Edmonds  put  up  a  frame  building  on  the  site 
of  the  "old  village"  and  started  the  first  store  therein.  He  only 
continued  a  short  time  and  sold  to  John  D.  Coles.  He  operated 
it  until  sometime  during  the  Civil  war,  when  he  sold  out  and  Avent 
to  Missouri. 

The  same  year  (1856),  E.  F.  McKee  opened  a  blacksmith  shop 
in  the  place,  beginning  work  in  the  fall,  in  a  building  Avhich  he 
erected  for  that  purpose.  He  ran  the  shop  till  the  ncAV  village 
Avas  started  in  1867,  Avhen  he  removed  there. 

In  1857  Daniel  CasAvell  erected  a  hotel  in  the  "old  village." 
Avliich  lie  ran  xintil  ucav  LeRov  Avas  laid  out,  and  then  sold  it  to 


396  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COU^'TY 

the  county  for  a  poorhouse.     He  then  became  the  pioneer  hotel 
keeper  of  the  new  village. 

AY.  A.  Gilson  came  from  Albany,  New  York,  in  the  spring  of 
1856,  and  bought  some  land  a  short  distance  from  the  old  town. 
About  one  year  later  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  the  village,  where 
he  erected  a  building  and  started  a  general  merchandise  store. 
When  the  railroad  was  built  he  moved  to  the  new  town  and 
remained  in  trade  until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Minneapolis. 
He  was  burned  out  in  the  big  LeRoy  fire  in  1869,  and  was  after- 
Avard  in  partnership  with  D.  C.  Corbitt.  AVentworth  Hayes  started 
a  general  merchandise  store  in  the  old  town.  AVhen  LeRoy  sta- 
tion was  platted  he  removed  there.  P.  C.  Sheffield  came  here 
from  Illinois  in  1857,  and  located  upon  a  farm  on  section  22.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  taught  singing  school  in  this  neighborhood 
and  finally  in  1865  he  started  a  store  in  the  town  which  he  ran  for 
a  short  time.  Among  other  improvements  made  at  the  "old  vil- 
lage," was  the  erection  of  a  school  house,  which  was  built  and 
occupied  in  1858.  In  1884  there  were  about  a  dozen  houses 
remaining  at  the  "old  village,"  as  landmarks  of  the  past  quarter 
of  a  century.  At  the  present  time  there  is  quite  a  settlement 
there,  but  no  business  interests  except  the  old  mill 

LEROY  VILLAGE. 

LeRoy  village  is  situated  on  the  northwest  quarter  and  north 
30  rods  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  34,  township  101, 
range  14  west,  and  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  33.  It  was  platted  in  1867,  during  the  mouth  of 
August,  by  -J.  H.  McAlvin,  P.  M.  Glathart,  and  Orlando  McCraney, 
and  was  then  called  LeRoy  Station.  The  first  train  of  cars  reached 
this  point  the  first  Sunday  in  August,  1867.  It  is  situated  in  one 
of  the  finest  farm  and  stock  raising  sections  in  the  state.  All  lines 
of  mercantile,  mechanical  and  professional  business  are  well 
represented.  Ever  since  it  was  platted  it  has  had  a  steady,  healthy 
growth,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  villages  in  southern  [Minnesota. 

BEGINNING  THE  NEW  VILLAGE. 

August  21,  1867,  Frank  M.  Goodykoontz  unloaded  in  LeRoy 
the  first  load  of  lumber  for  an  office  building.  The  village,  how- 
ever, was  not  really  commenced,  or  lots  surveyed  and  platted 
until  about  September  5.  The  construction  train  reached  this 
point  about  the  first  of  the  month,  but  it  was  about  the  15th 
before  lumber  could  be  readily  obtained,  and  in  sufficient  quanti- 
ties to  supply  tlie  demand.  Buildings  were  then  erected  in  quick 
succession  by  F.  M.  Goodykoontz,  J.  W.  Hill,  E.  F.  IMcKee,  Cor- 
bett   &  Allen,  W.  W.  Gilson,   Charles  Smith  and  many  others 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  •  397 

From  September  15  to  the  time  in  October  when  the  rails  were 
all  laid  between  Austin  and  LeRoy,  the  regular  passenger  trains 
from  McGregor  ran  to  the  station,  connecting  with  M.  0.  Walk- 
er's line  of  stages  to  Austin.  The  railroad  station  was  commenced 
about  September  1  and  soon  finished. 

Nearly  two  miles  northeast  of  the  station  was  situated  the 
' '  old  town. ' '  It  was  confidently  expected  that  the  railroad  would 
touch  at  this  place,  even  up  to  within  three  weeks  of  the  time 
when  the  location  of  the  station  became  public.  This  was  a 
fine  place.  There  was  a  good  hotel,  a  flour  mill,  two  or  three 
stores  and  a  blacksmith  shop,  besides  several  dwelling  places. 
Through  the  poor  management  of  those  owning  lands  upon  which 
the  railroad  company  wished  to  locate  the  station,  a  new  town 
was  started  by  the  railroad  company,  and  the  old  town  left  out 
in  the  cold.  Daniel  Caswell,  who  was  a  heavy  owner  of  lots  in  the 
old  town,  and  proprietor  of  the  hotel,  afterward  had  all  the 
unsold  lots  vacated  and  sold  his  hotel,  outbuildings,  and  eighty 
acres  of  land  to  Mower  county  for  a  poor  farm.  Mr.  Caswell  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  who  came  to  the  township  in  185-i.  All  the 
merchants  moved  their  stocks  of  goods  and  families  to  the  new 
town,  and  in  some  instances  the  buildings  were  moved.  The  post- 
office  was  also  moved,  and  since  then  the  old  town  has  consisted 
mainly  of  a  few  dwellings,  a  park  and  a  mill. 

The  present  village  of  LeRoy  was  laid  out  by  the  railroad  com- 
pany, and  Orlando  McCraney  of  McGregor,  appointed  trustee, 
Avith  F.  M.  Goodykoontz  as  agent.  The  price  of  lots  was  placed 
at  a  very  low  figure  and  those  who  desired  were  given  easy  terms 
of  payment. 

LEROY  IN  1868. 

A  business  directory  of  LeRoy,  published  in  August,  1868,  less 
than  a  year  after  the  new  village  was  started,  is  as  follows :  Dry 
goods  and  groceries,  W.  A.  Coleman  &  Co.,  W.  A.  Gilson,  J.  W. 
Hill,  W.  Hayes,  P.  Hopkins,  0.  Iverson,  W.  Green;  groceries,  R. 
Rodell,  E.  Jordan  &  Co.,  Patrick  McTigue,  J.  T.  Williams;  boots, 
shoes  and  groceries,  Charles  Smith ;  boots  and  shoes,  M.  Petten- 
gill ;  driigs  and  books,  J.  J.  Clemmer  (F.  W.  Frisbie,  agent)  ;  hard- 
ware, Corbitt  &  Allen,  E.  F.  McKeen,  Ingmundson  &  Roy ;  furni- 
ture, Nasou  &  Edes ;  meat  markets,  H.  L.  Wirard,  A.  Lewis ; 
wagon  shop,  W.  B.  Reid ;  blacksmiths.  Porter  &  Curry,  Henry 
Brown ;  jeweler,  II.  I.  Hoppin ;  harness  shop,  E.  C.  Kasson ;  hotels, 
New  Brick  Hotel,  D.  Caswell,  proprietor,  LeRoy  House,  William 
Beeman,  Opera  House,  B.  B.  Strong,  Mendota  House,  John  Far- 
rell ;  lumber  dealers,  W.  A.  Coleman  &  Co.,  Seeley  &  Shaw,  N.  B. 
Johnson  &  Co,,  THayer  &  Ball ;  agricultural  implements,  G.  L. 
Henderson.  J.   T.   Williams,  J.    1).   Allen,   Pratt    &   Cusiek.    E.    F. 


398  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COrXTY 

McKee;  millinery,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Bronsou,  Mrs.  Freemor,  ]\Irs.  H.  I. 
Hoppins;  tailor,  John  Harrington;  livery,  J.  C.  Burlingame;  prod- 
uce dealers,  W.  S.  Potter,  A.  B.  De  La  Eonde.  J.  M.  Larrabee, 
H.  ^y.  Gregory,  G.  L.  Henderson;  billiard  hall,  H.  H.  Wright; 
physician  and  snrgeon,  Dr.  G.  ]\I.  Alsdurf,  Dr.  J.  "W.  Corbitt,  Dr. 
H.  "Webber;  lawyer,  F.  M.  Goodykoontz ;  real  estate  and  insur- 
ance, Goodykoontz  &  Wyckoff. 

EARLY  BUSINESS. 

It  has  already  been  seen  that  many  of  the  branches  of  trade 
commenced  -with  men  who  came  from  the  "old  village''  in  1867 
and  1868.  The  first  to  engage  in  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  trade 
in  LeKoy  village  was  IMcCraney  &  Hill,  from  McGregor,  Iowa, 
who  continued  five  or  six  years  and  sold  to  John  Avery  &  Bro. 
Some  time  later  John  Avery  died  and  his  brother  Frank  con- 
tinued the  business  for  some  time.  About  the  same  time  of  Messrs. 
McCraney  &  Hill's  starting  came  "VVentworth  Hayes  from  the 
"old  village"  also,  and  started  in  the  same  line.  He  located  on 
the  south  side  of  Main  street.  Reuben  Odell  came  in  1868  and 
opened  a  general  stock,  ran  about  two  years  and  sold  to  Gardner 
Howell  and  he  to  R.  G.  Young,  avIio  came  from  Indiana.  Charles 
Harden  succeeded  him  in  trade.  W.  A.  Coleman  came  in  1867 
and  put  in  a  large  and  well  assorted  stock  of  general  merchan- 
dise, where  T.  A.  Killen  was  afterwards  located.  Another  "old 
villager"  was  W.  A.  Gilson,  who  put  in  a  full  line  of  dry  goods 
and  groceries  in  the  fall  of  1867.  He  remained  six  years  and 
removed  to  Mijineapolis. 

The  hardware  trade  was  first  represented  in  New  Town  by 
D.  C.  Corbitt  and  J.  D.  Allen,  of  "Wisconsin.  They  carried  a  full 
line  of  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  together  with  such  agricul- 
tural implements  as  were  then  demanded  by  the  farmers.  This 
stock  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1869.  Another  dealer  in  this  line 
was  E.  F.  McKee,  who  removed  from  the  "old  village"  in  1867. 
He  operated  till  the  following  spring  and  sold  to  J.  D.  Allen, 
retaining  the  store  building,  which  he  rented  to  Allen.  This  store 
was  situated  on  the  corner  of  ]\lain  and  Broachvay  streets.  C.  A. 
Roy,  who  ran  a  tinshop  in  connection  with  Allen's  hardware 
store,  bought  Allen  out.  Then  Allen  l)uilt  opposite  the  Caswell 
House,  on  Main  street. 

The  first  to  establish  themselves  in  the  drug  trade  at  this  place 
were  Dr.  Clemers  and  F.  W.  Frisbee,  afterward  Frisbee  &  Son. 
The  next  to  embark  in  the  drug  business  was  J.  M.  LaiTabee. 

Tlie  pioneer  boot  and  shoe  dealers  were  Smith  &  Carson,  who 
came  in  1867  from  the  old  village.  They  were  burned  out  in  the 
iire  of  1869,  and  never  rebuilt.    He  then  embarked  in  a  genei-al 


IIISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  399 

store  ou  the  same  street.  The  next  to  enter  this  line  of  trade  was 
Hans  Hauge.  lie  came  in  1870.  J.  J.  INIartz  started  in  the  furni- 
ture business  in  1869. 

The  first  blacksmiths  who  operated  at  the  new  village  were 
John  Curray  and  Henry  Boweu,  and  A.  J.  Porter,  who  removed 
from  the  old  village,  and  went  in  partnership  with  John  Curray, 
in  186S.  E.  F.  McKee,  the  pioneer  blacksmith  of  the  county,  lo- 
cated in  the  new  village  July  1,  1875. 

The  first  wagon  shop  started  at  this  point  was  in  1867,  by 
William  Reid,  who  sold  after  a  short  time  to  George  Swasey,  and 
he  to  Warren  AValker. 

The  fii'st  to  engage  in  the  harness  business  was  E.  C.  Kasson, 
who  came  in  1868,  moving  from  the  old  village.  Next  came  Will- 
iam Davis,  then  a  man  named  Kent.  After  Kent  left,  the  place 
Avas  without  a  harness  shop  for  some  time,  until  in  1882,  when 
W.  B.  IMitson  came  in  and  opened  up  a  shop. 

E.  F.  McKee  furnished  the  village  with  its  first  public  hall 
in  1868.  It  was  over  the  hardware  store  which  he  built,  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Broadway  streets.  It  was  afterward  made 
into  a  Masonic  hall.  The  next  public  hall  or  opera  house  was 
fitted  up  from  an  old  warehouse  by  James  A.  Henderson,  on  the 
south  side  of  j\Iain  street.  This  was  consumed  by  the  conflagration 
of  1880.  J.  D.  Allen's  hall,  over  his  brick  hardware  store,  was 
soon  completed. 

The  first  to  sell  farm  machinery  at  LeRoy  was  Strothes  & 
Conklin,  from  Cresco,  Iowa.  They  were  followed  by  John  D. 
Allen.  Then  Trask  engaged  in  the  business  wdth  Mr.  Beers.  Nel- 
son &  Bro.  ran  a  branch  house  here,  the  main  store  being  at 
Austin.  They  moved  some  of  their  goods  away  and  finally  were 
closed  out  at  Austin. 

The  first  grain  buyers  of  the  village  were  John  W.  Larrabee, 
Heniy  Gregory,  W.  S.  Potter  and  Dell  Rowen.  Other  early  buy- 
ers were  W.  Hayes,  J.  M.  Larrabee  and  William  Henderson. 

The  first  lumber  dealers  in  LeRoy  were  Haytt  &  Burdick,  of 
^McGregor,  Iowa,  who  came  in  1867.  W.  A.  Coleman  opened  a 
yard  in  1868.  Other  early  dealers  were  S.  Fifield  &  Son,  Gregory 
&  Son,  and  D.  C.  Corbitt.  William  Allen  was  the  sole  repre- 
sentative of  this  branch  in  188-1. 

LE  ROY  IN  1871. 

In  1871,  LeRoy  had  two  churches,  the  Baptists  having  a  stone 
building  and  the  Presbyterians  a  frame  edifice;  a  three  depart- 
ment school;  two  hotels,  the  Caswell  house  and  the  LeRoy  house; 
ten  stores,  one  furniture  wareroom.  a  wagon  shop,  a  number  of 
blacksmith  shops  and  several  saloons. 


iOO  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

LE  ROY  IN  1884. 

The  following  named  persons  operated  in  the  various  branches 
of  trade  in  1884 :  Frank  Avery,  W.  Hayes,  H.  A.  MeConnell,  Isaac 
Thompson,  A.  Folsom  and  T.  A.  Killen,  general  stocks;  J.  D. 
Allen  and  C.  A.  Roy,  hardware;  J.  N.  Larrabee  and  Frisbie  & 
Son,  drugs;  J.  Martz,  furniture;  C.  S.  Harden,  groceries,  confec- 
tionery and  restaurant ;  M.  A.  AVilliams,  tobacco,  cigars,  sta- 
tionery and  confectionery ;  George  AV.  Clark,  drugs  and  groceries ; 
Michael  Murry,  cigars,  tobacco  and  groceries;  Patrick  Moran,  ci- 
gars, tobacco,  grocery  and  billiard  hall ;  P.  M.  Tigue,  cigars,  to- 
bacco and  billiard  hall ;  E.  Avery,  grocery  and  restaurant ;  George 
Craig,  grocery  and  restaurant ;  E.  C.  Kasson,  barbershop  and  bil- 
liard hall;  Hans  Hauge,  boots  and  shoes;  William  Allen,  lumber; 
J.  M.  Larrabee,  "W.  Hayes  and  AV.  L.  Henderson,  grain  dealers; 
E.  F.  McKee,  J.  D.  Allen,  AVilliam  Allen,  farm  machinery;  AVar- 
ren  AValker,  wagon  shop;  E.  F.  McKee,  A.  J.  Porter  and  C.  P. 
AVells,  blacksmiths ;  AV.  B.  Mitson,  harness  shop ;  Nettie  Gilbert 
and  Mrs.  McMillen,  milliners ;  AVilliam  Allen,  lumber ;  Caleb 
Lewis,  meat  market;  R.  M.  Slitor,  hotel  (Caswell  house);  The 
LeRoy  Independent,  J.  McKnight,  editor  and  proprietor;  J.  M. 
AA^yckoff,  Joseph  McKnight,  E.  J.  Kingsbury,  J.  P.  Trask  and  J. 
S.  Bishop ;  Drs.  Alsdorff  and  Ed.  Kingsbury,  physicians ;  AVilliam 
Allen,  depot  agent ;  JMrs.  M.  A.  AA^'illiams,  postmistress. 

INCORPORATION. 

LeRoy  was  incorporated  as  a  village  in  February,  1876,  by  an 
act  of  the  state  legislature  regulating  such  matters.  D.  S.  Fifield, 
AV.  L.  Henderson  and  C.  A.  Roy  were  designated  as  the  men  to 
carry  out  the  act  of  the  legislature. 

The  first  officers  were:  President,  AV.  L.  Henderson;  trustees, 
E.  F.  McKee,  A.  J.  Porter  and  AVilliam  Allen ;  recorder,  C.  A.  Roy. 
The  present  officers  are:  President,  F.  E.  Garner;  clerk,  A.  D. 
Brown;  Ray  Becker,  Howard  S.  Martz  and  Rudolph  Meyers. 

The  LeRoy  city  hall,  which  houses  the  council  chambers,  the 
village  hall,  the  fire  department  apparatus  and  the  jail,  was 
erected  in  1895.  The  council  at  that  time  consisted  of:  President, 
G.  AV.  Palmer;  recorder,  A.  R.  AVilliams;  IM.  T.  Dunn,  F.  E. 
Garner,  H.  0.  Cotton.  Two  years  later,  in  1897,  the  water  works 
system  with  well,  tower,  pump  and  the  like  was  installed.  The 
system  now  covers  the  principal  streets  of  the  village.  The 
council  at  the  time  of  the  inauguration  of  this  system  consisted 
of:  President,  M.  T.  Dunn;  recorder,  A.  R.  AVilliams;  R.  A. 
IMeyers,  Lars  Runnestrand,  H.  0.  Cotton.  In  1899  the  electric 
light  plant  was  installed  and  a  contract  made  for  lighting  the 
city  streets.     The  LeRoy  electric  light  plant,  which  is  managed 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  401 

by  Edward  S.  Bostworth,  still  furnishes  electricity  for  the  streets 
as  well  as  for  public,  business  and  private  buildings. 

LeRoy  has  an  excellent  fire  department,  well  equipped  with 
tire  lighting  apparatus.  At  all  periods  of  her  history  ))ucket 
brigades  have  assisted  in  the  extinguishing  of  fireS.  The  present 
department  was  organized  as  LeRoy  Hose  Cart  Company,  No  1, 
July  8,  1897.  M.  E.  "Williams  was  appointed  chairman  and 
George  Boyd  secretary  of  the  temporary  organization.  After 
adopting  by-laws,  the  following  oflficers  were  elected:  Chiet, 
C.  I.  Roy :  captain,  A.  S.  Dehler ;  secretary,  George  A.  Boyd : 
treasurer,  J.  L.  Deuell.  The  present  officers  are:  Chief,  C.  I. 
Roy ;  captain,  C.  J.  Wells ;  secretary.  Otto  Hansen ;  treasure), 
Raymond  Brov/n. 

RELIGIOUS. 

First  Baptist  Church.  The  people  of  LeRoy  township  have 
been  a  religious  people  from  the  earliest  settlement,  the  first 
religious  services  being  held  at  the  house  of  Henry  Edmonds,  in 
1856,  by  Elder  C.  H.  Pearsons.  He  was  a  Baptist  clergyman, 
A^-ho  organized  a  society  in  September,  1857.  The  following 
signed  the  articles  of  faith,  and  thus  became  members  of  tiie 
cliurcli :  George  Bishop.  Lester  Congdon,  A.  J.  Palmer,  Emily 
Pearsons,  Martha  J.  Bishop,  Charles  H.  Pearsons  and  ]\Iary 
Congdon.  A.  J.  Palmer  and  George  Bishop  were  chosen  deacons. 
Charles  H.  Pearsons  was  their  pastor.  For  a  time  the  society 
met  for  worship  in  the  upper  story  of  E.  F.  McKee's  blacksmiti. 
shop,  but  as  soon  as  the  schoolhouse  was  completed  they  met 
there.  In  1869  the  building  of  a  church  edifice  was  commenced 
in  the  new  village  of  LeRoy.  This  was  a  concrete  or  grout, 
building,  costing  $2,500.  It  was  formally  dedicated  J\larch  21, 
1875.  The  church  was  damaged  by  the  storm  and  soon  afterAvard 
the  present  comfortable  edifice  was  erected.  The  present  pastor 
is  Rev.  V.  N.  Robbins.  Among  the  early  pastors  were:  Chas. 
H.  Pearsons,  T.  B.  Ropes,  AA^'alter  Ross,  Geo.  AY.  Arms,  James 
Jeffries,  Thomas  Uer,  AY.  AA'.  Ragen,  G.  AY.  Buriiham  and  E.  R. 
Pierce. 

St.  Patrick's  Church,  R.  C.  The  first  mass  at  LeRoy  was  lield 
by  Father  John  McDemmit,  in  1867.  at  the  "old  village. ■"  The 
first  mass  in  the  new  village  was  held  at  Jolm  Afeigs'  house,  and 
was  conducted  by  Father  IMcDeminit,  and  later  it  was  held  at 
Patrick  Ryan's  residence.  In  1878  a  frame  church  was  erected, 
in  wiiich  Fatlier  Bowen  was  the  fir.st  priest.  This  building  was 
dedicated  l)y  him.  Other  early  priests  were  Father  Coyne,  Father 
Tlurlcy  and  Father  Smidtii.  The  church  is  luiw  si'i-ved  by  the 
Rev.  Father  Gmeinder,  of  Spring  A^alley. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  (Irnomitmlion  t'ormed  a  class  at  llie 


403  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

log  schoolhouse  on  section  29,  in  the  winter  of  1857-8.  Elder 
Norton,  from  Frankford  and  Spring  Valley  circuit,  officiated. 
The  following  were  members  of  that  pioneer  band  of  worshippers : 
W.  B.  Spencer  and  wife,  Joseph  Lytle  and  wife,  Dr.  Jones  and 
wife  and  their  daughter  Harriet,  "William  Graham  and  wife,  jMrs. 
James  Story.  W.  B.  Spencer  was  chosen  leader  of  the  class.  Thej 
met  at  the  log  schoolhouse  until  the  following  spring,  and  then 
met  at  the  sehoolhoiise  at  the  old  village  of  LeRoy,  where  they 
held  regular  service  for  several  years,  but  finally  the  class  was 
suspended. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  i\Iarch  30,  1868. 
The  following  members  were  present  at  the  meeting  of  the 
organization :  J.  M.  Wyckoff  and  wife ;  W.  H.  Graham,  Benjamin 
Mitchell  and  wife,  Joseph  Maxfield  and  wife,  Mrs.  IMary  Gilson, 
Mrs.  Isabelle  Monday,  Miss  Salina  A.  Mitchell,  A.  D.  Park,  iMrs. 
Hattie  Potter,  "Willian!.  Craig  and  wife.  The  following  were 
elected  trustees:  AV.  PI.  Graham,  Christian  Aleman,  AV.  B.  Reed. 
F.  M.  Goodykoontz,  J.  M.  Wyckoff.  W.  H.  Graham  Avas  chosen 
chaii'man  and  J.  M.  "Wyckoff  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  1870 
the  society  erected  a  commodious  house  of  worship,  which  is 
located  on  lots  8  and  9  of  block  2.  It  was  formally  dedicated 
February  15,  1871.  The  first  elders  were  J.  M.  "VVyckoff  and 
H.  M.  Prentice.  The  present  elders  are  James  McGillvray  and 
AV.  B.  Spencer.  Among  the  early  pastors  were:  Rev.  Adam 
Craig,  Rev.  "Wait,  J.  S.  Chapman,  J.  A.  Laurrie,  B.  T.  DeAVitt, 
E.  Thompson  and  E.  N.  Raymond. 

The  Norwegian  Danish  Lutheran  Conspregation  of  LeRoy  iiad 
its  l)cginning  about  1868  in  the  old  village  of  LeRoy  when  Re^'. 
T.  Larson  began  preaching  in  the  vicinity.  The  congregation 
purchased  the  old  stone  schoolhouse  at  that  place  and  converted 
it  into  a  house  of  worship.  Among  the  pastors  have  been  0.  A. 
Bu,  Christ  Thompson  and  M.  K.  Hartman.  The  congregation  was 
incorporated  in  1892,  those  interested  in  the  incorporation  being 
Ole  Monson,  Andrew  Hawkins,  John  Rowe,  D.  L.  Rowe,  Jens 
Jenson,  Mons  Oleson,  Ingvar  0.  Share,  Ole  0.  Share,  Jr.,  John 
Hauge,  Jens  Karson,  Andrew  Thompson,  J.  L.  Muller  and  Rev. 
O.  A.  Bu.  The  trustees  were  T.  L.  Eowe,  Jens  Jensen  and  Ole 
0.  Share,  Jr.  On  March  27,  1894,  the  congregation  purchased  its 
present  property,  and  at  once  erected  the  present  house  of  wor- 
ship. The  officers  of  the  church  are :  Pastor,  Rev.  D.  Swennung- 
sen ;  secretary,  II.  T.  Hawkins ;  treasurer,  Andrew  Hawkins ; 
trustees,  Inger  Share,  Knute  IMonsou  and  John  Hauge.  The 
present  pastor  is  a  newcomer.  He  is  the  first  pastor  of  the 
church  who  has  resided  here,  and  in  addition  to  this  charge  he 
serves  several  other  congregations.  The  old  stone  building  in 
the  old  village  of  LeRoy  has  been  torn  down,  and  the  property 


IIISTOnY  OF  MOWEl?  COUNTY  403 

surroimding  it  is  now  the  site  of  the  Lutheran  eenietery.     The 
congregation   affiliates   with   th(>   United   Lutlieran   ehnreli    l)Oily. 

CEMETERIES. 

A  cemetery  association  was  formed  in  LeRoy  as  early  as  18j7, 
when,  on  December  26,  a  number  of  citizens  assembled  at  the  home 
of  Daniel  Caswell.  These  men  Avere :  N.  P.  Todd,  A.  J.  Palmer. 
0.  D.  ^Valker,  AVilliani  Raymond,  Daniel  Caswell,  Lewis 
i\Iatthews,  AVilliam  A.  Gilson,  Isaac  Smith,  John  M.  WyckotH', 
A.  D.  Park,  AY.  B.  Spencer,  James  H.  Story,  J.  C.  Jones  and 
A.  Fisk.  The  corporate  name  of  the  association  was  Union 
Grove  Cemetery  of  LeRoy.  The  trustees  were:  G.  W.  Bishop, 
Isaac  Smith,  N.  P.  Todd,  Lewis  ^Matthews,  W.  B.  Spencer  and 
J.  C.  Jones.  The  grounds  selected  by  the  above  association  were 
situated  on  the  southeast  of  the  southeast  of  section  28,  and  a  few 
bodies  were  there  buried.  These  grounds  proved  to  be  unfit  for 
cemetery  purposes,  as  the  lime  rock  came  so  near  the  surface  that 
graves  could  not  be  dug  the  proper  depth. 

March  18,  1861,  another  cemetery  association  was  formed, 
also  known  as  the  L^^nion  Grove  Cemetery  Association.  At  their 
tirst  meeting  J.  D.  Cowles  Avas  chosen  chairman  and  P.  C.  Shef- 
field secretary.  The  following  were  present :  William  Gilson, 
T.  J.  Bishop,  F.  Bevier,  Chas.  Smith,  Daniel  Caswell,  Lester  Cong- 
don,  A.  J.  Palmer,  V.  B.  Lincoln,  J.  D.  Cowles,  D.  C.  Sheffield, 
John  S.  Priest,  J.  M.  AYyckoft"  and  Mr.  Hedafint. 

At  this  meeting  the  present  location  was  selected.  The  first 
person  buried  in  the  ground  was  Legrand  Johnson. 

Previous  efforts  at  perfecting  a  cemetery  association  not  prov- 
ing successful,  the  LeRoy  Cemetery  Association  was  formed  April 
8,  1863.  The  nine  trustees  elected  at  that  time  were:  J.  M. 
AYyckoff,  Z.  B.  Daily,  Daniel  Caswell,  Chas.  Smith,  William 
Graham,  J.  D.  Cowles,  S.  P.  Bacon,  Rev.  T.  P.  Ropes  and  Wm. 
A.  Gilson.  The  association  has  been  continued  to  the  present 
time,  the  officers  now  being:  President,  H.  G.  McKee;  secretary, 
J.  j\I.  Wyckoff ;  treasurer,  W.  H.  Brown ;  C.  I.  Roy,  Caleb  Lewis, 
V.  A.  Nason,  S.  D.  Martz,  Ralph  Hall  and  E.  J.  Diddams. 

Tlie  cemetery  is  a  beautiful  one,  consisting  of  seven  arid  n 
lialf  acres  in  section  28.  The  Catholic  cemetery  adjoins  it  on 
the  east,  and  there  is  but  a  short  distance  to  the  Norwegian 
cemetery. 

MODERN  LEROY. 

Lelioy  is  one  of  the  most  important  villages  in  southern 
Minnesota.  Its  popiUation,  including  the  persons  living  in  tlu 
thickly  settled  portions  of  the  townslii])  .Kljoiiiiiig  tiie  corporati- 


404  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

limits,  is  about  eleven  hundred.  The  village  is  well  laid  out,  has 
excellent  cement  sidewalks  and  the  streets  are  bordered  with 
sightly  shade  trees.  Four  churches,  an  excellent  state  high  school, 
several  fraternities,  an  opera  house,  a  good  hotel,  two  fraternity 
halls,  a  city  hall,  a  newspaper,  a  cornet  band,  two  banks,  water 
works,  iire  protection  and  electric  lights  all  add  to  the  desir- 
ability of  life  at  this  point. 

LeRoy  is  pleasantly  situated  in  an  open  prairie,  on  the  Upper 
Iowa  river.  Divisions  of  the  Chicago  Great  Western  and  the 
Chicago,  ]\Iilwaukee  &  St.  Paul  have  stations  at  this  point. 

Among  the  activities  of  LeRoy  may  be  mentioned  the  follow- 
ing: Two  elevators,  one  iime  plant,  one  garage,  one  creamery, 
one  hotel,  four  general  stores,  two  hardware  stores,  two  drug 
stores,  one  clothing  store,  two  banks,  two  grocery  stores,  two 
barber  shops,  two  restaurants,  one  livery,  two  blacksmith  shops, 
one  Avail  paper  and  paint  establishment,  one  lumber  yard,  one 
furniture  store,  two  farm  implement  establishments,  two  physi- 
cians, one  dentist,  one  photographer,  one  milliner,  two  harness 
shops,  three  land  agents,  one  lawyer,  one  produce  store,  one 
heating  and  plumbing  establishment,  two  dray  lines  and  one  meat 
market. 

Le  Roy  High  School.  The  village  of  Le  Roy  comprises  inde- 
pendent school  district  No.  5.  The  first  school  in  this  district  was 
held  in  a  house  belonging  to  Daniel  Caswell  in  the  summer  of 
1857.  That  fall  a  stone  schoolhouse  was  built  in  the  old  village 
of  LeRoy.  This  stone  schoolhouse,  which  has  been  demolished, 
occupied  the  present  site  of  the  Lutheran  cemetery,  and  its  foun- 
dations are  still  standing.  When  the  village  was  started  at  Le 
Roy  station,  the  new  schoolhouse  was  built.  This,  with  various 
additions,  served  until  1899,  when  the  present  beautiful  eight- 
room  brick  schoolhouse  was  built  on  the  old  site.  The  committee 
at  that  time  consisted  of:  President,  C.  A.  Roy;  clerk,  George 
Palmer ;  treasurer,  R.  Hall ;  W.  M.  Walker,  F.  T.  Young  and  Mrs. 
G.  M.  Alsdorf.  The  present  officers  are:  President.  A.  J.  Hayes; 
treasurer,  H.  K.  Hawkins ;  clerk,  L.  M.  Daily ;  Dr.  M.  J.  Hart, 
J.  P.  Blackmer,  A.  D.  Brown.  The  school  covers  the  usual  graded 
studies  and  has  a  full  high  school  course.  Domestic  science,  agri- 
culture and  mainial  training  are  soon  to  be  installed. 

LeRoy  Cornet  Band.  The  old  original  band,  made  up  of  four- 
teen members,  each  possessing  an  instrument,  was  organized  in 
1887,  with  J.  P.  Barnum  as  their  leader. 

Various  other  bands  have  flourished  from  time  to  time.  The 
present  band  was  organized  in  tlie  spring  of  1905,  and  Dr.  J.  L. 
Day  has  continued  to  be  tiic  leader.  The  organization  is  known  as 
the  LeRoy  Cadet  Band  and  has  ditne  some  excellent  work.  An 
instructor  has  been   engaged,   and   tlie   band  has  recently  been 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  405 

increased  by  several  new  members.  The  officers  are :  President, 
H.  S.  Martz ;  vice-president,  J.  L.  Day ;  secretary,  Alden  Malcom- 
son ;  treasurer,  Robert  Malcomson ;  assistant  leader,  Chester 
Lunder. 

Hotels.  The  first  hotel  of  the  place  was  erected  and  operated 
by  William  Beemis  in  1867.  This  was  the  LeRoy  House,  a  two- 
story  frame  building  on  Main  street.  It  was  purchased  by  R.  M. 
Slitor,  in  1877,  and  two  years  later,  when  he  bought  the  Caswell 
House,  he  closed  the  former  and  rented  it  for  other  purposes. 

The  Caswell  House  was  a  commodious  two-story  brick  build- 
ing, located  on  the  corner  of  Main  street  and  Broadway.  The 
building  was  erected  in  1868,  by  Daniel  Caswell,  at  a  cost  of 
$12,000.  Mr.  Caswell  managed  the  hotel  several  years,  then  sold 
to  Jacob  Lewis.  It  was  purchased  in  1879,  by  R.  M.  Slitor.  It 
then  passed  through  various  hands  and  was  destroyed  by  the 
cyclone.  Sweet's  Hotel  is  a  well-kept  hostelry  very  popular  with 
the  traveling  public.  It  was  erected  in  1898  by  William  W.  Sweet, 
and  is  now  conducted  by  Peter  T.  Christiansen.  It  is  well  fur-' 
nished  and  equipped,  and  the  cuisine  is  of  the  best. 

Opera  House.  Soon  after  the  great  cyclone  of  1894,  an  opera 
house  was  erected  by  the  Masonic  bodies  and  the  Odd  Fellows 
combined.  The  lower  floor  furnishes  an  excellent  auditorium  for 
amusement  purposes,  while  the  upper  floor  is  divided  into  two 
suites  of  lodge  rooms  with  a  large  dining  room.  C.  I.  Roy  is  man- 
ager of  the  opera  house. 

Lime  Kiln.  Since  the  earliest  days  the  excellence  of  the  lime- 
stone near  LeRoy  has  been  recognized.  Fowler  &  Pay  now  oper- 
ate kilns  not  far  from  the  village,  employ  some  twelve  to  twenty 
men,  and  have  a  daily  output  of  some  two  hundred  barrels. 

The  LeRoy  Co-operative  Creamery  was  organized  early  in 
1911.  and  started  business  April  1.  1911,  in  the  old  Hardin  cream- 
ery. The  company  has  promising  prospects  and  will  erect  a  new 
well-equipped  building  this  summer.  The  officers  are  :  President, 
Fred  Palmerton;  vice-president,  John  F.  Hale;  secretary,  Chas. 
A.  Howe;  treasurer,  Ole  Reierson;  directors,  Jacob  Hopp,  Adolph 
Rhend  and  Richard  Nelson.    John  F.  Scott  is  the  buttermaker. 

The  LeRoy  Fibre  Company,  operating  under  patents  held  by 
J.  E.  Lappen  and  G.  W.  W.  Harden,  maintained  a  large  manu- 
facturing business  here  and  employed  some  sixty  hands.  Its  prod- 
uct consisted  of  flax  fibre  felt  for  insulating  and  lining  purposes. 
Charges  were  at  one  time  made  that  thousands  of  fish  in  the 
stream  were  killed  as  the  result  of  this  factory's  operations.  The 
concern  was  purchased  by  the  American  Insulating  Company, 
which,  after  operating  the  factory  for  a  while,  closed  the  plant. 
The  material  is  now  manufactured  at  St.  Paul. 

The  LeRoy  Telephone  Company  liad  its  origin  in  1900,  when 


400  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Henry  F.  Hermes  and  Fred  Henslin  installed  a  private  system. 
The  company  was  incorporated  March  20,  1903,  with  the  follow- 
ing officers:  President,  Otto  C.  Maercklein;  vice-president,  Fred 
Henslin ;  secretary,  Charles  J.  Maercklein ;  treasurer,  A.  Edgar 
Henslin;  manager,  Henry  F.  Hermes.  The  system  operates  in 
Adams,  LeRoy,  Melntire  and  Riceville.  At  present  some  900 
instruments  are  in  use.  The  officers  are :  President,  M.  J.  Hart ; 
vice-president,  N.  C.  Johnson ;  secretary  and  manager,  Frank  E. 
Garner;  treasurer.  A.  E.  Henslin;  director.  J.  G.  Sehweder.  The 
paid-in  capital  stock  at  the  present  time  is  $41,600. 

ORGANIZATIONS. 

James  George  Post,  No.  23,  of  G.  A.  R.,  was  named  in  honor 
of  Col.  James  George,  of  the  Second  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infan- 
try. It  was  organized  March  27,  1883,  by  J.  V.  V.,  Asa  R.  Burle- 
son. The  charter  members  were  H.  A.  MeConnell,  F.  H.  Avery, 
W.  D.  Harden,  E.  A.  Whitcomb,  E.  M.  Gillman,  G.  S.  Brown, 
^Y.  W.  Sweet,  John  Frank,  Fred  Mason,  J.  U.  Darrow,  G.  W. 
Flick,  Caleb  Lewis,  E.  C.  Kasson,  S.  E.  Morse,  ^Y.  L.  Henderson, 
George  Remore,  T.  J.  Bishop,  E.  Heddington,  C.  A.  Roy,  Charles 
Bell,  Isaac  Layman,  S.  A.  Hill,  A.  Bettis,  Andrew  Malioney.  The 
first  officers  elected  were  as  follows:  H.  A.  MeConnell,  Com- 
mander ;  Isaac  Lane,  S.  V.  C. ;  John  Frank,  J.  V.  C. ;  C.  A.  Roy, 
0.  S. ;  G.  L.  Brown,  Q.  M. ;  E.  M.  Gillman,  A.  G. ;  W.  D.  Harden, 
Chaplain;  E.  C.  Kasson,  Adjt. ;  E.  A.  Whitcomb,  Surgeon  Maj.; 
W.  "W.  Sweet,  Q.  M.  S.    The  post  is  still  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

James  George  Corps,  No.  56,  W.  R.  C,  Avas  organized  December 
11,  1888.  The  first  officers  were  :  President,  Mrs.  Ann  Bo.stworth ; 
senior  vice-president,  Mrs.  Layman ;  junior  vice-president,  Mrs. 
A.  W.  Howe;  secretary,  Mrs.  0.  Mason;  treasurer,  Mrs.  Mary 
Chambo;  conductor,  ]\Irs.  Maggie  Whitcomb;  assistant,  Mrs. 
Maggie  A.  Williams ;  chaplain,  Mrs.  Nancy  Pierce.  The  present 
officers  are :  President,  Mrs.  Hattie  Day ;  senior  vice-president, 
Mrs.  Maggie  B.  Williams ;  junior  vice-president,  Mrs.  Hannah 
Bell ;  chaplain,  Mrs.  Jennie  Brown ;  secretary,  Mrs.  Ann  W. 
Howe;  treasurer,  Mrs.  James  Kingsbury;  conductor,  Mrs.  Stella 
IMerriek ;  assistant,  Mrs.  Emma  Smith  ;  guard,  ]\Irs.  Sarah  Ander- 
son ;  assistant  guard,  Mrs.  Joseph  S.  Bevier;  press  committee, 
Mrs.  Oella  IMason ;  patriotic  instructor,  Mrs.  Maggie  Whitcomb; 
color  bearers,  the  Mesdames  Edna  Armstrong,  Lizzie  Knight,  Jes- 
sie Despard  and  Katherine  May.  The  work  of  the  Relief  Corps 
has  been  to  aid  the  old  soldiers  in  every  way  possible.  The  ladies 
have  contributed  largely  towards  soldiers'  homes  and  have  erected 
a  monument  in  the  cemetery  in  memory  of  the  soldiers  who  repose 
there  and  of  those  who  sleep  in  unknown  graves. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  407 

Eureka  Lodge,  No.  75,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  organized  July 
23.  1868.  The  charter  members  were  :  F.  M.  Goodykoontz,  Charles 
Allen,  I.  Ingmuudson,  W.  S.  Potter,  G.  T.  Angell,  F.  11.  Allen, 
G.  A.  Whitcomb,  Randall  Billings,  W.  A.  Coleman,  H.  11.  Coleman 
and  P.  T.  ]\lclntyre.  The  first  officers  were :  F.  M.  Goodykoontz, 
AV.  M.;  Charles  Allen,  S.  W.;  I.  Ingmundson,  J.  W. ;  P.  T. 
Mclntyre,  secretary;  W.  A.  Coleman,  treasurer;  G.  T.  Angell, 
S.  D.;  W.  S.  Potter,  J.  D.;  E.  H.  Whitcomb,  tyler.  The  present 
officers  are:  M.  W.,  F.  L.  Roy;  S.  W.,  Rufus  Mahoney;  J.  W., 
Ray  Becker;  treasurer,  F.  C.  Mason;  secretary,  F.  E.  Garner; 
S.  D.,  L.  A.  Porter;  J.  D.,  W.  E.  Armstrong;  S.  S.,  E.  Boyd; 
J.  S..  A.  A.  AVells;  T.,  J.  B.  Kingsley. 

Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  24,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  organized 
at  LeRoy  under  dispensation,  on  August  25,  1873,  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers  and  first  members:  I.  Ingmundson,  H.  P.;  W.  F. 
Fifield,  K. ;  J.  S.  Bishop,  S. ;  M.  E.  Frisbee,  C.  of  H. ;  C.  A.  Roy, 
P.  S. ;  Henry  Bowen,  R.  A.  C. ;  H.  A.  McConnell,  M.  of  3d  V. ; 
J.  F.  Trask,  M.  of  2d  V. ;  N.  H.  Roberts,  M.  of  1st  V.  On  July  29, 
1874,  the  lodge  was  granted  a  charter,  with  the  following  charter 
members  and  officers:  W.  F.  Fifield,  R.  W.  M. ;  A.  J.  Porter, 
S.  ^y. ;  H.  Bowen,  J.  W. ;  H.  A.  McConnell,  M.  0. ;  A.  J.  Porter, 
S.  O. ;  H.  Bowen,  J.  0. ;  M.  E.  Frisbee,  S.  D. ;  J.  Mahoney,  J.  D. ; 
J.  S.  Bishop  and  J.  Martz.  The  present  officers  are :  E.  H.  P., 
F.  E.  Garner;  K.,  F.  C.  Mason;  S.,  Rufus  Mahoney;  treasurer, 
F.  C.  Mason;  secretary,  J.  M.  Wykoff;  C.  of  H.,  C.  S.  Harden; 
P.  S.,  A.  R,.  Williams ;  R.  A.  C,  C.  I.  Roy ;  M.  3d  V.,  F.  L.  Roy ; 
M.  2d  v.,  Raymond  Becker ;  M.  1st  V.,  E.  A.  Whitcomb ;  sentinel, 
Joseph  ]\Iorrow ;  trustees,  C.  I.  Roy,  C.  S.  Harden  and  P.  ]\Iahoney. 

Columbia  Chapter,  No.  58,  0.  E.  C,  was  granted  a  charter 
May  10,  1893.  The  charter  officers  were :  Worthy  matron,  Mrs. 
Francis  C.  Roy ;  W.  P.,  Isaac  Layman ;  A.  M.,  Mrs.  Eula  A.  Por- 
ter. The  present  officers  are:  W.  M.,  Frances  AVells;  AV.  P., 
Ernest  Body ;   A.  M.,  :\Irs.  Freda  Eckstein. 

Acorn  Camp,  No.  1788,  M.  W.  A.,  received  its  charter  October 
.5,  1892,  with  the  following  charter  members:  Edwin  S.  Garvey, 
Luther  A.  Knapp,  ]\[alcom  Malcomson,  Nelson  R.  Miller,  George 
J.  Alalcomson,  George  C.  Pfremmer,  Lars  Runnestrand,  Charles  I. 
Roy.  Loren  S.  AVilder  and  Hans  B.  Hansen. 

Lovell  Camp,  No.  466,  Royal  Neighbors,  received  its  charter 
November  24.  189(i.    There  were  thirty-eight  charter  members. 

LeRoy  Lodge,  No.  43,  I.  0.  0.  F.  An  Odd  Fellows  lodge  was 
organized  in  LcKny  in  the  early  seventies,  but  the  charter  was 
surrendered  about  1880.  LeRoy  Lodge,  No.  43,  received  its  char- 
ter November  2.  1892.  the  following  l)eing  named  as  charter  mem- 
bers:   J.  C.  Belding,  D.  II.  Stim.son,  O.  L.  Gibbons,  C.  H.  Green, 


408  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

E.  Myers,  Lars  Runnestrand,  Daniel  Bostworth,  W.  W.  Johnson, 
I.  H.  Thompson. 

Violet  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  90,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  organized  in 
1893  and  received  its  charter  ^larch  3  of  that  year.  The  members 
named  in  the  charter  are :  Ann  E.  S.  Bostworth,  Daniel  Bost- 
Avorth,  Addie  Hale,  Helma  Jensen,  Frederick  Jensen,  Christine 
Madsen,  Viola  Hermes,  Henry  F.  Hermes,  Carrie  "Wells,  Catherine 
Keeler,  Frank  B.  Keeler,  Orsey  V.  Wells,  Mattie  A.  Mason,  Vant 
A.  Mason,  Mary  J.  Reber,  Kate  A.  Barber,  C.  S.  Barber,  Lunette 
White. 

The  History  Club,  whicli  is  limited  to  fourteen  members,  was 
organized  January  14,  1901,  and  federated  in  1907.  The  first  offi- 
cers were  Mrs.  W.  M.  Walker,  president,  and  Mrs.  M.  J.  Hart, 
secretary.  The  club  has  devoted  its  meetings  to  the  study  of  art 
and  travel.  The  present  officers  are :  President,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Mey- 
ers; vice-president,  Mrs.  Ralph  Prescott;  secretary,  Mrs.  A.  E. 
Henslin ;  treasurer,  Mrs.  C.  S.  Palmer ;  federation  secretary,  Mrs. 
M.  J.  Hart. 

The  LeRoy  Library  Association.  Some  years  ago  some  of  the 
ladies  of  LeRoy  formed  the  Ladies'  Book  Club  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  and  exchanging  books.  This  movement  grew  to  such 
an  extent  that  the  people  of  the  village  began  to  realize  the  impor- 
tance of  having  a  public  library.  Accordingly  the  ladies  formed 
the  present  association,  first  ofificers  being :  President,  Mrs.  M.  J. 
Hart ;  Mrs.  Merrill  Bowers ;  secretary,  Mrs.  F.  W.  Sprung ;  treas- 
urer, Mrs.  W.  K.  Porter.  The  association  started  with  about  three 
hundred  volumes,  a  part  of  which  were  donated.  The  association 
laid  aside  about  $300  as  a  building  fund  the  first  year  and  now 
has  about  $700.  The  original  officers  are  still  serving.  The  asso- 
ciation now  has  about  680  borrowers,  and  the  ladies  are  making 
an  effort  to  have  the  village  take  the  library  in  charge. 

DISASTERS. 

Early  Fire.  January  19,  1869,  the  village  of  LeRoy  suffered 
a  loss  by  fire  of  about  $17,000.  The  insurance  was  very  small.  The 
following  were  the  principal  losses :  Wentworth  Hayes,  dry  goods 
and  grocery  store,  stock,  household  furniture,  books  and  papers 
burned;  loss,  $7,000;  insurance,  $2,000.  W.  A.  Gilson,  variety 
store,  building,  total  loss;  part  of  furniture  and  stock  saved  in  a 
damaged  condition;  loss,  .$4,000  ;  insurance  small.  Charles  Smith, 
boot,  .shoe  and  grocery  store;  building,  total  loss,  most  of  stock 
saved;  loss,  $3,000;  insurance  on  building,  $800.  Corbitt  &  Allen, 
hardware;  building,  total  loss;  stock  mostly  saved ;  loss,  $3,500; 
small  insurance. 

J.  T.  Williams  Burned.     On  Deceml)er  5,  1872,  LeRoy  was  vis- 


HISTORY  OF  .MOWKIf  COUNTY  409 

ited  by  a  sad  oatastropho.  In  a  iire,  ■which  was  caused  by  the 
stumbling  of  Mrs.  B.  V.  Lincoln,  who  Avas  nnrsing  Mrs.  J.  T.  Will- 
iams, in  the  family  residence  over  the  Williams  store,  Mrs.  Lincoln 
met  immediate  death.  ]\h'.  Williams,  in  his  heroic  rescue  of  his 
wife  and  family,  received  burns  which  resulted  in  his  death,  and 
the  building  was  totally  destroyed.  The  postofftce  was  in  the  same 
building.  The  law  office  of  J.  M.  Wyekoff  was  torn  down  to  pre- 
vent the  spread  of  the  flames.  Mr.  AVilliams  had  served  as  post- 
master, county  superintendent  of  schools,  and  member  of  the 
state  legislature. 

The  facts  in  detail  are  as  follows:  J.  T.  Williams,  who  was 
the  postmaster,  kept  his  office  in  the  lower  story  of  his  building 
and  lived  on  the  second  floor.  In  the  rear  was  a  shed  in  which 
supplies  of  various  kinds  were  stored  away.  Twenty-four  hours 
previous  to  the  fire  Mrs.  Williams  had  given  birth  to  a  child.  j\Irs. 
V.  B.  Lincoln,  a  friend  of  the  family,  was  in  attendance  upon  her 
wants.  About  half  past  one  o'clock  Wednesday  morning  Mrs. 
Lincoln,  desiring  something  from  the  shed  in  the  rear  of  the  build- 
ing, with  a  burning  lamp  in  hand,  started  down  the  stairs.  She 
stumbled  and  fell,  setting  her  clothes  on  fire.  Mr.  Williams  rushed 
to  her  assistance  in  his  night  garments,  at  the  same  time  giving  the 
alarm.  Mrs.  Lincoln  was  burned  to  death,  and  so,  leaving  her 
body  in  the  flames,  the  citizens  who  had  gathered  made  an  effort 
to  rescue  the  family.  Boxes  were  piled  on  each  other  to  the  second- 
story  windows.  Mr.  Williams,  Avhose  face  and  hands,  legs  and 
feet,  at  this  time  were  seriously  burned,  was  the  first  man  upon 
the  boxes  and  into  the  window  for  his  wife  and  children.  With 
the  aid  of  friends  they  all  got  out  in  safety.  Mr.  Williams  then 
secured  his  coat,  which  had  in  one  of  the  pockets  $737  and  valu- 
able papers,  some  $300  being  money  order  funds  and  the  balance 
belonging  to  the  tovra.  Then  he  darted  into  the  postofftce  and 
seized  a  package  of  some  $200  worth  of  postage  stamps.  Later  he 
walked  into  the  drug  store  of  Mr.  Frisbee,  sat  down  in  a  chair, 
and  remarked  to  Mr.  Frisbee,  "Why,  Mrs.  Lincoln  is  burned  up !" 
And  in  the  next  moment  he  says,  "FrLsbee,  I  am  badly  l)urned; 
can 't  you  do  something  for  me  ? ' '  He  was  assisted  by  ]Mr.  Frisbee 
to  the  rooms  over  the  store,  and  placed  on  a  bed.  He  was  so  badly 
burned  that  when  pumping  water  from  the  well  to  put  out  the  fire 
lie  actually  left  upon  the  frozen  ice  the  bottoms  of  his  feet — two 
pieces  of  tough  skin,  each  the  size  and  shape  of  his  foot,  and  the 
thickness  of  calf  skin.  He  left  plainly  marked  footprints  of  l)lood 
at  every  step  from  the  front  of  Frisbee 's  drug  store  to  the  back, 
and  on  every  step  up  the  stairs  to  his  very  dying  l)ed.  The  pack- 
age of  postage  stamps  had  the  distinct  imprint  of  his  l)loody 
hand  upon  tlie  outside  wrapper,  where  he  cauglit  hold  of  it.  Ef- 
forts to  save  him  were  of  no  avail  and  lie  died  two  days  later. 


410  HISTORY  OF  MO^YER  COUXTY 

DESTRUCTIVE  CYCLONE. 

The  village  of  LeRoy  was  almost  entirely  wiped  out  by  a 
cyclone  at  10:30  on  the  evening  of  September  21,  1894.  The  wind, 
which  followed  a  heavy  rain,  came  from  the  southwest,  striking 
the  depot  and  elevators,  passing  on  over  the  business  section, 
wrecking  many  stores  and  ending  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
town  by  leveling  many  residences,  including  the  new  Baptist  par- 
sonage. A  group  of  merrymakers  in  the  Union  Opera  House  made 
their  escape  as  that  building  was  falling,  Henry  Findley,  aged 
thirteen,  and  Chris  Gilbertson,  aged  sixteen,  being  killed.  Among 
those  injured  by  the  storm  were:  Joe  Nelson,  Mrs.  Mort  Dunton, 
Nels  Weigen,  Carl  Carson,  Arthur  Maxfield,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horace 
Chamberlain,  R.  Myers,  Charles  Blair,  a  child,  two  small  children, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Cotton.  The  property  loss  was  about  75,000. 
The  cyclone  demolished  the  general  store  of  Weigan  Brothers; 
C.  A.  Roy's  hardware  store;  Porter  &  Young's  general  store; 
Gilbert's  millinery  store;  E.  Deddam's  slaughter  house;  H.  Brad- 
ley's lumber  yard  and  office;  Henry  Cotton's  home  and  black- 
smith shop;  Hall  &  White's  meat  market;  the  Baptist  parsonage 
and  the  residences  of  the  following  persons :  J.  M.  Wyckoff, 
W.  W.  Sweet,  R.  G.  Young,  Henry  Meyers,  Drs.  AUsdorff,  James 
Whiteman,  Horace  Chamberlain,  E.  E.  Degroff,  H.  H.  Bither,  0.  J. 
Hattelstad,  T.  F.  Trask,  C.  C.  Mason,  H.  G.  McKee,  Mrs.  Billings- 
worth,  S.  Harrison,  John  Cosgrove,  E.  Deddams,  H.  Bradley,  L.  A. 
Knapp,  R.  Meyers,  J.  M.  Larrabee,  E.  C.  Kasson,  Mrs.  Cotton, 
Mrs.  J.  Maxwell,  the  Misses  Jacobson,  Mrs.  MaiT  Miller. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

LYLE  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — First  Events — Cedar  City 
— Village  of  Lyle — Able  Articles  by  William  Nordland  and 
L.  W.  Sherman — Development  of  the  Village — City  Hall — Fire 
Department — Churches  —  Fraternal  Orders — Industries — Tele- 
phone Company — Municipal  History — Recollections  of  Early 
Lyle. 

Lyle  comprises  congressional  townshij)  101  nortli,  range  IS 
west.  It  is  bound  as  follows:  On  the  nortli  by  Austin  township, 
east  by  Nevada,  south  by  Mitchell  and  "Worth  counties,  Iowa,  and 
west  by  Freeborn  county.     The  surface  is  mostly  level.     The  soil 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  411 

is  a  rich,  dark  loam,  and  very  productive.  This  is  a  prairie  town 
and  was  void  of  timber,  except  along  the  Red  Cedar  river,  which 
is  skirted  with  a  rich,  natural  growth.  In  other  parts  of  the  terri- 
tory beautiful  groves  of  transplanted  trees  meet  the  eye  in  every 
direction.  Cedar  river  and  its  branches  drain  the  township  and 
furnish  good  water  power,  none  of  which  is  at  present  improved. 
Tlie  main  stream  crosses  the  northerij  boundary  in  section  4  and 
traverses  in  a  generally  southern  course  sections  9,  16,  17,  21,  28 
and  33.  In  the  latter  it  receives  the  waters  of  its  most  important 
tributary,  Woodbury  creek,  which  flows  through  the  soutliwest 
part  of  the  town. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  settler  witliin  the  territorial  limits  of  Lyle,  which  is 
one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  Mower  county,  was  one  Woodbury, 
who  came  here  from  parts  unknown  in  the  autumn  of  1853,  and 
claimed  a  large  tract  of  land  bordering  on  Cedar  river  and  the 
creek  whicii  takes  from  him  its  name.  On  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  33  he  put  up  a  log  cabin  and  covered  it  with  sod.  Soon 
his  son-in-law,  Pinkerton,  came.  Woodbury  sold  his  claim  in 
June,  1855,  and  moved  to  Olmsted  county. 

In  the  spring  of  1854  two  other  sons-in-law  of  Mr.  Woodbury 
put  in  an  appearance  and  made  claims  in  the  vicinity  of  his  own. 
They  were  named  respectively  jMarlott,  Pinkerton  and  Stilsou. 
Marlott  established  himself  for  a  brief  season  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  28,  subsequently  accompanying,  or  following, 
his  father  Woodbury  to  Olmsted  county.  Pinkerton,  who  had 
previously  lived  with  Woodbury,  constructed  a  log  house  on  the 
northeast  of  section  32.  Having  lived  there  about  a  year,  he  sold 
out  and  w-ent  westward  to  the  Blue  Earth  river.  Stilson  erected 
a  temporary  dwelling  of  bark  on  the  present  site  of  Woodbury 
cemetery.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1855  he  removed  to 
Albert  Lea.  Prom  that  place  he  journeyed  on  with  his  familv 
and  formed  a  new  home  on  the  banks  of  the  Blue  Earth  river. 
Here  a  sad  accident  befell  them.  During  a  severe  rainstorm  the 
stream  was  rapidly  swollen.  The  raging  waters  surrounded  and 
partially  filled  the  house.  With  difficulty  Mr.  Stilson  succeeded 
in  saving  the  lives  of  his  wife  and  an  infant  child.  They  had  a 
narrow  escape,  while  three  children  were  drowned. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  in  this  town  was  made  in  1854, 
bj'  Oriando  Wilder,  Eben  Merry,  James  Foster  and  liis  son  Return 
Foster,  John  Tiflft  and  William  Bean.  JMr.  Wilder  is  a  native  of 
the  Green  ]\Iountain  state.  He  arrived  here  on  the  sixth  day  of 
May,  in  the  year  above  mentioned.  He  built  liis  liouse  on  sec- 
tion 33.  Some  of  the  party  who  came  west  with  him  settled 
across  the  state  line  in  Iowa.     Eben  ^lerry  was  born  in  York 


412  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

State.  He  settled  ou  the  west  half  of  section  4.  James  Foster 
and  his  sou  Return  were  natives  of  New  Jersey,  made  the  first 
settlement  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  in  the  autumn  of  1854. 
They  preempted  land  in  sections  3  and  4.  The  father  made  liis 
home  here  until  the  time  of  his  death.  John  Tifft,  also  a  settler 
of  1854,  entered  land  in  sections  4,  5  and  9.  He  laid  out  the 
village  of  Troy  and  erected  a  saw  mill.  He  died  a  few  years 
later.  William  Bean  came  with  the  Wilders,  and  continued  a 
member  of  their  family,  Mrs.  Wilder  being  his  step-daughter. 
He  took  a  claim  on  section  33. 

The  first  settlers  in  the  town  of  Lyle  were  obliged  to  go  to 
Auburn,  Fayette  county,  Iowa,  a  distance  of  eighty  miles,  to  get 
their  mail  and  to  buy  provisions.  They  used  to  make  the  trip 
with  ox  teams.  AVhen  the  mail  route  Vv-as  established  from  Osage 
to  Aiistin,  mail  matter  was  left  at  Orlando  Wilder 's  for  distribu- 
tion in  the  neighborhood.  TJiis  was  not  a  regular  postoffice,  but 
the  arrangement  was  a  great  convenience  to  the  hard  Avorking 
pioneers. 

The  settlers  of  1855  were  AVilliam  Allen,  George  Carrier, 
Benjamin  Coe,  James  Davis,  Dilarzon  and  Lorenzo  Moshier, 
Joseph  Richards,  Edward  Sprague.  John  WoodAvorth  and  David 
West.  William  Allen,  the  pioneer  of  Nevada,  took  up  his  abode 
for  a  time  on  section  20.  Thence  he  Avent  to  the  Pacific  coast,  and 
when  last  heard  from  was  living  in  Oregon.  George  Carrier  set- 
tled on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  20,  where  he  made,  how- 
ever, but  a  short  tarry.  Soon  the  place  which  had  but  begun  to 
know  him  knew  him  no  more ;  he  had  sold  out  and  gone  to  Texas. 
Benjamin  Coe,  Ed.  Sprague  and  John  AVoodworth  arrived  to- 
gether in  June.  Coe  bought  Woodbury's  claim  and  occupied  it 
until  June,  1856,  when  he  sold  it  to  Rev.  Alanson  Beach  and 
A.  M.  St.  John,  and  moved  to  Olmsted  county.  Sprague  settled 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  28.  He  had  been  there  but 
two  or  three  years  when  he  sold  out  to  Judge  Lyle,  and  returned 
to  Hliuois.  Woodworth  preempted  land  in  sections  28  and  29. 
He  also  was  but  a  temporary  resident  in  Lyle.  Disposing  of  his 
property  in  the  township  he  followed  the  migration  to  Olmsted 
county.  In  1861  the  WoodAvorth  ]3lace  came  into  the  possession 
of  Avery  Strong,  a  native  of  the  Empire  state.  Three  years  later 
it  Avas  purchased  by  Ortin  Barnum.  Strong  Avent  to  Otranto. 
James  Davis,  another  settler  of  1855,  preempted  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  22.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Fourth 
Regiment.  After  his  return  from  the  Avar  he  resumed  farming, 
and  remained  a  resident  of  this  county  several  years.  Dilarzon 
and  Lorenzo  Moshier,  Avhose  birthplace  was  in  the  state  of  Ncav 
York,  removed  here  from  Pennsylvania,  arriA^ng  in  Lyle  on  the 
14th   of  June,   1855.     Dilarzon  preempted  in  the  northwestern 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  413 

quarter  of  section  30.  Lorenzo  preempted  in  section  29,  south- 
west quarter.  He  held  possession  three  or  four  years  only,  then 
sold  and  went  to  iMissouri.  Finding  it  very  unpleasant  there,  not 
to  say  unsafe,  for  a  union  man,  during  war  times,  he  turned  east- 
ward, crossed  the  ^Mississippi  river  and  spent  a  few  years  in  the 
state  of  Hlinois.  From  there  he  went  to  Texas,  Avliere  he  died  m 
1880.  Richards  was  a  Pennsylvatiian,  whom  the  summer  of  '55 
brought  to  Lyle.  He  bought  a  claim  of  William  Bean,  on  the 
west  half  of  section  33,  stayed  on  it  five  or  six  years,  and  then 
left  for  Vei'non  Springs,  Iowa.  AVest  was  a  native  of  York  Slate. 
He  entered  the  nortliwest  quarter  of  SvH-tion  82,  where  he  lived 
several  years. 

In  1856  came  the  following:  Ezra  D.  Ames,  Rev.  Alauson 
Beach,  John  Beach,  Wilson  Beach,  Erastus  Bedford,  Chester  Cal- 
well,  Edward  Calwell,  Lewis  Ebbers,  Calvin  H.  Owen,  Charles 
Owen,  Rev.  Samuel  Loomis,  Henry  Roderts,  William  Shellbach, 
A.  ]\I.  St.  John,  Joseph  Thompson,  William  West.  Ames,  Bedford, 
Rev.  Beach  and  his  two  sons,  Loomis,  the  Owens,  C.  and  H.,  St. 
John  and  West  were  natives  of  New  York  state.  Samuel  Surface, 
a  Hoosier,  came  from  Houston  county  early  in  the  year  and  pre- 
empted land  in  sections  28  and  29.  He  built  a  log  house  and 
stables  and  improved  a  portion  of  his  claim.  In  1861  he  enlisted 
in  Company  K,  Fourth  Minnesota  Regiment,  and  died  in  the 
service.  Ezra  D.  Ames,  hailing  last  from  Indiana,  entered  the 
scene  of  this  history  in  March,  1856.  Preempting  120  acres  in  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  21,  he  lived  there  six  months,  and 
then  bought  a  place  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  19. 
William  Schellbach  and  Louis  Ebbers,  natives  of  Germany,  were 
among  the  first  immigrants  of  tlie  new  year.  The  former  settled 
on  the  northAvest  quarter  of  section  34.  Ebbers  settled  on  the 
southwest  of  section  34.  His  death,  which  occurred  before  the 
close  of  the  summer,  was  the  second  in  tlie  town.  In  July  Rev. 
Al.inson  Beach  and  A.  M.  St.  John  bought  land  of  Benjamin  Coe 
in  sections  32  and  33.  They  then  returned  to  New  York.  In 
November  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Beach  came  again  to  Lyle.  and 
established  his  home  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  33.  His 
sous,  John  and  Wilson,  accompanied  him.  John  Beach  preempted 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  26.  Wilson  preempted  the  south 
east  quarter  of  the  same  section.  He  was  a  single  man  and  lived 
with  his  parents  until  after  the  war,  when  he  settled  on  section  33. 
Charles  Owen,  a  young  man  who  came  with  the  Beach  family, 
entered  the  northwest  of  section  26,  l)ut  did  not  make  a  pernia- 
nent  settlement.  Returning  to  New  York,  he  died  before  the  close 
of  the  late  war.  William  West  arrived  in  the  summer  of  185C, 
and  moved  into  the  liouse  that  Alanson  Beach  had  l)()uglit  of 
Coe.     Here  for  tli-  next  tlirec  inojitlis  !'e  did  a  livclv  husiness  as 


414  HISTOEY  OF  MO\YEE  COUNTY 

a  tavern  keeper.  In  the  ensuing  autumn,  he  moved  on  to  the 
northwest  of  section  34,  having  previously  entered  the  land. 
Joseph  Thompson  came  over  from  Wisconsin  and  settled  in  the 
southeast  of  section  27.  After  living  there  two  years  he  removed 
to  Iowa.  He  served  his  country  as  a  Union  soldier  in  the  war  of 
the  southern  rebellion.  At  a  subsequent  date  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  died.  Calvin  H.  Owen  crossed  the  Iowa  boun- 
dary line  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  and  bought  land  and  made 
a  home  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  30.  Rev.  Samuel 
Loomis,  a  Methodist  divine,  came  in  the  autumn  and  preempted 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  19.  Mr.  Loomis  enlisted  in 
Company  K,  Fourtli  Minnesota  Regiment.  Discharged  on  account 
of  disability  in  October,  1862,  he  returned  to  his  home,  where  in 
December  of  that  year  he  died.  Edward  and  Chester  Calwell 
came  from  the  Keystone  state.  The  former  settled  on  the  north- 
Avest  of  section  30,  the  latter  on  the  southeast  of  section  19.  Two 
years  later  they  sold  their  lands  and  went  to  Kansas.  Henry 
Roberts,  an  Englishman,  arrived  toward  the  close  of  the  year,  anrl 
bought  Carrier's  claim  in  section  20.  W.  M.  Pace  and  Robert 
Lyle  came  to  Mower  county  in  November,  1856.  In  1864  Pace 
settled  on  the  south  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  22. 
Robert  Lyle  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  was  a  judge  of  probate, 
and  was  the  representative  from  this  district  to  the  state  legisla- 
ture. The  town  was  named  for  him.  In  1868  he  removed  to 
Missouri. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  Lyle  township  was  Isaac  I\Ioshier. 
son  of  Dilarzon  and  Elizabeth  (Milliken)  Moshier.  The  date  of 
his  birth  was  August  16,  1855.  The  first  death  in  the  town  was 
that  of  Mrs.  Margary  Bean,  wife  of  AVilliam  N.  Bean,  in  March, 
1S56.  She  Mas  buried  within  the  limits  of  Woodbury  cemetery 
long  before  it  was  surveyed.  The  next  death  was  that  of  Louis 
Ebbers,  a  German,  which  occurred  in  the  summer  of  the  same 
year.  His  body  was  also  interred  in  Woodbury  cemetery.  This 
cemetery  is  located  in  section  33. 

CEDAR  CITY. 

The  town  of  Lyle  boasts  of  a  locality  known  as  Cedar  City. 
Emigrants  at  an  early  day  were  attracted  by  this  high  sounding 
name,  thinking  it  must  denote  a  place  of  some  importance. 
Andrew  Gemmel  often  related  that  he  stopped  to  make  inquiry 
concerning  it  of  the  postmaster  at  St.  Paul.  The  courteous  official 
told  him  the  location,  and  rcinarkcd  that  very  likely  he  would 
find  but  one  house  there.     Tlie  chosen  site  of  this  projected  city 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  415 

wliich  never  was  built  was  in  section  4.  The  land  was  first 
claimed  by  John  Chandler.  He,  however,  waived  his  claim  in 
favor  of  Caleb  Stock  and  John  Phelps,  who  proposed  to  erect  a 
mill.  They  began  work  there  in  1856,  putting  in  a  substantial 
dam  of  stone  and  timber.  A  third  party,  T.  N.  Stone,  was  inter- 
ested with  tliem  in  this  enterprise.  Two  mills  were  built,  one 
furnished  with  a  circular  saw  for  sawing  lumber,  the  other  a 
grist  mill,  Avith  one  set  of  buhrs.  In  1858  Stock  traded  his  interest 
in  the  mill  to  George  Phelps.  The  grist  mill  was  completed  in 
August  of  that  year.  One  sack  of  wheat  had  been  ground,  when 
came  a  freshet  and  swept  both  mills  down  the  stream.  Thus  the 
hopes  of  the  company  were  blasted.  The  mills  were  never  rebuilt. 
Owing  to  the  fine  Avater  power  at  this  point,  people  in  the  neigh- 
borhood once  indulged  in  the  pleasing  expectation  that  Cedar 
City  would  become  a  formidable  rival  of  Austin,  even  if  it  did 
not  surpass  it  altogether.  Circumstances  determined  it  otherwise. 
Nothing  now  remains  to  mark  the  site  of  the  imaginary  city  hut 
the  ruins  of  the  old  milldam. 

Troy  City  was  platted  March  24,  1857,  by  John  Tifft,  in  parts 
of  sections  4  and  9,  tov.'nship  101,  range  18. 

VILLAGE  OF  LYLE. 
(By  William  Nordland.) 

Lyle  is  a  v/ideawake  village  of  552  inhabitants,  located  in 
section  36,  Lyle  township,  eleven  iniles  south  of  Austin,  the 
county  seat,  and  just  north  of  the  state  line  between  ]\Iinnesota 
and  Iowa.  It  has.  exceptional  business  opportunities,  as  it  is 
located  on  three  principal  lines  of  railroad,  viz.:  The  C,  M.  & 
St.  P.,  the  Chicago  Great  AVestern  and  the  Illinois  Central. 

The  surrounding  country  is  one  of  the  best  and  most  higiily 
cultivated  agricultural  districts  in  the  Northwest.  Farming  is 
diversified,  and  this  locality  is  famous  for  its  good  horses,  dairy 
cows  and  the  large  number  of  hogs  raised  annually.  This  could 
not  be  done  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  we  are  located  in  the 
corn  belt.  Lyle  affords  a  good  market  for  all  grains,  poultry, 
.stock,  fruit  and  all  farm  produce. 

Tlic  city  owns  and  operates  its  own  water  plant,  wliich  suj)- 
plies  its  patrons  from  a  drilled  well  800  feet  deep.  Lyle  has  an 
Independent  Telephone  Company,  which  has  350  'phones  in 
operation  and  connects  with  a  large  number  of  other  companies. 
One  of  the  things  of  which  the  village  is  proud  is  its  cement 
walks,  almost  every  street  in  the  village  being  lined  witii  them. 
The  streets,  business  places  and  residences  are  lighted  ])y  a  local 
electric  light  plant  under  the  management  of  N.  G.  Fischer.  One 
of  tl'e  "laisy"  places  is  the  caiuiing  factory.     The  Lyle  corru- 


416  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

gated  culvert  factory  is  also  among  the  foremost  industries. 
Other  places  of  biisiness  are:  A  fanners'  co-operative  creamery, 
a  tow  mill,  one  feed  mill,  three  elevators,  three  blacksmith  shops, 
one  lumber  yard,  one  drug  store,  four  general  stores,  one  furni- 
ture store,  two  millinery  stores,  one  shoe  store,  one  jewelry  store, 
one  hardvrare  store,  one  photo  gallery,  one  tailor  shop,  one  har- 
ness shop,  one  bank,  one  newspaper,  two  butcher  shops,  two 
hotels,  two  livery  barns,  one  garage,  two  restaurants,  two  cream 
stations,  two  barber  shops. 

Lyle  takes  great  pride  in  its  large  number  of  beautiful  resi- 
dences, well  kept  lawns  and  umbrageous  trees.  The  park,  located 
only  one  block  from  the  business  section  of  the  village,  is  one  of 
the  creditable  improvements,  and  is  often  the  scene  of  pleasant 
social  gatherings.  The  Lyle  Concert  Band  is  composed  of  local 
musicians  and  is  ably  led  by  B.  J.  Robertson. 

Peter  Hanson  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  the  village, 
having  lived  here  since  March  15,  1874,  all  of  which  time,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year,  he  has  been  in  the  harness  busin;^ss. 
J.  H.  Sherman,  who  for  many  years  had  charge  of  the  Hunting- 
elevator,  ■  is  also  one  of  the  early  residents,  still  residing  here. 
Another  one  of  the  early  business  men  still  residing  in  the  village 
is  0.  T.  Liud,  dealer  in  groceries,  dry  goods,  shoes,  notions,  etc. 
Some  of  the  other  early  settlers  are  0.  A.  Anderson,  the  jeweler ; 
John  Norris,  Sr. ;  D.  D.  Lione  and  A.  B.  Olsen. 

The  health  of  the  residents  of  Lyle  is  looked  after  by  three 
.physicians,  viz.:  Dr.  Cobb,  Dr.  Frazer  and  Dr.  Torkelson.  Dr. 
W.  F.  Cobb  has  practiced  in  this  vicinity  since  1874  and  Dr.  W. 
A.  Frazer  has  been  in  Lyle  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
having  located  here  March  9,  1887.  Dr.  P.  T.  Torkelson  estab- 
lished his  office  in  Lyle  in  1909. 

Lyle  was  platted  November  11,  1870,  by  Selah  Cliamberlaiu, 
D.  C.  Sheppard  and  Charles  McIlratJi. 

THE  CITY  HALL. 

The  city  hall  was  erected  in  1906  at  a  cost  of  about  $8,000. 
The  structure  is  a  two-story  cement  brick  building  40x80  feet.  A 
part  of  the  first  floor  is  used  by  the  fire  department  for  theii- 
apparatus,  etc.  A  large  room  on  the  east,  known  as  the  council 
<?hamber,  is  utilized  for  meetings  of  various  kinds,  both  social 
and  political.  It  is  here  that  all  elections  are  held  and  it  is  often 
the  scene  of  a  warm  debate  over  questions  of  interest  to  the 
people.  Back  of  the  council  room  is  a  room  for  the  marshal,  and 
off  from  this  is  the  city  jail,  which  is  a  model  of  cleanliness  and 
neatness.  The  second  floor  is  a  large  hall  with  a  seating  capacity 
oC  500,  with  a  good  roomy  stage  where  scenery  may  be  displayed 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  417 

to  advantage.  The  fire  department  Jias  the  management  of  this 
hall  and  provide  for  various  amusements,  entertainments,  lec- 
tures, etc. 

FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

On  May  2,  1891,  Lyle  village  was  swept  by  fire,  which  left  the 
greater  portion  of  the  business  section  -in  ashes  and  destroyed 
many  of  the  early  records,  which  would  be  very  valuable  for 
articles  of  this  kind  as  well  as  in  a  thousand  other  ways.  This 
fire  as  well  as  other  occurrences  made  evident  the  urgent  need 
of  a  fire  department,  consequently  on  October  21,  1895,  a  meeting 
was  called  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  volunteer  company. 
Ed  Stanley  was  chosen  chief  and  F.  B.  Losey  elected  secretary. 
After  two  months  Editor  E.  F.  AVilson  was  elected  secretary  to 
succeed  Losey.  Stanley  was  reelected  chief  and  held  the  office 
until  June  7,  1897,  when  George  Robertson  was  elected  chief  and 
A.  Phillipson  was  chosen  secretary  to  succeed  Wilson.  Robertson 
continued  to  hold  the  office  of  chief,  being  reelected  year  after 
year  until  he  was  elected  county  auditor  and  moved  to  Austin  in 
1903.  On  June  14,  1898,  Ed  Stanley  was  elected  secretary,  which 
office  he  held  until  1903,  when  R.  P.  Gibson  succeeded  him  and 
J.  11.  Hughes  became  chief.  Hughes  and  Gibson  served  for  three 
years,  when,  in  1906,  Gill  Ferris  was  selected  as  head  of  the 
department  in  the  place  of  Hughes  and  L.  A.  Sherman  became 
scribe.  After  two  years  Carl  Peterson  was  chosen  chief,  which 
office  he  held  until  February,  1911,  when  James  Mortenson  was 
elected.  Ed  Sherman  succeeded  L.  A.  Sherman  as  secretary 
August  26,  1909,  when  the  latter  resigned,  having  removed  from 
the  village.  The  company  is  composed  of  twenty-one  members 
and  its  present  officers  are:  James  Mortenson,  chief;  0.  G. 
Blakestad,  treasurer;  E.  B.  Sherman,  secretary.  The  company 
owns  about  1,000  feet  of  hose,  hook  and  ladder  and  two  hose 
carts,  and  all  necessary  equipments.  Although  the  service  is 
volunteer,  all  calls  are  promptly  responded  to  and  some  heroic 
work  has  been  done  by  these  brave  fire  laddies. 

CHURCHES. 

Lyle  has  two  churches,  the  Gospel  Mission  and  the  Congrega- 
tional. 

The  former  is  an  organization  of  true  and  d(>voted  follower.? 
of  the  Saviour,  who  gather  weekly  for  prayer  and  worship.  They 
do  not  have  a  regular  pastor,  but  often  hold  series  of  evangelistic 
services  under  the  direction  of  traveling  evangelists. 

The  Congregational  church  organization  is  a  union  of  the 
]\Iethodist  Episcopal  and  Congregational  bodies.  The  organiza- 
tion was  incorporated  April  24,  1886,  and  the  church  building  was 


418  HISTOEY  OF  MO  WEE  COUNTY 

dedicated  January  30,  1887,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  Rev. 
J.  H.  Marley,  state  superintendent  of  the  Home  Missionary 
Society.  Rev.  J.  S.  Rounce  Avas  the  first  pastor.  The  parsonage 
was  erected  in  1896.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  A.  G.  "Washing- 
ton. The  church  has  a  flourishing  Sunday  school  in  connection, 
also  a  Christian  Endeavor  Society  and  an  active  Ladies'  Aid 
Society.  L.  W.  Sherman,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Lyle,  who 
is  now  a  resident  of  Minneapolis,  was  for  many  years  one  of  the 
mainstays  of  the  evangelical  body. 

POSTOFFICE  AND  BANK. 

The  postoffice  and  bank  are  described  elsewhere  in  this  his- 
tory. 

PUBLIC  SCHOOL. 

Lyle  Public  School.  Lyle  has  a  $15,000  public  school  building 
with  a  full  corps  of  instructors,  taking  the  children  from  the  pri- 
mary department  through  the  four  years  of  the  high  school  course, 
with  special  instructors  in  the  agricultural  and  manual  training 
departments.  The  school  board  consists  of:  President,  Dr.  W.  S. 
Cobb;  secretary,  B.  J.  Robertson;  treasurer,  H.  G.  Dahl;  mem- 
bers, C.  M.  Anderson,  J.  0.  Johnson  and  W.  L.  Cole.  The  faculty 
consists  of :  Superintendent,  W.  H.  Detamore ;  principal,  Goldie 
Garl;  department  of  manual  training,  E.  H.  Vinton;  department 
of  agriculture,  W.  J.  Rhoades;  teachers,  Ida  Southmayd,  Erma 
Wilcox,  Fanny  Hendy  and  Alice  Roots.  The  district  is  No.  90. 
It  was  organized  in  1873,  being  formed  mostly  from  the  easterly 
part  of  No.  15  or  Minnereka.  The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  the 
same  year  on  lots  11  and  12  in  block  4,  which  were  presented  to 
the  school  board  by  the  proprietor  of  the  town  plat.  It  was  a 
small  building,  16x26,  and  seated  in  the  old-fashioned  way,  the 
desks  extending  around  three  sides,  attached  to  the  walls,  with 
benches  for  seats.  S.  Anna  McCune,  of  Austin,  was  the  first 
teacher.  The  district  was  made  independent  a  year  or  two  later. 
In  the  year  1877  a  large  two-room  building  was  erected,  and 
about  the  year  1896  a  two-room  addition  was  constructed.  This 
continued  to  be  the  home  of  the  public  school  until  1906,  when  the 
present  high  school  Avas  erected,  and  the  old  site  with  the  build- 
ings sold. 

FRATERNAL  ORDERS. 

Among  the  social  and  fraternal  orders  Lyle  has  had  her  quota, 
and  among  them  we  might  mention  the  M.  B.  A.  Lodge,  No.  333 ; 
AVillow  Wood  Camp,  No.  565;  Knights  of  Pythias,  No.  59;  the 
Railroad  Order  of  Trainmen,  I.  0.  G.  T.,  No.  31,  and  the  A.  F. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  419 

and  A.  M.,  Alma  Lodge,  No.  131.  Of  the  above  orders,  the 
Masonic,  the  K.  P.,  the  M.  W.  A.  and  the  M.  B.  A.  survive. 

Alma  Lodge,  No.  131,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  The  Masonic  Lodge  has 
had  a  steady  and  substantial  growth  from  the  time  the  local  lodge 
received  its  charter,  in  1878,  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Minnesota. 
The  very  nature  of  the  order  does  not  permit  applicants  to  be 
taken  in  by  the  wholesale,  as  is  the  custom  in  many  lodges,  yet 
new  and  appreciative  members  have  been  constantly  added,  and 
the  work  has  been  successfully  carried  on,  year  in  and  year  out, 
until  over  200  men,  free  born  and  of  lawful  age,  have  become 
affiliated  with  this  branch  of  the  world-wide  organization.  Alma 
Lodge  meets  regularly  on  the  first  and  third  Friday  evenings  of 
each  month,  in  their  hall,  due  east  and  west,  over  Dahl  Bros.' 
store.  The  present  officers  are :  0.  A.  Dahl,  W.  M. ;  J.  W.  John- 
son, S.  "W. ;  Chris  Johnson,  J.  W. ;  Wm.  Nordland,  secretary ; 
F.  M.  Beach,  treasurer ;  Ole  Running,  S.  D. ;  Louis  Blakestad, 
J.  D. ;  Asmun  Olson,  tyler ;  Geo.  M.  Anderson,  S.  S. ;  Dr.  P.  T. 
Torkelson,  J.  S. ;  Dr.  W.  F.  Cobb,  prelate ;  S.  H.  Dahl,  marshal. 
The  lodge  is  very  strong  socially  and  financially,  and  is  liberally 
sharing  the  cares  and  burdens  of  its  unfortunate  members,  who 
need  aid.  The  special  feature  of  this  order  is  its  well  informed 
brethren.  Alma  Lodge  had  its  inception  in  the  early  days  of 
the  village,  when  many  orders  came  into  existence  and  flourished 
for  a  time,  then  were  lost  in  oblivion.  But  Free  Masonry  still 
survives. 

Knights  of  Pythias.  The  wide-awake  and  enterprising  mem- 
bers of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  are  not  to  be»  overlooked  in 
a  write-up  of  Lyle  and  its  history,  for  they  toil  and  spin  inces- 
santly, and  their  rapid  growth  proves  the  constant  activities  of 
the  order.  The  work  of  the  lodge  is  creditably  handled  by  well 
informed  members,  but  this  is  only  one  of  the  many  features  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  in  Lyle.  Its  hospitable  members 
and  social  functions  have  made  the  lodge  and  club  rooms  one  of 
the  most  popular  rendezvous  in  this  section  of  the  country.  The 
lodge  received  their  charter  in  1889,  but  the  great  fire  in  1891 
destroyed  the  original,  and  a  new  one  was  granted  September  9, 
1891.  Dr.  W.  A.  Frazer  is  the  only  one  of  the  original  charter 
members  now  residing  in  Lyle.  During  the  last  twenty-two  years 
many  candidates  have  wandered  through  the  desert  and  become 
useful  members  of  the  order.  Besides  a  large  membership,  the 
lodge  today  boasts  of  having  a  two-story  brick  building  of  their 
own.  which  was  erected  in  1891.  The  rooms  on  the  first  floor  are 
occupied  by  the  drug  store  and  the  second  story  is  occupied  by 
tlie  Knights.  In  addition  1o  this  hall,  they  have  a  cozy  club  room 
adjoining  the  hall,  which  is  neatly  fitted  up  for  the  amusement  of 
the  members.    Following  are  the  officers:  A.  George,  C.  C. ;   N.  E. 


420  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Fedson,  V.  C. ;  W.  F.  Cobb,  prelate ;  Ed.  Hildebrand,  K.  of  R. 
&  S. ;  W.  L.  Cole,  M.  of  F. ;  Nick  Severson,  M.  of  E. ;  Chas.  How- 
ard, M.  of  W. ;  Earl  Vinton,  M.  at  A.;  John  Olson,  inner  guard; 
Claude  Hildebrand,  outer  guard;  F.  E.  AVilder,  trustee  for  three 
years. 

The  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  About  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury ago,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  made  their  appear- 
ance in  Lyle,  and  organized  a  camp,  of  which  Peter  Hanson  is 
the  only  remaining  charter  member  residing  in  the  village.  The 
order  is  known  as  Willow  Wood  Camp,  No.  565.  They  maintain 
quarters  in  the  Peterson  hall,  where  they  hold  their  regular  meet- 
ings the  first  and  third  Tuesday  evenings  of  each  month.  The 
camp  is  in  good  active  and  financial  condition,  and  especially  of 
late  has  it  held  its  own  in  adding  new  material  and  strength  to 
its  large  list  of  members.  E.  L.  Stanley  was  the  first  Venerable 
Counsel  and  J.  S.  Schuyler  the  first  Scribe.  The  camp  is  at  pres- 
ent officered  by  the  following:  Fred  Wyborney,  V.  C. ;  Chris 
Johnson,  W.  A.;  John  Schumacher,  banker;  O.  G.  Blakestad, 
clerk ;  M.  M.  Dunbar,  escort ;  Frank  Peterman,  watchman ;  Frank 
Cafourek,  sentry ;  Ole  Running,  manager  for  three  years ;  Dr. 
Cobb,  physician  ;  Dr.  Torkelson,  assistant. 

Modem  Brotherhood  of  America.  One  of  the  latter  fraternal 
organizations  of  the  village  is  the  JModern  Brotherhood  of  Amei'- 
ica,  Lyle  Lodge,  No.  333.  This  order  was  first  introduced  into 
Lyle  about  twelve  years  ago,  and  today  has  quite  a  large  member- 
ship. Ladies  are  admitted  to  membership  in  this  lodge,  which  has 
a  tendency  to  strengthen  the  social  part  of  the  order.  Their  meet- 
ings are  held  in  the  Masonic  Hall  on  the  second  and  fourth  Satur- 
day evenings  of  the  month.  Officers  elected  to  supervise  the  busi- 
ness of  the  organization  are :  Peter  Anderson,  president ;  T. 
Thompson,  vice-president;  C.  M.  Anderson,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer; Tom  Murphy,  chaplain;  Ben  Helfritz,  conductor;  George 
Larson,  watchman;  Sam  Olson,  sentry;  trustees,  Osmun  Olson, 
T.  H.  Murphy,  D.  E.  Erickson. 


INDUSTRIES. 

Lyle  Corrugated  Culvert  Company.  The  village  of  Lyle  is 
closely  associated  with  the  corrugated  pipe  industry,  for  it  was 
here,  in  1905,  that  the  first  corrugated  pipe  seen  in  this  section  of 
the  country  was  manufactured.  The  Lyle  Corrugated  Culvert 
Company  was  organized  by  parties  from  Ohio,  who  began  opera- 
tions in  a  small  way,  choosing  Lyle  as  a  suitable  point  for  manu- 
facturing purposes,  on  account  of  its  splendid  railroad  facilities. 
After  continuing  in  the  business  for  about  one  year,  A.  B.  Wilder 


W.  F.  COBB,  M.  D. 


IIISTOUY  OF  MOWER  COUNrY  421 

and  Frank  M.  Beech  became  interested  in  the  project,  and  the 
Lvle  Corrngated  Culvert  Company,  as  it  now  exists,  was  organ- 
ized. The  company  at  once  began  operations  on  a  larger  scale, 
and  soon  established  the  branch  plant  at  Minneapolis,  where  sub- 
sequently the  head  office  was  moved.  The  business  has  increased 
Avonderfully  within  the  last  three  years,  and  the  manufacturing 
plant  at  Lyle  is  one  of  the  assets  of  the  village. 

The  Lyle  Telephone  Company  was  organized  March  27,  1902, 
and  incorporated  for  .+20.000,  and  for  thirty  years.  The  above 
sum  was  divided  into  400  shares  at  $50  each  and  sold  at  par.  The 
highest  amount  of  indebtedness  permitted  is  $10,000.  The  names 
and  places  of  residence  of  the  persons  forming  this  corporation 
are  as  follows:  E.  L.  Stanley,  R.  Reierson,  W.  F.  Cobb,  J.  L.  Hugh- 
son.  A.  M.  Wilson,  George  Robertson,  L.  A.  Sherman,  A.  B.  AVilder, 
F.  M.  Beach,  0.  T.  Lund  and  C.  "W.  Lacy,  all  of  Lyle ;  John  Berga- 
sou  and  Rahne  Brothers,  of  Deer  Creek,  Iowa,  and  H.  D.  Fair- 
banks, of  Austin.  Each  took  five  shares.  The  following  stock- 
holders were  elected  directors :  E.  L.  Stanley,  John  Bergason, 
"\Y.  F.  Cobb,  George  Robertson  and  R.  Reierson.  The  first  meeting 
of  the  board  of  directors  Avas  held  April  1,  1902.  John  Bergason 
was  elected  president;  George  Robertson,  vice-president;  E.  L. 
Stanley,  secretary,  and  W.  F.  Cobb,  treasurer.  In  April,  1905, 
the  stockholders  voted  to  bond  the  company  for  $5,000  and  pay 
all  outstanding  indebtedness,  which  was  accordingly  done.  The 
first  annual  statement  shows  a  capital  stock  paid  in  of  $7,500  and  a 
surplus  cash  on  hand  of  $416.16.  The  last  annual  statement  shows 
common  stock  issued,  $8,350;  preferred  stock,-  $1,470;  invested 
in  plant.  $17,816.06 ;  outstanding  indebtedness,  $3,150 ;  outstand- 
ing accounts,  cash  and  material  on  hand,  $886.61.  After  the  first 
year  the  company  has  always  paid  its  stockholders  an  annual 
dividend  and  for  the  last  seven  years  the  company  has  paid  a 
dividend  of  6  per  cent,  placing  the  balance  of  the  net  earnings  in 
the  sinking  fund. 

From  this  showing  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Lyle  Telephone  Com- 
pany is  a  live  organization.  Compared  with  other  telephone  lines 
in  rural  communities,  it  stands  high,  and  the  service  it  renders  is 
exceptionally  good.  Its  connections  with  three  long-distance  lines 
give  its  patrons  a  service  that  is  metropolitan  in  its  complexion. 
Its  officers  at  this  time  are :  W.  F.  Cobb,  president ;  Charles  How- 
ard, vice-president ;  B.  J.  Robertson,  secretary ;  A.  B.  AYilder, 
treasurer,  and  John  Bergason,  director.  The  company  employs 
tliree  operators  and  gives  almost  continual  service,  a  few  hours 
on  Sunday  being  the  exception.  Its  business  relations  with  other 
companies  have  always  been  pleasant  as  well  as  profitable.  The 
future  of  this  company  promises  success  the  same  as  in  the  past. 


422  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  village  eouneil  of  Lyle  was  held  May 
17,  1875.  and  the  august  body  was  composed  of  the  following 
named  persons:  L.  W.  Sherman,  mayor  and  justice  of  the  peace; 
John  Trodler,  O.  H.  Lucken  and  P.  H.  McLaughlin,  coiincilmen ; 
T.  H.  Irgens,  treasurer ;  John  C.  Taskerud,  recorder ;  Peter  Knut- 
son,  constable,  and  P.  Laughlin,  assessor. 

Since  then  L.  W.  Sherman  has  served  the  people  of  Lyle  twice 
in  the  capacity  of  mayor.  Seventeen  others  filled  this  office  with 
the  number  of  terms  as  follows :  P.  H.  McLaughlin  succeeded  Mr. 
Sherman  after  three  years  with  two  terms,  when  Peter  Hanson 
was  elected  and  held  the  office  one  term.  Frank  Jereback  fol- 
lowed Peter  Hanson  with  two  years  in  the  chair,  and  T.  H.  Irgens 
succeeding,  serving  three  years.  L.  W.  Sherman  was  then  elected 
again  and  held  the  office  one  year.  L.  D.  Carter,  E.  L.  Stanley, 
0.  T.  Lund,  0.  G.  Myhre  followed  with  one  term  each,  when  L.  W. 
Sherman  was  again  elected  mayor  and  held  office  one  term.  Geo. 
Robertson  and  A.  M.  Wilson  followed  with  one  term  each  and  R. 
Reierson  succeeded  Wilson  and  held  the  office  two  years.  In 
1897,  P.  A.  Johnson  was  chosen  mayor  and  served  three  terms. 
He  was  followed  by  W.  F.  Cobb.  W.  E.  LeBaron  was  next  elected 
and  held  the  office  for  three  terms,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
F.  M.  Beach,  who,  after  two  years  in  the  office,  was  followed  by 
Jens  Larson  in  1908,  who  has  since  had  the  honor  of  swinging  the 
gavel. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  first  village  council.  May  18,  1875,  it  was 
decided  to  hold  all  regular  meetings  of  the  council  on  the  first 
Monday  of  each  month,  and  this  rule  has  always  been  adhered 
to.  The  first  order  was  drawn  for  $11.25,  in  favor  of  H.  Wiseman, 
for  painting  the  village  "lock-up."  For  the  first  four  years  the 
annual  village  election  was  held  in  May,  but  on  March  11,  1879, 
a  special  charter  election  was  held  and  the  second  Tuesday  in 
March  has  since  been  known  as  a  "red  letter"  day  in  the  village. 

Those  who  have  served  in  the  capacity  of  recorder  since  the 
village  was  organized  are  many,  and  with  one  or  two  exceptions 
were  expert  penmen.  The  list  is  as  follows:  John  C.  Taskerud, 
four  months;  Wm.  Stanley,  five  years;  E.  0.  Fausett,  one  year; 
W.  T.  Dudley,  three  years;  L.  D.  Carter,  one  year;  J.  S.  Jacob- 
son,  one  year ;  E.  L.  Stanley,  two  years ;  J.  S.  Schuyler,  five  years ; 
J.  A.  Curran,  four  years ;  John  Gould,  five  years ;  L.  A.  Sherman, 
six  years;  and  George  M.  Anderson,  our  present  iiiouinl)ent,  has 
served  in  that  capacity  the  past  three  years. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  423 

RECOLLECTIONS  OF  EARLY  LYLE. 
(By  L.  W.  Sherman.) 

Early  settlers  of  Mower  county  relate  tliat  until  tlie  spring  of 
the  year  1870  the  ground  where  now  stands  the  town  of  which  I 
write  was  part  of  an  extensive  prairie  extending  to  the  limit  of 
sight  on  either  hand,  except  for  a  fringe  of  timber  along  the  Cedar 
river  on  the  west  and  the  noted  "Six-Mile  Grove"  to  the  east. 
No  laborer's  spade  or  farmer's  plow  had  overturned  the  sod  of 
its  rich  soil  to  the  light  of  the  warming  sun.  All  was  vast,  vacant 
and  still. 

In  that  year  came  the  construction  crews  of  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee &  St.  Paul  Railroad  Company,  building  the  "cut-off" 
between  Austin  and  ]\Iason  City.  Lyle  was  then  established  as  a 
station  on  the  line,  taking  its  name  from  the  township  of  which 
it  was  a  part.  It  was  platted  June  18,  1870,  and  the  plat  was 
filed  in  the  office  of  the  register  of  deeds  of  Mower  county,  Novem- 
ber 10  of  the  same  year. 

0.  N.  Darling  was  the  first  station  agent.  Bassett,  Huntting 
&  Co..  of  McGregor,  Iowa,  built  the  first  grain  warehouse,  and 
their  agent.  ^\.  H.  Culton,  became  the  first  grain  buyer. 

The  town  at  once  became  prominent  as  a  market,  owing  to 
rivalry  Avith  i\Iona,  Iowa,  one  mile  south,  then  the  terminus  of 
the  Cedar  Falls  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad. 

E.  Hoxsie  was  for  several  years  conductor  of  the  "mixed" 
passenger  and  freight  train  running  over  the  "cut-off,"  and  it 
became  noted  far  and  near  as  " Hoxsie 's  train,"  the  name  "Mil- 
waukee" being  scarcely  known  and  little  used  to  designate  road 
or  train. 

The  first  "mart  of  trade"  consisted  of  a  few  boards  nailed  up 
into  a  shack  or  shanty.  The  goods  for  sale  were  kept  in  kegs, 
jugs  and  bottles,  and  usually  carried  away  "inside"  the  purchas- 
ers. A  prominent  citizen  of  the  vicinity  venturing  to  protest 
against  this  to  the  superintendent  of  the  railroad  and  proprietor 
of  the  town  plat,  received  the  unsatisfactory  answer:  "You  can't 
build  up  a  town  here  in  the  west  without  a  saloon." 

Thor.  Irgens  established  the  first  general  store,  and  was  com- 
missioned the  first  postmaster.  J.  R.  Hall  was  the  first  blacksmith, 
mingling  his  duties  as  village  smithy  with  others  of  an  official 
character,  being  justice  of  the  peace  under  authority  of  the  town- 
ship, lie  soon  disposed  of  his  business  interests  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  John  Rein.schmidt,  a  strenuous  and  somewhat  noted 
character,  well  remembered  by  the  old  residents. 

The  first  lumber  yard  was  opened  by  L.  A.  Page,  who  soon 
disposed  of  liis  interests  to  Culton.  the  grain  buyer. 


424  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

The  first  hotel  was  conducted  by  John  Trodler  and  wife.  Their 
chief  revenue  was  from  the  sale  of  liquor  at  the  bar. 

The  first  shoemaker  Avas  Peter  Johnson,  he  being  succeeded  by 
everybody's  friend,  B.  D.  Hedemark,  who  continued  in  the  same 
line  until  mown  down  by  "the  grim  reaper"  in  1909. 

Peter  Hanson  made  the  first  harness  in  the  new  village,  and 
still  continues  in  the  same  business,  thoiigh  in  late  years  badly 
handicapped  by  broken  health. 

The  first  drug  business  was  conducted  by  AYilliams  &  Scarf, 
who  also  dispensed  "spirituous,  vinous  and  malt  liquors." 

The  first  hardware  firm  was  Fausset  &  Gunderson.  They,  too, 
sold  liciuors  under  license. 

Wold  &  Olson  were  pioneers  in  the  furniture  and  upholstering 
business,  while  Andrew  B.  Johnson  opened  up  and  conducted  .the 
first  watch  repairing  and  jewelry  establishment. 

John  Hader  and  Philip  Schodron  were  the  first  butchers  and 
purveyors  of  meats  to  the  people  of  the  vicinity. 

Lyle  was  incorporated  as  a  village  by  special  act  of  the  state 
legislature,  approved  March  9,  1875.  The  first  officers  elected 
under  this  act  were  as  follows  :  Mayor,  L.  W.  Sherman ;  recorder, 
J.  C.  Taskerud ;  treasurer,  Th.  Irgens ;  marshal,  Peter  Knutson ; 
assessor.  Ph.  McLaughlin;  city  justice,  L.  W.  Sherman,  John 
Trodler;  councilmen,  0.  H.  Lucken,  Ph.  McLaughlin.  The  first 
meeting  of  the  council  was  held  May  17,  1875. 

The  first  bank,  "The  Exchange,"  was  established  a  short  time 
after  the  destructive  fire  of  1892,  by  A.  H.  Anderson.  In  the 
year  1900  this  was  merged  in  "The  First  National,"  Mr.  Ander- 
son becoming  its  first  president,  and  serving  in  that  capacity 
until  his  death  in  1910. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  in  the  waiting  room  of 
the  Milwaukee  depot,  conducted  by  Rev.  Wm.  Lowry,  a  Presby- 
terian minister  residing  in  Freeborn  county.  These  were  soon 
discontinued,  owing  to  lack  of  interest.  No  other  services  in 
English  were  maintained  imtil  Rev.  J.  S.  Rounce,  of  Rose  Creek, 
commenced  the  first  continuous  work,  holding  semi-weekly  meet- 
ings in  the  schoolhouse.  These  resulted  in  the  organization  of 
the  first  church  society,  the  Congregational,  in  March,  1886,  and 
the  erection  of  the  first  church  Iniilding  the  same  year. 

In  1873  C.  R.  Hughson  organized  the  first  Sabbath  school  in 
the  small  first  school  building.  This  he,  as  superintendent,  with 
some  others  interested,  maintained  for  a  considerable  time  and 
made  a  small  beginning,  at  least,  in  arousing  children  and 
parents  to  their  need  of  spiritual  development  tlirough  religious 
instruction. 

In  the  early  days  the  village  constituted  a  jiart  of  school  dis- 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  435 

trict  No.  15,  known  as  "Minnereka. "  The  distance  of  the  school- 
house  from  town  prevented  all  but  the  larger  scholars  from  attend- 
ing, so  a  private  school  was  started  by  subscription,  and  taught 
by  IMiss  Clark,  who  thus  became  first  teacher.  The  district  was 
divided  in  1873,  and  No.  90  was  formed,  a  small  schoolhouse 
erected,  and  the  first  organized  school  was  taught  by  S.  Anna 
MeCune,  of  Austin. 

But  these  recollections  of  pioneer  times,  being  mostly  frag- 
ments of  memory,  are  not  and  cannot  be  reliable  history,  for  with 
advancing  age  the  faculties  of  mind  are  apt  to  play  sad  tricks 
upon  us.  Yet  should  be  called  to  mind  the  names  and  achieve- 
ments of  many  first  citizens.  Such  men  as  C.  H.  Cole  and  H.  B. 
Dow,  John  Halvorson,  Peter  Knutson,  J.  0.  and  A.  0.  Myhre. 
]\I.  0.  Wilson,  0.  T.  Lund,  P.  K.  Everson  and  R.  Reierson,  all 
merchants  of  success,  as  well  as  the  Stanleys,  father  and  son, 
L.  W.  Sherman,  the  lumberman,  and  J.  H.,  his  brother,  buyer  for 
many  years  at  the  Huntting  elevator;  the  Hildebrands,  brothers 
four,  and  many  others,  more  or  less  successful  in  building  up  their 
own  interests,  helped  to  advance  the  growth  of  trade,  and  the 
establishment  of  civic  improvement. 

Two  events  of  note,  as  affecting  the  surrounding  region  and, 
incidentally,  the  people  of  the  village,  are  recalled,  the  first  being 
the  great  storm  or  "blizzard"  of  January  7  to  10,  1873,  which, 
sweeping  over  the  whole  Northwest  with  great  violence  and  sever- 
ity, caused  much  suffering  and  damage  to  the  surprise  and  unpre- 
pared inhabitants;  country  roads  and  railroads  were  blockaded 
and  business  well  nigh  suspended  for  weeks  following. 

The  other  to  be  named  was  the  unrivaled  crop  of  Avheat  in 
1877,  bringing  abimdance  and  prosperity  for  the  time  and,  through 
hopes  of  a  continuance  of  these  conditions,  stimulating  many  into 
extravagance  and  debt.  But  this  year  of  plenty  was  followed  the 
next  and  after  years  by  an  almost  total  failure  of  wheat,  compel- 
ling a  radical  change  in  the  methods  of  farming,  with  a  resulting 
depression  of  business  until  the  readjustment  was  effected. 

An  event  of  terror  and  painful  loss  was  the  great  fire  of  ]\Iay 
2,  1892,  when  was  swept  away,  in  a  few  hours,  almost  the  entire 
business  of  the  town,  with  a  destruction  of  property  and  mer- 
chandise amounting  to  many  thousands  of  dollars.  To  many,  the 
loss  was  almost  unbearable,  but  the  shock  was  soon  overcome, 
hope  and  courage  revived,  resulting  in  rebuilding  of  a  more  sub- 
stantial character  and  re-establishment  of  business. 

So,  though  Lyle  has  pa.ssed  through  many  seasons  of  prosper- 
ity, and  some  also  of  unfortunate  conditions,  still  the  trust  and 
energy  of  her  people  are  an  assurance  that  the  future  has  much 
hoi)e  and  promise  for  her  prosperity  and  improvement. 


426  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

LYLE  IN  1873. 

Following  is  a  brief  directory  of  Lyle,  published  in  1873,  when 
the  village  was  in  the  earliest  years  of  its  growth.  At  that  time 
three  railroads  formed  a  ji;netion  at  this  point,  the  Mason  City 
branch  of  the  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul,  the  Illinois  Central,  and 
the  Burlington  and  Cedar  Rapids,  the  latter  running  trains  over 
the  tracks  of  the  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  road  as  far  south  as 
Plymouth  Junction  and  north  to  Austin,  there  connecting  with 
trains  for  St.  Paul  and  McGregor.  The  Chicago  and  Milwaukee 
had  erected  a  station  and  0.  N.  Darling  was  the  agent.  The  mer- 
chants were :  Irgens  &  Knutson,  Scarf  &  Williams,  Olson  &  Co., 
L.  W.  Sherman,  and  Peter  Johnson.  S.  D.  Mecord  was  a  grain 
buyer;  John  Trodler  kept  a  boarding  house  and  John  Reinsmith 
was  the  blacksmith. 

LYLE  IN  1885. 

In  1885  Lyle  had  already  become  a  railroad  center.  The  tracks 
at  that  time  were  laid  as  follows:  "The  two  main  lines  of  road, 
Minnesota  and  Northwestern  and  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St. 
Paul,  run  side  by  side,  one  hundred  feet  apart,  almost  due  north 
for  ten  miles  in  a  straight  line.  The  east  track  is  the  original  one 
and  crosses  the  new  one  at  the  south  edge  of  the  village,  bearing 
off  to  the  southwest  to  Mason  City,  Iowa.  Another  road  leaves 
the  west  main  track,  a  few  rods  north  of  the  crossing  just  men- 
tioned, and  bears  to  the  west  by  south  to  ]\Ianley  Junction  on  the 
Iowa  Central.  This  road  is  not  quite  complete.  The  road  run- 
ning due  south  is  owned  by  the  Minnesota  and  Northwestern, 
eighty  rods  to  the  state  line,  and  thence  by  the  Illinois  Central." 

A  brief  business  directory,  published  in  the  fall  of  the  year, 
gives  these  names :  W.  Stanley  &  Son,  Myhre  &  Lund,  John  O. 
Myhre,  J.  F.  Humel,  dealers  in  general  merchandise ;  A.  H.  Ander- 
son, hardware;  L.  W.  Sherman,  lumber  and  coal;  B.  D.  Hede- 
mark,  leather,  boots  and  shoes;  Th.  Irgens,  postmaster;  J.  H. 
Sherman,  elevator  man;  Evenson  &  Stovern,  dealers  in  farm  ma- 
chinery; J.  K.  Clark,  drayman;  E.  Johnson,  furniture  dealer  and 
undertaker;  Peter  Hansen,  harnessmaker ;  Thomas  Kirby,  grain 
buyer;  W.  West,  boarding  house;  A.  Webber,  blacksmith;  C. 
Junger,  refreshments;  Dr.  W.  F.  Cobb,  physician;  0.  G.  Myhre, 
leader  brass  band. 

SERIOUS  CYCLONE. 

Lyle  was  visited  by  a  serious  cyclone  on  the  evening  of  June 
Jl,  1897.  Two  clouds  came  together  about  a  mile  north  of  the 
Iowa  line  and  five  miles  west  of  the  village  of  Lyle,  taking  a  zig- 
zag course  nearly  east,  blowing  down  buildings,  uprooting  trees 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  427 

aud  demolishing  everything  in  its  path,  even  blowing  freight  cars 
from  the  track  and  across  fields.  Henry  C.  Hanson,  a  young 
farmer  living  west  of  the  village,  was  killed.  Among  the  seriously 
injured  were :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Hanson  and  Eobert  Hanson ; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Larson,  Mrs.  Stipe,  Christian  Mads  and 
Peter  Peterson,  Charles  Severson,  Mrs.  "W  .A.  Fraser,  Mrs.  M.  L. 
Hughson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  "W.  M.  Brooks. 

The  first  house  struck  was  that  of  Mrs.  Funda,  where  it  tore 
off  an  addition.  The  course  of  the  storm  from  there  on  with  its 
attendant  damages  w^as  as  follows :  J.  C.  Owen,  buildings  de- 
stroyed, family  in  cellar  unhurt.  Charles  Howard,  barn  destroyed. 
Woodbury  schoolhouse  smashed  to  splinters.  Charles  Seaverson, 
skull  fractured,  buildings  demolished.  W.  Stipe,  house  and  barn 
destroyed,  ]\Irs.  Stipe  injured.  John  Johnson,  buildings  riiined. 
Mrs.  Lars  Berg,  new  house  destroyed.  Joseph  "Wyborny,  all  build- 
ings totally  destroyed.  Henry  Hanson,  killed,  buildings  destroyed, 
Mrs.  Hanson  and  three  children  badly  injured.  Peter  Peterson, 
all  seriously  injured  and  buildings  destroyed.  The  storm  struck 
Lyle  village  north  of  the  Chicago  Great  Western  round  house, 
tipped  over  two  freight  cars  standing  on  the  Milwaukee  track, 
blew  the  wheel  off  the  city  waterworks  tow^er,  and  thence  con- 
tinued east,  destroying  everything  in  its  path.  One  of  the  most 
remarkable  escapes  was  that  of  the  Peter  Hanson  family,  living  in 
the  village.  He  was  erecting  a  new  house  and  he  and  his  family 
of  six,  with  three  visitors,  were  eating  supper  in  the  barn  which 
stood  just  west  of  the  new  house.  The  storm  blew  barn,  family 
and  house  across  the  prairie.  Peter  Hanson  had  a  leg  broken,  his 
wife  had  a  rib  broken  and  was  internally  injured,  and  the  son 
Robert  received  a  terrible  blow  on  the  forehead.  The  guests  were 
also  seriously  injured.  Charles  Larson  was  badly  bruised  about 
his  head,  his  wife  and  child  were  seriously  injured,  and  their 
house  and  barn  demolished.  The  storm  demolished  Dr.  Frazier's 
barn,  dodged  his  residence,  and  then  destroyed  the  residence  of 
Chris.  Christensen.  Mrs.  Nelson,  living  two  miles  east  of  the  vil- 
lage, had  a  barn  and  granary  destroyed.  Rev.  Eggen  had  a  wind- 
mill blown  down.  Willis  E.  Bryan  saw  the  storm  coming  and 
took  his  family  to  the  cellar  and  stand  against  the  west  wall. 
Every  stick  of  timber  in  the  house  was  blown  away,  but  the 
family  escaped  injury,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Bryan,  who  had 
his  foot  smashed  bj^  a  falling  rock.  The  estimated  loss  caused  by 
the  storm  was  about  $30,000.  Had  the  path  of  the  cyclone  been 
two  blocks  farther  south,  the  whole  village  of  Lyle  would  have 
been  wiped  out.  About  three  miles  east  of  Lyle,  the  storm  lost  its 
rotary  motion,  and  continued  as  a  heavy  wind. 

(Note. — The  publishers  of  this  history  are  indebted  to  William 
Xordland,  the  energetic  Lyle  editor,  for  the  al)Ove  excellent  write- 


438  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

up  on  Lyle  village,  the  history  of  the  telephone  company  being 
from  the  pen  of  Dr.  W.  F.  Cobb,  and  the  recollections  being  fur- 
nished by  L.  AV.  Sherman,  now  of  Minneapolis.) 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

DEXTER  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Dexter  Township — Location  and  Soil — Settlement — Organization 
— Religious — Dexter  Village — Location  and  Settlement — Vil- 
lage Plats — Village  Incorporation  and  Officers  with  Village 
Improvements  —  Churches  —  Edited  by  Henry  Weber,  Jr, — 
Renova — Sutton. 

Dexter  is  identical  with  congressional  township  103  north, 
range  16  west.  It  is  almost  wholly  a  prairie,  with  a  surface  some- 
what rolling.  The  drainage  is  east,  west,  north  and  south,  and  it 
is  claimed  that  Dexter  is  the  highest  point  on  the  Southern  Minne- 
sota division  of  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  R.  R.,  between  La  Crosse,  Wis., 
and  Madison,  S.  D.  The  only  native  timber  to  be  found  in  the 
town  is  in  the  southeastern  part.  The  soil  is  a  dark  productive 
loam,  somewhat  mixed  with  sand  in  the  southern  part,  and  also  on 
the  banks  of  Root  river  in  the  northern  section. 

SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  settlement  within  the  limits  of  Dexter  township  was 
made  in  1857  by  Mahlon  Parritt  and  his  son,  Dexter,  who  came 
here  from  the  town  of  Marshall,  where  they  had  spent  the  sum- 
mer. The  son  entered  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  33.  Here 
was  the  home  of  the  father  until  the  time  of  his  death.  Dexter 
Parritt,  in  whose  honor  the  town  was  named,  lived  here  till  1882, 
and  then  moved  to  Marshall.  For  a  number  of  years  the  Parritts 
were  the  only  settlers  in  the  town.  Dexter  Parritt  finally  returned 
to  his  native  state,  Ohio,  and  there  died  in  about  the  year  of  1903. 
G.  W.  Bowles  came  to  Dexter  in  1859,  stayed  but  a  short  time  and 
then  went  to  Missouri.  Returning  thence  in  1867,  he  settled  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  33,  where  he  remained  till  1879. 
when  he  sold  his  place  to  George  ]\Ienck.  Henry  L.  Slaven  settled 
in  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  34,  in  1866. 
Slaven  came  to  ]\Iower  county  in  company  with  his  mother  in 
the  fall  of  1856,  and  lived  for  some  years  in  Windom.  In  1873  he 
went  to  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa.     The  year  1867  brought  John  Pete 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  429 

here  from  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Pete  was  a  native  of  England,  and 
settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  7.  In  1868,  Hammond 
Stowell,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  his  son-in-law,  C.  J.  Shortt,  a  Ver- 
monter,  bought  1,600  acres  of  land  in  sections  5,  6,  7,  8  and  17. 
They  broke  160  acres  of  land  that  year,  making  their  home  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  7.  After  living  there  one  year,  Stow- 
ell sold  to  Ira  Jones  and  went  to  Hastings.  Shortt  remained  six 
years  and  then  went  to  Brownsdale.  John  I.  "Wheeler,  Joseph 
Cronk  and  George  Rose,  son-in-law  of  the  latter,  also  came  in  1868. 
"Wheeler  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  in  sections  5  and  6.  After 
living  there  three  years,  he  moved  to  Freeborn  county,  having 
sold  his  place  to  Dr.  S.  P.  Thornhill.  The  farm  was  then  occupied 
for  a  time  by  Dr.  Thornhill's  son,  French,  later  a  practicing  physi- 
cian at  Spring  Valley.  Cronk  and  Rosa  settled  in  the  northwest 
quarter  of  the  town,  where  they  lived  but  a  short  time.  Hiram 
Thompson,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  was  another  who 
arrived  in  '68.  He  bought  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  27, 
where  he  still  resides.  In  1869,  Henry  Dudfield,  Daniel  Pearce 
and  Nelson  A.  Huntington  came  to  Dexter.  Dudfield  and  Pearce, 
both  Englishmen  by  birth,  had  been  living  for  some  time  in  "Wis- 
consin. The  former  settled  on  section  21.  He  was  a  blacksmith, 
the  first  of  that  trade  in  the  town.  Pearce  settled  on  section  22. 
Huntington,  a  native  of  New  York,  came  here  from  "Wabasha 
county,  and  bought  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  3,  where  he 
died  in  1882.  Two  who  took  farms  in  sections  11,  namely,  Daniel 
Williams  and  A.  G.  Tanner,  settled  here  in  1874.  Williams  was  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State.  S.  E.  Peters,  another  Avho  came  in 
1874,  settled  on  section  2. 

As  before  mentioned,  the  Parritts  were  for  several  years  the 
only  settlers.  In  1855  the  land  of  Chatfield  district  Avas  brought 
into  market  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  west  line  of  Mower  county. 
The  scattering  settlers,  mostly  unprepared  to  pay  for  their  land 
at  once  and  not  wishing  to  be  surrounded  and  isolated  by  the 
lands  of  speculators,  petitioned  President  Pierce  to  withdraw  the 
sale.  Six  townships  north  and  south  through  the  prairie  center  of 
I\Iower  county  had  no  settlers  and  no  names  on  the  petition, 
and  wore  not  withdrawn,  but  were  speedily  entered  with  land 
Avarrants. 

In  the  year  1876,  1877  and  1878  there  Avas  quite  a  boom  in  the 
settlement  of  the  town.  The  following  are  named  as  having  come 
to  Dexter  in  that  period:  D.  W.  Adams,  B.  Cornforth,  G.  Seebach, 
Conrad  Christ gau  Avith  his  sons,  John  and  Fred,  Conrad  Praeschal, 

W.  Arndt, French.  G.  Gilliland,  O.  P.  Johnson,  Pat  F.  Lynch, 

J.  :\I.  Peterson.  0.  RadAvay,  Luther  Rice,  A.  and  R.  Starks.  The 
last  eight  settled  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  Rice  on  section  1, 
Radway  on  section  12,  Johnson  on  section  2,  Peterson  and  the 


430  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

two  Starks  on  section  3,  Gilliland  and  Lynch  on  section  10 ;  French 
settled  on  section  22.  Adams  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
He  came  here  from  Olmsted  county  and  settled  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  35.  Seebach  and  Christgau  settled  in  section 
32.    Proesehal  located  in  section  30,  Ariidt  in  section  31. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  town  of  Dexter  Avas  organized  at  a  meeting  held  at  the 
house  of  Henry  Dudfield,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  21, 
on  June  6,  1870.  The  stars  and  stripes  were  raised  on  a  pole  in 
front  of  the  house  in  honor  of  the  occasion.  Dexter  Parritt  Avas 
chosen  moderator,  D.  G.  Pearce,  clerk,  and  Charles  N.  Pearce, 
assistant  clerk  of  the  meeting.  H.  S.  Slaven,  Charles  Brandt  and 
Charles  Blakely  were  appointed  judges  of  election.  The  follow- 
ing were  elected  officers  for  the  ensuing  year:  Supervisors, 
Dexter  Parritt  (chainnan),  Henry  Dudfield,  F.  "\V.  Thornhill;, 
C.  J.  Shortt"  and  Hiram  Thompson,  justices  of  the  peace ;  D.  G. 
Pearce,  assessor;  Nelson  Huntington,  treasurer;  D.  G.  Pearce, 
clerk ;  H.  S.  Slaven  and  Nelson  Huntington,  constables. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  German  Lutheran  Church.  Church  services  were  first 
lield  in  1881  by  Rev.  Christian  Bender,  of  Red  "Wing.  The  first 
members  were  Conrad  Christgau,  Gotlieb  Seebach,  John  and 
Fred  Christgau,  G.  Betcher,  W.  F.  Jacobi  and  their  wives.  The 
first  deacons  were  Conrad  Christgau  and  wife,  AV.  F.  Jacobi  and 
John  Christgau.  Rev.  Mr.  Bender  was  the  first  pastor.  Among 
the  early  pastors  were  Rev.  John  Achilles,  of  St.  Paul ;  Rev.  'Mr. 
Kittle,  of  Albert  Lea,  and  Rev.  0.  Hoger.  Conrad  Christgau  was 
the  first  superintendent  of  a  Sunday  school  which  was  formed  in 
connection  with  this  church. 

Rev.  Hager  occupied  the  pulpit  from  1883  to  1886.  The  church 
was  formally  organized  in  1883,  under  the  name  of  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Trinity  Congregation  of  the  town  of  Dexter.  The  first 
trustees  were  C.  Christgau,  J.  Christgau  and  "W.  Jacobi.  Churcl; 
services  were  now  being  held  and  continued  to  be  held  in  the 
schoolhouse  of  district  number  106,  until  the  present  church  edi- 
fice on  northwest  corner  of  section  32  was  erected  in  1891  and 
was  dedicated  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  August  of  tlie  same  year. 
The  church  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1898.  The  Rev.  Ilaar,  Bruusz 
and  Zich  in  turn  were  pastors  from  1887  to  1896,  and  then  Rev. 
Pohlcy  to  1902,  when  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  J.  Guse,  took  charge 
of  the  work. 

A  Wesleyan  Methodist  class  was  organized  here  ])y  Rev. 
Thomas  Hardy.     The  first  members  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  AV.  P. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  431 

Hoppiii,  Delia  and  ]\[ina  Hanna,  George  Chapman,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
El)en  Gould.  The  class  leader  was  W.  P.  Hoppin.  E.  Markham 
and  W.  P.  Iloppin  were  elo'.'ted  stewards.  The  class  met  for  a 
time  in  Pearee's  hall,  then  in  the  Congregational  church,  and 
later  in  the  new  schoolhouse.  Rev.  Mr.  Hardy  was  the  preacher 
until  1881. 

DEXTER  VILLAGE. 

Dexter  village  is  situated  in  section  13,  in  the  township  of 
Dexter,  near  tlie  geographical  center  of  the  county.  Both  village 
and  lownship  take  their  name  from  Dexter  Parritt,  who  was  an 
early  settler  of  the  township  which  Avas  organized  June  6,  1872. 
The  village  was  laid  out  in  ]873,  the  depot  erected  in  1874:  and 
the  village  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature  in  February, 
1878.  At  the  present  time  it  is  a  thriving  village  with  a  popula- 
tion of  some  three  hundred.  It  has  a  bank,  a  hotel,  two  elevators, 
a  creamery,  a  Congregational  and  Seven  Day  Advent  churches, 
a  public  school,  a  postoffice  and  various  business  interests. 

At  the  time  the  building  of  the  Southern  ]\Iinnesota  railroad 
was  being  agitated,  which  Avas  in  1870,  Red  Rock  and  Dexter, 
tlien  forming  one  civil  township,  were  bonded  to  the  amount  of 
$22,000  to  assist  the  railroad.  After  Dexter  was  organized  as  a 
separate  township,  it  offered  to  the  railroad  company  a  bonus  or 
$5,000  to  plant  a  station  on  section  16.  Of  this  proposition  the 
company  took  no  notice  whateA'er.  It  was  afterward  learned  that 
they  were  bound  by  Brownsdale  people  not  to  establish  a  station 
within  eight  miles  of  that  place. 

The  land  on  which  the  village  of  Dexter  now  stands,  a  little 
more  than  eight  miles  distant  from  Brownsdale,  Avas  at  the  time 
oAvned  by  C.  "W.  Perkins.  One-half  of  this  land  Perkins  gave  to 
J.  C.  Easton,  and  they  together  platted  the  village  in  1874.  The 
lirst  house  in  the  village  was  a  small  building  put  up  by  the 
railroad  company  for  a  depot  and  telegraph  office ;  the  second  was 
a  Avarehouse  OAvned  by  J.  C.  Easton ;  the  third  Avas  a  frame  build- 
ing 18x28  feet,  16  feet  posts,  erected  by  Daniel  G.  Pearee,  and 
used  by  him  for  a  store  and  dwelling.  Mr.  Pearee's  store  Avas 
opened  in  1874  with  a  small  but  varied  stock  of  goods.  In  the 
autumn  of  the  same  year  George  W.  Buck  erected  a  l)uil(lnig 
22x50  feet,  20  feet  posts,  and  put  in  a  good  stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise. Buck  Avas  in  trade  continuously  until  November,  1883, 
Avhen  he  sold  the  stock  to  his  son,  George  A.  Buck,  and  C.  S. 
AVoostcr.  Within  a  feAv  years  he  repurchased  the  same  and 
remained  in  business  until  his  death  in  1906.  The  postoffice  Avas 
established  in  1874.  It  Avas  for  a  time  kept  at  the  raihvay  sta- 
tion. Amasa  N.  Converse,  the  first  postmaster,  Avas  succeeded  in 
the  earlv  davs  bv  .Tohu  L.  Gaskill,  L.  :\I.  Gaskill,  George  AV.  Buck. 


433  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

O.  J.  Dickens,  P.  Sheridan,  B.  S.  Benner  and  finally  by  E.  W. 
Dorr,  who  is  now,  with  the  assistance  of  two  rural  mail  carriers, 
Chase  and  Gilmore,  handing  the  mail  to  Uncle  Sam's  patrons. 

In  1876  Pearce  moved  his  goods  into  a  new  and  larger  store. 
Here  he  continued  in  business  till  1877,  when  he  sold  out  to  his 
son  George.  Toward  the  close  of  the  year  1883  Mr.  Pearce,  the 
elder,  again  opened  a  store  in  the  house  he  had  first  built.  Later 
Daniel  Pearce  moved  to  "Wisconsin,  where  he  died  in  1906. 

In  1876  John  Gaskill  rented  a  building  of  L.  B.  Smith,  where 
he  kept  a  grocery  store  and  restaurant  about  a  year.  He  then 
made  a  change  in  his  business.  Dealing  no  longer  in  groceries  he 
engaged  more  extensively  in  the  sale  of  farm  machinery,  which 
he  had  previously  handled  in  connection  with  his  store. 

In  1878  E.  Mapes  rented  a  building,  stocked  it  with  general 
merchandise  and  started  his  son  in  business.  The  enterprise  not 
being  wholly  successful,  in  tM^o  years'  time  the  store  was  closed. 

Late  in  1876  Jesse  and  Samuel  King  bought  a  building  in 
whicli  they  opened  a  meat  market,  the  first  in  Dexter.  In  the 
following  spring  they  put  in  groceries.  They  were  in  trade  but  a 
short  time.  The  business  passed  through  several  hands  before  it 
was  finally  closed. 

Oliver  J.  Dickens  opened  a  grocery  store  in  the  autumn  of 
1883. 

The  first  drug  store  in  this  village  was  started  in  1875,  by 
Joseph  Sunmons,  in  the  building  later  occupied  by  Benner 
Brothers  as  a  hardware  store.  In  the  spring  of  1876  Mr.  Sim- 
mons turned  over  the  stock  of  drugs  to  his  son,  Rollon  Simmons, 
a  practicing  physician,  who  sold  out  a  few  months  later  to  Pettit 
&  Stewart.  This  firm  kept  drugs  for  a  time  in  connection  with 
groceries.  Another  druggist  was  George  Pearce,  who  continued 
in  business  imtil  the  fire  of  1897.  It  was  about  this  time  that 
E.  W.  Dorr  opened  a  store  for  the  sale  of  drugs  and  since  that 
time  has  been  and  now  is  the  only  druggist  of  the  village. 

The  first  hardware  store  was  opened  in  1874,  by  L.  R.  Smith, 
who  was  in  trade  rather  less  than  two  years.  The  second  was 
opened  by  Henry  Dudfield,  in  1875.  Dudfield  purchased  the 
hardware  stock  of  L.  B.  Smith,  and  a  building  from  Josepli 
Simmons.  In  November,  1876,  David  M.  Vermilyea  opened  a 
hardware  store  in  the  building  first  erected  by  Mr.  Pearce.  Ver- 
milyea was  at  this  time  in  the  employ  of  Walter  Dixon,  of  Eyota, 
in  whose  interest  he  managed  the  store  for  a  year.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he,  David  M.,  with  John  K.  and  James  J.  Vermilyea, 
bought  the  stock.  Tlie  l)usiness  was  conducted  by  the  Vermilyeas 
until  1879,  when  it  was  sold  to  Henry  Benner,  Avho  also  bought 
Dudfield 's  building.  The  business  was  later  conducted  by  his 
sons,  George  and  Bion  Benner,  and  they,  witliin  a  few  years,  dis- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  433 

posed  of  the  same  and  were  succeeded  in  that  line  of  business  by 
C.  H.  Hopkins,  C.  0.  Jnelson,  Hoppin  and  Owen,  M.  D.  Williams, 
Vermilyea  and  Reed,  W.  E.  Daily,  Reed  and  Nayes,  and  by  Soil 
and  Jacobson. 

The  first  grain  buyer  here  was  Amasa  N.  Converse,  who  first 
represented  J.  C.  Easton,  and  later  Wheeler  &  Hyde.  The  fol- 
lowing named  also  purchased  grain  in  Dexter  in  the  early  days: 
"W.  P.  Hoppin,  Seth  Keifer,  G.  Olson,  Abuer  Hunt,  A.  J.  Haskins, 
A.  Gallipean,  Charles  Anton,  J.  Riddleton,  Aleck  Stewart,  Alvah 
Huut  and  George  Hartwell. 

The  lumber  yard  was  started  by  the  La  Crosse  Lumber  Com- 
pany in  1874,  whose  agent  in  Dexter  was  Amasa  N.  Converse. 
John  Paul  purchased  the  business  three  or  four  years  later.  Ho 
later  was  represented  here  by  George  H.  Bryan.  The  lumber  yard 
was  finally  bought  by  the  Amian  Lumber  Company,  and  run  by 
that  firm  until  1896,  when  it  was  transferred  to  and  continued  by 
the  Colman  Lumber  Company,  and  is  still  under  its  management 
at  the  present  time. 

TJie  first  hotel  in  Dexter  was  built  by  D.  A.  Page  in  1872.  It 
was  opened  to  the  traveling  public  in  August.  The  building  of 
the  second  was  begun  in  September,  by  Robert  Swann.  This,  too, 
was  ready  for  occupancy  before  the  close  of  the  year.  Mr.  Page's 
was  a  frame  building,  standing  close  to  the  railroad  track  on  the 
south.  It  contained,  as  first  built,  nine  rooms.  Page  managed  the 
house  for  two  years,  then  rented  to  J.  L.  Gaskill,  who  rented  a 
few  months  later  to  M.  D.  Chamberlain.  About  a  year  afterwarcl 
the  house  was  closed.  In  1880  0.  F.  Kelly  purchased  the  property. 
The  house  was  re-opened  for  a  time  as  a  hotel  and  later  wa? 
occupied  by  D.  L.  Stiles,  who  was  in  the  drug  and  merchandise 
business.  The  building  was  destroyed  by  the  fire  of  1897.  The 
l)uilding  put  up  by  Mr.  Swann  as  a  hotel  was  situated  nortli  ol 
the  railroad  and  contained  twenty-one  rooms.  Mr.  Swann  con- 
tinued as  manager  of  this  house  till  June,  1884,  Avhen  he  leased  it 
to  Z.  D.  Home.  It  was  afterwards  managed  and  run  as  a  hotel  by 
C.  Pcarce,  Warren  and  Vandenoever,  O.  J.  Simmons,  B.  Warn, 
F.  Nolting,  H.  A.  Wilmot  and  C.  W.  Howe. 

The  fir.3t  harness  making  shop  was  opened  here  in  1877,  by 
Frank  Stimson,  who  sold  after  a  few  months  to  A.  C.  W^arren  and 
removed  to  Brownsdale.  Some  six  months  later  Warren  sold  out 
to  A.  N.  Converse.  From  his  hands  the  shop  very  soon  passed 
into  those  of  a  man  named  Nichols,  Avho  held  it  a])oiit  a  year  and 
then  closed  up.    J.  Sherman  opened  a  shop  in  1879. 

The  first  to  set  up  shoe  making  in  De.xter  was  Henry  Olson, 
v.ho  represented  the  craft  about  a  year,  beginning  in  1879.  Robert 
Behring,  his  successor,  .seems  to  have  been  a  little  more  contented, 
as  his  stay  -was  considerably  lontrci'.     Fi-ank  Trippic  was  anotiiiM- 


434  HISTOEY  OF  MO  WEE  COUNT  Y 

early  slioe  maker,  ■^^•ho  Avas  followed  by  Johnson  and  finally  by 
T.  K.  Berven,  who  is  still  engaged  in  that  business. 

The  first  physician  to  open  an  office  here  was  Roilon  Simmons, 
?!.  D.,  who  came  in  1875,  remained  two  or  three  years  and  then 
returned  to  Indiana.  His  successor  was  L.  D.  Jackson,  who  went 
from  here  to  Grand  Meadow.  Dr.  Cormick  was  the  third  who 
undertook  to  make  a  living  by  looking  after  the  health  of  the 
people  of  Dexter.  He  spent  but  a  year  in  the  place,  then  went  to 
Dakota.  Dr.  G.  J.  Schottler  located  here  in  1896  and  has  ever 
since  been  looking  after  the  physical  welfare  of  the  people  of  this 
locality. 

The  railroad  station  in  Dexter  was  built  in  1875,  30x70  feet. 
One  end  was  used  as  an  office  and  waiting  room ;  the  other  as  a 
storage  room  for  freight.  This  building  constituted  the  depot 
until  it  was  destroyed  by  the  fire  of  1897,  wiien  it  was  replaced  by 
another  building  erected  a  little  farther  west,  and  which  still  con- 
tinues as  the  railway  station  of  the  C,  ]\I.  &  St.  P.  R.  R.  Charles 
H.  Pearce  was  the  first  station  agent  and  operator.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  C.  G.  King,  and  the  latter  by  E.  E.  Bulin. 

DEXTER  IN  1879. 

Following  is  a  brief  business  directory  of  Dexter  m  1879  :  S.  G. 
Pettit  &  Co.  (A.  Stewart),  drugs,  collection,  grain  and  lumber 
agents;  G.  W.  Buck,  general  store;  W.  Steppe,  furniture;  E. 
Mapes,  general  store ;  J.  K.  Vermilyea  &  Co.,  hardware ;  Dexter 
Cornet  Band ;  G.  D.  Pierce,  general  store ;  Robert  Behring,  shoe- 
maker; J.  L.  Gaskill,  farm  implements  and  machinery;  Havens 
&  Vermilya,  wagon  makers;  J.  C.  Barry,  farm  machinery,  seeds- 
and  fuel ;  Robert  Swann,  proprietor  the  Swan  hotel ;  L.  M.  Gaskill, 
postmaster  and  collection  agent;  L.  D.  Jackson,  M.  D.,  physician; 
Congregational  church. 

DEXTER  IN  1889. 

In  1889  Dexter  had  the  following  business  interests:  L.  M. 
Gaskill,  notion  store;  0.  J.  Dickens,  postmaster,  general  store; 
G.  D.  Buck,  general  store;  J.  A.  King,  hardware;  D.  G.  Pierce, 
lumber;  0.  C.  "Warren,  hotel  and  livery;  G.  D.  Pierce,  general 
store;  Syrillius  Funderhide,  harness  dealer;  D.  Stiles,  general 
store;  F.  M.  Danby,  meats;  D.  C.  March,  fann  machinery  and 
repairs;  J.  M.  Pierce,  blacksmith;  Mrs.  Kennerson,  notions. 

DEXTER  IN  1911. 

A  business  directory  of  the  village  of  Dexter  for  the  past  lew 
years  shows  up  as  follows:     First  State  Bank  of  Dexter;  0.  J. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY  435 

Dickens,  general  store;  C.  V.  Miller,  general  store;  W.  E.  Daily, 
hardware,  furniture,  ete.,  also  dealer  in  farm  implements;  E.  ^V. 
Dorr,  postmaster  and  dealer  in  drugs;  R.  Lewis,  meats;  Solt  & 
Jacobson,  hardware ;  T.  K.  Berven,  shoe  shop  -.  Ruth  Howe,  milli- 
nery;  E.  Karow,  creamery;  I.  S.  Emery,  blacksmith;  D.  C.  March, 
blacksmith;  C.  AV.  Howe,  hotel;  R.  Burke,  restaurant;  J.  E. 
Kirkwood,  deep  wells ;  Union  Fibre  Company,  dealers  in  Hax 
straw ;  C.  L.  Colman  Lumber  Company ;  Stevenson  Elevator  Com- 
pany; Dexter  Telephone  Company;  Congregational  church;  Seven 
Day  Advent  church;  a  four-room  full  graded  school;  G.  J. 
Sehottler,  physician ;  Henry  AVeber.  Jr.,  attorney. 

BANKING  HISTORY. 

First  State  Bank  of  Dexter.  For  some  time  prior  to  the  erec- 
tion of  the  present  bank  building  and  the  establishment  of  a 
permanent  bank,  G.  W.  King  and  also  E.  S.  Hoppin  had,  in  a 
measure,  done  some  banking  business.  But  it  was  not  until  the 
spring  of  1902  that  Medbery  Brothers,  Weber  Brothers,  W.  H. 
Pierce  and  E.  S.  Hoppin,  of  this  village,  and  Reed  &  Kline,  of 
Welcome,  JMinnesota,  formed  an  association  for  the  purpose  of 
establisliing  a  permanent  bank.  When  they  had  formulated  their 
plans  and  the  bank  building  had  been  partly  erected,  they  w^ere 
induced  to  sell  out  to  parties  from  Wright  county,  Iowa,  who 
completed  the  building  as  first  planned  and  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  opened  the  doors  for  business  as  a  private  banking 
institution,  under  the  firm  name  of  F.  C.  Hartshorn  &  Co.,  with 
D.  L.  Mills  as  cashier. 

This  firm  continued  in  business  until  January  1,  1907,  wlien 
the  w^hole,  including  the  banking  house,  Avas  purchased  by  the 
local  parties  who  were  the  founders  of  it,  and  outside  parties, 
among  whom  were  Wright,  Parhan,  Torgriuson,  Zabel  and  Good- 
sell  of  Grand  Meadow  and  F.  M.  Conklin  of  Chester,  Iowa,  and 
the  bank  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  First  State  Bank 
of  Dexter. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1910,  the  stock  held  l)y  outside 
parties  was  bought  by  men  of  this  locality,  and  it  is  now  ownett 
and  completely  controlled  by  local  parties. 

The  bank,  under  its  present  name,  in  1907,  started  doing  busi- 
ness with  a  deposit  of  about  $16,000,  which  has  increased  to  and 
now  exceeds  the  sum  of  $00,000.  Its  officers  are :  Henry  Weber. 
Jr.,  president;  A.  S.  Rolison,  first  vice-president;  G.  J.  Sehottler, 
second  vice-president;  F.  M.  Conklin,  cashier;  Tlieo.  Kramer, 
assistant  cashier;  and  the  above  named,  with  II.  M.  Brue,  T.  K. 
Berven,  W.  Tweeten.  R.  Weber  and  J.  ]\Iiller,  are  the  nine  direct- 
ors of  tlie  bank. 


436  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

INCORPORATION. 

The  village  of  Dexter  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the  legis- 
lature, February  28,  1878.  It  includes  sections  13  and  14.  The 
first  meeting  for  the  election  of  village  officers  was  held  in  Gas- 
kill's  Hall  on  the  12th  of  ]\Iarch.  1878.  The  first  officers  were: 
Aleck  Stewart,  president  of  the  board;  councilmen,  L.  D.  Jack- 
son, L.  M.  Gaskill,  G.  W.  Buck;  recorder,  C.  H.  Pearce;  treas- 
urer, D.  M.  Vermilyea ;  assessor,  S.  C.  Pettit ;  justices  of  the  peace, 
J.  L.  Gaskill  and  H.  Dudfield ;   constable,  I.  Dennver. 

CHURCHES. 

The  first  religious  meetings  in  Dexter  were  held  in  1874.  Rev. 
T.  F.  Ladd,  a  Baptist  divine  from  High  Forest,  was  the  pioneer 
preacher.  A  few  services  were  held,  some  of  them  in  the  school- 
house,  some  in  Pearce 's  Hall.  The  outcome  of  these  was  a  Sunday 
school,  of  which  Israel  Best  was  the  superintendent. 

In  1875,  Rev.  Cyrus  Stone,  Congregationalist,  from  Massa- 
chusetts, visited  Dexter  and  preached  in  the  schoolhouse.  An 
interest  was  awakened,  and  Rev.  L.  H.  Cabel,  superintendent  of 
the  Home  Missionary  Society,  came  here  and  organized  a  church. 
The  first  members  Avere  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Dudfield,  Rev.  Cyrus 
Stone,  Mrs.  Frank  Dewey,  John  DeYoung,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Israel 
Best,  Mrs.  Fowler,  Walter  Hitchman,  William  Cruikshank.  Henry 
Dudfield  and  Israel  Best  were  elected  deacons,  and  Cyrus  Stone 
was  elected  clerk.  Rev.  Mr.  Stone  became  the  first  pastor.  He 
was  ordained  that  year  at  Grand  Meadow.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  R.  B.  Wright,  who  was  followed  by  Rev.  James  Sikes.  In 
1877,  a  church  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,  about  one- 
half  of  which  w^as  raised  in  the  east.  After  Rev.  Sikes,  the  pulpit 
in  turn  Avas  occupied  by  Rev.  Smith,  Cobb,  Cowell,  Brown,  Dun- 
can, Donalson,  Winter,  Jones,  Lyons,  Bain,  and  the  present  incum- 
bent being  Rev.  Hughes.  The  present  church  officers  are  I.  P. 
Chase,  T.  L.  Woodford  and  G.  H.  McNeir,  trustees ;  Mrs.  S.  Emery, 
ilork,  and  Mrs.  Clara  McXeir,  treasurer. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organized  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Stokes,  of  Brownsdale.  Among  its  members  were :  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
R.  C.  Farrington,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Simmons,  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs. 
John  Harris.  R.  C.  Farrington  was  class  leader  and  steward.  Rev. 
Messrs.  Barklow,  Copp  and  Caple  were  among  the  early  preachers. 

The  Seventh  Day  Adventists  erected  a  church  in  189fi  and  for 
a  lime  had  a  regular  ])astor.  Services  are  held  in  the  church,  in 
charge  of  the  meml)er.s  or  of  visiting  pastors. 

In  1869  a  union  Sunday  school  was  organized  at  the  house  of 
G.  W.  Bowles.     The  school  was  conducted  by  Mrs.  Bowles  and 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  437 

Henry  Dudfield.    It  received  donations  of  papers  and  books  from 
the  east  and  from  the  Congregational  church  in  Austin. 

SERIOUS  FIRES. 

On  the  night  of  May  31,  1897,  Dexter  was  visited  by  a  fire 
which  entirely  destroyed  the  buildings  on  the  west  side  of  Main 
street.  AYhen  the  fire  was  discovered  a  high  wind  was  blowing, 
and  in  spite  of  heroic  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  citizens,  all  the 
buildings  on  the  west  side  of  the  street  were  swept  away,  includ- 
ing the  railroad  station,  lumber  yard,  water  tank  and  coal  sheds. 
The  following  losses  were  sustained :  S.  A.  Sorenson,  $6,000 ;  H.  A. 
Benson,  $2,000 ;  W.  H.  Pierce,  $4,000 ;  G.  J.  Juelson,  $4,000 ;  H.  I. 
Hull,  $300;  Henry  Weber,  Jr.,  $1,500;  P.  Vandenoever,  .$2,000; 
Sorenson  &  Pierce,  $1,200 ;  Cargyll  &  Hyde,  $2,500 ;  G.  L.  Cole- 
man, $2,000;  George  King,  $500;  F.  M.  Danley,  $1,000;  C,  M.  & 
St.  Paul,  $3,000 ;   S.  Y.  Hyde,  $1,200 ;  B.  S.  Benner,  $300. 

On  January  27,  1907,  Dexter  suffered  another  heavy  loss  by 
fire,  which  may  be  estimated  at  about  $25,000.  It  was  about  10 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  after  the  business  houses  had  been  closed 
for  the  day,  that  fire  broke  out  in  the  double-front  building  owned 
and  occupied  by  the  Medbery  Bros,  as  a  dry  goods  and  grocery 
store.  The  upper  story  was  used  as  a  Masonic  hall,  and  as  an 
office  of  Dr.  G.  J.  Schottler.  AVithin  a  few  hours  the  whole  was 
completely  destroyed  by  the  fire.  This  structure  has  not  been 
rebuilt.  The  loss  sustained  was  reasonably  well  covered  by 
insurance. 

SOCIETIES. 

Dexter  Lodge,  No.  253,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  constituted  in  the 
village  April  9,  1903,  with  fourteen  charter  members.  It  now 
has  thirty  members,  and  holds  its  meeting  in  the  hall  of  the  Buck 
building.  The  lodge  formerly  occupied  the  Medbery  Hall,  which, 
in  1907,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Regular  meetings  are  held  on  the 
first  and  third  Thursday  of  each  month. 

The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are :  'E.  W.  Dorr,  W.  M. ; 
H.  M.  Brue,  S.  W. ;  D.  A.  Root,  J.  W. ;  F.  M.  Conklin,  treasurer ; 
J.  H.  Vandenoever,  secretary ;  R.  G.  Longen,  S.  D. ;  "W.  J.  Drake, 
J.  D. ;  J.  P.  Chase,  S.  S. ;   W.  AYatson,  J.  S. ;   W.  J.  Root,  tyler. 

Dexter  Camp,  No.  3504,  M.  W.  A.,  was  organized  in  this  vil- 
lage January  24.  189(),  with  twenty  t-harter  members.  The  lodge 
has  at  present  sixty-six  members  in  good  standing  and  has  for 
several  years  owned  its  OAvn  hall,  which  is  a  commodious  one. 
Regular  camp  meetings  are  held  on  the  first  and  third  Tuesday  of 
each  month.  Its  present  officers  are :  Y.  C  A,V.  L.  Harrison ; 
AV.  A.,  A.  T.  Root ;  E.  B,  D.  A.  Root;  clerk.  0.  J.  Dickens;  escort, 
Jolin  Prickett :  watcliiuaii.  George  Drake ;  sentry,  Charles  Kramer. 


438  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Dexter  Telephone  Company.  A  local  telephone  company  of 
this  viciuity  was  (.'stablished  in  May,  1901.  It  was  a  stock  com- 
pany known  as  the  Mower  County  Farmers'  Telephone,  in  which 
each  patron  was  required  to  own  a  share  and  provide  his  own 
instrument  and  help  build  the  line.  It  proved  to  be  a  success  in 
every  way  and  soon  was  connected  with  other  lines  for  long  dis- 
tance work.  The  first  officers  of  the  company  Avere:  B.  F.  King, 
president ;  O.  J.  Dickens,  treasurer,  and  J.  Rahilly,  secretary.  On 
the  first  day  of  January,  1909,  the  company  was  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  Dexter  Telephone  Companj^,  wath  a  capital 
stock  of  $10,000,  and  the  line  now  has  150  miles  of  wire  in  opera- 
tion with  about  250  phones  in  place.  The  village  of  Dexter  is  the 
headquarters  for  the  company  and  there  is  scarcely  a  farm  home 
within  a  radius  of  several  miles  of  the  village  which  cannot  be 
reached  by  the  line.  The  annual  meetings  are  held  in  June,  and 
the  present  officers  are  L.  Larson,  president ;  A.  S.  Rolfson,  vice 
president;  0.  J.  Dickens,  treasurer,  and  R.  Rahilly,  secretary; 
these,  together  with  N.  Lee,  C.  Fairbanks,  AV.  Daily,  AV.  Watson, 
W.  Phillips,  W.  Drake,  and  J.  Martin,  constitute  the  board  of 
directors. 

Dexter  Commercial  Club.  One  of  the  many  associations  of 
the  village  that  should  not  be  lost  sight  of  is  the  Commercial  Club 
of  Dexter.  Although  not  more  than  a  year  has  passed  since  its 
formation,  it  has  done  a  great  deal  for  the  business  and  financial 
interests  of  the  village  and  in  additon  to  this  it  has  been  instru- 
mental in  maintaining  a  fraternal  feeling  among  the  business  men 
of  the  town.  The  club  has  a  large  membership  for  a  village  of 
this  size  and  a  great  deal  of  interest  is  taken.  Its  present  officers 
are  G.  J.  Schottler,  president ;  F.  M.  Conklin,  treasurer,  and  E.  "W. 
Dorr,  secretary. 

DEXTER  CEMETERY. 

The  village  cemetery  is  well  located  one-half  mile  north  of  the 
business  portion  of  the  town,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
13.  It  is  on  the  main  highway  and  consists  of  tAvo  acres  of  nice 
high  ground,  which  slopes  east  and  also  west.  It  was  platted  in 
1889  and  laid  out  in  seventy-two  main  or  principal  lots  and  306 
smaller  or  outside  lots.  The  cemetery  is  under  the  control  and 
management  of  the  village  council. 


RENOVA. 

Renova  is  located  in  section  9  and  was  started  after  the  build- 
ing of  what  is  now  the  Chicago  Great  "Western  road  in  1887.    It 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  439 

is  chiefly  a  grain  trading  point  and  has  an  excellent  elevator,  a 
railroad  station  and  a  general  store  in  which  is  located  the  post- 
office.    Eenova  was  platted  March  80,  1900,  by  W.  P.  Johnson. 

SUTTON. 

Sutton  was  located  in  section  26  on  the  Chicago  Great  West- 
ern. It  was  started  as  a  trading  point  after  the  building  of  the 
railroad  in  1887.  The  elevator  burned  down  and  the  station  has 
been  moved  away. 


CHAPTEE  XXXIII. 


WINDOM  TOWNSHIP. 


Location,  Advantages  and  Area — Early  Settlement — First  Events 
— Organization  of  the  Township — Religious — Rose  Creek  Vil- 
lage— Location,  Platting,  Incorporation  and  Officers — Busi- 
ness in  the  Early  Days — Churches — Edited  by  George  Sutton 
and  Ferdinand  G.  Ray. 

"Wiudoiii  township  embraces  the  territory  comprised  in  con- 
gressional township  102  north,  range  17  west  of  the  fifth  principal 
meridian.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Eed  Eock  townshiji,  on 
the  east  by  Marshall,  on  the  south  by  Nevada  and  on  the  west 
by  Austin.  The  surface  of  this  toAvnship  is  quite  level,  and  there 
are  but  few  acres  of  waste  land.  Originally  about  three-fourths 
of  the  surface  of  the  township  was  clear  prairie  land,  while  on  a 
portion  of  the  balance  good  timber  was  growing.  The  largest 
body  of  timber  was  located  on  sections  7,  8,  13,  24  and  25.  The 
soil  is  a  rich,  dark  loam,  in  some  places  mixed  slightly  with  sand 
and  in  other  places  with  clay.  The  soil  is  very  productive  and 
excellently  adapted  to  the  raising  of  cereals  and  grasses  common 
to  this  latitude. 

The  township  is  drained  by  Eose  creek  and  its  tril)utaries  and 
the  tributaries  of  Dobbins  creek.  Rose  creek  enters  the  town- 
ship from  ^Marshall  by  way  of  section  1  and  flows  to  section  12; 
from  thence  it  retraces  its  course  and  passes  back  to  Marshall 
township  a  trifle.  On  section  13  it  again  enters  this  township, 
passing  across  that  section;  then  through  the  northwest  corner 
of  section  24  to  23 ;  thence  through  26 ;  the  northwest  quarter 
of  35 ;  thence  across  34,  33,  32  and  the  northeast  corner  of  31 
to  section  30,  from  which  it  leaves  this  township  to  enter  Austin 
township.  The  drainage  from  the  northern  part  of  the  township 
is  into  Dobbins  creek. 

In  earlv  davs,  and  in  fact  until   iiboiit    ISTS,  wlicjif  was  the 


440  HISTOEY  OF  :\rOWETJ  COITXTY 

chief  product,  as  much  as  thirty  bushels  to  the  acre  being  fre- 
quently threshed.  The  first  wheat  raised  here  was  marketed 
at  McGregor,  Iowa,  and  Winona,  and  many  of  the  settlers  used 
to  make  the  trip  with  ox  teams.  It  was  generally  considered 
an  eight  to  ten  days'  trip  to  McGregor,  and  six  to  eight  to 
"Winona;  but  in  bad  going  it  would  take  longer.  In  the  summer 
season  it  was  customary  to  take  provisions  along  and  camp  on 
the  way.  During  the  winter  they  would  put  up  at  hotels  which 
were  stationed  at  different  places  along  the  road.  Some  of  these 
taverns  were  built  of  logs  and  not  very  large,  and  were  often- 
times crowded  with  guests,  but  like  a  stage  coach,  there  was  al- 
ways room  for  one  more.  At  the  present  day  wheat  is  not  as 
profitable  as  it  used  to  be,  and  much  less  of  it  is  sown.  Barley, 
oats,  corn,  potatoes,  timothy,  flax  and  clover  are  raised  in  large 
quantities.  The  dairy  and  stock  raising  interests  are  now  re- 
ceiving considerable  attention  and  many  good  horses  and  cattle 
are  raised  in  this  township. 


Early  Settlement. 

The  first  settlement  in  Windom  township  was  made  in  1855 
by  Sylvester  Davis,  Avho  came  here  in  the  spring  of  that  year  and 
camped  on  section  20.  But  at  that  time  he  heard  of  better  pros- 
pects farther  on,  and  he  went  west.  In  Avigust  of  that  year,  how- 
ever, he  returned  and  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 20,  where  he  erected  the  first  dwelling  in  the  township.  It 
was  a  frame  house,  which  he  afterwards  enlarged  by  building 
an  addition.  This  he  opened  as  a  tavern,  it  being  on  the  road 
from  the  Little  Cedar  to  Owatonna,  a  road  much  traveled  in 
those  days,  and  his  house  was  frequently  crowded  Avith  guests. 
Davis  was  a  typical  frontiersman,  and  was  visibly  inclined  to  be 
rough  and  uncouth.  In  1857  he  sold  and  returned  to  Iowa,  where 
he  lived  a  short  time,  then  moved  to  Rice  county,  Minnesota, 
where  he  died  a  few  years  later.  He  sold  his  place  in  this  town- 
ship to  Nelson  Cook,  a  Congregational  clergyman,  and  while  he 
lived  there  the  place  was  named  "Saint's  Rest,"  by  Avhich  name 
some  still  know  it.  From  Rev.  Cook  the  chain  of  title  to  the 
place  passed  through  Francis  Bronson,  Elias  Branch.  John  Mer- 
rill, AVilliam  V.  Little,  Henry  Baker  and  then  to  Vernon  M. 
Gregg,  the  present  owner. 

Elon  C.  Benton  was  the  second  settler  in  the  township.  He 
was  a  native  of  New  York  state;  but  eanu^  here  from  Iowa,  where 
he  had  lived  for  a  short  time.  In  ]\Iarch,  1856,  he  claimed  the 
south  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  7,  in  Windom,  and 
also  the  southeast  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  12,  in  Aus- 
tin township.     His  mother  accompanied  him.     He  erected  a  log 


HISTOEY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  441 

house  on  section  7  and  lived  there  until  1861,  when  he  sold  and 
moved  to  Nebraska,  settling  near  Omaha.  He  lived  there  for  a 
time  then  removed  to  Smith  county,  Kansas.  In  1883  he  removed 
to  Oregon.  He  held  various  offices  of  trust  in  Windom,  vs^as 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  and  in  the  latter 
state  held  the  office  of  judge  of  probate. 

In  March,  1856,  AVilliam  T.  Mandeville,  Alfred  Richardson, 
Hugh  Mills  and  Pliny  Conkey  came.  They  were  all  natives  of 
the  state  of  New  York  and  had  lived  near  West  Union,  Iowa,  for 
a  time.  This  party  came  with  forty  covered  wagons.  Mr.  Man- 
deville claimed  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  30;  Conkey  the 
southeast  of  19 ;  Mills  the  northwest  of  29,  and  Richardson  the 
north  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  20.  They  all  re- 
turned to  Iowa  except  Mills,  who  remained  to  look  after  the 
claims.  In  May  of  that  year  they  came  back  and  with  them  eame 
Horatio  Marsh,  George  N.  Conkey  and  Charles  Zwick.  Mande- 
ville located  upon  his  claim.  Conkey  was  a  single  man  and  made 
liis  home  with  his  brother  George  N.  for  two  years,  and  then 
Avent  to  Iowa.  About  a  year  later  he  returned  and  in  1862  he 
enlisted  in  Company  C,  Ninth  Minnesota  Infantry.  He  was  cap- 
tured at  the  battle  of  Guntown,  Miss.,  and  died  in  a  rebel  prison. 
Mr.  Mills  died  in  June,  1884,  and  his  family  at  this  writing  still 
occupies  the  place.  Richardson  improved  his  land  and  lived 
there  until  1870,  when  he  moved  to  Austin,  where  he  resided  for 
a  number  of  years.  The  place  was  sold  to  "Walter  Hines,  whose 
family  now  occupies  the  place.  George  N.  Conkey  entered  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  30.  He  is  now  dead.  Marsh  entered 
the  south  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  20.  In  1878 
he  sold  and  moved  to  Austin.  He  is  now  dead.  This  place  was 
sold  to  Patrick  Hues,  who  sold  to  "William  Enright,  the  present 
owner. 

During  the  same  year  (1856)  the  following  arrived  Avith  their 
families:  Chester  Fuller  and  his  son  Walter,  Obadiah  Smith, 
Andrew  Robertson,  Aaron  Draper,  Mrs.  Ann  Smith  and  son 
Thomas,  Ira  W.  Padden,  ]\Iartin  O'Malley,  Michael  Slaven,  Pat- 
rick Mealy,  Quincy  A.  Tri;esdell,  William  Cowan,  Henry  Fero, 
Peter  McGrath   and  A.  J.  Clark. 

The  Fullers  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  but  came  here  from 
Wisconsin.  They  settled  on  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  20.  The  father,  Chester  Fuller,  died  three  weeks 
later.  This  was  the  first  death  in  the  township.  Walter  made 
this  his  home  iintil  the  time  of  his  death.  The  family  are  all 
dead  except  Mm.  Rosetta  Fuller.  Avho  lives  in  Rotunda,  N.  D. 
Obadiah  Smith  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  He  came  here  from 
Iowa  and  settled  on  the  nortli  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  7.     He  is  now  di-ad.     His  wife  lives  in   .Ariiiiicapulis,  iiiid 


442  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

his  son,  Avho  lives  in  Austin,  now  owns  the  farm.  A.  Eobertson 
Avas  a  native  of  Scotland.  He  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  26.  He  improved  a  farm  and  lived  there  until  1880, 
when  he  closed  out  and  removed  to  Stewart,  Neb.,  where  he  ia 
still  living.  Patrick  Mealy,  William  Cowan  and  Martin  O'Mal- 
ley  were  natives  of  Ireland.  Patrick  Mealy  settled  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  26,  where  he  lived  until  after  the 
railroad  was  built,  when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Eacine 
comity,  Wisconsin,  where  he  now  lives.  Martin  O'Malley  located 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  6,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  the  time  of  his  death.  His  death  occurred  while  he  was 
in  Illinois  and  was  caused  by  a  runavvay  accident.  Martin  O'Mal- 
ley's  family  are  all  dead  except  Mrs.  William  Meany,  who  lives 
in  Windom,  and  Patrick  O'Malley,  a  son,  who  is  a  railroad  con- 
ductor in  Kansas.  William  Cowan  settled  on  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  5.  Mrs.  Smith  settled  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  13,  where  she  lived  four  years;  then  went  to  Mineral 
Point,  Wis.,  where  she  died  three  months  later.  Her  sou  Thomas 
B.  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  12.  Ten  years  later 
he  sold  out  and  bought  the  place  first  settled  upon  by  his  mother. 
He  now  lives  in  Minneapolis  and  his  son  George  lives  on  the 
place.  Q.  A.  Truesdell  settled  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  10.  He  stopped  there  but  a  short 
time,  when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Austin,  and  for  some  years 
was  engaged  in  various  lines  of  business,  but  he  finally  removed 
to  Minneapolis,  where  he  died.  Michael  Slaven  was  a  native  of 
Ohio.  He  located  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  13,  where 
he  lived  until  1874,  when  he  sold  out.  He  now  lives  in  Austin. 
Henry  Fero  was  born  in  the  state  of  Wisconsin.  He  settled  ou 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  6,  where  he  lived  two  or  three 
years,  then  sold  out  and  removed  to  Iowa.  Early  in  the  war  he 
enlisted,  and,  it  is  said,  was  killed  in  battle.  Peter  McGrath  lo- 
cated on  the  southwest  quarter  oE  section  5,  where  he  lived  for 
several  years.  A.  J.  Clark  was  a  native  of  New  York  state.  The 
southwest  quarter  of  section  17  was  selected  by  him.  He  en- 
listed when  the  war  broke  out  in  the  Third  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  died  in  the  service  at  Helena,  Ark.  The  family 
afterward  moved  West. 

Ira  W.  Padden  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  New  York,  but  came 
here  from  Canada  cai-ly  in  1856,  and  settled  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  6.  During  the  war  he  served  in  Company  C, 
Ninth  ]\Iinnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  discharged  witli 
the  regiment  in  1865.  He  was  cruelly  murdered  in  the  fall  after 
liis  return.  He  was  at  a  threshing  in  the  neighborhood  and  was 
passing  grain  to  the  machine.  It  seems  he  passed  it  on  to  the 
1al)l('  too  I'asl   1()  suit  Patrick  MclDtcc,  tlie  man  wlio  was  feeding 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  443 

the  machine,  and  the  fellow  challenged  him  to  fight,  which  he 
refused  to  do.  The  murderer  then  went  to  a  house  near  by  and 
borrowed  a  revolver,  and  returning  again,  challenged  him  to 
fight.  Mr.  Padden  again  refused,  upon  which  the  man  fired  upon 
him,  and  he  died  from  the  effect  of  the  shot  in  a  few  moments. 
Aaron  Draper  claimed  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  35.  He 
Avas  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  the  first  in  the  township.  He  set  his 
forge  up  out  of  doors  at  first.  Thomas  Smith  burned  the  char- 
coal for  him  and  took  his  pay  in  work.  He  finally  put  up  a  log 
building  for  a  shop,  but  never  put  on  any  roof.  He  had  quite  a 
large  drove  of  cattle,  but  did  not  have  sufficient  food  or  shelter 
for  them,  and  a  number  died  during  the  cold  winter  of  1856-57. 
He  never  proved  up  on  his  claim,  but  left  it  and  went  away.  John 
A.  Thompson,  a  native  of  New  York  state,  also  came  in  1856,  and 
after  entering  land  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  7,  he 
returned  to  New  York  state.  In  the  spring  of  1857  he  came  back 
and  settled  upon  his  land. 

During  the  year  1857  the  following  were  among  the  arrivals: 
Alonson  "Wright  and  son  Alonzo,  Harry,  Roswell  and  Cook  Slo- 
cum,  William  Furlong,  Henry  H.  Vail,  Stephen  Sutton  and  sou 
George,  George  "W.  Benton,  J.  A.  Thompson,  "W.  W.  Benedict, 
Bucklin  Wood,  Andrew  Emery,  and  George  Emery.  The  Wrights 
were  natives  of  New  York  state,  but  came  here  from  Green 
county,  Wisconsin.  Alonson  entered  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  13,  where  he  lived  some  years;  then  removed  to  Austin, 
where  he  died  in  January,  1878.  Alonzo  entered  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  13.  He  is  now  dead.  The  Slocums  were  also 
natives  of  the  state  of  New  York,  but  had  lived  for  a  time  in 
Illinois.  They  came  late  in  the  spring.  After  making  claims, 
breaking  some  land  and  erecting  shanties,  they  retiirned  to  Illi- 
nois and  harvested  their  crops.  In  the  fall  they  returned  and 
settled  on  their  claims.  Harry's  claim  was  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  10.  Roswell  settled  on  tlie  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 10.  He  improved  a  farm,  which  he  occupied  several  years, 
tlien  moved  to  Austin.  Cook  settled  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  9,  where  he  lived  for  several  years.  He  died  in  Austin. 
With  the  Slocums  came  H.  Perkins,  who  took  a  claim  in  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  14.  JMessrs.  Sutton  and  Furlong 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland.  Furlong  located  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  8,  where  he  made  his  home  until  the  time  of 
his  death.  The  Suttons  claimed  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
26.  The  father  died  there  December  24,  1859.  His  son  entered 
the  land  in  1860  and  still  owns  it.  Stephen  Sutton  and  his  son, 
George,  arrived  at  Winona,  Minnesota,  May  4,  1857.  They  went 
to  Chatfield,  where  the  land  office  was.  by  stage,  part  of  tlie  time 
carrying  a  rail  to  pry  the  stage  from  th'»  mud  of  the  slough,  in 


444  inSTOlJY  or  MO^VER  COUXTY 

A\lii(li  it  was  fieqiiently  mired.  They  secured  a  plat  of  tiie  town- 
ship of  Beaver,  township  101,  range  13,  and  were  told  at  the 
land  otnee  that  they  would  have  to  build  a  house  and  break  half 
an  acre  of  land  before  they  could  file  on  any  claim.  They  there- 
fore went  to  "work,  cut  logs,  built  a  house,  rooted  a  little  piece 
of  ground  and  prepared  to  make  their  permanent  home  there. 
But  when  Stephen,  the  father,  went  to  Chatfield  to  tile  on  the 
land,  he  found  that  it  had  been  entered  and  paid  for  the  day 
before  by  one  William  Bigen.  This  discouraged  hira,  and  he 
wanted  to  go  back  to  New  York.  His  son,  however,  told  hhn 
that  there  was  more  land  in  ]\Iinnesota,  and  consequently  he  and 
a  man  with  whom  they  had  been  boarding,  came  to  Avhat  is 
now  AVindom  township,  and  took  up  a  claim  where  the  son  George 
now  lives. 

George  "W.  Benton  claimed  tlie  southeast  quarter  of  section  9. 
He  died  in  Austin.  His  mother  preempted  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  18.  H.  H.  Vail  was  a  native  of  Vermont.  He  came 
here  from  Illinois  and  preempted  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 2.  J.  A.  Thompson  was  born  in  Chenango  county,  New 
York,  in  1827.  He  came  to  Mower  county  in  1856  and  took  a  pre- 
emption right  to  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  7.  Then  he 
returned  to  New  York,  Avas  married,  and  the  next  year  came  to 
Minnesota.  He  settled  on  his  homestead  in  May,  1857,  and  lived 
on  it  for  thirty  years.  Then  he  and  his  wife  moved  to  Austin, 
Avhere  they  noAv  reside.  "W.  AY.  Benedict  preempted  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  8,  in  the  fall  of  1857.  He  was  born  in 
New  York  in  1829.  After  living  in  Mower  county  a  time  he 
moved  to  Springfield,  South  Dakota,  where  he  now  resides. 
Bucklin  Wood  preempted  the  soiithwest  quarter  of  section  8  in 
the  spring  of  1856.  He  moved  from  New  York  the  following 
year,  and  afterward  moved  to  Springfield,  South  Dakota,  where 
lie  still  Jives.  Andrew  and  George  Emery  came  in  1857.  The 
former  i)reempted  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 14,  and  the  latter  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  16. 


FIRST  EVENTS. 

Tile  lii'st  marriage  in  llie  township  was  that  of  Jacob  Lee  to 
Rebecca  Davis,  who  wci-c  mariied  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's 
parents,  by  D.  B.  .lolinson.  .Ir..  justice  of  the  peace.  They  lived 
at  Austin  for  a  tiinc  Ihcn  removed  west.  He  enlisted  in  the 
ai-iiiy  wlirn  the  war  broke  out  and  was  killed  in  battle.  The  first 
death  in  I  lie  lownsliip  was  thai  of  Cliesler  Fuller,  who  died  in 
3856. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  M5 


ORGANIZATION  OF   THE  TOWNSHIP. 

^Viiuioni  AVMS  organized  .May  11,  1858.  At  that  time  it  was 
known  as  Brooklyn,  and  ineluded  the  present  towns  of  Windoni 
and  ^Tarshall.  In  1862  the  name  Brooklyn  was  changed  to  Can- 
ton, and  tlie  same  year  to  Windom.  York,  now  jMarsiiall,  was 
eut  oft'  in  1870.  The  minutes  of  the  first  meeting  are  given  in 
the  records  as  follows,  furnished  to  this  publication  by  A.  W. 
Rankin,  town  clerk:  ''The  following  are  the  true  minutes  of  an 
clecliou  held  in  accordance  with  the  notice  given  by  order  of  the 
chairman  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  May  11,  1858. 
Names  of  persons  voting  at  said  election:  Alfred  Richardson, 
Elan  C.  Benton,  Martin  A.  Churchill,  Oliver  Ilickcock,  Cook 
Slocum,  AYilliam  Cowan,  Harry  Sloeum,  Stacy  Bell,  George  W. 
Benton,  "\Yalter  Fuller,  William  T.  Manderville,  Patrick  Mealy, 
A.  J.  Clark,  Henry  Tearow,  William  Furlong,  Martin  O'Malley, 
Alanson  Wright.  Peter  IMcGrath,  John  A.  Thompson,  John  Depue, 
Horatio  Marsh,  ]\I.  J.  Slaven,  Nelson  Cook,  P.  S.  Conkey,  Jere- 
miah Perkius,  Henry  Roger,  George  N.  Conkey,  Andrew  Robert- 
son, Obadiah  Smith,  Thomas  Smith,  Hugh  D.  Mills,  Roswell  Slo- 
cum, E.  E.  Cross  and  Aaron  Draper.  The  judges  of  election  were 
Nelson  Cook,  Horatio  Marsh  and  Thomas  Smith.  The  meeting 
was  held  at  the  home  of  Nelson  Cook.  The  following  officers 
were  elected:  Supervisors,  Alanson  Wright  (chairman),  John  A. 
Thompson,  and  A.  J.  Wright ;  town  clerk.  Nelson  Cook ;  justices 
of  the  peace,  Horatio  Marsh  and  William  Cowan;  collector,  Wal- 
ter Fuller ;  constable,  Harry  Slocum ;  assessor,  Roswell  Slocum ; 
road  supervisor,  E.  C.  Benton ;  overseer  of  the  poor,  Henry 
Tearow.  On  motion  it  is  resolved  that  the  town  lay  a  tax  of 
$50  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  necessary  expenses  of  the 
town  for  the  ensuing  year.  Nelson  Cook,  clerk."  The  town  was 
named  in  honor  of  Senator  AYilliam  AY.  Windom. 

Among  those  prominent  in  township  affairs  in  the  early  days 
may  be  mentioned :  E.  C.  Benton,  P.  Mealy,  G.  N.  Conkey, 
Stephen  Sutton,  A.  Robertson,  0.  Smith,  M.  J.  Slaven,  A.  II. 
Clark,  J.  H.  Livingston,  P.  S.  Conkey,  H.  ]\Iarsh,  S.  AV.  Rice, 
H.  Erickson,  A.  J.  French,  A.  Fairbanks,  John  Merrill,  AV.  Bron- 
son,  Henry  Burgor,  H.  H.  Vale,  Thomas  Smith,  AVilliam  Furlong, 
Alonzo  AVright,  Thomas  H.  B.  Yandergrift,  AI.  B.  Slocum,  G.  AV. 
Richards,  Ira  H.  AVarner,  J.  A.  Priest,  John  C.  Hawkins,  F.  B. 
Kline,  George  Sutton,  F.  G.  Ray,  A.  H.  AYilliaras,  H.  0.  Swening- 
son,  J.  J.  Furlong,  A.  AT.  Baldwin,  Jens  A.  Jensen,  John  Cronaii, 
D.  AIcTavish.  Ira  Snv.lcr,  Thomas  Malone  and  A.  1).  Fairbanks. 


446  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

RELIGIOUS. 

Early  in  the  history  of  the  town  ministers  of  different  denom- 
inations visted  "Windom  and  preached  at  private  houses.  Amony; 
the  early  preachers  were :  John  Arnold,  a  United  Brethren ; 
Rev.  Mapes,  a  Methodist;  Nelson  and  Stephen  Cook,  Congrega- 
tional, and  Ash  ]\Iarsh,  Baptist. 

Congregational.  In  1857  Nelson  Cook,  a  native  of  Vermont- 
and  a  Congregational  preacher  by  profession,  purchased  the 
DaA'is  farm  and  settled  in  this  township.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Oberlin  college.  He  soon  afterwards  organized  a  church  there, 
which  included  members  of  different  denominations  who  wished 
to  identify  themselves  with  some  church.  Among  the  members 
were :  "W.  T.  ]\Iandeville,  Alfred  Richardson  and  wife,  John  Rose 
and  wife,  John  Greggs  and  wife,  Lyman  St.  John  and  wife,  David 
Austin  and  Oliver  Hitchcock.  John  R.ose  was  elected  deacon. 
Meetings  were  held  at  Mr.  Cook's  house,  at  the  house  of  Lyman 
St.  John,  in  Nevada  township,  and  other  private  houses.  The 
organization  flourished  under  Mr.  Cook's  care  for  four  years, 
Avhen  failing  health  compelled  him  to  go  east.  He  went,  intend- 
ing to  return,  but  his  health  continued  to  fail,  and  he  died  after 
a  lingering  illness.  After  this  the  church  disbanded  and  the 
members  joined  different  societies. 

Baptist.  Those  of  the  Baptist  faith  living  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  town  attended  services  at  Austin  until  1868,  when  Elder 
Wharton  held  a  series  of  meetings  at  the  schoolhouse  in  District 
No.  24.  A  number  of  conversions  were  made  and  a  branch  of  the 
Austin  church  was  organized,  which  met  at  the  schoolhouse  for 
worship,  services  being  held  once  in  two  weeks.  In  1872  the 
members  in  this  neighborhood  called  for  letters  of  dismissal  in 
order  to  establish  an  independent  church.  The  following  named 
became  members:  Horatio  ]Marsh,  Cynthia  A.  Marsh,  "Walter 
Fuller,  George  Van  Camp,  Emeline  Van  Camp,  ]Mrs.  Silas  ^liner. 
Alfred,  Belle  and  John  Fairbanks,  John  Bennett  and  wife,  Charles, 
Myron  and  Etta  INIiner,  Josephine  Burgor,  David  jNIollison  and 
wife,  Josephine  M.,  Alena  M.,  George  W.,  Thomas  E.,  and  Josepli 
A.  Mollison,  George  AV.  Shepley  and  wife,  Thomas  Edwards  and 
wiCe,  lliram  Eddie  and  wife.  Mrs.  Rosella  Snyder  and  Arminda 
Riiland.  Horatio  I\rarsh  and  Alonzo  Fairbanks  were  elected  dea- 
cons, and  George  Van  Camp  clerk.  The  pulpit  was  supplied  from 
Austin,  and  the  class  flourished  three  or  four  years,  Avhen  some 
of  tlic  members  moved  away,  others  joined  other  churches  and 
Ihc  iiH'cliiigs  were  discoiilinucd.  A  Sunday  school  v/as  organized 
in  coiincclion  with  this  church.  Horatio  i\Iarsh  was  tlie  fir.st  and 
.Mrs.  A.  Fiiirl)aidvs  tlie  last  superintendent. 

United  Brethren.     Elder  Arnold  organized  a  United  lirethren 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  447 

class  at  the  house  of  Alfred  Richardson.  The  following  were 
among  the  members:  Alfred  Richardson  and  wife,  Isaac  Peter- 
man  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Ira  W.  Padden.  Mr.  Richardson  was 
the  tirst  class  leader.  Meetings  were  held  at  different  private 
houses.  Among  the  various  preachers  were  Elder  M.  L.  Tibbetts, 
John  Allaman,  Daniel  Reed  and  Elder  Zimmerman.  The  class 
flourished  but  a  short  time. 

ROSE  CREEK  VILLAGE. 

Rose  Creek  is  an  incorporated  village  in  the  southea.stern  part 
of  "\Yindom  township  on  the  C,  M.  &  St.  Paul  road.  It  is  a 
thriving  place,  is  incorporated,  has  a  bank,  a  creamery,  a  public 
school,  two  elevators,  and  Congregational  and  Catholic  churches. 
It  has  a  full  complement  of  the  business  houses  usually  found  in 
such  places,  and  two  fraternities.  The  Modern  Woodmen  of  the 
AVorld  and  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters.  The  population  is 
between  two  and  three  hundred. 

Among  the  principal  business  activities  of  Rose  Creek  at  the 
present  time  may  be  mentioned  the  following:  General  mer- 
chandise, C.  R.  Varco,  Weinert  &  Jensen,  E.  C.  Keefe  &  Co. ; 
State  Bank  of  Rose  Creek,  president,  Mrs.  S.  Dean;  vice  presi- 
dent, John  Cronan ;  cashier,  W.  H.  Dean ;  assistant  cashier,  E.  0. 
Johnson ;  William  Crane  &  Co.,  lumber  and  coal ;  John  Ulwelling, 
meat  market  and  restaurant ;  C.  A.  Anderson,  general  hardware  ; 
Hart  &  Meadow,  restaurant  and  pool  room;  John  Cronan  &  Co.. 
elevator, .  grain  and  seeds ;  John  Cronan,  dealer  in  furniture ; 
6.  W.  Phillips,  farm  implements ;  Huntting  Elevator  Company, 
grain  and  coal;  Merchants'  hotel;  John  Landherr,  blacksmith 
shop  and  feed  mill ;  Henry  Luz,  Idacksmith  shop ;  F.  G.  Ray, 
postmaster. 

The  Rose  Creek  Cooperative  Creamery  Company  was  organ- 
ized ^Nlarch  10,  1910.  and  started  operations  June  1.  The  first 
officers  were:  President,  S.  D.  Thompson;  vice  president,  II.  P. 
Cronan ;  treasurer,  Jens  A.  Jensen ;  secretary,  AY.  II.  Dean.  The 
present  officers  are  the  same  with  the  exception  that  E.  C. 
Keefe  is  secretary.  The  directors  are  Alfred  Ruland,  AV.  D. 
Fink,  AV.  P.  Cress  and  John  Bloom. 

This  village  was  platted  by  Selah  Chamberlain  in  1873.  It  is 
located  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 26.  The  original  plat  as  recorded  April  3,  1874,  contained 
four  blocks.  Since  that  time  additions  have  been  made.  It  is 
pleasantly  located,  and  the  village  is  in  a  flourisliing  and  grow- 
intr  condition.  The  surrounding  country  which  is  tributary  to 
this  place,  is  an  excellent  farming  and  stock  raising  region, 
and  therefore  tiie  viliatrc  has  a  substaiilial   ti-adc. 


448  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Rose  Creek  had  its  real  beginning  in  October,  1867,  v.iieu 
trains  began  running  on  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  road.  It  was  for 
some  years  a  flag  station.  In  1878  the  present  depot  building 
was  erected.  John  Cronan  was  the  first  agent.  His  service 
terminated  October  1,'  1889.  Since  then  the  agents  have  been: 
"W.  Keefe,  E.  PI  Satterlee,  R.  Whitelaw,  John  C.  Olson;  Henry 
Gosha,  Charles  O'^Ialley,  John  ^Malck  and  John  O'Malley.  Avho 
is  serving  at  present. 

Rose  Creek  was  incorporated  February  14,  1899.  The  first 
officers  elected  were:  Mayor,  E.  C.  Keefe;  council,  G.  W.  Phil- 
lips, R.  L.  Tanner,  James  Ballweber ;  clerk,  A.  C.  Shotter ;  treas- 
urer, James  Skahan;  assessor,  Peter  O'Malley;  marshal,  N.  H. 
Garrison;  justice  of  the  peace,  F.  G.  Ray;  constable,  A.  R.  Sutton. 
The  present  officers  are :  Mayor,  Fred  Gerhart ;  council,  A.  S. 
Wheelock,  Charles  Schwamm,  John  O'Malley;  clerk,  E.  C.  Keefe; 
treasurer,  John  Cronan ;  assessor,  J.  B.  Steines ;  justices,  H.  P. 
Ulwelling  and  T.  B.  O'Halloran;  marshal,  George  Sehumadrer. 
The  streets  of  Rose  Creek  are  well  lighted  with  oil  lamps  and 
one  gasoline  lamp.  The  building  now  used  for  a  town  hall  was 
first  built  as  a  sehoolhouse  in  1871:.  It  was  purchased  by  the 
village  for  a  hall  in  1909.  The  pumping  station  was  built  in  1901. 
The  water  comes  from  a  deep  well  and  the  city  has  ample  fire 
protection. 

BUSINESS  IN  THE  EARLY  DAYS. 

The  first  move  toward  business  development  at  Rose  Creek 
was  the  erection  of  a  small  warehouse  in  1869,  by  William  Pitcher, 
from  Austin.  Yates  &  Lewis  rented  the  warehouse  and  bought 
grain  for  a  time.  In  1870  M.  B.  Slocum  commenced  buying 
grain,  with  George  Sutton  as  a  silent  x^artner.  They  were  asso- 
ciated together  two  years,  when  they  dissolved,  and  each  went 
into  the  business  separately.  M.  B.  Slocum  erected  two  ware- 
houses and  an  elevator.  In  1877  Bassett,  Iluntting  &  Co.  erected 
a  large  elevator.  They  are  now  represented  by  Thomas  O'Hal- 
loran. George  Sutton  closed  out  his  business  in  1898.  John  Cro- 
nan was  an  early  grain  buyer  and  the  J.  Cronan  &  Co.  concern 
still  conducts  an  elevator  here. 

John  A.  Priest  was  the  first  merchant  at  Rose  Creek.  He 
commenced  business  in  January,  1873,  in  an  old  log  building, 
located  near  the  village  plat.  He  kept  a  very  small  stock  at  first. 
In  the  summer  of  1873  he  erected  a  building  on  lot  10,  block  2, 
and  increased  his  stock  of  goods.  He  remained  in  trade  here 
until  June,  1878,  when  he  sold  to  Daniel  iMcTavish  and  George 
\V.  Williams.  In  1879  Williams  sold  his  interest  to  A.  J.  Odekirk, 
and  two  years  later  Stanley  Warner  bought  out  the  firm.  Six 
months  later  he  sold  to  C.  R.  Varco,  who  is  still  in  trade. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  449 

The  second  store  in  the  viHage  phit  was  opened  l)y  J.  C 
Taskernd  in  1875,  in  a  bnikling  which  he  erected  on  hjt  9,  l)h)ck  1. 
Two  years  hxter  he  closed  ont  and  went  to  Dakota,  where  he  died. 
The  lot  still  belongs  to  the  family.  The  first  hotel  in  the  village 
was  opened  in  1875  by  I.  M.  Ray.  His  son,  F.  G.,  now  uses  the 
place  as  a  residence.  George  N.  Price  was  the  first  blacksmith. 
He  opened  a  shop  here  in  1873  on  lot  6,  block  1.  He  ran  it  for 
a  few  months,  then  sold  the  shop  to  Frank  Johnson,  who  was  a 
wagon  maker,  and  he  carried  on  that  trade  for  a  few  months. 
Peter  Johnson  was  associated  with  him  as  blacksmith.  After 
Frank  Johnson  sold  out  the  shop  was  moved  away  and  Peter 
Johnson  built  another  small  shop.  In  1875  he  sold  to  James 
Pierce.  In  1880  Watt  &  Barnhart  erected  a  shop  22x32  with 
10-foot  posts.  They  were  here  but  a  few  weeks,  then  sold  to 
James  Pierce.  In  1882  Peter  Johnson  returned  and  bought  the 
shop.  Peter  Johnson  sold  to  Mike  Lux,  who  sold  to  R.  L.  John- 
son. Johnson  sold  to  William  Collins,  who  sold  to  John  Landherr, 
the  present  owner.  John  Cronan  opened  the  third  store  in  the 
village  in  1877.  He  had  erected  a  building  on  lot  4,  of  block  3. 
He  remained  in  trade  about  a  year,  when  he  sold  out  to  Corbitt 
Brothers,  who  closed  out  a  few  months  later.  In  1881  Charles 
Lacy  opened  a  store  iu  this  building.  He  closed  up  in  the  spring 
of  1883.  Daniel  INIcTavish  opened  in  May,  1883.  Mr.  McTavish 
is  now  dead.  His  store  building  is  owned  by  Mrs.  Mary  Hines 
Garrison,  and  is  used  as  a  skimming  station,  for  receiving  and 
shipping  cream.  D.  F.  Blyton  opened  the  first  harness  shop  in 
the  village  in  1877.  He  closed  after  running  a  few  months.  He 
now  runs  a  harness  store  in  this  village  for  Charles  R.  Varco. 
Olburg  &  Sweningsen  opened  the  fourth  store  in  1877,  in  a  build- 
ing which  they  erected  on  lot  11,  block  1,  in  the  first  addition. 
Two  years  later  they  sold  to  McTavish  &  Odekirk,  who  were  in 
business  at  the  time.  The  latter  firm  moved  from  their  old  place 
of  business  to  the  building  purchased  of  Olburg  &  Sweningsen, 
and  were  in  trade  until  1882,  when  they  sold  out.  As  before 
related,  Stanley  Warner  purchased  the  business  and  sold  to  C.  R 
Varco,  who  still  occupies  the  building,  which  he  has  greatly 
improved. 

Rose  Creek  Congregational  Church. — On  September  15,  1872, 
religious  service  was  held  at  the  log  schoolhouse  about  one  mile 
north  of  the  village  of  Rose  Creek.  After  the  service  the  feasi- 
bility of  Christians  uniting  under  one  covenant  in  a  Congrega- 
tional church  was  considered.  On  October  29,  1872.  a  meeting 
was  held  iu  the  log  schoolhouse  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
a  church.  Rev.  R.  Hall,  the  state  superintendent  of  home  mis- 
sions; N.  S.  Frisby,  of  Guilford;  A.  P.  Kirkland  and  Rev.  A.  Morse 
were  present.     November  9.  1872,  a  church  meeting  was  lield  at 


450  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

the  house  of  W.  C.  Watt.  The  first  officers  of  the  church  elected 
were:  W.  M.  Corbitt,  clerk;  N.  N.  Thompson,  trustee;  W.  C. 
Watt,  trustee;  W.  M.  Corbitt,  trustee;  W.  M.  Corbitt,  treasurer; 

0.  Wheeloek,  deacon.  Names  of  the  original  members:  Obadiah 
Wheelock,  W.  M.  Corbitt,  N.  N.  Thompson,  Mrs.  Celestia  Wheel- 
oek, Mrs.  N.  N.  Thompson,  Mrs.  W.  C.  Watt,  Miss  Cordelia 
Wheelock.  Pastors:  Rev.  A.  Morse,  December  1,  1872,  until 
November  1,  1879;  Rev.  L.  H.  Moses,  November  1,  1879,  until 
November  18,  1883 ;  Rev.  M.  W.  Chunn,  from  May  1,  1884,  until 
November,  1884;  Rev.  J.  S.  Rounce,  September,  1885,  until  Sep- 
tember 28,  1890;  Rev.  W.  C.  Atcheson,  November  23,  1890,  until 
September,  1892 ;  Rev.  F.  W.  Harlow,  September,  1892,  until  No- 
vember, 1893;  Rev.  Frank  J.  Brown,  November,  1893,  until  No- 
vember 28,  1896 ;  Rev.  Carl  Swain,  May  23,  1897,  until  September 

1,  1898;  Rev.  Duncan,  December  18,  1898,  until  October  1,  1899; 
Rev.  Paul  Winter,  September  6,  1900,  until  September  6,  1901; 
Rev.  Benjamin  Irons,  October  6,  1901,  until  October  26,  1902; 
Rev.  E.  C.  Lyons,  February,  1903,  imtil  May  26,  1903 ;  Rev.  Cur- 
rie.  May  30,  1903,  until  September  30,  1903 ;  Rev.  J.  B.  Thompson. 
September  9,  1906,  the  present  pastor. 

The  Methodist  class  of  Rose  Creek  was  organized  March  21, 
1877,  from  the  remnant  of  the  Slocum  class  and  others  coming 
in.  Rev.  Mr.  Kerr  was  the  first  who  held  charge  of  this  class. 
Services  were  discontinued  many  years  ago.  For  about  ten  years 
the  Methodists  met  every  other  Sunday  in  the  Congregational 
church. 

Rose  Creek  Church  of  Christ  was  organized  January  22,  1875, 
at  the  Rose  Creek  sehoolhouse  by  Elder  W.  J.  Bursell.  The 
following  were  the  first  members :  D.  S.  B.  Mollison,  Mary  B.  Mol- 
lison,  Andrew  Robei'tson,  George  N.  Conkey,  Isaac  M.  Ray,  Eva 
Smith,  Thomas  Mollison,  John  Merrill,  Alena  M.  Mollison,  Wil- 
lard  G.  Thompson,  Celinda  Conkey,  N.  N.  Thompson,  Abby  F. 
Thompson,  L.  F.  Corbitt,  Josephine  Mollison,  Timothy  Bulson, 
Harriet  Bulson,  Mary  Ruland,  Joseph  Ondrick,  Ella  L.  Thomp- 
son, Armanda  Ruland,  Ella  Merrill,  Jane  Robertson,  Lucy  Bvu'- 
gor,  Harvey  Burgor,  Julius  Thompson,  William  Miner,  William 
Robertson,  Sarah  Robertson,  Lydia  Burgor,  Sarah  Burgor,  Alfred 
Snyder,  Pliny  Conkey  and  Hulbert  Thompson.  The  first  officers 
elected  were  as  follows:  Clerk,  W.  M.  Corbitt;  elder,  N.  N. 
Thompson ;  deacons,  John  Merrill,  Andrew  Robertson,  Eliza  Con- 
key and  Mary  B.  Mollison;  treasurer,  George  N.  Conkey.  'The 
election  Avas  held  at  the  house  of  N.  N.  Thompson,  on  January 
28,  1875.  The  society  met  for  worship  at  the  Rose  Creek  school- 
house  until  1878,  when  a  church  building  was  erected  in  the  vil- 
lage. Elder  Bursell  was  pastor  for  four  years  and  was  then  suc- 
ceeded by  Elder  F.  A.  Baker.     At  about  the  same  time  as  the 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  451 

ehiirch  was  organized  a  Union  Sabbath  school  was  instituted, 
which  met  regularly  until  the  fall  of  1883.  After  Elder  Baker 
resigned  Elder  Stewart  from  Lake  Mills,  Iowa,  supplied  the  pul- 
pit. After  a  time  he  stopped  coming.  For  a  time  the  church  was 
used  as  a  lodge  room  by  different  societies  until  February,  1904, 
when  it  was  burned.  The  town  hall  and  pumping  station  now 
occupy  the  site. 

Rose  Creek  Catholic  Church.  Services  have  been  held  in 
Rose  Creek  by  various  priests  since  the  earliest  days.  The  pres- 
ent church,  a  well-kept  structure,  was  erected  in  1889.  The 
first  three  regular  pastors  were  Fathers  Keller,  Gergan  and 
Schneider.     The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Mathias  Jostock. 

First  Day  Adventists.  This  congregation  flourished  here  for 
a  while  and  attracted  quite  a  few  members. 

Prairie  View  Cemetery.  This  cemetery  was  laid  out  in  1881 
by  John  ]\Ierrill.  It  is  situated  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 25,  in  Windom  township.  The  first  burial  was  that  of  Amos 
Hickok,  April  1,  1882. 

SOCIETIES. 

Three  fraternal  societies  are  in  a  flourishing  condition  at 
this  point.  They  are:  The  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  the 
Modern  AYoodmen  of  America,  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen. 

The  Rose  Creek  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  was  organized 
January  10,  1898,  and  the  first  officers  were :  C.  R.,  A.  C.  Schot- 
tler;  V.  C.  R.,  C.  A.  McBride;  treasurer,  Thomas  Cronan;  re- 
corder, E.  C.  Keefe.  The  present  officers  are:  C.  R.,  George 
Landherr;  V.  C.  R.,  Henry  Lus;  treasurer,  E.  C.  Keefe;  recorder, 
L.  P.  Albrecht. 

The  Rose  Creek  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  was  organized 
May  15,  1896.  The  officers  are :  Council,  C.  A.  Carlson ;  advisor, 
AVilliam  Evanson;  clerk,  E.  C.  Keefe;  banker,  J.  Hawkins. 

The  Rose  Creek  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  was  or- 
ganized February  25,  1895,  and  the  first  officers  were  :  M.  W., 
IT.  F.  Goode ;  past  master  workman,  C.  A.  McBride;  foreman, 
H.  P.  Cronan ;  overseer,  E.  C.  Crane ;  recorder,  Thomas  Cronan ; 
financier.  A.  P.  Rounce.  The  present  officers  are :  Master  work- 
man, A.  S.  "Wheeloek ;  past  master  workman,  Thomas  Cronan ; 
foreman,  H.  P.  Cronan;  overseer,  A.  W^.  Rankin;  recoi-der,  E.  C 
Keefe*:  financier,  H.  L.  Jensen. 


452  HISTORY  OF  :\rOAVEI?  COUNTY 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

LODI  AND  TAOPI. 

Location  and  Area — Soil  and  Waters — Early  Settlement — First 
Events — Organization — Immense  Farm — Village  of  Taopi — 
Taopi  in  1875— Taopi  in  1884— Modern  Taopi. 

This  township  is  situated  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
county  and  comprises  all  of  congressional  township  101,  range 
15.  It  is  a  beautiful  rolling  prairie,  watered  only  in  the  north- 
eastern part  by  the  Little  Iowa  river  and  its  tributaries.  The 
main  stream  has  its  source  on  section  9  and  runs  in  a  south- 
eastern course,  cutting  off  the  northeast  corner  of  section  16,  and 
then  runs  nearly  east,  touching  sections  10,  15,  11  and  14.  It 
then  passes  across  the  northeast  of  section  14,  in  a  southeasterly 
direction,  passing  through  section  13  and  cutting  the  corner  of 
section  24,  when  it  leaves  the  township.  A  branch  of  this  stream 
rises  in  a  small  lake  on  the  northwest  corner  of  section  1,  thence 
passing  southeast,  making  confluence  with  the  main  stream  on 
section  13.  The  soil  in  the  western  part  of  the  township  is  a 
dark,  black  loam  and  in  the  eastern  part  it  is  a  black  loam  with 
a  light  clay  subsoil.  The  soil  is  very  deep  and  productive,  grow- 
ing all  kinds  of  grains,  grasses  and  roots.  There  is  but  a  small 
amount  of  timber  of  native  growth  within  the  township,  and 
this  is  along  the  banks  of  the  Little  Iowa  river,  on  sections  14, 
13  and  24. 

Lodi  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Clayton  township,  on  the 
east  by  LeRoy  township,  on  the  south  by  Mitchell  county,  in 
Iowa,  and  on  the  west  by  Adams  township.  On  section  5  of  this 
township,  which  is  in  township  101,  range  15  west,  there  exists 
the  higliest  point  in  Mower  county.  That  particular  location  is 
four  miles  north  of  the  head  waters  of  the  Wapsapinnican  river, 
three  miles  southeast  of  the  head  waters  of  the  east  branch  of 
the  Little  Cedar  river;  two  miles  from  the  head  waters  of  the 
Little  Iowa  river ;  four  miles  from  the  head  waters  of  Deer  creek ; 
and  five  miles  from  the  head  of  Rose  creek,  which  enters  the 
Cedar  river  below  Austin. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  act  toward  effecting  a  settlement  in  Lodi  township 
Avas  brought  about  by  Almond  Fryer,  in  1855.  His  brother  ac- 
companied him  to  the  county.  He  came  from  New  York  and 
settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Tipper  Iowa,  on  section  14,  where  ho 


H1ST0I?Y  OF  MOWHIJ  COUNTY  453 

erected  the  first  cabin  in  the  township;  it  was  constrncted  of 
poles  and  covered  with  wikl  hay  and  prairie  sod.  He  remained 
nutil  the  time  of  his  death. 

A.  and  R.  Billings  settled  on  section  15,  in  1863,  and  erected 
the  second  house  in  the  township.  It  was  constructed  of  logs 
that  were  hewn  square,  and  it  was  always  known  as  the  "block 
house,"  and  was  for  years  a  stopping  place  for  emigrants.  Elia- 
cum  Morse  came  at  about  the  same  time  as  the  Billings.  Jack- 
son Tabor  settled  on  section  14  some  time  during  1863.  In  1868 
he  sold  to  Thomas  Kough,  an  Englishman.  In  1869  came  O. 
Hutchins,  W.  P.  Davis  and  L.  Wierd.  Wierd  settled  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  24.  Hutchins  located  on  section 
10,  remained  till  1882,  when  he  sold  and  removed  to  Dakota. 
During  1870  the  following  came  in  for  settlement :  James  Brovra, 
Knute  Iverson,  Iver  Hendriekson  and  Nels  Nelson.  John  Burns 
came  in  1875  and  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  34. 
Iverson  and  Hendriekson  bought  the  south  half  of  section  26. 
Nels  Nelson  bought  the  north  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  27. 


FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  settler  within  the  township  was  Almond  Fryer,  who 
came  in  1855.  The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Almond 
Morse,  born  July,  1859.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Miss 
Carrie  E.  Billings  and  W.  H.  Culton,  August  17,  1868.  The  first 
Sunday  school  was  held  in  1873,  organized  by  M.  H.  Triggs,  who 
also  preached  the  first  sermon. 


ORGANIZATION. 

The  survey  name  of  the  township  was  Lodi,  but  when  it  was 
organized  in  February,  1874,  at  schoolhouse  No.  67,  it  was  named 
Belleview,  as  the  station  established  by  the  railroad  company 
was  originally  called.  The  name  Lodi  was  soon  resumed.  At 
the  first  meeting  for  organization  J.  M.  Paul  was  chosen  mod- 
erator, Thomas  Kough  clerk,  R.  Billings,  J.  B.  Godard  and 
Thomas  O'Harra  judges  of  election.  The  first  otBcers  elected 
were:  R.  Billings,  chairman,  J.  B.  Goddard,  Knute  Iverson,  su- 
pervisors; Thomas  Kough,  clerk;  A.  Billings,  treasurer;  Thomas 
O'Harra  and  J.  M.  Paul,  justices  of  the  peace;  P.  P.  Cavanaugh 
and  Henry  Thompson,  constables.  At  the  first  annual  meeting 
held  in  ^larch,  1874,  the  name  was  changed  to  Lodi,  at  the  sug- 
arestion  of  Thomas  Kough. 


454  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

IMMENSE  FARM. 

The  Taopi  Fanning  Company  was  the  title  of  a  corporation, 
incorporated  in  the  year  1875,  which  owned  and  occupied  5,200 
acres  of  the  choicest  land  in  the  state,  4,000  acres  of  which  were 
under  cultivation,  2,000  acres  of  the  cultivated  lands  in  tame 
grass  and  the  balance  in  corn  and  small  grain.  The  village  of 
Taopi  was  located  on  the  farm.  The  corporation  afterward  went 
out  of  business  and  the  great  farm  has  gradually  been  divided 
into  smaller  tracts.  A  few  years  ago  G.  W.  Pitts  purchased  2,500 
acres  of  this  farm,  which  he  is  gradually  selling  in  quarter  section 
farms. 

VILLAGE  OP  TAOPI. 

This  place  is  located  on  section  9.  It  derived  its  singular 
name  from  the  celebrated  Indian  chief,  "Taopi,"  who  befriended 
the  whites  at  the  time  of  the  New  Ulm  massacre.  It  was  plat- 
ted in  1875  by  a  corporation,  made  up  chiefly  of  the  Taopi  Farm- 
ing Company,  in  the  name  of  John  W.  "Wood.  They  purchased 
forty-eight  acres  of  land  on  the  south  half  of  section  9  and  plat- 
ted the  same  into  lots  and  commenced  building. 

EARLY  BUSINESS. 

The  first  move  toward  business  at  this  point  was  effected  in 
the  fall  of  1875  by  the  Mill  company,  composed  of  H.  Snider, 
Charles  Whipple  and  the  Taopi  Farming  Company,  Avho  erected 
a  fine  large  steam  flouring  mill,  which  was  propelled  by  a  125- 
horsepower  engine.  It  contained  eight  run  of  stone  and  for  a 
time  did  a  large  business ;  but  through  various  circumstances  the 
mill  was  removed  to  Jackson,  Minn.  The  same  season  this  mill 
was  built  the  following  business  houses  and  firms  were  estab- 
lished :  J.  Martz  built  a  two-story  frame  furniture  store,  which 
was  used  for  that  purpose  until  the  mill  was  removed.  Oscar 
Olburg  biiilt  a  frame  business  house  and  opened  a  stock  of  gen- 
eral merchandise.  Christian  Alleman  put  in  a  stock  of  drugs 
and  in  1882  sold  an  interest  to  Charles  H.  Webber.  Charles 
Smith  &  Son  started  a  hardM'are  store.  L.  M.  Tubbs  opened  an 
exclusive  grocery  store,  continued  five  or  six  years.  M.  Krel)s- 
baeh  &  Co.  built  a  frame  business  house  and  put  in  a  general 
store,  which  in  1877  they  sold  to  George  AY.  Corbitt.  A  boarding 
house  was  opened  by  L.  D.  Sergeant  the  fall  the  village  was 
commenced.  A  little  later  in  the  season  M.  O'Brien  built  the 
two-story  frame  hotel  known  as  the  "Taopi  House."  A.  B. 
Woodard  also  built  a  commodious  hotel,  which  a  year  latffl^was 
sold  1()  William  Hahn.  W.  B.  Mitson  &  Bro.  started  a  h^arness 
shnp  in  tlie  fall  of  1875.     A  postoffice  was  established  at  Taopi 


HISTORY  OF  MOWE«  COUNTY  455 

ill  1875.  W.  P.  Brainex'd  was  postmaster.  The  grain  business  of 
the  place  was  large.  At  the  time  the  steam  mill  was  built  the 
same  company  who  erected  that  also  built,  in  connection  with 
the  mill,  an  elevator  having  a  capacity  of  45,000  bushels.  The 
next  elevator  was  built  by  George  W.  Corbitt  in  1879.  He  had 
operated  in  grain  prior  to  this  date,  in  a  small  warehouse,  which 
was  built  in  1877.  W.  P.  Braiuerd  built  a  warehouse  in  1876 
and  a  year  later  sold  to  Bassett  &  Huntington,  and  they,  in  1880, 
erected  an  elevator  holding  15,000  bushels.  The  first  practicing 
physician  of  the  village  was  Dr.  AVilliam  Edwards,  who  located 
in  1876.  He  only  remained  a  year  or  two  and  moved  to  Wis- 
consin and  from  there  to  Dakota.  He  was  succeeded  by  Dr. 
O.  M.  Landou,  who  remained  until  the  spring  of  1883.  A  Pres- 
byterian church  was  organized  by  Elder  E.  W.  Kaymond,  of 
LeRoy,  soon  after  the  village  was  started.  He  preached  for  this 
society  once  in  two  weeks  until  1884,  when  they  had  no  services. 

TAOPI  IN  1875. 

In  October,  1875,  the  then  new  town  of  Taopi  was  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition.  A  new  mill  and  elevator  had  been  completed 
l)y  the  Taopi  Mills  Company,  C.  D.  Ham,  president;  George  E. 
Skinner,  John  W.  Wood  and  C.  H.  Whipple,  directors.  Messrs. 
Skinner  and  AVood  owned  near  by  a  farm  of  3,640  acres,  the 
largest  in  the  county.  New  buildings  were  going  up  in  every 
direction.  L.  D.  Sargeant  had  erected  a  general  store  building, 
and  was  boarding  the  men  working  in  the  mill.  J.  Alartz  was 
building  a  furniture  store.  C.  Alleman  had  opened  a  drug  store. 
Smith  &  Co.  had  under  way  a  building  for  a  hardware  and  farm 
machinery  store.  Trgens,  Knutson  and  Olberg  were  about  to 
open  a  general  store.  Jacobson  &  Co.  had  opened  a  drug  store. 
David  McKenzie  was  the  village  painter.  Albert  Amsen  was 
doing  a  flourishing  blacksmith  business.  Joseph  Frasier  was  a 
mason.  M.  O'Brien  was  Imilding  a  hotel  and  blacksmith  shop. 
N.  S.  Brown  was  building  a  restaurant.-  A  temporary  station 
had  been  erected  and  U.  P.  Brainerd  was  the  agent. 

TAOPI  IN  1884. 

The  business  of  the  village  was  spasmodic.  While  the  flour- 
ing mill  was  in  operation,  and  before  the  "boom"  had  passed 
over,  it  was  indeed  a  busy  mart,  but  in  1884  it  was  not  as  good. 
In  the  month  of  August,  1884,  the  following  comprised  the  l)usi- 
ness  of  the  place :  General  stores,  George  AV.  Corl)itt,  and  Brad- 
bury &  Strong;  hardware,  Charles  Smith  &  Son;  drugs,  Alleman 
&  Webl)er;  harness  shop,  AV.  B.  Alitson ;  shoe  shop.  P.  Peterson; 
blacksmiths,  George  Campbell  and  P.  Midock  ;  postotTficc.  kept  by 


456  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

C.  AUeman;  grain  buyers,  George  W.   rorl)itt.  Taopi  Farniiii<,' 
Company,  and  Bassett  &  Huntington. 

MODERN  TAOPI. 

Taopi  has  a  jiopulation  of  140  persons  at  the  present  time.  At 
this  point  are  located  a  bank,  a  hotel,  two  elevators,  a  church,  a 
city  hall,  a  public  school,  three  general  stores  and  various  busi- 
ness houses.  The  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  and  the  Chicago 
Great  Western  lines  cross  at  this  point. 

The  village  was  incorporated  in  1875.  The  present  incorpo- 
ration dates  from  1909.  The  present  officers  are:  President, 
AV.  F.  Jorden ;  recorder,  N.  L.  "Weigen ;  James  Gager,  A.  Waldron. 
The  fifth  place  on  the  board  is  vacant.  A  village  hall  was  built 
in  1907.  The  village  school,  Avith  two  rooms,  was  erected  the 
same  year.  The  members  of  the  school  board  are :  Clerk,  N.  L. 
Weigen;  treasurer,  G.  S.  Pitts;  trustee,  ]Mrs.  W.  F.  Jordan.  The 
postoffice  was  rebuilt  a  year  ago.  In  1907  when  so  many  build- 
ings went  up,  the  village  experienced  a  boom.  The  Taopi  Co- 
operative Creamery  and  Mercantile  Company  was  also  organized 
that  year  and  an  exci'lleut  creamei'y  erected.  The  creamery 
closed  some  time  ago,  hut  has  now  been  leased  to  the  Free- 
born County  Creamery  Company. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

WALTHAM  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Area^-Early  Settlement— Organization— Religious 
— First  Events— Old  Waltham  House— Cemetery— Old  Wal- 
tham  Village— New  Waltham  Village— Modern  Waltham— 
Business  Interests— Church— School  and  Creamery— Edited 
by  Lorenzo  S.  Chapman. 

This  is  one  of  the  five  townships  in  the  nortlicni  tier  ol" 
Mower  county  and  comprises  congressional  township  104.  range 
17.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Dodge  county,  on  the  east  by 
Sargeant  township,  on  the  south  by  Red  Rock  township,  and  on 
the  west  by  Udolpho  township.  The  north  branch  of  Roberts 
creek  rises  in  section  24,  and  runs  iji  a  southwesterly  direction, 
and  enters  Red  Rock  townshi])  fi'om  section  :i2.  A  small  stream 
rises  in  scdidii  1!i.  flows  iic;n-ly  south  and  enters  iTd()l]>lio  from 
section  ol.     Tlicn'  is  sdinc  tiiiilnT  t'<iiind  along  Roberts  creek,  in 


HISTt)l{Y  OF  MOWKh'  t'UU NTY  457 

the  south  part  of  the  townsliip.  The  township  is  mostly  vom- 
posed  of  a  nice  rolling  prairie  of  a  productive,  dark  loam,  whicli 
is  as  well  suited  for  agriculture  as  any  part  of  ]\Iower  county. 

The  name  of  Walt  ham  was  given  at  the  suggestion  of  Charles 
F.  Hardy,  a  native  of  Waltham,  ^Massachusetts,  who  lived  mostly 
in  the  town  of  Red  Rock,  but  a  short  time  at  an  early  date  in 
Waltham,  and  who  later  was  county  commissioner,  justice  of  the 
peace  and  judge  of  probate  in  ]\Iower  county. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  settler  in  Waltham  township  was  Nels  Johnson,  a 
Norwegian,  in  the  summer  of  1855.  His  claim  was  the  south  half 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  22.  He  built  a  log  house, 
16x16,  which  was  built  on  the  north  bank  of  Roberts  creek.  It 
had  a  board  roof,  the  lumber  of  which  was  sawed  at  the  Browns- 
dale  saw  mill.  Mr.  Johnson  deeded  his  land  and  remained  in  the 
township  until  the  spring  of  1863,  when  he  sold  to  George  John- 
son, and  went  to  Udolpho  township,  and  from  there  to  the  moun- 
tains. George  Johnson  was  from  Marquette  county,  Wisconsin; 
was  formerly  from  Li^icestershire,  England.  He  lived  in  the 
tovi-nship  until  his  death  in  1872.  Barney  Develin,  an  Irishman, 
settled  in  section  28,  in  the  summer  of  1856.  'He  lived  in  the  town 
but  a  few^  years  when  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  A 
IMr.  Bemis,  a  shoemaker,  settled  in  section  3-4  in  1856.  He  sold 
out  to  Eri  Colby.  Charles  F.  Hardy  was  an  early  settler  of  the 
tovi'nship,  remaining  only  a  short  time,  when  he  moved  to  Red 
Rock,  from  whence  he  came. 

Sylvester  A.  Dennis  came  in  1857,  located  in  Red  Rock  town- 
ship, and  in  1865  settled  on  section  19,  Waltham  township.  Purdy 
Launsbury  came  in  1864  and  located  in  section  22.  Moses  Boliou 
came  to  Brownsdale  in  1864  and  to  section  9,  Waltham,  in  1865. 
In  1865  Alfred  Launsbury  settled  on  section  22.  E.  P.  D.  KimbU- 
came  to  ]Mower  county  in  1866  and  settled  on  section  5,  in  A^'al- 
tham  township.  B.  T.  Walker  came  in  1866  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 30.  Isaac  Dennis  came  in  1869  and  settled  on  his  father's 
homestead.  Charles  Gage  came  in  1871  and  purchased  a  farm 
in  section  23.  George  Townsend  came  in  1875  and  settled  in 
section  33.  Others  prominent  in  township  affairs  in  the  early 
days  were  John  Hoy,  Eri  Colby,  W.  Hall,  J.  J.  Hunt,  A.  McGowan, 
C.  E.  Nichols,  F.  J.  Hill,  A.  Colby,  J.  Muncy,  G.  R.  Church,  George 
W.  Hunt,  C.  G.  Clark.  John  C.  INIason,  of  Worcester,  Mass., 
acquired  from  the  land  warrant  speculators  more  than  a  quarter 
of  the  township,  principally  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town. 
Early  in  the  spring  of  1865  his  agent,  A.  J.  Burbank.  came, 
plotted  a  village  near  the  west  line  of  section  15,  erected  a  three- 


458  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

story  hotel,  surveyed  the  whole  tract  into  forties  and  sold  oflf  the 
land  rapidly.  The  nearest  boarding  place  was  Purdy  Louns 
bury's,  till  the  hotel  was  finished.  A  plenty'  of  help  was  engaged 
for  hauling  lumber  and  surveying.  In  the  course  of  a  day,  two 
or  three  would  come  across  a  quarter  section  or  eighty  that 
pleased  them,  buy  it.  and  their  places  in  the  surveying  party  be 
taken  l)y  other  land  lookers.  Those  who  came  in  at  this  time 
and  have  since  been  prominent  in  town  affairs  were  ]\Ioses  Boliou, 
A.  J.  Hunt.  Captain  George  and  Henry  Edwards. 

Killed  by  Lightning.  While  fighting  prairie  fire  on  the  night 
of  Octolier  8,  1.S71,  Ira  P.  Launsbury,  a  son  of  Purdy  Launsbury, 
was  struck  by  lightning  and  killed,  his  dead  body  being  found 
on  the  prairie  the  next  morning.  It  is  said  that  it  rained  very 
hard.  The  most  singular  thing  about  it  was  that  only  one  very 
loud  clap  of  thunder  was  heard,  that  which  killed  Mr.  Launsbury, 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  township  of  "Walton  was  organized  in  June,  1866.  The 
first  election  was  held  on  June  4  at  the  house  of  A.  J.  Burbank, 
known  as  the  "Waltham  Hotel."  The  call  for  a  meeting  was 
signed  by  Alanson  Beach,  Charles  F.  Hardy,  William  E.  Hardy, 
county  commissioners.  At  this  meeting  H.  L.  Collins  was  chair- 
man, A.  J.  Burbank,  ele:<k,  and  J.  W.  George,  Henry  Edwards 
and  John  Steen  were  elected  judges.  There  were  sixteen  votes 
cast  and  the  following  officers  elected,  viz. :  Supervisors,  H.  L, 
Collins  (chairman),  H.  Edwards,  A.  Launsbury;  clerk,  J.  W. 
George;  treasurer,  Eri  Colby;  assessor.  Moses  Boliou;  justices, 
P.  Launsbury,  H.  L.  Collins ;  constable,  John  Steen. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  religious  services  in  the  township  were  held  in  the 
hall  of  the  AValtham  House,  in  January,  1866,  by  Rev.  George 
Stokes,  of  Udolpho  township.  He  held  services  once  in  two 
weeks. 

Evangelical  Lutheran  Trinity  Church,  U.  A.  C.  The  history 
of  this  congregation  dates  back  as  far  as  1S74.  Several  (ierman. 
Luthei-an  families,  who  for  a  while  had  come  together  privately 
to  worship  in  this  year,  called  upon  Rev.  E.  Johl,  of  Havana, 
Dodge  couiily.  .Miiuiesota.  to  minister  unto  them  the  word  and 
the  sacraments.  Public  services  were  at  first  held  in  private 
houses.  When  in  1877  several  other  families  following  the  dic- 
tates of  their  conscience  separated  from  a  congregation  of  the 
Buffalo  Synod  joined  them  and  organization  became  desirable  and 
was  effected  August  25,  1877,  in  the  presence  of  Rev.  E.  Johl 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  459 

and  tho  following  members :  Conrad  Fett,  Johann  Boelk,  G. 
Faber.  Julius  Froreich,  William  Meyer,  H.  Pesch,  August  Jaeger, 
Albert  Pesch,  August  Fraederiok,  Carl  Wresch,  F.  Boelk,  H. 
Kiekhoefer.  In  1879  Rev.  E.  Rupprecht,  of  the  Lutheran  church 
at  Pleasant  Valley,  took  charge  of  pastoral  affairs.  In  this  year 
the  congregation  also  joined  the  then  Northwest  District  of  the 
Synod  of  Missouri,  Ohio  and  other  states,  and  erected  its  first 
house  of  worship,  a  frame  structure,  20x30  feet,  situated  on  a 
two-acre  lot  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  19,  which  site 
at  present  is  used  solely  as  a  cemetery.  The  building  was  dedi- 
cated in  July,  1879.  Rev.  E.  Rupprecht  taking  another  charge. 
Rev.  AV.  V.  Schenk,  of  Rochester,  Minn.,  served  the  congrega- 
tion for  a  while,  when  charge  was  transferred  upon  Rev.  E.  Buer- 
ger, of  Hart,  Winona  county.  In  1882  Rev.  A.  Dubberstein,  of 
Wykoff,  took  the  charge  and  served  until  July,  1884.  A  parson- 
age being  erected.  Rev.  J.  C.  H.  Martin,  of  Cook  county,  Illinois, 
was  called  as  settled  pastor.  This  year  also  marks  the  beginning 
of  Trinity  Parochial  school;  until  then  children  had  been  sent 
to  Havana  and  Pleasant  Valley  congregations  for  religious  in- 
struction and  confirmation.  Rev.  Martin  accepting  the  charge 
at  Pleasant  Valley,  Rev.  F.  Boesch  was  called  and  arrived  in  Octo- 
ber, 1889,  and  served  until  spring  of  1893.  Rev.  Herman  Meyer, 
of  South  Dakota,  was  then  called.  In  spite  of  much  strife  within 
and  without,  the  congregation  steadily  gained  in  membership  and 
the  erection  of  a  new  church  became  a  necessity.  Not  being  able 
to  enlarge  the  then  site  by  purchase  or  other  legitimate  means, 
the  congregation  accepted  favorably  the  offer  of  Herman  Meyer, 
namely,  a  four-acre  lot  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  29  as 
a  donation.  Uncertainty  regarding  the  incorporation  act  and 
other  unforeseen  events  arising,  the  erection  of  the  church  was 
postponed  until  1895.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  the  cornerstone 
of  the  present  church  building  was  laid  on  the  new  site.  The 
building  is  a  frame  structure,  36x60  feet,  with  12x18  altar  niche 
and  105-foot  tower,  in  which  is  hung  a  1,500-pound  bell  of  real 
bell  metal.  The  whole  cost  with  interior  furnishings  was  approxi- 
mately $3,500.  William  Dulitz  was  the  bidder.  The  dedication 
was  October  13,  1895.  In  1897  the  old  church  was  removed  to 
the  new  site  to  be  used  as  a  schoolhouse.  A  new  modern  par- 
sonage was  erected  in  1898.  July  15,  1900,  Rev.  H.  Meyer  re- 
signed to  take  a  charge  in  St.  Paul,  Minn.  Rev.  C.  A.  Affeldt, 
of  Litchfield,  Neb.,  was  called  and  installed  October  6.  In  1905 
extensive  interior  improvements  at  a  cost  of  $1,000  were  made 
by  putting  in  steel  ceiling  and  sidowalls.  January  1,  1911,  the 
congregation  numbered  347  souls,  sixty  voting  members  and  225, 
communicants.  Present  officials:  C.  A.  Affeldt.  pa.stor;  Her- 
man Beneke,  J.  N.  Wuertz,  elders;  August  H.  Wollenburg,  treas- 


460  HISTORY  OF  MO  WEE  COUXTY 

urer;  George  Miller,  secretary;  Herman  ]\Ieyer.  F.  Xaatz,  H.  Dam- 
inerow,  trustees. — Written  by  Rev.  C.  A.  Affeldt. 

St.  Michael's  German  Lutheran  Church.  This  congregation 
has  enjoyed  a  long  period  of  both  material  and  spiritual  pros- 
perity. The  congregation  had  its  real  beginning  when  Michael 
^Matter,  a  native  of  Germany,  came  from  AVaukesha  county,  in 
May.  1869,  and  settled  in  Waltham  township.  Being  of  a  relig- 
ious nature,  he  greatly  desired  the  sjiiritual  comfort  of  religious 
services,  and  accordingly  invited  the  Rev.  Mr.  AVier,  from  Lake 
Elmo,  AVashington  county,  Minnesota,  to  preach  in  his  house 
from  time  to  time.  On  June,  23,  1873,  the  church  was  formally 
incorporated,  this  being  the  first  religious  organization  in  the 
township.  On  the  formation  of  the  congregation  Michael  Matter 
gave  sixty  acres  of  land,  reserving  the  use  of  same  for  five  years, 
after  which  the  tract  became  the  property  of  the  congregation. 
This  land  was  located  in  the  north  half  of  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  20.  On  it  a  church  was  erected  gratuitously  by 
the  members  of  the  church  in  the  summer  of  1874.  The  Rev. 
J.  J.  Meissner  came  as  first  pastor  in  1876  and  served  until  1880, 
when  Rev.  J.  Haack  became  his  successor  until  the  fall  of  188-4. 
In  December,  1884,  an  event  took  place  which  had  an  important 
bearing  on  the  future  of  the  church  and  community.  This  event 
was  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  Frederick  C.  Milius  as  pastor.  Rev. 
Milius  is  still  in  charge  of  the  congregation.  In  1890  under  his 
direction  a  new  church  was  built,  a  beautiful  structure,  both 
useful  and  ornamental.  Later  a  comfortable  parish  house  was 
erected.  In  1899  was  built  a  parochial  school.  Before  this  the 
old  church  served  as  such.  This  school  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  county.  The  usual  branches  of  learning  are  ably  taught  here 
and  in  addition  to  this  the  children  receive  instruction  in  Ger- 
man, religion  and  right  living.  All  of  these  various  lines  of  en- 
deavor are  in  charge  of  Rev.  Milius,  who  is  nobly  upheld  l)y  an 
intelligent,  progressive  and  devout  congregation. 


FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  couple  said  to  have  been  married  in  AValtham  town- 
ship was  James  Perry  and  Arvilla  Brown,  of  Red  Rock  town- 
ship. The  ceremony  was  performed  by  II.  L.  Collins,  a  justice 
of  the  peace.  The  notable  event  took  place  in  the  AValtham  House 
in  November,  1869.  The  first  white  child  born  in  AA''altham  town- 
ship was  John,  a  son  of  Nels  Johnson,  the  first  settler  in  the 
township.  He  was  born  in  a))out  18r)4.  The  first  death  was 
p]lizabeth  II..  a  daughter  of  George  and  Dorothy  Johnson.  She 
died  October  1,  1867. 


HISTORY  OF  MOAYER  COUNTY  461 

OLD  WALTHAM  VILLAGE. 

The  village  of  Waltham  was  platted  by  J.  C.  Mason,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, who  owned  large  tracts  of  land  in  the  township.  He 
started  a  colony  in  1864  and  1865,  and  through  his  representa- 
tions induced  several  families  from  Massachusetts  to  settle  in 
the  township.  The  townsite  was  located  in  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  15.  It  was  laid  out  in  lots  •£  an  acre,  as  an  in- 
ducement to  settlers.  Any  one  who  would  build  a  house  was 
given  one  acre  on  which  to  biiild.  This  village  has  long  since 
passed  out  of  existence. 

OLD  WALTHAM  HOUSE. 

John  C.  Mason  built  a  commodious  hotel,  which  was  called 
the  "Waltham  House."  The  building  was  frame  and  cost  $4,800. 
It  was  erected  under  the  management  of  Col.  A.  J.  Burbank, 
from  Illinois.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Mason,  as  well  as 
landlord,  and,  it  is  said,  spent  his  money,  put  on  style  and  lived 
in  fine  shape.  The  Waltham  postoiBce  was  first  kept  in  this 
building,  with  the  colonel  as  postmaster.  In  the  hall  of  this 
building  were  held  the  first  religious  services  in  the  township. 
The  first  marriage  ceremony  was  also  performed  here.  The  hall 
was  also  noted  for  its  dances.  The  hotel  did  a  big  business  un- 
til the  completion  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railway, 
Avhen  the  travel  changed,  when  the  hotel  was  closed  as  a  public 
house,  after  being  run  as  such  for  only  four  years.  For  several 
years  it  was  used  for  renters  and  transient  people  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, until  the  fall  of  1883,  when  the  building  was  sold  to 
3Ioses  Boliou,  Avho  had  it  torn  down  and  removed. 

WALTHAM  CEMETERY. 

Waltham  cemetery  was  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  state 
December  17,  1867.  It  is  located  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  22  and  the  northwest  corner  of  section  27,  and  contains 
one  acre.  The  ground  was  purchased  by  the  town  and  presented 
to  the  association  for  cemetery  purposes. 

WALTHAM  VILLAGE. 

Waltham  village  was  started  on  section  9  in  1885,  when  the 
road  now  known  as  the  Chicago  Great  Western  came  through. 
The  land  iipon  which  the  village  is  located  was  originally  a  part 
of  the  farm  of  Moses  Boliou.  In  October,  1885,  the  village  was 
in  a  thriving  condition.  The  railroad  had  put  in  several  side 
tracks  and  had  erected  a  station  and  a  coal  house.  There  was  a 
lumber   vard   here   and   Turner   &   Bcllaiiiv   and   Parsons   &   Co. 


4G2  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

each  had  a  grain  warehouse.  On  the  east  side  of  the  principal 
street  was  a  row  of  new  buildings.  S.  A.  Dodge  had  a  black- 
smith shop ;  G.  L.  Peck  opened  a  hardware  store ;  John  Steen  and 
John  Stephin  each  had  general  stores.  There  was  also  a  saloon. 
The  public  school  stood  a  few  rods  east  of  these  buildings.  The 
village  was  platted  September  8,  1885,  in  section  9,  township 
101,  range  17,  by  the  Minnesota  Loan  &  Debenture  Company, 
C.  J.  C.  Ball,  president ;  Robert  C.  Wright,  secretary. 


MODERN  WALTHAM. 
(By  L.  S.  Chapman.) 

Waltham  is  one  of  the  prosperous  and  thriving  villages  of 
Mower  county.  It  is  surrounded  by  as  good  farming  land  as 
any  in  the  county.  A  large  amount  of  grain  and  stock  is  mar- 
keted annually,  and  farmers  are  av ell-to-do  and  prosperous.  Land 
sells  as  high  as  $100  an  acre  and  will  go  much  higher  in  the  near 
future. 

The  present  village  was  started  in  1885,  when  the  railroad 
came  through,  and  the  early  merchants  were :  M.  Boliou,  lumber 
and  coal ;  J.  A.  Stephan,  general  merchant  and  postmaster ;  John 
Steen,  general  merchant;  G.  L.  Peck,  hardware;  George  Ziemer, 
furniture;  S.  A.  Dodge,  blacksmith. 

M.  Boliou  sold  to  George  Ziemer,  who  in  turn  sold  to  J.  C. 
Brainard  &  Co.,  they  to  the  Northwest  Lumber  Company,  and 
they  to  the  present  owners,  Hayes-Lucas  Lumber  &  Coal  Com- 
pany, who  are  doing  a  thriving  business  at  the  present  time.  C. 
E.  Kingsley  is  manager. 

G.  L.  Peek,  the  hardware  merchant,  was  succeeded  by  George 
H.  Boliou,  and  George  H.  Boliou  by  C.  C.  Erickson,  who  had 
purchased  the  John  Steen  general  store  and  now  uses  both  places 
for  hardware  and  machinery. 

George  Ziemer  still  continues  furniture  and  undertaking, 
drugs,  etc.  John  Steen,  having  sold  to  C.  C.  Erickson,  conducted 
a  store  in  Blooming  Prairie  a  few  years  and  later  retired  to  his 
large  farm  just  east  of  Blooming  Prairie. 

S.  A.  Dodge  was  succeeded  as  blacksmith  by  M.  E.  Went- 
worth,  of  Mantorville,  who  continued  in  business  until  IMarch, 
1898,  when  he  sold  to  F.  J.  Hill  and  returned  to  Mantorville, 
Avhere  he  now  resides.  P.  Raupach  put  in  a  large  blacksmith 
shop  about  that  time  also.  Mr.  Hill  continued  in  the  business 
a  few  years,  after  which  his  shop  was  burned  and  not  rebuilt. 
Mr.  Raupach  had  his  business  until  early  in  1910,  when  E.  Peter- 
son, of  Austin,  put  in  a  large  shop.     Mr.  Raupach  continued  m 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  463 

business  until  the  fall  of  1910,  when  he  burned  out  and  went 
to  Anoka,  where  he  now  resides. 

Walt  ham  has  prospered  until  now.  It  has  two  large  general  stores ; 
one  physician ;  one  bank ;  one  shoe  shop ;  one  livery;  one  creamery; 
stock  buyer;  one  carpenter  shop;  one  hardware  and  machinery 
store ;  one  furniture,  undertaking  and  drug  store ;  one  lumber  and 
coal  yard ;  two  elevators ;  a  flour  mill  with  a  capacity  of  seventy- 
five  barrels  daily ;  two  saloons ;  farm  machinery  dealer ;  black- 
smithery;  meat  market  and  paint  shop.  It  also  has  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  The  entire  mileage  is  supplied  with  cement 
sidewalks.  _^ 

Schools.  In  1900  the  school  building  just  east  of  town  was 
taken  down,  a  two-room  building  was  erected  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  village  and  a  semi-graded  school  established  with 
two  teachers  in  charge.  It  is  considered  one  of  the  best  schools 
in  the  state,  having  won  more  prizes  than  any  one  school  in  the 
state  and  county  contests  of  its  class.  The  present  officers  are : 
J.  A.  Stephan,  director;  G.  R.  Nichols,  clerk;  L.  S.  Chapman, 
treasurer.  Miss  F.  Buck  is  principal  and  Miss  G.  Glover  is  in 
charge  of  the  primary  department. 

Physicians.  In  June,  1903,  Dr.  F.  W.  Schultz,  a  young  physi- 
cian, a  graduate  of  our  state  university  and  of  Johns  Hopkins 
Medical  School,  Baltimore,  Md.,  established  an  office  on  Main 
street  and  for  five  years  had  a  large  and  prosperous  practice. 
In  December,  1909,  he  left  for  Evelith,  Minn.,  for  the  winter  and 
the  next  spring  went  to  Germany  for  a  year  and  is  now  stationed 
at  Minneapolis.  He  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  H.  R.  Baker,  of 
Evelith,  Minn.,  who  is  equally  well  educated  and  successful  phy- 
sician at  the  present  time,  being  a  graduate  of  the  Minnesota 
University  and  a  Chicago  medical  school  and  for  several  years 
hospital  physician  in  northern  Minnesota. 

Waltham  Creamery.  In  the  year  1885  a  cheese  factory  was 
established  mider  the  co-operation  plan,  with  A.  L.  Gardner  as 
cheese  maker.  This  factory  flourished  for  four  years  and  was  then 
changed  to  a  creamery  under  the  same  management,  having  the 
distinction  of  being  second  largest  in  the  state  at  that  time,  its 
territory  extending  to  Brownsdale  on  the  south,  Blooming  Prairie 
on  the  west,  Dodge  county  on  the  north  and  Sargent  on  the  east. 
Present  management :  H.  L.  Anderson,  president ;  George  Ziemer, 
secretary;  C.  Faber,  treasurer.  The  creamery  is  doing  a  fine 
business. 

Methodist  Church.  About  the  year  1892  the  Metliodist  con- 
ference erected  a  church  here  and  on  dedication  day  the  people 
raised  by  subscription  enough  money  to  put  the  church  clear  of 
debt,  several  donating  .$100  each.    While  the  mcmbersliip  is  small. 


464  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

they  have  always  had  services  regiilarly.     The  present  pastor  is 
Rev.  E.  H.  Bedford,  who  is  a  very  able  man. 

Mayville  is  a  little  station  on  the  Chicago  Great  "Western 
road.  It  has  a  cheese  company  and  a  nearby  Lutheran  church. 
A  postoflfice  is  also  located  at  this  point. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

RACINE  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Lcation  and  Area — Early  Settlement — Organization — Religious- 
Hamilton  Village — Racine  Village — Edited  by  A.  F.  Stiles. 

Racine  is  the  northeast  corner  town  of  IMower  county.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Olmsted  county,  east  by  Fillmore  county, 
south  by  Frankford  townsliip,  and  west  by  Pleasant  Valley.  The 
soil  is  a  rich,  dark  loam,  underlaid  with  a  clay  subsoil.  The  sur- 
face is  rolling,  and  the  scenery  diversified  by  occasional  natural 
groves. 

Bear  Creek  cuts  across  the  southeast  corner  of  the  town. 
There  are  other  streams  in  the  town  that  arise  from  the  beautiful 
springs,  which  are  numerous. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

It  seems  that  the  first  scttlemeut  within  the  present  limits  of 
Mower  county,  was  made  in  what  is  now  Racine  township,  by 
Jacob  McQuillan.  The  story  of  the  settlement  of  the  McQuillans 
in  1852  is  told  elsewhere.  In  April,  1853,  Thomas  Cory,  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  settled  on  the  McQuillan  place,  and  there  enter- 
tained travelers  two  years,  after  which  he  settled  in  Fillmore 
county.  He  is  now  dead.  His  son  Henry,  former  sheriff,  still 
lives  in  the  state.  Adam  Zedecker,  a  son-in-law  of  McQuillan, 
earae  with  him.  He  first  made  a  claim  in  Fillmore  county,  b\it 
afterward  traded  places  with  McQuillan.  In  1855  he  sold  to 
"William  Campfield,  and  returned  to  Fillmore  county.  Campficld 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  lived  here  about  six  years, 
then  went  to  Kansas,  later  to  Iowa.  It  is  said  that  G.  I.  Covell 
came  in  1854  also.  He  settled  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 8.  In  1855  he  went  to  Frankford,  then  the  county  seat,  and 
paid  the  first  personal  tax  in  Mower  county.  Joseph  Robb,  Zede- 
kiah  Tomlinson,  and  J.  D.  Gregory,  all  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
came  here  April  15,  1855.    Robb  and  Gregory  both  made  claims, 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  465 

which  they  sold  soon  after  to  C.  J.  Felch,  and  moved  to  FiUinore 
county.  Robert  Campfield  came  that  year,  and  stayed  until 
1873,  when  he  removed  to  Kansas,  and  settled  in  Ellsworth 
county.  Others  that  came  in  1855  were  Benjamin  Campfield, 
John  R.  Campfield,  and  C.  J.  Felch.  Benjamin  Campfield  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  preempted  land  in  both  Fillmore 
and  Mower  counties.  He  lived  at  Hamilton  a  few  years.  He  is 
dead.  John  R.  Campfield,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  first  set- 
tled in  Fillmore  county.  In  1858  he  moved  to  section  25  of 
Racine  township.  Felch  was  a  native  of  York  state.  He  settled 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  1. 

In  1856  the  following  named  came :  William  Harper,  John  W. 
Harper,  Lewis  Skyhawk,  William  Trend,  Loren  Dutton,  Jona- 
than Stewart,  Zara  Frisbee.  John  W.  Harper  vs^as  a  native  of 
York  state.  He  settled  on  section  27,  where  he  lived  some  years, 
then  sold  and  moved  to  section  33.  He  is  now  dead.  William 
Harper  preempted  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  34.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1858,  he  sold  and  moved  to  Frankford  and  settled  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  12  of  that  township.  Skyhawk  set- 
tled on  section  27,  Mdiere  he  died  in  1866.  The  Buttons  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  came  in  the  spring  of  the  year. 
Loren  preempted  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  7.  The  follow- 
ing spring  AVilliam  preempted  forty  acres  in  section  7.  Stewart 
was  a  native  of  York  state.  He  preempted  the  southwest  of  sec- 
tion 27.  Frisbee  settled  on  section  19.  During  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  he  answered  his  country's  call.  He  was  taken  prisoner 
and  died  in  Andersonville  prison. 

In  1857,  William  Chreviston,  John  Burton,  William  Dutton, 
L.  G.  Odeil  and  John  R.  Vail  came.  The  former  settled  in  sec- 
tion 28.  In  1865,  he  sold  and  moved  to  Hamilton.  Odell  remained 
a  resident  of  the  town  aboiit  ten  years,  when  he  removed  to  Fill- 
more county.  Vail  was  a  native  of  Canada ;  he  settled  in 
section  17. 

Among  others  who  might  be  mentioned  as  early  settlers  are: 
H.  S.  Bailey,  John  ^Martin,  T.  J.  Lake,  J.  R.  Dayton,  Eli  Leonard, 
O.  B.  Morse,  E.  Kenyon,  AV.  E.  Harris,  George  L.  Grannis,  Mat  hew 
Russell,  Roswell  E.  Stewart,  George  D.  Knox,  John  Sehroeder, 
Frank  Pew  and  William  Vannatta. 

ORGANIZATION. 

This  township  was  organized  in  1858.  It  compi-ises  eongrer.- 
sional  township  104  north,  range  14  west,  with  the  exception  of 
llie  northern  tier  of  sections.  The  nortliern  tier  of  sections  of 
township  103,  range  14,  are  included  in  tliis  township,  making  it 
a  town  of  thirtv-six  sections.     The  first  meeting  for  llie  election  of 


466  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

officers  was  held  at  the  Methodist  church  at  Hainiltou,  May  11, 
1858.  Charles  J.  Felch  was  elected  moderator;  H.  S.  Bailey,  Johu 
Mfirtiu  and  C.  .1.  Felch,  judges  of  election;  Thomas  I.  Lake  and 
J.  R.  Dayton,  clerks  of  election.  The  officers  elected  for  the  year 
ensuing  were:  Supervisors,  C.  J.  Felch  (chairman),  Eli  Leonard 
and  William  Campfield :  town  clerk,  O.  B.  ^lorse ;  assessor,  Jona- 
than Stewart ;  treasurer,  John  ^Martin :  justices  of  the  peace, 
IL  S.  Bailey  and  Lorcn  Dutton :  overseer  of  poor,  E.  Kenyon. 

RELIGIOUS. 

Racine  Center  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  This  denomina- 
tion erected  a  church  in  1874.  The  trustees  were  T.  P.  Lyman, 
D.  Eastman,  R.  E.  Stewart,  E.  Stagg,  James  F.  Carson.  The  con- 
tract for  building  was  awarded  to  R.  E.  Stewart.  The  chui'ch 
was  dedicated  June  6,  1874,  Rev.  R.  Forbes,  of  Kasson,  officiating. 
The  class  was  organized  the  year  previous,  and  formerly  met  for 
worsliip  in  the  school  house  at  Racine  Centre.  The  following 
named  Avere  early  pastors:  Rev.  A.  Folansbee,  under  whose  pas- 
torate the  church  was  built ;  Rev.  Charles  jMatthews,  "W.  H.  Bar- 
ke.low,  T.  R.  Hall,  E.  AV.  Young,  Noah  Lathrop. 

The  Evangelical  Association.  This  is  the  name  under  which 
the  German  Church  Society  was  organized  about  1866.  It  Avas 
incorporated  under  the  above  name  about  1873.  In  1878  a  sub- 
stantial church  edifice  was  erected  in  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  33. 

Free  Will  Baptist  Church.  Tlieie  was  a  Free  AVill  Baptist 
church  organized  at  Hamilton  in  1858,  with  eight  members.  Jona- 
than Stewart  was  the  first  deacon;  Elder  Reeves,  from  Pleasant 
Grove,  Olmsted  county,  was  the  first  pastor.  Meetings  were  held 
once  in  two  weeks,  and  well  kept  up  with  more  or  less  regularity, 
until  1882. 

NORWEGIAN  SETTLEMENT. 

(By  F.  H.  Reed.) 

The  population  of  Racine  toAvnship  is  nearly  one-third  Nor- 
wegian. In  1854  a  party  of  about  nine  families  came  from  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  and  settled  on  sections  4,  5  and  6,  township 
103,  and  sections  32  and  33,  township  104,  this  portion  of  the 
town  being  covered  with  natural  grove  timber  and  lying  adjacent 
to  Bear  creek.  Among  those  who  came  in  this  company  were 
Nelse  Severson,  Ole  Simonson  Jobraaten,  Gulick  Dalen,  Hans 
Anderson,  Jonas  Nelson,  Holivcr  Olson,  Ole  Syvrud,  Amond  John- 
son and  Andrew  Leybeek.  On  arrival  in  the  locality  the  settlers 
at  first  formed  a  camp  together.  Ole  Simonson  Jobraaten  being  a 
blacksmitli,  was  given  first  choice  of  land.    He  chose  the  soutli- 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  467 

east  quarter  of  section  5,  township  103,  it  being  covered  with  oak 
timber,  from  which  Ole  burned  coal  to  use  in  the  forge.  For 
long  years  he  served  the  settlement  as  blacksmith.  Ole  Syvrud 
was  au  ingenious  man,  a  gunsmith.  Soon  after  their  arrival  Syv- 
rud  killed  a  bear,  hence  the  name  Bear  creek.  After  making  tem- 
porary homes  for  themselves,  the  settlers  turned  their  attention  to 
the  building  of  a  schoolhouse,  which  site  was  located  near  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  5.  Here  in 
the  log  schoolhouse,  long  known  as  district  36,  the  children  who 
are  now  the  men  and  women  of  the  settlement,  received  their 
education.  The  sons  and  daughters  here  learned  the  common 
English  language  and  religious  insti'uction  was  also  given.  On 
Sundays  the  building  served  as  church  for  a  number  of  years. 
The  descendants  of  these  settlers  have  always  played  an  impor- 
tant part  in  making  Eaeiue  the  leading  agricultural  town  in  the 
county.  Under  the  head  of  Frankford  township,  more  is  said  of 
the  settlement. 

HAMILTON  VILLAGE. 

This  village  was  platted,  partly  in  Mower  and  partly  in  Fill- 
more counties,  and  started  out  with  good  prospects.  A  store  was 
started,  and  business  began  in  earnest.  In  1857  and  1858  a  sem- 
inary was  started  here  with  T.  J.  Lake  as  teacher.  The  business 
.of  the  village  is  now  across  the  line  in  Fillmore  county. 


RACINE  VILLAGE. 

L'acine  is  a  village  on  the  Chicago,  Great  "Western  railroad, 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  26.  It  has  an  intelligent  and 
progressive  population  of  some  two  hundred  people,  and  supports 
a  fine  Cooperative  creamery,  a  hotel  and  several  comfortable  resi- 
dences There  is  a  depot,  two  elevators,  one  warehouse,  two 
general  stores,  one  hardware  store,  a  drug  store,  a  meat  market, 
a  blacksmith  and  general  repair  shop,  and  a  feed  mill.  The  vil- 
lage was  plaited  October  3,  1S90.  The  Winona  and  Southwestern 
railroad  was  built  through  Racine  to\inship  in  the  summer  and 
I'all  of  1890.  J.  B.  Foley  was  the  first  telegraph  operator  located 
here.  He  had  his  office  in  a  box  ear  for  some  time,  until  th? 
present  depot  was  built.  S.  H.  Sleeper  erected  the  firs't  dwelling 
in  the  village,  in  the  fall  of  1890.  F.  E.  Gahringer  moved  a  stori> 
building  from  Hamilton  to  Racine  in  the  early  winter  of  1891. 
Robert  Eichhorn  and  his  brother,  Ed.  Eichhorn,  rented  the  build- 
ing and  put  in  a  stock  of  general  merchandise.  Robert  Eichhoiii 
was  a])poinred  postmaster  and  opeus'd  an  oftiee  in  the  same  Imild- 
ing.  Later  he  erected  a  building  of  his  own  on  the  south  side 
of  .Main  street.    During  tlie  winter  of  IS!)].  Silas  I'tzinger  ere,-ted 


468  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

a  handsome  store,  and  Silas  Utzinger  and  Charles  Burkliart 
started  in  the  hardware  business.  This  business  is  now  operated 
by  Christian  and  Lewis  H.  Sohwarz.  Eli  Leonard  started  a  lum- 
ber J' ird  and  biiilt  an  office  on  the  west  side  of  the  railroad 
tracks  in  the  spring  of  1901,  and  there  did  business  until  he  sold 
to  James  A.  Smith,  of  Osage,  Towa,  at  which  time  the  yard  was 
moved  to  its  present  location.  The  Olson  brothers,  Ole,  Andrew 
and  Knudt,  built  a  small  blacksmith  shop,  where  tliey  did  some 
I'epairing,  blacksmith  work  and  tlie  like,  for  about  a  year.  11.  C. 
Christoflferson  came  to  Racine  from  High  Forest,  built  a  good  resi- 
dence and  blacksmith  shoji,  and  commenced  business  in  1892.  He 
is  still  in  business  here.  In  the  summer  of  1892,  S.  J.  Sanborn 
erected  a  store  building  just  east  of  the  hardware  store  and 
rented  it  to  M.  W.  Moulsted,  of  Spring  Valley,  for  a  general 
store.  Mr.  Sanborn  enlarged  the  building,  making  it  a  double 
store,  and  continued  in  business  for  himself  until  he  sold  to  F.  E. 
Miland,  the  present  owner,  who  is  enjoying  a  large  and  successful 
business.  A.  F.  Stiles  purchased  a  lot  on  the  north  side  of  ]\Iain 
street  in  May,  1901.  A.  W.  Brown,  son  of  William  Brown,  formed 
a  partnership  with  A.  F.  Stiles  in  the  firm  of  Stiles  &  Brown,  and 
did  a  good  business  in  general  merchandise,  drugs,  hotel,  etc., 
until  May.  1902,  when  by  mutual  consent  the  firm  dissolved  and 
A.  F.  Stiles  built  on  the  south  side  of  Main  street,  where  he  now 
does  a  large  business.  A.  W.  Brown  continued  at  the  old  stand 
for  a  few  years.  In  its  twenty-one  years  of  existence  the  growth 
of  the  village  has  been  steady  and  satisfactory,  and  the  com- 
munity has  a  prosperous  future. 

Village  School.  The  village  of  Racine  has  a  semi-graded 
school  Avith  three  teachers.  The  early  history  of  this  school  has 
not  been  preserved.  S.  Utzinger,  who  has  investigated  tlie  mat- 
ter, writes  as  follows:  "I  find  minutes  of  a  regular  school  meet- 
ing held  March  27,  1869,  and  from  then  on  every  year,  but  no 
record  previous  to  that.  I  find  the  school  register  for  1868.  The 
schoolhouse  at  that  time  was  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  east 
of  where  it  now  stands.  I  find  the  record  of  a  special  meeting 
held  January  20,  1875.  At  this  meeting  it  was  decided  to  move 
the  school  building  to  the  present  location.  In  later  years  the 
schoolhouse  has  been  repaired  and  enlarged.  Martha  ]\I.  Mead  is 
given  as  teacher  in  1868  and  Sally  B.  Gove  in  1869,  but  I  do  not 
lliink  that  these  were  the  first  teachers  as  tlie  district  was  prob- 
ably organized  previous  to  tliat  date." 

High  Forest  village  was  ])lattcd  at  tlie  head  watci's  ol'  the  Ixoot 
rivrr  in  lowiisliip  104.  I'aiigc  U.  .\i)ril  2:?.  ISf)!!.  l»y  .lohii  ixN.hinson. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  469 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

SARGEANT  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — Organization — Early  Ho- 
tel and  Store — St.  John's  Church — Sargeant  Village. 

This  is  cue  of  the  uorthern  tier  of  towns  in  Mower  county. 
Its  limits  are  those  of  congressional  township  104  north,  range  15 
west  of  the  fifth  principal  meridian.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Dodge  county,  east  by  Pleasant  Valley,  south  by  Dexter  and  west 
by  Waltham.  The  surface  is  rolling,  the  soil  a  somewhat  heavy 
loam,  being  mixed  in  some  places  with  clays  and  is  in  all  parts 
quite  productive.  The  land  is  an  open  prairie,  except  along  the 
banks  of  Root  river,  and  its  principal  affluent,  which  are  skirted 
with  a  flourishing  growth  of  timber.  Root  river,  entering  the 
town  in  section  35,  flows  in  a  general  northerly  direction  till  it 
reaches  section  12,  through  which  it  takes  an  easterly  course  into 
Pleasant  Valley.  The  town  receives  its  name  from  H.  N.  Sar- 
geant, an  early  settler. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

In  1860  John  Butler,  from  Wisconsin,  settled  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  11,  which  had  been  pre-empted  by  his  brother 
Fred  a  few  years  before.  Here  he  built  a  house  and  fenced  the 
land.  Soldiers  were  now  wanted,  hosts  of  them,  to  defend  their 
country's  flag.  Butler  enlisted  and  went  to  the  war.  Its  perils 
he  survived,  but  never  came  back  to  this  town.  An  Englishman 
named  William  Langton  settled  on  the  northeast  .quarter  of  sec- 
tion 13  in  the  year  1863.  Two  years  later  he  sold  his  place  and 
moved  to  Rochester,  where  he  died.  His  widow  is  still  living  in 
that  city.  Henry  N.  Sargeant,  a  native  of  Canada,  having  come 
across  the  border  to  seek  a  new  home  in  the  States,  arrived  here 
some  time  in  the  year  1865.  He  found  a  desirable  location  in 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  11  and  there  built  him  a  house. 
Samuel  King  settled  in  Sargeant  township  in  1869  on  section 
13.  There  were  thirty  acres  broken  and  a  log  house  and  granary 
on  the  place,  which  constituted  the  improvements.  He  improved 
200  acres  of  the  land  and  weather  boarded  and  painted  the  house, 
built  a  good  granary  and  lived  there  until  1875,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  half  section  in  23  and  26  and  moved  there.  Lieutenant 
Nelson  A.  Sumner  came  to  Mower  county  in  1871  and  built  a 
house  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  35,  town  of  Sargeant. 


470  HISTOT^Y  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

His  brother,  AVarner  A.,  liad  laid  a  laud  warrant  on  this  land  in 
1857. 

In  1872  or  in  1873  Hans  Peterson,  C.  W.  Oswald,  Nils  Chris- 
tianson,  P.  Johnson,  0.  C.  Osbern  and  G.  Thorson  came  here. 
Oswald  was  a  German.  He  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  11,  selling  out  in  1882  and  moving  to  Rochester.  Chris- 
tiauson  was  a  Dane.  He  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  22,  but  sold  in  1880  and  went  to  Big  Stone  county.  Peter- 
son, also  a  Dane,  settled  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  16. 
He  stayed  there  until  1882,  in  which  year  he  sold  his  place  and 
removed  to  Marshall.  Thorson,  a  native  of  Norway,  settled  on 
the  soiathwest  quarter  of  section  35  and  lived  there  until  1884. 
In  the  year  1874  Peter  Nilson  and  his  son  Nils  Peterson,  natives 
of  Denmark,  took  possession  of  the  lands  on  sections  8  and  16. 
During  the  same  year  Thor  Johnson,  Gjernes,  his  son.  Nils  T. 
Gjernes  and  Philip  Johnson,  all  natives  of  Norway,  came  here. 
The  first  named  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  11. 

C.  R.  Koplin,  George  Biersdorfer,  William  Prudahl  and  others 
started  a  German  settlement  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  town 
in  1876-77,  and  C.  L.  Swartz  located  farther  north.  The  failure 
of  the  Avheat  crop  in  1878  had  a  disastrous  etfect  on  the  settle- 
ment. Some  of  them  moved  away  and  others  changed  their  inten- 
tion of  coming. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  township  of  Sargeant  was  organized  September  16,  1873  ; 
previous  to  that  time  the  west  half  of  its  territory  had  been  at- 
tached to  Waltham  and  the  east  half  to  Pleasant  Valley  town- 
ship. The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  H.  N.  Sar- 
geant. Mr.  Sargeant  was  chosen  moderator  and  James  Lowry 
clerk  of  the  meeting.  ■  The  following  were  elected  officers  to  serve 
imtil  March,  1874:  Chairman,  Samuel  King;  supervisors,  P.  C. 
Olson  and  P.  ^'ohnson ;  clerk,  H.  N.  Sargeant;  treasurer,  P.  C. 
Olson ;  justices  of  the  peace,  L.  King  and  Nels  Christianson ;  con- 
stables, L.  King  and  Hans  Peterson ;  assessor,  C.  W.  Oswald. 

EARLY  HOTEL  AND  STORE. 

A  house  for  the  entertainment  of  travelers  is  said  to  have 
been  built  at  an  early  day  in  the  history  of  the  settlement  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  35  by  a  man  named  Seckley 
(Avord  of  doubtful  spelling).  The  property  soon  passed  into  the 
hands  of  one  Dilarzon  Ketchum,  who,  finding  the  business  not 
a  paying  one,  was  glad,  in  his  turn,  to  find  a  purchaser.  Henry 
Bagley,  Avho  bought  out  Mr.  Ketchum,  kept  the  hotel  open  but 
a  year,  when  he  removed  to  Udolpho  township.  Not  long  after 
the  house  was  closed  it  was  burned  down. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  471 

In  the  spring  of  1865  a  man  named  William  Pitcher  put  up 
a  shanty  on  section  26,  in  which  he  kept  for  sale  a  small  stock 
of  goods.  With  so  few  settlers  in  the  neighborhood,  it  is  evident 
that  trade  could  not  have  been  very  brisk.  The  store  was  closed 
at  the  end  of  the  summer  and  Pitcher  left  the  township. 

ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

(By  Rev.  C.  A.  Affeldt.) 

Evangelical  Luthefan  St.  John's  Church,  U.  A.  C,  In  1877 
Adolf  Zander,  Carl  Zander,  August  Wietstock  and  F.  Weiss  came 
from  Goodhue  county  to  reside  on  their  newly  acquired  posses- 
sion in  Mower  county.  These  attended  services  at  Trinity  church 
at  Waltham  until  the  following  year.  That  year  a  divine  con- 
nected with  the  Iowa  Synod  made  occasional  visits  and  held  serv- 
ices at  the  homes  of  C.  and  A.  Zander,  respectively.  In  1879 
Henry  Kerchner,  F.  Ladwig,  William  Prodahl  and  several  others 
of  Goodhue  county  arrived  with  their  families.  Rev.  Achilles,  con- 
nected with  the  Lutheran  Minnesota  Synod,  took  charge  of  the 
missionai-y  work,  conducting  services  in  schoolhouse  of  District 
No.  114,  northeast  quarter  of  section  32,  Sargeant  township.  In 
1879  Rev.  W.  V.  Schenk,  of  Rochester,  Minn.,  was  given  charge. 
Hard  times  compelling  many  families  to  leave,  services  were  dis- 
continued for  a  period.  In  the  early  eighties  the  pastor  of  a 
Lutheran  church  in  Dexter  township  (Seebach's  church)  again 
held  occasional  meetings  until  1885,  in  which  year  Rev.  J.  C.  H. 
Martin,  of  Trinity  church,  Waltham,  took  charge  of  the  field  and 
held  regular  services,  also  after  being  transferred  to  Pleasant 
Valley  church.  In  1898  Rev.  Herman  Meyer,  of  Waltham,  was 
invested  with  the  pastorate.  That  event  marks  the  beginning 
of  a  new  period.  In  October  a  meeting  was  held  at  A.  Zander's 
for  the  purpose  of  effecting  an  organization,  which  also  took  place. 
Present  were  A.  Zander,  C.  R.  Kopplin,  F.  Lange,  F.  Augustin, 
H.  Kerchner,  August  Wietstock,  Julius  Henning,  Walter  Pieper. 
Hans  Augustine,  of  Hay  Creek,  Goodhue  county,  donated  three 
acres  of  land  in  northeast  quarter  section  31,  Sargeant  tOAvnship, 
a  site  for  church  and  cemetery.  October  6,  1900,  Rev.  C.  A. 
Affeldt,  of  Trinity  church,  Waltham,  was  installed  by  Rev.  A. 
Dubberstein.  In  January,  1901,  after  being  incorporated,  the 
congregation  decided  to  erect  a  church  on  its  site.  This  Avas 
done  during  the  summer.  It  is  a  frame  structure,  32x42  feet, 
with  additional  altar  niche  and  80-foot  steeple,  in  which  a  bell 
is  hung,  cost  $2,500.  In  December,  1906,  the  first  parochial  school 
was  opened  in  charge  of  Rev.  W.  F.  Lange,  formerly  of  Hay 
Creek,  Minn.,  but  now  retired  from  active  ministry.  This  con- 
gregation  has  a  promising  future.     Present  membership:      144 


472  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

souls,  eighty-three  communicants,  twenty  voting  members.  Offi- 
cials: C.  A.  Affeldt,  pastor;  A.  Zander  and  F.  Lange,  elders; 
Carl  Kerehner,  Otto  Goetseh,  Albert  Biel,  trustees. 

SARGEANT  VILLAGE. 

Sargeant  village  is  a  flourishing  trading  point  in  section  18, 
near  the  west  line  of  the  township,  and  is  located  on  the  Chicago 
Great  Western.  The  railroad  came  through  in  1887,  established 
a  .station  here,  and  thus  made  the  village  possible.  It  is  in  the 
midst  of  a  good  farming  country  and  has  a  population  of  about 
one  hundred  persons.  It  has  several  business  houses,  a  bank,  a 
hotel,  an  elevator,  a  schoolhouse  and  Baptist  and  German  Evan- 
gelical churches.  The  village  is  incorporated.  The  village  was 
platted  September  7,  1894,  in  section  18,  township  104,  range  16, 
by  John  Pfuhl. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
AUSTIN  TOWNSHIP. 


Location  and  Natural  Advantages — First  Settlement — First 
Events  —  Organization  —  Religious  History  —  Mill  Sites  — 
Cemetery. 

Austin  comprises  congressional  township  102  north,  range  18 
west,  except  that  part  included  in  the  city  of  Austin.  It  has  for 
its  neighbors  Lansing  on  the  north,  Windom  on  the  east,  Lyle 
south,  and  the  town  of  Oakland,  in  Freeborn  county,  joins  it  on 
the  west.  The  township  is  drained  by  the  Red  Cedar  river  and 
its  tributaries.  The  river  traverses  the  town  from  north  to  south, 
entering  section  3  from  the  town  of  Lansing,  it  takes  a  southward 
course,  leaving  the  town  from  section  33.  The  principal  tribu- 
taries of  the  river  are  Rose,  Dobbins  and  Turtle  creeks.  When 
this  locality  was  first  settled  the  banks  of  Cedar  river  were 
skirted  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  while  on  either  side  back 
from  the  timber  was  a  beautiful  stretch  of  prairie  land.  The 
land  west  from  the  river  is  quite  level,  while  on  the  east  it  is 
gently  undulating.  The  soil  is  a  rich  dark  loam,  in  some  places 
sliglitly  mixed  with  sand,  in  all  parts  very  productive  and  well 
adapted  to  the  different  cereals  and  grasses  grown  in  this  locality. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

It  is  impossililc  1o  state  who  was  the  first  to  make  a  settle- 
ment within  llu-  jjicscnt  limits  of  Austin  township  outside  of  the 


HJSTOEY  Ol^^  M()WP:H  (X)UNTY  47^ 

present  eity.  As  earlj^  as  1854  Jackson  Wilder  laid  claim  to  a 
larg-e  tract  of  land  east  of  the  Ked  Cedar  river,  including  what 
was  known  as  the  Sweetwater  claim,  so  called  from  a  beautiful 
spring  of  clear  water.  He,  however,  did  not  stop  here,  but  pushed 
on  to  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  He  hired  a  man  to  build  a  log  house 
on  the  claim,  which  was  done,  but  no  roof  was  put  on.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1854,  C.  H.  Huntington,  A.  S.  Lott,  Calvin  Powers  and 
Moses  Eolph  came  from  Rock  county,  "Wisconsin,  seeking  a  loca- 
tion. They  discovered  the  Sweetwater  claim  located  in  sections 
27  and  34.  They  also  discovered  that  Jackson  "Wilder  and  his 
son  Nelson  living  in  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  had  made  a  claim  of 
the  land  which  they  wanted.  As  the  "Wilders  were  not  living  on 
their  claim,  it  Avould  have  been  an  easy  matter  to  have  jumped 
the  claim.  But  Huntington  and  Lott  thought  they  would  rather 
buy  the  claim  at  reasonable  figures  than  to  have  trouble.  They 
accordingly  went  to  Iowa  and  bought  the  claim.  The  party,  be- 
fore returning  to  Wisconsin,  went  up  the  river  as  far  as  Lansing, 
where  they  selected  a  claim  for  A.  B.  Vaughan,  on  which  he  after- 
ward settled.  They  visited  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Austin, 
Avhere  they  met  Chauncey  Leverich,  who  offered  to  sell  his  claim 
for  $500.  They  offered  him  $450,  which  he  refused.  After  this 
the  party  returned  to  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Huntington  felt  uneasy 
lest  some  one  should  jump  the  claim  during  his  absence  in  the 
winter.  He  accordingly  employed  his  brother-in-law,  Calvin 
Powers,  to  come  with  his  family  and  spend  the  winter.  Mr. 
Huntington  accompanied  Mr.  Powers  on  his  return  trip.  They 
arrived  at  the  Sweetwater  claim  November  18.  They  had  made 
the  trip  of  250  miles  with  a  pair  of  horses  and  a  wagon  and 
brought  Mr.  Powers 's  household  goods  along,  as  well  as  a  stock 
of  provisions  to  last  through  the  winter.  They  also  drove  a  cow 
nlong  with  them.  Huntington  employed  one  Foster  to  assist 
Powers  to  build  a  log  house,  after  which  he  returned  to  AViscon- 
sin.  Powers  soon  had  his  house  ready  for  occupancy.  It  was 
built  of  round  logs.  The  building,  which  was  twelve  feet  wide 
by  fifteen  feet  in  length,  contained  one  window  and  a  door.  The 
cracks  he  chinked  with  chips  and  plastered  with  mud.  He  made 
oak  shacks  with  which  to  cover  the  roof.  Here  Mr.  Powers,  with 
his  wife  and  four  small  children,  spent  the  winter.  One  day  in 
February,  while  Mr.  Powers  and  his  family  were  away  from 
home,  some  Indians  broke  into  their  cabin  and  stole  their  pro- 
visions. They  were,  however,  kindly  cared  for  and  supplied  with 
a  new  stock  by  their  neighbors,  the  Wilders,  in  Iowa,  and  the 
winter  wa,s  passed  with  little  suffering. 

April  15,  1855.  Huntington  and  Lott  (the  latter  in  the  mean- 
time having  married  Huntington's  wife's  sister)  started  on  their 
return  to  their  new  home,  where  thev  arrived  INfav  fi.  having  made 


474  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

the  trip  overland  Avith  eight  pairs  of  oxen  aud  two  wagons.  They 
brought  their  household  goods  along  and  drove  forty-eight  head 
of  young  cattle  aud  forty-four  hogs.  In  Howard  coimty  they 
were  joined  by  George  Bemis  and  John  Osborne,  who  made  the 
latter  part  of  the  journey  with  them.  Huntington  and  Lott 
brought  a  cast  iron  mill  with  them  which  was  the  first  in  use  in 
Mower  county.  It  was  used  by  the  people  far  and  near  for  some 
time. 

They  afterward  sold  this  mill  to  Quincy  A.  Truesdell,  who  oper- 
ated it  for  a  time  by  water  power  on  Dobbins  creek.  Lott  set« 
tied  in  section  27.  Huntington  settled  on  the  Sweetwater  claim. 
Bemis  settled  on  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Austin.  Osborne 
settled  on  section  33.  In  the  fall  of  1855  Powers  settled  on  sec- 
tion 25,  where  he  resided  until  the  time  of  his  death.  During 
this  same  year  there  were  other  settlers,  but  none  that  were  per- 
manent. There  were  three  men  named  Avery,  a  father  and  two 
sons,-  that  made  settlements  in  section  4.  They  remained  but 
about  two  years,  then  moved  away. 

In  1855  the  folloAving  named  came :  Robert  Audis,  Alexander 
Nigus,  Ruben  and  Levi  Watrous,  Widow  Lockwood,  George  Phelps 
and  Thomas  Phelps,  Clem  Smith,  Daniel  McPherson  and  M.  J. 
Woodson.  Audis  came  from  Fayette  county,  Iowa,  and  settled 
on  section  10.  He  opened  his  house  as  a  hotel.  He  erected  quite 
a  good  sized  building  for  a  dance  hall,  and  there  the  people  often 
gathered  for  a  good  time.  Audis  remained  a  resident  of  the 
town  a  few  years,  then  returned  to  Iowa.  Nigus  settled  in  sec- 
tion 2.  He  was  here  but  a  little  more  than  a  year,  when  he  sold 
out  and  moved  away.  The  Watrous  brothers  and  Widow  Lock- 
wood  had  claims  in  section  12.  They  sold  out  and  returned  to 
Iowa  about  two  years  later.  Smith  and  the  Phelps  brothers  were 
from  Canada.  Smith  settled  in  section  23,  where  he  bought  the 
west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter.  He  went  to  war  and  died  in 
the  service.  Thomas  Phelps  pre-empted  the  northwest  quarter 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  32.  He  lived  here  until  war 
times,  when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Vinton,  Iowa,  from  thence 
he  went  to  the  war  and  died  in  the  service.  George  Phelps  pre- 
empted the  north  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  32.  In 
1858  he  traded  for  an  interest  in  the  mill  property  at  Cedar  City. 
About  a  year  later  he  sold  and  went  to  California.  McPherson 
was  from  Canada.  He  settled  on  tlie  northwest  of  section  14, 
wlicrc  lie  (lied.  Wdodson  Was  a  native  of  Kcniucky.  He  settled 
on  sc.-lioii  U. 

In  1S5()  there  were  quite  a  numl)er  of  arrivals,  among  which 
wcic  tbc  following:  Jacob  S.  Decker,  W.  A.  Woodson,  D.  L. 
CliiiiKilcr  and  II.  Van  Winkle.  John  Watkins,  Caleb  Stock,  Al- 
t'lcd  Cicssv,  Thomas  Bonuellie.  John  Rose  and  II.  E.  Case,  Thomas 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  475 

Varco,  Harry  G.  Prouty  and  Welcome  Osborne.  Decker  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey;  settled  on  the  northwest  of  section  1. 
Woodson  and  Van  Winkle  were  from  Illinois ;  had  been  here  the 
previous  fall  and  selected  a  claim  in  section  13.  Watkins  was  a 
native  of  Wales.    He  settled  on  the  northwest  of  section  33. 

Stock  was  a  native  of  England.  He  settled  on  the  north  one- 
half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  32.  Cressy  was  also  a 
native  of  England.  He  settled  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 31.  He  afterward  became  a  preacher.  Bonnellie  was  a 
Scotchraan.  He  preempted  land  in  sections  32-33,  and  lived  there 
until  after  the  war.  Rose  was  an  eastern  man,  and  settled  in 
the  northeast  of  section  25.  Case  was  a  speculator  from  New 
Britain,  Connecticut.  He  claimed  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 5.  He  moved  a  shanty  from  the  village  to  the  claim,  and 
lived  there  long  enough  to  preempt,  when  he  returned  to  his 
native  state.  Varco  was  a  native  of  England.  He  settled  on  sec- 
tion 26.  Prouty  was  a  native  of  York  state,  and  came  from  Wis- 
consin. He  settled  in  the  southeast  of  section  26,  which  place 
was  his  home  until  the  time  of  his  death.  AVelcome  Osborne  was 
a  native  of  Canada.  His  settlement  was  on  the  southwest  of 
section  32. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  marriage  ceremony  in  Austin  township  celebrated 
the  nuptials  of  Caleb  Stock  and  Mary  Walkins.  The  ceremony 
took  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride 's  parents,  in  section  33 ; 
Sylvester  Smith,  justice  of  the  peace,  officiated.  The  first  white 
child  born  within  the  present  limits  of  the  town  of  Austin,  was 
Annette  Powers,  daughter  of  Calvin  and  Mercy  (Beebe)  Powers, 
September  22,  1855.  The  first  white  male  child  born  in  the  town 
was  Colbert,  son  of  A.  S.  and  Jane  (Beebe)  Lott,  October  10,  1855. 

MILL  SITES. 

Quaint  Old  Mill.  The  first  mill  in  the  neighborhood  known 
as  Cedar  City,  was  a  novel  affair,  constructed  by  Welcome  Chan- 
dler in  1857.  He  took  a  hollow  log,  which  he  sunk  a  short  distance 
into  the  ground,  resting  the  end  on  a  solid  foundation.  Over  this 
mortar,  as  it  might  be  called,  he  suspended  a  pole  balanced  on  a 
post  with  a  weight  on  one  end  and  a  pestle  of  hard  wood  swing- 
ing over  the  mortar.  The  corn,  after  having  first  been  dried  in  an 
oven,  Avas  put  into  this  mortar  and  crushed  to  meal.  This  mill 
served  a  good  purpose  and  was  resorted  to  by  the  neighbors,  who 
had  previouslj^  been  grating  tlie  corn.  Tlie  grater  used  by  them 
Avas  of  their  oAvn  make,  usually  an  old  tin  pan  with  holes  in  it 
made  by  driving  a  nail  through. 


476  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Mower  County  Blills.  This  mill  was  first  built  by  Jonathan 
Gi-pgsou  and  William  Gutherless,  in  1862-63.  They  put  in  a  dam 
of  stone  and  logs,  and  secured  eight  feet  head  of  water.  They 
erected  a  stone  building  30x30,  two  stories  in  height  with  base- 
ment. The  first  fiour  was  made  in  September,  1863.  In  April, 
1865,  the  building  fell  and  Mr.  Gutherless  was  buried  in  the  ruins. 
He  was  severely  injured,  but  no  bones  were  broken.  That  same 
year  Mr.  Gregson  erected  a  frame  building  on  the  old  site.  The 
building  was  28x40  feet.  In  1869  General  Rusk,  of  Wisconsin, 
purchased  the  mill.  W.  H.  Officer  was  associated  with  General 
Rusk  in  the  purchase  of  the  mill,  and  took  charge  at  that  time. 
The  old  Officer  mill  was  burned  some  years  ago  and  a  grist  mill 
now  occupies  the  old  site. 

Red  Cedar  Mills.  These  mills  were  built  in  1867  and  1868,  by 
Jonathan  Gregson.  As  first  built  the  building  was  22x40  feet, 
with  a  shed  attached.  In  1875  the  building  was  enlarged.  In  1879 
the  building  was  again  enlarged.  Mr.  Gregson  was  the  first  to 
introduce  the  roller  system  into  Mower  county,  he  having  put 
one  set  of  rollers  in  as  early  as  1878.  These  mills  have  been 
rebuilt  and  remodeled  and  are  now  conducted  by  A.  S.  Campbell. 

The  Warner  Mill.  This  mill  was  erected  by  one  Warner,  on 
Dobbins  creek.  It  passed  through  various  hands  and  was  after- 
ward removed.    The  dam  is  now  in  ruins. 

Another  Old  Mill.  In  1859,  John  Fake  and  Alonzo  Fairbanks, 
purchased  the  steam  saw  mill,  located  east  of  the  Cedar  river,  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  2.  In  the  spring  of  1860  they 
put  in  one  set  of  buhrs,  and  prepared  to  make  flour.  In  1861, 
Fake  &  Fairbanks  sold  the  mill  to  Joseph  Beauregard,  who 
operated  ft  for  a  time.  The  saw  mill  and  engine  were  afterward 
moved  to  Freeborn  county,  while  the  fiour  machinery  was  put 
into  Gregson 's  mill. 

EARLY  RELIGIOUS  SERVICES. 

Religious  meetings  were  held  in  an  early  day  at  the  house  of 
Jeremiah  Phelps,  in  the  town  of  Lyle.  Rev.  Phelps,  an  itinerant 
Methodist  preacher,  was  the  first  to  hold  forth.  As  soon  as  the 
log  schoolhouse  was  built  on  section  32  the  meetings  were  held 
there.  Among  the  early  preachers  were  Elders  ilapes.  Beach, 
Loomis  and  John  Dyer.  The  latter  was  an  evangelist,  or  exhorter. 
He  held  a  series  of  protracted  meetings  at  the  log  schoolhouse, 
assisted  by  Rev.  Alanson  Beacli.  A  number  were  converted  and  a 
class  organized.  The  following  were  among  the  members:  W. 
Means,  Welcome  Osborne  and  wife,  John  Osborne  and  wife,  Wel- 
come Chandler  and  wife,  Thomas  Phdps  and  wife,  Jeremiah  and 
Diada?na  Phelps,  J.-icol.  Kpplcr  iiiid  wilV,  Joshua  Wrldi  and  wife, 


niSTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  477 

John  Chandler  and  Joshua  Eppler.  The  first  pastor  of  this  class 
was  Rev.  Mapes.    He  -was  followed  by  Rev.  Willis  Ticknor. 

In  1867,  Rev.  Carver,  a  Methodist  preacher,  then  stationed  at 
Austin,  preached  in  the  schoolliouse,  in  district  No.  55,  and  organ- 
ized a  class  there.  Among  the  members  were  W.  Hall  and  wife, 
R.  H.  Densmore  and  wife,  G.  W.  Clough  and  wife,  J.  N.  Patter- 
son and  wife  and  John  King  and  wife.  J.  N.  Patterson  was 
elected  class  leader.  IMeetings  were  held  once  in  two  weeks  for  a 
few  years. 

Rose  Creek  Cemetery.  This  cemetery,  which  is  located  in  the 
southern  pa  it  of  section  24,  Austin  township,  was  laid  out  in  June, 
1862,  and  the  first  officials  were  Thomas  Varco,  Harvey  Proudy 
and  Ezra  Ames.  The  first  burial  was  that  of  Harvey  Pratt,  son 
of  D.  0.  and  A.  L.  Pratt,  in  1862.  The  cemetery  society  v\-as 
incorporated  in  1862.  The  present  officers  are :  President,  F.  H. 
Pike ;  secretary,  J.  W.  Varco ;  treasin-er,  C.  H.  Lott ;  superin- 
tendent, C.  0.  Brownell;  director,  F.  M.  Dufty.  The  cemetery 
presents  an  excellent  appearance,  and  is  well  kept.  The  Happy 
Thought  Club  has  done  much  to  improve  its  appearance. 

The  Happy  Thought  Club.  On  June  22,  1905,  Mrs.  Frank  H. 
Pike  invited  the  ladies  interested  in  general  township  improve- 
ments to  meet  at  her  home  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  society 
for  the  improvement  and  beautifying  of  the  Rose  Creek  cemetery 
at  Varco  station.  The  organization  was  afterward  named  the 
Happy  Thought  Club.  The  officers  are :  President,  Mrs.  Frank 
H.  Pike ;  vice  president,  Mrs.  E.  V.  Hart ;  secretary,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Aultfather;  treasurer,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Varco.  The  club  is  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition,  has  eighty-five  members,  and  has  raised  $369.45 
for  improvements. 

Cedar  City  Cemetery.  This  cemetery  is  pleasantly  located  on 
the  soutli  one-lialf  of  section  32,  and  contains  three-fourths  of  an 
acre  of  land.  It  was  surveyed  in  1879,  by  G.  H.  Clough,  and 
contained  at  that  time  forty-two  lots,  18x20.  This  was  used  as 
a  burial  place  a  number  of  years  before  it  was  platted.  The 
first  burial  here  was  that  of  a  man  named  Robinson,  assistant 
editor  of  the  ]\Iower  Countv  Mirror. 


The  Evergreen  Stock  Farm.  The  Ellis  Evergreen  stock  farm 
is  located  within  fifteen  minutes  walk  of  the  C,  ^I.  &  St.  P. 
depot  at  Austin,  and  is  but  a  mile  from  the  heart  of  the  city. 
The  farm  consists  of  a  section  of  land,  about  one-fifth  being 
timber  and  pasturage,  the  balance  being  under  cultivation.  The 
120  acres  where  the  house  is  located  was  tlie  original  farm  and 
was  added  to  piecemeal.  It  was  not  counted  a  vaUiable  acquisi- 
tion Avhen  "S\v.  Ellis  secured  it  over  half  a  century  ago.  It  was 
covered  with  liazel  l)rush  and  a   low  growth  of  burr  oaks.     Mr 


478  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

and  Mrs.  Ellis  moved  onto  the  farm  in  1859  and  in  common  Avith 
other  early  settlers,  suffered  privations  and  hardships  which  the 
present  generation  can  scarcely  comprehend. 

After  the  wheat  failure  in  1877,  Mr.  Ellis  realized  the  need 
of  more  and  better  stock,  and  was  the  tirst  farmer  in  Mower 
county  to  purchase  thoroughbred  cattle.  He  selected  the  Hol- 
steins  and  placed  them  upon  his  farm  in  1878,  and  this  fine  stock 
soon  advertised  the  farm  all  over  the  northwest.  There  are  thou- 
sands of  evergreens  upon  the  farm,  some  of  them  over  forty  years 
old.  They  were  all  planted  and  eared  for  by  Mr.  Ellis  himself. 
The  storm  of  June  20,  1908,  destroyed  hundreds  of  them,  as  well 
as  hundreds  of  the  trees  of  native  timber.  The  farm  is  now 
owned  and  operated  by  IMrs.  A.  V.  Ellis,  Joseph  Helebrant,  the 
foreman,  having  been  on  the  farm  for  the  past  seventeen  years. 
It  is  one  of  the  largest  dairy  farms  in  the  county.  Holstein 
cattle,  both  registered  and  grades,  are  kept.  The  name  "Ever- 
green Farms"  was  registered  in  1909,  and  was  the  last  paper  Mr. 
Ellis  signed. 


Two  Rivers  was  laid  out  and  platted  June  11,  1857,  by  Eobert 
Audis  and  George  B.  Hayes,  in  section  10,  township  102,  range  18. 
It  existed  only  on  paper. 

Varco  station  consists  of  a  railroad  station  and  an  elevator. 
It  is  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  Austin  toAvnship  on  both 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  and  the  Chicago  Great  West- 
ern. It  was  platted  in  section  26,  township  102,  range  18,  Novem- 
ber 17,  1875,  by  Thomas  Varco. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

LANSING  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — Organization— Bounty — 
Churches  —  Railroads  —  First  Events  —  Mills — Cemeteries — 
Lansing  Village— Early  Interests — Masonic  Lodge— Ramsey 
Junction — Corning  Village. 

Lansing  is  bounded  on  1lic  north  l)y  Tdoliilio,  east  by  Red 
Rock,  south  by  Austin  cily  and  townsliip,  west  by  Freeborn 
county,  and  comprises  ;ill  of  townshiii  1o;{,  range  13.  The  town 
is  well  provided  with  Avalci'  iiud  limber.  Tlu^  Red  Cedar  i-ivcr 
enters  Ihc  townsliip  in  scdioii  2,  flowing  llwongli  sections  11.  14, 
23,  2fi  ;in(l  :U,  llicncc  entering  Austin  city.     This  I'iver  is  noled  Tor 


HISTORY  OF  MOWKK'  COUNTY  479 

its  valuable  water  powers.  Spring  creek  rises  in  section  4,  tlows 
in  a  southeasterly  direction  through  section  3,  and  enters  the 
Red  Cedar  in  section  11.  Well's  creek  rises  in  section  IG,  passes 
in  a  southeasterly  direction  through  sections  15,  14,  and  empties 
into  tlie  Red  Cedar  in  section  23.  Dobins  creek  enters  the  town 
in  section  36,  from  where  it  passes  into  Austin  township.  Turtle 
creek  enters  the  township  at  the  northwest  corner  of  section  31, 
tlirough  which  section  it  flows ;  leaving  the  town  at  the  southeast 
corner.  Timber  was  quite  plenty  along  the  Red  Cedar  river  when 
the  county  was  first  settled,  but  was  largely  cut  off  for  building 
purposes.  There  is  still  considerable  second  growth  timber  in 
the  township. 

On  either  side  of  the  Red  Cedar  the  country  is  comparatively 
level,  generally  with  sufficient  drainage.  The  western  portion  of 
the  town  has  more  of  a  rolling  tendency,  with  groves  of  small 
oaks  and  grubs.     OtherM^ise  the  township  is  a  rolling  prairie. 

The  prairie  along  the  Red  Cedar  is  composed  of  a  rich  soil  of 
clay  and  vegetable  mould,  with  a  sprinkling  of  sand,  making  a 
natural  corn  soil.  In  the  western  part  of  the  town,  with  excep- 
tion of  the  prairie,  yellow  clay  predominates.  The  prairie  is 
composed  of  a  black  loam,  underneath  which  is  a  clay  subsoil. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  to  make  a'  settlement  in  the  township  Avas  II.  O. 
Clark,  known  as  "Hunter  Clark,"  a  name  given  him  from  his 
being  an  expert  hunter.    He  came  to  the  township  in.  the  fall  of 

1853.  He  took  a  claim  and  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  34.  He  built  a  log  cabin,  a  short  distance  northeast  of 
where  Oakwood  cemetery  is  now  located.  Clark  was  of  the  true 
pioneer  stamp,  ever  seeking  a  newer  country.  He  sold  his  claim 
to  ■\Yilliara  Baudler,  who  'took  possession  May  8,  1855.  Clark 
went  west,  where  he  could  have  room.  The  last  seen  of  him  was 
in  Idaho. 

Samuel  Clayton  settled  in  sections  26  and  27,  in  the  spring  of 

1854.  He  built  his  log  house  in  section  26.  He  had  a  wife  and 
several  children.  Mr.  Clayton  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church. 
The  first  religious  services  were  held  at  his  house.  He  built  a 
shop  and  worked  at  his  trade  of  blacksmith.  He  was  one  of  the 
tir.st,  if  not  the  first,  to  work  at  blacksmithing  in  the  county.  He 
worked  at  his  trade,  in  connection  with  farming,  until  18G5,  wlien 
he  sold  out  to  Michael  Teeter  and  went  to  Kansas. 

N.  G.  Perry  settled  in  the  townsliip  in  the  fall  of  1854.  He 
was  accompanied  by  Samuel  Dixon.  Tliey  were  formerly  from 
New  York  state,  and  had  their  families  with  them.  Mr.  Perry 
sold  his  farm  to  C.  P.  Bell.     He  afterwards  purchased   anotlier 


480  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

farm  in  tlie  western  part  of  the  township.  He  sold  out  a  few 
years  later  and  Avent  to  Nebraska  and  to  Knox  county,  Kansas. 

John  Pettiboue,  a  bachelor,  entered  three  eighties  in  section 
11,  in  1854.  He  remained  here  until  1857,  when  he  sold  out  to 
A.  B.  Vauglian  and  D.  M.  V.  Stewart  and  returned  to  Ohio. 

Alanson  B.  Vaughan  came  to  Mower  county,  in  company  with 
two  sons,  in  the  fall  of  1854.  They  were  from  Rock  county,  Wis- 
consin, where  Mr.  Vaughan  had  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
trade.  They  took  claims  in  section  10  in  this  township.  After 
letting  the  contract  for  building  a  house  returned  to  Wisconsin, 
where  they  remained  through  the  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1855 
Mr.  Vaughan,  Avith  his  family,  accompanied  by  his  five  grown 
sons,  two  of  whom  were  married,  came  with  teams  to  their  new 
homes  in  ]\lower  county.  The  sons  of  A.  B.  Vaughan  are  Phineas 
D.,  John  G.,  Enoch  G.,  Herman  B.,  Benjamin  K.  Phineas  D. 
located  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  3 ;  John  G.  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  2 ;  Enoch  G.  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  10;  Herman  B.  the  southeast  of  section  10. 

There  came  in  1856,  Thomas  Gibson,  William  Rutherford, 
John  P.  and  Harear  Lyons,  J.  H.  Watkins,  H.  C.  Aldrich,  Jos. 
Gillen,  IMartin  McNally,  Jos.  Smith,  James  McLaughlin,  A.  Bart- 
lett,  John  Dignan,  James  N.  Cook,  A.  H.  Chapin,  Lewis  Thompson, 
William  Litchfield,  Jonas  Haney,  George  Baird  and  others.  Among 
those  who  came  in  later  and  have  been  prominent  in  town  afit'airs 
are  George  Wood,  John  Mathieson,  A.  C.  Boynton,  E.  H.  Wells, 
G.  W.  Grimshaw,  Rol)ert  Lewis,  C.  C.  Bell,  M.  Gregson,  "SI.  Teeter 
and  Ole  G.  Anderson. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  couple  to  be  .joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock  was 
Silas  Dutcher  and  Mary  R.  Perry,  which  notable  event  took  place 
August  27,  1856,  Sylvester  Smith,  of  Austin,  presiding.  Another 
early  marriage  in  the  township  was  Nelson  M.  Wilder  and  Maria 
H.  Vaughan,  which  occurred  January  4,  1861,  Rev.  H.  I.  Parker, 
a  Baptist  minister,  officiating.  Mr.  Wilder  died  in  Nebraska, 
where  he  had  gone  for  his  health,  in  1880. 

The  first  child  born  in  Lansing  township  was  Adeline  Ruth, 
daughter  of  P.  D.  and  Elizabeth  Vaughan,  which  event  occurred 
Augiist  8,  1856.  She  was  married  December  6,  1877,  to  George 
Russell. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Daniel  MePherson,  a  Scotchman 
from  Canada.  He  was  a  single  man  and  made  his  home  with 
Mr.  Dobbins  in  section  22.  While  at  work  on  the  old  log  school- 
house  Mr.  MePherson  fell,  by  which  he  sustained  injuries  that 
caused  his  death.    He  died  in  the  autumn  of  1857  and  was  buried 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  481 

in  section  27,  the  exact  location  being  lost,  owing  to  the  road 
passing  over  the  grave. 

ORGANIZATION. 

A  Avarrant  was  issued  April  18,  1858,  calling  upon  the  citizens 
of  Lansing  township  to  meet  and  organize.  Pursuant  to  said 
notice  the  legal  voters  met  in  the  old  log  schoolhouse  in  section 
27  and  elected  the  following  officers :  Supervisors,  A.  B.  Vaughan, 
chairman,  Jonas  Haney,  E.  A.  Snow;  clerk,  P.  D.  Vaughan;  as- 
sessor, James  McLaughlin;  collector,  Enoch  Vaughan;  overseer, 
J.  H.  Watkins ;  justices  of  the  peace,  A.  B.  Vaughan  and  Emery 
Snow;  constable,  John  P.  Lyons;  overseer  of  highways,  John  P. 
Lyons. 

SOLDIERS'  BOUNTY. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  voters  of  Lansing,  held  at  the 
village  of  Lansing,  September  5,  1862,  A.  Sprague  was  elected 
chairman,  P.  G.  Lamoreaux  clerk  pro  tern.  The  following  reso- 
lutions were  unanimously  passed:  "Resolved,  That  we  raise  by 
tax  on  the  property  of  the  toMTi  of  Lansing,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars.  That  we  pay  twenty-five  dollars  to  each  of  the  following 
named  persons  who  enlisted  into  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
after  August  20,  1862,  and  prior  to  August  26,  1862,  or  as  many 
of  these  as  may  be  accredited  to  this  town  in  making  up  the 
quota  for  the  call  of  the  president  for  600,000  troops,  and  the 
filling  up  of  the  old  regiments  :    John  Harlley,  Benjamin  Vaughan, 

Augustus    Whitney, •   Phillips,    William   M.   Lent,    D.    B. 

Vaughan." 

RELIGIOUS. 

Methodist  Episcopal.  The  first  religious  services  held  in  Lan- 
sing township  Avere  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Clayton,  in  1855,  by 
Rev.  W.  E.  Holbrook,  a  Methodist  minister  from  Iowa.  Occa- 
sional services  were  held  by  him  at  houses  in  the  neighborhood 
until  1857,  when  the  Pettibone  house  was  fixed  up  for  school  pur- 
poses, in  which  meetings  were  afterwards  held.  Rev.  Mr.  Phelps 
also  held  services  at  different  houses  in  the  neighborhood  in  1856. 
A  class  of  the  Methodist  denomination  Avas  formed  about  1855 
and  meetings  held  at  houses  in  the  neighborhood.  Meetings  Avere 
afterAvards  held  at  the  old  Pettibone  schoolhouse  in  District  No. 
43.  The  organization  Avas  kept  up  until  about  1857-58,  when  the 
class  was  divided,  a  part  going  to  Austin  and  a  part  to  Lansing 
A'illage.  This  class  was  organized  by  Rev.  W.  E.  Holbrook.  ReA'. 
Mr.  Mapes  also  held  services  in  the  toAA-nship  at  an  early  day. 
The  fir.st  serA-ices  of  the  Lansing  branch  Avere  held  at  the  school- 
house,  the  building  later  used  by  George  Wood  as  a  residence. 
There  was  a  membership  of  about  tAvelve.     In  1856  the  founda- 


482  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

tion  for  a  brick  church  building  was  begun,  and  the  walls  well 
up,  when  they  were  unfortunately  blown  down,  which  added  ma- 
terially to  the  future  cost  of  the  building.  Work,  however,  was 
immediately  resumed  and  the  building  completed  that  summer  at 
a  total  cost  of  about  $3,000.  The  house  was  built  through  the 
efforts  of  Eev.  W.  M.  Soules,  at  that  time  in  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation. Eev.  E.  E.  Lathrop  was  another  early  pastor.  The 
present  pastor  is  E.  H.  Bedford,  of  Brownsdale. 

Catholic  Church.  The  first  services  of  this  church  in  the  town- 
ship were  held  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Gibson,  in  section  12,  in 
the  fall  of  1859.  Through  the  efforts  of  A.  Brown,  of  Austin,  John 
Digman  and  Thomas  Gibson,  the  services  of  Father  Pendergast,  of 
Winona,  were  procured,  who  held  services  as  above  stated.  He 
also  held  services  during  the  summer  of  1860.  Father  Kellar, 
from  Faribault,  held  occasional  services  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Gib- 
son until  the  fall  of  1867,  when  Father  John  McDermot  was 
located  at  Austin.  He  held  occasional  services  in  the  township 
until  the  spring  of  1869,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Father  Jen- 
nis.  Members  of  this  ehuvch  in  the  township,  now  attend  church 
at  Austin. 

Baptist  Church.  The  first  proceedings  in  the  organization  of 
this  church  was  a  meeting  called  by  members  of  the  church,  who 
had  settled  at  Lansing  and  vicinity,  at  the  hoiase  of  N.  S.  Dorwin, 
for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Baptist  church.  At  this  meeting 
Llilton  McCall  was  chosen  moderator,  B.  D.  Sprague,  clerk.  The 
meeting  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  church,  at  the  school- 
house  in  Lansing,  January  19,  1862.  Those  who  were  present  at 
this  meeting  were  IMilton  INIcCall,  EdAvard  Bassett,  B.  D.  Sprague, 
P.  G.  Lamoreaux,  N.  S.  Dorwin  and  wife,  Lou  A.  Sprague.  Eev. 
M.  Craven,  from  High  Forest,  helped  in  the  organization.  The 
church  held  communion  services  December  21,  1862.  The  first 
Covenant  meeting  was  April  5,  1862.  The  first  baptism  was  April 
12,  1863.  The  candidates  were  Mrs.  Julia  A.  McCall,  Betta 
Vaughan,  and  Ellen  Page.  The  first  minister  was  Eev.  H.  I. 
Parker,  who  had  charge  of  the  church  ten  years.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Eev.  Amus  Weaver,  from  Wisconsin,  but  formerly 
from  New  York.  He  remained  with  the  church  about  three  years, 
•when  he  was  succeeded  by  Eev.  E.  Sadick,  from  England.  Serv- 
ices are  now  held  every  other  Sunday  in  tlie  Methodist  church,  in 
charge  of  Eev.  C.  D.  Belden,  of  Austin. 

Congregational  Church.  This  church  was  organized  August 
23,  3807,  Uvv.  Mr.  :\i<)rsc  presiding.  The  first  officers  were  D.  M. 
Evans,  S.  H.  Smith,  deacons;  George  W.  Eobinson,  clerk.  Eev. 
Philo  Canfield,  from  Albert  Lea,  took  charge  of  the  church  Octo- 
ber 1,  1867.  After  remaining  six  months  he  was  relieved  by  Eev. 
Mr.  Booth,  he  by  Eev.  George  B.  Nutting,  he  by  Eev.  J.  D.  Todd, 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  483 

he  by  Rev.  Mr.  Toby,  and  he  by  Rev.  Mr.  Rounse,  who  served 
until  1881,  since  which  time  there  has  been  no  regular  service. 

RAILROADS. 

The  old  Minnesota  Central,  now  the  Iowa  and  Dakota  division 
of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railway  company,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1867,  bi;ilt  its  road  through  the  township,  entering  the  town 
in  section  3,  passing  through  sections  19,  15,  14,  23,  26,  35,  from 
which  section  it  passes  into  Austin. 

The  Southern  Minnesota  railroad,  now  owned  by  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul,  was  built  through  the  township  in  1869-70. 
The  road  enters  the  town  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  13, 
and  runs  in  a  southwesterly  direction  through  sections  24-23,  in 
which  latter  section  it  forms  a  junction  with  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
Avaukee  &  St.  Paul  railroad,  and  proceeds  on  its  course  through 
sections  22,  27,  28,  29,  31,  from  which  section  it  enters  Freeborn 
county. 

A  special  vote  was  taken  at  the  general  election  held  April  7, 
1882,  to  vote  aid  to  the  Austin,  Mankato  &  St.  Cloud  Railway 
company.  Four  thousand  dollars  was  voted,  there  being  71  votes 
in  favor,  to  35  against.  The  line  now  known  as  the  Chicago 
Great  Western  was  completed  through  the  toAvnship  in  1885. 

MILLS. 

Ramsey  Mill.  This  mill  is  located  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Cedar  river  in  section  23,  near  Ramsey  Junction.  Mathew  Greg- 
son,  the  proprietor,  commenced  the  erection  of  the  building  and 
dam  in  October,  1872,  working  on  the  foundation  and  dam  that 
winter,  completing  the  mill  the  next  summer  in  time  for  the  next 
crop.  The  mill  was  supplied  with  four  run  of  buhrs,  which  are 
run  by  water  power.  In  the  summer  of  1884  rollers  were  added 
and  a  fine  grade  of  flour  was  manufactured  under  the  roller  proc- 
ess.    This  mill  is  still  in  operation. 

Lansing  Flouring  Mill.  Lansing  Flouring  Mill  was  located 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Red  Cedar  in  section  2.  The  mill  was 
originally  built  by  Higley  &  Richards,  in  1877.  The  building 
was  burned  in  March,  1883.  The  site  was  then  purchased  by 
Simon  Alverson,  who  rebuilt  the  mill  on  the  site  of  the  old  one 
that  summer.  The  ruins  of  the  dam  is  now  the  only  reminder  of 
this  mill. 

Lansing  Mill.  A  steam  mill  was  ])uilt  at  Lansing  village  in 
1857  by  A.  B.  Vaughan.  the  engine  of  which  was  hauled  by  teams 
I'rom  "Wabasha,  Wabaslia  county,  ]\rinnesota.  It  was  run  as  a  saw 
mill  until  1860.  when  it  was  converted  into  a  grist  mill  and  run 
as  sm-li  about  thrci'  years,  wlieii  llie  engine  was  sold  and  taken 


484  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COITXTY 

to  Osage,  in  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  In  the  winter  of  1866-67 
the  building  and  machinery  were  repaired  and  a  wind  mill  put 
up  for  furnishing  power.  It  was  run  with  varied  success  until 
1869,  when  the  wind  mill  was  taken  down  and  the  buhrs  sold. 
The  building  was  sold  to  L.  Hawley,  who  removed  it  to  his  farm 
and  converted  it  into  a  barn. 

Turtle  Creek  Cheese  Factory.  A  joint  stock  company  Avas 
organized  in  the  fall  of  1874,  under  the  laws  of  the  state,  with 
a  capital  of  $2,000.  There  were  forty  shares  issued  at  $50  a 
share.  The  stockholders  were  S.  N.  Frisbee,  John  Van  House, 
Granville  Kearn,  Jerome  Rodgers,  Jonas  Haney,  A.  P.  McBride, 
Daniel  E.  Bero,  James  M.  Cook,  N.  S.  Hardy,  Israel  Pace,  Michael 
Teeter,  Merrick  Knok,  H.  W.  Page,  Oliver  Shaw,  Solner  &  Mor- 
gan, A.  Harwood,  R.  0.  Hall.  The  business  is  under  the  control 
of  a  board  of  five  directors,  elected  annually.  The  first  directors 
were  S.  N.  Frisbee,  John  Van  House,  Jerome  Rodgers,  Jonas 
Haney,  E.  McBride.  The  cheese  factory  building  was  commenced 
in  the  fall  of  1874.  AVhen  nearly  completed  it  was  bloAvn  down. 
It  was  immediately  rebuilt.  It  is  a  two-story  frame  building, 
26x52  feet.  Cheese  making  commenced  June  10,  1875.  The  cheese 
manufactured  was  of  a  high  quality  and  won  many  prizes.  The 
business  was  closed  up  many  years  ago. 

CEMETERIES. 

Lansing'  Cemetery.  Is  located  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  11,  the  ground  being  donated  by 
A.  B.  Vaughan,  and  is  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state. 
The  first  burial  was  that  of  Gardner  Mitchell.  He  came  from 
"Wisconsin  here,  but  formerly  lived  in  Rhode  Island.  He  was 
a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812.  He  made  his  home  with  the 
Vaughans  until  his  death. 

Oakwood  Cemetery  is  located  in  this  township.  Its  history  is 
related  elsewhere. 

LANSING  VILLAGE. 

Lansing  is  a  lively  village  of  some  one  hundred  inhabitants, 
and  is  noted  especially  for  the  creamery  Avhich  is  operated  by 
the  Lansing  Cooperative  Dairy  Association.  It  has  a  railroad 
station,  an  elevator,  a  public  school,  a  hotel,  a  postoffice  and  a 
Methodist  church.  It  was  at  one  time  incorporated  but  gave  up 
its  charter. 

This  village  clusters  around  the  corner  stake  of  sections 
2,  3,  10  and  IL  It  was  surveyed  and  platted  in  1858,  by  Charles 
Carter,  for  A.  B.  Vaughan,  the  proprietor.  The  first  building  on 
the  site  was  a  log  house  erected  in  1855,  by  A.  B.  Vaughan  for  a 
residence.     The  first  building  for  business  purposes  was  erected 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  485 

by  P.  D.  Vaughan  iu  the  fall  of  1858.  He  rented  the  building-  to 
Jolin  Clarlv,  who  put  in  a  small  stock  of  goods.  In  the  fall  of 
1859  this  building  was  burned.  In  1860  Clark  closed  out  the 
business. 

EARLY  BUSINESS. 

The  first  blacksmith  in  the  village  was  Alfred  Clough,  who 
located  here  in  the  summer  of  1857.  He  remained  here  until  1866, 
then  returned  to  Wisconsin.    Later  came  Sidney  Fuller. 

P.  D.  Vaughan  opened  a  store  in  the  fall  of  1864,  putting  a 
small  stock  of  general  merchandise  into  a  small  building  on  the 
north  side  of  the  creek.  The  same  fall  George  AVood  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  business  and  they  moved  to  more  commodious 
quarters  on  the  south  side  of  the  creek.  In  the  spring  of  1866 
they  sold  to  A.  B.  Vaughan,  who  continued  in  the  business  until 
1868,  when  he  closed  out.  During  the  fall  of  1867  there  were  two 
Avarehouses  built  here,  one  of  them  by  a  Mr.  Fames,  from  Lake 
City.  In  1868,  Bassett,  Huntting  &  Co.  erected  a  warehouse,  and 
in  1870  0.  C.  LaBar  erected  one.  AVood  &  La  Bar  were  also  early 
buyers.  The  Huntting  Elevator  Company  still  operates  here. 
The  first  lumber  yard  Avas  established  in  1867  by  Vaughan  & 
AVood.  They  continued  in  the  business  until  1870,  when  they 
closed  out. 

The  store  of  P.  D.  and  AV.  B.  Vaughan,  general  merchants, 
was  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1875,  by  AVarren  B.  Vaughan,  when 
he  had  just  received  the  appointment  of  postmaster.  He  put  in  a 
stock  of  groceries,  drugs  and  stationery,  valued  at  $1,000.  He 
conducted  the  business  alone  until  the  fall  of  1877,  when  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  father,  P.  D.  Vaughan.  Charles  E. 
Payne  now"  conducts  a  general  store  in  the  village. 

H.  M.  Mclntyre,  general  merchant,  commenced  business  in 
company  with  John  Bartlett,  under  the  firm  name  of  Bartlett  & 
Mclntyre,  in  the  store  building  known  as  the  AVeller  building.  In 
NoA'ember,  1880,  Mr.  Mclntyre  purchased  his  partner's  interest, 
and  is  still  in  business. 

Among  early  physicians  at  Lansing  were  Josef  Alloys,  K. 
Soule,  a  Dr.  Lafayette,  and  AV.  L.  Hollister. 

The  first  station  agent  at  Lansing  was  Charles  Linton.  He 
remained  in  the  office  about  two  years,  when  he  Avent  to  Aledford, 
in  Steele  county,  Minnesota.  The  first  express  agent  Avas  A.  B. 
A'aughan,  Avhich  office  he  held  until  1872. 

The  Lansing  Hotel  Avas  built  as  a  private  residence  by  Patrick 
Eagan  in  1860.  It  Avas  first  kept  as  a  hotel  by  Benjamin  Carll  in 
the  fall  of  1864.  He  continued  to  act  the  part  of  jolly  host  until 
the  spring  of  1867,  Avhen  his  son-in-laAV,  A\'illiam  lirOAvn,  took 
charge.     In  the  fall  of  tliat  year  lie  Avas  succeeded  by  Chauiicy 


486  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

^laxfield,  wlio  purchased  tlie  property.  The  hotel  is  now  kept  by 
John  E.  Chaffee. 

Incorporation.  The  village  was  iueorporated  liy  an  act  of 
tlie  legislature,  and  approved  by  the  governor,  February  17,  1871 : 
■was  witnessed  ])y  the  secretary  of  state,  March  30,  1881,  Georg.- 
"Wood,  C.  J,  Rieker  and  J.  W.  George  were  designated  commis- 
sioners to  call  an  election.  The  first  election  was  held  at  the  post- 
office  March  10,  1881,  and  the  following  named  officers  were 
elected :  President,  W.  H.  White  ;  trustees,  John  Watkins,  George 
"W,  "Williams,  J.  G.  Vaughan;  recorder,  H.  jNIcIntyre;  justice  of 
the  peace,  J,  E.  Robinson;  treasurer,  John  Bai'tlett ;  assessor,  11, 
Rowe;  constable,  John  Thompson,  At  this  meeting  John  J. 
Guthrie  was  clerk,  P,  D,  Vaughan  and  J.  H.  Watkins,  judges,  Thi- 
charter  was  surrendered  some  years  since. 

Lansing  Lodge  No.  72,  A.  F.  and  A.  M,  An  informal  meeiiny 
w;!s  lu'lJ  at  the  selioolliouse,  and  a  petition  sent  to  the  W.  G.  Xl. 
of  the  grand  lodge  of  IMinnesota,  signed  by  the  following  named: 
W.  L.  Tlollister,  P.  D.  Vaughan,  George  W.  Robinson,  J.  F.  Smith, 
William  M.  Evans,  John  McCall,  J.  W.  George,  T.  B.  :\rorrili, 
A,  B.  Vaughan,  S.  R,  Gunn,  J,  B.  Graves,  E.  J.  Stimson — asking 
that  a  dispensation  be  granted.  On  April  10,  1868,  a  dispensation 
was  received.  W.  L.  Hollister  was  appointed  AV.  M. ;  P.  D. 
Vaughan,  S,  W. ;  George  W.  Robinson,  J.  W.  The  first  meetuig 
was  held  at  Willis  hall,  April  13,  1868.  A  charter  w^as  granted 
January  4,  1869,  and  the  following  meni])ers  elected:  W.  L. 
Hollister,  W.  ^l. ;  P.  D.  Vaughan,  S.  W. :  G.  W.  Robinson.  J.  W. ; 
J.  F.  Smith,  T. ;  A.  B.  Vaughan,  S. 

RAMSEY  JUNCTION. 

Ramsey  Junction  is  a  station  at  the  junction  of  the  Iowa  and 
Minnesota  and  the  Southern  ^Minnesota  divisions  of  the  Ghicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul.  It  was  platted  November  18,  1873,  the 
proprietor  being  D.  J.  Cameron.  At  one  time  an  eflfort  was  made 
to  have  the  county  seat  located  at  this  point.  Until  1887  stages 
were  run  from  Austin  to  this  point  and  a  number  of  eating 
houses  flourished.  With  the  building  of  the  "Y"  to  Austin,  the 
importance  of  Ramsey  ceased.  The  first  station  agent  was  Harvey 
Coleman. 

CORNING  VILLAGE. 

Corning  Village,  local cd  in  the  cxtreinc  northwestern  corner 
of  jjansing  township,  niid  llic  snuthweslci'u  corner  of  Udolpho 
township,  is  a  thriving  littli'  sett  leincnl  willi  a  general  store,  a 
creamery  and  a  near-l)y  l.iilliei'aii  chiin-li.  The  postoffice  at  this 
point  has  l)een  continued. 

The  Corning  Creamery  Company,    'i'liis  concern  has  n  tln-iving 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  487 

business,  and  is  well  conducted.  The  officers  are:  President, 
C.  B.  Christianson;  secretary,  O.  A.  Ulland;  treasurer,  0.  G. 
Anderson. 

The  Corning  Farmers'  Telephone  Company  has  a  large  patron- 
age. The  officers  are:  President,  C.  B.  Christianson;  vice  presi- 
dent, Nels  Goodwin;  secretary,  O.  A.  Ulland;  treasurer,  S.  S. 
Ulland ;  directors,  G.  Tollefson,  Albert  Ulland  and  Thomas  Dowd. 

The  Lansing  Co-operative  Creamery  Company  was  incorpo- 
rated Fel)ruary  1.1,  1S!)4,  with  a  capital  of  $2,500.  The  first 
officers  were:  President,  II.  S.  Ilanunond  ;  vice  president,  John 
Mathiesou ;  treasurer,  O.  C.  LeBar ;  secretary,  H.  W.  Mclutyre ; 
directors,  E.  H.  AVells,  0.  J.  Rhoades,  H.  B.  Roe.  The  company 
commenced  business  on  the  present  site,  section  11,  tOAvnship  103, 
range  18,  in  a  building  purchased  from  the  Lan.sing  Cheese  & 
Butter  Manufacturing  Company.  A  new  building  was  erected 
in  1906  and  the  capital  stock  increased  to  $6,500  a  year  later.  In 
189-1  $6,779.17  was  paid  for  butter;  in  1910,  $49,698.29  was  paid. 
The  present  officers  are :  President,  H.  S.  Hammond ;  vice  presi- 
dent, P.  G.  Peterson;  treasurer,  A.  J.  Pollock;  secretary,  H.  M. 
]\lclntyre ;  directors,  R.  A.  Carll,  Ferd.  Schutt,  Anton  Schradle. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

ADAMS  TOWNSHIP  AND  VILLAGE. 

Location  and  Advantages  —  Early  Settlement  —  Organization  — 
First  Events— Religious — Frozen  to  Death — Village  of  Adams. 

The  town  of  Adams  embraces  congressional  town  101,  north 
of  range  16  Avest  of  the  fifth  principal  meridian,  and  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  town  of  INIarshall,  east  by  Lodi,  south  by 
Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  and  west  by  Nevada  township.  The  sur- 
face of  the  town  is  quite  undulating,  the  soil  being  of  a  dark,  rich 
loam,  with  a  clay  subsoil.  The  soil  is  very  productive,  and  grows 
all  kinds  of  grain,  vegetables  and  grasses.  The  township  is  well 
Avatered  and  drained  by  the  Little  Cedar  river  and  its  tributaries. 
The  main  branch  enters  the  town  in  section  12,  running  in  a 
westerly  course  through  sections  11,  10,  to  the  center  of  section  9, 
where  it  bears  south  and  passes  through  sections  16,  21,  28,  and 
leaves  the  town  in  section  33.  One  of  its  branches  enters  the  town 
from  the  town  of  ^larshall,  in  section  4,  passes  in  a  southerly  di- 
reciiou.  making  a  confluence  with,  the  main  ])raneh  in  section  9. 
Another  branch  also  enters  the  town  from  ]Mar.shall  in  section  2, 
and  forms  a  junction  with  the  main  branch  in  section  11. 


488  HISTOKY  OF  :\[()AVER  COUXTY 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  to  settle'  in  Adams  township  was  Thomas  Kuudtsou. 
He  came  in  June,  1855.  He  settled  on  his  claim,  which  consisted 
of  the  south  half  of  the  northwest,  and  the  north  lialf  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  2.  He  there  erected  the  first  house 
in  the  town.  It  was  built  of  logs,  18x18,  and  eight  feet  high, 
covei'ed  with  hay  and  prairie  sod,  with  puncheon  floor.  The 
next  year  he  put  on  a  shingled  roof.  He  lived  in  this  house  about 
seven  years,  when  he  built  another  log  house  16x18,  12  feet  high. 
He  lived  in  that  house  about  nine  years,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
farm  and  moved  to  section  35,  in  ^Marshall  townsliip.  In  July, 
1855,  Keynold  Olson,  John  D.  Olson,  J.  H.  Johnson.  Stephen 
Olson,  Ole  Johnson  and  Stephen  Christiansen,  natives  of  XorAvay, 
came  together  from  Dane  countj^  Wisconsin.  R.  and  J.  D.  Olson 
settled  in  section  12.  J.  H.  Johnson  settled  in  Clayton  township, 
but  later  came  to  the  township  and  settled  in  section  2.  Ole 
Johnson  settled  in  the  nortlieast  quarter  of  section  12.  Christian- 
son  and  S.  Olson  made  their  homes  with  R.  and  J.  D.  Olson. 
They  w'ere  frozen  to  death  in  December  of  that  year. 

Among  the  settlers  of  1856  were  John  Leisenfelt,  Peter  Lei.-5cn- 
felt,  Michael  Bowland.  John  Q.  Olson  settled  in  section  12,  where 
he  lived  until  1884,  when  he  went  to  Dakota.  Those  that  came 
later  are  John  Heimer,  Mathias  Cary,  John  Webber.  Patrick  }L 
Rooney,  William  Madden,  M.  Krebsbach,  C.  Krebsbach,  Michai-l 
Smith.  John  Heimer  settled  on  the  southeast  of  section  32. 
John  AYebber  settled  in  section  32,  in  1857.  Nels  Rierson,  from 
Norway,  settled  in  section  16,  where  he  lived  until  1860,  when  he 
left  his  improvements  and  moved  to  LeRoy  township,  wliere  he 
improved  a  farm  upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1883. 
Rasmus  Rasmusson  also  came  in  1857,  and  settled  in  section  4, 
where  he  Jived  a  few  years,  then  moved  elsewhei'o  m  the  county. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Tile  town  of  Adams  was  or^u'anized  in  IMay,  1858.  The  first 
tOAvn  meeting  was  held  in  section  ]6,,  on  the  open  prairie.  At 
this  meeting  the  folloAving  officers  were  elected,  viz.:  For  town- 
ship board,  iNIathias  Rooney,  chaii-man ;  ]\Iathew  Carey,  Reynold 
Olson  ;  treasurer,  P.  F.  Rooney ;  clerk,  AVm.  IMadden  ;  justices  of 
the  peaee,  William  ^Madden  and  Stephen  Heimer;  constables, 
Ole  T.  Jacobson  and  John  Sanders. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  fiist  couple  to  be  joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock 
was    .M.    Krebsbach   and   Susan   Bandes.     The   great   event  took 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  489 

place  in  September,  1858.  The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  Olson,  born  in  December,  1855,  a  few  days 
after  the  death  of  her  father.  She  lived  to  be  about  two  years  of 
age,  when  she  died,  and  was  buried  in  section  11.  Mathew 
Henner,  son  of  Stephen  Heimer,  has  the  credit  of  being  the  first 
male  child  born  in  the  township.  He  was  born  March  29,  1858. 
The  first  seeder,  moving  and  threshing  machines  were  brought  to 
the  township  by  M.  Krebsbach.  He  also  owned  the  first  span  of 
horses  in  the  township.  J.  S.  Irgens  was  the  first  postmaster  in 
the  town.  The  office  was  kept  at  his  house,  in  section  8.  The 
otifice  was  established  in  1859. 

RELIGIOUS. 
(By  Rev.  O.  C.  Myhre.) 

Little  Cedar  Norwegian  Lutheran  Congregation.  The  first 
settlers  of  Norwegian  descent  who  located  in  this  part  of  the 
county  came  originally  from  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  in  the  year 
1855.  Having  been  brought  up  in  a  Christian  home  in  their 
native  country  and  taught  that  "Man  shall  not  live  by  bread 
alone,  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth  of 
God,"  the  yearning  for  the  sanctuary  and  the  administration  of 
the  means  of  grace  soon  manifested  itself.  Before  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  congregation  could  be  etfected  services  were  originally 
held  in  the  private  homes  of  some  of  the  settlers.  The  first 
services  of  which  there  is  any  record  were  conducted  in  the  home 
of  Stephen  Olson  and  Stephen  Christianson  on  section  12,  in 
June,  1856.  Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen,  of  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa,  the  first 
pastor  who  visited  this  section,  conducted  these  services.  He 
was  also  present  at  the  meeting  on  November  26,  1859,  in  the 
home  of  Halge  E.  Flocu,  on  which  date  the  Little  Cedar  Lutheran 
Congregation  was  organized.  The  name  "Little  Cedar  Lutheran 
Congregation"  was  adopted  because  of  the  river  by  that  name 
running  through  the  southern  part  of  our  county  and  because  the 
Lutlierau  banner  of  confession  was  to  float  over  it.  Among  other 
pastors  who  also  visited  the  pioneers  before  the  organization  oP 
the  congregation  were  Rev.  A.  C.  Preus,  of  Koshkonong,  Dane 
county,  AVisconsin.  The  original  founders  of  this  congregation 
were :  Ragnald  and  John  Ilolstad,  Tidemand  and  Eric  Asberg, 
John  and  Harold  Irgens,  John  Osmundson,  John  O.  Heyedahl, 
Simon  Knutsou,  John  O.  Quale,  Hendrick  Benson,  Helge  Floen, 
Ole  Gulickson  Tildem,  Gulick  and  Tollef  Tildem,  Anders  0. 
Alreck,  Ole  J.  Holstad,  Rasmus  "Wigness,  Nils  Finkelson,  etc 
Among  the  first  trustees  only  the  following  can  be  mentioned, 
because  the  records  of  the  first  meeting  are  very  incoinph'te : 
Ragnald  Olson  and  John  Olson.     Thr  Hrst  cliurcli — a  \rvy  jirinii- 


490  HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

tive  log  cliureli — Avas  built  in  1863,  on  the  southeast  quarter  ot; 
section  4.  The  site  and  cemetery  grounds  were  bought  of  Rasmus 
Wigness.  The  size  of  the  church  was  30x40  and  sixteen  feet  high. 
Each  voting  member  donated  a  certain  number  of  logs.  Tide- 
raand  Aaberg  and  Torris  Flaten  had  charge  of  its  erection. 
During  this  period  the  Civil  war  broke  out  and  several  of  the 
men  enlisted.  Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen,  the  pastor  in  charge,  also 
served  as  chaplain  in  this  war.  During  his  absence  the  following 
pastors  served  the  congregation:  Tobias  Larson  and  Wiliielm 
Keren.  On  October  12,  1867,  the  following  congregations  united 
to  form  one  charge,  with  Rev.  Clausen  as  pastor:  Little  Cedar, 
St.  Ansgar,  Rock  Creek,  Six  Miles  Grove  and  Red  Oak  Gr-.  ve. 
This  organization  existed  till  the  spring  of  1871.  On  April  !'■'.  of 
this  year  Little  Cedar,  Austin,  Red  Oak  Grove  and  Blooming 
Prairie  united  to  form  one  charge.  At  this  time  Rev.  P.  G.  Ostby, 
who  for  some  time  had  been  Rev.  Clausen's  assistant,  was  called 
as  permanent  pastor.  During  his  service,  which  lasted  about 
seven  years,  the  old  log  church  was  abandoned  and  on  November 
1,  1875,  it  was  decided  to  put  up  a  new  fr;ime  building  on  the  old 
site.  The  dimensions  of  this  building  were:  40x60x20,  a  vestry 
16x24x16,  tower  96  feet. 

On  October  5,  1877,  Six  ]Miles  Grove,  ]\Ioua  and  Lyle  and 
Little  Cedar  congregations  formed  a  new  charge  and  extendeil  a 
call  to  Prof.  B.  B.  Heldaker.  He  served  till  1881,  when  ill  healtli 
obliged  him  to  resign.  A  call  was  then  extended  to  Rev.  J.  M. 
Eggers,  of  Rock  Prairie,  Rock  county,  Wisconsin.  He  was 
installed  January  1,  1882,  and  served  the  congregation  nineteen 
years.  At  the  time  of  ins  resignation  the  Little  Cedar  congrega- 
tion united  with  the  West  LeRoy  congregation  and  extended  a 
call  to  Rev.  W.  A.  Rasmussen,  of  Wind  Lake,  Wisconsin.  He 
served  the  congregation  five  years  and  six  months.  During  his 
time  the  parsonage  was  built.  This  is  a  very  substantial  and 
modern  building.  The  size  is :  28x32 — 15x26 — 6x8 — two  and  one- 
half  stories,  with  basement  under  the  whole  structure.  In  con- 
nection with  this,  five  acres  of  land  were  bought  within  the 
corporation  of  Adams.  At  a  regular  meeting  May  21,  1906,  a 
call  was  extended  to  Rev.  0.  C.  Myhre,  of  Windom.  Minnesota. 
He  was  installed  as  jiastor  of  the  Little  Cedar  and  West  LeHoy 
congregations  September  30,  1906.  At  this  time  the  members  of 
the  congregation  who  reside  in  the  village  of  Adams  again  peti- 
tioned the  congregation  to  build  a  church  in  that  place.  At  a 
regular  meeting  on  February  13,  1907,  it  was  decided  to  put  up 
such  a  church  and  the  necessary  committees  were  elected.  This 
building  was  completed  in  1908.  The  Adams  church  is  a  very 
beautiful  and  sidistantial  brick  structure,  size  74x54,  witli  l)ase- 
ment  under  the  wliole  lniildiiin-.     Tiic   cornerstone   was  laid   by 


IIISTOHY  OF  MOWEII  COUNTY  491 

Rev.  J.  j\I.  Eggen,  assisted  by  Rev.  M.  E.  Waldland,  of  Si. 
Ausgar,  Iowa,  and  the  pastor  loci,  September  1,  1907.  At  a 
district  meeting  of  the  St.  Ansgar  circuit,  held  in  Adams,  this 
church  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  T.  H.  Dahl,  D.D.,  October  25,  1908. 
At  a  business  meeting  June  21,  1909,  it  was  also  decided  to  repair 
the  old  country  church.  This  reparation  was  completed  before 
Nover^ber  26,  1909.  on  which  date  tlie  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the 
congregation  was  fittingly  observed.  This  church  Avas  later 
destroyed  by  fire  June  21,  1910. 

Since  the  organization  of  this  congregation  several  societies 
have  been  working  in  its  midst:  Three  Ladies'  Aid  societies,  the 
B\isy  Bee  Society,  the  Little  Cedar  Young  People's  Society  and 
Little  Cedar  Total  Abstinence  Society.  All  these  societies  have 
worked  faithfully  and  accomplished  much  good  in  the  Lord's 
vineyard  at  home  and  abroad. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Little  Cedar  Lutheran  Church  are : 
Pastor,  0.  C.  Myhre;  trustees,  B.  P.  Haugen,  N.  Gravdahl,  A. 
Amble,  Eric  Weness ;  deacons,  John  Matteson,  H.  J.  Hanson, 
P.  J.  Satlire,  S.  K.  Hegge ;  organist,  Ida  Anderson ;  secretary, 
H.  J.  Hanson.  The  congregation  has  a  membership  of  about  500 
and  is  connected  with  the  United  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  of 
America. 

FROZEN  TO  DEATH. 

Stephen  Olson  and  Stephen  Christianson,  spoken  of  as  settlers 
of  July,  1855,  were  frozen  to  death  December  8,  1855.  They 
started  on  the  morning  of  that  day,  with  ox  teams,  to  go  to  the 
Norwegian  settlement  at  Six  Mile  Grove,  in  Nevada  township,  to 
procure  provisions,  in  which  the  settlers  were  in  much  need.  They 
procured  provisions  and  started  home.  A  severe  snow  storm  set 
in  and  they  evidently  got  lost.  The  team  found  their  way  home 
that  night.  One  of  the  men's  hats  was  found  attached  to  the 
yoke.  The  next  morning  a  party  started  in  search.  Their  dead 
bodies  were  found  three  days  later,  in  Lodi  township.  Each  left 
a  wife  and  one  child.    They  were  buried  in  section  11. 

Alice,  second  daughter  of  jMathew  Rooney,  was  frozen  to 
death  in  the  winter  of  1872,  the  circumstances  of  which  are  as 
follows :  It  seems  that  Frank,  a  son,  and  Alice  had  gone  to  tlio 
village  of  Adams  to  trade,  as  Alice  was  to  commence  school  at 
Austin  the  next  INIonday.  The  two  left  the  village  for  home,  witli 
sleigix  and  horses  about  dark.  It  was  storming  very  hard  from 
the  northwest.  As  the  team  had  to  face  the  storm,  it  was  impos- 
sible to  drive  them,  and  in  turning  around  broke  the  sleigh 
tongue.  They  wandered  around  all  night.  They  were  found  the 
next  morning  just  over  in  Iowa.    Alice  died;  Frank  lost  his  feet. 


493  HISTORY  OF  MOAYER  COUNTY 

JOHNSBURG. 

flohnsburg,  or  Johansburg,  as  it  was  formerly  called,  is  an  old 
settleraont  in  section  32,  containing  a  Catholic  church,  a  general 
store  and  several  i-esidences. 

St.  John's  Church,  R.  C.  The  first  religious  services  in  Adciius 
towi^ship  were  lield  at  the  house  of  John  Fagans,  in  1858.  The 
next  year  (1859)  the  inliabitants  erected  a  log  church  16x20,  ten 
feet  high.  In  1860  an  addition  ]2x]4  was  built  on  to  the  old 
building.  The  building  was  used  for  church  purposes  until  1868. 
when  it  was  replaced  bj^  a  substantial  frame  structure.  The 
building  was  provided  with  steeple  and  bell,  which  cost  -i^SOO. 
The  building  complete  cost  $4,000.  This  was  the  first  Catholic 
church  in  the  county.  Rev.  B.  Bowman  was  the  first  permanent 
priest ;  he  came  in  1875,  remaining  with  the  church  six  years. 
The  church  was  commenced  by  Father  Keller,  collecting  by 
subscription.  The  ten  acres  on  which  the  church  stands  was 
given  to  the  church  by  John  Heinner.  The  church  was  incorpo- 
rated in  1883. 

VILLAGE  OF  ADAMS. 

The  village  of  Adams  originated  in  a  cluster  of  buildings  about 
the  center  stake  of  section  11.  The  first  business  building  was 
erected  by  W.  E.  Davis  &  Bros,  in  the  fall  of  1867.  They  put  in  a 
general  stock  of  goods.  They  remained  in  business  here  until 
1871,  when  they  sold  out  to  M.  Krebsbach.  A.  D.  Harris  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  trade  liere  in  1882.  The  first  saloon  was  oi^ened 
by  one  Beacher,  who  came  here  in  the  summer  of  1867.  The 
village  was  platted  January   30,    1868,   by    Selah   Chamberbiin. 

ADAMS  IN  1873. 

As  early  as  1873  Adams  was  a  fiourishiug  trading  point.  Tliere 
was  a  good  school  and  railroad  station,  with  J.  K.  I\Iillinan  as 
agent.  Matliias  Krebsbach  Avas  a  grain  buyer  and  a  partner  in 
the  firm  of  Krebsbach  &  Corbitt,  general  merchants,  in  whose 
store  the  postoffice  was  kept.  I.  W.  IMiuer  dealt  in  produce  and 
farm  machinery,  and  had  tliree  warehouses  filled  with  wheat. 
Barnhart  &  O'Brien  did  general  blacksinitliing  and  repairing. 
John  Carr  kept  the  Shamrock  House. 

MODERN  ADAMS. 

Adams  is  one  of  tlie  lai-j^'cr  villages  of  tlie  county  and  has  a 
population  of  nearly  six  hundred  people.  It  is  progressive  iu 
every  respect,  has  Catholic  and  Lutheran  churches,  a  bank,  a 
creamery,  a  teleplione  system,  cement  sidewalks,  waterworks,  gas 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  493 

plant,  newspaper,  public  school,  parochial  school,  fire  department, 
telephone  service  and  the  like.  Among  its  business  activities  rnay 
be  mentioned:  Two  elevators,  one  creamery,  two  general  stores, 
one  hotel,  two  hardware  stores,  one  drug  store,  one  harness  shop, 
one  meat  market,  four  saloons,  one  physician,  one  dentist,  one 
garage,  one  livery,  one  brewery  warehouse,  one  photographer, 
two  blacksmith  shops,  one  lumber  yard.  Among  the  leading 
citizens  may  be  mentioned :  Mathias  Krebsbach,  John  H.  Krebs- 
baeh,  Michael  Krebsbach,  Wm.  "VY.  Dean,  John  Gilligan,  H.  Carey, 
J.  H.  Carey,  P.  H.  Carr,  J.  W.  Carr,  J.  W.  Heimer,  A.  Torgerson, 
E.  L.  Slindee,  ^Y.  H.  Cavanaugh,  Rev.  F.  B.  Reiehel,  Rev.  0.  C. 
Myhre,  Paul  C.  Keith,  N.  M.  Smith,  E.  V.  Smith,  C.  E.  Bennett. 

MUNICIPAL  HISTORY. 

The  village  of  Adams  was  incorporated  March  2,  1887.  The 
first  officers  were:  President,  Mathias  Krebsbach;  recorder,  H. 
Carey;  J.  W.  Carr,  E.  A.  Knutson  and  Michael  Krebsbach.  At 
present  the  officers  are :  President,  N.  M.  Smith ;  recorder,  A.  J. 
Krebsbach;  John  Steiehen,  Anton  Schneider,  C.  E.  Bennett.  In 
its  municipal  government  the  village  of  Adams  has  shown  true 
progress.  In  the  summer  of  1897  a  water  works  system  was  put 
in,  with  full  equipment  of  well,  tower,  tank,  pumping  station, 
and  sufficient  mains  to  practically  cover  the  village.  In  1902  a 
complete  sewerage  system  was  installed.  A  year  later  came  the 
gas  plant,  which  keeps  the  streets  well  lighted,  and  also  supplies 
illumination. for  residences  and  business  places.  lu  1906  a  new 
A'illage  hall  was  erected  to  replace  the  old  one  built  in  1889. 
This  hall  is  the  pride  of  the  village.  Its  upper  floor  contains  the 
council  chambers,  while  the  lower  floor  is  given  to  the  fire  appa- 
ratus and  the  jail.  The  fire  apparatus  is  manned  by  a  competent 
volunteer  fire  department,  and  is  admirably  suited  to  the  purpose 
for  Avliich  it  was  intended. 

RELIGIOUS  AND  EDUCATIONAL. 

Adams  village  has  two  churches  and  two  schools.  The  story 
of  the  Little  Cedar  Lutheran  Congregation  is  given  elsewhere. 

Church  and  School  of  the  Sacred  Heart.  These  institutions 
occiipy  an  important  place  in  the  life  of  the  village.  The  present 
cliurch  which  is  a  beautifiil  brick  structure  was  erected  in  1902. 
Rev.  F.  B.  Reiehel  is  the  pastor,  and  the  trustees  are  Fred  King 
and  August  Rooney.  The  school  is  a  substantial  frame  building, 
the  rear  rooms  being  uaed  as  a  convent  for  the  five  sisters  of  the 
order  of  St.  Francis  wiio  teach  the  parochial  school  and  perform 
the  other  Christian  duties  to  which  their  vow  calls  them.  A 
parsonage  has  also  been  erected. 


404  ni STORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

School.  Tlie  Adams  village  school  is  district  8.  The  first 
sciiool  ■was  erected  in  1858.  In  1873  another  Iniildiug  was  put  up. 
The  present  four-room  structure  was  erected  in  the  early  nineties. 
The  board  is:  A.  Torgerson,  secretary;  0.  I.  Then,  treasurer; 
A.  0.  Sjobakken,  trustee. 

ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  village  of  Adams  has  three  fraternities.  Tiie  Commercial 
Club  is  also  in  a  tlonrishing  condition,  and  the  Adams  Co-oper- 
ative Creamery  Company  has  been  an  important  factor  in  bring- 
ing the  far)uers  into  the  village. 

Sacred  Heart  Court,  No.  1196,  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters. 
This  lodge  was  instituted  ^larch  4,  1901.  The  chief  ranger  was 
J.  11.  Krebsbach.  The  present  officers  are:  Chief  ranger,  Joseph 
See ;  past  chief  ranger,  J.  H.  Krebsbach ;  vice  chief  ranger,  J.  P. 
Krebsbach;  recording  secretary,  Michael  Schneider;  financial 
secretary,  A.  J.  Krebsbach;  treasurer,  Michael  Krebsbach;  trus- 
tees, M.  P.  Smith,  John  Loecher  and  Joseph  Schaefer. 

Adams' Lodge,  No.  203,  A.  0.  U.  W.,  was  instituted  December 
12,  1895,  the  officers  at  that  time  being:  Past  master  workman, 
G.  W.  Dahlquist ;  master  workman,  J.  W.  Carr ;  foreman,  Charles 
Starksen;  overseer,  P.  H.  Carr;  recorder,  John  Griffin;  financier, 
Hubbard  Carey;  receiver,  "William  Noonan;  guide,  0.  N.  AViste ; 
inside  watchman,  James  Burkey;  outside  watchman,  James  Nel- 
son; trustees,  Thomas  jNIadden,  J.  II.  Carey  and  Fred  Zwickey. 
The  present  officers  are:  Past  master  workman,  ^Michael  Rooney; 
master  workman,  August  Rooney;  foreman,  Joseph  Carey; 
financier,  P.  H.  Carr;  receiver,  George  Rooney;  guide,  W.  J. 
Carr;  inside  watchman,  Ed.  Gurvin;  outside  watchman,  J.  ]\[. 
Keeper.  J.  W.  Carr  is  delegate  to  the  grand  lodge  and  M.  J. 
Rooney  is  his  alternate. 

Adams  Court,  No.  9313,  ]\lodeiii  'Woodraen  of  America.  This 
camp  was  organized  something  like  a  decade  ago.  The  present 
officers  are :  Council,  M.  A.  Neus ;  assistant  council,  C.  E.  Bennett ; 
banker,  D.  V.  Smith;  clerk,  Louie  Klima ;  sentry,  M.  Epland; 
watchman,  Lar.s  Peterson ;  escort,  E.  E.  Anderson. 

The  Commercial  Club  was  organized  in  1908  and  the  present 
officers  arc;:  President,  John  Gilligan ;  secretary,  W^illiam  W. 
Dean;  treasurer,  J.  "W.  Ileimer.  The  club  has  a  membership  of 
some  sixty  business  men,  and  has  been  an  important  feature  in 
the  progress  of  the  village  in  both  a  business  and  a  social  way. 

The  Adams  Co-operative  Creamery  Company  was  organized 
February  25,  1898,  and  at  once  erected  a  new  building.  It  suc- 
ceeded a  private  creamery  whidi  liad  been  established  several 
years  earlier.     The  first  officers  were :    President,  I.  E.  Tiegen ; 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  405 

vice  president,  John  Gilligan ;  secretary,  A.  R.  Anderson ;  treas- 
urer, James  Olson ;  directors,  Die  K.  Olson,  Anton  Kramer  and 
T.  Madden.  Tlie  present  officers  are:  President,  P.  0.  Anderson; 
vice  president,  Anton  Kramer ;  secretary,  Michael  Krebsbach ; 
treasurer,  Gus.  Jacobson ;  directors,  Lewis  Lewison,  J.  C.  Mullen- 
bach  and  Erick  Hanson. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

FRANKFORD  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Soil — Early  Settlement — Frankford  Village — Bear 
Creek — Norw^egian  Settlement — History  of  Township  and 
Village  by  Mrs.  Ralph  E.  Crane. 

Frankford  township  includes  congressional  township  103 
north,  range  14  west,  except  the  northern  tier  of  sections,  which 
belong  to  Racine  township.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Racine, 
west  by  Grand  ^Meadow,  south  by  Bennington,  and  east  by  Spring 
Valley,  Fillmore  county.  The  surface  is  rolling,  the  soil  is  a  dark 
loam,  underlaid  with  a  clay  subsoil.  It  is  one  of  the  most  fertile 
and  productive  townships  of  Mower  county.  About  one-third  or 
the  surface  of  the  township  was  originally  covered  with  natural 
timber,  while  the  remainder  was  prairie.  The  township  is  drained 
by  Deer  and  Bear  creeks. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

4 

Many  interesting  facts  cluster  around  the  first  and  early  set- 
tlement of  1his  township,  w^hich  will  vividly  be  brought  to  mind 
by  the  mere  mention  of  those  pioneer  days.  The  difficulties 
attending  the  first  settlement  of  a  county  cannot  be  fully  realized, 
or  tlie  Jiardship  and  privations  that  one  must  pa.ss  through  to 
seciu-e  a  home.  The  first  settler  to  east  his  lot  within  the  borders 
of  this  township  Avas  Ijewis  Patchen,  who  settled  on  section  13, 
township  103,  range  14,  May  30,  1854.  He  was  born  in  New  York 
state,  and  came  to  Iowa  in  the  spring  of  1853 ;  remained  one  year, 
then  moved  to  Frankford  township  and  preempted  160  acres  of 
land.  The  second  pioneer  was  Byron  "Woodworth,  of  New  York. 
He  and  his  family  settled  on  section  22,  where  he  lived  for  three 
years,  tiien  inoved  to  Nebraska.  The  third  settler  was  Bartlett 
Leathers.  He  settled  on  section  21.  He  lived  on  this  place  until 
his  death  in  1874. 


49.6  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

There  came  in  1855  Samuel  Scribner.  In  1856  came  Charles 
Lamb,  Naamau  Goodsell,  Philip  Howell,  Francis  Tebout,  Griffin 
Fryer,  T.  M.  Chapman,  Samuel  Metcalf,  James  Gorman,  John  and 
George  Rymal.  In  1857  came  the  Donaldsons,  S.  Bostwick  and 
"\V.  F.  Grummons.  Among  the  other  early  settlers  were  S.  A. 
Sherman,  D.  D.  Frazier,  Aldrew  P.  McCabe  and  George  Anchor. 
Among  the  prominent  citizens  of  the  eighties  were  S.  E.  Boyes, 
G.  W.  Dean,  D.  L.  Quackenbush,  0.  O.  Finhart,  H.  L.  Lockwood, 
D.  L.  Bush  and  G.  "W.  Wood.  The  story  of  the  Norwegian  settle- 
ment is  told  elsewhere. 

FRANKFORD  VILLAGE. 

The  village  of  Frankford  was  situated  on  the  northeast  of 
Frankford  township,  on  sections  13  and  24.  It  was  laid  out  by 
Jacob  Oleson  in  1856.  Francis  Teabout  built  the  first  house  and 
store.  Samuel  Metcalf  built  the  first  wagon  shop,  and  James 
Gorman  the  first  blacksmith  shop.  Charles  Hanson  was  the  first 
shoemaker.  John  and  George  Rymal  built  the  first  grist  mill. 
This  Avas  located  on  Deer  creek.  This  mill  property  passed  from 
the  Rymal  Bros,  hands  to  Charles  Lamb,  who  ran  it  until  1861, 
when  it  burned  down. 

Nothing  reniains  of  Frankford  village  but  history.  The  story 
of  the  location  of  the  county  seat  here  and  its  removal  to  Austiu 
is  told  elsewhere. 

NORWEGIAN  SETTLEMENT. 

One  of  the  first  buildings  erected  in  the  nortlieastern  part  of 
the  county  is  still  standing,  and  is  used  as  a  corn  crib  on  the 
farm  o^'  Sever  Temanson,  in  section  5,  in  Racine  township.  July 
1,  1854,  there  began  arriving  in  this  county  a  party  of  Nor- 
wegians, numbering  thirty-seven  in  all,  who  had  left  the  old 
eoiint.ry  to  seek  their  homes  in  America.  In  this  party  were  Hans 
Anderson,  Ole  0.  I'inhart,  Knud  (Hougestven)  Nelson,  Sever 
Olson,  Ellen  Olson,  Ole  Simonson,  Ole  0.  Hovda,  Andrew  Ander- 
son L3^1)eck,  Amond  Johnson  Lindelin,  Ole  0.  Severeud,  Amond 
Johnson  Klastole,  Plans  Julson,  Nels  Severson  Moen  and  their 
families.  Ole  Simpson,  the  oldest  member  of  the  company  with  a 
family,  was  given  the  first  choice  of  location,  and  selected  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  5,  once  a  part  of  Frankford,  now  a 
part  of  Racine.  Mr.  Simonson  was  known  as  "The  Blacksmith," 
and  he  it  was  who  erected  the  building  mentioned  above.  He  was 
assisted  in  constructing  the  building  by  Nels  Severson,  Andrew 
Lybeck  and  Ole  Severson.  The  building  was  started  in  July  and 
was  finished  in  time  for  two  other  families  beside  the  Simonsons 
to  spend  the  first  winter  in  it.    The  shingles  were  made  of  bark 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEll  COUNTY  497 

and  a  large  fireplace  was  erected.  In  1860  this  building  was 
moved  to  a  location  thirty  rods  further  south  and  G.  H.  Hanson 
Modahlen  moved  into  this  building.  November  2,  1854,  a  baby 
girl  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nels  Severson,  the  first  birth  in  the 
neighborhood.  This  girl,  whose  name  was  Julia,  died  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  and  is  buried  in  the  Bear  Creek  cemetery.  June  2, 
1856,  the  Bear  Creek  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  was  organized 
in  this  building,  and  the  first  baptismal  service  was  held  here, 
this  ordinance  being  received  by  six  children.  In  the  years 
1857-58  three  terms  of  school  were  held  here  and  also  the  services 
of  the  congregation  as  well  as  the  prosperous  Sunday  school  for 
a  time. 

BEAR  CREEK  NORWEGIAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 
(By  Pastor  A.  H.  Gjevre.) 

The   Bear   Creek  Norwegian   Lutheran   Congregation   is   at 

present  connected  with  "The  United  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church 
of  America."  This  congregation  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  C.  L 
Clausen,  of  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa,  in  June,  1856.  The  first  members 
had  two  years  before  moA-ed  to  Bear  Creek  from  Dane  county, 
Wisconsin,  having  in  the  years  1850-1852  emigrated  to  that  coun- 
try from  northern  and  southern  Aurdal,  in  Valdres,  Norway. 
They  had  in  the  year  1854  settled  down  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Mower  county,  Minnesota,  and  their  first  religious  meeting  here 
was  conducted  by  Rev.  Clausen  in  a  log  house  on  the  northern 
b.ink  of  Bear  creek,  on  Syver  Temanson's  farm.  Here  follow  the 
names  of  these  old  pioneers  who  at  the  meeting  united  themselves 
together  as  a  Christian  congregation  for  the  purpose  of  having 
tlie  word  of  God  preached  and  His  holy  sacraments  administered 
to  them  in  accordance  with  the  ceremonies  and  regulations  which 
they  had  been  accustomed  to  in  tiieir  old  mother  church  of 
Norv;ay.  They  were :  Hans  Andersen  Gamlemeen,  Ole  0.  Fin- 
hart,  Knut  Nilsen  Haugstuen,  Syver  0.  Skarshaugen,  Ellen  O. 
Skarshaugen,  Ole  S.  Jobraaten,  Ole  0.  Hovda,  Anders  A.  Lybek, 
Amund  J.  Lindelien,  Ole  0.  Syverud,  Amund  J.  Klastole,  Nils  S. 
Moen,  Ole  Julsen,  Gulik  E.  Dalen,  Jonas  Nilsen,  Halvor  0.  Klas- 
tole, Aslak  Aamot,  Christen  Tuv.  After  they  were  organized 
they  had  for  a  while  services  by  Rev.  Fredriksen.  Later  Rev. 
Jensen,  of  Highland  Prairie,  Minnesota,  served  them  temporarily. 
Then  they  had  temporary  services  by  Rev.  A.  C.  Preus,  of  St. 
Olaf  congregation,  Olmsted  county,  Minnesota,  and  boys  and 
girls  reading  for  confirmation  had  to  go  to  the  St.  Olaf  congrega- 
tion to  become  confirmed,  fifty  young  persons  from  the  Avhole 
cliarge  at  one  time  repeating  their  baptismal  covenant  at  a  divine 
service  held  under  a  venerable  oak  tree  in  said  congregation.    In 


498  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

tho  year  1861  Rev.  Steen,  of  St.  Olaf,  became  tlieir  pastor.  He 
preached  to  them  every  seventh  Sunday  and  continued  till  1869, 
when  he  resigned,  and  Rev.  J.  A.  Thorsen  became  his  successor 
and  served  them  every  fifth  Sunday  till  1875.  In  tliat  sinue  year 
Rev.  0.  A.  Bu,  of  Bloomfield  congregation,  Ostrander,  ^Minnesota, 
accepted  a  call  from  Bear  Creek  and  served  them  every  third 
Sunday  and  continued  till  1893,  -when  he  resigned,  and  Rev.  S.  0. 
Rondestvedt  became  their  first  settled  pastor,  and  served  them 
till  1901.  Now  they  had  more  services  than  before.  In  1901 
Rev.  Rondestvedt  resigned,  and  Rev.  O.  G.  Belsheim  became  his 
successor  and  served  them  till  1907,  when  Rev.  A.  H.  Gjevre  was 
installed  as  their  pastor  and  spiritual  adviser,  November  10,  1907. 
In  the  year  1870  they  decided  to  build  a  church  edifice  for  their 
divine  services.  The  following  were  chosen  as  building  com- 
mittee: Die  0.  Finhart,  secretary;  Aslak  K.  Aamot,  treasurer; 
Amund  A.  Finhart,  Amund  J.  Lindelien  and  Lars  G.  Hansen, 
directors.  In  the  same  year  a  large  and  commodious  church  was 
erected  close  by  a  beautiful  grove  on  the  northern  side  of  Bear 
creek,  where  they  also  have  a  fine  and  well-kept  cemetery.  On 
the  twelfth  of  June,  1887,  the  church  was  brought  to  such  a  state 
of  perfection  that  it  could  be  dedicated,  and  on  the  day  men- 
tioned the  dedication  service  was  held  with  great  joy  for  old  and 
young,  the  dedicatory  sermon  being  delivered  by  Prof.  M.  0. 
Bockman,  assisted  by  Prof.  F.  A.  Schmidt  and  Rev.  0.  A.  Bu. 
After  the  arrival  of  Rev.  Rondestvedt  a  fine  and  stately  building 
was  erected  as  the  parsonage  close  by  the  church  for  the  pastor 
and  his  family.  In  1906  a  jubilee  service  was  held  in  commemo- 
ration of  the  organization  of  the  congregation  fifty  years  ago  with 
gratitude  and  thanksgiving  to  the  Lord  for  his  mercy  and  gracious 
guidance.  Following  the  initiative  of  Lars  G.  Hanson,  the  congre- 
gation in  1909  bought  one  and  three-quarters  of  an  acre  of  laud 
lying  close  by  the  burial  ground  to  enlarge  its  size,  so  that  thej' 
now  have  one  of  the  finest  cemeteries  to  be  seen  out  in  the  coun- 
try. This  congregation  is  situated  in  one  of  the  finest  and  most 
fertile  regions  of  Mower  county,  the  people  are  progressive  and 
thrifty,  and  the  Lord  has  blessed  them  bodily  and  spiritually. 
They  have  regular  services  two  consecutive  Sundays;  every  third 
Sunday  the  pastor  has  services  in  Grand  jNIeadow  congregation. 
Bear  Creek  congregation  has  a  flourishing  Sunday  school,  with 
able  teachers,  and  besides  they  have  every  summer  several  months 
of  parochial  school  in  order  to  give  the  children  a  tiioroiigh 
knowledge  of  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion,  to  make 
them  good,  pious  church  members  and  faithful,  loyal  citizens  of 
the  state.  Tn  order  to  reach  this  glorious  goal  the  pastor  gives  all 
the  young  people  a  profound  and  nmny-sided  instruction  in  Chris- 
tianity when  they  are  preparing  for  confirmation  and  full  mem- 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  C()ITN^^Y  499 

bership  in  the  congregation.  There  are  three  Ladies'  Aid  soeictic'; 
in  this  congregation,  Avith  enterprising  meuibers  working  for  the 
weiiare  of  people  at  home  and  abroad.  There  are  uiauy  abh'  men 
and  women  in  this  congregation,  too  numerous  to  mention.  As 
members  worthy  of  special  note  are  the  two  brothers,  H.  O. 
Hanson  and  Lars  G.  Hanson,  who  have  done  this  congregation 
valuable  services.  Bear  Creek  congregation  has  375  souls,  258 
confirmed  and  107  voting  members. 

Grand  Meadow  Norwegian  Lutheran  Congregation.  This  little 
congregation  is  to  a  great  extent  a  daughter  congregation  of  the 
Bear  Creek  congregation,  because  the  majority  of  the  members 
have  formerly  belonged  to  Bear  Creek  church  and  moved  to  Or-ind 
Meadow.  But  they  have  still  part  in  the  cemetery  of  Bear  Creek 
church  and  bury  their  departed  dear  ones  there.  They  have  a 
fine,  commodious  church  edifice,  with  regular  services  every  third 
Sunday,  as  well  as  a  flourishing  Sunday  school  and  parochial 
school.  The  members  are  enterprising,  intelligent  people,  com- 
prising some  of  the  leading  business  men  in  Grand  Meadow.  The 
ladies  have  an  Aid  society  working  for  the  welfare  of  their 
fellow  men  at  home  and  abroad.  The  number  of  souls  is  153 ; 
confirmed,  84;  voting  members,  23. 

Anders  PI.  Gjevre  was  born  June  9,  1852,  in  Vang,  in  Valdres, 
Norway;  emigrated  to  America  in  the  year  1871  and  settled  in 
Goodhue  county,  Minnesota,  where  he  went  to  the  English  com- 
mon school  the  first  winter  in  order  to  learn  the  language  of  this 
country.  He  came  to  this  country  for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  a 
good  education,  and  therefore  in  the  fall  of  the  next  year,  1872, 
lie  entered  Luther  College,  at  Decorah,  Iowa.  Having  finisiied 
the  classical  course  he  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the 
spring  of  1878  with  the  degree  of  B.  A.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  he  entered  the  theoretical  or  scientific  department  of  n 
Lutheran  theological  seminary  in  Madison,  AVisconsm,  and  grad- 
uated as  candidate  of  theology  from  that  institution  in  the  spring 
01  1881.  November  10  of  the  same  year  he  was  ordained  a  pastor 
on  a  call  from  two  congregations  in  Swift  and  Big  Stone  counties 
in  Minnesota  and  one  congregation  at  Wilmot,  South  Dakota ; 
served  the  last  one  one  year  and  the  two  first  three  years.  He 
resigned  on  account  of  weak  health  and  moved  to  Renville  county, 
Minnesota,  where  he  served  a  congregation  one  year.  In  the  year 
1886  he  accepted  a  call  from  three  congregations  in  Deer  county, 
Wisconsin.  "While  there  he  desired  to  make  more  advancement 
in  the  Hebrew  language,  and  therefore  he  entered  a  correspond- 
ence course  of  Hebrew  under  the  guidance  of  the  great  .specialist, 
Prof.  Dr.  AV.  R.  Harper,  president  of  the  l^niversity  of  C'iiicago, 
and  Avrote  a  dis.scrtation  on  tlic  i)r()pliet  Haggai  for  which  he 
laler  received  ihe  degree  of  ^\.  A.   IVom  his  aima  iiiatiT,  Luthei' 


500  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

College,  Decorah,  Iowa.  lu  the  year  1889  he  made  a  visit  to  liis 
fatherland,  Norway,  and  while  there  he  also  tound  his  partner  for 
life,  Berit  H.  Leiue,  born  April  11,  1864.  In  the  same  majestic 
old  church  where  they  both  had  been  baptized  and  confirmed  they 
became  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  on  April  8,  1890, 
andrsome  weeks  later  they  left  the  fatherland  to  enter  upon  .their 
duties  in  the  congregations  in  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Gjevre  continued 
his  Avork  in  AVisconsin  till  1893,  when  he  accepted  a  call  from 
four  congregations  in  and  around  Fertile,  Minnesota,  where  he 
served  for  seven  and  one-half  years  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
months  in  the  winter  of  1897-1898,  when  he  served  as  instructor 
in  Hebrew  exegesis  and  Old  Testament  interpretation  at  the  theo- 
logical seminary  of  the  United  Church  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota 
Being  a  lover  of  the  Jewish  people  and  their  language  and  of  the 
Semitic  languages  generally,  he  in  the  year  1900  accepted  a  call 
as  missionary  to  the  Jews  in  Greater  New  York  and  worked 
directly  for  the  salvation  of  the  Jews  for  two  and  one-half  years, 
testifying  early  and  late  about  Jesus  as  the  true  Messiah.  To 
qualify  himself  still  more  for  efficient  work  among  the  Jews  he 
took  a  postgraduate  course  at  Columbia  University  in  Rabbinical 
Hebrew  and  studied  also  Syriac  and  Arabic  and  Oriental  history 
under  the  guidance  of  the  eminent  specialists  Dr.  Richard  Gott- 
heil,  Dr.  John  Dynely  Prince  and  Dr.  Abraham  Yohannan,  a 
learned  Syrian  from  Persia.  At  the  request  of  these  doctors  he 
wrote  a  dissertation  on  "Analogy  in  the  Semitic  Languages,"  a 
scientific  production  which  the  professors  recognized  as  being  of 
a  high  order  and  required  to  be  printed  and  made  accessible  to 
the  scientific  world,  but  which  the  author  has  not  been  able  to 
pri-p.t  for  lack  of  means.  He  liked  the  work  among  the  Jews  l)ut 
on  account  of  sickness  in  his  family  he  had  to  give  up  his  direct 
mission  work  in  New  York  and  accepted  a  call  as  pastor  for  three 
congregations  in  Palo  Alto  county,  Iowa,  where  he  began  iiis  work 
in  April,  1903,  and  continued  there  till  October,  1907,  when  he 
accepted  a  call  from  Bear  Creek  and  Grand  Meadow  congrega- 
tions in  Mower  county,  Minnesota,  and  moved  there  and  Avas 
installed  as  pastor  in  those  churclies,  his  present  field  of  labor, 
November  10,  1907.  Of  his  literary  printed  work  may  be  men- 
tioned the  following:  In  1906  he  translated  from  the  ancient 
Syriac  language  "The  Doctrine  of  the  Apostle  Addai,"  with 
introduction  and  explanatory  notes,  a  very  interesting  and  val- 
uable work  from  the  earliest  days  of  Christianity.  In  1910  h'^ 
revised  a  great  historical  work,  "History  of  tlic  Syrian  Nation 
and  the  Old  Evangelical- Apostolic  Church  of  the  East  from 
Remote  Antiquity  to  the  Present  Time,"  a  work  likewise  trans- 
lated from  the  Syriac.  And  besides  he  has  been  a  prolific  writei- 
for  several  periodicals  on  doctrinal  and  missionary  subjects.   The 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  501 

marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gjevre  has  been  blessed  with  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  died  in  their  infancy  and  six  are  living, 
namely:  Maria  Gjevre,  born  January  28,  1891,  in  Tanun  parson- 
age. Door  county,  Wisconsin;  Theodore  Gjevre,  born  October  9, 
1893,  in  Fertile,  Minnesota;  Anna  Gjevre,  born  April  26,  1895,  in 
Fertile,  Minnesota ;  Hulda  Gjevre,  born  April  13,  1898,  in  Fertile, 
Minnesota;  Gottfried  Gjevre,  born  July  30,  1900,  in  Fertile,  Min- 
nesota; Bertha  Gjevre,  born  June  18,  1905,  in  Lost  Island  par- 
sonage, Palo  Alto  county,  Iowa. 

FRANKFORD  TOWNSHIP. 
(By  Mrs.  Ralph  E.  Crane.) 

Frankford  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Racine,  on  the 
east  by  Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  county,  on  the  south  by  Ben- 
nington, and  on  the  west  by  Grand  Meadow.  It  includes  con- 
gressional township  103  north,  range  14  west,  except  the  northern 
tier  of  sections  which  belong  to  Racine.  Some  political  move  is 
responsible  for  this  transaction,  as  well  as  the  removal  of  sections 
from  the  north  of  Racine  and  Pleasant  Valley  townships.  A 
small  portion  of  Frankford  township  has  also  been  annexed  to 
Grand  Meadow  village.  But  notwithstanding  the  loss  of  county 
seat  and  territory,  Frankford  township  is  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous and  progressive  townships  in  Mower  county.  Nowhere 
else  is  the  sky  so  blue,  the  grass  so  green,  the  water  so  pure,  as 
just  right  here.  The  soil  is  the  best  in  the  world,  a  dark  rich  loam 
underlaid  with  clay  subsoil  and  limestone  rock.  It  is  drained  by 
Deer  and  Bear  creeks.  About  one-third  of  the  surface  Avas  orig- 
inally covered  with  natural  timber,  the  remainder  being  prairie 
land.  A  state  road  divides  Frankford  township  into  two  equal 
parts,  passing  through  from  west  to  east.  This  road  was  selected 
by  the  county  commissioners  at  Austin  in  the  fall  of  1910. 

In  the  summer  of  1870  the  Southern  ]\Iinnesota  division  of  the 
C,  M.  &  St.  Paul  R.  R.  was  built  through  this  township.  From 
Grand  Meadow  its  direction  is  south  of  east,  leaving  the  township 
one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  state  road.  The  Chicago  Great 
"Western  railroad  passes  through  a  small  portion  of  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  12.  Two  rural  mail  routes  traverse  this  town- 
ship. Route  No.  1  out  of  Grand  IMeadow  was  platted  in  the 
spring  of  1900.  A.  J.  Stewart  made  his  first  trip  June  2  of  that 
year,  having  been  appointed  first  carrier  on  this  ro;ite.  This 
position  he  filled  until  a  short  time  before  his  death,  a  few  years 
later.  Mr.  Stewart  was  taken  to  Hamilton  for  burial.  Along  the 
route  over  Avhich  his  body  was  borne  mail  boxes  were  draped 
in  mourning,  as  a  silent  tribute  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held 
by  the  patrons  he  so  ably  and  kindly  served.     Mr.  Stewart  was 


503  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

succeeded  by  Wm.  Rice,  who  is  still  carrier  on  this  route.  In 
roplatting  routes  a  year  or  so  later  rural  route  No.  2  out  of  Racine 
was  established.  Bert  Thoma  is  the  present  efficient  and  oblij^ing 
carrier.  These  two  routes  meet  and  separate  at  Frankford  Center. 
There  are  three  telephone  lines  in  this  township.  The  Tri-Stato 
line  follows  the  main  route  between  Spring  Valley  and  Grand 
Meadow.  It  was  rushed  through  the  summer  of  1905.  Tht? 
People's  Telephone  Company,  of  Fillmore  county,  connecting 
Spring  Valley  with  Racine,  serves  patrons  along  its  route  living 
in  the  east  part  of  the  township.  The  first  line  out  of  Grand 
Meadow  connected  the  homes  of  C.  F.  Greening,  of  Grand 
Meadow,  and  W.  D.  Lockwood,  of  Frankford.  C.  F.  Greening 
was  first  owner  and  manager  of  the  Home  Telephone  Company. 
The  present  organization  was  effected  through  the  untiring  eft'orts 
of  Martin  Axness,  who  has  ever  since  served  as  its  general  man- 
ager. W.  H.  Goodsell  is  president  of  this  company.  The  first 
public  telephone  was  installed  in  the  residence  of  R.  E.  Crane, 
December  26,  1898,  and  later  that  same  day  one  in  the  home  of 
S.  E.  Boyes.  L.  C.  Lindsley  was  the  third  subscriber,  followed 
by  "W.  H.  Goodsell,  and  later  by  others  until  today  there  is 
scarcely  a  residence  in  this  township  but  contains  this  useful 
means  of  quick  and  satisfactory  communication,  not  only  Avith 
our  neighbors  but  with  the  outside  world  as  Avell.  Hot  water 
plants  are  being  installed  into  our  homes  and  wires  laid  for 
electric  lighting.  Auto  cars  are  no  longer  a  curiosity.  We  can 
scarcely  realize  that  our  fathers  were  making  weary  journeys  to 
"Winona  and  McGregor,  Iowa,  with  ox  teams  to  market  their 
produce,  at  prices  that  would  not  have  met  expenses  on  the  way 
had  they  not  carried  their  rations  with  them.  There  are  still 
witnesses  who  can  testify  to  having  hauled  wheat  to  these  mar- 
kets and  sold  the  same  for  fifty  or  sixty  cents  per  bushel.  This 
same  wheat,  be  it  remembered,  was  cradled  and  bound  by  hand. 
"Wages  paid  per  day  for  harvest  help  was  very  high,  at  least  $3.50 
being  paid.  Reapers  and  mowers  were  unknown  here  until  about 
the  year  1867.  The  McCormick  solf-raking  reaper  and  the  John 
P.  Manny  reaper  and  mower  combined  witii  dropper  Averc  first 
in  use. 

The  township  organization  was  effected  on  the  eleventh  day  of 
^lay,  1858,  and  the  folloAving  officers  elected:  Board  of  super- 
visors, S.  Bostwick,  chairman ;  ^Manoah  Delling,  J.  J.  Rymal, 
associates ;  town  clerk,  Stephen  A.  Sherman ;  justices  of  the  peace, 
Philip  Howell,  B.  F.  Langworthy;  assessor,  Naaman  Goodsell; 
collector,  George  Rymal;  constables,  George  Rymal,  Andrew  P. 
McCabe ;  OA'erseer  of  the  poor,  George  Anker.  The  first  election 
held  in  Frankford  was  at  the  store  of  Francis  Teabout.  "Within 
memory  of  the  present  generation  it  had  always  been  in  the  bar- 


HLSTOHY   OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  503 

room  of  Lewis  Pateheu's  tavern,  until  the  erection  of  a  town  hall 
on  section  21  in  the  center  of  the  township  in  1890.  The  present 
officers  are :  Board  of  supervisors,  S.  P.  Hambleton,  chairman ; 
Carl  Skogstad,  George  Loucks,  associates;  town  clerk,  Otto 
Stenseth ;  treasurer,  W.  11.  Goodsell ;  assessor,  S.  11.  Simonson. 
Kalph  E.  Crane  and  L.  G.  Hanson  are  justices  of  the  peace.  L.  Y. 
Tebay  and  John  Hovda  are  constables.  W.  H.  Goodsell  is  county 
commissioner  from  the  second  district  of  Mower  county.  R.  E. 
Crane  is  state  representative  for  the  north  district  of  ]\lower 
county. 

Historical.  The  village  of  Frankford  (little  more  than  a 
memory  now)  is  situated  on  the  northeast  of  Frankford  township, 
on  sections  13  and  24.  It  was  laid  out  by  Jacob  Olson  in  1856. 
Francis  Teabout  biiilt  the  first  house  and  store.  Francis  Teabout 
went  by  the  name  of  Frank  Teabout ;  it  was  for  him  that  the 
township  was  named.  Samuel  IMetcalf  built  the  first  wagon  shop 
and  James  Gorman  the  first  blacksmith  shop.  Charles  Hanson 
was  the  first  shoemaker.  George  and  John  Rymal  built  the  first 
grist  mill.  This  w^as  located  on  Deer  creek,  that  runs  through 
the  village.  The  mill  property  passed  from  the  Rymal  Bros,  to 
Charles  Lamb,  who  ran  it  until  1861,  when  it  burned  down.  The 
first  settler  to  cast  his  lot  within  the  borders  of  Frankford  town- 
ship was  Lewis  Patchen,  a  native  of  New  York  state.  He  settled 
on  section  13,  township  103,  range  14,  the  thirtieth  day  of  May, 
1854.  He  built  the  first  hotel,  which  remained  occupied  until  a 
few  years  ago,  Avhen  it  was  torn  down.  A  postoffice  was  estab- 
lished in  1856.  Lewis  Patchen  was  postmaster  nearly  the  whole 
time  of  its  existence.  His  widow  served  in  this  capacity  until  the 
advent  of  the  rural  routes,  when  it  w^as  discontinued.  T.  M. 
Chapman  and  Charles  Lamb  each  held  the  position  for  short 
periods.  The  first  lawyer  was  Wm.  Covill.  The  first  physician 
was  Erastus  Belden,  who  remained  there  until  his  death,  in  1865. 
The  first  death  in  the  township  was  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Ho^v•ell. 
The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  performed  by  Squire 
Howell  at  the  house  of  D.  D.  Frazier.  The  parties  were  Cyrus 
Titus  and  Miss  Mary  Beadle.  The  first  birth  in  the  township  was 
Marion,  a  daughter  of  IMr.  and  ^Mrs.  Lewis  Patchen,  I)orn  March 
13,  1855. 

The  first  religious  society  organized  was  the  Free  Will  Baptist. 
They  built  a  church  on  section  24  in  the  fall  of  1857,  wliich  they 
continued  to  use  until  it  burned  down  in  1871.  Elder  Reeves  was 
a  well  known  preacher  in  this  denomination.  ]\Ieetiugs  were  held 
in  this  church  also  by  other  denominations.  Elder  Soulc  was  one 
of  the  best  beloved  pastors  of  the  ^Methodist  denomination.  The 
first  religious  services  held  were  in  I^ewis  Patciicn's  house  in 
1856.    The  village  and  township  (■cmctcry  is  located  on  section  24. 


504  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

It  contains  two  acres  and  was  platted  in  1856.  This  silent  city  of 
the  dead  contains  so  many  of  our  early  pioneers  that  it  is  easier 
to  enumerate  the  living  than  the  dead.  INIany  have  lived  their 
lives  here,  others  have  been  brought  back  by  loving  hands  and 
buried  near  their  loved  ones  who  had  preceded  them  to  the  great 
beyond  from  whence  no  traveler  ever  returns.  One  of  the  last  of 
this  number  w-as  G.  W.  Wood,  Avho  died  in  Pennsylvania,  August 
29,  1910.  j\lrs.  Wood  was  brought  back  from  Indiana  in  1905. 
They  settled  in  Frankford  village  in  1857. 


CHAPTP]R  XLII. 

PLEASANT  VALLEY  TOWNSHIP. 

Location   and   Area  —  Early   Settlement  —  Organization  —  First 
Events — Relig-ious — Town  Hall   and   Cemetery. 

With  the  exception  of  the  northern  tier  of  sections  1,  2,  3,  4,  5 
and  6,  the  township  above  named  comprises  the  territory  of  con- 
gressional township  104  north,  range  15.  The  greater  part  of  this 
district  is  prairie  land.  There  was,  however,  plenty  of  timber  at 
an  early  day  to  furnish  building  material  for  the  first  settlers. 
Sections  7,. 18  and  19  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  and  sections  11 
and  12  in  the  northeast,  may  be  said  to  have  been  well  wooded. 
The  surface  in  the  eastern  part  is  undulating  and  affords  good 
drainage ;  the  soil  there  is  a  darkish  loam,  with  a  substratum  of 
clay.  The  western  part  is  gently  rolling,  tiie  soil  is  a  dark  alluvial 
deposit,  slightly  sprinkled  with  clay.  All  parts  are  well  adapted 
to  farming  purposes.  The  town  is  drained  by  branches  of  Root 
river,  one  of  Avhich  having  its  source  in  section  22  flows  in  a 
north  by  east  direction  through  sections  14  and  11,  leaving  the 
county  in  the  last  named  section.  The  other  cuts  across  the 
northwestern  corner  of  the  township,  leaving  it  in  the  center  of 
the  northern  boundary  line  of  section  7. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

Tlie  title  of  pioneer  of  Pleasant  Valley  may  well  be  accorded 
to  Sylvester  Hills,  who  arrived  here  with  his  son  Byron  in  1854, 
when  as  yet  the  land  was  unbroken,  and  made  a  claim  on  section 
11,  going  back,  hoAvever,  to  spend  the  winter  in  Wisconsin,  la 
the  spring  of  1855  he  returned  to  INIinnesota,  bringing  his  family, 
and  accompanied  ])y   a  party  of  three  men,   named   Robinson, 


HISTOIIY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  505 

Leavitt  and  Sherwin,  who  settled  in  Olmsted  county.  The  journey 
was  inade  with  ox  teams,  wearily  plodding  by  day,  camping  by 
night.  Mr.  Hills  soon  built  a  good  log  house,  22x32  feet,  and  li 
feet  high,  on  his  claim,  which  remained  his  home  until  the  time  ot 
liis  death,  in  March,  1862.  Pleasant  Valley  was  named  by  iiiia 
iTOin  a  village  in  the  eastern  part  of  New  York,  in  which  he  had 
formerly  lived. 

The  second  settlement  within  the  present  limits  of  the  town- 
ship was  made  in  June,  1857,  by  John  Rowley,  Robert  Reed  and 
Russell  Hoag.  Rowley  settled  on  section  30,  living  in  his  emigrant 
Avagon  till  November,  when  he  had  completed  his  house.  Reed 
settled  on  section  7,  and  lived  to  see  the  county  well  developed. 
He  died  in  1884.  Hoag  first  settled  on  section  12,  remaining  but 
a  short  time,  and  removed  to  an  adjoining  section  in  Olmsted 
county.  Soon  afterward  came  David  Wells,  D.  S.  Ketchum,  R.  C. 
Penny,  A.  II.  Bogart,  James  Grogger,  D.  M.  AA^ells  and  Andrew- 
Howard.  T.  F.  Wallace  and  the  Hoppins  came  in  1860.  A.  E. 
Peck,  Luther  S.  Bates,  W.  L.  Stiles,  W.  J.  Drake,  A.  W.  Thornhill 
and  A.  J.  Johnson  were  among  the  prominent  late  settlers. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  town  was  organized  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  house  of 
David  Wells,  May  11,  1858.  R.  C.  Penny  was  elected  chairman 
of  the  meeting,  and  Sylvester  Hills  moderator.  The  following 
officers  were  elected:  Supervisors,  Delazon  S.  Ketchum,  chair- 
man ;  Byron  Hills  and  John  Rowley ;  clerk,  A.  H.  Bogart ;  assessor, 
Robert  Reed;  collector,  James  Grogger;  overseer  of  the  poor, 
R.  C.  Penny;  constables,  D.  M.  Wells  and  James  Grogger;  justices 
of  the  peace.  Andrew  IIoAvard  and  Sylvester  Hills.  At  a  meeting 
of  the  board  June  18,  185S,  Byron  Hills  was  appointed  collector 
and  constable  in  place  of  James  Grogger,  who  failed  to  give  bonds. 
At  the  second  annual  meeting,  April  5,  1859,  at  the  house  of 
David  Wells,  John  Rowley  was  elected  moderator.  After  a  few 
preliminary  remarks  bj--  the  town  clerk,  A.  H.  Bogart,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  presented  and  unanimously  carried:  Re- 
solved, That  section  2,  of  article  11,  of  the  states  of  Minnesota, 
amended  so  as  to  read  "one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  day"  for 
services  of  the  town  clerk,  assessor  and  overseer  of  the  poor ;  also 
any  other  officer  of  town,  instead  of  one  dollar,  as  it  now  reads ; 
also  eighteen  cents  for  copying  100  words,  instead  of  six  cents,  as 
it  now  reads. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  marriage  in  Pleasant  Valley  was  tluit  of  Lydia  Hills 
and  Albert  Barlow,  in  the  spi'iiig  of  'iS7)C).  The  ceremony  was 
performed  at  the  home   of  tlic   bride's  jtarcnts   by   T><)s    Duttoii. 


506  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Nettie  Hills,  daughter  of  a  ^Mr.  Hills. 
in  the  winter  of  1860,  at  the  age  of  two  years. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  German  Lutheran  church  of  Pleasant  Valley  was  organ- 
ized in  1879.  A  church  edifice  22x32  feet  and  16  feet  high  was 
erected  the  same  year  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  13. 
Rev.  Mr.  Nichols,  of  Rochester,  was  the  first  pastor. 

The  Hoppin  church,  so  called,  of  the  Methodist  denomination, 
is  located  in  this  township  and  is  an  important  feature  in  the  life 
of  the  town. 

TOWN  HALL  AND  CEMETERY. 

In  June,  1870,  five  acres  of  laud,  situated  in  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  15,  the  property  of  L.  S.  Bates,  was  purchased 
l\v  the  town,  at  .$10  per  acre,  for  a  burial  ground.  It  is  now 
known  as  the  Pleasant  Valley  cemetery.  A  town  hall  was  built 
in  1867,  being  accepted  July  16  of  that  year.  It  stands  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  22.  In  size  the  building  is  22x40 
feet  and  14  feet  high.  Its  cost  was  $465.  The  site  was  presented 
to  the  town  by  Thomas  H.  Armstrong,  of  High  Forest. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

CLAYTON  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Advantages  —  Early  Settlement  —  Organization  — 
Name  —  Cemetery. 

Clayton  township  comprises  congressional  township  102  north, 
and  range  15.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Grand  ^leadow 
township,  east  by  Bennington  township,  south  and  west  by  Lodi 
and  i\Iarsliall  townships.  The  soil  is  a  dark  rich  loam,  which  is 
adapted  to  all  kinds  of  grasses  and  cereals.  Deer  creek  takes  its 
rise  in  section  9,  running  in  a  northerly  direction  to  section  2, 
from  wliieli  section  it  enters  Grand  ^leadow  township. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

John  Jolmson  settled  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  townsliip 
in  1864.  He  was  then  followed  ])y  Hiram  Thompson.  This  was 
one  of  the  townships  wliose  lands  were  thrown  onto  the  market  at 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  507 

an  early  day  aad  bought  by  speculators,  the  result  of  which  was 
that  the  settlement  was  greatly  retarded,  and  but  few  settled  in 
the  town  until  about  the  year  1870,  when  a  good  share  of  the 
land  owned  by  speculators  was  bought  up  and  placed  under 
cultivation,  but  many  buying  land  on  time  failed  (owing  to  fail- 
ure of  crops)  to  pay,  when  the  lands  again  fell  into  the  luinds  of 
the  speculator. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  township  was  organized  June  20,  1873,  and  the  following 
officers  elected:  Supervisors,  AV.  Z.  Clayton,  chairman;  W.  F. 
Mathews,  John  0.  AVold ;  clex-k,  Charles  B.  Kennedy ;  treasurer. 
Sever  0.  Quom;  justices  of  the  peace,  J.  B.  Miller,  S.  Harolson; 
constables,  J.  W.  Powers,  0.  C.  Lather. 

NAME. 

The  township  derived  its  name  from  "W.  Z.  Clayton,  owner  of 
a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  township.  He  was  a  native  of  Maine. 
He  had  lived  a  few  years  in  Winona,  and  for  several  years  spent 
the  summer  months  in  the  township. 

CEMETERY. 

There  is  but  one  cemetery  in  the  township,  which  is  under  the 
management  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  society,  the  location  of 
which  is  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  31,  and  contains  one 
acre. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 
MARSHALL  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement— Organization. 

Marshall  township  comprises  congressional  township  102 
north,  range  16  west.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Dexter, 
east  by  Clayton,  south  by  Adams  and  west  by  the  town  of 
Windom.  The  surface  is  generally  quite  level  and  almost  the 
entire  township  is  composed  of  prairie.  The  only  natural  grasses 
were  found  in  sections  3,  4,  34,  35  and  36.  The  town  is  truly 
rural,  there  being  no  village  or  hamlet  within  its  borders.  The 
town  is  drained  by  Rose  creek  and  the  Little  Cedar  river.  One 
branch  of  Rose  creek  heads  in  section  11  of  this  town.  One 
branch  of  the  Little  Cedar  has  its  source  in  the  northwest  quarter 


508  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

of  section  16 ;  auoTiier  branch  in  sections  26  and  27 ;  anotiier 
branch  comes  from  the  town  of  Clayton,  cuts  across  the  corner 
of  section  36.  There  are  some  small  lakes  in  the  township  thut 
cover  from  one-eighth  to  one-half  an  acre  of  ground.  Two  of 
these  lakes  are  to  be  found  on  section  16,  another  on  section  21. 
The  soil  is  a  rich  dark  loam. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  town  was  made  in  the  spring  of 
1856,  by  Helge  Erriekson,  a  native  of  Norway,  who  came  here 
from  Wisconsin,  and  settled  on  the  west  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  36.  Here  he  built  the  first  house  in  the  town. 
It  was  of  logs,  covered  with  shacks,  and  had  a  puncheon  fioor. 
He  made  his  home  here  until  1871,  Avhen  he  sold  his  farm  and 
moved  to  Otter  Tail  county.  In  1857  John  Osmunsen,  also  a 
native  of  Norway,  came  from  "Wisconsin  and  settled  on  the  east 
half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  36.  He  also  built  a  log 
house.  It  was  in  this  humble  abode  that  the  first  white  child  in 
the  town  w^as  born.  About  1860  Ole  Tollefson  and  Gilbei-t  Ander- 
son came  and  settled  on  section  36.  They  w^ere  both  natives  of 
Norway-  and  improved  farms  here.  Tollefson  made  this  his  home 
until  the  time  of  his  death.     Stark  Peterson  came  in  1865. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  was  made 
in  1857  by  Mahlon  Parritt  and  his  son  Dexter.  They  located  on 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  3.  Dexter  preempted  160  acres 
of  land  in  that  section.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  they  removed  to 
section  33,  town  103  north,  range  15  west,  now  known  as  the  town 
of  Dexter.  The  father  made  his  home  there  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  The  son.  Dexter,  in  whose  honor  the  town  was  named, 
lived  there  until  1882,  when  he  returned  to  his  original  settlement 
in  IMarshall.  The  second  settler  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  was 
Michael  Luney,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  here  from  Ottumwa, 
Iowa,  in  1861.  He  had  previously  preempted  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  5,  and  the  north  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  the 
same  section.  He  remained  here  but  two  years,  when  he  returned 
to  Iowa.  Amasa  N.  Converse,  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  York 
State,  came  after  the  war  and  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  3.  He  was  an  enterprising  man  and  started  a  cheese  fac- 
tory here.  He  afterward  bought  grain  at  Dexter.  While  living 
here  he  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  D.  G.  Pearce.  In  1875  he 
moved  to  Jackson  county,  where  Jie  died  a  short  time  later. 
William  Godard  came  with  Mr.  Converse  and  settled  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  2,  where  he  lived  but  a  few  years,  then 
sold  and  moved  to  the  lumber  regions,  and  later  to  central  Iowa. 
This  Avas  one  of  the  townships  of  land  that  were  thrown  onto  the 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  509 

market  in  an  early  day,  and  was  bought  by  speculators,  who 
held  the  land  at  a  high  figure,  and  thus  retarded  the  settlement. 
Governor  ]\rarshall  purchased  four  large  tracts  of  land  in  the 
township.  In  1868  he  commenced  improvements  on  this  land. 
He  sold  it  a  tew  years  later  to  W.  H.  Dean. 

The  first  white  child  born  Avas  Hannah,  daughter  of  John  and 
Syrena  Osmunsen.    She  afterward  married  Andrew  "VYiste. 


ORGANIZATION. 

This  was  organized  as  a  separate  township  in  1870.  At  a 
meeting  held  June  6  of  that  year,  at  the  house  of  M.  L.  Corbitt, 
the  following  officers  were  elected :  Supervisors,  W.  L.  Godard 
(chairman),  W.  M.  Corbitt  and  Gilbert  Anderson;  clerk,  A.  N. 
Converse ;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Converse ;  assessor,  G.  W.  Corbitt ; 
justices  of  the  peace,  G.  AY.  Corbitt  and  Stark  Peterson;  con- 
stables, Henry  Stockwell  and  John  0.  AYold. 

At  the  annual  election  held  in  March,  1871,  the  following 
resolutions  were  presented  and  adopted:  First,  That  we  regard 
our  town  as  in  its  infancy,  being  the  youngest  of  her  sisters  in 
this  county.  Second,  That  we  approve  of  the  law  changing  the 
time  of  holding  the  annual  meeting  from  April  to  March.  Third, 
That  we  are  in  favor  of  and  approve  of  changing  the  name  from 
Beach  to  Marshall.  Fourth,  That  the  interest  of  education, 
churches,  schoolhouses  and  public  highways  shall  not  be  neg- 
lected or  overlooked  in  our  town.  Fifth,  That  we  favor  moral, 
temperance  men  for  office.  Sixth,  That  we  know  of  no  organiza- 
tion that  Avould  do  more,  or  as  much,  to  advance  the  welfare  of 
and  prosperity  of  this  county,  as  the  organization  of  a  monthly 
fair.  Y'herefore,  we  would  suggest,  recommend  and  promise  to 
aid  in  establishing  a  monthly  fair,  to  be  organized  and  held  at 
Austin — once  in  each  month.  Eighth,  That  we  do  not  approve  of 
woman  suffrage  yet  for  a  while.  Resolved,  in  regard  to  state 
affairs :  First,  That  we  are  sick  and  tired  of  so  much  state  legisla- 
tion on  the  bond  question.  Second,  That  while  we  look  upon 
insolvency  and  poverty  as  misfortunes,  Ave  look  upon  repudiation 
as  A\dcked  and  sharaefid.  Third,  That  if  the  bonds  of  the  state 
Avere  intended  to  be  good  Avhen  made,  they  should  lie  paid  to 
the  letter." 

The  foUoAving  named  held  office  in  the  early  days:  M.  L. 
Corbitt,  W.  M.  Corbitt,  G.  AY.  Phillips,  J.  M.  Ray,  James  0.  Wold, 
Fred  Ray,  J.  A.  Olson,  Ole  T.  Throveson,  Die  Anderson,  Samson 
Hanson,  Asher  Heriek,  Knud  Olson,  John  Osmunsen,  James  E\'er- 
son,  E.  F.  Nelson,  Hans  Anderson,  A.  G.  Anderson,  SAvan  Ander- 
son,  Peter  Johnson,  J.   K.   Johnson,   August   Anderson,   Ole   S. 


510  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Forde,  John  Peterson,  B.  G.  Haugen,  L.  G.  Phillips,  Anton  Asper, 
James  Olson,  Fred  Eolf,  Stark  Peterson. 

Churches  and  church  cemeteries  are  located  in  sections  4 
and  8. 

ELKTON. 

Elkton  is  an  incorporated  village  of  some  one  hundred  inhab- 
itants, and  is  located  in  JMarshall  township.  It  has  a  creamery,  a 
hotel,  public  school,  stores  and  other  industries.  Tlie  village  was 
platted  in  section  ],  township  102,  range  16,  January  25,  1887,  by 
W.  E.  Richardson  and  Frank  A.  Day. 


CIIAPTEE  XLV. 

UDOLPHO  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Area — Early  Settlement — First  Events — Religious — 
Accidental  Deaths — Origin  of  Name — Cemetery — Madison 
Village — Red  Oak  Grove  Settlement  and  Church. 

Udolpho  comprises  township  104,  range  18,  and  is  bounded  by 
Dodge  county  on  the  north,  by  Waltham  on  the  east,  Lansing  and 
Freeborn  county  on  the  south  and  west,  being  the  northwest 
corner  township  in  the  county.  The  Red  Cedar  river  enters  the 
town  from  Dodge  county,  in  section  4,  runs  in  a  southerly  and 
southeasterly  direction  through  sections  8,  16,  2J,  22,  27,  26,  and 
makes  its  exit  from  section  35.  Tim1)er  in  an  early  day  was  quite 
plentiful  on  either  side  of  the  river,  which  was  mostly  cut  by  the 
early  settlers  for  building  purposes.  There  is,  at  the  present 
time,  some  second  growth  timber  in  the  township.  East  and  west 
of  the  Cedar  is  a  fine  prairie,  with  a  l)]ack  loam,  underncatli  wiiicli 
is  a  clay  subsoil. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

AVilliain  Tullis  is  said  1o  ])«■  tlie  iirst  settler  in  Udolplio  town- 
ship. He  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  21,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1855.  He  built  a  log  caliin  14x14,  and  covered  it  with  sods. 
His  family  consisted  of  wife  and  four  children.  They  remained 
on  the  claim  during  that  summer,  but  retui'ned  to  Jowa,  from 
whence  th(>y  came,  to  winter.  They  afterwards  returned  to  tlie 
township,  remaining  a  few  years,  when  they  returned  to  Indiana. 
The  next  to  settle  in  the  township  were  Thomas  Richardson  and 
Richard  and  William  Green,  lirotlicrs.  Thomas  Richardson  set- 
tled in  section  16.  lie  was  from  Si.  Lawrence  county,  New  York. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  511 

He  is  now  dead.  Richard  Green  settled  in  section  9,  William 
Green  in  section  15.  Richard  lived  in  the  town  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  rebellion,  when  he  enlisted,  went  south,  and  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Nashville.  William  enlisted,  went  south,  served 
three  years,  and  returned  to  the  township,  remaining  until  about 
1874,  when  he  removed  to  Todd  county,  Minnesota. 

In  June,  1855,  an  addition  was  made  to  the  little  settlement, 
by  several  families  of  Norwegians.  They  were  mostly  well  to  do 
farmers  from  Rock  and  Dane  counties,  Wisconsin.  They  brought 
with  them  quite  a  stock.  Knute  Olson  settled  in  section  31. 
Andrew  Anderson  settled  in  section  9.  Tiie  story  of  the  Red  Oak 
Grove  settlement  is  told  elsewhere.  Solomon  Wilcox  settled  in 
the  township  in  the  spring  of  1855.  Ole  and  Bennett  Christianson 
and  their  parents  also  came  in  1855. 

Ole  Christianson  was  born  in  Norway,  September  8,  1835.  He 
came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1846,  and  settled  in  Wis- 
consin, where  they  remained  until  the  spring  of  1855,  when  they 
removed  to  Mower  county  and  settled  on  section  19  in  the  town 
of  Udolpho,  where  Ole  Christianson  still  lives.  Bennett  Christian- 
son  was  born  in  Norway  November  11,  1843.  His  parents  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1846,  and  settled  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin, 
Avhere  they  remained  until  1855,  when  they  came  to  Mower  county 
and  settled  on  section  19,  where  the  father  died  in  1874.  Bennett 
is  still  living  on  the  same  place.  Andrew  Anderson,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Mower  county,  settled  in  section  9  in  1855.  He  erected 
a  small  log  cabin  on  his  claim,  which  he  covered  with  prairie  sods. 
He  lived  in  this  house  about  two  years,  when  he  moved  the  cabin 
a  short  distance,  which  he  rebuilt  and  covered  with  a  shingle  roof, 
making  it  more  comfortable  for  a  dwelling.  They  lived  in  this 
house  until  1878,  when  the  old  house  gave  way  to  a  commodious 
frame  house.  He  is  now  dead.  Guttorm  Olson  also  settled  in 
section  19  in  1855. 

John  Day  settled  in  section  22,  in  August,  1856.  He  was 
from  Iowa  here.  He  lived  in  the  township  until  1877,  when  he 
sold  out  to  B.  E.  Stimson  and  returned  to  Iowa.  Orasmus  D, 
Rhoades  came  in  August,  1856,  and  settled  in  section  22,  town 
of  Udolpho,  where  he  entered  land  and  built  a  house.  He  en- 
listed in  1863  in  Company  C,  Ninth  Minnesota  Infantry  Volun- 
teers. He  went  south  with  his  regiment  and  was  taken  prisoner 
at  the  battle  of  Guntown,  Tenn.  He  was  first  sent  to  Anderson- 
ville,  and  from  there  to  Milan,  where  he  died  of  starvation,  Octo- 
l)er  20,  1864.  O.  J.  Rhoades  came  to  Mower  county  with  his 
parents.  IMilton  McCall  came  to  I\Iower  county  in  1856  and  pre- 
empted a  claim  in  section  34,  in  Udolpho  township,  on  which  lie 
commenced  tiic  erection  of  a  log  house,  getting  it  up  as  high  as 
tile  windows.    It,  however,  was  burned  by  prairie  fires  that  fall. 


512  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Mr.  McCall  returned  to  his  home  in  New  York,  and  April  20 
started  for  his  new  home  in  ^Minnesota,  with  his  eldest  son,  leav- 
ing his  wife  behind.  Aiter  leaving  Chicago,  his  son,  while  asleep, 
as  supposed,  v/ali^ed  oft'  the  cars  and  was  killed.  ;Mr.  MeCall 
returned  with  the  dead  body  of  his  son  to  his  old  home,  which  he 
had  so  recently  left,  so  full  ot  hope  for  the  future.  After  the 
burial  of  his  son,  Mr.  McCall  immediately  returned  with  his 
family  to  Mo^er  county,  and  lived  sevei-al  years  on  their  old 
homestead,  after  which  thej^  removed  to  Lansing  village,  where 
Mr.  McCall  died.  Andrew  Ingleson^  came  in  June,  1856,  and  set- 
tled in  the  nortlieast  quartgr  of  section  4,  in  the  town  of  Udolpho. 
He  erected  a  small  log  house,  in  which  he  lived  ten  years,  when 
he  built  a  good  log  house  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  same 
section.  He  is  now  dead.  A  Mr.  Ells  located  in  section  35,  wliere 
he  lived  about  two  years,  when  he  left  the  country.  A  jMr.  Big- 
ley  settled  in  section  26.  He  had  a  family,  and  lived  in  the  town- 
ship until  1863,  when  he  removed  to  Lansing  township,  where  he 
died  the  next  year.  His  wife,  with  the  family,  returned  to  New 
York  state.  Benjamin  Vaughan,  a  brother  of  Alanson  A. 
Vaughan,  came  in  August,  1856,  and  lived  in  the  township  until 
1872.    He  moved  away  and  is  now  dead. 

During  the  fall  of  1856  there  arrived  a  party  of  nine  men, 
some  of  them  with  their  families.  One  family  was  from  New 
York  state,  and  the  others  from  Iowa.  C.  N.  Stimson  was  a 
native  of  Vermont,  moved  to  New  York,  married,  and  with  his 
Avife  and  son  and  daughter  started  for  the  west,  bringing  a  span 
of  horses  and  their  family  goods.  They  arrived  in  Chatfield, 
]\Iinn.,  in  the  spring  of  1856  and  there  spent  the  summer.  In 
the  fall  they  were  joined  by  a  party  from  Iowa,  and  all  came 
to  Udolplio.  C.  N.  Stimson  settled  on  section  25.  Burt  E.  Stim- 
son, his  son,  afterward  a  prominent  citizen,  was  then  a  boy  of 
twelve  years.  Albert  Stimson,  a  brother  of  Charles  N.,  also  set- 
tled in  section  25.  He  afterward  sold  out  to  E.  J.  Stimson,  en- 
listed in  the  war,  served  his  term,  was  taken  ill,  and  was  lost 
sight  of  in  New  York.  It  is  believed  that  he  died  in  a  hospital. 
George  Pierson,  another  of  the  party,  lived  here  a  short  time  and 
then  went  back  to  Iowa.  Nathaniel  Reed  also  settled  in  section 
twenty-five.  H.  C.  Rogers,  whose  biography  is  found  elsewhere, 
settled  in  section  24.  Durand  settled  in  section  25,  and  afterward 
Avent  back  to  Iowa.  Roe  settled  in  section  11  and  afterward  went 
back  to  New  York  state. 

Churchill  settled  in  section  12  and  later  went  l)ac'k  to  Iowa. 
Pratt  settled  in  section  13,  later  started  for  Pike's  Peak,  and  was 
never  heard  of  afterward.  During  the  same  year,  but  not  witli 
this  party,  Charles  Day  came  in  and  took  up  a  claim.  Later 
Henry  and  E.  J.  Stimson  came  to  this  vicinity.     C.  N.  Stimson 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  513 

and  liis  famiiy  first  lived  in  a  sod  liou&e.  Three  years  later  they 
erected  a  plank  house  and  tliis  stood  as  a  residence . until  3886. 
Timothy  B.  Andrews  also  came  in  1856. 

The  Nellers  came  in  June,  1856,  and  consisted  of  Francis  A., 
and  son,  Sebastian,  Francis  Neller,  a  nephew,  Joseph  Neller, 
another  nephew.  They  are  of  German  descent.  They  came  here 
from  Jeli'erson  county,  "Wisconsin.  Francis  A.  Neller,  Sr.,  pre- 
empted the  southwest  quarter  of  section  14,  Sebastian  the  north- 
west quarter  of  the  same  section.  Francis  •  Neller  settled  in 
section  15.     Joseph  Neller  settled  in  section  23. 

Seth  S.  Washburn  came  in  1857  and  settled  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  17.  Henry  Dennis  came  about  this  time  and 
settled  in  section  12.  Edward  Bassett  came  in  1857,  went  back 
after  his  family,  and  in  1858  located  in  section  21.  Edson  Bas- 
sett was  brought  here  with  his  parents  as  an  infant.  John  Tuck- 
erson  came  in  1858  and  settled  in  section  30. 

Othei's  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  town  in  the  early  days 
were :  Sever  Ingoalson,  Ingval  Ingoalson,  Edwin  Richards,  Peter 
A.  Peterson,  Orlando  C.  LaBar,  Peter  Larson,  N.  N.  Hagna,  Buxx 
Maxwell,  Robert  Lee,  Nels  K.  Goodwin,  F.  A.  Carll  and  Knute 
Olson. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  couple  to  be  married  in  the  township  was  Ed.  Sperrj^ 
and  Polly  E.  Andrews.  They  were  married  about  1857.  They 
lived  together  but  a  short  time.  The  first  birth  was  that  of 
Nancy,  third  daughter  of  Thomas  R.  Richardson.  She  was  born 
June  10,  1855.  She  became  the  wife  of  Robert  Lee.  The  lirst 
death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Mark  Green,  who  died  in  June,  1856,  and 
was  buried  under  a  burr  oak  tree  on  the  Green  place.  Another 
early  death  was  that  of  the  wife  of  Mr.  Caton,  an  old  settler  of 
the  township.  She  died  in  the  winter  of  1856.  She  was  buried  in 
section  23. 

The  next  death  in  the  township  was  a  brother  of  Ed  Sperry, 
who  had  traded  guns  with  an  immigrant.  He  had  it  laid  away 
in  the  bottom  of  his  wagon.  While  pulling  it  out  to  show  his 
brother,  it  Avas  accidentally  discharged,  the  shot  taking  effect 
in  his  thigh,  which  cut  an  artery.  Not  being  able  to  stop  the 
flow  of  blood,  he  soon  bled  to  death. 

The  first  breaking  was  done  by  Thomas  R.  Richardson  in 
1855.  On  this  breaking  he  raised  about  three  hundred  bushels 
of  corn,  and  some  potatoes.  He  sold  A^hat  corn  ho  had  to  spare, 
measuring  it  in  a  common  tin  boiler;  for  each  measure,  he 
received  $1.  He  was  not  so  fortunate  with  his  potatoes.  When 
lie  supposed  they  were  large  enough  to  use,  on  going  for  a 
moss  found    that   they  had  been  dug  by  Indian   squaws.     "Mr. 


514  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Richardson  complained  to  the  chief,  who  said  they  (the  squaws) 
had  done  wrong.  Later  in  the  fall  ]\Ir.  Richardson  was  sent  for 
by  the  chief  to  visit  his  camp.  On  his  arrival  was  shown  fourteen 
elk,  and  was  told  to  take  his  winter's  meat,  in  payment  for  his 
potatoes,  which  offer  J\lr.  Rieliardson  was  glad  to  accept. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  religious  services  held  in  the  township  were  held  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Cedar  river,  at  neighboring  houses,  and 
at  the  old  log  schoolhouse,  until  after  the  new  schoolhouse  was 
built,  when  Rev.  George  Stokes,  an  ordained  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  organized  a  class.  He  was  a  resident 
of  the  township,  an  Englishman  by  birth.  He  lived  in  the  town- 
ship until  about  1877,  when  he  went  to  Utah  territory.  Rev. 
Mr.  Stokes  was  the  first  to  hold  services  in  a  number  of  towns 
in  the  county.  He  was  well  liked  by  those  who  knew  him.  He 
died  in  the  town  of  Udolpho,  at  the  home  of  0.  C.  La  Bar, 
October  27,  1885. 

Free   Will  Baptist   church   was   organized   in  the   spring   of 

1858,  by  Rev.  Hiram  Miller,  from  Chautauqua  county.  New  York. 
He  remained  here  a  short  time,  when  he  went  to  Dodge  county, 
and  afterwards  to  Olmsted  county.  Meetings  were  held  at  the 
house  of  0.  D.  Rhoades  in  section  22.  The  members  of  this  organ- 
ization Avere  Benjamin  Vaughan  and  wife,  Charles  Hunter  and 
wife,  John  Dunton  and  wife,  Mrs.  0.  D.  Rhoades.  ]\Ieetings 
Avere  held  once  in  two  weeks  for  about  a  year,  when  the  organiza- 
tion was  removed  to  Lansing. 

The  story  of  the  Red  Rock  settlement  is  told  elsewhere. 

ACCIDENTAL  DEATHS. 

This  accident  was  related  by  Joiin  L.  Neller:  George  Chap- 
man came  to  Minnesota  in  the  summer  of  1856  and  settled  in  the 
town  of  Udolpho,  residing  with  his  father-in-law  on  section  16 
for  about  two  years,  when  he  purchased  the  east  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  8,  of  that  township.     On  April  14, 

1859,  he  went  up  the  Red  Cedar  river,  which  at  that  season  was 
very  higli.  He  went  for  the  purpose  of  killing  ducks.  He  crossed 
the  river  at  or  near  Mr.  Ivcrson's  hou^e,  on  foot  logs,  there  being 
no  wagon  bridges  at  tliat  early  day.  While  coming  down  the 
stream  on  the  oast  side,  he  was  overtaken  by  a  terrific  siiow 
storm  of  a  severity  since  unknown  in  this  latitude.  As  he  did 
not  reach  home  that  day  a  party  of  his  neighbors  went  out  in 
search  of  him.  I  was  among  the  number.  We  found  his  dead 
body  where  least  expected,  about  fifty  or  sixty  rods  from  his 
father-in-law's  house,  the   river  being  between  the  house   and 


HISTORY  OF  M0\VK1{  COUNTY  515 

tlie  spot  Avhere  he  was  found.  His  limbs  were  badly  frozen,  but 
his  breast  was  still  warm  with  his  life's  blood.  He  had  eight 
ducks  in  his  hunting  pouch.  We  found  where  he  had  undertaken 
to  build  a  fire  by  placing  some  dry  weeds  in  the  hollow  of  an  old 
basswood  stump  and  discharging  both  barrels  of  his  shotgun. 
But  it  had  failed  to  ignite  and  he  then  placed  the  gun  on  one 
side  of  the  stump  and  sat  against  the  opposite  side  of  the  stump 
himself,  as  if  for  shelter  and  rest.  It  was  the  opinion  of  those 
who  were  knowing  to  the  facts  that  he  was  not  fully  dead  when 
iirst  found,  and  that  had  proper  care  been  exercised  he  might 
have  been  restored.  He  left  a  wife  and  small  children  in  destitute 
circumstances. 

F.  A.  Carll  and  wife,  living  just  above  Lansing,  were  burned 
to  death  in  their  home  on  Saturday  night,  March  15,  1890.  Mr. 
Carll  settled  on  section  34  in  Udolpho  township  in  1865  on  a 
farm  he  purchased  of  Milton  McCall,  at  which  time  there  was  a 
small  log  house  on  the  farm,  in  which  the  family  lived  about  five 
years,  after  which  Mr.  Carll  built  a  commodious  frame  residence 
in  which  he  was  burned.  Mr.  Carll  was  a  native  of  Maine,  born 
in  May,  1814. 

ORIGIN  OF  NAME. 

Udolpho  township  was  named  at  the  first  town  meeting  by 
Col.  Henry  C.  Eogers,  the  circumstances  of  which  were  as  follows : 
The  voters  of  the  township  were  composed  of  several  nationali- 
ties, each  expressing  themselves  in  their  own  language,  no  two 
agreeing,  until  the  question  of  name  came  up  when  they  were 
as  far  apart  on  this  as  on  other  things.  It  was  finally  left  to 
Colonel  Rogers,  who  said  call  it  "Udolpho,"  which  was  done.  The 
name  was  suggested  by  reading  a  work  entitled  "The  Mysteries 
of  Udolpho." 

CEMETERY. 

Udolpho  cemetery  is  located  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  21.  It  was 
purchased  in  February,  1862,  by  Francis  A.  Neller  at  the  time 
his  wife  died.  Hers  was  the  first  burial.  Later  the  people  of  the 
township  took  an  interest  in  the  cemetery,  and  each  paid  a  pro- 
portionate share  of  the  cost.  The  land  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Neller  from  Soloman  "VVileox,  and  Mrs.  Wilcox,  who  signed  the 
joint  deed,  was  the  second  to  be  buried  in  the  cemetery,  her 
death  taking  place  in  March,  1862. 

MADISON. 

The  village  of  Madison  was  located  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  21.    Below  is  given  a  sketch 


516  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

of  Madisou,  -written  by  E.  Bassett  some  years  ago:  "The  village 
of  ^ladisou  was  platted  by  Warren  Brown,  a  former  resident  of 
Baraboo,  "Wisconsin,  in  the  fall  of  1856  or  spring  of  1857.  He 
built  a  fair-sized  building  and  put  in  some  $1,500  worth  of  goods. 
He  did  a  fair  business  for  nearly  a  year.  In  that  time  he  built  a 
house  to  live  in,  established  a  postoffice  and  was  made  postmaster. 
He  sold  several  lots  and  blocks,  but  finally  branched  out  too  far 
and  lost  all,  after  which  he  went  farther  west.  During  this  time 
four  men,  under  the  firm  name  of  Moody  &  Co.,  built  a  large 
house,  28x40,  with  an  addition  fourteen  feet  wide  the  whole 
length  of  one  side.  They  used  the  building  for  a  hotel.  They 
did  a  livery  business  for  a  short  time.  They  had  the  postoffice 
reestablished,  and  boarded  a  large  lot  of  railroad  hands.  They 
were  finally  left  without  pay,  which  left  them  in  a  hard  spot. 
The  company  broke  up.  The  town  a  failure.  Moody  took  his 
family  and  went  back  to  Massachusetts.  Others  left  in  various 
ways.  My  place  lying  alongside  of  the  town  plat,  the  postoffice 
was  thrown  into  my  hands.  I  kept  it  for  twelve  years  and  a  half. 
Wlien  the  railway  was  built,  the  company  would  make  no 
arrangements  to  stop.  I  became  wearied  with  going  to  Lansing 
to  supply  the  office,  and  threw  it  up.  The  vacated  buildings 
went  to  rack  and  ruin,  and  were  sold  for  any  sum  that  was  pos- 
sible to  get.  The  buildings  were  all  taken  away  and  the  village 
plat  converted  into  a  wheat  field."  Madison  was  platted,  accord- 
ing to  the  records,  September  3,  1857,  in  section  21,  township 
104,  range  18,  the  proprietors  being  "Warren  A.  Brown,  Quiney 
A.  Truesdell,  David  S.  B.  Mollison  and  Albert  Galloway. 

Samuel  Hatley  came  to  Madison  in  the  spring  of  1857,  from 
Indiana.  He  built  a  log  house  for  a  residence,  also  a  shop,  in 
which  he  worked  at  blacksmithing.  He  worked  at  his  trade  here 
about  three  years,  when  he  removed  to  Lansing,  where  he  re- 
mained until  about  1872,  when  he  went  to  the  nortliern  part  of 
the  state,  where  he  died. 

RED  OAK  GROVE. 

(By  L.  0.  Aldal.) 

Red  Oak  Grove  is  a  name  which  has  been  applied  from  the 
earliest  days  to  the  country  in  the  southwest  part  of  Udolpho 
township,  the  name  originating  from  a  fine  grove  of  red  oaks 
which  was  a  conspicuous  feature  of  the  landscape  in  that  locality. 
The  earliest  settlers  in  this  vicinity  were  Norwegians  who  came 
in  1855.  The  list  of  these  pioneers  as  gathered  by  L.  0.  Aldal,  is 
as  follows :  Cliristian  Rukke,  Knut  Rukke,  Nels  Iverson  Vonaass, 
Guttorm  Hillson,  Thore  Bergo,  Anders  Melhovd  and  Guttorm 
Olson  Engen.     In  1856,  according  to  the  same  authority,  came 


IIISTOKY  OF  MOWKIJ  COUNTY  517 

Tollef  Sommerhaugen,  Ole  Somraerhaugen,  Christian  Jolinson 
Evikl>e,  PKlge  Dokken,  Jens  Bodalen,  Knnt  B.  Bakkcn,  Syvcr  J>. 
Bakken,  Bennet  B.  Benson,  Ole  Trondson,  Erik  E.  Basness,  Jo- 
hannes T.  Opstedal,  Simon  Olson  and  others.  The  following  his- 
torj'  of  the  Ked  Oak  Grrove  ehureh  is  from  the  pen  of  L.  0.  Aldal, 
Avho  is  secretary  of  tliat  body. 

Red  Oak  Grove  Congregation.  This  congregation  receives  and 
adheres  to  the  canonical  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments 
as  the  reA'ealed  word  of  God,  and  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  life ; 
and  to  the  confession  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church;  the 
Old  Symbol ;  the  Apostolical,  Nieean  and  Athanasian  creeds ;  the 
unaltered  Augsburg  confession  and  Luther's  small  catechism  as 
a  correct  and  faithful  exposition  of  the  divine  word  of  God. 
The  congregation  belongs  to  and  is  connected  with  the  United 
Norwegian  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of  America.  That 
denomination  Avas  organized  in  1890,  and  it  aims  to  include  all 
Norwegian  Evangelical  Lutherans  of  America,  as  the  name 
indicates. 

The  Norwegian  settlements  and  church  work  in  this  vicinity, 
including  Mower,  Freeborn,  Winnebago,  Faribault  and  "Waseca 
coimties,  are  a  direct  result  and  extension  of  Glaus  Lauritzen 
Clausen's  colony  of  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa.  The  Norwegian  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  church  work  and  history  in  America  start 
Avith  Pastor  C.  L.  Clausen.  He  came  from  the  old  country  Avhen 
about  twenty-three  years  old,  to  Muskego,  Wisconsin,  August  8, 
1843.  He  was  ordained  to  be  a  minister,  October  18,  1843,  by  a 
German  pastor,  organized  a  congregation  in  Muskego,  and  held 
services  in  Even  Heg's  new  barn,  where  he  confirmed  the  first 
class,  and  married  the  first  two  couples.  In  1844  he  helped  to 
build  the  first  Norwegian  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of  Amer- 
ica. This  building,  which  was  of  logs,  Avas  the  first  Norwegian 
church  in  America.  That  church  was  later  on  moved  to  St. 
Anthony  Park,  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  to  the  campus  of  the  United 
Church  Seminary.  The  next  year,  1845,  a  church  Avas  built  on 
Rock  Prairie,  the  next  oldest  NorAvegian  church  of  America,  and 
Clausen  Avas  called  to  be  pastor.  In  the  spring  of  1849  Clausen 
made  a  trip  to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  on  the  first  steamboat  up  the 
Mississippi  river.  That  steamboat  brought  the  first  message  to 
St.  Paul,  that  Minnesota  Avas  organized  as  a  territory. 

At  that  time  Minnesota  had  about  4,000  inhabitants,  and 
St.  Paul  consisted  of  about  thirty  houses,  mostly  occupied  by 
French  half-breeds.  Clausen  did  not  like  the  land  there  and 
Avent  east  to  St.  Croix  and  Pierce  counties  and  made  a  Nor- 
Avegian colony  there.  On  his  search  for  land  suitable  to  colonize 
he  came  to  Cedar  river,  northern  part  of  loAva,  in  1852.  He  liked 
the  laud,  took  a  claim  and  then  Avetit  liome  to  Eoek  Prairie.    Tl;o 


518  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

next  spring,  1853,  he  and  some  of  the  first  settlers  went  to  Cedar 
river  and  his  claim  is  situated  on  what  he  later  on  called  St. 
Ansgar  (named  after  St.  Ansgar,  Norden's  apostle).  Clausen 
issued  the  first  Norwegian  church  paper  of  America,  "The  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Kirketidende, "  which  is  still  published  at  De- 
corah,  Iowa.  He  was  the  first  chairman  both  for  the  Synod  and 
Conference.  He  was  in  one  person,  pastor,  doctor,  lawyer,  jus- 
tice, storekeeper,  miller,  publisher,  colonizer,  farmer,  and  a  leader 
loved  by  all. 

When  and  where  the  first  meeting  or  sermon  was  held  in  this 
vicinity  there  is  no  record  to  show.  But  in  1859  Rev.  C.  L. 
Clausen,  from  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa,  visited  the  settlement  and  organ- 
ized Red  Oak  Grove  congregation,  which  at  that  time  also 
included  what  is  now  called  Blooming  Prairie  Lutheran  church. 
Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen  continued  to  visit  the  settlement  and  held  ser- 
mons in  the  farmers'  small  log  houses,  but  when  the  war  broke 
out  he  enlisted  in  the  army  as  chaplain.  During  the  time  of  war 
the  sermons  were  few  and  far  between. 

In  those  days  the  settlement  was  sometimes  visited  by  A.  S. 
Frederickson.  His  territory  was  from  Fillmore  county  east  to 
Brown  county  west.  He  preached,  baptized  and  called  himself 
minister,  although  he  was  not  ordained.  He  is  best  known  by 
the  name  "Skinbrokapresten"  because  for  every-day  use  he 
made  his  clothes  of  sheep  pelts  and  sometimes  had  to  take  pelts, 
wool  and  fur  for  his  salary.  It  is  said  that  he  preferred  to  do  so, 
and  when  he  had  gathered  a  good  load  he  went  to  Winona  and 
sold  it  and  found  the  deal  profitable. 

Old  folks  can  tell  that  the  children  sometimes  were  quite  large 
before  baptized,  so  they  either  were  ready  to  run  away  or  take 
the  book  out  of  the  minister's  hand  during  the  act  of  baptism. 
October  12,  1867,  a  new  and  quite  extensive  pastorate  was  formed, 
consisting  of  St.  Ansgar,  Six  Mill  Grove,  Little  Cedar,  Rock 
Creek  and  Red  Oak  Grove. 

December  7,  1867,  Red  Oak  Grove  approved  to  this  pastorate 
and  elected  and  called  Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen  to  minister,  and  he 
accepted  the  call.  Up  to  that  time  the  congregation  belonged  to 
and  was  connected  with  the  Norwegian  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Synod  (called  the  Wisconsin  Synod).  But  on  account  of  some 
disagi-eement  (for  example,  negro  slavery,  observance  of  Sunday, 
and  of  the  conduct  and  maintenance  of  schools,  and  controversy 
concerning  some  religious  doctrines;  absolution,  the  justification 
of  the  world,  the  call,  penitence,  and  selection  of  grace"),  sepa- 
rated from  that  body  July  26,  1868.  It  continued  to  be  inde- 
pendent until  May  25,  1871,  when  the  congregation  joined,  the 
Norwegian  Dane  Evangelical  Lutheran  Conference  and  worked 
with  that  body  until  the  United  church  was  organized  in  18!)0. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  519 

The  couference  was  a  part  of  that  union.  February  2,  1867,  the 
first  action  was  taken  to  erect  a  church  buikling.  The  building 
committee  was  elected  and  the  place  for  the  building  agreed  on. 
Guttorni  Olson  Eugen  donated  the  lot.  The  times  were  hard 
and  the  settlers  were  poor,  but  the  will  was  good,  and  they  strug- 
gled and  saved  and  gathered  means  and  materials  and  finally 
were  able  to  erect  the  first  church  building,  40x30x18,  in  1869. 
December  5,  1870,  Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen  introduced  Rev.  P.  G. 
Ostby  to  the  congregation  as  his  assistant  for  his  growing  and 
extensive  work.  A  new  pastorate  was  formed,  consisting  of  Red 
Oak  Grove,  Little  Cedar,  Austin,  and  Blooming  Prairie.  May  19, 
1871,  Rev.  Paul  G.  Ostby  was  elected  to  its  pastorate  and  ho 
accepted  the  call.  In  1875  it  was  decided  to  build  an  addition 
to  the  church,  and  February  26,  1876,  the  church  building  was 
finished  and  the  members  were  rejoicing  because  they  had  a  place 
in  which  to  Avorship  God.  To  crown  the  Avork,  the  congregation 
invited  the  Conference  to  hold  its  annual  meeting  in  the  church. 
The  invitation  was  accepted.  The  annual  meeting  commenced 
June  14  and  closed  June  22.  During  that  meeting,  June  18,  1876, 
the  church  Avas  dedicated  by  Professor  Savcu  Oftedal,  assisted 
by  the  present  ministers.  Rev.  P.  G.  Ostby  resigned  and  held  his 
farcAvell  sermon  Good  Friday,  April  19,  1878. 

Then  the  congregation  again  called  Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen  from 
Virginia,  AAdiere  he  had  attempted  to  start  a  NorAvegian  Dane 
colony,  an  undertaking  AA^hich  had  proved  to  be  a  financial  fail- 
ure. He  responded  to  the  call  and  resumed  the  Avork  and  held 
his  first  sermons  again  May  26,  1878.  Rev.  Clausen  was  then  an 
old  man  and  not  very  strong.  His  salary  was  increased  so  as 
to  make  it  possible  for  him  to  call  an  assistant.  January  15,  1879, 
Rev.  Sven  Strand  Avas  called  to  assist  him.  Rev.  Clausen  and 
Strand  Avorked  together  until  July  1,  1885.  Clausen  resigned, 
December  31,  1884,  and  the  congregation  Avas  obliged  to  accept 
his  resignation  on  account  of  his  failing  health. 

January  21,  1885,  Rca'.  S.  Strand  Avas  chosen  as  Clausen's 
successor.  The  same  day  a  mutual  agreement  Avas  made  to  leave 
Austin  out  of  the  pastorate.  December  14,  1892,  it  Avas  decided 
that  the  pastorate  hereafter  consist  of  Red  Oak  GroA^e  and  Bloom- 
ing Prairie.  December  31,  1893,  "Rev.  Strand  read  his  resigna- 
tion, but  the  majority  of  the  congregation  did  not  like  to  receive 
it.  Several  able  candidates  Avere  nominated  and  voted  on  Janu- 
ary 10,  1894,  but  defeated,  and  Strand  Avas  reelected  Avith  an  over- 
Avhelming  majority.  But  all  in  vain.  He  resigned  again  January 
25,  1894.  and  the  congregation  had  to  accept  his  resignation,  but 
urged  him  to  continue  his  service  until  his  successor  Avas  elected 
and  qualified.  June  25,  1894,  Rev.  Iverson  Avas  elected  and  took 
clKirge  of  liis  office  in  November.  1S94.    June  25,  1895.  a  meeting 


520  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

was  held  of  the  members  of  said  church  for  the  purpose  of  tht 
incorporation  under  the  laAvs  of  the  state  of  Minnesota  relating 
to  religious  corporations.  The  meeting  proceeded  to  organize 
and  chose  JRev.  Nels  Iverson  chairman  and  L.  0.  Aldal  clerk  and 
elected  three  trustees:  Helge  Evenson,  Christoffer  Lunde,  Simon 
Thompson.  February  9,  1898,  Rev.  Nels  Iverson  found  it  neces- 
sary to  resign  from  his  dut.y  in  order  to  recover  and  restore  his 
health.  Neighboring  pastors  filled  the  pulpit  until  his  successor 
was  chosen.  Our  present  estimable  pastor,  Osmond  Johnson,  was 
unanimously  elected  at  a  special  meeting  called  for  that  purpose 
May  12,  1898.  Rev.  Osmond  Johnson  assumed  the  pastorate  and 
held  his  first  sermon  October  2,  1898.  In  May,  1907,  Blooming 
Prairie  and  Red  Oak  Grove  congregations  bought  a  parsonage 
situated  in  Blooming  Prairie,  which  from  that  time  was  occupied 
by  the  pastor  and  his  family.  Present  officers  (1911)  :  Trustees, 
Henry  Helliekson,  L.  0.  Hanson  and  Gullick  Tollefson :  dea- 
cons, Knut  K.  Lestrud,  John  Syvrud,  0.  A.  Ulland  and  Ben  K. 
Benson ;  treasurer,  Helge  Peterson ;  secretary,  L.  O.  Aldal ;  paro- 
chial school  teacher,  Julia  Boraas.  Societies  connected  with  the 
church:  1 — Ladies'  Aid  Society,  of  which  the  minister  is  the 
chief  leader,  althougli  they  yearly  elect  from  the  members  a 
president,  a  treasurer  and  a  clerk.  The  proceeds  are  divided 
between  the  home  and  the  foreign  missions.  2 — Temperance  So- 
ciety, Olaf  Gr^nt,  president.  3 — Young  People's  Society,  leader, 
Julia  Boraas. 

The  congregation  at  present  (1911.)  has  about  six  hundred 
members,  of  which  over  three  hundred  are  contirmed  and  admis- 
sible to  the  Lord's  Supper.  The  growth  is  gradually  increasing, 
although  some,  especially  young  people,  are  moving  out  every 
year,  as  the  situation  is  in  all  rural  districts.  Last  year  twenty- 
six  children  were  baptized  and  a  class  of  eighteen  was  confirmed 
in  the  holy  covenant  of  baptism.  Generally  every  other  Sunday 
and  Holy  day  in  the  year  service  is  held  in  the  church  by  the 
minister.  To  instruct  the  young  in  the  Christian  doctrine  accord- 
ing to  the  tenets  of  the  church,  Sunday  school  and  parochial 
school  are  taught.  To  prepare  for  confirmation  it  is  customary 
in  this  congregation  that  the  children  at  the  age  of  thirteen  or 
fourteen  years,  meet  the  minister  in  the  church  one  day  every 
other  week,  and  continue  for  two  years  before  confirmed. 

The  congregation  aids  to  maintain,  conduct  and  promote 
schools  for  instructing  and  training  ministers,  missionaries  and 
teachers,  and  also  to  promote  other  religious  and  charitable  work, 
such  as  orphans'  homes,  homes  for  old  people,  hospitals,  and  work 
for  the  missions,  ])ntli  home  and  foreign,  as  in  ^Madagascar  and 
China.  Tli(>  work  is  going  on  in  good  harmony  and  is  fulfilling 
that  Godlv  aim   for  wliicb  it  was  started. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  5:il 

Rev.  Osiuoud  Johnson,  the  present  pastor  (1911),  assumed 
the  pastorate  of  the  congregation,  October  1,  1898.  Born  on  a 
farm  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cambridge,  Story  county,  Iowa,  lie 
received  his  early  training  in  the  parochial  and  public  school  of 
that  locality.  On  November  29,  1879,  he  was  confirmed  in  the 
Lutheran  church  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Myhre.  Shortly  after  he  was 
confirmed,  he  was  urgently  solicited  by  Rev.  H.  C.  Holm  to  enter 
Augsburg  Seminary,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  This  institution  of 
learning  he  attended,  with  but  little  interruption,  from  January 
1,  1881,  to  April  1,  188i.  He  spent  the  balance  of  1884  and  all 
of  1885  on  the  farm.  In  the  spring  of  1886  and  the  winter  of 
1887  lie  taught  English  school  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of 
his  home.  In  the  fall  of  1887  he  entered  the  Iowa  State  Normal 
school  at  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  at  which  institution  he  graduated  in 
June,  1892.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  and  the  winter  of  the  fol- 
lowing one  he  was  a  student  of  the  Chicago  Theological  Sem- 
inary. Entering  the  United  Church  Seminary,  September  10, 
1893,  he  finished  the  theological  course  of  this  school,  May  2, 
1896.  July  23  of  the  same  year  he  was  ordained  to  the  Lutheran 
ministry  by  Bishop  Hoyme  at  Chippewa  Falls,  Wisconsin.  He 
served  the  congregations  at  South  Superior,  Wisconsin,  and  Ij'Ou 
River,  Wisconsin,  from  September  1,  1896,  to  August  1.  1898. 
October  1  of  the  same  year  he  moved  to  Blooming  Point,  Minne- 
sota, to  take  charge  of  the  Lutheran  church  of  that  place,  and 
of  the  congregation  of.  whose  history  this  sketch  forms  a  part. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

BENNINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 

Location  and  Advantages  —  First  Settlement  —  Early  Events  — 
Organization — Religious . 

Bennington  is  congressional  township  102  north,  range  14  west 
of  the  fifth  principal  meridian.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Frankford  township,  on  the  east  by  Fillmore  county,  on  the  south 
by  LeRoy  township,  on  the  west  by  Clayton.  The  surface  is 
gently  rolling.  While  there  is  but  little  natural  timber  the  abun- 
dance of  .shade  testifies  that  tree  planting  has  not  been  neglected. 
The  soil  is  a  dark  loam,  very  fertile.  A  branch  of  Root  river, 
rising  in  section  16,  runs  through  sections  1."),  11,  12  and  13,  from 
the  latter  of  which  it  crosses  the  eastern  boundjirv  of  llic  town. 


532  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

Tlie  first  settlement  was  made  iu  tlie  spring  of  1856,  by  Robert, 
Edwin,  Lucius  and  George  T.  Angell,  Austin  and  E.  J.  Hutchin- 
son, Ira  Emerson  and  E.  J.  Kingsbury,  all  from  New  York,  of 
which  state  they  were  natives.  Some  of  the  party,  after  their 
arrival  here,  Avent  further  on,  exploring  the  country  west  and 
south.  Apparently  finding  no  lands  which  suited  them  better, 
they  returned  and  all  settled  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town- 
ship. Here,  on  section  32,  with  all  practicable  dispatch,  they  put 
up  a  temporary  shelter  ingeniously  constructed  of  straw,  poles 
and  canvass,  deserving  of  mention  as  the  first  dwelling  of  the 
higher  order  than  the  wigwam  of  the  native,  within  the  liuiits  of 
Bennington. 

In  1857  came  Henry,  Joab  and  Stephen  Guy,  sons  of  James 
Guy,  who  established  themselves  in  the  east  part  of  the  tOAvnship, 
making  what  became  known  as  the  Guy  settlement. 

Later  came  William  Cooper,  John  Tanner,  Henry  Dunham, 
Fred  Willbright,  a  man  named  Beach  and  one  by  the  name  of 
Miller  W.  Kellner. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  birth  in  the  town  Avas  that  of  Florence  Angell.  in 
1855.  The  first  death  that  of  Mrs.  Robert  Angell,  in  1862.  The 
first  marriage  Avas  that  of  Augustus  Groby  and  Mary  Guy, 
Esquire  Tanner  officiating. 

ORGANIZATION. 

AVhen  the  state  Avas  admitted  in  1858,  Bennington  bore  the 
name  of  Andover.  The  northern  part  Avas  attached  to  Frankford 
and  the  southern  half  to  LeRoy.  In  the  autumn  of  1860  at  the 
house  of  Robert  Angell,  Avas  held  the  first  meeting  for  the  election 
of  officers  for  the  toAvn  of  Bennington.  The  folloAving  is  the  list : 
E.  J.  Kingsbury,  chairman  of  the  board ;  William  Kelnar  and 
Stepen  Guy,  supervisors;  Ira  Emmerson,  clerk;  G.  T.  Angell, 
justice  of  the  peace ;  AVilliam  Cooper,  assessor. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  Bennington  Norwegian  Evangelical  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion was  organized  May  15,  1896,  when  eleven  men  met  at  the 
residence  of  0.  H.  Norby  Avith  this  purpose  in  vicAV.  Rev.  0.  A. 
Bu.  Avho  Avas  present,  was  elected  president  of  the  meeting,  and 
N.  T.  Miland  was  chosen  secretary.  After  due  deliberation  the 
gentlemen  decided  to  organize  the  congregation  and  proceeded 
to  elect  officers  as  folloAvs:  President,  Rev.  O.  A.  Bu ;  seeretai-y, 
John  N.  Bjerke;  treasurer,  G.  H.  Iladland;  trustees,  Simon  N. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  533 

Holt,  0.  N.  Hegg  and  N.  T.  Miland.  For  four  years  the  congre- 
gation had  no  church  edifice  but  held  services  in  the  schoolhouse 
of  district  No.  102.  In  1900  funds  were  raised  and  a  church 
erected  on  section  21,  Bennington  township.  Rev.  0.  A.  Bu  was 
the  pastor  until  November,  1908,  Avhen  the  present  pastor,  Rev. 
J.  C.  Reiner,  succeeded  him. 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

NEVADA  TOWNSHIP. 

Location    and    Area  —  First    Settlement  —  Organization  —  First 
Events — Religious — Industries — Six  Mile  Grove  Settlement. 

Nevada  comprises  congressional  township  101  north,  range  17 
Avcst.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Windora,  east  by  Lodi, 
south  by  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  and  west  by  the  town  of  Lyle. 
The  surface  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  is  quite  level,  and  does 
not  drain  readily,  while  the  south  part  is  gently  rolling.  Six  Mile 
grove  (so  called)  is  located  in  this  township,  covering  portions 
of  sections  21,  28,  29,  30,  31  and  32.  This  was,  in  an  early  day, 
heavily  timbered.  The  most  of  the  virgin  timber  has  been  cut 
and  the  ground  is  now  covered  with  a  flourishing  second  growth. 
The  soil  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  is  a  black  loam.  In  the 
north  part  of  the  town  the  soil  is  a  very  dark  alluvial  deposit. 
The  soil  in  all  parts  of  the  town  is  very  rich,  and  grows  all  kinds 
of  cereals  and  grasses.  The  surface  of  the  township  is  drained 
by  Otter  creek,  which  has  its  source  in  this  town.  One  branch 
rises  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  26.  It  passes  across  the 
corners  of  sections  35  and  34,  then  courses  northwest  through 
sections  27  and  28.  It  then  takes  a  southwesterly  course  to  sec- 
tion 23.  thence  through  sections  30  and  31,  leaving  the  town  from 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  latter  section.  Another  branch  rises 
in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  flows  in  a  southerly  course  and 
makes  confluence  with  the  main  branch  in  section  28. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

When  the  town  Avas  first  settled  the  nearest  market  place 
was  ^IcGregor,  Iowa.  The  first  permanent  settlers  of  the  town 
Avere  natives  of  Norway.  IMost  of  them  brought  some  cattle  and 
hogs  to  town  with  them,  but  the  raising  of  pork  was  not  as  profit- 
able as  now,  for  oftentimes  after  teaming  the  pork  to  ^McGregor, 


524  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COU^'TY 

a  distance  of  120  miles,  they  were  obliged  to  sell  for  one  and  one- 
half  cents  per  pound,  dressed  weight.  McGregor  was  for  a  time 
their  wheat  market.  The  settlers  were  generally  provided  with 
ox  teams,  and  a  trip  to  market  generally  consumed  ten  or  twelve 
days,  but  in  stormy  weather  and  bad  roads  it  would  take  much 
longer.  It  was  the  custom  in  pleasant  weather  to  take  provisions 
along  and  camp  on  the  way,  but  this  would  not  answer  in  cold, 
stormy  weather  and  they  were  obliged  to  put  up  at  the  hotels 
along  the  route,  which  was  rather  expensive.  AVheat  often  sold 
as  low  as  forty  cents  per  bushel,  and  sometimes  the  expense  of 
the  trip  Avould  be  more  than  th,e  returns  for  the  wheat.  In  that 
case  the  tired  granger  would  return  home  with  empty  pockets, 
and  worse  than  all,  had  left  bills  behind  to  pay  on  the  next  trip. 
As  to  the  change  that  has  taken  place  no  one  can  fully  realize, 
except  those  who  have  experienced  it. 

This  was  one  of  the  first  settled  towns  in  the  county,  having 
been  first  settled  early  in  1854.  The  first  man  to  make  a  claim 
in  the  town  was  one  William  Allen,  formerly  from  ]\Iassacliu- 
setts.  He  claimed  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  29,  which 
was  valuable  on  account  of  the  timber  and  water.  Here  he 
erected  the  first  house  in  the  town,  if  it  can  be  called  a  house. 
It  was  of  logs,  8x10,  and  covered  with  basswood  bark.  Mr.  Allen 
made  no  improvement  whatever,  but  waited  patiently  for  some 
one  to  come  along  and  buy  his  claim.  In  October  of  that  year  he 
sold  to  Gunder  Halverson.  He,  however,  remained  on  the  place 
until  the  spring  of  1855,  when  he  moved  to  the  town  of  Lyle, 
where  he  stopped  for  a  time,  then  went  to  Oregon.  The  first 
permanent  settlement  in  the  town  was  made  by  Thor  Olson,  early 
in  tlie  spring  of  1854.  Olson  was  a  native  of  Norway,  who 
stopped  for  a  short  time  in  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  He  first  made 
a  claim  in  section  29.  He  then  built  the  second  house  in  town. 
It  was  also  a  log  house.  A  few  months  later  he  sold  that  claim 
and  located  another  in  sections  32  and  33.  He  afterwards  sold 
that  and  bought  land  in  sections  Ki.  17  and  21.  He  remained 
a  resident  of  the  town  until  1872,  when  lie  sold  and  moved  to 
Becker  county,  where  he  died  Septemlier  21,  1874.  Andreas 
Andresou,  Martin  Hanson  and  Peter  ]\Iartin  came  in  June,  1854 ; 
in  the  summer  came  Ole  and  Knud  Anderson,  Aslak  Olson,  Thrond 
Richardson,  Ole  Sampson,  Swan  Gorganson  and  Hans  Swensoii. 
In  1855  came  James  Gerard,  Knud  Tolleffson,  Nels  Olson;  in  185(), 
Thove  Larson,  Alak  Knulskaas,  Francis  Hersh,  II.  K.  Volstad  and 
others;  in  1857,  J.  W.  Gregg.  David  Austin  and  D.  B.  Nye  formed 
the  first  settlement  in  the  north  part  of  the  town.  Other  prom- 
inent settlers  who  came  later  were  L.  F.  Stark,  "W.  P.  Stewart, 
J.  P.  Jones,  Lyman  St.  John,  O.  C.  Brown,  H.  F.  Deming,  J.  H. 
and  C.  DeRemer,  E.  C.  Dillingham,  A.  C.  Bisbee,  Jesse  and  Ches- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  525 

ter  Rose,  S.  Clow,  P.  F.  Rooney,  Sara  Encrson,  J.  Solner,  and  C. 
Meyer. 

FIRST  EVENTS. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  town  was  Andi  Olson.  She 
Avas  born  in  Tlior  Olson's  shanty,  July  28,  1854.  The  second 
birth  was  Anna  Sampson,  August  25,  1854.  The  tirst  death  in 
the  town  was  Alak  Knulskaas.  His  death  occurred  in  April, 
1856,  at  forty-five  years  of  age.  His  family  returned  to  Iowa. 
The  first  marriage  in  the  town  was  Francis  Hersch  to  Helen 
]\Iartin,  February,  1856.  The  first  suicide  in  the  town  was 
"William  Rowlins,  who  shot  himself  early  in  the  spring  of  1857. 
Andrew  Peterson  hanged  himself  in  1882. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  town  was  organized  at  a  meeting  held  in  May,  1858,  at 
the  house  of  P.  A.  Bailey,  or  at  the  hotel.  The  town  records  are 
not  complete  and  we  cannot  give  a  full  list  of  the  first  officers. 
John  W.  Gregg  and  Gunder  Halverson  were  members  of  the  first 
board  of  supervisors.  P.  A.  Bailey  was  the  first  town  clerk. 
The  following  named  held  offices  in  the  town  in  the  early  days: 
H.  C.  Anderson,  Knud  Amundson,  David  Austin,  L.  F.  Stark, 
Francis  Hersch,  W.  P.  Stewart,  J.  P.  Jones,  Lyman  St.  John,  Ole 
Sampson,  D.  B.  Nye,  0.  C.  Brown,  H.  Knudson,  D.  P.  Baldwin, 
H.  F.  Deming,  C.  DeRemer,  E.  C.  Dillingham,  Peter  Martin,  A.  C. 
Bisbee,  Jesse  Rose,  S.  Clow,  T.  Olson,  Recker  Austin,  John  Ulwel- 
ling,  T.  Gotomson,  Ambrose  Thompson,  P.  F.  Rooney,  Henry 
Smith,  Herman  Eddy,  C.  J.  Searles,  G.  E.  Bisbee,  Ole  Aslackson, 
Sam  Enerson,  C.  Meyer,  Nels  Rasmusson,  C.  A.  Newman,  H.  K. 
Yolstad,  0.  N.  Nelson,  William  McFarland. 

SIX  MILE  GROVE. 

(By  L.  M.  Eggen.) 

Fifty-four  years  ago  Six  JNIile  Grove  was  a  forest  undisturbed 
by  tlie  European  emigrants.  The  first  Norwegians  to  settle  in 
this  part  of  the  state  arrived  in  1854  and  a  few  made  their  homes 
in  Nevada  township. 

Thor  Olson  Ovesaker  came  to  Six  Mile  Grove  forest  in  the 
year  1853  and  was  gone  during  the  winter,  but  came  back  to 
settle  here  in  the  spring  of  1854.  The  following  Norwegians 
moved  and  settled  into  this  forest  in  the  course  of  two  years: 
IIrus  Swenson  and  son  Christoffer,  Trond  Richardson  and  son 
Ole  T.,  Martin  Hanson,  Aslak  I-'"']atin.  Torges  Olson,  Trond  Bonde, 
Ole  Sampson,  Fredrick  I\rartin,  Joiiannes  Mai'tin,  Knut  Qualey, 
Ole  K.  Qualey,  Svend  Trasiniot,  Peter  ^Martin,  Gunder  Halverson, 


526  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Ole  Tliorson,  Halvor  Thorsou,  Andrew  Anderson  and  sons,  iJans 
C.  and  Anton. 

During  the  following  two  or  three  years  came :  Herman 
Amundson  and  son  Kuute,  Knut  Hage,  Franeis  Herch,  Thor  Lar- 
son, Halvor  Volstad,  Torbjorn  Enerson  and  sous,  Sam  and  Nels, 
Andrew  Bergeson  and  sons,  John  and  Hans,  Richard  Olsou, 
Jaraud  Olson,  Richard  Lunde,  Nels  Olson  and  son,  Ole  X. 

The  following  settled  here  between  the  years  1858  and  1868: 
Gunder  Kuutson,  Ole  Rue,  David  Nelson,  Torger  Lee,  Lars  Meyer 
and  son  Chris,  Knut  ToUefson,  Sven  Jacobson,  Jacob  Jacobson, 
Knut  Jacobson,  Jacob  Knutson,  Knut  Stoe,  Ole  Stoe  Sr.,  Ole  Stoe 
Jr.,  Jens  Stoe,  Knut  Lasteen,  Dreng  Augundson,  Bjorn  Jergen- 
son,  Lars  Olson  Tuve,  Gulbrand  Haslebrek,  Ole  Severson,  Andres 
Veslehagen  and  sons  Erick  and  Nels,  Lars  Arneson,  Gunder 
Austenson,  Talletf  Ostenson,  Andrew  Fimreit  and  son  Ingebret, 
Gulbrand  Morstad  and  son  T.  G.,  Ole  Lasteen,  Andrew  Peterson, 
Johannes  Arneson,  Even  Evenson  and  Ole  Evenson. 

These  well-known  people  had  all  belonged  to  the  Lutheran 
State  church  in  Norway,  and  while  some  probably  had  no  spiritual 
cravings,  others  were  yearning  for  the  bread  of  life  and  looked 
prayerfully  for  a  servant  of  God  who  could  preach  to  them  the 
word  of  salvation  and  administer  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord. 
The  nearest  Lutheran  church  was  at  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa,  where  the 
first  pioneers  were  obliged  to  go  with  their  infants  for  baptism 
and  the  young  people  for  instruction  in  religion,  preparatory  for 
confirmation.  Bridegrooms  also  went  with  their  brides  to  get 
the  blessings  of  the  church.  Pastors,  however,  visited  the  settle- 
ment several  times  and  gathered  the  people  for  devotional  serv- 
ices. Among  these  pastors  were  Reverends  Preus,  Clausen  and 
Otterson. 

During  the  war  the  following  brave  men  enlisted:  Rev.  C.  L. 
Clausen  as  chaplain,  Corporal  Knut  Amundson,  Johannes  Martin, 
Sam  Everson,  Christoffer  Swenson,  Jacob  Jacobson,  John  Ber- 
geson, Even  Evenson,  Ole  N.  Nelson  and  Thomas  Johnson. 

The  Six  Mile  Grove  Lutheran  Congregation  was  not  perma- 
nently organized  until  November  19,  1859.  On  that  date  the 
Six  ]\Tile  Grove  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  was  organized  and 
it  was  one  of  the  first  Scandinavian  Lutheran  churches  in  i\Iower 
county. 

The  first  business  meeting  of  the  chui'ch  was  held  under  the 
Big  Elm  on  the  Trond  Richardson  farm  in  section  29,  and  was 
continued  at  Qualey's  home. 

Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen  organized  the  congregation  and  served  this 
parish  until  1871.  He  Avas  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Olson,  of  St. 
Ansgar,  Iowa,  who  served  the  congregation  until  1878.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Prof.  B.  Gjeldaker,  of  Norway,  Avho  served  until 


HISTORY  OF  :\rOWER  COUKTY  527 

1882,  M-lien  Rev.  J.  Muller  Eggeu  took  charge  and  served  until 
January  1,  1906.  Since  that  time  Rev.  N.  N.  Esser  has  been  in 
charge.  Services  were  held  in  private  homes  and  schoolhouses 
until  the  year  1867,  when  the  church  was  erected.  The  building 
committee  was:  Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen,  Hans  C.  Anderson,  01c 
Sampson  and  Gunder  Knutson.  They  hastened  the  erection  of 
the  church  so  it  was  ready  for  use  in  1868.  Rev.  John  Olson 
dedicated  the  church. 

The  first  Ladies'  Aid  Society  was  organi/.ed  by  Rev.  Olson. 
This  organization  bought  the  church  bell,  which  cost  $325,  and  is 
one  of  the  best  in  this  section.  The  first  session  of  parochial 
school  held  in  the  settlement  was  in  Hans  Sweuson's  home  and 
also  in  a  log  cabin  on  section  32. 

School  was  held  in  different  homes  until  1865,  when  a  budd- 
ing was  erected  in  section  28  in  school  district  No.  11.  The  first 
parochial  school  teacher  was  Andreas  Pederson,  the  second  Lars 
Thaw,  and  the  third  Torger  Lee,  followed  by  Ekeland,  Stuvland, 
Standall,  Tollerand,  and  the  present  teacher,  D.  D.  Lione. 

Andi  Olson  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Nevada  town- 
ship, and  Mrs.  I.  K.  Everson  (nee  Anne  Sampson)  was  the  sec- 
ond. The  first  funeral  in  the  congregation  took  place  in  1856, 
when  Aslak  Knutskaas  was  buried,  having  died  at  the  age  of 
forty-five.  The  first  wedding  took  place  when  Helen  Martin  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Francis  Herch. 

The  congregation  conducts  a  Sunday  school  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  year,  with  an  attendance  of  about  fifty  scholars  and 
ten  teachers,  but  relies  mainly  on  the  instruction  at  home  and  in 
its  parochial  school  for  the  training  of  children  in  the  Christian 
faith. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are :  Pastor,  N.  N.  Esser ; 
teacher,  D.  D.  Lione ;  secretary,  K.  L.  Leidall ;  treasurer,  Nels 
Hangland ;  organist.  Miss  Bellena  Sampson  ;  janitor,  K.  L.  Leidall ; 
ushers,  C.  0.  Sampson  and  L.  M.  Eggeu.  Deacons — Erick  Ander- 
son, Ingebret  Anderson,  Ed.  D.  Nelson,  Aslak  Teiman,  T.  G. 
Morstad,  and  Knute  Jacobson.  Board  of  trustees — A.  P.  Martin, 
Talleg  Ostenson,  Ole  Ostenson,  Knute  0.  Rue,  A.  K.  Jacobson, 
and  Erick  Ingesether. 

At  the  present  time  the  congregation  has  a  membership  of 
about  520. 

INDUSTRIES. 

The  First  Mill  in  Nevada.  In  the  early  settlement  of  the  town 
the  nearest  mill  was  at  Decorah,  Iowa,  sixty-five  miles  distant. 
Some  of  the  settlei-s  had  no  teams,  and  the  distance  was  too  great 
for  one  to  pack  a  large  grist  -on  his  i)a"k.  Ole  Sampson  thought 
he  would  mend  the  matter  a  litllc  ;ui(l  keep  the  wolf  I'rom  the 


528  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

doer.  He  dug  out  the  top  of  an  oak  stump  so  that  it  resembled 
a  druggist's  mortar.  In  that  he  would  put  the  corn  and  mash 
it  by  means  of  a  solid  block  of  wood  attached  to  a  pole,  which 
was  balanced  on  a  post.  By  this  means  he  kept  his  own  as  well 
as  other  families  supplied  with  meal  for  nearly  two  years,  and 
to  use  the  words  of  Mr.  Halverson,  it  Avas  a  Godsend  in  those 
trying  days  of  1855  and  1856.  Gunder  Halverson  often  in  after 
years  related  the  following  incident  that  happened  in  an  early 
day,  when  corn  as  well  as  mills  were  scarce:  "I  was  going  to 
mill  and  went  around  to  the  neighbors  and  gathered  what  corn 
they  had — in  all  two  sacks.  I  then  proceeded  on  my  Avay.  On 
my  arrival  near  the  mill  I  found  I  had  a  stream  to  cross,  which 
was  so  swollen  by  recent  rains  that  I  would  not  ford  with  the 
team,  so  I  shouldered  a  sack  of  corn  and  started  to  cross  on  a 
log  that  had  been  felled  across  the  stream  for  a  foot  log.  "While 
walking  the  log  I  lost  my  balance  and  went  into  the  stream,  corn 
and  all.  The  sack  of  grain  was  lost ;  I  saved  myself  by  grasping 
a  root. that  protruded  from  the  bank,  and  pulled  myself  ashore. 
I  felt  that  I  would  rather  have  lost  $100  in  gold  than  to  have  lost 
the  sack  of  corn  at  that  time.  I  succeeded  in.  getting  the  other 
sacks  across  all  safe;  got  it  ground  and  returned  home."  Two 
creameries  have  flourished  in  this  township — Nevada  creamery 
in  the  northwest  corner  of  section  23,  and  Otter  Creek  creamery 
in  section  31. 

Nevada  village  was  platted  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  2,  township  101,  range  17,  March  7, 
1857,  by  James  Jarrard. 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

MINNESOTA  NATIONAL  GUARD. 

Second  Infantry  M.  N.  G. — Company  "G"  of  Austin — Company 
"  G "  in  the  Twelfth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  Spanish- 
American  War  —  OflBcers  and  Men  —  First  and  Present 
Officers— By  Col.  Arthur  W.  Wright. 

Company  G,  Second  Regiment  Infantry,  was  organized  in 
Austin,  September  8,  1882,  by  J.  S.  Anderson,  who  was  chosen 
captain.  At  first  the  company  was  organized  as  a  cavalry  troop, 
but  assigned  to  the  infantry  the  following  year.  It  first  met  at 
Armory  hall  and  later  at  Jones  hall.  The  original  officers  and 
noncommissioned   officers  were :     Captain,   James   S.  Anderson ; 


•OL.    ARTHUR    W.    WRIGHT. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  529 

first  lieutenant,  Horace  AV.  Elms;  second  lieutenant,  Frank  A. 
Richards ;  sergeants,  William  E.  Richardson,  William  J.  Schvvan, 
Luther  M.  Ober,  Edward  H.  Sterling,  Dwight  G.  Skinner;  cor- 
porals, Charles  E.  Huser,  Jacob  Weisel,  Thomas  Hillam,  Freder- 
ick G.  Knox,  Ira  Padden,  and  Samuel  G.  Sweningsen.  Privates, 
John  J.  Black,  William  M.  Cooper,  Frank  Dearborn,  Henry  P. 
Greenman,  Christ  Hall,  Charles  0.  Johnson,  Godfrey  Lauffle,  Wil- 
liam T.  Mollison,  William  H.  Merrick,  Thomas  E.  H.  Rochford, 
Miles  M.  Trowbridge,  Erick  AVestland,  Cornelius  Sullivan, 
Thomas  J.  Murphy,  Scott  Schumacher,  Albert  P.  Fredrich,  Charles 
E.  Clark,  George  B.  Corning,  Charles  J.  Gibson,  Henry  Herzog, 
Herbert  Hart,  Ole  Finhart,  Jr.,  Willard  T.  Leslie,  AVilliam  J. 
McLedoon,  Isaac  Patchin,  George  H.  Smith,  William  H.  Teeter, 
James  T.  Yates,  Lawrence  G.  Geraghty,  Leon  Dettlebach,  Frank 
B.  White,  and  William  A.  C.  Adams. 

The  company  numbered  forty-six  in  all.  Captain  Anderson 
died  at  the  hospital  at  Bremerton,  AVashington,  April  12,  1911. 
He  was  born  in  Pavillion,  New  York,  July  6,  1835.  Joined 
Company  F,  Twenty-fourth  Wisconsin  Volunteers  and  served 
three  years  in  the  rebellion.  For  eighteen  years  he  had  charge 
of  the  shops  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  road  at  Austin, 
jNUnnesota.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  St.  Bernard  Com- 
mandery,  K.  T.,  and  a  member  of  General  Grant  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
Bremerton,  of  which  he  was  past  commander.  In  1888  the  family 
moved  to  Seattle  and  later  to  their  present  home  in  Bremerton, 
Avhere  for  the  past  six  years  he  had  the  position  as  engineer  in 
the  navy  yard. 

The  company  has  been  in  the  continuous  service  of  the  state 
ever  since  its  organization,  except  that  pursuant  to  a  prejudiced 
report  of  the  then  Major  George  AY.  Mead,  made  January  30, 
1885,  it  was  mustered  out  and  made  the  Austin  Reserve  Alilitia. 
A  reinstatement  was  demanded  and  a  competitive  drill  for 
such  reinstatement  had  between  such  Reserve  Company  and  com- 
panies of  reserves  at  St.  Cloud  and  AA^adena.  It  was  reinstated 
without  the  loss  of  time  as  a  result  of  a  favorable  report  made 
by  Capt.  Ed  S.  Bean,  of  the  First  Infantry,  AI.  N.  G.,  dated 
Alay  6,  1885. 

The  membership  at  that  critical  time  in  the  history  of  tlie 
company  was  as  follows :  Allies  M.  Trowbridge,  captain ;  L.  A. 
Pierce,  first  lieutenant ;  Dwight  G.  Skinner,  second  lieutenant ; 
Alartin  B.  Davidson,  Fred  B.  AVood.  Henry  Greenman,  AYorthy 
S.  Sterling,  William  Theo.  Alollison,  AVilliam  Holt,  Lyman  Sher- 
Avood,  Charles  F.  Cook,  Thomas  Revord,  William  Crane,  Henry  W. 
Clark,  Charles  F.  Clark,  Nicholas  Nicholsen,  Clarence  D.  Heflin, 
William  A.  W'illard,  Lansing  0.  Hollister,  George  AVard,  Frank  H. 
Sterling,    Carl   Fairbanks,   Joseph    E.    Sehwan,    Smith    Davison, 


530  HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY 

Adelbert  "Wright,  Arthur  AV.  Wright,  Commodore  L.  Geraghty, 
Nordahl  B.  Sohier,  William  C.  Hocking,  James  M.  Engle,  AYilliam 
H.  Teeter,  AYilliam  M.  Vile,  Elmer  S.  Hall,  Jacob  Maueh,  Ira 
Padden,  AVilliam  G.  Hunter,  George  "W.  Bliss,  Suwarrow  A. 
Smith,  William  R.  Earl,  William  H.  Officer,  Levi  W.  Decker, 
Samuel  D.  Catherwood,  Charles  A.  Litchfield,  George  C.  Dodge, 
Tom  Hillam,  Oliver  C.  Comfort h,  Henry  Herzog,  Adelbert  B. 
Hunkins,  Landon  Taylor,  William  B.  Woods,  Sumner  A.  Emerson, 
Amil  H.  Retsloflf,  Wert  F.  Anderson,  and  D.  F.  Blythe,  privates. 
The  captains  of  the  company  have  been:  James  S.  Anderson, 
Miles  M.  Trowbridge,  John  A.  Sands,  Arthur  W.  Wright,  now 
colonel;  Fred  B.  AVood,  now  adjutant  general;  Alfred  C.  Page, 
now  regimental  adjutant;  Nicholas  Nieholsen,  now  major;  Lee 
M.  Sargent,  Charles  F.  Cook,  now  in  command.  The  first  lieu- 
tenants have  been :  Horace  W.  Elms,  Franch  A.  Richards,  Luvern 
A.  Pierce,  Ira  Padden,  Fred  B.  Wood,  Charles  F.  Cook,  Alfred 

C.  Page,  Nicholas  Nieholsen,  and  Frank  B.  Teeter.  The  second 
lieutenants  have  been:  Frank  A.  Richards,  James  E.  Crews, 
Dwight  G.  Skinner,  Henry  W.  Clark,  Arthur  W.  Wright,  Charles 
F.  Cook,  Ira  B.  Sherwood,  John  E.  Detwiler,  Nicholas  Nieholsen, 
Frank  B.  Teeter,  and  Peter  Johnson,  Jr.  The  present  officers  are : 
Charles  F.  Cook,  captain;  Frank  B.  Teeter,  first  lieutenant; 
Peter  Johnson,  Jr.,  second  lieutenant. 

Company  G  forms  a  part  of  the  Second  Regiment  Infantry, 
Minnesota  National  Guard,  which  consists  of  twelve  companies, 
with  headquarters  at  Austin.  It  is  officered  and  made  up  as 
follows :  Colonel,  Arthur  W.  Wright,  Austin ;  lieutenant  colonel, 
George  S.  AVhitney,  Faribault;  major,  Nicholas  Nieholsen,  Aus- 
tin; major,  John  Buschers,  New  Ulm;  major,  William  T.  Tdolli- 
son,  Faribault;  regimental  adjutant,  Capt.  A.  C.  Page,  Austin; 
lieutenant  and  surgeon,  Arthur  N.  Collins,  Austin.  There  are 
additional  staff'  officers  scattered  through  the  state. 

The  companies  are :    A,  New  Uhn  ;  B,  Faribault ;  C,  Winona ; 

D,  Northfield ;  E,  Fairmont ;  F,  Worthington ;  G,  Austin ;  H,  j\lan- 
kato ;  I,  Owatonna ;  K,  St.  Peter ;  L,  Redwood  Falls ;  M,  Madison. 

Major  Mollison  was  a  charter  member  of  Company  G,  the 
worthy  son  of  a  worthy  father,  Allan  ]Mollison,  one  of  the  few 
who  lived  to  recount  the  deeds  of  the  historic  First  ^Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-American  War.  Company  G 
volunteered  in  a  body,  others  being  mustered  in  to  bring  the  com- 
pany up  to  a  war  strcngtli,  and  became  Company  G  of  the 
Twelfth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  tlie  officers  and  men  who  made  up 
that  company:  PVed  B.  Wood,  captain;  Alfred  C.  Page,  first 
lieutenant;  Nicholas  Nieholsen,  second  lieutenant.     Noueommis- 


HISTORY  OF  MOW  HI!  COUA'TY  5:51 

sioned  officers :  Jacob  Nicholseu,  liist  sergeant ;  Charles  F.  Ellis. 
Q.  M.  S. ;  sergeants,  Lee  M.  Sargent,  Henry  F.  George,  Charles 
D.  Galloway,  Frank  B.  Teeter;  corporals,  Edward  P.  Kelly,  Nels 
K.  Christopherson,  Edward  C.  AValters,  Charles  AV.  Clark,  Wil- 
liam D.  Bassler,  Michael  A.  McCormick,  Charles  Ulmer,  Harry  I\I. 
Keyser,  Adolph  G.  Johnson,  Robert  N.  Castle,  Henry  McLain, 
George  C.  Fenton,  John  AV.  Howard;  Burnie  Maurek,  musician; 
Roy  A.  AVoodward,  musician;  Herbert  N.  Kendriek,  artificer; 
Henry  J.  Zender,  wagoner.  Privates:  Charles  J.  Alberts,  Jr., 
Swen  Anderson,  Moses  Buchanan,  Mason  I.  Chamberlin,  William 
H.  Cole,  Lynderman  AV.  Davis,  Jay  E.  Decker,  Thomas  Dowd, 
George  Duggan,  Max  F.  Erdman,  Cliford  A.  Fletcher,  George  L. 
French,  James  E.  Graham,  Frank  Hillam,  AVilliam  H.  Horrobin, 
Henry  Jerome,  Andrew  C.  Johnson,  James  S.  Jorgenson,  John 
Larson,  Louie  M.  Lettven,  Henry  Logas,  AVilliam  L.  ]\lack,  Gabriel 
A.  Mills,  James  Moran,  Jens  P.  Anderson,  Harry  AV.  Bershon, 
Edward  AV.  Carpenter,  Frank  Clark,  AValter  Curry,  Earnest  E. 
Daggett,  Riley  Dickerson,  George  H.  Dolphin,  Charles  A.  Egan, 
Guy  L.  Fairbanks,  Clarence  Freeman,  Fred  C.  Fredrickson,  Den- 
zie  M.  Grow,  Benjamin  Hormel,  Alvin  Hurlbut,  Jens  Jenson,  AVil- 
liam N.  Jordan,  Clifford  R.  Judd,  Fred  Larson,  Jay  Lockwood, 
George  K.  Lord,  Thomas  M.  Madden,  Frank  A.  Monty,  Oren  Mott, 
Charles  McAphin,  Nels  Newman,  Ole  K.  Ostegaard,  Albert  A. 
Peterson,  Chris  Peterson,  Mattheas  Ransch,  Donald  Robertson, 
David  S.  Smith,  George  F.  Todd,  Loren  Trenary,  Clarence  AVatt, 
Giles  H.  AVilsie,  Edward  AV.  Young,  Peter  T.  Mclntyre,  Hans 
Laurence  Olson,  James  E.  Parish,  Sven  0.  Peterson,  Mike  Picha, 
Paul  J.  Reynolds,  Joseph  Sistek,  Louis  Sorenson,  John  M.  Teeter, 
Avery  J.  Vermillyea,  Gustaf  F.  AVard,  and  Richard  E.  AVing. 

Private  AVilliam  H.  Burchell,  discharged  for  disability  at 
Camp  George  H.  Thomas,  July  28,  1898;  Musician  AVilliam  R. 
Crandall,  transferred  Regimental  Band,  May  23,  1898;  Musician 
Clarence  E.  AVoodward,  transferred  Regimental  Band,  May  23, 
1898;  Private  Norman  C.  Sutherland,  transferred  Regimental 
Band,  May  23,  1898;  Private  Roy  Atkinson,  transferred  to  Hos- 
pital Corps,  July  20,  1898 ;  Private  AVallace  L.  AA^oodward,  trans- 
ferred to  Hospital  Corps,  July  20,  1898 ;  Private  Frank  E.  Hub- 
bard, on  detached  service  as  cook  Third  Division  Hospital;  Pri- 
vate Elmer  Jeen,  transferred  to  Hospital  Corps,  October  14,  1898, 
and  also  on  detached  service ;  Sergeant  Guy  Herman,  transferred 
to  band,  October  26,  1898  (died  of  disease,  etc.)  ;  Sergeant  Har- 
vey A.  Chapin,  sick  at  Third  Division  Hospital,  July  25  to  Au- 
gust 23,  1898  (died  in  Third  Division  Hospital,  Camp  G.  H. 
Thomas,  August  23,  1898,  of  typhoid  fever)  ;  Private  Mikel  Mik- 
kelson,  sick  at  Third  Division  Hospital,  Camp  6.  H.  Thomas, 
August  8  to  19  (died  in  Third  Division  Hospital,  August  19,  1898. 


532  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

of  typhoid  fever)  ;  Private  Christen  (Christian)  Paulsen,  sick  at 
Third  Division  Hospital,  Camp  Hamilton,  August  28  to  30  (died 
August  30,  1898,  of  typhoid  fever)  ;  Private  Salva  Torgenson, 
died  at  Camp  Mueller,  New  Ulm,  October  25,  1898.  It  will  be 
seen  that  four  men  who  went  out  full  of  health  and  hope 
answered  the  grim  call,  victims  of  disease. 

The  Twelfth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry  went  into  camp  at 
Camp  Ramsey  (State  Fair  Grounds),  April  29,  1898,  was  mus- 
tered into  United  States  service  May  6,  1898.  Remained  in  Camp 
Ramsey  until  May  16.  Arrived  at  Rossville,  Tennessee,  May  19. 
Went  into  camp  at  Camp  George  H.  Thomas,  near  Lytic,  Georgia, 
May  20,  1898,  being  a  part  of  the  First  Brigade,  Third  Division, 
First  Army  Corps.  Removed  to  a  new  camp,  August  14,  1898. 
Removed  to  Camp  Hamilton,  near  Lexington,  Kentucky,  August 
22-24,  1898.  Left  Lexington  on  return  to  Minnesota,  September 
15,  and  went  into  camp  at  Camp  ]\Iueller,  near  New  Ulm,  Septem- 
ber 17,  1898.  September  22  furloughed  for  thirty  days.  ]Mus- 
tered  out  November  5,  1898.  During  this  period  the  regiment 
was  under  the  command  of  Col.  Joseph  Bobleter,  of  New  Ulm,  a 
thorough  soldier,  beloved  by  officers  and  men  alike.  The  First 
Battalion  Avas  under  the  command  of  Major  George  W.  Mead. 
The  Second  Battalion  was  under  the  command  of  Major  Arthur 
W.  Wright.  The  Third  Battalion  was  under  command  of  ]\Iajor 
George  S.  Whitney. 

Officers  and  men  longed  for  active  service  and  regretted  the 
inactivity  of  camp  life.  The  regiment,  Company  G,  and  all  the 
component  parts,  were  exceedingly  well  prepared,  drilled  and 
equipped,  and  no  better  body  of  soldiers  ever  answered  a  call 
to  arms ;  that  they  remained  inactive  was  no  fault  of  theirs ;  the 
war  was  too  short,  too  quickly  over,  to  require  them  at  the  front. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

EARLY  POLITICAL  HISTORY. 

Story  of  Early  Political  Parties  and  Contests  Told  by  Jacob  N. 
Nicholsen  —  East  and  West  Side  Fights  —  Nominees  and 
Results  of  Elections  in  Antebellum  Days — War  Time  Politics 
— Exciting  Days  for  Mower  County. 

The  early  political  history  of  Mower  county  is  interwoven 
with  her  general  liistory.  It  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  winnow 
out  those  facts  which  rcliilo  solely  to  llic  politics  of  the  com- 
munity Avithout  taking  witli  Ihciii  ;i  iiiiiss  of  related  information. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWP]K  COUNTY  533 

1855 — There  had  been  no  election  in  the  county  prior  to  the 
year  1855,  so  it  may  with  reason  be  said  that  the  history  of 
county  politics  begins  with  that  date.  The  Sixth  Territorial 
Legislature  in  February  of  that  year  had  established  the  bound- 
aries of  the  county.  On  July  25,  both  the  Republican  and  Demo- 
cratic state  conventions  were  held  at  St  Paul.  In  the  Repub- 
lican convention  Mower  and  Freeborn  counties  were  entitled  to 
sixteen  delegates  but  only  one  was  present  and  voted.  It  was 
not  a  question  of  Republican  and  Democrat  that  agitated  the 
voters  of  the  county  in  that  day,  for  the  Republican  party  had 
only  just  been  born.  In  fact,  it  was  not  a  question  of  politics 
anyway  that  interested  the  voters,  but  rather  the  question  of 
East  and  West;  whether  the  east  side  of  the  county  or  the  west 
side  should  control  the  county.  The  east  side  put  forward  as 
their  candidate  for  the  territorial  legislature  one  W.  B.  Covell,  a 
Democrat.  The  west  side  pinned  their  faith  to  A.  B.  Vaughan,  a 
Republican.  Under  a  tree  at  High  Forest  the  polls  were  spread 
and  when  the  ninety-seven  were  counted  it  was  found  that  A.  B. 
Vaughan  had  received  a  majority  of  the  votes.  Mr.  Covell,  how- 
ever, made  the  return  to  the  register  of  deeds  at  Houston,  and 
from  him  received  a  certificate  of  election  and  thereupon  quali- 
fied, was  sworn  in  and  took  upon  himself  the  duties  of  the  office. 

1856 — In  1856  Governor  Gorman  appointed  the  first  board  of 
county  commissioners  and  they  met  at  Frankford  on  April  7. 
George  White  and  Phillip  Howell  were  present.  William  Russell 
vras  absent.  It  was  their  duty  to  locate  the  county  seat.  Whether 
they  performed  that  duty  or  not  is  perhaps  a  question — it  is  dis- 
cussed elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  proceedings  of  the  county 
commissioners  and  the  actions  of  the  county  seat  removers  failed 
to  take  the  county  seat  question  wholly  out  of  politics  for  some 
time  thereafter.  Even  after  the  seat  of  the  county  government 
had  been  permanently  located  at  Austin,  an  attempt  was  made 
to  have  it  removed  to  Ramsey.  Two  tickets  were  before  the 
people  at  the  general  election,  which  was  held  on  October  14. 
The  "People's  Ticket"  was  put  up  by  the  westsiders  and  a 
"Union  ticket"  by  the  eastsiders.  The  candidates  on  these 
ticket  were  as  follows:  People's  ticket:  Representative,  J.  M. 
Berry;  register  of  deeds,  R.  L.  Kimball;  sheriff,  J.  B.  Yates; 
treasurer,  S.  P.  Bacon;  surveyor,  N.  P.  Todd;  commissioners. 
W.  B.  Spencer,  G.  H.  Bemis,  H.  C.  Blodgett;  judge  of  probate, 
A.  B.  Vaughan ;  coroner,  0.  Allen.  Union  ticket :  Representative, 
T.  H.  Armstrong;  register  of  deeds,  W.  B.  Covell;  sheriff,  J.  S. 
Pierson ;  treasurer,  G.  P.  Covell ;  surveyor.  M.  K.  Armstrong ; 
commissioners,  William  Spencer,  C.  F.  Hardy,  N.  Goodsell ;  judge 
of  probate,  C.  J.  Felch;  coroner,  J.  Pierce.  There  were  about 
375  ballots  cast.    The  People's  ticket  was  successful  tiu-oughout 


5^4  HISTOEY  OF  MOAVEE  COUXTY 

except  for  the  office  of  county  surveyor  —  Annstroug  beiny 
elected  to  that  office  by  a  majority  of  74.  The  other  Union 
candidates  were  defeated  by  about  forty  to  fifty  votes.  The 
Ciist  side  had  heretofore  been  more  favored  in  the  distribution  of 
ottiees,  but  now  it  passed  to  the  west  side,  Avhere  the  majority  in 
number  has  remained  ever  since.  All  but  two  of  the  olticers 
elected  at  the  election  of  1857  were  from  the  west  side,  whereas 
previous  thereto  the  east  side  had  all  but  two  or  three.  The  list 
of  the  candidates  at  this  election  discloses  many  names  whicii 
were  of  considerable  importance  in  the  subsequent  i^olilical  his- 
tory of  the  county.  J.  M.  Berry,  the  successful  candidate  for 
representative,  was  not  a  jMower  county  man.  His  home  at  the 
time  of  his  election  was  at  Lanesboro  in  Fillmore  county.  He 
subsequently  removed  to  Faribault,  in  Rice  county,  which  he 
represented  in  the  state  legislature  of  1863.  He  was  raised  to 
the  Supreme  bench  in  1864,  and  held  that  position  until  the  time 
of  his  death  in  1889. 

1857 — The  legislature  had  authorized  a  special  election  to 
determine  the  location  of  the  county  seat.  That  was  held  on 
June  1,  and  Austin  Avas  the  place  designated.  The  east  side 
electors  cast  their  votes  for  Brownsdale.  M.  Berry  had  put 
through  the  territorial  legislature  a  bill  to  cut  off  the  twelve 
north  sections  of  ranges  14  and  15,  thus  eliminating  the  voters  of 
High  Forest  from  the  county  seat  contest,  which  occurred  nine 
days  after  the  enactment  of  the  bill  into  law.  On  July  6,  pursu- 
ant to  the  vote  of  the  electorate,  the  county  commissioners,  by 
resolution  spread  on  its  records,  located  the  county  seat  definitely 
and  permanently  at  Austin,  Avhere  it  has  ever  since  remained. 
A  constitutional  convention  was  called  in  1857.  Each  repre- 
sentative district  was  entitled  to  two  delegates.  This  was  held 
to  mean  two  delegates  for  each  representative  and  two  delegates 
for  each  member  of  the  council.  The  constituional  convention 
was  particularly  important  at  this  time  on  account  of  the  slavery 
and  anti-slavery  agitation.  Mower  county,  with  Houston  and 
Fillmore,  constituted  the  Eighth  district,  and  it  was  entitled  to 
fourteen  delegates.  The  two  conventions,  holding  sessions  in 
either  wing  of  the  capitol  and  finally  adopting  the  instrument  of 
identical  wording  as  the  constitution  of  this  commonwealth,  l)e- 
longs  to  the  general  ratlier  than  tlic  political  history  of  the 
county.  The  representatives  from  tliis  district  seated  in  the  Re- 
publican wing  were  as  follows:  Alanson  B.  Vaughan,  Clark  W. 
Thompson,  John  A.  Anderson.  Charles  A.  Coe,  N.  P.  Colburn, 
Joseph  A.  McCann,  IT.  A.  Billings,  Charles  Hanson,  H.  W.  Holley, 
John  Cleghorn,  A.  H.  Butler,  Robert  Lyle  and  Boyd  Phelps.  The 
Democrats  coufcstcd  Lylc's  seat,  claiming  that  at  least  thirty-nine 
vdhi-s  ot    Ficchoin  cniinly  liad  crossed  the  imaginary  line  that 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  535 

marked  its  eastern  boundary  and  that  by  their  votes  Lyle  was 
elected  fraudulently  over  Thomas  Armstrong.  Armstrong  was 
seated  in  the  Democratic  wing  on  August  11,  but  was  not  on  the 
original  role  of  that  body.  James  C.  Day  was  the  fourteenth 
delegate.  He  was  the  only  uncontested  Democrat  from  this 
district,  and  Avith  his  brethren  of  the  same  political  faith  he 
occupied  a  seat  in  the  Democratic  convention.  In  the  general 
election  of  1857  the  following  named  persons  were  elected  to 
county  offices:  Clerk  of  court,  J.  E.  "Willard;  treasurer,  A.  S. 
Everest.  Everest  had  arrived  in  the  county  in  March  of  that 
year.  These  men  were  all  from  the  west  side.  On  the  state  ticket 
the  county  divided  into  Republican  and  Democratic  camps  but 
the  county  ticket  was  a  geographical  one. 

1858 — The  Republicans  put  in  nomination  for  the  various 
offices  the  following  men :  Senator,  H.  C.  Rogers ;  representative, 
S.  Bostwick ;  register,  D.  Blakely ;  sheriff,  G.  W.  Bishop ;  sur- 
veyor, C.  E.  Carter ;  auditor,  D.  B.  Johnson ;  coroner,  O.  Allen ; 
probate  judge,  no  candidate.  The  Democrats  also  had  a  ticket 
in  the  field,  as  follows :  Senator,  W.  B.  Covell ;  representative, 
0.  B.  Morse ;  register,  E.  AV.  Ford ;  sheriff,  J.  B.  Yates ;  surveyor, 
J.  P.  Jones ;  auditor,  Isaac  Smith ;  coroner,  Joseph  Richards ; 
probate  j,udge,  G.  M.  Cameron.  The  Democratic  candidate  for 
probate  judge  had  no  opposition  and  was  elected.  Otherwise  the 
whole  Republican  ticket  was  successful,  with  a  majority  of  about 
125  out  of  670  votes. 

]  859-1860 — The  sources  of  information  shed  no  light  upon  the 
political  situation  in  these  two  years  except  barely  to  register  the 
names  of  the  newly  elected  officers.  In  1859  T.  J.  Lake  was 
elected  treasurer;  Ormanzo  Allen,  auditor,  and  C.  J.  Short  was 
appointed  county  attorney.  In  1860  Solomon  Snow  was  elected 
register  of  deeds;  E.  D.  Fenton,  sheriff;  R.  A.  Sherwood,  clerk 
of  court,  and  Robert  Lyle,  judge  of  probate.  The  census  of  the 
county  taken  in  1860  disclosed  3,216  inhabitants.  In  December 
of  that  year  "The  Minnesota  Courier"  put  forth  its  initial  num- 
ber and  was  for  some  time  thereafter  of  considerable  importance 
in  the  politics  of  the  county.  The  Mower  County  "Mirror"  had 
been  tirst  published  in  1858.  The  Courier  was  a  Republican  jour- 
nal through  and  through  and  din-ing  the  time  of  the  Civil  war 
was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  administi*ation. 

1861 — Between  the  election  of  1860  and  January,  1861,  there 
appear  to  have  been  two  claimants  for  the  position  of  clerk  of 
court.  The  books  were  in  the  actual  possession  of  the  Democratic 
claimant  until  shortly  after  New  Y''ears  in  1861,  when  Lyman 
Sherwood,  tlie  Republican  claimant,  obtained  possession  of  the 
books  and  thereafter  held  the  office.  On  August  29,  the  Repub- 
lican convention  was  held  at  Frankford.     There  was  practically 


536  HISTOKY  OF  MOWP]R  COUNTY 

no  opposition  to  any  name  proposed  other  than  that  of  L.  A. 
Sherwood  for  clerk.  He  received  twenty-one  votes,  and  B.  F. 
Jones,  editor  of  the  Courier,  received  twenty.  Jones  in  his  next 
newspaper  issue  claimed  that  he  had  not  been  a  candidate.  The 
nominees  of  the  convention  were  as  follows:  Representative, 
S.  AV.  Bostwiek;  representative,  H.  C.  Rogers;  judge  of  probate, 
Robert  Lyle ;  treasurer,  Sylvester  Smith ;  clerk  of  court,  Lyman 
A.  Sherwood;  county  attorney,  Calvin  Short;  coroner,  O.  Alien. 
The  "Union"  party  had  a  state  ticket  in  the  field,  but  it  Avas 
withdrawn  by  the  state  central  committee  in  September,  leaving 
only  the  Republican  and  Democratic  tickets  in  the  state  contest. 
On  September  25  a  call  was  issued  for  a  Union  mass  meeting  to 
be  held  at  Brownsdale  on  the  28th.  It  bore  over  a  hundred  and 
fifty  signatures.  This  convention  put  the  following  persons  in 
nomination:  Representative,  H.  H.  Shook;  representative,  P.  C. 
Shetfield;  treasurer,  T.  J.  Lake;  clerk  of  court,  B.  F.  Jones; 
court  commissioner,  J.  T.  Sargeant;  county  attorney,  G.  M.  Cam- 
eron; county  commissioners,  Adam  St.  John,  J.  W.  Gregg,  and 
G.  T.  Angel.  The  vital  portion  of  the  platform  of  this  conven- 
tion was  contained  in  this  plank:  "Resolved,  That  we,  the  people 
of  Mower  county,  in  mass  convention  assembled,  do  hereby 
abandon  every  party  line  and  all  party  differences  and  rally  upon 
the  one  common  platform,  to  urge  an  unflinching  prosecution  of 
the  war,  to  save  every  inch  of  our  country's  soil,  to  save  every 
letter  of  her  constitution  and  every  principle  of  her  sacred  lib- 
erty." Jones,  the  nominee  of  this  convention  for  clerk  of  court, 
declined  to  run;  Lake,  its  candidate  for  treasurer  had  previously 
announced  himself  as  an  independent  candidate,  after  having 
been  defeated  for  renomination  in  the  Republican  convention. 
Hints  of  bad  business  methods  and  a  "reasonable  doubt"  as  to 
correctness  of  fees  collected  by  the  treasurer  were  used  against 
Lake.    The  whole  Republican  ticket  was  elected. 

1862 — March  1,  Mr.  Smith,  the  treasurer,  obtained  possession 
of  the  books  from  Mr.  Lake.  Lake  had  threatened  to  hold  them 
until  compelled  to  turn  them  over  by  process  of  law.  It  was 
claimed  that  lie  was  some  H^B,000  short  in  his  accounts.  IMr.  Lake 
had  on  hand  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  bank  bills,  state  script,  town 
orders,  etc.,  in  the  revenue  funds,  and  these  were  not  passing  at 
par.  The  county  commissioners  offered  to  stand  one-half  of  the 
loss  on  these  items  and  Lake  to  stand  the  other  half,  but  that  ho 
declined  to  do.  The  commissioners  ordered  suit  brought  against 
Lake,  but  before  the  papers  were  served  the  difficulty  was  ad- 
justed by  Lake  accepting  the  terms  offered  by  the  commission- 
ers. On  August  7  a  Republican  county  convention  was  held  at 
Brownsdale.  Austin,  Lansing,  Udolplio,  Red  Rock,  Frankford 
and   Adams    were   rej^resented.     ^Messrs.   Bostwiek,   Rogers   and 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  537 

Suow  were  elected  as  delegates  to  the  Republican  convention, 
which  was  held  at  Owatonna,  and  which  nominated  William 
"NVindom,  of  Winona  county,  for  representative  in  congress.  The 
regular  Republican  party  now  styled  itself  the  Union  Repub- 
lican party.  A  Union  Repi;blican  county  convention  was  held  at 
Austin  September  26 ;  the  nominees  were  as  follows :  Represen- 
tative, B.  D.  Sprague;  representative,  S.  P.  Bacon;  register  of 
deeds,  Soloman  Snow ;  county  auditor,  Ormanzo  Allen ;  probate 
judge,  Robert  Lyle ;  court  connnissioner,  D.  B.  Johnson,  Jr.; 
county  surveyor,  J.  T.  Jones;  sheriff,  E.  D.  Fenton.  The  Demo- 
cratic convention  was  held  at  the  same  village  the  day  follow- 
ing; its  nominees  were  as  follows:  Representative,  William 
Buck ;  representative,  Thomas  Gibson ;  register  of  deeds,  H.  H. 
Vale ;  county  auditor,  J.  M.  Wyckoff ;  sheriflf,  A.  D.  Brown ; 
court  commissioner,  Alonzo  Patchin ;  judge  of  probate,  Robert 
Reed.  A  Union  county  convention  irrespective  of  political 
parties  was  held  at  Brownsdale  October  11.  Its  call  was  signed 
"by  request  of  many  citizens."  It  put  this  ticket  in  the  field: 
Representative,  A.  B.  Vaiighan;  representative,  J.  M.  AVyckoff; 
register  of  deeds,  Sachett  Seers ;  county  auditor,  G.  M.  Cameron ; 
sherilf ,  James  T.  Sargent ;  probate  judge,  H.  I.  Parker ;  court 
commissioner,  B.  F.  Jones ;  surveyor,  J.  P.  Jones.  A  public  let- 
ter from  L.  N.  Griffith  to  G.  M.  Cameron  and  a  reply  from  the 
latter,  stating  that  he  would  perform  the  services  of  county 
auditor  for  a  salary  of  $250  per  annum,  instead  of  the  $500 
Avhich  had  been  paid,  brought  on  an  interesting  and  entertain- 
ing newspaper  correspondence  mainly  between  Mr.  Cameron  and 
C.  J.  Short.  At  times  it  was  considerably  more  pointed  and  per- 
sonal than  polite.  The  election  resulted  in  a  general  Republican 
A'ictory. 

18(33 — August  19.  tlie  state  convention  was  held.  The  call 
covered  "the  Republican  and  all  other  unconstitutional  Union 
men  who  are  earnest  and  honest  supporters  of  the  administra- 
tion." Mower  county  had  two  votes  out  of  129.  The  Republican 
county  convention  was  held  at  Fraukford  August  12.  It  put  in 
nomination  the  following  candidates :  Senator,  B.  D.  Sprague ; 
representative,  Royal  Crane;  representative,  Augustus  Barlow 
(botli  from  Dodge  county);  treasurer,  Sylvester  Smith;  c(mnty 
attorney,  11.  R.  Davidson :  county  commissioner,  J.  E.  Robinson. 
Le  Roy  sent  two  delegations.  The  convention  seated  one-half  of 
each  delegation  and  allowed  each  to  select  its  own  delegate.  The 
Democrats  called  their  county  convention  for  August  15.  at  Aus- 
tin, to  elect  delegates  to  attend  the  state  convention  at  St.  Paul. 
Their  nominees  for  county  officers  were  as  follows:  Senator, 
V.  P.  Lewis;  r'^presentative,  Jolin  Fulton;  representative,  James 
M.  Rider;  treasurer,  John  Af.  Wvckofl';  attornev,  O.  B.  TVIorse : 


538  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

court  commissioner,  E.  Beldin.  The  Republican  ticket  carried 
ill.?  election  by  about  five  to  one.  There  was  no  People's  ticket 
in  the  field.  In  Lyle  and  Nevada  there  wasn't  a  Democratic  vote 
cast. 

.1864 — The  Republican  county  convention  Avas  held  at  Browns- 
dale  September  1,  with  ten  precincts  represented.  The  party 
was  now  designated  as  "Union,"  "Union  Republican"  and  "Re- 
publican Union"  as  well  as  "Republican."  It  placed  the  fol- 
lowing named  men  in  nomination:  Representative,  Royal  Crane; 
representative,  C.  D.  Tuthill ;  register  of  deeds,  E.  A.  Hudson; 
auditor,  Ormanzo  Allen;  sheriff,  W.  F.  Grummon ;  attorney,  C.  J. 
Short;  probate  judge,  Robei't  Lvle;  court  commissioner,  E.  B. 
Crane;  surveyor,  A.  B.  Vaughan.  On  the  first  formal  ballot  for 
register  of  deeds  Hudson  and  Soloman  Snow  tied.  The  Demo- 
cratic county  convention  was  held  at  the  same  place  two  days 
latter.  Its  nominees  Avere  the  following :  Register  of  deeds, 
L.  R.  Hathaway;  auditor,  0.  B.  Morse;  sheritf,  J.  F.  Smith;  pro- 
bate .iudge,  Benjamin  Carll ;  attorney,  G.  M.  Cameron ;  court  c*jm- 
missioner,  li.  Stewart.  Soloman  Snow  came  out  as  an  inde- 
pendent candidate  for  register  of  deeds  and  was  successful. 
Otherwise  the  election  was  solidly  Republican.  The  Republicans 
were  usually  known  as  "Union"  and  the  Democrats  were  st.yled 
"Copperhead"  by  their  Republican  opponents. 

1865 — The  Union  county  convention  Avas  held  at  Austin  Sep- 
tember 1.  The  nominees  Avere :  Representative,  C.  J.  Felch ; 
representative,  D.  B.  Johnson,  Jr.;  treasurer,  Sylvester  Smith; 
clerk  of  court,  L.  A.  SherAvood.  The  Democratic  convention  AA-as 
held  at  the  same  time  and  place  and  put  in  nomination:  J.  i\L 
Wyekotf  for  representative ;  Armando  Sprague  for  representa- 
tive; Martin  Litchfield  for  treasurer;  James  B.  Clark  for  clerk 
of  court.  Henry  C.  Rogers,  of  IMoAver  county,  was  the  Union 
nominee  for  secretary  of  state.  The  Union  candidates  Avere 
elected. 

1866 — In  March,  Judge  Lyle  resigned  from  the  office  of  pro- 
bate judge.  The  county  commissioners  approved  Ormanzo  Allen 
to  fill  the  vacancy.  Lyle  resided  on  a  farm  south  of  Austin  eight 
or  ten  miles  and  the  traveling  necessary  to  carry  liim  to  his  post 
of  duty  was  tiresome  to  him.  He  had  been  a  good  officer  so  far 
as  a  layman  could  fill  a  judicial  office.  On  February  7,  an  anti- 
monopoly  convention  was  held  at  St.  Paul.  It  was  presided  over 
by  T.  H.  Armstrong,  of  High  Forest.  The  main  object  of  the 
convention  was  to  obtain  loAver  freight  rates  on  the  river  boats 
and  to  hurry  the  construction  of  railroads  in  and  into  this  state. 
On  September  5,  Sherman  Page  entered  into  the  office  holding 
position  of  tlie  state  by  being  appointed  to  the  office  of  superin- 
tendent of  schools  at  a  salary  of  $400  per  year.     He  assumed 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  539 

office  iu  October.  Practically  his  first  move  was  to  eutcr  iuto  a 
newspaper  controversy  with  Joseph  B.  Tallman,  his  predecessor, 
in  reference  to  the  October  teacher's  institute.  At  Le  Roy,  on 
September  15,  the  Republican  party  held  its  county  convention. 
There  were  contests  for  half  the  places,  but  it  apparently  en- 
gendered no  ill  feeling.  The  convention  nominees  were  as  fol- 
lows: Representative  (west  side),  D.  B.  Johnson,  Jr.;  repre- 
sentative (east  side),  C.  J.  Felch;  register,  S.  Snow;  auditor,  IT. 
M.  Allen ;  sheriff,  D.  J.  Tubbs ;  attorney,  E.  0.  Wheeler ;  probate 
judge,  Orraanzo  Allen;  surveyor,  J.  P.  Jones;  court  commis- 
sioner, Ormanzo  Allen ;  coroner,  D.  0.  Allen.  The  party  designa- 
tion was  now  Republican  only^ — the  word  Union  having  been 
dropped,  but  it  was  still  used  in  the  newspapers  as  part  of  the 
party  name.  The  word  Union  was  not  eliminated  from  the  poli- 
tics of  the  day,  for  the  Democrats  promptly  adopted  it  as  their 
own,  and  called  their  convention  under  the  name  of  "Conserva- 
tive Union  Party."  It  met  at  Austin  September  22  and  placed 
in  nomination  the  following  candidates:  Representative,  An- 
drew D.  Brown;  representative,  Wallace  Brownson;  register, 
Simon  P.  Stewart ;  auditor,  0.  B.  Morse ;  attorney,  A.  A.  Wright ; 
probate  judge,  J.  M.  Vandegrift ;  court  commissioner,  Ormando 
Sprague.  Both  representatives  were  from  the  west  side.  Reso- 
lutions approving  the  ease  of  President  Johnson  were  adopted. 
The  election  on  November  6  was  preceded  by  political  apathy 
and  resulted  in  a  clear  Republican  victoiy  in  the  county  of  about 
four  to  one. 

1867.  The  fall  elections  resulted  iu  sending  D.  A.  Shaw  and 
E.  K.  Proper  to  the  legislature  and  Sylvester  Smith  was  elected 
county  treasurer. 

1868.  The  new  county  court  house  entered  into  the  politics 
of  the  year.  D.  J.  Tubbs,  of  Austin,  was  the  contractor  and 
$6,450  the  contract  price.  Considerable  feeling  manifested  itself 
in  reference  to  the  contract  and  its  performance.  The  court  house 
and  the  Austin  school  house  were  the  cause  of  many  rancorous 
debates — on  the  streets  and  in  the  press — and  assisted  materially 
in  dividing  the  voters  of  Austin  into  the  two  camps  which  for 
some  years  after  waged  continual  warfare  on  each  other.  A  wide 
breach  opened  between  Mr.  Page,  the  school  superintendent,  and 
the  school  board,  and  the  controversy  waxed  warm  indeed — to 
the  detriment  of  the  school  and  its  work.  The  Mower  County 
Transcript  entered  the  field  at  Lansing  in  April  and  plunged 
boldly  into  the  political  arena.  April  25  a  Republican  club  was 
formed  at  the  county  seat,  not  for  the  purpose  of  fostering  the 
interests  of  the  party  in  general  but  rather  for  the  purpose  of 
controlling  the  coming  charter  election  at  Austin.  Following  the 
one  came  anotlier.     Attempt.s  wei-c  made  to   liririiioiiizc  the  two 


540  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

organizations,  but  the  attempts  proved  futile.  The  result  was 
that  the  Democrats  made  a  clean  sweep  in  the  charter  election, 
excepting  only  the  minor  office  of  civil  justice. 

June  24  the  Republicans  held  their  county  convention  at 
LeRoy  for  the  purpose  of  electing  delegates  to  attend  the  district 
convention  at  Owatonna.  The  county  was  divided  between  Dun- 
nell  men  and  "Wilkinson  men.  These  diflt'erences  had  become 
pronounced  prior  to  the  town  caucuses  and  much  ill  feeling  was 
engendered.  Frankford  had  gone  so  far  as  to  send  two  delega- 
tions to  LeRoy.  The  convention  was  apparently  in  the  hands  of 
the  AVilkinson  men  and  the  temporary  organization  was  per- 
fected by  them.  The  Bunnell  men  outvoted  them  on  the  question 
of  election  of  a  permanent  chairman,  but  the  temporary  organi- 
zation refused  to  give  way  to  the  majority.  Inflammatory 
speeches  with  taunts  and  threats  soon  broke  up  the  body,  so  that 
it  Avas  unable  to  work.  The  Bunnell  men  withdrew  from  the 
school  house  convention  and  called  their  own  meeting  to  order 
in  the  depot.  Each  elected  its  own  set  of  delegates  to  the 
Owatonna  convention,  and  at  Owatonna  the  fight  was  renewed. 
The  credentials  committee  declined  to  pass  on  the  merits  of  the 
claims  of  the  two  contending  factions.  After  six  hours  of  ran- 
corous debate  on  the  floor  of  the  convention,  after  the  "lie"  had 
been  passed  and  even  blows  exchanged,  the  Bunnell  delegates 
elected  in  the  rump  convention  Avere  seated.  M.  S.  Wilkinson, 
however,  was  on  the  thirty-seventh  ballot  nominated -for  repre- 
sentative. In  the  depot  convention  at  LeRoy  caustic  resolutions 
were  passed;  among  them  was  one  pledging  work  and  votes 
against  Sylvester  Smith,  the  county  treasurer. 

In  the  Bemocratic  county  convention,  held  at  Austin  July  28, 
for  the  purpose  of  electing  delegates  to  the  district  convention, 
there  were  but  four  precincts  represented.  The  factional  fight 
at  LeRoy  was  carried  into  the  regular  fall  Republican  convention, 
which  was  held  at  Lansing  September  16.  One  faction  met  in  the 
school  house  and  the  other  in  the  church.  The  school  house  con- 
tingent contained  the  same  faction  which  had  held  the  LeRoy 
convention  in  the  school  house  and  the  church  organization  was 
the  LeRoy  depot  faction.  The  nominees  of  each  faction  were  as 
follows:  School  house — Auditor,  II.  ]\L  Allen;  register,  J.  T. 
Williams;  attorney,  C.  J.  Shortt ;  judge  of  probate,  C.  F.  Hardy; 
surveyor,  II.  S.  Burke ;  coroner,  Orlenzer  Allen ;  sheriff,  Allan 
Mollison.  Church— Auditor,  W.  G.  Telfer;  register,  George  W. 
Robinson;  attorney,  J.  E.  Robinson;  probate  judge,  J.  P.  Jones; 
surveyor,  L.  M.  Gaskell;  coroner,  T.  H.  Sherman;  sheriff,  J.  M. 
McKee.  The  Democratic  county  convention  met  at  Austin 
October  2,  with  every  precinct  represented.  Its  nominees  were 
as  follows:     Auditor,  J.  M.  Wyckoff;  register,  L.  R.  Hathaway; 


IIISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  541 

probate  judge,  0.  B.  Morse ;  attorney,  G.  M.  Cameron ;  surveyor, 
A.  D.  Brown;  coroner,  P.  C.  Berry.  Hathaway  was  elected  reg- 
ister of  deeds,  otherwise  the  nominees  of  the  Lansing  school  lioiise 
convention  were  successful. 

1869.  Smith,  the  county  treasurer,  was  under  fire,  and  on 
March  16  his  resignation  was  accepted.  Litigation  later  arose  in 
respect  to  his  official  conduct.  Two  years  later  the  board  of 
county  commissioners  ordered  suit  brought  against  him  on 
account  of  money  converted.  October  15  the  Republican  county 
convention  was  held  at  Adams.  The  Page  and  anti-Page  fight 
which  occupied  the  boards  in  Mower  county  politics  had  now 
become  serious.  The  Page  faction  claimed  to  be  a  reform  move- 
ment and  only  sought  office  for  the  purpose  of  purifying  the 
county  politics  by  ousting  the  "ring." 

The  nominees  of  the  convention  were  "Reform"  men  and 
were  as  follows:  Representatives,  W.  G.  Telfer,  H.  A.  Brown; 
treasurer,  J.  S.  Irgens;  clerk  of  court,  John  F.  Atherton;  court 
commissioner,  E.  0.  AVheeler.  Sherman  Page  was  elected  chair- 
man of  the  county  central  committee. 

On  the  same  day  the  Democratic  convention  was  held  at 
Austin  and  placed  in  nomination  the  following  men :  Representa- 
tives, G.  M.  Cameron,  L.  E.  Pearce ;  treasurer,  J.  M.  Wyckott' ; 
clerk  of  court,  C.  J.  Paddock;  court  commissioner,  E.  B.  Clark. 
L.  A.  Sherwood  ran  independent  for  clerk  of  court.  The  election 
was  a  close  one  and  the  two  parties  obtained  even  honors.  Cam- 
eron and  Brown  were  sent  to  the  legislature.  Irgens  was  elected 
treasurer;  Atherton,  clerk.  Clark  was  returned  as  being  elected 
court  commissioner  by  a  plurality  of  one  vote,  but  E.  O.  AVheeler 
was  sworn  in  and  held  the  office. 

1870.  The  political  complexion  of  the  tickets  were  now  Page 
and  anti-Page.  The  Democratic  ticket  resolved  itself  into  a 
"People's"  ticket,  in  opposition  to  the  Republican  ticket  which 
was  known  as  a  Page  ticket.  The  Republican  convention  Avas 
held  at  Brownsdale  October  11  and  nominated  the  following  men : 
Representatives,  H.  W.  Page,  W.  G.  Telfer ;  auditor,  J.  P.  Will- 
iams; register  of  deeds,  G.  W.  Robinson;  sheriff,  A.  B.  INIeiggs; 
probate  .judge,  Jesse  Rose ;  attorney,  L.  Bourgard ;  surveyor,  G. 
W.  Clough.  The  People's  convention  was  held  the  day  previous 
and  nominated  the  following:  Representatives,  A.  E.  Peck,  A.  D. 
Fairl)anks;  auditor,  H.  II.  Shook;  register  of  deeds,  J.  D.  Allen; 
sheriff,  Allan  jMollison ;  attorney,  G.  M.  Cameron ;  probate  judge, 
L.  N.  Griffith;  coroner,  W.  L.  HoUister;  surveyor,  P.  D.  Vaughan. 
Bunnell  was  elected  to  congress  over  his  Democratic  oppoiu^nt, 
Buck,  by  two  to  one,  but  all  the  county  nominees  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket  met  defeat.  The  campaign  had  been  a  mud- 
slinging  one,  the  most  scurrilous  articles  were  published  in  tin- 


542.  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COU^'TY 

papers  and  each  party  most  bitterlj'  denounced  the  other.  It  was 
a  part  of  the  Page  and  anti-Page  tight  which  continued  through 
the  impeachment  of  Judge  Page  and  even  until  his  removal  from 
the  state  some  time  thereafter,  and  which  is  handled  elsewhere  in 
this  work. 


CHAPTER  L. 
EARLY  SETTLERS. 


Land  Office  Records — Date  of  First  Claims  Taken  in  Each  Town- 
ship With  the  Names  of  the  Pre-emptors — Honor  Roll  of 
Those  Who  Braved  the  Hardships  of  Pioneer  Life  and  Ful- 
filled the  Government  Requirements  of  Actual  Residence 
in  the  Earliest  Days— Old  Settlers'  Association. 

The  question  of  the  first  actual  settlement  in  a  county  is  al- 
waj^s  a  matter  of  doubt.  This  is  the  ease  of  Mower  county.  The 
time  has  come  when  these  questions  should  be  agreed  upon  con- 
clusively. There  have  been  those  in  time  past  who  have  denied 
that  the  McQuillan  party  reached  Racine  in  1852.  However,  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  this  first  settlement  Avas  duly  celebrated  in 
Austin  in  1852,  and  the  date  is  now  generally  agreed  upon.  In 
regard  to  the  settlers  of  1853,  some  would  place  many  of  the 
settlers  of  1854  one  year  earlier  in  history.  In  those  days  the 
frontiersmen  did  not  keep  diaries,  and  their  testimony  in  after 
years  was  vague  and  uncertain.  However,  it  is  certain  that 
whatever  forerunners  of  civilization  came  in  in  1852  and  1853 
no  claims  were  filed  until  1854,  and  the  one  claim  filed  that  year 
is  not  now  in  Mower  county.  There  were  many  claims  filed  upon 
in  1855  and  a  great  number  in  1856. 

In  previous  chapters  has  been  told  the  story  of  the  early  set- 
tlement of  the  various  townships  as  commonly  accepted  in  years 
past  by  the  old  settlers  themselves.  However,  there  is  one  in- 
fallible witness  as  to  what  settlers  were  actually  here  in  the  early 
days.  The  land  ofiSce  records  of  the  United  States  government 
are  still  in  existence,  and  these  records  show  the  actual  settlers 
of  the  earliest  days. 

In  the  following  article  is  given  the  names  of  those  who 
pre-empted  land  in  the  days  when  the  land  was  open  to  home- 
stead settlement.  The  section,  tlie  name  of  the  settler  and  the 
date  the  claim  was  proved  up  are  given. 

The  names  are  dim  and  faded  and  often  misspelled,  while  in 
some  instances  tlic  handwriting  is  misleading.  However,  with 
the  exception  of  minor  mistakes  which  may  occur  in  the  spelling 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  543 

of  names  llie  following  is  the  correct  list  of  the  first  homesteaders. 
In  eases  where  the  claimant  entered  land  in  more  than  one  sec- 
tion only  the  first  section  is  given. 

Some  of  these  settlers  stayed  and  became  distinguished  citi- 
zens. Others  moved  away  after  selling  their  claims  to  others. 
But  their  names  still  remain  on  the  honor  roll  of  Mower  county. 

In  the  following  list  the  lines  of  the  government  townships 
have  been  followed.  Some  of  those  given  in  Frankford  are  now 
included  in  the  southern  tier  of  townships  in  Racine,  while  a 
few  given  in  Pleasant  Valley  and  Racine  were  afterward  cut  ofi:' 
and  put  in  Olmsted  county: 

Bennington.  Township  102,  range  14.  The  first  claims  taken 
in  this  township  were  in  1856.  Those  who  filed  that  year  were : 
1 — Henry  M.  Slater,  August  23 ;  Vernon  Townsend,  June  21 ; 
John  Fegin,  November  1;  Seth  A.  Brooks,  September  22;  2— 
John  De  Groodt,  November  22 ;  3 — James  Marrin,  December  2 ; 
4 — Samuel  Bardiu,  December  3;  8 — Johnston  Horner,  December 
10 ;  9 — John  Gardner,  December  8 ;  William  AVallace  ;  December 
6 ;  John  Sullivan,  December  6 ;  10 — William  Haney,  December  6 ; 
George  W.  Wood,  November  25;  Charles  Lamb,  November  13; 
12 — Nelson  Moore,  November  24 ;  William  Chadister,  June  21 ; 
13 — Samuel  B.  Decker,  May  9;  17 — Robert  Horner,  December 
10 ;  William  Horner,  Decem.ber  10.  Those  who  took-  claims  in 
1857  were:  1 — Charles  L.  Walker,  January  15;  Martin  McTigue, 
September  14;  2 — Charles  N.  Walker,  January  15;  George  W. 
Campfield,  September  5;  3 — George  AV.  Cummings,  September 
15;  Frederick  A.  Abbott,  May  5;  Charles  Watson,  June  17;  4 — 
Aaron  Dunn,  February  4 ;  George  Dunn,  February  4 ;  Martin  F. 
Bigby,  August  24;  5 — Abial  Sessions,  June  8;  Mary  S.  Baldwin, 
September  4;  Basil  Bishop,  September  21;  8 — Nicholas  Black- 
man,  July  1 ;  John  L.  Ellis,  July  1 ;  11 — Seymour  Cummings, 
October  10 ;  James  Hawks,  August  27 ;  William  B.  Nickolls,  De- 
cember 22 ;  13 — Samuel  Parks,  September  5 ;  Henry  Guy,  Sep- 
tember 1;  14 — Jacob  Heidell,  June  5;  15 — Seeley  W.  Laraway, 
August  1 ;  22 — Charles  E.  Peabody,  September  1 ;  Luther  Ben- 
nett, November  7 ;  23 — Joseph  Purdie,  January  2 ;  Charles  Sim- 
mons, January  2 ;  24 — Hiram  Pancost,  August  19 ;  George  W. 
Farmer,  August  19;  25 — Luther  T.  Ninkler,  September  14;  27— 
Joseph  Meliveg,  November  27;  James  N.  Coe,  September  24; 
28 — Benjamin  Dorance,  December  16;  30 — Elisha  Walden,  Sep- 
tember 3;  31 — Herbert  Farnsworth,  September  3;  John  McFad- 
din,  April  29;  32— Jffhn  Walden,  July  16;  George  T.  Angel,  June 
9;  33— Henry  S.  Hathaway,  October  15;  34— Willard  C.  Hull, 
September  24;  Ann  Page,  October  6;  Austin  Cole,  September 
29;  Richard  Hall,  October  6;  35— Henry  Coe,  September  24; 
Stephen  B.  Field,  August  22;  John  Bary,  September  29. 


544  HISTORY  OF  MOAVEE  COUXTY 

Lyle.  Township  101,  range  18.  The  first  claims  taken  in  this 
town  were  in  1855.  Those  who  filed  that  year  were :  3 — James 
Foster,  April  28 ;  ^^Return  B.  Foster,  April  28 ;  17— George  AY. 
Jordan,  November  2.  Those  who  filed  in  1856  were:  3 — Charles 
E.  Bigelow,  August  12;  Van  Ranslaer  Petis,  November  21;  -1 — ■ 
John  Phelps,  July  21;  Eben  L.  ^Merry,  June  14;  John  Tifiit,  July 
3;  7 — Hannah  E.  Leverich,  November  12;  Charles  Shepard,  No- 
vember 17 ;  Matilda  Leverich,  November  12 ;  8 — Charles  D.  Rice, 
June  30;  9— Robert  Ralph,  November  18;  Robert  P.  Tifl:'t,  July 
3;  10 — John  S.  Greggs,  November  21;  15 — AYilliam  A.  Ware,  De- 
cember 26 ;  Calvin  W.  Pierce,  September  29 ;  17 — Gilbert  Bustin, 
November  18;  18— Orin  M.  Harris,  July  30;  19— Samuel  Mc- 
Cluer,  October  17 ;  20 — Alexander  Johnson,  September  -i ;  Sam 
Ritter,  August  14;  D.  J.  Grant,  September  29;  21— Ezra  D. 
Ames,  July  21 ;  22 — D.  J.  Grant,  September  29 ;  Lyman  Sprague, 
August  27;  27 — Moses  Gage,  August  26;  ]\Iatilda  Sprague,  No- 
vember 28;  28 — William  Ford,  November  19;  Horace  E.  Sprague, 
November  20;  30— D.  Mosher,  November  18;  31— Robert 
Fletches,  October  1 ;  Edward  Kesbaugh,  October  3 ;  James  M. 
Garden,  September  19 ;  Henry  Vanaker,  September  19 ;  32 — 
Thomas  J.  Duncas,  June  20 ;  Orlando  Wilder,  June  20 ;  N.  Wilder, 
June  20;  33 — Fredrick  Ebbers,  November  28;  Benjamin  T.  Coe, 
June  20;  Joseph  Richards,  June  20;  William  N.  Bean,  June  20; 
35 — ^Herman  Warner,  December  18 ;  Stephen  R.  Douglas,  Decem- 
ber 18;  Joseph  T.  Donnivan,  December  18. 

Nevada.  Township  101,  range  17.  Nearly  all  the  first  claims 
taken  were  in  1857.  Those  who  filed  that  year  were :  7 — Alden 
H.  Chaflin,  September  22;  Barnabas  D.  Nye,  September  22;  8— 
Charles  C.  Oaks,  December  2 ;  10 — William  G.  Saunders,  May 
5 ;  Ruben  Jones,  June  11 ;  14 — William  Gabespie,  June  22 ;  15 — 
Jonathan  W^aterman,  September  23;  17 — John  S.  Soules,  No- 
vember 14 ;  George  Joiner,  June  11 ;  19 — John  Gairson,  Novem- 
ber 14;  John  McCourt,  August  8;  21— Truman  McKee,  March 
2;  Edward  Sampson,  May  18;  23 — Napoleon  Davis,  September 
21;  24— Mark  L.  Laring,  October  21;  25— Abner  Forbes,  Oc- 
tober 21 ;  26— William  H.  Barrett,  August  8 ;  27— Anders  Ander- 
son, October  12 ;  Francis  Hearsch,  August  29 ;  29 — Ole  Severson, 
July  1.  June  16,  1856,  Torger  Olsen  filed  on  section  thirty-two 
and  three  days  later  James  Jured  filed  on  section  twenty-one. 

Adams.  Township  101,  range  16.  The  first  claims  were  taken 
in  1856.  Those  who  filed  were:  2 — Albert  Knudsen,  October 
29 ;  John  Olson,  October  17 ;  Thomas  Krestofi,  November  7 ;  34 — 
Albert  Hart,  December  20.  Those  who  came  in  1857  were:  4 — 
Ole  Jaeobson,  November  20;  Henry  Holland,  September  17;  Ed- 
ward Maling,  August  22;  6 — Josepli  H.  Germain,  August  15; 
John  Bartorne,  August  15 ;  9 — Jens  Tweed,  July  24 ;  Peter  Straus, 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  545 

August  5;  John  Johus,  Augvist  1;  15 — R.  Green,  February  2; 
2i_]\Iatliias  Blake,  April  28 ;  Lyman  Metcalf,  May  26 ;  22— Sam- 
uel S.  Barker,  February  2;  30 — Edmund  Hart,  September  11; 
31_Robert  Sloan,  August  7;  33— John  Floyd,  April  28;  34 — 
Albert  Hart,  December  20. 

Lodi.  Township  101,  range  15.  The  first  claims  taken  were 
in  1855.  Those  who  tiled  that  year  were :  1 — Edward  B.  Munsell, 
November  13;  David  Marty,  November  10;  2 — Edward  B.  Mun- 
sell, November  10;  6 — C.  G.  Ripley,  November  26;  Eugene  AVil- 
son,  November  26 ;  Edw.  Munsell,  November  24 ;  Reynold  Olson, 
July  20 ;  10 — Edmund  Davis,  November  8 ;  Osman  Hutchins,  No- 
vember 8;  11 — Jesse  Martz,  November  10;  Thomas  Campbell, 
November  6 ;  Edmund  Davis,  November  8 ;  12 — Thomas  Camp- 
bell, November  6;  David  jMartz,  November  10;  Edward  Owen, 
August  15  ;  13 — Hugh  Owens,  November  8  ;  Almond  Frazer ;  July 
16;  John  Owens,  August  29;  Benjamin  Chamberlain,  November 
9 ;  Nathan  Updegraft",  November  14 ;  14 — Orlin  Root,  October 
17;  David  Martz,  November  10;  James  S.  Wood,  November  16; 
15 — Osmond  Hutchins,  November  8 ;  18 — Martha  Wetworth,  May 
23 ;  23 — John  Payne  and  Ezra  Congden,  November  5 ;  24 — Ezra 
Congden,  November  8 ;  25 — Olson  Congden,  November  5 ;  W. 
Hayes,  November  9 ;  27 — George  W.  Harris,  November  26 ;  31 — 
John  C.  Martin,  November  15 ;  Austin  Carbin,  November  19 ; 
Abraham  Hay,  November  15;  32 — John  H.  McKeny,  November 
15 ;  35 — Samuel  W.  Leigh,  November  6. 

Windon.  Township  101,  range  17.  The  first  claims  wei'e 
•taken  in  1856.  Those  who  filed  this  year  were:  3 — Stephen  B. 
Gift'ord,  November  15 ;  4 — Quincy  A.  Truesdell,  September  24 ; 
Gustavus  C.  Barker,  November  10;  Graham  R.  Scott,  November 
18:  5 — Thomas  Wilson,  August  14;  6 — Martin  Maly,  October 
15;  James  Maun,  November  28;  7 — Bucklin  H.  Wood,  July  31; 
Obediah  Smith,  October  29;  Samuel  Rice,  June  30;  James  Lock- 
ard,  October  22 ;  John  A.  Thompson,  July  31 ;  8— A.  J.  Thorp, 
September  25;  13 — Jessie  Little,  November  5;  18 — William  H. 
Hotchkiss,  November  18;  19— Thomas  Brown,  June  13;  20— 0. 
Lawerenee,  June  20 ;  Alfred  Richardson,  June  20 ;  21 — George 
Shephard,  November  11;  Edgar  AV.  Dewey,  November  11;  22 — 
Augustus  Butler,  November  14;  28 — Peter  Benson,  November  11 ; 
Andrew  Coon,  November  11;  Charles  Shepard,  November  11;  29 
— Hall  Hoagland,  November  18;  30 — George  N.  Conkey,  July  17; 
Horace  Scofield,  April  7;  William  INIanderville,  June  1.2;  31 — 
Andrew  P.  Thompson,  October  8 ;  C.  Pohler,  April  2 ;  John  Ban- 
bring.  April  2;  32— Firman  Conover,  April  36;  3:3— Charles  E. 
Zurick.  July  17;  34 — John  Stine,  August  23;  Wales  Gudson,  Au- 
gust 8;  34— Albert  W.  Griswold,  August  23;  Fredrick  Pierce, 
August  18;  35 — C.  Shuber,  November  6. 


546  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Marshall.  Township  101,  range  16.  The  first  claims  were 
made  in  1855.  Those  Avho  filed  that  year  were:  2 — Edward  B. 
]Munsel,  April  24 ;  3 — Abram  H.  Planty,  July  11 ;  Dexter  Barrett, 
September  13;  4 — William  B.  Updegraph,  November  14;  5 — 
Mitchell  Lunney,  September  22;  6 — Peter  Kenyan,  September 
22 ;  Supply  C.  Fop,  October  13 ;  John  Hodgden,  October  13 ;  7— 
Joel  Parker,  December  31 ;  17 — Joshua  Reed,  September  11 ;  26— 
William  N.  Smith,  November  26;  27 — Jerimiah  P.  Boyle,  Sep- 
tember 3;  32— Christopher  G.  Ripley,  November  26;  34— Filo  S. 
Beers,  November  6. 

Clayton.  Township  102,  range  15.  The  first  claims  taken  in 
this  town  Avere  in  1855.  Those  who  filed  that  year  were:  2 — 
John  F.  Randall,  December  11;  3 — Benjamin  Wilson,  December 
11 ;  John  F.  Peterson,  December  20 ;  31 — Phenias  Wilcox,  Novem- 
ber 12;  John  Oleson,  July  20;  Christopher  G.  Ripley,  November 
26;  35 — Andrew  McDonald,  December  11. 

Le  Roy.  Township  101,  range  14.  The  first  claims  taken 
were  in  1Sj5.  Those  who  filed  that  year  are:  19 — P.  Huntley, 
October  10;  20— ^\.  D.  Piirks,  October  10;  22— William  M.  Bishop, 
October  22 ;  27— Timothy  Caswell,  October  15 ;  28— Lester  Cong- 
den,  November  2 ;  Frederick  Bovee,  November  2 ;  Wentworth 
Hayes,  October  25;  32— Ruben  Allen,  William  H.  Morrison,  De- 
coml)er  10;  34 — Nathan  McNeaill,  A.  J.  Palmer,  November  7. 

Udolpho.  Township  104,  range  18.  William  B.  Tullis  filed  on 
section  twenty-one  in  1855,  October  10.  Soloman  Wilcox  filed  on 
section  twenty-two  November  14,  and  Silas  Dutcher,  Jr.,  and 
John  G.  Vaughan  on  section  thirty-five  the  same  month  of  the 
same  year.  Those  who  filed  in  1856  were :  1 — Jonathan  Jimeson, 
October  29 ;  2— Fredrich  Lambrecht,  August  26  ;  3— Obid  Averill, 
November  8;  4 — Niles  Evertson,  June  23;  5 — Jacob  Van  Horn, 
October  28 ;  9— John  R.  Reed,  July  12 ;  10— Thomas  Reed,  Janu- 
ary 12;  11— John  A.  Scott,  October  28;  12— Edwin  Lester,  Oc- 
tober 28;  13— Nathan  R.  Weaver,  July  24;  William  H.  Pratt, 
November  17;  14 — Lucas  C.  Hobert,  October  30;  15 — John  Mop- 
pen,  November  8 ;  17 — Alfred  Van  Horn,  October  28 ;  19 — Knudt 
Oleson,  June  26 ;  20— William  Pitt,  November  1 ;  Jonathan  ]\Iack, 
September  23;  21— Edw.  Bassett,  July  25;  Levi  Smith,  July  17; 
Reuben  Smith,  September  17 ;  23 — Joseph  Reed,  September  23 ; 
Hiram  Luce,  August  28;  24 — Nathan  Weaver,  July  24;  George 
Fowler,  September  23;  James  B.  AVeaver,  July  25;  Henry  C. 
Rogers,  November  17;  25 — Nathaniel  N.  Reed,  November  17; 
George  AV.  Durand,  September  29;  Abraham  Bigler,  October  16; 
27 — Timothy  B.  Andrews,  September  29 ;  Edwin  Spersy,  Novem- 
ber 17 ;  James  Howard,  November  2 ;  John  Johnson,  November 
2;  28 — William  Stephenson,  September  24;  Robert  Stephenson, 
August  28 ;  Herman  Larr,  September  23 ;  AVarren  A.  Brown,  No- 


HISTORY  OF  ]ilOWEl{  COUNTY  5-17 

vember  4;  29 — Alfred  Cooper,  November  1;  30 — Knudt  Olcson, 
June  26;  John  Trickerson,  July  21;  33— James  Burt,  July  24; 
Martin  AVeatherwax,  July  24;  34 — James  Howard,  November 
2;  Ivory  Colloway,  June  12;  35— Edward  Ells,  October  16;  David 
L.  Courtney,  June  13;  Ivory  Collings,  June  12. 

Waltham.  Township  104,  range  17.  Most  all  the  land  in  this 
county  was  taken  in  1856.  Those  who  came  in  1855  were:  7 — 
George  W.  Evans,  November  13;  19 — John  F.  Peterson,  Decem- 
ber 20;  Christopher  G.  Eipley,  December  18;  Gunder  Neverson, 
May  27;  21— Bernard  Develin,  September  25;  22— Halvor  Gun- 
derson,  May  24;  Gunder  Burgeson,  August  18;  26 — James  Rice, 
November  21 ;  28— Simon  Waller,  April  27 ;  29— Mary  E.  Wood, 
November  16;  30— Henry  Cobb,  December  15;  31— Charles  Mc- 
Elrath,  August  29;  Thomas  Campbell,  November  6;  Buel  Cobb, 
December  15;  32— John  Tarr,  September  27;  34 — John  Hodg- 
den,  October  13;  35 — Eugene  AVilson,  November  26. 

Sargeant.  Township  104,  range  16.  The  first  claims  in  this 
town  were  taken  in  1855.  Those  who  filed  that  year  were:  1 — 
Thomas  Campbell,  November  6 ;  Townsend  AV.  Horton,  Decem- 
ber 12;  11 — George  AV.  Leriiont,  November  15;  12 — Philo  S. 
Beers,  November  6;  13 — James  W.  Jackson,  November  14;  Ole 
Erickson,  July  20;  Christopher  Ripley,  November  26;  Edward 
Thorn,  November  14;  23 — Edward  D.  Munsell,  November  24; 
2-4— A.  Knudson,  July  20;  25— AVilliam  Tuttle,  November  15; 
26 — James  Herman,  May  26;  Patrick  Jordan,  May  26;  Halver 
Gunderson,  May  24;  Warren  A.  Sumner,  November  15;  35 — 
Frederick  Pierson,  August  14 ;  Howard  Cramer,  June  26 ;  Joel 
Parker,  November  26. 

Pleasant  Valley.  Township  104,  range  15.  One  claim  was 
taken  in  this  township  in  1854,  September  23,  by  John  Pierson. 
This  claim  is  not  now^  in  Mower  county.  In  1855  James  Welch 
filed  on  section  twelve,  Jiine  29.  Those  who  filed  in  1856  were: 
1 — Frederick  ]\[.  Pierson,  January  25;  Rosamund  M.  Calef,  July 
15 ;  2 — Charles  Berryman,  August  18 ;  2 — Sampson  Berryman, 
August  18;  3 — George  Pease,  August  6;  Jacob  Peiffer,  August 
6 ;  Andrew  ]\IeLellan,  July  22 ;  4 — John  Powell,  August  5 :  John 
Ki7ig,  November  21 ;  5 — George  Pearson,  July  21 ;  C.  D.  Knapp, 
September  21 ;  6 — AVilliam  Foot,  August  5 ;  George  Church,  Au- 
gust 5  ;  Austin  Joyce,  September  14 ;  7 — Thomas  Joyce,  July  9 ; 
James  Edward,  September  24;  Jcimes  Tripp,  August  12;  ]Mary 
Gowen,  September  24 ;  9— Ezra  Tual,  September  9 ;  10— S.  Alun- 
sou,  July  22 ;  Patrick  Jordon,  December  1  ;  11 — AA'illiam  Hill, 
August  7;  12— Cyrus  Derby,  July  7;  13— K.  B.  Pullen,  August 
25:  Daniel  Fisher,  August  2;  14 — Daniel  Congden,  July  16;  15 — 
John  D.  Bartlett,  July  17;  William  Finch,  July  21;  17— Ezekel 
Hawkins,  October  30;  Joseph  Ahorse,  October  30;  17 — Stephen 


548  HISTORY  OF  MOWEU  COUXTY 

Pratt,  October  30;  18— Mary  Gowan,  September  24;  Joel  Saw- 
yer, October  15;  David  Wells,  October  24;  19 — Charles  Vau 
Flick,  October  27;  Jerimiah  Felton,  October  23;  Henry  Slater, 
October  30;  Zeno  C.  Brayton,  October  30;  20— Edward  Hallosau, 
December  2;  Timothy  Hallosan,  December  2;  AVilliam  AVide- 
man,  November  11;  22 — Stelman  Smith,  November  24;  AVarreu 
E.  Pate,  November  24;  24^George  Peckham,  October  2ti ;  Cliarles 
Pratt,  November  19;  25— Daniel  Twitchell,  October  15;  Charles 
Arthur,  September  18;  26 — Eri  Baker,  November  15;  Benjamin 
Baker,  November  15;  27— John  Tuttle,  December  9;  32— Cyrii 
Wilson,  December  12;  33 — Eli  Dunham,  September  30;  Abram 
Wilson,  December  12;  D.  Baker,  September  30;  34 — AVilliam 
Harrison,  November  17;  John  Orcutt,  July  25;  AVilbur  Aloslier, 
Scpteml)er  30;  35 — Andrew  Gorden,  December  24;  William  AV. 
W.  Smith,  October  28. 

Racine.  Township  104,  range  14.  Practically  all  the  laud 
in  tliis  tov.-nship  was  taken  in  1856.  Those  who  came  in  1855 
were:  3 — AVilliam  V.  AVooldridge,  September  21;  Noah  Lincoln, 
September  21;  5 — AVilliam  Carson,  May  19;  5 — John  Robinson. 
April  12;  6— John  B.  IMcCain,  April  12;  Henry  K.  AVhite,  April 
11;  7 — Frederick  Brisgrove,  November  8;  8 — Charles  L.  Grannis. 
May  19 ;  10— AVilliam  Buck,  February  19. 

Lansing.  Township  103,  range  18.  The  first  claims  taken  in 
this  town  were  in  1855.  Those  who  filed  that  year  were:  1 — - 
John  L.  Johnson,  October  25;  11 — John  Pettibone,  October  25; 
Jeremiah  B.  Yates,  September  14;  14 — ^V.  P.  Lewis.  September 
14;  27 — Joseph  Miller,  October  10;  33— Oliver  J.  Beemis.  No- 
vember 17;  34^Joseph  Miller,  October  10;  35— David  L.  Smith, 
November  8.  Those  who  came  in  1856  were:  2 — Alanson  B. 
Vaughan,  June  23;  3 — Michael  Burns,  June  16;  6 — Lawrence 
AVallaee,  December  31;  8 — James  IMcTntire,  December  31;  9 — 
James  C.  Cummings,  July  24 ;  Joseph  INIiles,  July  26 ;  Rufus  Kim- 
ball, August  13;  10— William  Curtain,  July  25;  Enough  G. 
Vaughan,  June  13;  John  A.  Hunke,  June  12;  11 — Peter  Burns, 
March  7;  12 — Samuel  Gartin,  September  25;  John  Degnan,  Sep- 
tember 25;  14— David  Russel,  August  6;  Robert  Crippen,  ]\Iay 
12;  15— -John  Lyons,  April  26;  17 — Emery  A.  Snow,  December 
17 ;  18 — Lowell  Bullen,  December  17 ;  21 — Azariah  H.  Chapin, 
September  18;  22— H.  C.  Nutes,  August  13;  Ilosea  Day,  Alay 
23;  John  F.  Cook,  August  13;  2.3— Roland  B.  IMalene,  Septeml)er 
25;  Silas  Dutcher  I;en,  July  7;  Joseph  Haskins,  Septeml)cr  2; 
Samuel  Dixon,  October  15;  2.5 — Harvey  AVilkinson,  September 
2;  Edw.  Green,  September  25;  26 — Franklin  Broundfoot,  Sep- 
tember 2;  John  Clanton,  December  12;  27— Stephen  Cook,  No- 
vember 25;  Robert  Dobbins,  July  8:  28— A.  Chapin,  September 
18;  Harvey  Allen,  September  18;  Joseph  Lovel,  August  6;  29— 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  549 

George  Baird,  November  3;  AVilliam  Hunt,  August  (i;  30 — Will- 
iam Bartlett,  August  12;  Robert  Keorues,  November  29;  NVilliaiu 
AVliitiord,  July  23;  31 — William  Y'aw,  July  9;  Strange  II.  G. 
Rathborn,  September  8;  Marcus  Whitford,  July  23;  Stephen 
L.  "Wood,  September  8;  32 — Even  Nelson,  September  16;  Levi 
AVatrous,  August  12;  Horace  Silver,  July  23;  Marcus  AVhitford, 
July  23;  Elishia  Beemau,  October  31;  33— AVilliam  Thompson, 
June  30;  AViibour  Kimball,  July  16;  George  Hangmann,  Novem- 
ber 29;  3i— J.  P.  Jones,  July  3;  AVilliam  Baudler,  July  7; 
Thomas  Gillilaud,  May  23;  35 — Homer  Higgins,  December  12; 
AVilliam  Brown,  July  22 ;  Orvice  Hudson,  May  24. 

Red  Rock.  The  first  claims  taken  in  this  town  were  in  1856. 
Those  Avho  filed  that  year  w^ere:  1 — James  Kanes,  September 
30 ;  AVilliam  H.  Lewis,  September  8 ;  2 — Henry  AV.  Stevenson, 
September  22 ;  Abram  E.  Howard,  September  30 ;  John  J.  Malter- 
son,  October  3 ;  John  F.  Hill,  July  31 ;  3— John  Cretzer,  July  15 ; 
AVillard  Brown,  April  21;  Elizah  Sanborn,  April  21;  Nehemiah 
AA'oodward,  November  30 ;  4 — Noal  Stevens,  JMareh  17 ;  Joseph 
AA^ileox,  July  14;  5 — AVashington  Mason,  October  25;  John  AV. 
AVoodward,  November  20 ;  Lyon  King,  July  15 ;  7 — Solomon 
Coats,  April  26 ;  8— Oliver  Knox,  July  14 ;  9— Dexter  D.  Hardy, 
September  11 ;  Charles  Atwood,  June  18 ;  10 — Henry  Shook,  July 
15;  Andrew  Parkhurst,  August  13;  11 — George  AV.  Dennis,  April 
7 :  Philip  Millard,  June  25 ;  14 — Thomas  Allred,  June  25 ;  John 
Fox,  September  6 ;  AVilliam  Reeves,  August  27 ;  15 — R.  C.  Heath, 
June  25 ;  Nathan  Millard,  June  25 ;  E.  F.  Chase,  August  5 ;  Davis 
Bemis,  August  13;  17 — David  AVeaver,  November  26;  John  B. 
Kinsley,  November  26;  20 — Inman  J.  R.  AVright,  July  22;  Mar- 
riet  J.  Spooner,  August  28 ;  John  Spooner,  August  28 ;  James 
Spooner,  July  15 ;  21 — James  Ste-\vard,  July  15 ;  Ulysses  Hoadley, 
July  22;  Benjamin  North,  August  28;  22- — Lewis  Colby,  August 
5 ;  Hampton  Piper,  September  30 ;  23 — AVilliam  H.  Dotz,  Novem- 
ber 3 ;  24— AVilliam  H.  Brown,  July  21 ;  29— Luke  Page,  August 
19 :  Joseph  AVright,  August  9 ;  30— George  Miller,  April  16. 

Grand  Meadow.  Township  103,  range  15.  The  first  claims 
were  taken  in  1856.  Those  who  filed  this  year  were :  1 — Charles 
E.  Thurber,  September  13;  Bruno  Frank,  April  2;  George  AV. 
AA'illiams,  December  3 ;  2 — Corinthia  AVilliams,  October  28 ;  Daniel 
S.  Satterton,  September  19 ;  Amos  B.  Stepenson,  September  19 ; 
3 — Charles  Arnold.  July  24;  Milo  AVhite,  December  22 ;_  George 
C.  Shaffer,  September  22;  10— Jonathan  Elwood,  December  22; 
11 — Alfred  Lee,  September  27  ;  12 — ^Benjamin  Langwortliy,  Oc- 
tober 15;  Charles  Schroth,  September  1;  13 — Mary  ^IcCabe,  Sep- 
tember 1;  Andrew  AlcCabe,  Septein1)er  13;  Silas  Garber,  Sep- 
tember 12;  Arthur  McNelly,  July  9;  Edw.  Floyd,  November  17; 
Sylvester  Harris,  November  3;  14 — Peter  Alerier,  September  29; 


550  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Joseph  Campbell,  August  30;  15 — Gustave  Maas,  September  19; 
22 — Nelson  Babcoek,  October  30 ;  William  Holhofer,  September 
19;  23— Philip  Eppard,  September  19;  Paul  MeKiuley,  Septem- 
ber 8;  Nelson  Smith,  September  8;  24 — Theodore  B.  AUbee,  Au- 
gust 25 ;  Edwin  Lloyd,  November  17 ;  Joseph  Allen,  October  30 ; 
William  Allen,  August  25 ;  ^Maxou  L.  Potter,  November  3 ;  25 — 
Barney  IMcDonnough,  November  22 ;  25 — David  Dewey,  Sep- 
tember 1 ;  Nelson  Manchester,  November  14 ;  26 — Stephen  AYick- 
ham,  November  22;  Darbey  Cobey,  November  22;  35 — Jerome 
Wicker,  September  1 ;  Jefferson  Palmer,  September  9 ;  Joel  Dens- 
more,  September  1. 

Dexter.  Township  103,  range  16.  Practically  all  the  laud  in 
till  lov,nsliip  was  taken  in  1856.  Those  who  came  earlier  and 
tiled  in  1855  were:  2— William  D.  Mead,  November  26;  Chris- 
topher G.  Ripley,  November  26 ;  11— Townsond  N.  Ilorton, 
December  12;  26 — John  F.  Peterson,  December  20;  Edward  B. 
Munsell,  November  24;  31 — William  Updegraff,  November  15; 
32 — Nathan  Updegraff,  November  ]5;  33 — James  W.  Jackson, 
November  14;  Dexter  Parritt,  September  26;  34 — Michael  J. 
Slavcn,  November  8;  James  Slaven,  November  8;  Edward  Thorn, 
Xoveintier  14;  Simon  Waller,  July  11. 

Trankford.  Township  103,  range  14.  The  first  claims  Avei-e 
taken  in  1855.  Those  who  filed  that  year  were :  12 — Lewis  Cliam- 
berlain,  October  19;  12 — Charles  H.  Chamberlain,  October  19; 
13— Lewis  Patchin,  June  16;  Jacob  Olesen,  August  25:  22— 
Egbert  F.  Ford,  November  19;  Byron  Woodworth,  October  20: 
23— Griffin  Fryer,  June  16;  24— Philip  Howell,  October  16;  25— 
Ed.  Willard,  June  16;  25— Chas.  B.  Hansen,  June  14.  Those  who 
filed  in  1856  were:  1 — William  Campfield,  May  19;  Charles  D. 
Sherwood,  July  25;  John  D.  Gregory,  March  15;  Josepli  Robb, 
March  15;  2 — David  A.  Hudson,  December  12;  John  Lenerson, 
July  25;  Obed  B.  Morse,  July  25;  3 — Charles  Gorsen,  June  17; 
Ezra  Tricker,  September  11;  Andrew  H.  Trowt,  December  12; 
4 — George  A.  VanDusen,  December  9 ;  John  Nelson,  July  7 ;  01c 
Juleson,  October  25;  5— G.  Elengson,  June  17;  Ole  Hoodo.  -Ir., 
June  30;  Ole  Semonson,  June  27;  6— A.  J.  Lindlin,  June  30;  Jolm 
Amandson,  September  16;  Ole  Oleson,  June  30;  7— Benj.  F.  i\lan- 
chester,  August  30;  Syer  Oleson,  September  16;  Ellen  Olcsou, 
June  30;  7— Knut  Nelson,  September  16;  8— Calvin  Boynton, 
August  7 ;  Chas.  L.  Halstead,  August  7 ;  10— Brice  Ennis,  August 
1;  Hiram  Evans,  November  13;  11— Thomas  Murry.  July  25; 
Ariron  Lee,  ]\Iareh  7;  Lucius  R.  Bates,  August  16;  12— Chas.  E. 
Bent,  June  17;  Geo.  Hunt,  Doceml)er  3;  13— Stephen  Sherman. 
September  30;  Gideon  Slierman,  August  13;  J.  Davis,  June  11; 
14_\Villi!im  F.  Geumnons,  December  17;  Samuel  Titus.  July  12; 
Jolin  Farquher,  INIarch  28;  David  Donaldson,  December  3;  15— 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  551 

Michael  Rhodes,.  August  8 :  John  Ryuial,  August  8 ;  Peter  Winter, 
July  21;  17 — John  M.  Smith,  June  21:  18 — John  Morrow,  October 
6;  Y\''illiam  B.  Nett,  September  13;  19 — John  Kurtz,  June  28; 
Theodore  EUbee,  August  25;  Timothy  N.  Smith,  May  19;  Caleb 
Knetz,  September  12;  William  C.  AUbee,  August  25;  21— Miron 
L.  Dean,  September  13 ;  Silas  Grey,  June  28 ;  22 — Samuel  Bardin, 
June  16 ;  23 — Sarah  Clark,  February  29 ;  Elizah  Norton,  jMay  27  ; 
21 — Alaxander  Stewart,  May  27;  James  Willard,  May  27;  David 
Patchin,  July  24 ;  Otho  D.  Cretzer,  May  27 ;  25— Edgar  Willard, 
July  15;  James  Garman,  March  28;  26— M.  Delling,  March  28; 
Lewis  Hardy,  September  8;  W.  D.  Baldwin,  July  24;  Hagard  W. 
Titus,  June  28  ;  27— Stephen  J.  Colby,  July  23 ;  Nicholas  Sanbury, 
July  23;  28 — Alaxender  Smith,  June  13;  29 — Cornelius  Fulton, 
August  26;  James  Donaldson,  August  12;  Geo.  W.  Jacobs, 
September  12;  30 — Daniel  Osmsly,  August  30;  John  A.  Eoffin, 
August  30 ;  Emmett  Densmore,  September  1 ;  31- — Davis  Labor, 
September  9;  33 — John  Stewart,  July  23;  Robt.  German,  June 
30;  Geo.  Meivin,  July  24;  34— Henry  Fullerton,  July  12;  William 
Campbell,  August  27;  Silus  Wright,  July  29;  C.  Ricketseu, 
July  24. 

Austin.  Township  102,  range  18.  The  first  claims  were 
taken  in  1855.  Those  who  filed  were:  1 — ^Willard  W.  Smith, 
November  23 ;  2 — John  R.  Roe,  November  13 ;  Chauncey  Leverich, 
September  14;  Geo.  H.  Bemis,  November  17;  3 — Benedict  J. 
Brown,  December  19 ;  Dennis  Crandal,  November  13 ;  4 — John 
Clemdunson,  September  21;  14 — ^Milton  J.  W^oodson,  November 
6 ;  15 — Danit-1  I\IcPherson,  November  23 ;  23 — Ambrose  C.  Smith, 
Noveml>er  23;  35 — William  Donglap,  September  23. 

OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOCIATION. 

The  first  steps  toward  founding  an  Old  Settlers'  Association 
in  jMower  county  was  in  June,  1884,  when  a  call  Avas  issued  for 
a  reunion  to  be  held  at  the  court  house  in  Austin,  June  12,  1884. 
The  committee  consisted  of  John  Frank,  Thomas  Gibson,  C.  H. 
Davidson,  J.  B.  Yates,  C.  J.  Felch  and  Thomas  Varco.  About 
11  o'clock  in  the  morning  tiie  exercises  were  commenced  in  the 
new  court  house  hall,  there  being  a  large  attendance  of  old  set- 
tlers and  friends,  with  a  short  address  of  Aveleome  by  the  presi- 
dent of  the  association,  Thomas  Gibson,  of  Lansing.  Prayer  was 
then  offered  by  Rev.  S.  G.  Lowrey,  an  old  settler  of  this  vicinity, 
then  in  his  eighty-fifth  year.  A  song,  "Altogether,"  was  then 
sung  by  'Sirs.  L.  A.  Sherwood  and  Mrs.  C.  H.  Davidson ;  "Sirs.  D.  B. 
Johnson,  the  first  organist  in  Austin,  presided  at  tlie  organ.  Judge 
Onnanzo  Allen  gave  the  historieal  address,  from  wliich  extract."? 
api)ear  in  various  parts  of  this  liistory. 


552  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Judge  Geo.  M.  Cameron  then  gave  a  short  extemporaneous 
address.  He  said  in  part:  "^Nly  first  view  of  Austin  was  about 
twenty-eight  years  ago.  I  arrived  one  evening  about  dark,  with 
onlj'  ifiS.SO  in  my  poeket.  The  first  murder  in  the  eommunity 
was  that  of  Chauncey  Leverieh.  I  regard  that  as  a  case  of  man- 
slaughter, as  it  was  not  premeditated.  Leverieh  came  out  of  his 
saloon  to  administer  chastisement,  and  was  struck  on  the  head 
with  a  wagon  spring  with  greater  violence  than  was  intended. 
There  was  a  case  w^here  a  man,  after  drinking  in  a  saloon,  was 
found  dead,  evidently  by  foul  means.  Another  case  occurred 
where  a  Norwegian  killed  his  son  in  a  quarrel  over  a  discussion 
of  the  question  as  to  the  route  they  should  take  home."  Hon. 
John  Frank,  of  LeRoy,  was  called  upon,  and  responded  by  saying 
he  had  spent  twenty-nine  summers  in  ]\Iower  county  and  thirty 
winters.    He  proposed  to  stay  thirty  years  more. 

A  letter  from  Hon.  Moses  K.  Armstrong,  of  St.  James,  ]^Iiuue- 
sota,  was  then  read  by  the  secretary.  The  letter  said  in  part: 
"Nearly  thirty  years  ago  I  M'as  county  surveyor  of  Mower  county, 
and  laid  out  "West  Austin  in  town  lots.  There  were  about  a  dozen 
houses  in  Austin  at  that  time.  There  Avas  not  a  printing  office  in 
the  county.  I  rode  forty  miles  south  of  Austin  into  Iowa,  to  get 
election  tickets  printed;  there  were  no  railroads,  and  hardly  a 
wagon  bridge  in  the  county.  I  swam  the  Cedar  river  at  Austin 
on  a  blind  w^hite  horse  with  my  compass  on  my  back  to  survey 
your  town."  Jerry  Yates  said  he  came  into  Mower  county 
September  1,  1855.  Lyman  D.  Baird  was  called  out,  as  one  of 
the  first  children  born  in  Mower  county.  1857.  C.  H.  Huntington 
then  read  an  original  poem,  written  by  Mrs.  ]Mercy  Greene. 
Timothy  Chapman,  of  Spring  Valley,  first  register  of  deeds  o^ 
Mower  county,  came  forward  at  the  call  of  the  audience,  and 
spoke  briefly  of  the  occasion. 

Jonas  Haney,  P.  F.  Rooney,  W.  I.  Brown,  Dea.  J.  N.  Cook, 
J.  T.  Sargent,  Thos.  Smith  and  others  filled  up  the  time  of  the 
morning  session,  with  incidents  of  their  experience  in  the  early 
days.  About  half  past  one,  as  the  dinner  hour  was  at  hand,  the 
proceedings  were  checked,  and  an  election  of  officers  was  held, 
with  the  following  result:  Thos.  Gibson,  president;  J.  B.  Yates, 
vice-president ;  C.  H.  Davidson,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The 
banquet  was  served  at  the  IVIansfield  House.  Addresses  followed 
by  J.  J.  Furlong,  of  "Windom ;  0.  W.  Sliaw  and  C.  L.  AVesl,  of 
Austin;  J\I.  B.  Slocum,  of  Rose  Creek;  A.  Dickerson  and  T.  F. 
Goslee,  of  Austin  township,  and  Thomas  Gibson,  of  Lansing. 
Knute  Anderson  Qvale,  who  came  with  one  of  the  first  two  or 
three  families  that  settled  in  Nevada  townsliii),  in  18r)4,  was 
cnll.ii  ujion,  and  gave  a  brief  account  of  his  journey  from  IMil- 
waukci    by  ox  team  and  other  incidents.     It  was  then  suggested 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  553 

that  the  exercises  be  closed  with  the  singing  of  the  Doxology  by- 
George  Baird.  After  the  motion  to  adjourn  was  carried,  all  were 
invited  to  partake  of  an  old  settlers'  smoke,  C.  H.  Huntington, 
of  Austin  township,  and  P.  0.  McBride,  the  grocer,  having  fur- 
nished a  wooden  bowl  of  tobacco,  fringed  with  clay  pipes,  which 
had  been  a  conspicuous  ornament  on  the  judge's  bench  all  day. 
Since  the  time  of  that  historic  iirst  meeting  many  interesting 
gatherings  have  been  held,  although  the  pioneers  are  one  by  one 
passing  to  their  eternal  reward.  Banquets  have  been  held,  din- 
ners together  have  been  enjoyed,  annual  reunions  have  been  well 
attended,  and  many  an  incident  of  the  early  days  has  been  related 
for  the  remembrance  of  the  old  settlers  and  the  pleasure  of  the 
younger  generation.  During  the  last  years  of  last  century  and 
the  first  years  of  this  oiae  great  interest  was  taken  in  these  meet- 
ings by  the  people  in  general,  and  the  newspapers  each  year 
published  a  list  of  the  old  settlers  who  had  passed  away  during 
the  previous  year,  giving  a  brief  sketch  of  their  lives  and  the 
year  they  came  here.  These  clippings  are  carefully  preserved  in 
the  minutes.  The  latest  annual  meeting  given  in  the  minute  book 
is  that  of  1906,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected :  Presi- 
dent, M.  J.  Slaven;  vice-president,  Hans  C.  Anderson;  secretary 
and  treasurer,  John  C.  Hawkins;  chaplain,  Alfred  Cressey; 
executive  committee,  C.  L.  West,  J.  J.  Furlong  and  L.  Kirkland. 


CHAPTER  LI. 
DAIRY  INTERESTS. 


Importance  of  the  Dairy  Industry  in  Mower  County — A.  V.  Ellis, 
the  Father  of  Dairy  Farming  in  This  Vicinity — Story  of  the 
Present  Day  Creameries — The  Dairy  Cow,  Her  Worth  and 
Virtues.— By  H.  L.  Banfield. 

In  writing  the  liistory  of  the  dairy  interests  of  Slower  county, 
T  feel  tliat  I  must  only  touch  upon  the  early  history  and  relate 
that  part  of  it  that  I  am  directly  familiar  with.  As  near  as  I  can 
find  out,  the  first  steps  taken  in  the  direction  of  dairying  were  in 
the  late  seventies,  after  the  great  wheat  failure. 

In  1878  A.  V.  Ellis  brought  the  first  pair  of  pure  bred  dairy 
cattle  into  the  county — a  pair  of  registered  Holstein-Fresians — 
and  I  consider  him  the  father  of  dairying  in  this  section  of  the 
state.  How  well  he  succeeded  in  this  line  need  not  be  told  here, 
but  the  beautiful  farm  he  left  behind  him  speaks  volumes  for  his 
courage  and  perseverance. 

I  believe  a  little  later  the  Turtle  Creek  cheese  factory  was 
started  and  a  few  years  later  a  creamery  was  established  in  .\us- 


554:  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

tin.  It  was  uot  until  the  late  eighties  and  early  nineties  that  the 
farmers'  co-operative  creameries  began  to  start  up.  Then  is 
when  the  farmers  began  to  realize  the  importance  of  the  dairy 
cow,  and  then  is  when  dairying  in  this  county  received  its 
impetus.  The  Walthain  creamery,  whicli  began  operations  in 
1889,  was  one  of  the  first  to  start.  Others  followed  iu  Ihe  next 
few  years,  until  at  the  present  time,  the  county  has  fourteen 
creameries,  and  one  cheese  factory,  with  about  twelve  other 
creameries,  located  within  a  few  miles  of  the  county  line,  and 
tributary  to  our  county  on  all  sides. 

The  Lansing  Co-operative  Creamery  was  incorporated  Febru- 
ary 15,  1895,  with  a  capital  of  $2,500.  It  started  business  in  sec- 
tion 11,  Lansing  township,  in  a  building  purchased  from  the 
Lansing  Cheese  and  Butter  Manufacturing  Company.  The  plant 
occupied  the  frame  building  until  1907,  Avhen  a  modern  substan- 
tial building  of  brick  and  concrete  was  constructed.  This  is  one 
of  the  finest  creamery  buildings  in  the  state.  In  1907  the  capital 
was  also  increased  to  if*6,500.  The  business  has  increased 
from  $6,779.17  paid  for  Initter  to  patrons  in  1894,  to  $49,698.29  iu 
1910.  The  Waltham  Creamery  started  as  a  cheese  factory  in  1885. 
In  1889  it  was  changed  to  a  creamery  under  the  same  manage- 
ment. At  that  time  it  was  the  second  largest  in  the  stale.  The 
factory  is  located  in  Waltham  village.  The  Red  Rock  Creamery 
Association  was  incorporated  in  1893  and  changed  management 
ten  years  later.  Before  that  it  did  a  business  of  from  $25,000  to 
$50,000  a  year.  In  1910  the  creamery  made  190,000  pounds  of 
butter.  The  plant  is  located  in  Brownsdale.  The  Red  Oak  Grove 
Co-operative  Creamery  Company  Avas  organized  in  1892,  and  the 
plant  is  located  in  the  northwest  corner  of  section  6,  Lansing 
township,  in  what  is  known  as  Corning  village.  The  first  officers 
and  directors  were:  Halvor  Kittleson,  Halvor  Thompson,  0.  G. 
Andersen,  L.  0.  Aldal,  N.  K.  Goodwin,  James  Taylor  and  John 
Peterson.  The  present  officers  and  directors  are:  N.  N.  Goodwin, 
C.  B.  Christensen,  Charles  Kittleson,  Simon  Thompson,  James 
Taylor,  S.  S.  Ulland  and  0.  A.  Ulland.  In  1910  the  milk  and 
cream  received  amounted  to  nearly  2,300,000  pounds,  making  over 
160,000  pounds  of  butter,  and  paying  an  average  price  of  33Vi 
cents  per  pound.  The  total  receipts  and  disbursements  were 
nearly  $50,000.  The  Nevada  Farmers'  Co-operative  Creamery 
Association  was  organized  in  the  home  of  Ole  Aslakson  on  Febru- 
ai\v  13,  lS!)-t,  with  thirty-nine  members  and  260  cows  pledged,  with 
shares  at  $5  per  cow.  The  creamery  is  located  on  Jacob  Jacob- 
son's  farm  in  Nevada  township,  and  cost,  with  machinery,  $3,400. 
Business  was  commenced  April  6,  1894.  The  first  officers  and 
directors  were:  Ole  Aslakson,  A.  G.  Ellingson,  T.  Guttormson, 
Jacob  Jacobson  and  Sven  Jacobson.     The  present  officers  and 


H1ST01?Y  OF  .M<)\VK1{  COUNTY  555 

directors  are  Ole  Aslakson,  C.  K.  Olson,  Jacob  Jacobson,  G.  Aslnk- 
son,  Ole  H.  Lee,  H.  Asblesou  and  H.  J.  Hanson.  The  Otter  Creek 
Farmers '  Creamery  Company,  of  Lyle,  was  organized  in  1896,  and 
is  located  in  Lyle  township,  hi  1910  the  plant  received  nearly 
800,000  pounds  of  milk  and  cream  and  made  nearly  90,000  pounds 
of  butter.  The  first  officers  and  directors  were:  Charles  Volstad, 
B.  Bothum,  K.  Amundson,  C.  Meyer,  0.  Tieman,  A.  P.  ^Martin,  Ed 
N.  Nilson.  The  present  officers  and  directors  are :  A.  Halvorsen, 
T.  H.  ]Mnrpby,  C.  Meyer,  A.  P.  Martin,  J.  A.  Thorstad,  0.  E.  Ilof- 
laiul  and  K.  L.  Lendal.  Other  creameries  in  the  county  are: 
Austin  Dairy  Company,  North  Star  Dairy  Company,  Adams 
Creamery  Company,  Rose  Creek  Creamery  Company,  LeRoy 
Creamery  Company,  Dexter  Creamery  Company,  Racine  Cream- 
ery Company,  Grand  Meadow  Creamery  Company,  and  Mayville 
Cheese  Company.  The  story  of  these  creameries  is  told  elsewhere. 
Great  credit  is  due  to  the  farmers  of  Mower  county  for  fos- 
tering the  co-operative  creamery  idea  and  there  have  been  so  few 
failures  that  the  good  work  has  gone  on  almost  unrestrained 
until  it  is  altogether  our  greatest  industry.  So  with  a  soil  that 
raises  the  best  grasses  in  the  world,  I  look  to  see  the  returns 
increased  many  fold  as  the  years  go  on.  The  flavor  that  our  but- 
ter gets  from  the  sweet  and  nutritioiis  grasses  enables  us  to  top 
the  New  York  market  with  the  product.  We  have  at  present 
nearly  17,000  cows  actually  assessed  in  the  year  1910,  and  our 
slogan  for  the  future  is  more  and  better  cows.  The  income  from 
our  cows  last  year  exceeded  a  half  a  million  dollars,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  fertility  that  went  back  onto  the  soil.  The  large 
returns  from  milk  and  butter  in  the  past  five  years  have  encour- 
aged the  farmers  to  breed  better  cattle  and  the  mimber  that  are 
using  pure  bred  dairy  sires  has  increased  very  materially  in  that 
time,  and  in  another  five  years  will  add  many  full-blood  and  high- 
grade  animals  to  our  herds.  Many  full-blood  and  high-grade 
dairy  herds  have  sprung  up  in  the  past  few  years.  The  dairy 
cow  is  queen  of  the  farm  and  one  of  the  greatest  mortgage  lifters 
in  existence.  She  is  virtually  a  machine  which  turns  the  prod- 
iicts  of  the  farms  into  greatest  profit.  In  order  to  get  the  largest 
returns  her  ways  and  her  disposition  miist  be  understood.  She 
affects  almost  any  branch  of  farming  and  she  is  the  most  econom- 
ical producer  on  the  farm. 


BIOGRAPHIES 


Jacob  S.  Decker  is  oue  of  the  earliest  pioneers  still  living  in 
Mower  county.     He  was  born  in  Flatbrookville,  Sussex  county, 
New  Jersey,  October  14,  1831,  where  his  younger  days  were  spent 
in  school  and  on  the  farm.    He  was  joined  in  marriage  February 
28,  1852,  to  Mary  A.  Smith,  and  on  October  28,  1855,  they  started 
together  for  the  "West,  where  they  hoped  to  establish  their  roof 
tree.     They  reached  Colesburg,  Iowa,  later  in  the  fall,  and  there 
spent  the  winter.    In  February,  1856,  they  started  with  oxen  and 
teams  for  Minnesota,  which  was  then  a  territory.    At  West  Union 
the  snow  Avas  so  deep  that  he  had  to  abandon  the  Avagon  and 
finish  the  journey  Avith  a  sled.    Arriving  in  MoAver  county  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1856,  he  purchased  a  claim  in  tOAvnship  102,  range  18, 
noAV  knoAvn  as  Austin.     The  purchase  price  of  this  claim  was 
$275.     A  log  house,  a  Avell  and  three-fourths  of  an  acre  broken 
constituted  all  the  improvements  at  that  time.    The  family  occu- 
pied the  log  house  until  1860,  then  built  a  frame  house,  which 
was  burned  Avith  all  its  contents  in  1865.     Then  was  erected  the 
house  Avhich  still  stands,  and  which  ranks  with  the  best  country 
homes  in  the  county.     To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Decker  have  been  born 
seven  children  :  Arminda,  Elizabeth,  Calvin  D.,  Chester  H.,  Alonzo 
N.;  Silas  D.,  and  EdAvard  W.     Arminda  and  Silas  D.  are  dead. 
EdAvard  W.  is  vice-president  and  general  manager  of  the  North- 
Avestern  National  Bank,  at  Minneapolis,  president  of  the  Twin 
City  Bankers'   Club,  and  president  of  the  TAvin   City  clearing 
house.     Calvin  is  secretary  of  the  board  of  regents  and  purchas- 
ing agent  for  the  University  of  Minnesota.     Jacob  Decker  has 
had  an  honorable  and  successful  career,  and  has  fathered  a  family 
of  Avhich  he  can  Avell  be  proud.    He  has  held  many  positions  of 
public  and  private  trust  and  honor,  and  is  now  living  in  retire- 
ment, enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  Avell-spent  life.     The  founder  of 
Mr.  Decker's  family  in  America  Avas  Thomas  Decker,  Avho  came 
from  England,  and  Avas  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Port  Jervis, 
N.  y.,  then  knoAvn  by  its  Indian  name  of  Mackachamack.     His 
son,  Daniel  Decker,  opened  iip  and  settled  the  country  still  knoAvn 
as  Decker's  Ferry,  Ncav  Jersey,  and  his  son,  Thomas,  died  when  in 
his  ninty-fourth  year.     His  son,  Calvin  Decker,  spent  his  life  in 
NoAv  Jersey,  and  died  in  the  latter  state  in  1895.    He  married  for 
his  first  Avife,  Christine  Smith.  Avho  died  in  1849,  leaving  eleven 
557 


558  HISTOI^Y  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

children — Jacob  S.,  Jonas  S.,  Susanna,  Elizabeth,  Sarah  Ann, 
]\Iary,  Paul,  Silas,  Cynthia  J.,  Thomas  and  Amzey.  Calvin  Decker 
married  for  his  second  wife,  Margaret  Dupue,  and  they  had  two 
children,  Margaret,  deceased,  and  Amanda,  now  living  at  New- 
ton, N.  J.  Christine  Smith,  wife  of  Calvin  Decker  and  mother  of 
Jacob  S.  Decker,  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Smith,  the  son  of 
Jonas,  the  son  of  John,  a  German  by  birth,  Avho  in  colonial  days 
settled  on  the  Delaware  river,  in  Pennsylvania.  The  parents  of 
Mary  Ann  H.  Smith,  the  wife  of  Jacob  S.  Decker,  were  Philip  and 
Elizabeth  Smith. 

Chester  H.  Decker,  successful  hardware  merchant,  is  a  native 
l)orn  son  of  this  township,  having  first  seen  the  light  of  day  May 
26,  1861,  in  the  home  of  Jacob  S.  and  Mary  Ann  (Smith)  Decker, 
his  pai'ents.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  attended  the  schools 
of  his  neighborhood,  working  on  the  home  place  until  1882,  when 
he  started  to  learn  the  carpenters'  trade,  an  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed for  four  years.  In  1886  he  saw  the  possibilities  of  a  first- 
class  hardware  store  in  the  city  of  Austin,  and  he  accordingly 
embarked  in  the  business  which  he  has  since  conducted.  Mr. 
Decker  is  a  believer  in  education,  and  for  fourteen  years  has  done 
efficient  service  on  the  Austin  school  board,  of  which  body  he  is 
now  treasurer.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Austin  Commercial 
Club  and  affiliates  with  the  Modern  AVoodmen  of  America  and  the 
United  AYorkmen.  He  was  married  October  20.  1887,  to  Ada  C. 
Douglad,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  two  children.  The  old- 
est, Leonard  R.,  graduated  from  the  Austin  high  school  in  1908 
and  is  now  in  charge  of  the  manual  training  and  blacksmithing 
department  of  the  Southern  Minnesota  Normal  College,  of  Aus- 
tin. Fred  R.  is  clerk  in  the  hardware  store  for  his  father.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  first  purchased  an  interest  in  the  hardware 
business  with  Col.  A.  W.  "Wright,  and  in  1896  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  brother,  C.  D.  Decker,  the  firm  name  since  that  date  hav- 
ing been  Decker  Brothers.  Mr.  Decker  also  has  other  business 
interests  and  is  a  director  in  the  Austin  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation.   Ilis  residence  is  at  305  West  "Water  street. 

James  H.  Aultfather,  a  scientific  farmer  and  prize  stock 
breeder,  of  Austin  township,  Avas  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives,  September  16,  1874,  son  of  David  and  Pamelia  (Foster) 
Aultfather,  the  pioneers.  He  attended  the  schools  which  were  in 
existence  in  his  neighborhood,  and  also  the  Austin  high  school, 
supplementing  this  with  a  course  in  the  Northwestern  College  of 
Commerce  in  the  same  city.  After  completing  his  schooling  he 
returned  to  the  farm  where  he  has  since  carried  on  farming  oper- 
ations. He  owns  160  acres,  highly  cultivated,  and  some  comfort- 
aide  out-buildings  for  the  housing  of  stock.  In  1901  he  built  a 
fine  new  residence  for  himself.    He  has  a  herd  of  some  fifty  thor- 


IIISTOK'V  OF  MOWER  t'OUNTY  559 

oughbrod  Ecd  Poll  cattle,  and  for  four  years  has  taken  prizes 
on  this  herd  at  the  Minnesota  State  fair,  his  awards  in  1910  aggre- 
gating .$500.  He  also  breeds  some  fine  Pereheron  horses  and  has  a 
large  herd  of  pure  bred  Poland  China  swine.  Mr.  Aultfather  is  an 
independent  voter,  has  been  town  supervisor  for  several  years, 
and  associates  with  the  Masonic  order.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  married  December  4,  1901,  to  C.  Mabel  Varco,  and  they  have 
one  bright  son,  Myron  C,  born  December  26,  1907. 

David  Aultfather,  a  pioneer,  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  came  to 
Austin  township  in  1856.  Here  he  married  Pamelia  Foster,  Avho 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  came  to  ]\Iower  county  with  the 
earliest  settlers  of  what  is  now  known  as  Lyle  township  in  1854: 
her  father,  James  Foster,  being  one  of  the  earliest  arrivals  in 
this  county.  David  Aultfather,  upon  his  arrival  in  Austin  town- 
ship, took  120  acres  of  government  land  for  which  he  paid  $1.25 
an  acre.  This  land  he  broke  and  improved,  built  a  house,  and 
had  the  usual  experiences  of  a  pioneer  in  a  wild  country.  In 
time  he  added  to  his  possessions  until  he  owned  1,560  acres,  all  in 
Mower  county,  his  original  house  was  replaced  with  a  com- 
fortable residence,  his  stock  which  once  was  sheltered  by  a  few 
boughs  hastily  cut  Avas  placed  in  modern  barns,  and  what  had 
been  wild  land  blossomed  under  the  toil  of  the  laborers.  Desir- 
ing to  see  his  nine  children  well  started  in  life,  he  gave  to  eacli, 
as  each  attained  his  or  her  majority,  a  quarter  section  of  land. 
But  a  greater  heritage  still  was  the  record  of  unswerving  honor 
with  which  he  left  his  name  connected  for  all  time.  He  died,  ripe 
in  years  and  character  and  knowledge,  November  19,  1899.  His 
wife  is  still  living  at  the  good  old  age  of  70  years. 

Andrew  H.  Anderson,  now  deceased,  prominent  citizen  of 
Lyle,  and  for  many  years  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Lyle,  which  institution  he  organized,  was  born  in  Drammen, 
Norway,  November  15,  1843,  and  came  to  America  in  1852  with 
his  parents,  i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Halvor  Anderson.  They  stopped  in 
Racine,  "Wis.,  and  the  following  spring  went  to  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa, 
where  they  engaged  in  farming.  Andrew  H.  remained  at  home 
until  28  years  of  age,  and  then  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he  took 
a  homestead  and  remained  for  seven  years.  Later  he  moved  to 
AVahoo,  Neb.,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  until  1880. 
In  that  year  he  came  to  Lyle,  and  after  engaging  in  the  hardware 
Inisiness  ten  years  opened  a  private  bank,  Avhich  in  1901  was 
reorganized  as  the  First  National  Bank,  ^Ir.  Anderson  becoming 
its  first  president,  a  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr. 
Anderson  did  much  for  the  growth  of  Lyle.  He  acted  as  village 
treasurer  twenty  years,  and  was  a  member  of  the  school  board 
for  many  terms.  He  was  liberal,  broad  minded  and  charitable, 
and  a  truly  representative  citizen.     The  subject  of  tliis  sketcli  was 


560  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

first  married  December  28,  1871,  to  Barbro  Oline  Blakestad,  who 
died  April  4,  1888,  leaving  six  children:  H.  0.,  who  is  in  the 
implement  and  machine  business  at  Crookston,  Minn. ;  Anna  M., 
who  is  now  Mrs.  ^X.  R.  Hunter,  of  Lyle;  Bertha  L.,  now  Mrs.  B. 
J.  Robertson,  whose  husband  is  postmaster  at  Lyle ;  Ida  E.,  of 
Lyle,  a  music  teacher ;  Ralph  Arthur,  a  Lyle  banker,  and  Rufus, 
now  a  teller  in  the  Merchants'  Bank,  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  Mr. 
Anderson  was  married  the  second  time  to  Mrs.  Christine  M.  Craig, 
Avho  died  in  October,  1900.  In  February,  1903,  he  max'ried  Mrs. 
Anne  ]\Iyhre,  who  survives  him.    He  died  October  29,  1910. 

Ralph  Arthur  Anderson,  banker  of  Lyle,  was  born  in  Lyle, 
March  13,  1884,  second  son  of  Andrew  H.  Anderson.  He  attended 
the  village  schools,  and  started  work  in  his  father's  private  bank 
as  assistant  cashier.  He  also  worked  in  the  bank  at  Rose  Creek 
for  a  while.  In  1903  he  went  to  Crookston,  Minn.,  and  for  two 
years  worked  in  the  abstract  office  of  Christianson  &  Sti-ander. 
Later  he  became  a  bookkeeper  in  the  First  National  Bank,  of 
Crookston,  a  position  he  held  with  credit  until  April,  1910,  when 
he  entered  the  First  National  Bank  of  Lyle,  to  look  after  his 
father's  interests.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  popular  member  of  the 
K.  of  P.,  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  the  M.  AV.  A.  and  is  well  liked  by  his 
fellows.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he  was  appointed  village 
treasurer,  and  M'as  elected  to  the  office  in  1911. 

Erick  Alrick,  Avho  farms  on  land  that  has  been  in  his  family 
for  over  half  a  century,  Avas  l)orn  on  the  old  homestead  in  Adams 
toAvnship  in  1865,  and  with  the  exception  of  periods  when  he  was 
engaged  in  business  in  loAva,  has  since  resided  there.  He  Avas 
reared  in  the  home  of  his  parents,  Andrew  A.  and  Sarah  Alrick, 
and  attended  the  district  schools.  At  26  years  of  age  he  Avent  to 
Thompson,  loAva,  took  a  partner  and  began  business,  carrying  a 
full  line  of  hardware  and  agricultural  implements.  This  business 
was  successful,  and  in  it  Mr.  Alrick  continued  for  ten  years.  In 
1901  he  sold  his  interest  to  A.  B.  Larson,  and  returned  to  Adams 
tOAvnship  to  take  charge  of  the  old  homestead  Avhich  he  has  since 
conducted.  He  has  dcA^oted  much  of  his  time  to  breeding  Hore- 
fords  and  raising  grain,  and  he  makes  a  specialty  of  liogs,  having 
raised  Poland  Chinas  and  WarAvickshires.  He  is  noAV  acquiring 
a  Avell  developed  breed  of  Reds.  In  Avorking  his  240  acres  he 
uses  ten  horses  and  hires  considerable  help  during  the  busy 
season.  Mr.  Alrick  is  a  Republican.  He  Avas  married  in  1898  to 
Julia  Hamlin,  and  he  and  his  Avife  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 

Andrew  A.  Alrick,  and  Sarah  Alrick,  his  Avife,  Avere  born  in 
NorAvay  and  came  to  America  in  1856,  locating  in  "Wisconsin, 
Avhere  they  remained  for  years.  Then  they  started  Avith  tAvo  yoke 
of  oxen  and  their  household  goods  in  a  prairie  schooner  for  I\rin- 
nesota,  arriving  in  Adams  after  a  journey  of  many  hardships. 


ALEXANDER    S.    CAMPBELL. 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  561 

They  homesteaded  a  quarter  section  and  here  ended  their  days, 
being  respected  and  honored  throughoi;t  the  community  as  hard- 
working and  industrious  people. 

Anton  B.  Asper,  a  self-made  man  of  j\Iarsliall  townsliip,  luis 
made  his  way  in  life  with  no  help  and  little  encouragement,  and 
has  acquired  a  competence  and  extensive  land  possessions  entirely 
through  his  own  efforts.  He  came  to  America  in  1871,  engaged 
in  railroad  work  in  Iowa  three  years,  and  then  came  to  Mower 
county  and  railroading  in  Adams  until  he  acquired  sufficient 
funds  to  purchase  eighty  acres  in  Marshall  township.  He  now 
owns  330  acres,  carries  on  general  farming  on  an  extensive  scale, 
and  owns  fifteen  cows,  his  specialty  being  the  sale  of  cream.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  served  on  the  school  board  of 
District  65  for  four  years.  Anton  B.  Asper  was  married  in  1876 
to  Julia  Johnson,  daughter  of  Arne  Johnson,  of  Wisconsin,  and 
this  union  has  been  blessed  with  seven  children :  Louie  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  in  Marshall  township ;  Alex  is  married  and  lives  in 
the  township  of  Clayton;  Bennie  is  married  and  lives  in  Adams 
townsliip;  Tillie,  Clara,  Oscar  and  Alma  are  at  home.  The  family 
faith  is  that  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 

Alexander  S.  Campbell,  leading  merchant-miller  of  Mower 
couuty,  former  state  senator,  present  mayor  of  Austin,  is  a  native 
born  son  of  Minnesota,  and  has  taken  his  share  in  the  upbuilding 
of  his  adopted  city  and  county.  He  was  born  in  Rice  county. 
December  20,  1859,  and  received  his  early  education  in  the  county 
and  village  schools,  also  attending  the  public  schools  of  jMinne- 
apolis  for  a  while.  After  leaving  school  he  worked  on  the  home 
farm,  and  at  about  the  time  of  attaining  his  majority  went  to 
Owatonna,  where  he  learned  the  milling  and  flouring  Inisiness. 
In  1886,  in  company  with  his  brother,  L.  G.  Campbell,  he  engaged 
in  the  milling  business  in  Austin,  and  purchased  a  small  mill 
near  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  station.  This  business  grew,  and  in  1890 
they  purchased  the  large  plant  on  the  east  side  of  the  Red  Cedar 
river  on  Water  street.  The  firm  also  took  control  of  the  milling 
plant  at  Blooming  Prairie,  L.  G.  taking  the  management.  In 
1909  the  L.  G.  Campbell  Milling  Company  was  incorporated  at 
OAvatonna,  with  the  Blooming  Prairie  plant  as  a  part  of  its  hold- 
ings, and  Alexander  S.  is  now  the  owner  of  the  Austin  plant, 
wiiicli  turns  out  over  two  hundred  ])arrels  of  flour  a  day.  The 
]iroduct  of  this  mill  is  widely  known  tliroughout  the  northwest, 
and  such  brands  as  the  Diamond  AVhite,  White  Rose  and  Peerless 
represent  the  higliest  development  in  the  miller's  art.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell served  in  the  ;Minnesota  senate  in  1903,  1905,  1907  and  1909. 
and  was  mayor  of  Austin  in  1899,  1900  and  1910-11,  his  public 
service  having  given  the  greatest  degree  of  satisfaction.  He  is 
active  in  the  Austin  Commercial  club,  and  is  also  affiliated  with 


5G3  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

the  Masonic  order,  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  the  K.  of  P.  and  other  organi- 
zations. jNIr.  Campbell  was  married  December  20,  1883,  to  Mary 
Iliinkius,  of  Owatonna,  and  they  have  four  children,  Minnie  C, 
Alexander  K.,  Francis  and  Neil.  John  and  Catherine  (Graham) 
Campbell,  parents  of  A.  S.  Campbell,  are  descended  from  the 
ancient  Campbell  and  Graham  clans  of  the  Scottish  highlands, 
John  Campbell  being  born  near  Glasgow  and  his  wife  in  Canada. 
He  settled  in  Milwaukee  in  1856  and  took  up  railroad  contract- 
ing. He  afterwards  located  near  Northfield,  Minn.,  and  carried 
on  general  farming  until  1868.  He  then  moved  to  Claremont  in 
Dodge  county  and  engaged  in  the  same  occupation,  giving  special 
attention  to  grain  and  stock  raising,  until  1889,  when  he  came 
to  Austin,  where  he  and  his  wife  still  reside. 

F.  M.  Dufty  is  one  of  those  men  Avho  possess  what  Shakespeare 
so  aptly  called  the  "Milk  of  human  kindness,"  and  for  a  genera- 
tion to  come  the  people  of  his  neighborhood  will  recall  his  big 
souled  hospitality  and  kindliness  which  has  given  joy  to  so  many 
people.  His  home  has  been  the  stopping  place  for  ministers 
preaching  in  the  vicinity  for  the  past  three  decades,  and  every 
child  in  the  neighborhood,  as  well  as  many  a  child  now  grown  to 
manhood  and  womanhood,  recalls  with  pleasure  the  delightful 
hours  spent  in  the  Dufty  home,  where  they  are  always  made 
welcome,  and  where  much  has  been  done  for  their  comfort  and 
happiness.  His  fondness  for  children  is  one  of  Mr.  Dufty 's  most 
delightful  characteristics,  and  his  hand  is  ever  ready  to  assist 
all  young  people.  Mr.  Dufty  was  born  in  Canada,  October  15, 
184-7,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Keeley)  Dufty.  His  father  died  in 
1853,  and  at  the  age  of  seven  years  F.  M.  was  brought  to  the 
United  States  by  his  mother.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  Wisconsin, 
and  in  1875  came  to  Mower  county,  purchasing  sixty  acres  in 
section  3,  Lyle  township.  To  this  he  added  until  at  one  time  he 
owned  480  acres.  He  now  possesses  360  acres  in  sections  3  and  4. 
Since  1907  he  has  left  the  management  of  his  farm  largely  to  his 
sons.  Aside  from  his  property  in  Lyle  township  he  owns  building 
lots  in  Austin,  and  800  acres  in  Burleigh  county,  North  Dakota, 
as  well  as  half  a  section  in  Rossoau  county,  and  a  quarter  section 
in  Beltrami  county,  in  Minnesota.  Mr.  Dufty  is  a  temperance 
Republican.  He  has  served  on  the  town  board,  and  he  and  his 
wife  have  both  been  members  of  the  school  board.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1878  to  Fannie  J.  Powers,  who  died  in  1895,  leaving  seven 
children:  Avery  J.,  proprietor  and  manager  of  the  Normal  res- 
taurant; Alma,  married  to  Claude  Howard,  a  banker,  of  Free- 
born, Minn.;  Delia,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Lewis,  of 
Grand  Meadow;  Mary,  Avife  of  H.  L.  Dawson,  express  mail  clerk, 
of  Albert  Lea;  George,  of  Beltrami  county,  married  to  Selma 
Johnson;  Jay,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  and  Jesse,  who  is 


nisToijv  OF  :\i()\VKi;  corxTV  563 

a  student  in  the  Southern  Minnesota  Normal  college.  John  and 
Sarah  (Kecley)  Dufty  were  natives  of  Nottinghamshire,  England, 
and  as  young  people  came  to  Canada,  where  they  were  married. 
Tlie  former,  who  was  a  watchmaker  and  gunsmith  by  trade,  died 
in  1853,  and  the  latter  came  to  southern  Wisconsin,  where  she 
remained  until  1902,  when  she  came  to  Minnesota,  and  died  in 
Austin  in  1904. 

B.  F.  Carll,  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Lansing  township,  was  born 
in  Arcadia,  Wayne  county,  New  York,  December  2,  1854,  and  grew 
to  manhood  in  New  York  state.  In  1871  he  came  west  with  his 
father,  and  settled  on  land  that  his  father  had  purchased  in 
Udolpho  the  previous  year.  Benjamin's  early  manhood  was  passed 
on  this  farm,  and  when  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Waltham  township  and  lived  there  five  years. 
Then  in  1885  he  moved  back  on  the  old  farm,  lived  there  six  years, 
then  went  to  Michigan  and  stayed  seven  years.  After  his  return  to 
Mower  county  he  bought  out  his  father's  heirs,  and  thus  secured 
possession  of  the  home  farm,  which  he  subsequently  conducted  five 
years.  He  is  now  living  on  the  old  Williams  place  in  the  town  of 
Lansing.  Mr.  Carll  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  married  Etta  Fifield,  daughter  of  John  S.  and 
Rhoda  (Pope)  Fifield,  natives  of  Michigan,  the  former  of  whom 
was  a  prominent  farmer  in  Jackson  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carll 
have  one  daughter,  now  Mrs.  George  Clement. 

Samuel  Carll,  a  native  of  Maine,  moved  to  New  York  state  in 
1812.  In  1869  he  came  west  and  purchased  a  half  section  from 
R.  F.  Leighton  in  Udolpho  township.  He  then  returned  to  New 
York  state,  and  two  years  later  came  back  to  his  farm  in  Mower 
county,  bringing  with  him  his  son,  B.  F.  Samuel  Carll  died  in 
1878,  and  his  Avife,  Jane  Drake,  passed  away  in  1901. 

Sven  Anderson,  of  Austin,  garage  and  monument  man,  Avas 
born  in  Sweden,  June  7,  1842,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Gustaf- 
son)  Anderson,  Avho  lived  and  died  in  the  old  country.  Sven 
came  to  America  in  1869,  located  in  Austin,  and  worked  a  few 
weeks  on  the  railroad.  Then  he  worked  out  for  a  time  farming 
and  in  1870  rented  a  farm  in  Austin  township  for  one  year.  Then 
he  worked  for  the  McCormick  Harvester  Company  five  years,  and 
afterward  purchased  a  farm  in  Marshall  township,  this  county. 
On  this  farm  he  remained  eight  years  and  then  came  to  Austin,  and 
started  dealing  in  machinery.  In  1896  he  started  in  the  machine 
business  for  himself,  and  later  took  up  the  sale  of  monuments 
with  his  son,  John  H.  Anderson,  in  Avhieh  business  he  ha.s  been  very 
successful.  In  1910  he  opened  a  garage  and  buj-s,  rents  and  sells 
several  makes  of  automobiles.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  Republican 
and  while  in  Marshall  township  was  supervisor  of  the  township  for 
a  time.    He  Avas  also  deputy  sheriff  for  sI.k  years.    The  subject  of 


564  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

this  sketch  has  allied  himself  with  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  the  M.  W.  A. 
and  the  Masonic  order,  in  Avhich  latter  body  he  belongs  both  to  the 
Blue  lodge  and  to  the  chapter.  He  was  married  January  13,  1864, 
to  Anna  C.  Anderson,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  six  chil- 
dren— Albert,  John,  Axel,  who  died  aged  24;  George  E.,  the  as- 
sistant postmaster  at  Austin ;  Arthur,  Herbert  and  Esther  E.,  the 
latter  being  Mrs.  Arthur  Carlson.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 

William  T.  Adams  was  born  in  Illinois,  March  29,  1860,  and 
came  to  this  part  of  the  country  in  1881.  He  was  a  telegraph 
operator  for  a  number  of  years  for  the  railroad,  and  then  became 
a  successful  farmer  in  section  17,  Udolpho  township.  He  mar- 
ried in  1885,  his  wife  being  Jennie  M.  Washburn,  daughter  of  Seth 
S.  and  Julia  A.  (McQuivey)  Washburn,  and  they  have  six  children 
— Edgarda  T.,  Beatrice,  Mary  F.,  John  Q.,  Stanley  E.,  Theodore  R. 

Seth  S.  Washburn,  early  settler  of  Udolpho  township,  was  born 
in  Bethel,  Yt.,  June  11,  1826,  son  of  James  and  Ruth  (Sanford) 
Washliurn,  both  natives  of  Massachusetts,  the  former  born  in  1783 
and  the  latter  in  1785,  moving  to  Vermont  in  1785.  The  parents 
of  Ruth  Sanford  also  moved  to  Vermont  when  young,  were  there 
manned,  and  there  died,  the  father  May  9,  1861,  and  the  mother 
November  18,  1869.  Before  marrying  Ruth  Sanford,  James  Wash- 
burn married  Polly  Chadwick  in  1806.  She  died  in  1815.  Seth  S. 
Washburn  was  the  fourth  of  five  children  born  to  James  Wash- 
burn by  Ruth  Sanford.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  farm  and  received  a  district  school  ediication.  He 
was  married  in  Vermont,  September  4,  1853,  to  Julia  A.  McQuivey, 
born  in  Vermont,  July  4,  1825.  In  the  fall  of  1856  Seth  S.  Wash- 
burn left  his  native  state  and  with  his  family  settled  in  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  remained  a  short  time.  In  May, 
1857,  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  after  a  brief  stay  in  Udolpho 
township  took  up  a  claim  in  section  17.  His  wife  died  June  14, 
1881,  having  borne  to  her  husband  six  children,  Sanford  S.,  Jennie 
M.,  Hattie  L.,  Emma  H..  James  L.  (deceased),  and  Julius  E.,  de- 
ceased. Honorable  Sanford  S.  Washburn,  after  serving  some  years 
as  probate  judge  of  Mower  county,  lives  in  Washington  ;  Emma  H. 
is  the  wife  of  J.  P.  Rogers,  of  Newport,  Minn.,  and  Hattie  makes 
her  home  with  her. 

Hosmer  A.  Brown,  one  of  the  substantial  and  honored  citizens 
of  Mower  county,  and  after  Avliom  the  thriving  village  of  Browns- 
dale  was  named,  was  born  in  North  Stonington,  Conn.,  September 
30,  1830,  son  of  Matthew  and  Lucy  (Denison)  Brown,  natives  of 
.the  Nutmeg  state,  wlio  lived  im  an  old  homestead,  which  had  been 
held  within  the  family  since  the  first  settlement  of  Stonington. 
Tlie  i)roj)ei-ty  is  still  in  the  family.  The  parents  lived  on  this 
fiinii  until  their  death,  the  mother  dying  in  1849  and  the  father 


HOSMER  A.  BROWN. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  565 

in  1860.  They  raised  a  family  of  four  children,  three  boys  and  one 
girl,  Hosmer  A.  being  the  yovingest.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  then  learned  the  carpenter  trade.  In 
the  fall  of  1851,  Mr.  Brown  went  by  the  way  of  the  Isthmus  to 
California  and  engaged  in  mining  for  a  period  of  two  years,  after 
which  he  received  contracts  for  erecting  government  buildings 
at  Fort  Point,  San  Francisco.  He  followed  this  business  until  the 
spring  of  1855,  when  he  took  passage  on  board  the  steamer  "Gold- 
en Age"  for  home.  When  within  300  miles  of  Panama  and  off  the 
island  of  Kakera  the  vessel  struck  a  reef  and  stove  a  hole  in  her 
bow.  The  vessel  was  run  ashore  but  soon  filled  with  water  and 
sank  on  the  beach.  Mr.  Brown,  having  had  experience  in  making 
pumps  and  draining  mines  in  California,  was  employed  by  the 
captain  to  assist  in  stopping  the  leaks  and  getting  the  vessel  afloat, 
which  was  accomplished  on  the  ninth  day,  after  which  they  set 
sail  for  the  British  dry  docks  on  the  island  Toboga.  For  his  serv- 
ices, Mr.  Brown  received  from  the  steamship  company  $500  in  the 
way  of  a  donation.  After  remaining  thirty  days  on  the  island  he 
crossed  the  Isthmus  and  came  on  the  steamer  "Illinois,"  from 
there  to  his  home  in  Connecticut,  where  he  spent  the  summer.  In 
the  fall  Mr.  Brown  started  for  Kansas.  On  reaching  Ft.  Des 
Moines,  la.,  he  heard  so  much  of  the  troubles  there  that  he  changed 
his  mind  and  came  to  Minnesota,  arriving  at  Spring  Valley,  Fill- 
more county,  December,  and  there  spent  the  winter.  In  April, 
1856,  he,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Andrew  D.,  who  had  come 
from  Connecticut  that  spring,  came  to  Red  Rock  township,  this 
county.  Hosmer  A.  entering  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  9 
with  a  land  wan-ant  given  his  father  for  services  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  also  bought  of  a  Norwegian  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 9.  Mr.  Brown  and  his  brother,  together  with  John  L.  John- 
son, were  the  original  proprietors  of  the  townsite  of  Brownsdale, 
where  Mr.  Brown's  brother  erected  one  of  the  first  sawmills  in 
Mower  county.  In  the  fall  of  1870  Mr.  Brown  was  elected  to  the 
legislature  and  served  that  term.  The  same  year  he  secured  the 
location  of  the  Southern-Minnesota  R.  R.  at  Brownsdale. 

Hosmer  A.  Brown  was  married  in  St.  Paul  January  1,  1870. 
to  Mary  L.  Frink,  born  in  North  Stonington.  Conn.,  her  parents 
being  Joseph  and  Lucy  (Billings  Coals)  Frink,  natives  of  Con- 
necticut. The  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812.  The  mother 
died  in  1866,  aged  66.  The  father  died  in  1871  while  visiting  his 
son-in-law,  Dr.  William  A.  Babcock.  in  Illinois.  ^Mrs.  Brown  re- 
ceived her  education  at  the  Suffiold  Literary  Institute,  at  Suffield, 
Conn. 

William  L.  Hollister,  M.  D.,  ifliiid  physician  and  surgeon, 
and  former  state  senator  in  ISS'.i  and  member  of  the  legislature  in 
1897,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sharon.  Schoharie  county,  New 


566  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

York.  January  9,  1837,  his  father  being  Luther  Hollister.  William 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  attended  the  schools  of  his 
neighborhood.  He  started  the  study  of  medicine  Avith  Dr.  A.  H. 
Knapp  as  his  preceptor,  and  then  entered  the  Albany  Medical 
college,  graduating  in  1861.  After  receiving  his  diploma  he  started 
practice  in  Stuj'vesant,  Green  county,  New  Y''ork,  but  at  the  end 
of  two  years  removed  to  Kiug.ston,  where  he  stayed  until  1867.  In 
that  year  he  came  west,  locating  in  Lansing,  this  county,  and  con- 
tinued practice  there  four  years.  In  1871  he  came  to  Austin, 
where,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  devoted  to  public  office,  he 
practiced  continuously  until  ten  years  ago,  when  he  retired.  In 
1883  he  was  elected  to  represent  this  district  in  the  state  senate. 
In  May,  1883,  he  received  an  appointment  as  internal  revenue 
agent,  and  in  1907  again  Avent  to  the  state  legislature.  He  also 
served  as  coroner  many  terms,  and  many  year.s  as  pension  exam- 
iner. Dr.  Hollister  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  the 
Elks.  He  was  married  January  9,  1862,  to  Mary  E.  Beatty,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Beatty,  a  bricklayer.  Mrs.  Hollister  was  born  at 
Coxsackie,  N,  Y.,  March  27,  1837,  and  to  her  union  with  William 
L.  Hollister  three  children  were  born.  Lansing  0.  is  the  only  one 
living;  Clarence  and  John  F.  being  dead. 

Christian  A.  Hegge,  M.  D.,  skilled  practitioner  of  Austin,  one 
of  the  members  of  the  firm  of  Hegge  &  Hegge,  physicians  and  sur- 
geons, was  born  in  Biri,  Norway,  April  23,  1866.  He  attended 
school  in  Norway,  and  came  to  America  in  1887.  He  at  once  en- 
tered the  Augsberg  Seminary,  at  Minneapolis,  and  after  two  years 
entered  the  scientific  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota. 
In  1890  he  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Illinois,  graduating  in  1893.  After  a  year  spent  as  an  interne  in 
the  city  hospital  at  Minneapolis,  he  came  to  Austin  in  1894,  and  in 
partnership  with  his  brother,  Olav  IL,  started  the  practice  of 
medicine.  In  1900  he  took  a  post-graduate  course  at  the  Chicago 
Clinical  School,  in  1903  attended  clinics  in  Germany,  England  and 
the  Scandinavian  countries,  in  1906  attended  the  Chicago  Poli- 
clinic, and  in  1908  at  the  Chicago  Post-Graduate  School.  For 
twelve  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  physicians  and  surgeons  at 
St.  Olav's  hospital,  in  Austin,  which  he  and  his  brother  foiuided. 
Dr.  Christian  A.  Hegge  belongs  to  the  American,  state  and  county 
medical  associations,  and  has  been  secretary  of  the  latter  two 
years.  He  belongs  to  the  'Masons  and  the  IMaccabees  and  vot(>s  tin- 
Di-mocratic  ticket.  Tlic  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  jNlay 
14,  189:"),  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  (wo  children,  Nina,  July 
31,  1896,  and  Agnes,  February  9,  1899,  the  wife's  name  being  Isa- 
bella Dalager.    The  family  residence  is  at  916  Lansing  avenue. 

Olav  H.  Hegge,  A.  B.,  M.  D.,  a  well-known  doctor  of  Austin, 
one  of  the  rnfinbci-s  of  llic   firm   of  Hegge  &  Hegge,  physicians 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  567 

and  surgeons,  was  born  in  Biri,  Norway,  March  20,  1872,  and  there 
roeeived  his  earlier  education.  He  came  to  America  in  1889,  en- 
tered the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  then  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Illinois,  graduating  in  1893.  Then  he 
spent  one  year  as  an  interne  in  the  Bethesda  Hospital,  St.  Paul, 
and  in  1894  came  to  Austin,  where  he  joined  his  brother,  C.  A. 
For  twelve  years  Dr.  Olav  H.  Hegge  has  been  one  of  the  physi- 
cians and  surgeons  at  St.  Olav's  Hospital,  of  which  he  was  the 
real  founder.  In  1903  Dr.  0.  H.  Hegge  spent  a  year  attending 
clinics  in  Germany,  England  and  the  Scandinavian  countries.  He 
has  also  taken  a  number  of  post-graduate  courses  in  the  leading 
post-graduate  schools  of  New  York,  Chicago  and  New  Orleans. 
He  belongs  to  the  American,  state  and  county  medical  associations, 
and  was  secretary  of  the  latter  organization  one  year.  He  is  a 
Mason,  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  Api'il  20,  1898, 
to  Stella  L.  Johnson,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children — IMilda,  Rolv  and  Valfrid.  The  family  home  is  at  811 
High  street  in  Austin. 

Alden  A.  Hickok  was  born  in  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  De- 
cember 23,  1856,  son  of  John  H.  and  Christy  S.  (Bennett)  Hickok. 
He  was  brought  to  Mower  county  by  his  parents  in  1863  and 
attended  the  district  schools  and  the  Austin  high  school.  He 
taught  school  winters  and  worked  on  the  farm  at  home  summers 
until  twenty-six  years  of  age,  and  then  went  to  Minneapolis, 
where,  after  working  in  the  shipping  room  and  offices  of  a  Avhole- 
sale  furniture  manufacturing  company  for  a  time,  he  went  on 
the  road  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  the  same  concern  for  six  years. 
After  this  he  again  returned  to  Mower  county,  and  after  three 
years  of  teaching  purchased  the  old  home  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
on  which  he  now  conducts  general  farming.  He  was  elected 
assessor  in  1904,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  year  1905  has 
held  that  position  continuously.  IMr.  Hickok  was  married  March 
30,  1892,  to  Lillie  M.  Bishop,  of  LeRoy  village,  and  to  this  union 
have  been  born  ten  children — Otto  B.,  Mina  Belle,  Christea  May, 
Helen  C,  Adson  M.,  Lilliam  L.,  Lou  Thorne,  Etta  E.,  Alice  A.  and 
NTathan  J.,  all  of  whom,  with  the  exception  of  Mina  Bell(%  who  is 
attending  high  school  in  LeRoy,  are  still  at  home. 

John  H.  Hickok,  Avho  came  to  Austin  township  in  early  war 
times,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1830  and  came  to  Green  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, in  1846,  his  people  coming  some  time  later.  He  married 
Christy  S.  Bennett,  who  came  with  her  parents  about  the  same 
time,  in  1853.  In  1863  John  H.  Hickok  and  his  family  came  to 
]\rower  county,  and  here  he  preempted  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Lyle 
toAvnship.  selling  out  his  claim  a  year  later.  In  the  early  days  he 
licllxMl  to  buiid  tiio  historir  old  Gregson-Offi.-.-r  mill.     Mr.  lli.-kok 


568  HISTOPiY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

followed  general  farming  on  his  farm  in  section  25,  Austin  town- 
ship, which  he  bought  in  1865.  until  1891,  when  he  retired  and 
moved  to  Austin,  where  his  wife  died  in  August,  1905,  and  where 
he  passed  away  in  November,  1908.  ]\Ir.  Hickok  was  assessor 
of  Austin,  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  from  1872  to  1891.  Of 
his  children,  Alden  A.  is  assessor  of  Austin  township ;  Mrs.  "\V.  W. 
Hommel  lives  in  Austin  and  has  two  children,  Harry  and  jMeda ; 
Mrs.  H.  R.  Campbell  also  lives  in  Austin,  and  E.  H.  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1909,  leaving  his  widow,  Elizabeth,  and  three  children — 
Beatrice,  Ray  and  Walter,  likewise  living  in  Austin. 

George  Hirsh,  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  Austin,  has 
been  engaged  in  the  retail  trade  since  early  manhood.  He  was 
born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  March  19,  1856,  son  of  Isaiah  and  Rosa 
(Stern)  Hirsh,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  grain  dealer.  The 
father  died  in  1882  and  the  mother  one  year  later.  George 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Germany  and  then  came 
to  America  in  1873.  He  took  up  peddling  of  dry  goods  and 
notions  in  New  York  state  and  Vermont  for  seven  years.  In  1880 
he  went  west  and  opened  a  meat  market  and  grocery  store  in 
Chicago,  conducting  same  for  four  years.  The  clothing  business 
then  occupied  his  attention  in  Council  Grove,  Kan.  In  1887  he 
came  to  Austin,  where  he  has  since  remained.  Opening  with  a 
.stock  of  clothing  and  men's  shoes,  he  gradually  increased  his  busi- 
ness, until  it  reached  the  proportions  which  justified  the  erection 
of  a  fine  block  in  1900.  This  block  is  located  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Water  streets,  and  is  two  stories  in  height,  95x100 
feet.  The  ground  floor  is  devoted  to  his  store  and  auditorium, 
while  the  upper  floor  contains  lodge  rooms  and  offices.  Mr.  Hirsh 
is  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Austin,  and  has  served 
as  chairman  of  the  County  Republican  Central  Committee.  He  is 
a  thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  also  belongs  to  the  Austin  Com- 
mercial Club.  Mr.  Hirsh  was  married  February  12,  1895,  at  Nee- 
nah.  Wis.,  to  Eva  Billstein,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with 
three  children — Rephah  B.,  Elizabeth  F.  and  Alexander'  I.,  all  at 
home.  Aside  from  his  business  block,  ]\Ir.  Hirsh  owns  a  pleasant 
liome  at  the  corner  of  Courtland  and  Greenwich  streets. 

Joel  A.  Hart,  now  deceased,  was  a  farmer  in  Austin  townsliip 
in  the  years  folhiwiug  the  Civil  war.  He  was  a  substantial  citizen, 
and  was  much  respected  at  the  time  of  his  death,  December  28, 
1882.  By  his  union  Avith  Amy  Vareo,  born  in  Canada,  daughter 
of  Tliomas  and  Emaline  (Eddy)  Varco,  he  had  three  children: 
Eugene  V.,  Orrie  and  Jennie.  Eugene  V.  married  Rachel  Brooks 
and  they  have  two  children:  Irene  and  Bernice.  Jennie  is  now 
Mrs.  Shepplay  and  is  the  mother  of  three  children,  Marjerie,  Amy 
and  Ruby.     Eugene  V.  now  conducts  the  liome  farm  in  Austin 


MR.  AND  iMRS.  THOMAS  VARCO. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  569 

township  and  Mrs.  Hart  has  iiuuli'  her  home  in  the  eity  for  many 
years. 

Thomas  Varco,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers,  was  born  in  Enuland 
and  moved  at  an  early  date  to  Canada,  where  he  married  Emaline 
Eddy,  who  was  born  in  Coberg,  Ontario,  and  is  still  living  at  the 
good  old  age  of  84.  The  family  moved  to  Wisconsin,  there 
remained  six  years,  and  then  came  to  Austin,  arriving  July  24, 
1856.  A  daughter,  Mrs.  Amy  Hart,  now  living  in  Austin,  well 
remembers  this  long  and  tedious  trip  to  Austin  by  ox  eart. 
Thomas  Varco  was  a  farmer  and  raised  a  family  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  five  are  living :  Amy,  now  Mrs.  Joel  A.  Hart ;  Maitland, 
wlio  married  Hattie  Bowers ;  Charles,  who  married  Isabell  Gam- 
mel;  Jennie,  now  Mrs.  Berton  Hart,  and  Justin,  who  married 
Etta  Streeter  and  manages  the  home  farm.  Thomas  Varco  died 
February  12,  1893. 

0.  J.  Hill,  a  retired  farmer  now  living  in  Austin,  dates  his 
residence  in  MoAver  county  from  1857.  He  was  born  in  Carroll 
county.  New  Hampshire,  ^March  8,  1835,  son  of  James  and  Sally 
(Brown)  Hill,  both  natives  of  New  Hampshire,  the  former  dying 
in  that  state  and  the  latter  coming  to  Red  Rock  township  in  1857, 
and  there  ending  her  days.  0.  J.  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools,  moved  to  Oshkosh  in  1853  and  then  in  1857  came 
to  Mower  county,  making  the  trip  by  ox  team,  Avhich  took  four 
weeks,  locating  in  Red  Rock  township.  He  purchased  160  acres 
of  government  land  at  $2.50  an  acre  and  later  acquired  200  acres 
of  railroad  land.  Still  later  he  purchased  220  acres,  owning  at 
the  present  time  480  acres,  all  of  which  he  developed  and  im- 
proved, and  nearly  all  of  which  he  broke.  Here  he  built  a  beau- 
tiful home  and  followed  general  farming  successfully  until  1898, 
Avhen  he  retired  and  moved  to  Austin,  where  he  now  resides. 
"While  on  the  farm  he  made  a  specialty  of  breeding  fine  stock, 
especially  Red  Polls  and  Shorthorns.  He  sold  four  different 
teams  which  he  raised  for  |400  a  pair.  For  six  years  IMr.  Hill 
Avas  chairman  of  Red  Rock  township,  and  he  also  served  various 
terras  on  the  school  board  and  as  pathmaster.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  March  6, 
18G2,  to  Frances  Ransom,  of  Ripon,  Wis.,  whose  father  erected  the 
first  house  in  Oshkosh.  To  this  union  have  been  born  seven  chil- 
dren :  Walter  J.,  of  Oregon ;  Arthur  H.,  of  Oelwein,  Iowa ;  Eliza 
G.,  wife  of  C.  F.  Lewis;  Edmund  T.,  who  occupies  the  old  farm 
in  Red  Rock  township;  Laura  J.,  James  O.  and  Sallic  E.  Tlic 
family  faith  is  that  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

Ralph  P.  Crane,  lumberman,  of  Austin,  Avas  born  in  this  city 
April  21,  1887,  son  of  Frank  I.  and  Sylvia  (Pettibone)  Crane,  the 
])ioneers.  He  received  his  edncation  in  tlie  Austin  sclionls.  and 
graduated  from  the  Austin  iii-rh  school  in  1!)().").  jiftrrward  taking 


570  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

courses  at  Carleton  College,  Nortlifield ;  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota, at  Minneapolis,  and  the  Cornell  University,  at  Ithaea,  N.  Y., 
taking  law  studies  in  the  latter  institution.  In  July,  1909,  he  took 
up  the  lumber  business  in  Austin  with  his  father,  and  at  the  time 
of  the  latter  "s  death  took  full  charge  of  the  business.  While  at 
college  he  was  admitted  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Alpha  Delta  Phi, 
one  of  the  Greek  letter  fraternities,  and  since  then  he  has  allied 
himself  with  the  IMasonie  order.  He  is  president  of  the  Austin 
and  Mower  County  Automobile  Club  and  also  a  member  of  the 
Austin  Commercial  Club. 

Benjamin  Hilker,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  now  deceased,  and 
for  many  years  a  well-liked  resident  of  Austin,  was  born  in 
Preston,  Ontario,  November  22,  1843,  and  as  a  boy  moved  witii 
his  parents  to  Fort  Elgin,  Ontario,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 
He  v.-as  married  there  January  22,  1869,  to  Abigail  Detwiler, 
daughter  of  John  R.  Detwiler.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hilker  came  west 
in  1873,  and  settled  in  Lansing,  where  they  lived  on  a  farm  for 
twelve  years.  In  1885  they  moved  to  Austin,  where  the  family 
has  since  resided.  For  three  years  Mr.  Hilker  was  in  the  meat 
business  with  Fiehn  &  JMcMann.  Later  he  Avorked  at  the  trade 
of  mason  and  house  mover.  During  the  Civil  war,  while  at  work 
in  the  Michigan  woods,  he  enlisted  at  Flint,  Mich.,  in  Co.  I,  30th 
Mich.  Vol.  Inf.,  in  1864,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
died  September  10,  1905.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hilker  had  five  children: 
Mrs.  Dell  Roberts,  John  Hilker,  Mrs.  Eugene  Fairbanks,  Albert 
Plilker  and  Mrs.  Charles  Pitcher.  Abigail  Detwiler  Hilker,  widow 
of  Benjamin  Hilker,  now  makes  her  home  at  400  "Water  street, 
Austin.  She  was  born  in  Roseville,  Ontario,  Canada,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  John  R.  and  Nancy  (Dodge)  Detwiler,  the  former  a 
hotel  keeper  in  Canada.  John  R.  Detwiler  and  his  father  Avere 
both  from  Pennsylvania,  and  of  Dutch  (Holland)  ancestry,  the 
latter  for  many  years  conducting  a  grist  mill  on  the  Schuylkill 
river  in  that  state. 

Reuben  Oscar  Hall,  a  retired  business  man  of  Austin,  and  one 
of  the  hoiioied  old  residents  of  Mower  county,  was  born  in 
Rochester,  Vt.,  January  10,  1829,  son  of  Reuben  and  ]\larena 
(Brown)  Hall.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  took  one  year's  course  in  the 
high  school  at  Rutland,  Vt.  He  came  west  in  1850,  and  located 
in  Wisconsin,  farming  summers  and  teaching  school  winters  for 
six  years.  In  1856  he  went  to  Mendota,  111.,  and  there  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  until  1866,  in  which  year  lie  went  to 
AVheaton,  111.,  a  short  distance  out  of  Chicago,  in  DuPage  county, 
and  purchased  a  farm.  Three  years  later,  in  1869,  he  went  to 
Dixon,  111.,  and  engaged  in  the  lloiii-  business  four  years.  The 
year  1873  dates  his  arrival  in  Austin.     In  that  year  he  came  liere 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  571 

and  opened  a  dry  goods  store  in  partnership  with  his  son-in-law, 
Col.  Charles  L.  West.  After  twenty-six  years'  constant  attention 
to  this  business,  he  sold  the  business  to  Colonel  West  and  retired. 
Then  he  spent  nearly  two  years  in  California  and  one  year  travel- 
ing in  the  southern  states.  I\Ir.  Hall  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
having  been  an  Abolitionist  and  a  Prohibitionist  also ;  has  served 
as  sheriff  of  Mower  county  four  years,  from  1875  to  1879;  has 
been  alderman  of  Austin  from  the  second  ward,  and  has  done 
excellent  service  to  the  city  as  chairman  of  the  Austin  board  of 
education.  He  is  a  high  degree  IMason,  and  has  been  a  trustee  of 
the  Methodist  church  for  over  forty  years.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  April  8,  1852,  to  Frances  Annette  Smith,  a 
native  of  Schoharie  county.  New  York,  born  April  8,  1834,  and 
died  July  25,  1896,  leaving  six  living  children.  Eliza  INIarena, 
born  May  4,  1856,  in  Mendota,  111.,  is  now  Mrs.  Lyman  D.  Baird. 
Chai'lotte  Cerucia,  born  January  6,  1853,  in  Winnebago  county. 
Wisconsin,  married  Col.  C.  L.  West,  and  is  now  deceased.  Frank 
0.,  born  July  29,  1860,  in  Mendota,  111.,  is  a  groceryman  of  Austin. 
Adelbert  Eugene,  born  July  16,  1871,  in  Dixon,  111.,  is  agent  for 
the  Wells-Fargo  Express  Company,  at  Madison,  S.  D.  Fred  H., 
born  September  12,  1869,  in  Dixon,  HI.,  lives  in  Kansas  and  travels 
for  the  Marshall  Field  Company,  of  Chicago.  Jay  Mason,  born 
March  25,  1873,  is  a  St.  Paul  dentist.  Mr.  Hall  was  married  the 
second  time  August  31,  1897,  to  Alice  Gertrude  Harvey,  of  Wood- 
stock, Vt.,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Caroline  (Conant)  Harvey, 
of  Woodstock,  Vt.,  the  former  being  still  living  and  the  latter 
dead.  To  this  union  have  been  born  two  children :  Louise  Eliza- 
beth, born  February  18,  1899,  and  Reuben  Harvey,  born  April  17, 
1905.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  old  Harvey  homestead  in 
Woodstock,  Vt.,  has  been  in  the  family  since  the  time  of  Mrs. 
Hall's  great-great-grandfather  in  revolutionary  times,  and  is 
now  owned  by  Mrs.  Hall's  father,  G.  W.  Harvey.  Edmond 
Harvey,  ]Mrs.  Hall's  great-great-grandfather,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

Reuben  Hall,  father  of  Reuben  Oscar  Hall,  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont and  there  married  Marena  Brown,  a  native  of  the  same 
state.  They  came  west  in  1853  and  located  in  AVisconsin,  coming 
to  MoAver  county  in  1867.  Here  they  took  up  their  residence  and 
farmed  a  few  miles  out  of  Austin  all  their  lives.  Reuben  Hall 
lived  to  be  80  years  of  age,  and  his  wife  reached  the  age  of  93. 
Both  now  repose  in  Oakwood  cemetery  at  Austin.  John  Brown, 
maternal  grandfather  of  Reuben  Oscar  Hall,  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  in  the  town  of  Rochester,  Vt.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the 
War  of  1812.  and  took  part  in  the  ])attle  of  Plattsburg. 

Andrew  T.  Hobson  was  born  in  Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  county, 
this  state.  Ai)ril  14.  1877.  and  reciMved  bis  education  in  the  dis- 


572  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

triet  Schools  of  Clayton  township  and  in  the  Austin  graded 
schools.  He  began  life  for  himself  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of 
C.  ^I.  Rice,  in  Austin,  for  a  year,  and  then  formed  a  partnership 
with  L.  G.  Billings  in  a  general  store  at  Oakland  village  in  Fill- 
more county,  a  few  miles  from  Austin.  In  1898  he  sold  his 
interest,  and  purchased  his  father's  farm  of  150  acres  in  Austin 
township,  on  which  tract  he  has  since  conducted  general  farming. 
He  has  been  road  overseer  four  years,  was  school  clerk  for  six 
years,  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He 
attends  the  Christian  church,  and  belongs  to  the  Modern  Samari- 
tans and  the  jModern  Woodmen  of  America.  Mr.  Hobson  was 
married  June  28,  1899,  to  Emma  Rosenthal,  and  their  home  is 
brightened  by  one  child,  Mildred. 

Robert  Hobson,  retired  farmer  of  Austiii,  was  born  in  England 
December  11,  1845,  and  there  lived  until  thirteen  years  of  age,  at 
which  time  he  came  to  Sparta,  Wis.,  and  lived  on  a  farm.  In 
1877  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  located  in  Spring  Valley,  where 
he  farmed  two  years.  Then  he  came  to  Mower  county,  purchased 
440  acres  in  Clayton  tOAvnship,  and  there  lived  thirteen  years. 
Later  he  moved  to  Austin  township  and  continued  farming.  In 
1898  he  sold  a  tract  of  land  in  section  21,  Austin  township,  to  his 
son  Andrew,  and  purchased  a  quarter  section  in  section  32,  Red 
Rock  township,  where  he  lived  five  years,  after  which  he  sold  out, 
purchased  his  present  property  and  erected  his  present  home. 
Robert  Hobson  was  married  July  10,  1867,  at  Sparta,  "Wis.,  to 
Almira  Kelsey,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed 
Avith  five  children:  Eliza,  Jayne,  Andrew,  Blanche  and  Almira. 
Dr.  Eliza  Morrison  has  erected  a  sanitarium  Avhich  she  conducts 
at  Stuttgart,  Ark. ;  Jayne  married  John  Anderson  and  died  in 
November,  1892,  leaving -a  son,  Robert  I.,  who  has  been  adopted 
by  his  grandparents ;  Andrew  farms  in  Austin  township ;  Blanche 
died  January  23,  1896,  and  Almira  married  Albert  AVatkins. 

Abram  Hollister,  now  deceased,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  gave 
his  health  and  strength  to  the  service  of  his  country,  receiving 
wounds  on  the  nation's  battlefields  from  which  he  never  fully 
recovered,  suffering  therefrom  until  his  death,  April  1,  1909.  I\Ir. 
Hollister  came  to  Austin  in  ante])ellum  days,  and  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  4th  Minn.  Vol.  Inf.,  his  enlist- 
ment dating  in  1862.  He  was  wounded  in  the  right  foot,  and 
received  his  discharge  in  1865.  He  never  fully  recovered  from 
this  wound,  and  although  he  continued  farming  for  some  years 
his  wound  annoyed  him  all  his  life  and  hastened,  probably,  his 
end.  He  was  married  in  1866  to  Celia  Rawson,  and  this  union  was 
blessed  with  two  daughters,  Alice  M.  and  IMyra  J.  Alice  I\I.  mar- 
ried Elmer  Loucks,  and  they  have  three  children:  Arthur  H., 
Celia  ]M.  and  AVilliam  A.    Nathan  Graves  is  the  husband  of  Myra 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  573 

J.  and  they  have  two  children,  Lester  H.  and  Nathan  A.  Mrs. 
Celia  (Rawson)  Hollister,  widow  of  Abrara  HoUister,  was  horn  iu 
Jefferson  county,  New  York,  daiighter  of  Ozias  Rawson,  a  car- 
penter liy  ti'ade,  wlio  later  in  life  moved  to  Canada  and  Ix'canic 
a  farmer. 

Aaron  E.  Henslin,  M.  D.,  C.  M.,  who  has  taken  a  deep  interest 
in  the  business  and  social  progress  of  IMower  county,  as  well  as  iu 
its  hygiene  and  sanitation,  was  born  in  Racine,  in  this  county, 
June  20,  1865,  son  of  Frederic  and  Ernstine  (Weckwerth)  Henslin. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  his  native  township,  attended  the 
Spring  Valley  high  school,  and  in  1888  entered  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  Keokuk,  Iowa,  graduating  with  a 
medical  degree  in  1891.  Then  he  took  two  courses  in  the  Chicago 
Polyclinic,  and  in  the  fall  of  1894  entered  the  Milwaukee  Medical 
College,  graduating  with  honors  iu  surgery  in  1895.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1891  Dr.  Henslin  practiced  a  short  time  in  Adams.  After 
completing  his  special  studies  he  came  to  LeRoy,  where  he  has 
been  since  that  date  in  active  practice,  having  an  extensive  clien- 
tele, and  enjoying  that  full  measure  of  confidence  and  regard 
which  is  the  skillful  physician's  reward.  Dr.  Henslin  is  a  member 
of  the  American,  state  and  county  medical  associations,  as  well 
as  of  the  Austin,  Flint  and  Cedar  Valley  association,  of  Iowa,  the 
Anti-Tubercular  Congress,  and  the  American  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Science.  He  has  served  as  president  of  the 
Mower  county  association.  He  is  also  county  coroner  and  county 
health  officer.  His  civic  interest  is  shown  by  his  membership  in 
the  LeRoy  Improvement  Association,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  0.  F.,  the  Degree  of  Rebekah,  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  and  the 
M.  \V.  A.  He  was  one  of  the  chief  promoters  and  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  LeRoy  I'elephone  Company,  of  Avhich  he  is  now 
the  treasurer.  Dr.  Henslin  was  married  June  1,  1905,  at  Racine, 
this  county,  to  May  L.  Piuckney,  and  their  son,  Robert  F.,  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years. 

Frederic  Henslin,  the  pioneer,  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  25  years.  He  was  married  in 
Wisconsin  to  Ernstine  Weckwerth,  who  was  born  in  his  native 
place  and  was  brought  to  this  country  with  her  parents  at  the 
age  of  ten  years.  Frederic  Henslin  and  his  wife  came  to  IMower 
county  in  1859.  and  located  in  Red  Rock  township,  going  in  1863 
to  Racine  township.  Frederic  died  November  23,  1903,  and  the 
mother  June  21,  1891.  They  had  nine  children,  seven  of  whom 
arc  living:  Christina,  wife  of  John  Pfuhl,  of  Sergeant;  Aaron  E. 
Henslin ;  Emma,  wife  of  Augu.st  Rein,  of  Paynesville,  'SUnn. ; 
Sarali,  widow  of  Charles  Davis,  of  Pasadena,  California  :  Julius  F., 
of  Ilalbrite.  Canada;  Bertha,  wife  of  J.  C.  Sdiroedei-.  of  Racine 
towLship,  and  ^lary  L.,  a  tcadier  in  Minneapolis. 


574  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Atkins  Hotson,  who  is  acceptably  filling  the  position  of  secre- 
tary for  the  ]iIower  County  Farmers'  Fire  and  Lightning  Mutual 
Insurance  Company,  -was  born  in  Norfolk,  England,  March  22, 
1851,  son  of  Thomas  and  Esther  (Guttridge)  Ilotson,  who  brought 
him  to  Illinois  in  1854  and  to  IMower  county  in  1862.  He  received 
the  larger  part  of  his  early  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Lyle  township,  and  farmed  Avith  his  father  until  1877,  when  he 
started  farming  for  himself  in  section  14,  Lyle  township.  He  first 
purchased  eighty  acres,  but  by  thrift  and  energy  he  managed  to 
acquire  200  acres,  all  in  Lyle  township,  which  he  still  owns.  On 
this  place  he  successfully  conducted  farming  operations  until 
1902,  when  he  rented  his  land  to  his  son,  and  moved  to  Austin  to 
assume  the  position  which  he  has  since  occupied.  Mr.  Hotson  is 
at  the  present  time  serving  with  credit  as  a  member  of  the  city 
council  of  Austin.  While  in  Lyle  he  served  twenty-two  years  as 
town  clerk.  He  was  also  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  12  at  one 
time  and  clerk  of  district  No.  54  for  many  years.  Mr.  Hotson 
belongs  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
was  married  May  24,  1876,  to  Maria  E.  Gregg,  of  Nevada  town- 
ship, this  county,  who  died  January  3,  1900,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren :  Frank  A.,  now  farming  in  Nevada  township ;  Fay  G.,  who 
is  on  the  old  homestead  in  Lyle  township;  Mabel  E.,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Austin  high  school  and  teaches  school,  and  Nellie 
M.,  at  the  present  time  a  student  of  the  Austin  high  school.  The 
family  faith  is  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Thomas  Hotson,  of  Lyle  township,  was  born  in  Norfolk,  Eng- 
land, and  there  married  Esther  Guttridge,  a  native  of  the  same 
locality.  They  came  to  America  in  1854  and  located  in  Illinois 
until  1862,  Avhen  they  came  to  Mower  county  and  purchased  160 
acres  of  land,  which  they  broke  and  developed,  still  carrying  ou 
general  farming. 

Patrick  Hoban,  retired  farmer,  was  born  in  Kilkenny  county, 
Ireland,  August  15,  1847,  son  of  Martin  and  (Purcell)  Hoban.  He 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  America  at  the  age  of  five  years, 
lived  in  New  York  two  years,  and  then  came  with  his  parents  to 
Wisconsin,  Avhere  he  spent  his  boyhood.  In  1862  he  came  with 
them  to  Rochester,  Minn.,  and  remained  there  until  the  following 
summer,  when  he  came  to  Oakland  township,  Freeborn  county, 
liclped  his  father  break  land,  and  then  went  back  to  Rochester. 
In  1868  he  located  in  Oakland  township,  Freeborn  county,  took 
up  eighty  acres  of  railroad  land,  made  the  usual  improvements, 
.'ind  added  to  his  land  until  he  owned  500  acres,  all  in  Freeborn 
county.  In  the  meantime  he  bought  half  a  section  in  South 
Dakota,  sold  this  tract,  and  purchased  a  whole  section  in  North 
Dakota,  and  later  disposed  of  this  tract  also.  In  1909  he  pur- 
chased a  fine  property  on  College  street  in  Austin,  where  he  has 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  575 

siuce  resided.  Mr.  Hoban  is  an  independent  Democrat  and  attends 
the  Catholic  church.  He  has  worked  his  way  upward  in  life  by 
his  own  efforts  entirely.  Mr.  Hoban  was  married  November  1, 
1874,  to  Mary  McGuire,  a  native  of  Berlin,  Wis.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  eight  children:  jMary,  now  Mrs.  James  Quinn, 
of  Bowman  county,  N.  D. ;  Julia,  now  Mrs.  Gus  Kenevan,  of  Free- 
born county ;  Martin,  who  is  on  the  home  farm ;  James,  wlio  is 
also  on  the  home  farm ;  Nana,  who  is  a  school  teacher ;  William, 
who  is  in  North  Dakota;  Arthur  and  Katheriae,  who  are  at  home. 
Martin  and  Julia  (Purcell)  Hoban  were  born  in  Ireland  and 
came  to  America  in  1852,  remaining  in  New  Jersey  two  years. 
Then  they  located  in  Berlin,  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  and  re- 
mained until  1862,  when  they  came  overland  to  Freeborn  county, 
remaining  one  summer,  on  the  way,  in  Rochester.  Martin  home 
steaded  eighty  acres  in  section  14,  Oakland  township,  but  the 
first  year  lived  on  what  was  known  as  the  Johnson  place.  He 
improved  his  land  and  increased  his  acreage  to  240.  Mrs.  Hoban 
died  in  1881  and  her  husband  in  1886. 

William  M.  Hynie,  the  capable  manager  of  the  Albun  &  White 
lime  kiln,  at  LeRoy,  was  born  in  Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota, 
March  15,  1874.  He  received  his  education  in  Blue  Earth  county, 
and  then  worked  three  years  with  the  C.  M.  &  St.  P.  Then  he 
took  a  position  with  Fowler  &  Pay,  of  Mankato,  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  lime  business,  working  for  a  time  in  Austin, 
and  now  in  LeRoy,  his  home  being  located  in  Austin.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  a  Lutheran,  and  a  member  of  the  M.  W. 
A.  and  the  F.  O.  E.  In  addition  to  being  in  the  lime  business,  Mr. 
H\Tiie  spent  one  season,  that  of  1906,  in  Montana,  where  he 
worked  on  railroad  bridge  construction.  Nels  and  Carrie  Hynie, 
parents  of  William  M.  Hynie,  were  born  in  Norway,  and  on  com- 
ing to  America  located  in  Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota,  where 
they  took  a  homestead  of  120  acres  in  Brilliant  Valley.  In  1892 
they  retired  and  moved  to  Lake  Crystal,  in  the  same  county, 
Nels  dying  there  February  28,  1893,  and  his  wife,  January  8,  1895. 

Milan  J.  Hart,  M.  D.,  a  successful  practitioner,  is  village 
officer  of  LcRoy,  and  vice-president  of  the  First  State  Bank  in  the 
same  village.  He  was  born  in  Dover,  Olmsted  county,  Minn., 
May  9,  186G,  son  of  John  G.  and  Phoebe  (March)  Hart.  J^Iilan  J. 
pa.ssed  his  boyhood  and  early  manhood  on  the  farm,  attended  the 
village  schools,  graduated  from  the  Dover  high  school,  and  then 
entered  the  University  of  Minnesota,  graduating  from  the  medical 
department  in  1895.  After  a  short  period  as  interne  in  the  City 
Hospital,  at  Minneapolis,  he  came  to  LeRoy  and  opened  an  office. 
He  has  a  wide  trade  and  is  well  liked.  Being  thoroughly  ethical 
in  his  practice,  he  has  allied  himself  with  the  American,  the 
^Minnesota,  the  Southern  Minnesota  and  the  Mower  County  Med- 


576  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

ieal  associations,  and  keeps  well  abreast  of  the  latest  develop- 
ments in  medicine  and  surgery  by  wide  reading.  He  is  a  Eoyal 
Arch  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star,  and  a  member  of 
the  M.  W.  A.  Dr.  Hart  married  Maybelle  Avery,  daughter  of 
John  and  Myra  (Mitchell)  Avery,  early  settlers.  John  G.  Hart 
came  to  Minnesota  in  1856,  locating  -west  of  Rochester,  and  moved 
to  Dover  in  1863,  farming  there  the  remainder  of  his  daj's  and 
died  in  1876.  He  married  Phoebe  March,  who  proved  an  able 
helpmeet,  and  lived  until  1895,  when  she,  too,  passed  to  the  Great 
Beyond. 

John  S.  Lacy  was  an  early  hotel  keeper  in  Austin,  having 
erected  the  second  hotel  in  the  place.  Mr.  Lacy  was  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  upon  coming  to  Austin  erected  a  two-story  frame  build- 
ing opposite  the  present  court  house  square,  on  the  site  now  occu- 
pied by  the  McCullough  printing  establishment.  Mr.  Lacy  sold 
his  house  to  Asa  Brown,  who  in  the  fall  of  1865  sold  it  to  one  Cole, 
who  in  th'e  spring  of  1866  sold  it  to  Jacob  and  A.  M.  Fleck,  who 
raised  the  main  part  of  the  building,  put  in  a  basement,  added 
a  story  and  fitted  up  in  all  thirty  rooms.  The  Fleck  house  was 
then  built  on  the  same  site.  After  passing  through  several  hands, 
it  ceased  to  be  a  hotel  and  is  now  used  for  commercial  purposes, 
as  above  stated.  Mr.  Lacy  died  in  Montrose,  S.  D.,  September 
13,  1902. 

Jonas  Haney,  the  pioneer,  was  born  in  Sussex  county,  Ncav 
Jersey,  August  1,  1828.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Sarah  (Berk)  Haney,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsjd- 
vania,  of  Germant  descent  and  the  latter  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
of  English  extraction.  This  couple  reared  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, and  continued  to  reside  in  New  Jersey  the  remainder  of 
their  days.  In  1851  Jonas  Haney  went  to  Port  Jervis,  Orange 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  there  married  to  Sophia  Miller,  born  in 
Orange  county.  New  York,  January  15,  1831.  He  worked  at  the 
carpenter  and  joiner's  trade  three  years  after  his  marriage,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1856  came  to  Minnesota,  landing  at  Winona  the 
first  day  of  May.  He  remained  there  until  September  of  the  same 
year,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  settled  in  section  30, 
Lansing  township,  where  he  remained  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  1892,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  which  lie  spent  in  Austin. 
Mr.  Haney  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  filled  \arious  offices 
of  trust  in  the  township.  He  was  county  commissioner  two  terms, 
assessor  of  his  township  for  some  time,  and  chairman  of  the 
board  of  supervisors.  He  had  four  sons — John  W.,  now  living 
in  Oregon ;  Myron  C,  now  deceased ;  Charles  and  Frank.  His 
wife  died  in  1909. 

Frank  Haney,  for  many  years  a  supervisor  of  tlie  town  of 


HISTORY  OF  MOWKl!  COUNTY  577 

Lausiug,  was  born  in  Lansing  township,  January  24,  1859,  son 
of  Jonas  and  Sophia  (Miller)  Ilaney.  He  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  attended  the  district  schools,  and  later  took  up  farming 
for  himself,  being  now  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  township. 
Like  his  father  before  him  he  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  his 
term  as  supervisor  has  extended  over  a  period  of  fourteen  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen,  the  Eagles  and  the 
Court  of  Honor.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  many 
yeai's  ago  to  Lillie  A.  Lacy,  born  in  the  old  Lacy  house,  in  Austin, 
daughter  of  John  S.  Lacy.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Haney  are  the  happy 
parents  of  six  children — Sophia,  Robert  L.,  Orma,  Leonard,  Aaron 
and  Everett. 

W.  F.  Cobb,  M.  D.,  physician  and  surgeon,  of  Lyle,  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  official  and  private  life  of  Mower  and 
]\Iitchell  counties,  and  has  attained  an  enviable  position  among 
the  medical  fraternity  of  this  portion  of  Minnesota  and  Iowa.  In 
the  medical  world  he  is  a  member  of  the  American,  Minnesota 
State,  Mower  County,  Mitchell  County  and  Austin  Flint  Cedar 
Valley  Medical  associations,  having  been  president  of  the  Mower 
County  association  and  both  president  and  treasurer  of  the 
Mitchell  County  association.  He  has  been  county  coroner  of 
Mitchell  county  and  served  fifteen  years  as  secretary  of  the  school 
board  of  Mona.  He  has  been  mayor  of  Lyle,  has  served  six  years 
as  president  of  the  Lyle  school  board ;  is  president  of  the  Lyle 
Telephone  Company,  has  been  local  surgeon  for  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral for  over  thirty  years,  and  is  medical  examiner  for  numerous 
standard  insurance  companies  as  well  as  of  a  number  of  frater- 
nal insurance  orders.  W.  F.  Cobb  was  born  in  Maine,  June  14, 
1847.  son  of  JoeL  and  Abigail  E.  (O'Brien)  natives  of  Maine  who 
after  living  in  Wisconsin  for  a  time  came  to  Iowa  and  lived  in 
Mona  until  Joel  died  in  1877,  after  which  Abigail  E.  returned  to 
Maine  where  she  ended  her  days.  The  sub.ject  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived the  nsual  preliminai^y  education,  and  then  entered  the 
University  of  Wisconsin  in  1865,  graduating  in  1870.  In  the  fall 
of  the  latter  year  he  entered  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  and 
Avas  graduated,  after  the  requisite  hospital  and  dispensary  prac- 
tice, in  1874.  He  then  started  practice  in  Llona,  remained  until 
1895,  and  then  came  to  Lyle,  where  he  has  a  wide  practice  in 
village  and  country.  April  30,  1871,  he  married  Abbie  C.  ]\Iason, 
of  Rutland,  Wis.,  daughter  of  ^Mr.  and  ]\rrs.  J.  Warner  Mason, 
both  now  deceased.  This  imion  has  been  blessed  with  four  chil- 
dren: Edith  A.,  Edna  :\r.,  Ethel  M.  and  Enid  11.  J:ditii  A.  is  the 
AvitV  of  L.  O.  OLson,  station  agent  for  the  C,  :\I.  &  St.  P.  at  North- 
tield,  ]\Iinn.  Niles  C.  Putnam  is  the  husband  of  the  second  daugh- 
ter, Edna  M.  Ethel  M.,  after  teaching  school  six  years,  studied 
domestic  science  in  the  Thomas  Xoi'iiial  Training  seliool  at   De- 


578  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

troit,  Mich.,  and  is  now  attending  the  Stout  Training  School  at 
Menominee,  Wis.  Enid  H.  is  a  telephone  operator  at  Lyle.  Dr. 
Cobb  is  a  Repiiblican,  a  high  degree  Mason,  and  a  member  of 
various  leading  fraternities.  He  attends  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Lyle,  of  which  he  is  a  deacon  and  church 
collector. 

William  M.  Howe,  now  deceased,  was  a  man  of  high  moral 
character,  and  his  uprightness  of  life  gave  him  an  enviable  stand- 
ing in  the  community,  both  as  a  public  servant  and  as  a  private 
citizen.  He  was  born  in  Canton,  N.  Y.,  June  19,  1835,  son  of 
Nathan  and  LockAvood  Howe,  received  his  education  in  the  New 
York  State  College  in  his  native  place,  and  then  took  up  clerical 
work  in  the  court  house  in  the  same  town,  that  being  the  seat 
of  government  of  the  county.  Mr.  Howe  came  west  in  1865,  lived 
for  a  time  in  Lansing  village,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  seven 
years.  Later  he  moved  to  Austin,  was  elected  county  commis- 
sioner, and  still  later  became  register  of  deeds,  serving  six  years 
with  much  credit.  During  his  term  of  office  he  compiled  a  set  of 
abstract  books,  and  after  retiring  from  public  life  opened  an 
abstract  and  real  estate  office,  remaining  in  this  business  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  Values  of  more  than  a  million  and  a  half 
dollars  passed  under  his  abstracts,  and  an  abtract  of  title  from 
him  was  considered  as  good  as  a  guarantee  from  a  bonding  com- 
pany. Mr.  Howe  was  a  Republican,  affiliated  with  the  A.  0.  U. 
W.  and  belonged  to  the  Congregational  church.  He  was  clerk  of 
the  latter  for  a  number  of  years,  and  he,  his  wife  and  his  daughter 
all  sang  in  the  choir  at  various  times.  Mr.  Howe  departed  this 
life  May  16.  1908.  He  was  married  January  23,  1867,  to  Susan  J. 
Soule,  daughter  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Rensslaer  Soule,  the  former  a 
graduate  of  the  Green  Mountain  University,  of  Burlington,  Vt., 
and  a  physician  of  considerable  note.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Soule  came 
west  in  1865,  located  at  Lansing,  in  Mower  county,  lived  there  a 
number  of  years  and  in  1872  came  to  Austin.  The  doctor  died 
November  7,  1880,  and  his  wife  passed  away  March  10,  of  the 
same  year.  Mrs.  Howe  was  born  in  Fairfax,  Vt.,  February  21, 
1842.  She  and  her  husband  were  blessed  with  one  daughter — 
Jessie  Ellen,  who  was  born  November  9,  1867,  married  AYinfield 
S.  Pierce,  died  April  18,  1894,  and  left  one  daughter,  Florence  G., 
who  now  lives  with  her  father  at  Seattle,  Wash.,  having  made 
her  lioine  with  her  grandmother  imtil  fifteen  years  of  age. 

John  M.  Greenman,  for  several  years  judge  of  probate  of 
.Mower  county,  was  born  in  Steuben  county,  New  York,  April  15, 
1837,  son  of  Henry  G.  and  Mary  B.  (Maxsou)  Greenman.  He 
graduated  from  the  Allegany  College,  at  Alfred,  Allegany 
county,  New  York,  the  institution  being  at  that  time  known  as 
the  Alfred  Academy.     After  graduating,  he  came  west  in  1852, 


HISTOHY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  579 

and  taught  school  two  years  in  Milton,  Wis.  In  1856  he  located 
in  Olmsted  county,  this  state,  and  combined  farming  with  the 
practice  of  law,  having  in  the  meantime  been  admitted  to  the  bar. 
In  1863  he  went  back  to  Milton,  owing  to  failing  health.  In  1870 
he  came  to  Austin,  in  which  town  he  has  since  lived.  He  at  once 
took  up  the  practice  of  law,  served  as  city  attorney  several  terras 
at  different  times,  and  from  1880  to  1884  was  county  attorney. 
In  1902  he  was  elected  judge  of  probate  and  served  from  January, 
1903,  to  January,  1911.  Judge  Greenman  is  a  Kepubliean,  a 
IMason,  and  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  the  M.  AV.  A.  He 
was  married  October  24,  1858,  to  Elizabeth  Sturdivant,  daughter 
of  Peleg  Sturdivant.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children.  Henry  and  George  are  dead.  Fay  W.,  who  was  born  in 
May,  1878,  is  a  prominent  attorney  in  Austin,  now  associated  with 
his  father  in  the  practice  of  law,  the  firm  being  styled  Greenman 
&  Greenman.  Henry  G.  Greenman  was  born  in  New  York  state, 
and  married  Mary  B.  Maxson,  Avho  was  born  in  a  lighthouse  off 
from  Long  Island.  They  came  to  Wisconsin  in  1852  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives  in  Milton,  in  that  state,  Henry  G.  dying 
in  1863.  and  Mary  B.  in  1886. 

Matthew  Gregson,  now  deceased,  for  many  years  a  prominent 
miller  of  IMower  county,  was  a  man  of  upright  and  honest  dealing, 
one  in  whose  integrity  and  honor  his  fellow  citizens  had  the  most 
implicit  trust.  He  was  born  in  Lancashire,  England,  in  November, 
1838.  In  1856,  accompanied  by  his  sister,  he  crossed  tlie  ocean 
and  located  for  a  few  years  in  Illinois  with  a  sister,  who  had  pre- 
viously taken  up  her  residence  there.  He  next  went  to  Minnesota, 
and  lived  for  a  short  time  in  Freeborn  county,  but  having  reached 
the  county  during  a  rainy  season  he  was  unfavorably  impressed 
with  the  weather,  and  returned  to  Illinois.  Later  he  went  to 
Kansas,  to  Pike's  Peak  and  to  Missouri.  Then  he  went  south,  and 
enlisted  at  Vicksburg  in  the  Confederate  army,  serving  under 
Bragg,  Beauregard,  Johnson  and  others.  When  Roseerans  was 
advancing  on  Tellehoma,  Tenn.,  Mr.  Gregson  refused  to  retreat 
with  his  regiment,  and  was  captured  by  Union  troops  belonging 
to  McCook's  corps.  He  remained  a  prisoner  four  months,  and 
was  then  paroled  in  November,  1863.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he 
returned  to  Mower  county  and  engaged  with  his  brother  in  the 
milling  business  south  of  Austin.  He  remained  in  this  concern 
until  1869  or  1870,  when  he  engaged  for  a  short  time  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  in  Austin.  The  next  spring  he  leased  the  Austin 
mill  and  operated  it  until  his  removal  to  Ramsey.  In  1872  he 
erected  the  Ramsey  mill  and  remained  its  owner  and  proprietor 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  in  Octol)er,  1900.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  January  3,  1866,  to  Sarah  G.  Otter,  who  was 
born  in  :Madison,  Ind.,  in  1839.     This  marriage  resulted  in  eight 


580  IIISTOIJY  OF  MOWEK  COUXTY 

children:  Louisa,  Anna,  George,  AVallaee,  Clara  and  AVilliam. 
Mary  and  Frank  are  deceased.  The  mother  of  this  family  died 
Septeml)er  15,  1882. 

Wallace  Gregson,  of  Austin,  wlio  makes  a  business  of  electrical 
construction  and  supplies,  was  born  in  Austin  on  September  23, 
1871,  fourth  child  of  Matthew  and  Sarah  Gregson.  After  his 
father's  death  he  continued  to  operate  the  Eamsey  mill  for  a  time 
and  then  disposed,  of  his  interests  to  J.  H.  Meyer  &  Brother,  the 
former  being  now  the  sole  proprietor  and  owner  of  the  mill  which 
now  has  a  capacity  of  seventy. barrels  a  day.  Mr.  Gregson  then 
took  up  his  present  business.  He  married  Edna  G.  Carll,  daughter 
of  Freeman  A.  and  Eliza  E.  Carll,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Doris  and  Wallace  C.  Mr.  Gregson  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  belonging  to  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Commandery 
and  Eastern  Star.    Mrs.  Gregson  is  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

I'reeman  A.  Carll,  a  well-known  citizen  of  Lansing,  was  born 
in  Lyons,  "Wayne  county,  New  York,  in  1842,  son  of  Beujamin  and 
]\Iartha  Ann  (Hamlin)  Carll,  both  parents  being  natives  of  the 
town  of  New  London,  Me.  The  parents  came  Avest  in  1863,  and 
located  in  Lansing,  keeping  the  hotel  three  years,  after  which 
they  purchased  the  Timothy  Andrews  farm  in  Udolpho.  Freeman 
A.  enlisted  in  the2nd  Minnesota  Cavalry,  November  1,  1863,  and 
was  discharged  December  5,  1865.  After  leaving  the  army  ho 
located  oil  a  farm  J  and  noAV  has  a  well-tilled  place  in  Lansing 
township.  He  belongs  to  the  ]\Iasonic  order  and  to  the  G.  A.  R. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  to  Eliza  E.,  daughter  of 
Augustus  and  Elmii*a  (Crouch)  Carll,  and  five  children  blessed 
their  imion:  Louis  R.  (deceased)  ;  Edith  I.,  now  Mrs.  G.  W.  East- 
man, of  Aiistin ;  Edna  G.,  now  Mrs.  Wallace  Gregson,  of  Austin ; 
Liudorf  P.  and  Ernest  W.,  living  in  Lansing. 

Joseph  S.  Bevier  was  born  in  Union  township.  Rock  county, 
Wisconsin,  March  11,  1847,  son  of  Franklin  Bevier,  and  Sarah 
Cole,  his  wife.  He  received  his  education  in  LeRoy,  to  which  town 
he  came  in  1856  with  his  parents,  and  after  school  took  up  farm- 
ing with  his  parents,  at  the  same  time  learning  the  broom-making 
trade,  working  at  that  trade  more  or  less  for  ten  or  twelve  years, 
using  his  father's  home-made  machinery.  Subsequently  he  spent 
some  time  in  Kansas,  and  a  few  months  in  Pope  county,  Minn.. 
I)ut  later  returned  to  the  old  farm.  In  1887  he  moved  to  Seattle, 
but  on  accoimt  of  liis  father's  failing  health,  he  returned  to  LeRoy 
in  October,  1888,  and  four  years  later  moved  on  his  father's  farm, 
remaining  there  till  1909,  when  he  purchased  a  home  in  the  old 
village  of  LeRoy.  He  is  a  Mason  and  a  Republican.  Mr.  Bevier 
was  married  August  26,  1880,  to  Josephine  Sweet,  and  they  have 
one  adopted  daughter,  l\lildr(Ml,  avIio  is  the  wife  of  George  N.  Sitts, 
of  Portland,  Ore. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  581 

Franklin  Bevier,  one  of  the  i)iomHn-s  of  LeRoy,  was  born  in 
Birghaniton,  N.  Y.,  Doeeinber  15,  1805.  His  grandfather  on 
the  mother's  side,  Captain  Joseph  Leonard,  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  were  pioneers  in  Broome  county.  New  York.  Ills  father 
was  a  native  of  Holland,  and  came  to  America  when  quite  young. 
When  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  his 
father  died,  and  the  care  of  the  family  devolved  upon  him.  Pre- 
vious to  this  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  and  soon  after 
engaged  at  that  work,  with  his  oldest  brother,  Zenus,  remaining  a 
resident  of  Broome  county  until  1843,  when  he  went  to  Illinois, 
and  lived  there  three  years,  after  which  he  went  to  Wisconsin 
and  settled  near  the  present  site  of  Evansville,  Rock  county.  He 
bought  land,  and  erected  a  frame  house,  which  he  opened  as  a 
tavern.  This  "was  before  the  days  of  the  railroad,  and  the  tavern 
was  on  the  Sugar  river  road  from  Mineral  Point  to  Janesville,  a 
route  much  traveled  in  those  days.  While  proprietor  of  the 
Prairie  House  at  Wisconsin  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
and  sale  of  brooms,  making  his  own  machinery  and  acting  as  his 
own  salesman.  He  managed  his  tavern  under  the  name  of  Prairie 
House,  in  company  with  his  younger  brother,  Henry,  until  1854, 
then  sold  and  moved  to  Green  county,  and  located  in  the  town  of 
Dayton,  remaining  there  two  years.  In  1856,  with  his  family,  he 
started  for  Minnesota.  After  eleven  days  they  arrived  in  town- 
ship 101,  range  14  west,  now  known  as  LeRoy,  and  here  Mr. 
Bevier  purchased  a  claim  and  pre-empted  the  land,  erecting  build- 
ings and  bringing  the  place  to  a  high  stage  of  cultivation,  among 
other  improvements  being  a  fine  stone  house,  which  still  delights 
the  eye  of  the  passers  by.  Franklin  Bevier  was  joined  in  marriage 
to  Sarah  Cole,  in  1845.  She  was  born  in  the  town  of  Coventry, 
Chenango  county.  New  York,  April  6,  1820.  They  had  eight 
children:  Joseph  S.,  of  LeRoy;  Frederick  G.,  deceased;  Polly 
Ararainta,  now  Mrs.  W.  W.  Sweet,  of  LeRoy;  Franklin  J.,  de- 
ceased; Henrietta  E.,  deceased;  Theodore,  who  died  at  three  years 
of  age.  and  Flora,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Bevier  died  in  1894, 
and  his  wife  died  in  1909. 

Charles  F.  Cook,  state  senator  from  IMower  county  and  former 
mayor  of  Austin,  was  born  in  the  city  where  he  still  resides, 
December  24,  1866.  The  public  schools  of  Austin  afforded  liim  his 
early  education,  these  advantages  being  supplemented  with  a 
course  in  the  Eastman  Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 
His  first  practical  business  experience  was  in  his  fatlier's  hard- 
ware store.  In  1888  he  Avent  west  to  Seattle,  Wash.,  wiiere  lie 
remained  two  years,  clerking  in  a  hardware  store.  After  return- 
ing to  Austin,  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  business,  in  which  he 
has  continued  to  the  present  time,  l)eing  now  president  •ind  man- 
ager of  the  Austin   .Mutual   Hail    liisuraiirc  ( 'oinpauy,  of   .Minne- 


582  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

sota.  In  politics  lie  is  an  independent  Democrat.  He  was  alder- 
man from  the  first  ward  of  Austin  two  years  and  served  as  mayor 
from  1903  to  1906.  In  November,  1910,  he  was  elected  to  repre- 
sent Mower  county  in  the  state  senate,  and  his  record  has  justified 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens.     Mr.  Cook  belongs  to  the 

B.  P.  0.  E.,  the  M.  W.  A.,  the  C.  of  H.,  the  K.  of  P.  and  the  Austin 
Commercial  Club,  being  one  of  the  first  organizers  of  the  latter 
society.  In  1885  Senator  Cook  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  Second  Infantry, 
]M.  N.  G.,  and  has  been  captain  since  1906,  having  received  his 
commission  from  Governor  John  A.  Johnson.  ]\Iuch  credit  is  due 
him  for  the  high  standard  of  excellence  and  discipline  which  he 
has  enforced.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  April  8, 
1896,  to  Julia  E.  Wood,  of  Berne,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two  boys, 
John  Alden  and  Charles  Carpenter.  The  family  faith  is  that  of 
the  Congregational  church. 

Robert  Dickens,  a  pioneer,  now  deceased,  was  born  in  New 
York  state,  went  to  Pennsylvania,  and  there  married  Sarah 
Babcock,  a  native  of  the  latter  state.  They  came  to  Minnesota 
in  the  closing  months  of  the  war,  and  purchased  160  acres  in  Red 
Rock  township,  the  tract  being  at  that  time  all  wild  land.  On  this 
piece  of  land  they  farmed  until  1873,  when  they  sold  the  farm 
and  purchased  100  acres  in  Grand  Meadow  township,  where  they 
remained  until  their  death. 

Colman  E.  Dickens,  cement  manufacturer  of  Austin,  was  born 
in  Tioga  county,  Pennsylvania,  Fel)ruary  8,  1861,  son  of  Robert 
and  Sarah  (Babcock)  Dickens.  He  came  to  INIower  county  with 
his  parents,  was  reared  on  farms  in  Red  Rock  and  Grand  Meadow 
townships,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  entered  the  employ  of  the 

C,  M.  &  St.  P.  as  a  section  hand.  In  1893  he  came  to  Austin  and 
engaged  in  the  cement  business,  which  he  has  since  successfully 
followed,  doing  all  kinds  of  cement  contracting  and  manufactur- 
ing all  kinds  of  cement  building  material  as  well  as  cement  hitch- 
ing and  fence  posts.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  nearly  all  the 
cement  sidewalks  for  which  Austin  is  justly  noted  were  laid  by 
]\Ir.  Dickens.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  belongs  to  the  E.  F.  U. 
and  the  I\Iaccal)ees  and  attends  the  Seventh  Day  Advent  churcli. 
He  was  married  October  25,  1884,  to  Lucy  Gould,  Avho  was  born 
near  Preston,  in  Fillmore  county.  This  union  has  been  blessed 
with  two  children,  Claude  E.  and  Edith  F.  Claude  E.  was  born 
at  Dexter,  November  15,  1887,  and  is  engaged  in  bu.siness  with 
his  father.  He  married  Mabel  Henderson,  of  Brownsdale.  Edith 
F.  was  ])orn  November  5,  1891,  and  married  William  Coogan.  The 
family  residence  is  pleasantly  located  at  409  Oakwood  street. 

F.  J.  Field,  for  many  years  a  respected  agriculturist  of  Lansing 
lownsliip,  deserves  a  phu-e  in  the  history  of  tlie  community  as  one 
wlio  unostentatiously  went    his  way   IVom  day  to  day.   following 


CHARLES    F.    COOK. 


WILLIAM  M.  FRANK 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  583 

his  allotted  walk  in  life  ■\vitli  honesty  and  intej^rity,  doing  that 
whieh  he  believed  to  be  right,  and  meting  ont  exact  jnstiee  in  all 
liis  dealing's.  He  was  of  sturdy  old  Green  Mountain  stock,  born 
in  Panton,  Addison  county,  Vermont,  in  July,  1826.  In  1852  he 
located  in  Fall  River,  Cohunbia  county,  Wisconsin,  and  was  there 
married  to  Frances  Hobart,  a  lady  of  excellent  qualities  and 
accomplishments,  daughter  of  John  and  Eunice  (Needham) 
Hobart,  who  brought  their  three  children,  Martin,  Susan  and 
Frances,  to  the  west  at  an  early  day.  In  1876  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Field 
came  to  Lansing,  and  here  Mr.  Field  carried  on  farming  opera- 
tions until  his  death  in  1904.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Field  had  three  chil- 
dren. John  is  dead,  and  Hixon  M.  and  Elizabeth  M.,  the  latter  of 
whom  was  for  several  years  a  successful  school  teacher,  live  at 
home  with  their  aged  mother. 

William  M.  Frank,  banker  of  LeRoy,  was  born  at  Ft.  Snelling, 
^linn..  ^lay  9,  1866,  son  of  lion.  John  Frank,  of  LeRoy  township. 
xVfter  receiving  a  thorough  public  school  education,  he  attended 
the  Shattuck  school,  at  Paribault.  After  this  he  went  to  New 
York  city,  where  he  worked  in  a  real  estate  office  for  a  year. 
Then  he  secured  a  position  with  W.  H.  Goadby  &  Co.,  Wall  street 
bankers,  retaining  this  position  two  years.  Then  he  returned  to 
Minnesota,  and  entered  the  bank  of  Gleucoe,  as  bookkeeper, 
remaining  for  a  period  of  two  years.  In  1885,  with  Hon.  M.  II. 
Dunuell,  he  started  the  bank  of  New  Rockford,  becoming  its 
cashier,  and  remaining  two  years.  He  then  took  a  position  as 
cashier  for  the  Powers  wholesale  dry  goods  house,  in  St.  Paul, 
with  Avhieh  concern  he  remained  four  years,  after  which  he  came 
to  LeRoy,  and  in  1894  accepted  a  position  as  assistant  cashier  of 
the  First  State  Bank,  in  which  capacity  he  remained  for  a  period 
of  seven  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  started  the  Citizens' 
Bank  of  LeRoy,  becoming  its  cashier.  This  bank  in  1904  was 
merged  in  the  First  National  Bank,  Mr.  Frank  retaining  the 
position  of  cashier  to  the  present  day.  He  is  an  independent 
voter,  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  a  thirty-second  degree 
jMason,  and  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  He 
has  served  as  village  treasurer  of  LeRoy,  his  term  of  office  extend- 
ing from  1897  to  1903.  Mr.  Frank  is  a  popular  citizen,  and  well 
thought  of  in  the  community,  extending  to  the  patrons  of  his  bank 
every  courtesy  and  favor  consistent  with  sound  l)anking  i)rin- 
ciples. 

William  A.  Clay,  now  deceased,  was  at  one  time  an  Austin 
lu'ubi-rman.  He  was  born  in  Elaine,  in  1827,  and  tliere  married 
Sarah  Douglass.  He  came  to  Stillwater  in  1856,  and  engaged  in 
lumbering  in  Washington  county,  owning  a  large  mill.  In  the 
middle  sixties  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  Austin. 
Afterwards  he  again  retui-ned  to  Stillwater,  and  was  interested  in 


584  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

lumbering  and  surveying  tlie  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  March  3, 
1896.    His  wife  died  at  Willow  Creek,  Wis.,  October  26,  1895. 

William  Franklin  Clay,  one  of  Austin's  aldermen,  has  the 
excellent  and  unusual  record  of  having  been  in  the  railroaa 
service  for  over  forty  years.  He  was  born  in  Gardner,  I\le.,  April 
15,  1849,  son  of  AVilliam  A.  and  Sarah  (Douglass)  Clay.  He  came 
to  Minnesota  with  his  parents  in  1856,  and  there  received  his 
education.  He  first  started  railroad  work  at  Austin  in  1868. 
After  working  about  the  station  for  a  while  he  was  appointed 
yardmaster,  and  later  became  a  conductor.  He  Avas  conductor  of 
the  construction  train  that  was  used  in  the  building  of  the  short 
line  between  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
he  was  passenger  conductor  on  the  Southern  Minnesota  division. 
At  the  time  of  his  retirement,  in  June,  1908,  he  had  been  in  the 
employ  of  the  railroad  just  forty  years  and  eleven  days.  He  is  a 
mc7nber  of  the  K.  of  P.  and  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  as  well  as  of  the 
Order  of  Railway  Conductors.  In  1910  he  was  elected  alderman 
from  the  third  ward.  Mr.  Clay  is  a  Republican.  By  his  first  wife, 
Emma  Fenton,  he  has  two  children :  William  D.,  now  of  Tacoma, 
Wash.,  and  Hattie  B.,  now  Mrs.  Bert  Fitch,  of  Barber,  Mont.  By 
his  second  wife,  Ida  Bowen,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  T. 
Bowen,  of  Austin,  he  has  had  three  children.  Guy  lives  at  home. 
Rex  died  from  injuries  received  while  in  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago,  ]\Iilwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway  Company,  and  Frank  was 
drowned  in  the  Cedar  river  while  skating.  The  family  faith  is 
that  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

John  R.  Blackmer,  Jr.,  miller  and  poultry  fancier  of  LeRoy, 
was  born  in  Decatur,  Mich.,  July  2,  1867,  son  of  John  R.,  Sr..  and 
Catherine  (Jewells)  Blackmer.  He  was  brought  to  LeRoy  by  iiis 
parents  in  1880.  He  attended  school  for  a  while,  learned  the 
plasterers'  trade  and  then  engaged  in  milling  several  years.  He 
is  now  engaged  in  milling  in  LeRoy,  where  he  does  all  kinds  of 
grinding,  Jiaudling  graham,  b\ickwheat,  corn,  etc.  He  also  man- 
ages a  small  l^^arm,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  Red  Rocks  and  White 
Wyandottes,  keeping  over  500  birds  and  breeding  them  for  the 
spring  trade  from  February  to  June.  j\Ir.  Blackmer  is  an  inde- 
pendent voter  and  is  a  member  of  the  LeRoy  board  of  education. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order,  the  1.  0.  0.  F.,  the  ]M.  AV.  A.,  tlie 
Mystic  Toilers  and  the  Sons  of  Veterans.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  July  15,  1888,  at  LeRoy,  to  Nannie  W.  Pierce, 
daughter  of  G.  W.  Pierce,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  four 
children:  John  R.,  Jr.;  Nannie,  wife  of  IMilton  A.  ]\Iorse ;  Ray- 
mond C.  and  Kdith.    The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Baptist  church. 

John  R.  Blackmer,  Sr.,  was  born  in  New  York  state,  and  mar- 
ried Catherine  Jewells,  of  Philadelphia.  In  1866  they  located  in 
]\Iichigan,  and  in  1877  took  up  their  residence  in  Lime  Springs, 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  585 

Howard  county,  just  over  tlie  Hue  iu  Iowa.  Three  years  later  they 
came  to  LeRoy  township,  purchased  a  farm  of  IGO  acres  and 
carried  on  farming  many  years.  Catherine  Jewells  Blaekmer 
died  in  1902,  and  her  hushand  is  now  an  extensive  land  owner  in 
Nebraska.  lie  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  wai',  having  served  in 
Co.  K,  12th  Mich.  Vol.  Inf.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  George 
Jewells,  father  of  Catherine  (Jewells)  Blaekmer,  was  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Bank,  of  Philadelphia,  for  twenty-five  years. 
Sylvester  AVood,  another  ancestor  of  the  Pierce  family,  on  wife's 
side,  was  the  first  man  to  take  a  British  prisoner  at  Lexington, 
Ky.,  iu  1812. 

Frank  M.  Beach,  the  well-known  president  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  of  Lyle,  was  born  iu  Lyle  township,  May  21,  1866, 
sou  of  John  and  Catherine  M.  (Morrison)  Beach.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  in 
the  public  schools  of  Austin.  In  1885  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  by  going  to  Omaha,  Neb.,  and  entering  the  United  States 
National  Bank,  as  collector.  There  he  remained  until  1901,  when 
he  resigned  the  position  of  paying  teller,  to  which  he  had  been 
promoted,  and  came  to  Lyle.  He  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
the  First  National  Bank,  of  Lyle,  became  its  cashier,  and  in 
January,  1911,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  president,  which  he  fills 
to  the  great  satisfaction  of  his  patrons  and  the  community  at 
large.  A  few  years  ago  he,  with  Augustus  Vaux,  established  the 
Bank  of  Rose  Creek,  Mr.  Beach  becoming  its  president.  Later  the 
institution  was  sold  to  the  Dean  interests.  Mr.  Beach  has  been 
active  in  public  and  business  aflfairs.  He  has  been  mayor  tlu'ee 
terms,  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  ]\Iinnesota 
Stale  Bankers'  Association  three  years ;  a  member  of  the  executive 
council  of  the  First  district  group  of  bankers,  being  president  of 
the  same  in  1909-10,  and  secretarj^  and  treasurer  of  the  Lyle  Cor- 
rugated Culvert  Company,  of  Lyle  and  IMinneapolis,  in  which 
capacity  he  is  still  serving.  IMr.  Beach  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  his  religious  faith  is  that  of  the  Congregational  church.  Ho 
was  married  September  28,  1897,  to  Zetta  Churchill,  of  Omaha, 
Neb.,  daughter  of  A.  S.  Churchill,  former  attorney  general  of  the 
state  of  Nebraska,  and  Lena  Murphy  Churchill.  Mrs.  Beach  was 
born  in  Iowa,  November  16,  1873,  and  to  her  union  with  ]\Ir.  Beach 
have  been  born  three  children :  John  C,  August  6,  1900 ;  Catherine 
:\[..  July  6,  1905 ;  and  Marjorie,  August  14,  1907. 

John  Beach,  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Rensselaerville,  Albany 
county.  N-nv  York.  May  16,  1833,  son  of  the  Rev.  Alanson  Beacli, 
and  Sinai  Tanner  Beach,  his  wife.  John  moved  with  his  parents 
1o  Sc-hoharie  county,  in  his  native  state,  and  after  seven  years 
again  returned  to  Albany  county,  where  h"  grew  to  manhood.  At 
twentv-onc  yeais  of  age  he  went   to  Green  eounly,  in  the  saine 


586  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

state,"  and  took  charge  of  his  grandfather's  farm  there.  In  1855 
he  made  a  trip  to  Iowa,  but  returned  to  New  York  state,  remain- 
ing until  the  fall  of  1856,  -when  he  came  with  his  father's  family  to 
Mower  county,  j\Iinnesota.  Here  he  purchased  land  in  sections  32 
and  3o,  Lyle  tov/nship,  a  portion  of  wliich  tract  he  improved.  Two 
years  later  he  moA'ed  to  his  parents'  homestead,  where  he  lived 
until  1890,  when  he  retired  and  moved  to  the  city  of  Austin,  whore 
he  died  January  21,  1906.  His  wife,  Catherine  M.  Morrison,  wliom 
he  married  September  3,  1856,  died  in  November,  1896.  Mr.  Beach 
was  a  man  of  sterling  qualities  and  was  always  interested  in 
everything  that  was  for  the  good  of  the  community.  His  services 
for  eight  years  as  county  commissioner  gave  general  satisfaction. 
In  the  family  were  two  daughters  and  one  son:  Mary  A.,  Frank 
M.  and  Katie  M. 

Rev.  Alanson  Beach,  now  deceased,  was  one  of  that  band  of 
devout  Methodist  clergymen  Avho  did  so  mucli  to  assist  in  the 
progress  of  that  denomination  in  this  country.  He  was  born  in 
Rensselaerville,  Albany  county,  New  York,  October  26,  1808.  His 
early  days  were  spent  on  the  farm,  his  time  bemg  devoted  to  farm 
work,  to  teaching  and  to  study.  He  was  ordained  to  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  ministry  at  a  meeting  of  the  Troy  conference, 
held  at  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  May  15,  1833,  Bishop  Wangh  presid- 
ing. He  preached  in  several  cities  until  1856,  when  he  came  west 
and  located  on  sections  32  and  33,  in  what  is  now  Lyle  township. 
Mower  county.  Then  he  went  back  and  got  his  family,  bringing 
them  to  his  claim  in  Mower  county,  one  of  the  sons,  "Wilson,  mak- 
ing part  of  the  trip  alone.  Upon  reaching  Lyle  township,  tliey 
took  up  their  home  in  a  large  log  house  with  puncheon  floor  and 
a  stone  chimney.  After  a  iew  years  the  family  erected  a  fine 
frame  house.  Rev.  Beach  died  July  30,  1877.  He  was  very  promi- 
nent in  county  affairs,  was  county  commissioner  for  eight  years, 
chairman  of  his  township  for  many  terms,  and  also  served  in  other 
positions  of  trust  and  honor.  He  was  married  March  15",  1832,  to 
Sinai  Tanner,  who  was  born  in  Albany  county,  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1809.  They  had  three  children:  John,  Wilson  and 
Zillah. 

Americus  V.  Bacon,  veteran  of  tlie  Civil  war  and  retifcnl  mer- 
chant of  Lansing,  was  born  in  "Wilton,  Franklyn  county,  ]\Iaine,  in 
1839,  son  of  Josiah  and  Jerusha  (Gould)  Bacon.  He  spent  his 
early  life  on  the  farm,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war 
enli.sted  in  the  8th  Maine  "Vol.  Inf.,  and  played  low  bass  in  tlie 
regimental  band.  In  1862  the  band  was  discharged  and  lie  ]■(>- 
turned  home,  reinlisting  in  the  2nd  Elaine  Cavalry,  and  s<M-vinQ- 
as  bugler  in  Co.  F  until  the  close  of  the  war,  returning  home  ir. 
December,  1865.  In  1868  he  came  west  and  located  in  St.  Cliarles, 
AVinona  county,  Minnesota,  staying  there  thirteen  years.    During 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  587 

this  period  he  married  Minnie  L.  Scheiik,  daughter  of  Jolin  aud 
Minnie  Sehenk,  of  St.  Charles,  formerly  from  Lomira,  AVis.  Mr. 
aud  T\Irs.  Bacon  came  to  Lansing;  in  the  spring  of  1881,  and  Mr. 
Bacon  took  up  the  coal  business,  which  he  conducted  for  ten  years, 
disposing  of  it  at  the  end  of  that  period.  He  then  went  into  the 
lumber  business,  which  he  carried  on  until  1901.  He  now  owns  a 
farm  about  two  miles  out  of  the  village  of  Lansing.  He  has  been 
a  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  years,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bacon  have  two  children:  Eleanor  and 
Arthur  J.  Eleanor  is  now  ]\Irs.  Albert  Schisley  and  has  one  son, 
Kenneth.  :\Irs.  Bacon  died  in  1906  and  m  1907  Mr.  Bacon  married 
]\Irs.  Grace  ^1.  Thorn,  of  Minneapolis. 

Oliver  J.  Bemis,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers,  eame  to  Austin, 
from  Maine,  in  1855,  pre-empted  160  acres  near  the  present  city, 
built  a  shanty  and  started  breaking  the  land.  The  following  year 
he  sold  this  land  and  purchased  a  farm  in  section  11.  Four  years 
later  he  sold  this  place  and  bought  a  farm  in  section  3,  Windoni 
township;  at  about  the  same  time  starting,  with  his  brother, 
George,  the  first  shoe  store  in  Austin.  In  1859  he  married  Eliza- 
beth M.  Vandegrift,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  and  to  them  were 
born  six  children :  Mary  0.,  Edwin  T.,  Charles  H.,  Sarah,  wife  of 
Samuel  McMinnis,  Frank  C.  and  Howard  J.  Oliver  Bemis  was 
born  in  Paris  Hill,  Oxford  county,  Maine,  April  20,  ]  829,  and  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Penobscot  county,  in  the  same  state,  at 
two  years  of  age.  It  was  liere  that  he  was  reared.  When  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  located  in  Wisconsin,  remained  two 
years  and  then  went  to  California.  Starting  from  Rock  county, 
Wisconsin,  he  went  over  the  plains  with  ox  teams,  commencing  his 
journey  April  15,  and  arriving  at  his  destination  August  28.  He 
engaged  in  mining  in  Sierra  county,  and  remained  there  until 
1855,  Avhen  he  returned  to  I\Iaine  via  the  Isthmus  of  Panama, 
arriving  in  IMower  county  later  in  the  same  year. 

.Edwin  T.  Bemis,  elevator  manager  of  Austin,  was  born  on  a 
farm  near  this  city,  son  of  Oliver  and  Elizabeth  :\I.  (Vandegrift) 
Bemis,  and  remained  on  the  home  place  until  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  since  which  he  has  ])een  engaged  in  the  grain  business.  He 
man-ied  Alice,  the  daughter  of  Leander  and  Patience  Kirkland. 

George  S.  Burnham,  clerk  of  the  district  court  for  iMower 
county,  was  born  in  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  May  29,  1854-,  son 
of  Miles  and  Caroline  (Johnson)  Burnham.  He  received  his 
education  in  his  native  county,  and  then  learned  telegraphy.  In 
1872  he  went  to  Blooming  Prairie,  in  tliis  state,  and  was  operator 
for  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  there  about  four  years.  After  a  year's  work 
for  the  Northwestern,  he  again  went  to  Blooming  Prairie,  and  was 
cashier  of  the  bank  of  J.  C.  Brainerd  &  Co.  for  six  years.  In  1885 
he  came  to  Austin,  and  worked  as  liookk"c]>cr  and  foreman  in  -i 


588  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

f-jundry  and  machine  shop  owned  by  the  Ames  Brothers.  Subse- 
quently he  became  a  locomotive  machinist  for  the  C,  i\I.  &  St.  P. 
and  continued  in  that  occupation  until  1906,  Avhen  he  was  elected 
to  his  present  position,  in  which  he  has  since  served  with  fidelity 
and  ability.  "While  in  Blooming  Prairie  he  was  treasurer  and 
recorder  of  the  village  for  four  years,  and  since  coming  to  Austin 
he  has  been  alderman  from  the  first  ward  two  years.  He  is  a 
Republican  and  a  high  degree  ]\Iason,  and  also  affiliates  with  the 
B.  P.  0.  E.,  the  Maccabees  and  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  married  October  23,  1878,  to  Marian  L.  Gleason, 
and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  sons,  Erie  M.  and  Harry 
G.  Erie  M.  was  born  July  7,  1879,  and  is  now  secretary  for  the 
Hughes  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  Harry  G. 
was  born  in  September,  1880,  and  operates  a  jewelry  store  in 
Hibbing,  Minn.  Miles  Burnham,  father  of  George  S.  Burnham, 
of  Austin,  was  born  in  New  York  state  and  married  Caroline 
Johnson,  a  native  of  England.  They  located  in  Dodge  county, 
"Wisconsin,  in  1844,  and  there  Miles  engaged  in  conducting  a  saw 
mill.  He  was  also  first  county  superintendent  of  schools  in  that 
county.  In  1880  they  came  to  Dodge  county,  Minnesota,  and  took 
up  dairy  farming.  Miles  Burnham  died  in  1899,  and  his  wife  now 
lives  in  Blooming  Prairie  at  the  age  of  80  years. 

E'red  Baldner,  a  popular  farm^er  oE  Nevada  township,  where  he 
owns  140  acres  of  good  land  in  section  25,  is  a  native  product, 
born  in  the  township  where  he  now  resides  May  5,  1866,  son  of 
Philip  and  jMaggie  (Weber)  Baldner.  He  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  attended  the  public  schools,  and  has  devoted  his  life  to 
farming.  He  is  a  Republican  and  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 
Fred  Baldner  married  Rena  Rosel,  daughter  of  Leonard  and 
Marie  Rosel,  and  they  have  six  children :  Elsie,  Clara,  ]\Iina, 
Erma,  "Walter,  Oscar.  Elsie  married  George  Perau,  of  Mitchell 
county,  Iowa. 

Philip  Baldner  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  and  married 
IMaggie  AVeber.  They  came  to  America  in  1854,  and  located  near 
Princeton,  111.  It  was  in  1860  that  they  came  to  Adams  township, 
and  here  they  lived  in  section  25  until  1886,  when  they  moved  to 
Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  and  lived  there  until  the  death  of  Philip,  in 
July,  1904.  Mrs.  Baldner  is  living  at  the  good  old  age  of  79,  and 
is  making  her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  William  Ehlke, 
There  were  ten  children  in  the  family:  Louis  lives  in  INIitchell 
county,  Iowa ;  Maggie  married  William  Ehlke  and  lives  in  the 
same  county;  Philip  likewise  lives  in  that  county;  David  lives  iu 
Cresco,  Iowa;  Barbara,  wife  of  Carl  Young,  deceased,  lives  in 
Spokane,  Wash. ;  Lizzie  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Longrock,  of  Alberta, 
Canada:  Joliii  lives  in  Mitchell  oountv;  Fred  farms  in  Nevada 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  589 

township;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Meier,  of  David,  Iowa; 
"William  lives  in  Adams  township.  Another  child,  unnamed,  died 
in  infancy. 

Thomas  J.  Bishop,  deceased,  was  born  in  Chautauqua,  N.  Y., 
May  13,  1825.  He  spent  his  boyhood  and  young  manhood  in  New 
York  state,  and  married  Elmira  Crittenden,  daughter  of  Philander 
and  Maria  (Williams)  Crittenden,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bishop  came  to  ]Minnesota 
in  1856,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Bishop  enlisted 
in  the  famous  Co.  K,  4th  Minn.  Vol.  Inf.  and  served  three  years. 
After  the  war  Mr.  Bishop  followed  his  trade  as  carpenter  and 
joiner,  and  in  his  later  years  practically  retired.  He  passed  away 
in  1905.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  most  estimable  citizen, 
and  was  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  four  children :  Ella,  wife  of  J.  M.  Williams ; 
Freemont ;  Lillie,  wife  of  A.  A.  Hickok,  living  near  Varco  Station, 
and  Henry. 

John  Boen,  farmer,  of  Marshall  township,  Avas  born  in  Norway 
in  1865,  son  of  Aaen  and  Slowold  Boen.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  Norway,  and  in  1881  came  to  the  United  Stales, 
reaching  South  Dakota  via  Quebec.  After  two  years  he  went  to 
Leland,  111.,  and  after  working  as  a  farm  hand  rented  land  for 
several  years.  Subsequently,  after  a  short  stay  in  Iowa,  he  came 
to  Mower  county  in  1903,  and  purchased  560  acres  in  section  10, 
Marshall  township.  Here  he  has  since  carried  on  general  farming, 
raising  grain  and  cattle,  and  taking  particular  pride  in  his  Here- 
ford and  Black  Poll  cattle,  of  which  he  keeps  forty-two  head  for 
dairy  purposes.  He  also  keeps  fifteen  head  of  horses.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  has  served  as  road  overseer.  In  1890 
Mr.  Boen  married  Mrs.  Caroline  Brandenburg,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America  in  1864.  This  union  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children :  Amos,  Joseph  and  Stella,  all  of  whom  are  at 
home.  Frederick  Brandenburg,  son  of  Mrs.  Boen,  also  lives  at 
home.  The  farm  is  well  equipped,  has  a  fine  house  with  a  parked 
drive,  commodious  buildings  and  sheds,  and  two  windmills.  Aaen 
Boen  was  born  in  Norway,  and  married  Slowold  Boen.  He  was  a 
fisherman  until  1890,  when  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
Leland,  111.  There  he  farmed  until  1903,  when  he  came  to  Mower 
county  and  lived  with  his  son.  While  in  Norway,  Aaen  Boen 
served  in  the  Norwegian  army. 

Robert  Bagley,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Udolpho,  has  taken  a 
keen  interest  in  the  progress  of  that  part  of  the  county.  He  has 
served  his  township  as  clerk  for  a  number  of  years  and  has  been 
constable  three  years.  As  clerk  he  was  accurate  and  painstaking, 
and  as  constable  he  was  courageous  and  just.  He  is  a  product  of 
Slower  county,  born  in  Udolpho  townsliip  in  a  log  liouse  on  tlie 


590  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

site  of  his  present  pleasant  residence,  September  17,  1868,  son  of 
Henry  and  Rachel  (Green)  Bagley,  pioneers.  He  has  devoted  his 
life  to  farming,  and  raises  general  crops  and  live  stock.  He  mar- 
ried Gertrude  Ingvaldson,  and  has  seven  children:  Maude  R., 
Blanche  A.,  Maurice  H.,  Ralph  H.,  Ruth  and  Ruby  (twins),  and 
Gertrude  L. 

Henry  Bagley,  a  pioneer,  and  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  came 
from  New  York  state  with  his  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Bag- 
ley,  and  located  in  Udolpho  about  1857.  He  married  Rachel  Green, 
Avhose  mother  was  a  Richardson,  of  the  family  of  Thomas  Rich- 
ardson, who  came  to  Udolpho  from  St.  Lawrence  county,  New- 
York,  in  1856,  with  the  earliest  settlers.  Henry  Bagley  served  in 
the  1st  Minn.  Heavy  Art.,  and  his  statue,  carved  life  size  from 
granite,  marks  the  spot  in  Udolpho  cemetery  where  his  earthly 
remains  await  the  last  call.  He  lost  his  right  hand  in  horsepower 
while  threshing  in  1875.  Moved  to  Minneapolis  1884,  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  until  1890,  when  he  moved  back  to  the  farm 
where  he  continued  to  live  until  autumn  of  1902,  when  he  moved 
to  the  Pacific  coast  and  settled  at  Sedre  Woolley,  Wash.,  where 
he  bought  a  fruit  ranch  but  died  suddenly  of  cerebral  hemorrhage 
February  13,  1906,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  two  years. 

Merrill  Bowers,  treasurer  of  the  village  of  LeRoy  since  1906, 
was  l)orn  in  Clayton  county,  Indiana,  October  28,  1872,  son  of 
W.  H.  and  Ellen  J.  (Atwood)  Bowers.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Cresco,  Iowa,  and  took  a  course  at  Val- 
der's  business  college  at  Decorah,  Iowa.  After  starting  out  in  life 
for  himself,  his  first  position  was  with  the  Cresco  department 
store,  a  position  he  held  for  six  years.  His  banking  career  was 
started  in  that  year  as  teller  for  the  Cresco  Savings  Bank,  a 
position  he  retained  for  three  and  a  half  years.  In  1904  he  came 
to  LeRoy,  and  took  up  his  duties  as  assistant  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  serving  in  the  same  capacity  at  the  present  date. 
J\Ir.  Bowers  is  an  independent  voter,  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  the  M.  W.  A.  and 
an  estimable  citizen  in  every  respect.  He  was  married  May  8, 
1899,  to  Ida  E.  Lomas.  W.  H.  and  Ellen  J.  (Atwood)  Bowers, 
parents  of  Merrill  Bowers,  lived  for  many  years  in  Elkader,  Iowa, 
the  former  having  been  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  being 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  Mrs.  Ellen  Bowers  died  in  Cresco,  Iowa, 
March  10,  1905,  and  in  that  city  W.  H.  is  still  successfully  engaged 
in  business. 

William  Bonnallie  has  taken  an  active  part  in  township  and 
church  affairs.  He  was  born  October  4,  1851,  in  Canada,  and 
came  to  IMower  county  with  his  parents  in  1857,  remaining  home 
until  his  mother's  death,  after  wliich  he  started  out  for  himself 
and  worked  by  the  month  as  follows:  for  D.  Chandler,  one  year; 


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HISTORY  OF  ]\IOWEK  COUNTY  591 

for  AVilliam  Goslee,  one  year;  for  E.  Watkins,  two  years,  and  for 
his  father  on  a  farm  in  Freeborn  county,  two  years,  after  which 
he  purchased  160  acres  in  London  township,  Freeborn  county,  and 
engaged  in  farming  for  himself  for  a  period  of  three  years.  Tlten 
he  gave  up  the  farm  and  again  worked  for  William  Goslee  for  a 
period  of  two  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Mower  county  and 
rented  a  farm  for  seven  years  in  section  19,  Lyle  township.  This 
tract  of  eighty  acres  he  afterward  purchased,  and  since  that  time 
has  made  many  developments,  and  at  the  present  time  is  erecting 
a  neAV  barn.  He  has  also  added  twenty  acres  to  his  farm.  He  is  a 
progressive  Republican.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian, 
being  ordained  as  elder  of  the  "Woodbury  Presbyterian  church,  of 
London,  Freeborn  county,  by  Dr.  R.  B.  Abbott,  of  Albert  Lea.  He 
has  served  ten  years  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  and 
three  years  as  treasurer  of  the  town  of  London  in  Freeborn 
county;  and  has  been  clerk  of  his  school  district.  No.  70,  for  the 
past  twenty  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  August 
30,  1881,  to  Anna  Smith,  daughter  of  Edgar  Smith,  her  parents 
coming  from  Wisconsin  to  Mower  county  iu  1867.  Seven  children 
have  blessed  their  union:  William  Arthur,  Olive  B.,  Corena  M. 
(now  Mrs.  William  Barclay),  Pearl  A.,  Charlotte  A.,  ]\Iargaret  A. 
and  George  E.  Thomas  and  Charlotte  (Phelps)  Bonnallie  were 
natives  respectively  of  Scotland  and  Canada.  They  came  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  Burlington,  Wis.,  engaging  in  general 
farming  until  coming  to  Mower  county  in  1857,  when  he  pur- 
chased land  in  Austin  township,  and  followed  farming  until  his 
wife's  death  in  1865.  At  this  time  he  disposed  of  his  farm.  In 
1867  he  married  ]\Irs.  Peter  Robertson,  and  settled  on  her  farm  in 
London  township,  Freeborn  county,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death. 

Arne  A.  Huseby,  chairman  of  the  town  bo^rd  of  Alarshall,  has 
served  in  his  present  capacity  nine  years,  has  been  district  school 
committeeman  eight  years,  and  has  worked  in  other  positions  of 
public  and  private  trust  and  honor,  being  held  in  high  esteem 
by  the  men  of  "his  wide  acquJiintance.  He  has  accumulated  all 
his  property  and  land  by  his  own  determination,  and  rugged  cliar- 
acter,  having  received  no  help,  since  early  boyhood,  from  hi§ 
parents  or  relatives.  ]\Ir.  Huseby 's  success  and  present  high 
standing  in  the  community  are  a  wortliy  monument  both  to  the 
opportunities  for  determined  men  in  this  fortunate  country,  as 
well  as  to  the  character  and  accomplishments  of  I\Ir.  Husel)y 
himself.  Arne  A.  Huseby  was  born  in  Norway,  December  13, 
1857,  son  of  Anton  Huseby  and  Christie  Boyum,  his  wife,  both 
now  deceased.  Each  member  of  the  family  has  achieved  an 
enviable  reputation,  Olaf,  a  son  of  Anton  and  brother  of  Arne, 
beiii"'  a  liistoriaii  living  at   Fosston,  ^linti.     Sister  Raridi  is  Tuar- 


592  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

ried  to  ]\lr.  Sampson  Urheim,  who  is  a  quartermaster  sergeant 
in  the  army  of  Norway,  and  resides  in  Bergen,  Norway,  while 
Bertha,  a  sister,  is  Mrs.  Ole  Haralson,  a  prominent  ehiirch 
worker  in  Princeton,  Minn.  A  half  brother,  James,  son  of  Anton 
by  his  second  marriage,  is  a  farmer  living  near  Ambrose,  N.  D. 
Arne  A.  Huseby  was  educated  in  Norway,  and  came  to  America 
April  27,  1874,  engaging  in  fanning  and  railroad  work  until  1889, 
when  he  purchased  land  upon  which  he  has  since  resided  in 
Marshall  township.  He  has  greatl}^  improved  the  land,  added 
several  pieces  to  the  original  tract,  and  now  has  208  acres  in 
section  24.  In  1875  he  married  Synneve  Huke,  and  to  this  union 
have  been  born  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  living,  as  follows: 
Christine,  born  October  16,  1876,  is  now  Mrs.  John  Anderson,  of 
Clayton  township ;  Minnie,  born  Llay  2,  1878,  is  the  wife  of  John 
Sorflaten,  of  Clayton  township;  Sophia,  born  April  9,  1884,  is  the 
wife  of  A.  S.  Slindee,  of  Marshall  township ;  Annie,  born  Decem- 
ber 15,  1885 ;  Bennie,  born  December  21,  1887,  a  graduate  of 
the  Minnesota  Agricultural  School,  and  Louis,  born  September 
16,  1889,  are  at  home.  Mr.  Huseby  gives  his  attention  largely  to 
dairying,  and  has  a  fine  herd  of  fifteen  grade  Shorthorns,  twenty- 
five  grade  Holsteins,  and  several  pure  bred  Holsteins,  the  milk 
from  which  is  sold  to  the  Cooperative  creamery  at  Adams,  of 
which  Mr.  Huseby  is  president.  He  raises  oats  and  grains  in 
sufficient  quantities  to  more  than  take  care  of  his  home  needs, 
and  breeds  hogs  and  poultry  in  quantities  to  supply  domestic 
needs  and  to  take  advantage  of  occasional  good  markets. 

John  L.  Hukee,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Adams  township,  was 
born  in  Norway,  February  3,  1856,  son  of  Lasse  and  IMary  Jeuson 
Hukee,  who  were  born  in  Norway,  and  in  1874  took  up  their 
residence  in  Adams  township,  this  county.  John  L.  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Norway,  and  came  to  America  in  1874, 
landing  in  New  York,  and  making  his  way  directly  to  Adams 
township.  He  worked  on  farms  and  on  the  railroad  for  three 
years,  and  then  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Marshall  township. 
Later  he  purchased  property  in  section  4,  Adams  township.  He 
first  erected  a  log  cabin  and  lived  in  this  until  1880,  when  he 
built  his  present  comfortable  dwelling.  He  has  also  erected  suit- 
able outbuildings,  has  planted  trees,  cultivated  the  ground  and 
conducted  other  improvements.  He  now  owns  230  acres  of  land 
all  in  section  4,  and  on  this  he  conducts  general  farming  opera- 
tions and  stock  breeding.  He  has  a  fine  herd  of  Holsteins,  which 
he  keeps  for  dairy  purposes,  and  the  cream  from  this  herd  is 
sold  to  the  Adams  Cooperative  creamery.  Mr.  Hukee  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  has  served  as  school  director  six 
years.  He  was  married  in  November,  1893,  to  Bertha  Johnson,  a 
native  of  Norway.     Seven   children  have  been  born,  of  whom 


W.   D.   HARDEN 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  593 

six  are  living.  All  are  at  home  and  the  four  oldest  attend  school. 
They  are  Leonard,  Bernard,  Gertrude,  Josephine,  Jerfine  and 
Mabel. 

Charles  S.  Harden,  postmaster  at  Le  Eoy,  as  was  his  father 
before  him,  was  born  in  Volney,  Allamakee  county,  Iowa,  Novem- 
ber 5,  1857,  son  of  Warren  DeWitt  Harden.  He  received  his 
education  in  Volney,  and  also  in  Le  Roy,  to  which  place  he  was 
brought  by  his  father  in  1868.  After  leaving  school,  he  clerked 
in  a  general  store  for  some  years,  and  then  for  five  years  con- 
ducted a  grocery  store.  After  selling  this  store,  he  went  to  the 
Dakotas  for  three  months,  and  then  from  1895  to  1900  was  man- 
ager for  the  Palmer  Bros.'  lumber  yard  at  Ostrander,  ]\Iinn. 
Then  he  returned  to  Le  Roy  and  clerked  in  the  postoffice  until 
1904,  when  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  in  which  position  he 
has  since  continued.  Mr.  Harden  was  married  December  23, 
1877,  to  Ethleen  Bidwell,  of  Indiana,  and  to  this  imion  two 
children  have  been  born,  Maude  F.,  who  assists  her  father  in 
the  postoffice,  and  Decorah  M.,  who  is  teaching  at  McGregor, 
Iowa. 

George  W.  W.  Harden,  manager  of  the  LeRoy  Fibre  Com- 
pany, Avas  born  in  Volney,  Iowa,  IMay  3,  1862,  son  of  AVarren 
DeWitt  Harden.  He  came  to  LeRoy  in  1868,  attended  school 
here,  and  then  entered  the  State  University  of  Minnesota,  gradu- 
ating from  the  law  department  in  1891.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  the  same  time  and  at  once  returned  to  LeRoy,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  In  1893  he  became  much  inerested  in  the  cream 
industry,  and  since  that  date  has  been  sole  owner  and  proprietor 
of  the  LeRoy  Creamery  Company.  In  1905  he  established  the 
LeRoy  Fibre  Company,  but  sold  out  in  1908,  being  still  retained, 
however,  as  general  manager.  In  1901  and  again  in  1905  he  was 
elected  to  the  legislature,  and  for  three  years  he  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  village  council.  He  is  a  staunch  Republican  in 
politics,  and  attends  the  Presbyterian  church.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  married  March  31,  1908,  to  Laura  B.  Stokes,  of 
Chicago,  an  estimable  lady  of  many  accomplishments. 

Warren  DeWitt  Harden,  now  deceased,  was  for  over  forty 
years  a  well-known  citizen  of  the  vicinity  of  LeRoy,  his  death 
taking  place  November  23,  1910,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  He 
was  born  in  Granville,  Washington  county,  New  York,  October 
27,  1830,  and  lived  at  that  place  until  about  five  years  of  age, 
when  his  parents  moved  to  a  point  in  Lake  county,  Illinois,  al)out 
thirty  miles  north  of  Chicago.  At  the  age  of  seventeen,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  enlisted  in  the  IMexican  war,  serving  with 
credit  until  its  close.  Then  he  returned  to  the  home  farm  and 
attained  no  little  distinction  as  a  horseman.  In  connection  with 
his  farm  life  he  also  spent  several  winters  in  the  pine  forests  of 


594  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEl?  COUNTY 

Michigan.  He  was  married  October  -i,  1852,  to  Susannah  Bryant, 
and  togetlier  they  went  to  Volney,  Iowa,  where  "Warren  DeW. 
opened  a  daguerreotype  establishment  in  1856.  Here  his  two 
oldest  sons  were  born.  He  was  the  first  postmaster  at  Voluey, 
and  there  he  also  learned  the  mason  and  stone  cutting  trade. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  served  in  the  Twenty-seventh  Iowa 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  received  his  discharge  as  first  sergeant 
in  August,  1865.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  home  and 
resumed  his  trade,  also  farming  two  years  in  Ludlow  township, 
near  "Waukon,  Iowa.  Having  injured  his  back,  he  again  turned 
his  attention  to  photography,  coming  to  LeRoy  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  and  conducting  a  gallery  here  for  many  years.  He 
Avas  appointed  postmaster  of  LeRoy  in  1898  and  held  that  position 
until  failing  health  caused  him  to  resign  in  1904.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order,  joining  Eureka  Lodge,  No.  75, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  the  year  1869,  and  some  years  later  joining  the 
chapter  lodge  of  the  same  order.  He  was  also  an  active  member 
of  the  James  George  Post,  G.  A.  R.  Mr.  Harden  was  survived  by 
his  wife  and  four  sons,  Charles  S.,  born  in  1857 ;  George  AV.  W., 
born  in  1862;  Horace  G.,  born  in  1867,  and  Bertie  A.,  born  in 
1871. 

Joseph  D.  Carll,  now  deceased,  a  respected  farmer  of  IMower 
county,  was  born  near  Lyons,  AYayne  county.  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1856.  In  the  fall  of  1871  his  parents  brought  him 
west  to  Mower  county,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Udolpho  town- 
ship. He  brought  his  young  l)ride,  IMaiy  Bartlett,  to  his  home  in 
1878,  and  here  they  remained  for  seven  years.  Later  Mr.  Carli 
purchased  the  farm  in  section  27,  Udolpho  township,  still  owned 
and  operated  by  Mrs.  Carll.  They  lived  on  this  farm  eighteen 
years,  until  on  account  of  Mr.  Carll's  failing  health,  they  moved 
to  Lansing  village,  where  he  died  in  1906.  Mr.  Carll  was  school 
clerk  in  Udolpho  eighteen  years,  and  assessor  for  thirteen  years, 
the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  town  being  ever  near  and  dear 
to  his  heart.  J\Ir.  and  I\Irs.  Carll  were  blessed  with  six  children, 
of  whom  five  are  living:  Jennie  IM.,  Bessie  E.,  Grover  (deceased), 
Minnie  and  Edith.  Jennie  M.  married  C.  W.  Stimson  and  lives 
in  Winnebago,  Minn.  Bessie  E.  married  Jacob  Ilahn,  and  lives 
in  Udolpho.  Ada  is  now  Mrs.  William  Bell.  Minnie  and  Edith 
live  at  home.  Mrs.  Carll  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Martha 
(Mclntyre)  Bartlett,  the  former  a  native  of  Vermont  and  the 
latter  of  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.  They  came  west  to  AVisconsin,  Iowa 
county,  remained  there  a  short  time,  and  then  moved  to  Richland 
county,  to  the  village  of  Lonerock,  where  Mrs.  Joseph  D.  Carll 
was  born.  Two  of  the  sons,  brothers  of  Mrs.  Joseph  D.  Carll, 
are  George  W.,  of  Bison,  S.  D..  and  Frank  L..  now  a  resident  of 
the  state  of  Washington. 


J.  D.  CAKLL  AND  FAMILY 


inST01?Y  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  595 

Christian  E.  Hovda,  the  eapablo  and  obligiiig  postmaster  of 
Grand  -Meadow,  lias  taken  an  active  part  in  the  progress  of  his 
coraniunity.  During  his  term  of  service  as  postmaster,  tlie  Girand 
Meadovi'  office  has  been  raised  from  the  fourth  to  the  third  class, 
three  rural  routes  have  been  established  and  the  efficiency  of 
the  service  lias  been  greatly  increased.  In  addition  to  this  he 
has  taken  a  leading  part  in  the  organization  and  development  of 
the  Farmers'  Cooperative  Creamery  Company,  of  Grand  Meadow, 
of  which  he  is  one  of  the  stockholders.  While  in  Frankford 
township  he  gave  good  service  several  years  as  township  assessor. 
Mr.  Hovda  was  born  in  Frankford  township,  this  county,  January 
31,  1864,  son  of  Ingebret  0.  Hovda  and  Anna  T.  Braaten,  his  wafe, 
natives  of  Norway.  He  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  township,  and  attended  the  high  school  at 
Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  county,  after  which  he  rented  160  acres 
in  Frankford  township,  and  at  the  same  time  purchased  eighty 
acres,  thus  making  a  farm  of  240  acres,  which  he  managed  for 
a  period  of  ten  years.  In  1897  he  gave  up  farming  and  came  to 
Grand  Meadow  to  accept  his  present  position.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  INI.  "\V.  A.,  being  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  company  formed  to  erect  the  M.  W.  A.  hall. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  w^as  married  March  19,  1890,  to  Betsy 
Kval,  who  was  born  in  NoiAvay  and  came  to  America  in  1880  with 
her  parents,  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  H.  S.  Kval,  the  former  of  whom  is 
dead,  and  the  latetr  of  whom  is  still  living  in  Grand  Meadow. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hovda  have  been  blessed  with  one  daughter,  Evelyn, 
born  July  9,  1894.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church. 

Ingebret  Hovda  and  Anna  T.  Braaten,  his  wife,  were  born  in 
Norway  and  came  to  America  before  the  Civil  war.  Ingebret 
Hovda  came  with  his  father,  Ole  Hovda,  in  1852,  and  after  living 
in  Wisconsin  two  years,  came  to  Mower  county  in  1854  and 
located  in  Frankford  township  with  the  early  settlers.  Anna  T. 
Braaten  came  to  America  with  two  sisters  in  1861,  and  located 
in  Racine  township,  where  she  lived  until  her  marriage  to  Inge- 
bret Hovda  in  May,  1863.  They  established  their  home  on  eighty 
acres  which  Ingebret  had  purchased  in  Frankford  township,  and 
were  thus  enjoying  their  honeymoon  when  the  repeated  calls 
came  for  soldiers  to  defend  the  union.  Mr.  Hovda  therefore 
enlisted  in  Company  K,  First  IMinnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  came  back  to  Frank- 
ford and  resinned  farming.  He  added  to  his  original  purchase 
until  he  owned  180  acres,  and  on  this  he  conducted  general 
farming  until  1900,  when  he  retired  and  moved  to  Grand  ^leadow 
village,  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  August  18,  1905.  Mrs. 
Hovda  now  makes  her  home  with  her  son  at  the  old  home.     In 


596  HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY 

the  familj'  were  ten  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
others  are  Christian  E.,  Anton  (deceased),  Oliver,  John,  Emma, 
Anna  and  Edward. 

Torkal  Olson  AldaJ,  who  farms  a  fine  place  of  180  acres  in 
Udolpho,  was  born  in  Voss,  Norway,  June  4,  1844,  and  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America,  locating  in 
Dane  county,  and  remaining  two  years.  Then  he  took  up  his 
residence  on  his  present  place  in  Udolpho  township.  He  has 
greatly  improved  the  farm,  erected  a  comfortable  house  and 
commodious  barns,  and  has  purchased  some  modern  machinery 
which  greatly  facilitates  his  agricultural  operations.  Mr.  Olson 
Aldal  is  a  hard  working  man,  and  a  thorough  believer  in  educa- 
tion, having  served  twenty  years  on  the  school  board.  He  was 
married  November  15,  1872,  to  Julia  Kauutson,  of  Wisconsin,  and 
to  this  union  haA^e  been  born  nine  cliildren,  of  whom  four,  John, 
Bennie,  Susie  and  Maribo,  are  living.  Susie,  the  oldest  daughter, 
is  the  wife  of  H.  H.  Scagan,  of  Austin. 

L.  0.  Aldal,  one  of  the  progressive  citizens  of  Lansing  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Norway  in  1856,  received  his  primary  education 
and  also  a  normal  course,  prepared  for  teacher  in  that  place,  and 
in  1878,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  came  to  America,  since  which 
time  he  has  spent  practically  all  of  his  life  in  Lansing  and  vicinity 
working  on  the  farm  and  teaching  schools.  Eighteen  years  ago 
he  bought  the  SnoAV  farm,  which  at  that  time  was  in  a  most 
primitive  condition,  having  a  log  house  and  a  iew  outbuildings. 
This  place  he  at  once  set  about  improving  and  todaj^  he  has  a 
fine  place  of  280  acres,  the  acreage  being  well  tilled  and  pro- 
ductive, and  the  buildings  being  modern  in  every  respect.  A 
large  house,  well  furnished,  was  erected  in  1898,  and  a  large  and 
commodious  barn  was  built  in  1909.  He  has  a  fine  household  of 
intelligent  young  people,  and  the  family  is  highly  esteemed  in 
the  community.  Believing  that  the  development  of  the  com- 
munity goes  hand  in  hand  with  the  growth  of  school  and  church, 
he  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  educational  affairs,  and  has  been 
secretary  of  the  Red  Oak  Grove  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  for 
many  years.  Mr.  Aldal  married  Caroline  Hillson  and  this  union 
has  been  blessed  with  twelve  children:  Johanna  R.,  George  0., 
Clara  M.,  Selmer  L.,  Ida  B.,  Hilda  M.,  Judith  R.,  Olga  M.,  Clar- 
ence R.,  Joscjih  T.,  Alga  M.,  and  Martha  C. 

Knute  A.  AUrick  was  born  in  Mower  county  in  1867,  son  of 
Andrew  and  Sarah  Allrick,  the  pioneers.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Adams  and  remained  at  home  with  his 
father  assisting  on  the  farm.  From  the  time  he  was  twenty-four 
until  reaching  his  thirtieth  year,  he  worked  regularly  for  his 
father  and  at  the  end  of  that  period  purchased  the  eighty  acres 
Avhere  he  now  makes  his  home.     This,  at  the  time  of  purchase, 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  597 

was  wild  land,  but  he  set  about  breaking  and  improving  it  and 
now  has  an  excellent  farm,  having  erected  a  full  complement  of 
building's  and  purchased  an  adequate  amount  of  tools,  imple- 
ments and  machinery.  He  raises  some  general  crops,  but  turns 
much  of  his  attention  to  grain  and  makes  a  specialty  of  Shorthorn 
cattle.  Mr.  AUrick  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  is  now  serving 
as  road  overseer.  He  attends  the  Lutheran  church  and  belongs 
to  the  Modern  Woodmen.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
in  1897  to  Susie  Anderson,  daughter  of  Andrew  Anderson.  INIrs. 
Allriek  was  born  in  NorAvay,  came  to  this  country  in  1892,  and 
lived  for  a  time  in  Fillmore  county  before  coming  to  this  county. 

Andrew  Anderssn,  of  INIarshall  township,  was  born  in  Sweden 
in  1850,  son  of  Andrew  Larson,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1880.  On  arrival  in  this  country  he  went  to  Chicago  and 
worked  three  years  in  the  Pullman  car  shops.  Then  he  came 
to  Mower  county  and  rented  land.  He  is  now  in  charge  of  tlie 
M.  Flemming  farm  in  section  29,  where  he  tills  240  acres  and 
engages  in  general  farming  on  an  extensive  scale.  In  1880  he 
married  Annie  Charlotte,  a  native  of  Sweden,  and  to  this  union 
has  been  born  three  children :  Hilda,  Arthur  and  Carl,  all  of  whom 
are  at  home.  IMr.  Anderson  is  a  Republican  in  polities,  and 
affiliates  with  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church. 

Theadore  Austenson  is  a  Mower  county  product,  having  been 
born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  in  section  24,  Lyle  town- 
ship, August  30,  1879,  son  of  Gunder  and  Helga  (Emmonson) 
Austenson.  He  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and 
then  took  up  farming  with  his  father  until  1905,  when  he  rented 
the  home  farm,  now  carrying  on  general  farming  and  making  a 
specialty  of  fine  poultry  breeding,  his  pride  being  barred  Rocks, 
with  which  breed  he  has  won  many  prizes  at  county  and  state 
fairs,  having  attained  some  prominence  as  a  poultry  fancier.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Austin  and  Slower  County  Poultry  Associa- 
tion. Mr.  Austenson  is  single,  a  Republican  in  polities  and  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Gunder  Austenson  was  born  in  Norway,  April  30,  1841,  and 
there  received  his  education,  growing  to  manhood,  and  remain- 
ing until  1867,  when  he  came  to  America,  locating  first  in  Nevada 
township.  Mower  county,  for  a  few  years,  and  later  purchasing 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Lyle  township,  this  county,  section  24. 
He  broke  this  wild  land,  improved  it,  erected  buildings,  and 
developed  it  into  a  fine  place.  Here  he  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing until  1905,  when  he  rented  his  farm  to  his  son,  Tlieadore, 
who  now  conducts  it.  He  still  remains  on  the  place-,  he  and  his 
wife  making  their  home  with  their  sou.  Mr.  Austenson  was 
married  in  Norway  to  Helga  Amundson,  Deceml)er  26,  1865,  and 
to  this  union  were  born   nine  cliiUlren.     Tlie  living  are:    Julia. 


598  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

jow  Mrs.  K.  AV.  Oliu,  wife  of  a  merchant  at  Sioux  City,  Iowa; 
Tlicadore,  on  the  home  farm,  and  ]\Iollie,  who  also  lives  at  home. 
-Mr.  Austenson  is  a  good  citizen,  a  Republican  in  polities  and  a 
niciiiber  of  the   Lutlieran  church. 

Welcome  Chandler,  a  pioneer,  settled  in  Austin  in  1837.  He 
was  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  state,  born  in  the  town  of 
London,  January  11,  1807.  When  he  was  but  twelve  years  of  age 
his  parents  emigrated  to  Canada  and  settled  at  Raughmont,  Prov- 
ince of  Quebec,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  When  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age  he  left  home  and  settled  in  Shepard  county,  Prov- 
ince of  Quebec,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  town  of 
]\Iilton,  where  he  purchased  government  land,  from  which  he 
cleared  the  heavy  timber,  and  where  he  resided  until  1857,  when 
he  sold  out,  and  with  his  family  joined  his  son,  David  L.,  in 
]Mower  county,  IMinnesota.  He  purchased  land  in  section  32, 
Austin  township,  and  improved  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  adding 
to  this  tract  and  continuing  general  farming  until  his  death, 
December  15,  1880.  His  wife,  Amy  Phelps,  w-hom  he  married  in 
Canada,  but  who  was  born  in  Vermont,  died  May  12,  1883. 

George  Chandler,  a  successful  farmer  of  Austin  township,  was 
born  in  Shepard  county,  Quebec,  Canada,  June  28,  1845,  son  of 
AVelcome  and  Amy  (Phelps)  Chandler,  the  pioneers.  He  was 
brought  to  I\rower  county  by  his  parents  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  here  attended  school,  grew  to  manhood  and  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm.  In  1873  he  made  a  trip  to  California  and 
then  to  Oregon,  spending  five  months,  after  •which  he  returned  to 
Mower  county  and  accepted  a  clerkship  in  Austin.  In  1878  he 
engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  for  a  short  time,  1)ut  sold  out  and 
resumed  farming.  He  bought  ninety-one  acres  and  took  eighty 
acres  of  railroad  land  in  section  21,  Austin  township,  and  broke 
it  and  improved  it.  'Mr.  Chandler  has  been  town  clerk  for  fifteen 
years  and  votes  independently.  Being  an  earnest  church  worker 
he  has  been  closely  identified  with  tlie  growth  of  the  ^Methodist 
faith  in  this  locality.  He  has  been  a  steward  and  trustee,  class 
leader,  Bible  class  teacher  and  Sunday  school  superintendent, 
and  contributes  liberally  of  time  and  money  to  the  Christian 
cause.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Tri-State  Telephone  Company 
and  in  the  Northwestern  Portland  Cement  Company,  of  Mason 
City,  Iowa.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  June  4,  1878, 
to  Florence  Amelia  Brown,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born 
11mv  chihlrni:     Mabel  F.,  Edith  B.  and  G.  Ernest. 

R.  A.  Carll,  successful  farmer  of  Udolplio,  was  lioni  in  Lyons, 
Wayne  county,  New  York,  December  4,  1845,  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Martha  (Hamlin)  Carll,  botli  natives  of  New  London.  Maine. 
R.  A.  caine  west  with  liis  parents  in  1S()3,  was  reared  in  Lansing 
vilhigc  and    Idulpliu  lownsliip.  and   nflcr  llirec  years  in   :\liiine- 


HISTOKY  OF  M0WP]1?  COUxN'J'Y  599 

apolis,  returned  to  Udolplio  and  has  since  managed  and  conducted 
the  home  place,  in  sections  2G  and  27.  Mr.  Carll  lias  taken  an 
active  interest  in  township  affairs,  has  been  town  clerk,  and  is 
at  the  present  time  town  supervisor.  He  is  one  of  the  stock- 
holders in  the  Lansing  Cooperative  Creamery.  For  many  years 
past  he  has  been  a  member  of  Lansing  Lodge,  No.  72,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  of  the  St.  Bernard  Commandery,  No.  13,  R.  A.  M. 
Mr.  Carll  married  Ella  F.  Littlefield,  daughter  of  Aurin  G.  and 
Jemina  (White)  Littlefield.  Aurin  G.  Littlefield  was  a  native  of 
Maine.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  First 
Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry  and  served  nearly  three  years, 
being  killed  on  the  battlefield  of  Chickamauga,  in  1863.  His  wife, 
Jemina  White,  died  in  1869.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carll  have  two  chil- 
dren. Earl  A.  and  Evered.  Earl  married  Lettie  Vaughn.  Evered 
married  Celia  Teigen  and  they  have  one  child,  Malcolm  A. 

Benjamin  Carll  was  born  in  Maine,  and  in  1815  was  taken  to 
New  York  state  at  the  age  of  nine  years  by  his  father,  also 
Benjamin  by  name,  making  the  trip  by  ox  team.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  grew  to  manhood  in  New  Y^'ork  state,  married  Martha 
Hamlin,  and  in  1863  came  to  Lansing.  After  managing  a  hotel 
there  three  years,  h«  moved  to  Udolpho  and  purchased  the  Tim- 
othy Andrews  farm  "in  sections  26  and  27.  Benjamin  Carll  died 
in  1902  at  the  age  of  95  years  and  six  months. 

Benjamin  M.  Carll,  an  honored  resident  of  Udolpho  township, 
and  courageous  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  now  deceased,  was  born 
in  Lyons,  Wayne  county,  New  York,  February  15,  1840.  Tiie 
Civil  war  broke  out  when  he  was  a  young  man,  and  he  enlisted 
September  10,  1861,  in  Company  C,  Eighth  New  York  Cavalry. 
His  service  was  chiefly  in  Virginia.  He  was  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  and  was  discharged  December  8,  1864.  He  participated 
in  over  fifty  engagements.  After  his  discharge  he  at  once  returned 
to  New  Y'^ork,  and  in  December  of  that  year  came  to  Mower 
county,  where  his  parents  had  preceded  him  the  year  before.  He 
Avas  married  February  22,  1870,  to  Mary  C.  Rhoades,  daughter  of 
Orsamus  D.  and  Maria  (Hunter)  Rhoades,  who  was  born  in  Chau- 
tauqua county.  New  Y^ork,  in  1847.  In  the  fall  of  1873  :irr.  Carll 
moved  to  a  farm  which  he  purchased  in  section  12,  Udolpho 
township.  This  farm  at  the  time  was  wild  prairie  and  'Mr.  Carll 
set  about  improving  it,  breaking  and  cultivating  the  land  and 
erecting  suitable  buildings.  'Mr.  Carll  was  a  meml)er  of  Henry 
Rogers  Post.  No.  11,  G.  A.  R.  He  lead  a  goodly  life  and  passed 
to  his  reward  November  2,  1908.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carll  were  the 
parents  of  four  children:  Roy  M.,  Ira  O.,  Fred  W.  and  ^I.  Eth.el. 
Roy  married  Nora  Chandler  and  they  have  two  daughters.  Verna 
and  Nfllie.     He  lives  in  Mason  City.  Iowa.     Ira  died  in  infancy. 


600  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Fred  married  Lottie  Churchill  and  they  have  two  sous,  Forest  and 
!Milo.  He  resides  on  the  old  place.  Ethel  married  Myron  Beltz 
and  lives  iu  ^lason  City,  Iowa. 

Luman  D.  Carter,  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Lyle  township 
aud  village,  aud  now  a  resident  of  Austin  township,  has  been  a 
prominent  man  in  the  county,  and  has  worthily  and  ably  filled 
county,  township  and  village  office.  He  was  born  near  Montreal, 
Canada,  March  7,  1841,  son  of  John  A.  and  Charlotte  (Phelps) 
Carter,  of  New  England  birth,  and  French  and  English  ancestry. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  with  his  parents  in  1854,  lived  in 
Burlington,  "Wis.,  and  in  September,  1859,  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  came  to  Austin  township.  After  arriving  here  he  attended 
the  Austin  public  schools,  and  lays  credit  to  the  claim  of  being 
the  oldest  man  living  in  tlie  county  who  received  his  education  iu 
Mower  county  schools.  He  taught  school  for  a  year  and  then 
enlisted  in  Company  B,  Second  Minnesota  Cavalry,  serving  until 
mustered  out,  December  24,  1865.  During  a  part  of  this  time  he 
did  service  on  the  frontier  against  the  Indians.  He  was  confined  for 
a  time  in  a  hospital  at  Sauk  Center  as  the  result  of  an  injury  to 
his  foot,  caused  by  a  runaway  accident.  In  1865  he  retui-ned  to 
j\Iower  county  and  took  up  farming  in  Lyle  township,  where  he 
purchased  IGO  acres.  To  this  tract  he  added  from  time  to  time 
until  he  owned  320  acres,  following  farming  in  Lyle  township, 
and  dividing  his  place  of  residence  between  the  township  and 
village  until  1891,  Avhen  he  removed  to  Austin,  where  he  lived 
nine  years.  In  1900  he  purchased  his  present  home,  prettily 
located  on  the  banks  of  the  Red  Cedar  river  near  Varco  station. 
He  rents  out  his  land  and  is  enjoying  the  rest  that  his  many 
years  of  hard  toil  well  deserves.  Mr.  Carter  is  a  Republican  in 
politics.  He  served  nearly  three  years  as  deputy  sheriff  of  Mower 
county ;  was  village  recorder  of  Lyle  for  one  year ;  mayor  of  Lyle 
village  one  year;  justice  of  the  peace  in  Lyle  township  several 
terms  and  assessor  o^  Lyle  village  and  township  for  fourteen 
years.  He  belongs  to  the  IMasonic  order  and  to  the  G.  A.  R. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  September  23,  1863,  to 
Mary  E.  Burgess,  daughter  of  Johnathan  Burgess,  who  came  to 
Lyle  township  in  1861.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carter  have  been  blessed 
witli  seven  children:  Charles  L.,  Edward  F.,  Carrie,  Minnie, 
Old  Ij.,  Nellie  M.,  and  Edith.  Charles  L.  is  a  manufacturer,  living 
ill  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa;  Edward  F.  is  a  telegraph  operator  in 
]\Iojara,  Cal. ;  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  John  J.  Ingledrum,  a  real 
estite  dealer  in  South  Bend.,  Ind. ;  IMinnie  is  the  wife  of  Edward 
DeCraff,  a  jeweler,  of  LeRoy,  ]\Iinn. ;  Oral  L.,  a  former  teacher, 
is  the  wife  of  Fred  Lewis,  a  traveling  salesman  out  of  Austin; 
Nellie  ^L  is  the  wife  of  John  Lewis,  of  Austin;  Edith  is  the  wife 
of   W.  .1.   Tvler.  (.r  Coeiir  d'Aleiie.  tlie  editor  of  llie  .Tournal   in 


IIISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  601 

that  place.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Methodist  Ei)iscopal 
church. 

Mr.  Carter  lias  many  recollections  of  the  early  days  m  this 
state.  In  the  spring  of  1863,  as  he  often  tells  with  relish,  he 
rented  a  piece  of  land  in  section  27,  Austin  township,  before 
enlisting  in  the  army.  When  he  left  for  the  frontier  he  gave  his 
father  charge  of  the  matter  and  requested  him  to  dispose  of  the 
wheat  which  in  harvest  time  was  to  come  to  him  for  the  rental 
of  the  laud.  His  father  had  the  wheat  threshed,  and  at  a  cost  of 
thirty  cents  a  bushel  hauled  to  Winona,  where  it  brought  but 
forty  cents  per  bushel.  This,  Mr.  Carter  declares,  was  his  last 
experience  at  renting  land. 

John  A.  Carter  was  born  in  Vermont,  of  French  extraction, 
and  went  to  Canada  as  a  boy.  There  he  married  Charlotte 
Phelps,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  of  English  descent,  who  was 
also  taken  to  Canada  as  a  child.  They  came  to  the  United  States 
in  185-1,  located  in  Burlington,  AYis.,  and  there  remained  until  the 
fall  of  1859,  when  they  came  to  ^Minnesota  and  located  in  Austin 
township,  at  the  place  then  known  as  Cedar  City.  The  following 
spi-ing  they  moved  to  section  27,  and  in  1861  bought  forty  acres  of 
land  in  section  29.  Later  they  sold  out  and  took  up  their  resi- 
dence with  their  son  Dan  in  Lyle  township,  John  A.  passing  away 
in  1898  and  his  wife  in  1892. 

Patrick  H.  Carr,  for  a  decade  and  a  half  the  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Adams  village,  is  a  prominent  man  in  his  vicinity  and 
well  fitted  for  the  office  with  which  he  has  been  honored  by  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  was  born  in  Rutland,  Vt.,  March  8,  1851, 
son  of  John  and  Mary  (Stanton)  Carr,  natives  of  County  JMayo, 
Ireland.  In  early  youth  he  learned  the  carpenters'  trade  and  fol- 
lowed this  at  Adams  and  several  other  places.  In  1883  he  was 
in  charge  of  a  large  bridge  crew  for  Winston  Bros.,  constractors 
for  the  Northern  Pacific,  at  ]\Iissoula,  Mont.  He  subsequently 
followed  carpentering,  contracting  and  bridge  building  continu- 
ously until  1895,  when  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  the 
village  of  Adams.  In  this  capacity  he  has  served  continuously, 
with  the  exception  of  one  term,  since  1895.  He  is  also  engaged 
successfully  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business.  Mr.  Carr 
has  been  financier  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  for  many  years,  with  much 
credit.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  at  Austin,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1875,  to  Lyda  Bodine,  of  that  city.  She  died  February  21, 
1880,  at  Sumner,  Iowa,  leaving  one  son,  Benjamin  J.,  born  Novem- 
ber 22,  1876.  Benjamin  joined  the  United  States  army  in  1898 
and  is  still  in- the  service.  During  his  service  in  the  Philippines 
he  acted  in  the  commissary  department.  Patrick  11.  Carr  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  a  Catholic  in  religion. 

John  and  ^Fary   ("Stantoni   Carr  were  born  in  Coiinty  Mayo, 


602  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COrXTY 

Ireland,  and  as  children  came  with  their  parents  to  Vermont, 
where  they  were  married  and  remained  nntil  1852,  when  they 
came  west  to  Portage,  Wis.,  where  they  took  up  a  claim  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  1854,  when  they  removed  to  Freeport. 
111.,  where  the  head  of  the  familj^  engaged  in  teaming  until  1858. 
In  that  year  they  went  to  Winona,  and  there  Mr.  Carr  continued 
as  a  teamster.  In  1859  they  returned  to  Freeport  and  there 
remained  until  the  summer  of  1863,  when  they  went  to  ]\linoua, 
Iowa.  There  ^Ir.  Carr  engaged  in  railroad  contracting  for  the 
C,  M.  &  St.  P.,  reaching  Adams  in  the  summer  of  1867.  Here  he 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  owning  also  a  farm  in  Adams  town- 
ship. In  1880  he  retired.  He  died  in  1900,  and  his  wife  is  still 
living  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  ten  children:  Patrick  H. ;  Alary,  wife  of  AVilliam  Burke,  of 
Fort  Dodge,  loAva;  Margaret,  wife  of  Hon.  Samuel  Sweningsen, 
now  of  Long  Beach,  Cal. ;  John  "\V.,  a  merchant  in  Adams ;  James, 
carpenter  and  builder,  of  Adams ;  Nellie,  wife  of  Charles  Gilligan, 
an  extensive  farmer  of  Adams  township;  Sarah,  who  lives  at 
home ;  William,  railroad  carpenter,  of  Adams ;  Vencensia,  who 
married  William  Dodge,  and  died  November  15,  1909,  leaving  five 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living  in  Adams  with  their  grand- 
motiier,  IMrs.  IMary  Carr.  Michael  Carr  died  in  his  infancy  at 
Rockford.  111. 

T.  F.  Cummings,  Austin  business  man,  proprietor  of  the  T.  F. 
Cummings  bottling  works,  sole  owner  and  general  manager  of 
the  Cummings  Brush  iManufacturing  Company,  as  well  as  co-part- 
ner in  the  Hub  bottling  works  at  Mason  City,  Iowa,  was  born  in 
Berlin,  Wis.,  October  15,  1865,  son  of  Martin  and  Bridget  (Smith) 
Cummings.  He  attended  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood  at  Cedar 
Falls,  Iowa,  to  which  place  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  in  1870. 
Later  he  took  a  course  in  the  State  Normal  school  at  the  same 
place.  After  leaving  school  he  entered  into  the  grocery  business 
at  Allison,  Butler  county,  Iowa,  and  after  a  few  years  embarked 
in  a  similar  line  in  Iowa  Falls,  conducting  both  stores  at  the  same 
time.  In  February,  1894,  he  canu^  to  Austin  and  engaged  in  the 
iiuniufacture  and  distribution  of  soda  water  and  soft  drinks, 
making  a  specialty  of  carl)onated  water  and  the  Siloam  Springs 
water.  Mr.  Cummings  is  an  independent  voter,  and  belongs  to 
the  C.  O.  F.,  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  and  the  U.  C.  T.  He  attends  the 
Catholic  chui'ch.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in 
December,  lcS!).'5,  to  Maud  Ilursey,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed 
with  one  son,  Paul,  born  August  8,  1896. 

Mnrtin  Cummings  and  Bridget  Smith,  his  wife,  were  natives  of 
li'i'liiiid.  and  caiMc  to  Amcrii'a  as  children.  For  many  years  they 
live;l    ill    I'.erlin.    Wis.,   and    in    ISliC   move.!    witli    tlieir    I'amilv    to 


HISTOKY  OP  MOWER  COUNTY  603 

Iowa,  loeatiug  uear  Cedar  Falls.  After  twenty  years  they  moved 
to  Cedar  Falls  village,  and  there  both  'died. 

The  Cummings  Brush  IManufaeturing  Company  has  been  in 
operation  since  August,  1910,  and  while  only  a  new  business,  it  has 
created  a  great  demand  for  its  manufactured  goods.  The  Cum- 
mings brushes  are  on  the  market  in  many  of  our  largest  cities, 
handled  by  .jobbers  and  Avholesalers  in  Cincinnati,  New  York 
city,  Philadelphia,  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  Des  Moines,  Kansas  City, 
Omaha,  Council  Bluflt's,  Minneapolis,  St.  Paul,  LaCrosse,  Dubuque, 
Waterloo,  Cedar  Rapids,  and  many  other  towns  and  villages. 
jMr.  Cummings  has  put  oUt  a  very  neat  and  up-to-date  catalogue 
and  his  system  of  putting  manufactured  goods  on  the  market  has 
proved  a  success  in  every  line  he  has  undertaken. 

Mr.  Cummings  will  add  more  machinery  and  increase  the 
capacity  to  meet  the  demands  for  his  manufactured  goods. 

Edward  D.  Claggett,  of  Austin,  the  southern  IMinnesota  and 
northern  Iowa  agent  for  Hamm's  Brewing  Company,  was  born  in 
Oshkosh,  Wis.,  March  8,  1863,  going  to  Waupon,  AVis.,  when  very 
young,  moving  with  his  family  to  Brown  county,  ^linnesota,  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years.  After  attaining  manhood's  estate  he 
opened  a  livery  at  Princeton,  Mille  Lacs  county,  this  state,  and 
conducted  it  for  ten  years.  In  1896  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  that 
county  and  held  the  position  eight  years,  in  the  meantime  serving 
the  city  of  Princeton  as  marshal  for  six  years.  In  the  winter  of 
1905  he  moved  to  St.  Paul,  served  as  sergeant-at-arms  at  the  first 
session  of  the  legislature  held  in  the  new  capitol,  and  then  went 
on  the  road  two  years  for  a  St.  Paul  wholesale  house.  April  20, 
1907,  he  came  to  Austin  and  took  up  the  duties  of  his  present 
position.  He  belongs  to  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  the  K.  of  P.,  and  the 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  as  well  as  to  the  Austin  Commercial  Club  and  the 
Austin  and  Mower  County  Automobile  Club.  The  sub.ject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  in  April,  1890,  and  to  this  union  one  daughter, 
Edna  ]\I.,  was  born. 

R.  A.  Carmichael,  jailer  of  Mower  county,  and  deputy  sherift' 
under  Nicholas  Nicholson,  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  25,  1859,  son  of  John  and  Eleanor  (Fowler)  Car- 
michael, of  Scotch  and  English  descent,  the  former  dying  in  1881 
and  the  latter  in  1859.  R.  A.  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  then  took  a  course  in  the  State  Normal  school 
at  Edinborough,  Pa.  He  then  started  teaching  at  the  age  of 
eigiiteen  years,  but  two  years  later,  on  account  of  his  father's 
health,  and  his  desire  to  l)e  with  him,  he  gave  up  teaching  and 
took  a  course  in  the  Eastman  Business  College,  at  Pouglikeepsie, 
.V.  Y.  Then  he  returned  home  and  took  charge  of  the  home  farm 
until  April.  1884.  after  Avhich  he  went  to  Schuyler,  in  Colfax 
Cdiinly.   Xi'l)i-aska.   and   engaged   in   linediiig  and   selling  horses. 


G04  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNT Y 

The  folio wiug  year  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  took  up  work 
as  a  carpenter  for  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  at  Oil  City,  Pa. 
In  October,  1886,  he  came  west,  worked  on  a.  construction  crew 
for  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  at  Austin  and  ^Minneapolis  two  years,  and 
then  on  construction  work  for  the  Soo  line  from  Minneapolis  to 
Sault  Ste.  Marie  for  a  time.  After  a  short  trip  east,  he  again  came 
to  Austin  in  January,  1891,  and  worked  as  a  carpenter  until  1894. 
Then  he  was  appointed  on  the  police  force,  and  served  eight  years. 
January  1,  1905.  he  as.sumed  his  present  duties.  Mr.  Carmichael 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  belongs  to  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  and 
the  Austin  Commercial  Club.  He  was  married  September  16, 
1881,  to  Anna  M.  ]\IcConnell,  who  died  January  5,  1885.  One  son, 
J.  Dudley,  was  born  July  22,  1882,  and  died  December  26,  1884, 
both  he  and  his  mother  succumbing  to  black  diphtheria  at  Schuy- 
ler, Neb.  Mr.  Carmichael  was  married  the  second  time,  January 
29,  1891,  to  Mary  E.  Adams,  of  Austin,  and  this  union  has  resulted 
in  two  children :  H.  Marcella,  June  27,  1901,  and  Mildred  E.,  born 
October  12,  1902.  The  family  residence  is  at  108  North  Chatham 
street. 

George  N.  Campbell  was  born  in  Frederickton,  New  Bruns- 
wick, May  2,  1841,  there  received  his  education  and  grew  to  man- 
hood. At  a  suitable  age  he  took  up  the  blacksmith  trade,  thor- 
oughly mastering  that  branch  of  industry.  In  1875  he  came  to 
;\Iower  county  and  located  at  Taopi,  where  he  took  up  his  trade 
as  blacksmith,  which  he  followed  iintil  1897,  when  he  was 
appointed  postmaster,  a  position  he  retained  imtil  his  death, 
November  21,  1902.  Mr.  Campbell  was  a  Republican  in  politics 
and  served  as  a  member  of  the  village  council,  always  taking  an 
active  part  in  the  progress  and  betterment  of  the  village  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers.  He  was  married  October 
7,  1891,  at  LeRoy,  this  county,  to  Jane  Wright,  and  to  this  union 
was  born  one  daughter.  Hazel  ]\I.,  who  died  March  24,  1902,  at 
seven  years  of  age.  IMrs.  Campliell  was  appointed  to  succeed  her 
husband,  and  has  held  the  position  ever  since. 

Mrs.  Jane  Wright  Campbell,  postmistress  at  Taopi,  was  born 
in  Arena,  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin,  April  30,  1857,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Emma  Wright,  natives  of  England,  who  came  to 
America  in  1854,  located  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  there  remained  until 
1857,  when  they  came  to  Arena,  Wis.,  where  they  engaged  in 
farming  the  ])alance  of  their  days.  Jane  Wright  received  her  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Arena  and  remained  at  home  with 
her  mother  until  her  marriage  on  October  7,  1891,  at  LeRoy,  this 
county,  to  George  N.  Campbell.  They  established  their  home  in 
Taoi)i,  and  since  her  hus])and's  death  ^Irs.  Cam]il)ell  has  served 
most  efficiently  as  postmistress,  being  a  lliorough  business  woman 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  605 

who  has  given  generfil  satisfaction  l)otii  to  the  patrons  oi'  the  offiee 
-tiud  to  the  postoffiee  department. 

Frank  D.  Cronon,  the  genial  and  ettieient  eity  clerk  of  Austin, 
was  born  in  this  eity  August  25,  1877,  son  of  James  and  Mary 
(Kelley)  Cronon.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  worked  for 
several  years  in  his  father's  store,  remaining  there  until  the  tat- 
ter's death,  after  Avhich  Frank  D.  continued  the  business  until 
1909,  when  the  business  was  sold  out  and  he  went  on  the  road  for 
Foley  Bros.  &  Kelley,  grocers.  In  1910  j\Ir.  Cronon  was  elected  to 
his  present  office  and  took  up  his  duties  in  August.  He  belongs 
to  the  I.  C.  M.  A.,  the  Elks,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  For- 
esters, and  the  South  Dakota  Traveling  jMen's  Association.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  to  INIary  Quinlan,  at  Harvard, 
111.,  daughter  of  John  Quinlan,  of  Lake  Geneva,  Wis.  Mrs.  Cronon 
was  born  at  Elgin,  111.,  and  tliis  union  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children :    Francis  AVarren  and  Robert  Wendall. 

James  Cronon.  was  born  in  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  and  married  ]\Iary 
Kelley,  a  native  of  Richmond,  Virginia.  He  came  to  Austin  in 
the  seventies  and  opened  a  cigar  and  confectionery  store,  which 
he  eondiicted  until  his  death,  January  12,  1907.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cronon  had  four  children,  Ida,  Frank  D.,  Angela  and  Agnes. 

I.  B.  Christianson,  a  well-known  citizen  of  Udolpho,  in  which 
his  parents  were  among  the  very  earliest  settlers,  Avas  born  in 
that  township  October  31,  1876,  son  of  Bennett  and  Barbro  (Inger- 
bretson)  Christianson.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  attended 
the  schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  supplemented  this  with  a 
course  at  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa.  Five  years  ago  he  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm,  erected  a  home  and  other  buildings,  and  has  since  car- 
ried on  general  farming.  Ever  since  residing  in  his  present  loca- 
tion he  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board,  and  he  is  active 
in  the  cause  of  education.  He  married  Betsey  Egtvet  and  they 
have  four  children,  Leon,  Berther,  Ruby  and  Irene.  The  family 
faith  is  that  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Bennett  Christianson,  the  Udolpho  pioneer,  Avas  born  in  Nor- 
way, November  11,  1843,  and  in  18-16  came  Avith  his  parents  to 
Dane  County,  Wis.  In  1855  the  family  came  to  INIoAver  county 
and  settled  in  section  19,  Udolpho  toAvnship.  The  father  of  Ben- 
nett died  in  187-4.  Bennett  Avas  married  in  1870  to  Barbara  Inger- 
bretson,  and  this  union  resulted  in  ten  children :  Rosa,  Mary  D., 
Christian  B.,  Ingerbret,  Jane  C,  Clara  B.,  Lena,  Maline,  Inga 
and  Bennie.  ]Mr.  Christianson  serA'ed  the  toAvnship  in  A'arious 
capacities  at  different  times,  including  the  offices  of  treasurer  and 
member  of  the  toAvn  board. 

Carl  A.  Carlson,  now  deceased,  for  many  years  a  foundry 
owner  in  Austin,  Avas  born  in  SAveden,  married  there,  and  came 
to  America  in  1870.    They  at  once  located  in  Austin.  wiuM-e  for  a 


006  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

time  Mr.  Carlson  Avorked  at  his  trade  as  blacksmith  for  the 
C,  M.  &  St.  Paul.  After  a  time,  in  company  with  a  partner,  he 
went  into  the  foundry  business  for  himself,  the  tirm  name  being 
Carlson  &  Anderson.  This  concern  did  a  general  foundry  busi- 
ness, but  after  a  time  ill  health  compelled  Mr.  Carlson  to  retire. 
He  patiently  endured  an  illness  extending  over  the  long  period 
of  nine  years,  and  finally  departed  this  life  June  12,  1910.  Mr. 
Carlson  married  Anna  Matilda  Olson,  daughter  of  Carl  Olson, 
the  latter  being  a  native  of  Sweden,  who  farmed  all  his  life  and 
died  in  South  Dakota  in  1898.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlson  were 
born  six  children :  Hattie,  now  Mrs.  John  Anderson ;  Anna,  now 
Mrs.  L.  F.  Clausen ;  C.  Arthur,  Herbert,  and  Al)bie,  now  I\Irs. 
C.  E.  Hoveland. 

Thomas  Cronan,  retired  elevator  owner,  now  living  in  Austin, 
was  born  in  Northfield,  Vt.,  May  18,  1858,  son  of  Patrick  and 
Mary  (Grace)  Cronan.  He  was  brought  to  Rose  Creek  by  his 
parents  in  1868,  and  here  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  receiving  a 
good  common  education  in  the  public  schools.  When  he  grew 
to  manhood  he  entered  the  elevator  business  with  his  brother, 
John,  and  in  this  line  he  continued  until  his  retirement  from 
active  business  in  1909.  In  1910  he  took  up  his  permanent  resi- 
dence in  Austin.  While  in  Rose  Creek  he  served  as  postmaster 
three  years,  and  was  school  treasurer  some  seventeen  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Elks,  the  Foresters  and  the  United  Workmen. 
Mr.  Cronan  married  Mark  Keefe,  daughter  of  Cornelius  Keefe, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Esther. 

Patrick  Cronan  was  born  in  Ireland  and  there  married  ]\Iary 
Grace.  They  came  to  America  in  1849  or  1850,  and  lived  in 
Boston,  I\Iass.,  three  or  four  years,  after  which  they  located  in 
Northfield,  Vt.     They  came  to  Rose  Creek  in  1868. 

Michael  Carroll,  who  has  farmed  for  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
on  section  '-'u),  Red  Rock  township,  was  born  in  Ireland,  October 
29,  1842,  son  of  Daniel  and  ]\Iary  (Dolan)  Carroll.  He  came  to 
America  in  1863,  and  after  living  a  year  in  Waterbury.  Conn., 
worked  in  various  places  in  various  employments,  and  finally 
took  up  railroading,  serving  several  years  in  the  employ  of  the 
C,  M.  &  St.  P.  In  1886  he  came  to  Red  Rock,  purchased  the 
(piarter  section  where  he  now  resides,  and  built  a  shack  in  which 
the  family  lived  until  he  built  the  comfortable  home  wherein  he 
now  resides.  Mr.  Carroll  married  Katherine  IMcDonald,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Bridget  (Maughan)  IMcDonald,  and  the  chil 
dren  born  were  named  AVilliam,  Daniel,  Edward,  John,  James 
(deceased),  Michael,  ]\Iary.  Frank,  Agnes  and  Anna.  Mary  mar- 
ried Michael  Daley.  The  family  fnith  is  that  of  the  St.  Augustine 
church,  Austin. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  G07 

Robert  Collins,  a  popular  farmer  of  IMower  county,  lias  a  fine 
farm,  of  whieh  eighty  acres  is  in  section  25,  Windom  township, 
and  forty  acres  in  section  30,  Marshall  township.  He  has  a 
pleasant  home,  good  barns  and  modern  machinery.  Robert 
Collins  was  born  March  3,  1856,  in  Illinois.  When  young  he  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Janesville,  Wis.,  three  years  later  to 
Iowa  county,  Wisconsin,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated. 
After  living  there  twelve  years  he  came  to  Windom  township 
and  purchased  his  present  farm,  since  which  date  he  has  con- 
tinued in  agricultural  pursuits.  Mr.  Collins  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics  and  attends  the  Catholic  church.  He  was  married  June 
6,  1877,  to  Katherine  ]\Iadden,  daughter  of  William  jNIadden  and 
Bridget  (Larkin)  jMadden,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  who  came 
to  this  country  in  1842  and  first  settled  in  Freeport,  111.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Robert  Collins  have  six  children :  William,  of  Nelson  county, 
North  Dakota ;  Michael,  at  home ;  Robert,  of  Nelson  county. 
North  Dakota ;  Thomas  and  Frances,  at  home,  and  Mary,  a 
teacher  at  Campbell,  Minn. 

Nicholas  Cress,  now  deceased,  was  an  estimable  citizen  of 
Windom  township,  hard  working,  honest  and  substantial.  He 
was  born  in  Germany,  December  16,  1849,  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Cress,  also  born  in  Germany.  He  came  to  this  country 
at  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  located  in  Dubuque,  where 
he  remained  about  two  years.  Then  he  came  to  Windom  town- 
ship and  soon  purchased  280  acres  of  land,  160  of  which  was 
located  in  section  36,  Windom,  and  120  in  section  31,  Marshall 
township.  On  this  place  he  conducted  successful  farming  opera- 
tions until  his  lamented  death,  February  18,  1903.  He  was  mar- 
ried November  17,  1874,  to  Margaret  Majerus,  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Kathrina  IMajerus,  both  natives  of  Germany.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cress  Avere  born  nine  children :  John,  deceased ;  Anna,  wife 
of  J.  B.  Fink,  of  Rose  Creek ;  Michael,  deceased ;  Peter,  a  physi- 
cian, of  Ellsworth,  Minn.;  Henry,  deceased;  William,  who  farms 
on  the  old  homestead ;  John  and  INIary,  at  home,  and  Henry, 
deceased.  Mrs.  Cress  resides  in  Rose  Creek  village.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Cress  came  from  Germany  to  Staceyville,  Iowa,  and 
thence  to  Rose  Creek,  where  the  mother  died.  The  father  died 
in  Lyle  township,  July  28,  1902. 

Henry  Dennis,  oldest  son  of  Sylvester  A.  and  Kebecka 
(Arnold)  Dennis,  was  born  in  Allamakee  county,  Iowa,  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  mar- 
ried Caroline  Abrahamson,  daughter  of  Augustus  and  Maria 
(Anderson)  Abrahamson,  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  1827, 
both  parents  being  natives  of  Sweden.  After  his  marriage.  Henry 
Dennis  went  to  farming  in  Udolpho  township  and  contiiuied  in 
this  occupation  for  twenty-seven  years  before  coming  to  tlie  city 


COS  IIISTOHY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

of  Austin.  'Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Dennis  have  one  son,  Alfred  H., 
who  now  manages  the  home  farm.  He  married  Helen  Kunotson, 
and  they  liavi'  two  children,  Ervin  and  Hazel  C. 

Thomas  Dugan,  a  retired  blacksmith,  now^  living  in  Austin, 
was  l)oru  in  .Milwaukee,  AVis.,  April  30,  1844,  son  of  Cormiek 
and  Catherine  (iMcNab)  Dugan.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  Thomas 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  by  hiring  out  to  a  farmer  in  Rock 
county,  Wisconsin.  In  1861  he  went  to  Janesville,  in  tlie  same 
state,  and  learned  the  blacksmith  trade.  There  he  remained  until 
1866,  when  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  purchased  160  acres  of 
wild  land  in  London  township,  Freeborn  county.  On  this  tract 
he  built  a  log  house  and  farmed  for  two  years,  but  after  that  left 
his  wife  to  manage  the  farm  and  took  up  work  at  his  trade  in 
Austin.  After  three  years  of  the  arrangement  he  sold  his  farm 
and  moved  his  family  to  Austin.  In  1871  he  engaged  in  business 
for  himself  in  this  city  and  was  very  successful  in  all  his  under- 
takings, doing  general  smithy  work  and  manufacturing  vehicles 
of  various  kinds.  In  1902  he  sold  out  this  business,  and  also  a 
farm  of  160  acres  which  he  had  purchased  in  Lansing  township, 
and  retired.  For  seventeen  years  Mr.  Dugan  was  chief  of  the 
Aiistin  fire  department,  was  president  of  the  State  Firemen's 
Association  in  1899,  and  in  1898  was  elected  fifth  president  of  the 
National  Firemen's  Association,  at  the  convention  held  in  Chi- 
cago. He  has  also  been  through  the  chairs  of  the  local  I.  0.  0.  F. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  April  1,  1864,  at  Porter, 
Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  to  Elizabeth  Robertson,  daughter  of 
George  and  IMargaret  (Lang)  Robertson,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  ten  children:  Minnie  M.,  George  AV.,  Catherine, 
Flora  E.,  Harry,  Sheridan  E.,  Alary,  an  infant,  AI.  Jean,  and 
Hazel  Isabel.  Minnie  was  born  July  19,  1865,  and  is  noAV  j\Irs. 
Charles  Crocker,  of  Lincoln,  Neb.  George  AV.  was  born  February 
9,  1867,  and  lives  in  Austin.  Catherine  was  born  September  26, 
1868,  and  is  now  Mrs.  AVilliam  Nichols,  of  Fargo,  N.  D.  Flora  E., 
horn  October  15,  1870,  lives  on  a  farm  near  Napoleon,  N.  D., 
and  is  now  Mrs.  W.  0.  Harrison.  Harry  was  born  September  17, 
1872,  and  also  lives  near  Napoleon,  N.  D.  Sheridan  E.,  born 
October  4,  1874,  now  lives  in  Bismarck,  N.  D.  Mary  was  born 
September  27,  1876.  Tlie  unnamed  infant  was  born  February  22, 
1884.  Al.  Jean  was  ])orn  Alarch  1,  1886.  She  graduated  from 
the  Austin  high  school  and  from  the  AVinona  State  Normal  school 
with  higli  lionors,  and  is  now  a  successful  teacher.  Hazel  Isabel 
was  born  September  15,  1887.  graduated  from  the  Lincoln  new 
high  school,  and  is  now  a  successful  teacher.  Cormiek  Dugan 
eame  1o  America  from  Tyrone  county,  Ireland,  in  1836,  and  two 
years  later  brought  over  bis  iMiiiily,  his  wife,  Catherine  McNab, 
being  a  native  of  the  same  coiiiity.    After  living  a  while  in  Taun- 


III.STOHY  OF  :\I()\VI-;i{  COUNTY  600 

ton,  ]\rass.,  they  eanu'  wrst  in  1842  and  located  in  Milwaukee. 
Wis.  There  Cormicdc  was  a  stoek  huyi'i-  and  was  nii'etin.<i-  with 
much  success  in  this  line,  when  in  1846  he  met  an  untimely  end, 
being  killed  by  a  savage  kick  from  a  horse.  His  wife  iolloweil 
him  to  the  Great  Beyond,  April  13,  1855. 

George  Robertson  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  fiu'i'e  married 
^Margaret  Lang,  a  native  of  the  same  country.  They  came  to 
America  in  1844,  located  in  Porter,  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  George  Robertson  died  in  1859.  The 
family  then  lived  on  the  farm  until  1865,  when  they  sold  out  and 
came .  to  Minnesota,  locating  in  London  township,  Freeborn 
county,  on  a  farm.  In  1881  ]\Irs.  Robertson  sold  her  farm  and 
made  her  home  with  her  children  until  her  death  in  Austin,  in 
1896.  Their  daughter,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thomas  Dugan,  was 
born  November  14,  1846,  at  Porter,  Rock  county,  Wisconsin. 

Andrew  Dovenberg,  now  deceased,  never  resided  in  ^Nlower 
county,  but  has  a  large  family  here,  Jiis  widow  and  children  hav- 
ing taken  up  their  residence  in  Austin  after  his  death.  He  was 
born  in  Germany,  came  to  America,  located  in  Indiana,  and 
there  in  1863  was  married,  his  wife's  maiden  name  being  Barbara 
Rush.  She  was  born  in  Germany  in  1846,  and  came  to  America 
with  her  parents  when  but  two  years  of  age.  Her  parents 
remained  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  six  years  and  then  located  in  Indi- 
ana. There  the  marriage  took  place,  and  in  1869  Mr.  and  .Mrs. 
Dovenberg  went  to  Ridgeway,  Iowa,  and  remained  four  years. 
Preston,  ^linu.,  was  their  next  dwelling  place.  There  j\Ir.  Doven- 
1ierg  was  injured  by  one  of  his  horses,  and  from  the  effects  of  the 
accident  died  shortly  afterward.  Subsequent  to  the  death  of  her 
husband  Mrs.  Dovenberg  took  up  her  residence  in  Austin,  where 
she  has  since  lived,  at  the  present  time  making  her  home  in  a 
fine  residence  on  Mill  street.  She  has  worked  hard  for  her  chil- 
dren, and  in  them  she  takes  her  greatest  joy  and  pride,  her  great 
grandchildren,  Donald  and  Vera,  being  her  special  happiness. 
The  nine  children  born  to  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Dovenberg  were  Eliza- 
beth, Dora,  George,  John,  Louis,  Edward,  Daniel,  Cora  and  Ennna. 
Elizabeth  married  W^illiam  Brown,  and  they  live  in  Decorah, 
Iowa,  having  twelve  children:  Leah,  Reuben,  Roy,  Raymond, 
AVilliam,  Daisy,  Carlie,  Claude,  Ned,  Harry,  Daniel  and  Sadie. 
Leah,  the  oldest  child  of  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Brown,  married  Adam 
Barsh,  and  they  have  two  children,  Donald  and  Vera.  Dora,  the 
second  daughter  of  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Dovenberg,  married  Joiin  Furt- 
ney,  and  they  have  three  children:  Raymond,  Hazel  and  Dorothy. 
George  married  Sarah  ]\Iapes  and  they  have  three  children:  P^arle, 
Vernon  and  Ladice.  John  married  Sarah  Hale.  Louis  married 
Ella  Swainson  and  they  have  two  children,  Doris  and  Donald. 
Edward  and  Daniel,  the  si.xth   an<l  seventh  children  of  .Mr.  and 


610  HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

Mrs.  Dovenberg,  are  engineers  on  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  Cora  and 
Emma  are  at  home.  Cora  is  a  dressmaker  and  Emma  assistant 
bookkeeper  at  Ilorniers  provision  market. 

George  D.  Detwiler,  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada, 
and  there  married  Elizabeth  (Kepkey)  DetAviler,  also  a  native  of 
the  same  province.  They  came  to  Minnesota  in  1879,  located  in 
Austin,  and  became  well-to-do  citizens.  George  D.  was  at  first  a 
mason  contractor,  but  of  late  he  has  devoted  the  larger  part  of 
his  time  to  house  moving.  His  wife  died  February  10,  1910. 
Their  son,  John  E.,  is  a  prominent  real  estate  dealer  of  Austin. 
Tavo  daughters,  Mary  A.,  living  at  Austin,  and  Anna  B.,  at 
Chicago, 

John  E.  Detwiler,  the  real  estate,  insurance  and  loan  broker, 
was  born  in  Port  Elgin,  Ontario,  and  as  a  boy  Avas  brought  to 
Austin,  AA'here  he  has  since  spent  the  larger  part  of  his  time. 
He  Avas  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  then  in  1889  started 
out  to  see  the  Avorld  before  settling  down.  Acting  as  a  picture 
canA'asser,  lie  toured  the  Pacific  coast  for  one  year,  Adsiting  all 
the  important  tOAA'ns  and  also  many  of  the  smaller  ones  all  along 
the  line  from  Victoria,  B.  C,  to  San  Francisco.  After  returning 
to  Austin  he  went  to  IMinneapolis,  studied  a  short  time  in  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  then  in  1891 
entered  a  laAV  school  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Again  he  returned  to 
Austin  and  entered  into  the  insurance  business,  later  taking  up 
railroad  Avork,  but  still  later  again  resuming  the  insurance  line. 
In  1900  he  formed  a  partnership  Avith  his  father  in  the  house- 
moving  business  and  continued  thus  until  January  1,  1910,  Avhen 
he  again  took  up  real  estate,  farm  loans  and  insurance,  dealing 
extensively  in  i\Iinnesota  and  Dakota  lands.  Mr.  DetAviler  served 
eight  years  as  a  member  of  Company  G,  Second  Regiment, 
M.  N.  G.,  and  in  1896  resigned,  at  that  time  having  attained  the 
rank  of  second  lieutenant.  During  the  Spanish-American  Avar  he 
recruited  a  volunteer  company,  but  it  Avas  never  called  into  serA'- 
iee,  and  after  the  battle  of  Santiago,  was  disbanded.  Mr.  Det- 
Aviler is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Austin  Commercial  club,  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  Avas  married  January  30,  1906,  at  Austin,  to  Grace  E. 
Baird,  daughter  of  j\Irs.  George  Baird,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  one  child,  Baird  E.,  born  April  11,  1908.  The  family 
residence  is  at  302  South  St.  Paul. 

Henry  F.  Deming,  a  Avell-knoAvn  farmer  of  Nevada  toAvnship, 
noAv  living  in  Austin,  Avas  born  in  AntAverp,  Jefferson  county,  NeAV 
York,  December  25,  1825,  son  of  the  Rev.  Rufus  and  Julia  M. 
(Porter)  Deming.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  NeAV  York,  and  in  a  grammar  school  taught  by  his 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  611 

father.  After  his  school  days  were  over  he  farmed  for  a  while 
and  then  taught  school  in  New  York  state  and  Canada.  In  1856 
he  removed  to  Wisconsin  and  farmed  and  taught  school  until 
1863,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  located  in  Nevada 
township,  where  he  took  a  homestead  of  100  acres  in  section  6. 
This  was  wild  land,  but  he  soon  had  it  under  cultivation  and 
yielding  abundantly.  In  1883  he  removed  to  Austin  township, 
and  in  1892  purchased  forty  acres  of  school  land,  where  he 
remained  until  1910,  when  he  retired  and  moved  to  a  pleasant 
home  situated  on  five  acres  of  land  just  outside  of  the  city  limits 
of  Austin.  While  in  Nevada  township  Mr.  Deming  served  as 
supervisor  of  Nevada  township  eight  years,  and  as  clerk  and 
treasurer  of  the  school  board  for  many  terms.  He  also  repre- 
sented his  district  in  the  lower  house  of  the  state  legislature  in 
1876.  Owing  to  his  early  experience  as  a  teacher,  Mr.  Deming 
has  continued  through  life  as  an  ardent  friend  of  all  educational 
movements,  and  he  helped  to  organize  no  less  than  two  districts 
in  Nevada  township,  the  better  to  supply  the  school  needs  of  the 
township.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  April  12,  1853, 
at  Cattaraugus,  Franklin  county,  New  York,  to  Mary  E.  Bennett, 
who  died  April  14,  1909,  leaving  four  children:  Charles  F.,  of 
Canby,  Yellow  Medicine  county,  Minnesota;  Jessie,  who  is  with 
her  father;  Eva,  now  Mrs.  William  Clift,  and  Bertha,  now  Mrs. 
Harry  Buck.  The  family  attends  the  Presbyterian  church.  Rev. 
Rufus  Deming  was  born  in  New  York  state,  graduated  from 
Hamilton  college,  and  was  ordained  a  Presbyterian  clergyman. 
This  profession  he  followed  in  New  York  state  all  his  life.  He 
died  April  12,  1868,  his  wife,  Jiilia  A.  Porter,  passing  away 
February  24,  1873. 

Warren  H.  Dean,  the  capable  cashier  of  the  State  bank,  of 
Rose  Creek,  Avas  born  in  Austin,  Minn.,  February  7,  1876,  son  o£ 
Warren  H.  and  Sophrona  (Hubbard)  Dean.  He  attended  the 
Northfield  public  schools  and  then  entered  Carleton  college, 
attending  that  institution  two  years.  Later  he  entered  the 
Riverview  Military  Academy  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and 
remained  there  two  years,  continuing  his  studies  by  taking  a  one 
year  business  course  at  the  Eastman  college,  in  the  same  city. 
In  1903  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  located  at  Adams  and 
entered  the  First  National  bank  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the 
banking  business,  later  becoming  the  assistant  cashier.  In  1906 
he  came  to  Rose  Creek  and  accepted  his  present  position  as 
cashier  of  the  Rose  Creek  State  bank,  of  which  his  mother  is 
president.  In  this  capacity  he  has  proven  a  capable  business 
man,  and  has  performed  his  duties  to  his  own  credit,  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  public  at  large.  He  also  deals  in  real  estate 
and  insurance,  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First   National   Bank   of 


612  IIISTOUY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Adams  and  has  other  business  holdings.     He  is  a  Republican  in 
polities  and  belongs  to  the   Masons,   the   B.   P.   0.   E.   and  the 

II.  ^y.  A. 

Warren  H.  Dean  A\as  Itorn  in  Deposit,  Boone  county,  New 
York,  November  lU,  1820.  He  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
at  Tthaea,  N.  Y.,  for  a  number  of  years,  after  which  he  removed 
to  NcAv  York  city  and  entered  the  lumber  firm  of  H.  "NV.  Sage  as 
a  partner,  remaining  twenty  years.  Leaving  New  York,  he  estab- 
lished a  large  lumber  business  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  remaining  in  that 
city  until  1871,  Avhen  he  moved  to  St.  Paul,  Minn.  In  1872  he 
built  the  lirst  line  of  street  railway  in  that  city.  In  1874  he  sold 
his  interest  in  the  street  railway,  receiving  in  part  payment  sev- 
eral large  tracts  of  land  in  ]\Iower  county,  besides  city  property 
in  St.  Paul.  After  spending  one  year  in  travel  Avith  his  family 
he  moved  to  Mower  county  and  began  the  improvement  of  his 
land.  Mr.  Dean  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  died,  leaving 
two  sons,  Harry  and  Oscar,  only  one  of  whom  is  now  living.  He 
Avas  married  the  second  time,  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  to  Sophronia  Hub- 
bard. To  this  marriage  Avere  born  four  children,  all  of  Avliom  are 
noAv  living:  "William  "W.,  Mrs.  A.  J.  "Woodcock,  "Warren  H.  and 
Mrs.  H.  C.  Maughan.  After  Mr.  Dean's  death  the  family  removed 
to  Nortlifield,  Avhere  the  children  Avere  educated.  Mr.  Dean  died 
October  7,  1880.  and  ]Mrs.  Dean  now  lives  in  Minneapolis. 

Swend  K.  Dahle,  living  in  section  13,  Red  Rock  toAvnship,  Avas 
born  in  Hardanger,  NorAvay,  October  8,  1864,  son  of  Knute  Olson 
Dahle  and  Anna  T.  (Holven)  Dahle.  SAvend  K.  came  to  Amei'ica 
in  1886,  Avith  his  brother,  Knute,  and  arrived  in  BroAvnsdale,  June 
16,  of  that  year.  He  Avorked  out  until  he  Avas  married  in  1891, 
and  then  came  to  the  farm  he  noAV  occupies.  This  place  consists 
of  340  Avell  tilled  acres,  Avith  large  orchard  and  suitable  trees,  a 
remodeled  farm  house  originally  erected  in  1874,  fine  barns  and 
modeni  machinery.  In  1910  he  erected  tAvo  silos,  one  one  each  of 
his  farms.  .Mr.  Dahle  is  a  straight  Rep\iblican,  and  Avas  tOAvn 
treasurer  five  years.  He  married  Edna  M.,  daughter  of  Archibald 
and  Ellen  (Simpson)  RockAvell,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Ella  H.  K.,  aged  fifteen  years;  Harold  K.,  aged  eleven 
years,  and  Pearl  F.,  aged  three  years. 

N.  K.  Dahle,  hardware  merchant,  and  president  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Brownsdale,  Avas  born  in  NorAvay,  May  3,  1856,  son  of 
Knute  O.  Daiile.  and  came  to  America  in  1880.  May  18  of  that 
year  he  located  in  BroAvnsdale,  this  county.  For  three  years  he 
pursued  his  trade  as  a  tailor,  Avorking  in  ]\Iiuneapoiis  and  other 
l)hici's  until  1883,  after  Aviiieh  he  Avorked  in  a  liardAvare  store  in 
i\Iiiintiipolis,  three  years.  In  1886  he  purchased  a  hardAvare  store 
in  Hayfield,  Minn.,  and  after  scA'en  years  of  success  there,  sold 
out  and  went  to  Cheney,  Spokane  county,  Washington,  where 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  613 

he  -purchased  a  hardware  store  wliich  he  conducted  for  four 
years.  In  1897  he  sold  out  and  returned  to  Brownsdale,  where  he 
engaged  in  tlie  hardware  business  with  liis  brother.  Six  years 
later  he  purchased  his  brother's  interest  and  has  since  continued 
tlie  business  alone.  AVhen  the  State  Bank  was  organized  in  190-4 
lie  became  president  and  has  since  retained  that  position.  Mr. 
Dahle  takes  an  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  the  growth 
and  welfare  of  Brownsdale  and  is  a  thorough  believer  in  educa- 
tion. He  takes  a  prominent  part  in  the  activities  of  the  school 
board,  of  which  he  is  a  prominent  member,  and  is  also  a  popular 
member  of  Lafayette  Lodge,  No.  116,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  married 
Julia  Distad,  of  Ilayfield,  and  they  have  three  children:  Clarence, 
Chester  and  Gertrude. 

Cornelius  Downey,  a  substantial  farmer  of  AYindom  towusiiip, 
was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  May  11,  1855,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Bridget  (]Mangen)  Downey,  natives  of  Ireland  who  came  to 
Canada  in  1847,  and  to  Chippewa  county,  Wisconsin,  in  1877,  the 
father  dying  there  April  28,  1882,  and  the  mother,  June  28,  1889, 
leaving  nine  children:  Ellen,  Johannah  (deceased),  Michael, 
Mary,  Thomas  (deceased),  Maggie,  Cornelius,  John  (deceased) 
and  Bridget.  Cornelius  remained  with  his  parents  until  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  and  came  to  Minnesota  in  1885.  At  once  upon 
his  arrival  here  he  located  on  the  176  acres  in  section  31,  "Windom 
township,  where  he  still  resides,  carrying  on  farming  in  a  modern 
manner.  He  was  married  July  12,  1881,  to  Catherine  i\IcCauley, 
daughter  of  James  and  Nancy  McCauley,  natives  of  Vermont, 
who  came  to  America  in  1847,  lived  a  time  in  Vermont,  came  to 
Houston  county,  Minnesota,  in  1854,  and  there  ended  their  days, 
the  father  dying  September  4,  1886,  and  the  mother  November  1, 
1894.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Downey  have  been  born  eight  children: 
Mary  is  tlie  wife  of  M.  B.  Perkins,  of  Windom  township;  Mar- 
garet (deceased)  ;  John,  Thomas  and  Elmer  are  in  Austin;  Alice 
and  Thresa  live  at  home;  Catherine  (deceased). 

John  Ea^en,  who  has  resided  on  his  present  farm  in  Red  Rock 
township  since  1868,  was  born  in  Canada,  ^lay  1,  1843.  and  as  a 
small  boy  was  taken  first  to  Illinois  and  later  to  Brooktield,  Wau- 
kesha county,  "Wisconsin,  where  his  parents  died.  John  Eagan 
came  to  Slower  county  in  July,  1865,  and  rented  land  in  Red  Rock 
township  until  1868,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  a  log  cabin 
which  he  built  on  section  25.  This  log  cabin  was  replaced  witli 
a  modern  dMelling  in  1898,  but  the  old  cabin  is  still  standing, 
carefully  preserved  as  a  valued  ri'lic  of  the  past.  The  farm  con- 
sists of  160  well  tilled  acres  of  land.  ^Ir.  Eagen  has  not  cared 
to  engage  actively  in  politics,  but  has  consented  at  various  times 
to  serve  as  treasurer  and  pathmastcr  of  the  town.  Joliii  Kageii 
was  married  August  28,  1859,  to  Kllen   M.  McCJovei-ii,  daughter 


614  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

of  Terrance  and  Bridget  (Carson)  McGovern,  born  in  ]Monroe 
county,  New  York,  January  13,  1849.  Mr.  and  !Mrs.  Eageu  are 
the  parents  of  six  children :  Francis  M.,  Margaret  A.,  Charles  A., 
^Villiam  J.,  Philip  Howard  and  Joseph.  Francis  ]\I.  died  in 
infancy.  Margaret  A.  married  M.  J.  Keenan,  and  they  have 
three  children:  Helen  (deceased),  Geraldiue  and  Eleanor. 
Charles  A.  lives  in  Austin.  William  J.  has  a  farm  near  his  par- 
ents' farm  and  operates  both  places.  He  married  Maude  Rector, 
of  Lansing,  and  they  have  three  children:  Myron  P.  (deceased), 
Arnold  E.  and  Walter  P.  Philip  Howard  married  Margaret,  now 
deceased,  a  daughter  of  W.  H.  Lawrence,  and  they  had  four  chil- 
dren: Elwin,  Harry,  Francis  L.  (deceased),  and  Donald  J. 
P.  H.  owns  a  farm  in  Red  Rock  township.  Joseph,  the  youngest 
child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eagen,  is  dead.  Charles  A.  was  married  to 
jMarie  Nipstad,  of  Austin.  They  have  three  children;  John  B., 
Alyious  F.  and  Margaret  E. 

Lars  P.  Egtvet,  who  owns  and  operates  a  fine  farm  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Corning,  was  born  in  Vos,  Norway,  in  1843,  and 
came  to  this  country  Avith  his  parents  in  1846.  They  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Dane  county,  "Wisconsin,  and  there  Lars  received 
his  education  and  grew  to  sturdy  manhood  amid  agricultural  pur- 
suits. After  reaching  the  years  of  maturity,  he  left  home  and 
came  to  Freeborn  county,  remaining,  however,  but  a  few  months. 
He  subsequently  lived  a  year  in  Udolpho  and  four  years  in  Red 
Rock,  coming  to  Lansing  township  in  1885.  He  has  been  very 
successful,  lives  in  comfort,  and  has  raised  a  fine  family.  His 
farm  of  191  acres  of  well  tilled  land  lies  partially  in  Freeborn 
county  and  partially  in  Mower  county.  jMr.  Egtvet  was  married 
in  1869  to  Ingebor  "Winger,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with 
eleven  children,  of  whom  nine  are  living.  They  are:  Emma, 
Frena,  Betsy,  Peter,  Edwin,  Henry,  Oliver,  George  and  Hattie  E. 
Emma  is  the  wife  of  Lars  Hanson ;  Irena  is  the  wife  of  T.  Nelson ; 
Betsy  is  the  wife  of  Ingerbright  Christianson ;  Edwin  and  Oliver 
live  in  Dakota. 

A.  M.  Elmer,  a  successful  young  farmer  of  Austin  township, 
has  charge  of  265  acres  owned  by  his  parents,  and  has  demon- 
strated his  fitness  for  the  responsibility.  He  was  born  in  Green 
county,  Wisconsin,  December  13,  1889,  son  of  J.  P.  and  Fannie 
Elmer,  coming  to  IMower  county  with  them  in  1900  at  the  age 
of  eleven  years.  He  attended  tlie  district  schools  of  his  native 
county  and  Austin  township,  taking  courses  in  the  Austin  higii 
sdiool  and  the  Southern  IMinnesota  Normal  college,  graduating 
from  tlie  latter  in  1907.  He  at  once  upon  graduation  entered  the 
Union  National  Bank,  at  IMinot,  N.  D.,  in  a  clerical  position,  and 
wns  lalcr  employed  ])y  tlic  First  National  Bank,  of  Aberdeen, 
S.  I).,  irtui'iiiiig  1(1  liis  lidiiic  ill  the  spring  of  1910.     September  19 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  G15 

of  that  year  he  married  Mary  Miller,  of  Prentice,  Wis.  lie 
is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 

J.  P.  Elmer  was  born  in  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  and  there 
married  Fannie  Elmer,  a  native  of  the  same  county.  In  1900  they 
came  to  Austin  township  and  purchased  265  acres  of  land  in  sec- 
tion 16,  where  they  took  up  their  home.  At  the  present  time  they 
are  in  North  Dakota,  and  their  son  has  charge  of  the  farm.  Aside 
from  this  son,  A.  M.,  there  are  five  other  children :  Mrs.  Lucinda 
Paulson,  of  Crosbj^  N.  D. ;  Samuel,  of  the  United  States  navy; 
Adam,  cashier  of  a  dairy  lunch  at  Minneapolis ;  Walter,  who  is  at 
home  on  the  farm,  and  Floretta,  of  Crosby,  N.  D. 

Edward  H.  Elward,  who  is  connected  with  the  Austin  fire 
depfirtmeut,  was  born  in  Benson,  Vt.,  September  25,  1861,  son 
of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  Elward,  both  natives  of  Ireland.  In 
early  life  Edward  H.  attended  the  district  schools  of  Vermont 
and  then  in  1880  came  to  Austin,  in  which  vicinity  he  farmed 
from  that  date  until  1892,  when  he  accepted  his  present  position 
with  the  city.  He  affiliates  with  the  Elks,  the  Woodmen,  the 
Workmen  and  the  Odd  T^'ellows.  Mr.  Elward  was  married  for 
the  first  time  to  Mary  Prouty,  by  whom  he  had  five  children; 
Lee,  who  married  Mary  Woodward;  Lynn,  W^illiam,  Walter  and 
Ruth.  Mr.  Elward  married  for  his  second  wife  Inize  Prouty,  and 
to  this  union  have  been  born  two  children,  John  and  Paul. 

John  F.  Fairbanks,  for  twenty-six  years  past  a  successful 
dealer  in  coal,  fuel  and  lime,  at  Austin,  was  born  in  ]\Iitchell 
county,  Iowa,  July  25,  1857,  son  of  Alonzo  Fairbanks,  a  war-time 
miller  in  Austin,  and  later  a  Mower  county  farmer.  John  F. 
passed  through  the  usual  experiences  of  the  average  farmer  boy, 
worked  on  the  farm,  attended  the  district  schools  and  grew  to 
healthy  young  manhood.  He  worked  for  a  time  in  an  elevator 
and  then  engaged  in  the  business  which  he  still  conducts.  Mr. 
Fairbanks  married  IMary  Vaughn,  daughter  of  Albert  Vaughn,  a 
7iative  of  Virginia,  and  they  have  two  sons,  Harold  V.  and  Rodney 
Dean.  Mr.  Fairbanks  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  for  many  years  has 
served  on  the  Austin  school  board.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
^Methodist  church  and  of  the  Republican  party. 

Alonzo  Fairbanks  was  born  in  Vermont  and  married  Ellen  ^I. 
Backus.  They  came  west  in  1855  and  located  in  ]\Iitchell  county, 
Iowa,  remaining  there  until  1861,  when  Alonzo  came  to  Austin, 
and  after  Avorking  for  a  time  in  a  saw  mill,  became  interested 
in  the  milling  business  with  the  Bemis  brothers.  At  tiiat  time  the 
business  was  in  but  primitive  shape  and  ]Mr.  Fairbanks  soon 
returned  to  his  former  occupation  as  a  farmer.  He  now  resides 
in  Blooming  Prairie,  ]\Iinn.    Ilis  wife  died  in  1887. 

William  A.  Frazer,  M.  D.,  a  well-liked  physician  and  surgeon, 


616  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

of  Lyle,  was  born  in  Bedford,  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania, 
August  5,  1850,  son  of  AVilliam  and  Ilanna  (Davis)  Frazer.  with 
whom  he  Avent  to  Illinois  in  1861,  and  to  Arkansas  in  1868,  "Wil- 
liam Frazier  dying  in  1885  and  Ilanna  Frazer  in  1878.  "William  A. 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Illinois  and  Arkansas,  and  then 
entered  the  University  of  Kansas  City,  graduating  from  the  med- 
ical department  in  1886.  In  addition  to  this  he  has  taken  special 
courses  in  postgraduate  work  in  Chicago  in  1890,  1896  and  1000, 
thus  keeping  thoroughly  abreast  with  the  latest  developments  in 
the  realms  of  medicine  and  surgery.  After  practicing  in  Lynn 
county,  Kansas,  in  a  village  called  Blooming  Grove,  Dr.  Frazer 
came  to  Lyle  in  1888  and  has  since  maintained  his  office  here,  hav- 
ing a  large  practice  in  village  and  county.  Being  thoi'oughly 
ethical  in  his  profession,  he  has  allied  himself  with  the  American, 
the  Minnesota  State  and  the  ]MoAver  County  Medical  Associations, 
of  wj)ich  latter  he  has  served  as  president.  He  is  at  present  the 
village  health  officer,  has  been  justice  of  -the  peace,  and  belongs 
to  the  Zvlasons,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modern  Brothei"- 
hood  of  America.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  polities,  and  in  religion 
holds  to  the  stern  tenets  of  the  Quakers,  though  he  attends  the 
Congregational  church.  Dr.  Frazer  married  Viola  C.  Johnson,  of 
Ilindsville,  Ark.,  the  ceremony  taking  place  February  3,  1875. 
This  union  has  been  blessed  Avith  six  children,  four  of  Avhom  are 
living:  May  is  a  student  at  one  of  the  colleges  at  Oxford  Uni- 
i^yersity,  Oxford,  England ;  Ray  is  manager  of  the  Lyle  Corr\i- 
gated  Culvert  Company,  at  Minneapolis;  J.  D.  lives  at  home  and 
is  an  insurance  agent ;  "William  ]\I.  is  a  student  in  the  University 
of  iMinesoln. 

Robert  M.  Foster,  one  of  the  venerable  pioneers,  has  nearl.v 
readied  the  four  score  and  ten  mark  in  his  span  of  years.  Ha 
was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  25,  1821,  son 
of  John  and  Catherine  (Cosgray)  Foster,  the  former  born  in 
Maryland  and  the  latter  in  Ireland,  she  coming  to  America  at  the 
age  of  tAvelve  years,  liobert  M.  grew  to  manhood  in  Fayette 
county,  and  wlicn  Iwcnty-two  years  of  age  went  to  Jefferson 
county,  Ohio,  tlierc  remaining  ten  years.  He  then  started  for 
^Minnesota,  taking  a  trip  1)y  rail  to  Pittsl)urg,  Pa.,  thence  to  Cairo, 
111.,  by  boat,  then  up  tiie  ]\Iississii)pi  to  St.  Louis,  and  thence  to 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  remaining  thei-c  a  iiKuilb.  lie  llicn  rcai-licd  For- 
estville,  in  Fillmore  county,  tliis  state,  and  on  OctoluT  1,  1853, 
opened  a  little  store,  which  has  since  been  conducted  by  some  one 
in  the  family,  being  at  the  present  time  nmnaged  by  a  nephew, 
Tiiomas  J.  ]\Ieighen.  In  1876  ^Ir.  Fo.ster  went  four  miles  west  of 
his  first  residence  and  purchased  a  half  section  in  Forestvdle 
townsliip,  on  wliicli  tract  lie  farmed  initil  1885,  when  lie  sohl  out 
and  iiuri-lijiscd  a  hall'  section  ncai-   Preston,  in  the  same  county. 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  617 

Mr.  Foster  has  been  practically  retired  for  a  number  of  years  and 
now  resides  in  his  large  and  pleasant  home  on  Kenwood  avenue, 
spending  the  twilight  years  of  his  life  surrounded  by  comfort 
and  care.  Mr.  Foster  married  for  his  first  Avife,  in  1854,  Elizabeth 
Renslow,  Avho  bore  him  ten  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  except 
one.  Elizabeth  Foster  died  on  the  farm  near  Preston,  and  later 
i\[r.  Foster  married  Magdaline  Van  IMackelenbergh,  a  native  of 
Holland,  on  April  10,  1893. 

Henry  D.  Fairbanks,  partner  in  the  firm  of  Fairl)anks  Brothers, 
leading  photographers  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Brandon,  Vt.,  April 
13,  1869,  son  of  Luke  B.  and  Caro  (Bowen)  Fairbanks.  Hefuy 
was  brought  to  Mower  county  by  his  parents  at  the  age  of  tbree 
years,  and  was  here  reared  to  manhood,  attending  the  district 
schools  of  AVindom  township.  At  the  age  of  22  years  he  came 
to  Austin,  and  took  up  the  photographic  art  Avith  E.  H.  Ausfin. 
Later  he  formed  a  partnership  with  G.  S.  Hildahl,  but  in  1894 
Mr.  Hildahl  died  and  Guy  L.  Fairbanks  took  his  place  in  the  firm, 
the  company  assuming  its  present  designation.  They  maintain 
branch  studios  at  Adams,  Blooming  Prairie  and  Lyle.  They  have 
built  up  a  large  trade  and  do  excellent  work.  Henry  D.  Fair- 
banks belongs  to  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  to  the  Austin  and 
Mower  County  Automobile  Clubs.  He  was  married  September  3, 
1895,  to  Kate  Beach,  of  this  place,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  two  children  :  Katie  Marie  and  Howell.  The  family 
residence  is  at  709  Lansing  avenue. 

Guy  L.  Fairbanks,  of  Austin,  partner  in  the  firm  of  Fairbanks 
Brothers,  photographers,  was  born  in  Windom  township,  this 
county,  July  1,  1873,  son  of  Luke  B.  and  Caro  (Bowen)  Fair- 
banks. He  spent  his  youth  on  the  farm,  and  in  1892  went  to 
California  with  his  parents,  working  one  year  on  a  fruit  farm. 
Then  he  took  up  photography  in  Redlands,  Cal.,  and  there  re- 
mained until  1894,  when  he  came  back  to  Austin,  and  entered 
into  partnership  with  his  brother,  Henry  D.  He  was  married 
April  5,  1909,  to  Ida  I\I.  Anshus,  of  Minneapolis,  and  they  have 
one  child.  Grant  G.  The  family  residence  is  at  205  West  AVater 
street. 

Philip  H.  Friend,  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Austin, 
where  he  has  resided  since  1888,  has  a  flourishing  trade,  and  both 
in  a  social  and  business  way  enjoys  the  confidence  and  trust  of 
his  fellow  citizens.  He  was  born  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  Febru- 
ary 25,  1859,  son  of  Abraham  and  Fannie  (Strau.ss)  Friend, 
who  when  he  was  still  a  young  boy  took  him  to  ]\Iendota,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  received  his  education  in  the  graded  and  liigh 
school.  He  then  started  in  life  for  himself  as  a  clothing  clerk  at 
Aurora,  111.,  remaining  one  year.  From  there  he  engaged  in  tlie 
clothing  business  for  bitnsclf  in  Clarinda,  111.,  and  in  1888  came 


618  JIISTOKY  OF  MOWKH  COUNTY 

to  Austin,  wlicre  he  engaged  in  his  present  business,  lie  has 
built  up  a  large  patronage,  his  "Golden  Eagle"  clothing  house 
being  known  far  and  near  as  a  desirable  place  to  secure  men's 
and  boys'  clothing,  bags  and  trunks,  and  all  sorts  of  haber- 
dashery. In  1899  ^Ir.  Friend  erected  a  fine  home  on  North 
KenMood  avenue,  Avhere  he  still  resides.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  I\rasonic  order  and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  as 
•well  as  an  active  worker  in  the  Austin  Commercial  Club.  Philip 
H.  Friend  was  married  February  22,  1898,  to  Amy  Rau,  and  this 
union  has  been  blessed  with  two  bright  children,  Edilii  and 
Philip  R. 

M.  S.  Fisch,  a  leading  merchant  of  Austin,  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  city  since  1900,  and  immediately  upon  his  locating  here 
became  a  prominent  citizen,  taking  an  active  part  in  many  public 
movements  that  tended  to  the  progress  of  the  business  interests 
of  tiie  city.  He  was  born  in  Caledonia,  Houston  county,  ^linne- 
sota,  October  5,  1862,  sou  of  Theodore  and  Eva  (Manders)  Fisch, 
the  former  of  whom  now  lives  in  ]Minnesota  Lake,  Minn.,  the 
latter  dying  in  November,  1907.  Mr.  Fisch  was  reared  on  a  farm 
in  Houston  county,  attended  the  schools  of  Caledonia  and  Free- 
berg,  and  remained  at  home  until  19  years  of  age.  After  two 
j'ears  of  railroad  w-ork  on  a  section  gang  for  the  C,  ]\I.  &  St.  P. 
he  began  clerical  work  in  a  store  at  jNlinnesota  Lake.  Four  years 
later  he  opened  a  store  of  his  own,  and  was  appointed  postmaster, 
continuing  the  store  business  there  fourteen  years.  His  post- 
mastership  continued  eight  years,  the  two  terms  of  Cleveland's 
administration.  While  in  INIinnesota  Lake  he  served  on  the  school 
board  six  years,  and  on  the  city  council  for  a  similar  period. 
He  also  became  vice  president  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of 
Minnesota  Lake,  a  position  he  still  retains.  In  1900  Mr.  Fisch 
came  to  Austin  and  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business. 
He  has  built  up  a  large  trade,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the 
entire  community,  his  goods  recommending  themselves  to  a  large 
number  of  customers,  M'ho  are  drawn  1(>  tlic  store  by  its  reputa- 
tion for  honest  dealing  and  fair  treat niciif.  The  store  can-ies  all 
llu^  goods  usually  found  in  such  a  place,  and  has  special  dry 
goods,  cloak  and  .suits,  and  grocery  departments.  The  store  at 
^Minnesota  Lake  is  conducted  under  the  same  ownership,  witii  a 
local  manager  in  charge.  I\Ir.  Fiscli  is  i)resi(leiit  of  the  Security 
State  Bank,  of  "Waldorf,  Waseca  county,  Minnesota.  He  belongs 
to  the  Elks,  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  the  Catiiolic  Foresters, 
and  votes  the  Democratic  ticket.  Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  February  10,  1887,  at  Freeberg,  Houston  louiity.  Minne- 
sota, to  Mary  Dauwen,  and  this  union  has  ])een  l)lesse(l  with  five 
children.  George  T.  and  Edward  N.  are  clerks  in  tlieir  father's 
store.     Alta  K.,  Herbert  M.  and  Berniee  A.  are  at  school. 


HISTOKY  OF  M0WP:R  COUNTY  619 

William  M.  Fowler,  farmer,  of  Dexter  townsliip,  was  born  in 
Licking  county,  Oliio,  August  4,  1853.  son  of  William  and  Hannah 
(Tyler)  Fowler.  He  was  taken  to  "Wisconsin  by  his  parents  when 
six  weeks  of  age,  and  thence  to  High  Forest  township  in  Ohnstcd 
connt.v.  where  he  attended  school  and  grew  to  manhood.  After 
his  father's  death  in  1870  he  took  charge  of  the  liome  farm  iinti' 
1876.  when  Avith  his  mother  he  came  to  IMower  county,  where  ho 
purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  Pleasant  Valley  township.  Hero 
lie  followed  farming  until  1882,  when  he  removed  to  Sergeant, 
and  farmed  for  several  years  on  rented  land.  After  this  he  pur- 
chased 160  acres  in  Sergeant  township,  and  carried  on  diversified 
farming  until  1894.  Then  he  sold  this  farm  and  until  1897  rented 
a  farm  in  Grand  INIeadow  township.  In  1897  he  moved  to  Dexter 
village  and  purchased  sixteen  acres  inside  the  corporate  limits, 
wliere  he  resided  until  1910,  when  he  sold  and  resumed  farming 
operations  in  Grand  IMeadow  township  in  1911.  He  was  married 
December  12,  1888,  to  Clara  DeYoung^  who  was  born  in  Cook 
county.  Illinois,  July  28,  1862.  Two  children  were  born  to  them, 
a  son,  Charles  Homer,  July  17,  1893,  and  a  daughter,  Nellie  Rutli, 
August  20,  1897. 

William  Fowler  was  l)orn  in  Massachusetts,  JMarch  31,  1815, 
and  at  the  age  of  two  years  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Ohio, 
where  he  was  educated  and  grew  to  manhood.  In  Ohio  he  met 
and  married  Hannali  Tyler,  who  Avas  born  in  Vermont, May  9, 1829, 
and  Avas  taken  to  Ohio  at  the  age  of  five  years.  In  1853  Mr.  and 
jMrs.  FoAvler  moved  to  Green  Lake,  Wis.,  and  engaged  in  farming 
Tintil  1866,  AA-hen  they  came  to  Minnesota  and  took  up  their 
residence  in  Olmsted  county,  \Adiere  William  Fowler  died  in  May, 
1870.  Since  his  death  his  wife  has  made  her  home  largely  in  St. 
Paul.  She  is  noAV  living  Avith  her  son,  William  IM.,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  81  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Fowler  AA-ere  the  parents 
of  five  children:  Lafayette  P.,  of  Montana;  William  M.,  of 
Dexter:  J.  C.  Freemont  (deceased);  Byron,  of  St.  Paul,  and 
Zebina,  uoav  of  Aberdeen,  S.  D.  John  DeYoung  and  Nellie  ]\Ias- 
tenbrook,  parents  of  Mrs.  William  FoAvler,  Avere  natives  of  Hol- 
land. They  came  to  America  at  an  early  day  and  located  in 
Cook  county,  Illinois.  There  they  engaged  in  farming  and  truck 
gardening  until  1867,  Avhen  they  removed  to  Kasson,  Dodge 
county,  this  state,  and  after  one  year  moved  to  MoAver  county 
and  engaged  in  farming  the  remainder  of  their  days,  John 
DeYoung  dying  May  18,  1909,  and  his  wife  March  2,  1903.  They 
Avere  the  parents  of  seven  children:  Kate  DeYoung  (deceased)  ; 
James,  of  Spring  Valley,  Minn. ;  Clara,  noAV  Mrs.  William  'M. 
FoAvler,  of  Dexter:  Jennie,  noAV  ^Irs.  John  Sherman,  of  Grand 
IMeadoAv  toAvnship:  Peter,  of  St.  Paul;  Miiuiic,  noAV  Mrs.  Zebina 


620  niSTOKY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

Fowler,  of  Aberdeon.  S.  1)..  ami  ]Mary.  now  IMrs.  Stanley  Vaughn, 
of  Lansing  townsliip. 

Matt  Flemming,  a  i)rosi)erous  resident  of  Marshall  township, 
was  liorn  in  ^Vis(■onsin.  January  25,  1871,  son  of  Matt  Flemming, 
Sr..  tlie  pioneer.  ^latt  eame  with  liis  parents  and  elder  brother, 
IVIieluiei,  who  was  born  in  ^Viseousin,  Oetober  19,  1866.  to  Mower 
county  nearly  forty  years  ago,  and  has  since  carried  on  general 
farming  in  Marsluill  townsliip.  he  and  his  brother  ^lichael.  more 
commonly  called  ]Mike,  now  owning  a  fertile  tract  of  460  acres, 
largely  under  cultivation  and  all  in  the  highest  .stage  of  develop- 
ment, ^latt  and  ]\Iichael  Flemming  are  both  members  of  the 
United  "Workmen,  and  are  both  independent  voters,  easting  their 
ballots  intelligently  after  carefully  and  thoughtfully  considering 
tiu'  candidates  and  issues  of  each  campaign.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  married  Clara  Albright,  who  has  proved  an  able  and 
.sympathetic  helpmeet.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children.  F^dna,  a  bright  gii'l  of  11,  attends  school,  Avhile  I^ditli 
and  Ethel,  tlio  twins  born  :May  19,  1909,  are  the  joy  of  the 
hous.'hold. 

Matt  Flemming,  Sr.,  a  AN'isconsin  pioneer,  Mas  born  in  Ger- 
many, ]\larch  2,  1839,  his  parents  being  sturdy  and  respected 
natives  of  the  F^'atherland.  He  came  to  AVisconsin  before  the  war, 
broke  land,  endured  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life,  and 
assisted  in  the  development  of  that  state.  Some  forty  years  ago 
lie  brought  his  family  to  jMower  county,  and  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  in  Marshall  township,  where  he  farmed  until  the  time  of 
his  lamented  death,  December  9,  3907.  His  wife  followed  him  to 
her  last  resting  place  F\'bruary  8,  1908,  and  both  are  buried  at 
Rose  Creek  in  St.  Filter's  cemetery. 

John  J.  Gilbertson  was  born  on  a  farm  near  LaCrosse,  "Wis., 
in  1855.  ^Vlu'n  a  young  man  he  was  employed  for  a  number  of 
years  as  a  clerk  in  the  large  wholesale  dry  goods  house  of  Mons 
Anderson  in  LaCrosse.  He  then  entered  the  general  store  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  Grand  IMeadow,  Minn.,  at  the  same  time  editing 
the  Grand  Meadow  Record,  in  partnership  with  a  ]\Ir.  Jurgens. 
After  remaining  at  Grand  ]\Ieadow  for  ten  years,  he  came  to 
Austin,  ^linn.,  and  in  partnership  with  George  Edgerton,  engaged 
in  tile  machine  business,  selling  threshing  machines,  buggies,  cut- 
ters and  general  farm  maciiinery,  in  which  business  he  remained 
to  tlie  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  June  9,  1892.  Mr. 
Gilbertson  was  married  in  1878  at  Grand  IMeadow,  Minn.,  to 
Martha  Alarian  Hestad,  and  to  this  union  were  born  six  children: 
F^lvira  S.,  AValter  I.,  Frances  M.,  Lilian  V.,  Lucile  H.  and  Esther 
M.  Walter  L  married  Emily  Rieekhoff  and  they  have  one  child, 
John.  Frances  M.  married  William  Masteller  and  they  have  two 
children,  Marian  and  William.     Mrs.  John  Gilbertson  was  born 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  G^l 

April  14,  1861,  at  Stavenger,  Not-way,  and  came  to  LaCrossc,  Wis., 
with  her  parents  in  1871,  where  she  lived  to  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage. Benjamin  Uleland  Hestad  and  Ellen,  his  wife,  parents  of 
Mrs.  John  Gilbertson,  were  both  natives  of  Norway,  where  the 
wife  inherited  a  large  estate  and  where  the  husband  held  a  state 
office.  Mr.  Hestad  came  to  America  shortly  before  the  Civil  war 
and  fought  in  the  union  army  two  years.  Being  called  home,  he 
procured  a  leave  of  absence  and  then  furnished  a  substitute  to 
tinish  his  enlistment  in  his  place.  On  his  return  to  Norway  he 
managed  his  wife's  large  estate  near  Christiania,  the  estate  con- 
taining many  acres  and  being  occupied  by  many  tenants.  After 
remaining  there  some  years  he  sold  the  estate  and  again  came  to 
America,  locating  in  LaCrosse,  Wis.,  wdiere  he  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business.  Later  he  went  to  South  Dakota  and  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  Bryant,  in  that  state,  where  he  built  several 
stores  and  assisted  in  establishing  a  bank.  He  also  purchased 
1,800  acres  of  land  in  that  vicinity  near  Lake  Norden,  which  lake 
he  named.  Benjamin  Uleland  Hestad  and  his  wife  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children :  Martha  Marian,  Guy,  Theodore,  Michael, 
Edward,  Augustus,  John,  Benjamin  and  Emma  Josephine.  Mr. 
Hestad  died  at  Bryant,  S.  D.,  in  1904,  and  his  widow  still  resides 
there.  Mr.  Hestad  was  the  nephew  of  the  statesman  Uleland,  who 
figured  prominently  in  Norwegian  politics  and  served  his  country 
in  that  capacity  for  forty  years.  It  is  interesting  to  note  in  this 
connection  that  the  greatgrandfather  of  Mrs.  John  Gilbertson 
was  General  Gunder  Hestad,  one  of  the  distinguished  generals 
during  the  war  between  Norway  and  Sweden.  He  w^as  greatly 
honored  by  his  countrymen  and  lived  to  the  great  age  of  103 
years.  Mrs.  Gilbertson  well  remembers  him,  as  when  she  was  a 
child  he  frequently  told  her  stories  of  the  battles  in  which  he  had 
taken  part. 

John  Guiney  is  one  of  the  live,  progressive  farmers  of  Red 
Rock  township,  and  has  held  various  positions  of  public  and 
private  trust  and  honor,  his  interest  in  progress  and  education 
being  shown  by  his  continuous  service  of  fifteen  years  on  the 
school  board  of  his  district.  He  was  born  in  McHenry  county, 
Illinois,  December  15,  1856,  son  of  Daniel  and  Hanna  (Fitz- 
gerald) Guiney.  After  a  boyhood  spent  on  his  father's  farm,  he 
reached  the  age  of  25  years,  and  purchased  a  place  of  his  own, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  farming. 
October  21,  1890,  he  married  Mary  Keating,  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Hanna  (Casey)  Keating,  and  seven  children  have  been  born: 
Julia  A.,  Mary  A.,  Katherine  E.,  Loretta  E.,  Angela  M.,  Daniel  E., 
and  Francis  G.,  the  latter  named  being  dead. 

W.  V.  Gilmore,  of  Dexter,  formerly  principal  of  tlie  village 
school,  and  now  rural  mail  carrier,  was  born  in  ^label,  Fillmore 


G22  niSTOUY  UV  MOWKK  COUNTY 

county,  June  10,  1881,  son  of  A.  II.  and  Catlieriue  (Lamb)  Gil- 
more.  He  received  liis  earlier  education  in  the  common  schools 
and  graduated  from  the  high  school  at  Mabel,  in  Fillmore  county, 
lie  took  courses  at  Ilamline  University  two  years,  and  then 
started  teaching  in  Fillmore  county.  After  a  year  at  Canton,  he 
carae  to  Dexter  in  1907,  and  took  charge  of  the  schools  here  for 
two  years.  Tlien  he  passed  the  necessary  examinations  and 
became  rural  carrier  on  Route  1  from  the  Dexter  postofifice.  He 
is  an  independent  voter,  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order  and  to  the 
M.  "W.  A.,  and  attends  the  Methodist  church.  He  was  married 
August  22,  1906,  to  IMarian  Stroud,  daughter  of  James  K.  and 
Carrie  (Bacon)  Stroud,  early  pioneers  of  Fillmore  county,  now 
living  in  retirement  in  jNIabel,  in  that  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gil- 
more  have  two  children:  Daryl  L.,  born  in  Fair  Oak.  Cal..  July 
10,  1907,  and  Eleanor  Kathryn,  born  February  13,  1910,  in  Dexter. 
A.  II.  Gilmore  and  Catherine  Lamb,  his  wife,  after  many  years 
spent  in  ^Minnesota,  are  now  living  in  Fair  Oak,  Cal.  Tliey  have 
three  children:  Walter  V.;  Ralph,  a  student  at  the  Lelaud-Stan- 
ford  University  in  California,  and  Ella,  one  of  the  head  teachers 
in  the  reform  school  at  lone,  Cal.  James  K.  Stroud  and  Carrie 
Bacon,  his  wife,  after  many  years  spent  as  farmers  in  Fillmore 
county,  have  now  moved  to  Mabel,  not  far  from  their  old  farm, 
and  are  there  spending  their  days  in  retirement.  They  had  seven 
children:  Elmer  R.,  of  ]\Iabel,  I\linn.,  a  merchant;  Leonard  B.,  a 
farmer  in  Atwater,  ]\Iinn. ;  Lulu  M.,  wife  of  A.  A.  Miner,  of 
^label ;  Herbert  N.,  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank,  at  Wim- 
bledon, N.  D. ;  Roy,  a  farmer  near  :\rabel;  Arthur  D..  a  :\Iethodist 
clergyman  in  Boston,  and  IMarian,  now  wife  of  W.  V.  Gilmore,  of 
Dexter. 

George  W.  Grimshaw,  now  deceased,  was  a  flue  type  of  the 
early  :\Iiiiii('Sola  pioneer.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  both 
]\rower  and  Steele  county,  took  a  fervent  interest  in  the  agricul- 
tural development  of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  was  a  staunch 
advocate  of  everything  tliat  tended  toward  the  betterment  and 
progress  of  humanity.  He  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New- 
York,  January  10,  1833,  and  at  three  years  of  age  was  taken  by 
liis  parents  to  Jefferson  county.  New  Y^ork,  where  he  received  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  and  in  the  academy  there.  He 
came  Avest  in  1856,  located  in  Aurora  township,  Steele  county,  and 
then  seven  years  later  took  up  his  residence  in  Lansing  township. 
Mower  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1893,  when  he 
came  to  Austin,  built  a  home  at  610  West  Winona  street,  and 
there  lived  until  his  death,  April  16,  1904.  Mr.  Grimshaw  served 
as  town  clerk  of  Aurora  township,  Steele  county,  and  clerk-  and 
chairman  of  Lansing  county,  in  Mower  county.  He  was  instru- 
nu'iital   in   organizing  the  Mower  County  Agricultural   Society. 


HISTOKY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  G23 

■\vhieli  is  still  in  existence.  He  Avas  a  member  of  the  Metliodist 
church  for  over  forty  years,  being  a  steward  and  serving  on  tlie 
board  of  trustees  for  many  years.  He  was  married  August  Ki, 
1858,  at  Loraine,  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  to  Larena  Hanson, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Hanson,  and  this  union  was 
blessed  with  four  children:  Adalbert,  who  died  at  five  years; 
Addie,  his  twin,  who  died  at  six  weeks;  Ida  May,  now  Mrs.  J.  E. 
AVhite,  of  St.  Paul,  and  Rose  E.,  now  Mrs.  C.  L.  Rice,  of  Austin. 
The  Cedar  River  Grange,  at  Ramsey,  Minn.,  was  instrumental  in 
organizing  the  Mower  County  Fair,  and  Mr.  G.  W.  Grimshaw  was 
president  of  the  first  IMower  County  Fair  held  in  Austin  and 
served  several  years  in  succession. 

J.  B.  Graves,  a  respected  citizen  of  Brownsdale,  and  at  one 
time  county  commissioner  of  IMower  county,  was  born  May  21, 
1829,  in  Fowler,  St.  Lawrence  county.  New  York,  son  of  Gaylord. 
and  Nancy  (Tuckerman)  Graves.  In  1838  the  entire  family  came 
west  to  Walworth  county,  Wisconsin,  where  the  father  had  two 
years  previous  made  a  claim.  J.  B.  spent  his  early  life  in  Wal- 
worth county,  and  later  went  to  Fox  River,  where,  being  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  he  built  a  number  of  houses.  In  the  spring  of 
1861  he  came  to  Brownsdale,  and  continued  at  his  trade  in  addi- 
tion to  carrying  on  general  farming.  Some  years  ago  he  became 
treasurer  of  the  crg^.mery  at  Brownsdale.  In  fraternal  affilia- 
tions he  is  a  Mason,  having  been  raised  to  that  dignity  at  Austin, 
but  being  now  a  member  of  Lafayette  Lodge,  No.  116,  of  Browns- 
dale. He  married  Margaret  Clark,  daughter  of  Owen  and  Mary 
(Condon)  Clark,  born  at  Utica,  New  York,  September  20,  1835, 
and  they  had  four  children.  Three  are  dead:  Edwin,  Mary  and 
Howard.    Alice  is  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Lawrence. 

A.  George,  the  popular  station  agent  for  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.,  at 
Lyle,  has  occupied  his  present  position  for  seven  years.  Since 
coming  to  the  village  he  has  actively  identified  himself  with 
public  affairs,  is  president  of  the  Lyle  Commercial  Club,  is  keeper 
of  records  and  seals  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  a  hard  worker 
in  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  When  at  Otranto  he  was  president  of  the  school 
board  of  that  place.  He  was  born  in  Hartford,  Wis.,  November  2, 
1865,  son  of  A.  and  Verona  (Weistonner)  George,  natives  of 
Switzerland.  They  came  to  America  about  1857,  and  located  in 
Hartford,  Wis.,  where  the  senior  George  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building.  In  1880  they  removed  to  Milford,  Iowa,  and 
retired.  Tlie  subject  of  this  .sketch  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Wisconsin  and  Iowa.  After  leaving  school, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  C,  iM.  &  St.  P.  as  station  agent  at 
Milford,  remaining  there  six  months.  Then  he  was  given  charge 
of  the  station  at  Otranto,  Iowa,  and  there  remained  fifteen  years. 
His  residence  in  Lvle  dates  from  Aiiril  13,  lOO:',.     :\rr.  George  Avas 


624  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

maniod  January  1,  1887,  to  Anna  Ewertson,  of  Otranto,  and  to 
this  union  has  been  born  one  son,  Harry,  March  4,  1893,  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Lyle  high  school.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the 
German  Lutlieran  church. 

Sam  D.  Goetsch,  a  successful  land  agent,  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  Dexter,  and  has  built  up  a  large  business  in 
real  estate  there,  dealing  also  in  all  kinds  of  fire  and  cyclone 
insurance.  He  was  born  in  Sheboygan  county,  "Wisconsin,  Jan- 
uary 14,  1879,  son  of  Fred  and  Mary  (Schesson)  Goetsch.  He  was 
brought  to  Minnesota  by  his  mother  when  thirteen  years  of  age, 
and  received  his  earl}"  education  in  the  vicinity  of  AValtham  town- 
ship, this  county,  also  starting  in  life  as  a  farmer  in  the  same 
vicinity.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  started  clerking  in  a  store 
in  Dexter,  and  also  engaged  in  business  for  himself  later,  having 
stores  at  Dexter.  In  the  spring  of  1902  he  started  his  present 
business,  and  has  been  very  successful.  He  votes  the  Republican 
ticket,  but  has  never  cared  to  seek  or  accept  public  office.  Mr. 
Goetsch  was  married  in  March,  1902,  to  Hanna  Bush,  and  four 
children  have  blessed  this  union:  Ruby,  Pearl,  David  and  Jesse. 
The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  German  Lutheran  church.  Fred 
Goetsch  was  born  in  "Wisconsin,  of  German  parentage,  and  married 
I\lary  Schesson,  living  in  Bayfield  county,  "Wisconsin.  There  were 
six  children  in  the  family.  "William  lives  in  "Wisconsin.  Joseph 
lives  in  "Waltham  township.  Otto  lives  in  Dexter  township. 
Minnie  is  now  Mrs.  John  Holtz,  of  Red  Rock.  John  lives  in 
AValtham  township.  Sam  D.  is  a  real  estate  agent  at  Dexter. 
Two  other  children,  Frank  and  Rose,  died  when  young. 

Clarence  G.  Gillam,  a  popular  young  dentist  of  Austin,  was 
born  in  Frankfort,  Spink  county.  South  Dakota,  February  27, 
1884,  attended  the  public  schools  of  AVindom,  jNIinn.,  and  grad- 
uated from  the  AA'indom  high  school  in  1902.  Then  he  entered  the 
I^niversity  of  Minnesota,  and  after  graduating  from  the  dental 
department  of  that  institution,  in  1905,  took  up  the  practice  of 
dentistry  in  Jlountain  Lake,  Cottonwood  county,  INIinnesota,  re- 
maining there  until  December,  1907,  Avhen  he  came  to  Austin,  and 
associated  himself  with  Dr.  J.  AV.  Phillips.  In  1909  he  bought 
out  his  partner,  and  has  since  conducted  the  business  alone,  hav- 
ing a  suite  of  finely  equipped  offices  at  231  North  Main  street. 
Dr.  Gillam  is  an  insurgent  Republican.  He  has  affiliated  himself 
with  the  slate  and  county  dental  associations,  and  is  a  well-liked 
member  of  the  Austin  Commercial  Club  and  the  Austin  Tennis 
Club.  He  is  also  a  Master  Mason.  AVilliam  S.  and  Ida  ISlay 
(Loomis)  Gillam,  parents  of  Dr.  Clarence  G.  Gillam,  were  natives 
respectively  of  AA'isconsin  and  iMinnesota.  They  went  to  South 
Dakota  in  1881,  and  took  a  claim  in  Spink  county,  on  which  they 
lived    until    1889,    Avhen    thov    moved    1o    AVindoin,    Cottonwood 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  625 

county,  Minnesota,  where  W.  S.  engaged  in  grist  milling  until 
1904,  when  he  engaged  in  the  nursery  business  at  Redfield,  S.  D., 
Avhore  he  and  his  wife  now  reside. 

Daniel  Guiney,  a  pioneer  of  Red  Rock  township,  was  born  in 
County  Cork,  Ireland,  and  there  married  Hanna  Fitzgerald,  a 
native  of  the  same  county.  In  1853  he  came  to  America  with  his 
brothers,  and  after  a  short  stay  in  Boston,  Mass.,  located  in 
Illinois.  In  1856  he  came  to  Red  Rock  township,  pre-empted  a 
quarter  section,  erected  a  log  cabin  and  carried  on  farming  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  June  30,  1900.  He  left  twelve  children: 
John,  Timothy,  Daniel,  Patrick,  Frank,  Mary,  Ellen,  Anna,  Julia, 
Lillie  and  Edward  J.  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  George  Murphy.  Julia 
is  a  sister  in  the  Dominican  order  of  nuns.    James  died  in  infancy. 

Edward  J.  Guiney  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born  in  Red  Rock 
township,  where  he  still  resides,  February  18,  1869,  son  of  Daniel 
and  Hanna  (Fitzgerald)  Guiney.  Until  recently  Mr.  Guiney  has 
spent  his  entire  life  as  a  resident  of  the  old  homestead.  He 
attended  the  schools  of  District  40,  in  Windom  township,  and  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Since  his  father's  death  hie  and 
his  brothers  have  managed  the  home  place,  which  is  one  of  the 
largest  farms  in  the  township.  Edward  J.  Guiney  is  a  respected 
citizen  of  the  township  and  is  a  popular  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Columbus.  He  and  the  other  members  of  the  family  attend  the 
Catholic  church  at  Austin. 

Gordon  C.  Adams,  of  Austin,  now  deceased,  former  farmer  and 
business  man,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Orwell,  Vt.,  in  1823,  and 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Benson,  Ruthland  county,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  school  teaching.  In  1850  he  went  to 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  the  retail  lumber  trade,  remain- 
ing several  years,  after  Avhich  he  was  engaged  with  the  New  York 
&  Brooklyn  Sawmill  and  Lumber  Company  for  ten  years,  being 
superintendent  and  treasurer  of  the  company  seven  years  of  that 
time.  For  the  succeeding  fourteen  years  he  was  with  the  South 
Brooklyn  Sawmill  Company,  being  superintendent,  secretary  and 
treasurer  nearly  that  entire  time.  During  this  time  Mr.  Adams 
visited  Mower  county,  and  Avas  so  pleased  with  the  vicinity  that 
in  1879  he  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres  from  S.  G.  Woodard. 
]Mr.  Adams  expended  a  considerable  amount  of  money  in  improv- 
ing his  place  and  his  barns,  and  his  equipment  and  facilities  for 
handling  and  housing  crops  and  live  stock  was  among  the  best 
in  the  township.  In  his  latter  years  Mr.  Adams  gave  up  farming, 
and  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  fuel  business  in  Austin.  He  died  in 
Austin,  February  17,  1901.  G.  C.  Adams  married  for  his  first  wife 
Harriet  M.  Watson.  They  were  married  in  Vermont,  and  slie  died 
in  the  city  oC  Brooklyn,  leaving  no  children.  His  second  wife  Avas 
Ella  M.  Squires,  also  of  Vermont,  who  died  nine  years  after  her 


636  IIJSTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

marriage,  leaving  two  oliildrcn,  Hattie  M.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  29,  and  Alfred,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three.  Subsequently 
Mr.  Adams  married  Mattie  Allen,  born  in  Whitehall,  111.,  daughter 
of  Jesse  and  Mary  B.  Allen.  Her  early  life  was  spent  in  Illinois, 
and  she  was  married  to  Gordon  C.  Adams,  at  the  age  of  37  years. 
]\lrs.  Adams  has  foui*  brothers  living  in  Illinois :  Henry  F., 
"William  A.,  Lewis  and  Albert.  Two  are  dead:  Jesse  L.  and 
Jonatlian.  Henry  F.  married  ]\Irs.  Sarah  Pankey  and  they  have 
two  children:  jMattie  and  Jesse.  AVilliam  A.  married  Anna  Corn, 
and  their  children  are  Leda,  Kenneth  and  AVilliam.  Lewis  mar- 
ried Lillian  Peet,  and  they  have  four  children :  Bertha,  now  Mrs. 
Burns;  Ethel;  Mabel,  now  ilrs.  Fred  Ford,  and  Lura.  Albert 
married  IMattie  Stublefield,  and  they  have  one  child,  Edith,  now 
Mrs.  Clarence  Grimmett.  Jesse  L.  left  three  children:  Minnie, 
now  J\Irs.  Cyrus  Curtis ;  ]\Iary,  widow  of  "William  Reily,  and  Frank 
Q.,  who  is  married  and  has  several  children.  Jonathan  married 
Etta  King  and  had  three  children,  Stella,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
28  years,  and  Herman  and  Roscoe.  The  two  latter  are  prosperous 
young  men,  the  former  being  30  years  of  age  and  the  latter  2L 
These  young  men  are  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in 
"Wisconsin. 

Robert  A.  Barnitz,  one  of  the  rising  young  dentists  of  Austin, 
has  a  well  equipped  office  at  233  North  Main  street,  and  enjoys 
the  confidence  of  a  large  clientele,  his  skillful  work  being  its  own 
highest  recommendation.  Dr.  Barnitz  Avas  born  in  Austin  town- 
ship, February  4,  1882,  son  of  Charles  and  Josephine  (Baudler) 
Barnitz,  and  attended  the  graded  schools  of  his  neighborhood, 
graduating  from  the  Austin  high  school  in  1902.  He  then  worked 
at  home  two  years  and  at  the  end  of  that  period  entered  the 
University  of  Minnesota  at  Minneai:)olig,  graduating  June  1,  1907. 
Two  weeks  later,  in  July,  he  opened  an  office  in  Austin,  which  he 
has  since  successfully  conducted.  Dr.  Barnitz  is  a  member  of  the 
iMasonic  order,  and  while  at  college  was  admitted  to  the  fellow- 
ship of  tlic  Delia  Sigma  Delta.    He  is  an  independent  voter. 

Charles  Barnitz,  a  market  gardener,  living  in  Austin  township, 
was  born  in  Gratz,  Austria,  and  came  to  America  in  1869,  arriving 
in  Mower  county  two  years  later.  Subsequently  he  spent  three 
years  in  what  was  then  Washington  territory  on  a  claim.  He 
then  came  back  to  Austin,  wliere  he  took  up  the  work  Avhich  he 
has  since  continued.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  Avas  Josepliine 
P>au(llei',  was  a  native  of  Austin  township. 

Alvah  E.  Beadell,  former  mercliant,  now  a  Lansing  farmer, 
Avas  l)orn  at  lL>lena,  Wis.,  in  1862,  descended  from  an  old  Wis- 
consin family.  His  fatlier,  Luth.er  Beadell,  Avas  a  black.smith  and 
farmer,  Aviiile  his  grandfatlier,  Alvah  Culver,  was  a  merchant  and 
Mississippi  steamboat  OAvner,  being  one  of  the  first  men  to  run  a 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEPt  COUNTY  637 

line  of  steamboats  on  the  "Wisconsin  river.  His  mother,  Abbio 
Culver,  was  a  member  of  the  AVisconsin  pioneer  famil}^  of  tiiat 
name.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his  early  life  on  a  farm 
in  Wisconsin,  and  in  1891  came  to  Lansing  village,  entering  the 
employ  of  Harvey  Mclntyre,  as  a  clerk.  He  afterward  conducted 
a  hardware  store  of  his  own  in  the  same  village  for  nine  years. 
Since  that  time  he  has  devoted  his  life  entirely  to  farming.  He 
is  one  of  the  progressive  men  of  Lansing,  interested  especially  in 
the  town  government,  having  served  as  treasurer  of  Lansing 
township  for  sixteen  years.  He  belongs  to  the  Masons  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen.  Mr.  Beadell  was  married,  some  years  ago,  to 
Bessie  Soule,  daughter  of  Rensselaer  Soule  and  Cornelia  Hawley, 
his  wife,  for  many  years  well  known  residents  of  Lansing.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  father  of  six  children:  Mary  A., 
Lester,  Edwin,  Clarence,  Don  and  Walter. 

William  Baudler,  a  sturdy  old  pioneer  of  Mower  county,  was 
born  in  Germany,  April  5,  1834.  After  receiving  a  good  education 
in  the  i^ublic  schools  of  his  native  land,  he  learned  the  baker's 
trade,  followed  this  line  in  Germany  and  after  his  emigration  to 
America  in  1853.  Arriving  in  this  country,  he  first  located  in  tlie 
state  of  New  York,  thence  removing  to  Mississippi,  and  from 
there  to  New  Orleans  and  then  to  St.  Louis,  all  the  time  plying 
his  vocation  of  baker.  May  8,  1855,  he  came  to  Austin,  Minn., 
and  acquired  160  acres  of  wild  land  bordering  on  the  city  limits. 
This  tract  he  immediately  commenced  working  into  a  productive 
farm,  clearing  and  improving  it  from  year  to  year,  and  adding 
a  home,  buildings  and  new  machinery  in  keeping  with  the  times. 
In  spite  of  his  77  years,  he  still  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
management  of  the  farm,  which  he  has  developed  out  of  the 
wilderness.  In  political  matters  he  votes  for  what  he  believes 
conducive  to  the  best  welfare  of  the  community,  being  unin- 
fluenced by  party.  July  5,  1876,  he  was  united  in  marriage  witli 
Barbara  Faber,  by  whom  he  has  four  children:  Herman,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Lansing  township;  Carl  and  Otto,  com- 
prising the  firm  of  Baudler  Brothers,  attorneys  of  Austin,  and 
Alvin,  living  at  home. 

Baudler  Brothers,  one  of  the  leading  law  firms  of  Austin,  is 
composed  of  two  live  and  energetic  attorneys,  Carl  and  Otto 
Baudler.  They  are  both  natives  of  tliis  county,  Carl  being  born 
March  6,  1879,  and  Otto,  December  16,  1881.  Their  education 
was  largely  received  in  the  public  schools  of  Austin,  Carl  being 
graduated  from  the  local  high  school  in  1899,  and  Otto  receiving 
his  diploma  two  years  later  from  the  same  institution.  In  1901 
Carl  entered  the  law  department  of  the  state  university,  receiving 
his  degree  in  1904.    Otto  commenced  the  same  course  the  year  his 


638  HISTOK'Y  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

brother  graduated,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1907.  The 
fullowing  year  the  brothers  opened  offices  in  Austin  and  have 
sinr-e  met  with  much  success  in  the  practice  of  their  profession, 
being  thorouglily  conversant  with  all  branches  of  law.  The 
Democratic  party  claims  their  allegiance.  At  the  November  elec- 
tion, 1910,  Otto  was  elected  county  attorney  by  the  largest 
majorit}'  ever  given  a  candidate  in  this  county  at  a  general  elec- 
tion, notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  Democratic  party  is 
greatly  in  the  minority.  He  is  the  youngest  county  official  in 
Mower  county,  and  one  of  the  youngest  in  the  state.  The  brothers 
are  loyal  members  of  the  Austin  Commercial  Club.  Their  home 
is  located  at  1206  North  Kenwood.  "William  and  Barbara  (Faber) 
Baudler,  parents  of  our  subjects,  are  among  the  pioneers  of  this 
county,  now  residing  on  their  farm  in  section  thirty-four,  Lansing 
township.     Their  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

George  W.  Benton  was  born  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  February  16, 
1832.  His  falhcr.  Royal  Benton,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and 
was  a  merchant  in  Utica  at  the  time  George  "\Y.  was  born.  The 
family  migrated  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Vienna,  where 
the  father  opened  a  tailor  shop,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  The  family  remained  at  Vienna,  and  when  George  W.  was 
16  years  of  age  lie  started  with  a  team  to  Logan  county,  and 
worked  on  a  railroad  one  season.  Then  he  went  to  Belief ontainc 
and  engaged  in  teaming.  He  was  married  there  in  1852  to 
Caroline  J.  Royer,  after  which  he  rented  a  small  place  and  com- 
menced burning  lime  and  selling  building  stone.  After  a  year  or 
so,  he  began  buying  and  selling  horses,  taking  them  to  Galena  and 
Kentucky.  In  1854  he  made  his  first  trip  to  Minnesota,  engaging 
his  ti)ne  in  buying  a  drove  of  hox^ses  which  he  sold  in  St.  Paul. 
He  first  visited  Mower  county  in  December,  1854,  and  he  and  his 
family  spent  the  winter  here  Avith  his  brother,  Elon,  1856,  on 
section  seven,  town  of  Windom.  He  teamed  for  a  while  and  in 
1857  claimed  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  nine.  The  follow- 
ing winter  he  built  a  log  house,  and  in  the  spring  of  1858  moved 
into  it.  "With  true  pioneer  zeal  he  started  in  farming,  and  in  1883 
he  had  increased  his  land  to  720  acres.  He  had  also  erected  a  fine 
house  and  outbuildings.  Mr.  Benton's  wife  died  in  October,  1880, 
leaving  four  children :  Royal,  AVinfield,  Charles  and  Alfred.  In 
November,  1881,  INIr.  Benton  married  Sarah  C,  daughter  of 
Barnabus  and  .Maria  (Fitch)  Johnson  and  widow  of  George  Ben- 
nett. Two  children  have  been  born  to  this  union:  Ormanzo  J. 
Benton,  who  is  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  in  Austin, 
and  Herbert  "W.,  who  clerks  in  Fargo,  N.  D.  Mr.  Bennett,  Mrs. 
Benton's  first  husband,  was  born  in  Schatigee,  N.  Y.,  and  died  at 
]Mona,  Iowa,  in  1881,  leaving  one  child,  George  A.  George  "W. 
Benton  died  in  April,  1902,  as  the  result  of  an  accident  occasioned 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  629 

by  his  team  of  young  horses  running  away.  He  was  greatly 
esteemed  and  his  demise  caused  a  widefelt  sorrow. 

Ole  Benson  was  born  in  Hemsedal,  Norway,  August  14,  1822, 
and  in  1841  was  married  to  Margaret  Tlirom.  Four  children  were 
born  to  them,  of  whom  two  are  living;  Flans,  of  Udolpho  town- 
ship, and  Andrew,  of  Blooming  Prairie.  The  dead  are  Peder  and 
Ben.  He  came  to  America  in  1853  and  settled  at  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa. 
In  1864  he  moved  to  Minnesota,  where  he  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Udolpho  township,  where  his  wife  died  in  September,  1870.  Then 
he  made  his  home  with  his  son,  Andrew.    He  died  June  19,  1910. 

Hans  Benson,  a  successful  Udolpho  farmer,  was  born  in  Nor- 
w^ay,  December  14,  1849,  son  of  Ole  and  Marget  (Throm)  Benson, 
who  brougiit  him  to  America  in  1853,  and  after  eleven  years  in 
Iowa  moved  to  Udolpho  township,  Avhere  they  purchased  the 
Teller  farm.  On  this  place  Hans  grew  to  manhood  and  then  pur- 
chased the  Hasmer  place  of  159  acres,  on  which  he  still  lives.  Mr. 
Benson  served  on  the  school  board  for  several  years,  and  he  had 
the  members  of  his  family  attend  the  Lutheran  church.  He  mar- 
ried Ida  Christianson,  and  in  the  family  are  the  following  chil- 
dren: Florence,  Ole,  Selmer,  Cora.  The  father  of  Hans  Benson 
died  June  19,  1910,  at  the  age  of  nearly  88,  and  his  mother  died 
in  1870. 

Herbert  W.  Boody,  chief  engineer  for  the  Austin  Electric  Light 
and  Power  Plant  and  an  expert  in  his  line,  was  born  in  Portland, 
Me.,  July  15,  1872.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public 
schools  of  Portland  and  Minneapolis,  after  which  he  entered  the 
service  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railroad,  working 
his  way  up  from  call  boy  to  locomotive  fireman,  remaining  eight 
years  in  the  latter  capacity.  He  then,  in  April  of  1898,  engaged 
as  engineer  for  the  old  waterworks  plant  of  Austin,  proving  so 
entirel}'  satisfactory  that  on  July  4,  1900,  at  the  time  when  the 
water  works  and  light  plant  were  combined  under  one  head,  he 
was  made  operating  engineer.  In  this  capacity  he  continued  until 
December  12,  1908,  when  he  was  given  his  present  position  as 
chief  engineer  of  the  plant.  His  political  convictions  are  Re- 
publican, and  he  has  officiated  as  constable  of  the  third  ward  two 
years.  He  is  a  Master  ]Mason,  a  jModern  Woodman  of  America, 
and  is  associated  with  the  C.  of  H.  and  the  F.  0.  E.  October  4, 
1894,  at  Austin,  he  was  married  to  Caroline  M.  Fischer,  a  native 
of  this  county,  born  at  Varco,  February  15,  1877.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  two  children :  Marguerite  T.  and  Leonard  H. 
The  family  reside  at  110  Division  street.  They  worship  at  the 
Episcopal  church.  Leonard  G.  Boody,  father  of  our  .subject,  is  a 
machinist  of  unusual  ability,  holding  many  responsible  positions 
with  different  railroad  companies  in  his  younger  days.  He  was  a 
native  of  Elaine,  following  his  trade  as  a  machinist  in  this  state 


(iao  niSTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

iiutil  1882,  wheu  he  caiiio  west  to  ^Minneapolis,  first  being  em- 
ployed by  the  Baldwin  Loeomotive  "Works,  and  later  by  the 
Northern  Pacific  railroad.  In  1883  he  brought  his  family  to  Min- 
neapolis, and  entered  the  machine  shops  of  tiie  Chicago,  ^lil- 
waukee  &  St.  Paul  railroad,  being  connected  with  this  company 
until  1891,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  shops  of  the  Great 
Northern,  as  foreman,  at  Great  Falls,  Mont.  Resigning  in  1900, 
he  has  since  lived  retired  at  Tacoma,  Wash.  Ilis  wife,  nee  ]\lar- 
garet  A.  Flemming,  died  January  13,  1895. 

Wilson  Beach,  a  rugged  old  pioneer  of  \Mower  county,  was 
born  in  Fulton  l(jwnship,  Schoharie  county,  New  York,  i\Iay  17, 
1836.  The  public  schools  of  Albany  county,  New  York,  afforded 
him  his  education,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farming  in  that 
county  until  1856,  when  he  took  the  westAvard  trail  for  ^Minnesota, 
pre-empting  a  quarter  section  of  wild  land  in  section  26,  Lyle 
tOAVuship,  i\Iower  county.  With  the  rude  tools  and  hnplements  of 
those  early  days  he  cleared  and  improved  his  land,  valiantly  over- 
coming the  obstacles  and  enduring  the  privations  inseparable  from 
the  life  of  a  pioneer.  Together  with  his  father  and  brother  he 
purchased  280  acres  more  in  sections  36  and  37,  Lyle  township. 
]Mr.  Beach  made  other  additions  until  he  Avas  the  sole  owner  of 
about  400  acres,  all  in  Lyle  toAvnship,  on  which  he  successfully 
followed  general  farming  until  poor  health  compelled  his  retire- 
ment in  1880,  removing  to  Austin  the  same  year.  Five  years 
later  he  operated  a  feed  store  for  a  time,  but  since  then  he  has 
not  been  actively  engaged  in  business,  now  living  retired  at  209 
"West  ]Maple  street.  His  political  convictions  are  Kepublican,  and 
while  in  Lyle  he  served  as  town  treasurer  and  supervisor,  and  was 
alderman  from  the  first  ward  of  Austin  for  a  terni  since  his 
removal  to  this  city.  His  fraternal  affiliations  are  Avith  the 
]\Iasonic  order  and  the  Modern  "Woodmen  of  America.  ]\Iarch  18, 
1869,  he  Avas  united  in  marriage  Avith  Mary  E.  Sabin,  Avho  died 
November  17,  1894.  He  Avas  married  a  second  time,  June  18,  1898, 
to  Ilenriefla  Hazard,  ^fr.  and  ^Mrs.  Beach  are  loyal  attendants 
of  tlie  Baptist  church. 

Phillip  H.  Best,  market  gardener  and  poultryman,  of  Austni, 
Avas  born  in  (iciniany,  Octol)er  25,  1858,  son  of  John  and  >\Iargaret 
(Schiller)  Best,  Avho  brought  their  family  to  America  in  18G6, 
locating  in  AVaukesha  county,  Wisconsin,  and  engaging  in  farm- 
ing until  John  Best's  death,  in  1908.  Tiie  motlier,  :\lrs.  :Margaret 
Best,  is  si  ill  living  at  the  good  olil  age  of  S7  years.  Pliilli])  II. 
recr'ived  his  education  in  Germany  and  Wisconsin,  then  look  up 
farming  Avith  his  parents.  He  wiis  innrricd.  .lainiary  1,  187!),  to 
Helen  Nixon,  daughter  of  Williiiin  iiiul  Kiiinces  Ni.xon.  This 
union  has  resulted  in  twelve  children,  all  of  Avhom  are  living: 
Mabel,  noAv  Mrs.  Harry  Rogers,   residing  on  a  farm  in  North 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  631 

Dakota ;  Alice,  living  in  Wisconsin ;  Margaret,  wife  of  John  A. 
Stromer;  Cora,  Avife  of  Levi  Brimacomb,  both  of  Austin;  Emma, 
Nellie,  Zella,  Katherine,  Ray,  Jay,  Florence  and  Milo.  In  1888 
he  moved  from  "Wisconsin  to  IMoAver  county,  Lyle  township,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming.  In  1903  he  came  to  Austin,  and  in  1908 
purchased  twenty  acres  on  South  River  street,  where  he  engaged 
in  garden  and  market  farming.  Aside  from  raising  bees  and 
poultry,  his  special  pride  are  his  White  AVyandottes,  White 
Plymouth  Rocks  and  White  Pekin  ducks.  Mr.  Best  is  a  Re- 
publican, is  a  member  of  the  Owls,  also  of  the  M.  W.  A.  Mrs. 
Helen  Best  was  born  in  Waukesha  county,  Wisconsin,  March  31, 
1860.  Her  father,  Wm.  Nixon,  was  born  in  England  in  1831.  He 
came  to  America  in  1849  and  located  in  Wisconsin.  In  1856  he 
was  married  to  Frances  Smart,  who  died  in  1864,  leaving  him  with 
three  small  children,  and  in  1869  he  was  again  married  to  IMary 
Plum.  Six  children  were  born  to  them.  Five  children  are  living. 
While  ]Mr.  Nixon  still  lived  in  England  he  ran  an  engine  in  the 
coal  mines.  In  this  county  he  was  one  of  the  first  engineers  on 
the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  railroad.  He  also  operated  the  first  steam 
threshing  machine  in  his  part  of  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  this  being 
in  1858,  when  a  machine  had  been  invented  to  thresh  the  grain 
by  steam,  but  when  the  machine  itself  had  to  be  draw«  by  oxen. 
In  1888  he  came  to  Carpenter,  A\-here  he  bought  a  farm  of  200 
acres.  He  still  kept  up  the  business  of  threshing  until  1891.  His 
death  came  in  1908. 

Sven  Cliristenson.  was  born  in  Nas  Hallingdal,  Norway,  in 
1847,  and  passed  away  in  Lansing  township,  this  county,  April  23, 
1907,  having  led  a  useful  life  filled  with  hard  labor  and  worthy 
accomplishment.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  countrj',  and  Avhen  22  years  of  age  came  to  America  to 
seek  his  fortune,  making  his  way  to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  stayed  one  year ;  then  came  to  Lansing  township,  where 
he  worked  on  various  farms  about  four  years  before  purchasing 
land  in  section  5.  This  land  he  improved,  built  a  good  house 
and  comfortable  outbuildings,  and  here  made  his  home  until  his 
lamented  death.  He  married  Carrie,  daughter  of  Knut  Braaben, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  five  children:  Inga,  Mary,  Carl, 
Christene  and  Nels.  Inga  is  the  wife  of  Hans  Benson,  and  they 
have  four  children:  Florence  0.,  Ole,  Selmer  and  Cora.  Mary 
married  Halvor  Medgaarden,  and  they  have  one  son,  Clarence. 
Carl,  Christene  and  Nels  live  at  home  with  their  mother,  and  Carl 
and  Nels  manage  the  home  farm,  which  consists  of  200  acres,  all 
in  a  fine  stage  of  cultivation.  ]Mrs.  Christenson  is  a  good  woman, 
known  for  her  interest  in  church  work.  She  was  born  in  Norway, 
and  with  much  courage  came  to  this  country  alone  to  seek  her 
fortune  in  1872.    The  family  is  highly  regarded  in  the  conununity 


G33  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Frank  M.  Callinan,  passenger  conductor  for  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee &  St.  Paul  railroad,  trusted  by  the  company  and  "well 
liked  by  Jiis  associates,  was  born  in  Prairie  du  Chien,  "Wis., 
January  5,  1866.  His  early  education  was  received  in  the  public 
schools  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  this  being  supplemented  with  a  course 
in  the  Sacred  Heart  College  of  his  home  town.  He  then  learned 
telegraphy  and  entered  the  service  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & 
St.  Paul  railroad  at  Minnesota  Lake,  being  connected  with  the 
company  ever  since.  In  1888  he  came  to  Austin,  and  was  made 
freight  conductor.  In  1903  he  was  given  charge  of  a  train  in  the 
passenger  service,  his  run  now  being  on  the  Iowa  &  Minnesota 
division.  His  political  convictions  are  those  of  the  Democratic 
party,  but  the  nature  of  his  work  has  prevented  him  from  holding 
office.  He  is  fraternally  identified  with  the  Order  of  Railway  Con- 
ductors, the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters,  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  and  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  in  which  latter  he  is  now  serving  as  grand 
knight.  September  8,  1898,  he  was  married  to  Mary  Meany,  by 
whom  he  has  three  children :  Ellen  F.,  born  November  3,  1900,  at 
Minneapolis ;  John  G.,  born  July  27,  1904,  at  Austin ;  and  Anna  R., 
who  was  born  May  27,  1910,  at  Austin.  The  religious  faith  of  the 
family  is  that  of  the  Catholic  church.  Mr.  Callinan  comes  of  a 
family  of  railroad  men,  h'is  father,  John  G.,  commencing  with  the 
same  company  as  his  son,  and  gradually  earning  his  promotion  to 
the  position  of  passenger  conductor,  serving  in  AViseonsiu  until 
1888,  when  he  Avas  transferred  to  South  Dakota,  still  retaining  his 
position.  He  died  Avhile  in  the  employ  of  the  company,  March  21, 
1899.  His  wife  had  previously  died,  March  8,  1892.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Ellen  Gilmartin.  William  and  Katherine  (O'Malley) 
Meany,  parents  of  Mrs.  Frank  M.  Callinan,  were  pioneers  of  thih 
county,  the  O'Malleys  locating  in  1856,  and  William  Meany,  in 
Windom  township,  in  1868.  William  Meany  was  a  hard  working 
industrious  farmer  and  died  on  the  farm,  January  30,  1895.  The 
mother  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead. 

W.  E.  Cornelius  was  born  in  Winona  county,  Minnesota,  and 
came  to  Freeborn  county  in  3896.  In  1908  he  moved  to  Mower 
county  and  was  married  that  year  to  Mrs.  .Thea  Ulland,  the 
daughter  of  Gilbert  Thompson,  an  early  settler  of  Freeborn 
county.  By  her  first  husband,  whom  she  married  in  1898,  Mrs. 
Cornelius  has  two  children :  Albertina  T.  and  Genelia  S.  To  her 
and  W.  E.  Cornelius  has  been  born  one  daughter,  Beatrite  L.  The 
Cornelius  farm  is  pleasantly  situated  in  Udolpho  township,  and 
the  comfortable  residence  faces  the  road  which  divides  the  coun- 
ties of  Mower  and  Freeborn. 

Gilbert  Thompson,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Freeborn  county, 
lives  in  Ni  wry,  l)ut  owns  considerable  land  in  Lansing  township. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  633 

this  county.  lie  ■\\'as  born  in  Norway  in  1844,  came  to  America  in 
1868,  to  Grand  Meadow  in  1870  and  to  Neury  township  in  1871. 
Woods  then  covered  that  A'ieinity,  and  the  fields  were  in  five-acre 
lots.  He  worked  his  fields  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  hauled  his 
grain  for  many  miles  with  them.  There  were  no  mowers  or 
binders  in  that  part  of  the  country  at  that  time,  and  Mr.  Thomp- 
son had  to  cut  his  grain  by  hand,  rake  it  together,  and  tie  it  while 
on  the  ground.  He  married  Tliora  Scarabraaten,  who  has  proved 
an  able  helpmeet. 

William  Preston  Dennis,  now  living  in  Dodge  county,  where 
he  has  been  treasurer  of  school  district  64  for  nine  years,  was  a 
resident  of  Mower  county  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and 
during  that  time  Avas  actively  identified  with  its  agricultural 
development.  He  was  born  in  Clayton  county,  Iowa,  June  1,  1858, 
son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Brookskier)  Dennis,  natives  of  Kentucky, 
Avho  brought  their  son,  William  Preston,  to  jMower  county  when 
he  was  eleven  years  of  age.  Here  he  attained  to  the  years  of 
manhood  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  Eight  years  of  his 
life  have  been  spent  in  South  Dakota,  where  he  and  his  family 
went  through  the  trials  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  He  there 
served  the  county  wherein  he  resided  two  years  as  sheriff.  Be- 
coming tired  of  frontier  life,  he  moved  back  to  Minnesota,  and  has 
since  lived  on  his  present  farm,  being  a  very  prosperous  farmer. 
Mr.  Dennis  is  an  independent  voter  and  affiliates  with  no  church. 
He  is  the  owner  of  160  acres  of  land  with  substantial  buildings 
and  sixty  head  of  fine  stock.  Mr.  Dennis  is  a  man  of  substance 
and  standing  in  the  community.  He  married  Jennette  M.  Steele, 
daughter  of  George  and  Jennette  (Marshall)  Steele,  and  they  are 
the  parents  of  seven  children :  Floy  I.,  Harvey  J.,  William  Roy, 
Ida  May,  Nellie  Etta,  Harrison  D.  and  Charles  R.  Floy  I.  is  the 
wife  of  William  Driscoll,  and  they  have  three  children.  Ida  is  the 
wife  of  John  Koelin,  and  they  have  two  children.  Nellie  is  tlie 
wife  of  Ingval  Anderson.  Mr.  Dennis  is  well  regarded  in  the 
community  wherein  lie  makes  his  home. 

Sylvester  A.  Dennis,  a  pioneer  of  Mower  county  who  arrived 
in  1857,  was  born  February  19,  1816,  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  and 
was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Vermilion  county,  Indiana,  when 
fifteen  years  of  age.  When  about  twenty  years  of  age,  he  married 
Catherine  Mathews,  who  was  born  in  1818  in  Ohio.  In  1849 
S3dvester  A.  took  his  family  to  Allamakee  county,  Iowa,  and  there 
his  wife  died  in  December,  1850,  leaving  six  children,  after  which 
in  1852  he  married  Rebecca  Arnold,  who  also  bore  him  six  chil- 
dren. In  May,  1857,  ^Mr.  Dennis  came  to  Mower  county,  and  for 
eight  years  lived  in  Red  Rock  township.  Eight  years  later  he 
traded  farms,  and  secured  a  place  in  section  19,  Waltham  town- 


634  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

ship,  to  which  farm  he  moved,  aud  there  continued  to  live  until 
his  death,  December  17,  1867. 

Isaac  Dennis,  a  retired  farmer  now  living  in  Lansing  village, 
was  born  June  7,  1838,  in  Vermilion  county,  Indiana,  son  of 
Sylvester  A.  and  Catherine  (Mathews)  Dennis.  He  was  taken 
by  his  parents  to  Allamakee  county,  Iowa,  in  1849,  and  came  to 
Mower  county  in  1856  with  five  yoke  of  oxen  to  locate  a  claim  for 
liis  father.  Crossing  the  prairie  from  Calmar,  Iowa,  to  Browns- 
dale,  Minn.,  he  found  no  wood  to  make  a  fire,  and  on  the  second 
day  he  took  a  box  top  from  the  wagon  and  split  it  up  to  make  a 
fire  to  cook  dinner.  He  broke  the  first  prairie  ever  broken  in  Red 
Rock  township.  In  1869  he  brought  his  family  to  Red  Rock  and 
here  he  has  since  continued  to  reside.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  all  his  school  hours  being  spent  in  an  old  log 
schoolhouse.  He  farmed  on  his  father's  farm  for  several  years, 
and  later  purchased  the  same  for  his  own.  He  is  now  practically 
retired  from  active  work.  By  his  first  wife,  Mary  J.  Brookskier, 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  who  died  December  30,  1881,  Mr.  Dennis  has 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  nine,  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  are 
living.  The  present  Mrs.  Dennis  was  Eliza  Hart,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Ann  (Dowden)  Hart,  whom  he  married  May  29,  1884. 

E.  E.  Dennis  conducts  agricultural  operations  on  a  well- 
arranged,  well-kept  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Udolpho  township, 
and  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  vicinity,  his  interest  in 
education  being  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  had  served  on  the 
school  board  of  his  district  for  over  eleven  years.  He  was  born 
in  Clayton  county,  Iowa,  February  9,  1862,  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary 
(Brookskier)  Dennis,  natives  respectively  of  Indiana  and  Ken- 
tucky. Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Mower  county  with  his 
parents  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  and  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  receiving  such  education  as  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood 
afforded.  When  he  grew  to  manhood,  he  left  home  and  worked 
out  for  a  time  before  purchasing  his  present  farm.  "When  a  youth, 
Mr.  Dennis  was  for  three  successive  years  herdboy  in  Udolpho. 
In  this  connection  he  had  many  interesting  experiences,  and  the 
first  year  had  the  excitement  of  killing  fifty-two  rattle  snakes. 
Land  at  that  time  could  be  purchased  for  from  $3  to  $6  per  acre. 
A  short  time  after  leaving  home.  E.  E.  Dennis  was  married,  i\Iarch 
25,  1885,  to  Alice  Dillio,  daughter  of  Arrora  and  Catherine  Dillie, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children:  Walter  P.,  Pearl, 
Ernest  and  Glenn.  Walter  P.  was  married  April  9,  190.7,  to 
Lorreta  Driscal,  one  of  Mower  county's  best  teachers.  Pearl 
married  Robert  Ward,  May  17,  1908,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Ruth. 

Peter  P.  Dock,  a  retired  farmer  of  Lyle  village,  is  one  of  the 
estimable  citizens  of  the  county,  who  has  made  the  most  of  the 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  635 

opportunities  presented  in  this  country.  With  little  encourage- 
ment, and  no  help  but  liis  own  energy,  he  has  worked  his  way  up, 
and  has  overcome  difficulties  and  hardships  that  would  have  dis- 
couraged many.  He  was  born  in  Norway,  March  25,  1838,  son  of 
Peter  Thompson  and  Caroline  Peterson,  his  good  wife.  The  father 
died  in  the  old  country  when  Peter  was  a  small  boy,  and  Peter 
had  to  help  his  mother  in  every  way  he  could.  He  remained  in 
Norway  until  1861,  when  with  his  mother  and  his  brother,  Knute 
P.,  he  sailed  for  America.  His  mother  and  brother  settled  in 
Blooming  Prairie  township,  where  the  former  took  a  homestead 
of  160  acres,  and  remained  until  her  death.  The  brother,  Knute 
P.,  remained  on  the  homestead  until  his  death,  in  the  spring  of 
1910.  After  coming  to  America,  Peter  P.  first  worked  out  on  a 
farm  for  two  years  in  Iowa,  earning  little  but  his  board.  After 
this  he  took  a  homestead  in  Blooming  Prairie  township,  Steele 
county,  where  he  remained  for  four  years.  Times  were  hard, 
money  was  scarce  and  provisions  hard  to  obtain,  and  often  Mr. 
Dock  had  to  do  without  the  bare  necessities.  He  sold  his  claim 
and  moved  to  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  where  he  purchased  120 
acres  of  land,  which  he  broke,  tilled  and  developed,  erecting  a 
fine  home  and  other  buildings,  and  later  adding  another  120 
acres,  making  240  acres  in  all,  it  being  one  of  the  finest  places  in 
his  township.  There  he  lived,  prospered  and  carried  on  general 
farming  until  1903,  when  he  sold  the  farm  and  moved  to  Otrauto 
township,  ilitchell  county,  where  he  purchased  a  160-acre  farm. 
There  he  lived  until  March,  1910,  when  he  rented  his  farm  and 
purchased  his  present  Jiome  in  the  village  of  Lyle.  He  has  re- 
modeled the  buildings,  and  there  in  well  deserved  comfort  he  now 
lives  a  retired  life.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Dock  was  married  in  August,  1865, 
to  Susan  Peterson,  a  native  of  Norway.  To  this  union  was  born 
seven  children :  Peter  P.,  Jr.,  of  Hawley,  Minn. ;  Sevar,  of  Bur- 
vick,  N.  D. ;  Theodore,  of  Sauk  Center,  Minn. ;  Oliver,  of  Lyle ; 
Caroline,  deceased;  Rosa,  now  wife  of  Harry  Farley,  station 
agent  for  the  Illinois  Central,  and  Lena,  who  lives  at  homo. 

Clarence  M.  Emmons,  a  Inisiness  man  of  Austin  and  manager 
of  the  Eclipse  Lumber  Yards,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Delaware  county.  New  York,  February  25,  1860.  After  receiving 
a  district  school  education,  he  moved  to  Waverly,  Iowa,  clerking 
for  two  years,  later  being  employed  in  a  lumber  yard  at  Sumner, 
Iowa,  for  a  short  time.  In  1881  he  went  to  Salem,  S.  D.,  operat- 
ing a  stage  line  from  that  city  to  Sioux  Falls  during  the  next  six 
months;  later  engaging  in  the  livery  business  at  Salem,  in  which 
he  remained  but  a  short  while.  Returning  to  Sumner,  Iowa,  in 
1893,  he  spent  two  years  in  a  lumber  yard.  He  then  renu)ved  to 
Manlev  Junction,  Iowa,  where  he  conducted  a  restaurant  for  a 


636  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COTJXTY 

year,  previous  to  his  removal  in  November,  1897,  to  Austin,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  ice  business,  remaining  in  this  line  two  years. 
He  then  sold  out  and  accepted  his  present  position  as  manager 
for  the  Eclipse  Lumber  Company,  in  which  capacity  he  has  been 
very  successful  in  building  up  and  holding  a  large  patronage. 
He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers'  Brick  and  Tile  Company, 
of  Austin.  His  political  convictions  are  Republican,  and  he  has 
served  as  alderman  of  the  second  ward  two  years.  The  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  local  commercial  club 
number  him  among  their  active  members.  April  30,  1895,  he 
married  Julia  Cummings,  by  whom  he  has  two  children:  Alice, 
born  at  Sumner,  Iowa,  September  27,  1898,  and  Morton,  born 
August  6,  1900.  Mrs.  Emmons  passed  away  December  8,  1909. 
The  family  worships  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The 
residence  is  at  108  South  St.  Paul  street.  Morton  and  Elizabeth 
(Michael)  Emmons,  parents  of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  New 
York  state,  where  the  father  followed  farming  iintil  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  November  of  1865.  The  mother  passed  away 
during  the  same  month  and  year. 

George  W.  Eastman,  well  known  in  Mower  county,  was  born 
in  Oconomowoe,  Waukesha  county,  September  18,  1863.  His 
education  was  acquired  in  the  district  schools  of  Mower  county 
and  in  Darling's  business  college  at  Rochester,  Minn.,  after  which 
he  taught  school  for  six  terms  in  Mower  county.  Mr.  Eastman 
then  engaged  in  farming  in  this  county,  but  at  present  is  prac- 
tically retired  from  that  line  of  work,  devoting  his  attention  to 
grain  and  stock  buying,  also  liaA'ing  a  fire  insurance  agency.  In 
politics  he  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party.  His 
fraternal  associations  are  with  the  Modern  AVoodmen  of  America 
and  tlie  jMasonic  order.  In  1893  he  was  joined  in  marriage  with 
Edith  Carll,  daughter  of  Freeman  A.  and  Eliza  E.  Carll.  They 
have  three  children:  Inez  M.,  Edna  I.  and  Dorothy  E.  George 
W.  Eastman  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Ann  (Kearny)  Eastman,  the 
father  a  native  of  England  and  the  mother  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
their  marriage  occurring  in  the  latter  place.  In  1855  they  joined 
the  westward  tide  of  emigration,  the  father  finally  taking  a  claim 
in  Windom  township,  ]\Iowcr  county,  in  1862.  He  brought  his 
family  onto  the  farm  two  years  later.  His  decease  occurred 
May  17,  1907.    His  mother  died  March  19,  1888. 

L.  M.  Eggen,  for  the  past  fifteen  years  town  clerk  of  Nevada, 
in  which  capacity  he  has  given  general  satisfaction,  is  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  the  county.  His  well  kept  farm  of  160  acres 
lies  partly  in  Nevada  township,  this  county,  and  partly  in  Union 
township,  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  Here  he  carries  on  general 
farming  operations  with  much  success,  having  been  in  possession 
of  the  place  since  1893,  when  he  purchased  it  from  his  father. 


IIISTOKy  OF  MOWKi;  COUNTY  G37 

L.  M.  Eggen  was  born  in  Racine  county,  Wisconsin,  January  14, 
1871,  son  of  Rev.  J.  Muller  and  Henrietta  (Rossow)  Eggen,  and 
with  them  came  to  Mower  county  in  1882,  settling  on  the  farm  he 
now  occupies.  Being  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  evils  of  in- 
temperance, ]Mr.  Eggen  votes  the  Prohibition  ticket,  and  is  an 
ardent  worker  in  the  cause  of  total  abstinence.  He  and  his  family 
worship  at  the  Lutheran  church.  By  his  marriage,  June  1,  1893, 
to  Libbie  Larsen,  daughter  of  die  and  Anna  Larsen,  he  has  three 
children :  John,  born  February  6,  1895 ;  Harriett,  born  January 
24,  1898,  and  Walter,  June  7,  1904.  Ole  Larsen,  father  of  Mrs. 
Eggen,  is  dead,  and  Mrs.  Larsen  is  now  living  in  Brookings,  S.  D. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  them :  Nils  lives  in  Brookings,  S.  D. ; 
Louis  lives  in  Taeoma,  Wash. ;  Bennie  is  dead ;  Libbie  is  wife  of 
L.  M.  Eggen;  Bertha  is  in  charge  of  the  hospital  at  Volga,  S.  D. ; 
Jennie  married  Dr.  G.  G.  Eitel,  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  Clara  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  C.  A.  Anderson,  of  Rush  City,  Minn. 

Rev.  Johannes  Mueller  Eggen  was  born  near  Trondhjem,  Nor- 
way, April  20,  1841.  Until  his  confirmation  he  stayed  at  home, 
but  then  went  to  his  uncle  in  the  city  of  Tromso  and  accepted  a 
position  as  clerk  in  his  store,  taking  at  the  same  time  instruction 
in  the  grammar  school  with  a  view  of  entering  the  university. 
After  spending  two  years  in  Tromso  he  studied  at  the  university. 
From  there  he  went  to  Bergen  as  instructor  in  languages.  At  this 
time  he  thought  seriously  of  going  on  the  stage,  but  the  desire 
of  giving  his  time  and  talents  to  a  better  cause  became  stronger 
and  he  finally  entered  the  seminary  with  religious  work  in  view. 
After  studyiug'theology  for  one  year  he  established  a  high  school 
at  Trysil,  and  held  the  position  of  principal  for  a  number  of  years. 
Then  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church 
in  America  and  came  here  in  the  summer  of  1865.  He  was,  how- 
ever, urged  by  leading  men  of  the  Augustana  Synod  to  enter  the 
theological  seminary  at  Paxton,  111.,  to  perfect  his  theological 
education  and  enter  the  ministry.  This  he  decided  to  do.  He 
graduated  in  the  summer  of  1866  and  was  ordained  the  same  year, 
accepting  a  call  from  the  Lutheran  congregations  at  Stoughton 
and  Racine,  Wis.  He  served  these  for  five  years,  residing  at 
Racine.  In  1871  he  moved  to  Luther  Valley,  Rock  county,  AVis- 
consin,  where  he  labored  until  1882,  when  he  accepted  a  call  from 
Six  ]Miles  Grove  congregation  in  Adams,  or  Little  Cedar  congre- 
gation and  Mona  and  Lyle  congregation,  all  in  Mower  county. 
This  call  he  served  until  1905,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of 
poor  health.  Rev.  Eggen  held  several  official  positions  in  the 
church.  For  nine  years  he  was  secretary  of  the  conference,  for 
two  years  vice  president  and  in  1886  was  elected  president  of  that 
body.  Rev.  Eggen  has  also  written  several  books.  Among  these 
may  be  mentioned:    "Confirmation,"  "Engagement,"  "The  Im- 


ms  HISTOEY  OF  MO  WEE  .COUNTY 

portance  of  Missions,"  "The  Sins  of  the  Church"  and  "A  Look  at 
Our  Times."  In  1865  Eev.  Eggen  was  married  to  Henrietta 
Rossow.  This  union  was  blessed  with  eight  children,  two  of  whom 
have  died.  The  surAdving  are  Lizzie,  the  wife  of  John  O.  Oas, 
teacher  at  Scandinavia,  Wis.;  Lawrence  M.  lives  on  the  home 
place  in  Nevada  township ;  Rena,  the  wife  of  A.  M.  Wilson,  for- 
merly a  merchant  of  Lyle,  Minn. ;  Laura,  the  wife  of  Eev.  M.  E. 
Waldeland,  of  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa;  Emelie,  matron  of  the  Thomas 
hospital  in  Minneapolis ;  Gustave,  who  is  with  the  Chicago  North- 
western railway  at  Manitowoc,  Wis.  Mrs.  Eggen  died  in  1900 
and  Eev.  Eggen  was  married  for  the  second  time  in  1903  to  Mrs. 
Gunhild  Thorson.  Eev.  Eggen  and  wife  spent  the  greater  part 
of  the  past  four  or  five  years  in  Alabama  on  account  of  the  for- 
mer's poor  health.  They  now  live  with  their  son  on  the  place  he 
located  upon  when  he  first  moved  to  this  state. 

John  Fairbanks,  justice  of  the  peace  and  for  many  years  a 
prominent  and  respected  citizen  of  Mower  county,  was  born  at 
Eoyalton,  Vt.,  March  24,  1840.  His  boyhood  was  passed  on  his 
father's  farm,  near  Bethel,  Vt.,  to  which  the  family  moved  shortly 
after  his  birth.  The  district  schools  afforded  him  the  education 
usual  to  those  times,  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  calling  him 
from  his  books.  Enlisting  in  Co.  F,  3rd  Vermont  Inf.,  May  10, 
1861,  he  served  with  this  company  until  May  3,  1863,  being 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  and  sent  to  an  army 
hospital  at  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  after  his  recovery  being  placed  under 
detached  service,  from  which  he  was  honorably  discharged  Jan- 
uary 27,  1864.  Eeturning  to  his  family,  he  spent  three  years  in 
Vermont,  migrating  west  in  1869  and  settling  on  a  farm  near 
Windom,  Minn.,  on  which  he  remained,  carrying  on  general  fai-m- 
ing,  until  1879,  when  he  removed  to  Austin,  where  he  engaged 
as  carpenter  and  joiner.  Mr.  Fairbanks  is  a  progressive  in  politics 
and  is  serving  his  fifth  year  as  justice  of  the  peace.  The  local  post 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Eepublic  counts  him  an  active  member. 
October  8,  1863,  he  was  married  to  Marina  M.  Newman,  by  Avhom 
he  has  eight  children :  Maud,  now  ]\Irs.  Barr ;  May,  Mrs.  Stimson, 
a  widow ;  Susan,  wife  of  Al.  E.  Peaslee ;  Mattie,  married  to  Frank 
Brown ;  Esther,  living  at  home ;  Charles,  of  Seattle ;  Luke,  located 
in  Los  Angeles,  and  Lee,  of  Minneapolis.  Lorenzo  and  Esther 
(Bowen)  Fairbanks,  parents  of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  New 
England,  the  father  being  born  in  Barnard  and  the  mother  in 
Eoyalton,  Vt. 

Albert  Galloway,  noAv  deceased,  will  long  be  remembered  in 
the  community  for  his  public  spirited  generosity,  and  the  interest 
he  took  in  educational  progress.  He  was  born  in  Newburg, 
Orange  county.  New  York,  October  6,  1822.  His  early  manhood 
was  spent  on  the  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  went 


ALBERT   GALLOWAY. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  639 

to  Corniug,  Steuben  county,  in  the  same  state,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  six  years.  Later  he  went  to 
Port  Burwell,  in  Canada,  and  lived  there  until  1856,  when  he 
came  west,  intending  to  locate  in  Minneapolis.  On  the  way, 
however,  he  met  friends,  who  induced  him  to  go  to  Chatfield 
instead.  He  therefore  traveled  with  them  on  foot,  from  AVinona, 
and  after  reaching  Chatfield  proceeded  on  to  Frankford,  walking 
all  the  way.  Mr.  Galloway  then  rode  to  Austin,  arriving  in  the 
fall.  Here  he  preempted  a  claim  in  section  17,  township  102, 
range  18,  clerking  that  winter  in  the  store  of  Hanchett  &  Sprague. 
He  proved  up  his  claim  the  following  November,  and  about  the 
same  time  (1857)  formed  a  partnership  with  D.  B.  Johnson,  Jr., 
in  the  mercantile  business.  For  this  store  a  building  was  erected 
from  logs  that  he  had  sawed,  the  edifice  standing  east  of  the 
present  site  of  the  postoffice.  After  a  year  the  partnership  was 
dissolved,  Mr.  Galloway  continuing  the  business  alone  until  1868. 
Previous  to  this  he  had  purchased  sixty  acres  of  land  in  section  3, 
now  included  in  the  city  limits  of  Austin,  and  here  he  lived, 
owning  also  320  acres  in  section  24,  Austin  township,  besides 
considerable  other  property.  He  was  married  in  November,  1860, 
to  Rosetta  Carter,  of  Sheflford  county,  Quebec,  Canada,  and  to 
this  union  were  born  two  children:  "William  A.  and  Ellen  R., 
the  latter  now  being  Mrs.  C.  W.  Tyler.  Mrs.  Rosetta  Galloway 
died  January  1,  1865,  and  for  his  second  wife,  Mr.  Galloway  mar- 
ried, June  8,  1868,  Amy  M.  Carter,  widow  of  James  Darrah,  and 
daughter  of  John  and  Charlotte  (Phelps)  Carter,  the  former 
being  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  the  latter  of  Canada.  To  Albert 
and  Amy  Galloway  were  born  two  children:  Charles  D.  and 
John  Elbert.  Mrs.  Galloway  also  has  a  daughter,  Minnie  Darrah, 
by  her  first  marriage.  Mr.  Galloway  died  on  October  6,  1907. 
He  gave  the  land  for  the  Southern  Minnesota  Normal  college  at 
Austin,  and  was  deeply  interested  in  it.  He  was  also  a  charter 
member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Austin,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  the  last  surviving  charter  member.  William  A.  Gallo- 
way Avas  married  in  1883  to  Rose  Miller  and  they  have  three 
children:  Ethel,  Elmer  and  Ralph.  Ellen  Rose  Galloway  was 
married  in  1888  to  Winfield  S.  Stockman,  and  they  have  two 
children :  Estelle  M.  and  Amy  G.  Charles  D.  Galloway  married 
Laura  Slocum,  daughter  of  Wesley  Slocum,  of  Sibley,  Iowa.  The 
marriage  took  place  January  1,  1897,  and  they  made  their  home 
in  IMinneapolis  until  her  death  in  May,  1902.  Estelle  M.  Darrah, 
now  Mrs.  Charles  B.  Dyke,  is  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Galloway  by 
her  first  marriage.  Mrs.  Dyke  has  been  quite  prominent  in 
educational  matters.  She  Avas  pi-incipal  of  the  teachers'  training 
school  at  St.  Paul,  has  taught  in  the  Normal  school  at  Mankato, 
and  has  done  institute  work  in  California,  in  which  state  she 


640  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

graduated  from  the  Leland  Stanford  University.  ]\Irs.  Dyke  is 
now  sojourning  in  Seville,  Spain. 

John  Elbert  Galloway,  the  well-known  Austin  fruit  grower, 
was  born  in  Austin  townsliip,  son  of  Albert  and  Amy  Galloway, 
and  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  still  con- 
duets.  Aside  from  carrying  on  general  farming,  he  has  over  a 
thousand  trees  in  his  orchard,  mostly  apples.  lie  is  an  enthusi- 
ast in  the  art  of  raising  apples,  and  has  been  very  successful.  He 
married  Myra  AYarren,  daughter  of  N.  W.  Warren,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Cedric  E. 

Nels  K.  Goodwin,  now  deceased,  was  a  hard  working  man  of 
honor  and  integrity,  and  his  memory  will  long  be  respected  in 
the  community  wherein  he  lived.  He  was  born  in  Norway,  June 
18,  1848,  and  was  still  in  his  teens  when  in  1866  he  left  his  native 
country  for  America,  landing  at  Montreal,  Canada,  and  going 
directly  to  Iowa,  where  he  remained  for  a  short  time.  In  1870 
he  came  to  Mower  county  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Adams,  and 
engaged  in  farming.  Two  years  later  he  came  to  Udolpho,  pur- 
chased the  east  half  of  section  29  from  Barnard  &  Cooper,  and 
made  many  improvements  on  the  place,  tilling  the  grovind,  erect- 
ing buildings,  acquiring  machinery,  setting  out  trees  and  raising 
some  excellent  crops.  Mr.  Goodwin  died  August  10,  1900.  By 
his  wife,  Sarah  Thompson,  daughter  of  Knute  Thompson,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  had  nine  children:  Martha,  Knute,  Carl, 
Celia,  Theodore,  Julia,  Nels,  Clara  and  Selmer.  Of  these  but  two, 
Knute  and  Nels,  are  living.  Mrs.  Goodwin  died  in  November, 
1907,  from  the  effects  of  burns  accidentally  received  while  burn- 
ing dead  leaves  on  the  farm.  Nels  and  Knute  now  manage  the 
home  farm,  which  consists  of  320  acres.  They  also  own  another 
farm  one  mile  west  of  the  home  place,  which  consists  of  240  acres, 
which  they  rent  out.  They  own  in  all  560  acres  of  good  land. 
The  brothers  are  well  versed  in  modern  agricultural  methods,  and 
their  place  is  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the  county,  being  well 
equipped  with  fine  buildings  and  up-to-date  machinery.  Like 
their  father  before  them,  the  Goodwin  brothers  attend  the  Red 
Oak  Grove  Lutheran  church,  and  are  well  thought  of  in  the 
community. 

Moses  D.  Gue,  now  deceased,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Fillmore 
county,  just  over  the  eastern  line  of  Mower  county,  was  born  in 
New  York  state  and  there  spent  his  early  days,  being  married 
March  20,  1848,  at  Boonville,  Oneida  county.  New  York,  to  Maria 
Hurlbert,  daughter  of  John  Hurlbert.  Mr.  Gue  came  west  in 
1850,  and  located  in  Wisconsin,  where  his  family  joined  him  some 
months  later.  From  that  time  until  1856  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  wagons  at  Portage,  Wis.  In  the  latter  year  he 
came  to  Minnesota  and  took  up  a  government  claim  on  the  line 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  G41 

between  Iowa  and  Fillmore  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  other  enterprises.  He  built  his  residence  in  the  neigli- 
l)oring  town  of  Lime  Springs,  and  there  resided  until  1895,  when 
he  retired  and  came  to  Austin,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
^lay  28,  1904.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gue  were  born  nine  children : 
Charles  M.,  Mrs.  Cornelia  Miles,  Frank  D.,  Mrs.  Alice  Addison, 
Inez  Gue  (deceased),  Mrs.  Grace  Pugh,  Mrs.  Cora  Le  Coque, 
Horatio  S.  and  Herbert  E.  Charles  M.  is  at  Hamilton;  Horatio 
Seymour  is  in  Michigan,  and  Herbert  F.  is  an  operator  on  the 
]\Iilwaukee  &  Northern.  Mrs.  Gue  was  born  in  Boonville,  Oneida 
county.  New  York.  Her  father  was  a  constable  and  collector  at 
Boonville  for  twenty  years  and  was  the  father  of  fourteen  cliil- 
dren,  seven  of  whom  are  living,  jMrs.  IMinerva  Reed  being  eighty- 
nine  years  of  age.  John  Hurlbert  helped  to  build  the  first  school- 
house  and  the  first  church  in  Boonville  and  was  a  good  and  loving 
man  always.  He  was  at  Saekett's  Harbor  in  1812  when  the 
British  and  Indians  were  making  their  raids.  His  father,  Josiah, 
was  a  coaster  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Maria  Hurlbert, 
now  j\Irs.  Gue,  was  reared  in  Boonville,  and  tells  with  relish  of 
the  whipping  she  received  in  1830  when  four  years  of  age,  from 
her  first  teacher,  a  tory.  Miss  AVillard,  who  thrashed  her  soundly 
for  shouting  "Hurrah  for  Jackson."  Later  Mrs.  Gue  taught 
school  herself  in  New  York  state,  starting  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen. She  was  married  IMarch  20,  1848,  to  Moses  D.  Gue,  who 
died  May  28,  1904.  Mrs.  Gue  is  very  active  for  one  of  her 
advanced  years.  She  is  a  capable  business  woman  and  looks 
after  her  own  affairs.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  in  these  afternoon  days  of  her  life  she  reaps  much  benefit 
and  sweet  consolation  from  that  faith,  being  a  constant  reader 
of  all  the  published  sermons  pertaining  to  her  church.  She  has 
always  been  a  hard  worker,  and  is  still  very  industrious.  She  is 
eighty-foiir  years  of  age,  has  raised  a  large  family,  for  whom  she 
acted  as  school  teacher  in  the  early  days,  has  done  much  good 
and  is  highly  esteemed  and  respected. 

Silas  Buxton  Hart,  a  substantial  and  well-liked  farmer  of 
"NVindom  township,  was  born  July  19,  1855,  in  Clayton,  N.  Y., 
son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Bachelder)  Hart.  He  was  reared 
in  Iowa,  and  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  state,  after 
wliich  he  took  up  farming  with  his  friends  for  a  time  and 
then  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He  now  owns  120  acres  of 
good  land  in  section  32,  Windom,  and  successfully  conducts 
farming  operations,  his  home  being  comfortable,  his  barns  ade- 
quate, and  his  machinery  modern  and  well  kept.  ^Ir.  Hart  is  a 
Republican  in  politics  and  being  of  a  sociable  nature  he  has  allied 
himself  with  the  "Woodmen  and  the  "Workmen,  in  both  of  which 
he  is  a  popular  member.     lie  married  Jennie  "Yarco,  daughter  of 


642  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Thomas  and  Emeline  Varco,  of  Austin  township,  this  county.  The 
ceremony  was  performed  March  12,  1882,  at  the  hride's  home,  and 
their  union  has  been  blessed  with  eight  children.  There  are  three 
dead,  Delilah  A.,  born  August  25,  1888 ;  Grace  V.,  born  August 
28,  1894,  and  one  unnamed  infant  born  November  22,  1896.  The 
living  are :  Benjamin  Thomas,  born  December  30,  1882,  now  liv- 
ing in  Austin ;  S.  Emeline,  born  September  20,  1884,  now  living  at 
home ;  Paul  B.,  born  August  28,  1886,  now  living  in  Austin ; 
Gladys  I.,  born  March  21,  1890,  now  wife  of  Arthur  De  Remer,  of 
Nevada  township ;  and  Ada  J.,  born  May  13,  1892,  now  living  at 
home.  Emeline  and  Ada  are  both  successful  teachers.  Benjamin 
Hart  and  Mary  Batchelder,  his  Avife,  were  born  respectively  in 
New  York  state  and  Vermont.  The  former  was  a  shipbuilder 
and  died  June  26,  1861,  at  the  age  of  53.  The  latter  died  Febru- 
ary 22,  1873.  By  their  marriage,  which  occurred  June  8,  1828, 
they  had  twelve  children.  Of  these  Silas  B.  is  the  youngest. 
Four  of  the  family  are  now  living.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  three 
of  the  brothers  were  in  the  Civil  war.  One,  now  living  in 
Plymouth,  Mich,  was  severely  wounded  and  one,  Benjamin,  was 
born  September  3,  1841,  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Twenty-ninth 
"Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  died  January  3,  1863,  at  Jef- 
ferson Barracks,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  while  in  the  United  States 
service. 

Joseph  Hagan  conducts  an  excellent  farm  of  160  acres  in  Red 
Rock  township,  is  an  estimable  citizen  and  has  done  public  serv- 
ice as  a  member  of  the  township  board  of  supervisors,  and  of 
the  school  board  of  his  district.  He  was  born  in  Columbia 
county,  Wisconsin,  November  23,  1872,  son  of  Frank  and  Bridget 
(Costello)  Ilagan.  In  1878  he  was  brought  to  Red  Rock  township 
by  his  parents  and  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  farm,  working 
summers  and  attending  school  winters.  After  he  was  twenty- 
one  he  left  the  home  roof  and  farmed  for  some  years  before 
purchasing  his  present  farm.  He  married  Margaret  Ryan  in 
1904,  and  they  have  two  children:  George  E.,  aged  four  years, 
and  Genevieve  M.,  aged  two  years.  Mrs.  Hagan  is  the  daughter 
of  John  and  Johannah  (Sheehan)  Ryan. 

Frank  Hagan  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  married  Bridget  Cos- 
tello. In  1840  he  located  in  Canada  and  worked  for  a  time  in  a 
flouring  mill.  Later  he  moved  to  Portage  City,  Wis.,  when  the 
site  of  that  city  was  occupied  by  nothing  but  a  fort.  At  this 
point  his  father  erected  a  flour  mill,  and  in  1878  came  to  Red 
Rock  township.  Mower  county,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm  in 
section  20. 

Peter  Hanson,  a  retired  farmer  of  Austin,  is  a  native  of  Den- 
mark, his  natal  date  being  January  24,  1850.  His  education  has 
been  largely  self-acquired,  though  he  attended  the  public  schools 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  643 

of  his  uative  land  for  a  time.  In  1869  he  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  America,  locating  at  Milton  Junction,  Rock  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, working  on  a  farm  a  while  and  then  going  to  Milwaukee, 
where  he  remained  four  years.  In  1876  he  came  to  Minnesota, 
settling  at  Rose  Creek,  Mower  county,  and  purchasing  some 
laud,  started  farming  operations  on  his  own  account,  continuing 
in  this  line  of  work  until  his  removal  to  Austin  nine  years  ago, 
where  he  has  since  lived  retired,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest  after 
his  years  of  toil.  His  polities  are  Republican,  and  he  has  always 
borne  his  part  in  local  affairs,  serving  as  supervisor  during  his 
fifteen  years'  residence  in  Nevada  township,  and  in  the  same  office 
in  Brownsdale,  where  he  lived  eleven  years.  He  is  identified 
with  the  Masons,  belonging  to  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter,  Com- 
mandery,  and  the  Eastern  Star  Lodge.  He  was  master  of  the 
lodge  two  years.  In  1876  he  was  married  to  Hannah  Hanson,  by 
whom  he  has  two  children:  Albert  H.  and  Elizabeth  D.  Peter 
and  Katharine  Hanson,  parents  of  our  subject,  lived  all  their 
lives  in  Denmark,  the  father  working  as  a  mechanic. 

Isaac  N.  Howe,  owner  and  proprietor  of  a  prosperous  rug 
manufactory  in  Aiistin,  is  an  old-time  resident  of  Mower  county, 
and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  He  was  born  in  New  York  state, 
his  parents  being  Lyman  S.  and  Mary  Ann  (Benham)  Howe. 
The  family  migrated  to  Illinois,  and  lived  in  Cook  county  five 
years,  afterward  taking  up  their  residence  in  Grundy  county,  in 
the  same  state.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  enlisted  in  the  Union 
army  at  Joliet,  and  served  in  Company  M,  Twelfth  Illinois  Cav- 
alry, being  discharged  at  Madison,  Ind.,  May  13,  1865.  In  the  fall 
of  that  year  he  came  to  Fillmore  county,  this  state,  and  in  1880 
to  Mower  county.  In  1895  he  went  to  Day  county,  but  in  the 
fall  of  1900  came  back  to  IMower  county,  Avhere  he  has  since 
lived.  The  rug  manufactory  of  which  ]Mr.  Howe  is  the  proprietor 
manufactures  Avhat  is  called  the  Fluff  rug,  and  is  the  only  concern 
of  its  kind  in  the  county.  Mr.  Howe  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
He  was  married  December  7,  1865,  to  Augusta  Jane  Benham, 
and  they  lived  together  nine  years.  To  this  union  were  born 
three  children:  Elias  N.,  Albert  and  Etta.  In  1880  he  married 
Ellen  Josephine  Bailey,  and  to  this  union  three  children  were 
born,  AVilliam  S.,  Cora  A.  and  Etta  M.  Mrs.  Ellen  Howe  died  in 
1888,  and  in  1892  Mr.  Howe  was  married  to  Sarah  L.  Bailey,  a 
Ucitive  of  Austin,  daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  Bailey. 

Thomas  W.  Hines,  a  former  farmer  of  Windom  township,  was 
l)orn  in  Janesville,  AVis.,  September  15,  1871,  son  of  Walter  and 
Alary  (Joyce)  Hines,  both  natives  of  England.  The  family  moved 
to  McGregor,  Iowa,  when  Thomas  W.  was  an  infant,  and  here 
AValter  Hines,  the  father,  conducted  a  grocery  and  dry  goods 
store  a  short  time.    In  1874  the  family  came  to  AVindom  township 


644  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

aud  here  Walter  Hines,  the  father,  farmed  until  1901,  when  ho 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  his  wife  dying  at  the  age 
of  sixty-nine.  Thomas  W.  was  reared  on  the  farm,  attended  the 
district  schools,  and  carried  on  agricultural  operations  until  1907, 
in  which  year  he  came  to  Austin,  where  he  still  resides,  the  farm 
in  Windom  township  being  rented.  His  sisters,  Margaret  and 
Scharlotte,  are  dead.  His  brother,  George,  lives  in  Rose  Creek 
and  his  sister,  Mary,  is  the  wife  of  N.  H.  Garrison.  I\Ir.  and  Mrs. 
Garrison  have  one  child,  Lillian.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 

Eugene  V.  Hart  Avas  born  December  16,  1870,  at  Owatouna, 
j\Iinn.,  son  of  J.  Allen  and  Amy  (Varco)  Hart.  In  the  fall  of 
1879  the  family  moved  to  Mower  county,  purchasing  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  25,  Austin  township.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  Austin  township,  but  at  an  early  age 
was  forced  to  leave  school  and  take  up  the  responsibilities  of  the 
farm,  this  move  being  made  necessary  by  the  death  of  his  father. 
"With  courage  and  ability  he  set  at  work  and  his  efforts  have  been 
crowned  with  success.  He  is  honored  in  the  community  and  has 
been  treasurer  of  the  township  several  years.  He  is  also  steward 
of  the  Grange.  Mr.  Hart  has  a  fine  farm  of  228  acres,  on  which 
he  conducts  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  was  married 
December  10,  1902,  to  Rachael  Brooks,  and  two  daughters,  Irene 
aud  Bernice  0.,  have  blessed  their  union.  The  family  faith  is 
that  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Riley  Brooks  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania, 
November  22,  1846,  son  of  Aaron  and  Susan  (Bishop)  Brooks,  of 
Pennsylvania.  At  the  age  of  eight  years  Riley  was  taken  to 
Indiana,  and  there  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  enlisted  in  Company 
C,  Seventeenth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  until  mus- 
tered out  and  honorably  discliarged  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
came  to  Fillmore  county  in  1866,  stayed  a  few  years,  then  located 
;)  claim  in  Rock  county,  this  state,  after  which  in  1867  he  came  to 
Slower  county.  In  1880  he  purchased  160  acres  in  section  27, 
Austin  township,  where  he  made  many  improvements,  and  to 
whien  he  added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  a  very  large 
place.  He  has  served  as  supervisor  of  his  township  for  a  dozen 
years,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  a  still 
longer  period.  Riley  Brooks  was  married  January  1,  1878,  to 
Cora  Lott,  daughter  of  Abraham  Lott,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
born  five  children:  Rachael,  Abraham,  Edith  0.,  Lyman  and 
Amanda.  Rachael  is  the  wife  of  Eugene  Hart,  wliile  the  other 
four  are  at  home. 

Robert  L.  Johnson,  prominent  in  the  business  and  political  life 
cf  Austin,  is  a  native  son  of  Mower  county,  being  born  at  Wal- 
tliam,  Minn.,  September  14,  1863.     Pie  received  his  education  in 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEh'  ('(HTXTY  G45 

tho  district  schools  of  this  county,  coucluding  with  a  course  in  the 
-Rochester  business  college  of  Rochester,  Minn.  After  teaching 
school  for  a  fcAv  terms  near  home,  he  gave  his  attention  to  the 
operation  of  the  old  home  farm  until  1889,  when  he  moved  onto 
a  360-acre  farm  of  his  own  in  section  13,  Waltham  township,  on 
v.'hich  he  followed  general  farming  for  the  next  three  years.  In 
the  fall  of  1892  he  was  elected  auditor  of  Mower  county,  suc- 
ceeding himself  for  the  ensuing  ten  years,  and  then,  refusing 
ancther  term,  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  at  Austin, 
enjoying  a  large  patronage  throughout  this  section  of  the  state. 
]\lr.  Johnson  is  secretary  of  the  Austin  ^Mutual  Hail  Insurance 
Company  of  Minnesota,  has  served  as  secretary  and  bookkeeper 
of  the  Minnesota  Farmers'  Elevator  Association  since  1908,  and 
was  instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the  Farmers'  Brick  and 
Tile  Company,  December,  1909,  now  acting  as  treasurer  and 
director.  His  politics  are  Republican,  his  long  service  as  auditor 
a1  testing  to  his  popularity  throughout  the  county.  He  is  asso- 
ciated with  the  Masonic  order  as  a  Knight  Templar,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  ]\rodern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  January  14,  1889,  he  was  married  to 
Lizzie  V.  Lyons,  at  Lansing,  Minn.  They  have  two  children : 
Louise  L.,  born  September  29,  1898,  and  Hazel  I.,  born  March  1, 
1901.  ]\Ir.  and  ^Irs.  Johnson  are  loyal  members  of  the  ^Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Their  home  is  at  104  South  St.  Paul  street. 
George  and  Dorothy  (Bailey)  Johnson,  parents  of  our  subject, 
were  natives  of  Leicestershire,  England.  After  coming  to  the 
iJnited  States  they  tirst  located  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  subsequently 
removing  to  Marquette  county,  Wisconsin,  and  engaging  in  farm- 
ing for  a  time.  They  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Mower  county, 
the  father  carrying  on  farming  in  Red  Rock  township  for  two 
years,  and  then. purchasing  a  quarter  section  in  Yraltham  town- 
ship, gradually  adding  to  this  lantil  he  owned  a  section  of  wild 
land.  "With  true  pioneer  courage  he  took  up  the  immense  task  of 
<'lcaring  and  rendering  the  land  fit  for  farming  purposes,  erect- 
ing a  house  and  farm  buildings,  and  adding  improvements  from 
year  to  year,  successfully  following  general  farming  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  July  2,  1872.  His  wife  died 
in  October,  1892. 

Nathaniel  T.  Johnson,  one  of  the  extensive  land-owners  of 
Slower  county,  now  resides  at  110  South  Kenwood  avenue,  in 
tlic  city  of  Austin,  and  rents  his  rich  acres  to  several  capable 
parties.  He  was  born  in  ^Marquette  county,  Wisconsin,  April  20, 
1856,  son  of  George  and  Dorothy  (Bailey)  Johnson,  who  brought 
him  to  ]Mower  county  at  the  age  of  six  years.  He  was  reared  on 
the  family  farm  in  Waltham  township,  and  at  an  early  age  took 
cliarge  of  the  place,  continuing  general   farming  and   making  a 


646  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

specialty  of  raising  liogs,  sheep  and  cattle, until  his  retirement  from 
farm  life  in  the  fall  of  1909.  He  now  owns  the  home  farm  of  360 
acres  and  an  additional  forty  acres  which  he  purchased  in  Wal- 
tham  township,  as  well  as  another  farm  of  400  acres  in  the  same 
township,  making  in  all  800  acres  which  he  owns  in  this  county. 
]\Ir.  Johnson  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  served  as  county  commis- 
sioner four  years,  was  chairman,  supervisor  and  treasurer  of  his 
township  at  various  times,  and  clerk  and  director  of  school  district 
No.  61.  He  belongs  to  the  Blue  Lodge  and  the  Commandery,  in 
the  ]\Iasonic  order,  and  attends  the  Methodist  church.  The  sub.ject 
of  this  sketch  was  married  March  28,  1894,  to  Louisa  Duff,  and 
this  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children:  Glenn  I.,  born 
December  8,  1895,  and  Robert  C,  born  January  5,  1899. 

George  Johnson,  now  deceased,  one  of  the  early  farmers  of 
Mower  county,  was  born  in  Leicestershire,  England,  and  there 
married  Dorothy  Bailey.  They  came  to  America  in  1852,  located 
for  a  time  in  Erie  county.  New  York,  and  in  1854  took  up  their 
residence  in  Marquette  county,  Wisconsin,  where  they  engaged  in 
farming  until  1862,  when  they  came  to  Mower  county  and  located 
in  Waltham  township,  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  for  100 
sheep  and  $100  in  money.  To  this  farm  they  added  from  time 
to  time,  until  they  owned  a  fine  place  of  680  acres,  most  of  which 
they  broke  and  improved  themselves.  George  Johnson  died  July 
24,  1872,  and  his  widow  survived  until  October  25,  1892,  when  she, 
too,  passed  to  the  Great  Beyond. 

John  0.  Johnson,  farmer  of  Lyle  township,  just  on  the  out- 
skirts of  the  village,  was  born  in  Winnebago  county,  Wisconsin, 
July  16,  1859,  son  of  Ole  A.  and  Isabelle  (Fossey)  Johnson,  natives 
of  Norway.  These  worthy  people  came  to  America  in  1859,  located 
in  Winnebago  county,  Wisconsin,  and  in  1868  came  to  Freeborn 
county,  Minnesota,  locating  in  Albert  Lea  township,  Avhere  they 
own  320  acres  of  highly  improved  land.  John  0.  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  after  leaving  school  took  up 
farming  in  Hayward  township,  in  Freeborn  county,  working  162 
acres  until  1891,  when  he  rented  his  farm  and  moved  to  the 
village  of  Hayward  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  for 
nearly  eight  years.  During  this  period  he  was  also  interested  in 
a  general  store  in  Lyle,  for  which  he  hired  a  local  manager.  In 
1899  he  sold  his  mercantile  interests,  and  in  the  following  spring 
purchased  the  "City  View"  farm  of  140  acres,  on  which  he  now 
conducts  general  farming,  having  made  many  improvements  on 
the  place.  He  raises  diversified  crops,  but  makes  a  specialty  of 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  high-grade  Percheron  horses.  IMr.  Johnson 
is  also  interested  in  many  other  places,  and  has  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  Cuba.  He  owns  stock  in  the  cement  plants  at  IMason  City, 
Towa,  and  at  Dallas,  Tex.     He  also  holds  stock  in  the  Farmers' 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  647 

Brick  and  Tile  Company  at  Austin,  Minn.,  and  in  a  box  factory 
at  Denver,  Colo.  He  was  married  September  25,  1888,  to  Matilda 
Arueson,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  sons :  Odin  J., 
who  is  a  gi'aduate  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  Chester  W., 
Avho  is  a  student  there.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Lyle. 

Henry  L.  Jensen,  popular  general  merchant  of  Rose  Creek, 
was  born  in  the  village  where  he  still  resides,  September  18,  1870, 
son  of  Thomas  and  Matilda  (Yunk)  Jensen,  the  former  a  native 
of  Denmark,  who  came  to  America  in  1864,  and  the  mother  a 
native  of  Germany.  In  the  family  were  three  sons :  John,  now  of 
Washington ;  Henry  L.,  of  Rose  Creek,  and  Andrew,  of  Windom 
township,  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Christ  Nelson,  who  died  in  1902. 
Henry  L.  attended  the  district  schools,  and  as  a  youth  learned 
the  carpenter  trade,  which  he  followed  continuously  for  fifteen 
yer.rs.  In  1907,  with  Peter  N.  Weinert  as  a  partner,  he  embarked 
in  the  general  store  business  and  the  enterprise  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful. Mr.  Jensen  married  Lena  Nelson,  May  27,  1896,  daughter 
of  David  Nelson.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  and  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 

John  R.  Johnson  owns  a  fertile  farm  of  200  acres  in  ]\Iarshall 
township,  and  carries  on  general  farming,  his  especial  pride  being 
a  fine  herd  of  thirty-five  Shorthorn  cattle.  He  has  taken  an 
active  interest  in  public  aflfairs,  is  one  of  the  Republican  leaders 
of  the  county,  has  served  as  township  chairman,  assessor  and 
treasurer  at  various  terms,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  county  commissioners  for  six  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Norway,  May  25,  1852,  son  of  J.  C.  Johnson,  Sr., 
and  IMary  C.  Johnson,  his  wife.  Both  parents  came  to  Mower 
county  in  1861.  John  R.  received  but  little  schooling,  but  has 
made  up  that  lack  by  much  reading  and  keen  observation.  In 
1878  he  started  in  life  for  himself  and  purchased  eighty  acres  in 
Marsliall  township.  He  stands  well  in  the  community,  and  aside 
from  the  offices  mentioned  above,  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  district  105,  for  tAventy-five  j^ears.  In  1878  he 
married  Randi  Dahle  (came  to  this  country  in  the  year  1866),  and 
this  union  has  been  blessed  with  five  children:  Mary,  now  Mrs. 
Jacob  Lund,  of  South  Dakota;  Hannah,  now  Mrs.  Peterson,  of 
Iowa ;  Clara,  Ella  and  Joel,  at  home.  The  family  worships  at 
the  Lutheran  church. 

Thomas  D.  lorms  was  a  respected  resident  of  Mower  county 
eight  years,  and  it  has  been  truly  said  that  his  community  is  the 
better  for  his  life.  He  was  born  in  Deddington,  England,  sou 
of  Joiin  and  ]Mary  (Bennett)  lorms,  also  natives  of  that  country. 
Ho  came  to  Lansing.  Iowa,   in   1865,  and  later  lived  in  Grant 


648  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  farmed  for  a  long  period  and  in 
later  life  farmed  eight  years  in  Red  Rock  township.  In  1909  he 
moved  to  Brownsdale  village,  and  there  died  April  9,  1910.  He 
was  married  in  1883  to  Frances  Palmer,  and  this  union  has 
resulted  in  four  children:  Ormal  B.,  Clarissa  0.  (deceased), 
Krete  L.  (deceased)  and  Lepha  P.  Mrs.  lorms  was  born  in  Brodt- 
ville,  Grant  county,  Wisconsin,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Angeline 
(Brodt)  Palmer,  farmers  of  that  place.  She  was  reared  in  her 
native  place,  and  like  her  mother  before  her,  taught  school  for  a 
number  of  years,  her  work  being  performed  in  her  native  county. 

George  Johnson  was  born  in  Saxelby,  Leicestershire  county, 
England,  May  13,  1849,  son  of  George  and  Dorothy  (Bailey)  John- 
son. The  grandfather  and  great  grandfather  were  also  named 
Geoi'ge.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  with  his  parents  to 
America  in  1851,  and  with  them  lived  eighteen  months  in  Coldon, 
Erie  county.  New  York ;  nine  years  in  Newton,  Marquette  county, 
Wisconsin,  and  later  on  section  22,  Waltham  township,  in  this 
county,  where  they  finally  settled.  He  remained  at  home  until 
tv.'enty-two  years  of  age,  and  then  purchased  a  farm  of  his  own 
ill  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  23.  He  still  manages  his  fine 
farm  of  260  acres  in  Waltham  township,  but  makes  his  home 
in  Brownsdale.  Mr.  Johnson  married  for  his  first  wife,  Chloe 
Simmouson,  a  native  of  Wisconsin,  who  died  as  a  bride  of  one 
year.  Mr.  Johnson  later  married  Lenora,  daughter  of  John  and 
Charlotte  (Pears)  Miles,  the  former  being  a  brickmaker  in  Eng- 
land. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  attend  the  Baptist  church  in  Browns- 
dale and  are  liberal  contributors  to  its  progress,  both  financially 
and  socially. 

Jacob  Jacobson,  an  extensive  land  oAvner  of  Nevada  townsliip, 
and  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  Avas  born  in  Norway,  December  25, 
1848,  son  of  Jacob  Knutson  and  Annie  H.,  his  wife,  who  came  to 
America  from  Norway  in  1861  and  in  1867,  took  a  homestead  in 
section  24,  Nevada  township,  both  being  now  deceased.  Jacob 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1861,  and  after  reaching  Nevada 
worked  out  by  the  month  three  years,  after  which  he  enlisted 
in  the  First  Minnesota  Heavy  Artillery,  serving  one  year  and 
being  stationed  at  Chattanooga  and  Nashville.  Upon  his  return 
he  worked  out  and  then  started  as  a  landed  farmer  by  purchasing 
eighty  acres  in  section  24.  By  hard  work,  frugality,  shrewdness 
and  diligence  he  has  increased  his  acreage  until  he  now  owns 
615  acres  of  excellent  land,  twenty  acres  of  which  is  an  excellent 
grove  of  timber.  He  follows  diversified  farming,  and  raises  cattle 
for  beef  and  dairy  purposes,  selling  cream  to  the  Nevada  cream- 
ery. He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  attends  the  Lutheran, 
church.  Jacob  Jacobson  married  IMary  Anderson  and  they  have 
ten  children :  Emelia  is  now  j\Irs.  Martin  Nelson,  of  Nevada  town- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  Gi'J 

ship;  Clara  is  Mrs.  Ole  Loston,  of  Mower  county;  llanua  is  Mrs. 
Virgil  Bisbee,  and  lives  in  Baker,  ]\Iont. ;  Georgina  is  Mrs.  Oliver 
Berg,  of  North  Dakota;  Emma  is  Mrs.  Ed  I.  Anderson,  of  North 
Dakota ;  and  John,  Lewis,  Josie,  Sophia  and  Laura  are  at  home. 
The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Knudt  Jacobson,  a  successful  farmer  in  Nevada  township,  was 
born  in  Norway,  February  10,  1846,  son  of  Jacob  and  Annie  J. 
Jacobson.  He  came  to  America  in  1862,  in  a  sailing  vessel,  occu- 
pying nine  weeks  in  making  the  trip.  He  landed  in  Quebec,  and 
then  went  to  IoA\'a  and  worked  out  for  two  years.  Later  he 
worked  in  Goodhue  and  Rice  counties,  in  this  state.  It  was  in  1867 
he  came  to  Mower  county  and  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  24, 
Nevada  township.  On  this  land  he  erected  a  log  cabin  14x16  and 
lived  therein  twentj'-six  years,  after  which  he  built  his  present 
home.  At  once  upon  locating  on  the  farm  he  started  farming 
operations,  in  w]iieh  lie  was  so  successful  that  he  was  enabled 
from  time  to  time  to  add  to  his  place,  giving  it  a  present  total 
acreage  of  200.  At  first,  like  all  other  early  settlers,  he  raised 
wheat,  oats  and  corn.  Of  late  years  he  has  devoted  his  attention 
to  mixed  farming,  grade  cattle  and  hogs.  He  now  rents  his  land 
to  his  son.  Mr.  Jacobson  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has 
served  as  road  overseer  and  as  a  member  of  the  school  board. 
He  was  married  March  21,  1869,  to  Annie  Anderson,  a  native  of 
Norway.  They  have  five  children:  Oliver,  Annie,  Jacob,  Bertha 
and  Andrew.  Oliver  died  in  1910  at  the  age  of  thirty-two,  after 
traveling  two  years  for  his  health.  Annie  is  the  widow  of  A.  P. 
Anderson  and  lives  in  Adams  township.  Jacob  is  married  and 
keeps  a  store  in  Polk  county,  this  state.  Bertha  is  the  wife  of 
Olaf  Jarandson,  a  farmer  of  Clay  county,  Minnesota.  Andi'ew 
lives  at  home  and  rents  the  home  farm.  The  family  faith  is  that 
of  tile  Lutheran  church. 

Jens  A.  Jensen  is  one  of  the  foremost  farmers  of  AVindom 
township,  where  he  has  lived  since  1871.  He  conducts  a  fine 
nursery  and  fruit  farm  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section  27,  one 
mile  north  and  one  mile  west  of  the  village  of  Rose  Creek.  He  is 
advanced  in  his  methods,  and  his  small  tract  of  land  proves  more 
profitable  than  many  a  rich  quarter  section  less  scientifically 
worked.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Mr.  Jensen  received  a  bronzo 
medal  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  St.  Louis,  for  his 
excellent  apples.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  June  27, 
1846,  son  of  Jens  and  Anna  Jensen.  His  youthful  days  were  spent 
on  the  farm  and  in  scliool,  remaining  at  home  witli  his  parents 
until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  left  his  native  laud,  Den- 
mark, and  came  to  America,  landing  in  Quebec.  He  went  directly 
to  Fond  du  Lac  county,  AVisconsin,  and  in  1868  came  to  Mower 
county.    lie  was  a  young  man  at  the  tim(>  and  did  not  make  any 


650  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

settlement.  He  lived  in  jBennington  township  a  year  and  then 
r.eturned  to  his  native  land,  fall  of  1869,  to  visit  friends,  after 
which  he  came  back  to  Mower  county,  spring  of  1870.  In  1874  he 
•purchased  land  in  the  northeast  part  of  section  27.  Being  a  nat- 
ural mechanic,  he  set  out  to  build  a  house  for  himself  and  this 
he  accomplished  in  so  satisfactory  a  manner  that  he  has  often 
been  called  upon  to  do  carpenter  work  for  his  neighbors.  Aside 
from  making  a  business  success  of  the  nursery  and  fruit  line,  Mr. 
Jensen  is  a  sincere  lover  of  his  chosen  vocation,  and  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  the  horticultural  development  of  southern  Minnesota. 
He  has  also  taken  an  interest  in  township  affairs  and  has  served 
in  various  offices,  including  three  years  as  member  of  the  town- 
ship board  of  supervisors.  Mr.  Jensen  has  been  twice  married. 
His  first  wife,  Dorathea  Johansen,  died  in  1873,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren, Annie  M.  and  Johanna,  a  third  having  died.  Mr.  Jensen 
v/as  then  married,  in  1874,  to  Sinne  Nielsen,  and  Mary,  Jens, 
Nellie,  Emma,  Agnes  and  Lillian  have  been  born.*  In  1910  he  was 
chosen  member  of  the  first  Minnesota  Preservation  Congress. 

Jens  Jensen,  the  father,  had  three  children,  Jens  A.,  Nels  Peter 
and  Christian  Julius  by  his  second  wife. 

Ole  Klemestad,  now  deceased,  was  for  many  years  the  sturdy 
blacksmith  of  Udolpho  township.  He  was  born  in  Ringerike,  Nor- 
way, July  8,  1842,  came  to  America  in  1875,  and  a  year  later 
married  Helen  Hanson,  of  Gjovik,  Norway,  who  came  to  America 
in  1875,  and  who  throughout  her  husband's  life  proved  a  good 
wife  and  sympathetic  and  hard  working  helpmeet.  Her  mother 
is  still  living  in  the  village  of  Corning  at  the  good  old  age  of 
eighty-seven  years.  Mr.  Klemestad  farmed  until  his  death,  but 
.also  had  a  blacksmith  shop  on  his  place  and  did  smithy  work 
for  the  farmers  from  miles  around.  He  was  a  good  and  upright 
citizen,  an  affectionate  husband  and  a  kind  father,  his  death  in 
1903  being  sincerely  mourned.  He  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  which  his  family  still  attends. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klemestad  had  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are 
living.  Anna,  the  oldest,  was  married  to  Gullick  Tollefsou  in  1897. 
They  reside  on  a  farm  in  Freeborn  county,  near  Corning.  Seven 
children  have  been  born  to  them.  The  oldest  girl,  Hilda  T.,  died 
on  February  14,  1908,  of  measles.  The  other  children  are: 
George  A.,  Alice  0.,  Oliver  L.,  Earnest  N.,  Hilda  T.,  and  Anna  G. 
Andrew,  tiie  oldest  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klemestad,  is  at  present 
working  his  mother's  farm.  He  has  been  in  the  Dakotas  a  good 
deal  of  the  time.  Lena  J.  is  a  schoolma'am,  teaching  both  Eng- 
lish and  Norwegian.  She  is  also  greatly  interested  in  poultry. 
Hilmar  0.  is  a  "home  boy,"  having  worked  his  mother's  farm 
for  several  years.  Last  year  he  went  to  Austin  and  worked  at 
the  baker's  trade,  employed  by  the  Home  Bakery.     Olga  N.,  the 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  651 

baby  in  age  but  not  in  appearance,  is  especially  interested  in 
farming  and  horses.  She  is  an  excellent  horseback  rider.  Nor- 
dahl  (deceased)  Avas  a  bright,  honest  and  well-liked  boy.  He 
Avorked  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  home  the  greater  part  of  the 
time.  In  April,  1907,  he  went  to  Minneapolis  to  work,  going  into 
partnership  with  his  cousin,  ]\Ionrad  Lund,  of  that  place.  They 
worked  at  the  well  drilling  business.  Everything  went  Avell  until 
they  commenced  working  in  an  elevator  shaft  in  Oneida  block 
on  First  avemie.  While  Avorking  there  they  had  to  work  Sundays 
and  nights,  AA^hile  the  elevator  Avas  not  in  use.  On  Sunday  after- 
noon, September  9,  1907,Avhile  Avorking  in  the  shaft,  the  drill  struck 
a  stone,  and  young  Lund  went  doAvn  to  see  what  Avas  the  matter. 
Nordahl  called  doAvn  to  him,  and  receiving  no  reply,  he  also 
Avent  doAvn  to  see  Avhat  he  could  do.  As  soon  as  the  boys  Avere 
missed  everything  that  human  poAver  could  do  was  done  to  save 
tliem,  but  by  the  time  that  their  bodies  were  taken  out  of  the  Avell 
they  Avere  entirely  overcome  by  foul  gas.  This  was  indeed  a 
sad  bereavement  to  both  families.  Nordahl  and  Monard  were 
first  cousins,  ]Mrs.  Klemestad  and  Mrs.  Lund  being  sisters.  Nor- 
dahl Avas  born  July  17,  1881.  His  sad  departure  is  mourned  by 
all  Avho  kncAV  him. 

A.  G.  Kellogg,  for  many  years  a  Dexter  township  farmer,  now 
the  OAvner  of  a  storage  and  warehouse  business  at  Austin,  Avas 
born  in  A^ermillion  county,  Indiana,  September  19,  1847,  son  of 
Orrison  and  Theodoshea  (Cooper)  Kellogg,  the  former  a  native 
of  Illinois  and  the  latter  of  Indiana.  In  1852  the  family  removed 
from  Indiana  to  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  and  there  Orrison 
folloAved  farming  until  his  death  in  i€66,  his  Avife  surviving  him 
many  years  and  dying  in  Denver,  Colo.,  in  1886.  A.  G.  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Columbus,  "Wis.,  and  farmed 
in  AVisconsin  until  1872.  After  four  years  spent  in  Chicago  he 
came  to  ]\IoAver  county  in  1876,  and  located  on  eighty  acres  in 
Dexter  county,  Avhere  he  farmed  until  1896,  Avhen  he  rented  his 
farm  and  moved  to  Austin,  purchasing  twenty  acres  of  land  on 
South  KeuAvood  avenue.  Ten  of  these  acres  he  sold.  On  tlie 
remaining  ten  he  built  a  comfortable  honie  and  there  resided 
until  April,  1909,  Avhen  he  moved  to  his  present  home  at  311 
East  Water  street.  In  1909  he  opened  a  warehouse  business  in 
the  block  OAvned  by  him  at  405  East  Bridge  street.  ^Nlr.  Kellogg 
is  a  veteran  of  the  CiA'il  war.  having  enlisted  in  the  Union  army 
in  November,  1864,  serving  in  Company  A,  Seventh  Wisconsin 
Volunteer  Infantry  and  receiving  his  discharge  at  ;Madison,  Wis., 
July  5,  1865.  He  Avas  in  the  battles  of  Richmond  and  Five  Forks, 
and  in  a  number  of  skirmishes,  being  Avounded  in  tlie  left  breast 
and  arm,  thus  necessitating  liis  confinement  in  the  Camp  Bell 
hospital  at  AVashington  and  the  National  hospital  at   Aladison, 


C52  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Wis.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  September,  1871, 
to  Martha  E.  Nashold,  of  Cohunbus,  Wis.,  who  died  April  30, 
1910.  They  were  blessed  with  two  children :  Josie  Bell,  who  is 
now  Mrs.  Martin  Lee,  of  Austin,  and  a  second  child,  who  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Kellogg  has  three  brothers  and  one  sister  living : 
Dr.  A.  C.  Kellogg,  of  Portage,  Wis. ;  0.  P.,  of  Chicago,  111. ;  S.  G., 
of  Denver,  Colo.,  and  Mrs.  Hersa  J.  White,  of  Denver,  Colo. 

John  J.  Kornberg,  now  retired,  for  many  years  a  substantial 
blacksmith  of  IMower  county,  was  born  iri  Denmark,  September 
24,  1842,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Kornberg),  also  natives  of  Den- 
mark. The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  and  early 
manhood  in  Denmark  and  was  engaged  at  his  trade  as  a  black- 
smith nine  years  before  coming  to  America  in  1867.  Upon  his 
arrival  in  this  country  he  went  to  Chicago  and  stayed  there  two 
months,  later  making  brief  visits  to  Bloomington,  IH.,  and  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  At  AYashington,  Mo.,  he  worked  eight  months,  reach- 
ing Austin  in  April,  1868.  Here  he  was  first  employed  by  John- 
son &  Hunt,  and  then  by  Johnson  &  Smith,  being  in  the  latter 's 
employ  ten  years.  Then  for  three  years  he  was  in  partnership 
with  Thomas  Dugan,  and  subsequently  he  conducted  a  shop  for 
Abram  Dickinson,  on  Bridge  street,  seventeen  years.  His  last 
A'enture  was  on  Mill  street,  where  he  maintained  a  shop  of  his 
own  for  twelve  years.  In  1910  he  disposed  of  this  shop  and 
retired.  Mr.  Kornberg  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  AVoodmen  of 
America,  and  of  the  Danish  Brotherhood.  He  married  Inge 
Marie,  deceased,  and  the  outcome  of  this  union  was  six  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living:  James,  who  resides  in  Austin,  and 
Emma,  who  keeps  house  for  her  father.  Frederick,  Annie, 
Freddie  and  Edward  are  dead. 

Ai  N.  Kinsman,  the  able  and  successful  horticulturist  and 
floriculturist  of  Austin,  has  achieved  his  progress  in  life  by  his 
thrift  and  energy,  and  now  has  one  of  the  finest  greenhouse 
plants  in  the  west,  his  covers  of  glass  amounting  to  more  than 
50,000  feet.  Thus  equipped  he  is  engaged  in  raising  many  varie- 
ties of  Mowers,  making  a  specialty  of  roses,  of  which  he  has 
good  reason  to  be  proud.  Mr.  Kinsman  was  born  in  Auburn 
township.  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  November  19,  1854, 
son  of  C.  C.  and  Laura  (Lyon)  Kinsman.  He  was  brought  to 
Austin  by  his  parents  in  1873,  and  after  arriving  here  worked 
three  years  as  clerk  in  his  father's  law  office.  Then  he  learned 
the  carpenter  trade  in  Cumberland,  Barron  county,  AMsconsin. 
After  his  father's  death  he  again  took  charge  of  the  law  office  a 
year,  and  then  returned  to  Austin,  Avhere  he  worked  at  his  ti-ade 
for  a  time  before  engaging  in  his  present  business.  ]\Ir.  Kinsman 
married  Mattie  Foster,  of  Lucas,  AVis.,  and  has  three  children: 
Calvin  D.,  Linnie  and  Bessie. 

C.  C.  Kinsman,  one  of  the  early  lawyers  of  Austin,  was  born 


A.  X.  KINSMAN 


HISTORY  OF  I\[()\VKI{  COUNTY  053 

in  Vermont,  and  there  married  Laura  Lyon.  They  lived  for  a 
time  in  AVisconsiu,  and  from  1873  to  1880  were  loeated  in  Austin. 
Then  they  moved  to  Cumberhmd,  Barron  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
lived  there  until  1885,  going  from  there  to  Ashland,  AVis.,  remain- 
ing one  year.  In  October,  1886,  C.  C.  Kinsman  died.  They  had 
tive  children :     Ai  N.,  Ida,  Herbert,  Jessie  and  jNIamie. 

Joseph  Keenan,  a  well-known  real  estate  dealer  of  Austin,  was 
born  in  Mount  Pleasant,  Pa.,  March  11,  1848,  sou  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  (Farnell)  Keenan.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to 
nuinhood  in  Mount  Pleasant,  and  came  west  with  his  parents  in 
1867,  settling  with  them  on  a  farm  in  Oakland,  Freeborn  county, 
this  state,  where  the  father  lived  until  his  death.  Joseph  and 
his  brother  James  engaged  in  the  carriage  business  in  Austin, 
manufacturing  wagons,  carriages,  etc.,  for  six  years,  after  which 
they  abandoned  the  manufacturing  end  of  the  business  and  began 
shipping  in  the  vehicles  which  they  sold,  this  being  cheaper  than 
manufacturing  them.  The  business  continued  until  1906,  since 
whicli  date  Joseph  Keenan  has  been  engaged  in  the  land  and  real 
estate  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  the  M.  AV.  A., 
the  A.  O.  U.  AV.,  the  Alaccabees,  the  K.  of  C,  and  the  Austin 
Commercial  Club.  He  is  at  present,  and  for  eleven  years  past,  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education,  and  was  for  four  years  a 
county  commissioner.  He  was  married  for  the  first  time,  to 
Addie  A.  Revord,  and  to  this  union  were  born  four  children : 
Regina,  Angela,  Claud  C.  and  Genevieve.  Regina  is  now  ]\Irs. 
Frank  J.  Bendsberger,  and  Angela  is  now  Mrs.  AYilliam  Hauf. 
Genevieve  is  now  INIrs.  Edward  L.  Simmons.  Airs.  Addie  Revord 
Keenan  died  July  15,  1894,  and  Air.  Keenan  married  for  his  sec- 
ond wife  Lizzie  L.  Downey,  of  Portage,  AYis.,  daughter  of  Allies 
Downey.  To  this  luiion  have  been  born  two  children:  Raymond 
AI.  and  Addie. 

Francis  W.  Kimball,  civil  engineer  and  railroad  contractor  of 
Austin,  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  development  of  the 
farms  of  Alower  county,  and  has  prominently  served  in  many 
movements  directed  toward  this  end.  He  was  born  in  Reading, 
Alass.,  February  11,  1844,  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Aliddleton, 
Alass.,  where  he  attended  scliool  and  grew  to  manhood,  afterward 
becoming  a  civil  engineer.  In  this  capacity  he  did  construction 
work  on  tlie  old  Boston  &  Hartford  railroad,  which,  after  becom- 
ing liu!  Central  New  England,  is  now  controlled  by  the  N.  Y., 
N.  II.  &  H.  In  1866  Air.  Kimball  came  westward  to  see  the  coun- 
try, and  having  faith  in  this  part  of  the  United  States,  he  pre- 
pared to  locate  here  permanently.  From  1868  to  1873  he  was 
engaged  in  railroad  engineering  work  in  Iowa,'  Alinnesota,  and 
South  Dakota,  at  the  same  time  operating  his  farm  in  AYalthain. 
He  went  to  Alilwaukee,  AA'is.,  in  1883,  and  agaiji  engaged  in  rail 


654  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

reading.  He  dates  his  permanent  residence  in  Austin  from  1889, 
his  occupation  still  being  railroad  constructing.  He  is  also  presi- 
dent of  the  Austin  Dairy  Company.  ]\Ir.  Kimball  was  married 
first  to  Annie  Bodwell,  of  Salem,  N.  H.,  who  died  in  1890,  leaving 
four  children :  Grace,  Dollie,  Parker  and  Paul.  The  present  ]\Irs. 
Kimball  was  Etta  Bodwell,  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  daughter  of 
Stephen  and  Sophia  Bodwell,  well-known  residents  of  that  place. 

Mathias  Krebsbach,  one  of  the  honored  pioneers,  was  born 
on  April  21,  1835,  spent  his  early  manhood  on  the  farm  in  Ger- 
many, and  in  1855  came  to  America,  landing  at  New  York  in 
July  of  that  year,  after  a  voyage  of  forty-two  days.  At  once  upon 
landing  he  set  out  for  the  west,  with  only  $8  in  his  pocket,  his  first 
stop  being  in  McHenry  county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  tAvo 
months,  after  which  he  went  to  Fond  du  Lac  county,  "Wisconsin, 
where  he  found  employment  on  a  farm,  remaining  three  months. 
He  came  to  Mower  county  in  1857  and  commenced  work  on  his 
new  dwelling  May  4,  completing  it  shortly  afterward.  He  raised 
his  first  crop  of  wheat  in  the  season  of  1860.  This  wheat  "\vas 
hauled  to  McGregor  and  sold  for  barely  enough  to  pay  expenses. 
Mr.  Krebsbach  conducted  the  general  store  in  the  village  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  when  his  sons,  John  and  Michael,  were  of  age, 
turned  the  business  over  to  them.  He  was  first  president  of  the 
village  of  Adams,  was  on  the  village  council  in  1900  and  was  also 
the  first  pathmaster  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
trustees  of  the  Catholic  church  at  Adams.  Mathias  Krebsbach 
was  married  in  September,  1858,  to  Susan  Bondis,  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  came  to  America  in  1856.  They  are  the  parents  of 
Michael,  born  January  6,  1860;  John,  born  January  29,  1861; 
Gertrude,  born  August  27,  1863 ;  Anna,  February  20,  1865  ;  Joseph, 
April  20,  1869,  and  Mary,  born  September  2,  1876.  Susan  Krebs- 
bach died  January  20,  1911. 

Michael  Krebsbach,  business  man  of  Adams,  was  born  Janu- 
ary 6,  1860,  son  of  Mathias  and  Susan  (Bondis)  Krebsbach.  He 
spent  his  early  manhood  in  his  father's  store,  was  associated  with 
his  brother  in  the  dry  goods  business,  after  the  father  turned  the 
store  over  to  them,  and  also  had  a  share  in  managing  the  concern 
which  is  now  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Creamery.  He  now  eon- 
ducts  a  prosperous  and  lucrative  business  in  the  village  and  is 
vice  president  of  the  First  National  bank,  of  Adams.  He  mar- 
ried Annie,  daughter  of  N.  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Blake)  Smith,  and 
this  union  has  been  blessed  with  five  children :  Isabelle,  Julleta, 
Leona,  William  and  Roy.    Mrs.  Krebsbach  died  May  6,  1910. 

John  H.  Krebsbach,  grain  elevator  man  of  Adams  village, 
was  born  in  Adams  township,  February  28,  1861,  son  of  jMathias 
and  Susan  (Bondis)  Krebsbach.  He  lived  on  the  farm  xmtil  he 
was  ten  years  of  age,  when  he  came  into  the  village  and  attended 


IIISTOHY  OF  I\[()WER  COUxXTY  G55 

school.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  worked  in  the  warehouse  of 
Gilchrist  &  Co.,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty,  with  his  brotlier 
Michael,  received  charge  of  his  father's  store.  In  1881  John  11. 
started  a  creamery  as  a  side  issue.  This  he  conducted  with  suc- 
cess for  sixteen  years,  after  which  it  was  turned  over  to  the 
farmers  of  the  township,  who  still  conduct  it  on  the  co-operative 
plan.  John  still  has  an  interest  in  the  general  store  which  his 
brother  conducts,  and  the  brother  also  has  an  interest  in  the 
elevator  which  John  conducts,  but  of  late  years  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  has  taken  entire  charge  of  the  elevator  business,  which 
he  started  in  1885.  He  married  Alice,  daughter  of  Nicholas  N. 
and  Elizabeth  Blake,  and  this  union  has  resulted  in  seven  chil- 
dren :  William  T.,  Arthur  J.,  Paul  M.,  Edward  E.,  Frederick  J., 
Raymond  and  Alvina. 

Albert  Knight,  now  deceased,  was  for  many  years  an  esteemed 
and  respected  citizen  of  Howard  county,  Iowa.  He  was  born  in 
Dane  county,  AVisconsin,  December  3,  1858,  son  of  Joseph  Knight, 
a  native  of  England,  who  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Dane 
county.  Albert  attended  the  district  schools,  and  grew  to  man- 
liood  on  the  farm,  remaining  there  until  1889,  when  he  removed 
to  Howard  county,  Iowa,  and  successfully  farmed  until  1901, 
when  failing  health  caused  his  retirement  to  LeRoy  village,  where 
he  died,  October  9,  1901.  Mr.  Knight  served  as  a  member  of  the 
school  and  township  board  in  Howard  county,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  was  a  firm  believer  and 
an  active  worker  in  the  Presbyterian  church  at  LeRoy.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married  February  27,  1883,  to  Hattie  E. 
Billington,  daughter  of  Lorenzo  D.  and  Hannah  (Mabbott)  Bil- 
liugton.  Mrs.  Hattie  E.  Knight  died  December  18,  1897,  after 
bearing  to  Mr.  Knight  six  children :  Albert  Leonard  was  born 
November  23,  1883 ;  Alice  L.  was  born  January  19,  1885,  and  died 
March  7,  1902;  Jennie  M.  was  born  January  19,  1887,  and  died 
June  14,  1889 ;  Lura  E.  was  born  October  20,  1890 ;  Edith  I.  Avas 
born  July  3,  1894,  and  Robert  IT.  was  born  December  18,  1897. 
February  22,  1900,  Mr.  Knight  married  Lizzie  M.  Billington,  a 
sister  of  his  first  wife.  Mrs.  Knight  is  an  active  worker  in  church 
and  social  circles.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Women's  Relief  Corps 
at  LeRoy,  and  color-bearer  for  James  George  Post,  56,  G.  A.  R. 
She  is  vice  president  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  has  been  president  of 
the  Ladies'  Guild  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  is  a  Sunday  school 
teacher  in  the  same  church,  and  is  a  member  of  the  LeRoy  Library 
association. 

Lorenzo  D.  Billington  Avas  born  in  Ohio,  June  19.  1828,  .nnd 
jna'-ried  Hannah  Alabliott,  born  in  England,  July  2,  1837,  and  a 
long  time  resident  of  Arena,  AVis..  to  which  ])lace  she  was  taken 
as  a  child  of  eight  years  by  her  ]iai-ents.    Air.  and  Mrs.  Billington 


656  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

were  the  parents  of  eight  children :  Jane  was  born  May  27.  1858, 
and  lives  in  Nebraska ;  Eugene  was  born  September  13,  I860,  and 
died  December  25,  1906 ;  Granville  was  born  January  8,  1861,  and 
died  in  infancy;  Hattie  was  born  February  22,  1862,  and  died 
December  18,  1897 ;  'Mary  E.  was  born  December  10,  1865,  and  ib 
now  the  wife  of  Charles  Dickinson,  of  Chippewa  Falls,  Wis. ; 
Lizzie  M.  was  born  July  6,  1868,  and  lives  in  LeRoy ;  Clara  E.  was 
born  November  27,  1871,  and  died  May  13,  1900;  Elmer  was  born 
October  3,  1875,  was  married  August  30,  1902,  to  Mabel  Porter, 
and  lives  in  Arena,  Wis. 

Theadore  H.  Kramer,  assistant  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank, 
of  Dexter,  was  born  in  Cresco,  Howard  county,  Iowa,  May  7, 
1889,  son  of  Jacob  and  Bertha  (Kedolph)  Kramer.  He  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Dexter  in  1898,  and  attended  the  Dexter 
high  school.  In  June,  1907,  he  graduated  from  the  Southern 
Minnesota  Normal  College,  at  Austin,  and  thereafter  for  a  short 
period  helped  his  father  on  the  farm.  Then  he  accepted  his  pres- 
ent position.  jMr.  Kramer  lives  at  home  with  his  parents.  Being 
of  a  sociable  nature,  he  has  allied  himself  with  the  M.  AV.  A.  He 
is  just  at  the  threshold  of  a  successful  career  and  his  friends  pre- 
dict for  him  a  brilliant  future. 

Jacob  Kramer  was  born  in  Howard  county,  son  of  one  of  the 
early  families  of  that  vicinity.  His  parents  came  from  Havre, 
together,  in  1851,  and  his  mother  is  now  living  at  Grange,  IMinn. 
Jacob  married  Bertha  Kedolph,  who  was  born  near  Berlin,  Ger- 
many, and  was  brought  to  America  by  her  parents  in  1868,  living 
for  some  years  thereafter  in  Eldora,  Iowa.  Jacob  Kramer  fol- 
lowed farming  in  Howard  county,  loAva,  until  about  twelve  years 
ago,  when  he  came  to  Dexter.  There  are  seven  children  in  the 
family,  Theadore  H.,  assistant  cashier  of  the  Dexter  First  State 
Bank,  being  the  oldest. 

John  P.  Krebsbach,  a  prominent  real  estate  dealer  of  Adams 
village,  was  born  in  Johnsburg,  "Wis.,  October  5,  1869,  son  of 
Nicholas  Krebsbach,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America 
in  1855  and  located  in  Wisconsin.  John  P.  was  educated  in  AVis- 
consin,  and  there  grew  to  manhood.  In  1895  he  came  to  the 
village  of  Adams,  first  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  four 
years,  and  has  since  conducted  a  real  estate  office,  handling 
Dakota  and  Minnesota  land,  but  dealing  largely  with  Dakota 
people.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  has  been  recorder  of  the 
village  of  Adams,  and  belongs  to  the  Foresters  and  the  Knights  of 
Columbus.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married,  in  1898,  to 
Annie  Krebsbach,  daughter  of  Mathias  Krebsbach,  a  pioneer. 
This  union  has  been  blessed  with  four  children:  Francis  A.  N., 
Regina,  G.  Alphonso,  and  Her])ert,  who  died  in  infancy.     The 


inSTOIt'Y  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  657 

former  three  are  attending  school.     The  family  faith  is  that  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

W.  P.  Lambert,  restaurant  keeper  at  Austin,  was  born  in  Paw- 
Paw,  111.,  in  1880,  son  of  Oscar  D.  and  Clara  (Hampton)  Lam- 
bert. Oscar  D.  Lambert  originally  came  from  Hamlin,  N.  Y., 
and  in  1878  came  west  and  located  in  Illinois.  In  1886  he  came 
to  ^linnesota  and  purchased  a  farm  at  Red  Rock,  where  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  William,  assisted  his  father  in  farming. 
William  grew  up  on  this  farm,  attended  the  district  school  in  the 
winter,  and  later  for  three  seasons  took  courses  in  the  Southern 
Minnesota  Normal  school  at  Austin.  In  this  way  he  gained  a 
good  business  education.  In  the  meantime  he  had  learned  cook- 
ing as  a  boy  at  home  and  followed  this  at  various  times,  working 
his  way  through  school  by  waiting  on  table.  During  the  Pan- 
American  Exposition  at  Buffalo  he  worked  as  a  waiter  at  Niagara 
Falls.  He  also  Avorked  as  clerk  at  Hirsch's  clothing  store  during 
the  fall  and  winter  of  several  years,  going  out  each  year  to  act  as 
waiter  or  cook.  Following  this  manner  of  employment  for  some 
time,  he  saved  enough  of  his  earnings  to  start  in  business  for 
himself  in  1904,  in  which  year  he  purchased  the  restaurant  near 
the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  station,  and  since  which  date  the  place  has 
increased  in  popularity  and  patronage.  Mr.  Lambert  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Blue  Lodge  and  of  the  Commandery  in  the  Masonic 
order,  and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Eagles.  He  was  married  Sep- 
tember 12,  1906,  to  Bertha  Ames,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Barbara 
(Sachse)  Ames,  and  to  this  union  has  been  born  one  daughter, 
Ruth. 

Henry  Lang,  an  old  and  respected  citizen  of  Austin,  was  born 
in  Scotland,  June  10.  1842.  Shortly  after  his  birth,  in  1844,  he 
oarae  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  who  first  located  in  New 
Y'ork  city,  thence  removing  to  Taunton,  IMass.,  and  from  there  to 
Roxbury,  Mass.,  finally  settling  in  Wisconsin,  where  he  received 
his  education.  After  leaving  school  he  at  once  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, coming  to  ^Minnesota  in  1862  and  settling  on  a  240-acre  tract 
in  London  township,  Freeborn  county,  breaking  and  developing 
the  land,  and  building  a  house  and  barns.  On  this  farm  he  followed 
general  diversified  farming  until  1902,  achieving  unusual  success 
tlirough  hard  work  and  common  sense  farming  methods.  He 
then  disposed  of  this  property,  and  moving  to  Austin,  he  pur- 
chased a  piece  of  land  witli  a  small  house,  situated  on  the  corner 
of  Oakland  street  and  Kenwood  avenue,  and  soon  afterward 
removed  the  old  house,  erecting  a  fine  modern  residence  on  the 
same  site  where  he  now  makes  his  home.  In  politics  he  casts  his 
l)allot  for  the  welfare  of  the  community,  regardless  of  i)arty  lines. 
Mr.  Lang  served  fifteen  years  as  clerk  of  London  township,  and 


658  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

was  also  clerk  of  his  school  district  for  many  years.  The  Masonic 
order  numbers  him  among  its  loyal  members.  May  9,  1866,  he  was 
married  to  Jane  Meadowcroft,  who  died  July  30,  1902.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  them,  six  of  whom  are  living :  ^lary,  living 
at  home  with  her  father;  Kate,  who  died  March  16,  1903;  Edith, 
living  in  South  Dakota,  wife  of  R.  B.  McPherson ;  ^Margaret,  liv- 
ing in  North  Dakota,  wife  of  D.  T.  AVatkins ;  George,  of  Spokane, 
"Wash.;  Maude,  who  died  January  18,  1910;  Benjamin,  living  in 
Canada;  and  Mattie,  living  at  home,  clerk  for  French  &  Sasse, 
attorneys.    The  family  attend  worship  at  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Clifford  C.  Leek,  M.  D.,  a  prominent  member  of  the  medical 
profession  at  Austin,  was  born  October  28,  1873,  in  Halifax,  Nova 
Scotia.  His  early  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  city,  subsequently  attending  the  public  schools  of  i\Iin- 
neapolis,  after  his  removal  there  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of 
twelve,  and  graduating  from  one  of  the  city's  high  schools  in 
1894.  After  graduation  he  taught  in  the  grade  schools  of  LeRoy, 
Minn.,  for  one  year,  prior  to  taking  a  short  course  in  a  business 
college.  In  1897  he  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Uci- 
versitj'^  of  Minnesota,  receiving  his  degree  as  doctor  of  medicine 
three  years  later.  His  first  experience  in  his  profession  was 
received  during  a  year  as  interne  in  the  St.  Paul  city  and  county 
hospital,  leaving  to  engage  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Austin  in  1901.  Dr.  Leek  has  the  well-merited  confidence  and 
patronage  of  a  large  clientage  throughout  the  city  and  county. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  the  County,  State  and  American  Med- 
ical Associations,  serving  one  year  as  president  and  two  as  secre- 
tary of  the  Mower  County  Medical  Society,  and  one  year  as 
county  physician.  He  is  now  the  examiner  for  IMower  county 
for  the  State  Sanitarium  for  Consumptives,  at  Walker,  ]\Iinn., 
and  local  examiner  for  the  Central  Life  Assurance  Society,  of 
Des  Moines,  and  the  Mutual  Benefit  of  New  Jersey.  In  politics 
he  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party.  The  Order  of 
Maccabees  and  the  Phi-Alpha-Gamma  fraternity  count  him  a 
loyal  member,  and  he  is  also  identified  with  the  local  commercial 
club.  January  1,  1903,  he  was  married  to  Flora  E.  Horn,  of 
LeRoy,  Minn.  They  have  three  children :  Ruth  ]\I.,  Paul  C,  and 
Robert  E.  The  family  worship  at  the  Congregational  church. 
Henry  and  Ellen  (McLeod)  Leek,  parents  of  our  subject,  are 
natives  of  Halifax,  the  father  being  a  builder  by  trade. 

Henry  W.  Lightley,  an  extensive  farmer  of  Austin  township, 
is  one  of  IMower  county's  distinguished  citizens.  He  has  repre- 
sented the  county  in  the  lower  house  of  the  state  legislature  three 
terms,  being  elected  in  1884,  1889  and  1903.  He  was  appointed 
chairman  of  the  delegates  to  the  state  Republican  convention  in 
J893;  was  appointed  by  Governor  Van  Sant  as  a  delegate  to  the 


H.    W.    LIGHTLEY 


HISTOEY  OF  MOAVEK  COUNTY  059 

Farmers'  Congress  held  at  Niagara  Falls,  in  1903;  was  appointed 
as  a  delegate  to  a  later  annual  session  of  the  same  congress  held 
in  Lincoln,  Neb.,  October  6,  1910;  was  elected  delegate  to  the 
Stock  Breeders'  convention  held  at  Denver,  Colo.,  in  1904;  has 
served  as  school  treasurer  for  eighteen  years  and  is  now  serving 
as  director;  and  has  served  as  chairman  of  Austin  township  for 
over  twenty  years.  He  is  a  staunch  Republican  in  politics,  and 
affiliates  with  the  IMasonic  order  and  the  G.  A.  R.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Buffalo,  Erie  county,  N.  Y.,  September 
28,  1838,  son  of  John  and  Louise  (^Maltby)  Lightley.  He  received 
a  part  of  his  education  in  New  York  state,  and  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Wisconsin,  in  1855.  There  he  completed  his  studies. 
In  1860  he  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  brother,  John,  and 
improved  the  quarter  section  in  Oakland  township,  Freeborn 
count}',  that  his  brother  had  preempted  in  1858.  Here  Henry  W. 
remained  for  the  summer,  and  in  the  fall  went  to  the  Black  river 
country,  where  he  worked  in  the  pines  for  $10  a  month.  In  1862 
he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war  as  a  private  and  sergeant  in  Company  H,  Twenty-ninth  Wis- 
consin Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  wounded  at  the  Battle  of 
Sabine  Cross  Roads,  La.,  and  as  a  result  carried  his  right  arm  in  a 
sling  for  some  time,  but  never  left  the  command.  He  participated  in 
all  the  glorious  campaigns  in  which  his  regiment  covered  itself 
with  glory,  and  was  discharged  in  Louisiana,  being  mustered  out 
at  Madison,  Wis.,  at  the  close  of  the  conflict.  Then  he  returned 
to  Minnesota  and  purchased  160  acres  from  a  speculator  for  $5 
an  acre.  On  this  farm  he  continued  to  make  his  home,  working, 
however,  in  the  pines  thirteen  winters  and  two  summers.  He 
has  added  to  his  land  from  time  to  time,  until  he  now  has  280 
acres  all  told,  and  all  in  a  high  stage  of  cultivation,  witli  well 
tilled  acres  and  fine  buildings.  In  1874  he  started  breeding  pure 
blood  Pereheron  horses,  and  in  addition  to  this  he  now  takes  great 
pride  in  his  Aberdeen-Angus  cattle  and  Poland-China  liogs.  Mr. 
Lightley  was  married  June  25,  1877,  at  Austin,  to  Lucy  Elliott, 
daughter  of  Rev.  George  Elliott,  a  clergyman.  Mrs.  Lightley 
died  May  30,  1909,  her  union  with  Mr.  Lightley  having  been 
blessed  with  four  children :  Bertha  E.  was  born  in  1879  and  died 
at  the  age  of  ten  years ;  Roy  IM.  was  born  April  6,  1883 ;  H.  J.  was 
horn  July  17,  1891 ;  Ethel  Ruth  was  born  April  4,  1895. 

John  Lightley  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  and  after 
coming  to  this  country  he  married  Louise  A.  jNIaltby.  He  located 
in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in  the  twenties,  and  purchased  a  small  tract 
of  timber  land  along  the  lake  shore,  which  he  cleared,  graded 
and  broke,  farming  there  until  1855,  when  he  brought  his  family 
to  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.  In  1861  he  came  to  ^linnesota,  located  on 
a  quarter  section  of  land  in  Oakland  township,  wliich.  his  son  Jolin 


660  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COU^^TY 

liad  preempted  in  1858,  and  there  lived  until  his  death  in  1896. 
His  wife  died  several  years  before  in  Oakland. 

Abraham  S.  Lott  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  IMower  county, 
having  ari'ived  in  Austin  in  the  fall  of  1854  with  a  party  of  four 
men,  as  related  at  length  elsewhere.  During  the  four  decades  of 
his  residence  in  this  county  he  watched  the  county  develop  and 
took  his  share  in  its  progress.  His  memory,  and  the  example  of 
his  life,  will  long  live  in  this  community.  The  early  life  of  Abra- 
ham S.  Lott  was  an  adventurous  one.  He  was  born  in  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio,  July  7,  1832,  son  of  Henry  Lott,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  moved  from  that  state  to  Ohio  at  the  age  of  eight 
years.  When  Abraham  was  very  young  his  parents  returned  to 
Pennsylvania  and  took  up  their  residence  in  Jefferson  county. 
There  Abraham  received  his  earlier  education.  When  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age  his  family  went  to  Missouri,  and  thence  to 
Polk  county,  Iowa.  In  1850  Abraham  left  the  Missouri  river. 
May  8,  with  a  party  bound  on  an  overland  trip  to  the  gold  fields, 
arriving  in  California  July  22.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Avhile 
on  this  journey  Mr.  Lott  was  one  of  the  four  men  who  killed 
forty  buffalo  in  one  hour.  After  four  years '  mining  in  California, 
j\Ir.  Lott  returned  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  and  went  directly  to 
Rock  county,  Wisconsin.  That  same  fall,  1854,  he  came  to  Mower 
county  with  three  others,  and  took  a  homestead  claim  in  Austin 
township.  The  following  spring,  1855,  he  brought  his  wife,  and 
here  established  his  home,  building  a  house  and  developing  the 
land.  He  added  to  his  place  from  time  to  time  until  he  owned 
700  acres  in  this  county.  He  was  hard  working,  conscientious, 
energetic  and  well  informed,  and  successfully  farmed  until  old 
age  made  his  retirement  from  the  active  duties  of  life  advisable. 
He  died  December  24,  1894.  Mr.  Lott  married  Jane  C.  Beebc,  at 
Union,  Rock  county,  Wisconsin.  She  was  born  in  Wyoming 
county.  New  York,  September  5,  1834,  daughter  of  Guy  Beebe, 
who  migrated  with  his  family  to  Wisconsin  in  1846.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lott  were  blessed  with  two  children :  Colbert  H.,  now  man- 
aging the  old  homestead,  and  Olive  M.,  now  Mrs.  Riley  Brooks. 

Colbert  H.  Lott,  the  first  boy  born  in  Austin  township,  first 
saw  the  light  of  day  October  10,  1855,  on  the  farm  where  he  still 
resides,  his  parents  being  those  grand  old  pioneers,  Abraham  S. 
and  Janes  C.  (Beebe)  Lott.  Colbert  H.  attended  the  district 
schools  and  farmed  with  his  father,  having  had  charge  of  the 
home  place  since  attaining  his  majority.  He  operates  about  700 
acres  of  land,  and  aside  from  raising  large  crops,  breeds  fine 
Aberdeen-Angus  cattle,  having  a  herd  of  about  125.  He  also 
keeps  about  a  hundred  hogs,  as  well  as  the  usual  amount  of 
poultry  and  horses.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  has  consist- 
ently refused  to  accept  the  offices  which  in  the  estimation  of  hia 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  GGl 

neighbors,  his  honored  name,  his  ability  and  his  record  entitle 
him.  Being  of  a  helpful  nature,  he  has,  however,  consented  to 
serve  as  treasurer  of  the  Rose  Creek  cemetery  for  many  years, 
and  his  interest  in  the  commercial  development  of  the  township  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  he  holds  investments  in  the  Inter-State 
Telephone  Company.  In  other  ways  he  has  shown  his  interest 
in  the  county,  and  has  never  failed  to  support  movements  for 
the  betterment  of  the  community.  Colbert  H.  Lott  was  married 
January  20,  1886,  to  Amelia  Ann  Goodsell,  who  has  proved  a 
most  able  helpmeet.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  five  chil- 
dren :  Effie  J.,  Cora  L.,  Riley  AV.,  Ruth  A.  and  Virginia  B.  Cora  L. 
married  Riley  A.  Brooks,  and  they  have  three  children:  Arthur 
A.,  Audrey  L.  and  IMabel  I.    Mr.  Lott  is  a  high  degree  ]\Iason. 

Jens  Larson,  mayor  of  Lyle,  is  a  man  of  extensive  business 
interests,  and  is  a  progressive  citizen,  always  interested  in  that 
which  tends  to  the  betterment  and  development  of  village,  town- 
ship and  county.  He  was  born  in  Norway,  June  26,  1873,  son  of 
Lars  and  Tea  (Larson)  Larson,  natives  of  Norway,  now  living  in 
Christiana  in  that  country.  Jens  Larson  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  country,  and  came  to  America  in 
1892.  He  located  in  Austin,  and  after  working  for  the  C,  M.  & 
St.  P.  for  six  years,  engaged  in  the  retail  meat  business  in  the 
Third  ward.  A  year  later  he  sold  out  and  located  in  Lyle,  con- 
tinuing in  the  same  line  of  business.  He  has  been  successful,  and 
in  addition  to  his  retail  trade,  manufactures  lard  and  sausage  and 
prepares  hams  and  bacon.  He  is  president  of  the  Gilbert  Corru- 
gated Culvert  Company,  of  Austin,  Minn.,  and  Aberdeen,  S.  D., 
and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Lyle  Telephone  Company.  He  belongs 
to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  the  M.  W.  A.,  votes  the 
Republican  ticket,  and  before  assuming  his  present  office  three 
years  ago  served  three  years  on  the  village  council.  Mr.  Larson 
was  married  June  12,  1900,  to  ]\Iartha  Nelson,  of  Austin.  IMrs. 
Nelson  died  January  30,  1911. 

0.  T.  Lund,  merchant,  former  president  of  the  village  council 
of  Lyle,  was  born  in  Norway,  September  1,  1848,  son  of  Thor 
Gunnuelson  and  Ingborg  Jurgenson,  his  wife,  both  born  near 
Skien.  Thor  Gunnuelson  was  a  carpenter  and  died  January  17, 
1868,  his  wife  passing  away  in  Lyle,  INIinn.,  in  1888.  0.  T.  received 
his  earlier  education  in  Norway,  and  learned  the  tailor  trade  in 
the  city  of  Skien.  April  18,  1868,  accompanied  by  his  mother  and 
sister,  he  left  Norway,  and  upon  arriving  in  America  located  iu 
Columbia  county,  "Wisconsin.  In  April,  1869,  he  went  to  Chicago, 
pursued  English  studies  and  followed  his  trade  until  1882,  when 
he  came  to  ^Slower  county,  located  in  Lyle,  and  witli  his  brotiier- 
in-law,  A.  0.  ^lyher,  entered  into  the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness by  l)uying  out  G.  F.  Ilammel.     After  five  years  the  partners 


663  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

divided  the  stock,  and  since  that  date,  Mr.  Lund  has  been  in 
business  alone.  He  has  served  as  member  and  president  of  the 
village  council  of  Lyle  and  has  been  on  the  school  board  some 
quarter  of  a  century.  Aside  from  his  business  and  a  pleasant 
home  on  Fourth  street,  he  owns  stock  in  the  Lyle  Telephone  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Lund  vpas  married  in  Chicago  in  August,  1872,  to 
Emma  Olson,  who  died  in  Lyle,  March  1,  1884.  This  union  was 
blessed  with  three  children:  Ida  Rebecca  died  while  a  student 
at  the  Norwegian  Normal  school  at  Sioux  Falls,  S.  D. ;  Oscar 
Theadore  died  at  eight  years  and  Matilda  Susan  at  eleven  months. 
Mr.  Lund  was  married  at  Lyle,  August  30,  1886,  to  Anna  Ashley, 
and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  six  children:  Ruth  (de- 
ceased), Ruth  Juliette,  Cora  Viola,  Alice  Bendicka,  Thorman,  C.  0. 
and  Ida  Rebecca.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church. 

Arthur  B.  Lovell,  auctioneer  and  merchant  of  Austin,  Avas 
born  in  this  city,  December  6,  1871,  son  of  B.  AV.  and  Mary  Ann 
(Sessions)  Lovell.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  the  Madison  Business  College,  and  in  the  mean- 
time obtained  considerable  experience  with  his  father  as  a  cattle 
dealer.  At  a  suitable  age  he  started  in  this  business  for  himself, 
but  later  went  into  the  brick  business  at  Lyle.  Here  he  lost  all  his 
money,  and  conseqiiently  took  up  the  buying  and  selling  of  horses, 
going  to  Montana  in  1893  and  handling  western  horses  three 
years.  Subsequently  he  handled  live  stock  for  Tomlin  &  Stafford, 
of  Chicago,  for  a  year  in  Montana  and  North  Dakota,  and  then 
engaged  in  similar  work  a  year  for  Thuet  Brothers,  of  South  St. 
Paul.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  came  to  Austin  and  engaged  in 
the  live  stock  business  for  himself  until  1904,  in  which  year  he 
started  business  as  an  auctioneer,  also  jobbing  new  and  second 
hand  commodities  of  all  descriptions.  Mr.  Lovell  served  three 
years  in  Company  G,  Second  Regiment,  Minnesota  National 
Guard.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  affiliates  with  the 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  the  M.  W.  A.,  and  the  F.  0.  E.  He  was  married  at 
Owatonna,  March  11,  1891,  to  Grace  M.  Brown,  of  Nevada  town- 
ship. Mower  county.  Her  parents  were  Ozni  C.  and  Nancy  A. 
Brown,  who  came  to  IMower  county  in  an  early  day.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lovell  have  one  daughter,  Ardith  Lillian,  born  February  l2, 
1910. 

B.  W.  Lovell,  an  early  live  stock  dealer  of  Austin,  was  born 
in  Vermont  and  married  Mary  Ann  Sessions,  of  New  York  state. 
He  received  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  state, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  was  engaged  in  the  successful  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war.  Then  he  left  his  office,  went  to  Michigan,  was  enlisted  in  a 
Michigan  regiment.     AVhile  at  Chattanooga  he  was  put  at  work 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  663 

witli  the  rest  of  his  eoinpany  earrying  heavy  tiiiil)ers,  and  this 
proved  so  great  a  strain  that  a  great  tumor  appeared  on  his  shoul- 
der, seriously  endangering  his  health.  After  the  war  he  came 
directly  west,  located  in  Northwood,  Iowa,  a  short  time,  and  then 
came  to  Austin,  where  lie  opened  a  dairy  farm,  and  also  engaged 
in  the  sale  of  fruit  trees.  Later  he  started  dealing  in  live  stock, 
shipping  the  first  car  load  ever  sent  out  from  this  vicinity.  In 
this  line  he  continued,  handling  on  an  average  of  325  car  loads 
annually.  He  died  in  October,  1890,  and  his  wife  is  still  living  on 
the  old  home  place. 

Kanute  Larson,  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Norway,  but  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  years  in  America,  arriving  in  this  country 
in  1866  with  his  parents.  He  lived  in  Decorah,  Iowa,  two  years, 
and  then  came  to  Lansing  township  and  locating  on  the  land  in 
section  twenty  now  owned  by  J.  D.  Sheedy,  of  Austin.  Mr. 
Larson  remained  on  this  farm  nine  years  and  then  moved  to  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  sixteen,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  carrying  on  general  farming  with  consid- 
erable success.  He  died  April  6,  1909.  The  sub.ject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  to  Lena  Oakland,  a  native  of  Norway,  and 
they  were  blessed  with  five  children :  Jennie,  Henry,  Ella, 
Tobias,  and  Carl.  Jennie,  who  is  dead,  married  L.  F.  Claussen, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Francis  and  George.  Henry  mar- 
ried Mary  Matheson  and  they  have  three  children,  Clarence, 
Polly  and  Harry.  Ella,  who  is  also  dead,  married  William  Hen- 
derson. Tobias  married  Clarese  Nicholsen  and  they  have  four 
boys,  Louis,  Theodore,  Elmer  and  Norman. 

Carl  A.  is  the  youngest.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  now 
manages  it  for  his  mother.  He  married  Hanna  Monson,  and  to 
this  union  one  child  has  been  born.  Alma  L.,  now  four  years 
old.  Gunder  and  Louisa  ]Monson,  parents  of  Mrs.  Carl  A.  Lar- 
son, live  in  South  Dakota.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children, 
Harry,  Samuel,  Hanna  and  John. 

Lee  Lewis  was  born  in  Kendall  county,  Illinois,  May  27,  1870, 
son  of  Lars  and  ]\Iartha  (Olson)  Lewis.  The  father,  Lars,  was 
born  January  18,  1821,  and  in  1858  came  to  America  and  located 
in  Illinois,  where  he  farmed  for  several  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1885  he  came  to  Windom  township,  this  county,  and  located  on 
what  was  known  as  the  Snow  farm,  five  miles  east  of  Austin. 
Lee  Lewis  came  to  Mower  county  as  a  lad  of  fifteen  years,  and 
has  resided  here  since.  After  liis  marriage  he  purchased  120 
acres  in  section  twenty-eight,  where  he  and  liis  family  now  re- 
side, being  among  the  .substantial  residents  of  Red  Rock  town- 
ship. The  sub.iect  of  this  sketch  married  Alice,  the  daughter  of 
!Marion,  born  December  18,  1898. 
August  and  Mary  ("Williams!    .Milbr.id,  and  tliey  liavc  one  cliih]. 


664  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

William  D,  Lockwood,  who  is  engaged  with  the  Colman 
Lumber  Company,  in  Grand  Meadow  village,  is  a  descendant 
of  one  of  the  oldest  Connecticut  families,  dating  his  lineage  back 
to  the  American  founder  of  the  family,  who  settled  in  Stamford, 
Conn.,  shortly  after  1600.  William  D.  was  born  in  Frankford, 
Mower  county,  Minnesota,  July  10,  1870,  son  of  Henry  J.  Loek- 
wood.  William  D.  acquired  the  usual  common  school  education 
in  Grand  Meadow,  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  twenty  years 
of  age,  at  which  time  he  spent  eight  months  in  Minneapolis.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-six  he  purchased  a  farm  of  his  own,  in  Frank- 
ford,  and  worked  on  this  for  eleven  years,  after  which  he  came 
to  Grand  Meadow,  where  he  has  various  interests.  He  married 
Nanna  M.,  daughter  of  C.  F.  Greening  and  Clara  Caswell,  his 
wife.  Four  interesting  children  have  blessed  this  union,  Willa 
M.,  Francis  J.,  Harold  G.  and  Ruth  H. 

Henry  J.  Lockwood,  one  of  the  territorial  pioneers  of  Minne- 
sota, was  born  in  Otsego  county,  New  York,  August  2,  1837, 
came  to  Fillmore  county  in  1856,  and  took  a  land  claim.  Later  he 
taught  school  two  years,  and  in  1865  moved  to  Frankford  town- 
ship, where  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  of  Mdiich  fifteen 
acres  were  under  cultivation.  On  this  farm  he  raised  his  family 
of  four  children,  Hattie,  wife  of  L.  AV.  Hunt ;  William  D.,  Jay 
and  Henry  J.,  Jr.  His  wife  was  Katherine  Sharp.  The  father  of 
Henry  J.  and  grandfather  of  William  D.  Lockwood  was  Charles, 
born  in  New  IMilford,  Conn.,  1802.  His  father  was  Josiah,  born 
in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  1766.  His  father,  Isaac,  was  born  in  Nor- 
walk,  Conn.,  December  24,  1727.  The  family  record  states  that 
the  family  is  Welsh  and  that  three  brothers  came  to  America  in 
1600.  Daniel  settled  in  Stamford,  Conn.  Isaac,  father  of  Isaac, 
mentioned  above,  settled  in  Norwalk,  Conn.  The  third  brother 
was  either  John  or  James,  who  settled  at  Horseneck,  Conn. 

H.  A.  Lewis,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Lansing  township,  was 
born  in  Westfield,  Dodge  county,  IMinnesota,  August  2,  1866,  son 
of  L.  Lewis  and  Grand  Hillson,  his  wife,  natives  of  Norway,  but 
now  Avell-known  residents  of  Blooming  Prairie  in  Steele  county. 
H.  A.  was  the  third  of  seven  children,  the  family  consisting  of 
Louisa,  now  Mrs.  Mick  Mickelson ;  Lewis ;  Julia,  now  ]\Irs.  M.  J. 
Kirby;  Emma,  now  Mrs.  Fred  Bowman;  Theo,  William  J.  and 
H.  A.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  neighborhood,  and  has  always  lived  in  this  vicinity,  being 
now  engaged  in  successfully  conducting  general  farming,  with 
some  stock  raising.  His  first  wife,  Annie  Ulland,  died,  and  he 
then  married  Ida  Lund,  daughter  of  Christ.  Lund.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lewis  have  no  children,  but  have  given  the  loving  care  of  parents 
to  an  adopted  son,  Lee  Clifford. 

W.  H.  Lawrence,  former  merchant,  retired,  now  acting  seere- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWP]R  COUNTY  065 

tary  and  manager  of  the  Red  Rock  Creamery  Assoeiatiou  at 
Brownsdale,  was  born  in  Butfalo,  N.  Y.,  September  10,  1846,  son 
of  William  and  Mary  Lawrence.  He  spent  his  early  life  in  farm- 
ing, and  in  1875  came  west  to  Brownsdale,  where  he  opened  a 
general  store,  which  he  conducted  for  twenty-six  years.  His 
establishment  was  destroyed  in  1900,  and  Mr.  Lawrence  did  not 
rebuild,  though  he  is  still  interested  in  a  number  of  enterprises. 
Mr.  La-wrence  belongs  to  Lafayette  Lodge,  No.  116,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
He  married  Alice  C,  daughter  of  J.  B.  Graves,  a  pioneer  of 
Mower  county.  They  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  Fay  B., 
Margaret,  Bessie,  Celecta,  Harry  and  Lueile.  Margaret,  who 
married  Howard  Eagan,  is  dead.  She  left  four  children,  Elwin, 
Harry,  Francis  (deceased)  and  Donald. 

Ole  K,  Lestrud,  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  a  successful 
farmer  in  Mower  county,  and  now  a  retired  citizen  living  in 
Grand  Meadow  village,  was  born  in  Norway,  July  25,  1849,  son 
of  Knut  and  Tora  (Skearn)  Lestrud,  natives  of  Norway,  where 
the  father  died.  The  mother  came  to  America  with  her  daughter 
in  1868,  located  in  Dane  county,  AViseonsin,  until  1876,  and  then 
came  to  Mower  county,  where  she  died  in  1893.  Ole  received 
his  education  in  Norway,  and  came  to  America  in  1867,  following 
lumbering  and  various  occupations  in  jMichigan  and  Wisconsin 
until  1875,  when  he  came  to  IMower  county  and  purchased  160 
acres  in  Pleasant  Valley  township.  This  land  he  developed  and 
improved,  erecting  the  necessary  buildings,  and  carrying  on  gen- 
eral farming  until  1904,  when  he  retired,  moved  to  Grand  Meadow 
village,  and  purchased  a  house  and  lot,  wherein  he  now  makes- 
his  home.  Mr.  Lestrud  has  taken  an  active  part  in  township 
affairs,  has  been  chairman  and  member  of  the  township  board  of 
Pleasant  Valley  at  various  times,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First 
National  Bank,  of  Grand  Meadow;  the  Farmers'  Elevator  Com- 
pany, of  Grand  Meadow,  and  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Cream- 
ery Association,  of  the  same  place.  He  is  an  independent  voter 
and  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  church.  ]\Ir.  Lestrud  was  married, 
July  16',  1878.  to  ]\Iartba  Nelson,  born  in  Mower  county,  Decem1)er 
17,  1857,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Nelson,  pioneers,  who  in 
1855  settled  in  Racine  township,  where  John  Nelson  died  in 
ISSo.  Mr.  and  ^Mrs.  Lestrud  ^re  the  parents  of  three  children : 
Knut,  who  lives?  in  the  old  homestead  in  Pleasant  Valley  town- 
ship; Sarah,  who  is  a  clerk  in  South  Dakota,  and  Mary,  Avho 
teaches  in  the  same  state. 

Abijah  B.  M.  Lindsley,  a  venera1)le  resident  of  the  Grand 
Aleadow  village,  is  a  pleasant  example  of  kindly  old  age,  ripe  in 
years  and  wisdom,  and  possessing  that  benevolence  of  spirit  anti 
that  kindliness  of  judgment  tliat  <'omes  only  from  a  long  life 
well  spent.     TI;'  and  his  good  v.-if'c  live  in  a  large  and  comfort- 


666  HISTORY  OF  MO\YER  COUNTY 

able  home  which  he  built  twenty-nine  years  ago,  and  here  they 
are  spending  the  evening  of  life  together.  Mr.  Lindsley  and  his 
wife  still  enjoy  the  good  things  of  life,  and  take  an  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  the  present  day.  Mr.  Lindsley  was  born  in  Nelson, 
Madison  county.  New  York,  March  31,  1823,  son  of  David  and 
Jerusha  (Merrill)  Lindsley,  and  came  west  to  Ripon,  Wis.,  in 
1857.  There  he  lived  twenty-four  years.  In  1881  he  came  to 
Grand  Meadow,  where  he  and  his  family  have  since  resided.  He 
married  Lucia  M.  Cutler,  daughter  of  Frasier  and  Lovisa  (Hazel- 
ton)  Cutler,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lindsley  are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Lesler 
C.  is  living,  Jennie  M.  died  in  1874  and  one  died  in  infancy. 
Lesler  C.  inarried  Hattie  Gary,  daughter  of  Riley  P.  and  Maria 
(Grover)  Gary.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lesler  Lindsley  have  one  son,  Earl 
L.,  who  married  Nellie  Jennings,  one  of  the  eight  children  of 
John  Jennings.  Riley  Gary  was  born  in  Nelson,  Madison  county. 
New  York,  and  in  1846  came  to  Milwaukee.  His  wife,  Marie 
Grover,  was  born  in  Springwater,  Livingston  county,  New  York, 
and  in  1847  located  in  "VVauwatosa,  Milwaukee  county.  They 
were  married  in  1848. 

Arthur  Larson,  a  farmer  of  Marshall  township,  was  born  in 
the  township  in  which  he  still  resides,  in  1878,  son  of  August 
Larson,  a  native  of  Sweden,  who  came  to  America  in  1870,  set- 
tled first  in  Boston,  where  he  was  engaged  in  shoemaking,  later 
coming  to  Mower  county  and  purchasing  eighty  acres  in  Mar- 
shall township.  On  this  farm  Arthur  Larson  was  born,  spent  his 
boyhood  and  grew  to  manhood.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
started  in  life  for  himself,  and  worked  out  as  a  farm  laborer 
until  1900,  when  he  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  seven,  Mar- 
shall township,  where  he  now  lives  and  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing, owning  forty  acres  additional  in  section  seventeen.  He  de- 
votes his  attention  largely  to  breeding  Shorthorn  cattle  and  rais- 
ing grain.  Mr.  Larson  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  church.  In  1902  he  married  Amanda  Blom, 
and  they  have  four  children:  Hildur  Anna  Cecelia,  Ida  Ellen 
Johanna,  Walter  Alva  and  Carl  Bernhard  Ferdenand. 

Lewis  Lewison  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Adams 
township,  and  has  lived  here  since  early  infancy.  He  was  born 
in  Norway  in  1860,  son  of  Lars  Trulson,  who  brought  his  family 
to  America  in  1861,  locating  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsm,  where 
they  remained  three  years,  after  which  they  came  to  ]\Iower 
county,  and  purchased  160  acres  of  laud,  upon  which  Mr.  Trulson 
farmed  until  his  death  in  1904.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  Mower  county  and  remained  on  the 
home  farm  assisting  his  parents  until  attaining  his  majority. 
At  that  time  he  purchased  240  acres   of  land   in   section   one, 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEi!  COUNTY  667 

Adams  tovvusliip,  and  here  he  has  since  followed  general  farming, 
raising  general  crops  and  grains,  and  breeding  cattle  for  beef 
and  dairy  purposes.  His  house  is  comfortable,  his  barns  well 
kept,  and  his  acres  highly  cultivated.  In  1890  he  married  Bessie 
Gordon,  a  daughter  of  Emery  Gordon,  and  they  have  seven  chil- 
dren: Laura,  Lizzie,  Clara,  Alfred,  Melvin,  Blanche,  Olaf.  .Mr. 
Lewison  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  road  overseer.  He 
attends  the  United  Lutlieran  church. 

John  Mathieson,  who  was  an  honored  resident  of  Lansing 
for  over  fifty  years,  was  born  in  Aberdeenshire,  Scotland,  March 
14,  1833,  son  of  Charles  and  IMargaret  (Riach)  Mathieson,  also 
natives  of  Scotland.  The  father  died  about  1844,  and  in  1853  the 
subject  of  this  sketcli  came  to  this  country  and  engaged  as  a 
shoemaker  in  Kenosha,  Wis.  The  year  later  the  mother  came 
over  and  brought  her  two  daughters,  Violet  and  Ann.  The 
former  was  married.  In  1855  the  family,  in  company  with  John 
and  James  Morrison,  came  to  Lansing  township,  the  IMathieson 
family  settling  on  sections  twenty-three  and  twenty-six,  on  a 
farm  of  142  acres.  A  sister,  Ann,  taught  school  in  Lansing  town- 
ship three  years,  and  died  shortly  afterward.  Mr.  Mathieson  con- 
tinued to  live  on  the  home  farm,  which  he  conducted  until  he  re- 
tired and  came  to  Austin  to  live.  He  has  now  practically  retired 
from  active  life,  but  still  spends  his  time  in  looking .  after  his 
various  interests  in  the  county.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
town  board  of  Lansing  and  also  has  served  as  town  clerk.  In 
1884  he  represented  his  district  in  the  legislature.  Mr.  Mathieson 
is  a  ^lason,  and  is  the  fifth  oldest  member  of  the  Austin  lodge. 

Albert  F'.  Mattice,  avIio  died  June  30,  1907,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all  Avith  whom  he  had  come  in  contact,  was  born  in 
Fulton,  Schenectady  county.  New  York,  April  13,  1845.  At  an 
early  age  he  came  to  Waterloo,  AVis.,  with  his  parents,  receiving 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place.  Though  but 
sixteen  years  old  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  he  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 2,  1861,  in  Company  C,  Eleventh  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, serving  the  entire  four  and  a  half  years  of  the  war,  and 
rising  from  private  to  second  lieutenant,  these  promotions  attest- 
ing to  an  excellent  record.  Keturning  to  his  home  in  AVaterloo, 
he  v/orked  in  the  commission  house  of  his  father  for  a  time, 
and  tlien  entered  into  railroading  for  the  Chicago,  iMilwaukec  & 
St.  Paul  railroad,  first  acting  as  brakeman,  then  as  fireman,  and 
in  1873  was  made  an  engineer,  in  which  capacity  he  remained 
with  the  road  until  his  failing  health  compelled  his  retirement  in 
1906.  An  equal  to  his  record  as  an  engineer  is  seldom  met  with, 
not  an  accident  marring  his  thirty-five  years  of  service.  In  his 
death  Austin  lost  an  old  and  respected  citizen,  our  country  a 
valiant  soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  the  railroad  a  tnisted  and  tried 


668  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

engineer,  and  his  family  a  loving  husband  and  father.  In  politics 
he  was  an  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent Mason,  a  Templar,  and  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star  order 
for  seventeen  years,  and  was  also  associated  with  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  and  the  B.  of  L.  E.  ]\Iarch  4,  1874,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  Furtney,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Charlotte 
(Hilker)  Furtney,  of  Austin,  the  father  a  farmer.  He  died  March 
12,  1903,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years,  and  the  mother,  Septem- 
ber 22,  1903,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one.  The  five  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mattice  are  as  follows :  Oscar  A.,  an  engineer  on  the 
Hastings  &  Dakota  division  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
railroad,  located  at  Aberdeen,  S.  D.,  a  Knight  Templar  and 
Shriner  and  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen ; 
Lydia  L.,  wife  of  Harry  Van  Pelt,  of  Missoula,  Mont. ;  Albert  J., 
living  at  home,  a  brakeman  on  the  Chicago,  IMilwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
railroad,  and  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men, the  order  of  Owls,  and  the  B.  R.  T. ;  Clarence  W.,  living  at 
home,  a  callboy  in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  railroad ;  and  Helen  6.,  also  living  at  home.  The  family 
attend  worship  at  the  Presbyterian  church.  ]\Irs.  Mattice  is  a 
member  of  the  order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  the  W.  R.  C,  the  De- 
gree of  Honor,  and  the  G.  I.  A.  Alston  F.  and  Sally  A.  (Garrison) 
Mattice,  parents  of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  New  York,  later 
coming  to  Milwaukee,  where  the  father  was  engaged  as  a  com- 
mission merchant,  continuing  in  the  same  line  after  their  removal 
to  Waterloo,  Wis.  In  1883  they  migrated  to  Clark,  S.  D.,  where 
the  father  died,  April  25,  1902,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 
The  mother  passed  away,  February  15,  1904,  aged  ninety-two 
years.  \, 

William  H.  Miller,  deceased,  was  for  some  years  a  substantial 
farmer  at  Willmar,  Minn.  He  was  born  in  Canada  in  1839,  and 
was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years.  He  came  to  the 
States  with  relatives,  and  located  near  Minneapolis,  where  as  a 
young  man  he  engaged  in  various  work,  after  which  he  became  a 
farmer  in  Willmar.  Later  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Lansing  town- 
ship, and  died  a  year  later.  He  was  a  man  of  sturdy  character, 
and  his  dealings  were  upright  in  every  particular.  In  1886  he 
united  with  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Miller  was  married  to 
]\Iary  A.  Chadwick,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Morris) 
Chadwick,  natives  of  England,  who  came  to  America  with  a 
colony  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Bloomington,  in  Hennepin 
county,  Minnesota.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  were  blessed  with  seven 
children:  Frederick  E.,  William  (deceased),  Allen,  Herbert, 
Louis,  Clara  M.,  and  George  H.  Herbert  married  Hattie  Young. 
Mrs.  Miller  conducts  the  homestead  of  160  acres,  and  is  assisted 
in  the  work  by  her  sons. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  GGD 

Joseph  Mayer,  an  estimable  citizen  living  in  Austin,  was  born 
in  Germany,  Kingdom  of  Wertenberg,  in  1835,  son  of  Florian  and 
Magdaline  Mayer,  both  natives  of  Germany.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  came  to  America  in  1869,  landing  at  Castle  Garden,  New 
York,  August  26,  of  that  year.  He  came  directly  to  Austin  with 
his  family  and  has  since  been  a  resident  of  this  city,  working  for 
the  railroad  seven  years,  and  being  engaged  in  various  labor  the 
remainder  of  the  time.  He  married  ^lagdaline,  daughter  of  Michael 
and  Magdaline  (Shaub)  Effinger,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
born  six  children :  IMichael,  John,  Mary,  Theresa,  Susan  and  Jo- 
seph. Michael,  Theresa,  Joseph  and  Susan,  the  latter  of  whom  is 
now  Mrs.  Adolph  Glassel,  live  in  Austin.  John  lives  in  Kansas 
City,  Mo.,  and  IMary,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Fred  Bradbury,  lives  in 
Oakland,  Cal.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  JMayer  and  their  daughter  Tiienjsa 
make  their  home  at  1405  East  Water  street,  where  they  have  lived 
since  1888. 

August  Mulbrad,  a  retired  farmer  now  living  in  Austin,  was 
born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1859,  settling  in 
Dodge  county,  Wisconsin.  Iri  1864:  he  went  to  Geneva,  in  Free- 
born county,  and  after  about  three  years  there  returned  to  Dodge 
county,  Wisconsin.  In  1871  he  came  to  Mower  county,  and  set- 
tled in  Windom  township.  He  there  became  a  substantial  resi- 
dent and  served  a  number  of  years  on  the  school  board  of  his 
district.  In  1897  he  retired  and  moved  to  Austin,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  ]\Ir.  Mulbrad  married  Mary  Jane  Williams,  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren :  Alice  A.,  Jay  E.,  George  A.  and  Herbert  V.  Alice  A. 
married  Lee  Lewis  and  they  have  one  child,  Marion.  Jay  E. 
married  Antfelia  Stern  and  has  four  children,  Ethel  M.  Helen  A., 
Everette  Jay  and  Herbert  W.  George  married  Frances  Newton 
and  has  two  children,  Genevieve  A.  and  Myrtle  R.  Plerbert  V. 
married  ]\Iaude  J.  Beekwith. 

Frank  Howell  McCulloch,  commercial  printer,  born  at  Shab- 
bona,  111.,  Aiigi^st  5,  1862,  son  of  Harrison  G.  and  IMary  P. 
(Ketcham)  McCulloch ;  educated  in  De  Kalb,  111.,  high  school  until 
fourteen  years  of  age.  Learned  printing  trade  at  Rochelle,  111., 
and  worked  at  it  in  different  parts  of  Iowa ;  editor  of  Scranton 
(Iowa)  Journal,  1881;  established  a  commercial  printing  house 
in  Albert  Lea,  IVIinn.,  1890;  located  in  Austin,  1892,  and  estab- 
lished the  F.  H.  McCulloch  Printing  Company,  contracting  print- 
ers and  publishers,  which  company  was  incorporated  November 
1,  1908,  and  of  which  he  is  president  and  manager.  ^lember  of 
Austin  Commercial  Club,  Woodmen,  Court  of  Honor  and  Odd 
Fellows.  ^Married  in  Scranton,  Iowa,  to  !Miss  Luella  Goodyear  in 
1882. 

Andrew  Moonan,  the  genial  and  courteous  i)roiii-ietor  of  tlie 


G70  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

American  House,  Austin,  was  born  in  Drouglieda,  County  Loud, 
Ireland,  in  1840.  He  came  to  America  in  1862,  and  after  staying 
four  months  in  New  York  city  he  moved  to  Providence,  R.  I., 
where  he  conducted  a  livery  and  sales  stable.  In  1865  he  came 
West  and  purchased  a  claim  at  Sauk  Rapids,  Minn.,  which  he  still 
retains.  He  also  purchased  a  farm  at  Waseca  county,  which  he 
conducted  for  two  years,  after  which  he  sold  out,  came  to  Austin 
and  for  four  years  was  engaged  with  Colonel  Mansfield.  Then  he 
purchased  the  American  House,  where  he  still  resides.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married  to  Bridget  Twill,  February  2, 
1875,  at  Chatfield,  Minn.  To  them  were  born  ten  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  living. 

Hugh  R.  Mills,  chairman  of  the  town  board  of  Windom,  is  a 
progressive  farmer  of  the  township,  and  cultivates  128  acres  of 
good  land  in  section  thirty,  where  he  has  a  pleasant  home  and 
suitable  outbuildings.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  July 
6,  1864,  in  the  township  where  he  now  resides,  son  of  Hugh  D.  and 
Abbie  (Sargent)  Mills,  the  pioneers.  He  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  there  lived  until  February,  1887,  when  he  moved  to 
Wallace  county,  Kansas,  and  homesteaded  a  claim,  remaining 
there  nine  years,  and  experiencing  something  of  pioneer  life,  as 
did  his  parents  before  him.  In  1896  lie  returned  to  Mower  county 
and  has  since  farmed  in  Windom.  He  is  an  independent  voter,  a 
member  of  the  United  Workmen  at  Rose  Creek.  Mr.  Mills  Avas 
married  March  2,  1897,  to  Julia  Bunker,  daughter  of  Albert  and 
Serena  (Thompson)  Bunker,  and  their  only  child  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mills  are  noted  for  their  hospitality  and  good  cheer, 
and  delight  in  keeping  open  house  for  their  friends. 

Hugh  D.  Mills,  pioneer,  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  New 
York,  February  12,  1831,  and  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive state,  attending  school  and  working  for  his  parents.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  he  purchased  his  time  and  left  home,  but  re- 
turned to  the  parental  roof  in  1851,  at  the  request  of  his  mother 
after  the  death  of  his  sister.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  started 
west,  and  after  farming  in  Defiance,  Ohio,  for  a  while,  worked  in 
Fayette  county,  Iowa.  He  visited  Mower  county  in  1855,  went 
back  to  Iowa  and  clerked  in  a  hotel  in  West  Union  that  winter, 
and  in  March,  1856,  came  to  Mower  county  and  .pre-empted  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  twenty-nine,  in  Windom  township. 
He  proved  up  his  claim,  worked  about  for  a  time,  and  in  March, 
1860,  married  Abbie  A.  Sargent,  born  in  Marshfield,  Washington 
county,  Vermont.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  located  in  sec- 
tion sixteen,  Lansing  township,  but  about  four  years  later  took  up 
his  residence  on  his  claim  in  Windom.  He  built  a  log  cabin,  and 
therein  resided  until  1882,  when  he  erected  a  brick  veneer  house, 
at  that  time  the  only  one  of  its  kind  in  the  township.     This  was 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  671 

his  home  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  June,  1884.  His  wife  is  now 
living  in  Austin.  They  had  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are 
dead.  Edwin  G.  lives  in  Austin ;  Eliza  A.  married  Elijah  Bosser- 
man,  of  Wallace  county,  Kansas ;  Hugh  R.  lives  in  Windom  town- 
ship ;  Jenette  is  the  wife  of  T.  6.  Bailey,  of  Seattle,  Wash.  Charles 
farms  in  Windom  township.  The  members  of  the  family  are  well 
regarded  in  the  various  communities  wherein  they  have  taken  up 
their  residences. 

Lynds  S.  Mitchell,  for  many  years  a  blacksmith  in  Austin, 
came  here' after  the  war,  and  was  married  in  1870  to  JMinnie  Eitz- 
simmons,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Huldy  (Hoffman)  Fitzsimmons, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  three  children:  Elizabeth,  Ida  and 
Lulu.  Elizabeth  is  now  Mrs.  Aultfather,  and  they  have  one  child, 
David  H.  Ida  is  the  widow  of  T.  Myatt  and  has  one  child,  Lela 
D.  Lulu  is  now  Mrs.  Walter  Hill.  Mr.  Mitchell  died  in  Decem- 
ber, 1901.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Mrs.  Mitchell  has  lived  in 
the  same  pleasant  home  where  she  now  resides  for  forty-one 
years. 

Patrick  Fitzsimmons  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  after  comnig 
to  this  country  married  Huldy  Hoffman,  who  was  born  in  Utiea, 
N.  Y.  He  farmed  for  many  years  in  Woodstock,  111.,  and  then 
came  to  Freeborn  county,  where  he  took  up  a  claim  and  remained 
until  his  death  in  1863.  He  and  his  wife  had  six  children:  Charles 
(deceased),  Lorilla,  Katherine,  Richard  (deceased),  Helen  and 
Minnie.  The  latter,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Lynds  S.  Mitchell,  of  Austin, 
was  born  in  Woodstock,  111.,  came  with  her  parents  to  Freeborn 
county  when  six  years  of  age,  and  was  married  in  1870. 

J.  A.  Mitchell,  merchant  of  Taopi,  is  one  of  the  most  enthu- 
siastic workers  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  village,  and  has  shown 
his  faith  in  the  future  of  the  place  by  his  business  and  real  estate 
investments.  He  was  born  in  Marion,  Marion  county,  Ohio, 
December  11,  1857,  son  of  John  and  Mary  A.  (Hammond) 
Mitchell,  going  with  them  at  the  age  of  one  year,  in  1858,  to 
Clinton,  111.,  where  he  received  his  education  and  grew  to  man- 
hood, after  which  he  took  up  farming  in  DeWitt  county,  Illinois. 
There  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  1900,  when  he 
moved  to  Eagle  Grove,  Iowa,  where  he  followed  farming  for  five 
years,  after  Avhich  he  came  to  Taopi,  and  continued  farming.  In 
1907  he  erected  a  modern  store  block  in  the  village  of  Taopi, 
which  he  rented  for  two  years.  Then  he  bought  the  stock  and 
goods,  and  became  proprietor  of  the  store  wiiicli  he  now  suc- 
cessfully conducts,  carrying  a  large  stock  of  the  goods  usually 
found  in  a  general  store  of  this  kind.  While  in  Illinois,  Mr. 
Mitchell  served  as  assessor  of  his  town,  and  also  held  several 
minor  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  of  which 
lie  has  served  as  clerk  and  elder  for  many  years,  and  of  whicli  lie 


672  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

has  served  as  Sunday  school  superintendent  constantly  for  fifteen 
years.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  affiliates  with  the  M.  W. 
A.  Mr.  Mitchell  was  married  October  26,  1880,  to  :\Iary  B.  Butter- 
worth,  and  seven  children  have  blessed  this  union:  Ezra,  Irvin, 
Charles,  Bessie,  John.  "William  Ray  and  Ina. 

James  D.  McCormick,  a  courteous  and  highly  efficient  con- 
ductor on  the  Iowa  &  Minnesota  division  of  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee &  St.  Paul,  was  born  in  Edgerton,  Rock  county,  Wis- 
consin, in  1856,  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Malley)  McCormick, 
the  father  and  mother  both  being  natives  of  Ireland.  James  D. 
passed  his  early  life  at  home,  and  in  1873  came  to  Austin,  and 
clerked  in  the  old  American  house  for  a  time.  Then  he  took  up 
railroading.  His  attention  to  work,  his  honesty  and  his  efficiency 
won  him  gradual  promotion  through  the  various  grades  of  service 
until  he  attained  his  present  honorable  position.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Railway 
Conductors.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  1880  to 
Sarah  M.  Smith,  daughter  of  Matthew  and  Sarah  (O'Brien) 
Smith,  early  settlers  of  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  who  had  five 
children:  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Edward  Ford;  MatthcAV,  living  in 
Dakota;  Patrick,  deceased;  Cath:;rine,  now  ]\Irs.  Andrew  Cullen, 
and  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  J.  D.  McCormick. 

D.  A.  McKee,  manager  of  the  South  elevator  at  Racine  village, 
was  l)orn  in  Pleasant  Valley  township,  June  4,  1867,  son  of  James 
and  Frances  A.  Hall  McKee.  After  finishing  school  he  pursued 
the  occupation  of  well  driller  for  seven  years,  after  which  he 
assumed  his  present  position.  He  has  worked  in  this  capacity 
thirteen  years,  and  is  a  shrewd  business  man  and  an  excellent 
.iudge  not  only  of  harvested  grain,  but  also  of  crop  conditions. 
During  the  Spanish-American  war  ]\Ir.  McKee  served  in  Co.  F, 
12th  Regiment,  Minn.  Vol.  Inf.  He  is  well  thought  of  in  the 
village,  and  being  of  a  sociable  nature  he  has  allied  himself  witli 
the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  B.  A.  Y.  and  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  married  Sarah  Schwartz,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Melda. 

James  McKee,  an  estimable  citizen  of  Pleasant  Valley,  in 
which  townsliip  he  lived  from  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  until 
1884,  when  he  moved  to  Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  county,  Minne- 
sota, where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  November,  1910.  He  was 
born  in  Ireland,  came  to  America,  lived  in  New  York  city  three 
years,  and  then  settled  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  from  which 
locality  he  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war,  serving  three  years,  and 
accompanying  Sherman  on  his  famous  march  to  the  sea. 

Edgar  J.  Markham,  president  of  the  village  council  of  Wal- 
tham,  was  born  in  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  December  1,  1857,  son  of 
Walter  and  Lucelia  (Buck)  Markham,  the  former  of  whom  was 


IILSTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  673 

boru  in  Onondaga,  N.  Y. ;  came  west  about  1840,  and  lived  near 
Chicago  a  time  before  settling  in  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.;  raised  liis 
family  in  Wisconsin,  returned  to  New  York  for  four  years,  and 
then  took  up  his  residence  in  Waltham,  this  county,  where  he  died 
in  1885.  Edgar  worked  on  the  home  farm  until  1885,  when  he 
went  into  business  for  himself  selling  farm  machinery,  in  which 
Aoeation  he  continued  some  three  or  four  years,  afterward  selling 
harvester  machinery  on  the  road  for  a  similar  period.  Still  later 
he  bought  grain  for  a  line  of  elevators,  and  subsequently  pur- 
chased and  rebuilt  the  elevator  at  Waltham  village,  which  he  now 
conducts.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  also 
affiliates  with  the  Modern  Woodmen.  Before  becoming  mayor  of 
Waltliam,  he  was  chaii-man  of  the  township  and  also  a  justice  of 
the  peace.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Harriet  Soules, 
daughter  of  Martin  W.  Soules,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children :   William  F.,  Clarence  E.  and  Carrie  E. 

Lorenzo  Mott,  farmer  of  Red  Rock  township,  was  born  in 
Vergil,  Courtlaud  county.  New  York,  December  5,  1841,  son  o*' 
Henry  and  Sarah  (Overton)  Mott,  both  of  English  descent.  In 
185G  the  family  located  in  Green  Lake  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
six  years  later  in  Olmstead  county,  ]\Iinnesota,  where  Henry  Mott ' 
died  in  1867.  Lorenzo  then  continued  to  manage  the  home  farm, 
which  in  the  meantime  he  had  purchased,  until  1875,  when  he 
took  his  family  and  hovisehold  goods  and  went  to  Oregon  and 
California,  with  the  intention  of  locating  permanently  in  the  west. 
That  following  year,  hoAvever,  he  returned  and  settled  on  sections 
20,  21  and  29,  where  he  still  resides,  and  where  he  has  taken  an 
important  part  in  the  life  of  the  community,  serving  at  different 
times  in  various  public  offices.  He  married  Sarah  D.,  born  in 
Elmira,  Chenango  county.  New  York,  daughter  of  Timothy  and 
Deborah  (Wisner)  Brockway,  of  English  descent.  The  children 
of  this  union  are  Grant,  Lyman  A.,  Edwin,  Orren,  Clara  A., 
Bertha  E.  and  Minnie.  Clara  A.  married  William  Rugg,  and  they 
have  three  children :  Albert,  Donald  and  Everett.  Grant  married 
Gertrude  Trump  and  they  have  three  children :  Clara  P.,  Eunice 
F.  and  R.  Galen.  Henry  and  Sarah  (Overton)  Mott  joined  the 
IMethodist  Episcopal  church  in  early  life  and  continued  earnest 
workers  in  that  denomination  until  their  death. 

]Mr.  Mott  served  on  the  town  board  several  years,  and  on  the 
school  board  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  owned  at  one 
time  over  800  acres  in  Mower  county,  twenty-four  acres  being  a 
tine  fruit  orchard.  His  farm  now  consists  of  280  acres.  In  1893 
he  erected  one  of  the  largest  barns  in  his  township,  its  ground 
measurements  being  100  x  34  feet.  He  is  a  breeder  of  Red  Poll 
and  Durham  cattle  and  his  sheep  are  Shropshire  and  Oxford.  He 
lias  also  given  a  great  deal  of  attenfion  to  the  breeding  of  fine 


674  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTS 

draft  horses  of  the  full  blooded  registered  Belgium  breed,  now 
owning  some  twenty  of  these  animals.  In  addition  to  his  Mower 
county  land,  he  owns  city  property  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  at 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas. 

Philip  Martin,  retired  farmer  of  Waltham,  came  to  ]\Iower 
county  in  1882.  He  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  December  26, 
1834,  son  of  Frank  and  Mary  (Fuchs)  Martin,  who  came  to 
America  in  1849  and  located  in  Washington  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  they  farmed  until  1864,  when  they  came  to  Olmsted  county 
and  continued  farming,  the  father  dying  in  1874  and  the  mother 
one  year  later.  Philip  received  his  earlier  education  in  Prussia, 
Germany,  and  in  1849  came  to  America  with  his  parents,  locating 
with  them  in  Wisconsin,  and  moving  with  them  to  Minnesota.  In 
1864  he  purchased  a  small  farm  in  Olmsted  county,  and  there 
remained  until  1882,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  located 
on  240  acres  Avhich  he  purchased  in  section  16,  Sargent  township. 
This  he  improved  and  increased  until  he  owned  480  acres  of  rich, 
Avell-eultivated  land.  In  1901  he  retired,  purchased  lots  in 
Waltham  village,  erected  a  comfortable  home  and  has  since 
resided  here,  enjoying  a  well  deserved  rest  after  a  life  filled  with 
busy  toil.  He  was  married  February  14,  1856,  to  Christina  Fuchs, 
and  to  this  union  seven  children  have  been  born :  Margaret  is  now 
Mrs.  Thomas  Graham,  of  Rochester,  Minn. ;  Caroliiia  is  now  ]\Irs. 
Henry  Grimm,  o?  Sargent ;  Louisa  is  now  ]\Irs.  Joseph  Graham,  of 
Rochester,  Minn. ;  Mary  lives  at  home;  Emma  is  now  Mrs.  George 
Boliou,  of  AValtham  village ;  Frank  and  Jacob  live  in  Sargent 
township.  Mr.  Martin  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church. 

Ralph  S.  Mitchell,  M.  D.,  chairman  of  the  board  of  health  of 
Grand  Meadow,  is  well  known  in  both  village  and  township,  and 
enjoys  a  large  practice.  He  was  born  in  Eden  Prairie,  Hennepin 
county,  Minnesota,  April  28,  1874,  son  of  Alexander  and  Sarah  J. 
(Dean)  Mitchell.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  village,  there 
attended  school,  and  later  entered  Hamline  University,  graduat- 
ing from  the  medical  departinent  with  the  degree  of  ]\I.  D.  in  1903. 
The  following  year  he  was  employed  as  house  surgeon  at  Asbury 
hospital,  Minneapolis,  and  thus  equipped  with  training  and  skill, 
came  to  ]\Iower  county  the  following  year  and  opened  his  present 
office  in  Grand  Meadow.  Being  thoroughly  ethical  in  his  practice, 
he  has  allied  himself  with  the  American,  Minnesota  State  and 
Tllower  County  medical  associations,  and  he  also  belongs  to  the 
B.  A.  Y.  and  the  M.  W,  A.  Dr.  Mitchell  was  married  January  25, 
1905,  to  Mabel  H.  Lucas,  a  sister  of  the  well-known  lumber  dealer 
and  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Hill)  Lucas,  of  Eden  Prairie, 
Minn.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  one  daughter,  Barbara 
F.,  born  February  23,  1906.     Alexander  and  Sarah  J.    (Dean) 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  675 

Mitchell,  parents  of  Dr.  R.  S.  IMitehell,  are  of  Scotch-Irish  extrac- 
tion. They  were  married  in  Sliakopee,  Scott  county,  IMinnesota, 
and  engaged  in  farming  in  Hennepin  county  for  many  years. 
Alexander  Mitchell  died  December  25,  1899,  and  his  wife  is  still 
ou  the  old  homestead. 

Milton  A.  Morse,  of  the  tirm  of  Morse  Brothers,  grocers,  of 
LoRoy,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  LeRoy  township,  Jan- 
uar}'  4,  1880,  son  of  Samuel  and  Julia  A.  (Bacon)  Morse,  the 
pioneers,  and  grandson  of  Elihu  and  Mary  (Stoddard)  IMorse,  the 
first  settlers  in  the  northern  part  of  LeRoy  township.  Milton  A. 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  LeRoy  township, 
and  farmed  with  his  parents  until  June  17,  1909,  at  which  time  he 
came  to  LeRoy  village,  and  with  his  brother,  Melvin,  purchased 
the  grocery  business  of  Roy  Smart.  In  this  business  the  brothers 
are  itill  engaged,  carrying  a  large  stock  of  staple  groceries  and 
crockery.  Milton  A.  was  married  April  10,  1910,  to  Nannie 
Blackmer,  daughter  of  J.  R.  Blackmer,  of  LeRoy.  ]\Ir.  ]Morse  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

Joseph  L.  Mitchell,  a  prominent  banker  of  Austin,  is  actively 
identified  with  a  number  of  the  city's  leading  enterprises  and 
organizations.  He  was  born  in  Aurora  township,  Steele  county, 
Jane  21,  1865;  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
-lurora  township,  and  graduated  from  the  Owatonna  high  school 
in  1882.  As  a  youth  he  Avorked  in  his  father's  furniture  store  a 
year,  and  later  entered  the  First  National  Bank  of  Owatonna  as 
clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  a  period  of  four  years.  Then  he  was 
bookkeeper  for  the  National  Bank  of  Commerce,  at  Minneapolis, 
for  nearly  three  years.  In  1890  he  came  to  Austin,  and  was  made 
director  and  assistant  cashier  of  the  Austin  National  Bank.  He 
continued  in  this  position  with  much  efficiency  for  a  short  time, 
and  was  then  promoted  to  cashier.  In  this  capacity  he  proved  no 
less  capable,  and  in  January,  1909,  he  was  chosen  to  his  present 
position  as  vice  president  of  the  institution.  Mr.  Mitchell  is  a 
Republican  in  polities ;  treasurer  of  city  of  Austin ;  director  and 
treasurer  of  the  Austin  Weed  Exterminator  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany; secretary  of  the  Austin  Cement  Stone  &  Tile  Company; 
treasurer  of  the  Mower  County  Abstract  Company;  director  in 
the  Waltham  State  Bank,  of  Waltham,  Minn. ;  secretary  of  the 
Austin  and  Mower  County  Automobile  Club ;  member  of  the 
Austin  Commercial  Club,  of  the  Maccabees  and  the  A.  0.  U.  W., 
and  a  thirty-second  degree  jMason.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  September  15,  1891,  at  Austin,  to  Ethel  ^l.  Davidson, 
daughter  of  Charles  H.  Davidson,  of  this  place.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  one  daughter,  Margaret,  born  September  8, 
1893,  and  now  a  student  in  the  Austin  high  school.  The  family 
religion  is  that  of  the  ^letliodist  church.    Henry  H.  and  ^lary  L. 


6^6  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

(Goodnow)  Mitchell,  parents  of  Joseph  L.  Mitchell,  were  natives 
respectively  of  Indiana  and  Ohio.  They  located  in  Aurora  town- 
ship, Steele  county,  this  state,  about  1863,  and  engaged  in  farming 
until  1873,  when  they  moved  to  Owatonna,  where  Henry  H. 
opened  a  furniture  store.  Later  he  removed  to  Aldrich,  Mo., 
where  he  still  lives,  engaged  in  farming. 

W.  J.  McEldoon,  who  has  lived  in  Udolpho  township  for  over 
thirty-five  years,  was  born  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  May  4, 
1856,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Isabell  (Orr)  McEldoon,  the  former  of 
whom  was  in  early  life  a  sailor  and  in  later  life  owned  a  farm  on 
which  the  state  eapitol  at  Madison  now  stands.  W.  J.  came  to 
Mason  City,  Iowa,  in  1869,  and  worked  on  the  railroad  for  several 
years.  He  dates  his  residence  in  Udolpho  from  1874.  Mr.  Mc- 
Eldoon married  Ella  Manchester,  daughter  of  Carlos  and  Lydia 
(Gleason)  Manchester,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  New 
York.  The  McEldoon  home  has  been  gladdened  by  the  arrival  of 
six  children:  John  C,  Robert  E.,  Earle  L.,  Lloyd  R.,  Eugene  C. 
and  i\Iay  H. 

Nicholas  Nicholsen,  the  plucky  and  faithful  sheriff  of  ]\Iower 
county,  was  born  in  New  York  city,  February  25,  1868,  son  oF 
Nicholas  and  Johanna  M.  (Olson)  Nicholsen.  He  was  brought  to 
Austin  by  his  parents  in  1870,  and  here  received  his  education. 
After  leaving  school  he  farmed  for  a  while,  clerked  in  a  store, 
and  then  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff,  serving  seven  years.  In 
1904  he  was  elected  sheriff,  and  has  since  been  successively  re- 
elected. He  also  has  the  honor  of  being  the  senior  major  in  the 
Second  Regiment,  Minnesota  National  Guards,  and  has  won  for 
himself  the  praise  of  the  business  men  of  Austin  for  his  work  as 
chairman  of  the  membership  committee  of  the  Austin  Commercial 
Club.  The  Germania-Harmonica  Society  claims  him  as  an  ener- 
getic member  and  he  is  as  well  a  high  degree  Mason  and  Odd 
Fellow,  in  addition  to  being  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  the 
K.  of  P.,  the  F.  O.  E.,  the  M.  W.  A.  and  the  Sons  of  Norway.  He 
is  a  past  president  of  the  State  National  Guard  Association  and 
member  of  the  Spanish-American  War  Veterans.  Nicholas  Nich- 
olsen, S.r.,  and  Johanna  M.  Olson,  his  wife,  parents  of  Sheriff 
Nicholas  Nicholsen,  were  natives  of  Norway.  They  came  to 
America  in  1866,  lived  in  New  York  until  1870,  and  then  came  to 
Austin,  where  Nicholas,  Sr.,  was  for  many  years  a  furniture 
dealer.  Pie  died  in  1876,  and  his  widow  passed  away  many  years 
afterAvard,  in  1908. 

Theodore  E.  Nelson,  the  modern  and  progressive  merchant  of 
Corning  village,  was  born  in  Austin  township,  March  1,  1868,  on 
the  farm  known  as  the  old  Wallace  place.  Theodore  E.  Avas  three 
years  old  when  his  family  moved  to  Lansing  toAvnship.  He 
attended  school  in  district  72,  and  remained  at  home  until  twenty- 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  677 

four  years  of  age,  at  which  time  lie  went  to  North  Dakota,  speut 
a  time  ou  a  farm,  and  one  winter  in  tlie  woods.  lie  then  moved  to 
South  Dakota,  and  was  there  nine  years.  In  1892  he  came  l)ack  to 
Lansing,  and  opened  a  store  in  the  village  of  Corning,  Avhicli  he  is 
now  successfully  conducting.  ]\Ir.  Nelson  is  a  Republican  in 
polities,  and  at  the  time  of  leaving  Blooming  Valley,  8.  D.,  liad 
served  four  years  as  township  treasurer.  He  is  a  meml)er  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married 
Irene  Egtvet,  and  they  have  one  bright  son,  Elester,  now  seven 
years  of  age. 

Mike  Neus,  farmer  of  ]\Iarshall  township,  was  liorn  in  Adams 
township,  Mower  county,  January  8,  1876,  son  of  Andrew  Neus, 
who  came  to  America  in  1866  and  took  an  80-acre  homestead  in 
IMower  county.  Mike  Neus  was  educated  in  the  Mower  county 
public  schools  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  started  in  life  for 
himself.  He  rented  land  near  Lyle  and  then  for  three  years  con- 
ducted the  old  homestead  which  he  inherited.  In  the  winter  of 
1910  he  sold  his  farm,  and  now  leases  the  Sam.  Lepley  farm  of 
120  acres,  awaiting  an  advantageous  opportunity  to  purchase  a 
farm  of  his  own.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  votes 
the  Republican  ticket  and  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen.  In 
1900  he  married  Jennie  Show,  daughter  of  H.  J.  Show,  and  they 
have  six  children:  Burnie,  Harriett,  Fernie,  Elmer,  Ina  and  Vida, 
the  three  oldest  being  pupils  in  the  public  schools. 

Robert  Sabin  Noyes  was  born  July  11,  1873,  in  Hamilton 
county,  Iowa,  son  of  Sabin  and  Calista  (Riley)  Noyes,  the  former 
of  whom  died  in  1875  and  the  latter  in  1897,  in  Webster  City, 
Iowa,  to  which  place  they  came  from  Wisconsin.  Robert  S.  was 
married  November  22,  1899,  to  Ida  Oslund,  whose  parents  were 
natives  of  Sweden.  Mrs.  R.  S.  Noyes  was  born  February  8,  1878, 
and  licr  childhood  was  spent  on  a  farm  near  Stratford,  Iowa. 
She  has  borne  Robert  Sabin  Noyes  five  children:  Zola  C,  Ermu 
A.,  Helen  C,  Darwin  R.  and  Carl  A.  The  family  moved  to  Dexter 
m  this  county  in  1906  on  a  farm,  and  in  1909  ]\Ir.  Noyes  engagcl 
in  the  hardware,  harness  and  furniture  business.  In  1910  he  sold 
out  and  purchased  a  120-aere  farm  west  of  Dexter. 

John  Olsen,  foreman  for  the  Lyle  Corrugated  Culvert  Com- 
pany, of  Lyle,  was  born  in  Norway,  January  30,  1870,  son  of 
.John  and  ]Marie  Olsen,  who  came  to  America  in  1873,  and  located 
in  Chicago  for  four  years.  Then  they  cam.e  to  Mower  county  and 
liere  the  father  engaged  as  a  carpenter  and  contractor,  a  business 
lie  followed  until  his  death,  in  1876,  his  wife  being  still  alive  and 
making  her  home  with  her  son.  At  the  age  of  eleven  years  Joliu 
Olson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  left  home,  and  worked  on 
a  farm.  This  lie  continued  until  he  was  sixteen,  and  then  worked 
four  voars  on  the  railroad.     In  1898  iie  engaged  in  the  restaurani 


678  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUXTY 

])usiness  and  continued  some  five  years.  He  is  now  giving  exeel- 
lent  service  as  foreman  of  the  Lyle  plant  of  the  Lyle  Corrugated 
Culvert  Company.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  village  council 
for  three  years.  He  is  single,  a  Bepublican,  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  an  attendant  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

John  Opsall,  one  of  the  prominent  Norwegian-Americans  of 
the  county,  came  to  Minnesota  as  a  boy  of  sixteen,  and  has  since 
taken  an  active  interest  in  its  growth  and  development.-  He  was 
born  in  Norway  in  1855,  his  father  being  Hans  Opsall  and  his 
mother  Julia  Olson.  He  came  to  America  with  his  mother  in 
1869,  and  joined  the  father  who  a  year  previous  had  located  in 
Grant  county,  Wisconsin.  In  1871  they  came  to  Minnesota  and 
located  in  Freeborn  county.  John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
reared  on  the  farm,  and  in  1878  started  out  in  life  for  himself  by 
purchasing  his  present  farm  of  160  acres  in  Lansing  township, 
this  county.  In  addition  to  this  he  owns  five  acres  across  the  line 
in  Freeborn  county.  His  farming  operations,  which  are  conducted 
along  the  latest  approved  lines,  have  been  most  successful,  and  he 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  well-to-do  men  of  the  county.  He  belongs 
to  l\[ason  Lodge  and  to  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  Mr.  Opsall  was  united 
in  marriage  many  years  ago  to  Mary  Anderson,  a  native  of  Nor- 
way. This  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children.  They  are 
Harry  M.,  at  home,  and  Lena  M.  Lena  M.  is  now  the  wife  of 
L.  C.  Berry  and  lives  in  "Wisconsin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berry  have 
three  children :   Marcus,  Lewis  J.  and  Otto. 

John  D.  Olson,  now  deceased,  one  of  the  sturdy  old  pioneers 
of  Mower  county,  was  born  in  Norway,  in  December,  1836.  In 
ISIS  he  came  to  America,  and  located  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  remained  until  1855.  He  then  came  to  Mower  county, 
making  the  trip  overland  by  ox  team,  his  brothers,  Ragnald  and 
Stephen,  and  his  sister^  Lena,  and  parents  accompanying  him.  He 
settled  in  section  12,  Adams  tOAvnship,  gradually  broke  and 
developed  the  land  and  carried  on  general  farming,  making  a 
specialty  of  grain  raising  and  stock  breeding.  Mr.  Olson  was 
well  liked.  He  died  October  25,  1895,  and  his  death  was  the  cause 
of  much  sincere  mourning.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  mar- 
ried May  28,  1866,  to  Ida  Gurina  Johnson,  daughter  of  J.  C, 
Johnson,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  nine  children: 
Junetta,  Steffina,  Bertha,  Emma — these  four  are  living.  Five  died 
in  youth.  Junetta  is  the  wife  of  Ben  S.  Knutson;  Bertha  is  the 
wife  of  Peter  Erickson;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Knute  Gordon: 
Steffina  is  the  wife  of  Ed,  Lunde.  Mrs.  Olson  has  lived  in  the 
village  of  Adams  eight  years.  Her  memory  of  the  events  trans- 
piring in  the  early  days  is  very  clear,  and  she  is  an  earnest  advo- 
cate of  the  preservation  of  the  early  records. 

Knut  K.  Ostegaard  has  lived  in  Mower  county  since  1864,  and 


JOHN  OPSALL. 


IIISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  679 

ill  the  vilhige  of  Grand  ]\Ieadow  since  1902.  He  was  horn  in 
Norway,  Deoemher  28,  1828;  received  his  education  in  tlie  schools 
of  Norway,  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  leaving  his  native  land 
for  America  at  the  age  of  thirty-three,  in  1861.  He  first  located 
in  Wisconsin  for  a  time,  and  then,  in  1864,  came  to  Mower  county, 
where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Grand  Meadow  township  and 
twenty  acres  of  timber  land  in  Frankford  township.  Five  years 
later  he  purchased  eighty  acres  adjoining  his  original  purchase, 
thus  making  a  farm  of  160  acres.  This  land  he  broke  and  im- 
proved, erected  the  necessary  buildings  and  carried  on  general 
farming.  On  this  place  he  toiled  and  prospered  until  1902,  when 
he  sold  the  farm  and  purchased  a  lot  in  Grand  Meadow  village,  on 
Avhich  he  erected  a  pleasant  residence,  in  which  he  and  his  good 
Avife  now  live,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  early  toil  and  hardships. 
i\Ir.  Ostegaard  was  married  August  23,  1867,  to  Olena  -Johnson, 
a  native  of  Norway,  who  was  born  September  10,  1835,  and  came 
to  America  in  1866.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  children: 
John  lives  in  Grand  Meadow;  Anna  lives  in  Frankford  township 
and  is  now  ]Mrs.  Tver  Peterson ;  Ole  is  a  carpenter  and  contractor 
ill  ^liimeapolis. 

Andrew  M.  Olson,  whose  farm  is  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  village  of  Brownsdale,  was  born  in  Sweden,  April  16,  1861, 
son  of  Oiaf  and  Kyersten  (Anderson)  Larson.  He  came  to 
America  in  1888,  and  in  the  same  year  located  in  Austin,  remain- 
ing five  months.  After  this  he  worked  six  years  in  Brownsdale, 
and  then  farmed  a  similar  period  for  Charles  Gage.  In  1899  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  Red  Rock  township  near  Brownsdale,  and  in 
1900  moved  onto  the  place.  He  has  the  160  acres  under  good 
cultivation,  has  a  substantial  home  and  large  outbuildings  in 
Avhich  the  cattle  and  crops  are  well  housed.  j\[r.  Olson  was  on 
the  school  board  in  1903  and  he  has  allied  himself  with  the 
i\r.  W.  A.  and  the  B.  A.  Y.  lie  married  Hilda  M.  Sodergren, 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Lena  (Peterson)  Sodergren,  and  this 
union  has  resulted  in  five  children:  Alvin  A.,  "Walter  S.,  Edna  M., 
Russell  F.  and  Helen  C. 

Ole  T.  Odden,  retired  farmer  of  Grand  jMeadow,  was  born  in 
Norwa.y,  October  10,  1835,  son  of  Torgrim  Anderson  and  Segrie 
Halverson,  his  wife,  who  came  from  Norway  to  America  in  1870, 
and  located  in  Lansing  town.ship,  this  county,  later  moving  over 
the  line  into  ^Moscow,  Freeborn  county,  remaining  there  until 
their  death.  Ole  T.  received  his  education  in  Norway,  and  came 
to  America  in  1867,  locating  in  Frankford  townsliip,  this  county, 
where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  wliicli  he  improved  and 
developed.  In  1906  he  sold  this  farm,  then  bought  it  back  again, 
and  then  disposed  of  it  permanently.  In  the  fall  of  1910  he  took 
up   iiis   abode   in   (Jrand    Meadow.      He   still   owns   160   acres   in 


GSO  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COU>s^TY 

Frankforci  township,  which  he  rents.  AYhile  living  on  his  farm  ]\Ir. 
Odden  served  seven  years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  married 
in  September,  1859,  to  Ingeberg  Severson,  and  this  union  has  been 
brightened  with  seven  children :  Torgrim  lives  in  Wadena  county, 
Minnesota ;  Sever  lives  in  Staples,  Todd  county,  Minnesota ; 
Halvor  is  a  furniture  dealer  in  Grand  Meadow;  Anton  is 
janitor  of  Grand  Meadow  high  school;  John  and  Simon  died  of 
diphtheria  in  1877 ;  Emma  C.  is  at  home.  The  family  faith  is  that 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  The  brothers  and  sisters  of  Ole  T.  Odden 
are  as  follows,  he  being  the  oldest:  Anders,  killed  at  Murfrees- 
boro,  January  1,  1864;  Carolina,  of  Norway;  Halvor,  farmer  of 
Freeborn  county,  town  of  Moseo ;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Lewis  Quam, 
of  Elmore,  Minn. ;  Simon,  of  Freeborn  county ;  Bertha,  wife  of 
George  Baudler,  of  Austin,  and  Christopher,  deceased. 

Halvor  Odden,  furniture  dealer  and  funeral  director  of  Grand 
MeadoAV,  was  born  in  Norway,  February  13,  1865,  son  of  Ole  T. 
Odden.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1867,  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  Frankford  township,  and  remained  on  the  home 
farm  until  the  age  of  twenty-three,  when  he  started  clerking  in  a 
general  store  in  Spring  Valley,  remaining  there  from  1888  to  1891. 
In  the  latter  year  he  came  to  Grand  INIeadow,  worked  in  a  general 
store  several  years  and  in  1906  bought  out  N.  P.  Stenshold,  and 
engaged  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  business.  He  was  mar- 
ried September  25,  1895,  to  Anna  Maria  Anderson,  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stephen  Anderson. 

George  Pick,  a  farmer  living  in  Brownsdale  village,  was  born 
in  Leicestershire,  England,  March  19,  1839,  son  of  William  and 
Ann  (Johnson)  Pick,  and  married  Emma  Beer,  daughter  of 
George  and  Elizabeth  (Hill)  Beer,  of  London,  England.  George 
Pick  and  his  wife  came  to  America  in  1864,  and  located  on  a  farm 
in  Fillmore  county.  In  1868  they  came  to  AYaltham  township  and 
purchased  a  farm  in  section  36.  In  1908  Mr.  Pick  moved  to  the 
village  of  Brownsdale,  and  has  since  made  his  home  here,  although 
he  still  operates  his  farm,  being  assisted  in  his  work  by  his  son. 
Fay.  Mr.  Pick  takes  ao  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  in  addition 
to  serving  on  the  town  board  at  various  times  was  clerk  of  the 
school  board  of  his  district  for  twenty  years.  In  the  Pick  family 
there  were  five  children :  Jennie,  William,  Lydia,  Arthur  and  Fay. 
Jennie  married  Thomas  Johnson,  of  Waltham,  Minn.,  and  tliey 
have  five  children :  Mabel,  Vaughan,  Myrtle,  Ray  and  Rose. 
William  0.  lives  in  Clay  county,  Minnesota.  He  married  Jennie 
Bull,  and  they  have  three  children:  Glinee,  Nellie  and  Olive. 
Lydia  married  Jasper  Hill  and  lives  in  Bruno,  Pine  county,  ]\Iin- 
nesota.  Arthur  lives  in  Antelope  county,  Ne])raska.  Pay  married 
]\rabe]  Baiiy,  lives  in  Waltham,  and  assists  on  the  home  farm. 

Helge  A.  Peterson  is  one  of  the  progressive  farmers  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  :\10\VEI{  COUNTY  681 

county.  He  has  a  productive  farm  of  480  acres  in  Udolplio  tOAvn- 
ship,  beautifully  laid  out  and  equipped  with  all  the  most  modern 
machinery.  His  house,  erected  in  1887,  is  a  model  of  l)cauty  and 
comfort,  and  the  stock  is  well  housed  in  commodious  ([uarlers, 
while  there  are  in  addition  numerous  buildings  for  the  shelter  of 
crops  and  machinery.  i\Ir.  Peterson  also  owns  land  in  other  parts 
(>f  jMinnesota.  Although  these  extensive  holdings  entail  much 
labor  and  care  on  his  part,  he  has  nevertheless  found  time  to  take 
an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  and  he  has  been  chairman  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  of  the  township  for  twenty  years,  as  well  as 
ti-easurer  of  his  school  district  for  many  terms,  and  treasurer  of 
tlie  Lutheran  church  congregation  for  eighteen  years.  He  was 
born  in  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  December  28,  1852,  son  of  Asleck 
Peterson,  who  came  from  the  old  country  to  America  in  1845  and 
settled  in  Spring  Valley,  Rock  county,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death.  In  1875  Helge  A.  Peterson  married  Betsy  T.  Knudson 
Berg,  who  died  July  9,  1876,  leaving  one  daughter,  Betsy,  who  is 
wife  of  Ole  H.  Kanudtson,  and  lives  in  Wisconsin.  In  1882  Helge 
A.  left  Wisconsin  and  came  to  Udolpho  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased his  present  farm.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Helena  0.  Lewis,  was  a  daughter  of  Ole  Lewis,  who  served  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  died  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  of  sickness  contracted 
in  the  army.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  nine  children: 
Samuel  Arthur,  born  June  5,  1885 ;  Ormanzo  Benhart,  born 
October  28,  1887 :  Nellie  Johanna,  born  November  26,  1889,  and 
died  May  8,  1890;  Nellie  Charlotte,  born  February  26.  1891; 
Charles  Palmer,  born  January  20,  1893;  Blanche  Lillian,  born 
August  21,  1895;  Ralph  Alexander,  born  February  23,  1897,  died 
September  5,  1898 ;  Signe  Evangeline,  born  August  12,  1900,  and 
Agnes  Helena,  born  October  9,  1904.  Samuel  Arthur  was  married 
August  12,  1905,  to  Serena  Anderson,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  four  children:  Tonetta  Henrietta,  born  October  7, 
1905:  Harriet  Otena,  born  October  27,  1907;  Selina  Ordell.  born 
June  n,  1909,  and  Erwin  Chester,  born  November  10,  1910. 

Charles  Peachey  has  a  fine  farm  in  Lyle  township,  well  culti- 
vated and  well  set  with  fruit  and  sliade  trees.  He  was  born  in 
f^ngland.  in  Cam])ridgeshire,  April  20,  1849,  son  of  James  and 
Charlotte  (^larsh)  Peachey,  natives  of  England,  who  came  to 
America  in  1851  and  located  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  remaining  there 
about  two  years,  after  which  they  moved  to  Waupun,  Wis.,  where 
they  remained  for  about  four  years,  subsequently  removing  to 
Rice  lake,  Dodge  county,  remaining  there  about  twenty  years, 
.still  later  coming  to  Owatonna,  Steele  county.  Here  the  fatiier 
died,  December  28,  1908,  the  mother  still  making  her  home  in 
Owatonna.  Charles  crossed  the  ocean  with  liis  parents  at  one 
and  a  liali'  years  of  age,  and  received  liis  education  in  tlie  i>ul.lic 


682  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

schools  of  Rice  Lake,  Minn.  After  this  he  worked  out  by  the 
month  for  a  period  of  five  years,  and  in  1876  went  to  AVaupun, 
Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  and  engaged  with  Raymond  brothers  on 
a  farm  for  one  year.  In  1877  he  came  to  Mower  county,  and 
located  in  section  7,  Lyle  township,  where  he  purchased  forty 
acres  of  wild  land  and  built  a  home  and  other  buildings,  breaking 
and  developing  the  land.  Six  years  later  he  added  an  adjoining 
forty  acres,  his  farm  now  consisting  of  eighty  acres  of  good  land. 
He  has  set  out  an  abundance  of  shade  trees,  giving  his  residence 
a  pretty  appearance,  and  also  has  over  100  apple  trees.  Mr. 
Peaehey  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  attends  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Although  interested  in  public  affairs,  he  has  never  con- 
sented to  run  for  public  office.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  March  27,  1877,  to  Eliza  A.  Marsh,  who  has  proved  an 
able  helpmeet.  She  is  the  daughter  of  James  and  Christina 
(Nolden)  Marsh,  the  former  a  native  of  Cambridgeshire,  England, 
and  the  mother  of  Bonn,  Germany.  The  father  came  to  America  at 
nineteen  years  of  age  and  the  mother  at  ten,  the  former  locating 
in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  the  latter  at  Waupun,  in  the  same  state. 
They  came  to  Minnesota  in  1888,  from  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin. 
Both  are  now  living  in  Austin.  Mrs.  Peaehey  has  served  as  treas- 
urer of  her  school  district.  No.  14,  for  eight  years,  and  has  taken 
a  deep  interest  in  local,  civic,  literary  and  educational  subjects. 

Peter  G.  Peterson,  successful  farmer  of  Lansing  township,  and 
for  nine  years  supervisor,  a  position  he  has  filled  with  credit  to 
liimself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  fellow  citizens,  was  born  in 
Clayton  county,  Iowa,  son  of  Gulleck  Peterson,  also  a  farmer,  who 
came  to  America  from  Norway  in  1862.  Gulleck  lived  in  Clayton 
and  Dodge  counties,  Minnesota,  and  AVorth  county,  Iowa,  and  died 
in  the  latter  county  in  187"7.  His  wife,  with  her  three  children, 
consisting  of  Peter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  two  girls,  came 
to  Lansing  and  located  on  section  18,  in  1877,  and  Peter  G.  has 
since  been  a  resident  of  this  township.  Six  years  ago  he  moved  to 
section  21,  where  he  still  resides.  The  home  farm  consists  of  160 
acres  of  good  land,  which  is  doing  well  under  careful  attention. 
The  house  is  comfortable,  the  buildings  well  kept,  and  the  stock 
and  crops  well  looked  after.  ]\Iodern  tools  and  machinery  add  to 
the  success  that  Mr.  Peterson  has  achieved.  In  addition  to  his 
farm  in  section  18,  he  owns  ten  acres  in  section  17,  in  the  same 
township,  and  160  acres  of  good  land  in  Richland  county,  North 
Dakota.  He  is  a  believer  in  education,  and  in  addition  to  giving 
the  township  good  service  on  the  town  board,  has  served  faithfully 
for  sixteen  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  his  district. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  1896  to  Helgine  Ander- 
son, born  in  Norway  in  1866,  daughter  of  Andrew  Olson.  She 
came  to  America  with  her  parents  in  1871  and  they  have  since 


IRA  PADDEN. 


HLSTOIJY  OF  MOWEU  COUNTY  683 

lived  in  Lansing.  ]\Ir.  and  ]Mrs.  Peterson  have  liad  five  ehildren : 
George  B.,  born  December  15,  1896;  Evin  J.,  born  August  4,  1898; 
Morris  N.,  April  28,  1900;  Helen  Pauline,  :\Iay  20,  1902;  Esther 
Engeborg,  November  5,  1904. 

Ira  Padden,  now  deceased,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  AVindoni 
township,  in  this  county,  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  married  ]Mary 
Wilson,  who  Avas  born  in  Canada,  of  Scottish  descent.  They  came 
to  Mower  county  in  1856,  located  in  "Windoni  township,  and  pre- 
empted 160  acres.'  Ira  Padden  had  about  twenty  acres  of  this 
land  broken,  when  he  listened  to  his  country's  call,  and  enlisted 
in  Co.  C,  9th  Minn.  Vol.  Inf.,  serving  until  honorably  discharged 
at  Ft.  Snelling  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Then  he  returned  to  the 
farm,  and  followed  agricidtural  pursuits  until  his  death,  December 
17,  1865.    His  wife  died  in  1908. 

Ira  Padden,  general  superintendent  of  the  plant  of  the  ]Miniie- 
sota  Farmers'  Brick  and  Tile  Company,  Austin,  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  on  the  southeast  cpiarter  of  section  6,  AYindom  town- 
.  ship,  sou  of  Ira  and  ]Mary  (AVilson)  Padden,  the  pioneers.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  country  schools  and  in  the  Austin 
high  school,  after  which  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  C,  M.  & 
St.  P.  After  learning  the  machinists'  trade,  he  was  gradually 
promoted,  and  during  the  last  six  years  of  his  twenty  years' 
employment  with  that  company  acted  as  foreman  of  the  shops  at 
Austin.  Subsequent  to  this  he  served  eight  years  as  state  boiler 
inspector  for  the  First  district,  and  still  later  entered  into  the  land 
and  real  estate  business.  November  26,  1909,  when  the  ^Minnesota 
Farmers"  Brick  and  Tile  Company  was  organized,  he  became  its 
general  superintendent,  and  his  efficient  and  faithful  service,  as 
Avell  as  his  mechanical  knowledge,  has  played  an  important  part  in 
Uie  favor  with  which  the  output  of  that  company  has  met.  IMr. 
Padden  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  has  done  valuable  service  for 
the  city  of  Austin  as  alderman  from  the  third  ward,  a  capacity 
in  which  he  has,  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  served  since 
Twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  has  also  been  sergeant  at  arms  at  the 
state  capitol  for  the  last  two  sessions  of  the  legislature,  lie 
helped  to  organize  Co.  G,  Second  Regiment,  ]\I.  N.  G.,  and  held 
rank  from  private  to  first  lieutenant,  also  acting  as  captain  two 
years.  Mr.  Padden  is  a  member  of  the  A.  0.  U.  AV.,  the  M.  AV.  A., 
the  I.  0.  R.  M.,  the  K.  of  P.,  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  the  Owls.  He 
was  married  November  25,  1887,  to  Mira  Streeter,  and  this  union 
has  resulted  in  three  children,  of  whom  two  are  living:  Edith,  a 
graduate  of  the  Austin  high  school  and  of  the  University  of  ]\Iin- 
nesota,  is  teaching  in  the  high  school  at  Lake  City,  ]\Iinn. ;  Elsie 
is  a  student  at  the  Hamlinc  University. 

Frank  H.  Pike,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Austin  township,  was 
i)Orn  in  Eric  county,  New  York,  September  30,  1856,  son  of  Isiah 


68,4  HISTORY  OF  lAIOWER  COUNTY 

N.  and  Isabell  (Rolfe)  Pike,  natives  of  New  York  state.  He  came 
with  his  parents  to  Wisconsin  in  1875,  and  to  Mower  county  in 
1885.  Here  he  purchased  160  acres  of  farm  land,  and  has  since 
carried  on  agricultural  operations.  He  added  sixty  acres  to  his 
place  by  purchase,  and  obtained  a  similar  area  from  his  father, 
this  making  him  a  farm  of  280  acres,  which  receives  his  best  care 
and  attention.  He  is  an  independent  voter,  and  has  avoided 
political  office,  although  his  interest  in  education  has  caused  his 
acceptance  of  the  office  of  school  district  29,  a  position  he  has 
held  with  credit  for  nine  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married,  in  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  October  20,  1878,  to  Jennie 
DeRemer,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Rose  (Domey)  DeRemer,  both 
now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pike  have  been  blessed  with  six 
children,  three  of  whom,  Leslie  E.,  Rosabel  N.  and  Celia  F.,  are 
living,  and  three  of  whom,  Dellie  M.,  Lloyd  L.  and  Edith  I.,  are 
dead.  Leslie  M^as  born  December  8,  1886 ;  Rosabel  N.,  October  9, 
1893,  and  Celia  F.,  September  7,  1896.  Dellie  M.  lived  from  April 
3,  1880,  to  July  4,  1889;  Lloyd  L.  from  December  30,  1888,  to 
September  14,  1893;  Edith  I.  from  November  20,  1891,  to  February 
18,  3894,  bringing  joy  by  their  arrival  and  presence,  and  desola- 
tion by  their  departure  and  absence.  The  family  faith  is  that  of 
the  Baptist  church.  Frank  H.  Pike  has  always  been  an  extensive 
breeder  of  stock.  At  one  time  he  bred  the  Polled  Durham  cattle. 
Mrs.  Frarflc  H.  Pike  is  one  of  the  oldest  breeders  of  thoroughbred 
poultry  in  the  township. 

Isiah  N.  Pike  was  born  in  New  York  in  1832,  went  to  Wis- 
consin in  the  spring  of  1855,  and  was  married  in  that  fall  to 
Isabell  Rolfe,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Then  they  went  back  to  New  York 
state,  and  lived  there  until  the  fall  of  1875,  when  they  came  west 
to  Evansville,  AVis.,  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  farming 
until  1885,  when  he  came  to  Austin  township,  purchased  land  and 
followed  agricultural  pursuits.  Isiah  N.  Pike  died  September  19, 
1904,  and  his  wife  makes  her  home  with  her  son,  Frank  H.,  in 
Austin  township. 

Willard  K.  Porter,  a  substantial  and  successful  business  man 
of  LeRoy,  was  born  in  the  vicinity  where  he  still  resides.  May  16, 
1857,  son  of  Andrew  J.  and  Elizabeth  Porter,  the  pioneers.  Wil- 
lard K.  received  his  schooling  in  LeRoy,  and  then  clerked  for  some 
five  years  in  the  LeRoy  bank.  His  ability  and  popularity  secured 
for  him  the  position  of  deputy  county  auditor  and  this  office  he 
filled  with  credit  for  two  years.  In  1892  he  assisted  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  First  State  Bank,  of  LeRoy,  and  is  now  its  president. 
This  bank  is  one  in  which  LeRoy  takes  a  particiUar  pride.  It  lias 
been  judiciously  managed  since  its  conception,  its  policy  being 
progressive  in  so  far  as  is  consistent  with  sound  financial  prin- 
ciples, and  the  financial  integrity  of  this  vicinity  rests  to  a  large 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  685 

extent  upon  the  solidity  of  this  bauk.  ]\Ir.  Porter,  since  THH^,  has 
been  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Porter  &  Young,  general  dealers. 
This  concern  conducts  a  general  store,  has  cloak  salesmen  on  the 
road,  and  also  buys  live  stock,  making  daily  shipments  to  Austin 
and  other  points.  Mr.  Porter  has  had  a  long  and  varied  expe- 
rience in  tlie  buying  and  selling  of  live  stock,  and  is  considered 
an  authority  in  this  particular  line.  February  3,  1881,  I\Ir.  Porter 
married  Eulalie  Avery,  daughter  of  John  T.  and  Myra  (Mitchell) 
Avery,  and  their  children  are  Myra  Beth  Porter,  a  student  at 
Carlton  College,  Northfield,  ]\tinn. ;  Lynn  A.  Porter,  as.sistant 
cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  LeRoy. 

Andrew  J,  Porter,  pioneer  blacksmith  and  lirst  constable  of 
LeRoy,  was  born  in  Madison,  Lake  county,  Ohio,  January  28, 
1829.  At  the  age  of  eight  years  he  lost  his  father,  and  when  he 
was  twelve  the  family  emigrated  to  "Wisconsin,  locating  in  Mil- 
waukee county,  where  they  were  early  settlers.  An  elder  brother 
bought  land  and  Andrew  J.  made  his  home  with  him  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age.  Then  he  went  to  Milwaukee,  and  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade,  serving  three  years.  Afterward  he  went 
to  northern  Michigan,  and  engaged  in  horseshoeing  until  1856, 
when  he  started  for  Minnesota,  making  the  trip  over  the  lakes  to 
W^auwatosa,  W^is.,  and  from  there  to  Mower  county  with  ox  teams. 
He  was  joined  by  his  father-in-law,  E.  Whitcomb,  and  upon  arriv- 
ing here  claimed  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  in  the  town 
of  LeRoy.  There  he  remained  two  years  and  then  purchased  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  31,  where  he  built  a  large  house 'and 
remained  until  1864,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  what  is  now 
known  as  the  old  town  of  LeRoy.  There  he  engaged  in  black- 
smithing  with  E.  E.  McKee.  W'hen  the  new  town  was  started  he 
bought  land  in  the  present  village  of  LeRoy  and  erected  a  house. 
In  company  with  John  Curry. he  built  the  first  blacksmith  sliop 
in  the  new  village.  He  was  first  constable  in  the  village,  and  was 
repeatedly  elected  to  offices  of  trust  and  honor.  Andrew  J.  Porter 
married  Elizabeth  Whitcomb,  October  28,  1849,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  six  children:  Anson  C,  Vica  A.,  Julia  I.,  Willard  K.^ 
Frank  AV.  and  Lizzie  M.,  Ida  and  Frank  dying  in  infancy. 

Jajnes  Peterson,  a  retired  farmer  living  in  Lyle,  was  born  in 
Norway,  February  16,  1844,  son  of  Peter  Johnson  and  Brita,  his 
wife,  natives  of  Norway,  who  came  to  America  in  1867,  locating  in 
Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  where  they  ended  their  days,  the  former  in 
1871  and  the  latter  in  1898.  James  received  his  education  in 
Norway  and  came  to  Mitchell  county  in  1866,  locating  in  Union 
township,  where  he  started  farming  on  160  acres.  This  he  later 
increased  to  half  a  section,  on  which  he  conducted  many  improve- 
ments and  carried  on  general  farming,  remaining  there  until  1903, 
when  ho  i-etired  and  moved  to  Lvlo  village.     He  has  served   in 


686  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

scliool  and  township  office,  and  holds  stock  in  the  Otter  Creek 
Co-operative  Creamery  and  in  the  Lyle  Telephone  Company.  He 
was  married  April  17,  1866,  and  twelve  children  have  blessed  this 
union :  Bertha  is  the  wife  of  Ole  A.  Neversate,  of  Mitchell  county ; 
Anna  is  the* wife  of  Erik  Slindee,  postmaster  at  Adams;  Julia  is 
the  wife  of  W.  E.  Brown,  of  Austin;  Josephine  is  a  milliner  in 
Minneapolis ;  Petra  is  the  wife  of  John  Thorstas,  of  Lyle ;  Albert, 
who  married  Hannah  Johnson,  is  on  the  old  homestead ;  John  lives 
in  Marion,  N.  D. ;  Henry  lives  in  the  same  place  and  is  the  husband 
of  Celia  Strand ;  Peter  married  Mabel  Selle ;  Ella  married  Edward 
Hildebrand ;  Lillian  is  a  school  teacher,  and  Peter  died  at  the  age 
of  eight  years.    The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Lutlieran  churcli. 

Henry  N.  Peterson,  now  deceased,  was  a  respected  business 
man  of  Lyle  village,  and  his  death,  January  21,  1900,  was  sincerely 
mourned  by  the  people  of  the  vicinity.  He  was  born  in  Bergen, 
Norway,  February  27,  1859,  and  was  brought  to  America  by  his 
uncle  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  He  attended  school  in  Adams 
township,  and  in  Austin  farmed  for  a  period,  and  then  went  to 
Minneapolis,  where  he  ^^orked  faithfully  in  various  lines  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  1884,  having  by  frugal  effort  saved  enough 
money  to  embark  in  business  for  himself,  he  came  to  Lyle  and 
opened  a  furniture  store.  After  this  he  sold  out,  and  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business,  but  still  later  disposed  of  this,  and  with 
John  Evenson  opened  a  furniture  establishment.  He  erected  the 
Peterson  block  in  the  village  of  Lyle,  and  also  dealt  in  real  estate, 
selling  building  lots  and  purchasing  large  farm  tracts,  owning  at 
one  time  500  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  Lyle.  He  voted  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.;  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Lyle  village 
council  and  served  twelve  years;  belonged  to  the  Masons  and 
attended  the  Methodist  church.  He  was  married  November  12, 
1885,  to  Sophia  Olson,  daughter  of  Lars  and  Ingar  (Bjornson) 
Olson,  natives  of  Norway,  who  came  to  America  in  1868  and 
located  in  Chicago  until  1873,  in  Avhich  year  they  came  to  Lyle 
and  engaged  in  the  furniture  businc^i,  Lars  Olson  being  dead,  and 
his  wife  Ingar  being  a  resident  of  Lyle  at  the  good  old  age  of 
eighty-nine  years.  Mrs.  Peterson  was  born  in  Tragery,  Norwaj--, 
March  24,  1859,  and  bore  to  her  husband  nine  children:  Cora. 
Nora,  Conrad,  Henrietta,  Leonard,  Phoebe,  Vida,  Victor  and  Eva. 
The  three  oldest  are  high  school  graduates,  Cora  and  Nora  being 
graduates  also  of  Carleton  College,  at  Northfield,  Minn.,  while 
Conrad  is  studying  dentistry  at  the  University  of  Minnesota. 
Phoebe  and  Vida  graduated  from  the  Lyle  high  school  in  1911. 
Nora  is  a  graduate  of  the  Valley  City,  N.  D.,  normal  school. 
Henrietta  graduated  from  the  normal  school  in  Moorehead,  Minn., 
in  1911. 

Charles  E.  Pitcher,  successful  drayman  of  Austin,  was  born  in 


MR.  AND  MRS.  H.  N.  PETERSON. 


IIISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUiXTY  G87 

"Waseca  county,  this  state,  August  12,  1872,  son  ol  Alinoii  find 
llaunali  (Coukrite)  Pitcher,  the  former  a  native  of  Illinois  and 
the  hitter  of  Canada.  Charles  was  reared  on  the  parental  farm, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  holdi)ig 
various  positions,  including  situations  with  the  Arlington  and 
Grand  hotels,  in  Austin.  He  is  now  conducting  a  prosperous 
business  of  his  own,  in  light  draying,  having  for  the  past  twelve 
years  held  the  contract  for  carrj'ing  the  mail  between  the  post- 
office  and  all  incoming  and  outgoing  mails.  Mr.  Pitcher  married 
Lulu,  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Abigail  (Detwiler)  Hilker, 
and  they  now  live  in  a  comfortable  residence  at  105  South  First 
street,  in  Austin.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  one  brother, 
Wallace  J.  Pitcher ;  one  sister,  Hortense,  now  Mrs.  Edd  Englehart ; 
one  half  brother,  Clark  Bevins;  and  two  half  sisters,  Mabel  and 
Ftossy,  both  married. 

W.  H.  Palmer,  one  of  the  oldest  postmasters  in  the  state,  has 
ser\  ed  the  public  of  Brownsdale  since  1897,  wlien  he  tirst  received 
his  appointment.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Hector,  Schuyler 
county.  New  York,  January  15,  1833,  son  of  Henry  and  Patience 
(Cornell)  Palmer,  the  former  a  native  of  Columbia  county,  New 
York,  and  the  mother  of  Taunton,  Mass.  W.  H.  Palmer  was 
taken  to  Ohio  by  his  parents  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  came  to  Grant  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was 
teaching  school  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  He  continued 
to  teach  during  the  stirring  years  of  1861-63,  and  then  in  1864 
enlisted  in  Co.  B,  43rd  Wis.  Vol.  Inf.  When  he  returned  from 
the  army  he  resumed  teaching,  and  continued  that  vocation  some 
thirty  years  in  Wisconsin,  Iowa  and  Minnesota.  For  some  years 
W.  H.  Palmer  has  been  chaplain  of  the  Henry  Rogers  Post,  No. 
11,  G.  A.  R.  By  his  first  wife,  Julia  Manchester,  he  had  three 
children:  Clarissa,  Clarence  and  Julian.  After  her  death,  in 
1873,  he  married  Letitia  Requa,  daughter  of  Alexander  Requa, 
and  they  have  four  children:  Fannie,  Arthur,  Dora  and  Edith. 
Fannie  married  Rev.  I.  B.  AVood  and  f^dith  married  Frank  Boston. 

Homer  F.  Peirson,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  physicians  and  surgeons 
of  Austin,  was  born  on  the  "Mile  Strip,"  so  called,  in  High 
Forest,  Septend)er  11,  1867.  He  attended  school  at  Grand 
Meadow,  and  later  took  a  course  in  the  University  of  ]\Iinnesota, 
graduating  in  1891.  Then  he  entered  the  Rush  Medical  College, 
lii  Chicago,  and  after  graduating  from  that  institution  received 
the  necessary  hospital  practice  as  an  interne  in  St.  Clary's 
Hospital.  Minneapolis.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  Aiistin  in  1906  and  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  this 
city,  building  up  a  large  practice.  He  belongs  to  the  national, 
state  and  county  medical  associations,  and  is  affiliated  witli 
various  Austin  fraternities.     Dr.  Peirson  was  married  in  1898  to 


688  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Jessie  E.  Alleu,  daiightei-  of  G.  H.  Allen,  who  for  a  number  of 
years  was  surveyor  of  Mower  county.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Peirson  have 
two  children:  Helen  and  Marion.  F.  M.  Peirson  was  born  in 
Chittenden  county,  Vermont,  in  1834.  He  moved  to  Illinois  with 
his  parents  in  1841,  and  later  moved  to  Cokunbus,  Wis.  In  1854 
he  came  to  High  Forest,  Minn.,  and  followed  farming  till  1874. 
Since  that  date  until  his  retirement  in  1895  he  Avas  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  for  a  period  of  three  years  in  Rochester,  Minn., 
and  the  remainder  of  the  time  in  Grand  Meadow,  Minn.  He  Avas 
married  in  1860  to  Catherine  Keyes.  Two  children  were  born  to 
them :   Alouzo,  dying  in  infancy,  and  Dr.  Homer  F.  Peirson. 

Alfred  C.  Page,  a  progressive  real  estate  and  insurance  man, 
of  Austin,  is  well  known  throughout  the  county  and  state.  Dur- 
ing the  Spanish-American  war  he  served  as  first  lieutenant  in 
Co.  G,  12th"Regt.,  ]\Iinn.  Vol.,  and  at  the  present  time  he  is  serviog 
as  regimental  adjutant  of  the  Second  Regiment,  Minnesota  Na- 
tional Guards.  He  has  been  grand  master  of  Fidelity  Lodge,  No. 
89,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. ;  has  been  eminent  commander  of  St.  Bernard 
Commandery,  No.  13,  Knights  Templar,  and  has  also  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  His  interest  in  the  com- 
mercial progress  of  Austin  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  has  joined 
the  Commercial  Club,  and  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  is 
well  exemplified  by  the  fact  that  he  is  now  the  alderman  at  large 
in  the  city  council  of  Austin.  Alfred  C.  Page  was  born  in  AVhite- 
side  county,  Illinois,  October  6,  1865,  son  of  Thomas  S.  and 
Caroline  W.  (Abbott)  Page,  who  betAveen  then  and  1888  lived  in 
Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  and  in  Howard  county,  in  the  same  state, 
in  both  of  Avhieh  counties  Alfred  C.  attended  school,  completing 
his  scholastic  days  Avith  a  course  in  the  Cedar  Valley  Seminary, 
in  Osage,  loAva,  from  AAdiich  institution  he  graduated  in  1886. 
After  arriving  in  Austin  he  entered  the  office  of  Lyman  D.  Baird, 
Avith  Avhom  he  has  since  been  engaged.  In  1890  he  Avas  admitted 
to  the  bar  by  examination,  but  he  has  never  taken  up  the  practice 
of  this  profession. 

Peter  Peterson,  an  extensive  land  owner  of  Marshall  toAvnship, 
was  born  in  1841  in  SAveden,  his  father  bearing  the  same  name  as 
his  own.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  Avas  reared  in  the  old  country, 
and  in  1870  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Kansas  City, 
Mo.,  where  he  was  employed  at  railroad  work  three  years.  Then 
he  worked  in  the  hmiber  business  in  Marshfield,  AYis.,  for  some- 
thing over  three  years.  In  1876  he  came  to  MoAver  county  and 
purchased  eighty  acres  in  IMarshall  toAvnship,  on  Avhich  Avith 
energy  and  pluck  he  started  farming.  That  his  efforts  have  been 
eroAvned  with  success  is  shoAvn  by  the  fact  that  he  noAV  OAvns  400 
acres  of  as  good  land  as  is  found  in  the  county.  He  has  a  fine 
farm,  Avell   furnished  house,   commodious,  Avell  equipped  barns. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  G8!) 

modern  luaehinery  and  other  aids  to  intelligent  fanning.  Peter 
Peterson  married  Louise  Carlson,  and  they  have  six  children: 
John,  at  home;  Alma,  now  Mrs.  Adolf  Lyndell,  of  "VVindom; 
Albert;  Louis;  Alfred  and  Hilda,  tlie  latter  four  being  also  at 
home. 

Martin  Pederson,  a  ^larshall  township  dairyman  and  farmer, 
was  boru  in  Iowa  in  1872,  son  of  Peter  and  Inga  Pederson,  natives 
of  Norway,  who  came  to  America  in  the  seventies  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  in  Fayette  county,  Iowa.  In  1891  Martin  came  to 
j\Iower  county  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  23, 
J\Iarshall  township,  later  adding  another  eighty  in  the  same  sec- 
tion, in  1903.  He  has  a  fine  farm,  and  keeps  a  herd  of  Shorthorn 
cattle.  His  farm  is  well  equipped  with  modern  machinery,  and 
his  operations  have  been  most  successful.  Mr.  Pederson  is  a 
Republican  in  politics  and  attends  the  Lutheran  church.  He 
married  Julia  Johnson,  in  Iowa,  December  22,  1895. 

George  D.  Pearce,  an  early  merchant  of  Dexter,  and  a  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war,  now  retired,  was  born  in  Gloucestershire,  Eng- 
land, June  24,  1844,  son  of  Daniel  G.  and  Ann  (Smith)  Pearce. 
"When  he  was  nine  years  of  age,  he  and  his  mother  came  to 
America,  following  his  father  who  had  come  the  year  previous. 
They  joined  the  father  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  there  remained  one 
year,  after  which  they  went  to  Chicago.  After  a  year  in  Chicago, 
the  family  went  to  Windsor,  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  lived  on 
a  farm.  There  George  D.  remained  until  1863,  when  he  enlisted 
in  the  35th  Wis.  Vol.  Inf.  and  served  in  Co.  H  until  mustered  out 
at  Brownsdale,  Texas,  in  March,  1866.  Mr.  Pearce  has  many 
interesting  stories  to  tell  of  his  experiences  in  the  Red  River  and 
Marmaduke  campaigns  in  Arkansas,  of  raids  up  Chafilie  river  in 
Louisiana,  of  the  capture  of  Mobile,  Spanish  Fort  and  Fort 
Blakely,  of  the  trip  up  the  Tombigbee  river  and  the  capture  of  a 
rebel  fleet,  on  one  of  the  boats  of  which,  named  the  Jeff  Davis, 
ilr.  Pearce  returned  to  Mobile,  and  of  the  enforced  departure 
from  the  Rio  Grande  of  a  French  fleet  which  was  there  for  the 
purpose  of  operating  against  Mexico.  After  his  honorable  dis- 
charge, Mr.  Pearce  returned  to  his  father's  farm  in  Wisconsin, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1868  came  to  Austin.  In  time  he  purchased  a 
farm  near  Otranto,  Iowa,  and  there  lived  until  1876,  when  he 
came  to  Dexter,  where  his  father  had  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  two  years  earlier.  In  1877  he  purchased  two  stores  of  his 
father.  One  of  these  stores,  which  was  devoted  to  the  sale  of 
hardware,  Mr.  Pearce  rented  to  David  M.  Vermilea  as  his  father 
had  done,  and  in  the  other  store  he  carries  on  business  liimself. 
selling  drugs,  dry  goods  and  groceries.  In  May,  1897,  the  stores 
were  wiped  out  by  fire,  and  since  then  Mr.  Pearce  has  led  a  retired 
life.    lie  is  a  member  of  \\\e  G.  A.  R.  and  has  belonged  to  botli  Ihe 


690  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Grand  Meadow  and  the-Brownsdale  posts.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  married  Henrietta  Beach,  in  March,  1873,  and  to  this  union 
was  born  Charles  D.,  June  13,  1874,  and  Iva  Murtle,  October  11, 
1888.  Mrs.  Pearce  was  born  in  East  Troy,  Walworth  county, 
Wisconsin. 

Daniel  G.  Pearce,  first  assessor  and  township  clerk  of  Dexter 
township,  and  pioneer  merchant  of  Dexter  village,  was  a  native 
of  Gloucestershire,  England,  born  December  30,  1814.  In  1852 
he  came  to  America,  engaged  as  cutter  and  salesman  in  a  clothing 
store  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  remained  two  years,  after  which  he 
went  to  Chicago,  and  was  similarly  employed  eighteen  months. 
He  then  went  to  Wisconsin,  and  bought  wild  land  in  the  town  of 
Windsor,  Dane  county.  In  1869  he  came  to  Mower  county,  and 
bought  land  in  section  22,  Dexter  township.  In  1874  he  came  to 
the  village  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade  until  1876,  when 
he  Avent  to  Worth  county,  Iowa.  In  1883  he  returned  and  again 
engaged  in  trade.  He  married  Ann  Smith  in  1841,  and  raised  a 
family  of  seven  children:  Eliza,  George,  Mary,  Edith,  Charles, 
Frank  and  Sarah. 

Charles  S.  Palmer,  department  store  merchant  of  LeRoy,  was 
born  in  the  old  town  of  LeRoy,  October  10,  1868,  son  of  Cady  and 
Sarah  (Cornwell)  Palmer.  The  father,  Cady  Palmer,  came  from 
Chatham.  N.  Y.,  and  with  Uncle  Judson  was  among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  the  old  town.  Judson  put  in  the  first  sawmill,  and  Cady 
Palmer  built  the  bridge  across  the  little  Iowa  river  which  to  thij 
day  is  called  the  Cady  bridge.  Charles  S.  was  raised  on  the  farm 
and  attended  the  local  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  started  clerking  for  Porter  &  Young  for  $15  a  month 
and  boarded  himself.  In  this  position  he  remained  six  years,  long 
enough  for  him  to  become  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  busi- 
ness. Then  he  started  in  the  general  mercantile  line  for  himself. 
His  store,  which  is  divided  into  departments,  is  one  of  the  finest 
of  its  kind  in  southern  ]\Iinnesota.  A  pleasant  feature  of  the  store 
is  a  "rest  room"  where  the  women  of  the  county  may  rest,  write 
letters  or  visit  while  their  husbands  are  transacting  business  about 
town.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a  IMason  and  a  member  of  the  INI.  W.  A. 
He  married  Martha  D.  Jones,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two 
children :  Robert  E.  A.  and  Helen.  Mr.  Palmer  is  an  able  business 
man,  and  in  building  up  his  own  store  has  contributed  to  the 
commercial  prosperity  of  the  county. 

James  M.  Plum,  yardmaster  for  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  at  Austin, 
was  born  in  loAva  City,  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  July  1,  1865,  son  of 
Aaron  and  Harriette  Plum.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  1882,  when 
he  became  water  boy  on  a  construction  train  of  the  Chicago,  Rock 
Island  &  Pacific  road  for  two  years.     Then  after  another  year  in 


JAMES  M.  PLUM 


IIISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  691 

the  service  of  the  same  road,  this  time  as  brakemau,  lie  returned 
home  and  worked  on  the  farm  a  year,  after  which  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Iowa  Central  as  brakeman,  being  promoted  for 
merit  to  conductor.  Afterward  he  became  yardmaster  for  the 
Great  Northern  at  AVihnar,  IMinn.,  for  eight  years,  and  still  sub- 
sequently worked  a  year  at  Marshalltown,  Iowa.  On  August  26, 
1895,  he  came  to  Austin  in  the  employ  of  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  as  a 
brakeman.  In  1904  he  was  appointed  yardmaster  at  Austin,  which 
position  he  still  faithfully  tills.  ]\Ir.  Plum  has  associated  himsell: 
with  the  B.  R.  T.  and  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  He  was  married  January  3, 
1886,  to  Ada  Currier,  of  Milan,  111.,  born  September  2,  1870.  This 
union  has  been  blessed  with  four  children :  Harry,  Russell,  Clara 
and  Frank.  Harry  was  born  November  9,  1887,  and  was  killed  at 
LeRoy,  February  23,  1906.  He  was  working  as  a  brakeman,  and 
was  knocked  from  a  swiftly  moving  train  by  an  elevator  grain 
spout.  Russell  was  born  August  23,  1889,  and  was  brakemau 'for 
the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.,  making  iiis  headquarters  at  Austin,  and  was 
killed  at  Northfield,  December  13,  1910.  His  foot  was  caught  in  a 
crossing  plank  while  cutting  off  cars  and  he  was  run  over.  Clara, 
born  April  12,  1894,  is  dead.  Frank  was  born  July  31,  1895,  and 
is  still  at  iiome,  being  a  student  in  the  Austin  high  school.  The 
family  faith  is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Aaron  Plum  was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  went  to  Iowa  in  the 
early  days.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  serving  throughout 
that  conflict  in  the  22nd  Iowa  Vol.  Inf.  After  the  war  he  returned 
home  and  continued  farming  until  his  death,  in  August,  1909.  His 
wife  died  in  IMarch,  1907. 

Gideon  S.  Pitts,  one  of  the  younger  bankers  of  Mower  county, 
is  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Taopi.  He  was  born  in 
Orange.  City,  Iowa,  on  July  14,  1883,  where  he  lived  until  his 
liftii  year,  when  his  folks  moved  to  Alton,  three  miles  away.  He 
graduated  from  the  high  school  in  Alton,  Iowa,  and  spent  the 
following  J  ear  roiighing  it  on  a  farm  in  Norman  county,  Minne- 
sota. A  two  years'  course  at  the  Iowa  State  College,  Ames,  Iowa, 
came  next,  after  which  he  spent  four  years  as  bookkeeper  in  the 
Bank  of  Northwestern  Iowa,  at  Alton,  in  Avhich  his  father  is 
interested.  Tiring  of  office  work,  the  following  fall  and  winter 
was  spent  in  teaming  for  a  sawmill  and  lumber  yard  in  central 
Washington.  April  1,  1910,  found  him  in  Taopi  as  assistant 
cashier  of  the  bank.  He  and  his  father,  who  has  considerable 
real  estate  adjoining  Taopi,  bought  l\Ir.  Bourquin's  interest  in  the 
bank  in  October  and  G.  S.  Pitts  then  assumed  his  present  i)Osition 
as  cashier.  Mr.  Pitts  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
and  Eastern  Star  orders  and  an  attendant  of  the  Congregational 
church.  He  was  married  to  Gladys  ^I.  Christensen  at  Spencer, 
Iowa,   on   September   1,   1910.     G.   AV.    Pitts,    bis   father,   a   New 


693  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Yorker  by  birth,  has  been  practicing  law  and  has  been  actively 
interested  in  several  of  the  banks  of  Sioux  county,  Iowa,  for  about 
thirty  years.  He  married  Eliza  A.  Sheldon,  a  native  of  Ohio,  at 
Excelsior,  Minn.,  in  1880. 

John  Peterson,  for  over  four  decades  a  blacksmith  of  Grand 
Meadow  village,  was  born  in  Denmark,  November  22,  1842,  son  of 
Peter  and  Annie  M.  (Hanson)  Nelson.  John  remained  home  as  a 
youth,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  started  to  learn  the  blacksmith 
trade,  serving  as  an  apprentice  four  years.  In  1866  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  America,  and  upon  their  arrival  went  with  them 
directly  to  Rochester,  Minn.,  where  he  followed  his  trade  four 
years.  In  1870  he  came  to  the  village  of  Grand  Meadow  and 
erected  a  blacksmith  shop.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival  here  there 
were  but  two  stores,  those  of  D.  B.  Coleman,  and  the  population 
consisted  of  about  fifty  people,  mostly  railroad  men,  just  complet- 
ing what  was  then  the  Southern  Minnesota.  In  1872  Mr.  Peterson 
opened  a  livery  stable  in  connection  with  his  shop.  Three  years 
later  he  built  a  large  livery  barn  and  did  a  flourishing  business. 
Mr.  Peterson  married  A.  Christenson,  a  native  of  Denmark,  and 
they  have  four  children:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Sanders,  of 
North  Dakota;  Clara,  Alma  and  Albert  T.  Mr.  Peterson  is  a 
substantial  and  sturdy  citizen,  highly  respected  in  the  vicinity 
where  for  so  many  years  he  has  made  his  home.  A  Mel  Vining 
and  a  Mr.  Hicks  started  a  store  a  few  weeks  after  Mr.  Coleman. 
M.  H.  Pjelstad  and  J.  Skyberg  came  later  on. 

Leland  L.  Quimby,  metropolitan  newspaper  correspondent  of 
Brownsdale,  was  born  in  La  Salle,  111.,  May  17,  1871,  son  of  Enoch 
and  Ellen  A.  (Lasher)  Quimby.  He  came  to  Mendota,  111.,  with 
his  parents,  and  there  remained  until  1881,  when  he  located  in 
New  Richmond,  Wis.,  remaining  there  until  1891,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Brownsdale,  where  he  published  the  Brownsdale  Leaflet. 
This  paper  was  discontmued  in  1907,  and  since  then  Mr.  Quimby 
has  corresponded  for  A\arious  city  papers.  He  is  now  interested 
also  in  the  telephone  business,  being  the  owner  and  manager  of  the 
Brownsdale  Telephone  Exchange.  He  has  associated  himself  with 
the  M.  W.  A.,  in  which  he  is  a  prominent  member.  Mr.  Qu.imby 
married  Emma  Thompson,  daughter  of  Luther  and  Adaliue 
(Simpson)  Thompson,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  Jasper,  Phillip 
and  Joy  B. 

Heman  B.  Roe,  retired  farmer,  has  held  various  public  offices 
in  Lansing  township,  having  served  as  assessor,  supervisor  and 
member  of  the  school  board.  He  was  born  at  Chester,  Ohio,  sou 
of  Orson  and  Maria  (Armstrong)  Roe,  pioneers.  When  Heman  B. 
was  biit  twelve  years  of  age  the  family  moved  to  Illinois,  and  in 
1868  they  moved  to  ]\Iower  county,  and  after  living  iive  years  in 
the  township  of  AValtham  took  up  their  abode  in  Lansing  village. 


HlSTOlfY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  G93 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  worked  about  on  farms,  and  tlicu 
acquired  one  of  his  own.  lie  still  owns  a  fine  place  in  the  town- 
ship, but  does  not  operate  it  himself.  Heman  B.  Roe  married 
Katherine  Dickerson,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Jane  (Stock- 
dale)  Dickerson,  and  they  have  one  son,  Louis  D.,  who  lives  at 
home. 

Orson  Roe,  the  pioneer,  was  born  in  Schoharie  county.  New 
York,  and  married  jMaria  Armstrong.  In  1828  he  moved  to  Ohio, 
and  in  1853  to  Illinois,  dying  there  in  1861 ;  after  which  his  family 
moved  to  Mower  county,  Minnesota.  In  this  family  were  four 
girls  and  three  boys,  four  of  these  children  being  now  alive. 
Philo  lives  in  Woodstock,  111.;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Wesley 
Scrauton;  Charlotte  is  now  Mrs.  John  Thompson,  and  Heman  B. 
lives  in  Lansing.  Joseph  and  ]\Iary  Jane  (Stockdale)  Dickerson, 
parents  of  Mrs.  Heman  B.  Roe,  were  both  born  in  Michigan.  In 
the  early  days  they  moved  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  and  there 
Katherine,  now  Mrs.  Heman  Roe,  was  born.  Later  they  came  to 
Mower  county.  Mrs.  Roe  fir.st  attended  school  in  an  old  log 
schoolhouse  in  Freeborn  county,  and  later  in  the  schools  of  Cedar 
City  and  Lansing.  Aside  from  Mrs.  Roe,  two  of  the  family  are 
living:  Clarence,  of  Canada,  and  Mary  Ann  Hagadorn,  of  Bluff- 
ton,  Iowa. 

Thomas  A.  Revord,  the  efficient  manager  of  the  Austin  Weed 
Exterminator  ^Manufacturing  Company,  a  rapidly  growing  con- 
cern with  a  promising  future,  was  born  in  Austin,  May  18,  1866, 
son  of  John  B.  and  Mary  N.  (Bero)  Revord,  early  pioneers.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  Austin  and  attended  the  Austin  high  school, 
afterward  taking  a  course  in  the  academy  at  Valparaiso,  Ind. 
He  then  worked  three  years  in  the  law  office  of  Henry  Johns,  at 
St.  Pavil,  but  in  1890  returned  to  Austin  and  engaged  successfully 
in  the  hardware  business  for  sixteen  years.  In  the  year  1906, 
after  disposing  of  his  retail  interests,  he  became  one  of  the  organ- 
izers, stockholders  and  directors  of  the  Austin  Weed  Extermi- 
nator ]\Ianufacturing  Company.  In  November  of  that  year  he  was 
appointed  to  his  present  position.  While  in  the  retail  business 
Mr.  Revord  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Austin  Merchants'  Asso- 
ciation, and  served  as  president  of  that  body  one  j'ear.  He  has 
also  labored  earnestly  a"or  the  progress  of  the  city  in  other  ways, 
and  for  several  years  was  secretary  and  vice  president  of  the 
Interstate  Telephone  and  Telegraph  Company.  He  votes  the 
Democratic  ticket,  and  as.sociates  fraternally  with  the  K.  of  C, 
the  C.  0.  F.,  the  A.  O.  U.  ^Y.,  the  U.  C.  T.  and  the  Austin  Com- 
mercial Club.  Mr.  Revord  was  married  November  26,  1895,  at 
Madison,  Wis.,  to  Julia  Grimm,  of  that  place,  and  to  this  union 
four  children  have  been  born:  Naomi,  born  September  18,  1896; 
Helen,  born  August  14,  1899;  Ruth,  born  :\Iay  29,  1901,  and  John, 


694  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

born  April  5,  1906.  The  fcimily  faith  is  that  of  the  Catholic 
church. 

John  B.  Revord  and  ]\Iary  N.  Bero,  his  wife,  substantial  old 
pioneers,  came  from  their  native  home  in  Canada,  in  1856,  and 
home-steaded  160  acres  in  Lansing  township.  Mower  county.  Tliey 
built  the  usual  buildings  and  wrought  many  improvements,  but 
in  addition  to  this  Mr.  Revord  also  owned  a  boot  and  shoe  and 
grocery  store,  moving  into  the  city  of  Austin  in  1867  and  con- 
tinuing the  business  until  1877,  Avhen  he  sold  out  and  retired.  He 
died  March  30,  1896,  and  his  wife  passed  away  January  15,  1905. 

George  Robertson,  auditor  of  Mower  county,  has  achieved  an 
enviable  reputation  as  a  man  of  public  affairs,  both  in  Austin, 
where  he  performs  the  duties  of  his  county  office,  and  in  Lyle, 
where  he  was  for  many  years  prominent  in  municipal  activities. 
IVIr.  Robertson  was  born  in  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  and  as  a 
youth  was  brought  to  London  township,  Freeborn  county,  this 
state.  After  leaving  school  he  Avorked  summers  and  taught  school 
winters,  until  1892,  when  he  located  in  Lyle,  engaging  in  the  drug 
business,  remaining  ten  years.  During  this  time,  in  1896,  he 
became  principal  of  the  Lyle  schools.  At  Lyle  he  took  an  active 
interest  in  village  affairs,  being  assessor  of  the  township  seven 
years,  president  of  the  village  board  two  years,  postmaster  of  the 
village  six  years  and  president  of  the  school  board  two  years.  In 
the  fall  of  1902  he  yielded  to  the  solicitation  of  his  friends  and 
consented  to  become  a  candidate  for  the  auditorship  of  the  county. 
He  was  elected  by  a  large  majority  and  took  office  the  following 
January.  He  has  succeeded  himself  every  term  since  then,  and 
has  served  with  ability  and  distinction.  An  active  Republican  in 
politics,  he  has  served  on  the  congressional  and  county  com- 
mittees. In  1907  he  was  elected  president  of  the  State  Auditors' 
Association,  and  was  re-elected  the  following  year.  ]\Ir.  Rob- 
ertson is  also  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  I.  0.  0.  F., 
the  K.  of  P.,  the  Masonic  order,  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  the  M.  W.  A.  and 
the  F.  O.  E.  He  -was  married  April  3,  1883,  at  Austin,  to  Sarah 
Marsh,  of  Waupun,  "Wis.,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  v.iti! 
five  children:  Burton  J.,  postmaster  and  manager  of  the  tele- 
plione  company  at  Lyle,  IMinn. ;  Etta  L.,  in  charge  of  the  musical 
department  of  the  Pikeville  Institute,  at  Pikeville,  Ky.,  and  Ross, 
Ora  and  Ralph,  who  are  at  home.  Tlie  family  faith  is  that  of  the 
Presbyterian  cluirch  and  the  residence  is  at  915  Lansing  avenue. 

John  Robertson,  retired  farmer  and  veteran  of  the  Civil  war, 
now  living  in  Austin,  Avas  born  in  Scotland  and  came  to  this 
country  in  early  boyhood,  settling  in  Rock  county,  W^isconsin, 
where  he  married  Margaret  Campbell,  likewise  of  Scotch  birth, 
who  also  came  to  this  country  when  a  child.  They  farmed  in 
Wisconsin  until  June,  1866,  when  they  came  to  Minnesota  and 


HISTOHY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  695 

located  in  London  township,  Freeborn  county,  where  they  re- 
mained until  1893,  when  they  retired  and  came  to  Austin  to  hve. 
Mrs.  Robertson  died  IMarch  17,  1908.  Their  son,  George  Rob- 
ertson, is  county  auditor  of  Mower  county. 

T.  N.  Roble,  of  Austin,  proprietor  of  the  IMerle  Cafe,  was  burn 
in  Mankato,  ]\Iinn.,  August  30,  1875,  sou  of  Ignatius  and  Louisa 
(Warnemuuda)  Eoble.  He  received  his  education  in  the  publit; 
schools  and  then  learned  the  printers'  trade  with  the  Austin 
Transcript.  Subsequently  he  worked  on  the  Journal,  in  St.  Peter, 
]\Iinn. ;  and  then  upon  his  return  to  Austin  he  worked  a  sliort 
period  on  the  Herald.  In  the  spring  of  1893  he  went  to  the 
Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago,  and  remained  through  the 
summer,  working  with  the  Rogers-Pitkin-Hall  Printing  Company, 
on  Dearborn  street.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  after  a  short 
interim  spent  at  his  trade  in  Nebraska,  he  again  returned  to 
Austin  and  worked  on  the  Herald.  In  1895  he  Avent  to  Spring- 
field, ^linn.,  and  opened  a  lunch  room.  In  1897  he  went  to  Devil's 
Lake,  N.  D.,  and  conducted  a  pool  room  and  restaurant  for  five 
years ;  sold  out  and  went  to  Granville,  N.  D.,  and  engaged  in  the 
drug  business ;  then  sold  out  and  went  to  Glenburn,  N.  D.,  where 
he  conducted  a  restaurant,  afterwards  being  interested  in  a  pool 
room  at  Noonaii,  N.  D.  In  1908  he  once  more  took  up  his  residence 
in  Austin,  arid  opened  the  Merle  Cafe  at  130  East  j\Iill  street, 
whore  he  has  built  up  a  large  trade  and  a  flourishing  business, 
combining  a  first  class  lunch  room  Avith  an  up-to-date  and  pleasant 
pool  and  billiard  hall.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  not  one  of  the 
many  interests  in  which  Mr.  Roble  has  engaged  has  proven  any- 
thing but  a  financial  success.  Ignatius  Roble  came  from  Germany 
in  1859,  located  in  Mankato  and  lived  there  for  many  years, 
engaging  in  the  manufacture  of  matches.  The  factory  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  Ignatius  Roble  moved  to  Austin,  engaging 
in  the  milling  business  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  death  dating 
December  8,  1893.  His  wife  is  still  living  and  conducts  her  son's 
home  at  506  Oakland  aveniie.  Austin. 

Burton  J.  Robertson,  postmaster  of  Lyle  and  general  manager 
of  the  Lyle  Telephone  Company,  is  one  of  those  energetic  young 
men  whose  presence  in  a  village  adds  to  its  progress  and  develop- 
ment. With  a  young  man's  enthusiasm  he  has  plunged  into  the 
l)usiness  liL'e  of  the  connnunity.  and  has  made  his  work  felt.  He 
was  born  in  Lyle  township,  May  3,  1882,  son  of  County  Auditor 
George  Robertson.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  toAvnship,  and  graduated  from  the  Austin  high 
school  in  1901.  He  clerked  in  a  drug  store  for  a  while  and  tlien 
in  1902  received  his  appointment  as  postmaster,  having  in  the 
meantime  assumed  his  present  position  in  the  teleplione  company. 
^Ir.  Robertson  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  for  four  years  has 


696  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He  is  also  a  popular 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr.  Eobertson  was  married 
November  11,  1903,  to  Bertha  L.  Anderson,  and  this  union  has 
resulted  in  one  child,  Merwyn  A.,  born  May  28,  1909. 

Perry  L.  Reynolds,  retired  farmer  and  real  estate  man,  now 
living  at  601  AVest  Oakland  avenue,  Austin,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  New  York,  February  28,  1847,  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Nancy  (McDougal)  Beynolds,  who  spent  the  span  of  their 
years  in  New  York  state,  the  father  dying  in  1872  and  the  mother 
in  1892.  Perry  L.  received  a  good  common  school  education,  and 
in  1867  migrated  to  Branch  county,  Michigan,  Avhere  he  remained 
two  years.  In  1869  he  came  to  Minnesota,  and  from  then  until 
1904  farmed  and  dealt  in  real  estate,  owning  at  one  time  nearly 
2,000  acres  in  Nevada  township,  this  county.  In  1904  he  retired 
and  has  since  made  his  home  in  the  city  of  Austin,  still  owning 
land  in  Austin  and  Sargeant  townships.  He  is  a  Republican  and 
a  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  Mr.  Reynolds 
was  married  May  23,  1883,  to  Mrs.  Nancy  A.  (Slyke)  Brown,  and 
to  this  union  have  been  born  two  children :  Harland  L.,  an  east 
side  merchant  in  Austin,  and  Mabel,  now  Mrs.  Harry  Herman,  of 
Austin.  Mrs.  Reynolds  is  the  daughter  of  David  D.  and  Sarah 
(Moyer)  Slyke,  both  natives  of  Montgomery  county.  New  York, 
where  the  father  died  in  1890  and  the  mother  in  1888.  Mrs. 
Reynolds  was  born  in  Montgomery  county.  New  York,  Februarj^ 
3,  1843,  and  was  first  married  to  Ozni  C.  Brown,  who  died  in  1882, 
leaving  seven  children:  Harry  K,  Millner,  N.  D. ;  Colonel  W., 
Austin ;  Frank  D.,  Nevada  township ;  Chester  C,  Austin ;  George 
W.,  Pipestone,  Minn. ;  Grace,  now  Mrs.  A.  B.  Lovell,  Austin,  and 
Alice,  deceased. 

John  E.  Robinson,  an  honored  and  respected  pioneer  of  Mower 
county,  Minnesota,  Avas  born  in  Monroe  county.  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 24,  1837.  While  in  his  infancy,  he  came  to  Wayne  county, 
New  York,  Avith  his  parents,  receiving  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  NcAvark,  AVayne  county,  and  completing  his 
studies  at  the  Collegiate  Institute  of  Rochester,  Ncav  York.  He 
then  read  law  with  Attorneys  L.  M.  Norton  and  S.  K.  Williams 
of  Newark,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  1859,  and 
immediately  afterwards  formed  a  co-partnership  Avith  his  recent 
instructor,  L.  M.  Norton,  at  NcAvark.  In  the  fall  of  1862  he  came 
west,  having  dissolved  his  partnership  Avith  Mr.  Norton,  and 
located  at  Lansing,  MoAver  county,  Minnesota,  subsequently  being 
admitted  to  the  Minnesota  bar,  but  did  not  engage  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  maintaining  himself  by  school  teaching  for  a 
year.  The  call  to  arms  of  1861  Avas  then  sounded  and  he  responded 
by  enlisting  in  Company  B,  Second  Minnesota  Cavalry,  serA'ing 
until  his   discharge   at  Fort   Snelling,   December   1,   1865.     The 


IIISTOEY  OF  ]\IOWER  COUNTY  697 

most  of  his  servit^e  was  ou  tlu>  frontier  under  General  Sully,  tiie 
hard,  fast  fighting  showing  the  splendid  metal  of  the  Second 
Minnesota  Cavalrj'.  After  his  diseharge  he  returned  to  Lansing, 
continuing  teaching,  and  tal<ing  up  farming  in  addition,  having 
at  one  time  over  400  acres  of  land  in  Lansing  and  Udolpho  to^^-n- 
ships.  In  1882  he  removed  to  Austin  and  took  charge  of  the 
Hotel  'NYindsor  for  five  years,  siibsequently  purchasing  another 
hotel,  the  Eobinson  House,  which  he  remodeled  and  conducted 
until  1892.  AYhile  a  hotel  proprietor  he  was  five  years  agent  for 
the  Adams  Express  Company.  He  Avas  appointed  to  fill  out  an 
unexpired  term  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  First  ward,  in  1892, 
and  was  later  fleeted  for  the  twelve  ensuing  years.  Since  the 
expiration  of  this  term  of  office  he  has  lived  retired  at  his  beauti- 
ful home  at  106  South  Main  street.  In  politics  he  is  a  temperance 
Republican,  and  has  served  several  years  as  a  member  of  the 
Austin  board  of  education,  in  addition  to  his  twelve  years  of  serv- 
ice as  justice  of  the  peace.  The  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  count  him  a  valued  member. 
He  is  also  a  staunch  iipholder  of  the  Baptist  church,  having  been 
a  member  since  eleven  years  of  age,  and  a  deacon  and  trustee 
of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Austin  for  many  years.  December 
9,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Hutehingson  of  Rochester, 
New  York.  Five  children  have  blessed  this  marriage :  "William 
H.,  born  May  1,  1860,  died  April  17,  1879;  Sarah  Belle,  born 
June  10,  1863,  is  now  married  to  F.  E.  Gleason,  a  jeweler  of 
Austin ;  Otis  H.,  born  May  8,  1868,  died  November  17,  1907  ;  Emma 
L.,  born  January  14,  1870,  is  now  living  in  Minneapolis ;  and  John 
F.,  born  January  16,  1875,  is  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Steele,  N.  D.,  the  bank  of  which  his  father  is  vice  president. 
Robert  and  Sally  (Hall)  Robinson,  parents  of  oiar  subject,  w^ere 
natives  of  the  state  of  New  York.  In  1841  the  father  removed  to 
AYayne  county,  New  York,  where  he  followed  general  farming 
until  his  death,  December  24,  1884.  His  wife  followed  him  to  the 
Great  Beyond,  December  25,  1886. 

Robert  0.  Richards,  a  successful  farmer  of  Lyle  township,  car- 
ries on  agricultural  operations  in  a  scientific  manner,  and  has 
been  very  successful,  especially  as  a  breeder  of  registered  Poll 
Angus  cattle  and  registered  Poland-China  hogs.  He  was  born 
in  Lewis  county.  New  York  state,  April  17,  1870,  son  of  Richard  R. 
and  ^Mary  (Salisbury)  Richards,  natives  of  Wales.  He  received 
his  primary  education  in  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  coming 
to  Otranto,  Iowa,  with  his  parents  in  1880.  There  he  also  attended 
the  schools,  and  then  remained  on  the  Otrando  Stock  Farm,  work- 
ing for  his  father  until  the  latter "s  dciitli,  wlieii  he  continued  to 
conduct  the  same  farm  until  1901,  when  iif  and  liis  motlier  came 
to  Mower  county,  where  his  motlicr  jmrdiascd  120  acres  of  land 


698  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

in  section  32,  Lyle  township.  To  this  Mr.  Richards  has  added  a 
few  acres  of  his  own.  They  have  erected  some  fine  buildings, 
brought  the  land  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  now  have  a 
model  place  in  every  respect.  Mr.  Richards  is  single,  a  Repub- 
lican, a  Presbyterian,  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  the 
M.  W.  A. 

Richard  R.  Richards  was  born  at  Bala,  North  Wales,  January 
1,  1833,  son  of  Richard  Richards  and  Susanah  Richards,  "Welsh 
farmers.  He  was  married  November  22,  1856,  to  Mary  Salisbury. 
Mary  Salisbury  was  born  in  North  Wales,  July  2,  1838,  daughter 
of  Ebenezer  and  jMargret  Salisbury,  Welsh  farmers.  Margret 
Salisbury  died  in  1840,  and  in  1842  Ebenezer  Salisbury  came  to 
this  country.  In  1846  he  married  Elizabeth  Jones,  of  Deerfield, 
N.  Y.  In  1849  he  was  ordained  to  the  Methodist  ministry  and 
preached  until  his  death  in  1874.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  R.  Rich- 
ards engaged  in  farming  until  coming  westward  in  1880,  locating 
in  Otranto,  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  where  Richard  R.  took  up 
farming  and  stock  raising  on  the  Otranto  Stock  Farm,  until  his 
death  in  1898.  In  1901  Mrs.  Richards  came  to  Lyle  and  pur- 
chased land,  as  stated  above. 

Jay  J.  Rugg,  of  Austin,  founder  and  part  owner  of  the  Austin 
Dairy  Companiy,  was  born  in  Red  Rock,  Mower  county,  Minne- 
sota, May  16,  1872,  son  of  John  D.  and  Barbara  J.  (Ticknor)  Rugg. 
He  attended  the  district  schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  the  high 
school  in  Austin,  remaining  at  home  and  working  on  the  farm 
with  his  father  until  his  marriage  in  1896.  He  then  rented  a 
farm  and  worked  on  his  own  account  for  three  years,  later  remov- 
ing to  the  "Sargent  Springs"  place,  so  called,  where  he  started 
the  nucleus  of  what  afterward  developed  into  the  Austin  Dairy 
Company.  Mr.  Rugg  improved  the  farm,  constructed  several 
buildings,  and  put  the  place  in  proper  shape  for  an  extensive 
dairy  business.  After  a  time  he  abandoned  this  place,  and  in  com- 
pany with  F.  W.  Kimball  and  D.  H.  Stimson,  formed  the  Austin 
Dairy  Company.  They  commenced  business  on  the  corner  of 
Chatham  and  Oakland  avenue,  but  their  business  expanded  and 
grew  to  such  proportions  that  they  were  obliged  to  find  more 
spacious  quarters.  Consequently  they  purchased  their  present 
plant  on  East  Maple  street.  In  addition  to  the  usual  dairy  busi- 
ness of  retailing  milk  and  cream,  they  handle  butter,  poultry, 
eggs  and  ice  cream.  In  1909  they  purchased  the  egg  and  cold 
storage  plant  known  as  the  "Old  Major"  plant.  Mr.  Rugg  is  a 
popular  young  man,  and-  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Woodmen.  He  married  Tillie  Dochterman,  daughter  of  William 
Dochterman,  and  they  have  four  children:  Merville  D.,  Raymond 
P.,  Barl)ara  J.  and  Jay  J.,  Jr. 

Henry  Roberts  was  born  in  Norfolk,  England,  and  came  alone 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  699 

to  America  at  an  early  age.  He  located  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  and 
married  Jane  Hill  Locke,  of  Bristol,  N.  H.,  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Fruesburg,  N.  Y.  In  the  year  1855  he  came  to  Minne- 
sota and  in  March,  185G,  came  to  Mower  county,  Lyle  township. 
A  year  later  Mrs.  Roberts  came  west  and  was  met  at  Caledonia 
by  her  husband  with  an  ox  team.  Together  they  journeyed  over- 
land to  the  little  home  by  the  Cedar.  Here  he  accpiired  a  farm  of 
900  acres  and  farmed  it  for  many  years.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  them,  five  of  whom  are  living :  Annice,  now  Mrs.  Edward 
McMahn;  Eunice,  widow  of  Charles  M.  Rice;  Benjamin  (de- 
ceased), Charles  A.,  Adelbert,  Henry,  Eva  (deceased),  wife  of 
C.  E.  Lashbrook.  They  moved  to  Austin  about  thirty  years  ago. 
Here  Mrs.  Roberts  died  in  1897  and  he  is  still  living  in  the  city. 

Charles  M.  Rice,  now  deceased,  was  born  near  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
a  son  of  Andrew  B.  Rice.  For  twelve  years  he  conducted  a  gen- 
eral store  in  Austin  and  was  well  and  favorably  known  here.  His 
death  in  1897  caused  general  regret.  Mr.  Rice  married  Eunice  L. 
Roberts,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Locke)  Roberts.  Mrs.  Rice 
taught  school  before  her  marriage,  and  for  the  last  eleven  years 
she  has  taught  geography  in  the  Franklin  school  in  Austin.  In 
pursuing  her  geographical  studies  Mrs.  Rice  has  traveled  exten- 
sively in  this  country  and  abroad. 

James  Z.  Rogers,  whose  parents  were  one  of  the  territorial 
families  of  jMinuesota,  was  born  in  Faribault,  Minn.,  August  5, 
1873,  son  of  Caleb  E.  and  Mary  J.  (Shonts)  Rogers.  He  received 
his  earlier  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Faribault  and  then 
attended  the  Faribault  Business  College,  later  clerking  in  the 
grocery  store  of  A.  J.  Grant.  Subsequently  he  worked  a  year 
for  Grant,  Linton  &  Co.,  general  railroad  constructors,  as  over- 
seer of  one  of  their  contracts  in  Iowa.  In  January,  1900,  he  came 
to  Austin  and  engaged  in  the  carriage  manufactory  business  with 
H.  M.  Hanson  for  one  year.  Then  he  purchased  the  business  and 
operated  it  alone  until  1906,  Avhen  he  took  William  II.  Teeter  as 
partner.  In  1909  he  again  l)ecame  sole  owner,  and  now  docs  a 
large  business  in  making  carriages  and  repairing  automobiles. 
He  has  been  chancellor  and  is  now  lecturer  of  the  Knights  of 
Columbus,  and  has  also  been  banker  of  the  M.  W.  A.  He  votes 
independently  and  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church.  ^Ir. 
Rogers  was  married  May  1,  1901,  at  Austin,  to  Mary  C.  Reilly,  of 
this  place,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  three  children :  Milton 
F.,  born  June  16,  1902,  and  I^Iadrienue  ]M.,  twins,  and  Erving  E.. 
born  January  30,  1907.  iNFr.  Rogers  is  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Joseph  Rogers,  who  came  to  America  in  the  ^Mayflower.  One  of 
Jiis  ancestors  also  took  part  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Caleb  E.  Rogers,  the  pioneer,  was  I)orii  in  Bangor,  ]\re..  came 
west  in  1855,  and  located  in  ^Vatcrvillc.  Minn.,  where  he  married 


700  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

Mai-y  J.  Shouts,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  came  west 
in  1856,  locating  on  Cannon  Lake,  near  Faribault.  He  later  located 
in  Faribault,  and  there  followed  his  trade  as  a  carpenter  until 
1889,  when  he  went  to  Waterville,  Wash.,  where  he  still  resides. 
His  wife,  who  has  to  travel  for  her  health,  is  at  present  located 
in  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

G.  M.  F.  Eogers,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Austin, 
was  born  in  Otsego,  Otsego  county.  New  York,  November  19, 
1874,  son  of  "William  'M.  and  Helen  ]\I.  (Martin)  Rogers,  who  in 
1879  took  him  to  South  Dakota.  He  was  reared  in  Doland  in  that 
state,  and  there  received  his  earlier  education,  graduating  from 
the  Doland  high  school.  In  1895  he  entered  Hamline  University, 
and  in  j899  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  that  insti- 
tution, which  is  conducted  as  a  part  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota. He  spent  the  folloAving  year  as  an  interne  in  the  Llinne- 
apolis  City  Hospital,  and  then  practiced  his  profession  at  Rothsey, 
Minn.,  removing  to  Btiffalo,  Minn.,  in  1902,  and  remaining  there 
until  1905.  His  rapidly  increasing  practice,  his  long  hours,  and 
the  many  demands  made  on  his  time  and  health  impaired  his 
strength,  and  for  the  next  four  years  he  retired  from  practice,  but 
devoted  his  time  to  attending  special  clinics  in  the  eye,  ear,  nose 
and  throat,  in  Philadelphia,  Chicago  and  New  York.  In  1907  he 
came  to  Austin,  where  he  has  since  enjoyed  a  full  measure  of  suc- 
cess. Dr.  Rogers  is  a  high  degree  Mason,  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
and  of  the  Austin  Commercial  Club.  He  Avas  married  December 
17,  1902,  to  Nellie  R.  Hassinger.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the 
Methodist  church. 

William  M.  Rogers  Avas  born  in  New  York  state  and  there 
married  Helen  M.  Martin,  a  native  of  the  same  state.  They  came 
west  in  1878  and  located  for  a  short  period  near  Benson,  in  Swift 
county,  Minnesota.  Then  they  went  to  Gary,  S.  D.,  and  after  a 
short  period  there,  went  to  Doland,  in  the  same  state.  When  a 
young  man,  AVilliam  M.  Avas  a  decorator  for  the  D.  &  H.  R.  R.,  but 
Avas  injured  by  an  elevator  accident,  and  being  crippled,  came 
west  and  took  \np  the  mercantile  business.  He  died  at  Doland, 
S.  D.,  March  15,  1895,  and  his  AvidoAV  is  still  living. 

Thomas  Rochford  Avas  born  in  St.  George,  Canada,  April  7, 
1856.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  moved  to  this  county  Avith  his 
parents,  his  education  being  acquired  in  the  district  schools  of 
Austin  township.  Leaving  school,  he  followed  farming  in  Lyle 
township.  Mower  county,  until  1881,  when  he  came  to  Austin  and 
engaged  in  the  confectionery  business  two  years,  subsequently 
spending  a  summer  in  Valparaiso,  Ind.  Then  returning  to  Minne- 
sota, he  located  at  Lyle  village,  receiving  employment  as  clerk  in 
the  postoffice  and  general  store,  in  addition  conducting  a  board- 
ing house.     After  remaining  in  Lyle  three  years,  he  removed  to 


IIISTOKY  OF  .AI()\VP]U  COUNTY  701 

1 
Austin  and  established  the  pioneer  express  line  of  the  city,  addiag 
the  first  hack  line  three  years  later,  operating  these  for  a  period 
of  eleven  years,  then  selling  out  and  conducting  a  dray  line  for  two 
years.  This  business  and  equipment  he  traded  for  western  land, 
marking  his  entry  into  the  real  estate  business,  in  which  lie 
remained  four  years,  as  a  co-partner  in  the  Rochford  Land  Com- 
pany of  Austin.  He  traded  his  interest  in  the  company  for  his 
property  of  seventy  acres  on  South  Kenwood  avenue,  it  being 
valued  at  $300  per  acre,  containing  immense  quantities  of  gravel 
•md  sand.  Mr.  Rochford  is  now  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  all 
kinds  of  cement  building  material  on  this  place.  He  has  erected 
twenty-one  houses  in  the  city  of  Austin,  five  being  constructed 
of  cement  blocks  of  his  own  manufacture.  He  has  now  disposed 
of  all  but  four.  An  extensive  real  estate  business  claims  much 
of  his  attention,  and  a  large  number  of  high-bred  driving  horses, 
of  Avhieh  he  is  a  great  fancier,  pass  through  his  hands.  He  owns 
one  team  that  he  values  at  $2,500.  All  his  success  he  owes  to 
his  untiring  efforts  and  the  assistance  of  his  loving  wife.  As  to 
political  convictions,  he  is  a  Republican,  but  his  large  business 
interests  have  prevented  him  from  seeking  office.  His  fraternal 
aflfiliations  are  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Catholic  Order 
of  Foresters,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Equitable 
Fraternal  Union,  and  the  Order  of  Owls,  in  which  he  is  past 
president.  He  has  served  as  trustee  in  all  his  lodges.  He  is  also 
serving  as  vice  president  of  the  Catholic  Total  Abstinence  Society 
of  Austin.  November  26,  1882,  he  was  married  to  Ella  Davison 
of  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  P.  Davison.  They 
have  seven  living  children,  two  others  being  dead.  Nina  (de- 
ceased), Pearl,  Leo,  Isa,  Ora  (deceased),  Meda,  Harold,  John,  and 
IMabel.  The  family  attend  the  Catholic  church.  James  and 
Pauline  (La  Chance)  Rochford,  parents  of  our  subject,  emigrated 
from  Canada  in  1866,  locating  in  Lyle  township,  Mower  county, 
iMinnesota,  where  the  father  followed  his  trade  as  a  carpenter 
until  1871.  He  then  went  to  Crookston,  Minn.,  leaving  his  family 
at  Lyle  township,  and  remained  fourteen  years,  working  at  his 
trade.  Returning  to  Lyle  township,  he  liA^ed  a  retired  life  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death.    The  mother  is  still  living  at  Austin. 

F.  G.  Ray,  a  veteran  of  the  Indian  campaign  and  of  the  Civil 
war,  and  for  many  years  the  honored  postmaster  of  Rose  Creek, 
was  born  in  Vigo  county,  Indiana,  September  10,  1841,  son  of 
Isaac  M.  and  Mary  A.  (Gordon)  Ray;  went  with  them  to  IMoline, 
111.,  in  1856;  to  Hastings,  ]\Iinn.,  in  the  spring  of  1857,  and  in  that 
city  finished  his  schooling.  In  1862  he  became  a  citizen  soldier 
and  served  in  the  Indian  outbreak.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany F,  Seventh  ^Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  in  all 
the  campaigns  and  battles  of  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps  under 


702  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

General  Thomas,  being  discharged  at  Fort  Snelling  in  August, 
1865,  at  the  close  of  hostilities.  He  then  farmed  at  Empire  City, 
Dakota  county,  ]\Iinnesota,  until  1868,  when  he  came  to  Rose 
Creek  and  purchased  a  half  section  of  school  land  in  section  36, 
Windom  township,  the  land  being  at  that  time  partly  broken. 
Shortly  afterward  he  returned  to  Minneapolis  and  worked  for 
the  Northern  Pacific  railroad  two  years.  In  1870  he  came  back  to 
Windom  township  and  lived  on  the  Marshall  farm  with  his  par- 
ents until  1875,  when  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Rose  Creek,  and 
conducted  a  hotel  from  1876  until  1893.  He  was  postmaster  four 
years  under  Harrison,  was  out  four  years  under  the  second  Cleve- 
land administration,  and  Avas  again  appointed  under  the  first 
McKiuley  administration,  since  which  time  he  has  served  continu- 
ously, under  McKinley,  Roosevelt  and  Taft.  Mr.  Ray  is  a  con- 
servative Republican,  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  was  town 
clerk  for  ten  years,  assessor  two  years,  and  is  now  treasurer  of  the 
board  of  education  of  Rose  Creek,  as  well  as  a  notary  public.  He 
is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business  in  addition 
to  his  duties  as  postmaster,  and  aside  from  his  home  in  Rose  Creek 
village  he  owns  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Windom  township,  which 
he  purchased  in  1887.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Rose  Creek 
Congregational  church  since  1880,  and  is  a  deacon  as  well  as 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  He  affiliates  with  the  Ma- 
sonic order,  the  G.  A.  R.  and  the  Territorial  Pioneer  Association. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  October  31,  1893,  to  Eliza- 
beth Southworth,  of  Michigan,  who  has  proved  an  able  and  effi- 
cient helpmeet. 

Isaac  M.  Ray  and  his  wife,  Mary  A.  Gordon,  were  natives, 
respectively,  of  Ohio  and  Virginia,  the  former  being  of  English 
and  the  latter  of  Scottish  descent.  They  located  in  Indiana  in 
1818,  and  Isaac  M.  Ray  was  there  admitted  to  the  bar,  serving  as 
police  judge  of  Terre  Haute  until  1856,  when  the  family  moved 
to  Moline,  111.,  remaining  until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  they  came 
to  Minnesota  and  located  in  Hastings,  Dakota  county.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Minnesota  and  was  sheriff  of  Dakota  county 
four  years,  as  well  as  police  justice  at  Hastings,  Minn.  There 
they  remained  until  1868,  when  they  came  to  Rose  Creek  and  then 
went  on  the  Marshall  farm  for  seven  years.  Then  they  moved 
to  Rose  Creek  and  here  Isaac  M.  died  April  14,  1876,  and  the 
mother  December  9,  1899.  Isaac  M.  Ray  when  about  twenty  years 
of  age,  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  M.  B.  church  in  Vigo  county, 
Indiana.    He  was  also  a  member  of  the  bar  in  Minnesota. 

Orasmus  D.  Rhoades,  an  early  settler  of  Udolpho  township, 
who  gave  up  his  life  for  his  country  in  a  southern  prison,  was 
born  in  New  York,  October  27,  1817.  He  went  as  a  young  man  to 
Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  and  was  there  married  to  Maria 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  703 

Hunter,  October  6,  1844.  She  was  born  in  New  York  city,  October 
19,  1825.  In  1853  Orasmus  D.  Rhoades  came  west  to  Clinton 
county,  Iowa,  and  in  August,  1856,  he  came  to  Mower  county  and 
settled  in  section  22,  township  of  Udolpho,  where  he  entered  land 
and  built  a  house.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Ninth  Min- 
nesota Volunteer  Infantry,  and  went  south  with  his  regiment.  He 
was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Guntown,  Tenn.,  and  was 
first  sent  to  Andersonville.  Later  he  was  incarcerated  at  Milan, 
and  there  died  of  starvation,  December  24,  1864.  His  wife  lived 
on  the  old  homestead,  assisted  by  her  son,  Oscar  J.  Rhoades,  until 
her  death  in  1910.  In  the  family  were  six  children:  Oscar  J.; 
Mary  C,  wife  of  B.  M.  Carll;  Malina,  wife  of  Norman  Carll; 
Amelia  J.,  wife  of  C.  King;  Harriett  0.,  wife  of  Samuel  Seavy, 
and  Loretta  E.,  wife  of  John  Andrews. 

Oscar  J.  Rhoades,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Udolpho  township, 
was  born  in  Chautauqua  covinty,  New  York,  September  17,  1845, 
one  of  the  six  children  of  Orasmus  D.  and  Maria  (Hunter) 
Rhoades.  He  came  to  Mower  county  with  his  parents,  here  grew 
to  manhood  and  received  his  education,  and  has  since  continued  to 
reside  on  the  home  place.  He  is  one  of  the  few  pioneers  that  are 
still  living,  and  well  remembers  the  time  when  there  was  only  one 
house  between  his  residence  in  Udolpho,  and  the  present  site  of 
the  packing  house  in  Austin. 

Reuben  Rollings,  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Leicestershire, Eng- 
land, April  12,  1825,  seventh  of  the  eleven  children  of  John  and 
Lucy  (Pick)  Rollings,  both  natives  of  England,  where  John  Roll- 
ings was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  and  commission  business. 
Reuben  received  his  education  in  the  English  schools,  and  when 
he  grew  to  manhood  married  Jane  Fisher,  February  18,  1856.  She 
was  from  his  native  place  and  was  born  IMay  20,  1830.  Soon  after 
their  marriage  they  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Dane  county, 
AVis.,  where  Reuben  Rollings  engaged  in  farming  until  1861,  when 
he  came  to  Fillmore  county,  ]\Iinnesota,  and  remained  until  the 
summer  of  1867,  when  he  moved  to  Waltham  township,  IMower 
county.  In  the  fall  of  1877  he  came  to  Red  Rock  township,  where 
his  widow  now  resides,  and  died  in  September,  1906.  Mr.  Roll- 
ings in  his  life  was  a  strong  Republican  and  held  many  town 
offices  at  various  times.  To  Mr.  and  I\Irs.  Rollings  were  born  six 
children:  Joseph  W.,  Alfred  F.,  ]\Iary  A.,  Amelia  J.,  Henry  J.  and 
Emma  L.  Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of  D.  A.  Lamport,  and  they  have 
two  boys,  Harold  and  Leonard.  Amelia  J.  married  Arthur  Bur- 
nett, and  they  have  three  children :  Ethel,  Raymond  and  Marion. 
Henry  J.  lives  in  Fergus  Falls;  Emma  L.  is  the  wife  of  tlie  Rev. 
0.  F.  Jones,  and  they  have  one  son. 

William  A.  Rugg  was  born  in  Red  Rock  township,  November 
26,  1877,  son  of  J.  D.  and  Barbra   (Ticknor)   Rugg,  natives  of 


704  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

New  York  state,  who  came  west  in  1857  and  preempted  land  in 
section  34,  Red  Rock  township,  erecting  first  a  shack,  and  then 
a  small  frame  house  which  stood  until  the  present  family  resi- 
dence was  erected  in  1872.  In  this  home  "William  A.  was  reared, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  "Pioneer"  school,  district  41,  and 
in  the  Franklin  school  at  Austin.  AVhen  he  attained  his  majority 
he  engaged  with  his  father  in  the  coal  and  wood  business  for  a 
time  and  then  worked  as  fireman  on  the  S.  M.  division  of  the 
C,  M.  &  St.  P.  railroad  for  six  months,  subsequently  taking  up 
farming  on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  is  now  located.  He  mar- 
ried Clara  Mott,  daughter  of  Lorenzo  and  Sarah  (Brockway) 
Mott,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  boys,  Albert  W.,  aged 
nine;  J.  Donald,  aged  seven,  and  Everett  M.,  aged  five. 

Knute  Rudlong,  avIio  has  farmed  in  Adams  township  since 
1884,  was  born  in  Valdris,  Norway,  in  1864,  son  of  Arlag  and 
Marit  Rudlong,  his  wife  deceased.  Knute  came  to  America  in 
1884  and  located  in  Adams  township,  where  he  worked  by  the 
month  for  four  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  bought  120  acres 
and  started  to  improve  the  place.  He  now  has  an  excellent  farm, 
with  comfortable  house,  well  kept  barns,  a  suitable  amount  of 
shade  trees,  a  windmill  and  modern  machinery.  In  previous 
years  Mr.  Rudlong  made  a  specialty  of  grains.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics  and  was  road  overseer  in  the  township  two  years.  The 
Lutheran  church  expresses  his  religious  creed  and  he  has  been 
trustee  of  the  church  of  that  denomination  in  Adams  for  three 
years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  1888  to  Rachel 
Olson,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  one  daughter,  Ida, 
who  after  completing  the  course  in  Adams  schools  creditably,  is 
now  helping  her  mother  at  home.  December  3,  1905,  Mr.  Rudlong 
paid  a  visit  to  his  old  home,  visiting  his  old  father,  three  brothers 
and  a  sister,  whom  he  had  not  seen  for  twenty-one  years.  He 
sailed  on  the  steamship  Baltic  on  the  White  Star  line. 

A.  0.  Sundem,  a  venerable  and  honored  resident  of  Nevada 
township,  lives  on  eighty  acres  in  section  26,  and  is  now  practi- 
cally retired,  having  reached  an  age  when  active  participation  in 
the  toil  of  life  is  not  a  necessity.  He  was  born  in  Norway,  March 
28,  1825,  and  came  to  America  in  1855.  In  Norway  he  Avas  a  fish- 
erman and  railroad  worker.  After  landing  in  Quebec  he  went 
to  Wisconsin  and  worked  near  Madison  six  years,  mostly  in  the 
lead  mines.  Then  he  came  to  Mower  county,  purchased  his  pres- 
ent place,  and  until  a  short  time  ago  successfully  conducted 
farming  operations  thereon.  He  was  married  in  1860  and  has 
four  children:  Edward,  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years 
after  a  long  illness;  Anna  is  at  home;  Emelia  is  the  wife  of  John 
Osteman  of  Lyle ;  and  Christian  conducts  a  farm  near  Lyle. 


lit  x-rf< 


GEORGE  H.  SUTTON. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  705 

George  H.  Sutton,  now  deceased,  is  one  of  those  men  wliose 
meniory  will  ever  be  held  foremost  in  the  loving  regard  of  1i:c 
people  of  Mower  county.  I  lis  life  was  an  exemplification  of  per- 
sonal virtues  and  civic  righteousness,  and  liis  death  caused  wide- 
felt  mourning,  not  only  in  this  county  hut  throughout  the  state, 
the  newspapers  vieing  with  each  other  in  their  encomiums. 

^Ir.  Siitton  was  born  at  Plymouth,  England,  June  19,  1866,  and 
died  July  1,  1909.  He  grew  to  manhood  amid  the  Howeriiig 
hedges  and  green  lanes  of  Old  England,  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  came  to  America  with  his  uncle,  Thomas  Drew, 
for  wliom  he  kept  books  four  years  at  Portage,  Wis.  He  then 
entered  the  employ  of  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  Ry.,  for  several  years. 
During  this  period  he  married  Margaret  Gilvrey,  who  proved  an 
able  helpmeet  in  all  his  various  lines  of  helpfulness.  Together 
they  moved  to  Chicago,  and  there  resided  until  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P. 
road  disposed  of  its  hotels  and  eating  houses,  at  which  time  Mr. 
Sutton  purchased  the  interests  in  the  Depot  hotel,  at  Austin, 
and  removed  here,  making  the  hotel  a  favorite  with  the  traveling 
public.  From  the  first  this  couple  made  their  impress  on  the  life 
of  tlie  community.  Their  deeds  of  kindness  and  acts  of  charity 
became  widely  known.  At  once  upon  his  arrival  Mr.  Sutton 
became  interested  in  the  municipal  uplift  of  the  city,  and  he 
believed  in  progress,  but  it  was  not  until  1899  that  he  entered 
politics  and  became  an  alderman  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of 
Alex  Campbell,  who  had  been  elected  mayor.  The  following 
year  ^fr.  Sutton  was  practically  unanimously  elected  alderman 
from  his  ward.  In  1906  he  was  elected  mayor.  The  following  two 
years  of  his  administration  were  years  which  placed  Austin  on  a 
high  plane  of  law  and  order.  Mayor  Sutton  personally  investi- 
gated every  violation  of  the  city  ordinances.  He  insisted  that 
the  law  be  obeyed,  and  the  severest  of  punishment  was  meted 
out  to  those  who  ignored  his  warnings.  After  two  years  of  sucli 
a  splendid  example  of  law  enforcement,  the  people  reelected 
^layor  Sutton  for  another  term,  and  one-half  of  that  term  had 
expired  when  his  health  began  to  fail.  He  attempted  much  and 
his  nervous  system  did  not  stand  the  strain.  April  9,  1909,  he 
left  the  city  for  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  to  go  under  the  care  of  a 
physician,  who  later  sent  him  to  a  specialist  in  Omaha.  All  these 
eiforts  of  love  and  skill  were  unavailing,  however,  and  Mr.  Sutton 
passed  to  the  Great  Beyond,  July  1,  1909.  The  body  was 
brought  back  from  Omaha  and  rested  in  solemn  state  in  the  court 
house.  The  services  were  held  from  the  Episcopal  church  and 
the  procession  of  sorrowing  friends  and  fraternal  brothers  which 
followed  the  remains  to  the  grave  was  one  of  the  largest  in 
the  history  of  Austin,  in  spite  of  the  drizzling  rain.  Mv.  Sutton 
was  survived  bv  his  widow,  three  children,  George  P.,  Albert  E. 


706  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

and  Helen  C. ;   a  mother  living  in  England  and  two  brothers, 
Albert  E.,  of  Milwaukee,  and  Ernest  F.,  of  Madison,  S.  D. 

The  above  is  a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  and  work  of  an  excel- 
lent man :  His  character  and  influence  are  admirably  summed  up 
by  the  Austin  Daily  Herald,  as  follows:  When  want  and  dis- 
tress came,  there  George  Sutton  was  to  be  found  with  succor. 
When  death  darkened  a  home,  it  was  George  Sutton  who  was 
the  first  to  offer  his  assistance,  and  when  the  last  sad  rites  Avere 
performed.  Mayor  Sutton  was  always  to  be  seen  among  those 
taking  the  dead  to  their  last  resting  place.  All  who  knew  Mr. 
Sutton  realized  the  ardor,  the  intensity  and  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  man.  What  he  did,  he  did  with  his  Avhole  soul.  As  mayor 
of  the  city,  he  was  more  than  an  official,  the  affairs  became  to 
him  personal.  As  president  of  the  Chautauqua  Association,  he 
bent  every  energy  and  gave  of  time  and  effort  freely  that  it 
might  be  a  success.  As  a  worker  for  the  county  fair  he  was 
efficient  and  zealous.  In  the  Sunshine  Society  and  the  Elks' 
Christmas  festivities  he  worked  for  the  joy  of  the  working.  To 
the  Driving  Association  he  gave  enthusiasm  and  push.  To  the 
school  board  he  would  have  given  valued  service  had  his  health 
not  failed  him  on  the  eve  of  election.  The  ambulance  fund  was 
pushed  and  seconded  by  his  efforts.  And  so  one  might  continue 
to  specify  w^ork  for  the  public  good  to  which  he  allied  his  name 
and  gave  of  his  time  and  money  in  its  support.  Generous  almost 
to  a  fault,  his  own  affairs  and  his  own  personal  comfort  were  the 
last  to  receive  attention.  His  philanthropy  was  a  tonic  to  the 
whole  city.  Others  refused  to  be  mean  or  small  when  called  to 
help  out  a  cause  led  by  this  generous  spirit.  His  sympatliies 
were  not  bounded  by  the  walls  of  creed  or  caste.  It  was  to  help 
those  who  needed  help  when  they  needed  it  most.  In  this  he 
had  the  quality  that  vitalizes  all  religion.  His  heart  was  one  of 
kindly  impulses.  To  a  hungry,  ill-clad  child  he  Avas  tender  as 
a  woman.  To  the  fatherless  and  Avidow  he  was  a  fi-iend  indeed. 
No  matter  what  differences  he  had  with  men,  Avhen  sickness  or 
sorrow  touched  their  homes,  George  Sutton  was  the  first  to  offer 
help  and  sympathy.  A  sick  child,  an  accident,  poverty  and  dis- 
tress appealed  to  him  as  to  but  few  men.  To  Austin  his  death 
means  the  close  of  a  life  which  has  left  its  impress  upon  the  city, 
and  for  its  great  personal  force  has  but  few  equals.  Chosen  as 
mayor  in  1906,  he  began  his  administration  with  absolute  fea;-- 
lessness  and  rare  courage.  Austin  liked  his  Avay  of  doing 
things,  and  in  1908  all  law-loving  citizens  clamored  for  his 
reelection.  Two  years  of  fearless  administration  had  swept  aAvay 
iiis  detractors  and  political  enemies.  As  mayor  he  adhered  to  his 
fixed  policy  of  doing  what  he  thought  was  right.  He  was  a  man 
of  the  people  and  his  highest  ambition  was  to  serve  the  best  inter- 


MRS.  (iEO.  H.  STTTOX 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  707 

ests  of  all  the  people.  Mr.  Sutton  had  a  great  capacity  for 
friendship.  His  friends,  not  passing  friends,  but  close  proven 
friends,  were  many.  The  same  qualities  wliich  made  him  the  true 
friend,  made  him  a  loving  and  devoted  husband  and  father. 
Measuring  the  man  from  these  many  standpoints,  he  stood  for 
square  honesty,  a  manly  man,  a  rugged,  virile  character,  whose 
like  we  do  not  often  look  upon. 

An  editorial  published  in  the  Austin  Daily  Herald,  October 
28,  1910,  spoke  of  Mr.  Sutton  as  follows:  "Austin  will  not  raise 
a  relief  fund  for  some  time  to  come,  that  the  memory  of  George 
Sutton  will  not  revive  afresh.  First  in  all  good  work,  eager  to 
lielj^  the  needy,  and  relieve  the  suffering,  counting  neither  time 
nor  money  against  he  call  for  aid,  Austin  came  to  depend  upon 
him.  A  score  of  people  spoke  his  name  in  reference  to  the  tire 
sufferers'  relief  fund  just  raised.  His  influence  is  with  us  today, 
in  the  town  that  he  loved  and  helped.  He  lives  in  the  hearts  that 
he  enriched  by  his  friendship,  in  the  minds  to  which  he  taught 
generosity,  as  well  as  scorn  for  the  miserable  alms  that  ends 
with  self.  Every  town  needs  such  as  he  to  leaven  its  lump  of 
selfishness.  What  he  did  is  a  precedent  which  we  shall  remember 
in  times  of  need." 

Burt  E.  Stimson,  a  retired  farmer  and  veteran  of  the  Civil 
Avar,  now  living  in  Austin,  was  born  in  Damby,  Vt.,  October  21, 
1844,  son  of  Charles  N.  and  Harriett  A.  (Pratt)  Stimson,  who 
brouglit  him  to  Udolpho  township,  this  county,  in  1856.  Here 
he  received  his  early  education,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm.  Join- 
ing the  Union  army  in  1864  and  serving  in  Company  K,  Fifth 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  until  the  fall  of  1865,  when  the 
regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Demopolis,  Ala.,  and  discharged 
at  Fort  Snelling.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Nashville,  Span- 
ish Forts  and  Fort  Blakely,  and  was  on  the  march  to  Montgom- 
ery when  peace  was  declared.  Returning  to  Mower  county,  he 
again  took  up  farming  on  the  home  place,  raising  wheat  at  first 
and  later  changing  into  diversified  farming,  making  a  specialty 
of  Norman  horses  and  Poland-China  hogs.  At  the  time  of  his 
retirement  in  1896  he  owned  1,000  acres  of  rich  land,  all  in  this 
county.  Mr.  Stimson  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  the 
G.  A.  R.,  attends  the  Congregational  church,  and  votes  the  Repub- 
lican ticket.  He  was  married  November  11,  1866,  at  the  bride's 
home  in  "VYestfield,  Dodge  county,  to  Eliza  Symes,  and  this  union 
has  resulted  in  nine  children:  Burt  L.,  of  Lansing,  this  county; 
Charles  AY.,  of  "Winnebago ;  Alice  0.,  wife  of  IMiles  AIcGowan ; 
Winfred,  of  Winnebago ;  Emma,  now  jMrs.  Guy  Chaffee,  of  Free- 
i)orn  county;  George,  of  Sargeant,  Minn.;  Henry  S..  a  Chicago 
dentist;  Fred,  of  Winnebago;  Lule,  of  Austin, .wife  of  Leo  Dun- 
fee,  a  cigar  merchant. 


708  HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Charles  N.  Stimson  was  born  in  Vermont  and  there  married 
llari'iett  A.  Pratt,  a  native  of  the  same  state.  They  came  -west 
in  1856,  located  in  Udolpho,  Mower  county,  and  took  a  home- 
stead of  160  acres  in  section  24,  township  104,  range  18.  They 
erected  buihlings,  developed  the  laud  and  carried  on  general 
farming,  Charles  N.  passing  away  in  ]\larch,  1866,  and  his  wife 
in  August.  1864. 

Herbert  St.  Ledger,  manager  of  the  Southern  ^Minnesota 
Land  Company,  with  headquarters  at  Austin,  was  born  in  Oak- 
land township,  Freeborn  county,  September  24,  1876,  son  of 
Daniel  and  Anna  Jane  (Christie)  St.  Ledger.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Austin,  and  after  school  farmed 
with  his  father  until  1900,  Avhen  he  became  salesman  for  a  clotli- 
ing  house  in  Austin.  Two  years  later  he  entered  into  the  real 
estate  business  as  salesman,  and  in  January,  1908,  organized  the 
company  of  which  he  is  at  present  the  manager.  Mr.  St.  Ledger 
is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  an  earnest  worker  in  the  cause  of 
that  party,  being  a  member  of  the  Republican  county  committee. 
He  helped  to  organize  the  Modern  Samaritans  in  Austin,  and  is 
also  a  member  of  the  C.  T.  A.  U.  Mr.  St.  Ledger  is  an  attendant 
of  the  Catholic  church. 

Daniel  St.  Ledger  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  married  Anna 
Jane  Christie,  a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  engaged  as  a  young 
man  in  managing  a  sawmill  on  a  large  southern  plantation. 
Later  he  went  to  the  gold  fields  and  mined  successfully  in  "Wash- 
ington Gulch,  Mont.,  for  four  years.  Then  he  came  to  Freeborn 
county  and  took  a  claim  of  160  acres  in  Oakland  township.  He 
built  one  of  the  first  houses  in  that  locality,  hauling  the  lumber 
from  Rochester.  Later  he  added  eighty  acres  to  his  land,  and 
on  his  240  acres  followed  farming  until  1898,  when  he  sold  his 
farm  and  came  to  Austin,  Avhere  he  took  up  his  residence. 

Henry  Stillman,  a  pioneer,  was  born  in  New  York  state,  and 
married  Amelia  Stebbins,  also  a  native  of  that  state.  In  185:i 
they  came  west  to  AVisconsin,  and  settled  in  Marquette  county. 
There  Henry  Stillman  engaged  at  his  trade  as  plasterer,  mason 
and  contractor,  as  well  as  at  farming,  until  1865,  when  he  moved 
his  family  to  Pepin  county,  in  the  same  state,  making  the  trip  of 
200  miles  by  ox  team.  In  1887  he  came  to  Northtield,  in  this 
state,  and  died  in  1889.  His  wife  died  in  California,  at  the  good 
old  age  of  eighty-four. 

Charles  F.  Stillman,  an  Austin  contractor,  was  born  in  'Sla.v- 
quette  county,  Wisconsin,  April  8,  1857,  son  of  Henry  and  Amelia 
(Stebl)ins)  Stillman.  He  moved  with  his  parents  to  Pepin  county 
in  the  same  state.  There  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  after  finishing 
his  schooling  worked  on  a  farm.  Tlum  he  learned  the  carpen-_ 
ter's  trade,  and  worked  for  a  lime  in  Menominee,  Wis.,  going 


IIISTOI.'V  OK   MOWKi;  COHXTY  709 

ill  1880  to  AVinona,  workini;'  ;it  1lic  siimc  trade.  Sii1is(m(iicii1  ly 
lio  worked  at  railroadinjj  iwo  years,  then  was  employed  a  year 
in  Minneapolis,  and  finally  went  to  Noi-tliHeld,  Minn.,  where  lie 
started  business  as  a  builder  and  conti'aetor  and  remained  seven 
years.  In  tiie  fall  of  1893  lie  eame  to  Austin,  and  has  since  been 
eng-aged  in  contracting  and  building  in  tliis  place,  having  a  well 
equipped  Avoodworking  shop  on  Lansing  avenue.  Mr.  Htillman 
is  an  independent  voter,  and  in  1908  was  elected  alderman  of 
Austin  from  the  first  ward.  He  has  been  through  the  chairs  of 
the  M.  W.  A.  and  the  I.  O.  0.  F.,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Commercial  Club,  of  Austin.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  October  19,  1880,  to  Margaret  Bergmaun,  and  to  this 
union  has  been  born  one  son,  IMarcus  H. 

Marcus  H.  Stillman,  son  of  Charles  F.  and  Margaret  (Berg- 
maun) 8tillman,  was  born  in  Northfield,  Minn.,  September  10, 
1887,  and  there  received  some  of  his  early  education,  coming  to 
Austin  with  his  parents  in  1893.  Here  he  also  attended  school. 
He  is  now  employed  in  the  Government  Bureau  of  Standards  at 
AVashington,  D.  C. 

Lucius  F.  Snyder,  the  efficient  and  accommodating  mail  car- 
rier of  rural  route  No.  1  out  of  Austin,  was  born  in  a  pioneer  log 
house  in  Red  Rock  township,  this  county.  May  31,  1875,  son  of 
William  J.  and  Hannah  E.  (Hurd)  Snyder.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  school  of  his  neighborhood,  Bridget  P.  Bar- 
rett being  one  of  the  teachers,  and  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  in 
after  years,  when  Mr.  Snyder  had  become  a  man  of  prominence 
in  the  community,  and  was  elected  clerk  of  this  district.  No.  68, 
he  hired  Nellie  Barrett,  a  sister  of  one  of  his  first  teachers,  to  take 
charge  of  the  school.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  took  up  farming 
for  himself  and  followed  this  occupation  until  1902,  when  the 
old  home  farm  was  sold  after  his  father's  death,  and  then  came 
to  Austin,  where  for  one  year  he  conducted  a  livery  stable,  which 
occupation  he  decided  he  Avasn't  cut  out  for.  Then  he  took  the 
civil  service  examination,  and  on  September  22,  1903,  was 
appointed  a  carrier  on  the  route  of  which  he  was  one  of  th.e 
petitioners  to  get  started,  and  to  his  present  position.  ]\Ir.  Sny- 
der is  a  Republican  in  politics,  is  a  member  of  the  ^lethodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  belongs  to  the  C.  of  H.  and  the  M.  "W.  A. 
Lodges.  He  has  also  served  five  years  as  a  private  in  Company 
G,  Second  Regiment,  jM.  N.  G.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  January  25,  1899,  to  Estella  Parkins,  and  this  union  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children:  Emma  E.,  Burdette  R.,  Fred  A., 
Sterling  E.,  all  at  home.  On  January  31  he  resigned  the  position 
as  rural  mail  carrier  on  Route  No.  1,  heretofore  mentioned  after 
.serving  a  little  over  seven  years,  and  at  all  times  on  the  best  of 
terms  with  all  the  patrons.     He  then  engaged  in  the  real  estate 


710  HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUXTY 

business  with  a  private  office  ou  Main  street,  and  is  enjoying 
a  good  trade. 

William  J.  Snyder  and  Hannah  E.  Hurd,  his  wife,  came  to 
]\[ower  county  in  1866,  and  took  up  a  homestead  of  eighty  acres 
in  the  Red  Rock  township,  which  they  broke  and  improved,  and 
followed  farming  until  June  16,  1897,  when  William  J.  died.  His 
■widow  moved  to  Austin  and  later  to  Albert  Lea,  where  she  still 
resides. 

Elbert  H.  Smith,  of  Austin,  president  of  the  E.  H.  Smith  Land 
and  Loan  Company,  and  secretary  of  the  Austin  Weed  Exter- 
minator Manufacturing  Company,  is  a  native  of  this  city,  born 
October  2,  1868,  son  of  Julius  and  Ada  (Robbins)  Smith.  He 
attended  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Austin,  and  in  1885  went 
to  Iowa,  where  he  learned  the  jewelers'  trade.  In  1897  he  came 
back  to  Austin,  and  became  traveling  salesman  for  the  Arustine 
Bros,  and  Meier  Co.,  wholesale  jewelers,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  with 
which  concern  he  remained  for  some  years.  Then  he  took  up  the 
real  estate,  loan  and  insurance  business,  making  a  specialty  of 
farm  lands,  in  Montana,  the  Dakotas  and  Minnesota,  represent- 
ing also  the  twelve  leading  fire  and  tornado  insurance  companies 
in  America.  Mr.  Smith  votes  independently,  is  a  master  Mason, 
and  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  United  Commercial 
Travelers,  and  the  Austin  Commercial  Club.  He  has  been  secre- 
tary of  the  Mower  County  Agricultural  Society  for  several  years. 
He  is  one  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Congregational  church. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  April  6,  1893,  at  Austin, 
to  Ida  M.  Barnes,  daughter  of  Dr.  R.  A.  Barnes,  and  to  this 
union  have  been  born  three  children:  Verna  M.,  born  June  12, 
1894;  Marian  A.,  born  September  7,  1901:  and  Richard  B..  boru 
November  4,  1904. 

Jvdius  A.  Smith  was  born  in  New  York  state,  and  there  mar- 
ried Ada  Robbins.  They  came  west  in  1864  and  purchased  160 
acres  of  wild  land  in  Austin  township.  Mower  county.  This  land 
they  broke,  improved,  and  cultivated,  erecting  the  necessary 
buiUlings,  and  bringing  the  place  to  a  high  state  of  development. 
In  tlie  early  days  they  raised  grain,  biit  later  the  farm  was 
devoted  largely  to  stock  raising  and  dairying.  Julius  Smith  died 
November  29,  1896,  and  his  widow  is  still  living. 

Frank  G.  Sasse,  of  the  firm  of  French  &  Sasse,  leading  attor- 
neys of  Austin,  was  born  in  Utica,  Winona  county,  Minnesota, 
July  1,  1871,  son  of  John  F.  and  Anna  IM.  Sasse,  natives  of  Ger- 
many. Frank  G.  received  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of 
Winona  county  and  graduated  from  the  St.  Charles  high  school 
in  1890.  Then  he  taught  school  for  two  years,  and  with  the 
money  thus  secured  entered  the  University  of  i\Iinnesota  in  the 
fall  of  1902.    Two  years  later  he  again  started  teaching,  and  after 


HISTOIJY  OP  MOWEK  COUNTY  711 

three  years  had  secured  sufficient  funds  to  complete  liis  cou*'si». 
Ill  1899  he  graduated  from  the  academic  department  of  tlie  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  Avith  the  degree  of  B.  A.  A  year  later  he 
grarluated  froni  the  law  department  of  the  same  university,  and 
was  at  once  admitted  to  the  bar.  After  practicing  in  St.  Charles 
two  years  he  went  to  Fairmont,  ]\Iartin  county,  and  there  becauK^ 
a  junior  partner  in  the  firm  of  Mathwig  &  Sasse.  Mr.  Sasse  was 
ele-.^ted  coiuity  attorney  of  Martin  county  and  served  as  city  attor- 
ney of  Fairmont.  He  rosigued,  however,  to  come  to  Austin  in  the 
tall  of  1909.  Here  he  became  a  partner  of  LaFayette  French,  the 
firm  taking  the  name  of  French  &  Sasse.  Since  coming  here  Mr. 
Sasse  has  allied  himself  -with  the  Austin  Commercial  Club.  While 
at  college  he  was  admitted  to  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  an  honorary  fra- 
ternity. He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  affiliated  himself 
with  the  INIasonic  order,  the  K.  of  P.,  the  M.  W.  A.  and  the  Mod- 
ern Samaritans.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  July  1-4, 
1904,  at  Vernon  Center,  Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota,  to  Elrose 
Howard,  of  that  place.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  one 
child.  Lucille  M.,  born  May  26,  1905. 

John  F.  Sasse  and  Anna  M.  Sasse,  his  wife,  were  natives  of 
Germany.  They  came  to  America  in  1849,  located  in  New  York 
state,  and  in  the  early  sixties  removed  to  Wisconsin.  A  few  years 
later  they  located  at  Winona  county,  Minnesota,  and  there  ended 
their  days,  the  father  October  4,  1908,  and  the  mother  April  15, 
1908. 

John  Slupe,  who  conducts  the  R.  F.  Shepherd  farm  of  450 
well-tilled  acres  in  Austin  township,  was  born  in  Switzerland  in 
February,  1849,  son  of  Stephen  Slupe.  John  came  to  America 
in  1868,  located  in  New  York  state  and  engaged  in  teaming.  In 
1872  he  came  to  MeHenry  county,  Illinois,  and  farmed  there 
tv.o  years.  Then  he  lived  in  Indiana  for  about  a  year  and  a  half, 
and  in  1876  came  to  Minnesota  for  a  short  period,  going  then  to 
Iowa  and  farming  until  1886,  when  he  again  came  to  Mower 
county.  In  1902  he  assumed  his  present  responsibilities  on  the 
Shepherd  farm.  He  was  married  January  16,  1878,  to  Emeline 
Shores,  and  they  have  two  children :  Albert  and  J.  C. 

Ulysses  L.  Stillwell,  an  energetic  real  estate  dealer  and  insur- 
ance agent  of  LeRoy,  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  county,  ^Michigan, 
March  17,  1865,  son  of  Thomas  V.  and  Jane  A.  (Benedict)  Still- 
well.  He  received  his  education  in  Osage,  Iowa,  and  then  took 
up  farming,  an  occupation  he  continued  until  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  when  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  and  real  estate  business. 
He  came  to  LeRoy  in  1894  and  two  years  later  opened  a  fire 
insurance  and  real  estate,  handling  considerable  land,  and  acting 
as  representative  of  eight  different  insurance  companies.  In 
addition  to  this  he  has  written  considerable  life  insurance  for  the 


712  HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY 

Jlutual  Life  Assurance  Company,  of  New  York.  Mr.  Stilhvell  is 
an  independent  voter,  and  affiliates  with  the  I.  C.  M.  A.  and  the 
I.  0.  O.  F.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  June  26,  1895, 
Jit  LeRoy,  to  Myrtie  AVright,  and  to  this  union  six  ehikiren  have 
been  born :  Vier  B.,  May  28,  1896 ;  Inez  A.,  October  3,  1900 ;  Elmo 
L.,  February  17,  1904;  Pearl  L.  and  Ruby  J.,  twins,  February  3, 
1906 ;  and  Carroll  M..  March  25,  1910. 

Thomas  V.  Stillwell  was  born  in  New  York  state,  November  3, 
1824,  and  came  to  Ohio  when  very  young,  later  going  to  Michi- 
gan, where  he  married  Jane  A.  Benedict,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  purchased  timber  land,  which  he  cleared  and  cultivated 
until  1867,  when  he  moA'ed  to  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  and  remained 
there  until  the  fall  of  1880,  when  he  moved  to  Howard  county,  in 
the  same  state,  and  stayed  until  1905,  Avhen  he  came  to  LeRoy  and 
lived  until  his  death,  Noveml)er  13,  190.8.  The  widow  is  still 
living  in  LeRoy. 

Mathias  Schmit,  manager  of  the  Rose  Creek  Lumber  Com- 
pany, was  l)orn  in  Luxemburg,  Germany,  February  24,  1874,  son 
of  J.  P.  and  Margaret  (Bartholmy)  Schmit,  natives  of  the  same 
kingdom.  The  father  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  which  profes- 
sion he  followed  until  his  death,  in  1888,  in  Germany.  His  good 
wife  preceded  him  to  the  grave  about  two  years.  Mathias  received 
his  education  in  Luxemburg,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  after 
which  in  1891,  he  crossed  the  briny  deep  and  came  to  America, 
locating  at  once  in  Rose  Creek.  Here  he  engaged  in  farm  work 
until  1902,  when  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  hunber  yard  of 
A.  Vaux.  Two  years  later,  in  1904,  jMr.  Vaux  sold  to  Mr.  Crane 
of  Austin,  the  concern  taking  the  name  of  Rose  Creek  Lumber 
Company.  At  this  time  Mr.  Schmit  was  made  manager,  Avliich 
position  he  has  since  efficiently  occupied.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  November  22,  1904,  to  Mary  Schumaher,  and 
this  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children :  Mary  and  John  P. 
Mr.  Schmit  voted  independently  and  is  serving  his  fourth  year  as 
assessor  of  Rose  Creek.  He  belongs  to  the  C.  0.  F.  and  the 
D.  R.  K.  U.  G.  V.  M.  The  family  occupies  a  pleasant  residence 
in  the  village,  owned  by  ]\Ir.  Schmit.  The  family  religion  is  that 
of  the  Catholic  church. 

Carlos  0.  Sleeper  was  born  in  Fairfax,  Vt.,  June  18,  1852,  son 
of  A.  L.  and  Elbertine  (Church)  Sleeper.  Like  his  brothers  and 
sister,  he  came  to  a  farm  near  Brownsdale  in  1864,  his  father 
having  located  on  the  place  two  years  earlier.  He  entered  his 
father's  store  at  a  suitable  age,  and  was  later  received  into  part- 
nership. He  now  manages  the  establishment  in  partnership  with 
his  son.  Jay  M.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Ilattie  AVar- 
rcn,  l)orn  in  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  August  1,  1856,  daughter 
of  Jolm   and  Helen   K.   Warren.     Tliey   are  the  parents   of  four 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  713 

children:  Mabel  H. ;  Kutli,  Avife  of  R.  B.  Bailey;  Claire  M.:  and 
elay  ]M.  Mr.  Sleeper  has  been  engaged  continuously  in  tlie  nier- 
eantile  business  since  twenty-four  years  of  age.  lie  has  held  a 
number  of  local  offices  of  the  Baptist  church. 

William  B.  Sleeper  was  born  in  Fairfax,  Vt.,  June  16,  1856, 
son  of  A.  L.  and  Elbertine  (Church)  Sleeper,  and  came  with  his 
parents  to  a  farm  near  Brownsdale  in  1864,  his  father  having 
arrived  two  years  earlier.  He  attended  school  in  Brownsdale, 
entered  his  fatlier's  store  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  was  made 
a  partner  Avith  his  father  and  brothers.  Since  1903  he  has  devoted 
his  time  entirely  to  the  laud  business,  having  done  a  large  and 
lucrative  business.  He  owns  and  rents  farms  in  various  parts 
of  the  township  of  Red  Rock,  and  has  other  business  holdings. 
Mr.  Sleeper  married  for  his  first  wife,  Edna  Gillett,  daughter  of 
L.  C.  and  Amelia  (Duulap)  Gillett.  She  died  January  18,  1881. 
October  16,  188-i,  ]Mr.  Sleeper  married  Emma  Rummings,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  A.  Rummings.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  at 
present  worthy  master  of  Lafayette  Lodge,  No.  116,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
is  also  mayor  of  the  village  of  Brownsdale  and  president  of  the 
Red  Rock  Creamery  Association. 

C.  B.  Sayles,  chairman  of  Austin  township,  and  an  extensive 
landowner  of  ]Mower  county,  was  born  in  LeRoy,  ilower  county, 
April  3,  1870,  son  of  James  K.  and  Lucinda  B  (Brown)  Sayles. 
He  was  brought  to  Austin  township  as  an  infant,  attended  the 
schools  of  Austin  township  and  the  Austin  high  school,  and  then 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  took  charge  of  the  home  farm,  becom- 
ing one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  township.  He  has  added  to 
the  homestead  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  has  300  acres  in 
the  home  place,  and  200  acres  in  "Windora.  He  has  made  many 
improvements,  brought  the  place  to  a  high  degree  of  cultivation, 
purchased  ncAV  machinery  and  oquipment,  and  in  every  way  has 
farmed  along  the  latest  approved  lines.  Of  late  years  he  has 
turned  his  attention  to  stock  raising  and  grain  cultivation  exclu- 
sively, and  breeds  some  excellent  specimens  of  Hereford  cattle. 
He  has  occupied  his  present  township  office  two  years,  and  previ- 
ous to  that  was  a  member  of  the  board  for  many  years.  He  has 
also  given  good  service  as  a  school  officer.  Mr.  Sayles  was  mar- 
ried April  17,  1893,  to  Clara  B.  Ames,  of  Owatonna,  and  this 
union  has  resulted  in  eight  children,  seven  of  Avhom  are  living, 
and  one  of  whom  is  dead.  They  are:  Claude  H.,  AValter  A.,  Sarah 
E.  (deceased),  Loren  L.,  David  J.,  Carlton  K.,  Leonard  H.,  and 
Herbert  A.    The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Universalist  church. 

James  K.  Sayles  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  married  Lu- 
cinda B.  l^rown.  a  native  of  New  York  state.  In  1868  they  came 
■west  to  LeRoy,  in  this  county,  and  one  year  later  to  Austin  town- 
ship, where  James  K.  purchased  160  acres  and  combined  black- 


714  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

sinitliing  with  farming  until  his  death,  January  24,  1881.  his  wife 
following  him  to  the  grave,  July  2,  1896. 

C.  L.  Schroeder,  retired  farmer  and  former  county  commis- 
sioner, now  living  in  Grand  ]Meadow  village,  was  horn  in  Ger- 
many, Nov.  21,  1844,  son  of  Carl  and  Jeanett  (Schafter)  Schroe- 
der, who  brought  him  to  America  in  1849.  After  a  short  stay  in 
Milwaukee  they  went  to  West  Bend,  "Wis.,  where  they  located 
and  went  to  farming.  There  Charles  L.  was  reared.  In  1864  he 
went  to  Missouri  and  remained  a  year,  coming  a  year  later  to 
Minnesota.  In  1867  he  came  from  Winona  to  Racine  and  bought 
a  farm.  Here  he  carried  on  general  farming  until  1900,  when 
he  moved  to  the  village  of  Grand  Meadow.  While  in  Racine,  Mr. 
Schroeder  was  township  treasurer  and  supervisor  and  school 
clerk  and  treasurer  for  several  years.  In  1880  he  Avas  appointed 
county  commissioner  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  was  then  elected  to  a 
full  term,  thus  serving  until  1885.  He  was  married  in  1874  to 
Lizzie  Christgau,  daughter  of  IMathias  Christgau,  and  this  union 
has  been  blessed  with  six  children:  Clara  and  Albert  died  in 
infancy ;  Alma,  Cora,  Enna  N.  and  Erwin  C.  Alma  is  the  wife  of 
C.  J.  Donaldson,  of  Seattle,  Wash.  Mrs.  Schroeder  died  April  8, 
1898. 

George  M.  Shortt,  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Brownsdale, 
was  born  in  Winona  county  in  1862,  son  of  Martin  and  Matilda 
(Norman)  Shortt.  He  attended  the  district  schools,  and  the 
State  Normal  at  AVinona,  learned  telegraphy  and  entered  the 
railroad  service,  being  agent  and  operator  for  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P. 
twenty  years.  Was  elected  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Brownsdale, 
then  a  private  bank,  in  1905.  When  the  State  Bank  of  Browns- 
dale was  organized  in  1908  he  retained  that  position,  and  his 
integrity  and  honor,  as  well  as  courtesy  have  been  an  important 
factor  in  the  success  of  the  institution.  Mr.  Shortt  has  allied  him- 
self with  the  Masons  and  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  He  married  Etta  J. 
Sanborn,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Cheesebro)  Sanborn.  They 
have  two  children,  Marie  M.,  aged  twelve  years,  and  Dorris  :\I., 
aged  four  years. 

Martin  Shortt  was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  of  French 
extraction,  and  married  Matilda  Norman,  a  native  of  Boston. 
After  their  marriage  they  lived  in  Bakersfield,  Vt.,  and  later 
came  to  Winona  county,  Minnesota.  Martin  enlisted  in  tjie  Ninth 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  did  valiant  service,  and  died  in 
Andersonville  prison,  September  15,  1864.  They  were  the  parents 
of  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Eunice,  Elizabeth, 
and  George  M.  Eunice  is  the  wife  of  Albro  Danforth,  and  Eli.'.a- 
beth  married  Charles  Johnson. 

Nicholas  M.  Smith,  president  of  the  village  of  Adams,  was 
borii  ill  liiiaden,  Gcrmanv,  December  6,  1841,  son  of  Xavier  and 


MR.    AND    MRS.   C.   L.   SCHROEDEB. 


inSTOli'Y  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  715 

Tressa  (^leyor)  .Smith,  lie  i-aino  to  Auu'rica  in  18r)4  witli  liis 
father  and  brothers,  Tlionias  and  Charles,  first  locating  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.  After  a  few  months,  Nicholas  came  to  Lee  county, 
Illinois,  accompanied  by  his  father.  His  father  later  went  back 
to  Poughkeepsie,  stayed  a  year,  and  subsequently  rejoined  Nich- 
olas in  Lee  county,  where  he  purchased  forty  acres  and  farmed 
live  years.  Xavier  the  father  and  Nicholas  the  son  then  came  to 
^Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  being  followed  the  following  year  by  the 
mother  and  other  chikiren,  and  here  Xavier  purchased  a  quarter 
section.  There  they  farmed  until  the  mother,  wife  of  Xavier, 
died,  and  then  the  farm  was  sold.  Nicholas  at  this  time  received 
from  his  father  an  eighty-acre  farm  in  Adams  township.  After 
working  the  farm  for  two  years  ho  sold  it  and  purchased  a  farm 
in  ^Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  where  he  carried  on  farming  until  1892, 
when  he  came  to  the  village  of  Adams  and  retired.  In  addition 
to  liis  present  office,  Mr.  Smith  has  done  public  service  as  a  town- 
ship supervisor  while  in  Mitchell  county.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Blake,  daughter  of  John  A.  Blake,  and  this  imion  has  been  blessed 
with  five  children :  Alice,  the  wife  of  John  H.  Krebsbach ;  Annie, 
the  wife  of  Michael  Krebsliach  ;  "William  and  Fred  (Twins)  ;  Mary, 
the  wife  of  Michael  Nockels. 

Stanley  W.  Stephenson,  of  Dexter,  manager  of  one  of  the 
eighteen  elevators  of  the  LaCrosse  Grain  Company,  of  which  his 
father,  ]\lartin  Stephenson,  is  president  and  manager,  was  born 
in  Brownsdale,  this  state,  September  14,  1887.  He  attended  the 
Brownsdale  schools,  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  entered  the 
grain  business  under  the  tutelage  of  his  father.  Mr.  Stephenson 
belongs  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and  to  the  Austin  Royal  Arch 
Chapter. 

Albert  Swift,  a  prominent  veteran  of  the  Civil  Avar,  now  living 
in  Brownsdale,  was  postmaster  of  the  village  from  1891  to  1898. 
He  was  president  of  the  village  council  two  terms,  recorder  at 
various  times  for  twelve  years,  and  has  been  very  active  in 
G.  A.  R.  affairs.  He  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  Henry 
Rogers  Post,  of  Brownsdale,  and  mustered  in  the  posts  at  Austin, 
Kasson  and  Grand  ^Meadow.  In  1882  he  became  the  first  com- 
mander of  the  Rogers  post,  and  since  then  has  taken  a  deep  inter- 
est in  its  affairs,  doing  much  Avork  sucli  as  making  out  reports  to 
headquarters  and  other  details,  performing  the  duties  of  adjutant. 
Albert  SAvift  Avas  born  in  Chautauqua  county,  Ncav  York,  Febru- 
ary 20,  1830,  son  of  Samuel  and  Anna  (McArthur)  SAvift.  He 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  in  August.  1862.  enlisted  in 
the  Civil  Avar,  serving  in  the  P^rst  Ncav  York  Dragoons  until 
July  11.  1865,  Avhen  he  received  his  lionorable  discharge  at 
Clouds  Mills,  Va.  At  the  close  of  the  Avar  in  1865  he  located  in 
^Missouri,  and  in  1874  came  to  Brownsdale,  Avhere  he  has  since 


716  HISTORY  OF  MOWEI!  COUNTY 

resided.  lie  married  Aun  J.,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabetli 
(Bennett)  Ray,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  five  children: 
Lillie,  deceased;  Ida  L.,  deceased;  Frank  E.,  Edwin  ]\I.  and 
Nina  R.,  the  latter  a  teacher  in  Gas  City,  Ind.  Frank  E.  has  for 
many  year  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Minneapolis  &  Sault  Ste. 
JMarie  road.  He  lives  at  Sault  Ste.  ]Marie  and  runs  a  passenger 
train  between  that  place  and  Escanaba,  ]Mich.  Edwin  'SI.  lives  at 
Seattle,  "Wash.,  and  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Seattle  and  Everett 
Traction  Company.  "William  Ray  and  his  wife  were  natives  of 
Dutchess  county,  New  York,  of  English  descent.  Mr.  Ray  was 
treasurer  and  bookkeeper  for  one  of  the  large  foundries  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y''.,  and  retained  that  position  for  many  years.  He 
died  in  1841.  His  wife  died  in  1853.  Samuel  Swift  died  in  1859 
and  his  wife  in  1853. 

Suwarrow  A.  Smith,  treasurer  of  ^Nlower  county,  was  born  in 
Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  county,  this  state.  ]\Iarch  28,  1859,  son  of 
John  M.  and  Ann  J.  (Kingsley)  Smith.  He  attended  the  district 
schools  and  graduated  from  the  Spring  Valley  high  school,  after 
Avhieh  from  1881  to  1902  he  was  engaged  as  a  grain  buyer  in 
Austin.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  elected  to  the  county  position 
which  he  has  since  occupied.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  belongs  to  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  the  M.  W.  A. 
and  the  A.  0.  U.  AV.  For  four  years  he  served  as  assessor  of 
Austin.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  October  24,  1883, 
to  Cora  G.  Burleson,  who  died  May  12,  1897,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren: Marion,  Clinton,  Louise  and  Philip  W.  The  family  faith 
is  that  of  the  Congregational  church. 

John  M.  Smith  Avas  born  in  New  York  state,  and  married  Ann 
J.  Kingsley,  a  native  of  the  same  state.  They  came  west  in  1856 
and  took  a  homestead  in  Fillmore  county,  where  they  resided 
until  1897,  when  they  came  to  Austin,  John  M.  dying  in  September, 
1907,  and  liis  wife  in  September,  1905. 

William  W.  Svi^eet,  mayor  of  LeRoy,  and  for  whoni  the  Sweet 
Hotel  in  that  village  is  named,  has  been  a  prominent  man  in  the 
county.  He  has  been  deputy  sherift',  has  served  as  assessor  eleven 
years,  was  county  commissioner  ten  years  and  chairman  of  that 
board  one  year.  Has  been  president  of  the  village  council  of 
LeRoy  a  number  of  terms.  He  was  born  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y., 
May  23,  1844,  son  of  Rowland  and  Patience  IM.  (Cole)  Sweet,  v^'ho 
took  him  from  his  native  place  to  Milwaukee  in  1849.  From  there 
the  family  went  to  Aztland,  Wis.,  where  they  reniained  one  year, 
after  which  they  removed  to  Union,  where  Rowland  Sweet 
engaged  in  his  trade  as  a  sliocniaker.  In  their  declining  years 
Rowland  and  Patience  Sweel  caiuc  to  LeRoy  and  took  up  their 
vesidcucc  with  their  son,  Williain.     William  AV.  Sweet  received  a 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  717 

good  common  school  education,  and  has  spent  his  life  in  vaimus 
{>ursuits,  having  engaged  extensively  in  building  and  in  tlic  i-ca! 
estate  business.  He  owns  the  imposing  brick  hotel  that  bears  his 
name,  and  lias  other  business  interests.  Mayor  Sweet  is  a  veteran 
of  .the  Civil  "War,  serving  three  years  in  the  First  United  States 
Beti'  tJavisi , Sharp  Shooters.  In  1864,  after  having  participated  in 
Iwenty-seven  important  battles,  engagements  and  sieges,  he  wa>! 
given  an  honorable  discharge,  and  came  home  from  the  hospital, 
where  he  had  been  recuperating  from  his  wounds.  Mayor  Swtet 
married  Araminta  Bevier,  daughter  of  Franklin  and  Sarah  (Cole) 
Bevier,  the  pioneers.  To  this  union  has  been  born  one  son,  Frank 
W.  Franklin  Bevier,  whose  father  was  a  Hollander,  was  born  in 
Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  December  15,  1805,  and  came  to  Mower 
county  with  the  earliest  pioneers  in  1856.  Sarah  Cole  was  born 
in  Coventry,  N.  Y.,  April  6,  1820. 

Andrew  S.  Slindee,  wlio  farms  successfully  on  120  acres  in 
section  26,  Marshall  township,  is  a  native  born  son  of  this  county, 
having  first  seen  the  light  of  day  in  1884  in  the  home  of  his 
father,  Ole  0.  Slindee,  who  Avas  born  in  Norway,  and  came  to 
Mower  county  about  thirty  years  ago.  Andrew  S.  was  educated 
in  the  county  schools,  and  began  work  for  himself  at  the  age  of 
sixteen.  In  1910  he  purchased  his  present  place,  where  he  carries 
on  general  farming,  turning  his  attention  largely  to  cattle,  hogs 
and  poultry.  He  is  an  independent  Republican  and  a  member  of 
tlie  Lutheran  church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in 
1907  to  Sophia  Huseby,  daughter  of  A.  A.  Iluseby,  of  Marshall 
township,  and  to  this  union  has  been  born  a  daughter,  Sylvia 
Angeline.  and  a  son,  Orville  Sylvester,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Orson  R.  Steffens,  the  efficient  and  genial  local  agent  at 
Kacine  for  the  James  A.  Smith  Lumber  Company,  of  Osage,  Iowa, 
wliicli  controls  some  fifty  lumber  yards  throughout  the  country, 
and  which  has  maintained  a  branch  at  Racine  for  nineteen  years, 
was  born  in  Sumner  township,  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota,  ]\Iarclt 
26,  1875,  sou  of  Richard  and  Mercy  M.  J.  (Hammond)  Stetiens. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  and  also  taught  in  the  county 
schools  of  both  Fillmore  and  IMower  counties,  and  worked  on  the 
farm  of  his  parents  until  1907  (this  farm  he  now  owns),  Avheu  he 
assumed  his  present  position.  Mr.  Steffens  is  a  member  of  th(; 
JM.  AV.  A.  He  married  Sadie  E.  Eppard,  daughter  of  Pliilip  M. 
and  Lueinda  (^McQuillan)  Eppard,  and  they  have  two  children, 
IMerwin  and  Alice  E.  Rieliard  Stelfens  was  born  in  the  province 
of  Ontario,  Canada,  and  in  18:^8  located  in  Illinois.  In  1858  he 
took  up  his  residence  in  Sumner,  Fillmore  county,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  his  death  in  1883. 

George   T.   Siegel,    of  the   firm    of   Siegel   Brotlicrs,   hardware 


718  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

dealers  of  Sargeant  village,  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  sou  of 
Casper  and  Margaret  (Geitz)  Siegel,  and  was  by  them  brought  to 
i\Iower  county  in  1877.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  section  24,  AVal- 
tliara  township,  received  a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
neighborhood,  and  later  took  a  three  years'  course  in  .Minne- 
apolis. As  a  young  man  he  entered  the  law  offices  of  Empty  & 
Empty,  but  after  eighteen  months,  deciding  that  the  vocation  of 
a  lawyer  was  not  one  well  suited  to  his  temperament,  he  returned 
home  and  assisted  on  the  home  farm  for  a  while.  Something  over 
three  years  ago  George  T.  and  his  brother  Frank  formed  their 
present  partnership  and  embarked  in  business.  Their  trade  has 
grown  rapidly,  the  brothers  being  known  for  their  honest  deal- 
ings and  business  sagacity.  Mr.  Siegel  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen. 

Casper  Siegel  was  born  in  Germany  and  married  Margaret 
Geitz,  a  native  of  the  same  country.  He  came  to  America  in  the 
forties,  landed  in  New  York,  remained  there  for  a  time  and  then 
went  to  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  Avhere  he  was  foreman  in  a  large  mill. 
In  1864  he  came  to  Mower  county,  looked  over  the  farm  land,  then 
went  back  to  Pittsfield,  but  in  1877  came  again  to  Mower  county, 
bringing  his  family  with  him  and  establishing  his  home  on  section 
24,  AValtham  township,  where  he  carried  on  farming  and  reared 
his  family. 

Samuel  Swenson,  merchant  and  postmaster  of  Elkton.  and 
treasurer  of  the  village,  was  born  in  Blooming  Prairie  in  1877, 
son  of  IMaguus  Swenson,  a  native  of  Norway.  Samuel  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  started  in  the  mercantile  business  as  a  clerk  in  a  hardware 
store  in  Gibbon,  ]\Iinn.,  remaining  in  this  employ  three  years. 
Then  he  came  to  Elkton  and  had  charge  of  a  lumber  yard  two 
years,  after  which  he  purchased  a  hardware  store.  In  1910  he 
purchased  the  general  store  from  C.  C.  Hogen,  and  is  at  present 
conducting  a  successful  business,  carrying  a  large  stock  of  first- 
class  goods  and  enjoying  the  confidence  of  the  people  for  miles 
around.  Mr.  Swenson  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen.  He  married  Laura  Hagen,  daughter  of  D.  Ha  gen, 
and  tliey  have  one  daughter,  Mildred  Pearl. 

Nicholas  Schuartz,  a  retired  farmer  of  Windom,  was  born  in 
New  York  city,  in  1845,  son  of  John  and  Katherine  Schuartz,  who 
were  born  in  Germany,  and  after  coming  to  this  country  in  1845 
located  in  Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  where  they  died,  the 
father  at  the  age  of  forty  and  the  mother  at  the  age  of  seventy. 
Nicholas  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Washington 
county,  Wisconsin,  and  there  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  married 
March  in,  1871,  to  Mary  Ilschult,  daughter  of  John  and  M^y- 
garettc  Uschult,  and  at  once  after  their  marriage  they  came  to 


IIISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  710 

N(•^■a(la  and  attorward  to  Wiiidoin  township,  where  tliey  have 
prospt'i'ed  and  reared  their  eliiUlren.  Mrs.  SehuarU  died  April 
1.3,  1903.  or  the  tive  ehildreu  of  Niehohxs  Sehuartz,  one  died  at 
tile  ajre  of  eleven  years.  Those  living  are:  George,  John,  Niek, 
and  Charles,  all  farmers  of  Windom  townsliip.  Mr.  Schuartz  has 
one  sister,  Katherine,  living.  She  is  (lie  wife  of  Nicliolas  Giller,  of 
]\[enoniinee  Falls,  Wis. 

J.  C.  Schottler,  a  snceessful  farmer  of  Windom  township, 
where  he  lias  a  fine  farm  in  section  30,  consisting  of  IKi'Ji  aeres. 
\\  hieh  he  purchased  in  Decemher,  1899,  was  born  in  Germantown. 
Wis.,  i\Iay  15,  1872,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Anna  (Regenfuss)  Schott- 
ler, the  former  of  whom  came  from  Germany  in  1846  and  located 
in  Gei-mantown,  Wis.,  Avhere  he  now  resides,  and  the  latter  of 
whom  was  boi-n  in  Richfield,  Wis.,  of  German  descent,  and  died 
June  13,  1908.  J.  C.  Schottler  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
and  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  since  when  he  has  followed  general  farm- 
ing. He  is  an  independent  voter,  is  in  favor  of  the  entire  prohi- 
bition of  the  sale  of  liquor,  belongs  to  the  Grange  and  attends  the 
Catholic  church  at  Austin.  He  was  married  June  24,  1901,  to 
Katharine  Muellei*,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Margaret  (Thielmann) 
j\[ueller,  the  former  of  whom  came  to  this  country  in  1851  and 
settled  in  Germantown,  Wis.,  and  the  latter  of  whom  came  in 
1861.  ]Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Schottler  have  five  children:  Julius,  born 
Janu.^vy  19,  1903;  Edward,  February  18,  1904;  Agnes,  August  3, 
1905;  Florence,  August  31,  1907,  and  Marie,  May  16,  1909. 

F.  August  Smith,  for  fourteen  years  a  member  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  of  Red  Rock  township,  and  for  eight  years  chairman 
of  that  board,  is  a  man  whose  aflfable  manner,  kindness  of  pur- 
pose, and  honesty  of  heart  toward  all,  has  won  for  him  the  respect 
of  the  community  wdierein  he  lives.  He  w'as  born  in  Racine 
county,  Wisconsin,  July  21,  1855,  son  of  John  and  Mary  Smith, 
both  natives  of  Germany.  John  Smith,  the  father,  was  a  cooper 
by  trade,  and  came  to  America  about  1852,  living  both  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  and  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  before  locating  in  Racine  county, 
Wisconsin,  about  five  miles  west  of  the  city.  He  was  killed  in 
1870  by  a  horse.  Fredrick  August,  the  subject  of  this  sivetch, 
remained  on  the  homo  farm  until  thirty  years  of  age,  and  then 
came  to  JMinnesota,  where  he'  purchased  a  farm  in  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  35  in  Red  Rock  township.  He  lived  on  this 
farm  in  a  little  red  house,  and  at  once  set  about  making  improve- 
ments. In  1895  he  built  the  pleasant  dwelling  house  where  he 
and  his  family  now  reside.  Mr.  Smith  married  Bertha,  daughter 
of  Valentine  and  Wilholmina  (Miller)  Zimmerman,  and  their  chil- 
dren are:  William,  Charles,  Alice,  jMary  and  Arthur  W.  Alice 
marrii'd  Henry  E.  ]Miller  and  they  have  one  son,  Lloyd. 

William  Todd,  superintendent  of  the  City  Water,  Electric  and 


720  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Power  Plant  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  Septem- 
ber 1,  1857.  When  twenty-two  years  old  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  first  locating  in  loAva  for  a  year  and  then  removing 
to  Austin,  Minn.,  Avhere  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago, 
J\lilwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railroad,  with  which  he  was  connected 
until  1900,  in  the  capacity  of  stationary  engineer.  He  then  took  a 
position  with  the  Austin  city  waterworks,  and  subsequently 
became  superintendent  of  the  City  Water,  Electric  and  Power 
Plant,  in  which  position  he  has  shown  himself  an  ideal  public 
servant,  having  been  largely  instrumental  in  making  public  own- 
ership in  Austin  an  unusual  success.  In  politics,  he  gives  his 
allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party.  Numerous  offices  have  been 
held  by  him  in  the  Masonic  order,  such  as  past  master,  past  higli 
priest,  past  commander,  and  past  grand  high  priest  for  the  state 
of  Minnesota.  He  is  both  a  Knight  Templar  and  a  Shriner.  The 
American  Waterworks  Association  numbers  him  among  its  mem- 
bers. Mr.  Todd's  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1881,  was  formerly 
Elizabeth  Morrison.  They  have  four  children :  Jane  C,  Catherine 
R.,  Isabell  A.,  and  Elizabeth  M.  The  family  attend  worship  at 
the  Presbyterian  church.  William  and  Katharine  (Rae)  Todd, 
parents  of  our  subject,  are  natives  of  Scotland,  which  has  always 
l)een  their  home.  Nine  children  were  born  to  them,  five  boys  and 
four  girls,  viz. :  AVilliam,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  Jolm, 
rancher,  residing  in  Spokane,  AVash. ;  Jane,  a  resident  of  Rock- 
hampton,  Queensland,  Australia;  James,  deceased;  Elizabeth, 
deceased ;  Thomas,  of  Glasgow,  Scotland ;  Andrew  A.,  farmer  of 
Rockhampton,  Australia;  Christine,  of  Rockhampton,  Australia, 
and  IMargaret,  deceased. 

J.  C.  Taney,  superintendent  of  the  Austin  Cement  Company, 
was  born  in  Covington,  Ky.,  February  10,  1878,  son  of  James  and 
Nancy  (Kramer)  Taney.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Indiana,  and  then  learned  the  cement  business,  start- 
ig  at  fifty  cents  a  day,  and  working  his  way  up  from  water  boy  to 
superintendent  of  the  United  States  Cement  Company,  at  Sellers- 
burg,  Ind.  From  his  first  engagement  with  this  company  until 
1906,  he  remained  in  its  steady  employ,  with  the  exception  of 
tAvo  years,  during  which,  being  inspired  with  an  ambition  to  be  a 
physician,  he  joined  the  staff  of  an  insane  asylum,  in  Indianapolis. 
Two  years  of  this,  however,  caused  him  to  decide  that  he  was 
better  suited  for  the  cement  business.  In  1906  he  came  to  Austin 
and  assumed  his  present  position.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  belongs 
to  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  the  I.  O.  R.  M.,  and  the  F.  O.  E.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  Avas  married  October  20,  1909,  at  Austin,  to  Margaret 
C.  Bechel,  daughter  of  Joliu  Bcchel.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
J.  C.  Taney  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Hon.  Roger  Brook  Taney, 
chief  justii'c  of  tlie  United  Strifes,  who  rendered  the  Dred  Scott 


■•■  >/ 


WILLFANi  TODD 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOW  KK-  COUNTY  721 

decision,  and  was  secretary  of  the  treasury  in  1838,  under  Presi- 
dent Jackson,  whose  memorable  influence  on  the  finances  of  the 
country  form  a  chapter  in  the  story  of  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  national  government.  Jolin  W.,  a  brother  of  J.  C, 
was  for  many  years  express  messenger  for  the  Adams  Express 
Company,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  James  Taney  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky and  married  Nancy  Kramer,  a  native  of  Indiana.  James 
was  a  cement  worker  and  merchant.  In  1884  he  moved  his  family 
to  8ellersburg,  Ind.,  and  after  working  in  one  of  the  large  cement 
l)lauts  there  as  superintendent,  joined  with  friends  and  formed 
Avhat  is  now  the  United  States  Cement  Company,  and  of  wliich  he 
is  still  general  superintendent. 

Henry  Taylor,  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  j\Iower  county, 
has  outlived  four  score  and  ten  years,  and  is  still  hale  and  hearty 
and  more  active  than  many  a  younger  man.  He  has  seen  life  in 
three  continents,  Europe,  Australia  and  North  America.  The  sub- 
ject of  tliis  sketch  was  born  in  Wesel,  Germany,  May  1,  1820,  and 
received  his  education  in  tlie  public  schools  and  at  Wesel  college, 
served  one  year  in  the  standing  army  of  Germany,  and  in  1844 
went  to  Australia,  where  he  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile 
business.  In  1865  he  came  to  America  and  located  at  ^Milwaukee, 
still  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  business,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued for  a  period  of  seventeen  years.  During  this  period  he 
owned  several  vessels  on  Lake  jMichigan.  One,  named  from  his 
daughter,  Hetty  Taylor,  now  lies  at  the  bottom  of  that  lake.  In 
1 882  Mr.  Taylor  disposed  of  his  business  in  Milwaukee  and  came 
to  ]\Iower  county,  purchasing  a  farm  of  240  acres  in  section  30, 
^Marshall  township,  where  he  engaged  in  general  farming,  until 
1900,  when  he  sold  to  his  son,  Dr.  E.  A.  Taylor,  who  is  a  prominent 
physician  of  Racine,  Wis.,  still  continuing,  however,  to  look  after 
the  interests  of  the  place  for  this  son.  After  selling  his  farm,  }>lr. 
Taylor  purchased  a  home  in  the  village  of  Rose  Creek,  where  he 
now  lives  a  retired  life.  He  is  an  independent  voter  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  in  Australia,  June  — ,  1858,  to  Mary  Addison,  who  died 
July  13,  1900,  leaving  one  son  and  two  daughters:  Dr.  E.  A.,  of 
Racine;  Hetty,  who  married  James  Ballweber,  now  of  Minne- 
apolis; Bena,  who  married  William  Ballweber,  now  of  Jamestown, 
N.  D.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  on  his  ninetieth  birthday,  friends 
and  citizens  of  Rose  Creek  presented  ^Ir.  Taylor  with  a  suitably 
f'ligraved  cane,  commemorative  of  the  event,  tlie  mciucnto  Ix'iiig 
liighly  prized  l)y  the  recipient. 

John  A.  Thompson,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  Avar,  is  now  living  in 
retirement  in  Austin,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  long  and  well-spent 
life.  He  was  born  in  Preston,  Chenango  count}',  New  York, 
November  23,  1828,  son  of  Robert  and  Dorotliy  (Skinner)  Thomp- 


722  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

son,  the  former  of  -whom,  a  farmer  and  blacksmith,  was  born  in 
New  London  county,  Connecticut.  When  John  A.  was  eight  years 
of  age  they  moved  to  Addison,  Steuben  county,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood,  learing  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  teaching  school  in 
Addison.  Here  he  met  and  won  his  wife.  He  came  west  when 
twenty-six  years  of  age  and  proved  up  his  claim  to  a  quarter  sec- 
tion in  Avhat  is  now  Windom  township.  He  was  married  by  a 
Baptist  clergyman  near  Addison,  N.  Y.,  April  30,  1857.  In  a  few 
days  they  started  for  their  new  home  in  Mower  county,  going 
by  rail  to  Dunleith,  then  up  the  ^Mississippi  to  McGregor,  then  by 
wagon  to  the  town  of  AVindom,  where  John  A.  erected  the  first 
frame  house  in  the  township  and  commenced  improving  his  land. 
Here  they  started  life  together,  and  the  years  proved  kind  to 
them,  bringing  a  large  measure  of  happiness  and  prosperity  as  the 
result  of  hard  work  and  self-sacritice.  During  his  early  years 
here  I\Ir.  Thompson  taught  school  winters  and  work  at  his  trade, 
thus  helping  to  erect  some  of  the  oldest  buildings  in  Austin. 
During  the  Civil  war  the  subject  of  this  sketch  enlisted  in  the 
army  and  served  in  Company  C,  Nintli  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  first  against  the  Indians  and  then  in  the  South,  after 
which  he  was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  at  Fort  Snelling. 
Then  he  returned  to  his  farm  and  attained  prominence  in  the 
community.  At  the  organization  of  the  town  of  "Windom  i\Ir. 
Thompson  was  elected  one  of  the  first  board  of  supervisors,  and 
was  chairman  of  the  board  for  many  years.  He  served  as  county 
commissioner  for  one  term.  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Thompson  continued 
to  live  on  the  old  farm  until  1891,  when  they  moved  into  Austin, 
and  their  home  has  since  been  here.  They  are  highly  regarded 
for  their  many  excellent  and  sturdy  traits  of  character.  They 
have  helped  materially  in  laying  the  foundations  of  our  present 
prosperity  and  development.  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  Mason  and  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  K.  He  and  his  wife  have  had  eight  children, 
of  whom  six  are  living :  John  A.  Jr.  Robert,  HoAvard,  Sylvester, 
Thaddeus,  and  Emily.  Mary  and  Mora  are  dead.  John  A.  Jr.  is 
an  assayer  in  Nevada.  Robert,  Howard  and  Sylvester  are  farmers. 
Thaddeus  is  a  mail  carrier  in  Austin.  Emily  married  B.  C.  INIan- 
chester  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  W'indom  township.  In 
1907  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  celebrated  their  golden  wedding 
anniversary.  The  affair  was  attended  by  the  old  soldiers,  old 
settlers,  Masons  and  the  ladies  of  the  Eastern  Star,  as  well  as 
by  many  other  relatives  and  friends.  The  happy  couple  Avas 
highly  eulogized  and  received  many  beautiful  presents. 

Peter  T.  Torkelson,  a  skilled  and  popular  physician  of  Lyle, 
was  born  in  LaSalle  county,  Illinois,  in  1881,  son  of  Gilbert  and 
Caroline  (Foseti)  Torkelson,  natives  of  NorAvay.  Gilbert  Torkel- 
son came  to  America  as  a  boy  of  tAvelve,  and  his  wife  came  in 


WILLIAM  R.  TERRY. 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  723 

1877.  They  farmed  in  LaSalle  county  until  tlu-  death  of  .Mrs. 
Gilbert  Torkelson,  in  1886,  sonic  time  after  whicli  lici-  liusl)an(l 
moved  to  Newark,  Kendall  county,  Illinois,  where  he  now  lives. 
Peter  T.  received  a  good  common  school  education  in  his  home 
neighborhood,  and  attended  the  high  school  at  Morris,  111.,  two 
years.  Later  he  entered  the  University  of  Valparaiso,  taking  the 
scientific  course  two  years  and  graduating  from  the  course  in 
pharmacy  in  1903.  After  woi'king  a  time  in  a  drug  store  in 
Morris,  111.,  he  entered  the  Chicago  College  of  Medicine  and 
Surgery,  and  graduated  in  1908,  later  receiving  his  hospital 
practice  as  interne  in  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  Deaconess  Hos- 
pital at  Chicago.  From  February  to  April,  1909,  he  increased 
his  knowledge  by  acting  as  assistant  in  the  Heron  Lake  Hospital, 
at  Heron  Lake,  Minn.,  after  which  he  located  in  Lyle,  where  he 
has  built  up  a  large  practice.  He  is  associated  with  the  American, 
Minnesota  State  and  ]Mower  County  Medical  associations,  and 
belongs  to  the  JMasonic  and  Pythian  orders.  He  votes  the  Re- 
publican ticket  and  attends  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 
Dv.  Torkelson  was  married  September  8,  1909,  to  Belle  Brekken, 
of  Sacred  Heart,  Minn.,  and  to  this  union  one  son,  Kermit  G., 
was  born  July  7,  1910. 

Walter  R.  Terry,  -a  popular  and  efficient  conductor  on  the 
Towa  &  Minnesota  division  of  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.,  is  a  native  of 
this  state,  having  been  born  in  Winona,  Minn.,  October  24,  1857, 
son  of  H.  S.  and  Mary  (Frink)  Terry.  He  received  his  education 
in  Winona,  and  followed  harnessmaking  at  St.  Charles  and 
Winona  for  five  years.  Then  he  went  to  Flandreau,  S.  D.,  and 
was  in  the  laud  agency  business  for  five  years,  and  in  the  lumber 
business  for  three  years.  In  April,  1887,  he  came  to  Austin,  and 
engaged  as  a  brakeman  with  the  C,  "SI:  &  St.  P.  Two  years  later 
he  Avas  promoted  to  conductor,  which  vocation  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed. He  thus  has  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  of  railroad 
service  to  his  credit,  and  during  that  long  period  his  success,  his 
popularity  and  his  efficiency  has  increased.  In  addition  to  his 
business,  Mr.  Terry  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  Shetland  ponies, 
of  which  he  is  very  proud,  having  some  unusually  fine  specimens. 
Mr.  Terry  is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  while  never  aspiring  to 
office  has  ahvays  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  was  one  of 
the  ardent  workers  in  electing  C.  F.  Cook  to  the  state  senate  in 
1910.  He  belongs  to  the  Order  oi  Railway  Conductors,  the 
B.  P.  0.  E.,  tlie  F.  0.  E.  and  the  Austin  Commercial  Club.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  January  1,  1885,  at  Flandreau. 
S.  D.,  to  Fannie  Churchill,  born  in  Cottage  Grove,  Washington 
county,  ]Minuesota.  August  5,  186G,  daughter  of  J.  A.  and  Nellie 
(Cate)  Churchill,  the  former  now  a  resident  of  Denver,  Col.,  antl 
the  latter  having  died  August  15,  1899.     -\Ir.  Terry  is  the  fatmr 


724  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COIJXTY 

of  four  children :  Cassins  C,  brakeman  on  the  I.  &  M.  division  of 
the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.;  Edgar  E.,  brakeman  on  same  division;  Eula, 
stenographer  for  E.  H.  Smith  Land  Company,  and  John  H., 
attending  school.  The  familj^  attends  the  Episcopal  cliurch. 
H.  S.  Terry  and  ]\Iary  Frink,  his  Avife,  were  natives  of  New 
York  state.  They  came  west  in  1854  and  located  at  Winona, 
where  H.  S.  conducted  the  pioneer  livery  business  and  stage  route. 
In  1805  he  took  up  farming  in  Fremont  township,  Winona  county. 
Ten  years  later  he  went  to  Brookings  county,  South  Dakota,  for 
a  year,  and  then  farmed  for  a  time  in  Utica  township,  in  Winona 
county,  this  state.  Later  he  retired  and  took  up  his  home  in 
AVinona,  living  there  until  his  death,  July  7,  1899.  His  widow 
died  July  2,  1910. 

Andrew  S.  Todalen,  Avho  owns  240  acres  of  good  land  in 
Udolpho  township,  was  born  in  Norway  in  1850,  son  of  Sever 
Sevei'son,  and  came  to  America  alone  in  1897.  After  living  two 
years  in  Corning,  Mower  county,  he  went  to  North  Dakota,  and 
there  remained  sixteen  years.  Then  he  returned  to  this  county 
and  purchased  the  Cook  farm,  on  which  he  at  present  resides. 
He  married  Julia  Helgason,  daughter  of  Helga  B.  Olson,  Sr.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Todalen  is  still  living  and  has  reached  the  ripe  old 
age  of  ninety-one.  To  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Todalen  have  been  born 
seven  children:  Sever,  Helge,  Maggie,  Halver,  Adolph,  Alfred 
and  Mollie.     The  family  worships  at  the  Lutheran  church. 

Nels  A.  Tending,  the  capable  buttermaker  for  the  Oak  Grove 
Creamery,  Lansing,  Avas  born  in  Denmark  in  1870,  son  of  Anders 
Nelson,  a  farmer  in  that  country.  Nels  A.  came  to  America  in 
1896,  came  directly  to  Corning  and  at  once  took  up  his  present 
employment.  He  has  general  charge  of  making  the  butter  in  the 
,  creamery  with  which  he  is  engaged,  turning  out  $50,000  worth 
annually.  Mr.  Tending  is  well  liked  in  the  community,  belongs 
to  the  Danish  Brotherhood,  and  worships  at  the  Oak  Grove 
Lutheran  church.  He  married  Cihristiana  Anderson  and  they  have 
four  bright  children:  Laurits  Christian,  Carl  Hemming,  Johanne 
Emelia  and  Niels  Helmot. 

Joseph  N.  Thatcher,  a  substantial  citizen  of  BroAvnsdale,  Avas 
born  in  Burlington,  Vt.,  March  25,  1846,  son  of  Stephen  and 
Helen  G.  (Isliam)  Thatcher,  of  English  and  German  descent.  He 
lived  Avith  his  parents  in  Dane  toAvnship,  Dane  county,  AVisconsin, 
and  in  Winnebago  City,  Faribault  county,  Minnesota,  until  1874, 
when  he  came  to  BroAvnsdale,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  as 
a  carpenter  and  contractor.  Mr.  Thatcher  is  a  prominent  Mason, 
and  is  the  historian  for  this  work  of  Lafayette  Lodge,  No.  116.  of 
BroAvnsdale.  He  and  his  Avife  both  belong  to  the  Eastern  Star. 
Mr.  Thatcher  married  Aurelia,  daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Mary 
(StockAvclI)   Ware,  New  Yorkers  by  birth.     Eight  children  have 


HISTOUY  OF  ;\1()WER  COUNTY  725 

been  born:  Stephen  V.,  ^Mary  AV.,  Julius  E.,  Leland  L.,  Thadeous, 
George  K.,  Helen  AV.  and  ]jaura  \V.  Alary  is  the  wife  of  Ned 
Hunt.  Stephen  Thatcher,  father  of  Joseph  N.,  came  west  in  1853, 
settled  in  Dane  township,  Dane  county,  AVisconsin,  and  in  1862 
took  up  his  residence  in  AVinnebago  City,  Faribault  county, 
Minnesota. 

Galen  K.  Truesdell,  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Austin 
and  an  able  and  genial  traveling  salesman,  was  born  in  Austin, 
July  18,  1865,  son  of  AVilliam  and  Alary  (AIcDonald)  Truesdell. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  pul)lic  schools  and  started  com- 
mercial life  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  his  uncle,  James  Truesdell, 
an  Austin  shoe  merchant.  He  worked  in  this  store  eight  years, 
and  was  then  employed  four  years  in  the  store  of  F.  P.  McBride 
and  four  years  in  the  store  of  F.  0.  Hall.  He  began  his  career  on 
the  i-oad  in  1893,  as  tlour  salesman  for  the  Campbell  Brothers.  A 
year  later  he  traveled  for  Franklin  AlcVeagh,  selling  groceries, 
and  the  following  year  represented  the  Mason  City  Grocery  Com- 
pany. Since  then  he  has  been  employed  by  the  Griggs-Cooper 
Company,  of  St.  Paul.  He  has  built  up  a  large  trade,  and  not 
only  does  excellent  service  for  his  employers  but  is  also  popular 
and  well  liked  among  his  customers.  He  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  0.  F. 
and  the  U.  C.  T.,  and  votes  the  Republican  ticket.  Mr.  Truesdell 
resides  at  209  South  Alain  street,  nuvking  his  home  with  his 
mother,  and  his  sister,  Almeda  E. 

William  Truesdell,  formerly  an  Austin  manufacturer,  now 
deceased,  was  for  many  years  an  honored  resident  of  this  county. 
He  was  born  in  New  York  state,  October  8,  1829,  and  there 
received  such  education  as  the  schools  of  that  period  afiPorded. 
Then  he  learned  cabinetmaking,  which  he  followed  for  many 
years.  In  1860  ho  came  to  Austin,  and  continued  his  trade,  also 
engaging  in  the  manufacture  of  chairs  and  bedsteads.  He  died 
October  8,  1870.  AVilliam  Truesdell  was  married  September  12, 
1864,  at  Austin,  to  Alary  AIcDonald,  who  was  born  at  New  Bruns- 
wick, October  8,  1841,  the  daughter  of  Air.  and  Airs.  Isreal 
AIcDonald.  Airs.  Truesdell  came  to  Austin  in  1863.  To  her  union 
with  AVilliam  Triiesdell  two  children  were  born:  Galen  K.  is  a 
traveling  salesman,  and  Almeda  E.  is  a  successful  teacher  in  the 
Austin  schools.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Alethodist  Epis- 
copal church. 

Thomas  Varco,  now  deccas(>d,  was  one  of  the  well-thought-of 
men  of  the  county.  He  was  born  in  England  and  came  to  Canada 
at  the  age  of  six  years.  There  he  Avas  educated,  grew  to  maidiood 
and  married.  In  1847  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  located  in 
Fond  du  Lac  county,  remaining  there  until  1856,  when  he  brought 
his  family  to  Alower  county  and  took  a  homestead  of  160  acres  in 
Austin  township.     To  this  he  added  from  time  to  time  until  he 


726  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

owned  480  acres,  upon  which  he  farmed  until  later  life,  when  he 
gave  each  of  his  sons  eighty  acres.  He  passed  to  the  Great  Beyond 
in  February,  1893.  His  wife,  Avho  was  Emeline  Eddy,  still  sur- 
vives, living  in  her  own  home  on  the  old  homestead. 

Maitland  E.  Varco,  whose  familj^  name  is  perpetuated  in  the 
name  of  the  railroad  station  four  miles  south  of  Austin,  was  born 
in  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  July  8,  1851,  son  of  Thomas 
and  Emeline  (Eddy)  Varco,  the  pioneers.  He  came  to  IMower 
county  with  liis  parents  in  3856,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Austin  township,  later  engaging  in  farming 
with  liis  father.  When  twenty-six  years  of  age  he  received  a 
present  of  eighty  acres  from  his  father,  and  to  this  he  added 
another  eighty,  making  in  all  a  quarter  section  in  section  35.  In 
1900  he  rented  his  place  and  engaged  in  the  painting  business  in 
Austin  for  several  years,  but  later  returned  to  his  farm,  and  is 
now  doing  general  farming.  He  is  a  Republican  in  polities,  has 
served  in  township  and  school  office,  and  has  joined  the  ]\Iodern 
Woodmen  and  the  United  Workmen.  He  attends  the  Seventh  Day 
Adventist  church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  Avas  married  De- 
cember 24,  1876,  to  Hattie  E.  Bowers,  daughter  of  J.  S.  Bowers, 
now  deceased,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Lyle  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Varco  have  two  children.  C.  Mabel  is  now  Mrs.  James  H. 
Aiiltfather  and  Gertrude  G.  is  a  teacher  and  trained  nurse. 

Charles  R.  Varco,  the  oldest  merchant  of  Rose  Creek,  was  born 
in  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  July  25,  1853,  and  came  with 
his  parents,  Thomas  and  Emeline  (Eddy)  Varco,  pioneers  of 
.i\Iower  county,  to  Avhat  is  now  Varco  station,  Austin  township. 
He  received  his  early  education  in  the  district  schools,  and  grad- 
uated from  the  Austin  high  school.  At  nineteen  years  of  ago  he 
engaged  in  teaching  at  Cedar  City,  in  Austin  township.  After 
teaching  tliree  terms,  he  had  saved  enough  money  to  purchase  a 
small  frame  building  at  Varco  station,  which  he  fitted  up  as  a 
store,  obtaining  his  first  stock  of  goods  on  credit.  From  3875  to 
1882  lie  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  business  in  this  build- 
ing, and  then  purchased  the  building  and  mercantile  business  of 
Staiilej^  Warner,  of  Rose  Creek,  to  which  place  he  moved  and 
where  he  has  since  remained  in  business.  At  the  time  of  the 
purchase  the  store  was  40x22.  His  rapidly  increasing  business 
]nade  it  necessary  for  him  to  enlarge  his  store  three  difl'erent 
times,  until  he  now  has  a  floor  space  76x34.  He  carries  a  large 
stock  of  general  merchandise,  including  a  large  stock  of  boots 
and  shoes,  and  in  fact  everything,  found  in  an  up-to-date  store  of 
this  kind.  In  addition  to  his  mercantile  business,  in  1887  he 
opened  a  harness  shop  where  he  has  an  expert  harness  maker  and 
repairer  in  charge.  Aside  from  this  he  has  at  various  times  been 
interested  in  other  lines,  having  been  a  stock  dealer  four  years; 


HlSTOIfY  OF  MOWKK  COUNTY  737 

in  the  machinery  business  six  years  and  in  the  grain  l)iisiiii'ss  two 
years.  He  owns  several  warehouses,  and  a  commodious  hall  ul)()vo 
his  store,  which  is  rented  for  general  public  affairs.  lie  rents  out 
three  dwelling  houses  in  the  village  of  Eose  Creek,  and  eighty 
acres  in  AVindora  township.  His  residence  is  a  pleasant  l)uilding 
on  South  Chataui  street,  in  the  city  of  Austin.  Mr.  Varco  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Inter-State  Telephone  Company  and  in  the 
Austin  "Weed  Exterminator  ^Manufacturing  Company.  He  is  a 
progressive  Republican,  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  the  ]\I.  W.  A. 
and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  Mr.  Varco  is  an  up-to-date  man  in  every 
respect,  and  is  interested  in  everything  that  pertains  to  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  county.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  October  10,  1878,  at  the  bride's  home  in  Austin  township, 
to  Isabella  Gemmel,  born  February  11,  1858,  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Phoebe  (Phelps)  Gemmel,  pioneers.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  five  sons:  Albert  R.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Austin  high  school 
and  the  Minnesota  State  University,  and  holds  a  diploma  from 
each  of  these  institutions  as  well  as  from  the  C.  &  C.  Hospital  at 
St.  Paul,  being  now  a  physician  at  Miles  City,  Mont.  Charles  E. 
is  manager  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley  IMercantile  Company,  with 
headquarters  at  Sydney,  ]Mont.,  controlling  four  stores.  Lynn  G. 
is  manager  of  one  of  the  stores  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley  Mercan- 
tile Company,  with  headquarters  at  Fairview,  Mont.  Thomas  E. 
is  with  his  brother  Charles  at  Sydney.  Walter  L.  lives  at  home. 
All  are  graduates  of  the  Austin  high  school.  The  family  faith  is 
that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Andrew  Gemmel,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Mower  county,  was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  born  in  Renfrewshire,  town  of  Paisley,  October 
25,  1819.  His  father  was  a  postmaster  in  the  city  of  Glasgow, 
where  Andrew  received  his  education  and  grew  to  manhood,  after 
which  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  his  father's  warehouse,  remain- 
ing in  this  position  until  1842,  when  he  left  the  bonny  shores  of 
Scotland  and  sailed  for  America.  After  spending  one  year  at 
Montreal,  Canada,  he  went  to  St.  Hyaeinthe,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  general  mercantile  trade  for  a  period  of  nine  years,  after 
which  he  came  to  the  United  States,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
business  at  Burlington,  Racine  county,  Wisconsin.  After  two 
years  he  sold  out,  returned  to  Canada  and  engaged  in  similar 
liusiness  for  a  period  of  three  years  until  1857.  He  then  started 
for  :\Iinnesota  with  his  family,  coming  by  train  to  Dunlieth,  111., 
thence  up  the  river  to  St.  Paul,  where  he  hired  teams  to  bring 
tiiem  to  Cedar  City,  :Mower  county.  They  stopped  until  fall  with 
a  brother-in-law,  and  during  that  time  ^Nlr.  Gemmel  erected  a  log 
cabin  on  the  land  he  had  pre-empted  in  section  30,  Austin  town- 
ship, where  the  family  lived  until  1876,  their  house  being  burned 
May  29,  of  that  yeai-.    After  this  he  erected  a  fine  frame  house, 


728  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

where  he  lived  and  followed  general  farming  the  balance  of  his 
days.  He  died  December  16,  1898,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
September  4,  1909.  He  was  married  March  8,  1845,  to  Phoebe 
Phelps,  who  was  born  in  Raughmont,  near  Montreal,  October  5, 
1821.  Seven  children  blessed  this  union:  Andrew,  Alexander  E., 
Margaret,  Victoria,  Arthur,  Isabella  P.  and.  Agnes  D.  Mr. 
Gemmel  was  the  first  collector  in  the  town  of  Austin. 

G.  K.  Volstad,  retired  farmer  of  Lyle,  was  born  in  Norway, 
April  13,  1837,  son  of  Knute  and  Julia  (Halver)  Volstad,  natives 
of  Norway.  G.  K.  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Nor- 
way, and  came  to  America  in  1860,  locating  in  Mower  county 
and  engaging  in  farming  on  320  acres  in  Nevada  township. 
This  land  was  Avild,  and  Mr.  Volstad  broke  and  cultivated  it,  and 
there  followed  a  life  of  hard  labor  and  patient  industry  until 
1901,  when  he  retired  and  came  to  the  village  of  Lyle  to  live. 
He  was  married  October  25,  1865,  to  Julia  Jurgenson,  a  native 
of  Norway,  who  came  to  this  country  at  six  years  of  age.  Of 
their  nine  children  four  are  living.  Samuel  lives  in  Ohio ;  Artiiur 
owns  half  a  section  in  North  Dakota ;  Emma  married  H.  G.  Dahl ; 
Mollie  married  J.  W.  Johnson,  who  is  dead ;  Malena  married  Bert 
Brown,  of  Owatonna.  Knute,  Jorgen,  Mary  and  Fred  are  dead. 
Mr.  Volstad  is  a  Prohibitionist  and  a  member  of  the  Gospel 
Mission  church,  and  owns  stock  in  the  Otter  Creek  creamery,  the 
Lyle  Telephone  Company  and  in  the  Kelley  Canning  Company. 

J.  M.  Vandegrift,  a  farmer  of  Red  Rock  township,  Avhere  he 
has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  was  born  in  Wilmington, 
Del,  in  1849,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Worn)  Vandegrift,  the 
pioneers.  He  was  brought  to  ]\Iower  county  in  1856  and  reared 
in  a  log  cabin  in  section  34,  R,ed  Rock  township.  He  attended 
the  public  schools,  and  since  then  has  devoted  his  life  to  farming. 
He  has  a  comfortable  residence,  and  his  cattle  are  well  housed  in 
commodious  buildings.  Mr.  Vandegrift  m.arried  Anna,  daughter 
of  Soreju  and  Anna  Sorensen,  both  of  Denmark,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  eight  children:  Louise  M.,  John  M.,  Thomas  0., 
Howard  C,  Margaret  A.,  Miles  H.,  Alice  A.  and  Sumner  W. 

In  1888,  Mr.  Vandegrift  purchased  his  parents'  farm  of  160 
acres.  He  also  owns  the  160  acres  adjoining,  thus  making  a  farm 
of  320  acres.  This  place  he  has  greatly  improved,  and  a  feature 
of  the  landscape  is  his  fine  grove  of  poplar  and  evergreen  trees. 
In  1908  his  little  son  had  a  bonfire  in  the  barn,  this  igniting  the 
building  and  totally  destroying  it.  Mr.  Vandegrift  then  built  his 
present  large  and  commodious  barn,  104  x  32  feet,  with  many 
modern  improvements.  Aside  from  his  Mower  county  property, 
he  owns  480  acres  in  Beltrami  county,  this  state.  He  is  a  pro- 
gressive citizen,  a  scientific  farmer,  and  a  sympathetic  father, 


:\IR.   AXl)   MRS.   J.    M.   YAXDEGRIFT. 


lllS'rOK'Y   OF   M()\VKI{   COUNTY  729 

lu'inii-  one  of  tlmse  iiicn  whose  life  and  work  arc  a  distinct  advan- 
tage and  benefit  to  tlie  couuuunity. 

John  M.  Vandegrift,  the  pioneer,  was  horn  in  l'hila(h'li)hia, 
Ta.,  :\lay  15,  1808,  and  there  learned  tiic  uiason  trach'.  In  184:5, 
with  his  wife,  Mary  "Worn,  wlio  was  boi'n  in  l'iiiiadcl()iiia,  .Inly 
13,  1809,  and  whom  he  married  Febnmry  17,  18:51,  iu'  went  to 
^ViImington,  Del.,  and  then  in  18<50  moved  to  Indianapolis,  Ind. 
In  1856  ISlr.  Vandegrift  brought  his  family  to  Mower  county  and 
settled  in  section  34,  Red  Rock  tow^nship,  where  he  was  living  at 
the  time  of  his  passing  away,  July  19,  1875.  His  wife  died  Decem- 
ber 1,  1890.  Their  children  were  named  Amanda  L.,  "William  R., 
Elizabeth  M.,  Thomas  B.,  ]Mary  W.,  Charles  H.,  John  M.,  "Virginia 
and  Clara.  Mr.  Vandegrift  was  an  early  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Red  Rock. 

Martin  H.  Vosburgh,  artistic  photographer  of  Austin,  Avas 
born  in  Columbus,  Wis.,  July  10,  1861,  son  of  Orrin  and  Marj 
(Holmes)  Vosburgh,  both  natives  of  New  York  state,  who  located 
on  a  farm  near  Columbus  in  1850  and  there  spent  the  remainder 
0*"  their  days,  the  former  dying  March  13,  1907,  and  the  mother 
December  9,  1906.  Martin  received  his  education  in  the  district 
pcl;ools  of  Columbus,  and  then  went  into  the  photogra[)h  business 
in  that  village  in  1883.  Five  years  later  he  went  to  Beaver  Dam, 
Wis.,  and  remained  two  j'^ears,  later  going  to  Charles  City,  Iowa, 
Tor  elc\en  years.  After  short  periods  at  "White  Water  and  West 
Allis,  Wis.,  he  came  to  Austin,  in  July,  1902,  and  purchased  the 
studio  of  E.  H.  Austin,  which  he  has  conducted  with  marked 
success,  his  work  and  artistic  ability  giving  him  a  wide  patronage. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
church  and  of  the  K.  of  P.,  the  Maccabees  and  the  B.  A.  Y.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Photographic  Association  of  America 
and  the  Northwestern  Photographic  Association.  Mr.  Vosburgh 
was  married  May  3,  1887,  to  Myrta  A.  Davis,  of  Beaver  Dam, 
Wis.,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  two  sons:  Harold  D., 
born  December  24,  1891,  and  i\Iox  0.,  born  September  6,  1904. 
September  3,  1910,  Mr.  Vosburgh  purchased  the  studio  of  J.  A. 
Douglass,  at  Osage,  Iowa,  and  moved  there  October  1,  ])ut  still 
retains  his  Austin  stiidio,  which  is  conducted  by  his  son,  Harold. 

Knud  0.  Wold,  a  pioneer  resident  and  leading  druggist  of 
Austin,  Avas  born  in  Sogndahl,  Bergenstift,  Norway,  November  4, 
1845.  His  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
Fatherland,  after  completing  which  he  emigrated  to  this  counTrv 
with  his  parents,  in  1865,  assisting  ins  father  for  a  year  on  his 
farm  in  Adams  township.  Mower  county.  He  then  came  to  Austin 
and  entered  the  employ  of  the  drug  firm  of  Woodard  &  Dorr  as 
a  clerk,  becoming  a  parti:er  A\ith  Mr.  Dorr  in  1S72,  two  years 
after  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Woodarii.    This  ])artnership  continued 


730  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

until  1897,  when  Mr.  Wold  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Dorr 
and  became  sole  owner  and  proprietor,  having  met  with  a  marked 
degree  of  success  and  built  up  a  large  and  growing  patronage. 
A  full  line  of  all  that  pertains  to  a  first  class  drug  store  is  carried, 
prescriptions  being  a  specialty.  In  political  convictions  he 
inclines  strongly  toward  the  tenets  of  the  Republican  party.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  local  merchants'  association,  and  is  identified 
with  the  Royal  Arcanum,  Ancient  Order  of  United  AVorkmen  and 
the  Masonic  order.  November  3,  1876,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Petra  A.  Moe.  Three  children  have  blessed  this  union,  all 
of  whom  have  been  given  a  fine  education  and  have  shown  them- 
selves worthy  of  the  devotion  of  their  parents.  Walter  E.,  born 
December  1,  1877,  who  is  with  his  father  in  business,  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Austin  high  school  and  of  the  Northwestern  School  of 
Pharmacy,  of  Chicago.  His  wife  was  formerly  Pearl  Bascomb. 
Ethel  A.,  born  October  9,  1881,  after  graduating  from  the  Austin  ' 
high  school  entered  the  state  university,  receiving  her  diploma  in 
1905,  and  then  spent  a  year  at  postgraduate  work  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago.  She  is  now  teaching  English  in  the  high 
school  at  St.  Cloud,  Minn.  Guy  K,  born  October  19,  1888,  is  also 
a  graduate  of  the  Austin  high  school  and  received  his  degree 
from  the  chemical  department  of  the  Northwestern  College  of 
Pharmacy  in  1909.  He  is  in  the  drug  business  with  his  father  and 
brother.  The  family  are  loyal  attendants  of  the  United  Lutheran 
church.  Their  residence  is  at  308  South  Chatham  street.  0.  J', 
and  Maria  (Amble)  Wold,  parents  of  our  subject,  both  natives  of 
Norway,  crossed  the  waters  to  this  country  in  1865,  locating  in 
Adams  township.  Mower  county,  Minnesota,  Avhere  the  father  was 
engaged  in  farming  until  1885.  He  then  retired  and  removed  to 
Austin  with  his  wife  to  enjoy  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  in 
retirement.  He  passed  away  August  6,  1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.  The  mother  died  June  15,  1907,  aged  ninety-two  years. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  them,  only  three  of  whom  are  living : 
James,  of  Enderlin,  Ranson  county.  North  Dakota,  who  preceded 
the  rest  of  the  family  to  this  country  by  a  year;  Knud  0.,  our 
subject,  and  John,  located  at  Eldora,  loAva. 

A.  B.  Wilder,  a  well-known  resident  of  Lyle,  is  a  substantial 
figure  in  tlie  financial  integrity  of  tiie  county.  He  was  born  in 
Otranto,  Iowa,  December  1,  1864,  son  of  Nelson  and  Maria  H. 
(Vaughan)  Wilder.  Nelson  Wilder  Avas  born  in  AVisconsin  and 
came  to  Otranto,  Iowa,  in  1854,  and  homesteaded  the  farm  which 
is  now  owned  by  A.  B.  Wilder.  Later  he  was  married  to  Maria 
H.  Vaughan,  of  Lansing,  the  first  public  school  teacher  in  Austin. 
After  the  death  of  Nelson  Wilder,  in  November,  1877,  his  widow 
remained  with  the  family  on  the  home  place  imtil  1902,  when  she 
went  to  Portland,  Ore.,  Avhere  she  still  lives.    The  subject  of  this 


JOHN  J.  WATLAND. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  731 

sketch,  after  bis  father's  death,  took  charge  of  tlie  lioiuc  farm 
until  October  6,  1902,  when  he  eaiue  to  Lyle.  At  this  time  lu- 
became  interested  in  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Lyle.  Later  lie 
became  interested  in  the  Lyle  Corrugated  Company,  located  in 
Lyle  and  Minneapolis,  of  which  lie  is  president.  In  addition  to 
his  financial  intei-ests,  Mr.  "Wilder  owns  160  acres  in  Lyle  town- 
ship and  360  acres  in  Otranto,  Iowa.  He  still  takes  an  active 
interest  in  his  farm  work,  and  devotes  a  great  deal  of  his  time  to 
it.  ]\lr.  Wilder  was  married  December  21,  1885,  to  Ida  Barman, 
daughter  of  I^Ir.  and  IMrs.  Leslie  Barnum,  prominent  farmers  and 
pioneers  of  Lyle  township.  Mrs.  Ida  "Wilder  died  November  25, 
1900,  leaving  three  children :  Vera  M.,  now  a  student  in  Carleton 
College,  Minnesota ;  Maurine,  who  is  at  Stanley  Hall,  Minneapolis, 
and  Irving  L.,  who  is  at  home.  July  2.  1902,  INIr.  "Wilder  married 
Grace  E.  Trowbridge,  of  Lyle  townsliip,  daughter  of  H.  C.  Trow- 
bridge. Mr.  AYilder  is  an  independent  voter  and  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pytluas,  as  well  as  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at 
Lyle. 

John  J.  Watland,  an  old  resident  of  ^Nlower  county  and  a 
successful  farmer,  Avas  born  Fel^ruary  14r,  1850,  on  a  farm  called 
"\^^atland,  but  later  moved  to  Norem  Stjernero,  Stavanger,  Nor- 
way. His  parents.  Jonas  and  Johanna  "SYatland,  owned  a  fine 
farm  on  this  island,  and  there  lived  in  comfortable  circumstances, 
enjoying  life  as  could  but  few  of  the  people  in  the  neighborhood. 
Close  to  the  farm  was  a  steamboat  landing,  schoolhouse,  postoffiee 
and  church,  and  in  addition  to  these  advantages  a  trip,  across  the 
strait  to  the  metropolis,  Stavanger,  could  be  made  in  two  hours. 
Aside  fi-om  John,  there  were  two  other  children  in  the  family, 
Bjorn  and  Marthe  Sesselia.  As  these  children  grew  older,  the 
desire  to  emigrate  to  the  so-mueh-heard-of  and  talked-of  America 
became  so  strong  in  young  John  that  the  elder  "Watland,  in  the 
spring  of  1873,  sold  his  farm  and  personal  property  in  Norway, 
and  with  his  wife  and  three  children  left  Stavanger  May  11,  1873, 
for  America.  On  the  Avay  here  they  stopped  five  days  in  England, 
ultimately  reaching  their  destination,  LeKoy,  May  31,  1873.  The 
first  Norwegian  they  met  at  LeRoy  was  L.  Rounestrand,  now 
deceased,  who  at  that  time  was  running  a  tailoring  shop  in  LeRoy. 
The  first  summer  Jonas  AVatland,  his  wife,  and  children,  Bjorn 
and  Sesselia,  made  their  home  with  Soren  Engelson,  while  John 
hired  out  to  F.  B.  Garvey.  He  was  in  peculiar  and  most  incon- 
venient circumstances  on  account  of  not  being  able  to  speak  tlie 
English  language,  but  the  Garveys  were  kind  hearted  and  con- 
siderate people,  and  took  such  an  interest  in  young  Watland  tliat 
they  kept  him  until  Christmas  eve.  In  the  spring  of  1874  the 
elder  "Watland  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  one  and  a  lialf 
miles  north  of  LeRoy,  and  began  farming.    This  piece  of  laud  had 


732  HISTORY  OF  MOAYEE  COUNTY 

a  small  house  on  it,  and  some  thirty-five  or  forty  acres  were  under 
cultivation.  The  elder  Watland  purchased  a  span  of  horses  and 
a  yoke  of  oxen,  together  with  such  machinery  as  was  needed  to 
operate  the  farm.  In  1875  the  Watlands  bought  another  160 
acres,  mostly  covered  Avith  young  timber,  and  brush,  which  had  to 
be  grubbed  out  and  broken,  thus  keeping  five  men  busy.  An 
extra  team  of  horses  was  bought,  and  young  John  Watland  did 
most  of  the  breaking,  coming  to  understand  fully  and  completely 
the  deepest  meaning  of  the  scriptural  words,  "In  the  sweat  of  thy 
brow,  thou  shalt  eat  thy  bread."  In  the  summer  of  1877  John 
and  a  Frenchman  took  their  stand  on  a  McCormick  harvester  and 
bound  120  acres  of  wheat  that  threshed  4,500  bushels.  In  addition 
to  this  they  cut  a  considerable  quantity  of  oats  which  they  had  to 
bind  by  hand  on  the  ground.  At  this  time  there  was  much  specu- 
lators'  land,  selling  at  from  |8  to  $12.50  per  acre,  and  the  country 
north  and  west  of  LeRoy  was  sparsely  settled,  most  of  the  farm 
houses  being  built  of  logs.  In  1878  John  AVatland  purchased 
eighty  acres,  and  in  1879,  160  acres,  all  located  in  LeRoy  tov/n- 
ship,  near  the  village  of  LeRoy.  About  this  time  John  Watland 
took  unto  himself  a  Mafe,  Bergethe  Fuglesteen,  of  Newark.  111., 
and  built  a  house  on  the  last  160  acres  he  purchased,  thus  estab- 
lishing his  own  household  of  which  he  was  the  head.  It  is  gen- 
erally asserted  among  the  old  settlers  that  John  Watland  has 
''turned  over  m.ore  sod"  than  any  other  man  in  this  part  of 
Mower  county,  and  his  progressiveness  and  belief  in  modern 
methods  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  1890  he  planted  on  his  farm 
in  LeRoy  toAvnship  two  acres  of  apple  trees,  which  have  proven 
both  satisfying  and  profitable.  Some  years  ago  the  Norwegians 
living  north  of  LeRoy  met  together,  and  organized  a  Lutheran 
congregation  which  bears  the  name  of  Betania.  In  this  work  the 
"Watlands  took  a  very  active  part,  and  donated  liberally  to  the 
building  of  a  church.  After  establishing  his  home  Mr.  AVatland 
added  to  his  holdings  from  time  to  time  and  after  having  carried 
on  successful  agricultural  operations  for  seventeen  years,  he 
rented  his  farm  and  moved  to  the  village  of  LeRoy.  Mr.  Watland 
has  now  disposed  of  his  old  homestead,  but  still  owns  a  large  farm 
one-half  mile  south  from  LeRoy,  together  with  lands  in  southern 
]\Iinnesota,  North  Dakota  and  Wisconsin.  Mr.  and  i\Irs.  Watland 
are  still  enjoying  good  health  and  have  all  the  comforts  that 
Avorldly  goods  can  bestow,  while  they  are  living  in  Avell  deserved 
retirement  amongst  their  friends  and  neighbors.  Mr.  Watland 
has  always  been  a  staunch  Republican,  and  as  such  is  always 
ready  to  serve  his  party  and  to  promote  its  cause. 

Eugene  Wood,  register  of  deeds  of  Mower  county  since  1886, 
is  one  of  the  most  honored  and  respected  citizens  of  the  county, 
standing  high  in  both  political  and  fraternal  circles,  his  reputa- 


HISTOL'Y  UF  .AlOWKi;   COUNTY  7:3;} 

tioii  as  a  man  equalling  his  liouorablo  position  as  an  oflicci'.  Jlc 
was  born  in  Albany  county,  New  York,  September  IS,  lH-i)i,  son 
of  John  M.  and  Orpha  (Denison)  Wood,  both  natives  of  New 
York  and  both  now  deceased.  Eugene,  as  he  was  then  called  by 
his  friends,  received  his  education  in  the  district  and  select 
sciiools  in  his  native  county,  afterward  remaining  on  the  farm 
with  his  parents  until  nearly  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  tiien 
worked  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  drug  house  of  Wing  &  Sissou 
until  1865.  In  1866  he  went  to  Ames,  Montgomery  county,  New 
Yuik,  and  purchased  a  half  interest  in  a  lumber  and  flouring 
mill,  which  he  conducted  four  years.  Then  he  became  a  general 
merchant  in  Stillwater,  N.  Y.  February  9,  1877,  dates  his  arrival 
in  Austin.  Here  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  until  1886, 
when  he  was  elected  to  the  county  office  in  which  he  has  since  so 
faithfully  served.  Mr.  Wood  is  a  high  degree  Mason,  has  been 
senior  grand  warden  of  the  Grand  Commandery  of  the  state  of 
Minnesota,  master  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  high  priest  of  the  Chapter, 
and  commander  of  the  Commandery,  as  well  as  worthy  patron  of 
the  Eastern  Star.  He  has  also  been  treasurer  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E. 
for  many  years,  and  his  services  as  president  of  the  Austin  school 
board  have  advanced  the  cause  of  education.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  September  30,  1863,  to  Henrietta  Beatty,  of 
Coxsackie,  N.  Y.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  four  children : 
Fred  B.,  now  adjutant  general  of  the  state ;  Clara  0.,  wife  of  Dr. 
A.  j\r.  Lewis,  of  Aiistin ;  J.  Solan,  deputy  register  of  deeds,  and 
Clarence,  twin  of  Clara  0.,  who  was  scalded  to  death.  The  family 
faith  is  that  of  the  Congregational  church. 

Ezbon  W.  Wilder,  a  retired  farmer  and  landowner,  now  living 
in  Austin,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Bristol  township,  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  September  9,  18.32.  After  acquiring  a  good 
common  school  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
county,  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm 
until  1876,  when  he  came  to  Brownsdale,  this  county,  and  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  own  account.  Two  years  later  he  purchased 
the  farm  he  now  owns,  consisting  of  320  acres,  all  adjoining, 
described  as  follows:  the  south  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  13 ;  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  24,  and  the  east  half 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  23,  all  in  Red  Eock  township. 
]\[r.  Wilder  gradually  developed  this  farm  into  one  of  the  most 
productive  in  the  county,  adding  up-to-date  buildings  and  ma- 
chinery from  time  to  time  and  building  a  modern  home,  always 
keeping  well  abreast  of  the  times.  On  this  farm  he  pursued 
general  diversified  farming  with  much  success  until  1902,  when 
he  left  the  farm  and  moved  to  Austin,  where  he  has  since  lived, 
enjoying  a  well  earned  rest  after  his  many  strenuous  years  of  toil. 
Li  addition  to  his  farm  in  Mower  county,  he  owns  a  quarter  sec- 


734  HISTOBY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

lion  in  Lac  qui  Parle  county,  this  state.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  served  several  terms  as  assessor  of  Red  Rock 
township.  He  was  married  March  14,  1881,  to  Catherine  Davis, 
born  in  the  same  year  as  himself.  They  have  five  children :  Ruth 
E.,  a  teacher  in  the  Austin  schools ;  Davis  E.,  of  Williston,  N.  D. ; 
Nellie  L.,  a  graduate  nurse,  now  in  the  Wesley  Hospital  in 
Chicago ;  Frost  W.,  of  Minot,  N.  D.,  and  S.  Katherine,  who  lives 
at  home.  The  family  worships  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
David  "Wilder,  a  Wisconsin  pioneer  and  father  of  Ezbon  AV. 
Wilder,  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Bristol,  Ontario  county.  New  York, 
May  24,  1815,  and  died  in  the  village  of  Sun  Prairie,  Wis.,  Jan- 
uary 18,  1896.  He  was  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Wilder,  who  in 
1838  sailed  from  Southampton,  England,  in  the  ship  Confidence 
and  settled  in  Massachusetts.  In  1819  his  father  moved  to  Camp- 
bell county,  Indiana,  and  in  1822  he  settled  permanently  in  Rush 
county,  Indiana.  He  lived  at  home  until  1836,  when  he  came  to 
Milwaukee,  where  he  remained  two  years.  David  Wilder  Avas  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  settled  in  Madison 
in  1838,  soon  after  it  was  established  as  the  seat  of  government. 
He  lived  there  until  the  spring  of  1839,  then  went  to  Mineral 
Point,  and  stayed  one  summer,  returning  to  Madison  again  in  the 
fall.  In  the  spring  of  1840  he  went  to  Milwaukee  and  was  the 
second  carrier  on  the  stage  route  between  Madison  and  Mil- 
vsraukee,  working  the  route  in  partnership  with  Jesse  Clark, 
another  pioneer.  In  1840  he  returned  to  Madison,  remained  there 
until  1842,  then  settled  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Bristol,  in 
Dane  county,  and  lived  there  with  the  exception  of  one  year  until 
May,  1877,  when  he  rented  his  farm  and  removed  to  the  village 
of  Sun  Prairie,  where  he  ended  his  days.  At  the  organization  of 
Bristol  township  he  suggested  the  name  and  was  a  member  of  the 
board  that  laid  out  the  principal  roads  in  that  township.  October 
23,  1844,  he  was  married  to  Ruth  Nichols.  Three  sons  and  four 
daughters  blessed  this  union:  Howard  N.,  of  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa; 
Ezbon  W.,  of  Austin ;  George  W.,  of  Waukesha,  Wis. ;  Mrs.  T.  L. 
Waddell,  of  Jennings,  La. ;  Mrs.  C.  S.  Moak,  of  Leavenworth, 
Kan. ;  Mrs.  C.  E.  Mann,  of  Chicago,  and  Helen,  now  deceased. 
For  thirty  years  Mr.  Wilder  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  for  a  greater  part  of  the  time  an  official  in  that 
organization.  Ruth  A.  (Nichols)  Wilder,  wife  of  David  Wilder 
and  mother  of  E.  W.  Wilder,  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Leeds,, 
Canada,  March  7,  1825.  Her  parents  were  New  England  people. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  she,  with  her  brother  and  two  sisters, 
located  in  Wisconsin,  making  the  trip  overland  by  ox  team,  set- 
tling near  Sun  Prairie,  where  their  parents  had  preceded  them. 
She  was  married  October  23,  1844,  to  David  Wilder,  and  in  1894 
they   celebrated  their   golden  wedding   anniversary,   the   family 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  735 

oirc^le  at  that  time  being  iinbrokon.  Mrs.  Wilder  was  a  woiuaii 
of  deep  piety  and  sweet  Christian  character.  Robert  Davis,  father 
of  Mrs.  E.  W.  Wilder,  of  Austin,  was  born  in  North  Wales,  in 
1815.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  and  his  aged  mother  settled 
in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  three  years  later  moved  to  Racine,  Wis. 
There,  in  March,  1845,  he  married  Eleanor  Jones.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  took  up  a  claim  near  Watertown,  Wis.,  and  with  his 
young  wife  journeyed  hither  by  ox  team.  In  1864  he  located  in 
Bristol  township,  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  farmed  many 
years,  after  which  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Sun  Prairie  and 
spent  his  life  in  retirement  until  tlie  ending  of  his  days.  He  was 
the  father  of  eight  children:  John,  David,  Nellie,  Mrs.  F.  R. 
Salisbury  and  Mrs.  E.  W.  W^ilder.  Mrs.  Eleanor  (Jones)  Davis, 
wife  of  Robert  Davis  and  mother  of  Mrs.  E.  W.  Wilder,  of  Austin, 
was  born  in  North  Wales,  December  21,  1816,  and  came  to 
America  with  her  family  in  1844.  She  was  married  in  March, 
1845.  Mrs.  Davis  was  a  woman  of  beautiful  Christian  character, 
loved  by  all. 

Col.  Charles  L.  West,  one  of  Austin's  leading  citizens,  is 
known  far  beyond  the  limits  of  the  county  where  he  has  made 
his  home,  and  his  service  on  the  military  staff  of  the  chief  execu- 
tives of  the  state  has  done  him  much  credit.  Colonel  AVest  was 
born  in  Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  March  30,  1846,  and  was 
brought  west  by  his  parents  in  1855,  and  spent  the  winter  of  that 
year  in  Indiana,  living  for  a  time  in  Lyle  tOAvnship,  this  county, 
and  then  at  Otranto,  gust  across  the  line  in  Iowa.  His  boyhood 
education  was  received  in  the  schools  of  the  latter  village,  after 
which  he  entered  the  Cedar  Valley  Seminary  at  Osage,  Iowa,  in 
1863.  After  a  three  years'  course  in  that  school  he  entered  the 
employ  of  a  general  store  in  the  same  place,  and  remained 
another  three  years.  In  1869  he  came  to  Austin,  and  clerked 
three  months  for  Johnson  Bros,  in  their  drug  store.  Then  until 
1871  he  worked  in  the  general  store  of  Austin  &  Richardson.  In 
the  latter  year  he  embarked  in  business  for  himself  by  opening 
n  crockery  store.  In  June,  1873,  he  and  R.  0.  Hall  opened  a 
general  store,  which  wms  gradually  specialized  until  it  became  a 
first  class  dry  goods  emporium.  In  July,  1901,  Colonel  West 
purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Hall,  and  has  since  been  the  sole 
proprietor,  the  firm  being  known  as  the  C.  L.  West  Dry  Goods 
Company.  The  store  is  modern  in  every  particular,  and  carries  a 
fine  line  of  dry  goods,  cloaks  and  suits.  Colonel  West  is  a 
Republican  in  politics.  He  served  the  city  of  Austin  one  term  as 
mayor,  two  terms  as  alderman  from  the  second  ward,  and  two 
terms  as  city  treasurer.  In  Masonic  circles  he  also  ranks  high. 
He  has  been  grand  commander  of  ^Minnesota,  Kniglits  Templars, 
and  has  also  served  as  grand  high  priest  and  deputy  grand  master 


736  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

of  the  state  grand  lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  In  1891  Charles  L.  West 
was  appointed  major  on  the  staff  of  Governor  William  R.  ]\Ier- 
riam  for  two  years.  During  this  period  he  was  appointed  lieu- 
tenant colonel.  He  served  in  a  similar  capacity  on  the  staffs  of 
Governors  Knute  Nelson  and  David  M.  Clough,  but  in  1897 
retired  from  military  life  to  serve  as  a  member  of  tlie  legislature, 
being  re-elected  in  1899.  In  1901,  Avhen  Governor  Samuel  R.  Van 
Sant  came  into  office,  he  appointed  Charles  L.  West  colonel  on 
his  staff.  Governor  John  A.  Johnson  retained  him  in  a  similar 
capacity,  and  as  Governor  Adolph  0.  Eberhart  retained  all  the 
members  of  tlie  old  staff'  he  is  still  serving.  In  business  life 
Colonel  West  has  not  confined  himself  to  his  dry  goods  line,  but 
has  interested  himself  in  a  number  of  oth^r  enterprises,  including 
the  Tri  State'  Telephone  Company,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
organizers.  He  was  married  December  18,  1872,  at  Dixon,  111.,  to 
Charlotte  C.  Hall,  daughter  of  R.  0.  Hall.  She  was  the  mother  of 
four  children:  Katie,  who  died  at  fourteen  years;  Harry  L.  and 
Veta  A.,  who  are  Avith  their  father,  and  Leon  H.,  who  has  a 
clerical  position  in  the  bank  at  Missoula,  Mont.  July  7,  1893, 
Colonel  West  married  Minnie  Van  Blarcum,  at  Madison  Lake, 
Minn.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Congregational  church. 
David  West  and  Harriett  AVoodworth,  his  wife,  early  pioneers 
and  parents  of  Col.  Charles  L.  West,  were  natives  of  New  York 
state.  They  came  west  in  1855  and  spent  the  winter  of  that  year 
in  Indiana,  and  later  they  came  to  Mower  county  and  pre-empted 
160  acres  of  wild  land,  built  a  log  cabin  and  remained  until  1862. 
Then  they  moved  across  the  line  into  Iowa,  and  there  the  fatiier 
opened  a  hotel  at  Otranto,  which  he  conducted  until  about  1869, 
when  he  disposed  of  the  hotel  business  and  became  a  merchant 
and  postmaster  in  Otranto  station.  He  and  his  wife  were  sturdy 
old  early  settlers,  and  had  their  share  of  the  hardships  incident 
to  pioneer  days.  David  West  died  in  1902,  his  wife  having  passed 
away  in  the  fall  of  1868. 

I.  E.  Mandeville  Worthing-,  M.  D.,  one  of  Austin's  well-liked 
and  capable  physicians  and  surgeons,  was  born  in  the  old  Worth- 
ing homestead  in  Penfield  township,  j\Ionroe  county.  New  York, 
November  13,  1876,  son  of  Jerome  E.  and  Emma  C.  (Mandeville) 
Worthing.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  district  schools 
of  liis  native  township,  and  in  the  public  and  high  schools  o£ 
Webster,  then  taking  a  course  in  normal  training  at  Fairport, 
N.  Y.,  graduating  August  8,  1898.  After  more  than  two  years  of 
teaching,  iie  again  resumed  his  studies,  and  took  courses  as 
follows :  Genesee  AVesleyan  Seminary,  at  Lima,  N.  Y.,  two  years ; 
medical  department  of  the  Southern  Indiana  Normal  College,  at 
Valparaiso,  Ind.,  one  year;  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
University  of  Illinois,  at  Chicago,  about  two  and  a  half  years; 


V  HISTOKY  OF  .MOWKl!  COUATY  7:3? 

Nortlnvesteni  Medical  Hcliool  at  (_'liieafj:o,  about  two  years.  Aricr 
liis  graduation  witli  a  medical  degree  in  1908,  he  returned  lioim- 
for  a  few  months  and  then  practiced  at  Hinkley,  Pine  enunly. 
.Minnesota,  three  months.  In  iMarch,  1909,  he  started  practice  in 
Austin,  and  has  been  very  successful.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
polities  and  belongs  to  the  Methodist  church.  Di-.  Worthing  was 
married  November  28,  1909,  to  Mary  E.  Hell,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
^Irs.  Benjamin  Bell.  The  family  home  is  at  408  North  IVIain 
street.  Dr.  AVorthing  is  at  present  instructor  in  physiology  and 
hygiene  at  the  Southern  Minnesota  Normal  College.  Jerome  E. 
AVorthing  and  i]nnua  C.  IMandeville,  his  wife,  parents  of  Dr.  I.  E 
ilandeville  AVorthiug,  are  of  English  and  French-Holland 
aueestry,  respectively.  They  are  now  engaged  in  farming  iu 
Pentield  township,  IMonroe  county.  New  York,  and  have  had  six 
children :  I.  E.  Mandeville  AVorthing,  an  Austin  physician  ;  i\Iabel, 
a  teacher ;  Anna,  now  Mrs.  Arthur  Todd,  of  West  Webster,  N.  Y''. : 
E'lith,  a  teacher  and  a  graduate  of  the  Brockport  (N.  Y.)  State 
Noi'mal  School;  Mason,  of  West  Webster,  N.  Y.,  and  Frances, 
teaching  near  New  York  city. 

Henry  Waterman,  who  is  engaged  in  the  general  building  ind 
contracting  business,  came  to  Austin  in  1902,  and  has  since  been 
actively  engaged,  among  his  larger  contracts  being  tlie  erection  of 
the  Carnegie  iibrary,  the  IMethodist  church  and  the  Hall  &  DalMgej- 
building  on  Main  street.  Mr.  Waterman  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  and  is  well  liked  by  his  associates.  He  was  born  in 
Conk  county,  Illinois,  June  25,  1856,  son  of  Henry  and  Sophia 
(Winter)  Waterman,  the  former  being  a  native  of  Bremen,  Ger- 
many. Heni'y  grew  to  manliood  in  Cook  county  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  remained  at  home  until  sixteen  years  of  age.  After 
that  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade  and  then  came  to  Austin.  He 
married  Tillie  ]\Iaas,  daughter  of  Julius  Maas,  and  they  have  two 
children :  Lillie  and  Gilbert.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Alethodist 
church  and  of  tiie  Republican  party. 

Edwin  Watkins  was  born  in  Austin  township,  July  8,  1873,  son 
of  AVhittechur  and  Mary  (Reynolds)  Watkins.  He  was  reared  on 
the  farm,  attended  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  the  graded 
scl'ools  of  Austin  and  a  business  college  in  Austin.  In  1896  he 
rented  the  old  place  and  there  lived  until  1905,  Avhen  he  came  to 
Austin  and  started  in  the  second-hand  business,  also  devoting  his 
time  to  the  purchase  and  sale  of  second-hand  goods.  He  wa.s 
married  Scptemb-r  2,  1896,  to  Katie  A.  Brown.  His  l)rotlier. 
Harvey,  conducts  the  home  place  in  Lyle  townsiiip. 

Whittechur  Watkins,  now  deceased,  for  many  years  an  hon- 
ored farmer  of  Lyle  township,  and  still  later  a  resident  of  Au.stin, 
Avas  l>orn  in  AVales,  Februaiy  28,  1844,  and  came  to  America  with 
his  parents,  locating  first  in  Wisconsin.    He  came  to  Minnesota  in 


738  ■         HISTOBY  OF  MO\YEI?  COUXTY 

1856,  aud  located  in  the  embryo  village  of  Cedar  City,  where  after 
receiving  a  common  school  education  he  remained  on  the  home 
farm  until  he  was  enabled  by  diligence  and  thrift  to  purchase 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Lyle  township.  He  increased  his  posses- 
sions until  he  owned  200  highly  cultivated  acres,  ou  which  he 
conducted  general  farming  until  1896,  when  he  retired  and  moved 
to  Austin,  making  his  home  here  until  his  death,  August  5,  1909. 
He  was  married  the  first  time  to  Mary  Reynolds  and  by  this  union 
had  two  children:  Edwin  and  Harvey.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  he  married  Frances  Hoffman.  He  was  for  many  years 
supervisor  of  Lyle  township  and  was  interested  in  the  Farmers' 
Co-operative  Fuel  Company. 

A.  M.  Warner,  of  Grand  Meadow,  was  born  in  Spring  Valley, 
Fillmore  county,  December  9,  1875,  son  of  George  and  Ella  (Cole) 
Warner,  who  came  from  Canada  and  settled  in  Spring  Valley, 
where  George  Warner  was  an  early  settler,  becoming  a  respected 
citizen  and  remaining  until  his  death,  in  1908.  In  the  home  of 
George  and  Ella  AVarner  were  seven  children.  Alva  M.  was  the 
fifth  child.  He  remained  at  home  until  sixteen  years  of  age  aud 
then  worked  out  until  twenty  years  old,  when  he  married  Settu 
Schwabenthal,  daughter  of  AVilliam  and  Minnie  (Fielhaber) 
Schwabenthal,  both  of  whom  are  dead.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warner  are 
the  parents  of  four  children:  Verna,  Sidney,  Freddie  and  Duaue. 
In  1895,  after  his  marriage,  Sir.  Warner  rented  a  farm.  Mine 
years  later,  in  1904,  he  engaged  in  the  livery  business,  Avhich  he 
is  stiil  conducting  successfully.  Being  of  a  fraternal  disposition, 
he  has  allied  himself  with  the  B.  A.  Y.,  in  which  he  is  a  popular 
member. 

Michael  White,  now  deceased,  for  many  years  a  farmer  in 
Lansing  township,  was  born  in  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  and  after 
coming  to  America  located  for  a  time  in  Pennsylvania.  Later  he 
M'ent  to  Le  Seuer,  in  Alinnesota,  and  subsequently  took  up  his 
home  in  Lansing.  In  1874  he  married  Mary  Rutherford,  daughter 
of  William  and  Charlotte  (Green)  Rutherford.  Mrs.  White  was 
born  in  Louisville,  Ky.  She  is  a  capable  business  woman,  .ind 
since  her  husband's  death  in  1903  has  managed  the  farm  of  165 
acres,  assisted  by  her  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  Mr.  and  ]Mrs. 
White  were  blessed  with  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  living: 
Julia,  Charlotte,  Philip  J.,  IMary,  Margaret  and  Thomas  P.  Char- 
lotte is  the  wife  of  T.  P.  Cain  and  Mary  is  the  wife  of  F.  X. 
Rn.vder.    Julia  is  the  wife  of  jNI.  G.  Braun. 

William  Rutherford,  now  deceased,  was  a  prominent  man  of 
the  early  days  and  was  instrumental  in  strengthening  the  Catholic 
faith  in  this  locality,  contributing  liberally  in  time  and  money  to 
its  cause.  He  was  born  in  the  county  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  April  27, 
1822,  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  a  good  common  school 


HIST()1?Y  OF  MOWKi;  COUNTY  739 

•'(lucation.  His  early  manhood  was  spent  in  farming  in  liis  native 
country,  and  in  1846  he  married  Charlotte  Green,  who  was  born 
July  15,  1818.  In  1850  they  left  the  old  country  and  sought  their 
Portuues  in  America.  They  landed  in  New  York  city,  July  12, 
then  went  to  Kentucky  and  remained  until  1854,  going  thence  to 
Iowa,  where  they  remained  for  nearly  a  year.  August  10,  1855, 
they  came  to  Mower  county,  entered  the  east  half  of  the  east 
fourth  of  section  11,  and  proceeded  to  build  a  log  house,  Avhich  is 
still  standing  one-half  mile  from  the  village  of  Lansing.  His 
prosperity  increased,  his  farm  was  developed,  and  he  attained 
success  by  hard  work  and  perseverance.  It  is  an  interesting  fact 
that  I\Ir.  Rutherford  assisted  in  laying  the  corner  stone  for  the 
first  church  erected  in  Austin. 

Milton  J.  Woodson,  now  deceased,  was  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Mower  county.  His  life  was  an  exemplification  of 
industry,  integrity  and  righteousness,  and  in  dying  he  left  an 
honored  heritage  to  his  children.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Green  county,  Kentucky,  February  14,  1823,  son  of  George 
Washington  "Woodson.  He  was  taken  to  Illinois  when  nine  years 
of  age  and  there  completed  his  education.  After  his  school  days 
were  over,  he  hauled  lead  from  Galena,  111.,  to  Milwaukee,  and  in 
]849  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  bought  a  farm  in  Fayette  county, 
and  farmed  until  1855,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  pur- 
chased a  quarter  section  of  government  land  at  $1.25  per  acre. 
On  this  land  he  continued  farming  until  his  death,  December  24, 
1890.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  November  15,  1848, 
at  Green  county.  Wisconsin,  to  Cj^nthia  Ann  Davis,  who  was  born 
in  Indiana,  April  25,  1832,  daughter  of  Elder  John  and  Ilanna 
(]\Ioore)  Davis.  The  union  of  I\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Woodson  was  blessed 
Avith  ten  children:  James  W.,  born  September  22,  1849,  now  at 
Charleston,  111. ;  John  Wesley,  born  August  30,  1851,  and  died  in 
July,  1853;  William  J.,  born  April  26,  1854;  George  A.,  born  J\Iay 
11,  1856;  Henry,  born  June  17,  1858;  Albert,  born  November  12, 
1865,  now  of  Colorado;  Sarah,  born  August  7,  1867,  now  Mrs. 
Joseph  Lohman,  of  Austin;  Thomas,  born  November  10,  1869; 
]\Iartha,  born  March  8,  1872,  now  of  Denver,  Col.,  and  John,  born 
Marcli  13.  1875.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  United  Brethren 
churcii.  George  Washington  Woodson  was  a  native  of  Virginia. 
When  a  young  man  he  with  a  colony  went  to  Kentucky  and  tiiere 
lived  until  1824,  when  he  went  to  Indiana.  Years  later  he  returned 
In  Kentucky  and  there  remained  until  1834,  when  he  went  to 
Illinois,  where,  in  1835,  his  wife  died.  He  afterward  married 
again,  and  soon  purchased  a  farm  in  Coles  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  ended  his  days.  His  maternal  grandfather,  James  Buntin,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Arthur  E.  Warren  is  one  of  the   progressivf   incnhaiits   of 


'MO  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUXTY 

Brownsdale,  and  his  general  store  is  well  stocked  and  well  patron- 
ized. He  was  born  in  Rochester,  Minn.,  December  16,  1872,  sou 
of  John  and  Helen  (Greenleaf)  AVarren.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm  and  spent  one  winter  in  Florida ;  then  one  winter  in  Warren, 
Wis. ;  then  two  years  in  Shetield,  Iowa  ;  then  five  years  at  Redfield, 
S.  D. ;  then  one  year  in  Beebee,  Ark.  The  last  eighteen  years  he 
has  spent  in  Mower  county.  He  is  a  member  of  the  ^l.  W.  A. 
Arthur  E.  Warren  married  Anna  Hunt,  daughter  of  George  Hunt, 
and  they  have  three  children:  Hope,  Frank  and  Robert. 

John  Warren  was  born  in  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  and 
married  Helen  Greenleaf,  a  native  of  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York.  He  came  west  in  1863  and  settled  in  Rockdell  township, 
Olmsted  county.  In  1874  he  came  to  Brownsdale,  but  from  time 
to  time  worked  in  the  pineries  with  his  brother  at  a  place  still 
called  Warren,  Wis.  In  latter  years  he  worked  a  small  farm  near 
Brownsdale.  His  children  are :  Hattie,  Avife  of  Carlos  0.  Sleeper ; 
Louis,  George  and  Arthur  E. 

Frank  T.  Young',  general  merchant  and  prosperous  citizen  of 
LeRoy,  was  born  in  Albion,  Ind.,  August  1,  1858,  son  of  Thomas 
and  Adeline  (Avery)  Young,  who  brought  him  to  Mower  county 
as  a  child.  He  received  his  schooling  in  the  brick  schoolhouse  in 
LeRoy,  and  after  this  taught  school  two  years.  After  two  more 
years,  spent  in  P.  H.  Avery's  store,  he  worked  on  the  railroad,  and 
was  giving  satisfaction  to  his  employers  in  this  work  when  a 
wreck  in  the  St.  Paul  yards  caused  him  serious  injury.  After  his 
recovery  he  worked  for  a  time  for  T.  A.  Killen,  and  later  for  H.  A. 
McConnell,  subsequently  going  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed with  Marshall  &  Hardcastle.  This  work  he  was  obliged  to 
give  up,  being  called  home  to  settle  the  estate  of  his  uncle,  F.  H. 
Avery.  In  1885  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Willard  K.  Porter, 
which  continues  to  the  present  time,  conducting  one  of  the  old 
substantial  general  merchandise  houses  of  the  county.  Aside  from 
the  local  business,  the  cloak  department  of  the  company  has  sales- 
men on  the  road,  and  in  addition  to  this  the  partners  deal  exten- 
sively in  live  stock,  making  daily  shipments  to  Austin.  Mr. 
Young  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  of  Austin,  and  of  Eureka 
Lodge,  No.  75,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Captain  John  E.  Jones,  of  Carroll,  Iowa,  and  they  have  three 
children:  Thomas  0.,  Bernice  and  Frank  E.  Thomas  Young  was 
born  in  Wayne  county,  New  York,  where  his  parents  lived  anil 
where  lie  spent  his  early  manhood  and  was  married,  aftervvaril 
coming  to  Mower  coiinty.  Adeline  Avery,  his  wife,  was  tin? 
daughter  of  John  T.  Avery,  a  silversmith,  who  was  born  in 
Norwich,  Conn.,  and  later  moved  to  Cochecton,  Sullivan  county. 
New  York,  subsequently  going  to  Wayne  county,  New  York., 
where  Adeline  was  married. 


SAMUEL    W.    RTCE 


IllS'l'OI.'Y  OK  MOWKi;  corx'i'v  Til 

Samuel  W.  Rice,  pimiciT.  vcttTiin  of  the  Civil  war.  and  i-ctircd 
fanner  imw  living-  in  Austin,  was  horn  in  Tlu'lford,  ()ran,i,'i' 
eoimty,  Vermont,  February  27,  ISM.  son  of  Sanund  11  and  Sarali 
(Caswell)  Riee.  He  was  taken  by  them  to  Errol,  Coos  county, 
New  Hampshire,  in  1851,  and  in  the  spring  of  1855  eame  West, 
lieing  employed  for  a  time  in  running  a  head  saw  in  the  j\li(diigaii 
pineries.  He  arrived  in  Austin  the  same  year,  the  eity  then  being 
but  a  small  hamlet  of  scattered  houses.  He  went  to  work  for 
Chauneey  Leverich,  one  of  the  oi'iginal  proprietors  of  Austin,  and 
in  liis  saw  mill  sawed  the  lumber  for  the  first  liotel  ereeted  in 
Austin,  the  structure  being  located  on  the  corner  of  Franklin 
and  Mill  streets,  on  the  present  site  of  the  Williams  House.  Mr. 
Riee  and  R.  O.  Hunt  were  afterwai'ds  in  partnership  in  the  black- 
smith business  for  a  short  time.  He  then  operated  a  threshing 
machine  with  Wesley  Slocum  one  year.  The  sub.ject  of  this 
sketch  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Ninth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, in  the  early  stages  of  the  Civil  war,  and  served  over  two 
years  as  bugler,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  for  disability 
caused  by  eye  trouble.  Returning  to  Mower  county,  he  farmed 
until  fifteen  years  ago,  when  he  retired.  His  son  now^  owns  and 
operates  the  home  farm.  ^Ir.  Rice  married  Lucinda  Slocum, 
daughter  of  Cook  Slocum,  a  native  of  New  York  state.  Mr.  and 
^Irs.  Riee  have  had  seven  children,  of  whom  the  living  are :  Mary 
L.,  now  Mrs.  Louis  Clark ;  Charles  L. ;  Emma,  now  ]\Irs.  Otis 
Robbinson ;  and  Walter  J.  Those  deceased  are  :  Nettie  B.  Adams, 
William  Rice  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Samuel  B.  and  Sarah  (Caswell)  Rice  were  natives  of  Vermont. 
The  former,  who  was  a  miller  by  occupation,  sold  his  mill  in  1851, 
and  moved  his  family  to  Erroll,  Coos  county.  New  Hampshire, 
where  he  purchased  several  hundred  acres  of  land.  Thei-e  he 
farmed  and  raised  his  family  of  four  children:  Hanna  M.,  Eliza- 
beth. Lester  B.  and  Samuel  W. 

Charles  L.  Rice,  who  has  prominently  identified  himself  with 
the  movement  for  the  bettering  of  farm  conditions  in  ^Minnesota, 
was  born  in  AVindom  toAvnship.  this  county.  May  28,  1865,  the 
closing  year  of  the  Civil  war.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
district  and  graded  schools  and  in  the  Austin  high  school,  after 
Avhich  lie  took  up  farming  on  the  home  place,  which  now  consists 
of  215  acres  in  sections  11  and  12,  Austin  township.  Here  he  still 
continues  to  carry  on  agricultural  operations,  raising  diversified 
crops  and  breeding  pure  blooded  Hereford  cattle,  Percheron 
liorses  and  registered  Chester  white  hogs.  He  is  the  owner  of 
Lapolian  Prince,  one  of  the  greatest  sires  in  the  state.  He  is  a 
modern  farmer  in  every  respect,  has  a  remodeled,  well  furnished 
liome;  water  supply  in  house,  barn  and  hog  house;  a  large  silo; 
commodious  barns,  and  an  engine  house,  as  well  as  a  full  equip- 


74-3  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

ment  of  luoderu  machinery.  Mr.  Rice  was  married  June  20,  188S. 
to  Rose  E.  Grimshaw,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children:  George  W.,  who  lives  near  Round  Up,  Montana,  and 
Charles  R.,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Rice  is  a  prominent  officer 
of  Grange  No.  604,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  for  twenty  years 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Mower  County  Agricultural  Association, 
serving  as  its  president  two  years.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  has  served  in  various  capacities  on  the  town  and  school  board. 

Samuel  Schutz,  a  pioneer  of  Fillmore  county,  was  born  in 
Canton  Berne,  Switzerland,  and  there  married  Elizabeth  Hane. 
also  a  native  of  Switzerland.  He  brought  his  family  to  America 
in  1852,  and  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Will  county,  Illinois, 
remaining  on  that  farm  until  1856,  when  he  sold  out  and  came 
overland  by  ox  team  to  Fillmore  county,  where  he  took  a  home- 
stead of  160  acres  in  Beaver  township.  He  first  erected  a  log 
cabin  and  in  this  he  and  his  family  lived  until  1869,  when  he 
erected  a  fine  brick  house  in  which  he  lived  until  1873,  when  he 
sold  his  farm  and  moved  to  Kasson,  Dodge  county,  where  he 
purchased  a  home  and  lived  until  his  death,  February  13,  1892,  his 
good  wife  preceding  him  to  the  grave,  in  August,  1876.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children.  Four  died  in  early  life. 
Three  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  Of  these  three,  Samuel 
H.  and  Rudolph  A.  are  living  and  Elizabeth  is  dead.  Samuel 
H.  served  in  Company  K,  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  is  now  a  pensioned  soldier  living  in  retirement  at  Naperville, 
111.  He  has  nine  children:  Sarah,  Albert,  Anna,  Lena,  Lilly, 
Frank,  Nettie,  Elmer  and  Birdie.  Elizabeth  married  Jacob  Leut- 
hold,  a  native  of  Zurich,  Switzerland,  and  died  April  12,  1910, 
leaving  seven  children :  Carrie,  Jake,  John,  Henry,  Charles, 
Rudolph  and  Anna,  the  latter  being  the  wife  of  Philip  Hines, 
who  is  connected  with  the  Drs.  Mayo,  of  Rochester,  as  a  druggist. 
The  sons  constitute  the  firm  of  Leuthold  Brothers,  the  well-known 
clothiers,  who  own  a  chain  of  stores  throughout  the  NorthAvest. 
Rudolph  A.  is  a  resident  of  LeRoy  township. 

Rudolph  A.  Schutz,  of  LeRoy  township,  agriculturist,  horti- 
culturist and  lecturer  on  the  preceding  subjects,  with  the  State 
Farmers'  Institute,  was  born  in  Canton  Berne,  Switzerland,  May 
22,  1850,  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Hane)  Schutz,  the  pio- 
neers. He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1852,  lived  with 
them  in  Will  county,  Illinois,  and  with  them  came  to  Beaver 
township,  Fillmore  county,  in  1856.  There  he  received  his  earlier 
education,  and  later  attended  a  school  taught  in  the  old  town 
of  LeRoy,  by  the  Hon.  John  Williams,  who  was  afterward  burned 
to  death  in  the  postoffiee  fire  at  LeRoy.  Rudolph  A.  also  attended 
the  Evangelical  College,  at  Plainfield.  111.  Thus  equipped  he 
returned  home  and  farmed  with  his  fatlier  until  1872,  in  which 


HISTOK'Y  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  '  743 

year  he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm.  Two  years  later  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  wild  land  iu  section  13,  LeRoy  town- 
ship, and  built  a  home.  The  following  year,  after  breaking 
the  land,  he  set  out  trees  which  have  now  developed  into  a  fine 
grove  of  maples,  willows  and  cottonwoods.  At  the  same  time 
he  set  out  many  evergreen  trees  such  as  fir,  balsam,  spruce  and 
European  larches.  He  also  entered  into  fruit  growing,  and 
started  an  abundant  supply  of  apple,  plum,  cherry  and  other 
fruit  trees,  as  well  as  a  variety  of  small  fruits  and  berries.  He 
soon  added  another  eighty  acres  to  his  farm,  making  a  quarter  sec- 
tion in  all.  On  this  farm  he  worked  until  1891,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  section  22,  to  which  he  moved.  That  fall  he 
rented  his  first  farm,  and  two  years  later  sold  it.  To  his  new 
farm  he  has  added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  250  acres, 
all  under  the  highest  cultivation.  His  buildings  are  also  in  good 
condition.  In  1891  he  began  planting  apple  trees  on  this  farm, 
and  now  has  two  large  orchards  in  bearing  condition.  In  190tt 
he  was  awarded  the  silver  medal  in  the  Minnesota  fruit  exhibit  at 
the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Louis,  being  the  only 
one  to  receive  that  prize  from  Mower  county.  Mr.  Schutz  is  a 
Repiiblican  in  politics,  and  his  family  are  all  members  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  at  LeRoy.  Aside  from  serving  his 
township  as  supervisor  for  five  years,  he  has  been  greatly  inter- 
ested iu  horticulture  all  his  life,  and  for  the  past  six  years 
has  been  connected  with  the  Farmers'  State  Institute.  During  the 
first  three  years  of  this  time  his  lectures  were  confined  solely  to 
horticulture,  but  since  that  time  he  has  lectured  on  all  the  prin- 
cipal farm  pursuits  as  well.  He  also  gives  evening  lectures  on 
'"ilodel  Home  Life  on  the  Farm,  Its  Beauties  and  Attractions." 
In  1909  he  Avas  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  Horticultural  and  Agri- 
cultural Convention,  held  at  Winnipeg,  and  covering  the  prov- 
inces of  Canada.  In  June,  1910,  he  was  promoted  to  conductor, 
having  charge  of  a  corps  of  lecturers,  for  the  State  Farmers' 
Institute,  which  position  he  now  occupies.  In  1910  he  was  chosen 
as  a  delegate  to  the  Williamsburg  State  Convention  of  Iowa. 
Rudolph  A.  Schutz  was  married  July  20,  1872,  to  Minnie  A. 
Klampe,  born  in  Germany,  July  5,  1852.  This  union  has  been 
blossed  v.-ith  six  children :  ]\Iatilda  E.,  died  May  25,  1879 ;  Eliza 
A.  is  the  wife  of  George  J.  iMalcombson.  of  LeRoy  township; 
Alice  F.  graduated  from  the  LeRoy  high  school,  and  is  now 
teaching,  being  the  holder  of  a  first  grade  certificate;  Ralph  F. 
assists  his  father  on  the  home  farm ;  Walter  Valentine  is  teller  of 
the  First  Xational  Bank,  of  Mott,  North  Dakota;  Irene  S.  is  a 
student  at  tlic  state  school  in  Faribault,  having  been  stricken 
deaf  and  duiiil)  as  the  result  of  brain  fever  at  the  age  of  five 
montlis.     Tlic  parents  of  Mrs.  Rudolph  A.  Schutz  were  John  and 


744  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Mary  (Las)  Klampe.  They  came  to  America  from  Germany  in 
1858,  and  after  living  a  time  in  Dodge  county,  Minnesota,  moved 
to  Sibley,  Iowa,  where  they  took  a  homestead.  Mrs.  Klampe  died 
December  10,  1899,  and  her  husband  moved  to  Jefferson,  Oregon, 
where  he  died  April  5,  1908. 

Hon.  John  Frank.  Few  men  in  southern  Minnesota,  now  alive, 
have  accorded  them  a  greater  meed  of  love  and  appreciation  than 
has  been  earned  by  John  Frank,  of  LeKoy  township.  Possessing, 
as  he  does,  one  of  those  rare  characters  which  instinctively  attract 
sterling  friendshii^s,  he  has  unostentatiously  pursued  his  way, 
radiating  encouragement  and  cheer,  and  instilling  new  ambitions 
and  happiness  in  the  hearts  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 
Already  well  past  the  allotted  three  score  years  and  ten,  he  is 
now  one  of  the  patriarchal  figures  of  the  county,  respected  and 
held  in  highest  regard  by  the  older  people,  and  venerated  and  held 
in  affection  by  the  younger.  Such  a  life  as  his,  standing  as  it 
does  for  industry,  progress  and  decency,  cannot  fail  to  have  a 
lasting  and  salutary  effect  upon  the  character  of  the  county.  The 
youngest  of  the  seven  children  of  Jacob  F.  and  Frederika  (Geds) 
Frank,  well-to-do  middle-class  German  farmers,  he  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1834,  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  in  that  kingdom 
was  reared  to  manhood,  losing  his  mother  when  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age,  and  his  father  three  years  later.  June  4,  1854,  he 
landed  in  New  York  city,  and  thus  began  his  honorable  career  as 
a  resident  of  this  country.  After  spending  several  months  in  New 
York,  he  resolved  to  seek  a  newer  country,  and  accordingly  came 
westward,  spendmg  the  summer  of  1855  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  at 
Rockford,  Illinois.  In  September,  1855,  he  continued  his  westward 
journey,  and  located  for  the  winter  in  Howard  county,  Iowa.  In 
the  spring  of  1856  he  came  to  Mower  county,  and  pre-empted  a 
quarter  section  of  wild  land  in  section  30,  LeRoy  township.  Since 
that  date,  he  has  continued  to  reside  in  this  county,  gaining  in- 
creasing honors  with  increasing  years.  Upon  his  arrival  here,  he 
erected  a  log  cabin,  and  for  a  time  kept  house  for  himself.  The 
country  so  strongly  appealed  to  his  sense  of  beauty  and  utility 
that  he  resolved  here  to  establish  his  rooftree.  Accordingly  he 
returned  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  and  was  there  married  to  Catherine 
E.  Lachele,  thus  consummating  a  most  delightful  romance.  Cath- 
erine E.  Lachele  was  born  in  Geisingen,  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
October  30,  1833,  in  a  home  of  wealth  and  comfort.  In  1854,  after 
her  mother's  death  and  the  coming  of  a  step-mother  to  the  home, 
Catherine  E.  and  her  sister  left  the  old  country,  came  to  America, 
and  located  in  Forest  City,  Ohio.  In  Cleveland  she  met  the  young 
countryman  of  hers  who  was  designed  afterward  to  become  the 
life-long  companion  of  her  joys  and  sorrows.  After  their  mar- 
riage, the  young  people  set  up  housekeeping  in  the  wilderness. 


^ 


f  -*«%»     4fr^ 


f  fi  L^        <,_/ V    ^SW-<      »^ 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWKU  COUNTY  745 

]\Irs.  Fi-ank  proved  herself  a  true  and  noble  helpmeet,  ever  a  lov- 
ing-, sympathetic  and  faithful  vi^ife  and  mother,  and  a  shrewd, 
frugal,  capable  and  hardworking  housewife.  These  two  souls 
Avei'e  well  mated.  Their  quarter  section  has  been  enlarged  until 
they  now  own  1,580  acres,  and  their  log  cabin  has  been  re- 
placed by  a  modern  home,  known  far  and  wide  for  its  hospitality. 
While  accumulating  so  goodly  a  store  of  this  world's  goods,  the 
Franks  have  not  forgotten  the  needy,  and  have  distributed  to  the 
poor  and  deserving  with  liberal  hand.  In  October,  1861,  the  peace 
of  the  home  was  shattered  by  the  call  for  soldiers  to  defend  the 
l^nion,  and  for  many  years  these  loving  souls  were  apart.  Mr. 
Frank  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, for  three  years,  and  at  the  close  of  that  period  re-enlisted 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  servmg  until  the  summer  of  1865,  when 
he  was  mustered  out  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  discharged  at 
Fort  Snelling,  having  in  the  meantime  followed  all  the  fortunes  of 
his  i-egiment.  After  his  discharge  he  served  as  sutler's  clerk  for 
two  years,  and  was  then  appointed  sutler,  serving  in  this  capacity 
until  1877,  when  he  returned  to  the  farm,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. In  1899  he  retired  from  active  life,  but  still  lives  on  the  old 
homestead.  Mr.  Frank  has  always  been  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  a  Knight  Templar  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  G.  A.  R.  He  served  in  the  legislature  of  1882,  has 
been  school  clerk  twenty-five  years,  and  has  given  his  services  to 
the  town  in  various  other  capacities,  such  as  those  of  supervisor 
and  road  overseer.  He  was  candidate  for  the  office  of  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  Minnesota  in  1886,  and  for  presidential  elector  in 
1884.  In  the  Frank  family  are  three  children:  Louisa,  wife  of 
John  LeBorius,  a  farmer  of  Hennepin  county;  William  Monroe, 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  LeRoy ;  and  Irene  M.,  wife 
of  W.  D.  Bassler,  a  leading  Austin  haberdasher  and  clothier.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Frank  were  Christopher  and  Barbara  (Graff)  La- 
chele. 

John  R.  Roberts,  for  over  twenty-five  years  a  member  of  the 
liiiard  of  supervisors  of  Bennington  township,  and  for  a  greater 
part  of  the  time  chairman  of  that  body,  was  born  in  Portage 
county,  Ohio.  January  11,  1841,  son  of  Edward  and  Ann  (Thomas) 
Roberts.  He  was  reared  .on  the  farm,  educated  in  the  country 
schools  of  Wisconsin,  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  remaining  on 
the  home  farm  until  1870,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county  and 
two  years  later,  in  1872,  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  26. 
Bennington  township.  This  land  he  broke  and  improved,  erect- 
ing a  good  lot  of  frame  buildings  and  later  adding  another 
eighty,  making  in  all  160  acres,  all  in  section  26.  On  this 
tract  he  conducts  general  farming,  a  vocation  in  which  he  lias 
been  most  successful.     The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  nuirried 


746  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

November  11,  1872,  to  Mary  J.  Perry,  who  was  born  at  Albany, 
Missouri,  November  12,  1858,  and  died  July  6,  1899,  leaving  seven 
children :  Albert  O.,  Glenn  and  Stanley  B.  are  residents  respec- 
tively of  Bennington  township,  Minneapolis,  and  the  state  of 
Washington.  Edna  lives  in  Minneapolis  and  is  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward ]\I.  Sly.  .  Maude  is  the  wife  of  William  Biel,  and,  they  haA^e 
two  children :  Alleen  and  Loyce.  The  Biel  family  lives  Avith  Mr. 
Roberts.  Edward  Roberts  lives  in  the  state  of  Washington. 
Bessie  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Watt,  of  Richland  county,  Wisconsin. 
The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Edward  Roberts,  father  of  John  R.  Roberts,  Avas  born  in 
Wales  and  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  His 
wife  was  born  in  the  same  country  and  came  to  America  Avhen 
sixteen  years  of  age.  They  were  married  at  ClcA^eland,  Ohio,  and 
settled  at  Akron,  Ohio,  where  Edward  engaged  in  farming  and 
stone  cutting  until  1848,  when  they  came  to  AVisconsin,  locating 
in  Rock  county.  Here  they  acquired  160  acres  of  land  by  paying 
a  settler  $40  for  his  claim,  and  then  paying  the  government  $1.25 
an  acre.  On  this  tract  Edward  Roberts  prospered  and  liA^ed  until 
April  6,  1852.  His  wife  died  in  Spring  Valley,  this  state,  January 
9,  1897.  Their  children  are :  Elizabeth,  William,  John  R.,  Sarah 
A.,  Kate  A.,  Edward  and  Albert. 

Rev.  Christian  A.  .A.ffeldt  is  pastor  of  three  German  Evangel- 
ical churches  in  MoAver  county  and  is  doing  a  noble  work.  Well 
fitted  for  his  work  by  natural  abilities  and  by  acquired  training, 
he  has  already  seen  much  fruit  of  his  ten  years'  service  in  MoAver 
county.  Rev.  Aifeldt  was  born  near  Wykoff,  Fillmore  county, 
December  15,  1876,  son  of  Julius  and  Wilhelmina  (Kolberg)  Af- 
feldt.  Julius  Affeldt  was  born  in  Greifenhagen,  Pomerania, 
Germany,  came  to  America  in  1865,  and  located  near  Watertown, 
Wisconsin,  a  short  time,  afterward  taking  up  his  residence  near 
Portage  until  the  spring  of  1875,  Avhen  he  came  to  Minnesota, 
purchased  a  farm  in  Fillmore  township,  Fillmore  county,  and 
there  carried  on  agricultural  operations  until  his  death,  October 
16,  1902.  His  mother  is  still  alive.  Christian  A.  attended  the 
district  schools  in  his  native  county,  and  then  went  to  the  paro- 
chial school  of  his  at  Wykotf.  In  the  fall  of  1892  he  entered 
the  Concordia  Seminary  at  Si^ringfield,  Illinois,  from  AAdiich  he 
graduated  in  June,  1899.  After  serving  a  short  time  at  Litch- 
field, Custer  county,  Nebraska,  he  came  to  Mower  county  and 
took  charge  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Trinity  church,  located 
in  section  29,  Waltham  toAvnship.  In  connection  Avith  this  church 
a  parochial  school  is  conducted,  Avhere,  in  addition  to  the  usual 
branches,  German  is  taught  and  religious  instruction  given.  In 
addition  to  this,  Rev.  Affeldt  also  has  charge  of  the  St.  John's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church  in  Austin  and  the  St.  John  German 


HISTORY   OF  :\IO\VEK  COUNTY  747 

Evangelical  Lutheran  cluiri'Ii  in  Sargeant.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married,  ^lay  17,  1900,  to  Martha  Asche,  daughter  of 
Werner  and  Caroline  (Brennieke)  Asche,  and  their  children  are: 
Paulus,  Phoebe,  Erna,  Edna,  Timothy,  Flora,  Theodora  and 
Arnold. 

Albert  F.  Lewis  is  a  modern  farmer  of  LeRoy  townsliip,  and 
has  introduced  to  this  vicinity  intensive  methods  of  farming 
wliich  are  meeting  with  wide  favor.  He  was  born  in  Barry  county, 
^Michigan,  October  2-i,  1867,  son  of  Franklin  E.  and  Adeliza  M. 
(Hubbard)  Lewis,  natives  of  New  York  state.  In  1846,  the  par- 
ents of  Franklin  Lewis  went  to  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Sixth  Michigan 
Cavalry  and  served  until  the  end  of  the  war.  In  1866  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  Middleville,  Barry  county,  in  the  same  state,  and 
farmed  there  until  shot  by  his  hired  man,  September  22,  1877,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-five  years.  His  widow,  with  her  family,  then  re- 
moved to  Galesburg,  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan,  and  there 
lived  until  her  death,  December  9,  1887.  Albert  F.  received  his 
education  in  his  native  state,  there  grew  to  manhood,  and  for 
several  years  worked  at  A^arious  work  at  different  places.  In 
1892  he  located  in  North  Dakota,  and  there  attained  prominence 
as  a  leading  citizen,  carrying  on  general  stock  raising  and  serving 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  In  the  spring  of  1906  he  came  to  LeRoy 
and  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  in  section  22,  which  he  has  im- 
proved and  developed,  erecting  a  fine  frame  house,  henneries,  bee ' 
sheds,  etc.  He  now  successfully  devotes  himself  to  the  raising  of 
fruits,  i)oultry  and  bees.  He  has  an  orchard  of  500  apple  trees, 
and  in  addition  to  this  raises  various  kinds  of  berries  and  small 
fruits.  He  has  Italian  bees  and  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  fowls.* 
Recently  he  has  also  taken  up  truck  gardening  for  local  trade. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  September  20,  1905,  to 
Jennie  E.  Fairbanks,  born  in  Fillmore  county,  January  1,  1870,  - 
daughter  of  David  H.  Fairbanks,  now  of  Howard  county,  Iowa. 
]\Ir.  and  ]Mrs.  Lewis  have  one  daughter,  Irene,  born  June  29,  1906. 
Edward  Shay,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Bennington  township, 
was  born  at  Gilbert  Station,  Illinois,  March  18,  1863,  son  of 
^Michael  and  Ann  (Doraty)  Shay.  At  five  years  of  age,  after  his 
father's  death,  he  was  brought  by  his  mother  to  Olmsted  county, 
and  here  he  was  reared,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Mower  and  Olmsted  counties.  After  leaving  school  he 
worked  out  for  a  few  years,  and  then  in  partnership  with  his 
l)rother  John,  purchased  240  acres  in  section  25,  Bennington  town- 
sliip. The  brothers  farmed  together  until  1892,  wlien  they  divided 
up  tlie  land,  and  Edward  began  for  himself.  He  has  added  to 
tliis  hmd  until  he  has  400  acres  located  in  sections  25  and  23, 
Bennington   township.     He  has  erected  suitable   buildings,   and 


748  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

here  he  follows  general  farming,  raising  the  usual  crops  and 
breeding  to  Dunham  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Farmers '  Co-operative  Creamery  of  Ostrander, 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  Catholic  in  religion.  The  parents 
of  Edward  Shay  came  to  America  from  Ireland  as  children.  They 
settled  in  Gilbert  Station,  Illinois,  married  there,  and  there  Mich- 
ael, the  father,  died  in  1866,  leaving  six  children.  They  are : 
Patrick,  now  deceased ;  Bridget,  of  Elkton ;  Johannah,  of  Cedar 
Falls,  Iowa;  Mary,  of  Spring  Valley,  and  Edward  and  John. 
IMrs.  Ann  Shay,  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  came  to  JMinne- 
sota  with  her  family  in  1868  and  located  in  Olmsted  county,  where 
she  married  Daniel  Shay,  who  died  in  1895,  she  following  him  to 
the  grave,  January  27,  1909.  This  union  was  blessed  with  one 
daughter,  Alice.  She  received  an  excellent  education,  taught 
school  a  number  of  years,  and  was  married,  June  29,  1910,  to  Will- 
iam Beach,  grandson  of  William  Beach,  a  Mowsr  county  pioneer. 
I\Ir.  and  j\Irs.  Beach  make  their  home  with  Edward  Shaj^ 

John  Shay  was  born  in  Gilbert  Station,  Illinois,  in  April,  1865. 
He  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  mother,  located  in  Mower  county 
later,  and  continued  farming  as  a  partner  of  his  brother  Edward 
until  1892,  when  they  divided  their  property.  He  now  has  480 
acres  of  his  own,  all  under  cultivation  and  adorned  with  new 
buildings  which  he  has  erected.  Mr.  Shay  was  married  November 
25,  1891,  to  Mary  M.  Meehan,  daughter  of  John  Meehan,  a  pio- 
neer of  Bennington  township.  Four  children  have  crowned  this 
union :    Edward  M.,  Lawrence,  Kate  and  May. 

John  M,  Huber,  scientific  farmer  and  stock  breeder  of  LeRoy 
township,  is  an  excellent  representative  of  the  modern  type  of 
farmer.  He  believes  that  farm  life  should  be  the  most  attractive 
life  there  is,  and  accordingly  he  has  his  residence  equipped  with 
all  the  latest  conveniences  and  has  purchased  machinery  which 
greatly  simplifies  his  work.  John  M.  Huber  was  born  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  January  28,  1863,  son  of  Joseph  and  Maria  (Schnit- 
zer)  Huber,  natives  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany.  They  came  to 
America  in  1848,  lived  two  years  in  New  Jersey,  went  to  Pitts- 
burg, where  they  remained  until  1880,  then  located  near  Madison, 
Wisconsin,  and  farmed,  Joseph  dying  in  December,  1884,  and 
Maria  now  being  a  resident  of  Stoughton,  Wisconsin.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  received  his  education  in  Pennsylvania  and 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm,  being  reared  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. For  many  years  he  farmed  with  his  father  near  Madison, 
but  after  his  father's  death  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he  farmed 
until  1886,  in  which  year  he  returned  to  Wisconsin.  Two  years 
later  he  again  went  to  Nebraska,  and  farmed  in  Lancaster  covinty 
until  1899,  when  he  sold  his  farm  of  120  acres  and  purchased  100 
acres  near  Brooklyn,  Dane  county,  AVisconsin.     In  1909  he  came 


HISTORY   OF  MOWKl,'  COrXTY  74!) 

to  Mower  county  and  purchased,  with  his  brother  Fred,  the  ohl 
Leach  farm  of  860  acres  in  LeRoy  township.  He  has  erected  the 
finest  residence  in  LeRoy  township,  at  a  cost  of  over  $5,000,  and 
has  all  the  latest  modern  improvements  throughout,  including 
running  hot  and  cold  water,  hot  water  furnace,  bath  room  and 
sanitary  conveniences.  He  has  also  erected  a  roomy  barn,  40x84 
feet.  The  farm  is  in  a  high  stage  of  cultivation,  640  acres  being 
tilled,  200  acres  pasture  and  twenty  acres  timber.  Mr.  Huber 
makes  a  specialty  of  Hereford  cattle  for  beef  purposes,  having 
about  200  head.  He  also  breeds  Percheron  horses  and  Chester 
White  hogs,  exclusively,  and  pays  much  attention  to  corn  and 
oats,  having  planted  over  200  acres  of  corn  this  year.  Mr.  Huber 
is  a  Democrat.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  March  3, 
1887,  at  Blooming  Grove,  Wisconsin,  to  Anna  Kleine,  daughter  of 
Karl  and  ]\Iary  (Sehantz)  Kleine.  Mrs.  Huber  was  born  at  Cot- 
tage Grove,  Wisconsin,  September  20,  1859.  Her  mother  came  to 
this  country  at  ten  years  of  age  and  her  father  at  eighteen.  They 
were  married  at  Cottage  Grove,  and  there  spent  their  days  farm- 
ing, the  father  dying  in  November,  1884.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huber 
are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows :  Gertrude  A.  was 
born  in  Blooming  Grove,  Wisconsin,  February  21,  1888,  lives  at 
home  and  is  a  teacher.  Francis  M.  was  born  in  Emerald,  Ne- 
braska. September  29,  1889,  and  is  the  wife  of  Christ  Bolk,  a 
farmer  of  Sheffield,  Iowa.  Dora  E.  was  born  January  1,  1891, 
Matthew  J.,  April  19,  1892,  Carl  J.,  October  5,  1893,  Henry  A., 
August  15,  1896,  all  at  Emerald,  Nebraska.  Lizzie  W.  was  born 
in  Oregon,  Wisconsin.  November  24,  1900.  All  the  children,  ex- 
cept the  married  daughter,  are  at  home. 

F.  C.  Garbish  is  one  of  the  prosperous  men  of  Waltham.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  aldermen  of  the  village  and  faithfully  served 
in  the  position  until  1908.  In  addition  to  this  he  has  been  eleven 
years  treasurerof  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Creamery,  and  nine 
years  treasurer  of  St.  Michael's  German  Lutheran  church.  Also 
director  of  the  German  Lutheran  Hospital  at  St.  Paul.  F.  C. 
Garbish  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  July  10, 
1855,  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Gierach)  Garbish.  George 
Garbish  was  born  in  Kosel,  Germany,  in  1825  and  came  to  Amei'- 
ica  in  1839  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  After  a  year  in  Albany 
and  three  years  in  Buffalo,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  ]\Iilwau- 
kee  in  1843,  but  after  a  short  stay  there,  went  to  Kirchhayn, 
Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  farmed  until  his  death 
in  1861,  having  in  the  meantime,  April  20,  1847,  married  Eliz- 
abeth Gierach.  After  his  death  his  wife  and  oldest  son.  August, 
operated  the  farm  for  a  time,  after  which  Mrs.  Garbish  sold  the 
farm  to  lier  .son-in-law.  The  sub.iect  of  this  sketch  remained  at 
home  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  then  worked  out  in  Wisconsin 


750  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

for  two  years.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  came  to  Waltham, 
Mower  county,  but  four  years  later  went  to  Montana  and  the  Da- 
kotas  for  three  years.  Subsequently  he  came  back  to  Waltham. 
purchased  a  farm  in  section  10,  and  has  since  continued  to  make 
his  residence  here.  October  12,  1884,  F.  C.  Garbish  married  Ame- 
lia, daughter  of  Carl  and  Bertha  (Kopke)  Zeimer.  This  union 
has  resulted  in  six  children :  Selma,  William,  George,  Hubert. 
Adolph  and  Adaline.  Selma  married  William  Sehmeling,  and 
they  have  three  children,  Werner,  Erma  and  Arthur.  George  is  a 
barber  in  the  A'illage  of  Waltham.  Hubert  is  with  his  uncle,  fore- 
man at  Vicksburg,  Miss.    The  rest  of  the  family  are  at  home. 

Soren  Englesen,  the  pioneer  Norwegian  of  the  town  of  LeRoy, 
now  deceased,  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
community,  and  his  death  was  sincerely  mourned.  He  was  born 
in  Norway,  December  15,  1829,  and  attended  school  until  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  took  up  farming.  May  1, 
1854,  he  left  his  native  land  for  America,  and  after  a  stormy 
voyage  landed  at  Quebec.  He  went  directly  to  LaSalle  county, 
Illinois,  and  there  remained  three  years,  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1857,  in  company  with  his  brother-in-law,  he  started  to  find  a 
home  in  Minnesota.  They  came  to  Dunleith  on  the  cars,  and  then 
took  a  boat  to  Brownsville,  from  which  place  they  came  on  foot 
to  Mower  county.  They  passed  through  LeRoy  township  to 
Adams,  and  there  bought  a  pair  of  steers.  Then  they  returned 
to  LeRoy  and  selected  two  claims,  building  a  shanty  of  poles  and 
sod  on  the  line,  so  that  it  woiild  answer  for  both  claims.  After 
proving  up  their  claims  they  returned  to  Illinois.  Soren  Englesen 
was  married  in  1860  to  Martha  Fuglesteen,  likewise  a  native  of 
Norway.  In  the  spring  of  1861  they  started  for  their  new  home. 
Soren  left  his  wife  at  McGregor,  and  came  on  foot  to  LeRoy, 
where  he  bought  a  pair  of  oxen  and  then  returned  for  his  wife. 
He  first  built  a  log  cabin  and  in  this  lived  for  a  number  of  years 
until  he  replaced  it  with  a  large  frame  residence.  He  prospered 
as  the  yea^s  went  by  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Citizens 
Bank,  of  LeRoy.  Soren  Englesen  died  February  8,  1904,  and  his 
wife,  July  14,  1909.  They  had  two  children:  Emily,  wife  of  Dr. 
O.  A.  Oreson.  of  Duluth,  and  Samuel  B.,  a  resident  of  LeRoy 
township. 

Samuel  B.  Englesen  was  born  March  10,  1868,  on  the  farm  in 
LeRoy  township,  wh(,'re  he  still  resides,  son  of  Soren  and  Martha 
Englesen.  He  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools,  and 
took  one  term  in  the  Decorah  Institute  at  Decorah,  Iowa.  Then 
he  returned  to  the  home  place  and  farmed  with  his  father.  Since 
his  father's  death  he  has  rented  the  farm,  but  still  looks  after  his 
land  and  livestock.  He  also  has  other  interests,  being  a  director  in 
the  First  National  Bank  at  LeRoy,  and  a  stockholder  in  the  Farm- 


yUKEX    EXGELSEX. 


HISTOKY  OF  :\[()\VI':i;  COT'NTY  751 

ers  Telephone  Company,  of  Ostrander,  Fillmore  county,  as  well 
as  in  the  Farmers'  elevator  in  the  same  village.  lie  is  a  Repuh- 
liran  in  politics  and  for  some  time  was  clerk  of  his  sehool  district. 

George  R.  Church,  a  retired  farmer  living  in  Waltham  village, 
was  hui'u  in  Ulster  county,  New  York,  December  5,  1838,  son  of 
Adam  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Rhoades)  Church,  who  brought  their 
family  west  in  1843,  and  settled  in  New  Berlin,  ten  miles  from 
]\lihvaukee.  George  R.  grew  to  manhood  in  Wisconsin,  and  in 
1S67  came  to  Mower  county,  starting  farming  on  section  22, 
AValtham  township.  There  he  lived  until  1894,  when  he  sold  his 
farm  to  his  son  Lewis,  and  moved  to  the  village  of  Waltham, 
where  he  now  lives.  While  on  his  farm,  Mr.  Church  served  as 
pathmaster  seven  years,  and  was  also  on  the  school  board.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  for  many  years.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  married,  for  his  first  wife,  Susan  Hannah,  and  by 
her  had  two  children,  one  of  whom,  Lewis,  is  living.  For  his  sec- 
ond wife  he  married  Mrs.  Alice  Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Rox- 
Iniry,  Washington  county,  Vermont,  daughter  of  Samuel  Water- 
man, and  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  ]\Ir.  Church,  widow  of 
Lewis  Johnson. 

Mr.  Church  is  one  of  the  honored  veterans  of  the  Civil  war. 
He  enlisted  in  1862  in  Company  G,  Twenty-eighth  Wisconsin  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of  the 
conflict.  His  service  included  participation  in  the  activities  about 
Spanish  Forts,  and  the  battle  of  Helena. 

Arne  K.  Rebne,  a  prosperous  resident  of  Clayton  township, 
was  born  in  Norway  in  1861,  and  lived  there  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  came  to  America.  From  New 
York,  in  which  city  he  landed,  he  came  directly  to  Adams,  and 
worked  nine  years  as  a  farm  hand.  Then  he  rented  land  in  the 
town  of  Clayton,  for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  there  followed 
general  farming.  In  1891  he  purchased  121  acres  in  section  30, 
township  of  Clayton,  but  did  not  move  onto  this  land  until  1906, 
when  he  erected  a  comfortable  home  in  which  he  took  up  his 
residence.  Later  he  erected  the  other  buildings  necessary  for  the 
housing  of  his  stock,  crops  and  machinery.  He  now  raises  the 
usual  crops,  breeds  cattle  for  beef  and  dairy  purposes,  sells  cream 
to  the  Adams  Co-operative  Creamery,  devotes  some  of  his  time  to 
raising  Chester  AVhite  hogs,  and  also  has  a  fine  "flock  of  poultry 
for  home  use  and  the  market.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  district  83  for  nine 
years.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Adams  creamery.  Mr.  Rebne 
was  nuirried  in  September,  1886,  to  Isabell  Wiste,  of  this  county, 
and  this  union  has  l)een  blessed  with  three  children:  Clarence, 
Alma  and  Stella.  The  two  younger  attend  school.  The  family 
faith  is  that  of  llic  Lii1lier;ni  cliui-cli. 


752  HTSTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Adolph  Bhend,  a  well-thought-of  farmer  of  LeRoy  township, 
Avas  born  in  Switzerland,  April  4,  1878,  son  of  Frederick  and  JMario 
(Kloppenstein)  Bhend,  who  came  to  America  in  1891  and  located 
at  Dayton,  Wisconsin,  acquired  240  acres  in  Cainth,  Wisconsin, 
and  started  farming,  an  occupation  which  they  still  continue  in 
that  place.  Adolph  received  his  earlier  education  in  the  schools  of 
Switzerland,  and  graduated  therefrom.  After  coming  to  America 
with  his  parents,  he  attended  the  high  school  at  Monticello,  Wis- 
consin. July  2,  1898,  he  came  to  ]\Iower  county,  and  rented  400 
acres  from  the  Hon.  John  Frank,  tilling  this  tract  eight  years. 
Then  he  rented  his  wife's  father's  farm  of  240  acres  in  section  7, 
LeRoy  township,  and  on  this  tract  he  has  since  continued  to  con- 
duct farming  operations.  Mr.  Bhend  is  an  independent  voter,  is 
serving  as  road  overseer,  belongs  to  the  Masons,  and  has  been 
senior  deacon  of  the  lodge  at  LeRoy  several  terms.  He  attends 
the  Presbyterian  church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
November  20,  1906,  to  Fannie  E.  Mahoney.  daughter  of  John  Ma- 
honey,  now  deceased,  and  they  have  one  child,  Marcella  E.,  born 
October  16.  1907. 

John  Mahoney,  now  deceased,  for  many  years  a  farmer  of 
LeRoy  township,  was  born  in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  November  5, 
1848,  youngest  child  of  John  Mahoney,  who  came  to  America  in 
1859,  located  in  Mower  county  in  1866,  and  died  in  1878.  John, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  America  with  his  father  at 
eleven  years  of  age,  living  for  a  time  in  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wis- 
consin, and  then  coming  to  Mower  county  in  1866.  He  acquired 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  7,  LeRoy  township,  broke  and 
improved  the  land,  erected  buildings,  and  a  fine  home,  increased 
his  holdings  from  time  to  time,  and  carried  on  general  farming 
until  his  lamented  death.  He  was  well  thought  of  in  the  com- 
munity, and  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  chapter  and 
commandery  at  Austin.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
April  15,  1877,  to  Sarah  L.  Smith,  daughter  of  Charley  and  Fannie 
(Rawley)  Smith,  and  this  union  was  blessed  with  three  children: 
Fannie  E.,  IMary  PI  and  Iva  R. 

Peder  W.  Jensan  is  a  hard-working  farmer  at  Sargeant  town- 
ship, and  possesses  an  excellent  place  upon  which  he  successfully 
conducts  farming  operations.  He  was  born  in  Denmark,  August 
20,  1860,  son  of  Uens  Jensan,  who  is  still  living  in  Denmark,  where 
he  is  well  thought  of.  Peder  W.  came  to  America  in  1892,  went 
to  Michigan,  remained  there  three  years,  and  then  came  to  Rock- 
dale. ]\Iinnesota,  where  he  stayed  a  similar  period.  Then  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Lincoln  county,  also  in  this  state,  where  he  also 
lived  three  years.  At  the  end  of  this  period  he  removed  to  Sar- 
geant township,  and  settled  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
15,  Avheve  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land.     Tn  1901  he  erected  a 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  15:} 

fine  dwelling,  and  also  constructed  other  necessary  buildings.  ]\Ir. 
Jensan  has  never  sought  public  office,  but  has  served  a  number 
of  years  at  patbmaster.  lie  married  Carrie  Johnson,  daughter  of 
John  Anerson,  and  they  have  eight  children:  Emma  (deceased), 
Helena  (deceased),  Jens,  Henry,  Walter,  Anton,  Clara  and  Ulma 
F.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Lutheran  church.  It  is  worthy 
of  note  that  Mr.  Jensan 's  brother  and  sister,  as  well  as  his  father, 
are  still  living  in  Denmark.     His  mother  is  dead. 

G.  H.  Hadland,  for  many  years  supervisor  of  Bennington  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Norway,  May  26,  1845,  son  of  Herbjorn  Gunnuf- 
son  and  Aagot  Torgersdatter,  natives  of  Norway,  in  which  coun- 
try they  both  died,  the  father  in  1875  and  the  mother  in  1902. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education  in  Norway,  and 
learned  the  tailor  trade,  which  he  followed  until  coming  to  Amer- 
ica in  1867.  After  working  out  as  a  farm  hand  in  Bloomfield, 
Minnesota,  for  some  eight  years,  he  came  to  Mower  county  in 
1875,  and  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  23,  Bennington.  This 
land  he  broke  and  developed,  and  added  to  it  until  he  now  owns 
240  acres  in  sections  21,  22  and  23,  all  in  Bennington  township. 
On  this  place  he  carries  on  general  farming,  raises  graded  short- 
horns for  beef  and  dairy,  and  also  raises  swine  and  poultry. 
Aside  from  his  position  on  the  town  board,  he  has  been  clerk  of 
district  85  for  sixteen  years  in  succession.  He  has  also  been  treas- 
urer of  the  Bennington  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  since  its  or- 
ganization. The  neighboring  village  of  Ostrander  counts  him  as 
a  stockholder  in  its  elevator  and  creamery.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  June  23,  1877,  to  Julia  Knutson  Hadland,  born 
in  Norway,  December  20,  lS43.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with 
six  children:  Henry  A.,  born  April  15,  1878;  Carl  A.,  born  Oc- 
tober 8,  1879 ;  Oscar  T.,  born  October  15,  1880,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 3,  1881 ;  Oscar  T.,  born  December  13,  1881,  and  died  October 
25.  1909 ;  Anna  C,  born  April  4,  1883,  a  student  in  the  Morehead 
State  Normal  school,  and  Albert  C,  born  March  12,  1887. 

B.  A.  Benson,  industrious  farmer,  and  assessor  of  the  town  of 
Clayton,  was  born  on  the  Atlantic  ocean,  June  1,  1867,  while  his 
parents,  Andrew  and  Molina  Benson,  were  on  their  way  from 
Norway  to  America.  ITpon  their  arrival  in  America,  the  family 
came  to  ]\Iower  county,  and  the  father  worked  out  for  several 
years  in  Marshall  township,  afterwards  purchasing  eiglity  acres 
in  Clayton  township,  Avhere  he  followed  diversified  farming  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  B.  A.  Benson  was  educated  in  the  Mower 
county  schools,  worked  on  the  farm  with  his  father,  and  at  the 
age  of  tj.venty-one  years  started  in  life  for  himself  by  renting  land. 
Four  years  later  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  31, 
Clayton  township,  adjoining  his  father's  eighty.  He  now  owns  a 
quarter  section,  and  its  excellent  appearance  i.s  due  to  his  unre- 


754  IITSTOPvY  OF  MOWKK  COUNTY 

mitting  toil.  He  performed  the  difficult  task  of  breaking  the 
land,  and  this  done,  he  erected  comfortable  buildings,  planted 
trees,  installed  modern  machinery  and  bought  a  suitable  comple- 
ment of  tools.  Aside  from  carrying  on  general  farming,  he  raises 
cattle  for  beef  and  dairy  purposes  and  sells  cream  to  the  Adams 
Co-operative  Creamery,  in  which  he  is  one  of  the  stockholders, 
and  of  which  he  was  one  year  a  director.  Mr.  Benson  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  has  been  assessor  nine  years,  and  was  school 
clerk  of  district  83  for  ten  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  May  15,  1887,  to  Anna  Johnson,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  six  children.  Alfred,  the  oldest,  is  a  clerk  in  Adams 
village,  while  Oscar,  John,  Mabel,  Bertha  and  Josie  are  all  at 
home. 

John  T.  Johnson,  a  hard  working  farmer  of  LeRoy  township, 
was  born  in  Norway,  July  4,  1855,  son  of  John  and  Jonetta  (Jacob- 
son)  Johnson,  who  lived  and  died  in  Norway.  John  T.  received 
his  early  education  in  Norway,  and  worked  out  as  a  farm  hand 
until  coming  to  America  in  1875.  In  1876  he  came  to  LeRoy  and 
worked  for  C.  Hambrecht  for  four  years.  Then  for  a  similar 
period  he  was  manager  and  foreman  for  the  F.  M.  Barrett  stock 
farm  of  Lodi  township.  In  1889  he  rented  a  farm  in  Iowa,  but 
lived  in  LeRoy.  Then  in  September,  1890,  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  in  section  7,  LeRoy  township.  His  wife  owns  forty  acres, 
and  the  farm  therefore  takes  in  120  acres.  On  this  place  he  con- 
ducts general  farming.  He  is  an  independent  voter.  John  T. 
Johnson  was  married  July  2,  1880,  to  Electa  B.  Huntley,  daugh- 
ter of  P.  F.  and  Eunice  C.  (Edison)  Huntley,  the  former  of  whom 
died  October  27,  1893,  and  the  latter  March  22,  1901.  Mrs.  John- 
son was  born  May  15,  1858,  and  has  borne  to  her  husband  six 
children :  Gertrude  B.  was  born  June  1,  1885,  married  Orrin  N. 
Upham,  of  Charles  City,  and  has  two  children,  Vivian  V.  and  Ver- 
non. Rinda  M.  was  born  December  14,  1887,  and  lives  in  Water- 
loo, Iowa.  Maine  H.  was  born  December  23,  1888,  and  lives  in 
Charles  City,  Iowa.  John  R.  was  born  June  7,  1898,  and  lives  at 
home.  Pennanus  A.  was  born  April  9,  1881,  and  died  December 
5,  1882.  Eunice  A.  was  born  July  21,  1883,  and  died  September 
19,  1884.     ^Ir.  Johnson  is  a  believer  in  fair  dealing  and  honesty. 

Ole  Alfson  Quale,  an  honored  and  respected  resident  of  Clay- 
ton township,  was  born  in  Norway  in  1842,  and  came  to  America 
in  1864,  landing  in  Quebec.  Then  he  settled  in  Winneshiek 
county,  Iowa,  and  remained  fourteen  years,  working  as  a  farm 
hand.  By  hard  work  and  frugality  he  accumulated  sufficient 
funds  to  purchase  some  land  of  his  own,  and  he  accordingly  came 
to  Mower  county  and  purchased  eight  acres  in  section  20.  This 
he  afterward  increased  by  another  eighty  acres.  In  the  early 
days  he  devoted  much  of  his  attention  to  raising  grain  and  flax, 


IIISTOKY  OK  M()\VHI{  COUXTY  755 

but  in  later  years  turned  his  energies  to  diversified  farming  and 
cattle  breeding,  making  a  specialty  of  Shorthorn  cattle.  For  the 
past  five  years  he  has  rented  his  farm.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  was  road  overseer  eight  years  and  director  of  school  dis- 
trict 83  three  years.  He  is  a  communicant  of  the  Synods  church. 
Mr.  Quale  was  married  March  25,  1878.  to  Karne  Anderson,  a  na- 
tive of  Norway,  and  they  have  six  children:  Adolph;  Olas,  a 
carpenter  in  Austin ;  Clara,  now  IMrs.  Robert  Anderson,  of  Mar- 
shall ;  Jennie,  ilow  Mrs.  Ed.  Wint,  of  Austin ;  Nels,  a  carpenter  liv- 
ing at  home,  and  Sophia,  who  is  dead. 

Nels  T.  Miland  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Bennington 
township,  and  has  taken  a  most  active  part  in  his  school  district, 
his  township  and  his  church.  He  was  lu)rn  in  Tin  Telmarken, 
Norway,  September  11,  1857,  son  of  Thorn  N.  and  Aagaat  Olson 
Miland,  also  natives  of  Tin  Telmarken,  Norway.  The  family  came 
to  America  in  1869,  when  Nels  T.  was  but  twelve  years  of  age,  lo- 
cating in  Fillmore  county,  near  Harmony,  where  Thom  died  the 
following  year.  His  wife  then  brought  the  family  to  Bloomfield 
township  in  the  same  county,  and  there  they  endured  all  the  hard- 
ships incident  to  pioneer  days.  Nels  T.  Miland  came  to  Benning- 
ton township  in  1879  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1888,  with  his 
brother  Tom,  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  section  23,  and 
there  farmed  on  his  half  of  the  tract  for  five  years.  Then  he 
sold  this  tract  and  purchased  160  acres  in  section  10,  Bennington 
township,  where  he  is  now  located.  He  erected  new  barns  and  all 
outbuildings  and  has  followed  general  farming,  breeding  Here- 
ford cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs.  He  has  also  been  greatly  in- 
terested in  Perchcron  horses,  being  at  one  time  a  stockholder  and 
director  in  The  Bennington-Bever  Percheron  Horse  Company.  Mr. 
Miland  is  an  independent  voter,  has  served  as  supervisor  of  the 
township  and  as  justice  of  the  peace,  as  well  as  being  assessor  for 
twelve  years  until  1911.  He  is  now  clerk  of  district  95,  and  has 
been  secretary  of  the  Bennington  United  Lutheran  church  since 
its  organization.  The  village  of  Ostrander  counts  him  as  a  stock- 
holder in  its  Co-operative  creamery  and  elevator,  and  in  the  lat- 
ter institution  he  is  also  a  director.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  ]March  9,  1885,  to  Clara  Erickson,  a  native  of  Norway, 
who  has  proven  a  most  able  helpmeet  through  life.  Their  home 
has  been  brightened  by  the  arrival  of  eight  children :  Dora, 
Amanda,  Oscar,  Edward,  Gunvick,  Theodore,  Sigurd  and  Glenn. 
Dora  is  the  wife  of  Martin  Hettletved,  of  Zunibrota,  Goodliue 
county,  and  the  rest  are  at  home. 

Henry  Grimm,  an  honored  figure  in  the  life  of  Sargeant,  was 
born  in  Beaverdam  township.  Wisconsin.  July  7,  1847,  son  of 
John  F.  and  l^arl)ara  (Graesslc)  Grinnn.  both  natives  of  Germany. 
.lulin   F.  (li'iiinn  came  to  America  al)()ut    1S31.  lived  in  Pennsyl- 


756  ITISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

vania  for  a  time,  went  to  Ohio,  and  was  there  married,  after 
which  he  went  to  Illinois  and  stayed  a  year,  later  taking  up  his 
residence  in  Wisconsin.  In  1862  he  came  to  Minnesota  with  his 
family  of  eleven  children  and  settled  in  Rochester.  Henry  was 
taken  to  Rochester  by  his  father  when  fifteen  years  of  age,  and 
there  spent  his  young  manhood.  In  1885  he  came  to  Sargeant 
county,  purchased  a  farm  in  section  16,  and  followed  farming 
some  twenty-five  years.  In  1910  he  moved  to  the  village,  where 
he  now  lives,  having  practically  retired  from  active  life.  He  oc- 
cupied many  township  offices  during  his  residence  on  the  farm, 
and  was  a  prominent  man  in  many  ways.  He  inarried  Caroline 
]\Iartin  and  they  have  four  children.  Frank  married  Louisa  Peter- 
son and  has  a  daughter,  Leora.  Leroy  A.  married  Alma  Peter- 
son. The  other  tAvo  are  Ralph  M.  and  Hilda  C.  Ralph  M.  is  at 
present  assistant  cashier  in  Sargeant  State  Bank. 

The  Grimm  Brothers.  Franklin  and  LeRoy  A.  Grimm  have 
kept  a  hardware  store  in  Sargeant  village  since  1907,  and  their 
honesty  and  ability  have  built  up  a  large  trade.  The  brothers 
were  born  in  Kalmer  township,  Olmsted  county,  their  parents 
being  Henry  and  Caroline  (Martin)  Grimm.  In  the  family  were 
also  two  other  children,  Hilda  C.  and  Ralph  M.  Franklin  and 
LeRoy  A.  were  raised  on  a  farm,  received  good  educations,  and 
remained  at  home  luitil  attaining  manhood's  estate.  They  now 
do  business  under  the  firm  name  of  the  Grimm  Brothers.  Frank- 
lin married  Louise  M.  Peterson,  daughter  of  Nels  Peterson,  and 
has  one  child,  Leora  Frances.  LeRoy  A.  married  Alma  J.  Peter- 
son. Franklin  Grimm  is  a  member  .of  the  Modern  Woodmen  and 
of  the  Royal  Neighbors,  and  is  at  present  village  recorder  and 
postmaster.  LeRoy  A.  is  also  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
and  is  at  present  assistant  postmaster. 

John  Johnson  and  Dora  Hanson,  his  wife,  were  born  in  Nor- 
way, and  came  to  America  in  1866,  locating  near  Madison,  Wis- 
consin, and  engaging  in  farm  work  until  1872,  in  which  year  they 
came  to  LeRoy  township,  purchased  150  acres  of  wild  land  in 
section  12,  broke  and  improved  the  same,  and  followed  general 
farming  until  1890,  when  they  turned  the  place  over  to  their 
son,  John  J.  and  retired,  John  dying  May  14,  1892,  and  Dora, 
January  21,  1891.  They  had  two  children.  John  J.,  already  men- 
tioned, is  the  younger.  Julia,  the  older  child,  married  0.  P.  .John- 
son and  died  in  November,  1889. 

John  J.  Johnson,  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  LeRoy  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Norway,  January  14,  1866,  son  of  John  and 
Dora  (Hanson)  Johnson.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
in  1866,  and  to  Mower  county  in  1872.  After  leaving  school  he 
took  up  farming  with  his  father  until  1890,  when  he  took  charge 
of  the  home  farm.    To  the  farm  which  he  inherited  he  has  added 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVEIJ  COUNTY  757 

eighty  acres  more,  making  in  all  235  acres.  Since  acquiring  the 
farm  he  has  erected  a  modern  home  and  suitable  outbuildings.  In 
1895  he  built  a  barn,  and  ten  years  later,  when  this  structure  was 
destroyed  by  lightning,  he  rebuilt  one  44x62.  On  this  farm  he 
conducts  general  farming,  raises  Shorthorn  cattle,  Poland  China 
hogs,  and  Belgium  and  Norman  horses.  He  is  a  Eepublican  in 
politics,  was  a  director  of  school  district  1  seven  years,  and  is 
now  serving  his  second  year  as  clerk.  He  owns  stock  in  the 
creamery  and  in  the  elevator  at  Ostrander.  Mr.  Johnson  was 
married  March  20,  1890,  to  Martha  Prestegard,  daughter  of  Henry 
Prestegard,  of  Owatonna.  This  union  has  resulted  in  seven  chil- 
dren :  Dell,  Dena,  Minnie,  Hannah,  Joseph,  Henry  and  George. 
The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 

William  H.  Bingham,  cement  contractor,  is  one  of  the  represent- 
ative citizens  of  LeRoy  township.  He  was  born  in  County  Down, 
Ireland,  September  15,  1866,  son  of  William  and  Maggie  (McCloy) 
Bingham,  also  natives  of  County  Down,  Ireland.  The  parents 
came  to  America  in  1868,  and  located  in  Brookline,  Massachusetts, 
where  William  engaged  as  a  coachman,  following  this  occupation 
until  his  death  in  1903,  his  wife  following  him  to  the  grave  two 
years  later,  in  December,  1905.  William  H.  remained  in  Ireland 
until  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  then  came  to  America,  locating  in 
Brookline,  Massachusetts,  for  a  period  of  eight  years.  Then  he 
lived  in  Illinois  four  years  and  then  in  Dickinson  county,  Iowa. 
In  1901  he  came  to  LeRoy  and  engaged  in  cement  work  and  con- 
tracting. Later  he  started  manufacturing  cement  blocks,  brick, 
and  everything  in  the  cement  line,  including  posts,  curbing,  cis- 
terns and  tanks.  He  also  does  all  the  cement  walk  business  in  Le 
Roy.  In  addition  to  his  business  here  he  has  160  acres  in  Ransom 
county,  North  Dakota.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
October  21,  1886,  to  Marian  Graham,  born  in  Ireland  March  2. 
1858,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Dolan)  Graham,  natives  of 
Ireland,  where  they  were  born  and  where  they  died.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bingham  are  the  parents  of  four  children:  Ellen  M.,  a  tele- 
phone operator  at  LeRoy ;  Martha  A.,  a  school  teacher  at  Waubay, 
South  Dakota ;  Maggie  C.,  a  school  teacher  in  district  52,  LeRoy, 
and  Lizzie  C.,  a  student  in  the  LeRoy  high  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bingham  have  given  all  their  ehildren  a  good  education,  and  the 
children,  in  turn,  have  shown  their  appreciation  by  the  excellent 
work  they  have  done  in  the  schools.  The  family  faith  is  that  of 
the  Prcsliyti-riaii  church. 

Hubbard  Carey,  one  of  the  well  known  men  of  the  county,  has 
taken  his  part  in  the  upbuilding  of  Adams,  by  serving  in  various 
township  and  village  offices,  and  has  also  served  the  county  with 
distinction  on  the  Hoors  of  the  lower  house  of  the  Minnesota  state 
legislature.    He  was  l)()rti  in  Fox  Lake,  Lake  County,  Illinois,  No- 


758  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

vember  19,  1857,  son  of  Mathias  and  Anna  M.  (Justin)  Carey. 
After  receiving  his  early  education  in  Adams  township,  to  which 
locality,  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  at  one  year  of  age,  he  took 
a  course  in  St.  Peter's  college  at  Mankato.  Thus  equipped  for 
life,  he  remained  at  home  two  years  on  the  farm,  and  then  taught 
school  for  one  year.  Subsequently  he  again  worked  on  the  home 
farm  for  a  short  period,  and  then  became  a  grain  buyer  at  Adams 
village,  an  occupation  he  followed  for  twelve  years.  Following 
this  he  clerked  in  a  store  four  years,  but  during  the  time  of  his 
clerkship  he  also  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business,  dealing 
largely  in  Dakota  lands.  Since  that  time  he  has  lived  practically 
retired  from  business,  but  has  been  interested  in  politics  and  in 
other  ventures.  Mr.  Carey  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  Before 
the  village  of  Adams  was  incorporated  he  served  several  terms  as 
clerk  of  the  township,  and  was  also  assessor  for  a  considerable 
period.  At  the  organization  of  the  village  of  Adams  he  became 
clerk  and  served  continuously  until  1906,  his  jvidgment  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  village  council  being  highly  valued.  In  1908,  he  was 
elected  to  the  legislature,  and  served  his  term  of  two  years  with 
credit.  He  has  also  taken  an  interest  in  the  industrial  develop- 
ment of  the  community,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  LeRoy  Tele- 
phone Company.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  Jan- 
uary, 1881,  to  Mary  Thelen,  who  has  proved  an  able  helpmeet  in 
all  his  undertakings.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Catholic 
church. 

Mathias  Carey  and  Ann  ]\I.  Justin,  his  wife,  were  born  on  the 
Rhine,  in  Germany,  were  there  married,  and  came  to  America  in 
1854,  locating  in  Fox  Lake,  Lake  comity,  Illinois,  there  engaging 
in  farming  until  the  spring  of  1858,  when  they  came  to  Minne- 
sota, purchased  160  acres  of  government  land  at  $1.25  per  acre, 
in  section  20,  Adams  township,  this  county,  which  at  the  time 
was  wild  prairie  land.  This  they  developed,  built  a  log  house, 
and  in  this  lived  until  1871,  when  a  modern  frame  house  was 
erected,  suitable  outbuildings  being  completed  at  the  same  time. 
To  his  original  claim  he  added  a  purchase  of  160  acres,  making 
in  all  a  fine  farm  of  320  acres.  On  this  place,  Mathias  Carey  con- 
ducted general  farming  until  1902,  when  he  retired  and  moved 
to  the  village  of  Adams.  Two  years  later,  July  31,  1904,  he  died. 
His  wife  followed  him  to  the  grave  March  13,  1906.  They  were 
the  parents  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  nine  are  now  living. 
They  are  :  J.  H.,  a  merchant  at  Adams ;  Hubbard ;  Mrs.  Katherine 
Schmitz ;  Nicholas,  of  Minneapolis ;  Mrs.  Mary  Regner,  of  Austin ; 
John  M.,  of  Spring  Valley ;  Tony,  of  Saskatoon,  Canada ;  Joseph, 
of  Adams ;  and  Jacob  of  Spring  Valley.  Those  deceased  are  Kath- 
arine, Gertrude  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

H.  L.  Anderson  is  a  prominent  man  in  Waltham  township.  He 


HISTOl.'Y   OF  JI()\VH[{  COUNTY  75J) 

was  boi-ii  ill  Lanui'land,  Dciunark,  -January  3,  1850,  son  of  Ilans 
and  ^lartlia  Anderson.  He  ranio  to  America  in  1872,  remained 
two  years  at  Lake  Superior,  MicJiigan,  then  came  to  Mower  county 
and  worked  as  a  farm  hand  in  Pleasant  Valley  township  two 
years.  Then  he  started  farming  on  his  own  account  in  the  town- 
ship of  Clayton.  It  was  in  1883  that  he  came  to  Waltham  town- 
ship and  settled  in  section  14.  His  farm  originally  consisted  of  80 
acres,  and  this  he  has  since  increased  to  240  acres.  Here  he  suc- 
cessfully conducts  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  An- 
derson was  married  some  years  ago  to  Annie  S.  Peterson,  daugh- 
ter of  Nels  Peterson,  and  they  have  six  children:  Ernest  I\I., 
Alfred  C..  Edward  T.,  Clara  M.,  Bert  L.  and  Lester  H. 

Frederick  M.  Guy  was  born  in  Bennington  township,  June  19, 
1872,  son  of  Stephen  S.  and  Hannah  (Neil)  Guy,  the  pioneers. 
He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Bennington  township, 
and  Llien  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old  homestead,  looking  after 
the  interests  of  his  widowed  mother  until  her  death,  at  which 
time  the  farm  reverted  to  him.  He  is  now  engaged  in  general 
fanning,  and  raises  stock  and  grain.  He  attends  the  Baptist 
church,  votes  the  Democratic  ticket  and  belongs  to  the  IModern 
AVoodmen  of  America.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
October  7,  1896,  to  Anna  Cooper,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Rhoda 
(Hague)  Cooper,  and  this  union  has  resulted  in  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living  and  two  dead.  They  are :  William  F. 
born  October  21,  1897 ;  Myrtle  L.,  born  July  22,  1899 ;  Ida  May, 
born  July  81,  1901,  and  died  September  29,  1906 ;  Hazel  E.,  born 
July  31,  1903;  Harley  V.,  born  October  10,  1906;  Clara  E.,  born 
November  23,  1908,  and  died  March  1,  1910;  Kenneth  E.,  born  No- 
vember 1.  1910. 

James  Guy,  a  pioneer  of  Bennington  township,  was  born  in 
England,  as  was  his  wife,  Frances  Turner.  They  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1835  and  located  in  Troy,  New  York.  In  1857,  James  Guy, 
with  his  three  sons,  Henry,  Joab  and  Stephen,  came  to  Mower 
county  and  took  up  their  residence  in  a  part  of  Bennington  after- 
ward called  the  Guy  settlement.  James  Guy  lived  to  a  good  old 
age  and  died  in  1879.    His  wife  died  in  1870. 

Jonathan  Guy  Avas  born  in  Sussex,  England,  February  10, 
1831,  son  of  James  and  Frances  (Turner)  Guy,  who  lirought  him 
to  America  in  1835.  He  Avas  reared  in  Troy,  New  York,  and  there 
remained  imtil  1862,  when  he  came  west  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  in  section  13,  Bennington  township,  where  he  has  since 
lived  and  carried  on  general  farming.  He  has  never  cared  to 
seek  public  life,  but  has  served  as  road  overseer  and  as  justice  of 
the  peace.  By  his  first  wife,  Nancy  Prim,  he  had  five  children: 
Elizabetli.  Nancy  M.,  Frances.  Alelvin  and  John  IT.  September 
IS,  18f.!).  lie  married  Elizabeth  Hughes,  who  was  born  in  Wales, 


7G0  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

March  25,  1830.    This  uuion  has  resulted  in  two  children :    James 
W.  and  Hattie  L. 

Robert  Cooper,  deceased,  was  born  in  England,  March  5,  1843, 
came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1853,  lived  in  Illinois  for  a 
time  and  then  came  with  them  to  Spring  Valley,  Minnesota.  In 
1857,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Bennington,  and  farmed  with 
his  father,  William  Cooper,  iintil  1874,  when  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  in  section  22,  where  he  made  his  home  and  carried  on  gen- 
eral farming,  increasing  his  holdings  in  time  to  240  acres.  In 
1898  he  removed  to  Spring  Valley,  and  there  died,  November  29, 
1904.  He  was  married  January  23,  1871,  to  Rhoda  Hague,  whose 
parents,  Noah  and  Susanna  (Doxey)  Hague,  were  early  settlers 
of  Bennington  township,  the  former  dying  December  5,  1882,  and 
the  latter  September  26,  1890.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children :  Mary  E.,  Noah  W.,  Francis  R.,  Annie 
B.,  John  A.,  Samuel  R.,  Archie  A.,  Elian  M.,  Ida  M.,  Roy  A.  and 
Clair  A. 

Hans  Rudolph,  a  retired  farmer,  is  one  of  the  respected  resi- 
dents of  LeRoy  village.  He  was  born  in  Denmark,  April  24,  1856, 
son  of  George  and  Christina  Rudolph,  both  of  whom  lived  and 
died  in  the  old  country.  Hans  received  his  education  in  his  na- 
tive country,  and  in  1874  came  to  America,  stopping  off  for  a  few 
months  in  Illinois  and  then  coming  to  Minnesota  where,  until 
1884,  he  worked  out  as  a  farm  hand.  Then  he  rented  land  for  a 
time,  and  later  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Howard  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  farmed  for  six  years.  At  the  end  of  that  period 
he  purchased  240  acres  in  LeRoy  township,  and  followed  farming 
for  many  years.  When  his  health  became  impaired  he  retired, 
and  in  1906  took  up  his  residence  in  the  village.  In  February, 
1911,  he  purchased  the  residence  adjoining  his  own  home.  Mr. 
Rudolph  was  married  February  28,  1884,  to  Annie  Marie  Krogh, 
daughter  of  George  and  Marie  Krogh,  natives  of  Denmark.  Mrs. 
Rudolph  was  born  in  Denmark  April  3,  1851,  and  came  to  this 
country  with  her  parents.  She  now  makes  a  home  for  her  father, 
her  mother  being  dead.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rudolph  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Elmer  C.  is  an  attorney  in  Towner,  McHenry  county,  North 
Dakota,  and  George  P.  lives  in  LeRoy. 

T.  S.  Bohn  was  born  in  Norway  July  7,  1842,  came  to  America 
in  1867,  and  settled  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  later  coming  to 
Grand  Meadow,  where  he  married  Annie  Skaran,  who  was  born 
in  Norway,  August  30,  1850,  and  came  to  America  in  1861.  He 
then  settled  on  a  farm  in  Clayton  township.  Later  he  moved  to 
Adams  village  and  followed  his  trade  as  blacksmith  for  eight 
years ;  from  there  he  moved  to  his  Clayton  farm,  then  back  to 
Grand  Meadow,  where  he  died  November  26,  1909.  His  Avidow  is 
still  living. 


IIISTOIJY  OF  MOWHIJ  COUNTY  7G1 

Simon  T.  Bohn,  an  imlustridus  fanner  of  Clayton  township, 
was  born  May  26,  1881,  son  of  T.  S.  and  Annie  Bohn.  He  was 
reared  in  Grand  Meadow,  his  natal  place,  attended  the  schools 
there  and  in  Adams,  when  qnite  young  started  to  work  out  as  a 
farm  hand.  In  1906,  Simon  T.  Bohn  purchased  the  farm  of  160 
acres  in  section  17,  Clayton  township,  and  here  he  has  since 
resided,  successfully  conducting  general  farming.  He  keeps  forty 
to  tifty  head  of  cattle,  thi#ty  to  forty  Chester  White  hogs,  and 
iive  Norman  horses.  Mr.  Bohn  was  married  December  31,  1902, 
to  Josephine  Olena  Wiste,  born  ]\Iay  5,  1883,  in  Marshall  town- 
ship, and  they  have  two  children:  Alice  Helen,  born  February 
20,  1906,  and  Aarou  Theodore,  born  February  7,  1909. 

Jacob  Weisel,  for  many  years  prominent  in  the  business  and 
political  life  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Hessen  Darmstadt,  Germany, 
June  24.  1839.  His  education  Avas  received  in  the  Fatherland 
previous  to  his  emigration  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1851. 
After  living  two  years  Avith  his  parents  in  the  new  home  in 
Greenlake  county,  Wisconsin,  he  commenced  his  struggle  for 
self  maintenance,  his  first  employment  being  in  the  Wisconsin 
lumber  camps,  later  going  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  working 
as  a  carpenter  for  a  couple  of  years.  Then  returning  to  Wis- 
consin, he  engaged  in  farming  until  1875,  Avhen  he  removed  to 
Austin  and  embarked  in  the  brewery  business,  the  destruction  of 
his  plant  by  fire  cutting  short  a  very  prosperous  business  four 
years  later.  After  this  disaster  he  at  once  became  connected 
with  the  Schlitz  Brewing  Company  as  agent  and  manager  for  the 
Austin  branch  of  the  company,  in  which  capacity  he  remained 
until  his  retirement  from  active  life  ten  years  later.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  George  A.  Hormel  packing  company,  of  Austin, 
treasurer  of  the  Austin  Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  at 
one  time  Avas  a  director  of  the  Citizen's  National  bank,  of  Austin, 
and  treasurer  of  the  Austin  Creamery  Association.  j\Ir.  Weisel 
also  OAvns  a  highly  improved  farm  in  Lansing  toAvnship,  this 
county,  320  acres,  to  which  he  still  devotes  much  of  his  attention. 
His  beautiful  home  at  213  Water  street  was  built  by  himself. 
In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Democrat  and  served  his  city  Avell  dur- 
ing his  nine  years  as  alderman,  being  elected  for  eight  years  from 
the  third  Avard  and  for  one  at  large.  He  is  affiliated  Avith  the  Ma- 
sonic order,  and  is  Past  Grand  Master  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  FelloAvs  in  Avhich  lodge  he  served  seA'eral  years  as  treas- 
urer. December  2-1:,  1861.  he  was  married  to  P]lizabeth  Foi'cey, 
by  Avhom  he  has  six  daughters:  Eliza,  now  IMrs.  August  King,  of 
Superior,  Wisconsin;  Jnlia,  Ida,  ^Mary,  Ella,  and  Veta,  married 
to  LeAvis  DcAvitt,  of  Chicago.  The  family  attend  the  Episcopal 
church.  George  and  Katherena  fOlie)  Weisel,  parents  of  our  sub- 
.i(ct.  came  ever  from  Germany  in  1851,  first  locating  in  Greenlake 


76r3  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

county,  Wisconsin,  and  later  in  Portage,  Wisconsin,  where  they 
remained  until  1861.  They  then  returned  to  Greenlake  county, 
the  father  following  farming  until  1878,  when  he  retired  and  re- 
jiioved  to  Cambria,  Columbia  county,  Wisconsin,  later  coming  to 
Austin,  where  he  died  in  1900.    His  wife  died  in  1898. 

A.  T.  Boen,  a  venerable  resident  of  Pleasant  Valley  township, 
was  born  in  Norway,  October  24,  1833.  He  was  educated  in  Nor- 
way, spent  his  early  life  there,  andf  in  1862  came  to  America. 
After  living  a  short  time  in  Iowa,  he  came  to  Mower  county  and 
purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  36,  Pleasant  Valley.  He  now 
owns  120  acres.  This  farm  he  developed  and  improved,  erected 
the  necessary  buildings  and  planted  trees.  When  he  first  pur- 
chased his  place  he  raised  grain,  but  later  went  into  dairying,  and 
owned  some  twenty  milch  cows.  Three  years  ago  he  rented  his 
land  and  now  lives  a  retired  life.  He  is  a  Lutheran  in  religion 
and  an  independent  in  politics.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  after 
he  had  been  in  this  country  long  enough  to  become  imbued  with 
patriotic  sentiments,  he  determined  to  enlist  in  the  Union  army. 
On  reachng  Rochester,  where  the  enlistment  office  was  located, 
he  heard  the  Avild  ringing  of  the  bells  and  the  blowing  of  whistles, 
and  was  told  that  Lee  had  surrendered.  On  October  15,  1864,  Mr. 
Boen  married  Sarah  Knutson.  Of  their  six  children  two  are  liv- 
ing. They  are :  Theodore,  who  is  employed  in  an  auto  garage  in 
LeRoy,  and  Annie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  Jaeobson,  a  farmer 
of  Mower  county.  The  father  of  A.  T.  Boen  was  Navn  Tron  Boen 
and  his  mother  was  Navn  er  Signi. 

Iver  Johnson,  a  progressive  citizen  of  Lodi  township,  was  born 
in  Norway,  son  of  John  Everson.  The  family  came  to  America 
when  young  Iver  was  between  three  and  four  years  old,  landing 
in  New  York  city  from  the  boat  Columbus,  after  a  voyage  of 
twelve  weeks  and  four  days.  The  family  first  located  in  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  John  Everson,  the  father,  lived  until 
his  death,  July  10,  1904.  Iver  was  educated  in  the  Dane  county 
schools,  and  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  when  his  mother  died,  went 
to  live  with  an  uncle.  Then  he  worked  out  until  1874,  and  in 
that  year  came  to  Minnesota  and  worked  in  Freeborn  county  for 
a  year.  Subsecpiently  he  spent  six  months  around  his  old  home 
in  Wisconsin,  and  then  came  to  LeRoy,  where  he  worked  out  with 
his  teams.  The  same  year  he  purchased  80  acres  in  section  23, 
Lodi  township,  and  here  he  has  since  carried  on  general  farming. 
Fie  now  owns  200  acres  of  excellent  land.  The  comfortable  home 
which  adorns  the  place  was  erected  in  1898,  and  many  evergreens 
have  also  been  set  out  to  beautify  the  farm.  Mr.  Johnson  raises 
cattle  for  beef  and  dairy  and  has  about  40  Herefords.  In  ad- 
dition to  this  he  has  about  eleven  brood  sows.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  a  Republican,  and  served  for  many  years  as  a  member  of 


IIISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  t'OUXTY  763 

the  school  board  of  district  67.  lie  was  married  November  21, 
1878,  to  Betsy  Holverson,  of  Dane  county.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren:  Mary,  a  nurse  in  the  state  hospital  at  St.  Peter;  John,  a 
mail  carrier  in  Taopi ;  and  Eva  Josephine,  who  lives  at  home  and 
attends  school.    The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

0.  N.  Hegg,  who  at  one  time  served  Bennington  as  town  clerk 
for  eight  consecutive  years,  is  one  of  the  esteemed  and  respected 
farmers  of  his  neighborhood.  He  was  born  in  Winnesheik  county, 
Iowa,  March  9,  1863,  son  of  A.  0.  and  Gunhild  (Malen)  Hegg, 
natives  of  Norway,  who  came  to  America  in  1854,  located  in 
Winnesheik  county,  Iowa,  and  there  remained  until  1901,  when 
they  removed  to  Decorah,  Iowa,  where  Gunhild  died  March  6, 
1910,  A.  O.  afterward  returning  to  the  old  homestead  and  taking 
up  his  home  with  his  son,  Adolph.  0.  N.  Hegg  received  his  early 
education  in  the  district  schools  and  supplemented  this  with  a 
four  years'  course  at  Luther  college  at  Decorah,  Iowa.  After 
this  he  returned  home  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1885,  when 
on  April  5,  he  came  to  Bennington  township,  and  purchased  160 
acres  in  section  33,  later  in  1894  purchasing  a  similar  tract  ad- 
joining in  section  34.  This  land  he  partly  broke  and  cleared,  and 
has  followed  general  farming.  Aside  from  the  office  mentioned 
above  he  has  been  clerk  of  district  102  for  several  years  and  is 
still  serving  in  this  capacity.  He  also  is  interested  in  the  cream- 
ery and  elevator  at  Ostrander,  in  which  he  owns  stock.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married  December  9,  1886,  to  Dena  Chris- 
topherson,  who  died  June  2,  1895,  leaving  five  children :  Alfred 
and  Clarence,  of  Grand  Meadow;  George,  of  St.  Paul;  Helmer, 
who  lives  at  home,  and  IMabel.  who  keeps  house  for  her  father. 
The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church,  and 
Mr.  Hegg  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Bennington  congregation  for 
several  years. 

C.  J.  Flikki,  a  hard  working  farmer  of  Lodi  township,  was 
born  in  Norway  in  1859,  son  of  George  Flikki,  who  is  still  living 
in  that  country,  and  is  now  past  eighty-one  yejirs  of  age.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  this  country  in  1882.  He  made  the 
voyage  early  in  the  spring,  and  the  progress  of  the  vessel  was 
slow,  having  been  on  the  steam  boat  twenty-one  days  from  Liver- 
pool, England.  For  four  days  the  ship  was  ice-bound,  and  al- 
though Quebec  Avas  the  destination,  a  landing  was  made  at  Hali- 
fax and  the  passengers  taken  to  Quebec  by  rail.  C.  Flikki  went 
directly  to  Vernon  County,  AYisconsin,  worked  there  two  years, 
went  to  ]\Iower  county  and  stayed  there  two  years,  then  went  to 
North  Dakota  and  worked  out  six  years,  subsequently  went  to 
Goodhue  county  in  this  state,  where  he  rented  land  four  years, 
and  finally  came  to  ]\Iower  county,  wlicrc  he  purchased  land  in 
section  27,  Lodi  township,  and   when'  li.'  has  since  successfully 


7G4  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

followed  general  farming.  He  is  a  Lutheran  in  religion  and  a 
Republican  in  politics.  His  interest  in  education  is  shown  by 
the  fact  that  he  has  served  many  years  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  of  district  80.  In  1890,  Mr.  Flikki  married  Christina  Thomp- 
son, of  Mower  county,  and  this  union  has  resulted  in  five  children : 
Cora  Josephine,  Hattie  Carolina,  George  Urdahl,  Henry  Nitter 
and  Arthur  Clarence.  Hattie,  George  and  Henry  are  at  school 
and  doing  well  in  their  studies.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  in  1899 
]\Ir.  Flikki  went  to  Norway,  visited  his  old  home,  talked  with 
old  friends,  and  remained  until  April,  1900.  While  he  was  there 
he  visited  the  most  principal  cites  in  that  country,  where  his  broth- 
ers are  in  business  and  also  some  of  his  relations. 

Michael  H.  Corcoran,  a  well-known  farmer  of  Clayton  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Brownsville,  Houston  county,  February  5,  1866, 
son  of  ]\Iark  and  Mary  Corcoran,  natives  of  Ireland.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  county  schools  and  remained  at  home  on  the  farm 
until  twenty-four  years  of  age.  In  1882  he  purchased  a  quarter 
section  in  section  24,  Clayton  township.  He  now  owns  240  acres 
in  section  12  in  Clayton  and  section  18  in  Bennington.  Here  he 
has  made  many  improvements.  Seven  years  ago  he  erected  his 
fine  dwelling,  and  at  present  he  is  occupied  in  building  a  large 
new  barn  with  a  roomy  cement  basement.  Mr.  Corcoran  carried 
on  general  farming,  making  a  specialty  of  grain  and  hay  raising 
and  stock  breeding.  In  hay  he  handles  a  large  quantity  of  tim- 
othy and  wild  hay.  In  cattle  he  favors  the  Aberdeen  Angus  for 
beef  and  the  Shorthorn  for  the  dairy,  and  has  several  of  each 
variety.  He  also  raises  Poland  China  hogs  and  has  a  drove  of 
from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred.  Of  late  years  he  has  turned 
his  attention  to  Belgian  horses,  and  a  few  years  ago  purchased 
the  well-known  stallion  Sultan,  a  beautiful  animal  weighing  1,900 
pounds,  and  born  and  bred  in  Iowa.  Mr.  Corcoran  is  a  member 
of  the  town  board  of  supervisors,  and  was  clerk  of  district  109 
seven  years.  He  is  at  present  a  director  of  the  Farmers'  Elevator 
at  Grand  Meadow.  Mr.  Corcoran  is  a  member  of  two  fraternal 
organizations,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  Knights  of 
Columbus,  Spring  VaRey  Council,  No.  1,476;  is  also  treasurer 
of  St.  Finbar's  church  and  a  member  of  the  building  committee  of 
the  fine  new  brick  church  to  be  erected  the  coming  season  in 
Grand  Meadow.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  Septem- 
ber 21,  1897,  to  Ellen  McLain,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Patrick  and  Fanny  McLain.  This  marriage,  which  took 
place  in  Grand  Meadow,  has  resulted  in  the  following  children : 
William  Henry,  J.  C.  and  Mary  E.,  all  at  home  and  attending 
school. 

Mark  Corcoran  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  in  1853  he  and  his 
wife,  ;\r;u-y,  came  to  America  and  located  in  Dayton,  Ohio.    Three 


HISTORY  OF  MOWKK'  COrXTV  705 

years  later  they  caiuo  to  Brownsville,  purchased  eighty  acres,  in- 
creased this  gradually  to  240  acres,  and  here  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  days,  devoting  their  attention  largely  to  grain  raising. 

Elgin  Emigh,  one  of  the  esteemed  residents  of  Lodi  township, 
was  born  in  Illinois  in  1858,  son  of  John  Emigh.  The  family 
moved  to  Iowa  when  Elgin  was  three  years  of  age,  and  he  lived 
at  home  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  started  life  on  his 
own  responsibility  by  working  out  as  a  farm  hand  until  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county,  and  for  a  year 
continued  to  work  out.  Then  he  rented  land  until  1894,  when 
he  purchased  a  forty  acre  tract  in  section  2,  Lodi  townshiji,  to 
which  he  later  added  forty  acres  in  the  same  section,  where  he 
lives,  and  where  he  has  erected  his  home  and  the  necessary  farm 
buildings.  He  now  carries  on  intensive  farming,  and  also  breeds 
some  horses,  but  makes  a  specialty  of  Percheron  horses.  Mr. 
Emigh  is  well  liked  in  the  community  and  has  been  a  member 
of  the  town  l)oard  of  supervisors  for  seven  years. 

Wellington  Emigh,  a  farmer  of  Lodi  township,  was  born  in 
Illinois  in  1855,  and  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Iowa  when  very 
young,  afterward  coming  to  Mower  county.  He  has  engaged  in 
vai'ious  lines  of  work  and  has  traveled  extensively.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  he  makes  his  home  with  his  brother,  Elgin. 

Alexander  Bell,  chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Lodi 
township,  a  position  he  has  occupied  for  the  past  three  years,  was 
born  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  in  1846,  son  of  Robert  Bell,  now  de- 
ceased. The  mother  died  when  Alexander  was  very  young,  and 
at  the  age  of  foui'teen,  after  attending  the  school  in  his  neigh- 
borhood, he  started  in  life  for  himself.  He  came  to  Mower  county 
in  1878,  and  rented  a  farm  in  Clayton  for  one  year.  In  the  fall 
he  moved  to  town  and  bought  a  place  of  F.  Bulis.  He  was  elected 
marsl'.al  in  the  year  1879,  which  office  he  held  for  four  years, 
then  was  elected  town  mayor  in  1883,  which  he  held  four  years, 
and  was  school  director  for  several  years.  In  1900  he  rented 
the  D.  C.  Wood  farm  of  320  acres  in  section  20,  Lodi  township. 
Here  he  follows  diversified  farming,  raises  oats,  barley,  corn  and 
some  Avheat,  and  breeds  cattle,  horses,  swine  and  sheep.  He  has 
fort.v-two  head  of  Black  Poll  and  twenty-five  Shorthorn  cattle, 
160  head  of  Shropshire  sheep,  fifty  head  of  Poland  China  hogs 
and  twenty-one  Percheron  horses.  Aside  from  his  township  po- 
sition he  has  served  seven  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board 
of  district  96.  'Slv.  Bell  was  married  in  early  life  to  Eunice 
Mitchell,  wbn  died  in  1886.  In  1888  he  was  married  to  Augusta 
Brunce,  daughter  of  Fred  Brunce,  of  ]\Iower  county,  and  they 
have  seven  children:  Clara,  Robert.  Leslie.  Harlen,  Laura,  Alex- 
ander, Jr..  and  Louise.  All  are  at  home,  and  Leslie,  Ilarlen,  Alex- 
aiidci',  -Jr..  and  Laura  attend  school. 


766  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

John  Sorflaten,  for  over  nine  years  town  chairman  of  Clayton 
has  been  a  prominent  man  in  the  community  for  a  long  period. 
He  is  a  native  son  of  the  county,  born  in  Grand  Meadow  township, 
December  12,  1868,  son  of  Ole  and  Ollie  Sorflaten,  who  came  to 
America  from  Norway  in  1858,  and  came  directly  to  Grand 
]\Ieadow,  where  they  purchased  land  and  followed  diversified 
farming  the  remainder  of  their  days.  John  Sorflaten  was  edu- 
cated in  the  county  schools  and  later  attended  the  Darling  Busi- 
ness College  at  Eoehester,  Minnesota.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
started  life  for  himself  by  working  out  by  the  month,  in  which 
manner  he  continued  for  five  years.  He  afterward  learned  the 
carpenter  trade  and  followed  this  vocation  five  years  also.  Then 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  21,  Clayton  township.  This 
land  he  has  developed  and  improved,  has  erected  buildings,  tilled 
the  soil  and  planted  trees.  He  carries  on  general  farming,  and 
raises  Shorthorn  cattle,  Chester  White  hogs  and  Plymouth  Rock 
chickens.  In  addition  to  the  office  mentioned  above,  he  was  town 
clerk  four  years  and  clerk  of  district  74  for  nine  years.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married  on  October  28,  1895,  to  Minnie 
Huseby,  a  daughter  of  Arne  Huseby,  of  the  town  of.  Marshall. 
Eight  children  have  blessed  this  union,  of  whom  Alvin  Obert, 
Julius  Melvin,  Stella  and  Orville  William  are  living.  The  three 
oldest  are  at  school.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Wallace  C.  Allen,  stock  raiser,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Clayton  township,  was  born  in  Eockford,  Iowa,  September  28, 
1877,  son  of  Alfred  and  Elizabeth  Allen,  who  have  retired  from 
farm  life  and  are  now  living  in  the  village  of  Rockford,  Iowa. 
Wallace  C.  was  ediicated  in  the  county  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  started  in  life  for  himself  as 
a  farm  hand.  Later  he  purchased  200  acres  in  section  6,  Clayton 
township,  where  he  still  lives.  In  addition  to  this  he  owns  225 
acres  in  Floyd  county,  Iowa.  Mr.  Allen  does  some  general  farm- 
ing, but  devotes  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  stock  raising.  He 
has  a  fine  herd  of  250  Western  sheep,  and  last  fall  shipped  two 
car  loads  of  these  excellent  animals  to  Chicago.  In  addition  to 
this  he  has  twenty  head  of  Shorthorn  cattle,  thirteen  head  of 
grade  Percheron  horses,  and  a  drove  of  Chester  White  pigs.  The 
farm  upon  which  he  lives  was  formerly  the  property  of  C.  F. 
Greening.  Mr.  Allen  is  an  independent  voter  and  has  served  four 
years  as  a  member  of  school  district  127.  Being  of  a  sociable 
nature  he  has  allied  himself  with  the  Modern  Woodmen.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  April  7,  1900,  to  Mary  E.  Pop- 
ham,  daughter  of  N.  J.  and  Alice  (Maynard)  Popham,  born  in 
Portage,  Wisconsin,  but  a  native  of  Iowa  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage,  having  moved  there  with  her  parents  in  1895.    Mr.  and 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  7G7 

Mrs.  Allen  have  two  children :  Glenn,  born  November  19,  1901, 
and  Ruby  Julia,  born  February  16,  1904. 

Ole  A.  Berg'ene,  a  modern  farmer  of  Marshall  township,  was 
born  in  Norway,  Nov.  20.  1855,  son  of  Andrew  and  Oleaug  Ber- 
gene,  both  now  deceased.  He  came  to  America  in  1878  and 
after  landing  in  New  York  came  directly  to  Grand  Meadow, 
later  locating  in  Marshall  township,  where  he  Avorked  out  six 
years.  He  also  worked  in  the  pineries  in  Wisconsin  two  winters. 
Some  years  ago  he  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  35,  Marshall 
township,  where  he  still  resides,  but  later  has  added  to  it  so  he 
lias  200  acres  in  Marshall  township  and  eighty  acres  in  Adams 
township.  When  he  first  bought  the  farm  he  raised  grain,  but 
now  devotes  his  attention  to  diversified  farming.  He  has  thirty- 
five  head  of  cattle  and  sells  cream  to  the  Adams  creamery,  in 
which  he  is  one  of  the  stockholders.  In  addition  to  this,  he  has 
forty  Poland-China  hogs  and  ten  Percheron  horses.  The  Bergene 
residence  was  erected  in  1884,  and  to  this  Mr.  Bergene  has  added 
from  time  to  time  vmtil  he  now  has  a  roomy  and  comfortable  home. 
He  has  also  made  many  improvements  on  his  farm  and  has  pur- 
chased modern  machinery.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  has  been 
treasurer  of  school  district  No.  65  for  three  years.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  married  March  31,  1884,  to  Sarah  Sorfiaten,  and 
they  have  been  blessed  with  seven  children:  Ollie,  the  oldest,  is 
the  wife  of  Ole  Lunda,  a  farmer  of  Adams  township.  The  others 
are :  Edwin,  Oscar,  Annie,  Ella,  Selma  and  Orville.  The  four 
youngest  attend  school. 

August  Dettloff,  Sr.,  for  twelve  years  supervisor  of  the  town 
of  Pleasant  A^alley,  is  one'  of  the  substantial  men  of  the  commu- 
nity, and  in  addition  to  serving  on  the  town  board  has  been  road 
overseer  for  a  long  period  and  member  of  the  school  board  of  dis- 
trict No.  48  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  May  3, 
1850.  sou  of  Carl  and  Mary  Dettloff.  the  former  of  whom  is  dead. 
The  family  came  to  America  in  1867,  lived  a  time  in  Dane  county, 
\Yisconsin,  and  in  1871,  came  to  Pleasant  Valley  township,  where 
the  parents  purchased  160  acres  in  section  22.  August  Dettloff, 
Sr.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
and  worked  on  the  home  farm  until  twenty-three  years  of  age. 
Then  he  worked  out  as  a  farm  hand  for  three  years,  and  subse- 
quently worked  on  the  railroad  three  years.  Later  he  purchased 
120  acres  in  section  27,  Pleasant  Valley  township.  This  tract  he 
has  increased  to  320  acres,  and  on  this  he  follows  general  farm- 
ing, having  ten  Norman  horses,  thirty  head  of  swine  and  about 
fifty  cattle.  He  sells  cream  to  the  Grand  Meadow  creamery,  in 
wliii'h  he  is  a  stockholder.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  mar- 
ried November  26,  1874,  to  Rekia  Eilars.  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
came  to  America  with  her  parents  and  settled  in  Austin  in  1868. 


768  HISTOKY  OF  MOWEU  COUNTY 

This  union  has  resulted  in  ten  children :  Gustie  married  William 
Grimm,  of  Swink,  Colo. ;  Ida  married  August  Badger,  a  farmer 
of  Olmsted  county;  Frank  married  Musette  Drake,  and  lives  in 
Pleasant  Valley;  Carl  married  Ella  Hatfield  and  lives  in  North 
Dakota ;  Lizzie  married  Charles  Drake,  of  Pleasant  Valley  town- 
ship ;  August  married  i\Ianda  Wagner,  of  Frankf ord  township ; 
Annie  married  William  Beiderbick,  of  Racine  township ;  Walter 
lives  in  Colorado ;  Otto  arid  Albert  are  at  home  and  the  latter 
attends  school.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church. 

John  B.  Hoff,  a  Avell-knoAvn  citizen  of  Pleasant  Valley  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Norway,  July  24,  1849,  son  of  Bjorn  S.  and  Car- 
rie Hoff,  who  came  to  America  in  1866,  bringing  their  family  with 
them.  The  voyage  was  made  in  an  old  sailing  boat  and  two 
months  were  spent  on  the  water.  After  reaching  America,  they 
settled  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  there  father  and  son 
worked  out  three  months,  after  which  they  rented  land  for  a 
year.  Subsequently  they  came  to  Mower  county,  Minnesota,  in 
1869,  making  the  trip  in  an  old-fashioned  prairie  schooner.  Bjorn 
S.  Hoff  passed  away  in  1891,  and  his  wife  in  1880.  Soon  after 
coming  here,  John  B.  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  35,  Pleas- 
ant Valley  township,  and  on  this  he  still  resides,  now  owning 
160  acres,  which  he  has  improved  and  developed,  planting  trees 
and  erecting  buildings.  His  comfortable  home  was  built  in  1881 
and  has  been  kept  in  a  state  of  good  repair.  Three  years  ago  he 
retired  and  rented  his  farm  to  his  son,  Bennie,  who  is  a  hard- 
working young  man,  well  thought  of  in  the  community.  In  1875 
John  B.  Hoff  married  Annie  Lestrude  and  they  have  one  son,. 
Bennie,  already  mentioned.  Bennie  married  Olena  Simonson, 
June  6,  1906. 

Hans  P.  Johnson,  for  five  years  chairman  of  the  town  of  Pleas- 
ant Valley,  was  born  in  Norway,  September  23,  1866,  son  of  Peter 
A.  and  Karend  M.  Johnson,  both  natives  of  Norway.  The  family 
came  to  America  in  1876,  lived  two  years  in  Alamakee  county, 
Iowa,  then  removed  to  Olmsted  county,  this  state,  where  they 
lived  four  years.  Later  Peter  A.  purchased  land  in  section  29, 
Pleasant  Valley,  and  followed  farming  until  his  death  in  1896. 
His  widow  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead.  Hans  P.  Johnson  was 
educated  in  Norway  and  followed  the  fortunes  of  his  family, 
assisting  his  father  in  establishing  a  home  and  working  the  home 
farm.  As  his  father  grew  older,  Hans  P.  assumed  the  burden  of 
the  family  and  farm.  He  has  since  continued  to  carry  on  gen- 
eral farming.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  Republican  and  in  addition  to 
serving  the  town  as  mentioned  above  has  been  clerk  of  the  school 
board  of  district  47.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and 
of  the  11.  W.  A.    The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  January 


H18T()I{Y  OF  M()\VP:1{  COUNTY  769 

2,  1892,  to  Carrie  Wold,  of  Grand  Meadow,  daughter  of  A.  II. 
Wold,  aud  this  union  has  resulted  in  ten  children :  Alfred,  Hanna, 
Helen,  Clara,  Alma,  Harold,  Ruth,  Inga,  John  and  Arthur. 

William  Z.  Clayton,  for  whom  the  town  of  Clayton  is  named, 
is  still  living,  now  making  his  home  in  Maine.  He  helped  in  the 
organization  of  the  town,  was  its  first  chairman,  and  assisted  in 
its  progress  in  various  ways.  He  was  born  in  Freeman,  Maine,  in 
1837,  was  educated  in  his  native  state,  and  when  nineteen  years 
of  age  went  to  Wisconsin.  Later  he  lived  in  Freeborn  and  Winona 
counties,  Minnesota.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  First  Minnesota 
Light  Artillery,  was  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Atlanta,  Chatta- 
nooga, etc.,  and  was  with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea.  He 
was  elected  captain  of  the  First  Minnesota  Light  Artillery  and 
inspector  of  artillery,  with  the  rank  of  brevet  major.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Winona  county,  and  later  came  to 
"what  is  now  the  township  of  Clayton.  Here  he  acquired  some 
2,200  acres  of  land.  He  devoted  his  time  to  real  estate  deals  and 
grain  raising,  spending  his  summers  here  and  his  winters  in 
Maine.  He  now  makes  his  home  in  Maine  with  his  wife,  who  was 
Laura  Kuowles,  also  a  native  of  that  state.  Mr.  Clayton  is  a 
thirty-second  degree  Mason,  a  compatriot  of  the  Loyal  Legion 
and  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  In 
Bangor  he  has  been  prominent  in  business  circles  and  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  board  of  alderman  and  of  the  Board  of  Trade 
in  that  city. 

Charles  Clayton,  a  popular  resident  of  the  township  named  for 
his  father,  was  born  in  Bangor,  Maine,  December  6,  1872,  son  of 
William  Z.  aud  Laura  (Kuowles)  Clayton.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  Maine,  and  graduated  from 
the  University  of  Maine,  afterward  taking  a  post-graduate  course 
in  chemistry.  Then  he  worked  about  two  years  in  the  mail  serv- 
ice in  Bangor,  Maine,  and  subsequently  came  to  Mower  county, 
where  he  has  since  looked  after  his  father's  interests.  In  addition 
to  this  he  has  been  in  the  meat  business  two  years  in  Wright 
county  and  in  the  mercantile  business  four  years  in  Taopi,  this 
county.  On  the  farm  he  occupied  he  raises  Shorthorn  and  Black 
Poll  cattle  and  carries  on  general  farming  operations.  Charles 
Clayton  has  been  town  clerk  of  the  town  of  Clayton  six  years 
and  was  one  year  mayor  of  Taopi.  He  is  a  Republican,  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  order  and  attends  the  Congregational  church.  The 
sub.ject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  June,  1898,  to  Ida  C.  Clay- 
ton, of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  they  have  seven  children:  Lawrence. 
Collamore,  William  Z.,  Russell,  Dorathy,  F^thel  and  Everett. 

0.  A.  Huntley,  one  of  the  foremost  farmers  of  Lodi  township, 
was  born  in  Spring  Valley,  January  18,  1854,  son  of  P.  F.  Hunt- 
ley, a  native  of  New  York  state,  who  settled  in  Wisconsin  in  1847, 


770  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COU^'TY 

in  Iowa  in  1849,  later  in  Spring  Valley,  and  in  1856  in  Le  Eoy, 
Avhere  he  homesteaded  a  farm  and  died  October  27,  1893.  0.  A. 
Huntley  remained  with  his  parents  on  the  home  farm  until  thirty- 
six  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  purchased  160  acres  in  sections 
22  and  23,  where  he  now  owns  262  acres  of  good  land.  Like  the 
other  farmers  of  this  vicinity,  he  raised  grain  at  first,  and  later 
turned  his  attention  to  diversified  farming,  making  a  specialty  of 
Hereford  cattle  for  beef  and  dairy  purposes.  Mr.  Huntley  has 
erected  all  the  buildings  which  now  stand  on  his  farm.  He  is  an 
independent  voter,  and  is  treasurer  of.  school  district  67.  He  has 
served  on  the  board  of  supervisors  for  the  past  three  years.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  December  25,  1891,  to  Emma 
Caroline  Erickson,  daughter  of  Jens  Erickson,  and  this  union 
has  been  blessed  with  four  children :  Nels  Elmer,  born  in  1892, 
died  at  the  age  of  sixteen ;  Jens  Oliver,  born  June  19,  1893  ;  Elsie 
Minnie,  born  August  30,  1894,  and  Lila  Marie,  born  June  3,  1900 ; 
all  live  at  home.  The  family  is  well  thought  of  in  the  community. 
P.  F.  Huntley  settled  in  Spring  Valley  in  the  spring  of  1853,  on  the 
land  where  Spring  Valley  now  stands,  and  0.  A.  Avas  the  first 
white  baby  born  in  Spring  Valley. 

P,  J.  Peterson  is  one  of  the  leading  and  substantial  citizens  of 
Lodi.  He  is  upright,  hardworking  and  generous,  has  a  well- 
educated  family,  and  in  general  stands  for  that  which  is  good  and 
admirable  in  the  community.  He  was  born  in  September,  1854,  in 
Wisconsin,  son  of  John  and  Isabel  Peterson,  who  Avere  born  in 
Norway,  came  to  America  in  the  middle  fifties,  located  in  Wis- 
consin, then  came  to  Adams  township,  took  a  homestead  of  160 
acres,  lived  three  years  and  went  to  Le  Roy,  there  bought  a  quar- 
ter section  and  remained  four  years,  subsequently  buying  a  farm 
m  Iowa  and  living  there  until  their  death,  John  Peterson  dying 
in  1867.  When  P.  J.  Peterson  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
Oegan  life  on  his  own  responsibility,  and  purchased  160  acres  of 
land  in  section  2,  Lodi  township,  where  he  still  lives.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  he  is  an  extensive  owner  of  lands  elsewhere,  OAvning,  in 
addition  to  440  acres  in  Lodi,  320  acres  in  Becker  county,  160  acres 
in  Marshall  township,  80  acres  in  Sherburne  county,  120  acres  in 
Mille  Lacs  county,  100  acres  of  timber  in  Aitkin  county  and  five 
acres  and  a  residence  in  Princeton,  all  in  Minnesota,  as  Avell  as 
eighty  acres  in  Polk  county,  Wisconsin,  and  160  acres  in  Clark 
county,  North  Dakota.  He  works  all  the  land  in  Lodi  himself, 
l)ut  rents  his  land  outside  of  this  county.  In  the  early  days  he 
raised  grain,  but  he  now  devotes  his  attention  largely  to  live 
stock  raising,  owning  eighty-three  head  of  Hereford  cattle,  which 
he  raises  for  beef  and  dairy  purposes,  and  from  thirty  to  seventy- 
five  Poland-China  hogs.  Mr.  Peterson  was  president  of  the  Taopi 
Bank,  and  has  served  three  years.    He  has  been  treasurer  of  the 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWKIJ  COUNTY  771 

town  and  of  his  school  district  for  many  years.  Tlie  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  married  in  1877  to  Mary  Reierson,  and  this  union 
has  resulted  in  eleven  children :  Josephine,  Emma,  Nettie,  John, 
Alfred,  Minnie,  Eddie,  Elmer,  Ruth,  Roy  and  Pearl.  All  are  at 
home  except  Minnie,  who  is  in  Minneapolis,  and  John,  who  attends 
the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  College  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.  Ruth 
died  in  infancy. 

George  A.  Stillwell,  restaurant  keeper  of  Le  Roy,  was  boi-n  in 
St.  Joseph  county,  Michigan,  December  23,  1857,  son  of  T.  V.  Still- 
well.  "When  ten  years  of  age  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
J\Iitchell,  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  and  there  received  his  education 
and  grew  to  manhood.  When  twenty-one  years  old  he  moved 
to  Howard  county,  low^a,  engaging  in  farming  until  1900,  Avhen  he 
came  to  Le  Roy  township,  purchased  forty  acres  of  land,  and 
farmed  until  March,  1907,  when  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Le 
Roy.  In  June,  1909,  he  opened  a  first-class  restaiirant,  which  he 
has  since  successfully  conducted.  Mr.  Stillwell  has  sei'ved  as  road 
overseer  and  as  a  school  director.  He  was  married  March  26, 
1892,  to  Ceola  Hopkin  Stillwell,  born  in  Howard  county,  Iowa, 
November  11,  1870,  daughter  of  Ezra  and  Patience  (King)  Hop- 
kin.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children:  Gyrdy,  who 
lives  at  home,  and  William,  who  died  in  infancy;  they  have  one 
adopted  son.  Van  Tyle  Stilhvell.  Mr.  Stillwell  votes  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  and  affiliates  with  the  M.  W.  A.  The  family  attends 
the  Baptist  church. 

Ezra  Hopkin  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Howard  county, 
just  over  the  line  in  Iowa.  One  of  his  sons,  Charles  Hopkin,  now 
of  Oregon,  helped  to  build  the  first  house  erected  in  Le  Roy. 
Ezra  Hopkin  was  an  extensive  farmer,  taught  school,  kept  a  store 
and  served  as  postmaster,  being  a  sturdy  and  honored  old  pioneer 
in  every  respect. 

Hiram  E.  Tanner,  a  pioneer,  was  born  in  New  York  state 
November  26,  1817,  and  Avhen  a  young  man  went  with  his  par- 
ents to  Pennsylvania.  In  July,  1841,  he  married  Eliza  V.  Meeker, 
a  native  of  New  York.  In  November,  1856,  they  came  west,  stop- 
ping at  Winona  for  the  winter,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year 
came  to  Red  Rock  township.  Mower  county,  and  settled  in  sec- 
tion 1,  where  he  pre-empted  land  and  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  June  8,  1880.  His  wife  departed  this  life  April  2,  1872. 
Mr.  Tanner  was  a  man  of  strong  personality  and  was  highly 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  A  strong  Republican,  he  held 
many  public  offices  in  the  county,  including  service  as  county 
oomini.ssioiuT  in  1871,  1873.  1874  and  1875. 

De  Los  Tanner  was  l)orn  in  Tioga  county,  Pennsylvania,  De- 
cember 26.  1847,  son  of  Hiram  E.  and  Eliza  V.  (Meeker)  Tanner, 
lie  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  township  and  has 


772  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

devoted  his  life  to  farming,  now  owning  a  fine  place  of  360  acres, 
which  includes  the  farm  which  his  father  pre-empted  in  the  early 
days.  He  has  been  county  commissioner  four  years  and  has 
served  in  other  positions  of  public  and  private  trust  and  honor. 
He  is  a  prominent  member  of  Lafayette  Lodge,  No.  116,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  Brownsdale.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
October  17,  1874,  to  Emma  C.  Langworthy,  who  was  born  in 
Winnebago  county,  Wisconsin,  October  5,  1850,  daughter  of  B.  F. 
and  Sarah  M.  Langworthy.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tanner  have  been 
born  three  children :  Forrest  0.,  Alice  V.  and  Eliza  M.  Alice  V. 
is  the  wife  of  John  Day. 

Michael  Goulden  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  America 
in  1850,  locating  in  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  married,  and 
where  he  remained  until  1881,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county,  and 
settled  in  section  19,  Lodi  township,  where  he  purchased  160  acres 
and  carried  on  farming  until  his  death  in  1902.  His  widow  still 
lives  ou  the  home  place  with  her  son,  but  is  in  poor  health.  In 
the  family  Avere  four  daughters  and  one  son.  The  oldest  daughter 
is  dead.  Thomas  lives  on  the  home  farm;  Mollie  is  the  wife  of 
Michael  Kelley,  a  builder  in  St.  Paul;  Winnie  is  the  wife  of  a 
Mr.  Reifuard,  a  molder  in  St.  Paul ;  and  Julia  is  the  wife  of  Tony 
Human,  a  farmer  in  Clayton  township. 

Thomas  Goulden,  a  modern  farmer  of  Lodi  township,  was  born 
in  AVatertown,  New  York,  February  7,  1870,  son  of  Michael  and 
Margaret  Goulden,  natives  of  Ireland.  He  was  educated  in  the 
city  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  was  brought  to  Lodi  townshij) 
by  his  parents  as  a  boy  of  eleven  years.  As  his  father  grew  older 
he  gradually  took  the  burden  of  the  farm  work  from  his  shoul- 
ders, and  at  his  death  took  entire  charge.  He  has  added  eighty 
acres  to  the  original  homestead,  now  owning  240  acres  of  good 
land  in  section  19,  Lodi  township.  He  is  chiefly  interested  in 
diversified  farming  and  cattle  raising,  breeding  Hereford  cattle 
for  beef  and  dairy  purposes,  and  selling  cream  to  the  Adams  Co- 
operative Creamery,  in  which  he  is  a  stockholder.  Mr.  Goulden  is 
a  Republican,  and  has  served  as  road  overseer  as  well  as  school 
director  of  district  96. 

Jacob  Nagele  has  a  well  cared  for  farm  in  Lodi  township,  with 
excellent  buildings  thereon,  a  pleasant  feature  of  the  place  being 
the  tree-lined  evergreen  lane  which  leads  to  his  house.  Jacob 
Nagele  was  born  in  Germany  in  1855,  son  of  David  Nagele,  now 
deceased.  Jacob  came  to  America  in  1880,  landed  in  New  York, 
and  then  located  in  Youngstown,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  in  a 
blast  furnace  for  two  years.  Then  he  came  to  Le  Roy,  in  this 
county,  and  after  working  out  for  three  years,  purchased  his 
present  place  in  Lodi  township,  on  which  he  has  erected  his 
house,  barns  and  other  buildings.    On  this  place  he  now  conducts 


HISTORY  OF  ]\IO\VK!!  COrXTY  77.'? 

general  farming,  making  a  specialty  of  his  Black  Poll  cattle,  of 
which  he  owns  a  herd  of  twenty-five  head.  Mr.  Nagele  was  mar- 
ried in  1883  to  Louise  Geiger,  and  they  have  five  children :  Will- 
iam, Arthur,  Katherine,  Louise  and  Gustave.  William,  Arthur 
and  Louise  are  at  home.  Katherine  married  Alhert  Bhend  and 
lives  at  IVirinth,  Wis.    Gustave  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 

George  Nicolay,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Lodi  township, 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1857,  son  of  John  Nicolay,  and  came  to 
America  in  1881.  After  landing  in  New  York,  he  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  and  there  worked  four  years,  after  which  he  came 
to  ]\Iower  comity  and  worked  for  John  Frank,  of  Le  Roy,  one  year. 
Then  he  purchased  land  in  sections  13  and  24,  Lodi  township,  and 
started  life  as  a  farmer  for  himself.  He  has  greatly  improved  the 
place,  and  a  pleasant  home,  built  in  1898,  as  well  as  numerous 
buildings  of  various  descriptions,  stand  on  the  spot  where  he  found 
a  small  dwelling  when  he  first  came  here.  He  carried  on  diversi- 
fied farming  and  breeds  Poll  Angus  and  Poland-China  hogs.  ]Mr. 
Xicolay  attends  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  votes  the  Republican 
ticket.  March  15,  1885,  Mr.  Nicolay  married  Minnie  Kesel,  of 
Wisconsin,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Kesel,  who  in  1853  came  to 
AVisconsin  from  Germany,  where  he  died  eight  years  ago.  Mr. 
and  ]Mrs.  Nicolay  have  one  daughter,  Lania,  who  married  Alfred 
Weise,  manager  of  the  Northwestern  Telephone  Company,  at  Min- 
neapolis. They  have  two  children :  RoUie  and  Nova.  Mrs.  Nico- 
lay has  one  daughter,  Daisy,  by  a  former  marriage.  Daisy  Avas 
married  ]March  15,  1896,  to  Christ  Karlen,  a  farmer  of  Lodi  town- 
ship.   Then  have  two  children,  Leo  and  Arno. 

E.  M.  Shephard,  treasurer  of  Le  Roy  township,  was  born  in 
Fillmore  county,  IMinuesota,  January  23,  1858,  son  of  Levi  M.  and 
Elizabeth  (Mead)  Shephard,  natives  of  New  York  state.  He 
received  his  early  education  in  the  district  school  of  Fillmore 
county  and  worked  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
rented  a  farm  for  a  year,  near  Mankato,  Minn.,  and  then  went  to 
Howard,  IMiner  county.  South  Dakota,  where  he  took  a  homestead 
of  160  acres,  proved  up  his  claim,  erected  a  home  and  other  neces- 
sary buildings,  and  there  remained  until  1891,  when  he  returned 
to  >\IoAver  county  and  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres,  together  with 
ten  acres  of  timber  land,  the  farm  lying  in  sections  8  and  17.  He 
r(^paired  the  buildings,  and  has  developed  the  land,  making  a  great 
success  of  general  farming.  Pie  also  makes  a  specialty  of  dairying 
and  breeds  Hereford  cattle.  Mr.  Shephard  is  a  Republican  in 
imlitics,  has  been  treasurer  of  Le  Roy  township  several  years,  was 
supervisor  fourteen  years,  and  was  eontiniiously  a  member  of 
the  school  board  of  his  district  from  the  early  nineties  until  1908. 
lie  is  a  stockholder  in  tlie  First  National  Bank  of  Le  Roy.  ^Ir. 
Shephard  married  Julia  ('.  Wirth.  hnru  at  Clev.'land,  Ohio,  Feb- 


774  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

ruary  23,  1859,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Wilhelmina  (Leehele) 
Wirth,  natives  of  Germany.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with 
five  children :  Wilhelmina  A.,  born  August  31,  1882,  now  wife  of 
C.  B.  Hall,  of  Mitchell  county,  Iowa;  Elroy  E.,  born  November  1, 
1884,  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank  at  Spring  Valley,  Minn.; 
Harvey  R.,  born  July  18,  1888,  now  in  the  men's  furnishing  busi- 
ness in  Montana ;  Howard  J.,  born  October  29,  1890,  and  Elizabeth 
J.,  born  November  30,  1897,  the  latter  two  being  at  home.  The 
family  faith  is  that  of  the  Baptist  church.^ 

Levi  M.  Shephard  came  Avest  in  1856,  and  after  farming  for  a 
period  in  Fillmore  county,  engaged  in  the  livery  business.  Later 
he  moved  to  Mankato,  and  after  spending  a  short  time  in  Man- 
kato,  moved  to  South  Dakota,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He 
died  there  in  July,  1898,  and  his  wife  in  March  of  the  same  year. 
In  the  family  were  seven  children :  Esther  is  now  Mrs.  L.  F. 
Means,  of  Carthage,  S.  D. ;  Albert  A.  lives  in  Wenachee,  Wash. ; 
E.  M.  lives  in  Le  Roy  township ;  Alma,  wife  of  F.  W.  Tuttle,  died 
in  October,  1905 ;  Emma,  wife  of  D.  D.  Smith,  lives  in  San  Diego, 
Cal. ;  Carrie,  wife  of  A.  Burlison,  lives  in  Mankato ;  J.  E.  lives 
in  Davenport,  Wash. 

Conrad  Hambrecht  was  born  in  Sanhotfan,  Wurtemburg,  Ger- 
many, February  19,  1831.  He  attended  school  until  he  was  four- 
teen years  old,  and  was  then  apprenticed  to  a  wagonmaker  to 
learn  the  trade.  He  served  at  this  trade  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  He  worked  with  his  parents  one  year  and  then 
came  to  America.  He  landed  in  New  York  in  1853,  went  directly 
to  Philadelphia,  worked  near  that  city  two  years,  and  then  moved 
to  Cliicago,  where  he  remained  for  some  time.  In  1856  he  came 
to  Iowa,  and  pre-empted  some  land  near  the  present  site  of  Stacey- 
ville,  in  Mitchell  county.  After  proving  up  his  claim,  he  worked 
for  a  time  in  Chicago,  Bloomington  and  Decatur,  111.,  and  in  Mis- 
souri. In  1857  he  again  took  up  his  residence  on  his  farm  and 
remained  until  1860,  when  he  started  for  Pike's  Peak,  but  instead 
of  going  to  that  place  he  secured  work  in  Missouri,  and  worked 
there  a  year,  afterward  returning  to  his  farm.  In  1865  he  came 
to  Mower  county,  and  purchased  land  in  section  17,  to  which  he 
added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  740  acres.  On  this 
tract  he  carried  on  farming  operations  until  1905,  when  he  retired 
from  active  life.  He  now  spends  his  summers  on  his  farm,  and 
his  winters  in  California.  Conrad  Hambrecht  married  the  widow 
Wirth,  whose  maiden  name  was  Wilhelmina  Lachele.  This  union 
has  been  blessed  with  two  children:  Frank  E.  and  Louise,  the 
latter  of  whom,  now  Mrs.  Thompson,  lives  in  Escondido,  Cal.  By 
a  previous  marriage,  Mrs.  Hambrecht  had  two  daughters  :  Minnie, 
wlio  lives  at  lioine,  and  Julia,  the  Avifo  of  E.  M.  Shephard,  of 
Le  Kov.     When  iSIr.  Hambrecht  first  came  to  ]Mower  oountv  he 


I'OXRAD  HAMBRKPHT 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  775 

moved  into  a  log  cabin  and  experienced  all  the  rigors  of  pioneer 
life  and  endeavor.  His  wife  died  June  7,  1902.  Mr.  Hambrecht 
is  president  of  the  Le  Roy  State  Bank. 

Frank  E.  Hambrecht,  county  commissioner,  farmer  and  banker, 
■was  born  in  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  September  16,  1864,  son  of 
Conrad  and  Welhelmina  (Lachele)  Hambrecht.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  Le  Roy  township,  to  which  vicinity  he 
was  brought  by  his  parents  in  1865,  at  the  age  of  one  year.  Here 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  at  an  early  age  began  to  take  his  part 
inthe  work  of  the  farm.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  Hambrechts, 
father  and  son,  were  the  first  to  introduce  thoroughbred  Hereford 
cattle  in  this  state,  having  at  the  present  time  a  fine  herd  of  200. 
In  1905,  Frank  E.  rented  the  farm  fronj  his  father,  and  has  set 
a  pace  and  maintained  a  standard  in  agriculture  that  is  a  credit 
to  the  township.  The  farm  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  this 
part  of  the  country  and  one  of  the  picturescjue  spots  of  the  county, 
having  private,  well-kept  roads  winding  through  heavy  groves  and 
amid  well-cultivated  fields,  thus  forming  a  haunt  for  automobilists 
and  pleasure-seekers.  Mr.  Hambrecht  is  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive men  in  the  county,  and  his  services  for  fifteen  years  as 
county  commissioner  have  been  highly  valued  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. Being  of  a  sociable  nature,  he  has  allied  himself  with  the 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  his  interest  in  the  business  development  of  the 
vicinity  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  is  vice-president  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Le  Roy,  of  which  his  father  is  president. 

Ole  K.  Hegge,  a  prosperous  and  well  thought  of  farmer  of  Lodi 
township,  was  born  in  Valders,  Norway,  in  1857,  son  of  Knute 
Hegge,  who  came  to  America  in  1872,  bringing  his  family,  and 
landing  at  Quebec.  He  then  went  directly  to  Decorah,  Iowa,  and 
two  years  later  came  to  Mower  county.  When  the  family  first 
came  here,  Ole  K.  Hegge  purchased  forty  acres  in  section  6,  Lodi 
township,  with  his  father.  He  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  280  acres 
in  section  6,  in  the  same  township.  When  he  first  came  here  he 
raised  wheat  almost  exclusively,  but  now  follows  mixed  farming, 
and  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding  Shorthorn  cattle  for  beef  and 
dairy  purposes,  selling  cream  to  the  Co-operative  Creamery,  of 
Adams,  in  which  he  is  a  stockholder.  He  also  keeps  Chester 
White  hog.s.  His  farm,  which  today  presents  such  a  pleasing 
appearance,  was  originally  wild  land,  which  he  has  broken,  and 
on  which  he  has  erected  some  excellent  buildings.  Mr.  Hegge  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  has  been  supervisor  four  years,  assessor 
fifteen  years,  treasurer  of  school  district  100  thirty-three  years. 
He  was  at  one  time  president  of  the  Adams  Co-operative  Company, 
has  been  a  trustee  some  years,  and  has  also  served  as  its  treasurer. 
Ole  K.  Hegge  was  married  in  1886  to  Bertha  Hovey,  of  Ridgcway, 
Iowa,  daughter  of  Ole  Hovey.     This  union  has  been  blessed  with 


776  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

ten  children:  Clement  is  married  to  Raehael  Hippe,  and  farms  in 
Clayton  township.  Alfred,  Mabel,  Oscar  and  Gertrude  Avork  at 
home.  Bernie,  Ruby  and  Stella  attend  the  local  schools.  The  first 
Palmer  died  in  infancy,  and  his  namesake  is  now  the  baby  and 
pet  of  the  family.  The  family  belong  to  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
Synod  church.  The  congregation  was  organized  in  1876.  The 
present  pastor  is  L.  Larson,  from  Creseo,  Iowa. 

Simon  S.  Knutson,  a  popular  farmer  of  Lodi  township,  was 
born  in  Minnesota  in  1857,  son  of  Simon  Knutson  the  elder,  who 
Avas  born  in  Norway,  located  in  Wisconsin  in  1851,  and  seA'eral 
years  later  came  to  Mower  county,  where  he  pre-empted  160 
acres.  Simon  S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the 
county  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  tAventy-two  started  in  life  for 
himself,  working  as  a  farm  hand  several  years  in  Minnesota  and 
the  Dakotas.  At  the  age  of  thirty-two  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
in  section  6,  Lodi  township,  and  in  addition  to  this  has  since 
rented  some  two  or  three  hundred  acres.  On  this  place  he  eon- 
ducts  general  farming  and  raises  Hereford  cattle  for  beef  and 
dairy  purposes,  selling  cream  to  the  Adams  Co-operative  Cream- 
ery, in  which  he  is  one  of  the  stockholders.  He  has  erected  a 
comfortable  home,  barns  and  other  buildings,  and  is  Avell  eciuipped 
for  farm  Avork.  When  tAventy-tAvo  years  of  age,  Simon  S.  Knutson 
married  Nellie  Anderson,  and  they  ha\'e  tAvo  daughters  and  tAvo 
sons. 

Peter  J.  Engelsen  has  been  a  prominent  man  in  Le  Roy  town- 
ship since  he  first  came  here  in  1864,  and  his  services  in  A^arious 
town  offices  have  been  duly  appreciated.  He  has  been  superA'isor 
a  number  of  terms,  chairman  three  years,  town  treasurer  two 
years,  assessor  two  years  and  a  member  of  the  school  board  many 
years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  Avas  born  in  Norway,  October 
10,  1839,  there  received  his  education,  and  at  the  age  of  tAventy 
years  came  to  America,  living  in  Illinois  four  years.  In  1864  he 
came  to  Mower  county,  located  in  Le  Roy,  and  a  year  later  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land,  AA'hich  he  has  since  increased  to  240 
acres,  all  in  section  15.  This  land  he  broke  and  tilled,  and  erected 
such  buildings  as  he  could  best  afford.  His  AVork  has  prospered, 
and  he  noAV  has  a  well  tilled  farm,  commodious  and  Avell  kept 
barns,  modern  machinery  and  tools,  and  a  comfortable  house,  all 
of  which  reflect  much  credit  on  his  skill,  ability,  taste,  thrift  and 
industry.  Mr.  Engelsen  Avas  married  November  11,  1876,  to  Sarah 
A.  Nelson,  born  in  Newburg,  Fillmore  county,  November  11,  1854. 
This  union  has  been  blessed  with  eight  children ;  Bertha  Anette, 
now  Mrs.  Johannes  Orke,  of  Le  Roy;  Ella,  deceased;  Arthur, 
deceased;  Sarah,  a  teacher  in  California;  Lilly,  a  teacher  in  St. 
Paul;  Emma  Cordelia  graduated  from  Carleton  College,  North- 
field,  in   1911;    Florence,  deceased;    Noah  R.,  a  student  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  771' 

Le  Roy  high  school.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church. 

Lars  Ellingson,  a  substantial  and  well-to-do  farmer  of  Adams 
township,  now  living  in  the  village  of  Adams,  is  a  fine  example  of 
a  self-made  man.  Coming  to  this  country  as  a  poor  boy,  he  has 
worked  his  way  up  with  but  little  encouragement,  and  has  fought 
his  way  through  obstacles  to  well  deserved  success.  He  was  born 
in  Lickanger,  Sogn,  Norway,  August  1,  1849,  son  of  Ellingson 
Larson  and  Brynlda  Larson.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Norway,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents  at 
seventeen  years  of  age,  arriving  in  Adams  the  following  year. 
Here  he  filed  on  eighty  acres  of  railroad  land  in  section  19,  Adams 
township,  where  he  built  a  shanty,  which  he  replaced  five  years 
later  with  a  frame  house.  Here  he  followed  general  farming,  own- 
ing at  one  time  6-10  acres,  all  but  120  acres  of  which  he  cultivated, 
breaking  240  acres  himself.  He  erected  a  fine  set  of  buildings, 
and  developed  his  place  into  one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  con- 
tinuing agi'ieultural  operations  until  1910,  when  he  retired  and 
moved  to  Adams  village,  having  now  sold  all  of  his  farm  land 
except  160  acres  which  he  rents.  In  addition  to  this  he  owns  a 
comfortable  residence  and  two  building  lots  in  the  village  of 
Adams.  Mr.  Ellingson  is  single,  and  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 
He  is  an  independent  voter,  has  served  the  town  of  Adams  as 
treasurer  for  a  period  of  five  years,  and  also  in  minor  positions. 
Ellingson  and  Brynlda  Larson,  parents  of  Lars  Ellingson,  were 
natives  of  Husebo,  Norway.  They  came  to  America  in  1866,  and 
located  for  two  years  at  Calmar,  Iowa,  thence  coming  to  Adams 
village,  where  the  father  worked  on  the  railroad  for  one  year. 
Then  they  moved  on  their  son's  farm  in  Adams  township,  where 
they  remained  for  the  remainder  of  their  days,  the  father  dying 
June  3,  1882,  and  the  mother  December  22,  1908. 

Charles  Henry  Coats,  one  of  the  pioneer  residents  of  Mower 
county,  who  has  contributed  much  to  its  upbuilding,  was  born 
in  McKane  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  1,  1829.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county  and  in  an 
academy  at  Cowdasport,  Pa.,  after  which  he  assisted  his  father 
in  the  lumber  business  for  a  time,  the  business  being  closed  out 
shortly  afterward.  Later  he  removed  to  Wisconsin  and  con- 
ducted a  hotel  and  general  mercantile  business  until  1857,  when 
he  came  to  Mower  county  and  located  in  Brownsdale,  where  he 
kept  the  hotel,  succeeding  E.  J.  Stimson,  and  conducted  a  general 
dry  goods  store,  having  H.  E.  Anderson  as  a  partner  a  part  of 
the  time.  In  1868  he  came  to  Austin,  with  a  view  to  opening  a 
railroad  eating  house,  but  these  plans  did  not  mature,  and  he 
devoted  his  time  largely  to  purchasing  furs,  a  vocation  he  had 
also  followed  in  "Wisconsin  and  in  Brownsdale.    For  a  short  time 


778  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Mr.  Coats  engaged  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  Farnham  &  Love- 
joy,  lumber  dealers,  of  Minneapolis,  this  beginning  a  connection 
Avhich  lasted  in  all  twelve  years.  Soon  after  he  engaged  with 
them  he  became  a  partner,  and  the  firm  established  a  shingle  mill 
at  Minneapolis,  under  the  firm  name  of  Farnham,  Lovejoy  &  Co., 
Mr.  Coats  being  the  silent  member  of  the  firm.-  After  his  retire- 
ment from  this  firm  he  came  back  to  Austin,  where  he  had  main- 
tained his  home.  Here  he  looked  after  his  real  estate  interests 
for  a  time.  He  was  also  manager  for  some  years  of  the  Wasioja 
Stone  Company.  This  quarry  supplied  the  stone  for  the  Chicago 
Great  Western  bridge  at  St.  Paul,  for  the  George  A.  Hormel  plant 
at  Austin,  and  for  many  other  important  structures.  Of  late  years 
]\Ir.  Coats  has  practically  retired  from  active  life.  He  was  mar- 
ried January  8,  1856,  in  Wisconsin,  to  Mary  Wheeler,  a  native  of 
Westfield,  Chautauqua  county,  New  York.  They  were  married 
as  the  result  of  a  visit  to  the  then  Mary  Wheeler  to  a  sister  in 
Wisconsin,  where  Mr.  Coats  met  her.  Levi  and  Safrona  (Chapin) 
Coats,  parents  of  Charles  Henry  Coats,  were  natives  of  New  York, 
locating  in  Pennsylvania  in  the  early  days,  where  Levi  followed 
lumbering,  rafting,  etc.,  on  the  Alleghany  river.  Later  they 
removed  to  Wisconsin,  where  Levi  died  in  1871.  His  wife  after- 
Avard  came  to  Austin  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 

Dr.  Rensselaer  Soule,  a  pioneer  physician  of  Lansing,  came  to 
Minnesota  with  the  intention  of  retiring  from  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine, but  found  the  demand  for  his  services  so  great  that  he  was 
obliged  to  yield  to  the  solicitations  of  his  neighbors  and  take  up 
practice  in  this  county.  He  was  born  in  Fairfield,  Vt.,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  University  of  Vermont,  and  practiced  in  that  state 
and  Canada.  He  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  family  in  1865,  and 
purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Lansing  township.  His  wife, 
Susan  (Richardson),  died  in  the  spring  of  1880,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  years.  He  died  the  following  fall  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years. 

Rensselaer  Soule,  Jr.,  son  of  Dr.  R.  Soule,  was  born  in  Fair- 
field, Vt.,  March  27,  1836,  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  family  in 
1864,  and  settled  in  Lansing  village,  some  years  later  moving 
onto  a  farm,  southwest  quarter  of  section  10.  His  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Cornelia  L.  Hawley,  sister  of  L.  Hawley.  (See  Lyman 
Hawley  family.)  There  Avere  four  children:  Herbert,  Helen,  Lil- 
lian and  Bessie  (wife  of  A.  E.  Beadell,  Lansing,  Minn.)  ;  Helen, 
who  married  F.  A.  Foote,  died  in  St.  Paul  in  1905.  Lillian  died 
in  Faribault  in  1884.  Rensselaer  Soule,  Jr.,  father  of  Herbert  R., 
died  in  Lansing,  March  5,  1904. 

Herbert  R.  Soule  was  married  to  Alice  Padgett,  September  3, 
1884.  He  has  been  engaged  in  various  lines  of  business,  among 
them  farming,  shipping  live  stock,  and  some  real  estate  business. 


EENSSELAKR  SOULE,  JE. 


RENSSELAER  SOULE, 


IILSTOIJY  OF  MOWKi;  CorXTY  77!> 

He  was  town  clerk  of  Lansing  for  eight  years.  At  the  present 
time  lie  is;  e'onimittee  clerk  in  one  of  the  departments  of  the  legis- 
lature, session  of  3911.  He  belongs  to  the  Masons,  Woodmen, 
Court  of  Honor.  Alice  (Padgett)  Soule  was  born  near  Beaver 
Dam.  AVis.,  December  10,  1857.  Her  parents  came  to  America 
from  Lincolnshire,  England,  in  the  early  fifties.  Three  of  her 
brothers,  "William,  John  and  Robert,  enlisted  in  Wisconsin  regi- 
ments, serving  in  the  Civil  war.  Alice  came  with  an  older  sister 
(]\rrs.  i\Iann)  to  Moscow,  Freeborn  county,  in  1870.  She  was  a 
successful  teacher  in  the  public  schools  for  a  number  of  years. 
Tliis  union  is  blessed  with  one  son,  Herbert  P.  Soule,  born  August 
13.  1893,  and  is  a  student  in  Pillsbury  Academy,  Owatonna. 

The  Soule  family  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  the  Mayflower. 
Through  the  female  line  it  is  proud  to  claim  Miles  Standish  as  an 
ancestor,  and  through  the  male  line,  George  Soule,  who  was  one 
of  the  peerless  company  who  took  possession  of  "New  England's 
rock-bound  coast." 

Lyman  Hawley  came  to  ]\Iinnesota  from  Vermont  in  1864.  He 
was  engaged  in  a  general  store  for  about  five  years;  was  one  of 
the  town  supervisors,  and  taught  school  in  the  village  of  Lansing 
several  terms.  He  owned  several  different  farms  in  the  vicinity  of 
Lansing.  His  ancestors  came  to  America  from  England  and  set- 
tled in  Connecticut  in  1666,  and  from  there  they  moved  to  Ver- 
mont. One  of  his  ancestors  was  a  close  friend  of  Ethan  Allen. 
He  moved  to  Faribault,  Minn.,  February,  1878. 

Orlando  Clinton  LaBar  was  born  at  Rockport,  Carbon  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1846,  his  parents  being  Daniel  J.  and  Susan 
(Dodson)  LaBar,  the  former  a  native  of  Pike  county,  the  latter 
of  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  1856  the  family  moved  to 
Wisconsin  and  settled  at  Berlin,  Green  Lake  county,  and  from 
there  went  to  Fond  du  Lac  county.  In  1865  they  came  to  Mower 
county  and  settled  in  Lansing  A'illage.  Orlando  LaBar,  who  was 
the  eighth  of  nine  children,  was  raised  on  the  farm,  and  received 
a  good  common  school  education,  remaining  at  home  with  his 
parents  until  1872,  Avhen  he  purchased  a  farm  in  section  28, 
Tclolpho  township,  to  which  he  removed  in  the  spring  of  1873, 
wliere  both  parents  died.  In  1891  he  rented  his  farm  and  built 
himself  a  home  in  the  A'illage  of  Lansing,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  has  become  an  extensive  land  owner  and  prosperous  farmer, 
but  has  also  at  various  times  spent  considerable  energy  in  Mie 
grain  business  and  in  other  enterprises.  Although  he  has  steadily 
ref'.ised  to  take  an  active  part  in  politics,  he  has  served  five  years 
as  a  member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  and  for  two 
years  was  chairman  of  that  body.  The  subject,  of  this  sketch  was 
married,  in  October,  1869,  to  Mary  Stokes,  born  near  Oshkosh, 
AVis.,  the  sixth  daughter  of  the  Rev.  George  and  Delana  (Forl'cs) 


780  HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY 

Stokes.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  LaBar  three  children  were  born ;  one 
died  in  infancy;  Jessie  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  and 
George  S.  married  Nettie  Chaffee,  by  whom  he  has  one  sou, 
Clinton  J.  LaBar. 

Rev.  George  Stokes  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  and 
married  Delaua  Forbes.  They  came  to  Mower  county  in  the  fall 
of  1865  and  settled  in  Udolpho,  where  the  wife  died.  Rev.  Stokes 
remained  xintil  1877,  when  he  went  to  Utah,  returning  in  1884. 
He  died  in  1885  at  the  home  of  his  son-in-law,  0.  C.  LaBar,  in 
L^dolpho  township,  Minnesota.  He  was  a  true  pioneer  pastor,  and 
held  the  first  religious  services  and  organized  the  first  churches 
in  a  number  of  Mower  county  townships.  He  was  the  father  of 
nine  children. 

I'red  W.  Smock,  organizer  and  cashier  of  the  Sargeant  State 
Bank,  was  born  in  Benton  county,  Iowa,  near  the  village  of 
Vinton,  March  6,  1874,  son  of  C.  and. Viola  (Webster)  Smock, 
who  located  in  Iowa  in  1865  and  now  live  on  a  fine  farm  of  320 
acres  at  Riceville,  Iowa.  Fred  W.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Iowa,  and  engaged  in  farming  at  home  until 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  Then  he  secured  a  position  with  tho 
Farmers'  and  ^Merchants'  Bank,  of  Riceville,  Iowa,  as  bookkeeper. 
This  position  he  faithfully  filled  until  July,  1906,  when  he  came 
to  Sargeant  and  purchased  the  private  bank  of  Schoonmaker  & 
Blethen,  which  he  at  once  organized  into  a  state  bank,  becoming 
its  first  cashier.  The  bank  has  prospered,  and  is  well  equipped 
for  business,  one  of  the  latest  improvements  being  a  burglar-proof 
vault  safe.  Aside  from  the  banking  business,  Mr.  Smock  cariies 
on  an  extensive  business  in  insurance,  real  'estate  and  loans.  In 
1908  the  present  brick  bank  building  was  erected.  i\Ir.  Smock 
has  been  treasurer  of  the  village  four  years  and  is  still  serving  in 
.that  capacity.  He  is  much  interested  in  his  village  and  the  sur- 
rounding country,  and  is  doing  all  that  he  can  to  promote  the 
prosperity  of  the  community.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a 
high  degree  ]\Iason,  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.,  an  attendant  ot^ 
the  Congregational  church  and  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  was 
married  August  29,  1900,  to  Addie  N.  Norton,  of  Charles  City, 
Iowa,  and  they  have  one  son,  Morton  C,  born  September  22,  1903. 

Charles  R.  Boostrom,  of  whose  lifelong  dream  the  Southern 
"Minnesota  Normal  College,  of  Austin,  is  a  materialization,  was 
born  in  Oneida,  111.,  I\Iarch  1,  1864,  the  son  of  George  and  Aurelia 
(]\ladison)  Boostrom,  the  former  a  native  of  Sweden  and  the 
latter  of  Washington  county,  New  York.  The  elder  Boostrom 
was  fortunate  in  discovering  coal  on  his  farm,  and  this  furnished 
the  family  with  a  substantial  amount  of  this  world's  goods. 
Charles  R.,  who  was  one  of  nine  children,  was  brought  up  in  a 
Christian  home,  and  attended  the  public  schools.     Early  in  life 


CHARLES  R.  BOO«TR0M. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  781 

lie  conceived  the  plan  of  some  day  establishing  a  school  where 
the  young  people  of  limited  finances  and  opportunities  might 
receive  educational  equipment  for  their  work  in  life.  In  1883  he 
entered  the  Westei'n  Illinois  Normal  College,  at  Bushnell,  111.,  and 
graduated  from  the  normal  course  there  in  1884.  Then  in  order 
to  see  something  of  the  world,  he  spent  five  years  in  the  west, 
mining,  lumbering,  ranching  and  teaching.  In  1889  he  returned 
to  Illinois,  and  took  a  scientific  course  in  the  Northern  Illinois 
Normal  School,  at  Dixon,  graduating  in  1891.  The  following  tall 
saw  him  daily  installed  as  principal  of  schools  at  Rio,  111.,  where 
he  remained  from  1891  to  1893.  Then  he  was  elected  superin- 
tendent of  schools  at  Wataga,  111.,  and  occupied  that  position 
until  1896,  when  he  entered  the  Valparaiso  University,  in  Indiana, 
and  took  a  post  graduate  course.  Then,  in  1897,  with  E.  M. 
Schelde  and  0.  G.  Jackman,  he  founded  the  Southern  jNIinnesota 
Normal  College,  furnishing  the  credit  for  the  institution  and 
acting  as  its  first  vice  president  and  treasurer,  the  school  being 
the  outcome  of  plans  which  he  had  long  held.  In  1900,  when  Dr. 
Schelde,  the  first  president,  retired,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
succeeded  to  the  position  which  he  now  occupies,  being  the  only 
one  of  the  founders  at  present  connected  with  the  school.  Presi- 
dent Boostrom's  sphere  of  usefulness  as  an  educator  and  -is  a 
citizen  has  extended  far  beyond  the  bounds  of  his  own  school.  In 
1904  Professor  Boostrora  was  appointed  by  John  Olson,  state 
superintendent  of  public  instruction,  as  lecturer  before  state 
summer  schools,  which  position  he  filled  three  years.  In  1907  he 
succeeded  0.  W.  Shaw  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  managers  of 
the  state  public  school  at  Owatonna,  and  immediately  upon  his 
appointment  was  made  president  of  the  board,  a  position  he  still 
occupies,  having  been  reappointed  January  1,  1909.  He  is  presi- 
dent of  the  John  Ericsson  Republican  League  of  Minnesota,  an 
organization  which  includes  all  the  Scandinavian  Republican  clubs 
of  Minnesota,  being  elected  in  1908,  and  re-elected  in  1910.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Austin  Progressive  League. 
In  February,  1911,  Prof.  Boostrom  was  appointed  by  Gov.  A.  D. 
Eberhart  to  the  office  of  assistant  public  examiner.  President 
Boostrom  Avas  married  June  21,  1893,  at  Victoria,  111.,  to  Alpha 
E.  Harpman,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Rosenleaf)  Harp- 
man,  natives  of  Sweden.  Mrs.  Boostrom  graduated  from  the  Hed- 
(ling  College,  at  Abingdon,  111.,  in  1890,  then  entered  the  Val- 
paraiso University,  and  graduated  from  the  musical  department 
in  1897.  She  then  became  teacher  of  music  and  arts  in  the 
Southern  j\Iinnesota  Normal  College,  remaining  for  seven  years. 
When  her  health  gave  out  the  school  lost  an  excellent  teacher,  but 
her  kindly  influence  still  extends  through  all  the  departments  and 
is  an  inspiration  to  the  students.     She  belongs  to  a  number  of 


782  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

local  clubs  and  organizations,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Era  Club,  of  Avhich  she  was  president  for  several  years. 

Winfield  H.  Goodsell  was  born  ou  the  farm  where  he  is  now 
located  in  Frankford  township,  March  13,  1861,  son  of  Naaman 
and  Jane  A.  (Goodrich)  Goodsell.  Here  he  was  reared,  received 
a  liberal  district  school  education,  and  continued  farming  with  his 
father  until  the  latter 's  death  in  1888,  at  which  time  he  took  entire 
charge.  To  the  home  place  he  has  added  other  land  until  he  now 
has  536  acres,  all  adjoining.  Mr.  Goodsell  is  a  prominent  Mason, 
belongs  to  the  Blue  Lodge  at  Grand  Meadow,  the  Chapter  at  Le 
Roy,  the  Commandery  at  Austin,  and  the  Mystic  Shrine  at  St. 
Paul,  and  is  as  well  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  at  Grand  Meadow. 
Winfield  H.  Goodsell  was  married  in  the  old  village  of  Frankford, 
December  25,  1889,  to  Lizzie  Parker,  daughter  of  William  H.  and 
Hannah  (Wiseman)  Parker,  at  one  time  prominent  farmers  of 
Frankford,  where  AVilliam  H.  Parker  died  in  1886.  The  Goodsell 
home  has  been  blessed  with  eight  children. 

Naaman  Goodsell,  a  pioneer  of  Frankford  township,  now  de- 
ceased, was  born  in  East  Bloomtield,  Ontario  county.  New  York,  in 
1822,  of  old  Vermont  ancestry.  He  received  a  common  school 
education  and  remained  at  home  until  attaining  young  manhood. 
After  living  in  Indiana  and  Iowa,  he  came  to  Frankford  in  1855, 
and  took  a  homestead  of  160  acres  of  land  in  section  23,  erected  a 
home  and  passed  through  all  the  hardships  incident  and  necessary 
to  pioneer  days.  He  attained  prominence  and  was  treasurer  of 
the  township  ten  years.  He  was  married  June  17,  1847,  to  Jane 
A.  Goodrich,  of  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  and  they  were  blessed  with 
six  children:  George,  of  Grand  Meadow  village;  James  F.,  of 
Flandreau,  S.  D.,  where  he  has  been  state  senator  four  years, 
county  superintendent  and  county  auditor;  Lydia  E.,  now  Mrs. 
Cornelius  W.  Keek,  of  Fillmore  county ;  Eva  C,  now  Mrs.  Henry 
Bush,  of  Grand  Meadow;  Winfield  H.,  of  Frankford  township, 
and  Addie  J.,  now  Mrs.  James  Glynn,  of  Fillmore  county.  Naaman 
Goodsell  died  October  12,  1888,  and  his  wife  now  makes  her  home 
with  her  son,  Winfield. 

Robert  Dick,  a  scientific  farmer  of  Le  Roy  township,  was  born 
in  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  May  19,  1869,  son  of  John  and  Ferena 
(Isly)  Dick,  natives  of  Switzerland.  He  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing witli  his  father  until  1892,  at  which  time  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Chester,  Howard  county,  Iowa,  and  purchased  a  half 
interest  in  a  half  section  of  land.  There  he  engaged  in  farming 
until  1895,  when  he  sold  out  his  interest  and  came  to  Le  Roy 
township,  where  he  farmed  on  rented  land.  In  1902  he  returned 
to  Howard  county,  purchased  250  acres  in  Chester  township,  and 
there  followed  farming  until  the  spring  of  1910,  when  he  sold  out 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  783 

and  purchased  2-iO  acres  iu  section  27,  Le  Roy  township,  the  place 
then  being  known  as  the  Hayes  place.  Mr.  Dick  carries  on  gen- 
eral fanning  and  stock  raising  in  the  most  modern  style.  He 
is  now  breeding  into  Holstein-Fresians,  having  hitherto  been  a 
breeder  of  the  Black  Polled  Angus.  While  in  Iowa,  Mr.  Dick 
served  s-s  president  of  the  school  board  of  his  district.  He  votes 
the  Democratic  ticket,  attends  the  Presbyterian  church  and 
belongs  to  the  M.  W.  A.  of  LeRoy.  Mr.  Dick  was  married 
October  19,  1893,  to  Lena  Karlen,  born  in  Switzerland,  January 
23,  1876,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Katherene  Karlen,  wiio 
brought  her  to  America  in  1892.  In  the  Dick  family  are  live 
children:  Olga  0.,  April  16,  1894;  Herman  R.,  February  20,  1899; 
IMartha  M.,  September  10,  1901;  Lorena,  November  2,  1901  (died 
April  29,  1905),  and  Marie  L.,  December  13,  1908.  John  Dick 
was  born  December  9,  1835,  and  hift  Avife,  Ferena  Isly,  April  3, 
1840,  both  natives  of  Switzerland.  They  came  to  America  in 
1854,  and  located  in  Ohio,  where  they  farmed  four  years.  Then 
they  went  to  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  and  purchased  a  200-acre 
farm,  where  they  farmed  until  1901,  when  they  retired  and  moved 
to  Monticello.  There  they  died,  John,  August  9,  1910,  and 
Ferena,  December  9,  1902.  In  their  family  were  nine  children : 
Ella  is  the  widow  of  Gottfried  Wittwer,  and  lives  in  Madison, 
Wis. ;  John  lives  in  Monticello,  Wis. ;  Mary  is  the  widow  of  Albert 
Wittwer,  and  lives  in  Madison,  Wis. ;  Robert  lives  in  LeRoy;  Rosa 
is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Wittwer,  and  they  live  in  Monticello,  Wis. ; 
Louise  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Stedtler,  and  they  now  reside  also  in 
Monticello,  Wis. ;  Jacob  lives  in  Redfield,  S.  D. ;  Annie  is  the  wife 
of  John  P.  Klossner,  and  they  live  at  Rice  Lake,  Wis. ;  Minnie  is 
the  wife  of  Detrich  Marty,  and  they  live  at  Monticello,  Wis. 
Christian  Karlen  was  born  January  25,  1845,  and  his  wife, 
Katherene  Deiter,  April  15,  1840.  They  came  from  Switzerland 
to  America  in  1889,  and  located  in  Green  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  they  engaged  in  farming  three  years.  Then  they  came  to 
iMower  county,  Minnesota,  and  fanned  five  years.  Subsequently 
they  went  to  Howard  county,  Iowa,  and  purchased  a  quarter 
section  farm,  where  they  farmed  until  1911,  when  they  retired 
and  moved  to  LeRoy  township.  In  their  family  are  eight  chil- 
dren: John  C.  lives  in  Lodi  township,  this  county;  Albert  lives 
in  Columbia,  S.  D. ;  Emma  M.  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Meier,  and 
lives  in  Verona,  Wis. ;  Eliza,  wife  of  Eleroy  Hilton,  died  in 
September,  1893;  Lena  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Dick,  and  they  now 
live  in  LeRoy;  Edward  lives  in  Taopi;  Emil  lives  at  Houghton, 
S.  D. ;  Ida  lives  in  Columbia,  S.  D. 

Thomas  Kough,  extensive  stock  breeder  of  Lodi  township,  Avas 
born  in  Siii'cws])ury,  England,  November  1,  1841,  son  of  Tiionias 
flnd  Catherine  (Ilarley)  Kougli,  both  of  whom  died  in  England. 


784  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

He  came  to  America  in  1861,  and  after  a  long  and  troublesome 
voyage  landed  in  Quebec.  Then  he  visited  a  brother  in  Owen 
Sound,  Georgian  Bay,  Canada  West  of  that  time,  but  now 
Ontario,  for  a  while,  and  subsequently  located  in  Guelph,  Canada, 
where  he  engaged  as  a  farmer  eight  years.  In  1867  he  went  to 
New  York  state  and  a  year  later  came  to  Mower  county  and 
located  in  Lodi  township,  purchasing  120  acres  in  section  14. 
This  he  has  now  increased  to  440  acres,  all  in  a  high  degree  of 
cultivation.  In  the  early  years  of  his  residence  here  he  raised 
grain,  but  later  he  began  breeding  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Cotswold 
sheep.  After  studying  the  matter  carefully  he  decided  to  intro- 
duce Hereford  cattle  into  this  part  of  the  country,  and  accord- 
ingly, in  1881,  went  to  Guelph,  Canada  West,  now  Ontario,  where 
he  and  Conrad  Hambrecht,  of  LeRoy,  purchased  four  head  of  pure 
blooded  Herefords  for  $1,630  and  brought  them  to  Lodi.  He  now 
ships  his  beef  directly  to  Chicago,  and  sells  pure  blooded  live 
stock  as  far  away  as  western  Montana.  His  herd  consists  of  125 
head,  several  of  which  are  prize  Avinners,  his  bull  and  steers 
having  taken  $140  in  premiums  at  the  1902  state  fair.  Mr. 
Kough  has  a  comfortable  residence,  with  all  modem  improve- 
ments, such  as  running  hot  and  cold  water,  bath  rooms,  modern 
plumbing,  acetylene,  a  heating  plant  and  the  like,  his  present 
residence  being  erected  on  the  site  of  one  which  burned  in  1902. 
Mr.  Kough  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  com- 
munity from  the  time  of  his  first  arrival.  Soon  after  he  came 
here  he  attended  a  school  meeting  of  district  67,  and  was  elected 
school  clerk  at  once.  At  that  time  the  district  had  just  been 
organized  and  the  schoolhouse  had  been  started  but  was  not 
finished  on  the  inside.  This  old  schoolhouse  was  destroyed  by 
prairie  fire  in  1871,  when  it  was  not  yet  paid  for.  Unfortunately, 
the  records  of  this  district  were  destroyed  Avhen  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Kough  was  burned,  in  1902.  In  the  spring  of  1874,  when  the 
town  of  Lodi  was  organized,  Mr.  Kough  was  the  first  town  clerk, 
and  since  then  he  has  held  some  important  local  office  nearly 
continuously.  He  has  refused  to  run  for  county  office,  though 
often  assured  heavy  support.  He  was  first  married  in  Canada, 
November  16,  1865,  to  Alice  Maud  Benham,  who  died  in  1867, 
leaving  one  child,  Catherine  M.,  who  now  lives  in  England. 
September  4,  1873,  Mr.  Kough  married  Maggie  Ann  AVilsey,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children :  Nancy  Maud,  John  Harley,  Thomas  William,  the  latter 
two  being  twins,  and  Sarah  Calphernia,  now  Mrs.  J.  R.  Culton. 
Nancy  M.  is  widow  of  F.  S.  AVhite,  formerly  for  many  years 
station  agent  at  Taopi.  John  Harley  married  Lorene  Fisher. 
Thomas  William  married  Leona  ^'isher,  and  after  lier  death, 
Bridget  Murray. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  785 

Axel  Roe,  an  industrious  farmer  of  Lodi  township,  was  born 
in  Norway  in  1865,  son  of  Die  and  Katherine  Larson  Roen,  both 
now  deceased.  Axel  came  to  America  in  1889,  landed  in  New 
York  and  then  came  west  to  Praltar,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in 
railroading  for  the  Chicago,  JMilwaukee  &  St.  Paul  for  three  years. 
Then  he  moved  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  where  he  worked  for  the 
B.  C.  R.  N.  railroad  four  years.  Then  he  came  to  Adams  and 
purchased  160  acres  in  Clayton  township.  After  farming  there 
for  four  years  he  sold  out  and  then  purchased  160  acres  in 
IMitchell  county,  Iowa.  After  two  years  he  sold  out  and  pur- 
chased 160  acres  in  secticrn  26,  Lodi  township,  where  he  carries 
on  general  farming,  raises  Shorthorn  cattle  for  beef  and  dairy 
purposes  and  has  a  drove  of  thirty-three  Chester  "White  swine, 
as  well  as  twelve  Percheron  horses.  In  addition  to  his  property 
in  Lodi,  he  owns  sixty-five  acres  in  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  Mr. 
Roe  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  been  school  director  of 
district  80  for  some  years.  He  was  married  in  1892  at  Cedar 
Rapids  to  Annie  Jondal,  of  Norway,  and  they  have  six  bright 
children:  Otis,  Conrad  August,  Arthur  Segard,  Theodore  Clar- 
ence, Archibald  Gerhard  and  Alma  Senora.  The  five  sturdy  boys 
attend  school.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Norwegian  Luth- 
eran church. 

Engbret  Rudlong,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Lodi  township,  M^as 
born  in  Norway  in  1857,  son  of  Alex  Rudlong,  who  died  in  Nor- 
way in  1908.  Engbret  came  to  America  at  twenty-seven  years  of 
age,  landed  in  New  York  and  came  directly  to  Adams,  where  he 
worked  out  as  a  farm  hand  seven  years.  Then  he  purchased 
eiglity  acres  in  section  5,  Lodi  township,  and  made  general  im- 
provements, erecting  a  home  and  barn  and  raising  a  windmill  to 
pump  water.  He  has  since  followed  intensive  farming,  and  raises 
also  Shorthorn  cattle  for  beef  and  dairy  purposes,  selling  cream 
to  the  Adams  Co-operative  Creamery,  in  which  he  is  one  of  the 
stockholders  and  which  he  assisted  in  organizing.  Mr.  Rudlong 
is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  attends  the  Lutheran  church.  He 
was  married  in  1891  to  Annie  "Weste,  who  was  born  in  Norway 
and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1889.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  with  seven  children:  Mabel,  Artie,  Harry,  Eddie,  Eda, 
Nordine  and  Violet,  all  at  home.  Plarry,  Eddie  and  Eda  attend 
school. 

Rev.  Frederick  C.  Milius,  pastor  of  St.  Michael's  Gennau 
Evangelical  church,  at  Waltham,  ably  fulfills  the  ideal  of  the 
village  pastor.  Active,  well-read  and  deeply  devoxit,  he  combines 
justice  with  charity,  and  kindly  consideration  for  the  sinner  with 
his  sternness  toward  wrong.  He  has  built  up  a  great  organiza- 
tion, and  the  church  will  stand  as  his  monument  for  centuries  to 
coTne.     Born  in  North  Collins,  Erie  county,  New  York,  son  of 


786  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Michael  and  Caroline  (Smith)  Milius,  he  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  his  native  town  and  graduated  from  the  Lutheran  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  coming  to  AValtham  in  1881. 
The  Rev.  Milius  married  Anna  Dette,  daughter  of  Louis  and 
Caroline  Dette,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children :  Anna, 
Emma,  Hugo  and  Herbert.  Anna  is  the  Avife  of  Herman  IMatter 
and  they  have  one  child,  Beata,  two  years  old.  Emma  is  the  wife 
of  Julius  Kapke  and  they  have  two  children,  Leonard  and  Alvin. 
]\liehael  Miiius,  father  of  the  Rev.  Frederick  C.  Milius,  came  from 
Germany  with  his  parents  about  1840,  and  settled  near  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.  He  learned  the  trade  of  carriage  painter  and  finally,  in 
1860,  established  a  business  of  his  own,  which  he  engaged  in  at 
North  Collins,  that  state,  until  his  death,  June  3,  1910. 

John  H.  Anderson,  a  hardworking  farmer  of  Clayton  township, 
was  liorn  in  Adams  township,  July  7,  1872,  son  of  Hans  and 
Isabell  Anderson.  He  was  educated  in  the  country  schools,  and 
when  twenty  years  of  age  started  in  life  on  his  own  responsibility. 
He  worked  out  by  the  month,  then  on  the  railroad  and  then  at  the 
carpenter  trade  one  year.  For  four  years  he  rented  land,  and 
then  purchased  eighty  acres.  He  now  has  160  acres  in  section  17, 
Clayton  township,  and  on  this  he  now  conducts  mixed  farming. 
He  has  forty-five  head  of  cattle,  which  he  raises  for  dairy  and 
beef  purposes,  a  drove  of  hogs  and  several  head  of  grade  Per- 
ch eron  horses.  His  house  is  well  located,  and  an  evergreen  drive 
adds  greatly  to  the  appearance  of  the  place.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  has  been  road  overseer  two  years  and 
treasurer  of  school  district  74  for  two  terms.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  January  1,  1896,  to  Christina  Huseby,  daugh- 
ter of  Arne  A.  Huseby,  of  Marchall  township,  and  this  union  has 
resulted  in  seven  children:  Selma,  Ella,  Ida,  Herbert,  Arnold, 
Adeline  and  Joel.  All  except  Adeline  and  Joel  are  attending 
school  and  doing  well  in  their  studies.  The  family  faith  is  that 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  Hans  and  Isabella  Anderson  came  to 
America  from  Norway  and  settled  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin. 
Two  years  later  they  came  to  Adams  township  and  purchased 
land  on  Avhich  they  farmed  until  the  death  of  Hans  A.,  in  1910. 
Mv:i.  Isabella  Anderson  is  now  living  in  Marshall  township. 

E.  E.  Edwards,  a  modern  farmer  of  "Waltham  township,  where 
he  owns  200  well  tilled  acres  in  sections  26  and  27,  was  born  in 
the  township  where  he  still  resides,  September  5,  1873,  son  of 
Milton  and  Dorothy  (Johnson)  Edwards,  the  former  of  whom 
came  from  Illinois  about  1871,  and  located  in  "Waltham  township. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  education  in  Wal- 
tham and  Wilder,  Minn.,  and  Osage,  Iowa,  and  has  devoted  his 
life  to  farming.  He  married  Jennie  A.  Hunt,  November  11,  1896, 
daughter  of  E.  F.  Hunt  and  Mary  Kezar,  his  wife,  and  they  arc 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  T87 

the  parents  of  four  children :  Eugene  Everett,  born  February  12, 
1900;  Lester  Lee,  born  October  16,  1901,  and  died  November  5, 
1901 ;  Brasilia  Wave,  born  December  21,  1904,  and  died  March 
19,  1905 ;  and  Mark  Wesley,  born  October  11,  1908.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Edwards  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  Mr. 
Edwards  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  at  Sargeant. 

Truls  S.  Green,  an  honored  resident  of  Pleasant  Valley,  was 
born  in  Norway,  July  1,  1842,  sou  of  Sven  and  Anna  Green,  now 
deceased.  He  came  to  America  in  1870  and  after  landing  at 
Quebec  came  directly  to  Dane  coimty,  Wisconsin,  where  he  worked 
out  a  year.  Then  he  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand  in  Olmsted 
county  four  years.  Subsequently  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  section  26,  Pleasant  Valley.  He  uow^  owns  a  quarter  sec- 
tion of  good  land,  and  has  conducted  diversified  farming,  having 
about  twenty-five  head  of  Durham  cattle  and  ten  head  of  Chester 
White  hogs.  Mr.  Green  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  an  attend- 
ant of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  was  married  in  November,  1877, 
to  Anna  Nelson,  of  Rockdell  township.  Anna  Nelson,  daughter 
of  Nels  and  Christine  Nelson,  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  May  16,  1852, 
and  after  two  years  was  taken  by  her  parents  to  Rockdell  town- 
ship. At  the  age  of  eighteen  she  started  to  work  out  part  of  the 
time,  until  the  age  of  twenty-three,  when  she  was  married.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Green  have  had  eight  children,  of  whom  four  are  dead. 
Anna  was  born  February  1,  1876,  and  was  married  to  Christ  Nel- 
son, January  11,  1896.  She  lives  in  Grand  Meadow  township. 
Christine  was  born  November  12,  1878,  and  died  March  3,  1896. 
Sam  was  born  in  June,  1881,  and  died  in  March,  1882.  Alfred  was 
born  July  4,  1884.  He  is  employed  in  a  department  store  in  I\Iin- 
neiipolis,  and  owns  a  cpiarter  section  of  land  in  North  Dakota, 
Carl  was  born  January  26,  1887,  and  died  September  10,  1901. 
Walter,  the  first,  was  born  January  21,  1892,  and  died  October  10, 
1892.  Walter,  the  second,  was  born  December  11,  1893,  and  is  at 
home.  Theodore  was  born  January  15,  1889.  He  has  rented  his 
father's  farm  for  the  past  two  years,  and  has  managed  it  success- 
fully, owning  stock  and  six  horses  of  his  own.  He  is  an  estimable 
young  man,  well  liked  in  the  community. 

Olaus  Thorson,  assessor  and  prominent  farmer  of  Bennington 
township,  was  born  in  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  December  23,  1861, 
son  of  Thor  Knutson  and  Betsy  Knutson,  his  Avife.  These  worthy 
people,  natives  of  Norway,  came  to  America  in  1861,  lived  in  Rock 
county,  Wisconsin,  until  1868,  then  came  to  Fillmore  county,  this 
state,  purchased  120  acres,  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits, 
dying,  respectively,  in  November,  1892,  and  January,  1876.  Olaus 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools,  lost  his  mother  when 
he  was  fifteen,  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  there  remained  until 
J  889,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  purcha-sed  160  acres  of 


788  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

land  in  Bennington  township,  where  he  erected  buildings  and 
improved  the  land.  He  has  added  to  his  place  from  time  to  time 
imtil  he  now  owns  320  acres,  all  under  a  high  degree  of  cultiva- 
tion. Mr.  Thorson  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  served  nine  years  as 
school  treasurer,  and  is  now  in  his  seventh  year  as  clerk  of  the 
same  district.  In  addition  to  his  real  estate,  he  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Creamery  and  the  Farmers'  Co-opera- 
tive Elevator  at  Ostrander.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  mar- 
ried October  4,  1884,  to  Oleva  Barnes,  of  Fillmore  county,  and 
they  have  eight  children :  Clarence,  Bernard,  Oscar,  Oneay,  Will- 
iam, Owen,  Roosevelt  and  Leona,  all  living  at  home  except  Clar- 
ence, who  is  managing  a  240-aere  farm  in  section  21,  Bennington 
township.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
church.  Mr.  Thorson  is  known  as  the  "threshing  machine  man" 
of  the  community,  having  operated  four  different  threshers  in  the 
town  of  Bennington  since  he  first  started  in  1891.  In  the  fall  of 
1910  he  sold  his  threshing  machine  and  threshing  business  to  his 
son,  Bernard  Thorson.  AVhen  Mr.  Thorson  started  in  this  line  in 
1891  he  purchased  a  Huber  engine  and  a  Columbian  Victory  sepa- 
rator. His  second  thresher  was  the  Minneapolis,  and  his  last  two 
were  the.  J.  I.  Case  thresher. 

Robert  A.  Anderson,  progressive  farmer  of  ]\Iarshall  township, 
was  born  in  Mower  county  in  1879,  son  of  Andrew  R.  and  Eliza- 
betli  Anderson,  pioneers.  He  was  educated  in  the  county  schools, 
and  assisted  on  the  farm  until  twenty-four  years  of  age,  at  which 
lime  he  inherited  240  acres  of  land  in  section  25,  Marshall  town- 
ship. Since  that  time  he  has  conducted  general  farming,  making 
a  specialty  of  dairying.  He  belongs  to  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
church,  votes  the  Republican  ticket  and  belongs  to  the  Modern 
"Woodmen.  Mr.  Anderson  was  married  in  1903  to  Clara  Alfson, 
and  they  have  two  bright  children,  Cora  and  Arnold. 

Andrew  R.  Anderson,  an  early  settler  of  Marshall  township, 
was  born  in  Norway,  November  17,  1855.  "When  he  was  thirteen 
years  old  he  came  to  America  with  his  parents  and  located  in 
Decorah,  Iowa,  where  his  parents  farmed,  and  there  he  grew  to 
manhood,  spending  his  time  in  school,  and  on  the  farm.  At  the 
age  of  nineteen  he  went  to  the  Dakotas,  but  this  was  the  summer 
of  the  grasshopper  plague,  and  not  finding  things  favorable  there 
he  came  to  Mower  county.  In  1874  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
unimproved  land  in  section  25,  built  a  house,  made  many  improve- 
inonts  and  carried  on  general  farming,  adding  to  his  land  from 
time  to  time  until  he  owned  240  acres.  Mr.  Anderson  was  assessor 
and  town  clerk  several  terms,  and  was  also  a  teacher  in  the 
county,  his  education  being  obtained  by  self  study.  He  was 
married  in  1879  to  Elizabeth  Rasmussen,  a  daughter  of  one  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEI!  COUNTY  7S'J 

pioneer  families.  This  union  was  blessed  with  three  children: 
Robert  A.,  Andrew  0.  and  Eraraa  Syrenius. 

Chris  Anderson  was  born  in  Denmark,  April  9,  1863,  son  of 
Hans  and  Anna  (Christiansen)  Anderson,  both  of  whom  died  in 
the  old  country.  Chris  Anderson  received  his  education  in  his 
native  country  and  came  to  America  in  1880,  locating  in  Austin 
township,  where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  Avork.  In  1901  he 
became  head  foreman  for  the  A.  H.  Davidson  farm,  of  264  acres, 
which  position  he  still  retains  with  much  credit,  being  energelic 
and  thoroughly  capable.  He  is  a  Republican,  attends  the  Luth- 
eran church  and  belongs  to  the  Danish  Brotherhood.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  married  in  October,  1893,  to  Anna  Prestegaard, 
and  they  have  four  children :  Hans,  Mabel,  Helen  and  Elmer,  all 
at  school. 

Zalmon  Ames,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  J\Iower  county,  ^.vas 
born  in  Genesee  county.  New  York,  August  9,  1820.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  New  York,  and  was  there  married  to  Anna  Avery, 
October  12,  18-44.  She  was  a  native  of  Chautauqua  county,  New 
Yoi-k,  born  there  in  1830.  She  died  in  1850,  leaving  three  cliil- 
dren :  Francis,  Cerenias  C.  (now  deceased)  and  Alfred  0.  ^NLrs. 
Ames  was  again  married  in  1851  to  ]\Iary  Avery.  In  1854  they 
migrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  that  state  in  January  of  that  year. 
In  1857  they  came  to  Mower  county  and  located  on  section  7,  Red 
Rock  township.  His  wife  died  October  30,  1875,  leaving  five  chil- 
dren :  Henry  A.,  Mary  E.,  Fred  D.,  Warren  and  Hattie  L.  Mary 
E.  married  George  AVood,  and  they  live  in  Spring  Creek,  Pa. 
Fred  D.  lives  in  Chicago.  AYarren  lives  in  Verndale,  Minn.  Hattie 
L.  is  now  Airs.  Carter. 

Henry  A.  Ames  was  born  in  Red  Rock  township,  December  7, 
1858,  and  has  spent  the  larger  part  of  his  adult  years  in  Austin, 
being  employed  for  some  years  with  Alonzo  Decker  in  the  coal 
business.  He  is  now  with  J.  F.  Fairbanks.  Mr.  Ames  married 
Barbara  Sachse,  and  there  are  six  children  in  the  family:  Bertha, 
Ettie,  Esther,  Grace,  Caroline  and  Donald  D.  Bertha  is  the  wife 
of  AVilliam  Lambert  and  has  one  daughter,  Ruth. 

Joseph  M.  Beck,  Austin  bookbinder,  was  born  in  New  A^ork 
city,  January  27,  ]8G8,  son  of  Robert  and  Emma  (Canfield)  Beck, 
natives  respectively  of  Ireland  and  England.  They  located  in 
New  A'ork  city,  and  there  Robert  Beck  engaged  in  the  retail  meat 
trade  for  many  years,  dying  in  1890,  several  years  earlier  tlian 
his  wife,  who  survived  him  until  1906.  Joseph  AI.  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools,  and  then  learned  the  bookbinding 
trade.  In  1887  he  worked  in  Chicago  a  short  period  and  tiien  took 
up  his  abode  in  St.  Paul  for  six  years,  still  working  at  his  trade. 
In  1894  he  came  to  Austin  and  opened  a  small  bindery  in  the  office 
of  the  Register.    In  1907  he  moved  to  his  present  quarters  in  the 


790  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Revord  block,  where  his  business  has  grown  and  prospered.  ^Mr. 
Beck  is  a  Eepubliean  in  polities,  belongs  to  the  C.  of  11.  and  the 
R.  A.  and  attends  the  Catholic  church.  He  was  married  October 
29,  1889,  at  Inver  Grove,  Dakota  county,  this  state,  to  Anna 
Brown,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  -with,  four  children :  Agnes, 
Joseph,  Jr.,  Anna  M.  and  Florence  ]\I.,  all  at  home  and  attending 
school. 

Robert  M.  Boyd,  a  retired  farmer  living  in  Austin,  was  born 
in  Janesville,  Wis.,  August  3,  1846,  son  of  Robert  and  Ellen 
(Bufton)  Boyd,  natives  of  Ireland.  Robert  M.  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  and  remained  in  Rock  county  until  1877,  Avhen  he  came  to 
IMower  county  and  located  in  Austin  township.  Later  he  went  to 
Lyle  township,  and  farmed  there  until  1895,  when  he  retired  and 
moved  to  Austin.  He  married  for  his  first  wife  Sebenia  Cimning- 
bam,  daugiiter  of  Richard  Cunningham.  She  died  July  20,  lUOO, 
leaving  five  living  children:  Mary;  Robert  A.;  Ellen,  wife  of 
Joseph  Redman;  Ormanzo  and  Amelia.  He  Avas  m.arried  the 
second  time  November  4,  1903,  to  Mary  A.  Hoiifman,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Fiezel  and  ]Mary  Sarah  Ott,  his  wife.  Robert  M.  Boyd 
served  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  in  March,  1863,  in  Co.  B,  37th 
AVis.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

R.  A.  Boyd,  the  popular  local  agent  for  the  Standard  Oil 
Company  at  Austin,  Avas  born  in  Wisconsin,  ]\Iarch  4,  1874,  son 
of  Robert  i\I.  Boyd,  also  of  Austin.  R.  A.  Boyd  was  brought  to 
Mower  county  Avhen  two  years  of  age  and  Vi^as  reared  on  a  farm, 
remaining  at  home  until  1902,  Avhen  he  came  to  Austin,  and 
engaged  in  the  draying  business.  In  1905  he  commenced  work 
for  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  and  thirteen  months  of  this  service 
so  demonstrated  his  fitness  and  ability  that  he  was  given  charge 
of  the  local  district,  consisting  of  Austin,  Adams,  Lyle,  Rose 
Creek,  Elkton,  Dexter,  Renova,  Brownsdale,  "Waltham,  Lansing, 
Corning,  Oakland,  Moscow  and  London,  in  Avhich  position  he  has 
since  remained,  dealing  in  all  kinds  of  illuminating  oil,  machine 
oil,  naphtha,  turpentine  and  gasoline,  and  keeping  three  teams  on 
the  road  all  the  Avhile.  ]\Ir.  Boyd  served  three  years  in  Co.  G, 
Second  Regiment,  M.  N.  G.,  and  at  one  time  Avas  appointed  a 
member  of  the  school  board  in  Lyle  township  to  fill  a  vacancy. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  the  F.  0.  E.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  Avas  married  IMarch  30,  1896,  to  Mabel  Mannering,  and 
to  tliis  union  have  been  born  two  daughters,  ]\Iildred,  November 
16,  1900,  and  Hazel,  -lune  18,  1903.'  The  family  faith  is  that  of 
the  Baptist  church. 

Barney  Bushman,  for  many  years  street  commissioner  of  the 
city  of  Austin,  came  to  Mower  county  in  1878  and  was  employed 
for  a  time  as  section  hand  on  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  line.  After  two 
years  of  this  Avork,  he  Avas  engaged  for  seven  years  in  the  car 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVER  COUNTY  791 

shops,  ami  then  farmed  two  years.  His  wide  aequaiiitaiiee  and  his 
interest  in  jHiblic  atfairs  caused  him  to  enter  the  political  arena, 
and  for  sixteen  years  he  served  as  street  commissioner.  He  has 
now  retired  from  active  work,  but  still  takes  an  interest  in  all 
public  movements.  Mr.  Bushman  married  Tiena  Helmsing,  daugh- 
ter of  Gerhard  Helmsing,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  five 
children :  Gerhard,  Henry,  August,  Frank  and  Katie,  the  latter 
now  being  Mrs.  Albert  Thompson.  Barney  Bushman  was  born  in 
Germany,  October  27,  1841,  son  of  Frederick  and  Katie  (Linne- 
man)  Bushman.  He  came  to  this  country  with  his  wife  and  family 
of  four  children,  landing  at  Baltimore,  and  coming  direct  to 
Austin. 

C.  Perry  Bell,  no-\v  deceased,  was  one  of  the  venerable  pioneers 
of  ]Mower  county,  and  his  influence  was  ever  exerted  in  behalf  of 
that  which  was  righteous  and  just.  He  was  born  November  24, 
1828,  on  a  farm  in  Garrettsville,  Otsego  county.  New  York,  where 
he  w^as  reared.  His  father  Avas  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
who  came  to  America  in  1802,  married  Abigail  Perry,  and  ended 
his  days  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  The  son  was  named  from  the  famous 
commodore  of  the  war  of  1812.  In  1856,  N.  G.  Perry,  a  cousin  of 
C.  Perry  Bell,  came  to  ]\Iower  county  Avith  a  party  of  settlers  wdio 
located  in  Lansing  township,  about  three  miles  north  of  Austin. 
In  the  spring  of  1857  came  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  pre- 
empted land  in  Udolpho  towmship,  but  soon  after  purchased  eighty 
acres  in  Lansing  toAvnship  from  N.  G.  Perry.  On  this  place  he 
settled,  and  there  he  successfully  conducted  general  farming,  add- 
ing to  his  place  from  time  to  time  until  he  owned  338  acres.  Dur- 
ing the  fall  and  winter  of  1858  he  lived  in  Wisconsin,  but  in  the 
spring  again  returned  to  his  farm.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  Second  Minnesota  Cavalry,  and  engaged  in  the  famous 
Indian  expedition  to  Fort  Sully  and  through  the  "bad  lands." 
He  Avas  mustered  out  in  the  Avinter  of  1865,  and  again  returned  to 
MoAver  county.  In  the  early  days  Mr.  Bell  Avas  the  good  Samaritan 
of  liis  neighborhood,  supplying  flour  to  his  starving  neighbors. 
Often  upon  his  return  from  a  thirty-mile  trip  he  found  his  floor 
covered  Avith  sleeping  men,  w^aiting  for  a  share  of  his  flour,  some 
of  them  coming  from  as  far  away  as  Moscoav.  Mr.  Bell  Avas  a 
member  of  Mclntire  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  the  members  of  that  order 
attended  his  funeral  in  a  body.  His  death,  June  6,  1906,  Avas  a 
distinct  loss  to  the  community  in  Avhich  for  so  many  years  he  had 
been  an  honored  factor.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  Avas  inarried 
December  18,  1875,  to  Rebecca  Garred,  and  to  this  union  Avere 
born  two  children,  Cora  and  William.  Cora  is  noAV  ]\Irs.  ^Maurice 
Case.  William  married  Ada  Carll,  daughter  of  Josepli  and  Mary 
(Bartlett)    Carll.     The  father  of  Mr.   liell   was  Christoplicr  Bell. 


792  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

John  0.  Blom  was  born  in  Sweden  in  1871,  the  son  of  Oscar 
and  Johanna  Blom,  who  came  to  the  United  States  about  1890,  and 
located  in  Mower  county.  John  0.  was  educated  in  Sweden,  came 
to  Mower  county  with  his  parents,  and  when  twenty  years  of  age 
started  in  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer.  He  is  now  leasing  the 
E.  A.  Taylor  property  in  section  28,  Marshall  township,  and 
expects  soon  to  buy  a  nice  farm  of  his  own.  He  has  been  on  the 
Taylor  property  since  1903.  Mr.  Blom  was  married  in  1893  to 
Helen  Rolf,  daughter  of  Fred  Rolf,  of  Marshall  township,  and  this 
union  has  resulted  in  two  children  :  Walter  and  Grace.  He  attends 
the  Lutheran  church,  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  and  belongs  to 
the  United  AVorkmen. 

Harry  Bradley,  retired  business  man,  has  seen  much  of  life  on 
the  continent  and  islands  of  Europe,  and  has  also  had  his  share  in 
the  commercial  activities  of  Le  Roy.  He  was  born  in  Yorkshire, 
England,  June  27,  1840,  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Eastwood) 
Bradley,  the  former  a  cloth  merchant  of  Yorkshire  who  died  in 
1850,  the  latter  following  him  to  the  grave  in  1880.  To  this  union 
twelve  children  were  born  :  Sarah,  Mary  and  Isabella  live  in  Eng- 
land; Harry  lives  in  Le  Roy,  Minn.;  Anna,  Emma,  John,  Jane, 
Joseph  and  three  unnamed  infants  are  deceased.  Harry  Bradley 
received  his  education  in  the  Tollersfield  Academy  of  Yorkshire, 
England,  and  graduated  in  1858,  after  which  he  went  to  London 
and  engaged  as  a  draftsman  with  W.  M.  Crossland,  an  eminent 
architect,  for  five  years.  During  the  succeeding  seven  years  he 
remained  in  the  same  employ,  traveling  extensively  in  France, 
Germany,  Italy,  England,  Scotland  and  Wales,  learning  the  high- 
est arts  of  his  profession.  Then  he  returned  to  Yorkshire,  engaged 
in  business  for  himself,  and  later  went  to  London,  where  he  still 
followed  his  profession.  It  Avas  in  1881  that  he  left  England  and 
sailed  for  America,  locating  at  once  in  Le  Roy,  where  he  was  clerk 
and  bookkeeper  in  the  Frisbee  and  Larrabee  drug  stores.  Later 
he  embarked  in  the  lumber  and  coal  business,  in  which  he  was 
very  successful,  having  his  son,  Harry  E.,  as  a  partner  a  part  of 
the  time.  In  1910  he  sold  out  his  business  and  retired.  Harry 
Bradley  was  married  December  31,  1881,  to  Mary  Ann  Bradley, 
who  died  August  1,  1909.  In  the  family  is  one  son,  Harry  E.,  born 
March  6,  1883.  Mr.  Bradley  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  affiliates  with  the  M.  W.  A. 

Hiram  H.  Either,  retired  farmer,  living  in  Le  Roy  village,  was 
born  in  Aroostook  county,  Maine,  August  9,  1836,  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Anna  (Tyler)  Bither,  twelfth  of  a  family  of  five  girls  and  ten 
boys.  Hiram  H.  left  Maine  in  1856,  and  located  in  Black  River 
Falls,  Wis.,  where  he  stayed  eight  months.  Then  he  farmed  in 
Elk  River,  Minn.,  for  eleven  years,  and  in  1868  sold  out  and 
located  in  Oakdale,  Howard  county,  Iowa.    In  1892  he  sold  this 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  79;5 

lilaee  and  came  to  Le  Roy,  where  he  purchased  a  small  farm  of 
twenty  acres,  which  he  sold  in  1904.  Mr.  Either  is  a  member  of 
Eureka  Lodge,  No.  74,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  By  his  first  wife,  Saphronia, 
daughter  of  John  Felch,  lie  has  five  children:  Harry  E.,  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years  and  ten  months;  Edwin  H.  is  the  second; 
Susan  E.  is  the  wife  of  Ches.ter  Cadwallader;  William  lives  in 
Chicago ;  Saphronia  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Saphronia  Felch  Bither 
died  in  July,  1870.  Later  Mr.  Bither  married  Harriet  R.,  daughter 
of  John  Burbank.  She  died  April  10,  1895.  In  1896  Mr.  Bither 
married  Anna  Forthum,  a  native  of  Le  Roy,  of  Norwegian 
descent.    There  is  an  adopted  child,  Helen  M.,  in  the  family. 

Thomas  Cahill,  the  genial  proprietor  of  the  Taopi  Hotel,  is  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  New  London,  November  12,  1844, 
son  of  Dennis  and  Ann  Riley  Cahill,  who  brought  him  to  Dodge 
county,  Wisconsin,  in  1845,  at  one  year  of  age,  taking  him  at 
eleven  years  of  age  to  Sauk  county,  in  the  same  state.  Here  he 
received  his  education  and  grew  to  manhood.  In  1866  he  engaged 
in  farming  for  himself,  in  Sauk  county,  an  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed there  three  years.  He  then  worked  at  the  timber  business 
in  the  same  county  for  a  similar  period.  In  1873  he  came  to 
Mower  county  and  located  in  Le  Roy  township,  engaging  in 
farming  for  one  summer,  after  which  he  took  up  the  stock  and 
grain  buying  business,  an  occupation  which  he  followed  until 
1891,  purchasing  grain  at  Le  Roy,  Chester,  Riceville  and  Taopi, 
still  maintaining  his  home  at  Le  Roy.  In  1901  he  removed  to 
Taopi,  and  continued  grain  buying  two  more  years.  In  July, 
1893,  he  rented  the  Taopi  Hotel,  which  he  conducted  as  landlord 
until  1902,  when  he  purchased  the  property,  and  has  since  been 
both  landlord  and  owner.  Since  coming  to  Taopi,  Mr.  Cahill  has 
served  as  president  of  the  village  council,  and  is  now  village 
recorder.  Aside  from  the  hotel  and  buildings  in  Taopi,  he  owns 
a  residence  and  seventeen  lots  in  Le  Roy.  Mr.  Cahill  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  a  Catholic.  He  was  married  February  23,  1867,  to 
Bridget  E.  Walsh,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  five  children, 
of  whom  two  are  living:  ]\Iary  Ellen,  now  Mrs.  H.  J.  Gosha, 
operator  at  Farmington,  Minn.,  and  Kathei'ine,  who  lives  at  home. 
Those  deceased  are  John  S.,  James  and  Thomas. 

Henry  P.  Cronan,  a  successfid  farmer  of  Mower  county,  has 
160  acres  of  good  land  in  section  25,  Windom  township,  and  car- 
ries on  general  farming  in  an  energetic  manner,  which  is  highly 
productive  of  excellent  results.  He  was  born  March  6,  1867,  at 
Ossian,  Iowa,  son  of  Patrick  and  ^Mary  (Grace)  Cronan,  who  were 
born  in  Ireland  and  married  in  America,  to  which  country  they 
immigrated.  Patrick  dying  in  1877  and  his  wife  in  1904.  Henry 
P.  was  brought  to  Mower  county  as  a  boy,  and  here  received  his 
early  education,  assisting  his  parents  with  farm  work.     He  has 


794  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

since  devoted  his  entire  life  to  agriculture.  Mr.  Crouan  is  a 
member  of  the  Workmen  and  the  Degree  of  Honor  and  is  a  com- 
municant of  the  Catholic  church.  He  was  married  May  17,  1892, 
to  Laura  E.  Woodward,  daughter  of  James  and  Helen  (Kreglok) 
Woodward,  of  New  York.  This  union  has  resulted  in  four  chil- 
dren: Euth  B.,  born  February  16,  1893,  a  teacher  in  Windom 
township;  Eeginald  T.,  born  August  4,  1894;  Helen  M.,  born 
November  9,  1898,  and  Eodger  B.,  born  March  21,  1903. 

C.  B.  Dibble,  of  Austin,  sanitary  dairyman  and  owner  of  the 
North  Star  Dairy  Company,  was  born  in  Michigan  in  May,  1856, 
the  son  of  D.  K.  Dibble.  He  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  parents 
at  one  year  of  age,  and  lived  with  them  in  Dodge  county,  where 
the  father  pursued  his  occupation  as  a  farmer,  being  also  em- 
ployed in  the  county  treasurer's  office.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
remained  in  Dodge  county  until  1891,  when  he  came  to  Austin. 
Since  then,  with  the  exception  of  about  two  years,  he  has  been  in 
the  dairy  business.  The  North  Star  Dairy  Company,  of  which 
he  is  the  owner,  does  a  general  dairy  business,  retailing  milk, 
cream,  butter  and  ice  cream.  Mr.  Dibble  commenced  in  this  line 
by  selling  milk  from  his  farm,  two  miles  out  of  Austin,  and  gradu- 
ally drifted  into  his  present  large  business,  increasing  the  number 
of  his  customers  by  hard  work  and  honest  dealing.  Mr.  Dibble 
is  well  liked  socially,  being  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
and  the  Eagles.  He  pays  his  religious  duties  at  the  Methodist 
church.  In  early  life  he  married  Idell  Getman,  daughter  of  Con- 
rad and  Mary  Getman,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
sous,  Daniel  K.,  Roy  G.,  Bert  E.  and  Ralph,  all  of  whom  are 
employed  with  their  father  in  the  North  Star  Dairy  Company. 
Daniel  K.  married  Lettie  Dungaw,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Irene,  Esther  and  Charles.  Eoy  G.  married  Ada  Storey.  Bert  E. 
married  Alta  Minto. 

Emil  Dahmen,  representative  of  the  Minneapolis  Tribune,  liv- 
ing in  Austin,  was  born  in  Kalmer,  Sweden,  June  17,  1872,  son 
of  C.  J.  and  Hanna  (Peterson)  Dahmen,  the  former  of  whom  was 
a  leather  merchant  in  Sweden.  Emil  received  his  education  in  the 
public  and  private  schools  of  Sweden,  and  then  entered  into  the 
grocery  business  in  his  native  land.  In  1893  he  came  to  America, 
and  farmed  near  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  for  one  year,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  the  life  insurance  business  six  years,  serving  in  the 
meantime  a  term  as  private  in  the  New  York  National  Guard.  In 
1900  he  went  to  New  York  and  engaged  in  the  life  insurance 
l)usiness  there.  He  followed  the  same  line  in  Minneapolis,  to 
Avhich  city  he  next  moved,  but  later  accepted  a  position  in  the 
circulating  department  of  the  Minneapolis  Tribvme.  In  1903  he 
came  to  Austin,  and  has  since  had  charge  of  the  circulation  of 
that  paper  in  Austin  and  southern  Minnesota.     He  is  a  Eepub- 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUKTY  71)5 

lic'ciu  aud  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  Mr.  Dahmen  was  married 
October  2,  1899,  at  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  to  Emma  Strauburg,  daugh- 
ter of  F.  0.  Stranburg,  a  prominent  undertaker  of  Jamestown, 
N.  Y.,  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Dahmen  was  born  at  Jamestown, 
November  22,  187-1:,  and  in  that  place  her  mother  is  still  living. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dahmen  have  two  children :  Lloyd  C,  born  Sep- 
tember 9,  1900,  and  Grace  H.,  born  February  22,  1903. 

H.  G.  Dahl,  successful  hardware  merchant  of  Lyle  village,  was 
born  in  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  October  5,  1871,  son  of  H.  0. 
and  S.  H.  Dahl,  natives  of  Norway,  who  came  to  America  as 
children,  lived  in  Rock  county  until  1873,  and  then  engaged  in 
farming  in  Mitchell  county,  until  they  moved,  in  1882,  to  their 
present  farm  of  120  acres  of  excellently  cultivated  land.  H.  0. 
Dahl  died  July  23,  1908,  and  his  wife  still  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead. H.  G.  Dahl  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  high 
schools  and  in  the  academy  at  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa.  He  started  work 
in  life  as  a  clerk  and  worked  for  E.  L.  Stanley,  R.  Reirson  and 
the  Wilson  Brothers  before  embarking  in  the  hardware  business 
with  C'olburn  J.  Colbertson.  The  business  has  grown  to  large 
proportions,  and  the  store  cai'ries  a  good  stock  of  all  kinds  of 
hardware,  plumbing  and  heating  equipment,  tinware,  pianos  and 
organs,  the  plumbing  department  being  well  equipped  for  work 
in  village  and  country.  Mr.  Dahl  is  a  Republican,  has  been 
assessor  of  the  village  of  Lyle  two  terms,  member  of  the  city 
council  one  term,  and  treasurer  of  the  school  board  five  years. 
He  has  shown  his  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  village  by  sub- 
scribing to  stock  in  the  Lyle  Telephone  Company.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  married  October  15,  1898,  to  Emma  Volstad, 
daughter  of  G.  K.  Volstad,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with 
five  children:  Lloyd  F.,  Genevieve  S.,  Fred  E.,  Glenn  il.  and 
Evangeline  H.,  born  October  20,  1910. 

E.  S.  Evenson,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Windom  town- 
ship, and  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  was  born  in  Norway,  Novem- 
ber 18,  18i5,  son  of  Stener  and  Rondi  (Knutson)  Evenson,  who 
came  to  America  in  1849,  and  settled  in  Green  county,  Wisconsin, 
coming  to  Minnesota  in  1862,  and  settling  in  section  31,  Windom 
township,  where  the  son,  E.  S.,  now  lives.  E.  S.  came  to  America 
with  his  parents  as  an  infant,  was  reared  in  Wisconsin,  and  as  a 
young  man  enlisted  in  a  company  of  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infan- 
try. He  saw  active  service  in  the  war,  and  was  discharged  at 
Vicksburg,  jMiss.,  August  9,  1865.  After  the  war  he  came  to 
Windom  township,  to  which  locality  his  parents  had  in  the  mean- 
time moved,  and  has  since  farmed  on  section  31.  He  has  been 
successful  in  his  opei*ations,  and  is  respected  and  liked  through- 
out the  community.  He  married  jMary  Hanson,  and  they  have 
seven  children:    Rondi,  wife  of  Peter  Lawson ;    Hans  and  Ben, 


796  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY 

of  Nevada  township ;  Edward,  of  Adams  township ;  Minnie,  now 
deceased;  William,  of  Lyle  township;  and  Julia,  wife  of  Nels 
Nelson,  of  Nevada  township. 

Joseph  H.  Furtney,  a  successful  liveryman  of  Austin,  was  born 
August  24,  1875,  son  of  Josiah  S.  and  Sarah  (Hibbard)  Furtney. 
He  attended  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  then  took  up 
mason  Avork  with  his  father,  remaining  at  this  work  until  he 
gradually  became  interested  in  the  livery  business.  For  the  past 
six  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Furtney  &  Bassett. 
Mr.  Furtney  married  Ida  Nelson,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Florence,  Herbert  J.  and  Donald.  Mr.  Furtney  belongs  to  the 
F.  0.  E.  and  the  M.  W.  A. 

Josiah  S.  Furtney,  for  many  years  a  farmer  and  mason  in 
]\Iower  county,  Avas  born  in  Canada,  his  father  being  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  his  grandfather  of  Germany.  Josiah  S.  mar- 
ried Sarah  Hibbard,  and  after  a  period  spent  in  Decorah,  Iowa, 
came  to  Austin,  in  Avhich  vicinity  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1902. 
He  had  seven  children :  ]\Iinnie,  Joseph  H.,  Harry  M.,  Lottie  M., 
Lottie,  Roy,  Ada  and  Vera. 

Alfred  D.  Fairbanks,  noAV  deceased,  was  born  in  Vermont, 
there  grew  to  manhood,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  Avar 
enlisted  in  the  United  States  Sharpshooters,  serving  in  Com- 
pany E.  He  married  Belle  A.  Baker,  and  together  they  Avent  to 
live  in  Bethel,  Vt.,  Avhere  Mr.  Fairbanks  worked  three  years  on 
a  farm  in  hopes  of  regaining  his  health,  which  had  been  impaired 
by  army  life.  Then  they  came  west  and  located  in  MoAver  county, 
taking  up  their  home  in  the  historic  spot  long  known  as  "Saints' 
Rest."  Seventeen  years  later  ill  health  caused  him  to  abandon 
farming,  and  in  1891  they  moved  to  Austin,  Avhere  Mr.  Fairbanks 
died  April  4,  1899.  Mrs.  Fairbanks,  nee  Belle  A.  Baker,  Avas 
born  in  Hollidaysberg,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Abram  P.  and  Elizabeth 
(Kidd)  Baker.  Mrs.  Fairbanks  passed  her  early  life  in  her  native 
tOAAm,  attended  school  there,  and  later  took  courses  at  Phila- 
delphia and  at  Altoona,  Pa.  She  was  married  at  her  home  in 
Hollidaysberg.  Three  of  her  sisters  are  still  living :  Ann  is  now 
]\Irs.  William  Kean,  of  Bedford,  Pa. ;  Maria  is  now  Mrs.  Harry 
Campbell,  of  Chicago,  HI.,  and  Jennie  is  now  Mrs.  James  Light- 
cap,  of  Alleghany,  Pa. 

Edward  Goebel,  Jr.,  Avho  conducts  a  farm  at  1200  Freeborn 
street,  just  inside  the  city  limits  of  Austin,  Avas  born  in  Clare- 
mont,  Minn.,  July  21,  1883,  son  of  EdAA^ard  and  Amelia  (La  Sage) 
Goebel,  natives  of  Wisconsin.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Minnesota,  AVisconsin  and  loAva,  his  first  ven- 
ture for  himself  being  as  a  papermaker  at  Appleton,  Wis.  Then 
he  learned  the  machinist's  trade,  and  worked  in  the  shops  at 
Eagle  Grove,  Iowa,  until  1902,  when  he  became  chauffeur  at  Kan- 


IIJSTOBY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY  79? 

sas  City,  Mo.,  for  five  years.  From  June  to  November,  190S,  he 
had  a  similar  position  at  Callander,  Iowa.  Late  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  he  came  to  Austin,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  Mr.  Goebel  was  married  November  2, 
1904,  at  Ft.  Dodge,  Iowa,  to  Louise  Peterson,  of  Callander,  Iowa, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Peterson.  To  this  union  have 
been  born  three  children:  Marvin  E.,  born  October  22,  1905; 
Harold  P.,  born  April  12,  1906,  and  an  infant,  born  August  16, 
1910.  Edward  Goebel,  Sr.,  and  Amelia  La  Sage,  his  wife,  were 
natives  of  Wisconsin.  Edward,  Sr.,  was  in  the  livery  business  in 
Eagle  Grove,  Iowa,  for  about  eighteen  years,  and  in  1893  came 
to  Austin  and  engaged  in  the  livery  business.  He  is  now  retired 
and  lives  in  La  Crosse,  Wis. 

L.  C.  Gillett,  a  retired  farmer  now  li^■ing  in  the  village  of 
Brownsdale,  has  taken  his  part  in  the  life  of  the  community, 
having  served  at  various  times  as  township  supervisor,  village 
councilman  and  district  school  clerk.  He  was  born  in  Putnam 
county,  New  York,  November  4,  1833,  and  Avith  his  parents  went 
to  Berkhannen  county,  jMissouri,  where  the  family  remained  nine 
years.  Then  they  went  to  Vernon  county,  in  the  same  state,  and 
there  the  father  died,  after  a  residence  of  twenty-three  years.  In 
1867  L.  C.  Gillett,  with  his  wife  and  mother,  came  to  Austin,  and 
remained  four  years,  afterward  taking  up  their  residence  in  lied 
Eock  township,  where  Mr.  Gillett  farmed  twenty-five  years,  after 
which  he  retired.  He  has  occupied  his  present  comfortable  resi- 
dence in  Brownsdale  since  1904,  his  wife  being  now  deceased. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gillett  were  blessed  with  six  children:  Hattie, 
deceased ;  Delia,  wife  of  C.  A.  Sleeper ;  Edna,  deceased ;  Ulysses 
S. ;  Gordon  L.,  deceased,  and  Nora,  wife  of  Henry  Woodward. 

John  Gilligan,  a  well  known  and  popular  citizen  of  Adams,  was 
born  in  Ireland,  son  of  Patrick  and  i\Iary  (Hart)  Gilligan.  He 
came  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  lived  with  them  in  New 
York  and  New  Jersey.  He  came  with  them  to  Adams  township, 
and  grew  to  manhood  on  section  16.  In  1872  Mr.  Gilligan  pur- 
chased the  north  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  36, 
erected  some  excellent  buildings  and  there  carried  on  general 
farming  until  1898,  when  he  retired  from  active  farm  life  and 
moved  to  Adams  village.  Mr.  Gilligan  is  a  gentleman  of  the  old 
school,  courteous  in  his  bearing,  and  charitable  toward  all.  He 
married  Mary  INIadden  in. April,  1871,  her  parents  being  William 
and  Bridget  ]\Iadden.  In  the  family  there  are  three  children: 
John  J.,  Walter  H.  and  Mary  C.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  1ms 
filled  various  positions  of  trust  and  honor  in  township  and  village, 
and  has  also  served  with  credit  as  county  commissioner. 

Patrick  Gilligan,  an  early  settler,  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
August,  1822,  and  was  there  married  to  Mary  Ilart  in  January, 


798  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

1844,  the  fruit  of  this  imion  being  three  children :  John,  Mary  and 
Charles.  Patrick  brought  his  family  to  the  United  States  in  1849, 
leaving  Ireland  March  3  and  arriving  in  New  York  after  a  voyage 
of  four  and  a  half  Aveeks.  He  at  once  went  to  New  Jersey,  where 
he  hired  out  on  a  farm,  remaining  eight  years,  after  which  he  went 
to  New  York  state,  remaining  about  a  year.  Then  he  came  to 
Mower  county  and  settled  in  section  16,  in  Adams  township,  on 
which  he  built  a  log  cabin,  thatched  with  hay.  After  living  in 
this  building  some  two  years  he  erected  a  more  commodioxis  dwell- 
ing, in  which  he  resided  eighteen  years,  after  which  he  purchased 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  15  and  erected  a  large  farm 
house,  in  which  he  made  his  home  until  his  death. 

Jeremiah  Guinney,  now  deceased,  was  one  of  the  early  mer- 
chants of  Austin.  He  was  born  in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  in  1842. 
His  parents  died  when  he  was  a  child.  "When  he  was  eleven  years 
of  age  he  landed  in  America  Avith  his  brothers.  In  the  spring  of 
that  year  located  in  Boston,  and  in  the  fall  Jeremiah  moved  to 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  three  years.  It  was  in  1856  that  he 
came  to  Red  Rock  township,  in  this  county.  He  learned  the 
harnessmaker's  trade.  In  1868  he  formed  a  partnership  in  the 
same  business  with  a  Mr.  Kaiser,  and  this  partnership  continued 
until  the  death  of  Jeremiah  Guinney,  December  13,  1890.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  married  Mary  Welch,  a  native  of  County 
Cork,  Ireland,  daughter  of  John  and  Anora  (Keefe)  Welch.  Mrs. 
Guinney  is  the  mother  of  four  children :  Anna,  living  at  home ; 
Daniel,  a  harnessmaker  by  trade ;  Minnie  E.,  a  bookkeeper  at  the 
Albert  Thon  dry  goods  store  in  Austin,  and  Lauretta,  a  stenog- 
rapher and  bookkeeper. 

Edward  Gurvin,  chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  of 
Adams  township,  was  born  in  the  township  where  he  still  resides 
December  13,  1873,  the  son  of  Peter  and  Kate  Garvin,  natives  of 
Norway.  He  attended  the  district  schools,  and  remained  at  home 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself.  He  started  by  renting  land,  and  at  this  was  very  suc- 
cessful. He  now  works  the  home  place  and  several  tracts  adjoin- 
ing, making  a  total  of  400  acres  under  his  supervision.  On  this 
farm  he  conducts  general  farming,  making  a  specialty  of  Short- 
horn cattle  for  dairy  purposes,  the  cream  from  this  lierci  being 
sold  to  the  Adams  Co-operative  Creamery,  in  which  he  is  a 
director.  Eight  years  ago  Mr.  Gurvin,  who  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of 
Adams  township,  and  after  three  years  in  this  capacity  he  became 
chairman,  a  position  he  has  held  for  the  past  five  years  with  much 
credit.  He  is  a  popular  member  of  the  M.  AV.  A.  and  attends  the 
Lutlieran  church. 

Peter  Gurvin  and  Kate  Gurvin,  his  wife,  were  born  in  Norway. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  799 

They  came  to  America  before  the  Civil  war  and  lived  for  a  tiinc  in 
Madison,  AVis.  There  Peter  farmed  for  several  years  and  tiicn 
started  with  his  ox  team  and  prairie  schooner  across  the  country. 
Upon  reaching  Adams  township  he  purchased  eight  acres  in  sec- 
tion 13,  and  farmed  there  until  his  death,  December  27.  1910.  He 
liad  three  sons.  Edward  manages  the  home  place.  Nels  is  in  the 
machine  and  automobile  business  in  Adams  village.  Ivnute  is 
general  agent  at  Adams  for  the  Acme  Harvester  Company  and 
eiijoys  a  large  trade. 

James  Keenan  was  born  in  Mount  Pleasant,  AVayne  county, 
Pennsylvania,  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Farwell)  Keenan,  who 
brought  their  family  to  Oakland,  Freeborn  county,  this  state,  in 
1867.  James,  Jr.,  received  a  good  common  school  education,  and 
after  coming  west  he  and  his  brother,  Joseph,  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  carriages  and  wagons.  After  six  years  of  this 
business,  however,  the  brothers  discovered  that  they  could  buy 
the  A'ehieles  cheaper  than  they  could  make  them,  so  they  aban- 
doned the  manufacturing  end  of  the  business,  and  devoted  them- 
selves to  selling  Avhat  they  shipped  in.  In  1906  this  business  was 
discontinued,  and  since  then  Mr.  Keenan  has  looked  after  his 
numerous  financial  interests  and  his  real  estate  business.  Mr. 
Keenan  is  an  extensive  traveler,  and  has  visited  many  lands.  For 
his  first  wife  Mr.  Keenan  married  Bella  Hall,  a  native  of  ]\Iassa- 
chusetts.  After  her  death  he  married  Katherine  E.  Dunavone, 
who  has  proved  a  most  able  helpmeet.  James  Keenan,  Sr.,  was  a 
noted  shipbuilder  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
Jiineteenth  century.  His  ability  and  skill  were  widely  acknowl- 
edged, and  his  name  was  known  ^^herever  ships  were  constructed. 
He  worked  in  Boston  and  New  York  for  many  years,  and  after 
the  war  of  1812  assisted  in  rebuilding  the  American  navy,  work- 
ing on  sucii  vessels  as  the  Hornet,  which  in  those  days  Avere  con- 
sidered as  monarchs  of  the  seas.  For  seven  years  Mr.  Keenan, 
Sr.,  Avas  with  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal  Company,  superin- 
tending the  construction  of  all  the  boats  built  by  this  company  at 
Houesdale,  Pa.  In  1867  the  family  came  west  and  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Oakland,  Freeborn  county,  Minn.,  where  James,  Sr., 
farmed  until  his  death,  in  1879.  He  married  Elizabeth  Farwell, 
Avho  bore  him  five  children:  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Reily;  John,  living 
in  AVinona  :  James,  Joseph  and  Michael  J.,  living  in  Austin. 

Hiram  F.  Kezar,  merchant  of  Sargeant  village,  was  born  in 
Beaver  Dam,  AA'is.,  August  12,  1870,  son  of  Alvin  Kezar,  marshal 
of  AValtham  village,  and  Ellen  Alarkham,  his  wife,  the  father, 
Alvin,  and  the  grandfather,  Iliram,  both  having  been  born  in  the 
same  house  in  Alacenia,  St.  Lawrence  county.  New  York.  Hiram 
F.  spent  his  boyhood  on  a  farm  in  AValtham  township,  there  grew 
1<»  manhood,  took  up  agricultural  pursuits  and  was  thus  engaged 


800  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

until  1907,  when  he  came  to  Sargeant  village  and  opened  a  store. 
Mr.  Kezar  is  a  Mason.  He  was  married  a  few  years  ago  to 
Rebecca  Johnson,  daughter  of  George  Johnson,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Lyle  T. 

Alvin  T.  Kezar,  marshal  of  AV^ltham  village,  was  boi'n  in 
Maceuia,  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York,  May  18,  1845,  son  of 
Hiram  and  Catharine  (Nesdel)  Kezar.  The  father  was  born  in 
the  same  house  as  his  son,  and  was  a  genuine  Connecticut  Yankee. 
The  mother  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  The  father  and  his  family 
came  Avest  in  1854,  and  settled  at  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  where  he 
farmed  for  eighteen  years.  Mrs.  Catherine  Kezar  died  in  Beaver 
Dam,  and  in  1872  the  father,  Hiram,  and  the  son,  Alvin,  started 
farming  in  Waltham  township,  near  the  village.  In  1896  Alvin 
T.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  appointment  as  marshal, 
a  position  he  has  since  held  with  discretion,  courage  and  integrity. 
He  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen.  ]\Ir. 
Kezar  was  married  some  years  ago  to  Ellen  Markham,  daughter 
of  AValter  Markham,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren, Hiram  and  Myrtle.  Hiram  lives  in  Sargeant.  Myrtle  mar- 
ried George  Nichols  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Bessie. 

William  Euchenbecker,  business  man  of  Waltham,  was  liorn 
in  Crav/ford  county,  Wisconsin,  March  19,  1871,  son  of  William 
and  Louisa  (Railer)  Kuchenbecker,  who  came  to  America  from 
Germany  in  1850,  and  located  in  Crawford  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  they  farmed  until  1887,  in  which  year  the  father  died.  A 
son,  Alfred,  then  bought  the  old  homestead,  and  the  mother 
moved  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  where  she  still  lives.  William,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  education  in  Crawford  county, 
Wisconsin,  and  there  engaged  in  farming  until  1890,  when  he 
came  to  Mower  county  and  worked  on  a  farm  in  Red  Rock  town- 
ship for  seven  years.  Then  he  rented  a  farm  in  Waltham  town- 
ship for  a  similar  period.  Then  he  came  to  Waltham  village, 
and  was  clerk  in  a  meat  establishment,  also  operating  a  steam 
threshing  machine.  In  the  fall  of  1908  he  embarked  in  the  meat 
business  for  himself.  Now  does  a  large  business,  has  an  Extensive 
trade,  and  prepares  most  of  his  own  fresh  meats,  as  well  as  hams, 
bacon,  sausages  and  the  like.  In  company  with  his  brother, 
Louis,  he  is  still  in  the  threshing  business  and  reaps  a  goodly 
profit  in  this  line  every  fall.  Mr.  Kuchenbecker  lives  in  Waltham 
village,  votes  independently  and  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  church. 
William  Kuchenbecker  is  the  fourth  of  six  brothers.  Alfred, 
Osear  and  Rudolph  live  in  Crawford  county,  Wisconsin ;  Louis 
lives  iu  Waltham ;  Hiram  lives  in  Prairie  du  Chien. 

George  Larson,  buttermaker  at  Lansing,  was  born  in  Denmark 
in  1881,  and  was  reared  in  the  home  of  his  parents,  John  and 
Margaret    (Rasmussen)    Larson,   attending  the   common   schools 


HISTOIJY  OF  :\IO\VER  COUNTY  801 

and  learning  the  buttermaker's  trade.  lie  eame  to  Aincrica  in 
1904,  lived  in  New  York  city  a  year,  and  tlien  canic  to  Laasinji-, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  witli  the  Lansing  Co-operal  ivc 
Creamery.  This  is  an  important  eoneern  and  turns  out  on  an 
average  of  three  thousand  pounds  a  week.  j\Ir.  Larson  belongs 
to  the  ]\Ioderu  Woodmen  of  the  World.  He  married  Loretta 
Sevay,  and  they  have  one  child,  Vera  Isabell. 

William  Logue,  genial  proprietor  of  the  Merchants'  Hotel,  at 
Adams,  was  born  in  Ottawa,  Canada,  October  31,  1857,  son  of 
Patrick  and  Margaret  (]\IcGee)  Logue,  natives  of  Ireland,  who 
came  to  Canada  and  remained  for  a  period  of  six  years,  after 
which  they  came  to  the  United  States  and  located  at  New  Oregon, 
Howard  county,  Iowa,  where  the  former  engaged  in  house  moving 
and  contracting,  which  vocation  he  followed  until  his  death,  July 
20.  1882,  his  wife  jiassing  away  at  Minneapolis,  September  15, 
1877.  "William  received  his  education  in  New  Oregon,  Iowa,  and 
worked  out  by  the  month  initil  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Subse- 
quently he  was  engaged  as  follows:  teaming  for  the  Great  North- 
ern railroad  at  Minneapolis  for  four  months ;  working  for  a 
bottling  company  at  Minneapolis  a  little  over  a  year;  working 
for  jIoss  &  Davis,  wholesale  liquor  dealers  of  Minneapolis,  one 
year;  conducting  a  well  drilling  business  at  New  Oregon,  Iowa, 
eleven  years ;  managing  a  hotel  at  LeRoy,  this  county,  two  years ; 
managing  a  hotel  in  Adams  two  years ;  managing  a  hotel  at  Lyle 
a  year;  managing  for  three  mouths  the  Sweet  Hotel,  at  LeRoy, 
which  he  erected ;  working  at  the  well  drilling  business  in  Owa- 
tonua  one  year;  managing  a  hotel  at  New  Richland,  Waseca 
county,  for  one  year;  engaging  in  the  electric  light  business  in 
Owatonna  one  year;  working  as  collector  for  the  Sherman  Nur- 
sery Company,  of  Charles  City,  Iowa,  four  years;  managing  a 
hotel  at  Gilbert,  Minn.,  for  six  months,  and  managing  a  hotel  at 
Stewartville,  Minn.,  for  six  months.  In  September,  1910,  he  came 
to  Adams,  and  has  since  been  proprietor  of  the  Merchants'  Hotel. 
iMr.  Logue  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  married  June  24.  1890,  to  Bridget  Fitzgerald,  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Bridget  Fitzgerald,  of  Clermont,  Fayette  county, 
Iowa,  where  she  was  born  February  2,  1860.  Her  father  died 
February  16,  1873,  and  her  mother  December  9,  1888.  Mr.  and 
]\Irs.  Logue  have  two  children:  Alfred,  born  April  21,  1891,  a 
student  at  the  Virginia,  Minn.,  liigh  school,  and  I\Iay  A.,  born 
November  5,  1900,  living  at  home. 

William  P.  Lewis,  merchant  of  Grand  Meadow  village  and 
formerly  county  commissioner  of  Slower  county,  was  born  in 
Kenosha  county,  "Wisconsin,  July  13,  1855,  son  of  AVilliam  and 
Eli/.a   (Bennett)    Lewis,  early   sctth-rs.     AVilliam   P.   assisted    his 


80-2  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

parents  on  the  farm  and  later  took  up  the  meat  business,  which 
he  has  followed  since  1905.  His  business  during  this  period  of 
fifteen  years  has  continued  to  grow,  and  he  recently  moved  into  a 
large  store  formerly  occupied  by  the  Exchange  State  Bank. 
Aside  from  the  office  mentioned  above,  Mr.  Lewis  was  one  of  the 
supervisors  of  Grand  Meadow  township  for  thirteen  years.  He 
married  ^lay  Turner,  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Eunice  (Mathews) 
Turner,  and  has  two  children,  Joseph  and  Elwin. 

William  Lewis  was  born  in  England,  married  Eliza  Bennett, 
lived  for  a  time  in  Wisconsin,  and  came  to  Grand  Meadow  town- 
ship in  1864,  remaining  here  until  his  death,  in  1890.  His  wife 
died  five  years  later. 

0.  D.  Lambert,  who  lives  in  Brownsdale,  is  now  practically 
retired  from  active  participation  in  farm  life.  He  was  born  in 
East  Hamlin,  Monroe  county.  New  York,  October  19,  1851,  son  of 
Peter  and  Eveline  (Simmons)  Lambert.  He  moved  to  Illinois 
about  1880,  and  there  remained  several  years.  He  dates  his  resi- 
dence in  Mower  county  from  1884,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Red 
Rock  and  purchased  a  quarter  section  of  land  which  he  improved 
and  cultivated.  Here  he  remained  and  successfully  conducted 
farming  operations  until  he  came  to  the  village  of  Brownsdale  to 
live.  On  March  7,  1877,  he  married  Clara  Hampton,  daughter  of 
William  Hampton,  of  Illinois,  and  there  were  three  children: 
W.  P.,  born  October  13,  1880;  J.  V.,  January  15,  1881,  and  Claira 
A.,  who  was  born  January  10,  1888,  and  died  January  20,  1889. 
Mrs.  Lambert  died  March  5,  1889.  March  12,  1891,  he  married 
Margaret  Cutts,  daughter  of  Samuel  ^nd  Mary  (Barnes)  Cutts, 
early  settlers  of  DaKalb  county,  Illinois,  and  of  English  descent. 

Nels  Mickelsen,  contractor  and  concrete  manufacturer  of  Aus- 
tin, was  born  in  Denmark,  October  18,  1865,  son  of  August  and 
Mary  (Jensen)  IMickelsen,  natives  of  Denmark,  where  they  lived 
and  died,  the  father  passing  away  in  1878  and  the  mother  in  1902. 
Nels  received  some  schooling  in  Denmark,  and  came  to  America 
in  1886,  locating  six  months  later  in  Rochester,  Minn.  Then, 
after  three  years  there,  he  took  a  trip  west  through  the  moun- 
tains of  Wyoming,  Colorado  and  Utah.  Then  he  returned,  and 
after  a  year  in  Rochester  came,  in  1892,  to  Austin,  where  for  a 
time  he  followed  his  trade  as  a  bricklayer,  also  doing  some  con- 
tracting. In  1904  he  started  in  the  cement  business,  with  a  fine 
I)lant  on  Eiver  street,  where  he  manufactures  cement  tiles  and 
blocks.  He  also  owns  a  fine  home  and  ten  acres  of  land  on 
South  Kenwood  street.  Mr.  Mickelsen  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, attends  the  Lutheran  church,  affiliates  with  the  Masonic 
order,  and  belongs  to  the  M.  W.  A.  and  the  Danish  Brotherhood. 
He  was  married  November  30,  1892,  to  Julia  Johnson,  of  Roches- 
ter, and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  seven  children :   Emma, 


HISTOHY  OF  .AIOWKlf  COUNTY  803 

Harold.  Eda,  Mota,  Ervin,  Paul  and  p]sther,  all  of  whom  arc  at 
home. 

Edwin  W.  Marsh,  treasurer  and  manager  of  the  Austin  Ce- 
ment, 8tone  and  Tile  Company,  was  born  in  Mason  City,  Iowa, 
April  2,  1867,  there  received  his  education,  and  then  took  up  con- 
tracting and  building  at  Mason  City,  following  this  for  ten  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  entered  into  the  retail  meat  business 
for  four  years.  He  came  to  Austin  and  took  up  the  meat  business 
here  for  ten  years,  after  which  he  became  interested  -in  cement 
products,  and  helped  to  organize  the  company  with  which  he  is 
at  the  present  time  connected.  Mr.  Marsh  resides  at  the  corner 
of  College  and  GreenAvich  streets.  While  in  Mason  City  he  served 
five  years  as  a  member  of  Company  A,  Sixth  Eegiment,  I.  N.  G., 
and  for  four  years  served  as  chairman  of  the  Democratic  County 
Committee  of  Cerro  Gordo  county,  Iowa.  He  Avas  married  Feb- 
ruary 7.  1888,  at  Mason  City,  to  Esther  Hurlbert,  and  this  union 
has  been  blessed  Avith  one  daughter,  Beryl  B.,  born  August  31, 
1889,  noAV  a  school  teacher.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Bap- 
tist church. 

C.  H.  Metgaarden,  a  Lansing  toAvnship  farmer,  noAv  living  in 
the  city  of  Austin,  AA'as  born  in  NorAvay  in  1845,  came  to  America 
in  1887,  located  in  Ward  county,  Iowa,  and  there  remained  until 
1903,  Avhen  he  came  to  Lansing  tOAvnship  and  purchased  the  Jen- 
sen farm.  Later  he  took  \\p  his  abode  in  Austin.  He  mai-ried 
]\rary  Knudtsou,  and  they  have  four  children:  Holiver;  Rena, 
noAv  ]\Irs.  Jacobson;   Kanute  and  Christianna. 

John  McBride,  an  honored  resident  of  Windora  toAvnship,  noAV 
deceased,  Avas  born  in  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  in  1829.  He  AA^as 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  at  nineteen  years  of  age,  in 
1848,  he  came  to  America,  locating  in  Pennsylvania,  near  Phila- 
delphia. Later  he  Avent  to  loAva.  There  he  remained  until  1865, 
Avhen  he  came  to  Minnesota,  and  located  in  Windom  toAvnship, 
^MoAver  county,  where  he  purchased  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 1,  on  Avhich  A\ald  prairie  land  he  conducted  general  improve- 
ments, erected  buildings  and  carried  on  diversified  farming.  Later 
he  added  160  acres  in  section  6,  Marshall  toAvnship,  making  in  all 
a  fine  farm  of  320  acres.  He  made  a  specialty  of  raising  grain 
and  high  grade  stock  and  continued  as  a  hard  Avorking  farmer 
until  about  1900,  Avhen  he  rented  his  farm,  later,  in  1902,  pur- 
chasing a  home  in  Rose  Creek,  to  Avhich  village  he  moved,  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  well  deserved  retirement. 
]Mr.  McBride  Avas  a  member  of  the  school  board,  a  Democrat  and 
a  Catholic.  He  died  at  his  home,  January  1,  1904.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  married  February  14,  1857,  at  Galena,  111.,  to 
^fary  Furlong,  born  in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  September 
28,  1838.    She  came  to  America  in  1852  Avith  her  parents,  William 


804  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

and  Sarah  (Carter)  Furlong,  landing  in  New  York,  January  13. 
Later  she  went  to  Illinois  with  her  parents,  was  there  married, 
and  came  to  Minnesota  with  her  husband.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McBride 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children:  Charles  is  married  and  lives 
in  North  Dakota,  having  a  family  of  four  children :  Mary,  Grace, 
Elizabeth  and  George.  Sarah  A.  married  Thomas  Skahan,  of 
Windoni  township,  and  they  have  two  children,  William  and 
Ernia.  James  A.  is  married,  lives  in  Weyburn,  Canada,  and  has 
six  children:  Deney  D.,  Arthur,  Leo,  Herbert,  Dorathy  and  Aaron. 
Katherine  A.  married  Leahy,  of  Wiudoui  township,  and  they  have 
seven  children:  Mary,  Madeline,  Joseph,  John,  Ambrose,  Raphael 
and  Norbert.  William  is  married,  lives  in  Washington,  and  has 
four  children :  Loretta,  Esther,  John  and  William.  John  J.  is 
married,  lives  at  Vienna,  S.  D.,  and  has  three  children :  Mary, 
Francis  and  Cicily.  Mary  R.  died  March  1,  1904,  leaving  two 
children:  Mary  M.  and  John  E.,  who  were  taken  by  the  grand- 
mother, with  whom  they  lived  until  they  again  took  up  their 
home  with  their  father  in  1910.  Margaret  A.  married  JM.  P. 
Reagen,  of  Windom  township. 

Harry  G.  McKee,  retired  blacksmith  of  LeRoy  village,  was 
born  in  the  old  village  of  LeRoy,  May  26,  1858,  son  of  Elijah 
McKee,  the  pioneer  blacksmith  of  J\Iower  county.  Harry  G.  was 
reared  in  the  village  of  LeRoy,  entered  his  father's  shop  and 
learned  the  blacksmith  business  in  all  its  details,  conducting  the 
establishment  alone  after  his  father's  death.  In  1909  he  retired, 
and  is  now  living  in  his  pleasant  home  in  the  village  of  LeRoy. 
Mr.  McKee  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  served  on  the 
village  council.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  Mr.  McKee 
was  married  December  25,  1880,  to  Edith  Bowen,  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  (Ross)  Bowen,  the  former  of  whom  was  killed 
in  the  Civil  war  and  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  1897.  Mrs. 
McKee  died  December  9,  1897,  leaving  three  children.  Bessie  E. 
is  a  teacher  in  Seattle,  having  graduated  from  the  LeRoy  high 
school.  Raymond  L.  Brown  is  the  husband  of  the  second  daugh- 
ter, Eula  L.  Floy,  the  youngest  daughter,  is  studying  domestic 
science  in  the  Minnesota  Agricultural  College  at  St.  Paul.  It  is 
worthy  of  note  that  Mr.  McKee 's  property  was  swept  away  by  the 
oychinc  of  Se]iteml)er  21,  1894. 

Elijah  F.  McKee,  the  pioneer  blacksmith  of  ]\Iower  county, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  reached  MoAver  county  February 
22,  1855,  being  married  in  the  old  town  of  LeRoy,  July  2,  1857, 
to  Mary  E.  Taylor,  who  arrived  in  the  county  in  1856.  February 
26,  1855,  he  opened  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  tlie  county,  in 
section  36,  in  what  is  now  LeRoy  township.  April  13  the  same 
year  he  moved  to  the  old  town  of  LeRoy  and  built  a  blaeksmitli 
shop,  continuing  the  business  of  smithy  for  the  remainder  of  his 


JOSEPH   M.    MAXFIELD. 


HlsTOUY   OF   MOWKI!   COUNTY  805 

life.  He  died  September  2i),  ISitT.  and  his  wife  is  still  living  at 
the  age  of  seventy-foTii-  years.  In  tlie  family  were  six  children: 
Harry  G.,  Wintield,  dead ;  Clark,  Carrington,  N.  D. ;  Frank,  Seat- 
tle: ilargaret,  Montana,  and  Lillie,  now  Mrs.  George  Magee,  of 
Seattle. 

Joseph  M.  Maxfield,  retii-ed  grain  buyer  and  farmer,  now  liv- 
ing in  LeRoy  village,  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  New  York, 
February  24,  18-i4,  son  of  Joseph  and  Artimisia  (Munson)  Max- 
tield.  He  came  to  Wisconsin  with  his  parents  in  1855,  and  to 
LeRoy  in  1862.  After  completing  his  education,  he  farmed  eleven 
years,  and  then  became  a  grain  buyer  and  sold  goods  for  Frank 
Avery.  Then  he  engaged  in  the  livery  business  with  his  brothers 
until  1904,  when  he  retired.  Mr.  Maxfield  owns  his  home  in  Le- 
Roy village,  a  quarter  section  in  Howard  county,  Iowa,  and 
sixty-two  acres  in  Mower  county.  He  has  been  .justice  of  the 
peace  many  years  and  constable  for  five  years.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican, a  Knight  Templar,  and  a  Presbyterian. 

Joseph  Maxfield  was  born  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  July  28,  1815, 
and  Avas  married  September  27,  1840,  at  Wajnie  county,  New 
York,  to  Artimisia  ]Munson,  born  at  Tulley,  N.  Y.,  May  12,  1820. 
In  1855  they  located  in  Wisconsin,  and  in  1862  came  to  LeRoy 
township,  where  they  purchased  a  farm  of  150  acres,  which  they 
broke  and  improved,  adding  other  land  until  they  owned  230 
acres.  In  1871  they  retired  and  moved  to  LeRoy  village,  Joseph 
dying  :\Iay  12,  1884,  and  his  wife  October  27,  1904.  They  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  LeRoy.  Mr.  and  iMrs. 
^laxfield  were  the  parents  of  six  children.  Glover  lives  in  Mason 
City,  Iowa;  J.  M.  lives  in  LeRoy;  Aldice  died  in  September,  1903, 
at  T'orvalis,  Oregon;  Sarah  is  now  Mrs.  M.  H.  ]\Iiller.  of  Taopi, 
^Minnesota  ;  ]\lartha  A.  keeps  house  for  her  brother,  J.  ^I.,  at 
LeRoy :  Riciiard  is  a  liveryman  at  LeRoy. 

Nicholi  Nicholsen,  now  deceased,  Avas  born  in  Norwa.y,  and 
came  to  America  in  1868,  locating  in  Austin,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed at  various  lal)or,  until  his  marriage,  after  which  he  (»n- 
gaged  in  the  pump  business,  continuing  imtil  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1895.  He  was  a  consistent  Christian,  and  a  member  of 
St.  Olaf  Lutheran  church. 

G.  R.  Nichols,  a  general  merchant  of  Waltham,  ha.s  built  up  a 
successful  trade,  the  fact  that  iintil  recently  he  was  a  farmer 
making  him  particularly  adapted  to  keeping  a  store  in  the  rural 
districts.  He  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Maine,  jNIarch  26. 
1866.  son  of  Charles  and  Clara  (Hill)  Nichols.  Charles  Nichols 
was  l)orn  in  Elaine,  cainc  west  in  1869,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
AValtliam.  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1900.  His  wife  is  .still 
living,  making  her  liome  with  a  daughter.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  remained   on   tlie   Farni   until   attaining  manhood's  estate, 


806  HISTORY  OF  xA[OWP]IJ  COUNTY 

receiving  his  education  in  the  district  schools.  He  purchased  the 
home  farm,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1907,  when 
he  came  to  the  village  and  engaged  in  his  present  business.  Ho 
has  been  assessor  of  township  and  village  for  twenty  years,  and 
has  performed  the  duties  of  that  office  to  the  general  satisfaction 
of  his  fellow  citizens.  Mr.  Nichols  was  married  some  years  ago 
to  B.  Martha  Kezer,  daughter  of  Alvin  T.  Kezer,  and  to  this  union 
has  been  born  one  daughter,  Bessie. 

John  E.  Norris,  lumber  dealer  of  Lyle,  was  born  in  Lyle 
township,  in  ^larch,  1872,  and  thus  has  the  honor  of  being  a 
native  son  of  this  county.  His  parents  were  John  and  jMarie  E. 
(Spears)  Norris,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  John  E.  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  Lyle  township  and  also  at  Old  Otranto, 
in  Iowa.  He  farmed  with  his  parents  for  a  time,  and  then  with 
them  went  to  North  Dakota,  Avhere  he  and  his  father  purchased 
a  whole  section  of  land.  In  1905  they  sold  out,  and  John  E.,  on 
his  return  to  Lyle,  purchased  the  lumber  yards  of  L.  W.  Sherman. 
He  has  a  large  trade  and  is  the  only  lumber  dealer  in  the  village. 
J\lr.  Norris  is  an  independent  voter,  and  while  in  North  Dakota 
was  chairman  of  the  township  board.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the 
village  council  of  Lyle,  belongs  to  tlie  A.  F.  &  A.  ]\1.  and  the 
K.  of  P.  and  attends  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  was  marrietl 
October  19,  1908,  to  Mary  E.  Eoulston,  of  Oakland  village,  Iowa. 

John  Norris  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland  of  Scotch  par- 
entage, and  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  He  lo- 
cated in  Wisconsin,  married  Marie  E.  Spears,  and  there  remained 
until  1868,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  purchased  160 
acres,  also  acquiring  a'similar  tract  in  Freeborn  county.  From 
1883  to  1890  he  conducted  the  flouring  mill  at  Old  Otranto.  Iowa, 
and  then  sold  and  went  to  North  Dakota.  About  six  years  later 
he  came  to  Lyle  once  more,  his  wife  passing  away  in  1905. 

Abe  Olson,  of  Lansing  township,  one  of  the  progressive  farmers 
of  Mower  county,  was  born  in  Neury,  Freeborn  county,  Minne- 
sota, April  9,  1859,  son  of  Helge  and  Kari  Olson,  the  former  of 
whom,  coming  to  America  in  1855,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Freeborn  county.  Abe  Olson  was  one  of  ten  brothers  and  three 
sisters.  He  passed  his  early  life  on  the  farm,  and  came  to  Mower 
county  about  twenty  years  ago  (1890).  He  now  owns  180  acres 
of  land,  and  has  made  his  place  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the 
township,  his  fine  house,  commodious  and  modern  barns,  and 
well-tilled  acres  being  hard  to  excel.  Besides  carrying  on  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits,  Mr.  Olson  is  a  breeder  of  Belgian 
liorses  and  owns  some  of  the  most  valuable  pieces  of  horse  flesh 
in  the  state,  having  taken  many  prizes.  He  also  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  l)reediug  fine  Jersey  hogs.     The  subject  of  this  sketch 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  807 

was  married  many  years  ago  to  Carrie  Nelsou,  a  daughter  of 
Iver  and  Chersty  Nelsou. 

Anfend  Olson,  village  marshal  of  Adams,  and  superintendent 
of  the  municipal  gas  and  water  plants,  was  born  in  Norway, 
March  23,  1866,  son  of  Ole  Johnson  and  Martha  Thompson,  his 
wife,  natives  of  Norway,  where  the  father  died.  Anfend  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Norway,  and  came 
to  America  in  1882,  locating  in  De  Forest,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
worked  out  as  farmer  and  stone  mason,  until  1893,  when  he  came 
to  ^Minnesota  and  purchased  a  farm  of  120  acres,  on  section  6,  Lodi 
township,  which  he  improved  and  developed,  erecting  buildings 
and  cultivating  the  land,  still  combining  masonry  and  general 
farming  until  1900,  when  he  sold  his  farm,  and  for  nine  years 
devoted  his  entire  time  to  the  trade  of  stone  mason.  In  July, 
1910,  he  was  elected  marshal  of  Adams  village,  and  superintend- 
ent of  the  gas  and  water  plants.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
attends  the  Lutheran  church  and  belongs  to  the  Commercial  Clul). 
In  addition  to  his  present  offices,  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
village  council.  Mr.  Olson  owns  a  pleasant  residence  in  the  village 
of  Adams,  three  lots  in  INIinneapolis,  and  100  acres  of  timber  land 
in  Aitkin  county,  this  state.  He  Avas  married  October  26,  1896,  to 
Carrie  ]\Iunson,  who  died  in  1897.  Mr.  Olson  brought  his  mother 
to  this  country  in  1885,  and  she  still  presides  over  his  household. 

Joseph  Palmer,  of  Austin,  now  retired,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war.  was  born  in  Chittenden  county,  Vermont,  September  25, 
1830,  and  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  state.  In  1856  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  in  1860  to  Fill- 
more county,  locating  in  Austin  in  1875.  He  followed  various  vo- 
cations from  that  time  until  his  retirement  in  1908.  In  July,  1864, 
;Mr.  Palmer  was  drafted  into  the  Union  army  and  served  in  Com- 
pany B,  Third  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  six  months,  being 
discharged  at  Duval  Bluff,  Arkansas,  in  December,  1864,  on  ac- 
count of  illness.  For  one  term  he  served  with  credit  as  county 
treasurer  of  Fillmore  county.  He  is  a  Republican  in  polities,  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  church,  and  a  good  citizen  in  every 
respect.  He  affiliates  with  the  G.  A.  R.  and  has  the  unu.sual  record 
of  having  been  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  for  forty-four  years. 
'Mr.  Palmer  was  married  February  15,  1854,  to  Katherine  Cole- 
man, who  died  July  1,  1897,  leaving  four  children :  Fred  L.,  now 
of  Iowa,  born  December  14,  1855;  Clara  B.,  born  November  25. 
1863,  now  Mrs.  George  Miller,  of  IMinneapolis ;  Albert,  born 
August  28.  1867,  now  of  Chicago;  and  Eunice,  born  December  29, 
18H9.  and  widow  of  Thomas  Floyd,  who  died  November  14,  1889. 

Harlan  G.  Palmer,  one  of  the  energetic  young  business  men  of 
LcRoy.  was  born  in  this  village.  ^larch  19,  1885,  son  of  George 
W.  and  ^lary  Palmer.    lie  attended  the  village  schools,  and  grad- 


808  HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COFNTY 

uated  from  the  LeRoy  high  school  in  1903.  Then  he  took  a  course 
in  literature  and  arts  at  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  subse- 
quently returned  to  LeEoy  and  purchased  the  LeRoy  Independ- 
ent, which  he  conducted  for  two  and  a  half  years.  At  the  end  of 
this  period  he  sold  to  Ralph  Prescott,  the  present  owner  and  edi- 
tor, and  took  up  his  father's  interests  in  the  Palmer  Lumber  Com- 
pany, in  which  he  has  since  successfully  continued.  Mr.  Palmer 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  much  faith  in  the  future  of 
LeRoy. 

John  Reding,  assessor  of  the  city  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Lux- 
emberg,  Germany,  March  15,  1863,  the  son  of  Peter  and  Mary 
Reding,  who  brought  their  family  to  America  in  1869,  and  settled 
in  Union  township,  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  Here  Peter  Reding 
farmed  about  eighteen  years,  and  here  his  wife  died,  after  which 
he  moved  to  Adams  in  this  county.  John  Reding  remained  on 
the  old  place  and  farmed  for  three  years,  then  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business,  which  he  conducted  for  five  years.  He  then 
again  took  up  agricultural  pursuits,  and  farmed  four  years  in 
Union  township,  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  Then  he  rented  the  farm 
and  moved  to  Lyle,  Mower  county,  where  he  again  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business,  at  the  same  time  conducting  a  farm  near 
the  same  village.  Six  years  later  he  moved  to  the  city  of  Austin. 
Mr.  Reding  is  still  interested  in  farming,  and  is  one  of  the  stock- 
holders in  the  Austin  Cement  &  Tile  Co.  Mr.  Reding  married 
Nellie  Smith,  daughter  of  Charles  Smith,  and  they  have  three 
children :    Marie  L.,  Agnes  V.  and  Esther  E. 

Ed.  J.  Show,  a  well-known  citizen  of  Marshall  township,  was 
born  in  1868,  in  the  township  wherein  he  still  resides.  His  father, 
John  Show,  was  a  native  of  Norway,  came  to  America,  settled  in 
Wisconsin,  and  later  moved  to  Mower  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  in  ]\Iarshall  township.  Ed.  J.  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  and  early  in  life  began  work  as  a  farm 
hand.  He  later  rented  land,  and  then  purchased  eighty  acres 
where  he  now  lives,  making  at  the  present  time  a  specialty  of 
dairying  and  grain  raising.  In  1902,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
married  Tilda  Lee,  a  native  of  Norway,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  one  daughter,  a  pupil  in  the  public  schools.  The 
family  worships  at  the  Lutheran  church. 

Louis  A.  Sherman,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Gilbert  Im- 
proved Corrugated  Culvert  Co.,  Austin,  was  boin  in  Edgerton, 
AVisconsin,  November  20,  1870,  son  of  Loran  W.  and  Kate  (Wil- 
cox) Sherman.  He  was  brought  to  Lyle,  in  Mower  county,  in 
1873,  and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Lyle, 
afterward  taking  a  course  in  the  Cedar  Valley  Seminary,  at 
Osage,  loAva.  After  leaving  school  he  worked  at  the  lumber  busi- 
ness with  his  father  until  1906,  when  he  engaged  in  the  general 


inSTOKY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  809 

luerehandise  business  -with  I.  F.  and  S.  H.  Dahl  luulcr  tlic  firm 
name  of  Dahl  Bros  &  Sherman.  In  1908,  when  tlic  ( {illicit  Im- 
proved Corrugated  Culvert  Company  was  organized,  he  assumed 
his  present  position,  coming  to  Austin  in  the  spring  of  1909. 
AVhile  at  Lyle,  i\Ir.  Sherman  was  a  member  of  the  school  board,  as 
well  as  village  recorder,  and  he  still  retains  his  interests  in  the 
Lyle  Telephone  Company.  Since  coming  to  Austin  he  has  allied 
himself  with  the  Austin  Commercial  Club.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  June  27,  1893,  to  J.  Sophie  Dahl,  of  Otranto, 
Iowa.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children:  Lloyd  H. 
was  born  IMarch  24,  1894,  and  died  April  12,  1896 ;  Marion  F.  was 
liorn  July  13,  1896,  and  Fayette  AV.  was  born  October  24,  1900. 

George  Schmidt,  a  valued  employe  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
and  St.  Paul  railroad,  who  has  worked  his  way  up  to  passenger 
conductor  through  sheer  merit,  was  born  at  Kur-Hessen,  Ger- 
many. August  18,  1841,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  seven  children. 
George  received  a  thorough  training  in  the  schools  of  Germany 
and  remained  in  his  native  land  until  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
when  he  crossed  the  Atlantic,  locating  in  Ontario,  Canada,  for  a 
time,  and  then  passed  over  the  border  into  Minnesota.  August 
12,  1867,  he  began  his  career  as  a  railroad  man,  entering  the 
shops  of  the  Southern  Minnesota  railroad  company,  at  Hokak, 
^Minnesota,  in  which  he  spent  three  years  as  a  machinist  before 
becoming  a  fireman  on  the  road.  After  four  years  of  service  in 
this  capacity,  he  was  badly  injured  by  an  accident  caused  through 
a  washout  and  passed  many  months  regaining  his  health,  after 
which  he  resumed  his  former  vocation  as  a  machinist  for  a  period 
of  tAvo  years,  subsequently  returning  to  firing,  and  in  1880  was 
promoted  to  engineer  in  the  freight  service.  Eight  years  later 
he  was  given  his  position  as  passenger  conductor,  which  he  still 
holds,  being  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  trusted  employes  on  the 
southern  Minnesota  division,  having  endui'ed  through  the  various 
managements,  and,  being  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  valuable 
men.  was  retained  when  the  road  became  a  part  of  the  St.  Paul 
system.  In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Eepublican.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  order  as  a  Knight  Templar,  is  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  order  of  United  AVorkmen  and  of  division  number  101 
of  the  B.  of  L.  E.  The  Methodist  church  values  him  as  a  hearty 
supporter,  and  he  is  also  a  strong  temperance  worker.  December 
17.  1867,  he  was  married  to  Anna  "Wetyen  at  LaCrescent,  IMinne- 
sotia.  who  died  in  1878,  leaving  four  children:  Elizabeth,  who 
died  in  her  nineteenth  year;  Angelica,  now  wife  of  Alfred 
Krieger.  a  clothing  merchant  of  Montana;  John  H.,  a  locomotive 
engineer,  located  at  Ottumwa.  Iowa;  and  Dora,  now  Mrs.  W.  L. 
Cowpcr.  of  ^Michigan  City,  \orth  Dakota.  He  was  married  a 
second   time   to   Catherine  AVetven.   lialf-sister   of   his   first   wife. 


810^  .     HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

They  have  one  child,  Eva  E.,  a  graduate  of  Hamline  university, 
now  ]Mrs.  A.  G.  Scullin,  of  Austin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schmidt  have 
a  very  pleasant  home  at  207  West  Water  Street.  John  and  Eliz- 
abeth Schmidt,  parents  of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  Germany, 
the  father  successfully  conducting  a  tile'  manufactory  at  Kur- 
Hessen,  being  considered  an  expert  in  his  line. 

Arthur  G.  Scullin,  mail  clerk  on  the  Chicago,  ]\Iilwaukee  and 
St.  Paul  railway  line,  and  good  citizen  of  Austin,  was  born  June  5, 
1875,  in  Oakland  toAvnship,  Freeborn  county,  Minnesota.  After 
graduating  from  the  Austin  high  school  in  1895,  he  devoted  the 
next  three  years  to  teaching  school  in  Freeborn  county,  and  then 
entered  the  railway  mail  service,  at  present  being  stationed  on  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  railroad,  with  a  run  from  St. 
Paul  to  Decorah,  Iowa.  His  political  principles  are  those  of  the 
Republican  partj%  and  he  is  identified  with  the  Masonic  order  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  The  Baptist  church  also 
claims  him  as  a  loyal  attendant.  June  20,  1906,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  at  Austin,  Minnesota,  to  Esther  Schmidt,  born  to  George 
and  Catherine  Schmidt,  May  3,  1889,  at  Hokak,  Minnesota.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scullin:  George  S., 
born  May  26,  1907;  and  Alta  C,  who  was  born  April  27,  1909. 
George  and  Alta  (Smith)  Scullin,  parents  of  our  subject,  were 
natives  of  Michigan  and  Pennsylvania,  respectively.  They  were 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Freeborn  county,  settling  on  an 
eighty  acre  farm  in  Oakland  township,  in  1869,  which  the  father 
operated  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  January  27,  1899.  The 
mother  passed  away  March  26,  1907. 

John  K.  Syverud  has  a  farm  of  120  acres  in  Lansing  township 
which  he  is  industriously  cultivating,  being  justly  proud  of  his 
fertile  acres,  his  well  kept  buildings  and  his  sleek  looking  live 
stock.  He  has  lived  in  Lansing  township  since  1881,  is  one  of  the 
leading  members  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  a  popular  brother  in 
the  Sons  of  Norway.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Nor- 
way in  1856,  the  son  of  Christian  and  Martha  Syverud,  and  in 
1881  came  to  this  country,  arriving  in  Lansing  after  brief  stops 
in  Waukon,  Iowa,  and  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota.  In  1900  he 
went  back  to  the  old  country,  married  Aegmepe  Kopprud  and  re- 
mained there  two  years,  returning  to  Lansing  in  1902.  ]\Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Syverud  are  the  parents  of  four  bright  children:  Carl, 
Clara  M.,  Annie  L.,  and  a  baby  not  yet  named. 

James  Shepard,  now  deceased,  was  for  many  years  a  familiar 
figure  in  both  FillmoTe  and  Mower  counties.  He  was  born  in 
St.  Lawrence  county.  New  York,  September  29,  1831,  and  when 
but  two  years  old  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Herkimer  county. 
He  spent  his  boyhood  in  the  towns  of  Schuyler,  Salisbury  and 
Norway,  and  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  came  to  Wisconsin, 


HISTORY   OF  MOWKlf  COrXTV  811 

where  his  parents  had  located  the  previous  year.  After  i-cniiiin- 
ing  there  a  few  months,  he  followed  his  parents  on  their  further 
migration  to  Allamakee  county,  Iowa.  In  1854  he  went  to  Illinois 
and  was  married  in  Kankakee  county,  in  December,  1855,  to  De- 
sire Gates,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Eachel  (Ferris)  Gates.  Mr. 
and  IMrs.  Shepard  remained  in  Illinois  al)0ut  six  months,  and  then 
took  up  their  residence  in  Allamakee  county,  Iowa.  In  1858  they 
started  Avith  teams  for  Minnesota  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Beaver.  Fillmore  county,  where  Mr.  Shepard  entered  160  acres  of 
land,  in  section  9,  built  a  small  frame  house  and  improved  sixty 
acres.  In  1866  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  LeRoy  township, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  in  section  16.  At  that  time  there  was 
a  log  cabin  on  the  place  and  but  twenty  acres  were  broken.  He 
later  erected  a  frame  house  and  suitable  buildings,  and  continued 
to  improve  the  land  and  carry  on  general  farming  until  1894, 
when  he  moved  to  the  village  of  LeRoy  and  practically  retired 
from  active  life.  He  died  in  July,  1899.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shepard 
were  blessed  with  six  children :  Frank  A.,  living  in  Montana ; 
Lewis  T.,  living  at  home ;  Emma,  deceased ;  Addie,  wife  of  George 
Turner;  George  M.  and  Eliza  J.,  wife  of  John  Errington.  Elijah 
Gates  was  born  in  Vermont  and  came  west  in  1845,  taking  up 
his  residence  in  Lake  county,  Illinois.  There  he  farmed  for  sev- 
eral years  and  then  came  to  Beaver,  Minnesota.  Late  in  life  Mr. 
Gates  Avent  to  Kansas  and  took  up  a  homestead,  where  he  died. 

John  Stute,  a  farmer  of  Mower  county,  now  living  on  the  old 
]u>me  farm  of  429  acres  in  section  35,  Nevada  township,  was  born 
in  ]\lonroe  county,  Wisconsin,  in  September,  1866,  son  of  Carl  and 
]\Iargarette  Stute,  and  with  them  came  to  MoAver  county  in  1873, 
settling  on  the  farm  AAdiere  he  has  since  lived.  Mr.  Stute  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  toAvnship 
board  of  Nevada  for  the  past  fourteen  years.  He  is  a  eom- 
numicant  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  he  and  his  family  attend 
the  church  of  that  denomination  at  Johnsburg.  Aside  from  car- 
rying on  general  farming  he  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding  cattle. 
He  married  Anna  Landherr,  daughter  of  Christ,  and  Emma  Land- 
herr.  of  Nevada  tOAvnship,  and  this  union  has  resulted  in  four 
children:    Bernetta,  Ardilla,  Sabin  and  Magdaline. 

Carl  Stute,  a  respected  resident  of  Nevada  township,  Avliere  for 
many  years  he  Avas  a  successful  farmer,  was  born  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, January  6,  1837,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1864,  being 
married  near  Buflfalo,  Ncav  York,  to  IMargarette  ScliAA^artz,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Sathrine  SchAvartz,  also  natives  of  Prussia.  After 
living  for  a  time  in  Waukesha  eonnty.  Wisconsin,  they  located  in 
;\lonroe  county,  in  the  same  state,  and  purchased  eighty  acres. 
In  1873  he  sold  out  and  came  to  MoAver  eonnty.  Avliere  he  started 
farming,   finally   acquiring  429   acres,   wiiieh    liis   son   .bilin    lunv 


813  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

manages.  Mrs.  Carl  Stute  died  in  1899.  i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Carl  State 
were  the  parents  of  five  children :  John,  of  Nevada  township ; 
Henry,  also  of  Nevada  township ;  Augusta,  married  to  "William 
Baker,  of  Cresco,  Iowa;  Fred,  a  dentist  of  Elmore,  Iowa;  and 
Charles,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Lewis  Tow,  who  has  charge  of  his  father's  extensive  real  es- 
tate interests  in  Mower  county,  lives  in  section  36,  "Windom  town- 
ship, and  although  he  has  lived  here  but  three  years  he  has  taken 
an  active  interest  in  the  progress  of  the  commuuity.  Being  yet  a 
young  man,  his  friends  predict  for  him  a  successful  future.  He 
was  born  in  Cedar  Rapids,  Benton  county,  Iowa,  March  29,  1873, 
son  of  Lars  and  Julia  (Strand)  Tow.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Iowa,  and  has  devoted  his  life  to  business  and 
agricultural  pursuits.  Lars  Tow  was  born  in  Norway  and  mar- 
ried Julia  Strand.  They  came  to  America  and  after  living  three 
years  in  Illinois,  located  in  Iowa,  where  they  now  live.  Lewis 
Tow  owns  much  land  in  Iowa,  and  980  acres  in  W^indom  and  Ne- 
vada townships.  Mower  county. 

Lewis  Thompson,  also  known  as  Lars  Thorson,  was  the  first 
Norwegian  settler  of  Lansing  township,  and  lived  on  a  farm  in 
that  township  forty-three  years.  He  was  born  in  Norway,  Sep- 
tember 13,  1827,  and  remained  in  his  native  country  until  1845, 
when  he  came  to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin.  In  1856  he  came  to 
Mower  county  and  pre-empted  a  quarter  section  in  section  7,  Lan- 
sing township.  He  continued  to  reside  on  this  place,  working 
hard  and  living  a  frugal  life,  increasing  his  possessions  until  he 
owned  400  acres.  He  held  various  local  offices,  and  was  highly 
esteemed  by  his  neighbors.  After  living  in  retirement  in  Austin 
for  several  years  he  died  in  1904.  He  was  married  in  Mitchell 
county,  loM^a,  August  1,  1857,  to  Elase  ToUifson,  a  native  of  Nor- 
way, who  came  to  Rock  county,  W^isconsin,  with  her  parents  at 
the  age  of  ten  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children:  Jennie,  Carrie,  Theodore,  Edward  Inga,  Maria, 
Oline,  Ole,  Lewis  and  Aaron.  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  C.  I.  Johnson, 
a  merchant  in  Austin.  Lena  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Engen.  Aaron 
lives  on  the  home  farm  and  lias  four  children:  Lee,  Esther,  Reu- 
ben, and  the  baby. 

Theodore  L.  Thompson,  who  has  a  fine  farm  of  160  acres  in 
Lansing  toAvnship,  was  born  December  15,  1861,  on  the  old 
Thompson  homestead  in  Lansing  township,  son  of  Lewis  and 
Elase  Thompson,  the  pioneers.  Theodore  L.  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  later 
took  up  farming  for  himself.  He  married  Annie  Olson,  and  they 
liave  seven  children:  Clara,  Agnes,  Hilda,  Florence,  Blanche, 
Ruth  and  Estlier.     Clara  is  the  wife  of  T.  Paulson. 

Teman  Temansoa,  a  retired  farmer  of  Grand  Meadow,  was 


HISTOHY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  813 

born  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  October  27,  1852,  son  of  Tciium 
and  Inger  Temansou,  who  came  to  America  in  1852  and  in  1S()5 
located  in  Frankford  township,  this  county,  where  they  farmed 
all  their  lives.  Teman,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  and  farmed  with  his  parents  un- 
til thirty-three  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  purchased  100  acres 
in  Frankford  township.  To  this  he  later  added  ninety  acres,  thus 
making  a  fine  place  of  190  acres  on  which  he  farmed  until  1896, 
when  he  sold  his  farm,  and  moved  to  Grand  Meadow  village, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  a 
member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  a  stockholder  in  the  First  National 
Bank,  of  Grand  Meadow,  and  in  the  M.  W.  A.  hall  in  the  same 
place.  He  attends  the  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Temanson  was  mar- 
ried June  22,  1879,  to  Mary  Severson,  who  has  proven  a  capable 
helpmeet. 

Burr  Beneke  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  AValtham  township,  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  township  since  1870,  has  served  as  super- 
visor of  his  township  as  well  as  clerk  of  the  school  board,  and  at 
the  present  time  is  doing  excellent  service  as  town  treasurer.  Burr 
Beneke  was  born  near  Berlin,  Germany,  November  13,  1858,  son 
of  Frederick  and  Julia  (JMiescl)  Beneke,  who  brought  their  fam- 
ily to  America  in  1868,  settled  near  Rochester,  Olmsted  county,  and 
there  resided  until  1870,  when  they  came  to  Waltham  and  settled 
in  section  30,  where  Frederick  ended  his  days  in  1898  and  Julia 
in  the  spring  of  1899.  Burr,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  attended 
school  as  a  very  young  child  in  Olmsted  county,  and  later  in  dis- 
tricts 50  and  93  in  Mower  county.  After  his  marriage  he  took 
charge  of  the  farm  in  section  30,  where  he  now  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  200  acres,  in  addition  to  eighty  acres  in  Udolpho  township. 
The  family  home,  which  was  originally  erected  in  1883,  was 
remodeled  in  1896  and  is  now  a  comfortable  residence,  well  fur- 
nished throughout.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Matilda 
Kroening,  and  they  have  eight  children:  Edward,  Clara,  Lillie, 
Alma,  George,  Helen,  Ernest  and  Stella.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
^Matilda  (Kroening)  Beneke  were  Herman  and  Hulda  (Brogge- 
man)  Kroening,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Germany,  came 
to  America  in  1872,  located  first  in  Milwaukee,  and  later  in 
Waltham  township,  this  county. 

Lorenzo  S.  Chapman,  of  Waltham,  station  agent,  bank  cashier 
and  village  clerk,  was  born  in  Green  Lake  county,  "Wisconsin, 
:\ray  28.  1862,  son  of  William  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Palmer)  Chap- 
man. He  received  his  early  education  in  the  district  and  graded 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  also  attended  the  normal  school 
in  that  county  as  well  as  the  one  in  Crawford  county,  Kansas, 
He  taught  school  for  a  time  in  Green  Lake  county,  and  then 
l)ecame  a  carpenter  and  painter  for  a  few  years.     In  1888  he 


814  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

entered  the  employ  of  the  IMinnesota  &  Northwestern,  now  the 
Chicago  Great  Western,  as  agent  and  operator  at  Renova,  Minn. 
In  1889  he  was  transferred  to  "Waltham  as  agent  and  operator, 
and  in  this  capacity  he  has  since  continued.  Before  as.sumiug 
his  present  position  in  the  Waltham  State  Bank  he  was  its  vice- 
president  three  years.  His  clerkship  of  the  village  dates  from  the 
original  organization.  Mr.  Chapman  was  married  April  28,  1889, 
to  May  Rockwell  of  Brownsdale,  daughter  of  Alfred  Rockwell  and 
his  wife,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1900,  and  the  latter  of  whom 
is  still  living  in  Brownsdale.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Chapman  have  two 
children :  William  Alfred,  who  was  born  Llarch  -1,  1890,  is  assist- 
ant cashier  in  the  Waltham  State  Bank,  and  Eva  S.,  an  adopted 
daughter,  who  was  born  June  4,  1894,  lives  at  home.  The  family 
faith  is  that  of  the  Methodist  church.  Mr.  Chapman  is  a  Repub- 
lican, a  high  degree  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the  ]M.  W.  A.  Will- 
iam W.  Chapman  was  born  in  New  York  state  and  married  Eliza- 
beth Palmer,  a  native  of  the  same  state.  They  located  in  Wis- 
consin in  1855,  and  farmed  in  Green  Lake  county  until  1878, 
when  they  rented  their  farm  and  went  to  Crawford  county,  Kan- 
sas, where  they  continued  farming  until  the  winter  of  1879,  when 
William  W.  died.  His  widow  returned  to  Green  Lake  county, 
Wisconsin,  lived  there  until  1896,  and  then  came  to  Mower  county 
and  lived  with  her  son,  Lorenzo,  until  her  death,  August  16.  1902. 
There  were  five  children  in  the  family :  Z.  W.  lives  in  Northfield, 
Iowa;  H.  A.  lives  in  Green  Lake  county,  Wisconsin;  Olive  A.  is 
now  Mrs.  F.  L.  Nareross,  of  Crow  Wing  county,  Minn. ;  Ella  is 
now  Mrs.  Charles  Bassett,  of  Windom  township;  Lorenzo  is  a 
banker  of  Waltham  village. 

George  A.  Hormel,  president  of  the  pork  packing  plant  of  Geo. 
A.  Hormel  &  Co.,  the  leading  industry  in  Austin,  was  born  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  December  4,  1860,  son  of  John  G.  and  Susan 
(Decker)  Hormel.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Toledo,  Ohio,  and  in  early  youth  went  to  work  for  his  father  in 
the  sheepskin  tanning  business.  In  1876  he  went  to  Chicago  and 
worked  in  the  packing  house  market  for  a  year,  after  which  he 
returned  home  and  worked  in  the  Wabash  shops.  Subsequently 
he  again  returned  to  Chicago  and  re-entered  the  packing  business. 
Soon  after  he  became  traveling  agent  for  J.  N.  Dubois,  Kansas 
City,  purchasing  hides,  wool  and  the  like.  Next  he  engaged  with 
Oberne,  Hosiek  &  Co.,  in  the  same  line  of  business,  traveling  out 
of  Des  Moines  for  seven  years.  At  the  end  of  this  period  he 
resigned,  and  entered  the  retail  meat  business  in  Austin,  Avith  a 
partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  Friedrieh  &  Hormel.  This  part- 
nership was  dissolved  in  1892  and  the  firm  of  George  A.  Hormel 
&  Co.  was  formed.  This  plant  has  grown  in  importance,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  leading  industries  in  southern  jMinnesota.     It  has 


IIISTOIJY  OF  JIOWEIJ  COITXTY  81  •" 

been  an  important  factor  in  insuring  the  prosperity  and  growth 
of  the  eity.  The  company  maintains,  aside  from  its  plant,  a  retail 
store  in  Austin,  and  branches  in  several  cities.  Mr.  Ilormel  is 
a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  Mason  of  the  Knights  Templar 
degree.  He  has  affiliated  Avith  a  number  of  societies  and  organ- 
izations, and  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Austin  Commercial  ('lul) 
and  the  I'nion  League  Club  of  Chicago.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  in  February,  1892,  to  Lillian  B.  Gleason. 

Frank  Irving  Crane,  now  deceased,  was  one  of  the  well-known 
citizens  of  Austin,  and  well  deserved  the  honor  and  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held.  He  was  born  in  Sharon.  Medina  county,  Ohio, 
September  26,  1848,  and  lived  there  until  1863,  when  his  father. 
William  A.  Crane,  sold  his  homestead  on  which  he  had  resided 
for  thirty  years  and  came  to  Minnesota.  The  family  came  across 
the  lake  to  Milwaukee,  and  from  there  came  to  this  state  in  an 
emigrant  wagon.  All  of  the  family  were  present  except  Eugene, 
who  left  the  party  at  Madison,  Wis.,  to  go  to  Ann  Arbor  to  con- 
tinue his  law  studies.  The  party  crossed  the  line  between  Iowa 
and  Minnesota  on  Frank's  fifteenth  birthday.  The  Crane  family 
spent  the  winter  of  1863  with  Frank's  uncle,  William  Chatfield, 
then  living  near  Spring  Valley.  In  the  spring  they  came  to 
Austin,  reached  here  March  16,  1864,  located  in  the  log  house  on 
the  farm  that  is  now  the  property  of  the  Oakwood  Cemetery 
Association,  and  in  1865  built  the  brick  house  which  still  stands 
to  tiie  west  of  the  cemetery.  Frank  worked  on  the  farm  and 
attended  district  school.  In  1872  he  joined  his  brother,  Eugene 
B.  Crane,  now  of  Minneapolis,  and  worked  with  him  as  appraiser 
of  Northern  Pacific  lands,  and  later  attended  a  business  college  in 
i\Iinnea polls.  From  there  he  entered  the  old  Mower  County  Bank 
to  learn  more  of  business  methods.  In  1873  he  went  to  work  for 
AVilliam  Richards,  father  of  Mrs.  Lafayette  French,  Avho  con- 
ducted a  lumber  yard  near  the  present  C,  M.  &  St.  Paul  station. 
Bray  &  French  at  that  time  also  had  a  lumber  business  here,  near 
the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Water  streets.  In  1876  Mr.  Crane 
succeeded  Bray  &  French,  and  continued  in  the  lumber  business 
until  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Crane  took  a  prominent  part  in 
all  public  movements,  belonged  to  the  old  Board  of  Trade  and 
the  Booster  Club,  wa.s  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  was 
appointed  on  the  first  Library  Board  of  the  city,  and  was  its 
])resideiit  from  its  organization  until  his  death.  One  of  his  most 
distinguished  services  was  as  mayor.  He  was  elected  in  1896,  and 
it  Avas  due  to  his  efiPorts  that  the  finanees  of  the  city  were  put  in 
a  greatly  improved  condition.  So  great  was  the  favor  with  which 
his  official  acts  met  that  he  was  re-elected  without  opposition  in 
1897.  He  was  a  high  degree  IMason,  and  also  belonged  to  the 
Elks.     The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  nuirried  :\rarch  U,  1880.  to 


816  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

Sylvia  Pettibone,  of  Bainbridge,  Ohio.  Mr.  Crane  and  his  Avife 
were  born  within  forty  miles  of  each  other,  biit  never  met  until 
she  came  to  Austin  to  visit  her  sister,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Kent.  To  them 
were  born  four  children  :  Leah,  Ralph,  Clara  and  Florence.  Mr. 
Crane  lived  in  Austin  from  1864  until  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1910,  a  period  of  forty-six  years,  and  his  mind  was  a  storehouse 
of  first-hand  knowledge  of  local  history.  Few  events  happened 
here  in  the  half  century  of  which  he  had  no  mental  record.  He 
had  a  wide  acquaintance  in  his  home  town,  his  county  and  sur- 
rounding towns.  He  knew  and  called  his  friends  by  name  in  his 
fraternal  fashion,  and  never  forgot  them.  One  needed  to  go  about 
with  him  to  realize  the  number  of  friends  who  gave  him  hearty 
greeting  wherever  he  went.  His  hospitality  was  genuine  and 
extended  alike  fo  rich  and  poor.  His  keen,  practical  mind  gave 
him  business  sagacity  and  a  cool  judgment  to  discriminate  be- 
tween the  real  and  the  sham,  while  his  warm  heart  taught  him 
the  Avorth  of  men  and  helped  him  to  forget  their  failings. 

John  F.  Cook,  one  of  the  early  real  estate  dealers  of  Austin, 
was  born  in  Malone,  N.  Y.,  May  13,  1823,  son  of  the  Rev.  Stephen 
Cook,  a  clergyman  in  the  Empire  state  in  the  period  folloAving  the 
Revolution,  and  first  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Aus- 
tin. John  F.  Avas  tAvelve  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed 
from  Malone,  and  Avith  them  he  subsequently  liA^ed  in  A^arious 
places  in  his  native  state.  As  a  young  man  he  Avas  engaged  in 
various  occupations,  working  for  a  time  at  Clintonville,  N.  Y., 
and  later  at  Peru,  N.  Y.,  where  he  began  his  career  as  an  office 
boy  in  a  large  retail  store,  and  rapidly  advanced  till  he  became 
an  equal  partner  in  the  business.'  Siibsequently  he  went  to  loAva, 
and  during  the  construction  of  the  Illinois  Central  through  that 
state  Avas  engaged  in  railroading  and  in  the  mercantile  business, 
being  located  at  Waterloo  and  subsequently  at  Independence. 
Mr.  Cook  came  first  to  Austin  in  1854,  but  did  not  remain.  He 
returned  in  1856  and  purchased  land  around  Austin,  and  owned 
an  undivided  one-fourth  interest  in  the  original  townsite.  He  re- 
mained here  about  two  years,  retaining  his  interest  in  a  number 
of  mercantile  establishments  in  loAva.  He  sold  his  interests  thei-e 
and  returned  to  Austin  in  1864,  taking  up  the  real  estate  business. 
He  Avas  Austin's  mayor  in  1870  and  again  in  1874.  He  Avas  an  act- 
ive business  man  and  a  public-spirited  citizen.  He  died  at  his 
home  in  Austin,  December  2,  1892.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
married  Addie  E.  Carpenter,  and  to  this  anion  three  children  were 
born :  Charles  F.,  Addie  and  John  P. 

Ira  P.  Chase,  rural  mail  carrier,  is  one  of  the  popular  men  of 
Dexter,  and  has  one  of  the  prettiest  homes  in  tlie  township,  his 
place  being  Avell  kept  and  very  attractive  to  the  passerby.  Being 
of  a  sociable  nature,  he  has  allied  himself  with  the  M.  W.  A.,  and 


JOHN  F.   COOK. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEPv  COUNTY  817 

is  a  popular  member  of  the  local  lodge  of  that  order  at  Dexter. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I\Iasonic  Lodge  No.  253,  at  Dexter. 
He  was  born  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  March  17,  186:3,  son  of 
Amos  B.  and  Annie  (Martin)  Chase,  the  former  of  whom,  a 
native  of  New  York  state,  came  west,  and  after  a  few  temporary 
stops,  located  in  Dane  county,  where  he  farmed  for  many  years. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Wis- 
consin, attended  the  district  schools,  and  in  1903  came  to  Mower 
county  and  located  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  36,  Dex- 
ter township.  He  married  Lizzie  W.,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Maria  (Huntley)  Seymour,  and  they  have  five  bright  children: 
Asa,  Lia,  Ray,  Lena  and  Annie. 

John  H.  Eckstein,  a  scientific  and  well-read  farmer  of  Le 
Roy  township,  was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  May  12,  1856,  son 
of  Herman  and  Fredrika  (Grass)  Eckstein,  natives  of  Wurtem- 
lierg,  Germany.  This  worthy  couple  came  to  America  in  1849, 
lived  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  until  1856,  then  located  in  Howard 
county,  Iowa,  where  they  acquired  600  acres  of  land  and  engaged 
in  farming,  Herman  dying  August  15,  1910,  while  his  widow 
still  makes  her  home  on  the  farm.  John  H.  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools,  then  took  up  farming  at  home.  Later 
he  went  to  South  Dakota,  farmed  there  six  years,  and  then  came 
back  to  the  farm  in  Iowa,  engaging  in  general  farming.  In  1905 
he  came  to  Le  Roy  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  section  34, 
where  he  repaired  the  buildings  and  improA^ed  the  land.  He  still 
carries  on  general  farming  and  makes  a  specialty  of  stock  and 
grain  raising,  taking  great  pride  in  Hereford  cattle,  Shropshire 
sheep.  Chester  White  swine  and  Belgium  horses.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married  December  26,  1904,  to  Julia  Aga, 
born  at  Hardanger,  Norway,  March  28,  1866,  daughter  of  Mikkel 
and  Margreta  (Huse)  Aga,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  Norway, 
^larch  21,  and  the  former  of  whom  came  to  America  in  Septem- 
ber, 1906,  and  now  makes  his  home  with  his  daughter.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Eckstein  have  one  son,  Ernest  Aga,  born  February  27,  1909. 
The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Charles  E.  Fairbanks,  a  scientific  farmer  of  Dexter  township, 
is  well  known  throughout  the  county,  and  his  place,  the  "Cold 
Spring  Farm,"  is  one  of  the  model  farms  of  this  part  of  tlie 
state.  The  property  consists  of  320  acres,  well  kept  in  every 
way,  and  cultivated  with  the  latest  improved  machinery  along 
the  most  modern  lines.  His  comfortable  home  is  a  demonstra- 
tion of  the  fact  that  rural  life  may  be  made  most  attractive, 
while  his  barns  and  other  buildings  are  roomy,  commodious,  airy 
;ind  sanitary.  His  sleek-looking  stock,  well  cared  for  and  well 
Iniused,  form  in  the  summer  a  pleasant  feature  of  the  pastoral 
landscape.      Like    most    intelligent    men,    Mr.    Fairbanks   has    a 


818  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

hobby,  his  particular  pleasure  being  in  hunting  for  big  game  in 
the  northern  woods,  to  which  territory  he  makes  frequent  trips 
during  the  hunting  season.  At  home  he  is  highly  regarded  and 
has  been  honored  in  his  township  with  various  offices,  including 
town  assessor  for  thirteen  years,  as  well  as  treasurer.  Recentl}'- 
he  has  been  appointed  by  Gov.  A.  0.  Eberhart  as  boiler  inspector 
in  the  Sixth  district.  Charles  E.  Fairbanks  "was  born  near  Madi- 
son, Wis.,  February  10,  1858,  son  of  Caswell  and  Miranda  (Tyler) 
Fairbanks,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  near  AVatertown, 
N.  Y.  Charles  E.  Avas  educated  in  the  common  and  high  schools 
of  Madison,  and  attended  the  state  normal  school  at  Oshkosh, 
Wis.  He  came  to  Dexter,  Avith  his  parents,  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
and  for  a  time  taught  school  in  the  township.  He  married  Au- 
gusta Heath,  also  a  well-known  teacher.  Mrs.  Fairbanks  v;as 
the  daughter  of  Kimball  and  Jane  (AYalker)  Heath,  who  came 
from  NcAv  Hampshire.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fau'banks  are  the  parents 
of  three  children.  Earle  C.  is  in  the  real  estate  business  in 
Minneapolis.  Mary  C.  teaches  in  Duluth.  Ralph  B.  lives  at 
home. 

Philip  Heydt,  a  progressive  citizen  of  Sargeant  tOAvnship,  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  county  since  the  centennial  year,  and 
during  that  time  has  maintained  a  most  honorable  record.  He 
has  been  supervisor,  toAvn  treasurer  and  school  director  and  at 
the  present  time  is  a  director  in  the  Farmers  Lumber  Company, 
at  Hayfield.  Philip  Heydt  Avas  born  in  Germany,  April  14,  1856, 
fion  of  Carl  and  Louisa  (Ruppenthal)  Heydt,  natives  of  that 
country.  He  eames  to  America  in  1872,  settled  at  Ncav  Ulm, 
Minn.,  and  remained  two  years.  Then  he  Avorked  a  similar  period 
in  Norwalk,  Wis.  In  1876  J\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Heydt  came  to  Sar- 
geant toAvnship  -and  he  Avorked  for  Mr.  C.  S.  Meyer  for  three 
years,  then  he  farmed  in  section  5  for  himself  thirteen  years. 
Then  he  moved  to  his  present  location  in  section  8,  Avhere  he 
owns  a  half  section  of  excellent  land,  Avith  a  comfortable  home 
and  suitable  buildings  for  stock,  machinery  and  crops.  Mr. 
Heydt  Avas  married  in  1876  to  Katharina,  daughter  of  Henry 
Elsebach  and  a  native  of  Germany.  They  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children:  William  H. :  Lena  E.,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  C.  G. 
Roesti;  Jacob  E.,  Frederick  C,  Leonard  L.,  Harvey  A.  (deceased) 
and  Elmer  0.  W.  H.  is  married  to  Bertha  Wohlfeil;  they  have 
three  children,  Eva,  Florence  and  Pari.  J.  E.  is  married  to  Lillian 
Schrapp  and  have  one  child,  Lucile  Vivian,  a  little  girl.  The 
three  younger  boys  are  home  and  Avork  the  home  farm.  Rev.  and 
Mrs.  Roesti  have  five  children:  Ernest,  Katie,  Ester,  Ruth  and 
Hazel. 

E.  F.  Hunt  is  one  of  the  honored  residents  of  Waltham,  in 
Avhich  toAvn  he  is  noAV  serving  his  eleventh  consecutive  term  as 


HISTORY  OF  MOWKK  COUNTY  SU) 

town  clerk.  lie  was  boru  in  Pinkney,  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  De- 
(.•ember  3,  1839,  son  of  Hiram  and  Cornelia  (Hall)  Hunt,  who 
were  born  in  New  York  state,  migrated  to  AVisconsin,  and  then 
came  to  Browusdale,  this  county,  where  they  ended  their  days. 
E.  F.  attended  the  common  schools,  and  later  on  the  high  school 
at  Beaver  Dam.  AVis.  He  spent  his  early  manhood  on  the  farm, 
tmd  in  1870  came  to  AValtham  township,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  in  section  16.  Here  he  built  a  home  and 
other  buildings,  and  soon  added  another  eighty  acres,  thus  mak- 
ing a  fine  farm,  which  he  still  cultivf|,tes.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  married  INIary  C.  Kezar,  at  Waupon,  Wis.,  September  17, 
1864,  she  being  the  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Catherine  (Nesdel) 
Kezar.  i\lr.  and  ]Mrs.  Hunt  are  tlie  parents  of  six  children :  Mary 
A.,  Josephine  A.,  Franklin  E.,  Jennie  and  Louisa  and  Arthur 
B.,  who  still  lives  at  home.  Mary  A.  married  Otto  IMiller  and 
they  have  one  child,  I\Iary  G.  Josephine  A.  married  W.  W.  Carver 
and  they  have  two  children,  Ethel  E.  and  Lloyd  F.  Franklin 
E.  lives  in  Clay  county,  Cromwell  township,  married  Katherine 
Pick,  daughter  of  Fisher  Pick,  and  has  one  child,  Veronica. 
Jennie  married  E.  E.  Edwards  and  they  have  two  children.  Ever- 
ette  E.  and  ilark  W.  Louisa  married  C.  C.  Lawis,  and  they  liave 
four  children— AVard,  Blanche,  Merl,  Violet. 

Samuel  P.  Hambleton  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  leading 
citizens  of  Frankford  township.  AYith  the  natural  ability  of  a 
keen,  active  mind  he  combines  a  capacity  for  good  .judgment  and 
hard  work,  and  his  influence  in  the  community  has  been  an 
excellent  one.  He  has  served  the  town  twelve  years  as  super- 
visor and  for  the  past  five  years  has  been  chairman  of  the  town 
board.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Grand  Meadow- 
village  and  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers  Co-operative  Creamery 
in  the  same  place.  Samuel  P.  Hambleton  was  born  in  Bensalem 
township.  Buck's  county.  Pa.,  December  9,  1854,  son  of  Thomas 
and  ^lary  Ann  (Stackhouse)  Hambleton,  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
the  former  of  whom  died  in  I\Iarch,  1895,  and  the  latter  in  Jan- 
uary, 1899.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  county  and  completed 
with  a  two  years'  course  in  the  Andalusia  Hall,  a  school  for  young 
men  located  in  Buck's  county,  Pennsylvania.  After  his  school 
days  were  over,  Samuel  P.  engaged  in  farming  at  home  until 
1886,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  for  five  years  worked 
in  Grand  Meadow  township.  Then  he  came  to  Frankford  town- 
ship and  purchased  eighty  acres  in  the  east  half  of  the  southeast 
(piarter  of  section  19.  In  1903  he  purchased  the  other  half  of 
1he  same  quarter.  He  also  purchased  three  acres  in  section  30. 
making  in  all  163  acres,  on  whicli  he  now  conducts  general  farm- 
ing.    His  ])lace  is  an  excellent  one.  well  tilled  and  well  Ue])t.  ;ind 


820  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

its  value  is  enhanced  by  the  fact  that  Deer  creek  runs  through 
it.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  September  29,  1880, 
at  Buck's  county,  Pennsylvania,  to  Lidie  Stout,  a  native  of 
Middletown  in  that  county,  born  December  7,  1857,  daughter 
of  Samuel  R.  and  Jane  M.  (Hibbs)  Stout,  also  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The  Stout  family  came  west  in  1886,  piirchased  640 
acres  in  sections  28  and  32,  Clrand  Meadow,  and  there  remained 
until  Mrs.  Stout's  death,  November  15,  1902,  after  which  Mr. 
Stout  moved  to  Grand  IMeadow  village,  where  he  died  May  17, 
1903.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hambleton  have  three  children:  Frank  S., 
Samuel  R.  and  Rodman  T.  Frank  S.  M^as  born  at  Beusalem,  Pa., 
August  1,  1881,  and  now  conducts  a  store  and  restaurant  at 
Grand  Meadow.  Samuel  R.  Avas  born  at  Bensalem,  Pa.,  May  10, 
1885,  and  died  September  29,  1886.  Rodman  T.  Avas  born  July 
21,  1888.  He  is  a  senior  at  Hamline  University,  is  editor  of  the 
Hamline  Oracle,  and  was  captain  of  the  Hamline  baseball  club 
in  1910.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hambleton  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
church.  'Mr.  Hambleton  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.,  and  ]\Irs. 
Hambleton  is  a  patriotic  instructor  in  the  W.  R.  C. 

J.  P.  Johnson  has  a  A\'ell-kept  farm  of  240  acres  in  the  south- 
Avest  quarter  of  section  6,  Sargeant  toAvnship,  Avhere  he  has  lived 
for  some  quarter  of  a  century.  Born  in  NorAvay,  March  25,  1857, 
son  of  Peter  D.  Johnson,  he  was  brought  to  America  by  his  par- 
ents and  reared  in  Dodge  county,  this  state.  Later  the  family 
came  to  Mower  county  and  settled  on  the  place  where  J.  P.  now 
resides,  and  where  Peter  D.  died  in  1909.  Mr.  Johnson,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  married  Anna  Kyllo,  also  a  native  of  NorAvay, 
and  they  have  twelve  children:  Oscar,  Enen,  Alma,  Oneil  and 
Selmer  (twins),  Bennie  and  Mabel  (tAvins),  Melvine,  Elmer,  San- 
ford  and  Clififord  (twins)  and  Roy.  The  family  affiliates  Avith  the 
Lutheran  church  at  Hayfield. 

John  T.  Keefe,  noAv  deceased,  Avas  knoAvn  in  both  ^loAver  and 
Freeborn  counties.  He  Avas  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to  America 
with  his  parents  at  the  age  of  eight  years.  They  settled  in  New 
York  state  and  there  he  grew  to  manhood  He  married  Maryann 
Kerby,  and  continued  to  live  in  New  York  state  until  1877,  Avhen 
he  brought  his  family  west  and  settled  in  Newry,  Freeborn 
county,  this  state.  A  year  later  they  came  to  Udolpho  township, 
this  county,  and  lived  on  the  old  Field  farm.  In  latter  years  he 
took  up  his  home  Avith  his  daughter,  ]\Irs.  John  Dennis,  and  died 
December  11,  1909. 

Albert  Keefe,  an  industrious  farmer  of  Waltham  toAvnship, 
was  born  in  Bombay,  N.  Y.,  May  20,  1871,  son  of  John  T.  and 
Maryann  (Kerby)  Keefe.  He  came  to  IMinnesota  Avith  his  parents, 
attended  school  in  district  50,  Udolpho,  and  assisted  his  father 
on  the  farm.""  When  twenty-seven  years  of  age  he  married  Mary 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  831 

Drisooll,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Catherine  (Pendergast)  Dris- 
coll,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Ireland,  came  to  America, 
located  in  Chicago,  came  to  Udolpho,  lived  eighteen  years  on  the 
George  B.  Hayes  farm,  and  afterward  lived  twenty  years  in  Red 
Rock  township,  subsequently  going  to  Virginia,  in  this  state, 
where  he  now  lives.  Albert  Keefe  and  wife  lived  five  years  in 
Newry,  Freeborn  county,  and  then  came  to  Udolpho  and  located 
on  the  Stimson  place.  They  are  now  on  the  Budahn  farm  in 
Waltham  tOAvnship.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  bright  chil- 
dren: William  H.,  aged  ten;  Irene  S.,  aged  nine,  and  Margaret, 
aged  one.  Mr.Keefe  owns  160  acres  in  the  township  of  Badger, 
Roseau  county.  Minn.  He  is  a  modern  farmer  and  his  wife  has 
proven  an  intelligent  and  sympathetic  helpmeet. 

Granville  Kearns,  now  living  in  retirement  in  Austin,  is  one 
of  th?  few  early  pioneers  still  living  in  the  county,  he  having 
the  honor  of  dating  his  residence  in,  this  part  of  the  state  from 
April  28,  1856,  on  Avhich  day  he  arrived  in  Austin  for  the  first 
time.  He  w^as  born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  May  26,  1835,  his  parents 
being  Robert  and  Nancy  (Purdy)  Kearns.  After  arriving  at 
Austin,  he  went  to  Moscow,  Freeborn  county,  and  pre-empted 
land  thei'e,  farming  until  1900,  Avhen  he  retired  and  moved  to 
the  city  of  Austin,  where  he  now  resides  in  a  comfortable  home 
at  400  Vine  street.  ]\Ir.  Kearns  married  Julia,  Lamping,  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Julia  (Goodore)  Lamping,  her  father  being  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  To  this  union  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren:   William  F.,  Alice  B.,  Charles  E.  and  Burton  G.     William 

F.  married  Daisy  Newell  and  they  have  five  children:  Ruth, 
Clifford,  Arnold,  Dorothy  and  Alice.  Charles  E.  married  Minnie 
Green,  of  Rockford,  111.,  and  they  have  one  son,  Frank.    Burton 

G.  married  Carrie  Branum  and  they  have  two  children:  Roy 
and  Grace. 

Leander  Kirkland,  a  retired  farmer  now  living  in  Austin,  luis 
the  honor  of  having  been  town  treasurer  and  chairman  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  of  the  township  of  Red  Rock  at  intervals 
fcr  twenty-three  years.  He  was  born  October  5,  1843,  in  Chau- 
tauqua county,  New  York,  son  of  James  and  Phoebe  (Dawley) 
Kirkland.  both  natives  of  New  York  state.  Leander  spent  his 
early  life  in  New  York  state,  and  in  1864  the  family  moved  to 
Winneshiek  county,  Iowa,  settling  near  Decorah,  where  liis  par- 
ents died,  James  in  1872  and  Phoebe  in  1868.  In  1864,  immedi- 
ately after  his  marriage,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  took  up 
farming  in  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  there  remained  until  1870,  when 
he  l)rought  his  family  to  Red  Rock  township,  IMower  county,  and 
settled  in  section  34,  where  he  farmed  until  1906,  when  he  prac- 
tically retired  and  moved  to  Austin.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,    a    uiiMiilicr   of   tlie    blue    lod'^v    and    the    rhaptcr    iu    the 


823  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

Masonic  order  and  also  of  the  A.  0.  U.  "W.  He  was  married  in 
New  York  state,  September  22,  1864,  to  Patience  Rugg,  and  to  this 
union  has  been  born  one  daught&r,  Alice  P.,  the  wife  of  Edwin  T. 
Bemis,  whose  father,  Oliver  Bemis,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Austin.  Mr.  Kirkland  is  highly  respected  by  his  friends,  and 
for  many  years  has  been  one  of  the  substantial  residents  of  the 
county,  his  advice  on  important  matters  being  often  sought  by 
the  younger  generations. 

Harcar  Lyons,  an  old  settler,  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Ontario, 
Canada,  son  of  Joseph  Lyons.  In  1857  he  came  to  ^Mower  county 
Avith  his  brother,  John  P.,  and  settled  in  Lansing  township. 
November  1,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  Second  ^Minnesota  Cav- 
alry, and  served  on  the  frontier  against  the  Indians.  He  Avas 
honorably  discharged  in  December,  1865,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Lansing  and  resumed  farming.  He  married,  November  24, 
1870,  Maty  A.  Bernier,  born  October  12,  1849,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Henrietta  (De  Mars)  Bernier.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  Avith  tAvo  daughters :  Fay  Eugene  and  Elizabeth  V. 
Elizabeth  V.  married  R.  L.  Johnson  and  they  have  tAvo  children : 
Louise  L.  and  Hazel  I. 

Jacob  Martin,  a  Avell-liked  farmer  of  Sargeant,  Avas  born  in 
Cascade  toAA^nship,  Olmsted  county,  this  state.  May  13,  1872, 
son  of  Philip  and  Christina  (Fuchs)  Martin.  When  ten  years  of 
age,  he  was  brought  to  MoAver  county  by  his  parents,  and  Avas 
reared  on  the  farm  in  section  16,  Sargeant  toAvnship,  completing 
his  common  school  education  in  district  113.  lie  now  resides  on 
the  home  farm  of  240  acres,  all  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Martin 
has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  aifairs  of  his  township,  has 
been  in  toAA'n  office  since  tAventy-tAvo  years  of  age,  Avas  many  years 
superA^isor.  and  is  noAv  school  clerk  and  constable.  He  is  a 
director  in  the  farmers'  telephone  and  is  a  member  of  the  Dia- 
mond cornet  band  of  Sargeant.  The;  subject  of  this  sketch  Avas 
married  October  24,  1900,  to  Emma  Peterson,  daughter  of  Nels 
and  Betsey  Peterson,  and  they  had  tAvo  daughters :  Beulah,  born 
April  17,  1907,  and  Bessie,  born  November  10,  1904,  and  died 
April  9,  1905. 

Philip  Martin,  of  "Waltliam,  Avas  born  in  Germany  and  mar- 
ried Christina  Fuchs.  He  came  to  America  in  1848,  located  in 
Jackson,  Wis.,  and  lived  there  until  1864,  when  he  came  to  Olm- 
sted county,  Minnesota,  and  there  resided  eighteen  years.  In 
1882  he  came  to  Sargeant  township,  located  in  section  16,  and 
liecamc  a  prominent  citizen.  In  1900  he  moved  to  the  village  of 
AValtham,  and  his  son  Jacob  is  noAv  in  charge  of  the  home  farm. 

D,  L.  Mills,  of  Sargeant  toAvnship,  is  one  of  the  many  modern 
farmers  Avho  have  folloAved  the  "back  to  the  soil"  movement. 
After  attaining  success  as  a  civil  engineer  and  as  a  banker,  he 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  823 

has  now  determined  to  become  a  scientitii-  fariixT,  and  iias  slarlcd 
l)y  acquiring  280  acres  of  good  land,  on  wliicli  lie  has  ci'i'ctcil  a 
good  home  and  commodions  outbuildings.  He  already  has  a  hue 
lot  of  dual-purpose  cattle,  sheep  and  Poland-China  liogs,  and  it 
is  his  intention  to  engage  successfully  in  stock  breeding  for  tlie 
market.  Mr.  Mills  was  born  in  Tioga  county,  Pennsylvania, 
]March  6,  1879,  son  of  John  and  Rose  (Vorhees)  Mills.  The  father, 
John,  came  from  Ulster,  Bradford  county,  Pa.,  and  the  mother. 
Rose,  from  Tioga  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  the  spring  of  1888, 
John  Mills  came  to  Minneapolis  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business.  He  is  now  in  Tacoma,  Wash.,  in  the  same  business. 
D.  L.  Mills  attended  the  public  schools  in  Minneapolis  and  studied 
engineering,  which  he  made  his  profession  for  six  years.  After- 
wards he  went  into  the  banking  business  and  for  five  years  he 
managed  the  Bank  of  Dexter,  Minn.,  which  he  organized.  In  1907 
lie  disposed  of  his  interest  and  spent  two  years  in  the  state  of 
Washington  and  other  places,  with  a  view  to  selecting  a  per- 
manent home.  Finally  he  returned  to  Mower  county  and  pur- 
chased his  present  property.  Mr.  Mills  married  Clara  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  F.  C.  Hartshorn,  and  they  have  five  children:  Carl  H., 
Fred  L.,  Nadine,  Robert  and  Lila. 

Michael  Matter  will  long  be  honored  in  Waltham  township 
for  the  part  he  had  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  St.  Michael  German 
Lutheran  church.  The  first  services  of  this  congregation  were 
held  in  his  home,  and  at  the  organization  of  the  church  in  1873 
he  gave  sixty  acres  of  land  for  the  church,  school,  cemetery,  etc. 
i\Iichael  Matter  was  born  October  19,  1798,  in  Ljuchentin,  Ger- 
many, came  to  America  in  1841,  located  in  Wisconsin,  and  thm-e 
lived  until  1869,  when  he  brought  his  wife,  Avhose  maiden  name 
was  Friderike  Zulke,  to  Mower  county,  where  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  in  section  20,  Waltham  township,  from  his  sou, 
^Michael  F.,  who  came  the  same  year.  He  died  January  19, 
1880,  in  ]\Iilwaukee,  Wis.,  and  his  corpse  was  brought  to  Wal- 
tliam,  ]Minn.,  for  burial  at  the  siile  of  his  wife,  who  died  October 
18.  1872. 

Michael  F.  Matter  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Waltham  toA^ii- 
ship,  where  he  has  lived  since  1869.  He  was  born  in  German- 
town.  AVashington  county.  Wis.,  April  21,  1848,  son  of  Michael 
and  Friderike  (Zulke)  ^Matter.  He  came  to  ]\Iower  county  in 
1869,  purchased  160  acres  in  section  20,  Waltham  township,  and 
two  years  later  sold  a  half  to  his  father.  He  improved  and  cul- 
tivated his  half,  erected  buildings,  and  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing for  many  years.  ^Mr.  flatter  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of 
Waltliam  township.  He  is  als.i  th,-  oldest  member  of  St.  :Michaers 
'hurcli.  and  one  of  the  I'cadcrs  in  the  churcli  wlicn  the  pastor 
is  al)scnt.     He  has  been  supervisor  of  tlic  town  and  scliool  trea.s- 


824  HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

urer  and  a  trustee  of  St.  Michael's  church  at  its  organizatiou 
and  several  terms  thereafter.  Mr.  Matter  was  married  at  tlie 
first  meeting  of  the  German  Lutherans  in  Waltham  township. 
This  service  was  held  at  the  home  of  his  father  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wier,  from  Lake  Elmo,  Washington  county.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Therese  Frohreich,  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Friderike  (Matter)  Frohreich,  has  borne  him  nine  children,  oO 
which  still  live:  Wilhelmine,  Augusta,  Matilda,  Herman,  Ferdi- 
nand and  Ida.  Wilhelmina  married  Henry  Baumgartner  and 
they  have  six  children.  Augusta  married  John  Boeris  and  they 
have  six  children.  Matilda  married  Henry  Yunkans  and  they 
liave  seven  children.  Herman  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Rev. 
F.  C.  Milius  and  they  have  one  child,  Beata.  Ferdinand,  Auguste 
and  J\Iatilda  live  in  Wisconsin.  Ida  married  William  Suhrke  and 
lives  near  AValtham,  Minn. 

Oscar  W.  Nichols,  a  well-liked  citizen  of  Waltham  township, 
in  which  he  owns  a  half  section  of  rich  land,  all  under  cultiva- 
tion, Avas  born  in  Moscow,  Somerset  county.  Me.,  June  17,  1858, 
son  of  Charles  E.  and  Clara  L.  (Hill)  Nichols.  The  father, 
Charles  E.,  came  west  March  8,  1869,  stopped  at  Waukon,  Iowa, 
a  few  days,  and  then  proceeded  to  Rice  Lake,  Dodge  county, 
Minn.,  where  he  remained  four  months.  In  September,  1869,  he 
moved  to  Waltham,  section  11,  and  there  established  his  home. 
Oscar  W.  was  reared  on  the  farm,  attended  the  district  schools 
of  district  58,  and  assisted  his  father  in  agricultural  work.  After 
his  marriage  he  moved  to  his  present  home  in  section  2.  His 
good  wife,  who  was  ]\faggie  Baumann,  daughter  of  George  and 
Emily  (Warren)  Baumann,  has  borne  him  five  children:  Pearle 
E.,  George  W.,  Cleve  E.,  Ruth  L.  and  Floyd  0. 

Manley  Ousley,  of  the  Southern  IMinnesota  Land  Company, 
is  one  of  the  most  successful  real  estate  dealers  in  this  portion 
of  the  state.  He  was  born  in  Grant  county,  Wisconsin,  April 
28,  1858,  son  of  M.  B.  and  Amanda  S.  (Day)  Ousley.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Boscobel, 
Wis.,  and  then  learned  the  woolen  manufacturing  business  from 
start  to  finish  in  the  mills  there.  In  1876  he  removed  with  liis 
parents  to  Deeorah,  Iowa,  and  worked  at  the  woolen  business 
two  years  more.  After  this  he  opened  a  restaurant  in  that  place, 
continuing  the  same  for  seventeen  years.  His  restaurant,  which 
bore  the  name  of  "Ousley  Restaurant,"  was  one  of  the  finest 
eating  houses  in  the  state  of  Iowa.  After  selling  out  this  place, 
Mr.  Ousley  came  to  Austin  and  purchased  the  Grand  Hotel, 
which  he  maintained  as  the  leading  family  hotel  of  Austin. 
After  about  fourteen  years  in  this  business,  Mr.  Ousley  sold  out 
and  with  Herbert  St.  Ledger  entered  into  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness under  the  name  of  the  Southern  Minnesota  Land  Company, 


HISTOK'Y  OF  M()\VKI{  COT^NTY  825 

a  company  which  during  the  past  year  has  done  over  a  inilHou 
dollars'  business.  While  in  Deeorah  Mr.  Ousley  served  on  the 
school  board,  but  he  has  always  voted  independently  and  lias 
never  cared  to  enter  actively  into  i)olitics.  He  is  a  niemher  of 
the  Christian  Science  church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  April  13,  1879,  at  Deeorah,  loAva,  to  Etta  M.  Kimball, 
a  native  of  New  York  state,  now  the  first  reader  of  the  ('hristian 
Science  church  at  Austin.  To  this  union  two  children  have  been 
born.  Flora  May,  who  was  born  ]\Iay  30,  1886,  died  at  the  age 
of  ten  months.  Walter  D.,  born  June  29,  1893,  is  a  student  in 
the  Austin  high  school. 

M.  B.  Ousley,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  was  born  in  Missouri, 
and  married  Amanda  S.  Day,  of  Kentucky.  They  located  in 
Boscobel,  W^is.,  and  there  lived  for  some  years,  going  in  ISTfi  to 
Deeorah,  Iowa,  where  they  are  now  living  a  retired  life. 

Theodore  Sanders,  a  well-known  retired  farmer  of  Austin, 
was  born  in  Denmark,  April  2,  1845,  a  son  of  Carl  and  Stina 
(Larsen)  Sanders,  who  passed  their  lives  in  the  native  land, 
Denmark.  Theodore  received  a  good  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Denmark,  after  which  he  followed  farming  until  his 
emigration  to  America  in  1867. .  Arriving  in  this  country,  he 
settled  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  engaging  in  farming  there 
until  1875.  when  he  removed  to  IMower  county,  IMinnesota,  and 
purchased  a  quarter  section  of  improved  land  in  section  15  of 
Nevada  township.  This  was  the  family  home  for  twenty  years, 
during  which  time  modern  buildings  were  added,  and  the  land 
greatly  improved  by  carefid  cultivation,  yielding  rich  returns 
in  crops.  In  1895,  Mr.  Sanders  sold  this  property,  immediately 
purchasing  a  176-acre  farm  in  Windom  township,  but  on  which 
he  has  never  lived,  at  once  removing  to  Austin  with  his  family 
after  the  sale  of  the  first  farm.  He  had  previously  bought  a 
ten-acre  tract  on  South  Kenwood  avenue  and  built  a  home  which 
was  their  residence  until  1907,  Avhen  he  disposed  of  this  place, 
and  moved  with  his  family  into  their  present  beautiful  and  mod- 
ern home  at  1101  North  Kenwood  avenue.  Since  his  removal  to 
Austin,  Mr.  Sanders  has  not  been  engaged  in  any  line  of  work, 
but  is  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  He  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  November  20,  1871,  he  was  married  to 
^Fathilda  Nelsen,  who  deceased  IMarch  26,  1909,  leaving  one  child. 
F.melia,  Avho  lives  at  home  and  keeps  house  for  her  father.  Carl, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  Thorvald,  deceased,  aged 
nine,  and  Thora,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  days,  were  the 
other  children  of  the  family.  The  Lutheran  clnirch  has  always 
had  the  loyalty  and  support  of  the  family. 

Loran  W.  Sherman,  for  many  years  prominently  identified 
with  the  business  and  <-ivic  i)rogress  of  Lyle,  was  born  in  ^Mav- 


8-26  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

ville,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  March  11,  18-40,  son  of  Bemau 
B.  and  Olive  (Scott)  Sherman.  They  were  born  respectively  in 
Windsor  county,  Vermont,  February  26,  1811,  and  in  Massa- 
chusetts, August  4,  1815.  They  vi^ere  married  January  4,  1838, 
and  lived  in  Mayville,  N.  Y.,  until  1856,  when  they  removed  to 
Edgerton,  Wis.,  Avhere  they  both  died,  the  father  in  1897,  and 
the  mother  in  1876.  Loran  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  in  the  Mayville  academy,  and  came  west  with  his 
parents  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  As  a  youth  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  teaching  in  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  until  August  23, 
1864,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Thirty-eighth  Wisconsin  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  serving  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  under  Gen- 
eral Grant  around  Petersbiu-g,  Va.,  until  wounded  in  the  final 
and  victorious  assault  on  that  stronghold,  April  2,  1865.  He  was 
discharged  at  Madison,  Wis.,  June  14,  1865.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  went  to  Iowa  and  engaged  in  railroad  work  at  various 
points.  In  1871  he  became  a  buyer  for  the  Bassett-Huntting 
Companj^  grain  dealers,  at  Lyle.  At  the  same  time  he  be- 
came proprietor  of  a  lumber  and  coal  business,  continuing  the 
same  until  1906,  at  which  time  he  retired,  moving  to  Minneapolis 
three  years  later.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  the 
village,  was  elected  first  mayor  of  Lyle,  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  a  time,  and  was  clerk  of  the  school  district  of  Lyle 
village  from  its  organization  until  1907.  He  belongs  to  the 
Congregational  church  and  affiliates  with  the  John  A.  Rawlins 
Post,  No.  126,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Minnesota.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
married,  in  1868,  Miss  Cathleen  B.  Wilcox,  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
of  this  union  one  son  is  living,  Louis  A.  Sherman,  of  Austin. 
Mrs.  Cathleen  Sherman  died  in  July,  1875.  In  August,  1876, 
Mr.  Sherman  married  Marion  F.  Wilcox,  and  this  union  has  been 
blessed  with  two  daughters,  Laura  I.  and  Edna  L.,  both  of  whom 
live  M'ith  their  parents  in  Minneapolis. 

Bjnron  E.  Shutt,  the  genial  proprietor  of  the  Grand  Hotel, 
at  Austin,  was  born  at  Fort  Wayne,  Allen  county,  Ind.,  April 
8,  1864,  son  of  Daniel  and  Barbara  (Cope)  Shutt,  the  former 
of  whom  died  December  9,  1906,  and  the  latter  of  whom  is  now 
living  at  Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  county,  this  state.  Byron  E. 
lived  at  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.,  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  then 
spent  a  winter  in  Canton,  Fillmore  county,  Minn.  The  following 
spring  he  went  to  Duluth,  Minn.,  clerked  in  a  hardware  store  a 
year  and  then  returned  to  Canton,  where  he  spent  four  years  on 
his  father's  farm.  Subsequently  he  farmed  for  a  similar  period 
in  Iowa.  Then  he  came  to  ]\Iower  county,  purchased  a  quarter 
section  in  Frankford  township,  and  a  year  later  a  similar  tract 
in  Howard  county,  Iowa.  Still  later  he  located  on  a  farm  in 
Racine  township  and  farmed  there  until  1906,  when  he  came  to 


H18T0KY  OF  MOWKi;  COrXTY  827 

Austin  and  opened  a  livery  stable  in  the  l)uilding  that  has  since 
been  remodeled  as  the  Elk  Hotel.  Later  he  went  to  Cresco,  Iowa, 
and  made  his  first  venture  in  the  hotel  business.  Thus  equipped 
v.ith  suitable  experience,  he  came  back  to  Austin  and  purchased 
the  Grand.  He  conducts  a  first-class  place  in  every  respect,  the 
rooms  of  the  Grand  being  well  furnished  and  comfortable  at 
all  seasons  and  his  table  being  excellent  in  every  respect.  I\Ir. 
Shutt  was  married  October  26,  1886,  to  Etta  A.  Erode,  who  has 
proven  a  most  able  helpmeet  in  all  his  undertakings.  To  this 
anion  have  been  born  four  children :  Mark  C.  is  a  student  in 
the  State  University  of  Iowa;  Claude  E.  is  in  the  Dakotas,  and 
Joy  and  Etta  are  dead. 

Ananias  Sorenson  has  lived  in  Le  Eoy  township  for  thirty- 
five  years  and  has  seen  many  changes  in  township,  county  and 
state.  He  was  born  in  Norway,  married  Annie  Ronningen  Paul- 
son, and  brought  his  family  in  America  in  1865,  locating  at 
Lansing,  Iowa.  In  the  spring  of  1871  he  moved  to  Winneshiek 
county,  in  the  same  state,  and  in  1876  came  to  Mower  county, 
where  he  purchased  160  acres  in  section  2,  Le  Roy  township. 
This  land  he  developed,  erected  a  house  thereon  and  followed 
farming  until  the  fall  of  1888,  when  he  sold  his  farm  to  his  son, 
Soren  A.,  with  whom  he  now  makes  his  home.  His  wife  died 
August  9,  1910. 

Soren  A,  Sorenson  was  born  in  Norway,  March  27,  1860,  was 
brought  to  America  by  his  parents,  lived  with  them  in  Iowa, 
and  in  1876,  centennial  year,  came  with  them  to  Mower  county. 
After  receiving  an  adequate  education  he  worked  with  his  father 
until  1888,  when  he  acquired  the  home  place,  having  in  the 
meantime  purchased  eighty  acres  in  1885.  On  his  farm  of  240 
acres  he  now  conducts  general  farming  and  has  made  many 
improvements,  including  a  new  barn  built  in  1897  and  a  new 
house  built  in  1898.  His  stock  consists  of  Poland-China  hogs, 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  Shropshire  sheep.  Mr.  Sorenson  has  spent 
practically  all  his  manhood  in  Le  Roy,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year  from  the  fall  of  1887  to  the  fall  of  1888,  when  he  was  in 
Canton,  Lincoln  county,  S.  D.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
the  affairs  of  his  neighborhood  and  has  served  continuously  for 
twenty-two  years  as  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  1.  Aside 
horn  his  farm  in  Le  Roy  he  owns  a  SiO-acre  farm  in  Chisago 
county,  near  North  Branch.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  Janiiary  23,  1891,  to  IMiss  Louisa  J.  Sogn,  born  in  Lin- 
coln county.  South  Dakota.  This  union  has  resulted  in  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  eight  are  living.  They  are :  Alice  M.,  a  graduate 
of  the  Augustaua  College,  at  Canton,  S.  D.,  and  Leonard  A., 
Mattic  O.,  Sylvester  R.,  Edna  L.,  Helen  S.,  Ruth  C.  and  Enoch  B. 

Oliver  T.  Huntley,  an  industrious  farnuT  of  Le  Roy  township, 


8-^8  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

has  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  few  persons  born  in  Mower 
county  as  early  as  1856,  having  first  seen  the  light  of  day  in 
Le  Roy  township,  April  11,  1856,  just  four  days  after  the  first 
lioard  of  appointed  county  commissioners  had  met  at  Frankford 
in  their  first  meeting.  He  was  reared  in  the  home  of  his  par- 
ents, Permanes  and  Eunice  C.  (Edson)  Huntley,  attended  the 
;listrict  schools,  and  remained  at  home  until  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Le  Roy  town- 
ship, section  6.  This  he  has  since  increased  to  240  acres,  all  in 
the  same  section,  and  on  this  tract  he  followed  general  farming, 
making  a  specialty  of  stock  and  grain.  He  is  an  independent 
voter,  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  several  years 
and  belongs  to  the  ]M.  W.  A.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  Avas 
married  March  30,  1882,  at  Le  Roy,  to  Lena  Peterson.  ]\Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Huntley  have  one  son,  Frank  L.,  born  December  20,  1882. 

Permanes  F.  Huntley,  a  territorial  pioneer,  now  deceased, 
was  a  man  highly  esteemed  in  the  community.  He  was  born  in 
Manlius,  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.,  May  28,  1821,  and  grew  to 
manhood  in  his  native  state.  May  19,  1840,  he  married  Eunice 
C.  Edson,  and  eight  years  later,  in  April,  1848,  came  west  and 
settled  on  forty  acres  in  Kenosha  county,  Wisconsin.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1850,  they  moved  to  Winneshiek  county,  Iowa,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  six  miles  east  of  Decorah.  Later  they  located  at 
Hickory  Ridge,  Alamakee  county,  Iowa,  where  they  owned  tAvo 
farms.  In  June,  1853,  they  came  to  Minnesota  and  settled  on 
land  on  which  the  Aallage  of  Spring  Valley  is  now  located.  From 
that  place  they  came  to  Le  Roy  toAvnship  and  purchased  a  pre- 
emption claim  of  320  acres  in  section  19.  Here  they  carried 
on  farming  the  remainder  of  their  days.  At  the  age  of  43,  in 
1864,  Mr.  Huntley  enlisted  in  Co.  M,  First  ]\Iinnesota  Heavy 
Artillery,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  By  virtue  of 
this  serA'ice  he  became  a  prominent  member  of  the  James  George 
I'ost,  No.  23,  G.  A.  R.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  died  October 
27,  1893,  and  his  wife  passed  away  March  22,  1901. 

James  M.  Tanner,  an  honored  and  esteemed  farmer  of  Red 
Rock  township,  is  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  IMower  county, 
still  living,  and  during  his  residence  here  he  has  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  a  Avild  prairie  blossom  forth  Avith  cities  and  villages, 
houses  and  barns,  crops  and  live  stock.  He  Avas  born  in  Tioga 
county,  Pennsylvania,  December  18,  1844,  son  of  Ebenezer  E. 
and  Lydia  A.  (Colby)  Tanner,  the  former  of  whom  Avas  born  in 
Tompkins  county.  New  York,  September  25,  1824,  and  the  latter 
in  the  same  state  in  1827.  In  1859,  the  family  came  to  Red  Rock 
tOAvnship,  Avhere  they  lived  until  their  death,  Ebenezer  E.  pass- 
ing away  in  1878,  and  Lydia  A.  in  1860.  James  ]\[.  Tanner  as- 
sisted his  father  on  the  homo  farm  and  received  his  first  education 


E.  H.  WELLS. 


MRS.    !•:.   H.  WKI. 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWHIJ  COUNTY  829 

in  a  private  school.  Afterward,  when  the  school  district  in  Red 
Rock  was  organized,  he  completed  his  schooling  in  the  public 
scliools.  He  was  hard  at  work  on  the  I'arui  when  the  Civil  war 
broke  out.  Quick  to  see  his  country's  danger,  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  C,  Ninth  ^Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  until 
April  3,  1865,  when  he  was  discharged  by  reason  of  poor  health 
and  general  disability  contracted  in  the  service.  Diiring  his 
v.ar  career  he  saw  strenuous  fighting  for  a  year  on  the  frontier 
against  the  Sioux,  and  later  participated  in  the  battles  of  Oxford 
and  Nashville,  as  well  as  in  many  other  skirmishes.  After  his 
discharge  he  returned  to  Red  Rock  and  resumed  farming.  His 
place,  which  is  located  in  sections  11  and  12,  consists  of  157 
acres,  on  whicli  suitable  1)uildings  have  been  erected.  His  house, 
which  is  a  substantial  one,  built  in  1866,  has  been  remodeled  and 
repaired  from  time  to  time  and  now  presents  a  comfortable  and 
modern  appearance.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married, 
March  10,  1867,  to  Lois  A.  Dickius,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Lois 
A.  (Tanner)  Dickins.  She  died  some  years  later.  Later  Mr. 
Tanner  married  Anna  M.  Colby,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Mary 
(Stephens)  Colby,  the  former  a  native  of  Bow%  N.  H.,  and  de- 
scended from  an  early  Colonial  family.  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Tanner 
are  the  parents  of  Gladys  G.  and  Pearl  B. 

Daniel  B.  Vaughan-  was  born  in  Clinton  county.  New  York, 
July  3,  1835,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Johanna  (Kimble)  Vaughan, 
the  former  a  native  of  New  York  state  and  the  latter  of  Vermont. 
He  went  with  his  family  to  Rock  and  Dane  counties,  Wisconsin, 
and  in  1855  came  to  INIower  county,  pre-empting  land  in  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  15,  Lansing  township.  Here  he 
has  since  continued  to  live  with  the  exception  of  three  years 
spent  in  the  army  and  several  v.inters  in  the  Avoods.  In  1862 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  Ninth  IMinnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  married  IMarch  13, 
1861,  to  Elsie  Lyons,  daughter  of  Joseph  Lyons,  and  this  union 
has  b(n^n  lilessed  with  three  children. 

Ellas  H.  Wells  was  born  June  24,  1833,  in  Fairfax,  Franklin 
county,  Vt.  He  lived  with  his  parents  on  their  farm  attending 
district  school  and  working  between  terms  until  he  was  about 
fifteen  years  of  age.  As  a  result  of  overwork  or  overheating  his 
system  he  was  warned  that  lie  must  leave  the  farm  and  try  some 
less  arduous  way  of  earning  a  living  and  one  more  shel- 
tered from  the  summer  sun.  Therefore  he  left  home 
and  up  to  the  time  he  became  of  age  was  either  attending  school 
or  teaching  or  clerking  in  a  store  in  the  village.  When  quite 
young,  being  very  desirous  of  seeing  tlie  world  outside  of  Fair- 
fax, he  volunteered  l)efore  Vermont  was  blessed  witli  railways 
to  help  take  a  lot  of  horses  to  Hadley  Falls,  ]\lass.     Tlicrc  he  vis- 


830  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

ited  relatives  in  different  places,  returning  home  via  Albany,  Troy 
and  Whitehall,  N.  Y.,  and  Burlington,  Vt.,  partly  by  rail,  then 
by  canal  and  then  by  lake  steamer,  finishing  up  on  the  old  horse- 
drawn  stage  coach.  This  trip  is  still  one  of  his  pleasantest  recol- 
lections. He  visited  the  first  world's  fair  lield  in  this  country. 
This  was  in  1853  in  New  York  City.  He  returned  home  via  Bos- 
ton and  Hadley,  and  this,  too,  is  one  of  his  choicest  recollections. 
He  has  had  something  of  a  mania  for  attending  big  fairs  Avhen 
possible.  Accompanied  by  his  Avife,  he  visited  the  Centennial  at 
Philadelphia  and  the  expositions  at  Chicago,  St.  Louis  and  Port- 
land, Ore.  These  trips  Avith  others  to  the  cities  of  Washington, 
Norfolk,  Pittsburg,  San  Francisco,  Los  Angeles,  Seattle,  Victoria 
and  other  points  in  the  British  possessions  he  holds  as  more  A'alu- 
able.  assets  than  large  accumulations  of  silver  or  gold  or  cor- 
porate securities  or"  even  Minnesota  dirt.  In  October,  1854, 
shortly  after  becoming  of  age,  he  left  Fairfax  for  the  then  dis- 
tant West,  going  via  Ogdensburg,  Niagara  Falls  and  Chicago. 
He  spent  about  fifteen  months  in  the  states  of  Illinois,  loAva  and 
the  then  territory  of  Minnesota,  AA'hen  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis 
v-ere  little  but  hills,  sandy  plains,  shanties  and  great  expectations. 
He  returned  to  Fairfax  in  the  Avinter  of  1856,  when  at  the  solicita- 
tions of  his  parents  Avith  promise  of  aid,  he  purchased  a  general 
stock  of  merchandise  and  opened  it  for  trade  in  the  store  in  Avhich 
he  had  formerly  clerked.  In  the  succeeding  year  he  Avas  elected 
clerk  and  register  of  deeds  for  the  toAvn,  Avhich  office  he  continued 
to  hold  until  after  he  Avas  appointed  postmaster.  After  serving 
three  years  he  resigned  this  ofifice,  closed  up  his  business  and  in 
company  with  the  family  of  his  wife's  father.  Dr.  R.  Soule  and 
others,  in  the  spring  of  1865  started  for  Minnesota.  On  account 
of  the  series  illness  of  his  wife  he  did  not  reach  Lansing  until 
about  the  middle  of  July.  Rochester  Avas  the  nearest  raihvay 
point  and  from  there  he  came  by  private  conveyance  to  Lansing, 
Avhere  he  has  resided  ever  since.  While  in  Fairfax  Mr.  Wells 
did  a  general  credit  business.  His  experience  in  trying  to  col- 
lect his  dues  and  the  loss  he  sustained  discouraged  him  from  con- 
tinuing in  the  business,  as  he  once  contemplated.  Therefore  he 
invested  most  of  his  money  in  land,  expecting  to  improve  it  and 
hoping  to  get  satisfactory  returns  by  renting  to  others  to  Avork 
upon  shares.  This  not  proving  quite  satisfactory,  he  concluded 
to  try  his  hand  at  the  business  and  in  the  spring  of  1870  moved 
onto  the  southAvest  quarter  of  section  14  in  Lansing.  Some  tAvo 
or  three  years  later  he  Avent  to  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  purchased  a  carload  of  high-grade  merino  sheep,  also  a  pair 
of  Shorthorn  cattle.  Those  Avere  specialties  Avhich  he  continued 
on  the  farm.  Some  of  the  time  the  flock  of  sheep,  including 
lambs,  numbered  from  600  to  800,  and  they  Avere  a  musical  lot. 


HISTOKY  OF  ]\1()\VKU  COUNTY  831 

They  were  generally  in  the  care  of  his  eldest  son,  "William  L. 
In  November,  1873,  Mr.  "Wells  was  elected  senator  of  IMower 
county  and  served  during  the  sessions  of  1874  and  1875.  He 
introduced  several  bills  and  helped  enact  them  into  laws.  Prob- 
ably as  beneficial  as  any  was  one  that  has  doubtless  helped  many 
a  worthy  farmer  to  secure  pay  for  damage  caused  by  fires  started 
by  railway  locomotives.  Another  he  thought  was  meritorious 
was  that  endowing  women  with  the  riglit  of  franchise  in  public 
school  matters.  However,  he  did  not  find  conditions  in  the  leg- 
islature as  congenial  to  his  natural  disposition  as  home  life  and 
was  quite  satisfied,  therefore,  to  let  others  have  the  honor  as  well 
as  the  responsibility.-  As  age  with  its  infirmities  grew  upon  him 
Mr.  "Wells  gradually  closed  out  his  holdings  and  returned  to  the 
village  to  live  once  more.  On  September  14,  1859.  IMr.  "Wells 
was  united  by  marriage  to  Charlotte  E.  Soule,  daughter  of  Dr. 
R.  Soule,  of  North  Fairfax,  Vt.  They  had  two  sous  born  in 
Fairfax,  Vt.  The  oldest,  "William  L.,  August  20,  1861.  He  lived 
Avith  his  parents  until  he  was  mai'ried  to  Hattie  Dearborn,  of 
Austin,  April  13,  1885,  when  he  commenced  housekeeping  on 
section  10  in  Lansing,  some  of  the  time  farming  in  connection 
with  his  father  and  some  of  the  time  independently.  In  1897, 
on  account  of  the  failure  of  his  wife's  health,  he  disposed  of  his 
place  and  moved  to  Austin.  He  purchased  a  home  there  and 
later  bought  an  eighty-acre  farm  some  three  miles  distant,  which 
he  rents.  Most  of  the  time  since  moving  he  has  been,  as  he  now 
is,  connected  with  the  postal  department,  city  delivery,  as  mail 
carrier.  They  have  two  davighters.  The  oldest.  Sue  Ardelle,  expects 
very  soon  to  graduate  from  Hamline  University.  The  other, 
Mae  Elizabeth,  is  to  graduate  from  the  Austin  High  School  at 
about  the  same  time.  The  second  son,  Horace  Renssalaer,  was 
born  in  Fairfax,  Vermont.  January  20,  1864.  He  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Austin  School,  also  of  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota  and  is  now  practicing  medicine  in  North 
Yakima,  state  of  "Washington,  where  he  owns  considerable  or- 
chard property.  He  married  Amelia  AVebb,  a  native  of  Indiana 
and  a  graduate  of  Asbury  Hospital,  Minneapolis.  They  have 
two  children,  a  girl  named  Charlotte  Franqjes  and  a  boy  named 
Horace  Paul.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  E.  H.  "\Vells  had  one  daughter  named 
Sasan  Charlotte,  born  January  11,  1869.  She  married  Erastus 
Hale,  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  Ncav  York,  and  they  are  now  liv- 
ing on  a  farm  near  Canton.  They  have  two  sons,  the  oldest 
named  Charles  and  the  youngest  Roy.  Elias  H.  had  one  brother 
older  than  himself,  named  AVilliam  L.,  who  is  little  more  than 
a  remembrance,  as  he  died  when  quite  young.  The  succeeding 
younger  brother  was  named  George  Newton.  He,  except  when 
attending  school  or  teaching,  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  be- 


832  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

came  of  age,  when  he  entered  upon  a  mercantile  career — a  part 
o£  the  time  in  Westford  and  a  part  of  the  time  in  Fairfax,  Vt. 
Mewton  married  Celia  Roberts,  daughter  of  Larkin  Roberts,  of 
Fairfax.  They  had  but  one  child,  a  daughter  named  Ardelle. 
Not  long  after  the  close  of  the  Secession  war  they  moved  to 
Clarksville,  Mecklenburg  county,  Virginia,  where  he  invested 
his  funds  in  land  and  landed  securities.  Not  very  long  after 
this  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  county,  when  he  moved  to 
Boydton,  the  county  seat.  There  he  continued  to  live,  retaining 
his  official  position  until  shortlj'  before  his  death.  He  died  April 
9,  ]892.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  Sanderson  ceme- 
tery in  Fairfax.  The  other  member  of  the  family  was  named 
after  his  deceased  brother,  William  L.  He  grew  up  to  manhood 
on  the  farm  in  a  manner  similar  to  Elias  and  Newton,  ex- 
cepting that  before  finishing  school  he  responded  to  the  call  for 
volunteers  to  help  preserve  the  Union.  He  enlisted  in  Company 
n.  Second  Regiment  Vermont  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  color  guards  for  the  regiment  and  some  of  the 
time  carried  the  colors.  He  went  with  them  to  the  front,  par- 
ticipating in  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  also  fighting  with  his 
regiment  during  McClellan  peninsular  campaign,  remaining  with 
Ids  regiment  until  they  Avere  again  on  the  Potomac  guarding 
Washington.  But  the  toil  and  exposure  amid  the  swamps  of  the 
peninsula  brought  on  a  fever  and  he  was  ordered  to  the  hospital. 
When  partly  recovered  he  returned  to  his  regiment,  but  imme- 
diately suffered  a  relapse,  which  ended  his  career,  October  22, 
1862,  aged  twenty-three.  His  remains  were  returned  to  Fairfax 
and  biiried  in  the  family  lot  in  Carroll  Hill  cemetery,  followed 
by  a  large  concourse  of  real  mourners.  The  parents  of  Elias 
H.  were  Horace  Wells  and  Harriet  Farnsworth  Wells.  They 
lived  the  usual  laborious  and  uneventful  life  of  farmers  until  the 
j-ear  1861  or  about  then,  when  they  sold  their  farm  and  moved 
to  the  village  and  bought  a  home  and  other  nearby  property. 
He  died  June  18,  1864,  aged  sixty-five  years  and  six  months.  His 
death  was  caused  by  overwork  in  aiding  the  mechanics  to  repair 
his  barn.  He  was  at  times  a  member  of  the  board  of  managers 
for  the  town  and  school.  Mrs.  Horace  AVells  died  at  Fairfax, 
July  23,  1893,  when  past  her  eighty-sixth  year.  Horace  Wells 
was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  and  his  wife  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  eluu-ch,  to  the  aid  of  which  she  gave 
iiU  her  possessions.  They  not  only  taught  their  children  the 
way  they  should  go,  but  also  what  they  should  believe.  As 
Elias  matured  and  thought  of  such  things,  he  found  that  he 
could  not  conscientiously  accept  the  old  creeds  and  theories  and 
gradually  acquired  a  more  seientifi.e  faith,  more  in  accord  with 
nature  and  its  orderly  course  as  we  are   coming  to  know  it ; 


niSTOKV   OF   MOWKl,'  COl'N'rY  833 

lather  than  as  huiuap.ity  once  iina-iiiuMl  thiiii-'s  wcri',  with  con- 
stant interference  l)y  some  divine  powci',  witii  tliint^s  and  events, 
lie  became  better  pleased  to  see  old  creeds  and  superstitions 
shiughtered  and  sacrifieod  than  to  see  scientific  facts  and  sensi- 
tive beings  sacrificed.  He  is  today  happy  in  the  belief  that  the 
people  in  general  are  not  accepting  either  religious  or  political 
ideas  quite  as  hypnotically  as  our  ancestors  did.  However,  he 
does  not  accept  the  theory  of  accidental  aggregations  of  atoms 
in  oar  anatomy  nor  in  accidental  things  generally,  but  believes 
that  all  that  is  is  from  some  source  quite  according  to  an  orderly, 
progressive  manhood.  The  grandfather  of  Elias  was  named 
Cyrus  and  lived  and  died  on  a  farm  adjoining  that  of  his  father. 
He  married  Mary  Kingsbury,  by  whom  he  had  children  named 
Zenas,  Horace,  William,  Jeremiah  and  Mary.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife  he  married  a  widow,  Farnsworth,  by  whom  he 
had  children  named  James,  Alonzo  and  Melissa  (twins)  and 
Dennison.  There  was  also  a  Brazilla  in  the  family.  They  also  adopted 
a  daughter,  a  Hannah  jMunsel.  The  aforesaid  widow,  Farns- 
Avorth,  was  by  her  first  husband  the  mother  of  Elias 's  mother. 
The  children  of  Widows  Farnsworth  by  her  first  husband  Avere 
John,  Parker,  Betsy  and  Harriet.  Elias  thinks  that  his  grand- 
father Cyrus,  accompanied  by  a  brother,  Jonathan,  who  also 
left  a  large  family,  came  to  Fairfax  from  Halifax,  Vt.,  about 
1805,  and  that  their  father  was  named  Jonathan,  but  of  his  ear- 
lier ancestors  he  personally  knows  nothing.  Those  who  have 
personally  examined  town  and  church  records  of  colonial  times 
in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  notably  Mrs.  Annie  "Wells 
Hugo,  wife  of  Hon.  N.  F.  Hugo,  of  Duluth,  are  satisfied  that  the 
family  are  direct  descendants  of  Ensign  Hugh  AVells,  of  Essex 
county,  England,  who  was  born  about  1590,  and  who,  accompa- 
nied by  a  brother,  Eichard,  came  to  this  country  in  ship  Globe 
in  1635,  landing  in  Massachusetts,  then  went  to  Hartford,  Conn., 
but  finally  settled  in  Wethersfield.  He  Avas  a  brother  of  Goa'- 
ernor  Thomas  Wells,  of  early  colonial  times.  From  these  broth- 
ers, particularly  HiTgh,  Mrs.  Hugo  traces  the  large  Wells  fam- 
ily to  Hadley  and  other  places  in  Massachusetts  into  Halifax 
and  other  places  in  Vermont.  She  traces  one,  a  royalist,  to 
Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  others  to  Ncav  York,  Ncav  Jersey,  Penn- 
sylvania and  other  places  and  finds  several  quite  creditable  char- 
acters, Avho  played  prominent  parts  in  those  trying  times,  leav- 
ing us  as  an  inheritance  the  freest,  most  democratic  and  represent- 
ative nation  on  the  earth,  though  still  capable  of  being  greatly 
improved.  Starting  back  in  England,  ^Mrs.  Hugo  finds  among 
the  female  ancestors  the  names  of  GoodAvin,  CroAV,  IMeigs,  Phil- 
lips, Drake,  Ellis.  White,  NeAvton,  Hubbal,  Beardsley  and  other 
unknoAA'n   ones.     ^Frs.  Charlotte  E.   Soule  Wells,  wife   of  Elias 


834  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

H.  Wells,  was  born  in  North  Fairfax,  Franklin  county,  Vermont. 
Her  father  was  Dr.  Renssalaer  Soule,  who  was  born  in  Fairfield, 
Franklin  county,  Vermont,  July  30,  1803.  Dr.  Renssalaer  Soule 's 
father  was  Salmon  Soule  and  his  mother's  name  was  Sarah. 
His  ancestors  came  from  England  in  the  Mayflower.  Salmon 
Soule  died  June  16,  1858.  Sarah,  wife  of  Salmon  Soule,  died 
May  23,  1846.  There  was  a  large  family  of  ten  children,  five 
sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  Dr.  R.  Soule  was  the  third 
son.  Dr.  R.  Soule  was  educated  at  the  Vermont  University  in 
Burlington,  graduated  from  the  medical  department,  practiced 
medicine  in  Canada  and  Fairfield,  was  married  to  Susan  Rich- 
ardson, of  North  Fairfax,  Vt.,  December  23,  1833.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  in  Fairfield,  Henry  Chilo,  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  Renssalaer  Soule,  Jr.  Then  they  moved  to  North  Fair- 
fax, where  five  children  were  born,  Renssalaer  Soule,  Jr.,  Sarah, 
Charlotte  Susan  Jane,  Henry  and  Helen.  R.  Soule,  Jr.,  was 
born  March  27,  1836,  married  Cornelia  Hawley  January  4,  1860, 
and  died  in  Lansing,  Mower  county,  Minnesota,  Marcli  5,  1904. 
Sarah,  the  second  living  child,  Avas  married  to  George  Robin- 
son in  North  Fairfax  and  died  in  Lansing,  Mower  county,  Min- 
nesota, August  5,  1866.  Henry  and  Helen  died  in  North  Fair- 
fax, Vt.,  in  1864.  Charlotte  Soule  Wells's  mother  was  Susan 
Richardson,  of  North  Fairfax,  Franklin  county,  Vermont.  Her 
father  (Charlotte's  own  grandfather)  was  Moses  Richardson, 
who  was  born  December  2,  1776,  and  died  June  5,  1825,  aged 
forty-nine.  Her  mother  was  Sally  Richardson,  who  Avas  born 
October  9,  1783,  and  died  November  10,  1830,  aged  forty-eight. 
There  Avas  a  large  family.  Susan,  one  of  the  daughters,  Avas 
adopted  l)y  her  uncle  John  Richardson  and  Aunt  Anne  after 
the  death  of  Susan's  parents.  John  Richardson  Avas  born  Octo- 
ber 15,  1768,  and  died  December  24,  1846,  aged  seventy-seven 
years.  Anne  Richardson,  wife  of  John  Richardson,  Avas  born 
January,  1764,  died  in  1830,  aged  sixty-six  years.  Susan  Rich- 
ardson, adopted  daughter  of  John  and  Anne  Richardson,  Avas 
born  June  25,  1812,  died  March  10,  1880,  aged  sixty-seven  years. 
Dr.  R.  Soule,  with  his  children,  most  of  whom  were  married 
(Susan  Jane  being  married  in  Lansing  to  William  M.  HoAve), 
moved  west  to  Lansing,  Minn.,  in  1865,  where  he  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land.  He  died  November  7,  1880,  aged  seventy- 
seven  yeai's.  Dr.  R.  Soule  and  Avife  were  members  of  the  Epis- 
copal church.    Charlotte  E.,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Mrs.  Charlotte  E.  (Soule)  Wells  received  her  education  at 
NcAvhampton  Institution,  at  South  Fairfax,  Vermont.  The  aunts 
and  uncles  of  Mrs.  Wells  on  her  mother's  side  were:  John,  Har- 
riet, Elvira,  Susan,  Caroline,  George,  and  Robinson,  all  deceased. 
Her  aunts  and  uncles  on  her  father's  side  were:     Sally,  Chilo, 


HENKY  WEBEE,  SK. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  835 

Armida,  Bradley,  Salina,  Ruth,  Jane,  Solon  and  Joseph.  All 
are  dead. 

August  C.  Wollenburg,  an  esteemed  eitizen  of  Waltham  town- 
ship, has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  neighborhood. 
He  has  been,  supervisor  of  his_  township  for  six  years,  treasurer 
for  eight  years  and  trustee  and  treasurer  of  the  German  Lu- 
theran church  for  many  terms.  In  Germany,  November  11,  1855, 
he  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  the  home  of  his  parents,  Daniel 
and  Johanna  (AYutchke)  AVollenburg,  and  was  by  them  brought 
to  America  in  1868.  Upon  reaching  this  country  they  settled 
in  Lomira,  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  where  Daniel  is  still  livng 
at  the  good  old  age  of  ninety-one  years.  August  C.  attended 
school  in  Dodge  county  and  remained  on  the  home  farm  until 
Iwenty-two  years  of  age.  At  that  age  he  married  and  came  to 
Waltham  township  in  a  covered  wagon,  bringing  his  bride.  Here 
lliey  located  on  section  34  and  nobly  started  housekeeping  in  a 
shack.  Prosperity  has  crowned  their  efforts.  The  old  shack 
has  been  replaced  with  a  roomy  house  surrounded  by  airy  and 
commodious  barns,  while  the  original  farm  of  eighty  acres  has 
been  increased  to  half  a  section.  By  his  wife,  who  was  Mary 
Wuertz,  daughter  of  John  N.  and  Catherina  (Stahl)  Wuertz, 
]\Ir.  Wollenburg  has  five  children:  Augusta,  August,  Frederick, 
George  and  Marie.  Augusta  is  the  wife  of  William  Steinbach 
and  they  have  three  sons,  Elmer,  Clement  and  Merton.-  August 
H.  is  married,  lives  in  AYaltham  township,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren :    Loreue,  Elwin  and  Harold. 

H.  L.  Welken,  one  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  of  Dexter, 
has  lived  on  his  present  farm  in  section  8  for  some  sixteen  years. 
He  has  a  well-kept  farm  of  268  acres,  with  good  substantial 
buildings,  including  a  large  barn,  Avhich  he  has  just  erected  for 
his  sheep.  While  diversified  farming  occupied  his  attention,  he 
also  gives  nnich  of  his  time  to  stock  raising,  and  has  a  fine  flock 
of  registered  Shropshires  and  a  drove  of  Duroc  hogs,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  usual  amount  of  cattle  and  horses.  Mr.  Welken  was 
born  in  Granvin  Hardanger,  Norway,  February  9,  1867,  came 
to  America  in  1888,  located  in  Brownsdale,  this  county,  worked 
out  for  several  years,  and  finally  purchased  his  present  farm. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  and  is  unmarried. 

Henrj'  Weber,  Sr.,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Grand  IMeadow 
'cor  many  years,  and  his  memory  Avill  ever  be  revered  by  the 
people  of  that  locality.  His  variety  of  experience  gave  him  a 
breadth  of  opinion  and  he  Avas  a  thorough  believer  in  educa- 
tion, being  himself  a  man  of  many  scholarly  attainments.  He 
was  born  in  Brusau,  Austria,  was  given  a  good  education,  in- 
cluding the  graded  and  high  scliools.  At  an  early  age  he  ac- 
quired the  German,  Bohemian  and  Italian  languages  and  after- 


836  IIISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

wards  the  English  language  and  was  a  deep  reader  of  the  work 
of  the  philosophers  and  thinkers  in  these  languages.  He  made 
civil  government  quite  a  study,  having  himself  lived  under  three 
systems,  the  old  feudal  system,  the  new  constitutional  monarchy, 
and  later,  in  tlie  United  States,  the  republican  form  of  govern- 
ment. In  1855,  l\rr.  Weber  came  to  the  United  States  and  set- 
tled in  Racine  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  farmed.  In  the 
spring  of  1861,  he  came  to  Grand  Meadow  township  and  bought 
his  first  quarter  section  of  land  direct  from  the  government  and 
here  lived  until  his  death  in  1905.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  the  county,  whose  plain  sturdy  manhood,  self-reliance  and 
untiring  industry  helped  to  subdue  the  raw  unyielding  soil  into 
rich  fertile  fields  and  change  the  scene  of  a  monotonous,  unshel- 
tering-looking  prairie  into  an  ideal  farm  home  with  beautiful 
surroundings.  He  married  Julia  Nagle,  also  a  native  of  Austi'ia, 
and  to  them  were  born  the  following  named  children:  Julius, 
Polly,  Frances,  Robert,  Henrj^  and  Emma.  The  three  sons  are 
the  only  ones  now  living  of  the  family  and  they  reside  at  Austin, 
Minnesota. 

Henry  Weber,  Jr.,  the  popular  judge  of  probate  of  I\Iower 
county,  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  community,  and  being 
still  a  young  man,  his  friends  predict  for  him  many  more  and 
still  greater  honors  in  the  coming  j^ears.  He  was  born  in  Grand 
Meadow  township,  May  14,  1861,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  and 
Julia  Weber.  He  has  always  taken  a  keen  interest  in  education 
and  in  the  reading  of  books  and  the  gaining  of  knowledge  of  a 
substantial  nature.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  W.  W.  Ranuey, 
of  Austin,  and  after  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  he  opened  an 
office  at  Dexter  and  there  enjoyed  a  good  law  practice  until  he 
took  his  present  position  on  January  1,  1911.  During  his  resi- 
dence at  Dexter  he  held  many  local  offices,  including  those  of 
president  of  the  village  council,  member  of  the  school  board,  and 
he  still  retains  his  position  as  president  of  the  First  State  Bank 
of  Dexter.  He  is  a  member  of  Dexter  Lodge,  No.  253,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Hannah  Rahilly, 
daughter  of  John  and  Ellen  Rahilly. 

H.  L.  Ziemer  is  one  of  the  successful  and  estimable  citizens 
of  Waltham  township,  where  he  has  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  sec- 
tion 5.  His  farm  is  well  kept  and  his  dwelling  homelike  and 
comfortable.  His  barns  are  also  commodious  and  in  an  excel- 
lent state  of  repair.  No  further  word  need  be  said  of  his  char- 
acter than  that  he  is  a  devout  member  of  St.  Michael's  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  church,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  pastor  he  ably 
conducts  and  reads  the  church  services.  H.  L.  Ziemer  was  born 
in  Jackson,  Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  September  11,  1860, 
son   of   Carl   and   Bertha    (Koepke)    Ziemer.     He   received   his 


IIISTOKY   OF   M()WK1{  fOUNTY  837 

schooling  in  Jaclison  county  and  came  to  Waltliain  with  liis 
parents  in  1881.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  pureliased  eiglity 
acres  of  land  in  section  5,  Walthara  township,  and  soon  added 
another  eighty,  making  160  in  all.  Mr.  Ziemer  married  Amelia, 
daughter  of  Ferdinand  and  Caroline  (Paape)  Steffen,  and  this 
union  has  resulted  in  nine  children:  William,  Beata,  Gustav, 
Samuel,  Oscar,  Laura,  Herbert,  Arnold  and  Hilda. 

Carl  H.  F.  Ziemer,  for  some  thirty  years  an  honored  resident 
of  Walthara,  was  an  honest,  honorable,  hard-working  man  and 
left  a  goodly  heritage  of  integrity  to  his  children  and  descend- 
ants. His  death,  which  took  place  in  1911,  was  sincerely  mourned 
by  the  community  at  large  as  well  as  by  his  large  family  of  five 
sons,  four  daughters,  forty-one  grandchildren,  six  great-grand- 
children and  two  brothers  and  four  sisters.  Carl  H.  F.  Ziemer 
was  born  September  29,  18o3,  at  Nadelfitz,  Pomerania,  Germany, 
and  Avas  ten  years  of  age  when  brought  to  America  by  his  par- 
ents, who  settled  in  Jackson,  Wis.,  tAventy  miles  from  IMilwau- 
kee.  He  grew  to  manhood  there  and  was  married  at  that  place 
NoA-ember  2,  1855,  to  Bertha  Koepke.  In  1881  they  came  to 
y\'altham,  with  their  family,  and  settled  on  his  farm,  consisting 
then  of  300  acres,  AAdiieh  he  had  purchased  in  1879,  a  mile  north 
of  the  village  of  Waltham,  Avhere  the  subject  of  this  sketch  car- 
ried on  farming  until  his  death,  March  8,  1911,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seA'en  years,  fiA^e  months  and  nine  days.  His  children 
are  as  folloAvs:  George,  Frank,  Henry  and  John,  of  Waltham; 
Alfred,  of  Austin;  Mrs.  F.  C.  Garbish,  Mrs.  John  LcAvis  and 
]VIrs.  Otto  Kuchenbecker,  of  Waltham,  and  ]Mrs.  Henry  Pluck- 
lian,  of  ^lihvaukee.  Wis. 

John  F.  Ziemer,  a  progressive  and  popular  farmer  of  Wal- 
tham toAA'nship.  is  a  thorough  belicA'er  in  scientific  methods  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  Avas  born  in  Jackson,  Washington 
county,  Wisconsin,  November  26,  1870,  son  of  Carl  and  Bertha 
(Koepke^i  Ziemer.  His  early  education  Avas  received  in  Jackson, 
AVis.,  and  in  Waltham,  j\Iinn.,  to  Avhich  latter  toAvnship  he  Avas 
brought  by  his  parents  in  1881.  In  1897  he  graduated  from  the 
agricultural  department  of  the  University  of  IMinnesota.  IMr. 
Ziemer  "s  farm  consists  of  160  acres,  all  under  cultivation.  His 
home  is  large  and  comfortable,  and  his  barns  are  commodious 
and  sanitary.  In  addition  to  his  oAvn  farm  in  section  3,  he  has 
lecently  purchased  the  old  homestead  of  eighty  acres.  He  is 
an  .active  member  of  the  agricultural  societies  of  ^Minnesota  and 
h.as  been  treasurer  of  the  village  of  Waltham  for  fourteen  years. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Cora  A.,  daughter  of  Ciuirles 
A.  SchAvartz,  the  present  county  commissioner  of  ^MoAver  county. 
This  union  has  resulted  in  four  chililren  :  Raymond  R..  Florence 
E..  Harold  F.  and  Lviui. 


838  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

F.  M.  A.  Ziemer,  an  industrious  farmer  of  Waltham  township, 
was  born  in  Jackson,  Washington  county,  "Wisconsin,  October 
30,  1864,  son  of  Carl  and  Bertha  (Koepke)  Ziemer.  He  received 
his  education  in  Jackson,  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm,  came 
with  him  to  this  county  in  1881,  and  is  now  one  of  the  substan- 
tial farmers  of  the  township.  He  married  Emma,  daughter  of 
AYilliam  and  Wilhelmina  (Koch)  Prodahl,  who  came  from  Ger- 
many and  settled  near  Zumbrota  in  Goodhue  county,  living  there 
many  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ziemer  have  seven  children:  Carl, 
Bernhard,  Adelia,  Esther,  Everette,  Minnie  and  Marvin. 

Alfred  A.  Ziemer,  a  hustling  and  energetic  young  business 
man  of  Austin,  A^'as  born  May  19,  1884,  at  Waltham,  Minn.  His 
early  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools  and  German 
school  of  Waltham,  subsequently  entering  the  Southern  Minne- 
sota Normal  College  in  1901.  He  was  later  employed  in  a  Wal- 
tham drug  store  for  two  years,  leaving  to  take  a  course  in-  the 
I\iartin  Luther  Seminary  of  BuflPalo,  N.  Y.  At  the  conclusion 
of  this,  he  enrolled  in  the  Highland  Park  College,  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  returning  to  Waltham  after  his  -graduation  and  imme- 
diately launching  into  the  breeding  and  raising  of  fancy  fowls 
and  bees.  His  growing  business  made  new  and  larger  quarters 
advisable,  so  in  March,  1909,  he  removed  to  Austin  and  pur- 
chased an  eight-acre  tract,  erecting  suitable  and  up-to-date 
buildings.  He  handles  a  full  stock  of  high-grade  poultry  and 
Italian  bees  and  a  complete  assortment  of  poultry  and  bee  sup- 
plies, catering  to  a  large  and  increasing  patronage.  Mr.  Ziemer 
is  a  life  member  of  the  American  Poultry  Association,  a  member 
of  the  National  Beekeepers'  Association,  vice-president  of  the 
Minnesota  Fanciers'  Association  of  St.  Paul,  secretary  of  the 
Austin  Fanciers'  Poultry  Association,  and  superintendent  of 
poultry  for  the  Mower  County  Agricultural  Association  fair. 
In  politics  he  votes  independent  of  party,  considering  the  worth 
of  the  candidate  only  in  his  choice.  The  Lutheran  church  counts 
him  a  loyal  member.  Carl  and  Bertha  (Koepke)  Ziemer,  par- 
ents of  Alfred  A.,  came  to  this  county  in  1884,  the  father  en- 
gaging in  farming  in  Waltham  township,  where  he  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1911.  The  mother's  decease  occurred  in  1906.  ]\Ir.  Ziemer 
was  married  on  October  10,  1910,  to  ]Miss  ]\Iimi  Carlitz. 

Thomas  Beattie  is  said  to  be  the  oldest  builder  in  active  work 
iu  Austin  and  over  200  buildings  standing  in  Austin  and  vicinity 
at  the  present  time  testify  to  the  skill  and  fidelity  Avith  which 
he  has  labored.  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  March  17,  1847,  and 
came  to  America  in  1868,  locating  at  once  in  IMadison,  Wis., 
where  he  remained  three  years,  afterward  spending  a  similar 
period  in  Chicago,  pursuing  his  trade  as  carpenter,  contractor 
and  builder.     In  May,  1874,  he  came  to  Austin  and  since  that 


THOMAS  BEATTIE. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  839 

time  has  been  employed  here  at  his  trade,  having  erected  since 
his  first  coming  here,  an  average  of  six  buildings  a  year.  In 
1910  he  erected  twelve  buildings  during  the  year.  Mr.  Beattie 
married  Elizabeth  H.  Teeter,  and  they  have  one  child,  Elizabeth. 

Anson  Beyer  is  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Frankford  town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Jefl'erson  county.  New  York,  February 
18,  1829,  came  west  in  1854  and  in  1857  located  in  Frankford 
village,  purchased  fifteen  acres  of  land  and  combined  carpenter 
work  with  farming.  He  was  married  February  22,  1854,  to 
Azuba  Evans,  of  Jefl^erson  covinty,  New  York,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Hiram.  Mr.  Boyer  has  been  an  honored  man  in  the 
community  and  has  done  public  service  of  various  kinds. 

Lowry  W.  Prosser,  agriculturist,  horticulturist  and  stock 
breeder,  of  LeRoy  township,  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Illi- 
nois, March  7,  1850,  son  of  Henry  and  Nancy  (Jones)  Prosser, 
natives  respectively  of  Schoharie  county.  New  York,  and  the 
state  of  Kentucky.  The  parents,  after  living  in  Indiana  and 
Illinois,  came  to  Minnesota  in  1856  and  took  up  their  residence 
in  Spring  Vallej%  Fillmore  county.  The  father  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1903,  and  the  mother  about  1885.  Lowry  received  his  early 
education  in  the  Spring  Valley  graded  schools  and  in  the  Chat- 
field  High  School,  afterward  taking  a  two  years'  course  in  the 
University  of  Minnesota.  Subsequently  he  farmed  summers  and 
taught  school  winters  in  his  home  county  for  five  years  and 
then  in  1878  came  to  LeRoy  township,  Avhere  he  taught  and 
farmed  ten  years.  He  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres  and  grad- 
ually increased  his  holdings  until  he  owns  410  acres  in  sections 
15  and  2:1  Originally  this  tract  was  scrub  land,  and  I\Ir.  Pros- 
ser cleaned  up  the  hazel  bushes  and  broke  the  land,  bringing 
it  to  a  high  stage  of  cultivation.  He  also  erected  buildings  and 
planted  on  the  northwest  of  these  a  fine  grove  of  evergreen  trees, 
firs,  balsams,  pines  and  spruces,  which  act  a  windbreak  and  also 
beautify  the  farm.  Mr.  Prosser  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  has 
s?rved  on  the  school  board  for  many  terms  and  on  the  board 
of  supervisors  for  five  years.  It  is  as  a  farmer,  however,  that 
he  has  made  his  greatest  progress.  Some  years  ago  he  became 
interested  in"  horticulture  and  started  planting  apple  trees  as  an 
experiment.  He  noAv  has  1,000  trees  and  is  developing  a  seed- 
ling apple,  which  he  has  named  the  "Prosser."  This  apple  is 
the  highest  development  in  the  line  of  Minnesota  apple  grow- 
ing, find  ^\r.  Prosser  has  won  many  prizes,  including  $40  in 
prizes  from  the  Minnesota  Horticultural  exhibit,  and  several 
awards  from  the  Southern  Minnesota  Horticultural  Society.  In 
the  agricultural  line  he  makes  a  specialty  of  ""White  Dent" 
seed  corn,  and  in  1910  was  awarded  first  prize  at  the  exhibit 
of  the  Albert  Lea  Seed  Corn  Breeders'  Association.     He  also 


840  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

breeds  pure  blooded  Shorthorn  cattle,  registered  Shropshire 
sheep  and  Duroc  Jersey  hogs.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  -was 
married  December  24,  1874,  to  Marcia  A.  Spencer,  daughter  of 
W.  B.  and  Elizabeth  (McGee)  Spencer,  born  April  16,  1849,  and 
this  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children,  William  Glenn 
and  Ruby  E.,  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  June  30,  1882,  and 
died  three  years  later.  Mrs.  Marcia  A.  Spencer  Prosser  waa 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  April  16,  1849,  daughter  of  W.  B.  and 
Elizabeth  (McGee)  Spencer,  who  came  to  LeRoy  in  1856.  Mrs. 
Prosser  attended  the  first  school  established  in  the  southeast  part 
of  the  county.  Mrs.  Prosser  graduated  from  the  normal  school 
at  AA^inona,  in  1867,  and  taught  school  for  many  years  in  south- 
ern Alinnesota  and  northern  Iowa,  teaching  several  terms  after 
her  marriage.  Lowry  AV.  Prosser  was  elected  secretary  of  the 
Southern  Minnesota  Horticultural  Society  in  1909,  1910  and  1911, 
respectively. 

William  Glenn  Prosser  was  born  November  13,  1880,  son  of 
Lowry  AV.  and  Marcia  A.  C Spencer)  Prosser.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  graded  schools  and  in  the  LeRoy  High  School, 
afterward  taking  a  two  years'  course  in  plant  and  stock  breed- 
ing in  the  Agricultural  School  of  the  University  of  Minnesota. 
After  returning  home  from  college  he  took  up  agricultural  pur- 
suits with  his  father. 

Thron  M.  Lokke,  a  venerable  resident  of  the  village  of  Grand 
Meadow,  was  born  near  Honefos,  in,  Norway,  January  18,  1847, 
son  of  Mons  Lokke,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  as  well  as  a  farmer. 
Thron  M.  Lokke  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1852,  and 
with  them  located  in  A^ork,  Green  county,  AVisconsin,  where  he 
spent  his  early  manhood  on  a  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years  he  went  to  Floyd  county,  Iowa,  and  rented  a  farm  one 
year.  Then  he  came  to  Frankford  township,  this  county,  and 
settled  in  section  32,  where  he  continued  to  live  until  the  fall 
of  1909,  when  he  retired  and  took  up  his  residence  in  tlie  vil- 
lage, leaving  the  management  of  the  farm  to  his  son,  Martin. 
Air.  Lokke  married  Carolina  E.,  daughter  of  Iver  Peterson,  and 
this  union  has  resulted  in  eleven  children:  Martin,  Helen  G. 
(deceased),  Hannah  J..  Isaac  G.  (deceased),  Sena  G.,  Theodora 
E.,  Theodore  (deceased),  Gilbert  (deceased),  Gilbert,  Josie  AI. 
and  Clarence.  Alartin  married  Anna  Hovda  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Alyrtle  A.  and  Tnunan  E.  Hannah  J.  married  Torn  Odden 
and  they  have  six  children:  Inga,  Elsie,  Helen,  Josie,  Seymoiu* 
and  Rollin.  Air.  and  Airs.  Odden  live  in  Aldrich,  AA^aden  county, 
Alinnesota. 

Ole  Finhart,  Jr.,  an  estimable  farmer  of  Adams  township, 
was  liorn  in  Frankford  township,  this  county,  April  10,  1856, 
and  is  the  sou  of  Ole  0.  Finhart  and  Caroline,  his  wife,  natives 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  841 

of  Norway,  who  settled  in  Dane  county,  AVisconsin,  about  1848 
and  were  married  in  Minnesota  in  the  fifties.  In  the  middle 
fifties  they  purchased  IGO  acres  in  section  7,  Fraukford  town- 
ship, and  here  Ole  O.  followed  farming  until  his  death  in  1898, 
liis  widow  still  making  her  liome  on  the  old  farm.  Ole  Finhart, 
the  sub.ject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the  county  schools, 
and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  started  to  learn  the  tinner's  trade 
with  C.  F.  Greening  in  Grand  Meadow.  Then  he  worked  out 
as  a  farm  hand  until  1877.  That  year  he  attended  school  at 
Grand  Meadow  and  at  the  same  tune  worked  in  the  store  of 
Ole  Jorgen.  Subsequently  he  took  a  course  in  the  La  Crosse 
Business  College.  The  following  year  he  was  made  deputy 
sheriff  and  jailor,  in  Mower  county,  by  Sheriff  H.  B.  Corey.  This 
position  he  held  over  foi;r  years.  During  this  period  the  fa- 
n^ous  case  of  the  trial  of  John  Riley  for  the  shooting  of  Sherman 
Page  came  up,  and  for  a  time  Riley  was  in  Mr.  Finhart 's  charge. 
After  giving  up  this  position  he  entered  the  employ  of  C.  E. 
Greening  in  Grand  Meadow  and  worked  for  him  for  years.  In 
1891  he  began  farming  in  section  11,  Clayton  township,  where 
lie  purchased  a  quarter  section,  which  he  still  owns.  Here  he 
followed  genei"al  farming  until  December  18,  1901,  when  he  mar- 
ried IMrs.  T.  S.  Olson  and  came  to  Adams  township  to  take 
charge  of  the  ToUafson  estate  for  his  wife.  Mr.  Finhai-t  has 
been  fin  active  Mason  since  1880,  when  he  joined  Grand  IMeadow 
Lodge,  No.  21,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,- 
and  while  in  Clayton  township  was  school  clerk  three  years  and 
town  clerk  a  similar  period.  He  has  also  served  as  secretary 
of  the  Grand  Meadow  Butter  &  Cheese  Association  and  was  a 
director  of  the  Adams  Co-Operative  Creamery,  in  which  he  is 
still  a  stockholder. 

Horace  H,  Hubbard  lias  been  a  successful  farmer  in  Austin 
township  since  the  period  immediately  following  the  Civil  war. 
He  was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  February  14,  1832,  son  of 
H.  S.  and  Margaret  (Hanes)  Hubbard,  both  descended  from 
old  and  distinguished  eastern  families.  Horace  received  his  early 
education  in  AYayne  county,  Hlinois,  walking  three  miles  to 
school.  In  1854  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer 
and  in  June,  1866,  came  to  Mower  county  and  purchased  a  quar- 
ter section  of  land  in  section  8,  Austin  township.  Here  he  built 
a  house  and  necessary  outbuildings,  broke  and  developed  the 
land,  and  has  since  continued  to  carry  on  general  farming  with 
much  success.  In  1898  he  purchased  eighty  acres  adjoining  his 
original  purchase.  j\Ir.  Hubbard  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
;i  inembei-  of  the  Christian  church.  He  was  married,  Sept(Miil)er 
14,  18r)4,  to  Alary  Y.  Hawk,  of  Ojiio,  and  of  the  seven  children 
A\lio  have  blessed  tlu'ir  happy  union,  five  arc  living.     They  are: 


842  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Laura,  now  Mrs.  Homer  AVood ;  Homer,  a  hotelkeeper  and  mer- 
chant in  Fairmont,  N.  D. ;  Minnie,  now  Mrs.  George  Hines; 
Eunice,  now  living  in  Alberta,  Canada,  and  Samuel,  now  on  the 
old  homestead.  Cassius  and  Jennie  are  dead.  H.  S.  Hubbard 
was  born  in  Olmstead  county.  New  York,  and  marrfed  Margaret 
Hanes,  a  native  of  Green  eonnty,  Pennsylvania.  H.  S.  was  a 
carding  machine  operator  and  for  fourteen  winters  also  taught 
scliool.  He  operated  the  first  threshing  machine  in  Columbina 
county,  Ohio.  In  1843  ho  took  his  family  to  "Wayne  county, 
Illinois,  and  there  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death  in  1855. 
His  wife  survived  until  1873. 

John  Johnson,  who  farms  on  section  21,  Marshall  township, 
Avas  born  in  Sweden,  September  30,  1848,  and  was  there  reared 
to  manhood.  At  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  worked  at  various  labor  in  Chicago  three  years.  In 
1876  he  married  Tilda  Johnson,  also  a  native  of  Sweden,  and 
together  they  came  to  Minnesota  in  1878.  After  several  years 
here,  they  purchased  their  present  farm.  All  of  the  120  acres 
except  the  home  site  are  under  cultivation;  the  home  is  comfort- 
able, the  outbuildings  in  good  condition,  and  the  supply  of  farm 
equipment,  implements  and  machinery  is  adequate.  Mr.  Johnson 
is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  I;utheran  church  and  votes  the  Re- 
publican ticket.  He  is  essentially  a  self-made  man,  having  re- 
ceived no  inheritance  from  his  parents.  He  has  not  cared  to 
seek  public  office,  but  at  various  times  has  done  good  work  on 
the  school  board.  Three  children  have  blessed  the  Johnson  home. 
Charles  "W.  married  Isabelle  Bacagard  and  is  a  carpenter  at 
Rose  Creek.    Frank  and  Carter  are  at  home. 

James  W.  Johnson,  of  Lyle,  has  been  in  charge  of  the  county 
bridge  construction  for  eight  years,  and  in  this  capacity  has 
well  demonstrated  his  ability  and  fitness.  He  was  born  in  Chris- 
tiania,  Norway,  August  29,  3867,  son  of  Carl  and  Helen  (Olson) 
Johnson,  natives  of  Norway.  They  came  to  America  in  1880 
and  located  in  Wisconsin,  where  they  engaged  in  farming  until 
1904,  in  which  year  they  located  in  Dawson,  Minn.,  and  retired. 
Carl  Johnson  died  December  24,  1909,  after  which  his  wife  came 
to  Lyle  and  died  September  3,  1910.  James  "W.  came  to  America 
with  his  parents  in  1880  at  the  age  of  thirteen.  While  still  a 
youth  he  located  in  Algona,  Iowa,  and  engaged  as  an  appren- 
tice to  a  wagon  maker.  In  1885  he  went  to  Minneapolis  for  a 
short  time,  and  then  became  a  brakeman  for  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P., 
a  position  he  occupied  eight  years,  after  which  for  two  years 
he  was  a  traveling  baggage  master.  Subsequently  he  worked 
at  the  cement  business  in  Minneapolis  and  then  in  1898  came 
to  Lyle,  where  he  is  a  worker  in  concrete,  doing  general  eon- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  843 

tracting  and  building  and  making  a  specialty  of  bridge  work. 
He  has  been  street  commissioner  in  Lyle  five  years,  is  on  the 
board  of  health,  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  M.  W.  A.  and 
the  I.  0.  K.  M.  He  votes  independently  and  attends  the  Congre- 
gational church.  iMr.  Johnson  was  married,  October  6,  1898,  to 
Mollie  Volstad,  and  this  union  has  resulted  in  one  daughter,  lona 
Julia,  born  April  8,  1900. 

Henry  Jacobs,  who  opened  the  first  regular  clothing  and 
tailoring  establishment  in  Austin,  was  born  in  Saxony,  Germany, 
March  23,  1830.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  German 
schools  and  came  to  America  in  1848,  after  learning  the  tailor- 
ing trade.  Upon  his  arrival  in  New  York,  he  went  up  the 
Hudson  by  boat  to  Albany,  thence  to  Buffalo  by  rail,  and  thence 
to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  by  boat.  From  then  until  1855  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  tailoring  business  in  various  places  in  Ohio,  and 
in  that  year  located  in  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  where  he  engaged,  as  be- 
fore, in  the  clothing  and  tailoring  business.  In  1861  he  came 
to  Austin  and  opened  a  similar  establishment,  the  first  in  the 
place.  This  he  conducted  until  1898,  when  he  closed  out  his 
clothing  business,  although  he  still  continues  to  do  tailoring. 
Mr.  Jacobs  has  been  a  deacon  in  the  Austin  Baptist  church  since 
1877.  He  was  first  converted  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1849,  and 
was  baptized  in  Lake  Winnebago,  at  Oshkosh,  in  1855.  He  is 
the  oldest  living  member  of  the  local  church.  A  Republican 
in  politics,  he  first  voted  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  since  1876,  was  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  W.  W.  A.  in  1877  and  joined  the  Good  Templars  at 
the  organization  in  1863.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  mar- 
ried, December  24, '1856,  at  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  to  Frances  E.  Lord, 
who  died  April  8,  1897,  leaving  four  children,  Eugene,  Mamie, 
G.  Edwin  and  Mabel. 

W.  F.  Jordan,  elevator  man  at  Taopi,  Avas  born  in  INlitchell 
county,  Iowa,  December  24,  1865,  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Burns)  Jordan,  both  natives  of  Ireland.  W.  F.  passed  his  early 
manhood  on  the  farm  and  received  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools.  At  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1892,  W.  F.  and 
his  brothers  took  charge  of  the  home  farm.  In  1901,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  came  to  ]\Iower  county  and  farmed  near 
Elkton  three  years.  After  this  he  traded  his  farm  for  an  ele- 
vator in  Elkton,  which  he  operated  for  one  year.  Subsequently 
he  came  to  Taopi,  where  he  has  since  been  located.  He  is  a 
man  of  affairs,  energetic,  keen  and  alert,  and  has  achieved  suc- 
cess in  life  by  his  own  efforts.  He  has  a  pleasant  residence, 
which  he  himself  erected,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  tlie  active 
men  of  the  village. 


844  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Charles  H.  Johnson,  M.  D.,  for  six  years  mayor  of  Austin 
and  the  present  eoiinty  physician,  was  born  in  Canada,  in  the 
province  of  Ontario,  January  16,  1860,  son  of  Samuel  and  Amelia 
E.  (MeNish)  Johnson.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  when  properly  prepared 
entered  the  medical  department  of  McGill  University,  at  ]\Iont- 
real,  Canada,  in  1879,  graduating  with  honors  in  1884,  having 
received  in  the  meantime  the  necessary  hospital  and  dispensary 
practice.  After  gradviating,  he  came  direct  to  Austin,  where 
he  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
nad  surgery  in  all  its  branches,  having  a  large  clientele  in  city 
and  county  and  enjoying  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  com- 
munity, both  as  a  man  and  as  a  practitioner.  He  was  elected 
to  his  present  position  as  county  physician  in  1907  and  has  also 
been  connected  more  or  less  with  the  state  militia.  Dr.  John- 
ston is  a  high  degree  Mason  and  belongs  to  the  M.  W.  A.,  the 
A.  0.  U.  ^X.,  the  K.  of  P.,  the  F.  O.  E.  and  the  Owls.  He  votes 
the  Democratic  ticket  and  attends  the  Episcopal  church.  Sam- 
uel Johnson  and  Amelia  E.  ]\IcNish,  his  w^ife,  parents  of  Dr. 
Charles  H.  Johnson,  of  Austin,  spent  their  lives  in  Canada,  Sam- 
uel dying  in  1863  and  his  wife  in  1907. 

Emil  Larsen,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Lodi  township,  was 
Ijorn  in  Christiana,  Norway,  December  27,  1847,  son  of  Hans 
Larsen,  now  deceased.  Emil  attended  the  schools  of  the  old 
country  and  learned  the  wallpaper  making  trade.  After  attain- 
ing the  years  of  manhood,  he  decided  to  come  to  America.  A 
tedious  sailing  trip  over  the  ocean  occupied  six  weeks,  after 
which  Emil  Larsen  first  set  foot  on  American  soil  in  Quebec. 
Here  the  immigration  bureau  gave  him  the  name  of  H.  C.  Lar- 
sen, for  purposes  of  record,  but  this  name  Mr.  Larsen  has 
never  used.  Tie  came  directly  from  Quebec  to  Dane  county, 
"Wisconsin,  and  learned  the  carpenter  trade.  From  Wisconsin  he 
came  to  Mower  county,  purchased  land  in  section  34,  Lodi  town- 
ship, and  combined  farming  with  work  at  his  trade  as  carpenter. 
The  first  year  he  raised  wheat,  but  he  has  since  devoted  his  at- 
tention to  diversified  farming  and  dairying,  having  a  herd  of 
about  thirty  Shorthorn  cattle.  He  also  has  some  twenty-five 
brood  sows  of  the  Poland-China  breed.  His  farm  is  in  excel- 
lent condition,  and  in  1896  he  built  a  pleasant  new  home  with 
his  own  hands.  He  has  also  erected  his  own  barns  and  other 
])uildings.  In  1870  the  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Annie 
Knutson,  the  ceremony  taking  place  in  Norway.  This  union 
has  been  blessed  with  eiglit  children :  Herman  Martin,  deceased : 
('arl  Cliristian,  at  home ;  Emma  Anita,  Avife  of  Henry  Erie ;  Chris- 
tian Louisa,  wife  of  ]\Iike  Hermanson,  a  farmer  in  Iowa ;  IMonson 
Gustave,  a  carpenter  residing  in  Rochester;  Carrie  Olina,  wife 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWElf  COUNTY  845 

of  James  Hauga,  a  merchant  at  Clermont,  Towa;  Oscar,  at  liomt% 
and  Gina  .Matilda,  deceased.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  tlie 
Lutheran  chiu-ch. 

Andrew  P.  Martin,  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  Nevada 
township,  has  heen  chairman  of  the  township  board  for  man.y 
years,  and  before  his  elevation  to  his  present  office  served  sev- 
eral terms  as  a  member  of  the  town  board  of  supervisors.  He 
has  also  served  in  other  positions  of  public  ti'ust  and  honor.  An- 
drew P.  Martin  was  born  in  Nevada  township,  this  county,  Octo- 
ber 21,  1856,  son  of  Peter  and  Anna  (Anderson)  Martin,  the 
pioneers.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  has  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
now  carrying  on  general  farming  on  160  acres  of  well-improved 
land.  He  votes  the  Republican  ticket  and  is  a  trustee  and  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Six  Mile  Grove  Lutheran  church.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married,  March  14,  1880,  to  Julia  Bner- 
son,  and  this  union  has  resulted  in  five  children:  Alma,  Thea, 
Gilbert,  Philip  and  Malvin.  Alma  is  the  wife  of  Oliver  Meyer, 
of  Rol)erts  county,  North  Dakota,  and  Thea  is  the  wife  of  Al- 
fred Austinson,  who  resides  in  Nevada  township.  Gilbert,  Philip 
and  Malvin  live  at  home.  Peter  Martin,  the  pioneer,  Avas  a  son 
of  Martin  Hanson,  and  the  three,  Peter  Martin,  ]\Iartin  Hanson 
and  Andreas  Anderson,  came  to  Nevada  township  in  June,  1854, 
coming  from  Norway,  via  Dane  county,  "Wisconsin,  and  Calmer, 
Iowa.  Peter  Martin  lived  one  year  with  his  father,  after  his 
arrival  here,  and  then  built  a  house  on  his  claim  in  the  south- 
vvest  quarter  of  section  21.  Peter  Martin  was  born  in  Norway 
in  1832.  He  attended  school  until  eighteen  years  of  age  and 
then  Avorked  on  the  farm.  In  1853,  in  company  Avith  his  par- 
ents, left  his  native  land  and  came  to  America,  landing  at  Que- 
bec, after  a  voyage  of  ten  weeks.  The  family  first  located  in 
Dane  county,  AA^iere  they  remained  eleven  months,  then  started 
Avith  ox  teams  for  MoAver  county,  and  settled  in  the  tOAvn  of 
Nevada,  as  before  stated.  He  was  tAvice  married.  His  first  Avife, 
to  Avhom  he  Avas  married  in  1853,  Avas  Anna  Anderson,  a  native 
of  NorAA-ay,  born  in  1826.  She  died  in  October,  1870,  leaving 
four  children,  named  Martin,  Andrew,  John  and  Maria.  He 
Avas  married  in  1873,  the  second  time,  and  by  this  marriage 
there  Avere  two  children,  Clara  and  Albert.  In  March,  1888, 
he  Avent  to  Lincoln  county,  Washington,  Avhere  he  noAV  resides, 
^lartin  Hanson  Avas  a  native  of  NorAvay  and  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  1853  Avith  his  family,  landing  in  Quebec.  After  living  a 
time  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  he  cann;  to  IMoAver  county  in 
June,  1854,  and  settled  in  the  north  half  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  28,  Avhere  he  <*rected  a  log  cal)in,  Avhich  he  covered 
Avith  bark.     He  lived  in  this  cabin  a  few  years  and  then  erected 


846  HISTOUY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

a  substantial  log  house,  •which  he  occupied  until  the  time  of  his 
death  in  the  spring  of  1867. 

T.  G.  Morstad,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Nevada  township,  who 
farms  on  160  acres  of  land  in  section  9,  was  born  in  Norway, 
December  30,  1849,  son  of  Gilbert  and  Anna  Morstad,  of  Nor- 
Avay,  the  former  of  whom  is  now  living  with  T.  G.,  and  the  lat- 
ter died  in  July,  1909.  T.  G.  Morstad,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
came  to  this  country  in  1869,  settling  in  the  township  where  he 
still  resides.  He  has  devoted  his  entire  life  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. ]Mr.  Morstad  is  a  Repul)liean  in  politics,  but  he  has  never 
sought  public  honors.  He  and  liis  family  attend  the  Lutlieran 
church.  Mr.  Morstad  was  married  at  Sis  Mile  Grove,  ^linn.,  to 
Agnes  Helgeson,  daughter  of  Swensen  and  Emma  Helgeson,  the 
ceremony  being  performed  October  29,  1881.  Many  children 
blessed  this  union:  Anna,  Ida,  Gustav,  Clara,  Alma,  Ole,  Melise 
and  Elmer.  Anna  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Iversou,  of  Brazil,  N.  D. 
One  died  in  infancy. 

George  J.  Malcombson,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  LeRoy  town- 
filiip,  was  born  February  11,  1870,  in  the  Shetland  Islands,  off 
ihe  coast  of  Scotland.  His  parents  were  Malcom  and  Mary 
(Leslie)  Malcombson,  also  natives  of  the  Shetland  Islands.  The 
father  died  there  in  1879  and  the  mother  brought  her  family 
to  Canada  in  1885.  After  eleven  months  in  Canada,  they  came 
to  the  United  States  and  lived  in  Chester,  Iowa.  Tlien  they 
came  to  Mower  county,  and  the  boys  worked  out  until  1895, 
when  George  J.  and  his  brother  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Le- 
Roy township.  On  this  tract  George  J.  remained  until  1900, 
when  he,  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  26,  LeRoy  township, 
where  he  built  his  house  and  barns  and  a  large  silo.  lie  is  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  general  farming  and  breeds  Shropshire 
sheep  and  Shorthorn  cattle.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  August  29,  1900,  to  Eliza  A.  Schutz,  daughter  of  R.  A. 
Schutz,  of  LeRoy,  born  February  27,  1878.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mal- 
combson are  the  parents  of  two  children.  Russell  R.  was  born 
January  20,  1904,  and  died  May  30,  1906.  A.  DeLloyd  was  born 
May  30,  1907.  Mr.  Malcombson  is  a  Republican,  attends  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  belongs  to  the  ]\l.  AV.  A.  He  has  been 
road  overseer  two  years  and  is  now  a  director  of  school  district 
sixty-three. 

Nels  Nelson,  for  many  years  a  farmer  in  LeRoy  township, 
was  born  in  Norway,  and  came  to  the  United  States  by  Avay  of 
Quebec,  locating  for  a  time  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin.  After 
reaching  LeRoy  he  worked  out  for  a  time,  and  then  purchased 
eighty  acres  in  section  27,  Lodi  township,  which  he  tilled  and 
to  which  he  added  until  he  owned  160  acres.     After  purchasing 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  84? 

this  land  he  also  bought  a  small  house,  standiug  two  miles  to 
the  eastward,  and  moved  this  onto  his  land.  In  tliis  house  the 
family  has  since  resided,  making  additions  and  improvements 
from  time  to  time.  In  1909,  Nels  Nelson  sold  the  farm  to  his 
sons,  Julius  and  Martin.  The  children  born  to  Nels  and  Julia 
Nelson  are:  Betsy,  Nils,  Lena,  Julia,  Carrie,  Julius  and  Mar- 
tin. Betsy  is  the  wife  of  Iver  Hinger  and  lives  in  South  Da- 
kota. Nils  farms  in  South  Dakota.  Lena  is  the  wife  of  Edward 
Lysne,  a  contractor  at  Brainard,  Minn.  Julia  died  at  the  age 
of  thirteen.  Carrie  is  at  home.  Nelson  brothers,  Julius  and 
Martin  Nelson,  sons  of  Nels  and  Julia  Nelson,  are  prosperous 
farmers  in  Lodi  township.  The  two  boys  stayed  at  home  and 
attended  to  the  work  of  the  farm,  and  have  given  all  their  ef- 
forts to  developing  it,  and  to  helping  their  parents  in  their  de- 
clining years.  They  carry  on  general  farming  successfully,  have 
made  many  improvements,  have  replaced  the  old  windmill  with 
one,  modern  in  every  respect  and  have  just  let  the  contract  for 
a  fine  new  home,  to  be  built  just  west  of  the  present  residence. 
They  take  especial  pride  in  their  herd  of  thirty  Shorthorns, 
v.'hich  they  raise  for  beef  and  dairy  purposes. 

Henry  0 'Marrow,  marshal  of  Grand  Meadow  village,  was 
born  in  Ireland,  son  of  Tliomas  and  Mary  (Murphy)  O'jNIarrow, 
who  brought  their  family  to  America  in  1861,  settling  in  Utica, 
N.  Y.,  where  they  remained  five  years.  Then  they  located  in 
Beaver  Dam,  AVis.,  and  tliere  Thomas  0 'Marrow  worked  seven- 
teen years  for  Washington  Brower,  continuing  to  live  in  Beaver 
Dam,  until  his  death  in  1904.  Henry,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self, and  came  to  Rochester,  Minn.,  remaining  six  years,  after 
which  he  came  to  Grand  Meadow.  He  was  assistant  foreman 
of  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  for  six  years,  then  engaged  in  the  grain 
business,  afterward  pursued  other  employment,  and  later  as- 
sumed his  present  duties  as  custodian  of  the  peace.  He  also  has 
charge  of  the  village  pumping  station.  He  married  Kate  Mc- 
Closkey,  and  to  this  union  five  children  were  born:  Thomas, 
Frank,  IMary,  IMargaret  and  Jennie.  ]\Iary  married  Joseph 
Rathey  and  they  have  one  son,  named  Henry  for  his  grandfather. 

Charles  K.  Olson,  a  substantial  citizen  of  Nevada  township, 
Avas  born  in  Norway,  June  7,  1852,  son  of  Charles  Olson  and 
Mary  0.  Olson,  both  natives  of  Norway  and  both  now  deceased. 
Charles  K.  came  to  Quebec  in  1870  on  an  old  sailing  vessel,  the 
"Skein."  The  wind  failed  them  and  before  the  landing  was 
made  in  Quebec,  after  eleven  weeks  on  the  water,  the  boat  ex- 
liausted  its  store  of  food  and  drink.  From  Quebec  Charles  K. 
came  to  Adams  village  and  worked  out  for  a  year,  afterward 
going  to  Iowa  for  a  year.    Then  he  returned,  attended  school  win- 


848  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

ters  and  for  a  period  of  ten  years  spent  his  time  laboring  by 
the  month  on  farms,  in  the  woods  and  in  various  other  capaci- 
ties. By  frugality  he  saved  enough  money  to  buy  eighty  acres 
in  section  10,  Nevada  township,  and  with  this  start  he  pros- 
pered until  he  now  owns  320  acres  of  good  land.  He  raises 
corn,  potatoes  and  timothy  and  makes  a  specialty  of  cattle, 
mostly  Herefords,  for  beef  and  dairy  purposes.  Mr.  Olson  is 
a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  four 
years,  director  of  the  school  board  of  his  district  five  years,  and 
treasurer  of  the  same  district  for  eight  years.  He  has  been  a 
stockholder  in  the  Nevada  Co-Operative  Creamery  for  seventeen 
years  and  disposes  of  his  cream  to  that  institution.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  Avas  married,  January  1,  1877,  to  Sara  Oste- 
muson,  a  native  of  Norway,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1870.  Six  children  have  been  born  to  them:  Carl  is  at  home; 
Andrena  married  Lars  A.  Larson  and  lives  in  Adams  township ; 
Mollie  is  now  Mrs.  Hans  O.  Sampson,  of  Nevada  township ;  An- 
nie, Christ  and  Julia  are  at  home. 

Albert  Paape,  a  modern  farmer  of  Waltham  township,  was 
born  near  Berlin,  Germany,  August  30,  1860,  son  of  August  and 
]\Iary  (Tews)  Paape.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  and 
lived  with  them  in  Wisconsin,  his  father,  August,  dying  there. 
Albert  started  in  life  for  himself  by  working  out  by  the  day 
near  Winona,  this  state,  for  three  years.  Then  he  spent  two 
years  in  Waltham.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Nebraska,  but 
in  1898  again  came  to  Waltham  township  and  purchased  160 
acres  in  section  8,  where  he  still  resides.  He  erected  the  house 
where  lie  now  lives  and  has  a  large  and  well-tilled  farm,  well 
equipped  with  tools  and  machinery  and  having  a  suitable  num- 
ber of  buildings  for  the  housing  of  stock  and  crops.  Mr.  Paape 
married  Bertha  Wiesch,  and  they  have  twelve  children. 

Joseph  Reinartz,  a  Mower  county  farmer  now  living  in  Lan- 
sing township,  Avas  born  in  Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  Au- 
gust 31,  1865,  son  of  Joseph  Reinartz,  who  Avas  born  in  Ger- 
many and  came  to  America  in  1849,  settling  in  Washington 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  raised  his  family.  Joseph,  Sr., 
came  to  Mower  county  in  1879  and  took  up  his  abode  at  Rose 
Creek,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  Avhere  he  still  lives, 
making  his  home  Avith  his  son  John  and  his  daughter  Anna. 
Joseph,  Jr.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  went  to  school  in  Wis- 
consin and  at  Rose  Creek  in  MoAver  county.  When  he  Avas  four- 
teen years  of  age  he  started  in  life  for  himself  by  Avorking  out 
among  the  farmers  of  the  county.  In  1886  he  rented  a  farm, 
wliich  he  conducted  five  years.  Subsequentl.y  he  rented  another 
farm  for  two  years  and  in  1893  came  to  Lansing  and  purchased 
I' is  present  place.     His  farm  is  near  the  village.     Mr.  Reinartz 


HISTOIIY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  84f) 

lias  beeu  on  the  township  board  six  years  and  is  now  chairman 
of  tlie  board.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Foresters.  By  liis 
wife,  Anna  Gertrude  Shnornberg,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Ger- 
trude (Weise)  Shnornberg,  ]\Ir.  Reinart  has  eight  chiklrcn,  as 
follows:  Anna  M.,  Josephine,  Bernard,  Lawrence,  Albert  H., 
Henry  J.,  Leonard  and  Helen  E. 

George  Sutton,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Mower  county,  has 
lived  here  since  1857,  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  town- 
ship and  county  affairs.  He  has  done  his  part  toward  the  de- 
velopment of  this  section  of  the  country  and  has  always  been 
outspoken  in  behalf  of  the  things  that  he  has  believed  to  be  for 
tlie  best  interests  of  the  community.  He  was  born  March  19, 
3838.  in  Greens  county,  Ireland,  son  of  Stephen  and  Mary  (Mc- 
Bride)  Sutton,  the  father  a  native  of  County  Longford,  Ire- 
laud,  and  the  mother  of  County  Donegal,  Ireland.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  in  1849, 
remaining  in  New  York  state  until  1857,  when  he  came  with 
Ihem  to  Mower  county,  locating  at  Rose  Creek,  Windom  town- 
ship. After  his  father's  death,  in  1859,  he  entered  the  claim 
Avhich  his  father  had  pre-empted,  as  heir-at-law,  and  acquired 
the  proper  title.  Here  he  developed  the  land,  erected  buildings 
and  followed  general  farming  until  1873,  when  he  moved  his 
family  into  the  village  of  Rose  Creek,  and  engaged  in  grain 
baying,  still  continuing,  however,  to  conduct  his  farm.  He  fol- 
lowed the  grain  buying  business  until  1898,  when  he  retired  from 
active  participation  in  business.  In  1896,  he  returned  to  the 
old  farm,  where  he  now  lives  with  his  son,  Arthur,  who  conducts 
the  homestead.  Mr.  Sutton  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  a  life- 
long member  of  the  Masons  and  a  former  member  of  the  Grange. 
He  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  is  a  member  of  the  town 
l)oard  of  Windom  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board 
for  many  years.  He  also  held  other  local  offices.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  married  in  Windom  township,  January  7, 
1866,  to  Alma  E.  Slocum,  who  died  February  8,  1901,  leaving 
two  children:  Alice,  now  Mrs.  Uber  E.  Bryant,  of  Oakland, 
Cal.,  and  Arthur  R.,  who  conducts  the  home  farm.  Stephen 
Sutton,  father  of  George  Sutton,  was  born  in  County  Longford, 
north  of  Ireland,  and  there  received  his  education,  afterward 
l;ecoming  a  civil  engineer.  He  was  employed  as  government 
surveyor  in  Ireland  for  fourteen  years,  traveling  all  over  that 
country.  In  1849,  he  came  with  his  family  to  America,  locat- 
ing at  Norwich,  Chenango  county.  New  York,  where  they  re- 
mained until  April,  1857,  when  they  set  out  to  seek  a  new  home 
in  Minnesota,  coming  directly  to  what  is  now  Windom  townsliip. 
where  he  entered  a  claim  in  section  26  and  remained  until  his 
death,  in  1859.    Here  his  good  wife  remained  with  her  son  until 


850  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

her  death,  in  1864.    Mr.  Sutton  was  married,  in  County  Donegal, 
to  ]\Iary  A.  McBride,  a  native  of  that  county. 

J.  J.  Scallon  is  one  of  the  well-liked  young  men  of  Austin, 
and  is  in  every  way  capable  to  fill  the  position  he  occupies.  Mr. 
Scallon  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  March  31,  1884,  son  of  William 
S.  and  Julia  Scallon,  both  of  whom  are  now  living  in  Wisconsin. 
J.  J.  Scallon  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Wisconsin  and  later  graduated  from  the  business  course  in  the 
AVisconsiu  Business  College  at  La  Crosse,  Wis.  After  gradua- 
tion, he  kept  books  for  the  John  Gund  Brewing  Company,  of 
La  Crosse,  for  a  few  months,  and  was  then  made  manager  of  the 
branch  of  that  company  at  Austin.  In  this  position  he  has  since 
remained.  This  was  the  first  brewery  agency  to  be  established 
in  Austin.  Southern  Minnesota  and  northern  Iowa  points  are 
supplied  from  here  and  the  constantly  growing  business  now 
amounts  to  over  $40,000  a  year. 

Antone  Swenson  conducts  the  Swenson  estate  of  220  acres 
in  Marshall  township  for  his  brothers  and  sisters  and  is  one 
of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  township.  He  was  born  in 
1878,  in  Sweden,  and  was  brought  to  Mower  county 'by  his  fa- 
ther, Andrew  Swenson,  in  the  early  eighties.  He  is  well  liked 
in  the  township,  has  been  road  overseer  for  several  terms,  votes 
the  Republican  ticket  and  attends  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church. 
Andrew  Swenson  was  born  in  Sweden,  came  to  America  in 
the  early  eighties,  and  located  in  section  29,  Marshall  township, 
T/here  he  became  a  successful  farmer,  dying  in  1899.  He  had 
eight  children:  Charles  is  a  teacher  in  St.  Paul;  Annie  lives 
at  home;  Esther  and  Nathle  are  in  Austin;  Manda  is  teaching 
school  in  this  county,  Hattie  and  Cora  are  at  home,  and  Antone 
manages  the  home  place. 

Charles  A,  Sleeper  was  born  in  Fairfax,  Vt.,  August  12,  1848, 
son  of  A.  L.  and  Elbertine  (Church)  Sleeper.  He  spent  his 
early  life  in  his  father's  store  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  and  notion  business,  which  enterprise  he  started  in  1905. 
He  was  married  to  Delia,  daughter  of  L.  C.  and  Amelia  (Dun- 
lap)  Gillett,  and  to  this  union  has 'been  born  one  child,  Edna. 
Mr.  Sleeper  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  attends  the  Baptist 
church. 

Ozro  A.  Sleeper  Avas  born  in  Fairfax,  Vt.,  August  31,  1850, 
son  of  A.  L.  and  Elbertine  (Church)  Sleeper,  and  was  brought 
to  Mower  county  in  1864,  his  father  having  located  on  a  farm 
near  Brownsdale  two  years  previous.  After  completing  his 
school  days,  he  entered  his  father's  store  and  engaged  with 
other  members  of  the  family  in  the  general  mercantile  business 
until  1905,  when  he  took  over  the  business  of  manufacturing 
the  Sleeper  lightning  flypaper,  which  was  invented  by  his  father 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  851 

and  bj'  him  manufactured  for  many  years.  Ozro  A.  Sleeper 
devotes  his  entire  time  to  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  this  fly- 
paper, and  his  success  has  been  marked,  the  last  season's  busi- 
ness being  larger  than  that  of  any  preceding  year.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  married  Ella  Hoy,  daughter  of  John  Hoy.  He  is 
a  member  of  Lafayette  Lodge,  No.  116,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Browns- 
dale,  and  the  St.  Barnard  Commandery,  K.  T.,  as  well  as  of  the 
M.  B.  A.  and  the  United  Commercial  Travelers. 

Knute  Thompson,  a  respected  farmer  of  Nevada  township, 
was  born  in  Norway,  October  26,  1850,  son  of  Thomas  Torbensou 
and  Turber  Knustader,  his  wife,  both  of  whom  were  born,  spent 
their  lives  and  died  in  Norway.  Knute  came  to  this  country  in 
1872,  making  the  trip  in  a  sailing  vessel  from  Norway  to  New 
York.  He  landed  on  American  soil  June  25,  after  an  eight  Aveeks' 
tiresome  and  dangerous  trip.  He  lived  three  months  in  Wis- 
consin, and  then  came  to  Nevada  township,  this  county,  where 
he  worked  out  by  the  month  for  a  year.  Then  he  rented  land  a 
year,  and  at  the  end  of  this  period  had  saved  enough  to  acquire 
eighty  acres  of  good  land  in  section  7,  Nevada  township.  In 
1882,  he  i?urchased  eighty  acres  in  section  4,  Adams  township, 
and  has  since  continued  to  make  his  home  here.  He  has  erected 
a  comfortable  home  and  the  necessary  buildings  for  stock  and 
crops  and  carries  on  diversified  farming.  He  devotes  his  atten- 
tion largely  to  grain  and  cattle  raising,  selling  the  milk  from 
liis  herd  to  the  Adams  Co-operative  creamery.  Mr.  Thompson 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  has  been  road  overseer  for  twelve 
years  and  member  of  the  school  board  nine  years.  He  aligns 
himself  with  the  progressives.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  November  8,  1872,  to  Arlia  Aslexon,  a  native  of  Norway, 
and  they  have  seven  children:  Trina,  Alex,  Thomas,  Theodore, 
Hans,  Henry  and  Clara.  Trina  is  now  the  wife  of  Ole  Erickson, 
of  Northfield,  Minn. :  Alex  is  farming  in  Williams  county,  North 
Dakota,  and  is  also  interested  in  coal  mining ;  Thomas  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  in  Faribault,  ]\linn. ;  Theodore  is  at  home;  Hans 
is  married  and  has  a  homestead  in  Williams  county,  Minnesota ; 
Henry  has  a  homestead  in  Valley  county,  Montana;  Clara  is 
the  wife  of  AVilliam  Peterson,  a  builder  in  Minneapolis. 

Hans  A.  Turtdal,  a  successful  farmer  of  Nevada  township, 
was  born  in  Norway,  August  24,  1857,  and  came  to  America  in 
1878.  After  landing  in  New  York,  he  made  his  way  directly  to 
Nevada  township,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  ten  years 
and  then  rented  land  for  six  years.  He  purchased  forty  acres 
of  land  and  started  farming  on  his  own  account.  His  operations 
have  been  crowned  with  .success  and  he  now  owns  180  acres  in 
section  21.  He  has  followed  diversified  farming  and  makes  a 
specialty  of  raising  hogs  for  the  market  and  cows  for  beef  and 


853  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COITXTY 

dairy  purposes.  INIr.  Turtdal  is  a  Eepublican  in  polities,  but  has 
never  aspired  to  public  office.  He  was  married  February  12, 
1891,  to  Annie  Lee.  a  native  of  Wisconsin,  born  December  9, 
1860.  They  have  three  children:  Lena,  aged  eighteen,  at  home; 
Trina,  at  school  in  Albert  Lea,  and  Alfred,  who  lives  at  home 
and  attends  the  public  schools.  The  family  worships  at  the 
Lutheran  church. 

Nicholas  Ulwelling,  now  deceased,  was  a  solid  and  respected 
citizen  of  Lansing  for  many  years,  having  taken  up  his  residence 
in  the  township  in  1892  and  purchased  the  old  Yates  farm.  He 
was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in 
1851.  They  emigrated  to  Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
in  1870  came  to  Mower  county  and  located  in  the  township  of 
N'evada.  In  1892,  as  before  related,  Mr.  Ulwelling  came  to  Lan- 
sing. His  farm  is  now  one  of  the  richest  in  the  county,  con- 
sisting of  440  well-tilled  acres,  with  suitable  and  modern  build- 
ings and  machinery.  After  a  life  of  successful  toil,  Mr.  Ulwelling 
passed  away  January  19,  1910.  Mrs.  Ulwelling  now  has  charge 
of  the  farm,  assisted  by  her  children,  and  is  a  capable  business 
woman.  Before  her  marriage  she  was  Margaret  ITschald,  a 
native  of  Wisconsin,  but  of  German  descent.  The  children 
number  nine,  as  follows :  Frank,  Joseph,  Margaret,  Nicholas  J., 
John,  Anna,  Henry,  George  and  Trasse.  Margaret  is  now  ]\Irs. 
Gerhart,  of  Windom  township,  and  Anna  is  Mrs.  Balwers. 

Walter  S.  Willmarth,  now  deceased,  was  a  respected  citizen 
of  LeEoy  township  and  left  a  heritage  of  honor  to  his  descend- 
ants. He  Avas  born  in  Burk,  N.  Y.,  February  12,  1857,  son  of 
Elisha  and  Anna  (Blanchard)  AVillmarth.  At  Burk,  AValter 
attended  school  and  there  lived  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  New  York  City  with  his  aunt  and  completed  his 
studies  in  the  Packard  Business  College.  After  this  he  learned 
the  harness-making  trade  and  followed  this  vocation  in  New 
York  City  until  1885,  when  he  came  west  and  located  at  Blkton, 
8.  D.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  business  for 
a  period  of  seven  years.  Then  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Minne- 
sota, locating  in  LeRoy  township,  where  he  purchased  160  acres 
of  land  in  section  33.  On  this  tract  he  conducted  general  farm- 
ing until  his  death,  September  6,  1908.  Since  his  death  his  wife 
has  taken  charge  of  the  farm  and,  being  a  woman  of  energy  and 
ability,  she  is  meeting  with  much  success  in  her  endeavors.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  married,  September  23,  1885,  at  Flan- 
dreau,  S.  D.,  to  Susie  Cardiff,  born  in  Princeton,  Wis.,  September 
■30,  1865,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Cardiff.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  three  children:  Roy  G.,  of  LeRoy;  Rhoda  A., 
now  Mrs.  Willis  J.  Sanders,  and  Reginald  A.,  who  lives  at  home. 
Tlie  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Baptist  church. 


HISTORY  OF  MOAVEK  COUNTY  80:? 

Peter  N.  Weinert,  a  successful  and  prosperous  general  mer- 
cliaut  of  Rose  Creek,  was  born  in  Cedar  Creek,  Washington 
county.  Wis.,  son  of  Anton  and  INIary  (Peil)  Weinert,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Berlin  and  came  to  America  in  1846,  and 
the  latter  of  whom  was  a  native  of  one  of  the  French  possessions. 
Peter  N.  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  and  for  six  years 
taught  school  in  Richfield,  Wis.,  to  which  place  his  parents  had 
previously  moved.  He  became  deeply  interested  in  the  Cleveland 
campaign  and  ran  for  register  of  deeds  in  Washington  countj', 
being  defeated  by  but  one  vote.  After  giving  up  school  teaching 
he  went  to  college  for  a  time,  and  then  with  Andrew  Shottler 
bought  out  the  store  of  John  Cronan  in  Rose  Creek.  Two  years 
later  they  sold  out  to  E.  C.  Keefe.  Mr.  Weinert  then  purchased 
a  farm  four  miles  southeast  of  Austin,  which  he  operated  seven 
or  eight  years,  after  which  he  rented  his  place  and  returned  to 
Rose  Creek.  In  1906  he  erected  a  fine  brick  store  building  and 
entered  into  partnership  with  Henry  L.  Jensen  in  the  general 
mercantile  business.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  member  of 
the  Foresters  and  of  the  German  society  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church.  He  married  Abbie  Shottler  and  they  have  four  children : 
Mary,  Anthony,  AVinifred  and  Amy. 

Abe  F.  Watkins,  retired  farmer,  esteemed  as  a  loyal  friend 
and  good  neighbor,  was  born  in  Wales,  December  21,  1846,  son 
of  John  and  Mary  (Turner)  Watkins.  He  came  to  America 
with  his  parents  in  1850,  and  to  Austin  township  in  1856,  receiv- 
ing his  education  in  the  district  schools,  and  remaining  at  home 
until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  tiled  on  240  acres  of 
railroad  land  in  Austin  township,  section  31,  town  102,  range  18. 
He  broke  the  land,  made  general  improvements  and  carried  on 
general  farming,  making  a  specialty  of  breeding  hogs  and  horses. 
In  1898  he  rented  his  farm  and  came  to  Austin  for  the  purpose 
of  educating  his  daughters.  At  that  time  he  purchased  his 
present  home  on  Park  avenue.  Mr.  Watkins  is  a  Republican. 
He  served  on  the  town  board  of  Austin  nine  years  and  was  school 
treasurer  in  his  district  lifteen  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  married,  April  11,  1870,  to  Phoebe  Carter,  who  died  October 
9,  1905,  leaving  five  children :  Franklin  A.  is  the  assistant  man- 
ager of  the  Booth  packing  house  in  INIinneapolis ;  Jennie  is  the 
wife  of  George  Goslee,  owner  and  proprietor  of  a  gas  plant  in 
Chicago ;  Elda,  who  became  Mrs.  Durant,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three ;  Laura  married  James  Connor  and  lives  in  Billings 
county.  North  Dakota ;  Anna  P.,  now  wife  of  Robert  Carter,  a 
Alinneapolis  electrician,  graduated  from  the  Austin  high  school 
and  the  AViuona  normal  school,  taught  school  four  years  and 
v.as  head  teacher  at  Anoka  two  years;  Alarjorie,  now  Airs. 
George   Srinson,    wliosc   Imsbaiid    conducts   toiisorial    pai'loi's   at 


854  HISTOBY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Sargeant,  graduated  from  the  Austin  high  school  and  the  South- 
ern Minnesota  normal  school,  of  Austin,  and  was  for  several 
years  head  bookkeeper  for  the  Hub  department  store  in  Austin. 
Mr.  "Watkins  was  married  the  second  time,  October  8,  1910,  to 
Mrs.  E.  H.  Ingham.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Baptist 
churcli.  John  and  ]\Iary  (Turner)  "Watkins  were  natives  of 
Wales,  the  latter  being  a  sister  of  Robert  Turner,  a  member  of 
Parliament.  They  came  to  America  in  1850,  lived  in  Wisconsin 
a  time,  and  in  1856  came  to  ]\Iower  county  and  settled  in  Cedar 
City  in  what  is  now  Austin  township.  They  took  a  homestead 
of  160  acres,  made  the  usual  improvements  and  followed  farming, 
the  wife  dying  in  1858,  two  years  after  coming  here,  and  the 
father  in  1893,  after  a  life  filled  with  honest  toil  and  successful 
endeavor. 

Henry  Beneke  is  one  of  the  industrious  farmers  of  Waltham 
township.  His  farms,  located  in  sections  16,  17  and  20,  are  all 
under  cultivation,  his  home  and  grounds  are  well  kept,  and  his 
outbuildings  commodious  and  in  an  excellent  state  of  repair. 
He  was  born  in  Olmsted  county,  this  state,  June  5,  1857,  son  of 
Martin  and  Sophia  Beneke.  The  father,  Martin,  came  from  Ger- 
jnany  in  the  late  '30s  and  located  in  Wisconsin,  Avhere  he  re- 
mained for  a  time.  Then  he  located  in  Olmsted  county,  seven 
miles  from  Rochester,  on  the  old  stage  road.  Here  he  tilled  the 
soil  and  lived  in  contentment  and  peace  until  his  death  in  1897. 
Martin  Beneke  often  related,  as  the  state  became  thickly  settled, 
incidents  of  the  early  days  when  Rochester  consisted  of  one 
tavern  and  one  store,  both  built  of  logs.  Henry  spent  his  early 
days  on  a  farm  in  Olmsted  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years 
was  given  charge  of  the  farm  his  father  owned  in  section  20, 
Waltham  township.  In  1882  he  moved  on  to  this  farm,  and 
after  his  marriage  purchased  it  from  his  father.  A  few  years 
Inter  he  purchased  his  present  farm  in  section,  16  to  which  he 
moved  and  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Beneke  was  married  in 
early  manhood  to  Louisa  Meyer,  daughter  of  John  Meyer,  and 
their  children  are  Louis,  Sarah,  Lydia  and  Edna.  Louis  lives 
in  JMinneapolis.  Sarah  married  George  Condo  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Martha.  Mrs.  Louisa  Beneke  died  in  1892,  and 
Mr.  Beneke  married  for  his  second  wife  Emma  Schwebke. 

A.  R  Browning,  one  of  the  foremost  residents  of  Dexter  town- 
ship was  born  in  Allegany  county.  New  York,  February  5,  1868, 
son  of  Elisha  L.  and  Betsy  A.  (Bull)  Browning,  the  former  a 
native  of  Connecticut  and  the  latter  of  Vermont.  They  came 
west  to  Wisconsin  about  1857,  then  went  to  Allegany  county, 
New  York,  and  in  1876  again  started  for  the  west,  bringing  their 
family,  including  A.  R.,  who  at  that  time  was  but  eight  years 
old.     They  settled  on  section  18,  Dexter  township,  built  a  tern- 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWEI?  COUNTY  855 

porary  shack,  and  endured  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  Soon 
tliey  prospered  and  the  fruit  of  their  hard  work  was  seen  in 
a  fine  frame  house,  excellent  barns  and  well-tilled  acres.  A.  R. 
Browning,  as  before  stated,  came  to  Dexter  township  with  his 
parents.  His  education  was  received  in  the  schools  of  Allegany 
county.  New  York,  and  in  the  sehols  of  Dexter  and  Brownsdale, 
this  county.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  place  and  has  devoted 
his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits.  His  model  farm  now  comprises 
400  acres,  with  suitable  buildings  and  machinery  and  some  sleek- 
looking  live  stock.  Mr.  Browning  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  at  Brownsdale  and  the  M.  W.A.  at  Dexter.  He  married 
Huldah  H.,  daughter  of  John  and  Polina  (Blanchard)  Reiser,  the 
former  of  whom  died  in  1904  and  the  latter  in  1886.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Browning  have  been  brightened  and  gladdened  by  the  arrival  in 
tlieir  home  of  two  fine  boys,  AVesley  C,  now  aged  nine,  and 
Clifford  H.,  aged  six.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Herman  Boelk,  an  honest  and  law-abiding  citizen  of  Waltham 
township,  was  born  in  Germany,  September  26,  1857,  son  of 
John  and  "Wilhelmina  Boelk,  who  brought  him  to  America  in 
1872,  locating  in  "Waltham  township,  after  a  two  months'  stop 
by  the  way.  For  a  time  they  rented  the  Matter  house,  and  then 
moved  into  a  house  which  they  had  erected  on  section  18.  The 
parents  took  up  farm  work  with  energy  and  continued  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives,  the  father  passing  away  in  1892  and  the 
mother  in  1902.  Herman  Avas  reared  in  "Waltham  township,  at- 
tended school,  assisted  his  father  on  the  home  farm,  and  later 
came  into  possession  of  it.  He  has  made  many  improvements 
on  the  place,  and  in  1902  rebuilt  the  home.  Being  of  a  religious 
nature,  Mr.  Boelk  has  allied  himself  with  the  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran denomination.  Formerly  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Trinity  Lutheran  church  for  five  years,  and  for  six  years 
he  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  St.  Miehael's  German  Lutheran  Evan- 
gelical church,  to  which  latter  church  he  now  belongs.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  married  Bertha  "Wagner,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  they  have  eight  children:  Albert,  Bernhart,  Olga, 
Leona,  Rosa,  Louis,  Herbert  and  Irene. 

0.  C.  Bratrud,  who  gave  the  land  upon  which  the  Lutheran 
church  is  located  in  Bennington  township,  was  born  in  Norway, 
and  came  to  America  when  fourteen  years  of  age,  being  seven 
weeks  on  the  water.  Elsie  Torgrimson,  who  afterward  became 
his  wife,  crossed  the  water  to  America  some  years  later.  After 
locating  in  Fillmore  county  in  1854,  iMr.  Bratrud  acquired  145 
acres  of  land  and  carried  on  general  farming  until  1890,  when 
he  removed  to  Spring  Valley  for  the  purpose  of  bettor  educating 
his  children   and   to  look  after  his  real   estate  lu:)l<lings,   which 


856  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

consisted  of  a  tract  in  Fillmore  county  and  380  acres  in  Ben- 
nington township,  this  county.  He  died  February  25,  1910,  and 
his  widow  survives  him,  making  her  home  in  St.  Paul.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children:  Theodore  graduated  from 
the  University  of  Minnesota  and  is  now  a  practicing  attorney  in 
"Warren,  Minn. ;  Albert  is  a  farmer  in  Bennington  township ; 
E.  O.  is  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  at  Roswell,  S.  D. ;  Clara  has 
just  completed  her  studies  in  art  at  the  University  of  INIinnesota, 
and  L.  I.,  Arthur  and  Edward  are  still  students  in  that  institu- 
tion. 

Albert  Bratrud,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Bennington  township, 
was  born  in  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota,  April  27,  1876,  son  of 
0.  C.  and  Elsie  (Torgrimson)  Bratrud.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  district  and  graded  schools  of  his  native  county, 
took  a  two  years'  course  in  the  Spring  Valley  high  school,  and 
graduated  from  the  agricultural  department  of  the  University 
of  Minnesota  in  1898.  Then  he  came  to  IMower  county  and  pur- 
chased 160  acres  of  land  from  his  father  in  section  22,  Benning- 
ton township.  On  this  place  he  has  erected  his  home  and  build- 
ings and  follows  general  diversified  farming,  as  well  as  stock 
and  grain  raising.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers  Co-opera- 
tive creamery  and  elevator  at  Ostrander,  ]\Iinn.,  and  also  has 
other  business  holdings.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  has  done 
excellent  work  on  the  school  board.  Mr.  Bratrud  Avas  married, 
March  21,  1900,  to  Georgia  Rendahl,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
H.  0.  Rendahl,  of  LeRoy  township.  In  the  family  there  are  five 
children:  Emil.  Esther.  Ruth,  Olive  and  Milton,  all  at  home. 
The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

C.  Arthur  Carlson,  machinist  and  automobile  agent,  was  born 
in  Austin,  in  Avhich  city  he  still  resides,  March  24,  1878,  son  of 
Carl  A.  and  Matilda  (Olsen)  Carlson.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Austin,  and  then  learned 
the  machinists'  trade,  which  he  worked  at  until  1904,  when  he 
started  in  business  for  himself,  conducting  a  machine  shop  and 
doing  general  repair  work,  as  well  as  repairing  and  selling  auto- 
mobiles. He  is  agent  for  the  Rambler  and  E-]\I-F  machines,  and 
has  done  much  to  make  those  makes  popular  in  this  locality. 
Mr.  Carlson  is  a  member  of  the  Austin  and  Mower  County  Auto- 
mobile Club,  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order  and  to  the  M.  W.  A., 
attends  the  United  Lutheran  church,  and  votes  the  Republican 
ticket.  He  was  married,  January  16,  1901,  at  Austin  to  Anna 
Anderson,  and  this  union  resulted  in  three  children:  Arthur 
Willard,  George  E.  and  Helen  C.  The  family  residence  is  at  the 
corner  of  College  and  South  St.  Paul  streets. 

William  Cutter,  Austin's  modern  tailor,  was  born  in  St. 
Peter,  Minn.,  January  7,  1873,  son  of  F.  "W.  and  Josephine  Cut- 


IllSTOItV   OK   MOWKl,'  CorXTY  857 

tor.  After  his  early  schooling  he  clerked  in  a  clothin!;  store 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  New  York  and 
underwent  several  years'  training  in  the  tailoring  business,  re- 
ceiving a  tirst-class  diploma  from  JMitchell  &  Co.,  one  of  the 
finest  establishments  in  New  Y''ork  City,  known  far  and  wide 
for  excellent  workmanship.  After  completing  his  training  in 
New  York  City,  I\Ir.  Cutter  came  to  Austin  in  February,  1896, 
and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Modern  Tailoring  Company.  A 
year  later  he  started  business  on  his  own  account,  since  which 
date  he  has  enjoyed  that  full  measure  of  prosperity  that  his 
excellent  work  so  richly  deserves.  Mr.  Cutter's  political  affilia- 
tion is  with  the  Socialist  party  and  it  is  interesting  to  relate  that 
lie  was  placed  on  the  ticket  for  alderman  of  Austin  two  years 
ago  and  with  no  effort  on  his  part  came  within  one  vote  of  being 
elected.  Mr.  Cutter  belongs  to  the  I\Iasonie  order,  and  also  to 
the  M.  W.  A.,  the  K.  of  P.,  the  E.  F.  V.,  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  the 
F.  0.  E.,  being  well  liked  in  each.  Mr.  Cutter  married  Maude 
A.  Patterson,  daughter  of  William  AY.  Patterson,  of  Austin,  and 
they  have  two  children :   Rex  C.  and  Brooks  Dare. 

F.  W.  Cutter  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  married 
Josephine  Dare,  a  native  of  New  York  state.  In  early  life,  F.  W. 
followed  the  trade  of  harness  maker  in  New  Haven,  and  when 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  came  to  Minnesota  and 
traveled  on  the  road  fifteen  years.  He  and  his  wife  had  three 
children. 

Joseph  V.  Cafourek,  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Lyle 
township,  is  a  fine  example  of  those  whose  thrift  and  honesty, 
brought  from  the  old  country,  has  raised  them  to  a  position  of 
trust  and  honor  in  the  community.  He  has  raised  a  large  family 
and  given  to  each  child  a  good  education.  Mr.  Cafourek  was 
born  in  Bohemia,  October  14,  1859,  son  of  Frank  and  Anna 
(^ludra)  Cafourek,  natives  of  Bohemia,  who  came  to  America 
in  1877,  locating  in  London  township,  Freeborn  county,  this 
slate,  where  they  purchased  land  and  engaged  in  farming.  The 
fallier  died  in  1899,  and  the  mother  still  remains  on  the  old  home. 
Joseph  V.  received  his  early  education  in  Bohemia,  coming  to 
America  in  1876,  and  locating  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  for  a 
]ieriod  of  three  months.  After  this  he  came  to  Mower  county 
and  worked  out  for  one  summer.  He  then  joined  his  parents, 
wiio  in  the  meantime  had  located  in  Freeborn  county,  and  worked 
for  his  father  for  a  period  of  six  years.  In  1890,  he  purchased 
his  pre.sont  farm  of  320  acres,  in  sections  19  and  20,  Lyle  town- 
ship, where  he  erected  his  home  and  other  buildings,  his  residence 
l.dng  in  section  19.  He  now  carries  on  general  farming  along 
the  latest  approved  lines,  and  is  erecting  a  new  home  in  section 
20.      :\lr.    Cafourek    is   a    Kepul)lican    and    attends    the    Catholic 


858  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

church.  He  belongs  to  the  Bohemian  Benevolent  Society  and  is 
serving  his  twelfth  year  as  treasurer  of  his  school  district.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  June  16,  1883,  to  Mary 
Kuthan,  a  native  of  Bohemia  also.  To  this  union  have  been  born 
eight  children:  Anna  is  now  Mrs.  T.  S.  Johnson,  of  London 
township,  Freeborn  county;  Mamie  is  now  Mrs.  Leo  Carter,  of 
Oakland,  Freeborn  county ;  Jerome  is  home  on  the  farm ;  Lillie 
is  home  on  the  farm;  Elsie  is  a  teacher;  Josephine  is  attending 
the  Austin  high  school ;  Frank  and  Ernest  are  at  home. 

Frederick  M.  Conklin,  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank  of 
Doxter,  was  born  in  Deer  Creek,  Otter  Tail  county,  Minn.,  Sep- 
tember 13,  1884,  son  of  Robert  C.  and  Minnie  (Pulver)  Conklin. 
He  received  his  early  education  at  Chester,  in  Howard  county, 
Iowa,  and  then  worked  in  a  store  six  years.  Subsequently  he 
entered  the  German  Savings  Bank  at  Chester  and  worked  three 
years.  He  was  the  moving  factor,  in  1907,  in  organizing  the 
bank  of  which  he  is  now  cashier.  This  institution,  although 
young,  is  conducted  along  sound  financial  lines  and  is  already 
demonstrating  its  worth  and  importance  in  the  community.  Mr. 
Conklin  has  allied  himself  Avith  the  Dexter  Lodge,  263,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  before  coming  here  joined  the  M.  W.  A.  at  Chester, 
Iowa.  He  married  Eliza  Nichols,  daughter  of  H.  B.  and  Emma 
(Pillsbury)  Nichols,  the  former  of  whom  is  a  prominent  grain 
dealer. 

John  Cotter,  retired  farmer,  now  living  in  Austin,  was  born 
in  Ireland,  January  14,  1843,  son  of  John  and  Johanna  (Meade) 
Cotter,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1852,  accompanied  by  his 
mother  and  two  sisters.  The  trip  was  made  on  a  sailing  vessel, 
and  all  who  took  that  particular  voyage  remember  the  long 
eleven  months  spent  on  the  way.  The  Cotter  party  landed  at 
Boston  and  from  there  went  to  Manchester,  N.  H.,  where  they 
remained  six  years.  During  that  time  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
worked  in  the  woolen  mills.  Afterward  the  family  came  west, 
locating  in  Adams,  "Wis.,  where  John  Cotter  spent  his  time  in 
farming.  In  1865  he  came  to  Freeborn  county,  and  from  then 
until  1908  carried  on  farming  operations,  acquiring  three  fine 
farms  in  Oakland  township.  He  now  lives  in  retirement  in 
Austin.  John  Cotter  married  Katherine  Keneven,  daughter  of 
Cornelius  and  Katherine  (Collins)  Keneven,  and  to  this  union 
ten  children  have  been  born:  Arthur  (deceased),  John,  Albert, 
Frank  A.,  Leo  J.,  Theresa,  Maurice  C,  Esther  and  Roy  J. 

William  M.  Catherwood,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  southern  Min- 
nesota, came  west  in  1857,  and  located  in  the  village  of  Sumner, 
in  Freeborn  county.  He  took  up  a  claim  and  farmed  for  many 
years,  coming  to  Austin  in  1880.  He  died  in  1890.  Mr.  Cather- 
wood was  a  man  of  more  than  usual  intelligence  and  was  a 


F.  M.  CONKLIN. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  859 

mathematician  of  prominence,  being  considered  an  authority  in 
several  of  the  more  advanced  branches  of  this  science.  He  was 
also  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  having  served  in  the  Second 
Minnesota  Cavalry.  William  M.  Catlierwood  married  J]lizabcth 
LoAvry,  and  to  this  union  were  born  two  sons,  Thomas  L.  and 
Samuel  D.  ^Mrs.  Catherwood,  nee  Elizabeth  Lowry,  was  born 
near  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Lowry,  D.  D., 
and  IMarguerite  J.  Hannah,  his  wife.  Dr.  Lowry  spent  the  years 
of  liis  active  ministry  in  Indiana,  but  in  his  declining  years  lived 
in  Freeborn  county,  this  state.  He  settled  in  Indiana  in  182.i, 
and  there  raised  a  family  of  eleven  children,  four  by  his  first 
wife  and  seven  by  his  second.  The  latter  mentioned  are  Elmirti, 
Elizabeth,  Felicia,  Alfred,  Esther  (deceased),  Annie  and  Lean- 
der.  Dr.  Thomas  Catherwood,  oldest  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Will- 
iam M.  Catherwood,  married  Jennie  De  Wolf,  and  they  have  three 
children:  Baird,  Dorothy  and  Virginia.  Samuel  D.  Catherwood, 
second  son  of  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  William  M.  Catherwood,  married 
Gertrude  Sherwood,  and  they  have  three  children:  Josephine, 
Catherine  and  Roger.  The  revolutionary  ancestor  of  the  Lowry 
family  was  Rev.  Samuel  Doak,  the  first  president  of  Washing- 
ton College,  Tennessee. 

Charles  M.  Colby,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Waltham  township, 
is  the  scion  of  a  distinguislied  family,  being  a  descendant  of 
Anthony  Colby,  who  came  to  America  in  1628-29  with  Sir  Rob- 
ert Winthrop,  and  settled  in  Massachusetts.  Charles  M.  Avas 
born  in  AYaltham  township,  September  24,  1873,  son  of  Amos 
and  Mary  E.  (Stephens)  Colby,  both  of  whom  came  from 
Bow,  N.  H.,  settled  in  Wisconsin  in  1856,  in  Red  Rock  townsliip, 
this  county,  in  1857  and  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  35, 
Waltham,  a  few  years  later,  remaining  until  his  death.  May  13, 
1907.  Charles  M.  attended  the  district  school  and  also  studied 
one  season  in  the  Owatonna  schools.  His  early  manhood  was 
spent  on  the  farm  and  he  now  has  charge  of  the  place.  His 
quarter  section  is  under  good  cultivation  and  Mr.  Colb}?-  has  been 
most  successful  in  his  endeavors.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
married  Clara  Belle  Nichols,  daughter  of  Charles  E.  and  Clara 
(Hill)  Nichols,  descended  from  a  pioneer  Maine  family.  j\Ir. 
and  IMrs.  Colby  are  the  happy  parents  of  twin  boys,  born  August 
7,  1908. 

Lewis  G.  Church,  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Waltliam 
township,  is  a  native  of  this  eountj^  having  been  born  in  tlie 
tov.nsliip,  where  he  still  resides,  September  14,  1868,  son  of 
George  and  Susan  Church.  George  came  from  Ulster  county, 
New  York,  when  a  cliild  and  lived  there  until  1866,  wlien  the 
family  came  to  Waltham  townsliip.  Lewis  G.  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  and  received  liis  education  in  district  61.     AVhen 


860  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

a  youug  man  he  purchased  the  home  farm  and  his  father  moved 
in  to  the  village  of  Walthara,  Avhere  he  still  resides.  The  farm 
now  consists  of  120  acres  and  on  this  Lewis  Church  carries  on 
general  farming  and  raises  the  usual  crops.  He  is  Avell  liked 
among  his  fellow  citizens  and  is  a  popular  member  of  the 
M.  W.  A. 

T.  C.  F.  Ehmke,  a  modern  farmer  of  AValtham,  came  to  the 
township  in  1877  and  settled  on  section  9,  which  is  now  within 
the  corporation  limits  of  the  village.  He  carries  on  general 
farming  on  the  home  place  of  162  acres  and  also  has  a  tract 
of  eighty  acres  in  the  township.  He  is  a  hard-working  man  and 
well  thought  of  in  the  community.  T.  C.  F.  Ehmke  was  born 
near  the  city  of  AVoline,  in  CTcrmany,  January  17,  1844,  son  of 
Christian  and  Johanna  (Strage)  Ehmke.  Christian  Ehmke 
brought  his  family  to  America  in  1845,  made  a  short  stay  in 
IMilwaukee,  and  then  went  to  Jackson,  Washington  county,  "Wis- 
consin, where  he  took  up  farming  on  an  eighty-acre  tract.  There 
lie  lived  until  his  death  at  the  age  of  eighty-two,  his  wife  pass- 
ing away  at  the  age  of  eighty.  T.  C.  F.  was  reared  on  the  farm 
in  Wisconsin,  and  as  above  related,  came  to  Mower  county  as  a 
young  man.  His  first  wiPe  was  Augusta  Rahm.  Of  the  two  chil- 
dren by  this  marriage,  one,  Julius,  is  living,  making  his  home 
in  Nebraska.  His  children  are  Marie,  John,  Ella  (deceased)  and 
Minnie.  For  his  second  Avife,  Mr.  Ehmke  married  Dorothy  Ams- 
pach  and  they  are  the  parents  of  tlie  following  children:  Theo- 
dore W.,  who  lives  in  the  village  of  Waltham;  Johanna,  Louis 
J.  F.,  Margaret,  Carl  F.  A.,  and  John  A.  H.  The  family  wor- 
ship at  the  St.  Michael  German  Lutheran  church. 

Charles  Faber  is  one  of  the  industrious  farmers  of  AValttiam 
township,  and  has  done  his  share  toward  its  development.  His 
record,  indeed,  is  a  most  honorable  one  and  includes  service  on 
the  board  of  supervisors  eighteen  years  and  on  the  school  board 
fifteen  years.  At  the  present  time  he  is  treasurer  of  the  Wal- 
tham Co-operative  Creamery,  a  position  he  has  tilled  ten  years. 
He  has  also  served  in  a  similar  capacity  for  a  similar  period  in 
his  church.  Charles  Faber  was  born  near  the  Rhine,  at  Pferds- 
feld,  R,  B.  Coblenz,  Germany,  January  26.  1863.  His  parents,  Got- 
lieb  and  Elizabeth  (Kuntz")  Faber,  brought  him  to  America  in 
1868,  and  they  lived  in  Rochester.  Minn.,  two  years.  Then  they 
came  to  Waltham  township,  and  located  in  section  20,  where 
they  remained  the  rest  of  their  days,  the  father  passing  away 
in  1893  and  the  mother  April  20,  1910.  Charles  Faber  attended 
school  in  Olmsted  county  and  in  Waltham  township.  When  he 
was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  July  13,  1886,  he  married  jMartha, 
daughter  of  Henry  Baumgartner,  who  was  born  in  Kirchhayn, 
Washington  county,  Wisconsin.    This  union  has  been  blessed  with 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY  8G1 

six  children:  Eda,  Clara,  Carl,  Louis,  Loua  and  Magdalona.  Kda 
is  the  wife  of  Herman  Frohriech.  When  the  family  first  canic  lo 
"Waltham  township  they  huilt  a  house  and  broke  a  few  acres  of 
land.  The  Faber  home  is  now  a  comfortable  one  and  is  sur- 
rounded liy  suitable  liuildings.  The  farm  consists  of  160  acres  of 
well-tilled  land,  upon  which  Mr.  Faber  conducts  general  farming. 

John  Gjernes,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Sargeaiit  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Norway,  September  18,  1849,  son  of  Torges 
Ojernes.  '>vith  whom  he  came  to  America  in  1868.  After  a  year 
in  Kasson,  Dodge  county,  and  six  years  in  Iowa,  the  family 
came  to  Mower  county,  and  located  in  section  11,  Sargeant  town- 
ship. A  few  years  later  the  parents  moved  to  Crow  Wing  county, 
this  state,  where  the  father  died.  John  Gjernes  came  from. 
Dodge  county  to  Sargeant  in  1874,  and  settled  in  section  2.  Ilis 
original  home  was  in  an  old  pioneer  log  cabin,  but  this  in  1897 
he  replaced  with  a  fine  modern  dwelling.  He  owns  a  quarter 
section  of  land  and  has  the  usual  complement  of  machinery  and 
tools.  Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
politics.  He  was  sergeant-at-arms  in  the  Minnesota  state  sen- 
ate for  four  years,  and  in  1910  was  the  nominee  for  representa- 
tive against  Ralph  Crane,  the  successful  candidate.  He  has  also 
been  supervisor  of  the  township,  and  for  eighteen  years  treas- 
urer of  the  school  board.  Mr.  Gjernes  married  Gertrude  K.  Ol- 
son, a  native  of  Norway,  who  came  to  America  with  her  parents 
in  1862,  settling  first  in  Olmsted  county  and  then  in  Dodge 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gjernes  are  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren :  Jacob ;  Agnes,  wife  of  Ole  Rognaldson ;  Theodore ;  Clara, 
v/ife  of  John  Jacobson;  Mary,  wife  of  August  Wagner;  Ida, 
wife  of  ]\lyron  Johnson ;  Ijouisa,  wife  of  Frank  Bridwell,  and 
Bina,  who  lives  at  home. 

Henry  Grimm,  an  honored  figure  in  the  life  of  Sargeant,  was 
born  in  Branerdam  township,  Wisconsin,  July  7,  1847,  son  of 
John  F.  and  Barbara  (Graessle)  Grimm,  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many. John  F.  Grimm  came  to  America  about  1831,  lived  in 
Pennsylvania  for  a  time,  went  to  Ohio  and  was  there  married, 
after  which  he  went  to  Illinois  and  stayed  a  year,  later  taking 
up  his  residence  in  Wisconsin.  In  1862  he  came  to  Minnesota 
with  his  family  of  eleven  children  and  settled  in  Rochester.  Henry 
was  taken  to  Rochester  by  his  father  when  fifteen  years  of  age, 
and  there  spent  his  young  manhood.  In  1885  he  came  to  Sar- 
geant tOAvnship,  purchased  a  farm  in  section  16,  and  followed 
farming  some  twenty-five  years.  In  1900  he  moved  to  the  A'il- 
lage,  where  he  now  lives,  having  practically  retired  from  active 
life.  He  occupied  many  township  offices  during  his  residence 
on  the  farm  and  was  a  prominent  nmn  in  many  wnys.  He  mar- 
ried Carolina  ^lartin  and  tlicv  have   four  cliildrcii.     Frank  mar- 


862  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

ried  Louisa  Patevson  and  has  a  daughter  Leora.  Leroy  A.  mar- 
ried Uhna  Peterson.     The  otlier  two  are  Ralph  M.  and  Hilda  C. 

Edmond  Hill  is  one  of  the  scientific  and  modern  farmers  of 
Mower  county,  and  his  farm  of  480  acres  in  section  33,  Red 
Rock,  is  one  of  the  model  places  of  the  township.  He  was  born 
in  Red  Rock  township,  September  24,  1872,  son  of  Orrin  J.  and 
Frances  (Ransom)  Hill,  pioneers.  He  received  his  schooling  in 
the  "Pioneer"  schoolhouse  in  his  native  township,  and  his  early 
manhood  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  still  con- 
tinues to  reside.  He  married  Emma  Bassett,  daughter  of  Charles 
D.  and  Nellie  A.  (Smith)  Bassett.  Mrs.  Hill  was  born  in  Udol- 
pho  township.  Mower  county,  but  her  parents  moved  to  Dundas, 
in  Rice  county,  this  state,  when  she  was  one  year  old.  Charles 
D.  Bassett  came  from  Carroll  county,  New  Hampshire,  and  he 
and  his  wife  still  reside  in  Dundas.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  have 
four  bright  children:  Lorna,  aged  12;  Ruth,  aged  10;  Esther, 
aged  7,  and  Robert,  aged  4. 

Henry  Theo  Hagen  is  one  of  the  estimable  citizens  of  Dexter 
township.  He  v/as  born  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  June  2, 
1871,  son  of  D.  and  Elizabeth  Hagen.  D.  Hagen  was  born  in 
Germany,  came  to  America  about  1869,  settled  in  Dane  county, 
iind  there  remained  one  year.  After  coming  to  Minnesota  he 
lived  in  Owatonna  three  years,  and  then  in  Grand  Meadow 
township,  this  county,  eight  or  nine  years.  Later  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  Marshall  toAvnship,  where  he  and  his  wife  now 
reside.  Henry  Theo  Hagen  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  parents 
and  with  them  lived  in  Owatonna,  Grand  Meadow  and  Marshall 
townships.  After  his  marriage  to  Sophia  Spreekels,  he  pur- 
chased land  in  section  35,  Dexter  township,  and  there  he  now 
continues  to  live.  He  has  160  acres,  which  he  has  occupied  and 
developed  for  sixteen  years,  and  has  a  pleasant  home,  good  out- 
buildings and  excellent  tools  and  machinery.  He  is  chairman 
of  the  board  of  supervisors,  has  been  on  the  town  board  ten 
years  and  on  the  school  board  twelve  years.  He  has  also  been 
treasurer  of  the  German  Lutheran  church  for  nine  years.  In 
his  family  are  four  bright  children:  Oliver  D.,  fourteen;  Theo- 
dore H.,  ten;  Oscar  C,  nine,  and  Harold  D.  M.,  six.  Mrs.  Sophia 
(Spreekels)  Hagen,  is  the  daughter  of  Dedrieh  and  Anna  (Tiede- 
mann)  Spreekels,  and  was  born  in  Goodhue  county,  this  state. 
When  but  a  child,  she  came  with  her  parents  to  this  county  and 
located  with  them  in  Red  Rock  township.  After  working  hard 
for  many  years,  Dedrieh  Spreekels  determined  to  take  a  trip  to 
Germany.  On  his  return  there  was  a  collision  at  sea  and  his 
vessel  sank  with  all  on  board. 

Gustav  L.  Hanson,  a  substantial  resident  of  Clayton  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  this  county,  born  in  Frankford  township. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  863 

June  27,  1874,  son  of  Lewis  and  Sarah  Hanson,  natives  of  Nor- 
way, who  came  to  America  in  1856,  and  settled  in  Frankford 
township,  where  they  purchased  land  and  where  they  still  live. 
Gustav  L.  was  educated  in  the  county  schools  of  Mower  county, 
and  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  started  in  life  for  himself 
by  renting  land  for  several  years  in  his  native  township.  In 
1896,  he  purchased  land  in  section  7,  Clayton  township,  and  on 
this  tract  he  conducts  general  farming,  having  about  thirty-five 
head  of  dairy  cattle,  twenty-five  Poland-China  hogs  and  eight 
horses,  as  well  as  the  usual  equipment  of  tools  and  machinery. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  has  been  road  overseer  ten  years 
and  director  of  school  district  127  for  seven  years.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  married,  Novem.ber  6,  1899,  to  Lena  Ander- 
son, daughter  of  Tom  Anderson,  of  this  county,  and  they  have 
five  children:  Leonard,  Alfred,  Ernest,  Clifford  and  Glenn.  The 
three  oldest  are  at  school. 

Glenn  W.  Vail,  a  skilled  dentist  of  Lyle,  was  born  in  Hia- 
Avatha,  Kans.,  April  18,  1877,  son,  of  Benjamin  H.  and  Emily  0. 
(Hutchinson)  Vail,  natives  of  New  York,  who  came  to  Henry 
county,  Illinois,  in  the  early  days,  and  after  living  there  and  in 
La  Salle  county  for  a  time,  went  to  Hiawatha,  Kans.,  where  they 
remained  until  1882.  Up  to  this  time,  Benjamin  H.  had  been 
engaged  as  a  wagon  maker.  Upon  moving  to  Auburn,  Neb.,  in 
1882,  he  engaged  in  the  retailing  of  windmills,  pumps  and  other 
farm  machinery.  Eight  years  afterward,  in  1890,  he  went  to 
Omaha,  Neb.,  where  he  still  lives.  His  wife,  Emily  0.,  died 
at  Hiawatha,  Kans.,  in  January,  1881.  Glenn  W.  received  his 
education  in  the  public  and  high  schools,  and  in  1900  entered 
tlie  State  University  of  Iowa,  at  Iowa  City,  graduating  from 
t!ie  dental  department  in  1905.  For  one  year  he  practiced  at 
Panora,  Iowa,  and  then  came  to  LeRoy,  where  he  has  since  been 
located,  maintaining  an  office  Avell  equipped  with  the  most  mod- 
ern appliances.  Dr.  Vail  belongs  to  the  Minnesota  State  Dental 
Association  and  to  the  Southern  Minnesota  Dental  Association. 
He  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Commercial  Club,  a  popular  mem- 
ber of  file  Knights  of  Pythias  and  an  attendant  of  the  Congre- 
gational church.  He  was  married,  June  10,  1905,  at  Iowa  City, 
1o  Lena  R.  "Wood,  of  Mankato,  Minn.,  Avho  died  November  1, 
1906,  leaving  a  son,  Dana  F.,  born  October  31,  1906.  January 
26,  1910,  he  was  married  at  Winona  to  Dena  L.  Hedemark, 
daughter  of  B.  D.  Hedemark,  a  former  Lyle  shoe  merchant,  who 
died  in  June,  1909,  Mrs.  Hedemark  still  making  her  home  in 
Lyle. 

Carl  E.  Johnson,  a  modern  farmer  of  Bennington  township, 
has  performed  work  which  will  have  its  effect  for  countless  gen- 
erations !o  come.     lie  has  set  out  a  thousand  apple  trees  which 


864  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

are  boginuing  to  bear  fruit;  he  is  about  to  plant  200  Dutchess 
apple  trees,  and  is  well  under  way  with  the  planting  of  4,000 
hardy  troes,  Avhieh  will  beautify  the  landscape  for  decades,  if 
not  for  a  century,  to  come.  He  was  born  in  Sweden,  April  12, 
!1871,  son  of  Nick  Larson  and  Christina  L.  Peterson,  his  wife, 
both  of  whom  died  in  Sweden.  Carl  received  a  good  education 
m  Sweden,  and  was  there  reared  to  manhood,  coming  to  America 
in  1891,  and  locating  in  Illinois.  After  working  as  a  farm  hand 
three  years  he  rented  a  farm  for  four  years,  and  ttien  pur- 
chased 130  acres  in  Victor  township,  DeKalb  county,  Illinois. 
There  he  remained  until  1902,  when  he  sold  and  came  to  this 
county.  Here  he  purchased  240  acres  in  section  20  and  eighty 
acres  in  section  19,  Bennington  township,  remodeling  the  build- 
ings, and  making  many  improvements,  including  the  putting  up 
of  900  rods  of  woA^&n  wire  fencing.  Mr.  Johnson  now  carries  on 
general  farming  -and  breeds  Durham  grade  cattle  and  Chester 
"White  hogs.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  done  jury 
duty  in  Austin.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  Febru- 
ary 26,  1896.  to  Anna  M.  IMarcus,  a  native  of  Norway,  and  they 
have  six  children:  Christina,  Esther,  Albert,  Clara,  Julia  and 
Emma. 

L.  0.  Axnas,  a  successful  farmer  of  Frankford  township,  was 
born  in  Norway,  August  2,  1841,  son  of  Ole  Olson  and  Bertha 
Skjeie,  who  spent  the  span  of  their  years  in  Norway.  L.  0. 
received  his  education  in  his  native  land,  and  there  spent  his 
early  manhood.  At  the  age  of  t^venty-nine  years,  in  1870,  he 
came  to  America  and  located  at  Rushford,  Fillmore  county,  where 
lie  worked  out  by  the  month  for  two  years.  Then  he  came  to 
Mower  county  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section 
16,  Frankford  township.  This  land  he  broke  and  improved, 
built  a  home  and  outbuildings  and  added  land  from  time  to  time 
until  he  owned  200  acres  of  rich  land.  He  has  recently  sold 
forty  acres  to  his  son,  leaving  160  acres,  all  in  section  16.  Here 
he  now  follows  general  farming.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
but  has  never  sought  public  office.  The  subject  of  this .  sketch 
.vas  married  November  9,  1872,  at  Rushford,  to  Christie  Lelaud, 
who  was  born  in  Norway,  July  16,  1846,  and  came  to  America  in 
1872.  She  has  proven  a  most  able  helpmate  in  all  Mr.  Axnas'  un- 
dertakings. They  have  five  living  children :  Severt,  who  lives  at 
home,  owns  eighty  acres  and  works  the  home  place ;  Christina, 
wife  of  George  A.  "Wright,  banker  of  Grand  Meadow;  Hannah, 
wife  of  Leander  T.  Jester,  real  estate  broker  of  St.  Paul;  Martin, 
who  is  manager  of  the  Home  Telephone  Company  at  Grand 
^Icadow,  and  Julia,  who  is  a  student  at  Hamline  University. 
<^ne  son,  Olaf,  died  at  tire  age  of  four  years.  The  family  faith 
is  that  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  8Go 

William  Brown  is  one  of  the  stauncli  old  pioneers  of  Mower 
county,  inul  is  greatly  honored  throughout  tlie  community.  He 
and  his  good  wife,  though  reared  amid  the  tranquillity  of  an 
older  part  of  the  counti-y,  left  the  comforts  and  advantages  of  an 
established  community  and  with  courage  turned  their  faces 
toward  the  West  to  hew  out  for  themselves  a  home  in  the  wil- 
derness. With  energy  and  intelligence  they  established  their 
household,  and  their  names  will  be  respected  for  generations  to 
come  for  the  good  that  they  have  accomplished.  Of  them  it 
may  truly  be  said  that  their  lives  have  assisted  in  the  advance- 
ment of  all  that  is  good  and  admirable.  Mr.  Brown  has  been 
a  member  of  the  town  board  twenty  years,  was  assessor  four 
years,  and  clerk  of  school  district  32  for  fifteen  years.  He  did 
the  county  good  service  for  twelve  years  as  county  commissioner 
and  during  tliat  period  alwaj^s  stood  staunchly  for  the  benefit 
of  tlie  county  at  large.  For  a  period  of  thirty  years  his  voice 
has  been  heard  in  the  various  county  and  state  conventions. 
of  his  party.  His  wife  is  still  the  active,  strong,  sympathetic 
and  intelligent  helpmate  that  she  has  always  been,  and  the  in- 
fiuence  of  their  home  on  the  community  has  ever  been  a  salutary 
one.  In  fraternal  circles  Mr.  Brown  has  been  no  less  prominent, 
being  a  member  of  the  Blue  lodge.  Chapter  and  Commandery 
of  the  Masons,  as  well  as  of  the  LI.  AV.  A.  and  the  Royal  Neigh- 
bors. William  Brown  was  born  in  Scotland,  New  Year's  day, 
1843,  son  of  Alexander  and  Margaret  Brown,  who  brought  their 
family  to  America  in  1846  and  settled  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where 
Alexander  followed  his  trade  as  a  rope  maker  three  years,  thus 
saving  enough  money  to  purchase  a  farm  in  Dane  county,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  and  his  wife  ended  their  days,  Alexander  at 
the  age  of  seventy  and  jNIargaret  at  the  age  of  ninety.  AVilliam 
left  Wisconsin  when  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  lived  a  short 
lime  in  Cresco,  Iowa,  after  which  he  came  to  Mower  county,  and 
on  March  29,  1868,  acquired  160  acres  of  land  in  section  8, 
Pleasant  Valley  township.  He  remained  there  two  years  and 
then  came  to  his  present  location  in  section  24,  now  owning  400 
acres  in  sections  23,  24  and  25.  He  also  owns  ten  acres  of  tim- 
ber land  in  High  Forest,  Olmsted  county,  and  a  fine  city  residence 
with  three  acres  of  ground  in  Stewartsville.  Since  the  failure 
of  the  wheat  crop  in  1878  he  has  followed  diversified  farming 
and  stock  raising.  He  has  about  sixty  head  of  cattle  of  the  Short- 
horn variety  and  for  many  years  has  made  a  specialty  of  Poland- 
China  hogs,  of  which  he  has  125  head.  ]\Ir.  Brown  was  married. 
July  30,  1865,  to  Clarion  ]McCoy,  a  native  of  Scotland  and  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  IMarion  IMcCoj'.  This  union  has  been  blessed 
with  seven  children;  Alexander  AV.  is  married  and  lives  in  St. 
Paul,   where   he   is   engaged    in   the    grain   connnission   business. 


866  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

James  E.  is  married  and  is  now  engaged  in  machinery  and  im- 
plement dealing  in  Stewartsville,  where  he  owns  the  Farmers 
Supply  Company.  He  was  reared  in  this  county,  taught  school 
here  nine  years,  and  was  subsequently  salesman  for  the  Fair- 
banks-Morse Company,  seven  years  before  starting  in  business 
for  himself.  George  F.  is  married  and  lives  on  an  eighty-acre 
farm  of  his  own  and  operates  his  father's  farm  in  Pleasant  Val- 
ley. Maggie  is  the  wife  of  E.  H.  Englehart,  of  Pleasant  Valley. 
Delia  May  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-tln-ee.  She  was  the  wife  of 
Frank  Reese.  At  the  age  of  thirty  her  health  failed;  local 
physicians  were  unable  to  diagnose  her  ailments,  and  she  was 
treated  by  leading  medical  men  of  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapo- 
lis, Omaha  and  Denver  without  relief.  Finally,  in  Denver,  real- 
izing that  the  end  was  near,  she  started  for  home.  "When  she 
reached  Omaha  she  was  too  greatly  exhausted  to  continue  the 
journey,  and  her  parents  accordingly  joined  her  there  and  were 
at  her  bedside  when  she  died  two  months  later.  '  William  is 
married  and  farms  in  Racine  township.  The  youngest  died  in 
infancy. 

James  R.  Brownell,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  is  one  of  the 
honored  and  esteemed  residents  of  Racine  township,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  Avas  born 
in  ]\Iichigan,  April  1,  1839,  son  of  Sands  and  Hannah  M.  Brown- 
oil.  In  1853,  the  family  came  to  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  a  few  months 
later  came  to  Fillmore  county  and  staked  their  claim  for  a  home, 
the  land  not  then  being  siTrveyed.  The  parents  lived  in  that 
county  until  the  fall  of  1869,  when  they  moved  to  Mahaska 
county,  Iowa,  some  years  later  moving  to  Waukee,  where  the 
mother  died.  After  some  years  the  father  went  to  Oregon,  and 
died  in  1904  at  the  age  of  ninety-three.  James  R.,  better  known 
as  Russell,  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools,  and 
continued  to  work  on  the  home  farm  until  1861,  Avlien  he  Avent 
to  Michigan  and  engaged  in  nursery  work.  In  1863,  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  I,  Mounted  Rangers,  and  afterward  served  in  Co.  D, 
Brackett's  Battalion,  in  North  and  South  Dakota  and  Montana, 
the  troops  being  sent  to  settle  the  Indian  troubles.  He 
received  his  honorable  discharge  at  Ft.  Snelling  in  1866. 
Then  he  returned  to  Fillmore  county  and  in  1868  pur- 
chased 160  acres  of  land  in  section  29,  Racine  toAvnship, 
afterwards  buying  160  acres  joining,  where  he  farmed 
six  years.  Subsequently  he  sold  out,  but  in  1882  had 
to  take  the  farm  back  again.  He  now  OAvns  a  fine 
farm  of  320  acres.  On  this  place  he  carries  on  general  farming. 
James  R.  BroAvnell  married,  IMarch  23,  1887,  Anna  E.  Gove, 
daughter  of  Dennis  and  Sally  B.  Gove,  whose  mother  Avas  one  of 
the  early  school  teachers  in  IMoAver  and  Fillmore  counties.     This 


HJSTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  867 

union  has  been  blessed  with  five  children :  Howard  is  at  liotnc ; 
Florence  is  teaching ;  Percy  is  a  student  in  Grinnell  college,  in 
Iowa;  Tracy  is  a  student  in  the  University  of  Minnesota  and 
Fred  a  student  at  Grinnell  college. 

Henry  0.  Basford  was  born  at  Guilford,  Me.,  April  22,  1838. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  commenced  learning  the  printing  busi- 
ness in  the  Jeffersonian  office  of  "W.  E.  Quiner.  After  learning 
tlie  business  he  entered  the  Watertown  academical  and  prepara- 
tory school,  and  there  studied  two  years.  Soon  after  he  became 
connected  with  the  Argus  and  Democrat  office  at  Madison,  Wis. 
He  then  went  to  St.  Paul  in  1836  and  was  engaged  on  the  Minne- 
sotian.  From  there  he  went  to  St.  Joseph,  Mo.  He  was  engaged 
on  the  Daily  "West,  and  just  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
he  was  one  of  the  pioneers  who  carried  the  art  of  printing  across 
the  plains  of  the  West,  and  was  connected  with  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain News,  of  Denver,  Colo.  He  was  one  of  the  large  number  Avho 
lost  their  accumulation  of  years  when  that  office  was  destroyed 
by  floods.  For  eight  years  afterward  he  Avas  a  miner  of  gold, 
and  a  claim  holder  in  the  famous  California  gulch,  where  Lead- 
ville,  Colo.,  now  stands.  After  leaving  Colorado,  he  was  em- 
ployed upon  the  Chicago  Tribune,  where  he  remained  until  he 
came  to  Austin  in  1867,  and  soon  thereafter  became  connected 
with  the  Austin  Register,  which  he  conducted  for  many  years. 
Mr.  Basford  was  married,  September  28,  1876,  to  Mary  E.  Miller, 
of  Winona,  Minn.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Austin 
July  2,  1884.  Mr.  Basford  has  now  retired  from  active  life  and 
devotes  his  time  to  general  literary  work.  He  was  the  most  con- 
spicuous figure  in  the  publication  of  a  former  history  of  this 
county. 

C.  T.  Bussell,  a  descendant  of  the  IMaine  family  of  that  name, 
spent  some  fifteen  years  of  his  life  in  Grand  Meadow,  and  as  he 
went  in  and  oiit  among  the  people  acquired  a  reputation  for 
honor  and  integrity  that  won  him  the  honor  and  respect  of  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  born  in  Mt.  Vernon,  Me.,  September  19, 
1828,  son  of  Joseph  B.  and  Mary  (Chapman)  Bussell,  honored 
residents  of  that  place.  He  acquired  such  education  as  the 
schools  of  that  period  afforded,  and  remained  at  home  until 
eighteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  started  to  learn  the 
hatters'  trade.  This  business  he  followed  until  1861,  when  he 
v.ent  to  Aroostook  county,  IMaine,  and  remained  tAvo  years.  Tn 
1883  he  came  west,  settled  on  a  farm  in  Bennington  township  for 
a  short  time,  and  in  1885  came  to  Grand  ^leadow  village,  where 
he  spent  tlie  remainder  of  liis  days,  dying  in  1903.  ]\Ir.  Bussell 
Avas  married,  September  5,  1849,  to  Emeline  W.  Davis,  daughter 
of  Levi  and  Dorothy  (Batchelder)  Davis,  the  former  of  Avhojn 
spent  his  life  as  a  farmer  in  Maine.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bussell  were 


868  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

blessed  with  seven  children.  Charles  E.,  Mary  E.,  Joseph  H. 
and  Emily  A.  are  dead.  The  living  are  Herbert  E.,  Harry  B.  and 
Abbie  G.  Abbie  G.  was  born  in  Oakfield,  Aroostook  county, 
Maine,  married  Guliek  Hestad,  and  has  two  children,  Joseph  A. 
and  Helen  E. 

William  Cooper,  Jr.,  a  pioneer,  was  born  in  Lincolnshire, 
England,  and  married  Mary  Jackson.  She  died  in  1839,  and  he 
married  Ann  Bennett,  of  Siirrej%  Kingston,  England.  In  1853 
this  couple  crossed  the  briny  deep  to  America,  and  lived  three 
years  in  Kane  county,  Illinois.  Then  they  lived  a  while  in  Fill- 
more county,  this  state,  and  in  1858  came  to  Bennington  town- 
ship, where  William  Cooper  pre-empted  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  24.  Later  he  acquired  the  northeast  quarter,  thus 
making  320  acres.  On  this  tract  he  followed  general  farming, 
and  he  and  his  good  wife  underwent  all  the  trials  and  privations 
of  pioneer  days.  He  died  in  November,  1887,  and  his  wife  in 
March,  1888. 

William  Cooper,  retired  farmer,  now  living  in  Spring  Valley, 
is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  having  come  here  as  a  boy 
of  seventeen.  He  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  November 
5,  1841,  son  of  AA^illiam  and  Mary  (Jackson)  Cooper,  and  was 
brouglit  to  America  by  his  father  and  step-mother  in  1853,  living 
with  them  in  Illinois  and  in  Fillmore  county,  this  state,  before 
coming  to  Bennington  township  in  1858.  He  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  remained  at  home  until  his  father's  death. 
Then  the  farm  was  divided  between  him  a,nd  his  brother  Robert, 
"William  taking  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  24.  To  this 
he  added  until  he  now  has  400  acres  in  section  24  and  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  23,  a  total  of  560  acres.  Here  for  many 
years  he  conducted  general  farming,  making  a  specialty  of  Dur- 
ham grade  cattle.  At  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  AVilliam 
rented  out  his  part  of  the  farm,  but  continued  to  live  on  the  place 
until  1906,  when  he  moved  to  Spring  Valley  and  purchased  his 
present  home.  Mr.  Cooper  is  an  independent  voter  and  has 
served  on  the  school  board  for  several  years.  He  is  a  man  of 
sterling  character,  greatly  respected  by  his  neighbors.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  married,  January  20,  1906,  to  Sophia 
Guy,  daughter  of  Henry  Guy,  an  early  settler  of  Bennington. 

Peter  Christenson,  a  farmer  of  Grand  Meadow  township,  was 
born  in  Denmark,  April  19,  1837,  son  of  Christian  Peterson. 
With  his  wife  and  son  he  came  to  America  in  1872  and  located 
in  Lyle,  this  county.  After  three  months  there,  he  worked  for 
the  Hon.  Charles  J.  Felch  for  a  year.  Then  he  rented  land  in 
Racine  township  and  farmed  four  years.  In  1877  he  came  to 
Grand  Meadow,  settled  in  section  2,  and  lived  there  two  years. 
Then  he  lived  in  various  places  in  the  township  until  1901,  when 


WILLTAISr    COOPER 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  80!) 

lie  look  up  his  location  on  section  3,  erected  a  home  and  out- 
Imildings,  and  has  since  carried  on  general  farming,  owning  a 
quarter  section  of  good  land.  The  subject  of  th4s  sketch  mai*- 
ried  ]\lar,y  Rasmussen  and  they  have  eight  children:  Chris,  Marj% 
Clara,  Alfred,  Tena.  Theodore,  Alice  and  Peter.  Mary  is  the 
".vife  of  Thomas  Jacobson.  Tena  is  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Christiansen. 
Clara  is  married  to  Henry  Faubel. 

J.  B.  Dunham  is  one  of  the  respected  residents  of  Spring  Val- 
ley, and  is  held  in  high  regard  in  Bennington  township,  where, 
for  so  many  years,  he  was  a  leading  citizen.  He  was  born  in 
Indiana,  December  11,  1837,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Walker) 
Dunham,  natives  respectively  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  who  came  to 
]Mowi'r  county  in  1856,  pre-empted  160  acres  of  land,  and  followed 
farming  in  Frankford  township  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
J.  B.  Dunham  came  to  Mower  county  with  his  parents,  but  .shortly 
afterward  went  to  Decorah,  la.,  Avhere  he  worked  out  by  the 
month,  three  years.  Then  he  returned  to  Bennington  township 
and  purchased  120  acres  in,  section  2.  To  this  he  later  added 
forty  acres,  making  in  all  160  acres  in  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  2.  Here  he  built  his  home  and  the  necessary  outbuild- 
ings, and  engaged  in  general  farming.  As  the  years  passed,  he 
tlourished  and  prospered,  and  in  time  added  another  eighty  just 
over  the  line  in  Frankford  township,  making  in  all  240  acres  of 
land.  In  1911  he  sold  his  farm  and  retired.  It  is  worthy  of  note 
that  in  the  early  days  Mr.  Dunham  planted  a  grove  of  cotton 
woods,  and  the  trunks  of  some  have  already  reached  a  circumfer- 
ence of  nine  feet.  Mr.  Dunham  has  always  been  an  active  worker 
in  his  township  and  county,  holding  many  offices  of  trust  and 
honor,  greatly  to  his  own  credit  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  served  his  township  as  chairman  for  a  good 
many  years,  and  was  on  the  school  board  for  many  terms.  At  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  Mr.  Dunham  purchased  a  home  for 
his  mother  in  the  village  of  Spring  Valley,  and  in  this  home  he 
now  lives.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Ann  E.  Williams, 
born  in  New  York  state,  April  1,  1844,  daughter  of  Apollos  and 
Betsj'  (Adams)  Williams,  who  came  west  in  1861  and  located  in 
Pleasant  Valley,  this  county,  and  engaged  in  farming  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Dunham  are  the  parents  of 
nine  children:  Ella  is  now  Mrs.  Charles  Taylor,  of  ^Michigan  ; 
]\Iinnie  is  now  Mrs.  Ralph  Davis,  of  Breckenridge,  IMinn. ;  Edith 
is  a  school  teacher  in  Spring  Valley ;  Myrtle  is  ]\Irs.  L.  G.  Ilaasrud, 
of  Whalen,  Minn.;  Bertha,  now  Mrs.  Clyde  Edgerton,  of  Spring 
Valley;  Roy  married  Bessie  Smith,  of  ]\Iinneapolis;  Eiiniiii  is  now 
-Airs.  J.  C.  Olson,  of  Spring  Valley;  Ray  is  now  living  in  Sratlic, 
Washington  ;  Ernest  also  lives  in  Seattle,  Washington.  PMith  and 
;\Iinnie  ai-c  both   graduates  from  the  normal  department  of  the 


870  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Northern  Indiana  Normal  College  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  and  Myrtle 
and  Roy  graduated  from  the  Southern  IMinnesota  Normal  College 
at  Austin.    All  the  daughters  have  taught  school. 

Frank  P.  Dawes,  a  successful  stock  buyer  of  Austin,  was  born 
in  Waushara  county,  Wisconsin,  October  30,  1864,  and  came  to 
Mower  county  in  1885  to  marry  Lania  Chandler,  after  which  he 
returned  to  Waushara  county  with  his  bride  and  remained  five 
years.  Then  he  again  came  to  Mower  county  and  located  in 
TJdolpho  township,  farming  there  five  years.  Since  1902  he  has 
been  located  in  Austin,  where  he  buys  and  sells  live  stock  in  large 
quantities.  Mr.  Dawes  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views,  and 
the  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  lie 
is  a  popular  member  of  the  Austin  Commercial  Club,  and  also 
affiliates  with  the  Masonic  order  and  with  the  M.  W.  A.  ]Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dawes  have  had  one  child,  Chester  Inman,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  months. 

Stephen  Chandler  was  born  in  Canada,  and  was  married  in 
Austin  to  Abigail  Mehatable  Richardson.  They  came  to  Lyle 
township  at  an  early  date,  and  there  their  daughter,  Lania,  now 
Mrs.  Frank  P.  Dawes,  was  born,  March  28,  1862.  In  that  same 
year,  Stephen  Chandler  joined  the  Union  army,  served  in  several 
important  engagements,  and  was  finally  captured  and  imprisoned 
in  Andersonville,  where  he  was  starved  to  death  by  his  cruel  cap- 
tors. His  widow  came  to  Austin  later  and  was  married  to  I.  J.  B. 
Wright. 

Alfred  Richardson,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  MoAver 
county,  was  born  in  New  England,  and  came  to  Austin  from 
Iowa  by  ox  team,  in  1856.  Here  he  farmed  until  1880,  when  he 
went  to  the  Dakotas,  later  moving  to  Tennessee,  where  he  died. 
He  built  one  of  the  early  houses  in  Mower  county,  hauling  the 
lumber  sixty  miles  by  ox  team  from  West  Union,  la.  He  was 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Albert  Hart,  Mrs.  Stephen  Chandler,  and 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Frank  P.  Dawes. 

Philip  T.  Elliott,  vice  president  of  the  Exchange  Bank, ,  at 
Grand  Meadow,  has  been  clerk  of  the  village  two  years,  member 
of  the  village  council  three  years,  and  clerk  of  the  school  board 
four  years,  and  in  these  several  capacities  has  given  general 
satisfaction.  He  was  born  in  Fox  Lake,  Wis.,  January  19,  1865, 
son  of  Ford  T.  and  Phoebe  (Olive)  Elliott.  He  came  to  Grand 
Meadow  with  his  father  in  the  fall  of  1878,  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen, and  five  years  later,  at  the  early  age  of  eighteen,  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business  on  his  own  account.  Six  years  later 
he  sold  out,  and  entered  the  employ  of  G.  F.  Greening  in  his 
bank  and  store.  When  the  Exchange  Bank  was  organized  under 
state  laws  in  1906,  he  became  vice  president,  a  position  he  has 
since  retained.     Mr.  Elliott  is  popular  among  his  fellows,  and 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  871 

is  a  chapter  Mason.  He  married,  October  1,  1890,  Anna  S.,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Rodman  Stout  and  Jane  Hibbs,  his  wife.  This 
union  has  resulted  in  two  children,  Roland  P.  and  Janette. 

Ford  T.  Elliott  was  born  in  Sunderland,  and  for  many  years 
followed  the  sea.  He  made  his  first  trip  to  America  in  1856, 
and  thereafter  crossed  the  Atlantic  many  times  until  1859,  when 
he  took  up  his  permanent  abode  in  this  country.  He  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade  at  Portage,  Wis.,  stayed  there  a  few  years, 
then  followed  his  trade  in  Ripon,  in  the  same  state,  some  eleven 
years.  He  took  up  his  abode  in  Grand  Meadow,  October  10, 
1878.     His  wife  died  April  26,  1897. 

Samuel  Rodman  Stout  was  a  native  of  Bensalem  township, 
Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  daughter,  Anna  S.,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia.  Samuel  came  west  in  1886  and  located 
in  Grand  Meadow  township,  where  he  bought  a  section  of  land 
known  as  the  Grouse  Ridge  Farm,  the  south  half  of  section  28 
and  the  north  half  of  section  33,  where  he  farmed  until  January, 
1903.  when  he  came  to  Grand  Meadow  village,  where  he  died 
May  17,  1903.  His  wife,  wliose  maiden  name  was  Jane  Hibbs, 
died  November  15,  1902. 

Caswell  Fairbanks,  a  retired  farmer,  now  living  in  Austin, 
was  boru  July  25,  1835,  in  the  town  of  Antwerp,  Jefferson  county, 
state  of  New  York,  son  of  Hiram  and  Elifie  Fairbanks.  Caswell 
Fairbanks  lived  at  home  until  of  age,  working  on  the  farm,  and 
attending  school  in  winter.  In  1856  he  married  Miranda  Tyler, 
daughter  of  John  and  Huldah  (Warren)  Tyler,  and  this  union 
has  been  blessed  with  three  chidren,  Charles  E.,  Jennie  B.  and 
Burton,  the  latter  being  dead.  In  1857  Caswell  Fairbanks  came 
west  and  located  in  the  town  of  Springfield,  Dane  county,  Wis- 
consin; worked  the  farm  until  the  war  of  the  rebellion  broke, 
out.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  G,  First  Regiment  of  Ber- 
dan's  sharpshooters,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Mclntire  Post, 
No.  66,  C.  G.  A.  R.  In  1864  he  drove  a  team  across  the  plains  to 
the  gold  fields  of  Montana,  remaining  two  years.  Then  he  came 
back  to  Davis  county,  lived  there  some  years,  and  then  moved 
to  ]Mower  county,  Minnesota,  in  1876,  purchasing  a  farm  of  2-40 
acres,  which  he  still  owns.  While  at  Dexter  he  was  town  treas- 
urer and  school  treasurer,  and  assessor  for  a  long  period.  His 
son  now  nianasi's  the  farm  in  Dexter  township. 

Luke  B.  Fairbanks  was  born  in  Vermont,  ]\Iarcli  26.  1838. 
Wlien  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  he  went  to  Iowa  to 
join  his  brother  in  INIitchell  county,  and  spent  three  years 
with  him  in  Mitchell  and  Howard  counties,  then  came  to  Austin 
with  him.  His  brother  purchased  an  interest  in  a  steam  saw 
mill,  and  later  added  a  flour  mill.  He  assisted  his  brother  in  the 
mill  tlierc  until   1S60.  wluMi   he  sold   out   and   bought   a  farm   in 


872  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

"Windom.  He  spent  the  summer  with  his  brothei*  here ;  then  in 
the  fall  retui-ned  to  Vermont.  He  enlisted  there,  in  May,  1861, 
in  Company  F,  Third  Vermont  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  with  the 
regiment  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  first  battle  in 
which  he  participated  was  the  battle  of  Lee's  Mill,  in  which  he 
was  wounded.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  make  the  trip  he  was 
granted  a  furlough  and  visited  home.  He  joined  the  regiment 
after  an  absence  of  three  months.  His  health  was  not  good  at 
the  time,  and  he  was  detached  for  the  recruiting  service  in  Ver- 
mont. He  again  joined  the  regiment  in  December,  and  was  with 
them  until  after  the  close  of  the  war,  having  veteranized  in  1863. 
Among  tlie  many  battles  in  which  he  participated,  we  mention 
the  following :  Second  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Wilderness,  Pe- 
tersburg, Cold  Harbor,  Spottsylvania,  was  with  Sheridan  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Winchester, 
was  in  New  York  City  at  the  time  of  the  riot,  and  in  the  battles 
of  Gettysburg  and  Cedar  Creek.  He  was  mustered  into  the  serv- 
ice as  a  private.  He  was  promoted  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct.  May,  1864,  to  first  lieutenant,  and  soon  after  to  captain. 
He  was  discharged  from  the  service  with  the  regiment,  July. 
1865,  and  returned  to  Vermont  and  bought  a  farm.  In  1869  he 
sold  out  there  and  emigrated  to  Kansas.  He  took  a  homestead 
and  bought  some  wild  land  in  AVashington  county.  He  bnilt  a 
stone  house  and  improved  a  portion  of  the  land,  living  there 
until  1872,  when  he  sold  and  came  to  Mower  county  and  bought 
wild  land  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  29,  Windom  town- 
ship. He  was  joined  in  marriage  in  1863  to  Caro  Bowen,  also  a 
native  of  Vermont.  They  had  seven  children,  named  Samuel, 
Henry,  Eugene,  Guy,  Dan,  Leila  and  Florence.  In  1893  Mr.  Fair- 
banks sold  his  farm  in  Mower  county  and  removed  to  southern 
California,  where  he  remained  two  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Austin,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  October  24,  1907. 

Patrick  Geraghty,  now  deceased,  was  one  of  the  substantial 
residents  of  this  county.  He  watched  Austin  grow  from  a  village 
of  400  inhabitants,  and  lived  to  enjoy  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years.  He  was  street  commissioner  eleven  years,  and 
treasurer  of  St.  Augustine  church  many  terms,  digging  the  cellar, 
grading  the  grounds  and  carting  the  stone  for  the  new  edifice 
now  occupied  by  the  people  of  that  parish  as  a  house  of  worship. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  November, 
1822,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1851,  landing  at  Castle  Garden, 
New  York,  in  1851.  He  went  at  once  to  Fairmont,  W.  Va.,  and 
was  employed  there  one  year  by  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad. 
Then  he  went  to  Janesville,  111.,  in  1855,  and  was  there  married 
to  Ellen  Barrett,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Rose  (Gibbons)  Bar- 
rett.    They  went  togetlier  to  Freeport,  111.,  and  lived  there  six 


C.  F.  GEEENING. 


HISTORY  OF  ]\[OWER  COUNTY  873 

years.  Their  next  stopping  })liice  was  McGregor,  la.,  where 
Patrick  Geraghty  resumed  his  occupation  of  railr-oad  work  by 
becoming  a  contractor,  and  assisting  in  the  construction  of  the 
C  ^r.  &  St.  Paul  road  from  IMcGregor  to  Austin,  this  work  taking 
about  three  years.  ^Ir.  Geraghty  then  settled  in  Austin,  and  a 
year  later,  in  1868,  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  he 
retained  until  1905,  when  he  retired.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geraghty 
were  born  nine  children  :  Lawrence,  who  married  Alice  Shannon ; 
Elizabeth,  deceased;  Ellen,  now  Mrs.  Jacob  Shook;  Mary;  Rose; 
Charles  E.,  who  married  Jennie  Hattlestead ;  Sarah  P.,  now  IMrs. 
F.  Tichein;  John  P.;  and  Thomas  F.,  married  to  Flossie  AVagner. 
:Mr.  Geraghty  died  in  the  fall  of  1910. 

Thomas  J.  Grimes,  avIio  is  ably  serving  as  mayor  of  Grand 
^leadow,  after  sixteen  years  on  the  village  council,  was  born  in 
Milwaukee,  "Wis.,  July  5,  1858,  son  of  James  and  Bridget  (AYha- 
ieu)  Grimes.  He  came  to  Grand  Meadow  in  1879  and  worked 
for  John  Peterson,  the  pioneer  blacksmith.  In  1882  he  became 
a  partner  in  this  concern  and  in  1891  became  sole  owner.  He 
now  has  one  of  the  best  appointed  shops  in  Mower  county  and 
does  a  large  business.  He  is  a  popular  member  of  the  M.  "W. -A. 
and  stands  well  throughout  the  county;  He  and  his  wife,  who 
Avas  ]Maggie  Dugan,  of  La  Crosse,  occupy  a  pleasant  home  in  the 
village  of  Grand  Meadow.  James  and  Bridget  (Whalen)  Grimes 
came  from  Ireland,  and  in  1852  James  located  in  IMilwaukee, 
where  for  many  years  he  was  employed  in  a  grain  elevator.  It 
was  in  ^Milwaukee  that  his  son,  Thomas  J.,  was  educated  and 
learned  the  blacksmith  trade. 

Charles  F.  Greening,  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Grand 
I\readoAv,  Avas  born  in  AYorcester,  England,  January  20,  1844,  son 
of  John  and  IMaria  (Kelly)  Greening.  He  came  to  America  in 
1846  with  his  parents,  and  landed  at  Ncav  Orleans,  from  Avhieh 
city  he  came  up  the  Mississippi  river  in  the  steamer  Eclipse  to 
Galena,  111.  From  there  the  family  went  by  lead  Avagons  to 
Farmersville,  now  IMazomani,  Dane  county,  AVis.,  and  located  in 
the  old  English  colony  at  that  place.  Charles  F.  Greening  farmed 
Avith  his  parents  and  spent  tAvo  years  learning  the  tinsmith 
trade.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  Ele\'enth  AA'^isconsin  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  serA^ed  through  the  Avar.  After  the  battle 
of  Alobile,  Avhich  Avas  practically  the  ending  of  the  Avar,  he  re- 
turned home  and  finished  his  apprenticeship  as  tinsmith.  Later 
lie  came  to  INIoAver  county  Avith  a  hope  of  benefiting  his  healtli, 
Avar  service  haA'ing  reduced  his  Aveight  to  less  than  100  pounds. 
After  his  health  was  partially  restored,  he  started  Avork  for 
Corbett  &  Allen,  hardAvare  merchants  and  tinsmiths  at  LeRoy. 
and  in  tliis  emploA-  lie  contimied  until  1lie  fii'in  Avas  l)uriie(l  out. 


874  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Then  he  began  his  employ  with  Daniel  Caswell.  For  fifteen 
months  he  worked  as  night  clerk  in  Caswell's  hotel,  and  then 
went  with  Mr.  Caswell  on  a  farm.  Mr.  Caswell  was  killed  by  the 
accidental  discharge  of  a  gun,  and  Mr.  Greening  settled  his 
estate,  after  which,  in  1871,  he  came  to  Grand  MeadoAv  and 
started  a  tin  shop  and  hardware  store,  also  engaging  in  private 
banking.  In  this  business  he  continued  thirty-three  years.  In 
1904  he  disposed  of  his  shop,  but  still  retains  his  banking  inter- 
ests and  also  engages  in  farming.  Mr.  Greening's  career  as  a 
banker  began  in  1871,  and  for  four  years  he  conducted  a  private 
banking  establishment.  Then  the  banking  house  of  Greening 
&  Warner  was  established  and  continued  until  1882.  In  that 
year  Mr.  Warner  sold  out  and  the  business  reverted  to  Mr. 
Greening.  In  1906,  Mr.  Greening  organized  the  Exchange  State 
Bank  of  Grand  IMeadoAv,  which  was  incorporated  the  same  year, 
and  is  now  doing  a  flourishing  business,  with  Mr.  Greening  as 
president.  In  1910,  the  institution  took  up  its  home  in  its  beau- 
tiful new  building,  which  is  one  of  the  architectural  ornaments 
of  the  village.  Mr.  Greening  has  done  his  community  marked 
service  in  various  ways.  In  1876-77,  he  served  in  the  lower 
house  of  the  Minnesota  legislature,  and  through  his  eflforts  the 
herd  law  was  passed.  This  particular  bill  contributed  greatly 
to  his  popularity,  and  the  folloAving  election  he  was  named  for  the 
state  senate,  but  declined  the  honor.  Mr.  Greening  is  senior  vice- 
commander  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  a  charter  member  of  Lodge  121,  A.  F. 
&  A.  IVL,  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  LeRoy,  and  a 
charter  member  of  St.  Barnard  Commandery,  No.  14.  He  is  also 
vice-president  of  the  Minnesota  Bee  Keepers'  Association,  and 
has  served  various  other  societies  as  officer  or  director.  In  addi- 
tion to  this,  he  has  held  various  local  offices,  in  village  and  town- 
ship. The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Clara  E.  Caswell, 
daughter  of  Daniel  E.  and  Sarah  M.  (Taylor)  Caswell,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  five  children:  Nanna  M.  is  the  wife  of  W.  D, 
Lockwood;  Elgar  F.  is  cashier  of  the  Exchange  State  Bank  of 
Grand  IMeadow;  Josie  E.  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  M.  Croft,  post- 
master in  the  Congressional  Library,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Charles 
A¥.,  cashier  of  the  First  Bank  of  Melstone,  Mont.,  lives  in  Grand 
Meadow,  and  Elmore,  the  youngest,  was  named  from  the  Elmore 
estate  in  England,  from  which  the  Greenings  originally  came. 

Elgar  F.  Greening,  son  of  Charles  F.  and  Clara  E.  (Caswell) 
Greening,  was  born  in  Grand  Meadow,  March  31,  1873.  He  at- 
tended the  district  schools  and  the  Curtis  Commercial  college 
in  Minneapolis.  Upon  the  completion  of  his  course  he  entered 
the  Exchange  State  Bank  of  Grand  Meadow  and  became  its 
cashier,  a  position  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Greening  is  a  member  of 
the  Masons  and  of  the  M.   W.   A.     He  married  Josie  Rowell, 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  875 

daughter  of  Mark  and  Jene  (Cary)  Rowell,  and  they  have  one 
son,  Rollin. 

Carl  A.  Grimm,  a  modern  farmer  of  Grand  Meadow  township, 
owns  120  aeres  of  good  land  in  section  36,  and  a  comfortable 
home,  a  well-equipped  farm,  and  a  variety  of  live  stock,  and 
carries  on  farming  on  an  extensive  scale.  He  was  born, in  Ger- 
many, February  2,  1870,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
in  1875.  They  lived  in  Iron  Ridge,  Dodge  county,  "Wis.,  three 
years,  and  then  after  a  short  stay  in  Grand  Meadow,  located  in 
section  12,  Clayton  township,  where  they  continued  to  farm 
until  the  father's  death  in  1895.  Carl  A.  remained  at  home  on 
the  farm  and  worked  with  his  parents.  In  1902  he  came  to 
Grand  IMeadow  and  purchased  his  present  farm.  He  married 
Daisy  LcAvis,  daughter  of  E.  H.  and  Delia  (Poat)  Lewis,  and 
they  have  an  attractive  son,  Raymond  1.,  eight  years  of  age. 

Joseph  E.  Gee  and  his  three  accomplished  sisters,  Cornelia  T., 
Harriet  J.  and  Martha  E.,  live  on  the  old  Gee  homestead,  sec- 
tion 1,  Racine  township,  and  constitute  an  interesting  family 
of  enthusiastic  workers.  Their  farm  of  sixty-seven  acres  fur- 
nishes them  with  the  usual  farm  produce,  but  their  energies 
are  largely  directed  to  weaving,  at  which  all  have  become  ex- 
perts both  in  an  artistic  and  a  mechanical  way.  William  Gee, 
the  father,  and  Lucretia  Gee,  the  mother,  came  to  Fillmore 
county  in  1859,  and  to  Mower  county  in  1864.  In  the  latter  year, 
William  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  First  Minnesota,  and  served  one  year 
in  the  ranks.  The  children  were  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Fillmore  county,  and  gradually,in  the  failing  health  of  their 
parents,  assumed  the  burdens  of  the  household.  Some  years  ago, 
Joseph  E.  began  to  lose  his  health,  and  many  departments  of 
farm  work  became  too  strenuous  for  his  strength.  Accordingly 
he  took  up  the  work  of  weaving  rugs  and  carpets.  In  this  he  is 
assisted' by  his  sisters,  and  they  do  excellent  work,  marketing 
their  product  over  a  wide  territory.  In  1903,  a  fourth  sister, 
Eva  L.,  who  until  then  had  remained  at  home,  married  AVilliam 
Schoppers.  of  Frankford.  The  Gees  attend  the  United  Brethren 
church  at  Spring  A^alley  and  all  are  strong  temperance  advocates. 

Franklin  M.  Higbie,  live  stock  dealer  of  Grand  IMeadow, 
was  born  in  Green  Lake  county,  Wisconsin,  March  3,  1858,  son 
oC  C.  J.  and  Ann  E.  (AVilson)  Higbie.  He  acquired  his  earlier 
education  in  Wisconsin,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Mower 
county  in  1878.  remaining  with  them  lantil  1880,  at  which  time 
he  purchased  160  aeres  of  land  from  his  father.  This  land, 
which  was  located  on  section  1,  Grand  Meadow  township,  was 
his  thought  and  care  for  OA'er  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Here  he 
built  his  home  and  reared  his  children,  and  here  he  successfully 
carried  on  crcniTal  farming  until  Xovcmbei-.  1906,  when  he  rented 


876  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

hi.s  farm  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Grand  Meadow  village. 
Soon  after  coming  to  the  village,  F.  M.  Highie  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  F.  T.  Seabern,  in  the  live  stock  business,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Higbie  &  Seabern.  This  company  engages  ex- 
clusively in  cattle  and  horse  bu.ying,  shipping  most  of  the  ani- 
mals to  Chicago  and  Milwaukee.  Mr.  Higbie  is  a  director  in 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Grand  Meadow  and  president  of  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company,  stockholder  in  the  Farmers  Co- 
operative Creamery  Company,  the  Home  Telephone  Company 
and  the  M.  W.  A.  Hall  Association.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
ties, and  while  living  in  the  township  was  chairman  of  the  board 
of  supervisors  and  served  on  the  school  board  for  years.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  married,  November  25,  1880,  at  Green 
Lake,  Wis.,  to  Jeanette  Wilson,  who  was  born  at  Rush  Lake, 
Wis.,  July  6,  1861.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Higbie  are  the  parents  of  five 
children:  Clarence  W.,  Leland  C,  George  F.,  Chester  E.  and 
Lawrence  W.  Clarence  W.  was  born  February  20,  1882,  at- 
tended the  district  schools,  the  Minnesota  Agricultural  College 
at  IMinneapolis  and  a  business  college  in  Mankato,  and  after- 
Avards  became  cashier  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Grand 
]^leadow,  a  position  he  still  occupies.  He  was  married  in  July. 
1910,  to  Jessie  A.  Bush,  of  Grand  Meadow,  Minn.  Leland  C. 
was  born  November  19,  1885,  graduated  from  the  University  of 
Minnesota  in  1910,  and  is  now  superintendent  of  schools  in  Little 
Fork,  Minn.  George  F.  was  born  July  31,  1888,  and  is  now  a 
student  at  the  LTniversity  of  Minnesota  College  of  Engineering. 
Chester  E.,  was  born  June  9,  1890,  graduated  from  the  Grand 
Aleadow  liigh  school,  took  a  year's  course  at  Hamline  and  is  now 
teaching  in  North  Dakota.  Lawrence  W.  was  born  February  11, 
1901. 

C.  J.  Higbie  and  Ann  Wilson,  his  wife,  were  born  in  New 
York  state,  were  there  married,  and  in  the  early  '50s  located  in 
Jeflferson  county,  Wisconsin.  In  1852,  C.  J.  was  seized  with  the 
California  gold  fever,  and  together  with  a  party  of  about  sixty 
started  on  foot  across  the  deserts  for  California.  On  reaching 
there,  C.  J.  Higbie  remained  about  two  years,  and  then  returned 
to  Wisconsin  with  about  $10,000  in  gold  dust.  After  farming 
a  time  in  Jefiferson  county,  he  moved  to  Green  Lake  county  in 
the  same  state,  and  followed  farming  until  1878,  when  he  came 
to  Grand  Meadow  township,  IMinnesota,  witli  his  family,  and 
purchased  the  360  acres  known  as  the  Langworthy  farm.  Later 
he  acquired  eighty  acres  adjoining  on  the  west  and  also  the  Joe 
Sorben  farm  of  seventy  acres  on  the  east.  Subsequently  he  sold 
160  acres  to  his  son,  Franklin,  leaving  a  farm  of  310  acres,  upon 
which  he  conducted  farming  operations  until  1895,  when  he 
)'ented  his  farm  and  removed  to  Grand  Meadow  village,  where 


C.   J.    HIGBIE. 


G.  R.   HOPPIN 


HISTORY  OF  MOWKlf  COUNTY  8?r 

lie  purchased  a  home  in  which  lie  lived  until  Novemher  1,  1906, 
when  he  went  to  San  Diego,  Cal.,  and  purchased  some  lots  in 
that  city,  on  which  he  erected  a  home  and  where  he  now  lives. 
]\[rs.  Iligbie  died  on  the  home  farm,  March  31,  188-i,  and  later 
^Iv.  Ilighie  married  Mrs.  Mary  AVood.  C.  J.  and  Ann  (AVilson) 
Hig-bie  were  the  parents  of  nine  children:  Wallace  C,  Lcttie, 
]da  A..  Franldin  M.,  Anna  S.,  Harry  W.,  Halbert  E.,  Wilson  S. 
and  Edgar  C.  William  Wilson  and  Agnes  McArthur,  his  wife, 
])arents  of  Jeanette  Wilson  Higbie,  were  born  in  Scotland,  the 
former  coming  to  America  in  1841  and  the  latter  in  1844,  and 
locating  at  Rush  Lake,  Wis.,  being  married  at  Janesville,  Wis. 
They  pre-empted  land  in  Winnebago,  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
there  farmed  the  remainder  of  their  days,  William  AVilson  dying 
December  14,  1876,  and  his  wife,  who  was  remarried  to  Rev. 
J.  W.  Fridd,  passing  away  August  14,  1883.  This  union  was 
blessed  with  seven  children :  AVilliam,  John,  Albert,  Frank,  Jean- 
ette. Alarion  and  Agnes. 

William  R.  Hoppin,  one  of  the  popular  farmers  of  Grand 
Alcadow  township,  has  320  acres  of  land  on  which  he  success- 
fully conducts  farming  operations  in  a  modern  manner.  He  was 
born  in  the  township  where  he  still  resides,  October  15,  1874, 
son  of  William  P.  and  Callie  H.  (Paddock)  Hoppin,  early  set- 
tlers. He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  has  always  devoted 
his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits.  The  last  few  years  he  has  de- 
voted his  attention  more  to  stock  raising,  and  fattens  annually 
for  the  Chicago  market  several  carloads  of  cattle,  sheep  and 
hogs.  He  has  three  large  silos,  and  everything  raised  on  the 
farm  is  fed  and  sold  in  the  form  of  live  stock.  He  has  a  seed 
house  especially  constructed  for  the  curing  of  seed  corn,  where 
he  saves  many  bushels  for  his  own  planting  and  finds  a  ready 
market  for  all  surplus  right  at  home.  He  married  Alta  G., 
daughter  of  G.  K.  and  Harriett  (Kirkham)  Harvey,  and  they 
have  three  children,  AVilma  A..  Clara  W.  and  Geraldine  H.  Mr. 
Hopinn  is  a  mcml^er  of  the  Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen. 

William  P.  Hoppin,  now  of  Northfield,  Minn.,  was  for  many 
years  a  farmer  of  this  county.  He  was  born  in  AVauwatosa,  near 
Alihvaukee,  AVis.,  and  came  to  Pleasant  Valley  township,  this 
.^^ate.  about  1867.  There  he  purchased  a  farm  adjoining  one 
wliich  his  father  had  acquired.  In  1874  he  came  to  Grand 
Alcadow  township,  and  located  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 18,  where  he  built  a  frame  house.  A  few  years  later  he  pur- 
ciiased  a  farm  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  17,  where  he 
lived  twelve  years.     He  married  Callie  E.  Paddock. 

George  R.  Hoppin,  retired  farmer  and  extensive  land  owner, 
now  living  in  the  village  of  Grand  IMeadow,  was  born  in  Milwau- 
kee. Wis.,  February  21,  1849,  son  of  Richard  and  Lydia  (Potter) 


878  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Hoppin,  the  pioneers.  George  received  his  early  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  Mower  county,  and  in  the  Fillmore  high 
school,  in  Fillmore  county.  In  1874  he  went  to  Nevada  and  was 
employed  as  a  cowboy  for  four  years,  after  which  he  spent  a 
similar  period  mining.  Then  he  returned  to  Mower  county  and 
took  up  farming  in  Dexter  for  five  years.  Afterward  he  moved 
to  Marshall  township,  purchased  land,  developed  the  place, 
erected  buildings,  and  carried  on  general  farming  until  1903. 
when  he  rented  his  farm  to  other  parties,  and  moved  to  Grand 
Meadow  village,  where  he  now  lives,  spending  his  time  in  look- 
ing after  his  extensive  land  interests,  which  include  1,100  acres, 
partly  in  Mower  county  and  partly  in  North  Dakota,  in  which 
state  he  has  a  valuable  quarter  section.  Mr.  Hoppin  is  a  sti'oug 
Kepublican,  and  for  many  years  was  clerk  of  the  Elkton  school 
district.  He  was  married  October  7,  1889,  at  Spring  Valley, 
Minn.,  to  Nellie  M.  Rahilly,  of  Grand  Meadow  township,  who 
was  born  October  12,  1870,  and  died  July  7,  1898.  This  union 
has  resulted  in  four  children :  Ralph  H.,  who  was  born  August 
2-4,  1891,  is  clerk  in  a  store  in  Grand  Meadow;  Mamie,  Isabelle 
and  ]\Iattie  live  at  home. 

Richard  Hoppin,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Pleasant  Valley 
township,  now  deceased,  Avas  born  in  the  city  of  Providence, 
R.  I.,  February  23,  1811.  He  there  grew  to  manhood,  and  received 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools.  When  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age  he  commenced  work  in  a  morocco  factory,  and 
was  employed  there  until  1838.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  started 
for  Wisconsin,  on  a  steamboat  to  Albany,  then  by  canal  to 
Buffalo,  thence  on  a  steamer  to  Milwaukee,  where  he  procured 
a  team  and  thus  reached  Walworth  county.  There  he  found  a 
man  holding  as  a  claim  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  White- 
water, and  this  man  offered  to  sell  the  claim  for  $50.  But  Mr. 
Hoppin  went  two  miles  further  and  purchased  a  claim  that 
pleased  him  better.  He  then  returned  to  Milwaukee  and  in 
company  with  his  brother  John  opened  the  first  exclusive  boot 
and  shoe  store  in  Milwaukee,  which  at  that  time  contained  about 
four  hundred  inhabitants.  In  the  winter  his  brother  became 
homesick,  and  concuded  to  return  to  Providence.  There  being 
no  railroad  and  the  lakes  being  frozen  over,  he  bought  a  horse 
and  made  the  trip  home  on  horseback  in  forty-one  days.  In 
June,  1839,  the  wife  of  Richard  Hoppin,  with  two  children, 
started  from  Providence,  and  taking  the  same  route  that  her 
husband  had  taken  met  him  at  Milwaukee,  after  a  journey  of 
twenty-one  days.  There  they  procured  a  team  and  then  drove 
to  their  new  home.  He  built  a  double  log  house  on  his  claim, 
and  drew  the  lumber  from  Milwaukee  to  complete  the  building. 
The  land  upon  which  he  had  settled  came  into  the  market  that 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  879 

spring,  and  Mr.  Hoppin  attended  the  first  land  sale  held  in  J\lil- 
waukee.  In  1841  he  traded  his  land  for  a  squatter's  claim  iu 
the  limits  of  the  city  of  Milwaukee.  This  land  he  entered  from 
the  government  and  lived  there  fourteen  years,  after  which  he 
moved  to  Columbus,  Columbia  county,  and  bought  a  farm  on 
which  he  lived  until  1860,  when  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Mower 
county,  and  purchased  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  28, 
township  of  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he  remained  until  1874, 
when  he  came  to  Dexter  and  bought  eight  acres  within  the  limits 
of  the  corporation,  and  built  a  house  which  they  occupied  for 
many  years.  In  1888  he  returned  to  Milwaukee,  where  he  died. 
Lydia  Potter,  wife  of  Kichard  Hoppin,  was  born  in  Cransten, 
R.  I..  July  6,  1810,  and  was  married  in  1835.  This  union  resulted 
in  nine  children :  Anna  L.,  Henry,  Lewds,  Edward,  Helen,  Will- 
iam P.,  George  R.,  Louise  and  Susie. 

Anton  Hansen,  now  deceased,  was  a  substantial  farmer  of 
Frankford  township,  and  lived  a  quiet,  respectable  life.  He 
did  not  care  to  mingle  actively  in  politics,  but  devoted  his  life 
to  his  home  and  family.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
iu  Denmark,  June  9,  1857,  son  of  Hans  Hansen,  also  a  native  of 
that  country.  Anton  received  his  education  in  Denmark,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood.  He  came  to  America  in  1880  and  located 
at  Rochester,  Olmsted  county,  this  state.  In  1890  he  went  to 
Minneapolis  and  became  a  coachman.  Later  he  clerked  in  a 
grocery  store.  In  1893  he  came  to  Mower  county,  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  in  Frankford  township,  the  land  being  located  in 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  IS. 
On  this  farm  he  conducted  general  farming  until  his  death, 
October  3,  1903.  He  was  married  June  9,  1883,  to  Amelia  Carl- 
sou,  born  near  Stockholm,  in  Smaland,  Sweden,  February  15, 
1862.  She  came  to  America  in  1882,  and  located  in  St.  Peter, 
this  state.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hansen  has  been  blessed 
with  seven  children:  Ida,  deceased;  Hans,  born  September  28, 
1886,  a  conductor  on  the  street  car  lines  of  Minneapolis;  Ralph, 
deceased;  Clara,  born  February  5,  1890;  Clayton,  born  November 
28,  1893;  Dagmar,  born  JMay  6,  1896;  Ralph,  born  November  9. 
1900.  Since  her  husband's  death,  Mrs.  Hansen  has  conducted  the 
farm  herself,  and  has  been  very  successful  in  her  management. 
In  1910  she  erected  a  fine  new  home.  The  family  is  well  tliought 
of  throughout  the  entire  community. 

John  E.  Hovda,  a  reputable  citizen  of  Frankford  township, 
was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  still  lives,  January  16,  1871,  son 
of  E.  0.  Hovda,  one  of  the  earlier  settlers.  John  E.  received 
his  early  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Frankford  and  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  on  his  father's  farm  of  180  acres 
in  section  9.    In  1893  he  rented  the  home  place  and  a  few  years 


«80  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

later  purchased  it.  He  has  made  mauy  improvements,  has  re- 
modeled the  buildings  and  developed  the  land.  On  this  place 
he  now  conducts  general  farming,  and  makes  a  specialty  of 
grain  raising  and  breeding  Black  Poll  Angus  cattle.  Mr.  Hovda 
has  been  clerk  of  school  district  36  for  three  years,  and  has  also 
served  as  constable.  He  belongs  to  the  IModern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  attends  the  Lutheran  church.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  September  7,  1898,  to  Laura  Gilbertson,  born 
in  Grand  Meadow  township,  October  2,  1875,  daughter  of  Julius 
and  Mary  Gilbertson,  Avho  came  to  America  from  Norway,  lo- 
cated in  Grand  ]\Ieadow  township  and  engaged  in  farming,  the 
father  dying  in  1881.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hovda  are  the  parents  of 
three  children:  Elgar  J.,  born  July  17,  1900;  Jeanette,  born 
October  1,  1902,  and  Agnes,  born  February  9,  1905. 

Albert  A.  Johnson,  the  talented  editor  of  the  Grand  Meadow 
"Record,  has  established  an  excellent  business  and  issues  a  paper 
which  is  a  credit  to  the  village  and  surrounding  country.  He 
was  born  in  Brownsdale,  this  county,  December  4,  1871:,  and 
there  received  his  earlier  education.  While  a  boy  he  started  his 
newspaper  career  by  printing  and  publishing  the  Brownsdale 
Leaflet.  In  1893  he  sold  this  to  L.  L.  Quimby,  and  went  to  ]\Ior- 
tOD,  Renville  county,  this  state,  Mdiere  he  engaged  in  newspaper 
work  for  eight  months.  Then  he  worked  on  the  Austin  Register, 
in  Austin,  this  county,  for  a  while,  until  failing  health  interfered 
with  his  work.  In  1894  he  came  to  Grand  Meadow  and  pur- 
chased his  present  business,  which  he  has  since  continued  with 
the  exception  of  a  year  and  a  half,  when  he  leased  it  and  went 
to  Amherst,  Wis.,  and  took  charge  of  the  Amherst  Advocate. 
Then  he  returned  to  Grand  Meadow.  Under  his  management  and 
guidance  the  paper  has  become  one  of  the  most  influential  in 
the  county.  He  also  does  commercial  and  job  work,  and  deals 
extensively  in  books  and  stationery.  Aside  from  owning  his 
own  business  and  building,  Mr.  Johnson  holds  stock  in  several 
local  enterprises.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  belongs  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  attends  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  February 
23,  1898,  to  Lulu  E.  Bieman,  of  Brownsdale,  and  they  have  an 
adopted  son,  Maynard  C,  born  May  1,  1905. 

Julius  W.  Johnson,  the  industrious  and  hard-working  head 
miller  for  A.  S.  Campbell  at  the  Peerless  Roller  ]\Iills,  Austin, 
was  born  in  Wate.rtown,  Wis.,  February  28,  1858,  the  son  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ole  Johnson,  both  natives  of  Norway.  The  parents 
came  to  this  country  about  1847  or  1848,  and  located  in  Water- 
town,  Wis.,  where  Ole  elohnson  was  a  merchant  and  conducted 
a  general  store.  The  family  came  to  Austin  in  the  spring  of 
1870,  and  farmed  for  several  years.     Ole  died  in  1891,  his  wife 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEPv  COUNTY  881 

having  passed  away  many  years  previous  at  Watertown,  AVis., 
when  Julius  was  a  small  boy.  Julius  attended  the  coininoii 
schools,  worked  on  a  farm  and  clerked  in  a  store.  In  the  fall  of 
1880,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Mathew  Gregson,  the  miller,  and 
remained  with  him  until  1886,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Engie  Company.  When  the  Campbell  brothers  purchased 
the  mill  in  1890  he  continued  to  work  there,  and  when  that  firm 
was  divided  he  still  remained  with  the  mill,  his  excellent  work 
having  had  much  to  do  with  its  success.  Mr.  Johnson  married 
Louise  Scholl,  and  to  this  union  has  been  born  one  son,  Arthur 
P.  Mrs.  Scholl  was  born  in  Stratford,  Ontario,  September  10, 
1868,  being  one  of  a  family  of  eight  daughters  and  one  son  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conrad  Scholl,  who  for  many  years,  until  the 
former's  death,  in  1909,  conducted  the  German  Hotel  in  Austin. 
The  place  is  now  managed  by  Mrs.  Scholl  and  her  son. 

John  F.  Krause,  who  has  been  assessor  of  the  town  of  Grand 
Meadow  for  the  past  eight  years,  is  one  of  the  prosperous  men 
of  the  community.  He  believes  in  modern  farming  methods  and 
his  interest  in  education  has  been  shown  by  his  service  as  treas- 
urer of  school  district  21  for  twelve  years.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  May  20, 
1873,  son  of  William  and  Amelia  (Wagner)  Krause,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to  America  when  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age.  John  F.  came  with  his  parents  to 
Grand  Meadow  township  when  he  was  five  years  of  age,  and  spent 
his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm  in  section  35,  which  he  has 
since  bought  of  his  father,  and  where  he  still  makes  his  home 
and  successfully  carries  on  general  farming.  He  married  Anna 
Grimm,  daughter  of  August  and  Wilhelmina  (Erdraann)  Grimm, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Alwin,  Edna  and 
Viola. 

George  B.  Loucks,  one  of  the  supervisors  of  Frankford  town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  well-to-do  and  progressive  men  of  the  com- 
munity. He  is  an  independent  voter,  has  served  as  treasurer  of 
school  district  17,  and  is  vice-president  in  the  Geyser  Threshing 
&  Shredding  Company,  No.  2,  of  Frankford  township,  as  well 
as  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers'  Store,  at  Spring  Valley.  Be- 
ing of  a  fraternal  nature,  he  has  also  allied  himself  with  the 
^lodern  AVoodraen  of  America,  at  Spring  Valley.  George  B. 
Loucks  was  born  in  Schoharie  county,  New  York,  March  18, 
1848,  son  of  Harmon  and  Eva  (Bassler)  Loucks.  He  received 
his  education  in  his  native  state  and  was  reared  to  agricultural 
inirsuits.  In  1868,  on  his  twentieth  birthday,  he  left  New  York 
state,  and  located  in  Sparta,  Wis.,  where  he  remained  until  fall. 
Then  he  located  in  Spring  Valley,  in  Fillmore  county,  and  re- 
iiuiined  until  1871.     In  that  year  he  went  to  South  Dakota  and 


883  HISTORY  OF  MOWEB  COUNTY 

took  up  land,  owning  at  one  time  as  much  as  1,100  acres  of  land, 
this  being  at  the  time  of  the  grasshopper  plague  in  1875.  After 
his  father's  death,  that  year,  he  came  back  to  Minnesota.  As 
he  had  not  complied  with  all  the  legal  formalities,  his  claim  in 
South  Dakota  was  jumped.  Accordingly  he  made  his  home  in 
Spring  Valley.  Shortly  afterward  he  purchased  160  acres  in 
section  26,  Frankford  township,  and  subsequently  he  became 
manager  of  the  C.  W.  Taylor  farm  of  360  acres  in  Spring  Valley 
township.  In  1890  he  moved  onto  his  farm  in  Frankford 
townshiiD.  At  that  time  only  twenty  acres  were  broken.  He 
broke  and  improved  the  land,  erected  suitable  buildings,  and  now 
carries  on  general  farming,  making  a  specialty  of  Shropshire 
sheep  and  Black  Poll-Angus  cattle.  He  has  set  out  many  ever- 
green and  other  shade  trees,  and  has  five  acres  of  apple  orchard. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  December  5,  1875,  to 
Delphine  Bassler,  born  in  Clinton,  Wis.,  October  13,  1856,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  and  Eachel  (Cornwall)  Bassler.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  six  children :  Burdette  Royal,  Callie  E.,  IMattie 
E.,  Benjamin  E.,  George  F.  and  Sadie  L.  Burdette  Royal  Avas 
born  May  28,  1878,  married  Lottie  Tart,  lives  in  Bennington 
township  and  has  two  children,  Mildred  M.  and  Helen  C.  Callie 
E.  was  born  April  7,  1880,  married  Henry  Kasten,  of  Spring 
Valley,  and  they  have  one  child,  Delbert  D.  Mattie  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Frank  Clouse,  of  Bennington  township.  Benjamin  E. 
was  born  August  31,  1882,  and  married  Grace  Dean.  They  have 
two  children,  Everett  and  Leon.  George  F.  was  born  May  16, 
1895.  Sadie  L.  was  born  October  8,  1897.  Harmon  Loucks  was 
born  in  New  York  state  and  there  married  Eva  Bassler,  a  native 
of  the  same  state.  In  1869  they  came  to  Minnesota  and  located 
in  Spring  Valley,  Fillmore  county,  where  they  purchased  land 
and  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  June  27,  1875.  His 
wife  is  still  living.  Harmon  Loucks  was  born  July  11,  1825, 
and  his  wife,  September  20,  1827.  They  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children:  George  B.,  of  Frankford;  David,  of  Hamil- 
ton; Maria,  now  Mrs.  E.  A.  Hess,  of  Frankford;  Andrew,  dead; 
Jeremiah,  of  Frankford ;  Alexander,  of  Oklahoma ;  Anna,  now 
Mrs.  Thomas  Fryer,  of  Spring  Valley;  Irving,  of  Spring  Valley; 
Elmer,  of  Austin ;  Margaret,  wife  of  George  Churchill,  of  Spring 
Valley;  Hattie,  dead,  and  Edmund,  of  Little  Falls,  this  state. 

Benjamin  Bassler  was  born  in  New  York  state  and  married 
Rachel  Cornwall.  They  located  in  Illinois  in  1854,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  took  up  their  residence  in  Clinton,  Wis.,  where  they 
engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  Mr.  Bassler  also  following  his 
trade  as  a  harness  maker.  Rachel  Cornwall  Bassler  died  in  1861. 
leaving  five  children:  Althera,  deceased;  Eugene  N.,  deceased; 
Carloss  E.,  of  California ;  Judson  S.,  of  Darien,  Wis. ;  Delphine. 


IIISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  883 

now  Mrs.  Gr.  B.  Loueks.  Later  in  life  Benjamin  Bassler  married 
Cornelia  AVillis,  who  bore  him  three  children :  Katherine  L.,  of 
Darin,  Wis.;  Benjamin  AV.,  deceased;  IMinnie  E.,  Chicago,  now 
Mrs.  "William  Leigh. 

Andrew  Lybeck,  a  substantial  and  prosperous  farmer  of  Grand 
Meadow  township,  was  born  in  Racine  township,  this  county, 
March  22,  1861,  son  of  Andrew  Lybeck,  the  elder.  The  father 
was  born  in  Norway,  came  to  America,  married  and  lived  for  a 
time  in  Racine  township,  this  county.  Then  he  moved  to  Pleas- 
ant Valley  township  with  his  family  and  there  ended  his  daj's, 
his  wife  also  passing  away  there.  Andrew,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  after  his  father's 
death  continued  for  a  while  to  manage  the  homestead.  Later  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  2,  Grand  Meadow,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  has  extensive  interests  throughout  the  county, 
and  is  well  known  as  a  successful  farmer. 

Martin  Lokke,  a  progressive  young  farmer  of  Frankford 
township,  was  born  in  Green  count.y,  Wisconsin,  j\Iarch  27,  1872, 
son  of  Thomas  M.  and  Carolina  E.  Lokke.  He  was  brought  to 
Frankford  township  by  his  parents,  and  was  here  reared  to  man- 
hood, attending  school  in  district  97  and  learning  agricultural 
pursuits  from  his  father.  In  1909  he  took  charge  of  the  home 
farm,  and  is  conducting  it  in  a  modern  and  up-to-date  manner. 
At  one  time  he  was  town  marshal  for  Grand  Meadow,  and  he  is 
now  treasurer  of  school  district  97.  He  married  Annie  0.  Hovda, 
daughter  of  E.  0.  and  Anna  Hovda,  and  they  have  two  bright 
children,  Alyrtle  A.  and  Truman  E. 

Arthur  McNally,  now  deceased,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Grand  Aleadow  township,  and  became  one  of  the  prominent 
residents  of  the  county.  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to 
America  in  1839,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  After  several  years 
in  Canada  he  went  to  Rutland.  Vt.,  and  was  there  married,  in 
1842.  In  1849  he  came  westward  to  Kenosha  county,  Wisconsin, 
lived  there  two  years,  and  then  settled  in  Lyons,  Iowa,  for  four 
years.  About  1856  he  came  to  Grand  Meadow,  and  here  farmed 
until  his  death,  in  May,  1906.  His  wife  died  March  6,  1911. 
Both  were  most  estimal)le  people,  and  their  influence  in  the  com- 
munity was  ever  toward  respectability  and  decency.  They  were 
the  parents  of  Daniel,  John.  Dennis,  Mary  (deceased),  Thesa 
(deceased),  Ellen  (deceased),  James,  Charles,  Ella  and  Agiu>s. 
Agnes  married  Homer  Clemens  and  they  have  two  bright  boys, 
Duard  and  Jack.  Mrs.  Clemens  and  John  jMcNally  now  operate 
the  home  farm  and  they  are  among  the  most  successful  and 
prosperous  farmers  in  the  township. 

Henry  C.  Nissen,  now  deceased,  was  a  farmer  in  Grand 
IMeadow  township  for  many  years,  and  his  labor  and  toil  were 


884  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

crowned  with  the  fruits  of  success.  He  was  born  in  a  part  of 
Schleswig,  then  Denmark,  now  Germany,  July  29,  1850,  son  of 
Christian  and  Abalonia,  both  of  Danish  birth,  who  spent  eight 
years  in  America,  but  ended  their  days  in  Schleswig.  Henry 
received  his  education  in  his  native  land,  and  came  to  America 
in  1867,  at  seventeen  years  of  age.  For  eleven  years  he  was 
variously  employed,  part  of  the  time  in  Rochester,  Minn.  In 
1877  he  came  to  Grand  Meadow  township,  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land,  one  mile  south  of  the  village.  He  added  to  this 
tract  until  he  owned  240  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  lived  and 
prospered,  erecting  a  home  and  a  fine  set  of  buildings,  and  follow- 
ing general  farming  until  1904,  when  he  purchased  twelve  acres 
and  a  residence  in  Grand  Meadow  village,  and  retired,  making 
his  home  here  until  his  death.  Mr.  Nissen  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics  and  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  also  a  stockholder  in  the  First  National  Bank, 
of  Grand  Meadow.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
March  13,  1887,  to  Betsy  Engebretson,  born  in  Norway,  January 
28,  1855,  daughter  of  Ingebret  Arneson  and  Anne  Sanderson,  his 
wife,  both  of  whom  died  in  Norway.  Mrs.  Nissen  came  to 
America  in  1873  and  located  at  Rockdale,  Olmsted  county.  She 
bore  to  Henry  C.  Nissen  seven  children :  William,  who  lives  in 
Aberdeen,  S.  D.,  is  in  the  automobile  and  machinery  business; 
Albert  E.  is  on  the  home  farm ;  Peter  is  traveling ;  Alma  is  the 
wife  of  Oscar  Carlstrom,  an  attorney  of  Aledo,  111. ;  Anna  teaches 
at  Groton,  S.  D. ;  Mary  is  a  student  in  the  Grand  Meadow  high 
school,  and  Elmer,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  still  in  the 
graded  schools.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  in  1902  Mrs.  Nissen 
took  a  trip  to  her  old  home  in  Norway  and  spent  ten  weeks  with 
her  parents.  Since  her  husband's  death  she  has  looked  after  the 
home  affairs,  and  is  a  capable  housekeeper  and  wise  mother. 

Elling  Haugen,  now  deceased,  was  one  of  the  early  residents 
of  Racine  township.  He  was  born  in  Norway  and  married  Mary 
Haugen.  They  came  to  America  in  1850,  located  in  Wisconsin, 
and  there  lived  for  a  considerable  period.  It  is  worthy  of  note 
that  they  made  the  trip  across  the  Atlantic  in  a  sailing  vessel  and 
spent  seven  weeks  on  the  water.  In  1864  they  came  to  Mower 
county,  settled  in  Racine  township,  and  there  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. In  1880  they  went  to  the  northwestern  part  of  Minnesota 
and  there  Filing  died.  His  wife  is  still  living,  at  the  good  old 
age  of  eighty-three  years. 

Peter  E.  Peterson,  now  deceased,  was  for  many  years  an  hon- 
oi'cd  farmer  of  Frankford  township  and  later  of  Grand  Meadow 
village.  He  was  on  the  town  board  of  Frankford  for  some  time, 
served  as  clerk  of  his  school  district  for  several  terms,  and  after 
coming  to  Grand  Meadow  served  as  mayor  two  years.     Aside 


PETER    E.    PETERSON    AND    FAMILY. 


HIST01?Y  OF  MOWEI,'  COUNTY  885 

from  200  acres  in  Mower  county,  he  owned  160  acres  in  Aitkin 
county,  this  state,  and  was  also  a  shareholder  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Grand  J\Ieadow.  Peter  E.  Peterson  was  born  in 
Norway,  April  26,  1846,  son  of  Tver  and  Helen  Gertrude  Peter- 
son, also  natives  of  Norway.  The  family  came  to  America  in 
1850  and  locateci  in  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  where  both  parents 
died.  Peter  started  in  life  for  himself  by  purchasing  eighty 
acres  in  Racine  township,  Mower  county,  where  he  went  in  1869. 
Later  he  sold  this  tract,  and  removed  to  Frankford  township, 
where  he  bought  eighty  acres  in  section  31.  Later  he  added  an 
eighty  acres  adjoining  in  section  32,  and  still  later  forty  acres 
adjoining,  but  over  the  line  in  Bennington  township.  This  tract 
of  200  acres  he  broke  and  developed,  erected  a  fine  home  and  suit- 
able buildings,  and  carried  on  general  farming  until  1896.  Then 
he  rented  his  farm,  and  removed  to  Grand  IMeadow  village, 
where  he  purchased  a  lot  and  built  a  modern  home,  in  which  he 
lived  the  remainder  of  his  days.  His  decease;  October  5,  1908, 
was  sincerely  mourned  by  his  many  friends.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  October  13,  1870,  to  Caroline  Haugen,  born 
in  Wisconsin,  November  13,  1854,  daughter  of  EUing  and  Mary 
Haugen,  natives  of  Norway.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  have  four 
children :  Edward,  of  Grand  Meadow ;  Helen  G.,  of  Clayton 
township,  wife  of  Edwin  Julson ;  Theodore,  now  living  in  Wasii- 
ington  state,  and  Marie,  who  lives  at  home.  There  is  also  an 
adopted  son,  George.  The  family  worships  at  the  United  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church. 

William  A.  Nolan,  of  Grand  Meadow  village,  has  an  enviable 
record  of  active  work  in  public  and  business  affairs.  He  was 
elected  to  the  legislature  in  1900  and  served  ten  years,  his  suc- 
cessor taking  office  in  1911.  He  has  been  president  of  the  school 
board  of  the  village  of  Grand  Meadow  since  its  organization  as  a 
separate  district,  and  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  Grand  Meadow 
Fire  Department  for  over  twenty  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  village  council  for  three  years.  He  is  a  harness  and  leather 
dealer,  an  automobile  agent,  and  is  interested  in  the  banking  and 
telephone  business.  Withal,  the  social  side  of  his  nature  has  not 
l)een  neglected  and  he  is  a  popular  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
the  M.  W.  A.,  and  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  He  attends  the  Congregational 
church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  It  may  be  truly  said  that  Mr. 
Nolan  is  a  man  of  affairs,  pushing,  active,  progressive  and  public 
spirited,  interested  in  everything  that  is  for  the  betterment  and 
welfare  of  his  village,  his  town,  his  county,  his  state  and  his 
nation.  William  A.  Nolan  was  born  in  Yankton,  S.  D.,  October 
4,  1862,  son  of  Charles  E.  and  Sarah  A.  (Gordy)  Nolan,  pioneers. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  High  Forest,  ]Minn.,  and  at  tlie 
agi>   of   niiictecii    l.-ai'ii''(l    tlic    harness-making   trade    from    .loliii 


886  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Connor,  at  Grand  Meadow.  Eventually  he  purchased  the  busi- 
ness, and  the  establishment  is  now  conducted  on  a  large  scale. 
Mr.  Nolan  married  Laura  Greening,  daughter  of  John  Greening, 
and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  four  children :  Mabel  L, 
Bernice,  Merrill  C.  and  William  R.  The  parents  of  William  A. 
Nolan — Charles  E.  and  Sarah  A.  Nolan — were  natives  of  New 
York  state,  where  a  brother  of  Charles  E.  was  for  many  years 
clerk  of  the  supreme  court.  Charles  E.  was  an  early  pioneer,  came 
to  High  Forest,  Olmsted  county,  in  1855,  and  was  the  first 
merchant  to  open  a  store  in  that  town.    He  died  in  1865. 

George  W.  Reed,  retired  merchant  and  farmer,  now  living  in 
Dexter,  was  born  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  September  26,  1853, 
son  of  Robert  and  Mary  Reed.  He  was  brought  to  Pleasant  Val- 
ley township,  this  county,  in  1856,  and  was  here  reared  to  man- 
hood, receiving  his  boyhood  education  in  the  district  schools.  In 
1882  he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm,  and  conducted  this  place 
in  connection  with  a  farm  of  160  acres  he  had  purchased  in  1878, 
until  1892,  when  he  became  the  Dexter  representative  of  the 
McCormick  Manufacturing  Company.  In  the  fall  of  1904  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  Jesse  C.  Vermilyea,  the  firm  name 
being  Vermilyea  &  Reed.  After  five  years  Mr.  Vermilyea  sold 
his  interest  in  the  business  to  R.  S.  Noyes.  A  year  later  Mr. 
Reed  bought  out  his  partner's  interest,  and  on  Auguest  4,  1910, 
sold  out  to  W.  E.  Daley.  Mr.  Reed  served  as  treasurer  of  his 
school  district  twenty  years,  and  was  assessor  several  terms  in 
Pleasant  Valley  township.  He  was  married  April  17,  1876,  to 
Alice  E.  Erase,  and  to  this  union  two  children  have  been  born, 
George  H.  and  Florence  E.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

Robert  Reed  and  Mary,  his  wife,  were  natives  of  New  York 
state.  They  located  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  in  1851,  and  in  3856 
came  to  Minnesota,  and  preempted  160  acres  in  section  7,  Pleasant 
Valley.  Robert  died  in  February,  1885,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1880. 

Frederick  M.  Peirson,  a  retired  hotel  proprietor  and  farmer 
now  living  in  Grand  IMeadow,  was  born  April  4,  1834,  at  Chitten- 
den, Chittenden  county,  Vermont,  son  of  John  and  Nabby  (Sax- 
ton)  Pierson.  At  the  age  of  three  years  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Ohio,  in  1840  to  Rockford,  111.,  in  1844  to  Silver 
Creek,  111.,  and  in  1846  to  Winslow,  111.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  located  in  Columbia  county,  Wisconsin,  and  in  May,  1854,  took 
up  a  claim  in  Minnesota.  From  that  month  until  October  he  lived 
in  La  Crosse,  and  then  located  on  his  claim,  which  was  in  section 
1,  township  104,  range  15,  being  included  in  the  tier  of  sections 
which  were  set  off  from  Mower  county  and  are  now  a  part  of  the 


PEIRSOX. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  887 

township  of  High  Forest,  in  Olmsted  county.  Mr.  Peirson  broke 
this  land,  worked  it  industriously,  and  made  his  residence  for 
many  years  in  a  "grout"  house,  made  of  lime  and  sand.  This 
building  stood  until  1909,  when  it  was  torn  down  to  make  way  for 
a  substantial  modern  farm  building.  During  the  Civil  war  this 
building  was  converted  into  a  tavern.  In  1874  Mr.  Peirson  moved 
to  Rochester,  Minn.,  and  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  there  for 
three  years.  In  1877  he  came  to  Grand  Meadow  and  purchased 
a  hotel,  which  he  conducted  until  1898,  when  he  rented  the  hotel 
and  retired.  Aside  from  this  hotel  building,  where  he  now 
makes  his  home,  he  owns  a  200-acre  farm  in  Olmsted  county 
and  a  quarter  section  in  Grand  Meadow  township.  A  part  of 
this  latter  tract  is  noted  for  its  sand  for  building  purposes,  the 
deposit  covering  over  five  acres  to  a  depth  of  eighteen  feet.  Mr. 
Peirson  is  a  man  of  strong  character  and  has  always  been  active 
in  upholding  those  things  which  he  believes  to  be  right  and 
good.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  served  as  a  justice  of 
the  peace  for  two  years.  Mr.  Peirson  was  married  November 
20,  1860,  to  Catherine  Keyes,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  has  proved 
a  most  able  helpmeet.  A  son.  Dr.  Homer  F.  Peirson,  lives  in 
Austin.  John  Peirson  and  Nabby  Saxton,  his  wife,  were  natives 
of  Vermont,  both  of  English  descent.  While  living  in  Vermont 
John  Peirson  was  a  lumberman  in  the  Canadian  woods.  In  1837 
he  removed  his  family  to  Ohio,  lived  there  three  years,  then  in 
1840  went  to  Rockford,  111.,  and  in  1844  took  up  his  residence  in 
Silver  Creek,  two  years  later  going  to  Winslow  in  the  same  state. 
In  1848  John  Peirson  started  overland  for  California,  and 
acquired  considerable  land  along  the  Pacific  coast.  Later  he 
went  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  where  he  died  in  1852.  His  wife 
lived  in  Illinois  until  his  death,  after  which  she  returned  to  her 
old  home  in  Vermont,  where  she  died.  It  is  interesting  to  note 
that  practically  the  first  claim  recorded  for  what  is  now  Mower 
county  was  that  of  J.  S.  Peirson,  in  September,  1854.  J.  S.  was  a 
son  of  John  and  a  brother  of  Frederich  M. 

Artemus  W.  Sanborn,  a  venerable  and  honored  citizen  of 
Racine  township,  was  born  in  eastern  Canada  December  5,  1833, 
son  of  Stephen  and  Rhoda  (Clement)  Sanborn,  the  pioneers. 
Artemus  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Dodge 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  in  1843. 
There  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  the  year  1856  came  to  Mower 
county  and  preempted  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  26,  in 
Racine  township.  After  proving  up  his  claim,  he  went  back  to 
Wisconsin,  and  there  remained  until  1862,  when  he  came  to 
]\Iower  county  again,  and  settled  on  his  claim,  living  on  it  three 
years.  In  1865  he  sold  out,  and  purchased  his  present  place  of 
eighty  acres  in  section  35,  wlicrc  lie  built  his  liome,  developed  the 


888  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

land,  and  made  all  improvements,  following  general  farming  until 
1882,  when  he  secured  a  position  as  railway  mail  clerk.  This 
position  he  held  until  1887,  his  run  being  between  Winona  and 
Chicago.  During  this  period  of  five  years  he  made  his  home  in 
Rochester,  that  he  might  better  educate  his  children  and  be 
nearer  his  Avork.  At  the  close  of  this  period  he  returned  to  his 
farm  in  Racine  and  carried  on  general  farming  until  1900,  when 
he  retired  from  active  life.  He  and  his  good  wife  continue  to 
live  on  the  home  farm,  which  has  been  in  their  possession  for 
forty-six  years.  Mr.  Sanborn  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as 
town  clerk  and  as  assessor  and  a  member  of  the  school  board; 
he  was  census  enumerator  in  1880.  He  is  a  high  degree  Mason 
and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  Artemus  W.  Sanborn 
Avas  married  November  19,  1866,  to  Mrs.  Harriett  (Cochrane) 
Allen,  who  was  boi'n  in  New  York  state,  January  2,  1838,  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Fidelia  (Aldrich)  Cochrane.  The  Cochranes 
came  west  to  Dodge  county  from  New  York  state  in  1848,  and 
there  James  Cochrane  died  in  1852,  his  wife,  Fidelia,  expiring 
in  Juneau  county,  Wisconsin,  in  1890.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanborn 
have  two  children,  Clara  B.  and  Charles  W.  Clara  B.  married 
Attorney  Charles  E.  Callaghan,  postmaster  at  Rochester,  and  they 
have  four  children,  Howard,  Lola,  Helen  and  Gertrude.  Mrs. 
Sanborn  died  February  27,  1911. 

Charles  W.  Sanborn,  son  of  Artemus  and  Harriett  Sanborn, 
was  born  in  Racine  township,  June  15,  1872.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Rochester  and  finished  with  a  course  in  the 
Darling  Business  College,  at  Rochester,  from  which  institution 
he  graduated,  July  5,  1894.  He  then  returned  to  Racine  town- 
ship, and  engaged  in  farming.  He  now  rents  his  father's  farm  of 
100  acres,  is  successful  in  his  operations  and  is  well  thought  of 
in  the  community.  He  married  Anna  Eichhorn  November  18, 
1897.  She  was  born  in  Racine,  October  25,  1870,  daughter  of  A. 
Eichhorn  and  Rosa  Roth,  his  wife,  retired  farmers  living  in 
Racine  village.  Mr.  Sanborn  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  and 
the  I.  0.  0.  F. 

Stephen  J.  Sanborn  has  occupied  a  position  of  trust  and  honor 
in  the  community  for  many  years,  and  his  influence  and  integ- 
rity have  had  much  to  do  with  the  shaping  of  the  destinies  of 
his  vicinity.  He  was  an  efficient  and  courageous  deputy  sheriff 
under  Sheriff  Allan  Mollison,  was  champion  of  the  cause  of 
the  farmer  in  the  legislature  of  1877-78;  was  clerk  of  Racine 
township  several  terms,  and  has  been  director  of  the  First  State 
Bank,  of  Racine,  for  a  considerable  period.  He  is  an  honorable, 
upright  man,  well  thought  of  in  the  community  wherein  he  has 


HlSTOin'  OK   .MOWKi;  Cor.N'l'V  SS!) 

made  his  home  for  many  years,  lie  was  born  in  Canada,  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1837,  son  of  Stephen  and  Rhoda  (t'lemcnt)  Hanl)orn, 
who  brought  him  to  the  United  States  in  1844,  locating  in  Dodge 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  attended  school  and  grew  to  man- 
hood. In  1859,  during  the  Pike's  Peak  enthusiasm,  he  crossed 
the  plains,  making  the  journey  partly  on  foot  and  partly  on 
horseback,  and  spending  the  winter  prospecting  along  the  Sacra- 
mento river.  The  following  two  years  he  spent  in  a  similar  man- 
ner in  Utah,  and  then  mined  in  Montana  until  the  fall  of  1865, 
when  he  started  for  home.  He  went  down  the  Missouri  river  in  a 
tiatboat  to  Council  Bluffs,  thence  by  rail  to  Chicago,  via  St. 
Joe,  and  then  made  the  trip  from  Chicago  to  Racine  township, 
Slower  county,  where,  during  his  absence,  his  parents  had  lo- 
cated. He  purchased  land  and  engaged  in  farming,  tilling  the 
soil  and  prospering  withal,  until  he  owned  240  acres,  the  village 
of  Racine  standing  on  what  was  originally  a  part  of  his  farm. 
In  1890,  Avhen  the  railroad  passed  through  and  the  village  was 
started,  he  built  a  stone  building  and  for  eight  years  engaged 
in  the  general  merchandise  business.  Then  he  engaged  in  grain 
dealing,  which  he  successfully  followed  until  1910,  since  which 
time  he  has  lived  in  retirement,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  ]Mr. 
Sanboi'n  still  owns  about  200  acres  of  good  land,  besides  his  home 
and  the  grain  warehouse,  the  farm  being  conducted  by  his  son 
Elias.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  an  independent  voter,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  a  high  degree  Mason.  He  was  married, 
November  18,  1869,  to  Theressa  R.  Stewart,  who  was  born  in 
Trenton,  Wis.,  October  28,  1852,  daughter  of  Deacon  Jonathan 
and  Laura  (Martin)  Stewart.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  San- 
born has  been  blessed  with  four  children,  two  living  and  two 
dead,  Elias  D.,  Pirna  L.,  Lola  and  Sybil.  Elias  D.,  who  conducts 
the  home  farm,  married  Nettie  Schroeder  and  they  have  two 
sons,  Royce  E.  and  Stanley  S.  Pirna  L.  married  R.  W.  Chadwick, 
cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Racine,  and  they  have  one  son. 
Yern  R.    Lola  and  Sybil  died  of  diphtheria  in  the  fall  of  1880. 

Deacon  Jonathan  Stewart,  a  pioneer,  was  a  man  universally 
respected  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  advancing  the  cause  of 
religion  and  good  morals,  whenever  his  influence  could  be  felt. 
He  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  September  9,  1816. 
His  father,  Jonathan  Stewart,  Sr.,  was  a  farmer,  and  to  this 
vocation  Jonathan,  Jr.,  was  bred.  The  subject  of  this  sketcli 
was  married,  I\Iarch  16,  1840,  to  Laura  IMartin,  who  was  born  in 
Oneida  county.  July  10.  1822.  In  1854  he  went  to  AYisconsin  and 
purchas'-d  160  acres  of  government  land,  lived  on  it  twelve  years, 
tlien  sold  tlie  place  and  came  to  Racine  township,  June  11.  1857, 
ai.d  pre-empted  land  in  section  27.  Deacon  StcAvart  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children:    Jonathan  A.,  John  Wesh-y, 


890  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Latham  D.,  Thaxter  M.,  Eugene  P.,  Theressa  R.  and  Jay  Emmett. 
Jonathan  Stewart  died  in  1908  and  his  wife  in  1898. 

Stephen  Sanborn  was  born  in  Canada  and  married  Rhoda 
Clement,  of  Vermont;  both  being  descended  from  noble  New  Eng- 
land stock.  They  lived  in  Canada  for  a  time  and  in  1843  came 
to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  where 
they  engaged  in  farming  until  1861,  when  they  came  to  Mower 
county  and  settled  in  Racine  township,  where  they  purchased 
land  in  section  26  and  lived  until  their  death,  the  father  passing 
away  July  22,  1870,  and  the  mother  October  12,  1896.  They  were 
the  parents  of  four  children.  A.  W.,  Stephen  J.  and  D.  C.  live 
in  Racine,  and  Elias  died  in  the  United  States  service. 

George  J.  Schottler,  M.  D.,  a  successful  practitioner  of  Dexter, 
v/as  born  in  Germantown  township,  Washington  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, November  5,  1870,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Anna  (Regenfuss) 
Schottler,  Wisconsin  pioneers.  He  attended  the  district  schools 
of  Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  and  after  due  preparation  en- 
tered the  preparatory  teachers'  course  at  the  Northern  Indiana 
Normal  School,  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.  Then  he  taught  school  in 
his  home  district  a  year  and  subsequently  again  returned  to  Val- 
paraiso, finishing  his  courses  there  in  1892,  receiving  the  degree 
of  B.  S.  In  the  meantime  he  had  also  attended  clinics  in  thera- 
peutics and  taken  a  preparatory  medical  course.  He  spent  the 
fall  and  winter  of  1892-93  at  home  in  order  that  his  brother 
might  attend  school,  and  in  the  fall  of  1893  entered  the  Rush 
Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  graduating  in  1896  with  the  degree 
of  M.  D.  He  at  once  took  the  state  examination  and  was  admit- 
ted to  practice,  taking  up  his  life  work  at  Dexter,  June  6,  1896. 
He  has  built  up  a  large  practice  in  village  and  county,  is  faith- 
ful and  skillfulia  his  services  and  is  greatly  beloved  by  those 
families  to  whom  he  administers  in  the  hours  of  sorrow  and  dis- 
tress. Dr.  Schottler  belongs  to  the  American,  the  Minnesota 
State,  the  Southern  Minnesota  and  the  Mower  County  Medical 
societies,  has  been  president  of  the  latter  and  is  now  its  treas- 
Tirer.  Dr.  Schottler  is  a  stockholder  in  and  vice-president  of  the 
First  State  Bank  of  Dexter.  He  was  at  one  time  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  village  council  of  Dexter,  but  refused  to  serve.  Dr. 
Schottler  owns  a  fine  home  in  Dexter,  which  he  built  in  1898, 
and  in  addition  to  this  a  house  and  ten  acres  of  land  in  the  vil- 
lage limits,  which  he  rents.  On  his  land  he  has  set  out  500  apple 
trees,  which  are  promising  well.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married,  September  12,  1900,  at  Dexter,  to  Kathleen,  daughter 
of  Abram  Vermilyea.  She  was  born  December  13,  1876,  and 
her  union  with  Dr.  Schottler  has  been  blessed  Avith  four  chil- 
dren: George  Jesse,  born  August  26,  1901;  Max  E.,  born  June 
26,  1903,  and  Kenneth  B.  and  Kathryn  B.,  twins,  born  July  17, 


GEORGE  J.  SCHOTTLEE,  M.   !>.,  AND   KAMILY. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  891 

1904.  Nicholas  Schottler,  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Wash- 
ington 'countj-,  Wisconsin,  and  father  of  Dr.  George  J.  Schot- 
tler, of  Dexter,  Mower  county,  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
Germany,  January  16,  1843,  and  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents in  1846,  locating  in  Germantown  township,  Washington 
county,  Wisconsin.  He  was  there  educated  and  on  attaining  man- 
hood's  state,  took  up  farming  and  located  on  120  acres 
of  land  in  two  tracts,  part  of  which  was  the  original  homestead. 
This  land  he  cut  and  burned  over,  grubbed,  broke  and  improved, 
and  has  since  carried  on  general  farming.  He  was  married  on 
January  32.  1870,  to  Anna  Regenfuss,  born  in  Washington 
county,  Wisconsin,  June  17,  1849,  of  German  ancestry.  She  died 
June  ]3,  1908,  leaving  six  children:  George  J.,  the  Dexter  phy- 
sician ;  John,  a  farmer  of  Windom  township  in  this  county ;  Mar- 
garetha,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Mueller,  of  Austin  township ;  Kunnie, 
who  died  before  her  mother ;  Conrad,  on  the  old  farm  in  Wis- 
consin, and  Cecilia  and  Mary,  who  are  likewise  at  home  with 
their  father. 

0.  W.  Shaw,  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Austin, 
has  continued  in  this  position  for  over  four  decades  and  his  cor- 
diality and  business  acumen  have  raised  what  was  at  the  start 
a  small  village  bank,  well  to  the  foremost  as  one  of  the  sound 
financial  institutions  of  southern  Minnesota.  Though  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  enterprises,  he  is  unassuming,  democratic  and 
easily  approachable  by  any  who  need  his  assistance  or  advice, 
and  his  opinions  on  matters  of  business  policy  are  often  sought 
by  the  people  who  patronize  his  institution.  Amid  the  cares  and 
stress  of  a  busy  life,  he  has  found  time  to  become  a  deep  stu- 
dent of  early  United  States  history,  and  his  documents  and  first 
editions  of  rare  historical  works  are  of  a  value  which  only  the 
careful  collector  and  discriminating  observer  can  realize.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Carroll  county.  New  Hamp- 
shire, July  19,  3834,  sou  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth  (Lunt)  Shaw. 
When  yoiing  he  engaged  in  clerking.  For  three  years  he  was  at 
Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  then  for  two  years  was  in  a  wholesale  dry 
goods  house  in  Boston.  Afterward  he  was  for  three  years  in 
trade  in  New  Hampshire  with  Samuel  IMerrill.  Then,  with  ]Mr. 
Merrill  he  came  to  Iowa,  where  the  latter  afterward  became  one 
of  the  honored  governors  of  that  state.  For  some  years  the 
gentleraen  mentioned  conducted  a  general  store  at  McGregor, 
Iowa,  under  the  firm  name  of  Merrill,  Dearborn  &  Shaw.  In 
1867  Mr.  Shaw  went  to  Chicago,  and  for  a  short  period  engaged 
in  the  dry  goods  commission  business  with  a  partner,  the  firm 
name  being  Rollins  &  Shaw.  In  1867  he  came  to  Austin,  formed 
a  business  alliance  with  Harlan  W.  Page,  who  had  previously 
been  conducting  a  private  bank  here,  and  organized  the  First 


892  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUjS^TY 

National  Bank  of  Austin,  of  which  Mr.  Shaw  became  president 
and  Mr.  Page  cashier.  Aside  from  taking  an  active  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  Aiastin,  Mr.  Shaw  has  served  as  president  of  the 
state  board  of  control  for  the  school  for  dependent  children  at 
Owatouria.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Colonial  Wars,  the 
American  Historical  Association,  the  American  Academy  of 
Political  and  Social  Science,  and  the  National  Geographical  So- 
ciety. He  was  married  in  1862  to  Sarah  J.  Rollins,  daughter  of 
I).  G.  Rollins,  of  Great  Falls,  N.  H. 

C.  M.  Skyhawk,  one  of  tlie  prominent  men  of  Racine  town- 
ship, was  born  in  MoAver  county,  July  25,  1860,  son  of  Lewis 
and  Mary  Skyhawk,  who  came  to  Minnesota  from  Indiana  in 
1856.  They  were  typical  pioneers,  coming  the  whole  distance  in 
ox  wagons  and  homesteading  160  acres  in  section  29,  Racine 
township.  LeAvis  SkyhaAvk  died  in  1863  and  his  Avife  in  1891. 
C.  M.  Avas  educated  in  the  schools  of  IMoAver  county  and  Avas 
reared  on  a  farm.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  started  Avorking 
out  by  the  month  and  subsequently  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
the  old  homestead.  On  this  place  he  has  since  resided,  carrying 
on  general  farming  and  raising  cattle  for  beef  and  dairy  pur- 
poses. He  sells  cream  to  the  Racine  Farmers'  Co-operative 
Creamery,  in  Avhich  he  is  one  of  the  stockholders.  May  12,  1886, 
he  married  Emma  B.  Espensehied,  daughter  of  John  Espenschied, 
a  farmer  of  Raciue  toAvuship,  uoav  deceased.  John  Espenschied 
came  to  MoAver  county  before  the  Avar  and  after  enlisting  saw 
service  on  the  frontier  against  the  Indians.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
SkyhaAA'k  have  been  born  four  children:  Mertie,  Avho  is  one  of 
the  successful  teachers  o'f  Mower  county;  Gladys  E.,  AAdio  is  a 
telephone  operator;  Alta  J.,  Avife  of  Charles  A.  Cady,  of  Racine, 
and  Stanley  M.,  Avho  is  at  home.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  be- 
longs to  the  M.  W.  A.  and  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  Avas  toAvn  supervisor  twelve  years  and  director 
of  school  district-  33  for  fifteen  years. 

Otto  S.  Stenseth,  clerk  of  the  toAvn  of  Frankford,  is  a  na 
live  of  this  county,  born  on  the  farm  Avhere  he  still  resides,  No- 
vember 16,  1880,  son  of  Sever  and  Gjertrude  Stenseth.  He  Avas 
reared  on  the  home  farm,  received  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools  and  continued  farming  Avith  his  father  until  1902, 
Avhen  he  rented  the  home  farm.  Since  that  date  he  has  success- 
fully conducted  general  farming  operations.  He  votes  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  belongs  to  the  M.  W.  A.  and  attends  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Sever  Stenseth  Avas  born  in  NorAvay  and  came  to  America 
iu  1866.  After  liAing  in  Racine  a  year,  he  purchased  forty  acres 
in  section  16,  Frankford  toAvnship.  To  this  he  later  added  sixty 
acres  in  section  15,  making  100  acres  in  all.     On  this  farm  he 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY'  89o 

and  his  wife  Gjertrude  still  live,  although  they  rent  the  place 
to  their  son  Otto  S.  Of  their  twelve  children  seven  are  living. 
They  are:  luger,  wife  of  Sever  Kval,  of  Frankford  township; 
Sarah,  wife  of  S.  E.  Wilsie,  of  Grand  Meadow;  Emma,  wife  of 
Peter  AVeeks,  of  Racine  village;  Sever;  Nels,  of  Grand  IMeadow ; 
Otto  S.,  of  Frankford,  and  Sophia. 

Charles  H.  Steffens,  a  large  stock  raiser  of  Racine  township, 
was  born  in  Fillmore  county,  this  state,  December  24,  1861,  son 
of  Richard  and  Mercy  (Hammond)  Steffens,  natives  of  Canada. 
The  father  Richard  went  to  California  in  1852  and  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  six  years.  Then  he  returned  to  Canada 
iuid  was  there  married  October  26,  1860.  Subsequently  he  and 
Ills  wil'e  came  to  Fillmore  county  and  purchased  160  acres  of 
land.  Richard  Steffens  died  in  1883  and  his  wife  Mercy  at 
Spring  Valley  in  1907.  Charles  H.  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  and  taught  school  live  years,  this  period  in- 
cluding one  year's  service  in  the  schools  of  Grand  Meadow.  In 
1884  he  finished  a  full  course  in  the  Normal  School  at  Winona. 
Later  lie  settled  on  his  present  farm,  where  he  has  been  very 
prosperous.  He  is  one  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town,  has  been 
treasurer  of  school  district  34  for  twenty-three  years  and  belongs 
to  the  Grange  and  the  M.  W.  A.  He  is  one  of  the  extensive  farm- 
ers of  the  coanty,  cultivating  465  acres,  a  part  of  which  he  leases. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married,  December  24,  1885,  to 
Ella  Felch,  daughter  of  C.  J.  Felch,  first  probate  judge  of  Mower 
county.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  eight  children.  Nellie 
M.  is  a  student  at  Carlton  College.  Bonnie  Richard  graduated 
from  the  agricultural  school  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
and  is  now  employed  by  the  state  drainage  commission.  Alice  is 
at  home.  David  B.  is  a. student  in  the  Spring  Valley  High  School. 
Joseph  AVarren  died  October  20,  1895,  aged  one  year  and  four- 
teen days.  Charlotte  and  Raymond  attend  the  Racine  village 
school.  The  youngest  of  the  family  is  Lincoln.  The  family  faith 
is  that  of  the  ]\Iethodist  Episcopal  church. 

Hon.  Charles  J.  Felch,  first  judge  of  probate  of  Mower  county, 
was  born  in  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York,  January  1,  1818, 
son  of  Benjamin  Felch,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  He  was 
reared  in  his  native  state  and  in  1842  married  Mercy  G.  Barrows, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children.  David  F.  M.  enlisted  in  the 
Ninth  Alinneapolis  Volunteer  Infantry  and  died  in  a  war  hos- 
pital. Benjamin  F.  died  from  injuries  caused  by  being  thrown 
from  a  horse.  The  two  youngest  died  in  infancy.  ]Mercy  Bar- 
rows Felch  died  in  "Wisconsin  in  1850,  and  Mr.  Felch  was  mar- 
ried, January  1,  1852,  to  Hannah  L.  Sheldeii.  a  native  of 
Steuben  county.  New  Y'ork.  Two  cliildreii  blessed  this  union, 
Charles   II.,  deceased,  and  Ella  II.     Mr.  Fcldi   came   to   ^tlower 


894  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

county  in  1855  and  purchased  two  pre-emption  claims,  one  from 
Joseph  Kobb  and  the  other  from  J.  D.  Gregory.  These  claims 
had  been  made  in  1854.  Mr.  Felch  was  the  first  probate  judge 
in  this  county,  and  in  1863  and  1867  sat  in  the  senate  of  this 
state  as  representative  from  the  district  composed  of  Mower  and 
Dodge  counties.  He  was  also  elected  county  commissioner  in 
1870  and  also  for  the  succeeding  term.  He  died  November  1, 
1893. 

John  Terlinden,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Frankford  township, 
was  born  in  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  February  6,  1858, 
son  of  Jacob  and  Katherine  Terlinden,  natives  of  the  Ehine  coun- 
try in  Germany.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  county,  there  grew  to  manhood  and  remained  at 
home  engaged  in  agriculturiil  pursuits  until  1884,  when  he  came 
to  Minnesota,  located  in  Carver  county,  and  purchased  ninety- 
six  acres  of  land  in  Young  America  township.  There  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  1900,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county  and 
purchased  160  acres  in  Frankford  township,  half  in  section  17 
and  half  in  section  20.  He  greatly  improved  the  land  and  build- 
ings and  has  successfully  conducted  farming  operations.  Mr. 
Terlinden  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  at 
Grand  Meadow  and  in  the  Geiser  Threshing  Company  No.  1,  of 
Frankford  township.  He  is  a  Eepublican,  attends  the  German 
Lutheran  church  and  belongs  to  the  M.  W.  A.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  married,  September  18,  1884,  to  Amelia  Buss, 
of  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  and  they  have  seven  chil- 
dren :  Jacob,  John,  Minnie,  Lizzie,  Henry,  William  and  Clar- 
rissy.  Jacob  Terlinden  was  born  in  the  Rhine  country  in  Ger- 
many and  with  his  wife  Katherine  came  to  America  in  1843. 
After  stopping  a  month  in  Milwa^^kee,  they  located  in  Fond  du 
Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  and  there  farmed  the  remainder  of  their 
days,  Jacob  dying  in  1886  and  Katherine  in  1906.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children:  Peter  lives  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Fond  du  Lac  county;  Katherine  is  Mrs.  Henry  Schmidt,  of 
Wayne,  Wis. ;  Sybila  is  Mrs.  John  Wagnor,  of  Grand  Meadow ; 
Minnie  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five;  John  lives  in  Frankford 
tOAvnship,  this  county ;  Jacob  lives  in  McLeod  county,  Minn. ; 
Jerry  lives  in  Carver  county,  Minnesota ;  Elizabeth  is  Mrs.  Will- 
iam Cisco,  of  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin;  Annie  is  Mrs. 
Amos  Cisco,  of  Thorpe,  Wisconsin. 

John  Wagner,  a  retired  farmer  now  living  in  Grand  Meadow, 
was  born  in  Germany,  December  19,  1850,  son  of  John  and 
Amelia  (Hodlemau)  Wagner.  He  was  brought  to  America  by 
his  parents  in  1856.  at  the  age  of  six  years,  and  at  the  age  of  ten 
years  was  taken  to  Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
attended  school  and  grew  to  manhood.     Then  he  went  with  his 


MB.  AND  MRS.  JOHN  WAGNKR. 


HISTOEY  OF  M0WE1{  COUNTY  895 

parents  to  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.,  and  there  worked  with  his  father 
until  twenty-four  years  of  age.  At  that  age  he  started  out  in 
life  for  himself  as  a  carpenter,  working  four  years  for  one  man 
in  Campbellsport,  Wis.  In  1878  he  came  to  Mower  county,  and 
purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  Fraukford  township,  section  21. 
On  this  farm  he  labored  faithfully,  developing  the  land,  erect- 
ing buildings,  and  adding  various  tracts  from  time  to  time  until 
he  owned  850  acres,  all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  a  255- 
aere  tract,  which  he  sold.  In  1906  he  rented  his  farm  and  moved 
to  the  village,  where  he  now  occupies  one  of  the  finest  homes  in 
the  village.  He  was  married  in  October,  1878,  to  Amelia  Dick- 
man,  who  died  in  February,  1885,  leaving  four  children :  Her- 
man, who  is  on  the  old  homestead ;  John  F.,  who  lives  in  Fillmore 
county;  Emma,  who  married  Ora  Bennett,  a  contractor  of  Wheat- 
land, Wyo.,  and  Lydia,  who  died  in  1895.  Mr.  Wagner  was  mar- 
ried the  second  time  March  18,  1886,  to  Syvilla  Terlinden,  who 
was  born  in  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  November  10,  1853. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  two  children :  Amanda,  now  Mrs. 
August  Detloff,  of  Frankford  township,  and  Helen,  who  lives  at 
home.  Mr.  Wagner  is  a  staunch  Republican,  a  director  of  the 
school  board  of  his  district,  and  a  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church. 

John  Wagner,  Sr.,  and  Amelia  Hodleman,  his  wife,  parents  of 
John  Wagner,  Jr.,  were  natives  of  Germany.  They  crossed  the 
briny  deep  in  1856  and  located  in  Milwaukee  for  a  period  of 
four  years,  during  which  period  the  senior  Wagner  followed  his 
trade  as  a  blacksmith.  In  1860  this  rugged  blacksmith  moved 
his  family  to  Washington  county  in  the  same  state,  and  after 
following  his  trade  for  a  while  purchased  thirty  acres  of  land, 
erected  a  shop  and  combined  farming  with  blacksmithing  for 
fifteen  years.  Then  he  went  to  Fond  du  Lac  county,  in  the  same 
state,  and  there  farmed  until  1892.  Then  he  came  to  ]Mower 
county,  purchased  160  acres,  and  was  on  the  high  road  to  suc- 
cess and  prosperity,  when,  in  October,  1895,  while  driving  a 
horse  rake,  he  was  thrown  from  the  vehicle  by  a  runaway  horse, 
and  was  killed.  His  wife  died  October  4,  1910.  John  Wagner, 
Sr.,  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  eight  children  :  John,  who 
is  a  retired  farmer  of  Grand  Meadow;  Amelia,  now  ]\Irs.  AYilliam 
Krouse,  of  Grand  Meadow  township;  William,  of  Walii)eton, 
X.  D. ;  Ida,  who  married  Cliarles  Fuchs,  and  died  March,  1909; 
IIi«rman,  of  Arthur,  N.  D. ;  Albert;  Frank,  of  Grand  Meadow, 
iiiul  Anna,  now  ]\[rs.  Haskell  Yonsie. 

Jacob  Terlinder  and  Katlierine  Engefels,  his  wife,  parents  of 
-Mrs.  John  Wagner,  of  Grand  IMeadow,  were  natives  of  Germany 
and  came  to  America  at  an  early  day,  locating  in  Fond  du  Lac. 
Wis.,  where  they  farmed  all  their  lives.     They  were  the  parents 


896  HISTORY  OF  MOWEU  COUNTY 

of  nine  children :  Peter,  who  is  on  the  old  homestead  in  Fond  du 
Lac  county,  Wisconsin;  Katherine,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Henry 
Schmidt,  of  Wayne,  Wis. ;  Syvilla,  now  Mrs.  John  Wagner,-  of 
Grand  Meadow ;  John,  of  Frankford  township ;  Mina,  now  dead ; 
Jacob,  of  Glencoe,  Minn. ;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  AVilliam  N.  Cisco, 
of  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin;  Gerhard,  of  Young  America, 
Minn.,  and  Anna,  now  Mrs.  Amos  Crico,  of  Thorpe,  Wis. 

D.  C.  Sanborn,  of  Racine  township,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war, 
was  born  in  Canada,  January  20,  1844,  sou  of  Stephen  and  Rhoda 
(Clement)  Sanborn,  who  took  him  to  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin, 
when  he  was  in  his  first  year.  In  1861,  D.  C.  aud  his  father  came 
to  Racine  township  and  purchased  land,  but  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  enlisted  almost  at  once  in  the  Civil  war.  After  serving 
his  term  of  three  months  in  the  Second  Wisconsin  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Twelfth  United  States 
Infantry,  and  remained  in  active  service  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  seeing  active  service  at  Cedar  Mountain,  Antietam,  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville.  Get- 
tysburg, third  Chancellorsville  or  Mine  Run,  the  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  Hatches'  Run,  Pebble's  Farm,  Bethel 
Church,  the  Weldon  Railroad,  and  in  many  minor  engagements 
and  continuous  skirmishing.  He  received  his  discharge  at  El- 
mira,  N.  Y.,  April  21,  1865,  and  then  returned  to  Racine  town- 
ship, where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  26,  and 
farmed  until  1900,  in  the  meantime,  from  1872  to  1882,  buying 
and  shipping  cattle  to  Milwaukee  and  Chicago  markets.  Mr. 
Sanborn  is  an  independent  Republican  and  was  town  supervisor 
for  thirteen  years,  as  well  as  assessor  eleven  years.  He  was 
treasurer  of  his  school  district  twenty-one  years.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  married  November  25,  1865,  to  Sarah  Hall,  who 
died  March  5,  1910.  An  adopted  son,  William  C,  is  now  in 
North  Dakota. 

Munson  0.  Wilsie,  who  has  been  manager  at  Grand  Meadow 
for  the  C.  L.  Coleman  Lumber  Company  since  1873,  was  born 
in  Irondequoit,  Monroe  county,  New  York,  April  20,  18-43,  son 
of  German  T.  and  Hannah  (Hance)  Wilsie,  both  of  New  York 
colonial  families.  He  was  brought  to  Minnesota  by  his  parents 
in  1856  and  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Olmsted  county,  receiving 
his  education  in  that  county  and  in  the  academy  at  Chatfield,  in 
Fillmore  county.  After  farming  a  few  years  he  went  to  Rush- 
ford,  in  this  state,  and  was  employed  in  the  grain  business,  having 
the  distinction  of  shipping  the  first  bushel  of  wheat  over  what 
was  then  the  Southern  Minnesota  railroad.  Later  he  assumed 
his  present  connection,  and  has  since  taken  his  part  in  the  affairs 
of  the  village.  The  confidence  in  which  he  is  held  is  shown  by  the 
fact  that  he  was  the  first  worshipful  master  of  Grand  Meadow 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  Sit? 

Lodge,  No.  121,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married 
Mary  Hall,  daughter  of  Philander  and  Emilie  (Riddle)  Hall, 
and  they  have  the  following  children :  Orville,  Willis  A.,  Edah  B., 
Emma  L.,  Stephen  E.,  Ethel  H.,  Giles  H.,  Ralph  M.  and  F.  Leigh. 
]\lrs.  Wilsie  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  her  father  was  a  native 
of  New  York  state.  German  T.  Wilsie  and  Hannah  Hance,  his 
wife,  were  both  descended  from  the  earlier  colonists  of  New  York 
state.  They  came  west  in  1844,  and  located  near  Lansing,  Mich., 
■where  they  remained  a  year.  In  December,  1845,  they  settled 
in  Southport,  now  Racine,  Wis.,  and  a  year  later  went  to  Fond  du 
Lac,  in  the  same  state,  remaining  ten  years.  In  1856  they  lo- 
cated in  Olmsted  county,  this  state,  and  there  German  T.  passed 
away,  in  1902.  His  wife,  aged  ninety-one,  makes  her  residence 
in  Grand  Meadow  with  her  son.  Edah  B.,  daughter  of  Munson 
0.  Wilsie,  married  L.  M.  Hunt,  and  they  have  five  children : 
Lloyd,  Claude,  Earl,  Franklin  and  Esther  H. 

Herbert  6.  Willson,  proprietor  of  Burr  Oak  Farm,  is  one  of 
the  scientific  farmers  of  Frankford  township  and  carries  on  ag- 
ricultural operations  along  the  latest  approved  methods.  His 
home  is  comfortable  and  well  located,  his  outbuildings  are  in 
excellent  condition  and  his  laud  is  in  a  high  stage  of  cultiva- 
tion. The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Ashtabula  county. 
Ohio,  April  9,  1853,  son  of  Samuel  and  Charlotte  (Taylor)  Will- 
son.  He  was  brought  by  them  to  Frankford  township  at  the  age 
of  nine  years  and  here  he  w^as  reared  to  manhood.  After  at- 
tending the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  he  entered  the  normal 
school  at  Winona  and  graduated  in  1878.  After  teaching  in  the 
district  schools  of  Frankford  two  years  he  rented'  a  farm  and 
started  in  life  for  himself.  In  1880  he  purchased  the  old  home- 
stead from  the  other  heirs  and  gave  his  father  a  life  lease  of 
same.  From  year  to  year  he  has  made  improvements  and  he 
now  successfully  conducts  general  farming,  making  a  specialty 
of  his  grade  Shorthorn  cattle.  Shropshire  sheep  and  Poland- 
China  hogs.  Mr.  Willson  is  an  independent  Republican,  and  has 
been  clerk  of  the  school  board  of  his  district  for  many  years. 
He  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  M.  W.  A.,  the  A.  O.  V.  W. 
Mr.  AYillson  was  married,  December  1,  1881,  at  Spring  Valley, 
to  Abbie  R.  Rafferty,  born  in  Frankford  township,  July  23,  1861, 
daughter  of  Francis  and  Helen  (Weed)  Rafferty,  the  former  of 
whom  was  for  many  years  a  blacksmith  in  the  old  village  of 
Frankford  and  died  June  18,  1902.  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Willson  have 
been  blessed  with  two  sons.  Clark  M.  is  a  young  man  of  nuich 
promise.  He  was  born  February  14,  1883,  atteiuled  the  Spring 
Valley  High  School  and  then  entered  the  Northwestern  Univer- 
sity at  Chicago,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1905  with  a  dental 
degree.     He  at   once   took  up   his  profession   in   Spring  Valley 


898  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUJs^TY 

and  had  practiced  for  three  months,  when  he  was  stricken  with 
appendicitis.  He  underwent  an  operation  and  since  then  has  not 
entirely  recovered  his  health.  Harold  F.  was  born  November  26, 
1895,  and  attends  the  Spring  Valley  High  School.  Harold  is  a 
bright  boy  and  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  agricultural  affairs, 
making  a  specialty  of  poultry.  Since  he  was  a  very  small  boy 
he  owned  a  flock  of  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  fowls,  and  has  won 
many  prizes.  He  now  conducts  a  nice  business  in  this  line  him- 
self. His  birds  command  an  excellent  price  in  the  markets  and 
his  printed  matter  descriptive  of  his  pens  is  most  excellent.  His 
chickens  are  of  the  best  in  shape  and  color  and  of  a  laying  strain 
that  is  unsurpassed.  The  stock  showed  their  quality  by  winning 
in  1910  four  firsts,  two  seconds  and  one  third  at  Spring  Valley 
and  Austin. 

Samuel  Willson  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York, 
and  married  Charlotte  Taylor,  also  a  native  of  the  same  county. 
They  located  in  Ohio  in  1853,  and  in  1858  came  to  Winona  county 
in  this  state.  In  1862  they  came  to  Frankford  township,  this 
county,  and  located  on  section  36.  At  that  time  but  fifteen  acres 
had  been  broken  and  a  log  house  had  been  built.  The  rest  of 
the  land  he  broke  and  developed,  built  a  frame  house  and  other 
buildings  and  followed  general  farming  until  his  death  February 
12,  1908.  His  wife  died  on  January  14,  1896.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  children:  Orson,  of  North  Dakota;  Helen,  wife 
of  Marcus  M.  Chatfield,  of  Minot,  N.  D. ;  Herbert  G.,  of  Frank- 
ford  township,  and  Cassius,  of  Hammond,  Ore.  Mrs.  Willson  is 
a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star  and  of  the  Royal  Neighbors.  Clark 
M.  is  a  Mason  and  Eastern  Star. 

Everard  J.  van  Bronkhorst,  successful  dentist  of  Grand 
Meadow,  was  born  in  Austin,  January  6,  1878,  son  of  Anthony 
and  Annetta  (Riss)  van  Bronkhorst.  He  attended  the  graded 
schools  of  Austin  and  graduated  from  the  Austin  high  school. 
Tn  1895  he  entered  the  University  of  Minnesota  and  three  years 
later  graduated  from  the  dental  course  in  that  institution.  He 
first  started  practice  at  Lyle,  in  this  county,  and  two  years  later 
entered  into  partnership  with  Alvin  M.  Lewis,  of  Austin.  This 
partnership  continued  eight  years  and  on  Auugst  1,  1908,  Dr.  Van 
Bronkhorst  came  to  Grand  Meadow,  where  he  has  since  prac- 
ticed his  profession  with  marked  success.  He  has  a  well-equipped 
office  and  the  beautiful  home  which  he  has  just  completed  in  the 
village  speaks  for  itself  as  to  his  success,  taste  and  popularity. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Mower  County  Dental  Association  and 
of  the  M.  W.  A.,  his  political  beliefs  being  embodied  in  the  plat- 
form of  the  Republican  party.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  mnr- 
ried  Louise  Siebert,  of  Wells,  Minn.,  and  this  union  has  been 
idessed  Avith  one  son,  Siebert  A.,  born  November  6,  1907.     An- 


SEYMOUR  JOHNSON. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEli  COUKTY  899 

thony  J.  van  Broiikhorst  was  born  in  Holland  and  after  coming 
to  America  located  in  Forest  Grove,  Mich.  Annetta  Riss  was 
also  born  in  Holland,  and  came  to  Illinois  when  young.  They 
first  met  in  Austin  and  were  here  married.  Anthony  van  Bronk- 
horst  was  a  painter  and  paper  hanger.  He  died  June  21,  1909, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  April  19,  1888,  both  being  buried  in 
Austin.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children :  Everard  J., 
Josie,  Mattie  and  Henry  F.  Josie  is  the  wife  of  Jesse  Jones, 
of  Austin;  Mattie  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  A.  E.  Donker,  of  Forest 
Grove,  Mich. ;  Henry  F.  is  cashier  for  the  Chicago  Great  Western 
at  Rochester.  Minn. 

Walter  Watson,  one  of  the  foremost  farmers  of  Grand  Meadow 
township,  has  resided  in  this  county  nearly  twenty-four  years, 
and  during  all  that  time  has  maintained  an  enviable  record  for 
honesty  and  fair  dealing.  He  has  a  comfortable  house  which  he 
erected  several  years  ago,  spacious  outbuildings  and  sleek- 
looking  stock,  as  well  as  a  full  complement  of  tools  and  machinery 
suited  to  general  farming.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Fountain,  Fillmore  county,  September  2-4,  1864,  son  of  James 
and  Sarah  (Means)  Watson,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native 
of  Mishawaka,  Ind.,  and  the  latter  of  Indianapolis,  in  the  same 
state.  They  settled  in  Fillmore  county  in  1852.  Walter  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm,  attended  the  district  schools,  and 
after  his  marriage  took  up  farming  for  himself  on  a  rented  farm. 
In  1887  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  purchased  his  present 
place  of  240  acres,  partly  in  Grand  Meadow  township  and  partly 
in  Dexter  township.  He  married  Kate  Schmidt,  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Pider)  Schmidt,  and  they  have  nine 
children:  Zella,  Eva,  Nettie,  Byron,  Lloyd,  Cora  M.  (deceased), 
Chester,  Walter  and  Raehael.  Zella  is  the  wife  of  Stephen  Brown 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Valora.  Nettie  is  the  wife  of  Elmer 
Young  and  they  have  one  son,  Harold. 

Seymour  Johnson,  retired  manufacturer  and  patentee  of  the 
well  known  Johnson  harrows  and  breaking  plows,  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city.  While  he  is  a  man  of 
keen  business  intelligence,  nevertheless  a  broad  charity  of  thought 
and  action  has  permeated  his  life,  and  often  has  he  followed  the 
line  of  upright  and  unselfish  conduct  when  acts  whicli  the  busi- 
ness Avorld  does  not  look  upon  as  entirely  dishonest  might  have 
resulted  in  his  financial  profit.  In  business  life  and  in  politics 
his  influence  has  been  for  good,  and  it  may  truly  be  said  that  his 
life  has  been  of  real  benefit  to  the  world.  He  was  born  in 
Ringerike,  Norway,  December  29,  1841,  and  was  but  a  year  old 
when  his  father,  Hans  Johanson,  died.  His  mother,  Ingeborg 
Ander-sen,  a  woman  of  courage  and  pluck,  came  to  America  with 
her  fatherless  boys  in  1855  and  located  in  AVaupun,  AVis.,  living 


900  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

there  until  1892,  Avhen  she  came  to  Austin,  lived  with  Seymour 
Johnson,  and  ended  her  days  in  December,  1893.  The  subject, 
of  this  sketch  came  to  America  with  his  mother  in  1855.  He 
received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  by  self 
study  and  attentive  reading  acquired  a  good  education  both  in 
English  and  Norwegian.  He  also  worked  in  a  newspaper  office 
in  Wisconsin  for  a  time,  and  this  assisted  in  his  English  educa- 
tion. At  an  early  age  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade.  In  1862 
he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  serving  in  Company  A,  Thirty- 
second  AVisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  until  mustered  out  at  tlie 
close  of  the  war.  May  10,  1865.  He  fought  with  Sherman  in  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  was  with  that  army  on  its  famous 
snarcli  to  the  sea,  participating  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  After  being  discharged  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  May  10, 
1865,  he  remained  in  Wisconsin  and  followed  his  trade  as  a  black- 
smith for  a  time.  He  came  to  Austin  March  27,  1867,  and  started 
in  the  manufacture  of  farm  implements,,  forming  a  copartnership 
v/ith  R.  0.  Hunt  in  the  fall  of  1867.  In  1870  Mr.  Hunt  went  to 
California  and  Mr.  Johnson  formed  a  copartnership  with  L.  S. 
Mitchell  for  one  year,  after  which  he  bought  out  Mr.  JMitchell 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  H.  S.  Smith.  After  Mr.  Smith's 
death  in  1893  the  firm  was  continued  under  the  name  of  Johnson 
&  Smith  and  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Johnson  until  No- 
vember 1,  1900,  when  Mr.  Johnson  sold  out  to  the  heirs  of  H.  S. 
Smith,  and  retired  from  business  owing  to  ill  health.  Mr.  John- 
son served  his  city  as  recorder  for  one  term,  and  as  an  alderman 
for  several  years,  being  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket,  iu  the 
principles  of  which  party  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  firm  believer.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  charter  commission  of  Austin.  He  has  been 
through  the  chairs  of  the  I.  0.  0.  P.,  of  which  he  is  now  a  past 
noble  grand  and  he  is  also  a  charter  member  and  past  commander 
of  the  G.  A.  R.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  December 
22,  1866,  to  Lena  Johnson,  of  Waupun.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  with  two  children:  A.  E.  Johnson,  Avho  is  cashier  of  the 
Farmers'  and  Merchants'  State  Bank,  of  Blooming  Prairie,  and 
Stella  L.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  0.  H.  Hegge,  and  a  prominent 
club  woman  of  Austin.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  United 
Norwegian  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Johnson  is  the  only 
surviving  charter  member.  The  family  residence  is  at  402  Man- 
kato  street  and  was  erected  in  1868,  a  large  addition  being  con- 
structed in  1880.  Mr.  Johnson  has  been  a  successful  business 
man  and  owns  considerable  property  in  and  around  Austin.  He 
was  closely  connected  with  the  organization  of  the  Citizens' 
National  Bank,  but  sold  out  his  interest  in  1903.  He  is  at  present 
the  president  of  the  Austin  Building  and  Loan  Association  and 
a  director  in  the  Farmers'  and  Merchants'  State  Bank,  of  Bloom- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  901 

iug  Prairie.  The  daughter,  Stella  L.,  now  Mrs.  0.  H.  Hcgge,  is 
greatly  interested  in  music  and  at  various  times  has  sung  in  all 
the  leading  choirs  of  Austin,  being  at  present  leader  of  the 
Lutheran  church  choir.  She  was  born  in  Austin,  graduated  from 
the  Austin  high  school,  and  being  of  a  musical  turn  of  mind 
studied  music  at  home.  She  has  taken  considerable  interest  in 
club  work,  and  is  ex-president  of  the  Art  and  Travel  Club.  She 
is  at  present  president  of  the  Floral  Club,  the  third  oldest  women 's 
club  in  the  United  States.  Mrs.  Hegge  has  taken  great  interest  in 
church  and  benevolent  work,  and  is  president  of  the  Lutheran 
Ladies'  Aid  Society,  secretary  of  the  Ladies'  Auxiliary  to  St. 
Olav's  Hospital,  and  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Austin  Y.  W.  C.  A. 

John  M.  WyckofF  was  born  in  the  town  of  Chester,  Morris 
county,  New  Jersey,  October  7,  1827,  the  oldest  of  six  children, 
and  descended  from  one  of  the  early  colonial  settlers  of  New 
Jersey.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  Henry  H. 
■\Vyckoff,  and  then  started  farming  for  himself  in  Somerset 
county,  New  Jersey.  In  November,  1851,  he  married  Henrietta 
Honeyman,  daughter  of  James  Honeyman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wyckoff 
came  to  LeRoy  toAvnship  in  April,  1856,  and  on  the  second  of  the 
following  month  Mr.  Wyckoff  laid  claim  to  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  30,  entering  this  land  at  the  United  States  land  office 
Avhich  at  that  time  was  located  at  Chatfield,  Minn.  In  1859  he 
bought  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
29,  in  the  same  town,  from  George  Peck.  In  1861  he  sold  to 
Milton  Sadler,  and  settled  in  the  old  village  of  LeRoy.  In  186-4 
he  bought  out  the  Rev.  T.  P.  Ropes,  on  section  28,  adjoining  the 
old  village  of  LeRoy.  In  1868  he  settled  in  LeRoy  station,  where 
he  still  resides.  In  March,  1868,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of 
F.  M.  Goodykoontz,  the  first  lawyer  to  settle  in  LeRoy,  he  engaged 
with  him  in  the  law  and  real  estate  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Goodykoontz  &  AYyckoflf.  In  1869  he  purchased  his 
partner's  interest  and  continued  the  business  alone,  being  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  Austin,  Minn.,  September  21,  1870,  before 
Hon.  N.  M.  Donaldson,  district  judge.  He  was  elected  town  clerk 
seven  and  justice  of  the  peace  five  consecutive  years  in  the  early 
days  of  the  township.  He  was  chosen  to  the  legislature  of  1862 
and  later  was  elected  county  auditor,  his  term  beginning  March 
1,  1879. 

Rev.  David  Svennungsen,  pastor  of  the  United  Norwegian 
Lutheran  Congregation  at  LeRoy  and  of  several  other  congrega- 
tions in  the  neighborhood,  was  born  in  Winona,  Minn.,  iNIarch  26, 
1876,  son  of  Stener  and  Divert  (Frieh)  Svennungsen.  The  Rev. 
Stener  Svennungsen  camfe  from  Norway  with  his  parents  in  1848, 
when  five  years  of  age,  and  located  at  Muskeego,  AYis.  In  1856 
Ihey  removed  to  Chickasaw  county,  Iowa,  being  among  the  early 


902  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

settlers  there.  He  attended  the  Upper  Iowa  University,  th(^ 
Luther  College,  of  Deeorah,  Iowa,  and  the  Concordia  Seminary, 
of  St.  Louis.  He  was  then  ordained  in  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
Synod,  and  has  since  filled  various  pastorates,  being  now  located 
at  Sherwood,  N.  D.  David  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools,  at  the  Deeorah  Institute  in  Iowa,  St.  Olaf's  College  at 
Northfield  and  the  United  Church  Seminary  of  St.  Anthony 
Park,  St.  Paul,  graduating  from  the  theological  course  in  the 
latter  institution  in  1904.  He  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of 
the  United  Church  at  Albert  Lea  June  12  of  the  same  year.  His 
first  pastorate  was  at  Rugby,  N.  D.  While  there  he  also  labored 
in  the  interests  of  the  Good  Samaritan  Hospital,  acting  as  finan- 
cial secretary  from  the  time  it  was  founded.  This  is  a  very 
substantial  structure,  aggregating  a  cost  of  $60,000,  and  is  oper- 
ated and  owned  by  the  Sheyenne  Kreds  Hospital  Association  of 
the  United  Chureh.  In  1911  he  received  a  call  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  United  Lutheran  Church  at  LeRoy,  and  was  installed 
February  26,  his  field  including  also  Saterdal's  congregation  in 
Fillmore  county  and  congregations  at  Cresco  and  Ridgeway  in 
Iowa.  Rev.  Svennungsen  was  married  October  26,  1904,  to  Carrie 
Groethe,  daughter  of  0.  M.  and  Guro  (Tonjum)  Groethe,  who 
located  in  Mower  county  in  1865  and  remained  until  1902,  when 
they  moved  to  Elk  Point,  S.  D.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Svennungsen  have 
three  children:  Rolf  G.,  born  August  1,  1905;  Steinar  D.,  born 
September  18,  1907,  and  David  K.,  born  January  3,  1910. 

Nathan  F.  Banfleld,  vice-president  and  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  of  Austin,  was  born  in  West  Roxbury,  ]\Iass., 
November  15,  1860.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of  six  children.  His 
parents,  Everett  C.  and  Anne  S.  (Fiske)  Banfield,  both  descended 
from  early  New  England  families.  He  received^  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  his  native  place,  in  Adelphia  Academy, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  a  private  school  in  Washington,  D.  C,  in 
Bates  school,  San  Francisco  and  in  Wolfeboro  Academy,  at  Wolfe- 
boro,  N.  II.  Later  he  attended  Phillips  Academy,  at  Andover, 
Mass.,  and  was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1879.  He  came  to  Austin 
to  enter  the  employ  of  the  First  National  Bank  in  IMarch,  1879. 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  To  him  promotions  came  with  the 
passing  years:  In  1882  he  became  assistant  cashier,  a  director  in 
January,  1884,  in  1885  cashier  and  in  1903  was  elected  vice-presi- 
dent. He  served  for  some  years  as  treasurer  of  the  city  of  Austin 
and  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education.  He  was  married  July 
5,  1882,  to  Nellie  Sterling,  daughter  of  James  M.  Sterling,  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Austin.  To  them  were  born  seven  children: 
Nathan  F.,  Jr.,  Helen  S.,  Annie  F.,  Everett  C,  Richard  S.,  Gert- 
rude S.  and  Ai'thur  F.  Nathan  F.,  Jr.,  received  his  education  at 
tlic   Austin  liigh  school   and  the  TTniversity  of   Minnesota.     He 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  903 

ciitpi'pd  the  employ  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Austin  in 
August,  1904,  and  became  a  director  of  that  bank  in  January, 
1900.  Helen  S.  was  graduated  from  Vassar  College,  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  in  the  class  of  1908.  Annie  F.  died  in  January, 
1891,  at  the  age  of  three  years.  Everett  C.  is  at  Amherst  College, 
Aniherst,  Mass.,  a  member  of  the  class  of  1912.  Tlie  three  younger 
children  are  in  the  Austin  schools,  Richard  graduating  in  the  class 
of  1911. 

A.  J.  Hayes,  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank,  of  LeRoy,  was 
born  in  the  village  where  he  now  resides  June  18,  1873,  son  of 
the  pioneers,  Wentworth  and  Eliza  A.  (Bishop)  Hayes.  He 
received  his  early  schooling  in  the  village  schools  of  LeRoy  and 
then  attended  the  Pillsbnry  Academy,  at  Owatonna.  After  com- 
pleting his  coiu-se  at  that  institution  he  entered  the  employ  of  his 
father's  store,  remaining  six  years.  In  1901  he  became  assistant 
cashier  of  tlie  First  State  Bank,  and  his  merit  soon  secured  his 
promotion  to  his  present  position.  He  is  a  popular  member  of  the 
I.  0.  0.  F.  and  of  the  M.  W.  A.  Mr.  Hayes  married  Tennie 
Griffith,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children, 
Bruce,  Loueta  and  Wentworth. 

Wentworth  Hayes,  a  retired  business  man  of  LeRoy,  has  taken 
an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  community,  and  his  sterling 
integrity  and  uprightness  have  won  for  him  an  enviable  place  in 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  Of  him  it  has  often  been  said 
that  his  life  has  been  an  exemplification  of  the  theory  that  abso- 
lute honesty  in  business  brings  the  highest  meed  of  success,  even 
in  these  days  when  dishonesty  seems  so  rampant  in  public  and 
private  life.  "Wentworth  Hayes  was  born  in  Alton,  Belknap 
county,  New  Hampshire,  May  23,  1831,  son  of  Joseph  and  Betsy 
(Brewster)  Hayes,  natives  of  New  Y''ork,  and  prominent  farmers 
in  that  state.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  Alton,  and  then  entered  the 
Wolfsborough  Academy,  at  AVolfsborough,  N.  H.  After  gradua- 
tion from  this  academy  he  entered  the  employ  of  a  shoe  factory, 
and  became  so  expert  a  cutter  that  he  saved  his  employer  from 
one  to  one  and  a  half  cents  on  every  pair  of  shoos  made.  Mr. 
Hayes  continued  in  this  line  until  1854,  when  he  came  to  LeRoy 
and  located  in  the  old  village.  He  preempted  160  acres  of  timber 
land  and  later  purcliased  two  otlier  quarter  sections,  making  at 
that  time  480  acres.  In  1862  he  entered  into  contract  with  the 
United  States  government  for  carrying  mail,  and  for  nearly  four 
years  conducted  the  stage  routes  from  Decorah  to  O.sage  and 
from  Decorah  to  Preston  and  Chatfield.  Eleven  months  before 
his  four  years'  contract  had  expired,  he  sold  out.  making  $1,000 
bonus  on  the  contract  aside  from  clearing  thirty-five  per  cent  on 
his  equipment.     It  is  worthy  of  note  that   wliilc  in  this  business 


9M  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

he  had  a  stage  coach  imported  from  Concord,  N.  H.,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,000.  After  selling  his  stage  route  he  opened  a  store  in  the  old 
village  of  LeRoy,  and  Avhen  LeRoy  station  was  opened  he  moved 
his  place  of  business  to  the  new  location.  On  January  19  a  year 
and  a  half  later  his  store  was  burned,  entailing  a  loss  of  $13,000, 
with  only  $2,000  insurance.  This  caused  him  to  sell  some  of  his 
land  for  the  purpose  of  rebuilding  at  once.  He  successfully  con- 
tinued in  this  business  until  1898,  when  he  retired  from  active  life. 
He  has  since  spent  his  time  in  retirement,  making  his  home  in  a 
beautiful  residence  in  LeRoy  which  he  erected.  Aside  from  his 
mercantile  business  he  dealt  largely  in  farms  and  real  estate,  and 
also  did  a  large  stock  and  grain  business.  He  was  instrumental 
in  the  organization  of  the  First  State  Bank,  of  LeRoy,  and  later 
became  its  president,  holding  that  position  until  failing  health 
caused  his  retirement  from  same.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  August  18, 1858, to  Eliza  A.  Bishop,  who  Avas  born  May  16, 
1839,  at  Conneaut,  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  AVilliam 
and  Lucy  Bishop,  natives  of  Vermont.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hayes  have 
seven  children:  Carrie  M.  is  now  Mrs.  Charles  AVebber,  of 
Austin ;  Hattie  E.  is  now  Mrs.  Horace  Dubendortf ,  of  California ; 
Lillie  B.  is  wife  of  John  Stephan,  merchant  and  postmaster  at 
Waltham ;  Alice  A.  is  now  Mrs.  Fred  Hall,  of  Parsons,  Kan. ; 
Albert  J.  is  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank,  of  LeRoy ;  Iva  A.  is 
now  Mrs.  Prank  Thornhill,  of  Spring  Valley;  Bessie  is  now  Mrs. 
Robert  Woodburn,  of  Hampton,  Iowa.  The  merabers  of  the 
family  are  highly  thought  of  in  the  respective  communities 
wherein  they  have  made  their  homes. 

Hoyt  A.  Avery,  a  leading  dentist  of  Austin,  was  born  in 
Ripon,  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  August  20,  1856,  son  of 
Alonzo  and  Elizabeth  (Gleason)  Avery.  He  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Mower  county  in  1859,  and  went  with  them  to  Roch- 
ester, in  Olmsted  county,  in  1863.  There  he  spent  his  boyhood 
and  attended  the  public  schools.  In  1876  and  1877  he  attended 
the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  taking  a  dental  course. 
Afterward  he  came  to  Austin,  where  he  had  previously  worked  a 
few  months,  and  purchased  the  dental  office  appliances  and  busi- 
ness of  Dr.  John  Rabe.  Since  then  he  has  successfully  practiced 
his  profession  here,  winning  wide  favor  by  his  skill  and  geniality. 
Dr.  Avery  has  served  as  alderman  of  the  city  of  Austin  from  the 
second  ward  two  difPerent  terms,  and  has  just  started  on  his  fifth 
term  as  a  member  of  the  Austin  board  of  education,  of  which 
body  he  has  been  president  for  several  years.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  December  29,  1881,  to  Florence  N.  Judson, 
and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  four  children:  Everett  J. 
lives  in  Chicago.  Margaret  R.  lives  at  home  and  teaches  art  in 
the  Auslin  schools.     She  graduated  from  the  Austin  high  school. 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWKIJ  COUNTY  905 

studied  under  a  pi'ivate  tutor  two  years,  and  then  attended  the 
KSehool  of  Applied  Art  for  Women  at  New  York  city.  JZlizabeth 
S.  lives  at  home,  and  Kenneth  R.  lives  in  Argentine  Republic. 
South  America.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Congregational 
church.  Dr.  Avery  owns  a  stock  farm  of  480  acres  in  Oakland 
and  London  townships,  which  he  personally  supervises,  altliough 
he  has  a  local  manager.  On  this  place  he  makes  a  specialty  of 
raising  thoroughbred  registered  Percheron  horses  for  the  market. 

Alonzo  Avery,  a  pioneer,  was  born  in  New  York  state  July  14, 
1830.  He  married  Elizabeth  Gleasou,  a  native  of  the  same  state, 
and  together  they  came  to  Wisconsin,  locating  first  in  Green  Lake 
county.  Later  they  went  to  Ripon,  in  Fond  du  Lac  county,  in 
the  same  state,  and  in  1859  came  to  Mower  county.  Here  they 
homesteaded  land  in  Grand  Meadow  township,  and  remained 
there  till  1862.  In  1862  Alonzo  Avery  joined  the  Union  army  and 
served  in  Company  C,  Ninth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
was  orderly  sergeant,  and  received  his  discharge  in  1865.  He 
then  returned  to  Rochester,  in  Olmsted  county,  and  there  farmed 
iintil  1899.  when  he  removed  to  Humbolt,  Iowa.  After  his  wife's 
death,  in  December,  1901,  the  sul)ject  of  this  sketch  moved  to 
Fremont,  Mich.,  where  he  purchased  city  property  and  Avliere  he 
now  resides  at  the  good  old  age  of  eighty  years. 

Jesse  M.  Larrabee  was  born  in  Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  April  7,  1840. 
The  first  twelve  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  his  Michigan 
home,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Winnebago  county,  Illinois,  where  he  received  his  early  education 
in  the  district  schools.  He  further  advanced  his  studies  by  four 
terms  in  the  Durand  Seminary,  after  which  he  entered  the 
Bryant  &  Stratton  Business  College,  graduating  in  186-3.  After 
leaving  Chicago  IMr.  Larrabee  moved  to  Dubuqne,  Iowa,  and 
engaged  in  bookkeeping  nntil  1865,  subsequently  moving  to 
Ossian,  Iowa,  and  engaging  in  the  grain  business.  In  May  the 
following  year  he  moved  to  Conover,  Iowa,  where  he  continued 
in  the  grain  business  until  1867.  In  August  of  that  year  he  came 
to  LeRoy,  of  which  village  he  was  designed  to  become  so  promi- 
nent a  citizen.  Here  he  built  the  first  grain  warehouse  in  the  new 
village,  buying  the  first  load  of  grain  that  came  into  LeRoy.  In 
1874  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Broadway,  which  business  he  conducted  with  success,  in  connec- 
tion Avith  his  grain  business,  until  the  time  of  his  death,  February 
21,  1907.  In  1886,  in  connection  with  his  other  interests,  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  which  he  successfully  continued 
for  a  period  of  three  years,  after  which  he  sold  to  D.  C.  Corbitt. 
I^fr.  Larrabee  was  a  member  of  tlie  ^lasons  and  of  other  fraternal 
organizations. 

Andrew   Mahoney   was   lioni    in    Trclaiid    and    marri»>d    Dora 


906  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Boyd,  a  native  of  the  same  country.  They  came  to  America  at 
an  early  day  and  located  in  Wisconsin,  from  which  state  Andrew 
enlisted  in  the  Civil  war,  serving  three  years  and  three  montas 
in  Company  D,  Third  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry.  Durmg 
this  period  he  was  wounded  in  the  eye  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell 
at  the  battle  of  Beverly  Ford.  After  being  treated  in  a  hospital 
for  a  time  he  was  discharged  and  returned  to  Wisconsin.  In 
1865  he  came  to  Mower  county  atid  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  section  8,  LeRoy  township,  to  which  he  afterward  added 
other  property  in  sections  7  and  8.  This  land  he  broke,  grubbed 
and  cultivated,  and  laid  the  first  stone  wall  in  LeRoy.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  until  his  death,  October  1,  1902,  and  since  that 
date  his  widov/  has  taken  up  her  home  in  LeRoy  village. 

Gilbert  Mahoney  was  born  in  LeRoy  township  November  12, 
1869,  and  received  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  district  59. 
After  attaining  the  years  of  manhood,  he  spent  one  winter  in 
Mississippi,  and  upon  his  return  purcliased  eighty  acres  in  section 
17,  LeRoy  township,  later  purchasing  eighty  acres  adjoining, 
making  a  quarter  section  in  all.  On  this  he  has  carried  on  gen- 
eral farming,  and  has  erected  some  excellent  buildings.  He  has  a 
modern  place,  and  prides  himself  on  liis  beautiful  lawns  and  clean 
roadways.  At  the  present  time  he  is  erecting  a  large  upright 
barn,  36  by  48  feet.  In  addition  to  farming,  Mr.  Mahoney  has 
interested  himself  in  cement  work,  and  is  a  great  believer  in  that 
substance  as  a  future  substitute  for  wood  and  stone.  He  manu- 
factures cement  fence  posts,  and  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  his 
invention  of  a  cement  culvert  has  been  so  highly  satisfactory  that 
over  seventy-five  have  been  placed  in  LeRoy  township,  and  other 
towns  are  adopting  the  same  method.  Mr.  Mahoney  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  has  served  in  several  public  offices, 
including  the  positions  of  supervisor  three  years  and  toAvn  chair- 
man five  years.  He  was  married  March  8,  1894,  to  Anna  Thomp- 
son, and  this  union  has  resulted  in  seven  children,  Nellie,  Esther, 
Emily,  Harland  J.,  Eva,  Raymond  A.  and  Nina.  The  family  faith 
is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

F.  L.  Hill,  now  deceased,  was  a  substantial  farmer  of  Red 
Rock  township,  and  his  death  was  a  distinct  loss  to  the  com- 
munity. He  came  to  Mower  county  in  the  middle  eighties,  and 
farmed  until  his  death.  May  29,  1909,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine 
years.  He  was  married  in  1883  to  Julia  Bain,  born  in  Marquette 
county,  Wisconsin,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Saflford) 
Bain.  Five  children  were  born  to  this  marriage,  Elizabeth,  Ida, 
Maude,  Howard  and  Lester  B.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  George 
Retting  and  Ida  is  the  wife  of  James  Leslie.  Mr.  Hill  was  a 
member  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  at  Austin. 

Arne  Anderson,  a  well-liked  farmer  and  thresliing  machine 


HISTORY  OF  MOWKi:  CoTNTY  907 

operator  of  Racine  townsliip,  was  born  in  Norway,  June  1."),  hslin, 
son  of  Hans  and  Osabel  Anderson,  who  brought  liiiu  to  Anicriiu 
in  1867.  The  family  landed  at  Quebec  and  then  caine  to  AVis- 
consin,  where  they  remained  two  years.  Later  tlicy  caiue  to 
Adams  township,  in  this  county,  and  here  Hans  worked  on  the 
railroad  four  years.  Then  Hans  purchased  a  farm  in  Marshall 
township  and  there  farmed  until  his  death,  in  1910,  his  widow, 
the  mother  of  Arne,  still  making  her  home  in  that  township. 
Arne  was  educated  in  tlie  country  schools,  and  assisted  his  father 
on  a  farm  until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he 
started  in  life  for  himself  by  working  out  three  years.  Later  he 
rented  land  eight  years.  Then  he  bought  land  in  ]\Larshall  town- 
ship where  he  lived.  Subsequently  he  bought  and  sold  land  in 
Jlarshall,  Clayton,  Racine  and  Sargeant  townships.  He  nov\'  owns 
326  acres  in  sections  5  and  6,  Racine  township,  120  acres  in 
Pleasant  Valley.  He  has  followed  general  farming  and  stock 
raising  and  has  made  a  specialty  of  threshing,  having  owned 
in  turn  five  ditferent  steam  outfits.  Mr.  Anderson  keeps  fifty 
head  of  Shorthorn  cattle  for  dairy  purposes  and  sells  cream  to 
the  Grand  JMeadow  creamery  in  which  he  is  one  of  the  stock- 
holders. He  also  has  a  fine  drove  of  swine,  and  keeps  a  dozen 
horses  for  farm  work  and  driving.  He  has  been  manager  of  the 
Farmers'  Threshing  Company  for  six  years.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  an  independent  voter,  was  supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Clayton  two  years  and  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  his  dis-. 
trict  for  six  years.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  Bear  Creek  church 
four  years.  Arne  Anderson  was  married  in  1894  to  Milia  Bohn, 
of  Grand  IMeadow,  and  they  have  six  children :  Harry,  Theodore, 
Arthur,  Melvin,  "William  and  Myrtle. 

Jens  P.  Anderson,  a  well  known  farmer  of  LeRoy,  was  born  in 
Denmark,  ^lay  1,  1852,  son  of  Andrew  Christiansen  and  Anna  E. 
Jenson,  both  natives  of  Denmark,  the  former  dying  in  1867  ivnd 
the  latter  in  1878.  Jens  received  a  good  public  school  education 
in  Denmark,  and  there  grew  to  manhood.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven  he  crossed  the  briny  deep,  and  landed  in  New  York  July 
26,  1879,  coming  directly  to  Clayton  township,  IMower  county. 
Avhero  lie  worked  out  for  a  year  and  a  half.  Then  he  rented  a 
quarter  section  in  Clayton  township,  and  in  1886  purchased  it. 
Here  he  continued  to  carry  on  general  farming  many  years, 
repairing  all  the  old  buildings  and  erecting  new  ones,  adding  1o 
Iiis  land  from  lime  to  time  until  he  owned  440  acres  ail  in  one 
farm.  In  1898  he  sold  a  part  of  this  land,  and  exchanged  tlie 
remainder  for  his  present  farm  of  120  acres  in  sections  34  and  35, 
LeRoy  township.  Aside  from  this  he  also  owns  a  fifty-acre  farm 
in  section  29,  which  he  rents.  "While  in  Clayton  township  Mr. 
Anderson  served  as  road  overseer  and  on  the  school  board,  of 


908  IIISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

which  he  was  treasurer.  He  has  been  twice  married.  His  tirst 
wife,  Mary  Larson,  whom  he  married  February  20,  1875,  passed 
to  the  great  beyond  December  14,  1893,  leaving  five  children: 
Annie,  now  Mrs.  Iver  Uglum,  of  Clayton  township;  Ella,  now 
Mrs.  Peter  Hanson,  of  Marshall  township ;  Elizabeth,  now  J\Irs. 
Simon  Boe,  of  Clayton  township;  Etta,  who  lives  at  home,  a 
graduate  of  LeEoy  high  school,  and  iMary,  of  Clayton  township. 
May  5,  1897,  Mr.  Anderson  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sarah  (Bowden) 
Hague.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Ernest  and  Betty  (Hague) 
Bowden,  natives  of  Derbyshire,  England,  who  came  to  America 
in  1857  and  located  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  the  father  dying  January  10, 
1879,  and  the  mother  February  14,  1907.  John  Hague,  first  hus- 
band of  Mrs.  Sarah  Bowden  Anderson,  died  December  30,  1893, 
leaving  one  son,  Roy  W.,  who  now  lives  with  his  mother  and  step- 
father. Jens  P.  and  Sarah  Bowden  Anderson  have  been  blessed 
with  two  bright  children,  Florence  and  Alice,  both  of  whom  are 
at  home  and  attending  school. 

William  E.  Daily,  merchant  of  Dexter,  of  which  village  he  is 
at  the  present  time  serving  as  mayor,  was  born  in  this  county, 
having  first  seen  the  light  of  day  November  13,  1868,  son  of  Ziba 
and  Jane  C.  (Vargeson)  Daily.  William  E.  attended  the  district 
school,  and  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  seventeen  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  entered  the  employ  of  C.  Smith  &  Son,  to 
learn  the  trade  of  tinner.  Two  years  later  he  entered  the  employ 
^of  E.  S.  Fonda,  hardware  dealer  at  Staceyville,  Iowa.  After 
three  years  at  this  work  he  went  to  Sutton,  and  purchased  grain 
and  managed  a  creamery  in  connection  with  conducting  a  general 
store  ten  years.  In  1900  he  came  to  Dexter  and  purchased  the 
S.  A.  Sorenson  stock  of  hardware.  In  the  fall  of  1910  he  bought 
;Out  Reed  &  Noyes,  and  combined  it  with  liis  former  line.  His 
business  now  consists  of  hardware,  farm  implements,  furniture 
and  harnesses,  all  under  one  roof,  his  establishment  being  the 
most  extensive  of  its  kind  in  Mower  county.  Mr.  Daily  served  as 
■  treasurer  of  his  school  district  seven  years  before  assuming  his 
present  position.  He  is  past  master  of  Dexter  Lodge,  No.  253, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  a  past  worthy  patron  of  Dexter  Chapter, 
No.  175,  0.  E.  S.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Mattie 
Penney,  daughter  of  "William  and  Hannah  (Halsey)  Penney,  and 
to  this  union  have  been  born  four  children:  Marguerite,  Alice, 
Florence  and  William  E.,  Jr.  Mrs.  Daily  was  born  in  Mitchell 
county,  Iowa,  August  24,  1866.  Mr.  Daily  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
First  State  Bank,  of  Dexter;  manager  and  stockholder  of  the 
Dexter  Telephone  Company,  of  Dexter;  president  of  the  Dexter 
Commercial  Club,  and  is  also  interested  in  other  enterprises.  His 
home  in  the  village,  which  he  purchased  from  Peter  Vandenover, 
is  a  model  of  comfort  and  convenience,  and  in  addition  to  this 


HISTORY  OF  .^lOWKK  COIW'TY  909 

he  owns  nine  lots  about  his  liomo  and  throt^  lots  clsewlierc  in  the 
village. 

George  I.  Daily,  chairman  of  LeRoy  township,  was  born  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives  July  18,  1858,  son  of  Ziba  B.  and 
Jane  C.  (Vargeson)  Daily,  the  pioneers.  As  a  baby  he  spent  a 
year  in  Boone  county,  Indiana,  but  was  brought  back  to  this 
county  and  here  spent  his  boyhood,  attending  the  public  schools 
and  receiving  instruction  in  farming  from  his  fatlier.  After 
attaining  the  years  of  manhood,  he  spent  three  years  away  from 
home,  first  as  surveyor  along  the  Northern  Pacific  line  and  then 
as  a  clerk  in  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Livingston,  Mont.  Sub- 
sequently he  spent  a  season  on  the  home  farm,  and  then  Avent  to 
Clark  county.  South  Dakota,  where  he  preempted  a  quarter  sec- 
tion and  remained  two  years.  After  this  he  again  returned  to 
Minnesota,  and  purchased  200  acres  in  Oakdale  township,  Howard 
county,  Iowa.  To  this  he  later  added  eighty  acres,  and  on  this 
tract  of  280  acres  he  farmed  some  twelve  years.  After  selling 
this  farm  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  bought  160  acres  in 
Adams  township.  A  year  later  he  purchased  a  similar  tract  in 
Howard  county,  Iowa,  and  there  remained  a  year  and  a  half. 
Tlieu  he  purchased  130  acres  of  the  old  farm  in  LeRoy  township, 
and  has  since  carried  on  general  farming  here.  Mr.  Daily  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  is  now  serving  his  third  year  in  his 
present  office.  Before  this,  he  w^as  supervisor  for  two  years,  and 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  many  terms.  He 
belongs  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and  to  the  M.  W.  A.  George  I. 
Daily  was  married  April  16,  1888,  to  Adella  McCulloch,  born  at 
Decorah,  Iowa,  April  17,  1865,  daughter  of  John  and  Jenette 
(Garfield)  McCulloch,  early  settlers  of  Winneshiek  county,  Iowa, 
the  former  of  whom  died  December  5,  1906,  and  the  latter  No- 
vember 5,  1901.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daily  have  six  children,  Leonard 
D.,  Melviu  Z.,  Ethel,  George  B.,  Ruth  E.  and  David  I.,^  all  of 
whom,  except  the  two  oldest,  are  at  home.  Leonard  D.  is  assistant 
cashier  in  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Milford,  Iowa,  and  Melvin 
Z.  is  bookkeeper  of  the  First  National  Bank,  at  iNIontevideo,  i\Iinn. 

Ziba  B.  Daily,  Jiow  deceased,  was  for  many  years  one  of  tiie 
substantial  residents  of  LeRoy  township.  He  was  a  native  of 
Pi'nnsylvania,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  North  Morland,  in 
■what  is  now  "Wyoming  county.  His  grandparents  were  natives 
of  Rhode  Island,  and  his  grandfather,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  received  a  land  grant  in  Pennsylvania  for 
valuable  services  rendered  his  country.  "When  the  subject  (tf  tliis 
sketch  was  seventeen  years  of  age  he  engaged  with  a  tanner  to 
learn  the  trade,  engaging  in  that  occupation  until  1852,  when  he 
moved  to  Boone  county,  Indiana.    In  1855  he  continued  his  migra- 


910  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUXTY 

tion,  going  by  rail  to  Galena,  thence  by  boat  to  Lansing,  Iowa, 
and  then  overland  to  Waukon  in  the  same  state.  In  the  summer 
of  that  year  he  started  for  Minnesota,  in  order  to  find  a  suitable 
place  to  locate.  He  came  by  stage  as  far  as  Caremona,  Fillmore 
county,  thence  on  foot  to  Chatfield,  then  via  stage  to  AYinona. 
From  there  he  w^alked  to  Brownsville,  and  subsequently  returned 
to  Waukon.  In  September  of  that  year  he  came  to  Mower  county 
and  entered  a  claim  in  section  34,  in  what  is  now  known  as 
LeEoy  townsliip.  The  ground  was  mosth^  covered  with  brush. 
The  first  winter  he  spent  with  a  Mr.  Armstrong  who  lived  near. 
The  following  spring  he  built  a  log  house  on  his  claim,  and  lived 
therein  until  1860.  With  the  failure  of  crops  he  became  dis- 
couraged and  decided  to  return  to  Indiana,  so  with  a  sturdy  pair 
of  oxen  and  a  wagon  the  family  made  the  trip  to  Boone  county, 
and  there  remained  a  year.  In  1861  they  came  back  to  the  claim 
in  Mower  county,  and  built  a  large  log  house  which  served  as  the 
family  home  until  1883.  In  that  year  he  built  a  comfortable 
home  which  is  still  standing.  Mr.  Daily  Avas  married  August  1, 
1855,  to  Jane  C.  Vargeson,  who  was  born  in  Sharon,  Mich.  Nine 
children  blessed  this  union :  Daniel  Z.,  who  died  in  1888 ;  George 
I.,  who  is  on  the  old  homestead ;  John  F.,  who  died  in  1899 ;  Lewis 
M.,  a  grocer  at  LeEoy;  Charles  M.,  who  farms  in  the  old  town  of 
LeEoy ;  William  E.,  of  Dexter  ;  ^Milton,  who  is  a  physician  in  Sioux 
City,  Iowa ;  Otis  H.,  who  is  in  the  hardware  business  in  LeEoy, 
and  Mertello  D.,  of  the  old  town  of  LeEoy.  Mr.  Daily  was  chair- 
man of  the  board  of  supervisors  for  many  years,  and  also  served 
in  other  positions  of  public  and  private  trust  and  honor.  He  was 
a  man  of  even  temperament,  and  his  extensive  reading  gave  him 
wide  information  as  to  the  progress  of  the  Avorld,  both  ancient 
and  modern. 

Hans  M.  Chrest,  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Bennington 
township,  was  born  at  Tromso,  Norway,  December  26,  1850,  son 
of  Christian  Hanson  and  Anna  C.  Nicholason.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  Norway,  and  there  remained  until  fifteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  came  to  America  and  located  in  Kendall  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  worked  out  for  four  years.  Then  he  rented 
farms  until  1872,  and  subsequently  came  to  this  county  and  pur- 
chased 160  acres  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  26.  This 
land  he  broke  and  improved,  erected  a  fine  home  and  suitable 
outbuildings,  and  planted  a  beautiful  grove  of  trees,  consisting 
of  evergreens,  poplar  and  maple.  On  this  place  he  now  conducts 
general  farming,  making  a  specialty  of  Durham  cattle  and  Nor- 
man horses.  In  1909  he  erected  a  new  barn,  56x44.  Mr.  Chrest  is 
a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Creamery  and  the 
Farmers'  Co-operative  Elevator,  both  at  Ostrander.  At  one  time 
he  was  secretary  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  his  neighborhood, 


HISTORY  UF  MOWEPt  COUNTY  911 

aud  he  also  served  for  several  terms  as  treasurer  of  his  sctiiool 
district. 

Jacob  Ericksen  was  born  in  Norway  and  there  married  Anna 

C.  Nieholason,  the  widow  of  Christian  Hanson.  They  came  to 
America  in  1875,  located  in  Bennington  township  seven  years, 
then  went  to  Marshall  county,  this  state,  and  took  a  homestead  of 
160  acres.  Mr.  Ericksen  died  in  July,  1907,  and  his  wife  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  Christian  Hanson  and 
Anna  C.  Nieholason  have  three  ehildren :  Hans  M.  Chrest ;  Severt, 
deceased,  and  Christ  A.,  who  died  in  infancy.  Jacob  Ericksen 
and  Anna  C.  Nieholason  had  four  children :  Hannah  M.,  Jacob 
A.,  both  deceased,  and  Christ  E.  and  Donald  N.,  twins,  now  of 
]\Iarshall  county. 

Gilbert  J.  Gilbertson  is  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  Grand 
JMeadow  township,  where  he  has  resided  since  1872.  He  is  a 
pleasing  gentleman  to  meet,  a  ready  conversationalist  and  a  man 
of  considerable  importance  in  the  community.  He  was  born  in 
Norway,  December  3,  1852,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
in  1853,  settling  near  Madison,  "Wis.  Two  years  later  they  moved 
to  Bostwick  Valley,  La  Crosse  county,  and  there  lived  several 
years.  In  1862  John  Gilbertson,  the  father,  enlisted  in  Company 
E,  Sixteenth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  seeing  much  active  service  and  receiving  wounds 
which  impaired  his  health  for  many  years.  In  1872  the  family 
came  to  Grand  Meadow  tow^nship  and  settled  in  section  11,  erect- 
ing a  log  cabin,  in  which  they  lived  for  a  time.  Gilbert's  early 
life  Avas  spent  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  which  in  1881  he  pur- 
chased from  his  father,  and  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  now 
serving  his  fifth  term  as  town  supervisor,  and  has  been  school 
treasurer  for  many  terms.  He  married  Betsy  Lewison,  and  they 
have  seven  children:  Mabel,  Clara,  Arthur,  Nora,  Nettie,  jNIuril 
and  Elmer.    Clara  is  the  w^ife  of  Rudolf  Mehl. 

Stephen  Harrison,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  retired 
farmer,  has  lived  in  the  village  of  LeRoy  since  1894,  and  has 
identified  himself  with  its  official  life.  He  was  born  in  Luzerne 
county,  Pennsylvania,  November  16,  1839,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Catherine  (Fellows)  Harrison,  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
family  moved  to  Wisconsin  in  1855,  and  there  located  on  a  farm, 
the  father  dying  in  1873  and  the  mother  in  1891.  Stephen 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  then  followed 
farming  with  his  father  until  1862,  when  he  enli.sted  in  Company 

D,  Thirty-fourth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he  saw 
service  ten  months,  being  dismissed  at  the  end  of  that  time  by 
reason  of  illness.  He  then  returned  home,  and  in  the  fall  of  1864 
went  to  Kenosha  county,  Wisconsin.  In  1871  he  came  to  Howard 
county,  Iowa,  purchased  160  acres  of  wild  land  in  Oakdale  town- 


912  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

ship,  broke  and  developed  the  land,  erected  a  pleasant  home  and 
suitable  outbuildings,  and  followed  farming  until  1894,  when  he 
rented  his  farm  and  came  to  LeRoy,  where  the  year  previous  he 
had  built  the  first  house  in  what  is  known  as  Sweet's  addition; 
then  returned  to  his  farm  and  remained  one  year,  after  which  he 
sold  it  and  returned  to  his  home  in  LeRoy,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  has  been  assessor  of  LeRoy  tow"nship  three  years 
and  has  also  served  as  clerk  one  and  one-half  years.  In  Oakdale 
township  lie  served  on  the  township  board  nine  years  and  on  the 
school  board  many  terms.  Aside  from  his  real  estate  holdings,  he 
owns  stock  in  the  LeRoy  Telephone  Company.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  August  21,  1864,  at  Lynn,  Walworth  county, 
"Wisconsin,  to  Caroline  E.  Rowe,  who  was  born  in  Onondaga 
county.  New  York,  February  6,  1839,  daughter  of  Lucien  and 
Lucy  (Stillwell)  Rowe,  natives  of  New  York  state,  who  were 
early  settlers  in  Michigan.  Lucien  Rowe  died  in  1849,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  in  1882.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison  have  three 
children :  Harvey  W.  has  a  small  fruit  farm  just  oiitside  the  city 
limits  of  LeRoy,  and  is  the  father  of  four  children:  Earl  R., 
Harold  O.,  Lloyd  E.  and  Ethel  A.  Maurice  A.  farms  in  Chester 
township,  Howard  county,  Iowa,  and  has  one  child,  Geneva  I. 
Florence  L.  is  the  wife  of  J.  P.  Jensen,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren :  Harry  W.,  Arnold  E.,  Benjamin  A.,  Merrill  F.  and  Florence 
Lauretta. 

Edward  W.  Dorr,  postmaster  and  druggist  at  Dexter,  was 
born  in  Austin,  Minn.,  May  17,  1877,  youngest  son  of  E.  C.  Dorr. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  in  the  Austin 
high  school,  afterward  entering  the  Minnesota  Institute  of  Phar- 
macy at  Minneapolis,  graduating  in  1893.  He  was  then  matricu- 
lated in  the  Northwestern  University,  of  Chicago,  and  graduated 
in  1896  with  the  degree  of  P.  H.  Gr.  Thus  equipped,  he  clerked  in 
Minneapolis  about  three  years,  and  in  1900  came  to  Dexter  and 
started  in  the  drug  business  for  himself.  A  year  later  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  and  has  since  continued  in  this  position, 
being  ably  assisted  by  his  father.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  has  served  as  village  recorder  of  Dexter,  being  at  the  present 
time  the  secretary  of  the  Dexter  Commercial  Club.  He  is  Avor- 
shipful  master  of  Dexter  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also  affiliates 
with  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  the  M.  W.  A.,  the  B.  A.  Y.,  the  Eastern  Star 
and  the  Pilgrim  Knights.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
November  29,  1899,  to  Lulu  Erase,  of  Dexter,  and  two  children 
have  blessed  this  union:  Edward  M.  and  Velva  C.  The  family 
faith  is  that  of  the  Methodist  church. 

E.  C.  Dorr,  for  six  years  mayor  of  the  city  of  Austin,  now 
living  in  retirement  Avith  his  son  in  the  Adllage  of  Dexter,  Minn., 
was  born  in  Columbia  county,  Ncav  York,  November  4,  1835,  and 


EDWARD   C.    DORR. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  913 

received  an  academy  education.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years, 
in  1857,  he  came  west  to  Minnesota,  and  was  located  in  Olmsted 
county  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  during  which  conflict  he 
served  two  and  one-half  years  in  the  medical  department  of  the 
provost  marshal  of  the  first  district  of  Minnesota.  In  1866  he 
came  to  Austin,  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business  until  1898, 
when  he  sold  out  his  interests  to  K.  0.  Wold,  who  had  been  his 
partner  for  many  years.  He  still  calls  Austin  his  home,  however, 
and  owns  two  residences  and  a  store  building  in  the  city.  After 
selling  out  his  store  he  served  two  years  as  deputy  revenue  col- 
lector and  three  years  as  internal  revenue  agent.  While  at 
Austin  he  served  on  the  board  of  education  eight  years.  He  is  a 
Mason  and  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
Avas  married  to  Emma  L.  Smith,  who  died  December  12,  1907. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children :  Marie  E.,  now  deceased ; 
Marjorie  E.,  now  Mrs.  Hans  E.  Enes,  of  Henderson,  Minn.,  and 
Edward  W.,  druggist  and  postmaster  of  Dexter. 

T.  M.  Hagerty,  for  fourteen  years  clerk  of  Bennington  town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  progressive  and  popular  men  of  the  community. 
He  Avas  born  in  Houston  county,  Minnesota,  September  15,  1861, 
son  of  William  and  Sabina  (Reilly)  Hagerty,  natives  of  Ireland. 
He  received  his  education  in  Houston  county,  and  came  to  this 
county  with  his  parents  in  1877,  engaging  in  farming  with  his 
father  until  his  father's  death.  Then  until  1894  he  was  in  part- 
nership with  his  brothers  in  farming  the  family  acres.  In  that 
year  the  property  was  divided,  and  T.  M.  selected  the  240  acres 
in  Bennington  township,  where  he  erected  a  fine  home  and  build- 
ings, and  where  he  now  carries  on  general  farming,  making  a 
specialty  of  raising  Polled  Angus  cattle.  Mr.  Hagerty  is  an 
independent  voter,  and  in  addition  to  the  office  mentioned  above 
has  been  assessor  of  Clayton  township  eight  years  and  clerk  of 
his  school  district  a  number  of  terms.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  the  K.  of  C.  and  the  M.  W.  A.,  and  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  hall  of  the  latter  society  at  Grand  Meadow.  The  sub.iect  of 
this  sketch  was  married  May  22,  1895,  at  Grand  Meadow,  to 
Julia  Duggan,  born  in  Houston  county,  Minnesota,  December  24, 
1865.  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Margaret  (Welch) -Duggan,  natives 
of  Ireland.  This  union  has  resulted  in  tliree  children:  Sabina 
ilargaret  Lucille,  born  February  2,  1898;  Julia  ]M.,  liorn  No- 
vember 15,  1908,  and  died  IMarcIi  7,  1904,  and  ]\Iary  F.,  born 
February  24.  1906. 

William  Hagerty  was  born  in  Ireland  and  married  Sal)ina 
Keilly,  a  native  of  the  same  place.  They  came  to  America  in 
1848,  and  William  worked  in  the  mines  of  Pennsj'lvania  and  Ohio 
until  1854,  when  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  took  a  homestead  in 
section  17,  township  102,  range  4.    He  broke  and  developed  this 


914  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

land  and  followed  farming  until  1877,  when  he  came  with  his 
family  to  Mower  county,  purchasing  three  farms  of  240  acres 
each,  two  in  Clayton  and  one  in  Bennington.  These  farms  he 
conducted  with  the  assistance  of  his  sous  until  his  death.  May  14, 
1885.    His  widow  died  February  8,  1911. 

Daniel  Duggan  was  born  in  Ireland  and  married  Margaret 
"Welch,  a  native  of  the  same  country.  They  came  to  America  in 
1848,  lived  in  Houston  county  until  1877,  and  then  came  to  IMower 
county  and  purchased  160  acres  in  Clayton  township.  In  1881 
they  retired  and  moved  to  La  Crosse,  where  Daniel  died  October 
29,  1907,  and  his  wife  September  29,  1907. 

-Jacob  S.  Bowers,  deceased,  was  for  many  years  an  honored 
resident  of  Lyle  township,  where  his  integrity  and  honor  vviW 
long  be  remembered.  His  friends  mingled  high  respect  with  their 
intimate  liking  of  the  man,  and  his  influence  was  ever  for  the 
good.  His  was  a  life  well  spent,  and  his  duty  in  earth's  battles 
Avere  faithfully  performed.  He  was  born  in  Canada,  December 
28,  1829,  v/liere  he  received  his  early  education  and  grew  to  man- 
hood, learning  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  in  con- 
nection with  conducting  a  sawmill.  J\Iay  15,  1849,  he  married 
Eliziibeth  Quiekfall,  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  February  7. 
1829.  She  came  to  America  with  lier  parents  at  two  years  of  age, 
locating  in  New  York  state,  where  they  remained  for  six  years, 
after  which  they  removed  to  Canada,  where  she  was  educated 
and  grew  to  maturity.  In  1860  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowers  came  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  Lemar,  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
Missouri,  remaining  until  the  following  spring,  when  they  moved 
to  Fayette  county,  Iowa,  two  years  later  going  to  Osage,  Iowa, 
where  they  remained  for  eight  years,  after  which  they  came  to 
Minnesota  and  located  in  Lyle  township.  Mower  county,  where 
Mr.  Bowers  purchased  200  acres  in  section  17.  Like  the  other 
arrivals  of  that  period,  he  broke  and  improved  the  land  and 
brought  his  farm  to  a  high  degree  of  excellence,  at  the  same  time 
following  his  trade  as  a  carpenter.  He  died  May  17,  1908.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowers  were  born  seven  children :  Norman  S.,  the 
oldest,  died  at  Superior,  Wis.,  December  15,  1909 ;  Mrs.  Hanna  L. 
Haney  was  born  in  May,  1852 ;  Harriett  E.  was  born  in  June, 
1854,  and  married  M.  E.  Varco;  Milton  B.  was  born  in  August, 
1856;  Charles  was  born  -August  8,  1858;  Alberta  was  born  in 
March,  1864,  and  married  B.  V.  Wilder ;  Wilhelmina  M.  Avas  born 
m  May,  1867,  and  married  F.  Hotson.  Mr.  Bowers  was  a  Demo- 
crat and  a  Mason,  and  was  buried  Avith  Masonic  honors.  Mrs. 
BoAvers,  Avho  is  past  eighty-tAvo  years  of  age,  is  a  remarkable 
example  oF  all  that  is  SAveet  and  beautiful  in  old  age.  Aside  from 
a  disabled  hip,  as  the  result  of  an  accident,  she  is  sprightly  and 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  91o 

bright,  retaining  all  her  faculties.  Hlie  r(>ads  without  glasses  and 
keeps  well  abreast  of  the  times  in  e^'ery  way. 

Martin  B.  Johnson,  a  respected  and  substantial  resident  of 
(jrand  j\Ieadow.  was  born  in  Chittenden  county,  Vermont,  October 
28,  1837,  son  of  AVilliam  and  Mary  (Keefe)  Johnson,  natives 
respectively  of  England  and  Wales.  Martin  came  to  Mower, 
county  with  his  parents  and  brother,  John  L.,  in  1855,  and  settled 
in  Brownsdale.  August  19,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army, 
and  served  in  Company  C,  Ninth  Volunteer  Infantry,  became 
corporal  and  v.'as  bass  drummer  for  the  regiment,  serving  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  discharged  at  St.  Paul,  in 
August,  1865.  He  then  returned  to  Mower  county  and  took  up 
land  in  Udolpho  township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  five 
years.  Then  he  removed  to  Brownsdale.  Soon  afterward  he 
was  appointed  deputy  sheriff,  and  served  for  fourteen  consecutive 
years  under  R.  0.  Hall,  H.  B.  Cory,  Allan  Mollison  and  Nicholas 
Nicholsen.  He  also  engaged  in  the  land  and  collection  business 
with  E.  J.  Stimson  for  fifteen  years  at  about  the  same  time.  In 
March,  1908,  he  moved  to  Grand  Meadow.  Mr.  Johnson  was 
married  September  19,  1861,  to  Mary  A.  Hines,  of  Red  Rock 
township,  who  died  April  3,  1909,  leaving  two  children:  Albert, 
of  Grand  Meadow,  and  May,  who  keeps  house  for  her  father.  I\Ir. 
Johnson  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
post.  He  served  continuously  as  marshal  of  Brownsdale  from 
1875  to  1908,  with  the  exception  of  five  years.  He  is  now  justice 
of  the  peace.  For  five  years  he  served  in  the  loAver  house  of  the 
Minnesota  legislature  in  an  appointive  position.  He  has  also 
served  in  many  other  positions  of  public  and  private  trust  and 
honor. 

Thomas  A.  Hotson  is  one  of  the  venerable  ^nd  honored  citizens 
of  IMower  county,  ripe  in  years  and  wisdom,  and  filled  with  that 
tolerance  and  gentleness  that  time  alone  brings  to  the  noble  souls 
of  the  earth.  His  good  wife  has  proven  an  able  helpmeet,  and 
hand  in  hand  they  are  spending  the  late  afternoon  of  life  to- 
gether, loved  by  all  who  know  them.  ]\Ir.  Hotson  was  born  in 
Norfolk,  England,  December  16,  1829.  AVhen  twenty  years  of 
age,  in  1849,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Esther  Guttridge, 
wlio  was  also  born  in  Norfolk,  England,  April  6,  1829.  They 
remained  in  Norfolk  until  1854,  when  they  left  the  bonny  shores 
of  England  and  came  to  America,  sailing  from  Liverpool,  October 
6,  and  landing  at  New  Orleans,  after  six  weeks  and  four  days' 
passage.  They  first  located  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  a  rolling  mill  for  a  short  time;  thence  going  to  St.  Clair  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  purchased  an  interest  in  a  brick  yard,  which  he 
operated  for  one  season.  After  this  he  engaged  in  farming  in  St. 
Clair  county,  Illinois,  until  1862,  when  he  came  to  iMower  county. 


916  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

and  purchased  160  acres  of  wild  land  in  section  10,  Lyle  town- 
ship, only  four  acres  of  this  land  being  broken,  and  preemption 
shantj'  erected,  which  constituted  the  improvements  at  the  time 
of  purchase.  He  broke  and  developed  the  rest  of  this  land,  bring- 
ing it  to  a  high  degree  of  cultivation,  erecting  a  tine  house  and 
outbuildings.  On  this  farm  he  has  since  continued  general  agri- 
cultural operations.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hotson  have  been  blessed  with 
six  children:   Atkins,  Thomas,  Fred,  William,  Emir  and  Emer. 

Fred  Hotson,  third  son  of  Thomas  A.  Hotson,  was  born  in  St. 
Clair  county,  Illinois,  March  15,  1859.  He  came  to  Mower  county 
with  his  parents  at  three  years  of  age,  and  here  received  his 
education,  remaining  Avith  his  parents  until  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  when  he  purchased  a  175-acre  farm,  on  section  16,  Lyle  town- 
sliip,  where  he  has  erected  tine  buildings  and  improved  the  land, 
and  now  carries  on  general  farming.  He  was  married  September 
25,  1888,  to  Wilhemena  M.  Bowers,  and  they  have  two  children: 
Mae  E.,  born  December  11,  1889,  a  teacher;  Vance  B.,  born 
September  23,  1890,  who  is  at  home  on  the  farm  with  his  father. 
Mr.  Hotson  is  a  Republican  and  belongs  to  the  Masons  and  the 
M.  W.  A. 

Herman  T.  Julson,  an  industrious  farmer  of  Grand  Meadow 
township,  was  born  in  "Wisconsin,  July  5,  1872,  son  of  Ulriek  and 
Rachel  Julson.  He  lived  with  them  in  Wisconsin  and  Iowa,  and 
came  to  Grand  Meadow  tOAvnship  with  them  in  1876  as  a  boy  of 
four  years.  Here  he  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  and 
attended  the  public  schools.  He  now  owns  the  old  homestead  of 
eighty  acres  in  section  36,  and  also  eighty  acres  adjoining  in 
section  35.  Here  he  successfully  carries  on  general  farming  in  a 
scientific  manner.    He  married  Ida  Olson,  daughter  of  Nels  Olson. 

Ulriek  Julson,  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Norway,  December 
8,  1821,  and  was  married  there.  In  1848  he  came  to  America, 
being  eighteen  weeks  crossing  the  ocean,  and  here  took  up  the 
trade  of  farmer,  although  he  had  been  a  tailor  in  the  old  country. 
After  living  in  Wisconsin  about  twenty-five  years  he  Avent  to 
ToAva,  and  after  stajdng  there  three  years  came  to  Mower  county 
in  1876,  and  settled  in  section  36.  As  there  Avas  no  building  of 
any  kind  on  the  land  at  that  time  he  lived  six  Aveeks  wnth  a 
neighbor  named  Harley  Peck  Avhile  he  built  a  shack  for  his  family. 
Before  the  winter  set  in  he  had  a  frame  house  completed.  Ulriek 
Julson  died  July  25,  1902,  and  his  Avife,  October  2,  1902. 

Isaac  H.  Every,  retired  farmer  of  LeRoy  toAvnship  and  veteran 
of  the  Civil  war,  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Ncav  York,  De- 
cember 18,  1837,  son  of  Hiram  and  Hannah  (Stonghenburg) 
Every.  He  received  a  public  school  education,  attended  the 
DelaAvare  Academy  one  year,  took  up  farming  Avith  liis  father 
and    learned    the    carpenter's    trade.      December    18,    1861,    he 


ISAAC  H.  EVERY. 


.MRS.  ISAAC  H.  EVERY. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  917 

enlisted  in  the  Union  army  at  Delphi,  Delaware  county,  and  was 
sworn  in  at  Newburgh,  Orange  county,  New  York,  serving  in  the 
Eighth  Independent  New  York  Battery  until  the  fall  of  1864, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  on  account  of 
ill  health.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles  of  his  regiment  up  to 
that  time  and  was  neither  wounded  nor  captured,  although  his 
health  was  so  impaii-ed  that  he  was  able  to  do  but  little  work  for 
several  years  thereafter.  In  1868  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  for 
two  years  followed  his  trade,  living  in  the  village  of  LeKoy.  At 
the  end  of  this  time  he  purchased  160  acres  of  wild  land  in 
Howard  county,  Iowa,  from  Henry  Spencer,  who  had  obtained  it 
from  the  government.  Mr.  Every  cleared  and  broke  this  land, 
erected  some  fine  buildings  and  followed  general  farming,  making 
a  specialty  of  breeding  Shorthorn  cattle.  In  1906  he  rented  his 
farm  and  purchased  his  present  home  of  eleven  acres  in  section 
34,  LeRoy  township,  where  he  now  lives.  Before  coming  here  Mr. 
Every  served  for  several  years  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Oakdale  township,  Howard  county.  He  also  served  on 
the  school  board  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  staunch  Republican, 
a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  a  communicant  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  October  'SO,  1867, 
to  Esther  A.  Ferguson,  born  in  Delaware  county.  New  York, 
January  8,  1847,  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  (McArthur) 
Ferguson,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  October,  1874,  and  the 
latter  May  8,  1855.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Every  were  the  parents  of  five 
children:  Flora  E.,  W.  F.,  Arthur  H.,  Martha  M.  and  Minnie  B. 
Flora  E.  was  born  October  30,  1869,  married  W.  E.  Dennis,  and 
resides  in  Corydon,  Iowa.  W.  F.  was  born  April  11,  1872,  and  is 
now  general  claim  agent  for  the  Northern  Pacific,  with  an  office 
in  St.  Paul.  Arthur  H.  was  born  July  2,  1876,  and  is  district  claim 
agent  for  the  Northern  Pacific,  Avith  an  office  at  Glendive,  Mont. 
Martha  il.,  the  twin  sister  of  Arthur  H.,  was  born  July  2.  1876, 
married  Dr.  C.  J.  Maerchlein,  and  lives  in  Lidgerwood,  N.  D. 
irinnie  M.  was  born  September  29,  1879,  and  married  Perry 
Hanson,  a  general  merchant  at  Carver,  Minn. 

Jacob  Every,  grandfather  of:  Isaac  H.,  was  an  early  settler  of 
Delaware  county.  New  York,  and  there  built  and  conducted  a 
saw,  grist  and  flouring  mill.  Hiram  Every,  father  of  Isaac  H., 
was  born  in  Delaware  county,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  learned 
the  miller's  trade,  which  he  followed  in  Delaware  county  all  his 
days.  He  died  in  Delaware  county  in  1897,  and  his  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Hannah  Stoughenburg,  died  in  1899. 

George  Howard  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs, 
and  is  one  of  the  successful  and  prosperous  citizens  of  Lyle  town- 
ship. He  Avas  born  in  Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  April  23, 
1867,  son  of  Addison  and  Adeline  (Sprague)  Howard.    He  carae 


918  HJSTOKY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

westward  with  his  parents  at  ten  years  of  age,  receiving  his 
education  at  the  Woodbury  school,  Lyle  township,  and  working 
on  the  farm  with  his  father.  After  leaving  school  he  became  a 
partner  of  his  father  and  his  brother  Charles,  and  the  three  con- 
ducted the  farm  until  the  father's  death,  in  1900,  since  which  date 
he  and  his  brother  have  continued  to  develop  the  place,  adding 
acres  and  buildings.  They  own  several  hundred  acres,  including 
the  home  farm  of  360  acres,  and  also  other  places.  Mr.  Howard 
has  recently  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  to  which  he  has 
moved,  in  section  33,  his  brother  having  retired  and  moved  to  the 
village.  The  home  farm  is  in  sections  29  and  32,  and  the  other 
land  the  brothers  own  is  mostly  in  these  two  sections.  George 
Howard  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  served  as  chairman 
of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Lyle  township  for  twelve  years,  to 
the  credit  of  himself  and  the  honor  of  the  community.  He  has 
also  served  as  clerk  of  the  Woodbury  school  for  several  years. 
He  holds  stock  in  the  London  Creamery  in  Freeborn  county,  and 
in  the  Lyle  Telephone  Company  of  Lyle.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  September  5,  1905,  to  Gertrude  De  Remer, 
and  to  this  union  four  children  have  been  born :  Lon,  Carroll,  Asa 
and  Charles.    The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Methodist  church. 

Addison  Howard  and  Adeline  Sprague,  his  wife,  were  natives 
of  New  York  state,  and  came  westward  in  1877,  locating  in  Lyle 
township,  where  they  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  in  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  29.  To  this  they  made  additions,  and  as 
the  two  sons,  George  and  Cliarles,  grew  to  manhood,  they  were 
taken  into  partnersliip.  Mr.  Howard  died  in  1900,  and  Mrs. 
Howard  lived  with  her  son,  Charles,  in  the  village  of  Lyle,  until 
November  18,  1910,  when  she  died.  Mr.  Howard  was  a  man  of 
sterling  character,  loving  in  his  family  and  loyal  to  his  friends. 

John  Mahoney,  now  deceased,  was  for  many  years  a  prominent 
farmer  of  LeRoy  township.  He  came  to  LeRoy  as  a  poor  man, 
and  by  good  management  and  hard  work  accumulated  a  hand- 
some property.  He  held  the  esteem  of  the  community  and  was 
beloved  for  Jiis  many  excellent  trnits  of  mind  and  ciiaraeter.  He 
was  born  in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  November  15,  1846,  youngest 
child  of  John  Mahoney,  the  elder,  who  came  to  America  in  1859, 
located  in  Mower  county  in  1866  and  died  in  1878.  John,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  America  with  his  father  at  eleven 
years  of  age,  living  for  a  time  in  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  then  coming  to  Mower  county  in  1866.  He  acquired  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  7,  LeRoy  township,  broke  and  im- 
proved the  land,  erected  buildings  and  a  fine  home,  increased  his 
jioldings  from  time  to  time,  and  carried  on  general  farming  until 
his  lamented  death,  April  19,  1902,  when  he  was  killed  by  being 
tiirown  from  a  vehicle  by  a  pair  of  runaway  horses.    Mr.  Mahoney 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  919 

',vas  well  thought  of  in  the  community  and  was  an  enthusiastic 
member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  at  LeRoy  and  the  eommaudory  at 
Austin  as  well  as  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  was  married  April  15, 
1877,  to  Sarah  L.  Smith,  born  at  Yorksville,  Pa.,  March  17^  1855, 
(laughter  of  Charles  and  Fannie  (Rawley)  SmitJi,  natives  ot' 
Pennsylvania.  They  came  west  to  this  county  in  1866,  purciiased 
160  acres  of  land  in  LeRoy  township,  one  mile  west  of  the  viUage, 
lived  there  a  short  tinie,  and  then  sold  out,  immediately  purchas- 
ing the  adjoining  160  acres,  where  they  erected  a  pleasant  home 
and  conducted  general  farming  the  remainder  of  their  days, 
Charles  Smith  dying  January  28,  1893,  and  his  wife  May  18,  1893. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were  the  parents  of  six  children.  James  P. 
died  at  two  years  of  age ;  Milton,  Alvin,  Lucy  J.  and  Charles  E. 
died  within  the  same  month,  all  of  diphtheria.  Mrs.  Mahoney  is 
the  only  surviving  member  of  the  family.  To  Mr.  a-nd  Mrs.  ;\Ia- 
honey  were  born  three  daughters.  Fannie  E.  is  now  Mrs.  Adolph 
Bhend,  of  Le  Roy  township.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the  Le  Roy 
high  school  and  before  her  marriage  taught  school.  Mary  E. 
graduated  from  the  Decorah  Business  College,  and  is  now  an  able 
stenographer  in  Mason  City,  Iowa.  Iva  R.  lives  at  home  and  at- 
tends the  Le  Roy  high  school.  Mrs.  Mahoney  still  owns  the  old 
homes  lead  of  240  acres  aside  from  twenty  acres  of  timberland. 
Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Mahoney,  she  has  rented  the  farm  and  pur- 
chased a  fine  residence  in  Le  Roy  where  she  now  lives.  She  has 
taken  great  pride  in  the  education  of  her  children.  The  family 
faith  is  that  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mahoney 
were  charter  members  of  the  Eastern  Star  at  LeRoy,  and  iMr. 
Mahoney  was  treasurer  of  his  school  district  for  over  thirty 
years. 

George  A.  Lyman,  a  pioneer  of  Fillmore  county,  came  to 
Frankford  township  witli  his  family  in  1905,  and  immediately 
became  identified  with  the  progress  of  this  locality.  He  has 
already  served  as  assessor  two  years  and  is  much  interested  in 
the  educational  matters  of  his  district.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Fillmore  county,  March  18,  1862,  son  of  Abner  F. 
and  Ellen  (Green)  Lyman,  the  former  a  native  of  Northfield, 
Mass.,  and  the  latter  of  Ware,  N.  H.  Abner  F.  Lyman  came  to 
Hartland,  "Wis.,  with  his  parents,  was  there  reared,  and  in  1855 
came  to  Fillmore  county,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years  in  Racine  township,  this 
county.  George  A.  passed  his  early  life  on  the  farm,  and  attended 
the  district  school  of  Sumner  in  his  native  county.  He  devoted 
his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  there  until  coming  to  Frankford 
township.  He  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  J.  C.  and  Sarah  J. 
(Hoff)  Brush,  Ihe  former  a  native  of  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  and  the 
latter  from  New  York  state.    This  union  has  resulted  in  five  chil- 


920  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

dren :  Daisy  E.,  Myrtle  E.,  Verner  G.,  Nellie  M.  and  Glen  A.,  who 
died  at  about  two  years  of  age,  August  27.  1910. 

Henry  J.  Lockwood,  Jr.,  of  Frankford  township,  is  of  that 
younger  generation  who  combine  the  hardworking,  industrious 
temperament  of  their  predecessors  with  the  intelligent  and 
scientific  understanding  of  agricultural  conditions  which  has 
resulted  from  modern  experiment  and  investigation.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Mower  county,  having  been  born 
on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  February  1-1,  1879,  son  of 
Henry  J.  Lockwood,  Sr.,  now  deceased.  He  received  his  earlj^ 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  in  the 
graded  schools  of  Grand  Meadow.  Then  he  entered  the  agricul- 
tural school  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  was  pursuing 
his  studies  there  when  he  was  called  home  by  his  father's  death. 
He  now  has  charge  of  the  Lockwood  estate  consisting  of  525 
acres  in  sections  14,  22,  23  and  27,  Frankford  township,  and 
carries  on  general  farming  on  an  extensive  scale,  making  a 
specialty  of  Shorthorn  and  Dui'ham  cattle.  Mr.  Lockwood  is  an 
independent  Democrat,  and  has  served  as  treasurer  of  school 
district  19  for  eight  years.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the 
Exchange  Bank,  of  Grand  Meadow.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  married  September  2,  1902,  to  Julia  Nelson,  born  in  Grand 
Meadow,  this  county,  February  27,  1880,  daughter  of  Gilbert  and 
Karen  G.  (Olson)  Nelson,  who  came  to  America  from  Norway 
in  1870,  located  in  Grand  Meadow  township  and  took  up  general 
farming,  the  father  dying  January  10,  1884.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lockwood  have  two  children:  Katherine  Claire,  born  August  8, 
1905,  and  Charles  Henry,  born  February  15,  1910. 

Henry  J.  Lockwood,  Sr.,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county,  although  not  of  the  earliest.  He  was  born  of  true 
American  parents  of  French  and  English  descent,  who  Avere 
among  the  first  settlers  of  the  country.  His  mother  died  when 
he  was  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  being  the  only  boy  the  duty  of 
becoming  bread  winner  for  the  family  devolved  upon  him,  the 
father  being  a  cripple.  Henry  J.  clothed  and  schooled  his  two 
sisters  on  his  small  salary  of  $12.50  per  month  for  four  years,  or 
until  they  were  old  enough  to  work  some.  His  "stick-to-it-ive- 
ness"  and  determination  won  for  him  the  respect  of  men  who 
helped  him  up  the  ladder,  round  by  round.  In  1858  he  came  from 
Ohio  to  Minnesota  with  a  team  and  settled  in  Fillmore  county, 
where  he  taught  school  winters  and  worked  his  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  summer.  In  1863  he  went  back  to  Ohio  and  married 
Kathryn  Sharp,  who  with  his  sisters  accompanied  him  back  to 
this  western  home.  When  the  Indians  made  trouble  at  New  Ulm 
and  at  other  places  he  applied  for  enlistment  but  was  again 
rejected  as  on  two  other  occasions  when  the  calls  were  made  for 


TI.  J.  T.orKWOOD 


HISTOliY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  921 

volunteers  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war,  on  account  of  his 
having  but  one  eye  (the  sight  of  the  other  being  damaged  by  a 
<.'ataract  grovi'th).  He  figured  strongly  in  the  political  affairs  of 
the  township  wherein  he  resided.  In  1865  he  bought  a  farm  of 
160  acres  in  Frankford  township  and  moved  onto  it  in  May  of 
that  year.  He  served  two  terms  as  county  commissioner  and 
Avas  always  found  ready  to  serve  the  best  interests  of  the  county 
regardless  of  threats  or  bribery,  thus  placing  him  in  the  ranks  of 
those  who  do  and  dare.  He  w^as  a  strong  and  loyal  lover  of 
libert.y  and  strove  to  serve  his  country.  His  opportunity  came 
when  the  Spanish  war  broke  out,  and  Jay,  his  second  son,  enlisted 
in  Company  G  of  the  Twelfth  Regiment  of  Minnesota  Volunteers, 
the  members  of  which  were  held  at  Chickamauga,  for  months. 
Jay  became  very  sick,  and  as  a  father  Mr.  Lockwood  kept  his 
word.  "Boy,  I'll  come  when  you  need  me,"  and  he  went  despite 
the  entreaties  of  his  family.  He  nursed,  waited  upon,  fanned 
and  kept  flies  off  the  sick  boys  until  the  strength  of 
his  sixty-two  years  began  to  lag  and  he  became  a  victim  of 
the  typhoid  malaria  and  lived  but  one  month  after  reaching 
home,  dying  with  the  full  assurance  that  he  had  served  his 
country.  Word  came  from  camp  often,  enquiring  of  "Dad's" 
welfare,  for  that  is  what  they  named  him  at  the  U.  S.  hospital. 
The  sick  boys  would  call  and  call  for  assistance  and  as  a  last 
resort  call  for  "Dad,"  who  never  failed  them  as  long  as  his 
strength  remained.  Though  not  rich  he  left  a  good  farm  of  525 
acres  as  a  result  of  the  push  and  determination  of  a  poor  boy. 
He  was  an  example  of  charity  for  his  fellow  man,  and  his  straight, 
honest  dealings  in  business  and  politics  won  for  him  the  respect 
of  those  who  were  acquainted  with  him. 

Ole  Christenson  Bratrud,  who  gave  the  land  upon  Avhieh  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church  is  located  in  Bennington  township, 
was  born  in  Sigdal,  Norway,  on  March  25,  1833,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  in  the  spring  of  1848,  spending  seven 
weeks  on  the  Atlantic  ocean.  He  first  located  at  Rock  Prairie, 
Wis.  In  May,  1854,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ambjer  Fin- 
neseth,  of  that  place,  and  soon  thereafter  they  came  to  Minnesota 
and  located  at  Root  Prairie,  near  Fountain.  Here  the  family 
lived  until  the  death  of  Mrs.  Bratrud,  October  27,  1872.  To  them 
six  children  were  born,  three  of  whom  died  quite  young.  Of  the 
other  three,  Louis  died  at  AVest  Superior,  Wis.,  in  1896,  and 
Thollef  died  at  Chester,  Iowa,  in  1905.  The  oldest,  Christian  C, 
resides  at  Sioux  Falls,  S.  D.,  where  he  is  vice  president  of  the 
Sioux  Falls  Savings  Bank  and  has  twice  represented  his  district 
in  the  state  legislature.  On  June  1,  1873,  O.  C.  Bratrud  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Elsie  Torgrimson,  who  survives  him  and 
is  now  living  in  St.  Paul.    This  union  was  blessed  with  seven  chil- 


922  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

dren,  all  of  whom  are  living.  They  are :  Dr.  Theodore  Bratrud, 
of  Warren,  Minn. ;  Albert,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Bennington  town- 
ship ;  E.  Oscar,  who  is  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Roswell,  S.  D. ; 
John  who  attends  the  St.  Paul  Law  School ;  Clara,  who  is  at  the 
Northwestern  Conservatory  of  Art  and  Music  at  Minneapolis, 
and  Arthur  and  Edward,  who  are  medical  students  at  the  state 
university.  Ole  Bratrud  was  a  public  spirited  citizen  and  was 
honored  by  having  been  elected  to  several  positions  of  trust  in 
his  county.  In  1870  he  represented  Fillmore  county  in  the  state 
legislature.  In  the  spring  of  1889  Mr.  Bratrud  with  his  family 
moved  to  Spring  Valley  for  the  purpose  of  better  educating  his 
children  and  to  look  after  his  real  estate  holdings,  which  consisted 
of  a  tract  of  380  acres  in  Bennington  toAvnship,  in  Mower  county, 
and  various  tracts  in  Fillmore  county.  He  was  an  honorable, 
upright  Christian  man  and  worked  very  industriously  to  give  his 
children  a  good  education.  In  this  he  succeeded  admirably  and 
for  it  they  will  ever  praise  his  memory.  Mr.  Bratrud  passed 
away  at  his  home  in  Spring  Valley  February  26,  1910. 

Joseph  R.  Mason  was  born  in  AYestminster,  Windham  county, 
Vermont,  August  15,  1827.  In  1845  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  there  his  father  purchased  and 
improved  government  land  on  which  he  remained  until  the  time 
of  his  death.  In  1852  he  married  Lucinda  Freeman,  a  native  of 
the  town  of  Plymouth,  Chenango  county.  New  York.  In  1856 
they  started  westward  to  seek  a  new  home,  and  for  several  years 
lived  in  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  Their  residence  in  Mower  county 
dates  from  1865,  when  they  came  to  LeRoy  township  and  pur- 
chased 240  acres  of  land  in  section  8.  This  land  they  broke  and 
improved,  and  here  they  carried  on  general  farming  until 
death,  Joseph  R.  dying  June  6,  1894,  and  his  wife  December  31, 
1893.  They  had  three  children,  Florence  and  Clarence,  twins, 
and  Arthur.  They  also  brought  up  two  children  not  adopted, 
Ida  ]\Iay  and  Ella. 

Asa  Brown,  an  early  hotelkeeper,  was  born  in  Vermont,  and 
married  Lucy  Baker,  of  Ohio.  After  their  marriage  they  located 
in  Indiana,  where  Asa  was  one  of  the  contractors  on  the  Wabash 
canal.  After  the  completion  of  the  canal  he  located  in  Noble 
county,  purchased  a  tract  of  land,  and  founded  the  village  of 
Lisbon.  Here  he  also  erected  a  hotel  which  he  conducted  for 
sevei'al  years.  In  1861  he  removed  to  Alexandria,  Minn.,  built 
and  conducted  a  feed  and  flouring  mill,  and  remained  three  years. 
In  1864  he  came  to  Austin,  Minn.,  and  purchased  what  afterward 
became  the  Lacy  House.  Three  years  later  he  sold  out  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Fillmore  county.  After  farming  three  years  he 
came  to  LeRoy  and  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  a  year.  Then 
he  and  his  wife  spent  two  years  in  Kentucky,  afterward  taking 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  923 

up  their  residence  in  Lansing  township.  Here  Asa  Brown  died 
in  1876  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  Ilis  wife  died  in  June, 
1909,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven. 

Charles  B.  Brown,  a  prominent  farmer  of  LeRoy  township, 
was  born  in  Noble  county,  Indiana,  August  19,  1849,  son  of  Asa 
and  Lucy  (Baker)  Brown.  He  received  his  early  education  in 
Cold  Springs,  Ind.,  and  at  Austin,  Minn.,  and  then  engaged  in 
farming  in  Lansing  and  LeRoy  townships  until  1885,  when  he 
Aveut  to  Anoka,  Minn.,  and  engaged  in  lumbering  for  some  four- 
teen years.  In  1899  he  returned  to  LeRoy  township  and  engaged 
in  farming  on  the  ]\Iason  place  in  section  8,  where  he  is  now 
successfully  engaged  in  diversified  farming,  making  a  specialty 
of  Durham  and  Black  Poll  cattle.  Mr.  Brown  was  married 
November  5,  1873,  to  Florence  Mason,  born  in  Rutland  county, 
Vermont,  May  12,  1856,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Lueinda  (Free- 
man) Mason.,  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children : 
Jay  R.,  born  March  6,  1875,  is  manager  of  the  North  American 
telegraph  in  the  Minneapolis  Chamber  of  Commerce ;  May,  born 
July  16,  1880,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Howe,  of  LeRoy  village. 
Grace  is  the  wife  of  Arthur  J.  Arnot,  of  Bismarck,  N.  D. 

John  H.  Skinner,  managing  editor  of  the  Austin  Herald, 
daily  and  weekly,  was  born  in  Northampton,  Mass.,  August  13, 
1864,  son  of  Thomas  and  Rosamond  (Reece)  Skinner.  The  family 
moved  to  South  Hadley,  Mass.,  where  John  H.  was  reared.  After 
leaving  school  he  took  up  newspaper  Avork,  came  to  Mower 
county  in  1896,  and  became  proprietor  of  the  Herald  two  years 
later.  In  1907  he  disposed  of  a  half  interest  to  Fred  C.  Ulmer. 
Mr.  Skinner  was  married  June  26,  1900,  to  Gertrude  C.  Ellis, 
daughter  of  Allen  V.  and  Helen  (Quain)  Ellis.  Mrs.  Skinner 
was  born  in  MoAver  county,  has  traveled  extensively  in  Europe, 
and  Avas  superintendent  of  MoAver  county  schools  ten  years.  She 
is  noAv  associate  editor  of  the  Herald. 

Fred  C.  Ulmer,  business  manager  of  the  Austin  Herald,  daily 
and  Aveekly,  Avas  born  in  Clear  Lake,  loAva,  December  23,  1880, 
son  of  Charles  and  Bertha  (Pezold)  Ulmer,  both  of  German  birth. 
He  Avas  brought  by  them  to  Austin  in  1891,  graduated  from  the 
Austin  high  school  in  1901,  and  began  his  ncAvspaper  career  as 
a  reporter  on  the  MoAver  County  Register.  A  year  later  he 
entered  the  employ  of  George  A.  Hormel  &  Co.,  and  remained 
with  this  firm  until  1907,  Avhen  he  became  a  copartner  in  the  firm 
of  Skinner  &  Ulmer.  ]Mr.  Ulmer  is  an  official  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  Avorshipful  master  of  Fidelity  Lodge,  No.  39,  A.  F.  & 
A.  ^I..  and  a  member  of  various  other  organizations  and  clubs. 

George  E.  Anderson,  assistant  postmaster  of  Austin,  is  a 
native  born  son  of  this  county,  having  first  seen  the  light  of  day 
August  23,  1876,  on  a  farm  in  ^Marshall  township,  tAvelve  miles 


924:  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

east  of  Austin.  His  parents  are  Sven  and  Anna  (Anderson) 
Anderson,  the  pioneers.  George  E.  attended  the  district  schools, 
came  to  Austin  with  his  parents  in  1881,  and  graduated  from  the 
Austin  high  school  in  1893.  Then  he  attended  the  University  of 
Minnesota  three  years.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  mail  service 
as  clerk  in  the  Austin  postoffiee,  and  later  took  the  first  civil 
service  examination  which  was  held  in  Austin  for  the  city  carrier 
service,  standing  the  highest  in  a  class  of  forty-five.  He  served 
as  carrier  for  nine  years,  and  in  1907  was  appointed  assistant 
postmaster.  In  December,  1910,  he  was  placed  in  the  civil  service 
by  an  order  affecting  all  the  assistant  postmasters  in  second  class 
offices  throughout  the  United  States.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order,  and  is  a  past  commander  of  St.  Bernard 
Commandery,  No.  13,  Knights  Templar,  as  well  as  past  worthy 
patron  of  Unity  Chapter,  No.  29,  0.  E.  S.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.,  the  Austin  Commercial  Club,  the  Austin  high 
school  alumnae  association  and  the  Minnesota  Association  of 
Assistant  Postmasters.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
July  1,  1903,  to  MoUie  Anderson,  daughter  of  O.  G.  and  Matilda 
(Nelson)  Anderson,  old  settlers  of  Lansing  township.  To  this 
union  has  been  born  one  child,  George  E.  Anderson,  Jr.,  born 
November  15,  1910.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  In  spite  of  his  busy  life,  Mr.  Anderson  has  found  time 
to  make  a  hobby  of  collecting  coins  and  Civil  war  relics.  His 
collection  of  war  relics  is  one  of  the  finest  in  southern  Minnesota 
and  his  coin  collection  contains  many  coins  of  rare  value. 

Paul  C.  Keith,  the  successful  editor  of  the  Adams  Review, 
M^as  born  in  Traer,  Iowa,  April  23,  1885,  son  of  AVilliam  C.  and 
Betsey  (Jackson)  Keith,  natives  of  Scotland.  He  attended  the 
common  schools,  graduated  from  the  Goldfield  (Iowa)  high 
school  in  1901  and  then  took  courses  at  Monmouth  College,  Mon- 
mouth, 111.,  and  Coe  College,  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa.  Then  he 
took  up  newspaper  business.  He  came  to  Mower  county  in  1908 
and  in  April  of  the  following  year  became  editor  of  the  Adams 
Review.  He  is  a  member  of  a  number  of  organizations  and  has 
served  the  village  of  Adams  in  various  capacities. 

Charles  Brownlow,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  LeRoy 
village,  has  extensive  interests  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  is 
honored  as  a  man  of  progressive  views  and  keen  business  ability. 
He  was  born  in  Beaver  Dam,  AVis.,  November  17,  1872,  son  of 
Joseph  and  Eliza  (Hufton)  Brownlow.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  Mower  county,  and  then  took 
up  farming  with  his  father  and  brothers,  helping  to  break  and 
develop  what  was  then  the  extensive  Brownlow  farm.  Here  he 
carried  on  farming  until  1901,  Avhen  he  retired  and  moved  to  the 
village  of  LeRoy,  where  he  and  his  family  now  reside  in  a  beau- 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  925 

tiful  home  on  North  Main  street.  He  looks  after  his  own  business 
interests,  and  lias  charge  of  his  wife's  fai-m  of  1,280  acres  in 
Clayton  township,  owning  aside  from  this  a  section  of  land  in 
North  Dakota.  He  is  a  Republican,  has  served  on  the  village 
council  of  LeRoy,  affiliates  with  the  I.  0.  O.  P.  and  the  M.  W.  A., 
and  attends  the  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Brownlow  was  married 
December  5,  1901,  at  LeRoy,  to  Claudine  Colman,  daughter  of 
D.  B.  Colman. 

Joseph  Brownlow  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  and 
came  to  America  as  a  young  man,  afterward  returning  to  his 
native  shire  and  marrying  Eliza  Hufton,  a  native  of  the  same 
place.  Together  they  located  in  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  where  Joseph 
engaged  in  farming  for  a  short  period,  later  taking  up  the 
cooperage  business  at  the  same  place.  In  1875  he  moved  his 
family  to  the  state  of  INIaryland,  where  they  remained  four  years, 
from  1875  to  1879,  and  then  in  1880  coming  to  LeRoy  immediately 
locating  in  Lodi  township,  where  he  first  purchased  280  acres 
of  land.  To  this  farm  he  added  from  time  to  time  until  he  owned 
640  acres,  his  land  lying  in  the  townships  of  LeRoy,  Bennington 
and  Lodi.  Together  with  his  sons  he  broke  and  developed  this 
land,  erected  commodious  buildings,  and  there  remained  until  his 
death.  He  Avas  a  man  of  sterling  ciualities,  well  liked  throughout 
the  community  for  his  industry,  thrift  and  honesty.  He  died 
November  3,  1903.  and  his  wife  March  16,  1887.  They  were  the 
parents  of  five  children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter:  William, 
now  on  the  home  farm  in  Lodi ;  Fannie,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Henry 
J.  Boyd,  of  LeRoy;  Richard,  a  farmer  of  LeRoy  township; 
Charles,  of  LeRoy,  and  Frank,  who  also  carries  on  farming  in 
LeRoy  township. 

Decatur  B.  Colman,  now  deceased,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Charles 
Brownlow,  Avas  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  Mower 
county,  at  one  time  owning  2,560  acres  of  land  in  this  county. 
He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Springfield,  Otsego  county.  New 
York,  September  21,  1826,  and  Avas  reared  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, receiving  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  later 
attending  the  Oriskany  Academy  in  Onondaga  for  three  terms. 
At  seventeen  years  of  age  he  began  his  life  as  a  teacher,  which 
profession  he  folloAved  the  greater  pai^t  of  his  time  for  tlie  fol- 
loAA'ing  twelve  years,  in  the  states  of  Ncav  York,  Ohio,  Wisconsin. 
He  had  during  this  time  been  engaged  in  clerking  in  a  general 
store  one  and  a  half  years.  In  1855  he  dealt  in  horses,  living  in 
Ohio  and  shipping  them  west.  In  1857  he  moved  to  loAva  and 
located  at  Burr  Oak,  and  there  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness. There  he  continued  for  tAvo  years.  In  1859  he  moved  to 
Preston,  Fillmore  county,  this  state,  AA-here  he  Avas  a  pioneer. 
There  he  opened  a  store  Avith  a  large  stock  of  general  merdian- 


926  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

dise,  and  was  with  Conkey  Bros.,  the  leading  merchants  of 
Prescott,  for  many  years.  In  1874  he  opened  a  branch  store  at 
Grand  Meadow,  being  the  first  store  in  the  place.  In  1868  he 
purchased  four  sections  of  land  in  Clayton  township,  viz. :  sec- 
tions 14,  15,  22  and  23.  Later  he  sold  sections  14  and  23.  In 
1869  he  commenced  improvements  on  sections  15  and  22,  and  in 
1877  settled  on  the  farm,  where  he  followed  general  farming 
until  1896,  when  he  retired  and  moved  to  LeEoy.  He  died  July 
12,  1900,  and  his  wife  passed  away  December  1,  1903.  They  were 
the  parents  of  two  children:  Clarence,  who  died  at  two  and  a 
half  years,  and  Claudine,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Charles  BrownJow, 
of  LeRoy.  Mr.  Colman  was  married  January  22,  1856,  to  Minerva 
E.  Thayer,  born  in  the  town  of  Springfield,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Colman 
always  took  an  active  interest  in  public  aifairs,  served  as  a 
member  of  the  town  board  of  Preston,  was  county  commissioner 
of  Fillmore  county,  and  several  times  chairman  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  in  Clayton  township. 

Allen  Valois  Ellis  was  born  in  Potsdam,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
New  York,  February  8,  1834.  He  attended  district  school  until 
his  fifteenth  year,  when  he  entered  St.  LaAvrence  Academy. 
After  a  year  in  study  here,  he  taught  school  for  two  years  and 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  on  April  6,  1852,  he  started  for  the  gold 
fields  of  California.  He  made  the  journey  overland  from  Erie, 
Pa.,  where  railroad  traffic  ended,  and  at  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  joined 
the  Beeman-Pugh  overland  party  to  California,  under  the  per- 
sonal leadership  of  Pugh.  The  journey  ended  at  Eldorado,  Cal., 
September  11,  1852.  For  the  next  three  years  Mr.  Ellis  Avorked 
in  the  gold  mines  of  California.  He  made  the  homeward  journey 
via  Isthmus  of  Panama,  minted  his  gold  in  Philadelphia  and 
returned  to  his  old  home  in  Potsdam,  where  he  married  Belle 
McGill,  February  13,  1856.  Three  months  later  he  came  west, 
preempted"  160  acres  of  land  thirty  miles  west  of  Red  Wing  and 
also  bought  a  quarter  section.  Later  he  sold  his  land  and 
returned  east.  His  wife  died  January  1,  1857,  leaving  an  infant 
daughter.  In  May  of  that  year  he  again  came  west  and  located 
at  Austin,  and  was  employed  as  civil  engineer  of  the  Minnesota 
Central  railway.  On  April  24,  1859,  he  married  Helen  Quain 
and  the  next  day  they  moved  out  to  Avhat  is  now  known  as  the 
Evergreen  Farm,  Avhere  he  lived  for  more  than  fifty  years,  dying 
there  August  3,  1909.  He  left  a  Avidow,  tAvo  sons,  Charles  F.,  of 
I\randan,  N.  D.,  and  Dr.  Sidney  A.,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  also  four 
daughters,  Mrs.  W.  W.  Keyser,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Mrs.  J.  H. 
Skinner,  Austin;  Mrs.  K.  C.  Ingmundson,  St.  Paul,  and  Mattie 
C.  Ellis,  Peru,  Neb.  Mr.  Ellis  was. one  of  the  builders  of  the 
county.  He  was  a  man  of  tireless  energy  and  indomitable  will. 
"When  other  men  were  satisfied  to  sow  their  wheat  among  the 


ALLEN  V.  ELLIS 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  927 

stumps,  lie  cleared -liis  fields  by  grubbing.  lie  is  credited  with 
being  the  first  man  to  bring  the  evergreen  trees  to  this  county 
and  from  his  nursery  rows  thousands  of  these  trees  were  trans- 
planted to  beautify  southern  Minnesota.  lie  counted  these  his 
best  monument. 

Ole  Aslakson  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Nevada  town- 
ship. He  has  been  assessor  of  the  township  for  thirty  years, 
member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  three  years,  chairman  of 
that  board  five  years  and  clerk  of  the  school  board  of  his  district 
for  many  terms.  He  believes  in  the  betterment  and  improvement 
of  farm  conditions,  and  his  services  as  president  of  the  Nevada 
Farmers'  Co-operative  Creamery  have  given  general  satisfaction. 
Mr.  Aslakson  was  born  in  Norway,  April  14,  1845,  son  of  Aslak 
Oleson,  and  came  to  America  as  a  young  man.  He  lived  a  time 
in  Chicago  working  at  the  carpenter  trade,  which  he  had  learned 
in  the  old  country,  and  then  came  to  Mower  county,  pursuing  the 
same  line  of  work.  In  1875  he  purchased  160  acres  in  section  14, 
Nevada  tow^nship,  where  he  now  lives.  In  the  early  days  he 
erected  a  shanty  14x16  and  in  this  lived  for  some  time.  He  now 
has  a  fine  complement  of  buildings,  mostly  erected  by  his  own 
hands.  The  old  original  residence  is  preserved  on  the  place  and 
used  for  a  tool  shed.  At  first  Mr.  Aslakson  raised  grain,  but  of 
late  years  has  carried  on  general  diversified  farming  on  the  three 
quarter  sections  of  land  which  he  now  owns.  He  takes  particular 
pride  in  his  herd  of  Shorthorns,  and  has  about  forty  head,  which 
he  breeds  for  both  beef  and  dairy  purposes.  Mr.  Aslakson  was 
married  June  24,  1876,  to  Susie  Anderson,  a  native  of  Norway, 
and  they  have  eleven  children :  Anton,  Andrew,  Theodore,  Chris- 
tian, Halver,  Oie,  Clara,  Lena,  Selva,  Gertrude  and  Hilda.  Anton 
is  married  and  lives  in  the  town  of  Nevada ;  others  are  at  home 
and  the  three  youngest  attend  school.  The  family  faith  is  that 
of  tlie  Lutheran  church. 

Peter  Lausen,  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Lyle  township, 
has  made  liis  own  way  in  the  world  wdth  but  little  encouragement, 
and  is  a  fine  example  of  a  self-made  man.  He  was  born  in  Ato 
Sehleswig-Holstein,  now  Germany,  then  a  part  of  Denmark, 
September  10,  1863,  son  of  Peter  and  Anna  (Hansen)  Lausen, 
natives  of  Sehleswig-Holstein,  but  of  Danish  blood.  The  father 
is  still  living  in  the  old  country,  and  follows  his  trade  as  a  shoe- 
inakc)-.  The  mother  died  in  1895.  Peter  received  his  education 
in  the  scliools  of  his  native  land,  and  came  to  tliis  country  at  tlie 
age  of  seventeen  years,  arriving  in  Austin,  April  27,  1881.  Here 
he  worked  out  by  the  month  on  a  farm  for  a  period  of  five  years, 
and  then  spent  a  summer  in  California,  later  returning  to  Austin, 
where  he  accepted  a  position  with  Oscar  Avers,  in  his  machine 
shop,   remaining  with   liini   for  five  years.     He  then   ac(M>pted   a 


928  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

position  Avith  the  IMinneapolis  Harvester  Company,  working  with 
that  company  three  years.  Subsequently  he  engaged  with  the 
Interstate  Grain  Company,  as  manager  of  their  elevator  at  Varco, 
for  six  years,  serving  in  the  elevator  winters  and  working  on  his 
farm  in  the  summer.  In  1893  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in 
section  1,  Lyle  township,  which  he  developed  and  brought  to  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  In  1899  he  erected  a  new  modern 
home  and  buildings,  now  having  a  model  farm  place  in  ev(Ty 
respect.  In  1902  he  added  eighty  acres  to  his  farm,  making  21:0 
acres  in  all.  Mr.  Lausen  is  an  independent  Republican,  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.,  and  has 
served  on  the  board  of  town  supervisors  of  Lyle  township,  a 
position  he  still  occupies.  He  also  is  clerk  of  school  district 
number  46.  When  Mr.  Lausen  came  to  this  vicinity  he  had  $2.80 
in  his  pocket,  and  since  then,  aside  from  acquiring  his  tine  prop- 
erty, he  has  sent  over  $1,000  to  his  parents  in  the  old  country. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  August  26,  1896,  to  Randi 
E.  Evenson,  and  to  this  union  have  been  boim  three  children: 
May,  born  December  23,  1897;  Henry,  born  October  19,  1901,  and 
Minnie,  born  October  31,  1906. 

M.  J.  McGown,  one  of  the  progressive  farmers  of  Waltham 
township,  was  born  in  Rochester,  Minn.,  February  13.  1869,  son 
of  Alexander  and  Mina  (Johnson)  McGown.  The  father,  Alex- 
ander, a  native  of  Ireland,  came  to  America  in  1853,  settled  in 
St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York  state,  and  then  in  1865  came  to 
Minnesota.  After  living  four  years  in  Rochester,  he  came  to 
Waltham  township,  and  settled  in  section  21,  where  he  carried 
■on  farming  until  his  death,  in  1904.  J.  M.  McGown  spent  his 
early  life  on  his  father's  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  After  his  marriage  to  Alice,  daughter  of  Bert  E.  and 
Eliza  (Symes)  Stimson,  he  purchased  his  present  farm  in  section 
21,  Waltham  township.  Here  he  has  a  comfortable  home,  com- 
modious barns,  and  320  acres  of  land  upon  which  he  conducts 
general  farming.  He  has  taken  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
township  and  has  served  as  supervisor,  town  clerk  and  assessor. 
Being  of  a  fraternal  nature  he  has  allied  himself  with  the  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.,  the  Eastern  Star  and  the  M.  W.  A. 

Rev.  Olaf  Carl  Myhre,  pastor  of  the  Little  Cedar  Lutheran 
Congregation,  of  Adams,  and  of  the  West  Leroy  Lutheran  church, 
in  LeRoy  townsliip,  is  an  earnest  worker  for  the  cause  to  which 
he  has  consecrated  his  life,  being  respected  by  the  entire  com- 
munity and  loved  by  the  members  of  his  two  flocks.  He  was  born 
in  the  parish  of  Vang,  Valders,  Norway,  January  18,  1870,  being 
baptized  March  31,  of  the  same  year.  He  is  the  son  of  Chris- 
topher and  Marie  Myhre.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
ediieation  in  the  public  schools  of  Norway,  came  to  America  with 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  939 

his  parents  in  1882,  aud  located  with  them  iu  Cioodhue  county, 
Minnesota.  He  was  confii-med  in  that  county  June  3,  1883,  by 
the  Rev.  J.  N.  Kildahl.  In  the  fall  of  1884  he  entered  Luther 
College,  at  Decorah,  Iowa,  where  he  studied  for  three  years. 
After  this  he  entered  St.  Olaf  College,  at  Northfield,  Minn.,  for 
a  similar  period.  Later  he  studied  for  two  years  at  the  Dr. 
:Martin  Luther  College,  at  New  Ulm,  Minn.  In  the  fall  of  1892 
he  entered  the  Augsburg  Seminary,  and  graduated  in  j\Iay,- 1895. 
After  receiving  a  call  he  was  ordained  as  a  pastor  of  the  United 
Lutheran  church,  June  26,  1895,  at  St.  Paul,  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  United  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  of  America.  He 
accepted  the  call  and  became  pastor  of  the  Windom  Lutheran 
church,  in  Cottonwood  county,  Minnesota,  serving  three  congre- 
gations, Windom,  Heron  Lake  and  Brewster,  staying  there  for 
twelve  years.  Then  he  received  a  call  to  Adams,  where  he  was 
installed  pastor  of  the  Little  Cedar  Lutheran  church,  September 
30,  1906.  This  charge  includes  the  congregations  mentioned  at 
the  head  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  INlyhre  is  a  member  of  the  Annuity 
Fund  for  Pastors  aud  Professors  of  the  United  Norwegian 
Lutheran  Church  of  America.  He  was  married  at  Windom,  Cot- 
tonwood county,  Minnesota,  January  21,  1901,  to  Clara  Marie 
Hanson,  of  that  place.  This  union  has  been  gladdened  with 
three  sons :  Valgard  C.  H.,  born  October  3,  1903 ;  Hilding  C.  M., 
born  July  21,  1906 ;  Paul  L.  S.,  born  April  11,  1908. 

Christopher  ]Myhre  and  Marie  Mylire,  his  wife,  were  natives  of 
Valders,  Norway.  They  came  to  America  in  1882,  and  located  in 
Goodhue  county,  Minnesota,  near  Kenyon.  Two  years  later,  iu 
1884,  the  wife  died.  Shortly  after  this  Christopher  Myhre  went 
to  Brookings  county.  South  Dakota,  Avhere  he  engaged  in  farming 
for  the  remainder  of  his  days.    He  died  in  1890. 

Wilber  D.  Ames,  chairman  of  Lyle  township,  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  this  county,  aud  is  known  as  one  of  the  progressive 
and  prosperous  men  of  the  community,  always  ready  to  bear  his 
share  in  promoting  any  good  cause.  He  was  born  in  Lyle  town- 
ship, October  9,  1861,  only  son  of  Ezra  D.  Ames,  an  early  pioneer 
of  the  county.  After  receiving  his  education  in  the  district 
schools,  he  took  up  agricultural  pursuits  with  his  parents,  remain- 
ing on  the  home  farm  until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  when  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  from  his  grandmother,  Loomis, 
just  across  the  street  from  his  birthplace,  in  section  18.  Since 
that  time  he  has  added  160  acres  in  section  19.  He  has  greatly 
improved  this  land,  erected  modern  buildings,  and  brought  the 
place  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  conducting  diversified  farm- 
ing along  the  latest  approved  methods.  He  served  on  the  town 
board  for  five  years,  and  at  the  present  time  is  chairman.  He 
has  served  on  the  school  board  over  twenty  years,  and  at  the 


930  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

-present  time  is  elerk.  He  is  an  independent  Republican  and  a 
Methodist,  and  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  March  22,  1887,  to  Carrie 
A.  Torrens,  daughter  of  James  and  Charlotte  Torrens,  prominent 
farmers  of  Oakland  township,  Freeborn  county.  To  this  union 
has  been  born  one  son,  Loy  L.,  born  April  8,  1888,  who  makes  his 
home  with  his  parents  on  the  farm. 

Ezra  D,  Ames,  an  early  pioneer  settler  of  Mower  county,  was 
born  in  LeRoy,  Geneseo  county.  New  York,  May  15,  1826.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  ]\Iassachusetts  and  a  millwright  by  trade. 
When  five  years  of  age  Ezra  D.  went  with  his  parents  to  Venango 
county.  New  Y'ork,  for  two  years.  They  then  removed  to  Penn- 
sylvania, spending  eight  years  in  Mercer  and  Beaver  counties, 
thence  to  DeKalb  county,  Indiana.  At  sixteen  years  of  age  Ezra 
began  work  with  his  father;  one  year  later  his  father  died,  and 
he  continued  working  with  his  brothers  two  years.  He  then 
engaged  on  the  Wabash  canal,  and  followed  boating  until  1854, 
when  lie  took  up  farming  in  DeKalb  county,  Indiana.  In  1855 
he  removed  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  until 
March  of  the  following  year,  when  he  hired  a  team  to  convey  his 
family  and  household  goods  to  Mower  county,  Minnesota,  first 
living  in  an  empty  shanty  which  they  occupied  for  a  few  weeks, 
in  the  meantime  preempting  land  in  section  21,  in  Lyle  township, 
and  building  a  log  house.  The  same  fall  they  moved  on  section 
19,  where  a  fine  frame  house  was  soon  erected.  Mr.  Ames  broke 
and  developed  the  land,  and  set  out  an  abundance  of  fruit  trees, 
as  well  as  planting  a  fine  grove.  In  1883  he  had  250  apple  trees 
all  bearing  fruit,  it  being  at  that  time  the  finest  and  largest 
orchard  in  Mower  county.  He  lived  on  his  farm  until  1893,  at 
that  time  renting  out  his  farm,  since  which  time  he  has  lived  Avitli 
his  children,  now  living  with  his  son,  W.  D.  Ames.  His  Avife  died 
June  7,  1893.  He  w^as  married  June  13,  1852,  to  Mary  Loomis, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Christina  (Swarts)  Loomis.  She  was 
born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  May  19,  1836.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren :  Emma,  wife  of  A.  A.  Smith,  now  of  Austin,  died  September 
13,  1885;  Ida,  wife  of  John  Summers,  of  Sioux  Falls,  S.  D.; 
Hattie,  now  Mrs.  William  Jackman,  of  Nebraska ;  William  D.,  of 
Lyle  township. 

Samuel  E.  Morse,  a  pioneer,  was  liorn  in  Camden,  Oneida 
county,  New  Y^ork,  April  i,  1843,  youngest  son  of  Elihue  and 
Mary  (Stoddard)  Morse,  well  known  settlers  of  the  early  days. 
He  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Indiana  in  1848,  and  was  but 
thirteen  years  of  age  Avhen  he  came  to  Mower  county  with  his 
parents.  He  attended  school  as  a  boy,  and  assisted  his  father 
on  the  farm  until  December  16,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K,  Fourth  ]\Iinnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  went  south 


K.  D.  A^FKS 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  931 

and  participated  in  the  many  important  battles  in  which  the 
regiment  was  engaged.  He  reinlisted  in  January,  1863,  and 
served  in  the  same  company  until  July  16,  1865,  being  mustered 
out  at  Loiaisville,  Ky.,  and  discharged  with  his  regiment  at  Ft. 
Snelling.  Then  he  returned  home  and  farmed  with  his  father 
until  1876,  when  he  purchased  the  old  homestead  of  160  acres  in 
LeEoy  township.  This  he  has  increased  until  lie  now'  owns  320 
acres  in  LeRoy  township,  as  well  as  a  half  interest  in  a  400-acre 
tract  in  Wisconsin.  He  now  carries  on  general  farming  in  LeRoy 
township.  He  is  a  director  in  the  State  Bank  of  LoRoy,  in  which 
he  has  served  sixteen  years,  and  he  also  has  other  business  hold- 
ings. He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
has  served  on  the  school  board  for  many  terms  and  has  been 
clerk  of  his  district  for  over  sixteen  years.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  at  Austin,  by  Elder  Parker,  April  8,  1875,  to 
Julia  A.  Bacon,  born  in  Wisconsin,  December  6,  1850,  daughter 
of  Samuel  P.  and  Elizabeth  Bowen  Bacon,  who  settled  in  LeRoy 
township  in  1857.  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Morse  were  blessed  with  seven 
children:  Mabel  E.,  Marion  B.,  JMilton  A.,  Melvin  E.,  Morton  P., 
jMinnie  R.  and  Milo  D.  Samuel  P.  Bacon  served  in  the  legislature 
of  iMinnesota  at  an  early  day.  In  1874  he  and  his  wife  moved  to 
Texas  and  in  1875  to  Kansas,  where  they  both  died. 

Elihue  Morse,  the  first  settler  in  the  north  part  of  LeRoy 
township,  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut, 
October  14,  1803,  and  was  there  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  left  home  and  located  in  New  York 
state,  where  he  was  married  in  1828  to  Mary  Stoddard,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Camden,  Oneida  county.  New  York,  May  26, 
1809.  They  lived  in  New  York  state  until  1848,  then  moved  to 
Whiteley  county,  Indiana,  stayed  there  a  short  time,  and  then 
moved  to  Kosciusko  county,  remaining  there  until  1856.  In  that 
year  they  started  for  Minnesota  with  horse  and  ox  teams,  arriv- 
ing in  Mower  county  after  eight  weeks'  travel.  Elihue  Morse 
entered  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  6,  in  what  is  now  the 
township  of  LeRoy.  He  drove  stakes  in  the  ground  and  placed 
the  wagon  boxes  thereon,  thus  forming  a  shelter  in  which  he 
lived  until  fall.  He  then  erected  a  log  house  with  a  stone  fire- 
place, the  chimney  being  outside.  During  the  following  winter 
lie  drew  his  provisions  on  a  hand  sled  from  Frankford,  then  a 
small  trading  post  at  a  distance  of  thirteen  miles.  He  improved 
his  farm,  and  made  his  home  there  until  1876,  when  he  sold  to 
liis  son,  Samuel  E.,  and  purchased  a  place  in  the  old  village  of 
LeRoy.  There  he  lived  until  1883,  when  he  and  his  wife  returned 
to  the  old  homestead  to  live  with  their  son.  The  father  died 
December  6.  1887;  the  mother  died  in  August,  1881. 

James  Ma^ee,  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Lyle  township,  was  horn 


93-2  HISTOIJY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

iu  the  north  of  Ireland,  August  1,  1839.  After  attending  school 
he  remained  in  Ireland  until  1860,  Avhen  he  came  to  America  and 
located  in  Wisconsin,  engaging  in  farming  ten  years,  after  which 
he  came  to  Mower  county  and  located  in  Lyle  township,  where 
he  purchased  160  acres  of  wild  land  in  section  7,  range  18,  town- 
ship 101.  This  land  he  broke  and  improved,  and  erected  some 
fine  buildings,  his  farm  now  being  in  a  fine  stage  of  cultivation. 
In  1903  he  erected  a  fine  barn,  60x56.  Mr.  Magee  breeds  Short- 
horn cattle,  and  is  now  breeding  in  the  Berkshire  white  hogs, 
following  general  farming.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  has  always  refused  to 
serve  in  public  office,  although  often  urged  to  accept.  He  now 
owns  240  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Magee  was  married  July  1,  1871,  to 
Cassie  Guy,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  five  sturdy  sons: 
Jolm ;  George,  of  Washington ;  Isaac  and  Joseph,  who  are  on  the 
home  farm ;  Guy,  who  is  clerking  in  a  drug  store  at  Lyle. 

John  Magee,  eldest  son  of  James  Magee,  was  born  in  Lyle 
township,  September  25,  1873,  received  his  education  in  the 
Austin  public  schools  and  in  an  Austin  business  college.  After 
this  he  returned  to  the  home  farm,  where  he  remained  until  1899, 
when  he  purchased  120  acres  in  sections  8  and  17,  where  he  built 
his  home,  and  now  follows  general  diversified  farming.  He  was 
married  April  4,  1899,  to  Alma  Dearborn,  and  they  have  one 
child.  Myrtle,  born  December  1-4,  1900.  Mr.  Magee  is  a  Repub- 
lican, a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  is 
serving  his  eleventh  term  as  assessor  of  Lyle  township,  much  to 
his  honor  and  to  the  credit  of  the  town. 

John  L.  Neller  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  December  25, 
1841.  He  came  to  America  in  1852,  and  was  married  April  22, 
1869,  to  Emma  M.  Stokes,  born  in  Winnebago  county,  Wisconsin, 
April  27,  1850.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Udolpho  township, 
where  they  settled  in  1856.  Mr.  Neller  enlisted  August  9,  1862, 
in  Company  C,  Ninth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  until 
August,  1865 ;  was  taken  sick  at  Mobile  about  the  time  Lee  sur- 
rendered, from  the  el¥ects  of  sunstroke,  and  remained  there  until 
the  last  days  of  February,  1866,  from  the  effects  of  which  he 
draws  a  pension.  John  L.  Neller  is  the  son  of  Francis  A.  and 
Magdalena  (Miller)  Neller,  who  came  to  America,  bringing  a 
family  of  seven  children,  viz.:  Margaret,  Sebastian,  Johanna, 
John  L.,  Martin,  Sophia  and  August.  The  mother  died  in 
UdolpJio  in  1862.  The  father  moved  to  Blue  Earth  county,  where 
he  died  December  13,  1883.  Sebastian  lived  in  the  township  until 
the  summer  of  1864,  when  he  sold  out  and  went  to  the  town  of 
Medo,  Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota,  where  he  died  January  29, 
1878.  John  L.  Neller  was  on  the  town  board  from  1885  to  1893 
and  Avas  assessor  in  1879.    He  now  lives  in  Austin. 


HISTOHY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  'xr.', 

William  G.  Pace,  treasurer  of  Lyle  township  as  was  his  father 
before  liiin,  comes  of  an  old  pioneer  family,  his  father  and  mother 
both  having  come  to  Lyle  with  the  earliest  settlers.  He  is  a 
native  of  this  county,  born  on  the  farm  in  Lyle,  where  he  now 
lives,  March  19,  1881,  son  of  Charles  M.  and  Emma  (Gekler) 
Pace.  William  G.  received  his  education  in  the  school  district 
of  which  he  is  now  treasurer,  namely,  district  57,  and  then 
entered  the  Southern  Minnesota  Normal  College,  graduating  in 
1902.  Thus  equipped  with  an  excellent  education  he  returned 
to  the  home  farm,  and  pairchased  the  homestead  of  120  acres  in 
section  22,  to  which  he  has  since  added  eighty  acres  more,  making 
a  fine  farm  of  200  acres,  on  which  he  now  conducts  general 
farming.  Mr.  Pace  has  made  extensive  improvements  on  his 
land  and  buildings,  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  town.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics,  and  is  now 
serving  his  fourth  term  as  town  treasurer.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  W.  A..  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  December 
31,  1904,  to  Elma  A.  Varco,  of  Austin  township,  and  to  this  union 
have  been  born  two  children,  Glenn  E.,  born  June  3,  1906,  and 
Clarence  N.,  born  September  6,  1909. 

Charles  M.  Pace,  for  many  years  treasurer  of  Lyle  township 
and  of  school  district  57,  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  son  of 
"William  M.  and  Esther  A.  (Martin)  Pace,  the  pioneers.  He  came 
to  Mower  county  with  his  parents,  here  grew  to  manhood,  and 
here  married  Emma  Gekler,  daughter  of  David  Gekler,  the 
pioneer.  In  1902  Charles  M.  Pace  and  his  wife  went  to  Ward 
county,  North  Dakota,  and  took  up  a  homestead  where  they  still 
live. 

William  M.  Pace  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  INIower  county. 
He  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  Perry  county,  Ohio,  August  31,  1822, 
and  there  grew  to  manhood,  attending  school  and  assisting  his 
father  on  the  farm.  When  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
rented  a  farm  and  commenced  for  himself.  In  1856  he  sold  out 
and  came  to  Mower  county,  locating  in  section  21,  in  the  town 
of  Lyle,  where  he  lived  for  eight  years,  after  which  he  moved  to 
the  south  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  22,  where  he 
built  a  small  frame  house  in  which  he  lived  for  fifteen  years.  In 
1878  he  erected  a  fine  dwelling,  and  later  an  excellent  granary. 
Until  3864  Mr.  Pace's  nearest  shipping  point  was  at  McGregor,  a 
distance  of  120  miles.  Often  Mr.  Pace  hauled  wheat  to  Rochester 
with  ox  teams  and  sold  it  for  fifty  or  sixty  cents  a  bushel,  camp- 
ing along  the  way,  both  hotels  and  money  being  scarce.  In 
November,  1861,  Mr.  Pace  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Fourth  Min- 
nesota Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  three  years  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  after  which  he  was  honorably  discharged.  He 
was  married  May  22,  1844,  to  Estlier  A.  ^Martin,  who  was  an 


934  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

adopted  daughter  of  Judge  Robert  Lyle,  for  whom  the  township 
was  named.  This  union  resulted  in  six  children:  Charles  M., 
Emery  N.,  Jane,  Elizabeth  A.,  Ahnira  O.  and  Eveline.  Mrs. 
Esther  A.  Pace  died  in  1866  and  thirteen  years  later  Mr.  Pace 
married  Mrs.  Electa  Graham. 

David  Gekler,  an  early  settler,  was  born  in  Germany,  August 
2,  1825,  and  in  1854  came  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New 
York  and  settling  in  Utiea.  Then  he  went  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa, 
and  in  1857  located  in  Lyle  township.  He  married  Anna  M. 
Sloderbeck,  who  was  born  in  Germany -in  1828,  and  the  fruit  of 
this  union  was  eight  children:  Bennie,  Emma,  Mary,  Catherine, 
Lorenzo,  Christina,  Lowena  and  Esther. 

S.  L.  Quackenbush,  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  now 
residing  in  Frankford  township,  was  born  in  Onondaga  county, 
New  York,  May  12,  1842,  son  of  Lambert  and  Emlie  (Kathau) 
Quackenbush.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  four  years  old 
when  his  parents  brought  him  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  spent  his 
boyhood  and  young  manhood.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  in 
1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  and  served  six  months  as  a 
teamster.  Before  his  term  of  service  had  expired,  he  was  taken 
ill,  and  came  home,  afterward  receiving  his  honorable  discharge. 
Three  years  later,  in  1868,  he  came  to  Frankford  township,  and 
settled  in  section  12,  where  he  still  continues  to  reside.  He  has 
never  sought  office,  but  for  eight  years  yielded  to  the  solicitation 
of  his  friends  and  honorably  filled  the  office  of  constable.  During 
his  residence  here  he  has  become  a  substantial  citizen,  and  his 
opinions  are  greatly  respected  by  his  fellow  citizens.  Mr.  Quack- 
enbush married  for  his  first  wife  Angeliue  M.,  daughter  of  0.  H. 
Collar,  and  this  union  resulted  in  two  sons,  Elmer  0.  and  William 
M.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  Maria  Sutton,  daughter  of 
Lemuel  and  Deborah  (Laftin)  Sutton. 

Frank  H.  Reed,  for  eighteen  years  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Racine  township,  is  a  prominent  man  in  the  community,  and  is 
an  excellent  citizen  in  every  respect.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Phoebe  Reed  and  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  New  York,  January  31,  1856.  The  family  moved  to 
Sheboygan  Falls,  Wis.,  in  1865,  and  there  Daniel  died  some  weeks 
later,  his  wife,  Phoebe,  still  making  her  home  there.  Frank  H. 
was  educated  in  New  York  and  Wisconsin,  and  graduated  from 
the  Sheboygan  Falls  high  school.  In  1875  he  came  to  Mower 
county,  and  taught  in  the  public  schools,  being  at  one  time  prin- 
cipal of  the  schools  at  Blooming  Prairie  in  Steele  county.  Subse- 
quently he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  28,  Racine 
township,  and  on  this  tract  he  has  since  followed  general  farm- 
ing. He  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  Jersey  cattle,  and  sells 
cream  to  the  Racine  Farmers'  Co-operative  Creamery,  of  whieli 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  935 

lit?  was  one  of  the  origiual  stockholders.  In  addition  to  the  office 
already  mentioned  he  was  town  clerk  four  years,  town  assessor, 
and  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  district  33  for  ten  years. 
Being  of  a  sociable  nature,  he  has  allied  himself  with  the  1.  O. 
0.  F.  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  Mr.  Reed  was  married  October  12, 
1880,  to  Anna  Stewart,  daughter  of  R.  E.  Stewart,  of  Racine. 
This  union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children.  Jesse  is  in 
JMontaua ;  Daniel  is  at  home,  and  Marie,  for  several  years  a  school 
teacher,  is  now  ]Mrs.  Delbert  Gordy.  The  family  faith  is  that  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Carl  C.  Skogstad,  one  of  the  supervisors  of  Frankford  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  Norway,  born  January  3,  1855,  son  of  Chris- 
tian and  Caren  Skogstad,  both  of  whom  spent  the  span  of  their 
years  in  Norway.  Carl  C.  attended  the  public  schools  in  Norway, 
and  in  1872  came  to  America.  For  five  years  he  did  farm  and 
saw-mill  work  in  various  places,  and  then  came  to  Frankford 
township,  where  he  worked  out  as  a  farm  hand  for  seven  years. 
In  188J:  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  sections  8  and  17, 
developed  the  land,  erected  a  tine  home  and  the  necessary  out- 
buildings, and  carried  on  general  farming.  He  has  recently  sold 
ninety  acres,  leaving  him  seventy  which  he  conducts  with  much 
success.  He  is  a  Republican  and  aside  from  his  town  office  has 
been  director  of  his  school  district  for  several  years.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Creamery  at  Grand 
jMeadow,  and  also  has  other  holdings.  Mr.  Skogstad  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  a  communicant  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He 
was  married  December  29,  1882,  to  Regnald  Florrend,  born  in 
Norway,  June  10,  1850,  daughter  of  Olaf  and  Martha  Steft'eus, 
who  came  to  America  in  1852  and  in  1856  located  in  Frankford. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Skogstad  have  three  children:  Clarence  was  born 
April  11,  1883,  and  is  a  clerk  in  Grand  Meadow ;  Otis  was  born 
October  10,  1886,  and  is  a  student  at  St.  Olaf  College,  Northfield, 
Minn.;  Cora  M.  was  born  February  20,  1889,  and  lives  at  home. 

Simon  E.  Severson,  for  six  years  deputy  sheriff  of  Mower 
county,  and  for  fifteen  years  constable  of  Racine  towmship,  was 
born  in  Norway,  February  10,  1860,  son  of  Erick  and  jNIarie 
Severson,  also  natives  of  that  country.  In  July,  1861,  the  family 
caine  to  America,  landed  at  Quebec,  and  made  their  way  directly 
to  ]\Iower  county.  Here  Erick  i)urchased  eighty  acres  of  railroad 
land  in  Racine  township  and  raised  grain.  He  still  lives  on  his 
original  purchase,  his  wife,  Marie,  having  died  January  27,  1907. 
Simon  E.  was  educated  in  the  country  schools  and  until  his 
marriage  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm,  working  out  to  earn 
such  money  as  he  needed  for  his  personal  wants.  In  1901  he 
ac(|uired  forty  acres  in  section  33,  by  inheritance,  and  to  this  he 
has  added  forty  acres  more.     On  this  tract  he  conducts  general 


936  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

farming,  raising  the  usual  crops  as  well  as  Shorthorn  cattle  and 
Poland  China  hogs.  He  was  married  September  19,  1896,  to 
Helen  Halverson,  and  to  this  union  has  been  born  one  daughter, 
Elise.     The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

William  H.  Spencer,  assessor  of  the  town  of  LeEoy  for  the 
past  seven  years,  clerk  of  school  district  21  for  the  past  twenty- 
one  years,  and  an  earnest  advocate  of  progressive  and  intensive 
farming,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  still  resides  in  LeEoy 
township.  May  26,  1857,  son  of  William  B.  and  Elizabeth  (McGee) 
Spencer,  who  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  LeEoy  township,  and  after 
this  engaged  in  farming  in  Otter  Tail  county  for  seven  years. 
In  1885  he  returned  to  his  father 's  farm,  and  worked  its  196  acres 
for  two  years,  after  which  he  purchased  the  place.  Since  then  he 
has  increased  his  holdings  to  266  acres.  On  this  farm  he  has 
continued  to  live,  successfully  conducting  general  farming  on  an 
extensive  scale.  He  has  erected  a  pleasant  residence,  and  has 
some  modern  barns,  in  which  are  housed  his  high-bred  pure- 
blooded  Hereford  cattle,  of  which  he  has  a  most  excellent  herd. 
Aside  from  his  property  holdings,  he  owns  stock  in  the  First 
State  Bank,  of  LeEoy.  Mr.  Spencer  was  married  May  8,  1879,  to 
Helen  E.  Mason,  daughter  of  J.  M.  and  Margaret  (Blackburn) 
Mason.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  six  children :  Orville, 
now  of  LeEoy  township ;  Alma  E.,  living  at  home ;  Lura  H.,  now 
Mrs.  A.  C.  Brooks,  of  Austin  township ;  Elmer  AA^.,  of  LeEoy 
township ;  Marcia  B.,  of  Postville,  Iowa,  now  Mrs.  H.  L.  Hauck ; 
and  Blsia  I.,  living  at  home.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

J.  M.  Mason  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  located  in  Wisconsin 
when  twenty  years  of  age.  He  married  Margaret  Blackburn, 
who  was  born  in  England,  and  came  to  America  at  ten  years  of 
age.  In  1863  they  came  to  Mower  county  and  purchased  land 
in  LeEoy  township,  where  they  lived  until  1876,  when  they 
moved  to  LeEoy  village.  J.  M.  Mason  died  March  5,  1887,  and 
his  widow  now  makes  her  home  in  LeEoy  township  with  her  son, 
Lueian  J.  There  were  four  children  in  the  Mason  family :  Lueian 
J.,  a  farmer  of  LeEoy  township;  Samuel  M.,  of  Morgan  Hill, 
Cal. ;  Elizabeth  M.,  who  died  in  California  in  December,  1905, 
and  Helen  E.,  now  ]\Irs.  W.  H.  Spencer,  of  LeEoy. 

William  B.  Spencer,  a  member  of  the  first  elected  board  of 
county  commissioners  of  Mower  county,  was  born  in  Covington, 
Ehode  Island,  September  5,  1823.  When  nine  years  of  age  he 
was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Deerfield,  Eensselaer  county.  New 
York.  Nine  years  later  they  went  to  Warren  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  there  William  B.  was  married  October  11,  1842,  to 
Elizabeth  IMcGee,  born  in  AVarren,  November  18,  1825.     In  1855 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  937 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spencer  started  for  Minnesota.  At  Dunkirk  tliey, 
with  their  team,  embarked  on  boat  for  Toledo,  there  took  the  cars 
for  Chicago,  and  then  made  their  way  by  team  to  Lafayette 
county,  Wisconsin.  On  this  journey  Mr.  Spencer  was  accom- 
panied by  his  brother  and  sister  as  well  as  by  his  wife.  After  a 
rest  of  two  months  they  started  for  Minnesota.  The  men  were 
ill,  and  the  wife  and  sister  drove  the  teams.  They  came  to  the 
river  at  McGregor,  pushed  on  to  Mona,  Iowa,  and  there  Mr. 
Spencer  left  his  family,  and  came  to  Mower  county  in  search  of 
a  suitable  location.  He  purchased  a  claim  in  what  is  now  sec- 
tion 29,  LeRoy,  and  then  returned  for  his  family.  Upon  their 
arrival  here  they  moved  into  a  log  cabin,  and  lived  in  this  until 
a  farm  house  was  built  in  1857.  At  the  first  election  for  county 
officers,  held  in  1856,  William  B.  Spencer  was  elected  county 
commissioner,  and  held  that  office  during  the  memorable  county- 
seat  contest.  At  the  first  town  election  he  was  made  a  member  of 
the  town  board.  In  October,  1861,  he  enlisted  and  assisted  Cap- 
tain Mooers  in  raising  Company  K,  Fourth  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  going  with  this  company  to  Ft.  Snelling  as  second 
lieutenant.  During  the  winter  he  was  taken  ill,  and  this  coupled 
with  illness  in  his  family  caused  his  resignation.  In  1862  he 
enlisted  in  Company  M,  First  Minnesota  Mounted  Rangers,  and 
was  mustered  in  as  first  orderly  sergeant,  serving  fourteen 
mouths  Avith  Sibley  on  the  frontier.  Then  he  returned  to  LeRoy 
and  farmed  until  1887,  when  he  retired  and  moved  to  LeRoy 
village.  His  wife  died  November  4,  1906.  Mr.  Spencer  now 
lives  with  his  daughter,  Elizabeth,  in  Ionia,  Iowa.  In  the  family 
Avere  four  children:  Marcia,  wife  of  L.  W.  Prosser,  of  LeRoy 
township ;  Henrietta,  of  Chicago ;  Elizabeth  J.,  now  wife  of  Dr. 
Deloss  Hurlbert,  of  Ionia,  Iowa,  and  William  H. 

Ole  T.  Sween,  a  well-liked  farmer  of  Frankford  township,  was 
born  iji  Norway,  October  8,  1847,  son  of  Thomas  Olson  and  Ingar 
Olson,  his  wife.  He  received  his  education  in  Norway,  and  in 
1856,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  came  to  Amei-ica  and  located 
in  Fillmore  county,  this  state.  In  1875  he  came  to  Mower  county, 
and  with  his  father  purchased  land  in  sections  7  and  8,  Frank- 
ford  township.  TJiis  farm  they  worked  together  until  1891,  wiien 
the  property  was  divided  and  Ole  T.  received  the  east  half  of  tho 
southwest  quarter  of  section  8.  Here  he  built  his  home  and 
buildings,  and  started  general  farming  operations,  at  which  lie 
has  been  most  successful.  Mr.  Sween  was  married  March  27, 
1884,  to  Sarah  Jorgens,  who  was  born  in  Norway,  July  25,  1850, 
and  came  to  America  in  1862.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sween  are  the 
parents  of  three  children:  Thomas,  born  December  13.  1884; 
Ida  J.,  born  February  19,  1887,  and  Serena,  born  Noveinl)er  20. 
1890. 


938  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Thomas  Olson  was  born  in  Norway  and  there  married  Ingar 
Olson.  They  came  to  America  in  1866,  purchased  eighty  acres  in 
Fillmore  county,  this  state,  and  there  farmed  until  1875.  In  that 
year  they  sold  their  place  and  came  to  Mower  county,  where 
Thomas  with  his  son,  Ole  T.,  purchased  240  acres  in  section  8, 
Frankford  township,  and  fifty  acres  in  section  7.  On  the  fifty 
acres  he  erected  his  home,  and  together  with  his  son  carried  on 
general  farming  until  1891.  Then  he  sold  fifty  acres  to  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  congregation,  and  gave  his  daughter,  ]\Irs. 
Olaus  Finhart,  eighty  acres  in  section  8,  taking  a  life  lease  from 
her,  and  living  with  her  until  his  death,  March  24,  1901. 

Oscar  H.  Hovda,  a  progressive  farmer  of  Clayton  township, 
was  born  in  the  toAvnship  of  Racine,  this  county,  November  22, 
1862,  son  of  H.  O.  Hovda  and  Betsy  Hovda,  natives  of  Norway. 
Oscar  H.  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Mower  county  and  took 
a  year's  course  in  the  Wasioja  Seminary,  at  Wasioja,  Minn. 
Later  he  studied  commercial  law  and  bookkeeping  at  Darling's 
Business  College,  at  Rochester,  Minn.  Then  he  returned  to  the 
home  farm,  and  assisted  his  parents.  In  1887  he  purchased  240 
acres  in  sections  11  and  12,  Clayton  township,  and  here  he  has 
since  resided,  raising  grain  and  live  stock.  He  breeds  cattle 
now,  but  has  had  sheep  and  has  been  very  successful  with  them. 
Mr.  Hovda  is  an  estimable  citizen  in  every  respect. 

Herman  0.  Hovda  Avas  born  December  15,  1836,  in  Norway. 
He  came  to  America  with  his  parents,  Ole  0.  Hovda  and  Carrie 

0.  Hovda,  in  1852.  After  living  in  Wisconsin  a  time  they  came 
to  Mower  county  in  1854,  and  settled  on  a  homestead  in  section 

1,  Racine.  To  this  farm  Herman  O.  has  added  until  he  now  owns 
480  acres.  He  raises  grain  and  live  stock,  and  is  a  hard-working, 
successful  man.  Mr.  Hovda  is  a  Lutheran  and  votes  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  Mrs.  Betsy  H.  Hovda  was  born  in  Norway,  August 
27,  1843,  and  came  to  America  in  1851  with  her  parents,  Ole  0. 
Simpson  and  Liva  0.  Simonson.  After  living  in  "Wisconsin  a 
time  they  came  to  Minnesota  in  1854  and  located  in  Mower 
county.  She  was  married  in  1861  to  Herman  0.  Hovda.  Twelve 
children  have  been  born.  Of  these  eight  are  living.  They  are: 
Oscar  H.  Hovda ;  Oliver  H.  Hovda ;  Christine,  now  Mrs.  0.  John- 
son ;  Herman  H.  Hovda ;  Maggie,  now  Mrs.  Henry  E.  Torgrimson ; 
Tilda,  now  Mrs.  S.  Arneson;  Sever  H.  Hovda  and  Thanlow  H. 
Hovda. 

Ralph  Prescott,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  LeRoy  Inde- 
pendent, was  born  in  Postville,  Iowa,  May  3,  1875,  son  of  A.  R. 
and  Lydia  (Easton)  Prescott.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  place  and  took  courses  in  Grinnell  College  at  Grin- 
nell,  Iowa,  and  Valder's  Business  College  at  Decorah,  Iowa.  After 
this  he  learned  the  printing  business  with  the  Waiakon   (Iowa) 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  939 

Standard.  Subsequently  he  spent  a  year  in  Sheridan,  Wyoming, 
and  after  his  return  became  associate  editor  of  the  Waukon 
(Iowa)  Republican  for  a  year.  Two  years  as  editor  of  the  New 
Hampton  (Iowa)  Courier  and  four  years  as  editor  of  the  Hector 
(IMinuesota)  Mirror  gave  him  a  varied  experience  in  newspaper 
work,  and  in  February,  1908,  he  came  to  LeRoy  and  purchased 
the  LeRoy  Independent.  Mr.  Prescott  was  married  May  28,  1901, 
at  Lansing,  Iowa,  to  Jennie  Fellows,  daughter  of  Judge  L.  E.  and 
Sophronia  (Reed)  Fellows,  early  residents  of  Lansing,  Iowa. 
Editor  and  Mrs.  Prescott  are  the  parents  of  two  children :  Robert, 
born  in  1902,  and  Ruth,  born  in  1903. 

Lyman  Allen  Sherwood,  now  deceased,  was  one  of  tlie  early 
clerks  of  court  in  IMower  county.  He  was  born  in  Somerset, 
Niagara  county.  New  York,  in  1833,  son  of  Marston  and  Tryphena 
(Meade)  Sherwood,  descended  from  early  New  York  and  Ver- 
mont families.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  left  the  farm,  and  for 
some  years  he  and  his  brother  instructed  singing  schools  in  vari- 
ous places.  Later  he  came  to  Merton,  AVis.,  and  conducted  a  store 
until  1857,  Avhpn  he  came  to  Austin  and  purchased  property. 
A  little  more  than  a  year  later  he  took  up  his  residence  here.  In 
December,  1862,  he  was  married  to  Alta  Isabella  Albro,  daughter 
of  Martin  Albro  and  Harriet  Attillia  Hutchinson,  his  wife.  In  the 
fall  of  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Ninth  Minnesota  Volunteer 
Infantry,  as  a  private,  and  shortly  after  was  appointed  first  lieu- 
tenant, and  after  nine  months'  service  on  the  frontier,  went  south, 
and  served  nearly  to  the  close  of  the  war,  returning  on  account  of 
sickness.  Upon  his  return  to  Austin  he  served  as  deputy  provost 
marshal  for  this  district.  He  served  for  some  years  as  clerk  of 
the  court,  as  postmaster,  and  also  in  minor  offices.  He  died  in 
May,  1873,  leaving  besides  his  wife,  four  children:  Gertrude  M., 
noAV  Mrs.  S.  D.  Catherwood ;  Lyman  Allen,  of  Chicago ;  Ira  Burt, 
of  Austin;  and  Grace  B.,  superintendent  of  schools  for  I\Iower 
county.  Mrs.  Sherwood  (Alta  Isabella  Albro)  was  born  in  Roch- 
ester, New  York,  April  6,  1844,  daughter  of  Martin  All)ro,  who 
settled  in  Rochester  at  an  early  day  and  became  a  prominent 
official  of  that  place.  After  the  death  of  ]\rartin  Albro,  his  wife 
(Harriet  Attillia  Hutchinson)  married  Joshua  L.  Davidson,  and 
in  ]8o7  the  family  came  to  Austin.  3Irs.  Sherwood  is  one  of  the 
oldest  settlers  of  Austin,  and  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  all 
movements  for  the  betterment  of  the  city  and  county. 

George  Kuhn,  a  represenative  citizen  of  Grand  I\Ieadow  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Germany,  October  25,  1854.  son  of  George  and 
Margaret  Kuhn.  He  came  to  America  in  1873,  at  nineteen  years 
of  age,  and  reached  New  York,  March  1.  After  landing  he  went 
at  once  to  Milwaukee,  and  there  lived  five  years,  working  at  his 
trade  as  harness  maker.     In   1878  he  came  to  Grand  Meadow 


940  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

and  located  in  section  36,  where  he  carried  on  general  farming  for 
some  years.  He  now  owns  a  farm  of  120  acres  in  section  35,  where 
he  lives,  and  also  a  fine  place  of  240  acres  in  Clayton  township. 
]Mr.  Kuhn  married  for  his  first  wife,  Augusta  Spiloett  Spdoeser, 
and  five  children  were  born.  Of  these  three  are  living:  Charles, 
George  W.,  and  William.  The  present  Mrs.  Kuhn  was  Amelia 
Quarst. 

A.  L.  Sims,  retired  hotel  keeper  of  Brownsdale,  and  veteran  of 
the  Civil  Avar,  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Ohio,  December  7,  1840, 
sou  of  Abraham  and  Susan  (Barr)  Sims.  He  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  and  in  1862  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Fifty-first  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry.  He  saw  much  active  service  and  participated 
in  the  following  engagements :  Battle  of  Dallas,  Georgia ;  battles 
of  Chickamauga  and  Mission  Eidge ;  battle  of  Stone  river ;  battle 
of  Franklin ;  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek ;  siege  of  Atlanta,  Geor- 
gia, and  charge  of  Kennesaw  mountain.  He  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Dallas,  Georgia.  Mr.  Sims  was  discharged  March  9, 
1865,  after  three  years  of  service.  In  1867  he  married  Mary  Ann 
Nichols,  of  Iroquois,  Illinois,  and  that  same  year  came  to  Browns- 
dale,  where  he  farmed  and  conducted  a  hotel  for  several  years. 
Mr.  Sims  is  prominent  in  G.  A.  E.  circles  and  has  been  a  member 
of  Colonel  Eogers  post,  No.  11,  G.  A.  E.,  for  many  years.  He  is 
the  father  of  three  children:  Frank,  Nellie  and  Mary. 

Samuel  Scribner,  the  pioneer,  was  born  in  New  York  state,  and 
married  Hanna  Chapman.  He  brought  his  family  west  to  Dela- 
ware county,  Iowa,  in  1852;  and  in  1855  continued  his  trip,  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  1856  in  section  10,  Frankford,  where  he 
preempted  a  quarter  section  of  land,  his  oldest  son,  Andrew,  pre- 
empting eighty  acres  in  section  2.  Upon  their  arrival  here,  they 
erected  a  small  log  house  12  x  16  feet,  and  the  following  year  an 
addition  Avas  made.  This  addition  was  roofed  Avith  rag  carpets 
and  floored  with  earth.  The  severe  Avinter  of  1856-57  found  the 
family  thus  housed,  and  at  one  time  for  three  Aveeks  the  snoAV 
and  intense  cold  prevented  their  reaching  hay  Avhich  Avas  stacked 
forty  rods  aAvay.  But  the  years  passed,  the  land  \vas  broken, 
a  comfortable  house  replaced  the  old  log  cabin,  and  the  crops 
were  good.  Samuel  Scribner  died  in  February,  1881,  and  his 
good  wife,  December  6,  1899.  They  had  twelve  children :  Andrew 
J.,  George  W.,  Ann  Eliza,  Adeline,  Martin  V.  B.,  Markus  H.,  Anna 
M.  and  Luther  C. 

Andrew  J.  Scribner  was  born  November  12,  1827,  came  Avest 
Avith  his  parents,  assisted  his  father  in  preempting  land,  and  still 
resides  in  Frankford  township,  on  the  Avest  half  of  his  father's 
preemption.  George  "W.  Scribner  Avas  born  in  Ncav  York  and 
married  Sarah  Coolidge,  in  DelaAvare  county,  loAva.  They  lived  a 
time  in  loAva  and  then  Avent  to  Indian  Territory,  noAV  Oklahoma, 


L.  C.  SCRIBNER 


MRS.  L.  C.  SCRIBNER. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COU.NTY  941 

where  he  died.  Ann  Eliza  married  Henry  Doane,  of  Oliio.  Slie 
died  at  her  home  in  South  Dakota,  in  1909.  Adeline  married 
Charles  H.  Chamberlain.  She  died  in  Beloit,  Kansas,  in  1909. 
Martin  V.  B.,  at  one  time  enrolling  elerk  in  the  Minnesota  senate, 
married  Ruth  Sweet  and  farmed  in  Minnesota.  In  1864  he 
enlisted  in  the  Union  army.  Upon  his  return  he  purchased  the 
Grand  ]Meadow  neAvspaper,  continuing  in  the  newspaper  business 
in  Minnesota,  South  Dakota  and  Montana  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  died  December  6,  1909.  Marcus  H.  devoted  his  life  to 
farming  and  died  in  1872.  Anna  M.  married  Henry  B.  Corey, 
former  sheriflt"  of  Mower  county,  and  now  lives  in  Trinidad, 
Colorado. 

Luther  C.  Scribner,  a  substantial  and  honored  citizen  of  Frank- 
ford  township,  was  born  in  Livingston  county.  New  York,  Febru- 
ary 17,  1852,  son  of  Samuel  and  Hanna  (Chapman)  Scribner.  He 
came  west  with  the  rest  of  the  family  in  1852,  and  to  Frankford 
in  1856.  In  this  township  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  served 
in  town  offices  for  many  years,  and  in  1897  and  1899  served  with 
distinction  in  the  Minnesota  state  legislature.  He  served  on  the 
school  board  for  many  years.  His  political  affiliations  are  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  he  belongs  to  the  Masons  and  the 
Woodmen.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  October  31, 
1874,  to  Martha  Shaw,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children :  Edna,  a  teacher  in  the  town  of  INIarshall ;  Roy,  who  is 
in  the  automobile  business  in  San  Francisco;  Clarence  M.,  who 
lives  in  Portland,  Oregon,  and  Louverne  G.,  who  is  a  pupil  in 
the  Stewartville  high  school. 

Chaxles  W.  Mott,  an  industrious  farmer  of  Grand  >\Ieadow 
towusJiip,  came  to  this  county  in  1902,  and  settled  on  section  5, 
where  he  still  resides.  He  has  erected  a  fine  home,  suitable  out- 
buildings, and  a  large  brick  granary.  His  farm  consists  of  280 
acres  of  rich  land,  all  under  cultivation,  and  on  this  place  he  suc- 
cessfully conducts  farming  on  a  large  scale.  Although  a  new- 
comer, he  has  taken  an  interest  in  Grand  Meadow  affairs  and  has 
served-  as  clerk  of  his  school  district  for  six  years.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Monroe  county.  New  Y^'ork,  March  19, 
1866,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Mott,  who  came  west  in  1878,  to 
Waverly.  Iowa,  where  John  farmed  for  a  while.  Then  tliey  went 
to  Clarksville,  in  the  same  state,  and  there  John  took  up  the 
monument  business,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  Charles  W. 
attended  the  schools  in  Spring  Lake,  Iowa,  and  at  Victor,  Butler 
county,  in  the  same  state.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm. 
He  married  IMary  Ray.  daughter  of  John  Ray,  and  they  have  one 
daughter.  Gladys  L.,  aged  seventeen. 

Christ  Nelson  is  a  popular  farmer  of  Grand  ^leadow,  in  which 
township  he  was  born  April  8,  1872,  son  of  Martin  and  Maria 


942  HISTORY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY 

Nelson.  The  father,  Martin,  Avas  born  in  Norway,  and  came  to 
America  in  1868,  settling  in  Frankford  township,  where  he  lived 
two  years.  Then  he  came  to  Grand  Meadow,  lived  here  for  a 
while,  and  then  moved  to  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he  now  resides. 
Christ,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  attended  school  in  Pleasant 
Valley  township,  and  spent  his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm.  He 
now  owns  160  acres  in  section  12,  Grand  Meadow  township,  and 
successfully  conducts  farming  operations  and  stock  raising.  He 
married  Anna  Green,  daughter  of  Truls  Green,  and  they  have  six 
childrer-:  Melville,  Clarence,  Alfred,  Elmer,  Inez  and  the  baby. 
The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 

Borgen  Anderson  is  one  of  the  progressive  farmers  of  Frank- 
ford  township,  and  works  eighty  acres  in  section  8,  on  which 
he  carries  on  general  farming.  ]\Ir.  Anderson  is  a  quiet  man  and 
has  never  cared  to  mingle  in  public  affairs,  but  in  developing  his 
farm  has  taken  his  share  in  the  general  progress  of  the  county, 
and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his  community. 
Borgen  Anderson  was  born  in  Norway,  September  15,  1812,  son  of 
Andrew  and  Carrie  Christianson,  who  spent  the  span  of  their 
years  in  that  country.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty  set  sail  for  America.  He  came  directly  to 
Mower  county,  and  after  his  marriage  located  on  his  present  farm. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  His  wife,  who  originally  owned  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives,  was  Mrs.  Elsie  Olson  before  their  marriage,  July  7,  1886. 
By  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Olson  she  had  two  children,  Otto,  now  of 
Frankford  township,  and  Christia,  wife  of  Otto  Hovda,  of  North 
Dakota. 

Ferdinand  Schuett,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Waltham 
township,  was  born  in  Watertown,  Jefferson  county,  Wisconsin, 
June  20,  1861,  son  of  J'rederick  and  Augusta  Schuett,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Germany,  came  to  America  as  a  young  man, 
located  in  Wisconsin,  and  there  married  and  raised  his  family. 
Ferdinand  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  wdiile 
still  in  his  teens  learned  the  trade  of  cheese  making  in  Hustis- 
ford.  Dodge  county,  this  state.  He  worked  at  this  trade  there 
some  fourteen  years.  In  1891,  Mr.  Schuett  came  to  Waltham 
township,  and  purchased  167  acres  of  land  in  section  31.  Though 
coming  at  a  modern  date,  he  experienced  some  of  the  character- 
istics of  pioneer  life,  for  his  land  when  he  came  contained  nothing 
in  the  shape  of  buildings  but  an  old  shack.  The  present  home 
and  barns  are  a  compliment  to  the  industry  and  good  taste  of  the 
Schuett  family.  The  farm  is  an  excellent  one,  all  except  ten  acres 
of  the  timberland  being  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Schuett  carries 
on  general  farming  successfully,  and  raises  the  usual  crops  and 
live  stock.     By  his  marriage  to  Emma  Lindumer,  daughter  of 


HISTORY  OF  MUWER  COUNTY  943 

lleury  and  Amelia  Liiidumer,  he  has  five  cliildren :  Arnold  attends 
the  Southern  Minnesota  Normal  College,  in  Austin;  Edgar  is  tak- 
ing a  seminary  course  at  the  Concordia  college,  in  St.  Paul; 
Arthur  is  taking  a  business  course  in  the  Southern  Minnesota 
Normal  College ;  Esther  and  Rona  attend  the  district  school  in 
District  93,  Waltham  township.  Mr.  Schuett  has  been  supervisor 
three  years,  assessor  three  years  and  a  member  of  the  school  board 
several  terms.  He  and  his  family  worship  at  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Trinity  church  of  AValtham. 

John  H.  Rongley,  now  deceased,  was  a  quiet,  hard-working 
and  industrious  citizen  of  Bennington  township.  A  good  husband 
and  considerate  father,  he  left  behind  him  a  pleasant  memory  of 
a  life  well  lived.  John  H.  Rongley  was  born  in  Norway  in  1843, 
and  came  to  Ameria  in  1868,  locating  in  Mower  county  in  1877. 
Here  he  purchased  240  acres  in  sections  34  and  27,  and  there 
farmed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics, 
but  never  sought  public  office.  He  was  married  June  30,  1878,  to 
Sophia  Matson,  who  was  born  in  Norway,  August  23,  1853,  and 
came  to  America  in  1876.  Four  children  were  born  in  the  family : 
Henry  M.,  December  29,  1882 ;  Alma,  August  29,  1885 ;  John  H., 
May  25,  1888;  Clara,  born  February  20,  1891.  Mr.  Rongley 
departed  this  life,  May  20,  1893. 

John  Miller,  a  law-abiding  citizen  of  Grand  Meadow,  has  a 
well-improved  farm  of  160  acres  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 18,  and  here  carries  on  general  farming,  making  improve- 
ments from  time  to  time  as  necessity  requires.  He  has  remodeled 
his  home,  erected  a  granary,  and  made  other  repairs.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Denmark,  INIay  26,  1850,  and  came 
to  America  Avhen  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  locating  for 
several  years  in  Rochester,  this  state.  Then  he  came  to  Grand 
Meadow  and  purchased  his  present  farm.  He  married  for  his 
first  wife,  Mary  Nissen.  The  present  Mrs.  Miller  was  Anna  Jacob- 
son,  daughter  of  Jens  Jacobson,  and  they  have  five  children: 
Jens  C,  Christ,  Mary,  Arthur,  and  Ole. 

James  Joyce,  who  has  been  town  clerk  of  Grand  Meadow  since 
1892,  except  the  years  1897  and  1903,  has  taken  his  share  in  the 
upbuilding  of  the  community,  and  has  shown  his  interest  in  educa- 
tion by  his  service  as  clerk  of  his  school  district.  Being  of  a  socia- 
ble nature,  he  has  allied  himself  with  tlu^  ]M.  AV.  A.  and  with  the 
B.  P.  O.  E.  at  Austin.  The  sul).iect  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  St. 
Catherines,  Canada,  November  12,  1858,  sou  of  John  and  Ann 
Joyce.  He  came  to  the  United  States  with  his  parents  in  1865  and 
located  in  Eyota,  Olmstead  county,  this  state.  After  a  short  time 
there,  the  family  moved  on  a  farm  in  Dover  township,  in  the  same 
county,  living  in  that  vicinity  from  1865  to  1878.  In  the  latter 
year  they  came  to  Grand  Meadow,  and  settled  in  the  southeast 


944  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

quarter  of  section  10.  James  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  time 
from  1880  to  1885  in  Chicago  and  was  married  in  1892,  when  he 
moved  to  his  present  residence,  where  he  has  since  resided,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year,  1903,  which  he  spent  in  Minneapolis  as 
deputy  state  weigh  master.  He  married  Catherine  McDonough, 
and  has  eight  children:  Victor  J.,  Raphael,  ]\Iadaline,  Daniel, 
Maude,  Clarice,  Dewart  and  Everette. 

William  Christie,  of  Austin,  an  extensive  dealer  in  farm 
implements,  wagons  and  buggies,  has  at  different  times  given 
southern  Minnesota  marked  service  as  chairman  of  the  boards  of 
county  commissioners  of  two  counties,  and  is  now  serving  in  that 
capacity  in  Mower  county.  He  was  born  in  Highgate,  Franklin 
county,  Vermont,  March  24,  1844,  son  of  Adam  and  J\Iary  Christie, 
who  brought  him  to  Wisconsin  in  1855.  In  October,  1864,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  came  to  Minnesota,  and  started  farming,  pur- 
chasing a  quarter  section  in  1871,  located  in  Oakland  tOAvnship. 
In  1898  he  came  to  Austin  and  engaged  in  his  present  business. 
Mr.  Christie  was  assessor  of  Oakland  township  in  Mower  county 
twenty  years,  and  also  served  as  town  treasurer,  town  super- 
visor and  clerk  of  his  school  district.  In  1883  he  was  elected 
chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Freeborn  county  and 
served  with  credit  in  that  capacity  for  six  years.  In  the  fall 
of  1892  he  Avas  elected  to  the  legislature  and  served  one  term.  In 
1904  he  was  elected  county  commissioner  of  Mower  county  for  a 
four-year  term  and  Avas  reelected  in  1908.  Four  years  he  has 
served  as  chairman  of  the  board. 

George  Berg,  an  estimable  citizen  of  Grand  Meadow  village, 
was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Posen,  Germany,  December  6,  1846, 
son  of  Friedrieh  and  Henrietta  Berg,  who  brought  him  to  Bran- 
don, Wisconsin,  in  1863.  He  assisted  on  the  home  farm  until  after 
his  father's  death  in  1881,  when  he  and  his  brother  disposed  of 
the  farm.  George  came  at  once  to  Frankford,  settled  on  section 
31,  remodeled  the  farmhouse,  erected  a  granary,  made  other 
improvements  and  successfully  conducted  general  farming  imtil 
1910,  Avhen  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Grand  ]\IeadoAV,  Avhere  he 
now  resides.  He  married  Minnie,  daughter  of  Friedrieh  and 
Annie  Hewer,  and  they  have  had  three  children :  August  H, 
William  and  Emma  (deceased).  William  resides  in  Frankford 
township  and  has  charge  of  the  home  farm.  The  family  faith  is 
fhat  of  the  German  Lutheran  church. 

B.  UnderdaJil,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Clayton  tOAvnship,  Avas 
born  in  Norway,  September  29,  1863,  son  of  Ole  and  Bertha 
Underdahl,  who  came  to  America  in  1886  and  who  are  noAV  living 
on  rented  land  in  the  township  of  Clayton.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  came  to  America  in  1882,  and  from  New  York  came 
directly  to  Mower  county.     On  his  arriA'al  here  he  Avorked  out 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  945 

five  years,  aud  then  purchased  160  acres  in  section  32,  Clayton 
township.  On  this  place  he  has  since  conducted  general  farming. 
His  well-equipped  barns  were  erected  in  1900  and  his  comfortable 
home  in  1903.  Mr.  Underdahl  breeds  Shorthorn  cattle  for  beef 
and  dairy  purposes  and  also  raises  Poland-China  hogs.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics  and  has  been  school  director  of  District  83 
eight  years  and  road  overseer  four  years.  Mr.  Underdahl  was 
married  March  26,  1887,  to  Engre  Hegge,  a  native  of  Mower 
county,  and  this  union  has  resulted  in  ten  children :  Ole,  Rachael, 
Alfred,  Leo,  Alma,  Berdina,  John,  Stella,  Thelma  and  the  baby. 

Chaxles  Dexter  Pollard  came  to  LeRoy  township  just  after 
the  Civil  war,  and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  achieving 
success  and  respect  by  his  industry  aud  virtues.  He  was  born  in 
AYhately,  Franklin  county,  Massachusetts,  came  to  Stoughton, 
Wisconsin,  at  an  early  date,  and  then  to  Mower  county.  Here  he 
married  Helen  Leach,  who  was  born  in  Kirby,  Caledonia  county, 
Vermont,  came  to  Stoughton,  Wis.,  in  early  life,  and  then  to 
Mower  county.  In  1866,  Charles  D.  Pollard  purchased  200  acres 
of  land  in  section  10,  LeRoy  township,  the  purchase  being  made 
from  Mr.  Burns  at  ten  dollars  an  acre.  Here  C.  D.  erected  the 
necessary  buildings  and  carried  on  farming  extensively  until  his 
death,  February  28,  1883.  His  Avife  died  February  7,  1908.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children:  Edward  C,  Frank  M.,  Grace 
May,  and  Mabel  Clare. 

Edward  C.  Pollard  was  born  in  a  pioneer  log  cabin  on  the 
farm  where  he  still  resides,  September  3,  1868,  son  of  Charles 
Dexter  and  Helen  Elvira  (Leach)  Pollard.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  LeRoy  township,  and  engaged  in 
farming  on  the  old  place  with  his  mother  and  brother.  At  the  age 
of  twenty  years  he  took  entire  charge  of  the  farm.  Later  it  was 
divided  and  Edward  C.  received  286  acres.  On  this  large  farm 
he  conducts  general  agricultural  operations.  In  1894  he  engaged 
in  raising  Black  Poll  Angus  cattle  for  beef,  and  now  has  a  herd 
of  sixty  head,  having  previously  had  as  high  as  a  hundred  head. 
Mr.  Pollard  is  an  independent  voter. 

Charles  Bell,  a  venerable  old  pioneer,  lived  in  LeRoy  over  a 
half  a  century,  and  in  all  that  time  maintained  an  enviable  record 
for  honor,  integrity  and  uprightness.  He  was  born  February  5, 
1827,  in  Henry  county,  Indiana,  son  of  William  Bell.  AVilliam 
Bell  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  but  was  reared  in  Kentucky,  and 
came  to  Henry  county,  Indiana,  with  the  early  settlers.  He  took 
government  land  and  farmed  thereon  until  his  death.  It  was  here 
that  Charles  Bell  grew  to  manhood.  In  1848  he  married  Mary 
Zook,  and  rented  a  farm  for  two  years.  Then  he  managed  his 
father's  place  until  1856,  when  with  a  team  he  started  for  Minne- 
sota, arriving  in  LeRoy  township  after  twenty-six  days  of  travel. 


946  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

He  lived  two  months  with  A.  D.  Parks,  and  during  this  time  ho 
erected  a  log  house  on  land  which  he  had  entered  in  the  northeasL 
quarter  of  section  19.  In  this  cabin  he  lived  until  1863,  when  he 
sold  out  and  moved  to  the  Frank  farm.  On  December  25,  1863, 
he  enlisted  in  Brackett's  Battalion  and  went  to  the  frontier  in 
pursuit  of  Indians,  serving  until  his  discharge  May  18,  1866.  Dur- 
ing his  term  of  service  his  wife  purchased  a  residence  in  section 
29,  LeRoy  township,  and  in  this  the  family  lived  until  1867,  when 
Mr.  Bell  purchased  the  south  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 17.  This  land  he  improved,  and  later  he  purchased  the  north 
half  of  the  same  quarter,  thus  giving  him  240  acres.  ]\Irs.  Mary 
Zook  Bell  died  November  9,  1875,  leaving  six  children :  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Michael  Kelley;  Josephine,  wife  of  James  Leary;  Ellen, 
*vife  of  James  McGilvery ;  Stephen  D.,  livng  in  Rochester ; 
Charles,  living  in  Billings,  Montana;  and  Cora,  wife  of  William 
Prebble,  of  Blue  Earth,  Minnesota.  November  1,  1878,  Mr.  Bell 
married  Jennie  Hurlburt,  and  to  this  union  was  born  one  child, 
Maude,  wife  of  Joseph  Darrow.  Joseph  Darrow  died  in  1904. 
Mrs.  Jennie  Bell  was  born  in  New  York  state,  June  16,  1845.  She 
married  John  Cox,  January  1,  1863,  in  the  town  of  Union,  Rock 
county,  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Cox  died  in  1870,  leaving  one  child,  Viola, 
now  wife  of  Henry  Hermes,  of  Spring  Valley,  and  mother  of  one 
sou,  Kenneth.  The  widow  of  John  Cox  married  Miles  Hurlburt 
in  1873,  and  on  November  1,  1878,  she  married  Charles  Bell.  For 
thirty-two  years  they  shared  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  life  together, 
until  September  14,  1910,  when  Charles  Bell  passed  into  his 
eternal  rest.  Several  years  before  his  death  he  sold  his  farm  and 
bought  four  acres  just  outside  of  the  limits,  where  he  built  a 
home  in  which  he  lived  a  retired  life  until  his  death. 

John  J.  Fardahl,  one  of  the  extensive  land  owners  of  INIarshall 
township,  was  born  in  Norway  in  1861,  the  son  of  John  S.  Fardahl, 
who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1875  and  located  in  Philadel- 
phia, later  coming  to  Mower  county.  John  J.  Fardahl  attended 
the  schools  of  Norway  from  the  age  of  eight  to  fourteen  and  then 
came  to  America.  After  reaching  Mower  county  he  attended  the 
schools  of  District  105  for  three  months.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years  he  purchased  the  old  home  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and 
by  industry  and  frugality,  coupled  with  ability,  he  has  been 
enabled  to  acquire  other  land,  until  he  now  owns  240  acres,  his 
home  being  located  in  section  34,  Marshall  township.  A  larger 
part  of  this  land  was  cleared  of  timber  by  Mr.  Fardahl,  and  has 
now  been  brought  to  a  high  stage  of  cultivation.  His  chief  work 
has  been  with  grain  and  cows,  although  he  carries  on  some  gen- 
eral farming.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  been 
treasurer  of  School  District  105  for  several  years.  In  1886,  the 
subject   of  this  sketch   married   Gonhilde   Skarsbo,   a   native   of 


HISTORY  OF  iMOWEK  COUNTY  i>47 

Norway,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  six  children :  John, 
deceased;  and  Alfred  J\I.,  Carolina,  Lewis,  Melvin  and  Nils,  all 
at  home.  John,  the  oldest,  a  most  estimable  young  man,  met  with 
an  accidental  death  in  the  state  of  Washington,  in  1909.  He  was 
employed  in  the  woods  when  a  steel  cable  broke,  causing  injuries 
which  resulted  in  his  death.  His  former  employers  speak  in 
highest  terms  of  his  work  and  character,  and  his  companions  and 
friends  lamented  his  untimely  death.  S.  J.  Fardahl,  a  brother  of 
John  J.,  died  in  1910.  He  and  John  J.  were  home  boys  together, 
and  their  companionship  was  closer  than  that  which  usually 
exists  even  between  brothers. 

Albert  G.  Larson,  an  enterprising  and  progressive  merchant 
of  LeRoy,  was  born  in  the  "Old  Town"  of  LeRoy,  September  26, 
1865,  son  of  Gordon  and  Anna  Larson,  the  former  a  native  of 
Norway,  and  the  latter  of  Denmark.  Gordon  Larson  came  to 
America  in  1863  and  located  in  Decorah,  Iowa,  where  he  died. 
His  wife,  Anna,  came  to  the  old  town  of  LeRoy,  after  his  death, 
and  here  Albert  G.  was  born.  When  he  was  eleven  years  old,  he 
left  LeRoy  and  did  not  return  permanently  until  1891.  AVhen  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  started  clerking  for  Smith  Brothers, 
at  Lydon,  Wisconsin.  Then  he  came  to  Houston,  Minnesota,  and 
clerked  lor  Field  &  Briggs.  Subsequently  he  was  clerk  for  I. 
Abrahamson  for  three  years.  About  this  time  he  married  Rose 
Williams,  daughter  of  J.  B.  Williams  and  Elitha  Gardner,  his 
wife.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larson  have  been  born  two  children,  Floyd 
J.  and  Marjorie  E.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Larson  went  into 
business  with  his  father-in-law,  J.  B.  Williams,  at  Yucatan,  ]\Iin- 
nesota.  He  became  postmaster  of  that  village,  and  remained  two 
and  a  half  years.  Then,  still  continuing  in  the  partnership  with 
his  father-in-law,  he  went  to  Money  Creek,  INIinnesota,  and  opened 
a  store.  He  became  a  prominent  citizen,  was  appointed  postmaster. 
and  remained  in  the  place  twelve  years.  LeRoy  appealed  to  his 
business  judgment  as  a  good  commercial  location,  and  accordingly 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  S.  Palmer  and  established  a  store 
here  and  at  Chester,  Iowa.  Later  he  bought  Mr.  Palmer  out  and 
has  since  continued  in  business  alone  at  LeRoy,  having  sold  the 
Chester  store.  He  conducts  a  modern  and  well-kept  store,  and 
handles  a  large  stock  of  dry  goods  and  general  merchandise. 
Mr.  Larson  is  a  member  of  the  Orient  Lodge,  No.  84,  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.,  at  Money  Creek,  INIinnesota;  of  LeRoy  Chapter,  R.  A.  ]\I.; 
of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  at  Winona;  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  at  LeRoy,  and 
of  the  M.  W.  A.,  the  Eastern  Star,  and  the  Rebekah  degree  at 
LeRoy.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Mr.  Larson  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful merchant  for  over  twenty-five  years  and  his  father-in-law. 
J.  B.  Willjains,  t'nr  over  forty-five  years. 

Williajn  McFarland,   now  of  Austin,  was   for  many  years  a 


948  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

prosperous  farmer  in  Nevada  township.  He  was  born  in  Illinois, 
November  20,  1849,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Cinthia  A.  (Trout)  Mc- 
Farland,  the  former  of  Scotch  and  the  latter  of  Dutch  descent, 
both  being  born  in  Ohio.  He  left  Illinois  with  his  parents  at  the 
age  of  six  years,  and  the  family  then  settled  in  Delaware  county, 
Iowa,  moving  after  a  short  time  to  Mitchell  county,  Iowa,  and( 
then  in  1857  to  Nevada  township,  this  county,  which  at  that  early 
date  had  been  but  recently  settled.  William  grew  to  manhood 
on  the  farm,  worked  with  his  father  for  a  time,  then  bought  and 
still  continued  on  the  home  place  after  his  father  had  moved  to 
Oregon,  remaining  on  the  farm  twenty-eight  years.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  repairing  and  looking  after  the  county  bridges.  March 
18,  1874,  he  married  Ella  H.  Bowen,  born  June  16,  1852,  in  Ver- 
mont, daughter  of  Mark  and  Sarah  L.  (Harris)  Bowen,  the  former 
of  Welsh  and  the  latter  of  English  descent,  both  being  born  in 
Vermont.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  McFarland  Avere  the  parents  of 
four  children,  Mark  B,  deceased ;  Albert  J. ;  Nellie  C,  deceased ; 
and  Sadie  A.  Albert  J.,  who,  with  his  father,  has  various  interests 
outside  of  his  road  and  bridge  repairing,  married  Winifred  Bal- 
lard, of  Kansas,  and  they  have  one  child,  William  H.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jonathan  McFarland  had  issue  as  follows :  James,  deceased ; 
Margaret,  now  Mrs.  Stephen  Webb,  living  in  Illinois ;  John,  de- 
ceased ;  Theisa,  deceased ;  William,  living  in  Austin ;  Lucinda,  now 
Mrs.  John  Thayer,  living  in  California;  Albert,  noAV  living  in 
Oregon ;  Lydia,  now  Mrs.  Irvin  Barbre,  living  in  Oregon ;  Libbie, 
deceased,  and  Charles,  living  in  Oregon.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mark 
Bowen  were  the  parents  of  six  girls  and  one  boy.  Of  these  four 
are  living :  Mrs.  Fanny  Waldo,  of  Vermont ;  Mrs.  Carrie  Fair- 
banks, of  the  state  of  Washington ;  Mrs.  Louise  Ballard,  of  Kan- 
sas, and  Mrs.  Ella  H.  McFarland,  of  Austin,  Minnesota. 

Edvdn  Price,  retired  farmer,  of  LeEoy,  was  born  in  Shrop- 
shire, England,  October  6,  1848,  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
Price,  natives  of  the  same  shire ;  Thomas  Price  dying  in  1888,  and 
Elizabeth  Price  in  1886.  Edwin  received  his  early  education  in 
England,  and  in  1871  came  to  America,  locating  first  for  a  few 
months  at  Portage,  Wisconsin.  Then  he  made  his  home  at  Fountain, 
Fillmore  county,  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  farming,  threshing 
and  working  in  the  pine  Avoods.  Siabsequently  he  purchased  160 
acres  in  Jamestown  township,  HoAvard  county,  and  to  this  later 
added  an  adjoining  tract  of  160  acres  in  Oakdale,  making  a  fine 
farm  of  320  acres,  all  in  loAva.  On  this  tract  he  carried  on  general 
farming  until  November,  1901,  AA^hen  he  retired,  rented  his  farm 
and  moved  to  LeEoy,  where  he  purchased  the  home  where  he 
noAv  resides.  When  conducting  agricultural  operations,  Mr.  Price 
made  a  specialty  of  full-blooded  Poland-China  hogs  and  Durham 
cattle.     While  in  Iowa  he  Avas  a  member  of  the  school  board  of 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  949 

his  township,  and  served  two  years  as  superintendent  of  roads. 
He  has  also  been  street  commissioner  in  LeRoy  three  years.  He 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers'  Creamery  at  Bailey,  Iowa,  and 
aside  from  his  farm  in  Iowa,  he  owns  his  own  residence,  another 
residence,  and  twenty-three  building  lots  in  the  village  of  LeKoy. 
Mr.  Price  was  marreid  on  Easter  Monday,  in  April,  1878,  at  Chat- 
field,  Fillmore  county,  to  Sarah  Linn,  who  died  August  30,  1893, 
leaving  six  children :  John,  who  is  a  railroad  express  clerk,  lives 
in  the  state  of  AVashingtou ;  Robert,  who  has  passed  through  the 
chairs  of  the  LeRoy  I.  0.  0.  F.  Lodge,  lives  in  LeRoy  and  is  a 
clerk  for  Porter  &  Young;  j\Iary  L.,  who  has  held  all  the  offices 
in  the  local  Rebekah  Lodge  and  is  now  recording  secretary,  keeps 
house  for  her  father ;  Anna  E.  is  a  teacher  at  Jackson,  Minnesota ; 
Veronica  H.  and  Joseph  E.  clerk  in  a  drug  store  at  LeRoy.  They 
are  both  graduates  of  the  LeRoy  high  school. 

Charles  A.  Roy,  for  many  years  a  prominent  merchant  of 
LeRoy,  was  actively  identified  with  the  social,  business,  political, 
civic  and  fraternal  life  of  the  county,  and  his  life  and  character 
had  a  most  salutary  effect  on  the  progress  of  the  village.  He 
was  born  in  Lyndon,  Illinois,  February  8,  1842,  son  of  Judge  John 
Roy  and  Martha  Foster  Roy,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey 
and  the  latter  of  New  Hampshire,  from  which  states  they  moved 
to  Illinois  at  an  early  date.  Charles  A.  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
i-eceived  a  good  education,  being  engaged  in  farm  pursuits  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  When  but  nineteen  years  of  age 
he  enlisted  as  a  bugler  in  McClellan's  Dragoons,  August  2,  1861, 
at  Chicago.  He  served  in  the  Peninsular  campaign  under  Mc- 
Clellan,  and  saw  his  first  service  at  Williamsburg,  where  a  horse 
Avas  shot  under  him.  Mr.  Roy  served  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  until  the  fall  of  1863,  his  last  service  with  this  army 
being  in  October  of  that  year,  around  Culpepper.  In  this  engage- 
ment he  also  had  a  horse  shot  under  him.  After  this,  the  com- 
pany was  placed  in  the  Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  Mr.  Roy  was 
sent  home  sixty  days  to  recruit.  Then  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and 
New  Orleans,  and  thence  up  the  Red  river  to  Alexandria,  seeing 
service  about  the  Red  and  Atehafalaya  rivei's.  Then  he  went  to 
New  Orleans,  and  eventually  was  assigned  the  duty  of  hunting 
guerillas  about  Donaldson villc,  where  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, August  4,  1864,  reaching  home,  September  18  of  the 
same  year.  A  year  later,  November  30,  1865,  he  was  married  at 
Lyndon,  Illinois,  to  Frances  E.  Lathe,  daughter  of  i\[oses  and 
Elizabeth  (Rogers)  Lathe,  natives,  respectively,  of  Massachu- 
setts and  New  York,  who  located  at  Amboy,  Lee  county,  Illinois, 
in  1848,  and  in  Lyndon,  Illinois,  in  1851,  Moses  Lathe  passing 
away  in  1880  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years,  and  his  wife  in  1853 
at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years.     INIrs.  Roy  was  born  in  Hornby, 


950  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Steuben  county,  New  York,  August  11,  1844.  After  their  mar- 
riage, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eoy  spent  a  few  years  in  Lyndon,  and  then 
in  April,  1868,  came  to  LeEoy,  where  Mr.  Eoy  associated  himself 
with  I.  Ingmandson  in  the  tin  and  hardware  business.  The  firm 
continued  until  1871,  when  Mr.  Ingmandson  retired  and  Mr.  Eoy 
took  over  the  business  alone.  After  many  years  he  received  his 
son  Foster  L.  into  partnership,  and  the  firm  became  C.  A.  Eoy  & 
Son.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  Mr.  Eoy  had  been  in  continuous 
business  in  LeEoy  for  forty-two  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  and  belonged  to  the  Knights  Templar  and  the 
Eastern  Star,  being  also  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  E.  In  these  orders 
he  took  an  active  interest,  holding  the  highest  positions  in  the 
gift  of  each.  When  the  village  was  organized  Mr.  Eoy  was  one 
of  the  committee  on  incorporation,  and  was  elected  first  recorder, 
a  position  in  which  he  served  for  many  years.  He  was  also  one 
of  the  first  trustees  of  the  opera  house  and  for  several  years  its 
manager.  In  every  way  he  was  a  most  useful  citizen.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  December  5,  1910,  he  left  besides  his  widow, 
four  children:  Mrs.  Mabel  E.  Coffeen,  of  Westboro,  Massachu- 
setts ;  C.  I.,  a  prominent  clothing  merchant  of  LeEoy ;  Foster  L., 
a  hardware  merchant  of  LeEoy,  and  Frank  V.,  of  Springfield, 
Missouri.  The  widow  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  four 
children :  Sarah  L.,  deceased ;  Mrs.  C.  A.  Eoy ;  Wilhelmina,  now 
Mrs.  Quackenbush,  of  Seattle,  AVashington;  and  Charles,  of  Illi- 
nois. Mr.  Eoy  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  a  good  many 
years  and  was  president  of  that  body  at  the  time  of  the  building 
of  the  new  school. 

Harry  N.  Sargeant  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  town  which 
perpetuates  his  name,  was  the  first  clerk  of  the  town  on  its  organ- 
ization, and  held  that  position  for  many  years.  He  was  also  the 
chairman  of  the  meeting  which  was  called  September  16,  1873, 
at  his  home,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  what  is  now  the  town 
of  Sargeant.  Harry  N.  Sargeant  was  born  in  South  Stukely, 
Shcfl'ord  county,  Province  of  Quebec,  June  19,  1817,  son  of  Eos- 
well  and  Phoebe  (Allen)  Sargeant,  both  natives  of  Vermont,  who 
located  in  Canada  in  1800,  and  there  ended  their  days.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  in 
early  life,  December  22,  1838,  married  Anna  Parker,  who  was 
born  in  Canada,  December  22,  1821.  The  young  couple  lived  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Canada,  until  1858,  when  they  went  to  Oak 
Grove,  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  where  they  purchased  a  farm. 
March  1,  1864,  Mrs.  Sargeant  died,  and  just  one  year  later  her 
husband  sold  out  and  started  for  Mower  county,  going  to  La 
Crosse  by  land,  by  team  across  the  river,  and  by  the  same  convey- 
ance to  the  south  half  of  section  11,  township  104,  range  16,  Avhere 
he  had  purchased  land  the  previous  year.     At  that  time  sixty 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  951 

acres  were  under  cultivation,  and  a  small  frame  house  had  been 
erected  on  the  southeast  quarter.  Mr.  Sargeant  developed  and 
improved  the  land  in  many  ways,  and  successfully  carried  on 
farming  operations,  attaining  honor  and  distinction.  In  addition 
to  being  town  clerk  he  also  served  as  school  clerk  and  postmaster. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Nathan  and 
Elizabeth  (Willard)  Parker,  and  eight  children  were  born :  Rox- 
ana,  Harriet  P.,  Alice  L.,  Eliza  W.,  Harry  A.,  Malcolm,  George  AV. 
and  Edwin  J.  Roxana  is  the  deceased  wife  of  Charles  Owen. 
Harriet,  the  housekeeper  after  her  mother's  death,  died  in  1909. 
The  influence  of  her  pure,  unselfish  life  lives  in  those  who  knew 
her  best.  Alice  married  William  Hambright.  Eliza  is  a  well- 
known  school  teacher.  She  was  born  in  Canada,  received  her 
early  education  in  the  district  schools  of  AVisconsin  and  Minne- 
sota, and  then  graduated  from  the  State  Normal  school  at 
AVinona.  She  taught  for  a  while  in  Northfield,  but  most  of  her 
educational  work  has  been  done  in  District  91,  Sargeant  town- 
ship, where  she  was  employed  as  the  first  teacher  after  the  organ- 
ization of  the  school  district,  beginning  that  term  in  her  father's 
corn-crib,  the  new  schoolhouse  not  being  completed.  At  the  close 
of  two  weeks  both  teacher  and  pupils  were  glad  to  move  to  more 
commodious  quarters.  The  whole  period  of  her  service  covers 
some  twenty  years.  Malcolm  married  Maria  Harrington,  of  Red 
Rock  township.  They  reside  in  AVyndmere,  North  Dakota. 
George  ^A^  married  Belle  Lewis,  of  North  Dakota.  They  resided 
in  that  state  for  several  years,  but  are  now  living  in  Lodi,  Cali- 
fornia. Edwin  J.  married  Agnes  Keef,  of  Minneapolis.  The.y 
with  their  two  sons,  Cedric,  and  Norman,  remained  on  the  old 
homestead  until  the  fall  of  1910,  when  they  moved  to  Kasson, 
Minnesota,  where  the  boys  are  attending  school. 

Hairy  A.  Saxgeant,  now  of  Northfield,  Minnesota,  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  man  in  Sargeant  township.  He  was 
born  in  South  Stukely,  Quebec,  Canada,  May  26,  1855,  son  of 
Harry  N.  and  Anna  (Parker)  Sargeant.  He  went  to  Wisconsin 
with  his  parents  when  three  years  old,  and  came  to  Mower  county 
with  his  father  when  ten  years  old.  January  24,  188-i,  he  mar- 
ried Anna  Johnson,  a  native  of  AVisconsin.  He  became  prominent 
in  town  aft'airs,  and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  assessor  and 
town  clerk.  Their  children  are  Nathaniel  J.,  Arthur  P.,  Howard 
L.,  and  AVillard  H.  The  parents  moved  to  Northfield  in  1906, 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  their  sons  better  educational  advan- 
tages. Arthur  P.  was  a  student  at  Carleton  College  three  ycirs, 
and  is  now  taking  the  medical  course  at  our  state  university. 
Howard  L.  is  a  senior  at  Carleton.  AVillard  H.,  many  years 
younger  tluui  liis  brntliers,  is  in  the  Northfield  public  school. 

Nathaniel  Sargeant  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Sargeant  town- 


953  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

ship,  which  was  named  for  his  grandfather.  He  was  born  in 
section  11,  Sargeant  township,  son  of  Harry  A.  and  Anna  (John- 
son) Sargeant.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of 
his  neighborhood  and  graduated  from  the  Stewartville  High 
school.  Since  then  he  has  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  married  Clara,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Milligan) 
Gordy,  and  they  have  two  children :  Florence  and  Olive. 

Sever  Temanson,  a  hard-working  farmer  of  Racine  township, 
was  born  in  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  December  16,  1860,  son  of 
T.  T.  Omsrud  and  Inge  Omsrud  Temanson,  who  came  to  Mower 
county  in  1866  and  settled  in  Racine  township.  The  father  was 
a  shoemaker  and  farmer,  and  continued  these  occupations  until 
his  death  in  1887.  The  mother  died  in  1867.  Sever  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools  and  as  a  young  man,  worked  out.  In  1888 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  5,  Racine  township,  and 
eighty  acres  in  Frankford  township.  Here  he  carries  on  general 
farming,  raises  Durham  cattle  for  dual  purposes,  and  has  a  fine 
drove  of  Red  Jersey  pigs.  Mr.  Temanson  is  an  independent 
Republican.  He  was  road  overseer  one  year,  school  director  two 
years,  school  treasurer  fifteen  years  and  has  served  in  other  posi- 
tions of  public  and  private  trust  and  honor,  including  two  years ' 
work  as  a  member  of  the  town  board.  He  has  been  a  director  of 
the  Grand  Meadow  creamery  seven  years  and  is  also  a  director  of 
the  Farmers'  store  at  Spring  Valley.  His  wife,  Andrine,  whom 
he  married  March  18,  1886,  was  born  June  15,  1865,  and  died 
June  21,  1907.  The  Temanson  home  has  been  blessed  with  ten 
children :  Ida,  Sanf ord,  Ely,  Mattie,  Albert,  Alice,  Martha,  Toulo, 
Milton  and  Thelma.  Ida  married  Halvor  Hanson,  of  Racine,  and 
Sanford  is  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  North  Dakota.  The  rest  are  at 
home. 

Edward  A.  Whitcomb,  the  efficient  and  well-liked  carrier  on 
route  two,  out  of  LeRoy,  was  born  in  Walworth  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, October  5,  1841,  son  of  Edward  and  Almira  (Child)  Whit- 
comb. He  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  parents  in  1855,  and  was 
reared  on  a  farm  in  LeRoy  township,  assisting  his  parents  in 
breaking  and  developing  their  farm.  In  1875  he  took  charge  of 
the  home  farm,  and  worked  this  tract,  which  consisted  of  160 
acres  in  section  30,  and  120  acres  in  section  20,  until  1890,  when 
he  came  to  the  old  town  of  LeRoy  and  took  care  of  his  parents. 
Later  he  sold  his  farms,  and  in  1890  purchased  his  present  com- 
fortable home  in  LeRoy.  February  1,  1903,  he  received  an  ap- 
pointment to  his  present  government  position.  IMr.  Whitcomb  is 
a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  having  joined  Company  K,  Fourth 
Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  1862.  He  served  until  1864, 
when  he  reenlisted  as  a  veteran,  remaining  until  the  close  of  the 
war.    He  participated  in  the  Grand  Review  in  Washington,  was 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY  953 

mustered  out  at  Louisville,  Kentueky,  and  discluir^ed  at  Fort 
Snelling  iu  the  fall  of  1865.  In  civil  life  he  has  l)een  no  less  dis- 
tinguished. He  has  been  a  member  of  the  LeRoy  board  of  educa- 
tion eleven  years,  village  marshal  five  years,  assessor  of  LeRoy 
township  several  years,  and  secretary  of  the  board  of  education  in 
LeRoy  township,  district  number  four,  many  terms.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Blue  Lodge,  the  Chapter  and  the  Eastern  Star,  in  the 
Masons,  and  also  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married,  February  22,  1868,  to  Margaret  A.  Taylor, 
born  December  5,  1840,  at  Ulysus,  Tompkins  county,  New  York, 
and  this  union  has  been  blessed  Avith  three  children :  Frank, 
Ruben,  and  Eunice  L.  Frank  married  Anna  Laws.  Mrs.  AVhit- 
comb  was  a  daughter  of  Ruben  and  Catharene  (King)  Taylor, 
natives  of  New  York  and  Vermont,  going  to  Ithaca,  New  York,  in 
1841,  where  i[r.  Taylor  engaged  at  fine  carpenter  Avork  on 
ship  building  and  finishing.  In  1867  they  came  to  Minnesota  and 
located  in  the  old  village  of  LeRoy,  her  mother  dying  two  months 
later,  July  17,  1867.    Mr.  Taylor  passed  away  in  October,  1868. 

Edward  Whitcomb,  the  pioneer,  and  Almira  Child,  his  wife, 
were  born  in  Vermont,  moved  to  New  York  state  and  then  to 
"Wisconsin.  In  1855  they  came  to  LeRoy  township,  arrived  Octo- 
ber 4,  and  located  on  a  120-acre  timber  claim  two  miles  northwest 
of  LeRoy  village.  Later  they  settled  on  a  claim  of  160  acres  of 
wild  land  in  the  same  township,  and  there  farmed  until  about 
1875,  when  they  retired  and  moved  to  the  old  town  of  LeRoy, 
where  both  died. 

Edward  S.  Bosworth,  manager  and  owner  of  the  LeRoy  Elec- 
tric Light  plant,  was  born  in  the  village  where  he  now  resides, 
January  14,  1871,  son  of  Daniel  and  Ann  (Nevins)  Bosworth. 
He  attended  school  in  LeRoy,  and  after  completing  his  schooling 
spent  ten  years  of  his  life  in  northern  IMinnesota.  In  1899  he 
returned  to  LeRoy  and  is  now  engaged  in  operating  the  electric 
light  plant  which  his  father  started  that  year.  INIr.  Boswortli 
married  Elizabeth  Powell,  daughter  of  Lorenzo  Powell,  and  tliey 
have  one  child,  Grover.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  popular 
member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  of  the  M.  W.  A. 

Daniel  Bosworth  was  one  of  the  active  business  men  of  LeRoy 
for  over  thirty-four  years.  He  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Har- 
riet Bosworth,  born  at  Great  Creaton,  Northamptonshire.  Eng- 
land, April  19.  1828.  He  was  educated  in  the  academy  of  George 
Wills,  of  Narborough,  in  Leicestershire,  and  at  thirteen  years  of 
age  was  l)Ound  an  apprentice  in  the  city  of  London  to  an  architect 
and  builder  for  a  term  of  five  years.  After  three  years,  however, 
he  purchased  the  remainder  of  his  time,  and  worked  as  a  journey- 
man in  various  parts  of  England  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  In 
1846  he  with  his  parents  moved  to  Granby,  O.swego  county,  and 


954  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

there  Dauiel  followed  his  trade  as  a  master  builder.  Juue  14, 
1853,  he  married  Miss  L.  A.  Draper,  born  at  Grauby,  November 
19,  1833,  daughter  of  John  and  Fannie  Draper.  She  died  October 
26,  1855,  leaving  by  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Bosworth  one  daugh- 
ter, Ida  L.  Soon  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Daniel  Bos- 
worth moved  from  Oswego  county.  New  York,  to  Elyria,  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  in  November,  1856.  There  he  followed  his  trade, 
and  there  he  was  married  November  25,  1858,  to  Ann  E.  S.  Nevins, 
oldest  daughter  of  Birdsey  and  Francis  Nevins.  To  this  union 
Avere  born  seven  children,  five  boys  and  two  girls:  Harry  T., 
"William  B.,  Hugh  F.,  Harriet  Frances,  Edward  Starr,  Daniel  W., 
and  Lottie  S.  Mr.  Bosworth  followed  his  business  as  a  builder  in 
Elyria  until  October,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Com- 
pany A,  Sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Cavalry,  and  served  until  October 
of  the  following  year,  when  he  was  discharged  for  sickness.  In 
May,  1864,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  he  came  to  Mower 
county,  followed  his  occupation  as  a  builder,  engaged  exten- 
sively in  the  real  estate  business  and  in  other  interests,  and 
became  a  respected,  honored  and  substantial  citizen.  He  died  in 
1900. 

Caleb  Lewis,  a  respected  citizen  of  LeRoy  village,  was  born 
in  Bartholomev/  county,  Indiana,  January  8,  1830,  son  of  John 
and  Rebecca  (Hartman)  Lewis.  John  Lewis  came  from  the  spurs 
of  the  Green  Brier  mountains,  in  Virginia,  and  settled  at  an  early 
day  in  Union  township,  Bartholomew  county,  which  at  that  time 
was  in  a  heavily  wooded  district,  which  the  settlers  must  clear 
before  planting  crops.  Caleb  was  born  and  reared  in  a  log  cabin, 
and  remained  Avith  his  parents  until  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
Avhen  he  came  Avest,  and  after  looking  over  the  country,  finally 
settled  in  LeRoJ^  He  worked  for  Daniel  Caswell  and  others,  and 
after  his  marriage  purchased  a  farm.  He  traded  this  farm  with 
Daniel  Caswell,  for  a  hotel  in  LeRoy,  and  this  he  conducted  for 
three  years,  subsequently  opening  a  meat  market,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  this,  dealing  also  in  live  stock.  In  1880  he  resumed 
farming  on  a  farm  of  160  acres,  which  he  purchased  in  LeRoy 
township.  Five  years  later  he  returned  to  the  village,  where  he 
has  since  lived  retired.  Mr.  Lewis  was  marshal  of  the  toAvn  for 
five  years, but  aside  from  this  he  has  never  consented  to  hold  public 
office,  although  often  urged  to  do  so  by  his  friends.  By  his  first 
Avife,  Barbara  Bemin,  Mr.  Lewis  had  five  children,  two  of  Avhom, 
John  and  Alice,  the  AAdfe  of  J.  D.  Hyatt,  are  living.  The  present 
Mrs.  Lewis  Avas  Margarett  Sutton,  a  native  of  Wisconsin.  This 
^^nion  has  been  blessed  Avith  seven  children,  of  Avhom  four,  James, 
Estella,  Leah  and  Edna,  are  living.  The  family  stands  well  in 
the  community,  and  is  ahvays  to  be  depended  upon  to  take  its 
share  in  every  good  Avork. 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  955 

George  H.  Herzog,  of  the  firm  of  Lovell  &  Herzog,  auctioneers, 
was  born  iu  Austin,  August  24,  1873,  sou  of  Henry  and  Aggathie 
(Fischer)  Herzog,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsyl.vania  and  the 
latter  of  Germany.  Henry  Herzog  located  in  Austin  about  1865 
and  engaged  in  the  carpenter  department  of  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P. 
Ry.,  with  which  company  he  still  remains,  having  the  unusual 
record  of  forty-six  years'  continuous  service  in  one  employ.  George 
H.  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Austin,  and 
after  reaching  manhood's  estate  engaged  in  farming.  In  1893  he 
took  up  the  machinery  business  and  was  on  the  road  as  a  travel- 
ing salesman  three  years.  Then  he  became  a  salesman  for  the 
PavsoTis  Self-feeding  and  Band  Cutter  Company,  of  Neibo,  Iowa 
and  continued  m  tliis  employ  untiri902,  when  he  again  went  on 
the  road  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  three  years.  Then  after 
farming  in  South  Dakota  for  two  years  he  returned  to  Austin 
and  engaged  in  the  retail  and  jobbing  business  with  A.  B.  Lovell. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  0.  F.  and  the  M.  W.  A.,  votes  the 
Republican  ticket  and  attends  the  Catholic  church.  Tlie  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  married  November  16,  1898,  to  Fannie  B. 
Guthrie,  and  two  cliildren  have  blessed  this  union:  Veru  D.,  born 
May  2,  1909,  and  Ruth,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Ole  G.  Anderson  is  one  of  the  well-known  Norwegian-Amer- 
icans of  Mower  county,  and  ouly  his  extreme  modesty  and  reluc- 
tance to  enter  the  field  of  polities  has  kept  him  from  positions  of 
high  political  preferment.  He  was  born  in  Norway,  October  11, 
1849,  and  came  to  America  alone,  arriving  in  Austin  in  1871. 
After  making  inquiries  for  work  he  continued  on  his  waj"  to 
Lansing,  and  started  work  by  the  month.  In  1875  he  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land,  where  he  has  since  resided,  owning  160  acres 
of  good  land  in  Lansing  township.  Mr.  Anderson  was  married  iu 
June,  1876,  to  Telda  Nelson,  daughter  of  Ole  Nelson,  who  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Lansing.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  IMrs. 
Anderson  are  as  follows:  MoUie,  now  ^Ii-s.  George  E.  Anderson, 
of  Austin;  Otto:  Serena,  now  ^Mrs.  A.  Peterson;  Emma,  now  Mrs. 
C.  J.  Johnson;  Ernest  and  Clarence  (twins),  and  Lawrence.  Mr. 
Anderson  and  his  family  (iccupy  a  i)Osition  of  trust  and  honor  in 
the  community. 

Richard  P.  Maxfield,  liveryman  of  LeRoy  for  thirty  years, 
was  born  iu  "Wayne  county,  New  York,  in  November,  1853,  and 
came  to  "Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  with  his  parents  at  the 
age  of  six  months.  The  family  located  in  section  36,  LeRoy  town- 
ship, in  1862,  and  here,  Ricliard  P.,  Avho  was  the  youngest  of  six, 
was  reared  to  young  manhood,  remaining  on  the  home  farm  until 
twenty  years  of  age.  Then  he  went  to  South  Dakota  and  took  up 
land,  but  a  year  and  a  half  later  returned  and  engaged  in  his 
present  business.     Mr.  iMaxfield  married  Manie  A.,  daughter  of 


956  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

John  E.  and  Catherine  Blacmer,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three 
children :  Miles  W.,  David  C,  and  Catherine.  It  is  Avorthy  of 
note  that  the  great-great-grandfather  of  Eichard  P.  Maxfield 
came  from  Scotland  in  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

Edward  Erickson,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Frankford 
township,  was  born  January  18,  1873,  only  son  of  Erick  and 
Esther  (Olson)  Erickson.  Fie  received  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools,  and  then  took  up  farming  with  his  parents.  A  few 
j'ears  before  his  father's  death  he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm, 
and  since  that  date  has  conducted  agricultural  operations  in  a 
successful  manner.  lie  is  a  Eepublican  in  politics,  has  been  clerk 
of  school  district  19  for  the  past  six  years,  and  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Farmers'  Cooperative  Creamery  Company,  of  Grand 
Meadow.  Mr.  Erickson  was  married  September  19,  1901,  at  the 
Bear  Creek  church  in  Frankford,  to  Nellie  Julson,  born  in  Frank- 
ford  township,  September  22,  1878,  daughter  of  Nels  and  Betsy 
(Hansen)  Julsen.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  six  children: 
Alice,  born  April  5,  1902 ;  Benice,  born  May  29,  1903 ;  Ernest  B., 
born  March  15,  1906 ;  Norman  J.,  born  August  26,  1907 ;  Clifford 
G.,  born  January  5,  1910;  Ervin  J.,  born  January  11,  1911. 

Erick  0.  Erickson  was  born  in  Norway,  and  as  a  young  man 
came  to  America.  He  was  married  at  Grand  Meadow,  this 
county,  to  Esther  Olson.  They  purchased  eighty  acres  in  sec- 
tion 17,  Frankford  township,  and  later  added  another  eighty.  On 
this  tract  they  continued  to  carry  on  general  farming  the 
remainder  of  their  lives,  Erick  dying  March  29,  1908,  and  his 
wife  January  18,  1901. 

Nels  Julsen  was  born  in  Norway,  and  married  Betsy  Flansen, 
also  a  native  of  that  country,  the  ceremony  being  performed  in 
Grand  Meadow,  this  county.  After  their  marriage  they  purchased 
eighty  acres  in  section  18,  Frankford  township,  and  later  forty 
more,  until  they  owned  120  acres,  on  which  they  conducted  gen- 
eral farming.  Nels  died  August  1,  1909,  and  since  then  his  wife 
has  erected  a  new  home  in  Grand  Meadow  village,  where  she 
now  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Julsen  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren :  Lena  is  dead ;  Christine  is  the  wife  of  Julius  Finhart,  of 
Grand  IMeadow ;  Julia  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Hovda,  of  Plaza, 
North  Dakota ;  Gunwald  and  Casper  also  live  in  Plaza ;  Nellie  is 
Mrs.  Edward  Erickson,  of  Frankford ;  Hannah  is  Mrs.  Elvin  Flo- 
rand,  of  Grand  Meadow  village ;  Oscar  lives  in  Plaza,  North  Da- 
kota; Alma  is  the  wife  of  John  Higgins,  also  of  Plaza;  Ella  is  at 
home  with  her  mother. 

Allen  G.  Dalen,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Eacine  township,  has 
been  a  prominent  man  in  the  community,  and  has  assisted  in  the 
upbuilding  of  this  part  of  the  county  in  various  ways.  He  was 
born  in  Dane  county,  AVisconsin,  February  13,  1852,  son  of  Gulick 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  957 

ami  Carrie  (Moau)  Daleu,  natives  of  Norway,  who  came  to  Amer- 
ica iu  1850,  located  in  AViscousiu  for  four  years  and  then  came 
to  Mower  county  and  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  section  5, 
Kacine,  at  $2  per  acre,  ending  their  days  on  this  farm,  the  father 
iu  3884:  and  the  mother  in  1885.  Allen  G.  was  educated  in  the 
country  schools  of  Racine  and  assisted  his  parents  until  twenty- 
live  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  purchased  eighty  acres  iu 
Clayton  lowuship.  Five  years  later  he  purchased  120  acres  adjoin- 
ing his  father's  place  in  Racine,  and  four  years  later  took  charge 
of  the  home  place,  where  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Dalen  assisted  in 
starting  the  Grand  Meadow  creamery,  and  has  made  a  specialty 
of  raising  Durham  cattle  for  dairy  purposes.  He  is  an  inde- 
pendent Republican,  and  has  served  as  town  supervisor  sixteen 
years  and  as  clerk  of  his  school  district  twelve  years.  He  has 
been  director  of  the  Bear  Creek  Lutheran  church  fourteen  years 
and  treasurer  six  years.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Farmers' 
Store  Company,  of  Spring  Valley,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Grand 
Meadow  Cooperative  Telephone  Company.  Aside  from  these 
interests  he  has  operated  a  threshing  machine  for  many  years, 
and  has  purchased  successively  six  different  threshing  outfits, 
each  one  being  better  and  more  modern  than  the  one  before.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  June  12,  1877,  to  Eliza  Dick- 
ens, of  Fillmore  county,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with 
seven  chiFdren :  Gilbert,  Edwin,  Alma,  Christina,  Matilda,  Ros- 
ella  and  Selmer.  Gilbert  is  in  Minneapolis ;  Edwin  farms  a  part 
of  his  father's  land;  Alma  married  Hans  Wagoner,  of  Grand 
Meadow,  and  the  rest  are  at  home. 

John  E.  Chaffee,  the  genial  proprietor  of  the  hotel  at  Lansing 
village,  was  born  in  Lamartine  township,  Fond  du  Lac  county, 
AViscousin,  in  November,  18-49,  son  of  Ithamer  Stone  and  Eliza 
(Hall)  Chaft'ee.  Ten  years  ago  he  came  to  the  picturesque  village 
of  Lansing,  and  has  since  successfully  conducted  an  excellent 
hotel.  The  place  is  homelike  and  pleasant,  and  guests  are  sure  of 
a  cordial  welcome  and  a  good  meal.  Mr.  Chaft'ee  married  Jessie 
Bassett,  daughter  of  John  and  Olive  (Jackson)  Bassett,  and  they 
have  six  children:  Guy,  Nettie,  Maude,  Ray,  Roy  and  Reed.  Guy 
lives  in  Freeborn  county;  Nettie  max^ried  George  S.  LaBarr  and 
they  have  one  child,  Clinton;  i\Liude  married  Lee  0.  Thompson; 
Ray  married  Hulda  Hale  and  they  have  one  child,  John.  Roy 
married  Nellie  Vaughan,  and  they  have  one  cliild.  Ithamer  Stone 
Chaft'ee  was  born  in  Berkshire  township,  Vermont,  in  1827,  the 
youngest  of  seven  children.  He  married  Eliza  Hall.  He  came 
west  in  1849,  located  in  Lamartine,  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wis- 
consin, and  lived  there  until  the  spring  of  1851,  when  he  went  to 
Newton  township,  where  he  ended  his  days,  in  1877.  His  wife 
died  in  1894.     They  were  the  parents  of  three  children :    Julius, 


958  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

John  E.  and  Ella  L.  Julius  died  in  1860  and  Ella  L.,  the  wife  of 
J.  S.  Sweeney,  died  at  Freeport,  Illinois. 

Henry  Beach,  a  respectable  farmer  of  Bennington  township, 
was  born  in  Portage,  Wisconsin,  May  5,  1854,  son  of  William  and 
Mollie  Beach,  both  natives  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America 
in  1850,  and  to  Minnesota  in  1861,  settling  in  Bennington  town- 
ship, this  county,  where  William  is  still  living,  Mollie  Beach 
having  died  in  March,  1911.  Henry  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  neighborhood  and  remained  at  home  until  twenty-seven 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  renting  land  for  himself.  Later  he 
purchased  120  acres  in  section  12,  Bennington  township,  where  he 
now  conducts  general  farming.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  has  been  road  overseer  for  some  terms.  Mr.  Beach  was 
married  October  1,  1886,  to  Minnie  Swan  Puntam,  of  Bloomfield, 
this  state,  and  they  have  had  four  children:  One  died  in  early 
childhood  in  1905;  William  is  married  and  devotes  his  life  to 
farming;  Loudie  lives  in  Mower  county,  and  Walter  is  at  home. 
The  family  faith  is  that  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Sam  Start,  a  prosperous  and  reprtssentative  citizen  of  Benning- 
ton township,  was  born  in  loAva  county,  Wisconsin,  April  23, 
1870,  son  of  John  and  Christina  (Forthum)  Start.  He  received  a 
limited  district  school  education,  and  at  eighteen  yeaz's  of  age 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  by  purchasing  160  acres  in  Howard 
county,  Iowa.  After  eight  montlis  he  sold  this  place,  making  $800 
on  Ihe  transaction.  He  then  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section  32, 
Bennington  township,  this  county.  To  this  tract  he  has  added 
from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  400  acres,  all  in  Bennington 
township,  160  acres  being  in  section  32  and  240  in  section  29. 
This  land  is  all  in  tillable  condition,  and  Mr.  Start  has  made 
many  improvements,  as  well  as  erected  many  new  buildings.  He 
now  follows  diversified  farming,  raising  grain  and  breeding  live 
stock.  He  has  a  fine  herd  of  about  one  hundred  head  of  Herford 
cattle  and  a  large  drove  of  Chester  White  hogs.  Mr.  Start  is  a 
Eepublican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
He  was  married  June  19,  1894,  to  Minnie  Johnson,  and  they  have 
four  children:   Lulu,  Carl,  Sanford  and  Lloyd. 

John  Start  was  born  in  Norway,  and  married  Christina  Fort- 
hum.  They  came  to  America  and  located  in  Iowa  for  a  while, 
living  there  until  1878,  when  they  took  up  their  residence  in  the 
old  town  of  LeEoy,  where  they  remained  a  year.  Then  they 
rented  land  until  1882,  when  they  purchased  eighty  acres  in  sec- 
tion 29,  Bennington  township,  and  followed  general  farming  until 
John's  death  in  1894.    His  wife  now  lives  in  Mclntyre,  Iowa. 

Carl  H.  F.  Ziemer,  for  some  thirty  years  an  honored  resident 
of  AValiham,  wns  an  honest,  honorable,  hard-working  man,  and 
left  a  goodly  heritage  of  integrity  to  his  children  and  descend- 


MR.  AND  MRS.  GEORGE  ZIEMER. 


HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  959 

ants.  Ilis  death,  which  took  place  in  1911,  was  sincerely  mourned 
by  the  community  at  large  as  well  as  by  his  large  family  of  five 
sons,  four  daughters,  forty-one  grandchildren,  six  great-grand- 
children, and  two  brothers  and  one  sister.  Carl  H.  F.  Ziemer 
was  born  September  29,  1833,  at  Nadelfitz,  Pomonia,  Germany, 
and  was  ten  years  of  age  when  brought  to  America  by  his  parents, 
who  settled  in  Kirchhayn,  Wisconsin,  ten  miles  from  Milwaukee. 
He  grew  to  manhood  there  and  was  married  at  that  place  Novem- 
ber 2,  1855,  to  Bertha  Koepke.  In  1881  they  came  to  Waltham, 
with  their  family,  and  purchased  twenty-four  acres  a  mile  north 
of  the  village  of  Waltham,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  car- 
ried on  farming  until  his  death,  March  8,  1911,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years,  five  months  and  nine  days.  His  children 
are  as  follows:  George,  Frank,  Henry  and  John,  of  Waltham; 
Alfred,  of  Austin ;  Mrs.  F.  C.  Garbish,  Mrs.  John  Lewis,  and  Mrs. 
Otto  Kuehenbecker,  of  Waltham;  and  Mrs.  Henry  Pluckhan,  of 
Mihvaukee,  Wisconsin. 

George  Ziemer,  furniture  dealer  and  druggist,  of  Waltham 
village,  as  well  as  secretary  of  the  Waltham  creamery,  was  born 
at  Jackson,  Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  August  29,  1858,  sou 
of  Charles  H.  and  Bertha  (Koepke)  Ziemer,  He  received  his 
education  in  Wisconsin  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  after  which 
he  served  three  years  as  an  apprentice  and  worked  as  a  car- 
penter. In  1878  he  came  to  Waltham,  purchased  a  quarter  sec- 
tion in  the  township,  erected  necessary-  buildings  and  following 
general  farming  for  about  four  years.  Later  he  went  to  Browns- 
dale,  and  resumed  his  trade  as  a  carpenter,  at  the  same  time 
engaging  in  the  furniture  business.  His  abi4ities  were  similarly 
employed  in  Waltham  village,  to  which  he  moved  in  1881.  In 
1890,  however,  he  gave  up  his  trade,  and  has  since  continued  in 
the  furniture  business.  About  1891  he  purchased  the  hlmber  and 
coal  business  at  Waltham  from  Moses  Boliou,  and  conducted  this 
until  1899,  when  he  sold  to  J.  C.  Brainerd  &  Son,  of  Blooming 
Prairie.  In  1904  he  added  a  drug  department  to  bis  business.  Mr. 
Ziemer  has  been  active  in  township  and  villag'x?  affairs.  He  served 
as  treasurer  of  the  township  of  Waltham  ten  years,  and  at  the 
incorporation  of  the  village  in  1898  was  one  of  the  incorporators. 
He  Avas  elected  trustee  of  the  village  at  that  time  and  has  since 
served  Avith  much  credit.  He  is  secretary  of  the  Waltham  Co- 
operative Creamery  Association,  a  position  he  has  held  for  five 
years;  is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  Farmers'  Cooperative 
store  at  Waltham ;  is  agent  for  several  insurance  companies,  and 
aside  from  the  old  homestead  in  Waltham  township,  he  owns  120 
acres  in  Crow  Wing  county,  Minnesota.  Mr.  Ziemer  was  married 
June  13,  1880,  to  Emma  ]\Iayer.  and  this  union  has  been  blessed 
with  nine  children:  Lydia  married  John  Buck,  of  Waltham  vil- 


960  HISTOIIY  OF  MOWEl?  COUNTY 

lage ;  Louis  H.  graduated  from  the  Martin  Luther  Seminary  at 
Buffalo,  New  York,  and  is  now  a  Lutheran  preacher  at  Defiance, 
Ohio ;  Henry  graduated  from  the  Concordia  Seminary,  and  is 
now  a  Lutheran  preacher  at  St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  Clara  M.  is  a  book- 
keeper for  her  father ;  Arthur  lives  with  his  parents ;  Paul  is  on 
the  old  homestead ;  George  is  an  architect  and  mechanical  engineer 
at  Minneapolis ;  Ernest  and  Elmora  are  at  home. 

Alva  S.  Wheelock,  carpenter  of  Kose  Creek,  was  born  at  Port 
Leydeu,  NeAV  York,  January  .12,  1864,  son  of  Dr.  Obadiah  and 
Celesta  (Seymour)  Wheelock.  He  came  west  with  his  parents, 
June  22,  1872,  and  spent  his  early  life  on  a  farm  near  Rose  Creek. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade,  and  fol- 
lowed it  for  seven  years  in  Minneapolis.  He  has  since  continued 
to  reside  in  Rose  Creek.  He  is  a  respected  citizen  and  belongs 
to  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  and  the  Degree  of  Honor.  He  married  Annie 
Lewis,  and  they  have  one  child,  Lotta. 

Obadiah  Wheelock,  M.  D.,  an  early  physician  of  Rose  Creek, 
was  born  in  New  Haven,  Oswego  county,  New  York,  July  20, 
1828.  He  received  a  good  education,  taught  school,  studied  medi- 
cine, and  in  1863  graduated  from  the  IMetropolitan  Medical  Col- 
lege in  New  York  city.  After  practicing  in  New  Y''ork  state  for  a 
while,  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  settled  in  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  35,  "Windom  township.  This  land  had  been  in 
his  possession  some  fourteen  years,  but  was  without  improve- 
ments when  he  arrived.  He  was  married  in  1856  to  Celesta  S. 
Seymour,  who  was  born  at  Turin,  Lewis  county.  New  Y''ork,  in 
December,  1827.  Six  children  were  born:  Robin  S.,  Henry  L., 
Emerson  W.,  Alva  S.,  Charles  E.,  and  Philip. 

Fred  H.  Schroeder,  of  Racine  village,  assessor  of  Racine  town- 
ship, as  he  has  been  for  the  past  seven  years,  was  born  in  Dodge 
county,  Wisconsin,  February  15,  1853,  son  of  Fred  and  Paulina 
Schroeder,  who  in  1864  brought  him  to  Racine  township,  where 
they  purchased  160  acres  south  of  the  village.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  AVisconsin  and  Minnesota, 
and  as  a  young  man,  rented  land  for  two  years.  Then  he  pur- 
chased 120  acres.  He  made  many  improvements  and  conducted 
general  farming,  gradually  turning  his  attention  to  dairying.  In 
1910  he  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to  the  village,  where  he  now  has 
a  comfortable  dwelling  and  four  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Schroeder 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  served  the  town  as  chairman 
three  years.  He  was  mai-ried  in  October,  1899,  to  Mary  Schiess, 
of  Wisconsin.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schroeder  attend  the  Evangelical 

Sherman  Page.  It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  history  to  give  at 
lengtli  the  story  of  those  incidents  which  disrupted  Mower  county 
anrl  so  greatly  retarded  her  progress  during  the  years  from  1867 
to  1881,  generally  known  as  the  Page  era.     Sherman  Page  was 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY  961 

l)oi'n  in  Vi'i'inont  and  camo  to  uMowcr  couuty  from  Dccorah,  Iowa. 
Before  that  he  had  lived  in  Lancaster,  AVisconsin.  Possibly  a  true; 
estimate  ol'  the  man  Page  will  never  be  made.  In  personal  appear- 
ance lie  is  a  well  built,  strong  man  of  imposing  presence,  carry- 
ing with  him,  everywhere,  a  look  of  dignity  which  commanded 
the  respect  of  the  masses  with  whom  he  associated  himself.  lit 
was  a  shrewd,  forcible  and  pleasant  speaker,  as  well  as  a  sar- 
castic, vigorous  writer.  He  also  was  possesed  of  a  remarkable, 
well  trained  mind.  His  political  career  here  started  when  he 
becanie  county  superintendent  of  schools.  Soon  thereafter  and 
for  many  years,  the  county  was  divided  into  the  Page  and  anti- 
Page  factions.  The  fight  Avas  bitter  and  personal,  and  kept  the 
county  in  a  turmoil.  It  extended  not  only  into  politcs,  but  into 
church  and  social  life.  His  controversy  over  school  matters,  hi.s 
historic  tearing  up  of  the  sidew^alks,  his  arrest,  his  arrogant 
assumption  of  authority  in  the  temperance  fight,  his  election  to 
the  judgeship  and  his  impeachment  are  touched  upon  elsewhere. 
He  ruled  with  the  despotism  of  a  Russian  monarch.  Those  who 
Avere  not  for  him,  he  considered  his  enemies.  There  was  no  hali; 
Avay  course.  He  removed  from  office  those  who  would  not  bend  to 
his  will.  He  decided  cases  to  suit  his  prejudice,  regardless  of  law 
or  justice.  At  last  he  was  tried  for  misconduct  on  the  bench. 
The  lower  house  of  the  IMinnesota  legislature  prepared  articles  of 
impeachment,  but  the  vote  in  the  upper  house  lacked  the  two- 
thirds  majority  necessary  to  convict.  At  the  next  election  he 
again  ran  for  oflSce,  but  was  defeated  by  John  Q.  Farmer,  of 
Spring  Valley.  But  the  fight  was  not  ended.  Some  time  there- 
after he  was  shot  at  while  reading  in  his  home.  Again  the  courts 
were  occupied  with  Page  matters.  But  the  alleged  assailant  was 
acquitted  and  the  Page  influence  waned.  In  1882  Judge  Page  re- 
moved to  California.  There  he  became  a  prominent  citizen,  al- 
though he  in  no  ways  abandoned  his  arrogant  character.  He  now 
lives  in  retirement,  but  though  he  is  now^  of  venerable  age,  the 
papers  still  tell  of  his  broils  with  his  neighbors.  Thus  loved  by 
his  friends,  feared  by  many,  and  hated  by  some,  lives  the  man 
who  will  never  be  forgotten  in  ]\Iower  county.  "Whether  his  in- 
fluence was  for  good  or  ill,  only  future  generations  can  tell. 

0.  J.  Simmons.  It  has  been  said  that  the  man  who  conducts 
a  model  office  and  gives  the  best  possible  service  to  the  public  is 
a  man  i)ossessed  of  all  the  attributes  that  are  necessary  to  conduct 
any  other  business  successfully.  He  is  the  man  who  can  look  at 
every  question  that  arises  and  see  botli  sides  of  it.  He  is  one  who 
takes  all  the  facts  into  consideration  before  rendering  a  decision. 
He  is  one  who  sets  a  proper  example  for  the  employes  under  his 
supervision  and  then  requires  them  to  perform  their  duties  in  a 
thorough  going  and  businesslike  manner.    He  requires  the  proper 


962  HISTORY  OF  MO  WEE  COUNTY 

discipliue  to  maintain  a  high  standard  of  efficiency,  and  treats 
each  case  of  violation  or  infraction  of  the  rules  on  its  merits  and 
■without  regard  to  who  the  indi^'idual  may  be.  He  must  show  some 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  employes  and  encourage  them  when- 
ever he  can  if  he  expects  to  have  them  exert  themselves  when 
occasion  requires  for  the  exigencies  of  the  service  demand  it.  In 
postoffices  where  the  postmaster  possesses  these  qualifications  and 
puts  them  into  practical  effect,  the  service  is  always  satisfactory  to 
the  public,  the  postmaster  and  the  employes  work  in  perfect  har- 
mony, and,  as  a  rule,  the  office  is  looked  upon  and  referred  to  as 
a  model  one.  Such  a  man  is  0.  J.  Simmons,  postmaster  at  Austin. 
He  was  born  in  Rush  county,  Indiana,  November  10,  1857,  son  of 
Joseph  and  Frances  (Wilson)  Simmons,  of  honored  memory.  In 
July,  1874,  0.  J.  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  parents,  and  after 
living  in  Rochester  a  year,  came  Avith  them  to  Dexter.  Like  other 
boys  of  his  period  and  circumstances,  he  attended  school  and 
worked  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  started  work 
in  a  store  in  the  village  of  Dexter,  and  later  went  to  Rochester, 
and  engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  Later  he  returned  to 
Dexter  and  conducted  a  hotel.  He  was  later  elected  clerk  of 
court  for  Mower  county,  and  served  from  1895  to  1907.  March, 
1907,  was  the  date  of  his  appointment  as  postmaster.  In  1911  he 
was  reappointed.  Mr.  Simmons  is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  it 
goes  Avithout  saying  that  he  has  occupied  many  offices  in  the 
places  wherein  he  has  resided.  He  has  been  delegate  to  political 
couA^entions,  and  is  now  chairman  of  the  Republican  county  cen- 
tral committee.  In  fraternal  circles  he  is  no  less  prominent.  He 
has  occupied  offices  in  practically  all  the  leading  lodges  in  Austin, 
and  is  as  well,  a  chapter  Mason.  He  has  been  through  the  chairs 
of  the  Elks,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  other  orders,  and  has  been 
delegate  to  many  fraternal  conventions.  From  July,  1904,  to 
July,  1905,  he  was  district  deputy  grand  exalted  ruler  for  the 
southern  district  of  Minnesota  in  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  under  Grand 
Exalted  Ruler  J.  O'Brien.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  Avas  mar- 
ried February  17,  1881,  to  Mary  W.  SAvan,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Mary  AV.  (Brooke)  SAvan. 

John  Rahilly,  noAV  deceased,  Avas  an  Irish-American  gentleman 
of  the  old  school,  and  became  one  of  the  leading  farmers  in  MoAver 
county  as  Avell  as  one  of  the  largest  land  holders.  He  Avas  born  in 
County  Clare,  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in 
1849.  After  living  in  Susquehanna  county,  Pennsylvania,  for 
seven  years,  they  located  in  Olmsted  county,  Minnesota,  and  there 
John  spent  his  early  manhood.  In  1880  he  came  to  Grand  MeadoAV 
toAA'nship,  and  settled  in  section  31,  Avhere  he  purchased  640  acres 
of  land.  This  tract  he  improved,  erected  a  large  house  and  com- 
modious barns,  and  carried  on  general  farming  until  his  death, 


H1ST01?Y  OF  .AIOWEIJ  COUATY  96:} 

January  5,  1898.  Mr.  Rahilly  was  well  and  favorably  known 
tliroughoiit  the  county.  He  was  a  man  of  many  good  qualities, 
and  Avas  noted  for  his  generosity,  hospitality  and  good  cheer. 
A  capable  business  man,  he  was  very  successful  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  business  and  his  happy,  cheerful  disposition  made  him 
a  pleasant  companion  and  friend.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  mar- 
ried Ellen  Twohey,  who  was  born  in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  was 
brought  to  Canada  by  her  parents,  came  to  the  United  States  and 
lived  in  Iowa,  subsequently  moving  with  them  to  Olmsted  county, 
this  state,  and  settling  some  seven  miles  south  of  Rochester.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Eahilly  are  the  parents  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living.  The  children  living  are :  Catherine,  wife  of  Alexander 
^IcDowell ;  Susie  C,  wife  of  Patrick  McGrevy ;  Hannah,  wife  of 
Henry  Weber,  Jr. ;  John  H.,  living  on  the  home  farm ;  "William  P., 
who  is  married  and  lives  on  a  farm  near  Dexter,  and  Richard,  who 
is  married  and  lives  near  Austin. 

John  H.  Raiiilly,  chairman  of  Grand  j\Ieadow  township,  is  the 
sou  of  John  Rahilly  and  Ellen  Twohey,  his  wife.  He  lives  on  and 
operates  the  home  farm,  which  contains  1,000  acres,  one  of  the 
finest  places  in  the  county.  The  fann  is  fenced,  tiled  and  in  a  very 
high  state  of  cultivation,  having  an  excellent  set  of  buildings,  sur- 
rounded by  a  large  cottonwood  grove.  The  farm  house  is  now 
being  remodeled,  and  all  the  modern  improvements,  such  as  hot 
water  heat,  and  gas  for  lighting  and  cooking  are  being  installed. 
When  the  work  is  completed  the  house  Avill  be  one  of  the  finest 
farm  residences  in  southern  Minnesota.  On  this  farm  are  kept 
about  fifty  head  of  horses,  200  head  of  cattle  and  about  200  head 
of  hogs,  the  latter  of  which  are  fatted  and  shipped  to  market. 
John  H.  and  his  brother,  at  the  death  of  their  father,  took  charge 
of  the  home  farm,  and  since  then  two  more  farms  have  been  pur- 
chased and  added  to  the  original  one  until  now  the  farm  is  a  very 
valuable  piece  of  real  estate.  John  H.  is  at  present  chairman  of 
Grand  Meadow  township,  one  of  the  directors  of  the  ]\Iower 
County  Fair  Association,  secretary  and  director  of  the  Mower 
County  Farmers'  Telephone  Company,  and  an  officer  of  his  school 
district.  He  has  also  taken  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  the 
church  at  Grand  IMeadow  and  is  one  of  its  trustees. 

Andrew  D.  Brown,  a  territorial  pioneer,  with  his  brotlier, 
Ilosincr  A.,  came  to  Minnesota  in  185(i,  and  founded  the  town  of 
Brownsdale.  Mr.  Brown,  who  four  times  circumnavigated  the 
globe,  was  born  in  North  Stonington,  Connecticut,  in  1818,  in  the 
old  homestead  which  had  been  in  the  possession  of  the  family  since 
llie  seventeenth  eentur}\  He  became  master  of  a  ship  sailing  to 
tlie  East  Indies,  but  in  1849  he  went  with  the  gold  rush  to  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  establislied  a  trading  post  and  prospered.  After 
returning  to  Connecticut,  for  several  years  he  located  in  Minne- 


964  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

sota,  and  with  his  brother,  Hosmer  A.  Brown,  founded  the  town 
of  Brownsdale,  where  he  lived  until  five  years  ago,  when  he  moved 
to  Minneapolis.  He  was  married  to  Adeline  Portlo,  of  Deerfleld, 
Massachusetts,  in  1854.  Mr.  Brown  engaged  in  the  lumber  and 
milling  industry  and  became  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of  land. 
He  married  Melissa  B.  Bacon,  of  Brownsdale,  in  1871,  four  years 
after  the  death  of  his  first  wife.  ]\Ir.  Brown  is  survived  by  a  wife, 
and  four  children:  ]\Irs.  C.  D.  Holbrook,  Brownsdale;  Mrs.  T.  E. 
Doolittle,  North  Platte,  Nebraska;  Mrs.  L.  W.  Powers,  and  Hos- 
mer A.  Brown,  of  Minneapolis ;  and  a  brother,  Hosmer  A.  Brown, 
Brownsdale.  He  died  in  Minneapolis  in  May,  1911,  and  is  buried 
in  Brownsdale. 

Herbert  L.  Banfield,  assistant  cashier  and  director  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Medford,  Massachusetts, 
August  28,  1868,  son  of  Francis  Loring  and  Sarah  Elizabeth  Ban- 
field.  He  was  educated  in  "Wolfsborough,  New  Hampshire,  and 
"Worcester,  Massachusetts,  completing  his  early  education  in  the 
high  school  of  the  latter  city.  February  27,  1886,  he  came  from 
Worcester  to  Aiistin,  and  at  once  took  up  work  with  the  First 
National  Bank,  with  which  institution  he  has  now  served  for 
twenty-five  years.  Mr.  Banford  also  served  as  treasurer  of  the 
city  of  Austin  three  terms.  He  was  married  June  15,  1894,  to 
Addie  Marie  Cook,  who  died  June  13,  1903.  He  has  three  chil- 
dren :  Adelaide  Cook  Banfield,  aged  nine  years ;  Herbert  Loring 
Banfield,  Jr.,  aged  seven  years,  and  Edward  Sanborn  Banfield, 
aged  four  years.  Francis  Loring  Banfield  is  a  physician  and 
surgeon  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts.  Ira  Banfield,  father  of 
Francis  L.,  and  grandfather  of  Herbert  L.,  is  now  living  at  Wolfs- 
borough, New  Hampshire,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years,  having 
retired  some  years  ago,  owing  to  advancing  years,  from  the  posi- 
tion of  treasurer  of  the  Wolfsborough  Savings  Bank.  Herbert  L. 
Banfield,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  has  made  a  hobby  of  dairying, 
and  owns  a  model  dairy  farm  near  the  city  of  Austin. 

Arthur  West  Allen,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and 
surgeons  of  Mower  county,  was  born  in  Austin  in  1862,  son  of  Aus- 
tin's  first  physician,  Orlenzer  Allen,  M.  D.,  and  Esther  Almeda 
Allen,  his  wife,  who  settled  in  Austin  in  May,  1856,  and  Avhose 
good  deeds  will  ever  be  remembered  in  this  county.  Dr.  A.  W. 
Allen  was  reared  in  Austin  and  graduated  from  the  Rush  IMedical 
College,  Chicago,  in  the  class  of  1885.  Since  then  he  has  been  in 
continiious  practice  in  Austin.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American, 
Minnesota  and  Mower  County  Medical  Associations,  and  in  the 
latter  has  held  various  offices.  He  also  belongs  to  the  American 
Railway  Surgeons,  and  to  the  Elks,  Masons  and  other  fraternal 
bodies.  He  is  the  surgeon  of  the  Southern  Minnesota  and  Iowa 
and  Minnesota  divisions  of  the  C,  M.  &  St.  Paul  Ry.,  and  also 


HISTOUY  OF  MOWEK  COTNTY  965 

or  St.  Olav  Hospital.  For  nine  yeai-s  he  was  surgeon  major  of  the 
Second  Regiment,  Minnesota  National  Guards.  For  the  past  two 
years  he  has  been  president  of  the  Austin  Commercial  ("liib.  Dr. 
Allen  is  a  man  who  will  not  accept  the  praise  otfered  him,  Ixit  his 
true  worth  is  written  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  to  whom  he  has 
ministered.  He  is  a  good  citizen,  and  a  skilled  practitioner.  His 
wife,  Nellie  C,  to  whom  he  was  mari-ied  in  1905,  is  also  u  native 
of  Austin. 

Alvah  F.  Stiles,  druggist  of  Racine  village,  was  born  in  Buf- 
falo county,  AViscousiu,  January  26,  1862,  son  of  William  L.  and 
Betsy  E.  (Hummison)  Stiles,  and  a  year  later  was  brought  by 
them  to  ]Mower  county,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  started  working  out,  and  later  in  life 
went  to  ^Minneapolis  and  took  a  course  in  the  Minnesota 
Institute  of  Pharmacy.  After  coming  to  Racine  he  entered  busi- 
ness in  partnership  with  A.  W.  Brown.  This  partnership  was  dis- 
solved by  mutual  consent,  and  then  Mr.  Stiles  erected  a  building 
and  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  In  February,  1908,  the  build- 
ing was  burned,  entailing  a  heavy  loss.  However,  Mr.  Stiles  at 
once  rebuilt  and  now  has  a  fine  brick  block,  which  serves  the  pur- 
pose of  store  and  residence.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been 
a  member  of  the  school  board  for  nearly  twenty  years.  He  is  a 
Mason,  and  a  member  of  the  B.  A.  Y.  and  the  M.  W.  A.  He  was 
married  April  20,  1891,  to  Grace  E.  Turner,  daughter  of  Edward 
Turner,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  four  children: 
Luella,  Sylvia  I.,  Lester,  and  Kenneth.  AYilliam  L.  and  Betsy  E. 
(Hummison)  Stiles  were  born  in  Vermont,  lived  some  years  in 
Wisconsin,  and  in  1863  came  to  Slower  county  and  located  in  sec- 
tion 24,  Pleasant  Valley  township.  AY.  L.  Stiles  is  dead  and  his 
wife  is  still  living. 

George  A.  I'ranklin,  superintendent  of  schools  in  Austin,  was 
born  in  Roekford,  Illinois,  son  of  Stephen  R.  and  Ann  E.  (Gillis) 
Franklin.  He  received  a  public  school  education  and  later  attended 
the  Illinois  Normal  University.  He  worked  at  the  printing  busi- 
ness a  while,  and  served  as  superintendent  of  public  schools  in 
Delevan,  Illinois,  from  1888  to  1894.  Then  he  came  to  Minnesota, 
and  from  1894  to  1906  was  superintendent  of  schools  in  Faribault. 
Since  1906  he  has  served  in  Austin,  and  his  work  has  given  gen- 
eral satisfaction.  Professor  Franklin  ranks  high  as  an  educator. 
He  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  and  county  superintendent  in 
"\Yinnel)ago  county,  Iowa.  In  1904  he  served  as  president  of  the 
State  Teachers'  Association  of  ^Minnesota.  At  one  time  lie  served 
as  president  of  the  Southeastern  Association  and  he  was  also  presi- 
dent of  the  Southern  Association  one  term.  For  the  |)ast  six  years 
he  has  done  summer  school  work  and  is  a  member  of  the  faculty 
of  the  State  Normal  School  at  ]\Iankato.    He  is  a  chapter  Mason 


966  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

and  also  belongs  to  other  societies.  For  one  year  he  was  vice 
president  of  the  Austin  Commercial  Club,  of  which  he  is  still  a 
member.  Professor  Franklin  was  married  February  28,  1884,  to 
Emma  Jenkins.  She  died  June  26,  1896,  leaving  three  children. 
Professor  Franklin  was  married  the  second  time,  August  15,  1900, 
to  Annie  M.  Willson,  of  Rochester,  Minnesota.  The  children  of 
the  F]-anklin  family  are  as  follows :  Joy  E.,  was  born  September 
13,  1888,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Chicago ;  Camilla, 
is  a  student  at  Menominee,  Wisconsin ;  G.  Fred,  was  born  August 
31,  ]892,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Austin  high  school:  Charles 
Willson  was  born  August  15,  1900,  and  attends  the  public  schools 
of  Austin. 

Ha^as  J,  Hansen,  a  progressive  and  popular  farmer  of  Adams 
township,  was  born  in  Norway,  August  30,  1846,  and  there  re- 
ceived his  early  education.  At  the  age  of  foiu'teen  he  became  an 
apprentice  in  one  of  the^  largest  machine  shops  in  the  city  of 
Bergen,  for  four  years.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he,  with  his  par- 
ents, sister  and  brother,  immigrated  to  America,  and  left  Bergen 
Harbor  June  5,  1864.  After  a  voyage  of  six  weeks  and  two  days 
they  entered  the  harbor  of  Quebec,  Canada,  and  from  there  went 
up  the  St.  Lawrence  river  and  via  Montreal  to  Chicago  and  Mc- 
Gregor. He  came  to  Calmar,  Iowa,  August  13,  1864.  During  the 
fall  and  wiuter  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  Decorah  and  Calmar. 
In  the  spring  of  1865  he  went  to  Chicago,  and  from  there  to 
Muskegon,  Mich.,  Avhere  he  worked  for  two  months  in  Foster's 
mill  on  Black  river.  From  there  he  went  back  to  Chicago,  where 
he  located  and  Avorked  at  his  trade  in  the  Union  wagon  Avorks, 
corner  of  Canal  and  Adams  street.  In  November,  1867,  he  came  to 
Adams,  Minnesota,  and  worked  at  his  trade  in  partnership  Avith 
his  father,  Avho  built  the  first  shop  on  the  southAvest  corner  of 
Main  and  Fourth  streets,  and  Avas  the  first  blacksmith  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Adams  in  the  fall  and  Avinter  of  1867-68.  In  the  spring  of 
1868  he  filed  on  the  north  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
19  and  built  the  first  little  frame  house  on  that  prairie  in  the  fall 
of  that  year.  He  purchased  this  eighty  acres  at  $9  per  acre  from 
the  Chicago,  Mihvaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  company,  then  called 
the  Minnesota  Central.  May  8,  1868,  he  hired  to  Wagonmaker 
William  I.  BroAvn,  of  Austin,  and  Avas  the  first  blacksmith  that 
worked  in  his  new  built  shop  at  the  corner  of  Bridge  and  St.  Paul 
street,  Avhere  the  ncAv  federal  building  is  now  located,  opposite  the 
Lutheran  church.  While  Avorking  for  Mr.  BroAvn  he  ironed  the 
wagon  that  took  the  first  premium  at  the  first  county  fair  held  in 
Mower  county.  He  was.  married  December  27,  1869,  to  Emma 
Petersen,  a  native  of  NorAvay,  in  the  Little  Cedar  log  church,  by 
Pastor  C.  L.  Clausen,  "the  first  minister  Avho  preached  the  gospel 
for  the  pioneers."    This  union  lias  been  blessed  Avith  nine  children, 


H.  .1.    HAXSKX 


G.  H.  ALLEN. 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWKi;  COUNTY  9G7 

four  girls  and  five  boys,  of  whom  eight,  three  girls  and  five  boys, 
survive.  They  are:  Minnie  B.,  Oscar  B.,  Kathinka  S.,  Peter  C, 
Herman  A.,  George  E.,  Nellie  R.,  and  Gustav  W.  The  four  oldest 
are  married.  The  husband  of  Minnie  Bertha  is  a  merchant  tailor 
of  Wahpetou,  North  Dakota ;  Oscar  B.  is  a  blacksmith  at  Hartford, 
South  Dakota ;  Kathinka  Sophie  is  the  wife  of  Nels  N.  Bergheim, 
an  attorney  at  law  of  Little  Falls,  Minnesota.  Peter  Cornelius  is  a 
merchant  in  Carver,  Minnesota.  In  1911  the  rest  of  the  children 
are  unmarj-ied.  Mr.  Hanson  worked  at  his  trade  in  Austin,  besides 
for  Brown,  for  Bates  Bros.,  and  G.  K.  Hanson,  builders  of  wagons 
and  carriages.  In  the  spring  of  1874  he  sold  his  property,  house 
and  lot,  to  Solner  &  Morgan,  of  Austin,  and  moved  on  the  farm, 
where  he  still  resides.  He  has  from  time  to  time  added  to  his 
farm  until  he  now  owns  280  acres,  which  constitute  one  of  the 
excellent  farms  in  southern  IMinnesota.  On  this  tract  which  he 
acquired  as  prairie  land,  he  has  erected  a  good  dwelling  house, 
fine  barn,  sheds,  and  in  fact  all  necessary  buildings  for  housing 
of  his  stock,  crops,  and  abundant  equipment  of  tools  and  machin- 
ery. His  house  is  supplied  with  telephone  and  other  conveniences, 
which  go  to  make  up  the  comforts  of  a  modern  dwelling.  Being  a 
public-spirited  man,  Mr.  Hanson  has  felt  the  necessity  of  making 
use  of  the  facilities,  which  keep  him  abreast  of  the  times,  and  in 
touch  with  the  business  world.  He  is  a  staunch  Republican 'and  of 
the  progressive  type.  He  has  been  repeatedly  honored  by  public 
office.  For  six  years  he  was  town  supervisor,  eighteen  years  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  nine  years  town  clerk,  and  for  several  years  has 
held  his  present  office  of  town  treasurer.  He  has  been  secretary 
of  the  Nevada  Co-operative  Creamery  Association  since  its  organ- 
ization and  commencement  of  business,  April  6,  1854,  and  still 
holds  the  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
joined  the  Little  Cedar  congregation  in  May,  1874,  and  with  char- 
acteristic energy  has  assisted  in  the  advancement  of  the  congrega- 
tion, as  being  a  hard  worker  in  the  church,  holding  the  following 
offices  of  trust  in  continuance :  trustee  and  treasurer.  He  was  first 
elected  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  and  since  1884  has 
been  the  secretary  and  still  holds  that  office.  For  the  occasion  of 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  Little  Cedar 
Lutheran  congregation,  which  took  place  November  26,  1909,  he 
wrote  the  history  of  the  Little  Cedar  Settlement,  and  the  congre- 
gation, and  had  it  printed  and  bound  in  book  form,  out  of  grati- 
tude to  the  settlement  and  church  that  he  loved. 

G.  H.  Allen,  retired  merchant  and  railroad  civil  engineer,  now 
living  in  Austin,  was  born  in  Greenfield,  Saratoga  county.  New 
York,  October  12,  1834.  There  he  received  his  education  and  grew 
to  manhood.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  in  his  early  life  learned 
civil  engineering,  a  profession  he  followed  thereafter  for  several 


968  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

years.  At  twenty-two  years  of  age,  in  1853,  he  went  to  Freeport, 
Illinois,  and  worked  on  the  railroad  from  Freeport  to  Savanna, 
surveying  the  roadbed.  From  there  he  went  to  McGregor,  Iowa, 
on  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  He  then  returned  to  New  York  state  and 
worked  on  the  Albany  &  Susquehanna,  later  on  the  Middleburg 
and  Schoharie.  After  this  he  worked  on  the  Oswego  (New  York) 
Midland,  then  on  the  Eockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis.  His  last 
railroad  surveying  was  on  the  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  from  Dubuque  to 
LaCrosse.  In  1874  he  came  to  Mower  county,  locating  in  Grand 
Meadow,  and  together  with  his  brother,  George  "W.,  engaged  in 
the  general  mercantile  business.  This  they  conducted  for  about 
live  years.  That  same  year  he  was  made  county  surveyor,  and 
held  the  office  continuously  until  1893,  and  again  in  1897.  He 
also  owned  and  conducted  a  200-acre  farm  in  Grand  Lleadow 
township  until  coming  to  Austin  in  1900.  At  that  time  he  pur- 
chased some  land  on  College  street  and  built  his  pleasant  home, 
where  he  has  since  lived  in  retirement,  except  for  two  years  that 
he  served  the  city  of  Austin  as  city  engineer.  He  still  owns  eighty 
acres  of  his  farm  in  Grand  Meadow  township,  which  he  rents.  ]Mr. 
Allen  married  Mary  A.  Specht,  daughter  of  John  W.  Specht,  who 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  who  built  the  first  frame  house  in 
Dubuque,  Iowa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  have  one  daughter,  Jessie, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Homer  F.  Peirson.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Peirson 
have  two  children,  Helen  and  Marion. 

Luther  N.  Griffith,  better  known  as  "  'Squire  Griffith,"  is  one 
of  the  venerable  figures  of  Mower  county.  He  came  here  with  the 
early  settlers  and  has  lived  through  the  greater  part  of  the  stir- 
ring events  which  have  gone  to  make  up  Mower  county  history. 
Although  well  past  the  four  score  mark,  he  is  still  hale  and  hearty 
und  venerated  alike  by  old  and  young.  He  was  born  in  Pike, 
Allegany  county.  New  York,  November  18,  1824,  son  of  Ebenezer 
Griffith,  a  pioneer,  sheriff  and  hotel  keeper  of  Ohio.  L.  N.  received 
a  good  education  in  public  and  select  schools,  farmed  a  while  and 
then  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  in  Elyria,  Ohio.  In  1856  he 
came  west  to  Chatfield,  Minnesota,  and  on  July  1,  1856,  came  to 
Austin,  and  with  J.  L.  Davidson  and  L.  S.  Morgan,  purchased 
eighty  acres,  a  part  of  which  was  laid  out.  Mr.  Griffith  was  suc- 
cessively saw  mill  man,  postmaster  and  justice  of  the  peace  in  the 
pioneer  years.  From  1872  to  1882  he  was  again  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  was  also  a  councilman,  and  city  recorder  in  the  early 
days.  The  most  of  his  time,  however,  has  been  spent  on  his  200- 
acre  farm  in  Lansing  township,  which  he  now  rents,  his  home 
being  in  the  city.  Mr.  Griffith  was  married  July  13,  1849,  at  Grass 
Lake,  Michigan,  to  Triphena  Austin,  daughter  of  James  Austin 
and  Tamer  Cliapin,  both  now  deceased.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  with  two  children :    Edward  James,  who  was  born   in 


JOHN  C.   HAWKINS 


HISTORY   OF   MOW  I'll;  cor  N  TV  9G9 

Austin,  August  31,  18G1,  and  Ella  L.,  who  was  born  IMay  31,  1850, 
and  died  June  25,  18G9.  Edward  J.  conducts  the  home  farm,  lie 
marriod  Jessie  Simpson,  and  has  two  children:  Lloyd  N.,  and 
Leah  Tripliena.     'Squire  Griffith  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat. 

John  C.  Hawkins,  horticulturist,  agriculturist,  and  lecturer,  is 
one  of  the  most  prominent  of  Mower  county  citizens.  For  years 
he  has  gone  up  and  down  the  county  and  state  preaching  the 
planting  of  apples  and  plums,  and  his  efforts  have  seen  fruition  in 
the  many  successful  orchards  that  have  been  cultivated  through- 
out southern  Minnesota.  John  C.  Hawkins  w^as  born  in  Center 
county,  Pennsylvania,  June  2,  1833,  son  of  Vincent  and  Annie 
CCrowell)  Hawkins.  He  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner, 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years,  and  after  his  marriage 
followed  this  vocation  for  several  years.  He  enlisted  August  5, 
1861,  in  the  Second  Ohio  Light  Artillery,  under  Captain  Carlton, 
and  served  in  the  Southwest  under  John  C.  Freemont.  In  1862 
he  was  discharged  for  disability  and  reenlisted  in  the  Second  Ohio 
Heavy  Artillery,  thus  seeing  service  in  Georgia,  Alabama  and 
Tennessee.  He  was  discharged  in  August,  1865,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Nashville.  Then  he  came  directly  to  Mower  county, 
reaching  here  September  5,  1865.  He  settled  on  a  farm  in  \Vin- 
dom  township  and  there  continued  to  reside  for  many  years.  He 
built  a  fine  home  and  suitable  barns  and  also  erected  two  school- 
houses.  Throughout  the  period  of  his  residence  on  the  farm, 
Mr.  Hawkins  continued  to  carry  on  horticultural  and  agricultural 
operations  in  a  scientific  manner,  thus  gaining  the  valuable  expe- 
rience which  makes  him  in  such  demand  as  a  speaker  at  all 
farmers'  meetings.  Mr.  HaAvkins  is  a  member  of  various  horti- 
cultural and  agricultural  societies  and  has  served  as  an  officer  in 
many  of  them.  He  is  at  present  secretary  of  the  Mower  County 
Old  Settlers'  Association.  While  in  Windom  he  served  in  various 
offices  from  supervisor  down.  He  is  a  member  of  Mclntire  Post, 
No.  66,  G.  A.  K..  and  of  other  organizations.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  June  18,  1854,  to  Sarah  C.  Woodward,  of 
Richmond,  Ohio,  daughter  of  John  and  Cornelia  (Turner)  Wood- 
ward. Five  children  have  blessed  this  iinion:  V.  J.  Hawkins, 
M.  D.,  of  St.  Paul;  Anna,  wife  of  j\I.  J.  Gregg,  a  farmer  of 
Windom  township;  Susan,  wife  of  James  Philbrick,  a  farmer  of 
Windom  township;  Millie,  wife  of  Norman  Gregg,  of  Austin;  Joy, 
on  the  old  homestead.  Vincent  Hawkins  was  a  native  of  England. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1818  and  located  in  Phillipsl)urg, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  a  master  miner,  an  occupation  he  followed  until 
his  death.  He  married  Annie  Crowcll  and  of  their  children  five 
are  living:  John  C.  lives  in  Austin;  Ellen  is  the  widow  of  John 
Biirris;  ^lary  L.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Skinner,  of  Ludlow,  Mo.; 
I.  N.  lives  in  AVashington,  D.  C,  and  J.  K.  lives  in  Canon  City, 


970  HISTOKY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

Col.  lu  1900  John  C.  Hawkins  retired  from  active  life  ami  moved 
to  Austin,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Aside  from  his  city  prop- 
erty he  owns  160  acres  of  highly  improved  land  in  Windom 
tovrnship. 

Ralph  E.  Crane,  one  of  the  representatives  from  Mower  county 
in  the  lower  house  of  the  thirty-seventh  Minnesota  legislature, 
has  done  much  to  assist  in  the  growth  and  development  of  Frank- 
ford  township  jind  Grand  Meadow,  and  his  influence  and  example 
have  done  much  toward  making  farm  life  attractive.  Ralph  E. 
Crane  was  born  in  Canton,  N.  Y.,  April  22,  1858,  son  of  0.  AV.  and 
Emily  R.  (Emerson),  natives  respectively  of  Massachusetts  and 
Vermont,  and  the  latter  a  cousin  of  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson,  the 
great  philosopher.  Ralph  E.  Crane  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  the  St.  Lawrence  University  at  Canton,  N.  Y. 
Later  he  attended  P^astman's  Business  College  at  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y.,  and  graduated  in  1877.  After  leaving  school  he  taught 
foiir  years  in  New  York  state,  four  years  in  Lansing,  this  county, 
and  one  year  in  Windom,  also  in  this  county.  Then  he  worked 
four  yeai's  in  Minneapolis  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner.  April  1, 
1887,  he  came  to  his  present  location  and  has  since  followed 
general  farming,  purchasing  his  farm  from  Charles  Wood  in 
1894.  Representative  Crane  carries  on  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  along  the  latest  approved  lines.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  Aberdeen-Angus  cattle,  Percheron  horses  and  Hamp- 
shire swine.  His  herd  of  cattle,  consisting  of  100  head  and  known 
as  the  Cranewood  herd,  is  noted  among  all  cattle  breeders  of  the 
Northwest.  Mr.  Crane's  beautiful  farm  is  known  as  East  Crane- 
wood.  The  farm  siirroianding  the  new  residence  and  buildings 
now  under  construction  will  be  known  as  West  Cranewood.  Mr. 
Crane  is  a  Republican.  For  many  years  he  was  town  clerk  and 
justice  of  the  peace  and  he  has  also  served  in  many  other  local 
offices.  He  was  for  nine  years  secretary  of  the  Grand  IMeadoAV 
Creamery  and  was  one  of  its  organizers  and  builders.  He  was 
also  first  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Grand  Meadow 
and  has  contributed  largely  to  its  success.  The  Home  Telephone 
also  received  his  ardent  support.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that 
the  Cranewood  farm,  wliich  consists  of  465  acres,  upon  which  Mr. 
Crane  has  made  all  the  improvements,  is  divided  by  two  rural 
routes  and  two  telepliono  lines.  The  schoolhouse  and  town  hall 
are  also  in  the  center  of  the  farm.  Mr.  Crane  was  married  IMay 
14.  1884,  to  Florence  E.  Wood.  She  was  born  on  the  site  of  the 
present  farm  August  29,  1860,  daughter  of  Geo.  W.  and  Jarjo 
(McMichael)  Wood,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  ]\Ir.  and  ]\Irs.  Crane 
have  eight  children:  Clarence  E.,  Benjamin  W.,  Maud  M.,  Rollin 
E.,  Webb,  Wade.  Sydney  A.  and  Florence  E.  Clarence  E.  lives  in 
D;iko1n.     Mnud   iM.  is  leacliint;'.     The  others  are  at  Iiome. 


lllSI'Oin'   ()!■■   M()\\i;i;   ((irNTV  !)71 

W.  L.  Van  Camp,  Ww  criicicul  iii;niiiL;vr  of  lli."  Austin  cxclmiif^c 
of  tlio  Nod  Invest  ITU  T.'k'plioiK'  Coinpiiiiy  jiiui  I'or  st'vi'r;il  yiiifs 
secretary  oL'  tlie  Austin  Coiuiuercial  Cluli,  \v;is  horn  in  Byron, 
Minn.,  September  15,  IHTO,  son  of  AV.  P.  iiiul  Dora  D.  (New.'in 
Van  Camp,  the  former  oL'  whom  was  a  farmer  and  a  maker  of 
mnsieal  instruments.  W.  L.  attcMiUnl  tlie  schools  of  liis  native 
place  and  also  the  high  school  a1  St.  Thomas,  N.  1).  He  farmed 
at  tlie  latter  place  until  18!)7,  wiien  he  l)eirau  service  for  the 
Northwestern  Telephone  Company  at  JMinneai)olis.  .l.-iiuiary  28, 
1901,  he  came  to  Austin  in  liis  present  capacity  witii  tiiat  com- 
pany and  has  done  most  efficient  Avork.  lie  is  a  member  of  a 
number  of  tiie  leading  fraternal  organizations.  I\lr.  Van  Camp 
■was  married  INlay  2:?,  1904,  at  Austin,  to  Kathryn  D.  Mayer, 
daiighter  of  M.  J.  i\Iayer,  and  their  home  has  been  blessed  with 
two  children:  "\Y.  Leslie,  Jr.,  born  January  9,  190(),  and  INIarceUa 
D.,  born  July  8.  1907. 

Mason  J.  Parmenter  was  l)orn  in  New  York  state,  April  22, 
1852,  son  of  j\Iason  and  Eliza  Parmenter,  avIio  came  to  INIower 
county  in  1859,  preempted  land  and  sjient  the  remainder  of  their 
lives,  the  former  dying  in  1877  and  the  latter  in  1881.  ]M.  J. 
came  to  i\Iinnesota  Avith  his  parents,  and  at  the  death  of  his 
father  took  the  home  place  in  partnership  with  liis  brother,  John 
E.  He  now  OAvns  280  acres  and  carries  on  general  farming.  He 
was  married  in  jMarch,  1891. 

G.  Fred  Baird,  undertaker,  was  born  in  Austin,  December  25, 
1859,  son  of  George  Baird.  After  engaging  in  business  in  Austin 
for  a  time  he  went  to  South  Dakota.  In  1889  he  came  back  to 
Austin  and  l)ecame  interested  in  the  furniture  business.  He  is 
now  Austin's  leading  undertaker  and  funeral  director.  He  was 
married  in  1889  and  has  two  children:  Lyman  S.  and  Stanton. 
He  belongs  to  a  number  of  fraternities  and'organizations. 

John  H.  Anderson  was  born  in  AVindom,  this  county.  .Inly  29, 
1872,  son  t)f  Sven  and  Anna  C.  Anderson.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  Austin  schools  and  on  February  1.  1888,  started  to 
learn  the  marble  business.  In  1896  he  l)ecame  interested  in  luisi- 
ness  with  his  father.  The  concern  now  does  a  general  ini])h'ment, 
marble  and  automobile  business,  the  story  of  the  growth  of  the 
industry  being  told  elsewhei-c.  Mr.  Anderson  is  senior  warden 
of  the  Episcopal  church  at  Austin.  He  is  a  high  degree  ^lason 
and  has  served  as  worthy  master  of  the  blue  lodge,  worthy  i)atrou 
of  tile  Eastern  Star,  high  priest  of  the  Chapter  and  gcncralissima 
of  the  Commandery.  He  lias  also  served  as  secri'tary  of  the 
Carnegie  Library  l)oar(l  since  its  organization.  ]Mr.  Anderson  was 
married  January  21,  190:?,  to  Claude  ^Morgan  and  they  liave  one 
son.  Rex. 

Philip    Schleiger,    druggist    of   (irand    Meadow,    was    born    in 


973  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  ^larch  9,  1852,  son  of  Jacob  and 
Barbara  (Brandt)  Schleiger.  He  came  to  Grand  Meadow  in  1878. 
In  189J:  lie  engaged  in  his  present  business.  He  was  married 
October  28,  1875,  to  Kate  Christgau,  and  in  the  family  are  four 
children :  Lydia  A.,  Albert  F.,  Edwin  G.  and  Hilda.  Mr.  Schleiger 
is  a  prominent  citizen,  has  served  in  a  number  of  offices  and 
belongs  to  a  number  of  fraternities.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  a 
several  successful  enterprises. 

Williajn  W.  Patterson,  for  many  years  an  honest  and  respected 
blacksmith  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
April  15,  1832.  There  he  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  lived  there 
until  fourteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  where  he  completed  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  He  then  learned  the  blacksmith  trade.  In 
1866  he  came  to  Austin,  erected  a  shop  and  here  followed  general 
blacksmithiug  until  his  death,  February  20,  1892.  He  prospered 
as  time  passed  and  accumulated  property,  so  that  at  the  time  of 
his  decease  he  owned  a  block  of  land  within  the  city  limits  as  well 
as  a  fine  brick  residence,  where  Mrs.  Patterson  now  resides.  He 
was  married  April  15,  1853,  at  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  to  Ardelia 
Hudson.  She  was  born  May  5,  1836,  at  Waterbury,  Washington 
county,  Vermont.  There  she  attended  the  public  schools  until 
thirteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  she  was  brought  by  her 
parents  to  Wisconsin,  where  she  completed  her  education;  grew 
to  womanhood  and  married.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Patterson  are  the 
parents  of  six  children.  Two,  William  W.,  Jr.,  and  Mrs.  IMartiu, 
are  dead.  0.  D.  lives  in  Grand  Forks,  N.  D.  Mrs.  Mabel  Sterling 
lives  in  Minneapolis.  Charles  C.  lives  in  San  Francisco.  ]\Irs. 
Maude  Cutter  lives  in  Austin.  Mr.  Patterson  was  a  member  of  the 
Universalist  church  and  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  Mrs.  Patterson 
is  a  kindly  old  lady,  greatly  esteemed  for  her  many  excellent 
traits.  Her  husband  was  a  substantial  God-fearing  citizen,  of 
upright  character,  honorable  and  straightforAvard  in  every  way. 

William  D.  Bassler,  Austin's  popular  haberdasher  and  clothier, 
is  of  eastern  birth,  having  first  seen  the  light  of  day  in  Central 
Bridge,  N.  Y.,  August  13,  1872,  sixth  child  of  Benjamin  F.  and 
Gertrude  (Baker)  Bassler,  natives  of  New  York  state.  His  father 
was  a  farmer  in  the  early  days  and  later  became  a  glove  manu- 
facturer at  Gloversville,  N.  Y.  This  business  he  continued  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  in  April,  1900.  Mrs.  Gertrude  Bassler, 
mother  of  William  D.  and  wife  of  Benjamin  F.,  is  still  living  in 
Gloversville,  N.  Y.  Benjamin  F.  Bassler  and  his  wife  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children.  Nellie  is  Mrs.  H.  L.  Smith,  of  Glovers- 
ville, N.  Y.  M.  I.  lives  in  Austin,  and  travels  for  Lets,  Spencer, 
Smith  Company,  of  Mason  City,  Iowa.  Eva  is  now  Mrs.  W^illiam 
Starr,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.    B.  F.,  Jr.,  is  in  the  grocery  business  in 


WILLIAM  W.   PATTLKSOX. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  H.  S.  HAMMOND. 


IIIST01?Y  OF  MOWKl?  COUNTY  973 

Gloversville,  N.  Y.  Cyrus  is  dead.  W.  D.  lives  in  Austin.  Minnie, 
noAV  Mrs.  "William  Sternberg,  lives  in  Gloversville,  N.  Y.  Peter  is 
dead.  Lottie  is  now  Mrs.  Edison  Pratt,  of  Gloversville,  N.  Y. 
"William  D.  Bassler,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  early 
schooling  in  Central  Bridge,  N.  Y.,  and  afterward  worked  in 
Gouverneur,  N.  Y.,  at  the  glove  business  until  1894,  at  which  time, 
looking  for  a  wider  opportunity,  he  left  Gloversville  and  came 
M-est,  locating  in  Austin.  For  six  years  he  clerked  in  various 
stores.  Among  those  with  whom  he  was  employed  were :  Loucks 
&  Hollister,  general  store;  F.  H.  Palmer,  grocery  store,  and 
George  Hirsch,  clothing  store.  In  1900  he  went  on  the  road  for 
Lanj^her,  Skinner  &  Co.,  selling  hats  and  furs.  He  remained  with 
this  company  two  years,  his  territory  covering  portions  of  the 
Pacific  coast.  In  1902  he  engaged  in  the  retail  cigar  business  at 
Austin,  and  managed  this  line  Avith  much  success  for  four  years 
until  1906.  In  that  year  he  established  his  present  business.  He 
lias  built  up  a  large  trade,  represents  some  of  the  best  firms  in 
the  men's  furnishing  line,  and  carries  a  large  stock  of  all  the 
things  men  need  in  the  clothing  and  haberdasher  line.  He  has 
personally  supervised  the  wholesale  buying  and  the  retail  selling 
in  his  store,  and  his  own  personality,  together  with  his  hard  work 
and  industry,  has  had  an  important  bearing  on  the  success  with 
Avhich  he  has  met.  Mr.  Bassler  is  a  popular  Elk,  and  also  belongs 
to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Commercial  Club.  He  attends 
the  Episcopal  church  and  votes  the  Eepubliean  ticket.  Mr. 
Bassler  was  married  August  20,  1903,  to  Irene  Frank,  born  at 
historic  old  Ft.  Snelling,  June,  1875,  while  her  father,  Hon.  John 
Frank,  of  LeRoy,  was  a  settler  there.  The  Bassler  residence  is 
located  at  609  Kenwood  avenue,  North.  Mrs.  Bassler  is  an  active 
worker  in  women's  circles,  and  is  interested  in  the  various  move- 
ments which  the  ladies  have  inaugurated  for  the  improvement  of 
the  city. 

H.  S.  Hammond,  retired  farmer  and  president  of  tlie  Lansing 
Co-operative  Dairy  Company,  now  living  in  Austin,  was  born  in 
Boone  county,  Illinois,  son  of  Henry  B.  and  Hester  (Butler)  Ham- 
mond. He  came  to  Mower  county  in  February,  1874,  and  settled 
on  section  16,  in  Lansing  township.  Previous  to  coming  here  he 
liad  served  nine  months  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  in  Company  B, 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Illinois  "Volunteer  Infantry,  at  the 
last  call  for  troops  when  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  enlisted  as  a 
private,  and  was  mustered  out  as  a  corporal,  September  21,  1865, 
at  Springfield,  111.  Mr.  Hammond  has  spent  the  larger  part  of  his 
life  as  a  farmer,  and  is  now  practically  retired.  He  kept  a  store 
in  Lansing  four  years  and  was  one  of  the  promoters  in  company 
Avith  H.  B.  Roe,  Harvey  Mclntyre  and  0.  C.  LaBar  of  the  Lansing 
Co-operative  Creamery  Company.    This  concern  is  the  largest  of 


974  HISTOKY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

its  kind  in  Mower  county,  does  an  extensive  and  profitable  busi- 
ness, and  produces  3,000  pounds  of  butter  a  weeli,  the  product 
being  sliipped  to  New  Y^ork.  Mr.  Hammond  married  Jennie  E. 
Hunt,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Jane  Hunt,  both  natives  of  Eng- 
land, Robert  Hunt  being  a  paper  maker  by  trade.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hammond  have  had  five  children.  Nina  A.,  of  Lansing  village, 
married  Alexander  McLean,  now  deceased.  Frederick  T.  is  dead. 
Charles  S.  lives  in  California.  Arthur  0.  lives  in  Eagle  Bend. 
Todd  county,  Minnesota.  Hester  E.  is  now  J\Iis.  Ernest  Carll,  of 
Lansing  village.  Mr.  Hammond  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  has 
been  supervisor  of  Lansing  township,  and  has  served  as  clerk  of 
'his  school  district  at  Lansing.  The  family  faith  is  that  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Henry  B.  Hammond  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  went  to  Boone  county,  Illinois,  when  fourteen 
years  of  age.  He  married  Hester  Butler  and  had  four  children : 
Lydia  C.  died  in  infancy;  Henry  S.  lives  in  Lansing  township, 
Minnesota ;  Wealthea  E.  married  Samuel  Illingworth,  and  is  now 
dead ;  Francis  T.  died  in  1865. 

Arthur  Winfield  Wright,  attorney  and  military  man,  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  Austin  and  Mower  county,  and 
although  he  has  already  accomplished  much  in  life,  his  friends 
predict  a  still  broader  future.  He  was  born  in  Ohio,  September 
17,  1861,  son  of  Cyrus  and  Marietta  M.  (Smith)  Wright.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  in  the  high 
school  at  Cambridge,  111.,  and  at  Carleton  College,  Northfield, 
]\Iinn.  After  following  the  banking  business  in  the  First  National 
Bank,  of  Austin,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  La  Fayette  French 
in  1887,  under  the  firm  name  of  French  &  Wright,  Mr.  Wright 
for  a  time  looking  after  the  real  estate  end  of  the  business.  In 
1898  the  firm  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  AVright  has  since  conducted 
an  extensive  law  practice.  He  Avas  county  attorney  eight  years, 
after  which  he  voluntarily  withdrew.  He  was  also  city  attorney 
of  Austin  a  number  of  years.  In  the  business  line  he  is  president 
and  director  of  the  Austin  Weed  Exterminator  Company  and 
treasurer  and  director  of  the  Alliance  Fire  Insurance  Company  of 
Minnesota.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  American  Bar  Association 
and  of  the  Minnesota  Bar  Association.  In  addition  to  this  he 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  body,  the  Austin  Commercial  Club  and 
other  organizations,  and  was  for  a  time  a  trustee  of  Carleton 
College,  at  Northfield,  Minn.  During  the  Spanish-American  war 
Colonel  Wright  served  as  major  of  the  Twelfth  Minnesota  In- 
fantry, United  States  Volunteers,  and  he  is  at  present  colonel  of 
the  Second  Infantry,  M.  N.  G.,  having  gradually  been  promoted 
from  the  position  of  private  in  Company  G,  of  Austin.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married  May  25,  1885,  to  Agnes  E.  Clark, 
daughter  of  Henry  D.  and  Nancy  E.  Clark,  and  this  union  has 


HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUKTY  975 

been  blessed  with  two  children:  Winfield  Clark,  born  in  Auj^ufst, 
.1886,  now  with  Farwell,  Ozniun,  Kirk  &  Co.,  of  St.  Paul,  and  Dean 
A.,  born  in  February,  1888,  now  with  the  Merchants'  National 
Bank,  of  Billings,  Mont. 

John  Thompson,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  and  retired  farmer 
now  living  in  Lansing  village,  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  in 
February,  1841.  When  he  was  four  years  old  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Mellenry  county, 
Illinois,  where  his  father  entered  government  land  and  pursued 
farming.  John  grew  to  manliood  in  McHenry  county,  and  had 
barely  attained  his  majority  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Ninety-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  being  mustered  into  the 
service  in  September,  1862.  He  went  south  with  his  regiment  and 
served  under  Grant  and  Logan.  On  account  of  superior  merit  as 
a  soldier,  he  was  transferred  to  a  colored  regiment  and  was 
appointed  orderly  sergeant.  As  such  he  participated  in  the  mas- 
sacre at  Fort  Pillow,  Api-il  12,  1864,  and  was  there  taken  prisoner. 
He  was  first  confined  at  Caliaba,  Ala.,  from  there  taken  to  Ander- 
sonville,  where  he  arrived  May  2,  1864;  then  to  Florence,  S.  C, 
September  16,  1864;  to  ^Yilmington,  February  1,  1865,  and  to 
Goldsborough,  N.  C.  From  there  he  was  paroled,  entering  the 
Union  lines  February  28,  1865.  He  was  sent  to  the  Marine  Hos- 
pital at  Annapolis ;  then  to  the  Camden  Street  Hospital  at  Balti- 
more, ]\Id.,  and  from  there  furloughed  home.  He  afterward  served 
at  Ft.  Federal  Hill,  Baltimore,  at  Richmond  and  at  Memphis, 
Tenn.  As  he  had  never  been  mustered  into  the  colored  regiment, 
he  received  orders  to  report  to  his  old  regiment  at  Camp  Butler, 
Springfield,  111.,  where  he  was  discharged.  Then  he  returned  home 
to  McHenry  county  and  was  there  married  in  1868  to  Charlotte  A. 
Roe,  daughter  of  Orson  and  Maria  (Armstrong)  Roe,  the  former 
of  whom  came  from  Schoharie  county.  New  York.  In  the  spring 
of  1868  'Mr.  Thompson  came  with  his  family  to  Mower  county  and 
purchased  a  farm  in  Udolpho  township,  where  he  lived  until  1873. 
Avlien  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Lansing,  where  he  now  lives.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  worthily  filled  many  public 
offices.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  a  Mason  since  1867 
and  is  the  present  master  of  the  Blue  Lodge  at  Lansing.  His 
wife  has  been  the  worthy  matron  of  the  Eastern  Star  Lodge  in 
the  same  village.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  one  son,  Lee  Ora. 
of  Lansing,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  coal  business. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  served  for  thirty  years  as  assessor  of 
Lansing  township  and  was  assessor  for  Udolpho  township  two 
years.  He  was  a  constable  and  at  one  time  was  one  of  the  village 
coiincil  of  Lansing.  He  is  now  treasurer  of  school  district  43.  a 
position  he  has  occupied  for  over  fifteen  years. 

Harvey  M.  Mclntyre,  postmaster,  prominent  official  and  mer- 


976  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

chant  of  Lansing  village,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Saranac,  Clin- 
ton county,  New  York,  March  6,  1849,  son  of  Hosea  and  Harriett 
(Morrison)  Mclntyre,  the  former  a  native  of  Vermont  and  the 
latter  of  New  York  state.  Harvey  M.,  who  was  the  fifth  of  seven 
children,  received  such  education  as  the  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood afforded,  and  as  a  young  man  commenced  clerking  in  a 
store  near  his  birthplace.  After  about  three  years,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  he  went  to  Illinois  and  spent  a  winter  near  Chicago. 
Then  he  spent  a  year  at  Utica,  in  LaSalle  county,  Illinois.  From 
there  he  went  to  Helena,  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin,  and  stayed 
there  until  the  spring  of  1873.  From  that  year  dates  his  residence 
in  Lansing.  Upon  his  arrival  here  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
trade  with  John  Bartlett  under  the  firm  name  of  Bartlett  & 
^Iclntyre.  In  the  fall  of  1883  he  purchased  his  partner's  interest, 
and  since  that  time  has  carried  on  the  business  alone.  In  1876 
Mr.  Mclntyre  was  elected  town  clerk,  and  when  the  village  of 
Lansing  was  incorporated  he  became  recorder  of  the  new  munic- 
ipality, a  position  he  held  as  long  as  the  municipality  was  in  force. 
He  was  appointed  postmaster  under  John  Wanamaker  in  1889, 
which  position  he  s+ill  maintains.  Mr.  Mclntyre  was  married  at 
Helena,  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin,  August  20,  1873,  to  Ada  C. 
(Saston),  who  was  born  May  3,  1854,  and  to  this  union  five  chil- 
dren have  been  born :  Herbert  E.,  deceased ;  Albert  H.,  deceased ; 
Clarence ;  Harry  S.  and  Hattie  L.  Clarence  is  married  and  living 
in  New  York  city.  He  graduated  from  a  commercial  college  at 
Austin.  Harry  S.  is  in  the  store  clerking  for  his  father.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Owatonna  high  school  and  of  Carleton  College. 
Hattie  L.  is  a  music  teacher  and  lives  at  home.  She  graduated 
from  the  Austin  high  school  and  attended  Pittsburg  Academy  at 
Owatonna. 

Ernest  V.  Smith,  M.  D.,  physician  and  surgeon,  Avas  born  in 
Elwood,  Ind.,  June  15,  1880,  son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Win- 
ship)  Smith.  For  seven  years  he  attended  Wabash  College,  at 
Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  graduating  in  1902.  After  a  year  teaching 
school  in  the  state  of  AVashington,  he  entered  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  university,  and  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
in  1907.  After  graduation  he  came  to  Adams  and  purchased  the 
practice  of  Dr.  E.  F.  Chase.  Dr.  Smith  was  married  October  16, 
1907,  at  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  to  Katherine  Fisher,  daughter  of 
J.  J.  Fisher.  The  Smith  home  has  been  blessed  with  two  children: 
E.  Vernon,  born  December  10,  1908,  and  Eugene  F.,  born  April  6, 
1910. 

Rev.  Clarendon  Dwight  Beiden  was  born  near  Providence, 
R.  I.,  May  3,  1848,  son  of  Stanton  and  Antoinette  Pereival  (Man- 
chester) Beiden.  His  father  was  born  in  Sandisfield,  IMass.,  Jan- 
uary 15,  1808,  and  died  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  February  11,  1890. 


REV.  C.  D.  BELDEX 


HISTORY  OF  :iI()\VEl{  ('Ol'.NTY  977 

His  niotlior  was  born  at  Little  Conipton,  R.  I.,  ISlay  14,  1815,  and 
died  at  rrovidence,  R.  L,  April  10,  1900.  They  were  married 
December  9,  1835.  The  father  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  and 
was  principal  of  a  private  New  England  academy  which  he  owned. 
Jt  was  situated  at  Fruit  Hill,  just  north  of  Providence.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  liis  father's  academy.  He 
graduated  from  the  Lyons  University  Grammar  School  in  Provi- 
dence in  1864:  and  in  1868  graduated  in  the  four-years  course  from 
Brown  University  with  the  degree  of  B.  A.,  taking  an  M.  A.  later 
in  the  course.  He  was  principal  of  a  village  public  school  for 
three  years  and  then  entered  Crozer  Theological  Seminary  at 
Upland,  Pa.,  graduating  in  1874.  In  June,  1874,  he  was  ordained 
as  a  Baptist  minister  in  the  Memorial  Baptist  Church  of  Phila- 
delphia. In  November,  1874,  he  located  as  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
church  in  Austin,  Minn.,  resigning  in  January,  1882,  to  become 
county  superintendent  of  schools  for  IMower  county.  He  con- 
tinued in  this  office  for  nine  years,  during  which  time  great 
progress  was  made  in  grading  the  rural  schools  so  that  pupils 
might  maive  continuous  advancement  in  their  studies  to  prepare 
for  higher  schools.  ]\Ir.  Belden  was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church 
of  "\Vindom,  Cottomvood  county,  Minnesota,  one  year,  1891-1892, 
during  which  time  he  completed  their  new  house  of  worship  and 
it  was  dedicated  free  of  debt.  In  October,  1893,  he  purchased  a 
half  interest  in  the  IMower  County  Transcript,  forming  a  partner- 
ship with  N.  S.  Gordon,  and  took  the  entire  editorial  management 
of  the  paper.  In  December,  1898,  he  purchased  Mr.  Gordon's 
interest,  becoming  sole  proprietor  of  the  Transcript,  which  he  still 
continues  to  own  and  edit.  Mr.  Belden  was  married  at  Austin, 
Minn.,  June  27,  1877,  to  Mrs.  Francelia  Louise  (West)  Crandall, 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Lewis  and  ^Miranda  B.  (Husbrook)  West, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stockton,  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York,  November  7,  1843.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Stockton, 
N.  Y.,  and  came  to  JMitchell  county,  Iowa,  at  Otranlo,  in  1854. 
Her  mother  was  born  in  Addison,  Vt.,  November  29,  1819,  and 
died  at  Carpenter,  Iowa,  July  20,  1896.  They  were  married  in 
Chautauqua  county,  New  Y^ork,  September  24.  1837.  ^Ir.  and 
Mrs.  .Belden  have  one  thild,  Antoinette  Griffith  Belden,  who  was 
born  in  Austin,  June  24,  1882.  She  graduated  from  the  Austin 
high  school,  class  of  1900,  and  from  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
class  of  1905.  She  was  married  to  C.  Earl  Varco,  of  Sidney, 
Mont.,  August  5,  1908.  ]Mr.  Belden,  in  addition  to  his  newspaper 
Avork  in  these  later  years,  lias  continued  regularly  in  ministerial 
work  and  has  had  charge  of  the  Baptist  churches  at  Brownsdale, 
Blooming  Prairie  and  Lansing  at  ditl'erent  times.  He  has  prob- 
ably officiated  at  more  weddings  and  funerals  than  any  other 
minister  who  ever  lived   in   Slower  counlv.     He  has  also  taken 


978  HISTOKY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

much  interest  in  agricultural  work  and  was  one  of  the  organizers 
and  became  general  manager  of  the  Austin  Co-operative  Creamery- 
Association  in  1893.  He  was  for  years  a  member  of  the  Austin 
board  of  education  and  its  clerk.  He  has  been  vice  president  of 
the  National  Editorial  Association,  vice  president  of  the  National 
Creamery  Buttermakers'  Association  and  president  of  the  State 
County  Superintendents'  Association.  He  has  traveled  consider- 
ably, having  visited  the  chief  parts  of  Canada,  the  United  States 
and  Old  Mexico.  He  has  a  wide  acquaintance  with  people  in  all 
parts  of  Mower  county  as  few  have.  He  is  much  interested  in 
horticulture  and  finds  enjoyment  among  his  flowers  and  fruits. 
He  has  come  into  close  relation  with  this  community  in  many 
ways. 

William  Christie,  of  Austin,  has  served  as  chairman  of  the 
boards  of  county  commissioners  of  two  counties,  and  is  now 
serving  in  that  capacity  in  Mower  county.  He  was  born  in 
Highgate,  Franklin  county,  Vermont,  March  24,  1844,  son  of 
Adam  and  Mary  (O'Heare)  Christie,  who  brought  him  to  Wis- 
consin in  1855.  In  October,  1864,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came 
to  Minnesota  and  started  farming,  purchasing  a  quarter  section 
of  his  own  in  1870,  located  in  Oakland  township.  In  1898  he  came 
to  Austin  and  engaged  in  his  present  business.  Mr.  Christie  was 
assessor  of  Oakland  township  in  Freeborn  county  twenty  years, 
and  also  served  as  town  treasurer,  town  supervisor  and  clerk  of 
his  school  district.  In  1884  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the  board 
of  county  commissioners  of  Freeborn  county  and  served  with 
credit  in  that  capacity  for  six  years.  In  the  fall  of  1892  he  was 
elected  to  the  legislature  and  served  one  term.  In  1904  he  was 
elected  county  commissioner  of  Mower  county  for  a  four-year 
term  and  Avas  reelected  in  1908.  Four  years  he  has  served  as 
chairman  of  the  board. 

Nicholai  Nicholaisen,  whose  name  was  afterward  anglicized 
into  Nicholas  Nicholsen,  was  an  early  merchant  of  Austin.  He 
was  born  in  Norway,  and  came  to  America  in  1867,  locating  in 
New  York  city,  where  he  was  married  to  Johanna  Maria  Vestlien, 
who  had  preceded  him  to  America  by  one  year.  In  1870  they 
came  to  Austin,  and  here  Nicholas  engaged  with  Fernald  & 
Kimball.  Later  he  became  a  partner  with  S.  C.  Olson  in  the 
furniture  business,  thus  continuing  until  his  death  in  1876.  His 
Avife  passed  away  in  1908.  Of  their  five  children  four  are  living. 
They  are :  Nicholas  Nicholsen,  sheriff  of  Mower  county ;  Lena  C, 
wife  of  S.  M.  Peterson,  of  Blooming  Prairie,  Minn. ;  Jacob  N.,  an 
attorney  of  Austin,  and  Nora  A.,  wife  of  George  Brandner,  of 
Newel],  S.  D. 

Jacob  N.  Nicholsen,  attorney  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Austin, 
Decemb(>r  ]9,  1871,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Johanna  Maria  (Vestlien) 


ME.  AND  MRS.   SAMUEL  O.   FORTHUN. 


IllSTOKY  OF  MUWKi;  CULLNTY  979 

Nicholsou.  He  was  reared  iu  his  native  city,  aud  in  1889  grad- 
uated from  tlie  Austin  high  school.  Then  after  eiglit  years  in 
the  First  National  Bank,  of  Austin,  he  entered  tlie  hiw  offiuc  ut 
Kingsley  &  Shepherd,  in  1897,  as  student  and  clerk.  Subse- 
quently he  took  two  suinnior  courses  iu  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor.  In  1908  he  went 
south  as  first  sergeant  of  Comi)any  G,  Twelfth  JMinnesota  Vol- 
unteer Infantry.  October  1,  1901,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and  a  year  later  formed  a  partnership  with  Senator  F.  E.  Putnam, 
of  Blue  Earth,  ]\Iinu.  This  lirm  served  for  some  time  as  city 
attorneys  of  Blue  Earth.  September  1,  1909,  Mr.  Nicholseu  re- 
turned to  Austin,  and  became  a  partner  of  S.  D.  Catherwood  in 
the  firm  of  Catherwood  &  Nicholseu.  In  October,  1910,  lie  was 
appointed  city  attorney.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  body, 
the  Commercial  Club  and  other  organizations.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  married  September  29,  1903,  at  Austin,  to  Annie 
B.  McBride,  daughter  of  E.  P.  McBride,  the  pioneer  grocer,  and 
Esther  Baldwin  ^McBride,  his  wife.  Attorney  aud  Mrs.  Nicholseu 
are  the  parents  of  three  children :  Margaret  Esther,  born  De- 
cember 7,  1904;  Frank  Vestlieu,  born  October  5,  1909,  aud 
Richard  ^leBridc,  boru  January  22,  1911. 

Samuel  Olson  Forthun,  now  deceased,  lived  in  Mower  county 
from  the  closing  year  of  the  Civil  war  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  and  his  example  and  influence  were  ever  for  the  good. 
He  was  boru  at  Sogn,  Norway,  March  3,  1830,  son  of  Ole  and 
Annie  Forthun,  natives  of  Sogn,  Norway,  where  they  both  lived 
aud  died.  Samuel  O.  received  his  education  in  his  native  country 
and  in  1855,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  he  came  to  America,  living 
the  first  seven  years  in  Wisconsin,  where  he  worked  on  farms  in 
Dane  and  Iowa  counties.  Then  he  went  to  South  Dakota  for  a 
time.  In  1865  he  came  to  Mower  county  and  located  in  LcRoy 
township.  A  few  years  later  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  wild 
land,  which  he  broke  and  improved,  carrying  on  general  farm- 
ing and  increasing  his  holdings  until  he  owned  240  acres  in  the 
home  farm,  and  other  tracts  of  land  which  he  divided  among  his 
children.  Iu  1899  he  retired  from  active  life,  and  purchased  a 
lot  in  the  village  of  LeRoy,  on  which  lie  built  a  pleasant  home 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  ^lay  5,  1903.  Samuel  O.  Forthun 
was  married  ^lay  23,  1863,  to  Anna  Thompson,  who  was  born  in 
Norway,  August  14,  1846.  Her  parents,  ]Mr.  and  IMrs.  Thorsten 
Thompson,  were  natives  of  Norway,  came  to  America  in  1860. 
lived  in  "\Viscon.sin  for  a  while,  and  still  later  went  to  Grand 
Forks,  N.  D.,  where  the  father  died  in  1895,  and  the  mother  in 
1907.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forthun  has  been  blessed  with 
thirteen  cliildren :  Ole  lives  in  Thick  River  Falls.  Minn. :  Thomas 
is  in  California  for  his  health ;  Anna  is  wife  of  11.  II.  Bither.  of 


980  HISTOKY  OF  MOWEIJ  COUNTY 

LeRoy  village ;  Samuel  is  dead ;  Christian  is  at  Cresco,  Iowa,  and 
is  deputy  county  auditor  of  Howard  county;  Elias  lives  in  the 
state  of  Washington;  Eachel,  a  milliner  by  trade,  is  home  with 
her  mother ;  John  lives  in  Barnesville,  Minn. ;  ]\Iartin,  a  carpenter, 
lives  in  Minneapolis ;  Serena  is  dead ;  Christina  teaches  in  South 
Dakota ;  Gena  teaches  in  Iowa ;  Peter  is  a  student  at  the  Southern 
Minnesota  Normal  College,  Austin.  The  family  faith  is  that  of 
the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church.  When  Mr.  Forthun  and  family 
moved  from  Wisconsin  to  South  Dakota  they  Avith  six  other  fami- 
lies made  the  move  in  covered  wagons  drawn  by  oxen,  driving 
through  the  wilderness.  There  were  very  few  roads.  Bridges 
also  were  very  scarce  and  often  they  had  to  ford  rivers.  They 
made  the  journey  in  about  thirty  days  and  settled  near  Yankton, 
which  was  then  only  a  very  small  town.  During  the  summer  the 
grasshoppers  came  and  destroyed  completely  all  the  crops  in  that 
locality  in  two  or  three  hours.  After  that  the  settlers  had  to 
drive  ninety  miles  for  provisions.  In  the  spring  the  danger  from 
hostile  Indians  drove  them  out.  They  then  migrated  to  the 
vicinity  of  LeRoy,  Minn.  Here  Mr.  Forthun  bought  eighty  acres ' 
of  land.  As  money  was  very  scarce  at  that  time  they  lived  in  a 
cellar  four  years.  Then  they  built  a  small  frame  house,  in  which 
they  had  lived  only  two  days  when  it  was  burned  to  the  ground 
and  everything  destroyed.  When  their  three  children  saw  the 
outcome  of  their  play  they  ran  to  a  corn  field  near  by  for  safety. 
Then  they  were  compelled  to  set  up  housekeeping  to  the  best  of 
their  ability  in  the  old  cellar  again  until  another  house  could  be 
erected.  When  he  came  to  America  Mr.  Forthun  had  just  money 
enough  to  buy  his  ticket. 

Jerry  B.  Yates  was  born  in  Lockport,  N.  Y'.,  in  1829.  He 
came  to  Austin  in  1855.  In  partnership  with  V.  P.  Lewis  he 
opened  the  second  store  here.  They  also  turned  their  attention  to 
town  lots,  and  in  April,  1856,  arose  the  familiar  controversy  con- 
cerning the  records  of  the  platting  of  Austin.  At  the  first  election 
in  the  county  Mr.  Yates  was  elected  sherift'  on  the  west  side  ticket 
by  46  majority.  Yates  and  Lewis  started  the  first  brickyard  in 
Austin.  Finally  their  partnership  was  dissolved  and  Mr.  Yates 
engaged  in  the  grain  business  for  a  while,  then  moved  to  his  fine 
farm  near  Lansing.  He  stayed  there  four  years  and  then  engaged 
in  extensive  insurance  business  until  the  time  of  his  final  illness. 

George  Baird,  deceased,  was  born  July  28,  1833,  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  a  direct  descendant  of  Andrew 
Baird,  who  came  over  in  the  second  voyage  of  the  Mayflower. 
His  father  was  a  piano  maker  and  tuner  and  the  boy  early  went 
to  Avork  in  his  father's  shop.  At  fifteen  he  Avas  bound  out  to 
Avork  in  a  cabinet  shop  until  he  was  tAventy-one.  Ere  that  time 
he  bought  his  time  and  went  to  Avork  in  a  carriage  shop.    In  1854 


HISTORY  OF  ]\10WK1{  COUNTY  981 

ho,  with  floliii  Wriiiht,  wont  to  Chicji^o,  and  hocamo  oiiH:afj;od  in 
oarriago  huihling,  turning  out  the  lirst  liglit  buggy  iiuulo  in  tlu> 
city.  Juno  18,  1855,  was  liis  wotlding  day,  Cluirh)tto  lirown  Ix'ing 
the  brido.  Soon  thoy  oamo  to  Kaoino,  AVis.,  and  the  next  spring 
Mr.  Baird  eanic  to  IMower  county  to  k)ok  for  hind.  He  preempted 
a  quarter  section  in  Lansing  and  built  a  log  house.     Ton  dollars 

all  of  his  worldly  possessions.      ^Alrs.    Haird    caim'    in    D nil)or. 

He  camped  in  a  sheet  tent  on  the  Cedar  willi  llio  mercury 
thirty  degrees  below.  He  split  rails  to  earn  a  few  groceries  for 
his  family.  After  awhile  he  sold  his  claim  and  did  carpenter 
work.  In  18G1  ho  moved  his  family  to  Austin  and  a  pleasant 
home  w'as  begun.  AVar  interrupted  the  building,  for  he  enlisted 
in  October,  1861,  in  the  Fourth  IMinnosota  Infantry.  His  war 
record  was  as  honorable  at  it  was  brave,  and  when  discharged 
he  held  the  rank  of  lieutenant.  On  his  return  to  Austin  he  was 
appointed  postmaster,  but  soon  resigned.  He  was  sheritl'  of  the 
county  for  a  time.  Later  he  again  became  postmaster,  but  died 
in  1895  while  still  in  ofliee. 

Orlenzer  Allen  was  born  in  Allegany  county.  Now  York, 
March  17,  1826,  and  was  the  twin  brother  of  Judge  Ormanzo 
Allen.  He  pursued  his  studies  in  the  university  at  Alfred  Centre. 
In  1842  his  parents  came  to  AVisconsin  and  he  contimied  his 
studies  in  Milton  College.  Ho  then  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
Rider,  of  Milton,  and  afterward  graduated  in  Rush  jModical  Col- 
lege, Chicago,  with  honors.  He  also  took  a  post  graduate  course 
for  physicians  and  surgeons,  in  New  York  city.  In  1847  he 
united  his  fortunes  with  those  of  Almeda  Coon,  an  educated 
woman  and  successful  teacher.  He  commenced  to  practice  in 
Milton,  but  came  to  Austin  in  1856,  he  being  the  first  physician 
to  settle  here.  After  fourteen  years'  practice  in  Austin  he  went 
back  to  Milton,  where  ho  died  in  188:?.  AViiile  hero  be  tilled  many 
political  oftiees  in  county  and  city. 

Rev.  Stephen  Cook  was  born  in  Vermont  in  17D6,  but  grew 
up  in  northoin  New  York  after  ho  was  two  years  old.  He  was 
ordained  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight.  In  1856  lie  came  to  Austin 
and  a  year  later  organized  the  first  church  here,  with  a  member- 
ship of  fifteen.  In  Alarch,  1860,  while  lal)oring  in  a  revival  at 
Oakland,  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis.  Si.\  mouths  later  when 
partially  recovered  he  preaclied  for  six  months  again.  He  died 
of  a  final  stroke  of  paralysis  on  October  12.  1864.  Ho  was  mar- 
ried at  Alalone,  N.  Y.,  in  181f),  to  Jonotte  AVyse,  who  shared  and 
assisted  him  in  his  labors  and  survived  liim  over  a  year.  They 
had  four  children.  The  oldest,  AVilliam  AV.,  l)orn  in  1820,  was 
long  Austin's  chori.stor  and  superintendent  of  Suiulay  schools, 
and  died  of  paralysis  August  26,  1867.  The  second,  James  N.. 
born  September  21,  1821,  studied  at  Oberliu  for  the  ministry  till 


982  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

his  eyesight  failed  six  months  before  he  would  have  graduated. 
He  was  a  deacon  in  the  Congregational  church  at  Austin  from  its 
organization  till  his  death,  September  12,  1886.  The  third,  John 
F.,  was  born  May  13,  1823,  became  a  successful  merchant  and 
owner  of  real  estate  in  Austin  and  vicinity.  The  youngest,  Julia 
A.,  born  in  1826,  married  Dr.  J.  N.  Wheat. 

Rev.  Alfred  Cressy  was  born  in  England  April  29,  1838.  In 
the  fall  of  1856  he  and  his  wife,  Hannah  Phelps,  came  by  team  to 
Lyle,  where  Mrs.  Cressy 's  parents  had  moved  the  previous  spring. 
He  preempted  a  claim,  but  sold  a  part  of  it  and  traded  the  rest 
for  an  eighty  in  Austin.  He  began  studying  for  the  ministry  in 
Austin,  and  afterwards  went  to  Hamline  University,  then  at  Red 
Wing,  for  a  four  years'  course.  He  had  a  long  and  iiseful  career 
as  a  clergyman  and  now  lives  in  retirement  in  Austin. 

Lyman  D.  Baird  has  long  been  considered  Austin's  most  help- 
ful citizen  and  his  interests  reach  far  beyond  the  boundaries  of 
the  city  and  county.  In  the  city  he  has  been  mayor  and  city  at- 
torney ;  in  the  county  he  has  been  secretary  of  the  Mower  County 
Old  Settlers'  Association  and  an  officer  of  the  Mower  County 
Fair  Association ;  in  the  state  he  has  been  postmaster  of  the 
house  of  representatives,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  man- 
agers of  the  Minnesota  State  Agricultural  Association  for  more 
than  eight  years,  and  in  that  society  has  been  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  amusements  and  privileges  for  the  Minnesota  state 
fair.  He  is  at  present  superintendent  of  gates  of  this,  the  great- 
est fair  in  the  United  States.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal 
Legion,  a  high  degree  Mason,  and  an  ardent  friend  of  all  G.  A.  R. 
projects,  his  father  having  been  a  distinguished  and  popular  offi- 
cer during  the  Civil  war.  However  the  mere  mention  of  Mr. 
Baird 's  offices  does  not  do  justice  to  his  activities.  He  has  advocated 
the  improvement  of  Austin  in  various  ways,  offering  his  purse  as 
well  as  his  inflvaence  and  the  advantage  of  his  support.  He  has 
tendered  a  considerable  sum  for  the  beautifying  of  the  mill  pond 
and  the  transformation  of  it  into  a  lake,  proA'iding  that  certain 
conditions  were  met.  He  proffered  valuable  land  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  city  hall.  He  gave  the  beautiful  lamp  which  adorns 
the  humane  fountain;  he  has  been  active  in  getting  business 
houses  to  locate  here ;  he  was  the  first  of  the  heavy  taxpayers 
to  advocate  street  paving,  and  the  real  father  of  the  cement 
walks  of  which  Austin  is  so  proud;  he  has  erected  more  houses 
than  any  other  man  in  Austin,  and  in  many  other  ways  has 
proven  a  valuable  citizen.  With  all  this  he  has  not  neglected 
his  own  business,  and  his  real  estate  operations  in  this  and  other 
states  cover  many  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  he  is  making  a  hobby  of  farm  lands,  and  has  acquired 
several  tracts  of  land  on  which  he  will  conduct  agricultural  op- 


HISTORY  OF  ]\10\VE1{  COUNTY  !)83 

orations  aloiit;-  tlie  most  niodcni  and  scientific  lines.  He  believes 
iu  tree  planting  and  the  general  beautifying  of  the  farm,  is  a 
free  nser  of  i)aint  on  farm  buildings  and  a  great  believer  in  the 
use  of  drain  tile.  lie  insists  that  Minnesota  will  inside  of  five 
years  raise  more  corn  than  Iowa.  He  is  building  several  silos 
on  his  farms  this  summer,  and  some  idea  of  his  farming  opera- 
tions in  the  vicinity  of  Austin  eau  be  had  from  the  fact  that  this 
season,  1911.  he  is  sowing  over  1,000  acres  to  flax,  200  acres  to 
corn,  and  200  acres  to  wheat,  besides  100  acres  to  oats,  300  acres 
to  timothy,  ten  acres  to  roots  and  fifteen  acres  to  alfalfa.  He 
is  using  a  gasoline  engine  to  plow,  seed  and  drag  one  tract  of 
700  acres.  The  farm  is  tAvelve  miles  west  of  Austin  and  Mr. 
Baird  has  two  shifts  of  men  working  night  and  day.  For  many 
years  he  has  devoted  considerable  attention  to  live  stock  breed- 
ing, with  special  attention  to  the  beef -producing  qualities  of  the 
animals.  Of  late,  however,  he  is  turning  his  interest  to  milk 
breeds.  Lyman  D.  Baird  was  born  in  Mower  county  October  17, 
1857.  his  natal  place  being  on  the  farm  in  Lansing  township,  on 
the  outskirts  of  Austin,  which  his  father,  George  Baird,  pre- 
empted in  1856.  Before  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age  he  had 
saved  $300  by  raising  and  selling  vegetables.  He  also  earned 
money  in  other  ways  while  at  school.  After  leaving  school  he 
clerked  for  a  while  in  a  store,  but  later  went  back  to  the  farm. 
Next  he  received  an  appointment  as  county  jailer  and  thus  began 
his  connection  with  one  of  the  incidents  of  the  famous  Page 
conflicts.  Judge  Brill  fixed  young  Baird 's  compensation  at  $2 
per  day.  Judge  Sherman  Page,  on  his  return  from  his  impeach- 
ment trial,  ignored  this  action  and  ordered  the  pay  to  be  noth- 
ing. Mr.  Baird  thereupon  went  to  the  courts  and  won  his  case. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  began  to  study  law  with  G.  N. 
Baxter  at  Faribault  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  three  years 
later,  thus  practically  beginning  his  sviccessful  career.  He  has 
never  practiced  law.  but  has  devoted  his  whole  life  to  real  estate 
and  banking.  In  1901  he  was  apointed  national  bank  examiner 
and  had  charge  of  the  national  banks  of  Wisconsin  and  the  large 
cities  of  Minnesota  for  five  years.  He  then  served  as  receiver 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Faribault  for  two  years.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  offices  mentioned  above  ]\Ir.  Baird  for  twenty-four 
years  has  been  secretary  of  the  Austin  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation. He  married  Lila  ]\I.  Hall  and  has  two  daughters,  Helen 
and  Frances.  The  former  is  a  graduate  of  St.  Mary's  Hall, 
Faribault. 

James  M.  Sterling  was  l)()rn  in  I'itdici'.  CdrtlaiKi  county. 
New  York.  April  3,  1S2-4.  where  he  lived  until  eleven  years  of  age, 
when  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Lima,  Livingston  county, 
New  York.     After  the  death  of  his  father  in  1866,  he  bought 


984  HISTORY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

the  interest  of  his  brothers  and  sisters  and  succeeded  to  the 
ownership  and  management  of  the  home  farm.  In  1853  he  mar- 
ried Helen  Eldredge,  of  Cincinnatiis,  N.  Y.  Of  their  four  chil- 
dren, Edward  H.  and  Nellie  G.  are  living  and  reside  in  Austin, 
a  daughter,  Carrie,  died  at  the  age  of  three  months,  and  a  son, 
Worthy  S.,  died  in  Austin  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four. 
Having  a  favorable  oportunity  to  sell  the  Lima  farm  in  the  spring 
of  1871,  he  decided  to  do  so  and  shortly  afterward  came  west. 
After  spending  the  summer  and  winter  of  1871  in  Austin,  he  de- 
cided to  locate  in  Mower  county.  Early  in  the  year  1872  he 
purchased  the  farm  just  west  of  the  city  of  Austin,  known  for 
so  many  years  afterward  as  the  "Sterling  farm."  He  was  a 
thorough,  practical  farmer  and  soon  made  this  naturally  at- 
tractive place  a  model  farm  and  was  long  looked  upon  as  one 
of  the  best  farmers  in  the  county.  In  the  spring  of  1896,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two,  wishing  to  retire,  he  sold  the  farm  and 
moved  into  the  city  and  built  the  home  at  306  West  Water  street, 
where  he  still  resides,  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  In  1902 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sterling  celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  and,  not- 
withstanding his  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven,  Mr.  Sterling  is 
still  active,  a  great  reader  and  retains  his  interest  in  current 
events  and  public  afiPairs. 

Knud  Nelson  Hougestuen,  now  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  Frankford  township.  He  was  an  ideal  pio- 
neer in  every  way,  rugged  in  health,  persevering  of  mind  and 
stanch  of  character.  No  hardships  or  difficulties  discouraged 
him,  and  no  hard  work  daunted  him.  The  Lutheran  church 
counted  him  as  an  active  worker  and  a  consistent  believer,  and 
in  his  family  he  was  a  loving  and  considerate  husband  and  an  af- 
fectionate and  generoi;s  father.  In  his  death  the  township  lost 
one  who  had  assisted  materially  in  its  progress  and  who  was 
never  found  wanting  when  any  progressive  movement  needed  a 
capable  helper.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Nor- 
way, September  3,  1822,  son  of  Nels  Ekabot  and  Sarah  Neut- 
sen,  his  wife.  After  receiving  a  limited  education  in  his  native 
parish,  Knud  went  to  Christiana,  where  he  engaged  in  a  general 
store  and  saved  money  to  come  to  America.  In  this  connection 
an  interesting  story  is  told.  A  few  days  before  Mr.  Hougestuen 
was  ready  to  sail,  one  Julius  Loe  came  into  the  store  and  their 
conversation  turned  to  America.  Loe  expressed  his  desire  to 
come  to  America,  but  also  stated  that  he  had  no  funds.  Accord- 
ingly Mr.  Hougestuen,  with  that  generosity  which  always  char- 
acterized his  actions,  offered  to  loan  him  his  passage  to  LaCrosse 
from  Christiana.  Years  afterward  the  two  men  met  at  LaCrosse, 
at  which  time  Mr.  Loe  paid  his  indebtedness.  Conversation  at 
that  time  revealed  the  fact  which  neither  was  aware  of  before. 


IIlSTOh'V   OF  .AIOWMi;  COUXTY  985 

naiiu'ly.  that  :\Ir.  Loe  was  a  near  Tclativ.'  of  .Mi'.  Iloiinvsl  ucii 's 
wife.  Kuud  NeLson  Ilou^cstuou  cainc  to  Aiiicrica  in  l^!.')!,  laiuled 
in  Quebec,  Canada,  and  located  in  Dane  eounty,  Wisconsin.  In 
1854  he  came  to  Frankford  township,  this  county,  and  settled 
on  section  7,  where  he  pre-empted  120  acres  of  wild  land.  His 
early  life  here  was  full  of  hardships.  He  made  the  trip  from 
LaCrosse  here  on  foot,  and  started  life  here  with  none  of  the 
conveniences.  His  first  house  was  a  log  cabin,  and  his  equipment 
was  of  the  most  primitive.  He.  however,  set  about  with  hard 
work  and  intelligence  to  improve  the  place.  A  frame  house 
soon  replaced  the  log  cabin,  the  land  soon  blossomed  with  boun- 
teous crops,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  August  3,  1903,  he 
owned  270  acres  of  rich  land,  all  under  cultivation.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married  January  12,  1858,  to  Julia  Sohus, 
born  in  Norway  Jime  14,  1836.  daughter  of  Julius  Loe  and  Merit 
Sohus.  Mrs.  Hougestuen  proved  a  most  able  helpmeet  to  her 
husband  in  all  his  undertakings.  Since  her  husband's  death  she 
has  rented  the  land,  but  still  lives  on  the  old  place.  She  is  a 
capable  business  woman  and  is  well  liked  in  the  comnmnity.  It 
is  worthy  of  note  here  that  ^Ir.  Hougestuen  was  a  close  personal 
friend  of  C.  F.  Greening,  of  Grand  ^leadow,  and  transacted  all 
his  business  through  him.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Hougestuen  were  blessed 
Avith  eight  children.  Sarah  is  now  Mrs.  David  Mink,  of  Wash- 
ington state.  Julia  M.,  wife  of  W.  J.  Emerson,  is  dead.  Emma 
is  now  ]Mrs.  J.  M.  Hall,  of  Tacoma,  Wash.  Nels  lives  at  home." 
Bertha  is  a  milliner  in  Tacoma,  Wash.  Julius  married  Martha 
Svenby  and  lives  in  Belgrade,  ]\Iinn.  Olive  graduated  from  the 
Spring  Valley  high  school  and  was  teaching  at  the  time  of  her 
death.    Ardena  married  O.  Finhart,  of  Frankford  and  is  dead. 

Morris  E.  Hessler,  a  hustling  real  estate,  insurance  and  col- 
lection man,  now  residing  in  the  village  of  Lansing,  was  born  in 
Canaan,  Wayne  eounty,  Ohio,  September  11,  1850.  He  came  to 
Lansing  in  1889  and  took  up  the  business  which  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed. For  the  past  twenty  years  Mr.  Hessler  has  been  agent  for 
the  Slower  County  Fire  and  Lightning  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 
pany, being  now  the  oldest  agent  in  the  employ  of  that  com- 
pany. The  ancestry  of  Mr.  Hessler  is  a  most  interesting  one. 
The  founder  of  the  family  was  a  native  of  Hesse.  Germany, 
and  was  sent  to  America  to  fight  with  the  British  against  the 
Colonists  during  the  Revolution.  He  was  captured  by  the  Amer- 
icans and  after  being  paroled,  settled  down  in  New  York  as  a 
tailor,  being  known  as  Henry  IIes.sler.  Sr.  It  is  interesting  to 
note  that  while  following  his  occupation  in  New  York  Henry 
Hessler,  Sr..  made  a  suit  of  clothes  for  the  illustrious  General 
George  Washington.  Henry  Hessler,  Jr..  son  of  the  first  Henry, 
was  born  in  New  York  city  and  moved  to  Canajohario,  ilont- 


986      ^  IIISTOUY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

goniory  county,  New  York.  George  Hessler,  Sr.,  was  the  son  of 
Hcury  Ilessler,  Jr.  He  was  born  in  1809,  and  on  October  5,  1830, 
was  married  by  Rev.  Zacariah  Paddock  to  Anna  Maria  Pren- 
tiss. She  was  born  in  Cooperstown,  Otsego  county.  New  York, 
and  when  a  child  her  parents  moved  to  Paris,  Oneida  county, 
New  York.  She  was  reared  by  Dr.  0.  P.  Judd,  an  early  governor 
of  the  Sandwich  Islands.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  she  started 
teaching  at  C'asonovia,  N.  Y.,  and  there  met  George  Hessler, 
Sr.  In  1840  George  Hessler,  Sr.,  and  his  wife  wont  to  Ohio  and 
settled"  at  a  place  called  Canaan  Center.  George  Hessler,  Sr., 
died  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  November  18,  1886,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  His  wife,  Anna  Maria  Prentiss  Hessler,  died  in 
1892  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Morris  E.  Hessler  was  mar- 
ried July  22,  1874,  to  May  Gardner,  daughter  of  John  and  Jennie 
Gardner.  This  union  was  blessed  with  two  children :  Anna 
Maude,  married  Albert  Ackerman,  of  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  Alice 
Lunetie  married  Henry  Latham,  of  Independence,  Kans.,  and  they 
liave  four  children  :  Lucille  S.,  Ladorna  May,  John  Wesley  and 
Laurie  Belle. 

George  W.  Bassett,  a  native  son  of  ]\Iower  county,  farms  on 
185  acres  in  UdolpJio,  and  has  been  very  successful  in  his  agri- 
cultural operjitions.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  still 
resides  August  1,  1862,  son  of  Edward  and  Jane  E.  McQuivey 
Bassett.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools,  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  farm,  and  married  Cora  M.  Elkius,  daughter  of  Jo.hn 
and  Phoebe  (Ricker)  Elkins,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children :  Alva  E.,  of  Lansing  township,  and  Wesley 
I.  and  Winfred  R.  at  home.  Mr.  Bassett  is  a  Republican  in  pol- 
itics and  was  for  some  time  clerk  of  school  district  76.  At  nine- 
teen years  of  age  lie  started  farming  for  himself  on  the  home 
farm.  lie  has  erected  some  good  buildings  and  all  of  his  land 
ex('('])t  nvcnly-tiv(>  acres  of  timber  is  vuidcr  cultivation. 

Thomas  Savage  is  a  well-tliought-of  citizen  of  AVindon;  town- 
sliiji,  where  he  li;is  lived  since  1864.  lie  has  taken  his  share  in 
llie  (lexclopineiil  ol  the  eouiily.  hns  been  justice  of  the  peace,  was 
on  Ihe  school  bojird  a  juimber  of  years  and  has  done  his  town 
sei-viee  in  oilier  ways.  He  is  a  genial,  Avhole-souled  gentleman 
and  his  memory  in  regard  to  events  in  Windom  and  surrounding 
townships  is  as  clear  as  is  usually  that  of  a  man  lialf  his  age. 
Thomas  Savage  was  born  in  County  Dublin,  Ireland,  October  25, 
18-i8,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Danne)  Savage.  He  came  to 
America  with  his  father  and  brother  in  1851  and  lived  in  Rock- 
away,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  three  years.  From  there  they  went  to 
Middletown  Point,  Monmouth  county.  New  Jersey,  where  they 
lived  two  years.  Thomas  came  to  Illinois  in  1856  and  two  yeai's 
later,  in  1858,  took  up  his  residence  in  Iowa.    In  the  fall  of  1864 


TFIOMAS  S.UACK 


EDWAKD  BASSETT. 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWEK  COUNTY  987 

he  came  to  Mower  coiiiity  and  rented  land  on  wliich  was  a  lo^ 
house  in  whieh  he  lived.  Later  he  pureliased  land  in  Windoin 
township.  On  this  farm  he  ereeted  a  frame  house  and  suffered 
the  privations  of  pioneer  life.  The  subject  of  this  sketeh  iiiar- 
ried  Elizabeth  Guinney,  daughter  of  Timothy  Guinney.  She  died 
January  24,  1911,  leaving  seven  children :  Mary  E.,  wife  of  An- 
drew Smith ;  Annie  S.,  wife  of  George  AV.  Smith ;  Nellie,  v\'ife 
of  Frank  Gerrard;  Lillie,  wife  of  Henry  M.  Rolfe;  Thomas  D.; 
Victoria,  wife  of  Lew^  Lewis,  and  Ollie,  a  teacher  in  the  AusImi 
high  school.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Savage  will  long  be  moiinuul  l)y 
friends  and  relatives.  She  was  a  loving  and  sympatheti'  wife 
and  an  atfectionate  and  considerate  mother.  Hand  in  hand  Avith 
her  husband  she  faced  the  difficulties  of  life  and  lived  to  see  her 
efforts  crowned  with  the  blessings  of  a  contented  life  and  happy 
family. 

Edward  Bassett  was  born  in  New  York  city.  July  20,  1819. 
His  parents  moved  to  Michigan  in  1828  and  there  died,  the  father 
in  1860  and  the  mother  in  1882.  Edward  grew  to  manhood  in 
Michigan  and  received  a  good  common  school  education.  He  was 
twice  married.  In  November,  1848,  he  married  Levina  Bruce, 
a  native  of  Ohio,  and  moved  to  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  where 
his  wife  died  in  1856.  To  his  first  marriage  were  born  three 
children — Mary.  "William  and  Charles.  For  his  second  wife  he 
married  Jane  JMcQuivey  in  July,  1857.  She  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont. In  the  same  month  Mr.  Bassett  came  to  Mower  county 
to  look  at  the  country,  and,  being  well  pleased,  took  a  claim  and 
returned  to  Wisconsin.  In  the  fall  of  1858  he  returned  to  his 
claim  and  the  following  July  he  was  joined  by  his  family,  who 
moved  into  the  house  he  had  erected  on  the  south  half  of  sec- 
tion 21  in  Udolpho.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Mr.  Bassett 
met  the  family  at  McGregor  with  an  ox  team  and  brought  them 
here  iu  that  conveyance.  Jane  McQuivey  Bassett  died  November 
2,  1864,  leaving  four  children:  Edson,  of  Washington;  Judson, 
of  Michigan;  George  W.,  of  Tdolpho,  and  Elbra  J.,  of  North 
Dakota.  Mr.  Bassett  was  interested  in  all  public  affairs  and 
served  in  many  township  offices.  He  gave  his  religious  affilia- 
tion to  the  Baptist  church.    lie  died  June  24,  1897. 

J.  H.  Smith,  a  successful  farmer  of  Udolpho  township,  was 
born  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  Marcli  2,  1861,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Emma  (Sanford)  Smith.  At  the  age  of  three  years  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  IMower  county  and  located  on  section  33, 
T'dolpho  township,  where  he  still  resides.  He  married  Jennie 
York,  daughter  of  O.  R.  York,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children:  Oscar  Sanuiel,  Eleanor  Elizabetli  and  Alice 
Louise. 

Samuel  Smith,  father  of  J.  H.  Smitii,  was  a  native  of  Vermont 


988  HISTOEY  OF  MO  WEE  COUNTY 

of  English  descent.  His  great-grandfather  was  the  tirst  settler 
of  Windsor,  Vt.  The  Smith  family  came  from  England  in  1635 
and  settled  in  Hartford,  Conn.  Samuel  Smith  and  wife  first  came 
to  Mower  county  in  1857  and  Samuel  had  much  to  do  with  the 
early  history  of  Udolpho  and  Lansing  as  a  religious  and  educa- 
tional leader.  He  taught  the  A'illage  school  in  Lansing  when  there 
were  more  than  seventy-five  pupils  of  all  ages  in  one  room.  He 
knew  what  pioneer  life  was.  The  folloAving  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith:  Ida,  Mrs.  Julia  Bloss,  James  H.,  Mrs. 
Emma  Ullerick,  Sophia  and  Mrs.  Mattie  Johnson.  Samuel  Smith 
died  in  December,  1870,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six.  His  wife,  Emma 
Sanford  Smith,  was  born  in  Rockford,  111.,  her  father  being  a 
native  of  Connecticut  and  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  riding  a  cir- 
cuit in  Illinois  and  Michigan  until  his  deafness  caused  his  prac- 
tical retirement. 

Oscar  R.  York  was  born  in  North  Stoniugton.  Conn.,  April 
27,  1843,  son  of  Reuben  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  York,  also  of 
that  place.  He  remained  in  his  native  village  until  1866,  when 
he  came  to  Brownsdale  and  for  two  years  worked  for  his  uncle, 
A.  D.  Brown.  Then  he  purchased  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 2  and  built  on  section  9.  In  187-1  he  returned  to  Connecticut 
and  on  February  17  of  that  year  married  Sarah  Stanton,  of  VoIuq- 
town,  Conn.  This  union  was  blessed  with  one  child,  Mrs.  Jennie 
Smith.  Mr.  York  worked  on  his  farm  until  after  the  death  of  his 
wife,  November  29,  1905.  In  1908  he  went  to  Udolpho  and  took 
up  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Smith.  His  wife,  Sarah 
Stanton  York,  was  born  August  9,  1845,  in  Voluntown,  Conn., 
daughter  of  Gen.  William  Stanton.  LTntil  the  time  of  her  death 
she  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Baptist  church  and  Sunday  school 
at  Brownsdale. 

John  Reding,  assessor  of  the  city  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Lux- 
emberg,  Germany,  March  15,  1863,  the  son  of  Peter  and  Mary 
Reding,  who  brought  their  family  to  America  in  1869  and  settled 
in  Union  township,  Mitchell  county,  loAva.  Here  Peter  Reding 
farmed  about  eighteen  years  and  here  his  wife  died,  May  24, 
1881,  after  which  he  moved  to  Adams  in  this  county  and  retired. 
John  Reding  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1869  and  located 
in  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  There  he  attended  the  district  schools 
and  later  entered  the  Mankato  high  school.  After  completing 
his  schooling  he  returned  to  the  home  farm.  Later  he  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business  five  years  at  Adams.  Subsequently 
he  again  took  up  agricultural  pursuits  and  farmed  four  years 
in  Mitchell  county,  Iowa.  Then  he  rented  the  farm  and  moved 
to  Lyle,  this  county,  where  he  once  more  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware business,  at  the  same  time  conducting  a  farm  near  the 
village.     In  1901  he  came  to  Austin"  and  engaged  in  the  land 


IIISTOKY  t)F  MOWKK'  CorXTY  989 

business,  being-  coniieeted  for  two  ycai's  with  Ilci'bert  St.  I.c(l<;-er 
in  tlie  Southern  ^Minnesota  Land  Conijiany  oflicc.  Jn  IDlU  ho 
was  made  assessor  of  Austin.  The  same  year  he  ereeted  a  com- 
fortable resideiiee  on  Freeborn  street,  where  he  owns  ten  lots. 
Aside  from  this  projierty  he  lias  several  other  land  holdiiv^s, 
among  them  a  240-a<'re  faiiu  in  ^litehell  county.  He  is  still  in- 
terested in  farming  and  is  one  of  the  stockholders  in  the  Austin 
Cement  and  Tile  Company.  ]\Ir.  Reding  married  Nellie  Smith, 
daughter  of  Charles  Smith,  and  they  have  three  children :  Marie 
L.,  Agnes  V.  and  Esther  E.  The  oldest  is  a  milliner  in  Minne- 
apolis.    The  others  are  at  home. 

M.  N.  Clausen,  city  engineer  of  Austin,  was  born  in  Rock 
county,  Wisconsin,  oldest  son  of  Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen  and  ]\Iartha 
Rasmussen,  his  wife,  natives  of  Denmark.  His  early  education 
was  received  in  the  public  schools,  in  Decorah  college  at  Decorah, 
Iowa,  and  in  the  Cedar  Valley  seminary  at  Osage,  Iowa.  He  was 
at  the  latter  institution  in  1867  when  his  father  decided  to  visit 
the  old  country.  M.  N.  accompanied  his  father  across  the  water 
and  entered  a  theological  school  in  Copenhagen,  Denmark,  where 
he  studied  three  years,  twice  translating  the  New  Testament 
from  the  Greek  to  the  Danish  language.  At  the  end  of  this 
period  he  entered  the  Polytechnic  school  in  the  same  city  and 
there  studied  civil  engineering.  Then  for  two  years  he  taught 
language.  In  1878  the  steamship  line  of  Copenhagen  selected 
four  men  to  come  to  America  and  look  over  the  southern  states, 
especially  Texas,  with  a  view  to  locating  Danish  colonies.  Mr. 
Clausen  was  made  chairman  of  the  delegation.  After  complet- 
ing his  task  he  went  to  New  York  city  and  then  visited  his 
parents  in  Virginia.  He  remained  in  the  latter  state  three 
months.  Then  he  took  a  trip  with  his  mother  to  AVa.shington, 
D.  C,  and  subsequently  returned  to  his  childhood  home.  At  the 
end  of  this  trip  he  had  a  call  from  Osage,  Mitchell  county,  to 
become  county  surveyor  of  that  county.  This  he  accepted  and 
held  the  position  nine  years.  In  1889  he  moved  to  Austin,  pur- 
chased two  lots  on  the  corner  of  Baldwin  and  Third  streets 
and  there  erected  a  home.  He  was  made  city  surveyor  of  Austin 
and  has  at  intervals  since  served  in  that  office,  occupying  the 
position  at  present.  He  has  also  served  as  county  surveyor. 
In  1892  he  sold  his  property  here  and  purchased  a  tract  of  tim- 
ber land  on  Puget  Soiind,  wjiich  he  still  owns.  On  ]\Iay  20,  1911, 
the  Austin  Humane  Society  was  organized  through  his  efforts 
and  he  was  made  its  president.  In  politics  he  is  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  prohibition.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Olaf  church  and 
was  choirmaster  of  that  congregation  for  many  years.  !Mr. 
Clausen  was  married  in  1886  by  his  father  at  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa, 
to  Minnie  Matheson,  who  died  February  1,  1890,  leaving  one  son, 


990  HISTOEY  OF  MOWER  COUNTY 

Clarence  L.,  who  is  now  in  the  office  of  his  uncle,  C.  W.  Clausen, 
at  Olympia,  AYash.  Mr.  Clausen  has  recently  been  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  National  Geographical  Society. 

Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen,  now  deceased,  the  pioneer  Lutheran 
preacher  of  Mower  county  and  vicinity,  was  born  in  Denmark, 
November  3,  1820,  and  there  received  his  education  and  was 
ordained  to  the  ministry.  There  he  was  married  to  Martha 
Rasmussen  and  together  they  came  to  America  in  1843.  She 
died  in  November,  1846,  leaving  one  son,  M.  N.  Clausen,  city 
engineer  of  Austin.  Rev.  Clausen  next  married  Bergetha  Peter- 
son, who  bore  him  four  sons :  C.  W.,  state  auditor  at  Olympia, 
Wash.;  L.  F.,  an  attorney  in  North  Dakota;  E.  E. ;  and  B.  A.,  a 
druggist  at  Seattle,  Wash.  Mrs.  Bergetha  Clausen  was  born 
May  29,  1819,  and  died  December  2,  1887.  On  coming  to  Amer- 
ica Rev.  Clausen  located  at  Muskeego,  Wis.,  and  began  his  pro- 
fessional career.  He  established  and  built  of  logs  the  first  Scan- 
dinavian church  there.  The  church  stood  until  about  five  years 
ago,  when  it  was  taken  down  and  removed  to  the  Augsburg 
Seminary  grounds,  midway  between  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis, 
and  preserved,  log  for  log,  as  at  first  constructed.  The  expense 
of  the  removal  was  borne  by  the  clergymen  of  the  United  Lu- 
theran congregations.  In  its  interior  is  a  life-sized  oil  painting 
of  Rev.  Clausen,  as  a  mark  of  appreciation  from  the  United 
Lutheran  Society,  showing  by  this  honor  their  gratefulness  for 
the  valuable  services  rendered  by  him  to  the  organization.  Mr. 
Clausen  preached  at'  Muskeego  only  a  short  period,  after  which 
he  removed  to  Rock  Prairie,  Wis.,  and  there  established  and 
built  another  church,  as  well  as  a  residence,  all  of  limestone. 
In  1852  he  went  to  Iowa  and  purchased  a  tract  of  government 
land  on  which  now  stands  the  village  of  St.  Ansgar.  In  1853 
he  returned  to  Rock  Prairie  and  moved  his  family  to  his  new 
location,  making  the  trip  by  ox  team.  He  established  his  new 
residence,  organized  a  congregation  and  became  its  preacher. 
Shortly  afterward  he  had  the  government  surveyor  plat  the 
townsite  of  St.  Ansgar  on  his  property.  He  immediately  erected 
himself  a  new  residence  on  the  townsite  and  was  the  prime 
mover  and  fountain  head  of  what  is  now  St.  Ansgar.  He  con- 
structed a  dam  across  the  Cedar  river,  biiilt  a  saw  mill,  sold 
lots  and  made  various  improvements.  In  1861  he  became  chap- 
lain of  the  Fifteenth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry  and  served 
until  he  received  a  partial  stroke  of  paralysis,  after  which  he 
was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  St.  Ansgar,  where 
he  resumed  his  professional  work.  In  1872  he  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia, thirty  miles  north  of  Richmond,  on  the  Rappahannock. 
After  recovering  his  health  he  came  back  in  1878  and  took  up 
his  home  in  Blooming  Prairie,  Minn.,  preaching  for  several  con- 


REV^  C.  L.  CLAUSEX. 


HISTOKY  OF  MOWKR  C'OUiNTY  991 

gregations.  About  1887  ho  roeoived  his  second  stroke  iiiid  re- 
signed. He  then  retired  and  took  up  his  home  in  Austin.  lie 
made  sevei-al  visits  to  his  sons  in  Washington  and  on  his  last 
trip  received  the  fatal  tliird  stroke,  which  caused  his  death  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1892.  He  was  brought  back  from  Wa.shington  to  Aus- 
tin for  interment.  Mr.  Clausen's  history  is  a  part  of  the  story 
of  the  growth  of  the  Lutheran  religion  in  America,  and  his  ca- 
reer is  told  in  the  sketches  of  the  various  Norwegian  churches 
of  the  coiuity  as  presented  in  this  present  work.  It  is  worthy 
of  note  that  just  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  a  controversy 
arose  in  the  Lutheran  Synod  as  to  the  right  of  slavery.  Rev. 
Clausen  held  that  it  was  wrong  according  to  the  Scriptures. 
]\Iany  other  clergymen  of  the  synod  held  that  slavery  w^as  right. 
This  caused  no  little  trouble  and  discord  in  the  congregation. 
In  1867  Rev.  Clausen  decided  to  take  a  trip  to  Christiana.  There 
he  consulted  two  of  the  leading  theologians  in  the  University 
of  Christiana  and  they  agreed  with  him  on  the  question  of 
slavery.  This  trip  Avas  partly  for  the  above  cause  and  partly 
for  the  purpose  of  visiting  his  old  home  and  friends.  The  gov- 
ernor of  Iowa,  hearing  of  his  intended  trip,  bestowed  upon  him 
the  honor  of  representing  that  state  at  the  Paris  Exposition  of 
1867.  The  portrait  of  Rev.  Clausen  which  appears  in  this  volume 
was  taken  on  his  native  island,  Aero,  in  Denmark,  at  forty-seven 
years  of  age. 

Erick  Hanson  is  one  of  the  modern  farmers  of  JMower  county. 
He  owns  a  fine  place  in  Marshall  township,  has  a  comfortal)le 
residence  siirrouuded  with  trees  and  shrubs,  and  a  suitable  com- 
plement of  barns  and  outbuildings.  He  was  born  in  Norway  in 
1871,  son  of  Hans  Hanson  and  Gertrude  Peterson,  his  wife,  who 
came  to  America  in  1873  and  in  due  time  purchased  eighty  acres 
in  section  25,  Marshall  township.  Erick,  who  was  brought  to 
this  country  at  the  age  of  two  years,  w^as  here  reared  to  man- 
hood, working  on  the  home  farm  and  attending  the  public  schools. 
AVhen  twenty  years  of  age  he  purchased  seventy-five  and  a  frac- 
tion acres  in  section  13,  Marshall  township,  and  to  this  he  has 
added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  192  and  a  fraction 
acres,  the  fraction  being  caused  by  the  fact  that  the  farm  is 
crossed  by  the  right  of  way  of  the  Chicago,  Mihvaukee  &  St. 
Paul.  IMr.  Hanson  has  recently  erected  a  large  house  and  some 
excellent  barns  equipped  with  a  windmill  and  gasoline  engine, 
as  well  as  with  a  fourteen-horsepower  steam  traction  engine, 
which  is  used  for  feed  grinding  and  various  other  work,  both 
for  himself  and  his  neigli])ors.  He  was  formerly  interested  in 
raising  grain,  l)ut  now  devotes  his  attention  largely  to  cattle 
for  beef  and  dniry  purposes,  his  favorite  breed  being  the  Aber- 
dccn-Arigus.  of  wliich  hr  lias  a  lin-d  (»f  some  fifty  or  sixty  pure 


992  HISTORY  OF  MOWP^R  COUNTY 

bloods.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  Lutheran  in  religion  and 
a  Eepublican  in  politics.  In  1894  he  married  Susie  Slindee, 
daughter  of  Ole  O.  Slindee,  of  Marshall  township.  This  union 
has  been  blessed  Avith  one  bright  son,  Irving,  who  is  making  an 
excellent  record  in  the  public  schools. 

William  FurloEg,  now  deceased,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Windom  township,  was  a  man  of  solid  worth  and  took  his  part 
in  the  development  of  the  country  in  the  pioneer  days.  He  was 
born  m  Tipperary,  Ireland,  January  6,  1798,  and  there  grew  to 
manhood,  devoting  his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits.  There  he 
was  also  married  to  Sarah  Carter,  who  was  a  native  of  the  same 
county.  In  1852  they  left  their  native  land  and  started  for 
America,  landing  in  New  York,  but  locating  at  once  in  Dela- 
ware county,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  remained  on  a  farm  two 
years.  In  1854  they  went  to  Galena,  111.,  where  they  rented  a 
farm  until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  they  came  to  Mower  county 
and  entered  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  8  in  what  is  now 
known  as  the  town  of  Windom.  Here  he  erected  a  log  house 
and  endured  at  first  all  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life. 
Gradually  he  improved  his  land  and  when  prosperity  warranted 
it,  erected  a  new  home  and  barns.  He  died  March  24,  1879, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  July  27,  1872.  They  were  the  parents 
of  seven  children :  Thomas,  Mary,  Patrick,  James,  William,  John 
J.  and  Ellen. 

Hon.  John  J.  Furlong.  John  J.  Furlong,  son  of  William  and 
Sarah  (Carter)  Furlong,  was  born  in  Tipperary  county,  Ireland, 
February  2,  1849,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1852. 
(See  life  of  William  Furlong.)  He  attended  the  public  school 
in  Austin,  and  like  all  the  boys  of  those  early  days,  spent  most  of 
his  vacation  and  spare  time  in  hard  work  on  the  farm.  May  25, 
1880,  he  was  married  to  Agnes  Ryan,  daughter  of  John  and 
Johannah  Ryan,  of  Albert  Lea.  She  died  October  23,  1897,  leav- 
ing four  children,  May  V.,  Loretta  D.,  William  A.  and  Charles, 
the  latter  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  There  are  few 
men  in  the  state  with  a  wider  acquaintanceship  than  Mr.  Fur- 
long. His  success  in  agriculture,  his  natural  aptitude  in  politics, 
his  genial  nature,  combined  with  hard  common  sense,  won  him 
friends  in  all  walks  of  life.  A  man  of  great  will  power  and  tire- 
less energy,  he  was  a  good  fighter  in  politics  and  a  good  loser 
when  the  battle  went  against  him,  which  was  seldom.  For  ten 
years  he  represented  his  district  in  the  legislature.  He  was  the 
state  treasurer  of  the  World's  Fair  Commission  in  1893.  His 
success  in  thoroughbred  stock  raising  won  him  prominent  posi- 
tions in  the  various  stock  breeders'  associations,  a  few  of  which 
we  mention:  President  of  the  Swine  Breeders'  Association  of 
Minnesota,    president    of   the    Minnesota    Live    Stock    Breeders' 


HON.  J.  J.  FURLONG. 


DAVID  H.  STIMSON. 


/ 


HISTOIJY  OF  MOWEif  COUNTY  993 

Association,  member  of  tlie  exeentive  hoard  of  tlie  Slieef)  Breed- 
ers' Association  of  ^Minnesota,  president  of  the  First  Congres- 
sional Live  Stock  Breeders'  Association,  president  of  tlie  Live 
Stock  Sanitary  Board  of  Minnesota.  He  has  also  taken  a  great 
interest  in  agricultural  fairs,  and  is  a  life  member  of  the  Mower 
County  Agricultural  Society,  of  which  he  was  president  for  fif- 
teen years.  He  has  been  connected  with  the  Minnesota  State 
Fair  Association  and  for  two  years  was  its  vice-president  and 
came  within  a  few  votes  of  being  elected  president  in  1910.  He 
is  now  president  of  the  Federation  of  County  Fairs  of  Minne- 
sota. Mr.  Furlong  is  a  strong  believer  in  mutual  insurance  and 
he  has  been  president  of  the  Mower  County  Farmers'  Mutual 
Fire  &  Lightning  Company  for  many  years.  This  company  ranks 
first  of  all  the  mutual  insurance  companies  of  the  state.  He  has 
also  been  vice-president  of  the  National  Association  of  Insur- 
ance Companies.  He  is  a  life  member  of  the  Minnesota  State 
Agricultural  Society  and  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  man- 
agers five  years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  State  Horticultural 
Society.  In  township  affairs  he  has  been  chairman  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  and  is  now  a  justice  of  the  peace.  AYhile  Mr.  Fur- 
long has  been  prominent  in  these  various  roles  of  life,  his  great- 
est work  for  Mower  county  was  on  his  320-acre  farm,  "Colum- 
bian" stock  farm,  which  is  located  three  and  one-half  miles  east 
of  Austin.  This  beautiful  and  well-kept  farm  won  the  $1,000 
prize  offered  by  James  J.  Hill  for  the  best  farm  in  the  First 
Congressional  district.  Mr.  Fiirlong  is  a  breeder  of  registered 
Shorthorn  cattle,  Cotswold  sheep,  Poland-China  swine  and  high- 
grade  Pereheron  horses.  Mr.  Furlong  is  past  exalted  ruler  of 
the  Austin  Lodge,  414,  B.  P.  0.  E..  a  member  of  the  Austin  Lodge, 
A.  0.  U.  W.,  Knights  of  Columbus,  St.  Augustine's  Abstinence 
Society  and  was  for  a  time  a  prominent  member  of  Austin  Lodge, 
I.  0.  O.  F.,  and  Austin  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  has  held 
township  offices  and  is  interested  in  all  movements  for  the  up- 
building of  MoAver  county  and  the  state  of  Minnesota;  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Catholic  Cemetery  Association,  which  perpetuates 
continual  care,  and  was  secretary  of  St.  Augustine's  parish  of 
Austin  for  a  good  many  years,  both  during  and  for  many  years 
after  its  organization. 

David  Hopkins  Stimson,  deceased,  was  born  in  Danby,  Vt., 
August  29,  1846,  son  of  William  and  Aurora  (Hopkins)  Stim- 
son, prominent  farmers  of  Bennington.  Vt.  The  father  was  one 
of  seven  sons  and  seven  daughters  and  the  motlier  was  one  of 
six  sons  and  six  daughters.  They,  however,  had  but  three  .sons, 
David,  ^Yiliam  and  Homer,  the  latter  two  of  whom  are  dead. 
David,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  education  in  Danby 
and  graduated  from  the  Manchester  college  at  Manchester,  Vt. 


€L( 


994  HISTOEYlUft'IOWER  COUNTY 

Subsequently  he  came  west  to  Chicago  and  engaged  in  the  car- 
penter business  until  1872,  when  he  came  to  Mower  county,  and 
after  locating  in  Austin,  engaged  in  contracting  for  a  period. 
Later  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  and  served  under  Sheriffs 
Hall  and  Corey.  Afterward  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and 
loan  business  until  1902,  when  he  was  made  superintendent  of 
the  Odd  Fellows'  Home  at  Northfield,  Minn.  There  he  removed 
his  family.  In  1905  he  took  his  family  to  the  Pacific  coast  and 
subsequentlj^  returned  to  Austin,  where  he  resumed  his  pre- 
vious business.  He  died  July  26,  1907.  Mr.  Stimson  was  inter- 
ested in  many  public  movements  and  among  his  offices  and  activ- 
ities may  be  mentioned  the  following:  In  the  Odd  FelloAvs  he 
passed  through  all  the  chairs  of  the  local  lodge,  was  state  repre- 
sentative to  the  national  grand  lodge  and  was  grand  master  of 
the  state  grand  lodge;  in  Oakwood  cemetery  affairs  he  served 
as  president  of  the  board  until  his  death  and  was  active  in  the 
movement  which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  the  chapel;  in  the 
Austin  Building  and  Loan  Association  he  was  an  active  worker 
and  for  several  years  an  officer;  in  the  county  fair  projects  he 
was  also  a  hard  worker  and  a  member  of  the  board ;  in  the  Aus- 
tin Dairy  Company  he  was  instrumental  in  the  organization  and 
was  treasurer  and  director  at  the  time  of  his  death.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  many  other  interests  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land 
in  Lansing  township,  near  Ramsey,  erected  a  home  and  build- 
ings thereon  and  kept  some  forty  head  of  cattle,  thus  conduct- 
ing a  dairy  farm  in  connection  Math  his  dairy  interests  in  Aus- 
tin. The  farm  is  now  rented.  Mr.  Stimson  also  owned  a  resi- 
dence at  310  Mankato  street,  Austin,  where  the  family  has  re- 
sided for  thirty-three  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  mar- 
ried, at  Chicago,  December  1,  1875,  to  Dora  E.  Jones,  born  Octo- 
ber 28,  1853,  at  Tryonville,  CraAvford  county,  Pennsylvania, 
daughter  of  Lyman  L.  and  Elizabeth  J.  (Hartwell)  Jones,  na- 
tives ,of  Chautauqua  county,  Ncav  York,  who  went  to  CraAvford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  about  1848  and  located  at  Tryonville,  Avhere 
jjyman  L.  engaged  as  a  hotel  proprietor.  In  1878  the  family 
went  to  Brookings,  Brookings  county.  South  Dakota,  and  there 
Lyman  L.  become  a  carpenter,  contractor  and  builder.  He  erected 
some  of  the  first  buildings  in  that  place.  After  several  years  he 
was  elected  judge  of  probate  and  served  in  that  office  until  ill 
health  caused  his  retirement.  He  died  in  Austin.  His  Avife 
died  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  Judge  and  Mrs.  Jones  had  four  chil- 
dren. Albert  is  dead.  Dora  E.  is  Mrs.  David  H.  Stimson,  of 
Austin.  Arthur  lives  in  Illinois.  Georgetta  is  Mrs.  F.  R.  Pres- 
ton, of  Minneapolis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stimson  had  three  children. 
Ora  L.  was  born  March  24,  1878,  and  died  November  23.  1893. 
Rayburn  L.  is  in  the  real  estate  business  Avith  E.  H.  Smith,  of 


t 

IIISTOIJV  OF  :\I(»\\KK  ('orX'I'V  !!!).■) 

Austin.  He  is  a  stockholder  and  directoi-  in  I  lie  Anstin  Dairy 
Company  and  lives  at  luniie.  rlessie  A..  Ixn-n  '\\;\y  !»,  1SS4,  is 
also  a  stockholder  in  the  Anstin  Dairy  ('()nii)any  and  also  lives 
at  home.  Since  her  hnsbaud's  death  I\lrs.  Stinison  has  been 
treasurer  of  the  Austin  Dairy  Company. 

Frank  Johnson,  of  IMarshall  township,  is  one  of  the  prominent 
Swedish-Americans  of  Mower  county  and  is  highly  regarded 
among  his  friends  and  neighbors.  He  has  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  township  and  educational  affairs  and  has  served  on  the 
town  board  for  ten  years  and  on  the  school  board  of  district 
82  for  fifteen  years,  his  services  in  both  capacities  meeting  with 
the  favor  and  approbation  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  was  born 
in  1842,  son  of  John  Daniel  Johnson,  and  came  from  Sweden  to 
the  United  States  in  1869,  first  finding  work  as  a  railroad  bridge 
carpenter,  in  which  work  he  was  engaged  for  thirty  years,  work- 
ing at  different  times  for  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul,  the 
Northern  Pacific,  the  Great  Northern  and  the  Canadian  Pacific. 
During  this  period  he  traveled  extensively,  saw  much  of  the  coun- 
try and  gained  a  wide  knowledge  of  men  and  events.  In  1893 
he  came  to  Mower  county  and  purchased  eighty  acres  in  section 
7,  ^Marshall  township,  where  he  now  has  240  acres.  ]\Ir.  Johnson 
has  brought  his  scientific  knowledge  and  long  experience  to  bear 
on  farm  problems  and  has  planned  and  erected  every  building 
on  the  place  himself.  He  farms  on  an  extensive  scale,  raises 
general  crops  and  makes  a  specialty  of  grain  raising  and  the 
breeding  of  Black  Polls.  In  1894  Mr.  Johnson  married  Mary 
Peterson,   a   native  of  Sweden,   and  they   have   three   children. 

A.  B.  Vaughan,  one  of  the  most  honored  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  ]Mower  county,  was  born  in  Clinton  county.  New  York,  June 
6,  1806.  He  received  a  good  education  and  took  up  the  profes- 
sion of  civil  engineering.  In  1843  he  moved  to  Kock  county, 
"Wisconsin,  and  there  practiced  his  profession  in  connection  Avith 
farming  until  1849,  when  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 'business, 
which  he  conducted  until  the  summer  of  1854,  when,  in  com- 
pany with  his  sons,  P.  D.  and  John  G.,  he  came  to  IMower  county. 
Here  they  took  a  claim,  hired  a  house  built  and  returned  to  AVis- 
consin  the  same  fall.  The  next  spring  he  returned  to  Mower  county 
with  his  family  of  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  brought  with 
him  from  "Wisconsin  his  stock  of  merchandise  and  after  reach- 
ing Mower  county,  erected  the  first  store  in  Austin,  engaging 
in  trade  with  his  oldest  son,  P.  D.  Vaughan.  ]\Ir.  "Vaughan  was 
the  first  postmaster  in  Austin,  keeping  the  office  in  his  store. 
In  1855  he  purchased  a  (luartcr  interest  in  the  towiisite  of  Aus- 
tin. In  the  fall  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  territorial  legis- 
lature as  the  first  representative  from  Mower  county,  but  was 
eheated  out  of  the  ojiiKjrtunity  of  serving  by  "W.  B.  ("ovell.  who 


996  HISTORY  OF  MOWER  COUXTY 

was  defeated  at  the  poUs,  but  who  filed  a  certifieate  of  election 
with  the  register  of  deeds  of  Houston  county.  lh\  Vaughan 
was  a  delegate  to  the  state  constitutional  convention  and  was 
also  the  first  judge  of  probate  in  this  county.  He  was  one  of 
the  charter  members  of  the  Austin  lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also 
attained  higher  IVlasonic  degrees.  He  was  also  a  justice  of  the 
peace  and  held  that  office  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  one  of  the  incorporators  and  directors  of  the 
Minnesota  Central  railroad,  by  the  failure  of  which  he  lost  heav- 
ily. He  was  prominently  connected  with  the  building  up  of  Aus- 
tin and  with  the  organization  of  the  county.  He  was  also  pro- 
prietor of  the  townsite  of  Lansing.  His  death,  October  3,  1876, 
was  sincerely  mourned.  His  wife,  Hepzibeth  Bean,  whom  he 
married  in  January,  1828,  was  born  in  Milton,  Vt.,  March  10, 
1805,  and  died  in  Lansing,  December  14,  1864. 

John  G.  Vaughan,  an  early  and  respected  pioneer  of  Mower 
county,  was  born  in  Saranac,  Clinton  county,  New  York,  May 
30,  1832,  second  son  of  A.  B.  Vaughan,  of  honored  memory. 
He  came  with  his  parents  to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  in  company  with  his  father  and  elder  brothei",  and 
took  a  claim,  returning  to  Wisconsin  the  same  fall.  In  the  spring 
of  1855  he  came  back  to  Mower  county,  bringing  teams  and  sup- 
plies. He  at  once  settled  on  his  claim  in  Lansing  township  and 
there  he  still  resides.  He  is  a  prominent  citizen  and  has  held 
various  offices.  He  was  married,  March  18,  1854,  to  Mary  R. 
Frost,  born  in  Vermont,  September  30,  1834.  To  this  union  eight 
children  were  born,  of  whom  six  are  living — Clara,  Burton  F., 
Harvey  A.,  George  E.,  Stanley  H.  and  Mary.  Clara  is  the  wife 
of  John  Beattie.  Burton  F.  married  Mary  Long.  Harvey  A.  mar- 
ried Gertie  Wheeler.  George  E.  married  Mary  Case.  Stanley 
II.  married  Mary  D.  Young,  and  they  have  three  children.  ]\Irs. 
Vaughan  died  October  6,  1902. 

J.  A.  Pinkava,  a  representative  citizen  of  Red  Rock  township, 
was  born  in  Bohemia,  March  6,  1863,  son  of  Joseph  and  Ann 
(Potochek)  Pinkava,  who  brought  him  to  America  in  1880  when 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  The  family  came  directly  to  Aus- 
tin and  the  men  of  the  family  worked  out  for  a  time.  In  1882 
Joseph  went  to  Winnipeg,  Canada,  and  a  year  later  started  fir- 
ing on  the  Canadian  Pacific.  Eight  months  after  this  he  went 
to  Calgary  with  a  view  of  taking  a  homestead,  but  not  liking  the 
locality,  he  went  to  northern  Minnesota.  In  1886  he  went  to 
Jlinneapolis  and  worked  in  a  sawmill  for  a  while,  after  which 
he  learned  the  molder's  trade.  In  1887  he  came  back  to  IMower 
county  and  helped  his  brother  pay  for  a  farm  he  had  purchased 
in  Red  Rock  township.  Then  he  bought  a  threshing  machine, 
the  first  in  Red  Rock  township,  and  followed  farming  and  thresh- 


HISTOEY  OF  iMOWEIf  COUNTY  <)'J7 

iug  with  Ernest  Sachese  for  throe  yciirs.  Tlicii  he  |.iirch;ised  his 
partner's  interest  and  conducted  tlie  Imsincss  iiloiic  two  years, 
subsequently  selling  to  his  brother,  James,  and  Edward  iMott.  In 
1890  he  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  20,  Red  Rock  township,  and  erected  a  new  home  and 
other  buildings.  He  has  also  acquired  forty  acres  in  an  adjoin- 
ing section  and  160  acres  in  section  31,  AVindom,  both  of  which 
he  conducts,  using  modern  methods  and  breeding  Durham  cattle 
and  Pereheron  horses.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  school  district 
68  for  several  years.  Mr.  Pinkava  is  a  man  of  sociable  disposi- 
tion and  has  allied  himself  with  the  Bohemian  Benevolent  So- 
ciety. The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married,  February  16,  1890, 
to  Anna  A.,  daughter  of  Vit  and  Sarah  Seifert,  a  family  which 
came  to  America  at  an  early  day.  In  the  Pinkava  home  are  five 
children:  Adolph,  William,  Joseph,  Arthur  and  Iva,  all  on  the 
home  farm. 

John  A.  Stephan,  banker,  mei-chant  and  postmaster  o£ 
Waltham,  was  born  at  Ottawa,  Waukesha  county,  AVisconsin, 
May  22,  1859.  son  of  William  and  Theresa  (Zimmerman  )  Stepluin, 
who  reared  him  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  the  meantime  atford- 
ing  him  the  means  of  obtaining  a  good  common  school  education. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  became  a  carpenter,  and  Avorked  at 
that  trade  in  Wisconsin  for  one  year,  after  wliicli  he  caiue  to 
AValtham  and  followed  the  same  trade  another  ycai-.  Tlien  he 
opened  up  a  general  store  in  a  building  which  he  liad  erected 
for  the  purpose,  the  first  goods  being  sold  over  tlic  counter 
September  26,  1885.  The  original  building  has  received  a  number 
of  additions,  and  the  business  has  prospered.  In  March,  1886, 
Mr.  Stephan  was  appointed  postmaster  at  AValtham,  a  position  he 
has  since  filled  with  honor  and  credit.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
has  not,  however,  confined  his  interests  to  his  store.  He  owns  a 
fine  240-acre  farm  in  the  township,  is  vice  president  of  the 
Waltham  State  Bank,  is  interested  in  the  telephone  business, 
and  Avas  one  of  the  organizers  and  is  still  a  stockholder  in  the 
Waltham  Co-operative  Cheese  Factory.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  at  the  incorporation  of  Waltham  village  was  named 
as  its  first  president,  a  position  he  held  for  several  terms.  He 
was  married  October  2,  1884,  to  Ada  Lurbey,  who  died  in  April, 
1900,  leaving  three  children:  Ethel  AI.,  Gladys  L.  and  B(>ulaii  M. 
Ethel  M.  was  born  June  22,  1888,  graduated  from  the  Austin  high 
scliool  and  is  now  assistant  in  the  postoffice  at  AValtham  and 
bookkeeper  for  her  father.  Gladys  L.  was  born  November  22, 
1893,  and  now  attends  the  Austin  high  school.  Beulah  M.  was 
born  December  26,  1897.  ]Mr.  Stephan  was  married  September 
22,  1903,  to  Lillian  Hayes.  Tii.-  fainily  faitii  is  that  of  tli.« 
Episcopal  church. 


99S  HISTOEY  OF  MOWEE  COUNTY 

William  Stephan  was  born  in  Germany  and  married  Theresa 
Zimmerman.  They  came  to  America  about  1847,  and  lived  in 
New  York  city  a  year.  In  1848  they  came  west  to  Wisconsin, 
and  located  in  Ottawa  township,  Waukesha  county,  and  engaged 
in  farming.  William  Stephan  died  about  1890  and  his  wife  still 
lives  on  the  old  homestead  at  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-four 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children :  William  is  dead ; 
Katie  is  now  Mrs.  Gust  Baach,  of  Blooming  Prairie;  John  A. 
lives  in  AVaUham ;  Lena  is  Mrs.  Philip  Kramer,  of  Kenyon,  ^linu. ; 
Margaret  is  Mrs.  Fred  Baach,  of  Austin ;  Fred  lives  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Waukesha  county,  AVisconsin ;  Annie  is  Mrs.  Elliott 
Cory,  of  Elkhorn,  AVis.,  and  iSarah  is  Airs.  Fred  Seifert,  of  Staub- 
vilie,  N.  D. 

Charles  L.  Schwartz,  one  of  the  efficient  county  commissioners 
of  Alower  county,  has  occupied  a  number  of  important  positions, 
having  served  as  a  township  supervisor,  clerk  and  chairman  of 
his  school  district  many  years,  and  also  township  assessor  for 
some  years.  He  was  born  in  Ohio,  February  7,  1851,  son  of  John 
C.  and  Caroline  (Schmidt)  Schwartz,  and  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Sheboygan  county,  where  he  received  his  common 
school  education  and  grew  to  manhood.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  by  securing  employment  in  a 
mineral  water  bottling  plant  in  Eochester,  Alinn.  Later  he  took 
up  farming,  and  located  in  Sargent,  in  1877,  where  he  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  from  1877  to  1907,  this  span  of  years  form- 
ing a  period  of  hard  work,  successful  labor  and  efficient  service. 
In  1907  he  gave  up  farm  life  and  moved  to  the  village,  where  he 
was  saddened  the  following  year  by  the  loss  of  his  wife.  He  was 
elected  to  his  present  position  in  1908.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
married  Otellea  LaBudde,  born  in  Gerniany  of  French  descent. 
This  union  has  resulted  in  four  children :  Antonie,  wife  of  Frank 
I\Iartin,  of  Sargeant  township ;  Ferdinand  C,  Cora  A.  C,  Oscar  A. 
and  Eeinhold  F.  Cora  is  the  wife  of  John  F.  Ziemer,  and  they 
have  four  children:  Raymond,  Florence,  Harold  and  Lynn. 
Ferdinand  C,  who  is  a  rural  mail  carrier,  married  Kate  Wiede- 
man.  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Katharine  (AVegmann)  AViedeman, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Esther  and  Mildred  H.  Oscar  A. 
married  Anna  Hanson,  and  they  have  one  child,  Fern.  Eeinliold 
F.  married  Bertha  Tauta,  and  they  have  one  child,  Evelyn. 

John  C.  Schwartz,  father  of  Charles  L.  Schwartz,  was  a  niill- 
v/i'ight  by  trade,  a  native  of  Germany.  He  came  to  America  in 
18-17,  lived  in  Ohio  seven  years,  then  resided  some  time  at  She- 
boygan, Wis.,  and  about  1873  located  in  Rochester,  Alinn.,  where 
he  died  in  1879,  his  wife  passing  away  a  year  later. 


INDEX 


Adums,  William  T.,  504. 
Adaiiis,  Gorilou   C,   &25. 
Affeldt.  (,'.  A..  746. 
Aldal,  L.  O..  59(5. 
Aldal,    Torkal   Olsoti,   5915. 
Allen.  Artliiu-    W.,    964. 
Allen.  G.    H.,   967. 
Allen,  Oi-lenzev,   9S1. 
Allen,  W.   C,   766. 
Allrick,  Kniite  A.,  596. 
Alrifk,  Andrew  A.,  560. 
Alrifk,  Eric-k,    560. 
Ames,  Ezra  D.,  930. 
Ames,  H.  A.,   789. 
Ames,  Wilber  D.,  929. 
Ames,  Zalmon,  789. 
Anderson,  Andrew,  597. 
Anderson,  Andrew  H.,  559. 
Anderson,  Andrew  B.,  788. 
Anderson,  Arne.  906. 
Anderson.  Borgen,  942. 
Anderson,  Chris,   789. 
Anderson.  Geo.  E.,  923. 
Anderson,  H.  L.,   758. 
Anderson,  J.  H.,  786. 
Anderson.  John  H.,   971. 
Anderson.  J.  P.,  907. 
Anderson,  Ole  G.,  955. 
Anderson,  Kalph    A.,   560. 
Anderson.  Robert  A.,  788. 
Anderson.  Sven,   563. 
Asper,  Anton  B.,  561. 
Anltfather.  David,    559. 
Anltfather,  James  H.,  558 
Austenson,  Gunder,  597. 
Austenson,  Theadore,   597. 
Averv.  Alonzo,    905. 
Averv,  H.  A..  904. 
Axnas.  L.  O.,  864. 

Bacon.  Amerieus   T.,  586. 
Baglev,  Henrv,   590. 
BagleV,  Eobei-t,  589. 
Bairdj  George,  980. 
Baird,  G.  Fred,  971. 
Baird,  Lyman  D..  982. 
Baldner.  Fred,   588. 
Baldner,  Philip,  588. 
Banfield,  Herbert  L.,  964. 
Banfield,  X.  F.,  902. 
Barnitz,  Charles,  626. 
Barnitz,  Robert  A.,  626. 
Basford,  H.  O.,   867. 
Bassett,  Edward,   987. 
Bassett,  George  W.,  980. 
Bassler,  William   D.,   972. 
Baudler  Brothers,  627. 
Baiidler,  William,   627. 
Beach,  Alauson,  586. 


Hcadi,  Frank   .M.,  585. 
Beach,  Henry,  958. 
Beach,  John,   585. 
Beach,  Wilson,   630. 
Beadell,  Alvah  E.,  626. 
Heattie.  Thomas,    838. 
Beck,  J.  M.,  789. 
Bclden,  Rev.  C.  D.,  976. 
Bell,  Alexander,   765. 
Bell,  Charles,   945. 
Bell,  ('.  P.,  791. 
Bemis,  Edwin  T.,   587. 
Bemis,  Oliver  J.,  587. 
Beneke,  Burr,  813. 
Beneke,  Henry,  854. 
Benson,  P.  A.,  753. 
Benson,  Hans,  629. 
Benson,  Ole,  629. 
Benton,  George  W.,  628. 
Berg,  George,  944. 
Bergene,  O.  A.,  767. 
Best,  Philip  H.,  630. 
Bevier,  Franklin,   581. 
Bevier,  .Joseph  S.,  580. 
Bhend,  Adolph,   752. 
Billington,  Lorenzo   D.,   655. 
Bingham,  W.  H.,  757. 
Bishop,  Thomas  J.,  589. 
Bither,  H.  IL,  792. 
Blackmer,  John  E.,  Sr.,  584. 
Blaekmer,  John   R.,  Jr.,  584. 
Blom,  J.  O.,  792. 
Boelk,  Herman,  855. 
Boen,  A.   T.,  762. 
Boen,  John,  589. 
Bohn,  S.  T.,  761. 
Bohn.  T.  S.,  760. 
Bonnallie,  William,  590. 
Boody,  Herbert  W.,  629. 
Boostrom,  C.  R.,  780. 
Bosworth,  Daniel,   953. 
Bosworth,  Edward  S.,  953. 
Bowers,  Jacob  S.,  914. 
Bowers,  Merrill,  590. 
Bovd,  R.  A.,  790. 
Bovd,  E.  M..  790. 
Bover.  Anson.  839. 
Tln'idl,'v,  Harry,   792. 
I '.lilt  1,1.1,  Albert,  856. 
i;i:,iiiid,  Ole  C.  921. 
Hnmks,  Riley.  644. 
Brown,  Andrew  D.,  963. 
Brown,  Asa,   922. 
Brown,  Charles  B.,  923. 
Brown,  Hosnier  A.,  564. 
Brown,  William,  865. 
Brownell.J.  R.,   866. 
Browning,  A.    R.,   854. 
Brownlow,  Charles,   924. 


1000 


INDEX- 


Burnham,  George  S.,  587. 
Bushman,  Barney,  790. 
Bussell,    C.    T.,    867. 

Cafourek,  J.  V.,  857. 
Cahill,  Thomas,   793. 
Callinan,  Frank  M.,  632. 
Campbell,  George   N.,   604. 
Campbell,  Alex.  S.,  561. 
Campbell.  Mrs.  J.  W.,  604. 
Carey,  Hubbard,  757. 
Carmiehael,  R.   A.,   603. 
Carll,  Benjamin,   599. 
Carll,  Benjamin  M.,  599. 
Carll,  B.  F.,   563. 
Carll,  Freeman  A.,  580. 
Carll,  Joseph  D.,  594. 
Carll,  E.  A.,  598. 
Carll,  Samuel,  563. 
Carlson,  Carl  A.,  605. 
Carlson,  C.  A.,  856. 
Carr,  Patrick  H.,  601. 
Carroll,  Michael,  606. 
Carter,  John  A.,  601. 
Carter,  Luman  D.,  600. 
Catherwood,  W.   M.,  858. 
Chaffee,  John   E.,   957. 
Chandler,  George,   598. 
Chandler,  Stephen,  870. 
Chandler,  Welcome,  598. 
Chapman,  L.  S.,  813. 
Chase,  I.  P.,  816. 
Chrest,  H.   M.,  910. 
Christenson,  Peter,   868. 
Christenson,  Sven,  631. 
Christiansen,  Bennett,  605. 
Christianson,  I.  B-,  605. 
Christie,  William,   944. 
Church,  G.  E.,  751. 
Church,  L.    G.,    859. 
Clagett,  Edward  D.,  603. 
Clausen,  C.   L.,    990. 
Clausen,  M.  N.,  989. 
Clav,  William  A.,  583. 
Clav,  William  F.,  584. 
Clayton,  Charles,    769. 
Clayton,  W.  Z.,  769. 
Coats,  C.  H.,   777. 
Cobb,  W.   F.,  577. 
Colby,  C.  M.,  859. 
Collins,  Eobert,  607. 
Colman,  Decatur  B.,  925. 
Conklin,  F.   M.,  858. 
Cook,  Charles  F.,  581. 
Cook,  Stephen,  981. 
Cook,  J.   F.,    816. 
Cooper,  Eobert,   760. 
Cooper,  William,   868. 
Cooper,  William,  Jr.,  868. 
Corcoran,  M.  H.,  764. 
Corcoran,  Mark,  764. 
Cornelius,  W.  F.,  632. 
Cotter,  John,   858. 
Crane,  F.  I.,  815. 
Crane,  Ealph   E.,   970. 
Crane,  Ealph  P.,  569. 
Cress,  Nicholas,  607. 
Cressy,  Alfred,   982. 
Cronan,  H.  P.,  793. 


Cronan,  Patrick,  606. 
Cronan,  Thomas,  606. 
Cronon,  .James,   605. 
Cronon,  Frank  D.,  605. 
Cummings,  T.  F.,  602. 
Cutter,  F.  W.,  857. 
Cutter,  William,  856. 

Dahal,  H.  G.,  795. 
Dahle,  Swend  K.,  612. 
Dahle,  N.  K.,  612. 
Dahmen,  Emil,  794. 
Daily,  G.  I.,  909. 
Daily,  W.  E.,  908. 
Daily,  Z.  B.,  909. 
Dalen,  Allen  G.,  956. 
Dawes,  F.  P.,  870. 
Dean,  Warren  H.,  612. 
Dean,  Warren  H.,  611. 
Decker,  Chester  H.,  558. 
Decker,  Jacob  S.,  557. 
Deming,  Henry  F.,  610. 
Dennis,  E.  E.,  634. 
Dennis,  Henry,   607. 
Dennis,  Isaac,  634. 
Dennis,  Sylvester  A.,  633. 
Dennis,  William  P.,  633. 
Dettloff,  August,  Sr.,  767. 
Detwiler,  George  D..  610. 
Detwiler,  John   E.,   610. 
Dibble,  C.    B.,    794. 
Dick,  Eobert,   782. 
Dickens,  Colman  E.,  582. 
Dickens,  Eobert,  582. 
Dock,  Peter   P.,  634. 
Dorr,  E.  C,  912. 
Dorr,  E.  W.,   912. 
Dovcnberg,  Andrew,  609. 
Downey,  Cornelius,  613. 
Dufty,  F.  M.,  562. 
Dugan,  Thomas,  608. 
Duggan,  Daniel,  914. 
Dunham,  J.  B.,  869. 

Eagen,  John,   613. 
Eastman,  George  W.,  636. 
Eckstein,  J.   H.,   817. 
Edwards,  E.  E.,   786. 
Eggen,  .Johannes  M.,  637. 
Eggen,  L.    M.,    036. 
Egtvet,  Lars  P.,  614. 
Ehmke,  T.  C.  F.,  860. 
Ellingson,  I^ars,  777. 
Elliott,  F.  T.,  871. 
Elliott,  P.  T.,  870. 
Ellis,  Allen  V.,  926. 
Elmer,  A.  M.,  614. 
Elmer,  J.  P.,  615. 
Elward,  Edward  H.,  615. 
Emmons,  Clarence  M.,  635. 
Emigh,  Elgin,    765. 
Emigh,  Wellington,  765. 
Engelsen,  P.  J.,  776. 
Englesen,  S.  B.,  750. 
Englesen,  Soren,  750. 
Erickson,  Eriek  O.,  956. 
Erickson,  Edward,  956. 
Ericksen,  Jacob,  911. 
Evenson,  E.  S.,  795. 
Every,  Isaac  H.,  916. 


INDEX 


1001 


Fabor,  Cliarlcs,  S60. 
Fairbanks,  A.   P.,    796. 
Fairbanks,  AIdiizo,  613. 
Fairbanks,  C.    E.,   817. 
Fairbanks,  Caswell,  871. 
Fairbanks,  Guy  L.,  617. 
Fairbanks,  Henry  D.,  617. 
Fairbanks,  John,   638. 
Fairbanks,  John  F.,  615. 
Fairbanks,  L.  B.,   871. 
Fardahl,  John  J.,  946. 
Forthun,  Samuel  O.,  979. 
Fek-h,  C.   J.,   893. 
Field,  F.  J.,  582. 
Finhart,  Ole,  Jr.,  840. 
Fiseh,  M.  S.,  618. 
Fitzsimnions,  Patrick,  671. 
Flikki,  C.  J.,   763. 
Flemming,  INIatt,    620. 
Flenmiing,   Matt,   Sr.,   620. 
Foster,  Robert  M.,  616. 
Fowler,  William,    619. 
Fowler,  William  M.,  619. 
Frank,  John,   744. 
Frank,  William  M.,  583. 
Franklin,  George  A.,  965. 
Friend,  Philip   H.,   617. 
Frazer,  William  A.,  615. 
Furlong,  John  J.,  992. 
Furlong,  William,  992. 
Furtney,  J.  H.,  796. 
Furtney,  J.   S.,   796. 

Galloway,  Albert,  638. 
Galloway,  John  E.,  640. 
Garbish,  F.   C.   749. 
Gee,  J.  E.,  875. 
Gekler,  David,  934. 
Gemmel,  Andrew,  727. 
George,  A.,  623. 
Geraghtv,  Patrick,    872. 
Gilbertsbn,  G.  J.,  911. 
Gilbertson,  John  J.,  620. 
Gillam,  Clarence  C,  624. 
Gillett,  L.   C,    797. 
Gilligan,  John.  797. 
Gilligan,  Patrick,  797. 
Gilmore,  W.  V.,  621. 
Gjornes,  John.    861. 
Goebel.  Edward,   Jr.,    796. 
Goetsch.  Sam  IX,  624. 
Goodsell,  W.   H.,   782. 
Gooilsell,  Xaaman,  782. 
Goodwin,  Xels  K.,  640. 
Goulden,  Thomas,   772. 
Goulden,  Michael,  772. 
Graves,  J.   B.,   623. 
Green,  T.  S.,  787. 
Greening,  E.    F.,   874. 
Greening.  C.  F.,  873. 
Greenman.  John  M..  578. 
Gregson,  Matthew,  579. 
Gregson,  Wallace,  580. 
Griffith.  Luther  N.,  968. 
Grimes.  T.  J.,  873. 
Grimm  Brothers,  756. 
Grimm,  C.  A.,  875. 
Grimm.  Henry,   861. 
Grimm.  Hcnrv,  755. 


Ginnshaw.  Goorge  W.,  622. 
Cue,    Moses   J).,   640. 
(iuiinicy,  Jeremiah,   798. 
(iiiinc.v',  Edward   J.,  625. 
(iuiiiey,  Daniel,   625. 
(iuiney,  John,    621. 
Gurvin,  Edward,  798. 
Gurvin,  Peter,  798. 
Guy,  F.  M.,  759. 
(iuy,  James,  759. 
(iuy,  Jonathan,   759. 

Hadland,  G.  H.,  753. 
Hagen,  H.  T.,  862. 
Hagan,  Frank,  642. 
I  lagan,  Joseph,  642. 
Hall,   Reuben    O.,   570. 
Ilanililoton,  S.   P.,  819. 
Hamlirecht,  Conrad,  774. 
Ila.iilirecht,  F.    E.,   775. 
Hanii.Kind,  H.   S.,   973. 
Haney,  Frank,    576. 
Haney,  Jonas,  576. 
Hansen,  Anton,  879. 
Hansen,  Hans  J.,  966. 
Hanson,  Erick,  991. 
Hanson,  G.  L.,  862. 
Hanson,  Peter,   642. 
Harden,  Charles  S.,  593. 
Harden,  Warren  DeW.,  593. 
Harden,  George  W.  W.,  593. 
Harrison.  Stephen,   911. 
Hart,  Eugene  V.,  644. 
Hart,  Joel  A.,  56S. 
Hart,  Milan  J.,  575. 
Hart,  Silas  B.,  641. 
Haugen,  Filing,  884. 
Hawkins,  John  C,  969. 
Hawlev,  Lvman,    779. 
Hayes,  A." J.,  903. 
Hayes,  Went  worth,    903. 
Heggc,  Christian   A.,  566. 
Hegge,  Olav  H.,  566. 
Hegg,  O.  X.,  763. 
Hegge,  O.  K.,  775. 
Hcnslin,  Aaron  E.,  573. 
Henslin,  I'rederic,   573. 
Hergerty,  T.     M.,    913. 
ITrrgrrty,  William,   913. 
Ilii/.ny,  (ieorge  H.,  955. 
Il.ssj,  r.   Morris  E.,  985. 
H.ydt,  Philipp,  818. 
Ilickok,  Alden  A.,  567. 
Hickok,  John  H.,  567. 
Higbie,  C.  J.,  876. 
Higbie,   F.  M.,  875. 
Ililkcr.  Benjamin,    570. 
Hill.    Kdmonil.  862. 
Hill,   F.  L.,  906. 
Hill,  ().  J.,  .569. 
nines,  Thomas  W.,  643. 
Hirsh.  George,    568. 
H(dian,   Patrick.  574. 
Ilobson,  Andrew  T..  571. 
Holison.  Robert,    572. 
Hoff.  J.  B..  768. 
Hollister,  Abram,   572. 
Hollister,  William  L.,  565. 
Hopkin,   Ezra,  771. 


lOOS 


INDEX 


Hoppin,  G.   E.,   877. 
Hoppin,  Kieliard,  878. 
Hoppin,  W.  R.,   877. 
Hoppin,  W.   P.,  877. 
Hormel,  G.  A.,   814. 
Hotson,  Atkins,   574. 
Hotson,  Thomas,  574. 
Hotson,  Thomas  A.,  915. 
Hougestueu,  Knud  Nelson,  984. 
Hovda,  Christian  E.,  595. 
Hovda,  Hermon  0.,  938. 
Hovda,  Ingebret,   595. 
Hovda,  J.  E.,  879. 
Hovda,  Oscar  H.,   938. 
Howard,  Addison,  918. 
Howard,  George,  917. 
Howe,  Isaac  N.,  643. 
Howe,  William  M.,  578. 
Hubbard,  H.  H.,  841. 
Huber,  J.  M.,  748. 
Hukee,  .John  L.,  592. 
Hunt,  E.  F.,  818. 
Huntley,  O.  A.,  769. 
Huntley,  P.  F.,  828. 
Huntley,  O.   T.,  827. 
Huseby,  Arne  A.,  591. 
Hynie,  William  M.,  575. 

lorms,  Thomas  D.,  647. 

Jacobs,  Henry,   843. 
Jacobson,  Jacob,  648. 
Jaeobson,  Knudt,  649. 
Jensen,  Henry  L.,  647. 
Jensen,  Jens  A.,  649. 
.Jensan,  P.  W.,  752. 
Johnson,  A.  A.,  880. 
Johnson,  C.   E.,  863. 
Johnson,  C.  H.,  844. 
Johnson,  Fi'ank,  995. 
Johnson,  George,  646. 
Johnson,  George,  648. 
Johnson,  H.  P.,  768. 
Johnson,  Iver,  762. 
Johnson,  John,  756. 
Johnson,  John,   842. 
Johnson,  J.   P.,  820. 
Johnson,  J.  W.,   842. 
Johnson,  J.  W.,  880. 
Johnson,  John  O.,  646. 
Johnson,  John  E.,  647. 
Johnson,  J.   T.,   754. 
Johnson,  J.  J.,  756. 
Johnson,  Martin   B.,  915. 
Johnson,  Nathaniel  T.,  645. 
Johnson,  Eobert  L.,  644. 
Johnson,  Seymour,    899. 
Jordan,  W.   F.,   843. 
Joyce,  James,  943. 
Julson,  Herman  T.,  916. 
Julsen,  Nels,  956. 
Julson,  Ulrick,    916. 


Kearns,  Granville,    821. 
Keefe,  Albert,    820. 
Keefe,  J.   T.,  820. 
Keenan,  James,   799. 
Keenan,  Joseph,  653. 


Keith,  Paul  C,   924. 
Kellogg,  A.  G.,  651. 
Kezar,  A.  T.,  800. 
Kezar,  H.  F.,  799. 
Kimball,  Francis  W.,   653. 
Kinsman,  Ai  N.,  652. 
Kinsman,  C.  C,  652. 
Kirkland,  Leander.   821. 
Klemestad,  Ole,  650. 
Knight,  Albert,    655. 
Kuutson,  S.   S.,   776. 
Kornberg.  John  J.,  652. 
Kough,  Thomas,   783. 
Kramer,  Jacob,  656. 
Kramer,  Theadore  H.,  656. 
Krause,  J.  F.,   881. 
Krebsbaeh,  John  H.,  654. 
Krebsbach,  John  P.,  656. 
Krebsbaeh,  Mathias,  654. 
Krebsbaeh,  Michael,  654. 
Kuchenbecker,  William,   800. 
Kuhn,  George,  939. 

La  Bar,  O.    C,    779. 
Lacy,  John  S.,  576. 
Lambert.  W.  P.,  657. 
Lambert,  O.  D..  802. 
Lang.  Henry,  657. 
Larrabee,  J.  M.,  905. 
Larson,  Albert  G.,  947. 
Larson,  Arthur,   666. 
Larsen,  Emil,  844. 
Larson,  George,   800. 
Larson,  Jens,  661. 
Larson,  Kanute,  663. 
Lausen,  Peter,    927. 
Lawrence,  W.  H.,   664. 
Leek,  Clifeord  C.,  658. 
Lestrud,  Ole  K.,  665. 
Lewis,  A.  F.,   747. 
Lewis,  Caleb,  954. 
Lewis,  H.  A.,  664. 
Lewis,  Lee,  663. 
Lewison,  Lewis,  666. 
Lewis,  William,   802. 
Lewis,  W.  P.,  801. 
Lightley,  Henry  W.,  658. 
Lindsle'y,  Abitah  B.  M.,  665. 
Lockwood,  Henry  J.,  Sr.,  920. 
Loekwood,  Henry  J.,  Jr.,  920. 
Lockwood,  William   D.,   664. 
Logne,  William,  801. 
Lokke,  Martin,   883. 
Lokke,  T.  M.,  840. 
Lott,  Abraham  S.,  660. 
Lott,  Colbert  H.,  660. 
Loucks,  G.  B.,  881. 
Lovell,  Arthur  B.,  662. 
Lovell,  B.  W.,  662. 
Lund,  O.  T.,  661. 
Lybeek,  Andrew,  883. 
Lyman,  George  A.,  919. 
Lyons,  Harcar,   822. 

McBride.,  John,   803. 
MeCormick,  James  D.,  672. 
McCulloeh,  Frank  H.,  669. 
McEldoon,  W.  J.,  676. 
McFarland,  William,   947. 


INDEX 


1003 


McGowii,  M.  J.,  928. 
Mclntyre,  Harry   iNl.,  97o. 
McKee,  E.  F.,  804. 
McKee,  H.   G.,   804. 
MeKee,  D.  A.,  672. 
McKee,  James,  672. 
McNally,  Arthur,   883. 
Magee,  James,  931. 
Magee,  John,  932. 
Mahoney,  Andrew,  90.5. 
Mahoney,  Gilbert,  906. 
Mahoney,  Jolin,   918. 
Malcombson,  G.  J.,  846. 
Markhani,  Edgar  J.,  672. 
Marsh,  E.   \V.,   803. 
Martin,  A.  P.,  845. 
Martin,  Jacob,    822. 
Martin,  Philip,  674. 
Mason,  Joseph  B.,  922. 
Mason,  J.    M.,    936. 
Mattice,  Albert  F.,  667. 
Mathieson,  John,    667. 
Matter,  M.  F.,  823. 
Matter,  Michael,  823. 
Maxfield,  J.  M.,  805. 
Maxfield,  Joseph,  805. 
Maxfield,  Bichard  P.,  955. 
Mayer,  Joseph,   669. 
Meigaarden.  C.  H.,  803. 
Miekelsen.  Xels,  802. 
Milanu,  N.   T.,   755. 
Milius,  F.  C,  785. 
Miller,  John,  943. 
Miller,  William  H.,  668. 
Mills,  D.  L.,  822. 
Mills,  Hugh   B.,  670. 
Mills,  Hugh  D.,  670. 
Mitchell,  Ralph  S.,  674. 
Mitchell.  Joseph   L.,   675. 
Mitchell,  Lvnds   S.,   671. 
Mitchell,  J.  A..  671. 
Moonan,  Andrew,   669. 
Morse,  Elihue,    931. 
Morse,  Milton  A.,  675. 
Morse,  Samuel  E.,  930. 
Morstad,  T.  G.,  846. 
Mott,  Charles   W.,   941. 
Mott,  Lorenzo,  673. 
Mulbrad,  August,  669. 
Myhre,  Oiaf  Carl,   928. 

Nagele,  Jacob,    772. 
Neller,  John  L.,  932. 
Nelson,  Nels,  846. 
Nelson,  Christ,   941. 
Nelson,  Theodore  E.,   676. 
Nevs,  Mike,  677. 
Nicholaisen,   Nicholai,   978. 
Nichols,  G.  B.,   805. 
Nichols,  O.   W.,  824. 
Nicholsen,  Nicholas,  676. 
Nicholsen,  .Jacob   N.,   978. 
Nichol.sen.  Nicholi,    805. 
Nicolay,  George,   773. 
Nissen,  H.  C,  883. 
Nolan,  W.  A.,  885. 
Norris,  J.  E.,  806. 
Norris,  John,  806. 
Noyes,  Robert  S.,  677. 


O'Mairnn.  Henry,   847. 
Od.lrii.   Halvor,   680. 
Odd.'ii,  Ole   T.,   679. 
Olsen,  John,   677. 
Olson,  Abe,  806. 
OUon,  Andrew  M.,  679. 
(lis,, II,   Anfend,   807. 
Olsnii.  C.    K.,   847. 
OlsuM,  .lohn    n.,  678. 
Olsdii.   ThonKis.    93S. 


Ostcgaanl.  Knut    K.,   678. 
Ousley,  Manley,  824. 

Paape,  Albert,  848. 
Pace,  Charles  M.,  933. 
Pace,  William   G.,  933. 
Pace,  William  M.,  933. 
Padden,   Ira,    683. 
Paddeu,  Ira,  Sr.,  683. 
Page,  Alfred  C,  688. 
Page.  Sherman,   960. 
Palmer.  Charles  S.,  690. 
Palmer.  Joseph,   807. 
Palmer,  H.  G.,  807. 
Palmer.  W.   H.,   687. 
Parmenter,   Mason  J.,  971. 
Patterson,  William   W.,   97 
Peachev,  Charles,     681. 
Pearce,"  George  D.,  689. 
Pearce,  Daniel  G.,  690. 
Peterson,  Henry   N.,   686. 
Peirson,  F.   M.^  886. 
Peirsou,  Homer  F.,  687. 
Pedersou,  Martin,  689. 
Peterson,  Helge  A.,   680. 
Peterson,  James,  685. 
Peterson.  P.  E.,  884. 
Peterson,  Peter,  688. 
Peterson,  Peter   G.,   682. 
Peterson.  P.  J.,   770. 
Peterson,  John,   692. 
Pick,  George,  680. 
Pike,  Isiah  N.,  684. 
Pike,  Frank  H.,  683. 
Pinkaya.  J.  A.,  996. 
Pitcher.  Charles  E.,  686. 
Pitts,  Gideon  S.,  691. 
PhiiM.  Aaron.   691. 
Plum,  .lames  M..  690. 
Pollanl.  Charles    1).,    945. 
Pollard.   Kilward  C.,  945. 
Porter,  Andrew  J.,  685. 
Porter,  Willard  K.,  684. 
Prescott.  Ralph,  938. 
Price,  Edwin,  948. 
Prosser,  W.  G.,  840. 
Prosser,  L.  W.,  839. 

Quackenbush,  S.  L.,  934. 
Quale.  O.   A.,   7.54. 
Quimby,  Leland  L.,  692. 

Kay,  F.  G.,  701. 
Rav,  Isaac   M.,   702. 
Raiiilly.  John,  962. 
RahillV,  John  H.,  963. 
Rebne.  A.  K.,  751. 


1004 


IXDEX 


Keding.  John,  988. 
Reed,  Frank  H.,  934. 
Reed,  G.   W.,   886. 
Reinartz,  Joseph,    848. 
Revord,  John  B.,  694. 
Revord,   Thomas   A.,   693. 
Reynolds,  Perry  L.,  696. 
Rhoades,  Orasnius  D.,  702. 
Rhoades,  Oscar  J.,   703. 
Rice,  C.    L.,    741. 
Rice,  Charles  M.,  699. 
Rice,  S.  W.,  741. 
Richards,  Richard  R.,  698. 
Richards,  Robert  O.,  697. 
Richardson,  Alfred,  870. 
Roberts,  J.  R.,  745. 
Roberts,  Henry,  698. 
Robertson,  Burton  J.,  695. 
Robertson,  George,   609. 
Robertson,  George,  694. 
Robertson,  John,  694. 
Robinson,  John  E.,  696. 
Roble,  T.   N.,  695. 
Roehford,  Thomas,   700. 
Roe,  Axel,    785. 
Roe,  Heman  B.,  692. 
Roe,  Orson,  693. 
Rogers,  Caleb   E.,   699. 
Rogers,  G.  M.  F.,  700. 
Rogers,  James  Z.,  699. 
Rogers,  William  M.,  700. 
Rollings,  Reuben,   703. 
Rongley,  John  H.,  943. 
Roy,  Charles  A.,  949. 
Rudlong,  Knute,  704. 
Rudlong,  Engbret,  785. 
Rudolph,  Hans,  760. 
Rugg,  Jay  J-,  698. 
Rugg,  William   A.,   703. 
Rutherford,  William,   738. 

St.  Ledger,  Herbert,    708. 
St.  Ledger,  Daniel,  708. 
Sanborn,  A.  W.,  887. 
Sanborn,  C.  W.,  888. 
Sanborn,  D.   C,  896. 
Sanborn,  Stephen,    890. 
Sanborn,  S.   J.,   888. 
Sanders,  Theodore,   825. 
Sargeant,  Harry  N.,  950. 
Sargeant,  Harry  A.,  951. 
Sargeant,  Nathaniel,    951. 
Sasse,  Frank  G.,  710. 
Savage,  Thomas,   986. 
Sayles,  C.  B.,  713. 
Sayles,  .Tames  K.,  713. 
Sealloii,  .T.  J.,  850. 
Schleiger,  Philip,  971. 
Schmidt,  Mathias,    712. 
Schmidt,  George,    809. 
Schottler,  J.  C,  719. 
Schottler,  G.   J.,    890. 
Schroeder,  C.   L.,   714. 
Schroeder,  Fred    H.,    960. 
Schuett,  Ferdinand,  942. 
Sfhutz,  Samuel,  742. 
Schutz,  R.   A.,   742. 
Schwartz,  Charles  L..  998. 
Schwartz,  John  C,   998. 


Schwartz,  Nicholas,  718. 
Scribner,  Andrew  J.,   940. 
Seribner,  Luther  C,  941. 
Scribner,  Samuel,  940. 
Scullin,  A.  G.,  810. 
Severson,  Simon  E.,  935. 
Shaw,  O.  W.,  891. 
Shay,  Edward,  747. 
Shay,  John,   748. 
Shepard,  James,   810. 
Shephard,  E.  M.,  773. 
Shephard,  L.   M.,   774. 
Sherman,  L.  A.,  808. 
Sherman,  L.  W.,  825. 
Sherwood,  Lyman  A.,  939. 
Shortt,  George  M.,   714. 
Show,  E.  J.,  808. 
Shutt,  B.  E.,  826. 
Siegel,  Casper,   718. 
Siegel,  G.   T.,  717. 
Simmons,  0.  J.,  961. 
Sims,  A.   L.,   940. 
Skinner,  John  H.,  923. 
Skogstad,  Carl  C,  935. 
Skyhawk,  C.   M.,   892. 
Sleeper,  C.   A.,   850. 
Sleeper,  Carlos   O.,   712. 
Sleeper,  O.  A.,  850. 
Sleeper,  William   B.,    713. 
Slindee,  Andrew  S.,  717. 
Slupe,  John,    711. 
Smith,  Elbert  H.,   710. 
Smith,  Ernest   V.,    976. 
Smith,  F.  A.,  719. 
Smith,  J.  H.,  987. 
Smith,  J.  M.,  716. 
Smith,  Julius  A.,   710. 
Smith,  Nicholas  M.,   714. 
Smith,  S.  A.,  716. 
Smith,  Samuel,   987. 
Smock,  F.  W.,  780. 
Snyder,  Lucius  F.,  709. 
Snyder,  William  J.,  710. 
Sorenson,  Ananias,   827. 
Sorenson,  S.  A.,  827. 
Sorflatcn,  John,  766. 
Soule,  R.  A.,  778. 
Soule,  Rensselaer,  Jr.,  778. 
Soule,  Rensselaer,  778. 
Spencer,  William  B.,  936. 
Spencer,  William  H.,  936. 
Start,  Samuel,    958. 
Start,  John,  958. 
Steffens,  C.   H.,  893. 
StefiBns,  O.  R.,  717. 
Stenseth,  Sever,  892. 
Stenseth,  O.   S.,   892. 
Stephan,  John  A.,  997. 
Stephan,  William,  998. 
Stephenson,  Stanley   W.,    715. 
Sterling,  James  M.,  983. 
Stewart,  Deacon  J..  889. 
Stiles,  Alvah  F.,  965. 
Stillman,  Henry,  708. 
Stillman,  Charles   F.,   708. 
Stillman,  Marcus  H.,   709. 
Stillwell,  Thomas  V.,  712. 
Stillwell,  G.  A.,  771. 
Stillwell,  Ulysses  L.,  711. 


IxXDEX 


lOO.j 


Stiinson,  Burt    K..   707. 
Stiiiisou,  Chiirles  X.,  7(1S. 
Stinison,  David  11..  IH)3. 
Stokes,  George.   780. 
Stout,  S.   B.,   871. 
Stute,  Carl,  811. 
Stute,  John,  811. 
Sumlem,  A.   O.,   704. 
Sutton,  George,   849. 
Sutton,  George   H.,  70o. 
Svennungsen,  David,    901. 
Sween,  Ole   T.,   937. 
Sweet,  W.   W.,   71C. 
Swenson,  Andrew,  850. 
Swenson,  Antone,  8.50. 
Swenson,  Samuel,  718. 
Swift,  Albert,    71.5. 
Syverud,  J.   K.,  810. 

Tanner,  De  Los,  771. 
Tanner,  J.   M.,   828. 
Tanner,  H.  E.,  771. 
Taney,  J.  C,  720. 
Taylor,  Henry,    721. 
Temanson,  Sever,  952. 
Temanson,  Teniau,   812. 
Terlinder,  Jacob,  895. 
Terlinden,  John,    894. 
Terrv.  W.    B.,    723. 
Thafeher,  J.  N.,  724. 
Thompson,  Knute,  851. 
Thompson,  T.  L.,  812. 
Thompson,  Lewis,   812f 
Thompson,  Gilbert,  632. 
Thompson,  J.   A.,  721. 
Thompson,  John,    975. 
Thorson,  OlauS,    787. 
Todalen,  A.  S.,  724. 
Todd.  William,   719. 
Tending,  N.  A.,   724. 
Torkelson,  P.   T.,  722. 
Tow,  Lewis,  812. 
Triiesdell.  G.  K.,  725. 
Truesdell.  William.    725. 
Turtdal,  H.  A.,  851. 

Uhner,  Fred  C,  923. 
Ulwelling,  Nicholas,  852. 
Underdahl,  B.,  944. 

Van  Bronkhorst.  E.  J.,  898. 
Van  Camp,  W.  L.,  971. 
Vail,  G.  W.,  863. 
Vandergraft,  John  M.,  729. 
Vandergraft.  J.    M.,  728. 
Varco,  C.  B..   726. 


Vaivc.   M.   !•:..  72(). 
Vaioo,  Thomas,  5(i9. 
Vaughan,   1).   H..  829. 
Vaughan,  John   G.,   996. 
Vaughan,  A.   B.,    995. 
Volstad,  G.   K.,   728. 
Vosburgh,  M.  H.,  729. 

Wagner,  John,   Sr.,   895. 
Wagner,  John,    894. 
Warner,  A.   M.,  738. 
Warren,  A.   E.,  739. 
Warren,  John,    740. 
Washburn,  Seth  S.,  564. 
Waterman,  Henry,     737. 
Watkins,  A.  F.,  853. 
Watkins,  Edwin,    737. 
Watkins,  Whittechur,   737. 
Watland,  J.  J.,   731. 
Watson,  Walter,    899. 
Weber.  Henry,  Sr.,  835. 
Weber,  Henry,   Jr..   836. 
Weinert,  P.    N.,    853. 
Weisel,  Jacob,  761. 
Welken.  H.   L..   835. 
Wells,  E.  H..  829. 
West,  C.  L.,   735. 
Wheeloek,  Alva  S.,  960. 
Wheelock,  Obadiah.    960. 
Whitconih,  Edward  A.,  95: 
Whitcomb.   Edward,    9.53. 
White,  Michael.  7.38. 
Wilder,  A.   B.,   730. 
Wilder.  E.   W.,   733. 
Willmarth,  W^    S.,    852. 
WiUson,  H.  G.,   879. 
Willson.  Samuel,  898. 
Wilsie,  M.  O.,  896. 
Wold.  K.  O.,  729. 
Wollenburg,  A.  C,   835. 
Wood,   Eugene,  732. 
Woodson,  M.  J.,  739. 
Worthing,  I.    E.    M.,    736. 
Wright.  Arthur    W.,    974. 
Wyckoir,  J.   M.,   901. 

Yates.  Jerry  B.,  980. 
York,  Oscar  B..  988. 
Young,  F.  T.,  740. 

Ziemer.  A.  A.,  838. 

Ziemcr,  Carl  H.  F.,  958. 

Ziemer.  F.   M.   A..   838. 

Ziemer,  George,  959. 

Ziemer,  H.    L..    8.36. 

Ziemer.  J.   F.,  837. 


1006  I^TDEX 

INDEX  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Allen,  G.  H.,  967. 
Ames,  Ezra  D.,  930. 

Baird,  George,    980. 

Baird,  Lyman  D.,  181. 

Banflekl,  N.  F.,  285. 

Bassett,  Edward,  987. 

Beattie,  Thomas,  838. 

Belden,  Kev.  C.  D.,  976. 

Bevier,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  S.,  580. 

Boostrom,  C.  E.,   780. 

Brown,  Hosmer  A.,  564. 

Brown,  William,  and  Family,  865. 

Campbell,  A.  S.,  561. 

Carll,  J.  D.,  and  Familv,  594. 

Clausen,  Eev.  C.  L.,  990. 

Clay,  W.  F.,  584. 

Cobb,  W.   F.,  421. 

Conklin,  F.  M.,   858. 

Cook,  C.  F.,  582. 

Cook,  John  F.,  816. 

Cooper,  William,  868. 

County  Court  House,  68. 

Daily,  G.  I.,  and  Family,  909. 

Daily,  W.  E.,  Residence,  908. 

Decker,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  S.,  557. 

Dorr,  E.  C,  912. 

Eagen,  John,  and  Family,  613. 
Ellis,  A.  v.,  926. 
Englesen,  Soren,  750. 
Every,  Isaac  H.,  916. 
Every,  Mrs.  Isaac  H.,  917. 
Exchange  State  Bank,  875. 

First  National  Bank  Building,  287. 
Forthun,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  0.,  079. 
Frank,     William  M.,  583. 
Frank,  John,   744. 
Furlong,  John  J.,  992. 

Galloway,  Albert,  638. 

Greening,  C.  F.,  873. 

Grimm,  Henry,  and  Family,  861. 

Hambreeht,  Conrad,  774. 

Hammond,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  S.,  973. 

Hansen,  H.   J.,    966. 

Harden,  Warren  D.,  593. 

Hawkins,  J.  C,  969. 

Hegge,  C.  A.,  274. 

Hegge,  O.  H.,  273. 

Henslin,  A.   E.,   326. 

Heydt,   Philipp,   and  Family.  818. 

Higbie.  C.  J.,  876. 

Hill,  O.  J.,  569. 

Hoppin,  G.  E.,  877. 

Hormel,  George  A.,  &  Co.,  214. 

Huseby,  Arne  A.,  and  Famil^y,  591. 

Huseby,  Arne  A.,  Residence,  591. 


Johnson,  Seymour,  899. 

Kinsman,  A.  N.,  652. 
Kinsman  Greenhouses,  653. 
Kough,  Thomas,  and  Family,  783. 

Lansing  Landmark,  479. 

Leek,  C.  C,  327. 

Lightley,  Henry  W.,  658. 

Lockwood,  H.   J.,   920. 

Loucks,  G.  B.,  and  Family,  881. 

Maxfield,  J.  M.,  805. 

Minnesota    Farmers'   Brick    and    Tile 

Company,  216. 
Mott,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lorenzo,  673. 

Opsall,  John,  678. 

Padden,  Ira,   683. 

Patterson,  W.    W..    972. 

Peirson,  F.   M.,   886. 

Peterson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  N.,  686. 

Peterson,  Peter   E.,  and  Family,  884. 

Plum,  James  M.,  690. 

Rice,  S.  W.,  741. 

Savage,  Thomas,  '986. 
Sargeant  Landmark,  469. 
Sehottler,  G.  J.,  and  Family,  890. 
Schroeder,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  L.,  714. 
Scribner,  L.  C,  940. 
Scribner,  Mrs.  L.  C,  -941. 
Scribner.  L.  C,  Eesidence,  941. 
Shaw,  O.  W.,  Frontispiece. 
Soule,  Eensselaer,  Jr.,  778. 
Soule,  Mrs.  Eensselaer,  Jr.,  779. 
Stimson,  David  H.,  C33. 
Sutton,  G.  H.,  705. 
Sutton,  Mrs.  G.  H.,  706. 

Terry,  W.  R.,  723. 
Todd,  William,    720. 

Vandegrift,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  M.,  728. 

Vandegrift  Cabin,  729. 

Varco,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas,  569. 

Wagner,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John,  894. 
W^agner,  John,  Residence,  895. 
Watland,  J.   J.,  731. 
Weber,  Henry,  Sr.,  835. 
Wells,  E.  H.,  829. 
Wells,  Mrs.   E.   H.,   829. 
Willson,  H.  G.,  and  Family,  897. 
Wright,  Arthur    W.,    528.  , 

Ziomer,  Mr.  and  Airs.  George,  959. 


3298