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JOSEPH  NICOLAS  NICOLLET 

Who  Explored  Southwestern  Minnesota  in  1838  and  Was  One  of  the 
First  White  Men  to  Visit  Lyon  County. 


AN 


ILLUSTRATED  HISTORY 


OF 


LYON   COUNTY 


M I NNESOTA 


By  Arthur  P  Rose 

MEMBER  OF  THE   MINNESOTA   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Author  of  the  Histories  of 
NOBLES,  JACKSON,  ROCK  AND 
PIPESTONE    COUNTIES,    ETC. 


1  >  >     > 

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Northern  History  Publishing  Company 

M  arshall,  Minnesota 

Publishers 

1912 


THE  *rw  YORK 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

633282 

tlTOK    LtMUk    »wfc 


FOREWORD 


WHE  white  man's  history  of  Lyon  county  dates  back  to  no  great  an- 
tiquity, but  that  will  be  overcome  in  the  course  of  time.  Of  priceless 
value  are  local  histories  of  communities  of  the  eastern  states  written 
contemporaneous  with  their  early  settlement;  future  generations  will  place  a 
higher  value  on  this  work  than  the  people  of  the  present. 

While  the  history  of  the  county  covers  only  a  period  of  time  represented  by 
a  span  of  years  accorded  a  long-lived  man,  the  events  which  have  occurred 
should  be  recorded  while  there  are  yet  living  some  who  took  part  in  the  history- 
making.  It  is  for  this  purpose  that  this  volume  is  put  forth.  It  is  the  only 
complete  history  of  Lyon  county  ever  published,  and  the  material  for  its  com- 
pilation has  been  secured  almost  wholly  from  original  sources. 

The  author  has  consulted  and  quoted  from  the  writings  of  Hon.  Warren 
Upham,  secretary  of  the  Minnesota  Historical  Society,  from  C.  F.  Case's  History 
of  Lyori  County,  from  the  History  of  the  Minnesota  Valley,  from  the  publications 
of  the  Minnesota  Geological  Survey,  from  Minnesota  in  the  Civil  and  Indian 
Wars,  and  from  other  books  of  reference.  The  files  of  the  local  newspapers 
have  been  of  inestimable  value  in  supplying  authentic  data,  especially  the  files 
of  those  pioneer  journals,  the  Prairie  Schooner,  Marshall  Messenger  and  News- 
Messenger,  kindly  loaned  by  C.  C.  Whitney,  of  Marshall.  Without  them  much 
of  historical  importance  must  have  remained  unrecorded.  Scores  of  pioneer 
residents  have  interested  themselves  in  the  work  to  the  extent  of  devoting  time 
to  the  detailing  of  early  day  events. 

For  the  purpose  of  revising  and  suggesting  improvements  Messrs.  C.  F.  Case 
and  H.  P.  Sanden  and  Dr.  H.  M.  Workman  reviewed  the  manuscript  before  it 
was  put  to  press.  Those  gentlemen  read  the  historical  part  of  the  volume, 
made  a  number  of  corrections,  and  indorsed  the  work  as  an  impartial,  com- 
prehensive and  substantially  accurate  record  of  events  from  the  earliest  days 
to  the  present  time. 

In  the  work  of  gathering  the  data  the  author  has  been  ably  assisted  by 
Messrs.  P.  D.  Moore,  J    P    Xclsqri^and  William  Larkin. 

Probably  no  historical  vo»x  waVeyes  put  to  press  which  entirely  satisfied 
its  author.  There  are  so  many  pitfalls  in"  the  path  of  him  who  seeks  to  record 
the  events  of  the  past;  the  dnwnun  mind  is  so  prone  to  err  in  recalling  names 
and  dates  of  a  former  day  ;  Sv  it  happens  that  the  writer,  compiling  his  story 
from  data  of  which  only-a*  pavtr  can 'be'-. verified,  knows  that  there  must  be  errors, 
albeit  he  may  have  exercised  the  greatest  care.  With  no  apologies,  but  with 
this  brief  explanation  and  the  realization  that  the  work  is  not  perfect,  this 
History  of  Lyon  County  is  put  forth. 

ARTHUR  P.  ROSE. 

Marshall,  Minnesota,  August,  1912. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 


ABORIGINAL  DAYS     1700-1866. 

Pre-Historic  Times — The  Earth  in  the  Making  Early  Inhabitants — The  Indians — Origin 
of  the  Sioux — Their  Tribal  Divisions-  The  Sis>itons — Indian  Life  in  Lyon  County — 
Early  Explorers — LeSueur  in   Southwestern   Minnesota — Carver — Long — Featherston- 


Trading  Post — Aaron  Myers  Locates  on  the  Cottonwood — The  Nobles  Road  Built— 
Headquarters  Buildings  Erected — Trappers'  Operations — The  Saratoga  Townsite— 
Murder  of  John  Renniker — Lyon  County  Depopulated — Sioux  Massacre — Butchery  at 
Lake  Shetek — Peace  Established — Impermanent  Settlers — Half-Breeds'  Claims.  ......     25 

CHAPTER   II. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT— 1867-1869. 

The    First    Settlers — Muzzy — Goodell — Castor — Other    Arrivals — County    Surveyed — Lynd 

Settlement — Life  on  the   Frontier — Arrivals  of   1868 — The  Cottonwood  Settlement — 

First  Postoffice — Taylor's  Store — Ticknor's  Hotel — Gristmill — Frontier  Experiences — 

'  The  Lake  Marshall  Settlement — C.  H.  Whitney  and  Party — Pioneer  Homes — Log  and 

Sod  Shanties — Life  Described  by  a  Pioneer 41 


CHAPTER   III. 

COUNTY  AND  TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION— 1869-1883. 

Lyon  County  as  French  Territory — Sold  to  Spain — Resold  to  France — Bought  by  United 
States — Included  in  Louisiana,  Missouri,  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  Iowa  Territories — 
"No-Man's  Land'' — Minnesota  Territory — County  Formations — Act  Creating  Lyon 
County — The  Name — Organization — Lynd  Named  County  Seat — Meeting  Places  of 
County  Board — Organization  of  Townships — First  Town  Meetings — First  Officers- 
Homesteaders — First  Births,  Marriages,  Deaths,  Etc. — Selecting  the  Names — Lake 
Marshall — Lynd — Lyons — Fairview — Nordland — Grand  view — Lucas — Eidsvold — Mon- 
roe— Amiret — Westerheim — Vallers — Custer — Clifton — Stanley — Sodus — Rock  Lake — 
Island  Lake — Shelburne — Coon  Creek. 47 


CHAPTER   IV. 

EARLY'  SETTLEMENT  (Continued)— 1870-1873. 

Census  of  1870— Arrivals  That  Year— Marshall  Postoffice  Established— Dr.  Whitney's  Store 
—Indian  Scare — Militia  Company  Formed — Newcomers  in  1871 — Rev.  Ellis'  Store- 
Upper  and  Lower  Lynd — First  Church  Building — Early  Schools — Winona  &  St.  Petti 
Railroad  Built — Land  Grant — Immigrants  Pour  In — And  Stake  Claims— Crop  Sta- 
tistics for  1872 — Loss  by  Fire  and  Hail — Hard  Winter — Blizzard  of  January.  1873 
Eight  Persons  Perish  in  Lyon  County — Experiences  in  the  Storm — Train  Service 
Begun — Early  Tax  Payers — Lincoln  County  Formed — Marshall  Becomes  County  Seat 
— Vote  by  Precincts 65 


viii  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE  GRASSHOPPER  SCOURGE— 1873-1876. 

Calamitous  Days — First  Grasshopper  Invasion — Damage  in  Saratoga  and  Lynd  Settle- 
ments— Depositing  the  Eggs — Relief  Measures — Mass  Meetings — Destitution — Dis- 
tributing Food  and  Clothing — Free  Seed  Grain — Acreage  of  1874 — Myriads  of  Hoppers 
—Almost  Total  Crop  Destruction — A  Terrible  Blow — Fair  Association  Organized — 
First  Fair — An  Indian  Scare — Fugitives  Reach  Lynd — Messrs.  Gibbs  and  Pierce  Perish 
in  Blizzard — Government  Distributes  Rations  and  Clothing — Hoppers  in  1875 — Fighting 
the  Pests — Damage  by  Blight — Census  of  1875 — First  District  Court — Invasion  of  1876 
—Another  Damaging  Setback — "Grasshopper  Congress"  —Day  of  Prayer  for  Deliver- 
ance— End  of  the  Scourge 75 

CHAPTER  VI. 

RECONSTRUCTION  PERIOD— 1877-1881. 

New  Era  Begins — Bumper  Crop  of  1877 — A  Time  of  Jubilee — Rush  of  Homeseekers— The 
Icelandic  Colony — Boom  of  1878 — The  Trail  of  the  Prairie  Schooner — Last  of  Govern- 
ment Land  Taken — Crop  Failure — Old  Settlers  Organize  Society — Dakota  Central 
Railroad  Built — Bishop  Ireland's  Colony — Crop  Statistics,  1879 — Another  Blizzard 
Victim — Harvest  of  1880 — Population  That  Year — -The  Land  Office — The  Long  Winter 
— October  Blizzard — Samuel  Kile  Loses  Life — Story  of  the  Winter — Railroad  Blockade 
—Death  of  Ole  Norton — Famine — Out  of  Fuel — Burning  Lumber — Snow  Fences 
Appropriated — Floods — "Overland"  by  Boat — First  Belgian  and  Holland  Settlers 
Arrive — Railroad  Rumors 87 

CHAPTER   VII. 

THE  AGE  OF  PROSPERITY— 1882-1912. 

Promise  of  Better  Times — Crop  of  1882 — Big  Immigration — More  Victims  of  the  Storm 
King — French  and  Belgian  Settlers  Arrive — Proposed  Duluth  Railroad — Fight  Over 
Bonds- — Bounteous  Times — Census  of  1885 — Blizzard  of  1888 — The  Stalled  Train- 
Adventures  in  the  Storm — Willmar  &  Sioux  Falls  (Great  Northern)  Railroad — The 
Bond  Issue — New  Villages — Death-Dealing  Cyclone — Population  in  1890 — Court  House 
History — Campaigns  for  New  Building — Bonds  Voted — Destroyed  by  Fire — Rebuilt — 
'Cyclone  and  Hail  Storms — Panic  of  1893 — Crop  Failure — Hard  Times — Census  Figures 
—Return  of  Good  Times — Jail  Erected — More  Railroad  Building — Hail  Storm  of  1903 
—Census  of  1910— Crop  Damage  in  191 1 99 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
POLITICAL— 1869-1912. 

First  Officers  Named  by  Governor  Marshall — Delays  in  Organizing — First  Election  Precincts 
and  Judges — Seventy-Eight  Voters — Result  of  First  Election — Commissioner  Districts 
—Early  Day  Salaries — Legislative  Roster — Republicans  in  Control — Part  Played  by 
"Peoples"  Party — Congressional  Roster — A  Contest  for  Treasurer — Roster  of  District 
Judges — Democrats  Enter  Local  Field — The  Independents — Farmers  Alliance  Fur- 
nishes Opposition — Succeeded  by  Peoples  Party- — Free  Silver  Issue — Primary  Election 
Law — Gains  in  Voting  Strength — Detailed  Results  of  Elections — Summary 113 

CHAPTER  IX. 

MARSHALL— 1872-1912. 

Location — Natural  Beauty — Known  as  the  Big  Bend — Homesteaders  File  on  Site — Their 
Sod  Shanties — The  Postoffice — Campaign  for  a  Railway  Station — First  Buildings — 
The  Pioneer.  Merchats — Selecting  the  Name — The  Hotel  Accident — Townsite  Platted 
-Additions— Progress  in  1872— W.  M.  Todd's  First  Visit— Part  Played  by  C.  H. 
Whitney — Postoffice  History — Activities  in  1873 — Early  Directory — First  Tax  Payers 
—One  Year  Old — Made  County  Seat — In  Hopper  Days — Incorporation — Becomes  a 
(  it  v — License  Question — Roster  of  Officers — Boom  of  1878 — Directory  That  Year— 
In  1884— Later' History— Fires 129 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  ix 

CHAPTER   X. 

M  A.RSH  A  LL'S  I NSTITUTIONS. 

The  Schools  First  Teachers  and  Pupils  The  Octagonal  Building — Independent  District 
Roster  Boards  of  Education— Superintendents— High  School  Graduates — New 
Building— St.  Joseph's  Convent  The  Churches— First  Services — Church  in  a  Saloon- 
Congregational— Methodist —  Baptist  (  atholic — German  Lutheran — Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation- Episcopal—  Icelandic  Lutheran — Presbyterian — Norwegian  Lutheran — The 
Lodges — Masonic — Grand  Army — Workmen — Woodmen — Royal  Arcanum — Maccabees 
—Foresters — Modern  Brotherhood—  Yeomen— Defunct  <  >rders — The  Carnegie  Library 
—Fire  Department — Pioneer  Fire  Fighters — The  Banks — Bank  of  Marshall — Lyon 
County  National — First  National — Marshall  State — Municipal  Plant — Telephone  Com- 
pany    Tile  ( lompany 14:! 

CHAPTER  XI. 

TRACY—  1875-1912. 

Location  Summit  Postoffice — Townsite  Platted — Additions — First  Business  Houses 
Known  as  Shetek  Station — Postoffice  History — First  Year's  Progress — Directory  of 
1875— During  Grasshopper  Days — Activities  in  1879 — Becomes  a  Railroad  Center 
Incorporation — Becomes  a  City — License  Question — Roster  of  Officers — Boom  of  1883 
— A  Division  Point— Business  Houses  in  1884 — Census — The  Second  City  in  South- 
western Minnesota—  The  Fire  of  1891 — The  Losses — Later  History — The  Schools — 
Teachers-  Members  of  the  Board — High  School  Graduates — School  Buildings — 
Churches — Presbyterian — Methodist — Norwegian  Lutheran — Catholic — German  Luth- 
eran—Swedish Lutheran — United  Norwegian  Lutheran — Episcopal — The  Lodges- 
Library —  Fin-  Department — Bank-—  Tile  ( Company 161 

CHAPTER  XII. 

MINNEOTA— 1875-1912. 

Lyon's   Third    City — Nordland    Postoffice — Frick's   Store — "Yellow    Medicine    Crossing"- 
Founding  the   Village — First   Business  Men — Postoffice   History — Townsite   Platted 
Additions — Name   Changed   to   Minneota — History   of   the   Change — Advancement    in 
1878 — Village  Incorporation — Voting  on  License  Question — Village  Officers — Directory 
of  1884 — Census  Figures — Schools — High  School  Graduates — The  Churches — Norwegian 
Lutheran — Catholic — Icelandic    Lutheran — Baptist — Evangelical    Lutheran — Lodges 
Library — Fire  Department — Banks — First  National — Farmers  and  Merchants 177 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

COTTON  WOOD— 1 888- 1 9 1 2 . 

Descriptive — First  Mention — Selecting  the  Site — Platted  by  Schutz  &  Tyler — Additions- 
Sale  of  First  Lots — First  Buildings  Erected — Pioneer  Merchants — Postoffice  History 
Rapid  Growth — Directory  of  1889 — Incorporation — Voting  Under  Local  Option  Law 
Roster  of  Village  Officers — Fire — Gains  in  Population — Schools — Graduates — Churches 
— Norwegian  Lutheran — Presbyterian — English  Lutheran — Lodges — Fire   Department 
— Banks — First  National — Cottonwood  State    -Fire  Insurance  Company Is-1 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

BALATON  AND  RUSSELL— 1879-1912. 

Balaton — Its  Location— David  Bell  Establishes  Store — Townsite  Platted  Addition- 
Station  Opened — The  Postoffice  and  Postmasters — Early  Business  Houses  Directory 
of  1884 — Fire  of  1S92 — Incorporated — License  Question-  Officers-  Lire  of  1908 
School — First  Pupils — Churches — Lodges — Banks — Fire  Insurance  Company-  Russell 
—Where  It  Is — The  Name — Platted — Ephraim  Skyhawk  the  Pioneer  Merchant 
Postoffice — Later  History — Incorporation — Contests  Over  Saloons — Local  Officers 
Fire — School — Churches — Lodges — Bank 19!' 


x  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

GHENT  AND  TAUNTON— 1878-1912. 

Ghent — Grandview  Postoffice — Ray  Founds  Pioneer  Store — Grandview  Platted — Catholic 
^  Colony  Stimulates  the  Village — Renamed  Ghent — Early  Business  Houses — Incorpora- 
tion— Village  Officials — Gains  in  Population — School — Catholic  Church — Lodges — Fire 
Department — First  State  Bank — Taunton — As  Siding  No.  4 — Lonesome  Postoffice— 
First  Business  Houses — Platted — Growth  in  1S9S — Incorporated — Roster  of  Officer  - 
School — Churches — Fire  Department — State  Bank  of  Taunton 211 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
LYND,  FLORENCE,  GARVIN,  AMIRET,  GREEN  VALLEY,  ETC. 

Lynd — The  Oldest  Village — Upper  Lynd — Lower  Lynd — Modern  Lynd — Made  County  Sent 
—And  Loses  It — An  Old  Church — Florence — Its  Founding  and  History — Garvin — Its 
History  as  Siding  No.  7 — Terry  and  Seefield — Pioneer  Merchants — Amiret — Founded 
as  Saratoga — Later  Named  Coburg — The  Postoffice — Early  Business  Enterprises — A 
Deserted  Village — Later  History — Green  Valley — First  Business  Men — Dudley 
Burchard — Heckman — Camden,  A  Town  That  Was — Rock  Lake — Sham  Lake — Plan 
Avon — Ceresco — Hildrethsburg—  Island  Lake — Brenner — Leo 219 

CHAPTER   XVII. 

DESCRIPTIVE. 

Location  of  County — Boundaries — Area — Topographical  Features — The  Coteau  des  Prairie- 
— Geological  Formations — Elevations  of  Townships — Soil — How  It  Was  Formed— 
Analyses — Timber — Scarcity  of  Waste  Land — Climate — Drainage  Systems — The 
Streams — Lakes  —  Products  —  Resources  —  Development  — Transportation  Facilities — 
Wagon  Roads — Telephone  lines — Mail  Delivery  Routes-  Land  Values — Compared 
With  Other  Countries ' 233 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
THE  PRESS. 

Papers  Now  Published — The  Defunct  Journals — Founding  the  Pioneer  Paper — The  Prairie 
Schooner — J.  C.  Ervin — Messenger — News — Consolidation  as  News-Messenger — Lyon 
County  Leader — The  Reporter — Tracy  Gazette — Trumpet — Headlight — Republican- 
Herald — Minneota  Prospect — Mascot — Vinland — Cottonwood  Leader — Current — Gazette 
—Balaton  Journal — Eagle — Times — Bystander — Leader — Press — Tribune — Press-Trib- 
une— Russell  Review — Anchor — Garvin  Leader 239 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

REMINISCENT. 

Prairie  Fires — Terrors  of  the  Prairie — Methods  of  Fighting — Interrupt  a  Funeral — Death  of 
Mrs.  Fellon — Game  in  Early  Days — Early  Courts  of  Justice — Brief  Marriage  Ceremony 
—Coining  the  Word  "Blizzard" — "The  Long  Winter" — Locomotive  Scares  the  Natives 
—Pioneer  Minister — Rev.  Ellis'  Peculiarities — Railroad  Strike — Riot  Narrowly  Averted 
— County  in  Straitened  Circumstances — "Stands  Off"  Creditors — Signs  of  the  Times — 
Illustrations  of  Early  Day  Conditions 247 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Biographical  History 255 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Joseph  Nicolas  Nicollet Frontispiece 

Nicollet's  .Map.. 32 

Minnesota  Territory 18 

Tracy  School  Building 68 

Sod  Shanty 68 

Map  of  Lyon  County,  1874 80 

A  Pioneer  Cabin 96 

Oldest  Building  in  Lynd  Township 114 

A  Landmark — Kiel's  Hotel 114 

A  Pioneer's  Log  Cabin 124 

Early  Day  Farm  Home 124 

Marshall  Street  Scenes 134 

Marshall's  Churches 146 

Marshall's  Institutions 154 

Tracy  Scenes L60 

The  Great  Tracy  Fire 166 

Tracy's  Churches 170 

Minneota  Scenes 182 

Cottonwood  Scenes 192 

Balaton  Scenes 202 

Russell  Scenes. 206 

Ghent  Scenes 214 

Florence  Scenes 220 

( larvin  Scenes 224 

Amiret  Scenes 228 

Lyon  County  Lakes 236 

Plowing  Scene 250 

Trappers  and  Their  Catch. 250 

Charles  C.  Whitney 254 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reese  Davis 274 

Thomas  E.  Davis 294 

Lyon  County  Officers. ■  312 

Minneota  Catholic  Church,  Pastor  and  Offi- 
cers    344 

Anton  E.  Anderson 360 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christian  E.  Etrheim 378 

Homes  of  D.  S.  Burt 392 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  E.  Mathews 406 

T.  M.  Thomas'  Drug  Store 422 

S.  Sanderson  and  Family 422 

Home  of  Nels  Anderson 438 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Hartzell 438 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aime  Vanhee 452 

Ole  K.  Furgeson 452 


Hugh  L.  Edwards  and  Family. 466 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knute  E.  Ronning 466 

Christ  K.  Melby. 480 

Harry  J.  Tillemans. 480 

L.  ^Thompson 480 

August  Princen 4S0 

Charles  Foulon 494 

Dr.  E.  F.  St.  Denis 494 

Edward  Schreiber 494 

Abel  D.  Schaeffer 494 

Dr.  F.  D.  Gray 506 

The  Marshall  Hospital 506 

R.  B.  Daniel... 506 

H.  M.  Clark 506 

Philip  P.  Ahern 522 

(lus  Knudson 522 

St.  Gilbertson 522 

G.  B.  Bjornson -. 522 

Evan  M.  Jones 536 

Frank  D.  Pinckney 536 

Charles  W.  Cady 536 

Dr.  E.  L.  Hall 536 

Ole  Ophiem 54,S 

J.  S.  Bartlett 548 

Rev.  L.  E.  Sjolinder  and  Family 548 

N.  J.  Robinson 548 

Dr.  L.  E.  Ijams 560 

O.  A.  Krook 560 

D.  L.  Kennedy 560 

Frank  Case 560 

Joseph  V.  Mathews 572 

Dr.  J.  B.  Robertson. 572 

Victor  J.  LaVoy 572 

Peter  H.  Bly 572 

Hans  P.  Sanden 584 

Henrv  H.  Benson 584 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oliver  A.  Killius 584 

F.  T.  Shaeffer 584 

Home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oliver  A.  Killius..  .  .    596 

Old  Home  of  Henry  Patneaude 596 

Home  of  H.  P.  Sanden 596 

Standard  Lumber  Company 596 

Bridge  Over  the  Redwood 606 


HISTORICAL  INDEX 


Amiret  township,  56. 

Amiret  village,  56,  226-228. 

Apportionments — commissioner    districts,     114, 

116,   118;  congressional,   116;  legislative,   115, 

116. 
Area,  233. 

Assessments,  early,  80,  111. 
Automobile,  first  in  Tracy,  254. 

Balaton,  199-205;  banks,  204;  churches,  202; 
caily  directory  of,  200;  fires,  200,  202;  first 
business  houses  in,  199;  incorporation  of,  200; 
insurance  company,  204;  license  question,  201; 
lodges,  203;  officers,  201;  platting,  199;  popu- 
lation of,  199,  200,  201;  postoffice,  200; 
school,  202. 

Hanks  (see  village  headings). 

Big  Bend,  45,  130. 

Births,  first — in  county,  42,  59;  in  townships 
(see  township  headings). 

Blan  Avon,  232. 

Blizzard,  derivation  of  word,  251. 

Blizzards,  45,  69-71,  81,  91,  92-97,  99.   102-104. 

Blockades,  railroad,  80,  93-97,  09.  135. 

Bonds — for  court  house,  108,  109;  for  indebted- 
ness, 89;  for  municipal  improvements  (see 
village  headings);  for  railroads,  9<S,  101,  105; 
for  schools  (see  village  headings). 

Boundaries — of  Lyon  county,  49,  73,  233;  of 
Minnesota  Territory,  48. 

Breaking,  early,  38,  40. 

Brenner  postoffice,  232. 

Buildings,  pioneer,  34,  35,  36,  38,  41,  45. 

Burchard,  230. 


( lamden,  231. 

Canton  township,  54. 

Catholic  colony,  91,  97,  100,  183,  184,  212. 

Census— of  county,   65,   83,   91,    102,    107,    111, 

112;    of   farmers   in    1884,    51-63;   of   villages 

(see  village  headings). 
( 'eresco,  232. 
Church,  the  first,  67. 
Churches  (see  village  headings). 
(  lifton  township,  58. 
Climate,  236. 
( loburg,  226,  227. 

Commissioner  districts,  114,  116,  118. 
(  ommissioners — chairmen   of  board   of  county, 

113;  early  meeting  places  of,  49,  50. 
Congressional  history,  116.  » 

Contests — for  county  seat,  74;  for  office,   117. 
Coon  Creek  township,  02. 
Coteau  des  Prairies,  30-32,  233-23,5. 


Cotlonwood,  189-197;  banks,  196;  churches,  194; 
early  directory  of,  191:  fire,  193:  lire  depart- 
ment, 196;  first  business  men  of,  190;  founding 
of,  190;  incorporation  of,  192;  insurance 
company,  196;  lieense  question,  192;  lodges, 
195;  officers,  192,  193;  platting  of,  190;  popu- 
lation of,  189,  192,  193;  postoffice,  191; 
school,  193;  selecting  the  site  of,  189. 

Cottonwood  lake.  189,  236. 

Cottonwood  river,  29,  35,  30. 

County  borrows  money,  253. 

County  formations,  48. 

County  seat — removal  of,  74, 
49,  220. 

Court,  district,  established.  Si. 

Court  houses,  74,  107-109. 

Crop  failures,  75-85,  89,  97.  110. 

Crop  statistics,  ON,  78,  SO.  88,  90, 

( luster  township,  58. 

Cyclones,  100,  107,  109,  110. 


230. 


220;  selecting  the, 


100. 


Deaths— in  blizzards,  69-71,  SI,  82,  91,  93,  94, 
99,  100;  in  cyclone,  106;  first  in  county,  43; 
first  in  townships  (see  township  headings). 

Delaven  township,  59. 

Descriptive,  233-238. 

Destitution — because  of  crop  failure,  110; 
because  of  grasshoppers,  76,  77,  80,  85. 

Drainage,  236. 

Dudley,  229,  230. 

Edenview  township,  58. 

Eidsvold  township,  54. 

Elections — county    (see    political);    village    (see 

village  headings). 
Elevations,  234. 
Exploration,  28-32. 


Fairs,  county,  81,  111. 

Fair  view  township,  52. 

Field,  the  fenced,  35. 

Fire  departments  (see  village  headings). 

Fires  (see  village  headings). 

Fires,  prairie,  69,  247. 

Floods,  96,  97,  254. 

Florence,  222-224. 

Free  seed  grain,  69,  78,  82,  85. 


Came,  27,  33,  68,  00,  249. 
( iarden,  first  in  county,  35. 
Garvin,  224-226. 
Geology,  25,  233-235. 


HISTORICAL  [NDEX. 


xin 


Ghent,  211-215;  as  Grandview,  211,  212;  hank, 
215;  church,  214;  fire  department,  215;  first 
business  houses  in,  211,  212;  incorporation  of, 
212.  213;  lodges,  215;  naming  of,  212;  officers, 
213;  platting  of,  211;  population  of,  211,  212. 
213;  postoffice,  21 1;  school,  213. 

Gold  discovery,  25  I. 

( ioose  lake,  2:17. 

Graduates  of  high  schools  (see  village  headings). 

( rrain,  first  raised,  44. 

Grandview  postoffice,  211. 

Grandview  township,  53. 

Grasshopper  scourge,  75-85,  87,  88. 

Green  Valley,  228-229. 

Hail  storms.  09,  110,  111,  112. 
Half-breeds,  10,  41. 
Heckman,  230. 
Hildrethsburg,  232. 
Homesteaders,  50-63,  89. 
"Hopperdozers,"  83. 

Icelandic  colony,  88. 

Immigration,  68,  72.  88,  89,  91,  (17.  99,  100. 

Incorporation  (see  village  headings). 

Indians — in-Lyon  county,  27,  .SO,  130;  origin  of, 
25';  trails  of,  27,  45,  130;  treaties  with,  33; 
tribal  divisions  of,  26;  trouble  with,  28,  31, 
37,  39;  villages  of,  26,  31  ;  war  between,  26. 

Indian  scares,  66,  81. 

Island  lake,  01.  237. 

Island  Lake  postoffice,  232. 

Island  Lake  township,  01. 

Jail,  111. 

Judges  district  court,  117. 

Judges,  early  election,  114,  115. 

Judicial  districts,  84. 

Jurors,  first,  84. 

Justice  courts,  early,  250. 

Kent,  224. 


Lady  Shoe  lake,  237. 
Lady  Slipper  lake,  237. 
LaFramboise,  Joseph,  30,  31. 
Lake  Marshall,  50,  130,  237. 
Lake  Marshall  township,  50. 
Lake  of  the  Hills,  237. 
Lakes,  236,  237. 
Lake  Sigel,  237. 
Lake  Yankton,  237. 
Land  grant,  68,  84. 
Land  office,  91,  92. 
Land  values,  75,  112,  238. 
Legislative  history,  115,  116. 
Leo  postoffice,  232. 
License  (see  village  headings) 
Lincoln  county  created,  73. 
Lisbon  township,  54. 
Livestock,  first  in  county,  44. 
Lodges  (see  village  headings). 
Lonesome  postoffice,  210. 
Lone  Tree  lake,  236. 
Long  lake,  237. 
Lucas  township,  54. 
Lynd,  James  W.,  34,  51. 


Lynd,  Lower.  07,  74,  220. 

Lynd,  Modern,  219-222. 

Lynd  township,  51 . 

Lynd,  Upper,  44,  40,  07,  147,  210,  220. 

Lynd  voting  precinct,  114. 

Lyon  county — creation  of,  49;  enabling  act  for, 

49;  naming  of,  49;  organization  of,  49,   113; 

sovereignty  of  lands  in,  47,  48. 
Lyons  township,  51,  52. 

Madison  township,  56. 

Markets,  238. 

Marriage  ceremony,  a  brief,  250. 

Marriage,  the  first — in  county,  44;  in  townships 
(see  township  headings). 

Marshall,  129-159;  banks,  156,  157;  churches, 
145-151;  cyclones  in,  109,  110;  early  direc- 
tories of,  133,  140;  fire  department,  155;  fires 
in,  141;  first  buildings  in,  66,  130;  first  busi- 
ness houses  in,  131-134;  first  man  on  site  of, 
129;  first  tax  payers  in,  72,  136;  flood  in, 
96,  97;  homesteaders  on  land  in,  00,  130; 
incorporation  of,  137;  library,  154;  license 
question,  137;  lodges,  151-154;  made  county 
seat,  74,  136;  naming  of,  131;  officers,  137- 
139;  platting  of,  132,  133;  population  of, 
130,  137,  140,  141;  postoffice,  65,  130,  135; 
railroad  reaches,  68,  132;  securing  the  station 
for,  131;  schools,  143-145;  threatened  by 
prairie  fire,  249. 

Marshall  voting  precinct,  114. 

Martin  township,  60. 

Massacre  at  Lake  Shetek,  39,  40. 

Militia  company,  66. 

Mill,  the  Marshall,  158. 

Minister,  a  pioneer,  67,  252. 

Minneota,  177-188;  as  Nordland,  177-179;  as 
Upper  Yellow  Medicine  Crossing,  177;  banks, 
187;  churches,  183;  early  directories  of,  178, 
181,  182;  fire  department,  187;  first  merchants 
of,  178;  founding  of,  178;  incorporation  of, 
180;  license  question,  ISO;  library,  187; 
lodges,  186;  naming  of,  179;  officers,  180, 
181;  platting  of,  17S;  population  of,  177, 
180,  182;  postoffice,  177,  178;  schools,  182. 

Moe  township,  54. 

Monroe  township,  55. 

Mound  Builders,  25. 

Mounds,  26,  27. 

Myers,  Aaron,  34,  35,  37. 


Newspapers,  239-245. 
Nobles'  Col.  W.  H,  35,  36. 
Nobles'  spring,  35. 
Nobles'  wagon  road,  3,5,  36. 
Nordland  township,  53. 
Nordland  village,  177-179. 

Officers — county    (see    political):    township    (see 
township  headings);  village  (see  village  head 
ings). 

Old  Settlers  Association,  90. 

Panic— of  LS73,  76;  of  L893,  lb). 
Petrified  tree,  234. 
Political,  113-128. 

Population — of  county  (see  census);  oi   villages 
(sec  village  headings). 


XIV 


HISTORICAL  INDEX. 


Postoffices  (see  village  headings). 
Postoffice,  the  first,  44,  45. 
Prairie  fires,  69,  247. 
Prairie  schooners,  89. 
Precincts,  early  voting,  114. 
Press,  the,  239-245. 
Products,  237. 

Railroads — Dakota  Central  (Northwestern),  90; 
Duluth,  Xorth  Shore  &  Southwestern,  101; 
Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis,  97,  98;  Minnesota  & 
Northern,  106;  Sleepy  Eye  branch  (North- 
western), 111;  Willmar  &  Sioux  Falls  (Great 
Northern),  103-106;  Winona  &  St.  Peter 
(Northwestern),  67,  68,  89,  132,  254. 

Railroad  strike,  90,  252. 

Redwood  river,  30,  32,  236. 

Redwood  station,  230. 

Relief  measures,  69,  76-78,  82,  85. 

Religious  services,  first — in  county,  42,  147;  in 
townships  (see  township  headings). 

Reminiscent,  247-254. 

Renniker,  John,  murder  of,  37. 

Rivers.  236. 

Rock  lake,  60,  237. 

Rock  Lake  postoffice,  231. 

Rock  Lake  township,  60. 

Rural  free  delivery  routes,  237. 

Russell,  205-209;  bank,  208;  churches,  207; 
first  business  .men  of.  205;  incorporation  of, 
206;  license  question,  206;  lpdges,  20S;  naming 
of,  205;  officers,  207;  platting  of,  205;  popu- 
lation of,  •  205,  206,  207;  postoffice,  205; 
-electing  the  site  of,  205;  school,  207. 

Salaries  county  officers,  early.  1 14. 
Sandstone,  234. 
Saratoga  precinct,  114. 
Saratoga  Station,  226. 
Saratoga  townsite,  36,  38. 
Sawmill,  the  first,  44. 
School  districts,  creation  of,  67. 
School  Grove  lake,  237. 

Schools,   the  first — in   townships   (see  township 
headings);  in  villages  (see  village  headings). 
Seefield,  224. 

Settlement,  early,  30,  34,  36,  38,  41-45,  65-74. 
Settler,  the  first,  42. 
Sham  lake,  23, . 
Sham  Lake  postoffice,  232. 
Shelburne  township,  61. 
Shetek  Station,  162. 
Siding  No.  4,  216. 
Siding  No.  7,  224. 
Sod  shanties,  45,  68. 
Sodus  township,  60. 
Soil,  235. 


Stanley  township,  59. 
St  owe  township,  62. 
Summit  postoffice,  161,  162. 
Survey  of  county,  42. 
Swan  lake,  237. 

Taunton,  215-218;  as  Siding  No.  4,  216;  bank, 
218;  churches,  217;  fire  department,  21S; 
first  business  houses  in,  216;  incorporation  of, 
216;  officers,  217;  platting  of,  216;  population 
of,  216,  217;  postoffice,  216;  school,  217. 

Taxes,  payment  of,  extended,  76,  82. 

Tax  payers  of  1873,  72. 

Telephone,  the  first,  254. 

Terry,  221. 

Three-Mile  creek,  42,  236. 

Timber,  27,  235. 

Topographv,  233-235. 

Townships,  50-63. 

Tracy,  161-175;  as  Shetek  station,  162;  banks, 
174;  churches,  168;  early  directories  of,  162, 
165;  fire  department,  173;  fire  of  1891,  166, 
167;  first  buildings  in,  162;  first  business  men 
of,  162;  incorporation  of,  163;  library,  173; 
license  question,  164;  lodges,  171;  made  a 
railroad  division,  165;  naming  of,  163;  officers, 
164;  platting  of,  161,  162;  population  of,  161, 
163.  105,  107;  postoffice,  161,  102;  schools, 
167. 

Traders,  30,  34,  35. 

Trading  posts.  30,  34; 

Trails,  Indian,  27,  45,  130. 

Train,  the  first,  68,  72. 

Transportation  facilities,  237. 

Trappers,  38. 

Treaties,  3:',. 

Tree  claims,  50-63. 

Twin  lakes,  237.. 

Upper  Yellow  Medicine  precinct,  114. 
Upper  Yellow  Medicine  township,  54. 
Upper  Yellow  Medicine  Crossing,  177. 

Vallers  township,  57. 

Yillages,  Indian,  26,  31. 

Vineland  postoffice,  191. 

Votes  cast  at  county  elections,  128. 

War  between  Indian  tribes,  26. 
War,  the  Sioux,  34,  38-40. 
Well,  the  town,  251. 
Westerheim  township,  56. 
Winter  of  1880-81,  92-97.  251. 
Wood  lake,  23/ . 

Yellow  .Medicine  river,  30,  32,  236. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


Page 

Aamodt,  Charles 491 

Aamodt,  <  >lai 337 

Adair,  Harvey  H 557 

Adams,  Frank  A 293 

Adams,  Howard 577 

Adams,  S.  H 298 

Addison,  Harry  W 460 

Addison,  R.  M 280 

Ahem,  Garrett  F 577 

Ahem,  James  J 501 

Ahem,  Michael  F '. 446 

Ahem,  Philip  P 52 1 

Ahem,  William  C 535 

Akester,  Dr.  Ward 497 

Alexander,  Lee  0 469 

Alleckson,  John 397 

Allen,  Mannie  G 597 

Almjeld,  Peder  J 547 

Ampe,  Celeste 501 

Amundson,  Alfred 49!) 

Amundson,  Amund  H 4_'() 

Amundson,  Ferdinand 331 

Amundson,  Gregar 273 

Amundson,  Ole 300 

Andersen,  Hans. 385 

Anderson,  Adolph  T 586 

Anderson,  Andrew 447 

Anderson,  Anton  E.  (Cottonwood) 360 

Anderson,  Anton  E.  (Florence) 544 

Anderson,  Charles  R 514 

Anderson,  Edward 329 

Anderson,  E.  W 569 

Anderson,  Herman 476 

Anderson,  John 359 

Anderson,  John  M.. 504 

Anderson,  Lincoln  L 442 

Anderson,  Martinus 349 

Anderson,  Nels  (Eidsvold). 438 

Anderson,  Nels  (Coon  Creek) 306 

Anderson,  Oluf 331 

Anderson,  Oscar  J.. 606 

Anderson,  Par.  0 562 

Anderson,  Rasmus  N 576 

Anderson,  Sorn  A 609 

Arndt,  Herman  J 366 

Arntson,  Arthur  E 605 

Askdal,  Sigurdur  M 519 

At  wood,  James  Walter 425 

Aurandt,  Maxwell  J 325 

Avery,  Levorit 259 

Baert,  Gust  M 443 

Bair,  M.  D .  .  520 


Page 

Bakken,  Knute  < ) 340 

Baldwin,  Ray  D 399 

Baldwin,  Thomas  P 308 

Baldwin,  William  S.. 297 

Bamford,  Charles  F 578 

Bamford,  George  H 158 

Bamford,  William  ( ' 574 

Banks,  Will 523 

Bartlett,  Fred  S 382 

Bartlett,  James  S 549 

Bates,  Allen 324 

Beasley,  William 434 

Bellingham,  Charles  C 269 

Benson,  George 484 

Benson,  Hall 309 

Benson,  Hans 364 

Benson,  Henry  H 584 

Berg,  CarlF.. 552 

Berg,  John  E 569 

Berg,  Lars 598 

Berg,  Peter  M 529 

Berge,  Ole.... 578 

Berry,  William  E 282 

Betourne,  A.  G 559 

Bigham,  R.  A 462 

Bills,  Frank  E 288 

Birkenmeyer,  F.  M 517 

Bjornson,  Eyolfur 442 

Bjornson,  Gunftar  B 521 

Bladholm,  Axal  L 606 

Bladholm,  John 606 

Blake,  Charles  E 517 

Blake,  Major  John  Winslow 258 

Blake,  Richard 276 

Blanchard,  A 4(11 

Blanchard,  Alvin  L.. 316 

Blanchette,  Albert  L :!7<i 

Blanchette,  .Steve. 358 

Blegen,  Lauritz  E 346 

Blomquist,  John 183 

Bly,  Peter  H... 573 

Borson,  Ben 578 

Bot,  Henrv  J 362 

Bot,  John H 495 

Bot,  Reinier  J 441 

Bot,  William  II _ 463 

Brantner,  John  Franklin 101 

Bredeveien,  Hans  J 473 

Breen,  John 401 

Breening,  Charles  ( ' 338 

Bremen,  Walter  <  >. .    590 

Broughton,  George  K.   310 

Broughton,  Knud  A 264 

Broughton.  <  He  A.                       271 


XVI 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


Page 

Brown,  Fremont  Sharpe 352 

Brull,  William  J 353 

Bruns,  Henry 602 

Buckley,  John 427 

Bue,  Mathias  0 592 

Bugher,  Isaac 594 

Bumford,  Abner  G 394 

Bumford,  Richard  R 348 

Burchard,  James  C 335 

Burckhardt,  F.  Charles 420 

Burckhardt,  Henry 454 

Burckhardt,  Henry  J 368 

Burckhardt,  John  A 551 

Burckhardt,  Oscar  H 405 

Burlingame,  Oscar  A 539 

Burns,  Wilhelm 442 

Burt,  Edward  V 392 

Busse,  Frank 603 

Butler,  Fred  E 524 

Buysse,  Frank 485 

Buysse,  Mrs.  Julianna 525 

( 'ady,  ( Iharles  W 535 

Cain,  Henry  J 428 

Caley,  George  B 467 

Caley,  Harry  E 580 

Carnine,  William  Dennis * » I  1 

Caron,  Jasper  A 596 

( 'axon,  Leon 473 

Caron,  Phil 532 

Carroll,  William  H... 539 

Carstens,  E.  H 386 

Carstens,  Harrv  E.. <>10 

Case,  C.  F..  . 303 

Case,  Frank  W 561 

Case,  Fred  H 575 

Casselman",  Dr.  Don. 499 

Castle,  John  R. 445 

Castle,  John  William 390 

Castle,  Thomas  I 160 

Catlin,  Joseph  H 323 

Chace,  A.  R 354 

Chamberlain,  Archibald  J 449 

Chamberlain,  ( leorge  H ,  .~>f  >(.l 

Cheney,  Birney  L 581 

Child,  Fred  E. 567 

Chittenden,  A.  C 319 

Chittenden,  Walter  R 511 

Christensen,  Peter 598 

(  hristenson,  Andrew  A 321 

Christenson,  Henry. 384 

Christenson,  James 353 

Claeys,  Bernard  F 380 

Clark,  Horace  M 507 

Clark,  Milton  S... 534 

(  lark,  Wallace  W 607 

(  lausen,  Fred 613 

Clausen,  Thomas 582 

Clay,  Andrew. 433 

(  lendenning,  Forbes 582 

Clendenning,  Margaret  E 485 

Coil,  William  Jacob 6(H) 

Colby,  Earl  A 579 

Cole,  Benton  J 605 

Como,  Henry 614 

Cook,  Fred  S ;...»...  448 

Cook,  W.  W 501 

Copeland,  Fred  W 505 


Page 

Craig,  John  L 305 

Culshaw,  John  B 348 

Culshaw,  Thomas  P 368 

(  ulshaw,  William 429 

Cummings,  Robert 322 

Cupp,  Christian 285 

Cutler,  George  B 539 

Dahl,  Julius  T 538 

Dahl,  Ole  S... 413 

Dahl,  Peter  T 312 

Dahlke,  Emil 587 

Dale,  A.  C •.  .  538 

Dalmann,  G.  A 341 

Dandurand,  George 567 

Dane,  Albert  B. 586 

Daniel,  Richard  B. . 507 

Davis,  Ellsworth  E 367 

Davis,  Reese 274 

Davis,  Thomas  E 294 

Debuf ,  Camil 527 

De  Clerk,  Edward 534 

De  Keyser,  Ernest 613 

De  Kiere,  John  F. 474 

Dennin,  Gustav  A 502 

De  Reu,  Charles  L 477 

De  Sutter,  ( 'amid  F 357 

De  Sutter,  Emiel 419 

De  Muck.  Henry 604 

DeVos,  John...." 554 

Dickerman,  Eugene  A.... 299 

Dierockx,  Peter 407 

Dillberg,  Swan  A 139 

Dohertv,  Thomas  R 540 

Donaldson,  Russell  G 485 

Donnelly,  Charles. 591 

Dove,  Charles .",01 

Dovre,  Olaf 286 

Dovre,  Ole  0 379 

Doyle,  James  E 450 

Drake,  Montgomery  E 445 

Durrenburger,  August 421 

Duns,  Christian  M 502 

Eastman,  Warren  S. 301 

Edwards,  Edward 288 

Edwards,  Hugh  L 166 

Edwards,  William  H 499 

Edwards,  William  R 374 

Egan,  James. 475 

Ehlers,  William  C 127 

Elbers,  Peter. 333 

Elmer,  Edward  P 372 

Engels,  Mrs.  Ludovica  H 4  11 

Engesser,  John 579 

England,  Justus 545 

English,  Arch  R 390 

English,  Bert  L 441 

Erickson,  E.  John : 398 

Erickson,  Erick  0 613 

Erickson,  Nels  0 602 

Erickson,  Sigurdur  B 543 

Eriksrud,  Nelder. 557 

Etrheim,  Christian  E 378 

Etrheim,  Eilef  E 386 

Evans,  David  H 295 

Evans,  Ellsworth 277 


BIOGRAPHICAL   INDEX. 


xvii 


Page 

Fifield,  George  F U2 

Finch,  AInion  Henry 577 

Finnegan,  John  F 460 

Finnell,  Jesse  E 551 

Finseth,  Halvor  E 510 

Fischer,  Kasper 352 

Fitch,  George  Arthur lis 

Fjelstad,  Eggert  E :;ss 

Fiinn,  John  B 602 

Forbes,  A.  ( Ion  Ion 492 

Forbes,  Samuel  J 375 

Ford,  .Michael  B 380 

Ford,  Patrick 369 

Foster,  Elmer  E 107 

Foster,  Lester  F 309 

Foulon,  Charles. 494 

Frahm,  Claus 557 

Fraser,  Dr.  ('.  B 444 

Freese,  Arthur 327 

Freese,  Henry 288 

Freese,  Lawrence  H 32] 

P'rench,  Palmer  () 382 

Froehlich,  John  William 595 

Froland,  Peder 500 

Drake.  Paul ■ 589 

Fuller,  Emery  ( ! 563 

Fuller,  Frank  E. 615 

Fulton,  H.  P 432 

Furgeson,  Adolph 373 

Furgeson,  Henry  K 283 

Furgeson,  Lars  ( >scar 571 

Furgeson,  Mrs.  Helene. 452 

Galbraith,  Samuel  W 270 

Garrow,  Arthur 594 

Geiwitz,  George 512 

Gibbs,  Cassius  M 530 

Giese,  Paul  W 365 

Gieseke,  William  F 410 

Gifford,  Elbridge 575 

Gifford,  George  B 377 

Gilbertson,  Sturlaugur 522 

Gilpin,  J.  Delbert 563 

(iislason,  Ami  B 302 

Gislason,  Bjorn  B 328 

Gislason,  John  B 285 

Gits,  Ed 345 

Gits,  Francis 318 

Gits,  Paul 412 

Glotfelter,  William  H 301 

Goltz,  Gottlieb  C 308 

Goltz,  Gustav  J 297 

Goodell,  Charles  E 256 

Goodmund,  Sigfinn 303 

Goodrich,  Charles  W... 290 

Goodrich,  CM 272 

Goodrich,  Wallace  A 489 

Goodwin,  Joshua 287 

Gorseth,  M.  0 369 

Gorseth,  Ole  Olson 373 

Grannan,  Michael  E : 472 

( hay,  Dr.  F.  D 506 

Greeley,  Solomon '. 440 

Green,  Andrew  E 403 

Green,  Emil  0 492 

Gregg,  Dren  C 256 

Gregg,  W.  R 335 

Grieve,  James 351 


1  'age 

Griffith,  John  I) 480 

<  rriffith,  John  J 266 

( rrotta,  Maurice 5  I  I 

Guelsow,  Fred  J 133 

Gullerud,  Rev.  Olaf 519 

Haack,  William  F 469 

Hahn,  Matthew  D 509 

Hall,  Dr.  Earl  L 536 

Hall,  James  H 427 

Hall,  James,  Sr 358 

Hall,  William 444 

Halvorson,  Samuel 268 

Hamilton,  Frank 568 

Hamm,  E.  M 267 

Hansen,  George  A 458 

Hansen,  Peter 426 

Hanson,  Christine 514 

Hanson,  Henry  0 400 

Hanson,  James  M 568 

Hanson,  N.  Wr 487 

Harden,  Mrs.  Annette 525 

Harden,  Myron  W 363 

Harris,  Mrs.  James  A 347 

Hartzell,  John 438 

Hasbargen,  Dan 467 

Hatlestad,  Ole  H 264 

Hattlestad,  Andrew  Henry 355 

Havens,  Jasper  L 278 

Heagle,  William  E 431 

Eeairet,  Andrew  E 451 

Healv,  Edwin  W 273 

Healy,  Fred  M 384 

Heine,  Henry  C 403 

Helgeson,  Helge  K 369 

Helgeson,  Louis 319 

Helgeson,  Ole 270 

Hellickson,  Anton  A 314 

Hellikson,  Andrew 292 

Helium,  Albert  J 391 

Hendrickson,  Ira  W 608 

Hennen,  James  J 463 

Hennen,  Leo 429 

Hennen,  Mathew 515 

Henrichs,  Byron  G 546 

Henrichs,  Herman 558 

Henrichs,  William  C 355 

Herron,  Wilson 538 

Heymans,  Anton 383 

Hill,  Sherman 493 

Hofman,  Hector 599 

Homer,  Philip 532 

Hognason,  Snorri 346 

Hoidale,  Dr.  Andrew  D 490 

Holden,  Carl  R 516 

Holden,  John,  Jr 586 

Holland,  <  >scar  A 574 

Holley,  Frank  L 455 

Hollo',  John 359 

Hommerberg,  Anton 558 

Hook,  Andrew 566 

Hook,  Frank  E 555 

Hook,  George 579 

Houston,  W.  A t36 

Hovdesven,  A.  O :>'"1 

Huisenfeldt,  Cornelius 380 

Bughes,  Griff 121 

Hughes,  John  H 350 


xvm 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


Page 

Hulburt,  John 570 

Humphrey,  Kay  C 468 

Ijams,  Dr.  L.  E 561 

Illian,  Charles  A 503 

Inhofer,  G.  J 447 

James,  Dr.  W.  D 424 

Jansen,  Jacob  J 366 

Jansen,  Theodore ' 350 

Jerpbak,  Peter  H 394 

Johnson,  Andrew 556 

Johnson,  Christ 404 

Johnson,  Elmer 592 

Johnson,  George  H 499 

Johnson,  Haldor  G 509 

Johnson,  Jens  B 265 

Johnson,  John 317 

Johnson,  John  H. 528 

Johnson,  Mrs.  C.  A 327 

Johnson,  Xels  P 503 

Johnson,  Solomon 417 

Johnson,  Thomas  U 465 

Jones,  Evan  C,  Sr 307 

Jones,  Evan  ('.,  Jr 414 

Jones,  Evan  M 536 

Jones,  Hugh  H 322 

Jones,  Thomas  C 597 

Jonsson,  Rev.  B.  B 4f>0 

Josefson,  Johann  A .'Ill 

Josephson,  Ami  S 396 

Josephson,  Herman 393 

Kaechele,  Tony  W 542 

Karlen,  John  A 475 

Keehl,  Otto  M 505 

Keller,  Christian  H 564 

Keller,  Edwin  K 603 

Kelly,  Edward  P 437 

Kelly,  Peter  F 591 

Kelson,  Alfred 552 

Kelson,  Andrew 504 

Kennedy,  Duncan  L 560 

Kiel,  GuvH 513 

Kile,  Arthur  J 398. 

Kiley,  Eugene  B 425 

Killius,  Oliver  A 584 

Kinch,  Arlow  S 546 

King.  D.  M 506 

Kjorness,  Knud  E 283 

Klaith,  Lorents 351 

Kleine,  John  E 556 

Knudson,  John 537 

Knutson,  -Gus 522 

Kolhei,  Alexander. ■ 488 

Krook,  Oscar  A 560 

Krueger,  Emil  J 555 

Kvanbeck,  Halvor  K 376 

Laingen,  Charles  R 447 

Larson,  Adolph  B 512 

Larson,  Fred 563 

Larson,  George  0 559 

Larson,  Knut *.....  417 

Larson,  Ludvig  E 326 

Larson,  Martin  C 336 

Larson,  Niels  F 330 


Page 

Larson,  Olaus  M 513 

Laudenslager,  Charles  A 439 

Laudenslager,  John  J 328 

Laughlin,  James  J 451 

La  Voie,  William 471 

LaVoj',  Victor  J 573 

Lawrence,  J.  A 518 

Leas,  John  H 395 

Leas,  J.  S 445 

LeBeau,  George  1 387 

LeCuver,  Edward 597 

Ledel,  Gustav 291 

Lee,  Ole  1 310 

Leitch,  Henry 510 

Leknes,  Berner 419 

Leland,  Lewis  B 324 

Lende,  Tennes  A 533 

Lerwick,  L.  M 514 

Liedtke,  David 520 

Lien,  Anton  K 552 

Linden,  Andrew  P 497 

Lindholm,  John 462 

Lindstrom,  Carl 532 

Lindstrom,  P.  A 595 

Loe,  Mrs.  Jerdine 403 

Long,  George 528 

Longtin.  F.  J 547 

Loranz,  Anton 304 

Lord,  .Alexander  J. 519 

Lowe,  George  G 498 

Lucas.  William  L 581 

Lund,  Bernt  E 575 

Mack,  Anton , 587 

Madden,  George  W 453 

Maertens,  Edward 468 

Maertens,  Hyppolit 377 

Maher,  John 589 

Malzahn,  Frederick  W.  E 568 

Marcotte,  Edward 456 

Marcotte,  Hector  A 593 

Marks,  Fred  C 314 

-Marshall,  Jacob  C 599 

Masters,  Mrs.  Anna 280 

.Mathews,  Joseph  V 572 

Mathews,  Marvin  E 406 

Mat  his.  J.  W 545 

Matthews,  Henry  A 408 

Mattson,  John. 464 

Maxson,  Edgar  T 465 

Maxson,  William  E.. 481 

MeDaniel,  Samuel 594 

McDonald,  Lawrence 471 

McElvain.  Joe  R 515 

McGinn,  Arthur  J 140 

McGinn,  James 334 

Mc(  luigan,  Patrick  J 607 

McLaughlin,  David  L .• 424 

McMahon,  Mrs.  Katherine 533 

McNiven,  James  A 441 

Meehl,  Henry 300 

Melby,  Christ  K 478 

Mcllenthin,  Fred  W 312 

Mellenthin,  Mrs.  Anna  Louise 389 

Menard,  Joel 530 

Menard,  Prudent  B 593 

Meyer,  Edward 364 

Meyer,  Merman  P 343 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


XIX 


Page 

Meyer,  Rudolph  A.  T 54 1 

Michel,  Ernest  A 488 

Middleton,  Charles  II 338 

Mielke,  .Mrs.  Catherine 313 

Mihills,  Donald  R 568 

Miller,  Charles. 411 

Miller,  Earle  S 339 

Miller.  Edward 464 

Miller,  Harry  C 555 

Mitchell,  James 260 

Mitchell,  Joseph  M 339 

Mitchell,  I  >smund  X 531 

Mitchell,  Robert  A 207 

Moat.  William 481 

Moffat  t.  ( leorge 474 

Mohn,  Knute  K 373 

Mohr,  Henry  G 541 

Mongeau,  Archie  S 553 

Monroe,  John 277 

Monseth,  Lars  F 446 

Moore,  A.  M 402 

Moore,  John  W 459 

Moore,  William  A 564 

Moorse,  Mathew  J 570 

Morgan,  Amos  S 608 

Morgan,  Henry  D 293 

Mork,  Chris 605 

Morse,  Jerome 272 

Moss,  Robert  S 601 

Mouland,  Toilet'  T 455 

Mnllaney,  William  F 37!) 

Mullen,  George  A 565 

Mulvaney,  Thomas 478 

Murphy/Thomas  H • 611 

Murphy,  William 575 

Murrison,  Robert  G 371 

Myran,  Esten 600 

Myran,  Mrs.  (  Hava 276 

Neill,  Robert  M 402 

Nellis,  Claud  Dayton 604 

Nelson,  Albin  W 460 

Nelson,  Andrew  (Clifton) 483 

Nelson,  Andrew  (Marshall) 266 

Nelson,  Chris 615 

Nelson,  Gust 593 

Nelson,  Hans  P 588 

Nelson,  Henry 333 

Nelson,  Iver 304 

Nelson,  John  P. . . . 415 

Nelson,  Joseph  L 565 

Nelson,  Nels 383 

Nelson,  Peter  C 526 

Nelson,  Philip  A 505 

Nelson,  Thomas 289 

Nicholson,  Stephen 459 

Nielsen,  Fred 399 

Nordli,  Carl 483 

Nylin,  Knute ■. 544 

( )'( 'onnor,  John 356 

<  )dell,  Spurgeon. 342 

( >estern,  Orlando  J 520 

Ofstad,  Andrew 357 

Ofstad,  Michael  (i 423 

Oftedal,  Hans  L 443 

Olevson,  Isaac  N 558 

Olson,  Andrew 593 


Pane 

<  USOn,  Mrs.  Marie  ( 1 :;]r> 

Olson,  Oluf  G... 497 

Olson,  Peter  H 392 

Opdahl,  Iver 529 

Ophiem,  Ole 548 

Ordlock,  bars  H 436 

Orsen,  Nickolai. 457 

Orsen,  Ole  L 274 

I  >ssen,  George 563 

<  Misman,  Iver  A :;7.~> 

( >verlee,  George 603 

I  >wens,  John  S.. 275 

Pagel,  Charles  F 426 

Painter,  Horatio  R 454 

Palmer,  William  C :  .  533 

Paradis,  Teles,  Jr 498 

Paradis,  Telesphore 4."t3 

Parker,  Francis  J 388 

Patneaude,  Henry 596 

Pat t ridge,  Henry  J 367 

Pattridge,  Otis  L 367 

Paulson.  Ole 511 

Pearcy,  Walter 609 

Pedersen,  Ole. 517 

Pederson,  John  (' 310 

Pehrson,  Nels 431 

Peniston,  William  B 416 

Persons,  Dr.  C.  E 313 

Peterson,  Albert  E '. 615 

Peterson,  Anton till 

Peterson,  August 503 

Peterson,  Frank 61  >3 

Peterson,  Hans 398 

Peterson,  Jay  P 349 

Peterson,  Lewis  C 320 

Peterson,  Louis  E 432 

Peterson,  Martin 434 

Peterson,  Marvin 583 

Peterson,  Ole  E 307 

Peterson,  Ole  S 323 

Peterson,  Peter. 489 

Peterson,  Peter  A 523 

Phillips,  Willianv  E 571 

Pilotte,  Lueien 610 

Pilotte,  Peter 588 

Pinckney,  Frank  D 537 

Place,  JohnM - 601 

Plantz,  Charles  E. 562 

Poison,  Nels 012 

Porter,  A.  C 193 

Powers,  Dr.  Fred  H 526 

Prairie,  Levi 191 

Prechel,  August  C 610 

Price,  Rees 260 

Price,  Rufus  H 259 

Princen,  August 180 

Princen,  Joseph 362 

Prouty,  De  Alton 113 

Purves,  .<  teorge  W -ID 

Radke.  Gustav..     587 

Rasmussen,  Anton    565 

Hea.  Orvin  J 330 

Reese,  Boyd  T 508 

Regnier,  Ambrose  A :>s' 

Regnier,  <  reorge        '■>' 

Regnier,  John  H 360 


**■ 


XX 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


Page 

Regnier,  Joseph  E.. 486 

Regnier,  Louis  N 410 

Reinkc,  Albert  0 518 

Rialson,  Louis 291 

Rialson,  Ole 317 

Rieh,  Edwin  S 595 

Richard,  Charles  C 337 

Rickert,  Jacob  A.. 457 

Ristow,  Herman  F 400 

Rivard,  Ferdinand  A ' .  .  .  .  436 

Roberts,  David  R 316 

Robertson,  Dr.  J.  B 572 

Robinson,  N.  J 548 

Rogan,  James  T 561 

Rogde,  John  C 361 

Running.  Knute 466 

Ronning,  Mrs.  Erick. 280 

Ronning,  Paul  K 393 

Ronning,  Peder  Gilbert 351 

Rossland,  A 377 

Rouse,  Jacob 263 

Powell,  Lewis  L 321 

Rowland,  Arthur  H.   .. 411 

Ruliffson,  Donald  II 566 

Ruliffson,  F.  W 430 

Punholt,  Ole  <> 298 

Rye,  Anders  E 302 

Rye,  OleE 333 

.Salmon,  Daniel  F. .'.. 554 

Sampson,  Rasmus  B. 496 

Sanden,  Andrew 271 

Sanden,  Hans  P 583 

Sanders,  .Mrs.  Angeline 392 

Sanderson.  Dr.  Anton  G 405 

Sanderson,  Dr.  Edward  T .'!4.'i 

Sanderson,  Sander 422 

Sather,  Iver  O 162 

Savoie,  Henry 600 

Schaefer,  Abel  D 195 

Schain,  George  A.. 547 

Scherf,  Rev.  Paul 590 

Schmitz,  (  harles 516 

Schoel,  William... 614 

Schouweiler,  Michael  W.. 588 

Schreiber,  Edward 494 

Schroeder,  August 551 

Schultz,  William 439 

Schurz,  Herman 550 

Scott,  John 269 

Scott,  Lewis  E. 412 

Seals,  Thomas  D 279 

Searles,  H.  R 381 

Seiler,  William. 570 

Seiter,  H.  Raymond 155 

Senden,  Joseph  M 449 

Seward,  Virgil  B 292 

Shaeffer,  F.  T 585 

Sharratt,  Homer  D 523 

Shaver,  Edgar  W 404 

Shepard,  Cyrus  P 371 

Shepard,  Ernest  S 312 

Shequen,  William  Grover 448 

Sheutzel,  Herman 424 

Sickler,  F.  W %.  .  .  357 

Sigurdson,  Christ  E \  .  .  526 

Simmons,  Eugene 552 

Simmons,  Wesley  W 500 


Page 

Sjolinder,  Rev.  Laurent  Erik 549 

Skaar,  Knute 409 

Skogen,  Carl  ().... 338 

Skyhawk,  Ephraim 299 

Slanev,  Rev.  J.  H 609 

Slette,  Ole  P 374 

Slette,  Peter  P.. 407 

Smedsrud,  Mrs.  Nellie 484 

Smith,  Dr.  J.  F 543 

Smith,  Ernest 4/0 

Snapp,  Charles  M — 559 

Snidal,  John 405 

Sommer,  Victor 582 

Sorensen,  Nels  Christian 591 

Soucy,  L.  P ^ 510 

Spencer,  John  K 530 

Spong,  Charles  J 341 

Stankey,  Herman  C 456 

Starr,  Frank  E.. . 34S 

Starr,  Herbert  L 435 

Stassen,  John. 004 

Stassen,  Mike 471 

Stassen,  Theodore :!97 

St.  Denis,  Dr.  E.  F 495 

Sterk,  Ole  IL... 435 

Stewart,  Rev.  William  Joseph 344 

Stiefel,  David 268 

St il well,  Edwin  C 475 

Storck,  William  G. 543 

Storlie,  Halvor  A 393 

Story,  Burl... 443 

St  rut  hers.  Robert  Alton 488 

Sturgeon,  John  J.. 486 

Sullivan,  M 322 

Supernatz,  Joseph 388 

Swanson,  Aldor  B 418 

Swanson,  Erick  M 524 

Sween,  Julius 599 

Swennes,  Arne 329 

Swennes,  Knute 345 

Swenson,  Andrew  J 315 

Swift,  Homer  R.. 47_' 

Swift,  Lee 415 

Swonson,  Carl  R 425 

Tate.  George  A.... 320 

Tate,  Harry  A 457 

Taylor,  Leon  M 482 

Teerlinck,  Julius 382 

Tegels,  John 42:; 

Tehart,  Christ 540 

Terry,  Byron  P 286 

Teufel,  Henry  A 608 

Thavis,  Henry 527 

Thiel,  Gustav 389 

Tholen,  John. 550 

Thomas,  Benjamin  F 281 

Thomas,  James  J 289 

Thomas,  Theodore  M 422 

Thompson,  L.  T 479 

Thompson,  Thore  K 305 

Thorburn,  William  B 434 

Thordarson,  Dr.  Theodore 482 

Tibbit,  Charles  F 332 

Tiemessen,  Francis  J 014 

Tillemans,  Harry  J 479 

Tillemans,  William  P 433 

Tolzman,  William 482 


BIOGRAPHICAL   INDEX. 


xxi 


Topel,  Charles  H 45] 

I  nun.  Alvah  I! 278 

Town,  Lucius  E.. 265 

Tracy,  George  I) 469 

Tram,  Henry  1 566 

Tn.ut,  Mrs.  Mary 400 

Truax,  Charles 295 

Trudeau,  Adolph 576 

Tubbs,  Vernon  B •">'-'< 

Tweet.  John  C 284 

Twog I.  William  E.. 577 

Tychsen,  Rev.  Th 540 

Van  Breasen,  Ben  F 176 

Vanden  Berghe,  Oscar 553 

Van  Dusen,  <  leorge  Albert. 450 

Van  Dusen,  Willard  .1 342 

Vangheluwe,  Peter. 528 

Vanhee,  Aime 452 

Van  Moer,  Edmond 408 

Van  Sadelhoff,  William 613 

Vanstrom,  Frederick  W Is- 

Van  Uden,  Anton 590 

Van  Uden,  Herman  A I  <  < 

Van  Walleghem,  Rev.  Henry  Victor 535 

Vergauwe,  Victor 535 

Vergote,  Gustave 190 

Verhaake,  Joseph :j:>'> 

Vermeersch,  Louis 504 

Volden,  Hans... 430 

Yolk,  Albert 513 

Voss,  Henry 450 

Wahlquist,  Otto ">s  I 

Walquist,  Joseph 614 

Walsh,  Thomas  F 17:: 

Wambeke,  John 556 

Wat  kins,  William  E 592 


Webb,  Frank  W.     344 

Webb,  T.  II :;s5 

Wedger,  Charles  F 386 

Weidauer,  Alvin  E 585 

Weidauer,  Herman  F.  (Grandview) 612 

Weidauer,  Herman   F.  (Lake  Marshall}  170 

Weikle,  Ferdinand  K 332 

Weking,  Otto 402 

Welsh,  John  W 574 

Wewetzer,  Lewis  A -Mil 

Whiting,  Dr.  Carl  E 395 

Whiting,  lvl win  F.. 306 

Whitlatch,  Grover  ('.. 615 

Whitney.  Charles  C 255 

Whitney,  Charles  H 261 

Wiesner,  J.N. 196 

Wignes,  Ole  J 282 

Wild,  Albert 553 

Wilhelm,  Urbane 391 

Willard,  William  I).. 580 

Willford,  Bert 370 

Willtord,  Cassius  M 318 

Williams,  James  Von. 429 

Williams,  Joseph  B 541 

Williams,  Roy  W 325 

Willis.  Robert  E 389 

Wilson,  John 542 

Wilson,  John  W 356 

Wimer,  Cary  J 325 

Wohlheter,  Walter  P 566 

Woodruff,  Frank  L 554 

Woodruff,  Joseph  C 540 

Workman,  Dr.  H.  M 315 

Wreath,  Albert 547 

Wright,  Absalom  Lloyd 409 

Zabel,  Julius 5s:; 

Zvorak,  John 478 


HISTORY  OF 

Lyon  County 

MINNESOTA 


CHAPTER  I. 


A  HOUIGINAL   DAYS— 1 700-1 866. 


THK  white  man's  history  of  Lyon 
county  dates  back  to  no  great 
antiquity.  Nevertheless,  during 
millions  of  years  many  interesting  things 
happened  in  the  county — events  which 
were  not  witnessed  by  mortal  eye, 
events  which  the  most  vivid  imagination 
cannot  conceive. 

From  a  part  of  the  seething,  molten 
mass  that  composed  the  earth  during 
the  millions  of  years  about  which  even 
the  geologists  hardly  dare  venture  a 
guess  Lyon  county  was  formed  and 
became  a  part  of  the  earth's  surface  in 
the  process  of  cooling.  Thereafter  it 
was  successively  covered  with  the  waters 
of  the  sea,  was  raised  from  the  depths 
to  a  great  altitude,  and  was  crushed 
back  by  the  weight  of  the  vast  ice  sheets 
during  the  Glacial  Period. 

During  those  times  Lyon  county's 
topographical  features  were  formed, 
many  changes  resulting  before  Nature 
had  them  fashioned  to  her  liking.  Soil 
was  spread  over  the  surface;  ridges  and 

'Traces  of  man's  presence  during  this  period  have 
been  found  in  the  flood  plain  of  the  Mississippi  river  at 
Little  Falls,  Minnesota,  and  in  other  parts  of  the 
United  States.  Concerning  the  original  peopling  of 
North  America,  Warren  Upham,  A.  M.,  D.  Sc,  in 
Minnesota  in  Three  Centuries,  says: 

"The  original  peopling  of  America  appears  to  have 
taken  place  far  longer  ago  by  migration  from  North- 
eastern Asia  during  the  early  Quaternary  or  Ozarkian 
Epoch  of  general  uplift  of  northern  regions,  which 
immediately  preceded  the  Ice  Age,  and  which  con- 
tinued through  the  early  and  probably  the  greater  part 
of  that  age.  Then  land  undoubtedly  extended  across 
the  area  of  Behring  sea. 

"During  Ozarkian  time  and  the  long  early  part  of 
the  Glacial  Period,  wandering  tribes,  migrating  for 
better  food  supplies  or  to  escape  from  enemies,  could 


hills  were  formed  by  the  action  of  the 
ice;  depressions  were  left  in  which  are 
now  lakes;  the  waters  from  the  melting 
ice  sought  avenues  of  escape  and  formed 
rivers  and  creeks;  plant  and  animal  life 
came  into  existence. 

When  Lyon  county  was  first  inhab- 
ited by  the  human  species  is  unknown. 
Even  when  the  North  American  con- 
tinent was  first  peopled  archaeologists 
can  at  best  only  guess.  There  has  been 
discovered  evidence  that  man  lived  upon 
the  continent  during  the  decline  and 
closing  days  of  the  Ice  Age,  some  6000 
to  10,000  years  ago,  and  probably  had 
done  so  for  a  much  longer  period.1 

When  civilized  man  first  came  to  the 
New  World  he  found  it  peopled  with  a 
savage  race  which  he  called  Indians. 
They  had  no  knowledge  of  their  own 
ancestry  nor  of  any  peoples  who  may 
have  preceded  them.  Whether  or  not 
this  race  supplanted  one  of  a  higher 
civilization  is  a  question  upon  which 
authorities  disagree.2     The  only  source's 

have  crossed  on  land  from  Asia  to  Alaska  and  could 
have  advanced  south  to  Pategonia  and  Tierra  del 
Fuego,  occupying  all  the  ground  (excepting  the  ice- 
covered  area)  that  is  now,  or  was  in  pre-Columbian 
times,  the  home  of  the  American  race.  It  is  not  im- 
probable, too,  that  another  line  of  very  ancient  migra- 
tion, in  the  same  early  Pleistocene  or  Quaternary 
time,  passed  from  Western  Europe  by  the  Faroe 
islands,  Iceland  and  Greenland,  to  our  continent." 

-"It  was  formerly  thought  by  many  archaeologists, 
twenty-five  to  fifty  years  ago,  thai  the  mounds  of  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  valleys  were  built  by  a  prehistoric 
people,  distinct  from  the  Indians  and  further  advanced 
in  agriculture  and  the  arts  of  civilization.  To  that 
ancient  people  the  name  of  Mound  Builders  was  given  , 
and  it  was  supposed  that  they  were  driven  southward 


26 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


of  information  concerning  the  early  in- 
habitants are  the  implements  of  warfare 
and  domestic  use  they  made,  found  in 
burial  places  and  elsewhere  in  the  land. 
The  Mississippi  valley  is  prolific  in 
mounds — the  burial  places  of  these 
ancient  peoples,—  many  having  been 
found  and  excavated  in  Minnesota. 

While  we  have  little  knowledge  of  the 
very  early  peoples  who  inhabited  Minne- 
sota, from  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  when  white  men  first  pene- 
trated to  the  Northwest,  we  can  trace 
the  history  of  the  Indian  tribes  more  or 
less  accurately.  At  the  coming  of  white 
men  nearly  the  whole  state  was  occupied 
by  the  Dakota,  or  Sioux,  Indians.3 
The  only  exception  was  in  the  extreme 
northern  part,  where  the  Kilistino  (or 
Crees)  and  the  Monsoni  of  the  Algonquin 
tribes  had  their  habitat.  The  Sioux, 
with  whom  alone  Lyon  county  has  to 
do,  had  their  favorite  hunting  grounds 
on  the  prairies,  and  although  they  were 
usually  domiciled  in  a  portion  of  the 
timbered  lands  bordering  the  prairies 
they  were  strictly  Indians  of  the  prairie. 

About  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century  the  aggressive  Ojibways,  or 
Chippewas,  made  successful  war  on  the 

into  Mexico  by  incursions  of  the  Indian  tribes  that 
were  found  in  our  country  at  the  first  coming  of  white 
men.  This  view,  however,  has  been  generally  given 
up.  The  researches  of  Powell  and  other  specialists, 
including  Winchell  and  Brower  in  Minnesota,  have 
well  referred  the  building  of  the  mounds  to  the  ancestors 
of  the  present  Indians." — Warren  Upham  in  Minnesota 
in  Three  Centuries. 

sThe  Dakoian  stock  embraced  many  tribes  and 
according  to  Indian  tradition  came  from  the  Atlantic 
seaboard.  Their  original  homes,  according  to  the  best 
authorities,  were  in  the  Carolinas,  Virginia,  and 
possibly  portions  of  the  Gulf  coast.  Into  that  region 
formerly  the  buffalo  ranged.  It  is  suggested  that  the 
quest  for  food  probably  led  the  Dakotas  to  follow  the 
movements  of  that  animal  and  thus  in  time  to  possess 
the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi  river. 

The  migration,  which  occurred  several  centuries 
before  the  discovery  of  America,  covered  a  great  length 
of  time  and  was  by  way  of  the  Ohio  valley,  which  was 
the  home  of  the  Dakotas  at  one  time.  Some  authori- 
ties assert  that  the  Dakotan  stock  built  at  least  a  part 
of  the  celebrated  mounds  of  the  Ohio  valley,  as  well 
as  those  of  Eastern  Tennessee  and  West  Virginia. 

The  most  important  branches  of  the  Dakotan  stock 
that  migrated  to  the  West  are  given  as  follows 
(abridged)  in  The  Aborigines  of  Minnesota,  published 
by  the  Minnesota  Historical  Society  in  1911: 

"Hidatsa.  The  Minitari  or  Gros  Ventres  of  the 
Missouri  valley.  Probably  the  first  of  the  expelled 
mound  builders  to  reach  Minnesota. 


Sioux  and  Crees,  driving  the  Sioux  to 
the  south  and  the  Crees  to  the  north. 
Thenceforth  until  the  white  man  sup- 
planted the  red  these  two  tribes  occupied 
all  the  area  of  Minnesota,  the  Ojibways 
holding  the  northeastern  wooded  half 
and  the  Sioux  its  prairie  half  on  the 
southwest . 

The  Sioux  nation  was  divided  into 
several  different  tribes,  each  of  which 
laid  claim  to  certain  tracts.  The  south- 
western part  of  Minnesota,  including  the 
present  county  of  Lyon,  was  claimed  by 
the  Sissiton  tribe.  The  location  of  the 
several  bands  inhabiting  Southern  Min- 
nesota in  1834  has  been  told  by  the 
missionary,  S.  W.  Pond,  who  came  to 
Minnesota  that  year.     He  has  written: 

"The  villages  of  the  .M'dewakanton- 
wan  were  on  the  Minnesota  and  Mis- 
sissippi rivers,  extending  from  Winona 
to  Shakopee.  Most  of  the  Indians  living 
on  the  Minnesota  river  above  Shakopee 
were  Warpetonwan.  At  Big  Stone  lake 
there  were  both  Warpetonwan  and 
Sissitonwan,  and  at  Lake  Traverse 
lhanktonwan  [Yankton],  Sissitonwan 
and  Warpetonwan.  Part  of  the  War- 
pekute  lived  on  Cannon  river  and  part 
at    Traverse    des    Sioux.     There    were 

"Crows,  or  Absaruka,  or  Upsarata.  Still  further  up 
the  Missouri  river. 

"Mandan.     On  the  Missouri  river. 

"Sioux,  or  Dakota.  Embraced  San  tee  (Issanti), 
Sissiton,  Wahpeton,  Yankton,  Yanktonai,  Teton 
(embracing  Brule,  Sans  Arcs,  Blackfeet,  Minneconjou, 
Two  Kettles,  the  Ogallala  and  the  Hunkpapa)  and  the 
Assiniboin,  or  Stone  Sioux. 

"Winnebago.  Originally  in  Central  Wisconsin  and 
Northwestern  Illinois  and  later  in  Northern  Minnesota 
and  Iowa. 

"Omaha  (Maha)  and  their  kindred,  Ponca,  Osage, 
Kwapa  and  Kansa.  Formerly  of  the  Ohio  and  Wabash 
rivers.  Later  in  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Nebraska, 
sometimes  extending  their  domains  temporarily  to 
Minnesota  and  the  Black  Hills. 

"Iowa  (Dusty  Heads).  Included  also  the  Otoe  and 
the  Missouri.  Along  the  Mississippi  river  north  of  the 
Missouri,  along  the  Des  Moines  river,  and  temporarily 
in  Minnesota." 

The  word  Dakota,  by  which  the  Indians  preferred  to 
be  designated,  signifies  allies,  or  joined  together  in 
friendly  compact.  But  from  the  earliest  days  the 
nation  has  been  more  commonly  referred  to  as  Sioux, 
a  word  of  Ojibway  origin  and  bestowed  by  the  French 
voyageurs.  For  centuries  the  Ojibways  of  the  Lake 
Superior  country  waged  war  against  the  Dakotas  and 
whenever  they  spoke  of  the  latter  they  called  them 
Nadowaysioux,  which  signifies  enemies.  The  French- 
men nicknamed  the  Dakotas  Sioux,  a  contraction  of 
the  Ojibway  word. 


IIlSTOltV  OP  LYON  COUNTY. 


27 


frequent  intermarriages  between  these 
divisions  of  the  Dakotas,  and  they  were 
more  or  less  intermingled  at  all  their 
villages.  Though  the  manners,  lan- 
guage and  dress  of  the  different  divisions 
were  not  all  precisely  alike,  they  were 
essentially  one  people." 

As  has  been  mentioned  before,  the 
southwestern  part  of  Minnesota  was  the 
country  of  the  Sissiton  branch  of  the 
Sioux  nation  from  the  time  white  men 
first  visited  it,  The  timber  land  along 
the  Redwood  river  in  Lyon  county  was 
a  paradise  for  these  Indians  of  the 
prairie  and  some  of  the  band  had  their 
homes  there;  others  frequented  it  on 
trapping  and  hunting  expeditions  and 
to  gather  the  syrup  from  the  maple  trees. 

Parker  I.  Pierce,  who  passed  through 
Lyon  county  in  the  early  sixties  and 
was  quite  well  informed  on  Indian 
affairs,  has  given  an  interesting  account 
of  Indian  life  in  Lyon  county  before  the 
coming  of  white  settlers.  In  the  Lyon 
County  Reporter  of  December  2G,  1896, 
he  wrote: 

At  Lynd  there  were  about  1500  acres  of 
timber  (most  of  it  having  later  been  cut  by 
the  settlers),  consisting  of  oak,  bass  and  sugar 
maple.  This  timber  was  paradise  for  the 
Indians,  furnishing  shelter  and  fuel  for  winter 
and  a  feeding  ground  for  their  ponies.  In  the 
summer  they  would  hunt  and  kill  buffalo  and 
dry  the  meat  for  winter.  After  the  cold  weather 
set  in  they  devoted  their  time  to  trapping  the 
fur-bearing  animals,  such  as  otter,  mink  and 
muskrats,  which  were  abundant.  In  every 
slough  one  could  count  from  three  to  forty 
houses  or  dens,  which  were  made  of  rushes  and 
varied  in  height.  When  there  was  to  be  high 
water  in  the  spring  they  were  built  high,  and 
when  low  water  they  were  built  low.  That  sign 
hardly  ever  failed.  Now  the  rats  have  dis- 
appeared. The  otter  were  not  very  plentiful, 
as  the  Indians  kept  them  well  trapped  out. 
Their  skins  brought  a  fair  price,  probably  two 
quarts  of  brown  sugar.  Wolves  were  very 
plentiful  before  the  white  trapper  came  among 
them.  The  Indian  was  so  superstitious  that  he 
would  not  kill  any;  he  said  they  were  his  Great 
Father's  dogs.     The  same  with  a  snake. 

As  I  said  before,  there  were  plenty  of  sugar 
maples  and  the  Indian  women  made  hundreds 
of  pounds  of  sugar.  In  the  spring  the  surplus 
would  go  to  the  Indian  trader  and  shortly  would 
be  traded   back  to  them  for  furs  and   robes. 


Each  band  of  Indians  had  their  allotment  of 
trees.  The  troughs  that  were  made  to  catch 
the  sap  remained  under  the  trees  until  the 
following  spring;  then  the  same  ones  would  go 
back  to  their  camping  ground. 

The  Indians  were  happy  and  rich  with  ponies. 
Their  burial  places  were  the  oaks  that  stood  on 
the  bluffs.  The  ones  that  died  were  wrapped 
in  a  blanket  and  put  in  the  fork  of  a  tree  and 
left  there  until  they  crumbled  to  dust.  The 
older  settlers  can  recollect  seeing  the  burial 
places  in  Lyons  township,  adjoining  the  town 
of  Lynd. 

There  is  a  mound  the  settlers  call  the  knob, 
which  is  no  doubt  an  ancient  burial  place. 
This  knob  looks  as  though  the  dirt  had  been 
carried  and  laid  as  systematically  as  for  some 
observatory  or  look-out  place;  for  one  can 
stand  there  and  see  for  miles  in  each  direction. 
It  once  faced  a  lovely  sheet  of  water  which  is 
now  dry  and  is  one  of  the  best  stock  farms  in 
the  Northwest,  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr. 
Ruliffson  and  sons.  This  mound  has  been  nearly 
ruined  by  wolf  hunters.  There  have  been 
human  bones  found  when  digging  for  wolves. 
Years  ago  there  was  a  hard-beaten  trail  leading 
to  this  mound  from  the  timber,  thence  toward 
Wood  lake,  passing  a  very  high  peak  where  there 
was  a  large  pile  of  rocks  one  could  see  for  miles. 
No  doubt  this  mound  and  peak  have  been  used 
for  look-outs,  as  the  enemy,  another  tribe,  was 
very  troublesome. 

The  history  of  Lyon  county  before 
the  white  race  took  possession  must  be 
left  almost  entirely  to  the  imagination; 
there  is  little  data  from  which  to  write 
it.  If  inanimate  things  could  speak, 
what  wild  tales  of  Indian  adventure 
could  be  poured  forth!  But  inanimate 
things  cannot  speak  and  the  animate 
aborigine  is  a  notoriously  worthless 
historian,  so  a  very  interesting  part  of 
the  history  of  Lyon  county  must  forever 
remain  unrecorded.  Only  trifling  bits 
of  history,  intermingled  with  a  plethora 
of  legend,  are  preserved  of  the  days 
before  the  Caucasian  race  took  pos- 
session. 

Let  us,  in  imagery,  take  a  look  at  the 
Lyon  county  of  years  gone  by,  when  it 
was  in  primeval  state,  when  it  was  as 
Nature  had  formed  it.  Its  topography 
was  practically  the  same  as  we  find  it  to- 
day. There  were  the  same  broad,  rolling 
prairies,  stretching  as  far  as  the  eye 
might  reach,  presenting  in  summer  a 
perfect    paradise    of    verdure,    with    its 


28 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


variegated  hues  of  flowers  and  vegeta- 
tion; in  winter  a  dreary  and  snow- 
mantled  desert.  The  rivers  and  creeks 
flowed  in  the  same  courses  as  now;  the 
lakes  occupied  the  same  banks  as  at  the 
present  day.     But  what  a  contrast! 

"Wild  beasts  and  birds  and  wilder  red 
men  then  reigned  supreme.  Vast  herds 
of  bison,  elk  and  deer  roamed  the  open 
prairies  and  reared  their  young  in  the 
more  sheltered  places  along  the  streams. 
With  that  wonderful  appreciation  of  the 
beautiful  which  Nature  has  made  an 
instinct  in  the  savage,  the  untutored ' 
Sioux  selected  the  country  as  his  hunting- 
ground  and  roamed  it  at  will.  Such 
was  the  Lyon  county  before  the  march 
of  civilization  brought  the  white  man  to 
supplant  the  red. 

Before  introducing  the  first  white  man 
who  set  foot  on  the  soil  of  Lyon  county, 
let  us  review  briefly  the  explorations 
that  had  been  made  in  other  parts  of 
Minnesota. 

White  men  first  penetrated  the  North- 
west country  to  the  present  state  of 
Minnesota  in  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  (1655-56).  In  1683  the 
first  map  on  which  physical  features  of 
Minnesota  were  pictured  was  published 
in  connection  with  Father  Hennepin's 
writings.  The  map  is  very  A'ague  and 
demonstrates  that  little  was  known  of 
the  Northwest  country.  Five  years 
later,  in  1688,  J.  B.  Franquelin,  a 
Canadian-French  geographer,  drafted 
for  King  Louis  XVI.  of  France  a  more 
detailed  map  of  North  America,  making 
use  of  information  gathered  by  .loliet 
and  Marquette,  La  Salle,  Hennepin, 
DuLuth  and  others.  Some  of  the  prin- 
cipal streams  and  lakes  are  marked  and 
more  or  less  accurately  located,  among 
others  the  R.  des  Moingene  (Des 
Moines),   which  rises  not   far  from  our 


territory.  The  data  for  a  greater  ^part 
of  the  map  were  doubtless  secured  from 
the  Indians. 

A  few  French  explorers,  named  above, 
had  penetrated  the  present  area  of 
Minnesota,  but  none  of  them  had  ex- 
plored the  southwestern  portion.  The 
first  white  man  to  visit  the  interior  of 
Southern  Minnesota  was  Le  Sueur,  who 
in  1700  ascended  the  Minnesota  river  to 
near  the  present  site  of  Mankato. 

In  1699  Le  Sueur  received  a  com- 
mission from  DTberville  to  visit  and 
examine  a  copper  mine  which  the 
former  claimed  to  have  learned  of  in 
the  country  of  the  Iowas.4  In  April, 
1700,  with  a  company  of  about  twenty- 
five  persons  he  set  out  from  the  settle- 
ment on  the  lower  Mississippi  with  a 
single  shallop.  On  the  nineteenth  of 
September  he  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
Minnesota  river  and  on  the  last  day  of 
that  month,  having  reached  the  Blue 
Earth  river,  he  built  a  fort  in  which  he 
spent  the  winter.  Fort  L'Huillier, 
named  for  one  of  the  chief  collectors  of 
the  king  of  France,  was  a  league  up  the 
Blue  Earth  river.  A  short  distance 
from  the  fort  the  Frenchmen  gathered 
large  quantities  of  blue  or  green  earth, 
which  they  believed  to  be  copper  ore. 
In  the  spring  of  1701  Le  Sueur  with  a 
part  of  his  force  descended  the  Missis- 
sippi with  the  "ore,"  4000  pounds  of 
which  were  sent  to  France.  The  garri- 
son which  had  been  left  at  Fort  L'Huil- 
lier, having  received  ill  treatment  at  the 
hands  of  the  Indians  and  having  run 
short  of  provisions,  in  1703  returned  to 
civilization  in  charge  of  Derague. 

The  data  secured  by  Le  Sueur  were 
used  in  the  preparation  of  a  map  of  the 
Northwest  country  by  William  De  L'isle. 
royal  geographer  of  France,  in  1703. 
Several  of  the  larger  and  more  important 


4Le    Sueur   had    first    visited    the    upper    Mississippi 
country  in  16S3  with  Perrot,  in  the  interests  of  trade. 


He  built  a  trading  post  at  Isle  Pelee,  a  few  miles  below 
Hastings,  in  1695. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


20 


physical  features  of  Southwestern  Min- 
nesota were  more  or  less  accurately 
located.  For  the  first  time  the  Minne- 
sota river  appeared  upon  a  map,  being 
labeled  R.  St.  Pierre,  or  Mini-Sota. 
The  Des  Moines  river  also  has  a  place 
on  the  map,  being  marked  Des  Moines, 
or  le  Moingona  R.,  and  its  source  was 
definitely  located.  There  is  nothing  in 
the  writings  of  Le  Sueur,  however,  to 
lead  to  the  belief  that  he  extended  his 
exploration  to  any  country  except  along 
the  Minnesota  river  and  not  much 
farther  up  that  stream  than  the  mouth 
of  the  Blue  Earth. 

During  the  next  sixty-six  years  after 
Le  Sueur  visited  the  Minnesota  river 
country,  no  white  man  was  in  South- 
western Minnesota,  so  far  as  we  know. 
Then,  in  November,  1766,  Jonathan 
Carver  ascended  the  Minnesota  and 
spent  seven  months  with  the  Indians  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Cottonwood  river,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  present  city  of  New  Ulm. 
He  remained  with  the  Indians  until 
April,  1767,  and  learned  their  language. 5 

5Of  his  trip  to  this  point  Carver  wrote: 

"On  the  twenty-fifth  [of  November,  1766]  I  returned 
to  my  canoe,  which  I  had  left  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
St.  Pierre  [Minnesota];  and  here  I  parted  with  regret 
from  my  young  friend,  the  prince  of  the  Winnebagoes. 
The  river  being  clear  of  ice  by  reason  of  its  southern 
situation,  I  found  nothing  to  obstruct  my  passage. 
On  the  twenty-eighth,  being  advanced  about  forty 
miles,  I  arrived  at  a  small  branch  that  fell  into  it  from 
the  north;  to  which,  as  it  had  no  name  that  I  could 
distinguish  it  by,  I  gave  my  own,  and  the  reader  will 
find  it  in  the  plan  of  my  travels  denominated  Carver's 
river.  About  forty  miles  higher  up  I  came  to  the 
forks  of  the  Verd  [Blue  Earth]  and  Red  Marble  [Waton- 
wan] rivers,  which  join  at  some  little  distance  before 
they  enter  the  St.  Pierre. 

"The  river  St.  Pierre  at  its  junction  with  the  Mis- 
sissippi is  about  a  hundred  yards  broad  and  continues 
that  breadth  nearly  all  the  way  I  sailed  upon  it.  It 
has  a  great  depth  of  water  and  in  some  places  runs 
very  swiftly.  About  fifteen  miles  from  its  mouth  are 
some  rapids  and  much  higher  up  are  many  others. 

"I  proceeded  up  this  river  about  200  miles,  to  the 
country  of  the  Nadowessies  [Sioux]  of  the  plains, 
which  lies  a  little  above  the  fork  formed  by  the  Verd 
and  Red  Marble  rivers  just  mentioned,  where  a  branch 
from  the  south  [the  Cottonwood]  nearly  joins  the 
Messorie  [Missouri]  river."  [The  sources  of  the  Cot- 
tonwood river  are  near  those  of  Rock  river,  the  latter 
being  a  tributary  of  the  Missouri.] 

6From  information  received  from  the  Indians  Carver 
made  some  wonderful  deductions  as  to  the  physical 
features  of  the  country.  In  his  narrative  of  the  trip 
he  wrote: 

"By  the  accounts  I  received  from  the  Indians  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  the  river  St.  Pierre  [Minnesota] 
and  the  Messorie  [Missouri],  though  they  enter  the 
Mississippi  twelve  hundred  miles  from  each  other, 
take  their  rise  in  the  same  neighborhood,  and  this 
within    the   space   of   a    mile.     The    river    St.    Pierre's 


It  is  possible  that  Carver  during  this 
time  may  have  visited  the  country 
which  is  now  included  within  the  bound- 
aries of  Lyon  county,  for  he  hunted 
with  the  Indians  over  some  of  the  great 
plains  of  Southwestern  Minnesota  which, 
"according  to  their  [the  Indians']  ac- 
count, are  unbounded  and  probably 
terminate  on  the  coast  of  the  Pacific 
ocean."'1 

Undoubtedly  white  men,  engaged  in 
trade  with  the  natives  or  trapping  and 
hunting  for  the  fur  companies  or  for 
themselves,  visited  that  part  of  South- 
western Minnesota  which  is  now  desig- 
nated Lyon  county  in  the  early  part  of 
the  nineteenth  century.  But  such  men 
left  no  records  of  their  operations,  and 
our  information  concerning  the  explora- 
tion of  the  country  is  obtained  almost 
wholly  from  expeditions  sent  out  by 
the  government. 

An  early  visitor  to  Southwestern 
Minnesota  was  Major  Stephen  H.  Long, 
who  conducted  a  party  of  exploration, 
under  direction  of  the  secretary  of  war, 

northern  branch  [that  is,  the  main  river]  rises  from  a 
number  of  lakes  [Big  Stone  lake]  near  the  Shining 
Mountains  [the  Coteau  des  Prairies]  and  it  is  from 
some  of  these  also  that  a  capital  branch  [Red  River  of 
the  North]  of  the  river  Bourbon  [Nelson  river],  which 
runs  into  Hudson's  Bay,  has  its  sources.  ...  I  have 
learned  that  the  four  most  capital  rivers  of  North 
America,  viz.,  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  Mississippi,  the 
River  Bourbon  [Nelson]  and  the  Oregon  [Columbia], 
or  River  of  the  VVest,  have  their  sources  in  the  same 
neighborhood.  The  waters  of  the  three  former  are 
within  thirty  miles  of  each  other;  the  latter,  however, 
is  rather  farther  west. 

"This  shows  that  these  parts  are  the  highest  lands 
of  North  America;  and  it  is  an  instance  not  to  be 
paralleled  on  the  other  three-quarters  of  the  globe,  that 
four  rivers  of  such  magnitude  should  take  their  rise 
together  and  each,  after  running  separate  courses, 
discharge  their  waters  into  different  oceans  at  the 
distance  of  2000  miles  from  their  source." 

Of  the  country  through  which  he  traveled  Carver 
wrote : 

"The  river  St.  Pierre,  which  runs  through  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Nadowessies  flows  through  a  most  delightful 
country,  abounding  with  all  the  necessaries  of  life  that 
grow  spontaneously,  and  with  a  little  cultivation  it 
might  be  made  to  produce  even  the  luxuries  of  life. 
Wild  rice  grows  here  in  great  abundance;  and  every 
part  is  filled  with  trees  bending  under  their  loads  of 
fruit,  such  as  plums,  grapes  and  apples;  the  meadows 
are  covered  with  hops  and  many  sorts  of  vegetables; 
whilst  the  ground  is  stored  with  useful  roots,  with 
angelica,  spikenard  and  ground  nuts  as  large  as  hens' 
eggs  At  a  little  distance  from  the  sides  of  the  river 
are  eminences  from  which  you  have  views  that  cannot 
l,c  exceeded  by  even  the  must  beautiful  of  those  I 
have  already  described  Amidst  these  are  delightful 
groves  and  such  amazing  quantities  of  maples  thai 
they  would  produce  sugar  sufficient  for  any  numbei 
of  inhabitants." 


30 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


to  the  source  of  the  Minnesota  river  and 
to  Lake  Winnipeg  in  1823.  In  the  party 
were  several  scientific  gentlemen  from 
Philadelphia,  among  them  Professor 
William  Keating  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  was  the  historian  of 
the  party. 

It  was  during  the  month  of  July, 
1823,  that  Major  Long  and  party  made 
the  trip  up  the  Minnesota  river,  traveling 
on  the  south  side  of  the  stream.  Pro- 
fessor Keating  mentions  the  Redwood 
river  and  states  that  the  red  pipestone 
was  said  to  exist  on  its  banks  three 
days'  journey  from  its  mouth.  Mention 
is  made  of  Patterson's  rapids,  the  Grand 
portage,  the  Pejehata  Zeze  Watapan 
(Yellow  Medicine)  river,  Beaver  rivulet 
(Lac  qui  Parle  river)  and  other  physical 
features.  Interesting  observations  were 
recorded  respecting  the  fauna  and  flora 
of  the  prairies. 

Another  exploration  of  Southwestern 
Minnesota  was  made  in  the  summer  of 
1835  by  G.  W.  Featherstonhaugh,  an 
English  gentleman.  He  bore  the  title 
United  States  geologist  and  was  com- 
missioned by  Colonel  J.  J.  Abert,  of  the 
Bureau  of  Topographical  Engineers. 
Featherstonhaugh  proceeded  up  the 
Minnesota  river  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance and  explored  parts  of  the  Coteau 
des  Prairies,  which  he  described  at  some 
length.  His  exact  route  is  not  known 
and  it  is  possible  he  passed  through 
Lyon  county.7 

A  white  man  first  established  a  home 
in     Lyon     county    in     1835.     He     was 

'From  Featherstonhaugh's  expedition  resulted  two 
works,  one  entitled  "Report  of  geological  reconnoisance 
made  in  1835  from  the  seat  of  government  by  the  way 
of  Green  Bay  and  the  Wisconsin  Territory  to  the 
Coteau  des  Prairies,  an  elevated  ridge  dividing  the 
Missouri  from  the  St.  Peter's  [Minnesota]  river," 
printed  by  order  of  the  Senate  in  1S36,  and  the  other 
"A  Canoe  Voyage  up  the  Minnay  Sotar,"  published  in 
London  in  1847. 

sMost  of  the  information  concerning  the  operations 
of  Joseph  LaFramboise  herein  contained  was  obtained 
by  Doane  Robinson,  now  secretary  »f  the  South 
Dakota  Historical  Society,  in  an  interview  _  with 
Joseph  LaFramboise,  Jr.,  in  1900.  The  latter  re- 
membered well  the  time  of  the  family's  residence  in 
Lyon   county  and  the  visit  of  George  Catlin  in   1S37. 


Joseph  LaFramboise,  a  trader  in  the 
employ  of  the  American  Fur  Company, 
and  his  post  was  in  the  Lyncl  woods  on 
the  Redwood  river.  There  for  a  period 
of  two  years  he  lived  with  his  family, 
engaged  in  trade  with  the  Indians. 

So  early  as  1826  Joseph  LaFramboise 
was  a  trader,  licensed  by  the  Indian 
agent  at  the  agency  established  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Minnesota  river.  In  the 
late  twenties  he  established  a  trading 
post  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Des 
Moines  river,  probably  in  Murray  county, 
where  in  1829  a  son,  Joseph  LaFram- 
boise, Jr.,  was  born.8  In  1834  he  moved 
the  post  to  the  "Great  Oasis,"  at  about 
the  present  location  of  Lowville,  in 
Murray  county,  remained  there  one 
year,  and  in  1835  removed  the  post  to 
the  Lyncl  woods. 

For  two  years  LaFramboise  and  his 
family  were  residents  of  the  future  Lyon 
county,  he  acting  as  agent  for  the 
American  Fur  Company  in  bartering 
with  the  Indians.  In  1837  he  moved  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Cottonwood  river  and 
the  next  year  to  a  homestead  in  Ridgely 
township,  Nicollet  county,  about  eleven 
miles  above  the  present  site  of  New  Ulm. 
LaFramboise  died  in  1856. 

It  was  in  1837,  while  LaFramboise 
was  residing  in  Lyon  county,  that 
George  Catlin,  the  famous  traveler  and 
Indian  delineator,  traversed  the  county 
on  his  way  to  visit  the  Pipestone 
quarries.9  He  organized  the  expedition 
at  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony  and  was 
accompanied     only     by     Robert     Serril 

His  mother  was  an  Indian  woman,  the  daughter  of 
Walking  Day.  LaFramboise,  Sr.,  was  a  much  married 
man.  His  second  and  third  wives  were  daughters  of 
Sleepy  Eye  and  his  fourth  was  Jane  Dickson,  whom 
In  married  in  1845  at  Traverse  des  Sioux.  That 
marriage  was  the  first  performed  in  what  is  now 
Nicollet  county. 

9George  Catlin  made  the  trip  from  New  York  City, 
traveled  2400  miles,  and  devoted  eight  months'  time, 
"traveling  at  considerable  expense  and  for  part  of  the 
way  with  much  fatigue  and  exhaustion."  He  had 
planned  to  make  the  trip  when  at  Fort  Snelling  in 
1835,  but  learning  of  the  Featherstonhaugh  expedition 
that  year  to  the  Coteau  des  Prairies,  he  postponed  the 
trip  two  years. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


31 


Wood,  "a  young  gentleman  from  Eng- 
land of  fine  taste  and  education/'  and 
mi   Indian  guide,   O-kup-kee  by  name. 

This  little  party  traveled  horseback 
and  followed  the  usual  route  up  the 
Minnesota  on  the  south  side.  At  Trav- 
erse des  Sioux,  near  the  present  site  of 
St.  Peter,  Mr.  Catlin  and  his  companion 
halted  at  the  cabin  of  a  trader,  where 
they  were  threatened  by  a  band  of 
savages  and  warned  not  to  persist  in 
their  determination  to  visit  the  quarries. 
They  continued  on  their  way,  however, 
crossed  to  the  north  side  of  the  river  at 
Traverse  des  Sioux,  proceeded  in  a 
westerly  direction,  and  crossed  the  Min- 
nesota to  the  south  bank  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Waraju  (Cottonwood),  close  to 
the  present  city  of  New  Ulm. 

There  Messrs.  Catlin  and  Wood  left 
the  river  and  journeyed  "a  little  north 
of  west"  for  the  Coteau  des  Prairies. 
They  traveled  through  the  present 
counties  of  Brown,  Redwood  and  Lyon 
and  passed  several  Indian  villages,  at 
several  of  which  they  were  notified  that 
they  must  go  back;  but,  undaunted, 
they  continued  their  journey.  Catlin 
states  in  one  place  that  he  traveled  one 
hundred  miles  or  more  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Cottonwood,  and  in  another  place 
"for  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  or  thirty  miles"  before  reaching 
the  base  of  the  coteau,  when  he  was  still 
"forty  or  fifty  miles  from  the  Pipestone 
quarries."10  He  declared  this  part  of 
the  journey  was  over  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  prairie  countries  in  the  world.11 

Mr.  Catlin  came  to  the  trading  post 
of  the  American  Fur  Company  in  charge 

10Most  of  Catlin's  distances  were  overestimated. 
The  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  Cottonwood  to  the 
base  of  the  coteau  where  he  came  upon  it  is  only  about 
seventy-two  miles  in  a  direct  line;  then  he  was  about 
thirty-six  miles  from  the  quarries. 

lll'This  tract  of  country,  as  well  as  that  along' the 
St.  Peter's  [Minnesota]  river,  is  mostly  covered  with 
the  richest  soil  and  furnishes  an  abundance  of  good 
water,  which  feeds  from  a  thousand  living  springs. 
For  many  miles  we  had  the  coteau  in  view  in  the 
distance  before  us,  which  looked  like  a  blue  cloud 
settling   down   in    the   horizon,    and    we    were   scarcely 


of  Joseph  La  Framboise,  whom  he  re- 
ferred to  as  an  old  friend,  at  the  Lynd 
woods.  From  the  trading  post  the 
intrepid  travelers  journeyed  to  the 
quarries,  guided  by  their  Indian.  The 
explorer  described  the  land  along  the 
route  as  a  series  of  swells  or  terraces, 
gently  rising  one  above  the  other. 
According  to  his  account,  there  was  not 
a  tree  or  bush  to  be  seen  in  any  direction 
and  the  ground  was  covered  with  a 
green  turf  of  grass  five  or  six  inches  high. 

The  next  white  men  to  penetrate 
Lyon  county  were  a  party  of  explorers 
in  the  government  employ,  who  passed 
through  in  the  summer  of  1S3S.  In  the 
party  were  six  men  under  command  of 
Joseph  Nicolas  Nicollet,  with  John  C. 
Fremont,  later  nominee  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  for  president  of  the  United 
States,  second  in  command.12  Among 
the  others  were  Charles  A.  Geyer,  the 
botanist  of  the  expedition;  J.  Eugene 
Flandin  and  James  Renville.  -i{ 

Nicollet  and  Fremont  traveled  from 
Washington  to  St.  Louis  and  thence  up 
the  Mississippi  river  to  H.  H.  Sibley's 
trading  post,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Minnesota  river.  Thence  they  journeyed 
over  the  general  route  of  travel  up  the 
south  side  of  the  Minnesota  river, 
crossing  at  Traverse  des  Sioux.  They 
proceeded  west  across  the  "ox-bow," 
stopping  at  Big  Swan  Jake  in  Nicollet 
county,  and  crossed  the  Minnesota  again 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Cottonwood.  They 
proceeded  up  the  valley  of  the  Cotton- 
wood, on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  to 
a  point  near  the  present  site  of  Lam- 
berton,   and  then  crossed  to  the  south 

sensible  of  the  fact  when  we  had  arrived  at  its  base 
from  the  graceful  and  almost  imperceptible  swells  with 
which  it  commences  its  elevation  above  the  country 
around  it." — North  American  Indians,  by  George 
Catlin.  ,    .  ,     ,  ,  -.,         j-4j 

i-From  1S36  to  1S43  Nicollet,  most  of  the  time 
assisted  by  Fremont,  prosecuted  :i  geographical  survey 
of  the  upper  Mississippi  country.  He  explored  nearlj 
all  portions  of  Minnesota  and  many  other  parts  of  the 
country  theretofore  unvisited.  His  operations  in 
Southwestern  Minnesota  were  (mite  extensive. 


32 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


side  of  the  river  and  struck  across 
country  to  the  west.  They  passed 
through  the  southeast  corner  of  Lyon 
county,  about  where  the  city  of  Tracy 
now  stands,  and  passed  around  the 
north  end  of  Lake  Shetek.  Thence  they 
proceeded  southwestward,  between  Bear 
lakes,  to  the  Pipestone  quarries.13 

After  spending  three  clays  at  the 
Pipestone  quarries,  where  is  now  situated 
the  city  of  Pipestone,  the  Nicollet  party 
visited  and  named  Lake  Benton  (for 
Mr.  Fremont's  father-in-law.  Senator 
Benton)  and  then  proceeded  westward 
into  Dakota,  visiting  and  naming  Lakes 
Preston  (for  Senator  Preston),  Poinsett 
(for  J.  R.  Poinsett,  secretary  of  war). 
Abert,  Thompson,  Tetonkoha,  Kam- 
peska  and  Hendricks.  Before  returhing 
to  civilization  Nicollet  visited  Big  Stone 
lake  and  other  places  to  the  north.  He 
returned  to  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony  by 
way  of  Joseph  Renville's  camp  on  the 
Lac  qui  Parle. 

As  a  result  of  Nicollet's  exploration 
several  physical  features  of  Lyon  county 
and  the  immediate  vicinity  were  given 
names  and  appeared  on  a  map  for  the 
first  time,  all  quite  accurately  located. 
Among  them  are  St.  Peter  or  Minisotah 
river  (on  which  are  shown  Crooked 
rapids,  Rock  Bar  rapids  and  Patterson's 
rapids),  Tchanshayapi  or  Redwood  R., 
Waraju  [Cottonwood]  R.,  Pejuta  Zizi  R. 
or     Yellow     Medicine     R.,     L.     Shetek 

13On  Nicollet's  map,  issued  in  1843.  his  route  to  the 
quarries  is  indicated  by  a  fine  dotted  line.  This  map 
at  the  time  it  was  issued  was  the  most  complete  and 
correct  one  of  the  upper  Mississippi  country.  It 
covered  all  of  Minnesota  and  Iowa,  about  one-half  of 
Missouri,  and  much  of  the  Dakotas,  Wisconsin  and 
Illinois.  The  author  save  names  to  many  streams  and 
lakes  and  gave  the  first  representation  of  the  striking 
topographical  features  of  the  western  and  northern 
parts  of  Minnesota.  He  located,  by  astronomical 
observations,  the  numerous  streams  and  lakes  and  the 
main  geographical  features  of  the  state,  filling  in  by 
eye-sketching  and  by  pacing  the  intermediate  objects. 

Other  explorers  had  visited  and  described  the  Coteau 
des  Prairies,  but  Nicollet  was  the  first  one  to  define  its 
boundaries  on  a  map.  He  described  the  region  west 
of  the  Mississippi  as  containing  several  plateaus,  or 
elevated  prairies,  which  marked  the  limits  of  the 
various  river  basins.  The  most  remarkable  of  these, 
he  declared,  was  the  Plateau  du  Coteau  ties  Prairies 
(plateau  of  prairie  heights),  a  name  bestowed  by  the 
earlier  French   explorers,   and   Coteau   du   Grand    Bois 


(designated  as  the  head  of  the  Moin- 
gonan  [Des  Moines]  river),  L.  Benton 
and  Red  Pipestone  Quarry.  On  his 
map  the  country  along  the  Minnesota 
river  is  labeled  Warpeton  country  and 
that  further  south  Sissiton  country. 

The  next  recorded  visit  of  white  men 
was  in  1844,  when  an  expedition  in 
charge  of  Captain  J.  Allen  came  up  the 
Des  Moines  river,  operating  chiefly  to 
chart  that  and  other  streams.  He 
passed  through  Jackson,  Cottonwood 
and  Murray  counties  and  came  to  Lake 
Shetek,  which  he  decided  was  the  source 
of  the  Des  Moines  river.  He  gave  that 
body  of  water  the  name  Lake  of  the 
Oaks  and  described  it  as  remarkable  for 
a  singular  arrangement  of  the  penin- 
sulas running  into  it  from  all  sides  and 
for  a  heavy  growth  of  timber  that 
covered  the  peninsulas  and  the  borders 
of  the  lake. 

With  Lake  Shetek  as  temporary  head- 
quarters, Captain  Allen  extended  his 
explorations  in  several  directions.  He 
proceeded  due  north  from  the  lake  and 
crossed  the  Cottonwood  and  later  the 
Redwood  near  the  present  site  of 
Marshall.  When  thirty-seven  miles 
north  of  Lake  Shetek  he  turned  east 
and  crossed  the  Redwood  again  near  the 
site  of  Redwood  Falls.  From  the  mouth 
of  the  Redwood  he  explored  the  south 
shore  of  the  Minnesota  river  several 
miles    up    and    down    and    returned    to 

(wooded  heights).  Nicollet  described  the  Coteau  des 
Prairies  as  a  vast  plain,  elevated  1916  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  ocean  and  890  feet  above  Big  Stone  lake, 
lying  between  latitudes  forty-three  and  fortv-six 
degrees,  extending  from  northwest  to  southeast  for  a 
distance  of  200  miles,  its  width  varying  from  fifteen 
to  forty  miles.  On  the  map  he  located  it  as  extending 
from  a  point  a  short  distance  northwest  of  Lake 
Traverse  in  a  southeasterly  direction  into  Iowa,  in- 
cluding the  western  part  of  Lyon  county. 

Of  the  country  through  which  he  passed  on  his  way 
to  the  quarries  Nicollet  wrote: 

"Whatever  people  may  fix  their  abode  in  this  region 
must  necessarily  become  agriculturists  and  shepherds, 
drawing  all  their  resources  from  the  soil.  They  must 
not  only  raise  the  usual  agricultural  products  for 
feeding,  as  is  now  but  too  generally  done  in  some  parts 
of  the  West,  but  they  will  have  to  turn  their  attention 
to  other  rural  occupations,  such  as  tending  sheep  for 
their  wool,  which  would  greatly  add  to  their  resources, 
as  well  as  finally  bring  about  a  more  extended  applica- 
tion of  the  industrial  arts  among  them." 


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HISTORY  OF  LYON  COl.'NTY. 


33 


Lake  Shetek.14  The  expedition  then 
set  out  for  t  lie  west  and  went  down  the 
Big  Sioux  river  to  its  month. 

From  events  so  far  recorded  it  can  be 
seen  that  up  to  the  middle  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  the  general  knowledge 
of  the  country  comprising  Southwestern 
Minnesota  was  extremely  Hunted.  For 
a  decade  after  Captain  Allen  passed 
through  Lyon  county  in  1S44  there  are 
no  records  of  the  visits  of  other  white 
men,  although  undoubtedly  some  of  the 
traders  who  had  headquarters  on  the 
Minnesota  river  trod  its  soil  occasionally. 

Excepting  what  these  nomadic  people 
of  the  Indian  country  knew,  we  find 
that  when  Minnesota  Territory  was 
created  in  1849  the  southwestern  portion 
was  a  veritable  terra  incognita.15  In 
fact,  all  the  land  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river  was  still  in  undisputed  ownership 
of  the  Sioux  bands,  and  white  men 
(excepting  the  licensed  traders)  had  no 
rights  whatever  in  the  country.  But 
the  tide  of  immigration  to  the  West  had 
set  in  and  settlers  were  clamoring  for 
admission  to  the  rich  lands  west  of  the 
river.  In  time  the  legal  barrier  was 
removed.16 

In  the  spring  of  1851  President 
Fillmore,  at  the  solicitation  of  residents 
of  Minnesota  Territory,  directed  that 
a  treaty  with  the  Sioux  be   made  and 

14"From  Lizard  creek  of  the  Des  Moines  to  the 
source  of  the  Des  Moines,  and  thence  east  to  the  St. 
Peter's,  is  a  range  for  elk  and  common  deer,  but 
principally  elk.  Wre  saw  a  great  many  of  the  elk  on 
our  route  and  killed  many  of  them ;  they  were  some- 
times seen  in  droves  of  hundreds,  but  were  always 
difficult  to  approach  and  very  difficult  to  overtake  in 
chase,  except  with  a  fleet  horse  and  over  good  ground. 
No  dependence  could  be  placed  in  this  country  for  the 
subsistence  of  troops  marching  through  it." — Captain 
Allen's  Report. 

15" Westward  of  the  Mississippi  river  the  country 
was  unexplored  and  virgin.  There  were  wide  expanses 
of  wild  and  trackless  prairie,  never  traversed  by  a 
white  man,  which  are  now  the  highly  developed  coun- 
ties of  Southern  and  Southwestern  Minnesota,  with 
their  fine  and  flourishing  cities  and  towns  and  the  other 
institutions  that  make  for  a  state's  eminence  and 
greatness.  Catlin  had  passed  from  Little  Rock  to  the 
Pipestone  quarry;  Nicollet  and  his  surveying  party- 
had  gone  over  the  same  route  and  had  traveled  along 
the  Minnesota.  Sibley  and  Fremont  had  chased  elk 
over  the  prairies  in  what  are  now  Steele,  Dodge, 
Freeborn  and  Mower  counties;  the  Missouri  cattle 
drovers  had  led  their  herds  to  Fort  Snelling  and  up  to 


named  as  commissioners  to  conduct  the 
negotiations  Governor  Alexander  Ram- 
sey, ex-officio  commissioner  for  Minne- 
sota, and  Luke  Lea,  the  national  com- 
missioner of  Indian  affairs.  These 
commissioners  completed  a  treaty  with 
the  Sissiton  and  Wahpaton  bands — the 
upper  bands,  as  they  were  usually 
called — at  Traverse  des  Sioux  (near  the 
present  site  of  St.  Peter)  during  the 
latter  part  of  July,  1851.  Immediately 
thereafter  the  commissioners  proceeded 
to  Mendota  (near  St.  Paul),  where  they 
were  successful  in  making  a  treat}-  with 
the  AVahpakoota  and  M'daywakanton 
bands. 

The  treaties  were  ratified,  with  im- 
portant amendments,  by  Congress  in 
1852.  The  amended  articles  were  signed 
by  the  Indians  in  September,  1852,  and 
in  February  of  the  next  year  President 
Fillmore  proclaimed  the  treaties  in 
force.  By  this  important  proceeding 
the  future  Lyon  county  passed  from 
the  ownership  of  the  Sioux  to  the  United 
States.  By  the  two  treaties  there  were 
transferred  about  30,000,000  acres  from 
8000  Indians,  the  greater  portion  of  the 
land  lying  in  Minnesota.17  The  price 
paid  was  about  twelve  and  one-half 
cents  per  acre. 

After  the  lands  were  ceded  settlers 
poured    into    the    country    west    of   the 

the  Red  River  regions,  but  in  all,  not  fifty  white  men 
had  passed  over  the  tract  of  territory  now  comprising 
Southern  and  Southwestern  Minnesota  when  the 
territory  was  admitted  in  1849." — Return  I.  Holcombe 
in  Minnesota  in  Three  Centuries. 

18In  1841  a  treaty  was  negotiated  by  J.  B.  Doty, 
governor  of  Wisconsin,  in  councils  held  at  Traverse  des 
Sioux,  Mendota  and  Wabasha,  by  the  terms  of  which 
the  Sioux  were  to  cede  about,  25,000,000  acres  of  hind, 
but  the  treaty  was  not  confirmed  by  the  Senate. 

17The  territory  ceded  by  the  Indians  was  declared 
to  be:  "All  their  lands  in  the  state  of  Iowa  and  also 
all  their  lands  in  the  territory  of  Minnesota  lying  easl 
of  the  following  line,  to-wit:  Beginning  at  the  junction 
of  the  Buffalo  river  with  the  Red  River  of  the  North 
[about  twelve  miles  north  of  Moorhead,  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  Wood  river  to 
Lake  Traverse;  thence  along  the  western  shore  of  said 
lake  to  the  southern  extremity  1  hereof;  thence  in  :i 
direct  line  to  the  junction  of  Kampeska  lake  with  the 
Tchan-ka-sna-du-ta,  or  Sioux  river;  thence  along  I  In- 
western  bank  of  said  river  to  its  point  of  intersection 


34 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Mississippi  river  and  settlements  were 
founded  at  numerous  places  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  territory.  But  for 
'some  years  they  did  not  extend  so  far 
west  as  Lyon  county,  and  until  after 
the  Sioux  War  the  territory  that  com- 
prises the  county  was  largely  the  same 
virgin  country  it  had  always  been. 

During  the  year  1855  white  people  for 
the  first  time  resided  in  Lyon  county, 
if  we  except  Joseph  LaFramboise,  who 
for  a  short  time  had  a  trading  post 
within  its  boundaries.  In  the  year 
mentioned  James  W.  Lynd  established 
a  trading  post  in  the  Lynd  woods  on  the 
Redwood,  and  Aaron  Myers  and  family 
located  on  the  Cottonwood,  in  the 
present  township  of  Amiret. 

It  was  during  the  month  of  May, 
1855, 18  that  James  W.  Lynd  established 
his  trading  post  on  the  Redwood.  The 
original  site  was  on  land  which  when 
surveyed  was  found  to  be  the  northwest 
quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  5,  Lyons  township, — land  which 
later  was  taken  as  a  homestead  by 
Charles  E.  Goodell.  The  groves  along 
the  Redwood  had  always  been  a  favorite 
camping  ground  of  the  Indians  and  the 
site  was  a  model  one  for  barter  with  the 
natives.  The  fur  trade  was  a  profitable 
one  and  Mr.  Lynd  is  said  to  have 
carried  on  a  successful  business,  trading 
sugar,  blankets,  calico,  tobacco,  ammu- 
nition and  possibly  whisky  for  pelts  of 

with  the  northern  line  of  the  state  of  Iowa;  including 
all  islands  in  said  rivers  and  lakes." 

Excluded  from  this  territory  were  two  reservations. 
That  for  the  upper  Sioux  was  a  tract  of  land  twenty 
miles  wide,  straddling  the  Minnesota  river  from  Lake 
Traverse  to  the  Yellow  Medicine  river.  The  reserva- 
tion for  the  lower  bands  was  of  the  same  width  and 
extended  from  the  upper  reserve  down  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  New  Ulm.  There  were  disputes  regarding 
these  reservations  until  Congress  in  1863  annulled  all 
treaty  obligations  toward  the  Sioux  and  the  Indians 
were  removed  beyond  the  limits  of  the  state. 

ISC.  H.  Whitney  is  the  authority  for  giving  this  date 
as  the  time  of  the  establishment  of  the  post.  He 
obtained  the  information  from  the  half-breed  LeMars 
and  an  old  Indian,  Shoto  John  by  name. 

loWhen  Mr.  Goodell  took  his  claim  in  the  late  sixties 
he  found  the  remains  of  a  burned  buildkig  on  the  site 
of  the  old  post.  In  1880,  while  plowing  for  a  garden 
a  short  distance  north  of  this  place,  he  unearthed  a  tub 
full  of  tools,  consisting  of  several  handsaws,  an  augur, 


the  numerous  fur-bearing  animals. 
During  a  part  of  the  time  he  employed 
in  the  store  a  half-breed,  John  Moore. 

According  to  the  best  information 
available,  the  post  was  conducted  at  the 
original  location  on  section  5  two  years 
and  was  destroyed  by  fire.19  It  was 
then  moved  down  the  river  a  short 
distance  to  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  33,  Lynd  township,  only  a  stone's 
throw  from  the  present  village  of  Lynd. 
It  was  on  land  which  later  became 
known. as  the  Wright  place.  There  he 
built  a  log  cabin,  in  which  he  conducted 
his  business  some  time  longer  and  which 
in  the  late  sixties  was  used  by  the 
settlers  for  various  purposes.  It  is 
unknown  how  long  Mr.  Lynd  operated 
the  post  in  Lyon  county.  He  moved  to 
the  Lower  Agency  on  the  Minnesota 
river,  about  six  miles  below  Redwood 
Falls,  and  there  established  a  store.20 

The  others  wrho  ventured  far  from  the 
limits  of  civilization  and  founded  a  home 
in  Lyon  county  in  1855  were  Aaron 
Myers  and  family.  That  year  he  and 
his  wife  and  children21  made  permanent 
settlement  on  what  is  now  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  31,  Amiret 
township.  Myers  located  there  for  the 
purpose  of  trapping  and  trading  with 
the  Indians,  and  his  home  was  there 
two  years  and  six  months.  Mr.  Myers 
has  told  of  his  residence  there:22 

"I    was    born    in    Herkimer    county, 

chisels,  hoes,  a  handax,  flatiron,  a  teacup  and  saucer. 
The  tub  had  entirely  rotted  away,  only  the  impression 
being  left  by  which  to  determine  what  it  had  been. 
Most  of  the  tools  were  destroyed  by  rust. 

20James  W.  Lynd  was  quite  a  prominent  man  in  the 
affairs  of  the  frontier  country  and  served  as  a  member 
of  the  State  Senate  in  1861.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
victims  of  the  Sioux  massacre,  having  met  his  death 
at  the  store  of  Nathan  Myrick  at  the  Lower  Agency. 
Others  killed  with  him  were  Andrew  J.  Myrick  and 
(I.  \V.  Divoll. 

21Mrs.  Myers'  maiden  name  was  Walkup  and  she 
was  born  in  Vermont  January  31,  1826.  She  died  as 
a  result  of  exposure  during  the  Sioux  massacre.  The 
children  of  the  family  were  as  follows:  Louisa,  born 
May  20,  1850;  Arthur  J.,  born  November  20,  1851; 
Olive  E.,  born  July  24,  1854;  Fred  B.,  born  May  25, 
1857,  died  in  1864;  Addie  J.,  born  May  12,  1861. 

"Interview  by  Doane  Robinson  in  February,  1900. 
At  that  time  Mr.  Myers  resided  near  Garretson,  South 
Dakota.      He  died  there  in  March,  1905. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


35 


New  York,  .June  8,  1825.  I  moved 
from  Polk  county,  Wisconsin,  to  the 
piece  of  land  now  known  as  the  Robin- 
son farm'-'3  on  the  Cottonwood  river, 
four  miles  above  the  present  village  of 
Amiret,  Lyon  county.  Minnesota,  where 
with  my  wife  and  five  children  I  lived 
for  more  than  two  years.  We  planted 
some  corn  and  a  garden,  but  in  the 
main  we  depended  on  trapping  and 
trade  with  the  Indians.  At  first  every- 
thing went  well  with  us  and  our  relations 
with  the  Indians  were  pleasant.'' 

Mr.  Myers  was  known  among  the 
Indians  as  Siha  Sisrinna  (Small  Feet). 
He  was  also  called  Doctor  because  he 
successfully  treated  several  of  the  In- 
dians who. had  sore  eyes  and  also  took 
care  of  those  who  were  sick  or  injured. 
He  became  well-known  among  the 
natives  who  frequented  the  vicinity.24 

During  1S56  and  1857  a  wagon  road 
was  constructed  across  southern  Lyon 
county,  being  a  part  of  the  road  between 
Fort  Ridgely  ami  the  Missouri  river, 
known  as  the  "Fort  Ridgely  and  South 
Pass  Road."  It  was  constructed  by 
the  United  States  government  under 
direction  of  Albert  H.  Campbell,  who 
bore  the  title  of  "General  Superintend- 
ent Pacific  Wagon  Roads,"  but  the  field 
work  was  in  charge  of  Colonel  William 
H.  Nobles.25^ 

23The  home  of  Mr.  Myers  was  not  on  the  George 
Robinson  farm.  W  hen  the  pioneer  revisited  the  scene 
in  later  years  he  recognized  his  old  home  on  the  Grover 
place,  now  the  property  of  L.  F.  O'Brien.  The 
original  house  is  still  standing. 

24Much  of  the  information  concerning  the  early 
settlement  of  Saratoga  (as  the  point  later  was  known) 
is  obtained  from  Dr.  H.  M.  Workman,  of  Tracy,  who 
secured  it  from  Mr.  Myers  and  others.  I  have  also 
made  use  of  data  secured  from  Mr.  Myers  by  Doane 
Robinson,  now  secretary  of  the  South  Dakota  Histor- 
ical Society. 

"Colonel  William  H.  Nobles  was  born  in  1816.  He 
constructed  the  first  wagon  road  in  Minnesota  and 
became  noted  as  the  discoverer  of  the  pass  in  the  Rocky 
mountains  which  shortened  the  emigrant  route  to  the 
Pacific  side  some  500  miles,  and  through  which  the 
Union  Pacific  railroad  now  passes.  A  Minnesota 
county  is  named  in  his  honor.  In  1S61  he  was  president 
of  the  Minnesota  Old  Settlers'  Association. 

-The  course  of  the  road  as  described  by  Albert  H. 
Campbell  in  his  report  to  the  secretary  of  the  Interior 
February  19,   1S59,  was  as  follows: 

"...  This  road  was  completed  only  as  far  as  the 
Missouri  river,  2.54  miles,  some  time  in  the  fall  of  1857, 


The  road  entered  Lyon  county  close 

to  the  line  that  separates  Monroe  and 
Amiret  townships  and  crossed  the  Cot- 
ton wood  on  section  31,  Amiret  town- 
ship, and  section  36,  Sodus  township. 
Thence  it  continued  westward,  crossed 
the  Redwood  river  near  the  present  site 
of  Russell,  and  passed  close  to  Lake 
Benton.  From  the  lake  it  extended  to 
the  Missouri  river.26  The  road  was  in- 
tended as  a  highway  for  emigrant  trains 
to  the  Pacific  coast,  but  the  eastern  end 
of  the  road,  at  least,  was  never  so  used. 

What  particularly  interests  the  people 
of  Lyon  county  is  the  fact  that  Colonel 
Nobles  had  a  permanent  camp  at  the 
crossing  of  the  Cottonwood,  spent  one 
or  two  winters  there  with  his  men, 
erected  a  house,  stables  and  corral,  and 
there  built  the  finest  bridge  on  the  road. 
At  the  camp  was  a  spring  of  water, 
which  later  became  known  as  Nobles' 
Spring,  while  across  the  river  was  a 
fenced  field,  in  which  it  is  believed  the 
roadmakers  raised  a  garden.  The. 
bridge  had  a  substantial  set  of  abut- 
ments and  the  stable  had  a  stone  foun- 
dation laid  in  mortar.  The  ruins  of  the 
Nobles  camp  were  in  existence  many 
years  after  the  county  was  settled. 

The  following  account  of  the  building 
of  the  road  and  the  activities  in  Lyon 
county    is    taken    from    the    report    of 

in  consequence  of  the  insufficiency  of  the  appropria- 
tion and  of  alleged  Indian  hostilities.  The  general 
location  of  this  road  is  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the 
ferry  on  the  Minnesota  river,  which  is  150  feet  wide  at 
this  place,  opposite  Fort  Ridgely.  The  general  course 
of  the  road  is  southwesterly,  passing  through  a  marshy 
region  a  few  miles  south  of  Limping  Devil's  lake  to  the 
north  fork  of  the  Cottonwood,  a  distance  of  about 
seventeen  miles,  thence  to  the  Cottonwood  river,  over 
a  rolling  country,  with  lakes  and  marshes,  about  one 
and  one-half  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Plum  creek, 
distance  about  nineteen  miles.  From  this  point  the 
road  continues  across  Plum  creek  and  three  good 
watering  places  to  the  crossing  of  Cottonwood  at  Big 
Wood,  about  eighteen  and  one-half  miles.  Thence  the 
road  continues  to  Hole-in-the-Mountain,  near  Lake 
Benton,  a  distance  of  about  thirty-two  miles,  passing 
through  a  region  abounding  in  lakes  and  an  abundance 
of  wood,  water  and  grass.  From  Lake  Benton  the 
road  passes  for  the  most  part  over  a  high  prairie  to  the 
Big  Sioux  river,  about  twenty-three  and  one-half  miles. 
.  .  .  This  road,  as  far  as  built,  is  remarkably  direct 
and  is  believed,  from  the  description  of  the  country 
through  which  it  passes,  to  be  the  best  location  which 
could  have  been  made,  securing  a  plentiful  supply  of 
water,  grass  and  timber." 


36 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


Colonel  William  H.  Nobles,  dated  Jan- 
uary 18,  1S58.  "upon  the  Fort  Ridgely 
and  South  Pass  Wagon  Road,  con- 
structed under  the  direction  of  the 
Department  of  the  Interior,  1856-57- 
58  ':-7 

...  I  have  to  report  that  I  have  located 
and  built  a  good  wagon  road  from  Fort  Ridgely 
to  the  Missouri  river,  in  latitude  43  degrees,  47 
minutes,  between  Bijou  hill  and  Fort  "Look- 
out." 

The  road  has  been  selected  and  made  with  a 
view  to  accommodate  the  emigrant,  by  having 
it  pass  through  a  good  country  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  wood  and  water;  and  also,  with  these 
valuable  considerations  always  in  sight,  I  have 
been  able  to  complete  the  road  in  almost  a 
direct  line  from  Fort  Ridgely  to  the  terminus 
on  the  Missouri  river.  .  .  The  rivers  on  the 
road  to  be  crossed  are  North  Branch  of  the 
Cottonwood  river,  Cottonwood  river  (twice), 
Redwood  river,  Medary  creek,  Big  Sioux  river, 
Perrine  creek,  Riviere  du  Jacques  or  James 
river,  besides  a  number  of  small  creeks. 

On  the  Cottonwood  river  I  have  constructed 
a  rough  bridge  adapted  to  the  present  travel, 
but  it  is  important  that  this  river  should  be  well 
bridged  at  both  of  the  crossings.  The  rapid 
flow  of  emigration  to  this  section  of  country  also 
demands  that  the  bridges  be  immediately  con- 
structed. 

...  At  this  time  most  alarming  accounts 
had  been  received  from  the  Yellow  Medicine, 
and  messengers  were  going  through  the  country 
preparing  the  frontiers  in  anticipation  of  a 
general  Indian  war.    .    .    . 

In  view  of  these  difficulties  I  returned  to  my 
former  camp  on  the  Cottonwood  river  and 
employed  my  men  bridging  that  stream  and 
repairing  wagons,  harness,  etc.    .    .    . 

I  have  erected  on  the  Cottonwood  river  a 
substantial  log  house,  with  store-room,  etc., 
and  have  placed  the  stock  and  property  in 
charge  of  a  small  number  of  men.  I  have  also 
erected  good  stables  for  the  protection  of  the 
animals,  cut  and  secured  hay  sufficient,  I  think, 
to  keep  them  through  an  ordinary  winter. 

During  a  part  of  the  time  of  the 
residence  of  the  Myers  family  in  Lyon 
county,  a  trapper,  Charles  Hammer  by 
name — but     commonly    called     "Swede 

-;Secured  through  the  kindness  of  Hon.  Warren 
Upham,  secretary  of  the  Minnesota  Historical  Society. 

2SThe  Dakota  Land  Company  also  laid  out  towns  at 
Flandreau,  Medary,  Sioux  Falls  and  other  points  on 
the  Big  Sioux  river,  far  out  in  the  Indian  country,  and 
planned  big  for  the  colonization  of  the  frontier.  It 
seems  strange,  indeed,  that  any  company  of  sane  men 
would  attempt  to  found  a  town  in  such  a  country  as 
Lyon  county  was  in  1S57,  but  the  act  was  not  more 
out  of  the  ordinary  than  many  that  were  proposed. 

The  fifties  were  remarkable  ones  in  Minnesota 
Territory  by  reason  of  the  immense  tide  of  immigration 
and  the  consequent  activity  in  real  estate  operations. 
The  fever  of  real  estate  speculation  attacked  all  classes. 
Enormous  and  rapid  profits  were  made  by  speculators 


Charley" —made  his  home  there  and 
operated  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Myers 
described  him  as  a  good-natured  fellow. 
but  did  not  know  whence  he  came  or 
what  later  became  of  him. 

J.  H.  Ingalls  is  another  who  estab- 
lished a  home  in  the  same  vicinity 
during  the  time  Mr.  Myers  resided  there. 
With  four  children  (his  wife  was  dead) 
he  located  on  the  Cottonwood  a  little 
above  Mr.  Myers'  home,  also  on  section 
31,  Amiret  township,  and  near  the 
Nobles  stables.  But  little  is  known  of 
Ingalls'  life  in  Lyon  county  and  it  is 
known  that  he  remained  only  a  short 
time.  He  married  again  and  with  his 
wife  and  two  daughters,  aged  twelve 
and  fourteen  years,  met  death  in  the 
massacre  of  1862.  Two  other  children. 
bo3^s,  were  taken  prisoners. 

While  the  Myers  family  was  living  in 
this  out-of-the-way  place,  in  the  spring 
of  1857,  the  Dakota  Land  Company 
located  a  townsite,  named  Saratoga,  on 
section  1,  Custer,  near  the  Myers  home.28 
A  house  was  erected  on  the  townsite 
and  John  Renniker,  an  employe,  was 
left  in  charge.  He  has  been  described 
as  a  plain,  honest  Pennsylvania  Dutch- 
man. The  sole  inhabitant  of  Saratoga 
determined  to  turn  a  penny  to  his  own 
account  and  sold  whisky  to  the  Indians, 
in  consequence  of  which  he  soon  lost 
his  position.  Thereafter  Saratoga  was 
deserted  and  Renniker  made  his  home 
with  Mr.  Myers,  by  whom  he  was  em- 
ployed. 

Mr.  Myers  made  a  trip  to  the  Sioux 

who  had  the  foresight  and  courage  to  venture.  Elab- 
orate schemes  for  big  ventures  were  planned;  nothing 
was  done  in  a  niggardly  manner;  frenzied  finance 
reigned  supreme. 

Railroad  rumors  filled  the  air  and  "paper"  roads 
covered  the  territory  from  one  end  to  the  other,  most 
of  them  backed  by  bonuses  granted  by  the  Legislature. 
Townsite  companies  were  organized  and  extensively 
operated.  Townsites  were  indiscriminately  planted  on 
the  frontier  and  the  Legislature  was  prevailed  upon  to 
establish  wagon  roads  leading  to  them,  to  pass  acts 
declaring  them  incorporated  villages,  and  to  declare 
them  the  county  seats  of  counties  created  for  the 
purpose — counties  in   which  lived  not   a   human   being. 

Such  were  the  conditions  when  Saratoga  was 
founded. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


37 


river  country  in  the  spring  of  1857  with 
a  party  of  the  Dakota  Land  Company, 
I  nit  soon  returned  home.  Upon  his 
return  he  sent  Renniker  with  his  oxen 
and  wagon  to  New  Ulm  for  supplies. 
Contrary  to  his  employer's  expressed 
instructions,  Renniker  bought  a  ten- 
gallon  cask  of  whisky  and  started  home. 
John  Campbell,  a  notorious  half-breed, 
had  witnessed  the  purchase  and  with  a 
party  of  seven  Sioux  warriors  followed 
and  overtook  the  unfortunate  man  near 
the  present  village  of  Walnut  Grove. 
Renniker  was  murdered  and  the  goods 
taken  by  Campbell  and  the  Indians.29 

Renniker's  death  became  known  and 
"Swede  Charley,"  accompanied  by  Hoel 
Parmelee,  one  of  the  settlers  at  Lake 
Shetek,  set"  out  to  hud  the  body.  They 
secured  the  assistance  of  Andrew  Koch, 
who  lived  in  the  vicinity,  and  found  the 
murdered  man  near  Nobles'  crossing  of 
the  Cottonwood,  on  or  near  section  19, 
township  109,  range  38.  The  body  was 
brought  to  Saratoga  and  buried  on  the 
ridge  north  of  Mr.  Myers'  house. 

After  the  murder  Mr.  Myers  feared  to 
have  his  family  exposed  to  Indian  attack 
and  moved  to  the  Lake  Shetek  settle- 
ment, which  had  in  the  meantime  been 
established.  There  he  and  his  family 
resided  until  the  massacre  of  1862,  when 
they  barely  escaped  with  their  lives. 

In  the  late  fifties  when  settlers  pushed 
out  to  the  Lake  Shetek  country  they 
came  over  the  Nobles  road  to  near 
Walnut  Grove  and  then  switched  off 
and  proceeded  to  the  lake  by  way  of 
Lake  Sigel.  This  route  was  said  to 
have    been    taken    because    water    was 

29John  Campbell  was  lynched  in  Mankato  in  1865 
for  the  alleged  murder  of  the  Jewett  family.  He  and 
Mr.  Jewett  had  served  in  the  same  company  in  the 
army  and  after  the  war  Campbell  had  located  near 
LeSueur,  while  Jewett,  who  was  known  to  have  about 
$300  in  cash,  had  returned  to  his  home  on  a  farm  near 
Mankato.  Soon  after,  so  it  was  believed,  Campbell 
and  five  Indians  went  to  the  Jewett  home  and  mur- 
dered the  whole  family  with  the  exception  of  a  baby 
and  Mr.  Jewett's  father,  who  had  been  left  for  dead. 

Campbell  was  taken  into  custody  and  his  life  was 
brought   to   a   close   by   being   suspended   from   a   tree 


more  easily  obtained.  In  1861  a  road 
was  laid  out  between  New  Ulm  and 
Sioux  falls  by  "a  lawyer,  a  cross-eyed 
man  from  Dubuque — called  'Old  Steve' 

and  Hoel  Parmelee,"30  which  made  a 
shorter  route  between  the  two  settle- 
ments than  over  the  Nobles  trail  by  way 
of  Saratoga.  The  trail  crossed  the  lower 
end  of  Lake  Shetek  ami  did  not  touch 
Lyon  county. 

Lyon  county  was  left  destitute  of 
white  inhabitants  after  the  departure  of 
Messrs.  Lynd  and  Myers  and  remained 
so  until  several  years  after  the  Sioux 
War.  During  these  years  white  men 
had  established  homes  almost  to  the 
border  of  the  county,  but  none  had  had 
the  hardihood  to  venture  quite  so  far 
from  the   more   populous   communities. 

Mankato  and  New  Ulm  had  grown 
into  thriving  little  villages  and  the 
country  adjacent  to  them  had  become 
settled.  Farther  up  the  Minnesota  were 
Fort  Ridgely  and  the  two  Indian 
agencies,  at  wmich  resided  many  white 
people.  To  the  south,  Jackson  county 
had  attained  a  population  of  two  or 
three  hundred  people,  a  small  colony 
had  been  established  in  the  Graham 
Lakes  country  of  Nobles  county,  and 
just  over  the  Lyon  county  line,  on  Lake 
Shetek,  there  was  a  thriving  little  settle- 
ment. Even  farther  west,  on  the  Big 
Sioux  river,  colonies  had  been  planted 
and  were  striving  to  hold  the  land.  On 
Lake  Benton  in  after  years  were  found 
ruins  of  the  homes  of  people  who  had 
lived  there  before  the  massacre,  but 
nothing  is  known  of  them  or  their  fate.31 

Thus  we  have  knowledge  that  people 

growing  not  far  from  where  the  Normal  School  now 
stands.  It  is  said  that  a  posse  pursued  the  Indians, 
overtook  them  in  Lyon  county  or  nearby,  and  shot 
down  the  five  accomplices. 

30The  information  originated  with  Hoel  Parmelee  , 
who  settled  at  Lake  Shetek  about  1855,  and  wis 
secured  by  Dr.  H.  M.  Workman. 

31 A  writer  in  the  Lake  Benton  News  of  January  27, 
1881,  said:  "There  is  evidence  that  the  country 
around  Lake  Benton  had  early  settlers.  A  gentleman 
who  settled  at  Lake  Benton  in   March,    1MM.I,  has  said 


38 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


were  living  on  all  sides  of  the  future 
Lyon  county  prior  to  the  outbreak  of 
the  Sioux  War.  But  from  the  time  of 
the  departure  of  the  traders,  Lynd  and 
Myers,  until  after  the  Sioux  were  driven 
from  the  country  we  have  no  record  of 
the  permanent  occupation  of  Lyon 
county  by  white  men. 

But,  while  the  county  was  not  occu- 
pied permanently  during  this  period, 
we  know  that  at  least  a  few  trappers 
operated  here.  Three  such  were  Luther 
C.  Ives,  George  Lamb  and  Charles 
Fesenden.32  The  men  spent  the  winter 
of  1860-61  on  Lake  Shetek  and  the  next 
winter  lived  in  Indian  tepees  at  Saratoga. 
Mr.  Lamb  was  killed  in  the  massacre  of 
August,  1862,  near  New  Ulm  and  Mr. 
Ives  took  part  in  the  defense  of  that 
city. 

Another  man  who  claimed  to  have 
trapped  extensively  in  Lyon  county 
during  this  period  was  T.  J.  Bowers. 
According  to  his  story  he  employed  a 
number  of  trappers  and  had  his  head- 
quarters in  the  vicinity  of  Saratoga, 
where  he  lived  in  a  dug-out.  He  made 
the  statement  that  at  the  time  of  the 
massacre  he  was  a  scout  in  the  govern- 
ment employ,  and  that  he  spent  the 
night  of  August  20,  1862— the  date  of 
the  Lake  Shetek  massacre — in  the  Myers 
cabin  at  Saratoga.33 

It  is  possible  that  temporary  settle- 
ment may  have  been  made  at  another 
point  in  Lyon  county  before  the  Sioux 
War.     On    sections    32    and    29,    Lake 

that  when  he  arrived  there  were  only  two  other  settlers 
in  the  vicinity — William  Taylor  and  Charles  Shindle. 
He  reported  that  there  were  several  vacant  houses 
scattered  around  the  lake — six  of  them — partly  burned. 
There  were  also  several  large  pieces  of  breaking  done. 
On  one  place  there  were  a  large  number  of  rails  and 
posts  split  in  the  timber  and  logs  cut  but  not  split. 
The  writer  asked  several  of  the  Indians  about  this, 
but  they  knew  nothing.  His  opinion  was  that  they 
fell  victims  to  the  1862  massacre.  The  writer  found 
the  skeletons  of  two  persons  about  where  the  Lake 
Benton  depot  now  stands." 

32The  data  for  this  paragraph  were  obtained  from  a 
personal  interview  with  Mr.  Ives,  who  now  lives  in 
South  Dakota.  % 

"Mr.  Bowers  was  in  Tracy  June  9,  1893,  and  in 
company  with  Dr.  H.  M.  Workman,  Earle  Miller  and 
Niel   Currie   he   drove   out   to   the   scenes   of   his   early 


Marshall  township,  the  settlers  of  1870 
found  one  or  two  pieces  of  land  which 
had  been  broken  many  years  before. 
The  furrows  had  grown  over  to  grass 
and  stood  as  solid  as  the  unbroken 
prairie.  Those  who  made  the  discovery 
estimated  that  the  breaking  must  have 
been  done  before  the  massacre. 

Whoever  may  have  resided  in  the 
county  previously  had  departed  before 
the  Indian  outbreak  of  August,  1862, 
and  Lyon  county  was  destitute  of  in- 
habitants when  the  outbreak  occurred. 

Fortunate  was  it  for  Lyon  county 
that  settlements  were  not  located  within 
its  boundaries  when  the  terrible  Sioux 
massacre  came  upon  the  exposed  frontier 
in  the  awful  days  of  August,  1862.  For 
the  fair  soil  of  Southwestern  Minnesota 
was  crimsoned  with  the  blood  of  many 
innocent  men,  women  and  children. 
Fiendish  atrocity,  blood-curdling  cruelty 
and  red-handed  murder  ran  riot.  The 
murder-crazed  redskins  plied  the  rifle 
and  tomahawk  until  not  less  than  eight 
hundred  victims  had  paid  the  penalty 
for  trying  to  extend  the  limits  of  civili- 
zation. The  massacre  was  the  most 
stupendous  one  in  the  annals  of  Indian 
warfare,  and  only  for  the  fact  that  it 
contained  no  settlers  did  Lyon  county 
escape  the  awful  calamity. 

The  valley  of  the  Minnesota  river  was 
drenched  with  blood.  In  the  present 
counties  of  Brown,  Nicollet,  Redwood, 
Renville  and  Yellow  Medicine  men, 
women  and  children  were  butchered  by 

activities.  Of  this  trip  and  the  evidence  that  Mr 
Bowers  had  operated  there  as  maintained.  Dr.  Work- 
man has  written: 

"He  [Bowers]  said  he  would  like  to  drive  out  to 
Saratoga  and  look  that  country  over  once  more. 
That  he  had  been  there  in  an  early  day  cannot  be 
questioned.  We  went  to  the  Nobles  spring,  stable 
and  bridge,  and  from  there  he  pointed  up  the  river  to 
Jim  Morgan's  place  and  said:  'I  was  there  last  in 
1864  and  never  returned — left  in  January.'  .... 
We  drove  over  and  a  short  way  up  the  river,  and  about 
seventy-five  feet  from  it,  on  the  banks  of  a  small 
creek,  we  found  the  dug-out  as  described.  It  was  west 
of  George  Robinson's  and  south  of  the  fenced  field. 
Robinson  and  Morgan  had  never  seen  it.  .  .  .  He 
claimed  that  he  had  left  in  the  dug-out  several  hundred 
traps  and  that  he  employed  fourteen  men  to  trap 
We  dug  out  the  place,  but  found  nothing." 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


39 


the  hundreds.  At  other  exposed  points 
in  Southwestern  Minnesota  the  redskins 
fell  upon  the  settlers  and  enacted  lesser 
tragedies — lesser  only  because  their  vic- 
tims were  not  so  numerous.  At  Wood 
lake,  only  a  few  miles  from  the  Lyon 
county  line,  was  fought  the  deciding 
battle  of  the  war.  At  Lake  Shetek, 
just  beyond  the  southern  boundary  of 
Lyon  county,  occurred  one  of  the  famous 
butcheries  of  the  massacre,  participated 
in  by  Indians  who  had  their  homes  on 
the  Redwood  river  in  Lyon  county. 

In  the  settlement  at  Lake  Shetek  at 
the  time  of  the  massacre  were  about 
fifty  persons,  consisting  of  the  following 
named  men  and  their  families:  John 
Eastlick,  Charles  Hatch.  Phineas  B. 
Hurd,34  John  Wright,  William  J.  Duley, 
H.  W.  Smith,  Aaron  Myers,35  William 
Everett,36  Thomas  Ireland,  Andrew 
Koch;  and  the  following  named  single 
men:  William  Jones,37  Edgar  Bentle}r, 
*John  Voigt,  E.  G.  Koch,  John  F.  Burns 
and  Daniel  Burns.38 

On  the  twentieth  of  August  about 
twenty  Sioux  came  to  the  lake  and 
ruthlessly  murdered  a  number  of  the 
settlers,  wounded  many  more,  and  took 
some  into  captivity.  They  were  headed 
by  White  Lodge,  chief  of  one  of  the 
upper  bands,  and  accompanying  them 
were  Grizzly  Bear  (also  known  as  Lean 
Bear)  and  others  from  the  Lynd  woods.39 
These  Indians  were  acquainted  with  the 
Lake  Shetek  settlers  and  in  the  past  had 
been  shown  many  kindnesses  by  them. 
Their  attack  was  the  basest  treachery. 

The  first  home  visited  was  that  of 
Phineas  B.  Hurd,  who  was  absent  at  the 
time.  Ten  of  the  Indians  entered  the 
house  and  while  Mrs.  Hurd  prepared 
breakfast  talked  and  smoked  their  pipes. 
E.  G.  Voigt,  the  hired  man.  picked  up 

34Was  absent  at  the  time  of  the  massacre 
35Had  formerly  lived  in  Lyon  county. 
36Later  became  a  resident  of  Marshall. 
87Was  absent  at  the  time  of  the  massacre. 


the  baby  when  it  awoke  and  cried  and 
walked  out  in  the  yard  with  it.  No 
sooner  had  he  left  the  house  than  an 
Indian  deliberately  shot  him  dead  near 
the  door.  Mrs.  Hurd  was  amazed  at  the 
deed,  for  these  Indians  had  always  been 
kindly  treated  and  had  often  fed  at  her 
table.  She  ran  to  the  assistance  of  the 
fallen  man  and  her  baby,  but  a  mis- 
creant intercepted  and  she  was  ordered 
to  leave  at  once  and  go  to  the  settle- 
ments across  the  prairie.  She  was  even 
refused  the  privilege  of  dressing  her 
naked  children  and  was  compelled  to 
commence  her  wandering  over  the  track- 
less prairie,  without  food  and  practically 
without  raiment  for  herself  and  children. 

The  next  place  visited  was  the  home 
of  Andrew  Koch.  Mr.  Koch  was  shot, 
the  house  was  plundered,  and  Mrs.  Koch 
taken  prisoner  by  White  Lodge.  She 
was  with  the  Indians  ten  days  and  was 
finally  rescued  at  Camp  Release. 

Some  of  the  settlers  fled  to  the  settle- 
ments when  the  attack  on  the  others 
became  known,  while  others  gathered  at 
the  house  of  John  Wright  and  prepared 
it  for  defense.  For  some  reason  they 
abandoned  the  house  to  seek  protection 
in  a  slough.  The  Indians  at  once  com- 
menced firing  on  the  retreating  party 
and  the  whites  returned  the  fire  as  they 
fled.  Those  wounded  in  the  flight  to 
the  slough  were  Charles  Hatch,  William 
Everett,  John  Eastlick,  Mrs.  Eastlick. 
Mrs.  Everett  and  several  children. 

Upon  receiving  the  Indians'  promise 
that  they  would  not  be  harmed,  the 
women  and  children  left  the  protection 
of  the  slough  and  went  to  the  savages. 
No  sooner  were  they  out  than  Mrs. 
Everett,  Mrs.  Smith,  Mrs.  Ireland  and 
several  of  the  children  were  killed. 
Mrs.  Eastlick  was  shot  and  left  for  dead 

38The    Burns   brothers    lived    alone    on    a    claim    at 
Walnut  Grove,  some  distance  from  the  lake. 

3'JAmone  the  Indians  participating  were  old  Pawn. 
Chaska,  Tizzie  Tonka,  Titonah  Che  Che  (Bad  Ox)  and 

White  Owl. 


40 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


but  she  finally  made  her  escape  with 
two  of  her  children.  Mrs.  Julia  A. 
Wright,  Mrs.  William  J.  Duley  and  four 
of  their  children  were  taken  captive  and 
some  of  them  were  ransomed  at  Fort 
Pierre.  All  other  settlers  made  their 
escape,  many  of  them  after  innumerable 
hardships.  The  Burns  brothers  were 
not  attacked.40 

Southwestern  Minnesota  had  received 
a  setback  from  which  it  took  many  years 
to  recover.  After  the  inauguration  of 
the  fiendish  warfare  the  frontier  line 
receded  eastward  and  the  greater  part 
of  Southwestern  Minnesota  was  again  in 
the  midst  of  the  hostile  Indian  country. 
Steps  were  taken  to  defend  the  exposed 
settlements,  to  conquer  the  redskins  and 
drive  them  back. 

The  Civil  War  was  in  progress  and 
most  of  the  able-bodied  men  were  in  the 
South,  fighting  for  the  Union.  It  there- 
fore required  some  time  to  muster  troops 
and  place  them  in  advantageous  posi- 
tions to  cope  with  the  wily  red  foe. 
But  after  some  delay  the  Indians  were 
driven  back,  soldiers  were  placed  all 
through  the  western  country,  and  the 
prairies  were  patrolled  by  companies 
detailed  for  the  service.  The  expedi- 
tions against  the  hostile  Sioux  resulted 
in  Lyon  county  being  occasionally  visited 
by  military  parties. 

The  savages  were  in  time  subdued, 
but  for  a  number  of  years  settlers  on  The 
extreme  frontier  lived  in  a  state  of  con- 
stant anxiety,  not  knowing  at  what  time 
the  scenes  of  1862  might  be  repeated. 
When    peace    was    established    on    the 

40Dr.  H.  M.  Workman  has  prepared  the  following 
list  of  people  who  were  residents  (or  had  been  just 
prior  to  the  outbreak)  of  the  Lake  Shetek  settlement 
at  the  time  of  the  massacre  and  the  fate  of  each: 

Killed — John  Voigt,  Andrew  Koch,  Sophia  Ireland, 
Sarah  Jane  Ireland,  Julianne  Ireland,  John  Eastlick, 
Frederick  Eastlick,  Giles  Eastlick,  William  J.  Duley, 
Jr.,  Bell  Duley,  Emma  Duley,  Mrs.  Sophia  Smith, 
Mariah  Everett,   Willie  Everett,  Charley  Everett. 

Taken  Captive  and  Later  Rescued — Mariah  Koch, 
Rosannah  Ireland,  Ellen  Ireland,  Fsanklin  Eastlick, 
two  Duley  children.  Mrs.  William  J.  Duley,  Mrs.  Julia 
Wright,  Dora  Wright,  George  Wright,  Abillian  Everett. 

Present    but    Escaped — Aaron    Myers,    Mrs.    Aaron 


border,  settlement  again  commenced — 
destined  this  time  to  be  permanent — 
and  the  frontier  line  moved  westward 
rapidly. 

In  1S64  two  brothers,  Moore  by  name, 
came  from  Eastern  Minnesota  and 
braved  the  dangers  of  locating  in  prox- 
imity to  the  Indians.  They  located  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  8, 
Lake  Marshall  township,  and  broke  some 
land.  But  they  soon  became  alarmed  for 
their  safety   and  ^deserted  their   claims. 

In  1865  or  1866  Denman  Greeman 
located  on  the  Myers  place  at  Saratoga, 
but  within  a  short  time  moved  to  the 
Lake  Shetek  settlement  and  became  a 
permanent  resident. 

A  few  half-breeds  made  pretense  of 
holding  claims  along  the  Redwood  in 
Lyon  county  after  the  massacre.  Alex- 
ander and  Joseph  LaFramboise,  Jr., 
sons  of  the  first  white  man  to  settle  in 
the  count}',  had  claims  in  Lynd  town- 
ship, which  they  sold  to  A.  W.  Muzzy 
and  E.  B.  Langdon  in  1867.  Thomas 
Robinson,  a  French  half-breed,  had  a 
claim  on  section27,  Lynd.whichhe  sold  to 
Ralph  Holland  in  the  spring  of  1868.  John 
Mooers,  a  half-breed  son  of  Hazen  Mooers, 
sold  a  claim  on  section  34,  Lynd,  to 
Arthur  Ransom  at  the  same  time. 

Lyon  county  remained  destitute  of 
white  population  until  1867.  That  year 
a  few  pushed  out  to  the  Redwood  river 
country,  selected  claims,  and  established 
permanent  homes.  At  last  the  country 
which  had  been  the  home  of  the  abor- 
igine for  countless  ages  was  possessed 
by  the  whites. 

Myers.  Louisa  Myers,  Arthur  Myers,  Olive  Myers, 
Fred  B.  Myers,  Addie  J.  Myers,  Almiona  Hurd,  William 
Henry  Hurd,  Baby  Hurd,  Thomas  Ireland,  Lavina 
Eastlick,  Merton  Eastlick,  Johnnie  Eastlick,  William 
J.  Duley,  II.  Watson  Smith,  William  Everett,  Charles 
Hatch,  Edgar  Bentley,  Charles  Ziercke  and  family, 
Frank  Labache,  Rhodes,  Dan  Burns,  John  Burns. 

Absent — Phineas  B.  Hurd,  William  Jones,  E.  G. 
Koch,  J.  G.  Wright,  Sam  Jacques,  Wesson  Lake 
Macabee. 

Had  Moved  Away — Albino  Griswold,  Hoel  Parmelee, 
Sam  Brown,  Hank  Brown,  Lamb,  Bassett,  J.  H. 
Ingalls. 


CHAPTER  II. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT— 1867-1869. 


THERE  is  always  something  con- 
nected with  the  settlement  of  a 
new  country  that  interests,  and 
so  it  is  with  Lyon  county.  Often,  how- 
ever, there  is  a  tendency  on  the  part  of 
the  chronicler  of  local  history  to  paint, 
polish  and  varnish  the  stories  of  the 
early  days,  so  that  sometimes  those  who 
were  the  principal  actors  in  the  drama 
enacted  fail  to  recognize  themselves  or 
their  part  in  the  play.  It  is  my  inten- 
tion to  steer  clear  of  this  fault  and  avoid 
fiction  in  dealing  with  the  early  day 
events,  and  to  rely  solely  upon  the  facts 
to  make  the  narrative  interesting. 

After  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  and 
the  subjugation  of  the  Indians,  there 
was  a  great  tide  of  immigration  to  the 
western  country.  To  all  parts  of  the 
upper  Mississippi  valley  came  the  home- 
seekers,  who  spread  out  over  the  rich 
lands  of  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Kansas  and 
Nebraska.  Most  of  the  emigrants  were 
from  the  eastern  and  central  states, 
where  timber  was  abundant,  and  their 
first  choice  was  always  wooded  land 
along  the  streams.  So  it  came  about 
that  the  first  settlement  in  Lyon  county 
was  made  in  the  timber  tract  along  the 
Redwood  river  in  the  townships  of  Lynd 
and  Lyons. 

Permanent  settlement  in  Lyon  count v 


began  in  1867.  The  year  before,  how- 
ever, a  few  men  had  visited  that  part 
of  Redwood  county  which  later  was  set 
off  as  Lyon  for  the  purpose  of  spying 
out  the  land  and  selecting  claims. 

A.  W.  Muzzy  made  a  trip  to  the 
Lynd  woods  in  1866  and  there  found 
several  families  of  half-breeds  occupying 
claims  by  squatters'  rights.  He  selected 
a  claim  held  by  LaFrambdise  on  section 
33,  Lynd,  bargained  for  the  purchase  of* 
the  same,  and  made  arrangements  with 
the  half-breed  to  hold  the  claim  until 
his  return.  This  LaFramboise  did,  liv- 
ing in  the  log  cabin  formerly  occupied 
by  James  Lynd  as  his  trading  post.1 

In  1866  also  came  Charles  E.  Goodell 
and  his  cousin,  Will  Stone.  They  spent 
some  time  hunting,  trapping  and  cutting 
timber,  they  having  conceived  the  idea 
of  cutting  logs  in  the  Lynd  woods  and 
floating  them  down  the  river  during 
high  water  to  a  mill  at  Redwood  Falls. 
They  soon  abandoned  the  scheme.  Mr. 
Goodell  determined  to  make  his  home 
in, the  county  and  selected  as  a  claim 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  5, 
Lyons  township,  the  site  of  the  first 
Lynd  trading  post.  He  came  back 
again  in  1867,  but  did  not  locate  per- 
manently until  January,  1868. 


1Article  by  Mrs.  C.   F.   Wright   dated   February   L'.'l, 
1874. 


42 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNT V 


The  first  settler  to  make  a  permanent 
home  in  the  county  was  T.  W.  Castor, 
who  located  on  the  extreme  eastern 
border  of  the  county  in  the  spring  of 
1867.  Part  of  his  claim  was  on  section 
34,  Stanley  township,  and  the  rest  was 
over  the  line  in  Redwood  county.  He 
built  a  house  on  the  claim  and  resided 
there  several  years.  It  is  said  that  he 
hauled  his  supplies  from  Redwood  Fall;; 
during  the  winter  on  a  handsled  drawn 
by  a  Newfoundland  dog.  To  T.  W. 
and  Mary  Castor,  on  September  12, 
1867,  the  first  white  child  in  Lyon 
county  was  born.  His  name  was  Hugh 
Wilson  Castor  and  he  died  of  diphtheria 
in  Iowa.2 

During  the  month  of  June,  1867,  A. 
W.  Muzzy,  who  had  selected  his  claim 
the  previous  year,  came  to  take  posses- 
sion and  he  was  accompanied  by  E.  B. 
Langdon.  Both  dated  their  permanent 
residence  in  Lyon  county  from  that 
time.  Their  families  came  in  Septem- 
ber.3 During  the  fall  months  of  1867 
there  also  joined  the  little  settlement  in 
the  Lynd  woods  and  became  established 
residents  the  following:  L.  W.  Langdon 
and  family  (including  a  nephew,  Emer- 
son Hull),  Luman  Ticknor  and  his  wife 
and  step-daughter,  Elizabeth  Taylor; 
M.  Y.  Davidson  and  family,  Mrs.  C.  F. 
Wright  and  son,  D.  M.  Taylor  and  E.  E. 

2T.  W.  Castor  was  a  graduate  of  Oberlin  College. 
He  was  a  man  of  positive  temperament,  peculiar  in  his 
views,  independent  in  his  thinking.  He  was  a  scout 
under  General  Sibley  during  the  Indian  War  and  at 
one  time  served  as  deputy  register  of  deeds  of  Olmsted 
county.  Mr.  Castor  was  a  pioneer  of  Redwood  Falls 
but  remained  only  a  short  time.  He  settled  in  Lyon 
county  with  the  intention  of  raising  stock  and  was  the 
county's  pioneer  stock  man.  The  first  winter  of  his 
stay  he  had  only  one  cow,  and  from  that  he  increased 
until  he  had  cjuite  a  herd.  Mr.  Castor  was  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  in  1874.  In 
the  late  seventies  he  moved  to  Pottawattamie  county, 
Iowa. 

1  3A.  W.  Muzzy  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  induce 
immigration  to  the  vicinity.  He  wrote  articles 
descriptive  of  the  country  to  newspapers  in  the  East 
and  West  and  enlisted  the  attention  and  co-operation 
of  many  leading  men  of  Minnesota.  His  settlement  in 
the  county  was  due  to  his  desire  to  found  a  Methodist 
colony.  He  and  his  son-in-law,  Rev.  C.  F.  Wright. 
planned  to  establish  a  large  church  and  school  for  the 
education  of  the  Indians.  The  scheme  proved  to  be  a 
visionary  one,  but  it  resulted  in  giving  to  Lyon  county 
many  desirable  citizens. 


Taylor.  All  of  these  located  in  the 
woods  in  Lynd  township  and  all  spent 
the  following  winter  in  their  new  homes. 

Others  came  during  the  year  to  view 
the  new  land  and  some  selected  claims 
with  the  intention  of  returning  the  next 
year,  but  the  ones  mentioned  were  the 
only  one-  who  may  properly  be  termed 
settlers  of  1867. 4  When  the  first  set- 
tlers arrived  Lyon  county  had  not  been 
divided  into  townships  or  sections,  but 
during  the  months  of  July,  August, 
September  and  October  Surveyors  R.  H. 
L.  Jewett  and  George  G.  Howe  and 
their  assistants  ran  the  lines. s  There- 
after the  settlers  could  select  their 
claims  intelligently,  although  it  was 
some  time  later  when  the  plats  were 
placed  on  record  and  filings  could  be 
made  at  the  land  office. 

The  first  arrivals  to  the  Lynd  settle- 
ment were  religiously  inclined  and  on 
September  26,  1867,  the  first  religious 
services  in  the  county  were  held,  partici- 
pated in  by  A.  W.  Muzzy,  his  daughter, 
Sophia,  wife  of  Rev.  C.  F.  Wright  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  L.  Langdon  and 
family.6 

The  Lynd  settlement  was  decidedly 
on  the  frontier.  To  the  north  the  near- 
est neighbors  were  on  'the  Minnesota 
river,  to  the  east  only  a  few  settlers  were 
to   be  found   until  the   Minnesota  river 

'Among  those  who  visited  the  region  in  search  of 
land  in  1867  were  Lambert  Marcyes  and  his  son, 
Hiram  R.  Marcyes.  They  met  some  of  the  party  that 
had  preceded  them  and  inquired  where  good  land 
could  be  found,  supplied  with  timber  and  water.  The 
new  arrivals  were  informed  that  several  belts  of  timber 
had  been  seen  at  a  distance,  which  were  supposed  to 
be  along  creeks  or  bordering  the  several  lakes  nearby, 
and  that  quite  a  forest  was  known  to  exist  on  a  creek 
about  three  miles  to  the  northwest,  to  which  the 
Marcyes  took  their  way.  On  returning  at  night  one 
of  the  many  questions  asked  was  where  they  had  been 
during  the  day.  They  replied,  "over  to  that  three- 
mile  creek,"  and  ever  since  the  stream  has  borne  the 
name  Three-Mile  creek. 

•The  townships  of  Lucas,  Vallers  and  Westerheim 
hid  been  surveyed  in  August  and  September,  1859,  by 
Mahlon  Black,  but  the  surveyor  neglected  to  make 
proper  mounds  and  the  stakes  were  mostly  destroyed 
by  prairie  fires.  The  township  of  Custer  was  surveyed 
in  1867  by  Shaw  &  Taylor  and  Eidsvold  the  same  year 
by  David  Watson. 

6See  history  of  the  Methodist  church  of  Marshall. 
chapter  10. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


43 


was  reached)  to  the  south  (excepting  a 

few  settlers  on  Lake  Shetek)  it  was 
many  long  miles  to  the  nearest  white 
homes,  while  to  the  west  all  was  unin- 
habited country.7  The  making  of  homes 
in  the  frontier  land  was  not  accom- 
plished without  many  difficulties  and 
carried  with  it  sacrifices  and  most  of  the 
comforts  that  make  life  endurable  for 
him  who  has  had  the  savage  educated 
out  of  him.  The  only  visitors  were  the 
Indians  and  half-breeds,  who  were  still 
in  the  vicinity  in  small  numbers.  The 
prairies  were  unbroken  by  roads  or 
groves,  and  the  winter  storms  and 
summer  prairie  fires  chased  the  elk  and 
antelope  without  hindrance. 

But  the  human  habit  of  adaptability 
to  environment  and  the  hope  of  future 
competence  from  the  fertile  farms  to  be 
secured  under  the  homestead  law  carried 
the  pioneers  through  the  dark  days. 
Wild  game  furnished  a  part  of  the  bill 
of  fare  and  the  timber  furnished  fuel 
and  material  for  the  homes.  The  houses 
were  of  logs,  the  roofs  of  shakes  split 
from  oak  trees,  the  floors  of  rough  plank 
hewn  from  the  timber. 

In  1868  the  population  of  Lyon 
county  was  increased.  To  Lynd  town- 
ship came  Levi  8.  Kiel,  who  has  ever 
since  had  his  home  in  the  county;  James 
Cummins,  A.  R.  Cummins  and  George 
Cummins,  who  became  prominent  in  the 
early  affairs  of  the  county;  Lambert 
Marcyes,  George  Marcyes  and  Hiram 
Marcyes,  who  became  well-known  resi- 
dents; A.  D.  Morgan,  who  became  the 
county's  first  store  keeper  and  post- 
master; Jacob  Rouse,  who  still  resides 
in  the  county;  Ralph  Holland  and 
Arthur  Ransom,  who  purchased  claims 
from  half-breeds;  Rev.  C.  F.  Wright, 
who    was    the    first    minister;    Andrew 


Nelson,  who  has  ever  since  lived  in 
Lyon  county;  Mrs.  Bowers,  a  daughter 
of  A.  AY.  Muzzy,  who  came  in  April  and 
died  of  consumption  on  April  20,  one 
week  after  hen-  arrival,  hers  being  the 
first  death  in  the  county;  John  Clark, 
Henry  B.   Nichols  and  possibly  others. 

Charles  E.  Goodell  returned  to  his 
claim  in  Lyons  township  in  January, 
1868,  and  during  that  year  C.  H. 
Hildreth,  Luther  Hildreth  and  W.  S. 
Adams  located  in  the  same  precinct,  all 
taking  claims  along  the  Redwood  river. 

To  the  timber  tract  along  the  Cotton- 
wood river,  in  the  present  townships  of 
Custer  and  Amiret,  also  came  a  few 
settlers  in  1868.  Charles  Grover,  La- 
fayette Grover  and  Clark  Goodrich 
settled  in  Amiret,  and  H.  C.  Masters, 
John  Avery,  Horace  Randall,  Walter  S. 
Clayson,  Edward  Horton  and  G.  S. 
Robinson  took  claims  in  Custer.  These 
settlements  were  all  made  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  old  townsite  of  Saratoga  and  for 
several  years  the  community  bore  that 
name. 

Nearly  all  these  arrivals  of  1868 
brought  families  and  builded  themselves 
homes.  Until  after  1868  the  population 
of  Lyon  county  was  confined  to  two 
settlements  (excepting  the  T.  W.  Castor 
family):  the  one  on  the  Redwood  river 
occupying  the  timber  lands  in  Lynd  and 
Lyons  townships,  and  the  other  on  the 
Cottonwood  in  Custer  and  Amiret  town- 
ships. Of  these  the  Lynd  settlement 
was  the  larger  and  for  several  years 
dominated  the  affairs  of  the  county. 

Several  important  events  occurred  in 
the  Lynd  community  during  1868  that 
tended  to  establish  the  permanency  of 
the  settlement  and  to  make  for  the  con- 
venience of  those  who  had  cast  their 
fortunes  on  the  frontier.     One  was  the 


7The   first   white   settlers  in    Nobles   countv   arrived        county  were  no  whiles  until   is,  4;  the  firsl   settlement 
July   4,    1867;   only   two   families   had   their   homes   in        in  the  county  of  Lincoln  was  made  in  1868. 
Rock  county  during  the  winter  of  1867-68;  in  Pipestone 


u 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


establishment  of  a  postoffice  in  June 
with  D.  M.  Taylor  as  postmaster.  It 
was  located  on  section  34,  Lynd  town- 
ship,— the  site  of  what  later  became 
known  as  Lower  Lyncl.  A  weekly  mail 
was  received  by  way  of  Redwood  Falls.8 
Mr.  Taylor  also  put  in  a  small  stock  of 
groceries  and  other  goods — in  a  room 
said  to  have  been  almost  large  enough 
for  a  bed  room — and  conducted  a  store 
for  a  short  time. 

The  same  season  Luman  Ticknor 
opened  a  hotel  for  the  convenience  of 
the  few  people  who  visited  the  settle- 
ment.9 In  the  summer  of  1868  Jacob 
Rouse  and  James  Cummins  dammed 
the  Redwood  river  at  the  point  which 
later  became  known  as  Upper  Lynd  and 
put  in  a  small  sawmill,  which  proved  to 
be  quite  a  convenience  to  the  settlers. 
It  was  changed  to  a  gristmill  in  1872. 
The  same  year  C.  H.  Hildreth  com- 
menced building  a  mill  at  a  point  on  the 
Redwood  about  two  miles  below  the 
present  village  of  Russell,  but  the  place 
was  destroyed  by  fire  the  same  fall  and 
the  project  was  abandoned.10 

While  a  few  conveniences  had  been 
established  in  the  settlement,  they  fell 
far  short  of  meeting  the  demands. 
The  sawmill  was  not  in  operation  until 
1869   and   before  that   time  it   was  the 


custom  to  haul  logs  to  Redwood  Falls, 
fifty  miles  distant,  have  them  sawed, 
and  then  haul  the  lumber  back,  several 
settlers  generally  making  the  trip  to- 
gether. Excepting  the  little  store  of 
Mr.  Taylor,  Redwood  Falls  was  the 
nearest  trading  point.  That  village  had 
only  two  stores,  run  on  the  trading  post 
style,  and  they  catered  but  little  to  the 
white  trade.11  The  nearest  flouring 
mill  was  at  New  Ulm  and  there  a  part 
of  the  trading  was  done. 

There  were  a  few  additions  in  1869 
and  others  came  to  the  county,  took 
claims,  made  improvements,  and  pre- 
pared to  make  permanent  settlement 
the  following  spring.  To  the  Saratoga 
settlement,  in  Amiret  township,  came 
James  Mitchell;  to  the  township  of 
Vallers,  which  had  not  before  had  a 
settler,  came  Johannes  Anderson;  to 
Lyons  came  W.  C.  Adams;  to  Lake 
Marshall,  L.  W.  Langdon  and  E.  B. 
Langdon;  to  Lynd,  T.  T.  Pierce,  H.  L. 
Pierce,  George  W.  Pierce,  Parker  I. 
Pierce,  Warren  S.  Eastman,  T.  S.  East- 
man and  V.  Eastman.  Besides  those 
mentioned,  C.  H.  Whitney,  C.  H.  Upton 
and  E.  G.  Bascoinb  took  claims  in  Lake 
Marshall,  0.  A.  Hawes  and  R.  Water- 
man in  Lynd,  and  Moses  Fifield  and 
Mendell    Fifield    in    Lyons.     All    made 


sThe  first  mail  brought  to  the  office  was  carried  by 
William  Jackson,  the  first  white  male  child  born  in  St. 
Paul.  He  sold  the  contract  to  one  Castle,  of  Yellow 
Medicine,  and  the  latter  in  turn  to  Peter  Ortt,  of 
Redwood  Falls.  H.  J.  Tripp  carried  the  mail  for  Ortt 
for  a  time  and  later  secured  the  contract.  The  Lynd 
postoffice  was  under  the  management  of  D.  M.  Taylor 
four  years.   <. 

9"The  travel  through  Lynd  at  that  time  couldn't 
have  been  very  large  or  regular.  Bands  of  Flandreau 
Indians  camped  in  the  woods  occasionally  and  a  few 
travelers  from  Redwood  Falls  now  and  then  stopped 
there  on  the  way  to  settlements  beyond.  Between 
Lynd  and  Pcdwood  P'alls  there  was  but  one  house." — 
Case's  History  of  Lyon  County. 

10The  first  marriage  in  the  county  occurred  October 
17,  1868,  when  Ida  Marie  Hildreth,  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years,  became  the  wife  of  Henry  B.  Nichols. 
The  second  marriage  was  that  of  W.  H.  Langdon  and 
Zilpha  Cummins,  which  was'also  in  1868. 

The  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration  was  held  in  1868 
at  A.  W.  Muzzy's  home. 

Luman  Ticknor  plowed  the  first  ground  for  crop  in 
the  spring  of  1868.     W.  C.  Adams  and  Arthur  Ransom 


sowed  the  first  grain  and  the  latter  operated  the  first 
fanning  mill.  The  first  wheat  was  raised  by  A.  R. 
Cummins  in  1869.  The  first  horses  in  the  county  were 
owned  by  E.  B.  Langdon,  first  mules  by  M.  V.  David- 
son, first  chickens  and  turkeys  by  L.  W.  Langdon, 
first  hogs  by  Luman  Ticknor,  and  first  dog  by  James 
Cummins. 

A.  R.  Cummins  made  the  first  barrels  that  were  in 
the  county;  James  Cummins  made  the  first  chair; 
George  Cummins  and  Charles  E.  Goodell  split  the  first 
rails;  T.  T.  Pierce  and  son  burnt  the  first  brick,  a  kiln 
of  40,000,  brought  in  the  first  blacksmith's  tools,  and 
set  out  the  first  grove. 

^"Perhaps  you  would  like  to  know  how  people  got 
along  with  no  railroad  nearer  than  Mankato,  although 
boats  were  running  to  New  Ulm  when  the  water  was 
high  enough.  We  did  a  greater  part  of  our  trading  at 
Redwood  Falls,  distant  fifty  miles,  and  no  place  to  put 
up  until  we  got  to  Mr.  Castor's,  twenty-five  miles.  If 
we  had  any  blacksmithing  to  be  done,  it  had  to  be 
taken  to  Redwood  Falls.  I  have  known  our  towns- 
man, A.  D.  Morgan,  to  walk  that  fifty  miles  in  one  day, 
with  a  plow  lay  on  his  back,  and  return  the  next  day. 
Charles  Goodell  has  done  as  well." — Correspondent  in 
Marshall  Messenger,  June  30,  1881. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


45 


slight  improvements  in  1869  and  re- 
turned to  remain  the  following  year.12 
Prior  to  this  time  the  only  claims 
taken  had  been  in  the  timber;  now 
selections  were  made  on  the  prairie 
tracts  and  some  at  quite  a  distance  from 
the  older  settlements  of  Lynd  and 
Saratoga. 

I  can  close  this  chapter  no  more 
fittingly  than  by  reproducing  an  article 
written  by  Mrs.  Fellows,  of  Lynd,  and 
read  before  the  old  settlers'  gathering 
in  February,  1885.  It  gives  a  very  true 
idea  of  conditions  in  1869: 

The  time  I  first  saw  Lyon  county,  in  the  dark 
days  of  1869,  there  were  about  a  dozen  in  our 
settlement,  scattered  along  the  Redwood  river 
in  the  timber.  Another  settlement,  nearly  as 
large  as  ours.,  was  on  the  Cottonwood  river,  and 
another  at  Lake  Benton.  These  constituted  the 
entire  population  of  our  county.  What  was 
then  one  county  has  been  divided  into  two, 
Lyon  and  Lincoln. 

The  settlers  lived  in  small,  low,  miserable  log 
houses;  indeed,  some  of  them  were  originally 
Indian  tepees,  remodeled  to  suit  the  emergency. 
Some  were  without  floors,  except  the  solid  earth 
with  a  covering  of  prairie  grass;  after  it  became 
dry  and  broken  it  was  raked  off  and  fresh  grass 
cut  and  spread  down.  Of  course,  the  floors 
needed  no  sweeping,  and  that  was  something 
saved,  as  there  was  a  chance  to  economize  in 
brooms.  Economy,  rigid  economy,  was  the 
rule. 

A  roof  made  of  shingles  was  almost  unknown. 
The  houses  were  roofed,  some  with  hay,  some 
with  earth,  but  the  prevailing  fashion  was  a 
shake  roof.  I  fancy  only  the  initiated  have  seen 
or  heard  of  the  shake  roof.  It  consisted  of  flat, 
clumsy  pieces  of  wood,  all  sizes  and  widths,  and, 

12The  coming  of  these  men  had  much  to  do  with  the 
future  growth  of  Lyon  county.  On  the  first  day  of 
May,  1S69,  the  following  named  ten  men  set  out  from 
Olmsted  county,  Minnesota,  in  search  of  new  homes: 
C.  H.  Whitney,  C.  H.  Upton,  E.  G.  Bascomb,  T.  S. 
Eastman,  V.  Eastman,  W.  S.  Eastman,  O.  A.  Hawes, 
R.  Waterman,  Moses  Fifield  and  Mendell  Fifield. 
They  traveled  with  four  covered  wagons  and  had 
besides  a  saddle  horse.  They  spent  several  weeks 
viewing  the  country  around  St.  Cloud,  Benson  and 
Hutchinson,  and  not  liking  the  looks  of  the  country 
turned  to  the  southwest.  They  arrived  in  St.  Peter 
and  there  Abner  Tibbets,  register  of  the  United  States 
land  office,  advised  them  to  go  to  the  country  which  is 
now  Lyon  county. 

.  The  party  made  the  trip  by  way  of  Redwood  Falls 
and  arrived  at  the  Lynd  settlement  on  June  9,  where 
they  were  welcomed  by  A.  W.  Muzzy.  The  next  day 
was  spent  in  rest  at  D.  M.  Taylor's  store.  On  the 
eleventh  three  parties  were  formed  to  visit  as  many 
different  parts  of  the  surrounding  country:  one  to  the 
Rock  Lake  country,  one  to  the  head  of  Three-Mile 
creek,  west  of  Lynd,  and  the  third  down  the  Redwood. 
The  next  day  other  prospecting  trips  were  made. 

C.  H.  Whitney  went  out  on  a  scout  and  covered  the 
north  part  of  the  county.  He  followed  an  Indian 
trail   down   the    Redwood   to   the   point   called   by   the 


as  nearly  as  I  can  remember,  about  three  feet 
long,  split  and  shaped  and  smoothed  with  a 
broad-ax,  overlapping  each  other  shingle- 
fashion,  serving  as  a  mere  covering,  keeping  out 
the  sun,  but  affording  little  protection.  The 
wind  and  snow  and  rain  and  flies  and  mosquitoes 
and  gnats  and  all  other  nice  things  had  full 
liberty  to  come  and  go  at  will.  And  of  all  these 
things  there  was  no  lack. 

In  those  days  there  were  blizzards,  too,  real 
genuine  blizzards.  The  winds  were  not  tem- 
pered to  the  shorn  lamb,  not  by  a  good  deal. 
After  a  blizzard  what  a  picture  our  houses 
presented !  Floors,  beds,  everything,  were  fanci- 
fully covered — decorations  enough  to  have 
satisfied  the  most  esthetic  admirer  of  Oscar 
Wilde.  Here  and  there  and  everywhere  were 
festoons  and  wreaths  and  garlands  and  every 
imaginary  thing  of  "the  snow,  the  beautiful 
snow,"  filling  the  house,  above  and  below.  We 
didn't  enjoy  it  a  bit,  however.  With  the  mer- 
cury frolicking  among  the  lower  twenties,  the 
poetry  of  our  natures  was  entirely  frozen  out. 
Even  a  board  to  make  a  door  or  case  a  window 
was  of  inestimable  value.  Flooring,  not  the 
best  quality  by  a  number  of  grades,  sold  for 
$50  per  thousand. 

Thanks  are  due  a  Maine  Yankee  for  intro- 
ducing an  improvement  in  our  architecture. 
Sod  houses  made  an  appearance,  and  they  were 
much  better,  being  more  economical.  Here  we 
lived,  deprived  of  every  luxury  and  most  of  the 
comforts  and  necessaries  of  life,  trying  to  be 
happy  and  keep  homesickness  away,  which 
would  occasionally  trouble  us  notwithstanding 
all  efforts  to  prevent  it. 

We  were,  so  to  speak,  at  the  jumping-off 
place,  as  another  leap  would  have  landed  us 
among  the  savages.  We  depended  wholly  upon 
Redwood  Falls  for  everything  we  had,  and  that 
a  poor  trading  place,  indeed.  A  spool  of 
thread,  a  sheet  of  note  paper,  a  pound  of  tea  or 
sugar,  had  to  be  hauled  fifty  miles.  One  of  our 
great  blessings  was  our  postoffice  with  a  weekly 
mail.  By  the  way,  the  first  postoffice  in  this 
county  was  a  gigantic  affair!  It  required  but 
one  box,  fastened  with  a  huge  padlock,  to  pre- 
vent mail  robbery. 

Indians  the  Big  Bend — the  present  site  of  the  city  of 
Marshall.  There  he  struck  the  Lac  qui  Parle  trail 
and  followed  it  to  about  where  Minneota  is  now 
situated.  Thence  he  proceeded  east  until  he  came  to 
another  trail  between  Minnesota  Falls  and  the  Big 
Bend,  followed  that  trail  to  the  Big  Bend,  and  then 
struck  across  country  to  Lake  Marshall.'  At  that 
point  he  found  another  Indian  trail  leading  to  the 
Cottonwood  river  and  Lake  Shetek. 

After  resting  at  Lynd  on  the  thirteenth  and  can- 
vassing the  situation,  all  members  of  the  party  decided 
to  take  claims  and  made  their  selections  in  Lake 
Marshall,  Lynd  and  Lyons  townships.  The  fourteenth 
was  spent  in  breaking  land  on  their  claims,  some  of 
the  party  also  breaking  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  4,  Lake  Marshall  township,  to  hold  the  claim 
for  Mrs.  Ursula  Stone,  a  soldier's  widow  and  the  son- 
in-law  of  C.  H.  Upton. 

The  entire  party  set  out  on  June  15  for  the  return 
home  and  made  their  filings  :it  the  land  office  on  June 
18.  The  Eastmans  returned  in  the  fall,  erected  a  log 
cabin,  and  spent  the  winter  in  their  new  home;  the 
others  spent  the  winter  in  their  old  homes  and  all 
returned  in  1S70.  Mr.  Whitney  did  "missionary" 
work  in  Wisconsin  that  winter  and  as  a  result  the 
population  of  Lyon  county  was  added  to  in  1S70. 


CHAPTER  III 


COUNTY  AND  TOWNSHIP   ORGANIZATION— 1869-1883. 


HAD  a  person  been  horn  in  the 
territory  now  embraced  within 
the  boundaries  of  Lyon  county 
in  the  year  1800  and  lived  in  the  place 
of  his  birth  until  seventy  years  of  age, 
he  would  have  lived  successively  under 
the  governments  of  Spain,  France  and 
the  United  States;  would  have  been  a 
resident  successively  of  the  territories  of 
Louisiana,  Missouri,  Michigan,  Wiscon- 
sin,  Iowa  and  Minnesota  and  of  the  state 
of  Minnesota;  and  at  one  time  and 
another  would  have  been  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  counties  of  AVauba- 
shaw,  Blue  Earth,  Brown,  Redwood  and 
Lyon  in  Minnesota.  In  other  words, 
•  Lyon  county  has  formed  a  part  of  those 
countries,  territories  and  counties  since 
first  the  flight  of  years  began. 

This  mythical  native  of  Lyon  county 
would  also  have  been  decidedly  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Sioux  Indians 
until  a  man  grown,  for  white  men  had 
only  nominal  claim  to  the  territory  until 
the  land  was  ceded  to  the  United  States 
by  treaty  in  1851.  Before  taking  up  the 
story  of  the  creation  of  Lyon  county,  I 
shall  here  break  into  the  chronological 
order  of  events  long  enough  to  trace 
this  matter  of  sovereignty. 

Our  county  formed  a  small  part  of 
the  New  World  possessions  claimed  by 
France   by   right   of   discovery   and   ex- 


ploration. In  1763,  humbled  by  wars 
in  Europe  and  America,  France  was 
forced  to  relinquish  her  province  known 
as  Louisiana,  and  all  her  possessions 
west  of  the  Mississippi  river  were  ceded 
to  Spain  in  that  year.  Amid  the 
exigencies  of  European  wars  Spain,  in 
the  year  1800,  ceded  Louisiana  back  to 
France,  which  was  then  under  the  rule 
of  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  On  April  30, 
1803,  negotiations  were  completed  for 
the  purchase  of  Louisiana  by  the 
United  States  for  fifteen  million  dollars. 
On  that  date  the  future  Lyon  county 
became  a  part  of  the  United  States. 

Soon  after  the  United  States  secured 
possession,  in  1805,  that  part  of  the 
mammoth  territory  of  Louisiana  which 
had  been  called  Upper  Louisiana  was 
organized  into  Missouri  Territory,  and 
had  our  county  then  had  inhabitants 
they  would  have  been  under  the  govern- 
ment of  Missouri.  Missouri  was  ad- 
mitted as  a  state  in  1820,  and  for  several 
years  thereafter  the  country  beyond  its 
northern  boundaries,  comprising  what  is 
now  Iowa  and  all  of  Minnesota  west  of 
the  Mississippi  river,  was  without  organ- 
ized government.  Hut  in  1834  Congress 
attached  this  great  expanse  of  territory 
to  Michigan  Territory.  Two  years  later 
Wisconsin  Territory  was  formed,  com- 
prising   all    of    Michigan    west    of    Lake 


48 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Michigan,   and  for  the  next   two  years 
we  were  a  part  of  that  territory. 

Congress  did  a  lot  of  enacting  and 
boundary  changing  before  it  got  Lyon 
county  where  it  belonged.  We  became 
a  part  of  Iowa  Territory  when  it  was 
created  in  1838,  because  we  were  in- 
cluded in  "all  that  part  of  the  [then] 
present  Territory  of  Wisconsin  which 
lies  west  of  the  Mississippi  river  and 
west  of  a  line  drawn  due  north  from  the 
headwaters  or  sources  of  the  Mississippi 
to  the  territorial  line."  Lyon  county 
was  a  part  of  Iowa  Territory  until  Iowa 
became  a  state  in  1846.  During  that 
time  settlers  began  to  locate  in  portions 
of  what  later  became  Minnesota,  and 
they  were  put  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
Clayton  county,  Iowa.1  By  the  ad- 
mission of  Iowa  to  t he  Union  the 
country  west  of  the  Mississippi  became 
a  "no  man's  land";  it  was  a  part  of  no 
territory  or  state.  That  condition  ex- 
isted until  Minnesota  Territory  was 
created  in  1849. 

When  the  first  Legislature  convened 
after  the  organization  of  Minnesota 
Territory  in  1849  it  divided  Minnesota 
into  nine  counties,  named  as  follows: 
Washington.  Ramsey.  Benton,  Itaska, 
Pembina,  Mahkahto,  Wahnahia,  Dahko- 
tah  and  Waubashaw.2  The  last  named 
occupied  all  of  Southern  Minnesota,  ex- 
tended from  the  Mississippi  river  to  the 
Missouri  river,  and  its  northern  bound- 
ary was  an  east  and  west  line  that  passed 
about  through  the  center  of  the  present 
Yellow  Medicine  county. 

The  future  Lyon  county  remained  a 
part  of  Waubashaw  county  until  March 
5,  1853,  when  there  was  a  readjustment 
and  Blue  Earth  count v  came  into  exist- 


ence. The  boundaries  of  the  latter  were 
described  as  follows:  "So  much  of  the 
territory  lying  south  of  the  Minnesota 
river  as  remains  of  Waubashaw  and 
Dahkotah  counties  undivided  by  this 
act."  As  the  boundaries  of  the  two 
older  counties  as  defined  by  the  act  were 
very  indefinite,  it  is  impossible  to  state 
exactly  what  the  dimensions  of  Blue 
Earth  county  were.  It  is  known,  how- 
ever, that  it  included  all  of  Southwestern 
Minnesota  and  extended  into  the  present 
state  of  South  Dakota. 

For  two  years  the  unknown  Lyon 
county  country  remained  a  part  of  Blue 
Earth  county,  and  then  came  another 
change.  By  an  act  approved  February 
20.  1855,  the  county  of  Blue  Earth  was 
reduced  to  its  present  boundaries.  Fari- 
bault county  was  created  with  the  boun- 
daries it  now  has  (except  that  it  ex- 
tended one  township  farther  west  than 
now),  and  the  new  county  of  Brown 
came  into  existence.  Brown  county  in- 
cluded all  of  Minnesota  south  of  the 
Minnesota  river  and  west  of  a  line 
drawn  south  from  the  western  boundary 
of  the  present  day  Blue  Earth  county. 
It  also  included  a  vast  stretch  of  country 
in  what  is  now  South  Dakota  but  that 
was  taken  off  when  Minnesota's  bound- 
aries were  made  as  at  present  consti- 
tuted upon  admission  to  the  Union  in 
1858. 

The  next  change  we  have  to  record 
affecting  Lyon  county3  was  made  in 
1865,  when  Redwood  county  was  formed, 
embracing  (besides  two  townships  in  the 
present  Brown  county)  the  present 
counties  of  Redwood,  Lyon,  Lincoln, 
Yellow  Medicine  and  Lac  qui  Parle. 
Redwood    count v    was    so    constituted 


1Henry  H.  Sibley,  who  lived  at  Mendota,  was  a 
justice  of  the  peace  of  that  county.  The  county  seat 
was  two  hundred  fifty  miles  distant,  and  his  juris- 
diction extended  over  a  region  of  country  %"as  large  as 
the  Empire  of  France." 

2The  boundaries  of  these  counties  are  shown  on  the 
accompanying  map. 


3By  act  of  March  23,  18.57,  there  were  severed  from 
Brown  county  the  following:  Martin,  Jackson,  Cot- 
tonwood, Nobles,  Murray,  Rock  and  Pipestone,  besides 
some  in  the  South  Dakota  territory. 


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MINNESOTA  TERRITORY 

From  a  .Map  Published  in  1850.    The  Nine  Original  Counties  of  the  Territory  Are  Shown. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


4!) 


until  the  present  Lyon  and  Lincoln 
count  it's  were  formed  into  Lyon  county 
in  1869. i 

There  was  only  a  handful  of  residents 
in  the  proposed  county  in  the  early 
days  of  1S(>(.),  but  they  were  an  ambi- 
tious lot.  They  maintained  that  they 
had  brought  the  star  of  empire  west 
with  them  and  that  they  ought  to  have 
the  handling  of  its  destinies.  They 
asked  the  Legislature  to  take  the  neces- 
sary action  to  set  off  the  western  part  of 
Redwood  county  into  a  new  political 
division. 

The  bill  for  the  creation  of  Lyon 
county,  embracing  the  present  counties 
of  Lyon  and  Lincoln,  was  introduced  by 
Senator  Charles  T.  Brown,  passed  the 
Legislature,-  and  was  approved  by  Gov- 
ernor William  R.  Marshall  on  March  2, 
1869. 5  It  provided  that  the  act  should 
not  become  operative,  however,  until  it 
had  been  approved  by  a  majority  vote 
of  the  electors  of  Redwood  county  at 
the  general  election  of  November,  1869. 
The  vote  was  favorable  and  Lyon  county 
was  ready  to  take  up  the  burdens  of 
organization.  The  county  was  named 
in  honor  of  General  Nathaniel  Lyon,  of 

i. 

the  United  States  army,  who  met  death 
at  the  battle  of  Springfield  in  June,  1861. 
Very  soon  after  the  act  became 
operative  as  a  result  of  the  election, 
Governor     Marshall     appointed     a    few 

4Redwood  county  lost  Yellow  Medicine  and  Lac  qui 
Parle  by  act  of  March  6,  1871. 

sThe  act  reads  as  follows: 

"An  act  to  define  the  boundary  lines  of  Lyon  conn  I  y 
and  attach  the  same  to  Redwood  county  for  judicial 
purposes. 

"Section  1.  The  boundary  line  of  Lyon  county  is 
hereby  established  and  hereafter  shall  be  as  follows: 
Beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of  township  one 
hundred  and  nine  (109),  range  forty  (40),  thence  due 
north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  township  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  (113),  range  forty  (40),  west  of  the  fifth 
principal  meridian,  thence  west  to  the  boundary  line 
of  the  state  of  Minnesota,  thence  south  on  the  boundary 
line  of  the  state  to  the  township  line  between  townships 
one  hundred  and  eight  (10S)  and  one  hundred  and 
nine  (109),  thence  east  on  said  township  line  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

"Sec.  2.  At  the  time  of  giving  notice  of  the  next 
general  election,  it  shall  lie  the  duty  of  the  officers  of 
the  county  of  Redwood,  as  required  by  law,  to  give 
notice  of  such  election,  to  give  notice  in  like  manner 
that  at  said  election  a  vote  will  be  taken  on  the  question 


county  officers  and  vested  them  with 
power  to  begin  county  government.  It 
was  proposed  to  organize  in  December, 
1869,  but  owing  to  the  absence  of  two 
of  the  commissioners  it  had  to  lie  post- 
poned, and  the  machinery  of  county 
government  was  not  set  in  motion  until 
August  12,  1870. 6  At  that  time  the 
first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  County 
Commissioners  was  held  at  the  home  of 
Luman  Ticknor,  in  Upper  Lynd. 

The  first  act  of  the  board  was  the 
selection  of  a  county  scat,  the  first  entry 
in  the  journal  reading  as  follows: 

State  of  Minnesota,  County  of  Lyon — ss. 
Be  it  known  that  at  a  session  of  the  Board  of 
County  Commissioners  of  Lyon  county,  held  at 
the  house  of  L.  Ticknor,  in  said  county,  on  the 
twelfth  day  of  August,  1870,  the  seat  of  said 
county  was  settled  and  established  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  thirty-three  (33) 
in  township  one  hundred  and  eleven  (111)  of 
range  forty-two  (42).  [Signed]  A.  W.  Muzzy, 
Leva  S.  Kiel,  County  Commissioners.  Attest: 
E.  Lamb,  Auditor. 

For  nearly  twro  years  Upper  Lynd 
was  the  seat  of  government  of  Lyon 
county.  Then,  although  no  official  ac- 
tion was  taken  to  that  effect,  the 
county  business  was  transacted  at  Lower 
Lynd.  That  remained  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment until  it  was  moved  to  Marshall 
in  January,  1874,  as  the  result  of  the 
election  of  November,  1873.' 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
county   the   population   was   small   and 

of  changing  the  boundary  lines  of  Redwood  county  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act.  At  said 
election  the  voters  of  said  county  of  Redwood  in  favor 
ot  the  change  proposed  by  this  act  shall  have  distinctly 
written  or  printed  or  partly  written  or  printed  on  their 
ballots,  'For  change  of  boundary  lines  of  Redwood 
county  in  favor  of  Lyon  county,'  and  returns  thereof 
shall  be  made  to  the  same  office  by  the  judges  of 
election  of  the  several  townships  ami  by  the  auditor 
of  said  Redwood  county  as  upon  votes  for  state 
officers. 

"Sec.  3.  The  county  of  Lyon  is  hereby  attached  For 
judicial  purposes  to  the  county  of  Redwood. 

"Sec.  4.  The  foregoing  provisions  of  this  act  shall 
lake  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and  after  the  ratifica- 
tion and  adoption  of  the  proposed  change  by  •'  majority 
of  the  voters  of  Redwood  county. 

"Sec.  ,5.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  with 
this  act  are  hereby  repealed. 

"Approved  March  2,   L869." 

"For  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  organization 
see  chapter  8. 

"The  meeting  places  of  the  Board  of  County  Com- 


50 


HISTOKY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


the  law-making  body  did  not  see  fit  to 
provide  for  township  government  at 
once.  Instead,  the  county  was  divided 
into  five  election  precincts,  in  each  of 
which  were  justices  of  the  peace  and 
constables,  appointed  by  the  County 
Board.  These  local  officers  officiated 
until  the  first  township  was  organized 
early  in  1872.  The  last  township  did 
not  begin  local  government  until  1883. 
The  several  townships  were  officially 
created  in  the  following  order,  but  the 
organization  in  all  cases  did  not  imme- 
diately follow:  Lake  Marshall,  Lynd, 
Lyons,  Fairview,  Nordland,  Grandview, 
Lucas,  Eidsvold,  Monroe,  Amiret,  West- 
erheim,  Vallers,  Custer,  Clifton,  Stanley, 
Sodus,  Rock  Lake,  Island  Lake,  Shel- 
burne  and  Coon  Creek. 

LAKE    MARSHALL. 

Although  other  parts  of  the  county 
were  settled  earlier,  there  had  been 
rapid  settlement  in  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship in  1870  and  1871,  and  that  was  the 
first  political  division  to  be  granted 
township  government.  The  Board  of 
County  Commissioners  passed  the  neces- 
sary resolution  on  January  2,  1872,  and 
on  March  8  the  organization  was  per- 
fected. The  first  town  meeting  was 
held  at  the  home  of  C.  H.  Whitney  on 
the  'southeast  quarter  of  section  4, 
where  later  was  built  the  city  of  Marshall. 

The  first  officers  of  the  precinct, 
chosen    at   the   time    of   the    first    town 

missioners  prior  to  the  removal  to  Marshall,  as  recorded 
in  the  commissioners'  journal,  were  as  follows: 

August  12,  1870 — House  of  L.  Ticknor. 

October  8,  1870— Lynd. 

October  14,  1S70 — Wright  school  house. 

January  3,  1871  —  House  of  E.  Lamb. 

.March  15  and  April  7,  1871— Store  of  G.  W.  Whitney. 

May  16,  1871— Store  of  G.  W.  Whitney,  adjourned 
to  the  church. 

September  19,  1871  — Lynd. 

January  2,  1872 — Log  school  house  near  Lynd  post- 
office. 

.March  29  and  April  30,  1872— Hall  of  Smith  &  Ellis 
at   Lynd. 

June  1,  1872,  to  May  9,  1873— Kiel  &>Morgan's  hall. 

June  17,  1873— Kiel's  hotel. 

September  24,  1873 — Lvnd. 

January  20,   1874— Office  of  J.   W.   Blake,   Marshall. 


meeting,  were  as  follows:  Oren  Drake, 
chairman;  C.  T.  Bellingham  and  Noble 
Cuyle,  supervisor,;;  C.  H.  Whitney, 
clerk;  O.  A.  Drake,  treasurer;  S.  M. 
Taylor,  assessor;  W.  H.  Langdon  and 
C.  H.  Whitney,  justices  of  the  peace; 
C.  H.  Upton  and  O.  A.  Drake,  con- 
stables. 

Lake  Marshall  township  was  named 
after  the  lake  of  the  same  name,  and  the 
lake  was  named  in  honor  of  Governor 
William  K.  Marshall.8 

Following  is  a  list  of  those  who  re- 
ceived title  to  government  lands  in  Lake 
Marshall  township,  under  the  homestead 
and  timber  culture  acts,  and  the  number 
of  the  section  (in  parentheses)  on  which 
the  claim  was  located:9 

James  Armstrong  (6),  John  M.  Burke  (36), 
Andrew  J.  Ham  (22),  Joanna  Ham  (22),  William 
G.  Hunter  (12),  Lorenzo  D.  Lewis  (28),  Marietta 
Martin  (14).  Milo  B.  Morse  (4-fi),  Alex  S.  Nobles 
(32),  C.  H.  Richardson  (28),  Ursula  S.  Stone  (4), 
J.  B.  Smith  (18),  Joseph  Sanders  (8),  M.  F. 
Templeton  (24),  John  F.  Wyman  (10),  George 
B.  Wilmarth  (32),  Charles  M.  Wilcox  (26), 
George  B.  Watkins  (34),  Alfred  Loveless  (20), 
Joseph  K.  Johnson  (2),  Aaron  F.  Templeton 
(24),  Josiah  Clark  (32),  Charles  L.  S.  Bellingham 
(20),  Salmon  Webster  (10),  Charles  M.  Temple- 
ton (24),  Henry  F.  Hoyt  (2),  Heirs  M.  R, 
Templeton  (24),  George  R.  Welch  (10),  George 
G.  Orr  (30),  Andrew  Erickson  (14),  Samuel 
Benjamin  (30),  Asahel  A.  Hunter  (14),  James 
Andrew  (6),  Moses  D.  Skillings  (24),  William  M. 
Pierce  (2),  Charles  H.  Upton  (4),  Frank  Y. 
Hoffstott  (10),  Samuel  W.  Orr  (30),  Orson  A. 
Drake  (30),  Oren  Drake  (30),  Jabez  W.  Pike 
(2),  Frank  A.  Lamphere  (22),  Daniel  Minnick 
(18),  William  C.  French  (18),  Peter  Van  Zant 
(20),  Robert  Minnick  (32),  Allen  O.  Underbill 
(28),  Steward  Groesbeck  (28),  Seth  W.  Taylor 
(28),  Christian  Wunderlich  (20),  Peter  F.  Wise 
(34),  Edward  Jones  (34),  Charles  H.  White  (22), 
Milton  C.  Niles  (28),  Charles  M.  Baction  (28), 

*The  first  birth  in  Lake  Marshall  township  was  that 
of  Mary  Langdon,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Zilpha 
Langdon,  who  was  born  in  June,  1870;  the  second 
birth  was  that  of  Fannie  Whitney,  daughter  of  ('.  U. 
and  Mary  Whitney,  and  occurred  November  24,  1870. 
The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Oren  Drake  and  Mis. 
U.  S.  Stone  and  was  performed  September  4,  1S72,  by 
Rev.  Ransom  Wait.  The  first  death  was  that  of  a 
daughter  of  James  Armstrong;  she  died  of  scarlet  fever 
October  5,  1871. 

9As  taken  from  the  records  in  the  office  of  the 
register  of  deeds.  The  names  in  this  list  and  those  of 
the  other  townships  include  only  those  who  had  home- 
stead and  timber  claims,  and  only  the  names  of  those 
appear  who  received  title  to  the  lands. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


51 


William  Cashman  (18),  William  H.  Loveless 
(20),  Eugene  B.  Langdon  (8).10 

LYND. 

Lynd  township,  named  in  honor  of 
James  W.  Lynd,  the  trader  who  in  an 
early  day  had  a  post  within  the  town- 
ship, was  declared  an  organized  town- 
ship by  the  Board  of  County  Commis- 
sioners on  September  4,  1872.  Officers 
were  not  selected  at  that  time,  however, 
and  the  organization  was  not  perfected 
until  a  year  later.  The  first  officers  of 
the  precinct  were  appointed  by  the 
County  Board  on  January  9,  1873,  and 
were  as  follows:  Jacob  Rouse,  chair- 
man; A.  K.  Cummins  and  John  E. 
St  arks,  supervisors;  N.  Davis,  clerk; 
George  E.  Cummins,  treasurer.11 

Titles  to  government  land  w%re  grant- 
ed in  Lynd  township  as  follows: 

George  M.  Boston  (19),  E."  W.  Barton  (8), 
Lewis  E.  Bates  (4),  M.  V.  Davidson  (33),  O.  C. 
Gregg  (30),  Cornelius  Hall  (33),  Oscar  A.  Hawes 
(12),  Clark  S.  Johnson  (10),  Levi  S.  Kiel  (28), 
Edgar  Langdon  (32),  George  W.  Marcyes  (27), 
Hiram  A.  Marcyes  (14),  Hiram  R.  Marcyes  (23), 
George  Pierce  (34),  Arthur  Ransom  (34),  David 
Steifel  (28),  John  E.  Starks  (4),  A.  C.  Tucker 
(18),  Melville  A.  Tucker  (18),  Daniel  M.  Taylor 
(34),  Hiram  G.  Ward  (30),  Horace  M.  Workman 
(4),  J  W.  Williams  (8),  George  W.  Herrick  (18), 
Robert  M.  Addison  (24),  Vernon  M.  Smith  (32), 
Eleazer  Farnham  (2),  Philemon  C.  Farnham  (2), 

10Farmers  who  resided  in  Lake  Marshall  Township  in 
1884,  according  to  G.  F.  Case's  History  of  Lyon  County, 
were  as  follows:  J.  W.  Pike,  Henry  F.  Hoyt,  J.  K. 
Johnson,  George  Cook,  J.  B.  Drew,  W.  Hyde,  R. 
Spates,   R.  F.   Webster,  James  Andrew,   George   Link, 

B.  Link,  J.  Ward,  Henry  Freese,  J.  Anderson,  Noble 
Cuyle,  T.  King,  J.  Scott,  J.  W.  Blake,  J.  S.  Dewey, 
S.    Webster,    T.    Walker,    W.    Wirt,    W.    G.    Hunter, 

C.  H.  Richardson,  O.  M.  Fuller,  A.  Erickson,  P. 
Quiglev,  John  Berry,  Daniel  Minnick,  W.  Cashman, 
J.  Smith,  B.  J.  Heagle,  M.  Pettibone,  C.  T.  Bellingham, 
Charles  Bellingham,  Andrew  Ham,  ('.  Skillings,  ('.  M. 
Templeton,  A.  F.  Templeton,  J.  M.  Burke,  C.  H.  White, 
L.  D.  Lewis,  M.  C.  Niles,  George  Orr,  J.  Clark,  F.  S. 
Wetherbee,  E.  Brotherton,  John  Middleton  and  G.  R. 
Wat  kins. 

ilThe  first  child  born  in  Lynd  township  was  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arthur  Ransom,  born  in 
November,  1868;  the  second  child  was  Harry  Lynd 
Cummins,  son  of  George  E.  Cummins,  born  in  1869. 
The  first  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Bowers,  which  occurred 
April  20,  1868.  The  first  marriage,  that  of  W.  H. 
Langdon  to  Zilpha  Cummins,  was  performed  in  1868 
by  Rev  C.  F.  Wright;  the  second  was  that  of  A.  W. 
M'cGandy  to  Charlotte  Buell  in  1871.  The  first  school, 
supported  by  subscription,  was  taught  in  Lynd  s 
trading  post  building  in  the  spring  of  186!)  by  l.ydia 
Cummins.  The  first  church  services  were  held  in 
September,  1867,  and  the  first  church  was  organized 
in  1868. 


Peter  W.  Mullany  (14),  Leslie  A.  Gregg  (30), 
A.  L.  Randall  (24),  James  E.  Leonard  (10), 
Charles  M.  Shilliam  (32),  Charles  G.  Pearson 
(10),  John  N.  Johnson  (10),  Lydia  J.  Pierce  (34), 
Hiram  Fellows  (20),  Christian  Nelson  (14), 
Warren  S.  Eastman  (12),  Josephus  Myers  (4), 
Harriet  Perrin  (26),  Mary  Jane  Lasure  (6), 
Edward  Fezler  (28),  Orla  B.  Nash  (14),  Mark 
Christensen  (14),  Dewitt  C.  Pierce  (28),  James 
Cummins  (22),  George  E.  Cummins  (22),  George 
A.  Wunderlich  (20)  Hugh  Smith  (26),  James  M. 
Lockey  (8),  Jennie  M.  Rathmell  (18),  Jon 
Anderson  (10),  Colon  Acheson  (14),  Heirs  Oren 
Gregg  (30),  Allen  D.  Morgan  (22),  Charles 
Meloin  (24),  Letta  Hute  (24),  Otto  Weking  (6), 
Horace  N.  Smith  (26),  Stephen  B.  Green  (20), 
James  A.  Harris  (8),  Alva  P.  Wells  (8).12 


LVONS. 

The  next  town  created  was  Lyons,13 
which  doubtless  derived  its  name  from 
the  same  source  as  that  of  the  county, 
namely,  General  Nathaniel  Lyon.  It 
was  officially  declared  an  organized 
township  on  March  18,  1873,  and  given 
the  name  it  still  bears.  At  the  first 
town  election,  held  April  1,  1873,  the 
following  first  officers  were  chosen: 
Gordon  Watson,  chairman;  C.  L.  Van 
Fleet  and  J.  C.  Buell,  supervisors; 
Henry  Mussler,  clerk;  C.  A.  Wright, 
treasurer;  Charles  Hildreth,  assessor; 
J.  W.  Hoagland  and  Edmund  Lamb, 
justices  of  the  peace;  Charles  E.  Goodell 
and  Amasa  Crosby,  constables.11    Land 

'-The  following  named  farmers  resided  in  Lynd 
township  in  1884:  J.  Goodwin,  P.  B.  Fezler,  ('. 
Farnham,  P.  C.  Farnham,  J.  Peterson,  Josephus  Myers, 
R  Spates,  F.  Peterson,  W.  Williams,  James  Lockey, 
A.  P.  Wells,  C.  S.  Foster,  A.  Mellenthin,  F.  Mellenthin, 
C.  Morton,  Jon  Anderson,  Larribee  A-  Sons,  William 
Acheson,  Otto  Anderson,  Charles  Pearson,  O.  A.  Hawes. 
W.  S.  Eastman,  I.  V.  Eastman,  Andrew  Nelson,  Colon 
Acheson,  Christian  Nelson,  Orla  Nash,  W.  Wunderlich. 
Peter  Mullany,  H.  Rolph,  Philip  Snyder,  A.  C.  Tucker, 
H.  Rathmell,  H.  Tucker,  George  A.  Wunderlich,  L.  I'.. 
Fellows,  Alex  Burr,  W.  Sykes,  B.  Syfces,  .lames  Cum- 
mins, ,L.  Marcyes,  George  Link,  B.  F.  Link,  A.  I.. 
Randall,  B.  Heath,  C.  E.  Rice,  L.  Oilman.  Z.  0. 
Titus,  H.  Smith,  W.  L.  Watson,  ('.  E.  Hid-.  Levi  S. 
Kiel,  S.  Van  Alstine,  A.  R.  Cummins,  1>.  ('.  Pierce, 
J  Drvden,  C.  M.  Damuth,  O.  Gregg,  0.  C.  Gregg, 
H.  G.  Ward,  L.  A.  Gregg,  Charles  Shilliam,  W.  11. 
Langdon,  V.  M.  Smith,  Jacob  Rouse  and   Mrs.  Pierce, 

uOn    October    22,     1S72,     Lake    Benton    township, 

comprising  a  tract  of  territory  in  the  southeast  part  of 
the  present    Lincoln  COUnty,   was  created  by  the  County 

Board. 

1  'The    first    child    born    in    Lyons   township    was    Fred 

Adams,  born  in  L870.     The  first  school  was  taught  by 

Florence  Downie  in  1873.  Religious  services  wen- 
first  held  in  the  township  by  Rev.  Ransom  Wait  ..a 
November   I).    1870,    and    the    first    church    society    was 

formed  in  September,  1873, 


52 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


titles  were  granted  to  the  following  in 
Lyons  township: 

W.  C.  Adams  (5),  James  Burnes  (26),  Moses 
G.  Fifield  (10),  Joseph  Fifield  (10),  A.  A.  Fifield 
(10),  Edward  P.  Gage  (22),  James  T.  Moon  (34), 
Hugh  William  Neil  (26),  John  D.  Soper  (22), 
George  H.  Thurston  (24),  C.  L.  Van  Fleet  (32), 
Roland  Weeks  (28),  Charles  A.  Wright  (12), 
William  Whitson  (22),  Mahlon  S.  Faucett  (24), 
Ransom  Wait  (14),  Thomas  S.  Downie  (12), 
Charles  W.  Hicks  (2),  John  L.  Jones  (28),  Evan 
L.  Jones  (34),  Albert  C.  Dresser  (28),  James  F. 
Hoagland  (22),  Richard  R.  Roberts  (20),  Fred 
C.  Hicks  (12),  William  M.  Riddell  (26),  Elisha 
Foster  (30),  Walter  Carlaw  (32),  Leander  P. 
Knapp  (30),  Mary  L.  Gould  (14),  Isaac  Harvey 
(20),  Richard  Tuper  (24),  Dennis  Leary  (6), 
Charles  S.  Riley  (14),  Sophia  Hicks  (2),  John  J. 
Hicks  (2),  Gordon  Watson  (2),  Jeremiah  Van 
Schaick  (30),  James  M.  Millard  (26),  Ludwig 
Mitzner  (34),  Dennis  N.  Fellon  (18),  Lois  E. 
Coleman  (10),  Almond  C.  Dann  (20),  Charles  E. 
Goodell  (14),  Reuben  Beazlev  (6),  Louis  Crane 
(4),  Martha  M.  Day  (6),  Samuel  W.  Galbraith 
(28),  William  Nelson  Jones  (18),  Henry  Mussler 
(20),  Thomas  A.  Graham  (34),  August  Rienke 
(18),  Mauley  M.  Curtis  (12),  Evan  C.  Jones  (8), 
Ephraim  Skyhawk  (18),  Warren  Erwin  Austin 
(24),  Charles  V.  Hicks  (2),  Heirs  Edward  C. 
Bot  (6),  Elisha  B.  Downie  (12),  Henry  L.  Pierce 
(4),  Henry  Schaeffer  (34),  Anthonv  Megandv 
(4),  Edmund  Lamb  (4),  Orla  B.  *Xash  (22), 
(  hvcn  M.  Owens  (8),  Martin  V.  Davidson  (4), 
Luman  Ticknor  (8),  Lars  P.  Bergman  (18). 15 


FAIR  VIEW. 

Fairview  and  Lyons  townships  may 
be  classed  as  twins,  for  they  were 
granted  the  rights  of  township  govern- 
ment on  the  same  day  and  perfected 
their  organizations  on  the  same  day. 
The  beautiful  prairie  township  of  Fair- 
view  was  appropriately  named.  In  the 
early  days,  with  naught  to  interrupt  the 
view,  it  was  a  fair  sight  to  look  upon. 
There  was  spread  out  a  landscape  of 
loveliness,  and  any  other  name  for  the 

15The  following  farmers  lived  in  Lyons  township  in 
1884:  B.  F.  Bates,  C.  V.  Hicks,  J.  J.  Hicks,  Gordon 
Watson,  Y\  .  C.  Adams,  H.  L.  Pierce,  C.  E.  Bice,  Mrs. 
Day,  Dennis  Leary,  Reuben  Beasley,  Joseph  Fifield 
M.  G.  Fifield,  F.  R.  Lindsey,  E.  B.  Do'wnie,  F.  ('  Hicks' 
T.  S.  Downm.  M.  M.  Curtis,  Charles  E.  Goodell,  J  M' 
Millard,  Ransom  Wait,  C.  S.  Riley,  D.  N.  Fellon 
R.  Roberts,  A.  C.  Dann,  I.  N.  Harvey,  R.  1).  Soper] 
1).  Soper,  J.  W.  Hoagland,  J.  F.  Hoagland,  James 
Murison,  J.  Ingram,  G.  H.  Thurston,  James  Burns 
W.  N.  Riddell,  Robert  Riddell,  S.  W.  Galbraith,  L. 
Jones,  C.  E.  Dresser,  C.  C.  Wagner,  D.  T.  Fellon, 
Jeremiah  Van  Schaick,  L.  P.  Knapp,  Walter  Carlaw] 
C.  L.  Van  Fleet,  T.  A.  Graham,  Ludwig  Mitzner. 
E.  L.  Jones,  E.  Schmitz,  J.  Mitzner  and  Mr.  Teufel. 

16The     first     child     born     in     Fairview     was     Walter 
Reynolds,   son   of    William    and    Maria    Reynolds,   who 


township  would  have  been  a  misnomer. 
Fairview  township  was  created  March 
18,  1873,  and  the  first  town  meeting  was 
held  at  the  home  of  John  W.  Elliott,  on 
section  34,  on  the  first  day  of  April  of 
the  same  year.  At  that  time  the  follow- 
ing officers  were  chosen:  Harmon  Love- 
lace, chairman;  John  W.  Elliott  and 
G.  M.  Johnson,  supervisors;  John  Bu- 
chanan, clerk;  Owen  Marron,  treasurer; 
B.  G.  Emery,  assessor;  Harmon  Love- 
lace and  John  Buchanan,  justices  of  the 
peace;  W.  S:  Pieynolds  and  A.  Williams. 
constables.16 

The  government  issued  patents  to 
land  in  Fairview  township  to  the  follow- 
ing- 
Miner  Atherton  (32),  Romain  ('.  Beech  (6), 
Charles  A.  Edwards  (26),  B.  C.  Emery  (14). 
I.  P.  Farriagton  (26),  John  L.  Gee  (6),  Daniel 
P.  Hance  (24),  Reuben  Henshaw  (22),  Anne 
Hanlon  (10),  Besnasel  Hanlon  (10),  John  Hanlon 
(18),  Harmon  Lovelace  (20),  David  H.  Neely 
(4),  William  S.  Reynolds  (34),  George  Spaulding 
(28),  John  Shull  (4),  Luman  Ticknor  (30), 
Daniel  F.  Weymouth  (2),  Alvin  Fort  (12), 
William  D.  Lovelace  (24),  Thomas  Lindsay  (12), 
Polk  Williams  (8),  Frank  Constant  (22),  Jasper 
W.  Dickey  (20),  Seth  Johnson  (30),  Edward  C. 
Pierce  (28),  John  A.  Brown  (22),  Cornelius 
Meehan  (10),  Daniel  Thomas  (30),  David  D. 
Forbes  (14),  Martha  Meacham  (8),  E.  Alfred 
Edwards  (4),  George  L.  D.  Weymouth  (2), 
William  C.  Robinson  (10),  Harvey  G.  Howard 
(20),  George  M.  Robinson  (10),  Richard  Blake 
(18),  John  Cummings  (26),  Richard  Yates  (28), 
Margaret  JTanlon  (18),  Walter  Wakeman  (20), 
Maudavill  Potter  (28),  Marcellus  F.  Murphy  (4), 
Martin  V.  Davidson  (24),  John  H.  Buchanan 
(32),  Daniel  M.  Taylor  (30),  Allen  Smith  (6), 
Eben  B.  Jewett  (32),  Hamilton  Smith  (18), 
John  W.  Elliott  (34),  Zenas  Rank  (24),  Isaac 
Lindsey  (14),  Lewis  Lavake  (14),  Delia  M. 
Wasson  (22),  Frank  D.  Wasson  (22),  Eliza 
Wasson  (22),  Heirs  Charles  Weymouth  (2), 
Homer  Robinson  (20),  George  F.  LeBeau  (6).17 

was  born  April  2,  1871.  Walter  Woodruff  and  Julia 
Lovelace  were  the  first  in  the  township  to  marry.  The 
first  death  was  that  of  Mary  Gibbs,  mother  of  Henry 
Gibbs;  she  died  in  December,  1871,  at  the  age  of  ninety 
years.  School  was  first  taught  in  the  township  by 
Ada  Kennedy  in  1S<4;  the  first  school  room  was  a 
granary  belonging  to  Thomas  Lindsay.  The  first 
religious  services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  George 
Spaulding  at  his  home  in  1S73. 

17The  following  were  heads  of  families  residing  in 
Fairview  in  1884:  D.  Alexander,  D.  F.  Weymouth 
M.  P.  Jewett.  Cox  Brothers,  H.  Edwards,  R  ('"  Beech 
J.  L.  Gee,  C.  L.  Wiley,  Philip  Rue,  A.  Paul,  Neill 
Oren  Marron,  Martha  Meacham,  A.  Hanlon,  Besnasel 
Hanlon,  G.  M.  Robinson,  W.  ('.  Robinson.  Rev. 
Graves,  O.  F.  Walter,  Isaac  Lindsev,  Alex  Forbes, 
D.   D.   Forbes,   Whitney  &   Keith,   F.   J.   Parker,  John 


HISTORY  OP  LYON  COUNTY. 


53 


NORDLAND. 

Almost  without  exception,  the  town- 
ship of  NTordland  was  settled  by  Nor- 
wegians and  they  bestowed  upon  it  the 
name  of  a  province  in  their  native  land. 
Nordland  township  was  created  by  the 
Board  of  County  Commissioners  May  9, 
1873,  and  soon  thereafter  the  first  town 
meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  T.  H. 
Horn  on  section  14. 

The  initial  officers  of  Nordland  were 
as  follows:  Ole  O.  Groff,  chairman; 
Ole  0.  Rear  and  Nils  Anderson,  super- 
visors; Frederick  Holritz,  clerk;  A.  O. 
Strand,  treasurer;  T.  O.  Loftsgaarden, 
assessor;  J.  O.  Fangen  and  Frederick 
Holritz,  justices  of  the  peace;  Thrond 
Helverson  and  W.  K.  Hovden,  con- 
stables. 

The  following  became  owners  of  land 
in  Nordland  by  virtue  of  the  homestead 
and  timber  culture  acts: 

Charles  Anderson  (18),  Fred  Holritz  (10), 
Andrew  Halversen  (28),  Christopher  K.  Iverson 
(20),  Tobias  Iverson  (30),  Lars  J.  Jerpbak  (18), 
Erick  Knudson  (22),  Nels  B.  Nelson  (8),  Gunder 
Olson  (8),  Robert  Quiggle  (2),  Mary  Tollef  (26), 
Halvor  A.  Verse  (12),  William  K.  Hovden  (2), 
Niels  Gregersen  (30),  Arent  Larsen  (12),  Niels 
N.  Myre  (14),  Ole  Olsen  (12),  Samuel  Hansen 
(20),  John  Larsen  (34),  Theodore  Halve rson 
(28),  Halvor  Olsen  Skogen  (26),  Ole  O.  Barisnens 
(24),  Ole  Sieverson  (14),  Osten  Anderson  Rye 
(34),  Gregar  Amundsen  (22),  Simon  Sivertson 
(4),  John  Johnson  Hoff  (4),  Lewis  B.  Leland 
(28),  Christian  Johnsen  (8),  Ole  Shelrud  (24), 
Ole  O.  Nordbv  (22),  Seaver  G.  Dalen  (6),  Ole  O. 
Skaar  (18),  Sever  L.  Teigland  (10),  Nels  Hal- 
verson  (28),  Tobias  Iverson  (30),  Syvert  A. 
Hazleberg  (30),  Sturlaugur  Gilbertson  (8),  Ole 
O.  Rear  (12),  John  Josephson  (4),  Martin 
Bradison  (32),  Ole  A.  Lien  (28),  John  O'Brien 
(4),  Josef  Jonssen(30),  Thor  Rye  (8),  Ole  Ledel 

Hanlon,  M.  Hanlon,  Hamilton  Smith,  J.  A.  Hunter, 
Richard  Blake,  J.  \\  .  Dickey,  H.  G.  Howard,  Kinney, 
W.  P.  Thayer,  L.  K.  Thayer,  J.  A.  Brown,  Reuben 
Henshaw,  F.  D.  Wasson,  W.  U.  Lovelace,  D.  T.  Hance, 
John  Cummings,  James  Lawrence,  E.  C.  Pierce,  M. 
Potter,  Rev.  George  Spaulding,  A.  C.  Forbes,  A. 
Baldwin,  Seth  Johnson,  Daniel  Thomas,  Luman 
Ticknor,  E.  B.  Jewett,  E.  A.  Edwards,  .Mrs.  Coleman, 
J.  W.  Elliott,  W.  S.  Reynolds  and  E.  O.  Barnard. 

18During  the  next  ten  years  after  its  organization 
the  growth  of  Nordland  was  slow  and  in  1SS4  the  only 
heads  of  families  living  in  the  precinct  were  Haiver 
Olson,  J.  B.  Johnson,  Thomas  Olson,  W.  K.  Hovden, 
Robert  Culshaw,  John  Ohnn,  Sven  Jeremiasrn,  John 
J.  Hoff,  S.  Severtson,  John  Josephson,  B.  <'.  Gatzke, 
S  «',.  Dalen,  Sturlauger  Gilbertson,  Nels  Nelson,  Chris 
Johnson,  Teeta  Tolff,  A.  Strand,   Sever  Tergland,    B. 


(24),  Paul  B.  Gatzke  (6),  Thidemap  Jensen  (24), 
Leif  Stenerson  (30),  John  B.  Johnson  (32), 
Torjus  H.  Flom  (14),  Frank  Ramberg  (24), 
Halvor  H.  Bakken  (26),  Peter  Larson  (26), 
Gilbert  T.  Larsen  (24),  Heirs  Benjamin  Johnsen 
(32),  John  McClusky  (20),  Peter  Johan  Jennen 
(14),  Robert  Hanson  (10),  Benjamin  Johnson 
(32),  Gregar  Stenerson  (24),  John  Gillund  (22), 
Frank  Dobrinski  (6),  Thomas  Olson  (2),  Andreas 
J.  Olsen  (10),  Brede  Bredeson  (32),  Sven  H. 
Jeremiasen  (4),  Thomas  McClusky  (10),  Tollef 
Olson  Festad  (10). 18 


GRANDVIEW. 

The  topographical  features  supplied 
the  name  for  Grandview,  the  name  being- 
selected  when  the  township  was  created 
July  21,  1873.  On  September  23  of  the 
same  year  the  County  Board  authorized 
a  change  in  name  to  Warrington,  but 
the  change  was  not  made. 

The  township  was  organized  in  Au- 
gust, 1873,  when  the  first  town  meeting 
was  held  at  the  home  of  Jacob  Thomas. 
The  first  officers,  selected  at  that  time, 
were  as  follows:  T.  J.  Barber,  chair- 
man; S.  B.  Green  and  J.  M.  Collins, 
supervisors;  A.  L.  Baldwin,  clerk;  J.  M. 
English,  treasurer;  George  Chamberlain, 
assessor;  Orlando  McQuestion  and  H.  B. 
Loomis,  justices  of  the  peace;  (!.  A. 
Wirt  and  C.   P.   Cotterell,   constables.1'* 

Government  land  patents  were  grant- 
ed to  the  following  in  Grandview: 

Henry  W.  Burlingame  (4),  Frank  D.  Baldwin 
(26),  Edward  Goodman  (10),  Charles  E.  Goodell 
(34),  James  P.  Greenslitt  (4),  Stephen  B.  Green 
(22),  J.  A.  Goodrich  (12),  Alexander  Graham 
(14),  Harrison  A.  Irish  (14),  Charles  J.  Morse 
(24),  Martin  M.  Marshall  (28),  William  Markell 
(10),  John  S.  Pears  (24),  Janet  Robertson  (24), 
Wells  I.  Smith  (20),  J.  M.  Vaughn  (8),  George  A. 
Wirt  (22),  Generius  Johnson  (6),  Christian  Lee 

Verpe,  Ole  Rear,  Ole  Groff,  Arne  Larson,  <  He  Bji 
N.  T.  Dahl,  T.  H.  Flom,  A.   Larson,   Nels  Myre,  Ole 
Severson,  Charles  Anderson,  Lars  Jerpbak,  Asian  Haug, 
Ole    Stear,    Samuel    Sanson,    Frederick    Bolritz,    Ole 
Myrick,  K.  Melby,  Ole  Nordbv,  J.  G.  Gillund,  Gregar 
Amundsen,  Thideman  Jens -n,  (i.  Stenerson,  Ole  Ladel, 
F.  Rumberg,  Ole  S.   Kgelud,  Nels  Ealverson,  Andrew 
Balverson,  Albert  Halverson,  Louis  Lsland,  S.    Lndei 
son,  T.  Tobias,  M.  Bredeson,  li.  Johnson,  Ole  Boi 
L.  Kst  and  J<ilui  Larson. 

"Lilly   McQuestion,   the   firsi   child  born   in   Grand 
view    was  born    December   16,    L871,   the  daughter  o 
Orlando  McQuestion.     The  firsi   death  was  a   child  ol 
Joseph  Chamberlain.     The  firsi  school  was  taught  by 
Sarah  Constant    in    L876.     The   first    religious  services 
were  conducted  by  Rev.  W.  S.  W  illiams. 


54 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


(18),  Alberto  L.  Baldwin  (22).  Selden  Coleman 
(26),  William  T.  Maxson  (20-28),  Charles  P. 
Cotterell  (22),  Bergit  S.  Jacobson  (6),  Ransom 
F.  Lathe  (28),  John  G.  Cook  (34),  William  L. 
Goodrich  (12),  Ambrose  Amundson  (8).  Jacob 
Thomas  (22).  Anthon  J.  Ledel  (30),  Orlando 
McQuestion  (34),  John  O.  Ranum  (30),  Rufus  F. 
Southworth  (2),  Hugh  Chalmers  (2),  Lewis 
Story  (32),  Johan  Christ  Xielson  (30),  Thomas 
J.  Barber  (22),  Amasa  A.  Farmer  (20),  Georgi- 
anna  M.  Collins  (14),  John  R.  Phelps  (32),  John 
Shelrud  (30),  Harrison  B.  Loomis  (4),  Fannie 
M.  Collins  (10),  Flovd  H.  Deland  (2),  Leo 
DeCock  (8),  Miles  W.  Fuller  (32),  Martin 
Ellefson  (6),  Lewis  E.  Bates  (28),  Charles 
DeVos  (4),  Edward  A.  Deland  (12),  Edward 
Fezler  (28),  Camille  Claeys  (8),  Sigfred  Ledel 
(18),  Franklin  H.  Goodrich  (12),  James  S. 
Rauger  (30),  Ole  Ingebretson  Rot  am  (6), 
William  Bot  (14).  Anders  H.  Opdahl  (6),  Chester 
Andrews  (26), -James  M.  English  (26),  William 
J.  Brull  (34),  Edwin  M.  English  (24),  George  W. 
Carpenter  (24). 20 


LUC  VS. 

The  northeast  corner  township  was 
officially  designated  an  organized  town- 
ship July  21,  1873,  under  the  name  of 
Canton,  and  it  was  more  than  a  year 
later  when  the  name  Lucas  was  bestowed 
upon  it.21  The  organization  was  per- 
fected August  5,  1873. 

The  first  officers  of  the  township  were 
as  follows:  .lames  Wardrop,  chairman: 
O.  H.  Dahl  and  John  Moe,  supervisor:-: 
R.  H.  Price,  clerk:  N.  T.  Dahl.  treasurer 
and  assessor;  T.  S.  Norgaard  and  P.  H. 
Dahl,  justices  of  the  peace;  R.  J.  Ben- 

20There  were  living  in  Grandview  the  following  in 
1884:  Victor  LeBeau,  Hugh  Chalmers,  F.  H.  Deland, 
J.  Cavanaugh,  H.  B.  Loomis,  Theodore  Carron,  C. 
Foulon,  G.  Verghote,  John  Ford,  Martin  Ellefson, 
G.  A.  Aal,  B.  Jacobson,  Ole  Rotam,  Ambrose  Amund- 
son, J.  M.  Vaughn,  R.  L.  Greenslitt.  H.  Maartens,  Leo 
DeCock,  David  VanHee,  H.  Princen,  B.  F.  Jellison, 
F.  H.  Goodrich,  E.  A.  Deland,  A.  Paradis,  W.  S. 
Goodrich,  Alexander  Graham,  Georgianna  Collins, 
C.  Messine,  A.  VanHee.  S.  VanHee,  Christian  Lee, 
Sigfred  Ledel,  J.  Regnier,  J.  Lambert,  A.  A.  Farmer, 
W.  T.  Maxson,  L.  E.  Bates,  Isaac  Regnier,  Charles 
Cotterell,  S.  B.  Green,  T.  I.  Barber,  Jacob  Thomas, 
A.  L.  Baldwin,  J.  M.  English,  G.  W.  Carpenter,  E. 
Lord,  Frank  Baldwin.  S.  Coleman,  J.  Butson,  Peter 
Schmitz,  C.  Schmitz,  F.  Laythe,  John  Shelrud,  John 
Nielson,  A.  J.  Ladle,  J.  O.  Ranum,  J.  Lambert,  M.  W, 
Fuller,  Lewis  Story,  A.  Pennston,  William  Goodell. 
J.  G.  Cook  and  Orlando  McQuestion. 

-'Ruling-  of  state  auditors  forbade  two  townships 
in  the  state  to  have  the  same  name,  and  as  a  conse- 
quence the  people  of  a  new  township  frequently  had 
to  change  the  name.  The  people  of  Lucas  were 
especially  unfortunate  in  choosing  a  name  that  had  not 
before  been  selected.  The  name  Lisbon  was  selected 
in  place  of  Canton  on  March  17,  1874.  and  that  in  turn 
was    changed   to    Moe   on    May   21,    1874.      Lucas   was 


jamin    and    George    Anderson,    consta- 
bles.22 

The  following  were  settler-  of  Lucas 
who  received  their  land  from  the  govern- 
ment : 

George  Anderson  (8),  Otto  Anderson  2 
Squire  J.  Carr  (24).  Robert  Cummings  (32), 
Peter  H.  Dahl  (4).  P.  A.  Eitland  (18),  James 
Galbraith  (30),  Ann  Lines  (24),  Lewis  B. 
Nichols  20),  George  Russell  (34),  William  H. 
Slater  (4),  Robert  Chalmers  (30),  John  McLen- 
nan (32),  Thomas  Bell  (12),  Joseph  Gray  (28), 
Peder  Eliason  (10),  Christopher  IVterson  (22), 
'  John  Boniman  (30),  John  H.  Mielke  (22),  James 
Wardrop  (12),  Christ  H.  Dahl  (S).  Josiah 
Durham  (2),  Rufus  H.  Price  (2),  Gabriel  Ander- 
son (6).  Torjus  S.  Norgaard  I  ti.  Edward  T. 
Tonnessen  Hamre  (10-8),  Hans  P.  Dahl  (6 
Allend  Christianson  (10),  Endre  Endreson  (8), 
Clinton  J.  Price  (14),  Carl  Kartowietz  (26), 
James  C.  Townsend  (MO).  Frederick  Strohschaen 
(12),  John  Krog  (22),  Ole  H.  Batlestad  (18), 
Daniel  R.  Burdctt  (20),  Charles  S.  Lovelace  (20  . 
Toilet"  o.  Legvold  (Ki(.  William  Stewart  (32), 
James  Ouickshank  (34),  John  Johnsen  Nesdal 
(14).  Wilhelm  Weinkauf  (24),  her  Nelson  (2), 
Mikkle  Nelson  (6),  Thomas  Chalmers  (32 
Neils  Neilson  (6),  Siverl  <>.  Barsted  (20), 
Christian  Rusl  (34). " 

EIDSVOLD. 

Nineteen  residents  of  the  northwest 
corner  township  petitioned  for  township 
government  and  the  County  Hoard  took 
the  requested  action  September  2.  1873. 
The  township  was  created  and  organ- 
ized with  the  name  Upper  Yellow  Medi- 
cine, but  the  name  was  later  changed  to 
Eidsvold. 

chosen  October  11,  1S74.  and  as  no  Other  township  had 
:i  prior  ri till t  the  name  \va>  permanently  established. 

22Thc  first  child  born  in  Lucas  was  Albert  Erwin, 
born  February  27.  1872.  The  first  death  was  a  son 
of  John  Krog,  who  died  in  the  winter  of  1873.  The 
first  marriage  was  that  of  D.  R.  Burdette  to  Alice  M. 
Price  and  occurred  July  16,  1873.  The  first  school 
was  taught  by  Ella  Williams  in  1873  in  a  small  building 
erected  by  R.  H.  Price  on  section  2.  The  first  religious 
services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Joseph  Williams,  of 
the  United  Brethren  Society. 

23In  1884  the  residents  of  Lucas  township  were  as 
follows:  R.  H.  Price,  Iver  Nelson,  At.  Nelson,  E.  S. 
Reishus,  Aarrestad  Brothers,  L.  P.  Aaberg,  Gabriel 
Anderson,  J.  A.  H.  Dahl,  N.  Rosvold,  M .  Rosvold, 
J.  H.  Anderson,  C.  H.  Dahl.  A.  Bars  tad,  A.  Anderson. 
Mr.  Conrad.  Peder  Eliason,  E.  T.  Hamre,  Allend 
Christianson,  Frederick  Strohschaen,  James  Wardrop, 
Thomas  Bell,  J.  Johnson,  A.  Miro,  A.  Slette,  J.  Medboe, 
O.  O.  Reinholt,  O.  H.  Hattlestad,  M.  T.  Ness,  H.  J. 
Meilke,  John  Krog,  J.  A.  Smith,  Christopher  Peterson, 
J.  C.  Lines,  J.  J.  Hunziker,  C.  Kartowitz,  F.  G.  Stroh- 
schaen, Jr.,  J.  McDonald,  J.  C.  Gray,  James  Galbraith, 
John  Boniman,  Robert  Chalmers.  J.  ('.  Townsend, 
John  D.  Smith,  Robert  Cummings,  William  Stewart, 
John  McLellan,  Thomas  Chalmers.  James  Cruickshank, 
James   Robertson,   George   Russell  and   P.   Schlemmer. 


HISTORY  OP  LYON  COUNTY 


.).> 


The  in'  t  ti»u ii  meeting  was  held  Sep 
tember  20,  1873,  and  the  following  were 
chos en  t he  fin  t  offh  era:  II.  T.  <  Oakland, 
chairman;  Nels  Torgerson  and  A. 
Amundson,  supervisor  :  John  Coleman, 
clerk;  Swend  Peterson,  treasurer;  0.  B. 
Ringham,  •  e  or;  H.  D,  Frink,  jus  t  ice 
of  the  peace;  <>  I!  Esping  and  G. 
Amundson,  constal  le  ;.a ' 

The  following  homesteaders  and  tree 
claim  claimants  received  title  to  real 
(••  late  in  Eidsvold: 

Ambrose    Amundsen    (34),    Lewis    Anderson 
28     William  Brockway  (20),  John  A.  Coleman 
28)    W.  M.  Coleman  (26),  Swend  Peterson    .:<: 
Ole  Pederson  (24),  Ole  B.  Ringham  (26),  Jakob 
Steinmetz  (22-12-18),  William  P.  Tenney  (18), 
Harvey  D.  Frink  (26),  John  M.  Hall  (8),  Knud 
Olson  (10),   Knud  0.   Dovre  (34),   Freeborn  \ 
Welch    (18),    William    Mohr    (30),    Francis    I; 
Adams  I  I),  Aaron  Conger  (6),  Kmit  A.  Rye  (22  . 
Knud    Helgeson    (2),    Amend    Amendson    (24 
Knud  K.  Gigstad  (34),  George  II.  Welch  (18  . 
Hugh   Bowden  (12).   Edwin   E.   Ramberg     ■ ; 
Neils   Torgeson    (34),    Charles    Overland    (14), 
John  Olson  Kaas  (22),  Knut  S.  Kraubek  (14), 
Barnel    Vosberg   (6),    Filing   Knudson    llaugen 
(12),   Walter  P.   Ruggles   (1).   Knnd   Knudtson 
(10),  Ole  A.  Swennes  (2),  Parmer Crampton  (8  . 
Norman    Webster   (8),    Bergven   J.   Hoff   (32 
Lewis  1*.  Johnson  (10),   Isaac  Olson  (24),  Thor- 
vald  Rye  (12),  [gnacy  Gawareski   (30),  <  He  II. 

Esping  (12),    Patrick   Malone   (14),  .John   McCor- 

jnick  (20),  Betsey  .1.  Wallin  (22),  Knud  Kjorness 
(2  J).  Lawrence  McDonald  (28),  Jens  Alickson 
(32),  Joseph  Alickson  (32),  Kazimien  Surdzinski 
(30),  Hugh  McNamara  (4),  Nels  Anderson  (10), 
Ellen  Salmon  (28),  Maria  Olson  (32),  Carrie  E. 
Fodness  (2),  Engebret  K.  Kjorness  (24),  James 
W.  Williams  (20),  Syvert  Hanson  (22),  Heirs 
Frank  Hinkley  (8),  Andrew  Budniakowski  (30), 
John  S.  Kosmalski  (20),  Gottlieb  Kerlein  (30), 
Reuben  H.  Clark  (4).25 


Mi  INROK 

The  county  law-making  body  sel  apart 
the  soul  heai  i  corner  towns  hip  for  or- 
ganization on  January  5,  1874,  and 
named  it  Monroe.28  Some  time  later 
the  firsl  town  meeting  was  hold  ;it  the 
tore  nf  II.  X.  Joy  in  Tracy,  officers 
weir  selected,  and  .Monroe  township  was 
fully  organized.2' 

Land  patents  were  granted  by  the 
government  to  the  following  named 
persons  in  .Monroe  township: 

Reese  Davis  (8),  Smith  S.  Fuller  (S),  Edward 
Glynn  (6),  Alden  ('.  Levitt  (12),  William  H. 
Morgan  (20),  A.  Peterson  (20),  Philip  Peregrine 
(6),  Rees  Price  (18),  Ole  Rialson  (22),  E.  L. 
st.nr  (24),  Henry  II.  Welch  (26),  David  Bumford 
(30),  Charles  S.  Grover  (6),  William  V.  Taylor 
(6),  John  M.  Chapin  (24),  Andrew  Christensen 
(28),  Edwin  W.  Healy  (26),  Ole  Olson  Suae  (20), 
Wyatt  Moulton  (18),  Anne  Amandsen  (32), 
Ole  Helgeson  Brevig  (28),  Elias  Jones  (10), 
Ole  Johnson  (26),  Hugh  R.  Hughes  (18),  James 
R.  Mullins  (12),  EUas  Rialson  (22),  Gunerins 
Olson  (30),  Evan  D.  Evans  C30),  Charles  Vau 
Dusen  (4),  Walter  A.  Sutherland  (2),  Hans  T. 
Larson  ( 10),  Ingeborg  Trulson  (32),  John  Schultz 
(24),  William  Shand  (14),  Kittel  C.  Haugen  (28), 
Charles  W.  Northrup  (4),  William  F.  Randall 
(4),  Amand  Erlandson  (22),  Thomas  Devine 
(12),  Amasa  A.  Farmer  (12),  Frederick  Johnson 
(12),  Emerson  W.  Ladd  (2),  Ole  Amundson  (20), 
Heirs  Elias  Olson  (34),  Ellef  Anderson  (34), 
Jacob  F.  Durst  (8),  Mary  E.  Bass  (6),  Adolph 
Gilbertson  (14),  Rasmus  H.  Lawrence  (10), 
Hans  Amendsen  (32),  Levi  Montgomery  (26), 
Benjamin  R.  Bass  (6),  William  S.  Moses  (24), 
Truis  Knudsen  (32),  John  F.  Knowles  (34), 
John  L.  Craig  (14),  Solomon  Evans  (30), 
George  White  (18),  Wilbur  F.  Nelson  (2), 
Levi  Bailey   (4),   Martin  Larson   (10),   Guilbert 


-'Twin  girl.s.  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swend  Peterson 
in  1871,  were  the  first  births  in  Eidsvold.  A  daughter 
of  ( >le  Pederson,  who  died  in  1872,  was  the  first  to  die 
in  the  precinct.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of  J.  J. 
Wallin  to  Annie  Olson  and  occurred  October  24,  1874. 
The  first  public  school  was  taught  by  O.  H.  Dahl  in 
the  railroad  section  house.  Rev.  J.  Berg  conducted 
the  first  religious  services  in  the  same  building. 

25The  following  were  engaged  in  farming  in  Eidsvold 
township  in  1884:  O.  A.  Swennes,  Knud  Helgeson, 
K.  Kodness,  F.  McMahon,  W.  P.  Ruggles,  F.  R.  Adams, 
Aaron  Conger,  Barnet  Vosburg,  J.  Ahern,  E.  Hinkley, 
.  L.  P.  Johnson,  K.  Knudson,  K.  O.  Bakken,  Torger 
Stene,  Thor  Rye,  Hugh  Bowden,  E.  Rnutson,  Ole  H. 
Esping,  E.  Severson,  H.  T.  Oakland,  K.  Tvambeek, 
Patrick  Malone,  F.  N.  Welch,  B.  Agners,  John  McCor- 
mick,  J.  E.  Kaas,  J.  Pennington,  C.  Hanson,  Knut  Rye, 
H.  Rye,  B.  Wallin,  K.  E.  Kjorness,  E.  K.  Kjorness, 
Amend  Amendson,  Isaac  Olson,  G.  Thompson,  O.  B. 
Ringham,  H.  H.  Boe,  J.  Wilhelms,  W.  Salmon,  Lewis 
Anderson,  Lawrence  McDonald,  Henry  Carstens,  A. 
Katke,  William  Mohr,  E.  O'Brien,  Nels  Torgerson, 
K.  O.  Dovre  and  Ole  Feste. 


26The  name  was  suggested  by  Louis  and  Ole  Rialson, 
early  settlers  of  the  township  who  came  from  Green 
county,  Wisconsin,  the  county  seat  of  which  was 
Monroe.  The  residents  of  the  new  township  selected 
that  name  by  ballot  over  Chelsea,  another  name  that 
had  been  proposed.  The  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners on  January  6,  1874,  directed  the  county 
auditor  to  send  to  the  state  authorities  the  name 
Starr,  in  case  the  name  Monroe  was  rejected. 

27The  first  birth  in  Monroe  township  was  that  of  a 
daughter  of  Rees  Price;  the  second  was  that  of  George 
White,  a  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  White,  born  June 
17,  1872;  the  child  died  September  10  of  the  same 
year,  his  death  being  the  first  in  the  precinct.  Stella 
Cleveland  taught  the  first  school  in  the  township  in 
1875.  Religious  services  were  first  conducted  in  1873 
by  Rev.  Ransom  Wait  at  the  home  of  E.  L.  Starr. 
The  first  religious  organization,  a  Congregational 
Sunday  School,  was  formed  in  June,  1874,  at  the  home 
of  J.  M.  Wardell.  The  first  church  organization  was 
that  of  the  Presbyterian,  formed  in  the  fall  of  1874; 
its  church  building,  the  first  in  the  township,  was 
erected  in  the  spring  of  1875. 


56 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Larson  (10),  Segrid  Amundson  (20),  Ole  Ander- 
son (28). 28 

AMIRET. 

The  township  which  is  now  designated 
Amiret  dates  its  existence  from  March 
17.  1S74.  when  the  County  Board,  upon 
the  petition  of  Horace  N.  Randall  and 
others,  authorized  its  citizens  to  organ- 
ize. For  several  years  the  precinct  bore 
the  name  Madison,  but  in  1879,  by 
legislative  act.  its  name  was  changed  to 
Amiret,  to  correspond  with  the  name  of 
the  village  within  its  boundaries.29 
The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the 
store  of  William  Coburn  April  7.  1874. 
S.  S.  Truax,  J.  H.  Williams  and  H.  N. 
Randall  were  judges  of  the  election  then 
held  and  William  Coburn  was  clerk. 

The  first  officers  chosen  were  as  fol- 
lows: James  Mitchell,  Jr.,  chairman; 
Lafayette  Grover  and  David  Hawks, 
supervisors;  William  Coburn,  clerk:  S.  S. 
Truax,  treasurer;  J.  H.  Williams,  assess- 
or; John  Taylor,  justice  of  the  peace; 
Luther  Mason,  constable.30 

To  the  following  early  settlers  of 
Amiret  township  government  land  titles 
were  granted: 

Henry  Borchert  (30),  William  Doxie  (6), 
Charles  Donaldson  (22),  George  W.  Donaldson 
(22),  Simeon  S.  Goodrich  (12),  Philo  Hall  (14), 
Isaiah  D.  Hetric  (24),  David  Hawks  (14). 
William  Harrison  (32),  James  Hopkins  (30), 
Beers  Johnson  (30),  Eliza  A.  Kennedy  (34), 
Jacob  Kline  (28),  N.  Leavitt  (26),  Jane  Mitchell 

--The  fanning  population  of  Monroe  township  in 
lss4  was  composed  of  the  following:  C.  Reggie, 
E.  W.  Ladd,  J.  Jones,  Jessup  &  Walsh,  C.  \Y.  Van 
Dusen.  \Y.  Northrup,  James  Thomson,  J.  W.  Tyson, 
Philip  Peregrine,  B.  R.  Bass,  E.  W.  Glvnn,  I.  Grover, 
J.  Glynn,  J.  F.  Durst,  J.  P.  Davis,  Rees  Davis,  R.  H. 
Lawrence,  Martin  Larsen,  Gulbrand  Larsen,  Elias 
Jones,  T.  Larson,  Nevius  Brothers,  J.  R.  Mullen,  J.  B. 
Mullen,  J.  B.  Deal,  J.  L.  Craig,  J.  C.  Tweet,  R.  Cava- 
naugh,  N.  H.  Starr,  C.  Muediking,  Wyatt  Moulton, 
H.  R.  Hughes,  Rees  Price,  W.  H.  Morgan,  Ole  Amund- 
son, Ole  Olsen,  Charles  C.  Warren,  A.  Erlandson,  Louis 
Rialson.  S.  D.  Peterson,  T.  Lewis,  Ole  Liaison.  W.  S. 
Moses,  W.  Henning,  J.  Moline,  J.  S.  Wilniarth,  H.  H. 
Titus.  Levi  Montgomery,  Ole  Johnson,  J.  J.  Randall, 
('.  Christianson,  Ole  Anderson,  Ole  Helgeson,  Andrew 
Christensen,  Mrs.  R.  Sessions,  E.  D.  Evans,  G.  O. 
Miller,  A.  Amendsen,  H.  Amundson,  J.  Jacobson, 
H.  .Moline,  Ellef  Anderson,  J.  Retz,  Schmitz. 

-9The  village  was  named  in  honor  of  Amiretta  Sykes, 
wife  of  M.  I  .  Sykes,  vice  president  of  the  Chicago  ifc 
Northwestern  Railroad  Company  and  also  of  the 
Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad  Company. 


(30),  Luther  Mason  (20),  Saira  H.  Preston  (26), 
J.  C.  Plumseth  (28),  Charles  P.  Silloway  (22), 
O.  W.  Walsh  (34),  Hamilton  Drake  (28), 
Merritt  Shaw  (18),  James  Mitchell  (30),  Peter 
McKeever  (30),  Frederick  A.  Woodruff  (2), 
Joseph  Connelly  (30),  Valentine  O.  Cove}'  (10), 
James  W.  Drew  (4),  Jasper  L.  Havens  (24), 
Don  D.  Harding  (28),  Calvin  Maydole  (18), 
Franklin  G.  Cahow  (12),  Luvina  Devens  (10), 
Ariel  H.  Wellman  (26),  William  Coburn  (10), 
Oliver  P.  Ball  (4),  Joseph  Fredenburg  (2), 
Alfred  Nichols  (20),  George  Beck  (18),  Daniel 
Warn  (24),  Nelson  Johnson  (18),  John  W. 
Taylor  (14),  Joseph  B.  Shepard  (4),  George  W. 
Smith  (8),  James  Struthers  (8),  Joseph  Shake 
(6),  Horace  N.  Randall  (14-2),  Henry  C.  May- 
dole  (6),  Isaac  C.  Seeley  (8),  Benjamin  R.  Bass 
(6),  James  D.  Bevier  (24),  Sidnev  N.  Lund  (24), 
John  B.  Martin  (24),  Ambrose  N.  Smith  (18), 
Jacob  Devens  (4),  James  Mitchell,  Jr.  (4), 
Ephraim  Skyhawk  (2),  Abraham  V.  Brown  (10), 
John  Sherman  (12),  Eugene  E.  Harding  (20), 
Homer  C.  Swift  (8),  Emery  J.  York  (26), 
Lewis  F.  Rowell  (10),  Thomas  Johnson  (24), 
Charles  Mason  (20),  Burton  A.  Drake  (6), 
Perrv  D.  Gross  (20),  Charles  F.  Whipple  (28), 
Andrew  Purves  (18),  John  D.  Owens  (32), 
Alexander  Kennedy  (12),  Joel  H.  Harris  (32), 
Louis  Michel  (6),  Gardner  F.  Harding  (34). 31 


WESTERHEIM. 

Nearly  all  the  early  day  settlers  of 
Westerheim  township  were  Norwegians 
and  when  the  time  came  to  organize  the 
township  they  gave  it  a  Norwegian 
name — Westerheim,  meaning  western 
home.  The  petition  for  the  creation  of 
the  township  was  presented  to  the 
county  authorities  February  24,  1876, 
and  was  signed  by  J.  R.  Blanchard, 
A.  A.  Lee  and  others.  Action  on  the 
petition  was  deferred,  but  on  April  19, 

30The  first  birth  in  Amiret  township  was  a  daughter 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Coburn  in  1S73.  The 
first  death  occurred  in  1872  and  wras  a  daughter  of 
Luther  Mason.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of  J.  A. 
Hunter  and  Miss  C.  A.  Mitchell  and  was  performed 
June  3,  1875.  The  first  school  was  taught  in  1873  by 
Mrs.  Warnick  in  a  board  shanty  on  section  31.  The 
first  religious  services  were  conducted  in  1872  by  Rev. 
J.  Reese,  and  the  first  church,  Congregational,  was 
built  in  1873. 

31The  settlers  of  Amiret  township  in  1884  were 
F.  S.  Woodruff,  Joseph  Fredenburg,  Ephraim  Skyhawk, 
Jacob  Devens,  O.  P.  Ball,  J.  W.  Drew,  H.  ('.  Maydole, 
Joseph  Shake,  C.  H.  Dudrey,  James  Struthers,  H.  C. 
Swift,  John  Curray,  A.  Nichols,  V.  O.  Covey,  W. 
Blackman,  P.  Devens,  John  Sherman,  J.  M.  Taylor, 
J.  Frost,  H.  X.  Randall,  S.  F.  Rowell,  H.  Curray 
C.  R.  Maydole,  D.  Tucker,  J.  W.  Nichols,  B.  Nichols, 
James  T.  Hernan,  H.  D.  Shepherd,  T.  R.  Mathews, 
J.  M.  Mitchell,  J.  York,  A.  D.  Lord,  G.  Harding, 
Hamilton  Drake,  James  Mitchell,  P.  Ford,  C.  S. 
Grover,  L.  D.  Grover,  William  Harrison,  G.  F.  Harding 
and  O.  W.  Walsh. 


HISTORY   OF  LYOX  Coi.'NTY. 


57 


1876,  the  necessary  action  was  taken 
and  the  township  named. 

The  town  meeting  to  effecj  an  organi- 
zation was  held  at  the  home  of  Peter 
Johnson  May  9,  L876,  when  the  follow- 
ing were  chosen  firsl  officers:  llalvor 
Nyland,  chairman;  0.  J.  Moe  and  Hans 
Samuelson,  supervisors;  O.  L.  Orsen, 
clerk;  Andrew  Lee,  treasurer;  Thorbjon 
Huso,  assessor;  John  [lstad  and  H.  P. 
Johnson,  justices  of  the  peace;  Rasmus 
Hanson  and  T.  H.  Opdahl,  constats 

Titles  to  lands  in  Westerheim  were 
granted  by  the  government  to  the 
following: 

Halvor  Aadson  (30),  Thorbjon  Aadson  (30), 
R.  W.  Cavenaugh  (22),  Mary  M.  Oliver  (8), 
George  L.  Richardson  (34),  Johan  Olsen  Stensrud 
(14),  Oscar  Thompson  (20),  S.  Hognason  (4), 
Jonathan  Peterson  (4),  William  Marshall  (26), 
Rasmus  Hanson  (32),  Knut  Knutson  (30), 
Knud  T.  Thompson  (2),  Ole  Thompson  (2), 
SigbjornSigurdson  (2),(  iudmumler  Jonsson  (14), 
Elling  J.  Oxaas  (4),  Hans  Samuelson  (12), 
Gunnlaugur  Petursson  (14),  Sander  Knudson 
(28),  Oluf  S.  Orson  (8),  Christopher  Christianson 
(24),  Ostander  Warren  (26),  Alexander  D.  Hill 
(26),  John  Ilstad  (30),  Hans  P.  Johnson  (20), 
Knud  J.  Hall  (2),  Ole  L.  Orsen  (18),  Thronel 
H.  Opdahl  (6),  Thorlak  Peterson  (10),  Andrew 
Hellikson  (10),  Josef  Josefsson  (8),  Knud  A. 
Broughton  (12),  Byrneld  L.  Leland  (20), 
Andus  H.  Opdahl  (34),  Ole  J.  Leland  (20), 
Henrik  Samuelson  (12),  John  C.  Rogde  (28), 
Knud  Knudson  Floe  (18),  Oliver  J.  Moe  (18), 
Sigmundi  Jonathason  (10),  Vincentius  Engels 
(26),  Joseph  Kenna  (22),  Magnus  M.  Strom  (6), 
John  Kiley  (30),  Patrick  McGinn  (28),  Francis 
Buysse  (34),  Bjorn  Gislason  (10),  Elbert  F. 
Claflin  (28),  Carolina  Van  de  Wolstyne  (34), 
Henry  Van  Altvorst  (4),  Ole  Jacobson  Moe  (18), 
Edward  Cassidy  (22),  Knudt  E..  Fodness  (6), 
Magnild  Orson  (18). 33 

VALLERS. 

Vallers  township  received  settlers  in 
an    early    day,    and    so    early    as    1873 

32Westerheim's  first  birth  was  a  daughter  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Ilstad  in  1874.  In  June,  1S74,  the 
first  marriage,  a  double  one,  was  celebrated — H.  A. 
Nyland  to  Inger  Olson  and  T.  A.  Huso  to  Carrie  Olson. 
The  bride  of  H.  A.  Nyland  died  in  September  of  the 
same  year,  the  death  being  the  first  one  in  the  precinct. 
The  first  school  was  taught  by  Knud  Fodness  in  1877. 

"The  residents  of  Westerheim  in  1884  were  K.  J. 
Hall,  S.  Sigurdson,  Ole  Thompson,  K.  T.  Thompson, 
C.  Johnson,  E.  J.  Oxaas,  John  Peterson,  S.  Hognason, 
Mary  Oliver,  Oluf  Orson,  Josef  Josefsson,  Andrew 
Hellikson,  S.  Jonathason,  Bjorn  Gislason,  K.  A. 
Broughton,  Hans  Samuelson,  Henry  Samuelson,  John 
Stensrud,  E.  Fjeldstad,  G.  Jonsson,  G.  Petursson,  E. 
Bjornson,    Walter   Walsh,    Lars   Orson,    Ole    L.    Orsen, 


attempts  to  bring  about  local  govern- 
ment Were  made.  One  or  two  elections 
were    held    to    that     end,    but    for    some 

reason  the  government  was  not  per- 
fected. The  Comity  Board  passed  the 
necessary  enabling  act  September  21, 
1876,  and  named  the  precinct  Vallers.34 

The  township  began  local  government 
October  7,  1S76,  when  the  first  town 
meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  Ole  O. 
Brenna.  The  officers  elected  at  that 
time  were  as  follows:  S.  W.  Laythe, 
chairman;  John  Anderson  and  M.  K. 
Snortum,  supervisors;  Ole  O.  Brenna, 
Jr.,  clerk;  Ole  O.  Brenna,  Sr.,  assessor; 
Ole  O.  Brenna,  Jr.,  justice  of  the 
peace.35 

There  was  considerable  University 
land  in  Vallers  and  as  a  result  the  list 
of  those  who  obtained  land  titles  from 
the  government  is  not  so  large  as  in 
most  of  the  other  towns.  The  list  is  as 
follows: 

Johannes  Anderson  (6),  Norman  L.  Jones  (32), 
Michel  Knudson  (4),  Johan  Olsen  (4),  Ole  O. 
Prestegaren  (2),  Ole  Olsen  Brenna  (4),  Nathan 
B.  Langdon  (34),  Ole  Anderson  (6),  Andrew  O. 
Anderson  (6),  Horace  C.  Bemis  (34),  Knudt 
Swenson  (22),  Christian  O.  Hovde  (20),  Harvey 
W.  Throop  (26),  J.  L.  Robinson  (26),  Casper 
Holter  (18),  William  H.  H.  Hay  ward  (30), 
Alexander  McNaughton  (26),  Ole  J.  Ulland  (8), 
Ole  Lende  (22),  Jacob  Harpster  (32),  Olaus 
Hanson  (20),  Gulik  Olsen  (2),  Louise  McMasters 
(34),  Lena  A.  Cliffgard  (18),  Mary  Orson  (28), 
Hans  A.  Solberg  (26),  August  Dieken  (32), 
Ole  O.  Brenna,  Jr.  (8),  Charles  A.  Butler  (28), 
John  Discher  (28),  Severt  H.  Thorness  (28), 
Michael  Norton  (22),  Ole  Anderson  (6),  Ole  E. 
Borthus  (30),  Rasmus  J.  J.  Haaskjold  (20), 
Edward  E.  Ackerman  (28),  Sven  Knudsen  Thon 
(20),  Martin  J.  Osnes  (18),  Einar  L.  Oftedal 
(26),  Ferdinand  Wambeke  (30),  John  S.  Thon 
(22),   Carl  G.   Anderson   (18),   Daniel  P.   Shoe- 

O.  J.  Moe,  B.  L.  Leland,  H.  P.  Johnson,  O.  I.  Leland, 
E  Cassidy,  W.  Sanden,  Alex  DeWitt,  Chris  Johnson, 
William  Marshall,  J.  C.  Rogde,  F.  DeReu,  H.  A. 
Nyland,  Rasmus  Hanson,  Ole  O.  Skogen,  John  Ilstad, 
A.  DeZutter,  Andrew  Lee,  D.  Van  de  Norstyne, 
Andrew  Opdahl  and  Van  Halsbeck. 

34It  is  said  that  Ole  O.  Brenna,  an  early  settler,  was 
responsible  for  naming  the  town.  His  desire  was  to 
name  it  Valla,  a  Norwegian  word  meaning  valley,  but 
because  of  incorrect  spelling  in  the  petition  or  illegi- 
bility the  county  commissioners  made  the  name  read 
Vallers. 

35John  Anderson,  born  in  1872,  was  the  first  child 
born   in   Vallers.     The   first  death   was   that  of   Ole  J. 


58 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


maker   (34),   Andreas  S.    Malde    (2),   Thorstein 
Thorseinson  (8).36 


CUSTER. 

Although  one  of  the  first  settlements 
of  Lyon  county  was  located  in  Custer, 
the  township  was  not  "ranted  local 
-government  until  1876.  The  County 
Board  declared  the  Township  organized 
September  21.  1876,  and  named  it 
Custer.37  The  first  town  meeting  was 
held  October  14  and  the  following  were 
elected  first  officers:  L.  D.  Lewis, 
chairman;  W.  H.  Hughes  and  William 
Shand,  supervisors;  B.  F.  Thomas,  clerk 
and  treasurer.38 

The  greater  part  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Custer  township  were  Welsh.  The 
government  granted  land  titles  to  the 
following: 

John  Avery  (10),  Milton  Cairn  (2),  Edward 
H.  Cutts  (26),  Jeremiah  Evans  (14),  David  E. 
Evans  (2),  Knute  Johnson  (1),  Ogen  Johnson 
(1),  Richard  Morgan  (2),  Joseph  Wagner  (2), 
William  W.  Harrison  (10),  Benjamin  F.  Thomas 
(4).  Simon  Delong  (2),  Lafayette  Alden  (4), 
David  E.  Griffith  (12),  George  F.  Glotfelter  (18), 
Andrew  Johnson  (28),  Hugh  H.  Williams  (24 1, 
Nekolai  Nilson  (28),  Edward  R.  Jones  (6), 
Benjamin  T.  Kirby  (6),  John  T.  Bickell  (6), 
Andrew  A.  Xilson  (6),  William  J.  Crawford  (20), 
John  L.  Harris  (24),  Carl  Whittmutz,  Sr.  (20), 
Carl  Whittmutz,  Jr.  (20),  Abner  G.  Bumford 
(22),  Richard  H.  Hughes  (12),  William  Parker 
(30),  J.  Helleson  (28),  Peter  Fedde  (18),  Joseph 
Rees  (12),  Hendrick  Peterson  (34),  Hans  M. 
Anderson  (8),  Solomon  Evans  (24),  James 
Morgan  (12),  Hugh  R.  Hughes  (14),  John  E. 
Hughes  (14),  Tolloff  Nelson  (34),  John  P.  Jones 
(28),  William  H.  Davy  (6),  Robert  R.  Owens 
(26),  Thomas  L.  Harris  (24),  Andrew  Booth  (4), 
John   S.   Owens    (26),   Frank   L.   Whiting   (32), 

Engen,  who  died  in  August.  1877.  The  first  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  December  23,  1877,  and 
united  Ole  O.  Brenna,  Jr.,  to  Anna  Olson.  The  first 
school,  a  private  one,  was  taught  by  J.  L.  Robinson  in 
1879;  the  first  public  school  was  conducted  by  Lavina 
Day  in  1880  and  a  school  house  was  built  that  year. 
Rev.  Knud  Thorstenson,  a  Lutheran  minister,  preached 
the  first  services  in  1877  at  the  home  of  Ole  O.  Brenna. 

3»According  to  a  list  prepared  by  C.  F.  Case  for  his 
History  of  Lyon  County,  the  following  wen-  1  he  only 
heads  of  families  living  in  Wallers  in  1884:  G.  O. 
Aaniat,  H.  Olson,  A.  S.  .Malde.  E.  Varpnes,  .Michel 
Knudson,  Ole  O.  Brenna,  Sr.,  Andrew  O.  Anderson, 
John  Anderson,  Ole  Anderson,  O.  A.  Anderson,  T. 
Thorsteinson,  O.  J.  I'lland.  OlecO.  Brenna,  Jr.,  E.  S. 
Roti.  .1.  Roti,  I.  Olsen,  M.  J.  »  >-ne>,  O.  II.  Miller, 
C.  O.  Hovde,  S.  K.  Thon,  R.  J.  J.  Haaskjold,  Knudt 
Swenson,  Ole  Lende,  H.  A.  Solberg,  H.  W.  Throop, 
A.  Baldwin,  J.  L.  Robinson.  S.  II.  Thorsness,  Ole  E. 
Borthus,  Mike  O'Toole,  N.  L.  Jones,  N.,M.  Fisk  and 
Cox  Brothers. 


Lewis  P.  Jones  (2),  Landy  Soward  (32),  Hans 
Jacobson  (34),  Clemet  Helleson  (34),  Daniel 
Willford  (22),  Knud  K.  Olsen  (22),  Andrew 
Green  (24),  Charles  W.  Candee  (30),  Joel  A. 
Tucker  (30),  Lars  Nilson  (32),  James  Elliott  (18), 
Willard  Gifford  (18),  Heirs  David  D.  Jones  (18), 
Benjamin  Thomas,  Sr.  (4),  Henry  C.  Masters 
(10),  Torger  P.  Lien  (32),  John  Whittmus  (20), 
Lewis  Soward  (22),  John  H.  Jones  (8),  James 
Steele  (22),  David  Morgan  (2),  Owen  R.  Owens 
(26),  Bengt  Swenson  (6),  Margaret  Jones  (10), 
Charles  A.  Anderson  (8),  Annie  S.  Cutts  (20), 
Sarah  M.  Randall  (11),  William  Jackson  (30). 39 


CLIFTOX. 

The  next  township  we  have  to  con- 
sider in  the  order  of  their  creation  is 
Clifton,  which  first  was  entitled  to  a 
place  on  the  map  September  21,  1876. 
At  that  time  the  County  Board  desig- 
nated the  new  division  Edenview,  but  a 
short  time  later  the  name  was  changed 
to  Clifton.  Christopher  Dillman,  a  pio- 
neer of  the  precinct,  suggested  the 
name. 

The  first  election  to  choose  officers 
was  held  at  the  school  house  of  district 
No.  28  on  October  7,  1876,  when  the 
following  were  chosen:  A.  J.  Waite, 
chairman;  G.  P.  Ladenburg  and  Christo- 
pher Dillman.  supervisors;  II.  D.  Barnes, 
clerk;  C.  A.  Cook,  treasurer;  J.  A. 
Dillman.  assessor;  C>.  W.  Mossman  and 
John  M.  Linn,  justices  of  the  peace; 
H.  J.  Newhouse  and  W.  B.  Franklin, 
constables.40 

The  following  named  persons  were 
early     settlers     of     the     township     and 

37When  plans  were  first  laid  for  the  organization  of 
the  precinct,  in  the  early  summer  of  1876,  the  residents 
proposed  to  name  it  Reno,  in  honor  of  the  general  then 
taking  a  prominent  part  in  the  Indian  campaign. 
Before  the  organization  was  made,  however,  General 
Custer  and  his  forces  had  been  massacred  on  the  Little 
Big  Horn  and  some  blame  for  that  disastrous  event 
was  attached  to  General  Reno.  When  the  petition 
was  presented  it  asked  for  the  name  Custer,  in  honor 
of  the  massacred  leader  of  the  white  forces. 

3SThe  first  school  in  Custer  township  was  taught  by 
Jane  Mitchell  in  INTO  in  a  log  school  house  on  section 
2.  Rev.  Riley,  a  Methodist  minister,  conducted  the 
first  religious  services  in  1870.  The  first  church 
society,  Presbyterian,  was  organized  in  1871  by  Rev. 
Joseph  Rees  and  the  first  church  was  erected  in    1  s;  ; 

39Permanent  residents  of  Custer  in  1884  were  (',.  S. 
Robinson,  C.  M.  Goodrich,  David  Morgan,  E.  H.  Cutts, 
Simon  Delong,  B.  F.  Thomas,  B.  B.  Thomas.  Lafayette 
Alden,   Andrew   Booth,   C.   A.   Anderson,   John    Avery, 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


59 


secured    lands    through    the    homestead 
ami  timber  culture  acts: 

Moses  Barnes  (6),  Joseph  C.  Brown  (34-24), 
Charles  A.  Cook  (6),  John  F.  Constant  (18), 
Aaron  M.  Dudley  (32),  Walter  Dunn  (12), 
William  B.  Franklin  (34),  John  Haghes  (30), 
Henry  G.  Mead  (8),  Tenbroeck  Stout  (26), 
Mathew  Wilson  (4),  Charles  Marks  (2),  George 
W.  Selover  (24),  1).  A.  Keves  (22),  Seymour  S. 
Sloan  (10-4-30),  Oliver  B.  Brown  (34),  Silas  B. 
Wheeler  (6),  Herman  J.  Newhouse  (8),  Newton 
C.  Truax  (4),  Fred  Hawkins  (28),  John  M.  Linn 
(18),  W.  S.  Rader  (34),  Botlolf  Knudson  (6), 
Alfred  Mead  (10),  Winfield  W.  Mossman  (12), 
Louis  Stein  (30),  George  Metselder  (4),  Marcus 
C.  Humphrey  (14),  George  W.  Mossman  (12), 
Jacob  Dillman  (20),  William  H.  Dillev  (24), 
August  Adler  (10-6),  Charles  Gary  (10),  Mary 
Truax  (18),  Frederick  Shake  (32-28),  Christo- 
pher Dillman  (20),  James  B.  Brown  (30), 
Benaiah  A.  Grubb  (6),  Joseph  Pierard  (22), 
George  Ladenburg  (18),  Abbott  J.  Waite  (18), 
Edward  C.  Kieffe  (32),  August  Minneseng  (26), 
George  W.  W.  Shaw  (22),  Dewitt  C.  Ackcrman 
(10),  John  W.  Blake  (30),  George  C.  Dillman 
(20),  Julius  Freiheit  (26),  John  B.  Fairbank 
(14),  Edwin  S.  Reishus  (28),  James  Strange  (4), 
William  A. .  Titus  (14),  William  Castle  (26), 
John  P.  Louis  (2),  Peter  A.  Norton  (2),  Robert 
M.  Hassinger  (12),  George  M.  Cauffman  (34), 
Daniel  Kennedy  (20). 41 


STANLEY. 

Stanley  township  has  the  distinction 
of  having  been  the  first  in  Lyon  county 
to  boast  a  permanent  white  settler, 
T.  W.  Castor  and  family  having  located 
there  in  1867.  It  was  settled  in  the 
early  days  largely  by  Scotchmen.  A 
petition  was  presented  for  the  organi- 
zation of  the  precinct  in  July,  1873,  but 
the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  de- 

Margaret  Jones,  W.  W.  Harrison,  James  Morgan, 
Joseph  Rees,  R.  H.  Hughes,  D.  C.  Griffiths,  J.  H. 
Cutler,  W.  H.  Hughes,  William  Shand,  J.  H.  Hughes, 
Peter  Fedde,  W.  W.  Gifford,  D.  D.  Jones,  James 
Elliott,  George  I.  Glotfelter,  Carl  Whittmutz,  St., 
Carl  Whittmutz,  Jr.,  J.  W.  Whittmutz,  James  Steele, 
Daniel  Willford,  K.  K.  Olson,  Lewis  Soward,  A.  G. 
Bumford,  T.  L.  Harris,  J.  L.  Harris,  H.  H.  Williams, 
S.  Evans,  L.  B.  Woolfolk,  R.  R.  Owens,  O.  R.  Owens, 
J.  S.  Owens,  E.  H.  Cutts,  J.  P.  Jones,  M.  Nelson,  John 
Swenson,  William  Parker,  C.  W.  Candee,  Landy 
Soward,  Hendrick  Peterson,  Hans  Jacobson,  Clemet 
Helleson  and  Tolloff  Nelson. 

40The  first  birth  in  Clifton  was  that  of  Laura  M. 
Cook,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  A.  Cook,  born 
October  24,  1872.  The  first  death  was  that  of  a  child 
of  W.  B.  Franklin,  in  December,  1878.  The  first 
school  was  taught  by  Ida  Mead  in  1876.  The  first 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  H.  C.  Simmons,  Congre- 
gationalism in  1875,  and  the  first  church  was  organized 
in  1880. 

41The  settlers  of  Clifton  in  1884  were  Charles  Marks, 
C.    J.    Spong,    William    Marks,    H.    C.    Meehl,    George 


ferred  action,  and  it  was  several  years 
later  when  the  desired  action  was  taken. 

Stanley  was  one  of  four  townships 
created  on  September  21,  1876.  At 
that  time  it  was  named  Delaven,  but 
the  name  was  rejected  by  the  state 
auditor,  and  Stanley  was  conferred  upon 
it  December  23,  1876.  It  was  ordered 
that  the  first  town  meeting  be  held  on 
October  14,  1876,  but  the  result  of  the 
election — if  one  was  held — is  not  known. 
At  the  election  in  March,  1877,  the 
following  officers  were  chosen:  F.  B. 
Patterson,  chairman;  Colin  McNiven 
and  James  dairy,  supervisors;  D.  T. 
Ludwig,  clerk;  Oliver  Patterson,  treas- 
urer; Charles  Kennedy,  assessor;  Duncan 
McKinlay  and  Edward  Wilson,  justices 
of  the  peace;  Lester  Garry  and  Mr. 
King,  constables.42 

Homesteads    and    tree    claims    were 

secured    by    the    following    in    Stanley 

township: 

Albert  Caufman  (20),  William  A.  Crooker  (28), 
Daniel  Monroe  (12),  William  Monroe  (2),  Ole  O. 
Myrvick  (20),  Duncan  McKinlay  (4),  Thomas 
McKinlay  (4),  Frank  B.  Patterson  (28),  James 
White  (2),  Peter  Brooks  (22),  James  W.  Young 
(14),  Oliver  Patterson  (28),  David  N.  Mason 
(34),  Charles  Kennedy  (30),  John  Russell  (10), 
Charles  H.  Currie  (14),  Charles  E.  Higby  (32), 
Newton  D.  Wasson  (20),  Elizabeth  Bosler  (14), 
William  F.  Neill  (8),  James  Garry  (10),  Mary  J. 
Sprague  (32),  Henry  Sprague  (32),  James  F.  n. 
Gibb  (8-6),  Colin  McNiven  (12),  Robert  Monroe 
(6),  James  Dick  (8),  James  McKinlay  (4), 
Julia  N.  Knox  (18),  Hannah  C.  Knox  (18), 
Fred  Beltz  (22),  George  A.  Camp  (22),  George 
Bissett   (26),   George  Hussack   (10),   Samuel  C. 

Metselder,  B.  Snyder,  C.  Rock,  C.  A.  Cook,  R.  D. 
Barnes,  B.  A.  Grubb,  H.  J.  Newhouse,  P.  I.  Truax, 
Henry  Mead,  August  Adler,  C.  M.  Gary,  D.  C.  Acker- 
man,  F.  H.  Fligge,  Alfred  Mead,  B.  Hassinger,  W. 
Mossman,  F.  Rowley,  \I.  C.  Humphrey,  F.  Bedbury, 
G.  P.  Ladenburg,  J.  M.  Linn,  J.  Flemming,  J.  A. 
Dillman,  Christopher  Dillman,  George  Dillman,  G.  W. 
Shaw,  D.  A.  Keys,  Joseph  Pierard,  W.  H.  Dilly,  G.  W. 
Selover,  J.  Durkey,  August  Minneseng,  Julius  Freiheit, 
Fred  Hawkins,  L.  Nichols,  J.  B.  Brown,  Frederick 
Shake,  E.  C.  Knieff,  J.  C.  Brown  and  W.  S.  Rader. 

4-The  first  child  born  in  Stanley  township  was  also 
the  first  child  born  in  Lyon  county.  He  was  Hugh  \Y . 
Castor,  son  of  T.  W.  and  Marv  Castor,  and  was  bora 
September  13,  1867.  The  first  death  was  that  oi 
Charles  Knox  and  occurred  in  November.  L876.  The 
first  marriage — Daniel  Monroe  to  Harriet  White - 
occurred  November  12,  1S74.  The  first  school  was 
taught  in  1875  at  the  home  of  James  White  by  Ann 
Monroe;  the  first  school  house  was  built  in  1880.  The 
first  sermon  was  preached  July  13,  1873.  at  the  home 
of  C.  H.  Currie,  by  Rev.  E.  Wilson,  Methodist. 


60 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


Knox  (28),  George  Michie  (6),  Edward  Wilson 
(24),  John  A.  Little  (24),  Frederick  D.  McLeod 
(12),  Philip  Kennedy  (26),  David  H.  Tickner 
(28),  Charles  A.  Knox  (20),  T.  Wilson  Castor 
(13-24),  Robert  Heilman  (18),  Burl  Story  (32), 
Lester. Garry  (10),  George  Marron  (20),  Martin 
Christensen  (24),  Nelson  F.  Frary  (26),  Robert 
W.  Dick  (4),  Jane  Glashan  (6),  Peter  White 
(10),  William  W.  Rich  (30). 43 


SODUS. 

The  township  which  is  now  designated 
Sodus  was  created  by  the  Board  of 
County  Commissioners  October  9,  1876, 
and  named  Martin.  The  name  was  re- 
jected by  the  state  auditor  because  a 
township  in  Rock  county  bore  that 
name,  and  on  December  13,  1876,  the 
name  Sodus  was  bestowed  by  the  County 
Board.  The  new  name  had  been  se- 
lected by  ballot  by  the  voters  of  the 
new  town. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at 
the  home  of  Nathan  Warn  on  October 
27,  1876,  when  the  following  were 
selected  first  officers:  Elezer  Hall,  chair- 
man; Carage  Fisher  and  Daniel  Warn, 
supervisors;  W.  H.  Chaffee,  clerk;  G. 
Sykes,  treasurer;  Nathan  Warn  and 
J.  H.  Clark,  justices  of  the  peace;  Oscar 
W.  Pangburn  and  W.  G.  Williams,  con- 
stables.44 

The  government  granted  titles  to  land 
to  early  day  residents  of  Sodus  as  fol- 
lows : 

J.  C.  Bateman  (12),  Alex  Doig  (34),  Elezer 
Hall  (24),  Robert  Marshall  (30),  William  Neill 
(30),  Knude  Olson  (30),  William  Shepard  (32), 
Ephraim  Warn  (22),  Albert  Wienke  (26;, 
Henry  J.  Young  (24),  Thomas  F.  Watson  (8), 
Sylvester    A.    Horton    (20),    Levi    Craig    (14), 

43Farmers  residing  in  Stanley  township  in  1884 
were  J.  McFagen,  James  White,  William  Monroe,  John 
Garry,  W.  Stewart,  Thomas  McKinlay,  Duncan 
McKinlay,  George  Michie,  Jane  Glashen,  G.  Lowe, 
J.  F.  Gibb,  W.  T.  Neill,  James  Dick,  James  Garry, 
John  Russell,  R.  Cavanaugh,  John  Noble,  C.  H.  Currie, 
T.  Savage,  E.  Basler,  W.  Warnke,  H.  Wenholz,  Mrs. 
G.  Palmer,  Mrs.  Heskett,  Julia  N.  Knox,  H.  G.  Heil- 
man, Robert  Heilman,  Newton  Wasson,  H.   Lovelace, 

C.  A.  Knox,  George  Camp,  Fred  Beltz,  Mrs.  W.  Wilson, 
Philip  Kennedy,  George  Bissett,  H.  D.  Tickner,  S.  S. 
Knox,  C.  E.  Patterson,  William  W.  Rich,  T.  D.  Ludwig, 
Charles   Kennedy,  Charles  Higby,   H.  J.   Sprague  and 

D.  N.  Mason. 

44Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Cuyle,  who  were  the  first 
settlers  of  the  precinct,  were  the  parents  of  the  first 
child  born  in  Sodus.  The  first  death  was  that  of 
Tollef    Olson    in    September,     187.3,    and    his    funeral, 


David  Davis  (34),  William  R,  Griffiths  (34), 
Thomas  J.  Hicks  (6),  William  Marshall  (20), 
William  G.  Williams  (28),  Thomas  Edwards  (34), 
Daniel  W.  Shilliam  (18),  Carlos  E.  Marsh  (18), 
George  J.  Cook  (26),  David  E.  Clark  (8),  Konrad 
Lorenz  (26),  Tollef  Olson  (28),  Anton  Lorenz 
(26),  Carage  Fisher  (4),  Andrew  Purves  (12), 
Jacob  D.  Eastman  (10),  Henry  Ford  (30), 
Wilhelm  Langhorst  (14),  Harrison  Barnes  (6), 
A.  J.  Estee  (10),  Enos  Warn  (22),  Martin  Lee 
(28),  Arnold  R.  Chace  (14),  Adelia  Berry  (2), 
Nicholas  Minns  (6),  Edward  J.  Roberts  (34), 
William  H.  Chaffee  (4),  John  B.  Northrup  (32), 
William  H.  Estee  (14),  Manlv  M.  Curtiss  (IS), 
Hugh  Neill  (20),  Robert  Neill  (30),  John  H. 
Clark  (4),  William  Bolander  (24),  Lucy  A. 
Swain  (28),  William  Berry  (2),  William  N. 
Shequen  (32),  August  F.  T.  Giske  (10),  Orville 
Pangburn  (4),  Henrv  Van  Schaick  (18),  Archi- 
bald Downie  (18),  Heirs  Samuel  Whitten  (12), 
Charles  E.  Caley  (6),  Ezra  Warn  (22),  John  C. 
Taylor  (22),  Freeborn  L.  Austin  (10),  Oscar  VY. 
Pangburn  (12),  John  Ritchie  (2),  Mathud  Steel 
(2),  Dana  P.  Sawyar  (20),  Heirs  Olof  Anderson 
(32),  John  J.  Olsen  (32),  John  Vogtman  (14), 
Reuben  Johnson  (8),  William  Neill  (30). 45 


ROCK    LAKE. 

Rock  Lake  township  derives  its  name 
from  the  beautiful  little  body  of  water 
of  the  same  name  that  lies  within  its 
boundaries.  The  lake  was  so  named  by 
the  early  settlers  on  account  of  the 
character  of  its  banks,  which  in  some 
places  are  walled  up  with  boulders. 

The  township  was  created  October  9, 
1876.  The  first  town  meeting  was  held 
October  26  at  the  school  house  in 
district  No.  18  (now  district  No.  60). 
The  following  were  the  first  officers: 
William  Livingston,  chairman;  William 
H.  Hamm  and  James  Abernathy,  super- 
visors; A.  N.  Daniels,  clerk;  G.  W. 
Linderman,  treasurer;  J.  F.  Crunch, 
assessor;   J.    A.    Van   Fleet   and   Lucius 

conducted  by  Rev.  Joseph  Rees,  was  the  first  religious 
service  in  the  township.  Miss  Frances  Mason  taught 
the  first  school  in  1877  in  a  private  house. 

45The  1884  residents  of  Sodus  were  Mathud  Steel, 
William  Berry,  J.  McCudden,  John  Ritchie,  Carage 
Fisher,  W.  H.  Chaffee,  Orville  Pangburn,  John  Clark, 
Mr.  Maxson,  Harrison  Barnes,  C.  E.  Caley,  Mr.  Gray, 
Nicholas  Minus,  T.  J.  Hicks,  D.  E.  Clark,  E.  Clark, 
A.  R.  Johnson,  T.  F.  Watson,  Henry  Estee,  C  E. 
Marsh,  D.  W.  Shilliam,  W.  L.  Thurston,  Hugh  Neill, 
Nathan  Warn,  J.  C.  Taylor,  D.  Warn,  William  Hull, 
A.  R;  Chace,  J.  Scott,  B.  Ford,  George  J.  Cook,  Albert 
Wienke,  Konrad  Lorenz,  Anton  Lorenz,  J.  N.  Lawshe, 
W.  G.  Williams,  Robert  Neill,  William  Neill,  Robert 
Marshall,  Henry  Ford,  A.  Anderson,  William  Shequen, 
A.  C.  Forbes,  Thomas  Edwards,  John  Griffiths,  William 
Griffiths  and  N.  Davis. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


61 


Town,  justices  of  the  peace;  E.  I!.  Weeks 

and  Archie  Mc\al>l>.  constables.48 

Land  titles   were  granted  to  the  fol- 
lowing'   named    early    settlers    of    Rock 

Lake  township: 

Carl  Gustaf  Bengts  (32),  James  F.  Crunch  (6), 
Edgar  W.  Gifford  (24),  John  \Y.  Lester  (30), 
William  Livingston  (30),  Lucius  Nichols  (20), 
C.  L.  Osborn  (8),  Orville  E.  Persons  (6),  S.  S.  S. 
Spink  (24),  P.  E.  Terry  (IS),  R.  E.  Town  (22), 
John  M.  Johnson  (32),  Chester  H.  Bullock  (10), 
Archie  McNabb  (14),  Alvah  S.  Town  (22), 
Emily  A.  Glotfelter  (14),  George  Carlaw  (6), 
George  W.  Root  (12),  Reuben  \Y.  Taylor  (18), 
Clark  Town  (28),  Henry  L.  Gifford  (26),  Emery 
Hamm  (10),  Elbert  M.  Hamm  (34),  O.  S. 
Carlisle  (12),  Johann  Gatz  (2),  ( >lof  O.  Lof  (34), 
Donald  Mclnnes  (28),  Marvin  S.  Odekirk  (2), 
William  H.  Hamm  (24),  Lucius  Town  (22), 
Edson  R.  Weeks  (18),  James  Abernathy  (8), 
Nils  Truedsson  (32),  Julius  A.  Town  (22), 
George  B.  Gifford  (14),  Thomas  L.  Terry  i20), 
Patrick  Russell  (30),  James  B.  Gibbons  (12), 
Nathaniel  Terry  (28),  John  McKay  (4),  John  K. 
Penhale  (2(5),  'Heirs  Hiram  C.  Howard  (28), 
George  W.  Linderman  (8),  Joseph  Ciesielski  (4), 
William  H.  Trotter  (24),  John  A.  Van  Fleet  (4), 
Theodor  J.  Skaug  (30),  A.  Hilmer  Anderson  (18), 
Margery  J.  Browned  (24),  Absalom  L.  Wright 
(20),  Frederick  Lachman  (2).47 

ISLAND    LAKE. 

Within  the  borders  of  Island  Lake 
township  are  a  number  of  lakes.  One 
of  these  is  called  Island  lake,  from  the 
fact  that  in  it  is  an  island,  about  two 
and  one-half  acres  in  extent,  covered 
with  a  growth  of  natural  timber.  The 
lake  furnished  the  name  for  the  town- 
ship. 

Island  Lake  township  was  set  apart 
for    organization    September    20,    1878, 

46A  son  of  Archie  McNabb  was  the  first  child  born 
in  Rock  Lake  township.  The  first  death  was  that  of 
George  A.  Glotfelter  on  June  21,  18,78.  C.  M.  Eichler 
and  Cora  Hamm  were  the  first  couple  married  in  the 
precinct;  they  were  married  in  October,  1879,  by 
O.  E.  Persons,  justice  of  the  peace.  The  first  school 
was  taught  by  Miss  Katie  Glenn  in  1876.  The  first 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Joseph  Rees  in  the  fall 
of  1873. 

47In  1884  the  following  had  homes  in  Rock  Lake 
township:  Frederick  Lachman,  J.  Golts,  T.  Luedke, 
G.  Golts,  M.  S.  Fawcett,  J.  A.  Van  Fleet,  Mrs.  Crouch, 
George  Carlaw,  O.  E.  Persons,  James  Abernethy,  G.  W. 
Linderman,  J.  O'Garee,  G.  W.  Rowe,  George  W.  Root, 
M.  Randall,  O.  S.  Carlisle,  J.  W.  Wolverton,  Archie 
McNabb,  C.  A.  Glotfelter,  E.  R.  Weeks,  R.  W.  Taylor, 
S.  Flint,  T.  L.  Terry,  O.  E.  Merriman,  Lucius  Town, 
Mrs.  McErlain,  A.  S.  Town,  Nils  Truedsson,  E.  W. 
Gifford,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Trotter,  William  Hamm,  J.  H. 
Moore,  H.  L.  Gifford,  A.  W.  Bean,  Clark  Town,  H.  C. 
Howard,  Nathaniel  Terry,  Patrick  Russell,  T.  J. 
Skaug,  J.  M.  Johnson,  C.  G.  Bengts,  O.  O.  Lof,  E.  M. 
Hamm  and  J.  P.  Davis. 


but  the  town  was  not  organized  until 
the  following  March.  The  first  officers 
were:  Robert  Gardner,  chairman;  La- 
fayette Grow  and  George  George,  super- 
visors; J.  R.  King,  clerk  and  assessor; 
D.  A.  Kennedy,  treasurer;  J.  H.  Sykes, 
constable.48 

To  government  land  in  the  township 
of  Island  Lake  the  following  were 
granted  title: 

J.  C.  Beach  (34),  Charles  J.  Falk  (34),  John 
R.  King  (34),  Lafayette  Grow  (6),  Daniel  W. 
Kennedy  (26),  Gunder  Gunderson  (4),  Daniel 
1).  Sanning  (14),  August  T.  Muhl  (2),  Heirs 
Samuel  M.  Van  Buren  (22),  Albert  Pochardt 
(32),  August  Polesky  (22).  Thomas  H.  Russell 
(26),  John  H.  Sykes  (22),  John  Fowlds  (32), 
Kittle  Folkvanson  (4),  Charles  Bohlman  (22), 
Halvor  Olson  Kaas  (4),  Robert  Gardner  (28), 
Sarah  E.  Wyant  (28),  Johan  Albrecht  (20), 
Enon  Rolph  (12),  Mary  E.  Cornish  (12),  George 
George  (24),  Ole  Willman  (18),  Richard  W. 
Phillips  (14),  Henry  K.  Furgeson  (10),  Johan 
Hjalmar  Petterson  (26),  James  M.  McDonald 
(18),  Henry  Nelson  (8),  Moses  N.  Roberts  (8), 
Jacob  Wilson  (10),  Edward  H.  Barnes  (24), 
Peter  Furgeson  (4),  Isaac  Robinson  (2),  Duncan 
A.  Kennedy  (28),  Jens  P.  Christensen  (12), 
Edwin  O.  Baker  (10),  Presley  Fuel  (28),  Carl 
Pochart  (24),  Asa  R.  Snow  (6),  Peder  Jacobsen 
(2),  John  Olson  Estol  (2),  Herbert  R.  Welsford 
(30),  August  Kalson  (8),  Homer  Sparks  (14), 
Valgedor  Johnson  (18),  Martin  Furgeson  (10), 
Ole  Furgeson  (2),  Henri  Kerzmann  (20),  Edgar 
F.  Tibbits  (6),  Theodor  Jacobsen  (8),  Milton  R, 
Beach  (34),  Owen  Morris  (20),  Jes  Paulsen  (12), 
Elizabeth  S.  Prosser  (2),  Richard  Phillips  (14), 
Gottfried  Steller  (26),  Charles  F.  Tibbits  (8), 
Anders  Anderson  (18),  John  Hellvig  (32). 49 


SHELBURNE. 

Shelburne   township   was   not   settled 
rapidly  in   the  early  days,    due   princi- 

4SThe  first  children  born  in  Island  Lake  township 
were  a  child  born  to  the  first  wife  of  John  R.  King  in 
1871  and  Ethel  Hodgkins.  The  first  marriage  was  that 
of  John  R.  King  to  Elizabeth  Milner  on  December  24, 
1878.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Ada  Kennedy 
in  1879.  The  first  religious  services  were  conducted 
at  the  home  of  John  R.  King  by  a  Rev.  Dewey  from 
Chicago. 

49There  were  living  in  Island  Lake  township  in  188  I 
the  following:  August  Muhl,  John  Olson,  Peder 
Jacobsen,  Ole  Furgeson,  John  Wilson,  Peter  Furgeson, 
K.  Furgeson,  Halvor  Olson,  G.  Rue,  B.  Knutson, 
E.  F.  Tibbits,  Lafayette  Grow,  A.  R.  Snow,  C.  F. 
Tibbits,  Theodor  Jacobsen,  M.  W.  Roberts,  Henry 
Nelsen,  Martin  Furgeson,  H.  K.  Furgeson,  Jacob 
Wilson,  Jes  Paulsen,  Mary  Cornish,  Enon  Rolph, 
J.  P.  Christensen,  George "  Boston,  R.  W.  Phillips, 
John  Lanning,  Richard  Phillips,  Homer  Sparks,  ('. 
Willman,  M.  McDonald,  John  Albright,  Owen  Morris, 
Charles  Bohlman,  John  Dyke,  W.  Van  Buren,  Paul 
Polasky,  Carl  Pochart,  E.  H.  Barnes,  George  George, 
J.  H.  Petterson,  T.  H.  Russell,  D.  W.  Kennedy,  l>.  A. 
Kennedy,  Robert  Gardner,  S.  Freese,  John  Fowlds, 
Albert  Pochart,  J.  C.  Beach,  C.  J.  Falk  and  J.  R.  King 


62 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


pally  to  its  distance  from  railroad 
points,  and  its  organization  was  con- 
siderably delayed.  The  County  Board 
took  the  necessary  action  to  make  it  an 
organized  township  on  August  19,  1879. 
and  the  first  town  meeting  was  held  at 
the  home  of  C.  P.  McCann  on  September 
6  of  the  same  year. 

The  first  officers  of  Shelburne  town- 
ship were  as  follows:  C.  P.  McCann. 
chairman;  D.  A.  Aurandt  and  W.  F. 
Randall,  supervisors;  W.  N.  Olin,  clerk; 
Erick  Peterson,  treasurer;  F.  W.  How- 
aid,  assessor;  E.  F.  Dickson  and  H.  P. 
Sanden,  justices  of  the  peace;  C.  P. 
Howard  and  Andrew  Gilbertson,  con- 
stables.50 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  all 
persons  who  received  patents  to  lands 
in  Shelburne  township  under  the  home- 
stead and  timber  culture  acts: 

John  M.  Burke  (16),  Charles  B.  Fellows  (24), 
D.  F.  Kelley  (2),  David  Alexander  Aurandt  (26), 
Erick  Peterson  (26),  Allen  Spink  (2),  Nelson  R. 
Crouch  (14),  Charles  M.  Eichler  (2),  William 
Shafer  (14),  Hendrik  Jorgenson  (30),  Cornelius 
Pederson  Myran  (20),  Winslow  N.  Olin  (14), 
Lyman  E.  Fellows  (24),  Even  Anderson  (30), 
Clarence  E.  Dean  (4),  Clement  McCann  (22), 
Peder  Anderson  (20),  Hans  P.  Sanden  (20), 
Pat  McGinnis  (34),  John  Pederson  Myran  (18), 
Frederick  W.  Howard  (22),  Nils  A.  Hommer- 
burg  (26),  Andrew  Peterson  (32),  Edwin  F. 
Dickson  (24),  Andreas  G.  Hungerud  (6),  John 
Murphy  (14),  Ragnhild  Olson  (2),  Christopher 
Johnson  (20),  Paul  K.  Ronning  (32),  N.  Lilya- 
quest  Johnson  (34),  Heirs  Sigre  Johansen 
Gorseth  (26),  Ole  Kjelson  (6),  William  Shaw 
(18),  Charles  E.  Carlson  (30),  Carl  F.  Olson 
Green  (32),  Frans  Wilhelm  Ceder  (32),  Bore 
Larsen  (4),  Ralph  Hatten  (22),  Peter  Johnson 
(34). 51 

COON   CREEK. 

The  last  township  to  take  up  the 
burdens    of    township    government    was 

s0Peter  Ronning,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erick  Ronning, 
born  June  27,  1873,  was  the  first  child  born  in  Shel- 
burne. The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Sadie 
Bartlett  in  1881.  The  first  religious  services  were 
conducted  in  the  fall  of  1876  by  Rev.  Egland,  a  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  minister. 

51The  farmers  of  Shelburne  township  in  1S84  were 
Allen  Spink,  John  Olson,  C.  E.  Dean,  W.  F.  Randall, 
P.  Simenson,  Ole  Kjelson,  A.  G.  Hungerud,  W.  H. 
Shafer,  W.  N.  Olin,  John  Murphy,  E.  K.  Ronning, 
J.  P.  Myran,  H.  P.  Sanden,  Cornelius  Peterson  Myran, 
Filer  Anderson,  Christopher  Johnson,  C.  P.  McCann, 
P,    McDowell,    Ralph    Hatton,    E.    F.    Dickson,    C.    B. 


Coon  Creek.  Its  settlement  in  the  early 
days  was  slow,  principally  on  account 
of  so  much  of  its  territory  being  taken 
up  by  school  and  University  lands,  as 
well  as  railroad  lands.  Its  settlement 
was  meager  until  the  early  eighties,  but 
it  has  now  developed  into  one  of  the 
most  densely  populated  farming  town- 
ships of  the  county. 

The  people  of  the  township  presented 
a  petition  to  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners January  4.  1882,  asking  for 
the  creation  of  the  township  with  the 
name  of  Garfield,  in  honor  of  the 
martyred  president.  The  commissioners 
took  action  on  the  matter,  but  as  one 
township  in  the  state  already  bore  the 
name  Garfield,  the  commissioners  be- 
stowed upon  it  the  name  of  Stowe. 
Provision  was  made  for  holding  the  fir>T 
town  meeting  at  the  home  of  Louis 
Larson  on  March  7.  but  for  some  reason 
the  people  neglected  the  matter  and 
Stowe  township  was  never  organized. 

The  matter  of  the  organization  of  the 
township  was  again  taken  up  July  17, 
1883,  when  the  commissioners  named 
the  precinct  Coon  Creek52  and  desig- 
nated the  home  of  William  Lamon  as 
the  place  and  August  4,  1883,  as  the 
date  for  holding  the  first  town  meeting. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  first  officers 
of  Coon  Creek  township:  Frank  P. 
Willard,  chairman;  C.  A.  Johnson  and 
John  E.  Johnson,  supervisors;  G.  O. 
Rask,  clerk;  Louis  Larson,  treasurer; 
William  Lamon  and  Christian  Cupp, 
justices  of  the  peace;  J.  F.  Mungerson, 
constable.53 

Fellows,  Erick  Peterson,  N.  A.  Hommerburg,  Sigrid 
Gorseth,  D.  A.  Aurandt,  Hendrik  Jorgenson,  E.  A. 
Blegen,  M.  L.  Blegen,  E.  K.  Ronning,  I.  L.  Blegen, 
Pat  McGinnis,  X.  Lilaquest  and  J.  Limblum. 

52The  township  was  named  from  the  creek,  and 
there  is  also  a  Dead  Coon  lake  just  over  the  boundary 
line  in  Lincoln  county.  It  is  said  that  the  latter  was 
named  by  a  corps  of  surveyors  in  the  early  days,  they 
having  found  a  dead  coon  on  the  bank  of  the  lake. 

i3The  first  child  born  in  Coon  Creek  township  was 
William  Sharrett,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Sharrett, 
born   at   the   home   of   D.   S.    Burt   in    1870.     The   first 


lllsTnliV  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


.;:; 


The    only    titles    to    homestead    and 

timber  claims  in  Coon  Creek  township 

wore  granted  to  the  following: 

Mattic  E.  Brown  (30),  Dallas  S.  Burt  (24), 
Benry  B.  Bodgekins  (22),  Charles  A.  Johnson 
(2),  William  Shaw  (30),  Frederick  Ehde  (24), 
Gustaf  Rask  (8),  Peter  Lehnertz  (6),  christian 
Cupp  (6),  Samuel  Johnson  (22),  Suis  Suison  (18), 
John    Johnson    (18),    William    B.    Milner    (8), 

death,  thai  of  a  baby  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burt,  occurred 
in  November,  1876.  The  firs!  marriage  occurred 
November  28,  L877,  the  contracting  parties  being 
Thomas  Milner  and  Ella  Knapp.  The  first  Bermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  Ransom  Wail  in  1875. 

6*The  farming  population  of  Coon  Creek  township 
in    issi,  one  year  after  its  organization,  consisted  of 


William  Lamon  (20),  Johann  Siemer 
William  McCarthy  (12),  William  P.  Rogers  (2), 
Beirs  Amelia  Lichte  (12),  Edward  Lichte  (12), 
David  S.  Phillips  (22),  Arthur  A.  Joy  (20), 
Rasmus  C.  Rakteirrud  (18),  Augusta  Schellin 
(12),  William  Milner  (10),  John  F.  Mungerson 
(2),  William  Joy  (20),  James  B.  Laurie  (4), 
Berbert  Sykes  (20),  Louis  Larson  (18),  Bans 
Gilbertson  (6),  John  J.  McDonald  (30),  Nils 
Anderson  (2),  Frederick  Welsand  (8).54 

the  following:  .1.  F.  Mungerson,  15.  F.  Bement,  Nils 
Aii.lci-.~on.  t\  A.  John-. .a,  \Y.  M.  Rice,  F.  Porter, 
Johann  Siemer,  1'.  Senerty,  Christian  Cupp,  M.  .Milner, 
Gustaf  Rask,  W.  W.  Eferrick,  F.  Willard,  A.  Johnson, 
William  McCarthy,  John  Cleland,  Louis  Larson,  John 
Johnson,  \  \  Joy,  T.  -low  William  Lamon,  .1.  Fuller, 
I..  Hildreth,  II.  H.  Hodgekins,  D.  S.  Hurt,  Frederick 
Ihde,  R.  Taylor  and  .1.  .1.  McDonald. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


EARLY    SETTLEMENT    (Continued)— 1870-1873. 


WHEN  Lyon  County  was  organ- 
ized in  the  summer  of  1870  the 
only  portions  settled  to  any 
extent  were  along  the  Redwood  river  in 
the  townships  of  Lyons,  Lynd  and  Lake 
Marshall,  and  along  the  Cottonwood 
river  in  the  townships  of  Custer  and 
Amiret.  There  were  a  few  families  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  county,  and  a 
few  of  the  other  townships  boasted 
a  family  or  two.  When  the  federal 
census  of  1870  was  taken,  about  the 
time  the  county  was  organized,  the  total 
number  of  men,  women  and  children 
residing  in  the  present  counties  of  Lyon 
and  Lincoln  was  268 — about  as  many  as 
now  reside  in  the  village  of  Russell!1 

There  were  a  number  of  new  comers 
during  1870.  Those  who  had  come  in  a 
party  the  year  before  and  taken  claims 
returned  and  brought  a  few  others  with 
them,  arriving  Ju  e  1.  The  permanent 
settlers  thus  acquired  were  C.  H.  Whit- 
ney,  C.  H.  Upton,  PI  G.  Bascomb, 
O.  A.  Hawes,  R.  Waterman,  Moses 
Fifield  and  Mendell  Fifield,  who  had 
been  out  the  year  before;  Dr.  G.  W. 
Whitney,    Z.    O.    Titus    and    John    N. 

lLyon  county  was  not  recognized  as  a  separate 
division  by  the  census  takers  of  1870,  but  was  included 
in  Redwood  county.  Lynd  precinct,  which  probably 
included  the  settled  portions  of  Lyon  and  Lincoln 
counties,  was  listed  as  containing  268  persons.  Of 
these,  235  were  native  born  (including  two  Indians) 
and  33  were  of  foreign  birth.  The  population  of 
Redwood  county  in  1870  was  1829,  divided  as  follows: 
Lac  qui   Parle,  307;   Lynd,   268;    Redwood   Falls,   691;- 


Johnson,  who  came  with  them  and 
settled  in  Lynd;  and  John  Snyder  and 
William  Ramsey,  who  took  homes  near 
Lake  Benton.  All  these  built  sod  shan- 
ties and  most  of  them  had  families  with 
them. 

Among  the  other  arrivals  of  1N70  were 
A.  C.  Tucker  and  M.  A.  Tucker,  who 
located  in  Lynd;  George  R.  Welch,  who 
became  a  resident  of  Lake  Marshall 
township;  William  S.  Reynolds  and 
Joseph  Carter,  who  became  the  first 
settlers  of  Fairview;  Daniel  Monroe, 
who  settled  in  Stanley;  Frederick  Hol- 
ritz,  the  first  settler  in  the  township  of 
Nordland;  Rev.  Williams  and  John  II. 
King,  who  were  the  first  to  make  homes 
in  Island  Lake;  and  D.  S.  Burt,  the  fir.-i 
settler  of  Coon  Creek. 

In  the  fall  of  1870  a  postoffice  named 
Marshall  was  established  at  the  home  of 
C.  H.  Whitney  on  section  4.  Lake 
Marshall  township,  and  that  gentleman 
served  as  postmaster  until  the  village 
of  Marshall  was  founded. 

Another  event  of  the  year  was  the 
establishment  of  a  store  by  Dr.  G.  Y\  . 
Whitney.     He  opened  it   in  September 

Sheridan,  111;  Sherman,  67;  Yellow  Medicine,  385. 
It  is  apparenl  that  the  precincts  of  Redwood  Falls 
Sheridan  and  Sherman  were  in  the  presenl  Redwood 
county,  that  Lac  qui  Parle  included  tin-  settled  portions 
of  the  county  which  now  bears  that  name,  thai  Yellow 
Medicine  precinct  included  the  settled  portions  - 
present  county  bearing  the  same  name,  and  that  Lynd 
precinct  included  the  presenl  counties  <>t  Lyon  and 
Lincoln. 


66 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


in  the  old  log  building  on  section  33, 
Lynd,  the  building  that  had  served  as 
James  W.  Lynd's  trading  post  in  the 
early  days  and  in  which  later  Luman 
Ticknor  conducted  a  hotel.  Later  Dr. 
"Whitney  erected  a  store  building  in 
Lower  Lynd  and  conducted  the  store 
there.  Later  still  the  Whitney  store 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Z.  O.  Titus 
and  John  N.  Johnson. 

In  1870  also  came  the  first  Indian 
scare.  It  was  rumored  that  the  Indians 
living  to  the  west  threatened  to  make  a 
raid  on  the  settlement  at  Lynd  and 
excitement  ran  high.  On  May  24  a 
meeting  of  the  settlers  was  held  at  the 
home  of  Luman  Ticknor,  of  which  C.  F. 
"Wright  was  chairman  and  T.  T.  Pierce 
secretary.  At  the  meeting  it  was  the 
opinion  that  danger  threatened  and  a 
militia  company  was  formed,  the  mem- 
bers signing  a  paper  which  read:  "We, 
the  undersigned,  agree  to  enlist  in  a 
company  of  state  militia  for  the  defense 
of  our  settlement  and  state."  The  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected:  James 
Cummins,  captain;  M.  V.  Davidson,  first 
lieutenant;  C.  E.  Goodell,  second  lieu- 
tenant; A.  D.  Morgan,  orderly  sergeant; 
C.  E.  Taylor,  sergeant;  W.  Herrick,  A. 
McGandy,  P.  Ki-ltz  and  W.  Kiel,  cor- 
porals. The  captain  was  instructed  to 
send  to  the  adjutant  general  for  arms 
and  ammunition  and  to  request  that  the 
Spencer  rifle  and  one  hundred  rounds  of 
cartridges  to  each  man  be  sent. 

Ha-Ka,  a  trusted  Indian,  was  in  the 

-The  Marshall  News-Messenger  published  the  fol- 
lowing interview  with  G.  M.  Durst  in  1910: 

"He  [Mr.  Durst]  recalls  that  he  and  the  late  Charles 
Bellingham  and  the  latter's  father  immigrated  to  Lyon 
county  together,  from  Fillmore  county.  They  came 
with  an  ox  team  and  camped  on  the  present  site  of 
Marshall  on  the  night  of  May  25,  1871.  There  were 
then  but  two  settlers  on  the  ground  which  was  later 
to  be  built  up  into  a  modern  little  city — C.  H.  Whitney 
and  C.  H.  Upton.  They  located  in  the  summer  of 
1869  on  the  southeast  and  northeast  quarters  of  section 
4  and  built  sod  houses  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 
With  the  Bellingham-Durst  party  also  came  another 
ox  team  from  Fillmore  county  with  two  young  men, 
Charles  Bastion  and  Calvin  Shipton.   .    .   . 

"Two  or  three,  days  after  their  arrival  the  Belling- 
hams   and    Durst    took    their    homesteads    three    miles 


settlement  and  promised  to  notify  the 
settlers  in  case  of  danger.  The  scare 
soon  died  out  and  the  organization  of 
the  militia  company  was  not  perfected. 

Among  the  arrivals  to  Lyon  county  in 
1871  were  the  following:  G.  M.  Durst, 
C.  T.  Bellingham,  Charles  Bellingham, 
Milo  Morse,  Oren  Drake,  Mrs.  U.  S. 
Stone,  Josiah  Clark,  Charles  Bastion, 
Calvin  Shipton,  Charles  Van  Fleet  and 
the  Bean  Brothers  to  Lake  Marshall 
township;2  0.  C.  Gregg,  L.  A.  Gregg, 
Christian  Nelson,  P.  I.  Pierce  and  G.  W. 
Pierce  to  Lynd;  Ransom  Wait,  M.  S. 
Fawcett  and  O.  S.  Carlisle  to  Lyons; 
John  W.  Elliott,  Reuben  Henshaw, 
Henry  Gibbs  and  Richard  Gates  to 
Fairview;  O.  M.  McQuestion  to  Grand- 
view;  A.  O.  Strand  to  Nordland;  Nils 
Torgerson,  Swend  Peterson  and  Ole 
Esping  to  Eidsvold;  Halvor  A.  Nyland 
and  Thorbjin  Aadson  to  Westerheim; 
William  H.  Slater,  R.  H.  Price,  Allend 
Christianson,  Peter  Oliason,  E.  T. 
Hamre,  Hans  Dahl  and  James  Wardrop 
to  Lucas;  Lafayette  Grow  and  Mr.  Fort 
to  Island  Lake;  J.  R.  Burgett,  H.  H. 
Hodgkins  and  F.  T.  Burt  to  Coon  Creek; 
E.  *K.  Ronning,  C.  P.  Myran  and 
Christopher  Johnson  to  Shelburne;  A. 
McNabb  and  George  H.  Thurston  to 
Rock  Lake;  Henry  Cuyle  to  Sodus; 
S.  S.  Truax  to  Amiret;  David  Stafford, 
E.  W.  Healy,  George  White  and  Rees 
Price  to  Monroe. 

The  Lynd  settlement  continued  to  be 
the  social,  political  and  business  center 

south  from  Marshall,  on  section  20,  Lake  Marshall 
township.  A  few  days  later  Josiah  Clark,  the  Bean 
boys  and  Charley  Van  Fleet  put  in  an  appearance, 
and  about  the  same  time  Milo  Morse,  Mrs.  U.  S.  Stone 
and  Oren  Drake.  Morse  and  Mrs.  Stone  had  filed  on 
the  southwest  and  northwest  cjuarters  of  section  4. 

"Milo  Morse  had  a  'bee'  that  summer  and  Mr.  Durst 
remembers  that  he  was  one  of  the  party  who  helped 
at  the  'bee'  to  put  up  the  first  sod  shanty  on  the 
original  site  of  Marshall,  which  was  laid  out  in  the 
center  of  section  4.  The  sod  shanties  of  Messrs. 
Whitney  and  Upton  were  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river,  just  outside  the  first  plat,  though  part  of  the 
Whitney  land  was  in  the  original  plat  and  was  all 
subsequently  included  in  the  village.  The  Morse  sod 
house  was  east  of  the  river,  between  Main  Street  ami 
the  Northwestern  tracks." 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


67 


of  the  county.  It  was  still  the  most 
Thickly  settled  part  and  in  it  were  the 
county's  capital,  the  only  business 
houses,  and  the  only  place  that  could 
by  any  stretch  of  the  imagination  be 
termed  a  village. 

One  of  the  important  events  of  1871 
was  the  establishment,  at  Upper  Lynd, 
of  the  county's  second  store  by  Rev. 
W.  T.  Ellis.  The  store  was  quite  a 
pretentious  affair,  considering  its  dis- 
tance from  the  railroad  and  the  sparsely 
settled  country  from  which  it  drew 
trade.  It  was  later  moved  to  Lower 
Lynd,  some  two  miles  down  the  river.3 

Although  the  population  of  the  county 
was  still  very  small,  the  year  1871  wit- 
nessed the  founding  of  two  villages  in 
the  Lynd  settlement,  about  two  miles 
apart — Upper  Lynd,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Redwood  river,  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  33,  about  one  and 
one-half  miles  above  the  present  village 
of  Lynd;  and  Lower  Lynd,  also  on  the 
Redwood  river,  about  one-half  mile- 
northwest  of  the  modern  village  of 
Lynd. 

The  village  of  Upper  Lynd  had  been 
started  earlier  by  A.  W.  Muzzy,  already 
had  a  hotel  and  postoffice,  was  the 
county  seat,  and  for  a  time  had  boasted 
a  store.  The  plat  of  Lynd — commonly 
referred  to  as  Upper  Lynd — was  platted 
by  William  T.  Ellis  and  George  C.  Smith 
in  the  fall  of  1871,  the  site  having  been 
surveyed  by  T.  G.  Morrill  on  August  22. 

3"The  older  citizens  of  the  county  will  remember 
Ellis  as  a  character.  Governed  mostly  by  impulse,  he 
was  always  ready  to  preach  a  sermon,  run  horses  for 
the  whisky,  conduct  a  Sunday  School,  or  beat  his  best 
friend  in  a  trade.  While  here  he  was  an  energetic, 
fervid,  effervescent  citizen  who  did  considerable  to 
build  up  the  church  and  secular  interests  of  Lynd  and 
develop  its  latent  possibilities.  He  opened  a  store  at 
Lynd  and  bought  goods  for  it  sufficient  to  stock 
several  such  settlements.  His  goods  had  to  be  brought 
in  by  team  from  New  Ulm  and  were  caught  in  a  heavy 
rainstorm  on  the  way.  It  is  said  the  dried  apples 
swelled  so  that  all  the  other  goods  in  that  load  were 
shoved  overboard.  His  load  of  codfish,  bought  at  ton 
rates,  probably  on  time,  had  to  be  spread  over  the 
hills  of  Lynd  to  dry  till  the  air  of  that  settlement,  it 
is  claimed,  reached  the  Flandreau  Indians  and  seventy 
bucks  went  on  the  warpath,  thinking  they  smelled  the 
camp  of  another  tribe." — Case's  History  of  Lyon 
County. 


After  a  short  career  the  village  suc- 
cumbed to  its  more  prosperous  rival 
down  the  river,  lost  the  county  seat, 
postoffice  and  store,  and  in  time  became 
good  farming  land.  Lower  Lynd  was 
laid  out  in  June,  1871,  by  A.  R.  Cummins 
and  A.  D.  Morgan.  Levi  S.  Kiel  and 
A.  D.  Morgan  built  a  hotel  on  the  site 
and  the  latter  opened  a  store.  After 
the  fall  of  its  up-river  rival  Lower  Lynd 
became  the  leading  town  of  Lyon 
county. ' 

The  first  church  building  in  the 
county  was  erected  by  the  Methodists 
early  in  1871.  It  was  located  on  M.  V. 
Davidson's  claim,  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  33,  Lynd.  The  building  was 
of  logs,  had  a  shake  roof,  and  the  floor 
was  of  earth.  Rev.  C.  F.  Wright 
preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  building. 

Although  a  school,  supported  by  sub- 
scription, had  been  conducted  so  early 
as  1869,  school  districts  were  not  organ- 
ized or  public  schools  conducted  until 
1871.  Districts  No.  1  and  2  were 
created  by  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners on  March  15,  1871.  The 
former  included  sections  20  to  29,  in- 
clusive, and  32  to  36,  inclusive,  in  the 
township  of  Lynd;  the  latter  included 
all  of  Lyons  and  Rock  Lake  townships. 5 

An  event  of  the  greatest  importance 
to  Lyon  county  at  the  time  and  bearing 
directly  on  its  whole  future  history  was 
the  building,  in  1872,  of  the  Winona  & 
St.  Peter  railroad — now  a  branch  of  the 

4For  a  more  complete  history  of  these  villages  the 
reader  is  referred  to  chapter  16. 

5Other  early  day  school  districts  were  as  follows: 

No.  3  (created  April  4,  1871) — Amiret,  Sodus,  Custer 
and  Monroe  townships. 

No.  4  (created  May  16,  1S71) — The  eight  northern 
townships  of  Lyon  county. 

No.  5  (created  May  16,  1S71) — The  six  southern 
townships  of  Lincoln  county. 

No.  6  (created  January  2.  1872) — In  Lincoln  county. 

No.  7  (created  January  2,  1872)— The  southern  half 
of  Lake  Marshall  township. 

No.  8  (created  January  2,  1872)— The  northern  halt 
of  Lake  Marshall  township  and  the  southern  tier  of 
townships  of  Fairview  township. 

No.  9  (created  June  1,  1S72)— Ten  and  one-hall 
sections  in  northeastern  Lynd  and  northwestern  Lake 
Marshall  townships. 


68 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Northwestern  system.  To  aid  in  the 
construction  of  the  road  the  government 
gave  to  the  company  the  odd-numbered 
sections  of  land  for  a  distance  of  twenty 
miles  on  each  side  of  its  line,  so  that 
one-half  the  lands  of  Lyon  county  were 
withdrawn  from  homestead  entry  and 
passed  into  the  possession  of  the  railroad 
company.6 

The  line  was  run  diagonally  across 
the  county  from  southeast  to  northwest. 
The  rails  were  laid  into  the  county  in 
1872,  a  construction  train  reached  the 
site  of  Marshall  on  October  12,  but  the 
line  was  not  operated  until  the  spring 
of  1873. 

The  building  of  the  railroad  had  a 
wonderful  effect  upon  the  settlement  of 
Lyon  county.  A  country  into  which  a 
railroad  is  building  is  not  destined  long 
to  remain  a  frontier  region  and  during 
the  whole  of  the  year  1872  immigrants 
poured  in  and  took  claims  in  every 
precinct.7  Sod  shanties  and  little  frame 
shacks  dotted  the  prairies  in  theretofore 
unsettled  portions.8  The  village  of  Mar- 
shall was  founded  and  rapidly  grew  into 
the  most  populous  and  important  center 
of  the  county. 

Because  there  was  this  big  immigra- 
tion and  the  whole  order  of  things  was 
changed,  it  must  not  be  imagined  that 
the   country   was   developed   in   a   day. 

"This  land  grant  undoubtedly  brought  the  railroad 
several  years  sooner  than  would  have  been  the  case 
otherwise  and  for  the  time  being  aided  materially  in 
the  settlement  of  the  county.  But  a  little  later,  when 
all  the  government  lands  had  been  filed  upon  and 
settlers  were  passing  through  the  county  to  locate 
upon  the  free  lands  in  Dakota,  it  was  found  that  the 
grant  was  a  decided  drawback  to  the  settlement  of  the 
county.  For  several  years  the  railroad  lands  were  not 
placed  on  the  market;  when  they  were  they  sold  for 
from  six  to  fifteen  dollars  per  acre. 

7Among  the  arrivals  of  1872  were  Jacob  A.  H.  Dahl, 
John  Krog,  Ole  O.  Brenna,  Michael  Knudson,  A. 
Malde.  Knud  O.  Dovre,  T.  O.  Loftsgaarden,  Ole  O. 
Myrvik,  Lars  J.  Jerpbak,  Sam  Hanson,  Charles  Ander- 
son, Sven  H.  Jeremiassen,  Nils  N.  Myre,  T.  I.  Trana, 
Nels  Gregerson,  Ole  O.  Nordby,  T.  J.  Barber,  Selden 
Coleman,  James  Butson,  L.  E.  Bates,  Jacob  Thomas, 
James  M.  English,  A.  L.  Baldwin,  J.  A.  Brown,  H.  G. 
Howard,  Thomas  Lindsay,  Frank  D.  Wasson,  Duncan 
McKinlay,  S.  B.  Wheeler,  J.  A.  Dillman,  R.  D.  Barnes, 
C.  A.  Cook,  G.  P.  Ladenburg,  C.  H.  Richardson, 
Joseph  Sanders,  John  Ward,  S.  Webster,  W.  M.  Todd, 
J.  W.  Blake,  S.  V.  Groesbeck,  J.  A.  Hunter,  J.  K. 
Johnson,     Mathew     Steele,     W.     G.     Hunter,     Andrew 


Almost  without  exception  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county  were  poor  in  this 
world's  goods;  they  came  to  secure  free 
land  and  build  themselves  homos  in  the 
new  country.  Most  of  the  arrivals  of 
1872  came  too  late  in  the  season  to 
break  their  lands  and  put  in  a  crop,  and 
consequently  there  was  not  a  large 
harvest. 

Only  676  acres  of  land — a  little  more 
than  one  section — were  planted  to  crop 
in  1872  in  the  whole  territory  now 
embraced  in  the  counties  of  Lyon  and 
Lincoln.  Of  these  342  acres  were  in 
wheat,  98  in  oats,  167  in  corn,  6  in 
barley,  13  in  buckwheat,  45  in  potatoes 
and  5  in  beans.  From  this  acreage  were 
produced  6690  bushels  of  wheat,  38S9 
of  oats,  5274  of  corn,  165  of  barley.  3651 
of  potatoes,  and  88  of  beans.  There 
were  also  put  up  2574  tons  of  wild  hay. 
The  dairy  products  consisted  of  7166 
pounds  of  butter  and  4850  pounds  of 
cheese.  There  were  less  than  500  head 
of  cattle  and  only  ninety  sheep  in  the 
county  in  1872,  according  to  the  assess- 
ors' figures. 

Except  for  the  fact  that  the  prairies 
became  dotted  with  tin1  homes  of 
settlers,  it  was  largely  the  same  virgin 
territory  it  had  always  been.  The  game 
lover  found  himself  in  a  paradise. 
Birds    abounded.     There    were    ducks, 

Hamm,  Joshua  Goodwin,  E.  B.  Jewett,  Walter  Wake- 
man,  J.  W.  Williams,  W.  'Coleman,  D.  P.  Billings, 
Stanley  Addison,  J.  A.  Coleman,  Andrew  Barrett, 
Thomas  McNeil,  W.  M.  Pierce,  L.  B.  Nichols,  Lyman 
Turner,  N.  Wilkins,  C.  Mehan,  Daniel  Farquhar, 
B.  F.  Link,  George  Link,  H.  P.  Sanden,  J.  W.  Hoag- 
land,  M.  M.  Hoagland,  Samuel  W.  Galbraith,  Edson 
Weeks,  Orval  Persons,  Noble  Cuyle,  H.  Drake,  J.  L. 
Craig,  Louis  Rialson,  Ole  Rialson,  E.  L.  Starr,  Edward 
Glynn,  Ole  Andersen,  Ole  Helgeson,  Andrew  Chris- 
tensen,  Kittle  Christopherson,  David  Morgan,  William 
H.  Hamm,  Emery  Hamm,  G.  W.  Linderman,  C. 
Osborn,  J.  W.  Lester,  J.  A.  Van  Fleet,  J.  T.  Crouch, 
A.  S.  Town,  Lucius  Town,  Lina  Bishop,  Loliff  Olson, 
Henry  G.  Mead,  Hugh  Neill,  William  .Will,  David 
Clark,  H.  O.  Clark,  John  H.  Clark,  George  R.  Wat  kins 
and  S.  L.  Wait. 

8Sod  houses  were  easily  built  and  were  the  prevailing 
style  of  architecture  in  the  days  when  lumber  was 
scarce  and  money  more  so.  They  were  comfortable  if 
properly  built.  Some  of  them  had  floors  and  others 
did  not.  The  roof  was  usually  constructed  of  poles 
and  brush,  covered  with  dirt  and  sod;  some  of  them 
shed  rain  and  some  did  not. 


TRACY  PUBLIC  SCHOOL 


TYPICAL  SOD  SHANTY 
In  Such  Houses  as  This  Hundreds  of  Lyon  County  Residents  Had  Their  Homes. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  rol'NTY. 


li!) 


wild  geese,  brant,  curlew  and  prairie 
chickens.  Occasionally  glimpses  were 
caught  of  some  of  the  big  game  that 
formerly  roamed  the  prairies  in  vast 
numbers.  The  summer  was  fine.  The 
days  and  nights  were  frequently  glorified 
l>y  electrical  storms  of  terrific  and 
ineffable  grandeur.  At  night  the  set- 
tlers often  sat  until  midnight  watching 
the  frolic  of  sheet-lightning  playing  over 
miles  of  cloud  banks,  vividly  suggesting 
the  possible  glories  of  another  world. 
Vegetation  grew  rank.  The  newcomers 
rode  along  the  river  bottoms  or  on  the 
ed^es  of  sloughs  through  seas  of  wild 
bluejoint  grass  up  to  the  horses'  hacks. 

It  was  the  experience  of  a  life  time, 
this  breaking  up  the  virgin  lands  and 
building  a  community  from  the  ground 
up,  and  many  were  the  probable  and 
improbable  stories  told  of  those  days. 
Letters  went  back  to  the  old  homes  in 
the  East,  telling  how  the  homesteaders 
planted  corn  with  an  ax  and  caught 
fish  with  a  pitchfork,  and  how  the  piano 
was  set  up  in  the  shanty  and  the  library 
stacked  up  under  the  bed. 

During  the  season  the  county  was 
visited  by  disastrous  prairie  fires  and 
hail  storms,  and  as  a  result  aid  for  those 
who  met  with  loss  was  furnished  by  the 
state.  For  the  relief  of  those  in  strait- 
ened circumstances  in  Lyon  county  by 
reason  of  fire  losses,  $100  was  distrib- 
uted. To  supply  seed  grain  the  state 
authorities  also  sent  to  the  county 
$808.25,  all  of  which  was  reported  dis- 
tributed by  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners on  March  19,  1873. 

The  winter  following  the  year  of  rapid 
settlement — the  winter  of  1872-73 — 
must  go  down  in  history  as  a  most 
severe  one.  It  brought  the  most  terrible 
blizzard  in  the  county's  history,  before 
or  since,  in  which  the  settlers  received 
their  first  experience  of  real  hardships. 


Winter  began  November  12.  The 
day  had  been  line,  but  toward  nightfall 
those  who  knew  the  Northwest  saw  in- 
dications of  a  blizzard.  At  dark  a  gale 
from  the  northwest  struck  the  houses 
with  a  whack  as  distinct  as  if  it  had 
been  a  board  in  the  hands  of  Old  Boreas. 
One  of  the  famous  northern  blizzards 
was  on.  and  there  was  a  series  of  storms 
until  the  afternoon  of  the  third  daw 
Thenceforth  it  was  winter.  Snow  fell  to 
a  great  depth,  probably  not  less  than 
two  feet,  but  it  was  so  blown  about  and 
drifted  by  the  wind  that  in  some  places 
there  were  drifts  of  twenty  feet  or  more. 

From  the  time  winter  so  set  in  there 
was  little  let-up  in  the  severity  of  the 
weather.  One  storm  followed  another, 
and  when  not  storming  the  weather  was 
cold  and  severe,  while  the  deep  snows, 
almost  constantly  drifting,  made  travel 
difficult  and  sometimes  dangerous.  Dur- 
ing that  long  winter  the  inhabitants  of 
this  part  of  the  state  were  practically 
shut  out  from  the  world.  For  weeks 
at  a  time  there  were  no  mails.  Many 
people  were  inconvenienced  for  want  of 
necessary  food,  fuel  and  clothing.  The 
sufferings  and  horrors  of  that  long  and 
dreadful  winter  will  never  be  effaced 
from  the  memories  of  those  wdio  ex- 
perienced them. 

The  ill-fated  year  1873  began  with  the 
most  violent  storm  in  the  history  of 
the  state  from  the  time  of  its  first 
settlement  to  the  present  date.  For 
three  days,  beginning  January  7,  the 
blizzard  raged,  extending  over  the  whole 
Northwest.  The  temperature  was  from 
eighteen  to  forty  degrees  below  zero 
during  the  whole  period  of  the  storm. 
The  air  was  filled  with  snow  as  fine  as 
flour.  Through  every  crevice,  keyhole 
and  nailhole  the  fine  snow  penetrated, 
puffing  into  the  houses  like  steam. 
Seventy   human   lives   were  lost   in   the 


70 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


storm  in  Minnesota,  and  eight  of  this 
number  were  people  who  resided  in 
Lyon  county  as  then  constituted. 

The  forenoon  of  Tuesday,  January  7, 
was  mild  and  pleasant;  the  sky  was  clear 
and  there  was  no  wind.  It  seemed  as 
though  a  "January  thaw"  was  imminent. 
The  pleasant  weather  had  induced  many 
farmers  to  go  to  the  woods  for  a  supply 
of  fuel  or  with  their  families  to  the 
neighbors  to  visit! 

About  eleven  o'clock  a.  change  was 
apparent.  The  sky  lost  its  crystal  clear- 
ness and  became  a  trifle  hazy.  Just 
about  noon  a  white  wall  was  seen  bear- 
ing down  from  the  northwest.  The 
front  of  the  storm  was  distinct  and 
almost  as  clearly  defined  as  a  great 
sheet.  In  a  few  minutes  a  gale,  moving 
at  the  rate  of  thirty  or  forty  miles  an 
hour,  was  sweeping  the  country;  a  full- 
fledged  blizzard  had  supplanted  the 
bright  sunshine  in  a  few  minutes.  The 
air  was  so  completely  filled  with  hying 
snow  that  it  was  impossible  to  see 
objects  a  short  distance  away. 

One  who  witnessed  the  storm  said: 
"The  air  was  filled  with  whirling  frost, 
fine  as  flour,  so  thick  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  see  into  it  more  than  a  rod 
or  so,  and  no  idea  of  direction  could  be 
kept.  The  snow  would  blow  right 
through  ordinary  clothing,  and  it  was 
impossible  to  face  the  wind  because  of 
intense  cold."  Another  declared  that 
there  were  twenty-four  different  currents 
of  air  to  the  cubic  foot,  each  traveling 
in  a  different  direction  and  each  moving 
with  the  velocity  of  electricity. 

All  Tuesday  night.  Wednesday  and 
Wednesday  night  the  storm  raged  with 
unabated  fury.  Not  until  Thursday 
was  there  any  let-up,  and  not  until 
Friday  was  the  storm  over.  Very  few 
who  were  in  places  of  safety  when  the 
storm  struck  braved  the  dangers  of  get- 


ting anywhere  else.  The  hotel  at  Mar- 
shall was  filled  with  people  as  securely 
fastened  within  -doors  as  though  they 
had  been  in  jail,  and  at  Kiel's  hotel  in 
Lynd  were  other  wayfarers  awaiting  the 
opportunity  to  get  home.  Besides  those 
who  perished,  several  Lyon  county 
residents  were  caught  on  the  prairie  in 
the  storm,  and  some  were  obliged  to 
spend  two  or  three  days  in  deserted 
claim  shanties  or  hay  stacks. 

Three  of  those  who  perished  in  the 
storm  were  residents  of  that  part  of  the 
county  which  a  year  later  was  organized 
into  Lincoln  county.  They  were  Wil- 
liam Taylor,  who  had  settled  at  Lake 
Benton  in  1868;  James  Robinson  and  a 
Mr.  Fl.ersold. 

William  Taylor  had  started  from  Lake 
Benton  to  mill  at  Redwood  Falls  with  a 
load  of  grain.  The  storm  came  upon 
him  when  he  had  reached  a  point  about 
where  the  village  of  Russell  now  stands. 
There  he  unhitched  his  team,  overturned 
the  sleigh  box,  and  spent  the  night  and 
part  of  the  next  day.  Realizing  that  he 
must  freeze  if  he  remained  where  he  was. 
Mr.  Taylor  turned  loose  one  of  the 
horses  and,  mounting  the  other,  set  out 
in  an  attempt  to  find  a  place  of  safety. 

After  the  storm  a  searching  party 
found  the  trail  of  the  unfortunate  man. 
The  horse  he  had  ridden  was  found  on 
the  Redwood  river  in  Lyons  township, 
from  which  place  Mr.  Taylor  had  trav- 
eled afoot  with  the  storm  in  a  south- 
easterly direction  about  forty  miles. 
The  searching  party  lost  the  trail  about 
twenty  miles  from  where  he  had  left  the 
Redwood.  At  one  place  he  passed 
within  ten  feet  of  a  claim  shanty  and 
at  another  he  passed  between  a  shanty 
and  a  hay  stack,  but  owing  to  the  dense 
snow,  and  possibly  to  the  fact  that  at 
that  time  he  was  blinded,  he  passed 
them    by.     The    body    was    found    the 


IIISTOKY  OK  LYON  COUNTY. 


71 


following  winter  by  settlers  from  near 
Worthington  at  a  point  in  northern 
Nobles  county  not  far  from  the  present 
village  of  FnUla. 

Three  others  that  met  death  in  the 
storm  were  members  of  the  Fox  family. 
The  family  consisted  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fox,  their  six  year  old  daughter  and  a 
nephew,  a  young  man.  They  were  on 
their  way  home  to  Lynd  township  from 
Redwood  Falls,  where  they  had  been 
visiting,  and  became  lost  in  the  storm 
at  a  point  on  the  east  side  of  the  Red- 
wood river,  not  far  from  the  site  of  the 
Catholic  church  of  Marshall. 

Becoming  lost  and  not  knowing  where 

they  were,  the  unfortunate  people  un- 
hitched the  oxen  and  overturned  tin1 
wagon  box  to  fix  a  shelter.  It  was  of 
little  value,  however,  and  the  family 
were  soon  drifted  over  with  the  snow. 
When  the  storm  abated,  on  Saturday, 
the  family  was  found.  The  young  man 
and  the  little  girl  were  dead  and  Mr.  Fox 
was  so  severely  frozen  that  he  died  on 
Monday.     Mrs.  Fox  recovered. 

The  other  deaths  in  Lyon  county 
occurred  not  far  from  where  Tracy  is 
now  situated.  The  victims  were  Asle 
Olson,  who  lived  near  Lake  Sigel,  and  a 
man  whose  surname  cannot  be  recalled 
hut  whose  given  name  was  Knute,  who 
lived  just  over  the  line  in  Murray 
county.  The  men  were  returning  from 
Lake  Shetek  with  a  load  of  wood  when 
they  lost  their  way  ami  perished. 
When  the  storm  subsided  Olson's  body 
was  found  a  half  mile  from  his  home. 
The  body  of  the  other  man  was  not 
found  until  March.  It  was  discovered 
only  a  short  distance  south  of  Tracy, 
near  the  old  fair  grounds. 

0.  C.  Gregg  was  one  of  those  who  had 
experience  with  the  awful  storm.  In  a 
speech  delivered  before  the  Old  Settlers 
Society  in  February,  1885,  he  said: 


On  the  morning  of  the  seventh  the  wind 
completely  lulled  and  ominous  quiel  prevailed. 

The     speaker,     in     his     tenderfooted     innocence, 

thought  winter  had  broken  up.  Without  an 
overcoal  he  started  down  the  river  to  visit 
Uncle  Mareyes.  While  chatting  there,  all  of  a 
sudden  came  a  wind  from  the  northwest  with 
a  wailing  sound  such  as  he  had  never  heard 
before—  that  terrible  roar  that  precedes  a  genuine 
blizzard,  but  then  new  to  him.  Alarmed, 
fearful  of  some  disturbance  of  the  elements,  he 
started  home,  accepting  an  overcoat  from  his 
host.  He  had  hardly  got  started  before  the 
blizzard  struck.  A  dense  volume  or  sheet  of 
blinding  snow  came  upon  him,  crowded  with 
terrible  pressure  by  the  northwest  wind. 

On  reaching  the  timber  he  could  barely  see 
from  tree  to  tree,  so  fiercely  was  the  snow  driven 
through  the  woods.  As  he  merged  from  the 
timber  to  traverse  the  few  rods  to  Kiel's  hotel, 
he  could  not  see  his  hand  placed  two  feet  from 
his  eyes,  but  he  managed  to  reach  the  house 
and  gain  entrance,  where  he  found  other  way- 
farers. 

He  never  before  knew  what  a  storm  was. 
Here  for  three  days  and  three  nights  they  were 
compelled  to  remain,  during  which  time  two 
others  joined  their  number,  each  at  different 
times  gaining  the  door  and  falling  into  the  room 
nearly  exhausted.  At  these  times  it  required 
the  united  force  of  two  or  three  men  to  close 
the  door  against  the  storm. 

W.  P.  Durst,  then  a  boy  seventeen 
years  old  living  in  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship, and  his  twelve  year  old  brother 
were  also  caught  in  the  storm  and  barely 
escaped  with  their  lives.  On  the  day 
of  the  great  blizzard  they  had  gone  to 
the  Lynd  woods  with  an  ox  team  for  a 
load  of  fuel.  They  had  secured  their 
load  and  started  home  when  the  storm 
came  upon  them.  The  older  boy  placed 
his  brother  on  the  south  side  of  the  load 
and  cautioned  him  to  keep  a  hand  con- 
stantly on  the  wood.  He  then  took  his 
place  at  the  head  of  the  team  and 
literally  felt  his  way  through  the  blind- 
ing storm  for  six  miles,  arriving  at  last 
at  the  cabin  of  the  Bellinghams.  The 
smaller  boy's  toes  were  frozen,  but  he 
recovered. 

Despite  the  ushering  in  of  the  year 
1873  with  the  terrible  January  storm, 
the  year  opened  auspiciously.  The  new 
railroad  thawed  out  and  regular  train 
service   was  established   to   Marshall   in 


72 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


April.9  During  the  year  the  road  was 
extended  to  Lake  Kampeska  and  the 
transient  population  thus  brought  in 
made  times  lively.  For  two  years  train 
service  was  not  maintained  west  of 
Marshall,  except  that  every  Saturday  an 
engine  and  caboose  made  the  trip  to  the 
western  end  of  the  line  to  hold  the  land 
grant . 

With  the  opening  of  the  railroad  came 
hundreds  of  new  settlers,  and  the  settle- 

»The  first  train  to  run  within  the  limits  of  Lyon 
county  on  a  regular  schedule  left  New  Ulm  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  April  14,  made  the  run  ot 
eighty  miles  in  seven  hours,  and  arrived  on  time  at 
Marshall  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  H.  B.  Gary 
wa<  conductor  and  Robert  McConnell  engineer.  I  he 
train  was  made  up  of  engine  No.  26,  a  baggage  car. 
coach,  and  twentv-five  freight  cars.  John  Ward, 
Marshall's  first  station  agent,  was  on  the  platform  to 
receive  the  first  train. 

lOThose  who  were  assessed  for  personal  property  in 
1S73  were  as  follows: 

Lake  Marshall— J.  T.  Bellingham,  C.  T.  Bellingham, 
\  W  Bean  Samuel  Benjamin,  Charles  Bellingham, 
Robert  Bellingham,  John  W.  Blake,  David  P.  Billings, 
W  C  Bennett,  J.  Bagley,  L.  H.  Cannon,  Josiah  Clark, 
Samuel  Corliss,  W.  M.  Coleman,  John  A.  Coleman, 
Noble  Cuyle,  William  Clemmens,  Orson  Drake,  Michael 
Durst  M.  V.  Davidson,  C.  A.  DeGraff,  Everett  &  Co., 
Jennie  Gates,  J.  C.  Garnhart,  J.  Y.  Hoffstot,  A.  J. 
Hamm  H  F.  Hovt,  J.  A.  Hunter,  W .  A.  Johnson, 
J  K  Johnson,  W.  R.  Loveless,  Alfred  Loveless,  E.  B. 
Langdon,  W.  II.  Langdon,  L.  W.  Langdon  Langdon 
&  Laythe,  R.  Monroe,  M.  B.  Morse,  C.  F.  Metcalf,  M. 
Melon,  L.  B.  Nichols,  George  E.  Nichols,  G.  W  .  Payne, 
Alexander  Sanders,  Joseph  Sanders,  James  Smith, 
S  N  Taylor,  W.  M.  Todd,  Turner  &  Loope,  H.  J.  Tripp, 
A  O  Underhill,  C.  H.  Upton,  Peter  \:m  Zant,  G.  R. 
Welch,  M.  E.  Wilcox,  C.  H.  Whitney,  E.  Woodbury, 
S  Webster,  J.  P.  WTatson,  William  Johnson  &  Co., 
J.'  W.  Wilson. 

Lvnd— L.  E.  Bates,  E.  M.  Barton,  J.  G.  Bryan, 
E.  P.  Carlton,  G.  E.  Cummins,  W.  A.  Chapman,  A.  R. 
Cummins,  James  Cummins,  L.  H.  Dunn,  N.  Davis, 
J  V.  Eastman,  T.  S.  Eastman,  E.  Fezler,  O.  C.  Gregg, 
Oscar  Hawes,  J.  N.  Johnson,  C.  S.  Johnson,  J.  K. 
Kyes  L  S.  Kiel,  James  M.  Lockey,  G.  W.  Link, 
A.  D.'  Morgan,  L.  Marcyes,  C.  Nelson,  Andrew  Nelson, 
T*  T  Pierce  A.  Ransom,  Jacob  Rouse,  J^  E.  Starks, 
Smith  &  Ellis,  A.  C.  Tucker,  Z.  O.  Titus,  Samuel  Van 
<Ustyne.  William  Van  Buren,  J.  W.  F.  Williams, 
H.  G.  Wrard,  R.  Waterman,  H.  R.  Marcyes. 

I  vons— William  C.  Adams,  Frank  Bills,  Mrs.  M.  L. 
Buel  John  E.  Buel,  A.  Crossley,  Scott  Carlisle,  Thomas 
Downie,  E.  B.  Downie,  A.  C.  Dam,  M.  A.  Fifield, 
S  W"  Galbraith,  C.  E.  Goodell,  G.  A.  Gill,  F.  C.  Hicks, 
J  W  Hoagland,  Charles  Hildreth,  G.  W.  Hicks,  L.  C. 
Hildreth,  J.  N.  Harvey,  L.  P.  Knapp,  E.  Lamb,  A.  W 
Magandv,  H.  Mussler,  Hugh  Neill,  William  Neill, 
Owen  Owens,  Mrs.  B.  Roberts,  Henry  Shafer,  R. 
Tuper,  C.  L.  Van  Fleet,  Roland  Weeks,  R.  Wait, 
G.  Watson,  C.  A.  Wright,  William  Witson. 

Fairview — C.  C.  Beach,  Norton  Billings,  John 
Brown,  Tvler  Carpenter,  C.  A.  Edward,  J.  W.  Elliott, 
B  C  Emery,  Benona  Gibbs,  H.  P.  Gibbs,  John  Hanlon, 
Reuben  Henshaw,  H.  G.  Howard,  Seth  Johnson, 
Cornish  Johnson.  Harmon  Lovelace,  Thomas  Lindsay, 
Owen  Marron,  W.  S.  Reynolds,  George  Spaulding. 
Lurnan  Ticknor.  William  Robinson,  Zenas  Rank, 
Abraham  Williams,  Frank  Wasson. 

\ordland — Neils  Anderson,  Ole  Anderson,  A.  Chris- 
topherson,  S.  Esperbrick,  C.  Endrusen,  C.  K.  Eiversen, 
T  H  Flom,  O.  O.  Groff,  W.  K.  Hovden,  Gunder 
Hanson,  J.  H.  Hyglen,  A.  Halvorsen,  J.  B.  Johnson, 
B  Johnson,  A.  Johnson,  S.  Jeremiahson,  C.  H.  Lee, 
T  O  Loftsgarden,  X.  H.  Myre,  A.  L.  Marken,  N.  B. 
Nielson    Ole  Olson,  Halvor  Olson,  01«  O.  Rear,  A.  O. 


ments  of  Lyon  county  were  indeed  in  a 
nourishing  condition.  That  the  country 
was  developing  rapidly  is  shown  by  the 
fact  that  in  1873  there  were  393  personal 
property  assessments,  a  considerable 
larger  number  than  there  had  been  in- 
habitants three  years  before.10 

The  iron  horse  brought  many  of  the 
comforts  of  life — neighbors,  markets, 
and  other  adjuncts  of  civilization.  The 
hardships  of  pioneer  life  seemed  passing 

>trand,  A.  P.  Strand,  Jard  Stenersen,  Leif  Stenersen, 
K.  Tolefson,  J.  O.  Tanjen,  T.  Helgosen,  Ole  Ledell. 

Lake  Benton  (southern  Lincoln  county) — A.  Ander- 
son, N.  F.  Berry,  Edgar  Bentley,  ('.  H.  Briffett,  James 
Brfffett,  James  Cooley,  C.  W.  Cooley,  Hans  Grand. 
James  Gillman,  Benjamin  Hadley,  J.  A.  Hutetron-. 
S.  G.  Janes,  A.  G.  Leach,  Thomas  Lemon,  John  Moore, 
W.  M.  Ross,  Alexander  Ross,  F.  M.  Randall,  Thomas 
Robinson,  John  Snyder,  Wrilliam  Taylor. 

First  Precinct  (Custer,  Monroe,  Amiret  and  Sodus)  — 
Ole  Anderson,  Ole  Amenson,  John  Avery,  Ole  Arnud- 
son,  O.  H.  Brevig,  Patrick  Curtin,  C.  Christopherson, 
A.  Christensen,  William  Coburn,  G.  W.  Donaldson, 
H.  Drake,  Rees  Davis,  Theodore  Dickenson,  J.  H. 
Eastman,  David  Griffith,  Lafayette  Grover,  C.  S. 
Grover,  W.  Hanison,  Eleazer  Hall,  E.  Hall,  Thomas 
M.  Harris,  R.  H.  Hughes,  Ole  Johnson,  Johnson,  Ole 
Johnson,  Margaret  Johnson,  John  S.  Jones,  Ogan 
Johnson,  Triston  Knudson,  Neamiah  Leavett,  James 
Mitchell,  Jr.,  James  Mitchell,  L.  S.  Mason,  L.  Mason 
Charles  Mason,  James  Morgan,  S.  E.  Morgan,  W.  H 
Morgan,  Nelson,  Tolef  Olson,  Saulerious  Olyn,  Cornelius 
Olson,  Robert  Owens,  Jacob  Plymouth,  A.  Purves, 
Rees  Price,  H.  Randall,  Ole  Rialson,  Lewis  Rialson, 
Horace  Randall,  Joseph  Reese,  G.  S.  Robinson,  E.  L. 
Starr,  Martin  See,  D.  Stafford,  Landy  Soward,  William 
Shand,  William  Taylor,  K.  Trielson,  S.  S.  Truax,  B.  B. 
Thomas,  B.  F.  Thomas,  George  White.  Knos  Warn, 
S.  E.  Wallace,  H.  H.  Williams,  J.  H.  Williams,  A.  H. 
Well  man. 

Second  Precinct  (Stanley,  Lucas,  Vallers  and 
Clifton) — R.  D.  Barnes,  Moses  Barnes,  C.  A.  Cook, 
F.  Dillman,  G.  P.  Ladenburgh,  H.  Newhouse,  M. 
Wilson,  P.  J.  Truax,  Reuben  Beasley,  T.  W.  Castor, 
C.  T.  Taylor,  James  White,  Ansen  Anderson,  J.  R. 
Benjamin,  Thomas  Bell,  Allend  Christian,  .1.  Durham, 
J.  P.  Brod,  J.  C.  Lines,  Antoine  Meron,  R.  W.  Price, 
Chris  Peterson,  Nels  Rosvold,  Michael  Rosvold,  F. 
Strosham^  E.  T.  Thompson,  James  Wardrop,  John 
Anderson,  Knudt  Anderson,  Ole  O.  Brandon,  Ole 
Olson,  John  O.Stensrud,  M.  K.  Snartum. 

Third  Precinct  (Grandview,  Westerheim  and  Eids- 
vold) — Halvor  Aadson,  T.  Aadson,  Lewis  Anderson, 
H.  Burlingame,  James  Budson,  T.  J.  Barber,  A.  L. 
Baldwin,  C.  Chamberlhv  G.  Wr.  Carpenter,  F.  M. 
Collins,  J.  G.  Cook,  A.  H.  Chamberlin,  Ole  Esping, 
J.  M.  English,  G.  O.  Gilbertson,  Nels  Hanson,  John 
Ilstad,  H.  A.  Irish,  G.  Johnson,  Knud  Knudson, 
Andrew  Lee,  George  Lee,  H.  B.  Loomis,  O.  McQuestion, 
William  Markell,  Isaac  Olson,  Nels  Syverson. 

Fourth  Precinct  (Rock  Lake,  Shelburne,  Coon  Creek 
and  Island  Lake) — John  A.  Van  Fleet,  Orville  Persons, 
Cyrus  L.  Osborne,  G.  W.  Linderman,  Chester  Bullock, 
Emery  Hamm,  Edson  W'eeks,  J.  T.  Crouch,  Lucius 
Town,  J.  and  R.  Town,  J.  Wr.  Lester,  William  Living- 
ston, Lyman  Fellows,  Dallas  T.  Burt,  H.  H.  Hodgkins, 
J.  R.  Burgett,  W.  T.  Ellis,  Joseph  Williams,  John 
McKay,  William  Hamm. 

Fifth  Precinct  (northern  Lincoln  county) — Frank 
Apfield,  Frank  Applebee,  A.  Anderson,  Henrv  Bagley, 
James  Collins,  John  Dall,  Daniel  Dennison,  D.  Daniel- 
son,  Or.  Gunderson,  Hans  Johnson,  Jacob  Jacobson, 
John  Jacobson,  John  Kelley,  Anton  Martinson, 
Thomas  Mackey.  John  Nelson,  Daniel  Omley,  Orsman 
Oleson,  M.  S.  Phillips,  William  Ramsey,  Like  Randall, 
Ole  A.  Rige,  Benjamin  Sampson,  Helner  Simpson,  Ole 
Severson,  Off.  Shedland,  Caw  Telfson,  Elias  Van 
Eaton,  M.  L.  Wood,  Henry  Worden. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COl'NTY. 


73 


away  and  hopes  of  a  prosperous  future 
budded  and  bloomed  under  the  stimulus 
of  t  he  growing  boom. 

With  the  new  order  of  things  came 
two  important  changes  in  Lyon  county: 
the  creation  of  Lincoln  county  from  the 
fifteen  western  townships  and  the  re- 
moval of  the  county  seat  from  Lynd  to 
Marshall.  The  settlement  of  western 
Lyon  county  had  been  quite  rapid  and 
the  people  there  demanded  a  county  of 
their  own.  Marshall,  the  only  railroad 
town  in  the  county,  became  ambitious 
and  demanded  the  county  seat. 

It  is  doubtful  if  either  of  these 
changes,  singly,  would  have  been  au- 
thorized by  vote  of  the  people,  but, 
together,  they  were  put  through  without 
great  difficulty.  The  electors  of  the 
future  Lincoln  county  agreed  to  vote 
for  Marshall  for  the  county  seat  if  the 
people  of  Marshall  and  vicinity  would 
vote  for  the  new  county,  and  vice  versa. 
The  coalition  was  a  strong  one  and  the 
returns  show  that  each  party  fulfilled 
its  promises. 

The  bill  for  the  creation  of  Lincoln 
county  passed  the  Legislature  in  the 
spring  of  1873.  According  to  its  pro- 
visions the  fifteen  western  townships  of 
Lyon  county  were  set  off  and  formed 
into  Lincoln  county,  the  county  seat  of 
which  should  be  Marshfield,  but  the  act 
should  not  become  operative  unless  a 
majority  of  the  voters  of  the  whole  of 

"Vallers  and  Westerheim.  r 

12Eidsvold. 

"Stanley  and  Clifton. 

14Included  also  Island  Lake  and  Coon  Creek. 

1 'Monroe,  Custer,  Amiret  and  Sodus. 

16Rock  Lake  and  Shelburne. 

17Composed  of  two  townships  in  southern  Lincoln 
county. 

18Composed  of  the  northern  tier  of  townships  of 
Lincoln  county. 

19Composed  of  ten  townships  in  central  and  southern 
Lincoln  county. 

20Thirty-nine  votes  of  this  total  were  worded 
"Against  Division  of  County"  instead  of  "Against 
Lincoln  County." 


Lyon  county  should  ratify  the  act  al 
the  general  election  in  November,  1873. 
Considering  the  importance  of  the  ques- 
tion, the  campaign  was  not  an  excep- 
tionally hard  fought  one.  Those  favor- 
ing the  creation  of  the  new  county  won 
at  the  polls  by  a  vote  of  254  to  214. 
The  vote  by  precincts  was  as  follows: 


PRECINCTS 


Canton  (Lucas) 

Northeast   I  Ustrict11 

Upper  Yellow  Medicine12 

Nordland 

( rrandview 

Fairview 

East   Precinct  l3 

Marshall  (Lake  Marshall) 

Lynd" 

Lyons 

Saratoga15 

South  District16 

Lake  Benton17 

Yellow  Bluff18 

Marshfield19 

Total 


For 

Lincoln 
County 


20 


18 

26 

18 

112 

(i 

6 

14 

1 

15 

18 


Against 
Lincoln 
( lounty 


18 

38 

3 

1 

1 
46 
27 
52 
10 

2 
15 


254 


21420 


On  December  5,  1873,  Governor 
Horace  Austin  issued  a  proclamation 
declaring  the  county  of  Lincoln  formed21 
and  on  that  date  Lyon  county  was 
reduced  to  its  present  area.22 

The  bill  providing  for  the  removal  of 
the  county  seat  from  Lynd  to  Marshall 
passed  the  Legislature  March  6,  1873. 
It   too   provided   that   the   voters   must 

21The  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners of  Lincoln  county  was  held  at  the  home  of 
M.  S.  Phillips  in  Marshfield  in  January,  1874,  the 
commissioners  being  N.  F.  Berry,  A.  C.  Burdick  and 
Henry  Bagley.  They  appointed  the  following  first 
officers:  Charles  Marsh,  auditor;  John  Jones,  treas- 
urer and  superintendent  of  schools;  William  Ross, 
sheriff;  M.  L.  Wood,  register  of  deeds;  John  Snyder, 
judge  of  probate;  A.  C.  Leach,  county  attorney;  M.  S. 
Phillips,  clerk  of  court;  James  Berry,  court  com- 
missioner; John  Cooley,  coroner;  Mr.  Taylor,  surveyor; 
Ole  Swenson  and  J.  W.  Lawton,  justices  of  the  peace; 
Benjamin  Sampson  and  Frank  Applebee,  constables. 

22In  1877  a  petition  was  circulated  in  the  northern 
part  of  Lincoln  county  and  quite  liberally  signed, 
asking  that  Lincoln  county  be  annexed  to  Lyon 
county,  but  the  opposition  defeated  the  prayer  ot  the 
petitioners.  The  following  spring  a  scheme  was 
devised  for  the  formation  of  a  new  county,  composed 
of  parts  of  Yellow  Medicine,  Lincoln  and  Lyon,  with 
Canby  as  the  county  seat,  but  was  abandoned. 


HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COUNTY. 


ratify  the  act  at  the  general  election  in 
November,  1873,  before  it  should  be  put 
in  force.  The  people  of  the  Lynd 
settlement  fought  for  the  honor  of 
holding  the  seat  of  government,  but 
they  were  overwhelmed.  The  Lincoln 
county  country  voted  almost  solidly  for 
Marshall,  as  did  the  people  in  the 
vicinity  of  Marshall  and  in  the  country 
to  the  north  of  that  village. 

Many  votes  were  won  for  Marshall  on 
the  promise  that  a  tract  of  land  should 
be  given  for  county  purposes  and  that 
there  would  be  furnished,  free  of  cost, 
for  a  period  of  ten  years,  buildings  for 
county  offices  and  court  purposes.23 
The  Prairie  Schooner,  published  at 
Marshall,  on  October  25,  1873,  said: 
"When  any  one  tells  you  that  the 
people  of  Marshall  are  in  favor  of 
building  county  buildings  at  the  county 
expense,  brand  it  as  a  lie.  Marshall 
proposes  to  furnish  all  buildings  neces- 
sary and  suitable  for  county  purposes 
just  as  long  as  the  county  sees  fit  to 
occupy  the  same,  and  the  county  will 
not  be  taxed  one  cent  for  buildings  if 
the  county  seat  is  moved  to  this  place." 

23A  legal  document,  dated  October  28,  1873,  made 
the  promise  binding  and  was  in  the  following  words: 

'"Received  a  bond  running  to  the  county  of  Lyon, 
signed  by  John  W.  Blake,  Charles  H.  Whitney,  D. 
Wilcox,  J.  Bagley,  W.  Wakeman,  Coleman  &  Company, 
M.  E.  Wilcox,  R.  J.  Monroe,  L.  B.  Nichols,  J.  W. 
Williams  and  S.  Webster,  properly  acknowledged, 
conditioned  in  the  penal  sum  of  82000,  to  furnish  to 
said     Lyon     county    offices    or    buildings    for    county 


At  the  election  Marshall  won  over 
Lynd  by  a  vote  of  397  to  101,  the  vote 
by  precincts  being  as  follows: 


PRECINCTS 


Canton  (Lucas) 

Northeast  District 

Upper  Yellow  Medicine . . 

Nordland 

Grandview 

Fairview 

East  Precinct 

Marshall  (Lake  Marshall) 

Lynd 

Lyons 

Saratoga 

South  District 

Lake  Benton 

Yellow  Bluff 

Marshfield 

Total 


For 
Removal 


21 

16 
18 
17 
20 
27 
18 
115 
14 
27 
54 

8 
16 

9 
17 


397 


Against 
Removal 


21 
1 


1 
38 
14 
18 

1 
1 
6 


101 


By  proclamation  of  Governor  Horace 
Austin,  dated  December  5,  1873,  Mar- 
shall was  declared  to  be  the  county  seat 
of  Lyon  county.  The  county  commis- 
sioners met  for  the  first  time  in  the  new 
seat  of  government  January  24,  1874, 
and  the  county  officers  began  conducting 
business  there  soon  after. 

officers,  county  commissioners  and  district  court  for 
the  period  of  ten  years,  and  the  bond  of  J.  W.  Blake, 
properly  executed,  conditioned  in  the  penal  sum  of 
S1000,  to  deed  said  county  certain  described  lots  in 
the  village  of  Marshall  for  county  purposes,  both 
bonds  conditional  upon  the  removal  of  the  county  seat 
to  Marshall,  and  request  that  the  county  commissioners 
will  accept  the  same  on  behalf  of  said  county." 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE  GRASSHOPPER    SCOURGE— 1873-1876. 


NOW  come  the  dark  days  of  Lyon 
county's  history— the  grasshop- 
per   days.     For    several    years, 
beginning   with   1873,   grasshoppers,    or 

Rocky  .Mountain  locusts,  swept  down 
upon  the  country  in  countless  millions, 
devouring  'the  crops  and  bringing  dis- 
aster to  nearly  every  resident.  The 
people  of  Lyon  county,  in  common  with 
those  of  all  Southwestern  Minnesota, 
suffered  as  few  pioneers  of  any  country 
ever  suffered.  Adversity  followed  ad- 
versity. The  frowns  of  fortune  over- 
whelmed those  who  had  come  with  such 
high  hopes  the  preceding  years  and  cast 
them  into  the  slough  of  despond.  The 
picture  could  hardly  be  painted  too 
dark. 

The  country  became  bankrupt.  Im- 
migration ceased;  migration  began.  All 
who  could  mortgaged  their  property 
and  many  left  the  county.  Some  got 
into  such  straitened  circumstances  that 
they  were  literally  without  the  means  to 
pay  their  railway  fare  out  of  the  county. 
It  was  impossible  to  make  a  living  from 
the  farm,  and  many  sought  work  during 
the  summer  seasons  in  their  old  homes 
in  the  East;  others  attempted  to  earn  a 
livelihood  by  trapping.  In  time  land 
became  valueless;  it  could  not  be  sold 

'The  acreage  sown  to  grain  in  1873  was  1983,  nearly 
three  times  as  large  as  that  of  the  year  before.  Of  the 
total  acreage,  1139  were  in  wheat,  330  in  oats,  319  in 


or  mortgaged.  After  the  first  or  second 
year  eastern  capitalists  refused  to  con- 
sider  loans  in  the  grasshopper  infested 
country. 

Prosperous  as  Lyon  county  is  today, 
one  can  imagine  the  suffering  a  series  of 
almost  total  crop  failures  would  bring. 
Picture,  then,  a  settlement  of  some  two 
thousand  people  with  practically  no 
means — people  who  had  come  because 
they  were  poor  and  because  they  be- 
lieved the  new  country  offered  oppor- 
tunities for  securing  a  home  and  a 
competence — devastated  by  a  scourge 
which  took  away  the  only  means  of 
earning  a  living.  Such  were  the  con- 
ditions in  the  times  about  which  we  are 
now  to  tell. 

The  people  who  had  come  the  pre- 
ceding year  set  to  work  with  a  will  to 
break  out  the  prairie  land,  and  great 
were  the  expectations  for  the  crop  of 
1873,  the  first  crop  of  any  size  planted 
in  the  county. L  The  grain  grew  beauti- 
fully during  the  spring  months;  the 
faith  in  the  soil  was  justified.  Every- 
body was  enthusiastic  over  the  prospects. 
Then  came  the  plague. 

The  grasshoppers  first  made  their 
appearance  in  Lyon  county  about  the 
seventeenth    of    June,     1873,    and    the 

corn,  54  in  barley,  36  in  buckwheat,  85  in  potatoes, 
10  in  beans,  2  in  sorghum,  and  8  in  other  products. 


76 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


county  was  not  entirely  free  from  them 
during'  the  remainder  of  the  season. 
Their  arrival  was  first  made  known  by 
the  appearance  of  the  sky;  the  sun 
seemed  to  have  lost  some  of  its  bril- 
liance, as  though  darkened  by  clouds  of 
fine  specks  floating  high  in  the  air. 
Some  believed  that  the  specks  were  the 
fluff  from  cottonwood  seeds.  They  kept 
increasing  in  number,  and  after  awhile 
a  few  scattering  ones  began  falling  to 
the  earth,  where  they  were  found  to  be 
grasshoppers,  or  Rocky  Mountain  lo- 
custs— forerunners  of  an  army  that 
devastated  this  part  of  the  country  and 
resulted  in  the  retardation  of  its  settle- 
ment   for  many  years.2 

The  invading  hordes  feasted  upon  the 
growing  grain  and  gardens  and  did 
great  damage.  In  the  Saratoga  settle- 
ment along  the  Cottonwood  in  south- 
eastern Lyon  county  they  were  particu- 
larly voracious  and  left  practically  no 
grain.  Along  the  Redwood,  also,  they 
brought  destruction  to  crops,  but  there 
were  some  parts  of  the  county  that  were 
riot  visited.3  Most  of  the  grasshoppers 
left  after  a  few  weeks,  but  enough  were 
left  and  deposited  their  eggs  during  the 
months  of  August  and  September  to 
make  certain  that  the  county  would  be 
infested  the  next  year.4  The  harvest. 
of  course,  was  light,  but  good  yields 
were  reported  in  the  few  communities 
that  had  not  been  visited. 

In    addition   to   the  grasshopper  dev- 

;The  grasshoppers  were  first  noticed  by  a  small  party 
of  picnickers  at  Watson's  grove  in  Lynd  township. 
Their  attention  was  attracted  by  the  sudden  clouding 
of  the  sun  on  a  clear,  bright  day.  There  appeared  to 
be  a  great  cloud  that  was  described  as  resembling  a 
sheet  of  dull  silver.  For  some  time  the  cloud  moved 
about  in  circular  form  and  gradually  neared  the 
earth.  As  it  came  closer  its  animation  was  observed 
and  before  long  the  whole  cloud  settled  upon  the  earth. 

These  first  arrivals  did  not  extend  farther  north 
than  the  Lynd  settlement  and  many  residents  were 
skeptical  of  the  stories  told  of  the  invasion.  A  party 
of  -Marshall  people  was  deputized  to  investigate  and 
went  up  to  the  Lynd  settlement.  When  they  reached 
the  Redwood  river  at  the  place  then  known  as  the 
Muzzy  flat  their  progress  was  stopped.  The  horses 
refused  to  approach  the  usual  fording  place,  and  there 
before  them,  covering  a  space  twenty  rods  wide  and 
for  a  considerable  distance  along  the  bank,  the  locusts 
were  piled  up  two  inches  deep,  a  moving,  undulating 


astation,  the  panic  which  held  the 
country  in  its  grip  in  1S73  added  to  the 
hard  times  which  followed.  The  loss  of 
crops  left  many  families  in  destitute 
circumstances,  and  there  was  some 
suffering  during  the  next  winter. 

The  state  authorities  took  prompt 
action  to  relieve  the  suffering  in  the 
frontier  counties.  Petitions  from  the 
stricken  districts  were  poured  into  the 
Legislature,  asking  appropriations  for 
relief.  Realizing  the  gravity  of  the 
situation,  the  Minnesota  law-making 
body,  late  in  January,  1874,  appro- 
priated $5000  for  the  relief  of  the  desti- 
tute and  enacted  a  law  extending  the 
time  of  payment  of  personal  property 
taxes  until  November  1  in  the  counties 
of  Jackson,  Cottonwood,  Murray,  Nobles, 
Rock.  Watonwan,  Lyon  and  Lac  qui 
Parle.  5 

Lyon  county  did  not  receive  much 
benefit  from  the  state  aid,  owing  largely 
to  local  pride.  In  accordance  with  the 
custom  of  pioneer '  journals  to  report 
nothing  that  would  tend  to  retard 
settlement,  the  local  newspaper  reported 
fair  crops.  A  perusal  of  the  files  of 
the  Prairie  Schooner  for  1873  discloses 
not  a  word  of  the  grasshopper  visitation 
of  that  year.  Many  people  of  the 
county  denied  the  existence  of  destitu- 
tion and  denounced  those  who  sent  out 
requests  for  aid. 

For  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the 
condition  of  the  people  of  the  county  a 

mass  of  animation.  The  insects  had  there  piled  up  by 
the  million  and  where  they  covered  stumps  and  brush 
they  gave  the  appearance  of  being  several  feet  deep. 

3The  damage  to  crops  in  1873  in  Minnesota  was 
officially  estimated  at  S3, 034,000. 

4Eggs  were  deposited  preferably  in  solid  ground 
and  to  a  depth  of  from  one-half  to  one  inch.  The  tail 
of  the  female  grasshopper  is  a  hard,  bony,  cone-shaped 
substance,  and  this  was  easily  bored  into  the  solid 
ground  and  the  eggs  deposited. 

6"The  bill  postponing  the  collection  of  taxes  on 
personal  property  in  Lyon  and  several  other  south- 
western counties  passed  the  Legislature  a  little  too 
late  to  benefit  many  taxpayers  of  this  county,  as  most 
of  them  paid  all  taxes  against  them  prior  to  the  first 
of  this  month,  to  prevent  extra  cost." — Prairie 
Schooner,  February  19,  18/ 4. 


HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COl'NTY. 


77 


mass  meeting  was  held  at  Marshall  on 
the  lasi  day  of  January,  1874. 8  It  was 
the  sense  of  that  meeting  that  there 
were  no  persons  in  Lyon  county  in 
actual  want  and  a  resolution  was  passed 
denouncing  the  reports  that  had  been 
sent  out  to  that  effect.  Another  reso- 
lution was  passed  to  the  effect  that 
Lyon  county  would  be  able  to  take  care 
of  any  case  of  destitution  that  might 
arise,  without  outside  aid.  The  com- 
mittee that  reported  the  resolution  was 
composed  of  J.  W.  Blake.  Jacob  House, 
J.  G.  Bryan.  0.  C.  Gregg  and  J.  II. 
Buchanan.  The  meeting  ascertained, 
however,  that  some  families  had  moved 
in  from  the  grasshopper  devastated 
districts  who  would  probably  want  seed 
grain  in  the  spring,  and  the  governor 
and  Legislature  were  petitioned  to  make 
a  just  distribution  of  funds  for  free 
seed  grain  when  it  was  needed. 

The  people  of  southern  Lyon  county 
took  exception  to  these  optimistic  reso- 
lutions of  the  Marshall  meeting.  On 
February  17  a  mass  meeting  attended 
by  two  hundred  people  was  held  at 
Saratoga  station.  The  opinion  of  those 
people  was  that  there  were  many  people 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county  that 
needed  substantial  aid  at  once,  that 
much  would  be  needed  before  another 
crop  could  be  raised,  that  they  were  at 
that  moment  in  pressing  need  of  bread, 
meat  and  clothing,  and  would  be  later 
of  seed  grain.  Committees  were  ap- 
pointed to  canvass  the  community  and 
report  to  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners. 

Before  the  matter  was  taken  up  by 
the  county  officials,  in  February  a 
subscription   paper   was   circulated   and 

8"\Ve,  the  undersigned,  do  hereby  request  that  a 
meeting  of  the  citizens  of  the  county  be  held  at  Con- 
gregational Hall  in  Marshall  at  two  o'clock  p.  m. 
Saturday,  January  31,  for  the  purpose  of  more  defi- 
nitely ascertaining  whether  there  are  any  destitute 
persons  in  Lyon  county,  and  if  so,  whether  there  are 
any  more  than  can  be  provided  for  by  the  county. 
A    general    attendance    is    requested,    particularly    of 


$92  raised  for  relict'.  A  disbursement 
committee  on  February  17  reported  thai 
*.'!7.l>2  of  this  amount  had  been  dis- 
tributed among  the  needy,  mostly  in 
the  Saratoga  country. 

The  county  was  without  funds  to  take 
care  of  the  needy  and  it  was  obliged  to 
pledge  its  faith  to  one  of  the  Marshall 
merchant-  to  raise  by  taxation  and  pay 
back  the  sum  of  1100  and  interest 
advanced  in  supplies.  The  following 
resolution — a  forceful  reminder  of  the 
dark  days  of  Lyon  county's  history— 
was  passed  by  the  Board  of  County 
Commissioners  February  24,  1874: 

Resolved  that  the  faith  of  the  county  is 
hereby  pledged  to  William  Everett  &  Company 
to  levy  a  special  tax  and  to  pay  them  one 
hundred  and  seventeen  dollars  and  have  the 
same  placed  upon  the  next  roll  and  collected 
with  the  other  county  taxes  in  consideration  that 
they  shall  advance  to  the  county  one  hundred 
dollars  for  the  relief  of  the  destitute  of  the 
county,  provided  that  the  said  William  Everett 
&  Company  shall  furnish  provisions  upon  the 
requisition  of  the  commissioners  to  the  amount 
not  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  and  if  less 
than  said  amount,  pro  rata. 

The  following  resolution  passed  relative  to 
disbursing  aid  to  the  destitute:     Resolved 

First.  That  the  applicant  shall  be  a  resident 
of  this  county. 

Second.  That  there  shall  be  no  tea,  coffee, 
sugar,  spirits,  molasses  or  fruits  furnished. 

Third.  No  person  shall  be  furnished  who  has 
more  stock  than  one  team  and  one  cow. 

Fourth.  No  exception  to  the  above  save  in 
case  of  sickness. 

Fifth.  The  circumstances  of  the  applicant 
must  be  set  forth  in  an  affidavit  before  aid  is 
given. 

Sixth.  This  aid  shall  be  disbursed  by  William 
Everett  &  Company  upon  the  order  of  James 
Mitchell,  Jr.,  A.  D.  Morgan  and  W.  M.  Pierce, 
relief  commissioners. 

The  people  of  Lyon  county  were 
finally  forced  to  admit  that  they  must 
have  state  aid  and  made  application  for 
a  portion  of  the  $5000  appropriated. 
S.  S.  Truax,  of  the  Saratoga  settlement, 
received  $250  from  the  governor  early 

those  who  may  have  knowledge  of  any  destitution  in 
any  part  of  the  county.  (Signed):  J  W.  Blake, 
S  Webster,  Wilbur  Coleman,  Stanley  Addison,  C.  H. 
Whitney,  C.  W.  Andrews,  G.  E.  Nichols,  M.  V.  David- 
son S  V.  Groesbeck,  E.  B.  Jewett,  M.  E.  Wilcox, 
J  A.  Coleman,  W.  M.  Todd,  L.  B.  Nichols,  J.  P. 
Watson,  W.  Wakeman,  J.  W.  Williams." 


78 


HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COUNTY. 


in  March  and  distributed  it  among  the 
needy. 

It  was  early  learned  that  many 
farmers  would  not  have  grain  for  seeding 
purposes  in  the  spring  of  1874,  and  the 
Legislature  in  February  appropriated 
$25,000  for  supplying  the  want.  Lyon 
county's  share,  1128  bushels,  was  re- 
ceived in  March  and  the  distribution 
was  completed  early  in  April.  The  com- 
mittee that  had  charge  of  this  work  was 
composed  of  S.  S.  Truax,  Jacob  Rouse 
and  J.  W.  Blake.  The  demand  for  the 
grain  was  so  great  that  each  applicant 
received  only  a  part  of  the  grain  asked 
for.7  The  grain,  all  wheat,  was  dis- 
tributed to  the  farmers  of  the  county  as 
follows:  Lake  Marshall,  102  bushels; 
Lynd,  102;  Lyons,  102;  Saratoga  (Mon- 
roe, Custer,  Sodus  and  Amiret),  318; 
Rock  Lake,  30;  East  Precinct  (Stanley 
and  Clifton),  30;  Canton  (Lucas),  78; 
Northeast  Precinct  (Vallers  and  West- 
erheim),  42;  Upper  Yellow  Medicine 
(Eidsvold),  66;  Nordland,  96;  Grand- 
view,  96;  Fairview,  66. 

If  there  had  been  a  belief  that  the 
grasshopj>er  scourge  was  to  be  only  a 
temporary  blight  on  the  prospects  of 
Lyon  county,  it  was  rudely  dispelled. 
The  visitation  of  1873  was  as  nothing 
compared  with  what  followed.  The 
story  of  the  years  to  follow  is  one  of 
heartrending  misery.  From  Manitoba 
to  Texas  the  grasshoppers  brought  deso- 
lation and  suffering  in  1874,  the  visita- 
tion being  general  along  the  whole 
frontier.     Especially     destructive     were 

T  '"We  do  not  know  the  number  of  applications  from 
different  parts  of  the  state  for  seed  wheat,  nor  the 
extent  of  the  territory  to  be  supplied,  nor  the  rules 
governing  the  distribution,  but  it  appears  to  us  that 
this  county  should  have  at  least  three  times  the 
amount  of  seed  wheat  that  has  been  apportioned." — 
Prairie  Schooner,  March  19,  1874. 

sThe  wheat  acreage  in  1874  by  precincts  was  as 
follows:  Nordland,  236;  Lake  Marshall,  323  H; 
109-41  (Custer),  433  34;  Upper  Yellow  Medicine 
(Eidsvold),  141  J>2!  Lyons,  457  H;  Canton  (Lucas), 
516  y>\  Fairview,  456;  Lynd,  546;  111-40  (Clifton), 
112;  Madison  (Amiret),  282^;  110-43  and  111-43 
(Island   Lake  and  Coon  Creek),  69 14;   112-40,   113-41 


they  in  Southwestern  Minnesota  and  in 
Kansas  and  Nebraska. 

A  large  acreage  was  sown  in  Lyon 
county  in  the  spring  of  1874,  there 
being  4245  acres  sown  to  wheat  alone.8 
Then  came  anxious  days.  The  grass- 
hopper eggs  which  had  been  deposited 
the  year  before  began  to  hatch  during 
the  early  days  of  May.9  While  the  pests 
had  been  considered  numerous  the  year 
before,  there  were  now  more  than  ten 
times  as  many.  The  appetites  of  the 
youngsters  were  good,  and  they  began 
their  ravages  as  soon  as  the  first  tender 
blades  of  grain  appeared.  Whole  fields 
were  stripped  entirely  bare  in  those  parts 
of  the  county  where  the  hoppers  were 
most  numerous,  notably  along  the  Cot- 
tonwood in  the  Saratoga  country  and 
along  the  Redwood  in  the  Lynd  country. 

Had  the  ravages  of  the  native  hoppers 
been  the  only  damage,  the  county  could 
have  borne  the  infliction,  for  there  were 
portions  in  which  little  or  no  damage 
was  done.  During  the  closing  days  of 
June  most  of  the  Lyon  county  hatch 
departed.  Several  days  were  spent  in 
swarming  and  collecting,  and  then  they 
rose  in  vast  clouds,  filling  the  air  as  far 
as  the  eye  could  reach,  and  sailed  away 
to  discover  new  worlds  to  conquer. 
During  this  period,  each  day  from  ten 
o'clock  in  the  morning  until  three  in 
the  afternoon,  the  air  was  filled  with  the 
winged  emigrants.  With  their  depar- 
ture it  was  hoped  the  ravages  of  the  year 
were  at  an  end,  but  it  was  not  to  be. 

During  the  early  days  of  July  came 

and  113-42  (Stanley,  Vallers  and  Westerheim),  299; 
109-42  (Rock  Lake),  122;  110-41  (Sodus),  250. 

9The  process  of  hatching  was  interesting.  In  each 
nest,  a  half  inch  or  more  below  fhe  surface  of  the 
ground,  invariably  laid  in  hard  earth,  were  from 
twenty  to  fifty  eggs.  When  the  sun  warmed  tin- 
ground  sufficiently  to  hatch  the  eggs,  the  pithy  cover- 
ing of  the  nest  popped  off  and  a  squirming  mass  of 
little  yellow  hoppers  poured  out.  Each  was  encased 
in  a  sort  of  shell  or  skin,  which  it  immediately  began 
to  pull  off.  Then,  after  taking  a  moment's  view  of 
the  world,  each  little  hopper  hopped  away  in  .search 
of  something  to  eat.  At  birth  they  were  about  a 
quarter  of  an  inch  long  and  had  no  wings,  but  these 
developed  rapidly. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


79 


an  invasion  of  "foreign"  hoppers  from 
the  southern  counties,  which  math'  it 
evident  that  the  county  was  not  to 
escape  with  the  damage  done  by  the 
native  pests.  They  appeared  in  cloud- 
like formations,  drifting  with  the  wind. 
sometimes  entirely  disappearing,  and 
again  returning  with  a  change  of  wind. 
While  the  depredations  before  had  been 
committed  only  where  the  hatch  had 
been,  the  invaders  now  attacked  fields 
in  parts  of  the  county  theretofore  un- 
molested and  some  fields  were  literally 
eaten  hare  to  the  roots.  Still  the 
damage  was  not  total,  and  before  the 
middle  of  July  the  army  had  almost 
entirely  disappeared. 

At  this  time,  when  it  was  hoped  the 
pests  had  departed  for  good,  the  Prairie 
Schooner  estimated  the  damage: 

First.  From  Coburg  [Amiret],  along  and  near 
the  Cottonwood  river,  to  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  county  and  west  to  Lake  Yankton,  in- 
formation received  indicates  that  on  an  average 
two-thirds  of  the  wheat  and  oats  sown  have 
been  destroyed  anil  much  injury  done  to  corn 
and  potatoes. 

Second.  A  strip  of  country  about  three  miles 
wide  and  extending  from  Lake  Marshall  on  the 
east  to  the  Redwood  river  on  the  west,  including 
Upper  Lynd,  will  average  about  half  a  crop  of 
wheat  and  oats. 

Third.  The  balance  of  the  county,  including 
principally  that  portion  lying  northeast  of  the 
railroad  as  far  down  as  Lake  Marshall  and 
northwest  of  the  Redwood  river,  will  average 
at  least  seven-eighths  of  a  crop. 

Taking  the  whole  county  together,  we  believe 
there  will  be  from  two-thirds  to  three-fourths  as 
much  wheat  and  oats  and  seven-eighths  as  much 
corn  and  potatoes  as  there  would  have  been  had 
we  not  been  visited  by  the  grasshopper  plague. 
.  .  .  Some  farms  in  the  county  have  been 
totally  stripped  of  everything  in  the  shape  of 
crops;  and  on  the  other  hand  there  are  many 
farms  which  promise  abundant  yield  of  every 
kind  of  crop,  not  having  been  damaged  to  the 
least  extent  by  grasshoppers. 

Before  the  paper  which  contained  this 

estimate  was  put  to  press  (July  16)  the 

editor  of  the   Prairie   Schooner   penned 

this  qualification: 

Later — It  is  of  no  use  to  estimate  crops 
before  harvest.  Yesterday  clouds  of  grass- 
hoppers were  passing  over  from  north  to  south, 
and  as  we  go  to  press  word  has  come  that  they 
have  made  a  descent  on  the  Yellow  Medicine 


and.   ;ii     Rock     Lake,    sections    heretofore    un- 
touched. 

The  invasion  of  July  1.")  was  the 
worst  <>f  the  season  and  resulted  in 
almost  total  annihilation  of  crops  in  the 
Rock  Lake  and  Yellow  Medicine  coun- 
tries communities  which  had  escaped 
before.  Before  they  departed  those 
pails  of  the  county  were  literally  alive 
with  the  voracious  insects.  And  what 
havoc  they  wrought!  So  thick  was  the 
air  with  the  flying  pests  that  at  times 
the  sun  was  obscured.  They  appeared 
to  the  people  below  like  a  vast  cloud, 
sweeping  sometimes  in  one  direction, 
sometimes  in  another — always  with  the 
wind.  Imt  never  traveling  far  to  the 
west  or  northwest. 

At  evening  when  they  came  down  near 
the  earth,  the  noise  they  made  was  like 
a  roaring  wind.  Those  that  alighted  on 
the  prairies  seemed  to  know  where  the 
grain  fields  and  gardens  were  and 
gathered  in  them  from  all  directions. 
Every  cornstalk  Lent  to  the  earth  with 
their  weight.  The  noise  they  made 
eating  could  be  heard  from  quite  a 
distance  and  resembled  that  which 
might  have  been  made  by  hundreds  of 
hogs  turned  into  the  fields.  In  fact, 
such  was  the  destruction  that  within  a 
few  hours  after  they  came  down  whole 
fields  of  corn  ami  small  grain  were  as 
completely  harvested  as  though  they 
had  been  cut  with  a  reaper  and  hauled 
away.     It  was  a  discouraging  sight. 

After  gorging  themselves  with  the 
crops,  the  grasshoppers  sometimes  piled 
up  in  the  fields  and  along  the  roads  to  a 
depth  of  one  or  two  feet.  Horses  could 
hardly  be  driven  through  them.  Stories 
have  been  told  of  railway  trains  lie- 
coming  blockaded  by  the  pests  so  as  to 
be  unable  to  move  until  the  insects  were 
shoveled  from  the  track. 

The  last  invasion  was  not  of  long 
duration,  although    grasshoppers    in    di- 


80 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


minished numbers  remained  until  August. 
Fortunately,  they  departed  without  de- 
positing their  eggs  in  Lyon  county, 
although  eggs  were  left  in  counties  to 
the  east  of  Lyon. 

The  greatest  damage  was  to  small 
grain.  Many  fields  were  entirely  de- 
stroyed and  yielded  nothing  to  the  acre. 
The  wheat  that  was  threshed — according 
to  a  thresher  who  operated  in  all  parts 
of  the  county — averaged  nine  and  one- 
half  bushels  per  acre  and  oats  nineteen 
bushels.  Gardens  were  almost  entirely 
destroyed;  corn  and  potatoes,  which 
constituted  only  a  small  part  of  the 
acreage,  were  a  fair  crop.10 

This  second  successive  crop  failure 
was  a  terrible  blow.  A  great  many  who 
had  not  been  hard  pressed  by  the  con- 
ditions in  1873  were  now  reduced  to  the 
common  level;  their  savings  had  been 
spent  and  they  had  no  income.  Those 
who  were  not  compelled  to  live  on 
charity  were  compelled  to  practise  most 
rigid  economy.  Hay  furnished  the  fuel; 
potatoes,  pumpkins  and  squashes — a 
few  vegetables  left  by  the  hoppers — ■ 
supplied  the  bulk  of  the  food.  Meat 
was  not  on  the  bill  of  fare,  except  for 
those  who  could  use  a  gun  and  bag  the 
prairie  chickens  and  ducks  that  were  in 
great  abundance.  In  this  manner  a 
number  of  the  settlers  were  obliged  to 
pass  the  winter.  They  bore  their  trials 
more  cheerfully  than  might  have  been 
expected  and  made  preparations  to  try 
their  luck  again  next  year. 

The  question  naturally  arises:  Why 
did  the  people  of  Lyon  county  stay  in  a 
country  in  which  the  grasshoppers 
wrought  such  damage?  It  is  doubtful 
if  many  would  have  remained  could 
they  have  looked  ahead  and  foreseen 
what  they  still  had  to  go  through,  for 

!0According  to  the  report  of  the  commissioner  of 
statistics,  the  loss  of  the  several  crops  in  twenty-eight 
counties  of  Minnesota  in  1S74  was  as  follows:      Wheat, 


this  was  not  the  end  of  the  scourge  by 
any  means.  A  few  discouraged  ones 
did  depart  for  their  former  homes.  All 
who  could  went  away  each  summer  to 
work  in  the  harvest  fields  of  more 
fortunate  communities  and  earn  enough 
to  supply  their  absolute  needs. 

The  majority  stayed  with  their  claims 
and  weathered  the  storms  of  adversity. 
Hope  was  abundant  that  each  year's 
visitation  would  be  the  last.  The  fer- 
tility of  the  soil  had  been  demonstrated, 
and  it  was  known  that  once  the  country 
was  free  from  the  pests,  it  would  become 
one  of  the  richest  spots  in  the  West. 
The  settlers  had  invested  all  their 
accumulations  of  former  years  in  im- 
provements, and  to  desert  the  country 
meant  that  they  must  go  as  paupers. 

Before  continuing  the  account  of  the 
grasshopper  scourge,  let  us  consider  a 
few  other  items  that  occurred  in  1874 
which  throw  a  light  on  conditions  of 
that  day. 

The  one  railroad  in  the  county  was 
not  in  operation  from  February  16  to 
April  8,  due  to  snow  blockades  and  the 
fact  that  its  operation  would  not  be  a 
paying  investment.  Again  the  next 
winter  the  line  was  not  operated  regu- 
larly and  for  ten  weeks  prior  to  April 
13,  1875,  not  a  train  was  run  in  the 
county. 

The  assessment  for  1874  shows  that 
the  value  of  personal  property  was 
$120,384,  divided  among  525  residents. 
There  were  in  the  county  495  horses, 
2690  cattle,  31  mules,  336  sheep  and 
356  wagons  and  buggies. 

Despite  the  fact  that  the  grasshoppers 
were  doing  most  of  the  harvesting,  a 
fair  association  was  organized  during 
this  period  and  a  county  fair  held. 
The  first  meeting  to  bring  about  organi- 

2,646,802  bushels;  oats,  1,816,733  bushels;  corn, 
738,415  bushels;  barley,  58,962  bushels;  potatoes, 
221,454  bushels;  flax  seed,  52,833  bushels. 


SHAM  IAKC  PO* 

ty  MUli  Luke 
.nil .,...11 


»'  if 

i.:..!,-si a.. 


B«4 


AN  EARLY  DAY  MAP 
Lyon  County  As  It  Appeared  in  1874,  From  a  Map  Published  in  a  State  Atlas  That  Year. 


HISTORY  <>F  LYON  COUNTY. 


81 


zation  was  held  in  December,  \s7'.\,  in 
a  little  room  that  had  been  partitioned 
off  from  the  old  company  store  building 
in  .Marshall.  The  preliminary  steps  were 
taken  at  that  time  and  on  .January  31, 
1S7I,  the  Lyon  County  Agricultural 
Society  was  organized.  The  first  officers 
were  as  follows:  .1.  <!.  Bryan,  president; 
C.  H.  Whitney,  secretary;  E.  B.  Jewett, 
treasurer;  S.  Webster,  .1.  II.  Buchanan. 
O.  C.  Gregg,  R.  D.  Harm's,  (I.  Watson, 
('.  H.  Bullock,  .lames  Morgan,  R.  II. 
Price.  F.  R.  Holritz.  John  [lstad,  Ole  ( >. 
Brenna  and  T.  J.  Barber,  vice  presidents; 
J.  W.  Blake.  T.  W.  Castor,  (I.  S.  Robin- 
son, J.  W.  Hoagland  and  Jacob  Rouse, 
executive  committee. 

The  first  fair  was  held  at  .Marshall  in 
October,  1N74.  and  was  declared  to  be 
asuccess,  several  hundred  people  being  in 
attendance.  There  were  many  exhibits, 
although  the  premiums  were  not  liberal. ' ' 

In    the    summer    of    187-4    came    an 
Indian    scare    that    created   some    little 
excitement   in   western   Lyon   county 
the  result,  doubtless,  of  a  practical  joke. 

On  Saturday,  July  18,  three  Norwe- 
gian families  who  lived  on  the  Sioux 
river  near  Medary  arrived  in  the  Lake 
Benton  settlement,  driving  their  flocks 
and  herds  with  them.  They  brought 
the  alarming  intelligence  that  Fort 
Wadsworth,  Dakota,  had  been  captured 
by  Indians,  who  had  massacred  two 
hundred  whites;  that  the  village  of 
Flandreau  was  in  flames,  that  the  people 
of  Medary  and  Flandreau  and  elsewhere 
along  the  Sioux  were  fleeing  the  country, 
and  that  the  redskins  were  on  their  way 
to  Lake  Benton,  where  they  expected 
to  arrive  the  next  night. 

"Those  who  received  premiums  at  the  first  county 
fair  were  C.  H.  Bullock,  D.  P.  Billings,  Charles  Belling- 
ham,  J.  W.  Dickey,  S.  Webster,  B.  C.  Emery,  A. 
Emmerson,  J.  M.  Lockey,  C.  H.  Whitney,  Norton 
Billings,  Seth  Johnson,  Ben  Johnson,  J.  G.  Bryan, 
E.  Jewett,  C.  Jewett,  H.  C.  Simmons,  J.  W.  Blake, 
C.  A.  Edwards,  Alfred  Edwards,  H.  P.  Gibbs,  G.  A. 
Gill,  William  Robinson,  Z.  O.  Titus,  A.  Barrett,  G. 
Watson,  J.  Bagley,  Nathan  Davis,  C.  Kennedy,  M.  B. 
Morse,  O.  A.  Drake,  J.  W.  Hoagland,  William  Living- 


The  report  created  consternation  in 
the  isolated  settlement  on  Lake  Benton. 
The  news  flew  from  house  to  house  and 
there  was  great  commotion.  Sonic  of 
the  settlers  gathered  at  the  place  where 
now  the  village  of  Lake  Benton  is 
situated  and  held  a  council  of  war. 
The  majority  favored  investigating  the 
report  before  deserting  their  homes,  but 
six  families  hastily  packed  a  icw  things, 
set  out  in  hasty  retreat  for  the  east, 
alarmed  all  the  people  along  the  route, 
and  reached  Lynd  before  their  fears 
were  calmed. 

Another  council  was  held  at  Marsh- 
field,  where  it  was  decided  to  investigate 
the  rumor.  John  Snyder  and  William 
Taylor  rode  to  Flandreau,  twenty-five 
miles  distant,  and  found  all  quiet  along 
the  Sioux.  Upon  their  return  the 
alarmed  people  declared  the  war  over. 
Within  a  few  days  those  who  had  so 
precipitously  fled  returned  to  their 
homes. 

The  winter  of  1874-75  was  a  severe 
one,  punctuated  with  numerous  bliz- 
zards. The  lives  of  two  Lyon  county 
people  were  sacrificed  to  the  winter 
storms  that  season. 

One  of  the  victims  was  Henry  Gibbs, 
a  resident  of  Fairview  township.  He 
and  his  wife  had  spent  the  day  visiting 
at  a  neighbor's  and  in  the  evening 
started  home  with  their  ox  team.  One 
of  the  dreaded  prairie  storms  suddenly 
came  upon  them  and  they  lost  their  way 
and  drifted  with  the  storm  until  their 
wagon  broke  down  in  a  slough  in 
Stanley  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gibbs  arranged  a  wind- 
break with  the  wagon  box  and  prepared 

ston,  A.  E.  Watkins,  J.  H.  Buchanan,  Owen  Marron, 
Henry  Schaffer,  L.  Ticknor,  H.  Lovelace,  H.  J.  Tripp, 
Blake  Watson,  Coleman  &  Company,  B.  A.  Grubb, 
A.  W.  Bean,  J.  W.  Williams,  Pierce  &  Wakeman, 
Prairie  Schooner,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Edwards,  Mrs.  E.  B. 
Jewett,  Mrs.  D.  P.  Billings,  Mrs.  J.  Bagley,  Mrs.  H.  C. 
Simmons,  Mrs.  H.  P.  Gibbs,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Bean,  Mrs. 
H.  Lovelace,  Mrs.  C.  Kennedy,  Mrs.  Seth  Johnson, 
Mrs.  Z.  O.  Titus,  Mrs.  G.  A.  Gill,  Miss  Bryan,  Miss 
Kate  Watson,  Mrs.  Clemens  and  Mrs.  Mott. 


82 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


themselves  as  best  they  might  to  spend 
the  night.  For  two  nights  and  one  day 
the  storm  raged  as  only  the  blizzards 
of  the  Northwest  could  in  those  days, 
and  the  unfortunate  people  were  im- 
prisoned in  their  illy  prepared  refuge 
during  all  of  that  time.  When  the 
weather  had  sufficiently  cleared  to  see, 
Mr.  Gibbs  made  his  way  to  a  house  and 
sent  aid  to  his  wife.  He  was  so  badly 
frozen  that  he  died  soon  afterward. 
Mis.  Gibbs  was  rescued  from  her  perilous 
plight  and  recovered,  although  one  of 
her  feet  had  to  be  partially  amputated. 

The  other  victim  was  Thomas  T. 
Pierce,  of  Lynd  township,  who  met 
death  in  the  storm  of  January  8,  1875. 
Mr.  Pierce,  who  was  an  elderly  man, 
had  started  from  the  home  of  a  neighbor 
the  day  before  the  storm  for  his  camp. 
He  did  not  arrive  at  his  destination  and 
searching  parties  were  immediately  or- 
ganized. It  was  more  than  two  weeks 
later  when  his  dead  body  was  found  on 
the  shore  of  Dead  Coon  lake.  He  was 
frozen  stiff  and  was  lying  on  his  face. 
Air.  Pierce  had  traveled  many  long  miles 
in  the  storm,  a  part  of  the  way  through 
a  section  of  the  county  almost  wholly 
uninhabited. 

Although  the  losses  occasioned  by  the 
grasshoppers  in  1874  were  greater  than 
the  year  before,  there  had  been  also  a 
much  larger  acreage  sown  and  consid- 
erable grain  had  been  saved  and  mar- 
keted. There  were  not  many  cases  of 
destitution  in  the  county  during  the 
winter  of  1874-7512  and  no  aid  was 
requested  from  the  state  for* their  relief. 
The  United  States  government  in  a 
small  way  granted  aid  to  those  who  re- 

12"I  have  heard  of  only  three  or  four  cases  of  desti- 
tution in  Lyon  county  this  winter,  though  there  may 
be  more." — G.  M.  Durst  in  Prairie  Schooner,  February 
19,  1875. 

13The  act  was  passed  March  1,  1875,  and  provided 
for  the  extension  of  time  of  payment  of  personal 
property  taxes  to  November  1  in  the  counties  of 
.Martin,  Jackson,  Nobles,  Rock,  Murray,  Cottonwood, 
Watonwan,  Renville,  Lyon  and  parts  of  Blue  Earth, 
Faribault   and   Broun.      In  order  to  secure  the  exten- 


quested  it.  In  March,  1875,  H.  Pauld- 
ing, assistant  surgeon  of  the  United 
States  army,  superintended  the  distri- 
bution of  army  clothing  and  rations  to 
those  who  applied  in  the  counties  of 
Lyon  and  Lincoln.  Again  the  Legis- 
lature granted  an  extension  of  time  for 
the  payment  of  taxes  in  some  of  the 
devastated  counties  and,  of  course, 
Lyon  county  was  among  the  number.13 

Notwithstanding  the  terrible  experi- 
ences of  the  two  preceding  years,  the 
farmers  determined  to  put  in  a  crop  in 
1875.  The  ground  had  been  prepared, 
but  the  farmers  were  without  seed  grain 
and  without  the  means  to  purchase  it.14 
The  Legislature  came  to  their  rescue 
with  an  appropriation  of  $75,000,  the 
act  providing  for  the  distribution  of 
seed  grain  to  that  amount,  with  certain 
provisions  for  its  repayment.  The 
money  market  was  constricted  and  the 
state  was  not  able  to  secure  the  cash  to 
purchase  more  than  $50,000  worth  of 
grain. 

The  distribution  was  conducted  under 
the  supervision  of  a  State  Board  of 
Commissioners  and  a  local  board  was 
named  in  each  county.  Lyon  county's 
share  was  $1500,  all  furnished  in  wheat. 
The  Lyon  county  committee  of  distri- 
bution was  composed  of  W.  M.  Pierce. 
James  Mitchell  and  H.  T.  Oakland,  and 
each  precinct  had  a  committee  to  de- 
termine who  should  be  supplied.  With 
the  seed  received  from  the  state  and 
that  which  was  in  the  county,  there 
was  enough  to  seed  a  large  part  of  the 
prepared  land  in  Lyon  county. 

Days  of  anxiety  followed  the  appear- 
ance   of    the    grain    above    the    ground. 

sion  it  was  necessary  for  the  residents  to  give  proof 
that  they  were  unable  to  pay  their  taxes  because  of 
loss  of  crop  in  1874  from  grasshoppers  or  hail. 

14"I  have  been  on  a  tour  of  three  or  four  days 
among  the  farmers  of  this  county  and  find  from  act u.i  1 
observation  that  there  are  a  great  many  who  will  be 
unable  to  seed  their  land  unless  they  get  aid  from 
some  source." — Samuel  Carroll  in  Prairie  Schooner, 
November  5,  1874. 


HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COl'NTY. 


83 


Would    the   grasshopper   scourge   .main 

come  with  its  ruin  and  desolation?  As 
the  season  advanced  the  people  with 
deep  concern  scanned  the  skies  for  the 
appearance  of  t  heir  old  enemy.  As  eggs 
had  not  been  deposited  in  Lyon  county 
the  preceding  season,  there  were  no 
young  hoppers,  and  the  only  apprehen- 
sion was  an  invasion  by  the  "foreigners." 

The  county  was  practically  free  from 
the  pests  until  early  July,  although 
before  that  time  they  were  reported 
active  in  other  parts  of  Southwestern 
Minnesota.  The  settlers  kept  track  of 
the  movements  of  the  grasshoppers  as 
they  would  have  those  of  an  invading 
army  of  soldiers.  They  knew  that  only 
by  chance  would  they  escape.  They 
felt  as  though  the  sword  of  Damocles 
were  suspended  over  them,  ready  to  fall 
at  any  moment. 

The  damage  done  in  Lyon  county  in 
1875  was  by  the  Minnesota  valley 
hatch.  The  army  was  not  so  numerous 
as  the  year  before,  nor  did  the  pests  eat 
so  ravenously  as  formerly.  They  ap- 
peared to  be  a  degenerate  breed  and 
many  died  after  depositing  their  eggs. 
The  farmers  waged  war  on  the  enemy 
by  the  use  of  fire,  tar  and  other  legalized 
instruments.15 

In  individual  cases  the  loss  of  crops 
was  quite  severe,  but  generally  in  Lyon 
county  the  damage  was  slight  and  a  big 

lsThere  was  really  very  little  that  the  settlers  could 
do  to  destroy  or  cheek  the  pests,  although  many 
schemes  were  tried.  Nothing  availed  against  the 
invading  hordes,  but  in  the  case  of  the  native  hoppers 
the  farmers  waged  a  more  or  less  successful  war  by  the 
use  of  tar.  "Hopperdozers,"  a  sort  of  drag  made  of 
sheet  iron  and  wood,  would  be  covered  with  tar  and 
dragged  over  the  ground.  The  young  hoppers  would 
be  caught  in  the  tar  and  destroyed.  Another  scheme 
was  to  prevent  prairie  fires  during  the  fall  months, 
conserving  the  grass  until  the  hoppers  had  hatched  in 
the  spring.  Then  on  a  given  day  the  country  would 
be  burned  over  and  the  pests  destroyed.  Ditches 
would  be  dug  and  the  hoppers  driven  into  them  and 
burned;  scoop  nets  were  used,  but  little  headway 
could  be  made  with  them.  In  some  of  the  counties 
bounties  were  paid  for  their  capture.  In  seven  such 
counties  58,019  bushels  were  captured,  upon  which 
bounties  aggregating  $76,788.42  were  paid;  still  no 
diminution  was  noticed  in  the  damage  done 

16The  Prairie  Schooner,  which  even  in  the  darkest 
hours    gave    glowing    accounts    of     conditions,    fairly 


percentage  of  the  crop  was  harvested.16 

But  the  dangers  of  the  season  were  not 
yet  over.  During  the  entire  week  be- 
ginning August  31  there  was  a  continual 
downpour  of  rain,  which  did  much 
damage  to  grain  in  stack  and  shock. 
Blight  injured  some  of  the  wheat,  and 
instead  of  grading  No.  1  it  was  second 
and  third  grades. 

Conditions  dining  the  winter  of  1875- 
76  were  so  much  better  than  they  had 
been  during  the  two  other  winters  of 
the  scourge  that  aid  from  outside  was 
not  needed,  and  the  county  was  able  to 
supply   its  own  seed  for  the  next  crop. 

The  census  of  1875  gave  Lyon  county 
a  population  of  2543.  Of  this  number 
71 1  were  men  over  twenty-one  years  old 
and  863  were  children  between  the  ages 
of  five  and  twenty-one  years.  The 
population  by  precincts  was  as  follows:17 

Eidsvold 99 

Fairview 175 

Grandview 150 

Lake  Marshall 397 

Lucas 116 

Lynd 225 

Lyons 152 

Madison  (Amiret) 158 

Monroe 181 

Nordland 208 

Custer18 166 

Clifton 52 

Stanley 83 

Sodus H4 

Vallers  and  Westerheim 104 

Rock  Lake  and  Shelburne 92 

Coon  Creek  and  Island  Lake 71 

Total 2543 

bubbled  over  when  describing  conditions  in  1875. 
The  following  item  from  the  paper  of  August  13  of  that 
year  is  not  in  reality  a  truthful  portrayal  of  the  state 
of  affairs: 

"We  hear  it  reported  down  East  that  we  are  all 
eaten  out  by  grasshoppers  around  Marshall  this  year. 
Such  stories  are  at  the  opposite  extreme  of  the  fact, 
for  we  are  harvesting  the  biggest  crop  ever  harvested 
in  this  county.  .  .  .  We  can  lose  half  a  crop  here  and 
then  beat  their  best  crops.  Thirty  bushels  to  the  acre 
for  wheat  will  be  a  very  common  crop  around  Marshall 
this  season,  and  we  have  fields  of  oats  that  stand 
seven  or  eight  feet  high,  so  thick  that  a  reaper  can 
hardly  run  through  them.  .  .  .  We  have  not  a  hopper 
more  than  we  want  for  chicken  feed  around  here  and 
are  happy  in  the  brilliant  prospects." 

17The  population  of  nearby  counties  in  1875  was  as 
follows:  Lac  qui  Parle,  1428;  Yellow  Medicine,  24S4; 
Redwood,  2982;  Cottonwood,  2870;  Murray,  1329; 
Pipestone,  4. 

1?Only  the  ten  first  named  were  organized  townships 
and  had  been  named. 


84 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Lyon  and  Lincoln  counties,  which 
before  had  been  attached  to  Redwood 
county  for  judicial  purposes,  were  sepa- 
rated from  the  mother  county  by  act 
of  the  Legislature  of  1875.  The  first 
district  court  was  held  at  Marshall  June 
13,  1876. 19 

Another  event  of  1876  was  the  placing 
on  the  market  of  the  railroad  lands.  In 
August  the  company  opened  an  office 
at  Marshall  and  the  first  of  the  granted 
lands  passed  to  private  ownership  that 
year.  These  were  sold  for  one-fifth 
down  and  the  balance  in  payments  at 
seven  per  cent  interest. 

Grasshoppers  brought  destruction  to 
crops  again  in  1876.  During  May  the 
destroying  agents  hatched  out  in  those 
portions  of  the  county  where  eggs  had 
been  deposited  the  year  before,  notably 
in  the  Rock  Lake  district  and  around 
the  newly  founded  village  of  Tracy. 
Late  in  May  south  winds  brought  in  a 
few  full  grown  hoppers,  but  they  re- 
mained only  a  short  time. 

During  the  entire  month  of  June  the 
young  hoppers  continued  their  depre- 
dations in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county.  A  correspondent  from  Tracy 
on  June  23  said:  "The  grasshoppers 
have  destroyed  most  of  the  grain  and 
our  trade  is  principally  butter  and  pro- 
duce." A  resident  of  Rock  Lake  wrote 
at  the  same  time:  "The  hoppers  are 
doing  all  the  mischief  they  can."  The 
other  parts  of  the  county  suffered  little 
damage  in  the  early  part  of  the  season. 
Then  was  repeated  the  experience  of 
former  years. 

Vast  clouds  of  the  pests  swooped 
down  upon  the  county  early  in  July  and 
for  several   days  feasted  on  the   crops. 

,9The  jurors  who  served  at  the  first  term  of  court  in 
Lyon  county  were  as  follows: 

Grand    Jurors — J.    B.    Greenslitt,    G.    E.    CummiDs, 

B.  F.  Link,  L.  S.  Kiel,  H.  G.  Howard,  O.  Marron, 
W.  L.  Watson.  Gustave  Jaoobson,  N.  Warn,  Zenas 
Rank,  G.  W.  Linderman,  E.  B.  Downie,  H.  D.  Frink, 

C.  H.  Richardson,  H.  Mussler,  I.  P.  Farrington,  Olof 
Pehrson,  M.  M.  Marshall,  J.  W.  Blake, 'W.  M.  Todd, 
John  N.  Johnson,  O.  A.  Drake. 


They  were  of  a  roving  disposition  and 
did  not  remain  in  any  one  location  any 
great  length  of  time.  The  Marshall 
Messenger,  which  had  succeeded  the 
Prairie  Schooner,  told  of  the  invasion 
in  its  issue  of  July  7.  1876: 

The  grasshoppers  have  been  on  a  bender  for 
the  last  few  days.  While  looking  toward  the 
sun  in  the  middle  of  the  day  the  sight  presents 
the  appearance  of  a  million  swarms  of  bees. 
They  are  lighting  and  flying  all  the  time.  There 
is  not  a  farmer  in  this  vicinity  who  can  predict 
what  his  prospects  are  for  a  harvest  this  fall. 
They  are  coming  down  in  many  places,  but  are 
very  unsettled  in  their  conclusions  about 
location. 

Again,  on  Thursday.  July  20,  came 
the  agents  of  destruction  in  countless 
numbers  and  attacked  the  fields  in  all 
parts  of  the  county.  They  remained  all 
day  Friday,  feasting,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing day  all  departed  for  the  south. 
Oats,  barley,  corn,  vegetables,  ami  all 
crops  except  wheat  were  almost  wholly 
destroyed:  wheat,  the  big  crop,  by  some 
strange  turn  of  fate,  was  only  a  partial 
loss.  The  grain  that  was  left  was 
quickly  cut  and  put  out  of  the  way  of 
danger. 

The  last  invasion  of  the  year  came  on 
Sunday  morning,  August  6,  out  of  the 
northwest.  The  grasshoppers,  with  ex- 
cellent appetites,  covered  about  two 
townships,  remained  a  few  days,  and 
flew  away  with  the  wind,  most  of  them 
to  the  northwest.  Wheat  was  then  in 
the  shock  and  proved  dry  eating,  so  the 
invaders  attacked  the  corn  fields  and 
made  a  clean  sweep  of  the  crop  in  the 
territory  invaded.  Only  a  few  eggs 
were  deposited  during  the  season,  but 
the  ground  was  peppered  with  them  in 
a  belt  extending  from  Martin  county 
north  to  Kandiyohi  county. 

Petit  Jurors — Fred  Gley,  Jacob  Rouse,  S.  E.  Morgan, 
J.  Lawrence.  W.  H.  Cook,  A.  Ransom.  D.  Monroe, 
P.  Kiltz,  R.  M.  Addison,  C.  A.  Cook,  A.  Williams, 
A.  Lee,  S.  Van  Alstine,  William  Rich.  A.  Bates,  J. 
Owens,  N.  Webster,  S.  Johnson,  J.  Sanders,  J.  M. 
English,  H.  H.  Welch,  R.  H.  Price,  A.  R.  Cummins, 
T.  S.  Downie. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


85 


There  was  no  disguising  the  fact  that 
Lyon  county  had  met  another  damaging 
setback.  Many  who  had  fought  the 
scourge  so  long  gave  up  and  quit  trying 
to  raise  crops;  some  left  the  county. 
The  prospects  were  indeed  discouraging. 
The  grasshoppers  had  again  deposited 
their  eggs  in  neighboring  counties,  and 
there  seemed  little  prospect  that  the 
country  would  ever  be  free  from  them. 
Many  did  not  give  up,  however,  but 
determined  to  fight  to  a  successful  end 
or  meet  utter  failure  in  the  attempt. 
The  Messenger  on  March  2,  1877,  said: 
"Our  farmers  are  making  ready,  with 
the  clear  grit  that  has  become  chronic 
during  the  grasshopper  afflictions,  to 
sow  all  they  can  get  seed  for." 

The  Legislature  of  1877  took  measures 
to  care  for  the  devastated  counties. 
One  hundred  thousand  dollars  were 
appropriated  to  be  used  in  bounties  to 
pay  for  the  destruction  of  grasshoppers 
and  their  eggs,  $75,000  to  furnish  seed 
grain,20  and  another  sum  for  a  relief 
fund.  Some  Lyon  county  farmers  were 
able  to  purchase  seed,  and  grain  so 
shipped  in  came  without  transportation 
charges  by  the  railroad  company.    Lyon 

20The  law  provided  for  the  repayment  of  this  money 
by  those  receiving  the  grain;  in  case  it  was  not  paid 
back  the  county  was  bound  to  make  payment  to  the 
state.      Applicants   were   obliged    to   furnish   affidavits 


county's  share  of  the  appropriation  for 
seed  was  $3840.90,  the  applicants  being 
given  their  choice  of  wheat,  corn  or 
peas.  There  were  177  applications,  so 
that  each  received  an  average  of  $21.70 
wort  h  of  grain. 

A  "grasshopper  congress"  was  held  at 
.Marshall  March  13,  1877,  and  was 
largely  attended.  Means  of  contending 
with  the  common  enemy  were  discussed 
and  plans  were  laid  for  burning  the 
prairies  on  a  given  day.  In  accordance 
with  a  proclamation  of  Governor  John 
S.  Pillsbury,  Thursday,  April  26,  1877, 
was  set  aside  as  a  day  for  fasting  and 
prayer,  and  on  that  day  religious 
services  were  held  throughout  the  state 
and  deliverance  from  the  scourge  was 
asked. 

Whether  or  not  these  means  assisted 
in  the  deliverance  is  not  certain,  but 
certain  it  is  that  the  grasshopper 
scourge,  so  far  as  Lyon  county  was  con- 
cerned, ended  in  1876.  Thereafter  for 
two  or  three  years  the  pests  in  small 
numbers  visited  the  county  but  did 
practically  no  harm.  Grasshoppers  had 
struck  terror  to  the  hearts  of  Lyon 
county  people  for  the  last  time. 

as  to  their  condition,  and  the  county  coinmissioners 
acted  as  a  board  to  determine  the  worthiness  of  the 
applicants. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


RECONSTRUCTION    PERIOD— 1877-1881. 


HENCEFORTH  the  story  of  Lyon 
county  is  one  of  advancement. 
The  calamitous  days  are  past. 
No  longer  do  the  grasshoppers  threaten 
the  very  existence  of  the  settlement;  no 
longer  is  it  found  necessary  to  solicit  aid 
for  the  relief  of  the  inhabitants.  The 
days  of  such  adversity  have  become 
only  a  memory.  It  must  not  be  under- 
stood that  this  change  was  wrought  in 
a  day,  for  it  was  not.  Trials  and  tribu- 
lations were  yet  to  assail  those  who  had 
borne  so  much  and  so  long,  but  times 
were  on  the  mend,  and  the  year  1877 
ushered  in  the  reconstruction  era. 
People  began  anew  the  work  of  progress 
that  had  been  interrupted  when  the 
grasshoppers  came  and  placed  a  mort- 
gage on  the  county  in  the  summer  of 
1873. 

In  some  respects  the  people  of  Lyon 
county  were  in  better  condition  than 
they  had  been  before  the  scourge.  Most 
of  those  who  had  filed  upon  government 
land  in  the  early  seventies  now  had 
title  to  their  homes — and  land  began 
to  have  a  value.  A  few  had  not  met 
with  great  losses  during  the  terrible 
scourge  and  were  already  in  position  to 

1"The  frequent  rains  we  are  having  this  spring 
increases  our  prospects  for  a  good  wheat  crop.  It 
seems  now  as  if  we  might  slip  through  this  year  into 
prosperous  times  again.  Our  only  fear  of  grasshoppers 
is  from  flying  ones,  and  any  other  part  of  the  country 
is  as  much  in  the  way  of  that  as  we  are.  We  have  a 
large  acreage  of  crops  and  with  a  good  harvest  will  be 
happy  once  more." — Marshall  Messenger,  May  IS,  1877. 


begin  the  forward  march.  Many  others, 
however,  found  it  necessary  to  free 
themselves  from  debt  before  the  effect 
of  the  more  prosperous  times  became 
apparent. 

The  annual  dread  of  grasshopper 
visitation  was  again  felt  in  the  summer 
of  1877,  and  this  time  the  settlers  were 
agreeably  disappointed.  The  season  was 
admirably  adapted  to  two  ends:  the 
best  possible  development  of  small  grain 
and  the  worst  possible  development  of 
the  locusts.  The  cool,  rainy  weather  of 
the  spring  and  early  summer  seemed  to 
have  been  sent  on  purpose  to  give 
wheat  and  other  small  grain  a  rapid 
and  healthy  growth  and  at  the  same 
time  give  the  grasshoppers  a  slow  and 
feeble  development.1 

A  few  of  the  pests  hatched  out  on  the 
sunny  slopes  in  May,  but  they  were  so 
few  in  number  and  so  unlike  their 
voracious  ancestors  that  no  damage 
resulted.2  The  local  press  reported  in 
the  latter  part  of  June  that  there  had 
not  been  reported  a  single  field  of  grain 
in  Lyon  county  perceptibly  injured  by 
grasshoppers.  About  the  middle  of  July 
they  were  seen  on  the  wing,  and  occa- 

2Contributing  largely  to  (he  unexpected  good 
fortune  was  a  little  red  parasite,  which  destroyed  the 
grasshopper  eggs  in  the  nests  in  the  fall  and  early 
spring  months.  Later  the  parasites  attacked  the 
young  hoppers,  loading  down  their  frail  wings  and 
carcasses  until  it  was  almost  impossible  for  them  to 
fly.  Bushels  of  the  pests  died  before  they  developed 
sufficiently  to'do  damage. 


88 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


sionally  a  few  came  down,  but  the 
damage  they  did  was  practically  nothing. 

As  the  season  advanced  it  became 
evident  that  unless  the  grasshoppers 
came  Lyon  county  would  produce  an 
enormous  crop.3  The  grasshoppers  did 
not  come  and  by  the  middle  of  August 
the  harvest  was  completed — the  first 
crop  in  years  had  been  saved.  It  was 
an  enormous  one,  yields  of  forty  bushels 
of  wheat  per  acre  being  frequently  re- 
ported. During  the  fall  months — up  to 
January  1 — there  were  shipped  from  the 
Marshall  station  309  cars,  containing 
109,007  bushels  of  wheat.  The  grain 
was  all  number  one  and  brought  good 
prices. 

It  was  %a  time  of  jubilee!  Every 
resident  seemed  imbued  with  new  life. 
When  the  golden  grain  came  pouring  in, 
business  men  began  increasing  their 
stocks;  farmers  began  improving  their 
farms  and  putting  their  lands  in  readi- 
ness for  the  next  crop;  Lyon  county  was 
again  inhabited  by  people  who  thought 
life  worth  living. 

For  the  first  time  since  the  coming  of 

3"The  grain  crop  here  is  simply  immense  and  our 
farmers  who  were  able  to  seed  their  farms  last  spring 
have  a  pretty  sure  prospect  of  comfort  and  plenty 
ahead." — Messenger,  July  2!!,  1877. 

4The  following  items  from  the  columns  of  the 
Marshall  Messenger  give  an  idea  of  the  immigration 
in  the  fall  of  1877: 

"Land  hunters  arrive  on  every  train.  Business  has 
just  begun  in.  this  locality,  all  because  the  grasshopper 
danger  is  past." — August  24. 

"The  town  is  full  of  strangers  these  days — land 
hunters  mostly.  The  fame  of  our  fertile  prairies  has 
spread  over  the  land." — September  28. 

"Everything  seems  to  indicate  a  big  rush  of  immi- 
gration next  spring.  Even  now,  not  far  from  the  heels 
of  winter,  there  is  a  respectable  rush  of  a  very  desirable 
class  of  homeseekers  distributing  themselves  from  this 
point  over  the  whole  county.  Nearly  all  who  visit 
us  remain  as  settlers." — October  12. 

"Approaching  cold  weather  does  not  seem  to  per- 
ceptibly check  the  rush  of  land  hunters  to  this  part  of 
the  state.  Every  train  is  filled  with  men  anxious  for 
a  few  acres  of  our  rich  prairie  land.  The  railroad 
company  is  selling  considerable  more  land  than  it 
expected  to,  and  our  vacant  sections  are  fast  filling 
up  with  actual  settlers.  This  makes  us  feel  well  and 
will  greatly  help  county  revenues  soon." — November 
23. 

6The  people  of  the  United  States  have  but  little 
acquaintance  with  the  natives  of  Iceland,  the  little 
island  in  the  Arctic  circle.  They  are  found  in  only  a 
few  places  in  America,  and  one  of  the  two  principal 
colonies  of  the  United  States  is  that  in  northwestern 
Lyon  county,  overlapping  into  Lincoln  and  Yellow 
Medicine  counties,  with  Minneota  as  the  central  point. 
The   other  American   colonies  are  at  Pembina,   North 


the  grasshoppers/ immigrants  arrived  in 
Lyon  county  in  1877.  They  'began 
arriving  as  soon  as  it  became  evident 
that  the  crop  was  safe  and  that  the 
county  could  produce  something  besides 
the  flying  pests.  Many  came  prepared 
to  build  on  their  lands,  and  the  lumber 
yards  were  unable  to  replace  their  stocks 
fast  enough  to  meet  the  demand. 
Nearly  all  the  government  lands  had 
been  filed  upon  by  this  time  and  the 
newcomers  turned  to  the  railroad  lands, 
which  had  been  placed  on  the  market 
the  year  before.4 

Among  the  immigrants  of  1877  were 
fifty  Icelanders,  who  arrived  in  August 
direct  from  their  northern  homes  and 
located  in  northwestern  Lyon  county. 
A  few  of  this  nationality  had  settled  in 
the  ■  vicinity  a  year  or  two  before,  the 
first  having  been  Gunlauger  Peterson, 
who  came  in  1875.  Others  joined  the 
colony  later,  giving  to  Lyon  county  a 
very  desirable  class  of  citizens. 5 

On  March  5,  1877,  a  lull  was  passed 
by  the  Legislature  authorizing  Lyon 
county   to   issue   bonds   not   to   exceed 

Dakota,  and  at  New  Iceland,  near  Winnipeg,  in 
Manitoba. 

In  the  early  seventies  Icelanders  founded  settle- 
ments in  the  Muskoko  district  of  Ontario  and  in  Nova 
Scotia."  These  were  only  temporary  abiding  places, 
the  Northmen  moving  in  1875  to  the  western  shore  of 
Lake  Winnipeg.  There  they  founded  New  Iceland, 
now  the  largest  settlement  in  the  New  World.  Win- 
nipeg is  the  center  of  Icelandic  wealth  and  culture  in 
America.  Several  thousand  reside  there  permanently 
and  most  of  the  emigrants  from  Iceland  go  there 
before  scattering  to  the  farming  districts. 

The  colony  in  Lyon  county  was  founded,  as  described 
in  the  text,  in  1877.  There  were  two  hundred  arrivals 
from  Iceland  to  the  settlement  about  Minneota  in 
1879,  and  others  came  later.  The  Icelandic  settle- 
ment now  comprises  about  one  thousand  people. 

Rev.  Pall  Thorinksson  led  a  party  of  colonists  from 
Manitoba  in  1879  and  located  them  in  Pembina 
county,  North  Dakota,  where  they  grew  in  numbers 
and  wealth  until  now  they  form  the  next  largest 
Icelandic  colony  in  the  New  World. 

Of  the  Lyon  county  Icelanders  the  Marshall  News- 
Messenger  of  May  24,  1904,  said: 

"The  colony  in  this  section  of  Minnesota  has  flour- 
ished, though,  in  a  measure,  through  affiliation  with 
other  nationalities,  the  semblance  of  colonization  has 
been  lost.  One  noticeable  characteristic  of  the 
Icelanders  is  their  appreciation  of  the  public  school 
system  of  their  adopted  country  and  their  thirst  for 
knowledge  and  English  education.  During  several 
years  past  the  graduating  classes  of  the  Marshall  High 
School  have  included  students  of  Icelandic  birth  and 
descent,  and  most  of  these  have  continued  their 
education  at  the  University  of  Minnesota,  at  normal 
schools,  and  other  institutions,  and  subsequently 
engaged  in  the  professions.'' 


HISTORY  OF  LYON   COUNTY. 


89 


$10,000  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the 
county  indebtedness.  During  the  grass- 
hopper days  the  county,  as  well  as  the 
people  living  in  it,  had  run  behind 
financially  and  county  orders  were  a 
slow  sale  at  sixty  cents  on  the  dollar.''' 
Another  event  of  the  year  1877  was  the 
establishment  of  train  service  on  the 
Winona  &  St.  Peter  railroad  between 
Marshall  and  the  state  line,  giving  the 
newly  founded  village  of  Minneota  and 
the  people  of  northwestern  Lyon  county 
benefits  theretofore  denied. 

The  abundant  crop  harvested  in  1877 
and  the  belief  that  the  grasshopper  days 
were  a  thing  of  the  past  were  elements 
that  brought  a  boom  in  1878.  To  all 
parts  of  Southwestern  Minnesota  and 
many  parts  of  Dakota  Territory  the 
settlers  flocked  that  spring.  Before  the 
wagon  roads  became  passable  the  settlers 
came  by  train,  the  great  rush  beginning 
early  in  February.7  Five  hotels  in 
Marshall  were  unable  to  take  care  of  the 
crowds  of  land  hungry  men,  and  still 
they  poured  in. 

About  the  middle  of  April  the  new- 
comers began  to  arrive  in  the  well- 
remembered  ''prairie  schooners,"  or  can- 
vas-covered wagons,  and  these  continued 
to  arrive  in  great  and  undiminished 
numbers  until  about  the  first  of  June. 
Twenty,  forty,  sixty,  per  day  they  came, 
in  many  cases  accompanied  by  droves 
of  cattle,  horses  and  sheep,  household 
goods  and  farming  implements.8  Not 
all  of  these  stopped  in  Lyon  county,  but 
a  great  many  did. 

8"The  county  was  organized  about  four  years  too 
soon  and  before  it  was  able  to  support  a  county 
government.  In  an  early  time  we  were  unfortunate  in 
having  many  floating  criminals  brought  in  by  the 
building  of  the  railroad,  and  the  effectual  prosecution 
has  put  an  end  to  crime  but  left  us  in  debt.  The 
railroad  owns  half  the  land  of  the  county  and  has 
never  paid  a  tax,  the  state  owns  about  a  tenth  and 
pays  no  taxes,  and  the  United  States  owns  three- 
tenths,  untaxable.  There  is  little  personal  property 
to  tax,  and  one-tenth  of  the  land  here  can  only  pay 
current  expenses." — Messenger,  March  2.3,  1S77. 

7The  local  paper  on  February  15  reported  the 
arrival  of  about  one  hundred  immigrants  during  the 
preceding  week.  One  month  later  it  declared  the 
rush  not  only  continued  but  increased.     On  March  22 


As  a  general  thing  the  newcomers 
were  a  well-to-do  class.  The  first  ones 
secured  homesteads,  but  late  in  April  it 
was  announced  at  the  land  office  that 
there  was  not  a  piece  of  government 
land  in  Lyon  county  that  had  not  been 
filed  on;  there  were  a  few  pieces  that 
had  been  abandoned,  but  they  were 
not  very  desirable.  Thereafter  the  ar- 
rivals purchased  railroad  lands  and  im- 
proved farms  that  the  grasshopper 
sufferers  had  placed  on  the  market. 

A  great  amount  of  hind  was  broken 
out9  and  nc-\v  buildings  made  their 
appearance  in  all  parts  of  the  county. 
To  make  these  improvements  the  new 
residents  swamped  the  local  lumber 
dealers  with  orders.  Day  after  day 
lumber-laden  wagon  trains  could  be 
seen  wending  their  way  across  the 
prairies  from  the  villages  of  Tracy, 
Marshall  and  Minneota  to  the  new-found 
homes.  The  implement  dealers  also 
reaped  a  harvest  supplying  machinery 
to  the  new  residents. 

It  is  a  pity  that  we  cannot  record  a 
continuation  of  prosperous  times,  for 
the  people  of  Lyon  county  were  certainly 
entitled  to  the  smiles  of  fortune.  Two 
weeks  of  excessive  hot  weather  in  the 
first  half  of  July,  followed  by  a  week  of 
excessive  rains,  brought  a  crop  failure. 
Wheat,  which,  was  still  the  big  crop, 
was  damaged  most  and  because  of  its 
quality  brought  a  low  price;'10  corn,  oats 
and  vegetables  fared  better.  Close  times 
financially  again  prevailed. 

The  Lyon  County  Old  Settlers  Asso- 

it  stated  that  two  full  passenger  coaches  of  immigrants 
were  brought  to  the  county  daily  by  the  railroad. 

H"Look  out  almost  any  time  and  you  will  see  streak- 
of  white  across  our  green  prairies.  They  are  strings 
of  emigrant  schooners  come  West  to  gain  homes  and  an 
independent  future  for  their  families.  Still  there  is 
room  for  more." — Messenger,  May  3,  1S7S. 

B"You  can  travel  north,  south,  east  and  west,  ami 
everywhere  you  go  breaking  teams  are  hard  at  work 
turning  over  our  ri(  h  soil.  It  is  impossible  to  estimate 
the  number  of  acres  that  ire  being  broken,  but  it  will 
be  immense." — Messenger,  May  31,  ISTs. 

10"There  is  no  longer  much  doubt  that  the  wheat 
crop  has  been  injured  nearly  or  quite  one-half.  Ten 
to  fifteen  bushels  per  acre  will  be  a  good  crop  this 
year." — Messenger,  August  2.   1878. 


90 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


ciation  was  organized  September  30, 
1878,  those  instrumental  in  the  organi- 
zation being  J.  W.  Blake,  C.  H.  Whitney, 
S.  H.  Mott,  H.  J.  Tripp.  Stanley  Addi- 
son. W.  M.  Todd,  S.  Webster  and  C.  L. 
Van  Fleet,  The  first  officers  of  the 
association  were  as  follows:  A.  R. 
Cummins,  president;  C.  L.  Van  Fleet, 
secretary;  N.  Cuyle,  treasurer;  Stanley 
Addison  and  C.  H.  Whitney,  executive 
committee;  J.  W.  Blake,  orator;  J.  N. 
Johnson,  historian:  General  Pierce,  story 
teller. 

Early  in  the  season  of  1879  prospects 


for  a  big  crop  were  flattering.  Over 
36,000  acres  of  land  were  sown,  and  fine 
weather  in  the  spring  months  promised 
a  bountiful  harvest.  But  the  crop  was 
light.  Wheat  was  blighted  and  the 
average  yield  was  less  than  ten  bushels 
per  acre;  corn,  oats  and  barley  did 
better.  There  were  marketed  in  the 
county  during  the  year  285,950  bushels 
of  wheat. 

The  acreage  sown  to  the  different 
grains  in  1879  and  the  personal  property 
assessments  of  each  precinct  were  as 
follows-: 


TOWNSHIPS 

Wheat 

Oats 

Corn 

Barley 

Total 
Acres 

Personal 
Property 

Amiret 

895  T 
1013  * 
1158  • 
1216  ' 

2687 
946 
950  I 

1812  r 

570! » 
1240 
200!  t 
1873  ! 

05S  ' 
1116  " 
1624 

571  ~ 
1221 ) 

620 

240 
316 
288 
236 
499 
178 
210 
403 
1130 
175 
393 
282 
203 
279 
280 
626 
420 

90 

205 
168 
134 

90 
149 
122 

62 
182 
216 

90 
275 
112 

59 
222 
142 

21 
100 

30 

80 
50 
74 

156 
53 

125 
15 
48 
50 

21 
10 
30 
14 
31 
2 

1463 
1586 
1718 
1551 
3529 
1323 
1248 
2469 
7210 
1573 
2813 
2291 

966 
1662 
2092 

765 
1758 

740 

$12,489 
14,653 
9,290 
24,681 
15,391 
12,965 
74,130 
14,726 
19,347 

30,677 

14,217 

10,846 

11,797 

9,141 

5,985 

1,468 

759 

Clifton 

Custer 

Eidsvold 

Fairview 

Grandview 

Lake  Marshall 

Lynd 

Lyons 

Monroe 

Nordland 

Rock  Lake 

Sodus .          

Stanley 

Yallers 

AYesterheim 

Island  Lake,  Shelburne 
and  Coon  Creek 

Total 

27,377 

6248 

2379 

659 

36,457 

$282,551 

Lyon  county's  second  railroad,  the 
branch  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern 
west  from  Tracy,  was  built  in  1879. 
This  resulted  in  the  founding  of  Balaton 
—and  later  of  Garvin — and  the  rapid 
settlement  and  development  of  southern 
Lyon  county. 

The  first  rumor  of  the  building  of  the 
new  line  came  in  January,  when  it  was 
said  the  Northwestern  would  construct 
the  road  in  an  effort  to  "head  off"  the 
Southern  Minnesota  (Milwaukee),  which 


was  being  extended  through  the  south- 
western part  of  the  state.  At  that  time 
orders  were  issued  for  shipping  to  Tracy 
large  quantities  of  railroad  building 
material.  Surveyors  ran  the  line  of  the 
road  in  March  and  April. 

Contracts  were  let  in  May  and  early 
in  June  construction  was  begun.  It  was 
intended  to  have  the  road  ready  for 
operation  by  the  first  of  August,  but  a 
.strike  and  the  desertion  of  many  of  the 
workmen  to  the  harvest   fields  delayed 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


ill 


matters  and  regular  trains  were  not  put 
in  operation  until  September  29. 

The  construction  of  the  railroad  made 
times  lively  and  there  was  a  large 
increase  in  population.  During  the  year 
1879  emigrant  cars  to  the  number  of 
420  were  unloaded  at  the  various  rail- 
way stations  of  Lyon  county.  Among 
the  arrivals  of  the  year  were  a  number 
of  Irish  Catholics — the  first  of  Bishop 
Ireland's  colony — who  settled  in  the 
vicinity  of  Minneota.11 

Another  life  was  sacrificed  to  the 
winter  storms  in  Lyon  county  on 
December  16,  1879.  The  victim  was 
Trule  Knutson,  who  lived  three  and 
one-half  miles  southwest  of  Tracy.  He 
had  been  assisting  Ole  Johnson  move  a 
house  from  the  shore  of  Lake  Sigel  to 
Tracy  and  at  sundown  he  started  for  his 
home,  walking  and  driving  a  yoke  of 
oxen.  He  was  caught  in  the  storm, 
lost  his  way.  and  perished.  His  body 
was  not  found  for  several  days. 

Lyon  county  harvested  an  excellent 
crop  in  1880,  as  did  all  portions  of 
Southwestern  Minnesota,  and  more  No.  1 
wheat  was  raised  than  had  ever  been 
the  case  before.  The  county  again 
became  known  as  the  "Land  of  Promise." 
The  farmers  were  not  to  realize  to  the 
fullest  extent  the  fruits  of  the  bountiful 
harvest.  Frequent  and  heavy  rains  in 
August  made  it  impossible  to  finish 
stacking  until  about  the  middle  of 
September,  and  threshing  had  hardly 
commenced  when  the  memorable  winter 
set  in,  preventing  further  operations. 
The  next  spring  weather  conditions  were 

HAn  association  of  Irish  Catholics  was  formed  in 
Chicago  in  the  spring  of  1879,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$100,000.  The  object  was  the  colonization  on  western 
farms  of  people  of  that  nationality  who  resided  in 
eastern  cities.  Bishop  Ireland  had  charge  of  the 
Minnesota  and  Dakota  divisions  and  he  at  once  made 
arrangements  to  plant  one  of  his  colonies  in  Lyon 
county.  . 

The  railroad  lands  of  Eidsvold,  Nordland,  Grand- 
view,  Westerheim  and  Wallers  townships  were  reserved 
and  later  purchased.  In  the  two  first  named  the 
Irish  colonists  were  located,  and  a  little  later  Catholics 
of  other  nationalities  were  brought  to  the  other  town- 
ships. 


no  better,  and  a  large  part  of  the  1880 
crop  was  not  threshed  until  the  next 
summer.  It  was  impossible  to  market 
the  grain  that  had  been  threshed  because 
of  impassable  roads  and  the  railroad 
blockade. 

The  federal  census  of  1880  gave  Lyon 
county  a  population  of  6257,  an  increase 
in  five  years  of  3714  people,  or  246  per 
cent.  Of  the  fourteen  counties  com- 
prising Southwestern  Minnesota,  only 
Brown  had  a  greater  population.12  The 
population  was  divided  as  to  sex, 
nationality  and  color  as  follows:  Males, 
3381;  females,  2876;  native  born,  4558; 
foreign  born,  1699;  white,  6255;  colored, 
2.  By  precincts  the  population  was  as 
follows: 

Amiret 282 

Clifton 204 

Coon  Creek 106 

Custer 293 

Eidsvold 378 

Fairview 287 

Grandview 267 

Island  Lake 177 

Lake  Marshall 265 

Lucas 226 

Lynd 308 

Lyons 226 

Monroe 281 

Nordland 343 

Rock  Lake 248 

Hhelburne 140 

Sodus 213 

Stanley 188 

Vallers 146 

Westerheim 283 

Marshall 961 

Minneota 1 13 

Tracy 322 

Total 6257 

Before  1880  homesteaders  of  Lyon 
county  were  obliged  to  make  the  trip 
to.  Redwood  Falls  (to  New  Ulm  prior 
to  1872)  to  make  proof  on  their  claims. 

The  first  colonists  located  near  Minneota  and  were 
under  the  spiritual  charge  of  Father  M.  J.  Hanley. 
The  new  arrivals  were,  as  a  rule,  unskilled  m  farming 
pursuits  and  were  not  successful,  and  many  engaged 
in  other  enterprises.  In  the  early  eighties  there  were 
great  additions  to  Bishop  Inland-  colony  and  it 
became  an  important  factor  in  the  history  and  develop- 
ment of  Lyon  county. 

i'-The  population  of  nearby  counties  in  1880  was  as 
follows:  Lac  qui  Parle,  4907;  Yellow  Medicine,  5884; 
Redwood,  5375;  Murray.  3604;  Pipestone,  2092; 
Lincoln,  2954. 


92 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


With  the  rapid  settlement  of  the  country 
to  the  west,  most  of  the  business  of  the 
Redwood  Falls  land  office  came  from 
Lyon  and  Lincoln  counties,  and  an 
office  was  opened  at  Tracy  on  May  22, 
1880.  It  was  located  there  nine  years. 
The  offices  at  Benson,  Tracy,  Redwood 
halls  and  Worthington13  were  consoli- 
dated February  28,  1889,  and  moved  to 
Marshall,  where  the  land  office  was 
located  until  July  1,  1903.  Then  there 
was  a  merger  of  the  Marshall  and  St. 
Cloud  offices  and  Lyon  county  lost  the 
office.14 

One  of  the  dates  from  which  time  is 
reckoned  in  Lyon  county  is  the  winter 
of  1880-81 — the  season  of  Siberian 
frigidity.  There  have  been  worse  storms 
than  any  that  occurred  that  winter;  for 
short  periods  of  time  there  has  been 
colder  weather.  But  there  never  was  a 
winter  to  compare  with  this  one  in 
duration,  continued  severity,  depth  of 
snow,  and  damage  to  property. 

Blizzard  followed  blizzard.  The  rail- 
roads were  blockaded  for  weeks  and 
months  at  a  time.  Fuel  and  food  were 
nearly  exhausted.  People  burned  green 
wood,  fences,  lumber,  hay  and  grain 
and  went  without  lights.  In  some  places 
there  was  suffering  for  lack  of  food. 
Roads  remained  unbroken  all  winter  and 
the  farmers  obtained  their  supplies  from 
the  villages-  by  means  of  handsleds. 
Two  lives  were  lost  in  Lyon  county  in 
the  storms  of  that  winter  and  several 
others  were  so  badly  frozen  that  ampu- 
tation   of   limbs    was    necessary;    many 

13The  Redwood  Falls  office  was  established  in  July, 
1872,  with  Colonel  B.  F.  Smith  as  register  and  Major 
W.  H.  Kelley  as  receiver.  The  Worthington  office  was 
the  successor  of  the  Brownsville  office,  established  on 
the  Mississippi  river  in  1854.  It  was  moved  to  Chat- 
field  in  1856,  to  Winnebago  City  in  1861,  to  Jackson 
in  1869,  and  to  Worthington  in  1874.  Upon  the 
removal  from  Worthington  in  1889  C.  P.  Shepard  was 
register  and  August  Peterson  receiver. 

14The  first  officers  at  Tracy  were  George  W.  Warner, 
register,  and  John  Lind,  receiver,  the  latter  being 
succeeded  after  several  years'  service  by  P.  K.  Weiser. 
Messrs.  Warner  and  Weiser  were  in  charge  when  the 
office  was  moved  to  Marshall  in  1889.  »L.  M.  Lange 
succeeded  George  W.  Warner  as  register  November  1, 
18S9,  and  C.  P.  Shepard  succeeded  the  latter  February 


others  became  lost  in  the  storms  and 
had  thrilling  experiences.  The  long, 
cold,  boisterous,  blizzardous,  wearisome 
winter  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those 
who  were  then  living  in  Lyon  county. 

Before  the  farmers  had  fairly  started 
their  fall  work,  while  the  grass  was  yet 
green  and  the  insect  world  active,  winter 
set  in.  Toward  evening  on  Friday, 
October  15,  the  wind,  which  had  been 
blowing  from  the  north  all  day,  brought 
with  it  an  occasional  flake  of  snow. 
'When  darkness  came  the  wind  and 
snow  increased,  and  before  midnight  the 
elements  were  thoroughly  aroused. 
Throughout  the  night  the  storm  steadily 
increased,  and  when  morning  came  its 
fury  was  such  as  had  seldom  been  wit- 
nessed in  the  middle  "of  the  severest 
winters.  Saturday  forenoon  the  wind 
continued  to  blow  with  terrific  violence, 
driving  before  it  the  rapidly  falling  snow 
with  such  force  that  few  dared  to 
venture  out  of  doors.  All  day  the 
blizzard  raged,  not  calming  down  until 
nightfall.  Saturday  night  the  raging 
elements  ceased  their  tempestuous  frolic. 
Sunday  the  weather  was  calm,  but  cold 
and  wintry.  The  fall  of  snow  was  great 
and  the  violent  winds  piled  it  in  great 
mounds.15 

The  streets  of  Marshall,  Tracy  and 
Minneota  were  packed  full,  the  banks 
in  many  places  on  the  north  side  rising 
'almost  level  with  the  second  story 
windows  and  completely  covering  from, 
sight  some  of  the  smaller  buildings. 
The  business  houses  in  all  three  villages 

16,  1894,  and  served  until  the  removal.  P.  K.  Weiser 
was  succeeded  as  receiver  August  1,  1SS9,  by  E.  P. 
Freeman,  he  by  M.  E.  Mathews  in  January,  1894,  and 
George  M.  Laing  took  the  office  February  7,  1898. 
Mr.  Laing  died  June  17,  1898,  and  C.  F.  Case  served 
from  July,  1898,  until  the  removal  from  Marshall,  tj.*-i 

16"Although  this  country  has  gained  something  of 
celebrity  in  the  blizzard  business,  the  oldest  inhabitants 
were  as  much  astonished  as  anybody  at  such  a  storm 
in  October  as  we  caught  last  Saturday  and  Sunday. 
This  storm  was  unprecedented.  Nobody  knows  how 
much  snow  fell,  as  it  was  gathered  in  drifts  from 
nothing  to  thirty  feet  deep.  It  would  pass  for  a 
first-class  blizzard,  and  the  loss  to  the  county  by  it 
will  foot  up  several  thousand  dollars." — Messenger, 
October  22,  1880. 


HISTORY  OF   LYON   OOl'NTY. 


93 


were  for  the  most  part  closed  and  the 
towns  resembled  Icelandic  hamlets.  The 
snow  which  fell  in  this  initial  storm  did 
not  entirely  disappear  until  the  following 
May. 

So  badly  drifted  was  the  snow  that 
the  railroad  was  completely  blockaded, 
and  from  Friday,  the  fifteenth,  until 
Saturday,  the  twenty-second,  no  trains 
were  able  to  get  through,  although  Large 
forces  of  men  were  at  work  clearing  the 
track.  Even  this  short  blockade  re- 
sulted in  a  shortage  of  fuel.  In  the 
country  damage  because  of  the  storm 
was  great.  It  was  the  first  and  only 
blizzard  experienced  in  the  county  in 
October,  and,  of  course,  the  farmers 
were  unprepared  for  it.  The  loss  of 
stock  throughout  the  county  was  con- 
siderable, many  hogs  and  sheep,  par- 
ticularly,  having  been  frozen  to  death. 

The  only  death  resulting  in  this 
October  blizzard  in  the  vicinity  was  that 
of  Samuel  Kile.  He  was  with  a  thresh- 
ing crew  at  Tom  Brown's  place  north  of 
Minneota.  On  the  morning  of  the  six- 
teenth he  and  others  started  for  the 
barn  to  do  the  chores,  and  on  the  way 
to  the  barn  Kile's  hat  was  blown  off. 
Despite  the  protests,  of  the  other  men, 
he  started  in  pursuit  of  the  hat  in  the 
raging  blizzard.  That  was  the  last  seen 
of  the  man  alive. 

When  it  became  apparent  that  Kile 
was  lost,  the  men  shouted  and  rang  bells 
to  guide  him  to  safety  and  a  diligent 
search  was  made.  During  the  next 
three  weeks  searching  parties  scoured 
the  entire  neighborhood,  dragged  the 
Yellow  Medicine  river,  and  made  every 
effort  to  locate  the  body.  In  the  first 
part  of  November  the  body  was  found 
embedded  in  a  snow  drift,  sixty  rods 
northwest  of  the  barn;  his  hat  was  found 

^Samuel  Kite  was  a  son  of  George  and  Barbara  Kile, 
who  lived  over  the  line  in  Lincoln  eounty.  During  the 
fall  of  1880  he  was  employed  with  a  threshing  crew 
operating  north  of  Minneota  and  was  so  employed 
when   he   met   his   death.     Samuel    Kile   was   a   strong 


one   and   one-half    miles   southeast    from 
t  he  place.18 

There  were  several  cases  of  severe 
freezing  and  many  adventures  in  this 
remarkable  storm.  A  Swede  living  near 
( 'eresco  was  lost  while  going  from  his 
house  to  the  barn  and  for  three  days 
wandered  over  the  prairie.  He  was 
found  thirty  miles  from  home  with  both 
feet  frozen.  A  son  of  Levi  Craig,  who 
lived  near  Amiret,  had  an  exciting 
experience  in  the  storm.  He  had  gone 
to  a  neighbor's  to  get  some  matches  and 
on  the  way  home  became  lost.  He 
came  upon  a  wheat  stack  and,  burrowing 
his  way  into'  it,  remained  there  until 
Sunday  morning.  He  reached  home 
severely  frozen. 

For  a  short  time  after  the  initial  storm 
the  weather  was  calm  but  wintry. 
About  the  middle  of  November  storms 
began  to  rage  again,  and  wintry  blasts 
continued  from  that  time  until  late  in 
April.  For  weeks  at  a  time  the  people 
of  Lyon  county  were  absolutely  isolated. 
They  spent  long  weeks  of  weary  waiting 
in  the  midst  of  the  dreariest,  gloomiest 
and  most  discouraging  surroundings- 
waiting  for  the  raising  of  the  blockade 
and  the  arrival  of  the  necessaries  of  life, 
of  which  they  were  deprived.  Because 
of  the  fuel  and  provision  famine  which 
ensued  there  was  considerable  suffering 
in  parts  of  the  county.  Severe  cold 
weather  began  November  16  and  during 
the  remainder  of  the  month  the  ther- 
mometer frequently  registered  sub-zero. 

Following  is  the  story  of  the  winter. 
told  in  brief  chronological  order,  from 
the  beginning  of  December  until  the 
breakup  in  the  spring: 

DECEMBER. 

2-3.     Zero  weather. 

voung  man  and  weighed  about  ISO  pounds.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  eighteen  years,  eight  months 

and  eighteen  days  of  age.  lie  was  a  brother  ol  Arthui 
J.  Kile,  who  for  many  years  has  I  ..■en  a  resident  ol 
Minneota. 


94 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


4.  Snow  falling  and  drifting.  Last  train  and 
mail  for  five  days. 

5-9.  Below  zero  weather.  Railroad  block- 
ade raised  on  the  ninth. 

10-15.     Milder  weather. 

23.     Last  freight  train  of  the  winter  arrived. 

25.  Ten  days'  railroad  blockade  begun.17 
25-31.     Extremely  cold  weather — thirty  and 

thirty-five  below  zero — and  blizzardy. 

26.  Ole  Norton  lost  in  blizzard  and  so 
severely  frozen  that  he  died  later.18 

JANUARY. 

4.  First  train  in  ten  days  arrived.  Big  mail 
receipts. 

5.  Another  train  ran. 

6.  Railroad  blockaded 

8.     Snow-fighting  train  got  over  the  line. 

10.  Road  cleared  and  first  mail  received 
since  January  5.     No  freight  trains. 

12.  Twenty-four  hour  blizzard  raged.  One 
week  railway  blockade  begun. 

19.  Last  train  from  the  east  for  three  months 
arrived. 

20.  Train  ran  from  Marshall  to  Watertown 
in  the  morning  and  returned  to  Tracy  in  the 
evening — the  last  train  over  the  line  until  April 

17"We  haven't  seen  business  more  nearly  at  a 
standstill  for  sonie  years  than  it  was  here  several  days 
this  week.  We  suppose  it  is  necessary  to  state  that 
we  have  had  no  eastern  trains  this  week.  Just  when 
we  will  have  one  again  is  a  matter  still  under  dis- 
cussion."—Messenger,  December  31,  1880. 

ls01e  Norton  was  thirty-two  years  old  and  lived 
alone  in  Vallers  township.  On  theeveningof  December 
26  he  started  out  to  go  to  the  home  of  his  brother, 
Michael  Norton,  a  little  over  one-half  mile  away.  The 
thermometer  registered  ten  degrees  below  zero  and  the 
wind  was  blowing  hard. 

.Mr.  Norton  passed  a  hay  stack  about  thirty  rods 
from  his  house  and  thereafter  found  it  difficult  to 
determine  the  directions.  He  continued  on  his  way 
but  soon  became  completely  lost.  After  wandering 
about  on  the  prairie  two  hours  he  again  came  to  the 
same  stack,  but  believed  it  to  be  another  about  two 
miles  distant.  He  could  see  a  few  rods  away  the  dim 
outline  of  what  he  took  to  be  a  house,  and  made  an 
effort  to  reach  it,  but  he  could  make  little  headway 
against  the  wind  and  returned  to  the  stack.  By  this 
time  his  feet  were  freezing  and  to  keep  up  the  circula- 
tion of  blood  he  began  running  around  the  hay  stack. 

Failing  to  get  relief,  Mr.  Norton  dug  a  hole  in  the 
stack,  with  the  intention  of  seeking  shelter  therein. 
Progress  was  painfully  slow,  as  his  hands  were  be- 
numbed and  he  had  lost  one  of  his  gloves.  He  suc- 
ceeded in  making  an  opening  only  large  enough  for 
his  legs,  which  he  hoped  to  keep  from  freezing.  The 
unfortunate  man  remained  at  the  hay  stack  until 
daylight  and  then  with  great  difficulty  made  his  way 
to  his  house,  which  he  found  was  only  a  few  rods  away. 
With  greater  difficulty  he  succeeded  in  building  a  fire. 

Mr.  Norton's  cap  was  frozen  to  his  head,  but  after 
awhile  it  thawed  out  enough  to  be  removed.  He  got 
one  of  his  boots  off  and  found  his  feet  were  frozen 
solid.  Becoming  alarmed  at  his  condition  and  not 
daring  to  remain  alone  while  thawing  out,  Norton 
hobbled  to  his  brother's  house  with  one  foot  bare. 
There  he  was  taken  care  of  and  hopes  were  entertained 
that  his  feet  might  be  saved.  Both  feet  were  ampu- 
tated below  the  knee  on  January  9  by  Doctors  Andrews 
and  Farnsworth  and  Mr.  Norton  died  on  the  twelfth. 
His  experience  in  the  storm  was  given  by  him  sub- 
stantially as  recorded  above. 

""During  the  past  week  Marshall  has  given  a 
limited  supply  of  fuel  to  the  towns  above  and  entirely 
exhausted  her  own  supply.  The  former  blockade  was 
not  broken  long  enough  to  get  any  freight  through 
from  the  east  and  none  of  any  consequence  has  arrived 
since  the  Christmas  blockade.  The  last  cordwood  has 
been  sold  and  the  last  of  small  coal  has  been  sold. 
There  is  a  plentiful  supply  of  large  hard  coal  in  town, 


19.     Storm  from  the  north.     Fuel  supply  run-  ^ 
ning  short.19 

21.  Blizzard  raging. 

22.  Still  storming. 

24.  Railroad  entirely  covered  with  drifts,  in 
places  thirty  or  forty  feet  deep.  Railroad  has 
sublet  the  contract  for  carrying  the  mail  between 
Sleepy  Eye  and  "Watertown,  and  mail  from  the 
west  received. 

26.  Blizzard  from  the  north. 

27.  Fuel  famine  at  Minneota  reported.20 

30.  Heavy  snow  storm  at  night . 

31.  Blizzard. 

FEBRUARY. 

1.  Fuel  nearly  gone  at  Marshall.21 

2.  A  little  coal  turned  over  to  the  dealer  by 
Mr.  Burchard,  of  Marshall,  and  sold  in  small 
lots. 

3.  Last  overland  mail  for  many  days  re- 
ceived. At  evening  began  one  of  the  worst 
storms  of  the  winter,  coming  from  the  south- 
east.    Lasted  until  the  seventh.22 

7.  Mild  weather  and  thaw  after  the  storm 
subsided.  Froze  at  night  and  crusted  all  the 
drift-. 

8.  Fuel  famine  serious.  Breaking  roads  to 
( lamden  woods.23 

which  for  use  in  cooking  or  parlor  stoves  requires  to 
be  broken   up."—  News,  January  21,   1881. 

\.  M.  Chadburn,  of  Minneota,  was  in  town 
yesterday  and  says  the  people  of  that  town  are  suffering 
greatly  from  cold,  that  there  has  been  neither  wood 
nor  coal  there  for  a  long  time.  He  states  that  women 
and  children  ami  many  of  tin'  men  are  compelled  to 
lie  in  bed  during  the  night  and  day  in  order  to  keep 
from  freezing.  Mr.  Chadburn  came  down  t<>  see  if  he 
could  secure  any  fuel,  and  finding  a  small  quantity  of 
coal  and  Mime  green  wood,  he  says  t  lie  citizens  will  at 
once  come  here  for  a  supply."— News,  January  28, 
L881. 

-'The  only  dry  wood  mi  sale  at  thai  time  were  a 
few  cords  that  were  hauled  in  from  the  Youmania 
farm  and  sold  at  $10  or  811  per  cord,  and  the  supply 
was  soon  exhausted.  What  little  hard  coal  there  was 
sold  for  $13.75  per  ton. 

--"From  Thursday  nighl  of  last  week  [February  3] 
until  Monday  morning  of  this  [February  7],  this 
locality  was  visited  by  the  heaviest  and  worst  -now 
storm  the  oldest  inhabitant,  much  as  he  hates  to  admit 
it,  ever  saw  here.  .  .  .  On  this  occasion  we  had  both 
snow  and  wind  in  uncommon  quantities.  Instead  of 
coming  from  the  northwest,  as  most  of  our  winter 
storms  do,  this  one  came  from  the  southeast.  While 
not  very  cold  for  a  winter  storm,  the  severe  wind  and 
drifting  snow  made  it  impossible  most  of  the  time  to 
do  anything  out  of  doors,  and  nearly  all  business  was 
at  a  standstill.  When  it  cleared  off  the  roads  were  in 
the  worst  possible  condition.  Drifts  on  top  of  drifts 
so  perfectly  impeded  travel  that  during  Monday  very 
few  teams  ventured  out,  although  the  snow  was  soft 
and  melting." — Messenger,  February  11.  1881. 

23"Tuesday  morning  [February  S]  the  citizens  were 
notified  to  assemble  at  the  land  office  to  take  action 
toward  breaking  out  the  roads  leading  to  town  from 
the  settlers'  farms.  It  was  resolved  that  the  first  duty 
was  to  open  the  road  to  the  Camden  timber  land-, 
ten  miles  distant,  as  many  families  were  destitute  of 
fuel.  Rev.  Liscomb  stated  that  the  wood-chopping 
party,  which  started  in  the  morning,  had  progressed 
only  two  miles  and  returned  to  dinner,  but  hail  gone 
out  again.  The  resolution  was  followed  by  immediate 
action,  and  half  an  hour  later  three  or  four  teams  and 
thirty  or  forty  men  were  on  the  road  to  Camden. 
They  reached  the  morning  party  about  five  miles  out, 
where  they  had  been  met  by  a  Camden  party  led  by 
V.  M.  Smith,  with  a  -mall  load  of  flour  from  the  mill. 
The  entire  party  returned  to  town,  announcing  an 
open  road  to  the  timber  land  and  the  probability  of  a 
supply  of  wood  the  following  day. 

"An  adjourned  meeting  was  held  at  the  land  office  in 


HISTORY  OF  LYON   col  NTY. 


95 


9.  Roads  broken  from  Marshall  to  Ceresco, 
Amirel  and  other  points.  Farmers  reported 
burning  bay. 

1 1 .  Severe  blizzard  from  I  be  north. 

12.  Blizzard  all  day.  Measures  for  relief  of 
destitute  taken  in  Marshall.  ' ' 

I  l.  Suffering  reported  at  Minneota  for  lack 
of  fuel  and  provisions.  Burning  railroad  fence 
posts 

L9.  1.  aJies  of  Marshall  raised  money  for 
supplies  for  the  destitute. 

22.  Hard  snow  storm,  the  only  one  of  any 
consequence  for  nearly  a  week.  People  of 
Grandview  burning  snow  fences.88 

24.     Snow  and  south  wind. 

•_'.">.     Blizzard  from  the  south. 

26.     Blizzard  from  the  northwesl 

28      Mail  received.     Oats  used  for  fuel.27 

MARCH. 

1-:;.      Mild  weather. 

I.      Fierce  blizzard  all  day. 

the  evening.  There  was  considerable  discussion  as  Bo 
the  opening  of  roads  to  other  towns  ami  nut  upon  the 

prairies   to   the   settlers.       It    was  saiil   that    Settlers   were 

..mi  of  fuel  ami  provisions  and  it  was  quite  impossible 
For  them  to  break  the  roads  ami  get  to  town.  Rev. 
Liscomb  favored  opening  roads  to  the  hay  ami  straw 
stacks  near  town,  as  horses  ami  cattle  wen-  suffering 
for   food.     It    was    finally   agreed    that    gangs   of   men 

and  teams  should  operate  Wednesday  on  tin'  roads  to 
the   northeast,   north   and   BOUthwest,   and    the   following 

morning  work  was  begun.  It  was  decided  that  on 
Thursday  a  combined  effort   should  lie  made  to 

tin-    road'    south    to    Tracy,    it     being    reported    that    the 

towns  above  and  below  were  opening  connecting  mads. 

in  order  to  get  the  mail  ami  freight  on  tin-  railroad." 
—  News,  February  11,  1881. 

"February  12  a  meeting  was  held  in  Marshall  to 
devise  means  of  relief  for  those  who  were  suffering  for 
lack  of  fuel  or  provisions  because  of  the  blockades  and 
severe  weather.  It  was  the  general  opinion  that  relief 
should  come  from  the  county  commissioners  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  look  into  the  matter  of 
destitute  persons. 

""People  at  Minneota  have  received  permission 
from  the  railroad  company  to  dig  up  and  burn  all  the 
fence  posts,  and  Station  Agent  Davidson  is  having  a 
perplexing  time  in  their  distribution.  Only  Coats' 
store  has  been  open  for  three  weeks  past,  because  there 
has  been  no  fuel  to  warm  the  stores.  As  yet  only  a 
few  cases  of  actual  suffering  for  want  of  provisions 
have  come  to  light  and  these  have  been  attended  to. 
About  a  dozen  teams  went  to  the  Camden  timber 
Monday  morning  [February  14]  and  that  night  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  to  town  about  eight  cords  of  wood. 
It  was  tedious  work  and  few  teams  could  haul  more 
than  half  a  cord.  Some  who  started  with  more  had 
to  leave  part  of  it  on  the  road.  On  Tuesday  some 
fifteen  teams  went  to  the  woods  and  brought  in  about 
ten  cords.  The  wood  sells  here  at  $7.00  per  cord."- 
News,  February  18,  1881. 

26"While  we  in  Grandview  have  been  poorly  off  for 
fuel,  our  supply  long  since  being  exhausted,  we  have 
kept  from  suffering  by  the  aid  of  the  snow  fences  along 
the  line  of  the  railroad,  and  these  are  well-nigh  ex- 
hausted; but  we  live  as  all  our  neighbors  do,  in  hope. 
We  ha've  heard  of  no  cases  of  suffering  for  want  of 
worldly  goods  and  but  little  sickness." — Grandview 
Correspondent,  February  25,  1881. 

27"Mr.  Humphrey  and  others  east  of  here  are 
burning  oats  for  fuel  and  say  that  a  bushel  a  day 
supplies  a  stove.  This  makes  a  cheap  fuel." — Mes- 
senger, March  4,  1881. 

2S"Marshall  came  very  near  getting  out  of  kerosene 
oil  some  three  weeks  ago  and  our  enterprising  grocer 
of  the  Twin  Cash  Stores,  Mr.  Waldron,  sent  W.  A. 
Crooker  and  his  mules  down  to  Mankato  after  a  load. 
This  was  about  the  only  team  that  would  try  to  make 
the  trip,  and  bets  were  made  that  he  wouldn't  be  back 
here  to  celebrate  the  Fourth  of  July.      But  it  is  never 


Sup- 


Rain,    hail    and    snow    storm    began    at 


.").     Beginning  si\  days  of  Hue  weather, 
ply  of  kerosene  received  at,  Marshall.28 

lb  Roads  open  Wet  ween  most  of  the  settle- 
ments. Deep  snows  reported  in  Custer  town- 
ship.211 

ID. 
night. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

17. 

24. 


Heavy  snowfall. 


Blizzard  all  day. 
( lontinued  blizzard. 
Fair  weather. 
Blizzard  began  at  noon. 
Snow  drifting. 

.Second     load     of    express     matter    since 
December  arrived   overland  from  Sleepy    F.ye. 

Marshall   people  attack  snow  fences.80 

:!().      Attempt   made  to  open  the  railroad.31 
31.     Severest   blizzard  of  the  winter  raged.32 

APRIL. 

1-7.     Spring  weather.     Shovelers  working  on 
snow  drifts  between  Tracy  and  Marshall.33 
6.     Heavy  mail  overland  from  the  east. 

safe  to  bel  on  what  Crooker  and  his  mules  can  accom- 
plish, and  last  Saturday  [March  5]  they  hove  in  sight 
over  the  hill.  The  band  instantly  turned  out  with  a 
long  rope,  to  which  were  attached  nearly  a  hundred 
boys,  to  help  haul  him  into  harbor.  Having  hitched 
on  and  got  the  Twin  Cash  proprietor  on  board,  they 
refused  to  let  go  and  made  a  grand  street  parade, 
thus  giving  glory  to  the  event  and  a  good  advertise- 
ment to  tin.  'twin  Cash  Stores.  We  have  plenty  of  oil 
here  now  and  can  give  our  neighbors  some  if  needed. 
Crooker  made  the  trip  in  about  twelve  days,  but  had 
to  stop  two  days  at  Lake  Marshall  on  account  of  a 
blizzard.  Mr.  Waldron  very  generously  paid  him  $14 
more  than  agreed  on  to  make  up  for  the  unexpected 
bad  weather  and  other  delays." — Messenger,  March  11, 
1881. 

'-"J"Most  of  the  farmers  are  busy  digging  snow. 
Some  have  tunnels  ten  feet  deep  and  forty  feet  long 
leading  to  their  stables.  We  have  seen  a  number  of 
our  neighbors  going  to  mill  with  handsleds.  Coal  oil 
is  very  precious  and  the  burning  of  tallow  candles  is 
considered  a  luxury.  Mail  is  out  of  the  question, 
which  makes  it  very  disagreeable  for  those  who  have 
distant  sweethearts'.  Most  of  us  are  burning  green 
wood,  which  is  very  hard  on  our  patience." — Custer 
Correspondent,  March  11,  1881. 

30"Parties  out  of  dry  wood  have  lately  been  tearing 
down  all  the  snow  fences  up  this  way  for  fuel.  Green 
wood  is  plenty  here  yet,  but  high  because  of  bad 
roads." — Messenger,  March  25,  1881. 

""Superintendent  Sanborn  arrived  here  Wednesday 
[March  30]  and  proceeded  to  tear  up  things  to  heat  the 
engine  that  has  been  stored  here  for  several  weeks  and 
began  work  on  the  road  between  here  and  Tracy.  As 
the  company  is  now  at  work  at  both  ends  of  the 
blockade  and  in  the  middle,  we  can  hope  to  connect 
with  the  outside  world  in  a  few  weeks.  Later— This 
item  was  a  little  too  previous.  A  slight  change  in  the 
weather  has  delayed  things  some." — Messenger,  April 
1,  1881. 

""Wednesday  evening  [March  30]  damp  snow  began 
to  fall  in  this  vicinity,  with  a  constantly  increasing 
wind,  and  by  midnight  the  storm  had  assumed  the 
title  of  blizzard.  Thursday  morning  dawned  upon  the 
blizzard  in  full  bloom  and  the  old  prophecy  of  March 
coming  in  like  a  lamb,  sure  to  go  out  like  a  lion,  was 
fully  verified,  for  certainly  no  storm  of  the  winter  was 
more  severe  than  that  of  the  last  day  of  March. "- 
News,  April  1,  1S81. 

""Since  the  last  blizzard,  March  31,  the  weather  has 
been  putting  on  the  air  of  spring,  and  the  work  of 
opening  the  railroad  has  rapidly  progressed.  \  olun- 
teer  companies  turned  out  here  for  two  or  three  days, 
and  the  railroad  company  has  since  been  hiring  all  the 
men  they  could  get  to  shovel  snow.  The  coal  shed 
and  other  things  that  could  be  spared  were  chopped 
up  for  fuel  to  feed  the  engine  that  has  been  wintered 
here,  and  as  long  as  that  holds  out  fair  progress  will  be 
made.     The   cuts   are   everywhere   filled   full,    and   the 


96 


HISTORY  OF  LTOX  COUNTY 


7.  Mail  for  the  east  sent  out  by  way  of 
Granite  Falls.  Marshall  people  burning  lum- 
ber.34    Began  snowing  at  two  o'clock. 

8.  Northeast  blizzard  and  heavy  snowfall. 

11.  Snowing. 

12.  North  wind  drifts  snow. 

13.  Zero  weather. 

16.  First  night  since  early  in  November  that 
ice  did  not  form. 

18.  Railroad  opened  to  Tracy  and  first  train 
in  three  months — lacking  two  days — arrived. 

19.  Railroad  opened  to  Marshall  and  freight 
train  arrived  at  eleven  o'clock  in  morning, 
bringing  car  load  of  wood.  Two  passenger 
trains  also  arrived,  bringing  first  mail  in  two  . 
weeks.  These  were  the  first  trains  from  the 
east  to  reach  Marshall  in  exactly  three  months. 

20.  Railroad  opened  to  Minneota,  but  no 
trains  run.35 

21.  Floods  washed  out  track  and  bridges 
and  traffic  on  the  railroad  (after  twenty-four 
hours'  operation)  was  suspended  until  Majr  3. 

The  long  winter  of  1880-81  was  over, 
but  its  results  were  not  over,  and  after 
trains  had  been  operated  in  Lyon  county 
one  day,  the  blockade  was  again  in 
force  by  reason  of  floods  and  washouts, 
and  no  trains  were  run  in  the  county 
until  -May  3. 

The  torrents  of  water  from'the  melting 
snow  overfilled  the  banks  of  the  rivers, 
inundated  the  low  lands,  and  carried 
away  bridges  and  railroad  tracks.  Six 
bridges  on  the  line  of  the  Northwestern 

snow  is  almost  as  hard  as  ice  in  some  places.  As  there 
is  no  snow  plow  here  every  foot  of  the  cuts  has  to  be 
shoveled  out  by  hand.  The  work  will  therefore  be 
slow  and  Tracy  will  not  be  reached  before  next  week 
probably.  At  the  Sleepy  Eye  end  the  drifts  are  much 
worse  than  here,  and  although  as  large  a  force  as  they 
can  get  is  employed,  their  progress  west  is  not  rapid. 
If  the  road  is  open  by  the  last  of  next  week  our  largest 
expectations  will  be  realized." — Messenger,  April  8, 
lvsl. 

'••"Considerable  lumber  is  being  burned  here  now, 
other  fuel  being  scarce  and  high.  Mr.  Sullivan  has 
been  selling  lumber  for  fuel  at  first  cpst." — News, 
April  8,  1881. 

36A  Minneota  citizen,  writing  to  the  Marshall  News 
of  April  25,  1881,  told  of  conditions  at  that  point 
during  the  winter,  as  follows: 

".  .  .  That  although  we  have  passed  so  far  a  very 
unpleasant  winter  and  have  suffered  great  incon- 
veniences, there  has  been  no  loss  of  life  or  property  in 
consequence  of  the  severity  of  the  weather.  Our 
village  has  not  known  what  it  is  to  enjoy  the  luxuries 
of  a  good  wood  pile  or  well-fillecf  coal  bins  during 
nearly  the  entire  winter. 

"Farmers  about  Minneota  have  fared  worse  than  the 
people  in  town,  in  not  having  wood  or  coal,  but  better 
in  having  plenty  of  hay  and  straw  to  feed  and  burn. 
...  A  great  many  farmers  have  stables  so  located  as 
to  be  completely  covered  over  with  snow.  A  large 
number  have  an  opening  only  at  the  top  and  the 
farmers  go  down  into  their  stables  by  means  of  a 
ladder,  tin-  animals  being  completi  ly  confined  in  a  snow- 
prison.  We  have  heard  of  no  instances  of  farmers 
having  been  out  of  fuel.  ...  At  one  time  there  were 
three  families  that  had  nearly  exhausted  their  supply 
of    provisions    'luring    a    stormy    spell,    but     they    were 


between    Sleepy    Eye    and    Watertown 

were  carried  away  and  there  were  a 
dozen  place-  where  the  track  was 
washed  out. 

The  melting  snow,-  began  to  cover  the 
lower  surface.;  on  April  20,  but  the  over- 
flow of  the  stream-  did  not  take  place 
until  the  twenty-second.  Floodtide  was 
reached  Sunday  evening,  April  24.  and 
on  the  following  day  the  waters  began 
to  recede.  On  the  twenty-eighth  the 
streams  were  so  reduced  as  to  be  nearly 
within  their  banks  again. 

The  losses  in  different  parts  of  the 
county  were  considerable.  The  dam 
of  the  Redwood  at  the  Camden  mill  was 
swept  away,  as  was  also  one  in  Lyons 
township.  The"  streets  of  Marshall  were 
traveled  in  boats,  and  trips  by  boat 
were  made  from  that  village  to  points 
on  the  Minnesota  river,  part  of  the  way 
over  the  inundated  prairies.  The  bridges 
over  the  Redwood  at  Marshall  were 
wrecked  and  several  thousand  feet  of 
lumber  ami  several  small  buildings  were 
carried  away.  The  loss  in  the  village 
was  estimated  at  $5000.36 

soon  supplied  again  and  have  suffered  no  incon- 
veniences since. 

"Then-  has  been  no  attempt  to  keep  open  the  roads 
for  teams  I  xcept  along  the  railroad  track.  Snowshoes 
and  handsleds  on  wide  runners  have  taken  the  place 
of  horse-  and  sleighs  in  this  vicinity.  On  Tuesday  of 
this  week  four  men  on  snowshoes  hauled  a  corpse  on 
a  handsled  a  distance  of  about  ten  miles  to  the  burying 
ground  of  this  place  tor  interment.  The  corpse  had 
been  kept  two  or  three  weeks  buried  in  a,  snowbank 
awaiting  an  opportunity  for  burial.  Pleasant  daj  9 
during  the  pasl  two  months  have  been  signaled  in  town 
by  hundreds  of  feet  of  snowshoes.  All  seem  to  have 
fallen  in  with  the  Scandinavian  idea  of  going  to  town 
on  snowshoes  and  taking  their  goods  home  on  hand- 
sleds  or  packing  them  on  their  backs. 

"The  stores  of  our  town  have  suffered  but  little 
inconvenience  as  yet  for  supplies  of  provisions;  at 
least  they  continue  to  serve  their  customers' as  usual." 

36The  Marshall  News  of  April  29,  1881,  told  of  the 
flood  in  the  village  as  follows: 

"The  Second  Street  bridge,  leading  to  the  railroad, 
was  not  high  or  wide  enough  to  carry  off  the  surplus 
water.  Almost  a-  soon  as  the  area  between  the  street 
and  Nichols'  stable  was  filled,  the  water  burst  over  the 
street,  from  between  the  bridge  and  the  corner  of  the 
Merchants  Exchange,  cutting  off  communication  for 
teams  and  pedestrians.  At  the  same  time  .Main  Street 
at  the  lower  bridge  had  been  overflowed,  cutting  off 
communication  in  that  direction.  Early  in  the  day 
water  backed  up  between  the  railroad  bridge  and  Main 
Street,  soon  cutting  across  the  street  and  making  a 
broad,  deep  and  rapid  current  past  the  Bagley  House, 
Watson's  residence,  and  across  to  the  bend  of  the 
river.  This  outburst  relieved  the  main  channel  and 
saved  the  entire  main  street  and  its  business  blocks 
from  inundation. 


A  PIONEER  HOME 

Log   Cabin   Erected   on    Section   4,   Custer   Township,   in    1870,   by   Zibe   Furgeson, 
and   Purchased  the  Following  Year  by  Benjamin  B.  Thomas.     The 
Engraving  is  Made  From  a  Painting. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


97 


The  work  of  repairing  the  railroad 
and  raising  the  blockade  was  put  under 
way  as  soon  as  the  waters  permitted. 
The  reconstruction  crew,  working  from 
the  east,  reached  Tracy  May  1.  ami  on 
the  afternoon  of  tin-  third  Marshall  was 
reached.  The  same  evening  a  well- 
Loaded  freight  train  broughl  supplies  to 
the  several  villages  along  the  line  and 
the  next  day  passenger,  mail  and  freight 
service  were  established.  Train  service 
on  the  branch  west  from  Tracy  was 
begun  about  the  same  time. 

The   long   blockade    was   broken   and 

the  people  of  Lyon  county  were  again 

able  to  purchase  the  necessities  of  life. 

The  Marshall  News  of  April  li  said: 

Every  -tore  in  town  hung  out  its  banner 
labeled  "sugar**  this  week.  The  town  lias  been 
without  it  for  a  week  or  two,  along  with  many 
other  things.  Towns  west  of  us  have  been 
much  more  destitute,  very  nearly  approaching 
suffering  in  some  cases.  The  docile  coffeemill 
has  furnished  all  the  hour  and  meal  of  many 
families. 

A  gentleman  living  at  Minneota  wrote 

at   the  time  of  the   arrival  of  the  first 

train : 

We  have  just  received  our  first  freight  since 
January.  The  arrival  of  the  train  with  the 
bridge  carpenters  was  the  signal  for  the  citizens 
to  turn  out  and  run  to  the  depot.  The  railroad 
company  sent  in  a  freight  train  right  away  after 
the  work  train.  A  joyful  smile  overspread  the 
countenances  of  our  citizens  when  they  heard 
that  Coats  had  some  sugar  on  the  train,  and 
what  a  rush  there  was  by  the  sweet -toothed 
members  of  our  community! 

Most    of    the    1880    grain    crop    was 

"The  street  afforded  a  rapid  watercourse  from  the 
News  office,  past  the  Bagley  House,  to  the  end  of  the 
street,  and  from  the  Merchants  .Exchange  the  water 
reached  to  the  hill  beyond  the  bridge.  The  passage 
of  the  water  past  the  Bagley  House  and  Watson's 
place  to  the  river  left  the  business  part  of  town  entirely 
surrounded  by  water  and  accessible  only  by  boats. 
On  Saturday  [April  23]  the  high  walks  west  of  the  News 
office  and  barber  shop  were  carried  away,  leaving  the 
Bagley  House,  Gary's  building,  Wetherbee's  store,  the 
marble  works  and  Mrs.  Farnsworth's  building  each 
surrounded  by  rapid  currents  of  water,  through  which 
it  was  difficult  to  navigate  boats.  Temporary  bridges 
were  constructed  on  Monday  to  reach  these  points. 
All  of  the  cellars  on  the  south  side  of  the  street  were 
flooded  and  stables  and  cattle  buildings  generally  were 
abandoned. 

"Previous  to  the  thaw  between  forty  and  fifty  boats 
had  been  constructed,  and  on  Friday  every  boat  and 
every  apology  for  one  were  brought  into  requisition 
to  ferry  people  to  and  from  their  homes  and  business 
places.  A  regular  ferry  was  established  between  the 
.Merchants    Exchange   and    the    bridge   as   long   as   the 


threshed  and  marketed  in  the  spring 
and  summer  following,  and  some  of  it 
was  of  good  quality.  Owing  to  the 
Hoods,  the  late  season  ami  blight,  the 
\\  heal  crop  of  lssi  was  a  failure.  The 
local  papers  reported  it  as  a  half  crop 
and  estimated  the  yield  at  ten  bushels 
per  acre.  Some  of  the  other  crops  were 
fail-  and  there  was  a  good  market  for 
all  produce. 

In  April,  1881,  came  the  first   Belgians 

and  Hollanders  to  the  Catholic  colony 
of  northwestern  Lyon  county.  With 
these  first  arrivals,  about  seventy-five 
in  number,  came  Father  Cornelius,  who 
did  much  toward  the  rapid  settlement 
of  the  county.  The  new  arrivals,  who 
settled  for  the  most  part  in  Grandview 
township  and  the  village  of  Client,  were 
attracted  by  the  advertising  matter  of 
the  Catholic  society  and  the  report  of 
one  of  their  number  who  visited  the 
county  in  1SS0.37 

The  matter  of  the  building  of  the 
Minneapolis  &  St.  Louis  railroad  through 
Lyon  county  was  a  live  issue  in  1881. 
Surveys  were  made  in  the  summer  and 
bonds  to  aid  in  its  construction  were 
voted  in  several  precincts  of  Redwood 
county.  Late  in  September  the  railroad 
authorities  submitted  a  proposition,  by 
the  terms  of  which  they  agreed  to  build 
through  Lyon  county  provided  the  right 
of  way  was  given  and  about  $30,000  in 

bridge  remained,  and  afterwards  from  the  Exchange 
to  the  opposite  shore.  The  water  at  this  point  formed 
a  double  current  in  the  regular  channel  of  the  river 
and  past  the  corner  of  the  hotel,  running  at  a  speed  of 
about  a  dozen  miles  an  hour  and  making  it  difficult 
and  dangerous  to  cross,  and  not  a  few  narrow  escapes 
from  disaster  occurred." 

37In  1880  Angelus  Van  Hee  and  his  son,  Aime  Van 
Hee,  came  from  Belgium  to  locate  a  home  for  a  colony 
in  the  New  World.  They  came  upon  the  request  of 
Bishop  Ireland  and  were  accompanied  by  Peter  Van 
Hee,  of  Liverpool,  England.  Angelus  Van  Hee  and 
his  son  visited  many  parts  of  the  country  and  found 
no  place  they  liked  better  than  Lyon  county.  They 
bought  land  on  section  17,  Grandview  township,  made 
some  improvements  thereon,  and  than  returned  to 
Belgium  and  reported  favorably  on  the  country. 

As  a  result  of  this  visit,  the  colony  came  in  1881, 
and  there  were  many  additions  during  several  suc- 
ceeding years.  Among  those  who  purchased  farms  in 
1881    were    David    Van    Hee,    Mrs.    Modest    Van    Bee, 

Messrs.   De   Hutter,   Vandewoestyne,   Decock,    Vei 

and  Foulon. 


98 


HISTOEY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


bonds    were    voted   to    aid   in   the    con- 
struction. 

The  people  of  Lyon  county  were 
eager  to  secure  the  road  and  at  once 
made  arrangements  to  vote  the  bonds. 
It   was    arranged   that   township    bonds 


should  be  issued  and  not  all  the  town- 
ships were  asked  to  contribute.  Fol- 
lowing is  the  list  of  townships  that 
voted  on  the  bond  issue,  the  date  of  the 
election,  the  amount  of  bonds  asked, 
and  the  result : 


PRECINCTS 


Lake  Marshall 

Clifton 

Fairview , 

Lynd 

Island  Lake . . 
Grand  view 

Stanley 

Nordland38. . . 
Lvons 


Date 


Amount 


Oct.  18 
Oct.  21 
Oct.  25 
Oct,  29 
Nov.  8 
Nov.  12 
Dec.  31 
Dec.  31 
Mch.  21 


$13,900 
1,800 
3,800 
4,200 
1,200 
2,400 
1,800 
1,200 
2,400 


For 
Bonds 


Against 
Bonds 


176 
21 
18 
28 
18 
24 
11 

28 


2 
0 

•5 

6 

1 

18 

21 

19 


Although  enough  bonds  were   voted,  posed  road  had  passed  into  other  hands 

the   road   was   not    built,    and   in    May,  and   that    the   line    would   not    be   con- 

1882,   it   was   announced   that    the   pro-  structed  through  Lyon  county. 

3SVoted  against  the  bonds. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE   AGE  OF    IMi<  >SPEK  ITY— 1882-1912. 


FACTS  supplying  the  context  of 
preceding  chapters  lead  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  people  of 
Lyon  county  had  passed  through  many 
years  of  hardships  and  bitter  dis- 
appointments before  a  permanent  con- 
dition of  prosperity  was  readied.  This 
long  period  of  travail  was  punctuated 
by  an  occasional  year  that  promised 
better  times.  In  the  earliest  days  the 
settlers  contended  with  obstacles  in- 
cident to  the  settlement  of  any  new- 
country,  being  far  from  railroads,  mar- 
kets, schools,  churches,  and  the  many 
institutions  that  in  our  present  day 
civilization  are  considered  necessary  to 
the  enjoyment  of  life. 

The  community  had  hardly  emerged 
from  its  frontier  state  when  the  grass- 
hopper scourge  came  with  its  terrifying 
inflictions,  and  the  county  received  a 
setback  which  took  years  to  overcome. 
Following  the  departure  of  the  plague 
came  several  years  devoted  to  the  pay- 
ment of  debts  contracted  during  the 
dark  days  and  making  a  new  start. 
During  this  reconstruction  period  were 
several  years  of  partial  crop  failures 
because  of  weather  conditions,  and  the 
age  of  prosperity  did  not  begin  until  the 
year  1882. 

An  excellent  crop  of  small  grain  was 
produced    in    1882,    the    first    crop    in 


several  years  that  was  secured  and 
marketed  without  some  discouraging 
feature.  The  result  was  a  rise  in  the 
value  of  Lyon  county  farming  lands  and 
an  influx  of  new  settlers,  who  came  to 
share  in  the  prosperous  times.  During 
the  fall  months  every  train  from  the 
east  brought  landseekers,  most  of  whom 
invested  in  railroad  lands  and  remained 
as  permanent  settlers.  "With  no  effort 
to  force  a  boom,"  said  the  Marshall  News 
in  August,  "one  has  fairly  started. 
The  railroad  land  office  is  daily  dis- 
posing of  land  in  the  county  and  much 
deeded  property  is  changing  hands." 

The  following  winter  was  another 
severe  one.  For  thirty-four  days  prior 
to  March  4  the  railroad  was  blockaded 
so  completely  that  not  a  train  ran  in  the 
county.  Another  of  the  death-dealing 
winter  storms  occurred  February  15 
and  16,  1883,  in  which  two  more  lives 
were  added  to  the  list  of  those  sacrificed 
to  the  Storm  King. 

During  the  afternoon  of  the  fifteenth 
the  weather  was  calm  and  foggy.  At  a 
quarter  after  nine  in  the  evening  was 
heard  the  roaring,  rumbling  sound  that 
gives  warning  of  the  approach  of  all 
storms  entitled  to  the  name  blizzard. 
At  half  past  nine  it  struck,  moving  with 
a  velocity  of  thirty-five  miles  an  hour. 
The  blizzard  raged  until  half  past  seven 


\j  ^  f>  c  b  ■  - 


100 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


the  next  evening,  the  thermometer 
during  this  time  registering  six  to  eight 
degrees  below  zero. 

Luther  C.  Hildreth,  thirty-five  years 
of  age,  an  early  settler  of  Lyon  county, 
lost  his  life  in  the  terrible  storm.  He 
had  been  chopping  wood  at  D.  S.  Burt 's 
place,  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  24,  Coon  Creek  township,  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  his  own  home,  which 
was  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
22,  of  the  same  precinct.  At  eleven 
o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  storm  Mr. 
Hildreth  started  for  home  and  within  a 
short  time  was  lost.  As  subsequently 
learned  by  tracing  his  tracks,  he  passed 
quite  near  his  own  house  and  continued 
west  to  Lone  Tree  lake.  Then  he  turned 
east,  came  to  the  Redwood  river,  and 
followed  up  its  channel  two  miles. 
While  in  the  river  bed  Mr.  Hildreth 
endeavored  to  dig  a  hole  in  the  snow, 
but  failed  and  lost  his  mittens  there. 

Still  clinging  to  the  ax  he  carried,  Mr. 
Hildreth  left  the  river  and  proceeded  in 
a  meandering  course  to  within  a  short 
distance  of  Balaton.  The  last  half  mile 
was  made  on  his  hands  and  knees  part 
of  the  way,  the  tracks  showing  that  he 
staggered  when  walking.  The  body  was 
found  on  the  eighteenth.  He  was  lying 
on  his  back  with  his  legs  doubled  under. 

The  other  death  was  that  of  Annie 
Cain,  nineteen  years  of  age,  who  lived 
with  her  parents  near  Amiret.  On  the 
day  the  storm  began  she  was  visiting  at 
the  home  of  F.  A.  Woodruff  and  early  in 
the  evening  started  home.  She  became 
lost  in  the  fog  before  the  blizzard  started 
and  when  the  storm  came  up  she 
battled    with    it    for    some    time,    but 

'The  French  colony  came  as  a  result  of  the  reports 
of  the  county  made  by  Messrs.  Letourneau  and  Regnier, 
who  came  in  the  summer  of  1882.  After  visiting 
many  parts  of  Southwestern  Minnesota,  they  decided 
to  locate  in  the  Ghent  neighborhood.  Their  repre- 
sentations were  responsible  for  the  arrivals  of  1883. 
Among  the  first  of  the  French  settlers  were  Messrs. 
Paradis  and  sons,  Suprenant-Lord,  Xord  Paradis, 
Antony  Paradis,  Suprenant-Prairie.  Metty,  Carron, 
Lebeau,  Padnaud,  Duchene,  Nevell  and  Emilien 
Suprenant. 


finally  succumbed.  Mis:;  Cain  traveled 
six  miles  and  sank  down  to  her  death 
about  two  hundred  rods  north  of  the 
house  of  Andrew  Jackson.  At  one  time 
in  her  travels  she  passed  within  thirty 
rods  of  that  home.  The  young  lady  was 
thought  to  have  remained  at  Wood- 
ruff's, and  the  fact  that  she  had  been 
lost  in  the  storm  was  not  known  for  two 
days.  Her  body  was  found  on  the 
eighteenth. 

The  year  1883  witnessed  a  large 
immigration  to  Lyon  county.  In  March 
came  a  colony  of  fifty  French  settlers 
from  Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  who 
settled  in  the  Ghent  neighborhood. 
They  came  in  a  train  of  thirty-seven 
cars  and  brought  farming  implements 
and  stock  with  them.1  There  were  also 
many  arrivals  from  Belgium  and  Hol- 
land, who  came  as  a  result  of  a  trip  to 
the  old  country  by  Father  Cornelius  in 
January,  1883. 2 

Many  new  farm  houses  were  erected 
during  the  year,  the  villages  increased 
in  population,  and  the  country  took  on 
an  air  of  prosperity.  Good  crops  were 
the  rule  and  nearly  a  million  bushels  of 
grain  were  harvested.  The  acreage  sown 
to  the  several  cereals,  the  total  yield 
and  the  average  yield  per  acre  for  1883 
were  as  follows: 


GRAIN 

Acres 
Sown 

Total 
Yield 

Average 
Yield 

Wheat 

Corn 

Oats 

Barley 

26,307 
3,541 

13,110 
2,210 

437,371 
20,820 

402,188 
46,130 

16.51 

5.86 

36.77 

20.87 

Total 

45,168 

906,509 

-Among  these  arrivals  from  the  old  country  were 
Father  Y.  Devos,  who  became  pastor  at  Ghent ;  Messrs. 
J.  Lambert,  Princen,  Schreibers,  Haerts,  Maertens, 
Depuydt,  Messine,  Dieken,  Sandy,  Clayes,  Peters, 
Van  den  Bogaerde,  Crombez,  Bauruans.  Delmeule, 
Hendrick,  Riviere,  DeReu.  Van  den  Abeele,  Van 
Prundel,  Vrnkenlen,  Engels,  Dobbeldere,  Blauwette, 
Browers  and  Maenhoudt. 


IIIstoKY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


101 


Early  in   I  88  I  came  I  be  promise  of  a 

new  railroad  for  Lyon  county.  It  was 
to  be  built    by   a   company   styled  the 

Duluth,  North  Shore  &  Southwestern, 
of  which  Herman  E.  Long  was  president 
and  Louis  H.  Greiser  was  secretary. 
The  "proposition."  which  was  the  in- 
evitable forerunner  of  railroad  building 
in  the  early  days,  was  submitted  to  the 
people  of  Lyon  county  at  a  mass 
meeting  held  at  Marshall  on  January  2l>. 
The  company  desired  a  bonus  of  county 
bonds  to  the  amount  of  $40,000,  to  be 
delivered  in  case  the  road  was  com- 
pleted to  Marshall  not  later  than 
September  1,  1885. 

Most  of  the  people  of  Lyon  county 
were  enthusiastically  in  favor  of  bonding 
for  the  road,  which  was  to  traverse  the 
county  in  a  general  north  and  south 
direction,  and  at  another  meeting  on 
January  30  petitions  for  calling  a  special 
election  to  vote  on  the  bonds  were 
signed.  The  people  of  Marshall,  par- 
ticularly, were  active  in  canvassing  the 
county  for  signatures  to  the  petition 
and  within  a  short  time  petitions  favor- 
ing the  calling  of  the  election  were 
presented  to  the  county  authorities 
from  every  township,  each  signed  by 
at  least  two  local  officers  and  twelve 
other  freeholders.  The  requested  action 
was  taken  by  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners and  a  special  election  called 
for  February  23. 

Tracy  was  not  on  the  line  of  the 
proposed  road  and.  the  people  of  that 
village  were  opposed  to  the  granting  of 
bonds.  A  lively  campaign  in  opposition 
ensued,  participated  in  largely  by  the 
Chicago  cv.  Northwestern  interests.  John 
Lind,  later  governor  of  Minnesota,  was 
at  the  time  a  resident  of  Tracy  and  took 
a  prominent  part  in  the  campaign 
against  the  bond  issue,  particularly  to 
keep  the  matter  from  coming  to  a  vote. 
An    injunction,    forbidding    the    county 


auditor  to  poi  I  and  publish  the  notices 
of  election,  was  "ranted  by  Judge 
Webber,  of  the  district  court.  When 
the  injunction  papers  were  served,  how- 
ever, the  notices  had  been  posted  and 
the  call  for  the  election  had  been  turned 
over  to  the  printers.  The  election  was 
held  in  all  precincts  except  Monroe, 
Eidsvold  and  Nordland,  the  election 
officers  of  those  precincts  refusing  to 
open  the  polls  upon  advice  of  those 
opposing  the  bonds. 

To  carry  the  election  it  was  necessary 
not  only  that  a  majority  of  the  electors 
voting  should  favor  the  issue,  but  also 
that  a  majority  (if  the  townships  should 
record  a  favorable  vote.  The  bonds  were 
carried  by  a  vote  of  724  to  156,  and 
thirteen  of  the  seventeen  townships 
voting  gave  majorities  in  favor.  The 
vote  by  precincts  was  as  follows: 


PRECINCTS 

For 
Bonds 

Against 
Bonds 

Amiret 

15 
36 
15 

2 

48 

46 

39 

58 

27 

72 

51 

208 

15 

20 

38 

25 

6 

3 

3 
0 
0 

42 
0 
6 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 

36 
3 

16 
5 

15 

29 

Clifton 

Coon  Creek 

Custer 

Fairview 

Grandview 

Island  Lake 

Lake  Marshall 

Lucas 

Lynd 

Lyons 

Marshall 

Rock  Lake 

Shelburne 

Sodus 

Stanley 

Vallers 

Westerheim 

Total 

724 

156 

After  the  election  the  people  of  Tracy 
again  appealed  to  the  court  and  secured 
a  temporary  restraining  order,  forbid- 
ding the  county  authorities  to  deliver 
the  bonds  and  the  railroad  officials  from 
applying  for  them.  In  district  court  on 
May   29   Judge   Webber   made   the   in- 


102 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


junction  permanent.3  Before  this  action 
was  taken,  however,  it  became  known 
that  the  railroad  would  not  be  built. 
It  failed  for  lack  of  capital. 

The  years  1884  and  1885  were  among 
the  most  prosperous  in  Lyon  county's 
early  history.  Excellent  crops  were 
raised  and  there  was  a  big  immigration. 
Landseekers  came  to  the  county  in  large 
numbers  and  indications  of  prosperity 
were  apparent  on  all  sides.  New  farms 
were  opened,  neat  frame  houses  replaced 
the  sod  shanties  of  pioneer  days,  and 
real  estate  values  increased.4 

Exclusive  wheat  farming  was  given 
up  and  much  flax  and  hay  were  raised. 
Farmers  turned  their  attention  also  to 
stock  raising  and  dairying  more  than 
formerly.  The  farmers  were  at  last 
firmly  upon  their  feet,  and  the  high  road 
to  wealth  was  open.  The  recovery  from 
the  grasshopper  scourge  was  at  last 
complete. 

The    population    of    Lyon    county    in 

1885  was  7978,   an  increase  of  1721   in 

five  years.     By  precincts  the  population 

was  as  follows: 

Amiret 406 

Clifton 190 

Coon  Creek 102 

Custer 308 

Eidsvold* 622 

Fairview 253 

Grand  view 430 

Island  Lake 240 

Lake  Marshall 205 

Lucas 244 

Lynd 376 

Lyons 243 

Marshall 986 

Monroe 290 

Nordland 417 

Rock  Lake 329 

Shelburne." 196 

Sodus 246 

Stanley 186 

Tracy* 1210 

Vallers 167 

Westerheim 432 

Total 7978 

3The  case  was  entitled:  Gilbert  H.  Jessup,  David 
H.  Evans,  Henry  Pattridge,  Nathan  Beach  and  John 
Lind  vs.  James  Lawrence  as  county  auditor,  Herman 
E.  Long  and  Louis  H.  CJreiser.  % 

4"The  amount  of  railroad  land  sold  about  this  place 


The  year  1886  was  not  a  particularly 
fruitful  one.  There  was  very  little 
movement  in  real  estate  and  times  were 
dull.  In  the  country  some  improve- 
ments were  made,  but  in  comparison 
with  the  two  or  three  preceding  years, 
the  twelve-month  was  an  uneventful 
one. 

The  next  year  a  splendid  record  in 
agricultural  development  was  made. 
The  acreage  of  crops  was  increased, 
many  acres  of  prairie  land  were  broken, 
many  new  farms  were  opened,  a  great 
amount  of  building  was  done,  and  the 
number  of  livestock  greatly  increased 
and  the  breed  improved. 

In  the  history  of  the  Northwest  there 
have  been  a  few  winter  storms  of  such 
unnatural  severity  that  they  stand  out 
as  events  of  historical  importance.  The 
most  severe  of  these  awful  storms  was 
undoubtedly  the  blizzard  of  January  7, 
8  and  9,  1873,  an  account  of  which  has 
been  given.  Ranking  second  was  the 
terrible  blizzard  of  January  12,  1888, 
when  over  two  hundred  people  lost  their 
lives  in  different  sections  of  the  North- 
west. By  a  miraculous  turn  of  fate, 
none  of  these  was  in  Lyon  county, 
although  man}'  were  caught  in  the 
storm  and  some  were  severely  frozen. 

The  conditions  essential  to  such  a 
disastrous  storm  as  this  proved  to  be 
had  been  filled  by  the  weather  dining 
the  week  previous.  On  January  5  a 
storm  of  sleet  had  frozen  on  the  surface 
of  the  deep  snow  to  an  icy  smoothness. 
The  day  before  the  storm  the  intense 
cold  weather  that  had  prevailed  mod- 
erated, the  wind  shifted  to  the  south- 
west, and  there  was  a  heavy  snowfall, 
which  continued  until  the  blizzard 
started  the  next  day. 

and  Tracy  this  year  exceeds  by  far  the  amount  sold 
any  previous  year,  and  what  i>  better,  it  is  sold  to 
men  who  will  occupy  and  till  it." — News-Messenger, 
July  17,  1885. 

'Including  Minneota  village. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


lo:5 


On  Thursday  morning,  the  twelfth, 
the  weather  was  mild  and  by  noon  it 
was  thawing.  A  damp  snow  was  falling 
and  there  was  scarcely  any  wind.  At 
a  little  before  four  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon what  little  wind  there  was  subsided 
and  there  was  a  dead  calm.  At  five 
minutes  past  four  o'clock  came  the 
storm,  with  absolutely  no  warning.8  It 
has  been  described  as  coming  "as 
quickly  as  one  could  look  to  the  win- 
dow." In  a  moment  a  howling,  shriek- 
ing blizzard  was  raging  with  blinding 
fury,  rendering  it  hazardous  to  under- 
take a  journey  of  even  a  few  blocks  in 
town  and  making  it  equivalent  to  almost 
certain  death  to  be  caught  away  from 
shelter  on  the  prairie. 

The  terrors  of  the  storm  were  aug- 
mented by  a  rapidly  falling  mercury, 
which  soon  reached  the  region  of  the 
thirties  and  rendered  infinitely  small  the 
chance  that  any  unfortunate  being  could 
survive  who  might  be  exposed  to  its 
perils.  The  storm  rapidly  increased  in 
fury  and  continued  unabated  until  eight 
o'clock  Friday  morning;  then  it  lost 
much  of  its  violence  but  continued  until 

6The  coming  of  the  storm  was  heralded  in  advance 
by  telegraph  in  some  places,  but  most  of  the  people  of 
Lyon  county  had  no  warning.  It  struck  Gary,  South 
Dakota,  at  3:55,  Canby  at  4:00,  and  Marshall  at  4:05. 
It  has  been  estimated  that  the  storm  traveled  at  the 
rate  of  over  one  hundred  miles  an  hour. 

7The  most  thrilling  experiences  of  the  storm  came 
to  the  fifty  or  more  passengers  on  the  east-bound 
Northwestern  train,  which  for  nearly  six  days  was 
stalled  in  a  cut  one  mile  west  of  the  siding  then  known 
as  Kent,  now  the  village  of  Garvin.  The  train  was 
making  its  regular  run  from  Huron  to  Tracy,  due  at 
the  latter  place  about  seven  o'clock  on  Wednesday 
evening,  the  eleventh.  There  was  a  southwest  wind 
and  a  light  fall  of  snow  during  the  day,  with  increasing 
wind  toward  evening.  A  snow-plow  was  running- 
ahead,  and  the  train  following  as  the  plow  reached  the 
station  ahead.  At  Lake  Benton  the  wind  had  so 
increased  that  a  freight  train  was  abandoned,  its 
engine  added  to  the  passenger  train,  with  its  caboose 
in  the  rear,  and  the  train  ran  on  double-headed.  At 
Balaton  the  passenger  started  east,  on  arrival  of  the 
plow  at  Tracy.  When  between  four  and  five  miles 
from  Balaton,  near  Kent,  the  train  became  stalled  in 
a  long  cut.     This  was  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

The  engines,  being  unable  to  pull  the  train  out, 
loosened  from  it  and  from  each  other  and  for  two 
hours  the  trainmen  made  desperate  efforts  to  break 
out  of  the  cut.  This  was  finally  accomplished,  but 
at  about  the  same  time  a  south  blizzard  of  great  force 
struck,  whirled  and  piled  the  snow  up  in  every  direc- 
tion, and  filled  the  track  between  the  engines  and  the 
cars  faster  than  the  trainmen  could  remove  it.  Finding 
all  efforts  to  connect  with  the  cars  hopeless,  and  water 
and  fuel  fast  being  reduced,  with  the  storm  increasing, 


Saturday  night.  Not  until  Tuesday  did 
the  conditions  of  the  weather  and  roads 
permit  many  snow-bound  people  to 
reach  their  homes. 

The  storm  came  at  a  time  when  many 
were  exposed  to  it.  The  mildness  of 
the  temperature  that  characterized  the 
early  part  of  the  day  resulted  in  farmers, 
who  had  long  been  weather-bound,  going 
to  the  towns  to  trade,  and  a  number  of 
them  were  returning  home;  it  came  at 
an  hour  when  schools  all  over  the 
county  were  being  dismissed,  and  child- 
ren were  obliged  to  make  their  way 
home  in  the  storm;  it  came  also  at  the 
time  of  day  when  many  farmers  were  in 
the  habit  of  driving  their  stock  to  water, 
and  they  and  their  herds  became  lost 
in  its  blinding  fury.  A  great  many 
head  of  stock  were  frozen  to  death. 

A  number  of  Lyon  county  people  had 
narrow  escapes  from  death.  A  few  were 
obliged  to  spend  the  night  in  snowdrifts 
and  haystacks,  and  there  were  several 
severe  cases  of  freezing.  In  the  vicinity 
of  Garvin  a  whole  train  load  of  people 
was  imperiled.7 

Lyon    county's    third    railroad,     the 

both  engines  at  midnight  pulled  out  and  made  the  run 
to  Tracy,  arriving  safely. 

Then  commenced  in  earnest  the  long  siege  of  the 
passengers.  Fortunately,  there  was  a  good  supply  of 
coal  in  the  ears,  enough  for  nearly  two  days'  use. 
The  besieged  train  comprised  the  mail  and  express 
cars,  smoking  and  passenger  coaches  and  caboose. 
There  were  between  fifty  and  sixty  passengers,  enough 
to  make  crowded  coaches  when  sleeping  accommoda- 
tions were  provided.  But  little  sleep  was  had  that 
night.  The  storm  increased  in  fury  and  no  passenger 
ventured  outside,  even  while  the  trainmen  were  making 
efforts  to  release  the  train.  Thursday  morning  broke 
upon  a  doleful  appearing  set  of  snow-bound  passengers. 
With  two  or  three  cranky  exceptions,  the  passengers 
were'  cheerful.  The  storm  showed  no  abatement 
until  ten  o'clock,  when  it  gradually  lessened  in  force 
until  noon. 

The  telegraph  from  Tracy  made  known  at  Balaton 
the  fact  that  the  train  was  stalled.  The  section  men 
at  the  last  named  place  loaded  handsleds  with  pro- 
visions, hauled  them  out  to  the  train,  and  a  cold  meal 
was  eaten.  During  the  afternoon  a  telegram  was 
received  at  Balaton  announcing  the  approaching 
blizzard.  Realizing  the  dangers  to  which  the  people 
on  the  train  would  be  subjected  in  one  of  the  dreaded 
winter  storms,  the  people  of  Balaton  sent  out  seven 
teams  hauling  sleds  to  bring  in  the  passengers. 

Twenty-three  persons  were  hastily  loaded  into  the 
sleds  and  at  three  o'clock  the  start  for  Balaton  was 
made.  The  rest  of  the  passengers  remained  on  the 
train.  When  the  party  in  the  sleds  had  proceeded 
about  half  way  to  Balaton  and  were  still  about  two 
•  and  one-half  miles  from  the  village,  the  memorable 
blizzard  struck.  At  the  time  they  were  about  twenty 
rods  from  the  railroad  track.      The  ladies  were  turned 


104 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Great  Northern,  was  built  in  1888.  Its 
construction  gave  the  county  excellent 
railroad  facilities,  all  except  three  of  its 
twenty  townships  being  then  traversed. 
The  preliminary  steps  toward  the 
building  of  the  road  were  taken  in  the 
spring  of  1886.  The  Will  mar  &  Sioux 
Falls  Railroad  Company  was  organized 
March  3,   1886,  by  residents  of  South- 

with  their  backs  to  the  storm  and  covered  with  wraps 
and  robes.  In  a  moment  the  road  was  obscured  from 
view.  The  men  dismounted  and  bending  to  the 
ground  sought  for  the  road,  knowing  that  to  get  out 
of  it  was  most  dangerous.  It  was  found  and  a  council 
of  drivers  and  male  passengers  was  held. 

1 1  was  decided  to  keep  the  teams  close  together  and 
make  a  break  from  the  road  to  the  railroad  and  keep 
close  to  it  for  the  remaining  two  miles  to  town. 
Although  only  twenty  rods  away,  it  required  a  full 
twenty  minutes  to  reach  the  railroad,  which  was 
struck  at  a  point  recognized  as  Ham's  crossing.  Some 
of  the  drivers  gave  the  lines  to  the  passengers  and 
walked,  encouraging  their  restless  and  confused  horses, 
leading  them  and  breaking  drifts  in  front.  In  this 
manner  slow  and  tedious  progress  was  made  toward 
the  village  by  the  little  caravan. 

The  roaring  blizzard,  the  dense  atmosphere,  the 
cutting,  freezing,  damp  snow,  the  fast  falling  tem- 
perature, the  anxiety  of  the  drivers  and  the  uneasiness 
of  the  horses  all  combined  to  create  anxiety  in  the 
minds  of  the  party.  To  add  to  the  evils,  one  of  the 
loads  was  overturned,  two  or  three  of  the  party  lost 
their  heads,  and  one  man  became  partially  deranged, 
crying  and  howling,  and  in  his  wildness  pulling  the 
robes  and  wraps  from  ladies  in  front  of  him,  saying 
1  hat  he  had  but  a  few  minutes  to  live  and  that  he 
must  get  warm  before  he  died.  The  people  from  the 
overturned  sled  attempted  to  walk,  but  with  one 
exception  soon  found  places  in  other  vehicles.  The 
exception,  in  fur  coat  and  silk  hat,  stumbled  through 
the  snow,  and,  becoming  exhausted,  sank  upon  the 
roadside  to  die.  He  was  seen  by  occupants  of  the 
last  sled,  who  stopped  and  pulled  him  into  their 
sleigh.     His  ears  and  face  were  frozen  terribly. 

At  half  past  six,  after  a  ride  of  three  and  one-half 
hours — two  and  a  half  hours  in  the  blizzard — the  last 
load  reached  the  village  and  put  up  at  its  one  hotel. 
Citizens  were  at  their  doors  discharging  guns  and  the 
school  bell  was  incessantly  clanging  its  alarm  to  guide 
the  storm-bound  procession  into  the  village,  but  these 
sounds  could  not  be  heard  beyond  the  village  in  the 
direction  of  the  travelers.  Everything  possible  was 
done  for  the  relief  of  the  passengers,  nearly  all  of  whom 
had  frozen  faces  and  chilled  limbs. 

Some  of  the  trainmen  started  to  walk  to  Tracy  from 
the  stalled  train  Thursday  afternoon  and  were  caught 
in  the  storm.  They  sought  shelter  in  a  grove  and 
later  found  their  way  to  a  farm  house.  The  next  day 
they  succeeded  in  reaching  Tracy. 

Those  who  remained  on  the  train  also  had  their 
troubles.  A  few  of  the  passengers  did  a  lot  of  grum- 
bling, made  no  effort  to  take  care  of  themselves,  and 
made  life  miserable  for  everybody.  Three  nights 
were  spent  on  the  stalled  train.  Saturday  the  railroad 
officials  at  Tracy  secured  teams  and  sent  a  relief  party, 
which  brought  off  the  imprisoned  passengers.  It  took 
all  day  to  drive  from  Tracy  to  the  train  and  most  of 
the  next  day  to  make  the  return  trip.  The  baggage- 
man, L.  S.  Tyler,  remained  on  the  train  until  it  was 
released  on  Tuesday.  That  day  Dr.  H.  M.  Workman 
headed  a  party  which  brought  to  Tracy  in  sleds  those 
of  the  passengers  who  had  made  the  trip  to  Balaton. 
Other  adventures  were  reported  in  different  parts 
of  the  county,  among  others  the  following: 

Arthur  Heath  left  Marshall  a  few  minutes  before  the 
storm  struck  with  a  load  of  manure  to  haul  a  short 
distance  beyond  the  village.  He  heard  the  approach 
of  the  storm  and,  turning,  saw  it  coming.  He  jumped 
off  the  load,  unhitched  the  team,  and  turned  them 
toward  the  barn,  but  the  horses  would  not  face  the 
storm.  He  then  went  with  them  with  the  storm  and 
fortunately  brought  up  at  the  building  at  the  fair 
grounds.      He  got  his  team  inside,  and  his  dog,  which 


western  Minnesota,  acting  as  agents  for 
the  Manitoba  road,  of  which  James  .1. 
Hill  was  the  presiding  genius.8  The 
officers  and  directors  chosen  at  the  time 
of  organization  were  J.  M.  Spicer,  of 
Willmar,  president;  D.  E.  Sweet,  of 
Pipestone,  vice  president:  C.  C.  Good- 
now,  of  Pipestone,  secretary;  C.  B. 
Tyler,     of    Marshall,    treasurer;    .1.     G. 

had  followed,  also  came  within.  Hatch  had  little 
clothing  on,  and.  getting  cold,  he  commenced  to 
tramp  around  the  building.  His  feet  became  cold  and 
he  took  the  blankets  from  his  horses,  wrapped  his  dog 
in  them,  and  lay  down  with  his  feet  next  to  the  do'g. 
Alternately  walking  and  warming  his  feet  in  that  way, 
he  passed  the  long  night.  In  the  morning  it  was  still 
cold  and  blizzarding  and  he  did  not  dare  to  try  to  gel 
home  in  his  condition.  The  man  was  missed  Thursday 
evening,  but  it  was  out  of  the  question  to  attempt  to 
find  him  in  such  a  storm.  The  next  morning  a  res- 
cuing party  found  him.  His  hands  and  feet  were 
badly  frozen,  but  with  care  he  came  out   all  right. 

Josiah  Clark's  two  sons  were  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
home  with  four  horses  and  were  given  up  as  lost  by 
their  father,  but  they  pulled  through,  found  the  house, 
and   the   horses   follovt  « - <  1    them  in. 

Hans  Peterson,  of  Coon  Creek  township,  anil  his 
fourteen-year-old  son,  Jay  P.  Peterson,  now  a  resident 
of  Russell,  came  near  losing  their  lives.  They  had 
just  finished  watering  their  herd  of  horses  in  the 
Redwood  river  when  the  howling  blizzard  struck  them 
The  horses  were  blinded  by  the  whirling  avalanche  of 

snow  and  all  except  one  blind  mare  thai  with  the 
storm  to  the  southeast.  The  Peterson  home  was  to 
the  east  and  the  man  and  boy  finally  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  barn,  bringing  with  them  the  blind  marc. 
In  order  that  they  might  not  become  lost  in  going 
from  the  barn  to  the  house,  one  stayed  at  the  barn 
and  hallooed  until  the  other  made  his  way  to  tin- 
house;  then  the  one  at  the  house  by  his  voice  directed 
the  other. 

They  had  hardly  entered  the  building  when  a 
rushing,  pounding  noise  was  heard  outside,  as  if  a 
hurricane  threatened  the  destruction  of  the  premises. 
Upon  rushing  out  they  discovered,  to  their  amazement , 
the  whole  herd  of  horses  within  the  open  space  about 
the  house,  they  having  plunged  headlong  into  it  from 
the  summits  of  the  encircling  drifts.  The  animals 
were  totally  blind,  the  entire  front  of  their  heads  beintr 
blocked  with  solid  ice.  They  were  rounded  up  and 
with  great  difficulty  got  into  the  barn.  It  is  the 
opinion  of  Mr.  Peterson  that  the  horses  heard  the 
shouts  of  the  men  at  the  house  and  blindly  made  their 
way  against  the  storm  to  where  instinct  told  them 
lay  safety. 

M.  S.  Fawcett  and  his  son,  who  lived  near  Balaton, 
lost  a  herd  of  cattle  and  only  through  good  fortune 
succeeded  in  getting  to  safety  themselves.  The 
blizzard  came  upon  them  while  they  were  driving  the 
stock  to  water,  only  a  short  distance  from  the  house. 
In  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  get  the  cattle  back  to 
the  barn,  they  became  lost.  They  finally  came  upon 
a  hedge  fence  that  led  them  to  the  barn. 

James  Harris  and  his  son  in  Grandview  had  a  close 
call  while  watering  their  stock.  The  stock  turned  and 
went  with  the  storm.  The  boy  was  on  a  horse,  without 
saddle,  bridle  or  halter,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  that  the  father  overtook  and  got  the  boy 
off  the  horse  and  then  found  his  way  home. 

In  Lvnd  township  Messrs.  Oilman  and  Gooder  were 
out  with  their  stock.  Gooder  became  lost  and  sought 
shelter  in  a  straw  stack.  By  the  merest  accident  Mr. 
Oilman  ran  across  him  and  rescued  him  in  a  freezing 
condition.     Each  lost  their  stock. 

Hans  Solberg  was  with  his  team  after  hay.  When 
the  storm  struck  he  unhitched  the  team,  fastened  the 
horses  to  the  wagon,  and  after  a  great  struggle  reached 
home.     His'ears  and  hands  were  frozen. 

8The  formal  transfer  of  the  Willmar  &  Sioux  Falls 
to  the  Manitoba  Company  was  made  in  September, 
1887,  before  the  line  was  constructed,  and  after 
January,  1890,  the  road  was  designated  Great  Northern. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


105 


Schutz,  of  Marshall;  11.  T.  Carson,  of 
Sioux  Falls.' 

The  information  was  given  out  that 
Mr.  Hill  was  the  promoter  of  the  new 
road  and  that  a  proposition  for  the 
issua  ce  of  bonds  as  a  bonus  would 
soon  be  submitted.  A  preliminary  sur- 
vey of  the  road,  which  was  to  run  from 
Willmar  to  Sioux  Falls,  was  begun  in 
April,  1886,  and  the  next  month  sur- 
veyors, working  from  the  south,  began 
working  on  the  line  in  Lyon  county. 
Then  activities  for  the  year  ceased. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1887  surveyors 
again  operated  in  the  county,  and  it 
became  evident  that  the  road  would  be 
built.  The  promoters  asked  for  town- 
ship bonds  of  all  townships  except 
Westerheim,  Eidsvold,  Nordland,  Rock 
Lake,  Custer,  Monroe  and  Ainiret.  to 
the  value  of  $35,200,  in  consideration 
of  which  they  would  have  the  line  com- 
pleted by  January  1.  1888.  The  elec- 
tion notices  were  posted  by  committees 
from  Marshall,  which  was  the  seat  of 
the  greatest  interest  in  the  campaign, 
and  the  first  election  was  held  in 
Stanley  and  bonds  carried.  Before  the 
other  elections  were  held  the  railroad 
authorities  stopped  proceedings  for  the 
purpose  of  presenting  a  new  proposition. 

This  was  to  the  effect  that  as  it  would 
be  impossible  to  have  the  road  in 
operation  when  promised,  an  extension 
of  time  was  asked  to  October  1,  1888, 
in  consideration  of  which  a  slight  re- 
duction in  the  amount  of  bonds  asked 
would  be  made.  Considerable  feeling 
was  aroused  because  of  the  delay,  but 

9The  Willmar  &  Sioux  Falls  Railroad  Company  was 
incorporated  with  a  capital  stock  of  $2, 000, 000  by 
J.  M.  Spicer  and  G.  H.  Perkins,  of  Willmar;  Gorham 
Powers,  of  Granite  Falls;  C.  B.  Tyler  and  J.  G.  Schutz, 
of  Marshall;  C.  C.  Goodnow  and  D.  E.  Sweet,  of 
Pipestone;  E.  A.  Sherman  and  H.  T.  Carson,  of  Sioux 
Falls. 

10Bonds  carried. 

uAs  a  matter  of  fact  only  a  part  of  the  bonds 
voted  ever  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  railroad 
company.  The  Marshall  News-Messenger  of  October 
23,  1903,  said; 

"The  village  of  Marshall  bonds  are  the  only  bonds 


new  election  notices  were  posted  ami 
the     elections     were     held.       Under     the 

new  terms  the  several  precincts  were 
asked    to    vote    $31,600,    but    it     was 

thought  probable  that  at  least  one 
township  would  vote  against  the  bonds, 
and  the  railroad  officers  let  it  be  known 
thai  they  would  be  satisfied  with 
$30,000. 

The  elections  were  held  in  May  and 
June.  The  amount  of  bonds  asked  of 
each  precinct  and  the  result  of  the  vote 
were  as  follows: 


PRECINCTS 

Bonds 

Asked 

For 

Bonds 

Against 
Bonds 

Lucas 

Vallers 

Grandview. . . . 

Fairview 

Clifton 

Lake  Marshall 
.Marshall 

Lynd10 

Island  Lake... 
( '(inn  Creek...  . 

Lyons 

Sodus 

Shelburne 

si  71  in 
900 
2000 
2400 
1400 
3400 

11 II  MX) 

3400 
900 

1000 
1500 

1000 
1400 

20 
16 
44 

28 

27 

33 

203 

36 

22 
36 
30 
13 

16 
25 

48 
3 
1 
0 

o 
ti 

0 
12 
25 
19 

Total 

$31,600 

The  failure  to  vote  bonds  in  Grand- 
view,  Vallers  and  Shelburne  resulted  in 
raising  only  $27,300,  or  $2700  short  of 
the  sum  demanded.  To  make  up  the 
deficiency  the  village  of  Marshall,  on 
April  17,  1888,  voted  $3000  additional 
bonds,  nominally  to  furnish  depot 
grounds  ami  right  of  way  in  Marshall. 
The  bonds  were  carried  by  a  vote  of 
128  to  10. X1 

The  roadbed  of  the  Willmar  &  Sioux 

ever  issued  and  turned  over  to  the  railroad  company. 
The  towns  of  Lynd  and  Lyons  issued  their  bonds  but 
forbade  their  delivery  to  the  railroad  company  until 
a  like  amount  of  stock  value  of  the  road  was  delivered 
to  said  towns  in  exchange  for  the  bonds,  meanwhile 
placing  the  bonds  in  trust  with  C.  B.  Tyler,  who  has 
retained  their  custody  during  the  past  fifteen  years. 
None  of  the  other  towns  issued  the  bonds  they  hadtso 
freely  voted,  and  presumably  for  the  same  reason  that 
the  Lynd  and  Lyons  bonds  were  held  in  escrow.  .  .  . 
It  is  a  singular  fact  that  neither  the  old  Willmar  & 
Sioux  Falls  Company,  the  Great  Northern  Company, 
nor  any  party  having  a  claim  to  the  bonds  have  ever 
demanded  the  same  during  the  fifteen  yeurs  that  they 
have  been  held  in  escrow." 


106 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Falls  railroad  was  graded  dining  the 
summer  and  fall  of  1887,  not  being  com- 
pleted until  early  in  December.  The 
track  was  laid  in  August,  1SSS,  Marshall 
being  reached  on  the  twenty-first  of 
that  month.  Trains  were  operated 
north  from  Marshall  on  September  11, 
and  between  that  village  and  Pipestone 
early  in  October.  The  work  of  con- 
struction was  somewhat  delayed  in  the 
vicinity  of  Camden  because  of  the  large 
number  of  bridges  necessary  to  build 
there. 

The  construction  of  the  railroad  had 
a  wholesome  effect  on  Lyon  county. 
The  villages  of  Cottonwood,  Green 
Valley,  Lynd.  Russell  and  Florence  were 
founded  as  a  result.  The  northeastern 
and  southwestern  portions  of  the  county, 
which  before  had  not  been  thickly 
settled,  were  rapidly  filled  with  settlers. 
Adding  to  the  prevailing  active  times, 
one  of  the  best  crops  of  years  was 
harvested  in  1888. 

Another  railroad  that  was  projected 
in  1888  was  the  Minnesota  &  Northern, 
which  proposed  to  build  a  line  from  the 
south  through  Tracy  and  thence  to  the 
north.  In  July  Tracy  and  Monroe 
township  voted  bonds  to  aid  in  its  con- 
struction, but  the  company  failed  to 
build  because  of  lack  of  capital. 

On  .Inly  22.  1890.  a  cyclone  visited 
Lyon  county  and  left  a  trail  of  death, 
ruined  crops  and  wrecked  homes  in  a 
narrow  strip  of  country  in  Eidsvold, 
Westerheim  and  Grandview  townships. 
The  cyclone  formed  at  about  twenty 
minutes  before  six  o'clock  at  a  point 
about  seven  miles  north  of  Minneota. 
The  cloud  formation  is  said  to  have  been 
one  of  the  most  singular  spectacles  ever 
witnessed.  The  clouds  concentrated  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  form  the  distinct 
Midlines  of  a  human  head,  of  mammoth 
proportions,  with  the  wind , apparently 
issuing  from  the  open  mouth. 


The  twisting  formation  started  upon, 
its  travels  in  an  easterly  direction  and 
continued  in  that  direction  about  one- 
half  mile.  Its  width  varied  from  two 
to  ten  rods.  It  suddenly  took  a  turn 
to  the  south  and  ran  a  furious  race  to 
within  three-quarters  of  a  mile  of 
Minneota;  then,  after  seeming  to  rest 
for  a  second,  it  took  a  southeasterly 
course  with  more  fury  than  ever. 

Throughout  its  course  in  Eidsvold 
township  the  cyclone  scattered  grass. 
grain  and  dirt  in  the  air,  but  struck  no 
buildings.  On  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  20,  Westerheim,  the  large  barn 
of  B.  L.  Leland  was  struck.  The  roof 
and  two  sides  were  torn  out,  but  the 
house,  in  which  was  the  family,  eight 
rods  distant,  was  not  damaged. 

The  next  place  attacked  was  the 
home  of  Felix  DeReu,  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  28,  Westerheim,  and 
here  the  storm  commenced  its  deadly 
work.  In  the  house  were  Mrs.  DeReu 
and  four  children — Cyriel,  Bertha,  Julius 
and  a  baby.  The  house  was  struck  with 
such  terrific  force  that  it  was  smashed 
into  fragments,  and  beneath  the  ruins 
were  buried  the  DeReu  family.  The 
mother  had  gathered  the  children  and 
with  the  baby  in  her  arms  had  started 
for  the  cellar  when  the  storm  broke. 

Cyriel,  the  eldest  child,  was  so  badly 
injured  that  he  died  the  following 
morning;  Mrs.  DeReu's  limb  was  broken 
just  above  the  ankle;  Julius  sustained  a 
broken  leg;  and  Bertha  was  so  badly 
injured  that  for  a  time  her  life  was 
despaired  of.  The  other  child,  although 
carried  a  distance  of  over  two  hundred 
yards,  was  uninjured.  Mr.  DeReu  was 
buried  in  the  ruins  of  the  granary  and 
badly  bruised  but  not  seriously  hurt. 
All  the  buildings  on  the  place  were 
leveled  to  the  ground  in  almost  an 
instant  and  scattered  over  the  prairie; 
not  a  single  thing  that  goes  to  make  up 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  (OI'XTY. 


107 


a  farmer's  home  was  left  whole.  Even 
the  farm  machinery  thai  stood  on  the 
premises  was  broken  up  and  scattered 

broadcast  over  the  fields  in  six-inch 
pieces. 

The  cyclone  continued  its  southeast- 
erly course  and  struck  with  awful  vio- 
lence at  the  home  of  Andrew  Opdahl, 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  34, 
Westerheim.  The  house,  barn  and  gran- 
ary were  whirled  through  the  air  and 
scattered  over  the  prairie,  not  a  board 
or  timber  being  left  in  its  original  size. 
Mrs.  Opdahl  and  her  child  were  taken 
up  by  the  storm  and  dashed  back  to 
earth.  Both  were  badly  bruised  and 
cut  but  not  seriously  injured.  Mr. 
Opdahl  was  returning  from  Ghent  and 
saw  the -wrecking  of  his  home.  Two 
horses  were  lifted  bodily,  carried  several 
rods,  and  deposited  in  a  neighbor's 
field. 

A  little  farther  on  its  course  the 
cyclone  passed  within  a  few  rods  of 
Thomas  Carron's  house,  and  then  seemed 
to  lift.  A  parting  puff  removed  the 
chimney  from  a  blacksmith  shop  in 
Ghent  and  then  the  twister  vanished. 

The  census  of  1890  showed  a  popula- 
tion of  9501  in  Lyon  county,  an  increase 
of  1523  in  five  years.12  Great  progress 
was  made  in  material  advancement 
during  1890  and  the  following  year. 
The  News-Messenger  of  November  20, 
1891,  described  conditions:  "A  season 
of  healthf ulness,  a  crop  of  remarkable 
bounteousness,  "a  year  of  unparalleled 
growth  for  Marshall  and  Lyon  county, 
enormous  trade  at  all  stores,  unprece- 
dented payments  of  mortgages  and  old 
debts,  and  most  promising  prospects 
for  the  future." 

Lyon  county's  court  house  was  built 
in  1891,  after  many  years'  effort.     Upon 

J2By  precincts  the  population  in  1890  was  as  follows: 
Amiret,  294;  Clifton,  245;  Coon  Creek,  258;  Custer, 
321;  Eidsvold,  413;  Fairview,  266;  Grandview,  443; 
Island    Lake,    300;    Lake    Marshall,    233;    Lucas,    466; 


the  removal  of  the  county  seat  to  Mar- 
shall early  in  hX74,  in  accordance  with 
their  promise,  the  townsite  owners, 
Messrs.  Stewart,  .Jenkins,  Ward  and 
Blake,  donated  the  block  of  ground 
upon  which  the  building  now  stands. 
At  the  same  time  the  free  use  of  the 
office  of  .).  W.  Blake  was  given  for  the 
transaction  of  county  business  ami  for 
a  time  that  was  the  Lyon  county  court 
house.  Apparently  it  was  not  in  use 
long,  for  on  October  15,  1875,  we  find 
this  complaint  in  the  Marshall  Messen- 
ger: "Just  now,  it  seems,  we  are  out 
of  court  house  room,  and  our  offices  can 
be  found  lying  around  in  cheap  corners 
most  anywhere." 

The  first  official  action  toward  the 
construction  of  a  court  house  was  taken 
by  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners 
in  July,  1874,  when  the  following  reso- 
lution was  passed: 

"Resolved  that  there  be  a  special  tax 
of  one  mill  on  the  dollar,  payable  in 
money  only,  levied  on  the  taxable 
property  of  Lyon  county  for  the  year 
1874,  and  for  eight  succeeding  years, 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  court  house 
in  said  county." 

It  was  also  provided  that  the  money 
so  raised  should  be  loaned  on  Lyon 
county  real  estate,  all  loans  to  be  made 
payable  March  1,  1883.  The  times  were 
such,  however,  that  sentiment  was 
against  the  levying  of  this  tax,  and  on 
October,  1875,  the  action  was  rescinded 
and  $68.83  in  the  court  house  fund  was 
transferred  to  another  fund. 

The  first  county  building,  erected  on 
the  court  house  square,  was  put  up  in 
June,  1876.  Its  dimensions  were  18x24 
feet  and  it  was  twelve  feet  high.  Joshua 
Goodwin  was  the  contractor.  This  little 
building    was    occupied    until    the    new 

Lynd,  380;  Lyons,  344;  Marshall,  1203;  Minneota, 
325;  Monroe,  252;  Nordland,  357;  Rock  Lake,  395; 
Shelburne,  275;  Sodus,  280;  Stanley,  198;  Tracy,  1400; 
Vallers,  397;  Westerheim,  456. 


108 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


court  house   was  erected.     It   was  sold 
December  7.  1892,  for  $281. 

Early  in  1881  an  effort  was  made  to 
build  a  court  house  and  jail.  A  bill 
ed  the  Legislature  and  was  approved 
March  7.  which  authorized  the  issuance 
of  bonds,  not  to  exceed  $15,000.  for  the 
purposes,  but  it  was  not  to  become 
operative  until  it  had  been  ratified  by  a 
vote  <>f  the  electors.  Sentiment  was 
still  against  the  expenditure  and  the 
question  was  not  submitted  to  the 
voters. 

In  December  of  the  same  year  the 
commissioners  purchased  of  George 
Nichols  for  $1500  a  building  on  Main 
Street,  which  for  the  next  nine  years 
was  used  for  court  purposes.13  It  was 
sold  in  July,  1891,  for  $2500. 

Not  until  1889  did  the  court  house 
question  again  become  a  live  issue. 
Then  Representative  A.  C.  Forbes  in- 
troduced a  bill  which  provided  for  the 
repeal  of  the  1881  measure  (authorizing 
a  bond  issue  of  $15,000)  and  for  author- 
ity to  issue  bonds  to  the  amount  of 
$51 ).()()().  There  were  several  restrictive 
provisions:  the  bonds  were  not  to  be 
is;  wed  unless  the  act  was  ratified  by 
majority  vote  at  a  special  election,  and 
the  election  was  not  to  be  called  unless 
a  petition  (naming  the  amount  of  bonds 
to  be  voted  for),  signed  by  at  least  five 
resident  freeholders  who  were  legal 
voters  in  each  voting  precinct  in  the 
count\-  was  filed.  If  the  bond  issue 
were  defeated  at  one  election,  another 
might  be  called  to  vote  on  the  same 
question. 

The  bill  was  passed  and  approved  by 
Governor  Merriam,  but  not  without 
Opposition.  An  indignation  meeting  was 
held  in  Tracy  and  a  committee  of  fhree 

Those  who  advocate  the  building  of  a  court  house 
think  this  purchase  .-in  unwise  one,  bu1  those  m  favor 
of  delaying  the  court  house  building  until  we  know 
what  we  want  think  the  purchase  of » the  Nichols 
Building  an  economical  and  safe  investment.  .  .  . 
The   lower  (Ktrt   of  the   building  makes  a   good   court 


was  sent  to  St.  Paul  to  protest  against 
the  signing  of  the  bill.  Remonstrances 
were  liberally  signed  in  parts  of  the 
county  and  forwarded  to  St.  Paul.  It 
soon  became  known  that  the  people  of 
the  county  generally  were  opposed  to 
the  expenditure  of  so  great  a  sum.  and 
as  in  former  cases  the  matter  was  not 
voted  on. 

The  final  struggle  for  the  court  house 
came  in  1891.  Prosperous  times  were 
then  enjoyed  and  there  was  a  surplus  of 
$18,000  in  the  county  treasury.  The 
matter  was  taken  up  early  in  the  year 
by  the  farmers  alliance  organizations, 
which  at  the  time  were  powerful  in  the 
county.  They  passed  resolutions  in 
favor  of  the  erection  of  a  building  to 
cost  in  the  neighborhood  of  $25,000, 
but  were  opposed  to  the  expenditure  of 
$50,000,  as  the  former  bill  provided. 

A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  Legisla- 
ture by  Representative  C.  H.  White 
providing  for  the  erection  of  a  court 
house  at  a  cost  of  not  more  than  $25,000. 
The  County  Board  was  authorized  to 
use  the  funds  on  hand  and  to  issue  bonds 
for  the  balance.  Again  the  question 
was  to  be  submitted  to  the  people  and 
the  county  auditor  was  directed  to  call 
a  special  election. 

Again  the  people  of  Tracy  and  those 
parts  of  the  county  opposed  to  the 
measure  raised  a  protest  and  threatened 
to  bring  on  a  county  scat  contest.  An 
offer  was  made  to  build  and  donate  to 
the  county  a  court  house  at  Tracy, 
providing  the  county  seat  should  be 
moved  to  that  village.  The  bill  passed 
the  Lower  House  under  suspension  of 
the  fules,  and  a  delegation  from  Tracy 
made  an  effort  to  have  it  reconsidered. 
but  was  unsuccessful.      A  fight  was  then 

room,  and  above  there  are  two  good  jury  rooms. 
This  building  will  furnish  ample  accommodation  for 
court  business  tin  so  mi  years  to  come  and  can  be  let 
for  other  purposes  between  terms  if  desired."  — 
Marshall  Messenger,  December  15,  1881. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


KC) 


made  before  committees  of  the  Senate 

and  for  two  weeks  the  bill  was  one  of 
the  principal  topics  of  discussion  at  the 
capitol.  The  court  house  adherents 
were  successful;  the  bill  passed  the. 
Senate  in  March  and  was  approved  by 
t  he  governor. 

The  election  to  decide  the  question 
was  held  on  Saturday.  May  9,  1891,  and 
was  the  fiercest  fought  battle  of  ballots 
ever  witnessed  in  Lyon  county.  It  was 
in  a  measure  a  sectional  fight,  with 
Marshall  and  adjoining  territory  on  one. 
side  and  Tracy  and  adjoining  territory 
on  the  other.  The  result  was  939  votes 
in  favor  of  building  the  court  house  and 
862  against.  The  several  precincts  voted 
as  follows: 


PRECINCTS 


Marshall 

Tracy 

Minneota 

Amiret 

Clifton 

Coon  Creek . . . 

Custer 

Eidsvold 

Fairview 

Grandview 
Island  Lake . . 
Lake  Marshall 

Lucas 

Lynd 

Lyons 

Monroe 

Nordland 
Rock  Lake . . . 

Shelburne 

Sodus 

Stanley 

Vallers 

Westerheim. . 

Total 


For 
Building 


350 

0 

33 

4 

50 

21 

0 

3 

54 

49 

10 

60 

50 

55 

28 

0 

5 

20 

17 

20 

41 

47 

22 


Against 
Building 


0 

305 

32 

56 

0 
12 
69 
45 

1 
14 
30 

0 
23 

8 
14 
66 
49 
62 

9 
31 

0 

5 
31 


939 


862 


There  was  a  big  celebration  by  the 
people  of  Marshall  on  election  night,  and 
Monday  there  was  a  bigger  celebration 
in  honor  of  the  victory,  in  which  people 
from  many  parts  of  the  county  partici- 
pated. The  committee  under  whose 
direction    the    campaign    for   the    court 


house  was  waged  was  composed  of 
A.  C.  Chittenden.  V.  B.  Seward.  M. 
Sullivan,  C.  F.  Johnson,  A.  R.  Chace, 
Olof  Pehrson,  R.  M.  Addison  and  F.  E. 
Persons. 

There  was  no  delay  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  building.  On  May  19  Frank 
Thayer,  of  Mankato,  was  employed  as 
architect  and  superintendent  of  con- 
struction. The  contract  was  let  June 
11,  1891,  to  D.  D.  Smith,  of  Minneapolis, 
on  a  bid  of  $22,290,  increased  later  by 
$700  by  reason  of  changes  in  plans. 
Other  contracts  were  let  for  vaults,  etc., 
in  the  sum  of  $1058.  Work  of  excava- 
tion for  the  court  house  was  begun 
early  in  July,  the  corner  stone  was  laid 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Masonic  order 
September  3,  and  the  structure  was  com- 
pleted and  was  to  have  been  dedicated 
January  15,  1892. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  January  8 
the  new  building  was  discovered  to  be 
on  fire  and  within  a  few  hours  only  the 
walls  of  the  building  were  standing. 
The  sum  of  $14,622  was  secured  in 
insurance.  A  contract  for  rebuilding 
the  court  house  was  let  in  March,  1892, 
to  J.  D.  Carroll,  of  St.  Paul,  on  a  bid  of 
$13,893,  and  the  building  was  accepted 
by  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners 
on  November  14. 

There  were  prospects  for  an  enormous 
crop  in  1892  and  a  continuation  of 
prosperous  times,  but  the  march  of 
progress  was  interrupted  by  a  series  of 
storms  which  brought  destruction  to  a 
big  part  of  the  crop. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  August  5, 
1892,  a  tornado  did  some  damage  in 
Marshall,  demolishing  a  residence,  bring- 
ing a  $1500  damage  to  the  court  house 
in  course  of  construction,  and  twisting 
barns  and  overturning  several  small 
buildings.  The  loss  was  about  $2500. 
The  next  disaster  of  the  season  came 
August  8,  when  a  wind  and  hail  storm, 


110 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


within  the  space  of  ten  minutes,  brought 
damage  in  Lyon  county  to  the  amount  of 
nearly  a  half  million  dollars.  The 
amounf  of  hail  and  the  size  of  the 
stones  were  without  precedent.  In  Mar- 
shall the  storm  took  the  same  course  as 
the  one  of  three  days  before.  Several 
buildings  were  wrecked,  including  the 
Icelandic  church,  one  or  two  residences, 
and  several  barns.  The  damage  in  the 
village  was  only  $3000  or  $4000. 

The  storm  was  from  five  to  eight  miles 
wide  and  extended  across  the  central 
part  of  the  county  from  west  to  east. 
The  townships  of  Island  Lake,  Lynd 
and  Lake  Marshall  were  completely 
covered,  although  in  rare  instances  here 
and  there  a  quarter  section  escaped  with 
little  damage  through  a  freak  in  the 
elements'  course.  The  loss  in  those 
townships  was  nearly  total.  About 
three-fourths  of  Nordland  township  was 
covered,  as  were  also  the  two  southern 
tiers  of  sections  in  Grandview  and 
Fairview,  the  eastern  and  central  parts 
of  Clifton,  and  the  north  tiers  of  sections 
of  Sodus  and  Lyons.  It  was  estimated 
that  one-sixth  of  the  county's  grain  crop 
was  lost.  The  acreage  of  grain  de- 
stroyed was  placed  at  39,280  and  the 
money  loss  $471,360. 

On  August  13  a  heavy  wind  storm, 
general  over  the  county,  brought  another 
loss.  The  grain  still  standing  was 
pounded  down,  so  that  much  of  it  was 
absolutely  worthless. 

The  memorable  panic  of  1893  and  a 
lew  years  of  stringent  times  followed; 
the  decade  of  development  was  rudely 
interrupted.  There  was  a  period  of 
partial  crop  failures  and  low  prices  and 
the  count}  passed  through  a  time  of 
depression.  Several  firms  failed  and 
business  was  paralyzed.  The  preceding 
years  of  plenty  had  induced  many  to 
enlarge  their  holdings.  Farmers  had 
purchased    more   lands,    increased    their 


stock,  erected  new  buildings,  largely  on 
credit,  and  on  them  fell  a  heavy  hand. 

On  July  5,  1893,  came  a  most  de- 
structive hail  storm,  which,  however, 
brought  loss  to  only  a  small  part  of  the 
county,  in  the  extreme  southwestern 
corner.  The  damage  in  Lincoln  and 
Murray  counties  was  great,  and  in  the 
southern  half  of  Shelburne  township  all 
exposed  plant  life  was  destroyed.  The 
fields  were  left  blackened  and  only  the 
roots  of  the  crops  were  left. 

Another  hail  storm  visited  parts  of 
the  county  on  August  19,  1893,  and 
brought  some  loss.  The  principal  dam- 
age was  done  in  the  southern  and 
western  portions.  Most  of  the  small 
grain  was  in  shock  or  stack  and  escaped 
injury,  but  late  flax  and  corn  were 
badly  damaged. 

When  winter  approached  the  effects 
of  the  times  were  apparent.  The  Mar- 
shall News-Messenger  of  December  8, 
1893,  told  of  conditions: 

The  first  whisperings  of  destitution  in  our 
midst  are  being  heard,  and  the  low  murmuring* 
will  soon  increase  to  emphatic  demands  upon  the 
charitably  inclined.  The  conditions  point  to  a 
winter  of  suffering  among  the  poor.   .  .   . 

There  are  today  in  our  midst  a  half  dozen 
families,  large  in  numbers,  who  are  in  want  of 
food,  fuel  and  clothing,  and  in  the  tributary 
territory  there  are  scores  of  such  families;  their 
numbers  here  and  around  us  will  increase  as 
cold  weather  continues.  Many  may  easily  be 
found  and  others  will  not  make  their  wants 
known  until  after  much  suffering  and  the  danger 
line  is  reached.  In  the  country  are  men,  at  the 
head  of  large  families,  strong  in  physique  and 
proud  in  spirit,  who  have  never  known  poverty 
or  needed  aid,  who  today  are  penniless,  without 
supplies  for  their  families,  feed  for  their  stock, 
or  even  seed  for  the  next  crop.  In  most  cases 
the  fault  is  not  theirs,  but  their  condition  follows 
storm-swept  fields,  an  unremunerative  market, 
and  collections  pressed  by  the  necessity  of 
creditors,  demanding  the  last  bushel  of  grain 
and  last  head  of  stock.  In  other  cases  unwise 
methods  have  proven  quite  disastrous  that 
under  ordinary  circumstances  might  have 
proved  fairly  profitable.  Others  are  destitute 
owing  to  their  own  improvidence  and  shiftless- 
ness,  and  in  some  cases  to  dissipation. 

Adding  to  the  severity  of  the  times, 
in  1894  came  the  first  Lyon  county  crop 
failure    since    grasshopper    days.        The 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COIXTY. 


Ill 


calamity  was  caused  by  drought.  Hani 
times  in  the  midst  of  plenty  summarized 
the  record  for  1895.  No  previous  year 
was  more  richly  blessed  by  t  he  generosity 
of  Nature,  and  yet  the  cry  of  hard  times 
was  more  frequently  heard  than  in 
either  of  the  two  preceding  years.  The 
harvest  was  of  unusual  bounty  and 
under  normal  conditions  would  have 
placed  the  people  of  Lyon  county  in 
comfortable  circumstances,  but  the 
prices  for  grain  were  hardly  sufficient 
to  pay  for  threshing  and  hauling  to 
market.  The  assessed  valuation  of  the 
county  in  1895  had  increased  to  over 
four  million  dollars.11  The  population 
that  year  was  12.42."),  an  increase  of 
2024  in  five  years.15 

The  lean  years  of  the  hard  times 
period  following  the  panic  of  1893  con- 
tinued until  1897.  Then  abundant 
crops,  aided  by  better  conditions  in  the 
country  at  large,  brought  a  change  in 
the  status.  During  the  years  1897  to 
1902,  inclusive,  excellent  crops  were  the 
rule  and  hundreds  of  new  settlers  came 
to  share  in  the  bounteous  times.  Land 
values  jumped  several  hundred  per  cent. 
It  was  a  time  of  unprecedented  pros- 
perity. 

The  Lyon  county  jail  and  sheriff's 
residence  was  built  in  1899  and  1900. 
The  contract  was  let  June  19,  1899,  to 
Pauly  Jail  Building  and  Manufacturing 
Company,  on  a  bid  of  $10,575.  The 
building  was  completed  and  accepted  by 
the  County  Board  March  6,  1900.  The 
total  cost  was  $11,797.88. 

Another   increase    in    population    was 

1JThe  assessed  valuation  for  the  decade  before  had 
been  as  follows:  1S86,  $2,074,248;  1887,  .82,210,371; 
1888,  $2,453,092;  1889,  $2,532,340;  1890,  $2,723,722; 
1891,  $2,844,436;  1892,  $3,687,465;  1893,  $3,899,005; 
1894,  $4,001,781;  1895,  $4,028,091. 

15By  precincts  the  population  in  1895  was  as  follows: 
Amiret,  360;  Balaton,  222;  Clifton,  311;  Coon  Creek, 
415;  Cottonwood,  303;  Custer,  387;  Eidsvold,  504; 
Fairview,  373;  Grandview,  471;  Island  Lake,  360; 
Lake  Marshall,  328;  Lucas,  399;  Lvnd,  429;  Lyons, 
476;  Marshall,  1744;  Minneota,  512;  Monroe,  386; 
Nordland,     440;     Rock     Lake,     335;     Shelburne,     366; 


made    known    by    the    census    of    1900. 
That  year  the  population  was  14,591,  or 

2166  more  than  it  had  been  in  ISO.")."1 

Lyon  county's  last  railroad,  the  branch 
of  the  Northwestern  from  Evan  to 
Marshall,  was  built  during  1901  and 
1902.  For  the  purpose  of  building  this 
road,  the  Minnesota  Western  Railroad 
Company  was  formed  in  July,  1901. 
grading  for  the  new  line  was  commenced 
in  August,  and  late  in  the  fall  the  grade 
was  completed.  Tracklaying  was  begun 
the  next  spring  and  was  completed  to 
the  junction  near  Marshall  on  July  11, 
1902.  Train  service  was  begun  August 
13. 

The  year  1903  brought  an  interrup- 
tion to  the  series  of  big  crop  productions. 
This  was  caused  by  excessive  rainfall 
and  the  most  destructive  hail  storm  in 
the  county's  history,  excepting  the  one 
of  1892.  The  hail  storm  came  on  the 
morning  of  July  1.  Its  width  was  two 
to  four  miles  and  it  extended  south- 
easterly from  the  northwest  corner  of 
Island  Lake  township.  The  principal 
damage  Avas  in  the  townships  of  Island 
Lake,  Lynd,  Lake  Marshall,  Sodus, 
Clifton  and  Amiret.  In  the  path  of  the 
storm  the  loss  was  almost  complete. 
The  storm  proved  to  be  only  a  tem- 
porary check  to  the  forward  movement. 

A  county  fair  association  was  organ- 
ized in  1904.  Grounds  were  purchased 
near  Marshall  for  $6000,  buildings  were 
erected,  and  since  that  date  fairs  have 
regularly  been  held. 

The  census  of  1905  gave  Lyon  county 
a  population  of   16,171,   an  increase  of 

Sodus,   350;   Stanley,   271;   Tracy,    16S7;   Vallers,   502; 
Westerheim,  494. 

16The  population  by  precincts  in  1900  was  as  follows: 
Amiret,  407;  Balaton,  209;  Clifton,  365;  Coon  Creek, 
672;  Cottonwood,  549:  Custer,  467;  Eidsvold,  581; 
Fairview,  406;  Ghent,  119;  Grandview,  427;  Island 
Lake,  384;  Lake  Marshall,  377;  Lucas,  461;  Lynd,  488; 
Lyons,  469;  Marshall,  2088;  Minneota,  .  77 ;  Monroe, 
387;  Nordland,  458;  Rock  Lake,  404;  Shelburne,  469; 
Sodus,  376;  Stanley,  360;  Tracy,  1911;  Vallers,  479; 
Westerheim,  501. 


112 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


1580  over  the  enumeration  of  1900.17 
The  last  few  years  of  Lyon  county's 
history  have,  indeed,  been  prosperous 
ones.  It  has  developed  into  one  of  the 
richest  agricultural  counties  in  the  state 
of  Minnesota.  Bountiful  crops  and  good 
prices  have  been  the  rule.18  Land 
values  at  the  present  writing  (1912)  are 
the  highest  they  have  ever  been,  several 
transfers  having  been  made  at  $100  pe# 
acre. 

In  1910  the  population  of  Lyon 
county  was  15,722,  divided  among  the 
several  precincts  as  follows : 

.\miret 444 

Balaton 364 

Clifton 395 

Coon  Creek 525 

17By  precincts  the  population  in  1905  was  as  follows 
Amiret,  438;  Balaton,  350;  Clifton,  426;  Coon  Creek 
542;  Cottonwood,  883;  Custer,  414;  Eidsvold,  448 
Fairview,  467;  Garvin,  107;  Ghent,  193;  Grandview 
459;  Island  Lake,  399;  Lake  Marshall,  413;  Lucas,  475 
Lynd,  562;  Lyons,  445;  Marshall,  2243;  Minneota,  954 
Monroe,  402;  Nordland,  429;  Rock  Lake,  413;  Russell 
275;  Shelburne,  460;  Sodus,  379;  Stanley,  419;  Taunton 
196;  Tracv,  2015;  Vallers,  481;  Westerheim,  484. 


Cottonwood 770 

Custer 617 

Eidsvold 472 

Fairview 410 

Ghent 210 

Grandview 468 

Island  Lake 374 

Lake  Marshall 415 

Lucas 462 

Lynd ".  .  568 

Lyons 451 

Marshall 2152 

Minneota 819 

Monroe 471 

Nordland 460 

Rock  Lake 402 

Russell 262 

Shelburne 432 

Sodus 358 

Stanley 396 

Taunton 205 

Tracy 1876 

Vallers 449 

Westerheim 495 

Total 15,722 

1SA  severe  wind,  rain  and  hail  storm  brought  loss  to 
crops  in  a  small  portion  of  the  county  June  20,  1908. 
The  damage  was  confined  to  small  tracts  north  of 
Minneota  and  east  of  Marshall.  In  parts  of  the  county 
some  damage  to  small  grain  was  brought  by  hot  winds 
in  the  summer  of  1911,  but  the  loss  was  not  great. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


POLITICAL — 1 869-1 912. 


BEFORE  taking  up  the  political 
history  of  Lyon  county,  let  us 
resume  briefly  the  story  of  events 
that  led  to  its  organization.  Lyon 
county,  it  will  be  remembered,  had  in 
turn  formed  parts  of  the  counties  of 
Waubashaw,  Blue  Earth,  Brown  and 
Redwood,  and  not  until  the  Legislature 
passed  an  enabling  act  in  1869  was  Lyon 
county  entitled  to  a  place  on  the  map 
of  Minnesota  as  a  political  division  of 
itself,  and  then  it  embraced  also  the 
territory  now  known  as  Lincoln  county. 
When  Lyon  county  was  created  it  was 
very  sparsely  settled,  and  in  the  thirty- 
five  townships  comprising  its  area  was 
a  mere  handful  of  residents;  a  year 
later,  when  the  first  election  was  held, 
the  population  was  less  than  300  and 
the  voters  numbered  only  seventy-eight. 
Difficulties  were  encountered  in  effect- 
ing the  organization  of  the  county  after 
it  had  been  created.  In  December, 
1869,  Governor  William  R.  Marshall 
named  A.  W.  Muzzy,  E.  R.  Horton  and 
Daniel  Williams  commissioners,  Edmund 
Lamb  auditor,  and  Charles  Hildreth 
sheriff,  and  vested  them  with  authority 
to    set    in    motion    the    machinery    of 


county  government.  Circumstances  pre- 
vented an  immediate  carrying  into 
effect  of  these  plans.  Mr.  Horton  was 
absent  from  the  county  at  the  time  of 
his  appointment  and  did  not  return. 
Mr.  Williams  departed  soon  after  the 
appointment  and  remained  for  a  pro- 
tracted visit.  These  absences  reduced 
the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  to 
one  member  and,  of  course,  it  was  out 
of  the  question  for  the  remaining 
member  to  act  as  the  County  Board. 

The  residents  of  the  new  county  were 
anxious  for  organization,  particularly 
that  they  might  participate  in  the 
election  of  1870,  and  in  the  summer  of 
that  year  Horace  Austin,  who  had 
become  governor  of  Minnesota,  ap- 
.  pointed  Levi  S.  Kiel  to  serve  as  one  of 
the  commissioners. 

The  organization  was  perfected  on  the 
twelfth  day  of  August,  1870,  when  two 
members  of  the  board,  A.  W.  Muzzy  and 
Levi  S.  Kiel,  met  at  the  home  of  Luman 
Ticknor  in  Upper  Lynd.  At  that  time 
Messrs.  Muzzy  and  Kiel  took  the  oaths 
of  office,  as  did  also  Edmund  Lamb  as 
county  auditor.  Mr.  Muzzy  was  chosen 
chairman    of    the    board.1     These    were 


Chairmen  of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners 
have  been  as  follows:  A.  W.  Muzzy,  1870;  Timothy 
S.  Eastman,  1871-72;  M.  L.  Wood,  1873;  .James 
Mitchell,  Jr.,  1874-75-77-79-80-82;  Gordon  Watson, 
1876;  H.  T.  Oakland,  1878;  M.  C.  Humphrey,  1881; 
E.    L.    Starr,    1883;    V.    M.   Smith,    1884;   John    Noble, 


1891-92-04-10;  J.  J.  Hartigan,  1893;  Ole  J.  Wignes, 
1894-00;  Ole  F.  Norwood,  1S95;  Robert  Heilman, 
1896;  T.  P.  Baldwin,  1897;  John  A".  Hunter,  1898-01; 
D.  S.  Phillips,  1899;  C.  W.  Candee,  1902-03;  Levi  S. 
Kiel,  1905;  C.  K.  Melby,  1906;  John  N.  Jones,  1907; 
J.     M.     Wardell,     1908-12;    T.     K.    Thompson,     1909; 


1885-86;  Hugh  Neill,   1887-88-89-90;  O.  H.  Hatlestad,        C.  E.  Etrheim,  1911;  James  McGinn,  1912 


114 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


the  only  officers  Lyon  county  had  until 
the  officers  elected  on  November  8, 
1870,  qualified  on  January  3,  1871. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  County  Board  on 
October  8,  1870,  the  county  was  divided 
into  five  election  precincts,  polling 
places  were  designated,  and  judges  of 
election  were  appointed  for  the  ap- 
proaching election,  as  follows: 

Saratoga  (embracing  the  present  townships  of 
Monroe,  Custer,  Sodus  and  Amiret) — Polling 
place,  house  of  George  Robinson;  judges,  Joseph 
W  agner,  James  Mitchell,  Clarence  Avery. 

Marshall  (embracing  present  townships  of 
Stanley,  Fairview,  Lake  Marshall  and  Clifton) — 
Polling  place,  house  of  C.  H.  Upton;  judges, 
C.  H.  Upton,  Joseph  Carter,  L.  Langdon. 

Upper  Yellow  Medicine  (embracing  present 
townships  of  Lucas,  Vallers,  Westerheim,  Eids- 
vold  and  Alta  Vista) — Polling  place  and  judges 
not  named. 

Lynd  (embracing  present  townships  of  Grand- 
view,  Nordland,  Island  Lake,  Lynd,  Lyons, 
Coon  Creek,  Shelburne  and  Rock  Lake) — ■ 
Polling  place,  house  of  Luman  Ticknor;  judges, 
A.  W.  Muzzy,  A.  R.  Cummins,  Luman  Ticknor. 2 

Lake  Benton  (embracing  all  of  the  present 
county  of  Lincoln  except  Alta  Vista  township) — 
Polling  place,  house  of  William  Taylor;  judges, 
William  Taylor,  Daniel  Williams,  John  Bir- 
mingham.3 

At  the  election  polls  were  not  opened 
in  all  the  precincts,  but  there  was  voting 
in  at  least  Marshall  and  Lynd  precincts 
—in  the  former  at  the  sod  shanty  of 
C.  H.  Whitney  and  in  the  latter  at  an 
old  claim  shanty.4  Seventy-eight  votes 
were  polled  in  Lyon  county  at  the  first 
election,  held  on  November  8,  1870,  and 
the  following  officers  were  elected: 

-The  election  judges  of  Lynd  were  on  October  21  , 
L870,  changed  to  E.  Lamb,  T.  T.  Pierce  and  M.  V. 
Davidson. 

3The  first  local  officers  for  these  precincts  were 
named  by  the  County  Board  and  were  as  follows: 
Saratoga,  Ziba  Furguson  and  George  Robinson  (suc- 
ceeded by  James  Mitchell,  Jr.),  justices;  Clarence 
Avery  and  William  Taylor,  constables;  Marshall, 
(.  H.  Whitney,  justice;  William  S.  Reynolds,  con- 
stable; Upper  Yellow  Medicine,  Frank  Nelson  and  Mr 
Morse,  justices;  Lynd,  Hiram  Marcyes,  justice;  Lake 
Benton,  George  Ross  and  Mr.  Bentley,  justices. 

*A  writer  in  the  Marshall  Messenger  in  after  years 
told  of  the  first  election  in  Lyon  county:  "What  a 
tussel  we  had  when  we  held  our  election.  We  held  it 
in  an  old  claim  shanty  built  by  half-breeds  years  ago 
bul  finding  it  too  small  to  hold  all  of  us  we  went  out 
doors,  the  noisiest  crowd  that  was  ever  out  of  prison. 
\\  c  voted  as  we  wished,  writing  our  own  tickets." 

50.  C.  Gregg  was  appointed  deputy  auditor  June  10 
18(2,  and  had  charge  of  the  office  after  that  date. 

'Resigned  August  20,  1872,  and  Walter  Wakeman 
appointed.  * 


George  E.  Keyes,5  auditor. 

A.  R.  Cummins,  treasurer. 

James  Cummins,  sheriff. 

W.  H.  Langdon,  register  of  deeds. 

A.  W.  Muzzy,  judge  of  probate. 

W.  M.  Pierce,6  county  attorney. 

A.  D.  Morgan,  clerk  of  court. 

James    Mitchell,    Sr.,    court    commis-' 
sioner. 

Joseph  Wagner,7  commissioner  first 
district.8 

Timothy  S.  Eastman,  commissioner 
second  district. 

Daniel  Williams,0  commissioner  third 
district,10 

Office  holding  was  not  so  much  in 
style  in  pioneer  days  as  in  later  years 
and  there  was  not  unseemly  scramble 
for  the  honor  of  holding  office.  In  fact, 
a  number  of  those  elected  did  not  take 
kindly  to  the  unsolicited  honor  and  only 
after  much  persuasion  consented  to 
qualify.  Party  politics  did  not  enter 
into  the  question  of  selecting  local 
officers  and  no  conventions  were  held. 
As  there  were  no  regularly  selected 
nominees,  there  were  no  ballots,  each 
voter  casting  a  ballot  of  his  own  manu- 
facture for  his  own  candidates. 

For  several  years  the  emoluments 
were  not  great,  The  salary  of  the 
county  auditor  was  $100  per  year;  the 
superintendent     of     schools     drew     the 

^Resigned  May  6,  1871,  and  on  that  date  Horace 
Randall  was  appointed.  The  latter  did  not  qualify 
and  on  May  16,  1871,  George  Robinson  received  the 
appointment. 

sThe_  Board  of  County  Commissioners  on  October 
14,  1870,  had  divided  the  county  into  commissioner 
districts  as  follows:  No.  1,  the  two  eastern  tiers  of 
townships;  No.  2,  the  present  townships  of  Wester- 
heim, Grandview,  Lynd,  Lyons  and  Rock  Lake; 
No.  3,  all  of  the  present  Lincoln  county  and  the 
western  tier  of  townships  of  Lyon  county  as  at  present 
constituted.  This  apportionment  was  in  force  until 
after  the  creation  of  Lincoln  county. 

"Removed  from  the  county  and  on  September  4, 
1871,  was  succeeded  by  Ira  Scott. 

10In  the  early  days  of  the  county's  history  the 
office  of  superintendent  of  schools  was  an  appointive 
one.  The  first  superintendent  was  C.  F.  Wright,  who 
was  appointed  October  18,  1S70.  He  was  succeeded 
March  5,  1871,  by  G.  W.  Whitney,  and  that  gentleman 
in  August,  1871,  by  Ransom  Wait,  who  served  until 
March  17,  1874.  After  that  date  until  the  office 
became  an  elective  one,  G.  M.  Durst  held  the  office  by 
appointment. 


2s 
3 


■ r'^ji  «-~t=^>^ 


AN  OLD-TIMER 
The  Oldest  Building  in  Lynd,  Typical  of  Pioneer  Days  in  Lyon  County. 


,. 


LYON   COUNTY  LANDMARK 


Kiel's  Hotel  was  Erected  in  Old  Lynd  When  That  Place  was  the  County  Seat.     The 
Building  was  Used  for  Court  House  Purposes  for  a  Time. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


L15 


princely  salary  of  $20  annually;  the 
county  attorney  received  $25  each  year 
for  his  services  for  .some  time  after 
county  organization  but  his  salary  was 
raised  to  $50  in  1873  and  to  $100  in 
1875.  So  late  as  1875  the  County  Board 
estimated  the  expense  for  salaries  for 
the  coming  year  at  only  SI 200. 

During  the  first  dozen  years  of  the 
political  history  of  Lyon  county  elections 
were  held  every  year,  although  the  terms 
of  office  were  two  years,  and  only  a  few 
officials  were  selected  in  the  odd- 
numbered  years.  In  1871  James  Mitch- 
ell, Jr.,  was  elected  commissioner 
from  the  first  district,  M.  L.  Wood  from 
the  third,  and  Timothy  S.  Eastman 
continued  to  represent  the  second. 
Charles  L.  Van  Fleet  was  elected  sur- 
veyor and  M.  Taylor  coroner.11 

The  election  of  1872  brought  an 
almost  entire  change  in  the  personnel  of 
county     officers.     The     following     were 

uThe  judges  of  election  in  1S71  were  as  follows: 
Saratoga,  Benjamin  Thomas,  James  Mitchell  and 
Richard  Hughes;  Marshall,  Mr.  Johnson,  W.  H. 
Langdon  and  C.  H.  Upton;  Lynd,  D.  M.  Taylor, 
G.  E.  Cummins  and  Sylvester  Fry;  Lake  Benton, 
William  Marsh,  William  Ross  and  William  Taylor; 
Upper  Yellow  Medicine,  Berent  Thompson,  Ole 
Syverson  and  Anton  Maartesen. 

12Resigned  May  21,  1874,  and  was  succeeded  by 
S.  Webster. 

13John  Snyder  resided  in  that  part  of  the  county 
which  is  now  Lincoln  county,  and  when  the  new 
political  division  was  organized  in  December,  1873, 
the  office  of  judge  of  probate  became  vacant.  Gover- 
nor Horace  Austin  appointed  W.  M.  Pierce  to  the 
vacancy  in  December,  1873. 

I4The  constitution  of  the  state  of  Minnesota,  adopted 
in  1857,  provided  that  the  counties  of  Nicollet  and 
Brown  (in  the  latter  was  included  the  present  Lyon 
county)  should  form  the  seventeenth  legislative 
district,  entitled  to  one  senator  and  three  represen- 
tatives. This  apportionment  was  in  force  until  1860. 
VJnder  it  the  district  was  represented  as  follows: 

1857-58 — Senate,  Thomas  Cowan;  House,  Ephraim 
Pierce,  Albert  Tuttle,  Frederick  Rehfeld. 

1859-60 — Senate,  Thomas  Cowan;  House,  John 
Armstrong,  Frederick  Rehfeld,  W.  Pfaender. 

By  the  legislative  apportionment  of  1860,  the 
counties  of  Faribault,  Jackson,  Cottonwood,  Nobles, 
Pipestone,  Rock  and  that  part  of  Brown  county  west 
of  range  thirty-four  (including  Lyon  county)  were 
made  to  form  the  twentieth  district,  entitled  to  one 
senator  and  one  representative.  The  district  was  so 
constituted  until  1866  and  was  represented  by  the 
following  legislators: 

1861 — Senate,  Guy  K.  Cleveland;  House,  A.  Strecker. 

1862 — Senate,  Guy  K.  Cleveland;  House,  B.  O. 
Kempfer. 

1863— Senate,  D.  G.  Shillock;  House,  J.  B.  Wake- 
field. 

1864— Senate,  D.  G.  Shillock;  House,  J.  A.  Latimer. 

1865 — Senate,  D.  G.  Shillock;  House,  J.  A.  Kiester. 

1866— Senate,  D.  G.  Shillock;  House,  J.  B.  Wake- 
field. 


elected:  ().  C.  Gregg,  auditor;  Jacob 
Rouse,  treasurer;  .lames  Cummins,12 
sheriff;  Z.  ().  Titus,  register  of  deeds; 
John  Snyder,13  judge  of  probate;  Walter 
Wakeman,  county  attorney;  Charles  L. 
Van  Fleet,  surveyor;  A.  D.  Morgan, 
commissioner  second  district.  James 
Mitchell,  Jr.,  and  M.  L.  Wood  continued 
on  the  board,  representing  the  first  and 
third  districts. 

While  there  was  opportunity  to  vote 
for  only  a  few  officers  in  1873,  the  cam- 
paigns for  and  against  the  removal  of 
the  county  seat  and  the  creation  of 
Lincoln  county  made  the  election  an 
exciting  one  and  502  ballots  were  cast 
in  the  county  as  then  constituted. 
Following  was  the  result : 

Governor — C.  K.  Davis  (rep),  389; 
Ara  Barton  (dem),  100;  Samuel  Mayall, 
5. 

Representative14 — Z.   B.   Clark   (rep), 

In  1866  the  future  Lyon  county,  as  a  part  of  Redwood 
county,  formed  a  part  of  the  nineteenth  district,  the 
(■(unities  comprising  the  district  being  Nicollet,  Brown, 
Sibley,  Redwood,  Renville,  Pierce  and  Davis.  The 
district,  which  was  so  constituted  until  1871,  was 
represented  as  follows: 

1867 — Senate,  Adam  Buck;  House,  Charles  T. 
Brown,  D.  G.  Shillock. 

1868 — Senate,  Charles  T.  Brown;  House,  John 
Rudolph,  Adam  Buck. 

1869 — Senate,  Charles  T.  Brown;  House,  John 
Rudolph,  J.  C.  Stoever. 

1870 — Senate,  William  Pfaender;  House,  William  L. 
Couplin,  P.  H.  Swift. 

1871 — Senate,  William  Pfaender;  House,  William  L. 
Couplin,  J.  S.  G.  Honner. 

The  apportionment  of  1871  put  Redwood,  Brown 
and  Lyon  counties  in  the  thirty-seventh  district, 
entitled  to  one  senator  and  two  representatives. 
That  was  the  alignment  for  ten  years.  The  district's 
representatives  were  as  follows: 

1872 — Senate,  William  Pfaender;  House,  O.  S. 
Reishus,  Henry  Weyhe. 

1873 — Senate,  J.  S.  G.  Honner;  House,  J.  W.  Blake, 
C.  C.  Brandt. 

1874 — Senate,  J.  S.  G.  Honner;  House,  Z.  B.  Clark, 
Charles  Hansing. 

1875 — Senate,  J.  W.  Blake;  House,  H.  S.  Berg, 
Knud  H.  Helling. 

1876 — Senate,  J.  W.  Blake;  House,  P.  F.  Jacobson, 
William  Skinner. 

1877 — Senate,  S.  A.  Hall;  House,  David  Worst, 
E.  P.  Bertrand. 

1S78 — Senate,  S.  A.  Hall;  House,  J.  W.  Williams, 
C.  C.  Brandt. 

1879 — Senate,  K.  H.  Helling;  House,  Gorham 
Powers,  J.  P.  Bertrand. 

1881 — Senate,  S.  D.  Peterson;  House,  J.  C.  Zeiske, 
G.  W.  Braley. 

Since  18S1  Lyon,  Lincoln  and  Yellow  Medicine 
counties  have  comprised  one  district  and  have  Keen 
represented  by  one  senator  and  two  members  of  the 
House.  Until  1897  the  district  was  No.  16;  since  thai 
date  it  has  been  No.  17.  The  representatives  have 
been  as  follows: 


116 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


243;  Bishop  Gordon  (peo),  165;  O.  S. 
Reishus,  83. 

Commissioner  Third  District15 — N.  T. 
Berry,  LI;  I.  D.  Briffit,  13;  N.  F.  Berry, 
s."; 

Considerable  opposition  to  the  local 
Republican  ticket  developed  in  1874 
and  a  "Peoples"  ticket  was  placed  in 
nomination.  The  convention  which 
placed  it  in  nomination  declared  it  was 
non-partisan  and  it  was  made  up  of 
Democrats  and  dissatisfied  Republicans. 
The  contest  following  was  a  spirited  one 
and  the  new  party  elected  auditor, 
treasurer  and  court  commissioner.  The 
vote  of  Lyon  county  proper  was  453  in 
1874.     The  result  in  figures: 

Congressman17 — H.  B.  Strait  (rep), 
398;  E.  St.  Julian  Cox  (dem),  49. 

Senator— J.  W.  Blake  (rep),  274; 
J.  S.  G.  Honner  (peo),  169;  John 
Sigler,  2. 

Representative — H.  S.  Berg  (rep), 
445;  Falk,  3. 

Auditor— S.  S.  Truax  (rep),  205; 
O.  C.  Gregg  (peo),  248. 

Treasurer — Jacob  Rouse  (rep),  223; 
J.  W.  Williams  (peo),  229. 

Sheriff— S.  Webster  (rep),  252;  H.  J. 
Tripp,  197. 

1883— Senate,  J.  W.  Blake;  House,  C.  M.  Morse, 
John  Swenson . 

1885 — Senate,  J.  W.  Blake;  House,  C.  M.  Morse, 
Thomas  McMillan. 

1887 — Senate,  Ole  O.  Lende;  House,  J.  Nobles, 
J.  Hanson. 

1889 — Senate,  Ole  O.  Lende;  House,  A.  C.  Forbes, 
A.  J.  Crane. 

1891— Senate,  Orrin  Mott;  House,  C.  H.  White, 
O.  C.  Wilson. 

1893— Senate,  Orrin  Mott;  House,  Ole  O.  Lende, 
Levi  S   Tyler. 

1895  Senate,  E.  S.  Reishus;  House,  Frank  W.  Nash, 
George  E.  Olds. 

1897  Senate,  E.  S.  Reishus;  House,  George  E.  Olds, 
J.  11.  Manchester. 

1899-  Senate,  Louis  H.  Schellbach;  House,  John  G. 
Sehutz,  Charles  \Y.  Stites. 

I  in  H      Same  as  1S99. 

190.;  Senate,  .lohn  G.  Sehutz;  House,  G.  Erickson, 
II.  \\  .  Ruliffson. 

1905  Senate,  John  G.  Sehutz;  House,  G.  Erickson, 
Marcus  Lauritsen. 

1907  Senate,  Virgil  B.  Seward;  House,  Harry  M. 
Hanson,  ('.  K .  Melby. 

1909  Senate,  Virgil  B.  Seward;  House,  J.  N. 
Johnson.  ( '.  K.  Melby. 

1911  Senate.  O.  A.  Lende;  House,  Edwin  F. 
Whiting,  J.  N.  Johnson. 

1  When  Lincoln  county  was  withdrawn  it  became 
necessary    to     change    the    commissioner    districts    of 


Register  of  Deeds — S.  V.  Groesbeck 
(rep),  193;  George  M.  Durst  (peo),  149; 
William  Clemmens  (ind),  96. 

Judge  of  Probate — E.  B.  Jewett  (rep), 
264;  James  Mitchell,  Sr.  (peo),  180. 

Attorney — Walter  Wakeman'  (rep), 
210;  Lyman  Turner  (peo),  197. 

Clerk  of  Court— Ole  H.  Dahl  (rep), 
325;  Fred  Holritz  (peo),  92. 

Court  Commissioner — C.  A.  Edwards 
(rep),   149;  J.  N.  Johnson18  (peo),   175. 

Coroner— D.  M.  Taylor19  (rep),  199; 
T.  W.  Castor  (peo),  127. 

Surveyor — C.  L.  Van  Fleet  (rep-peo), 
360. 

Commissioner  First  District — James 
Mitchell,  Jr.  (rep),  97;  John  J.  Jones,  18. 

Commissioner  Third  District — H.  T. 
Oakland  (rep),  96;  T.  W.  Castor  (peo), 
25. 

A  small  vote  was  cast  in  1875,  with 
the  following  results: 

Governor — John  S.  Pillsbury  (rep), 
188;  D.  L.  Buell  (dem),  50. 

Representative — P.  F.  Jacobson  (rep), 
69;  John  N.  Johnson  (ind),  149. 

Commissioner  Second  District — W.  M. 
Pierce  (rep),  73;  G.  Watson  (peo),  81. 

Six  hundred  six  votes  were  cast  at 
the  presidential  election  of  1876,  when 

Lyon  county  and  this  was  done  early  in  1874,  the 
districts  being  as  follows:  No.  1,  the  townships  of 
Monroe,  Custer,  Rock  Lake,  Shelburne,  Amiret  and 
Sodus;  No.  2,  the  townships  of  Lyons,  Coon  Creek, 
Island  Lake,  Lynd.  Lake  Marshall  and  Clifton;  No.  3, 
the  townships  of  Stanley,  Fairview,  Grandview, 
Nordland,  Eidsvold,  Westerheim,  Vallers  and  Lucas. 
This  apportionment  was  in  force  until  the  county  was 
given  five  districts  in  1880. 

16No  one  too*k  office  under  this  election  and  on 
March  17,  1874,  T.  W.  Castor  was  appointed  commis- 
sioner from  the  third  district,  replacing  M.   L.   Wood. 

l7From  1872  to  1901  Lyon  county  formed  a  part  of 
the  second  congressional  district;  since  that  time  it 
has  been  in  the  seventh  district,  the  other  counties  of 
the  district  being  Big  Stone,  Chippewa,  Grant,  Kandi- 
yohi, Lac  qui  Parle,  Lincoln,  Pope,  Redwood,  Renville, 
Stevens,  Swift,  Traverse  and  Yellow  Medicine.  Con- 
gressmen who  have  represented  Lyon  county  since 
1872  have  been  as  follows:  H.  B.  Strait,  March  4, 
1873,  to  March  4,  1883;  J.  B.  Wakefield,  March  4,  1883, 
to  March  4,  1887;  John  Lind,  March  4,  1887,  to  March 
4.  1893;  James  T.  McCleary,  March  4,  1893,  to  1901; 
Frank  M.  Eddy,  1901  to  March  4,  1903;  A.  J.  Volstead, 
March  4,  1903,  to  March  4,  1913. 

1SC.  H.  Whitney  became'eourt  commissioner  Janu- 
ary 4,  1876. 

"Mr.  Taylor  did  not  qualify  and  on  July  31,  1876, 
W.  M.  Todd  received  the  appointment. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


117 


the  county  was  again  found  to  be 
strongly    Republican.     The    "Peoples" 

party  was  again  in  the  held  with  a 
county  ticket,  but  with  one  exception 
all  Republicans  were  chosen  for  county 
officers.     The  vote  in  detail: 

President — Rutherford  B.Hayes  (rep). 
520;  Samuel  J.  Tilden  (dem),  73; 
Cooper,  13. 

Congressman — H.  B.  Strait  (rep),  521  ; 
E.  T.  Wilder  (dem),  73;  Ignatius  Don- 
nelly, 9. 

Senator— S.  A.  Hall  (rep),  512;  S.  A. 
George,  76. 

Representative — W.  (!.  Braley  (rep), 
308;  David  Worst,  236. 

Auditor — O.  C.  Gregg  (rep),  465; 
Fred  Holritz  (peo),  138. 

Treasurer — J.  H.  Williams  (rep),  134; 
J.  W.  Williams-"  (peo),  460. 

Sheriff — John  Hunter  (rep),  487;  John 
N.  Johnson  (peo),  101). 

Register  of  Deeds — C.  L.  Van  Fleet 
(rep),  407;  Zenas  Rank  (peo),  154; 
B.  A.  Grubb  (ind),  32. 

Judge  of  Probate — D.  F.  Weymouth 
(rep),  485;  E.  B.  Jewett  (peo),  107. 

Attorney — D.  F.  Weymouth  (rep  and 
peo),  588. 

Court  Commissioner — E.  Lamb21  (rep), 
472;  W.  M.  Pierce  (peo),  100. 

Coroner — J.  A.  Coleman  (rep),  497; 
P.  B.  Fezler  (peo),  96. 

Surveyor — C.  L.  Van  Fleet  (rep),  446; 
George  Link,  149. 

Commissioner  Third  District — H.  T. 
Oakland  (rep),  200;  H.  W.  Burlingame 
(peo),  21. 

The  election  oT  1877  resulted  as  fol- 
lows : 


20Mr.  Williams  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1877 
while  serving  his  term  as  county  treasurer  and  when 
he  qualified  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature  he  left  the 
county  office  in  charge  of  a  deputy.  The  Board  of 
County  Commissioners  declared  the  office  vacant  and 
on  January  22,  1878,  appointed  R.  M.  Addison  to  the 
vacancy.  Mr.  Williams  refused  to  surrender  the 
office,  the  appointee  was  unable  to  secure  possession, 
and  the  former  treasurer  drew  salaries  as  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  and  as  county  treasurer  until  the  end 
of  the  term. 


Governor— John  S.  Pillsbury  (rep), 
374;  William  L.   Banning  (dem),  25. 

Judge  District  Court '---Alfred  Wallin 
(rep),  294;  E.  St.  Julian  Cox  (peo),  104. 

Representative — J.  (1.  Bryan  (rep), 
221;  James  W.  Williams  (peo),  169. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — G.  M. 
Durst  (rep),  362. 

Court  Commissioner — C.  H.  Richard- 
son (rep),  390. 

Commissioner  First  District — James 
Mitchell,  Jr.  (rep),  67. 

Six  hundred  ninety-eight  was  the 
highest  number  of  votes  polled  for  the 
nominees  of  any  one  office  at  the 
election  of  1878.  Again  the  opposition 
to  the  regular  Republican  ticket  was 
represented,  but  the  showing  against 
the  only  organized  party  in  the  county 
wits  poor  and  all  Republican  nominees 
were  elected  by  large  majorities.  The 
vote  follows: 

Congressman — H.  B.  Strait  (rep),  506; 
Henry  Poehler  (dem),  186. 

Senator — K.  H.  Helling  (rep),  576; 
E.  Birum  (dem),  117. 

Representative — GorhamPowers  (rep) , 
605;  H.  S.  Berg  (dem),  91. 

Auditor— O.  C.  Gregg  (rep),  502;  Ole 
Quam  (peo),  195. 

Treasurer — G.  A.  Jacobson  (rep),  681. 

Sheriff— J.  A.  Hunter  (rep),  576; 
N.  Warn  (peo),  114. 

Register  of  Deeds — W.  M.  Coleman 
(rep),  547;  James  Ward  (peo),  143. 

Judge  of  Probate — D.  F.  Weymouth 
(rep),  564;  B.  A.  Grubb  (peo),  134. 

Attorney — A.  C.  Forbes  (rep),  561; 
C.  Andrews  (peo),  116. 

"Mr.  Lamb  did  not  qualify.  W.  M.  Pierce  was 
appointed  court  commissioner  March  6,  1877,  and 
qualified  at  that  time. 

'--Judges  of  the  ninth  judicial  district  and  th.ir 
dates  of  service  have  been  as  follows:  M.  G.  Hanscome, 
March  11,  1870,  to  January  1.  1S77;  E.  St.  Julian  Cox, 
January  1,  1877,  to  March  22,  1882;  H.  D.  Baldwin. 
April  4,  1882,  to  January  3,  1883;  B.  F.  Webber. 
January  3,  1883,  to  November  15,  1906;  I.  M.  Olsen, 
November  15,  1906,  to  January.  1913. 


118 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Clerk  of  Court  C  E.  Patterson  (rep). 
150;  •).  W.  Williams  (peo),  239. 

Coroner  J.  W.  Andrews  (rep),  551; 
S.  V.  Groesbeck  (peo),  142. 

Surveyor  II.  L.  Coats  (rep),  498; 
G.  W.  lank  (pro).  114. 

Commissioner  Second  District — G. 
Watson  (rep),  148;  G.  W.  Link  (peo), 
165. 

There  was  no  opposition  to  the  Re- 
publican nominees  in  1879  and  the 
result  was  as  follows: 

Governor — John  .S.  Pillsbury  (rep), 
421;  Edmund  Rice  (dem),  100;  W.  W. 
Satterlee,  15. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — G.  M. 
Durst  (rep),  462. 

Court  Commissioner — C.  H.  Richard- 
son (rep),  426. 

Commissioner  Third  District — H.  T. 
Oakland  (rep),  138. 

For  the  first  time  in  the  county's 
history,  in  1880  the  Democrats  as  a 
party  decided  to  enter  the  field  of  local 
politics  and  placed  a  ticket  in  the  field. 
Without  exception  the  Republicans 
were  successful,  although  the  Democratic 
nominee  for  representative  carried  the 
county.  Lyon  county  had  made  rapid 
strides  during  the  few  years  previous 
and  the  total  vote  now  reached  1336. 
The  vote  in  detail: 

President — James  A.  Garfield  (rep), 
1141  :  W.  S.  Hancock  (dem),  195. 

Congressman — H.  B.  Strait  (rep), 
1103;  Henry  Poehler  (dem),  227. 

Senator — S.  D.  Peterson  (rep-dem), 
1 J  39. 

Representative  —  G.  W.  Braley  (rep), 
578;  Ener  Birum  (dem),  748. 

Auditor— O.  C.  Gregg  (rep),  1145; 
M.  B.  Drew  (dem),  190. 

Treasurer — G.  A.  Jacobson  (rep), 
105S:  .1.  W.  Williams  (dem),  264. 

"Resigned  in  January ,\  1882,  and  J.  W.  Blake 
appointed. Jlth~,-._.    »- c-t-  » 

-U.yon    county    had    now    become    entitled    to    five 

commissioners  and  on   September  :;u,    lssil,   the  several 


Sheriff— J.  A.  Hunter  (rep),  1063; 
David  Gamble  (dem),  266. 

Register  of  Deeds — A.  X.  Daniels 
(rep),   932;  J.  J.   Hartigan   (dem),   396. 

Judge  of  Probate — D.  F.  Weymouth 
(rep-dem),  1324. 

Attorney— A.  C.  Forbes  (rep).  1020; 
Charles  W.  Main  (clem),  296. 

Coroner — S.  V.  Groesbeck  (rep-dem), 
1245. 

Surveyor — Y.  M.  Smith23  (rep-dem), 
1252. 

Commissioner  First  District24 — Jona- 
than Owen  (rep),  255;  G.  W.  Link 
(dem),  74. 

Commissioner  Second  District — M.  C. 
Humphrey.  Jr.  (rep),  220:  James  Law- 
rence (dem),  11. 

Commissioner  Third  District — Fred 
Holritz  (rep),  elected;  S.  R.  Kentner. 

Commissioner  Fourth  District — James 
Mitchell,  Jr.  (rep),  154;  Joshua  J.  Coyle 
(dem),  26. 

Commissioner  Fifth  District — E.  L. 
Starr  (rep),  222;  G.  S.  Robinson  (dem), 
85. 

The  election  of  1881  resulted  as  fol- 
lows : 

Governor — L.  F.  Hubbard  (rep),  481; 
R.  W.  Johnson  (dem),  79;  I.  C.  Stearns 
(pro),  41. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — G.  M. 
Durst  (rep),  562. 

Commissioner  First  District — A'.  M. 
Smith  (rep),  100. 

Eleven  hundred  eighteen  votes  were 
cast  in  1882.  A  "Peoples"  ticket  was 
again  in  the  field  and  there  were  several 
independent  candidates.  The  contest 
was  a  sharp  one  and  with  one  exception 
the  Republican  ticket  was  elected.  The 
vote  as  canvassed: 

Congressman — J.  B.  Wakefield  (rep), 
1088. 

district*  were  formed  as  follows:  No.  1.  Lynd  and 
Lake  Marshall;  No.  2,  Lucas.  Stanley,  Clifton.  Fairview 
and  Grand  view;  No.  3,  Nordland,  Eidsvold,  Wester- 
heim  and  Vallers;  No.  4,  Amiret,  Sodus,  Lyons,  Coon 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


119 


Judge  Districl  Court25  B.  F.  Webber 
(rep),  870;  M  G.  Hanscome  (ind),  247. 

Senator     .1.  W.  Blake  (rep),  973. 

Representatives  JohnSwenson  (rep), 
1110;  C.  W.  Morse  (rep),  732;  Ira  S. 
Field  (ind),  380. 

Auditor — James  Lawrence  (rep), 107") : 
M.  M.  Curtis  (peo),  34. 

Treasurer — X.  W.  L.  Jager  (rep),  410: 
J.  W.  Williams  (peo),  141;  R.  M. 
Addison  (ind),  556. 

Sheriff— J.  F.  Remore  (rep),  1044; 
Levi  Montgomery  (peo),  01. 

Register  of  Deeds— R.  R.  Bumford 
(rep),  987;  Fred  Holritz  (peo),  127. 

Judge  of  Probate — F.  S.  Brown  (rep), 
633;  D.  F.  Weymouth  (peo),  481. 

Attorney — A.  C.  Forbes  (rep),  695; 
C.  W.  Main  (peo).  21;  M.  E.  Mathews 
(ind),  387. 

Clerk  of  Court— C.  E.  Patterson  (rep), 
1079;  Timothy  Stout  (peo),  39. 

Court  Commissioner — Daniel  Wilcox 
(rep),  1115. 

Coroner — J.  W.  Andrews26  (rep),  1075; 
John  S.  Renninger,  29. 

Surveyor — D.  Ward  Kennedy  (rep), 
1112. 

Commissioner  Second  District — John 
A.  Noble  (rep)  defeated  R.  D.  Barnes 
(peo). 

Commissioner  Third  District — Ole  L. 
Orsen  (rep)  defeated  Thomas  Hanson 
(peo). 

The  year  1883  was  the  last  in  which 
elections  were  held  in  odd-numbered 
years  and  the  officers  chosen  at  that 
time  served  until  after  the  election  of 
1886.  There  was  not  much  interest  in 
the  election  and  no  opposition  to  the 
Republican  ticket.  A  small  vote  was 
polled  and  the  result  was  as  follows: 

Governor — L.  F.  Hubbard  (rep),  567; 

Creek  and  Island  Lake;  No.  5,  Monroe,  Custer,  Rock 
Lake  and  Shelburne. 

25E.  St.  Julian  Cox,  the  preceding  incumbent,  had 
been  impeached  and  removed  from  office.  H.  D. 
Baldwin  had  been  appointed  to  the  office  and  served 
a  short  time  before  this  election. 


A.  Bierman  (dem),  14'.);  Charles  E.  Boll 
(pro),  32. 

Superintendent  of  Schools  Leslie  A. 
Gregg  (rep),  734. 

Coroner — C.   F.  Persons  (rep),  740. 

Surveyor     J.    W.    Blake27    (rep).    710. 

Commissioner  Fourth  District — Hugh 
Neil!  (rep).  07. 

Commissioner  Fifth  District — George 
Carlaw  (rep),  283. 

Only  the  Republican  party  was  in  the 
field  of  local  politics  in  1884  but  there 
were  several  independent  candidates 
and  a  lively  contest  resulted.  The  total 
vote  was  1608  and  was  divided  as  fol- 
lows : 

President — James  G.  Blaine  (rep), 
1223;  Grover  Cleveland  (dem),  242; 
John  P.  St.  John  (pro),  99. 

Congressman — J.  B.  Wakefield  (rep), 
1265;  J.  J.  Thornton  (dem),  230; 
William  Copp  (pro),  96. 

Representatives — C.  M.  Morse  (rep), 
755;  Gustav  Erickson  (rep),  786;  C.  F. 
Case  (ind),  810;  Thomas  McMillan  (ind), 
800. 

Auditor — James  Lawrence  (rep),  1604. 

Treasurer — George  Little  (rep),  963; 
R.  M.  Addison  (ind),  632. 

Sheriff— J.  F.  Remore  (rep),  1507; 
P.  B.  Fezler  (pro),  86. 

Register  of  Deeds — R.  R.  Bumford 
(rep),  1592. 

Attorney — A.  C.  Forbes  (rep),  767; 
V.  B.  Seward  (ind),  822. 

Judge  of  Probate — F.  S.  Brown  (rep), 
1312;  D.  F.  Weymouth  (ind),  254. 

Coroner — C.    E.   Persons    (rep),    1596. 

Commissioner  First  District — Andrew 
J.  Ham  (rep),  253. 

The  Democrats  placed  a  partial  ticket 
in  the  field  in  1886  but  were  unsuccessful 
in  electing  any  of  the  nominees,  although 

2«Resigned  October  3,  1883,  and  C.  E.  Persons 
appointed. 

27Resigned  and  on  December  16,  1SS4,  Leslie  A. 
Gregg  appointed. 


120 


HLSTOKY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


they  polled  nearly  600  votes.  The 
highest  vote  east  for  any  one  office  was 
1528.  The  vote  for  candidates  was  as 
follows: 

Governor— A.  R.  McGill  (rep),  1109; 
A.  A.  Ames  (dem),  332;  James  E.  Child 
(pro),.  84. 

Congressman — John  Lind  (rep),  1053; 
A.  H.  Bullis  (dem),  411;  George  J.  Day 
(pro),  60. 

Senator— Ole  O.  Lende  (rep),  1483. 

Representatives — John  Hanson  (rep), 
1321;  John  Noble  (rep),  1500;  Gustav 
Erickson,  159. 

Auditor — James  Lawrence  (rep),  989; 
John  S.  Renninger  (dem),  538. 

Treasurer — George  Little  (rep),  1516. 

Sheriff— J.  F.  Remore  (rep),  1494. 

Register  of  Deeds — R.  R.  Bumford 
(rep),  932;  M.  E.  Wilcox  (dem),  596. 

Judge  of  Probate — F.  8.  Brown  (rep), 
1496. 

Attorney — A.  C.  Forbes  (rep),  944; 
Charles  W .  Main  (dem),  572. 

Clerk  of  Court— E.  S..  Reishus  (rep). 
1422. 

Court  Commissioner — Daniel  Wilcox 
(rep).  1517. 

Coroner— C.  E.  Persons  (rep),  1238; 
S.  E.  Sanderson  (dem),  287. 

Surveyor — J.  W.  Blake  (rep),  1500. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — L.  A. 
Gregg28  (rep),  1166;  T.  H.  Webb  (dem), 
366. 

Commissioner  First  District — W.  W. 
Rich-ft  (rep),  215. 

Commissioner  Second  District — Ole  L. 
Or.cn  (rep),  82;  Fred  Holritz.  67;  John 
O'Brien,  7(i. 

Commissioner  Third  District  -Robert 
Gardner  (rep),  148;  J.  W.  Hoagland, 
126;  W.  W.  Maleroy,  11. 

Commissioner  Fourth  District — Hugh 
Xeill  (rep),  254;  F.  S.  Wetherbee,  65: 
J.  W.  William-.  7<i. 

^Resigned  November  22,  1888,  and  W.  H.  Edwards, 
the  superintendent-elect,  completed  the  shori  un- 
expired term. 


Commissioner  Fifth  District — E.  L. 
Starr  (rep),  271;  H.  B.  Swartwood,  89. 

The  Republicans,  Democrats  and  Pro- 
hibitionists named  county  tickets  for 
the  election  of  1888  and  the  campaign 
was  quite  spirited,  although  the  domi- 
nant party  was  uniformly  successful. 
The  total  vote  was  1826 — the  largest 
yet  cast  in  the  county — and  was  divided 
as  follows: 

President — Benjamin  Harrison  (rep), 
1138;  Grover  Cleveland  (dem),  475; 
Clinton  B.  Fisk  (pro),  207. 

Governor — William  R.  Merriam  (rep), 
1098;  Eugene  M.  Wilson  (dem),  485; 
Hugh  Harrison  (pro),  235. 

Congressman — John  Lind  (rep),  1152; 
Morton  S.  Wilkinson  (dem),  473;  D.  W. 
Edwards  (pro).  188. 

Judge  District  Court — B.  F.  Webber 
(rep),  1818. 

Representatives — A.  C.  Forbes  (rep), 
1065;  A.  J.  Crane  (rep),  1087;  Wakeman 
(pro),  217. 

Auditor — Thomas  P.  Baldwin  (rep), 
1009;  Louis  Larson  (pro),  789. 

Treasurer — George  Little  (rep),  1168; 
George  C.  ManteU  (dem),  316;  A.  R. 
Thompson  (pro),  331. 

Sheriff— J.  F.  Remore  (rep),  1256; 
S.  B.  Green  (dem),  343;  W.  G.  Hunter 
(pro),  210. 

Register  of  Deeds — James  B.  Gibbons 
(rep),  1022;  Philip  Letournau  (dem), 
661;  K.  E.  Kjorness  (pro),  113. 

Judge  of  Probate — F.  S.  Brown  (rep), 
1234;  M.  E.  Mathews  (dem),  374:  J.  W. 
Series  (pro),  198. 

Attorney — V.  B.  Seward  (dem-rep), 
1511. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — W.  R. 
Edwards  (rep),  1305;  Mrs.  L.  F.  Ferro 
(pro),  303. 

Court     Commissioner — D.     F.     Wey- 


J9Resigned  in  January,  1888,  and  Frank  D. 
chosen  by  the  appointing  board. 


ID 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


121 


mouth  (rep),  I  153;  J.  V.  Mallory  (dem), 
l.'.S;  S.  B.  Wheeler  (pro),  204. 

Coroner  C.  E.  Persons  I  rep),  1 1  50; 
.1.  S.  Renninger  (dem),  468;  B.  C. 
Emery  (pro),  199. 

Surveyor— J.  W.  Blake  (rep),  11:5."); 
George  V.  Link  (dem),  475;  Richard 
Morgan  (pro),  211. 

Commissioner  First  District — O.  H. 
Hatlestad  (rep),  196;  John  C.  Lines 
(dem),  84;  (I.  ML  Robinson  (pro).  22. 

Commissioner  Third  District  -J.  H. 
Cutler  (rep),  140;  Robert  Gardner30 
(pro),   1!)!). 

Commissioner  Fifth  District  .James 
.1.  Hartigan  (rep),  344;  0.  .1.  Rea  (dem), 
54;  .1.  P.  Davis  (pro),  39. 

The  election  of  1890  brought  a  radical 
change  in  Lyon  county  politics,  caused 
by  the  entrance  of  the  farmers  alliance. 
Before  that  date  the  Republican  party 
had  met  but  slight  opposition,  contend- 
ing occasionally  with  a  "Peoples"  ticket 
or  independent  candidates.  Now  the 
Alliance  party,  rapidly  gaining  strength, 
put  a  complete  ticket  in  the  field  and 
gave  real  opposition  to  the  dominant 
party.  The  campaign  preceding  the 
election  was  bitter  and  one  of  the  most 
hotly  contested  in  the  history  of  the 
county.  The  Alliance  carried  the  county 
for  their  nominees  for  governor,  con- 
gressman and  the  representatives  (wdio 
had  been  indorsed  by  the  Republicans) 
and  elected  superintendent  of  schools 
and  two  commissioners.  An  independ- 
ent carried  the  county  for  senator  and 
the  other  county  offices  went  to  the 
Republicans.  The  total  vote  was  1795. 
The    result  as  canvassed: 

Covernor — William  R.  Merriam  (rep), 
605;  Thomas  J.  Wilson  (dem),  404; 
Sidney  M.  Owen  (all),  714;  J.  P.  Pinkham 
(pro),  66. 

30 Resigned  January  7,  1S90,  because  of  removal 
from  the  district,  and  on  January  20  S.  O.  Herrick 
named  as  his  successor. 


Congressman  John  Lind  (rep),  829; 
•lames  H.  Baker  (all),  877. 

Senator  Mans  Lavesson  (rep),  438; 
Orrin  Mott  (all).  165;  H.  M.  Burchard 
(ind),  769. 

Representatives  C.  11.  White  (all- 
rep),  1760;  O.  C.  Wilson  (all-rep),  1764. 

Auditor — Thomas  P.  Baldwin  (rep), 
10S0;  .lames  F.  Gibb  (all),  696. 

Treasurer-  George  Little  (rep),  1073; 
II.  B.  Loomis  (all),  709. 

Sheriff— J.  F.  Remore  (rep),  1159; 
K.  E.  Kjorness  (all),  606. 

Register  of  Deeds — J.  B.  Gibbons 
(rep),   1059;  Webb   (all),  709. 

Judge  of  Probate — F.  8.  Brown  (rep), 
1115;  Perry  Newton  (all),  669. 

Attorney — V.  B.  Seward  (rep),  1036; 
H.  A.  Baker  (all),  730. 

Clerk  of  Court^E.  S.  Reishus  (rep), 
1125;  I).  F.  Wasson  (all),  637. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — W.  R. 
Edwards  (rep),  950;  S.  L.  Wait  (all), 
1064. 

Court  Commissioner — E.  B.  Jewett 
(rep),  1033;  M.  E.  Wilcox  (all),  740. 

Coroner — C.  E.  Persons  (rep),  1104. 

Surveyor— J.  W.  Blake  (rep),  983; 
George  W.  Link  (all),  741. 

Commissioner  Second  District — Oliver 
T.  Moe  (rep),  84;  O.  J.  Wignes  (all),  119. 

Commissioner  Third  District — Robert 
Riddell  (rep),  152;  S.  O.  Herrick  (all), 
169. 

Commissioner  Fourth  District — Hugh 
Neill  (rep),  325;  J.  W.  Pike  (all),  111. 

The  Peoples  Party  succeeded  the 
Alliance  forces  in  1892  and  by  combining 
with  the  Democrats  elected  three  county 
officers.  The  total  vote  was  2256  and 
the  result  follows: 

President — Benjamin  Harrison  (rep), 
1069;    Grover   Cleveland    (dem),    58431; 

■■"Fusion  was  effected  cm  some  of  the  Democratic 
and  Peoples  Party  presidential  electors  in  Minnesota 
and  those  electors  received  7.50  votes  in  Lyon  county. 


122 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


James  B.  Weaver  (pp),  358;  Silas  Bid- 
well  (pro).  271. 

Governor — Knute  Nelson  (rep),  1009; 
1).  W.  Lawler  (dem),  514;  Ignatius 
Donnelly  (pp),  319;  William  J.  Dean 
(pro),  257. 

Congressman — James  T.  MeCleary 
(rep),  981;  W.  S.  Hammond  (dem),  452: 
L.  C.  Long  (pp),  353;  E.  H.  Bronson 
(pro),  282. 

Representatives-  L.  S.  Tyler  (rep), 
1011  ;  Ole  Lende  (rep),  806;  James  Gibb 
(pp-dem),  699;  O.  C.  Wilson  fpp-dem), 
611;  A.  R.  Chace  (pro),  326;  A.  L. 
Foster  (pro),  210. 

Auditor— Ole  Kelson  (rep),  730;  C.  H. 
White  (pp-dem),  601;  A.  L.  Baldwin 
(pro).  329;  T.  B.  Baldwin  (ind),  465. 

Treasurer — Robert  Riddell  (rep),  454; 
S.  Odell  (pp-dem).  600;  Seth  Johnson 
(pro),  281;  George  Little  (ind),  833. 

Sheriff— J.  F.  Remore  (rep),  1327; 
G.  A.  Dalmann  -(pp-dem).  527;  W.  G. 
Hunter  (pro),  301. 

Register  of  Deeds — J.  B.  Gibbons 
(rep),  978;  A.  O.  Anderson  (pp-dem), 
787;  E.  I.  Leland  (pro),  390". 

Judge  of  Probate — O.  E.  Maxson 
(rep).  970;  C.  W.  Main  (pp-dem),  891; 
A.  P.  Whitney  (pro),  277. 

Attorney — F.  S.  Brown  (rep),  962; 
M.  F.  Mathews32  (pp-dem),  964;  T.  M. 
Quart  on  (pro),  250. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — D.  C. 
Pierce  (rep),  750;  S.  L.  Wait  (pp-dem), 
945;  J.  F.  Durst  (pro),  628. 

Coroner — C.  E.  Persons  (pp-dem-rep), 
1466;  C.  M.  Ferro  (pro),  436. 

Surveyor  -O.  H.  Sterk  (pp-dem), 
1017;  L.  S.  Teigland  (pro),  597. 

Commissioner    First    District — O.    H. 

II  at  lest  ad    (rep).   209;   Robert    Heilman 
(pp-dem).  218. 

Commissioner  Third    District— James 

"Resigned  September  24.  1894,  and' no  successor 
appointed. 


Murrison  (rep),  188;  J.  J.  Thomas  (pp- 
dem),  108;  S.  O.  Herrick  (ind),  113. 

Commissioner  Fifth  District — J.  J. 
Hartigan33  (rep),  226;  W.  S.  Moses  (pp- 
dem),  69;  Louis  Rialson  (pro),  126. 

In  1894  fusion  was  effected  on  only 
a  few  of  the  offices  and  there  were  four 
partial  tickets  in  the  field.  The  Repub- 
licans were  generally  successful,  al- 
though the  opposition  carried  the  county 
for  one  representative  and  elected  the 
county  attorney  and  clerk  of  court. 
The  vote  was  2721  and  the  several 
candidates  received  votes  as  follows: 

Governor — Knute  Nelson  (rep),  1272; 
George  L.  Becker  (dem),  166;  S.  M. 
Owen  (pp),  1052;  Hans  S.  Hilleboe 
(pro),  149. 

Congressman — James  T.  MeCleary 
(rep),  1318;  James  H.  Baker  (dem),  206; 
L.  C.  Long  (pp),  893;  H.  S.  Kellom 
(pro),  161. 

Senator — Charles  ('.  Whitney  (rep), 
1181;  F.  S.  Reishus  (pp),  1127;  1).  H. 
Evans  (pro),  301 . 

Representatives— F.  W.  Nash  (rep). 
1294;  George  E.  Olds  (rep),  835;  1).  T. 
Jones  (pp),  907;  L.  I.  Leland  (pp).  7S6; 
M.  F.  Woodard  (pro),  201. 

Judge  District  Court — B.  F.  Webber 
(non-partisan),  1816. 

Auditor — Ole  Kelson  (rep),  1407;  C. 
H.  AVhite  (pp),  952;  C.  D.  Brimmer 
(pro),  166. 

Treasurer— Eli  S.  Frick  (rep),  1300; 
Ephraim  Skyhawk  (dem),  316;  D.  S. 
Phillips  (pp).  930. 

Sheriff — Andrew  A.  Christensen  (rep), 
1024;  J.  P.  Peirard  (dem),  449;  O.  J. 
Wignes  (pp),  874;  James  Morgan  (pro), 
289. 

Register  of  Deeds — S.  N.  Harrington 
(rep),  1245;  John  Michie  (dem).  03:  E. 
T.  Mathews  (pp).  1033;  L.  S.  Teigland 
(pro).  243. 


"Died    November   24,    1894, 
chosen  to  complete  the  term. 


and    Ole    F.    Norwood 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COLXTY. 


123 


Judge  of  Probate  0.  E.  Maxson(rep), 
1362;  ('.  \Y.  -Main  (dem-pp),  I  L59. 

Attorney — F.  S.  Brown  (rep),  1196; 
V.  B.  Seward  (pp-dem),  1249;  T.  M. 
Quarton  (pro).  143. 

Clerk  of  Court— 0.  H.  Hatlestad  (rep), 
1113;  S.  Odell  (pp),  1272;  J.  F.  Durst 
(pro),  207. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — J.  P. 
Byrne  (rep-pro),  1551;  Mrs.  T.  H.  Webb 
(dem),  185;  S.  L.  Wait  (pp),  1100. 

Coroner — C.  E.  Persons  (rep).  1642; 
C.  M.  Ferro  (pro),  527. 

Surveyor— 0.  H.  Sterk  (rep),  2035. 

Commissioner  Second  District — J.   B. 
Johnson  (rep),  143;  C.  P.  Kenyon  (dem), 
.  85;   K.   S.   Kvanbek   (pp),   108;  Ole  L. 
Orsen  (pro),  51. 

Commissioner  Fourth  District — T.  J'. 
Baldwin  (rep),  412;  M.  C.  Kiel  (pp),  191. 

In  1896  the  free  silver  issue  gained 
many  adherents  in  Lyon  county.  AVil- 
liam  Jennings  Bryan,  the  Democratic 
standard  bearer,  received  a  large  vote 
and  John  Lind  carried  the  county  for 
*governor.  The  Peoples  Party  had  a 
county  ticket  in  the  field  and  its  nomi- 
nees received  large  votes,  several  being 
elected.  The  total  vote  was  3066.  The 
result  in  detail: 

President — William  McKinley  (rep). 
1623;  W.  J.  Bryan  ( dem-pp j,  1351; 
John  M.  Palmer  (nat  dem),  25;  Levering 
(pro),  67. 

Governor— David    M.    Clough    (rep), 

'  1384;  John  Lind  (dem-pp),  1560;  William 

J.  Dean  (pro),  56;  A.  A.  Ames  (ind),  3. 

Congressman — James  T.  McCleary 
(rep),  1554;  Frank  A.  Day  (dem-pp), 
1386;  Richard  Price  (pro),  62. 

Representatives — J.  H.  Manchester 
(rep),  1561;  George  E.  Olds  (rep),  1235; 
John  T.  Mooney  (pp),  1329;  David  T. 
Jones  (pp),  1181. 

"Died  September  19,  1.898,  and  Charles  H.  Kelson, 
a  son,  was  appointed  to  complete  the  short  unexpired 
term. 


Auditor— Ole  Kelson1"  (rep),  1617; 
().  F.  Norwood  (pp),  1411. 

Treasurer— Eli  S.  Frick  (rep),  1623; 
Hubert  M.  Gray  (pp),  1377. 

Sheriff — Andrew  A.  Christensen  (rep), 
1866;  H.  M.  Dwyre  (pp),  1187. 

Register  of  Deeds — S.  N.  Harrington 
(rep),  1605;  Arne  Anderson  (pp),  142(>. 

Judge  of  Probate — O.  E.  Maxson 
(rep),  1625;  C.   M.  Gislason  (pp),  1386. 

Attorney — F.  S.  Brown  (rep),  1621; 
C.  W.  Main  (pp),  1414. 

Superintendent  of.  Schools — J.  P. 
Byrne  (rep),  1637;  Mrs.  Dell  W.  Forbes 
(pp).  2046. 

Coroner — C.  E.  Persons  (rep),  1697; 
S.  Iv  Sanderson  (pp),  1271. 

Surveyor— O.  H.  Sterk  (pp),  2015. 

Commissioner  First  District — Erik 
Roti  (rep),  279;  Robert  Heilman3"'  (pp), 
310. 

Commissioner  Third  District — James 
Murrison  (rep),  302;  D.  S.  Phillips  (pp), 
331. 

Commissioner  Fifth  District — J.  A. 
Hunter  (rep),  318;  George  P.  Erb  (pp), 
279. 

Again  in  1898  the  Democratic-Peoples 
Party  candidate  for  governor  carried  the 
county,  as  also  did  one  of  that  party's 
nominees  for  the  Legislature.  On  the 
county  ticket  the  Peoples  Party,  which 
was  the  only  one  in  opposition  to  the 
Republican,  elected  clerk  of  court  and 
superintendent  of  schools,  while  an  inde- 
pendent was  chosen  one  of  the  com- 
missioners. There  was  a  falling  off  in 
the  vote,  only  2285  being  cast.  The 
result : 

Governor — William  H.  Eustis  (rep), 
976;  John  Lind  (dem-pp),  1141;  George 
W.  Higgins  (pro),  62;  L.  C.  Long  (middle 
road  populist),  32;  William  B.  Ham- 
mond (soc  lab),  3. 

"Resigned  January  31,  1899,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Horace  G.  Hoffman. 


124 


HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COUNTY. 


Congressman — James  T.  McCleary 
(rep),  L092;  D.  H.  Evans  (pp-dem), 
L061;  T.  P.  Grout  (pro),  65. 

Senator — Louis  H.  Shellbach  (rep), 
1123;  E.  S.  Reishus  (pp),  1040. 

liepret  entatives — John  (1.  Schutz 
(rep),  1165;  Charles  \Y.  Stites  (rep),  S54; 
John  S.  Mooney  (pp),  903;  Chr.  Christ  - 
ianson  (pp),  834. 

Auditor — Thomas  McKinley  (rep), 
1181;  0.  F.  Norwood  (pp),  1031. 

Treasurer— Eli  S.  Frick  (rep),  1180; 
Hubert  M.  Gray  (pp),  994. 

Sheriff — Andrew  A.  Christensen  (rep), 
1877. 

Register  of  Deeds — S.  N.  Harrington 
(rep),  1214;  Martin  Furgeson  (pp),  972. 

Judge  of  Probate — L.  M.  Lange  (rep), 
1304;  S.  L.  Wait  (pp),  878. 

Attorney — F.  S.  Brown  (rep),  1150; 
M.  E.  Mathews  (pp),  1079. 

Clerk  of  Court — E.  1.  Leland  (rep), 
934;  S.  Odell  (pp),  1306. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — Mrs.Addie 
M.  Whiting  (rep),  1066;  Mrs.  Dell  W. 
Forbes  (pp),  1752. 

Coroner — C.  E.  Persons  (rep),  1740. 

Surveyor — W.  A.  Hawkins  (rep), 1222; 
O.  H.  Sterk  (pp),  1031. 

Commissioner  Second  District — P.  O. 
French  (rep),  81;  K.  S.  Kvanbeck  (pp), 
121;  Ole  J.  Wignes  (ind),  127. 

Commissioner  Fourth  District — T.  P. 
Baldwin  (rep),  322;  C.  H.  White  (pp), 
209. 

The  Republicans  made  almost  a  clean 
sweep  in  1900,  carrying  the  county  for 
all  national,  state,  congressional  and 
legislative  nominees  and  electing  all  the 
county  officers  except  superintendent  of 
schools.  The  number  of  ballots  cast 
was  3033  and  the  vote  in  detail  was  as 
follows: 

President — William  McKinley  (rep), 
1844-;  W.  J.  Bryan  (dem-pp),  879;  John 

'■Died  November  2,  1903.  John  N.  Jones  succeeded 
to  the  office. 


G.  Woolley  (pro),  111;  E.  Y.  Debs  (soc 
clem),  16;  Malloney  (soc  lab),  4. 

Governor — Samuel  R.  Van  Sant  (rep), 
1466;  John  Find  (dem-pp),  1308:  Bernt 

B.  Haugen  (pro),  66;  S.  M.  Fairchild 
(middle  road  populist),  17;  Thomas  H. 
Lucas  (soc  clem),  4;  Edward  Kriz  (soc 
lab),  3. 

Congressman — James  T.  McCleary 
(rep),  1601;  M.  E.  Mathews  (dem-pp), 
1211;  S.  D.  Works  (pro),  86. 

Judge  District  Court — B.  F.  Webber 
(non  partisan),  2019. 

Representatives — John  G.  Schutz 
(rep),  1690;  Charles  W.  Stites  (rep), 
1505;  D.  H.  Evans  (pp),  1122;  Chr. 
Christianson  (pp),  903. 

Auditor — Thomas  McKinley  (rep), 
1962;  J.  T.  Hanson  (pp),  1071. 

Treasurer— A.  H.  Dunton  (rep),  1588; 
Charles  Catlin  (pp),  1220. 

Sheriff — Andrew  A.  Christensen  (rep),' 
2013;  Ole  J.  Wignes  (pp),  855. 

Register  of  Deeds — S.  N.  Harrington 
(rep),  1787;  Martin  Furgeson  (pp),  1064. 

Judge  of  Probate — L.  M.  Lange  (rep), 
2336. 

Attorney — E.  C.  Patterson  (rep), 1480; 

C.  W.  Main  (dem-pp),  1400. 
Superintendent  of  Schools — Mrs.  Dell 

W.  Forbes  (pp),  2236. 

Court  Commissioner — Walter  Wake- 
man  (rep),  2227. 

Coroner — C.  E.  Persons  (rep),  2265. 

Surveyor — W.  A.  Hawkins  (rep),  2303. 

Commissioner  First  District — O.  H. 
Hatlestad  (rep),  301;  Horace  G.  Hoff- 
man (pp),  240. 

Commissioner  Third  District — C.  W. 
Candee36  (rep),  382;  D.  S.  Phillips  (pp), 
223. 

Commissioner  Fifth  District — J.  A. 
Hunter  (rep),  333;  A.  R.  Endersbee 
(PP),  218. 

The  primary   election  law   went    into 


HOME  OF  A  PIONEER 

Home  of  Captain  Langdon  at  the  Old  Watermill  in  the  Once  Flourishing 

Village  of  Camden. 


EARLY  DAY  FARM  HOME 
Erected  by  Griff  Hughes  on  Section  9,  Custer  Township,  in  the  Fall  of  1SS9. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


125 


effed  in  1902,  and  since  thai  time  party 
nominations  have  been  made  by  direct 
vote    of   the    people    instead    of   the    old 

style  county  conventions.  This  has  re- 
sulted in  revolutionizing  county  politics. 
Lyon  county  being  normally  strongly 
Republican,  the  principal  campaign  is 
now  made  for  the  Republican  nomina- 
tion and  there  are  seldom  contests  for 
county  office  at  the  general  election. 

The  first  primary  election  in  Lyon 
county  was  held  September  16,  1902, 
and  there  were  contests  only  among  the 
Republicans.  The  result  of  the  ballot- 
ing where  more  than  one  sought  the 
office  was  as  follows: 

Congressman — M.  J.  Dowling,  1041; 
A.  J.  Volstead,  620;  E.  T.  Young,  163. 

Senator— John  G.  Schutz,  1151;  C.  YY. 
Stites,  67s! 

Representatives — J.  H.  Catlin,  695; 
Gustav  Erickson,  819;  A.  H.  Mahler, 
387;  H.  W.  Ruliffson,  1078. 

Register  of  Deeds — J.  W.  Andrews, 
477;  8.  N.  Harrington,  1268. 

Attorney — Thomas  E.  Davis,  1035; 
E.  C.  Patterson,  771. 

Clerk  of  Court— G.  B.  Bjornson,  910; 
A.  G.  Bumford,  913. 

Commissioner  Second  District — C.  K. 
Melby,  192;  Ole  L.  Orsen,  96. 

The  result  of  the  general  election  of 
1902,  at  which  2494  ballots  were  cast, 
Avas  as  follows: 

Governor — Samuel  R.  Van  Sant  (rep), 
1784;  Leonard  A.  Rosing  (dem),  534; 
Thomas  J.  Meighen  (pp),  69;  Charles 
Scanlon  (pro),  91 ;  J.  E.  Nash,  3;  Thomas 
Van  Lear  (soc  lab),  11. 

Congressman — A.  J.  Volstead  (rep), 
1871;  August  O.  Forsberg  (pp),  373; 
Knut  Johnson  (pro),  145. 

Senator— John  G.  Schutz  (rep),  1925. 

Representatives — H.      W.      Ruliffson 


(rep),     1741;     Gustav     Erickson     (rep), 
1544;  John  .1.  Mooney  (pp).  495. 

Auditor — Thomas  McKinley  (rep), 
2161. 

Treasurer — A.  H.  Dunton  (rep),  2055. 

Sheriff — Andrew  A.  Christensen  (rep), 
2226. 

Register  of  Deeds — S.  N.  Harrington :i7 
(rep),  2172. 

Judge  of  Probate — L.  M.  Lange38 
(rep),  2103. 

Attorney — Thomas  E.  Davis  (rep), 
1469;  E.  B.  Johnson  (hid),  1025. 

Clerk  of  Court — A.  G.  Bumford  (rep), 
2115. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — H.  R. 
Painter  (rep),  1263;  Mrs.  Dell  W. 
Forbes  (non  partisan),  1973. 

Surveyor — W.  A.  Hawkins  (rep), 
2056. 

Commissioner  Second  District — C.  K. 
Melby  (rep),  240;  O.  J.  Wignes  (ind), 
171. 

Commissioner  Fourth  District — Levi 
S.  Kiel  (rep),  523. 

The  contests  in  the  Republican  pri- 
mary election  of  1904  were  decided  as 
follows : 

Representatives — Gustav  Erickson, 
883;  Marcus  Lauritsen,  689;  John  Mc- 
Kenzie,  843;  H.  W.  Ruliffson,  995. 

Treasurer— C.  J.  Berdan,  847;  A.  H. 
Dunton,  1054. 

Sheriff — Andrew  A.  Christensen,  1251; 
H.  O.  Clark,  694. 

Judge  of  Probate — E.  C.  Patterson, 
937;  Walter  Wakeman,  935. 

Commissioner  Third  District — J.  N. 
Jones,  215;  L.  E.  Peterson,  179. 

At  the  1904  general  election  3134 
ballots  were  cast,  the  largest  number  in 
the  history  of  the  county,  before  or 
since.  For  president  Theodore  Roose- 
velt received  a  record  breaking  majority 


37Died  September  12,   1903.      M.   E.  Drake  received 
the  appointment  and  completed  the  term. 


38Resip:ni'd  and  was  succeeded   by    E 
June  1,  1903. 


C.   Patterson 


126 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


over  Alton  B.  Parker.  The  vote  for  the 
several  nominees  was  as  follows: 

President — Theodore  Roosevelt  (rep), 
2394;  Alton  B.  Parker  (dem),  331; 
Thomas  Watson  (pp),  52;  Swallow  (pro), 
107:  E.  V.  Debs  (pub  own),  50. 

Governor — Robert     C.     Dunn     (rep), 


Lauritsen,  753;  Ole  Ostensoe,  186;  V.  B. 
Seward,  1800. 

Representatives — H.  M.  Hanson, 1350: 
I.  L.  Kolhei,  964;  C.  K.  Melby,  1476. 

Auditor — Thomas  McKinley,  782; 
Ernest  S.  Shepard,  2019. 

Treasurer — A.  H.  Dunton,  544;  J.  H. 


Hi58;    John   A.    Johnson    (dem),    1268;     Dahl,  707;  Elmer  E.  Foster,  498;  R.  M. 
Charles  W.  Dorsett  (pro),  82;  J.  E.  Nash      Neill,  1089;  F.  S.  Purdy,  81. 
(pub  own),  15;  A.  W.  M.  Anderson  (soc 
lab),  14. 

Congressman — A.  J.  Volstead  (rep), 
2611. 

R  epresentatives — Marcus  Lauritsen 
(rep),  2285;  Gustav  Erickson  (rep), 
2317. 


Sheriff — Andrew  A.  Christensen,  1407; 
M.  E.  Grannan,  1527. 

Register  of  Deeds— M.  E.  Drake,  2010; 
George  D.  Fitch,  669. 

Judge  of  Probate — Walter  Wakeman, 
1381;  O.  F.  Woodard,  1432.. 

Clerk   of   Court— C.   J.  -Berdan,   596; 


Auditor— Thomas     McKinley      (rep),  A.  G.  Bumford,  1515;  Frank  C.  Whitney, 

2704.  737. 

Treasurer— A.  H.  Dunton  (rep),  2691.  Surveyor— W.   A.   Hawkins,   1059;  O. 

Sheriff — Andrew  A.  Christensen  (rep),  H.  Sterk,  1562. 

2751 .  Commissioner  Second  District — Ole  E. 

Register  of  Deeds— M.  E.  Drake  (rep),  Rye,  203;  T.  K.  Thompson,  224. 


2656. 

Judge  of  Probate — E.  C.  Patterson 
(rep),  2449. 

Attorney — Thomas  E.  Davis  (rep), 
1460;  Bjorn  B.  Gislason  (ind),  1674. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — Mrs.  Dell 
W.  Forbes  (non  partisan),  2580. 

Coroner — J.  B.  Robertson  (rep),  2250. 

Surveyor — W.  A.  Hawkins  (rep), 
2440. 

Commissioner  First  District — O.  H. 
Hatlestad  (rep),  504. 

Commissioner  Third  District — John  N. 
Jones  (rep),  382;  S.  W.  Galbraith  (ind), 
240. 

Commissioner  Fifth  District — J.  M. 
Wardell  (rep),  488. 

There  were  many  candidates  for  the 
Republican  nominations  in  L906  and 
the  results  were  as  follows: 

Judge  District  Court — L.  G.  Davis, 
506;  Joseph  A.  Eckstein,  519;  I.  M. 
Olsen,    1)40;   B.    F.   Webber,   320. 

Senator     Robert   Faulds,  103;  Marcus 


At  the  1906  general  election  2293 
votes  were  polled  and  the  results  were 
as  follows: 

Governor — A.  L.  Cole  (rep),  815; 
John  A.  Johnson  (dem),  1288;  Charles 
W.  Dorsett  (pro),  112;  O.  E.  Lofthus 
(pub  own),  19. 

Judge  District  Court— I.  M.  Olsen 
(rep),  954;  Albert  Steinhauser  (dem), 
100;  M.  E.  Mathews  (non  partisan), 
1181. 

Congressman — A.  J.  Volstead  (rep), 
1840. 

Senator — V.    B.    Seward    (rep),    1798. 

Representatives — H.  M.  Hanson  (rep), 
1536;  C.  K.  Melby  (rep),  1452. 

Auditor — Ernest  S.  Shepard  (rep), 
1956. 

Treasurer— R.  M.  Neill  (rep),  1909. 

Sheriff — M.    E.   Grannan    (rep),    1607. 
Register  of  Deeds — M.  E.  Drake  (rep), 
1*907. 

Judge    of    Probate — O.    F.    Woodard 

(rep),  1S58. 


HISTORY  OF  I, VOX  COUNTY. 


127 


Attorney     X.  J.  Robinson  (rep),  1849. 

Clerk  of.  Court— A.  G.  Bumford  (rep), 
1910. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — II.  R. 
Painter  (rep),  1(122;  .Mrs.  Dell  W.  Forbes 
(non  partisan).  1512. 

Coroner — J.  B.  Robertson  (rep),  17(>7. 

Surveyor — O.  H.  Sterk  (rep).  1817. 

Commissioner  Second  District  T.  K. 
Thompson  (rep),  300. 

Commissioner  Fourth  District  -Levi 
S.  Kiel  (rep),  430. 

Only  a  few  contested  for  the  Repub- 
lican nominations  in  1908  and  the 
results  were1  as  follows: 

Representatives — John  X.  Johnson, 
1169;  C.  K.  Melby,  1100;  Thomas 
Stringer,  640. 

Judge  of  Probate — John  E.  Regan, 
596;  O.  V.  Woodard,  1274. 

Commissioner  First  District — O.  H. 
Hatlestad,  166;  Ludwig  E.  Larson,  153. 

Commissioner  Third  District — Clans 
G.  Johnson,  81;  Evan  M.  Jones,  139; 
John  X.  Jones,  132;  George  A.  Tate,  151. 

Commissioner  Fifth  District — H.  J. 
Cain.  131;  J.  M.  Wardell,  203. 

The  general  election  of  1908  brought 
forth  2987  voters.     The  vote  in  detail: 

President— W.  H.  Taft  (rep).  1618; 
W.  J.  Bryan  (dem),  1043;  Eugene  W. 
Chafin  (pro),  146;  E.  V.  Debs  (pub  own), 
46;  Thomas  L.  Hisgen  (independence),  1. 

Governor — Jacob  F.  Jacobson  (rep), 
1530;  John  A.  Johnson  (dem),  1209; 
George  D.  Haggard  (pro),  106;  Beecher 
Moore  (pub  own),  19;  William  W.  Allen 
(independence),  3. 

Congressman — A.  J.  Volstead  (rep), 
2054. 

Represent  at  ives- 
(rep),   1424;  C.   K. 


John     N.     Johnson 
Melby    (rep),    1589; 

W.  C.  Gaugh   (pro),  583;  Alfred  Soder- 

lind  (ind),  915. 

;'.Mr.  Wardell  resigned  in  the  spring  of  1912  on 
account  of  ill  health  and  died  a  few  weeks  later. 
H.  F.  Seiter  was  chosen  to  complete  the  term. 


Auditor  Ernest  S.  Shepard  (rep), 
2280. 

Treasurer      P.  M.   Neil]  (rep),  2236. 

Sheriff— M.    E.   Grannan   (rep).  2157. 

Register  of  Deeds  M.  E.  Drake  (rep), 
2254. 

Judge  of  Probate— O.  F.  Woodard 
(rep),  22S3. 

Attorney     X..I.  Robinson  (rep),  2152. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — H.  R. 
Painter  (rep).  2229. 

Coroner — J.  B.  Robertson  (rep),  2043. 

Surveyor    -0.  II.  Sterk  (rep),  2163. 

Commissioner  hirst  District — O.  H. 
Hatlestad  (rep).  285;  Peter  T.  Dahl 
(ind),  252. 

Commissioner  Third  District — George 
A.  Tate  (rep),  302;  C.  E.  Etrheim  (dem), 
396. 

Commissioner  Fifth  District — J.  M. 
Wardell39  (rep),  392. 

The  results  of  the  Republican  primary 
election  of  1910  for  the  offices  sought  by 
more  than  one  candidate  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

Senator— Olai  A.  Lende,  1351;  V.  B. 
Seward,  1273. 

Representatives — J.  H.  Catlin,  1044; 
Edwin  F.  Whiting,  1419. 

Sheriff— M.  E.  Grannan,  1390;  R.  A. 
Mitchell,  1161. 

Register  of  Deeds — Boyd  Champlain, 
947;  M.  E.  Drake,  1513. 

Judge  of  Probate — John  Michie,  774; 
O.  F.  Woodard,  1709. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — Lucy  A. 
Mercer,  794;  H.  R,  Painter,  1878. 

Surveyor — J.  D.  Lanoue,  616;  O.  H. 
Sterk,  1662. 

Commissioner  Fourth  District — E.  E. 
Davis,  312;  Levi  S.  Kiel,  255;  S.  W.  Or, 
110. 

At  the  last  general  election  before  the 
publication    of    this    volume— that     of 


128 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


1910— the  total  vote  cast  was  2507. 40 
The  vote  was  divided  among  the  several 
nominees  as  follows: 

( rovernor — A.  0.  Eberhart  (rep), 1158; 
James  Gray  (dem),  1091;  J.  F.  Heiberg 
(pro),  90;  George  E.  Barrett  (pub  own), 
24;  C.  W.  Brandborg  (soc  lab),  33. 

Congressman — A.  J.  Volstead  (rep), 
1844. 

Senator — Olai  A.   Lende   (rep),    1867. 

Representative — Edwin  F.  Whiting 
(rep),  1745;  Cain  (ind),  311. 

Auditor — Ernest  8.  Shepard  (rep), 
1944. 

Treasurer— R.  M.  Neill  (rep),  1983. 

Sheriff— M.  E.  Grannan  (rep),  1266; 
John  Munroe  (dem),  1192. 

Register  of  Deeds — M.  E.  Drake  (rep), 
1945. 

Judge  of  Probate — O.  F.  Woodard 
(rep),  1929. 

Attorney— James  H.  Hall  (rep),  1220; 
James  Von  Williams  (dem),  1178. 

Clerk  of  Court — A.  G.  Bumford  (rep), 
1953. 

Superintendent  of  Schools — H.  R. 
Painter  (rep),  1942. 

Coroner— J.  B.  Robertson  (rep),  1839. 

Surveyor— O.  H.  Sterk  (rep),  1911. 

Commissioner  Second  District — T.  K. 
Thompson  (rep),  167;  James  McGinn 
(dem),  176. 

Commissioner  Fourth  District — E.  E. 
Davis  (rep),  398;  Levi  S.  Kiel  (ind),  267. 

And  now  the  political  history  of  Lyon 
county  is  brought  to  a  close.  It  covers 
a  period  from  the  time  in  1870  when  the 
first  official  took  the  oath  of  office— 
when  there  were  less  than  one  hundred 
voters  in  the  count}- — up  to  and  in- 
cluding the  last  general  election  before 
the  publication  of  this  volume.     A  brief 

40The  vote  of  the  county  at  the  first  election,  in 
IN<(),  was  is,  and  m  1873,  while  the  present  Lincoln 
county  was  included  in  it,  it  was  .502.  The  total  vote 
cast  a1  each  election  since  that  time  was*  as  follows' 
L874,  453;  187."..  238;  1876,  606;  1877,  399;  1878,  698'; 


summary  of  conditions  during  this  time 
may  not  be  out  of  place. 

The  county  has  always  been  normally 
Republican  and  in  the  early  days  was 
overwhelmingly  so.  Although  the  party 
of  Jefferson  polled  fair  sized  votes  at 
several  elections,  it  has  never  carried 
the  county  for  the  national  ticket;  at 
three  elections  it  carried  the  county  for 
its  nominees  for  governor. 

During  the  entire  early  history  of  the 
county,  the  Republican  was  the"  only 
party  maintaining  an  organization.  But 
during  that  time  there  was  a  strong 
independent  movement,  kept  alive  by 
one  faction  of  the  Republican  party  and 
the  Democrats,  which  opposed  the  Re- 
publican organization  and  on  several 
occasions  gained  partial  control  of  county 
politics.  With  the  later  settlement  of 
the  county  came  the  organization  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  since  that 
time  it  has  been  a  factor  in  county 
politics,  although  always  as  a  minority 
party.  Since  primary  election  days  it 
has  participated  in  local  politics  only 
to  a  limited  extent. 

In  the  free  silver  days  of  the  nineties 
the  Alliance,  succeeded  after  one  cam- 
paign by  the  Peoples  Party,  came  into 
existence,  carried  the  county  for  gover- 
nor and  congressman  at  one  election, 
and  became  a  power  in  local  politics. 
Fusion  between  the  Peoples  Party  and 
Democrats  was  accomplished  and  for 
some  time  the  combined  forces  furnished 
opposition  to  the  dominant  party. 

The  Prohibitionists  have  never  been 
strong  in  Lyon  county.  In  a  few  cam- 
paigns they  placed  nominees  for  county 
offices  in  the  field.  Socialists  and  other 
minor  parties  have  little  or  no  strength 
in  the  count  v. 


30.33;  1902,  2494;  1904,  3134;  1906,  2293;  1908,' 2987-' 
1910,  2.507. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


MARSHALL-  -1872-1912. 


MARSHALL,  the  capital  of  Lyon 
county,  is  the  largesl  and  old- 
est existing  town  in  the  county. 
It  is  located  at  the  Big  Lend  of  the 
Redwood  river,  and  its  elevation  above 
sea  level  is  1174  feet.  It  is  a  station 
on  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  railroad 
and  the  Great  Northern  railroad.  Other- 
wise described,  Marshall  is  on  section  4, 
Lake  Marshall  township,  and  the  busi- 
ness center  of  the  city  is  only  three 
miles,  in  a  direct  line,  from  the  geo- 
graphical center  of  the  county. 

The  population  of  Marshall  in  1910 
was  2152,  but  there  has  been  an  in- 
crease since  that  time  and  a  census 
today  would  show  a  population  of  about 
2500.  It  is  one  of  the  progressive  and 
prosperous  towns  of  Southwestern  Min- 
nesota. All  lines  of  business  that  are 
to  be  found  in  the  towns  of  agricultural 
communities  of  the  upper  Mississippi 
valley  are  represented.  It  is  noted  for 
its  beautiful  homes,  schools,  churches 
and  social  organizations,  and  in  these 
respects  it  is  the  peer  of  any  city  of  its 
size  in  the  state. 

Considered  in  its  natural  state,  the 
location  of  Marshall  is  one  of  unusual 
beauty;  Southwestern  Minnesota  has 
not  a  more  lovely  spot.  Through  the 
eastern  part  of  the  city  flows  the  Red- 
wood river,  skirted  by  a  growth  of 
natural  timber,  which  forms  a  series  of 


pretty  little  parks.  In  its  natural  state 
and  with  the  embellishments  added  by 
the  hands  of  man,  Marshall  ranks  as  one 
of  the  prettiest  little  cities  in  a  state 
distinguished  for  its  pretty  towns. 
Especially  is  one  charmed  with  its 
loveliness  in  summer.  Then  the  broad 
avenues  and  parks  are  clothed  in  bright- 
est  green;  trees  are  everywhere. 

One  can  hardly  realize  that  less  than 
a  half  century  ago  this  spot  was  an 
uncharted  wilderness,  practically  un- 
known to  white  men;  yet  such  is  the 
case.  Time  was  when  the  dusky  red 
man  pitched  his  tepee  where  now 
Marshall's  churches  are  located;  vast 
herds  of  bison  inhabited  the  surrounding 
country  and  made  their  wallows,  per- 
haps, where  now  our  courts  are  held; 
timid  deer  browsed  where  at  present 
the  pupil  studies  his  natural  history; 
elk  in  countless  numbers  roamed  the 
adjacent  prairies  and  saw  their  antlers 
reflected  in  the  clear  waters  of  the 
Redwood  as  they  bent  down  to  drink. 

When  the  first  white  man  set  foot  on 
the  site  of  the  city  is  not  known.  Pos- 
sibly he  was  some  adventurous  trapper 
who  had  pushed  out  beyond  his  asso- 
ciates to  locate  new  grounds  in  which 
to  ply  his  trade,  and,  having  come  to 
the  Redwood  river,  proceeded  up  the 
stream  to  the  point  where  was  later 
founded    the    city.     Maybe    Joseph    La 


L30 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Framboise  in  the  thirties  or  James  W. 
Lynd  in  the  fifties,  in  their  operations 
in  Lyon  county,  visited  the  Big  Bend 
of  the  Redwood  and  were  the  first  to 
stand  upon  the  site.  Possibly  the  first 
was  a  member  of  one  of  the  exploring 
parties  that  visited  Southwestern  Min- 
nesota in  an  early  day. 

History  records  that  wherever  the 
North  American  Indians  were  in  the 
habit  of  gathering  for  purposes  of 
residence,  council,  worship  or  barter, 
those  spots  have  invariably  been  selected 
by  white  men  on  which  to  locate  their 
centers  of  population.  There  is  scarce 
an  instance  to  the  contrary,  and. 
indeed,  it  would  have  been  remarkable 
had  a  city  not  been  founded  where 
Marshall  now  stands.  For  the  Big  Bend 
of  the  Redwood  was  a  well-known  spot 
to  the  aborigines;  there  they  were  wont 
to  gather  and  make  their  camps  while 
on  the  warpath  or  hunt,  and  it  came  to 
be  a  popular  assembling  ground.  Trails 
extended  from  it  in  four  directions: 
northward  to  the  Lac  qui  Parle  country; 
southward,  past  Lake  Marshall,  to  the 
Cottonwood  river  country  and  Lake 
Shetek;  southwestward,  up  the  Red- 
wood river,  to  the  Lynd  woods  and  the 
famous  Pipestone  quarries;  northeast- 
ward, down  the  Redwood,  to  the 
present  site  of  Redwood  Falls  and  the 
Minnesota  river. 

The  land  on  which  Marshall  was  later 
built  (section  4,  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship) was  without  a  claimant  until  the 
summer  of  1S69.  At  that  time  C.  H. 
Whitney  and  C.  H.  Upton,  accompanied 
by  others,  came  to  the  county  and 
located  claims  thereon,  Mi'.  Whitney 
taking  the  southeast  quarter  and  Mr. 
Upton    the    northeast     quarter.     They 

'The  proximity  oi  Lake  Marshal]  doubtless  suggested 

l  lie  name  of  the  postoffiee  to  Mr.  Whitney.  The  lake 
was  named  in  honor  of  Governor  William  I!.  Marshall. 
The  village  was  not  named  after  Lake  Marshall  or  in 
honor  of  Governor   Marshall,   but   after  this  postoffice. 


broke  a  little  land  on  each  of  those 
claims  and  also  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  the  same  section,  which  was  reserved 
as  the  claim  of  Mrs.  Ursula  Stone, 
mother-in-law  of  Mr.  Upton  and  a 
soldier's  widow.  These  gentlemen  de- 
parted from  their  claims  on  June  L">. 
and  on  the  eighteenth  made  their  filings 
in  the  land  office  at  New  Ulm. 

Messrs.  Whitney  and  Upton  returned 
on  June  1,  1870.  Mr.  Whitney  built  a 
sod  shanty  on  his  claim — the  first  build- 
ing erected  in  Marshall,  though  not  the 
first  in  the  village  as  originally  platted 
—and  Mr.  Upton  put  up  a  sod  shanty 
on  his  claim,  both  being  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river  and  not  in  the  original 
platted  portion,  but  in  additions  later 
made.  Although  there  was  no  prospect 
of  the  founding  of  a  village  at  the  time, 
Mr.  Whitney,  on  October  17.  1870, 
secured  the  establishment  of  a  post- 
office,  which  was  located  on  his  claim 
and  of  which  he  became  postmaster. 
The  office  was  named  Marshall1  and  was 
operated  as  a  country  postoffice  until 
the  village  was  founded. 

During  1870  a  number  of  settlers 
located  in  the  vicinity  of  the  village-to- 
be  and  the  Marshall  postoffice  became 
a  sort  of  social  center  for  those  living  in 
the  neighborhood.  Late  in  May,  1871, 
Mrs.  Ursula  Stone  and  Milo  Morse 
arrived  and  selected  as  their  claims  the 
remaining  land  on  section  4,  Mr.  Morse 
filing  on  the  southwest  quarter  and  Mrs. 
Stone  on  the  northwest  quarter.  In 
June  Mr.  Morse,  assisted  by  his  neigh- 
bors, built  a  sod  shanty  at  a  point  on 
his  claim  which  is  about  where  the 
Van  Dusen  elevator  now  stands,  close 
to  the  Northwestern  tracks.2 

Not    until   early   in    1872    was    there 


2"I  helped  to  build  the  first  house  on  the  original 
townsite  of  Marshall,  in  June,  1871.  It  was  a  sod 
house.  The  original  homesteader,  Milo  Morse,  held  a 
'bee'  and  the  Bellinghams,  At  Bean,  myself  and  others 
attended."— G.  M.  Durst. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


i.n 


thought  of  a  village  at  the  Big  Bend. 
Then  came  rumors  of  the  proposed  ex- 
tension of  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter  rail- 
road through  Lyon  county,  and  a  little 
later  came  the  surveyors  who  selected 
the  route.  The  people  at  the  Big  Bend 
early  put  in  a  claim  for  a  station  on  the 
proposed  road,  hut  their  claim  was 
opposed  by  the  settlers  at  the  point 
where  the  road  would  cross  Three-Mile 
creek,  close  to  the  present  village  of 
Ghent.  For  a  time  the  choice  was  in 
doubt,  but  the  settlers  at  the  Hia;  Bend 
were  triumphant,  largely  through  the 
exertions  of  (\  II.  Whitney.  He  made 
a  trip  to  the  land  office  at  Redwood 
Falls,  secured  data  concerning  the  land 
filings  in  the  two  neighborhoods,  and 
presented  the  matter  to  the  railroad 
authorities  in  such  light  that  t  hex- 
promised  the  Lyon  county  station  should 
he  at  the  point  where  the  road  would 
cross  the  Redwood  river. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  selection  of 
the  .site  was  made1  before  there  were 
signs  of  a  village.  The  first  building 
erected,  excepting  the  sod  houses  hefore 
mentioned,  was  put  up  in  June,  1872. 
It  was  a  little  frame  building  erected  by 
the  railroad  company  for  the  use  of  its 
engineers  and  stood  where  the  Lawrence 
furniture  store  is  now.  The  second 
building  was  put  up  about  the  same 
time  and  stood  in  the  middle  of  Third 
Street,  facing  Main,  in  front  of  the  site 
now  occupied  by  the  Lyon  County 
National  Bank.  Its  dimensions  were 
13x16  feet,  with  a  lean-to,  and  the 
lumber   it    contained    was    hauled    from 


New  11  in.  The  builders  were  William 
Everett,  R.  M.  Addison  and  Charles  A. 
DeGraff  (the  latter  the  head  of  the 
contracting  firm  which  built  the  rail- 
road),  who  formed  the  firm  of  Willi; 


am 


• 


Everett  A:  Company  for  the  purpose  of 
engaging  in  business  in  the  proposed 
town.  A  large  slock  of  goods  was 
carried  and  the  firm  did  an  enormous 
business  from  the  start,  most  of  the 
patrons  being  employes  doing  construc- 
tion work.3 

At  a  time  when  the  only  buildings 
on  the  site  were  the  engineers'  office,  the 
Everett  stoic  building  and  the  sod 
shanties  of  the  homesteaders,  and  hefore 
it  was  platted,  in  .Inly.  1872,  Marshall 
was  named.  The  momentous  event 
occurred  at  a  supper  served  a  party  of 
railroad  officials  by  Mrs.  C.  H.  Whitney 
in  the  engineers'  office.1  There  were 
present  Vice  President  and  Treasurer 
Sykes,  General  Manager  Howe,  General 
Superintendent  Stewart,  Attorney  Gen- 
eral Smith,  Chief  Engineer  W.  G.  Ward, 
Assistant  Engineer  J.  W.  Blake,  Con- 
tractor DeGraff  and  his  son,  Charles 
DeGraff. 

During  the  meal  the  naming  of  the 
station  was  discussed  and  the  following 
names  were  proposed,  all  in  honor  of 
some  member  of  the  party:  Ward  City. 
Howeville,  DeGraffton,  Stewartville  and 
Blake  City.  No  agreement  was  reached 
and  W.  G.  Ward  suggested  that  their 
hostess,  Mrs.  Whitney,  name  the  station 
and  the  others  assented.  Having  heard 
the-  discussion,  Mrs.  Whitney  realized 
that  the  selection  of  one  of  the  names 


3The  sales  at  this  store  the  day  it  opened  were 
$2200,  and  they  frequently  were  $2000  to  $2,500  per 
day.  R.  M.  Addison  and  S.  H.  Mott  succeeded  to  the 
business  some  time  after  the  railroad  came  and  a 
little  later  Mr.  Addison  became  sole  proprietor. 

4"One  day  in  July,  1S72,  Engineer  John  W.  Blake 
dashed  into  the  'village'  upon  a  sweat-dripping  pony 
which  he  had  ridden  from  Lamberton,  starting  at 
leu-thirty  in  the  forenoon  and  arriving  here  at  four- 
thirty  in  the  afternoon.  He  stated  to  C.  H.  Whitney 
that  the  engineers  and  railroad  officers  had  come  to 
Lamberton   by  train   and   were  then   on   their  way  by 


teams  to  Marshall  and  must  have  supper  when  they 
arrived.  Mrs.  Whitney  levied  upon  whatever  the 
country  afforded  and  prepared  the  repast  in  her  house, 
and  upon  the  arrival  of  the  party  it  was  conveyed  to 
the  engineers'  office,  and  there  occurred  the  first  public 
repast  held  in  this  place.  Major  Blake  says  it  was  a 
meal  lit  for  princes,  and  the  wonder  of  all  was  that 
such  an  extensive  array  of  viands  could  have  been 
collected  and  prepared  upon  such  short  notice  and 
upon  the  open  prairie.  A  large  number  of  people 
came  with  the  party,  but  only  the  'high  joints'  sat 
down  to  the  repast  in  the  office." — News-Messenger, 
September  16,  18S7. 


132 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


proposed  might  prove  embarrassing, 
and  she  selected  the  name  Marshall, 
after  the  postoffice  conducted  by  her 
husband.  The  name  was  instantly  ac- 
cepted by  the  officials.  With  a  libation 
of  water"  sprinkled  upon  the  ground, 
General  Smith  baptized  the  new  town, 
accompanying  the  ceremony  with  a 
speech  in  which  he  urged  upon  Marshall's 
foster  parents  the  duty  of  using  their 
influence  in  the  cause  of  temperance 
within  its  limits.  The  party  remained 
in  Marshall  over  night  and  then  con- 
tinued their  journey  to  Lake  Kampeska. 

Hut  little  progress  was  made  in  the 
building  line  before  the  railroad  reached 
the  town.  Early  in  September  Jesse 
Bagley  built  a  little  structure  where  the 
Watson  hardware  store  now  stands  and 
used  it  as  a  boarding  shanty.  In  Sep- 
tember also  Captain  Herrick  and  Major 
Filkins  set  up  a  large  tent  (to  the  rear 
of  the  site  of  John  Schneider's  store) 
and  conducted  a  saloon,  which  was 
liberally  patronized  by  the  railroad 
workers.  In  this  tent  while  it  was  so 
employe)  1,  the  first  religious  services  in 
Marshall  were  conducted  by  Rev.  E.  H. 
Alden. 

October  was  a  busy  month  in  the  new 
town.  It  witnessed  the  arrival  of  the 
railroad  on  the  twelfth,  the  opening  of 

5A  little  more  than  a  week  after  the  hotel  was  opened, 
on  October  20,  an  accident  occurred  which  is  well 
remembered  by  all  who  were  present  and  is  chronicled 
as  an  event  in  the  history  of  Marshall.  W.  M.  Todd, 
in  correspondence  to  a  Winona  paper  at  the  time  of 
the  accident,  wrote  of  it  as  follows: 

"Inside  this  hotel  last  Tuesday  evening  occurred 
ccident  that  is  well  worthy  of  notice,  even  in  a 
metropolitan  paper,  and  that  published  at  a  great 
distance  away.  The  train  from  the  east  that  evening 
was  loaded  with  passengers  and  it  contained  all  the 
railroad  men  employed  by  the  company  at  this  place. 
All  took  a  bee-line  for  the  hotel  and  demanded  rest 
and  refreshments.  Charlie's  eyes  bulged  out  when  he 
surveyed  the  multitude,  but  he  yelled,  'Come  in  and 
we  will  do  the  best  we  can.'  In  went  the  throng, 
and  as  there  was  not  room  enough  elsewhere,  it  pressed 
into  the  dining  room.  Supper  being  ready,  all  who 
Could  surrounded  the  table  and  the  rest  stood  up 
anywhere  they  could  find  room. 

"The  room  was  already  full  and  commenced  to  pack 
when  the  weight  caused  the  floor  to  break,  and  down 
went  table,  dishes,  chairs,  trunks,  satchels,  men, 
women,  children,  babies  and  all  in  one  promiscuous 
mass  into  the  cellar  below.  The  authoi  of  this  de- 
scription was  -ittiiiir  on  a  broom  handle,  play-horse- 
fashion,   waiting  for  his  turn   at   the  coffee  and   boiled 


a  hotel  on  the  same  date,  and  the 
platting  of  the  village  on  the  twenty- 
second. 

The  hotel  was  erected  by  C.  H. 
Whitney  and  was  a  substantial  structure. 
It  was  located  where  the  present  Atlantic- 
Hotel  stands,  was  35x40  feet  and  two 
stories  high.  Mr.  Whitney  had  decided 
to  build  just  one  month  before  the  hotel 
was  opened  to  the  public.  On  the 
twelfth  of  September  he  left  for  Winona 
to  purchase  the  lumber.  The  stock  was 
billed  to  "the  end  of  the  line,"  which 
proved  to  lie  near  the  present  village  of 
Amiret,  and  was  hauled  from  that  point 
by  team.  The  structure  was  rushed  to 
completion  and  was  opened  October  12, 
the  day  the  first  train  was  run  to  the 
town.  Supper  was  provided  for  27o 
men  that  evening.5 

For  the  purpose  of  platting  the 
Marshall  townsite  a  partnership  was 
formed  by  J.  H.  Stewart,  superintendent 
of  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company;  J.  H.  Jenkins,  assistant  super- 
intendent; W.  G.  Ward,  chief  engineer; 
J.  W.  Blake,  assistant  engineer;  and 
C.  H.  Whitney.  They  purchased  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  4  from  Milo 
Morse  and  the  south  half  of  the  north- 
west quarter  from  Mrs.  Stone  and  laid 
out  the  town  on  portions  of  those  tracts 

beef,  having  taken  a  big  dose  of  quinine  and  whisky 
to  scare  off  a  threatening  ague  chill,  and  as  he  saw- 
everything  begin  to  go  down,  he  sprang  across  the 
'bloody  chasm'  and  landed  in  the  kitchen.  When  he 
looked  back  into  the  dark  cellar  and  saw  the  shadowy 
forms  of  the  struggling  victims  trying  to  extricate 
themselves  and  heard  the  shrieks  of  the  sex  which 
caused  the  downfall  of  man  once  before,  he  was,  to 
say  the  least,  sorry  he  had  invested.  In  the  dining 
room  and  office  wrere  nearly  two  hundred  persons,  and 
as  the  lower  floor  of  the  whole  house  except  the  kitchen 
went  down,  the  most  of  this  number  went  down  with  it. 
"Digging  out  the  ruins,  human  and  otherwise,  began 
with  a  vengeance.  It  was  found  that  no  one  was  hurt 
in  going  dowrn,  but  some  were  bruised  in  being  'snaked 
out.'  A  Miss  Smith,  manager  of  the  dining  room, 
who  was  under  a  trunk,  was  slightly  injured.  The 
fellow  who  lifts  himself  by  his  boot-straps  was  there 
and  tried  to  pull  her  from  under  the  trunk  while 
bracing  his  feet  on  the  top  of  it.  Many  complained 
the  next  morning  of  bruised  shins,  particularly  'Deacon' 
Knowles,  the  clerk,  who  jumped  clear  over  a  table  to 
rescue  a  bull-dog.  Another  evidence,  of  the  way 
things  are  done  here  is  the  fact  that  this  cellar  was 
cleaned  out  and  a  new  floor  laid  before  four  o'clock  the 
next  morninir,  and  upwards  of  three  hundred  persons 
breakfasted  there." 


HISTOKY  OF  LYON  COl'XTY. 


V.M 


and  of  the  southeast  quarter,  which  was 
the  property  of  Mr.  Whitney. 

The  site  was  surveyed  by  James  A. 
Craik.     The  certificate  of  the  plat   was 

made  October  22  by  William  G.  Ward, 
Ella  C.  Ward,  Joseph  II.  Jenkins, 
Augusta  M.  Jenkins,  James  II.  Stewart, 
Lucy  J.  Stewart,  Florence  E.  Blake,  all 
by  John  W.  Blake,  their  attorney  in 
fact,  and  by  John  W.  Blake,  Charles  H. 
Whitney  and  Mary  A.  Whitney,  per- 
sonally. The  certificate  was  acknowl- 
edged before  William  Langdon,  register 
of  deeds,  and  was  filed  in  his  office 
October  22,  1 872. 

The  original  plat  consists  of  twenty- 
four  blocks,  mostly  on  the  west  side  of 
the  river.  The  streets  running  north- 
east and-  southwest  were  named  Easl 
Third,  East  Second,  West  First.  West 
Second,  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth  and  Sixth. 
Those  running  northwest  and  southeast 
were  named  Marshall,  Redwood,  Lyon 
and  Main.6 

After  the  townsite  was  platted,  al- 
though winter  was  close  at  hand,  a 
number  of  buildings  were  put  up  and  a 
few  business  enterprises  started.   Colonel 

8Additions  to  Marshall  have  been  platted  as  follows: 

Blake's,  by  John  W.  Blake,  April  9,  1877  ;  surveyed 
by  C.  L.  Van  Fleet. 

Addition  A,  by  John  Ward,  June  7,  1877;  surveyed 
by  C.  L.  Van  Fleet. 

Railroad,  by  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad  Company, 
February  5,  1879;  surveyed  by  Arthur  Jacobi. 

Stewart  &  Jenkins',  by  J.  H.  Jenkins  and  J.  H. 
Stewart,  September  23,  1886;  surveyed  by  J.  H. 
Jenkins. 

Howard's,  by  Ellen  Howard,  April  26,  1887;  sur- 
veyed by  J.  W.  Blake. 

Eastman's,  by  J.  D.  Eastman,  March  31,  1900; 
surveyed  by  W.  A.  Hawkins. 

Riverside,  by  Marshall  Land  &  Improvement  Com- 
pany, August  23,   1900;  surveyed  by  W.  A.  Hawkins. 

7W.  M.  Todd  wrote  a  reminiscent  article  of  early 
days  in  Marshall  for  the  News-Messenger  of  August  21, 
1903.  He  told  of  his  arrival  and  of  conditions  as  he 
found  them  in  October,  1872,  as  follows: 

".  .  .  One  sunny  morning  in  October,  1872,  I  left 
New  Ulm  on  a  construction  train  destined  for  'Redwood 
Crossing,'  as  it  was  then  called.  The  name  Marshall 
had  not  at  that  time  been  heard  of.  [Mr.  Todd  was 
mistaken.  The  name  had  been  selected  some  time 
before,  although  the  village  had  not  yet  been  platted.] 
.  .  .  Reaching  'Cottonwood  Crossing'  (Amiret),  which 
was  as  near  as  the  track  was  laid,  I  stayed  over  night 
with  the  Mitchell  family.    .    .    . 

"I  left  the  Mitchell  hostelry  next  morning  with  John 
Snyder,  who  had  been  to  'the  crossing'  for  a  load  of 
lumber  to  take  to  Lake  Benton.  The  load  was  so 
heavy  and  the  roads  so  rough  that  we  walked  most  of 
the  way  and  reached  what  was  to  be  known  as  Marshall 
about  dark      That  night  I  slept  in  a  tent  occupied  by 


Samuel  MePhail  opened  a  law  office, 
erecting  a  little  structure  on  the  site  of 
the  Lyric  Theater  thai  was  later  used 
as  a  claim  shack,  lb  M.  Addison  and 
II.  J.  Tripp,  who  carried  the  mail 
between  Redwood  Falls  and  Lynd, 
formed  a  partnership  and  engaged  in  the 
implement  business  on  the  lot  to  the 
real'  of  the  present  Addison  Block. 
David  I'.  Hillings  came  to  the  village 
and  opened  a  general  store.  John  A. 
Coleman  elected  a  store  building  near 
the  present  Lyon  County  National  Bank 
Building  and  engaged  in  business.  Dr. 
S.  Y.  Groesbeck  and  J.  W.  Blake  erected 
residences,  the  first  in  the  village,  and 
the  former  later  engaged  in  the  drug 
business. 

A  Congregational  church  society  was 
organized  and  a  building  in  which  to 
hold  services  was  begun.  Daniel  Far- 
quher  opened  a  blacksmith  shop  in  a 
little  building  he  erected  near  the  Main 
Street  bridge.  W.  M.  Todd  arrived  in 
October  and  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business,  erecting  a  little  office  building 
in  the  rear  of  the  present  Youmans 
yards.7     Among  others  who  located  in 

the  crew  of  John  Watson,  which  was  building  the 
railroad  bridge  across  Redwood  river.   .   .   . 

"Though  thirty-one — almost  thirty- two — years  have 
elapsed,  the  impression  given  by  the  scene  as  I  emerged 
from  the  tent  next  morning  is  still  vivid.  ...  In  every 
direction  was  a  seemingly  endless  expanse  of  undu- 
lating prairie,  green  with  a  verdure  which  a  hand  of 
man  had  never  disturbed,  utterly  houseless  and 
without  trees,  excepting  those  which  marked  the 
course  of  the  river.   .   .   . 

"After  a  simple  but  substantial  breakfast  with  the 
bridge  crew,  I  set  out  'to  see  the  town.'  There  were 
just  two  buildings:  one  a  little  structure  occupied  by 
surveyors  as  headquarters,  the  other  a  cheap  building 
occupied  by  Everett  &  Company  as  a  supply  store  for 
the  construction  men.  Captain  Herrick,  of  Gary, 
South  Dakota,  also  had  a  tent  on  the  bank  of  the 
river  in  which  he  kept  a  small  stock  of  goods.  His 
goods  were  called  by  different  names,  but  they  were  all 
poured  from  the  same  jug. 

"Farther  up  what  I  was  told  was  a  street  a  little 
frame  building  had  just  been  started.  Approaching  it, 
I  found  a  man  sitting  on  a  timber  smoking  a  cigar. 
His  face  was  smooth,  his  hair  was  thin  but  long,  and 
his  countenance  indicated  that  his  mind  was  hard  at 
work.  I  introduced  myself,  and  he  informed  me  that 
his  name  was  Charles  H.  Whitney  and  that  the  building 
being  erected  was  to  be  a  hotel.  I  told  him  I  had  cut 
loose  from  the  effete  East  and  was  looking  for  a  location 
in  the  West,  where  I  might  shake  the  ague,  which  had 
so  long  been  shaking  me,  and  grow  up  with  the  country. 
Whitney  saw  at  once  that  his  reply  was  expected  to 
be  in  the  nature  of  advice,  and  I  never  knew  a  man  to 
make  a  greater  effort  to  rise  to  the  dignity  and  respon- 
sibilities of  his  task. 

"He    pointed    in    every   direction    to    the    oceans   of 


134 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Marshall  in  1872  were  J.  W.  Blake,  who 
.sold  town  lots;  J.  G.  Ward,  who  became 
the  first  station  agent;  Walter  Wakeman 

and  W.  M.  Pierce,  who  were  attorneys: 
('.  II.  Richardson,  Stanley  Addison. 
Andrew  Barrett.  Thomas  McNeil,  L.  B. 
Nichols.  Lyman  Turner.  X.  Wilkins  and 
C.  Mehan. 

The  following  letter  written  in  Mar- 
shall October  26,  1872,  and  published  in 
the  Winona  Republican  gives  an  idea  of 
conditions  in  the  little  village  at  that 
time: 

.Most  everyone  has  heard  of  a  little  railroad 
station  and  embryo  city  just  dug  up  away  off 
somewhere  in  the  West  by  the  name  of  Marshall, 
but  few  know  where  it  is  located,  except  that  it 
is  accessible  by  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter  railroad. 
It  is  situated  "eighty  miles  west  from  New  Ulm, 
forty  miles  from  Redwood  Falls,  forty-five  miles 
from  the  Dakota  line,  twenty-five  miles  from 
Lake  Benton,  and  eight  miles  from  Lynd,  the 
last  mentioned  being  the  illustrious  seat  of 
Lyon  county. 

"Although*  this  little  town  is  in  its  infancy,  I 
venture  the  assertion  that  no  one  who  has 
never  visited  it  can  conceive  with  any  approach 
to  facts  the  activity  and  interest  with  which 
business   is   impelled.     In   the   morning   a   few 

untitled  land,  which  he  maintained  was  as  fertile  as  it 
was  fair:  he  looked  a  few  years  into  the  future  and 
drew  a  picture  of  solid  townships  of  No.  1  wheat  and 
herds  of  sheep  and  cattle;  prophetically  he  saw  about 
him  a  thriving  city  with  paved  streets,  palatial  resi- 
dences and  metropolitan  stores;  he  could  hear  the 
rumbling  of  ponderous  machinery  in  the  manufacturing 
plants  and  see  the  towering  chimneys  emitting  copious 
volumes  of  smoke,  which  formed  black  mountains 
against  the  sky;  he  could  see  glistening  church  spires 
and  hear  the  babbling  of  myriads  of  children  at  play 
about  the  different  school  buildings;  he  could  see 
processions  of  wagons  reaching  from  the  city  miles 
into  the  country,  all  loaded  with  grain  and  hay  and 
fruit  and  stock,  and  he  waved  his  hat  majestically  as 
he  described  the  movements  of  the  boats  which  would 
carry  the  products  down  the  Redwood  river  to  the 
waiting  markets  of  the  East.  It  was  a  picture  no 
artist  could  paint. 

"I  tried  to  put  my  imagination  in  sympathy  with 
his.  I  tried  to  see  the  processions  of  wagons,  but  as 
there  was  not  a  house  or  a  hoof  between  us  and  the 
tar  distant  horizon,  the  wagons  refused  to  appear.  I 
also  tried  hard  to  see  the  big  steamers  floating  down 
the  Redwood,  but  there  was  no  place  in  sight  where  I 
could  not  have  jumped  across  the  stream,  and  my 
imagination  would  not  work  right  with  such  contra- 
dictory surroundings. 

"When  Mr.  \\  hitney  was  in  the  midst  of  his  eloquent 
peroration  he  was  interrupted  by  a  tall  man  riding  a 
pony  and  carrying  a  gun.  The  visitor  was  introduced 
to  me  as  Major  Blake.  The  major  dismounted  and 
after  a  cordial  greeting  asked  me  where  I  hailed  from, 
what  business  1  was  going  to  undertake,  and  if  I  had 
selected  a  lot.  While  we  three  were  talking  another 
man  approached  us.  lie  was  tall  and  straight  and 
wore  a  cape  about  his  shoulders.  He  had  a  stately 
Step,  wore  his  hair  long,  and  had  a  Vermontish  coun- 
tenance.    His  name  wa9  Walter  Wakeman.   .   .   . 

"I  left  tin-  place  that  afternoon  for  Winona,  riding 
to  'Cottonwood  Crossing'  with  Mr.  Underwood,  who 
was  head  clerk  for  Bridge-builder  Watson.  I  ordered 
my  lumber  and  returned  as  soon  as  the  cars  were 
running  and   began   to  do  business.      The  night   of   my 


loads  of  lumber  are  hauled  to  a  certain  spot  and 
immediately  begin  the  creaking  of  saws  and 
clanging  of  hammers,  continued  until  silenced 
by  the  darkness  of  night,  when  a  little  shanty, 
16x24  feet,  or  smaller,  is  so  nearly  completed  as 
to  allow  men  to  lodge  therein  the  same  night. 
A  family  will  arrive  in  town  on  the  evening  train 
and  next  morning  charter  an  ox  team  and 
lumber  wagon,  and  after  loading  in  the  live 
stock,  start  out  on  the  prairie  to  find  a  piece  of 
government  land  on  which  to  squat  and  by  night 
they  will  find  their  land  and  arrange  to  file 
upon  the  same  and  next  morning  return  with  a 
carpenter  to  build  the  house. 

There  are  at  present  in  process  of  erection 
here  one  hardware  store,  one  grocery  and  dry 
goods  store,  one  boarding  house,  one  livery 
stable  and  a  Congregational  church.  The  latter 
will  be  only  a  temporary,  two-story  building, 
the  upper  story  of  which  will  be  used  for  religious 
purposes,  and  the  ground  floor  will  be  used  for 
school  purposes. 

The  railroad  company  is  building,  all  at  the 
same  time,  a  depot,  a  turn-table,  an  engine 
house  and  warehouse.  All  these  buildings,  with 
the  dwelling  houses  being  erected,  give  employ- 
ment to  a  great  number  of  men  and  cause  a 
great  deal  of  commotion  and  excitement. 

Nearly  every  nation  on  the  globe  is  represented 
here,  and  when  the  representatives  talk  at  once 
in  their  native  tongue  they  make  the  most  con- 
glomerated gabble  you  ever  heard. 

Next  comes  our  hotel,  which  was  begun  a 
little  more  than  three  weeks  ago.  Of  course,  it 
is  not  completed,  yet  it  manages  in  some 
mysterious  way  to  lodge  the  modest  number  of 

return  was  the  night  on  which  the  floor  of  the  hotel 
dining  room  fell  in  [October  20].  .  .  .  My  first  customer 
was  Levi  Kiel  and  my  second  old  man  Waterman,  tin- 
two  coming  about  the  same  time.  I  remembered  this 
because  I  had  never  seen  a  foot  of  lumber  measured, 
and  my  ignorance  was  decidedly  embarrassing.  Mr. 
Kiel,  who  wasn't  so  fresh,  showed  me  how  to  pro- 
ceed.   .   .   . 

"About  this  time  the  permanent  population  em- 
braced, besides  those  already  mentioned,  Charley 
Richardson,  Stanley  Addison,  Dr.  Groesbeck,  the 
Hunters.  General  Pierce,  and  perhaps  a  few  others 
whom  I  do  not  now  remember.  ...  1  engaged 
Walter  Dunn,  a  husky  young  man  from  Rochester, 
to  help  me  in  the  lumber  yard. 

".  .  .  As  soon  as  possible  I  built  a  lumber  office, 
and  then  had  the  best — perhaps  the  only  good — place 
to  sleep  in  town.  This  was  the  first  building  com- 
pleted in  Marshall,  except  the  surveyors'  headquarters 
and  the  supply  store  before  mentioned. 

"•'old  weather  soon  came,  and  with  it  a  snow  storm 
which  not  only  ended  all  construction  work  on  the 
railroad  but  caused  a  great  amount  of  suffering  among 
the  laborers.  The  latter  came  stringing  into  town  for 
a  day  or  two,  and  some  of  them  were  in  pitiable 
condition.  How  to  shelter  so  many  men  from  the 
piercing  cold  was  a  serious  problem.  Barrett  and 
McNeil,  who  had  rented  the  hotel  of  Mr.  Whitney,  had 
an  addition  to  the  hotel  partially  completed.  It  was 
rough  boarded  on  the  outside,  shingled  and  floored. 
The  .up-stairs  portion  was  all  in  one  room,  the  parti- 
tions not  having  been  set  off.  These  laborers  to  the 
number  of  more  than  a  hundred  were  driven  up  into 
this  room  like  so  many  cattle  and  laid  out  on  the  floor 
so  thick  that  one  could  not  turn  unless  all  turned. 
McNeil,  who  was  a  big  burly  Irishman,  went  lip-stairs 
at  intervals  during  the  night  and  yelled,  everybody 
turn  over.' 

"All  that  portion  of  the  railroad  west  of  New  Ulm 
was  so  badly  blockaded  by  the  continued  storms  that 
there  was  no  hope  of  opening  the  road  before  spring. 
The  prospects  seemed  so  dismal  that  I  went  to  Winona 
and  I  spent  the  winter  with  my  brother.  ('.  B.  Todd. 
.   .   .   I  left  Marshall  a  day  or  two  before  Thanksgiving." 


a 


City  oj  Marshall        D 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


about  Beventy  persons  each  ni^lit ,  and  the 
tables  are  prepared  to  accommodate  each  time 

lour   hundred.      The   host    and   hostess,    Mr.   and 

Mrs.  ('.  H.  Whitney,  say  this  is  sticking  them 

in  too  thick,  but  this  is  the  only  house  of  public 
accommodation  in  the  place  and  they  cannot 
conscientiously  turn  them  away. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  village 
occurred  in  the  fall  of  1872.  The  con- 
tracting parties  wore  Charles  Bellingham 

and  Louisa  Durst  and  the  ceremony  was 
performed  by  C.  II.  Whitney,  justice  of 
the  peace,  in  his  hotel. 

[n  January,  1873,  thepostoffice,  which 
before  had  been  located  a1  ('.  II.  Whit- 
ney's house,  was  moved  to  the  village 
proper  and  Walter  Wakeman  became 
post  master,  the  office  being  conducted 
in  the  drug  store  of  Groesbeck  ct 
Wakeman.8 

During  the  winter  of  1872-73  there 
was  no  advancement  in  Marshall,  and  a 
few  who  had  located  in  the  little  town 
the  fall  before  spent  the  season  in  their 
old  homes.  The  new  railroad  was 
covered  with  drifts  all  winter  and 
regular  trains  were  not  operated  to 
Marshall  until  April  14.  With  the  be- 
ginning of  spring,  however,  there  were 
made  additions  to  the  little  town  and  its 
building  up  was  rapid.  W.  M.  Todd, 
who  had  wintered  elsewhere  but  who 
had  returned  on  the  first  train,  has  told 
of  the  progress  that  spring:  "The  ac- 
tivity in  the  direction  of  settling, 
building  and  improving  the  village  and 
surrounding  country  during  that  spring 
of  1873  could  hardly  be  described;  or  if 
it  were  described  it  would  seem  incred- 
ible.    The  real  progress  of  the  place,  if 

s  Walter  Wakeman  served  as  postmaster  until 
April,  1874.  Dr.  S.  V.  Groesbeck  then  received  the 
commission  but  served  a  very  short  time  and  was 
succeeded  by  C.  H.  Whitney.  The  latter  served  until 
April,  1876.  During  his  administration,  on  July  ">. 
]s7."i,  a  money  order  office  was  established.  W.  M. 
Coleman  served  as  Marshall's  postmaster  from  April. 
INTO,  to  April,  1878;  C.  F.  Case,  to  February,  1883; 
S.  1).  How,  to  1886;  M.  Sullivan,  to  August  1,  1890; 
S.  N.  Harrington,  to  August  1,  1894;  J.  S.  Renningcr, 
to  October  1,  1898;  Frank  W.  Sickler,  to  November  9, 
1902;  Charles  E.  Patterson,  to  February  8,  1907; 
Oscar  Krook,  from  that  date  to  the  present.  A  postal 
savings  bank  was  established  in  connection  with  the 
office  July  15,  1911. 


not  the  existence  itself,  dates  from  thai 
spring." 

.1.  I'.  Watson  was  one  of  the  firs)  to 
se1  up  in  business.  He  opened  a  tin 
shop  and  a  little  later  added  a  stock  of 
hardware.'-'  Early  in  the  spring  (l.  E. 
Nichols  opened  a  saloon.1"  In  May 
U.S.  Adams  and  Mat  hew  Metcalf  arrived 
from  Trempealeau,  Wisconsin,  bringing 
with  them  a  building  in  sections.  It 
was  set  up  and  the  front  part  occupied 
as  a  blacksmith  shop  by  Mr.  Metcalf, 
while  the  rear  part  was  occupied  as  a 
wagon  shop  by  Mr.  Adams. 

A  brick  kiln  was  constructed  in  the 
summer  of  1873  by  C.  H.  Whitney  and 
85,000  bricks  were  burned.  In  the  fall 
they  were  used  by  .J.  F.  Reichert  in  the 
construction  of  a  double  store  building 

the  first  brick  building  in  the  town. 
John  Ward  became  the  first  station 
agent  and  M.  E.  Wilcox  the  telegraph 
operator.  Walter  Wakeman  and  Dr. 
S.  V.  Groesbeck  opened  a  drug  store, 
C.  Woodbury  became  the  proprietor  of 
the  pioneer  hostelry  and  changed  the 
name  to  Marshall  House,  P.  L.  Van  Sant 
established  the  Travelers  Home,  Lang- 
don  &  Laythe  established  a  lumber  yard, 
J.  W.  Williams  opened  a  new  hardware 
store,  Turner  &  Loope  sold  lumber, 
furniture  and  machinery,  A.  0.  Under- 
bill opened  a  confectionery  store,  Mrs. 
Burrall  a  millinery  store,  Jesse  Bagley 
a  meat  market,  E.  Fuller  a  photograph 
studio,  Daniel  Wilcox  a  blacksmith  shop, 
L.  Nichols  a  livery  barn,  W.  M.  Todd 
formed   a  partnership   with  Coleman  & 

Five  rural  free  delivery  routes  are  now  operated 
from  the  Marshall  office.  Numbers  one  and  two  were 
established  June  11,  1900,  and  the  first  carriers  wen- 
George  Watkins  and  Isaac  Clendenning,  respectively. 
Numbers  three  and  four  were  established  December  1, 
1903,  with  Harry  Jefferson  and  John  Nash,  respect  i\  ely, 
as  carriers.  Number  five  was  established  May  16, 
1901,  with   F.   R.  Lindsay  as  carrier. 

HJ.  P.  Watson  engaged  in  the  same  business  con- 
tinuously until  his  death  in  January,  1909. 

10The  Board  of  County  Commissioners  on  March  18, 
1872,  granted  Mr.  Nichols  license  to  sell  liquor  in 
Marshall  from  April  1,  1873,  to  March  31,  1S74.  The 
license  fee  for  the  year  was  J5(). 


136 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Company  and  continued  in  the  lumber 
business,  the  Prairie  Schooner — the  first 
newspaper — was  founded  in  August  by 
J.  C.  Ervin. 

In  the  first  issue  of  the  pioneer  paper, 
August  23,  1873,  appeared  the  following 
description  of  the  growing  town: 

The  growth  of  Marshall  has  been  almost 
miraculous.  Nine  months  ago  the  first  house 
was  erected.  Now  there  are  seventy-nine  per- 
manent buildings  already  constructed,  and  this 
number  will  soon  be  increased  by  the  erection 
of  others  already  planned.  Upon  the  same 
ground  where  nine  months  ago  the  bird  and 
insect  tribe  held  undisputed  sway,  there  has 
sprung  into  existence,  seemingly  from  the  very 
earth,  a  busy,  bustling  town,  where  now  mingle 
in  happy  unison  the  sounds  of  the  hammer  and 
chisel,  the  continual  rattle  of  passing  vehicles, 
the  shriek  of  the  welcome  locomotive,  and  the 
hoarse  shout  of  Winona  and  St.  Paul  dry  goods 
drummers.  Within  the  year  land  has  increased 
from  $1.25  per  acre  to  $25  to  $200  each  for 
residence  lots  and  from  $100  to  $400  each  for 
lots  for  business  purposes,  with  ready  sales.11 

Marshall  now  has  four  general  stores,  two 
hardware  stores,  one  drug  store,  one  boot  and 
shoe  shop,  two  millinery  and  dressmaking 
establishments,  three  lumber  yards,  one  meat 
market,  two  blacksmith  shops,  two  hotels, 
three  boarding  houses,  an  express  office,  a 
telegraph  office,  a  depot  and  other  railroad 
buildings,  one  bakery,  two  confectionery  estab- 
lishments, a  furniture  store,  a  flour  and  feed 
store,  one  livery  stable,  four  dealers  in  agricul- 
tural implements,  one  brick  yard,  one  church 
building,  one  doctor,  three  lawyers,  two  claim 
agents  and  dealers  in  real  estate,  one  dealer  in 
lime,  three  wheat  buyers,  three  stone  masons 
and  several  carpenters  and  builders. 

When  Marshall  was  one  year  old,  the 
Prairie  Schooner  of  October  25,  1873, 
boasted  of  progress  made: 

Our  town  is  one  year  old  this  week  and  we 
challenge  comparison  with  any  other  of  like  age 
in  the  West,  from  the  Gulf  to  British  America, 
and  in  this  we  refer  not  only  to  the  size  of  the 
place  and  its  numerous  commercial  advantages, 
but  more  especially  to  the  character  of  its 
inhabitants,  the  business  men,  the  schools, 
churches,  etc.  For  many  years  Marshall  will 
necessarily  be  the  market  and  trading  point  for 
an  immense  extent  of  country. 

The  importance  of  the  youthful  village 

"Winn  the  assessment  of  1S73  was  made  the  value 
of  real  estate  on  the  Marshall  townsite  was  placed  at 
1 14,44s.  Those  assessed  for  real  estate  were  L.  B. 
Nichols,  R.  J.  .Monroe,  A.  O.  Underhill,  N.  Stewart, 
William  Clemens,  Congregational  church,  George  H. 
Maynard,  J.  A.  Coleman,  Johnson,  Walter  Wakeman, 
.1.  Bagley,  1).  P.  Billing-,  Everett  it  Company,  Daniel 
Farquher,  .1.  F.  Metcalf,  Ezra  Ticknor,  J.  W.  Blake, 
E.    B.   Jewett,   M,    Davidson,   ,1.    W.   Canfield,   Joshua 


was  increased  as  a  result  of  the  election 
in  November,  1873,  which  gave  it  the 
county  seat.  Several  improvements  fol- 
lowed, and  plans  for  the  future  em- 
braced many  enterprises  that  have  not 
matured  to  this  day. 

The  grasshopper  scourge  put  a  damper 
on  progress  and  from  1874  to  1876,  in- 
clusive, the  town  was  almost  at  a  stand- 
still. In  April,  1874.  the  local  paper 
estimated  the  population  of  Marshall  at 
300,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  the  town  had 
that  many  inhabitants.  That  year  the 
Kendall  mill  was  built,  J.  W.  Blake 
started  a  cheese  factory,  B.  A.  Grubb 
opened  a  harness  shop,  S.  H.  Mott 
bought  an  interest  in  the  store  of 
Everett  &  Company,  M.  M.  Marshall 
built  a  grain  warehouse  and  engaged  in 
the  furniture  business,  C.  A.  Edwards 
established  a  lumber  yard,  L.  F.  Pickard 
opened  a  tin  shop.  Fuller  &  Company 
opened  a  feed  store,  Dr.  Burgoyne  loca- 
ted in  the  village  for  the  practise  of  his 
profession,12  D.  F.  Weymouth  opened  a 
law  office,  Lockey  &  Yates,  masons,  and 
J.  Goodwin  &  Company,  builders,  lo- 
cated in  the  village. 

There  were  also  a  few  additions  in 
1875.  I.  P.  Farrington  opened  another 
general  store,  Joe  Sears  a  shoe  shop, 
J.  A.  Hutchins  a  blacksmith  shop,  Dr. 
Newell  a  dentist's  office,  Whitney  & 
Webster  an  insurance  office.  George 
Nichols  erected  a  brick  building  and 
Marshall,  Coleman  &  Company  and  C.  F. 
Case  a  double  brick  block  on  Third 
Street. 

Despite  the  fact  that  times  were 
about  as  hard  as  could  be  imagined,  the 
local  paper  almost  always  gave  glowing 

Goodwin,  C.  W.  Andrews,  John  Callaghan,  John  Gal- 
lagher, S.  V.  Groesbeck  and  C.  H.  Whitney. 

"Among  the  physicians  who  have  practised  in 
Marshall  have  been  Drs.  Groesbeck,  Houston,  Bur- 
goyne, Cleveland,  Persons,  Andrews,  Poaps,  Armington, 
Baldwin,  Wimer,  Renninger,  Whitney,  Bacon,  Kil- 
bride, Hobday,  Mallory,  Wheat,  Hard,  Ferro,  Powers, 
Gray,  Akester,  Ijams,  Heath,  Gag  and  Woodworth. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


137 


accounts  of  the  town  and  its  progress. 
The  Messenger  on  October  1,  1875,  said: 

Although  Marshall  is  only  three  years  old, 
we  can  look  with  pride  at  the  importance  it  has 
already  assumed  on  the  map  of  Minnesota.     It 

started  out  on  the  unsettled  frontier,  with  no 
especial  natural  advantages  except  an  ocean  of 
fertile  prairie  tributary  to  it,  and  has  fought  its 
way  to  recognition  through  grasshoppers  and 
hard  times,  all  the  time  a  live  town  and  one 
with  a  good  destiny.  The  terminus  of  the 
Winona  &  St.  Peter  railroad,  it  has  been  made 
the  central  point  for  western  immigration,  and 
through  the  pluckiness  of  its  business  men  has 
built  itself  into  the  best  town  on  the  western 
frontier  for  its  size  and  condition. 

Marshall  now  has  a  population  of  only  about 
three  or  four  hundred,13  but  has  several  sub- 
stantial buildings  that  look  as  if  the  people  here 
had  come  to  stay.  Among  the  buildings  we 
will  mention  a  $3000  school  house,  five  two- 
story  brick  stores,  a  Methodist  church,  a  two- 
story  building  with  hall  above  belonging  to  the 
Congregational  church,  two  hotels,  several  store 
buildings  of  wood,  three  grain  elevators,  one 
grist  null,  depot,  engine  house,  etc.,  together 
with  several  fine  dwellings  of  brick  and  wood. 
There  are  'three  lumber  yards.  We  have  a 
good  brick  yard. 

Marshall  became  an  incorporated  vil- 
lage in  1876.  The  first  action  toward 
that  end  was  taken  at  a  mass  meeting 
held  at  M.  M.  Marshall's  drug  store  on 
the  evening  of  Monday,  December  27, 
1875.  Of  that  meeting  J.  P.  Watson 
was  chairman  and  C.  H.  Whitney  secre- 
tary. It  was  the  sense  of  those  present 
that  sections  4,  5  and  9  should  be  in- 
corporated as  the  village  of  Marshall 
and  J.  W.  Blake,  D.  F.  Weymouth  and 
R.  M.  Addison  were  named  a  committee 
to  draft  an  incorporation  act. 

A  bill  that  met  the  approval  of  the 
citizens  was  drawn  up  and  introduced 

13The  census  of  1875  gave  Lake  Marshall  township, 
including  the  village  of  Marshall,  a  population  of  only 
397.  The  population  of  the  village  was  probably  not 
over  250. 

14An  amended  charter  was  put  in  force  in  1881  by 
legislative  action.  The  changes  were  not  great  but 
were  made  necessary  by  defects  in  the  original  instru- 
ment. The  amendments  were  drawn  up  by  the 
Marshall  Board  of  Trade  and  the  new  charter  became 
operative  in  March,  1881. 

15Two  previous  efforts  to  this  end  had  been  made. 
On  July  30,  1892,  at  a  public  meeting  attended  by 
only  a  few  citizens,  resolutions  were  passed  favoring 
the  change  and  the  Village  Council  was  asked  to  draft 
a  bill.  On  April  9,  1897,  another  mass  meeting  was 
held,  called  at  the  instance  of  the  village  authorities. 
It  was  the  desire  of  some  to  incorporate  under  the 
provisions  of  the  law  of  1895,  but  a  majority  of  those 
present  were  unfavorable  to  the  change  and  no  action 
was  taken. 


in  the  Legislature  by  Senator  .1.  \Y. 
Blake  in  January.  A  petition  favorable 
to  the  act  and  one  remonstrating  were 
circulated  for  signers  and  forwarded  to 
the  state  capital.  The  bill  was  passed 
with  little  opposition  and  was  signed  by 
the  governor  February  17. 

Provision  was  made  in  the  incor- 
porating act  for  the  beginning  of  mu- 
nicipal government  and  C.  A.  Edwards, 
.1.  F.  Reichert,  (\  H.  Whitney,  C.  F. 
Case,  Oren  Drake,  John  Ward  and  J.  A. 
Coleman  were  named  to  call  the  first 
election  and  attend  to  the  preliminaries. 
The  election  was  held  March  10,  par- 
ticipated in  by  fifty-four  voters,  and  a 
set  of  village  officers  was  chosen  without 
opposition.  The  Council  met  for  the 
first  time  on  Saturday,  March  18,  1876. 14 

Village  government  continued  until 
1901,  and  then  Marshall  was  incorpo- 
rated as  a  city.15  The  action  was  taken 
as  the  result  of  a  petition,  signed  by 
more  than  two-thirds  of  the  voters, 
which  had  been  presented  to  the  judge 
of  probate.  On  February  20,  1901, 
Judge  L.  M.  Lange  issued  the  requested 
order.  The  first  election  under  city 
government  was  held  April  2,  1901. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  officers 
chosen  at  each  annual  election,  under 
both  forms  of  government,  from  the 
time  of  incorporation  to  the  present:16 

1876 — President,  John  Ward;  trustees,  C.  A. 
Edwards,  M.  E.  Wilcox,  S.  H.  Mott;  recorder, 

1BDuring  the  greater  part  of  the  early  history  of 
Marshall  the  license  question  was  an  issue.  Before 
incorporation  the  granting  of  license  in  the  village  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners, 
and  prior  to  the  beginning  of  municipal  government 
saloons  were  licensed  each  year.  At  the  Lake  Marshall 
township  election  of  March,  1S75,  the  license  question 
entered  into  the  selection  of  local  officers  and  license 
advocates  were  successful  by  majorities  of  six. 

Saloons  were  licensed  by  the  three  first  Village 
Councils  without  the  question  being  submitted  to  a 
vote  of  the  people.  It  was  the  intention  of  the  anti- 
saloon  advocates  to  have  the  question  submitted  :it 
the  election  of  1877,  but  they  neglected  to  give  the 
legal  notice.  Early  in  1878  a  petition  was  presented  to 
the  Village  Council,  asking  that  no  license  prevail,  and 
on  January  11  of  that  year  the  mooted  question  was 
submitted  to  vote  without  legal  authority  or  binding 
results.  For  license  received  three  votes  and  against 
license  seventy-three  votes.  The  Council  was  dead- 
locked, and  on   April  27,    1S7S,   the  matter  was  again. 


138 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


W.  M.  Todd;  treasurer,  J.  P.  Watson;  justice, 
Daniel  Markham;  constable,  D.  Bell. 

L877 — President,  M.  E.  Wilcox;  trustees,  C.  A. 
Edwards,  Joshua  Goodwin,  S.  H.  Mott;  recorder, 
\Y.    M.  Todd;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  justice,- 
Daniel  Markham;17  constable,  D.  Bell. 

L878— President,  J.  W.  Blake;  trustees,  C.  H. 
Richardson.18  O.  C.  Gregg,  G.  M.  Durst;  recorder, 
W.  M.  Todd;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  constable, 
Edward  Berg. 

1879— President,  J.  W.  Blake;  trustees,  J.  F. 
Reichert,  P.  M.  Addison,  J.  F.  Remore;  recorder, 
W.  M.  Todd;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  justice, 
W.  M.  Todd;  constable,  R.  F.  Webster. 

1880— President,  J.  W.  Blake;  trustees,  W.  M. 
Todd,  J.  F.  Remore,  R.  M.  Addison;  recorder, 
V.  B.  Seward;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox. 

1881— President,  M.  Sullivan;  trustees,  R.  M. 
Addison,  J.  F.  Remore,  W.  M.  Todd;19  recorder, 
V.  B.  Seward;  treasurer,  G.  M.  Wilcox;  justice, 
J.  W.  Blake;  constable,  O.  A.  Drake. 

1882 — President,  E.  L.  Healy;  trustees,  A.  C. 
Chittenden,  J.  P.  Watson,  M.  H.  Gibson; 
recorder,  Walter  Wakeman;  treasurer,  F.  S. 
Wetherbee.  p 

1883 — President,  M.  Sullivan;  trustees,  J.  G. 
Schutz,  R.  M.  Addison,  Olof  Pehrson;  recorder, 
C.  H.  Whitney;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  justice, 
E.  B.  Jewett. 

1884— President,  M.  Sullivan;  trustees,  J.  G. 
Schutz,  R.  M.  Addison,  Olof  Pehrson;  recordi>i\ 
V.  B.  Seward;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox. 

1885 — President,  M.  Sullivan;  trustees,  R.  M. 
Addison,  Olof  Pehrson,  J.  G.  Schutz;  recorder, 
H.  A.  Wilber;20  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  justice, 
E.  T.  Mathews. 

1886 — President,  M.  Sullivan;  trustees,  J.  G. 
Schutz,  Olof  Pehrson,  G.  E.  Johnson;  recorder, 
Louis  Larson;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  justices, 

C.  H.  Whitney,21  D.  G.  Stewart. 

1887 — President,  J.  G.  Schutz;  trustees,  D. 
Wilcox,  S.  Butturff,  Olof  Pehrson;  recorder, 
Louis  Larson;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  justice, 

D.  F.  Weymouth. 

1888— President,  C.  B.  Tyler;  trustees,  J.  W. 
Pearson,  S.  Butturff,  Olof  Pehrson;  recorder, 
Louis  Larson;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  justice, 
D.  G.  Stewart, 

1889 — President,  M.  Sullivan;  trustees,  J.  G. 
Schutz,  J.  W.  Williams,  E.  S.  Frick;  recorder, 

indirectly,  submitted  to  vote.  One  of  the  trustees 
resigned  and  on  the  selection  of  his  successor  rested 
the  license  issue.  The  candidate  favoring  license  was 
elected  and  saloons  were  at  once  opened. 

In  1879  license  carried  by  a  vote  of  99  to  89.  There- 
after for  a  number  of  years  the  question  was  not 
submitted  directly,  but  was  left  to  the  village  authori- 
ties, and  campaigns  were  made  by  each  party  for  can- 
didates favorable  to  their  cause.  At  nearly  all  these 
elections  officers  favoring  license  were  chosen.  In 
1882  the  Council  granted  license  for  the  first  six  months 
and  refused  it  during  the  remainder  of  the  term. 
A  license  Council  was  chosen  in  lss;;  by  an  average 
vote  (if  tin  to  87.  In  18S4.  on  a  direct  vote,  license 
w  mi  by  a  vote  of  si  to  29. 

The  question  was  not  submitted  again  until  1894 
and  license  was  granted  each  year.  From  1N94  to  the 
time  city  government  was  begun  the  vote  on  the 
license  question  was  as  follows,  in  the  years  nut  given 
the  question  not  having  been  submitted  and  license 
having  been  granted : 

1894 — For,  1S7;   against,  92. 

ls'.)6— For,  183;  against.  L94. 

L897 — For,  151:   against,   152.  * 

1898— For,  261  ;   against.   109. 


S.  N.  Harrington;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox; 
justice,  E.  B.  Jewett. 

1890 — President,  M.  Sullivan;  trustees,  J.  G. 
Schutz,  J.  W.  Williams,  E.  S.  Frick;  recorder, 
S.  N.  Harrington;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox; 
justice,  D.  G.  Stewart. 

1891 — President,  M.  Sullivan;  trustees,  J.  G. 
Schutz,  E.  S.  Frick,  J.  W.  Williams;  recorder, 
F.  'M.  Healy;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  justice, 
E.  B.  Jewett. 

1892 — President,    R.    M.    Addison;    trustees, 

E.  S.  Frick,  C.  F.  Case,  R.  G.  Curtis;  recorder, 

F.  M.  Healy;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  justice, 
D.  G.  Stewart. 

1893 — President,  J.  G.  Schutz;  trustees,  C.  F. 
Case,  E.  S.  Frick,  H.  M.  Langeland;  recorder, 
F.  M.  Healy;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  justice, 
D.  A.  Kennedy. 

1894— President,  C.  F.  Case;  trustees,  C.  H. 
Richardson,  H.  M.  Langeland,  E.  S.  Frick; 
recorder,  E.  T.  Mathews;  treasurer,  C.  M.  Wilcox; 
justice,  D.  G.  Stewart, 

1895— President,  C.  M.  Wilcox;  trustees,  H. 
M.  Langeland,  E.  S.  Frick,  D.  D.  Forbes; 
recorder,  J.  C.  Burchard;  treasurer,  C.  E.  Pat- 
terson; justice,  D.  A.  Kennedy. 

1896 — President,  A.  C.  Chittenden;  trustees, 
H.  M.  Langeland,  D.  D.  Forbes,  J.  N.  Barkee; 
recorder,  J.  C.  Burchard;  treasurer,  C.  E. 
Patterson;  justice,  T.  P.  Baldwin. 

1897 — President,  D.  D.  Forbes;  trustees,  H. 
M.  Langeland,  W.  C.  Kayser,  Joshua  Goodwin: 
recorder,  J.  C.  Burchard;  treasurer,  F.  W. 
Sickler;  justice,  D.  A.  Kennedy. 

1898— President,  V.  B.  Seward;  trustees,  J.  G. 
Schutz,  T.  J.  Baldwin,  J.  P.  Pierard;  recorder, 
J.  C.  Burchard;  treasurer,  C.  C.  Guernsey; 
justice,  Walter  Wakeman. 

1899— President,  V.  B.  Seward;  trustees,  J.  G. 
Schutz,  W.  C.  Kayser,  R.  C.  Beach;  recorder, 
J.  C.  Burchard;  treasurer,  ('.  C.  Guernsey; 
justice,  D.  A.  Kennedy. 

1900 — President,  John  E.  Burchard;  trustees, 
R.  C.  Beach,  J.  P.  Pierard,  M.  W.  Harden; 
recorder,  Frank  C.  Whitney;  treasurer,  C.  C. 
Guernsey;  justice,  Walter  Wakeman. 

1901 — President,  John  E.  Burchard;  trustees, 
M.  W.  Harden,  James  Lawrence,  R,  C.  Beach; 
recorder,  H.  R.  Welsford;  treasurer,  C.  C. 
Guernsey;  justice,  D.  A.  Kennedy. 

1901  — For,  226;   ag;iinst,  70. 

There  is  no  provision  in  the  city  charter  for  voting 
under  the  local  option  law,  and  saloons  have  been 
licensed  since  the  charter  was  adopted. 

17 At  a  specia!  election  on  October  20,  1877,  W.  M. 
Todd  was  elected  justice. 

lsResigned  and  at  a  special  election  held  April  27, 
1878,  J.  F.  Reichert  was  chosen  as  his  successor. 

19Resigned  and  S.  W.  Laythe  was  chosen  as  his 
successor  at  a  special  election  on  May  17,  1881. 

20Died  August  2,  1885,  and  D.  B.  Woodbury  was 
chosen  to  complete  the  term  at  a  special  election  held 
August  25. 

21Resigned  in  April,  1886,  and  at  a  special  election 
.May  11  D.  F.  Weymouth  was  chosen  to  complete  the 
term. 

--Mr.  Burchard  resigned  August  14,  1901,  and  at  a 
special  election  M.  E.  Mathews  was  chosen  to  complete 
the  term.  Mr.  Mathews  was  succeeded  as  alderman 
by  J.  C.  Burchard,  elected  September  12,  1901. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


139 


L901  (city)  -Mayor,  John  E.  Burchard;22 
aldermen,23  M.  E.  Mathews  (two  years),  John 
L.  Watson  (one  year),  W.  F.  Bryant  (two  years), 
('.  H.  Richardson  (one  year);  recorder,  W.  C. 
Kayser;  treasurer,  C.  C.  Guernsey;  justices, 
Walter  Wakeman,  D.  A.  Kennedy. 

L902— Mayor,  V.  B.  Seward;  aldermen,  J.  H. 
Schneider,  J.  P.  Pierard;  recorder,  W.  C.  Kayser; 
treasurer,  E.  S.  Frick. 

1903— Mayor,  M.  E.  Mathews;  aldermen,  J.  C. 
Burchard,  W.  P.  Bryant;;1  recorder,  J.  W. 
Humphrey;  treasurer,  E.  "S.  Frick;  justice, 
Walter  Wakeman. 

^  1904— Mayor,  F.  M.  Healy;  aldermen,  H.  P. 
Fulton,  Herman  Schurz;  recorder,  John  R.  Gray; 
treasurer,  R.  M.  Neill. 

1905 — Mayor,  J.  C.  Burchard;  aldermen, 
Robert  Heilman,  Peter  White;  recorder,  John 
R  Gray;  treasurer,  R.  M.  Neill;  justices,  Walter 
Wakeman,.  C.  L.  Miles.20 

1906- — Mayor,  J.  C.  Burchard;  aldermen,  R.  B. 
Daniel,  Herman  Schurz;  recorder,  John  R.  Gray; 
treasurer,  R.  M.  Neill;  justice,  Harrison  Barnes. 

1907 — Mayor,  Spurgeon  Odell;  aldermen,  H. 
M.  Langeland,26  F.  B.  Sweet;  recorder,  John  R. 
Gray;27  treasurer,  R.  M.  Addison,  Jr.;  justice, 
Walter  Wakeman. 

1908 — Mayor,  Spurgeon  Odell;  aldermen,  J.  G. 
Schutz,  Thomas  E.  Davis;  recorder,  C.  P. 
Shepard;  treasurer,  C.  H.  Johnson;  justice,  Fred 
Adler. 

1909 — Mayor,  Spurgeon  Odell;  aldermen, 
August  Durrenberger,  Peter  White;  recorder, 
C.  P.  Shepard;  treasurer,  O.  K.  Kiel;  justice, 
W'alter  Wakeman. 

1910 — Mayor,  Thomas  E.  Davis;  aldermen,  J. 
G.  Schutz,  William  Mullaney;  recorder,  C.  P. 
Shepard;  treasurer,  Harris  Persons;  justices, 
J.  W.  Pike,  Boyd  Champlain. 

1911 — Mayor,  Thomas  E.  Davis;  aldermen, 
August  Durrenberger,  P.  P.  Jacobson;  recorder, 
C.  P.  Shepard;  treasurer,  Harris  Persons.28 

1912 — Mayor,  Thomas  E.  Davis;  aldermen, 
J.  G.  Schutz,  W.  F.  Mullaney;  recorder,  C.  P. 
Shepard;  treasurer,  Theodore  M.  Thomas; 
justice,  J.  W.  Pike. 

For  a  year  after  the  village  was  in- 
corporated there  was  not  much  progress, 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  grasshoppers 
were  still  in  the  land.  There  were,  how- 
ever, a  few  business  enterprises  started 
in  1876,  among  them  a  general  mer- 
chandise store  by  Olof  Pehrson,  black- 
smith shop  by  Keyes   &  Blake,   imple- 

23Urider  the  city  charter  the  terms  of  aldermen  are 
for  two  years,  and  after  this  first  election  one  was 
elected  from  each  ward  each  year.  In  the  roster  the 
name    of    the   alderman    from    the   first   ward    appears 

■  first. 

-4Mr.  Bryant  resigned  after  having  served  one  year, 
and  at  the  regular  election  of  1904  Albert  Volk  was 
chosen  to  complete  the  term. 

"Resigned  in  May,  1905. 

20Resigned  May  4,  1908,  and  August  Durrenberger 
was  chosen  at  a  special  election  May  22. 


ment  business  by  J'.  F.  Wise,  drug  store 
by  Burgoync   &  Jewett,  shoe  shop  by 

B.  F.  Jellison,  feed  mill  by  C.  A.  Ed- 
wards, drug  store  by  M.  M.  Marshall, 
meat  markets  by  B.  Gibbs  and  D. 
Crowley,  millinery  stores  by  Mrs.  Clem- 
ens and  Mrs.  UnderhiU,  machinery 
business  by  S.  .1.  Watkins,  grain  ware- 
houses by  H.  B.  Gary,  C.  A.  Edwards 
and  Addison  &  Mott,  carpenter  shop  by 
I.  Burrall. 

When  it  became  known  that  the 
grasshopper  plague  was  a  thing  of  the 
past,  Marshall  took  rapid  strides  for- 
ward. Several  new  enterprises  were 
started  in  187729  and  prospects  for  the 
future  were  bright.  The  Messenger  of 
November  16,  1877,  said:  "This  town 
is  the  busiest  hamlet  in  the  West.  You 
can't,  find  a  spot  where  your  ears  are  not 
filled  with  the  din  of  building.  Houses 
sp'ring  up  in  a  day  or  two,  and  our 
lumber  yards  can  hardly  ship  in  enough 
to  supply  the  demand.  You  can  expect 
to  be  run  over  next  summer  if  you  don't 
get  up  and  dust." 

The  predicted  boom  came  in  1878. 
Before  the  close  of  spring  ten  two-story 
brick  business  blocks  had  been  erected, 
besides  several  frame  business  houses 
and  many  residences.  Among  the  im- 
provements of  the  year  was  the  Messen- 
ger Block.  Two  banks  were  founded, 
two  new  brick  yards  were  established, 
business  firms  of  all  kinds  came  into 
existence,  and  a  number  of  professional 
men  located  in  the  village.  '  A  directory 
of  business  firms  published  at  the  close 
of  1878  listed  the  following: 

27Was  succeeded  August  5,  1907,  by  C.  1'.  Shepard. 

2SDid  not  qualify  and  Theodore  M.  Thomas  chosen 
by  the  City  Council. 

"Among  the  enterprises  in  1877  were  a  furniture 
store  by  D.  Mclntyre  and  James  Andrews,  meat 
market  by  McCormick,  gunsmith  shop  by  C.  A. 
Haskel,  lumber  yard  by  Horton  it  Hamilton,  general 
store  by  E.  Puffer,  hotel  by  D.  Bell,  lumber  yard  by 

C.  B.  Todd  and  W.  H.  Lynn  and  :i  general  store  by 
M.  E.  Wilcox. 


140 


HISTOKY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Banks — Owen  &  Dibble,  Lyon  County  Bank 
(Strait,  How  &  Tyler). 

General  Merchandise — Chambers  Brothers, 
Olof  Pehrson,  Addison  &  Mott,  A.  C.  Chittenden, 
W.  D.  Hillyer,  Schutz  &  Kyle,  Bedbury. 

Groceries — Robert  Waldron,  E.  L.  Healy. 

Clothing — S.  Keyser. 

Hardware — J.  P.  Watson,  J.  W.  Williams. 

Drugs— Aldrich  &  Houston,  C.  M.  Wilcox, 
Ole  Quam. 

Furniture — G.  A.  Tracy,  D.  A.  Mclntyre. 

Jewelry— J.  Lohmiller,  W.  H.  Wright,  W.  C. 
Kayser. 

Meat  Markets — D.  Crawley,  L.  Lavake,  F.  S. 
Wetherbee. 

Book  Store — J.  H.  Schneider. 

Grain  Warehouses — Addison  &  Mott,  H.  B. 
Gary,  C.  A.  Edwards,  Williams  &  Webster, 
M.  M.  Marshall. 

Feed  Mill— J.  W.  Blake. 

Lumber  Yards — Langdon  &  Laythe,  Horton 
&  Hamilton  (W.  M.  Todd,  agent),  Addison  & 
Mott. 

Farm  Machinery — Addison  &  Mott,  O.  H. 
Hatlestad,  Edwards  &  Tripp. 

Shoe  Shops — J.  P.  Pierard,  Sear. 

Harness  Shop — F.  Watson. 

Feed  Stores— A.  C.  Chittenden,  F.  S.  Wether- 
bee. 

Bakeries — James  Barron,  Davis. 

Hotels — J.  Johnson,  J.  Bagley,  Merchants 
Exchange,  Marshall  House  (Thomas  Watson), 
Prairie  House. 

Restaurants — James  Barron,  Montgomery. 

Saloons — John  J.  Laudenslager,  Farrington  & 
Company,  E.  Mahoney. 

Billiard  Hall— Merchants  Exchange. 

Livery  Stables — L.  B.  Nichols,  McNiven 
Brothers,  Bennett  &  Hunt. 

Brick  Yards— C.  H.  Whitney,  W.  A.  Crooker, 
J.  Lockey. 

Blacksmith  Shops — Keyes  &  Ryan,  R.  Curtis, 
M.  H.  Gibson. 

Wagon  Shops — H.  S.  Adams,  Ellsbury. 

Gun  Shop— C.  A.  Haskel. 

Paint  Shop — Skilling  Brothers. 

Candy  Manufacturer — Wright. 

Barber  Shop— C.  E.  Porter. 

Millinery — Mrs.  Remington,  Miss  Farnsworth. 

Newspaper — Marshall  Messenger  (C.  F.  Case). 

Lawyers — E.  B.  Jewett,  E.  A.  Gove,  D.  F, 
Weymouth,  A.  C.  Forbes,  M.  E.  Mathews 
Andrews. 

Physicians — Drs.  J.  W.  Houston,  J.  W. 
Andrews,  C.  E.  "Persons. 

Dentist— Dr.  E.  D.  Allison. 

Land  Office — Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company. 

Insurance  Office — C.  L.  Van  Fleet. 

Marshall  increased  in  size  and  impor- 
tance during  1879. 30  In  1880  the  value 
of  the  building  improvements  amounted 
to    $85,000.     The    federal    census    that 

30Among  the  business  and  professional  firms  estab- 
lished in  1879  were  Youmans  Brothers  &  Company 
<M.  Sullivan,  agent),  lumber  yard;  \.  F.  Remore, 
machinery;  Van  ]>u>en  &  Company,  elevator;  Todd  & 
Edes,  Lyon  County  News;  Laythe  &  Tripp,  machinery; 


year  gave  the  village  a  population  of 
961.  During  the  next  few  years  there 
was  little  increase  in  population,  the 
census  of  1885  showing  that  there  were 
986  people  living  within  the  corporate 
limits.  But  the  town  made  great  prog- 
ress in  other  ways  and  developed  into 
one  of  the  best  villages  of  Southwestern 
Minnesota.  A  business  directory  pub- 
lished in  C.  F.  Case's  History  of  Lyon 
County  in  1884  was  as  follows: 

Mercantile — A.  C.  Chittenden,  J.  G.  Schutz, 

F.  S.  Wetherbee,  Olof  Pehrson,  Edwards  & 
Company,  general  stores;  E.  L.  Healy,  Humph- 
rey &  Gail,  J.  W.  Williams,  groceries  and  crock- 
ery; J.  P.  Watson,  R.  M.  Addison,  hardware  and 
machinery;  Youmans  Brothers,  Horton  Lumber 
Company,  lumber  yards;  Louis  Janda,  shoe 
store;  C.  M.  Wilcox,  Walter  Wakeman,  A.  B. 
Sweet,  drug  stores;  S.  Butturff,  furniture;  W.  C. 
Kayser,  books,  stationery  and  tobacco;  M. 
Hooker,  stationery  and  tobacco;  Mrs.  Hillyer, 
millinery;  J.  Price,  John  Russell,  Mrs.  Hicks, 
bakery  and  restaurants;  Fred  Watson,  harness; 
Woodruff  &  Wilber,  F.  Weikle,  meat  markets; 
Parsons  &  Wise,  clothing. 

Professions — C.  E.  Persons,  J.  Armington,  A. 
Poaps,  physicians;  E.  D.  Allison,  dentist;  Forbes 
&  Seward,  M.  E.  Mathews,  M.  B.  Drew,  D.  F. 
Weymouth,  E.  B.  Jewett,  E.  A.  Gove,  attorneys; 
Rev.  J.  B.  Fairbank,  Rev.  J.  W.  Powell,  pastors; 

G.  M.  Durst,  Miss  Mikkelson,  Miss  Downie,  Mrs. 
G.  M.  Durst,  teachers. 

Trades — E.  J.  Harrison,  marble  cutter;  Arthur 
M.  Nichols,  R.  B.  Vonderamith,  B.  Vosburg, 
painters;  J.  McGandy,  photographer;  M.  H. 
Gibson,  George  Heinmiller,  C.  J.  Price,  R.  Curtis, 
blacksmiths;  S.  Marshall,  wagon  maker;  J.  B. 
Murray,  O.  C.  Phillips,  barbers. 

Miscellaneous — Marshall  Messenger  by  C.  F. 
Case,  Lyon  County  News  by  C.  C.  Whitney;  Van 
Dusen  &  Company  (E.  Frick,  agent),  Porter 
Milling  Company  (W.  A.  Hunter,  agent),  eleva- 
tors; T.  King,  grist  mill;  L.  Nichols,  livery; 
W.  Keith,  W.  Simmons,  H.  Hoyt,  hotels;  George 

E.  Johnson,  stock  buyer;  B.  Wright,  feed  mill; 
Peterson  &  Company,  tailors;  D.  G.  Stewart, 
sewing  machines;  C.  M.  Wilcox,  express  agent; 
H.  M.  Burchard,  railroad  land  agent;  T.  A. 
Woodruff,  railroad  agent;  Van  Winkle,  telegraph 
operator;  Charles  Kent,  collection  agency;  Strait 
&  Company,  creamery;  Woodbury  &  Frick, 
skating  rink. 

Marshall  kept  pace  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  surrounding  country  during 
the  late  eighties  and  had  a  population 
of   1203   when  the   census  of   1890  was 

F.  Weikle  and  J.  Lohmiller,  meat  markets;  King  & 
Wakeman,  drug  store;  W.  L.  Watson,  machinery; 
V.  B.  Seward  and  M.  B.  Drew,  attorneys;  E.  J.  Harri- 
son, marble  cutter,  Laythe  &  Pehrson,  store. 


HISTORY  OP  LYON  COUNTY. 


141 


taken.  The  years  1890-91-92  were  ex- 
ceptionally prosperous  ones  for  the 
village.  The  building  improvements  in 
1890  were  valued  at  $55,000,  mostly 
expended  for  residences.  The  next  year 
the  value  of  improvements  was  placed 
at  $125,000.  That  year  a  system  of 
electric  lights  was  installed  by  Parsons 
Brothers,  general  merchants,  at  a  cost 
of  $6000. 31 

The  village  installed  waterworks  and 
electric  lighting  systems  in  1894.  At  a 
special  election  to  vote  on  the  question 
of  issuing  $25,000  bonds  for  the  purpose, 
bonds  were  carried  by  seventy-three 
majority  out  of  308  votes  cast.  E.  T. 
Sykes  secured  the  contract  on  a  bid  of 
$24,340.  The  waterworks  were  in  op- 
eration early  in  December  and  the  lights 
were  turned  on  December  21,  1894. 

There  was  little  advancement  during 
the  panic  years  1893  and  1894,  but  in 
1895  building  improvements  to  the  value 
of  $50,000  were  made.  They  included 
brick  business  blocks  put  up  by  T.  J. 
Baldwin,  C.  F.  Case  and  W.  S.  Dibble. 
The  census  of  1895  showed  a  population 
of  1744,  a  gain  of  541  in  five  years. 

Rapid  strides  forward  were  made  in 
the  late  nineties  and  the  village  began 
to  take  on  metropolitan  airs.  A  tele- 
phone system  was  installed  in  the 
summer  of  1897,  with  forty-three  initial 
subscribers.  During  the  past  decade 
progress  has  been  marked,  although 
increase  in  population  has  not  been 
great.     Marshall's  population  was  2088 

3 'Twenty-three  arc  lights  was  the  limit  of  the  plant 
at  first.  Of  these,  nine  were  placed  in  the  streets, 
eight   in    Parsons    Brothers'    store,    and    the   others   in 


in  1900,  2243  in  1905,  and  2152  in  1910. 

Marshall's  history  has  been  remark- 
ably free  from  destructive  fires.  On 
only  two  occasions  has  the  fire  fiend 
gained  the  mastery. 

The  most  destructive  fire  in  the 
town's  history  occurred  on  the  night  of 
September  24,  1902,  bringing  a  loss  of 
about  $100,000.  The  three-story  brick 
building  owned  by  T.  J.  Baldwin  and 
occupied  by  Baldwin  &  Loveridgc's 
department  store  was  destroyed.  The 
law  office  of  V.  B.  Seward  and  Odd 
Fellows  hall  on  the  second  floor  were 
destroyed,  as  was  also  Masonic  hall  on 
the  third  floor.  A  small  frame  building 
adjoining,  owned  by  W.  S.  Dibble  and 
occupied  by  Blakeslee's  meat  market, 
was  crushed  by  the  falling  walls  from 
the  larger  building.  The  fire  burned 
fiercely  and  for  a  time  threatened  to 
destroy  the  whole  business  section  of 
the  city. 

The  second  fire  of  consequence  oc- 
curred May  15,  1905,  and  brought  a  loss 
of  $40,000.  The  double  store  building 
in  Syndicate  Block  owned  by  Mrs.  E.  D. 
Parsons  and  the  store  of  P.  H.  Roise  & 
Company  were  destroyed,  as  well  as  the 
furnishings  of  Masonic  hall  and  the 
dental  parlors  of  Dr.  S.  E.  Whitmore. 
Losses  were  also  sustained  by  J.  N. 
Barkee,  furniture;  Wilson  Mercantile 
Company,  V.  B.  Gits  &  Company,  Dr. 
A.  D.  Hard,  Thompson's  cigar  factory, 
W.  A.  Hawkins  and  M.  E.  Mathews, 
attorneys. 

other  stores.      Incandescent  service  was  added  to  the 
plant  early  in  1892. 


CHAPTER  X. 


MARSHALL'S  INSTITUTIONS. 


THE   SCHOOLS. 

ONE  of  the  first  institutions  to  he 
provided  after  the  founding  of 
a  town  is  the  public  school.  In 
Marshall  the  school  came  almost  simul- 
taneous with  the  founding  of  the 
village.  The  first  school,  supported  by 
subscription,  was  conducted  in  the  win- 
ter of  1872-73.  It  was  held  in  the  little 
office -building  erected  by  W.  M.  Todd. 
G.  H.  Darling  was  the  teacher -for  a 
time  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Walter 
Wakeman.  Only  a  few  pupils  were  in 
attendance  and  the  school  was  of  short 
duration. 

School  district  No.  8,  then  embracing 
the  north  half  of  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship and  the  southern  tier  of  sections  of 
Fairview  township,  had  been  created  by 
the  Board  of  County  Commissioners 
January  2,  1872 — before  Marshall  had 
a  place  on  the  map.  The  district  was 
organized  in  1873  and  the  first  public 
school  was  taught  on  the  second  floor 
of  the  building  erected  by  the  Congre- 
gational church  society.  That  building- 
was  used  for  school  purposes  until  1875. 
Miss  Diantha  Wheeler,  who  in  October, 
1875,  became  the  wife  of  G.  M.  Durst, 
was  the  first  teacher  and  she  had  in  her 
charge  thirty  or  forty  pupils.1     The  first 

'Among  those  who  attended  Marshall's  first  public 
school,  furnished  from  memory  by  Mrs.  G.  M.  Durst 
and  some  of  the  former  pupils,  were  Ada  AVebster, 
Fred     Webster,     Dwight    Coleman,     Clarence    Jewett, 


members  of  the  Board  of  Education  were 
John  Coleman,  J.  W.  Blake  and  C.  H. 
Whitney. 

A  four  months'  winter  term  was 
begun  November  10,  1873,  with  Miss 
Lovelace  as  teacher.  Miss  Wheeler  again 
became  teacher  and  was  in  charge  until 
June,  1874,  when  she  was  succeeded  by 
G.  M.  Durst.  At  that  time  the  enroll- 
ment had  reached  sixty  pupils.  Besides 
those  mentioned  the  other  teachers 
employed  during  the  time  the  school 
was  conducted  under  the  ordinary 
district  plan  were  Ada  Webster  (Mrs. 
J.  W.  Williams),  Jennie  C.  French  (Mrs. 
J.  W.  Andrews),  Miss  L.  A.  Bailey 
(Mrs.  W.  M.  Todd)  and  Addie  Gary  (Mrs. 
C.  E.  Persons). 

In  March,  1874,  a  lull  passed  the 
Legislature  authorizing  the  Marshall 
school  district  to  issue  bonds  to  the 
amount  of  $2500  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  a  school  house,  and  in  October 
of  that  year  the  people  of  Marshall 
decided  to  build.  In  the  summer  of 
1875  a  two-story  octagonal  building, 
forty  feet  in  diameter,  with  a  seating 
capacity  of  150,  was  completed.  Its 
cost  was  about  $2800.  Many  taxpayers 
thought  it  an  extravagant  expenditure, 
but  within  three  years  it  was  not  large 

Clara  Groesbeck,  Zulu  Whitney,  Susie  Hoyt,  Alonzo 
Hoyt,  Ora  Coleman,  Lota  Bagley,  Jean  Turner, 
Florence  Turner,  Walter  Turner,  Mi  lie  Whitney, 
Lucius  Bagley,  George  Bagley,  Albert  Wilkins. 


144 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


enough  to  accommodate  the  pupils 
enrolled. 

At  a  school  meeting  in  September, 
1878,  it  was  decided,  by  a  vote  of  60 
to  (>.  to  appropriate  $1300  to  build  an 
addition  to  the  school  house.  A  build- 
in"  committee  was  chosen,  composed  of 
O.  C.  Gregg,  C.  H.  Richardson  and  J.  S. 
Dewey,  and  in  October  the  addition  was 
ready  for  occupancy.  Its  dimensions 
were  22x40  feet,  two  stories  high.  The 
school  house  then  contained  four  rooms 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  250  pupils. 

A  reorganization,  under  the  inde- 
pendent district  plan,  was  effected 
October  1,  1878;  the  school  was  graded, 
and  four  departments  were  maintained. 
The  first  Board  of  Education  under  the 
reorganization   was   composed   of  Jona- 

-M.  Sullivan  furnishes  from  memory  a  list  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Education  who  have  served  since 
1878,  in  addition  to  those  mentioned,  as  follows: 
Walter  Wakeman,  Squire  D.  How,  M.  Sullivan,  M.  C. 
Humphrey,  C.  F.  Case,  George  Johnson,  Mrs.  A.  G. 
Watson.  Mrs.  A.  C.  Forbes,  C.  E.  Persons,  M.  E. 
Mathews,  J.  R.  Conway,  C.  C.  Whitney,  C.  B.  Tyler, 
('.  E.  Patterson,  Frank  Sickler,  C.  F.  Johnson,  M.  W. 
Harden,  W.  C.  Haney  and  J.  C.  Sheffield.  The 
members  of  the  Board  in  1912  are  C.  E.  Persons, 
M.  Sullivan,  W.  C.  Haney,  J.  C.  Sheffield,  Frank 
Sickler  and  M.  W.  Harden. 

Superintendents  of  the  Marshall  public  schools 
have  been  as  follows:  J.  B.  Gibbons,  1878;  C.  J. 
Pickert,  1879;  J.  C.  Hull,  1880;  Leslie  Gregg,  1881-82; 
Mr.  Emery,  1SS3-84;  W.  C.  Kilgore,  1885;  C.  M. 
Boutelle,  1885-03;  M.  B.  Fobes,  1903-12. 

4The  following  have  been  graduated  from  the 
.Marshall  High  School: 

1888 — Edith  Addison,  Minnie  E.  Andrew,  Nette 
Jackson,  Grace  Watson,  Mille  Whitney,  Harry  W. 
Addison,   William  D.  Frost,  S.  Sigvaldson. 

1889 — Edwin  M.  English,  Peter  A.  Johnson,  J.  C. 
Lawrence,  Anna  L.  Weikle,  N.  Maude  Butturff,  C.  M. 
Gislason . 

1890 — Millie  Sanders,  Edna  Fiske,  Clyde  Butturff, 
Nellie  Drake,  Mabel  Paige,  Joseph  Forbes,  Margaret 
Downie,  Hugh  Dickie,  Thomas  Cahill,  Maude  Downie, 
Arthur  Drew,  Thomas  Salmon,  Bert  Drake. 

1891— (no  class). 

1892 — Mary  Davis,  Esther  Davis,  Kate  Salmon, 
Julius  Humphrey. 

1893 — Generius  Lee,  Frank  Case,  Robert  Neill, 
\ I .- 1 1 1 1 1 -  Madison,  Addie  Pierce,  Bertha  Snyder. 

1894 — Oscar  Worman,  John  T.  Cavanagh,  Elijah  T. 
Loomis,  Stella  M.  Snapp,  Thomas  E.  Davis,  John 
Davis,  Harry  R.  Gay,  Lillian  C.  Link,  .Maude  D.  Link. 

1895      Alice  Langan,  Harry  Buttson. 

1896 — Gertrude  Baldwin,  Herbert  Newton  Dresser, 
Florence  May  Elliott,  William  Kirk  English,  Haldor 
1',.  Gislason,  Glenn  Roy  Link,  Ida  Belle  .Marsh,  Harvey 
Gordon  Norton,  Agnes  Elizabeth  Neill,  Lillian  Christine 
Johnson,  Fauntie  Grace  Warren,  Maud  D.  Link, 
Stella  May  Snapp,  Laura  Belle  Maynard. 

1897  Corrington  Waite  Thurston,  Arni  B.  Gislason, 
Nellie  Elvia  Cummings,  Mabel  Agnes  Dresser,  Ida 
Belle  Hall,  Charlie  Thomas  McLennan,  .Maude  M. 
McGandy,   Royal  Charles  Millard,  John   Philip  Smith. 

1898 — George  Luther  Andrews.  Maurice  John  Breen, 
Birdie  Hortense  Champlain,  Elizabeth  Ida  Davis, 
Myrtle  Hope  Elliott,  Harry  Hamilton  Galbraith,  John 
Gunnlaug   Holm,    Robert    McMaster   Hood,    Grace    L. 


than  Owens.  A.  C.  Forbes,  C.  H.  Whit- 
ney, C  H.  Richardson,  J.  S.  Dewey 
and  O.  C.  Gregg.2  J.  B.  Gibbons  was 
the  first  superintendent  of  the  graded 
schools  and  his  assistants  in  1878  were 
Addie  Gary  ami  Hattie  Owen.3 

The  school  population  increased  rap- 
idly and  within  a  few  years  the  facilities 
were  taxed  to  their  utmost.  Early  in 
1886  the  voters  of  the  district  author- 
ized a  bond  issue  and  in  the  fall  of  that 
year  a  new  building  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $15,000.  That  structure  was 
used  until  destroyed  by  fire  twelve  years 
later.  A  high  school  course  was  added, 
was  made  a  four-year  course  in  1890, 
and  the  Marshall  school  was  raised  to 
the  first  class  in  1896.  The  first  high 
school  class  was  graduated  in  1888. 4 

McGandy,  Sarah  Maude  Murray,  Edwin  Gail  Patterson, 
Ada  Richardson,  Manie  Emabel  Tucker,  Lurline  May 
Mat  kins,  Eva  .Maude  Watson. 

1899 — Anna  Kimber  Boutelle,  Simeon  James 
Burchard,  Christine  Helga  Edwards,  Nathan  Milo 
Fiske,  Fred  Green,  Frank  Egbert  Norton,  Willis 
Irving  Norton,  James  Von  Williams. 

1900— Alice  Rosalie  Chamberlain,  Charles  Bayard 
Gibbons,  Carrie  Belle  Hicks,  James  Lewis  Humphrey, 
Duncan  Leroy  Kennedy,  Royal  Aaron  Kidder,  Duncan 
James  McLennan,  Lottie  O'Brien,  Florence  Amelia 
Patten,  Gallic  Maude  Pehrson,  Frank  Harvey  Throop, 
Grace  Eliza  Wasson. 

1901 — Robert  Mott  Addison,  Louisa  Elizabeth 
Boutelle,  Lewis  Earnest  Dresser,  Lucy  Rice  Fiske, 
Rose  Anna  Gray,  France-  Slingeriand  Harrington. 
Alexander  Hood,  Mary  Ellen  Keppel,  Frederick 
William  McLennan,  Wallace  Edwin  Mead.  .Myrtle 
Dorothy  Miller,  Nels  Christian  Nelson,  Rollin  Hunt 
Sehutz,' Rud  Charles  Wasson. 

1902 — Octavia  Maria  Thompson,  Roscoe  Edward 
Berg,  John  Thomas  Butson,  Frederick  Hollister  Case, 
Helga  Jonina  Davidson,  Edith  Mae  Forbes,  Christine 
Lillia  Hognason,  Eliza  Hood,  Helen  Julia  Hunter, 
Alice  Mabelle  Jelleson,  Edward  Philip  Kennedy, 
Edward  John  Lawrence,  Madge  Link,  Mildred  Link. 
Ethel  .May  Patterson,  Harris  Edward  Persons,  Anna 
Veda  Shepard,  Sigrid  S.  Swanson,  Eva  Alice  Tucker, 
Hazel  Jane  Wakeman. 

1903 — Hazel  Payzant  Andrews,  Mary  Lilly  (len- 
denning,  Ella  Agnes  Chittenden,  Walter  Sessions  Fiske, 
Gertrude  Marie  Hunter,  Mabel  Amelia  Johnson,  Erna 
May  King,  Julius  Tobias  Knudson,  Elenora  Amanda 
Kelson,  Vera  Nell  King,  Louise  Gertrude  Langland, 
Grace  Laura  Link,  George  Sloan  Langland,  Florence 
Gertrude  Parker,  Thomas  Ambrose  Regnier,  C.  Lloyd 
Ruliffson,  Louise  Elizabeth  Schutz,  Stefania  Jona 
Swanson,  Homer  I).  Sharratt,  Leora  B.  Watkins, 
Leona  D.  Watkins. 

1904 — Phoebe  Estella  .Madden,  Paul  Nathaniel 
Casserly,  Claud  Marion  Hoagland,  Charles  Stuart 
Kidder,  William  Jones  Galbraith,  Stanley  Herbert 
Addison,  Willard  Orville  Persons,  Petra  Caspara  Sole, 
Joseph  S.  Peterson,  Lela  Maude  Patterson,  M.  Eleanor 
Bumford,  Emma  Henrietta  Hcilman,  Elsie  May 
Schmitt,  Grace  Mildred  Goodwin,  Mabel]  Harriet 
McCready,  Elizabeth  M.  Chalmers,  Ragna  Lucile 
Johnson. 

190.5 — Barclay  Acheson,  Lee  Alexander,  Harold 
Andrews,  Georgia  Bellingham,  Roscoe  Bellineham, 
Ethlyn  Conway,  Blanche  Davis,  Clair  Dickinson, 
Mabelle  English,  Eva  English,  Gordon  Forbes,  Nina 
Hotham,  Edna  Hukee,  Bessie  Hunter,  Violet  Jelleson, 
Orion   Kiel,   [na  Lindsley,  Edwin  Neill,  Claude  Palmer. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


145 


Again  in  1891  the  school  house  was 
filled  to  overflowing'  and  the  voters 
authorized  a  bond  issue  of  $6000  to 
provide  additional  facilities.  A  four- 
room  ward  school  house  was  erected  in 
1S92  south  of  the  Northwestern  railroad 
tracks  and  was  occupied  for  the  first 
time  in  September  of  that  year.  J.  D. 
Carroll  was  the  contractor.  The  total 
cost  of  the  building,  heating  plant  and 
furnishings  was  $8232. 35.  The  building 
was  sold  to  Dr.  F.  D.  Gray  for  hospital 
purposes  in  October,  1910,  for  $3000. 

The  high  school  building  erected  in 
1880  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  night 
of  December  8,  1898.  The  loss  was 
placed  at  $20,000,  covered  by  insurance 
to  the  amount  of  $13,000.  Immediately 
steps  were  taken  to  rebuild.  Plans  for 
a  new  building,  drawn  by  W.  B.  Dunnell, 
were  accepted  by  the  Board  of  Education 
in  January,  1899,  and  a  little  later  the 
contract  was  let  to  the  Angus  McLeocl 
Company,  of  Minneapolis,  on  a  bid  of 
$39,737,  which  was  later  increased,  be- 
cause of  changes  in  plans,  to  $41,000. 
A  $40,000  bond  issue  was  made  and  the 
building  was  completed  and  occupied  in 
December.  The  cost  of  the  building, 
heating,  plumbing,  ventilating,  furnish- 
ings, etc.,  was  about  $60,600.     It  is  one 

Vida  Pike,  Lizzie  Smith,  Elida  Sole,  George  Struthers, 
Harry  Tate,  Maggie  Thomson,  Lueile  Watson,  Louisa 
Wetherbee,  Homer  Wheeler. 

1906 — May  E.  Galbraith,  Alice  E.  Meier,  Sidonia  A. 
Mathews,  Seraphine  B.  Ehlers,  Mina  F.  Snyder,  Sylvia 
L.  Cummings,  S.  Augusta  Sigvaldson,  Lloyd  M. 
Thorburn,  Francis  Joseph  Kennedy,  Alice  Louise 
Lindsey,  Ernest  Persons,  Anna  May  Smith,  Guy  H. 
Kiel,  John  E.  Silvius,  Guy  W.  Hicks,  Iva  Elizabeth 
Aurandt,  Velna  P.  Shannon,  Earl  E.  Jefferson,  L. 
Pauline  Fitzsimmons,  Inga  A.  S.  Anderson,  Wallace 
Jackson  Kidder,  Gordon  Elwyn  Kidder,  Agnes  Delila 
Ruane,  Alma  Dahlberg. 

1907 — Joseph  Anderson,  Bertha  Bancroft,  Guy 
Blanchard,  Gladys  Bumford,  Naomi  Chace,  Charles 
DeReu,  Mate  Harden,  Frank  Hoagland,  Louise  Hollo, 
Clarence  Kennedy,  Kittie  Kramer,  Holland  Mathews, 
Nellie  Moore,  Nettie  Palmer,  Ambrose  Ruane,  Williard 
Ruliffson,  Artys  Schroeder,  Ada  Tibbitts,  May  Tib- 
bitts,  Mabel  Vodden,  Louise  Patterson,  Flossie  Kramer. 

190S — Mary  Arloine  Bumford,  Leila  Marie  Bush, 
Charles  Louis  DeReu,  Henry  Knox  Elder,  Joseph 
William  Harrison,  Charles  E.  Healy,  Myrtle  May  Hollo, 
George  Kingdom  Johnson,  Josephine  Theresa  Johnson, 
Winnie  Sigridur  Johnson,  Eva  Nancy  Kidder,  Bertha 
Emma  McCready,  Mary  Josephine  Martin,  Holland  M. 
Mathews,  Ruth  Minette  Murray,  Loline  A.  Musch, 
Beulah  Pearl  Palmer,  Helen  Mary  Penison,  Dale 
Simon,  Minnie  May  Schneider,  Ellen  Lauretta  Welch, 
Flora  Catherine  Wetherbee. 


of  the  largest  and  finest  school  buildings 
in  the  state. 

At  the  present  writing  (1912)  539 
students  are  enrolled  in  the  Marshall 
schools.  Including  the  superintendent, 
twenty  instructors  are  employed.  The 
school  ranks  among  the  best  in  Minne- 
sota. 

Besides  the  public  schools,  a  Catholic- 
school  and  a  business  college  are  con- 
ducted in  Marshall. 

St.  Joseph's  convent  and  academy 
has  been  in  operation  since  March  1, 
1900,  conducted  by  the  sisters  of  the 
Order  of  St.  Joseph.  It  has  grown  to 
considerable  prominence.  In  1899  Mother 
Seraphine  and  Mother  Celestine  came  to 
Marshall  and  their  investigations  led  to 
the  founding  of  the  school.  The  Ma- 
honey  residence  was  purchased  for  a 
school  building,  and  on  March  1,  1900, 
the  school  was  opened,  in  charge  of 
Sister  Wilfrida,  of  St.  Joseph's  Academy, 
of  St.  Paul,  assisted  by  Sisters  Celesia 
and  DuRosaire.  Several  additions  have 
been  made  to  the  original  school  house, 
and  a  large  number  of  students  receive 
instruction. 

THE   CHURCHES. 

Seven   church   societies   have   organi- 

1909 — E.  Rea  Austin,  Myrtle  Barker,  Eugenia  Agnes 
Regnier,  Lena  Amelia  Benson,  Aroline  Mary  Forbes, 
Virginia  Marie  Johnson,  Mae  Henrietta  Mathis, 
Wallace  Strait  Schutz,  Larus  Sigvaldson,  Harry 
Benjamin  Spong,  Willis  Franklin  Gillett,  Grayce  Clara 
White. 

1910 — Edith  Lyle  Bailey,  Grace  Winifred  Bancroft, 
Mary  Bernice  Kennedy,  Mary  Hortense  Ladwig, 
Mildred  Alma  McFarland,  Henrietta  Marion  Addison, 
Nellie  Miranda  Austin,  Oscar  Bernard  Bladholm, 
Ruth  Etta  Fulton,  Joseph  Penual  Mathews,  Cassalanzo 
Middleton,  Elmer  Joseph  Molter,  Robert  John  Myhr- 
vold,  Ethel  Catherine  Porter,  Alice  Elizabeth  Regnier, 
Lila  Ruthe  Sturgeon,  Lillie  Gudny  Swanson,  Myrtle 
Viola  Thomas-,  Emma  Mary  Vergote,  James  Walter 
Kennedy,  Julia  Judith  Vergote. 

1911 — Truman  Lewis  Bumford,  Julia  Malvina 
Johnson,  Edna  Christine  Newman,  Blanche  Leona 
Regnier,  Ella  Sophia  Strand,  Adolphus  Daniel  Betour- 
nay,  James  Edward  Blake,  William  Patrick  Dolan, 
Nellie  Annette  Ledell,  George  Irving  Peffer,  Emma 
Bertha  Peterson,  Elizabeth  Magdalene  Poethke, 
Charles  Leon  Robinson,  Benjamin  Adolph  Schutz, 
Edith  Agnes  Bourke,   Lucy  Katherine  Sharratt. 

1912 — Lueian  Fred  Wasson,  Raymond  Henry  Lee, 
Anna  Viola  Nash,  Mary  Cnristenson,  Mac  Nbrah 
Middleton,  Hattie  Ellis  Spong,  Susan  Clara  Smith, 
Cecil  Frank  Brantner,  Coxey  Strand,  Otto  Julius 
Wienke,  Seymour  Le  Grande  Elliott, 


146 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


zations  in  Marshall  and  all  of  them 
have  houses  of  worship.  The  churches 
are,  in  the  order  of  their  organization, 
Congregationalist,  Methodist,  Catholic, 
German  Lutheran,  Evangelical  Associa- 
tion, Episcopal  and  Presbyterian.  Three 
other  societies  have  at  one  time  and 
another  been  represented  in  Marshall 
but  are  not  now.  They  were  the 
Baptist,  Icelandic  Lutheran  and  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran. 

The  first  religious  services  held  in 
Marshall  were  conducted  by  Rev.  W.  T. 
Ellis,  Methodist,  of  Lynd.  They  were 
held  in  the  engineers'  office  in  the 
summer  of  1872.  The  next  services 
were  held  a  short  time  later  by  a  Con- 
gregationalist minister,  and  the  Congre- 
gational church  was  the  first  organized 
in  the  village. 

In  the  summer  of  1872  Rev.  E.  H. 
Alden,  of  Waseca,  pioneer  home  mis- 
sionary of  the  Congregational  church, 
came  to  Marshall  and  made  arrange- 
ments for  organizing  a  church.  At  the 
time  the  site  was  occupied  by  only  two 
buildings  and  a  tent.  The  tent  was  the 
property  of  Captain  Herrick  and  Major 
Filkins,  and  in  it  they  conducted  a- 
saloon.  It  was  the  only  available 
"building"  in  town  for  religious  worship, 
and  in  it  on  several  occasions  Rev. 
Alden  preached  to  the  people  of  Marshall 
and  vicinity.5  He  later  held  services 
in  the  engineers'  building  and  remained 
in  Marshall  during  1872. 

The  Congregational  church  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.   Alden  on   October'  6, 

'"Captain  Herrick  and  Major  Filkins  had  a  tent  in 
which  they  had  a  saloon.  Old  Major  Filkins  tended 
bar.  We  didn't  have  a  building.  We  went  to  see  the 
major,  and  he  said:  'Yes,  certainly,  I  will  close  my 
liar  and  you  can  hold  services  here.'  A  dry  goods  box 
was  used  for  the  bar,  and  I  used  to  take  a  table  cloth 
or  sheet  (table  cloths  were  scarce  in  those  days)  to 
cover  the  dry  goods  box.  Before  we  came  in  he 
always  used  to  turn  up  the  sheet,  treat  the  boys,  and 
then  close  up.  After  the  services  were  over  he  would 
open  again  and  go  on  with  his  business,  and  I  think 
the  Sundays  were  just  as  orderly  then  as  they  are  now. 

".  .  .  This  tent  stood  right  back  abcjut  where  John 
Schneider's  store  is.  They  were  the  first  church 
services  in  Marshall.      It  was  considered  work  to  take 


1872,  with  the  following  members:  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Seth  W.  Taylor,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
H.  P.  Gibbs,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Elliott  and 
Mrs.  Cook.  The  first  board  of  trustees 
consisted  of  Walter  Wakeman.  Seth  W. 
Taylor  and  John  W.  Elliott.  The  first 
treasurer  was  J.  P.  Watson,  who  was 
also  the  first  choirster.  Mr.  Buchanan 
was  the  first  Sunday  School  superin- 
tendent and  had  charge  of  a  union  school 
until  the  Methodist  school  was  organized 
in  1873. 

Immediately  after  the  organization  of 
the  Congregational  church,  in  the  fall 
of  1872,  a  start  was  made  on  a  building 
to  be  used  as  a  house  of  worship.  It 
was  begun  in  1872  but  was  not  com- 
pleted until  the  following  spring.  Rev. 
Alden  and  Walter  Wakeman  constituted 
the  building  committee.  The  structure 
was  a  two-story  store  building  erected 
at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Fourth 
Streets.  The  lower  floor  was  occupied " 
by  a  store,  and  the  upper  floor  was  used 
for  school  purposes  during  week  days 
and  by  the  church  society  on  Sundays. 
The  Congregationalists  occupied  this 
building  until  1879,  when  it  was  sold  to 
H.  B.  Gary  for  $1000. 

Rev.  George  Spaulding  became  pastor 
of  the  church  in  May,  1873,  and  served 
until  August,  1874.  The  first  com- 
munion service  was  held  in  September, 
1873.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  H.  C. 
Simmons,  installed  in  September,  1875, 
who  was  in  charge  until  September, 
1879. 6  During  the  grasshopper  days 
untiring  efforts  were  required  to  main- 

that  lumber  from  the  yard  of  the  railroad  company 
and  then  carry  it  back  again  every  Sunday,  but  some 
way  Major  Filkins  had  such  a  winning  way  with  him 
that   we    always   got   enough   boys   to   do   it." — C.    H. 

Whitney. 

6Pastors  of  the  Congregational  church  have  been 
E.  H.  Alden,  1872;  George  Spaulding,  lS7:i-74  ;  H.  C. 
Simmons,  1875-79;  S.  J.  Rogers,  1879-81;  J.  B.  Fair- 
bank,  1881-84;  A.  J.  Dutton,  Albert  Warren  and 
N.  D.  Graves,  supplies  during  1885-87;  A.  P.  Lyon, 
1887-1890;  C.  M.  Harwood,  1891-94;  George  M. 
Morrison,  1894;  George  P.  Merrill,  W.  N.  Moore, 
J.  W.  Vallentyne,  W.  A.  Bockoven. 


Marshall's  Ghurches 


IIISTOKY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


147 


tain  the  organization.  The  members 
were  few,  limes  were  exceedingly  hard, 
and  great  energy  was  required  to  keep 
the  church  in  existence. 

Better  times  came  upon  the  com- 
munity and  early  in  August,  1S7S,  the 
Congregationalists  began  work  on  a 
new  church  edifice,  which  was  completed 
the  next  spring.  The  building  commit- 
tee was  composed  of  Rev.  H.  C.  Sim- 
mons, chairman;  J.  P.  Watson,  M.  M. 
Marshall  and  A.  C.  Chittenden.  The 
new  church,  which  cost  about  $4000, 
was  dedicated  free  from  debt  May  18, 
1879,  by  Rev.  Dr.  McG.  Dana,  of  St. 
Paul,  assisted  by  Rev.  Champlain  and 
Rev.  Moses. 

The  church  completed  in  1879  served 
the  need's  of  the  society  until  1902, 
when  the  need  was  felt  for  a  larger 
building.  About  $6000  were  expended 
in  rebuilding,  the  work  being  in  charge 
of  a  building  committee  composed  of 
M.  W.  Harden,  chairman;  James  Law- 
rence, R.  R.  Bumford,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Dibble 
and  Mrs.  H.  M.  Langland.  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  October  4,  1902,  and  the 
church  was  formally  opened  June  28, 
1903. 

While  the  Congregational  church  was 
the  first  organized  in  Marshall,  the 
Methodist,  officially  organized  in  1873, 
is  in  reality  the  oldest  church  society  in 
the  city.  Its  organization  was  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  Methodist  church  of 
Lynd,  which  had  come  into  existence 
several  years  before  and  the  jurisdiction 
of  which  extended  to  the  village  of 
Marshall.  The  history  of  the  Methodist 
church  of  Marshall  dates  back  to  the 
very  earliest  settlement  of  Lyon  county; 
in   fact   the   first   settlers   came   for  the 

7Among  the  early  members  of  the  church  and  the 
year  they  became  members,  according  to  the  church' 
records,  were  the  following:  Mary  H.  Laythe  in  1869; 
O.  C.  Charlotte,  Leslie  Gregg,  Levi  and  Emily  Kiel, 
Ellen,  Howard,  Henry  and  Zilphia  Langdon,  Benjamin, 
Nancy  and  William  Sykes,  Luman  and  Mahala  Ticknor 
in  1S70;  George  and  Mary  Linderman,  I).  H.,  Jane  and 


purpose  of  founding  a  church  and  school 
in  the  frontier  region. 

According    to    the     records    of    the 

Methodist     church,     on     September     26, 
1867, 

A.  W.  Muzzy,  hie  daughter,  Sophia,  wile  of 
Rev.  C.  F.  Wright,  member  of  the  Red  River 
Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  L.  Lan^dou  and  family  took  possession  of 
Lynd  and  vicinity  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  by 
establishing  religious  worship.  On  the  follow- 
ing Sabbath  they  instituted  divine  worship  and 
maintained  it  regularly  thereafter  [sic]  every 
Sabbath. 

In  November,  1867,  the  worshippers 

were  reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  the 
family  of  Luman  Ticknor,  and  the 
following  spring  by  the  family  of  George 
Cummins.  The  Methodists  of  the  little 
settlement  organized  a  church  society 
in  October,  1868,  and  for  the  first  time 
had  the  services  of  a  regular  clergyman, 
in  the  person  of  Rev.  C.  F.  Wright.  On 
March  24,  1869,  the  body  was  officially 
recognized  by  Presiding  Elder  N.  Hob  art 
of  the  Mankato  district.  The  church 
was  attached  to  the  Redwood  circuit 
and  was  put  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
Rev.  Wright,  who  was  in  charge  until 
1870.7 

The  conference  of  1870  created  a  new 
charge,  designated  Lynd  and  Lake 
Shetek,  with  Rev.  A.  R.  Riley  as  pastor. 
The  same  year  a  Sunday  School  was 
organized  and  a  log  meeting  house  was 
built  at  Lower  Lynd.  In  1871  the 
church  was  moved  to  Upper  Lynd  and 
Rev.  A.  Eastman  became  pastor.  A 
frame  building  was  put  up,  used  for  a 
church  for  a  short  time,  and  then  moved 
to  Lower  Lynd  and  transformed  into  a 
dwelling.  Thereafter  for  a  time  the 
Methodists  worshipped  in  the  Lynd 
school  house,  but  in  1872  the  Methodist 
charge  was  moved  to  the  new  village  of 

Olive  A.  Ticknor,  Henry  and  Eliza  Sehaffer,  Richard 
and  Charlotte  Tupper,  Charles  S.,  Sarah  A.  and  Olive 
Grover  in  1872;  A.  L.,  Anna  and  Emaline  Baldwin, 
Lucy  Ueland,  Emma  Eastman,  Seth  and  Jennie 
Johnson,  H.  B.  and  Anna  A.  Loomis  and  Fanny  A. 
Hoaglin  in  1873. 


148 


HISTOKY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Marshall.  That  was  during  the  pastor- 
ate of  Rev.  J.  H.  McKee,  with  Rev. 
\Y.  T.  Ellis  as  local  preacher.8 

Services  were  occasionally  held  in 
Marshall  in  1872  and  early  in  1873  by 
Revs.  W.  T.  Ellis  and  6.  C.  Gregg. 
The  church  organization  was  perfected 
August  17.  1873.9  Rev.  Gregg  became 
the  pastor  of  the  Marshall  church,  and 
the  Lake  Shetek  and  Saratoga  appoint- 
ments were  set  off.  Rev.  George  Galpin 
became  pastor  in  1874.  and  under  his 
charge  substantial  progress  was  made 
by  the  society.  In  the  fall  of  1874  a 
parsonage  was  erected  on  Fifth  Street, 
opposite  the  location  of  the  future 
church.  During  the  suriimer  of  1875  a 
little  chapel  was  erected  on  the  north 
end  of  the  present  school  grounds,  on 
lots  donated  by  the  townsite  owners. 
The  church,  dedicated  August  15.  1875, 
cost  about  $800,  and  in  it  the  Methodists 
worshipped  until  1886.  The  little  build- 
ing was  later  moved  to  another  location 
and  remodeled  into  a  residence. 

Increases  in  membership  made  neces- 
sary  a  larger  church  building,  and  in 
1885  steps  were  taken  to  build.  On 
July  20,  1885.  the  board  of  trustees 
decided  to  erect  a  church  to  cost  not 
more  than  $3000,  but  work  was  not  to 
commence  until  $2500  were  raised. 
Almost  that  amount  was  raised  before 
the  year  ended.  A  location  at  the 
corner  of  Lyons  and  Fourth  Streets  was 
purchased  of  E.  B.  Jewett  and  on 
December  18,  1885.  plans  and  specifi- 
cations were  accepted. 

The  church  was  erected  in  1886, 
largely    through    the    efforts    of    B.    J. 

pThe  following  have  served  as  pastors  of  the  Meth- 
odist church  from  the  time  it  was  recognized  by  the 
church  authorities  to  the  present:  C.  F.  Wright , 
1S69-70:  A.  K.  Riley,  1S70-71;  A.  Eastman,  1871-72; 
J.  11.  McKee,  1872-73;  O.  C.  Gregg.  L873-74;  W.  T. 
Ellis,  1874;  George  Gaplin.  1S74-76:  J.  T.  Lewis, 
ls7»i-77:  H.  P.  Satchel!,  1*77-7!!;  J.  X.  Liscomb, 
1879-^2;  J.  W.  Powell,  1882-85;  J.  A.  Cullen,  1885-87; 
F  M.  Rule,  1S87-8S;  E.  P.  Robertson,  1888-91;  A\  .- 
Cochrane,  1891-92:  George  R.  Greer,  1S92-93;  Frank 
P.  Harris.  1893-95;  J.  A.  Sutton.  1S!I.?-9N;  Samuel 
Ellery.  1S9S-02;  Benjamin  C.  Gillis,  1902-07;  S.  Arthur 


Heagle,  Seth  Johnson.  M.  Sullivan  and 
Dr.  E.  D.  Allison.  Its  cost  was  about 
$7000.  The  church  was  dedicated  No- 
vember 14,  the  services  being  conducted 
by  Rev.  Robert  Forbes.  Rev.  J.  W. 
Powell  and  Rev.  E.  R.  Lathrop.  Rev. 
J.  A.  Cullen  was  the  resident  pastor  at 
the  time.  A  new  parsonage  was  erected 
in  1905  at  a  cost  of  $5200. 

A  larger  building  was  demanded  i:i 
19C9  and  on  May  29  of  that  year  a  son- 
tract  was  let  to  George  D.  Carroll  to 
remodel  the  building.  A  building  com- 
mittee composed  of  M.  E.  Drake,  Peter 
Walker,  H.  B.  Loomis,  W.  G.  Hunter, 
George  Caley  and  Rev.  S.  A.  Cook  was 
appointed  and  the  work  was  rushed  to 
completion.  The  cost  of  reconstructing 
the  building  was  $10,200.  It  was  dedi- 
cated Sunday,  September  19,  1909.  by 
Rev.  Dr.  F.  B.  Cowgill.  the  district 
superintendent,  assisted  by  Rev.  J.  W. 
Powell  and  Rev.  S.  A.  Cook,  the  local 
pastor. 

The  third  church  society  organized  in 
Marshall  was  the  Baptist.  During  the 
summer  of  1878  Rev.  W.  H.  Schwartz, 
of  Kenosha,  Wisconsin,  came  to  Mar- 
shall and  in  August  organized  a  church 
with  ten  members.  The  officers  of  the 
society  were  J.  M.  Lockey,  deacon: 
J.  P.  DeMattos,  clerk;  C.  B.  Todd,  J.  M. 
Lockey  and  B.  H.  dibits,  trustees.  A 
lot  was  purchased  with  a  view  to  erecting 
a  church  edifice,  but  that  was  not  done 
and  the  life  of  the  society  was  short. 
During  the  life  of  the  church  services 
were  held  in  the  public  school  building. 

The  Catholic  church — Church  of  the 
Most    Holy    Redeemer — was    organized 

Cook,  1907-10;  J.  E.  Bowes,  1910-12.  Of  these,  Revs. 
J.  X.  Liscomb,  F.  M.  Rule  and  E.  P.  Robertson  later 
became  presiding  elders. 

9"On  the  seventeenth  of  August  the  Methodists 
organized  a  church  society  at  this  place,  starting  out 
with  eighteen  members.  This  is  in  the  circuit  of  Rev. 
McKee,  but  he  having  all  he  could  attend  to  elsewhere, 
Elder  Gregg,  of  Lynd,  has  usually-  filled  the  semi- 
monthly appointments  here." — Prairie  Schooner, 
September  20,  1873. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


II:) 


in  1885.  Several  years  before  thai  time, 
however,  services  were  occasionally  held. 
The  first  mass  was  held  by  Father  Tori 
in  1879,  and  thai  early  there  was  talk 
of  building  a  church. 

There  were  only  a  few  families  of  the 
faith  in  .Marshall  in  1884,  but  that  year 
it  was  decided  to  erect  a  church.  The 
decision  was  reached  at  the  time  of  a 
visit  in  May,  1884,  by  Bishop  John 
Ireland  ami  Fathers  Cornelius  and 
Devos.  .1.  W.  Blake  donated  two  lots 
east  of  the  river,  the  business  men  of 
Marshall  contributed  nearly  $1000,  and 
members  of  the  faith  contributed  lib- 
erally. The  building  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  about  $1000  under  the  direction 
of  a  building  committee  composed  of 
Father  Devos,  of  Ghent,  and  Messrs. 
Janda  ami  Humphrey.  The  building, 
though  not  entirely  completed,  was 
occupied  for  the  first  time  November 
30,  1884. 

The  church* was  organized  in  INS."). 
The  following  were  heads  of  the  families 
representing  the  initial  membership: 
John  Hanlon,  Daniel  Minnick,  Con 
Meehan,  Richard  Blake,  P.  W.  Mullaney, 
James  Smith,  Owen  Myron,  Thomas 
Welch,  Mr.  Vergote,  Mr.  Loke,  John 
Casserley,  Pat  Casserley,  John  Ruane, 
Pat  Quigley,  Philip  Kennedy,  John 
Zeigler  and  John  Lewis.  John  Hanlon 
and  Daniel  Minnick  were  the  first 
trustees. 

Prior  to  1890  there^was  not  a  resident 
pastor  and  services  were  only  occasion- 
ally held,  conducted  by  Father  Edward 
Lee.1"  Improvements  were  made  on 
the  church  in  the  spring  of  1889  and  the 
interior  was  completed.  The  church 
was  incorporated  in  October,  1890,  the 
articles  being  signed  by  Archbishop  John 
Ireland,  August  Ravoux,  J.  E.  Devos, 
John  Haidon  and  Louis  Janda. 

'"Pastors  of  the  Marshall  church  sines  1S90  have 
been  as  follows:  Fathers  Hugh  Victor,  1890-93; 
Francis  Jager,  1S93-97;  Buckle,  1897-98;  Joseph  Guillot, 


The  German  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church  of  Marshal]  is  one  of  the  old 
religious  societies  of  the  city.  About 
1877  the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran 

Synod  of  New  I'lm  sent  Rev.  Christ 
Boettcher  as  a  missionary  to  Lyon  and 
adjoining  counties  to  minister  to  the 
<  terman  Lutherans  at  the  expense  of  the 
Synod.  Thereafter  until  a  church  was 
organized  at  Marshall  in  lsss  ministers 
of  the  faith,  Rev.  Boettcher  and  Rev. 
W.  Shechietal,  held  services  in  the 
county. 

The  church  society  was  organized  in 
1888  and  Rev.  R.  Poet  like  has  ever  since 
been  the  pastor.  The  initial  member- 
ship was  represented  by  the  families  of 
the  following:  Theodore  Tessmer,  C. 
Mellenthin,  G.  Schultz,  William  Marx, 
Fred  GoelcOW  and  P.  Murch. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  Lutheran 
society  did  not  have  great  strength,  had 
no  house  of  worship  in  Marshall,  and 
had  irregular  services.  In  June,  1896, 
dissatisfaction  arose  among  some  of  the 
members,  who  left  the  church  and 
organized  a  new  society  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Ohio  Synod  of  the  German 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church.  The 
trustees  of  the  new  organization  were 
Fred  Mellenthin.  August  Mellenthin  and 
August  Schwabe.  The  organization  was 
brought  about  through  the  labors  of 
Rev.  W.  Ehwald,  who  preached  in  and 
around  Marshall  from  the  fall  of  1896 
until  the  next  spring.  During  his  pas- 
torate the  first  steps  to  form  the  organi- 
zation were  taken,  and  during  the  short 
pastorate  of  his  successor,  Rev.  H. 
Drews,  it  was  perfected.  Rev.  G.  R. 
"Wannemacher  succeeded  as  pastor  in 
the  fall  of  1897. 

Lots  for  a  church  building  were  pur- 
chased on  Lyons  Street  in  April,  1897, 
and  that  summer  the  church  was  erected. 

1898-10;  William  C.  Soulard,  Innocent  Domestici  and 
J.  M.  Sebillet,  1910-11;  E.  Damourette  (assisted  by 
J.  M.  Haquin),  1911-12. 


i  :.i  • 


HISTOEY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


It  was  dedicated  on  Sunday.  July  18.. 
by  Rev.  Ernst,  of  St.  Paul. 

Both  branches  of  the  German  Luth- 
eran church  continued  to  maintain  or- 
ganizations until  the  summer  of  1908, 
when  a  reconciliation  was  effected.  A 
reorganization  was  made  at  that  time 
by  thirty  families  and  services  by  the 
combined  organization  were  held  for  the 
first  time  in  .June.  1908,  conducted  by 
Rev.  R.  Poethke. 

The  Salem  Evangelical  Association, 
another  German  church  society,  was 
also  organized  in  1888.'  Rev.  Loeven. 
of  the  Dakota  Conference,  began  to 
preach  to  members  of  the  faith  in 
.Marshall  and  vicinity,  and,  although 
there  were  only  a  few  families,  a  class 
was  soon  organized.  Rev.  Loeven  was 
folio \\*ed  in  turn  by  Rev.  Preise,  Rev. 
G.  A.  E.  Leppert  and  Rev.  S.  B.  Goetz 
during  1888  and  1889,  though  none  of 
these  was  a  resident  pastor.11  During 
the  first  twelve  years  of  the  church's 
history  there  was  no  church  edifice  and 
during  the  greater  part  of  that  time 
services  were  held  in  the  Ehler  school 
house. 

The  congregation  grew  and  there  was 
a  strong  desire  for  a  church  home. 
Dining  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  A. 
Seder  funds  for  a  church  edifice  were 
raised.  In  April,  1899,  the  society  was 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  Salem 
Congregation  of  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation. Two  lots  on  Main  Street  oppo- 
site the  court  house  were  purchased  and 
the  work  of  building  was  begun  in  July. 
It  was  completed  in  January,  1900,  and 
was  dedicated,  free  from  debt,  on  June 

UResidenl    pastors  of  the  Salem  church  have  been 
as  follow-:     (  .  W.  Wolthausen,  1889-92;  W.  Blanchard 
1892-93;    A.     Zabel,     1893-95;    F.     Draeger,     1895-98; 
H.    A.    Seilcr.    1VIS-00:   ('.    A.   Tesch,    1900-04;   G     W 
Hielscher,  L904-07;  Otto  Schultz,  1907-12. 

i*The  first  members  of  the  Episcopal  church  included 
Messrs.  and   Mesdames  S.   H.   Mott,   D.   F.   Afarkham 
J.  W.   Blake,   s.   Webster,   R.   M.   Addison.   Mr.-.  J.   W. 
W  illiams  and  others. 

13Pastors   of   the   St.   James    Episcopal    church   since 
the  reorganization  in  IKS')  have  been  as  follows:      J.  ]'.. 


10  by  Bishop  S.  C.  Breyfogel.  of  Read- 
ing. Pennsylvania.  The  cost  of  the 
building  was  about  82o00. 

People  of  the  Episcopal  faith  in 
Marshall  held  services  irregularly  and 
had  an  organization  in  the  early  days,12 
being  ministered  to  occasionally  by  the 
following  pastors  from  other  charges: 
Edward  Livermore,  1874-76:  E.  G. 
Hunter.  1876-79;  H.  J.  Gurr.  1879. 
Thereafter  until  the  society  was  reor- 
ganized in  1889  no  pastor  was  assigned 
to  the  Marshall  community.  During 
that  period  several  abortive  efforts  were 
made  to  effect  an  organization  and 
build  a  church. 

Bishop  Gilbert,  of  St.  Paul,  and 
Rector  Thompson,  of  St.  Peter,  held 
services  in  one  of  the  other  church 
buildings  on  July  8,  1888,  and  there  the 
start  toward  the  organization  of  a 
society  and  the  erection  of  a  church  was 
made.  To  solicit  funds  and  attend  to 
the  preliminary  work  a  -building  com- 
mittee was  appointed  as  follows:  Orrin 
Paige,  chairman;  E.  E.  Parsons,  secre- 
tary; J.  W.  Williams,  treasurer;  R.  M. 
Addison  and  E.  S.  Reishus. 

St.  .lames  Episcopal  church  was  or- 
ganized by  Bishop  Gilbert  .July  21.  1889, 
but  was  not  made  a  parish  until  May 
23,  1892.  In  November,  1889.  a  place 
of  worship  was  fitted  up  in  the  hall  of 
the  Williams  Building,  a  pastor  was 
assigned  to  the  charge,17,  and  monthly 
services  were  held.  Member.-  of  the 
church  worked  hard  to  secure  the  neces- 
sary funds  and  in  June.  1890.  they  had 
raised  $1000. 14  At  that  time  Bishop 
Gilbert  visited  Marshall  and  at  a  church 

Halsey,  1889-91;  G.  H.  TenBroeck.  1S91-94;  T.  G. 
McGonigle,  1894-95;  T.  H.  .1.  Walton.  1896-98;  no 
pastor  1898-00;  W.  P.  N.  J.  Wharton,  1900-01;  Arch- 
deacon Houpt,  George  E.  Schulze  and  C.  B.  Beaubien, 
1901-02;  Frank  Erwin  Brandt.  1902-03:  Richard  S. 
Read,  1905-05;  John  Vinton  Plunkett,  1906-07; 
William  A.  Dennis,  1910-12. 

14"The   ladies  of  the   Episcopal  society  are  entitled 

"to  much  credit  for  the  heroic  efforts  made  to  establish 

a  church  in  Marshall.     They  are  now  working  to  secure 

the   wherewith   to   erect    a   church   building   and    have 


HISTORY  OF  I. VOX  COUNTY. 


151 


meeting  it  was  decided  to  proceed  with 
the  building  of  a  church. 

Three  lots  at  t  he  corner  of  Main  and 
Fifth  Streets  were  donated  by  Messrs. 
Stewart,  Jenkins  and  Blake  and  the 
building  was  commenced  in  September, 
1890.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  Octo- 
ber 7  and  then  work  was  stopped 
because  of  lack  of  fund:;.  It  was  put 
under  way  again  in  the  spring  of  1892, 
and  in  time  a  fine  stone  building,  costing 
about  $7000,  was  completed.  It  was 
dedicated  by  Rev.  W.  P.  TenBroeck  in 
October,  1893. 

For  many  years  the  Icelandic  Luth- 
erans maintained  a  church  organization 
in  Marshall.  For  a  time  services  were 
held  in  private  residences,  hut  in  the 
summer  of  1890  the  members  undertook 
the  erection  of  a  church  edifice.  Sub- 
scriptions were  solicited  and  in  the  fall 
of  that  year  a  church  was  erected  west 
of  the  Great  Northern  railroad  tracks 
at  a  cost  of  about  SI 500.  The  next 
year  a  stone  foundation  was  put  under 
the  building  and  the  corner  stone  was 
*.  ,  laid  with  ceremonies  by  Rev.  Thalaksson 
on  November  15,  1891. 

In  the  cyclone  of  August  8,  1892,  the 
Icelandic  church  building'  was  'demol- 
ished and  the  same  fall  a  new  building 
took  its  place  on  the  old  foundation. 
Services  were  held  many  years,  but 
finally  the  attendance  dwindled  and  the 
organization  went  out  of  existence. 
For  some  time  before  the  pulpit  had 
been  filled  by  the  pastor  of  the  Minneota 
church.  The  building  was  purchased 
in  March,  1911,  by  T.  R.  Cummings  and 
remodeled  into  a  residence. 

already  raised  funds  sufficient  to  insure  one  in  the 
near  future.  They  wish  to  build  this  season  if  pos- 
sible."—Reporter,  July  2,  1890. 

15The  first  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  were 
James  McNiven,  Joseph  Forbes,  Thomas  E.  Davis, 
John  J.  Davis,  Mary  A.  Davis,  Esther  Davis,  Reese 
Davis,  Mrs.  Jane  Davis,  Mrs.  F.  E.  Nichols,  Miss 
Magcie  McNiven,  Miss  Julia  McNiven,  Malcolm  C. 
McNiven,  Mrs.  Malcolm  C.  McNiven,  Mrs.  Campbell, 
Miss  Kittie  Campbell,  Mrs.  C.  G.  Miller,  Blanche 
Meade,     William    Neill,     Mrs.     William     Neill,     Emma 


The  first  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Marshal]  was  organized  June  28,  1891, 
under  the  direction  of  Rev.  1!.  X. 
Adams,  the  synodica]  superintendent  of 
home  missions,  with  thirty-one  mem- 
bers.15 Malcolm  C.  McNiven  and  Reese 
Davis  were  the  first  elder,-  and  the 
following  were  the  first  officers:  Mary 
A.  Davis,  clerk;  J.  P.  Watson,  treasurer; 
A.  R.  Chace,  1).  I).  Forbes  and  James 
McNiven,  trustees.  Until  the  church 
was  erected  services  were  held  in 
Chittenden's  Hall.  Rev.  Clarence  G. 
Miller  was  the  first  pastor.10 

Steps  were  at  once  taken  to  erect  a 
house  of  worship.  Two  lots  were  pur- 
chased on  Lyons  Street,  opposite  the 
school  house,  and  in  the  fall  of  1891  a 
building.  24x28  feet,  now  used  as  the 
lecture  room,  was  completed.  Its  cost, 
including  furnishings,  was  about  $2000. 
The  dedication  services  were  conducted 
February  14,  1892,  by  Rev.  John 
Barbour,  of  Mankato.  The  Presby- 
terian church  as  it  stands  today  was 
constructed  in  1900  and  the  first  services 
were  held  therein  May  27.  It  was 
dedicated  June  24. 

For  a  short  time  the  Norwegian 
Lutherans  had  an  organization  in  Mar- 
shall, the  church  having  been  organized 
about  1899.  Services  were  held  in  the 
German  Lutheran  church  by  Rev. 
Kleven,  of  Minneota.  The  society  was 
not  very  strong  and  soon  ceased  to 
exist. 

THE    LODGES. 

Marshall  is  well  represented  by  secret 
and    fraternal     orders.     There     are     in 

Graves,  Rev.  W.  D.  Graves,  J.  P.  Watson,  Mrs.  J.  P 
Watson,   Mrs.   Cordelia  H.   Graves,   Mrs.    Elizabeth   A. 
Forbes,  A.  R.  Chace.  Mrs.  Alice  P.  Chace,  Miss  Grace 
L.    Watson,    Miss    Kittie    M.    Watson,    Miss    Flossie   J. 
Watson  and  Miss  E.  Maude  Watson. 

16Pastors  of  the  Presbyterian  church  have  been  as 
follows:  Clarence  G.  Miller,  1S91-94;  Harvey  M. 
Pressly,  1S94-97;  Frank  L.  Fraser,  189S-00;  R.  I.. 
Barackman,  1900-02;  T.  D.  Acheson,  1903-05:  C. 
McKibbin,  1905-12. 


152 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


existence  the  following  societies,  most 
of  which  have  also  auxiliary  organiza- 
tions: Masonic,  Grand  Army,  Work- 
men, Modern  Woodmen,  Royal  Arca- 
num, Maccabees,  Foresters,  Modern 
Brotherhood  and  Yeomen.  Several 
<  >t  her  well  known  societies  have  in  times 
past  had  organizations  in  the  city. 
among  them  the  Odd  Fellows,  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  Legion  of  Honor. 

The  oldest  order  in  Marshall  is  Delta 
Lodge  No.  119,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  which 
was  organized  under  dispensation  No- 
vember 16,  1874.  The  organizer  was 
Thomas  Montgomery,  of  St.  Peter,  and 
he  was  assisted  by  A.  Mardin  and  Dr. 
Berry,  of  New  Ulm.  The  first  officers 
were  as  follows:  H.  J.  Tripp,  W.  M.;17 
Joshua  Goodwin,  S.  AY;  S.  V.  Groesbeck, 
,1.  W.;  G.  M.  Durst,  secretary;  M.  E. 
Wilcox,  treasurer;  George  E.  Nichols, 
S.  1).;  B.  A.  Grubb,  J.  D.;  L.  F.  Pickard, 
tyler. 

Lona  Chapter  No.  21,  Order  Eastern 
Star,  was  named  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Lona 
Todd,  who  had  died  a  short  time  before 
the  lodge  was  organized.  It  came  into 
existence  March  4,  1891,  with  thirty 
charter  members.18  It  was  instituted 
by  Charles  L.  Davis,  of  Red  Wing, 
grand  patron  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

A  dispensation  for  Marshall  Chapter 
No.  65,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  was  granted 
in  April,  1898.  The  lodge  started  with 
nearly  forty  members  and  the  following- 
first  officers:  John  E.  Burchard,  high 
priest;  Clarence  M.  Boutelle,  king;  M.  E. 

l7Past  masters  of  the  Masonic  lodge  have  been  as 
follows:  H.  J.  Tripp,  1874-76;  G.  M.  Durst,  1S77- 
79-84;  Joshua  Goodwin,  1878;  George  E.  Johnson, 
1885-86;  A.  C.  Forbes,  1887;  E.  L.  Healy,  1888-90-93; 
M.  E.  -Mathews,  1891-92;  J.  B.  Gibbons,  1894-95; 
O.  E.  Maxson,  1896-97;  1).  .AT.  King,  1898;  F.  C. 
Whitney,  1899;  H.  M.  Fredenburg,  1900-01;  W.  A. 
Hawkins,  1902;  J.  W.  Humphrey,  1903;  J.  G  Burchard. 
1904-05;  S.  E.  Whitmore,  1906;  C.  W.  Hicks,  1907; 
H.  D.  Caley,  1908;  J.  C.  Burchard,  1909;  O.  F.  Wood- 
ard,  1910;  William  Neill,  1911;  J.  Von  Williams,  1912. 

lsThe  charter  members  of  Lona  Chapter  were 
Mesdames  Nancy  E.  Gary,  Nellie  E.  Brenner,  Eliza 
Burchard,  Minnie  E.  Mathews,  Etta  Harrington,  Alice 
Johnson,  Winnie  Dale,  Anna  Sanger,  Kittie  Maxson, 
Ada  Williams,  Dexter  Stewart,  M.  Sullivan,  Sarah 
Wilcox,  Ida  Adams,  Agnes  Neill,  Maity  Fiske,  Misses 
Allic     Stewart,     Florence     Turner,     Messrs.     Seymour 


Mathews,  scribe.  The  chapter  was  con- 
stituted November  29.  1898. 

A  commandery  of  Knights  Templar 
was  put  under  dispensation  July  5,  1901, 
with  John  E.  Burchard.  John  S.  Ren- 
ninger  and  Clarence  M.  Boutelle  as 
principal  officers.  Marshall  Command- 
ery No.  28  was  instituted  November  8, 
1901.  by  Eminent  Commander  Joseph 
Bobletter.19 

Marshall's  second  fraternal  order  was 
Good  Samaritan  Lodge  No.  73,  Inde- 
pendent Order  Odd  Fellows.  A  pre- 
liminary meeting  of  Odd  Fellows  was 
held  October  3,  1879,  and  steps  were 
then  taken  to  organize.  The  lodge  was 
instituted  December  18  of  that  year 
with  the  following  named  six  charter 
members:  .1.  E.  Maas,  A.  T.  Gamble, 
C.  H.  Richardson,  J.  H.  Williams,  S.  O. 
Weston  and  C.  W.  Andrews.  The  lodge 
had  an  existence  of  twenty-nine  years 
and  surrendered  its  charter  December 
22,  1908. 

A  Rebekah  lodge,  auxiliary  to  the 
Odd  Fellows,  was  maintained  for  a 
number  of  years.  As  the  result  of  a 
surprise  party  given  members  of  Good 
Samaritan  Lodge  by  wives  of  the 
members  early  in  1895,  application  was 
made  for  a  charter  for  the  auxiliary. 
Surprise  Lodge  No.  113,  Rebekahs,  was 
organized  March  5,  1895. 20 

One  of  the  most  highly  respect  ed 
orders  in  Marshall  is  D.  F.  Markham 
Post  No.  7,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
which  has  existed  since  1881.     So  early 

Adams,  William  A.  Hawkins,  H.  B.  Gary,  Dexter 
Stewart,  M.  Sullivan,  O.  E.  Maxson,  M.  E.  Mathews, 
L.  M.  Lange,  H.  M.  Burchard,  S.  N.  Harrington  and 
C.  F.  Johnson. 

19The  first  officers  of  Marshal]  Commandery  were 
John  E.  iBurchard,  John  S.  Renninger,  Clarence  M  . 
Boutelle,  Rev.  S.  Ellery,  James  C.  Burchard,  H.  M. 
Fredenburg,  E.  S.  Frick,  A.  J.  Chamberlain,  M.  W. 
Harden,  A.  A.  Christensen,  Thomas  McKinley,  H.  B. 
Gary,  W.  A.  Hawkins,  Fred  S.  Cook  and  E.  Ziesmer. 

20Charter  members  of  Surprise  Lodge  were  Lillie  G. 
Baird,  Rosa  Sanger,  Fannie  A.  Richardson,  May  M. 
Mallory,  Alma  J.  Hunter,  Sarah  Bryant,  Alice  G. 
Wheeler,  Ella  M.  Cowhan,  Nellie  Gee,  Margaret 
Mather,  George  H.  Porter,  William  G.  Hunter,  W.  F. 
Bryant,  J.  W.  Pearson,  C.  H.  Richardson  and  W.  F. 
Cowhan. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COl  NTY. 


153 


as  1875  an  attempl  was  made  by  the 
soldiers  of  the  Civil  War  to  form  a  post 
of  the  ('■.  A.  I;,  or  an  independenl  or- 
ganization, but   it   resulted  in  failure. 

In  the  spring  of  L881  I  he  matter  was 
again  agitated,  and  this  time  the  venture 
resulted  in  success.21  A  petition  for 
organization  was  signed  by  thirty-eight 
soldiers22  and  forwarded  to  headquarters 
al  Stillwater.  The  post  was  mustered 
in  July  20,  1881,  by  Department  Com- 
mander Adam  Marty,  with  eleven  char- 
ter members,  as  follows:  J.  W.  Blake, 
who  became  the  firsl  posl  commander;23 
J.  M.  Vaughn,  W.  T.  Maxson,  C.  C. 
Whitney,  John  Dewey,  S.  Webster,  G.  W. 
Mossman,  John  Laudenslager,  ('.  E. 
Porter,  A.  I).  Morgan  and  B.  Vosberg. 
Thirty-four  comrades  were  mustered  in 
during  the  next  few  months  and  on  the 
first  of  the  year  1882  the  membership 
was  forty-five. 

('amp  Phil  Kearney  No.  21.  Sons  of 
Veterans,  had  an  organization  for  a 
number  of  years,  but  was  finally  dis- 
banded.    It  was  mustered  in  April  23, 

!1"D.  F.  Markham  Post  was  organized  in  tin'  summer 

of  1  SSI ,  its  inception  being  stimulated  by  the  un- 
successful attempt  to  observe  Memorial  Day,  on  May 
30.  The  day  was  Monday,  but  arrangements  hail 
been  made  by  a  few  of  the  old  soldiers  to  hold  services 
on  Sunday,  and  a  good  program  had  been  arranged 
for  Chittenden's  Hall  and  also  at  the  cemetery  over 
the  grave  of  Daniel  F.  Markham,  who  at  that  time  was 
the  only  soldier  buried  there.  A  severe  storm  began 
Saturday  and  continued  three  days,  making  it  neces- 
sary to  abandon  the  proposed  services.  .  .  .  Soon 
after  half  a  dozen  old  soldiers  held  an  informal  meeting 
and  determined  to  organize  a  Grand  Army  post  in 
Marshall,  and  Comrade  J.  M.  Vaughn  was  delegated 
to  circulate  a  petition  among  the  old  soldiers  for  such 
an  organization,  in  which  he  succeeded  during  the 
month  of  June.  During  this  time  there  was  only  a 
provisional  Grand  Army  Department  in  Minnesota 
and  only  one  post  remained  of  the  number  that  had 
previously  existed.  This  was  at  Stillwater,  and,  with 
only  one  post  existing,  the  provisional  department 
commander  was  Adam  Marty  of  that  city." — News- 
Messenger,  December  11,  1903. 

22The  signers  were  D.  Lee  Mason,  S.  V.  Groesbeck, 
A.  J.  Ham,  John  Laudenslager,  A.  Kingsley,  G.  E. 
Nichols,  A.  A.  Hunter,  J.  M.  Vaughn,  G.  ~R.  Walch, 
G.  W.  Mossman,  H.  A.  Crittenden,  J.  N.  Liscomb, 
Walter  Wakeman,  R.  M.  Addison,  J.  W.  Blake,  A.  D. 
Morgan,  C.  H.  Richardson,  W.  S.  Reynolds,  Joshua 
'  Goodwin,  C.  C.  Whitney,  C.  A.  Edwards,  C.  E.  Porter, 
R.  F.  Webster,  M.  Atherton,  C.  F.  Case,  A.  A.  Farmer, 
F.  Wescott,  S.  Webster,  O.  A.  Drake,  C.  L.  Thompson, 
J.  A.  Hunter,  R.  J.  Madison,  A.  G.  Randall,  John 
Dewey,  C.  B.  Todd,  B.  Vosberg,  W.  T.  Maxson  and 
A.  O.  Underhill. 

-:,Farly  commanders  of  D.  F.  Markham  Post  were 
as  follows:  J.  W.  Blake,  1881;  S.  Webster,  1882; 
C.  C.  Whitney,  1883;  S.  Webster,  1884;  R.  M.  Addison, 


I  ss.1'..  by  Adjutant  I..  E,  Hale  of  Minne 
apolis,  with  about  twenty  charter  mem- 
bers. 2* 

1).  !■'.  Markham  ( lorps  No.  67, Women's 

Relief   Corps,    was   organized    March    l.~>, 

1890,  and  instituted  by  Mrs.  Sarah  S. 
Evans.  The  order  began  with  a  mem- 
bership of  nineteen.25 

Marshal]  Lodge  No.  125,  Ancient 
Older  United  Workmen,  was  instituted 
Augusl  21,  1890,  by  (band  Master 
Workman  ('.  II.  Hot  kin  with  ten  charter 
members.28  The  Lodge  was  formally 
organized  September  4. 

The  Workmen  auxiliary,  Mizpah  Lodge 
No.  53,  Degree  of  Honor,  was  instituted 
January  i':!,  1896,  with  a  membership  of 
twenty-eight.27 

One  of  the  Marshall  lodges  that 
flourished  for  a  number  of  years  but 
which  has  surrendered  its  charter  was 
Marshall  Lodge  No.  89,  Knights  of 
Pythias.      It     was    instituted    July    23, 

1891,  by  Grand  Chancellor  J,.  P.  Hunt, 
of  Mankato,  with  twenty-eight  charter 
members.28     Marshall    Division    No.    9, 

L885;  T.  P.  Baldwin,  ISSfJ;  O.  Warren,  1887;  C.  A. 
Cook,  1888;  C.  H.  Richardson,  1889;  A.  R.  Chace, 
1890;  U.  M.  Addison,  1891. 

-4Thc  first  officers  of  Phil  Kearney  Camp  were 
Seymour  Adams,  Louis  Larson,  Thomas  J.  Baldwin, 
Frank  C.  Whitney,  F.  A.  Howard,  Charles  H.  Austin, 
Fred  II.  Webster,  C.  L.  Addison,  Harry  W.  Addison, 
R.  D.  Baldwin,  C.  P.  Goodwin,  R.  B.  Vondersmith 
and  W.  M.  Trowbridge. 

25The  charter  members  of  D.  F.  Markham  Corps 
were  Mesdames  William  T.  Maxson,  A.  R.  Chace, 
O.  E.  Gail,  I.  N.  Harvey,  O.  Warren,  John  Lauden- 
slager, Ellen  Howard,  O.  M  (-Question, Thomas  McElwee, 
L.  M.  Lange,  S.  Harrington,  N.  W.  Mallory,  B.  F. 
Webster,  C.  Richardson,  H.  S.  Adams,  George  Little, 

A.  Cruikshank,  George  Watkins  and  R.  J.  Madison. 

2BThe  charter  members  of  Marshall  Lodge  were 
L.  M.  Lange,  George  B.  Hughes,  Clarence  B.  Guernsey, 
Warren  S.  Eastman,  Charles  H.  Johnson,  Joseph 
McGandy,  Frank  D.  Wasson,  Alfred  E.  Heller,  John 
J.  Kelly  and  David  A.  Aurandt. 

27The  first  officers  of  Mizpah  Lodge  were  Mesdames 
D.  MeErlain,  W.  B:  Thorburn,  T.  R.  Cummings,  Joseph 
McGandy,  J.  M.  Millard,  Thomson,  H.  M.  Dwyer, 
Joseph  Besonson,  Violet  Brown,  N.  D.  Wasson,  L.  M. 
Lange  and  J.  F.  Hoagland. 

2SThe  charter  members  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
lodge  were  J.  S.  Renninger,  C.  M.  Wilcox,  V.  B.  Seward, 

B.  H.  Wheeler,  A.  R.  Chace,  W.  C.  Kayser,  D.  D. 
Forbes,  H.  W.  Addison,  F.  H.  Webster,  A.  E.  Helber, 
A.  C.  Guernsey,  F.  E.  Parsons,  A.  A.  Van  Winkle, 
W.  M.  Fay,  Charles  Flemming,  Frank  Sargent,  Charles 
P.  Goodwin,  C.  E.  Patterson,  E.  S.  Frick,  B.  L.  Gates, 

C.  H.  Johnson,  J.  A.  McNiven,  C.  F.  Johnson,  J.  B. 
Gibbons,  F.  C.  WThitney,  J.  J.  Kelly,  Archie  McFadyen 
and  A.  P.  Baker. 


154 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Uniform  Rank.  Knights  of  Pythias,  was 
instituted  January  17, 1896.  with  twenty- 
nine  charter  members. 

Marshall  Camp  No.  1548,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  was  organized  on 
the  evening  of  August  3,  1891.  under  the 
direction  of  Deputy  Head  Consul  H.  W. 
Noble.  It  began  with  a  small  member- 
ship,29 but  it  developed  into  a  popular 
order  and  has  had  a  flourishing  existence 
of  twenty-one  years. 

Artesian  Council  No.  1606,  Royal 
Arcanum,  began  life  March  20,  1895. 
It  was  instituted  by  H.  W.  Mead,  deputy 
grand  regent  of  the  state,  assisted  by 
Secretary  G.  A.  Ives,  of  Minneapolis.1" 

Marshall  Council  No.  108,  Legion  of 
Honor,  was  instituted  March  24,  1897, 
with  twenty-one  charter  members,  and 
had  a  short  existence.31 

Marshall  Tent  No.  75,  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees,  Avas  organized  April  25,  1S98. 
with  nineteen  charter  members. 

Columbus  Court  No.  835,  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters,  was  organized  in 
April,  1899,  with  twenty-five  charter 
members.32 

Isabella  Court  No.  430,  Women's 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  was  organ- 
ized in  December,  1899.  The  organizer 
was  Mrs.  Mary  Martin  and  the  court  was 
installed  by  Mrs.  Annie  Cummings.33 

Eureka  Lodge  No.  532,  Modern 
Brotherhood  of  America,  was  organized 
May  15.  1899,  with  forty-eight  charter 
members.34 

Marshall  Homestead  No.  639,  Brother- 

-9Charter  members  of  the  Woodmen  lodge  were 
C.  F.  Johnson,  S.  N.  Harrington,  George  McConnel], 
J.  S.  Renninger,  ('.  M.  Wilcox,  F.  M.  Healy,  M.  E. 
Mathews  and  C.  C.  Guernsey. 

30Charter  members  of  Artesian  Council  were  I).  M. 
King,  G.  Axvesen,  C.  H.  Johnson,  S.  N.  Harrington, 
W.  G.  Little,  R.  A.  Chittenden.  J.  C.  Burchard,  F.  J. 
Parker,  <  >.  A.  Krook,  H.  M.  Grey,  George  H.  Porter, 
R.  Zeismer,  E.  S.  Frick,  J.  A.  MeNiven,  J.  S.  Ren- 
ninger, Frank  Hose.  Robert  A.  Glashan,  N.  C.  Titus, 
C.  E.  Meader  and  George  A.  Tallon. 

3 'The  first  officers  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  lodge 
were  Charles  P.  Goodwin,  George  V.  Hicks,  Bert 
Blakeslee,  Mrs.  Fannie  W.  Case,  Mrs.  C.  C.  Rutherford, 
A.  II.  Klinge,  Mrs.  May  Mallory,  Mrs.  Bertha  Dressel, 
Mis-  Gertrude  Geering,  J.  N.  Mallory,  'C.  F.  Case, 
Florence  Hicks  and  S.  Paulson. 


hood  American  Yeomen,  was  organized 
early  in  1903. 

THE    LIBRARY. 

Thirty-two  years  ago  the  foundation 
for  Marshall's  public  library  was  laid. 
On  February  11,  1880.  the  Village 
Council  authorized  the  establishment  of 
a  public  library  and  made  a  tax  levy  of 
one  mill  on  the  dollai — all  that  the  law 
then  permitted — for  its  support.  The 
president  of  the  Council  at  the  same 
time  named  the  following  persons  a 
Board  of  Directors  with  authority  to 
establish  the  library:  C.  J.  Pickert, 
S.  D.  How.  C.  F.  Case,  A.  C.  Forbes, 
Mi--  Cynthia  Weymouth,  Mrs.  J.  P. 
Watson.  Mrs.  R.  M.  Addison  and  Mrs. 
J.  W.  Blake. 

A  one-mill  tax  was  levied  the  next 
year  and  funds  were  raised  by  dramatic 
entertainments,  so  that  the  Library 
Board  had  *42<).  10  in  its  treasury.  The 
Hoard  failed  to  agree  on  a  plan,  the 
money  was  put  at  interest,  and  for 
several  years  after  the  initial  step  was 
taken  a  library  did  not  materialize. 

The  matter  was  again  taken  up  late 
in  1885,  when  it  was  found  the  Library 
fund  amounted  to  about  $470.  The 
Village  Council  then  decided  to  purchase 
books  and  found  the  institution.  Va- 
cancies on  the  Library  Board  were 
filled,  and  Messrs.  Case.  Tibbals.  Durst 
and  Tyler  were  named  a  committee  to 
purchase  books.  Walter  Wakeman  was 
made  librarian  and  the  books  were  kept 

32The  first  officers  of  the  Foresters  lodge  were 
Thomas  Welch,  John  Nash,  William  Kinney.  J.  1). 
Martin,  G.  Vergote,  Chris  Rock,  Arthur  Brais,  Arthur 
Gits,  Fred  Dandurand,  George  Dandurand,  Paul  Gits, 
Rev.  Father  Guillot  and  George  Hickey. 

33The  first  officers  of  Isabella  Court  were  Mrs.  Emma 
MeErlain,  Mrs.  Mary  Martin,  Mrs.  Eppinsperger,  Miss 
Annie  Mulligan,  Bessie  Kennedy.  Mis-  .Virion  Ferra, 
Mrs.  Lague,  Miss  Mongeau,  Mrs.  Georgia  Dandurand, 
Miss  15.  Paradis,  Mrs.  Susan  Gaffney,  Mrs.  Jennie 
Dandurand  and  Miss  Arnoldine  Princen. 

34The  first  officers  of  Eureka  Lodge  uric  Horace 
Hoffman,  Joseph  Besonson,  C.  C.  Guernsey,  T.  G. 
Bonnallie,  A.  C.  Hinckley,  H.  D.  Caley,  John  Mont- 
gomery, William  Gruel,  \V.  B.  Thorburn,  J.  M.  Meehl, 
John  Dick,  Dr.  T.  H.  Wimer  and  Dr.   W    A.   Hobday. 


^         .<*• 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


1  55 


at  his  store.  The  library  was  opened 
January  1,  1880,  with  five  hundred 
volumes  on  hand.  It  continued  until 
replaced  by  the  Carnegie  library  in  1903, 
supported  by  tax  levies.  Reading  rooms 
weri>  established,  and,  considering  its 
limited  resources,  became  quite  popular. 
In  February,  L902,  the  Ait  History 
Club  became  interested  in  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Carnegie  library  and  wrote 
the  philanthropist.  A  year  later  .Mr. 
Carnegie  offered  to  donate  $10,000, 
providing  the  village  would  furnish  a 
site  and  bind  itself  to  expend  $1000 
annually  on  maintenance.  The  offer 
was  accepted  at  a  public  meeting  held 
.March  4,  1903.  The  site  at  the  corner 
of  Lyons  and  Third  Streets  was  pur- 
chased for  $2500,  and  in  July.  1903,  the 
contract  for  the  erection  of  the  building- 
was  let  to  H.  P.  Fulton  on  a  bid  of 
$9400.  It  was  constructed  under  the 
supervision  of  a  building  committee 
composed  of  M.  Sullivan,  M.  AY.  Harden 
and  AY.  S.  Dibble.  The  Marshall  library 
is  one  of  the  best  institutions  of  the  kind 
in  Southwestern  Minnesota. 

THE    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  Marshall  Fire  Department  has 
developed  from  small  beginnings.  Prior 
to  1879  the  village  was  without  fire  pro- 
tection, except  that  afforded  by  water 
in  several  wells  and  the  willingness  of 
the  citizens  to  apply  it.  The  first 
action  by  the  village  authorities  to  pro- 
vide means  of  protection  came  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1879,  when  a  box  was  erected 
near  the  town  pump  and  filled  with 
buckets.  A  meeting  to  organize  a 
volunteer  fire  department  at  that  time 
was  held,  but  small  interest  was  taken 
and  no  company  was  formed. 

Three  hundred  fifty  feet -of  hose  was 
purchased  in  December,  1879,  to  be 
attached  to  the  town  pump  in  ca::e  of 


lire.  This  purchase  led  to  the  forma- 
tion of  the  lirst  fire  company.  A  public 
meeting  was  held  at  the  Merchants 
Exchange  on  the  evening  of  December 
20,  when  sentiment  was  found  to  be 
unanimous  in  favor  of  forming  a  fire 
company.  M.  E.  Wilcox.  J.  G.  Schutz 
and  C.  H.  Richardson  were  named  a 
committee  to  confer  with  the  village 
authorities. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Village  Council 
December  29  provision  was  made  for 
organizing  a  company  of  five  men,  who 
should  have  charge  of  the  apparatus 
and  be  in  command  at  (ires.  Such  a 
company  was  formed  with  .1.  G.  Schutz 
as  chief  and  C.  H.  Richardson.  S.  AVeb- 
ster,  Stanley  Addison  and  E.  L.  Healy 
as  the  other  members.  A  hook  and 
ladder  truck  and  buckets  were  a  little 
later  added  to  the  equipment. 

The  pioneer  fire  fighting  company 
was  handicapped  by  lack  of  equipment 
and  was  not  long  maintained.  The 
News  of  January  16,  1885,  said:  "The 
only  semblance  of  fire  apparatus  is  a 
light  truck,  carrying  a  few  ladders  and 
hooks.  Something  efficient  is  demand- 
ed." In  February,  1888,  a  number  of 
Diamond  hand  grenades  were  purchased 
and  placed  in  accessible  positions  about 
the  village.  Marshall's  fire  fighting  ap- 
paratus was  indeed  primitive  until  a 
progressive  step  was  taken  in  1890  and 
an  efficient  force  organized. 

The  organization  of  Marshall's  Fire 
Department  came  as  a  result  of  a  con- 
flagration that  brought  a  loss  of  $7000. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Arillage  Council 
January  10,  1890,  it  was  decided  to 
erect  an  engine  house  and  purchase  a 
fire  engine,  hose  and  other  necessary 
apparatus  to  protect  property.  J.  G. 
Schutz  and  J.  AY.  Williams  were  chosen 
by  the  village  authorities  to  carry  out 
the  plans. 


156 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


The  engine  house,  used  also  as  a  city 
hall,  was  erected  in  the  summer  of  1890, 
the  steam  engine  was  put  in  service  in 
July,  and  a  reservoir  was  excavated  on 
the  village  lots  to  furnish  water.  The 
fire  department  was  organized  July  14, 
1890,  with  twenty-five  members.35 

When  the  waterworks  system  was  in- 
stalled in  1895,  the  steam  engine  was 
discarded  and  modern  fire  fighting  ap- 
paratus was  procured.  A  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  department  was  effected  in 
the  summer  of  1895, 36  and  the  same 
organization  has  been  maintained  ever 
since.  New  material  was  added  in  1899, 
and  additions  have  frequently  been 
made  since  that  time. 

Late  in  1911  the  fire  house  and  city 
hall  was  rebuilt  and  enlarged  and  the 
department  has  one  of  the  finest  homes 
maintained  by  a  volunteer  department 
in  Minnesota.  The  personnel  of  the 
department  is  also  excellent,  and  the 
fact  that  Marshall  has  sustained  few 
losses  by  fire  is  due  largely  to  the  work 
of  the  fire  fighters. 

THE   BANKS. 

Marshall  has  three  banking  institu- 
tions, two  chartered  by  the  national 
government  and  one  conducted  under 
the  state  banking  laws.  They  are  the 
Lyon  County  National  Bank,  the  First 
National  Bank,  and  the  Marshall  State 
Bank.  All  are  ably  conducted  institu- 
tions, enjoy  the  confidence  of  the  public, 
and  are  in  flourishing  condition. 

The  first  bank  established  in  Marshall 
is  defunct.  It  was  the  Bank  of  Mar- 
shall (later  a  state  bank),  which  opened 

35The  first  officers  and  members  of  the  department 
were  as  follows:  F.  M.  Healy,  chief;  Harry  Addison, 
chief  engineer;  George  Hughes,  foreman;  William 
Thorburn,  assistant  foreman;  E.  L.  Healy,  president; 
Joseph  Pierard,  vice  president;  Thomas  J.  Baldwin, 
secretary;  Charles  H.  Johnson,  treasurer;  James 
Andrew,  Ray  Baldwin,  Frank  Cutting,  Charles  Lauden- 
slager,  Fred  Webster,  Oscar  Krook,  William  Simmons, 
Len  Barnes,  George  Upton,  George  Taylor,  Jay  Truax, 
Charles  Goodwin,  Eugene  Goodwin,  Z.  Smith,  Guy 
Remore,  Cliff  Golder  and  John  Sturgeon. 


its  doors  late  in  April,  1878.  It  was 
founded  as  a  private  institution  by 
W.  S.  Dibble,  who  was  the  manager, 
and  Jonathan  Owen.  It  was  conducted 
under  the  firm  name  of  Owen  &  Dibble 
until  the  spring  of  1883,  when  Mr. 
Dibble  became  sole  owner.  Until  1890 
the  bank  was  housed  in  a  frame  building 
and  then  was  moved  into  a  brick  block 
erected  by  the  owner. 

The  bank  was  a  popular  institution 
and  a  flourishing  business  was  built  up 
by  Mr.  Dibble.  It  became  a  state  bank, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $25,000,  in  the 
spring  of  1891.  The  bank  was  discon- 
tinued April  11,  1900,  Mr.  Dibble  at 
that  time  disposing  of  the  business  to 
the  First  National  Bank. 

The  second  bank  founded  in  Marshall 
and  the  oldest  now  in  existence  was  the 
Lyon  County  Bank — later  reorganized 
as  the  Lyon  County  National  Bank.  It 
was  founded  as  a  private  institution, 
with  a  paid-up  capital  of  $25,000,  and 
began  business  late  in  August,  1878. 
The  officers  and  owners  at  the  time  of 
founding  were  H.  B.  Strait  (who  was  at 
the  time  a  member  of  Congress),  presi- 
dent; C.  B.  Tyler,  vice  president;  S.  D. 
How,  cashier;  and  D.  L.  How.  Business 
was  begun  in  the  building  still  occupied, 
the  Messenger  Block  having  been  erected 
by  the  bank  people  at  that  time.  In 
S.  D.  How  was  vested  the  management 
of  the  bank  and  that  gentleman  con- 
ducted it  for  more  than  fourteen  years. 

The  Lyon  County  Bank  was  reorgan- 
ized as  the  Lyon  County  National  Bank, 
capital  stock,  $50,000,  on  August  1, 
1891.     The  officers  and  directors  chosen 

36The  officers  of  the  department  at  the  time  of 
reorganization  were  as  follows:  Fred  M.  Healy,  chief; 
John  Schneider,  assistant  chief;  W.  B.  Thorburn, 
foreman;  J.  B.  Murray,  assistant  foreman;  W.  H. 
Simmons,  foreman  hose  company  No.  1 ;  A.  J.  Whit- 
taker,  foreman  hose  company  No.  2;  Charles  Kelson, 
secretary;  John  Watson,  treasurer;  T.  J.  Baldwin. 
Charles  H.  Johnson  and  J.  B.  Murray,  trustees. 


HISTORY   OK   LYON   COUNT? 


L57 


at  that  time  were  as  follows:  H.  B. 
Strait,  president;  M.  Sullivan,  vice 
president;  S.  D.  How,  cashier;  F.  AY. 
Sickler,  assistant  cashier;  II.  B.  Strait, 
M.  Sullivan.  S.  D.  How.  C.  B.  Tyler, 
A.  C.  Chittenden,  James  Lawrence  and 
.1.  (!.  Schutz,  directors.  In  addition  to 
these  D.  D.  Forbes  and  Joseph  Ciesielski 
were  stockholders. 

There  have  been  only  a  few  changes 
in  the  management  of  the  Lyon  County 
National  Bank.  Cashier  S.  I).  How 
resigned  October  3,  1892,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  F.  W.  Sickler,  who  lias  served 
ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  a  short 
time  when  J.  G.  Schutz  was  cashier. 
President  Strait  died  February  25,  1894, 
and  was  succeeded  by  C.  B.  Tyler,  the 
present  incumbent.  James  Lawrence  is 
the  present  vice  president.  During  its 
long  life  the  Lyon  County  National  Bank 
has  been  in  able  hands  and  is  one  of  the 
sound  financial  institutions  of  the  county. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Marshall 
was  authorized  to  begin  business  August 
16,  1891,  and  on  September  8  opened 
its  doors  in  the  building  it  still  occupies 
and  owns.  Its  capital  stock  was  $50,000 
and  the  owners  of  the  stock  were  H.  M. 
Langland,  G:  W.  Pitts,  M.  W.  Harden, 
R.  M.  Addison',  C.  F.  Johnson,  Olof 
Pehrson,  F.  E.  Parsons  and  Andrew 
Nelson.  The  first  officers  and  directors 
were  as  follows:  H.  M.  Langland, 
president;  R.«  M.  Addison,  vice  presi- 
dent; M.  W.  Harden,  cashier;  C.  C. 
Guernsey,  assistant  cashier;  R.  M.  Addi- 
son, Olof  Pehrson,  F.  E.  Parsons,  C.  F. 
Johnson  and  H.  M.  Langland,  directors. 

During  the  first  twenty  years  of  the 
institution's  history  the  only,  change  in 
management  occurred  in  June,  1901, 
when  E.  S.  Frick  succeeded  C.  C.  Guern- 
sey as  assistant  cashier.  The  only  other 
changes  since  organization  occurred  in 
Januarv,    1911.     At    that    time    R.    M. 


Addison  succeeded  H.  M.  Langland  as 
president,  M.  W.  Harden  became  vice 
president,  E.  S.  Frick  became  cashier, 
and  H.  N.  Harmon  was  made  assistant 
cashier.  The  present  directors  are  R. 
M.  Addison,  H.  M.  Langland,  Andrew 
Nelson,  M.  W.  Harden  and  E.  S.  Frick. 

The  First  National  has  had  a  remark- 
able growth  and  has  larger  deposits 
than  any  other  bank  in  Lyon  county. 
According  to  a  recent  statement,  the 
deposits  are  about  one-half  million 
dollars.  Since  the  organization  the 
stockholders  have  received  in  dividends 
$95,000.  The  bank  has  a  surplus  and 
undivided  profit  of  over  $28,000. 

The  Marshall  State  Bank  is  the 
youngest  of  the  city's  financial  institu- 
tions. It  was  opened  for  business  June 
15,  1909,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $25,000. 
Its  officers,  chosen  at  that  time  and 
still  at  the  head  of  the  bank,  are  as 
follows:  Spurgeon  Odell,  president; 
James  A.  McNiven,  vice  president;  S.  J. 
Forbes,  cashier.  Those  gentlemen  are 
also  the  directors  and  owners  of  the 
stock.  The  bank  owns  the  building  it 
occupies  and  the  one  adjoining. 

The  Marshall  State  Bank  does  a 
general  banking  business,  makes  farm 
loans,  deals  in  real  estate,  attends  to 
collections,  and  writes  insurance.  Dur- 
ing its  life  of  three  years  the  bank  has 
built  up  an  excellent  business  and  has 
gained  the  confidence  of  the  people  to 
an  extent  seldom  equalled  by  an  insti- 
tution of  the  same  age. 

The  officers  of  the  State  Bank  were 
formerly  associated  in  the  real  estate, 
loan  and  collection  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Odell  &  McNiven.  They 
succeeded  D.  D.  Forbes  &  Company,  one 
of  the  pioneer  real  estate  firms  of  the 
city 


158 


HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COUNTY. 


OTHER   INSTITUTIONS. 

The  municipal  power  and  light  plant 
was  built  in  1894,  furnishing  water  and 
electric  lights.  The  plant  was  enlarged 
in  1905  and  new  and  better  machinery 
added.  Another  addition  was  made 
two  years  later  and  in  1908  all-day 
electric  light  service  was  inaugurated. 
This  service  is  now  used  extensively  for 
power  by  printing. offices,  butcher  shops, 
laundry,  creamery,  machine  shops,  gar- 
ages, elevators,  etc. 

The  plant  is  strictly  modern  and  one 
of  the  best  in  Southwestern  Minnesota. 
It  is  equipped  with  high-pressure  boil- 
ers, cross  compound  direct-connected 
engines,  and  2300  volts,  sixty  cycle, 
three-phase  alternating  current  system. 
The  city  water  is  supplied  by  artesian 
wells.  Pressure  is  maintained  on  the 
water  system  by  direct  driven  steam 
pumps.  Recently  a  central  heating 
system  has  been  installed  and  most  of 
the  business  houses  on  the  southwest 
side  of  Main  Street  are  heated  from  the 
municipal  plant.  The  heat  is  supplied 
by  the  exhaust  steam  from  the  pumps 
and  a  portion  of  the  engine  exhaust. 

One  of  the  institutions  in  which  the 
people  of  Marshall  take  great  pride  is 
the  flouring  mill  operated  by  the  Mar- 
shall Milling  Company.  It  is  one  of  the 
really  big  concerns  of  Southwestern 
Minnesota,  maintaining  an  enormous 
plant,  and  it  has  placed  Marshall  on  the 
map  for  many  people  who  otherwise 
would  not  have  heard  of  the  city. 

The  Sleepy  Eye  Milling  Company  in 
1892  bought  a  small  flouring  mill  in 
Marshall,  ami  in  1893  the  Marshall  Mill- 
ing Company  was  organized  and  incor- 
porated. Its  first  officers  were  William 
Gieseke,  president;  William  F.  Gieseke, 

•7The  officers  of  the  Northwestern  Telephone 
Exchange  Company  are  as  follows:  C.  E.  Yost,  of 
Omaha,  president;  C.  P.  Wainman,»of  Minneapolis, 
vice  president;  George  F.  McFarland,  of  Omaha, 
general    manager:    M.    L.    Lane,    of   Minneapolis,    com- 


secretary;  and  A.  Blanchard,  treasurer. 
For  more  than  a  decade  the  business 
was  conducted  on  a  comparatively  small 
scale,  but  the  business  grew  and  in  1905 
there  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  SI 00.000 
a  modern  mill.  Other  improvements 
have  since  been  made,  and  the  Marshall 
Milling  Company  today  has  one  of  the 
finest  plants  in  the  Northwest. 

The  mill  "proper  is  a  six-story  brick 
building  and  is  operated  twenty-four 
hours  a  day.  There  are  large  elevators, 
warehouses  and  other  buildings  that  go 
to  make  up  a  model  plant. 

The  Northwestern  Telephone  Ex- 
change Company  is  one  of  the  business 
institutions  of  Marshall.  It  is  the  suc- 
cessor of  the  Southwestern  Minnesota 
Telephone  Company,  which  installed  the 
first  telephone  exchange  in  Marshall. 
The  last  named  company,  established  by 
Pipestone  capitalists,  entered  Lyon  coun- 
ty in  1897  and  built  exchanges  at 
Marshall,  Tracy  and  Minneota.  T.  F. 
Robinson  was  president  and  manager  of 
the  company  and  C.  E.  Patterson  was  in 
charge  of  the  Marshall  exchange. 

The  present  company  purchased  the 
properties  in  Lyon  county  August  1. 
1906,  rebuilt  the  lines,  in  1910,  and 
moved  the  exchange  to  the  News- 
Messenger  Building.  M.  B.  Hanson  is 
the  local  manager.37  Several  rural  lines 
are  given  connections  with  the  Marshall 
line.  The  first  rural  telephone  line  was 
built  by  the  old  company  in  1901. 

One  of  the  big  business  institutions 
of  the  city  is  the  Marshall  Tile  and  Side- 
walk Company,  which  was  incorporated 
in  January.  1907.  The  plant  is  one  of 
the  best  equipped  in  the  state  and 
covers  about  six  acres  of  land.  The 
best    tile    manufacturing    machinery   on 

menial  superintendent:  J.  W.  Christie,  of  Omaha, 
treasurer;  W.  R.  Overmire,  of  Omaha,  auditor;  George 
K.  Blakely,  of  Sioux  Falls,  district  commercial  man- 
ager. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


15!) 


the  market  has  been  installed.  The 
curing  bin  is  made  of  cement  blocks  and 
all  the  tile  are  steam-cured.  The  com- 
pany manufactures  cement  drain  tile 
and  building  blocks  and  builds  side- 
walks and  does  other  contract  work. 
The  product  is  used  extensively  through- 
out Lyon  county  and  the  trade  territory 
extends  to  all  points  on  the  North- 
western. Great  Northern  and  Milwaukee 


railroads  within  a  radius  of  one  hundred 
miles. 

The  officers  and  stockholders  of  the 
company  are  as  follows:  \Y.  \Y.  Sim- 
mons, president;  Samuel  Molter,  vice 
president;  Spurgeon  Odell,  secretary; 
YY.  F.  Gillette,  treasurer;  James  A. 
McNiven,  J.  G.  Schutz,  Anton  M. 
Ilvdeen,  M.  M.  English  and  Herman 
Schurz. 


»v» 


•K, 


,tB%>  * 


•v. 


K*1 


CHAPTER  XI. 


TRACY     1875-1912. 


RANKING  second  in  size  among 
Lyon  county  municipalities  is 
Tracy,    a    city    of    1876     people, 

according  to  the  last  census.  It  is  in 
Monroe  township,  in  the  extreme  south- 
eastern coiner  of  the  count}",  the 
business  center  being  only  one  mile  from 
the  Redwood  county  line  and  two  and 
one-half  miles  from  the  Murray  county 
line.  It  is  a  division  point  of  the 
Northwestern  railroad  and  is  the  eastern 
terminus  of  the  Dakota- Central  branch 
of  that  road.  Its  elevation  above  sea 
level  is  1403  feet. 

Tracy  is  a  prosperous  and  progressive 
city  and  presents  an  attractive  appear- 
ance. It  has  broad  streets,  lined  with 
substantial  business  houses  and  hand- 
some residences.  As  a  business  point 
Tracy  takes  high  rank,  because  of  its 
favorable  location  as  regards  trade 
territory.  All  the  improvements  to  be 
found  in  Minnesota  towns  of  its  size  are 
in  Tracy.  It  has  an  excellent  water- 
works system,  electric  light  plant,  good 
schools  and  churches. 

While  Tracy  was  not  founded  until 
1875,  we  may  go  back  of  that  date 
several  years  to  get  at  the  beginning  of 
its  history.  When  the  Winona  &  St. 
Peter  railroad  was  constructed  in  1872 
there  was  apparently  no  thought  of 
planting  a  village  where  Tracy  was  later 
built,   and  the  only  station  established 


in  Lyon  county  at  that  time  was 
Marshall.  But  a  country  postoffice 
named  Summit  (which  the  Tracy  office 
succeeded)  was  located  on  the  line  of 
the  road  just  over  the  line  in  Redwood 
county,  one  and  one-half  miles  east  of 
the  future  city,  of  Tracy.  The  office 
was  established  in  1872  and  Levi  Mont- 
gomery was  the  postmaster,  conducting 
it  at  his  farm  home.  Summit  postoffice 
was  operated  there  until  moved  to  Tracy 
in  the  spring  of  1875. 

During  the  first  half  of  the  seventies 
quite  a  number  of  homesteaders  located 
in  Monroe  township  and  there  was  also 
quite  a  flourishing  settlement  on  Lake 
Shetek,  only  a  short  distance  south  of 
the  site  of  Tracy.  In  the  spring  of 
1875  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company,  which  had  come  into  pos- 
session of  section  23  by  grant,  laid  out 
the  village  and  named  it  Tracy,  in 
honor  of  a  director  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railroad  Company. 

The  original  plat  included  portions  of 
the  northeast  quarter  and  the  southeast 
quarter  of  the  section  and  was  surveyed 
by  J.  B.  Berry.  It  consisted  of  ten 
blocks  on  the  northeast  side  of  the 
track,  divided  by  South,  Morgan,  First. 
Second,  Third  and  Fourth  Streets.  The 
dedication  was  made  April  27,  1875,  by 
Albert  Keep,  as  president  of  the  Winona 
&  St.  Peter  Railroad  Company,  and  the 


162 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


instrument  was  filed  in  the  office  of  the 
register  of  deeds  May  18,  1875. l 

Almost  simultaneous  with  the  plat- 
ting of  the  site  came  the  building  of  the 
town.  The  first  building  was  put  up 
early  in  the  spring  of  1875.  It  was  a 
warehouse,  erected  by  Neil  Currie.  The 
station  was  established  about  the  same 
time,  with  J.  L.  Craig  as  first  agent. 
The  Currie  warehouse  served  the  pur- 
pose of  a  depot  until  the  summer  of 
1876.  The  second  building  on  the  site 
was  a  hotel  erected  by  Henry  H.  Welch, 
who  conducted  the  hostelry  until  the 
fall  of  1879.  The  third  building  and 
the  first  store  was  located  on  the  site 
early  in  the  spring.  The  building  had 
been  erected  on  the  farm  of  E.  L.  Stan-, 
just  east  of  the  site,  in  the  fall  of  1874, 
by  H.  N.  Joy  and  that  gentleman  moved 
it  to  Tracy  and  located  it  at  the  corner 
of  Front  and  Third  Streets.  In  it  a 
store  was  opened,  conducted  under  the 
firm  name  of  Taylor  &  Joy. 

Although  the  village  was  platted  as 
Tracy,  the  site  was  known  as  Shetek,  or 
Shetek  Station,  until  June,  1876,  taking 
its  name  from  the  postoffice.  It  was  in 
May,  1875,  that' Summit  postoffice  was 
moved  to  the  new  village  and  named 
Shetek.2  The  office  was  conducted  in 
the  store  of  Taylor  &  Joy  and  H.  N.  Joy 
was  the  first  postmaster.3 

Several  other  enterprises  were  started 

Additions  to  Tracy  have  been  platted  as  follows. 

Randall  &  Youmans',  November  20,  1878,  by 
<  niton  S.  Randall  and  Charles  M.  Youmans;  surveyed 
by  C.  L.  Van  Fleet. 

First  Railway,  August  9,  1881,  by  Winona  &  St. 
Peter  Railroad  Company;  surveyed  by  Thomas  F. 
Nicholl. 

Cowles  &  Davis',  May  28,  1883,  by  John  P.  Davis; 
surveyed  by  George  P.  Ela. 

Second  Railway,  June  6,  1883,  by  Winona  &  St. 
Peter  Railroad  Company;  surveyed  by  George  P.  Ela. 

Moses  &  Hennings'  (East  Tracy),  April  24,  1884,  by 
William  Hennings  anil  William  S.  Moses;  surveyed  by 
S.  P.  Mclntvre. 

Randall's,  May  10,  1884,  by  John  J.  Randall  and 
Carlton  S.  Randall;  surveyed  by  J.  W.  Blake. 

Johnson V,  March  17,  1886,  by  Ole  Johnson;  sur- 
veyed by  S.  P.  Mclntyre. 

Swenson's,  October  15,  1902,  by  Andrew  Swenson ; 
surveyed  by  W.  A.  Hawkins. 

Miller's.  April  4,  1904,  by  Earle  S.  Miller;  surveyed 
by  W.  A.  Hawkins.  % 

Moses'  Second,  November  11,  1904,  by  William  S. 
Moses;  surveyed  by  W.  A.  Hawkins. 


at  Shetek  Station  during  the  summer 
and  fall  of  1875.  Gley  &  Brauns  opened 
a  general  store  and  erected  the  second 
warehouse,  J.  P.  Davis  opened  a  third 
general  store,  Truax  &  Dudrey  and  J.  M. 
Wardell  established  lumber  yards  and 
sold  farm  machinery  and  Mr.  Wardell 
opened  a  furniture  store,  David  Stafford 
built  a  hardware  store,  Allen  Bates 
engaged  in  the  saloon  business,4  a  Mr. 
Mathews  conducted  a  harness  shop,  and 
two  churches  were  organized. 

The  Shetek  Station  correspondent  to 
the  Marshall  Messenger  of  November  12, 
1875,  told  of  the  growth  of  the  little 
village  during  the  first  season  of  its 
history: 

This  thriving  little  burg  in  the  big  bend  has 
been  making  good  use  of  its  time  this  summer, 
and  where  a  year  ago  there  was  nothing  the 
traveler  now  looks  out  on  a  nice  little  village. 
Notwithstanding  the  drawbacks  it  has  received, 
there  are  few  settlements  on  the  frontier  that, 
have  made  better  records  in  the  same  time. 
The  second  town  in  Lyon  county  in  importance, 
it  has  the  same  elements  of  life  and  growth  that 
have  pushed  Marshall  into  its  present  thrifty 
condition. 

Shetek  Station's  present  business  and  public 
buildings  are  as  follows:  The  Methodists  anil 
Congregationalists  have  each  a '  comfortable 
church  building;  there  are  three  general  stores, 
kept  by  Gley  &  Brauns,  Taylor  &  Joy  and  J.  P. 
Davis;  Truax  &  Dudrey  and  J.  M.  Wardell  have 
each  a  lumber  yard  and  deal  in  farm  machinery; 
J.  M.  Wardell  has  opened  a  furniture  store; 
Mathews  has  a  harness  shop;  Stafford  keeps  a 
hardware  store;  there  are  two  warehouses, 
Currie's  and  Gley  &  Braun's;  there  is  a  good 
hotel  kept  by  Welch  and  a  saloon  by  Bates. 
This,  we  think,  makes  a  good  showing  for  one 
summer. 

2"We  learn  that  the  postmaster  general  has  changed 
the  name  of  Summit  in  Lyon  county  to  Shetek  and 
appointed  H.  N.  Joy  postmaster." — Prairie  Schooner 
May  28,  1875. 

3H.  N.  Joy  served  as  postmaster  of  Shetek  about 
one  year.  He  was  succeeded  for  a  short  time  by  S.  S. 
Truax,  and  in  June,  1876,  the  name  of  the  office  was 
changed  to  Tracy.  In  September,  1876,  E.  O.  Braun; 
took  the  office  and  served  until  July,  1888.  Under  hi 
administration,  in  July,  1879,  a  money  order  office 
was  established.  Charles  W.  Main  was  postmaster 
from  July,  1888,  to  January,  1892;  M.  D.  Gibbs  to 
March  1,"  1896;  O.  J.  Rea  to  February,  1900;  W.  R. 
Edwards  to  April  1,  1908;  and  A.  H.  Rowland  from 
that  time  to  the  present. 

Three  rural  free  delivery  routes  are  operated  from 
the  Tracy  office.  No.  1  was  established  January  15, 
1900,  with  F.  M.  Hanks  as  carrier;  No.  2,  October  15, 
1904,  with  R.  N.  Rowland  as  carrier;  No.  3,  August  15, 
1906,  with  H.  J.  Flatequal  as  carrier. 

4The  Board  of  County  Commissioners  on  May  31, 
1875,  granted  license  to  Allen  Bates  to  sell  liquor  at 
Shetek  Station  from  June  1,  1875,  to  June  1,  1876. 
The  license  fee  for  the  year  was  $35. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON   COUNTY. 


Hi:: 


Although  several  business  houses  had 
been  started,  Shetek  Station  was  still  a 
very  small  village  in  1875,  and  when  the 
census  was  taken  that  year  the  popula- 
tion of  Monroe  township,  including  the 
village,  was  only  181.  During  1S76  the 
grasshoppers  were  a  burden  and  not 
much  progress  was  made.  During  the 
summer  the  name  of  the  village  was 
changed  from  Shetek  Station  to  Tracy"' 
and  the  railroad  company  erected  a 
depot  building.  At  that  time  the  county 
paper  referred  to  Tracy  as  a  village  of 
two  or  three  stores,  two  church  build- 
ing.', school  house,  hotel,  etc.  Likewise 
there  was  little  advancement  during 
1877.  .1.  L.  Craig  established  the  first 
livery  stable  that  year. 

.More  prosperous  times  came  in  1878. 
The  grasshopper  plague  was  a  thing  of 
the  past  and  many  new  settlers  located 
in  Tracy  and  the  vicinity.  A  corre- 
spondent writing  to  the  county  paper  in 
March  said:  "Our  village  is  all  life 
now.  Every  train  is  bringing  new 
settlers  to  our  border,  so  that  the 
future  of  our  town  will  undoubtedly 
ba:  k  in  sunshine.  Trade  is  brisk,  taking 
the  time  of  year  into  consideration. 
Improvements  are  going  on  every  day. 
Sidewalks  have  been  built,  which  we 
have  long  needed.  Another  store  build- 
ing is  going  up." 

In  May,  1S78,  a  citizen  of  Tracy  wrote 
to  the  Currie  Pioneer  as  follows: 

Several  new  buildings  are  going  up,  among 
which  are  the  new  hardware  store  of  Mr.  Rob- 
ertson, the  dwelling  house  of  Rev.  John  Gimson, 
an  addition  to  the  Tracy  Hotel,  and  an  addition 
to  the  store  of  D.  Stafford.  Mr.  Hughes,  of  the 
firm  of  Hughes  &  Owens,  has  returned  from 
Chicago,  where  he  purchased  a  stock  of  goods 
for  the  new  store,  which  is  now  nearly  com- 
pleted. The  drug  store  is  also  nearly  finished 
and  another  one  is  about  to  be  commenced.  A 
third  hardware  store  is  talked  of,  also  a  furniture 
store. 

5" Allow  me  the  privilege  of  writing  you  a  few  lines 
from  this  place.  As  you  will  see,  the  name  has  been 
changed  from  Shetek  to  Tracy.  It  is  a  little  more 
lively  here  than  usual  and  looks  quite  like  a  little 
town.      Our   hotel    has    been    enlarged    to    a    two-story 


Among  the  enterprises  stalled  in  L878 
were  a  hardware  store  by  D.  H.  Evans, 
a  general  store  by  Iverson  cV.  Thurin, 
meat  market  by  E.  L.  Starr,  store  by 
Beach  &  Company,  grocery  store  by 
Mr.  Warren,  millinery  store  by  Mrs. 
Warren,  and  a  machinery  depot  by  Ole 
Rialson  &  Company. 

During  the  first  four  years  of  its 
history  the  aspirations  of  Tracy  were 
not  great,  and  few  had  the  temerity  to 
predict  that  it  would  ever  become 
aught  but  a  little  trading  point.  But 
early  in  the  year  1879  came  knowledge 
that  a  railroad  was  to  be  built  from  that 
village  westward  into  Dakota  Territory. 
The  effect  on  the  struggling  village  was 
magical.  The  town  was  filled  with 
strangers,  some  looking  for  farms,  others 
for  business  opportunities.  Before  the 
close  of  spring  fourteen  frame  buildings 
had  been  completed,  others  were  in 
process  of  construction,  and  several  newT 
enterprises  were  founded.  The  town 
was  lively  all  summer  because  of  the 
activity  in  railroad  construction,  and 
there  was  a  large  increase  in  population. 
The  census  of  1880  showed  a  popula- 
tion of  322.  An  item  of  importance  in 
the  history  of  Tracy  during  this  period 
was  the  establishment  of  a  United  States 
land  office  there  in  May,  1880. 

Early  in  1881  the  citizens  of  Tracy 
believed  the  village  had  developed  to  a 
point  where  incorporation  was  desirable 
and  they  asked  the  Legislature  to  take 
the  necessary  steps.  The  village  was 
incorporated  under  the  general  laws  of 
the  state  by  an  act  approved  February 
5,  1881.  The  following  commissioners 
were  named  in  the  act  to  set  the  ma- 
chinery in  motion:  M.  T.  Bohannan, 
J.    M.    Warded,    D.    H.    Evans,    E.    O. 

building  and  the  railroad  company  is  at  work  erecting 
a  building  24xis  feet.  It  is  to  be  used  for  a  branch 
land  office  of  the  company."— Tracy  Correspondent, 
June  23,  1876. 


164 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Brauns    and    M.    D.    Gibbs.     The    first 

election  was  held  at  the  Commercial 
Hotel  March  15,  1881,  when  103  votes 
were  cast  and  a  set  of  village  officers 
was  chosen.  A  short  time  later  the 
Village  Council  was  organized  and  Tracy 
began  municipal  government.6 

Following  is  a  list  of  those  who  have 
been  elected  to  office  under  the  village 
and  city  governments:7 

1881 — President,  J.  M.  Wardell;  trustees, 
Peter  Iverson,  Nathan  Beach,  M.  T.  Bohannan; 
recorder,  F.  S.  Brown;  treasurer,  Anson  Warren; 
justice,  Daniel  Pierce;  constable,  S.  S.  Truax. 

1884s— President,  J.  M.  Wardell;  trustees,  W. 
H.  Little,  Peter  Iverson,  Anson  Warren;  record- 
er, C.  W.  Main;  treasurer,  G.  H.  Jessup;  justices, 
M.  D.  Gibbs,  David  Stafford;  constable,  James 
McMasters. 

1888 — President,  EL  M.  Workman;  trustees, 
J.  W.  Bedle,  Martin  Thurin,  John  Lloyd;  re- 
corder, F.  S.  Brown;  treasurer,  R.  E.  Hughes; 
justice.  W.  I.  Carver;  constables,  R.  D.  Marlette, 
C.  X.  Groat. 

1889— President,     J.     M.     Wardell;     trustees, 
Martin   Thurin,    L.    F.    O'Brien,   A.   H.    Perry;- 
recorder,  F.  S.  Brown;  treasurer,  G.  H.  Jessup; 
justice,  W.  I.  Carver. 

1890— President.  J.  M.  Wardell;  trustees.  A. 
H.  Perry,  W.  F.  Parker,  L.  F.  O'Brien;  recorder, 
1".  S.  Brown;  treasurer,  G.  H.  Jessup;  justices, 
W.  I.  Carver,  James  Kneal;  constables,  James 
Mullins,  R.  E.  Willis. 

1891 — President,  Martin  Thurin;  trustees,  J. 
W.  Bedle,  L.  S.  Tyler,  E.  P.  Parks;  recorder, 
F.  S.  Brown;  treasurer,  G.  H.  Jessup;  just  ire-, 
W.  I.  Carver.  Levi  Montgomery. 

1892 — President,  Martin  Thurin;  trustees,  L. 
S.  Tyler,  E.  P.  Parks,  R,  E.  Hughes;  recorder, 
O.  F.  Norwood;  treasurer,  D.  T.  McArthur; 
justice,  W.  I.  Carver;  constable,  A.  A.  Chris- 
tensen. 

1893— President,  D.  T.  McArthur;  trustees, 
O.  F.  Norwood,  W.  F.  Parker,  Swan  Anderson; 
recorder,  C.  W.  Main;  treasurer,  R.  E.  Hughes: 
justice,  T.  M.  Quarton;  constable,  A.  A.  Chris- 
tensen. 

1893  (city)— Mayor,  H.  M.  Workman;  alder- 
men, C.  F.  Lehmann,  O.  J.  Rea,  J.  W.  Bedle, 
E.  P.  Parks;  recorder,  C.  W.  Main.9 

1894 — Mayor,  D.  H.  Evans;  aldermen,  A.  R. 
Thompson,  H.  B.  Swart  wood;  recorder,  Morris 
Workman;  treasurer,  W.  O.  Musser. 

6 Village  government  was  abandoned  in  1893  and 
was  replaced  by  government  under  a  city  charter,  the 
change  having  been  made  on  August  3.  A  commission 
to  prepare  a  new  charter  was  named  February  9,  1907, 
completed  its  work  and  reported  the  following  August. 
Again  in  April,  1911,  a  new  commission  was  named  to 
draft  a  charter  to  submit  to  the  voters  for  approval  or 
rejection.  It  completed  it?-  work  March  5,  1912,  but 
as  it  had  not  reported  within  the  six  months'  time 
limit,  it  became  necessary  to  have  the  commission 
reappointed  before  making  a  final  report.  At  the  city 
election  in  April,  1912,  the  new  charter  was  adopted 
by  a  vote  of  237  to  116. 

"Saloon  license  has  been  granted  in  Tracy  during  its 


1895— Mayor,  J.  M.  Wardell;  aldermen,  O.  F. 
Norwood,  D.  T.  McArthur,  E.  P.  Parks. 

1896— Mayor,  W.  F.  Parker;  aldermen,  W.  J. 
Richard,  D.  T.  McArthur;  recorder,  L.  J.  Hunter; 
treasurer,  W.  ().  Musser. 

1897— Mayor,  W.  H.  Little;  aldermen,  T.  M. 
Quarton,  H.  J.  Pattridge;  recorder,  D.  F. 
Densel;  treasurer,  W.  O.  Musser;  justices,  A.  T. 
Downing,  M.  D.  Gibbs. 

1898— Mayor,  W.  D.  James;  aldermen,  N.  O. 
Peterson,  J.  M.  Wardell;  recorder,  J.  M.  Riegel; 
treasurer,  W.  O.  Musser;  justice,  P.  M.  Nupen. 

1899— Mayor,  W.  D.  James;  aldermen,  C.  J. 
Berdan,  D.  T.  McArthur;  recorder,  J.  M.  Riegel; 
treasurer,  W.  O.  Musser;  justice,  M.  D.  Gibbs. 

1900— Mayor,  W.  F.  Parker;  aldermen,  Nils 
S.  Taarud,  H.  R.  Searles;  recorder,  J.  M.  Riegel; 
treasurer,  W.  O.  Musser;  justice,  J.  T.  Hanson. 

1901— Mayor,  J.  W.  Bedle;  aldermen,  W.  D. 
Haycock,  F.  P.  Parks;  recorder,  J.  M.  Riegel; 
treasurer,  W.  <  >.  Musser. 

1902 — Mayor,  H.  W.  Burlingame;  aldermen, 
R.  E.  Willis,  J.  J.  Laughlin;  recorder,  A.  H. 
Rowland;  treasurer,  W.  O.  Musser;  justice,  J.  T. 
Hanson. 

1903 — Mayor,  H.  W.  Burlingame;  aldermen, 
T.  M.  Quarton,  J.  X.  Wiesner;  recorder,  A.  H. 
Rowland;  treasurer,  Ira  W.  Bedli\ 

1904— Mayor,  J.  M.  Wardell;  aldermen,  J.  ( '. 
Filkins,  H.  A.  Bates;  recorder.  A.  H.  Rowland: 
treasurer,  Ira  W.  Bedle;  justice,  C.  J.  Berdan. 

190o — Mayor.  X.  J.  Robinson;  aldermen, 
Charles  Taarned,  J.  X.  Wiesner;  recorder,  A.  H. 
Rowland;  treasurer.  Ira  W.  Bedle;  justice,  M.  D. 
Gibbs. 

1906 — Mayor,  X.  J.  Robinson;  aldermen,  J.  C. 
Filkins,  John  Stonehouse;  recorder,  A.  H. 
Rowland:  treasurer,  Ira  W.  Bedle;  justice,  C.  J. 
Berdan. 

1907— Mayor,  J.  K.  Fitch;  aldermen,  P.  M. 
Xupin,  T.  H.  Webb;  recorder,  A.  H.  Rowland; 
treasurer,  E.  Herzog;  justice,  M.  D.  Gibbs. 

1908— Mayor,  J.  R.  Fitch;  aldermen,  H.  E. 
McKenzie,  G.  E.  Schmidt;  recorder,  L.  J.  Fitch; 
treasurer,  E.  Herzog. 

1909 — Mayor,  C.  C.  Richard;  aldermen,  Louis 
Rialson,  John  Selck;  recorder,  L.  J.  Pitch; 
treasurer,  E.  Herzog;  justice,  George  Town. 

1910 — Mayor,  C.  C.  Richard;  aldermen,  G.  A. 
Hansen,  G.  E.  Schmidt;  recorder,  L.  J.  Fitch; 
treasurer,  E.  Herzog;  justice,  ('.  J.  Berdan. 

1911 — .Mayor,  T.  S.  Bonnallie;  aldermen, 
Louis  Rialson,  John  Selck;  recorder,  L.  J.  Fitch; 
treasurer,  E.  Herzog;  justice,  W.  R.  Edwards. 

1912 — Mayor,  T.  S.  Bonnallie;  aldermen, 
Samuel  Furan,  G.  E.  Schmidt;  recorder,  L.  J. 
Fitch;  treasurer,  E.  Herzog;  justice,  C.  J. 
Berdan. 

entire  corporate  history.  On  several  occasions  the 
matter  has  been  voted  on  under  the  local  option  law. 
Following  were  the  results  at  those  elections  (possibly 
not  complete) : 

1894— For,  244;  against,  118. 

1896— For,  243;  against,  153. 

1897 — License  by  48  majoritv. 

1898— For,  183;  against,  92." 

1899— For,  214:   against,  139. 

1900— For,  215;  against,  141. 

sThe  roster  for  the  year.-  1882-83-85-86-87  are  not 
available. 

9Resigned  and  Morris  Workman  appointed. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


165 


Tracy  advanced  by  leap-  and  bounds 
during  the  early  eighties  and  soon 
became  the  largesl  village  in  the  county. 
The  Tracy  Gazette  in  January,  1882, 
stated  thai  fifty  buildings  had  been 
elected  during  the  preceding  summer. 
Progress  was  substantial  in  1882.  The 
next  year  came  a  boom  that  carried  the 
town  beyond  the  expectations  of  its 
most  ardent  well-wishers  and  gained  for 
Tracy  state-wide  attention.1" 

The  causes  of  the  prosperous  times  in 
1XS3  were  the  action  of  the  railroad 
company  in  making  the  town  a  division 
point  and  the  expenditure  of  many 
thousands  of  dollars  in  railroad  improve- 
ments. Also  adding  to  the  effect  were 
excellent  crops  and  good  times  in  the  state 
at  large.  Of  the  activity  a1  Tracy  the  St. 
Paul  Pioneer  Press  in  October,  1883,  said: 

The  immense  outlays  being  rapidly  made  by 
the  railroad  company,  in  the  way  of  extensive 
improvements,  mark  a  new  era  in  the  permanent 
progress  and  prosperity  of  the  town.  A  fine 
brick  and  stone  round  house,  with  stalls  for 
thirty  locomotives,  is  being  erected  as  fast  as  a 
large  force  of  workmen  can  push  it,  and  it  is 
now  almost  completed.  A  handsome  brick 
machine  shop  of  large  dimensions  is  also  nearly 
ready  for  occupancy.  A  splendid  turn-table  is 
being  put  in  and  two  coal  sheds  are  being  con- 
structed, each  three  hundred  feet  in  length. 
The  fact  is  the  improvements  being  made  by  the 
railroad  company  at  Tracy  will  rank  among  the 
most  complete  and  important  of  any  on  the 
entire  line  of  the  road.  ...  A  twelve-inch 
water  main  has  been  laid  to  Lake  Sigel  for  the 
conveyance  of  a  bountiful  supply  of  pure  and 
wholesome  water  for  railroad  purposes.  Many 
other  improvements  are  to  be  immediately 
made,  the  details  of  which  cannot  here  be 
enumerated,  but  all  of  which  combine  to  make 
Tracy  a  very  important  railroad  center. 

So  soon  as  it  was '  learned  that  the 
railroad  company  had  decided  to  make 
the  improvements,  many  new  business 
houses  were  founded.  A  directory  of 
business  and  professional  men  in  Tracy, 
published  in  C.  F.  Case's  History  of 
Lyon  County  in   1884,   was  as  follows: 

'"The  Winona  Republican  in  June,  18S:;,  said: 
"There  is  probably  no  section  of  Southern  Minnesota 
where  a  more  prosperous  and  jubilant  feeling  exists 
this  season  than  at  Tracy.  The  town  itself  is  growing 
in  a  manner  exceeding  any  period  of  its  existence. 
The  building  improvements  are  of  a  substantial  and 
permanent  character." 


Bank     Bank  of  Tracy,  by  Jessup  &  ( lompany. 

General  Merchandise  Pattridge  Brothers,  J. 
P.  Davis,  K.  E.  Hughes,  Warren  &  Owens, 
Iverson  A:  Thurin,  A.  11.  Perry, 

Clothing  — Jacobi  Brothers,  John  Shea. 

( troceries     <  lauerke,  Weber  iV-  <  lompany. 

Hardware  I).  II.  Kvans,  H.  Stafford,  J.  E. 
Clark,  Nathan  Beach. 

I'uinii  me     ,J.  .M.  Wardell. 

Drugs  and  Jewelry — C.  L.  Bohannan,  F.  E. 
Mallory. 

Meal  Market      I.  A.  Walden,  J.  W.  Potter. 

Harness     Wagner  &  Company. 

Millinery  and  Dressmaking — Steneragel  & 
Currie,  Warren  &  I  oman. 

.Novelty  Store — H.  F.  Seiter. 

Tailor  Shops — H.  Alexander,  1*.  A.  Lamberg. 

Lumber— Wardell,  Beach  &  Company. 

Machinery — S.  1).  Peterson,  Marlette  &  Lloyd, 
D.  H.  Evans. 

Elevators— Van  Dusen  &  Company,  Whitten 
&  Judd,  Winona  Mill  Company,  D.  H.  Evans. 

Coal     V:in  Dusen  A:  Company,  J.  J.  Randall. 

Hotels— M.  D.  Gibbs,  Neil  Finch,  B.  K. 
Cowles,  Murphy  &  McDonald,  Larson  Brothers, 
A.  D.  M (-Masters. 

Restaurants — C.  J.  Gardener,  Mary  Leavett. 

Saloons — J.  J.  Hartigan,  Fred  Lehman,  Martin 
Hose,  ( '.  Anderson. 

Beer  Depots — August  Schell,  C.  &  J.  Michel, 
Hartigan  &  Armstrong. 

Wholesale  Liquors — E.  H.  Roach  &  Company. 

Newspaper — Tracy  Trumpet,  by  W.  M.  Todd. 

Photograph  Gallery — W.  I.  Carver. 

Livery  Barns — Lindsley  &  Fitch,  J.  L.  Craig, 
John  Germain. 

Laundries — Ching  Kee,  Mary  Otis. 

Shoe  Shops — James  Marshall,   Henry  Heine. 

Blacksmith  Shops — Paul  Haugen,  John  Glynn. 

Wagonmaker — John  Selck. 

Barber  Shops — Jackson  &  Seiter,  H.  A.  Bates. 

Painters — Manuel  &  Cogswell. 

Express  Agent — I.  E.  Segur. 

Skating  Rink — Welch  &  Davis. 

Attorneys — C.  W.  Main,  Van  Buskirk  & 
Brown,  John  Lind. 

Physicians — C.  M.  Ferro,  Mrs.  L.  Ferro,  S.  S. 
Jones,  H.  M.  Workman,  O.  E.  Case. 

Postmaster — E.  O.  Brauns. 

The  census  of  1885  gave  Tracy  a 
population  of  1210,  showing  it  to  be  the 
largest  town  in  Lyon  county.  The  in- 
crease in  five  years  had  been  888  and  it- 
had  224  more  people  than  Marshall. 
The  growth  and  development  were 
steady  during  the  next  half  decade  and 
Tracy  advanced  to  the  second  munici- 
pality in  size  in  Southwestern  Minne- 
sota.    Its  population  was  1400  in  1890. xl 

11  According  to  the  census  of  1890,  only  Luverne, 
in  Rock  county,  had  a  larger  population  than  Tim  \ 
in  the  counties  of  Rock,  Nobles,  Jackson,  Martin, 
Watonwan,  Cottonwood,  Murray,  Pipestone,  Lincoln, 
Lyon,  Redwood,  Renville,  Sibley,  Yellow  Medicine 
and  Lac  qui  Parle.  The  population  of  Luverne  was 
1466. 


166 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


A  blow  that  for  a  time  checked 
Tracy's  forward  march  was  a  disastrous 
fire,  which  occurred  November  29,  1891, 
and  which  was  the  most  destructive 
conflagration  in  the  whole  history  of 
Lyon  county.  For  a  time  it  appeared 
as  though  the  whole  city  north  of  the 
railroad  track  must  go.  but  the  flames 
were  finally  checked  after  a  loss  of 
nearly  $50,000  had  been  sustained. 

The  fire  was  discovered  at  fifteen 
minutes  before  eleven  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon  and  when  the  alarm  was  given 
the  flames  had  gained  considerable 
headway.  The  fire  started  in  the  base- 
ment of  a  store  building  and  when  dis- 
covered the  flames  had  eaten  their  way 
to  the  wooden  sidewalk  in  front  and 
were  reaching  to  the  window  sills  of 
two  or  three  buildings.  Had  there  been 
a  sufficient  water  supply  and  apparatus 
to  get  it  to  the  fire,  the  flames  might 
have  been  quenched,  but  Tracy  at  that 
time  had  not  a  waterworks  system. 
The  hook  and  ladder  company  did  great 
work  at  the  fire  and  without  adequate 
apparatus  succeeded  in  confining  the 
flames  to  the  one  block.  For  hours  the 
members  of  the  company  fought  for  the 
preservation  of  the  town,  among  the 
leaders  in  the  fight  being  Messrs.  Tevlin, 
Hennessy  and  Thurin. 

The  flames  spread  rapidly  and  it  soon 
became  apparent  that  a  serious  con- 
flagration was  certain,  with  small  means 
of  combating  it.  When  it  was  seen 
that  adjoining  structures  must  go,  there 
was  a  general  movement  to  save  stocks 
of  goods  and  thousands  of  dollars  worth 
were  piled  in  the  streets.  By  reason  of 
this  the  loss  of  personal  property  was 
not  great.  Heroic  efforts  were  made  to 
check  the  spread,  but  in  vain.  At  one 
time  a  cable  was  attached  to  a  frame 
building  to  pull  it  out  of  the  course  of 
the  flames  by  a  locomotive,  but  the 
building   was  pulled  to  pieces  and   was 


eagerly  seized  upon  by  the  destroying 
element. 

Marshall  was  appealed  to  for  aid,  and 
that  city's  fire  department  was  rushed 
to  the  scene.  Water  was  hauled  close 
to  the  raging  flames  by  locomotives  and 
the  steamer  of  the  Marshall  department 
was  put  in  action.  Two  streams  were 
kept  playing  on  the  fire  for  more  than 
five  hours  and  the  progress  of  the  con- 
flagration was  finally  checked. 

Twenty-six  buildings  were  destroyed, 
classed  as  follows:  three  hotels,  sixteen 
store  buildings,  six  barns,  one  warehouse 
and  the  Tammany  Hall  residence.  Of 
the  buildings,  thirteen  were  two  stories, 
one  was  of  brick,  and  two  brick- veneered. 
The  burned  district  covered  the  central 
and  most  prominent  block  in  the  village, 
bounded  by  Front.  Third  and  Fourth 
Streets.  Every  lot  on  the  front  of  the 
block  was  occupied  by  a  building,  while 
only  four  buildings  were  located  on  the 
rear  of  the  block. 

An  estimate  made  shortly  after  the 
fire  placed  the  losses  on  buildings  and 
the  insurance  carried  as  follows: 


OWNERS 

Loss 

Insur- 
ance 

J.  Mullen,  residence 

G.  Peterson,  store 

J.  B.  Waugh,  hotel 

J.  J.  Hartigan,  saloon.  .  .  . 

H.  C.  Heine,  store 

R.  E.  Hughes,  two  stores 
E.  0.  Brauns,  two  stores 

I.  A.  Walden,  hotel 

D.  H.  Stafford,  two  stores 

Bedle  &  Segur,  store 

i   A.  Bates,  store 

$200 

400 

2000 

2500 

500 

5500 

2000 

1600 

2500 

750 

750 

1500 

700 

2000 

2000 

2000 

400 

50 

126 

300 

100 

$2000 

1500 

750 

500 

400 
750 

1000 

700 

1500 

800 

'  1800 

126 
300 
100 

M.  1).  Gibbs,  hotel 

V.  R.  Wilson,  store 

O.  L.  Pattridge,  store 
Hartigan  &  Brown,  store 

J.  D.  Owens,  store 

J.  Lloyd,  warehouse,  barn 

B.  Johnson,  barn 

D.  H.  Evans,  store 

Geffert  Brothers,  saloon .  . 
John  Owens,  store 

Totals 

$28,196 

$9226 

00 


u 

a 

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o 


o 

-1-1 

u 
bo 

i— i       o 

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OS 
O 

H 


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HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COUNTY. 


167 


The  losses  :iiul   insurance  carried  <>u 
personal  property  were  as  follows: 


OWNERS 


J.  B.  Waugh,  hotel 

Fitch  Brothers,  barber 
shop 

P.  Sanders,  saloon 

H.  C.  Heine,  shoes 

Ed.  Miller,  notions 

('.  \Y.  Main,  postoflfice.  .  .  . 

R.  E.  Hughes,  merchan- 
dise   

T.  L.  Carryer,  restauranl 

City  Hotel* 

Phil  Tevlin,  saloon 

1).  Stafford,  hardware.  .  .  . 

Bedle  &  Segur,  meat  mar- 
ker  

A.  Bates,  restaurant 

M.  D.  Gibbs,  hotel 

V.  R.  Wilson,  jewelry.  .  .  . 

O.  L.  Pattridge,  merchan- 
dise   

J.  D.  ( ►wens,  merchandise 

J.  Lloyd,  machinery 

Masonic  Lodges 

A.  o.  U.  W.  Lodge 


I.OSS 


Totals. 


$500 

L600 

21  ii  i 
•_'i  ii  i 
250 

6000 

•_>()(  l 

150 

1IS00 

2000 

300 
300 

500 
150 

300 
300 
2000 
447 
156 


Insur- 
ance 


$1000 
750 
600 


1000 


2700 
2500 

500 
200 


$14,703 


$9250 


The  total  losses  were  $45,399  and  the 
insurance  carried  by  all  who  sustained 
losses  was  only  $18,476.  Because  of  the 
combustible  character  of  the  buildings, 
almost  prohibitive  insurance  rates  pre- 
vailed and  little  insurance  was  carried. 
The  fire  was  a  serious  blow  to  the  people 
of  Tracy  and  came  at  the  worst  possible 
time  of  the  year.  The  merchants  were 
in  the  midst  of  the  best  trade  season 
ever  experienced  in  the  county,  and  as 
winter  was  just  beginning  rebuilding  at 
once  was  out  of  the  question. 

During  the  summer  before  the  fire 
bonds  to  the  amount  of  $25,000  had 
been  voted  to  put  in  a  system  of  water- 
works and  supply  fire  protection,  but 
the  work  had  hot  been  undertaken. 
After  the   fire,   however,   the  work  was 

'-The  following  have  served  as  members  of  the 
Board  of  Education  since  the  reorganization  in  1S88: 
A.  R.  Thompson,  W.  R.  Edwards,  C.  L.  Bohannan, 
.Mrs.  J.  O.  Askevold,  Mrs.  L.  F.  Ferro,  G.  H.  Jessup, 
P.   J.    Newton,    W.    H.    Little,   J.    Frank   Durst,    H.    F. 


put  under  way  and  the  system  was 
completed  in  the  fall  of  1892.  An 
electric  lighting  system  was  also  in- 
stalled the  same  season.  A  part  of  the 
burned  distinct  was  rebuilt  in  1892,  but 
the  village  was  a  long  time  recovering 
from  t  lie  blow. 

During  the  last  twenty  years  Tracy's 
progress  has  been  steady  and  it  has 
developed  into  an  exceptionally  pros- 
perous little  city.  Its  population  was 
1687  in  18!).").  was  increased  to  1911  in 
1  'MM),  and  reached  high  water  mark  in 
1905  with  a  total  of  2015.  The  census 
of  1910  gave  a  population  of  1876. 

THE    SCHOOLS. 

A  public  school  was  established  in 
Tracy  a  very  short  time  after  the  first 
business  enterprises  were  started.  The 
school  was  opened  in  the  summer  of 
1875  and  was  conducted  in  the  recently 
erected  Presbyterian  church  building. 
Miss  Stella  Cleveland  was  the  first 
teacher  and  the  first  pupil;  were  Mary 
Starr,  Fred  Starr,  Sanford  Joy,  Sherman 
Joy  and  John  Craig.  The  school  was 
conducted  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
until  1880  and  the  teachers  during  that 
time  were  Hannah  Evans,  Harriet  E. 
Tucker  and  C.  W.  Candee. 

A  four-room  two-story  brick  school 
house  was  erected  in  1880  at  a  cost  of 
$6000.  The  first  teachers  after  the 
house  was  built  were  E.  A.  Currie  and 
Alice  Powell.  Others  who  taught  the 
Tracy  school  prior  to  the  reorganization 
in  1888  were  Frank  L.  Randall,  Eliza- 
beth Lewis,  Gertrude  Todd,  Mrs.  Mac- 
kay,  Professor  Lee,  C.  C.  Baldwin,  Katie 
Murphy,  Addie  Gary  and  Annie  Shand. 

A  reorganization  under  the  independ- 
ent district  plan  was  effected  in  1888. 12 

Seiter,  H.  J.  Pattridge,  Richard  Rowland,  C.  M.  Ferro, 
O.  F.  Norwood,  J.  A.  Hunter,  H.  M.  Workman,  W.  F. 
Parker,  J.  J.  Laughlin,  O.  L.  Pattridge,  D.  T.  M.- 
Arthur, Louis  Rialson,  J.  A.  Rickert  and  E.  B.  Johnson. 


168 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


A  high  school  was  established  the  same 
year  in  charge  of  Superintendent  H.  G. 
Klepper13  and  the  first  class  was  grad- 
uated therefrom  in  1890. 14 

In  time  the  school  population  so  in- 
creased that  added  facilities  were  de- 
manded. A  frame  building  was  erected 
and  in  July,  1893,  the  people  voted  to 
issue  $25,000  bonds  for  a  new  building, 
by  a  vote  of  76  to  36.  Owing  to  the 
financial  stringency  it  was  impossible  to 
market  the  bonds  at  once,  a  dispute 
arose  over  the  selection  of  a  site,  and  in 
August  the  matter  of  issuing  the  bonds 
was  put  to  a  vote  of  the  electors  of  the 
district.  By  a  vote  of  52  to  80  it  was 
decided  to  postpone  the  matter. 

In  the  spring  of  1895  the  people  of 
Tracy  decided  to  erect  the  building. 
By  a  majority  of  257,  at  an  election 
held  April  23,  the  voters  authorized  the 
i>>uance  of  bonds  to  the  amount  of 
$30,000.  The  bonds  were  sold,  the 
handsome    brick    school    building    was 

13The  Tracy  High  School  has  had  only  three  super- 
intendents. H.  G.  Klepper  served  from  1888  to  1891, 
G.  H.  Alden  in  1891  and  1892,  and  Lee  Swift  from  1892 
to  the  present  time.  Only  two  other  high  school 
superintendents  in  Minnesota  have  had  charge  of  one 
school  for  a  longer  period  than  Professor  Swift  has 
been  in  charge  of  the  Tracy  school.  One  teacher, 
Blanche  Grant,  now  Mrs.  H.  F.  Seiter,  taught  in  the 
Tracy  schools  twenty-three  years. 

14The  following  have  been  graduated  from  the  Tracy 
High  School: 

1890 — Llewellyn  Hunter,  Stella  Hughes,  Maude 
Edwards,  Romie  Webster,  Walter  Carver,  Charles 
Little,  Mvrtle  Johnson,  Myrtle  Gibbs. 

1891 — Edgar  Davis,  Hannah  Lloyd.  Albert  Booth, 
Edward  Hughes,  Frank  Norris,  Annie  West,  Ernest 
Wallace. 

1892-93-94 — No  classes. 

1895 — Jessie  Moses,  Abbie  Moses,  Blanche  Williams, 
Callie  Carver,  Edna  Campbell,  Annie  Carney. 

1896 — Glenola  Collins,  Ezra  S.  Wardell,  Alice  Ladd, 
Claude  McClellan,  Florence  Wardell. 

1897 — Josephine  M.  Edwards,  <  lora  Jones,  William 
Norwood,  Myrtle  Ladd,  George  Norris,  N.  J.  Robinson, 
Lillian  May  Richards,  Almeda  Belle  Richards. 

1898 — Jessie  Beach,  Cora  Craig,  Lillian  Starr,  Frank 
Segur. 

1899 — Annie  Reinhold,  Margaret  Cushing,  Pearl 
Durst,  Clara  Tweet,  Ernie  Brauns,  Lee  Prouty,  Edward 
Jones.  Charles  Main,   William  Titus,  Helena  Thurin. 

1900 — John  Wardell,  Robert  Campbell,  Ross  A. 
Wiley,  Clara  Mathews,  Edna  Stafford,  Mildred  Hunter, 
David  Crouch. 

1901 — Agnes  Campbell,  Jennie  Owens,  Edna  Cole, 
Charles  Donaldson,  Nellie  Richardson,  Lucy  Starr. 
Gertrude  Manuel. 

1902— Maude  Gibbs,  Francis  Larson,  Gilbert  Gil- 
bertson,  Frankie  Adams,  Edward  Durst,  Van  .Mathews, 
Elizabeth  Cushing,  Ruth  Jessup,  Fred  Wiesner. 

1903 — Vera  Edwards,  Flossie  Bass,  Clara  Shnaar, 
Tessie  Behan,  Ada  Casserly,  Edna  Thurin,  Frank 
Bigham. 


erected  and  formally  opened  January  7. 
1896. 

The  lower  grades  occupied  the  old 
building,  known  as  the  Central  school, 
and  the  high  school  and  higher  grades 
occupied  the  new  building.  The  Central 
school  was  destroyed  by  fire  February 
29,  1912,  bringing  a  loss  of  $10,000, 
covered  by  $7000  insurance.  The  lower 
floor  of  Syndicate  Hall  or  the  Finch 
Building  is  now  used  for  school  purposes 
and  plans  are  under  consideration  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  school  house. 

The  Tracy  schools  rank  among  the 
best  in  the  state.  The  present  enroll- 
ment is  550  and  eighteen  instructors  are 
employed.  The  high  school  has  a  fac- 
ulty of  seven  teachers.  In  addition  to 
the  regular  high  school  course,  normal, 
manual  training,  agricultural  and  com- 
mercial departments  are  maintained. 

THE    CHURCHES. 

Eight  church  societies  have  organiza- 

1904 — Margaret  Mitchell,  Bessie  Wardell,  Clay 
Pattridge,  Verna  Parks,  Hazel  Anselme,  Angie  Behan, 
Ethel  Sanborn,  Neil  Currie,  Hattie  Rowland. 

1905 — Anna  Finnegan,  Stella  Campbell,  Hazel  Bright- 
man,  Gladys  Durst,  Florence  Curtis,  Lou  Woodruff, 
Marjorie  Nagler,  Vivian  Doherty,  Effie  Campbell, 
Helen  Jessup. 

1906 — Warner  Workman,  Edward  Tweet,  Alice  Cull, 
Katherine  Welch,  Hazel  Edwards,  Cecile  Owens, 
Oleanna  Lee,  Luella  Norwood,  Anna  Dalton,  Mattie 
Murphy. 

1907— Roscoe  Webb.  Stella  Bedle,  Myron  Gibbs, 
Josie  Parks,  Carl  Tweet,  David  Doherty,  Fayette 
Doherty,  Vaughn  Evans,  Malcolm  Nash,  May  Swift, 
Mark  Pattridge,  Archer  English,  Elmer  Laughlin, 
Grover  Lehman. 

1908 — Vivian  Pattridge,  Millie  Weeks,  William 
Curtis.  William  Haycock,  Gladys  Doherty,  Ralph 
Finnegan,  Wilma  Larson,  .Mabel  Olson,  Vera  Price, 
Grace  Strand,  Jessie  Murphy. 

1909— Vera  Swift,  Mable  Hull,  Clara  Jacobson,  Ada 
Purvis,  Elizabeth  Purvis,  Nelle  Fetter,  Mabel  Nupin, 
Charles  Campbell,  Lydia  Johnson,  Mourine  Edwards, 
Cecil  Doherty,  Anna  Mickelson,  Harlan  Rowland,  Verle 
Parks,  Florence  Montgomery,  Gladys  Endersbee, 
Jeanette  Mitchell,  Marguerite  O'Brien,  Anna  WTelsh, 
Selma  Brown. 

1910— Ethel  Gosslee,  Esther  Nylin,  Martha  Gnltz, 
Lena  Olson,  Julia  Tweet,  Marie  Vahle,  Elizabeth 
Youngs,  Carrol  Nash,  Howard  Pierce,  Winnifred  Price, 
Mabelle  Sandbo. 

1911 — Eloise  James,  Esther  Owens,  Lester  Webb, 
Kathrine  Brown,  Zella  Campbell,  Joe  Dalton,  Will 
Mitchell.  Winniired  Roos,  Bernadette  O'Brien,  Selma 
Olson,  Minnie  Hanson,  Walter  Laughlin,  Olga  Appel- 
quist,  Ruth  Galstad,  Nora  Jacobson,  Winnie  Evans, 
Henry  Taarud,  Emma  Pattridge,  Clara  Murphy, 
Dudley  Seiter,  Irene  Larson,   Napoleon  Mongeau. 

1912 — Vivian  M.  Klopp,  R.  Lucile  Larson,  Mary 
Catherine  Nelson,  Blanch  E.  Campbell,  Gladys  E. 
Walker.  Lvdia  A.  Stahn,  Raymond  C.  Jacobson, 
Esther  R.  Erbes,  Coral  U.  Fitch,  Harold  W.  Kelley, 
Floyd  L.  McElvain,  Valeria  E.  Kahl. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


169 


tions  in  Tracy.  They  arc  the  Presby- 
terian, Methodist,  Norwegian  Lutheran, 
Catholic,  German  Lutheran,  Swedish 
Lutheran,  United  Norwegian  Lutheran 
and  Episcopal.  Nearly  all  of  these  are 
old  societies  and  the  organization  of 
some  of  them  antedate  the  founding  of 
the  village. 

So  early  as  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1873  religious  services  were  held  at  the 
home  of  E.  L.  Starr,  adjoining  the 
present  site  of  Tracy,  conducted  by 
Rev.  Ransom  Wait,  Presbyterian.  In 
the  fall  of  1874  a  Presbyterian  church 
society  was  organized  with  Cyrus  Clark. 
H.  N.  .Joy  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  H. 
Welch  as  members15  and  Rev.  Wait  as 
pastor.  When  Tracy  was  founded  the 
following  spring  among  the  first  build- 
ings put  up  was  a  Presbyterian  church, 
which  cost  only  a  few  hundred  dollars. 
Rev.  Wait  was  pastor  of  the  church  two 


vears 


1G 


The  Presbyterian  church  of  Tracy  in- 
creased in  membership  and  in  a  few 
years  outgrew  the  original  edifice.  In 
1885  a  new  building,  36x48  feet,  with  a 
19x24  feet  addition,  was  constructed 
under  the  direction  of  a  building  com- 
mittee of  which  George  F.  Bidwell  was 
chairman.  The  cost  was  about  $5000 17 
and  the  new  edifice  had  a  seating 
capacity  of  350.  It  was  dedicated,  free 
from  debt,  on  March  7,  1886,  by  Rev. 
S.  O.  Anderson.  A  short  time  later  a 
parsonage  was  built.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  over  200. 

For  a  number  of  years  in  the  early 
days  the  Congregationalists  had  a  church 

1  Among  the  other  early  day  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  were  John  L.  Craig,  John  Ferguson, 
Mrs.  Mary  Jones,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Louden,  James  Rose 
and  Mrs.  Alice  Starr. 

"Following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors  who  have  served 
the  Presbyterian  church  of  Tracy:  Ransom  Wait, 
1874-76;  Clarke  Louden,  1876-80;  John  C.  McKee, 
1880-84;  Frank  M.  Carson  (student),  1884;  Samuel  G. 
Anderson,  1884-85;  Daniel  A.  Jameison,  1885-87; 
Augustus  H.  Carver,  1887-91;  William  J.  Palm,  1891- 
94;,  L.  F.  Badger,  1894-02;  W.  D.  Stires,  1902-07; 
E.  E.  Dobson,  1907-12. 

"Among  the   contributors   to   the   building  fund   of 


and  Sunday  School,  the  school  being  the 
first  religious  society  in  the  village.  It 
was  organized  at  the  home  of  J.  M. 
Wardell  in  June,  1874,  with  twenty 
members  and  with  W.  S.  Moses  as  super- 
intendent. Rev.  E.  H.  Alden,  a  Con- 
gregational  missionary,  conducted  ser- 
vices in  the  vicinity  in  1874  and  a 
church  was  organized  with  seven  mem- 
bers and  with  Rev.  J.  H.  .Jenkins  as 
pastor.  A  little  church  building  was 
erected  in  the  summer  of  1875  and  for 
several  years  the  society  was  main- 
tained. Rev.  Philip  Peregrine  was  the 
second  pastor  and  Rev.  H.  C.  Simmons 
the  third.  By  the  terms  of  an  agree- 
ment between  the  Congregationalists 
and  Presbyterians  of  Tracy  and  Sleepy 
Eye,  the  field  at  the  latter  place  was 
left  to  the  Congregationalists  and  that 
society  withdrew  from  Tracy  in  favor  of 
the  Presbyterians. 

Another  pioneer  church  of  Tracy  is 
the  Methodist.  It  was  organized  in 
1875  as  a  result  of  preaching  by  Rev. 
Gimson  in  Tracy  and  vicinity.  It  was 
established  with  few  members,  and  E. 
W.  Healy,  C.  W.  Coble  and  C.  Arnoldt 
were  the  first  trustees.  For  several 
years  the  Methodists  had  no  church  and 
worshipped  every  other  Sabbath  in  the 
Congregational  edifice.  Rev.  J.  W. 
Powell  succeeded  Rev.  Gimson  and 
occupied  the  pulpit  until  1882. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Ff.  J. 
Harrington,18  when  the  membership 
had  reached  about  twenty-five,  in  1882, 
a  church  building  was  erected.  It  was 
dedicated  by  Rev.  Forbes.     The  Meth- 

the  Presbyterian  church  were  the  following:  Chicago 
&  Northwestern  Railroad  Company  and  employes, 
$860;  residents  of  Tracy,  $1265;  officers  of  the  railroad 
company  outside  of  Tracv,  $2;{5;  Laird-Norton  Com- 
pany, $100. 

18Pastors  of  the  Tracy  Methodist  church  since  Ism' 
have  been  as  follows:  H.  J.  Harrington,  1882-84; 
Butler,  1884-86;  Teal,  18S6-88;  Terwilliger,  1SS9-90; 
Eckert  and  Triggs,  1890-91;  R.  D.  Phillips.  1891-95; 
W.  S.  Cochran,  1895-96;  W.  C.  Sage,  L896;  I  \ 
Willsey,  1896-9S;  E.  V.  Vaughn,  1898-02;  G.  W. 
Hickman,  1902-03;  H.  1).  Seckner,  L903-06;  F.  Fred- 
riekson,  1906-11;  E.  II.  Edwards,  L911-12. 


170 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


< m list  society  is  now  in  prosperous  con- 
dition and  has  a  membership  of  about 
120.19 

The  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  is 
one  of  the  older  religious  societies  of 
Tracy.  In  the  early  eighties  services 
were  irregularly  held  in  the  older 
church  buildings  and  in  private  resi- 
dences and  there  was  no  regular  pastor. 
The  church  was  organized  February  11, 
1883,  with  the  following  members: 
Jacob  A.  Jacobson,  Paul  P.  Haugen, 
John  Tweet,  Iver  H.  Engen,  Hellek 
Olson,  Peter  Olson,  Bolette  Olson,  B. 
Peclerson,  Kristine  Pederson,  Iver  Olson 
Dahl,  Joe  Johannesen,  Alek  Lean,  Karen 
Christenson,  Karoline  Christenson  and 
Ole  Ostensjoe.20  Kev.  Askevold  was 
the  first  pastor  and  served  from  1883  to 
1889;  Rev.  A.  J.  Nervig  was  pastor  from 
1889  to  1905:  Rev.  H.  Magelsson,  of 
AV;ilnut  Grove,  preached  during  parts 
of  1905  and  1906;  and  Rev.  O.  M. 
Gullerud,  the  present  pastor,  took  charge 
in  October,  1906.  The  society  has  a 
fine  house  of  worship  and  a  parsonage 
erected  in  1907  at  a  cost  of  nearly 
$3000.     Its  present  membership  is  171.21 

St.  Mary's  Catholic  church  of  Tracy 
Mas  established  in  1884,  but  services 
had  occasionally  been  conducted  before 
that  date.  The  first  mass  was  held  at 
the  home  of  Pat  Summers  about  1880. 
The  church  edifice  was  started  in  the 
fall  of  1884  and  completed  the  following- 
year.  Father  Edward  Lee,  of  Minneota, 
was  in  charge  of  the  church  for  a  time 

1,JThe  present  officers  of  the  Methodist  church  are 
C.  G.  Porter,  \V.  W.  Moses,  H.  W.  Elliott,  E.  J.  Ev.ins, 
E.  Blettner,  Fred  Healy,  Russell  Donaldson,  Carl 
Wamstead,  George  Donaldson  and  Mrs.  C.  G.  Porter. 

20The  first  board  of  trustees  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  was  composed  of  Jacob  A.  Jacobson, 
secretary;  Hellek  Olson,  treasurer;  John  Tweet,  Paul 
Haugen  and  Iver  Engen. 

21  Affiliated  with  the  Tracy  church  is  the  Holand 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  about  five  and  one-half 
miles  southwest  of  Tracy.  It  has  a  membership  of  1.55 
and  is  ministered  to  by  Rev.  Gullerud.  The  Holand 
church  was  organized  in  1878  by  Professor  John 
Ylvesaker  with  the  following  members:  Andrew 
Johnson,  Andrew  Olson,  Klemet  Halleson,  Hans 
Jacobson,     Halvor     O.     Ericksrud,     Henrik     Pederson, 


and  held  services  once  a  month.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Father  Darche,  the 
first  resident  priest.22  The  present  mem- 
bership is  about  200.  The  pastor  of 
St.  Mary's  church  also  holds  services  at 
Walnut  Grove. 

Services  by  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  faith  were  first  held  in  Tracy 
in  the  fall  of  1886.  A  church  society 
was  organized  at  that  time  with  the 
following  named  gentlemen  and  their 
families  as  first  members:  John  Reetz. 
William  Wiecks,  William  Darger,  Wil- 
liam  Schmidt,  H.  C.  Heine,  John  Selck, 
William  ( liffert  and  Charles  Giese.  From 
the  date  of  organization  until  1892 
services  were  held  once  in  three  weeks 
in  the  Congregational  church  building, 
conducted  by  outside  pastors.  A  church 
building  was  erected  in  1892  and  six 
years  later  a  parsonage  was  put  up,  the 
value  of  both  buildings  being  "about 
$2100.  Rev.  C.  W.  Heuer  was  the  first 
pastor  and  served  from  1892  to  1S(.)7. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Ahward,  and 
the  latter  in  1909  by  Rev.  Tychsen,  the 
present  pastor.  Services  are  now  held 
every  other  Sabbath.  The  membership 
is  about  twenty-five. 

The  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Herlunda  church  of  Tracy  was  organized 
December  11,  1888,  with  the  following- 
first  members:  Peter  Magnell  and  wife, 
Albert  Hedenberg  and  wife,  Samuel 
Reinhold  and  wife,  Peter  Swenson  and 
wife  and  Charles  Dahlin.23  The  church 
was   incorporated  in   1889  as   a    member 

John  Iverson,  Juul  Helleson,  Martin  Olson,  Nicalai 
Nelson,  Truls  Odegaarden  and  Tollef  Nelson. 

"Resident  priests  in  charge  of  St.  Mary's  church 
have  been  Fathers  Darche,  Mahoney,  Sullivan,  Smol- 
lein,  John  Gleason,  John  Byrne  and  George  E.  Carlin. 
The  last  named  was  assigned  to  the  charge  August  28, 
1907. 

"Others  who  joined  the  church  before  it  was  incor- 
porated in  1889  were  Christian  Mohn,  Sven  J.  Bjork- 
man,  Anders  A.  Busk,  Bengt  Matteson,  Peter  Swanson, 
Swen  Nelson  and  Swan  Anderson  and  their  wives. 
The  first  deacons  of  the  church  were  Peter  Magnell, 
Samuel  Reinhold  and  Albert  Hedenberg.  The  first 
trustees  were  Charles  Dahlin,  Samuel  Reinhola  and 
Peter  Magnell. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


171 


of  the  Augustana  Synod  of  North 
America.  Prior  to  1891  the  pulpit  of 
the  Tracy  church  was  filled  by  the 
Balaton  pastor  and  ministers  from  oilier 
charges.  The  firs!  residenl  pastor,  Rev. 
B.  S.  Nystrom,  located  in  Tracy  in 
1891.24  A  parsonage  was  built  that 
year  and  the  church  was  put  up  in  1892. 
The  value  of  chureh  property  is  $3000. 
The  membership  is  now  ninety-seven 
communicants  and  twenty-five  chil- 
dren.2"' 

The  United  Norwegian  Lutherans 
have  maintained  an  organization  in 
Tracy  since  December,  1888.  Among 
those  instrumental  in  its  organization 
were  Bernt  Johnson,  (  He  Johnson,  Henry 
Olson  and  Charles  Ostlund.  The  society 
has  never  had  a  resident  pastor  and  is 
at  present  supplied  by  Rev.  K.  C. 
Henderlie,  of  Canby,  who  conducts 
services  once  every  three  weeks.  The 
membership  is  between  fifty  and  sixty. 

St.  Mark's  Episcopal  church  of  Tracy 
was  organized  by  Rev.  Arthur  Chard  in 
the  late  nineties.  For  a  time  services 
were  held  in  the  United  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church,  but  the  society  now 
has  a  chapel  of  its  own.  The  first 
members  of  the  Episcopal  church  were 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  H.  M.  Workman.  Morris 
Workman,  Mrs.  L.  E.  Harvey,  M.  D. 
Gibbs,  Mrs.  Minnie  Wiley,  Mrs.  H.  E. 
Blair,  Mrs.  Keller,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Marks. 
Mrs.  Ralph  Yates,  Mrs.  Fannie  Morgan, 
Mrs.  J.  Q.  McNally,  Mrs.  Lucy  Warren 

24The   pastors   of   the   Swedish   Lutheran    church   of 

.Tracy  have  been  as  follows:     B.  S.  Nystrom,  1S91-94; 

supplied    by    students    1894-96;    C.    J.    A.    Holmgren, 

1896-99;  P.  E.  Fredlund,   1900-02;  A.  Melin,   1902-06; 

L.  E.  Sjolinder,  1906-12. 

"Among  the  members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
church,  in  addition  to  those  mentioned,  are  John 
Peterson  and  wife,  Nels  E.  Pehrson  and  wife,  Andrew 
Martinson  and  wife,  John  August  Anderson,  Andrew 
S.  Carlson  and  wife,  Peter  Neilson,  Joel  Nelson  and 
wife,  John  A.  Bowman  and  wife,  John  F.  Fornquist, 
August  Peterson  and  wife  and  Henry  Peterson. 

26Among  the  Episcopal  ministers  who  have  supplied 
the  Tracy  parish  have  been  Revs.  Arthur  ('hard, 
TenBroeck,  Charles  F.uiar,  J.  Hoist,  Richard  Reade, 
John  Plunkett  and  W.  A.  Dennis. 

"The  charter  members  were  W.  M.  Todd,  Claude  M. 
Ferro,  Anson  Warren,  E.  L.  Choate,  Henry  W.  Little. 


and  Mrs.  Charles  Riegel.  Owing  to  the 
small  membership  the  church  has  never 
had  a  resident  pastor.-'1  Services  are 
now  held  the  second  Sabbath  of  each 
month  by  Rev.  W.  A.  Dennis,  of 
Worthington. 

THE    LODGKS. 

Tracy  is  the  home  of  a  number  of 
worthy  secret  and  fraternal  orders. 
They  are  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and 
Order  Eastern  Star  of  the  Masonic 
orders,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
Womens  Relief  Corps,  Odd  Fellows, 
liebekahs.  Modern  Woodmen,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters, 
Modern  Brotherhood  and  Royal  Neigh- 
bors. Besides  these  are  two  women's 
clubs — Current  News  Club  and  Sorosis 
Club. 

Tracy  Lodge  No.  155,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.. 
the  oldest  order  in  the  city,  was  organ- 
ized under  dispensation  in  July,  1882, 
with  the  following  first  officers:  W.  M. 
Todd,-;W.  M.;  M.  D.  Gibbs,  S.  W.;  and 
Anson  Warren,  J.  W.  The  charter  was 
granted  January  10,  1883,  to  twelve 
members.27  The  lodge  has  ever  since 
been  maintained  and  its  membership  is 
now  seventy-four. 

Late  in  1883  members  of  the  order 
in  Tracy,  Walnut  Grove,  Currie  and 
Marshall  asked  the  grand  chapter  for 
the  establishment  of  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason  Chapter  at  Tracy,28  and  in  April, 
1884,  the  local  order  was  organized 
under  dispensation.29     The  charter  was 

Frank  E.  Ketehum,  Charles  J.  Gardner,  Samuel  S. 
Truax,  James  Thomson,  Joseph  Jones,  Myron  D.  Gibbs 
and  John  H.  Cutler.  Only  one  of  the  number  is  now 
a  resident  of  Tracy. 

2SThose  who  signed  the  application  for  the  dispen- 
sation for  Bower  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  were 
John  M.  Moore,  John  Moore,  Neil  McKay,  J.  F.  Remore, 
Frank  Hooker,  H.  B.  Gary,  A.  C.  Forbes,  M.  E.  Math- 
ews, Squire  D.  How,  C.  L.  Van  Fleet,  S.  M.  Gage, 
M.  Sullivan,  G.  F.  Bidwell,  Neil  Currie.  A.  T.  Crowl, 
H.  M.  Workman,  John  G.  Schutz,  James  P.  Corbin, 
John  R.  Fitch,  W.  H.  Owens.  George  W.  Thomas, 
H.  G.  Humphries,  Jr.,  and  E.  A.  Gove. 

29Those  who  served  as  first  officers  under  dispensa- 
tion were  George  F.  Bidwell,  G.  W.  Whom  is,  Neil 
Currie,  M.  Sullivan,  S.  O.  How,  A.  T.  Crowl.  It.  M. 
Workman,  J.  F.  Remore.  S.  M.  Gage,  II.  B.  Gary, 
J.  G.  Schutz  and  N.  McKay. 


172 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


granted  October  14,  1884.  The  present 
high  officers  are  J.  D.  Owens,  high 
priest;  Charles  C.  Richard,  king;  Howard 
( losslee,  scribe. 

Virginia  Chapter  No.  15,  Order  East- 
ern Star,  was  instituted  February  3, 
1885,  by  Grand  Matron  Mrs.  H.  A. 
Valentine,  of  Minneapolis,  and  Grand 
Patron  Willis,  of  Farmington.  It  was 
organized  with  thirty-five  charter  mem- 
bers30 and  its  membership  is  now  ninety- 
six. 

The  second  oldest  order  in  Tracy  is 
Joe  Hooker  Post  No.  15,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  It  was  chartered 
August  8,  1882,  with  twenty-two  mem- 
bers.31 The  post  was  disbanded  after 
a  short  existence,  but  was  reinstated 
August  18,  1884.  It  was  mustered  in 
at  that  time  by  O.  E.  Gail,  of  Marshall.32 
The  post  now  has  only  a  few  members 
but  an  active  organization  is  main- 
tained. 

For  a  time  a  Sons  of  Veterans  post 
had  an  existence.  It  was  formed  in 
November,  1885,  and  its  first  officers 
were  C.  L.  Bohannan,  captain;  .1.  G. 
Willis,  first  lieutenant;  O.  J.  Pea.  second 
lieutenant. 

Joe  Hooker  Corps  No.  65,  Womens 
Relief  Corps,  has  been  in  existence  nearly 

I  lie  charter  members  of  Virginia  Chapter  were 
Hat  tie  Bidwell,  Eunice  Blood,  Lillian  Blood,  Jennie 
Densil,  Louise  Gibbs,  Myrtle  Gibbs,  Blanche  Grant, 
A.bbie  Humason,  Mary  A.  Jones,  Louise  Klepper, 
Hannah  Lloyd,  Evelyn  Matson,  Grace  Nash,  .Martha 
Pattridge,  Alice  Richard,  Sarah  Segur,  Hannah 
Stafford,  Emma  Warren,  Hannah  I).  Warren,  Amelia 
Whiting,  .Minnie  Wiley,  Josephine  Yates,  G.  !•'.  Bidwell, 
F.  S.  Brown,  S.  M.  Gage,  M.  D.  Gibbs,  W.  O.  James, 
W.  1>.  Jones,  W.  H.  Little,  O.  L.  Pattridge.  W.  J. 
Richard,  .1.  R.  Segur,  F.  L.  Warren,  Homer  Whiting, 
H.  M.  Workman  and  Mrs.  Virginia  Workman,  who  was 
the  first  worthy  matron  and  for  whom  the  chapter  was 
named. 

31The  charter  members  of  Joe  Hooker  Post  were 
M.  D.  Gibbs,  Ole  Rialson,  J.  L.  Craig,  M.  F.  Mills, 
James  Steel,  D.  W.  Underwood,  H.  N.  Joy,  James 
Morgan,  J.  H.  Hitchcox,  Samuel  Bell,  L.  Aldrich, 
\\  .  II.  Arnold,  J.  P.  Davis,  John  Manuel,  John  Lloyd, 
David  Wilford,  Irving  R.  Wagner,  David  Campbell, 
\Y.  J.  Henry,  Thomas  Edwards,  J.  N.  Fitch  and 
F.  P.  Town. 

32The  first  officers  at  the  time  of  reorganization  were 
I.  R.  Wagner,  W.  H.  Arnold,  John  Lloyd,  M.  D.  Gibbs, 
.J.  P.  Davis.  H.  N.  Joy,  J.  L.  Craig,  William  Mesler, 
David  Campbell  and  John  Manuel. 

"The   charter   members  of  Joe   Hooker  Corps   were 


twenty-three  years.  It  was  chartered 
December  6,  1889.  with  twenty-three 
members.33  It  now  has  106  members 
in  good  standing. 

Chosen  Friends  Lodge  No.  100,  Inde- 
pendent Order  Odd  Fellows,  was  char- 
tered July  30,  1884.  and  was  instituted 
August  18  by  Past  Grandmaster  Fahr- 
man,  of  Winona,  ft  began  with  six 
members1"  and  now  has  forty-seven. 
A  Rebekah  lodge,  auxiliary  to  the  Odd 
Fellows,  also  lias  an  active  organization. 

Tracy  Lodge  Xo.  96,  Ancient  Order 
United  Workmen,  was  organized  June 
10,  1887.  with  only  ten  members.''15  It 
has  increased  until  today  it  has  the 
largest  membership  of  any  lodge  in 
Tracy.  About  one  hundred  forty  mem- 
bers belong  to  the  local  order.  Its 
auxiliary.  Tracy  Lodge  No.  8,  Degree  of 
Honor,  was  organized  January  10,  1893, 
with  ten  members.38  Its  membership 
is  now  120. 

Tracy  Camp  Xo.  1549,  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  came  into  existence 
August  IS,  1891,  with  eleven  members.37 
The  lodge  has  had  a  prosperous  exist- 
ence. It  now  has  ninety-five  beneficial 
and  one  social  members. 

A  lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Xo.    85,    was   established    September   9, 

Mary  A.  Starr,  Elizabeth  Leach,  Martha  Deming, 
Crania  Swartwood,  Mary  Bohannan,  Lizzie  Haywood, 
Minnie  M.  Bohannan,  Addie  M.  Perry,  Mary  E.  Rice, 
Emma  Webster,  Jennie  Miller,  Mary  E.  Wagner,  Marj 
c.  Mesler,  Anna  Manuel,  Evelyn  Matson,  Myrtle  Gibbs, 
Louise  Gibbs,  Cora  Howard,  Mildred  Clark,  Maria  P. 
Bohannan,  Delia  Downing,  Kate  Hughes,  Albina  Bate,-.. 

34The  charter  members  of  Chosen  Friends  Lodge 
and  the  offices  they  held  were  as  follows:  J.  A. 
Stewart,  noble  grand;  C.  L.  Bohannan,  vice  grand; 
R.  E.  Hughes,  secretary;  F.  S.  Woodruff,  treasurer; 
I.  X.  Bentley,  conductor;  W.  D.  Jones,  inside  guardian. 

s;The  ten   charter  members  of  the  Tracy  Lodge   No. 
96  were  Martin  Thurin,  N.  B.  Jacobi,  J.  R.  Segur.  A    I 
West,  B.  Hughes,  I.  E.  Segur,  J.  M.  Wardell,  W.  Rice, 
E.  Woodruff  and  C.  L.  Kopp. 

36Charter  members  of  the  Degree  of  Honor  lodge 
were  Mesdames  Eunice  Clark,  Minnie  F.  Pattridge, 
Francelia  M.  Huntington,  Cora  L.  Thurin,  Matilda 
Brauns,  Lueinda  Craig,  Jennie  Connie,  Cora  A.  Har- 
tigan,  AnL'ie  L.  Musser  and  Delia  Nichols. 

"Charter  members  of  the  Woodmen  lodge  were 
W.  R.  Edwards,  H.  A.  Bates,  Swan  Anderson,  J.  E. . 
Hennessey,  W.  H.  Bohannan,  Allen  Bates,  J.  .1. 
Hartigan  and  C.  L.  Bohannan. 


HISTORY  <>K  LYON  COTNTY. 


173 


1891,   with   twenty   charter   members.38 
It  has  had  an  active  existence  and  now 

has  a  membership  <>t'  sixty. 

\\  .  Michael  Court  No.  LOO,  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters,  was  established 
August  9,  1899,  with  a  small  member- 
ship.39 Meetings  arc  seldom  held  now, 
although  the  charter  is  still  retained. 

A  lodge  of  the  Modern  Brotherhood 
of  America  was  organized  December  21, 
1899,  and  is  still  an  active  organization 
with  thirty-five  members.  "' 

A  Royal  Neighbors  lodge  was  insti- 
tuted March  10,  L900,  with  a  large 
membership.  "  It  lias  since  held  regular 
meetings  and  now  has  a  membership  of 
forty-five. 

Both  the  Current  News  Club  and  the 
Sorosis  Club  are  affiliated  with  the 
State  Federation.  The  former  has  a 
membership  of  twenty-five  and  the 
latter  of  twenty.  The  Sorosis  Club  was 
organized  in  1892  and  became  a  member 
of  the  federation  in  1900.4-  The  Current 
News  dub  was  organized  in  1893  and 
federated  in  1895.43 

THE    LIBRARY. 

The  Tracy  public  library  was  estab- 
lished in  the  winter  of  1880-81  and 
among  the  first  members  were  F.  S. 
Brown,  John  Lind,  H.  W.  Little.  G.  H. 

38Charter  members  were  John  Renninger,  C.  M. 
Wilcox,  W.  M.  Fay,  Neil  Finch,  D.  H.  Evans,  F.  N. 
Stewart,  F.  S.  Brown,  N.  B.  Jacobi,  F.  Hunkins, 
Willard  Rice,  L.  F.  O'Brien,  C.  S.  Shepard,  J.  E.  Doyle, 
W.  J.  Walker,  George  Stahl,  P.  H.  Welch,  M.  B. 
Stowell,  J.  A.   Wiley,   S.   Kinmore  and  George  Norris. 

39The  charter  members  of  the  Foresters  lodge  were 
John  Wiesner,  Henry  Cain,  J.  C.  Donovan,  James  G. 
Behan,  J.  M.  McCabe,  Peter  Frederick,  Frank  Ford, 
Richard  M.  Hogan,  James  Donovan,  B.  W.  Odekirk, 
Walter  Dalton  and  Herman  Farrell. 

40The  charter  members  of  the  Modern  Brotherhood 
lodge  were  Joseph  R.  McElvain,  Charlotte  McElvain, 
William  A.  Dicks,  Jacob  J.  Tofting,  Charles  P.  Hewitt, 
Augusta  A.  Schumacher,  Knute  N.  Nylin,  Josephine 
Carter,  William  S.  Carter,  J.  B.  Bens,  D.  Alton  Prouty, 
Dora  Lehman,  Nicholas  A.  Borger,  John  C.  Bong, 
Henry  Jones,  John  P.  Larson,  James  L.  Montgomery, 
Ida  Lehman,  Anna  M.  Hanson,  William  A.  Carter, 
Peter  A.  Callahan,  August  S.  Swenson,  Swan  Anderson, 
Nellie  Nylin,  Mary  A.  Jones,  Floyd  A.  Schaffer,  Nellie 
A.  Hewitt,  W.  P.  Newton,  Nellie  Narveson,  Thomas 
Narveson,  Elise  Drury,  Frank  Gary,  Elizabeth  C. 
Allen,  Delia  M.  Ray  and  Albert  T.  Goslee. 

41The  charter  members  of  the  Royal  Neighbors  lodge 


Jessup  and  others.  It  is  now  conducted 
in  a  loom  in  the  city  hall  and  comprises 
1192  volumes.  The  library  is  open  to 
the  public  on  Saturday  of  cadi  week. 
A  fee  of  twenty-five  cents  pci-  quarter  is 
charged  patrons. 

Till:    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  first  steps  toward  the  establish- 
ment of  fire  protection  in  Tracy  were 
taken  in  1885.  There  being  no  water- 
works system  at  that  time,  the  principal 
apparatus  of  the  pioneer  fire  fighting 
company  were  a  hook  and  ladder  truck 
and  accessories,  which  were  purchased 
at  a  cost  of  $383.  The  hook  and  ladder 
company  formed  at  that  time  was  the 
nucleus  of  the  present  fire  fighting  or- 
ganizations of  Tracy.  The  members  of 
the  pioneer  company  were  Martin  Thurin, 
P.  J.  Tevlin,  J.  J.  Hennessy,  H.  M. 
Workman,  Dell  Haines  and  Pearl  Pea. 
Later  August  Peterson  and  Frank  Black- 
man  became  members. 

After  the  big  fire  of  November,1891,and 
a  waterworks  system  had  been  installed, 
a  reorganization  was  brought  about — in 
the  spring  of  1892.  Besides  the  mem- 
bers of  the  old  company  there  were 
admitted  at  that  time  John  Jones  and 
A.  H.  Rowland. 

The    department    is    an    efficient    one 

were  Laura  Berdan,  Ellen  Jensen,  Hilda  Johnson, 
William  D.  James,  Emma  H.  Flatequal,  Susie  M. 
James,  Mary  J.  Kahl,  H.  A.  Bates,  W.  G.  Menke, 
D.  A.  Prouty,  Ella  M.  Stiles,  Nellie  Thurston,  Hbnora 
Donovan,  Louise  Hennessy,  Maisie  M.  Whitmore, 
Anna  C.  Parks,  Dencie  A.  Bates,  Elizabeth  Dalton, 
Christina  Flink,  Marion  A.  Prouty,  H.  M.  Workman, 
Ollie  Elliott,  Mary  Burns  and  Harry  Stiles. 

42The  members  of  the  Sorosis  Club  are  Mesdames 
H.  M.  Algyer,  C.  E.  Bartlett,  F.  S.  Brown,  Don  Cassel- 
man,  C.  W.  Walbran,  Cora  Craig,  G.  W.  Donaldson, 
W.  R.  Edwards,  B.  L.  English,  G.  A.  Fitch,  G.  H. 
Goodwin,  Cora  Gould,  Mildred  Hunter,  W.  D.  James, 
J.  J.  Laughlin,  W.  H.  Valentine,  D.  T.  McArthur, 
G.  W.  Norris,  C.  B.  Partridge,  C.  G.  Porter,  J.  A. 
Rickert  and  T.  H.  Webb.  The  associate  members  are 
Mesdames  Hoidale,  Steel  and  Lien. 

43The  members  of  the  Current  News  Club  are 
Mesdames  Libbie  Babcock,  C.  O.  Brauns,  D.  H.  Evans, 
J.  Finnegan,  J.  E.  Filkins,  Neil  Finch,  Louise  Gibbs, 
C.  Callaghan,  E.  Herzog,  E.  B.  Korns,  E.  S.  Miller, 
Julia  McDonnough,  Harriet  McCallister,  George  Nehls, 
Lester  Fitch,  L.  K.  Prouty,  Nels  Pehrson,  J.  R.  Segur, 
Lee  Swift,  H.  F.  Seiter,  George  Tracy,  Ross  Main  and 
Helena  Thurin. 


174 


HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COUNTY. 


and  thoroughly  equipped.  In  its  equip- 
ment are  two  hose  carts,  a  hose  reel, 
a  hook  and  ladder  truck,  and  nearly 
3000  feet  of  hose.  The  department  is 
maintained  in  the  city  hall.  There  are 
seventeen  active  members.  The  present 
chief  is  G.  E.  Schmidt. 

The  Tracy  Firemans  Relief  Associa- 
tion has  over  $2000  in  its  treasury. 
H.  M.  Workman  is  president  of  the 
association,  Jacob  Rickert  secretary, 
and  A.  H.  Rowland  treasurer. 

THE    BANKS. 

Three  banking  houses  are  conducted 
at  Tracy,  the  First  National  Bank, 
Citizens  State  Bank,  and  Tracy  State 
Bank.  The  first  named  is  the  successor 
of  the  old  Commerce  Bank;  the  two 
state  banks  are  of  more  recent  origin. 

Tracy's  first  bank  was  a  private  in- 
stitution, the  Bank  of  Tracy,  founded 
by  G.  H.  Jessup  in  the  early  eighties. 
Later  W.  O.  Musser  became  a  partner  in 
the  business.  The  bank  was  a  popular 
institution,  built  up  an  enormous  busi- 
ness, and  had  a  long  life.  Late  in  1904 
Mr.  Jessup  died,  the  affairs  of  the  bank 
were  found  to  be  in  a  bad  way,  and  the 
institution  was  closed.  Upon  its  ruins 
a  new  bank  was  started,  founded  for  the 
most  part  by  depositors  of  the  defunct 
bank. 

The  second  banking  house  of  Tracy 
was  the  Commerce  Bank,  established  as 
a  private  institution  in  the  eighties  by 
J.  E.  Evans  and  J.  P.  Davis.  The 
Commerce  Bank  was  succeeded  on  Aug- 
ust 1,  1891,  by  the  First  State  Bank,  it 
having  been  purchased  by  J.  S.  Tucker, 
D.  T.  McArthur,  E.  W.  D.  Holway  and 
others.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
state  bank  Mr.  Tucker  became  president 
and  Mr.  Holway  vice  president. 

On  February  21,  1895,  the  First  State 
Bank  was  reorganized  and  became  the 


First  National  Bank.  The  organizer- 
were  Martin  Thnrin,  John  A.  Hunter. 
John  D.  Owens,  W.  Pi.  Edwards,  Neil 
Finch,  I).  T.  McArthur,  Ben  Bear. 
E.  W.  D.  Holway,  C.  J.  Weiser,  Solomon 
Loeb  and  J.  S.  Tucker.  The  first 
officers  were  as  follows:  J.  S.  Tucker, 
president ;  E.  AY.  D.  Holway.  vice  pres- 
ident; D.  T.  McArthur,  cashier:  and 
L.  J.  Hunter,  assistant  cashier.  Mr. 
Mi ..-Arthur  became  president  in  1901  and 
was  at  the  head  of  the  bank  until  his 
death  on  August  26,  1911. 

The  First  National  Bank  moved  to 
its  present  commodious  quarters  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Third  Streets  in 
April,  1898.  From  a  small  beginning 
the  institution  has  worked  its  way  to  the 
front  and  is  one  of  the  prosperous  finan- 
cial institutions  of  Lyon  county.  It 
has  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000  and  a 
surplus  of  $1 0,000.  In  191 1  the  deposits 
averaged  about  $400,000  and  the  total 
resources  were  about  a  half  million 
dollars.  The  present  officers  are  C.  J. 
Weiser,  president;  Ben  Bear  and  E. 
Herzog,  vice  presidents;  H.  M.  Algyer. 
cashier;  L.  Houston,  assistant  cashier. 

The  Citizens  State  Bank  began  busi- 
ness September  21,  1904,  with  the  fol- 
lowing first  officers:  J.  M.  Wardell, 
president;  George  E.  Button,  vice  pres- 
ident; H.  F.  Seiter,  cashier.  The  busi- 
ness is  conducted  in  the  building  at  the 
corner  of  Third  and  Morgan  Streets 
formerly  occupied  by  the  Bank  of  Tracy. 
The  bank  has  a  capital  stock  of  $25,000 
and  a  surplus  of  $5000.  From  Septem- 
ber, 1907,  to  September,  1911,  the 
deposits  increased  from  $77,033.02  to 
$248,453.25. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Citizens 
State  Bank  are  J.  M.  Wardell,  president: 
George  E.  Dutton,  vice  president;  H.  F. 
Seiter,  second  vice  president;  J.  A. 
Rickert,  cashier;  L.  F.  Nelson,  assistant 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


175 


cashier.  The  directors  are  S.  I'.  Hicks, 
George  E.  Dutton,  II.  J.  Pattridge,  J.  M. 
Wardell,  D.  H.  Evans,  Neil  Finch, 
II.  F.  Seiter,  A.  M.  Nash  and  \Y.  H. 
Valentine. 

The  Tracy  State  Bank  opened  its 
doors  January  '_',  1905,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $20, 000.  It  occupies  a  building 
put  up  for  the  purpose  in  the  fall  of 
1904.  D.  A.  McLarty  served  as  presi- 
ded during  the  first  year  of  its  existence. 
The  present  officers  and  directors  are  as 
follows:  J.  R.  Fitch,  president;  I).  A. 
McLarty,  vice1  president;  L.  J.  Fitch, 
cashier:  A.  Swoffer  and  C.  S.  Orwall. 

M  \  NT  FACTORY. 

An  institution  that  has  aided  materi- 
ally in  the  progress  of  Tracy  is  the  Tracy 
Cement  Tile  Company,  manufacturers 
of  tile,  building  blocks  and  brick.  It  is 
the  successor  of  the  Tracy  Cement  Drain 
Tile,  Brick  and  Block  Company,  which 
began  business  in  1905  and  which  was 
owned  by  H.  F.  Seiter,  D.  H.  Evans, 
( Me    Ophiem,    J.    R.    Segur    and    F.    G. 


Segur.  The  company  was  reorganized 
and  incorporated,  with  ;i  capital  stock 
of  $50,000,  under  the  preseni  name  on 
January  1.  1911.     The  stockholders  are 

the  same  as  of  the  original  company  and 
the  officers  are  D.  H.  Evans,  president; 
11.  F.  Seiter,  secretary  and  treasurer; 
I  Me  Ophiem.  manager. 

F.  M.  Slover,  a  practical  tiler,  and  a 
corps  of  surveyors  are  employed  by  the 
company.  During  the  summer  months 
between  twenty-five  and  thirty  men  are 
employed  and  the  plant  is  operated 
during  the  winter  months  with  a  reduced 
force.  The  capacity  of  the  plant  is 
from  2000  to  4000  tile  per  day,  depend- 
ent upon  the  size.  It  is  one  of  the 
largest  cement  manufacturing  plants  in 
the  state  and  is  equipped  with  modern 
machinery,  being  operated  by  elec- 
t  licit  v.  A  large  stone  crusher  is  operated 
and  there  are  two  live-steam  curing 
tunnels.  Besides  the  manufacturing  de- 
partment, another  branch  of  the  enter- 
prise is  contracting  tile  laying,  survey- 
ing, etc. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


MINNEOT  A— 1875-1912. 


IN  POINT  of  size  Minneota  is  Lyon 
county's  third  town  and  it  is  also 
one    of    the    older    villages    of    the 

county.  As  a  business  point  it  also 
takes  high  rank,  for  it  draws  trade  from 
an  exceptionally  fine  farming  country. 
Its  trade  territory  is  large,  extending 
northward  into  Yellow  Medicine  county 
and  westward  into  Lincoln  county.  It 
is  a  substantially  built  little  city  and 
presents  an  attractive  appearance. 

Minneota  is  in  the  northwestern  part 
of  the  county,  on  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western railroad.  The  platted  village 
is  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  25. 
Kidsvold  township.  Its  elevation  above 
sea  level  is  1179  feet.  The  population 
when  the  1910  census  was  taken  was 
819. 

So  early  as  1871  ■settlers  located  in 
the  northwest  corner  township  in  close 
proximity  to  the  site  of  the  present 
village.  Others  came  the  following  year, 
and  in  1872  a  postoffice  named  Nordland 
was  established  for  their  benefit.  It 
was  located  on  section  26,  just  west  of 
the  site  of  the  village,  and  H.  D.  Frink, 
a  homesteader,  was  the  postmaster. 
That  office  was  the  predecessor  of  the 
Minneota  office  and  Mr.  Frink  remained 
in  charge  until  it  was  moved  to  the 
present    location    in    1875.     Mr.    Frink 

JThe  Marshall  Prairie  Schooner  on  January  29,  1874, 
referred  to  the  place  as  follows:  "Upper  Yellow 
Medicine  Crossing  is  a  postoffice  and  store  located  on 


also  established  a  little  store  at  his 
home  in  1873  for  the  convenience  of  his 
neighbors,  ami  about  the  same  time 
Christian  Lee  started  a  blacksmith  shop, 
which  he  conducted  near  the  Frink  store 
for  two  years.  Mr.  Frink  operated  his 
store  only  about  one  year.  The  site  of 
these  activities  was  sometimes  referred 
to  as  Nordland,  after  the  postoffice,  but 
more  frequently  as  Upper  Yellow  Medi- 
cine Crossing,  from  the  fact  that  there 
the  newly  constructed  railroad  crossed 
the  Yellow  Medicine  river.1  The  im- 
portance of  the  little  hamlet  on  section 
26  was  added  to  in  1874  when  N.  W.  L. 
Jager  opened  a  store  there. 

It  seemed  probable  that  Nordland 
would  gradually  develop  into  a  little 
village,  but  this  was  not  destined  to 
occur  at  its  original  location.  The  store 
and  blacksmith  shop  were  on  the  lands 
of  homesteaders  and  the  railroad  com- 
pany decided  to  locate  a  station  on  its 
own  land.  On  September  22,  1875,  a 
construction  train,  carrying  material 
and  a  score  or  more  workmen,  was  run 
out  to  the  Yellow  Medicine  crossing  and 
a  sidetrack  was  laid  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  25,  land  which  had 
been  secured  under  the  land  grant.  At 
the  same  time  preparations  were  made 
for  building  a  warehouse  at  that  point 

Yellow  Medicine  river  at  the  crossing  of  the  Winona  it 
St.  Peter  railroad,  fifteen  miles  northwest  of  Marshall.'' 


178 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


by  the  Van  Dusen  Company,  in  time  to 
care  for  the  season's  crop. 

This  improvement  warranted  the  be- 
lief that  the  railroad  company  would 
establish  a  station  there  and  that  in 
time  a  village  would  be  founded.  Before 
the  season  closed  a  few  persons  located 
at  the  new  site,  established  business 
enterprises,  and  the  new  place  succeeded 
to  the  name  Nordland.  Mr.  Jager 
moved  his  store  from  section  26  and  was 
the  first  inhabitant.  He  had  only  a 
small  stock  of  goods  and  housed  them 
in  a  little  shanty  he  erected  close  to  the 
river.  The  warehouse  was  erected  and 
early  in  November  Ole  H.  Dahl  located 
there  as  manager.  At  the  same  time 
that  gentleman  opened  a  little  store, 
carrying  hardware  and  drugs.2  The 
third  business  man  also  came  in  Novem- 
ber, 1875,  only  a  few  days  after  Messrs. 
Jager  and  Dahl.  He  was  Thomas  I). 
Seals,  who  moved  a  store  from  Marsh- 
field,  in  Lincoln  county/  and  opened 
the  second  general  store.  Mr.  Seals  has 
ever  since  been  engaged  in  business  in 
the  village. 

In  December,  1875,  Mr.  Jager  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Prink  as  postmaster  of 
Nordland  and  early  in  1876  it  was 
moved  from  its  original  location  on 
section  26  to  the  village  and  conducted 
in  Mr.  .lager's  store.  At  the  time  there 
was  talk  of  changing  the  name  of  the 
office  to  Eidsvold,  but  that  was  not 
done.4  •  A    Nordland    correspondent    to 

2"01e  Dahl  has  lately  opened  a  store  at  Yellow 
Medicine  Crossing  for  the  sale  of  hardware,  drugs,  etc. 
He  is  buying  wheat  there  also."  —  Marshall  Messenger, 
November  26,  1875. 

3"Dr.  Seals  has  moved  his  store  from  Marshfield  to 
Yellow  Medicine  Crossing." — Marshall  Messenger, 
December  10,  1875. 

4The  following  have  served  as  postmasters  of  Nord- 
land (later  Minneota) :  H.  D.  Frink,  1872-75;  N.  W. 
L.  Jager,  1875-87;  C.  P.  Kenyon,  1887-90;  Pauline  Lee, 
1890-95;  James  McGinn,  1895-97;  Andrew  Winger, 
1897-01;  G.  S.  Sigurdson,  1901-03;  G.  B.  Bjornson, 
1903-12.  The  office  was  raised  from  fourth- to  third- 
class  January  1.  1912. 

Three  rural  delivery  routes  are  operated  from  the 
Minneota  office,  having  been  established  as  follows: 
No.  1,  September  1,  1903,  K.  Mohn,  carrier;  No.  2, 
June  1,  1904,  L.  S.  Teigland,  carrier;  No.  3,  June  1, 
1904,  O.  J.  Moe,  carrier. 


the  county  paper  in  January,  1876, 
said:  ''Our  new  town  in  Eidsvold  is 
progressing  finely.  Three  store  build- 
ings and  two  warehouses  have  been 
erected  since  October  last.  Although 
the  population  is  very  small  yet,  our 
business  men  are  both  intelligent  and 
industrious."'  The  same  correspondent 
gave  a  list  of  business  houses  as  follows: 
X.  W.  L.  Jager.  dry  goods  and  groceries; 
O.  H.  Dahl.  hardware,  lumber  and 
grain;  Dr.  T.  D.  Seals,  general  store. 

During  the  summer  of  1876  the  Nord- 
land railroad  station  was  established 
and  a  depot  erected.  The  company  also 
platted  the  village,  the  survey  having 
been  made  by  Arthur  Jacobi  prior  to 
August  5.  Albert  Keep,  as  president 
of  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company,  certified  to  the  plat  August 
26.  1876.  Ten  blocks  were  included  in 
the  Nordland  plat.  The  streets  running 
parallel  with  the  railroad  were  named 
First,  Second  and  Third  and  those  at 
right  angles  were  named  AYashington, 
Adams,  Jefferson,  Madison  and  Monroe.5 

The  pjatting  of  the  site  did  not 
result  in  any  great  rush  for  town  lots. 
There  was  practically  no  improvement 
during  1876,  the  county  paper  on  Jan- 
uary 1,  1877,  stating  that  the  village 
consisted  of  three  stores  and  two  ware- 
houses. Likewise,  there  was  little  ad- 
vancement in  1877,  but  the  following 
year  was  one  of  great  prosperity  in  Lyon 

'Additions  to  the  original  Nordland  plat  have  been 
made  as  follows: 

First  Railway,  by  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company,  August  18,  1881;  surveyed  by  Thomas  F. 
Nicholl. 

Second  Railway,  by  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company,  May  2,  1892;  surveyed  by  John  T.  Price. 

Gilbertson's,  by  Aslaug  Gilbertson,  July  2,  1892; 
surveyed  by  C.  L.  Van  Fleet. 

G.  A.  Dalmann's,  by  G.  A.  Dalmann,  August  24, 
1S93;  surveyed  by  O.  H.  Sterk. 

Third  Railway,  by  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company,   May  20,   1897;  surveyed  by  John  T.   Price. 

Fourth  Railway,  by  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company,  August  8,  1900;  surveyed  by  J.  C.  W.  Cline. 

Fifth  Railway,  by  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company,  September  20,  1902;  surveyed  l>v  W.  H. 
Hill. 

William  Anderson's,  by  William  Anderson,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1906;  surveyed  by  O.  H.  Sterk. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


179 


county  and  the  little  hamlet  made  greal 
si  rides  forward. 

The  change  in  the  name  of  the  post- 
office  from  Nordland  to  Minneota  (an 
Indian  word  signifying  "big  water") 
occurred  in  February,  1878.  The  change 
was  not  brought  about  without  much 
bickering,  jealousy  and  hard  feelings. 
Owing  to  the  manner  of  selecting  the 
name  great  excitement  prevailed  and 
enmities  were  made  that  took  years  to 
overcome.  The  name  Minneota  was 
suggested  by  T.  I).  Seals." 

The  big  immigration  of  L878  and  the 
rapid  development  of  Lyon  county  dur- 
ing that  year  brought  many  improve- 
ments to  Minneota.  A  correspondent 
writing  in  June  said:  "Our  town  is 
building  up  very  rapidly  and  promises 
to  he  second  to  none  west  of  New    I'lm 


6A  Minneota  correspondent  to  the  Marshall  Messen- 
ger of  February  22,  1878,  told  of  the  campaign  for  the 
change  in  name  and  the  resultant  excitement  over  the 

selection,  as  follows: 

"About  three  or  four  weeks  ago  two  petitions  were 
put  in  circulation  to  solicit  signers  for  the  purpose  of 
changing  the  name  of  the  station  and  postofEce  at 
Nordland,  one  for  the  name  Jager,  the  other  for 
Minneota.  '  When  Minneota  had  about  twenty-five 
and  Jager  seventy-five  signers,  dissatisfaction  was 
manifested  by  the  people  with  both  names.  Tin- 
parties  working  for  Minneota  gave  it  up  and  called  a 
meeting  to  get  a  new  name.  Horten  was  adopted  by 
a  large  majority.  Two  petitions  were  made,  signed 
by  eighty  persons  in  the  vicinity  of  Nordland,  and  one 
was  sent  to  Washington  and  the  other  to  the  railroad 
company  in  Chicago.  Another  party  held  a  meeting 
but  it  resulted  in  nothing. 

"Thursday,  February  14,  there  came  a  report  from 
Washington,  .  stating  that  the  name  Nordland  was 
changed  to  Minneota.  When  this  was  reported  from 
the  postoffice  Dr.  Seals  borrowed  an  anvil,  furnished 
the  powder,  treated  with  cigars,  and  held  a  grand 
'  celebration  for  Minneota.  Only  a  few  were  present 
and  there  was  little  excitement  at  the  time,  of  course. 

"How  this  extraordinary  trick  happened  is  yet  a 
mystery.  The  petition  for  Minneota  is  still  here  and 
nobody  confesses  to  having  sent  such  name  to  Wash- 
ington. Somebody  has  done  the  play  but  who  it  is 
we  all  want  to  know.  Two  ways  are  suspected. 
Someone  might  have  sent  a  single  letter  to  Washington 
or  copied  and  picked  up  names  from  other  petitions 
without  an j'  authority.  If  this  is  so,  it  must  be 
revealed,  for  there  is  much  excitement  and  agitation 
among  the  people  in  the  whole  community. 

"We  have  asked  our  best  scholar  and  professor  in 
the  Indian  language  about  the  definition  of  Minneota 
and  he  declared  it  was  an  Indian  name  and  that  it 
will  be  very  useful  as  an  advertisement  for  Indian 
trade." 

Nearly  twenty-nine  years  later  Dr.  T.  D.  Seals,  at 
whose  instance  the  name  Minneota  had  been  selected, 
gave  the  history  of  the  incident.  It  was  published  in 
the  Minneota  Mascot  in  December,  1906,  and  was  as 
follows: 

"In  the  fall  of  1875  or  early  in  1876  I  wrote  to  my 
uncle,  J.  W.  Durr,  a  New  York  banker,  and  asked  him 
to  see  Senator  Straight  and  request  that  official  to 
procure  a  change  of  name  for  this  little  hamlet,  which 
at  that  time  was  called  Nordland  and  was  not  large 
enough  to   cut   much  figure  in   the   commercial  world. 


before  fall."  the  close  of  the  year 

a  Minneota  resident  wrote:  "One  year 
ago  Minneota  bad  only  two  or  three 
business   houses;   now  it    has  eleven   or 

twelve,  one  elevator  and  two  ware- 
hoUi  e  >." 

One  of  the  improvements  of  1878  was 
the  establishment  of  a  large  general 
.-tore  by  Cunts  A:  Davidson,  who  erected 
the  line,  t  building  in  the  village.  Van 
Duse'n  A  Company  put  up  an  elevator, 
operated  by  steam  power,  of  which  (i.  A. 
Jacobson  had  charge.  John  Carlen 
opened  a  hardware  and  machinery  store. 
G.  A.  Jacobson  and  J.  C.  Peterson 
opened  a  lumber  yard  and  dealt  in  farm 
machinery.  Nels  Erickson  established 
the  .Minneota  House  and  later  engaged 
in  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  business. 
J.   .1.    Wallin   opened   a   furniture  store. 

I  suggested  the  name  Minneota,  which,  as  you  all 
know,  is  an  Indian  name  and  means  'much  water.' 
My  request  was  granted  ami  our  little  collection  of 
shanties  was  officially  designated  Minneota. 

"  \\  bile  this  matter  was  pending  at  the  national 
capita]  some  of  our  local  promoters  became  impatient 
and  wanted  to  name  the  place  themselves.  Of  course 
they  could  not  agree  on  a  name,  each  one  having  some 
pet  cognomen  which  he  wanted  to  bestow  upon  the 
future  metropolis.  O.  L.  Orsen  wanted  Horten.  Ole 
Peterson  came  to  the  front  with  Oslo,  and  the  friends 
of  N.  W.  L.  Jager  wanted  Jagersville — Jager  and  I 
were  pretty  much  the  whole  cheese  in  those  days. 

"Finally  the  advocates  of  these  different  names  got 
together  and  decided  to  hold  an  election  and  let  the 
people  decide  what  name  they  wanted.  This  was 
done,  but  before  the  polls  closed  John  Swenson  drove 
in  on  his  little  mule,  carrying  a  sack  of  mail.  This 
mail  contained  a  letter  from  Washington,  which 
brought  the  local  authorities  notice  that  the  new-born 
city  had  been  officially  designated  Minneota.  This 
put  a  damper  on  the  proceedings  and  excitement  ran 
high  for  a  while. 

"Just  as  the  tellers  were  ready  to  co.unt  the  votes, 
which  had  been  deposited  in  the  cigar  box,  duly 
guarded  during  the  day  by  reliable  officials,  I  am  told 
Lewis  Anderson  marched  into  the  polling  place,  seized 
t  he  ballot  box,  and  made  his  escape  before  anyone 
had  time  to  raise  voice  or  hand  in  restraint.  He 
walked  out  into  the  street,  where  he  smashed  the  box 
and  trampled  the  ballots  into  the  mud — and  to  this 
day  no  one  knows  which  faction  was  victorious  at  the 
first  election  ever  held  in  the  village  of  Minneota. 
There  are  only  a  few  of  the  old  timers  left,  but  we  dare 
say  that  they  all  remember  that  election.  All  were 
intensely  interested  and  for  many  weeks  the  election 
was  the  talk  of  the  neighborhood. 

"I  remember  the  incident  as  plainly  as  if  it  were 
yesterday.  Of  course,  there  is  reason  for  my  recalling 
it  so  vividly.  When  the  mail  brought  the  news  that 
the  name  Minneota  had  been  selected  at  Washington, 
O.  L.  Orsen  made  the  remark  that  there  was  evidently 
among  us  a  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing — referring  to  the 
man  who  had,  without  consulting  anyone,  fastened 
this  name  upon  the  town  and  thus  completely  check- 
mated the  advocates  of  the  other  three  names.  I  did 
not  know  Mr.  Orsen  then  as  I  do  now,  and  for  three 
days  I  did  not  venture  out  of  my  store.  After  that 
the  excitement  gradually  died  down  and  I  began  to 
muster  up  courage  to  speak  to  my  fellow-townsmen. 
Hut  for  a  time  I  was  a  scared  man." 


180 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


William  Kitzinger  erected  the  second 
hotel,  the  Tremont  House.  Thor  Rye, 
a  tinsmith,  engaged  in  business.  Samuel 
Leland  became  the  village  blacksmith. 
Sheldrew  &  Reinertson  opened  a  photo- 
graph gallery.  N.  W.  L.  Jager  and 
T.  D.  Seals,  the  pioneer  business  men, 
conducted  their  stores  with  increased 
facilities. 

In  June,  1879,  Minneota's  business 
houses  comprised  four  general  stores, 
two  hardware  stores,  two  shoe  shops, 
two  hotels,  two  blacksmith  shops  and 
three  elevators.  The  village  then  boast- 
ed of  a  new  school  house.  Among  the 
new  business  men  were  Sidney  Fuller, 
blacksmith  shop;  T.  Hanson,  variety 
store;  George  Duffy,  livery  barn;  and 
Peter  Pickles,  meat  market. 

A  few  new  stores  and  shops  were 
opened  in  1880.  Among  the  new  enter- 
prises was  a  lumber  yard  established  by 
Youmans  Brothers  &  Hodgins,  of  which 
John  Dobson  became  local  manager. 
The  census  of  1880  gave  the  little  ham- 
let a  population  of  1  13. 

Although  only  a  few  over  a  hundred 
persons  were  living  in  the  village  proper, 
they  were  an  ambitious  few  and  in  1880 
asked  for  incorporation.  A  bill  author- 
izing Minneota  to  begin  local  govern- 
ment was  passed  by  the  Legislature  and 
approved  by  the  governor  January  21, 
1881.  The  first  village  election  was 
held  February  7,  and  two  days  later  the 
Village  Council  was  organized.  The 
corporate  limits,  as  determined  by  the 
Council  February  9,  1881,  were  all  of 
section  25,  the  north  half  of  section  36, 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  35,  and 

"In  1879  the  people  of  Eidsvold  township  declared 
in  favor  of  licensed  saloons  by  a  vote  of  42  to  19. 
After  the  incorporation  of  Minneota  license  was 
granted  by  the  Council  each  year  without  the  question 
having  been  submitted  to  vote  up  to  1891.  From  1891 
to  1900,  inclusive,  the  license  question  was  voted  on 
under  the  local  option  law,  with  the  following  results: 

1891 — Against  license  by  18  majority. 

1892 — Against  license. 

1893- — For  license  by  2  majority.     * 

1894— For,  59;   against,  58. 

1895— For,  70;  against,  61. 


the  east  half  of  section  26,  all  in  Eidsvold 
township. 

Following  is  the  roster  of  village 
officials  from  date  of  incorporation  to 
the  present  time:7 

1881 — President,  G.  A.  Jacobson;  trustees, 
J.  C.  Peterson,  N.  W.  L.  Jager,  John  Carlen; 
recorder,  A.  D.  Davidson;  treasurer,  J.  H.  Frost; 
justice,  S.  R.  Kentner;8  constable,  William 
Davidson. 

1882 — President,  G.  A.  Jacobson;  trustees, 
N.  W.  L.  Jager,  Anton  Winter,  J.  H.  Frost ; 
recorder,  A.  D.  Davidson;  treasurer,  T.  D.  Seals; 
constable,  Swen  Peterson.9 

1883 — President,  J.  C.  Peterson;  trustees, 
Anton  Winter,  J.  H.  Frost,  J.  N.  Lee;  recorder, 
J.  S.  Renninger. 

1884 — President,  J.  C.  Peterson;  trustees,  J.  H. 
Frost,  J.  N.  Lee,  Thor  Rye;  recorder,  J.  S. 
Renninger;  treasurer,  William  Davidson;  justice, 
J.  J.  Dobson;  constable,  William  Kitzinger. 

1885 — President,    J.    C.    Peterson;    trustees, 

F.  Winters,  A.  B.  Thompson,  S.  B.  Leland; 
recorder,  Frank  Johnson;  treasurer,  William 
Davidson. 

1886 — President,  J.  ('.  Peterson;  trustees, 
William  Kitzinger,  Anton  Winter,  .S.  B.  Leland; 
recorder,  Frank  Johnson;  treasurer,  William 
Davidson;  justice,  S.  E.  Sanderson;  constable, 
H.  (_).  Hanson. 

INS? — President,  J.  N.  Lee;  trustees,  G.  A. 
Dalmann,  G.  ( '.  Mantel,  A.  L.  Rye;  recorder, 
Frank  Johnson;  treasurer,  William  Davidson; 
justice,  S.  O.  Brenna. 

isss     President,    Thomas    Hanson;    trustees, 

G.  C.  Mantel,  S.  B.  Leland,  (!.  S.  Sigurdson; 
recorder,  Frank  Johnson:  treasurer,  N.  W.  L. 
Jager;  justice,  T.  D.  Seals;  constable,  P.  Fer- 
guson. 

1889— President.  C.  J.  Wimer;  trustees,  E.  B. 
Leland,  Anton  Winter,  C.  Schram;  recorder, 
Frank  Johnson;  treasurer,  X.  YV.  L.  Jager; 
justice,  M.  Ferguson;  constable,  H.  O.  Hanson. 

1890 — President,  C.  J.  Wimer;  trustees,  Anton 
Winter,  C.  Schram,  P.  Ferguson;  recorder,  Frank 
Johnson;  treasurer,  N.  W.  L.  Jager;  justices, 
T.  D.  Seals,  S.  E.  Sanderson. 

1891 — President,  N.  W.  L.  Jager;  trustees, 
(.'.  J.  Wimer,  E.  K.  Kjorness,  Syvert  Most; 
recorder,  Frank  Johnson;  treasurer,  J.  H. 
Frost;  constable,  H.  (.).  Hanson. 

1892— President,  N.  W.  L.  Jager;  trustees, 
E.  K.  Kjorness,  E.  I.  Leland,  Frank  Johnson; 
recorder,  Syvert  Most;  treasurer,  J.  H.  Frost; 
justices,  S.  Hognason,  Oscar  Rye;  constables, 
S.  P.  Heggdahl,  H.  O.  Hanson. 

1893— President,  P.  O.  French;  trustees,  C.  A. 

1896— For,  43;  against,  100. 

1897 — Against  license  by  22  majority. 

1898— For,  56;  against,  63. 

1899— For,  91  ;  against,  50. 

1900— For,  79;  against,  56. 

Since  1900  the  matter  has  been  left  in  the  hands  of 
the  Council,  and  except  the  years  1901  atid  1904 
license  has  been  granted  each  year. 

sResigned  and  on  November  22,  L881,  John  Dobson 
elected. 

'•'Did  not  qualify  and  William   Davidson  appointed. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


181 


Walker,  E.  I.  Leland,  (i.  S.  Sigurdson;  recorder, 
St.  Gilbertson;  constable,  E.  B.  Leland. 

1894  President.  M.  Ferguson;  trustees,  ( '.  P. 
kenvon,  T.  X.  Mvlire,  Henry  Moe;  recorder, 
St.  Gilbertson;  treasurer,  .lames  Steels:  justices, 

1'.   t).    French,   T.    I).   Seals;   constable,   Hugh 
Bowden,  Jr. 

1895— President,  H.  Cbamplin;  trustees,  M. 
Ferguson,  I).  M.  Walrath,  J.  ('.  Peterson; 
recorder,  St.  Gilbertson;  treasurer,  E.  I.  Leland; 
constable,  Joseph  Alexson. 

1896 — President,  M.  Ferguson;  trustees,  B. 
Jones,  'I'.  X.  Wyhre,  D.  C.  Pierce;  recorder,  St. 
Gilbertson;  treasurer,  K.  I.  Leland;  justice-. 
P.  <>.  French,  T.  D.  Seals;  constable,  L.  B. 
Stowell. 

1897-  President,  G.  A.  Dahnann;  trustees, 
]).  ('.  Pierce,  E.  I.  Leland,  T.  X.  Myhre;  recorder, 
St.  Gilbertson;  treasurer,  ( '.  M.  Gislason;  con- 
stable, ( ).  J.  Moe. 

ISDN-  President,  H.  X.  Dahl;  trustees,  11.  (>. 
Hanson,  E.  B.  Leland,  S.  A.  Anderson;  recorder. 
St.  Gilbertson;  treasurer,  0.  L.  Dorr;  justices, 
P.  ( >.  French,  G.  B.  Bjornson;  constable,  L.  B. 
Stowell. 

1899  President,  H.  X.  Dahl;  trustees,  A.  J. 
Kile,  S.  A.  Anderson,  M.  Ferguson;  recorder, 
St.  Gilbertson;  treasurer,  <  >.  L.'Dorr;  assessor, 
L.  T.  Thompson;  constables,  W.  J.  Salmon, 
0.  J.  Moe. 

I'dOO— President,  H.  N.  Dahl;  trustees,  M. 
Ferguson,  S.  A.  Anderson,  A.  J.  Kile;  recorder, 
St.  Gilbertson;  treasurer,  O.  L.  Dorr;  assessor, 
L.  T.  Thompson;  justices,  G.  B.  Bjornson.  11.  I  >. 
Hanson. 

1901— President,  H.  N.  Dahl;  trustees,  S.  A. 
Anderson,  M.  Ferguson,  H.  O.  Hanson;  recorder, 
M.  E.  Drake;  treasurer,  O.  L.  Dorr;  justice,  T.  D. 
Seals;  constable,  O.  J.  Moe. 

1902 — President,  St.  Gilbertson;  trustees,  H. 
O.  Hanson,  S.  A.  Anderson,  K.  E.  Kjorness; 
recorder,  M.  E.  Drake;  treasurer,  O.  L.  Dorr; 
assessor,  N.  A.  Anderson;  justice,  P.  0.  French. 

1903 — President,  St.  Gilbertson;  trustees, 
S.  A.  Anderson,  H.  O.  Hanson,  F.  A.  Kingsley; 
recorder,  M.  E.  Drake;  treasurer,  0.  L.  Dorr; 
assessor,  O.  J.  Moe;  justice,  T.  D.  Seals;  consta- 
bles, W.  J.  Salmon,  George  Benson. 

1904 — President,  St.  Gilbertson;  trustees,  H. 
O.  Hanson,  S.  A.  Anderson,  George  Geiwitz; 
recorder,  F.  A.  Kingsley;  treasurer,  O.  L.  Dorr. 

1905 — President,  St.  Gilbertson;  trustees,  W. 
A.  Crowe,  George  Geiwitz,  S.  A.  Anderson; 
recorder,  G.  C.  Lee;  treasurer,  O.  L.  Dorr; 
assessor,  L.  J.  Jerpbak. 

1906— President,  St.  Gilbertson;  trustees,  S. 
A.  Anderson,  W.  A.  Crowe,  George  Geiwitz; 
recorder,  G.  C.  Lee;  treasurer,  O.  L.  Dorr; 
assessor,  L.  J.  Jerpbak;  justice,  P.  O.  French. 

1907 — President,  James  McGinn;  trustees, 
T.  F.  Walsh,  E.  T.  Sanderson,  H.  J.  Mackechnie; 
recorder,  D.  C.  Pierce;  treasurer,  O.  L.  Dorr; 
assessor,  L.  J.  Jerpbak. 

1908— Preside-.it,  P.  O.  French;  trustees,  G.  <>. 
Funden,    J.    F.    Finnegan,     H.    E.    Knutson; 

l0"A  law  portion  of  the  immigrants  tt>  this  county 
for  the  pasl  three  or  four  years  settled  about  Mi  unci  it  a. 
and  as  a  consequence  the  country  tributary  to  that 
town  is  the  most  thickly  settled  of  any  in  the  county. 
Minneota    is    constantly    realizing    benefits    of    various 


recorder,  1).  C.  Pierce;  treasurer,  <  >.  L.  Dorr; 
assessor,  A.  J.  Kelley;  justice,  P.  M.  Berg;  con- 
stable, W.  .).  Salmon. 

I'.k lit— President,  P.  ( ).  French;  trustees,  H.  H. 
Groesinger,  J.  F.  Finnegan,  George  Benson; 
recorder,  A.  P.  Gislason;  treasurer,  0.  L.  Dorr; 
assessor.  L.  J.  Jerpbak;  justice,  James  McGinn; 
constables,  W.  H.  Loomis,  ( ).  H.  Werpy. 

I '.i  10  -President,  II.  X.  Dahl;  trustees,  H.  G. 
Johnson,  A.  J.  Kelley,  George  Benson;  recorder, 
A.  B.  Gislason;  treasurer.  <).  L.  Dorr;  assessor, 
P.  O.  French;  justice,  T.  M.  Burke. 

PHI — President,  W.  H.  Deen;  trustees, 
George  Benson,  G.  O.  Funden,  T.  P.  Culshaw; 
recorder,  H.  G.  Johnson;  treasurer,  L.  M.  Ler- 
wick; assessor,  H.  N.  Dahl;  constables,  W.  J. 
Salmon,  O.  H.  Werpy. 

1912 — President,  W.  H.  Deen;  trustees, 
George  Benson,  T.  P.  Culshaw,  G.  O.  Funden; 
recorder,  H.  G.  Johnson;  treasurer,  L.  M. 
Lerwick;  justices,  P.  O.  French,  G.  W.  Liver- 
more. 

Minneota's  progress  during  the  early 
eighties  was  substantial.  Its  growth 
«a  :  proportionate  with  the  settlement 
and  development  of  the  surrounding 
country  and  was  augmented  by  being 
made  the  center  of  the  Catholic  colony 
established  by  Bishop  Ireland.  The 
location  of  the  colony  of  Icelanders  in 
the  vicinity  also  added  to  the  growth  of 
the  village.10  In  the  spring  of  1882  the 
following  lines  of  business  were  repre- 
sented in  Minneota:  One  bank,  five 
general  stores,  two  hardware  stores,  two 
hotels,  three  saloons,  one  drug  store, 
one  wagon  shop,  two  blacksmith  shops, 
two  shoe  shops,  one  harness  shop,  one 
livery  stable,  two  lumber  yards,  one 
"rain  elevator,  two  grain  warehouses, 
one  feed  mill,  two  dealers  in  agricultural 
implements,  one  lime  house,  one  coal 
dealer,  one  meat  market,  one  church  and 
parsonage,  and  one  school  house. 

A  directory  published  in  18S4  listed 

the  following: 

Davidson  Brothers,  Bank  of  Minneota. 

N.  W.  L.  Jager,  general  merchandise. 

T.  Hanson,  dry  goods  and  groceries. 

T.  D.  Seals,  dry  goods  and  groceries 

Ole  O.  Brenna,  dry  goods  and  groceries. 

Hanson   Brothers,    hardware,   furniture,    ma- 
chinery, livery. 

kinds  on  account  of  this  acquisition,  and  the  growth 
of    thai     village,    though    not     particularly    rapid    or 

spasmodic,  is  steady  and  all  its  business  men  are  on 
the  road  to  prosperity."  Marshall  News-Messenger, 
March  20,  1885, 


182 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Thor  Rye,  hardware  and  tinware. 
Frost  &  Peterson,  groceries. 
Wimer  Brothers,  drugs. 
Dennis  Cahil,  groceries. 
George  Mantel,  shoes. 
Anton  Winter,  harness. 
T.  D.  Seals,  meat  market. 
G.  A.  Dalmann,  feed  mill. 
C.  P.  Kenyon,  farm  machinery. 
P.  Ferguson,  hotel. 
S.  B.  Leland,  blacksmith. 
Arney  Rye,  blacksmith. 
Swend  Peterson,  saloon. 
W.  Hester,  saloon. 

J.   C.  Peterson,   agent  Laird-Norton  Lumber 
Company. 

William  Davidson,  agent  L.  C.  Porter  Elevator 

Company. 

G.   N.   Lee,   agent  Van  Dusen  &  Company, 

elevator. 

J.    R.    Smith,    depot    agent    and    telegraph 

operator. 

Doctors  Wimer,  Renninger  and  Sanderson. 

Minneota  had   attained  a  population 
of   325    when   the    census    of    1890    was 
taken.     At   the  beginning  of  that   year 
the  following  were  engaged  in  busines  s 
and  the  professions,  according  to  a  list 
prepared     by     the     Marshall     Reporter: 
Ferguson  Brothers,  groceries,  shoes  and 
agricultural  machinery;  G.  S.  Sigurdson, 
who  managed  the  Verzlunarfelag  Islen- 
dinga,     a     co-operative    general    store; 
Thomas    Hanson,    general    store,    ware- 
house  and   bank;   T.    D.    Seals,    general 
merchandise  store:  X.  W.  L.  .lager,  the 
pioneer  store;  James  Steel,  the  Bank  of 
Minneota;    R.    M.    Addison,    a    branch 
hardware  store;  George  Mantel,  grocery 
and  shoe  store;  G.  A.  Dalmann,  grocery 
store;    Kile    &    Winter,    harness    shop; 
C.  J.  Wimer,  drug  store  and  stationery; 
Olof  Rye,  jewelry  store;  Mary  Rye.  tin 
shop,  stoves  and  furniture:  S.   B.  Leland, 
wagon    and    blacksmith    shop;     William 
Kitzinger,  Tremont  Hotel;  Sy vert  Most, 
shoe    shop;    J.    C.    Peterson,    who    had 
charge     of     the     Laird-Norton     lumber 

n"We  wen  somewhat  surprised  last  week  on  a  visit 
to  Minneota  to  see  the  marked  improvement  the 
village  has  made  this  season.  About,  twenty  new- 
buildings  have  been  erected,  some  of  them  expensive 
residences.  Several  new  two-story  business  houses 
have  also  sprung  up,  and  a  four-story  roller  mill  is 
being  built  by  a  stock  company.  It  will  have  a 
capacity  of  about  100  barrels  a  day\  with  power  and 
room  for  more  when  needed.  A  -late  bank  has  also 
been   organized   and    Minneota    is    making   a   creditable 


yards;  E.  1L  Leland,  manager  of  the 
L.  C.  Porter  Milling  Company's  eleva- 
tor; E.  I.  Leland,  manager  of  the 
Marfield  &  Company's  elevator  and  coal 
yard;  B.  Jones,  meat  market  and  wood 
yard;  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company,  land  office;  W.  A.  Crowe, 
saloon;  H.  P.  Ferguson,  saloon;  V. 
Anderson  and  A.  C.  Heiret.  draymen; 
C.  P.  Kenyon,  postmaster;  Dr.  San- 
'  iierson,  physician. 

During  the  early  nineties,  prior  to  the 
panic  and  the  beginning  of  the  hard 
times  period.  Minneota  made  steady 
progress.  The  year  1892  was  an  ex- 
ceptionally progressive  one  and  many 
improvements  were  made.11  For  a  few 
years  in  the  middle  nineties  the  village 
was  at  -  a  i  tandstill  because  of  the 
prevailing  financial  stringency.  The 
population  was  512  in  1895. 

Minneota  Inn.  progressed  steadily  dur- 
ing the  last  fifteen  years  of  its  history 
and  has  taken  its  place  as  one  of  the 
up-to-date,  wide-awake  little  villages  of 
Southwestern  Minnesota.  It  has  a  num- 
ber of  public  improvements,  including  a 
waterworks  system  installed  in  1901. 
The  population  had  increased  to  777  in 
1900,  and  five  years  later  it  was  954. 
The  census  of  1910  showed  a  slight 
falling  off,  the  enumeration  disclosing 
a  population  of  819. 

THE    SCHOOLS. 

The'  Minneota  public  school  system 
has    grown    from    humble    beginnings. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  the  rail- 
road section  house  in  187o  by  Leora 
Coleman,12  and  that  building  was  used 

record  as  a  promising  town." — Marshall  Reporter, 
August  IS,  1892. 

I'^Among  the  teachers  who  have  had  charge  of  the 
Minneota  schools  are  the  following,  only  the  superin- 
tendents being  listed  since  the  schools  were  graded: 
Fannie  Erskine,  Mrs.  P.  O.  French.  C.  J.  Wimer, 
P  O  French,  D.  C.  Pierce,  Mrs.  C.  J.  Y\  nner,  C.  <  >. 
Anderson.  ('.  C.  Wilson,  J.  P.  Byrne,  F.  F.  Buckley, 
C    A     Braley,    B.   A.    Wallace,    L.    L.   Cornwell,   J.   J. 


LIC  LIB 


T:L&t 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


183 


as  the  school  house  until  1879.  The 
great  progress  made  by  the  village  in 
L878  brought  a  demand  for  better  school 
facilities,  and  in  October  of  that  year 
the  school  board  was  authorized  by  the 
voters  to  issue  bonds  to  the  amount  of 
$1200  to  build  a  school  hou  e.  Thi ; 
was-  done  and  in  the  spring  of  1879  a 
school  lion  e  was  completed. 

In  1893  a  four-room  brick  school 
home  was  erected,  bonds  to  the  amount 
of  $6000  having  been  voted  for  the 
purpose  the  year  before.  Seven  years 
later  the  voters  of  the  district  authorized 
the  expenditure  of  $5000  more  to  pro- 
vide additional  school  facilitie 

The  Minneota  schools  were  organized 
under  the  independent  district  plan 
May  1,  1900,  and  a  little  later  a  high 
school  course  was  added.  The  first 
class  was  graduated  in  1904.13 

About  300  pupils  are  now  enrolled  in 
the  Minneota  schools.  Prof.  Arnold 
Gloor  is  superintendent  of  the  schools 
and  the  following  are  the  present  in- 
structors: Olive  Norgaard,  principal; 
Johanna  Hognason,  science  teacher; 
Bessie  M.  Jackson,  Elizabeth  Nicholson, 
Margaret  •  Lambert.  Lillian  "Wat kins, 
Anna  Welch,  Frieda  Gilbertson.  Dora 
V.  Askdal  and  Jennie  M.  Frost.  The 
Board  of  Education  is  composed  of  the 
following  named  gentlemen:  G.  B. 
Bjornson,  president:  A.  B.  Gislason, 
secretary;  H.  J.  Tillemans,  treasurer; 
L.  M.  Lerwick,  James  McGinn  and 
H.  N.  Dahl. 

Jensrud,  F.  E.  Sprout,  T.  R.  Cole,  E.  T.  Fitch,  C.  A. 
Gregory,  F.  P.  MeComb  and  Arnold  Gloor. 

13The  following  have  been  graduated  from  the 
Minneota  High  School: 

1904 — Marth  Hognason,  F.  G.  Byron  Hognas.m, 
Newel  H.  Dahl,  Jennie  M.  Frost. 

1905 — Bjarni  Anderson,  Agnes  D.  Lehmd,  Sigurd 
Peterson. 

1906 — Margaret  Mary  Langan,  Baldlir  Jonathan 
Dalmann,  William  Allan  Crowe,  Amanda  Klevan, 
June  Louise  Vvimer,  Harry  Adolph  Crowe,  Theodore 
Bernhard  Voog,  Maud  Beatrice  Leland,  Edward  George 
Geiwitz. 

1907 — Amy  T.  Dahl,  Winnie  J.  Johnson,  Christine 
V.  Dalmann,  Eleen  G.  Eastman. 


THE   CHURCHES. 

Five  active  church  societies  are  main- 
tained in  Minneota,  namely,  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran,  Catholic,  Icelandic 
Lutheran,  Baptist  and  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran. All  have  houses  of  worship  and 
hold  service.;  regularly. 

The  first  religious  services  in  the 
village  were  conducted  in  the  Nordland 
section  house  by  Rev.  J.  Berg,  a  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  pastor.  Under  the 
direction  of  Rev.  Berg,  the  Immanuel 
Congregation  of  the  Norwegian  Synod 
was  organized  and  the  pioneer  preacher 
occupied  the  pulpit  for  a  short  time. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Knute 
Thorstonson,  who  preached  once  a 
month  for  about  two  years.  The  next 
pastor  was  Rev.  Olof  Hoel,  of  Canby, 
who  served  until  1892.  Rev.  Andrew 
Kleven  had  charge  of  the  church  from 
1S!»2  to  1909,  and  Rev.  E.  J.  Henderlie 
ha^  been  pastor  since  1910.  The  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church  of  Minneota 
has  about  450  members.  The  church 
trustees  are  Henry  Furgeson,  Ole  Esping, 
H.  O.  Skogen,  N.  B.  Nelson  and  Louis 
Anderson.  ' 

The  Catholic  colony  of  Minneota  was 
opened  to  settlers  in  the  spring  of  1SS0. 
Previous  to  that  year  His  Grace  Arch- 
bishop John  Ireland,  then  coadjutor 
bishop  of  St.  Paul,  had  begun  to  advo- 
cate the  cause  of  Catholic  colonization. 
By  means  of  lectures  delivered  in  the 
middle  and  eastern  states  and  through 
his  writings  in  the  public  press  of 
Canada,  Ireland,  England,  Belgium  and 

1908 — Jonina  P.  Jokull,  Frieda  Gilbertson,  Melville 
Sanderson,  Thora  Strand,  Olive  R.  Olafson,  Bessia 
Winnifred  Ferguson,  Mabelle  Irene  Leland,  Elvira  C. 
Josephson,  Victor  ('.  Josephson,   Dora  V.  Askdal. 

1909 — Eva  F.  Wimer,  Ellen  Askdal. 

1910 — G.  Arthur  Larson,  Fred  A.  Geiwitz,  Nellie  B. 
Dorr,  Carvel  E.  Erickson,  Bjorn  Winger,  Petrene  S. 
Johnson,  Magnhild  Orsen,  Cora  A.  Geiwitz,  Leslie  V. 
Dahl,  Susan  A.  Mullen,  Luella  B.  Hanson. 

1911 — Ella  Johnson,  Ida  Jokull,  Patsy  McGinn, 
Reuben  Pennington,  Mary  Wallin. 

1912 — Stella  A.  Cassidy,  Hazel  L.  Male,  Johanna  •'. 
Gudmundson,  Pauline  S.  Sigvaldson,  .1  me  Yeo. 


184 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Holland,  he  made  known  to  Catholic 
multitudes  the  possibilities  of  a  healthy 
and  happy  home  on  the  virgin  plains 
and  amid  the  undeveloped  resources  of 
the  big  and  bountiful  state  of  Minne- 
sota. He  was  acquainted  with  the  dire 
distress  of  the  downtrodden  masses  in 
the  congested  districts  of  large  cities. 
He  knew  that  in  lands  beyond  the  sea 
good  men  starved  in  slavery  and  fear, 
and.  like  another  Moses,  he  determined 
to  lead  them  from  their  environments 
to  the  light  and  freedom  and  the  future 
peace  and  prosperity  which  he  foresaw 
Would  reward  their  labors  in  this  Land 
of  Promise. 

With  prophetic  foresight  His  Grace 
also  realized  that  if  the  Catholic  church 
was  to  grow  and  keep  pace  with  the 
growth  and  progress  of  Minnesota,  it 
could  only  be  by  the  incoming  of  Cath- 
olic settlers  from  other  lands.  There- 
fore, for  the  future  happiness  of  the 
people,  for  the  advancement  in  these 
parts  of  the  faith  he  professed,  he 
heralded  the  call  to  Minnesota  through- 
out the  world.  In  answer  to  that  call 
many  came,  and  those  who  came  and 
persevered  through  the  privations  of 
pioneer  days  have  good  reason  feo  bless 
the  hour  they  came  and  the  great 
prelate  whose  voice  had  called  them 
hither. 

The  first  Catholic  settlers  began  to 
arrive  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1880, 
and  Father  M.  J.  Hardy  was  appointed 
to  act  as  their  pastor  and  to  help  in 
locating  them  on  their  lands.14  He  said 
mass  in  the  Minneota  depot  and  in  the 
old  log  house  west   of   Minneota  where 

1 'The  heads  of  families  which  constituted  the  initial 
membership  of  the  Minneota  Catholic  church  were  as 
follows:  Michael  Cain,  Barney  Agnew,  Philip  Lynch, 
Thomas  Rogan,  Walter  Walsh,  Martin  Finnegan, 
Patrick  McGinn,  Robert  Culshaw,  James  Kiley,  Hugh 
Bowden,  Pat  Creeden,  John  O'Connor,  Barnie  O'Hare, 
Garrett  Ahern,  William  Salmon,  John  Boulton,  Peter 
Tumulty,  Francis  McMahon,  Daniel  Mullen,  Patrick 
Langan,  James  O'Brien,  Martin  »  Langan,  William 
Garrety,  Joseph  Whitwell,  John  Braken,  William 
Lyons,  Hugh  McNamara,  John  Buckley,  Michael 
Bunce,     Bernard     Cassidy,     John     Malone,     William 


he  resided  with  a  number  of  the  colonists 
until  their  homes  were  built.  Father 
Hanly  was  succeeded  by  Father  L. 
Cornelius  in  August,  1881,  and  soon 
after  his  appointment  he  set  about 
building  the  church  and  parish  house. 
The  church  was  dedicated  under  the 
name  of  St.  Edward  the  Confessor, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  many  of  the  first 
colonists  were  English  or  had  lived  some 
time  in  England. 

Father  Cornelius  went  to  Europe  in 
the  winter  of  1882  to  promote  the  cause 
of  colonization  amongst  the  Belgians 
and  Hollanders  and  he  returned  in  the 
spring  of  1883  with  many  colonists. 
Most  of  these  settled  on  the  lands  seven 
miles  east  of  Minneota,  and,  having 
received  a  priest  of  their  own  national- 
ity, they  originated  the  present  parish 
of  Client.15  Father  Cornelius  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Father  Edward  Lee  in  March, 
1X83.  Father  Lee  was  pastor  seven 
years  and  during  those  years  endeared 
himself  to  the  people  by  the  zeal  with 
which  he  ministered  to  their  spiritual 
welfare  in  spite  of  the  privations  he  had 
to  endure.  Father  Lee  was  replaced  by 
Father  H.  Victor  in  April,  1890.  Father 
Victor  cleared  off  the  debt  that  was  in- 
curred iii  building  the  church  and  then 
went  to  live  in  Marshall,  from  which 
place  he  attended  Minneota  as  a  mission. 

.Minneota  remained  a  mission  from 
1890  to  August,  1901,  and  during  that 
period  it  was  attended  by  Fr.  Victor 
(1890-93),  Fr.  F.  Jager  (1893-95)  and 
Fr.  A.  J.  Vanden  Heuvel  (1895-01).  In 
response  to  a  petition  from  the  people 
and    a    promise    to    support    a    resident 

Reynolds,  Charles  Donnely,  John  Dobson,  Thomas 
Howard,  Michael  Dwyer,  James  Cahill,  John  Penning- 
ton, James  McMahon,  Edward  Kelley,  Peter  Hughes, 
Lawrence  McDonald,  Edward  O'Brien  and  John 
McCluskey. 

15The  Belgian  and  Holland  families  who  remained 
members  of  St.  Edward's  parish  were  those  of  Charles 
DeSutter,  John  Tillemans,  Ferdinand  Wambeke, 
Peter  Jennen,  Peter  Stassen,  Frank  Buysse,  Louis 
Traen,  Anthon  Bankers  and  Peter  Moorse. 


HISTORY  OP  LYON  COT  NT  V. 


1  s:> 


pastor,  Archbishop  [reland  appointed 
Father  Murlowski  to  the  pastoral  charge 
of  St.  Edward's  congregation  in  August, 
1901 .  At  that  time  the  people  rebuilt 
the  parish  house,  expending  thereon 
$1251.  Father  Murlowski  died  after  an 
operation  in  Rochester  in  January,  L903. 
Father  A.  Schaefer  became  pastor  the 
same  year  and  guided  the  destinies  of 
St.  Edward's  until  September  10.  I'M).-), 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
pastor,  Father  W.  J.  Stewart. 

The  parish  has  progressed  rapidly 
under  the  administration  of  Father 
Stewart.  Owing  to  his  tireless  activity 
during  the  years  of  his  pastorate  the 
Catholic  cemetery  has  been  enlarged  and 
beautified,  the  church  has  been  repainted 
without  and  redecorated  within,  the 
assessment  of  $2200  for  the  new  cathe- 
dral at  St.  Paul  has  been  paid  in  full. 
$13,300  has  been  subscribed  toward  the 
building  of  a  new  parish  church,  and  a 
block  of  land — one  of  the  finest  in  the 
village — has  been  purchased  on  liberal 
terms  from  John  O'Connor  as  the  site 
for  the  future  developments  of  this 
progressive  parish.  The  congregation 
at  the  present  writing  consists  of  about 
350  members.  The  church  trustees  are 
Philip  Ahem,  secretary,  and  Harry  J. 
Tillemans,  treasurer.  Mr.  Tillemans  suc- 
ceeded Robert  Culshaw,  who  died  May 
7,  1912,  and  who  for  thirty  years  was 
treasurer,  organist  and  conductor  of  the 
choir  of  St.  Edward's  parish. 

An  Icelandic  Lutheran  society  was 
organized  so  early  as  1880,  but  St. 
Paul's  Church  was  not  founded  until 
October  27,  1887.  The  first  members 
and  church  officers  were  G.  S.  Sigurdson, 

16The  first  members  of  the  Baptist  church  were 
Nathan  N.  Smart,  Rebecca  Smart,  Nellie  Smith,  Mrs. 
A.  M.  Olson,  Mrs.  Alice  Cole,  Mrs.  Richard  Bliss,  Mrs. 
Rhoda  French,  Mrs.  C.  J.  Wimer,  Miss  Pratt,  Mr.  and 
Mrs  C.  D.  Bremer,  George  W.  Carpenter,  William 
Carpenter,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ed.  North,  Mrs.  John  Ferguson, 
W.  F.  Smith,  Agnes  Miller,  Charles  M.  Anderson,  Miss 
Gertrude  Barlow,  C.  R.  Bremer,  Miss  Anne  Bremer, 
Miss    Erne    Bliss,    Frank    W.    Carpenter,    Miss    Hester 


president;  J.  II.  Frost,  secretary  and 
treasurer;  F.  1!.  Johnson,  C.  (1.  Schram 
and  St.  Gilbertson.  Rev.  X.  S.  Thor- 
laksson  was  the  first  pastor  and  served 
from  1887  to  1894.  Rev.  B.  B.  Jonsson 
has  been  pastor  since  that  time. 

St.  Paul's  Church  was  incorporated 
July  24,  1891,  and  the  parsonage  was 
built  that  year.  The  church  home  was 
built  in  189")  and  dedicated  December 
8  of  that  year.  Rev.  Sigurdson,  of 
Winnipeg,  Rev.  Jonsson,  of  Minneota, 
and  Prof.  Sanders,  of  St.  Peter,  con- 
ducted the  dedicatory  services.  The 
value  of  the  church  property  is  $7000. 
The  present  membership  is  250.  The 
members  of  the  church  council  are  G.  B. 
Bjornson,  B.  Jones,  G.  A.  Anderson, 
H.  G.  Johnson,  K.  S.  Askdal,  P.  P. 
Jokull  and  A.  R.  Johnson.  Auxiliary 
societies  maintained  are  Sunday  School, 
Luther  League  and  Ladies  Aid  Society. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Minneota 
was  organized  in  1896.  Prior  to  that 
time  services  were  held  occasionally, 
conducted  by  visiting  clergymen  and 
theological  students.  The  organization 
of  the  Minneota  church  was  brought 
about  through  the  labors  of  Rev.  E.  R. 
McKinney,  then  pastor-at-large  for 
Southwestern  Minnesota,  and  Rev.  E.  R. 
Pope.  It  began  with  a  membership  of 
thirty-four.16  N.  N.  Smart  and  C.  D. 
Bremer  were  the  first  deacons  and  P.  O. 
French  was  the  first  clerk  of  the  society. 
Rev.  E.  R.  D.  Hollensted  was  installed 
as  the  first  pastor.17 

A  Baptist  church  edifice  was  com- 
pleted in  the  spring  of  1897  at  a  cost  of 
$1200.  The  church  now  has  a  member- 
ship of  twenty-five.     Services  are  held 

Cummins,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  C.  Dale,  Mrs.  B.  C.  Franzen. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Gee,  Miss  Gertrude  Gee,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  C.  W.  Goodrich,  Miss  Ethel  Goodrich. 

i?The  following  have  served  as  pastors  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Minneota:  E.  R.  D.  Hollensted, 
1896-9S;  C.  R.  Upton,  1899-00;  W.  D.  Dye,  1901-02; 
N  J  Hilton,  1903-05;  J.  D.  Nichols,  1907-08;  students 
and  visiting  pastors,  1908-11;  J.  M.  Brown,  1911-12. 


186 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


every  other  Sabbath,  the  pastor  also 
having  charge  of  the  church  at  Canby. 
The  deacons  of  the  church  are  P.  O. 
French  and  John  Yeo.  Mrs.  French  is 
clerk  and  Mr.  French  treasurer  of  the 
society. 

The  church  of  the  Immanuel  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Congregation  of  Min-» 
neota,  affiliated  with  ,  the  Norwegian 
Synod  of  North  America,  was  organized 
April  18,  1898,  by  fourteen  families.18 
The  first  officers  of  the  church  were  H. 
N.  Dahl,  president;  G.  C.  Lee,  secretary; 
O.  J.  Wignes,  treasurer;  I.  N.  Olevson, 
S.  P.  Hegdahl  and  W.  H.  Deen,  trustees. 

For  six  months  after  the  organization 
services  were  conducted  by  missionary 
pastors   of  the   Synod,    and   then   Rev. 

A.  J.  Nervig  was  installed  as  pastor  and 
the  pulpit  has  since  been  regularly 
supplied.19  The  church  home  was  Good 
Templars'  Hall  for  two  years,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1900  the  present  house  of 
worship  was  put  up  at  a  cost  of  $2400. 
The  present  membership  is  about  fifty 
and  the  following  are  the  church  officers: 
Rev.  B.  B.  Jonsson,  president;  Ole  I. 
Lee,  secretary  and  treasurer;  W.  H. 
Deen,  I.  N.  Olevson  and  John  (!. 
Geiwitz,  trustees.  Services  are  held 
every  third  Sabbath. 

18The  families  constituting  the  initial  membership 
of  Immanuel  church  were  those  of  H.  N.  Uahl,  W.  H. 
Deen,  I.  N.  Olevson,  O.  J.  Wignes,  S.  P.  Hegdahl, 
O.  J.  Moe,  P.  R.  Myers,  O.  G.  Reese,  H.  C.  Lee,  G.  C. 
Lee,  O.  I.  Lee,  Edor  Myers,  N.  W.  L.  Jager  and  K.  E. 
Fodnes. 

l0The  following  have  been  pastors  of  the  Evangelica 
Lutheran  church:  A.  J.  Nervig,  1898-01;  Sorenson* 
1901-06;  O.  M.  Gullerud,  1906-10;  B.  B.  Jonsson- 
1911-12. 

20The  charter  members  of  Minneota  Camp  were 
John  E.  Berg,  Charles  D.  Blaker,  G.  B.  Bjornson, 
H.  L.  Champlin,  J.  M.  Collins,  G.  A.  Dalmann,  Nels  P. 
Frederickson,  Martin  Furgeson,  St.  Gilbertson,  Walter 

B.  Gislason,  Frank  Hinkley,  Frank  R.  Johnson,  Ole  I. 
Lee,  James  Meaghan,  M.  H.  Marcuson,  Samuel  J. 
Swenson,  Saras  Sorenson,  John  Stephenson,  S.  E. 
Sanderson  and  Dell  M.  Walrath.  The  present  members 
holding  office  in  the  lodge  are  A.  E.  Arntson,  J.  G. 
Geiwitz,  J.  F.  Finnegan,  S.  B.  Erickson,  H.  G.  Johnson, 
George  Benson,  M.  F.  Klaith,  P.  M.  Berg,  W.  H.  Deen 
and  Martin  Peterson. 

2lCharter  members  of  Alpha  Lodge  were  Betsy  Kile, 
Otto  Anderson,  J.  F.  Finnegan,  P.  G.  Schram,  S. 
Walter  Jonason,  Olophena  Werpy,  W.  J.  Salmon, 
Martin  Furgeson,  Jonina  Holm,  Minnie  E.  Stowell, 
Mrs.  W.  B.  Gislason,  Dimphena  Meagljan,  Clara  E. 
Van  Tassel,  Eliza  Sanderson,  Edwin  O.  Ageton,  Alice 
Wimer,    Eveline    Ringham,    Betsey    Moe,    Mrs.    J.    G. 


THE    LODGES. 

Minneota  Camp  No.  2385,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  is  the  oldest 
fraternal  order  in  Minneota.  It  was 
organized  August  20,  1894, 20  and  has 
had  a  prosperous  existence.  The  pres- 
ent membership  in  good  standing  is  151. 

Alpha  Lodge  No.  1382,  Royal  Neigh- 
bors of  America,  was  organized  February 
27,  1899,  and  is  still  an  active  organiza- 
tion.-1 

Minneota  Lodge  No.  200,  Independ- 
ent Order  Odd  Fellows,  was  instituted 
February  9,  1901,  by  Grand  Master 
Alex  Van  Praag.  It  was  organized  with 
a  small  membership22  but  has  had  a 
prosperous  life  and  now  has  twenty- 
three  members. 

Equality  Lodge  No.  238,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  was  organized  April  4,  1901,  with 
ten  charter  members.23  Thirty-two 
members  are  now  on  the  rolls  and 
regular  meetings  are  held  at  Masonic 
Hall. 

Homestead  Lodge  No.  778,  Brother- 
hood American  Yeomen,  was  instituted 
September  14,  1901,  by  W.  D.  Bryant.24 
The  present  membership  is  thirty-nine. 

St,  Edward's  Court  No.  1498,  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters,  was  instituted  Sep- 

Hunter,  Zella  M.  Ageton,  Anna  O.  Hanson,  Mrs.  H.  L. 
Drake,  Anna  Reese  and  Emma  McConnell. 

22The  following  were  first  members  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  lodge:  J.  G.  Hunter,  J.  B.  Gardner,  S.  Mag- 
nuson,  P.  O.  French,  K.  K.  Mohn,  D.  M.  Walrath, 
M.  B.  McAIister,  J.  E.  Berg,  A.  E.  Walrath  and  P.  M. 
Berg.  The  principal  officers  at  present  are  L.  M. 
Lerwick,  G.  H.  Jonathan,  S.  B.  Erickson  and  P.  M. 
Berg. 

"The  charter  members  were  as  follows:  G.  A 
Dalmann,  C.  M.  Gislason,  S.  M.  S.  Askdal,  W.  A. 
Crowe,  I.  N.  Olevson,  J.  C.  Rogde,  P.  O.  French,  H.  J. 
Moe,  G.  B.  Bjornson  and  E.  I.  Leland.  The  present 
officers  of  the  lodge  are  L.  M.  Lerwick,  Theodore 
Thordarson,  A.  B.  Gislason,  B.  B.  Gislason,  Arnold 
Gloor, .  G.  A.  Dalmann,  C.  E.  Anderson,  H.  J.  Moe, 
Arthur  E.  Arntson  and  P.  O.  French. 

24Charter  members  of  the  Yeomen  lodge  were  J.  J. 
McGinn,  K.  K.  Mohn,  O.  C.  Spillum,  W.  H.  Lewis, 
Andrew  Anderson,  G.  S.  Sigurdson,  Nels  A.  Anderson, 
Edwin  O.  Ageton,  J.  B.  Gardner,  C.  A.  Knutson, 
Cornelius  Kiley,  W.  M.  Flemming,  G.  B.  Bjornson, 
Lewis  L.  DeSutter,  G.  Rofnson,  Frank  O'Neal,  Bert 
O'Neal,  C.  V.  Arneson,  August  Princen,  Albert  J. 
Johnson,  Elmer  O'Neal,  A.  J.  McGinn  and  John  A. 
Peterson.  The  present  members  holding  office  are 
P.  M.  Berg.  T.  P.  Culshaw,  A.  J.  McGinn,  6.  H.  Werpy, 
C.  E.  Culshaw,  A.  W.  Berg,  Mrs.  O.  H.  Werpy  arid 
Mrs.  P.  M.  Berg. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


187 


tember8,  1904,  by  Deputy  Blissenbach,      chemicals,  one  hook  and  ladder  truck, 
of  Mankato.25     The  lodge  at  present  has      and  1200  feet  of  hose, 
fourteen  members. 


THE   LIBRARY. 

The  Minneota  News  and  Art  Club 
founded  a  library  in  1901  and  conducted 
it  two  years.  The  club  then  turned  it 
over  to  the  village  and  its  management 
has  since  been  vested  in  the  Village 
Council.  The  library,  which  contains 
about  1000  volumes,  is  on  the  second 
floor  of  the  city  hall  and  is  open  to  the 
public  on  Wednesday  and  Saturday 
evenings  of  each  week.  Librarians  who 
have  been  in  charge  since  it  has  been 
conducted  by  the  village  have  been 
Hannah  Dahl,  1903-04;  S.  Hognason. 
1904-05;  Edith  B.  Seals,  1905-12.  The 
library  board  is  composed  of  Edith  B. 
Seals,  president;  E.  T.  Sanderson,  secre- 
tary; H.  J.  Tillemans,  treasurer;  Ella 
Benson,  B.  B.  Gislason,  S.  B.  Erickson, 
Hannah  Hognason,  Arnold  Gloor  and 
B.  B.  Jonsson. 

THE    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  Minneota  Fire  Department  is  one 
of  the  oldest  fire  fighting  organizations 
of  Lyon  county.  It  came  into  being  as 
a  result  of  a  fire  in  the  summer  of  1885 
which  destroyed  the  Van  Dusen  eleva- 
tor. The  department  was  organized 
September  15,  1885,  with  W.  A.  Crowe 
as  chief.  A  little  apparatus  was  pur- 
chased at  that  time  and  a  small  building- 
erected  to  house  it. 

The  department  now  has  forty  mem- 
bers and  the  following  are  the  principal 
officers:  P.  M.  Berg,  chief;  O.  I.  Lee, 
secretary;  W.  P.  Tillemans,  treasurer. 
The  apparatus  is  housed  in  the  city  hall 
and    consists    of    two    hose    carts,    two 

25The  charter  members  of  St.  Edward's  Court  were 
A.  J.  Kelley,  Rev.  Schaefer,  H.  J.  Tillemans,  C.  Cul- 
shaw,  G.  F.  Ahem,  M.  F.  Ahem,  M.  J.  Finnegan, 
E.  B.  Kiley,  J.  Wemerskeshen,  W.  J.  Moughan,  Edward 


THE   BANKS. 

Minneota  has  two  banking  institu- 
tions, the  First  National  Bank  and  the 
Farmers  and  Merchants  National  Bank. 
The  banking  history  of  the  village 
antedates  the  establishment  of  either  of 
these  institutions,  however.  In  the 
early  eighties  William  Davidson  and 
A.  D.  Davidson  founded  the  Bank  of 
Minneota  and  conducted  it  as  a  private 
banking  house  for  a  number  of  years 
under  the  firm  name  of  Davidson 
Brothers. 

The  State  Bank  of  Minneota,  the 
predecessor  of  the  present  First  National 
Bank,  was  established  in  1892.  John 
Swenson  was  the  first  president  and  he 
has  ever  since  been  at  the  head  of  the 
institution.  O.  L.  Dorr  was  the  first 
cashier  and  he  continued  in  that  position 
until  after  the  reorganization  into  the 
First  National  Bank.  L.  M.  Lerwick 
was  made  cashier  in  July,  1910.  The 
building  occupied  by  the  bank  was 
erected  in  1902.  The  capital  stock  of 
the  First  National  is  $30,000. 

The  Farmers  and  Merchants  National 
Bank  was  organized  in  1903  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $25,000  and  with  the 
following  first  officers:  W.  A.  Crowe, 
president;  C.  J.  Wimer,  vice  president; 
E.  I.  Leland,  cashier;  F.  M.  Ahern, 
assistant  cashier.  Mr.  Crowe  retained 
the  presidency  until  January,  1912, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  A.  J.  Kile. 
Mr.  Wimer  was  succeeded  as  vice  presi- 
dent in  1906  by  C.  K.  Melby,  and  the 
latter  a  year  later  by  A.  J.  Kile.  M.  F. 
Ahern  was  made  cashier  at  the  begin- 
ning of   1905,   C.    K.    Melby  in   March, 

Langan,  D.  F.  Salmon  and  Frank  Tiemesson.  The 
present  office  holders  of  the  order  are  H.  J.  Tillemans, 
Edward  O'Connor,  A.  J.  McGinn,  E.  G.  Langon,  T.  P. 
Culshaw,  J.  Rogan  and  F.  Tiemesson. 


188 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


1905,  and  H.  J.  Tillemans,  the  present 
cashier,  at  the  beginning  of  1906.  Mr. 
Tillemans  succeeded  Mr.  Ahern  as  as- 
sistant cashier  in  1905  and  the  next  year 
S.  B.  Erickson  succeeded  to  the  office. 
The  home  of  the  bank  was  erected  in 
1903. 

The  growth  of  the  business  of  the 
Farmers  and  Merchants  National  Bank 
has  been  rapid.     According  to  a  state- 


ment made  November  10,  1905,  just 
before  Mr.  Tillemans  became  cashier,  the 
resources  of  the  bank  were  only  $87,- 
902.04.  A  statement  made  April  18, 
1912,  showed  that  the  resources  had 
advanced  to  $433,914.49.  The  deposits 
at  that  time  were  $365,430.06.  The 
bank  has  a  surplus  and  undivided  profits 
of  $25,000,  and  is  rated  one  of  the 
sound  institutions  of  Lyon  county. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


COTTONWOOD— 1 888-191 2. 


COTTONWOOD  is  one  of  the 
younger  villages  of  Lyon  county, 
but  its  growth  during  the  twenty- 
four  years  of  its  existence  has  been  sub- 
stantial. Today  it  ranks  as  the  county's 
fourth  town  in  size,  with  a  population 
of  770  according  to  the  last  census. 
The  village  is  a  prosperous  one  and  is 
situated  in  the  midst  of  an  excellent 
farming  country.  It  is  built  on  the 
bank  of  Cottonwood  lake  and  has  one 
of  the  finest  townsites  in  Lyon  county. 
Cottonwood  is  in  the  extreme  north- 
eastern corner  of  the  county,  on  section 
9,  Lucas  township,  and  is  a  station  of 
the  Great  Northern  railroad. 

Settlers  first  located  in  the  vicinity 
in  the  early  seventies,  but  because  of 
the  distance  from  markets  the  develop- 
ment of  that  part  of  the  county  was  not 
so  great  as  that  of  the  portions  lying  in 
proximity  to  the  railroad.  When  the 
Willmar  &  Sioux  Falls  (Great  Northern) 
railroad  was  built  through  the  county  in 
1888  northeastern  Lyon  county  became 
rapidly  filled  with  settlers  and  the  vil- 
lage of  Cottonwood  was  founded  and 
had  a  rapid  growth. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  pre- 

xThe  Marshall  News-Messenger  of  November  11, 
1887,  said:  "While  we  have  not  official  authority  for 
locating  the  stations  in  this  county,  we  have  sufficient 
indications  to  pronounce  the  following  locations  as 
quite  certainly  decided  on:  The  first  station  will  be 
at  Cottonwood  lake,  about  fourteen  miles  distant  and 
six  and  one-half  miles  this  side  of  Hanley  Falls.     This 


liminary  steps  toward  the  building  of 
the  new  railroad  were  taken  in  1887  and 
that  the  roadbed  was  graded  that  year. 
No  steps  were  taken  that  early  to  found 
any  of  the  towns  along  the  proposed 
line  but  there  Avas  speculation  as  to 
their  probable  location  and  it  was  early 
rumored  that  one  of  the  stations  in 
Lyon  county  would  be  on  the  shores  of 
Cottonwood  lake.  The  first  mention  in 
the  public  prints  we  find  of  a  prospective 
town  there  was  in  the  Marshall  News- 
Messenger  of  September  9,  1887,  which 
said:  "Cottonwood  lake  is  without 
doubt  the  prettiest  sheet  of  water,  next 
to  Lake  Benton,  in  this  part  of  the  state, 
and  a  station  will  be  located  there.  It 
will  prove  a  great  resort  in  summer  for 
all  people  hereabouts  and  no  more 
beautiful  location  for  a  town  can  be 
found  anywhere." 

Late  in  the  same  season  the  railroad 
authorities  selected  the  sites  for  all  the 
stations,  although  they  were  not  offi- 
cially announced  to  the  public  and  there 
was  no  intention  of  platting  the  sites 
until  the  road  was  constructed.1  Work 
on  the  road  was  resumed  in  1888,  and 
in    May   of   that    year   it    was   officially 


will  be  an  important  station,  beautiful  in  location, 
upon  a  fine  lake,  and  must  become  a  favored  summer 
resort  for  our  people.  In  its  charming  surroundings 
it  is  unequalled  by  any  place  in  this  section  of  country, 
save  Lake  Benton.  The  railroad  will  control  the 
townsite  and  intends  to  make  it  a  first-class  town." 


190 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


announced  that  one  of  the  stations  charge  of  C.  T.  Hanson.  The  next  en- 
would  be  on  Cottonwood  lake  and  that  terprise  started  was  by  Martin  Norseth, 
its  name  would  be  Cottonwood.  The  who  in  September  received  several  cars 
rails  were  laid  on  the  new  line  in  August  of  lumber  and  engaged  in  the  lumber 
and  train  service  was  begun  north  of  business.  The  same  month  he  started 
Marshall  on  September  11.  Before  that  a  store  building  and  before  the  close  of 
event  occurred  preparations  had  been  the  year  opened  a  hardware  store,  which 
made  for  founding  Cottonwood.  was  soon  afterward  sold  to  Sperber  & 

The  founders  were  C.   B.   Tyler  and  Hunzicker. 

J.  G.  Schutz,  of  Marshall.     They  pur-  The  railroad  was  completed  in  August 

chased  from  Dr.   Lange,  of  New  York  and  train  service  begun  on  September  1 1 . 

City,    372    acres   of  land   on   section   9,  W-   L-    Barnett  became  the  first   agent 

Lucas    township,    for   which   they   paid  and  was  the  first  permanent  resident  of 

$18  per  acre.     In  July,  1888,  they  laid  the  village.     In  partnership  with  Martin 

out   the   townsite,    consisting   of   about  Norseth  he  engaged  in  the  coal  business, 

forty  acres,  on  the  northeast  and  south-  J°h^  Sturman  dug  a  well  and  erected  a 

east  quarters  of  the  section.     The  plat  water  tank  for  the  railroad  company  in 

was  surveyed  by  C.  L.  Van  Fleet  July  September,    and  in   October  the   depot 

27    and    the    dedication    was    made    by  was  erected. 


Messrs.  Tyler  and  Schutz  on  the  last  day 
of  the  month.  It  consisted  of  nine 
blocks  and  included  land  on  both  sides 
of  the  railroad  track.     The  streets  run- 


Christ  Dahl  and  J.  H.  Dahl  began  the 
erection  of  a  two-story  business  house 
in  September  and  completed  it  in 
December.     In    the    lower    part    they 


ning  north  and  south  were  named  East  opened  a  grocery  store,  and  the  upper 

Second,     East    First,     Railroad,     Lake,  floor  was  used  as  their  place  of  residence. 

West  First  and  West  Second,  and  those  The    Northwestern    Elevator    Company 

cast  and  west  were  Front  and  Main.2  began  the  erection  of  an  elevator  late  in 

Before    the    survey    was     completed  July,    which    was    completed    early    in 

several  lots  were  sold3  and  immediately  October  and  opened  under  the  manage- 


thereafter  several  buildings  were  put  up. 
The  first  building  completed  on  the  site 
was  a  blacksmith  shop  by  Larson 
Brothers,  which  was  put  up  in  August. 
In  September  Martin  Ness  erected  a 
double    building,    in    part    of   which    he 


rrient  of  J.  H.  Dahl.4  On  September  5 
the  Cottonwood  Farmers  Co-operative 
Association  was  organized  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $2000  to  engage  in  the  stock, 
grain  and  produce  business.  Hans  Sol- 
bers;  established  a  restaurant  late  in  the 


opened  a  hotel  early  in  September;  the  .ve:ir  and  T.  Sole  built  a  carpenter  shop, 

other  part  of  the  building  was  rented  to  Johnson  Brothers  began  the  erection  of 

Olof  Pehrson,  of  Marshall,  who  became  a  creamery  on  Cottonwood  lake,  which, 

the    pioneer    merchant    of    the    village,  however,  was  not  completed  that  season. 

His    store    was    opened    October    2,    in  An  early  consideration  of  the  people 


^Additions  to  Cottonwood  have  been  platted  as 
follows: 

George  Anderson's  First,  December  9,  1893,  by 
i  leorge  Anderson;  surveyed  by  O.  H.  Sterk. 

Schutz  &  Tyler's  First,  May  10,  1S97,  by  C.  B.  Tyler 
and  ,T.  G.  Schutz;  surveyed  l>v  O.  H.  Sterk. 

Arneson  &  Olson's  First,  July  2.  1S97,  by  G.  A. 
Arneson  and  O.  J.  Olson;  surveyed  by  O.  H.  Sterk. 

Schutz  &  Tyler's  Second,  October  19,  1898,  by 
C.  B.  Tyler  and  J.  G.  Schutz;  surveyed  by  W.  A. 
Hawkins. 


'Lots  were  put  on  sale  at  $50  each.  The  iirst  pur- 
chaser was  Martin  Norseth,  who  paid  a  bonus  of  $100 
for  first  choice.  The  second  and  third  purchasers  were 
Martin  Ness  and  Dahl  Brothers.  In  1889  the  price 
nf  lots  was  $75  and  $100  and  a  few  vears  later  advanced 
to  $300  and  $400. 

*Before  the  close  of  the  year  1888,  seventy-five  cars 
of  wheat  were  shipped  from  Cottonwood,  forty-nine 
cars  of  wood  and  coal  were  received,  and  there  were 
still  10,000  bushels  of  wheat  stored  in  the  elevator. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


191 


of  Cottonwood  was  the  establishment  of 
a  postoffice.  For  many  years  a  country 
postoffice  named  Vineland,  located  over 

the  line  in  Yellow  Medicine  county,  had 
supplied  mail  facilities  for  the  people  of 
the  Cottonwood  lake  country,  and  early 
in  October  steps  were  taken  to  have  the 
office  moved  to  the  new  village.  This 
was  accomplished  and  the  Vineland  post- 
master, O.  S.  Reishus,  moved  the  office, 
renamed  Cottonwood,  to  the  village. 
He  purchased  new  fixtures,  erected  a 
building,  and  in  December  opened  the 
office,  conducting  a  stationery  and  book 
store  in  connection.  The  mail  route  by 
rail  was  established  January  28,  1889. 
Mr.  Reishus  was  postmaster  only  a 
short  time  and  was  succeeded  by  Christ 
Dahl.5 

Cottonwood's  growth  during  1889  was 
almost  in  the  nature  of  a  boom,  but  it 
was  based  on  merit  alone.  A  large  tract 
of  tributary  country,  which  before  had 
been  long  distances  from  market,  de- 
manded a  good  trading  point,  and 
Cottonwood  filled  the  bill.6 

In  1889  Blackmar  &  Curran,  of  Min- 
neapolis, and  Martin  Norseth  organized 
the  Cotton  wood  Lumber  Company, 
erected  lumber  sheds  and  an  office,  and 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  with  Mr. 
Norseth  as  manager.  John  Anderson 
erected  a  hotel  building,  which  was 
leased  to  0.  E.  Oilman.  P.  H.  and  A.  H. 
Baker  put  up  a  new  building.  0.  0. 
Brenna  erected  a  store  building  and 
A.  C.  Chittenden,  of  Marshall,  estab- 
lished a  branch  general  store  therein. 
Sperber  &  Hunzicker  purchased  the 
hardware  store  of  Martin  Norseth  and 

5Postmasters  of  Cottonwood  have  been  as  follows: 
Christ  Dahl,  1889-90;  J.  H.  Dahl,  1S90-94;  John 
Michie,  L894-99;  W.  D.  Lovelace,  1899-04;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Dahl,  1904-12.     The  office  is  third-class. 

Two  rural  mail  routes  are  operated  from  the  Cotton- 
wood office.  No.  1  was  established  November  16, 
190:3,  with  Lars  Rasmussen  as  carrier.  No.  2  was 
established  April  15,  1904,  with  Carl  Stark  as  carrier. 

6The  Marshall  News-Messenger  of  November  1, 
lss'j,  said:     "Cottonwood  is  a  phenomenal  town  ami 


put  in  a  larger  stock.  J.  0.  Schutz  and 
John  Hollo,  of  Marshall,  built  a  large 
store  building  with  a  hall  on  the  second 
floor  and  established  another  general 
store.  O.  O.  Slette  engaged  in  the 
implement  and  hardware  business.  The 
firm  of  Dahl  &  Lieberg  was  formed  and 
continued,  with  increased  stocks,  the 
general  store  established  by  Dahl  Broth- 
ers, adding  a  millinery  department. 
Anderson  Brother.;  opened  a  pool  hall 
and  temperance  saloon.  Tones  Bore 
erected  a  two-story  store  building. 
Grover  Brothers  started  a  livery  barn, 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire  October  15. 
Several  others  engaged  in  business,  a 
number  of  residences  were  erected,  and 
at  the  close  of  1889  a  prosperous  and 
flourishing  village  had  grown  up. 

A    directory    of    the    business    houses 

published  in  December,  1889,  listed  the 

*-  jj  *  t.  i 

1  r1'-' 


following: 

'  Olof  Pehrson  (C.  T.  Hanson,  manager),  gen- 
eral merchandise. 

Dahl  &  Lieberg,  general  merchandise. 

Schutz  &  Hollo,  general  merchandise. 

A.  C.  Chittenden  (Segur  Johnson,  manager), 
general  merchandise. 

Martin  Ness,  furniture. 

Sperber  &  Hunzicker,  hardware. 

O.  O.  Slette,  hardware  and  farming  imple- 
ments. 

Charles  R.  Wall,  harness  shop. 

Mamie  and  Ida  Hunzicker,  millinery. 

Henry  Anderson,  meat  market. 

Anderson  Brothers,  billiard  hall. 

O.  E.  Oilman,  hotel. 

Grover  Brothers,  livery  barn. 

Larson  Brothers,  blacksmith  shop. 

Larson  &  Sole,  wagon  shop. 

Cottonwood  Lumber  Company  (Martin  Nor- 
seth, manager),  lumber. 

E.  T.  Doty,  lumber  and  fuel. 

Northwestern  Elevator  Company  (J.  S.  Otis, 
manager),  grain. 

Inter-State  Grain  Company  (Charles  Kayser, 
manager),  grain. 

Christ  Dahl,  postmaster. 

A.  L.  Skinner,  station  agent. 

its  sudden  growth  is  suggestive  of  the  boom  towns  <>t 

Dakota,  bu1  I  here  the  comparison  ends,  for  Cottons I 

has  grown  upon  its  eold  nieril  as  an  agricultural  center 
and  from  the  equally  eold  fad  thai  it  is  surrounded 
by  as  thrifty  a  settlement  of  farmers  as  can  be  found 
anywhere  in  the  broad  Northwest.  .  .  .  The  growth 
is  phenomenal  when  one  considers  thai  not  the  leasl 
effort  has  been  made  to  sell  lots  or  induce  settlers  to 

go   there.      There    has    been    no    public   sale   oi    lot-,    tto 

newspaper  notice  of  the  town,  and  never t  a  lini  ol 
print. '.I  matter  put  out  regarding  the  place." 


192 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Rev.     K.     Thorstenson,     pastor     Norwegian 
Lutheran  church. 

The  growth  of  Cottonwood  was  rapid 
during  1890  and  at  the  age  of  two  years 
the  village  boasted  a  population  of  more 
than  200  people.  There  were  then  about 
twenty  business  houses  and  fifty  resi- 
dences. Progress  was  rapid  also  in  1891 
and  several  new  buildings  were  erected. 
The  Marshall  Reporter  of  September  24. 
1891.  said:  "Cottonwood  is  making  a 
boom  this  fall.  All  the  stores  report 
good  business  and  there  has  been  more 
wheat  shipped  from  this  place  than  from 
any  other  station  on  the  road.  .  .  . 
Cottonwood  is  having  a  steady  growth, 
and  the  large  and  good  country  sur- 
rounding warrants  it." 

The  growth  of  Cottonwood  had  been 
so  rapid  that  when  it  was  three  years 
old  the  residents  decided  to  incorporate 
as  a  village.  On  December  3.  1891.  a 
petition  signed  by  Martin  Norseth  and 
thirty-two  others  was  presented  to  the 
Boai'd  of  County  Commissioners,  asking 
that  body  to  call  a  special  election  for 
the  purpose  of  voting  on  incorporation. 
The  petition  was  granted  and  January 
12,  1892.  was  the  date  set  for  the 
election.  It  was  held  in  Syndicate  Hall 
and  "for  incorporation"  was  carried  by 
a  vote  of  33  to  11.  The  corporate 
limits  included  six  and  one-half  sections 
of  land  and  included  considerable  farm- 
ing country.7 

The  election  to  choose  the  first  village 

7These  limits  were  reduced  to  two  sections  as  the 
result  of  a  special  election  on  November  1,  1894,  when 
there  were  set  off  sections  5  and  8,  the  north  half  of 
17,  the  north  half  of  16,  the  northwest  quarter  of  15. 
the  west  half  of  10  and  the  west  half  of  3,  all  in  Lucas 
township. 

8During  the  twenty-one  years  of  the  corporate 
history  of  Cottonwood  licensed  saloons  have  been 
operated  thirteen  years  and  the  village  has  been 
"dry''  eight  years.  Excepting  one  year,  the  license 
question  lias  been  an  issue  at  every  regular  election  under 
the  local  option  law.     The  results  have  been  as  follows : 

1892 — License  carried. 

1893 — For,  57:  against.  20. 

1894— For.  ii:S:  against,  27. 

1895 — For,  16;  against,  57. 

1896 — License  by  13  majority  H 

1897 — License  by  9  majority. 

1898— No  vote;  license  in  force. 

1899 — For,  53;  against,  51. 


officers  was  held  February  1,  when 
sixty-four  votes  were  cast.  The  officers 
qualified  at  once  and  village  government 
was  begun.  The  first  officers  served 
only  until  their  successors  were  chosen 
at  the  regular  election  the  next  month. 
Following  i-;  the  roster  of  village 
officers  from  the  time  of  incorporation 
to  the  present:8 

1892 — President,  Thomas  McKinley  and  Mar- 
tin Norseth;9  trustees,  O.  O.  Brenna,  George 
Russell,  J.  H.  Dahl;  recorder,  C.  T.  Hanson; 
treasurer,  C.  R.  Wall;  justices,  O.  H.  Dahl,  P.  J. 
Krog;  constables,  D.  B.  York,  O.  J.  Johnson. 

1892  (regular  election)— President,  Thomas 
McKinley;  trustees,  George  Russell,  Louis  Lar- 
son, J.  L.  Otis;  recorder,  C.  T.  Hanson;  treasurer, 

C.  R.  Wall;  justices,  O.  O.  Brenna,  Jr.,  J.  R. 
Bell;  constables,  O.  J.  Johnson,  D.  B.  York. 

•  1893 — President,  .Martin  Norseth;  trustees, 
G.  Arneson,  M.  T.  Ness;  recorder,  C.  T.  Hanson; 
treasurer,  J.  H.  Dahl;  justice,  J.  B.  Robertson. 

1894 — President,  Martin  Norseth;  trustees, 
J.  H.  Dahl,  Louis  Larson,  O.  O.  Brenna,  Sr.; 
recorder,  C.  T.  Hanson;  treasurer,  C.  R.  Wall; 
justice,  J.  F.  Gibb;  constables,  D.  B.  York, 
O.  J.  Johnson. 

1895 — President,  J.  H.  Catlin;  trustees, 
Thomas  McKinley,  J.  F.  Gibb;  recorder,  C.  G. 
Strand;  treasurer,  ('.  R.  Wall;  justice,  O.  O. 
Brenna,  Jr.;  constable,  Ludwig  Erickson. 

1896 — President,  J.  H.  Catlin;  trustees, 
Thomas  McKinley,  <  >.  J.  Johnson,  O.  J.  Olson; 
recorder,  ('.  (i.  Strand;  treasurer,  C.  R.  Wall; 
justice.  Ole  Ranum;  constables,  Charles  Catlin, 

D.  B.  York. 

1897— President,  J.  H.  Catlin;  trustees, 
Thomas  .McKinley.  I  >.  J.  Olson,  O.  J.  Johnson; 
recorder,  C.  G.  Strand;  treasurer,  C.  R.  Wall; 
justice,  S.  H.  Adams;  constable,  F.  Gandy. 

1898 — President,  Thomas  McKinley;  trustees, 
George  Anderson,  Louis  Larson,  A.  T.  Lindblad; 
recorder,  C.  G.  Strand;  treasurer,  C.  R.  Wall; 
justices,  O.  O.  Brenna,  Jr.,  W.  D.  Fanning; 
constable,  John  Munroe. 

1899 — President,  J.  H.  Catlin;  trustees,  Louis 
Larson,  A.  T.  Lindblad,  James  Grieve;  recorder, 
C.  G.  Strand;10  treasurer,  C.  R.  Wall;  assessor, 
M.  T.  Ness;  constable,  S.  H.  Adams. 

1900— For,  60;  against,  50. 

1901 — Against  lie,  use  by  20  majority. 

1902 — For.  ^;  against,  55. 

1903— For,  80;  against,  60. 

1904    -Licens  ■  by  15  majority. 

1905— For,  74;   against,  v! 

1906 — For,  93;  against,  81. 

1907— For.  89;  against,  7.j. 

1908 — For,  68;  against,  77. 

1909  —  For,  55;   against,  99. 

1910 — For.  37;  against,  93. 

1911  —  For,  47;  against,  97. 

1912— For,  5s :  against,  86. 

'■The  vote  for  president  of  the  Village  C  >uncU  was  a 
tie  between  .Messrs.  McKinley  and  Norseth.  Lots  were 
not  drawn,  as  the  law  provided,  and  for  a  short  time 
the  village  had  two  pr<  sidents. 

inir  Strand  left  the  village  and  at  a  special  election 
in  May,  1899,  O.  J.  Olson  was  elected  his  successor. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


193 


1900  President,  J.  B.  Robertson;  trustees, 
Louis  Larson,  James  Grieve,  A.  'J'.  Lindblad; 
recorder,  0.  J.  Olson;  treasurer,  .).  I'.  (!il>l>; 
assessor,  E.  P.  Kelly;  .justices.  .1.  K.  Jones,  W.  J. 
Mackay;  constables,  John  Munroe,  Sven  lVfoen. 

1901  President,  .1.  P.  Robertson;  trustees, 
X.  P.  Fivdericksou,  A.  ( >.  Anderson,  J.  H.  Catlin; 
recorder,  <  >.  J.  Olson;  treasurer,  J.  F.  Gibb; 
assessor,  E.  P.  Kelly:  justice.  \Y.  A.  Goodburn. 

1902  President.  ".I.  H.  Catlin:  trustees.  J. 
Mero,  D.  B.  York,  A.  P.  Bolstad;  recorder,  ('.  R. 
Laingen;  treasurer,  J.  F.  Gibb;  assessor,  .John 
Michie;  justice,  O.  O.  Brenna,  Jr.;  constables, 
John  Munroe.  J.  P.  Kahler. 

1903  President,  J.  H.  Catlin:  trustees,  .1.  H. 
Dahl,  G.  Possum,  W.  M.  Davis;  recorder,  E.  P. 
Kelly;  treasurer,  C.  R.  Wall;  assessor,  John 
Michie;  justice,  W.  A.  Goodburn. 

1901 — President,  George  Anderson;  trustees, 
(!.  Possum,  J.  T.  Garry,  P.  T.  Dahl;  recorder. 
O.  J.  Olson;  treasurer,  John  Michie;  assessor, 
Andrew  Rossland;  justices,  J.  H.  Leas,  I.  X. 
Boe;  constables,  John  Munroe,  J.  F.  Kahler. 

1905 — President,  Martin  Xorseth;  trustees, 
P.  H.  Bly,  Gabriel  Anderson,  W.  A.  Goodburn; 
recorder,  Charles  Catlin;  treasurer,  G.  A.  Arne- 
son;  assessor,  Andrew  Rossland;  justice,  O.  O. 
Brenna,  Jr. 

1906— President,  J.  H.  Catlin;  trustees,  T.  A. 
Lende,  Adolph  Johnson,  J.  H.  Dahl;  recorder. 
C.  R.  Laingen;  treasurer,  P.  T.  Dahl;  assessor, 
John  Michie;  justice,  O.  H.  Hatlestad;  con- 
stables, I.  X.  Boe,  G.  A.  Boese. 

1907— President,  P.  H.  Bly;  trustees,  T.  A. 
Lende,  E.  C.  Christian,  A.  B.  Anderson;  recorder, 
L.  T.  Reishus;  treasurer,  George  Lowe;  assessor, 
G.  Fossum. 

1908— President,  L.  T.  Reishus;  trustees,  P.  T. 
Dahl,  D.  B.  York,  T.  A.  Lende;  recorder,  John 
Michie;  treasurer,  George  Lowe;  assessor,  G. 
Fossum;  justice,  G.  M.  Davis;  constables,  G.  A. 
Boese,  Lauritz  Kise. 

1909 — President,  G.  A.  Arneson;  trustee-. 
Andrew  Rossland,  L.  Abrahamson,  H.  J. 
Fratzke;  recorder,  John  Michie;  treasurer,  I.  L. 
Kolhei;  assessor,  G.  Fossum;  justices,  W.  D. 
Lovelace,  O.  O.  Brenna;  constable,  Louis 
Gunderson. 

1910 — President,  A.  O.  Anderson;  trustees, 
J.  T.  Garry,  C.  R.  Undem,  J.  M.  Anderson; 
recorder,  W.  J.  Huddleston;  treasurer,  P.  T. 
Dahl;  assessor,  G.  Fossum;  constable,  G.  A. 
Boese. 

1911 — President,  A.  O.  Anderson;  trustees, 
J.  T.  Garry,  C.  R.  Undem,  J.  M.  Anderson; 
recorder,  W.  J.  Huddleston;  treasurer,  P.  T. 
Dahl;  assessor,  G.  Fossum;  justices,  R,  W. 
Christie,  Louis  Gunderson;  constable,  William 
Harmening. 

1912 — President,  E.  S.  Reishus;  trustees,  J.  T. 
Garry,  John  Munroe,  T.  Tharaldsen;  recorder, 
W.  C.  Frank;  treasurer,  Henry  Arneson;  justice, 
George  Lowe;  constables,  G.  A.  Boese,  A.  M. 
Anderson. 

Cottonwood  was  visited  by  a  fire  on 

April  22,  1893,  which  1  nought  a  loss  of 

"The  first  teacher  of  the  school  in  district  No.  15 
was  P.  H.  Dahl  and  the  first  pupils  were  P.  H.  Rognlie, 
H.    N.    Dahl,    Caroline    Dahl.    Tillie    Dahl,    John    H. 


*.->()()()  and  which  hut  lor  a  fortunate  cir- 
cumstance would  have  destroyed  the 
entire  business  portion  of  the  village. 
The  fire  originated  in  the  office  of  the 
Cottonwood  Current  and  spread  rapidly 
despite  the  efforts  of  the  citizens  to 
check  it.  There  had  been  a  heavy  fall 
of  snow  and  the  progress  of  the  flames 
was  finally  checked  by  packing  damp 
snow  in  a  sixteen-inch  space  between 
two  buildings.  The  losses  were  as 
follows: 

Christ     Peterson,     Cottonwood     Current 

building $600 

Current  office 100 

Larson  Brothers,  blacksmith  shop 600 

C.  R.  Wall,  harness  shop  and  building.  .      1600 
George    Gigstad,    building    occupied    by 

O.  O.  Slette 1200 

J.  W.  Williams,  damage  to  building  occu- 
pied bv  Paul  Twedt  &  Company  as  a 
saloon" 900 

The  burned  district  was  immediately 
rebuilt  with  larger  and  better  buildings. 

The  progress  of  Cottonwood  during 
the  past  twenty  years  of  its  history  has 
been  rapid  and  it  has  developed  into  an 
exceptionally  good  town.  Its  popula- 
tion in  1895  was  only  303.  This  was 
increased  to  549  in  1900  and  to  883  in 
1905.  The  census  of  1910  showed  a 
population  of  770. 

THE    SCHOOL. 

On  October  7,  1876,  school  district 
No.  15 — now  the  Cottonwood  district- 
was  organized.  Before  Cottonwood  was 
founded  the  school  was  taught  in  private 
homes  in  the  country  nearby.11  In  the 
spring  of  1889  an  effort  was  made  to 
form  a  new  district  for  the  village  and 
to  erect  a  school  house,  but  it  was  un- 
successful. 

The  school  of  district  Xo.  15  was 
located  in  the  village  in  January,  1890, 
and  for  two  months  school  was  held  in 
a    building    formerly    occupied    by    the 

Anderson,   Tonnes  E.   Anderson,   Henry   E.   Anderson, 
Dena  Anderson,  Nels  H.  Dahl  and  Herman  H.  Dahl. 


19-4 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


store  of  A.  C.  Chittenden.12  Then  for 
over  a  year  the  village  was  without  a 
school.13  At  a  meeting  on  March  21, 
1891,  the  voters  authorized  a  bond  issue 
of  $1500  to  erect  a  school  house  in  the 
village,  but  at  another  meeting  in  May 
the  amount  was  reduced  to  $1000.  A 
building  was  erected  that  fall  at  a  cost 
of  $2000  and  school  was  thereafter  held 
regularly  therein.  The  pioneer  building 
was  replaced  in  the  fall  of  1903  by  the 
present  structure. 

A  reorganization  of  the  Cottonwood 
schools  was  made  March  2,  1903,  when 
an  independent  district  was  formed14 
and  a  high  school  course  added,  which  is 
now  a  full  four- year  course.  The  first 
class  was  graduated  from  the  high  school 
in  1907.15  More  than  200  pupils  are 
now  enrolled  in  the  public  schools  of 
Cottonwood.  P.  A.  Reinertson  is  super- 
intendent of  the  schools. 

THE    CHURCHES. 

Three  church  societies  have  active  or- 
ganizations in  Cottonwood,  namely,  the 
Silo     Norwegian    Lutheran,     the    Pres- 

'-'A  partial  list  of  those  who  have  taught  in  the 
Cottonwood  schools  is  as  follows:  Thone  Thorstenson, 
Sadie  Robinson,  James  A.  Wilson,  Mrs.  (  .  D.  Orr, 
Sarah  Foss,  Esther  Davis,  Mary  Davis,  S.  L.  Wait, 
Anna  Dahl,  Inga  Dahl,  Hulda  Petterson,  Annie 
Jurisdol,  Alice  Paulson,  Emma  Moen,  Anna  S.  Law- 
rence, Marion  W.  Gibbs,  Anna  M.  Gould,  S  O.  Eidem 
and  Mabel  Donoldson. 

13The  Cottonwood  correspondent  to  tin-  Marshall 
News-Messenger  of  July  25,  1S90,  said:  "It  seem-  a 
pity  that  we  do  not  have  school  within  the  village. 
The  citizens  are  going  to  get  up  a  petition  to  have  the 
district  divided  and  if  they  succeed  will  erect  a  school 
house  and  have  a  permanent  school  the  year  round." 

1  'Those  who  have  served  as  members  of  the  Board 
of  Education  since  the  organization  as  an  independent 
district  have  been  J.  F.  Gibb,  A.  E.  Anderson,  John 
Lines,  A.  O.  Anderson,  John  O.  Loe,  C.  R.  Undem, 
A.  O.  Lende,  J.  T.  Garry,  N.  P.  Frederickson,  W.  A. 
Goodburn,  O.  J.  Olson,  A.  B.  Anderson,  C.  R.  Wall, 
E.  P.  Kelly,  L.  T.  Reishus,  L.  McKechnie,  A.  O. 
Hovdesven  and  P.  H.  Bly. 

l5The  following  have  received  diplomas  from  the 
Cottonwood  High  School: 

190/ — Ralph  Undem,  Orvin  Undem,  Jessie  Gibb, 
Clifford  Lewis,  Norman  Ness. 

1908— No  class. 

1909 — Myrtle  Plorence  Rouse,  Ella  Rebecca  Lende, 
Clara  Samuella  Ludwig,  Gertrude  Estelle  Janssen, 
Milda  Elefta  Lende,  Neil  Martin  Kise,  Justus  Tegner 
Ness . 

1910 — Marie  G.  Jurisdal,  Amanda  R.  Kise,  Harvey 
L.  Paulson,  Belle  A.  Gray,  Amanda  C.  Ludwig,  Endre 
B'  Anderson,  Ella  M.  Oison,  Ida  C.  Kolhei,  Peter  J. 
Waugsness,  Maysie  M.  Gibb,  Gladys  E.  Munroe,  John 
W.  Anderson. 


byterian     and    the    English    Lutheran. 

The  oldest  of  these  is  Silo  Norwegian 
Lutheran  Church,  whose  founding  ante- 
dates the  birth  of  the  village.  It  was 
organized  in  1880  by  Norwegian  families 
living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  future 
village16  and  at  once  became  a  strong 
society.  Rev.  K.  Thorstensen  was  pas- 
tor from  1880  to  1893,  Rev.  M.  Ramstad 
from  1893  to  1907,  and  Rev.  T.  H. 
Haugen  from  the  last  named  date  to  the 
present  time. 

The  Norwegian  Lutherans  had  no 
church  home  until  after  the  founding  of 
Cottonwood.  A  fine  building  was  put 
up  in  1889  and  has  ever  since  been  used 
by  the  congregation.  The  value  of  the 
church  property  is  $13,000,  including 
$3500  expended  for  a  parsonage  in  191 1 . 
The  church  lias  a  large  membership.17 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Cottonwood  was  organized  in  1895  by 
Rev.  R.  N.  Adams,  synodical  mission- 
ary. J.  B.  Robertson  and  J.  F.  Gibb 
took  a  prominent  part  in  organizing  and 
financing  the  society.  The  initial  mem- 
bership was  small,18  but  the  church  has 

1911 — Stella  Haugan,  Clara  Hatlestad,  Mabel  Lien, 
Hilda  Haraldson,  Myrtle  Townsend,  Wilsie  Anderson, 
Elmer  Anderson,  Paul  Bottolfson,  Helge  Bly,  Corelian 
Lende. 

1912 — Joseph  Kise,  Sikke  Kleppe,  Lauron  Love- 
lace, Ella  Peterson,  Tilda  Thon,  Mabel  Christenson. 

16The  first  members  of  Silo  church  were  George 
Anderson,  Gabriel  Anderson,  Nels  T.  Dahl  and  family, 
Hans  P.  Dahl  and  family,  Peter  H.  Dahl,  Christ  H. 
Dahl,  Jacob  H.  Dahl,  Nels  N.  Rosvold  and  family, 
P.  H.  Rognlie,  John  H.  Anderson,  Iver  Nelson  and 
family,  Nicolas  Nelson,  Torjus  S.  Nordgaard  and 
family,  Jacob  L.  Midboe  and  family,  Peter  Eliason, 
E.  T.  Hamre,  Christopher  Peterson  and  family,  John 
Peter  Krog  and  family,  Engebret  Rasmussen  and 
family  and  M.  T.  Ness.  The  first»fficers  of  the  church 
were  as  follows:  Rev.  K.  Thorstensen,  chairman: 
Torjus  S.  Nordgaard,  secretary;  Jacob  L.  Midboe, 
treasurer;  Iver  Nelson.  Sr.,  Gjermund  Anderson  and 
Nels  N.  Rosvold,  trustees. 

17The  present  officers  of  Silo  church  are  Rev.  T.  H. 
Haugen,  chairman;  G.  O.  Aamodt,  vice  chairman; 
A.  E.  Anderson,  secretary;  Martin  M.  Egeland,  treas- 
urer. The  trustees  are  I.  L.  Kolhei.  chairman;  John 
C.  Peterson  L.  J  Eikland,  C.  N.  Larson  and  Hans  Berg. 
The  deacons  are  Rev.  T.  H.  Haugen,  C.  R.  Undem, 
X.  Aarrestad,  Lawrence  Olson,  G.  O.  Aamodt,  O.  S. 
Barstad,  Martin  M.  Egeland  and  A.  E.  Anderson. 

lsFirst  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  were 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison  Price,  J.  B.  Robertson,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  J.  F.  Gibb,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  P.  Kelly,  Mrs.  James 
Garry,  Mrs,  William  Gibb,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Lines, 
Mrs. 'J.  H.  Catlin,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Michie  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  W    D.  Lovelace. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


195 


prospered  and  has  a  present  member- 
ship of  sixty-seven.  For  three  years 
services  were  conducted  twice  cadi 
month  in  the  Great  Northern  depot  and 
in  1898  a  church  edifice  was  erected  at 
a  cost  of  SHOO.  It  was  dedicated 
January  22,  1899,  )>y  Kev.  R.  N.  Adams. 
Rev.  J.  H.  Staney  lias  been  pastor  of 
the  church  since  October,  1910.  The 
church  session  consists  of  J.  B.  Robert- 
son, .John  Michie  and  John  L.  Leas. 

The  First  English  Lutheran  Church 
of  Cottonwood  is  only  three  years  old, 
but  the  society  it  succeeded  was  one  of 
the  old  religious  bodies  of  the  village. 
When  Cottonwood  was  founded  in  18SS 
a  number  of  the  members  of  the  Silo 
church  left  the  parent  society  and 
founded  a  Synod  Norwegian  Lutheran 
church.19  A  church  home  was  erected 
in  1892  at  a  cost  of  $3000,  the  corner 
stone  having  been  laid  in  November  of 
that  year. 

The  members  of  the  Synod  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  and  a  number  of 
German  Lutherans  of  Cottonwood  and 
vicinity  united  on  June  6,  1909,  and 
formed  the  English  Lutheran  church.20 
The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Aasen  and  the 
church  is  now  under  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Laux,  who  is  also  in  charge  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church  of  Posen. 
The  society  has  a   membership  of  sev- 

19The  first  members  of  the  Synod  church  were  the 
following  paid  their  families:  Sylfest  L.  Orwoll,  Lasse 
S.  <  >r\voll,  Jacob  L.  Midboe,  C.  H.  Dahl,  O.  S.  Reishus, 
E.  T.  Harare,  John  L.  Johnson,  Lars  Midboe  and  Mrs. 
Anna  Dahl.  Those  selected  as  officers  at  the  time  of 
organization  were  C.  H.  Dahl,  Jacob  L.  Midboe,  Lars 
J.  Midboe,  E.  T.  Harare  and  O.  S.  Reishus.  Pastors 
who  have  occupied  the  pulpit  were  Revs.  Vallcr,  Lea, 
Berg,  Aasen,  Aanestead,  Rognlie  and  Reishus. 

:"The  first  members  of  the  English  Lutheran  church 
were  the  following  gentlemen  and  their  families:  Ole 
Dahl,  P.  H.  Bly,  David  Frank,  Rudolph  Frank, 
Edward  Frank,  Herman  Botcher,  August  Prechel, 
Henry  Kheen,  Henry  Olson,  E.  S.  Reishus,  C.  Fratzke, 
Ed  Strochine,  Gustav  Thiel  and  Sarah  Dahl. 

"Charter  members  of  Cottonwood  Lodge  were 
Thomas  McKinley,  J.  F.  Gibb,  C.  G.  Strand,  G.  A. 
Arneson,  R.  C.  Laird,  J.  R.  Kjemhus,  C.  D.  Orr,  C.  R. 
Wall,  Ludwig  E.  Erickson,  Thomas  Chepeski,  John  P. 
Bene,  Joseph  Mero  and  George  Russell. 

"The  first  officers  of  Equity  Lodge  were  S.  H. 
Adams,  J.  H.  Catlin,  Thomas  McKinley,  J.  W.  Lind- 
blad,    James    McKay.    W.    G.    Martine,    L.    McKechnie 

and  James  Townseml. 


enty-five.     Services  are  held  every  three 
weeks. 

THE   LODGES. 

The  oldest  fraternal  order  in  Cotton- 
wood is  Cottonwood  Lodge  No.  213, 
Ancient  Order  United  Workmen,  which 
was  organized  April  6,  1896,  with  thir- 
teen charter  members.21  It  now  has  a 
membership  of  sixteen. 

Equity  Lodge  No.  221,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
was  instituted  September  30,  1896,  by 
Past  Grand  Master  W.  F.  Dickinson,  of 
bed  wood  Falls,  and  for  a  short  time  was 
operated  under  dispensation.22  The 
charter  was  dated  January  14,  1897, 
and  the  lodge  was  formally  constituted 
in  March.  The  lodge  is  still  active  and 
has  a  large  membership.23 

Constance  Chapter  No.  183,  Order 
Eastern  Star,  was  instituted  March  25, 
1905,  with  ten  charter  members.21  Reg- 
ular meetings  are  held  and  the  lodge 
has  a  membership  of  thirty-seven. 

Fortunate  Camp  No.  7104,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  was  organized 
December  23,  1901.25  The  present  mem- 
bership is  sixty-eight  and  meetings  are 
held  regularly  in  Masonic  Hall. 

Sunshine  Lodge  No.  2157,  Royal 
Neighbors  of  America,  began  its  exist- 
ence January  31,  1908.2G  It  has  a 
present  membership  of  fifteen. 

23The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are  J.  P.  Garry, 
N.  P.  Frederickson,  Joseph  B.  Mathews,  Charles 
Laingen,  William  Tolzman,  G.  A.  Boese,  James  Grieve, 
George  Lowe,  Robert  Cummings  and  John  Michie. 

24The  charter  members  of  Constance  Chapter  were 
Amelia  Michie,  Leuchlau  McKechnie,  Ellen  Grieve, 
John  Michie,  Albertine  Boese,  Sadie  Munroe,  C.  R. 
Laingen  and  J.  George  Koelz. 

25The  Wroodmen  camp  had  the  following  charter 
members:  D.  J.  Atrops,  Gust  Boeberg,  Ole  Britton , 
W.  M.  Davis,  W.  G.  Gibb,  William  Harare,  E.  P.  Kelly, 
A.  H.  Lowe,  O.  W.  Petterson,  John  Ophus,  A.  S. 
Severson,  F.  B.  Thomas,  J.  A.  Anderberg,  A.  L. 
Bolstad,  Robert  Cummings  and  H.  H.  Galbraith. 

26The  charter  members  of  Sunshine  Lodge  were 
Mabelle  Tharaldson,  Hattie  V.  Strand,  William  S. 
Strand,  Edna  J.  Leland,  Mary  Kjemhus,  Anna  B. 
Budd,  Allie  N.  Judd,  Sara  Browne  Jones,  John  R. 
Jones,  Anna  S.  Hering,  Minnie  Gibb,  Edith  O.  Gibb, 
William  G.  Gibb,  Emma  Ensign,  George  X.  Ensign, 
Anna  Christian,  Charles  L.  Cravens,  Albertina  Boese 
and  Lillie  Abott. 


196 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


THE    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

As  a  result  of  the  fire  of  April  22, 
1893.,  the  Cottonwood  Fire  Department 
was  organized.  Immediately  after  the 
conflagration  the  Village  Council  ordered 
a  chemical  engine,  hook  and  ladder 
truck,  hose  cart,  hose  and  other  appara- 
tus. By  this  one  move  Cottonwood 
advanced  from  no  fire  protection  at  all 
to  one  of  the  best  protected  villages  in 
the  vicinity. 

The  department  was  organized  in 
August,  1893,  with  the  following  first 
officers:  Herman  Dahl,  chief;  W.  J. 
Mackay,  captain  of  chemical  company; 
Will  Garry,  assistant;  C.  R.  Undem, 
captain  hook  and  ladder  company;  R.  C. 
Laird,  assistant;  L.  McKechnie,  secre- 
tary; S.  H.  Adams,  treasurer.  The  de- 
partment now  has  a  membership  of 
twenty.  G.  A.  Boese  is  chief  and  his 
assistant  is  1'.  T.  Dahl. 

THK    BANKS. 

Two  banking  houses  are  conducted  in 
Cottonwood,  the  First  National  and  the 
Cottonwood  State.  Both  are  old  estab- 
lished institutions  and  are  conducted  on 
sound  principles. 

The  First  National  is  the  successor  of 
the  Bank  of  Cottonwood  and  the 
Security  Bank.  The  former,  a  private 
enterprise,  was  founded  in  August,  1892, 
by  J.  H.  Catlin,  who  was  president,  and 
his  son,  Charles  Catlin.  who  was  cashier. 
John  Michie  was  the  first  depositor. 
The  first  home  of  the  bank  was  the 
building  now  occupied  by  the  barber 
shop.  In  1901  the  institution  was  re- 
named Security  Bank  and  organized 
under  the  state  banking  laws  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $15,000.  The  officers 
under  the  reorganization  were  J.  H. 
Catlin,  president;  J.  F.  Gibb,  vice 
president;  Charles  Catlin,  cashier;  L.  T. 
Reishus,  assistant  cashier. 


Early  in  1903  the  Security  Bank 
became  the  First  National  Bank  and 
began  operations  with  a  capital  stock 
of  $25,000.  Two  years  later  it  was 
housed  in  the  present  bank  building. 
The  present  officers  are  as  follows: 
J.  H.  Catlin,  president;  J.  F.  Gibb,  vice 
president;  Charles  Catlin,  cashier;  L.  T. 
Reishus  and  W.  R.  Frank,  assistant 
cashiers.  The  directors  are  J.  H.  Catlin. 
Charles  Catlin,  J.  F.  Gibb,  L.  T.  Reishus, 
R.  Frank,  D.  Frank  and  J.  B.  Robert- 
son. 

"Under  the  management  of  Mr.  Catlin 
the  bank  has  grown  from  small  begin- 
nings to  an  institution  of  prominence  in 
the  financial  affairs  of  Lyon  county. 
Its  deposits  are  over  a  quarter  million 
dollars.  -Mr.  Catlin  is  also  president  of 
and  principal  owner  of  the  Wood  Lake 
State  Hank. 

The  Cottonwood  State  Bank  began 
business  September  15,  1897,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $15,000.  in  the  building 
erected  for  the  purpose  and  which  has 
ever  since  been  the  bank's  home.  The 
officers  and  principal  stockholders  at 
the  time  of  organization  were  C.  S. 
Orwoll,  president;  E.  S.  Reishus,  vice 
president;  A.  O.  Hovdesven,  cashier; 
I.  L.  Kolhei,  Gabriel  Anderson,  George 
Anderson  and  Martin  Norseth. 

The  state  bank  has  grown  until  it 
takes  high  rank  among  the  institutions 
of  the  county.  The  deposits  on  January 
4,  1911,  were  $158,000.  The  present 
officers  and  directors  are  C.  S.  Orwoll, 
president;  I.  L.  Kolhei,  vice  president; 
A.  O.  Hovdesven,  cashier;  Alex  Kolhei, 
assistant  cashier;  Gabriel  Anderson  and 
E.  S.  Reishus. 

FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

One  of  the  big  institutions  of  Lyon 
county  is  the  Norwegian  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Company  of  Eidsvold,   Lyon 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


197 


County,  Minnesota,  the  headquarters  of 
which  are  at  Cottonwood.  This  com- 
pany is  one  of  the  pioneer  institutions 
of  the  county  and  has  grown  to  large 
proportions. 

In  1S77  E.  K.  Kjorness,  O.  L.  Orsen 
and  a  few  other  farmers  of  Eidsvold 
township  organized  the  company  and 
carried  on  the  business  with  indifferent 
success  for  a  time.  Others  became  in- 
terested in  the  venture  and  on  February 
22,  1879,  a  reorganization  was  effected. 
This  occurred  at  the  home  of  G.  Peterson, 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  14. 
Westerheim  township.  E.  K.  Kjorness 
became  president,  0.  L.  Orsen  secretary, 
and  I.  L.  Kolhei  treasurer,27  and  the 
first  insurance  was  written  in  1880. 

Fifty-seven  policies  were  written  in 
1880  for  a  total  of  $57,426  insurance. 
The  receipts  for  the  year  were  $192.65, 
fire  losses  were  $23.00.  and  other  ex- 
penses were  $91.76.  This  made  the 
total  expenditures  for  the  year  $114.76 
and  left  a  profit  of  $77.89  for  the  year's 
business.     Compared  with  a  present  day 

-7.Mr.  Kjorness  was  president  until  his  death  in 
1893;  since  that  date  O.  C.  Wilson,  of  Granite  Falls, 
has  been  at  the  head  of  the  company.      Mr.  Orsen  was 


statement,  that  was  a  small  business. 
In  11)11  policies  in  force  were  24  10  and 
the  amount  of  insurance  in  force  $5,477,- 
920.  That  year  the  cash  receipts  were 
$10,825.15  and  disbursements  $9,030.75. 
The  cash  on  hand  at  the  close  of  the 
year  was  $)>:>, S74  and  premium  notes 
outstanding  were  $5, 3SS. .")."),  making  the 
total  assets  $39,262.55. 

Insurance  is  in  force  in  fifty  townships 
in  the  counties  of  Lyon,  Lincoln,  Yellow 
Medicine.  Redwood  and  Lac  qui  Parle. 
The  cost  of  insurance  has  been  reduced 
from  twenty-five  cents  per  $100  when 
the  company  was  organized  to  fifteen 
cents  per  $100  at  the  present  time.  The 
officers  and  directors  of  the  company  are 
as  follows:  O.  C.  Wilson,  Granite  Falls, 
president;  C.  G.  Nelson,  Canby,  vice 
president;  A.  E.  Anderson,  Cottonwood, 
secretary;  I.  L.  Kolhei,  Cottonwood, 
treasurer;  O.  L.  Orsen,  Minneota;  H.  G. 
Odden,  Echo;  H.  P.  Rodness,  Clark- 
field;  Chr.  Wollum,  Porter;  Chr.  Ramlo, 
Hendricks. 

secretary  until  1901  and  was  succeeded  by  A.  E. 
Anderson.  Mr.  Kolhei  has  been  the  only  treasurer 
of  the  company. 


PUBLIC  imivi 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


BALATON    AND   RUSSELL— 1879-1912. 


BALATON  is  an  incorporated  vil- 
lage on  the  Dakota  Central 
branch  of  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western railroad. '  The  platted  portion 
of  the  village  is  on  the  west  half  .  of 
section  23.  Rock  Lake  township,  and  it 
is  fifteen  miles  west  from  Tracy.  The 
population  of  Balaton  was  364  when 
the  census  of  1910  was  taken.  Its  ele- 
vation above  sea  level  is  1528  feet.  The 
site  is  an  exceptionally  fine  one,  being 
on  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Yankton,  a 
lovely  sheet  pf  water.  As  a  business 
point  the  little  village  ranks  well  up 
with  the  other  municipalities  of  Lyon 
county,  drawing  trade  from  an  old 
settled  portion  and  finely  improved 
tract  of  farming  country. 

Balaton  was  founded  in  1879  as  a 
result  of  the  building  of  the  Dakota 
Central  railroad.  The  rails  were  laid  so 
far  as  Lake  Yankton  in  August,  but 
before  that  date  and  before  the  station 
was  located  the  first  business  house  was 
established.  David  Bell,  who  had  been 
in  business  at  Amiret,  sold  out  in  May 
and  the  next  month  erected  a  store 
building  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wrest  of  the 
future  village.     For  a  time  his  patrons 

'The  Rock  Lake  correspondent  to  the  Marshall 
Messenger  of  July  1,  1879,  said:  "The  railroad  com- 
pany has  located  our  station  on  section  23,  near  Lake 
Yankton.  It  is  one  mile  east  of  the  center  of  the 
town." 

2Additions  to  Balaton  have  been  platted  as  follows: 
First  Railway,  May  25,  1886,"by  Winona  &  St.  Peter 
Railroad  Company;  surveyed  by  J.  W.  Blake. 


were  mostly  the  laborers  employed  in 
construction  work.  The  site  of  the 
station  was  made  known  in  the  latter 
part  of  . I une1  and  Mr.  Bell  immediately 
moved  his  store  to  the  site  and  became 
the  town's  first  business  man,  his  store 
being  where  the  Westbee  store  is  now. 

The  Balaton  townsite  was  surveyed 
by  Albert  Jacobi  on  July  23,  1879,  and 
the  plat  was  certified  to  by  Albert  Keep, 
as  president  of  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter 
Railroad  Company,  on  September  12. 
Six  blocks  were  originally  laid  out, 
divided  by  First,  Second,  Third  and 
Fourth  Streets  and  Lake  and  Central 
Avenues.2 

The  railroad  was  completed  to  the 
new  station  in  the  first  part  of  August 
and  train  service  was  inaugurated  Sep- 
tember 29.  J.  W.  Mosher  was  the  first 
agent.  The  growth  of  Balaton  in  the 
year  of  its  birth  was  not  rapid.  In  the 
fall  Albert  Parker  erected  a  building  and 
established  the  second  general  store. 
Lumber  was  sold  from  the  station  and 
grain  bought  that  fall,  but  the  year 
closed  with  Balaton  a  very  inconspic- 
uous place. 

A  number  of  new  business  enterprises 

Second  Railway,  July  13,  1893,  by  Winona  &  St. 
Peter  Railroad  Company;  surveyed  bv  J.  T.  Price. 

Third  Railway,  August  21,  1900,  by  Winona  &  St. 
Peter  Railroad  Company;  surveyed  by  J.  C.  W.  Cline. 

Fourth  Railway,  October  21,  1901,  by  Winona  & 
St.  Peter  Railroad  Company;  surveyed  by  F.  R.  Cline. 

Skill's,  June  28,  1902,  by  Arthur  M.  Shill;  surveyed 
by  W.  A.  Hawkins. 


200 


HISTOKY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


were  started  in  1880  and  the  Balaton 
postoffice  was  established  with  R.  E. 
Town  as  postmaster.3  William  Hamm 
erected  the  Balaton  House  in  March 
and  a  little  later  in  the  same  season 
R.  E.  Town  opened  the  Lake  Avenue 
Hotel.  A  grocery  and  •  crockery  store 
was  opened  by  E.  L.  Healy  and  placed 
in  charge  of  J.  B.  Gibbons.  That  gen- 
tleman a  little  later  bought  the  store 
and  added  a  stock  of  general  merchan- 
dise. Two  lumber  yards  were  conducted 
during  the  year  and  a  school  house  and 
depot  were  erected.4 

In  the  spring  of  1881  Messrs.  Moore 
&  Weberg  opened  a  general  merchandise 
>tore  and  that  summer  N.  A.  Sanders 
started  a  hardware  store,  R.  E.  Town  a 
furniture  store,  and  J.  W.  Moore  a  wood 
yard.  In  1882  there  were  the  following 
business  enterprises:  Three  general 
stores,  one  hardware  store,  one  furniture 
store,  one  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop, 
a  hotel,  an  elevator,  warehouse  and 
lumber  yard. 

A  directory  of  the  business  houses  of 
Balaton  as  given  in  C.  F.  Case's  History 
of  Lyon  County  in  1884  was  as  follows: 

A.  Parker,  general  merchandise. 

J.  B.  Gibbons,  general  merchandise  and  post- 
master. 

J.  A.  Moore,  general  merchandise  and  drugs. 

N.  A.  Sanders,  hardware  and  machinery. 

E.  D.  Bartlett,  Lake  Avenue  Hotel. 

William  Hamm,  Balaton  Hotel  (leased  by 
C.  S.  Riley). 

H.  H.  Stevenhoffer,  agent  Winona  Mill  Com- 
pany, grain. 

N.  Zechus,  agent  Seafield  &  Company,  grain. 

A.  N.  Daniels,  insurance. 

L.  Campbell,  justice  of  the  peace. 

W.  H.  Davy,  constable. 

3The  following  have  served  as  postmasters  of 
Balaton:  R.  E.  Town,  1880-81;  J.  B.  Gibbons,  1881- 
86;  S.  W.  Galbraith.  18S6-90;  A.  N.  Daniels,  1890-94; 
S.  W.  Galbraith,  1894-98;  A.  Whiting,  1S98-05;  J.  H. 
Carlaw,  1905-12. 

For  a  number  of  years  before  the  establishment  of 
rural  free  delivery  routes  a  mail  route  was  operated 
between  Balaton  and  Slayton,  supplying  the  Current 
Lake  and  Lowville  offices.  Round  trips  were  made 
three  times  a  week. 

Four  rural  routes  are  now  operated.  Numbers  1 
and  2  were  established  December  1,  1900,  with  Clayton 
Whiting  and  A.  M.  Wheaton  as  carriers;  No.  3,  in 
1902,  with  Clarence  Wheaton  as  carrier;  No.  4,  in  1907  , 
with  S.  W.  Swihart  as  carrier. 


The  growth  of  Balaton  was  not  rapid, 
but  during  the  early  day.;  it  provided  a 
convenient  trading  point  for  southern" 
Lyon  county  and  gradually  developed 
into  a  substantial  little  village.  A  cor- 
respondent claimed  the  village  had  a 
population  of  200  at  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1889. 

A  fire  in  the  early  morning  of  Sep- 
tember 26,  1892,  brought  destruction  to 
live  frame  business  buildings  and  several 
stocks  of  goods,  the  loss  being  about 
$15,000.  The  fire  originated  in  the 
barber  shop  and  pool  hall  of  E.  M. 
Cameron  and  when  discovered  was 
under  too  great  headway  to  be  con- 
trolled. The  village  then  had  no  fire 
protection.  The  principal  losses,  partly 
covered  by  insurance,   were  as  follows: 

O.  O.  Lof,  building $2000 

J.  B.  Gibbons,  building 1500 

Willard  Pierce,  building 300 

( !.  H.  Weller,  building 300 

Krook  &  Tyler,  building  and  stock 4000 

E.  M.   Cameron,  barber  shop  and  pool 

room  fixtures 1000 

G.  F.  Stow,  general  merchandise 3300 

Balaton  became  an  incorporated  mu- 
nicipality in  1892.  An  effort  had  been 
made  to  secure  incorporation  by  legis- 
lative act  in  1888,  but  it  did  not  even- 
tuate. On  November  3,  1892,  a  petition 
signed  by  George  L.  Carlaw  and  thirty- 
nine  others  was  considered  by  the  Board 
of  County  Commissioners  and  favorably 
acted  upon.  J.  H.  Call,  William  Hamm 
and  C.  W.  Candee  were  named  in- 
spectors of  the  election,  held  December 
5,  to  vote  on  the  question.  By  a 
majority  of  ten  the  residents  decided  in 

4"We  made  our  first  visit  to  Balaton  this  week. 
It  is  a  very  pleasant  location  on  Lake  Yankton  and 
will  undoubtedly  be  a  good  town  in  time,  as  it  is 
surrounded  by  a  rich  country  and  is  thirteen  miles 
from  Tracy  and  fourteen  miles  from  Tyler,  so  that  it 
will  command  a  fair  trade.  Several  good  buildings 
are  already  erected  there.  Mr.  Town  has  up  a  large 
hotel  building  and  William  Hamm  is  keeping  another 
hotel.  Our  former  citizen,  J.  B.  Gibbons,  has  a  store 
there  and  there  is  a  second  store  kept  by  a  Scandina- 
vian. The  town  has  also  a  good  school  house,  good 
depot,  etc.  .  .  .  One  or  two  lumber  yards  complete 
the  business  as  we  saw  it  in  a  hurried  visit.  The  town 
will  be  a  very  pretty  one  in  a  few  years." — Marshall 
Messenger,  October  8,  1880. 


111STOKV  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


201 


favor  of  incorporation.  The  election  to 
choose  the  firsl  officers  was  held  Decem- 
ber 27. 

The  following  have  served  as  officials 
under  the  Balaton  village  government:5 

L892     President,  C.  W.  Candee;  trustees,  G. 

Caman,   Ed.   Whitney,   E.   H.  Weeks;  recorder, 

\    \.  Daniels;  treasurer,  J.  N.  Westbee;  justices, 

S.  W.  Galbraith,  F.  L.  Wireck;    constable,    W. 

Davy. 

L894 — President,  G.  L.  Carlaw;  trustees,  J.  H. 
Call,  V.  L.  Wireck,  E.  F.  Whit  ins;  recorder, 
A.  \.  Daniels;  treasurer,  .).  X.  Westbee;  assessor, 
A  X.  Daniels;  justice,  B.  P.  Terrv;  constables, 
C.  B.  Miller,  H.  R.  Searles. 

L895 — President,  E.  F.  Whiting;  trustees,  J. 
H.  Call.  E.  R.  Weeks,  H.  R.  Searles;  recorder, 

A.  X.  Daniels;  treasurer,  J.  X.  Westbee;  justices, 

B.  P.  Terry,  G.  B.  Miller;  constables,  H.  R. 
Searles,  V.  Wilhelm. 

1896— President,  J.  H.  Call;  trustees,  O.  K. 
Wilhelm.  W.  S.  Whiting,  Charles  Bergstrom; 
recorder,  W.  H.  Estee:  treasurer,  J.  A.  Moore; 
assessor,  Charles  Germo;  justices,  D.  A.  Hardin, 
A.  J.  Estee;  constable,  James  Abernathy. 

1897 — President,  C.  W.  Candee;  trustees,  R. 
11.  Martin.  S.  W.  Galbraith,  W.  8.  Whiting; 
recorder.  W.  H.  Estee;  treasurer,  R.  B.  Martin; 
assessor,  Charles  Germo;  justices,  A.  J.  Estee, 
Charles  Bergstrom;  constables,  Chris  Frederick- 
son.  1".  Wilhelm. 

Isms  President.  C.  W.  Candee;  trustees,  R. 
H.  Martin,  G.  A.  Tate,  J.  X.  Westbee;  recorder, 
Charles  Germo;  treasurer,  R,  B.  Martin;  justice, 
A.  S.  Town;  constable,  Chris  Frederickson. 

1899 — President,  C.  W.  Candee;  trustees,  E. 
R.  Weeks,  Jens  Knudson,  J.  X.  Westbee; 
recorder,  O.  E.  Wilhelm;  treasurer,  H.  O. 
Garlock;  assessor,  P.  W.  Giese;  justice,  Charles 
Bergstrom;  constable,  J.  A.  Penhale. 

1900 — President,  J.  X.  Westbee;  trustees,  <  >. 
E.  Wilhelm,  Jens  Knudson,  S.  S.  Brockway; 
recorder,  J.  H.  Carlaw;  treasurer,  H.  O.  Garlock; 
assessor,  E.  L.  McDowell;  justice,  A.  J.  Estee; 
constable,  John  Hamm. 

1901 — President,  J.  X.  Westbee;  trustees,  O. 
E,  Wilhelm,  Jens  Knudson,  S.  S.  Brockway; 
recorder,  J.  H.  Carlaw;  treasurer,  H.  O.  Garlock. 

1902— President,  J.  X.  Westbee;  trustees,  O. 
E.  Wilhelm,  S.  S.  Brockway,  Jens  Knudson; 
recorder,  J.  H.  Carlaw;  treasurer,  C.  W.  Candee; 
assessor,  P.  W.  Giese;  justices,  B.  P.  Terry, 
S.  W.  Galbraith;  constable,  A.  R.  Town. 

1903— President,  J.  N.  Westbee;  trustees,  O. 
E.  Wilhelm,  U.  Wilhelm,  S.  S.  Brockway; 
recorder,  J.  H.  Carlaw;  treasurer,  C.  W.  Candee; 

5The  license  question  has  brought  forth  many  close 
contest.-  in  Balaton.  In  1890-91-92,  before  the  village 
was  incorporated,  the  question  was  submitted  to  the 
voters  of  Rock  Lake  township  and  each  time  the 
no-license  advocates  wen-  successful.  During  the 
twenty  years  Balaton  has  been  an  incorporated 
municipality  licensed  saloons  have  been  conducted 
nine  years  and  the  town  has  been  "dry"  eleven  year-. 
License  was  granted  in  1893,  and  thereafter  until  1908 
the  matter  was  decided  by  vole  each  year  under  the 
local  option  law.  The  question  has  not  been  sub- 
mitted since  1907  and  license  has  not  been  granted 
Following  were  the  results  of  the  several  elections: 
1S'.)4  — For,  41  ;   against,  13. 


assessor,  L.  D.  Harrington;  justices,  A.  J.  Estee, 
F.  A.  ( lanser. 

Hi  1904 — President,  J.  X.  Westbee;  trustees,  E. 
F.  Whiting,  Edwin  Olson,  8.  S.  Rrockway; 
recorder,  O.  M.  Olson;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Moore; 
assessor,  O.  E.  Wilhelm;  justice,  A.  E.  Whiting; 
constable,  F.  A.  Ganser. 

1905— President,  G.  A.  Tate;  trustees,  E.  F. 
Whiting,  U.  Wilhelm,  C.  W.  Nord;  recorder, 
O.  M.  Olson;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Moore;  assessor, 
O.  E.  Wilhelm;  justices,  B.  P.  Terry,  F.  A. 
Ganser. 

1900 — President,  James  Knudson;  trustees, 
John  Swan,  Julius  Meyers,  F.  S.  Bartlett; 
recorder,  E.  F.  Whiting;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Moore; 
assessor,  O.  E.  Wilhelm. 

1907 — President,  James  Murrison;  trustees, 
F.  S.  Bartlett,  Herman  Schnell,  C.  W.  Xord; 
recorder,  E.  F.  Whiting;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Moore; 
assessor,  O.  E.  Wilhelm. 

1908 — President,  James  Murrison:  trustees, 
Herman  Schnell,  F.  S.  Bartlett,  C.  W.  Xord; 
recorder,  E.  F.  Whiting;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Moore; 
assessor,  O.  E.  Wilhelm;  justice,  F.  J.  Sherry; 
constable,  W.  K.  Flodine. 

1909 — President,    Herman    Schnell;    trustees,  " 

E.  M.  Hamm,  F.  S.  Bartlett,  S.  W.  Galbraith; 
recorder,  E.  F.  Whiting;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Moore; 
assessor,  U.  Wilhelm;  justice,  B.  P.  Terry; 
constable,  E.  D.  Jewett. 

1910 — President,    Herman    Schnell;    trustees, 

F.  S.  Bartlett,  E.  M.  Hamm,  S.  W.  Galbraith; 
recorder,  E.  F.  Whiting;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Moore; 
assessor,  U.  Wilhelm;  justices,  F.  J.  Sherry,  E. ,  F. 
Whiting;  constables,  James  Laguer,  W.  K.  Flo- 
dine. 

1911 — President,  Herman  Schnell;  trustees, 
S.  W.  Galbraith,  F.  S.  Bartlett,  Andrew  Johnson; 
recorder,  E.  F.  Whiting;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Moore; 
assessor,  U.  Wilhelm;  justices,  Robert  Xeill, 
B.  P.  Terry;  constable,  C.  R.  Livingston. 

1912 — President,  Herman  Schnell;  trustees, 
F.  S.  Bartlett,  S.  W.  Galbraith,  C.  W.  Nord; 
recorder,  E.  F.  Whiting;  treasurer,  A.  M.  Moore; 
assessor,  U.  Wilhelm;  justice,  Robert  Neill; 
constable,  R.  G.  Murrison. 

Balaton  has  not  advanced  as  far  as 
some  of  the  other  municipalities  of  Lyon 
county,  but  its  growth  has  been  steady 
and  it  has  developed  into  a  prosperous 
little  business  point.  The  population 
was  222  in  1895.  209  in  1900.  350  in 
1905,  and  364  in  1910. 

A  fire  brought  a  loss  of  about  $14,000 

1895 — For,  13;  against,  37. 
1X1)6 — For,  21;   airaia-t,  :;:;. 
L897  -License  by  7  majority. 
L898 — For,  25;  against,  38. 
lso<) — For,  :;">;  against,  :;.'.. 
1000 — For,  :;S;  against,  30. 
1901 — License  by  -  majority. 
1902 — License  by  11  majority. 
190.;     License  by  5  majority.     . 
1904 — For,  -19;   against,  43. 

1905  -Againsl  license  by  L6  majority. 

1906  -Againsl  license  by  13  majority. 

1907  -Againsl  license  by  17  majority.  x 


202 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


to  Balaton  on  February  8,  1908.  The 
losses  were  as  follows:  James  Murrison, 
stock  of  hardware  and  implements, 
$6000;  O.  C.  Eng,  store  building  and 
machine  shed.  $2500;  .Miss  Lena  Eng, 
store  building,  millinery  stock  and  house- 
hold goods,  $5000;  M.  L.  Stewart. 
library,  $300. 

THE    SCHOOL. 

Balaton  was  only  a  few  months  old 
when  the  first  school  was  taught  in  the 
spring  of  1880.  Alice  Gibbon-  was  the 
first  instructor  and  the  pupils  were  L.  E. 
Town,  Julius  Town,  Grace  Pierce,  George 
O'Gara.  William  O'Gara,  Nellie  O'Gara. 
Helen  8'earles  and  William  Glotfelter. 
The  second  instructor  was  C.  W.  Candee.6 

The  first  school  house  was  put  up  in 
the  fall  of  1880  and  was  in  use  until  the 
fall  of  1892.  when  it  was  replaced  by  a 
larger  structure.  That  in  turn  became 
inadequate  and  in  1907  the  present  brick 
school  house  war-  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$14,000.  During  several  years  prior  to 
that  time  efforts  had  been  made  to  build 
and  the  voters  had  on  several  occasions 
authorized  bond  issues  for  the  purpose, 
but  because  of  technical  errors  the  work 
was  not  put  under  way  sooner. 

About  130  pupils  arc  now  enrolled  in 
the  Balaton  schools,  which  are  in  charge 
of  Charles  F.  Pecholt.  The  members  of 
the  Board  of  Education  are  Dr.  Charles 
Germo,  secretary;  F.  J.  Brcening.  treas- 
urer; and  Guy  Brock  way.7 

THE    CHURCHES. 

The   Methodists,    Presbyterians,    Ger- 

°Among  others  who  have  taught  in  the  Balaton 
schools  have  been  William  II.  Marshall,  Mr.  Morton, 
Frank  Cook,  Guy  Brockway,  Mr.  Cornwall,  Mrs.  Ammi 
Whiting,  Charles  Glotfelter,  L.  K.  Prouty,  Miss 
Dresser,  Nettie  Truax,  Annie  Shand,  Anna  Robinson, 
Nels  Crouch,  Mr.  Wheeler.  Harry  Hilschman,  .Mary 
Wiley,  .Maud  Murphy,  Gertrude  Hunter,  Alice  Nelson, 
Maud  L.  Hubbard,  H.  W.  Gilberts  >n,  Mark  L.  Stewart, 
Kate  Welch,  Floy  Fuller,  Sarah  Donnelly,  John 
Temple,  May  C.  Engler,  Lillian  Thomas,  Charles  F. 
Pecholt,  Alta  Warner,  Ethel  Black,  Ida  Peterson  and 
Mrs.  Charles  F.  Pecholt. 

"Others  who  have  served  as  members  of  the  board 
have  been  J.  A.  Moore.  Jerry  Dickinson,  J.  K.  Penhale, 


man  Lutherans  and  Swedish  Lutherans 
each  have  societies  in  Balaton,  organized 
in  the  order  named. 

The  first  religious  society  in  the  village 
was  a  free  Will  Baptist  church.  It  was 
organized  December  19,  1879,  with  ten 
members  and  was  formed  through  the 
efforts  of  Rev.  C.  H.  Richardson,  of 
Marshall,  and  that  gentleman  was  the 
church's  first  pastor.  A  church  edifice 
was  elected  in  the  spring  of  1889  and 
was  used  jointly  with  the  Methodists. 
The  Baptists  maintained  the  organiza- 
tion several  years  and  then  the  church 
went  out  of  existence. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized 
in  1880  by  Rev.  J.  X.  Liscomb.  The 
initial  members  were  J.  W.  Hoaglin  and 
wife.  J.  W.  Linderman  and  wife.  E.  I). 
Bartlett,  Anna  Davie.  Emma  Crouch, 
Mrs.  W.  Pierce  and  Phoebe  Pierce.  A 
parsonage  wa  erected  in  1885  and  after 
1889  service,  were  held  in  the  Baptisl 
church.  The  pre  ent  edifice  was  erected 
in  1898  and  was  dedicated  December  4 
of  that  year  by  Pre:  iding  Elder  Han-  - 
com.  The  trustees  of  the  Methodist 
church  are  James  Hall.  J.  W.  Searles, 
E.  I).  Bartlett,  Willard  Pierce,  David 
Swihart,  Tolof  01  on  and  Charles  Ander- 
son.    The  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  Hanna.8 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Balaton  is  also  one  of  the  older  societies 
of  the  village.  It  was  organized  in  the 
early  eighties  largely  through  the  e  .'torts 
of  Robert  Riddell.9  The  first  services 
of  the  society  were  held  in  the  waiting 
room  of  the  depot  by  the  first  pastor, 

Louis  Campbell,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Whiting,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Call. 
S.  S.  Brockway,  Otto  Olson,  E.  F.  Whiting  ami  James 
Murrison. 

sThe  following  haVe  served  as  pastors  of  the  Meth- 
odist church  of  Balaton:  Revs.  I.  H.  Snell.  <  >.  C. 
Gregs,  W.  A.  Tickner,  William  Copp,  Marquist, 
Goodrich,  U.  P.  Olin,  Webster,  II.  Jones,  C.  A.  Maine, 
D.  H.  Carmichael,  S.  II.  Brown,  E.  S.  Gilbert  and 
J.  Hanna. 

"Those  admitted  to  membership  at  the  tine-  "I 
organization  were  Messrs.  and  Mesdames  Robert 
Riddell,  William  Riddell,  A.  C.  Dresser.  James  Aber- 
nathy,  William  Livingston,  George  1..  Carta w,  James 
Murrison  ami  Mr-.  Jeanette  Carlaw.     The  first  trustees 


V 


HISTORY  OP  LYON  COUNTY. 


20-J 


Rev.  Ransom  Wait,10  and  thereafter  for 
some  time  in  the  school  bouse.  The 
church  was  erected  in  1885.  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  with  ceremonies  in  July 
by  Revs.  Gregg,  Jamieson  and  Herrick 
ami  the  building  was  dedicated  January 
H>.  1886,  by  Rev.  Wall.  The  cost  of 
the  structure  was  about  &2000.  A  par- 
sonage was  completed  in  1902.  The 
present  membership  is  about  100.  The 
Trustees  are  Dr.  Charles  (lernio.  A.  M. 
Moore  and  .J.  B.  Carlaw.11 

The  German  Lutheran  society  was 
organized  February  8,  1885,  and  has 
ever  since  maintained  an  active  organi- 
zation.12 For  a  few  years  there  was  no 
re  idem  pastor,  but  since  1888  ministers 
of  the  Lutheran  faith  have  resided  in 
Balaton.  Rev.  R.  Poethke  occupied  the 
pulpit  from  1888  to  1900,  Rev.  R. 
Fehlan  from  1901  to  1904,  and  Rev. 
J.  P.  Scherf  from  190.")  to  1912.  The 
church  home  was  erected  in  1900  and 
the  parsonage  in  1902.  Nearly  fifty 
families  are  now  affiliated  with  the 
church  and  the  present  trustee-  are 
C.  W.  Teufel.  F.  W.  Teufel  and  William 
Stibbe.  A  parochial  school  is  con- 
ducted by  the  pastor. 

For  several  years  before  the  organi- 
zation of  their  church  the  Swedish 
Lutherans  field  services  occasionally, 
conducted  by  vfsiting  clergymen.     The 

were  George  L.  Carlaw,  James  Murrison  and  A.  C. 
Dresser.  The  first  elders  were  Robert  Riddell,  William 
Livingston  and  E.  R.  Weeks. 

10Pastors  who  have  occupied  the  pulpit  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Balaton  have  been 
Revs.  Ransom  Wait,  John  N.  Williams,  G.  N.  Wods- 
worth,  B.  Hall,  M.  F.  Sparks,  J.  A.  Clark,  M.  A.  Linglie, 
L.  Mclntyre,  G.  S.  Pinney,  J.  Russell  Jones,  Brooks 
Hitchings,  Arthur  A.  Palmer,  Joseph  C.  Mapson  and 
Robert  L.  Vance. 

11  In  the  same  charge  with  the  Balaton  church  is 
Easter  Presbyterian  Church  of  Sodus,  with  a  member- 
ship of  forty-five.  It  was  organized  October  17,  1894, 
with  the  following  members:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  II i iiili 
Neil,  Margaret  Neil,  Elizabeth  Neil,  Mr.  ami  Mrs. 
Robert  Neil,  Buelah  Neil,  James  A.  Dick,  Mary  Ford, 
Air.  and  Mrs.  Louis  Nelson,  Margaret  Ford,  Agnes 
Firmage,  Jane  Ford,  Clara  D.  Thurston  and  Robert 
Ford.  The  first  elders  were  Louis  Nelson,  Hugh  Neil 
and  Robert  Ford. 

12The  initial  membership  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church  was  as  follows:  John  Goltz,  Gottlieb  Goltz, 
Ludwig  Luedke,  William  Wichmann,  August  Frost, 
August   Smerling,   August   Tank,   C.    W.   Teufel,   John 


Swedish  Evangelical  church  of  Balaton 
was  organized  in  June,  1907,  through 
the    efforts    of    Rev.    Harold    Ardahl, 

pastor  of  the  Sillerud  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church  of  Scandia  township,  Murray 
county.  Rev.  Ardahl  has  ever  since 
had  charge  of  the  Balaton  church.13 
For  two  years  the  congregation  wor- 
shipped in  the  German  Lutheran  church 
and  in  the  summer  of  1909  a  church 
home  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2700. 
The  society  now  has  a  membership  of 
about  100  and  services  are  held  every 
other  Sunday.  The  present  trustees 
are  Nels  Hanson,  C.  W.  Nord  and  H.  A. 
Anderson  and  the  deacons  are  Nels 
Truedsson,  A.  W.  Nelson  and  John 
Blomquist.1 ' 

THE   LODGKS. 

The  oldest  fraternal  order  of  Balaton 
is  the  lodge  of  the  Ancient  Order  United 
Workmen,  which  was  organized  No- 
vember 4,  1889,  with  a  large  member- 
ship.15 •  The  lodge  is  an  active  one  and 
has  over  fifty  members.  Meetings  are 
held  in  Westbee  Hall.  Nonpareil  Lodge 
No.  49.,  Degree  of  Honor,  was  organized 
September  10,  1895,  with  ten  members.16 
The  membership  is  now  forty-seven  and 
meetings  are  regularly  held. 

Balaton  Camp  No.  3821,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  has  existed  since 

Breening,  William  Loeck,  Ludwig  Mitzner,  Emit 
Plagens,  Julius  Mitzner,  A.  Mitzner,  F.  W.  Teufel, 
Michael  Meyer,  Peter  Swann,  John  Swann.  The  first 
trustees  were  Ludwig  Ludke,  John  Breening  and 
William  Wichmann. 

"The  first  trustees  were  H.  N.  Olson,  C.  W.  Nord 
and  H.  A.  Anderson  and  the  'first  deacons  were  Nels 
Truedsson  and  John  Blomquist. 

14A  Sunday  School,  organized  in  1901,  is  maintained 
in  connection  with  the  church.  Nels  Truedsson  was 
the  first  superintendent.  Twenty-five  pupils  are  en- 
rolled and  the  teachers  are  Mrs.  O.  Sandquist,  Miss 
Sadie  Nord  and  Nels  Truedsson. 

15Charter  members  of  the  Workmen  lodge  were 
J.  H.  Call,  D.  F.  Sanders,  George  L.  Carlaw,  J.  P.  Estee, 
R.  E.  Town,  J.  A.  Moore,  W.  S.  Whiting,  G.  Willielm, 
Charles  Brandt,  A.  S.  Town,  J.  Dickinson,  E.  II.  Weeks, 
J.  Murrison,  T.  A.  Graham,  D.  McErlain,  G.  A.  Tate, 
H.  C.  Shaffer  and  II.  A.  Bates. 

leThe    charter   members   of    Nonpareil    Lodge    were 

Lillian  Tate,  Hattie  Call.  .Mary  Willford,  Eva  Moor  . 
Sarah  Town.  Jeannie  A.  Graham,  Laura  Willford. 
Mahel  Whiting,  Jane  Weeks  and   Rachael  Murrison. 


204 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


April  27,  1896. 17  Eighty-one  members 
are  now  on  the  rolls  of  the  lodge.  Lake 
Yankton  Lodge  No.  5005,  Royal  Neigh- 
bors of  America,  was  instituted  Septem- 
ber 27,  1907,  with  a  large  initial  mem- 
bership18 and  is  still  an  active  order. 


THE    BANKS. 

Two  banks  are  conducted  in  Balaton, 
the  First  State  Bank  and  the  First 
National  Bank.  The  former  is  the  older 
and  the  successor  of  the  first  financial 
institution  of  the  village. 

The  Bank  of  Balaton  was  established 
as  a  private  institution  in  the  middle 
nineties  by  R.  H.  Martin  &  Son  and  was 
sold  in  January,  1899,  to  H.  O.  Oarlock 
&  Company.  It  was  succeeded  in  May. 
L901,  by  the  First  State  Bank,  which 
was  organized  by  M.  Lauritsen,  presi- 
dent; J.  N.  Westbee,  vice  president; 
C.  W.  Candee,  cashier;  J.  H.  Carlaw  and 
Charles  Germo.  It  began  life  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $10,000.  The  banking 
house  was  erected  in  1901.  The  present 
officers  of  the  First  State  Bank  are 
Charles  Germo,  president;  J.  H.  Carlaw, 
vice  president;  A.  M.  Moore,  cashier; 
and  .1.  A.  Moore,  Jr.,  assistant   cashier. 

The  First  National  Bank  succeeded  a 
state  bank  organized  in  1902.  The 
officers  while  the  institution  was  op- 
erated under  a  state  charter  were 
George  A.  Tate,  president;  A.  J.  Rush, 
cashier;  and  N.  H.  Olson,  assistant 
cashier.  The  capital  stock  was  $15,000. 
The  reorganization  occurred  in  June, 
1903,  when  the  First  National  Bank 
opened  for  business  with  a  capital  stock 
of  $25,000  and  the  following  officers: 
George     A.     Tate,     president;     August 

17The  charter  members  of  the  Woodmen  lodge  were 
L.  L.  Cornwell,  W.  H.  Estee,  W.  Glotfelter,  A.  Goohall, 
A.  S.  Moline,  Robert  Steele,  Nels  Strnberg,  Nels 
Wahlgren,  E.  F.  Whiting  and  E.  W.  Whiting. 

lsThe  following  were  charter  members  of  the  Royal 
Neighbors  lodge:  Lucy  Anderson,  Chafles  R.  Ander- 
son, Delbert  J.  Bailey,  J.  H.  Breening,  Wilhelm 
Bevens,  Myrtle  E.  Beck,  Eliza  B.  Bailey,  Blanche  A. 


Swanson,  vice  president;  F.  W.  Ruliff- 
son,  cashier;  and  U.  Wilhelm,  assistant 
cashier.  The  present  commodious  bank- 
ing house  was  erected  in  1909.  At  the 
annual  meeting  of  January  30,  1912,  a 
change  was  made  in  the  management  of 
the  bank  and  the  officers  are  now  as 
follows:  James  Hall,  Sr.,  president; 
U.  Wilhelm,  first  vice  president;  August 
Swanson,  second  vice  president;  F.  W. 
Ruliffson,  cashier.  The  directors  are 
C.  M.  Hommerberg,  August  Swanson, 
H.  J.  Tillemans,  James  Hall,  U.  Wilhelm, 
L.  Redding  and  N.  H.  Olson. 

FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

For  the  purpose  of  insuring  its  mem- 
bers against  loss  by  fire  or  lightning  the 
Western  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  Balaton  was  organized  in  June. 
L894.  The  incorporators  were  as  fol- 
lows: A.  N.  Daniels,  who  was  the  first 
president;  J.  1'.  Estee,  who  served  as 
the  first  secretary;  James  Murrison, 
W.  II.  Estee,  William  Livingston,  T.  J. 
Skaug,  R.  R.  Roberts,  Fred  Lochman, 
A.  G.  Bumford,  Julius  Frost,  William 
Klukas,  John  Goltz,  William  Teufel, 
L.  Ludke,  William  Frost,  Ludwig  Arndt, 
Julius  Mitzner,  F.  W.  Teufel,  O.  F. 
Persons,  J.  N.  Harvey,  0.  W.  Candee. 
Robert  Riddell,  Evan  C.  Jones,  Charles 
Livingston  and  Jerry  Dickinson. 

The  business  of  the  company'  lias 
grown  until  late  in  1911  the  amount  of 
insurance  in  force  was  over  two  and 
one-quarter  million  dollars.  The  pres- 
ent officers  and  directors  are  J.  A.  W, 
Shand,  president;  E.  M.  Hamm,  secre- 
tary; A.  M.  Moore,  treasurer;  L.  E. 
Peterson,  J.  C.  Taylor,  William  Bruell, 

Bailey,  Emma  S.  Goltz,  Henry  Hamm,  Mary  Hamm, 
George  W.  Jones,  Martha  E.  Jones,  Sina  Knudson, 
Mathilda  Moline,  Maggie  G.  Murrison,  Robert  Murrison, 
Katherina  Mullaney,  Isabella  G.  Murrison,  Elsie  Pierce, 
Hulda  Swann,  William  Swann,  Nora  Sorenson,  Frankie 
L.  Town,  Amanda  Thompson,  Ingue  Weede,  E.  F. 
Whiting,  Emma  M.  Weede,  N.  H.  Wahlgren,  Anna  E. 
Whiting  and  Eva  Whiting. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


205 


Robert  -Will.  I'.  Johnson  and  I'.  II. 
Fligge.  J.  P.  Estee  was  the  first 
secretary  of  the  company  and  he  was 
succeeded  for  short  terms  by  A.  X. 
Daniels.  James  Murrison  was  then 
elected  to  the  office  and  served  eleven 
years.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
-ccrotary,  E.  M.  Hamin. 


IM'SSKLL. 


Lyon  county's  sixth  municipality  in 
point  of  size  is  Russell,  a  village  of  202 
people,  according  to  the  last  census. 
It  is  a  station  on  the  Great  Northern 
railroad  and  the  platted  portion  is  on 
the  south  half  of  section  l'.l.  Lyons 
township.  Russell  draws  trade  from 
quite  an  extensive  and  very  prosperous 
territory  and  as  a  business  point  takes 
rank  equal  to  the  other  villages  of  like 
size  in  the  county. 

Russell  was  founded  in  1888  and  had 
its  inception  as  a  result  of  the  building 
of  the  Willmar  &  Sioux  Falls  (Great 
Northern)  railroad.  Before  the  road 
was  built,  in  the  fall  of  1887  it  became 
known  that  one  of  the  stations  was  to 
be  located  there19  and  in  May,  1888, 
the  railroad  officials  announced  that  the 
station  would  be  named  Russell,  after 
Russell  Spicer,  son  of  one  of  the  pro- 
moters  of   the   Willmar   &  Sioux   Falls. 

The  track  was  laid  to  the  site  during 
the  early  fall  of  1888  and  train  service 
was  begun  a  little  later.  The  plat  was 
surveyed  by  C.   L.  Van  Fleet  and  was 

19"The  fifth  station  in  the  county  will  be  Clear 
Lake,  on  the  center  of  section  19,  town  of  Lyons, 
thirteen  and  one-half  miles  from  Marshall,  and  here 
will  be  another  beautiful  townsite  and  the  station  will 
be  an  important  one,  both  in  beautiful  location  and 
as  a  shipping  place." — Marshall  News-Messenger, 
November  11,  1887. 

20Additions  to  Russell  have  been  platted  as  follows: 

Addition  A,  September  7,  1892,  by  Henry  M. 
Burchard;  surveyed  by  C.  L.  Van  Fleet. 

Addition  B,  September  28,  1893,  by  Henry  M. 
Burchard;  surveyed  by  O.  H.  Sterk. 

E.  Skyhawk's  First,  December  12,  1896,  by  Ephraim 
Skyhawk;  surveyed  by  O.  H.  Sterk. 

Peterson's,  July  15,  1901,  by  Hans  Peterson;  sur- 
veyed by  W.  A.  Hawkins. 


dedicated  by  Henry  M.  Burchard  on 
January  1<>.  1889.  The  original  plat 
consisted  of  only  tour  blocks,  divided  by 
First,  Second  and  Third  and  by  River 
and  Front  Streets.-'0 

During  the  month  of  October,  1888, 
the  Northwestern  elevator  and  a  section 
house  were  erected  and  about  the  same 
time  Ephraim  Skyhawk  put  up  a  two- 
story  building.  On  the  ground  floor  he 
opened  a  little  store  and  he  and  his 
family  lived  on  the  second  floor.  Mr. 
Skyhawk  was  the  pioneer  business  man 
of  Russell  and  for  some  time  he  and  his 
family  were  the  only  residents  of  the 
new  village.  The  postoffice  was  estab- 
lished in  February,  1889,  and  was  con- 
ducted in  Mr.  Skyhawk's  store.21 

In  March,  1889,  Herman  Ristow 
erected  a  little  house  and  became  the 
second  resident  of  Russell,  taking  a 
position  as  section  hand.  Albert  Ris- 
tow, born  July  29,  1889,  was  the  first 
child  born  in  the  village.  There  was 
practically  no  advancement  during  1889, 
but  the  following  year  several  improve- 
ments were  made. 

A.  J.  Cowie  took  a  position  as  grain 
buyer  for  the  Northwestern  Elevator 
Company  early  in  1890  and  sold  farm 
machinery  as  a  side  line.  The  Inter- 
State  Grain  Company  put  up  a  flat  house 
and  furnished  competition  for  the  pio- 
neer grain  firm.  During  the  summer 
S.  W.  Galbraith,  formerly  of  Balaton, 
erected  a  store  building,  moved  his 
family  to  Russell,  and  engaged  in  the 
hardware   and   grocery   business.22     He 

Bengtson's,  August  23,  1910,  by  John  Bengtson; 
surveyed  by  O.  H.  Sterk. 

21Russell  has  had  only  two  postmasters.  Ephraim 
Skyhawk  served  from  the  time  of  establishment  in 
February,  1889,  until  1896,  and  F.  S.  Purdy  from  that 
date  to  the  present  time. 

One  rural  route  is  operated  from  the  Russell  office. 
It  was  established  February  4,  1904,  and  G.H.Thurston 
was  the  carrier  until  1907.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Charles  O.  Johnson,  the  present  carrier. 

22"Sam  Galbraith,  of  Balaton,  is  locating  in  Russell, 
where  he  is  building  a  store.  Hereafter  when  Eph. 
Skyhawk  comes  to  Marshall  he  will  not  have  to  lock 
up  the  town  during  his  absence." — Marshall  News- 
Messenger,  September  26,  1890. 


206 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


remained  only  about  a  year  and  then 
sold  to  William  Bnel.23  In  the  fall  of 
1890  a  little  shack  of  a  building  was 
brought  to  the  station  on  a  flat  car  and 
for  several  years  was  used  as  the  depot. 
Late  in  the  same  season  Fellows  Brothers 
opened  a  feed  mill  and  a  little  later  a 
blacksmith  shop. 

A  harness  shop  was  opened  in  1891 
and  a  pool  hall  was  started,  which  a 
little  later  was  replaced  by  a  hardware 
store.  During  the  same  season  three 
residences  were  erected.  In  the  spring 
of  1892  A.  A.  Fifield  put  up  buildings 
and  opened  a  lumber  yard  and  later  in 
the  same  season  Scott  Carlisle  built  and 
opened  to  the  public  the  first  hotel. 
Before  the  close  of  the  year  ten  more 
dwelling  houses  were  put  up  and  Russell 
began  to  take  on  the  appearance  of  a 
thriving  little  village. 

The  hard  times  of  1893  interrupted 
progress  to  some  extent,  although  a  few 
residences  were  erected  and  a  pool  hall 
was  started.  A  church  was  organized 
that  fall.  The  Marshall  News-Messen- 
ger of  November  3,  1893,  said:  "Rus- 
sell has  a  dozen  stores,  hotel,  two 
elevators,  lumber  yard,  etc.  Russell  is 
a  wheat  market  from  the  word  go  and 
this  fall  has  shipped  to  Minneapolis 
seventy  cars." 

More  business  enterprises  were  estab- 
lished in  1894.  In  May  a  large  two- 
story  double  store  building  was  erected 
and  Messrs.  Fawcett  and  E.  L.  Cross 
established  stores.  Dr.  Treat  located 
in  the  village  for  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  Several  residences  were 
erected,  there  were  a  few  changes'  of 
ownership    of    the    business    establish- 

23The  death  of  May  Belle,  infant  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  William  Buel,  was  the  first  in  Russell. 

24The  license  question  has  been  an  issue  at  nearly 
every  local  election.  During  1898  and  1899  no  vote 
was  taken  and  license  was  granted.  Since  then  the 
results  of  the  elections  under  the  local  option  law  have 
been  as  follows: 

1900— For,  17;   against,  14.  * 

1901 — License  carried. 

1902 — License  carried. 


ments,  and  a  few  other  enterprises  were 
started.  A  creamery  was  built  in  1S95. 
In  1896  Messrs.  Chamberlain  &  Hick- 
put  up  a  building  and  engaged  in  the 
general  merchandise  business.  F.  S. 
Purdy  erected  another  building  in  which 
he  established  a  hardware  store  and  kept 
the  postoffice.  The  upbuilding  of  the 
little  town  was  rapid  during  the  pros- 
perous days  of  the  late  nineties  and 
there  came  a  demand  for  local  govern- 
ment. 

So  early  as  .January,  1895,  an  effort 
was  made  to  secure  incorporation  and 
meetings  were  held  with  that  object  in 
view.  No  decisive  action  was  taken, 
however.  In  December,  1896,  the  resi- 
dents claimed  a  population  of  180  for 
Russell  ami  there  was  again  talk  of 
asking  for  municipal  government.  In 
the  summer  of  1898  those  interested 
pushed  the  matter  to  a  successful  con- 
clusion. The  petition  asking  for  an 
election  to  decide  the  question  was 
favorably  acted  upon  by  the  county 
law-making  body  July  18,  1898,  and 
August  30  was  the  date  set  for  holding 
the  election.  F.  S.  Purdy,  R.  A. 
Bigham  and  C.  W.  Hicks  were  named 
inspectors  of  the  first  election.  Those 
favoring  incorporation  were  successful 
by  a  majority  of  three  votes.  For  the 
selection  of  the  first  village  officers  the 
election  was  held  in  Workmen  Hall  on 
September  13. 

Following  is  the  roster  of  village 
officers  from  the  time  of  incorporation 
to  the  present:21 

1898— President,  Ephraim  Skyhawk;  trustees, 
E.  Smith,  J.  W.  Andrews,  R.  G.  Webb;  recorder, 
J.   P.   Peterson;  treasurer,   H.   W.   B.   Harden; 

1903 — For,  32;  against,  34. 

1904 — For,  28;  against,  37. 

1905 — Against  license  carried. 

1906 — Against  license  carried. 

1907 — Against  license  by  3  majority. 

1908 — License  carried. 

1909 — Against  license  by  20  majority. 

1910— For,  25;  against,  34. 

1911 — For,  42;  against,  26. 

1912 — For,  47:  against,  29. 


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HISTORY  OK  LYON  COUNTY. 


207 


justices.  !•'.  S.  Purdy,  S  J.  Smith;  constables, 
M.  11.  Hanks,  A.  I;.  Carlisle. 

1899  President,  J.  W.  Bipple;  trustees,  R.  G. 
Webb,  0.  S.  Carlisle,  Herman  Ristow;  recorder, 
J.  P.  Peterson;  treasurer,  11.  W.  B.  Harden; 
assessor,  William  Daffer;  justice,  .).  .1.  Schulte; 
constables,  M.  F.  May,  Ed.  Nichols. 

L900  President,  .1.  W.  Andrews;  trustees, 
R.  Ci.   Webb.    R.   A.  Bigham,  S.   W.   Fellows; 

recorder,    .1.     I*.     Peterson;     treasurer,     11.     W.    B. 

Harden;  assessor,  M.  I".  May;  justices,  P.  S. 
Purdy,  G.  t  >.  Rask;  constable,  A.  F.  Wheeler. 

1901       President,  <i.  <  >.    Rask;   trustees,   E.  O. 

Webster,  11.  ('.  Hanson,  A.  11.  Mjnnick;  recorder, 
E.  Smith;  treasurer,  M.  F.  Cadwell;  assessor, 
T.  H.  Conners;  justice,  E.  Haase;  constable, 
t '   11.  Bosteder. 

1902 — President,  E.  Metcalf:  trustee-,  Hans 
Peterson,  R.  A.  Bigham,  A.  E.  Engberg;  record- 
er, W.  .1.  Huddleston;  treasurer,  M.  F.  Cadwell; 
assessor,  .1.  M.  Ryan;  justices,  ('.  I'.  Eastman, 
(i.  H.  Thurston;  constables,  A.  I'.  Wheeler, 
J.  E.  Jones. 

I'M):;  -President,  P.  P.  Willard:  trustees,  Hans 
Peterson.  1!.  A.  Bigham,  H.  W.  B.  Harden: 
recorder,  W.  J.  Huddleston;  treasurer,  G.  W. 
Cochrane;  assessor,  D.  S.  Phillips;  constable, 
A.  R.  Carlisle. 

L9I II  -President.  R.  A.  Bigham:  trustees,  H. 
W.  B.  Harden,  D.  S.  Phillips,  A.  E.  Engberg; 
recorder,  W.  J.  Huddleston;  treasurer,  G.  S. 
Willard;  assessor,  A.  N.  Daniels;  justices,  C.  P. 
Past  man,  P.  S.  Purdy;  constable,  F.  G.  Sage. 

1905 — President,  R.  A.  Bigham;  trustees,  D. 
S.  Phillips,  E.  L.  Hall,  A.  E.  Engberg;  recorder, 
W.  J.  Huddleston;  treasurer,  G.  S.  Willard; 
assessor,  Hans  Peterson. 

1906 — President,  R.  A.  Bigham;  trustees,  E.  L. 
Hall.  W.  D.  Hackett,  Ephraim  Skyhawk; 
recorder,  F.  S.  Purdy;  treasurer,  G.  S.  Willard; 
assessor,  Hans  Peterson;  justices,  F.  S.  Purdy, 
T.  D.  Knapp. 

1907 — President,  R.  A.  Bigham;  trustees, 
Ephraim  Skyhawk,  P.  Kavanaugh,  W.  D. 
Hackett;  recorder,  F.  S.  Purdy;  treasurer,  E. 
Smith;    assessor,     Hans    Peterson;    constables, 

E.  G.  Loringer,  R.  E.  Jones. 

1908— President,  D.  S.  Phillips;  trustees,  L. 
G.  Wallin,  T.  J.  Willfong,  Ephraim  Skyhawk; 
recorder,  J.  N.  Jones;  treasurer,  E.  Smith. 

1909— President,  E.  L.  Hall;  trustees,  L.  G. 
Wallin,  William  Murphy,  E.  G.  Loringer; 
recorder,  J.  N.  Jones;  treasurer,  E.  Smith; 
assessor,  Hans  Peterson;  constables,  F.  G.  Sage, 
A.  R.  Carlisle. 

1910— President,  E.  L.  Hall;  trustees,  G.  H. 
Walker,  L.  G.  Wallin,  A.  R.  Carlisle;  recorder, 
R.  A.  Bigham;  treasurer,  J.  B.  Williams. 

1911— President,  E.  L.  Hall;  trustees,  L.  G. 
Wallin,  A.  R.  Carlisle,  G.  H.  Walker;  recorder, 
R.  A.  Bigham;  treasurer,  J.  B.  Williams; 
assessor,  Hans  Peterson;  justice,  F.  E.  Child. 

1912— President,  E.  L.  Hall;  trustees,  L.  G. 
Wallin,  G.  H.  Walker,  R.  E.  Benson;  recorder, 

F.  E.  Child;  treasurer,  J.  B.  Williams;  assessor, 

2iThe  pioneer  Presbyterian  chureh  was  many  miles 
from  any  settlement  when  it  was  built  and  for  a  score 
of  years  it  was  the  place  of  worship  of  the  people  in- 
habiting  a   large   scope   of   country.     The   chureh   was 


Hans  Peterson;  justices,  F.  S.  Purdy,  E.  Smith; 
constable,  E.  <  i.  Loringer. 

The  growth  of  Russell  has  not  been 
great,  bill  it  has  been  substantial  and 
the  village  lias  never  taken  a  backward 
step.  The  population  in  KM).")  was  275 
and  the  census  of  1910  gave  it  a  popula- 
tion of  262. 

Russell  has  had  one  serious  confla- 
gration in  its  history.  On  the  night  of 
June  25,  1907,  the  fire  fiend  brought  a 
loss  of  $8000.  The  hotel  owned  by 
William  Murphy  and  Leased  to  J.  N. 
Jones,  the  hotel  barn,  the  meat  markets 
owned  by  Krick  Bergman  and  George 
Beasley  and  two  ice  bouses  adjoining 
were  destroyed. 

THE    school. 

Russell  has  a  first-class  school,  which 
lias  been  maintained  for  the  last  twenty- 
two  years.  The  first  building  was  a 
little  structure  erected  in  1890.  A  few 
years  later  the  voters  of  the  district 
authorized  a  $2500  bond  issue,  the 
bonds  were  sold,  and  the  present 
building  was  put  up. 

THE    CHURCHES. 

Two  church  societies  are  maintained 
in  Russell,  the  Presbyterian  and  the 
Catholic. 

The  first  Presbyterian  church  erected 
in  Lyon  county  was  located  in  Lyons 
township,  not  far  from  the  future 
village  of  Russell.  It  was  erected  in 
1873  and  before  a  society  of  that  de- 
nomination was  organized  in  the  village 
the  people  of  Russell  attended  that 
church.25 

The  first  religious  society  in  Russell 
was  the  Presbyterian  Sunday  School, 
organized  with  about  fifty  members  in 

built  by  Rev.  Ransom  Wait,  the  pioneer  Presbyterian 
minister  of  the  county.  It  was  sold  on  February  10, 
1894,  to  satisfy  a  mortgage  of  $400  held  by  the  Presby- 
terian Church  Extension  Society. 


208 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


May.  1891,  in  S.  \Y.  Galbraith's  new- 
store   building.     Rev.    L.    Mclntyre,    of 

Balaton,  and  Superintendent  Knutsen, 
of  the  Mankato  Presbytery,  were  the 
organizers.  Meetings  were  held  in  pri- 
vate homes,  in  the  depot,  and  later  in 
the  little  school  house. 

Steps  were  early  taken  to  effect  a 
church  organization  and  on  May  14. 
1891,  Rev.  N.  H.  Bell,  superintendent  of 
churches  for  the  Presbytery,  and  Rev. 
John  Sinclair  visited  the  place  to  look 
the  field  over.  Prior  to  that  time  $400 
had  been  raised  by  subscription  toward 
a  church  building  and  the  church 
authorities  promised  to  assist  in  the 
organization  of  a  church  and  the 
erection  of  a  building.  It  was  not  until 
1894.  however,  that  these  things  were 
accomplished. 

In  November,  1893,  Rev.  J.  W.  Hood 
began  holding  services  in  Russell  and 
the  following  February  he  and  his 
sister.  Miss  Bella  Hood,  held  evangelistic 
services  there.  As  a  result  the  Russell 
Presbyterian  church  was  organized  with 
thirty-six  members.  Rev.  Hood  was 
installed  as  pastor  in  June,  1894,  having 
charge  also  of  the  church  in  Island  Lake 
township.26  The  following  fall  a  church 
home,  30x50  feet,  was  completed  and 
dedicated  practically  free  from  debt. 

THE    LODGES. 

The  Ancient  Order  United  Workmen. 
Degree  of  Honor,  Modern  Woodmen  of 

26Rev.  J.  W.  Hood  was  pastor  of  the  Russell  church 
until  February  12,  1903.  He  has  been  succeeded  in 
turn  by  the  following:  Revs.  Davies,  C.  D.  Van 
Wagner,  A.  E.  Evans,  J.  A.  Lumley,  H.  P.  Gray  and 
T.  C.  Hill. 

27The  charter  members  of  the  Workmen  lodge  were 
M.  S.  Fawcett.  M.  F.  Cadwell.  Jay  Peterson,  R.  A. 
Bigham,  F.  S.  Purdy,  Hans  Peterson,  Frank  Zvorak, 
C.  W.  Wilson,  Ernest  Smith  and  Ephraim  Skyhawk. 

-xTln-  present  office  holders  of  the  Degree  of  Honor 
lodge  are  Florence  Hall,  Nina  Burckhardt,  Sadie 
Roberts,  Augusta  Purdy,  Mabel  Hackett,  Lucinda 
Bigham,  Lurline  Johnson,  Carrie  Hanson,  Ida  Bergman, 
Ellen  Larson,  James  Zvorak,  Grace  Johnson  and 
Stella  Carlaw. 

-9The  charter  members  of  the  Woodmen  lodge  were 
A.  L.  Blanchard,  C.  M.  Wilson.  E.  Z.  Retzlaff,  John  A. 
Johnson,  A.  C.  Rice,  A.  E.  Wunderlieh,  M.  G.  Sparks, 


America,  Royal  Neighbors  of  America 
and  the  Masonic  orders  are  represented 
in  Russell. 

The  oldest  of  the  fraternal  orders  is 
the  AVorkmen  lodge,  which  was  organ- 
ized June  22,  1897,  with  ten  charter 
members.27  The  lodge  now  has  a  mem- 
bership of  fifty  and  owns  a  lodge  build- 
ing. 

Russell  Lodge  No.  138,  Degree  of 
Honor,  was  organized  January  25,  1899. 
It  now  has  sixty-four  members  and 
meets  regularly  in  Woodmen  Hall.28 

The  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
lodge  began  its  existence  on  November 
13,  1900,  with  twelve  members,29  which 
has  been  increased  to  sixty-six  at  the 
present  time. 

The  Royal  Neighbors  lodge  has  existed 
since  August  24,  1904,30  and  now  has 
fifty  active  members. 

Coteau  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  began 
its  existence  under  dispensation  in  1901. 
A  charter  was  granted  by  the  grand 
lodge  in  January,  1902,  and  the  lodge 
was  regularly  constituted  March  19  of 
the  same  year.31  The  order  now  lias 
fifty-seven  members. 

THE    BANK. 

The  First  State  Bank  of  Russell  is 
the  successor  of  the  first  banking  house 
of  the  village,  a  private  bank  denomi- 
nated the  Bank  of  Russell.  D.  S. 
Phillips     was     president     and     G.     W  . 

A.  H.  Minnick,  R.  R.  Sibley,  William  H.  Potts,  G.  S. 
Willard  and  John  Mattsson. 

30The  charter  members  of  the  Royal  Neighbors 
lodge  were  Kate  Jones,  John  A.  Johnson,  Mary  B. 
Rice,  Margaret  Bergman,  Emma  Bergman,  Mary  E. 
Owens,  Anna  A.  Wilson,  Sarah  Moore,  Margaret 
Willard,  Kate  E.  Marsden,  C.  S.  Willard,  Charles  Burt, 
Teresa  Blanchard,  C.  Wilson,  Guv  Walker,  Hugh 
Walker,  E.  L.  Hall,  Lucy  Jones,  L.  Holden,  W.  S. 
Morgan,  Effie  Buell,  Mrs.  E.  Burt,  Kate  Holden, 
Viola  Thurston,  Nellie  Hippie,  D.  S.  Owens  and 
Gertrude  Blanchard. 

31The  charter  members  of  Coteau  Lodge  were  Jacob 
Rouse,  F.  S.  Purdy,  M.  F.  Cadwell,  J.  W.  Andrews, 
F  P  Willard.  W."  IX  Hackett,  A.  Holden,  Ephraim 
Skyhawk,  E.  Metcalf,  E.  Smith,  W.  E.  West.  G.  W. 
Cochrane,  C.  P.  Eastman,  Nels  Rossen,  Hans  Peterson 
and  R.  A.  Bigham. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


209 


Cochrane  cashier  of  the  pioneer  institu- 
tion. The  First  State  Bank  was  or- 
ganized January  1,  1903,  to  continue 
the  business  and  had  a  capital  stock  of 
$15,000.  Among  the  incorporators  wore 
,1.  G.  Schutz,  ('.  B.  Tyler.  I).  I).  Foil.-. 
V.  B.  Seward.  .1.  C.  Burchard  and  J.  C. 
Lawrence,  of  Marshall,  and  I).  S. 
Phillips  and  Hans  Peterson,  of  Russell. 
The  officers  were  as  follows:  E.  X. 
Bailey,  president;  J.  H.  Tate,  vice  presi- 
dent; G.  W.  Cochrane,  cashier. 

A    controlling    interest    in    the    First 


State  Hank  was  purchased  in  February, 
1906,  by  C.  H.  Ross  and  \Y.  E.  ('.  Ross. 
The  officers  then  became  C.  H.  Ross, 
president;  W.  E.  C.  Ross  and  M.  K. 
Simmons,  vice  presidents;  and  (!.  S. 
Willard,  cashier.  Upon  the  death  of 
.Mr.  Willard  in  1908  B.  Leknes  became 
cashier  and  J.  B.  Williams  assistant 
cashier.  The  directors  of  the  bank  are 
C.  H.  Ross,  W.  F.  C.  Ross,  M.  K.  Sim- 
mons, B.  Leknes  and  (ieorge  Olson. 
The  home  of  the  bank  was  erected  in 
1908. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


GHENT  AND  TAUNTON     1878-1912. 


NOT  far  from  where  the  North-, 
western  railroad  crosses  Three- 
Mile  creek,  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  15,  Grandview  town- 
ship, seven  miles  northwesl  of  Marshall. 
is  the  little  village  of  Ghent.  Its  eleva- 
tion above  sea  level  is  1173  feet  and  its 
population  210.  Ghent  is  the  trading 
point  for  a  populous  and  thrifty  com- 
munity, made  up  for  the  most  part  of 
Belgian  and  French  settlers,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  progressive  little  villages  of 
Lyon  county. 

When  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter  (now 
the  Northwestern)  railroad  was  built  in 
1872  that  part  of  Lyon  county  north- 
west from  Marshall  was  thinly  settled, 
but  there  were  a  few  homesteaders  near 
the  point  where  the  new  road  crossed 
Three-Mile  creek  and  they  made  an 
effort  to  have  a  station  located  at  the 
crossing.  Conditions  warranted  the  es- 
tablishment of  only  one  station  in  Lyon 
county  at  that  time,  the  settlers  near 
the  crossing-  of  the  Redwood  made  a 
more  active  campaign,  and  the  railroad 
officials  located  the  station  there  instead 
of  at  Three-Mile  creek.     Thus  the  lead- 

JThe  Grandview  office — the  predecessor  of  the  Ghent 
office — was  re-established  in  1878  with  J.  M.  Vaughn 
as  postmaster.  During  the  year  of  its  establishment 
it  was  kept  in  the  store  of  A.  P.  Ray  and  was  then 
moved  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Vaughn,  two  and  one-half 
miles  northwest  of  the  village.  It  was  moved  to  the 
station  in  January,  1881,  and  a  little  later  the  name 
was  changed  to  Ghent.  R.  F.  Laythe  became  post- 
master and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Capistrand,  who  left 
in    the    summer   of    1883.     Aime    Van    Hee   served    as 


ing  town  and  county  seat  of  Lyon 
county  became  Marshall  instead  of  a 
city  planted  where  Ghent  stands  today. 

In  time  more  settlers  located  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  crossing  of  Three-Mile 
creek,  and  to  furnish  them  mail  facilities 
a  postoflice  was  established  early  in 
1S74.  It  was  named  Grandview,  after 
the  township,  and  Harrison  A.  Irish, 
a  homesteader  on  section  14,  was  the 
postmaster.  The  office,  supplied  from 
Marshall,  was  maintained  for  a  couple 
of  years  and  was  then  discontinued,  to 
be  re-established  at  a  later  time.1 

It  is  the  village  of  Grandview  with 
which  we  have  to  deal  in  chronicling  the 
early  history  of  Ghent,  for  prior  to  1881 
that  is  the  name  the  village  bore. 
Grandview  was  founded  in  the  spring  of 
1878.  In  April  of  that  year  A.  P.  Ray 
erected  a  store  building  and  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business.  The  venture  was 
not  a  success  and  the  store  was  discon- 
tinued in  October.  The  Grandview 
townsite  was  platted  by  the  railroad 
company  on  July  5,  1878,  the  survey 
having  been  made  by  Arthur  Jacobi.2 

J.  M.  Vaughn  bought  grain  at  Grand- 
postmaster  from  1894  to  1902  and  Mrs.  Matilda 
Blodgett  has  since  held  the  office. 

2Twenty  blocks  were  included  in  the  plat.  The 
streets  running  northwest  and  southeast  were  named 
Green,  Barber,  McQuestion  and  Burlingame;  those 
northeast  and  southwest,  Bladwin,  English,  Chapman, 
Loomis  and  Maskell.  There  have  been  no  additions 
platted. 


212 


II J  STORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


view  during  the  seasons  of  1878  and 
1879  for  Van  Dusen  &  Company,  and 
for  some  time  after  the  closing  of  the 
Ray  store  that  was  the  only  enterprise 
on  the  site,  and  that  did  not  boast  a 
building  to  shelter  it.  Although  the 
site  had  been  platted  and  some  business 
enterprises  had  been  started  previously, 
the  practical  founding  of  Grandview 
came  in  1880.  That  year  the  first  of 
the  Catholic  colony  located  in  the 
vicinity  and  supplied  the  stimulus  for 
the  building  of  a  village. 

During  1880  Van  Dusen  &  Company 
erected  a  grain  warehouse  and  John 
Fodness  was  employed  as  grain  buyer; 
Jerry  Fagan,  one  of  the  colonists,  opened 
a  store  but  closed  it  the  next  year; 
William  Heinmiller  engaged  in  the  black- 
smith business;  Burl  Story  moved  a 
little  shack  from  his  homestead  and  kept 
boarders,  also  erecting  a  barn;  one  of 
the  residents  also  sold  lumber  at  the 
youthful  village.  While  this  list  of  im- 
provements for  1880  cannot  be  con- 
sidered large,  a  start  had  been  made  and 
Grandview  was  placed  on  the  map.  A 
correspondent  to  the  Marshall  Messenger 
of  December  17,  1880,  wrote:  "We 
don't  look  for  a  city  here  very  soon  but 
hope  to  see  more  business  done  at  our 
station  hereafter  than  in  the  past.  .  .  . 
Six  months  ago  there  was  not  one 
individual  living  in  this  village;  now  we 
have  seven  buildings." 

Progress  continued  during  1881,  due 
principally  to  the  arrival  of  a  large 
number  of  Belgian  colonists.  A  depot 
was  erected  during  the  summer  and  Mr. 
King  installed  as  agent,  a  telegraph 
office  being  added  in  September.  The 
same  month,  upon  the  petition  of 
residents,  the  name  of  the  postoffice  was 
changed    from    Grandview    to    Ghent,3 

3"This  lively  little  place  has  changed  its  name  to 
Ghent.  It  is  growing  and  bids  fair  t©  be  quite  a  vil- 
lage."— Ghent  Correspondent  to  Marshall  Messenger, 
September  22,  1881. 


named  after  the  city  in  Belgium,  and 
the  station  was  later  also  given  the  new 
name.  Burl  Story  erected  a  hotel 
building  and  founded  the  Ghent  House. 
R.  F.  Laythe  put  up  a  building  and 
engaged  in  the  general  merchandise 
business,  selling  out  later  to  Capistrand 
&  Soucheray.  A  Mr.  Hayden  opened 
another  store  the  same  season.  John 
Fodness  erected-  an  18x26  feet  store 
building  and  one  of  the  colonists  built 
a  dwelling  house. 

In  the  spring  of  1882  a  Ghent  citizen 
wrote  that  the  village  had  a  population 
of  125  and  that  the  business  enterprises 
consisted  of  one  general  store,  a  hotel, 
blacksmith  shop,  elevator  and  lumber 
yard.  A  few  changes  in  the  ownership 
of  business  houses  were  made  in  1883. 
Capistrand  &  Soucheray  bought  the 
lv.  F.  Laythe  store  in  March  and  three 
months  later  Mr.  Soucheray  became  sole 
proprietor.  In  December  Kmilien  Para- 
dis  bought  the  Jerry  Fagan  store  build- 
ing and  engaged  in  the  general  mer- 
chandise business.  In  1884  Francis 
Gits  opened  a  hotel  and  tinware  shop, 
Mr.  Vergote  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  Mr. 
Cool  a  carpenter  and  wagon  shop.  In 
1885  Youmans  Brothers  &  Hodgins  es- 
tablished a  lumber  yard. 

There  was  no  boom  connected  with 
the  growth  of  Ghent  and  at  no  time  did 
it  develop  beyond  the  demands  of  the 
surrounding  farming  country.  A  special 
census  taken  on  March  14,  1899,  showed 
a  population  of  182.  It  was  at  that 
time  that  the  residents  asked  for  incor- 
poration.4 

A  petition  asking  for  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
15,  Grandview  township,  as  the  village 
of  Ghent  was  filed  with  the  county 
auditor  March  28,  1899.     It  was  signed 

4A  petition  for  incorporation  had  been  presented  to 
the  County  Board  in  the  spring  of  1897.  but  that  body 
had  refused  to  act  on  the  same. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


213 


by  thirty-two  voters."'  The  County 
Board  "ranted  the  request  of  the  resi- 
dents of  Ghent  and  named  May  15,  1899, 
as  the  date  for  voting  on  the  question. 
A.  11.  Lerschen,  Alois  Bergeron  and 
A.  .1.  Paal  were  inspectors  of  the  initial 
election.  Of  the  twenty-five  votes  cast, 
every  one  was  in  favor  of  beginning 
municipal  government.  The  first  offi- 
cers were  chosen  May  29,  1899. 

Following  are  the  names  of  those  who 
have  been  elected  to  office  since  Ghent 

was  incorporated  :'; 

1899 — President,  Francis  Cits;  trustees,  George 

I.  Regnier,  B.  Brouwer,  Alois  Bergeron;  recorder. 
Joseph  Letournean;  treasure]-,  Joseph  Dent/,: 
justices,  James  Meaghan,  Constant  Dirckx; 
constables,  Louis  Vermeersch,  August  Dolies- 
lager. 

1900 — President,  Francis  Gits;trustees,Charles 
Foulon,  Alois  Bergeron,  B.  Brouwer;  recorder, 
Joseph  Letournean;  treasurer,  Joseph  Kemna; 
assessor,  A.  A.  Regnier;  justices,  James  Meaghan, 
G.  I.  LeBeau;  constables,  Jules  Van  Hee,  Louis 
\  iimeersch. 

1901 — President,  A.  H.  Lerschen;  trustees, 
Charles  P'oulon,  B.  Brouwer,  James  Meaghan; 
recorder,  Joseph  Letourneau;  treasurer,  Joseph 
Kemna;  assessor,  A.  A.  Regnier;  justices,  Peter 
Fibers,  John  Cavanaugh. 

1902 — President,  A.  H.  Lerschen;  trustees, 
James  Meaghan,  Peter  Wessels,  G.  I.  LeBeau; 
recorder,  Charles  Foulon;  treasurer,  Joseph 
Kemna;  assessor,  G.  I.  Regnier;  justices,  Fred 
Lerschen,  Adolph  Overbeke;  constable,  Gus 
Rouse. 

1903 — President,  A.  H.  Lerschen;  trustees, 
James  Meaghan,  Peter  Wessels,  Alphonse  Cyr; 
recorder,  Charles  Foulon;  treasurer,  Aime  Van 
Hee;  assessor,  G.  I.  Regnier;  justice,  H.  Princen; 
constables,  G.  I.  Regnier,  Adolph  Overbeke. 

1904 — President,  A.  H.  Lerschen;  trustees, 
G.  I.  LeBeau,  Francis  Gits,  Alphonse  Cyr; 
recorder,  John  Cavanaugh;  treasurer,  Aime  Van 
Hee;  assessor,  A.  A.  Regnier;  justice,  Fred 
Lerschen;  constable,  Arthur  Gits. 

1905 — President,  A.  H.  Lerschen;  trustees, 
G.  I.  LeBeau,  Alphonse  Cyr,  Joseph  Kemna; 
recorder,  John  Cavanaugh;  treasurer,  Ed.  Gits; 
assessor.  Alex  Lord;  justice,  C.  Van  Winsberghe; 
constable,  C.  H.  Monroe. 

1906 — President,  Peter -Albers;  trustees,  Ed- 
ward Schreiber,  H.  J.  Bot,  B.  Dolander;  recorder, 
Ed.  Gits;  treasurer,  Aime  Van  Hee;  assessor, 
C.  Van  Winsberghe;  justice,  Robert  Stelter; 
constables,  Leopold  Flaeys,  A.  Van  Uden. 

5The  signers  of  the  incorporation  petition  were 
A.  H.  Lerschen,  Alois  Bergeron,  A.  J.  Paal,  J.  W. 
Lerschen,  Frank  Cotterell,  Joe  Lerschen,  Adolph 
Goyette,    Peter    Elbers,    L.    L.    Yalb,    Evan    Alsvint, 

II.  C.  Ohlsen,  Aime  A.  Van  Hee,  August  Dolieslager, 
Cornelius  Bontsen,  Peter  Clouatre,  Joseph  Deutz, 
C.  L.  Pierce,  Charles  Foulon,  J.  D.  Letourneau,  Fred 
Rilladeau,  John  Gossen,  Gustave  Van  Hee,  A.  J.  Van 
den  Steurel,  J.  8.   Letourneau,  Es  von  Altvorst,  James 


1907— President,  Charles  Foulon;  trustees,  G. 

J.  Inhofer,  I'M  ward  Schreiber,  Louis  Vermeersch; 
recorder,  Edward  Robinson;  treasurer,  Aime 
Van  Hee;  assessor,  ('.  Van  Winsberghe. 

l'JOS — President,  Charles  Foulon;  trustees, 
Edward  Schreiber,  (i.  J.  Inhofer,  Louis  Ver- 
nieei'seh;  recorder,  Theodore  Sanders;  treasurer, 
H.  J.  Mot;  assessor,  ('.  Van  Winsberghe;  justice, 
H.  J.  Bot;  constable,  Emile  Loessaert. 

1909 — President.  Charles  Foulon;  trustees, 
Celeste  Ampe,  G.  J.  Inhofer,  Arthur  Gits; 
recorder,  Theodore  Sanders;  treasurer,  H.  J. 
Bot;  assessor,  ('.  Van  Winsberghe;  justice,  Hero 
W.  Bot. 

1910 — President,  Charles  Foulon;  trustees, 
Arthur  Gits,  Henry  Lord,  Celeste  Ampe;  recorder, 
G.  J.  Inhofer;  treasurer,  H.  J.  Bot;  justices, 
H.  J.  Bot,  Louis  Vermeersch;  constables,  Emile 
Loessaert,  Mike  Stassen. 

1911 — President,  Charles  Foulon;  trustees, 
Louis  Vermeersch,  Henry  Lord,  Arthur  Gits; 
recorder,  H.  J.  Bot;  treasurer,  John  Bankers; 
justice,  S.  A.  Walrath;  constable,  Emile  Loes- 
saert. 

1912— President,  Charles  Foulon;  trustees, 
Henry  Lord,  H.  M.  Maertens,  Celeste  Ampe; 
recorder,  H.  J.  Bot;  treasurer,  Ed.  Gits;  assessor, 
C.  Van  Winsberghe;  justices,  Mike  Stassen,  S.  A. 
Walrath;  constable,  H.  Mortier. 

The  federal  census  of  1900  gave  Ghent 

a  population  of  119.     There  lias  been  an 

increase  since  that  time,  the  population 

in  I'M)")  having  been  193,  and  in  1910  it 

was  210.     The  village  has  progressed  in 

a  business  way  and  is  admittedly  one 

of  the  best  of  the  smaller  municipalities 

of  Lyon  county. 

THE    S(   HOOL. 

For  a  number  of  years  after  the 
founding  of  Ghent  the  nearest  school 
was  more  than  a  mile  from  the  village. 
The  first  school  taught  in  the  village 
was  under  the  direction  of  Father  Y. 
Devos.  He  established  a  free  school 
for  the  education  of  the  children  and 
to  teach  the  many  foreign  born  residents 
the  English  language.  Miss  Hannah 
Lester  was  the  teacher. 

Upon  the  request  of  the  residents  of 
Ghent,  school  district  No.  07  was  formed 

Meaghan,   Louis  Vermeersch,   Constant   Dirckx,  Theo- 
dore Stassen,  Francis  Gits,  B.  Brouwer  and  Finans  Bil. 

GAt  theT  Grand  view  township  election  of  March, 
1899,  the  license  question  was  decided  negatively  by 
the  voters,  and  that  fact  led  to  the  incorporation  of 
the  village.  The  license  question  has  never  been 
submitted  to  vote  since  incorporation  and  saloons 
have  always  been  licensed. 


214 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


and  a  public  school  established.  Francis 
Gits  was  treasurer  and  B.  Brouwer 
director  of  the  district  when  it  was 
organized.7  The  first  teacher  was 
Stephen  Walrath8  and  the  pupils  of  the 
first  public  school  were  Ed.  Gits,  Arthur 
Gits,  Clemence  Gits.  Victor  Gits,  Joseph 
Princen,  Fred  Green,  Theodore  Thomas, 
Minnie  Thomas,  Harry  Regnier,  John 
Cavanaugh,  Morris  Breen  and  John 
Breen.  Thirty-five  pupils  are  now  en- 
rolled in  the  Ghent  school.  Sister  Loy- 
ale  is  the  teacher. 

THE    CHURCH. 

Ghent  was  founded  by  and  the  tribu- 
tary country  settled  almost  entirely  by 
Catholic-  and  the  church  of  that  faith 
in  the  little  village  is  one  of  the  strongesl 
in  Southwestern  .Minnesota.  The  church 
of  St .   Eloi  is  the  only  one  in  Ghent . 

The  beginning  of  the  Catholic  church 
of  Ghent  was  in  June,  L883,  when  father 
Y.  Devos  accompanied  a  large  number 
of  colonists  from  the  old  country  and 
was  assigned  to  the  charge  at  Client. 
The  pastor  said. mass  for  the  first  time 
soon  after  his  arrival  and  the  church 
was  organized.9  The  congregation  was 
not  strong  enough  to  erect  a  house  of 
worship  at  (»nce  and  until  the  church 
home  was  secured  services  were  held 
respectively  at  the  home  of  Angelus 
Van  Hee,  the  store  of  Mr.  Soucheray. 
the  home  of  Francis  Gits,  and  the  rail- 
road depot.1" 

7The  present  members  of  the  Board  of  Education 
.■vie  George  LeBeau,  clerk:  Charles  Foulon,  treasurer: 
and  C.   Van  Winsberghe,  director.     They  have  served 

for  the  past  six  years. 

8Other  teachers  of  the  Ghent  school  have  been 
Ora  Loomis,  Samuel  Rank,  Mr.  Goulef,  Katie  Shortell, 

Kate     Lynch,     Kate    Ahem    and    Sisters    Ligouri    and 
Loyale,  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph. 

I  he  following  named  persons  and  their  families 
constituted  the  membership  of  the  church  at  the  time 
of  organization:  Angelus  Van  Hee,  Francis  Gits, 
Charles  Foulon,  .Mrs.  Bruno  Van  Hee,  David  Van  Hee, 
Francis  DeSutter,  Desere  Van  de  Woesteen,  Gustav 
Vergote,  Leo  DeCock,  Peter  Buysse,  Henry  Maertens, 
Felix  Delicti,  Mrs.  Van  den  Abeele,  John  Cavanaugh, 
Matthew  Schreiber,  Theodore  Caron,  Isaac  Kegnier, 
Isaac  Patenode,  Joseph  Regnier.  Anton  Paradis,  Sr., 
Anton  Paradis.  Jr.,  Victor  LeBeau,  .1.   I>.  Letourneau, 


The  first  church  was  erected  in  1885 
through  the  efforts  of  Father  Devos.11 
Later  a  house  and  barn  were  added  to 
the  church  property.  The  frame  church 
building  erected  in  1885  was  used  by  the 
congregation  until  January  1.  1902, 
when  it  and  the  priest's  house  were 
destroyed  by  fire,  bringing  a  loss  of 
$12,000. 

The  present  brick  church— the  finest 
church  edifice  in  Lyon  county — was 
erected  in  1904  and  1905.  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  June  9,  1904,  by  Rev. 
bather  Walsh,  assisted  by  eight  prelate-. 
The  building  was  dedicated  by  Arch- 
bishop John  Ireland  May  30,  1905.  The 
cost  was  $30,000  and  it  was  dedicated 
with  a  debt  of  less  than  $7000  against 
it.  About  $22,000  had  been  raised  in 
the  palish  during  the  year  preceding  its 
completion.  The  building  committee 
that  supervised  its  construction  was 
composed  of  Mes  rs.  Breen,  Regnier, 
foulon.  Maertens,  Bot,  Cavanaugh,  Gits 
and  Engels.  The  parsonage  was  erected 
in  L905  at  a  cost  of  $6000. 

The  present  membership  of  the  Ghent 
church  is  1000,  comprising  140  families. 
Of  these  140  families,  twenty-two  are 
French-Canadian,  five  German,  four 
Irish,  and  the  ret  Belgian  and  Holland. 
The  presenf  church  trustee-  are  Francis 
flits  and  J.  Van  Keulen. 

A  convent  and  school  is  maintained  in 
connection  with  the  church.  It  was 
established    in    1893    and    the    convent 

J.  A.  Letourneau,  Mr.  Lambert  and  Mr.  Soucheray. 
The  first  trustees  were  Francis  Gits,  Anton  Paradis 
and  Angelus  Van  Hee. 

10In  an  article  prepared  by  Father  V,  Devos  in  1NS4 
was  the  following  concerning  the  Ghent  church: 
"There  are  few  congregations  where  so  many  languages 
are  spoken.  When  he  addresses  the  people  the  pastor 
has  to  speak  in  Flemish,  French,  English  and  German. 
The  Latin  used  in  divine  office  is  the  only  common 
language  which  is  generally  understood  by  all.  As 
soon  as  they  hear  the  Latin  language,  which  they 
heard  in  their  younger  days  and  in  their  distant 
Fatherland,  they  feel  themselves  at  home  in  their  old 
church  and  they  are  very  happy  to  see  and  hear  the 
pious  ceremonies  of  their  worship." 

llOther  pastors  of  the  church  at  Ghent  have  been 
Fathers  DeCueninek,  Straten,  Jansen,  Keuelinck, 
Van  den  Heuvel,  Schaefer,  Walsh  and  Van  Walleghem. 


GHENT  SCENES 


:    3*   KixYV&wK 


BISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


215 


building  was  erected  in   1898  at   a  cosl 

Of  $6000.      An   addition   of  ('((llal   cosl    is 

now  proposed.  Aboul  1  _'.">  pupils  re- 
ceive instruction  in  the  school.  Mother 
Evelyn,  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph,  is 
the  mother  superior  and  she  lias  three 
istants. 

THE    LODGES. 

Ghenl  Court  No.  L081,  Catholic  Order 
of  Foresters,  was  organized  March  19, 
1900,12  and  has  had  a  prosperous  exist- 
ence. The  lodge  now  has  a  membership 
of  forty-two.  The  principal  officers  arc 
Henry  Lord,  Ed.  Gits,  Charles  Foulon, 
A.    D.   Schaefer*and  Theodore  Stassen. 

Camp  No.  6617,  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  began  its  existence  July  II. 
1906.  with  twenty-six  charter  mem- 
bers.13 The  present  membership  is 
twenty  and  the  principal  officers  are  as 
follows:  Emile  Loessaert,  F.  F.  St. 
Denis,  E.  Schutyser,  John  Stassen, 
Charles  Popelier  and  E.  Schreiber. 

THE    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  Ghent  Fire  Department  was  or- 
ganized February  15,  1903.  Of  the  fol- 
lowing   named    first    members    of    the 

department  only,  the  five  first  named 
are  still  members:  George  F  LeBeau, 
Ed.  Gits,  Fd.  Schreiber,  Theodore  Stas- 
sen, J.  F  Rhodes,  Anton  Lerschen, 
Hector  Hofman,  A.  D.  Schaefer,  A.  J. 
Lord  and  Arthur  Gits. 

The  equipment  consists  of  a  Watrous 
gas  engine,  hose  cart  and  1500  feet  of 
hose.  There  are  now  twenty-eight  mem- 
bers and  the  officers  are  as  follows: 
George  Inhofer,  chief;  H.  Maertens,  as- 
sistant chief;  Charles  Foulon,  president; 

12The  charter  members  of  Ghent  Court  were  Charles 
Foulon,  A.  H,  Lerschen,  Peter  Elbers,  George  I. 
Regnier,  Theodore  Stassen,  Leo  Henen,  Camille 
DeSutter,  Jacob  Stassen,  George  DeMeyer,  John 
Cavanaugh,  J.  W.  Lerschen,  A.  J.  Paal,  A.  Cyr,  A. 
Van  Overbokc,  J.  A.  Gossen,  August  Maertens,  F.  .1. 
Lerschen,  H.  M.  .Maertens,  G.  Schreiber  and  John 
Gossen . 


A.  I  >.  Schaefer,  vice  president  :  E.  F. 
St.  Denis,  secretary;  William  C.  Hess, 
treasurer:  ( leorge  LeBeau,  Earl  Schreiber 
and  J.  I.  Rhodes,  finance  committee. 

THE    B  \\K. 

One  banking  institution,  the  Firsl 
State  Bank  of  Ghent,  is  conducted  in 
the  village,  it  is  the  successor  of  the 
firsl  banking  house,  a  private  institution 
denominated  the  Bank  of  Ghent,  which 
was  organized  with  a  capital  of  .^oOOO 
on  .March  L>:;,  1903.  The  first  officers 
and  board  of  directors  were  as  follows: 
John  F.  Burchard,  president;  John 
Breen,  vice  president;  Charles  Foulon, 
cashier;  D.  D.  Forbes  and  M.  W.  Harden. 

In  L908  the  Bank  of  Ghent  was  re- 
organized under  the  state  banking  laws 
with  a  paid-up  capital  of  $10,000.  The 
present  officers  and  directors  are  M.  W. 
Harden,  president;  John  Breen,  vice 
president :  Charles  Foulon,  cashier;  V.  B. 
Seward  and  John  A.  Brewers.  The 
elegant  banking  house,  which  with  the 
fixtures  cost  $7500,  was  erected  in  1905. 
The  business  of  the  institution  has 
steadily  increased,  and  according  to  a 
statement  made  May  30,  1911,  the 
deposits  were  $145,000  and  there  was  a 
surplus  of  $3000. 


TAUNTON. 


The  smallest  of  the  incorporated  vil- 
lages of  Lyon  county  is  Taunton,  ft  is 
a  station  of  the  Northwestern  railroad 
and  is  in  the  extreme  northwestern 
corner  of  the  county,  on  section  t7, 
Eidsvold  township.     The  population  in 

13The  charter  members  of  the  Woodmen  cam])  were 
Edward  F.  St.  Denis;  Aime  Van  Hee,  Levi  St.  Peter, 
Herman  Pillotte,  Henry  Paradis,  David  Paradis, 
Bernard  Nash,  Arthur  Gits,  Emile  Loessaert,  Joe 
Pillotte,  H.  J.  Bot,  Levi  Prairie,  A.  Regnier,  J.  A. 
Regnier,  J.  E.  Regnier,  Teler  Charbanan,  .) .  I .  Regnier, 
P.  E.  Regnier,  Ed.  Schreiber,  Ed.  Schutyser,  Robert 
Stelter,  W.  Van  Sadelhof,  II.  E.  Regnier,  T.  F.  Sanders, 
Phil  Paradis  and  Robert  Didrich. 


216 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


1910  was  205.  While  Taunton  has  not 
become  a  metropolis,  it  has  furnished  a 
convenient  market  for  the  people  of  the 
surrounding  country  and  has  developed 
into  a  prosperous  little  village. 

Until  1885  the  site  of  Taunton  was 
bare  of  improvements.  That  year  the 
railroad  company  built  a  side-track  there 
and  the  site  became  known  as  Siding 
No.  4.  In  the  fall  of  1885  Marfield  & 
Company  put  up  a  warehouse  and  J.  P. 
Tumelty  bought  grain  for  the  firm  at 
the  new  station. 

The  second  building  on  the  site  was 
put  up  by  Fred  Smuhl,  who  conducted 
a  small  grocery  store  and  became  post- 
master.14 In  April,  1886,  the  village 
was  platted  and  "Siding  Xo.  4"  became 
Taunton.  The  plat  was  surveyed  by 
C.  C.  Pudor  and  the  dedication  was  made 
April  30  by  Albert  Keep,  as  president 
of  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company.  Only  two  blocks  were  plat- 
ted. The  streets  were  named  First, 
Second,    Garfield,    Main    and    Lincoln.1, 

Turner  &  Brenna  established  a  ware- 
house  in    1890   and    divided    the   grain 

business  with  Marfield  &  Company.  In 
the  summer  of  1892  Nick  Grengs  erected 
a  building  and  opened  a  general  store. 
He  sold  the  next  year  to  E.  II.  Carstens, 
who  still  carries  on  the  business.  The 
Catholic  church  was  built  in  1895  and 
the  same  year  residences  were  put  up  by 
Philip  Ahern  and  Fred  Smuhl.  A  few 
more  improvements  were  made  in  189616 

14The  postoffice  was  first  named  Lonesome,  later 
became  Rippon,  and  in  1886  was  changed  to  Taunton. 
Fred  Smuhl  was  postmaster  from  1S86  to  1896  and 
E,  H.  Carstens  from  that  time  until  1906.  Anton 
Heymans,  Annie  Ahern  and  Mary  Franekoviak  had 
eharge  of  the  office  for  short  periods  during  1906  and 
1907.  W.  S.  Baldwin  became  postmaster  December 
24,  1907,  and  has  since  held  the  office. 

Two  rural  routes  are  operated  from  Taunton.  The 
first  carrier  of  No.  1  was  Henry  Conger  and  of  No.  1> 
was  Alfred  Hagen. 

15Two  additions  to  Taunton  have  been  platted  by 
(lie  railroad  company:  First  Railway,  on  October  4, 
1S1J7,  and  blocks  6  to  13,  inclusive,  on  December  20, 
1905.  , 

1B"Who  says  Taunton  has  not  grown  the  last  year? 
Six    new    buildings    have    been    erected,    not    including 


and  Youmans  Brothers  &  Hodgins  es- 
tablished a  lumber  yard,  but  Taunton 
still  occupied  a  very  small  place  on  the 
map  of  Lyon  county. 


The     year 


of     greatest     growth     in 


Taunton's  history  was  1898,  when  Franz 

Anthony  opened  a  general  store,  Allen 

Lester  a  hardware  store,  Amund  Huseby 

a   hotel,    and   a   few   others   engaged   in 

business.     A    resident    of    the    village, 

writing  to  the  Marshall  News-Messenger 

of  December  9,  1898.  gave  the  following 

description  of  Taunton  and  its  standing: 

In  your  paper  of  November  25  you  speak  of 
Taunton  as  a  railroad  station  with  but  half  a 
dozen  or  less  buildings.  You  have  a  mistaken 
idea  of  the  size  of  our  town.  Taunton  has 
about  100  inhabitants.  We  have  thirty  business 
and  dwelling  houses;  we  have  three  firms  buying 
grain,  two  elevators  and  one  warehouse;  we 
have  a  lumber  yard  which  does  a  good  business; 
three  general  stores  and  one  hardware  store, 
all  doing  a  good  business;  we  also  have  one 
restaurant  and  one  boarding  house  and  two 
blacksmith  shops.  And  at  present  there  are 
three  gangs  of  carpenters  busy  every  day,  and 
there  will  be  several  new  buildings  added  to  the 
list. 

The  prosperous  times  of  the  late 
nineties  brought  several  new  enterprises 
to  the  little  village  and  in  the  spring  of 
1900  a  census  showed  a  population  of 
L84  people  living  on  the  1730  acres  of 
land  which  it  was  proposed  to  incor- 
porate as  the  village  of  Taunton. 

Forty-nine  residents  of  Taunton  on 
May  1,  1900,  petitioned  the  county 
authorities  for  village  government.17 
The  County  Hoard  took  favorable  action 
that  day  and  named  W.  S.  Baldwin, 
P.   P.    Ahern  and  .1.   H.   Pennington  in- 

a  lumber  yard,   grain   warehouse   and   stockyards." — 
Minneota  Mascot,  November  28,  1896. 

17The  signers  of  the  incorporation  petition  were 
John  Kosmalski,  F.  A.  Steenke,  P.  P.  Ahern,  Johann 
Kubiszak,  A.  P.  Gumpolen,  Johann  Kopicki,  Walentz 
Korpal,  William  Nicolay,  John  Kuszkiewiz,  .Max 
Kosmalski,  B.  Bimek,  George  Cherpeski,  Johan 
Krvins,  Thomas  Walsh,  E.  T.  Morse,  Anton  Jasinski, 
W .  F.  Carstens,  H.  G.  Conger,  Kasmiez  Bulmaski, 
Louies  Coren,  J.  H.  Pennington,  James  J.  Moughan. 
M.  F.  Ahern,  W.  C.  Ahern,  W.  J.  Moughan,  Anton 
Litanspi,  Fred  Packer,  C.  J.  Traen,  M.  F.  Spronffski, 
John  Gorborg,  John  Domek,  Henry  Traer,  W.  E. 
Skeels,  J.  A.  Patrowski,  M.  J.  Salmon,  E.  W.  Carstens, 
W.  S.  Baldwin,  W.  B.  Moughan,  E.  A.  Lee,  Ole  Kaas, 
A.  Beeks,  H.  P.  Jalmson,  Anton  Larson,  John  Kozinski, 
Ludwits  Breponynski,  J.  J.  Ahern,  John  A.  Peterson, 
John  Nawak  and  F.  B.  Hartwick. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


217 


spectors  of  the  first  election,  which  was 
held  at  the  office  of  Ybumans  Brothers 
A:  Sodgins  on  June  5.  At  the  election 
"for  incorporation"  was  carried,  the 
first  village  officers  were  selected  soon 
after,  and  Taunton  began  local  govern- 
ment. 

Following  is  the  roster  of  officers 
chosen  at  the  several  village  elections:18 

L900  -President,  P.  P.  Ahem;  trustees,  E.  H. 
Carstens,  H.  P.  Johnson,  W.  ('.  Ahem;  recorder, 
J.  J.  Moughan;  justice,  W.  S.  Baldwin. 

l'.iiil  President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees,  II,  P. 
Johnson,  \Y.  ( '.  Ahern,  T.  I'".  Walsh;  recorder, 
J.  II.  Pennington;  treasurer,  J.  J.  Domek; 
justice,  <  He  Johnson;  constable,  John  Ross. 

L902  President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees.  H.  P. 
Johnson,  W.  ('.  Ahern,  T.  I".  Walsh;  recorder, 
\V.  E.  Skeels;  treasurer,  J.  J.  Domek;  assessor, 
William  Nicolay;  justices,  M.  I".  Ahern,  William 
Nicolay;  constables,  Paul  Carstens,  W.  S. 
Baldwin. 

L903—  President,  P.  P.  Ahern:  trustees,  H.  P 
Johnson,    E.    H.    Carstens,    W.    S.     Baldwin; 
recorder.  A.  B.  Conger;  treasurer.  A.  Hevinans; 
assessor.  William  Nicolay. 

1!H)1  — President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees,  H.  P. 
Johnson,  W.  S.  Baldwin,  W.  Korpal;  recorder, 
F.  B.  Hartwick;  treasurer,  A.  Hevinans;  assessor, 
William  Xicolay;  constables,  H.  Frazer,  J.  E. 
Salmon. 

1905— President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees,  II.  P. 
Johnson,  W.  Korpal,  W.  S.  Baldwin;  recorder, 
F.  B.  Hartwick;  treasurer,  A.  Hermans;  assessor, 
W.  Hagaman;  justice,  D.  F.  Salmon;  constable, 
J.  E.  Salmon. 

1906— President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees,  H.  P. 
Johnson,  W.  Korpal,  W.  S.  Baldwin;  recorder, 
F.  B.  Hartwick;  treasurer,  A.  Hermans;  assessor, 
J.  K.  Johnson;  justice,  John  Smishek;  constable, 
John  Ross. 

1907— President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees,  H.  P. 
Johnson,  J.  E.  Salmon,  Joseph  Shimek;  recorder, 
F.  B.  Hartwick;  treasurer,  A.  Hevmans;  assessor, 
T.  G.  Ahern. 

1908— President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees,  H.  P. 
Johnson,  J.  E.  Salmon,  Joseph  Shimek;  recorder, 
F.  B.  Hartwick;  treasurer,  Charles  Maek; 
assessor,  William  Nicolay;  constable,  John  Ross. 

1909— President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees,  J.  E. 
Salmon,  D.  F.  Salmon,  Joseph  Shimek;  recorder, 
F.  B.  Hartwick;  treasurer,  M.  F.  Ahern;  assessor, 
William  Nicolay;  justice,  S.  M.  Walrath;  con- 
stable, J.  J.  Mach. 

1910— President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees,  J.  F. 
Koffnolski,  J.  E.  Salmon,  D.  F.  Salmon;  recorder, 
F.  B.  Hartwick;  treasurer,  M.  F.  Ahern;  assessor, 
William  Nicolay;  justice,  H.  M.  Maertens; 
constable,  J.  Moe. 

1911 — President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees,  John 
Kosmalski,  J.  E.  Salmon,  D.  F.  Salmon;  recorder, 

lsThe  license  question  has  never  been  submitted  in 
Taunton  under  the  local  option  law  and  saloons  have- 
always  been  licensed  by  the  Village  Council. 


I      B     Hartwick;  treasurer,  M .   I'.  Ahern;  justice, 

I).  P.  Salmon;  constable,  11.  M.  Maertens. 

1912  President,  P.  P.  Ahern;  trustees,  John 
Kosmalski,  I ).  J.  Salmon,  I),  p.  Salmon;  recorder, 
F.  B.  Hartwick;  treasurer.  M.  1'.  Ahern;  justice, 
1).  P.  Salmon;  constable.  John  Ross. 

Since  becoming  an  incorporated  mu- 
nicipality Taunton  has  had  a  slow  hut 
steady  growth.  The  population  was  196 
in  1905  and  205  in  1910.  Among  the 
improvements  of  recent  year,;  were  a 
saloon  building  erected  in  1903  by 
Johnson  A:  Mootz,  an  implement  ware- 
house by  Emil  Buttke,  a  brick  store 
building  by  .1.  W.  Mach,  and  a  school 
house  in  1  90b. 

THE  school. 

Taunton  has  a  good  semi-graded 
public  school.  O.  H.  Mullar  is  the 
principal  and  teaches  the  higher  grades; 
Annie  Ahern  has  charge  of  the  lower 
grades.  The  present  enrollment  is  about 
ninety.  The  school  board  is  composed 
of  M.  F.  Ahern,  clerk;  P.  P.  Ahern, 
treasurer;  and  D.  F.  Salmon,  director. 
The  four-room  school  house,  built  of 
cement  blocks,  was  erected  in  1906  at  a 
cost  of  over  S7000.» 

THE    CHURCHES! 

St.  Cyril  and  Methoduis  Polish  Cath- 
olic Church  of.  Taunton  is  one  of  the 
strong  religious  bodies  of  Lyon  county 
and  has  a  membership  of  about  fifty 
families.  The  church  edifice  was  erected 
in  1895  and  was  dedicated  June  13  of 
that  year.  The  dedicatory  service  s  were 
conducted  by  Fathers  Jager,  of  Marshall, 
and  Zaleawiski,  of„  Wilno,  and  were 
attended  by  over  1000  people.  For 
many  years  the  church  was  ministered 
to  by  priests  from  Ivanhoe  and  Wilno. 
The  resident  priests  have  been  Fathers 
Buuchek,  who  served  in  1905  and  1906, 
and   Tomeski.   who  located  in  Taunton 


218 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


in  1911.     The  parsonage  was  erected  in 
1906  at  a  cost  of  $6000. 

A  German  Lutheran  society  is  main- 
tained in  Taunton,  supplied  by  pastors 
from  other  churches. 

THE    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  Taunton  Fire  Department  was 
organized  in  1907.  Its  fire  fighting 
apparatus  consists  of  a  chemical  engine 
and  its  membership  is  fifteen.  John 
Ross  is  the  chief. 

THE    BANK. 

The   State    Bank   of   Taunton   began 


business  in  May,  1905,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $10,000.  The  officers  and 
directors  at  the  time  of  organization 
and  at  the  present  time  are  as  follows: 
John  Swenson,  president;  P.  P.  Ahern, 
vice  president;  M.  F.  Ahern,  cashier; 
and  Samuel  Lewison.  The  institution 
does  a  general  banking  business  and 
engages  in  the  real  estate,  collection  and 
insurance  business.  The  bank  has  had 
a  substantial  growth,  the  deposits  having 
increased  from  $15,000  in  1905  to 
$90,000  in  1911,  and  enjoys  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


LYND,  FLORENCE,  GARVIN,  AMIRET,  GREEN  VALLEY,   ETC. 


W 


ITHIN  the  limits  of  Lyon 
county  are  a  number  of  little 
villages  that  have  not  reached 
a  size  that  would  warrant  the  beginning 
of  local  government,  hut  which  arc. 
nevertheless,  places  of  importance  in  the 
affairs  of  the  county  and  of  great  benefit 
to  the  people  of  the  surrounding  country. 
They  are  Lynd,  Florence,  Garvin,  Amiret 
and  Green  Valley. 

Besides  these  villages  are  a  few  other 
places  that  have  names  and  occupy 
places  on  the  map.  They  are  Dudley, 
Burchard,  Heckman  and  Camden.  Be- 
fore Lyon  county  became  dotted  with 
villages  and  before  the  days  of  rural 
mail  routes  a  number  of  country  post- 
offices  were  established,  the  names  of 
many  of  which  will  be  recalled  only  by 
pioneer  residents.  Among  such  post- 
offices  were  Rock  Lake,  Sham  Lake, 
Blan  Avon,  Ceresco,  Hildrethsburg, 
Island  Lake,  Brenner  and  Leo. 

LYND. 

One  of  the  most  important  of  the 
smaller  towns  of  Lyon  county  in  a 
business  sense,  and  by  far  the  most 
important  historically,  is  Lynd,  located 
on  the  Great  Northern  railroad  and  the 
Redwood  river,  six  and  one-half  miles 
southwest  of  Marshall.  Nestled  among 
the  river  bluffs,  it  has  the  most  beautiful 


location  of  any  village  in  the  county. 
It  boasts  quite  a  number  of  business 
enterprises  and  is  a  thriving  little 
hamlet. 

Time  was  when  Lynd  was  the  only 
village  in  and  the  county  seat  of  Lyon 
county,  as  well  as  the  business,  social 
and  religious  center  of  the  county.  In 
chronicling  its  history  it  is  necessary  to 
deal  with  three  distinct  villages,  all 
bearing  the  same  name.  The  oldest  of 
these  has  been  commonly  referred  to  as 
Upper  Lynd  and  was  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  33,  Lynd  township, 
one  mile  southwest  of  the  present  vil- 
lage. Lower  Lynd,  which  became  plain 
Lynd  after  the  abandonment  of  the 
upper  village,  was  founded  a  little  after 
the  older  village  and  wras  located  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Redwood  river — on 
the  south  half  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  27,  Lynd  towmship, — one-half 
mile  north  of  the  present  village. 
Modern  Lynd  replaced  the  other  village, 
having  been  founded  in  the  late  eighties, 
after  the  building  of  the  Great  Northern 
railroad. 

Upper  Lynd  came  into  existence  in 
1868.  That  year  the  postoffice,  named 
Lynd  in  honor  of  James  W.  Lynd,  the 
trader  who  had  his  post  at  the  site, 
was  established  with  D.  M.  Taylor  as 
postmaster.  The  same  year  Luman 
Ticknor  opened  a  hotel  and  Mr.  Taylor 


220 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


put  in  a  small  stock  of  staple  goods. 
The  store  was  not  conducted  long,  but 
Mr.  Taylor  served  as  postmaster  for 
several  years.  In  September,  1870,  Dr. 
George  W.  Whitney  established  a  store 
in  the  log  building  on  section  33  that 
had  been  used  by  the  trader  many  years 
before.  Dr.  Whitney  occupied  that 
building  for  a  short  time  and  then 
erected  a  building  in  Lower  Lynd  and 
continued  the  business. 

When  Lyon  county  was  organized  on 
August  12,  1870,  the  county  seat  was 
declared  to  be  on  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  33,  which  was  Upper  Lynd. 
The  following  year  that  village  reached 
the  zenith  of  its  power.  A  church  was 
erected,  W.  T.  Ellis  established  a  store, 
and  the  townsite  was  platted  by  George 

C.  Smith  and  W.  T.  Ellis. 

The  Upper  Lynd  townsite  was  sur- 
veyed by  T.  G.  Morrill  on  August  22, 
1871.  The  certificate  of  dedication  was 
acknowledged  by  the  proprietors1  before 

D.  D.  Morrill,  a  notary  public  for 
Ramsey  county,  on  February  28,  1872, 
and  it  was  filed  in  the  office  of  the 
register  of  deeds  of  Redwood  county 
March  20,  1872.  Twenty-four  blocks 
were  included  in  the  plat.  In  the  center 
of  the  map  of  the  plat  was  one  block 
labeled  "Public  Square  or  Park."  The 
north  and  south  streets  were  named 
Alexander,  Ramsey,  Morton  and  Fenton; 
the  east  and  west  ones,  William,  Mar- 
shall, Main  and  Charles. 

W.  T.  Ellis,  the  guiding  spirit  of  Upper 
Lynd,  labored  hard  to  make  the  village 
a  success,  but  his  efforts  resulted  in 
failure.  Without  legal  authority,  but 
by  common  consent,  the  rival  down  the 
river  became  the  county  seat,  the  post- 
office  was  moved  there,  Mr.  Ellis  moved 
his  store  there,  and  in  time  the  site  of 

'The  dedication  was  in  the  following  language: 
"We,  the  undersigned,  George  ('.  Smith  and  William 
T.  Ellis,  proprietors  of  the  village  of  Lynd,  do  hereby 
certify  that   we  caused   the   same  to  be  laid  out   into 


Upper  Lynd  became  good  farming  land, 
as  it  is  to  day. 

Lower  Lynd  was  founded  in  1S71.  by 
A.  R.  Cummins  and  A.  D.  Morgan.  It. 
was  beautifully  situated  on  the  river 
bottom,  with  bluffs  rising  abruptly  on 
either  side,  and  was  nearly  surrounded 
by  timber.  The  townsite  consisted  of 
about  twenty  acres  of  land,  divided  into 
eight  blocks,  and  occupied  a  position 
within  a  little  bend  of  the  river,  on  the 
north  side.  Separating  the  blocks  were 
three  streets,  named  Cummin;.  Main 
and  Bridge. 

Levi  S.  Kiel  and  A.  1).  Morgan  erected 
a  large  hotel  building  on  the  site  and 
Mr.  Morgan  established  a  store.  The 
new  Lynd  secured  the  county  seat  in 
1872.  the  postoffice  was  moved  there, 
a  church  building  was  moved  from  the 
older  town,  and  Lower  Lynd  became  the 
metropolis  of  Lyon  county. 

Its  importance  was  not  destined  to 
continue,  however.  The  Winona  &  St. 
Peter  railroad  was  built  through  the 
county  in  1872  and  left  Lynd  to  one 
side.  Marshall  was  founded  and  rapidly 
outstripped  its  inland  rival.  In  the  fall 
of  1873  the  voters  of  the  county  declared 
their  preference  for  Marshall  for  the 
county  seat,  and  in  January,  1S74,  Lynd 
lost  that  aid  to  future  greatness.  At 
the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  county 
seat  the  Prairie  Schooner  said  that 
Lynd  contained  two  stores  of  general 
merchandise,  a  postoffice,  shoe  shop, 
hotel,  blacksmith  shop,  wagon  shop, 
carpenter  shop  and  several  offices. 

Lynd  steadily  declined  after  it  lost 
the  county  seat.  At  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1876  the  county  paper  stated 
that  Lynd  had  one  store  and  was  the 
center  of  a  large  settlement.  In  time 
practically   all   the  business  enterprises 

lots,  streets  and  alleys  for  town  purposes  as  hen- 
platted  and  that  we  hereby  give  the  streets  and 
alleys  as  here  platted  to  the  public.  [Signed]  George 
C.  Smith,  William  T.  Ellis." 


FLORENCE 


IP 


TTTTI 


Ii 


W  M*  '!,. 


MUUmM 


School  House 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


221 


were  abandoned,  although  the  postoffice 
continued  to  be  conducted  by   Levi  S. 

Kiel  until  after  the  building  i>t'  modern 
Lynd.  The  pioneer  hotel  building  ami 
several  residences  still  occupy  the  site 
of  old  Lynd. 

With  the  building  of  the  Willmar  & 
Sioux  Falls  railroad  in  1888  came  the 
founding  of  fehe  third,  or  modern,  Lynd. 
When  the  grade  tor  the  road  was  made 
in  the  fall  of  1887,  a  grade  for  a  siding 
was  made  on  the  southwesl  quarter  of 
section  27.  a  half  mile  south  of  the  old 
town,  and  in  August,  L888,  the  track 
was  put  in. 

\Y.  II.  Sherman,  vice  president  of  the 
Willmar  A:  Sioux  Falls  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  G.  E.  Rice  platted  the  town- 
site.  It  was  surveyed  by  ('.  L.  Van 
Fleet  on  November  6,  1888,  and  the 
dedication  was  made  by  the  proprietors 
on  November  20.  Four  blocks  only 
were  platted.  They  were  divided  by 
streets  named  First.  Second,  Third  and 
Fourth  and  at  right  angles  by  Rice 
and  Railroad  Streets.2 

Modern  Lynd  was  not  built  in  a  day; 
in  fact,  its  growth  was  very  slow.  The 
first  building  erected  on  the  site  was  an 
elevator  put  up  by  the  Northwestern 
Elevator  Company.  The  people  of  the 
vicinity  wanted  a  store  established,3 
but  for  several  years  no  one  made  the 
venture.  The  first  store  was  opened  in 
1891  by  F.  W.  Cowdiam.  who  conducted 
it  until  the  fall  of  1895  and  then  sold  to 
W.  R.  Gregg.  The  Lynd  postoffice, 
which  had  been  conducted  so  long  by 

-Two  additions  to  Lynd  have  been  platted,  namely: 
Rice's,  by  C.  E.  Rice  on  March  14,  1905;  Sharratt's 
First,  by  A.  A.  Sharratt  on  April  15,  1911. 

3"There  has  been  talk  of  putting  in  a  store  at  Lynd, 
but  it  does  not  materialize  very  rapidly.  This  is  a 
good  point  and  some  one  will  be  here  soon  to  make 
his  fortune." — Lynd  Correspondent  to  News-Messen- 
ger, November  17,  1890. 

'Mr.  C'owham  served  as  postmaster  until  November, 
1895,  and  W.  R.  Gregg  has  since  held  the  office. 

One  rural  route  is  operated  from  the  Lynd  office. 
It  was  the  first  rural  free  delivery  route  established 
in  Southwestern  Minnesota  and  the  first  trip  on  it  was 
made  December  4,  1899.  Philip  Snyder  was  the  first 
carrier   and   C.    W.   Cady    was   substitute.     The   latter 


Levi  S.  Kiel,  was  moved  to  the  stoic  and 
Mr.  Cowham  became  postmaster.'  After 
the  Cowham  store,  the  next  building 
erected  in  Lynd  was  a  residence  by  A.   F. 

Alexander,  who  moved  from  a  farm. 
The  Methodist  church  was  put  up  in 
1896  and  a  residence  by  Philip  Snyder 
in  L897. 

The  first  thirteen  years  of  Lynd's 
history  saw  very  few  improvements 
made,    and    this    was   due   largely   to   the 

fact   that   g 1  titles  to  lots  could  not  be 

secured.  In  1901  the  matter  was 
cleared5  and  the  advancement  that  year 
was  rapid.  Nicholson  Brothers  put  up 
buildings  and  engaged  in  the  lumber 
and  hardware  business.  Larson  &  Voog 
built  a  store  and  residence  and  engaged 
in  business.  Charles  Zellmer  erected 
the  store  building  now  occupied  by  II.  C. 
llausei'.  Mrs.  Williams  and  Mrs.  Austin 
put  up  a  building  and  established  the 
first   hotel. 

During  the  past  decade  Lynd  has 
made  fair  progress  and  taken  its  place 
as  one  of  the  substantial  little  villages 
of  Lyon  county.  Among  the  buildings 
erected  since  1901  are  the  residences  of 
A.  A.  Sharratt,  F.  Nicholson,  Mrs. 
Gillman,  Mrs.  Williams,  C.  W.  Cady, 
George  Moffatt,  G.  S.  Wunderlich, 
Stephen  Nicholson,  Otto  Raav  and  F. 
W.  Yanstrom,  the  tenement  house  of 
Claus  Frahm,  the  school  house  erected 
in  1905,  the  First  State  Bank  building 
in  1910,  the  blacksmith  shop  of  Claus 
Frahm,  and  the  wagon  shop  of  F.  E. 
Bills. 

has  been  carrier  since  November  1,  1901,  and  is  the 
second  oldest  carrier,  in  point  of  service,  in  the  state. 

5"The  town  of  Lynd  has  for  many  years  been  sadly 
stunted  because  of  the  lack  of  title  to  the  land.  Until 
a  few  days  ago  no  one  knew  to  whom  the  land  be- 
longed and  it  rested  with  the  courts  to  decide  the 
matter.  T.  P.  Baldwin  bid  the  lands  in  at  forced  sale 
and  contested  for  possession,  but  the  decision  handed 
down  was  not  in  his  favor.  The  court  says  that  the 
land  belongs  to  Rice  &  Canfield. 

"The  boom  has  already  begun.  Three  lots  have 
been  sold  to  a  Mr.  Larson,  of  Wisconsin,  who  will 
open  a  lumber  yard  and  an  elevator  in  a  short  time. 
It  is  understood  that  a  store  will  also  soon  be  opened." 
— Marshall  Reporter,  April  5,  1901. 


222 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
of  Lynd  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  first 
religious  society  formed  in  Lyon  county, 
which  was  established  in  September, 
1867,  by  the  first  settlers.6  Rev.  C.  F. 
Wright  was  the  first  pastor.7  After  the 
founding  of  Marshall  in  1872  the  charge 
was  divided  and  two  separate  organiza- 
tions were  maintained. 

In  September,  1889,  the  Lynd  church 
was  incorporated  with  the  following  as 
trustees:  L.  S.  Kiel,  W.  H.  Langdon, 
L.  Oilman,  W.  R.  Gregg,  M.  C.  Kiel, 
William  Cook,  A.  C.  Tucker,  E.  E. 
Taylor  and  W.  L.  Watson.  It  was  the 
intention  to  erect  a  church  edifice  at 
that  time,  but  it  was  several  years  later 
when  the  building  was  finally  erected. 

The  matter  of  a  church  home  was 
again  taken  up  at  a  meeting  of  the 
trustees  on  January  28,  1896,  when  a 
building  committee  was  selected.  The 
church  officers  at  that  time  were  L.  S. 
Kiel,  president;  Jacob  Rouse,  secretary; 
and  W.  R.  Gregg,  treasurer.  The  build- 
ing was  commenced  the  following  May, 
the  corner  stone  was  laid  June  13,  and 
the  church  was  occupied  for  the  first 
time  in  August,  1896.  The  cost  was 
$1200.  A  parsonage  was  completed  in 
March,  1911,  at  a  cost  of  $1200.8 

Early  in  1889  a  Presbyterian  church 
society  was  organized  in  Lynd  and 
services  were  for  a  time  held  in  the 
school  house,  conducted  by  Rev.  N.  D. 
Graves,  of  Marshall.  The  trustees  at 
the  time  of  organization  were  Hiram 
Fellows,  D.  C.  Pierce  and  Andrew  Nel- 
son. Alexander  Burr  wras  clerk  and 
treasurer. 


6For  a  more  complete  history  of  this  church  the 
reader  is  referred  to  page  147. 

"Other  pastors  of  the  Lynd  church  have  been 
Revs.  A.  H.  Riley,  Eastman,  G.  H.  MeKee,  O.  C. 
Gregg,  W.  T.  Ellis,  George  Galpin,  S.  F.  Lemans, 
Joseph  Hall,  Ellery,  Lindsley,  Hitchcock,  A.  A, 
Wilcox,  J.  W.  Farr,  J.  W.  Stebbins,  Langworthy. 
Williams  and  George  W.  Root.  » 

sThe  stewards  of  the  Methodist  church  of  Lynd  are 


The  Lynd  State  Bank  was  incor- 
porated June  1,  1910,  and  opened  for 
business  July  11  of  the  same  year,  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $10,000.  The  original 
stockholders  and  officers  were  the  same 
as  at  present,  namely:  J.  E.  Vanstrom, 
president;  S.  J.  Forbes,  vice  president; 
and  F.  W.  Vanstrom,  cashier.  The  bank 
owns  its  own  home,  which  was  erected 
at  the  time  of  founding.  The  growth 
of  the  institution  has  been  satisfactory. 
Within  six  months  after  founding  the 
deposits  were  $30,000  and  there  has 
since  been  a  steady  increase. 

FLORENCE. 

Florence  is  an  unincorporated  village 
on  the  Great  Northern  railroad  and  on 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  20, 
Shell mrne  township.  There  are  a  bank, 
several  stores  and  shops  in  the  village, 
where  the  people  of  Shelburne  and 
adjoining  townships  do  their  trading. 

Like  the  other  villages  of  Lyon 
county  on  the  Great  Northern  railroad, 
Florence  was  founded  in  1888.  The  site 
for  the  station  was  selected  in  November 
of  the  year  before,9  and  in  May,  1888, 
it  was  announced  that  the  new  station 
would  be  named  Florence.  The  name 
was  bestowed  in  honor  of  Florence 
Sherman,  daughter  of  the  founder  of  the 
town.  Train  service  was  begun  in  the 
fall  and  on  October  9,  1888,  the  village 
was  platted  by  W.  H.  Sherman,  who  had 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  from 
H.  P.  Sanden  for  the  purpose.  It  was 
surveyed  by  Jackson  &  Yause  and  con- 
sisted of  seven  blocks.  The  streets, 
running  north  and  south,   were  named 

C.  W.  Cady,  recording  steward;  A.  E.  Alexander, 
S.  Nicholson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  H.  Austin,  W.  R.  Gregg, 
H.  W.  Ruliffson,  N.  F.  Larson  and  William  Banks. 
The  trustees  are  W.  R.  Gregg,  S.  Nicholson,  A.  E. 
Alexander,  C.  H.  Austin  and  Fred  Nicholson. 

9"The  last  station,  making  six  in  all,  will  be  located 
on  section  20,  in  Shelburne,  six  and  one-half  miles 
beyond  Clear  Lake  [Russell],  ten  miles  west  of  Balaton 
and  nineteen  miles  southwest  of  Marshall." — Marshall 
News-Messenger,  November  11,  1887. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


2^:> 


Morton  and  Harrison,  and  the  avenues 
were  named  Garfield,  Lincoln,  Logan 
and  Blaine.10 

The  townsite  proprietor  erected  a 
store  building — the  first  structure  in  the 
town — and  leased  it  to  Thomas  H. 
Owens,  who  sold  a  farm  near  Tyler  and 
established  a  general  store  in  the  new 
town.  For  several  years  he  was  the 
only  business  man  in  Florence  and  he 
conducted  the  store  until  his  death  on 
March  15.  1894.  The  postoffice  was  es- 
tablished soon  after  Mr.  Owens  located 
in  Florence  and  he  became  the  first 
postmaster.11  The  second  building 
elected  was  a  blacksmith  shop  put  up 
by  a  Mr.  Swenson. 

For  several  years  after  the  founding 
there  were  few  improvements  to  mark 
the  site,  but  in  1893  the  village  advanced 
rapidly.  Amberson  Brothers  established 
the  second  general  store  (now  conducted 
by  M.  O.  Gorseth),  H.  O.  Jeglum  en- 
gaged in  the  implement  business,  a  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church  was  put  up, 
the  Shelburne  Warehouse  Association 
engaged  in  the  grain  business,  L. 
Anderson  put  up  a  building  which  was 
occupied  by  a  harness  shop  and  shoe 
store  for  a  time  and  later  by  a  general 
store  in  charge  of  T.  Dreger,  C.  O.  Green 
built  a  hotel  which  was  opened  early  in 
August,  a  school  house  was  completed 
late  in  the  year,  and  several  others 
engaged  in  business. 

Florence  has  not  grown  as  has  some 
of  the  neighboring  villages,  but  it  has 
developed  into  a  prosperous  little  com- 
munity and  each  year  marks  some 
progress.     There     was     talk     of    incor- 

10Sanden's  First  Addition  was  platted  November  24, 
1909,  by  H.  P.  Sanden. 

uOther  postmasters  of  Florence  have  been  David 
Owens,  John  Martin,  M.  O.  Gorseth  and  Anton  Larson. 

12A  complete  roster  of  the  teachers  in  district  No. 
78  is  as  follows:  Dora  Anderson,  1893;  Mattie  ('. 
Snartum,  1894-95;  Caroline  Thompson,  1896;  Mary 
Davis,  1897;  Herbert  Dresser,  1898;  Sophia  Semonsen, 
1899;  Albert  Peterson,  1900-01;  Josephine  Sundblad, 
1902-03;  A ngnes  Johnson,  1904-05;  Rangna  Johnson 
1906;  Elisa  Hall,  1907;  Martha  Bly,  1908-09;  Lydia 
Lundquist,  1910;  Edla  C.  Johnson,  1911-12. 


porating  as  a  village  in  1902,  but  the 
step  was  not  taken. 

The  history  of  the  Florence  school 
antedates  that  of  the  village  itself.  In 
1884  school  district  No.  47,  embracing 
the  southwest  quarter  of  Shelburne 
township,  was  organized,  and  a  school 
house  was  built  on  C.  P.  Myran's  farm, 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  20, 
just  south  of  the  future  village.  The 
teacher.:  of  that  school  were  Cora  Low- 
land, Mary  Bingham,  Amelia  Lien,  T. 
H.  Owens,  Blanch  Chapman,  Mattie 
Sanders,  Mabel  C.  Grover  and  Ella 
Pierce. 

The  present  district,  No.  78,  was  or- 
ganized in  1893.  '  In  the  fall  of  that 
year  a  school  house  was  erected  in  the 
village  at  a  cost  of  $750.  Forty-five 
pupils  are  now  enrolled  in  the  school, 
which  is  in  charge  of  Edla  C.  Johnson.12 
The  members  of  the  school  board  are 
A.  E.  Green,  clerk;  H.  P.  Sanden, 
trea  urer;  and  Anton  Hynden,  director. 

The  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of 
Florence  was  established  in  1878,  ten 
years  before  the  village  was  founded.1'1 
The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Martin  Shirle, 
who  was  in  charge  of  the  church  one 
year.  He  was  succeeded  in  turn  by 
Rev.  Eggeland,  1879-82;  Rev.  Martin 
Shirle  (second  call),  1882-90;  Rev.  Bernt 
Askevold,  1890-94;  Rev.  Sorenson,  1894- 
97;  Rev.  Flelga  Aanestad,  1897-07;  and 
Rex.  Axel  Berg,  1907-12. 

Camp  No.  3871,  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  was  organized  in  November, 
1897, 14  and  has  had  an  active  life. 
Twenty-three  members  are  now  on  the 
rolls. 

13Early  members  of  the  church  were  Peter  Sanden, 
Hans  P.  Sanden,  Cornelius  Myran,  Paul  Ronning,  E. 
K.  Ronning,  J.  P.  Myran,  Andrew  Sanden,  Christopher 
Johnson,  Edward  Anderson,  Evan  Berg,  Evan  Blegen , 
Tver  Blegen,  Carl  Anderson,  Andrew  Berg  and  Thomas 
Ronning. 

14The  charter  members  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
lodge  were  John  Martin,  Hans  P.  Sanden,  K.  10. 
Ronning,  Edward  Ronning,  Louis  Anderson,  Evan 
Berg,  Peter  Myran,  Ole  Myran,  Louis  Blegen,  Theodore 
Drake,  Soren  Jacobson,  Mike  Ofstad,  M.  <  >.  Gorseth 
and  Peter  Ronning. 


224 


HISTOEY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


The  State  Bank  of  Florence  was  in- 
corporated June  5,  1908.  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $10,000.  The  first  board  of 
directors  was  composed  of  P.  A.  Chris- 
tiansen, A.  E.  Green.  M.  O.  Gorseth, 
C.  H.  Christopherson,  Ed.  Anderson. 
H.  P.  Sanden  and  S.  A.  Christianson. 

<;aryix. 

Of  the  smaller  villages  of  Lyon 
county.  Garvin  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant and  has  a  number  of  business 
enterprises  that  would  he  a  credit  to 
more  pretentious  places.  It  is  a  station 
on  the  Dakota  Central  division  of  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  railroad,  aboul 
midway  between  Tracy  and  Balaton, 
and  is  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
27,  Custer  township. 

Although  the  railroad  was  built  in 
1879  the  station  was  not  established 
that  early  and  the  site  was  not  entitled 
to  a  place  on  the  map  until  1886.  Four 
years  earlier  a  side  track  had  been  laid 
there  and  in  railroad  circles  the  site  was 
known  as  Siding  No.  7.1"'  The  siding 
became  known  as  Terry  in  the  spring  of 
1886,  and  on  April  30  the  Terry  town- 
site  was  platted  by  the  railroad  com- 
pany. It  was  surveyed  by  C.  C.  Pudor 
and  was  dedicated  by  Albert  Keep,  as 
president  of  the  Winona  <v  St.  Peter 
Railroad  Company.  Two  blocks  only 
were  included  in  the  original  plat.  The 
streets  were  named  First,  Sherman, 
Grant  and  Sheridan.16 

In  the  fall  of  1886  the  postoffice  was 
established  and  for  some  time  the  office 

15When  this  sidetrack  was  laid  in  1882  it  had  appar- 
ently been  the  intention  of  the  railroad  company  to 
establish  a  station,  for  in  the  Marshall  New-  of  August 
11.  1882,  I  find  the  following: 

"Lyon  county  has  a  new  village,  located  in  the 
town  of  Custer,  on  the  Dakota  Central,  midway 
between  Tracy  and  Balaton.  The  company  has 
platted  a  townsite  and  put  in  a  sidetrack.  A  depot 
and  an  elevator  will  be  built  immediately." 

16 Additions  to  Garvin  have  been  platted  as  follows: 
Blocks   3   and    4,    August    8,    1900.    by    the   railroad 

company;  surveyed  by  J.  C.  W.  Cline.   » 

Bredevien's,    December  9.    1905,    by   Hans   J.    Bred- 

evien;  surveyed  by  W.  A.  Hawkins. 


was  at  the  home  of  William  R.  Owens. 
the  postmaster.17  The  station  bore  the 
name  Terry  only  about  one  year  and 
was  then  renamed  Kent.  The  first 
building  erected  at  the  station  was  a 
flathouse  put  up  by  a  Mr.  Seefield  in 
1887.  H.  L.  Green  was  employed  as 
urain  buyer  by  Mr.  Seefield.  He  lived 
in  one  end  of  the  flathouse  and  stored 
grain  in  the  other.  About  1889  the 
flathouse  was  replaced  by  an  elevator 
and  Mr.  Green  continued  as  grain  buyer 
several  year-. 

The  name  of  the  station  was  changed 
from  Kent  to  Garvin,  in  honor  of  H.  C. 
Garvin,  traveling  freight  agent  of  the 
railroad,  in  July.  1891.  Until  business 
houses  were  founded  there,  however. 
the  place  was  generally  referred  to  as 
Seefield,  after  the  owner  of  the  elevator. 
The  second  structure  on  the  site  was  a 
business  building  put  up  by  William 
Owen-,  in  which  he  opened  a  store. 
He  conducted  the  store  a  few  years  and 
then  sold  to  Annie  Shand.  About  the 
time  that  William  Owens  erected  his 
store  building  he  and  his  brother,  Owen 
Owens,  each  built  dwelling  houses  in  the 
village. 

After  selling  the  pioneer  store,  William 
Owens  and  his  brother  put  up  another 
building  and  established  the  second 
general  -tore.  About  the  same  time 
Andrew  Anderson  erected  a  small  build- 
ing and  engaged  in  the  blacksmith 
business.  Other  enterprises  followed 
and  the  village  of  Garvin  gradually 
developed.     It  has  had  a  steady  growth 

Blocks  5  to  14,  inclusive,  June  17,  1909,  by  the 
railroad  company;  surveyed  by  F.  R.  ('line. 

Blocks  15  to  19,  inclusive,  November  26,  1910,  by 
the  railroad  company:  surveyed  by  F.  R.  Cline. 

17The  office  has  had  only  two  postmasters.  William 
R.  Owen-  served  from  the  fall  of  1886  until  September. 
1900,  since  which  time  Evan  M.  Jones  has  b?en  post- 
master. 

Two  rural  route>  arc  supplied  from  the  Garvin 
office.  Both  were  established  March  1,  1903.  Samuel 
Jones  was  carrier  of  No.  1  and  David  V.  Jones  of 
No.  2. 


HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COFNTY. 


225 


and  each  year  witnesses  additions  to 
the  town. 

Garvin  has  an  excellent  school,  with 
three  instructors  and  about  eighty-five 
pupils.  Before  the  village  of  Garvin 
was  founded,  on  December  3,  1879, 
district  No.  47  was  organized.18  The 
first  teacher  of  the  school  was  Annie  (i. 
Shand  and  the  first  officers  of  the  district 
were  E.  H.  Cutts,  clerk;  Thomas  L. 
Harris,  treasurer;  and  Daniel  Willford, 
director.19  A  two-room  school  house 
was  built  iu  1901  and  that  was  replaced 
in  1911  by  a  four-room  brick  school 
house,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $11,500.  The 
present  instructors  are  Eunice  Davis, 
principal;  Agnes  Peterson  and  Clara 
Jacobson.2" 

The  First  Congregational  Church  of 
Garvin  was  organized  in  1891  with  only 
eight  members,  as  follows:  John  N. 
Jones,  William  W.  Jones,  Annie  P.  Jones, 
Mary  Anne  Jones,  Edith  Owens,  Thomas 
T.  Jones,  Evan  M.  Jones  and  Maggie 
Jones.  The  first  deacons  were  William 
W.  Jones  and  Evan  M.  Jones  and  the 
pastor  was  Rev.  Edward  Thomas.21 
The  church  was  erected  in  1899  and  the 
value    of   the    church    property    is    now 

lsThe  signers  of  the  petition  for  the  organization 
of  the  district  were  Daniel  Willford,  E.  H.  Cutts, 
A.  S.  Cutler,  L.  Soward,  Thomas  L.  Harris,  Robert 
Owens,  Hugh  R.  Hughes,  Robert  R.  Owens,  Margaret 
Jones,  Ojen  Johnson,  John  H.  Hughes,  John  S.  Owens, 
H.  C.  Masters,  John  L.  Harris,  C.  M.  Goodrich,  W.  W. 
Harrison,  John  Avery,  Walter  DeLong,  Simon  DeLong, 
James  Steele,  John  H.  Griffiths,  Solomon  Evans, 
George  S.  Robinson,  Edward  Glynn,  B.  R.  Bass, 
Jeremiah  Evans,  David  Davis,  H.  Peterson,  Clemct 
Helleson,  Thomas  Nelson  and  Hans  Jacobson. 

1  "Other  officers  of  the  district  have  been  A.  G. 
Bumford,  Clinton  Willford,  O.  R.  Owens,  Hans  John- 
son, Ed.  Edwards,  W.  W.  Jones,  C.  R.  Holden,  N.  S. 
Peterson,  A.  L.  Colburn  and  E.  M.  Jones. 

20Others  who  taught  the  Garvin  school  since  1897 
have  been-  N.  S.  Peterson,  Arthur  O.  Dillon,  Glenola 
Collins,  Elizabeth  Carlysle,  Hannah  Johnson,  Etta  A. 
Lucas,  Myrtle  Ladd,  S.  S.  Swanson,  H.  R.  Painter, 
Mrs.  H.  R.  Painter,  Rose  Osborn,  Ida  Amundson, 
Clara  Welty,  C.  H.  Webb,  Edith  M.  Engstrom,  Leona 
Blanchard  and  Delia  Cook. 

21The  pastors  who  have  occupied  the  pulpit  of  the 
Congregational  church  have  been  as  follows:  Edward 
Thomas,  1891-95;  John  L.  Martin,  1S95-96;  R.  P. 
Upton,  1896-98;  A.  E.  Wood,  1898-00;  C.  A.  Ruddock, 
1900-02;  W.  A.  Taylor,  1902;  supplied  during  1902-03; 
George  Battey,  1903-04;  F.  Wright,  1905-06;  D.  R.  C. 
Jenkins,  1907-09;  Robert  E.  Roberts,  1909-11:  William 
P.  McClane,  1911-12. 

-2In  the  same  charge  with  the  Garvin  church  is 
Bethel  Congregational  Church  of  Custer  township.  It 
was  organized   January   20,    1875,   through   the  efforts 


$4000.  The  membership  is  seventy- 
eight,  comprising  twenty  families.  A 
Sunday  School  with  seventy-five  mem- 
bers is  maintained  in  connection.22 

( larvin  Camp  No.  3599,  Modern  Wood- 
men  of  America,  was  organized  April  5, 
lS'.IS.-'1  The  lodge  has  had  an  active 
life  and  now  has  sixty-two  members. 
The  principal  officers  are  A.  A.  Persons, 

E.  M.  Jones,  E.  M.  Strunk,  C.  R.  Holden 
and  John  Holden,  Jr. 

The  Woodmen  auxiliary,  Charity 
Lodge  No.  2048,  Royal  Neighbors  of 
America,  was  organized  March  20,1 900. 2i 
There  are  now  forty-three  members  in 
good  standing. 

The  banking  history  of  Garvin  dates 
back  to  May  27,  1905,  when  the  Lyon 
County  Bank,  private,  was  established 
by  G.  A.  Tate,  J.  H.  Rice  and  N.  H. 
Olson.     Mr.    Tate    was    president    and 

F.  D.  Pinckney  cashier.  In  April,  1907, 
the  farmers  of  the  vicinity  purchased 
the  stock  and  organized  the  Farmers 
State  Bank,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$10,000.  The  new  officers  were  N.  S. 
Peterson,  president;  T.  P.  Lien,  vice 
president;  and  F.  D.  Pinckney,  cashier. 

The    Farmers    State    Bank    absorbed 

of  Rev.  E.  H.  Alden.  The  first  members  of  the  church 
were  Richard  Hughes,  Ann  Hughes,  Thomas  Harris, 
Hannah  Harris,  Mary  Williams,  Katherine  Thomas, 
Mary  Jane  Griffith,  Edward  Glynn,  Ann  Glynn, 
Marguerite  Hughes  and  Ruth  Price.  Thomas  Harris 
and  Richard  Hughes  were  the  first  deacons  and 
Edward  Glynn,  James  Morgan  and  William  H.  Hughes 
the  first  trustees. 

The  church  building  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  12  was  built  in  1876  and  until  1895  the  charge 
was  an  independent  one.  The  pastors  during  those 
years  were  Revs.  Philip  Pergrine,  Francis,  Wrigley, 
James  Davis,  Edward  Thomas,  John  K.  Martin  and 
Riifus  P.  Upton.  Since  1895  the  pastors  of  the 
Garvin  and  Bethel  churches  have  been  the  same. 
Bethel  church  has  forty-one  members  at  the  present 
time. 

-3The  charter  members  of  Garvin  Camp  were  A.  J. 
Anderson,  C.  S.  Anderson,  A.  G.  Bumford,  B.  O. 
Dalthorp,  Edward  P.  Evans,  H.  L.  Green,  Reuben  L. 
Harris,  Carl  R.  Holden,  R.  T.  Hughes,  Evan  M.  Jones, 
John  P.  Jones,  Thomas  T.  Jones,  William  W.  Jones, 
George  E.  Lindsley,  John  S.  Owens.  Owen  R.  Owens, 
H.  L.  Shand,  James  A.  W.  Shand,  A.  J.  Swenson, 
Clinton  Willford  and  C.  M.  Willford. 

24Charter  members  of  Charity  Lodge  wimp  Maggie 
J.  Jones,  Anna  Coyle,  Mary  A.  Jones,  Margaret  Hughes, 
Hannah  A.  Hughes,  Olive  A.  Thomas,  Louisa  Carlburn, 
Nellie  Caruren,  Annie  P.  Jones,  Annie  D.  Jones,  Mary 
A.  Weed,  Annie  Shand,  Sarah  Harris.  Sephorah  Owens. 
Mary  Underwood,  Anna  E.  Owens,  Alice  Hughes, 
Mary  J.  Hughes,  Eleanor  Jones,  Mary  F.  Jones,  Alice 
Jones,  Edith  Owens  and  Lena  Anderson. 


226 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


the  Garvin  State  Bank  on  July  3,  1909. 
The  latter  was  organized  in  1907  with 
the  following  officers:  J.  R.  Fitch, 
president;  C.  S.  Orwoll,  vice  president; 
and  H.  L.  Shand,  cashier.  The  present 
officers  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  are 
N.  S.  Peterson,  president;  G.  Peterson, 
vice  president;  and  F.  D.  Pinckney, 
cashier.  Under  the  management  of  Mr. 
Pinckney  the  bank  has  had  a  prosperous 
life. 

One  of  the  institutions  of  Garvin  is 
the  creamery,  which  was  built  by  the 
farmers  of  the  vicinity  and  put  in 
operation  in  June,  1899.  The  Garvin 
Creamery  Company  manufactures  200,- 
000  pounds  of  butter  per  year  and  dis- 
tributes about  $60,000  per  year  among 
the  farmers  of  the  vicinity.  P.  O. 
Anderson  is  the  buttermaker  and  has 
had  charge  of  the  creamery  for  the  past 
eight  years.  The  officers  of  the  com- 
pany are  as  follows:  Thomas  D.  Phil- 
lips, president:  W.  W.  Jones,  secretary; 
E.  M.  Jones,  treasurer;  Ellsworth  Evans, 
J.  J.  Thomas.  E.  J.  Davis  and  D.  I). 
Jones,  directors. 

AMIRET. 

A  compact,  neat  appearing  little 
village  is  Amiret,  twelve  miles  south- 
east of  Marshall  on  the  Northwestern 
railroad.  It  is  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  19.  Amiret  township.  Here 
are  grouped  a  number  of  stores,  shops 
and  elevators,  enterprises  that  go  to 
make  up  a  trading  point  for  the  con- 
venience of  the  surrounding  farming- 
population. 

Amiret  has  borne  different  names  at 

25The  Coburg  postoffice  was  discontinued  late  in 
1S75,  Mr.  Coburn  having  served  until  that  time.  It 
was  re-established  in  the  spring  of  1878  with  James 
Mitchell,  Jr.,  as  postmaster,  but  the  office  during  his 
administration  was  in  charge  of  David  Bell.  Soon 
after  its  re-establishment  the  name  was  changed  to 
Amiret.  Mr.  Bell  later  received  the  appointment. 
He  was  succeeded  in  July,  1S79,  by  C»  A.  Wheelock, 
who  served  until  October,  1880.  D.  S.  Hart,  the  depot 
agent,    kept    the    office    a    month   or   two    and   late   in 


different  periods  of  its  history  and  it  is 
one  of  the  oldest  villages  of  Lyon 
county.  Nearby  the  first  townsite  in 
the  county  was  laid  out  in  1857  and 
named  Saratoga,  and  later  when  the 
railroad  was  built  and  a  station  was  es- 
tablished in  the  vicinity  it  also  was 
named  Saratoga — the  first  name  borne 
by  Amiret. 

The  plans  of  the  railroad  company 
regarding  the  location  of  a  station  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  future  village  of 
Amiret  were  rather  indefinite.  A  side- 
track for  the  unloading  of  supplies  was 
laid  in  1872,  when  the  railroad  was  being 
constructed,  on  the  S.  S.  Truax  farm, 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  32, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  present 
village.  There  seems  to  have  been  the 
promise  that  a  station  would  be  located 
farther  north,  for  in  the  late  summer  of 
1S72  William  Coburn  erected  a  store 
building  there  and  engaged  in  business. 
Within  a  very  short  time  he  moved  the 
building  to  Saratoga  Station  (section 
32).  In  July,  1872,  a  postoffice,  named 
Coburg  in  honor  of  the  pioneer  store- 
keeper, was  established  with  Mr.  Coburn 
as  postmaster.25 

The  present  and  final  location  of 
Saratoga  Station  was  selected  in  the  fall 
of  1874.  The  townsite,  also  named 
Saratoga  and  situated  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  19,  was  surveyed  for 
the    railroad    company    on    October    7, 

1874,  by  John  B.  Berry,  and  the  certifi- 
cate of  dedication  was  made    April    26, 

1875.  Eight  blocks  were  laid  out, 
divided  by  Front,  Church.  Main,  Second 
and  First  Streets.26  - 

J.  H.  Williams  established  the  second 

November,  1880,  the  office  was  put  in  charge  of  Frank 
Watson.  J.  W.  Kellev  was  the  next  postmaster  and 
held  the  office  until  July,  1885.  T.  H.  Webb  was 
postmaster  from  1S87  to  April,  1897,  and  F.  W.  Webb 
from  that  time  until  1911.  David  Morgan  is  the 
present  postmaster. 

26Outlots  1,  2  and  3  were  platted  by  the  railroad 
company  September  1,  1911. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


227 


store,  his  resilience  answering  the  pur- 
pose of  a  business  house,  and  competed 

with  the  pioneer  business  man.  Mr. 
Coburn  conducted  the  store  and  post- 
office  at  the  old  station  on  section  32 
until  June,  1875;  then  the  neighbors 
assisted  in  moving  the  store  building  to 
the  Saratoga  townsite,  where  it  remained 
until  destroyed  by  fire  in  December, 
1907. 27  A  depot  was  erected  and  Sara- 
toga, or  Coburg,  as  the  place  was  more 
commonly  called,  began  to  take  on  the 
appearance  of  a  village. 

The  grasshopper  plague  brought  a 
stop  to  advancement;  in  fact,  was  re- 
sponsible for  the  depopulation  of  Coburg. 
Mr.  Coburn  closed  his  store  and  moved 
away,  the  postoffice  was  discontinued, 
and  a  few  empty  buildings  only  marked 
the  site.  Coburg  was  without  inhabi- 
tants at  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1876.28 

With  the  departure  of  the  grasshop- 
pers the  deserted  village  once  more 
became  the  scene  of  activities.  In  the 
spring  of  1S7S  the  Coburg  postoffice  was 
re-established  and  David  Bell,  who  at 
the  same  time  opened  a  general  store  in 
the  Coburn  building,  hail  charge  of  the 
office.  During  the  summer  of  the  same 
year  Van  Dusen  &  Company  erected  an 
elevator  and  a  dwelling  house.  The 
residence  was  occupied  by  L.  N.  Lawshe, 
who  had  charge  of  the  grain  business. 

27The  Prairie  Schooner  of  July  2,  1875,  said:  "The 
town  of  Coburg  has  been  changed  to  a  point  a  mile 
this  side  of  the  old  station.  Coburn  Brothers  and 
others  have  moved  up  there  and  a  town  has  been  laid 
out  with  good  prospects  of  future  growth." 

It  is  said  that  this  old  building  of  Mr.  Coburn  was 
the  first  frame  building,  excepting  the  engineers' 
building  at  Marshall,  erected  on  the  line  of  the  road 
west  from  Sleepy  Eye.  It  was  used  for  store  purposes 
respectively  by  William  Coburn,  David  Bell,  H.  D. 
Kelly,  D.  Y.  Davis,  A.  ('.  ( 'liittenden,  J.  W.  Kelley, 
John  Currie,  Thomas  Webb,  Purvis  &  Griffith  and 
Mr.  Hamilton.  While  the  last  named  was  the  owner 
it  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

-s"Coburg  is  twelve  miles  east  of  Marshall.  It  has 
a  depot,  no  business,  but  lots  of  good  land." — Marshall 
News,  January  1,  1S76. 

29The  history  of  the  naming  of  Amiret  was  given  as 
follows  in  the  Marshall  News-Messenger  of  August  9, 
1907,  the  information  having  been  secured  in  an 
interview  with  James  Mitchell: 

".   .   .   In    the    dilemma   of    the    handful    of    citizens, 


A  shoe  shop  was  established,  a  Congre- 
gational church  and  Sunday  School  were 
organized,  and  a  school  was  conducted 
by  L.  F.  Robinson. 

Prior  to  February,  1879,  the  post- 
office  bore  the  name  Coburg  and  the 
station  Saratoga.  Confusion  in  the  mail 
service  resulted  because  of  the  dual 
appellation  and  the  name  of  the  post- 
office  was  at  that  time  changed  to 
Amiret,  and  soon  after  the  railroad 
company  changed  the  name  of  the  sta- 
tion to  correspond.  Amiret  was  named 
in  honor  of  the  wife  of  M.  L.  Sykes,  at 
that  time  vice  president  of  the  Chicago 
&  Northwestern  Railroad  Company.29 

Several  improvements  were  made  in 
Amiret  in  1879.  David  Bell  sold  his 
store  in  May  to  H.  D.  Kelly,  who  con- 
ducted the  business  only  a  short  time. 
C.  A.  Wheelock  became  depot  agent  and 
opened  a  second  general  store  in  July, 
which  he  conducted  until  October,  1880. 
William  Blair  and  E.  Warn  each  estab- 
lished hotels,  G.  L.  Lowe  opened  a 
blacksmith  shop,  a  school  house  was 
erected,  and  L.  N.  Lawshe  continued  to 
buy  grain. 

In  1880  C.  T.  Trow  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business,  a  Mr.  Smith  for  a  few 
months  operated  a  general  store,  D.  S. 
Hart  became  station  agent  and  sold  a 
few  goods  as  a  side  line,  and  in  the  fall 
A.  C.  Chittenden,  of  Marshall,  opened  a 

young  Jim  Mitchell  came  to  the  front  and  insisted  that 
the  place  should  have  a  new  name  that  should  include 
both  the  station  and  the  postoffice.  He  came  to 
Marshall  and  laid  his  troubles  before  Gene  Wilcox, 
who  was  then  station  agent  and  supposed  to  stand  in 
with  the  railroad  magnates.  Gene  asked  for  twenty- 
four  hours'  delay  and  meanwhile  worked  the  wires 
between  Marshall  and  railroad  headquarters  at  Winona, 
eulogizing  the  beauties  and  prospects  of  Amiret  anil 
descanting  on  the  renown  that  would  befall  the  for- 
tunate individual  who  should  name  the  embryo 
municipality. 

"After  due  discussion  among  the  magnates,  it  was 
determined  that  one  M.  L,  Sykes,  a  vice  president  of 
1  he  Chicago  &  Northwestern  road,  and  also  holding  a 
similar  office  in  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter  branch,  should 
have  the  honor,  which  was  fitting,  as  he  had  already 
bought  a  farm  near  the  station  to  be  named.  With 
true  gallantry  the  railroad  man  thought  of  his  wife, 
whose  name  was  Amiretta,  and  through  Wilcox  at 
first  hand,  and  Mitchell  at  second  hand,  the  village 
was  christened  Amiret,  a  name  which  it  has  sinc^ 
held." 


228 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


branch  general  store,  which  was  placed 
in  charge  of  Frank  Watson.  That  store 
was  operated  for  several  years. 

The  progress  of  Amiret  was  not  rapid, 
for  we  find  that  in  the  spring  of  1882 
there  were  in  the  village  only  one  store, 
an  elevator,  lumber  yard,  hotel  and 
boarding  house.  During  the  next  few 
years  there  were  more  backward  steps. 
A.  C.  Chittenden  withdrew  from  the 
field  and  a  store  was  established  by 
J.  W.  Kelley,  who  in  the  spring  of  1885 
was  reported  to  be  the  only  inhabitant 
of  Amiret.30  And  in  July  he  moved  to 
Balaton  and  left  the  village  without  an 
inhabitant. 

There  was  a  revival  in  the  spring  of 
1886.  Webb  Brothers  opened  a  general 
store,  two  other  stores  were  established, 
and  a  blacksmith  shop  was  again  op- 
erated in  the  village.  Never  again  was 
Amiret  to  be  called  a  "one  man  town." 
In  1892  the  business  interests  consisted 
of  two  stores,  two  grain  warehouses,  two 
machinery  dealers,  a  lumber  yard  and 
a  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop. 

Slow  growth  has  followed  and  Amirel 
now  consists  of  a  number  of  prosperous 
business  houses,  housed  in  substantial 
buildings.  Twice  have  fires  brought 
losses  to  the  village.  In  December, 
1907,  the  old  Coburn  store  building  was 
destroyed.  On  November  3,  1908,  the 
store  of  Webb  &  Peterson  was  burned, 
bringing  a  loss  of  many  thousands  of 
dollars.  The  Tracy  Fire  Department 
was  called  and  saved  the  village  from 
destruction. 

The   Amiret   State    Bank   was  estab- 

30"The  executive,  judiciary,  clerk,  postmaster  and 
all  is  centered  in  one  man,  J.  W.  Kelley.  That  man 
runs  the  village  of  Amiret  entirely  and  absolutely. 
Whether  he  would  run  the  village  were  there  anything 
of  the  village  besides  his  store  is  a  question  upon 
which  the  writer  interviewed  no  one.  There  is  no 
one  to  interview  besides  Mr.  Kelley  and  he  couldn't 
say,  for  should  another  man  move  in  he  might  except 
to  Mr.  Kelley's  administration  and  establish  a  con- 
spiracy. Mr.  Kelley  knows  this  and  rather  than  be 
confronted  by  any  such  possibility  he  throws  out  no 
inducements  to  people  to  come  there,, in  the  way  of 
flaming  posters,  circulars  and  Dakota  falsehoods. "- 
Marshall  News-Messenger,  March  27,  1885. 


lished  with  a  capital  stock  of  $10,000 
on  October  1,  1910,  by  a  number  of 
business  men  and  farmers  of  Amiret  ami 
vicinity  and  is  housed  in  a  building- 
erected  for  the  purpose.  The  officers 
and  directors  are  as  follows:  President, 
Lester  J.  Fitch;  vice  president,  R.  A. 
Mitchell;  cashier,  F.  T.  Shaeffer;  Solomon 
Greeley  and  C.  S.  Rowell. 

GREEN    VALLEY. 

Five  miles  northeast  of  Marshall,  on 
the  line  of  the  Great  Northern  railroad 
and  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
10,  Fairview  township,  is  the  little 
village  of  Green  Valley.  There  is  one 
general  store,  an  implement  warehouse, 
lumber  yard,  three  elevators,  black- 
smith shop,  a  church  and  school. 

Green  Valley  came  into  existence 
when  the  Willmar  &  Sioux  Palls  railroad 
was  built  in  1888.  The  site  and  name 
of  the  station  were  announced  in  May 
of  that  year,  although  it  was  known  the 
fall  before  that  a  station  would  be 
located  in  the  vicinity.'"  The  track 
was  laid  to  the  site  on  Saturday,  August 
18,  1888,  and  the  sidetrack  was  laid  the 
next  day  and  a  platform  built.  The 
Northwestern  Elevator  Company  erected 
an  elevator  at  the  same  time,  which  was 
the  first  building  on  the  site. 

There  were  no  other  improvements  in 
Green  Valley  during  the  year  of  its 
founding.  In  February,  1889,  the  post- 
office  was  established  and  conducted  at 
the  home  of  G.  M.  Robinson,  who  lived 
nearby.  Mr.  Robinson  served  as  post- 
master   until     February,     1890. ',2     Not 

3I".  .  .  The  next  station  coming  toward  Marshall 
is  somewhat  in  doubt,  but  will  probably  be  near  (1.  M. 
Robinson's,  in  Fairview,  or  in  the  southwest  corner 
of  Vallers,  making  it  from  five  to  six  miles  from  Marshall 
and  Cottonwood  lake.  Of  course,  it  will  not  be  a 
prominent  station,  but  important  as  a  shipping  point 
and  will  have  a  first-class  elevator.''  —  Marshall  News- 
Messenger,  November  11,  1887. 

32Others  who  have  "been  postmasters  of  Green 
Valley  have  been  E.  P.  Duffy,  Isaac  Clendenning, 
H.  W.  Throop,  O.  S.  Walters,  Elijah  Loomis,  J.  B. 
Truax,  John  Sharratt,  John  S.  Gee  and  P.  F.  Ziesmer. 
Mr.  Sharratt  is  the  present  postmaster,  having  served 
on  his  last  term  since  October  12,   1905. 


AMIRET  SCENES 


'$<*£X£Vl'~i:™k~.- 


^\C*f>»S\Q!4' 


</ 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


229 


until  the  summer  and  fall  of  1889  were 

there  any  additions  to  the  village.  In 
August  Spurgeon  Odell  located  there 
and  took  the  management  of  the  eleva- 
tor, boarding  at  the  home  of  G.  M. 
Robinson.  Before  the  middle  of  No- 
vember he  had  purchased  21.000  bushels 
of  wheat.  The  same  fall  the  railroad 
-tat ion  was  opened,  in  charge  of  Frank 
Angier,  hut  was  closed  the  first  of  the 
following  year.  A  little  box-car  struc- 
ture was  hauled  to  the  site  and  answered 
the  purposes  of  a  depot. 

E.  P.  Duffy  erected  a  building  in  the 
fall  of  1889  and  in  January,  1890,  opened 
the  village's  first  mercantile  establish- 
ment. About  the  same  time  H.  AY. 
Throop  moved  a  dwelling  house  to  tin1 
village  from  Yallers  township.  The 
Inter-.State  drain  Company  put  up  a 
warehouse  in  August,  1S90,  and  Charles 
Ahlbeck  became  the  grain  buyer  for  the 
firm.  The  same  season  a  blacksmith 
shop  was  established  by  .lay  B.  Truax. 
In  1S92  Spurgeon  Odell  erected  a" 
dwelling  house. 

The  growth  of  Green  Valley  has  not 
been  great.  Among  the  enterprises  es- 
tablished after  the  start  had  been  made 
were  a  store  by  J.  S.  Gee,  who  also  put 
up  a  residence;  an  implement  business 
by  Gee  &  Ziesmer  in  1899,  lumber  yard 
by  the  H.  W.  Ross  company,  and  a 
blacksmith  shop  by  Mr.  Frazier. 

Those  engaged  in  business  at  Green 
Valley  at  the  present  time  are  as  follows: 
John  Sharratt,  general  store  and  post- 
office;  L.  E.  Boudreau,  machinery  and 
vehicles;  AY.  H.  Lane,  manager  of  the 
H.  W.  Ross  lumber  yard;  L.  A.  Knapp, 
blacksmith;  M.  J.  Barrett,  station  agent; 

33Among  the  first  members  of  the  church  were 
Mrs.  D.  -P.  Andrews,  H.  N.  Robinson,  Mrs.  W.  C. 
Robinson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  W.  Throop,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Sharratt,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  S.  Gee,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  E.  F.  Ziesmer,  Mrs.  Thomas  Lindsay,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  W.  A.  Grant  and  W.  A.  Forbes. 

•!4The  charter  members  of  Green  Valley  Cam])  were 
F.  H.  Deland,  Fred  Gee,  Ernest  Ziesmer,  Burt  Gee, 
W.  A.  Grant,  James  F.   Knox,   F.   E.  Markell,  George 


C.  \Y.  Christensen,  manager  Inter-State 
elevator;  Northwestern  Elevator  Com- 
pany and  Walter  Parks  Elevator  Com- 
pany. 

A  Presbyterian  church  is  maintained 
in  Green  Yalley,  although  it  has  never 
had  a  resident  pastor  ami  has  only  a  few 
members.  It  was  organized  in  1898 
through  the  efforts  of  John  S.  Leas, 
Sunday  School  organizer,  of  Cotton- 
wood.3'' A  church  home  was  built  the 
same  year  and  was  dedicated  January 
23.  1899,  by  Rev.  R.  N.  Adams,  of 
.Minneapolis.  The  cost  of  the  church 
was  $1000  and  it  was  dedicated  with  an 
indebtedness  of  only  $82. 

Green  Valley  Camp  No.  4981,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  was  organized 
September  1,  1897.34  The  lodge  is  still 
active  and  has  fifty-eight  members  at 
the  present  time. 

DUDLEY. 

Dudley  is  a  townsite  and  elevator 
site  on  the  branch  of  the  Northwestern 
railroad  built  in  1901.  It  is  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  17,  Clifton 
township,  and  is  the  youngest  of  all 
Lyon  county  sites. 

YVhen  the  roadbed  was  being  graded 
in  the  summer  of  1901  it  was  rumored 
that  one  of  the  stations  would  be  in 
Clifton  township,35  and  in  November 
the  railroad  authorities  announced  that 
such  a  station  would  be  established  and 
that  its  name  would  be  Dudley.  A 
townsite  of  four  blocks  was  surveyed  by 
F.  R.  Cline  and  platted  December  20, 
1901,  by  the  Western  Town  Lot  Com- 
pany,  of  which   M.   Hughitt   was   presi- 

J.  Reichert,  H.  M.  Reichert,  Joseph  A.  Reichert, 
H.  N.  Robinson,  John  Sharratt,  William  Sharratt, 
H.  ('.  Stankey  and  H.  W.  Throop. 

s*"It  is  possible  that  there  will  lie  no  station  in 
Lyon  county.  ...  If  another  station  or  a  siding-  is 
put  in  between  West/line  and  Marshall,  it  will  doubt- 
less be  on  section  17  or  is,  Clifton." — Marshall  News- 
Messenger,  August  16,  1901. 


230 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


dent.  The  lots  in  the  several  plats 
along  the  new  line  of  road  were  sold  at 
public  auction  by  the  town  lot  company 
in  April.  1902.  A  few  were  sold  at 
Dudley  at  an  average  price  of  $100. 

Train  service  on  the  new  road  was 
established  August  13,  1902,  and  two 
grain  firms  erected  elevators  to  handle 
the  season's  crop.  In  the  spring  of 
1903  the  voters  of  Clifton  township 
decided  to  build  a  town  hall  at  the 
station  and  it  was  announced  that  the 
Hayes-Lucas  Lumber  Company  would 
put  in  a  lumber  yard.  Mrs.  J.  W.  Castle 
conducted  a  store  there  three  years.  A 
village  did  not  materialize  at  Dudley. 
The  railroad  station  was  closed  March 
3,  1904,  and  the  grain  business  is  the 
only  one  conducted  there.  A  postoffice 
was  maintained  for  a  time. 

BURCHARD. 

Burchard  is  a  grain  buying  point  and 
siding  on  the  Dakota  Central  division  of 
the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  railroad, 
not  far  from  the  crossing  of  the  Great 
Northern  railroad.  It  is  on  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  11,  Shelburne 
township,  and  is  about  six  miles  west 
from  Balaton. 

Soon  after  the  railroad  was  con- 
structed in  1879  an  elevator  was  built 
and  the  place  became  known  as  Red- 
wood Station.  Excepting  the  elevator, 
there  was  no  improvement  at  the  station 
for  several  years.  A  townsite  of  two 
blocks  was  platted  by  the  railroad  com- 
pany September  15,  1885,  and  soon 
thereafter  came  the  beginning  of  a  little 
village  at  Redwood  Station. 

During  the  winter  of  1885-86  a  hotel 
building  was  erected  and  opened  by 
William  Shafer  and  a  general  store  was 

36William  Shafer  later  became  postmaster,  and  later 
still  M.  S.  Fawcett.  Owen  M.  Owens  was  also  post- 
master for  a  time.  The  office  was  discontinued  in 
1911. 


established  by  P.  C.  McCann.  A  peti- 
tion for  a  postoffice  was  circulated  early 
in  1886,  and  after  the  department  had 
rejected  the  names  Redwood  and  Shel- 
burne, it  was  established  in  April  with 
the  name  Burchard.  It  was  named  in 
honor  of  H.  M.  Burchard.  the  railroad 
land  agent  of  Marshall,  and  P.  C. 
McCann  was  the  post  master. ae  The 
station  was  named  Shelburne  in  April. 
1886,  but  was  later  changed  to  Burchard 
to  correspond  with  the  postoffice.  M. 
S.  Fawcett  in  1891  took  charge  of  the 
Burchard  hotel  and  conducted  it  for 
some  time.  A  dwelling  was  put  up  by 
R.  A.  Bigham,  who  took  charge  of  the 
elevator,  and  in  1889  a  school  house  was 
located  on  the  town  plat.  There  was 
little  call  for  a  village  at  Burchard  and 
now  the  only  business  conducted  is  the 
buying  and  shipping  of  grain  during  the 
fall  seasons. 

HECKMAN. 

Heckman  is  a  siding  on  the  North- 
western railroad  at  Lake  Marshall,  five 
miles  southeast  of  Marshall.  An  eleva- 
tor of  the  Western  P^levator  Company 
is  conducted  by  J.  F.  Brant ner  and  a 
postoffice  is  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Brantner. 

So  early  as  1876  the  site  was  selected 
for  a  future  station,37  but  no  improve- 
ments marked  the  site  until  twelve  years 
later.  In  June,  1888,  a  sidetrack  was 
laid  and  the  place  appeared  on  the  rail- 
road folders  as  Heckman.  At  the  same 
time  a  warehouse  was  erected,  which 
was  managed  by  W.  F.  Bryant.  Grain 
was  purchased  and  coal  sold  at  the 
warehouse.  J.  F.  Brantner  became 
agent  of  the  grain  company  in  1901  and 
the  Heckman  postoffice  was  established 
the  same  year. 

37"A  stake  has  been  stuck  at  Lake  Marshall  by  the 
railroad  magnates  for  a  station  some  time  in  the 
future." — Marshall  News,  May  12,  1876. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


231 


I    \\ll>l  IN. 

Camden,  od  the  Redwood  river  a 
short  distance  above  Lynd,  was  once  a 
place  of  considerable  importance  in 
Lyon  county,  having  a  Large  gristmill 
and  several  business  enterprises;  now 
several  families  reside  in  the  valley  that 
was  formerly  Camden,  Inn  for  many 
years  there  have  been  no  business  es- 
tablishments. 

In  1868  James  Cummins  and  Jacob 
Rouse  built  a  sawmill  at  the  site  of 
Camden,  which  they  operated  a  few- 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1S74  George  Smith. 
W.  T.  Ellis  and  Jacob  Rouse,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Smith.  Ellis  &  Rouse,  con- 
verted the  sawmill  into  a  gristmill, 
platted  the  Camden  townsite,  secured 
the  establishment  of  a  postoffice  in 
December,38  and  were  responsible  for 
the  founding  of  a  flourishing  little  vil- 
lage. I  can  best  give  the  early  history 
of  Camden  by  quoting  from  the  Prairie 
Schooner  of  December  24,  1874,  which 
said  : 

The  outside  world  has  just  begun  to  hear 
mention  of  the  town  of  Camden  in  Lyon  county. 
It  will  probably  hear  more  of  it  before  the  next 
transit  of  Venus.  It  is  located  on  the  Redwood 
river,  two  and  one-half  miles  above  Lynd,  on 
land  owned  by  Smith,  Ellis  &  Rouse.  It  is 
snugly  tucked  away  between  two  ranges  of 
hills  which  afford  a  safe  retreat  from  the  winds 
of  winter  and  furnish  beautiful  and  refreshing 
scenery  during  the  other  portions  of  the  year. 

About  eight  acres  have  been  platted,  upon 
which  have  been  built  quite  a  number  of  nouses, 
all  with  one  exception  since  last  August.  Smith 
&  Ellis  have  a  store  building,  20x40  feet  with 
20-foot  posts.  The  lower  part  has  a  large  and 
select  stock  of  goods,  sold  by  Smith  &  Ellis, 
and  the  upper  story  is  occupied  as  a  hotel  kept 
by  W.  T.  Ellis  and  family.  W.  M.  Van  Buren 
is  employed  by  Mr.  Ellis  to  make  boots  and 
shoes  to  order,  and  he  is  said  to  be  an  excellent 
workman.  Ellis  has  built  about  150  feet  of 
stable  for  the  accommodation  of  teams.  A 
frame  school  house,  24x36  feet,  is  nearly  com- 
pleted and  will  be  furnished  with  patent  seats. 
School  will  be  taught  this  winter  by  C.  L.  Van 
Fleet.  On  the  east  side  of  the  river  John  Keyes 
has  a  blacksmith  shop.  In  addition  to  these 
buildings  and  the  gristmill  are  three  residences 
of  Keyes,  Rouse,  Tupper  and  Van  Fleet.     Other 

38W.  T.  Ellis  was  the  first  postmaster  of  Camden 
and   served   until    1875.      He   was   sueeeeded   by  Jacob 


buildings  are  expected  to  go  up  in  the  spring, 

which  will  give  Camden  the  appearance  of  a 
nghl  smart  little  burg. 

The    year   of   its    founding    was    Cam- 
den's   most     progressive    twelve-month. 

A  church  was  erected  nearby  in  1875. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1876  the 
county  paper  described  Camden  as 
having  "a  large  flouring  mill,  a  store 
ami  plenty  of  timber  and  other  desirable 
attractions."  \Y.  T.  Ellis  conducted  the 
mill  a  few  years  and  then  sold  to  V.  M. 
Smith.     The    latter    operated    the    mill 

everal  years,  and  after  several  changes 
in  management  it  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Jacob  Rouse,  who  operated  it  many 
years  and  finally  closed  it.  In  the 
eighties  W.  R.  Gregg  conducted  a  store 
at  Camden  for  about  five  years. 

The  final  blow  came  to  Camden  when 
in  1888  the  Great  Northern  railroad  was 
built  and  a  station  was  refused  the 
village.  Because  of  the  topography  of 
the  site  and  the  extensive  grading 
necessary  in  the  vicinity,  it  was  im- 
possible to  establish  a  station  there  and 
the  village  of  Lynd  was  built  instead  of 
Camden. 

OTHER    PLACES. 

Rock  Lake  was  the  name  of  a  country 
postoffice  established  in  1873.  It  was 
first  located  on  section  28,  Lyons  town- 
ship, and  Roland  Weeks  was  the  post- 
master. He  was  succeeded  by  A.  C. 
Dann  and  the  office  was  moved  to  Mr. 
Dann's  home  on  section  20,  Lyons  town- 
ship. In  November,  1874,  J.  A.  Van 
Fleet  received  the  appointment  and 
moved  the  office  to  his  home  on  section 
4,  Rock  Lake  township.  He  conducted 
the  office  until  it  was  discontinued  in 
1881,  after  the  establishment  of  the 
Balaton  office.  Mail  was  carried  to  the 
Rock  Lake  office  from  Marshall. 

Rouse  and  the  latter  in   the  eighties  by  Louis  Crane. 
The  office  was  discontinued  many  years  ago. 


232 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Sham  Lake  was  a  postoffice  established 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  2, 
Lucas  township,  in  1873.  R.  H.  Price 
was  the  first  and  only  postmaster.  He 
opened  a  store  at  his  place  in  1874  and 
conducted  it  a  few  years.  The  post- 
office  was  discontinued  about  1880. 

Blan  Avon  was  the  name  of  another 
country  postoffice  established  about 
1873,  in  Custer  township.  For  a  time 
it  was  in  southern  Sodus  township.  It 
was  maintained  only  a  few  years. 

On  the  Redwood  river  close  to  the 
Redwood  county  line — and  part  of  the 
time  in  the  other  county — for  about 
eleven  years  was  conducted  the  Ceresco 
postoffice.  It  was  established  in  1872 
and  T.  W.  Castor  was  the  first  post- 
master. A  store  and  blacksmith  shop 
were  also  conducted  at  Ceresco  for  a 
time  in  the  seventies.  Several  different 
persons  were  in  charge  of  the  postoffice, 
W.  J.  Simmons  having  been  postmaster 
in  1882. 

Hildrethsburg  postoffice  was  estab- 
lished in  June,  1874.  It  was  first  located 
on  section  20,  Lyons  township,  and 
Henry  Mussler  was  the  first  postmaster. 
Charles  Hildreth,  also  of  Lyons  town- 
ship,   was    appointed    to    the    office    in 

39"The  Brenner  postoffice  in  the  northern  part  of 
this  county  is  discontinued  on  account  of  the  rural 
mail  route  established  last  week  from  Cottonwood. 
The  records  will  be  turned  over  to  the  postmaster  of 
Cottonwood.   .    .    . 

"Brenner  postoffice  was  established  about  1875, 
with  O.  O.  Brenna,  Sr.,  as  postmaster.  The  postoffice 
department  evidently  intended  to  give  the  office  the 
name  of  the  postmaster,  but  made  the  mistake  of 
naming  it  Brenner.  Mr.  Brenna.  Sr.,  held  the  office 
until  1889,  when  his  son  Ole  became  postmaster  and 
held  the  position  about  two  years.      Then  he  resigned 


February,  1875,  ami  held  it  until  it  was 
discontinued  in  1S78  as  the  result  of  the 
burning  of  Mr.  Hildreth's  house. 

Island  Lake  postoffice  came  into 
existence  in  June,  1874,  with  John  R. 
King  as  postmaster.  It  was  located  at 
that  gentleman's  house  on  section  34, 
Island  Lake  township,  and  there  Mr. 
King  in  the  early  days  also  kept  a  small 
stock  of  merchandise  and  conducted  a 
"half-way"  house  for  the  travel  between 
Marshall  and  Marshfield.  In  June,  1898, 
after  the  office  had  been  operated  at"  the 
same  place  for  twenty-four  years,  it 
was  moved  to  the  home  of  C.  A.  Johnson 
and  Mis.  Johnson  became  postmistress. 
The  office  has  since  been  discontinued. 

Brenner  postoffice  was  established  in 
Yallers  township  in  December,  1875, 
with  Ole  O.  Brenna  as  postmaster.  It 
had  an  existence  of  twenty-eight  years 
and  was  discontinued  in  November, 
1903,  as  the  result  of  the  establishment 
of  rural  mail  routes.39 

Leo  postoffice  was  established  in  July, 
1880,  on  section  14,  Lyons  township, 
with  Mrs.  Libbie  Millard  in  charge. 
She  was  postmistress  until  the  office 
was  discontinued  April  1,  1892. 

and  O.  H.  Sterk  was  appointed  and  has  since  held  the 
office. 

"The  mail  was  first  carried  from  Redwood  Falls  by 
way  of  the  old  town  of  Yellow  Medicine,  Vineland  or 
Voldeys,  Stavanger  and  Brenner  to  Marshall  and  back 
over  the  same  route,  making  the  offices  once  a  week 
each  way.  Later  the  route  was  changed  and  mail 
was  carried  from  Willmar  by  way  of  Oranite  Falls, 
Vineland,  Stavanger,  Brenner,  Marshall  and  Redwood 
Falls,  delivering  once  a  week  each  way,  Soon  after 
the  establishment  of  the  Cottonwood  office  mail  was 
curried  to  Brenner  from  Cottonwood." — Cottonwood 
Current,  November,  1903. 


CHAPTER  XVII 


DESCRIPTIVE. 


LYOX  county  is  situated  in 
Southwestern  Minnesota.  one 
county    only    being    between    it 

and  the  South  Dakota  line,  while  two 
counties  lie  between  it  and  the  Iowa 
line.  It  is  hounded  on  the  north  by 
Yellow  Medicine  county,  on  the  east  by 
Redwood  county,  on  the  south  by  Mur- 
ray county,  and  on  the  west  by  Lincoln 
county.  The  county  lie;  between  the 
forty-fourth  and  forty-fifth  degrees  of 
latitude,  and  the  ninety-sixth  degree  of 
lodgitude  west  from  Greenwich  passes 
through  the  western  edge  of  the  county. 

The  shape  of  Lyon  county  is  rectan- 
gular. It  contains  twenty  townships 
and  its  dimensions  ■  are  thirty  miles, 
north  and  south,  by  twenty-four  miles, 
east  and  west.  Its  area  is  720. 60 
square  miles — more  than  one-half  the 
area  of  Rhode  Island.  Of  the  total 
area,  709.50  square  miles  are  land, 
while  only  11.16  square  miles  are 
covered  by  water. 1 

A  glance  at  the  map  of  Minnesota 
and  of  the  political  division  designated 
thereon  as  Lyon  county  will  furnish  the 
information  above  given.  But  there 
will  be  found  nothing  to  distinguish 
Lyon  county  from  the  other  divisions  of 

'Minnesota  Geological  Survey,  1884. 

Concerning  the  contour  of  Lyon  county  and  creation 

of   its   physical   features,    I   quote   as   length   from   the 

writings    of    Hon.    Warren    Upham    in    the    Minnesota 

Geological    and    Natural    History    Survey    of    1884,    as 

ollows: 


the  vicinity  except  that  there  are  many 
lakes  and  watercourses  and  a  network 
of  railroads.  The  lithographed  piece  of 
paper  does  not  convey  much  idea  of  the 
country;  a  personal  inspection  i;  re- 
quired to  learn  what  it  really  is. 

In  general,  the  surface  of  Lyon  county 
is  a  high,  gently  undulating  plateau, 
though  considerably  diversified  by  rivers 
and  lakes,  some  of  which  have  bluffy 
shores  and  some  natural  timber.  While 
this  describes  the  general  contour,  it 
varies  considerably  in  different  parts  of 
the  county.  The  northeast  portion- 
roughly,  that  northeast  of  the  North- 
western railroad — is  more  gently  un- 
dulating than  the  other  parts.  The 
ascent  of  the  land  to  the  southwest  in 
that  district  is  six  to  ten  feet  per  mile. 

The  southwestern  portion  is  higher 
land,  being  on  the  western  edge  of  the 
Coteau  des  Prairies.  It  can  be  described 
in  general  as  a  long  plateau  or  massive 
ridge,  in  parts  smoothly  undulating  or 
rolling  in  contour,  but  having  two  belts 
(terminal  moraines,  the  geologists  term 
them)  which  are  very  irregularly  broken 
by  steep  hills,  knolls  and  small  ridge  s, 
twenty-five  to  one  hundred  feet  above 
the  intervening  hollows.2 

"The  second  terminal  moraine  of  the  last  ice-sheet, 
which  is  the  eastern  or  inner  belt  of  knolly  and  hilly 
drift  upon  the  Coteau  des  Prairies,  extends  north- 
westerly in  a  nearly  straight  course  from  the  Blue 
Mounds  near  Windom,  in  southern  Cottonwood  county, 
to  <iary,  in  the  edge  of  Dakota.  In  Lyon  county  its 
northeast     boundary     passes     through     the     center    of 


234 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


The  mean  elevation  of  Lyon  county 
above  sea  level  is  about  1320  feet.  The 
lowest  point  is  1100  feet,  at  the  place 
where  the  Redwood  river  leaves  the 
county.     The    highest    point    is    in    the 


Custer,  Lyons  and  Island  Lake  townships.  The  most 
rough  and  hilly  part  of  this  moraine  is  from  a  half  mile 
to  one  and  a  half  miles  wide  at  its  northeast  side, 
where  it  usually  has  many  irregular  knolls,  short 
ridges  and  hills,"  which  rise  from  twenty-five  to  fifty 
feet,  and  occasionally  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred 
feet,  above  the  intervening  depressions.  Their  con- 
spicuous appearance,  as  seen  from  the  northeast,  i- 
due  to  the  ascent  westward  of  the  country  upon  which 
they  lie.  From  the  specially  hilly  northeast  margin 
of  this  morainic  belt  its  width  reaches  five  to  fifteen 
miles,  southwestward,  with  a  rolling  and  in  some 
places  knolly  or  hilly  surface,  including  the  greater 
part  of  the  distance  to  the  parallel  outer  range  of  drift 
hills,  but  leaving  next  to  that  a  smooth,  slightly 
undulating  tract,  three  to  five  miles   wide. 

"The  southeastern  continuation  of  this  third  moraine 
may  be  represented  by  the  rocky  drift  knolls,  ten  to 
twenty  feet  high,  which  occur  about  the  north  end  and 
at  the  northeast  side  of  Lake  Marshall,  in  a  region 
which  mainly  has  a  very  smooth  contour.  Again, 
twelve  miles  farther  to  the  east-southeast,  a  bell  01 
typically  morainic  knolls,  about  twenty  rods  in  width 
and  a  half  mile  or  more  in  length,  was  noted  close 
south  of  the  Cottonwood  river,  on  sections  14  and  15, 
1  la.li  S,  in  Redwood  county. 

"The  Antelope  valley.  Between  the  third  or 
Antelope  moraine  and  the  foot  of  the  Coteau  des 
Prairies  on  the  west  is  the  Antelope  valley,  BO  named 
l>y  the  Sioux.  This  is  a  broad  shallow  depression,  or 
rather  a  part  of  an  inclined  plane  with  a  slightly  un- 
dulating surface  of  till,  being  three  to  tin  miles  wide 
and  reputed  to  extend  125  miles,  from  Minneota,  in 
the  northwest  township  of  Lyon  county,  to  the  south 
bend  of  the  Sheyenne  river  in  Dakota.  The  moraine 
of  the  Antelope  hills  and  the  smooth  area  oi  till  on  its 
east  side  average  twenty-five  to  fifty  feet  higher  than 
the  adjoining  eastern  border  of  the  Antelope  valley, 
but  have  some  lower  portion-,  allowing  streams  to 
cross  both  the  valley  and  the  moraine  in  their  north- 
eastward course  from  the  coteau  to  the  Minnesota 
river. 

"Modified  drift.  No  extensive  areas  of  modified 
drift  were  observed  in  ihis  district.  In  a  few  places, 
however,  small  deposits  of  gravel  and  sand,  partly 
kame-like,  form  .  the  surface.  A  noteworthy  cut  in 
such  beds  was  seen  near  Balaton,  in  southern  Lyon 
county.  A  sixth  of  a  mile  southeasl  from  this  station, 
close  southwest  of  the  railroad,  in  a  rounded  hillock. 
an  excavation  has  been  made  for  ballast  to  a  distance 
into  the  hillock  of  150  feet,  the  section  exposed  being 
twenty  rods  or  more  in  length  and  about  twenty  feel 
high  in  its  highest  part.  It  consists  of  gravel,  yellowish 
and  in  many  portions  ferruginous,  mostly  very  coarse 
and  containing  abundant  pebbles  up  to  six  or  eight 
inches  in  diameter,  nearly  all  of  them  plainly  water- 
worn  or  rounded.  At  four  to  seven  feet  below  the 
top,  for  a  depth  of  a  hundred  feet  or  so  at  the  highest 
part,  the  material  is  fine,  sandy  gravel,  obliquely 
bedded  in  slopes  of  five  degrees  to  twenty-five  degrees 
eastward.  The  central  mass  here  is  sand,  while  the 
enclosing  strata  are  gravel,  mostly  with  pebbles  less 
than  three  inches  in  diameter,  but  in  some  places 
holding  pebbles  up  to  five  or  eight  inches  in  diameter. 
The  lenticular  mass  of  sand  occurring  here  shows  two 
small  faults  at  its  center,  each  of  three  or  four  inches, 
the  lower  side  being  at  the  east.  The  stratification  of 
this  deposit  is  conformable  with  the  slope  of  its  surface, 
showing  that  it  remains  nearly  or  quite  in  the  same 
form  as  it  was  left  by  the  glacial  floods. 

"Only  two  fragments  of  rock  that  exceeded  a  foot 
in  diameter  were  seen  in  this  excavation.  These  were 
one  and  a  half  and  three  feet  long.  About  one-third 
of  the  pebbles  here,  both  large  and  small,  are  lime- 
stone; nearly  all  of  the  rest  are  granite  and  crystalline 
schists;  only  a  few  pebbles,  as  of  shale,  which  could 
certainly  be  referred  to  the  Cretaceous,  were  seen,  and 
no  quartzite  or  conglomerate.  Many  {>f  the  limestone 
fragments  are  obscurely  fossiliferous.  The  top  of  this 
cut  is  about  thirty  feet  above  Lake  Yankton  and 
perhaps  five  feet  below  the  top  of  the  mound  in  which 
it     is    made.      Similar    gravel    forms    the    subsoil    and 


southwestern  corner,  about  1750  feet 
above  the  sea.  The  estimated  mean 
elevations  of  the  several  townships  are 
as  follows :  Lucas,  1 1 25 ;  Stanley.  1130; 
Clifton.    1160;    Amiret.    1225;    Monroe, 

extends  to  a  depth  of  thirty  feet  in  wells  at  Balaton 
station,  and  reaches  thence  a  half  mile  to  the  north- 
we-t,  beside  the  lake,  and  two  or  three  miles  easterly 
along  the  railroad. 

"Cretaceous  beds.  Sandstone,  clay  and  shale,  of 
Cretaceous  age,  are  believed  to  underlie  the  glacial 
drift  throughout  the  greater  part  of  this  district 
[Lyon,  Yellow  Medicine  and  Lincoln  counties];  but 
their  only  natural  exposures  found  during  this  survey 
are  a  few  low  outcrops  of  sandstone  in  northwestern 
Lyon  county  and  northeastern   Lincoln  county. 

"The  most  eastern  outcrop  of  the  Cretaceous  sand- 
stone is  near  the  center  of  section  7,  Westerheim,  in 
the  west  or  left  bank  of  the  south  branch  of  the  Yellow 
Medicine  river,  about  a  half  mile  from  its  junction 
with  the  north  branch.  A  hard,  gray,  somewhat 
calcareous  sandstone  is  here  exposed  at  several  points 
along  a  distance  of  eight  or  ten  rods,  rising  three  to 
seven  feet  above  this  creek.  So  far  as  can  be  seen  in 
these  somewhat  broken  ledges  the  layers  of  this  rock 
appear  to  be  two  or  three  feet  or  more  in  thickness 
and  nearly  level.  In  some  parts  their  weathered 
surface  shows  concretionary  structure,  being  dotted 
with  roundish  masses  from  an  eighth  to  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  in  diameter,  which  have  resisted  the  disin- 
tegrating effects  of  frost  and  rain,  so  that  they  stand 
out  slightly  from  the  nst  of  the  stone. 

"About  a  mile  northwest  from  this  place  numerous 
blocks  of  the  same  sandstone,  up  to  six  or  eight  feel 
in  length,  were  seen  in  the  channel  of  the  north  branch 
<.t  Yellow  Medicine  river,  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  1.  Eidsvold,  but  no  ledge  of  it  in  place  was 
observed  here.  One  of  these  blocks,  about  five  feet 
Ioii<_r.  showing  the  concretionary  character  mentioned, 
contains  numerous  -mill  Bakes  and  particles  of  lignite 
ami  soft  peaty  mat ter. 

"Another  has  been  sculptured  by  natural  agencies, 
perhaps  influenced  by  some  massive  concretionary 
structure,  -o  that  in  form  it  resembles  the  trunk  of  a 
tree.  Mr.  Simon  llovlaml,  who  owns  and  lives  on 
this  quarter  section,  believing  it  to  be  a  fossilized  tree. 
removed  it  to  a  location  near  his  house.  The 
length  of  this  stone  is  six  and  one-half  feet,  and  its 
diameter  at  one  end  is  three  and  one-half  feet  and  at 
the  other  two  and  one-half  feet.  Its  stratification  is 
plainly  seen  at  the  smaller  end.  being  in  layers  from 
one  to  four  and  five  inches  thick.  Iron-rusted  lam- 
ina1, a  twentieth  of  an  inch  thick,  sometimes  mark 
the  planes  of  bedding.  The  weathered  surface  is  in 
part  perforated  with  holes  from  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
to  one  inch  long  and  about  a  twentieth  of  an  inch  in 
diameter,  similar  to  those  of  worm-eaten  wood.  Other 
portions  exhibit  a  concretionary  structure  in  small 
roundish  masses  and  inosculated  ridges,  a  fourth  of 
an  inch  in  diameter  or  width.  Sulphuret  of  iron  is 
seen  in  two  or  three  places,  in  somewhat  cylindrical 
masses,  about  one  and  a  half  inches  long,  consisting 
of  straight  fibers  and  surrounded  by  stains  of  iron- 
rust. 

"At  another  point  near  the  foregoing,  soft  white 
matter  fills  a  straight  tube  in  this  stone,  one  and 
one-half  inches  long  and  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  diam- 
eter. These  are  believed  to  be  in  the  places  originally 
occupied  by  fragments  of  wood  but  are  the  only  trace 
of  organic  remains  seen  in  this  block.  Its  surface  is 
soft  and  easily  cut  with  a  knife  to  a  depth  of  about  a 
quarter  of  an  inch,  but  farther  within  it  is  very  hard. 

"This  rock  is  exposed  about  five  miles  to  the  south- 
west, on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  20,  Eidsvold. 
on  land  of  Henry  Jacob-,  being  visible  along  an  extent 
of  about  four  rods  in  the  bed  of  a  small  creek  and 
rising  one  or  two  feet.  It  is  a  compact,  hard  sand- 
stone, blue  inside,  but  brownish  gray  on  the  surface. 
The  characteristic  concretionary  structure  was  seen 
here  only  in  a  detached  block,  which,  however,  was 
doubtless  derived  from  the  underlying  ledge.  Again, 
near  the  west  line  of  this  township  and  county,  the 
same  formation  outcrops  along  an  extent  of  about 
twenty  feet,  with  a  height  of  one  to  two  feet,  in  the 
north  bank  of  the  north  branch  of  Yellow  Medicine 
river,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  7,  Eidsvold. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY 


235 


1400;  Vallers,  1150;  Fairview,  L175; 
hake  Marshall,  1200;  Sodus,  1300; 
Cu  ter,  1  160;  Westerheim,  117"):  Grand- 
view,  1200;  Lynd,  1300;  Lyons,  l  150; 
Rock  Lake,  1560;  Eidsvold,  1200;  Nord- 
land,  1350;  Island  Lake,  1500;  Coon 
Creek,  1625;  Shelburne,  1700. 

The  soil  is  what  is  termed  drift 
deposit  by  the  geologists.  It  has  the 
same  uniform  fertility  that  character- 
izes all  southern  and  western  Minnesota. 
There  is  no  outcrop  of  the  bed-rock, 
but  in  the  two  hilly  belts  arc  some 
boulders  and  increas  ed  portions  of  gravel 
and  sand. 

Vegetable  decay  has  enriched  the  soil 
and  colored  it  black  to  a  depth  that 
averages  about  two  feet,  but  varied 
from  one  to  four  feet,  being  greatest  in 
depressions  and  Least  upon  swells  or 
knolls.  Beneath  the  black  soil  boulder- 
clay  extends  to  a  depth  of  fifty  to  two 
hundred  feet.  It  is  yellowish  and  soft 
to  a  depth  of  ten  to  twenty  feet  and 
below  that  is  dark  bluish  and  harder. 
This  soil  is  made  up  of  materials  gathered 
during  the  Ice  Age  in  regions  to  the 
north  and  spread  over  the  country.  It 
is  principally  clay,  but  also  includes 
some  sand  and  gravel  and  occasional 
boulders. 

The  great  depth  of  soil  contributes 
to  its  durability,  and  its  fertile  proper- 
ties appear  almost  inexhaustible.  One 
of  its  peculiarities  .  is  its  remarkable 
ability  to  resist  drought.  In  time  of 
exceedingly  dry  weather,  a  thin  crust 
forms  on  the  surface  and  retards  evapo- 
ration below  without  being  firm  enough 
to  interfere  seriously  with  the  growth  of 

"On  section  11,  Custer,  on  land  of  James  Morgan, 
much  lignite  in  small  fragments  is  found  along  the 
large  southern  branch  of  the  Cottonwood  river,  which 
there  and  thence  northeast  to  Amiret  has  cut  a  valley 
seventy-five  to  one  hundred  feet  deep.  A  tunnel  has 
been  dug  into  the  lower  part  of  the  bluff  by  Mr.  Morgan, 
where  springs  occur  at  the  top  of  a  light  bluish  clay 
that  is  supposed  to  be  of  Cretaceous  age,  and  in  this 
tunnel  pieces  of  lignite  and  of  wood  were  found. 

"Clay  or  shale,  containing  fossils  characteristic  of 
the  Fort  Pierre  and  Fox  Hills  groups,  the  upper 
divisions  of  the  Cretaceous  series,  has  been  encountered 


vegetation.  The  loam  i>  free  from 
surface  water  and  ready  for  cultivation 
as  soon  as  the  frosl  leaves  the  ground 
in  the  spring. 

Much  of   the   water  that    falls   as    rain 

is  absorbed  by  the  soil  and  is  gradually 
given  up  to  growing  crops.  The  surplus 
water  of  heavy  rains  and  melting  snow 
i-  soon  drained  away  down  the  undula- 
ting slopes  and  through  the  water- 
courses. Nearly  the  whole  count  y  is 
prairie  and  was  originally  covered  with 
wild  grass. 

Several  scientific  analyses  of  the  soil 
have  been  made,  and  by  all  authorities 
it  has  been  pronounced  as  containing 
elements  of  extraordinary  fertility.  But 
the  magnificent  crops  which  the  soil  of 
Lyon  county  produces  speak  more  elo- 
quently than  the  scientist  can.  The 
testimony  of  farmers  who  have  accumu- 
lated wealth  and  independence  affords 
unquestionable  proof  of  the  richness  of 
the  soil. 

Natural  timber  occurs  only  in  narrow 
belts  along  the  rivers  and  in  groves  of 
small  area  bordering  the  lakes.  The 
largest  tract  of  timber  is  in  the  deeply 
excavated  valley  of  the  upper  Redwood 
river  in  Lynd  and  Lyons  townships. 
There  the  wooded  area  is  about  2000 
acres.  Along  the  Cottomvood  is  a  tract 
of  about  1000  acres,  and  on  the  Yellow 
Medicine  a  tract  of  about  600  acres. 
These  timber  tracts  were  quite  heavy 
originally,  but  have  been  considerably 
cleared. 

There  is  no  section  of  country  in  the 
United  States  which  has  a  smaller  pro- 
portion of  waste  lands.     Except  for  the 

in  numerous  instances  by  wells  in  Yellow  Medicine  and 
Lyon  counties  near  the  foot  of  the  slope  which  forms 
the  eastern  boundary  of  the  Coteau  des  Prairies. 
Doubtless  some  of  these  wells  have  reached  Cretaceous 
strata  in  place;  but  others  evidently  have  been  wholly 
in  the  glacial  drift,  containing  disrupted  and  trans- 
ported masses  of  Cretaceous  shale  with  fossils.  The 
frequency  of  these  fossils  in  the  drift  indicates  that  the 
upper  Cretaceous  formations  originally  covered  much 
of  this  district  and  supplied  a  large  part  of  the  drift, 
and  that  they  probably  underlie  the  drift  here  and  in 
the  Coteau  des  Prairies."  _^.^J 


236 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


area  actually  taken  up  by  the  waters 
of  lakes  and  creeks,  all  is  tillable,  even 
to  the  tops  of  the  hills  and  knolls  and 
in  the  bottom  lands.  Lyon  county  has 
not  the  rocky,  untillable  land  of  many 
of  the  eastern  states;  it  has  not  the 
marshy,  untillable  land  of  other  parts 
of  the  country. 

The  climate  is  healthful.  Owing  to 
the  more  perfect  drainage  afforded  by 
the  many  streams,  Lyon  county  sur- 
passes neighboring,  entirely  prairie  coun- 
ties in  point  of  healthfulness  as  a  result 
of  the  dryness  of  the  atmosphere.  The 
natural  drainage  not  only  prevents  an 
accumulation  of  stagnant  water,  which 
breeds  disease  germs,  but  it  purifies  the 
air  as  only  rapid  streams  can. 

Lyon  county  has  one  of  the  most 
perfect  and  complete  systems  of  drain- 
age of  any  section  of  Southwestern  Min- 
nesota. With  the  exception  of  about 
fifteen  or  twenty  square  miles  of  terri- 
tory in  Rock  Lake  and  Custer  town- 
ships, which  is  drained  to  Lake  Shetek 
and  the  Des  Moines  river,  all  the  area 
of  Lyon  county  is  drained  by  streams 
emptying  into  the  Minnesota  river.  The 
principal  streams  are  Yellow  Medicine 
river,  which  drains  the  northern  part.; 
Redwood  river  and  Three-Mile  creek, 
which  drain  the  central  portions;  and 
Cottonwood  river,  which  drains  the 
southern  part.  These  and  their  numer- 
ous tributaries  furnish  excellent  drain- 
age. 

The  basin  of  the  Yellow  Medicine3 
includes  about  600  square  miles,  of 
which  140  lie  in  Lyon  county.  The 
farthest  source  of  the  river  is  Lake 
Shaokatan,  fifty  miles  southwest  from 
the  mouth.  There  are  several  small 
tributaries  in  Lyon  county. 

About    325    square    miles    of    Lyon 

3Yellow  Medicine  is  a  translation  of  the  Sioux  word 
Pejut  zizi,  by  which  the  stream  was  called  by  the 
Indians.      Pejut  zizi  is  the  long,  slender,  bitter,  yellow 


county's  area  is  drained  by  the  Redwood 
river.  The  stream  rises  in  Lake  Benton 
and  flows  a  northeasterly  course  sixty 
miles  to  the  Minnesota.  Its  largest 
tributary  is  Three-Mile  creek,  which 
rises  near  the  west  line  of  Lyon  county, 
flows  northeast  twenty  miles,  nearly 
parallel  with  the  Redwood  and  from 
three  to  five  miles  northwest  of  it,  and 
enters  the  latter  stream  in  Stanley 
township.  Valleys  thirty  to  forty  feet  deep 
have  been  eroded  by  the  Redwood  in 
the  vicinity  of  Marshall  and  thence  to 
the  east  line  of  the  county,  and  the  same 
is  true  of  Three-Mile  creek  from  Ghent 
to  the  point  where  it  enters  the  Red- 
wood. 

The  Cottonwood  river,  by  many  tribu- 
taries, drains  about  240  square  miles  in 
southern  and  southeastern  Lyon  county. 
The  northern  and  main  branch  of  this 
stream  flows  eastward  nearly  through 
the  center  of  Lake  Marshall  township, 
only  two  or  three  miles  south  of  the 
Redwood.  That  branch  flows  through 
an  eroded  valley.  Another  important 
branch  rises  in  Murray  county,  flows  a 
northeasterly  course  between  Rock  and 
Yankton  lakes,  passes  a  little  south  of 
the  village  of  Aniiret,  and  joins  the  other 
branch  close  to  the  county  line. 

The  seven  thousand  acres  of  Lyon 
county  that  are  water  surface  are  taken 
up  by  numerous  small  lakes.  Many  of 
these  are  beautiful  bodies  of  water,  clear 
and  sparkling,  abounding  with  fish. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  lakes  in  the 
county  is  Cottonwood  lake,  on  whose 
shores  the  village  of  Cottonwood  is 
situated.  It  is  a  small  body  of  water 
and  has  some  timber  on  its  shores. 
Another  little  body  of  water  in  Lucas 
township  is  Lone  Tree  lake,  two  miles 
northwest  of  Cottonwood.     In  the  same 

root  of  the  moonseed  and  was  used  by  the  Indians  as 
a  medicine.  The  plant  is  common  along  the  bluffs  of 
streams  in  Minnesota. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


237 


township  arc  several  other  lake  beds 
which  contain  water  some  seasons  and 
are  dry  others.  They  are  Sham  lake  on 
section  .'!,  Lady  Shoe  lake  on  20  and  21, 
Lady  Slipper  lake  and  School  Grove 
lake  in  the  southeastern  part. 

Swan  and  (loose  lakes  are  on  the  line 
dividing  Redwood  and  Lyon  counties 
in  Stanley  township.  Clifton  and  Aniiret 
townships  have  no  lakes.  Two  miles 
south  of  Tracy  is  pretty  little  hake 
Sigel,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in 
diameter.  In  western  Monroe  and  east- 
ern Custer  townships  are  three  little 
bodies  of  water  which  should  have  been 
called  Triplet  lakes,  but  which  are 
called  Twin  lakes;  one  is  now  dry.  Long 
lake  is  on  the  south  line  of  Custer  town- 
ship, and  the  bed  of  Lake  of  the  Hills  is 
a  little  north  of  it.  There  are  no  lakes 
in  Sodus  township  and  only  one  in 
Lake  Marshall.  The  lake  after  which 
that  township  was  named  is  one  and 
one-half  miles  long;  it  lies  in  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  township  at  Heckman 
station. 

The  north  central  part  of  Lyon  county 
is  destitute  of  lakes,  there  being  none 
in  Fairview,  Vallers,  Westerheim,  Grand- 
view  and  Lynd.  Formerly  there  was 
Rush  lake,  near  the  center  of  Lyons 
township,  but  it  is  now  dry.  In  Rock 
Lake  township  are  two  lakes  of  some 
size — Lake  Yrankton  at  L^alaton,  and 
Rock  lake  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
township.  In  southwestern  Shelburne 
township  are  a  cluster  of  little  lakes, 
which  are  dry  some  seasons.  A  beauti- 
ful little  body  of  water,  about  a  mile  in 
diameter  and  fringed  with  timber,  lies 
in  northern  Coon  Creek  township.  It 
is  Wood  lake,  or  Lake  Marguerite.  In 
Island  Lake  township  are  two  lakes- 
Goose  lake,  with  an  area  of  about  160 
acres,  and  Island  lake,  with  an  area  of 
over    200    acres.     In    the    latter    is    an 


island  containing  about  three  acres  of 
land  and  covered  with  trees.  Both 
these  lakes  are  dry  some  seasons. 
Nordland  and  Eidsvold  townships  have 
no  lakes. 

Lyon  is  an  agricultural  county.  The 
principal  products  are  corn,  barley,  oats, 
wheat,  rye,  flax,  livestock,  dairy  pro- 
ducts, poultry,  fruit  and  vegetables.  In 
the  early  days  the  settlers  confined  their 
energies  almost  exclusively  to  wheat 
raising.  Now  diversified  farming  is  the 
rule.  Every  farmer  raises  stock  and 
many  engage  in  dairying  on  a  large 
scale.  While  agriculture  is  the  prin- 
cipal pursuit,  manufacturing  occupies 
an  important  place  among  the  county's 
industries.  The  manufactories  include 
gristmills,  brick  and  tile  factories,  cream- 
eries, etc. 

Lyon  county  has  developed  beyond 
the  point  reached  by  many  counties  of 
Southwestern  Minnesota.  With  trans- 
portation facilities  it  is  well  supplied. 
Excepting  Stanley,  Nordland,  Island 
Lake  and  Sodus,  every  township  in  the 
county  is  touched  by  one  or  more  rail- 
roa'dSj  and  railroads  are  within  two  miles 
of  each  of  the  exceptions.  The  Chicago 
&  Northwestern  traverses  the  county 
from  southeast  to  northwest,  crosses  the 
southern  part  of  the  county  and  has  a 
branch  line  to  Marshall  from  the  east, 
while  the  Great  Northern  traverses  the 
county  from  northeast  to  southwest. 
There  are  many  villages,  which  furnish 
good  markets  for  grain  and  produce  and 
are  convenient  trading  points. 

The  county  has  excellent  wagon  roads. 
Local  and  long  distance  telephone  lines 
form  a  complete  network  and  every 
community  is  reached.  Twenty-three 
rural  free  delivery  mail  routes  are 
operated  from  Lyon  county  postoffices. 
and  there  are  few  farms  to  which  mail 
is  not  delivered  daily. 


238  HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 

Lyon  county  land  can  be  purchased  that  must  not  be  lost  sight  of  is  its 
at  from  $40  to  $100  per  acre,  according  proximity  to  the  great  markets.  It  is 
to  improvements  and  proximity  to  within  easy  reach  of  the  Minneapolis, 
markets,  and,  considering  the  richness  St.  Paul,  Sioux  City,  Omaha  and 
of  the  soil,  the  excellent  markets  and  Chicago  markets.  Their  nearness  and 
the  educational  and  social  advantages  the  low  freight  rates  in  effect  insure 
offered,  it  is  not  easy  to  understand  why  high  prices  for  farm  products  sold  there 
any  homeseekers  pass  through  this  and  low  prices  for  commodities  pur- 
country    to    the    bleak    prairies    of    the  chased  there. 

Dakotas  or  Canada.     Lyon  county  land,  Lyon  county  holds  most  alluring  pros- 

at   the   price   at   which   it   can   now   be  pects  for  farmers  who  are  in  search  of 

obtained,  is  cheaper,  all  things  consid-  rich     and    productive    lands     close     to 

ered.  than  the  Dakota  or  Canada  land  markets,     where     they     may     establish 

at   the   present   prices,    for   the   settlers  homes   amid  schools  and  churches  and 

there  will  be  compelled  to  spend  more  congenial    surroundings.     There    are    a 

than    the    difference    in   price    to    bring  few  tracts  yet  to  be  put  under  cultiva- 

those  countries  up  to  the  condition  of  tion,  and  there  are  large  farms  that  may 

this.  be  subdivided,    while   other  farms   that 

The   farmer  in   the   older  states   east  are  now  in  the  hands  of  renters  might 

and  south  can  dispose  of  an  eighty-acre  be  improved  by  resident  owners, 

farm  and  with  the  proceeds  purchase  a  The  county  is  capable  of  supporting 

quarter  section  in  Lyon  county,  and  in  more  than  three  times   the   number  of 

making  the  change  he  will  lose  none  of  farmers  it  now  has.     The  local  cream- 

the    advantages    and    conveniences    en-  eries  want  more  cream,  the  merchants 

joyed.     There  will  be  no  frontier  hard-  want  more  produce,  the  elevators  want 

ships  to  endure,  no  years  of  lonely  toil  more  grain,  the  stockbuyers  want  more 

in   a  sparsely  settled   country,    nothing  cattle    and    hogs,    and    all    around   is    a 

lacking  in  the  way  of  social  pleasures  or  demand     for     the     products     of     Lyon 

the  advantages  of  schools  and  churches,  county — a  demand  that  cannot  be  taken 

Another   advantage   of   Lyon   county  away. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


XTHE    PRESS 


DURING  the  thirty-nine  years  of 
Lyon  county's  newspaper  his- 
tory twenty-four  weekly  papers 
have  been  established.  Of  this  number, 
nine  are  in  existence  when  this  volume 
i.3  issued  in  1912,  namely:  Marshall 
News- Messenger,  by  C.  C.  Whitney; 
Lyon  County  Reporter  (Marshall),  by 
Frank  W.  Case;  Tracy  Headlight,  by 
J.  D.  Gilpin;  Tracy  Herald,  by  0.  J. 
Rea;  Minneota  Mascot,  by  G.  B.  Bjorn- 
son;  Cottonwood  Current,  by  Huddle- 
ston  &  Sisson;  Balaton  Press-Tribune, 
by  Press-Tribune  Publishing  Company, 
edited  by  E.  F.  Whiting;  Russell  Anchor, 
by  Fred  E.  Child;  and  Garvin  Leader, 
published  by  John  Holden,  Jr.,  and 
edited  by  E.  M.  Jones. 

Those  journals  which  have  gone  out 
of  existence  were  as  follows:  Prairie 
Schooner,  Marshall  Messenger  and  Lyon 
County  News,  from  which  was  formed 
the  News-Messenger;  Lyon  County  Lead- 
er, which  was  published  at  Marshall 
and  for  a  short  time  at  Balaton;  the 
Tracy  Gazette,  Trumpet,  Republican 
and  Republican-Trumpet,  from  which 
developed  the  Tracy  Headlight;  Min- 
neota Prospect,  Vinland  (an  Icelandic- 
paper  published  at  Minneota),  Cotton- 
wood Leader,  Cottonwood  Gazette,  Bal- 
aton Journal,  Eagle,  Times,  Bystander, 
Press  and  Tribune  (the  last  two  named 


merged  into  the  Press- Tribune),  and 
Russell  Review. 

In  pioneer  communities  of  the  West 
the  establishment  of  the  first  paper  was 
always  an  item  of  great  importance.  A 
new  settlement  required  a  champion, 
and  not  until  it  boasted  a  news  journal 
was  its  permanency  assured.  After  the 
founding  of  the  pioneer  journal  it  be- 
came "our  paper"  to  all  the  residents — 
an  institution  in  which  to  take  pride — 
and  everybody  assumed  the  duty  of 
seeing  that  it  was  properly  supported. 
Sentiment  entered  largely  into  the  new 
enterprise,  and  it  has  seldom  occurred 
that  the  pioneer  paper  did  not  have  a 
long  life  of  usefulness. 

The  little  settlement  at  Marshall  was 
no  exception  to  the  rule,  and  when  the 
first  paper  was  launched  it  was  an  in- 
stitution in  which  great  pride  was  taken. 
In  the  month  of  August,  1873,  J.  C. 
Ervin  brought  to  Marshall  a  printing 
plant  and  on  the  twenty-third  of  that 
month  took  from  the  press  the  first  copy 
of  the  Prairie  Schooner,  the  first  news 
journal  published  in  Lyon  county.  The 
plant  consisted  of  a  Washington  hand- 
press,  the  platen  of  which  was  said  to 
have  at  one  time  been  used  as  a.  door 
step,  two  cases  of  badly  worn  body 
type,  eight  or  ten  cases  of  advertising 
type,  cigar-box  slug  cases,  and  a  tin- 
covered  imposing  stone. 


240 


HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COUNTY. 


The  office  in  which  the  Prairie  S'choon- 
er  was  launched  was  12x18  feet,  and  it 
was  occupied  also  as  the  offices  of  Dr. 
S.  V.  Groesbeck  and  Major  J.  W.  Blake. 
The  name  of  the  publication  was  sug- 
gested by  General  Pierce.  The  sub- 
scription price  was  $2.00  per  year  and 
its  size  was  a  seven-column  folio,  of 
which  two  pages  only  were  printed  in 
the  home  office.  In  the  spring  of  1874 
it  was  enlarged  to  an  eight-column  folio. 
In  politics  it  was  Republican.  Mr. 
Ervin  had  charge  of  the  pioneer  journal 
until  the  last  day  of  the  year  1874.  * 

C.  F.  Case,  who  had  formerly  pub- 
lished the  Waverly,  Iowa,  Republican 
and  who  has  ever  since  lived  in  Marshall. 
purchased  the  Prairie  Schooner  from 
Mr.  Ervin  December  31.  1874.  The 
next  October  he  changed  the  name  to 
Marshall  Messenger.  There  were  several 
changes  in  the  size  of  the  Messenger 
under  Mr.  Case's  management,  it  having 
been  made  a  seven-column  folio  in  Maw 
1877,  enlarged  to  eight  columns  in 
March,  1878,  and  made  a  six-column 
quarto,  with  four  pages  printed  at  home, 
in  August,  1SS0,  which  form  it  retained. 
Howard  Brothers  leased  the  Messenger 
from  Mr.  Case  in  November,  1884,  and 
the  following  month  the  plant  was  pur- 
chased by  C.  C.  Whitney,  of  the  Lyon 
County  News.  Arthur  Howard  got  out 
a  few  issues  for  Mr.  Whitney  and  on 
January  16,  1885,  the  two  papers  were 

1W.  M.  Todd  in  after  years  wrote  of  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Prairie  Schooner  and  its  publisher:  "I 
well  remember  the  visit  of  J.  C.  Ervin  when  he  came 
to  look  the  place  over  as  a  newspaper  field.  He  was 
very  affable,  and  the  people  and  he  from  the  beginning 
seemed  to  be  satisfied  with  each  other.  He  had  been 
accustomed  to  frontier  life  and  easily  adapted  himself 
to  the  conditions  which  he  found.  He  set  up  his 
outfit  in  the  little  building  which  had  been  surveyors' 
headquarters." 

Mr.  Ervin  was  the  founder  of  many  papers,  among 
them  the  Fort  Dodge  Times,  Liberty  .Messenger  and 
the  Blade  (later  the  Minneapolis  Times).  For  many 
years  he  was  editor  of  the  Chicago  Express,  city  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Daily  Dispatch  and  afterwards  was 
connected  with  the  Chicago  American.  In  later  years 
he  was  editorial  writer  on  the  Joliet,  Illinois,  News  and 
edited  the  Fresno,  California,  Democrat.  He  devoted 
many  years  to  literary  work  and  was  the  author  of 
several  books.  Mr.  Ervin  died  in  San  Francisco  in 
the  spring  of  1912. 


combined,   the   merger  resulting  in  the 
News- Messenger. 

The  Lyon  County  News  was  founded 
May  28,  1879,  by  W.  M.  Todd  and 
George  A.  Edes.  It  was  established  as 
a  seven-column  folio  and  was  Inde- 
pendent Republican  in  politics.2  Mr. 
Todd  became  sole  proprietor  December 
3,  1879.  and  on  April  21,  1S80,  he  sold 
to  George  B.  Gee.  C.  C.  Whitney,  who 
has  continuously  conducted  the  paper 
for  the  past  thirty-two  years,  bought 
from  Mr.  Gee  on  November  17,  1880, 
and  turned  the  News  into  a  Republican 
journal.  It  was  enlarged  and  improved 
and  put  on  a  paying  basis. 

Having  purchased  the  Messenger  from 
Mr.  Case.  Mr.  Whitney,  on  January  16, 
1885,  consolidated  the  Marshall  papers 
and  in  their  place  produced  the  News- 
Messenger.  Frank  C.  Whitney  secured 
an  interest  in  the  publication  September 
15,  1893.  and  until  February.  1907,  was 
associated  with  his  father  in  its  manage- 
ment. C.  0.  Whitney  has  since  been 
sole  publisher. 

The  Marshall  News- Messenger  has  be- 
come one  of  the  leading  and  most  Lib- 
erally quoted  weekly  newspapers  of 
Minnesota  and  its  publisher  is  one  of  the 
state's  best  known  newspaper  men.  The 
paper  consists  of  twelve  or  more  pages, 
all  printed  in  the  home  office.  The 
plant  is  a  model  one.  The  office  is 
modern   in  every   way,   being  equipped 

-"During  the  latter  part  of  the  seventies  I  became 
infested  by  newspaper  microbes  and  was  seriously 
considering  launching  a  newspaper  at  Marshall.  .  .  . 
While  the  question  was  being  pondered,  along  came 
George  Edes,  an  old  newspaper  man  with  a  still  older 
printing  outfit,  looking  for  a  location.  He  at  once 
sought  me  and  made  overtures  to  join  him  in  starting 
a  paper.  .  .  .  The  question  of  the  political  complexion 
of  the  paper  was  settled  by  his  proposal  that  I  do  the 
writing  and  he  attend  to  the  mechanical  part.  I 
needed  no  coaxing,  and  the  Lyon  County  News  made 
a  weekly  medium  through  which  facts,  fads  and 
fancies  were  dished  up  in  delectable  style  to  such  as 
would  condescend  to  read  them.  In  a  few  months 
I  purchased  the  interests  of  Mr.  Edes  and  proceeded 
to  float  the  enterprise  alone,  in  connection  with  other 
duties,  until  I  found  by  experience  more  or  less  disas- 
trous and  depressing  that  a  newspaper  was  not  so  sure 
a  path  to  wealth,  fame  and  glory  as  I  had  always 
supposed.  After  I  found  what  an  expensive  plaything 
it  was  I  sold  it  to  the  office  foreman,  George  Gee."- 
W.  M.  Todd,  1903. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


241 


with  a  Junior  Merganthaler  typesetting 
machine,  large  cylinder  press,  folder, 
three  job  presses,  bindery,  etc.  The 
machinery  is  operated  by  individual 
electric  motors. 

The  next  paper  established  in  the 
county  seal  was  a  Peoples  Party  organ, 
the  Lyon  County  Leader.  It  was  found- 
ed April  26,  1895,  by  M.  V.  B.  Scribner, 
who  conducted  it  for  a  Dumber  of  years 
against  great  odds  and  with  poor  suc- 
cess. The  plant  was  moved  to  Balaton 
in  May.  1901,  and  publication  of  the 
Leader  was  there  continued  for  a  few 
months.  In  August,  1901,  the  sub- 
scription list  was  turned  over  to  the 
publisher  of  the  Tracy  Herald  and  Mr. 
Scribner  moved  the  plant  away. 

C.  F.  Case,  the  former  publisher  of  the 
Marshall  Messenger,  founded  the  Lyon 
County  Reporter  at  Marshall  December 
20,  1889. 3  It  was  then  and  has  ever 
since'  been  Republican  in  politics.  At 
the  time  of  founding  it  was  a  nine- 
column  folio;  it  has  undergone  several 
changes  in  form  and  is  now  a  seven- 
column  quarto.  An  excellent  paper  was 
issued  and  the  Reporter  at  once  became 
a  popular  institution.  The  founder  con- 
ducted the  Reporter  alone  until  July  23, 
1898,  when  his  son,  Frank  W.  Case, 
secured  an  interest  and  the  publishing 
firm  became  C.  F.  Case  &  Son.  The 
elder  Mr.  Case  retired  in  1899  and  gave 
the  property  to  his  sons,  Frank  W.  and 
Fred  H.  Case.  The  former  became  sole 
proprietor  the  next  year  and  he  has  ever 
since  been  the  publisher. 

The  Reporter  has  taken  its  place  as 
one  of  the  substantial  institutions  of 
Lyon  county  and  is  a  good  paper.  The 
plant  is  modern  and  well  equipped.  A 
Simplex  typesetting  machine  was  in- 
stalled in  the  spring  of  1899  and  was  the 

3For  a  few  months  the  paper  was  also  issued  under 
the  titles  Minneota  Standard  and  Cottonwood  Enter- 
prise.     Each  of  those  villages  had  local  reporters,  and 


first  installed  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river.  The  first  home  of  the  Reporter 
was  the  room  now  occupied  by  Kieth's 
photograph  gallery,  and  the  presenl 
quarters  in  the  Case  Block  have  been 
occupied  since  \XU7. 

The  first  paper  in  Tracy  and  the  pred- 
ecessor, several  degrees  removed,  of  the 
Tracy  Headlight,  was  the  Tracy  Gazette, 

which  was  founded  in  the  fall  of  1879  by 
I).  \\  .  Kutchin.  The  pioneer  paper 
war;  anything  but  a  financial  success  and 
its  proprietor  had  a  hard  time  to  keep 
it  in  existence.  Mr.  Kutchin  departed 
for  the  East  in  the  early  fall  of  1880  and 
left  the  paper  in  other  hands.  In  March, 
1881,  publication  was  suspended  but 
the  next  month  Mr.  Kutchin  returned 
and  revived  the  paper. 

For  over  three  years  the  pioneer  news- 
paper man  of  Tracy  was  at  the  head  of 
the  Gazette.  The  plant  was  then  pur- 
chased by  W.  M.  Todd,  who  on  March 
30,  1883,  established  the  Tracy  Trumpet 
as  the  successor  of  the  Gazette.  He  was 
a  more  aide  newspaper  man  than  his 
predecessor  and  published  the  Trumpet 
successfully  nearly  two  years.  The  paper 
was  purchased  in  February,  1885,  by 
O.  J.  Rea  and  H.  C.  Buckingham,  who 
made  it  a  Democratic  paper.  The  fol- 
lowing August  Mr.  Rea  became  sole 
proprietor  and  published  the  Trumpet 
until  July  1,  1892. 

The  purchaser  at  that  time  was  V.  W. 
Lothrop.  He  was  the  publisher  until 
July  2,  1894,  when  the  office  passed  into 
the  hands  of  T.  A.  Cashman  and  Miss 
Maine  Starr.  The  latter  was  manager 
of  the  Trumpet  and  conducted  it  until 
October,  1898.  The  firm  of  Starr  & 
Cashman  was  then  dissolved  and  the 
property  reverted  to  the  former  owner. 
For  a  few  weeks  the  paper  was  issued 

advertisements  from  each  village  were  run  in  all 
editions. 


242 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


by  Mrs.  Florence  R.  Lothrop,  and  in 
December.  1898,  the  plant  was  pur- 
chased by  H.  F.  Seiter.  He  made  the 
Trumpet  a  Peoples  Party  organ  and  was 
the  publisher  until  August,  1899.  Jack- 
son &  Anson  were  the  publishers  from 
that  time  until  May,  1900,  and  Jay 
Jackson  then  became  publisher  and  con- 
ducted the  journal  as  a  Republican 
organ.  He  was  succeeded  a  few  months 
later  by  David  Stafford,  who  was  in 
charge  only  a  short  time.  The  Trumpet 
had  not  been  a  paying  investment  for 
some  years,  and  in  December,  1900,  the 
plant  reverted  to  a  former  owner,  H.  F. 
Seiter.  He  sold  the  plant  the  following 
-month  to  the  owner  of  the  Tracy 
Republican,  who  consolidated  the  two 
publications. 

The  Tracy  Republican  was  founded 
by  Edward  and  Frank  Lawrence  in 
March.  1885.  Their  efforts  to  make  a 
success  of  the  venture  resulted  in  failure 
and  in  1887  they  sold  to  W.  R.  Edwards, 
who  put  the  paper  on  a  sound  footing. 
Mr.  Edwards  purchased  the  Trumpet 
plant  in  January,  1901,  consolidated  the 
two,  and  continued  publication  under 
the  name  of  Republican-Trumpet.  He 
retired  in  1910  after  twenty-three  years 
of  continuous  publication  of  the  one 
paper. 

The  Republican-Trumpet  was  pur- 
chased by  Bert  L.  English  May  20.  1910. 
He  changed  the  name  to  Tracy  Head- 
light and  presided  over  the  destinies  of 
the  pioneer  newspaper  two  years,  con- 
ducting it  as  a  Progressive  Republican 
paper.  Mr.  English  has  lived  in  Tracy 
since  childhood  and  learned  the  printer's 
trade  on  the  paper  he  later  edited.  On 
May  10.  1912.  J.  D.  Gilpin  purchased  the 
Headlight. 

O.  J.  Rea,  a  former  owner  of  the 
Trumpet,  founded  the  Tracy  Weekly 
Herald  September  4,  1894,  making  the 


third  paper  in  the  village  at  the  time. 
He  has  ever  since  been  the  proprietor 
and  nearly  all  the  time  has  had  the 
active  management  Mr.  Rea  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  in  the  spring  of  1896 
and  J.  M.  Riegel  became  associated  with 
the  owner  in  the  management  and  was 
the  editor.  That  gentleman  leased  the 
plant  in  January,  1898,  and  had  sole 
charge  until  Mr.  Rea's  time  expired  in 
the  spring  of  1900.  Since  the  last 
named  date  Mr.  Rea  has  not  had  asso- 
ciates in  the  business. 

The  Herald  is  independent  in  politics 
and  fearless  in  its  utterances.  Mr.  Rea 
has  always  been  independent  enough  to 
criticize  wrong  in  politics  or  local  mat- 
ters. The  paper  is  a  seven-column 
quarto. 

Minneota's  first  newspaper  was  not 
long-lived  or  a  success.  It-  was  the 
Minneota  Prospect  and  was  founded  by 
Clyde  W.  Rea  in  July,  1888.  He  pub- 
lished it  only  until  October  of  the  same 
year. 

The  first  issue  of  the  Minneota  Mascot 
was  taken  from  the  press  September  4, 
1891.  The  founder  was  J.  P.  Byrne, 
who  had  come  from  Madison  to  teach 
the  Minneota  school.  For  six  weeks 
the  new  journal  was  under  the  manage- 
ment of  J.  F.  Paige,  who  had  formerly 
published  the  Montevideo  Leader,  and 
then  the  business  and  editorial  control 
was  assumed  by  Mr.  Byrne.  W.  H. 
Deen  purchased  an  interest  April  21, 
1893,  and  was  associated  with  Mr. 
Byrne  in  the  publication  until  Septem- 
ber 25  of  the  same  year.  W.  W.  Davy 
became  the  editor  October  26,  1894,  and 
served  one  month.  With  these  excep- 
tions, Mr.  Byrne  was  the  editor  and 
proprietor  until  January  28,  1895. 

The  Mascot  was  purchased  on  the 
date  last  mentioned  by  S.  Th.  Westdal 
and  G.  B.  Bjornson,  young  men  who  had 


HISTORY  OF  I, Vox  COl'NTY. 


24:5 


grown  t»>  manhood  in  Minneota,  Mr. 
Westdal  having  been  employed  on  the 
paper  for  about  two  years.  The  follow- 
ing Augusl  Mr.  Westdal  became  sole 
proprietor  and  he  conducted  the  Mascot 
until  April  15,  L900.  On  that  date  G.  B. 
Bjornson  assumed  the  managemenl  and 

later  the  same  year  he  purchased  the 
plant,  and  he  has  ever  since  been  the1 
editor  and  proprietor. 
•  Mr.  Bjornson  has  built  up  a  successful 
business  and  has  made  the  Mascot  a 
power  in  the  affairs  of  Minneota  and 
Lyon  county.  His  paper  is  conceded 
to  be  one  of  the  very  best  country 
weeklies  in  Minnesota  published  in  a 
town  the  size  of  Minneota.  It  is  Inde- 
pendent Republican  politically  and  its 
editorial .  utterances  are  widely  copied 
throughout  the  state.  The  Mascot  was 
founded  as  an  eight-column  folio,  was 
made  a  six-column  quarto  in  1899,  and 
was  enlarged  to  a  seven-column  quarto 
in  1905. 

In  the  spring  of  1902  Mr.  Bjornson 
began  the  publication  of  Yinland  from 
the  Mascot  office.  This  is  the  only 
Icelandic  newspaper  ever  published  in 
the  United  States.  Publication  was  con- 
tinued until  1908. 

Cottonwood's  first  newspaper  was  the 
Cottonwood  Leader,  established  August 
28,  1891,  by  G.  E.  Graber.  The  venture 
was  an  absolute  failure  and  in  November 
of  the  year  of  its  birth  publication  was 
suspended.  The  plant,  which  had  been 
purchased  with  nothing  more  substantial 
than  promises  to  pay,  was  left  in  the 
village  and  from  it  was  later  issued  the 
Cottonwood  Current. 

AY.  H.  Mullane  founded  the  Cotton- 
wood Current  in  February,  1892,  taking 
over  the  subscription  list  of  the  defunct 
Leader.  He  was  succeeded  a  few  months 
later  by  E.  I.  Raymond,  who  in  Decem- 
ber,   1892,    departed   and   left   the   field 


5  .icant  .      The  people  of  Cottonwood  were 

anxious  to  have  the  paper  continued 
and  with  inexperienced  help  they  man- 
aged to  get  out  a  few  editions.  A 
company  was  then  formed  to  purchase 
the  plant  and  continue  publication. 

The  Current  was  purchased  by  .1.  F. 
Paige  in  January,  1893,  and  on  April  22 
<>f  the  same  year  the  plant  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  The  proprietor  replaced  the 
plant  and  continued  publication  until 
September,  when  he  sold  to  W.  H.  Deen, 
formerly  of  the  Minneota  Mascot.  W. 
D.  Lovelace  purchased  the  Current 
March  3,  1894,  and  was  its  editor  and 
publisher  for  more  than  ten  years.  He 
sold  to  C.  W.  Folsom  August  13,  1904, 
and  the  latter  to  the  present  owners, 
W.  J.  Huddleston  and  W.  A.  Sisson,  on 
October  6,  1905.  Those  gentlemen  have 
since  been  in  charge  and  have  greatly 
improved  the  Current.  The  paper  is 
now  a  six-column  quarto. 

Cottonwood  Gazette  was  the  name  of 
a  paper  that  had  an  existence  of  less 
than  two  years  in  the  nineties.  It  was 
established  by  C.  G.  Strand  in  June, 
1896,  and  W.  C.  Smith  became  the 
proprietor  in  March,  1897.  In  the  latter 
part  of  the  same  year  publication  was 
suspended. 

Of  the  many  news  journals  that  have 
at  one  time  and  another  been  published 
at  Balaton  the  first  was  the  Balaton 
Journal.  It  was  founded  by  A.  N. 
Daniels  early  in  1887  and  was  published 
by  him  nearly  two  years.     C.  C.  YYhitney 

6  Company,  of  Marshall,  became  the 
publishers  on  January  1,  1889,  and  the 
local  management  was  given  to  R.  B. 
Caldwell.  That  gentleman  was  suc- 
ceeded in  the  fall  of  1890  by  John  H. 
Call.  The  Journal  was  sold  in  Febru- 
ary, 1891,  to  J.  Gitzy.  who  published  it 
about  one  month  and  then  suspended 
publication. 


244 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


Balaton's  second  newspaper  was  the 
Balaton  Eagle.  In  January,  1893,  C.  L. 
Wing,  who  had  been  publishing  the 
Woodstock  Eagle,  moved  the  plant  to 
the  Lyon  county  village.  The  Balaton 
Eagle  did  not  bring  great  returns  to  its 
publisher  and  in  October,  1893,  Mr. 
Wing  departed  and  left  the  Eagle  unable 
to  fly.  Publication  was  resumed  in 
December  by  Miller  &  Estey,  but  the 
venture  was  not  a  success  and  the  plant 
was  sold  at  auction  in  April,  1895,  and 
moved  away. 

The  Balaton  Times  was  established 
by  Jackson  &  Anson  early  in  1900  and 
was  printed  in  the  proprietors'  Tracy 
Trumpet  office.  Publication  was  sus- 
pended in  April,  1900,  at  which  time  the 
subscription  list  and  good  will  were  sold 
to  the  newly  founded  Balaton  Bystander. 

The  founder  of  the  Bystander  was 
Professor  W.  M.  Snyder,  who  in  March, 
1900,  got  out  the  first  issue.  He  put  a 
small  plant  in  the  village,  most  of  the 
money  to  pay  for  which  had  been  raised 
by  subscription.  Professor  Snyder  was 
not  a  success  as  a  newspaper  man  and 
the  life  of  the  Bystander  was  short. 

From  May  to  August,  1901,  the  Lyon 
County  Leader  was  published  in  Balaton 
by  M.  V.  B.  Scribner,  who  for  several 
years  previously  had  published  the  paper 
at  Marshall. 

The  Balaton  Press  was  established 
early  in  January,  1903,  by  J.  H.  Rush, 
and  for  more  than  seven  years  it  was 
published  by  him,  the  mechanical  work 
having  been  done  in  the  office  of  the 
Lake  Benton  News.  It  was  not  a 
financial  success,  but  certain  interests 
in   Balaton  required   an  organ  and   the 

4"The  Balaton  Tribune  was  formerly  owned  and 
published  by  C.  H.  Smith,  who  had  given  a  bill  of  sale 
of  his  printing  material  to  certain  parties  in  the  village. 
It  appears  that  friction  occurred  between  the  owner  or 
owners  of  the  bill  of  sale  and  the  editor  on  account  of 
the  policy  of  the  paper  toward  certain  matters  of  local 
interest,  and  the  bill  of  sale  was  enforced  by  the 
appointment  of  a  receiver,  who  was  put  in  charge  of 
the  office  and  paper;  the  editor  was  eliminated  and  the 


paper  was  kept  alive.  It  was  published 
until  consolidated  with  the  Tribune  in 
1910. 

In  August,  1905,  C.  H.  Smith  took  a 
plant  to  Balaton  and  put  forth  the 
Balaton  Tribune.  The  village  was  hard- 
ly large  enough  to  support  one  paper, 
but  the  new  paper  was  backed  by 
interests  that  also  required  an  organ. 
In  the  spring  of  1907  the  owners  of  a 
bill  of  sale  of  the  Tribune  plant  given 
by  Mr.  Smith  was  enforced  and  a  re- 
ceiver was  appointed.  The  bill  of  sale 
did  not  cover  the  title  of  the  paper  or 
the  subscription  list,  but  these  were 
taken  by  the  new  owners  and  the  dispute 
between  the  interested  parties  found  its 
way  to  the  courts.4  F.  J.  Sherry  be- 
came the  proprietor  of  the  Tribune  after 
Mr.  Smith  was  ousted  and  continued 
publication  until  the  consolidation  in 
1910. 

The  two  Balaton  papers  were  consoli- 
dated March  15,  1910,  and  the  Balaton 
Press-Tribune  took  their  place,  the  new 
paper  being  printed  in  the  Tribune 
office.  The  paper  has  since  been  edited 
by  E.  F.  Whiting,  while  H.  G.  Towne 
has  been  business  manager.  The  Press- 
Tribune  was  enlarged  to  a  six-column 
quarto  on  October  15,  1911.  It  is  Re- 
publican in  politics  and  is  an  influential 
publication. 

Early  in  1901  a  newspaper  bearing  a 
Russell  date  line  made  its  appearance, 
printed  in  an  outside  office.  In  May  of 
the  same  year  W.  J.  Huddleston  took  a 
plant  to  the  little  town  and  established 
the  Russell  Review,  which  he  conducted 
until  October,  1905.  Then  he  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  Cottonwood  Current 

publication  of  the  paper  was  continued  by  the  parties 
holding  the  bill  of  sale,  who  not  only  controlled  the 
office  and  business,  but  seized  the  subscription  list  and 
demanded  and  received  the  mail  of  the  late  editor. 
Mr.  Smith  now  brings  suit  against  his  successors  for 
damages,  claiming  that  the  bill  of  sale  was  confined 
to  the  material  of  the  office." — Marshall  News- 
Messenger,  October  25,  1907. 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


245 


and  left  Russell  without  a  newspaper. 
After  a  lapse  of  three  weeks  the  Russell 
Review  was  revived.  C.  P.  Eastman 
purchased  Mr.  Huddleston's  interests, 
picked  up  a  plant  by  purchase  from 
several  offices,  and  early  in  November 
got  out  his  first  issue.  It  was  up-hill 
work  publishing  a  paper  in  a  village  the 
size  of  Russell,  but  he  kept  it  alive  until 
December,  1906,  when  he  moved  the 
plant  to  Osakis,  Minnesota. 

Russell  was  not  long  without  an  organ 
of  publicity.  On  May  16.  1907,  L.  H. 
Rairdon  founded  the  Russell  Anchor. 
He  conducted  it  until  March,  1909,  and 
it  was  then  purchased  by  two  Russell 
business  men,  F.  S.  Purdy  and  B. 
Leknes.     Those  gentlemen  were  the  pub- 


lishers until  July  29,  1909,  when  the 
present  owner,  Fred  E.  Child,  purchased 
the  plant.  Mr.  Child  has  made  a  success 
of  the  business  and  has  a  well  equipped 
office.  The  Anchor  is  a  six-column 
quarto,  of  which  four  pages  are  printed 
in  the  home  office. 

After  retiring  from  the  Balaton  Trib- 
une, C.  H.  Smith  moved  to  Garvin  and 
on  August  16,  1907,  launched  the  Garvin 
Leader.  It  was  founded  as  a  six-column 
folio  and  that  has  ever  since  been  the 
size.  Mr.  Smith  sold  the  Leader  in 
June,  1911,  to  ten  business  men  of  the 
village.  Since  that  time  the  publishers 
have  been  John  Holden,  Jr.,  and  F.  D. 
Pinckney  and  the  editor  has  been  E.  M. 
Jones. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


REMINISCENT. 


IN  gathering-  data  for  a  volume  of 
this  kind  one  runs  across  many 
stories  of  the  early  days  for  which 
no  place  can  be  found  in  the  historical 
part  but  which  are  truly  interesting  and 
in  many  instances  throw  vivid  light  on 
early  day  conditions.  These  have  been 
preserved  and  are  here  incorporated 
under  the  chapter  heading  "Reminis- 
cent." Some  of  the  stories  have  been 
written  by  early  day  residents;  some  are 
taken  from  the  files  of  the  local  press; 
others  are  original,  prepared  by  the 
author  from  data  gathered  from  personal 
interviews. 

THE    PRAIRIE    FIRES. 

Those  who  lived  in  Lyon  county  dur- 
ing the  years  of  its  early  settlement, 
and  up  into  the  eighties,  will  never 
forget  the  alarm  caused  by  the  approach 
of  a  prairie  fire.  Many  of  the  present 
generation  are  skeptical  of  the  dangers 
to  life  and  property  from  this  source. 
Others  can  but  marvel  at  the  conditions 
that  made  a  prairie  fire  dangerous  or 
even  possible.  But  conditions  in  the 
early  days  differed  greatly  from  those  of 
the  present  time.  Then  there  were  vast 
stretches  of  sparsely  settled  and  un- 
broken prairie,  covered  with  a  dense 
growth  of  grass,  which  in  the  low  places 
often  grew  to   a  great  height.     In   the 


fall  the  grass  died  and  formed  a  thick 
covering  of  highly  inflammable  material, 
which  "burned  like  a  prairie  fire"  when 
it  became  ignited. 

When  a  heavy  wind  accompanied  one 
of  these  conflagrations  the  effect  was 
thrilling.  The  flames  would  race  over 
the  prairie  with  the  speed  of  the  wind, 
leaping,  bounding,  rushing  on  their 
fiery  way.  By  clay  the  air  would  be 
filled  with  smoke  and  cinders  and  the 
atmosphere  would  become  hazy;  at  night 
the  heavens  would  be  illumined  by  the 
blaze,  and  the  bright  lines  of  the  raging 
fires  could  be  seen,  often  miles  in  length. 
After  the  passing,  the  prairie  would  be 
left  a  blackened  waste. 

The  few  scattered  settlers  were  in 
great  danger  of  loss  when  one  of  these 
fires  approached.  Many  settlers  lost 
their  whole  belongings,  and  but  few 
escaped  without  loss  from  this  source. 
"Firebreaks,"  made  by  plowing  furrows 
around  the  buildings  or  hay  stacks, 
sometimes  served  as  a  check  to  the 
flames,  but  with  a  strong  head  wind 
the  flames  often  jumped  hundreds  of 
feet,  and  in  such  cases  the  breaks  were 
no  protection.  The  favorite  met  Ik  id  of 
fighting  fires  was  by  "back-firing." 
When  one  of  the  terrors  of  the  prairie 
was  seen  approaching  with  the  wind,  a 
fire  would  be  set  near  the  property  to 
be  saved.     This,  small  at  first,  could  be 


248 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


controlled  and  whipped  out  on  the  lee- 
ward side,  leaving  the  flames  to  slowly 
eat  their  way  windward  to  meet  the 
coming  lurid  destroyer.  Sometimes  a 
space  of  sufficient  width  was  thus 
burned  over  in  time  to  prevent  the 
destruction.  In  case  of  a  big  con- 
flagration, fire  fighting  companies  would 
be  organized  to  go  out  and  contend  with 
the  flames,  using  dampened  sacks,  quilts, 
or  whatever  was  handy,  to  whip  out  the 
blaze. 

Prairie  fires  continued  a  menace  to 
the  people  of  Lyon  county  many  years, 
or  until  the  county  had  become  quite 
thickly  settled  and  subdued.  Seldom 
did  an  autumn  pass  in  the  early  days 
without  one  or  more  disastrous  con- 
flagrations in  some  part  of  the  county. 
Several  times  the  villages  were  threat- 
ened with  destruction,  and  companies 
had  to  be  formed  to  go  out  and  fight  the 
approaching  flames. 

One  of  the  most  destructive  of  the 
caily  day  fires  occurred  in  the  fall  of 
1871.  It  was  started  in  Lyons  town- 
ship, where  a  homesteader  set  a  fire  to 
burn  refuse  hay.  It  spread  rapidly,  ex- 
tending south  to  the  Cottonwood  river, 
north  to  the  Yellow  Medicine  river,  and 
east  as  far  as  Redwood  Falls.  The  hay 
and  grain  of  practically  all  the  settlers 
in  the  burned  district  were  consumed 
and  the  homes  of  some  of  the  settlers 
were  destroyed.  A  little  patch  of  frost- 
bitten grass  was  found  that  had  been 
protected  by  the  river,  and  the  home- 
steaders cut  that  to  keep  their  stock 
through  the  winter. 

The  fourteen-year-old  daughter  of 
James  Armstrong,  who  lived  close  to 
where  Marshall  was  later  built,  had  died 
the  day  before  of  scarlet  fever,  and 
preparations  for  the  first  funeral  in  the 
community  were  being  madb  when  the 
fire  came.     The  following  account  of  the 


fire  and  the  funeral  is  from  the  Marshall 
News-Messenger  of  September  16,  1S87: 

C.  H.  Whitney  made  the  coffin,  conducted  the 
funeral,  and  made  the  remarks  the  occasion 
demanded.  The  affair  was  peculiarly  sad.  The 
girl  died  September  28,  1871,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing day  a  terrible  prairie  fire  raged,  burning  over 
the  whole  country.  A  few  who  could  gather 
fought  the  flames  until  exhausted.  Mr.  Whitney 
was  taken  to  his  sod  shanty  more  dead  than 
alive,  and  the  fire  swept  away  everything  he 
had.  He  had  just  got  the  frame  of  his  new 
house  erected  and  the  lumber  was  on  the 
ground  for  its  completion.  All  this  was  de- 
stroyed, together  with  all  his  grain  and  hay, 
the  fruits  of  his  first  year  of  pioneer  life. 

That  morning  he  had  begun  to  make  a  coffin 
for  the  body  awaiting  burial;  at  night  he  was  sq 
prostrated  as  to  be  unable  to  proceed  with  the 
work  of  the  morning,  and  the  night  was  passed 
by  Mrs.  Whitney  in  caring  for  her  husband"  and 
with  her  own  hands  finishing  the  work  upon  the 
coffin.  The  funeral  was  held  the  following  day, 
amid  the  calamities  of  the  loss  to  settlers  by  the 
great  fire  and  the  grief  at  the  loss  of  the  first 
of  the  little  band.  To  add  to  the  gloom,  the 
atmosphere  was  yet  so  dense  with  smoke  from 
the  fire  of  the  previous  day  and  the  now  distant 
burning  of  the  prairie  that  respiration  was 
difficult,  and  the  somberness  of  the  night  over- 
spread the  country. 

A  large  tract  of  country  was  burned 
over  in  August,  1873,  and  several  people 
lost  their  homes  and  other  property. 
This  was  the  first  experience  with  the 
dreaded  racing  flames  for  many  of  the 
residents  of  Lyon  county,  and  a  great 
many  were  badly  frightened. 

Another  fire  of  great  fierceness  and 
covering  considerable  area  swept  the 
western  part  of  Lyon  county  about  the 
middle  of  September,  1877.  It  started 
near  Sioux  Falls  and  was  driven  by  a 
strong  southwest  wind.  It  ran  down 
both  sides  of  the  Redwood  river  as  far 
as  Marshall  and  was  one  of  the  most 
destructive  fires  in  the  county's  history. 

Illustrative  of  the  velocity  with  which 
it  traveled:  Messrs.  H.  P.  Sanden,  E. 
K.  Ronning,  C.  P.  Myran  and  Christo- 
pher Johnson,  of  Shelburne  township, 
had  finished  threshing  and  started  for 
Marshall,  each  hauling  a  load  of  wheat 
to  market  with  ox  teams.  .  When  they 
started  from  home  there  was  no  sign  of 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


■24!  I 


fire,  but  they  had  proceeded  only  so  far 
the  prei  enl  site  of  R,uss  ell  when  the 
blazing  fire  was  seen  approaching,  and 
within  a  shorl  time  the  prairies  were  a 
blackened  waste. 

One  life  was  lost  in  this  conflagration. 
At  the  C.  P.  Myran  home,  near  where 
the  village  of  Florence  is  now.  were  Mr  . 
Myran  and  two  children  and  Mrs. 
Henrick  Jorgenson,  wife  of  a  newcomer 
who  was  building  <>n  his  homestead  near 
by.     When  the  flames  approached,  the 

two  women  went  out  to  the  :011th  to 
"back-fire'!  and  protect  the  property. 
The  flames  came  with  such  -peed  that 
the  women  were  unable  to  accomplish 
their  purpose  hut  were  forced  to  flee  for 
protection.  Mrs.  Myran  reached  the 
dug-out  ami  safety,  hut  Mrs.  Jorgenson 
was  overcome  at  the  straw  stable  and 
burned  to  death. 

The  straw  buildings,  threshed  "rain, 
hay.  chickens  and  everything  excepl 
the  dug-outs  on  the  C.  P.  Myran  and 
Christopher  Johnson  homestead:-  were 
destroyed,  and  those1  families  were 
robbed  of  the  fruits  of  their  year's 
labor — the  first  year  of  their  residence 
in  the  county  that  the  grasshoppers  had 
not  taken  the  crop.  E.  K.  Ronning  and 
H.  P.  Sanden,  their  neighbors,  gener- 
ously shared  their  grain  with  the  un- 
fortunate families  and  assisted  them  in 
rebuilding. 

The  village  of  Marshall  was  in  danger 
from  a  fire  on  October  3,  1879,  and 
heroic  efforts  were  necessary  to  save  the 
town.  Illustrative  of  the  methods  em- 
ployed in  overcoming  the  demons  of 
the  prairie  is  the  following  account  of 
the  checking  of  this  fire,  published  in 
the  Lyon  County  News  of  October  8, 
1879: 

Quite    an    excitement    was    created    by    the 

sudden   appearance   of  a  large   fire  last  Friday 

afternoon    in    the    vicinity    of    J.    M.    Lockey's 

brick  kiln,  south  of  town.     It  will  be  remem- 

'  bered  that  the  wind  blew  violently  at  the  time 


from  the  south  and  very  many  during  the  day 
spoke  of  the  difficulty  with  which  a  fire  could  be 
managed  should   ii   once  gel   started.     In  fact, 

every    one   in    town   had    his  eyes   and   cars   wide 

open  for  an  emergency  of  this  kind,  a  id  in  less 
than  ten  minutes  after  "fire"  was  yelled,  hun- 
dreds of  men  were  on  the  spot,  armed  with 
brooms,  wet  rags,  shovels,  pitchforks,  rakes, 
hoes  and  everything  they  could   seize  hold  of 

and  were  welting  the  Haines.      One  man  had  the 

tailboard  of  a  lumber  wagon,  hut  each  used  his 

weapon    with   a    vengeance   and    the   flames   were 

rut    off.      The    first    two   or    three,    though, 

who  reached  the  spot   were  the  0  ies  who  did  the 

most  effective  work.  .  .  .  Now  the  village  is 
out  of  danger  from  fires  from  that  quarter. 

During  the  latter  part  of  October, 
1888,  prairie  fires  were  very  destructive 
in  several  part-  of  the  county  and  many 
grain  stacks  and  buildings  were  burned. 
Near  the  newly  established  station  of 
bit  .ell.  on  October  31,  occurred  a  very 
stubborn  fire  and  a  human  life  was 
sacrificed  to  its  fury.  A  number  of 
people  were  fighting  the  flame;  on  the 
bluff  near  the  home  of  Daniel  Fellon, 
and  among  the1  number  was  Mrs.  Fellon. 
The  men  rushed  to  head  off  the  flames 
that  were  going  around  a  back-fire, 
leaving  Mrs.  Fellon  behind.  The  lady's 
clothing  caught  fire  and  she  wa3  so 
badly  burned  that  she  died  the  following 
day. 

GAME    IX    EARLY    DAYS. 

In  the  days  before  white  men  came, 
Lyon  county  was  the  home  of  several 
species  of  big  game,  including  bison,  elk 
and  deer,  and  many  fur  bearing  animals. 
On  hunting  and  trapping  expeditions 
the  aborigines  visited  the  county  from 
time  immemorial,  and  later,  when  settle- 
ment had  been  extended  to  the  frontier 
regions,  white  trappers  were  wont  to 
visit  the  streams  with  their  traps  and 
were  richly  rewarded. 

Small  game  was  abundant — so  abun- 
dant, in  fact,  that  it  is  not  safe  to  give 
a  truthful  account  of  its  abundance  at 
this  late  day.  C.  F.  Case  in  the  Lyon 
County  Reporter  of  February  4,   1899, 


250 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


told  how  easy  it   was   to  replenish  the 

larder   when   Lyon   county   was   young, 

as  follows: 

A  man  of  resources  had  little  trouble  to  live 
on  the  Minnesota  frontier  at  that  time.  The 
air  was  full  of  meat.  Ducks  and  geese  were 
frequently  so  thick  that  even  we  could  shoot 
toward  heaven  and  bring  down  this  manna. 
The  first  goose  that  fell  a  victim  to  our  sporting 
habits  met  with  a  flat  refusal  from  our  better 
half  to  cook  the  bird,  for  she  insisted  it  must 
be  sick  or  we  never  could  have  shot  it.  This 
prejudice  died  out  later  when  we  came  home 
from  a  hunt  and  reported  that  three  of  us  had 
shot  fourteen  geese  at  one  shot.  That  was  good 
hunting,  and  we  felt  a  very  natural  delicacy  for 
many  months  against  confessing  that  when  the 
fourteen  fell  our  gun  didn't  go  off. 

The  bison  was  a  mono-  the  first  of  the 
big  game  to  depart  after  the  arrival  of 
settlers.  The  very  first  settlers  occa- 
sionally saw  stray  members  of  this 
noble  animal  of  the  prairies  and  many 
evidences  of  his  former  presence  in  the 
shape  of  wallows  and  his  bleaching  bones 
scattered  over  the  prairie.  A  stray 
buffalo  was  killed  by  two  Norwegian 
boys  in  1869  at  the  point  in  Westerheim 
township  where  the  two  blanches  of 
Yellow  Medicine  river  join.  The  boys 
were  bunting  chickens,  and  the  monarch 
of  the  plains  met  his  death  with  charges 
of  bird  shot.  The  elk  also  departed 
early,  although  a  few  were  seen  by  the 
Lyon  county  pioneers.  The  last  of  that 
species  of  big  game  was  killed  on  the 
shore  of  Lake  Marshall  in  1870  by  Alex 
Demars,  a  half-breed. 

Deer  remained  in  the  county  for  a 
longer  period,  and  had  their  habitat  in 
the  woods  along  the  streams.  After  the 
October  blizzard  in  1880  three  were  shot 
in  the  Lynd  woods,  and  at  other  times 
during  that  winter  of  deep  snow  several 
deer  were  seen  in  the  county. 

EARLY    COURTS   OF   JUSTICE. 
(by  w.   m.  todd.) 

The  early  history  of  Marshall  presents 
nothing  more  amusing  than  the  first 
judicial  proceedings. 


Before  the  village  was  organized  a 
certain  township  justice  of  the  peace 
issued  a  summons  in  a  civil  process. 
He  took  delight  in  telling  of  the  coming- 
suit  and  always  added  that  he  could  not 
understand  why  they  brought  the  case 
before  him,  for  he  had  heard  nothing 
about  it  and  knew  nothing  of  the  par- 
ticulars. He  did  not  know  that  his 
professional  ignorance  constituted  his 
sole  qualification. 

After  the  case  had  been  called  and 
the  complaint  filed,  the  attorney  for  the 
defendant  made  a  motion  to  dismiss,  on 
the  ground  that  "the  complaint  did  not 
state  facts  sufficient  to  constitute  a 
cause  of  action."  After  a  moment's 
silence  the  learned  justice  assumed  an 
air  of  judicial  dignity  and  said:  "A 
motion  has  been  made  to  dismiss;  does 
anyone  second  the  motion'.'" 

During  the  years  1  wore  the  judicial 
ermine  many  amusing  incidents  hap- 
pened, some  of  which  will  never  be 
forgotten. 

On  a  certain  occasion  1  performed  a 
marriage  ceremony  under  quite  extra- 
ordinary circumstances.  One  day  in 
May  I  was  cleaning  up  the  room,  which 
Avas  used  in  turn  for  lumber  office,  court 
room,  council  meeting  room,  etc.  The 
day  was  intensely  warm  and  1  had  re- 
moved coat,  vest  and  collar  and  rolled 
up  my  sleeves;  my  hand.-;  were  dirty, 
my  hair  disheveled,  and  drops  of  per- 
spiration were  trickling  over  a  dust- 
begrimed  face. 

While  in  this  condition  a  Norwegian 
couple  appeared  upon  the  scene  to  be 
married.  It  was  about  eleven  o'clock 
and  I  told  them  that  I  would  go  to 
dinner  early,  clean  myself,  and  be  ready 
for  the  ceremony  about  one  o'clock. 
This  would  not  answer  at  all.  They 
wanted  to  be  married  then  and  there. 
without  delay.     I  pleaded  in  vain  for  a 


PLOWING  IX  LYON  COUNTY 
The  Machine  is  Owned  by  Peter  Hanson  of  Russell. 


TRAPPERS  AND  THEIR  CATCH 

Furs  Taken  by  Charles  and  Mynard  Burt,  Coon  Creek  Township,  in  Five  Weeks  of  the 

1910  Season.     There  are  Eighty  Mink,  Thirty-four  Skunk,  Four  Hundred 

Fifty  Rats,  One  Fox  and  Twelve  Weasels. 


HISTQRY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


25] 


short  postponement  and  finally  told 
them  that  in  any  evenl  l  must  go  home 
and  wash  and  put  on  some  clean  clothes. 
They  would  not  agree  even  to  that  and 
demanded  that  the  ceremony  be  per- 
formed at  once. 

1  was  hardly  able  to  conceal  my  dis- 
pleasure at  their  unreasonable  haste 
and  lack  of  consideration  for  my  em- 
barrassed appearance,  and  I  jumped  up 
before  them  and  told  them  to  stand  up 
and  take  hold  of  hands.  Then,  turning 
to  the  woman,  I  said:  "Do  you  like 
him?"  She  coyly  answered  "yes."  Nexl 
addressing  the  man.  1  said:  "Do  you 
like  her?"  He  blushingly  said  ••yes." 
"Then  go  to  it."  That  was  the  only 
ceremony  and  it  occupied  less  than  half 
a  minute.  The  whole  party  was  actually 
dazed  and  somewhat  dissatisfied  over  its 
brevit  y  and  lack  of  formality. 


DERIVATION    OF 


HUZZAKI). 


The  word  blizzard,  synonymous  with 
the  terrible  winter  storm  of  the  prairies, 
was  coined  during  the  early  settlement 
of  the  Northwest.  In  the  early  eighties 
the  newspapers  of  the  country  rilled 
columns  giving  the  "original"  derivation 
of  the  word,  which  then  came  into 
general  use  and  in  time  found  its  way 
into  the  dictionaries.  There  is  evidence 
that  the  word  was  coined  in  Marshall 
during  the  memorable  storm  of  January. 
1873.  Concerning  this,  the  Lyon  Coun- 
ty News  of  March  2,  1883,  said: 

The  word  blizzard  was  first  used  in  Marshall, 
.Minnesota,  by  an  American  settler,  now  residing 
in  Iowa.  It  was  in  the  storm  of  1873,  at 
Charles  H.  Whitney's  hotel,  and  the  man  was 
Deacon  Seth  Knowles,  who  was  a  settler  of  Lyon 
county  near  this  village.  The  deacon  was  a 
fine  German  scholar,  and  while  discussing  the 
terrible  storm  raging  without  one  speeker  said 
no  word  could  express  its  severity,  whereupon 
the  deacon  said:     "It's  a  blitzard  !" 

So  the  great  storm  of  1873  was  locally  known, 
and  with  recurring  storms  the  term  spread 
through  the  state.  During  late  years  it  has 
been  generally  adopted  for  squalls  in  the  eastern 
states,     which    as    compared     with    a    genuine 


blizzard  arc  no  more  than  zephyrs.     The  deacon 

knew  what  he  was  talking  about  and  adapted 
the  term  to  the  terrors  of  the  storm.  A  German 
witnessing  one  of  these  overpowering  storms 
would  say: 

"/></■  Sturm  kommt  bliizartig," 
which,  translated  into  English,  would  be: 

"The  storm  conies  lightning-like." 
The  transition  from  bliizartig  to  blizzard 
is  natural  and  easy,  while  no  word  could  better 
describe  the  oncoming  snow  and  wind  storm, 
and  certainly  there  is  no  English  word  to  lill 
the  hill.  The  newness  of  the  term  and  its 
pronunciation  led  the  deacon  to  step  to  the 
counter  of  the  hotel  and  write  the  word  for  the 
benefit  of  his  friends. 


THE    I. (IXC    WINTER. 

A  hook  could  be  filled  with  the  ad- 
ventures and  unpleasant  features  of  the 
long  winter  of  deep  snows,  1880-81. 
For  weeks  the  people  of  Lyon  county 
were  isolated,  without  mail  and  scantily 
supplied  with  fuel,  provisions  and  many 
other  necessities  of  life.  The  incon- 
veniences- were  borne  good  naturedly 
as  a  general  thing,  and  the  humor  of  the 
situation  was  often  manifested. 

During  the  last  days  of  March,  1881, 
when  not  a  train  had  been  run  for  more 
than  two  months,  an  effort  was  made 
to  open  the  road  at  Marshall,  and  an 
engine  which  had  been  "dead"  there 
for  many  long  weeks  was  fired  up  with 
wood  that  had  been  the  coaling  plat- 
form. C.  C.  Whitney,  of  the  News, 
told  of  the  effect  on  the  people  of  the 
sound  of  the  locomotive's  whistle  and 
bell,  as  follow-: 

Wednesday  afternoon  the  good  people  of 
Marshall  were  amazed  and  somewhat  alarmed 
at  hearing  loud,  shrill  and  frightful  shrieks,  and 
only  those  knowing  to  the  facts  could  account 
therefor.  Children  ran  to  their  mothers,  women 
were  almost  speechless,  and  the  sterner  sex 
trembled  with  fear,  many  calling  to  mind 
Mother  Shipton's  prophecy  that  in  1881  the 
world  would  come  to  an  end.  But  there  was 
no  call  for  such  consternation,  in  reality. 

In  other  countries  and  even  in  some  parts  of 
America,  it  is  said,  they  have  what  are  called 
locomotives,  a  kind  of  huge  machine,  which  is 
made  to  run  with  steam,  and  these  so-called 
iron  horses  draw  coaches  through  the  country 
at  a  rapid  rate  of  speed.  To  alarm  people  of 
their  approach  these  locomotives  have  attached 
a  large  bell  and  whistle. 


252 


HISTORY  OF  LYOX  COUNTY 


It  was  one  of  these  strange  machines,  running 
about  near  the  river  and  blowing  its  terrible 
whistle,  which  caused  the  alarm  to  our  people. 
We  understand  these  machines  are  quite  harm- 
less, unless  a  person  gets  in  front  of  them,  and 
that  they  run  along  very  fast  in  good  weather, 
but  that  they  are  afraid  of  snow  and  can  only 
be  used  in  portions  of  the  country  where  no 
snow  falls.  It  is  hinted  that  some  time  next 
summer,  the  Lord  willing,  some  of  these  loco- 
motives will  be  used  to  draw  coaches  and  freight 
through  this  section  of  country.  But  we 
haven't  much  faith  in  such  notions  and  think 
the  old-fashioned  way  of  having  horses  to  draw 
the  passengers,  freight  and  mail  from  Sleepy 
Eye  far  more  reliable,  take  it  all  the  year 
around. 

A    PIONEER    .MINISTER. 

Rev.  W.  T.  Ellis  played  an  important 

part  in  the  early  affairs  of  Lyon  county. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Lynd  and 
Camden,  a  pioneer  minister,  store- 
keeper and  promoter,  and  a  leader  in 
early  day  affairs.  In  a  way  he  was  a 
character  and  many  stories  have  been 
told  of  his  doings.  The  following  de- 
scription of  Rev.  Ellis  is  from  the  pen 
of  C.  F.  Case,  written  in  1898: 

Probably  this  Rev,  Ellis  was  for  a  time  the 
most  celebrated  man  in  the  county.  We  re- 
member him  as  a  preacher  of  some  talent  and  a 
good  deal  of  originality.  Governed  almost  en- 
tirely by  impulse,  it  was  a  wild  guess  what  might 
be  expected  of  him  next.  At  a  revival  meeting 
he  would  make  the  pictures  on  the  wall  weep 
for  the  sins  of  the  world,  and  as  a  Sunday 
School  teacher  he  would  fire  the  pupils  with 
ambition  to  walk  in  the  footsteps  of  Moses  and 
the  prophets,  but  he  would  also  run  horses  on 
Sunday  for  the  whisky,  beat  his  best  friend  in  a 
trade,  and  swear  like  a  Spanish  pirate  when  he 
got  mad.  Being  overheard  once  by  a  lady 
damning  his  cattle  away  up  in  G,  he  apologized 
by  saying  that  he  had  bought  them  from  a 
very  profane  man  and  that  he  had  to  quote  the 
language  they  were  accustomed  to  before  they 
thought  his  admonitions  in  earnest.  Since 
eaving  here  he  has  been  illustrated  in  the 
Police  Gazette  for  trying  to  break  up  a  seditious 
church  meeting  by  pounding  the  congregation 
with  the  pulpit  Bible. 

In  business  Rev.  Ellis  was  governed  by  the 
same  impulsiveness.  If  dried  apples  were  cheap 
in  his  opinion  and  for  sale  on  time,  he  bought 
a  ton  of  them  and  other  goods  with  the  same 
reckless  abandon.  It  is  said  that  one  of  his 
dried  apple  loads,  topped  out  with  half  a  ton 
of  codfish,  was  caught  in  a  heavy  shower  on  its 
way  from  New  Ulm  and  raised  so  high  that  he 
could  only  take  the  prairie  road  {o  Lynd  and 
had  to  spread  his  load  over  forty  acres  to  dry 
again  in  the  sun.     The  addition  to  this  story, 


which  we  once  made,  that  the  Flandreau 
Indians  smelled  the  drying  codfish  ami,  thinking 
it  the  camp  of  a  Chippewa  enemy,  went  on  the 
warpath,  we  here  admit  was  untrue.  The  odors 
did  not  reach  farther  than  Lake  Benton. 


A    RAILROAD    STRIKE. 

"When  the  Dakota  Central  railroad 
was  1  seine-  constructed  in  the  summer  of 
1879,  the  workmen  engaged  in  a  strike 
which  created  great  excitement  and 
necessitated  a  visit  from  the  governor 
and  the  calling  out  of  the  militia.  The 
wildest  rumors  were  sent  out  concerning 
depredations  committed  by  the  strikers. 
but  as  a  matter  of  fact  very  little 
damage  was  done. 

On  the  morning  of  June  16,  1879, 
thirty-one  shovelers  working  four  miles 
wi'-t  o(  Tracy  struck  and  demanded  in- 
creased wages.  Their  employer  refused 
the  demands  and  told  the  men  to  go  to 
Tracy  and  get  their  pay.  The  workmen 
at  the  next  camp  to  the  west  also 
-truck  when  they  heard  of  the  action  of 
the  others,  and  a  large  number  of  the 
strikers  started  west  to  incite  the  other 
camps  and  make  the  strike  general. 

Nearly  all  the  workmen  joined  the 
striker.;  and  those  that  were  inclined 
otherwise  were  forced  to  join  the  ranks. 
The  several  construction  crews  became 
a  mob.  The  march  to  the  west  con- 
tinued until  nightfall  and  camp  was 
pitched  on  the  Redwood  river.  On  the 
morning  of  the  seventeenth  the  mob 
continued  the  march  toward  Lake  Ben- 
ton. All  except  the  camp  farthest  west 
suspended  work  and  the  army  of  strikers 
began  the  march  back  to  Tracy.  Many 
were  mounted,  and  when  some  of  those 
forced  into  the  strike  attempted  to 
escape  they  were  run  down  and  again 
made  to  join  the  ranks. 

The  foreman  in  charge  of  the  con- 
struction work  was  making  a  tour  of 
inspection  near  Lake  Benton  when  the 
trouble  occurred.     He  eluded  the  strikers 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


253 


by  taking  a  circuitous  route  and  reached 
Tracy  early  on  the  morning  of  'rue-day. 
the  seventeenth.  He  at  once  asked  aid 
from  the  county  authorities. 

Sheriff  Hunter  was  informed  that  the 
strikers  were  waging  war  on  the  settlers, 
contractors,  boarding  house  keepers  and 
others  and  that  a  general  riot  was  feared. 
The  peace  officer  at  once  swore  in  about 
twenty  deputies,  who,  armed  with  rusty 
muskets,  took  the  noon  train  for  the 
■  ea1  of  trouble.  The  sheriff  senl  out  a 
mounted  scouting  party  to  reconnoitre 
md  they  reported  an  army  of  200 
strikers  to  be  fifteen  miles  wesl  of  Tracy. 
it    was    feared    the    sheriff's    company 

would  not  he  Strong  enough  to  cope 
with  the  mob  and  a  call  was  sent  tor  the 
state  militia. 

About  noon  on  Wednesday  a  part  of 
the  strikers  arrived  at  Tracy.  They 
doif  aloft  on  a-  rude  frame  a  sheet  on 
which  was  inscribed:  "Railroad  Strik- 
ers. $3.50  per  day  and  SI..')!)  per  day." 
A  council  between  the  strikers  and  con- 
tractors was  held,  at  which  the  latter 
agreed  to  have  the  money  on  the  next 
train  from  Marshall  with  which  to  pay 
the  men  their  wages.  The  train  did  not 
stop  at  Tracy  but  went  through  at  full 
speed.  This  incensed  the  strikers  and 
threats  of  violence  were  made. 

The  strike  was  brought  to  a  sudden 
close.  Within  a  half  hour  after  the 
train  from  Marshall  went  through,  a 
special  train  bearing  the  New  Ulm 
militia  company  arrived  in  Tracy.  On 
the  train  was  also  Superintendent  San- 
born with  money  to  pay  the  strikers. 
Only  about  thirty  of  them  applied  for 
their  wages;  the  others  returned  to  work 
and  the  strike  was  over.  Governor  John 
S.  Pillsbury  made  a  trip  to  Tracy  early 
on  the  morning  of  Thursday  to  inves- 
tigate conditions,  but  the  men  had  re- 
turned to  work  and  the  governor 
remained  only  a  couple  of  hours. 


'"I   \TY    |\    STRAITENED   CIRCUMSTANCES. 

In  the  early  day-  Lyon  county  was 
frequently  "hard  up"  and  not  in  position 
to  meet  its  bills.  Times  were  exceeding 
bad,  there  was  little  taxable  property, 
ami  often  the  county  authorities  wen 
obliged  to  take  humiliating  means  to 
satisfy  creditor-. 

On    A.ugus1    20.    1872,    Sheriff   James 

Cummin--    presented    a   bill    for   $552.40 

for  expenses  incident   to  the  arrest   and 

imprisonment   of   E.  0.    Langdon,  John 

Terrill.  Emerson  Hull  and  Egbert  Hull, 

charged   with   horse   thievery.     The  bill 

was  allowed,  but  the  county  was  without 

funds    to    meet    it.      Proceedings    of   the 

County    Board    that    day    were    in    the 

following  language: 

Heard  authorized  .Mr.  A.  R.  Cummins,  county 
treasurer,  to  raise  three  hundred  dollars  to  apply 
on  above  sheriff's  hill;  said  money  to  he  borrowed 

on  six   months'   time  at   interest    not   to  exceed 
twenty-five  per  cent  per  annum. 

During  the  grasshopper  days  debts 
were  contracted  which  caused  much 
trouble  and  expense  to  county  officials. 
Several  judgments  were  secured  and 
drastic  steps  had  to  be  taken  to  keep  the 
county  solvent.  The  following  resolu- 
tion appears  on  the  journal  of  the 
Board  of  County  Commissioners  for 
March  23,  1878: 

Whereas  one  H.  D.  Witness  holds  county 
orders  to  a  large  amount  and  holds  over  us 
judgments  and  suits  to  our  mortal  terror  and 
excessive  fear,  demanding  money  and  costs 
and  general  distress  to  the  good  people  of  Lyon 
county,  therefore  we,  the  County  Board  of  said 
county  so  distressed,  do  hereby  resolve  that  in 
consideration  that  said  H.  D.  Witness  withhold 
such  suits  and  judgments  from  further  progress 
and  does  not  start  more  suits  to  so  distress  and 
mortally  worry  said  good  people  aforesaid,  that 
on  the  first  day  of  July  next,  we,  the  County 
Board,  will  issue  bonds  to  the  extent  of  the  law, 
viz.:  $4900.  Signed.  O.  C.  Gregg,  county 
auditor;  H.  T.  Oakland,  chairman  County  Board; 
D.  F.  Weymouth,  county  attorney. 

'■■ 

SIGNS   OF   THE   TIMES. 

Indicative    of    the    times,    there    are 
found  in  the  files  of  the  county  papers 


254 


HISTORY  OF  LYON  COUNTY. 


many  interesting  items.  Under  exist- 
ing conditions  the  events  recorded  below 
could  hardly  happen.  In  many  re- 
spects the  people  of  Lyon  county  of 
thirty  and  forty  years  ago  lived  in  a 
different  world;  not  one  of  the  little 
items  quoted  was  considered  out  of  the 
ordinary  at  the  time,  but  they  would  lie 
if  published  as  news  in  the  same  papers 
today.     "The  world  do  move." 

Salary  Increased. — The  postmaster  of  Marshal 
has  had  his  salary  increased  from  $45  to  $200  a 
year,  to  date  from  January  last. — Prairie 
Schooner,  November  1,  1873. 

Marshall  an  Island. — The  high  water  of  last 
week  has  disappeared  and  left  the  river  within 
reasonable  bounds.  It  brought  out  the  fact  that 
several  residence  lots  within  the  town  plat  ought 
to  be  deeded  with  a  boat  to  get  on  to  and  off 
from  in  high  water.  Either  the  business  part 
of  town  is  in  the  wrong  place  or  a  little  work 
ought  to  be  put  in  on  the  river  bank  above, 
in  the  shape  of  a  levee,  or  still  farther  up,  in 
the  shape  of  a  cut  to  turn  high  water  off  Lake 
Marshall  way.  The  business  part  of  town  was 
mostly  out  of  water  but  was  on  an  island  that 
cut  the  larger  part  of  town  off  from  connection 
with  it. — Prairie  Schooner,  April  16,  1875. 

Gold  Discovery. —We  don't  wish  to  excite  the 
country  with  statements  that  will  not  properly 
pan  out  on  examination,  but  there  is  gold  in 
Lyon  county.  Some  years  ago  an  old  minei 
was  struck  by  the  peculiar  bluffs  around  Cam- 
den, nine  miles  above  Marshall,  and  in  Mr. 
Rouse's  company  did  some  prospecting  ami 
found  gold  in  small  quantities.  The  search  was 
abandoned,  but  within  the  past  few  days  Mr. 
P.  I.  Pierce,  who  is  an  old  gold  miner,  has  been 
turning  up  the  sand  in  that  neighborhood  and 
yesterday  showed  us  some  specimens  which  he 
found  there  of  undoubted  genuineness.  He  is 
sanguine  that  gold  in  paying  quantities  will  be 
found.  Nearly  every  pan  shows  color. — Marshall 
Messenger,  May  1 1 .  1S77. 


The  Town  Well. — "We  never  miss  the  water 
until  the  well  runs  dry."  But  we  rise  to  a  point 
of  order  on  the  internal  improvement  question. 
The  well  on  the  corner  is  the  subject  of  this 
harangue,  fellow  citizens.  It  ought  to  be  a 
well-spring  of  joy,  for  in  it  has  been  sunk  the 
public  wealth  to  the  amount  of  $150,  more  or 
less.  We  hope  somebody  has  made  something 
out  of  it,  for  the  public  has  not,  and  in  all  the 
desirable  qualifications  of  a  well  it  is  a  lament- 
able failure.  It  is  simply  a  hole  in  the  ground, 
over  which  the  council  has  spent  much  money 
and  many  hopes.  If  the  structure  only  ran  up 
instead  of  down  it  would  do  to  leave  as  a  mon- 
ument of  hope  deferred,  but  as  it  does  not  the 
question  still  rages:  "What  shall  we  do  to  be 
saved." — Marshall  Messenger,  April  25,  1S7<). 

Better  Railroad  Facilities. — One  can  now  leave 
Marshall  at  half  past  twelve  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  and  be  in  Chicago  at  four  o'clock 
the  next  afternoon,  making  a  ride  of  twenty- 
seven  and  one-half  hours.  This  is  an  improve- 
ment on  the  time  card  we  once  had,  when  it 
took  from  six  at  night  until  six  in  the  morning 
to  ride  from  here  to  New  Clm,  and  that  on  a 
freight  train  with  an  oak  plank  to  sit  on  and  a 
dirty  old  red  lantern  for  an  illuminator. — Lyon 
County  Xews,  June  4,  L879. 

No  1'irst  Bounce  does. — The  base  ball  regu- 
lations for  18,79  are  changed  so  thai  a  foul  hall 
must  be  caught  on  the  fly  to  make  the  striker 
out.  Also  the  ball  must  be  caught  on  the  fly 
on  the  third  strike  to  insure  a  strike. — Lyon 
County  Xews,  June  4,  1.S7(J. 

Electric  Lights  a  Success. — Edison  has  finally 
made  a  success  of  his  electric  light.     Now  what? 
—Lyon  County  News,  December  31,  1879. 

The  First  Telephone. — Professor  Cregg  ha-  a 
telephone  in  successful  operation  between  his 
residence  ami  the  court  house.  It  attracts  a 
great  deal  of  attention  from  the  curious.  Will 
Gregg  manufactured  the  machine. — Lyon  <  lounty 
News,  October  21,  1881. 

An  Automobile! — The  Olds  automobile  for 
D.  H.  Evans  arrived  on  Monday  and  the  great 
chauffeur  has  been  the  erivy  of  all  as  he  "autoed" 
about  the  city.  The  machine  is  a  daisy  and  tin 
first  one  to  be  owned  by  a  Tracy  citizen. — Tracy 
Herald,  April,  1902. 


CHARLES    C.    WHITNEY 


Former    Superintendent    of    State    Printing   and   for   Thirty-two 
Years  Publisher  of  the  Marshall  News-Messenger. 


**• 


CHAPTER  XX. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY. 


CHARLES  C.  WHITNEY  (1880),*  ex- 
president  of  The  .Minnesota  Editors 
and  Publishers  Association,  ex-super- 
intendent  of  state  printing  for  Minnesota,  and 
for  thirty-two  years  publisher  of  the  Marshall 
News-Messenger,  is  a  man  who  has  taken  a 
most  active  and  important  part  in  the  af- 
fairs of  his  county  and  state.  Perhaps  no 
man  in  Lyon  county  is  better  known  within 
the  county  and  throughout  the  state  than  is 
Mr.  Whitney.  For  nearly  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury has  he  labored  in  the  promotion  of 
every  worthy  undertaking  that  tended  to  the 
betterment  of  his  city  and  county  and  he  has. 
wrought  well.  The  life  story  of  such  a  man 
is  indeed  entitled  to  a  place  in  the  History 
of  Lyon  County. 

Charles  Colby  Whitney  is  a  product  of 
New  England.  He  was  born  at  Salmon 
Falls,  New  Hampshire,  March  20,  1846,  and 
resided  in  New  England  until  he  came  to 
Lyon  county  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years. 
His  father  was  overseer  in  the  cotton  mills 
at  Salmon  Falls  and  later  held  similar  posi- 
tions at  Lawrence,  Haydenville,  and  Wal- 
tham,  Massachusetts.  It  was  while  our  sub- 
ject was  quite  young  that  the  family  moved 
to  Lawrence,  and  it  was  there  that  his  life- 
work  began.  After  securing  a  public  school 
education  young  Whitney  entered  the  office 
of  the  Lawrence  American,  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years,  and  served  a  most  thorough 
mechanical  apprenticeship.  Ever  since  that 
date,  fifty-one  years  ago,  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  printing  business.  So  expert 
did  he  become  as  a  printer  that  he  was  made 
foreman  of  the  job  department  when  only 
seventeen  years  old. 

*The  date  in  parentheses  following  the  name 
of  each  subject  is  the  year  (if  arrival  to  Lyon 
county. 


Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  Mr. 
Whitney  was  too  young  to  enlist  but  when 
he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  left 
the  office  and  went  to  the  front.  He  enlisted 
for  three  months  as  a  private  in  Company 
I,  Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  and  when 
his  term  expired  he  joined  Company  D, 
First  Battalion,  Twenty-sixth  New  York  Cav- 
alry, in  which  he  remained  until  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  war. 

The  war  over,  Mr.  Whitney  returned  to 
his  work  in  the  American  office,  where  he 
remained  until  coming  to  Lyon  county  in 
1880.  During  the  last  ten  years  of  his  serv- 
ice'on  that  paper  he  was  employed  in  the 
editorial  department,  first  as  a  reporter,  later 
as  city. editor,  and  during  the  latter  part  of 
his  stay  he  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
the  paper  upon  which  he  had  begun  to  work 
as  a  young  boy.  While  thus  engaged  he  was 
also  for  many  years  a  special  correspondent 
for  the  Boston  Herald.  His  parents  moved 
to  Waltham  soon  after  he  began  his  appren- 
ticeship, but  with  the  persistence  which  has 
characterized  his  later  years  he  remained  at 
his  post  and  secured  a  mechanical,  business 
and  editorial  education.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  Lawrence  Mr.  Whitney  became 
actively  interested  in  politics  and  public  af- 
fairs and  for  two  years  served  as  a  member 
of  the  City  Council. 

The  most  marked  success  of  Mr.  Whit- 
ney's career  awaited  his  coming  to  Lyon 
county.  The  attraction  of  this  region  led 
him  to  leave  Massachusetts  in  1880  and 
locate  in  Marshall,  where  his  home  has  ever 
since  been.  Upon  his  arrival  he  purchased 
the    Lyon    County    News    and    in    1885    he 


256 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


bought  the  Marshall  Messenger,  consolidated 
the  two,  and  has  ever  since  continued  the 
publication  under  the  name  of  News-Mes- 
senger. Of  his  success  as  a  publisher  an 
article  in  a  history  issued  by  the  Minnesota 
Editors  and  Publishers  Association  said: 

"The  first  thing  which  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  the  newspaper  fraternity  to  Mr. 
Whitney  was  the  neat  typographical  appear- 
ance of  his  paper,  the  result  of  his  thor- 
ough Massachusetts  schooling.  This  at  once 
led  to  the  reading  of  its  contents,  and  it 
was  readily  seen  that  a  new  editor  had  come 
to  the  state  who  was  bound  to  make  his 
mark.  .  .  .  Mr.  Whitney's  paper  at 
once  took  front  rank  in  the  politics  of 
Southwestern  Minnesota,  and  as  he  became 
more  widely  known,  its  influence  has  been 
extended  far  beyond  his  local  bailiwick,  and 
it  is  one  of  the  influential  Republican  papers 
of  the  state." 

Soon  after  his  arrival  Mr.  Whitney  became 
an  active  member  of  the  State  Editors  and 
Publishers  Association  and  in  1895  he  was 
elected  its  president.  He  still  participates 
in  the  management  of  that  organization  and 
for  sixteen  years  has  been  chairman  of  its 
executive  committee.  In  1894  he  organized 
the  Republican  Press  Association,  was 
elected  its  first  president,  and  for  many 
years  was  represented  on  its  executive  com- 
mittee. He  is  serving  his  twelfth  year  as 
a  trustee  of  the  Minnesota  State  Soldiers' 
Home. 

in  November,  1895,  Mr.  Whitney  was  ten- 
dered and  accepted  the  office  of  superintend- 
ent of  state  printing,  his  selection  being 
made  by  the  board  of  printing  commissioners 
composed  of  the  secretary  of  state,  state 
treasurer  and  state  auditor.  For  ten  years 
he  held  the  office  and  his  administration 
was  highly  successful. 

Locally  Mr.  Whitney  has  also  served  in 
official  capacities  and  his  work  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Education  was  excep- 
tionally beneficial.  He  was  secretary  of  the 
board  twelve  years  and  was  one  of  its  most 
valued  members.  In  social  life  he  has  also 
been  active,  belonging  to  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows, 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Royal  Arcanum  or- 
ders. 

Charles  C.  Whitney  was  married  in  Law- 
rence, Massachusetts,  in  1866  to  Mattie  M. 
Hogle.   and   there  his   eldest  son,   Frank  C. 


Whitney,  was  born.  Mrs.  Whitney  died  in 
1877,  and  in  1879  Mr.  Whitney  was  married 
to  his  present  wife,  Nellie  A.  Johnson,  of 
Bethel,  Maine.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  the  following  named  children  who  are. 
living:  Joseph  W.,  Minne  Sota  (Mrs.  Fred 
A.  Hills),  Dick  and  Jack. 


CHARLES  E.  GOODELL  (1866),  deceased, 
was  the  first  permanent  settler  of  Lyon 
county  and  for  over  twenty  years  he  was 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  Lyons  and  Lynd 
townships. 

He  was  born  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  August 
4,  1843.  When  a  boy  he  moved  to  Illinois 
and  was  living  in  that  state  when  the  Civil 
War  began.  He  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Sev- 
enty-fifth Illinois  Infantry,  August  14,  1862, 
and  served  nearly  three  years,  being  dis- 
charged July  1,  1865. 

In  the  spring  of  1866  Charles  Goodell 
came  to  Lyon  county  with  a  cousin,  Will 
Stone,  to  trap  and  hunt.  He  did  not  make 
permanent  settlement  at  that  time,  but  the 
following  spring  he  came  again  and  took  a 
claim  on  section  5,  Lyons  township,  where 
the  Lynd  trading  post  had  been  established 
years  before.  He  resided  in  Lyon  county 
until  1888,  when  he  moved  to  Tennessee 
and  located  in  a  community  settled  by  Lyon 
county  people.  He  died  there  June  10,  1908. 
Mr.  Goodell  was  a  prominent  Mason  and  a 
member  of  Delta  Lodge  of  Marshall.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  early  members  of  D.  F. 
Markham  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  having  been  ad- 
mitted to  membership  September  24,  1881. 

Mr.  Goodell's  wife  died  in  1904.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  had  four  sons  living,  as 
follows:  George  H.,  of  Illinois;  Ernest,  of 
Sioux  City,  Iowa;  Frank,  of  Tennessee;  and 
Roy,  who  lived  with  his  father. 


OREN  C.  GREGG  (1870)  is  one  of  Lyon 
county's  earliest  settlers  and  is  today  one  of 
its  most  widely  known  citizens.  His  work 
as  superintendent  of  State  Farm  Institutes 
took  him  all  over  the  state  and  gave  him 
a  wide  acquaintance,  and  for  the  last  few 
years  his  work  under  the  direction  of  the 
agricultural  colleges  in  North  Dakota,  Mon- 
tana, Idaho,  Utah  and  Colorado  has  made 
his  name  well  known,  especially  in  the  farm- 
ing communities  of  those  states.     The  farm 


IHOUKAPHICAL  BISTORT. 


257 


in  Lynd  and  Island  Lake  townships  which 
Mr.  Gregg  owned  and  operated  thirty-nine 
Mais  was  sold  a  tew  years  ago  when  our 
subject  took  up  his  work  in  the  West,  but 
.Mr.  Gregg  reserved  a  comfortable  cottage  on 
the  place  tor  the  use  of  himself  and  wife, 
and  they  still  make  their  home  on  the  old 
farm. 

The  date  of  Mr.  Gregg's  birth  was  No- 
vember 2,  1845,  and  his  birthplace  is  Enos- 
bnrg.  Vermont.  He  is  the  son  of  Oren  and 
Clarinda  (Comstock)  Gregg.  The  mother 
died  when  her  son  was  six  years  of  age  and 
is  buried  in  Vermont,  her  husband's  native 
state.  She  was  a  native  of  New  York 
State.  Oren  Gregg,  St.,  was  a  clergyman, 
and  for  forty  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Troy  Conference  of  Vermont  and  New 
York.  At  the  close  of  his  active  work  in 
the  pulpit  he  made  his  home  for  a  few  years 
with  his  son  Oren  in  Lyon  county,  and  later 
he  went  to  California.  He  lived  there  with 
his  son.  Leslie  A.  Gregg,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two  years. 

The    subject   of   this    sketch    received   his 
early  education  in  Fort  Edward  Institute  and 
Plattsburg    Academy    in    the    state    of    New 
York.     After    finishing    school    he    was    em- 
ployed in  the  enrollment  office  of  the  provost 
marshal,     in     the     sixteenth     district,     New- 
York,  located  at  Plattsburg,  a  position  he  re- 
signed at  the  close  of  the  Civil  War.     Mov- 
ing  to    Mower   county,    Minnesota,    in    1865, 
he  taught  school  and  also  filled  the  pulpits 
of  the  churches  at  Chatfield,  High  Forest  and 
Eyota.     Mr.    Gregg    came    to    Lyon    county- 
early  in  1870.  when  the  country  was  new  and 
unsettled.     At  that  time  no  clergyman  had 
ventured  into  the  field,  excepting  traveling 
missionaries.     The  community,  however,  was 
earnestly  desirous  of  having  church  services, 
and  Mr.  Gregg,  who  was  naturally  a  fluent 
speaker  and  well  trained  in  the  scripture  on 
account  of  his  environment  as  a  boy,  mod- 
estly  offered   his   help   and   ably   conducted 
worship  in  the  villages  several  years,  never 
asking  any  remuneration  for  his  work. 

The  year  1870  marked  Mr.  Gregg's  arrival 
to  Lyon  county,  and  he  located  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  30,  Lynd  township, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home  and  to 
which  he  has  added  adjoining  land  in  Lynd 
and  Island  Lake  townships,  making  a  total 
acreage  of  about  400  acres.  The  place  for 
vears  has  been  known  as  the  Coteau  Farm 


and  the  State  Farm.  Mr.  Gregg  gave  it  the 
first  name  on  account  of  the  little  range 
of  hills  which  extends  from  southwestern 
Minnesota  west  into  South  Dakota. 

.Mr.  Gregg  was  ever  a  farmer  of  advanced 
ideas.     He  was  one  of  the  first  winter  dairy 
men    in    the   state,    in    the    days   before   the 
cream  separator  and  the  silo.     Early  in  his 
farm  experience  he  began  to  study  the  laws 
which   govern   the   selection    of  dairy   stock 
and  their  improvement.     It  was  his  original 
investigation  in  this  line  which  caused  him 
to  be  called  to  aid  in  college  extension  work 
in   nearly  one-half  the   states  of  the  union. 
Mr.    Gregg    also    co-operated    with    H.     W. 
Campbell    in    promoting   dry   farming  ideas. 
To   Mr.  Campbell   may   be   given   the   credit 
of    the    inception    of    the    idea,    but    to    Mr. 
Gregg  must  be  given  praise  for  taking  hold 
of    the    scheme    with    all    his    enthusiasm, 
furnishing     the     implements     and     actually 
working  out  a  good  part  of  the  system  on  his 
Lyon  county  farm. 

Our    subject    was    becoming    well    known 
throughout  the  state  on  account  of  his  prac- 
tical  experimenting   and   advanced   theories 
in  farming.     In  1893  the  State  Experimental 
Station  established  a  branch  on  Mr.  Gregg's 
farm.     They  occupied  at  will  the  400  acres 
and   furnished  a  few  scientific  instruments, 
but  our  subject  freely  offered  the  use  of  his 
stock,  machinery  and  buildings  for  the  car- 
rying on  of  the  work,  met  all  expenses  ex- 
cepting the   hire   and   board   of  the   experi- 
menting force,  and  ably  assisted  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  state  farm  school  who  ac- 
tively took  charge  of  the  experimental  work. 
It  was  about  this  time  that  Gov.  Pillsbury 
created    the    state    farmers    institutes.     For 
several  months  in  every  year  several  corps 
of  experts  in  all  branches  of  farming  were 
sent  out  over  the   state,   holding  a   several 
days'    session    in    the    important  towns    and 
talking    advance    methods    to .  the    farmers. 
The  system  met  the  success  it  deserved,  and 
the  farmers  were  enthusiastic  recipients  of 
the  idea.     To  Mr.  Gregg  was  given  the  posi- 
tion of  superintendent  of  the   institutes  by 
Gov.  Pillsbury,  and  that  office  he  held  twen- 
ty-two years.     This  work  and  the  compiling 
of    the    Farmers    Annual,    a    publication    in 
connection  with  the  institute  work,  occupied 
our  subject's  time,  and  most  of  the  active 
farm   management    was   in    the   hands   of   a 


258 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


tenant  during  the  years  of  Mr.  Gregg's  in- 
cumbency of  his  office. 

During  Mr.  Gregg's  early  residence  in  the 
county  he  was  county  auditor  twelve  years, 
and  was  during  that  time  also  on  the  Mar- 
shall Village  Council  and  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation. 

Oren  C.  Gregg  was  married  in  Plattsburg, 
New  York.  May  25,  1868,  to  Charlotte  I. 
Carter.  She  was  born  December  19,  1840, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Carter,  an  old 
and  highly  respected  citizen  of  Plattsburg. 

Our  subject  is  associate  editor  of  the 
Northwestern  Agriculturist.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Dakota  Telephone  Company. 
He  and  his  wife  have  for  many  years  been 
prominent  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 
Mr.  Gregg's  fraternal  affiliations  are  with 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge. 


MAJOR  JOHN  WINSLOVY  BLAKE  (1872), 
deceased.  One  of  the  leading  men  of  Mar- 
shall and  Lyon  county  in  the  early  days  was 
Major  John  W.  Blake,  who  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  Marshall  and  a  man  who  played 
a  most  important  part  in  the  business,  po- 
litical and  social  life  of  the  community  in 
pioneer  days. 

John  Blake  was  born  at  Dover,  Maine, 
August  29,  1839.  He  moved  to  Wisconsin  in 
1840  and  to  Lyon  county,  Minnesota,  in 
1872.  He  was  educated  in  Milton  Academy 
and  in  the  University  of  Wisconsin  and  by 
profession  was  a  civil  engineer.  In  1860 
he  established  and  published  the  Jefferson 
County  Republican,  at  Jefferson,  Wisconsin, 
and  was  conducting  that  journal  when  the 
war  began. 

Our  subject  enlisted  for  three  months' 
service  as  a  private  soldier  and  afterwards 
re-enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company  E, 
Fourth  Wisconsin  Infantry.  In  October, 
1862,  he  was  made  first  lieutenant  of  H 
Company,  Twenty-ninth  Wisconsin  Infantry, 
and  was  regimental  adjutant  from  Decem- 
ber, 1862,  to  June,  1864.  Then  he  was  com- 
missioned captain  of  H  Company  and  de- 
tailed on  the  staff  of  General  Cameron,  act- 
ing as  A.  A.  Q.  M.  general  of  the  Thirteenth 
Army  Corps  and  later  as  A.  A.  C.  S.  of  La 
Fourche  district.  Department  of  the  Gulf.  In 
October,  1864,  he  became  major  of  the 
Forty-second  Wisconsin  Infantry.  The  next 
month  he  was  made  provost  marshal  on  the 


staff  of  General  John  Cook,  in  which  position 
-he  was  serving  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  first  active  service  of  the  young  sol- 
dier was  in  1861  in  Maryland  under  Gen- 
erals Butler,  Dix,  Wool  and  Lockwood.  He 
went  to  the  Gulf  Department  with  General 
Butler  and  participated  in  the  capture  of 
Fort  Phillips,  Jackson  and  New  Orleans  and 
the  engagements  at  Red  Church,  Grand  Gulf 
and  the  first  attack  on  Vicksburg  under  Gen- 
eral Williams.  He  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Baton  Rouge  and  was  later  with  General 
McClernand  in  the  expedition  up  White 
river  and  the  capture  of  Arkansas  Post. 
He  was  in  the  Vicksburg  campaign  under 
General  Grant,  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Fort  Gibson.  Fourteen-Mile  Creek,  Edward's 
Station,  Raymond,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
and  was  at  the  capture  of  Jackson  under 
General  Sherman.  He  was  again  in  the  Gulf 
Department  under  General  Banks  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Carrion  Crow 
Bayou,  Opolusas,  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  Mans- 
field. Marksville  Plains  and  the  capture  of 
Fort  Esperanza. 

After  the  war  Major  Blake  returned  to 
Jefferson,  Wisconsin,  and  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  in  company  with  W.  G. 
Ward.  Later  they  built  mills  and  conducted 
an  extensive  business  at  Wolf  River,  Wis- 
consin. In  1867  Major  Blake  built  a  foun- 
dry and  a  machine  and  agricultural  imple- 
ment manufactory  at  Jefferson  and  conducted 
the  same  successfully  for  some  years.  In 
1872  he  engaged  in  the  employ  of  the  Chi- 
cago &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company  as  a 
civil  engineer  and  assisted  in  the  location 
of  and  construction  of  the  Winona  &  St. 
Peter  railroad  from  New  Ulm  to  Kampeska. 
and  that  year  paid  his  first  visit  to  Lyon 
county. 

During  the  summer  the  railroad  was  built 
Major  Blake  bought  the  land  upon  which 
the  city  of  Marshall  now  stands  and  in  com- 
pany with  others  platted  a  town  and  founded 
.Marshall.  His  home  continued  in  the  new 
village  until  January,  1891,  when  he  located 
at  Dalton,  Georgia.  He  died  at  that  place 
May  15,  1903,  and  was  buried  in  the  Marshall 
cemetery. 

Major  Blake  was  a  guiding  spirit  in  the 
affairs  of  the  community  for  many  years. 
He  held  the  office  of  county  surveyor  many 
terms  and  represented  his  district  in  both 
houses  of  the  Minnesota  Legislature. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


259 


RUPUS  H.  PRICE  1 1 NT i  i.  A  very  few 
men  have  had  a  longer  continuous  residence 
in  Lyon  county  than  has  the  gentleman 
whose  name  heads  this  review.  He  came  to 
.Minnesota  in  Territorial  days  and  he  came 
to  Lyon  county  when  the  prairie  was  broken 
only  occasionally  by  the  claim  shacks  of 
homesteaders.  For  forty-one  years  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  Lucas  township.  He  was 
the  third  settler  to  locate  in  that  township 
and  his  house  was  the  first  erected  there. 
He  is  deservedly  given  a  place  in  this  His- 
tory  of  Lyon  County. 

In  Will  county,  Illinois,  on  February  3. 
1846,  Rufus  H.  Price  was  born.  His  father, 
Charles  Price,  was  an  Englishman  by  birth 
who  located  in  Illinois  in  1838.  He  was  killed 
in  Indiana  in  1854.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, Abigail  (Fuller)  Price,  was  born  in 
Ohio.  She  came  with  her  son  to  Lyon 
county  in  1S71  and  resided  with  him  until 
her  death  in  1884. 

Rufus  Price  left  his  native  state  and  came 
to  Minnesota  when  it  was  yet  a  territory,  in 
1  857.  He  located  near  Rochester  and  resided 
there  the  next  fourteen  years  of  his  life, 
purchasing  land  and  engaging  in  farming 
after  growing  up.  When  he  reached  the  age 
of  eighteen  years,  on  February  18,  1864,  .Mr. 
Price  enlisted  at  Rochester  in  Company  C, 
Ninth  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
spent  the  next  seventeen  months  in  the  serv- 
ice of  his  country,  having  been  mustered  out 
at  St.  Paul  July  18,  1865.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Price  continued  his 
residence  in  Eastern  Minnesota  until  1871. 
In  June  of  that  year  he  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  filed  a  homestead  claim  to  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  2,  of  what  is  now  Lucas 
township.  His  nearest  trading  point  at  the 
time  he  located  on  the  claim  was  Yellow 
Medicine,  on  the  Minnesota  river,  which 
consisted  of  a  store,  postoffice  and  black- 
smith shop.  The  lumber  for  his  house  was 
hauled  from  Willmar.  In  that  pioneer  home 
was  taught  the  first  school  in  the  township, 
conducted  for  three  months  by  Miss  Ella 
Williams.  Mr.  Price  encountered  many 
hardships  in  the  early  days,  but  he  passed 
successfully  through  the  period -of  travail  and 
in  time  came  upon  prosperous  times.  He 
now  has  one  of  the  finest  farm  homes  in 
the  county  and  is  the  owner  of  320  acres 
of  excellent  land  on   sections  2  and  3. 


.Mr.  Price  took  a  leading  part  in  affairs 
in  the  early  days.  He  was  one  of  those 
who  brought  about  the  organization  of  Lu- 
cas township  in  INT::  and  he  was  appointed 
township  clerk  by  the  Board  of  County 
i'oinmissioners  at  the  time  of  organization. 
He  held  the  office  several  years,  was  assessor 
four  years,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
town  board.  He  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  school  district  No.  19  and  has  held 
the  office  of  treasurer  of  that  district.  He 
is  a  member  and  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  of  Cottonwood. 

In  local  business  matters  Mr.  Price  has 
also  taken  a  part.  He  owns  a  controlling 
interest  in  and  is  vice  president  of  the 
Home  Telephone  Company  of  Cottonwood. 
He  is  a  stockholder  of  the  Lyon  County 
National  Bank  of  Marshall  and  of  the  First 
National    Bank    of    Cottonwood. 

Mr.  Price  was  married  in  Lucas  town- 
ship January  4,  1890,  to  Helen  Elmer.  She 
was  born  in  Gothland,  Sweden,  July  IS.  1862, 
a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Elmer, 
who  came  to  Lyon  county  in  ISSN.  Mrs. 
Price's  mother  died  in  December,  1910:  her 
father  lives  in  Northern  Minnesota.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Price  have  seven  children:  Logan, 
of  Graceville,  Montana;  Marvin,  of  Alberta, 
Canada;  Fern,  Willard,  Hazel,  Porter  and 
Ray,  who  live  at  home. 


LEVORIT  AVERY  (1868),  of  Lake  Mar- 
shall township,  is  a  native  of  the  Gopher 
State,  having  been  born  in  Rice  county, 
Minnesota,  November  9,  1858.  When  ten 
years  of  age,  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Lyon  county  and  his  father  homesteaded 
land  in  Custer  township.  Our  subject  re- 
ceived his  early  education  and  grew  to  man- 
hood while  residing  at  home,  living  on  the 
home  place  until  twenty-four  years  of  age. 

At  the  latter  age  he  started  working  out 
on  farms  and  in  1884  he  rented  his  father's 
farm  and  conducted  it  one  year.  He  then 
returned  to  Waseca  county.  Minnesota, 
where  he  rented  land  three  years,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Lyon  county  and  has 
resided  here  since,  with  the  exception  of 
eighteen  months  spent  in  Colorado.  In  1908 
he  rented  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
21,  Lake  Marshall  township,  where  he  now 
resides. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  John  and 


260 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Lydia     (Ketchun)     Avery,    both    natives    of 
Ohio. 

Mr.  Avery  was  married  at  Waseca,  Min- 
nesota. February  14,  1883,  to  Minnie  Norcutt, 
a  native  of  Minnesota.  She  was  born  June 
22,  1862.  and  is  a  daughter  of  Xorman  and 
Sarah  (McKinley)  Xorcutt,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Vermont  and  the  latter  of  New  York. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Avery  are  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Clyde,  born  May  17, 
1884;  Guy,  born  August  12,  1886;  Percy, 
born  December  25,  1SSS:  Daisy  M.,  born 
March  21.  1891;  Denzil,  born  December  9, 
1893;  Edith  Blanche,  bom  April  30,  1896; 
John,  born  August  8.  1898;  Minnie  P..  born 
January  IS,  1901;  Robert,  born  April  11. 
1904. 


JAMES  MITCHELL  (1869),  ex-county  com- 
missioner of  Lyon  county  and  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers,  owns  280  acres  of  land  and 
operates  one  of  the  finest  improved  farms 
in  Amiret  township.  He  has  been  a  con- 
tinuous resident  of  Amiret  township  forty- 
three  years.  Mr.  Mitchell  served  twelve 
years  as  county  commissioner  when  there 
were  but  three  commissioners  in  what  is  now 
Lyon  and  Lincoln  counties  and  when  the 
county  seat  was  at  Lynd.  It  was  also  dur- 
ing his  term  of  service  as  commissioner  that 
the  various  townships  of  Lyon  county  were 
created  and  organized. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Jefferson  coun- 
ty. Wisconsin,  September  16,  1848.  His 
parents  were  James  and  Margaret  (Barclay) 
Mitchell,  now  deceased.  His  mother  died 
when  James  was  a  child  and  his  father  was 
married  a  second  time  to  Martha  Lane,  a 
native  of  Maine.  James  Mitchell.  Sr.,  was 
born  in  Scotland,  came  to  America  in  1838. 
and  settled  in  Wisconsin  in  1842,  where  he 
made  his  home  until  1866.  That  year  he 
moved  to  Plainview,  Minnesota,  and  farmed 
in  the  vicinity  three  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1869  he  and  his  son,  the  subject  of  this 
biography,  came  to  Lyon  county  and  each 
took  a  quarter  section  of  land  on  section 
30,  Amiret  township,  as  homesteads.  The 
father  resided  on  his  Amiret  farm  until  his 
death  on  September  14,  1901,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years. 

James  Mitchell,  Jr.,  was  reared  in  Wiscon- 
sin and  attended  school  until  fourteen  years 
of  age.     He  then  worked  at  farm  labor  one 


year,  after  which  he  moved  to  Plainview, 
Minnesota,  with  his  parents,  and  worked 
there  two  years.  After  the  family  moved  to 
Lyon  county  James  made  his  home  with  his 
parents  until  he  married  in  1884,  after  which 
he  moved  to  his  present  place,  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  5,  Amiret  township. 

James  Mitchell's  marriage  to  Trena  Rude 
occurred  in  Amiret  township  May  31.  1884. 
His  wife  is  a  native  of  Butler  county,  Iowa, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Olena 
Rude.  The  family  were  pioneer  settlers  of 
Brown  county,  Minnesota,  locating  there  in 
1869  and  making  it  their  home  until  then- 
deaths.  Mrs.  Mitchell  was  born  April  9, 
1858.  She  and  her  husband  are  the  par- 
ents of  three  children,  as  follows:  Mar- 
garet (Mrs.  Neil  Currie),,  of  Pittsfield, 
Massachusetts;  Jeanette,  a  school  teacher 
of  Austin,   Minnesota;    and  Jay    (deceased). 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  for  a  number  of  years 
a  member  of  the  Amiret  Township  Board 
of  Supervisors  and  was  chairman  of  the 
township's  first  board.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  school  district  No.  64  and 
has  served  continuously  as  clerk  of  the 
board  since  its  organization.  Our  subject 
is  a  member  of  the   .Masonic  lodge. 


REES  PRICE  (1871),  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Monroe  township,  was  born  in 
Wales  May  31,  1847.  His  parents  were 
David  and  Mary  (Rees)  Price,  both  na- 
tives of  Wales.  The  family  came  to  the 
Cnited  States  in  1866,  when  Rees  was 
nineteen  years  old.  The  boy  made  his 
home  for  a  few  months  with  relatives  in 
Goodhue  county,  Minnesota,  and  then  jour- 
neyed to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  in  the  coal  mines  until  1868.  That 
year  he  was  married  to  Ruth  Thomas,  a 
Milwaukee  girl  and  a  sister  of  Benjamin, 
James  and  Joseph  Thomas,  all  of  whom 
became  early  Lyon  county  settlers. 

After  his  marriage  in  February,  1868,  Mr. 
Price  and  his  wife  farmed  in  Blue  Earth 
county.  Minnesota,  renting  for  a  couple  of 
years.  In  1870  Mr.  Price  and  others  came 
to  Lyon  county  to  look  over  the  country. 
They  homesteaded  in  1871  and  Mr.  Price 
moved  his  family  to  their  new  home  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  18,  Monroe 
township,  in  1872.  The  family  lived  on  the 
farm   for   the  next   forty   years. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


261 


It  was  frontier  life  for  those  earlj  comers 
tn  Lyon  county.  Mr,  Price  hauled  logs  from 
the  Cottonwood  river  with  which  to  build 
his  first  dwelling.  The  old  cabin,  a  1.4x16 
feel  log  hut,  still  stands  on  the  place  and 
Is  the  oldest  house  standing  in  Monroe 
township.  The  other  residents  of  the  town- 
ship at  that  time  were  Ed.  Healy,  David 
Stafford  and  George  White,  a  brother-in- 
law  of  Mr.  Trice  and  now  a  resident  of 
California.  These  four  broke  the  first 
ground  in  the  precinct  with  oxen.  Until 
the  railroad  came  in  1872  all  trading  was 
done  at   New  I'lm. 

During  the  years  when  the  grasshopper 
scourge  was  in  Southwestern  Minnesota, 
Rees  Price  and  others  worked  at  farm  labor 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  and  suc- 
ceeded in  keeping  themselves  and  their 
families  from  want.  The  winter  of  1880 
and  ISM  brought  more  hardships,  lint  the 
early  settlers  were  of  hardy  stock  and  had 
faith  in  the  country,  which  led  them  to 
endure  the  discomforts  of  the  early  days. 
The  settlement  grew  and  Mr.  Price  was 
one  of  those  who  helped  organize  the  town- 
ship of  Monroe.  He  was  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace  and  was  on  the  town  and 
school  boards  for  several  years,  besides 
holding  various  other  offices  from  time  to 
time.  The  Price  family  lived  in  the  origi- 
nal log  cabin  for  twenty-eight  years,  when 
they  built  their  present  comfortable  dwell- 
ing. The  fine  groves  on  the  Price  farm 
were  set  out  from  slips  brought  years  ago 
from  the  Cottonwood  river  by  Mr.   Price. 

Seven  children  have  been  barn  to  Rees 
and  Ruth  Price,  as  follows:  Elenor  (Mrs.. 
Hugh  Tones),  Mary  (Mrs.  Bert  Wilford), 
Mabel  (Mrs.  Philip  Hughes),  Joseph,  Wil- 
liam, Winifred,  who  is  at  home  with  her  par- 
ents, and  Diana  (Mrs.  Ruben  Harris),  of 
Kernan,  California.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price  have 
for  years  been  active  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational church. 


CHARLES  H.  WHITNEY  (1S69).  A  man 
who  occupied  a  most  important  place  in 
the  early  history  of  Lyon  county  is  Charles 
H.  Whitney,  now  a  resident  of  Cookeville, 
Tennessee.  More  than  any  other  man  was 
he  responsible  for  the  advertising  of  this 
frontier  region  in  the  seventies  and  the 
immigration     that     settled    upon    its    broad 


prairies.  He  is  an  optimist,  and  many  a 
resident  of  Lyon  county  of  this  day  owes 
his  presence  to  the  wonderful  word-pictures 
painted  by  Mr.  Whitney.  Willi  several 
others  he  was  the  founder  of  Marshall  and 
in  most  everj  important  event  of  the  early 
times  he  figured.  He  has  a  fund  of  pio- 
neer reminiscenses  and  the  author  of  this 
volume  is  indebted  to  him  for  many  of  the 
items  contained  herein. 

Charles  II.  Whitney  was  born  at  Bridg- 
ton,  Cumberland  county,  Maine,  January  Hi. 
1838.  His  father,  George  W.  Whitney,  was 
a  Free  Will  Baptist  minister  and  during  the 
boyhood  days  of  our  subject  the  family  re- 
sided in  several  different  places  where  Rev. 
Whitney  served  his  church  as  pastor. 
Charles  lived  in  his  native  town  until  four 
years  old.  in  dray,  Maine,  three  years,  in 
Bethel,  Maine,  two  or  three  years,  and 
then  in  Rochester,  New  Hampshire. 

While  residing  at  Rochester,  when  eleven 
years  of  age,  Charles  H.  Whitney  started  to 
earn  his  own  living.  His  first  employment 
was  in  a  woolen  mill,  where  he  worked  four- 
teen months.  He  then  went  to  Salmon  Falls, 
Xew  Hampshire,  and  was  employed  in  a  cot- 
ton factory  two  years,  beginning  work  in 
the  weaving  room,  but  later  becoming  office 
boy.  He  next  located  in  East  Abington  (now 
Brockton),  Massachusetts,  and  for  several' 
years  was  employed  in  a  shoe  factory  which 
later  became  the  W.  L.  Douglas  factory. 
He  became  foreman  of  the  stitching  room 
when  sixteen  years  of  age  and  continued  his 
work  in  the  factory  until  he  was  eighteen 
and  one-half  years  old. 

During  this  time,  by  strict  economy,  young 
W'hitney  had  saved  money,  which  he  ex- 
pended in  completing  his  education.  He 
took  a  course  in  the  North  Parsonsfield, 
Maine,  Academy,  a  Free  Will  Baptist  school, 
and  was  graduated  in  December,  1856.  He 
decided  to  locate  in  the  West,  and  to  earn 
money  to  pay  his  transportation  he  secured 
a  position  as  clerk  in  a  store. 

On  March  25,  1857,  Charles  H.  Whitney 
arrived  in  Waupun,  Wisconsin,  where  his 
brother,  J.  W.  Whitney,  a  building  con- 
tractor, resided.  Our  subject  took  work  with 
his  brother  and  learned  the  business  in  all 
its  branches,  which  was  of  great  help  to  him 
later  in  his  new  home  on  the  prairies  of 
Lyon  county.  He  lived  in  Waupun  six 
vears. 


262 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


During  his  residence  there,  on  October  28, 
1860,  Mr.  Whitney  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Mary  A.  Wirt,  a  daughter  of  Elder  Noah 
Wirt,  of  the  Christian  church,  and  Fannie 
(Mapes)  Wirt.  Mrs.  Whitney  was  born  at 
Willoughby,  Ohio,  July  22,  1843,  and  died  at 
Cookeville,  Tennessee,  February  11,  1911.  As 
a  result  of  this  union  five  children  were 
born,  as  follows:  George  O,  bora  at  Wau- 
pun  July  25,  1861,  died  November  1,  1862; 
Zula  M..  born  at  Oronoco,  Minnesota,  De- 
cember 27,  1866,  married  John  H.  Schneider 
at  Marshall  June  16,  1886;  Mille  A.,  born  at 
Oronoco  May  7,  1888,  married  Fred  H.  White, 
of  Marshall,  Minnesota,  at  Cookeville,  Ten- 
nessee, December  31,  1888;  Fannie  W.,  the 
first  white  child  born  in  Marshall,  born  No- 
vember 24,  1870,  married  James  T.  Snod- 
grass  at  McMinnville,  Tennessee,  September 
16,  1891;  Gertrude,  a  musician  and  artist  of 
considerable  note,  bora  at  Marshall  April  21, 
187.". 

In  April,  1863,  Mr.  Whitney  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Minnesota,  locating  at  Oronoco,  Olm- 
sted county.  He  resided  there  six  years,  dur- 
ing five  of  which  he  served  as  town  clerk. 
During  the  war  he  had.  entire  charge  at 
Oronoco  of  filling  the  quoto  of  troops.  After 
the  war  he  engaged  in  contracting  and  build- 
ing, operated  a  furniture  manufactory,  and 
"bought  a  farm. 

In  May,  1869,  Mr.  Whitney  left  with  a  party 

of  ten  men,  in  covered  wagons,  on  a  pros- 
pecting trip  to  find  a  suitable  location  in 
Western  Minnesota  for  new  homes'!  They 
traveled  three  weeks,  visited  St.  Cloud,  Den- 
son  and  Hutchinson,  but  not  liking  the  coun- 
try about  any  of  those  towns  they  turned 
southward  and  passed  through  St.  Peter. 
There  the  party  met  "Uncle  Abner  Tib- 
betts.  register  of  the  United  States  Land 
Office,  who  advised  them  to  visit  that  part 
of  Redwood  county  which  is  now  Lyon 
county.  They  did  so,  making  the  trip  by 
way  of  Redwood  Falls,  and  arrived  at  the 
little  .settlement  of  Lynd  on  June  9,  1869. 
The  operations  of  this  party  upon  their  ar- 
rival in  Lyon  county  have  been  told  in 
detail  in  the  historical  part  of  this  volume, 
so  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  repeat  here. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  all  members  of  the 
party  were  delighted  with  the  country  and 
all  located,  Mr.  Whitney  selecting  as  his 
claim  The  southeast  quarter  pi  section  4, 
Lake    Marshall    township,    upon    which    was 


later  laid  out  a  part  of  the  village  of  Mar- 
shall. 

After  selecting  his  land  Mr.  Whitney 
broke  a  little  land  and  on  June  15,  with 
the  rest  of  the  party,  set  out  on  the  return 
home.  At  St.  Peter  they  made  filings  on 
their  claims.  Mr.  Whitney  spent  the  next 
winter  in  his  old  Wisconsin  home  and 
interested  several  others  in  the  new  coun- 
try, who  accompanied  him  on  the  return  in 
1870.  He  arrived  in  Lyon  county  again  on 
June  1,  1870,  and  erected  a  sod  shanty  on 
his  claim,  the  first  dwelling  put  up  on  sec- 
tion 4,  of  the  Marshall  site.  It  was  located 
about  twenty  rods  east  of  the  Third  Street 
bridge  on  the  quarter  section  line.  In  the 
fall  our  subject  secured  the  establishment 
of  the  Marshall  postoffice  and  he  became  the 
first  postmaster. 

Mr.  Whitney  engaged  in  farming  and 
booming  the  country.  He  located  four- 
fifths  of  all  the  settlers  who  arrived  prior 
to  1875.  In  the  summer  of  1872,  in  part- 
nership with  others,  he  platted  the  village  of 
Marshall  and  it  was  largely  through  his 
influence  that  the  Marshall  station  of  the 
new  Winona  &  St.  Peter  was  located  where 
it  is,  in  preference  to  a  point  at  the  cross- 
ing of  Three-Mile  creek.  In  the  fall  of  1872. 
before  the  railroad  had  reached  the  new 
station,  Mr.  Whitney  erected  a  hotel  build- 
ing, one  of  the  first  buildings  in  the  town, 
hauling  the  lumber  from  the  end  of  the 
completed  track.  At  the  first  meal  in  the 
hostelry  250  people  were  fed.  The  location 
of  Jhe  pioneer  hotel  building  was  on  the 
site  of  the  present  Atlantic  Hotel.  Mr. 
Whitney  erected  the  first  brick  kiln  in  Mar- 
shall and  was  prominent  in  many  of  the 
pioneer  business  enterprises. 

He  engaged  extensively  in  land  selling 
from  the  time  of  his  arrival,  and  in  1876  he 
became  the  field  agent  and  general  outside 
representative  for  the  railroad  company,  be- 
ing thus  employed  ten  years.  In  1877  he  es- 
tablished the  Homeseekers  Guide  to  the 
West,  a  monthly  emigration  paper  of  5000 
circulation. 

Mr.  Whitney  originated  the  scheme  of  ex- 
hibiting the  products  of  Lyon  county  and  of 
the  lands  embraced  within  the  railroad's  land 
grant  at  the  state  fairs.  The  first  exhibit 
was  made  in  1876,  and  first  premiums  were 
secured  on  all  exhibits.  Following  is  a  list 
of  premiums  awarded  Lyon  county  at  early 


BIOGRAPHICAL  IIISTOKY. 


263 


day  Minnesota  state  fairs  for  largesl  and  best 
displays  of  grains  and  vegetables:  lsTlt,  lirst 
for  grains  and  second  for  vegetables;  1880, 
first  tor  both  exhibits;  L881,  lirsi  for  grains 
and  second  for  vegetables  and  a  silver  medal 
for  five  best  varieties  of  spring  wheat;  1882, 
first  for  each  exhibit  and  silver  medal  for 
spring  wheat  exhibit.  On  .March  8,  1881, 
the  county  was  awarded  first  premium  by 
the  Minnesota  State  Butter  and  Cheese  As- 
sociation for  the  best  fifty  pounds  of  dairy 
butter,  and  in  1NN2  at  the  Wisconsin  state 
fair  Lyon  county  was  awarded  a  diploma 
and  given  special  mention  for  the  largest, 
best  and  most  artistically  displayed  ex- 
hibit of  grains,  vegetables,  fruits,  grasses, 
woods  and  soils  made  by  one  exhibitor. 

In  1886  Mr.  Whitney  secured  for  the  rail- 
road company  the  right-of-way  for  the  Will- 
mar  &  Sioux  Falls  Railroad  Company  from 
Marshall  to  the  north  line  of  the  county. 
On  May  1,  1886,  Mr.  Whitney  went  to  St. 
Paul  to  become  circulation  manager  of  The 
Farmer,  an  agricultural  paper.  In  six 
months  he  raised  the  circulation  of  the  pa- 
per to  30,000.  After  one  year  at  that  work 
his  health  failed,  and  in  September,  1887, 
Mr.  Whitney  moved  South,  becoming  a  resi- 
dent of  Cookeville,  Tennessee,  where  he  has 
ever  since  resided. 

During  his  long  residence  in  Lyon  county 
Mr.  Whitney  held  a  number  of  offices  of 
trust.  Besides  being  Marshall's  first  post- 
master, he  served  for  a  time  as  judge  of 
probate  and  was  deputy  county  treasurer 
two  terms,  serving  under  Jacob  Rouse  and 
James  Williams.  He  was  justice  of  the 
peace  of  Lake  Marshall  township  and  held 
other  township  offices  and  was  one  of  the 
first  to  hold  the  office  of  Marshall  village 
recorder.  From  the  time  of  the  organization 
of  the  Marshall  school  district  until  it  be- 
came an  independent  district  he  was  chair- 
man of  the  Board  of  Education. 

JACOB  ROUSE  (1870).  Only  a  few  of 
those  who  took  part  in  the  early  history 
making  of  Lyon  county  are  still  living  in 
the  county.  However,  one  of  those  who 
took  part  in  the  early  events  and  who  came 
before  the  county  was  organized  is  still 
here,  with  a  continuous  residence  of  forty- 
two  years  to  his  credit.  He  is  Jacob  Rouse, 
a  former  county  treasurer,  who  now  lives 
in   the  Camden  valley  of  Lynd  township. 


Jacob  Rouse  was  born  in  Louisa  county, 
Iowa,  October  is,  1844.  His  fa  I  her,  Ebene- 
zer  Rouse,  was  born  in  Canada,  of  German 
descent.  1  lis  mother.  Alary  (Harlan)  Rous.', 
was  born  in  Kentucky.  The  parents  located 
in  Iowa  in  L840  and  shortly  after  the  birth 
of  their  son  they  moved  to  Illinois,  neat- 
Galena,  where  they  engaged  in  farming. 
There  the  father  contracted  yellow  fever  and 
died  in    L850. 

After  the  death  of  the  head  of  the  family 
Mrs.  Rouse  and  her  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters,  moved  to  Lafayette  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  and  near  Elk  Grove  she 
bought  five  acres  of  land.  Later  the  family 
moved  to  New  Diggings  of  the  same  county. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  young  Rouse  left 
home  and  went  to  Jones  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  resided  two  years,  working  on  a  farm 
in  the  summer  and  attending  school  during 
the  winter.  He  then  spent  a  short  time  at- 
tending school  and  working  out  at  East 
Galena,  Illinois,  and  worked  in  a  hotel  at 
Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin,  six  months. 

Returning  to  Galena,  Illinois,  in  the  spring 
of  1864,  Mr.  Rouse  enlisted  in  Company  C. 
One  Hundred  Fortieth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. He  was  discharged  seven  months 
later  and  the  following  February  enlisted  in 
Company  E,  One  Hundred  Fifty-third  Illinois 
Infantry,  served  six  months,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  in  September,  1865.  After  the  war- 
he  returned  to  New  Diggings,  Wisconsin, 
and  during  the  next  few  years  engaged  in 
farming  and  mining. 

In  1870  Mr.  Rouse  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  filed  a  homestead  claim  to  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  22,  Lynd  township, 
being  one  of  the  first  to  file  in  that  neigh- 
borhood, and  he  proved  up  on  the  claim. 
In  the  fall  of  1870  Mr.  Rouse,  in  partnership 
with  James  Cummins  and  John  Cook, 
erected  a  sawmill  on  the  Redwood,  where 
was  later  founded  the  village  of  Camden. 
He  was  in  charge  of  the  sawmill  four  years, 
and  then  it  was  remodeled  into  a  flouring 
mill  by  Smith,  Ellis  &  Rouse.  The  village 
of  Camden  was  founded  and  soon  boasted 
two  stores,  a  blacksmith  shop,  harness  shop, 
postoffice  and  mill,  becoming  one  of  the 
principal  towns  of  the  county. 

One  year  after  the  flouring  mill  was 
started  Mr.  Rouse  disposed  of  his  interests, 
but  for  eighteen  years  he  was  employed  by 
the  firm  that  operated  the  mill.     Since  that 


264 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


time  he  has  devoted  most  of  his  time  to 
farming,  although  he  was  manager  of  an 
elevator  at  Lynd  two  years  and  at  Russell 
one  year.  He  raises  stock  and  makes  a 
specialty  of  Duroc-Jersey  hogs. 

Mr.  Rouse  took  an  active  part  in  political 
affairs  in  the  early  days  and  served  as  deputy 
county  treasurer  under  A.  R.  Cummins,  the 
first  treasurer.  Later  he  served  a  term  as 
county  treasurer.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
Lynd  Township  Board  of  Supervisors  one 
year  and  has  an  unbeatable  record  as  a 
school  officer,  having  been  clerk  of  his  dis- 
trict since  it  was  organized  in  1871.  Mr. 
Rouse  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  and 
the  Masonic  lodge. 

In  Lafayette  county,  Wisconsin,  on  May 
5,  1868,  Mr.  Rouse  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Elizabeth  J.  Day.  She  was  born  in  the 
county  in  which  she  was  married  December 
2,  1849,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  H.  and  Martha 
M.  (Dickey)  Day.  Both  parents  were  born 
in  Pennsylvania.  The  father  died  in  Wis- 
consin in  1886  and  thereafter  Mrs.  Day  made 
her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Rouse,  un- 
til her  death  in  1900.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rouse 
have  five  children:  Mary  Etta,  Joseph  C, 
Ira  E.,  Maud  and  Myrtle  F. 


OLE  H.  HATLESTAD  (1874)  is  a  promi- 
nent farmer  of  Lucas  township  and  a  most 
enthusiastic  believer  in  the  advantages  of 
living  in  Lyon  county.  Mr.  Hatlestad  is 
well  known  throughout  the  county  at  large 
and  has  a  host  of  friends  in  every  com- 
munity. For  the  last  twelve  years  he  has 
served  continuously  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  County  Commissioners  from  distinct 
No.  1,  and  previous  to  that  he  had  already 
served  in  the  same  capacity  for  four  years. 
Mr.  Hatlestad,  besides  farming  400  acres  of 
land,  owns  seven  lots  and  a  fine  residence 
in  Cottonwood  and  is  interested  in  other 
enterprises,  being  a  stockholder  of  the  Farm- 
ers Elevator  Company  of  Cottonwood,  of 
which  he  was  for  several  years  president. 

Our  subject  was  born  March  4,  1853,  in 
Song,  Norway,  and  is  a  son  of  Hans  O. 
and  Martha  (Anderson)  Hatlestad,  both  of 
whom  are  now  deceased.  The  parents  came 
to  America  in  1854  and  first  located  in  Co- 
lumbia county,  Wisconsin,  where  they  re- 
sided ten  years.  Their  next  heme  was  in 
WTinona  county,  where  they  lived  until  their 


deaths.  Ole  Hatlestad  was  the  oldest  of  the 
children  and  he  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  Winona  county,  at- 
tending until  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
nineteen  years.  Coming  then  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty, he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
with  Andrew  Ostlund  one  year  and  then  went 
into  the  farm  machinery  business  in  Mar- 
shall, an  enterprise  which  held  his  attention 
for  the  next  five  years.  In  1879  Mr.  Hatle- 
stad commenced  to  acquire  land  and  now 
owns  a  large  acreage.  He  purchased  a  tree 
claim  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
18,  Lucas,  from  Ole  Dahl,  which  he  still 
owns  and  operates.  Subsequently  he  bought 
200  acres  on  section  19  and  later  another 
forty.  Mr.  Hatlestad  manages  his  farms  and 
has  made  his  home  in  Cottonwood  since 
1901. 

Mr.  Hatlestad  has  been  affiliated  with  the 
Silo  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  since  its 
organization  in  1SS0  and  was  formerly  one 
of  its  trustees.  He  was  a  director  of  school 
district  No.  15  three  years  and  has  held  the 
office  of  assessor  three  terms.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  was  chairman  of  the  Township 
Board  of  Supervisors. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
December  19,  1876,  to  Carrie  Anderson,  at 
Porter,  Minnesota.  His  wife  was  a  native 
of  Norway.  To  this  union  were  born:  An- 
drew, on  June  19,  1878;  Martha,  deceased, 
on  January  29,  1880;  Bertha,  on  January  25, 
1882;  Cora,  on  August  22,  1885;  Clarence,  on 
April  5,  1887;  Harris,  on  May  10,  1889; 
Clara,  on  September  13,  1891;  William,  on 
February  16.  1894;  and  Oliver,  on  December 
16,  1895.  Mrs.  Hatlestad  died  March  20, 
1897. 

Mr.  Hatlestad  married  a  second  time  in 
July,  1901,  wedding  Mrs.  Dena  Foss,  a  native 
of  Wisconsin.  To  this  union  has  been  born 
one  child.  Aldrie,  born  March  3,  1904. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  several 
brothers  and  sisters  living.  Annie  (Mrs. 
Elling  Fenney)  resides  in  Minneapolis. 
Christ  is  a  resident  of  Otter  Tail  county. 
Gertrude  (Mrs.  C.  Martinson)  lives  in  Madi- 
son, Minnesota.  Christie  (Mrs.  Andrew 
Ness)  resides  in  Fillmore  county.  Martin 
is  a  resident  of  Lyon  county. 


KNUD    A.    BROUGHTON    (1872).      Forty 
years  ago  a  few  Norwegian  families  came  to 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


265 


Lyon  county  and  settled  in  the  northern 
townships,  and  with  the  vanguard  of  these 
was  the  Family  of  Knud  A.  Mroughton,  who 
took  a  claim  in  Westerheim  township  and 
Who  has  ever  since  had  his  home  there.  In 
the  early  days  many  hardships  were  en- 
countered and  inconveniences  endured.  Mr. 
Brought!  n  hauled  his  flour  from  New  Lon- 
don, did  most  of  his  trading  at  Redwood 
Falls,  and  remembers  the  time  when  Mar- 
shall consisted  of  one  store  and  a  sod 
shanty. 

Mr.  Broughton  took  as  a  homestead  claim 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  12.  Wester- 
heim, and  another  quarter  section  as  a  tree 
claim.  Later  he  added  to  his  holdings  by 
purchase  from  the  railroad  company  until 
he  was  the  owner  of  960  acres  of  land  in 
Westerheim  and  Vallers  townships.  He  has 
sold  most  of  his  farm  lands  to  his  children, 
hut  he  is  still  the  owner  of  360  acres. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
review  was  born  in  Norway  November  27, 
1845.  His  lather,  Andrew  K.  Broughton, 
died  in  Norway  in  1864,  and  his  mother, 
Annie  (Olson)  Broughton,  died  there  in  1910. 
Knud  secured  a  high  school  education  in 
his  native  land,  attending  to  his  studies 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  and  later  had  the 
management  of  his  father's  farm.  He  then 
came  to  America,  arriving  June  5,  1868.  He 
located  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  for 
the  next  four  years  worked  at  farm  labor 
for  an  uncle.  He  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
the  spring  of  1872,  took  his  claim,  and  has 
ever  since  been  a  citizen  of  Westerheim 
township.  He  lived  on  the  homestead  until 
1S99  and  then  moved  to  his  present  farm  on 
section  11. 

Mr.  Broughton  was  a  member  of  the  first 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  Westerheim  town- 
ship and  he  has  been  assessor,  road  over- 
seer, and  a  director  of  school  district  No.  3. 
He  has  been  prominent  in  church  work, 
holding  membership  in  St.  Lucas  United 
Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  of  Normania 
township,  Yellow  Medicine  county.  It  was 
largely  through  his  efforts  that  that  church 
was  organized,  and  his  name  was  the  first 
one  attached  to  the  papers  that  led  to  its 
being  founded.  For  several  years  he  was  a 
church  trustee  and  he  was  church  repre- 
sentative a  number  of  terms. 

In  Norway,  on  April  13,  1868,  Knud  A. 
Broughton  was  married  to  Martha  Anderson, 


who  was  born  September  3,  1840.  As  a 
result  of  this  union  the  following  children 
have  heen  horn:  Andrew,  George,  Anton 
and  Annie  (Mrs.  O.  J.  Stensrud),  all  of 
Westerheim  township,  and  Gertie  (Mrs. 
Sever  Erickson),  of  Vallers  township. 


LUCIUS  E.  TOWN  (1871),  a  farmer  of 
Rock  Lake  township,  was  born  in  Steele 
county.  Minnesota,  March  4,  1870,  and  is  a 
son  of  Lucius  and  Mary  (Clark)  Town, 
pioneer  resident  of  Lyon  county.  Lucius 
Town.  Sr.,  in  company  with  his  three  broth- 
ers. Julius.  Ralph  and  Alvah  S.,  came  to  this 
county  in  1871,  and  each  brother  took  a 
quarter  section  on  22,  Rock  Lake,  as  a  home- 
stead. 

Lucius  Town,  Jr.,  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Lyon  county,  where  his  boyhood 
days  were  spent.  His  early  education  was 
acquired  in  the  country  schools  of  the  town- 
ship and  in  Balaton.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
years  he  attended  school  for  a  time  near 
Owatonna  and  later  took  a  course  in  the 
Wilder  Business  College,  graduating  in  1895. 
Ret mning  to  Balaton,  our  subject  followed 
the  painting  and  paper  hanging  trades  for 
eight  years. 

From  1903  until  1906  Mr.  Town's  residence 
was  North  Yakima,  Washington,  where  he 
was  engaged  at  the  same  work.  Then  he 
returned  to  Minnesota  and  has  since  been 
farming  on  the  old  Rock  Lake  homestead, 
working  at  the  trade  of  painting  in  some  of 
his  spare  time.  Mr.  Town  has  other  busi- 
ness interests,  being  a  stockholder  of  the 
Lyon  County  Co-operative  Company  and  of 
the  Current  Lake  Telephone  Company.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Balaton  and  belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 
lodge. 

Lucius  E.  Town  was  married  to  Lizzie 
Hughes,  a  resident  of  Blue  Earth  county, 
Minnesota.  To  them  were  born  two  chil- 
dren: Elbert,  born  December  28,  1899;  and 
Leslie,  born  May  13,  1902.  Mrs.  Town  died 
in  North  Yakima  in  1903.  Our  subject's 
mother  died  in  1881  and  his  father  is  still 
living  on  the  old  homestead  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years. 


JENS  B.  JOHNSON   (1873).     A  pioneer  of 
Lyon   county,  a   land  owner  and   successful 


266 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


farmer,  a  former  member  of  the  Board  of 
County  Commissioners,  and  a  man  who  has 
taken  a  leading  part  in  the  affairs  of  his 
community  and  county  is  Jens  B.  Johnson, 
of  Xordland  township.  For  the  past  forty- 
one  years  he  has  lived  on  the  farm  he  now 
conducts,  being  one  of  a  few  men  of  the 
county  who  still  live  on  the  land  they  took 
as  a  claim  in  the  early  days. 

Siljord,  Telemarken,  Norway,  is  the  birth- 
place of  Mr.  Johnson  and  February  14,  1840, 
was  the  date  of  his  nativity.  His  parents, 
Jens  and  Engebor  (Jacobson)  Johnson,  were 
farmers  and  Jens  was  country  raised.  He 
attended  school  until  fifteen  years  of  age  and 
was  then  obliged  to  shift  for  himself,  his 
father  having  died  at  that  time  and  his 
mother  having  passed  away  when  he  was 
nine  years  old.  Until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old  he  worked  out  at  different  jobs, 
and  then,  in  1861,  he  left  his  native  land  and 
journeyed  to  America. 

The  first  home  in  the  New  World  was  the 
city  of  Chicago,  where  he  resided  a  short 
time  with  a  sister.  In  Rock  county,  Wis- 
consin, Mr.  Johnson  worked  at  farm  labor 
until  1871;  then  he  rented  land  in  Goodhue 
county,  Minnesota,  and  farmed  two  years. 
The  year  of  Mr.  Johnson's  arrival  to  Lyon 
county  was  1873 — the  first  year  of  the  grass- 
hopper scourge.  He  took  as  a  pre-emption 
claim  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  2, 
Xordland  township,  just  south  of  the  future 
village  of  Minneota.  At  the  time  ten  acres 
of  the  land  were  under  cultivation  and  on 
the  place  was  a  small  log  house.  Mr.  John- 
son paid  $200  for  the  claim  and  secured  title 
later.  On  that  place  he  has  ever  since  had 
his  home.  He  has  added  to  his  holdings 
until  today  he  is  the  owner  of  430  acres  of 
well-improved  land,  having  property  in  Eids- 
vold  and  Westerheim  townships. 

Mr.  Johnson  served  a  four-year  term  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  County  Commis- 
sioners, has  been  chairman  of  the  Nordland 
Township  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  treas- 
urer of  school  district  No.  71.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Annie  Kit- 
telson  occurred  in  Rock  county,  Wisconsin, 
in  July,  1864.  She  was  born  in  Nommedal, 
Norway,  December  26,  1839.  Her  parents, 
Kittel  and  Beret  (Hellekson)  Gundvoldson, 
died  in  the  old  country.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson  have  been  born  the  following  named 


seven    children:       Betsey,    Engebor,    Mary, 
Sina,  Annie,  John  and  Gilbert. 


JOHN  J.  GRIFFITH  (1870)  has  been  a 
resident  of  Lyon  county  since  he  was  nine 
years  of  age.  His  parents,  David  E.  Griffith 
and  Mary  J.  Richards,  were  natives  of  Wales 
and  Pennsylvania,  respectively,  and  came  to 
Wisconsin  in  an  early  day.  John  was  born 
in  Columbia  county,  Wisconsin,  October  6, 
1862,  and  when  three  years  old  his  parents 
moved  to  Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota, 
which  was  their  home  six  years. 

In  1870  the  Griffith  family  moved  to  Lyon 
county,  Minnesota,  and  located  on  the  east 
half  of  the  east  half  of  section  12,  Custer 
township,  to  which  the  father  had  bought  the 
homestead  right.  There  John  received  his 
schooling  and  assisted  his  father  until  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  bought 
eighty  acres  on  section  7,  Monroe  township, 
and  commenced  farming  for  himself.  For  five 
years  our  subject  remained  on  that  place,  and 
then  he  sold  his  land  and  rented  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  7,  where  he  has  since 
lived.  He  has  a  well  improved  piece  of  land 
and  is  prospering.  He  is  giving  much  at- 
tention to  the  breeding  of  Percheron  horses. 

John  J.  Griffith  and  Katie  Wunderlich 
were  married  July  4,  1891,  in  Custer.  Mrs. 
Griffith  was  born  in  Wisconsin  July  6,  1874, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Catherine 
(Young)  Wunderlich,  natives  of  Germany 
and  France,  respectively.  Eight  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith,  as 
follows:  Leon,  born  1893;  Fred,  born  1895; 
Louise,  born  1897;  Irving,  born  1898;  Leslie, 
born  1900;  Annie,  born  1903;  Morris,  born 
1905;  and  Merle,  born  1908. 


ANDREW  NELSON  (1868),  of  Marshall, 
is  the  earliest  living  settler  in  Lyon  county. 
He  was  born  in  Denmark  February  1,  1852, 
and  when  twenty-three  years  of  age  came  to 
the  United  States.  On  arriving  in  his 
adopted  country,  Mr.  Nelson  settled  in  Wis 
consin,  where  he  resided  until  1868. 

The  latter  date  marks  the  arrival  of  our 
subject  to  Lyon  county,  where  he  took  as  a 
pre-emption  claim  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  13,  Lynd  township,  which  later 
proved  to  be  land  which  the  government  had 
granted  to  the  railroad  company.'    Mr.  Nel- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  EISTORY. 


267 


son,  having  done  some  work  on  the  land, 
purchased  it  from  the  company.  He  Later 
purchased  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  same 
section  and  built  his  firsl   home,  which  was 

log  cabin  with  a  thatched  roof.  He  later 
hewed  logs  and  hnilt  another  house,  20x26 
in  dimensions,  on  the  top  of  the  hill 
about  forty  rods  from  the  first  house.  Mr. 
Nelson  traded  at  Redwood  Falls  and  New 
11m,  having  to  make  the  trip  by  ox-team. 
Our  subject  resided  on  the  farm  until  lltos, 
or  about  forty  years,  when  he  moved  to  .Mar- 
shall and  has  since  led  a  retired  life.  He 
still  owns  the  old  farms  on  section  13,  Lynd 
township,  and   180  acres  more  in  the  county. 

When  Mr.  Nelson  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
1868  there  were  but  few  people  in  the  county. 
Among  the  settlers  of  that  time  were  A.  R. 
Cummins  and  his  sous,  James  and  George; 
Mr.  .Muzzy.  Rev.  Wright,  .Mr.  Langdon  and 
four  sons.  .Mi'.  Ticknor  and  family,  George 
and  Hiram  Marcyes.  Our  subject  was  treas- 
urer of  his  school  district  fifteen  consecutive 
years  and  is  a  member  of  the  Danish  Luth- 
eran church.  He  has  one  brother  living, 
Christian  Nelson,  of  Lynd  township. 

On  February  23,  ist',7,  at  Racine.  Wiscon- 
sin, occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Nelson  to 
Anna  Matson,  a  native  of  Denmark.  She 
was  born  September  IS,  1845.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Nelson  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children  who  are  still  living:  Albert,  Daniel, 
and  Clara  (Mrs.  Fred  Mannerman),  of  Lynd 
township.  Those  deceased  were  Clara  A., 
Lois  T.,  Mary  J.,  William  A.  and  Custer  D. 


ROBERT  A.  MITCHELL  (1868)  is  one  of 
the  largest  land  owners  in  the  township  of 
Amiret  and  is  one  of  the  earliest  residents, 
having  come  to  the  county  with  his  parents 
forty-four  years  ago.  At  that  time  Robert 
was  only  three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Mitchell 
owns  480  acres  of  fine  farming  land  on  sec- 
tions 30  and  16,  and  his  home  on  the  east  half 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  30  is  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  township. 

The  father  and  mother  of  Robert  Mitchell 
were  natives  of  Scotland  and  the  state  of 
Maine,  respectively.  James  S.  and  Martha 
(Lane)  Mitchell  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
186S,  and  James  Mitchell  took  as  a  home- 
stead the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  30,  Amiret  township.  The  Mitch- 
ells were  among  the  very  first  settlers  of  the 


county.  They  had  been  living  several  years 
in  Wisconsin  prior  to  coming  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty,  and  Robert  A.  Mitchell  was  horn  in  Jef- 
ferson county  of  that  state  June  30,  1S65. 

Roberl  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm 
in  Amiret.  lb-  attended  country  school  and 
finished  his  education  with  a  year's  attend 
ance  at  the  Marshall  High  School.  He  then 
assisted  with  the  work  on  the  home  place, 
and  in  1885,  1S86  and  1887  the  young  man 
taught  school  in  the  southern  part  of  this 
county  and  in  Murray  county.  In  1890  he 
took  charge  of  Bingham  Brothers'  grain  ele- 
vator at  Amiret.  holding  the  position  three 
years.  In  1893  he  erected  an  elevator  of  his 
own  and  conducted  it  two  years,  after  which 
he  sold  and  re-entered  the  employ  of  Bing- 
ham Brothers,  having  charge  of  their  Amiret 
elevator  ten  years.  At  the  close  of  that 
period,  in  1905,  Mr.  Mitchell  retired  from 
the  -rain  business  and  engaged  in  farming. 
He  has  a  splendid  farm  and  is  having  success 
in  the  raising  of  Red  Polled  cattle.  He  owns 
stock  in  and  is  a  director  of  the  Amiret  Stale 
Bank,  and  he  has  two  town  lots  in  Amiret 
and  a  share  in  the  company  which  owns  the 
town  hall. 

The  marriage  of  Robert  Mitchell  and 
Augusta  Manke  took  place  in  Tracy  on 
March  S,  1892.  She  was  born  in  Germany 
March  8,  1873,  and  came  to  this  country  with 
her  parents,  William  and  Wilemina  (Mack) 
Manke,  in  1881.  The  family  first  located  in 
Chicago,  where  they  lived  five  years,  and 
later  moved  to  Tracy.  There  the  father  died 
in  1910;  the  mother  is  still  a  resident  of  the 
town.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Robert  Mitchell.  They  are  Wil- 
liam R.,  born  November  19,  1893,  and  Clar- 
ence C,  born  March  4.  1897. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  clerk  of  Amiret  township 
fifteen  years  and  served  on  the  township 
board  from  the  time  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age  until  1908,  when  he  retired.  He  also 
served  several  terms  as  treasurer  of  school 
district  No.  13.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  his  lodge  membership 
is  in  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  organizations. 


E.  M.  HAMM  (1871),  secretary  of  the 
Western  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of 
Balaton,  is  one  of  the  very  earliest  settlers 
of  Lyon  county,  having  resided  in  Rock  Lake 


268 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


township  and  Balaton  since  he  was  fifteen 
years  of  age.  He  is  a  homesteader  of  the 
township  in  which  he  has  lived  so  long. 

Mr.  Hamm  was  born  in  Tioga  county, 
Pennsylvania,  August  2,  1855,  and  in  July, 
1865,  he  accompanied  the  family  to  Roches- 
ter. Minnesota,  which  was  then  the  western 
terminus  of  the  Northwestern  railroad.  He 
came  to  Lyon  county  with  the  family  in  May, 
1871,  driving  through  by  ox  team,  and  until 
he  was  twenty-seven  years  of  age  he  worked 
on  his  father's  homestead,  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  24,  Rock  Lake,  not  far 
from  the  future  village  of  Balaton.  The 
usual  lot  of  the  pioneer  was  theirs,  and  for 
some  years  they  lived  in  a  little  log  cabin. 
During  the  grasshopper  days  it  was  impos- 
sible to  raise  enough  to  support  a  family, 
and,  while  the  rest  of  the  family  remained 
on  the  claim,  the  father  and  our  subject 
worked  during  the  summer  seasons  in  the 
counties  to  the  east  to  earn  the  money  neces- 
sary to  support  the  family. 

After  coming  of  age  E.  M.  Hamm  took  as 
homestead  claim  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  34,  Rock  Lake,  but  did  not  live  on 
the  place  after  proving  up.  When  he  was 
twenty-seven  years  of  age  Mr.  Hamm  started 
farming  on  his  own  account  on  land  which 
he  purchased  on  section  16.  He  resided  on 
that  farm  until  1902  and  then  moved  to 
Balaton.  He  has  ever  since  been  identified 
with  the  Western  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company  and  has  been  its  secretary  since 
1907.  He  served  as  township  treasurer  of 
Rock  Lake  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Balaton  Village  Council  for  the  past  three 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 
lodge. 

Mr.  Hamm  was  married  in  Lyon  county  by 
O.  C.  Gregg  March  20,  1882,  to  Ida  Melissa 
Woodard,  a  native  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  and 
a  daughter  of  M.  F.  Woodard. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Peu)  Hamm,  Pennsylvanians  by  birth.  The 
father  died  about  twelve  years  ago  and  the 
mother  resides  in  Balaton.  E.  M.  Hamm  has 
two  sisters:  Inez  (Mrs.  B.  P.  Terry),  of 
Balaton,  and  Lucy  (Mrs.  Henry  Searles),  of 
Tracy. 


DAVID  STIEFEL  (1869)  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Lyon  county  for  forty-three  years, 
and   with   the   exception   of  one   year,   1869, 


when  he  homesteaded  in  Lynd  township,  he 
has  had  continuous  residence  in  Lyons  town- 
ship. In  January,  1910,  Mr.  Stiefel  moved  to 
Russell  and  has  retired  from  active  work. 

Germany  is  our  subject's  native  country, 
and  he  was  born  in  Wurtenberg  June  13. 
1842.  His  parents  were  Charles  and  Chris- 
tina Stiefel.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years  the 
young  lad's  term  of  education  in  the  common 
schools  was  ended  and  he  was  put  to  work 
on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  did  his  share 
of  the  work  for  the  next  five  years.  The 
irresistible  call  of  the  great  country  across 
the  Atlantic  came  to  David,  as  it  was  doing 
to  so  many  of  his  countrymen,  and  in  1863 
he  set  sail  for  America  and  landed  in  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  found  occupation  for  a 
few  months  at  the  shoemaker's  trade.  Mr. 
Stiefel  worked  at  that  and  other  labor  until 
he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Ninety-first  Regi- 
ment of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  He  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  taking  active  part 
in  the  battles  of  Petersburg,  Hatches  Run. 
Erlinda  Railroad  and  the  siege  of  Richmond. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  mustered  out 
at  Philadelphia  and  soon  afterward  returned 
for  a  nine  months'  visit  to  his  native  Ger- 
many. Returning  to  America,  Mr.  Stiefel 
settled  in  Illinois  and  worked  with  a  brother 
one  year.  He  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
homesteaded  in  Lynd  township  in  1869. 

David  Stiefel  was  married  in  1881  to  Jennie 
Jones,  a  daughter  of  E.  C.  Jones,  Sr.,  of 
Russell.  They  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Charles,  Christine,  Louise. 
Jennie,  Katie  and  Lovina.  Two  children. 
William  and  Katie,  are  deceased. 


SAMUEL  HALVORSON  (1871)  came  to 
Lyon  county  when  a  boy  and  his  period  of 
residence  here  is  exceeded  by  only  a  few 
men.  He  has  lived  in  Nordland  township 
forty-one  years.  He  owns  and  farms  160 
acres  of  land. 

His  parents,  Andrew  and  Annie  Halvorson, 
were  born  in  Norway  and  at  the  time  of  their 
son's  birth  on  September  8,  1864,  were  living 
in  Green  county,  Wisconsin.  In  1871  the 
family  came  with  the  pioneers  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  the  father  took  as  a  homestead  claim 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  28,  Nord- 
land. In  the  nearby  district  school  Samuel 
secured  his  education  and  on  his  father's 
farm  he  worked  until  his  marriage  in  1885. 


HIOGRAPIIU'AL   HISTORY. 


I'll!  I 


After  his  marriage  Mr.  Halvorson  started 
farming  for  himself  on  a  240-acre  farm  on  sec- 
tions 28  and  29  which  he  had  received  from 
his  father.  In  1902  he  sold  that  property  and 
bought  his  present  farm.  He  engages  quite 
extensively  in  stock  raising  and  is  a  success- 
ful farmer.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  and  has  served  as  a  director 
of  school  district  No.  24. 

Mr.  Halvorson  was  married  in  Xordland 
township  December  5,  1885,  to  Betsey  Helge- 
son.  She  was  born  in  Winnebago  county, 
Wisconsin,  April  16,  1866,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Ole  and  Margaret  Helgeson,  of  Norway. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Halvorson  have  five  children. 
Alma  Marea,  Andria  Sofea,  Oscar  Melven, 
Helda  Bertine  and  Edwin  Clarence,  all  born 
in  Nordland  township. 


JOHN  SCOTT  (1872)  is  a  homesteader  of 
Sodus  township  and  one  of  the  oldest  set- 
tlers of  that  precinct,  having  lived  on  the  one 
place  an  even  forty  years.  In  common  with 
other  pioneers  of  Lyon  county,  Mr.  Scott 
endured  many  hardships  in  the  days  when 
the  festive  grasshopper  harvested  the  grain 
and  the  fierce  winter  storms  swept  the  un- 
broken prairies. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Wayne  county. 
New  York,  March  27,  1852,  and  he  descends 
from  an  old  New  York  family.  His  parents 
were  Charles  and  Delia  (Shaw)  Scott.  The 
father  died  when  John  was  three  years  old, 
and  soon  thereafter  he  accompanied  his 
mother  to  Michigan,  where  he  was  educated 
and  grew  to  manhood.  In  1872  Mr.  Scott 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  took  as  a  home- 
stead the  southeast  quarter  of  section  24. 
Sodus  township,  on  which  farm  he  has  ever 
since  resided. 

Mr.  Scott  was  married  in  Marshall  August 
23,  1875,  to  Mary  A.  Lewis.  She  was  born 
in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  August  12,  1853,. 
and  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  pioneer  fam- 
ilies of  Minnesota.  Her  parents,  Lewis  D. 
and  Jane  (Davis)  Lewis,  came  from  Wales 
in  an  early  day  and  made  their  home  at 
Pittsburgh.  They  settled  in  Blue  Earth 
county,  Minnesota,  in  1857,  and  members  of 
the  family  participated  in  the  Sioux  War  of 
1862.  Mrs.  Scott's  father  was  wounded  by 
the  Indians,  and  an  uncle,  James  Edwards, 
met  his  death  at  the  hands  of  the  redskins. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  have  four  children,  all 


married.  They  are  as  follows:  Lewis,  of 
Custer  township;  Jane,  the  wife  of  Henry 
l^d wards;  Irwin,  of  Sodus  township;  Mabel, 
the  wife  of  Charles  Edwards,  of  Custer  town- 
ship. 


CHARLES  C.  BELLIXGHAM  (1871),  de- 
ceased. One  of  the  most  highly  esteemed 
residents  of  Lyon  county  was  the  gentleman 
whose  name  heads  this  review.  When  Mr. 
Bellingham  came  to  the  county  in  1871  and 
settled  in  the  vicinity  of  the  future  village 
of  Marshall,  there  were  only  a  few  scattered 
settlers  in  the  county  and  Lynd,  the  countj 
seat,  was  the  only  village:  no  railroad  had 
yet  penetrated  the  county  and  the  country 
was  almost  barren  of  improvements. 

Charles  C.  Bellingham's  parents  were 
Charles  Thomas  Bellingham  and  Martha 
(Long)  Bellingham.  They  came  to  America 
from  England  in  1849,  lived  at  Janesville. 
Wisconsin,  until  1854,  in  Fillmore  county, 
Minnesota,  until  1871,  and  then  moved  to 
Lyon  county.     Both  parents  died  here. 

To  these  parents,  in  London,  England. 
Charles  C.  Bellingham  was  born  March  20, 
1847.  He  was  brought  with  the  family  to 
the  United  States  when  he  was  two  years 
old  and  continued  to  make  his  home  with  his 
parents  until  after  coming  to  Lyon  county. 
He  and  his  father  and  Charles  Durst  drove 
an  ox-team  from  Fillmore  county  in  the 
spring  of  1871,  camping  on  the  night  of  May 
25  on  the  site .  of  the  city  of  Marshall. 
There  were  then  only  a  few  settlers  in  the 
vicinity,  including  C.  H.  Whitney  and  C.  H. 
Upton,  the  first  residents  of  Marshall.  A 
few  days  after  his  arrival  our  subject  se- 
lected a  homestead  three  miles  south  of  the 
future  county  seat  of  Lyon  county  and  there 
made  his  home. 

For  eighteen  years  Mr.  Bellingham  lived 
on  the  homestead;  then  he  moved  to  his 
home  on  the  outskirts  of  Marshall,  continued 
his  agricultural  career,  and  resided  there 
until  his  death  on  January  10,  1910.  He  was 
a  man  held  in  high  esteem  and  his  life  was 
one  of  activity.  Mrs.  Bellingham  still  makes 
her  home  on  the  farm  adjoining  the  city. 

Louisa  Durst  was  married  to  Mr.  Belling- 
ham in  1872.  She  was  born  in  Maryland 
November  1,  1846,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Julia  (Yeast)  Durst.  Her  parents  spent  the 
winter  of  1872  in  Lyon  county,  but  returned 


270 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


to  Maryland.  Mrs.  Bellingham's  mother  died 
in  that  state;  her  father  died  in  Fillmore 
county,  Minnesota. 

Four  children  were  born  to  Charles  Bel- 
lingham  and  wife,  namely:  Alice  (Mrs.  Ray 
.D.  Baldwin),  of  Forest  Grove,  Oregon;  Ger- 
trude, deceased;  Martha  (Mrs.  Roy  W.  Wil- 
liams), of  Lake  Marshall  township;  and 
Georgie,  who  resides  at  home. 


OLE  HELGESON  (1871)  owns  and  farms  a 
good  160  acres  of  land,  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  28,  Monroe  township.  He  was 
born  June  14,  1870,  in  Fillmore  county.  Min- 
nesota, and  when  about  a  year  old  he  ac- 
companied the  family  to  Lyon  county,  the 
trip  being  made  in  a  prairie  schooner.  The 
father,  Ole  Helgeson  Brevig,  took  a  home- 
stead on  the  quarter  section  where  our  sub- 
ject now  lives,  and  resided  on  the  place 
until  his  death  in  1892. 

Until  his  father's  death  Ole  worked  for 
him  on  the  home  farm,  afterward  farming 
the  place  for  several  years  in  partnership 
with  his  brothers,  Helge  and  Louis.  Later 
he  took  personal  control  of  the  farm  and  has 
been  conducting  the  place  with  success. 

Mr.  Helgeson  was  married  June  28,  1900, 
to  Clara  M.  Helleson,  the  wedding  occurring 
in  Monroe  township.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Fillmore  county,  Minnesota,  November  24, 
1877,  and  came  to  Lyon  county  at  the  age 
of  two  years.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  this  union.  They  are  Ingeborg  Amelia, 
born  June  26,  1902,  and  Oscar  Julius,  born 
April  7,  1905. 

Our  subject's  father  was  born  in  Norway 
on  November  9,  1840,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1869,  living  a  few  years  in  Fillmore 
county,  Minnesota,  prior  to  coming  to  Lyon 
county  in  1871.  Ingborg  (Olsdatter)  Helge- 
son, mother  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Nor- 
way and  died  in  1903,  aged  seventy  years. 

For  three  years  Ole  Helgeson  was  treas- 
urer of  school  district  No.  33,  and  he  served 
as  a  member  of  the  township  board  of  Mon- 
roe one  year.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Hol- 
and  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church. 


SAMUEL  W.  GALBRAITH  (1871),  dealer 
in  general  merchandise  and  hardware  in 
Balaton,  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  living 
in    Lyon   county,   having   a   continuous   resi- 


dence of  forty-one  years  to  his  credit.  He 
served  as  postmaster  of  Balaton  under  the 
two  Democratic  administrations  and  has  been 
a  prominent  factor  in  the  business  life  of  his 
village. 

Mr.  Galbraith  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
His  parents,  William  and  Eliza  (Woods) 
Galbraith,  were  born  in  Canada  and  died  in 
Wisconsin.  Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family 
of  five  children,  the  others  being  Charles 
and  William  J.,  of  Adams  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  Martha  Manney  and  Jenette  Tyrnel, 
of  Waupaca  county.  Wisconsin. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  at 
Rochester,  New  York,  January  8,  1841.  At 
the  age  of  one  year  he  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Logan,  Ohio,  and  when  sixteen 
years  old  moved  with  them  to  Wisconsin  and 
lived  on  a  farm  until  the  Civil  War  began. 
He  enlisted  in  Company  I,  of  the  Thirty- 
fourth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  on  No- 
vember 25,  1862,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  struggle. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Galbraith  spent  one  year 
in  Wisconsin,  farmed  for  some  time  in  Dodge 
county,  Minnesota,  and  later  in  Steele  coun- 
ty, and  on  the  ninth  day  of  June,  1871,  be- 
came a  resident  of  Lyon  county.  He  drove 
from  Steele  county  with  an  ox  team,  and  on 
the  date  mentioned  he  filed  a  homestead 
claim  to  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  28, 
Lyons  township.  He  still  owns  that  farm 
and  is  one  of  the  few  homesteaders  who  still 
own  the  land  they  secured  from  the  govern- 
ment. 

Mr.  Galbraith's  experiences  in  the  early 
days  were  not  different  from  those  remem- 
bered by  most  of  the  pioneers  of  Lyon  coun- 
ty. He  had  trying  times  but  weathered  the 
storms  of  adversity  and  has  lived  to  see 
the  county  develop  into  one  of  the  most 
fruitful  in  the  Northwest.  His  first  home 
on  the  bleak  prairie  was  a  sod  shanty,  in 
which  he  lived  two  or  three  years.  Then 
he  built  a  more  pretentious  home,  a  16x20 
feet  board  house.  The  lumber  contained  in 
the  new  building  was  sawed  from  logs  he 
cut  on  "Section  37",  that  being  the  name 
by  which  the  early  settlers  designated  a 
certain  timber  tract  in  Coon  Creek  township, 
the  mill  in  which  they  were  sawed  being  lo- 
cated at  Camden.  The  shingles  and  outside 
lumoer  were  hauled  by  ox  team  from  Man- 
kato. 

On  his  homestead  Mr.  Galbraith  continued 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


27] 


to  make  his  borne  until  1886  and  then  moved 
io  Balaton,  baving  been  appointed  postmaster 
of  that  village  by  Presidenl  Cleveland  In 
May  of  thai  year.  11«'  ;iis<>  served  a  second 
term  under  Presidenl  Cleveland.  During  his 
second  term  Mr.  Galbraith  erected  ;i  build- 
ing and  engaged  in  the  hardware  business, 
which  he  has  since  followed.  He  deals  in 
general  hardware,  shoes,  groceries,  etc.  In 
the  management  of  his  store  he  is  assisted 
by  his  son,  Walter  C,  to  whom  he  gave  a 
half  interest  in  1906.  The  business  is  now 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  S.  \V. 
Galbraith  &  Son.  Mr.  Galbraith,  in  addition 
to  his  other  duties,  attends  to  the  manage- 
ment of  his  farm,  being  the  owner  of  240 
acres  of  land. 

While  a  resident  of  Lyons  township  Mr. 
Galbraith  served  ten  or  twelve  years  as 
clerk  of  school  district  No.  11,  having  been 
the  first  clerk  of  the  district.  In  Balaton 
he  served  as  a  member  of  the  Village  Coun- 
cil four  years. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Galbraith  to  Ellen 
Orbin,  a  native  of  Port  Elizabeth.  Xew  Jer- 
sey, occurred  in  Dodge  county.  Wisconsin, 
January  14,  1863.  Seven  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  of  whom  four  are  deceased. 
The  living  children  are  Ferdinand  S.,  Walter 
C.  and  Lola  P. 


OLE  A.  BROUGHTOX  (1871),  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Vallers  township,  was  born 
on  a  small  farm  in  Vallers,  Norway,  Febru- 
ary 9,  1849,  a  son  of  Anders  and  Anna 
(Olson)  Broughton.  He  was  reared  in  his 
native  land  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  set 
out  alone  to  seek  his  fortune  in  America. 

Upon  his  arrival  in  America  young  Brough- 
ton located  in  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin,  where 
he  worked  at  farm  labor  and  in  the  pineries 
the  following  two  years.  He  then  moved  to 
Trempealeau  county  and  was  occupied  there 
until  the  spring  of  1871  in  the  pineries  and 
as  a  laborer  on  the  railroad.  Our  subject 
had  then  by  careful  saving  accumulated  $120, 
and  with  this  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
took  as  a  homestead  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  6,  Vallers  township.  The  township 
was  not  organized  at  that  time  and  there 
were  only  two  other  claims  taken  that  year, 
John  Hella  filing  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  6  and  John  Anderson  on  the 
northwest  quarter. 


Tillies     Wel'e    St  re  II 1 1(  Ills     till'    the    111  Hllesl  i  .;i  1 1 

ers,  ami  the  first  few  years  of  Mr.  Brough- 
ton's  residence  in  the  township  he  wenl 
Easl  during  the  falls  and  worked  in  the 
harvest  fields.  During  the  grasshopper 
years  the  pests  took  all  his  oats  and  he 
realized    on  1  >    about    seven    hushels   Of   wheal 

to  the  acre.  Better  years  came  before  long, 
however,  and  our  subject  prospered  and  im- 
proved his  land,  and  todaj  Mr.  Broughton's 
fine  240-acre  farm  and  fine  home  is  an  evi- 
dence1 of  his  thrift  and  perserverance.  He 
helped  organize  the  township,  attended  the 
first  election,  and  has  served  on  the  town- 
ship board  six  years.  He  has  also  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  district  No. 
56  since  it  was  organized. 

Ole  A.  Broughton  and  Helena  Nelson  were 
joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  in 
Yellow  Medicine  county  March  10,  1874.  She 
was  born  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  Janu- 
ary 23,  1859,  and  her  father  and  mother  were 
Jonas  and  Marit  (Melvatne)  Nelson,  natives 
of  Norway.  The  father  died  in  1890  and 
the  mother  lives  with  her  daughter  and 
son-in-law  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one 
years.  Seven  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Broughton.  their  names  being 
as  follows:  Andrew,  Matilda,  Annie,  An- 
neta,  John,  Julia  and  Anton.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Broughton  belong  to  the  Norwegian  Lu- 
theran church. 

ANDREW  SANDEN  (1872),  whose  parents 
were  the  first  settlers  in  Shelburne  town- 
chip,  is  a  retired  farmer  of  Florence.  Leav- 
ing the  farm  in  1902,  Mr.  Sanden  moved  to 
Florence  and  engaged  in  the  hotel  and  livery 
business.  He  sold  his  interests  in  .'.910  to 
Erick  Erickson  and  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness life.  Mr.  Sanden  is  a  stockholder  of 
the  State  Bank  of  Florence  and  still  owns 
a  200-acre  farm  in  Lincoln  county  and  an 
eighty-acre  tract  in  Lyon  county,  besides 
his  commodius  home  and  six  acres  of  land 
adjoining  Florence. 

In  1871  Peter  and  Karen  (Corneliuson) 
Sanden,  parents  of  Andrew  Sanden,  immi- 
grated to  the  United  States  from  Norway. 
The  family  located  first  in  Fillmore  county, 
Minnesota,  making  a  stay  of  only  five 
months  before  moving  to  Mankato  for  the 
winter  of  1871-1872.  In  the  fall  of  1872  the 
family  came  to  Lyon  county  and  home- 
steaded  in  Shelburne  township. 


272 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Our  subject  was  born  in  Trondhjem,  Nor- 
way. September  12,  1855.  He  attended  the 
common  schools  until  the  age  of  sixteen,  at 
which  time  the  family  moved  to  America. 
Andrew  helped  his  father  on  the  farm  during 
the  early  years  and  experienced  the  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  days.  During  the  summer 
months  from  1872  to  1876  Andrew  worked 
with  a  railroad  construction  crew.  In  1876 
a  quarter  section  in  Lincoln  county  was 
taken  by  the  subject  of  our  sketch  as  a 
homestead,  and  there  he  made  his  home  for 
twenty-six  years,  until  renting  the  place  and 
making  his  residence  in  Florence. 

March  17,  1888,  Andrew  Sanden  married 
Mary  Storle,  a  native  of  Norway  and  a 
daughter  of  Arnt  and  Olive  (Storle)  Storle. 
Mrs.  Sanden  was  born  November  6,  1867. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  the  San- 
dens.  They  are  Clara,  born  June  7,  1895, 
and  Alma,  born  July  24,  1900.  Andrew  San- 
den has  three  brothers  living,  named  Hans, 
John  and  Andrew.  Ingeborg  (Mrs.  Erick 
Ronning)  and  Melena  (Mrs.  Paul  Ronning), 
both  of  Florence,  are  sisters  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  Sanden  are  members 
of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of  Flor- 
ence. 


C.  M.  GOODRICH  (1869),  retired  farmer 
and  for  the  past  five  years  a  resident  of 
Garvin,  is  one  of  the  county's  old  settlers. 
He  is  the  owner  of  213  acres  of  well-improved 
land  in  Custer  township  and  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Farmers  Independent  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Garvin. 

The  Empire  State  is  the  birthplace  and 
boyhood  home  of  C.  M.  Goodrich.  His 
father,  Allen  Goodrich,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  his  mother,  Elizabeth  (Stev- 
ens) Goodrich,  was  born  in  Vermont  Both 
are  deceased.  Our  subject  was  born  Janu- 
ary 17.  1846,  and  his  first  years  were  spent 
in  New  York  State.  In  1S54  he  and  his 
mother  and  two  sisters  moved  to  Wisconsin 
and  made  their  home  on  a  farm.  The  follow- 
ing spring  they  moved  to  Olmsted  county, 
Minnesota,  where  they  resided  until  1858. 
Then  until  1862  they  lived  in  Waseca  county. 
Thev  returned  to  Olmsted  county  for  an- 
other year's  residence  and  later  spent  several 
years  in  Rice  county. 

In  1869  Mr.  Goodrich  and  his  mother  came 
to    Lyon    county,    and    they    took    adjoining 


homesteads  in  Custer  township  in  the  early 
seventies.  They  were  among  the  first  set- 
tlers and  their  experience  is  the  story  of 
pioneer  days,  punctuated  with  struggles  and 
hardships.  Mr.  Goodrich  farmed  on  his 
homestead  practically  all  of  the  time  from 
the  early  seventies  until  he  moved  to  Garvin 
a  few  years  ago. 

Mr.  Goodrich  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge.  He  is  a  respected  citizen  of  the 
community  and  is  enjoying  a  well-earned 
rest  after  a  lifetime  of  hard  and  honest  toil. 
He  has  watched  the  country  grow  and  pros- 
per from  the  time  where  there  was  only  an 
occasional  settler's  rude  cabin  to  be  found 
within  a  radius  of  miles  of  unbroken  prairie 
until  the  present  day,  with  farms  of  rich 
land  and  modern  buildings. 


JEROME  MORSE  (1871),  of  Lynd  town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Lyon 
county.  He  was  born  in  Colden,  Erie  coun- 
ty, New  York,  on  February  13,  1858.  His 
father,  Milo  B.  Morse,  a  native  of  Island 
Pond,  Vermont,  went  to  Colden,  New  York, 
when  a  young  man  and  married  Clarinda 
Irish,  a  native  of  Utah  City.  They  removed 
to  Columbia  county,  Wisconsin,  in  1868  and 
resided  there  one  year.  They  then  came  to 
Minnesota,  locating  in  Oronoco.  Later  they 
came  to  Lyon  county,  with  C.  H.  Whitney. 
The  father  died  at  Steele,  North  Dakota,  and 
the  mother,  aged  seventy-four  years,  still 
resides  at  Steele  with  her  three  sons.  There 
are  four  sons  living:  Jerome,  Edward,  Frank 
and  William,  the  last  three  residing  with 
their  mother.  One  daughter,  Phoebe  (Mrs. 
Robert  Bellingham),  died  in  1891. 

Jerome  Morse  came  to  Lyon  county  with 
his  father  in  1871.  The  father  pre-empted 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  4,  Lake 
Marshall  township,  now  a  part  of  the  city  of 
Marshall,  and  C.  H.  Whitney  took  the  south- 
east quarter  of  the  same  section.  They 
built  a  sod  house,  16x24  feet,  across  the 
present  Northwestern  tracks.  There  they 
lived  until  the  fall  of  1872;  then  Milo  Morse 
sold  to  the  townsite  company  and  home- 
steaded  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  6. 
Lake  Marshall  township. 

In  1877  the  father  sold  to  George  Link 
and  moved  to  Bellingham,  Lac  qui  Parle 
county,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  and 
where  our  subject  took  a  pre-emption  claim. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


273 


The  latter  lived  on  his  place  until  the  spring 
Of  1882,  when  he  went  to  Brown  county, 
South  Dakota,  and  homesteaded  land,  upon 
which  he  resided  until  1885.  He  then  moved 
to  Lac  qui  Parle  county  and  again  took  up 
his  residence  on  his  pre-empted  farm,  where 
he  resided  till  1893.  On  the  latter  date  he 
sold  out  and  went  to  Roberts  county.  South 
Dakota,  and  took  a  claim  in  the  Sisseton 
country,  where  he  resided  until  1907.  He 
then  went  to  Lewistown,  Fergus  county, 
Montana,  and  worked  at  his  trade  of  plas- 
terer until  1909.  He  returned  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  has  resided  in  Lynd  township  since. 
He  follows  his  trade  of  plasterer. 

Mr.  .Morse  was  married  in  Marshall  De- 
cember 20,  1878,  to  Melissa  Smith,  a  native 
of  Horicon,  Wisconsin,  born  May  10,  1861. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  B.  and  U.  K. 
Smith.  The  former  died  during  the  Civil 
War  in  a  hospital  at  St.  Louis.  The  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morse  was  one  of  the 
first  in  Marshall.  The  license  was  secured 
from  James  Williams,  who  was  then  clerk 
of  court.     They  have  no  children. 


GREGAR  AMUNDSON  (1872).  A  pioneer 
settler  of  Lyon  county,  one  of  the  few  men 
who  still  live  on  the  homestead  they  took  in 
an  early  day,  and  one  of  the  big  land  owners, 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Nordland  town- 
ship is  Gregar  Amundson,  who  for  forty 
years  has  lived  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  22.  His  farm  consists  of  560  acres 
on  sections  22  and  27,  improved  by  good 
substantial  buildings  and  a  fine  home.  He 
had  practically  no  means  when  he  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  his  rise  has  been  accom- 
plished by  his  own  unaided  efforts. 

In  Tellemarken,  Norway,  on  October  10, 
1850,  Gregar  Amundson  was  born.  His  par- 
ents were  Amund  and  Ragnild  (Levson)  Ol- 
son, both  of  whom  are  buried  in  the  old 
country.  In  1872,  when  he  was  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  Gregar  broke  home  ties  and 
journeyed  to  America.  After  spending  two 
months  in  Boone  county,  Iowa,  he  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  took  his  claim  in  Nordland 
township,  and  upon  that  place  he  has  ever 
since  lived.  After  passing  through  the  days 
of  adversity  that  accompanied  the  grass- 
hopper scourge,  he  came  upon  prosperous 
times  and  is  in  comfortable  circumstances. 
He  is  an  extensive  stock  raiser  and  makes 


a  specialty  of  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland 
China  hogs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church  and  a  director  of 
school  district  No.  25. 

Mr.  Amundson  was  married  in  Minneota 
May  12,  1878,  to  Annie  Furgeson.  She  was 
born  in  Winnebago  county,  Wisconsin,  De- 
cember 14,  1860.  Her  father,  Kittle  Furge- 
son, was  born  in  Norway  and  died  in  1902. 
Her  mother,  Margaret  (Helgeson)  Furgeson, 
was  also  born  in  Norway  and  now  resides 
in  Minneota  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amundson  have  twelve  chil- 
dren, named  as  follows:  Ferdinand  A.,  Carl 
M.,  Ragnild,  Fredericka,  Clara,  Freda,  Alice, 
Anna,  Rudolph,  Leonard,  Mabel  and  Abner, 


EDWIN  W.  HEALY  (1871).  The  oldest 
Lyon  county  settler  now  living  in  Tracy  is 
Edwin  W.  Healy,  who  with  his  wife  has 
for  forty-one  years  resided  continuously  in 
Monroe  township  and  the  city  of  Tracy. 
There  were  only  a  few  people  living  in 
southeastern  Lyon  county  when  they  came 
and  Mrs.  Healy  was  the  first  American-born 
woman  to  live  in  Monroe  township.  The 
family  experienced  many  of  the  hardships 
of  pioneer  days  and  are  richly  entitled  to  a 
place  in  this  History  of  Lyon  County. 

In  Dudley,  Massachusetts,  on  the  eleventh 
day  of  September,  1840,  Edwin  W.  Healy 
was  born.  His  parents  were  Davis  and 
Zeruiah  (Williams)  Healy.  Both  are  de- 
ceased, the  mother  having  lived  to  the  age 
of  ninety-three  years.  Until  he  was  ten 
years  old  Edwin  attended  the  Dudley  Hill 
school  and  later  the  public  school  at  Merino. 
He  completed  his  schooling  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  having  taken  a  course  in  Dud- 
ley Academy.  For  two  years  after  quitting 
school  Mr.  Healy  worked  in  the  mills,  and 
then  until  1868  he  worked  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  Webster  and  Dudley. 

In  the  spring  of  1868  Mr.  Healy  came 
West.  For  three  years  he  rented  land  and 
farmed  in  Houston  county,  Minnesota,  and 
then  in  1871  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
Monroe  township,  Lyon  county,  where  he  has 
ever  since  lived.  After  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Tracy  Mr.  Healy  for  a  number  of 
years  worked  at  his  trade  and  also  conducted 
a  feedmill.  Tn  thet  spring  of  1911  he  re- 
tired   from   active    pursuits. 

Mr.   Healy  owns  a   fine  home  in   the  city. 


274 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


He  was  one  of  the  first  clerks  of  Monroe 
township  and  one  of  those  who  organized 
the  Methodist  church.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  was  one  of  the  church  trustees. 

On  September  22,  1864,  occurred  the  cere- 
mony that  made  E.  W.  Healy  and  Sarah 
Bates  man  and  wife.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  Ann  (Jacobs)  Bates,  na- 
tives of  Connecticut  and  early  settlers  of 
Dudley,  Massachusetts,  and  was  born  August 
29,  1847.  They  have  two  children,  Fred  W. 
and  Arthur  F. 


OLE  L.  ORSEX  (1874),  retired  farmer, 
has  lived  in  Minneota  since  the  fall  of  1905. 
He  is  the  owner  of  320  acres  of  fine,  im- 
proved land  in  Westerheim  township  and  also 
of  a  fine  residence  and  five  lots  in  the  vil- 
lage. Mr.  Orsen  was  county  commissioner 
from  district  No.  2  eight  years  and  was 
street  commissioner  of  Minneota  one  year. 
He  is  a  stockholder  of  the  Farmers  &  Mer- 
chants Supply  Company  and  was  one  of  the 
promoters  and  organizers  of  the  Norwegian 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Eids- 
vold,  Lyon  county,  of  which  he  has  been  a 
director  since  its  organization  and  of  which 
he  was  for  twenty-one  years  secretary. 

The  Norwegian  Mutual  Company  was  in- 
corporated February  22,  1879.  The  head  of- 
fice is  at  Cottonwood.  Minnesota,  and  the 
company  is  authorized  to  do  business  in  fifty 
townships  of  the  counties  Lyon,  Lincoln  and 
Yellow  Medicine.  There  are  now  over  2400 
policy  holders  and  the  company  has  nearly 
$5,000,000  of  insurance  in  force.  The  board 
of  directors  for  1912  comprises  the  following 
members:  O.  C.  Wilson,  Granite  Falls, 
president;  C.  G.  Nelson,  Canby,  vice  presi- 
dent; A.  E.  Anderson,  Cottonwood,  sec- 
retary; I.  L.  Kolhei,  Cottonwood,  treasurer; 
O.  L.  Orsen,  Minneota:  H.  G.  Odden,  Echo; 
H.  P.  Rodness,  Clarkfield;  Chris  Wollum, 
Porter;  and  Chr.  Ramlo,  Hendricks,  direc- 
tors. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Romsdalen,  Nor- 
way, February  28,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  Lars 
O.  and  Magnild  (Aandhal)  Aasen,  both  of 
whom  are  dead.  The  parents  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1874  and  located  in  Allamakee  county, 
Iowa.  Two  children,  Ole  and  Magnild,  had 
preceded  the  family  to  America  several 
years.  The  family  moved  to  »Lyon  county 
and  took  a  homestead  on   section   18,  Wes- 


terheim. in  1875,  and  there  the  father  died 
eleven  years  later,  the  mother  living  on 
the  farm  until  ten  years  before  her  death, 
June  6.  1910,  at  the  home  of  her  son  Ole 
in  Minneota. 

Ole  Orsen  received  part  of  his  education 
in  Norway  and  later  attended  high  school 
two  years  in  Monona.  Iowa,  one  term  at 
Waukon,  and  one  year  attended  a  common 
school  of  Allamakee  county.  In  the  spring 
of  1874  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  took  a 
homestead  on  section  IS,  in  the  town  of 
Westerheim,  where  he  farmed  until  moving 
to  Minneota  in  1905.  Mr.  Orsen  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Hemnes  Lutheran  church  of  Lyon 
county  and  is  a  trustee.  He  was  the  first 
town  clerk  of  Westerheim,  holding  office  four 
years,  served  on  the  town  board,  school 
board  and  .as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  township.  To 
him  belongs  the  honor  of  bestowing  the  name 
Westerheim  upon  the  township. 

In  1878  Ole  Orsen  married  Theoline 
Strande,  a  native  of  Westre  Thoten,  Norway. 
They  have  the  following  children:  Amalia. 
Lewis,  Nickolai  Martinus,  Alfred,  Ludwig, 
Magnild,  Theoline.  Mamie  Attilia,  Nora  So- 
phia and  .Martin  Olai. 


REESE  DAVIS  (1871).  One  of  the  oldest 
settlers  of  Lyon  county  now  residing  in  the 
county  and  a  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Marshall  is  Reese  Davis.  For  more  than 
forty-one  years  he  has  had  a  continuous 
residence  in  the  county  and  he  has  seen  it 
develop  from  a  sparsely  settled,  treeless  ex- 
panse of  prairie  to  the  populous  and  prosper- 
ous conditions  of  today.  Only  a  few  men 
have  had  more  opportunity  than  he  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  history  making  of  Lyon 
county. 

In  South  Wales,  on  April  15,  1844,  Reese 
Davis  was  born.  At  the  age  of  three  years 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  the  New 
World  and  grew  to  young  manhood  in  Jack- 
son county,  Ohio.  When  a  little  past  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  on  October  15,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  the  Union  Army  and  fought  for 
the  preservation  of  his  adopted  country-  He 
served  four  years  and  seven  months  as  a 
member  of  Company  C,  Fifty-sixth  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  having  been  discharged  in 
May,  1866. 

Among    the    battles    in    which    Mr.    Davis 


MR.  AND  MRS.  REESE  DAVIS 
Residents  of  Marshall  and   Pioneers  of  Lyon  County. 


BHMJKAI'IIU'AL  HISTORY. 


■jt:> 


participated  during  his  service  were  the  fol- 
lowing: Pittsburgh  Landing,  April  6,  1862; 
siege  of  Corinth,  May,  1862;  Port  Gibson, 
.May.  1863;  Champion  Hill,  May.  1863;  siege 
of  Vicksburg,  May,  June  and  July,  INC.:;; 
Jackson,  July  12  to  15,  1863;  Carrion  Crow 
Bayou.  November,  1863;  Sabine  Cross  Roads, 
April,  1864;  Monette  Ferry,  April,  1864; 
Snaggy  Point,  May,  1864;  and  many  minor 
engagements.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
was  stationed  with  his  regiment  at  New  Or- 
leans. Because  of  threatened  trouble  in 
Mexico,  his  regiment  was  retained  in  the 
service  for  a  year  after  the  close  of  the 
war. 

Upon  receiving  his  discharge  in  May, 
1866,  Mr.  Davis  returned  to  his  home  in 
Jackson  county  and  went  through  a  siege 
of  serious  illness.  Upon  the  advice  of  his 
physician  to  seek  a  change  of  climate,  in 
September,  1S66,  Mr.  Davis  moved  to  Blue 
Earth  county,  Minnesota.  There  he  pur- 
chased an  -eighty-acre  tract  of  land,  upon 
which  he  resided  until  he  came  to  Lyon 
county. 

It  was  during  the  month  of  June.  1871,  that 
Mr.  Davis  located  in  the  county  which  has 
ever  since  been  his  home.  He  took  as  a 
soldier's  homestead  claim  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  8,  Monroe  township,  on  which 
he  resided  about  eight  years,  and  to  which 
he  secured  title.  His  first  home  was  a 
12x16  feet  dug-out,  and  Mr.  Davis  asserts 
that  some  of  the  happiest  days  of  his  life 
were  passed  in  that  rude  shelter.  The  dug- 
out was  later  replaced  by  a  frame  house. 
During  the  summer  of  1872  Mr.  Davis  had  a 
contract  to  do  the  grading  for  the  Winona 
&  St.  Peter  railroad  between  Lamberton  and 
the  future  city  of  Tracy. 

Mr.  Davis  lived  on  the  farm  until  the  rail- 
road was  built  westward  from  Tracy  in 
1879.  Then  he  moved  to  Tracy  and  worked 
with  the  bridge  builders  on  the  new  line 
between  Tracy  and  Huron.  He  resided  in 
Tracy  until  1887,  part  of  the  time  working 
at  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  the  year  last 
mentioned  Mr.  Davis  took  up  his  residence 
in  the  county  seat,  where  he  has  ever  since 
lived.  Until  ten  years  ago  he  worked  at  his 
trade,  and  since  that  time  he  has  lived  a  re- 
tired life.  Mr.  Davis  is  a  member  of  Joe 
Hooker  Post  No.  15,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Tracy.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Marshall  and  has  been  an  elder  of  the  church 


since  iis  organization  twenty-o.ie   years  ago. 

The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  biogra 
phy  were  Thomas  E.  and  Nancy  Da\is. 
They  came  to  the  United  States  in  L847 
and  both  died  in  Ohio.  Four  children  of 
the  family  are  living,  as  follows:  Reese,  of 
this  review;  Daniel,  of  Ironton,  Ohio;  Jane 
Davis,  a  widow,  of  Columbus,  Ohio;  and 
Ann  Morgan,  of  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Reese  Davis  was  married  in  Blue  Earth 
county,  Minnesota,  January  22,  1868,  to  Jane 
Jones,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  the  fol- 
lowing named  five  children:  Esther,  the 
wife  of  William  Russell,  of  Moorhead,  Min- 
nesota; Mary,  the  wife  of  Oscar  Krook,  post- 
master of  Marshall;  Thomas  E.  and  John  I. 
(twins),  the  former  mayor  of  Marshall  and 
a  prominent  attorney;  and  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Thomas  Regney,  of  Laurel,  Montana. 


JOHN  S.  OWENS  (1S74)  owns  120  acres 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  26,  Cus- 
ter township,  and  is  one  of  the  prosperous 
farmers  of  the  community.  His  parents, 
Robert  and  Hannah  (Jones)  Owens,  came 
to  Minnesota  from  Kansas  and  lived  for  a 
time  in  Brown  county  before  moving  to 
Lyon  county  in  1874.  The  father  is  dead 
and  the  mother  is  living  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Weed,  at  Garvin. 

John  Owens  was  born  in  Leavenworth, 
Kansas,  August  25,  1858,  and  while  very 
young  moved  with  his  parents  to  Brown 
county,  Minnesota.  The  lad  received  his 
early  education  in  Brown  county  and  fin- 
ished it  in  the  common  schools  of  Custer 
township,  Lyon  county.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen,  his  schooling  being  finished,  John 
worked  out  at  farm  labor  three  years,  after 
which  he  returned  to  work  on  the  home 
farm  until  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  when 
he  married  and  moved  to  his  present  farm, 
land  which  he  had  taken  as  a  homestead 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  Mr. 
Owens  has  prospered  and  owns  a  valuable 
piece  of  farm  land.  He  has  been  road  over- 
seer of  the  township  and  is  a  stockholder  of 
the  Farmers  Independent  Elevator  Company 
and  the  telephone  company  of  Garvin. 

April  21,  1886,  was  the  date  of  the  wed- 
ding of  John  Owens  and  Sephorah  Roberts, 
a  native  of  Wales.  She  was  born  March  25. 
1866,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Richard  and 
Mary  Roberts,  pioneer  settlers  of  Lyon  coun- 


276 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ty  and  Lyons  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owens 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Lizzie  May,  Minnie.  Winnie,  Marion,  Esther, 
Hazel  and  Garvin,  all  of  whom,  except  Win- 
nie, reside  at  home.  Mrs.  Owens'  father 
is  dead  and  her  mother  resides  at  Russell. 
Mr.  Owens  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
lodge  of  Garvin  and  was  formerly  an  officer 
of  the  lodge.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of   the   Congregational   church. 


RICHARD  BLAKE  (1872),  Lake  Marshall 
township  farmer,  is  a  native  of  Ireland 
and  was  born  at  Kilcaske  in  1848.  He  is 
the  son  of  Charles  and  Mary  I  McCarthy) 
!',!ake.  of  whom  the  former  died  in  Ire- 
land and  the  latter  died  in  Minnesota  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years. 

When  twelve  or  thirteen  years  of  age  our 
subject  came  to  America  with  his  mother 
and  brothers,  locating  in  Boston.  Massachu- 
setts, where  the  family  resided  about  eight- 
een months.  He  then  moved  to  Grant 
county.  Wisconsin,  where  he  workpd  at  farm 
labor  and  later  at  the  trade  of  blacksmith 
in  Platteville  for  several  years.  The  year 
1872  marks  the  date  of  his  arrival  in  Lyon 
county,  when  he  filed  on  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  18,  Fail-view  township,  as  a 
homestead.  He  proved  up  on  his  claim  and 
improved  it.  Later  he  purchased  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  13,  Grandview  town- 
ship, upon  which  he  built  and  where  he  lived 
until  19tr4.  On  the  latter  date  he  moved 
to  Marshall  and  spent  the  winter  there.  In 
the  spring  he  moved  to  a  forty-acre  tract 
on  section  10,  Lake  Marshall  township,  which 
he  owned.  Later  he  purchased  forty  acres 
adjoining,  making  the  eighty-acre  farm  upon 
which  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Blake  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church. 

Our  subject  was  married  at  Platteville. 
Wisconsin.  November  20,  1870,  to  Margaret 
Hanlon,  a  native  of  Ireland.  To  them  were 
born  the  following  children:  Charles  P., 
born  June  26,  1872,  died  May  11,  1874:  Mary 
<"..  born  August  6,  1874:  John  W..  born 
March  10,  1877;  Richard  J.,  born  March  1, 
1879.  died  December  29,  1880;  Samuel  H., 
born  April  19,  1881,  died  February  22,  1885; 
Fred  S.,  born  September  8,  1883,  died  Janu- 
ary 24.  1S84.  Mrs.  Blake  died  January  31. 
1884. 

Mr.    Blake    was    married    a    second    time, 


February,  1885,  to  Mary  Versnick,  a  native 
of  Belgium.  She  was  born  November  IS. 
1864,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Philip  and  Rosalie 
(De  Bert)  Versnick.  To  this  union  have 
been  born  the  following  named  children: 
Elizabeth  Julia  Mae,  born  September  13, 
1885;  Charles  E.,  born  June  15,  1887;  Syl- 
vester F.,  born  December  12,  1888:  James 
E..  born  April  14.  1891;  Richard  W..  born 
February  28.  1893;  Margaret  E.,  born  July 
19.  1895;  William  J.,  born  December  19. 
1898;  Leonard  W.,  born  April  23,  1901;  Ed- 
ward L..  born  February  24,  1903:  Irene  H.. 
born  October  3,  1905;  Vincent  George,  born 
Februarv  23.  1908. 


MRS.  OLAVA  MYRAX  (1874)  is  the  widow 
of  C.  P.  Myran,  and  she  and  her  husband 
were  early  settlers  of  Lyon  county  and 
among  the  first  in  Shelburne  township.  Mr. 
Myran  died  September  28,  1907,  and  the 
widow  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead 
farm,  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  20. 
The  farm  is  run  by  two  of  her  sons.  Ole 
and  Peder.  Mrs.  Myran  also  owns  forty 
acres  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
19,  Shelburne.  She  was  among  the  first 
members  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church 
of  Florence. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Opdahl,  Nor- 
way, where  she  was  born  December  21,  1850, 
a  daughter  of  Ole  and  Brielt  (Storlie)  Gor- 
seth,  both  of  her  parents  being  now  de- 
ceased. She  attended  school  during  her 
early  teens  and  remained  at  home  helping 
her  parents.  In  1S71  Miss  Gorseth  came  to 
the  United  States  in  company  with  Mr.  and 
.Mis.  Peder  Myran,  the  parents  of  the  young 
man  she  later  married.  The  young  woman 
worked  for  private  families  in  Mankato  two 
years  and  then  came  to  Lyon  county,  where 
soon  after  occurred  her  marriage  to  C.  P. 
Myran. 

The  young  couple  made  their  home  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  20,  which  Mr. 
Myran  had  taken  as  a  homestead  in  1872 
and  which  has  been  Mrs.  Myran's  home 
since  her  marriage.  The  Myrans  experienced 
the  trials  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  lived 
through  the  grasshopper  era  and  the  ter- 
rible winters  of  the  early  eighties,  and  wel- 
comed the  prosperous  years  that  followed. 
Mrs.  Myran  has  watched  the  growth  of  the 
countv  from  an  unbroken   prairie  to  one  of 


I'.HMJKANIICAL  HISTORY. 


277 


the  besl  rarming  regions  In  the  Northwest. 

Mr.  am]  Mis.  c.  p.  m>  ran  were  the  par- 
ents of  eleven  children:  Peder  (deceased), 
born  December  3,  1873;  Ole  (deceased),  bom 
December  13,  1^77;  Peder,  born  October  26, 
1875;  Ole.  born  January  29,  1881;  Andrew 
(deceased),  born  January  27.  1891;  Carrie, 
born  January  2,  1879;  Lena,  born  June  l". 
i^:;  Olive,  born  October  4.  1887;  Inga  (de- 
ceased), born  October  4.  iss;:  [nga,  born 
August  23,  1895;  and  Henry,  born  August 
26,   1885. 


ELLSWORTH  EVANS  (1873)  is  a  suc- 
cessful Monroe  township  farmer  who  has 
seen  the  country  develop  from  a  wild  prairie 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  present  day.  His 
father,  Solomon  Evans,  was  born  in  Newton, 
Wales,  in  ISIS  and  came  to  America  about 
1844|  settling  in  Utica,  Xew  York,  and  later 
moving  to.  Wisconsin.  In  June  1863,  he 
settled  in  Blue  Earth  county.  Minnesota,  and 
ten  years  later  took  a  homestead  in  Custer 
township,  Lyon  county,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death  on  February  16,  1894.  Solomon 
Evans'  wife,  Anna  (Evans)  Evans,  was  born 
in  Newton,  Wales,  in  1818  and  died  June  26, 
1896,  in  Lyon  county. 

At  Oconomowoc.  Waukesha  county.  Wis- 
consin, Ellsworth  Evans  was  born  Decem- 
ber 19,  1861.  When  about  one  and  one- 
half  years  of  age  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Blue  Earth  county,  and  later  he 
came  with  them  to  Lyon  county.  He  lived 
on  the  old  homestead  until  six  years  after 
his  marriage  in  1891.  Ellsworth  acquired  his 
education  in  the  country  schools  and  dur- 
ing his  young  manhood  witnessed  the  trying 
experiences  of  the  grasshopper  days  and 
the  big  blizzards.  The  family  home  in  Cus- 
ter was  built  of  lumber  hauled  from  New 
LTlm,  and  this  rude  cabin  was  covered  with 
sod.     The  building  still  stands  on  the  place. 

Ellsworth  Evans  was  married  July  16, 
1891,  in  Monroe  township,  to  Mary  Edwards. 
She  was  born  in  Cambria,  Blue  Earth  county, 
Minnesota,  April  2,  1867,  a  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Margaret  (Davis)  Edwards.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans  have  been  born  two 
children,  Roger  and  Raymond,  July  15,  1892, 
and  January  1,  1894,  being  the  respective 
dates  of  their  birth.  Our  subject  farmed 
the  old  place  for  six  years  after  his  mar- 
riage  and  then   moved  to  the  west  half  of 


the  northwest   quarter  of  section  30  in   Moil 
roe     township,     which     has    since    been    his 
home. 

Mr.  Evans  raises  considerable  stock  in  ad- 
dition to  his  general  farming.  He  is  a  share- 
holder in  the  Garvin  Co-operative  Elevator 
Company  and  is  a  director  and  was  for  many 
w:irs  the  president  of  the  Garvin  Creamery 
Company.  For  the  last  five  years  he  has 
been  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
of  tin'  township,  of  which  he  was  previously 
a  member,  and  he  has  served  on  the  board 
of  directors  of  school  district  Xo.  72.  In 
addition  to  his  eighty-acre  farm  on  section 
30,  Mr.  Evans  owns  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  2  1  and  forty-six  acres  on  sec- 
tion   19. 


JOHN  MONROE  I  1874)  is  a  retired  farmer 
of  Cottonwood  and  is  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Stanley  town  shin.  His  father,  Wil- 
liam Monroe,  and  his  mother,  Martha  (Mc- 
Farland)  Monroe,  were  both  natives  of  Cape 
Britain,  and  the  father  when  a  young  man 
was  employed  as  a  sailor  on  vessels  plying 
the  waters  in  the  vicinity  of  Halifax  and 
on  the  Great  Lakes. 

John  Monroe  was  born  in  Bruce  county, 
Ontario,  February  16,  1S60,  and  when  he 
was  only  fourteen  years  old  the  family  moved 
to  Lyon  county,  the  father  taking  a  home- 
stead in  Stanley  township,  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  2.  That  was  our  subject's 
home  for  the  next  fourteen  years,  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-eight  he  bought  a  quarter 
on  section  36,  Lucas  township,  and  there 
pursued  his  vocation  of  farmer  until  bring- 
ing the  family  to  Cottonwood  to  live  some 
thirteen  years  ago. 

Since  making  his  home  in  the  village  Mr. 
Monroe  has  served  eight  years  as  police 
officer.  His  record  in  that  office  and  his 
integrity  and  high  standing  as  a  public  citi- 
zen made  him  a  formidable  candidate  for 
the  office  of  sheriff  in  the  election  of  1910. 
Mr.  Monroe  being  defeated  by  Mr.  Grannan, 
the  present  incumbent,  by  only  sixty-four 
votes.  Mr.  Monroe  has  spent  some  time  in 
the  Rainy  Lake  region,  having  purchased 
timber  land  in  Beltrami  county  a  few  years 
ago. 

'  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
in  Stanley  township  February  5,  1892,  to 
Sadie    E.    Gary,    a    daughter   of   John    Gary. 


278 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


a  Stanley  township  settler  of  1874.  Mrs. 
Monroe's  birthplace  is  Ontario,  Canada.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monroe  are  Gladys 
and  Howard.  A  son,  Leland,  died  when 
three  years  old. 

Fraternally,  John  Monroe  is  a  member  of 
the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  the  Masonic  lodges, 
and  his  wife  belongs  to  Equity  Lodge  Xo. 
221,  of  Cottonwood. 

The  aged  father  of  John  Monroe  died  in 
1910,  having  lived  to  be  eighty-seven  years 
of  age.  He  lived  on  the  old  Stanley  town- 
ship homestead  until  the  death  of  his  wife 
fifteen  years  ago.  Afterwards  he  returned 
to  his  old  home  in  Cape  Britain,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death. 


ALVAH  R.  TOWX  (1871),  manager  of  the 
elevator  of  the  Eagle  Roller  Mills  at  Bala- 
ton, came  to  Lyon  county  when  he  was 
only  two  years  of  age.  He  is  the  son  of 
two  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Rock  Lake 
township,  who  now  live  in  Balaton. 

His  parents,  Alvah  S.  and  Sarah  R.  (Clark) 
Town,  were  born  in  the  eastern  states,  set- 
tled in  Indiana  in  an  early  day,  resided  there 
a  number  of  years,  and  in  1871  became  resi- 
dents of  Lyon  county.  Alvah  S.  Town  and 
his  three  brothers,  Lucius,  Julius  and  Ralph, 
came  together  and  each  took  as  a  home- 
stead a  quarter  of  section  22,  Rock  Lake 
township,  adjoining  the  present  platted  vil- 
lage of  Balaton.  Of  these  brothers,  Lucius 
still  lives  on  the  homestead,  Julius  is  dead, 
and  Ralph  lives  at  Rockford,  Illinois. 

Alvah  Town's  claim  was  the  southeast 
quarter  of  the  section.  On  it  he  erected  a 
little  shack  with  lumber  hauled  from  Heron 
Lake,  in  which  the  family  lived  several 
years.  The  devastation  brought  by  the  grass- 
hoppers proved  too  much  for  the  Town  fam- 
ily, and  in  1875  they  left  the  country  and 
returned  to  their  former  homes  in  Indiana. 
Ten  years  later,  however,  they  returned, 
lived  on  the  farm  two  years,*and  since  that 
date  have  lived  in  Balaton.  Besides  our 
subject  there  is  one  other  child  in  the  fam- 
ily. Erne  (Mrs.  Elmer  Hughes),  of  Flint, 
Indiana. 

Alvah  R.  Town,  the  subject  of  this  review, 
was  born  at  Salem,  Indiana,  February  12, 
1869.  He  came  to  Lyon  county  with  his  par- 
ents in  1871,  returned  to  Indiana  with  them 
in  187".  and  came  back  to  the  county  again 


in  1885.  After  spending  two  years  on  the 
farm  he  became  a  resident  of  Balaton,  and 
that  village  has  since  been  his  home.  Alvah 
worked  in  the  Balaton  creamery  two  years 
and  then  took  up  carpenter  work,  which  he 
followed  until  1902.  That  year  the  Eagle 
Roller  Mills  erected  an  elevator  in  Balaton 
and  Mr.  Town  was  given  the  position  of 
manager,  which  he  has  since  filled. 

The  Eagle  Roller  Mills  elevator  was 
erected  in  Balaton  in  the  fall  of  1902.  The 
head  office  of  the  company  is  at  Xew  Ulm, 
from  which  it  operates  twenty-four  plants 
in  Minnesota  and  thirty-nine  in  South  Da- 
kota. The  present  officers  are  as  follows: 
Charles  Salverson,  president;  William  Sal- 
verson,  first  vice  president;  J.  H  Siegel.  sec- 
ond vice  president;  Charles  Vogtel,  secre- 
tary; H.  L.  Beecher,  treasurer.  The  com- 
pany deals  in  grain,  coal,  flour  and  feed. 

Mr.  Town  was  married  at  Balaton  in 
March,  1889,  to  Frankie  L.  Jones,  a  native 
of  Waseca  county.  Minnesota.  To  them  have 
been  born  the  following  named  seven  chil- 
dren: Jule.  Verne,  Harold,  Bessie,  Roy, 
Helen  and  Lulu.  Mr.  Town  holds  member- 
ship in  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  M.  W.  A.  lodges. 


JASPER  L.  HAVENS  (1874)  is  the  owner 
of  a  fine  quarter  section  farm  in  Amiret 
township  and  has  been  a  continuous  resi- 
dent of  the  county  for  the  past  thirty-three 
years.  He  was  born  in  Green  county,  Wis- 
consin. Xovember  23,  1859,  and  is  a  son-  of 
Luther   and    Lovina    (Palmer)    Havens. 

Luther  and  Lovina  Havens,  natives  of 
Xew  York,  moved  to  Wisconsin  when  quite 
young.  The  father  was  a  farmer,  and  when 
the  Civil  War  broke  out  he  enlisted.  His 
army  service  broke  his  health  and  he  died 
in  1865,  at  which  time  the  subject  of  our 
sketch  was  only  six  years  old.  When  eight 
years  of  age  Jasper  moved  with  his  mother 
to  Waseca,  Minnesota,  and  four  years  later 
he  was  placed  in  the  Soldiers'  Orphans  Home 
at  Winona,  where  he  remained  until  1874. 

Jasper's  mother  married  again,  moved  to 
Lyon  county  in  1873,  and  took  as  a  home- 
stead the  southeast  quarter  of  section  24. 
Amiret  township.  There  our  subject  went  to 
live  in  1874,  and  the  next  few  years  were 
spent  in  working  out  at  farm  labor  in  Amiret 
township  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Waseca,  to 
which   place   he   returned   for  a   period.     In 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


L'7!' 


1879  .Mr.  Havens  and  his  two  brothers  proved 
up  on  a  homestead,  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  24,  Amiret   township,  to  which  they 

had  fallen  heir  upon  the  death  of  their 
father.  Later  Jasper  bought  his  brothers' 
interests  and  is  now  proprietor  of  the  quar 
ter  section. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  stock- 
holder of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company, 
The  Creamery  Company  of  Tracy,  and  the 
Amiret  State  Bank.  He  has  been  called 
upon  to  serve  the  township  on  its  governing 
board  and  was  clerk  of  school  district  No. 
23  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

The  ceremony  which  united  Jasper  Havens 
and  Elizabeth  Purves  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  was  performed  in  Amiret  town- 
ship September  30,  1889.  She  was  born 
in  Waukesha  county.  Wisconsin,  November 
L3,  1868.  and  is  a  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Elizabeth  (Johnston)  Purves.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Scotland  and  both  are  de- 
ceased, the  father  having  died  in  1889  and 
the  mother  in  190S. 


THOMAS  D.  SEALS  (1874)  is  the  oldest 
living  settler  of  Minneota  and  a  man  who  has 
played  a  most  important  part  in  the  affairs 
of  that  village.  He  has  seen  the  town  grow 
from  a  place  of  two  shacks  to  the  prosperous 
municipality  of  today.  He  has  been  en- 
gaged continuously  in  business,  there  for 
thirty-six  years,  his  business  interests  now- 
consisting  of  a  general  merchandise  store, 
a  wholesale  produce  establishment  and 
farming. 

The  pioneer  whose  name  heads  this  review 
is  of  Scotch-German,  ancestry-  His  father, 
Spencer  Seals,  was  born  in  Scotland  and 
early  in  life  became  a  resident  of  Penn- 
sylvania; his  mother  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  German  ancestry.  Both  parents 
died  when  our  subject  was  a  child. 

Thomas  D.  Seals  was  born  to  these  par- 
ents while  they  were  residents  of  Penn- 
sylvania but  while  on  a  journey  in  Tennes- 
see. The  date  of  his  birth  was  October  23, 
.  1837.  His  life  has  been  an  eventful  one. 
Left  an  orphan  at  a  tender  age,  he  grew 
to  manhood  in  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  received  his  education. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  Mr. 
Seals  joined  the  volunteers   in  the   defense 


of  his  country, "serving  in  both  the  army  and 
navy.  He  enlisted  in  the  navy  in  New  York 
and  his  ship,  the  Galata,  saw  service  in 
Southern  waters.  Part  of  the  time  it  acted 
as  convoy  to  mail  steamers  and  visited  many 
foreign  waters,  its  principal  station  being 
Hayti.  Mr.  Seals  was  in  the  army  at  the 
time  of  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  he  was 
wounded  in  that  engagement,  lie  was  in 
the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

After  peace  was  declared  Mr.  Seals  spent 
several  years  traveling,  visiting  the  South 
and  many  parts  of  the  western  frontier.  He 
made  the  trip  to  California  in  1870  and  made 
the  trip  up  the  Missouri  river  from  St.  Louis 
to  Yankton  with  General  Custer  in  the  spring. 
of  1872.  Our  subject  located  in  Flandreau 
a  little  later  and  opened  a  store  and  trading- 
post  for  the  Sioux  trade.  He  then  estab- 
lished a  store  at  Lake  Benton,  conducted  it 
a  year,  and  then  moved  the  stock  to  Marsh- 
field,  Lincoln  county,  and  founded  the  first 
business  enterprise  there.  A  few  months 
later,  in  November,  1874,  he  moved  the  stock 
to  Minneota,  where  he  has  ever  since  been 
in  business. 

Mr.  Seals  selected  that  location  after  look- 
ing the  country  over  with  a  view  to  finding 
a  healthful  place  in  which  to  live.  At  that 
time  he  weighed  only  100  pounds  and  was 
a  dyspeptic.  He  has  never  been  ill  since 
and  soon  after  locating  at  Minneota  he 
weighed  150  pounds.  He  attributes  it  to 
the  healthfulness  of  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try. 

Upon  his  arrival  to  Minneota  in  the  fall  of 
1874  Mr.  Seals  found  the  town  to  consist 
of  only  two  buildings,  a  blacksmith  shop 
and  N.  W.  L.  Jager's  little  shack  contain- 
ing a  few  goods.  He  engaged  in  the  drug 
and  general  merchandise  business  and  soon 
had  a  prosperous  trade.  At  the  present  time, 
besides  his  business  interests  in  Minneota, 
Mr.  Seals  devotes  his  time  to  farming,  he 
and  the  family  owning  about  600  acres  of 
land  in  Yellow  Medicine  county.  For  twenty- 
years  Mr.  Seals  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  for  Minneota.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

In  Minneota,  on  December  28,  1879,  Mr. 
Seals  was  united  in  marriage  to  Edith  Ken- 
yon,  a  native  of  Minnesota  and  a  daughter 
of  Charles  P.  and  Amanda  M.  Kenyon,  early 
settlers  of  Lyon  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seals 
have   an   adopted    daughter,    Dorothy    Seals. 


280 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


who   is    fourteen    years   of   age   and    a   high 
school  student. 

Mr.  Seals  has  a  sister,  Anna  C.  Spinks, 
of  Tennessee,  and  a  half-sister,  Mrs.  R.  T. 
White,  of  Alabama. 


MRS.  AXXA  MASTERS  (1868),  resident 
of  Garvin,  is  the  widow  of  Henry  G.  Mas- 
ters, who  died  in  May,  1908.  She  was  born 
at  Dayton,  Ohio,  August  17,  1836,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Russell  and  Amanda  (Gunn) 
Randall,  both  of  whom  are  deceased. 

Henry  C.  Masters  was  born  in  Springfield, 
Illinois,  May  27,  1831.  His  parents  were 
Robert  and  Nancy  Ami  (Taylor)  Masters. 
February  24,  1856,  he  was  married  to  Anna 
Randall  of  this  sketch.  To  this  union  the 
following  children  were  born:  Edwin  (de- 
ceased), George  (deceased),  Frank,  Samuel, 
Luanna  (Mrs.  Edward  Edwards),  of  Gar- 
vin:   Maxson  and  Clark. 

Our  subject  and  her  husband  were  among 
the  very  first  settlers  in  Lyon  county.  They 
took  a  homestead  in  Custer  township  in 
1868  and  commenced  farming.  In  those  days 
the  settlers  were  compelled  to  drive  to  New 
Ulm  for  groceries  and  their  mail,  a  distance 
of  about  eigh:y  miles,  and  the  story  of  their 
early  years  in  the  county  is  the  story  of  the 
earliest  pioneer  residents.  Mr.  Masters 
died  in  Kalispel  during  a  trip  to  Montana 
in  1882. 


MRS.  ERICK  ROXXIXG  (1872)  is  the 
widow  of  Erick  Ronning,  one  of  the  earliest 
homesteaders  in  Shelburne  township,  who 
died  in  July,  1908.  She  is  the  owner  of  a 
comfortable  home  and  twenty-five  acres  of 
land  adjoining  Florence. 

Airs.  Erick  Ronning  was  born  in  Trond- 
hjem,  Xorway,  December  23,  1843,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Anderson  and  Carrie  (Corneliu- 
son)  Sanden,  neither  of  whom  is  living. 
Our  subject  attended  school  in  Xorway  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two  she  came  with  the 
family  to  this  country.  In  1870  she  was 
married  to  Erick  Ronning,  a  native  of  Xor- 
way. She  and  her  husband  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  1872  and  settled  in  Shelburne, 
where  the  husband  farmed  until  his  death. 
Mrs.  Ronning  has  since  lived  in  town.  The 
Ronnings  w^ere  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:     Knute,  born  March  10,  1871;   Pe- 


ter, born  June  27,  1873;  Menna,  born  No- 
vember 10,  1875;  Carrie,  born  April  12,  1878; 
Edward,  born  August  22,  1880;  and  Inga, 
born  August  21,  1882. 

Mrs.  Erick  Ronning  has  been  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  Xorwegian  Lutheran 
church. 


R.  M.  ADDISOX  (1872)  is  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  R.  M.  Addison  &  Son. 
hardware  dealers  of  Marshall,  and  he  is  the 
pioneer  business  man  of  that  city.  He  has 
played  a  most  important  part  in  the  his- 
tory of  Marshall  during  the  forty  years  of 
his  residence  in  that  city  and  has  done 
much  toward  the  upbuilding  of  the  city.  He 
has  served  as  mayor  of  Marshall  and  was 
treasurer  of  Lyon  county  one  term.  For 
the  past  twenty  years  Mr.  Addison  has  been 
vice  president  of  the  First  Xational  Bank 
of  Marshall. 

In  Manchester,  England,  our  subject  was 
born.  When  a  child  he  accompanied  the 
family  to  America  and  for  a  time  lived  in 
Providence.  Rhode  Island.  When  he  was 
ten  years  of  age  the  family  came  West  and 
settled  in  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
there  he  grew  to  man's  estate.  On  the  thir- 
teenth day  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  Addison 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  E,  Twenty- 
third  Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  served  in  the 
old  army  of  the  Tennessee  under  General 
Grant.  He  participated  in  the  Vicksburg 
campaign  and  other  engagements  in  the  rear 
of  Vicksburg.  including  Port  Gibson,  Jack- 
son,' Big  Black  River  Bridge.  Champion  Hill, 
etc.  At  DeCroe's  Point,  Texas,  two  years 
after  he  entered  the  army,  he  was  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant.  He  was  the  highest 
commissioned  officer  of  his  company  and  was 
in  command  during  the  rest  of  the  war. 
bringing  the  company  back  to  Wisconsin  for 
muster  out.  The  father  of  our  subject.  Rob- 
ert M.  Addison,  served  as  a  surgeon  in  the 
Twenty-ninth  Wisconsin  Regiment  during 
the  Civil  War. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Addison  located  at 
Waseca,  Minnesota,  formed  a  partnership 
with  William  Everett,  now  deceased,  erected 
the  first  business  building  in  that  village  in 
1867,  and  engaged  in  business  there  until 
his  removal  to  .Marshall  late  in  1S72.  For 
the  purpose  of  engaging  in  business  in  the 
new  town  of  Marshall,  the  firm  of  William 


15HMJUAHIICAL   HISTORY 


•jsi 


Everetl  &  Companj  was  formed,  composed 
of  William  Everett,  K.  M.  Addison  and 
Charles  A.  DeGraff,  the  latter  the  head  of 
the  railroad  contracting  firm  which  was 
building  the  railroad  through  Lyon  county. 

M  r.  Addison  hauled  lumber  from  New  Ulm 
and  erected  the  first  building  for  business 
purposes  in  the  village.  The  railroad  was 
then  being  built  and  the  town  had  not  yet 
been  platted.  The  frame  shanty  he  erected, 
16x13  feet  with  a  lean-to,  was  put  up  in 
what  proved  to  be  a  street,  directly  in  front 
of  the  site  of  the  present  Lyon  County  Na- 
tional Bank.  In  that  building  Mr.  Addison 
began  his  business  career  in  Marshall.  The 
firm  carried  a  large  stock  of  goods  and  the 
railroad  workmen  patronized  it  liberally. 
The  daily  sales  at  the  store  at  times  reached 
$2000  to  $2500.  At  the  time  of  locating  in 
the  town  Mr.  Addison  also  engaged  in  the 
implement  business  in  partnership  with  H. 
Tripp,  who  carried  the  mail  between  Red- 
wood Falls  and  Lynd.  Mr.  Tripp  was  a 
prominent  man  in  the  early  history  of  the 
county  and  had  many  friends.  The  partners 
established  their  business  on  the  corner  back 
of  the  present  Addison  Block — a  business 
now  conducted  by  R.  M.  Addison  &  Son. 

After  the  completion  of  the  railroad  to 
Marshall  Mr.  Addison  and  S.  H.  Mott  pur- 
chased the  pioneer  store  of  William  Everett 
&  Company,  ahd  two  years  later  our  subject 
became  the  sole  proprietor  of  the  business. 
He  conducted  the  store  for  a  time  in  the 
building  on  the  corner  now  owned  by  Ar- 
thur Drew  and  later  occupied  the  Reichert 
Block.  In  1887  he  erected  the  handsome 
business  block  he  now  occupies  and  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business  exclusively.  For 
a  few  years  Frank  Reed  was  a  partner  in 
the  business,  and  twelve  years  ago  Harry 
Addison  became  his  partner,  since  which 
time  the  firm  has  been  styled  R.  M.  Addi- 
son &  Son. 

R.  M.  Addison  was  married  at  Waseca, 
Minnesota,  in  February,  1867,  to  Ella  A. 
Wood,  a  native  of  New  York  State.  She 
died  in  Marshall  in  February,  1906.  Mr. 
Addison  has  three  children:  Harry,  Edith 
(Mrs.  S.  Kennan),  of  Helena,  Montana;  and 
Robert  M.,  Jr.  Mr.  Addison  is  a  member 
of  D.  F.  Markham  Post  No.  7,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic. 

BENJAMIN    F.    THOMAS    (1871)    is    the 


proprietor  of  a  confectionery,  cigar  and  no- 
tion store  at  Garvin  and  is  one  of  Lyon 
county's  oldest  settlers,  having  made  set- 
tlement in  Custer  township  forty-one  years 
ago.  In  the  early  days  he  played  an  impor- 
tant part  in  the  affairs  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  born  in  Allegany  coun- 
ty, Maryland,  September  24,  1847,  and  spent 
the  first  thirteen  years  of  his  life  in  his 
native  state.  He  came  West  with  the  fam- 
ily in  1860  and  lived  one  year  in  Columbia 
county,  Wisconsin.  In  1861  he  went  with 
the  family  to  La  Crosse  county,  Wisconsin; 
in  1863  to  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois;  in 
1868  to  Boone  county,  Iowa;  in  1870  to  Blue 
Earth  county,  Minnesota;  and  in  1871  to 
Lyon  county. 

The  Thomas  family  made  the  trip  to  Lyon 
county  with  ox  teams,  and  settlement  was 
made  on  section  4,  Custer  township.  The 
father  took  as  a  homestead  claim  the  north- 
east quarter  of  the  section  and  our  subject 
the  southeast  quarter.  A  log  house,  with 
shake  roof  and  puncheon  floor,  was  built  on 
the  place  and  in  that  the  family  lived  for 
some  time.  No  railroad  had  yet  penetrated 
the  county,  and  during  the  first  winter  Ben- 
jamin Thomas  made  five  trips  by  ox  team 
to  Lake  Crystal  to  bring  in  material  and 
supplies. 

Mr.  Thomas  farmed  the  homestead  until 
1884.  Then  he  gave  up  farming  and  located 
at  Minnesota  Lake,  where  for  two  years 
he  bought  grain  for  Hodges  &  Hyde.  He 
then  located  at  Hankinson,  North  Dakota, 
and  for  many  years  was  employed  as  a  grain 
buyer.  He  returned  to  Lyon  county  in  1901 
and  for  two  years  conducted  his  farm.  Mr. 
Thomas  then  became  a  resident  of  Garvin. 
He  managed  the  Sleepy  Eye  elevator  at  that 
point  a  year  and  a  half  and  then  bought 
and  shipped  stock  for  a  year  or  two.  He 
established  his   present  business  in   1907. 

In  1876  Mr.  Thomas  circulated  a  petition 
asking  for  the  right  to  organize  the  town- 
ship in  which  he  lived,  under  the  name  of 
Reno,  in  honor  of  the  general  in  charge  of 
the  forces  against  the  Indians  in  Montana. 
Before  the  required  permission  was  granted, 
however,  the  Custer  massacre  had  occurred 
and  the  township  was  named  in  honor  of  Gen- 
eral Custer,  whose  life  had  been  sacrificed 
a  few  months  before.  Mr.  Thomas  was  the 
first  clerk  of  Custer  township  and  served  sev- 


282 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


eral  terms.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge. 

The  parents  of  Benjamin  Thomas  were  two 
of  the  best  known  residents  of  southern  Lyon 
county.  They  were  Benjamin  and  Catherine 
(Jones)  Thomas,  natives  of  Wales,  who  came 
to  America  at  the  ages  of  nineteen  and 
twelve  years,  respectively.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Allegany  county,  Maryland,  and  there 
all  their  children,  excepting  Ruth,  were  born. 
Both  parents  died  on  the  Custer  homestead, 
the  father  in  1884,  the  mother  in  1892.  The 
children  of  the  family  are  Mrs.  William 
Hughes,  of  Garvin;  Ann  (Mrs.  Richard 
Hughes),  deceased;  Benjamin,  of  this  biog- 
raphy; James  J.,  of  Tracy;  Ruth  (Mrs.  Rees 
Price),  of  Tracy;   and  Joseph  B.,  of  Garvin. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Custer  town: 
ship  to  Loretta  Delong.  She  was  born  in 
St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York,  and  died 
March  7,  1897,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight 
years.  Mr.  Thomas  has  three  children: 
Edgar,  who  is  engaged  in  railroad  work  in 
the  West;  Harvey,  of  Wells,  Minnesota;  and 
Hattie,  who  attends  school  at  Wells. 


WILLIAM  E.  BERRY  (1874),  one  of  the 
oldest  residents  of  Amiret  township  and  one 
of  its  prosperous  farmers,  is  the  proprietor 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  15.  This 
farm  used  to  be  known  as  the  Rowell  home- 
stead, owing  to  the  fact  that  its  former 
owners  were  Louis  and  Patience  (Vrooman) 
Rowell,  parents  of  our  subject's  wife.  The 
Rowells,  natives  of  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, respectively,  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
1877  and  Mr.  Rowell  purchased  the  land 
from  the  railroad  company. 

Our  subject's  parents  were  William  and 
Adelia  (Fuller)  Berry  and  were  natives  of 
New  York  and  Maine,  respectively.  They  set- 
tled in  Lyon  county  in  the  spring  of  1874, 
and  the  father  took  as  a  homestead  a  quarter 
in  Sodus  township  and  a  quarter  as  a  tree 
claim.  The  family  made  their  residence  on 
the  homestead  and  their  first  few  years  in 
the  county  were  full  of  hardships  and  priva- 
tions, as  the  grasshopper  years  were  just 
beginning.  They  made  their  home  on  the 
farm  until  their  deaths. 

William  Berry  was  born  in  Clark  county, 
Wisconsin,  April  7,  1863,  and  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Lyon  county  at  the  age  of 
eleven  years.    In  1888  he  married  and  moved 


to  the  farm  in  Sodus  township  which  his 
father  had  taken  as  a  tree  claim  when  the 
family  came  to  the  county.  There  Mr.  Berry 
resided  until  the  fall  of  1906,  when  he  moved 
to  his  present  farm  in  Amiret  township,  hav- 
ing purchased  the  same  a  short  time  pre- 
vious. He  has  put  very  substantial  improve- 
ments on  the  place  and  has  one  of  the  finest 
farms  and  homes  in  the  township. 

At  Tracy,  Minnesota,  May  26,  1888*,  Mr. 
Berry  was  married  to  Susie  Rowell,  a  native 
of  Oconomowoc,  Wisconsin.  She  was  born 
February  20,  1869.  Her  father  is  dead  and 
her  mother  lives  with  her  daughter  and  son- 
in-law.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berry  are  the  parents 
of  two  children,  Gladys  B.,  born  December 
17,  1891,  and  Laura  A.,  born  April  7,  1900. 

Mrs.  Berry  is  one  of  the  seven  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  Rowell.  The 
others  are  Chauncey,  John  S.,  who  has  min- 
ing interests  in  Alaska,  and  Lewis  L.,  all  of 
Amiret  township;  Charles  (deceased),  Pa- 
tience Bell  (Mrs.  Jay  Nichols),  of  Hayti, 
South  Dakota;  and  Ira  V.,  an  engineer  in  the 
employ  of  a  construction  firm  in  Minneapolis. 
Mr.  Berry  has  two  brothers,  Adelbert,  of  Ed- 
monton, Canada,  and  Edward,  of  Sodus  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Berry  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodge  of  Amiret.  He  has  served 
one  term  as  a  member  of  the  Amiret  Town- 
ship Board  of  Supervisors. 


OLE  J.  WIGNES  (1878),  farmer  of  Eids- 
vold  township,  is  an  ex-member  of  the  Board 
of  County  Commissioners,  a  pioneer  resident 
of  his  precinct,  and  a  man  who  has  been 
actively  identified  with  the  affairs  of  his 
county  and  township.  His  residence  here 
covers  a  period  of  thirty-four  years. 

In  Toten,  Norway,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of 
August,  1853,  Ole  Wignes  first  saw  the  light 
of  day.  His  parents,  Ole  and  Ellen  (Fjelhog) 
Wignes,  are  buried  in  the  land  of  the  mid- 
night sun.  Until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age  Ole  attended  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  land;  then  for  a  year  he  worked  for 
his  father  on  the  farm. 

Having  decided  to  cast  his  fortunes  in  the 
New  World,  Ole  Wignes  left  his  native  land 
in  the  spring  of  1871,  being  then  less  than 
eighteen  years  of  age.  From  the  date  of  his 
arrival  in  America  until  the  spring  of  1878 
he  worked  at  farm   labor  near  the  city  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


283 


La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  and  in  the  Wisconsin 
pineries.  He  then  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
purchased  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
27,  Eidsvold  township,  two  miles  west  of  the 
little  village  of  Minneota,  and  he  still  owns 
and  operates  that  farm. 

The  firs!  I  wo  winters  after  his  arrival  Mr. 
Wignes  worked  in  the  pineries  of  Wisconsin, 
but  in  the  spring  of  1880  he  returned  to  the 
counts  Cor  permanent  residence,  having  been 
married  al  that  time.  He  has  ever  since 
resided  on  the  farm  he  bought  in  the  early 
daj  s  and  has  prospered  exceedingly,  now 
being  the  owner  of  480  acres  of  Lyon  county 
farming  land.  He  raises  Poland  China  hogs 
and  grade  horses  and  cattle.  Besides  his 
farming  operations  Mr.  Wignes  has  other 
business  interests.  He  is  a  stockholder  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Minneota,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  and  for  several 
years  was  president  of  the  Farmers  Elevator 
Company  of  Minneota. 

During  his  -long  residence  in  the  county 
Mr.  Wignes  has  many  times  been  called  upon 
to  serve  in  an  official  capacity.  From  1890 
to  1894  and  from  1898  to  1902  he  represented 
his  district  on  the  Board  of  County  Commis- 
sioners and  two  years  of  that  time  he  was 
chairman  of  the  board.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Eidsvold  Board  of  Supervisors  two 
years  and  for  several  years  has  been  asses- 
sor of  his  precinct.  For  more  than  thirty 
years  he  has  been  treasurer  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  55.  Mr.  Wignes  is  a  member  of  the 
English  Lutheran  church  of  Minneota  and 
was  formerly  a  church  trustee." 

Mr.  WTignes  was  married  at  La  Crosse, 
Wisconsin,  March  26,  1880,  to  Caroline  Evan- 
son.  She  was  born  in  Wisconsin  September 
16,  1861,  a  daughter  of  Christian  and  Agnete 
(Hemah)  Evanson.  Her  father  resides  near 
La  Crosse;  her  mother  is  dead.  The  follow- 
ing named  five  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wignes:  Edwin,  Oscar,"  Alma 
(Mrs.  Gilbert  "Severson),  of  Nordland  town- 
ship; Carl  and  John.  The  four  boys  reside 
at  home. 

In  1896  Mr.  Wignes  paid  a  four  months' 
visit  to  his  old  home  in  Norway,  his  parents 
both  being  alive  at  that  time. 


HENRY  K.  FURGESON  (1875),  one  of 
Island  Lake  township's  most  prosperous 
farmers,    was    born    in   Winnebago    county, 


Wisconsin,  May  20,  1857.  His  parents  were 
Kittel  and  Margaret  (Helgeson)  Furgeson, 
natives  of  Telemarken,  Norway,  and  they 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1849.  They 
settled  near  Nina,  Wisconsin,  where  our  sub- 
ject was  born  and  where  he  received  his 
early  education  and  resided  until  twelve 
years  old. 

In  1869  the  family  moved  to  Freeborn 
county,  Minnesota,  and  there  they  made  their 
home  until  1875,  in  which  year  they  came 
to  Minnesota  and  Kittel  Furgeson  filed  on 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  4,  Island 
Lake  township,  as  a  homestead.  On  that 
farm  our  subject  grew  to  manhood,  and  when 
twenty-five  years  of  age  he  bought  the  home- 
stead right  to  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  10  and  proved  up  on  the  place.  He 
later  bought  additional  land  on  sections  16 
and  9  and  is  now  the  owner  of  360  acres  of 
the  township's  best  land.  He  has  fine  build- 
ings on  the  place  and  is  raising  a  great  deal 
of  stock  for  market.  Mr.  Furgeson  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Minneota. 

Our  subject  married  in  the  township  De- 
cember 19,  1881,  taking  for  his  wife  Aasil 
Johnson.  She  was  born  in  Telemarken, 
Norway,  January  21,  1862,  and  her  parents, 
Bjorn  and  Engebor  (Stenerson)  Johnson, 
came  to  this  country  in  1866,  settling  in 
Story  county,  Iowa.  They  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  1872,  and  the  father  filed  on  a 
homestead  on  section  32,  Nordland  township, 
where  he  and  his  wife  lived  until  their  death. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Furgeson  are  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Clara  M.,  born 
March  23,  1884;  Fredrik  B.,  born  April  21, 
1887;  I.  Sophie,  born  June  20,  1889;  Hannah 
A.,  born  November  11,  1891;  Ella  J.,  born 
July  28,  1895;  Mabelle  A.,  born  June  10,  1897; 
Alice  H.,  born  August  28,  1901;  and  Elmer 
H.,  born  May  14,  1904. 

Mr.  Furgeson  is  a  member  of  the  town- 
ship board  and  is  a  director  of  school  district 
No.  62.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church. 


KNUD  E.  KJORNESS  (1874)  and  Ole  L. 
Orsen  are  the  two  oldest  settlers  of  Minneota 
in  point  of  residence  in  Lyon  county.  Mr. 
Kjorness  has  a  fine  residence  in  Minneota 
and  leads  a  comparatively  retired  life,  farm- 
ing a  little  and  raising  some  stock.     He  is 


284 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


the  owner  of  600  acres  of  first-class  land 
close  to  Minneota  and  480  acres  in  McLean 
county,  North  Dakota. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Valders,  Norway, 
March  1,  1851.  Knud  and  Rognild  (Kjor- 
ness)  Fodness,  his  parents,  are  both  dead. 
Knud's  schooling  was  that  of  the  average 
Norwegian  farmer  boy  and  was  completed 
by  the  time  he  was  fifteen.  A  year  later  he 
came  to  America,  locating  in  Allamakee 
county,  Iowa,  and  working  at  farm  labor  for 
fifty  cents  a  day.  He  was  eager  for  more 
education  and  attended  country  school  dur- 
ing the  winter  months  for  the  next  four 
years.  Later  for  two  years  he  was  a  student 
in  the  high  schools  of  Lansing  and  Waukon, 
Iowa. 

In  the  spring  of  1875  Mr.  Kjorness  drove 
from  Allamakee  county  to  Lyon  county  and 
took  a  homestead  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  24,  Eidsvold  township,  having 
driven  up  the  year  before  to  look  over  the 
country.  He  farmed  until  1895,  when  he 
moved  to  Minneota,  and  for  the  next  ten 
years  farmed  land  near  the  village.  He  re- 
tired from  active  life  in  1906. 

June  11,  1895,  Knud  E.  Kjorness  and  Sarah 
Kjorness,  a  native  of  Dane  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, were  joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of- matri- 
mony. She  is  the  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Inga  (Olson)  Hellikson,  who  are  living  in 
Westerheim  and  who  came  to  the  county  in 
1875.  To  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been 
born  three  children:  Andrew,  on  December 
25,  1896;  Elmer,  on  October  3,  1901;  and 
Roy,  on  January  6,  1904. 

Mr.  Kjorness  was  treasurer  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Evangelical  church  for  several  years 
and  has  been  secretary  of  the  Farmers  & 
Merchants  Supply  Company  of  Minneota  for 
eleven  years.  He  has  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace,  been  chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  of  Eidsvold,  has  spent  several 
years  as  town  clerk  and  town  treasurer,  and 
was  for  a  time  treasurer,  of  school  district 
No.  39. 


JOHN  C.  TWEET  (1874).  One  of  the 
finest  improved  farms  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Tracy  is  the  one  belonging  to 
Mr.  Tweet,  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 4,  Monroe  township.  When  our  subject 
came  to  the  county  there  was  no  town  of 
Tracy,  and  there  were  only  a  few  scattered 


settlers  living  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  county.  Mr.  Tweet  at  once  bought  a 
right  from  Gilbert  Gilbertson  to  the  land 
which  he  now  owns  and  took  it  as  a  pre- 
emption claim,  later  changing  the  filing  to 
a  homestead.  He  has  lived  on  the  place  ever 
since. 

The  first  years  of  Mr.  Tweet's  residence 
were  discouraging  ones.  His  home  was  the 
little  14x16  feet  shanty  put  up  by  Mr.  Gil- 
bertson prior  to  Mr.  Tweet's  arrival.  Our 
subject's  crop  of  grain  in  1875  was  destroyed 
by  the  grasshoppers  and  he  spent  the  fall 
of  the  year  in  the  harvest  fields  in  Blue 
Earth  county,  earning  enough  to  keep  his 
family.  The  crop  in  1876  was  also  lost,  and 
Mr.  Tweet  again  worked  out  to  provide  food 
and  clothes  for  the  folks  at  home.  His  forti- 
tude prevailed  and  years  of  prosperity  have 
more  than  made  up  for  the  early  years  of 
hardship.  Mr.  Tweet  has  in  late  years  added 
considerably  to  his  original  holdings. 

Our  subject's  parents  were  Christian 
Tweet  and  Anbgar  (Johnson)  Tweet,  both 
now  dead.  John  was  born  in  Norway  Sep- 
tember 1,  1842,  and  lived  in  his  native  land 
until  1869,  receiving  his  education  and  work- 
ing on  his  father's  farm  and  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  Coming  to  America  in  1869, 
the  young  man  located  in  Columbia  county. 
Wisconsin,  where  he  lived  four  and  one-half 
years,  except  four  months  spent  in  Norway 
on  a  visit.  Immediately  upon  his  return  to 
America  Mr.  Tweet  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  purchased- the  farm  where  he  has  since 
lived.  He  has  been  a  supervisor  four  years 
in  Monroe  township  and  was  treasurer  ten 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church. 

John  C.  Tweet  was  married  October  9, 
1874,  in  Monroe  township  to  Oleana  Johnson, 
a  native  of  Norway,  where  she  was  born  De- 
cember' 11,  1856,  coming  to  America  and 
locating  in  Lyon  county  in  1874.v  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tweet  have  been  born  the  following 
children:  Emma  C,  Henry  E.  and  Annie, 
all  of  whom  are  deceased;  Clara  H.  (Mrs. 
Thomas  Jones),  of  Brainerd,  Minnesota,  born 
April  13, 1880;  Peter  Alexander,  of  North  Da- 
kota, born  March  12,  1882;  Eddie  K.,  of 
Canada,  born  November  9,  1889;  Carl  A.,  who 
resides  at  home,  born  January  12,  1887; 
Julia  O.,  a  school  teacher,  born  July  28, 
1890;     Stella    J.,    born    July    21,    1894;    and 


Bio* ;  r a  tfiical  histo w  y 


285 


Emma   Alice,   bom  January   IS,  1S96.     The 
two  last  named  attend  school. 


JOHN  B.  GISLASON  (1879).  An  early 
settler  and  a  man  prominent  in  the  affairs  of 
his  township  and  county  is  John  B.  Gislason, 
a  farmer  of  Westerheim  township.  He  has 
held  several  local  offices  and  been  in  the 
forefront  of  many  campaigns  for  the  better- 
ment of  Lyon  county.  He  is  first  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Lyon  county  branch  of  the  South- 
ern Minnesota  Better  Development  League 
and  vice  president  of  the  Lyon  County  Agri- 
cultural Association,  of  which  society  he 
was  president  seven  years.  He  was  Wester- 
heim's  township  clerk  two  years  and  clerk 
of  school  district  No.  3  six  years.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Masonic  and  Woodmen 
lodges  in  Minneota. 

Mr.  Gislason  was  born  in  Iceland  Decem- 
ber 6.  1872.  When  he  was  seven  years  of 
age,  in  1879;  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
America  and  Lyon  county  and  has  ever  since 
resided  in  Westerheim  township.  He  at- 
tended the  district  schools  until  eighteen 
years  of  age  and  made  his  home  with  his 
parents  until  his  marriage  in  1895.  He 
rented  the  home  farm  in  1893  and  purchased 
it  from  his  father  in  1900.  In  addition  to 
that  200-acre  farm  on  section  10,  he  is  the 
owner  of  eighty  acres  on  section  3,  making 
him  a  farm  of  280  acres.  The  place  is  known 
as  Hillside  Homestead  and  contains  one  of 
the  finest  homes  in  the  county.  Mr.  Gisla- 
son raises  registered  Oxford  Down  sheep 
and  grade  Durham  cattle  and  Poland  China 
hogs.  Besides  his  farm  property  he  is  the 
owner  of  the  Gislason  Block  in  Minneota. 
He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers  Mutual 
Elevator  Company  of  Minneota. 

Lecta  E.  Edwards  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Gislason  on  November  13,  1895.  She  was 
born  in  Iceland  February  25,  1875.  Her 
parents,  Edward  and  Cecilia  (Johnson)  Thor- 
leifson,  came  to  America  from  Iceland  in  an 
early  day.  The  father  took  a  homestead  in 
Swede  Prairie  township,  Yellow  Medicine 
county,  and  resided  on  the  place  until  his 
death  on  December  14,  1884;  the  mother 
still  lives  in  that  county. 

Eight  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gislason,  as  follows.  Harold  Miles 
Hugo,  born  November  10,  1896;  Byron  Ed- 
ward, born  December  26,  1898;    Julian  Ber- 


nard, born  October  9,  1900;  Francis  Alex- 
ander (deceased),  born  August  28,  1902; 
Cecilia  Adalborg,  born  August  6,  1904;  Wil- 
liam Bjorn,  born  September  13,  1906;  Francis 
Alexander,  born  August  28,  1908;  John  Fred- 
erick, born  November  29,  1910.  All  the  chil- 
dren reside  at  home. 

Bjora  and  Adalborg  (Johnson)  Gislason, 
parents  of  John  B.  Gislason,  came  to  Lyon 
county  from  Iceland  in  1879,  arriving  in  Min- 
neota on  the  twenty-first  day  of  July  of  that 
year.  They  purchased  the  farm  in  Wester- 
heim now  operated  by  their  son  from  a  home- 
steader and  conducted  the  place  until  1893. 
Thereafter  until  his  death  on  August  9, 
1906,  the  father  continued  a  resident  of 
Westerheim  township;  the  mother  makes 
her  home  with  the  subject  of  this  review. 
Bjorn  Gislason  was  born  September  10,  1827; 
Adalborg  Johnson  was  born  December  20, 
1836. 


CHRISTIAN  CUPP  (1878),  a  resident  of 
Coon  Creek  township,  is  one  of  the  older 
settlers  of  Lyon  county.  He  was  born  in 
Heilbronn,  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  May  17, 
1847.  His  parents  were  Christof  and  Kather- 
ine  (Hoetzer)  Cupp,  both  of  whom  are  de-. 
ceased.  Christian  attended  school  in  Ober- 
eisesheim,  Germany,  until  eighteen  years  of 
age,  after  which  he  worked  for  his  father 
on  the  farm  until  twenty. 

In  1867  Christian  immigrated  to  America 
and  located  in  New  York  City,  where  he  re- 
mained a  year.  He  then  worked  in  a  suburb, 
Harlem,  for  two  years,  going  from  there  to 
St.  Louis  and  Southern  Missouri,  where  he 
remained  six  years  as  superintendent  of  a 
cotton-gin.  Returning  to  Germany,  he  re- 
mained a  month,  after  which  he  returned  to 
St.  Louis,  where  he  worked  in  the  iron  works 
for  a  few  months,  going  from  there  to  Illinois 
and  Iowa,  working  as  a  harvest  hand.  In 
1876  he  landed  in  Newry,  Freeborn  county, 
Minnesota,  near  which  place  he  worked  at 
farm  labor  for  one  and  one-half  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1878  Mr.  Cupp  homesteaded 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  6,  Coon 
Creek  township,  which  he  still  owns  and 
operates.  Since  that  time  he  has  become  the 
owner  of  280  acres  on  section  7,  of  the  same 
township,  making  him  the  owner  of  440 
acres  of  fine  land.  In  addition  to  general 
farming,  Mr.  Cupp  raises  considerable  stock. 


286 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


including  Black  Polled  Angus  cattle,  grade 
hogs  and  Red  Leghorn  chickens.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  church 
and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  lodges. 
Mr.  Cupp  is  a  stockholder  of  the  Tyler  Tele- 
phone Company  and  has  been  treasurer  of 
school  district  No.  66  for  twenty-five  years. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Township  Board  of 
Supervisors  fifteen  years  and  is  assessor  of 
Coon  Creek  township. 

On  March  4,  1885,  Mr.  Cupp  was  married 
to  Caroline  Louise  Gurr,  a  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Katherine  (Keller)  Gurr,  deceased. 
Mrs.  Cupp  was  born  April  2,  1863.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cupp  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
named  children:  William,  Henry,  Sophia, 
Clara  and  Carl.  All  reside  at  home.  Mrs. 
Cupp  has  three  brothers  and  three  sisters, 
as  follows:  William,  August,  Henry,  Paul- 
ine, Wilhelmina  and  Mary,  all  of  whom  re- 
side in  Germany. 


BYRON  P.  TERRY  (1877),  a  dealer  in 
farm  machinery  at  Balaton,  is  one  of  the 
pioneer  residents  of  southern  Lyon  county 
and  a  man  who  has  taken  a  prominent  part 
in  the  affairs  of  his  community.  For  over 
thirty-five  years  he  has  resided  in  Rock 
Lake  township  and  Balaton. 

Byron  P.  Terry  was  born  at  Berlin,  Wis- 
consin. In  the  spring  of  1877  the  family  set 
out  from  their  Wisconsin  home  by  ox-team  . 
for  the  new  land  of  Lyon  county.  They 
drove  to  Winona  and  then  entrained  for  .Mar- 
shall. The  father  bought  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  20,  Rock  Lake  township,  hav- 
ing arrived  at  the  new  home  on  June  30, 
1877.  The  father  conducted  the  farm  three 
years  and  then  moved  to  St.  Paul.  At  that 
time  our  subject  bought  the  farm,  and  for 
the  next  fourteen  years  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing it. 

After  leaving  the  farm  Mr.  Terry  moved 
to  Balaton.  His  first  occupation  in  the  vil- 
lage was  as  a  clerk  in  the  hardware  store  of 
D.  F.  Sanders,  which  was  conducted  in  the 
building  in  which  Mr.  Terry  now  carries  on 
his  business.  For  seven  years  he  was  on 
the  road  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  machin- 
ery companies  and  for  a  time  worked  for  the 
Laird-Norton  Company.  Later  he  conducted 
a  livery  barn  for  three  years.  In  partner- 
ship with  James  Murrison,  Jie  bought  Eng 
Brothers'  hardware  and  implement  business, 


but  two  years  later  sold  to  his  partner  and 
again  engaged  in  farming  on  his  property 
two  miles  west  of  Balaton.  He  returned  to 
the  village  one  year  later  and  in  November, 
1910,  he  bought  his  present  business  house 
and  put  in  a  new  stock  of  implements.  Be- 
sides his  machinery  business  Mr.  Terry  is 
engaged  in  the  conduct  of  his  farm.  For 
sixteen  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  giving  up  the  office  in  1904. 

Mr.  Terry  was  married  in  the  village  in 
which  he  has  lived  so  long  on  July  17,  1880, 
to  Inez  L.  Hamm,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
William  Hamm,  one  of  the  county's  pioneers. 
She  was  born  at  Painted  Post,  Pennsylvania. 
To  these  parents  two  children  have  been 
born,  Guy  E.,  of  Haynes,  North  Dakota,  and 
Maud  M.,  who  died  in  1902,  at  the  age  of 
eight  years. ' 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Thomas 
L.  and  Margaret  D.  (Daniels)  Terry,  both 
natives  of  Syracuse.  New  York.  They  came 
West  in  an  early  day,  Mr.  Terry  being  the 
second  settler  in  Berlin,  Wisconsin.  He  was 
a  newspaper  man  and  founded  the  Berlin 
Courant,  the  first  paper  in  that  town.  After 
living  on  his  farm  in  Rock  Lake  township, 
Lyon  county,  two  years,  in  1879  he  moved 
to  St.  Paul  and  took  employment  with  the 
Home  &  Danz  Manufacturing  Company,  by 
whom  he  was  still  employed  at  the  time  of 
his  death  in  September,  1891.  He  was  sixty- 
five  years  old  when  he  died.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  died  at  Hennessey.  Oklahoma, 
in  1904,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years. 

There  are  five  children  in  the  family  of 
Thomas  L.  and  Margaret  Terry,  named  as 
follows:  Lucy  I.Mrs.  E.  T.  Slayton),  of  St. 
Paul,  Minnesota;  Minnie  (Mrs.  Nathan  Math- 
ews), of  Poy  Sippi,  Wisconsin;  Byron  P., 
of  this  sketch:  Mary  (the  wife  of  Dr.  Austin 
F.  Merrill),  of  Hennessey,  Oklahoma;  Maud 
M.  (Mrs.  Fred  Chase),  of  Oakland,  California. 


OLAF  DOVRE  (1874)  is  a  successful 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Eidsvold  town- 
ship. He  owns  520  acres  of  land  in  that 
precinct  and  has  one  of  the  township's  finest 
farm  homes.  He  has  gained  a  reputation 
for  his  blooded  stock,  for  which  he  has  a 
ready  sale.  He  raises  pure-bred  Shorthorn 
cattle  and  Duroc-Jersey  and  Poland  China 
hogs.     Excepting  one  year,   Mr.   Dovre  has 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


287 


spont   his   entire   life   on    the   farm   he    now 
conducts. 

His  parents,  Knud  O.  and  Anna  (Skaar) 
Dovre,  were  born  in  Norway  and  came  to 
Lyon  county  in  the  spring  of  1872.  They 
were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Eidsvold 
township,  Knud  Uoyre  taking  as  a  home- 
stead the  land  upon  which  his  son  now 
resides.  The  father  of  our  subject  died 
September  1,  1899;  the  mother  lives  with  her 
son.  The  living  children  of  the  family  are 
Ole,  of  Fessenden,  North  Dakota;  Olaf  and 
Sarah,  who  resides  with  her  brother  in  Eids- 
vold. The  deceased  children  of  the  family 
were  named  Mary,  Barbara  and  Ole. 

Olaf  Dovre  was  born  on  the  Eidsvold 
homestead  August  9,  1S74.  He  attended  dis- 
trict school  until  eighteen  years  of  age  and 
worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  until  the 
latter's  death  in  1899.  He  conducted  the 
farm  a  year  and  a  half  after  that  and  then 
purchased  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs. 
He  has  ably  managed  his  affairs  and  is  in 
prosperous  circumstances. 

Mr.  Dovre  is  a  stockholder  of  and  was 
formerly  a  director  of  the  Farmers  and  Mer- 
chants Elevator  Company  of  Minneota.  He 
was  a  director  of  school  district  No.  55  for 
three  years.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of 
Minneota  and  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Modern  Woodmen  lodge  of  the  same  village. 

Anna  Mary  Rafling  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Dovre  at  Elbow  Lake,  Minnesota,  June 
2,  1904.  She  was  born  in  Lyon  county  No- 
vember 7,  1882,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Anton 
and  Anna  (Dovre)  Rafting.  The  family  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1880  and  a  few  years  later 
moved  to  Grant  county,  now  living  at  Elbow 
Lake.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dovre's  children  are 
Karl  Adolph,  born  January  2,  1908,  and 
Alice  Evelyn,  born  August  2,  1910. 


JOSHUA  GOODWIN  (1872).  An  early  set- 
tler of  Lyon  county  and  a  man  who  has 
played  a  part  in  pioneer  times  is  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  heads  this  review.  For  an 
even  forty  years  he  has  resided  in  this  coun- 
ty, most  of  the  time  in  the  county  seat  en- 
gaged in  contracting.  He  now  lives  a  re- 
tired life,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  earlier 
activities. 

Mr.  Goodwin  w^as  born  in  Bay  Deverte, 
New   Brunswick,   Canada,   July   28,    1832,   of 


English  stock.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
an  Englishman  and  served  as  a  drummer  boy 
in  the  battle  of  Waterloo.  His  father,  Amos 
Goodwin,  was  born  in  Canada  and  died  in 
1845;  his  mother,  Amanda  (Brundage)  Good- 
win, was  also  born  in  Canada  and  is  de- 
ceased. 

Until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  Joshua 
Goodwin  attended  school  in  his  native  prov- 
ince; then  he  served  an  apprenticeship  to 
the  ship-builder's  trade  and  worked  at  the 
trade  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1855,  when 
he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  Mr.  Good- 
win came  to  the  States  and  until  he  en- 
listed in  the  army  during  the  Civil  War  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade — eighteen 
months  in  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  until  the  fall 
of  1858  in  Kinmundy,  Illinois,  and  until  1860 
in  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Then  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  in  the 
spring  of  1861  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  an 
Illinois  regiment.  He  became  a  lieutenant 
of  Company  B,  Fortieth  Illinois  Volunteers, 
and  served  until  the  latter  part  of  1863, 
when  on  account  of  ill  health  he  received 
an  honorable  discharge.  After  the  war  Mr. 
Goodwin  resided  in  Illinois  until  1872,  re- 
covering his  health. 

In  the  spring  of  that  year  Mr.  Goodwin 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  took  a  homestead 
claim  in  Lynd  township,  which  he  still  owns. 
He  made  his  home  on  the  claim  a  while  and 
then  took  up  his  residence  in  Marshall.  He 
spent  one  and  one-half  years  near  Sheridan, 
Montana,  where  he  had  charge  of  a  mine  for 
the  Gold  Mining  and  Milling  Company  of 
Chicago.  Mr.  Goodwin  carried  on  a  con- 
tracting and  building  business  ui  Marshall 
until  1897,  when  he  retired  from  active  pur- 
suits. He  is  the  owner  of  360  acres  of  Lyon 
county  real  estate  and  property  in  Marshall. 
During  the  grasshopper  days  of  the  seven- 
ties Mr.  Goodwin  did  not  lose  faith  in  the 
country  and  was  instrumental  in  keeping 
many  of  the  discouraged  settlers  on  their 
claims.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge  of  Marshall. 

Mr.  Goodwin  was  married  at  Kinmundy, 
Illinois,  February  14,  1865,  to  Dillie  M.  Pear- 
son, who  was  born  in  Mount  Gilead,  Ohio, 
July  4,  1847,  and  who  died  July  14,  1903. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  New  Hampshire. 
Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Goodwin,  as  follows:  Charles  Prescott,  born 
December  17,  1866;    Eugene  Hubbard,  born 


L'» 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


June  1,  1869;  Edna  (Mrs.  V.  B.  Seward), 
born  November  22,  1870;  Lonta,  born  October 
31,  1873;  Mehitable  Whitney  (Mrs.  S.  E. 
Whitmore),  born  February  26,  1877;  Blanche 
I  Mrs.  Bert  B.  Dane),  born  June  26,  1880; 
Mell  Augusta  (Mrs.  George  A.  Silvius),  of 
Mineral  Springs,  North  Dakota,  and  Grace 
(.Mrs.  John  Peterson),  of  Faribault,  Minne- 
sota, twins,  born  April  19,  1885;  Harold  and 
Edith,  deceased. 


FRANK  E.  BILLS  (1872),  of  Lynd,  is  one 
of  the  pioneer  residents  of  Lyon  county.  He 
is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  was  born 
February  13,  1845.  He  is  the  son  of  the  late 
Henry  and  Electa  (Dike)  Bills,  early  resi- 
dents of  Warren  county,  Pennsylvania. 
They  immigrated  to  Somerset,  Steele  coun- 
ty. Minnesota,  in  1856.  The  father  was  a 
native  of  New  York  and  the  mother  of  Vir- 
ginia. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education  in 
the  land  of  his  nativity.  When  twelve  years 
of  age  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Steele 
county.  Minnesota,  where  he  worked  for  his 
father  until  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He 
then  rented  land  for  five  years  in  Steele 
county,  after  which  he  came  to  Lyon  county, 
in  1872.  He  took  a  pre-emption  claim,  which 
he  held  for  five  years,  and  then  returned  to 
Steele  county  in  1877  and  farmed  until  1882. 
That  year  he  went  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
where  he  remained  until  1890,  working  at 
the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1890  he  returned 
to  Lyon  county  and  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  for  two  years.  He  then  worked 
at  different  towns  in  Minnesota  at  his  trade 
until  1905,  when  he  moved  to  Lynd. 

In  1866  Mr.  Bills  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Ida  Culver,  a  daughter  of  John  Culver, 
of  Steele  county,  Minnesota.  Mrs.  Bills  was 
born  in  Wisconsin  September  18,  1850.  Two 
children  were  born  to  this  union:  Mary  Es- 
telle  (Mrs.  Frank  Sutton),  of  Denver,  Colo- 
rado, and  Effie  May  (Mrs.  Frank  Riggs),  of 
Los  Angeles,  California. 

Mr.  Bills  owns  a  ranch  in  Cuba  and  also 
some  mining  stock  in  Alaska.  He  makes  his 
home  with  his  niece,  Mrs.  Maggie  Williams, 
at  Lynd  and  works  at  his  trade  as  wagon- 
wright  and  cabinetmaker. 


EDWARD    EDWARDS    (1872),    proprietor 


of  the  Pacific  Hotel  at  Garvin  and  owner  of 
320  acres  of  good  farming  land  in  Sodus 
and  Custer  townships,  was  born  in  Utica, 
New  York,  November  17,  1860.  His  parents, 
Thomas  and  Ellen  (Williams)  Edwards,  came 
West,  resided  in  Blue  Earth  county  for  a 
short  time,  and  in  1872  took  as  a  homestead 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  34,  Sodus 
township.  The  father  and  mother  lived  on 
the  homestead  farm  until  1900,  when  they 
moved  to  Garvin,  where  Mrs.  Edwards  still 
resides.     Mr.  Edwards  died  in  1904.  y 

Edward  received  his  education  in  Blue 
Earth  and  Lyon  counties,  attending  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  engaged  in  farming  at 
home  until  18S3,  in  which  year  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  on  section  33,  Sodus  township, 
and  began  farming  for  himself,  a  few  years 
afterwards  adding  160  acres  to  his  holdings. 
In  1887  Mr.  Edwards  moved  to  Montana, 
where  he  lived  two  and  one-half  years,  en- 
gaging in  railroading.  Returning  to  Lyon 
county  in  1890,  our  subject  resumed  farming 
and  during  the  next  eight  years  increased 
his  holdings  to  320  acres.  In  1898  he  moved 
to  Garvin  and  built  the  Pacific  Hotel,  which 
he  has  since  conducted.  He  still  owns  his 
land  and  gives  considerable  attention  to  the 
farms  in  busy  seasons,  leaving  the  hotel  in 
the  care  of  Mrs.  Edwards. 

June  S,  1884,  Edward  Edwards  was  mar- 
ried to  Louanna  Masters,  a  Rice  county  girl. 
She  was  born  December  13,  1866,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Henry  C.  and  Anna  (Randall) 
Masters,  the  former  of  whom  is  dead  and 
the  latter  living  in  Garvin.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Edwards  are  the  parents  of  three  children: 
Maud  (Mrs.  John  Holden),  of  Garvin: 
Thomas  Henry,  born  June  24,  1890;  and 
Maxson,  born  March  2,  1896.  Mrs.  Edwards 
is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church 
of  Garvin.  Her  husband  is  a  member  of 
the  Elks  lodge  of  Mankato.  Mr.  Edwards 
has  held  the  office  of  constable  and  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Garvin  most  of  the  time  since 
his  residence   in  the   town. 


HENRY  FREESE  (1878).  One  of  the 
most  prosperous  and  widely  known  farmers 
of  Lyon  county  is  Henry  Freese,  of  Lake 
Marshall  township,  who  has  been  a  resident 
of  Lyon  county  over  thirty  years.  He  was 
born  in  the  province  of  West  Fahlen,  Ger- 
many, September  6,  1839,  the  son  of  Herman 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


289 


and  Minnie  (Tosbach)  Freese.  He  attended 
school  in  the  land  of  his  nativity  until  tour- 
teen  years  of  age,  after  which  he  worked  out 
at  farm  labor  two  years.  He  then  immi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  settling  at  Fort 
Madison,  Iowa,  where  he  worked  as  a  wood- 
chopper  and  at  farm  labor  eighteen  months. 
Later  he  went  to  Madison,  Wisconsin,  where 
he  worked  three  years  in  a  nursery  and  at 
farm   labor. 

In  1862  Mr.  Freese  enlisted  in  Company 
D,  Twenty-third  Wisconsin  Infantry,  as  a 
volunteer.  He  was  mustered  in  August, 
1S62,  and  mustered  out  in  May,  1865.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  several  battles,  in- 
cluding the  battle  of  Vicksburg.  After  the 
war  he  moved  to  Minnesota,  locating  in  Sib- 
ley county,  near  Le  Sueur,  where  he  pur- 
chased 240  acres  of  land,  selling  out  six 
months  later.  He  then  purchased  an  eighty 
acre  tract  in  the  same  county,  later  adding 
forty  acres  more,  and  making  that  his  home 
until  1878.' 

In  the  last  named  year  Mr.  Freese  moved 
to  Lyon  county  and  homesteaded  land  in 
Island  Lake  township,  also  taking  a  tree 
claim  and  a  pre-emption,  making  him  480 
acres  of  real  estate.  He  farmed  that  eight- 
een months.  He  then  purchased  the  eighty 
acres  upon  which  the  Marshall  fair  grounds 
are  now  located,  on  section  8,  Lake  Marshall 
township.  Later  he  became  the  owner  of 
section  7,  Lake  Marshall  township,  the  west 
half  of  which  he  still  owns,  and  the  east 
half  of  which  he  sold  to  his  sons,  Noah  Wal- 
ter and  George  Arthur.  Mr.  Freese  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Evangelical  church 
and  the  G.  A.  R.,  D.  F.  Markham  Post  No.  7, 
of  Marshall.  He  was  a  school  officer  in 
Sibley  county  for  several  years  and  also  in 
Lyon  county,  of  district  No.  9.  He  is  a 
shareholder  in  the  Lyon  County  Agricul- 
tural Society  and  owns  several  lots  in  Long 
Beach,  California,  where  he  spends  his  win- 
ters. 

Mr.  Freese  was  married  in  1868  to  Sarah 
Schmitt,  a  daughter  of  Christian  Schmitt, 
of  Kasson,  Dodge  county,  Minnesota.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freese  were  born  the  following 
named  children:  William,  Arthur,  Mary 
(Mrs.  L.  C.  Moyer),  Lydia  (Mrs.  A.  J.  Aber- 
nathy),  Lawrence,  Noah,  Edward,  Rollin, 
Elsie  and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Freese  died  May  4,  1911. 


THOMAS  NELSON  (1872)  is  one  of  the 
Custer  township  farmers  who  came  to  the 
county  in  the  early  days,  when  the  settlers 
were  few  and  when  the  nearest  trading 
points  were  New  Ulm  and  Redwood  Falls. 
He  remembers  how  the  farm  work  was  done 
with  the  aid  of  oxen  and  that  the  trips  to 
New  Ulm  after  supplies  took  at  least  a  week. 
Mr.  Nelson  of  late  years  has  been  leaving 
much  of  the  management  of  the  farm  to  his 
son  Edwin  and  has  been  enjoying  a  deserved 
rest  from  active  cares. 

Norway  is  the  native  home  of  Thomas 
Nelson  and  he  was  born  in  September,  1833, 
a  son  of  Nels  and  Sarah  (Yoe)  Nelson,  both 
of  whom  are  dead.  Thomas  received  his 
education  in  Norway  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen commenced  to  learn  the  carpenter's 
trade,  which  occupation  he  followed  for  sev- 
eral years.  Later,  for  a  period  of  years,  the 
young  man  served  in  the  army. 

Coming  to  America  in  1865,  the  subject 
of  our  sketch  located  in  Decorah,  Iowa, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  a  few  years; 
then  he  moved  to  Rochester,  Minnesota,  and 
followed  the  same  line  of  work.  In  the 
spring  of  1872  Mr.  Nelson  moved  to  Lyon 
county,  locating  in  Custer  township  and  tak- 
ing as  a  homestead  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  34.  In  addition  to  general  farm- 
ing, Mr.  Nelson  takes  much  pride  in  his 
herd  of  Hereford  cattle  and  in  his  Duroc- 
Jersey  swine.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Farmers  Independent  Elevator  Company  of 
Garvin  and  in  the  Garvin  Telephone  Com- 
pany. 

In  1872  Thomas  Nelson  was  manned  to 
Karen  Evanson,  a  native  of  Norway.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nelson  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, Henry,  Neil,  Edwin  and  Emma  (Mrs. 
Christ  Nelson),  of  Garvin.  Mr.  Nelson  is  a 
member  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church 
of  Monroe  township,  of  which  he  was  at  one 
time  treasurer. 


JAMES  J.  THOMAS  (1871),  who  now 
lives  a  retired  life  in  Tracy,  is  one  of  the 
very  oldest  of  the  settlers  of  southeastern 
Lyon  county.  He  came  when  a  boy  thirteen 
years  old,  forty-one  years  ago,  and  has  spent 
the  best  part  of  his  life  as  a  resident  of 
Lyon  county.  He  has  seen  the  country  de- 
velop  from   a  wild   and   almost-  uninhabited 


290 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


prairie  to  one  of  the  most  prosperous  com- 
munities of  Minnesota. 

In  the  county  of  Allegany,  Maryland,  on 
the  twenty-seventh  day.  of  May,  1858,  James 
J.  Thomas  was  born.  When  a  child  he  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Wisconsin,  lived 
there  a  short  time,  and  thereafter  lived  a 
few  years  respectively  in  Rock  Island  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  Blue  Earth  county,  Minne- 
sota. In  the  spring  of  1871  the  family  came 
to  Lyon  county  and  the  father  purchased 
from  Zibe  Ferguson  a  homestead  claim  on 
section  4,  Custer  township. 

At  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Thomas 
family  there  were  only  ten  or  twelve  fami- 
lies in  the  vicinity,  on  the  Cottonwood  river. 
Among  them  were  James  Mitchell,  Sr., 
Charles  Grover,  Lafayette  Grover,  George 
Robinson,  Ogan  Johnson,  Clark  Goodrich, 
Landy  Soward,  John  Avery,  Henry  Masters, 
Charles  Dailey  and  Horace  Randall.  On 
the  Thomas  claim  was  a  rude  log  shanty. 
Lumber  was  hauled  from  Mankato  with  ox 
teams  and  an  addition  was  made  and  the 
shanty  otherwise  improved.  This  served 
as  the  family  home  until  a  modern  building 
was  erected  in  1892. 

James  Thomas  spent  his  early  days  on  the 
claim.  From  1880  to  1883  he  was  located 
in  the  western  territories;  then  he  returned 
and  took  the  management  of  the  home  farm. 
which  he  and  his  brother  Joseph  had  pur- 
chased. They  later  added  to  their  holdings 
by  purchase  until  they  have  a  farm  of  560 
acres.  Mr.  Thomas  remained  on  the  old 
farm  until  1910,  when  he  retired  from  active 
pursuits  and  located  in  Tracy. 

Olive  A.  Olson,  a  native  of  Wisconsin,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas,  the  ceremony 
having  been  performed  in  Sodus  township 
on  August  16,  1893.  Mrs.  Thomas  is  the 
daughter  of  Tollef  Olson,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Sodus  township  and  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Balaton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  have 
two  children,  Grace  and  Lloyd. 

Benjamin  B.  Thomas  was  the  father  of 
James  Thomas.  He  was  born  in  Wales  and 
came  to  the  United  States  when  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  married  Catherine  Jones, 
who  was  also  born  in  Wales  and  who  .came 
to  America  at  the  age  of  eight  years.  Both 
died  on  the  Custer  township  farm.  The 
children  of  this  family  are  as  follows:  Mar- 
garet Hughes,  of  Garvin;  Fen'F.,  of  Garvin; 
Ruth    (Mrs.  Reese  Price),  of  Tracy;    James 


J.,   Joseph   B.,   of   Garvin;    and   Anna    (Mrs. 
Richard  Hughes),  deceased. 


CHARLES  W.  GOODRICH  (1876)  has 
been  a  continuous  resident  of  Grandview 
township  since  coming  to  the  county  in 
1876. 

He  was  born  in  Lake  City,  Wabasha  coun- 
ty, Minnesota,  August  26,  1861.  His  par- 
ents, William  I.  and  Margaret  (Boody)  Good- 
rich, natives  of  Connecticut  and  Massachu- 
setts, respectively,  settled  in  Wabasha  coun- 
ty in  1856  and  resided  there  until  1875. 
That  year  they  moved  to  California  for  a 
residence  of  one  year  before  coming  to  Lyon 
county. 

In  the  spring  of  1876  the  father  took  a 
homestead  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 12,  Grandview  township.  There  the 
family  made  their  home  until  1891,  when 
they  moved  to  Marshall,  and  there  made 
their  home  until  Mrs.  Goodrich's  death  in 
1S94.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Goodrich  has 
lived  with  a  son  in  Louisiana.  He  is  a  vet- 
eran of  the  Civil  War,  having  been  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  M.  First  Wisconsin  Volun- 
teer Regiment.  He  served  thirteen  months 
and  was  honorably  discharged  on  account  of 
ill  health. 

The  subject  of  this  sKetch  attended  the 
common  schools  of  Wabasha  county  in  his 
youth  and  later  went  to  school  in  California 
one  year.  He  resided  with  his  parents  after 
coming  to  Lyon  county  until  1882  and  then 
purchased  land  in  Grandview  township  and 
started  farming  for  himself.  After  six  years 
on  the  place^  he  sold  out  and  rented  three 
years,  later  purchasing  his  father's  farm. 
In  1903  he  sold  one  eighty  and  has  since 
that  time  conducted  the  remaining  eighty 
acres.  He  has  a  well  improved  piece  of  land 
and  raises  considerable  stock.  For  several 
years  Mr.  Goodrich  was  road  overseer  of  the 
township. 

On  February  24,  1881,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Goodrich  and  Lizzie  Williams. 
a  native  of  Grant  county,  Wisconsin.  She 
was  born  August  4,  1863,  and  died  March  4, 
1904.  To  this  union  were  born  six  children, 
two  of  whom,  Ethel  and  John,  are  living  at 
home  with  their  father.  The  others  died  in 
infancy. 

Mr.  Goodrich  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  of  Minneota.     Fraternally  he  is  allied 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


291 


with    the    Modem    Woodmen    lodge   of    Mar 
shall. 


LOUIS  RIALSOX  11872).  a  business  man 
of  Tracy,  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of 
southeastern  Lyon  county,  having  resided 
there  continuously  for  the  past  forty  years. 
In  the  early  days  he  took  part  in  many  of 
the  history-making  events,  assisting  in  the 
organization  of  Monroe  township  and  hold- 
ing several  offices  under  the  township  gov- 
ernment, and  in  later  years  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  political  and  business  life 
of  his  community  to  a  considerable  extent. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  in  Green 
county,  Wisconsin,  January  11,  1851,  and 
in  that  county  he  lived  until  coming  to  Lyon 
county  in  1872  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years.  He  is  of  Xorwegian  parentage,  both 
his  parents,  Rile  and  Lucy  Evanson,  having 
come  from  the  old  country.  He  has  two 
brothers,  Andrew  and  Ole.  The  former  lives 
in  Kandiyohi  county  and  is  a  former  mem- 
ber of  the  Minnesota  Legislature. 

Louis  Rialson  drove  from  his  former  home 
in  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  to  Lyon  county, 
arriving  during  the  month  of  June,  1872, 
and  at  once  filed  a  homestead  claim  to  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  22,  Monroe 
township,  a  short  distance  west  of  the  pres- 
ent city  of  Tracy.  But  at  the  time  of  his 
arrival  there  was  no  Tracy,  no  railroad  in 
the  county,  and  the  only  settlers  in  the 
vicinity  were  the  families  of  Ole  Anderson, 
Ole  Helgeson,  Andrew  Christianson  and 
Kittel  Christopherson.  The  first  year  our 
subject  lived  in  a  sod  house  which  stood 
on  the  claim  of  his  brother,  Ole,  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  23.  Ole  Rialson 
had  filed  his  claim  in  the  spring  of  1872 
but  did  not  make  permanent  residence  there- 
on until  that  fall. 

For  some  little  time  the  trading  point  for 
these  early  settlers  was  Currie,  but  later, 
when  the  railroad  was  built,  limited  supplies 
could  be  procured  at  Saratoga,  near  the 
present  site  of  Amiret,  and  within  a  short 
time  Tracy  was  founded.  Mr.  Rialson  as- 
sisted in  the  organization  of  Monroe  town- 
ship and  suggested  its  name,  in  honor  of  the 
county  seat  of  Green  county,  Wisconsin. 
This  occurred  in  January,  1874.  During  the 
dark  days  of  the  grasshopper  scourge  Mr. 
Rialson  continued  to  make  his  home  on  the 


claim  and  his  family  remained  there  con- 
tinuously, but  he  was  obliged  to  seek  work 
elsewhere  to  make  both  ends  meet.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  season  he  worked  for  his 
brothers,  Evan  and  Andrew,  at  Xorway 
Lake,  north  of  Willmar. 

From  the  time  he  took  the  claim  forty 
years  ago  until  1906  Mr.  Rialson  lived  on  the 
place  and  he  still  farms  it,  although  he  now 
makes  his  home  in  Tracy.  For  a  number  of 
years  before  moving  to  town  he  had  been 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  com- 
pany with  A.  R.  Thompson  and  the  part- 
ners also  dealt  in  coal.  He  has  continued 
the  business  since  moving  to  Tracy  and  in 
August,  1911,  he  bought  the  Sleepy  Eye 
elevator  and  now  deals  in  grain,  coal,  feed 
and  salt.  When  he  engaged  in  the  new  line 
of  business  he  admitted  his  son,  Edward, 
as  a  partner  and  the  business  is  now  con- 
ducted under  the  firm  name  of  Rialson  & 
Son. 

Of  Monroe  township  Mr.  Rialson  served  as 
assessor  several  terms.  He  has  been  alder- 
man of  Tracy  three  terms  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  third  term  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education. 

Mr.  Rialson  was  married  in  Marshall  in 
July,  1874,  to  Bertha  Ellofson,  a  native  of 
Xorway.  They  have  eight  children,  named 
as  follows:  George,  Minnie,  Ella,  John, 
Freddie,  Clara,  Edward  and  Lilly. 


GUSTAV  LEDEL  (1873)  has  lived  in  Xord- 
land.  township  since  he  was  a  boy  eight 
years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  Xamsos, 
Trondhjem,  Xorway,  April  1,  1865,  and  the 
year  following  his  birth  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  America.  The  family  farmed  in 
Racine  county,  Wisconsin,  four  years,  in 
Dallas  county,  Iowa,  three  years,  and  in  1873 
they  came  in  a  prairie  schooner  to  Lyon 
county. 

The  father  took  as  a  homestead  claim 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  24,  Xordland 
township,  and  on  that  place  Gustav  grew 
to  manhood  and  has  ever  since  resided.  He 
worked  for  his  father  until  a  man  grown 
and  for  the  past  twenty  years  has  had  charge 
of  the  farm.  For  three  years  Mr.  Ledel 
served  as  township  assessor  and  he  was  road 
overseer  for  eight  or  ten  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Xorwegian  Lutheran  church. 

Ole  A.  Ledel,  the  father  of  our  subject,  died 


292 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


April  30,  1912,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years.  Josepha  (Spellum)  Ledel,  his  mother, 
still  lives  on  the  old  Nordland  homestead 
and  is  sixty-eight  years  of  age.  Gustav  is 
the  oldest  of  a  family  of  three  boys  and  five 
girls.  The  other  children  are  Matilda  (Mrs. 
H.  R.  Hanson),  Nellie,  Josie  (Mrs.  Chris 
Bang),  Annie  M.  (Mrs.  Gus  Peterson), 
Adolph,  of  Minneapolis;  Annie  and  Olaf, 
who  are  deceased. 


ANDREW  HELLIKSON  (1875),  of  Wester- 
heim  township,  is  a  pioneer  of  Lyon  county 
and  a  man  who  is  conversant  with  much  of 
its  early  history.  He  has  been  a  continuous 
resident  for  the  past  thirty-seven  years  and 
has  seen  his  part  of  the  county  develop  from 
a  wild  prairie  state  into  one  of  the  richest 
agricultural  districts  of  Minnesota. 

Norway  is  the  native  land  of  Mr.  Hellik- 
son  and  he  was  born  March  16,  1835.  He 
came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1842, 
lived  for  some  years  in  Walworth  county, 
Wisconsin,  and  later  near  Blue  Mounds,  Dane 
county,  whence  he  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
1875.  Upon  his  arrival  he  took  a  pre-emp- 
tion and  a  tree  claim  on  section  18,  Vallers 
township,  lived  there  two  years,  and  then 
moved  to  his  present  location  in  Wester- 
heim. 

He  paid  $300  to  Olaf  Orsen  for  a  tree 
claim,  on  which  ten  acres  had  been  broken 
but  on  which  no  buildings  had  been  erected. 
There  were  then  only  a  few  settlers  in  Wes- 
terheim  and  his  nearest  neighbor  was  Gula 
Peterson.  Mr.  Hellikson  improved  the  farm 
and  has  ever  since  made  his  home  thereon. 
He  has  prospered  and  is  today  the  owner 
of  480  acres  of  fertile  Lyon  county  soil. 
Many  hardships  were  encountered  in  the 
early  days.  Mr.  Hellikson  remembers  a  trip 
he  made  in  March,  1881  (the  year  of  the 
deep  snow) ;  no  trains  were  yet  in  operation 
and  the  ground  was  covered  with  several 
feet  of  snow.  He  made  the  trip  from  Ghent 
to  Sleepy  Eye  on  snow  shoes,  it  taking  him 
three  days  to  make  the  journey. 

Mr.  Hellikson  is  a  member  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church  of  Minneota.  He 
is  one  who  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
school  district  No.  3  and  he  was  a  director 
of  the  district  one  year. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Hellik 
and    Sarah   Hellikson.     They   took   a   home- 


stead claim  in  Jackson  county,  Minnesota, 
near  the  village  of  Brewster,  in  1873  and 
resided  on  the  farm  until  their  deaths.  They 
are  buried  in  the   Heron  Lake  cemetery. 

The  marriage  of  Andrew  Hellikson  to 
Inger  Cliffgard  occurred  in  Prairie  town- 
ship, Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  March  31, 
1860.  She  was  born  in  Norway  and  eame 
to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years.  Eight  children  were  born  to  this 
union,  of  whom  the  following  named  three 
are  living:  Sarah  (Mrs.  Knud  Kjorness), 
of  Minneota;  Mrs.  John  E.  Berg,  wife  of  a 
farmer  of  Westerheim  township;  and  Anton, 
who  lives  on  the  home  farm. 


VIRGIL  B.  SEWARD  (1879)  has  been 
engaged  in  the  practive  of  law  in  Marshall 
for  the  past  thirty-three  years.  He  was 
born  on  a  farm  near  Larwill,  in  Whitley 
county,  Indiana,  October  4,  1853.  When  he 
was  less  than  two  years  of  age,  in  May,  1855, 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Mankato, 
Minnesota,  and  practically  his  entire  life  has 
been  passed  as  a  resident  of  Southern  Min- 
nesota. He  was  educated  in  the  Mankato 
public  schools  and  in  the  University  of 
Minnesota.  Later  he  studied  law  at  Man- 
kato under  M.  G.  Willard  and  at  Stillwater 
under  Congressman  J.  N.  Castle.  Mr.  Sew- 
ard was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September, 
1878,  practised  at  Mankato  until  the  spring 
of  1879,  and  then  took  up  his  residence  in 
Marshall. 

He  has  served  as  president  of  the  City 
Council,  mayor  and  village  recorder.  He 
was  county  attorney  of  Lyon  county  four 
terms,  having  served  during  the  years  1885, 
1886,  1889  to  1892,  inclusive,  and  in  1895 
and  1896.  He  was  elected  state  senator 
from  the  seventeenth  district  in  1906  and 
served  one  term. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  the  late 
Amos  D.  Seward  and  Pleiades  (Barber) 
Seward,  natives  of  Tallmadge,  Ohio,  and 
New  York  State,  respectively.  They  were 
of  old  Connecticut  stock,  the  family's  set- 
tlement in  America  dating  back  to  the  six- 
teenth century.  They  were  pioneers  of  In- 
diana, having  located  there  in  the  late 
forties,  and  settled  at  Mankato,  Minnesota, 
in  1855.  The  elder  Mr.  Seward  erected  the 
first  gristmill  and  sawmill  in  that  frontier 
village — a  mill  that  met  destruction  in  the 


r.MMiKAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


293 


Sioux  War  of  L862.  Amos  I'.  Seward  moved 
in  California  in  1885  and  died  there  in  1908 
at  the  age  of  ninety-three  years.  Mrs. 
Seward,  who  is  now  ninety-three  years  of 
age,  lives  at  Ventura,  California. 

Virgil  B.  Seward  was  married  at  Marshall 
October  22,  1893,  to  Edna  Goodwin,  a  native 
of  Illinois  and  a  daughter  of  Joshua  Good- 
win, an  early  settler  of  Lyon  county.  Mr. 
Seward  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge, 
Chapter,  Commandery  and  Shrine  of  the  Ma- 
sonic orders,  and  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revo- 
lution and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


FRANK  A.  ADAMS  (1S77)  has  lived  in 
Eidsvold  township  since  he  was  a  boy  fif- 
teen years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  January  14,  1862.  At  the 
age  of  four  years  he  was  taken  with  the 
family  to  Plainview,  Minnesota,  and  three 
years  later  to  Redwood  Falls.  A  little  later 
the  family  located  in  New  Ulm  and  there 
Frank  attended  school,  his  instructor  being 
M.  E.  Mathews,  the  Marshall  attorney.  In 
1874  the  family  moved  to  St.  Paul  and  in 
that  city  young  Adams  continued  his  edu- 
cation. 

He  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty in  June,  1877,  his  father  taking  as  a  home- 
stead claim  the  west  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  4,  Eidsvold  township.  On 
that  place  our  subject  has  ever  since  re- 
sided. His  father  left  the  farm  in  1883  and 
since  that  time  Frank  has  owned  and  farmed 
the  old  homestead.  He  has  since  purchased 
an  additional  quarter  section  and  farms  all 
his  land.  He  feeds  hogs  and  cattle  quite 
extensively.  Part  of  the  old  claim  shanty 
erected  by  the  father  in  1877  still  stands  on 
the  homestead,  a  reminder  of  pioneer  days. 
In  1908  Mr.  Adams  erected  a  fine  two-story, 
ten-room  house  and  he  has  one  of  the  fine 
homes  of  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Adams  has 
served  as  a  director  of  school  district  No.  43. 

Mr.  Adams  descends  from  old  New  Eng- 
land stock,  his  ancestors  having  settled  in 
the  colonies  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War. 
His  father,  Francis  R.  Adams,  was  born  in 
Massachusetts  and  is  now  a  resident  of  St. 
Paul.  Frances  Louisa  (Winchell)  Adams, 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  New 
York  State  and  died  in  St.  Paul  about  1892. 
There  were  seven  children  in  the  family, 
of  whom  the  following  five  are  living:    Frank 


A.,  of  this  biography;  TIattie  Munsell,  of 
Redwood  Falls;  William,  a  conductor  of  the 
Northern  Pacific,  residing  in  St.  Paul;  Nell 
Voight,  of  St.  Paul;  and  Charles,  a  dining 
car  conductor  on  the  Northern  Pacific,  re- 
siding in  St.  Paul. 

Charlotte  L.  Conger  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Adams  on  July  1,  1883,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  in  Marshall.  Mrs.  Adams 
was  born  in  Durand,  Wisconsin,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Conger,  who  settled  in 
Lyon  county  in  1880.  Eight  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adams,  as  fol- 
lows: Francis,  Clara  (Mrs.  Ray  Dillon), 
of  South  Dakota;  Harry,  William,  Ralph, 
Stella,  Roy  and  Kate. 


HENRY  D.  MORGAN  (1873)  owns  and 
farms  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  12,  Custer  township.  He  was 
born  February  22,  1873,  in  that  township 
and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Davis) 
Morgan,  natives  of  Wales. 

His  parents  came  to  the  United  States 
when  children  and  settled  in  Blue  Earth 
county,  Minnesota.  There  they  grew  up  in 
the  same  neighborhood  and  were  married. 
In  an  early  day  they  located  in  Lyon  county. 
Henry  received  his  schooling  in  Lyon  county 
and  grew  up  on  the  farm.  His  young  man- 
hood was  spent  helping  his  father  on  the 
farm.  In  1897  our  subject  went  West,  and 
the  next  three  years  were  spent  in  Montana 
and  Wyoming  working  in  the  mines. 

Henry  Morgan  returned  to  Lyon  county  in 
1899  and  was  given  eighty  acres  of  land  by 
his  father,  which  he  has  since  conducted, 
and  where  he  has  made  his  home.  He  has 
been  raising  considerable  stock  on  his  farm 
and  has  invested  in  various  enterprises, 
owning  stock  in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Garvin  and  being  a  stockholder  and 
president  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Current  Lake  Telephone  Company.  Mr. 
Morgan  has  also  been  called  upon  to  fill 
several  of  the  township  offices.  He  is  chair- 
man of  the  Township  Board  of  Custer,  served 
one  year  as  a  member  of  the  board,  and 
was  several  years  clerk  of  the  school  dis- 
trict. He  is  active  in  church  affairs  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church. 
The  county  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  in  the  Garvin 
community  is  looked  after  by  Mr.  Morgan. 

Margrette  Hughes,  a  Lyon  county  girl,  be- 


294 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


came  the  wife  of  Henry  Morgan  on  May  11, 
1896,  and  the  ceremony  was  performed  at 
Marshall.  She  was  born  April  10,  1874. 
Her  people  located  on  a  homestead  on  sec- 
tion 12,  Custer  township.  Her  father,  Rich- 
ard Hughes,  a  native  of  Wales,  still  lives 
on  the  old  farm,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two, 
and  her  mother,  Ann  (Thomas)  Hughes,  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  died  in  1894.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry 
Morgan:  Louis  M.,  born  November  9,  1898; 
Herald  G.,  born  January  24,  1905;  and  Don- 
ald A.,  born  July  22,  1908. 


THOMAS  E.  DAVIS  (1877),  mayor  of 
Marshall  and  an  attorney  of  that  city,  is 
one  of  the  best  known  men  of  Lyon  county 
— a  man  who  has  played  an  important  part 
in  the  affairs  of  his  community.  Although 
born  outside  the  county,  his  parents  were 
residents  of  Lyon  county  at  the  time,  and 
he  has  spent  his  entire  life  here. 

Thomas  E.  Davis  was  born  in  Judson, 
Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota,  February  18, 
1877.  He  was  brought  to  Lyon  county  by 
his  parents  when  a  babe.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  Marshall  High  School  in  1894 
and  during  the  next  year  he  worked  at 
various  occupations.  He  was  a  student  at 
Macalester  College  in  1895  and  1896,  pre- 
paring himself  for  the  ministry,  but  he 
changed  his  plans  and  decided  to  become  a 
lawyer.  In  March,  1898,  he  entered  the 
law  office  of  M.  E.  Mathews,  where  he  read 
law  during  the  next  three  years.  In  March, 
1901,  he  entered  the  office  of  Senator  V.  B. 
Seward,  completed  his  studies,  and  the  same 
year  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

The  law  firm  of  Mathews  &  Davis  was 
then  formed  and  until  April,  1902,  our  sub- 
ject was  engaged  in  practice  with  the  older 
attorney.  He  then  opened  an  office  in  a 
dingy  little  room  containing  no  furniture 
except  a  kitchen  table  loaned  by  his  mother. 
To  purchase  books  he  borrowed  one  hun- 
dred dollars  from  Col.  A.  R.  Chace.  In 
September,  1902,  Mr.  Davis  received  the  Re- 
publican primary  nomination  for  county  at- 
torney, defeating  E.  C.  Patterson,  the  in- 
cumbent, with  a  majority  of  276.  At  the 
general  election  he  defeated  E.  B.  Johnson, 
of  Tracy,  an  independent  candidate,  by  a 
majority  of  540.  He  received  the  Republican 
nomination  without  opposition   in   1904,  but 


was  defeated  at  the  general  election  by  B.  B. 
Gislason,    of    Minneota,    by    214    votes. 

During  his  term  as  county  attorney  Mr. 
Davis  was  exceptionally  successfully  in  the 
prosecution  of  criminal  cases,  securing  140 
convictions  out  of  143  cases,  including  minor 
and  major  offences.  His  law  business  has 
grown  rapidly,  and  today  he  enjoys  one  of 
the  largest  law  practices  in  Southwestern 
Minnesota.  He  devotes  his  time  exclusively 
to  the  trial  of  cases  and  has  a  large  prac- 
tice in  Redwood,  Yellow  Medicine,  Lac  qui 
Parle  and  Swift  counties. 

Mr.  Davis  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 
politics  and  is  an  orator  of  state-wide  repu- 
tation. In  the  campaigns  of  1908  and  1910 
he  made  speeches  for  the  state  and  national 
tickets  in  many  parts  of  the  state,  spending 
several  weeks  in  Minneapolis,  Duluth  and 
other  cities.  He  has  been  mentioned  as  a 
candidate  for  congress  and  is  credited  with 
the  ambition  to  represent  his  district  in  the 
nation's  law-making  body.  Locally  he  has 
held  several  offices  in  addition  to  that  of 
county  attorney.  In  1908  and  1909  he  served 
as  alderman  from  the  second  ward,  and  in 
April,  1910,  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the 
city,  defeating  H.  P.  Fulton  by  ninety-eight 
majority. 

Mr.  Davis  is  a  man  of  family.  He  was 
married  at  Chetek,  Wisconsin,  June  26,  1906, 
to  Mabel  Emma  Johnson.  She  is  a  native 
of  that  place,  having  been  born  May  17, 
1884.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Ole  and  Mary 
Johnson,  who  were  born  in  Norway.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Davis:  Esther  Mabel,  horn  March  4,  1908, 
and  Dona  May,  born  June  23,  1910.  Mr. 
Davis  holds  membership  in  the  M.  W.  A., 
Royal  Arcanum,  Maccabees,  Elks  and 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodges. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  is  the  son 
of  Reese  and  Jane  (Jones)  Davis,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Wales  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio,  she  being  of  Welsh  descent.  Reese 
Davis  came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age 
of  three  years  and  located  with  his  parents 
in  Ohio.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  C, 
of  the  Fifty-sixth  Ohio  Infantry,  served  the 
period  of  his  enlistment,  and  then  re-enlisted 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Jane 
Jones  located  in  Blue  Earth  county,  Minne- 
sota, with  her  parents  in  1858.  After  the 
war  Mr.  Davis  located  in  the  same  county, 
where   was   a  large   Welsh   settlement,  and 


THOMAS  E.  DAVIS 

Mayor  of  Marshall   (1910-12)   and  an  Attorney  of  That  City. 


%?•"»**>* 

.»«,-,«,< 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


295 


there  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  mar- 
ried. They  moved  to  Lyou  county  in  L873 
and  took  a  homestead  claim  in  Monroe  town- 
ship. They  left  the  farm  in  1882  and  lo- 
cated in  Tracy,  and  four  years  later  moved 
o  .Marshall,  where  they  have  since  resided. 
i  Ir.  Davis  is  a  trustee  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  and  has  been  since  the  church 
was  built. 

Reese  and  Jane  Davis  have  five  children, 
all  living  and  all  graduates  of  the  Marshall 
Higl  School.  Following  are  the  names  of 
the  children:  Esther,  the  wife  of  William 
Russell,  an  attorney  at  Moorhead;  Mary 
Agnes,  the  wife  of  O.  A.  Krook,  who  is  post- 
master of  Marshall;  Elizabeth  Ida,  who  was 
the  assistant  principal  of  the  Laurel,  Mon- 
tana, schools  and  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Rigney,  a  merchant  of  Laurel; 
Thomas  E.,  of  this  biography,  and  his  twin 
brother,  John  I.,  who  is  an  attorney  at  Ben- 
son, Minnesota. 


CHARLES  TRUAX  (1875),  Amiret  town- 
ship farmer,  is  a  native  of  Lyon  county. 
He  was  born  at  Tracy  on  November  12,  1875, 
and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  S.  and  Adeline  E. 
Truax,  the  latter  being  deceased.  The  par- 
ents were  born  in  Ohio.  In  1871  they  came 
to  Lyon  county  and  homesteaded  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  32,  Amiret  township, 
where  they  resided  until  1908.  In  the  latter 
year  they  moved  to  Wyoming.  To  them 
were  born  the  following  children:  Nettie, 
Lydia,  May,  Ella,  Charles  and  Samuel. 

The  subject  of  this  review  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Lyon  county  and  was  educated 
in  the  district  and  high  schools  of  the  coun- 
ty. After  finishing  his  schooling  he  resided 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Amiret  township  un- 
til 1905.  In  the  latter  year  he  moved  to 
Amiret  village,  where  he  bought  grain  for 
Bingham  Brothers  five  years.  In  May,  1911, 
he  returned  to  his  father's  farm,  which  he 
has  since  conducted  in  connection  with  his 
own  farm  which  adjoins  it.  Our  subject  is 
a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  the  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  lodges,  and  he  was  township  treasurer 
two  years. 

Mr.  Truax  was  married  at  Oakfield,  Wis- 
consin, on  February  14,  1900,  to  Gertrude 
Mihills.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Truax  are  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  five  children:  Norris, 
Merrill,  Charles,  Donald  and  Samuel. 


DAVID  H.  EVANS  (1878).  One  of  the 
best  known  men  of  Lyon  county  and  a  man 
who  has  played  a  most  active  part  in  the 
affairs  of  his  city  and  county  is  David  H. 
Evans,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Tracy.  He 
is  interested  in  many  business  enterprises 
in  his  home  town  and  in  the  state  at  large 
and  he  has  taken  an  active  and  leading  part 
in  political  affairs.  Mr.  Evans  has  resided 
in   Tracy  continuously  since  1S78. 

At  Utica,  New  York,  on  the  first  day  of 
November,  1852,  the  subject  of  this  biogra- 
phy was  born.  He  came  to  Minnesota  in 
territorial  days  with  his  parents,  the  trip 
being  made  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  river 
and  ox  team.  It  was  when  David  was  only 
five  years  of  age,  in  1857,  that  the  family 
made  settlement  in  the  little  hamlet  of  South 
Bend  (since  removed  from  the  map),  three 
miles  west  of  Mankato.  There  his  father 
opened  a  blacksmith  shop  and  there  the 
family  resided  for  the  next  fifteen  years. 

The  community  at  that  time  boasted  no 
educational  advantages  and  young  Evans  re- 
ceived little  book  learning.  During  the  win- 
ter months  he  helped  his  father  with  the 
work  in  the  shop  and  during  the  summer 
seasons  he  helped  clear  the  timber  from  the 
.eighty-acre  tract  that  the  elder  Evans  owned. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  David  H.  Evans 
left  home  and  began  work  in  a  hardware 
store  at  Mankato,  and  in  that  business  he 
has  ever  since  been  engaged.  He  lived  in 
Mankato  until  1878  and  since  that  date  has 
been  a  resident  of  Tracy. 

The  date  of  his  arrival  to  Tracy  was  May 
3,  1878,  and  he  is  now  the  senior  business 
man  of  the  city.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival 
Tracy  had  a  population  of  only  about  150 
people  and  he  established  the  second  hard- 
ware store  in  the  village,  the  first  having 
been  founded  by  David  Stafford.  The  first 
five  years  Mr.  Evans'  business  was  con- 
ducted in  a  building  on  South  Street  and 
then  he  moved  to  his  present  location,  erect- 
ing the  two-story  44x100  feet  building  at  that 
time.  He  carries  a  complete  line  of  shelf 
and  heavy  hardware  and  implements.  He  is 
also  engaged  in  the  grain  business,  having 
bought  the  Neil  Currie  elevator  in  an  early 
day  and  having  built  an  addition  to  it  in 
1893. 

In  many  other  lines  of  business  is  Mr. 
Evans  interested.  He  was  one  of  the  incor- 
porators of  the  Tracy  Mill  Company,  which 


296 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


was  established  in  1890  and  which  was  later 
destroyed  by  fire.  He  was  one  of  the  in- 
corporators of  the  Citizens  State  Bank  and 
is  a  director  of  that  institution.  He  is  vice 
president  of  the  Houston  Pen  Company  and 
president  of  the  Tracy  Cement  and  Tile  Com- 
pany. 

Mr.  Evans  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Retail  Hardware  Dealers  Mutual  Insur- 
ance Company  of  Minneapolis  and  is  vice 
president  of  the  company.  On  the  first  day 
of  December,  1911,  this  concern  had  in  force 
insurance  to  the  amount  of  $15,000,000  and 
a  reserve  fund  of  $306,224.81.  Our  subject 
is  the  president  of  another  worthy  concern, 
the  Retail  Implement  Dealers  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  of  Owatonna,  which  in 
three  years  has  accumulated  a  surplus  of 
over  $10,000.  Mr.  Evans  was  the  founder 
and  is  the  president  of  the  Minnesota  Com- 
mercial Federation,  which  was  established 
in  1908.  Tbe  objects  of  the  federation  are 
to  secure  united  effort  and  definite  action  on 
the  part  of  the  various  retail  commercial 
associations  of  Minnesota,  to  better  condi- 
tions of  retail  merchandising,  and  by  co- 
operation to  carry  out  the  purposes  of  the 
affiliated  organizations  and  secure  such  leg- 
islation as  will  promote  the  business  inter- 
ests of  the  state. 

An  extensive  land  owner  is  Mr.  Evans, 
about  3000  acres  being  recorded  in  his  name. 
Among  his  holdings  is  the  famous  Captain 
Aldrich  farm  of  650  acres  on  Lake  Shetek. 
That  farm  is  a  historic  spot  because  of  the 
fact  that  the  thirteen  people  who  were  mas- 
sacred by  the  Indians  in  1862  in  the  settle- 
ment on  Lake  Shetek  are  buried  on  the 
farm,  the  grave  occupying  a  beautiful  spot 
on  the  lake  front. 

Mr.  Evans  is  a  deep  student  of  political 
conditions  and  has  decided  opinions  on  ques- 
tions of  the  times.  He  is  a  strong  cham- 
pion of  the  small  town  as  against  the  city. 
He  believes  that  centralization  of  business 
brings  about  a  centralization  of  population, 
and  that  both  history  and  experience  teach 
that  centralization  of  population  is  disas- 
trous to  civilization — that  a  well  distributed 
population  contributes  to  the  general  wel- 
fare and  progress.  "Commerce  to  a  town, 
large  or  small,"  he  maintains,  "is  what 
blood  is  to  the  human  body;  deprive  a  town 
of  its  commerce  and  it  is  a  dead  one." 
Therefore,  he  thinks,  if  we  are  to  maintain 


our  present  standard  of  civilization  and 
progress  it  is  necessary  to  distribute  the 
population  over  the  state,  that  the  inland 
town  must  be  built  up  and  is  essential  as  a 
social,  religious,  civic  and  educational  cen- 
ter. 

It  is  the  belief  of  Mr.  Evans  that  under 
the  present  system  there  is  discrimination 
in  railroad  freight  rates  which  gives  the 
large  centers  a  strangle  hold  on  the  smaller 
towns  and  that  they  are  rapidly  crushing  the 
life  out  of  the  inland  towns  and  rapidly 
destroying  agricultural  life.  He  thinks 
means  must  be  found  to  build  up  the  smaller 
towns  and  has  given  the  matter  deep  thought 
and  advocated  these  principles.  He  was  a 
warm  supporter  of  the  Cashman  bill,  which 
met  defeat  in  the  last  Legislature. 

In  politics  Mr.  Evans  has  taken  an  active 
part  and  is  a  prominent  Democrat.  He 
was  the  nominee  of  his  party  for  congress 
against  James  T.  McCleary  in  1898  and  has 
been  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  national  convention 
that  nominated  Alton  B.  Parker  for  the 
presidency  and  in  1906  was  made  the  nomi- 
nee of  the  Democrats  for  state  treasurer. 
He  served  a  term  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Reformatory  Board  at  St.  Cloud,  receiving 
the  appointment  from  Governor  Lind.  He 
served  as  mayor  of  Tracy  two  terms  and 
for  ten  years  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  serving  part  of  the  time  with 
John  Lind,  who  was  then  a  resident  of 
Tracy  and  later  became  governor  of  the 
state.  Mr.  Evans  is  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias  lodges. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
at  Denver,  Colorado,  February  22,  1880,  to 
Mary  A.  Evans.  She  was  born  at  Berlin, 
Wisconsin,  February  17,  1858,  the  daughter 
of  William  J.  and  Hannah  (Roland)  Evans. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans  have  six  children :  David 
Tracy,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska;  Hannah 
Vaughn  (Mrs.  John  F.  Lehman),  of  Water- 
town,  South  Dakota;  William  Henry,  who 
assists  his  father  in  the  store;  Mary  Winni- 
fred,  a  student  in  the  State  University; 
Theodosia,  a  student  of  the  Tracy  High 
School;  and  Dianessa  Bryan,  also  a  student 
in  the  Tracy  High  School. 

The  parents  of  David  H.  Evans  were  Da- 
vid D.  and  Eleanor  (Vaughn)  Evans,  na- 
tives of  Wales.  The  father  came  to  the 
United   States  when  two  years  old   in   182S 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


297 


and  the  mother  in  1S44.  They  were  married 
in  Utica,  New  York,  and  in  the  fifties  settled 
near  Mankato.  The  father  still  resides  in 
that  city  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years;  the 
mother  died  there  in  1882.  Six  children 
of  their  family  are  living,  as  follows:  David 
H.,  John  M.,  of  Osseo,  Minnesota;  Maurice 
V.,  of  Minneapolis;  Joseph,  of  Hamilton, 
Canada;  Mrs.  Hattie  J.  Hill,  of  Mankato; 
Louis  R.,  who  is  chief  engineer  on  a  steamer 
plying  between  San  Francisco  and  China. 

Mr.  Evans  witnessed  the  hanging  of  the 
thirty-eight  Indians  at  Mankato  after  the 
close  of  the  Sioux  War.  During  the  famous 
outbreak  his  father  was  a  second  lieutenant 
of  the  state  militia. 


WILLIAM  S.  BALDWIN  (1872)  is  post- 
master of  Taunton,  the  proprietor  of  a  flour 
and  feed  store  and  a  stock  dealer.  He  has 
resided  in  Minnesota  all  his  life  and  is 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Lyon  county, 
having  first  come  here  when  less  than  twelve 
years  of  age. 

William  Baldwin  was  born  near-  Troy, 
Winona  county,  Minnesota,  August  12,  1860. 
His  parents  were  Solomon  and  Ellen  (Can- 
field)  Baldwin,  natives,  respectively,  of 
Pennsylvania  and  New  York  State.  They 
were  pioneer  residents  of  Winona  county 
and  died  there  when  our  subject  was  a 
child.  There  are  four  children  in  the  fam- 
ily: Lucy  Robinson,  of  St.  Charles,  Minne- 
sota; William  S.,  of  this  biography;  Fred, 
of  Langdon,  North  Dakota;  and  George,  of 
Winona. 

The  year  of  arrival  to  Lyon  county  was 
1872,  when  William  Baldwin  was  a  lad  eleven 
years  of  age.  The  railroad  which  was  then 
building  toward  Lyon  county — the  Winona 
&  St.  Peter — had  only  reached  Sleepy  Eye, 
and  the  trip  was  made  in  a  covered  wagon 
from  Chatfield.  The  trip  was  made  with 
the  family  of  Henry  P.  Gibbs  and  for  three 
years  our  subject  lived  with  that  family  on 
the  homestead  on  section  14,  Fairview  town- 
ship. Then  Mr.  Gibbs  lost  his  life  in  one 
of  the  winter  storms  and  young  Baldwin 
went  to  live  with  the  Castor  family,  over 
the  line  in  Redwood  county.  The  next  win- 
ter he  attended  school  in  Marshall  and  from 
that  time  until  1893  he  lived  in  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  county  seat. 

During  that  period  Mr.  Baldwin  worked  at 


various  occupations.  He  was  street  commis- 
sioner of  Marshall  one  year,  operated  a  feed 
barn  for  some  time,  and  engaged  in  fann- 
ing land  for  Marshall  residents.  In  1893 
Mr.  Baldwin  rented  land  from  his  father-in- 
law  near  Minneota,  farmed  it  three  years, 
and  has  ever  since  then  resided  in  Taun- 
ton. He  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade 
and  general  work  until  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  on  December  24,  1907.  Since 
then  he  has  conducted  a  flour  and  feed 
store  and  engaged  in  the  stock  business  as 
well  as  care  for  the  postoffice.  Before  the 
incorporation  of  Taunton  Mr.  Baldwin  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Eidsvold  township 
and  he  has  served  several  terms  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Taunton  Village  Council.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge.  ■ 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  married  at  Minneota  Oc- 
tober 1,  1892,  to  Bessie  Walsh,  a  native  of 
Springfield,  Illinois.  To  this  union  two  chil- 
dren, Leo  and  Elenor,  were  born.  Mrs. 
Baldwin  died  December  7,  1896.  The  sec- 
ond marriage  of  our  subject  occurred  at 
Ghent  on  January  18,  1900.  when  he  wedded 
Annie  Helvig,  a  native  of  Chicago.  George, 
Margaret  and  Lester  are  their  children. 


GUSTAV  J.  GOLTZ  (1875),  owner  of  one 
of  the  finest  half  sections  in  Lyon  county, 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  10  and  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  9,  Rock  Lake 
township,  is  one  of  its  most  successful  farm- 
ers and  stock  raisers.  His  stock  sales  each 
year  amount  to  about  $1,500.  Mr.  Goltz  is 
also  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers  Elevator 
Company  of  Balaton. 

John  and  Wilhelmina  (Abel)  Goltz,  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  came  to  America  from 
Germany  in  1875  and  settled  in  Owatonna, 
Minnesota.  The  father  worked  out  that 
summer  and  filed  on  a  homestead  in  Rock 
Lake  township,  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 2,  where  the  family  went  to  live  in  the 
fall.  That  was  the  family's  home  the  next 
thirty-four  years.  They  came  upon  hard 
times  during  the  grasshopper  years  and 
contended  with  other  discouragements  of  the 
early  days  until  good  crops,  market  facili- 
ties, the  county's  growth,  and  their  years 
of  hard  work  eventually  brought  prosperity. 
They  have  led  a  retired  life  in  Balaton  since 
1909. 

Gustav   was    born  -in    Germany   December 


298 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


15,  1871,  and  came  to  this  country  with  his 
parents.  Having  finished  his  education  at 
the  age  of  twenty  years  he  worked  on  the 
home  farm  one  year,  after  which  he  worked 
out  at  various  places  in  the  state  during  the 
next  six  years.  In  the  spring  of  1899  Gustav 
returned  to  Lyon  county,  purchased  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  10,  Rock  Lake, 
from  his  father,  and  has  been  farming  the 
place  since  that  time.  In  March,  1911,  he 
bought  the  adjoining  quarter  on  section  9 
and  has  brought  the  half  section  to  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church.  He  was  married  in  the 
township  November  11,  1908.  to  Mary  Abel, 
a  native  vof  Germany.  Mrs.  Goltz  was  born 
October  24,  1880,  and  her  mother,  Mrs.  Fred 
Abel,  still  lives  in  the,  old  country.  The 
father  is  dead.  Mr.  Goltz  has  the  following 
sisters  and  brothers  living:  Minnie  (Mrs. 
W.  G.  Myers)  and  Elsie,  of  Worthington; 
Emma  (Mrs.  Julius  Frost)  and  Sqphia  (Mrs. 
Max  Bollman),  of  California;  Annie  (Mrs. 
F.  J.  Breening)  and  Gertrude  (Mrs.  George 
Snow),  of  Balaton;  Otto,  of  Warren,  Minne- 
sota; August,  of  Madelia;  Robert,  of  Can- 
ada; Ray  and  Walter,  of  Montana;  and 
Erwin,  of  Rock  Lake  township. 


OLE  O.  RUNHOLT  (1878)  is  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Lucas  township  and  is  the 
owner  of  160  acres  of  land  on  the  south  half 
of  section  17. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Christiania,  Nor- 
way, October  12,  1853,  and  Is  a  sr>n  of  Ole 
and  Carrie  (Sleitte)  Monson.  The  boy  grew 
to  manhood  in  his  native  country  and  after 
completing  his  schooling  he  worked  in  the 
mines  with  his  father.  In  1878  Ole  and 
his  brother  Aasten  came  to  America,  and 
during  the  first  year  of  their  residence  in 
the  new  country  lived  on  the  farm  of  Chris- 
topher Peterson  in  Lucas  township.  The 
following  year  Ole  bought  forty  acres  of 
school  land  on  section  16,  built  a  small 
house,  and  continued  to  make  his  home 
there  the  next  five  or  six  years.  In  1879 
the  boy's  parents  came  from  Norway  and 
made  their  home  with  him. 

In  the  fall  of  1884  our  subject  married  and 
then  sold  his  Tarm  to  his  brother  and  re- 
turned to  Norway.  There  he  remained  one 
and  one-half  years.     Returning  to  America, 


he  took  up  farm  work  and  worked  on  the 
railroad  for  a  time  in  North  Dakota.  Shortly 
after  coming  back  to  this  country,  his  wife 
died  at  her  father's  home  in  Norway,  where 
Ole  had  left  his  family  until  he  should  find 
a  good  location  in  Lyon  county.  He  was 
obliged  to  return  once  more  to  the  Father- 
land to  get  his  two  children,  and  after  a 
stay  of  one  year  and  a  half  our  subject 
again  made  the  long  trip. 

Upon  again  taking  up  his  residence 
in  Lyon  county,  Mr.  Runholt  spent  seven 
years  working  out  at  farm  labor.  He  then 
moved  to  the  east  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  17,  Lucas  township,  where 
his  parents  lived,  and  took  charge  of  the 
place,  they  being  too  old  for  the  active  care 
of  the  farm.  His  father  is  now  dead  and 
the  mother  is  still  living  on  the  farm  with 
her  son.  Ole  has  added  eighty  acres  to  the 
farm  and  is  doing  well  with  his  farming. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  a 
second  time,  to  Annie  Grandhagen  on  Janu- 
ary 18.  1896.  She  was  born  in  Norway  Jan- 
uary 18,  1874,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Martha  Grandhagen.  The  children  of  his 
second  marriage  are  Oscar,  Cora  O.,  Jo- 
seph R.  and  Laurence.  Mr.  Runholt  has 
two  children  by  his  first  marriage,  Clara 
M.  and  Rudolph    (deceased). 

The  Runholts  are  members  of  the  Norwe- 
gian Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Runholt  is  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  district 
No.  89. 


S.  H.  ADAMS  (1873).  When  S.  H.  Adams 
came  to  Marshall  in  1873  he  reports  that 
there  were  only  eleven  houses  in  the  town. 
He  has  seen  'the  village  grow  from  those 
proportions  into  the  city  of  today,  having 
lived  in  the  village  ever  since,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  years.  During  nearly 
all  this  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
tinning  business,  and  he  is  now  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  S.  H.  Adams  &  Son, 
plumbers,  steamfitters  and  sheet  metal  work- 
ers. 

Mr.  Adams  was  the  only  son  of  Harrison 
S.  and  Betsey  T.  (Ladd)  Adams  and  he 
was  born  at  Cambridge,  New  York,  on  Sep- 
tember 1,  1853.  His  father,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, came  to  Lyon  county  in  1873  and 
died  in  November,  1903,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty years.     His  mother  was  born  in   New 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


299 


Hampshire    and    died    in    Marshall    May    1, 
L874. 

Ai  the  age  of  four  years  S.  H.  Adams 
accompanied  his  parents  from  Cambridge, 
New  York,  to  Rutland,  Vermont,  and  a  lit- 
tle later  to  Springfield.  Vermont,  where  the 
family  resided  until  he  was  thirteen  years 
of  age.  Then  the  family  home  was  made  in 
Trempealeau,  Wisconsin.  In  that  place 
young  Adams  attended  school  and  grew  to 
manhood.  He  came  to  Marshall  in  Septem- 
ber. 1873,  and  the  day  following  his  arrival 
began  work  in  the  hardware  store  of  J.  P. 
Watson  and  there  learned  the  tinner's  trade. 
He  worked  for  Mr.  Watson  ten  years  and 
for  R.  M.  Addison  eight  years  and  then 
moved  to  Cottonwood  and  went  into  business 
with   Thomas  McKinley. 

Eight  years  later  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Marshall  and  for  the  next  five  years  was 
again  employed  by  J.  P.  Watson.  He  then 
moved  to  Provo,  Utah,  where  he  remained 
four  years.  .  Returning  to  Marshall  in  April. 
1909,  he  formed  the  company  known  as  S.  H. 
Adams  &  Son  with  his  son,  Lloyd  E.,  as 
partner. 

For  two  years  the  firm  did  business  in  Mr. 
Watson's  hardware  store,  but  the  growth  of 
the  business  demanded  larger  quarters  and 
in  April,  1911,  a  move  was  made  to  the 
present  location  in  the  Josh  Goodwin  build- 
ing. The  firm  engages  in  plumbing,  steam, 
hot  water  and  hot  air  heating,  ventilating 
and  cornice  work  and  does  repairing.  It  is 
the  only  exclusive  plumbing  and  tinning 
establishment  in  Marshall. 

Mr.  Adams  has  been  a  Mason  since  1875, 
having  been  the  first  one  admitted  to  mem- 
bership after  the  local  lodge  secured  its 
charter,  and  he  was  the  first  worthy  patron 
of  the  Eastern  Star  lodge  in  Marshall.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge. 

In  Trempealeau,  Wisconsin,  on  April  7, 
1877,  Mr.  Adams  was  married  to  Ida  H. 
Smith,  a  native  of  Illinois.  They  have  three 
boys,  as  follows:  Archer  L.,  who  was  born 
February  15,  1878,  married  Mary  Wilson,  and 
is  now  foreman  of  the  ventilating  depart- 
ment of  the  H.  Kelley  Company  plant  (plumb- 
ers), Minneapolis;  Lloyd  E.,  who  was  born 
April  26,  1881,  married  Nellie  Spaulding,  and 
is  now  in  business  with  his  father  at  Mar- 
shall; Harry,  who  was  born  January  16,  1894, 
and  is  employed  by  the  firm  as  bookkeeper. 


EUGENE  A.  D1CKERMAN  (1877),  of  Lake 
Marshall  township,  has  resided  in  Lyon  coun- 
ty tor  the  past  thirty-five  years.  He  came 
here  penniless  in  1877  and  today  is  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  and  widely  known  men 
in  Lyon  county.  Mr.  Dickeriiian  is  a  native 
of  Vermont,  where  he  was  born  November 
29,  1847.  He  is  a  son  of  Lemuell  and  Irene 
(Hillyard)  Dickerman.  The  father  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  rock  laying  in  Ver- 
mont, where  he  died  when  Eugene  was  only 
nine  years  of  age.  The  mother  lived  several 
years  after  the  father's  death. 

The  subject  of  this  review  attended  school 
at  Casson  Bridge  Academy  during  the  winter 
months  until  seventeen  years  yof  age.  He 
then  stayed  at  home  with  his  mother  until 
he  had  passed  his  nineteenth  year,  when  he 
went  to  New  York  and  worked  on  the  Platts- 
burg  &  White  Hall  railroad  for  several 
months.  Returning  to  Vermont,  he  remained 
a  few  weeks  and  then  came  to  Minnesota 
and  located  in  Olmsted  county,  where  he 
resided  until  1877,  the  year  he  came  to  Lyon 
county.  Mr.  Dickerman  first  located  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  24,  Lake  Mar- 
shall township,  but  later  sold  that  and  moved 
to  the  farm  he  now  owns  and  operates,  the 
east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
24. 

Mr.  Dickerman  has  been  a  school  officer 
of  district  No.  6  almost  continuously  since 
1880,  and  he  holds  membership  in  the  Ma- 
sonic lodge  of  Marshall.  He  has  stock  in 
the  Lake  Marshall  Rural  Telephone  Com- 
pany and  in  the  M.  W.  Savage  Stock  Food 
Company  of  Minneapolis.  Mr.  Dickerman  is 
a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  serving  in  Com- 
pany G,  Fourth  Vermont  Infantry,  known  as 
the  Home  Guards. 

In  1874  Mr.  Dickerman  was  married  to 
Maribah  Templeton,  a  daughter  of  Matthew 
and  Nancy  (Frost)  Templeton  and  the  oldest 
of  a  family  of  six  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dickerman  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Luella,  born  September  4,  1875; 
Leora,  born  January  6,  1877;  Lillian,  born 
March  11,  1879;  Leona,  born  December  19, 
1881 ;  Joseph,  born  March  27,  1886. 


EPHRAIM  SKYHAWK  (1877),  deceased, 
was  the  first  business  man  in  Russell  and 
for  several  years  was  the  only  storekeeper 
of  the  town.    He  was  well  known  throughout 


300 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


the  county  and  many  were  the  friends  who 
grieved  over  his  death. 

Mr.  Skyhawk  was  born  near  Valparaiso, 
Indiana,  April  19,  1853.  When  he  was  three 
years  of  age  he  came  to  Minnesota  with 
his  parents,  and  the  family  located  in  Mower 
county.  The  next  twenty-one  years  of  the 
lad's  life  were  spent  on  the  farm  in  that 
county  and  he  was  there  educated  and 
brought  up  amidst  the  environments  of  farm 
life.  It  was  in  the  spring  of  1877  that  the 
young  man  came  to  Lyon  county  and  located 
on  a  farm  in  Amiret,  where  he  lived  until 
1885.  That  year  he  became  a  citizen  of  Mar- 
shall and  engaged  in  the  meat  business  with 
Joseph  Pierard. 

Four  years  later  our  subject  went  to  Rus- 
sell, then  just  being  founded,  and  opened  the 
first  store.  He  conducted  a  general  mercan- 
tile business  and  remained  an  active  busi- 
ness man  of  the  village  until  failing  health 
caused  him  to  turn  over  the  conduct  of  his 
enterprise  to  his  son,  Lewis  D.,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1908.  Mr.  Skyhawk  failed  rapidly  and 
died  at  his  home  in  Russell  March  18,  1910. 
Mr.  Skyhawk  was  married  October  25,  1886, 
to  Rosa  B.  Hanks,  of  Amiret,  and  at  his 
death  left  a  widow  and  four  children.  The 
children's  names  are  Lewis  D.,  Belle,  Frank 
and  Mona. 

Ephraim  Skyhawk  was  a  type  of  the  bluff 
and  hearty  pioneer  of  the  county's  earliest 
days — one  of  those  courageous  men  who 
had  the  fortitude  to  endure  the  privations  of 
frontier  life,  the  ability  and  disposition  to 
conquer,  and  one  whose  happy  disposition 
made  him  popular  among  his  associates. 
He  was  a  prominent  Mason,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  Coteau  Lodge  of  Russell,  of  Marshall 
Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and  of  Marshall  Com- 
mandery  of  the  Knights  Templar. 


OLE  AMUNDSON  (1874)  has  lived  in  Eids- 
vold  township  all  his  life — thirty-eight  years. 
His  parents,  Anund  and  Kari  (Heggen) 
Amundsen,  were  among  the  earliest  settlers 
of  the  precinct.  They  came  to  the  United 
States  from  Norway  in  the  spring  of  1869, 
lived  in  Iowa,  later  in  Dodge  county,  Minne- 
sota, came  to  Lyon  county  in  the  spring  of 
1874,  and  took  as  a  homestead  claim  the 
south  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 24,  Eidsvold  township.         » 

Ole  was  bora  on  the  homestead  November 


28,  1874,  and  he  resided  with  his  parents  un- 
til 1902.  Then  he  was  married  and  started 
farming  for  himself  on  the  120-acre  farm  on 
section  9  that  he  had  bought  several  years 
before.  His  land  is  the  south  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  and  the  southwest  quarter 
of  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  section.  Mr. 
Amundson  is  clerk  of  school  district  No.  79 
and  he  served  as  township  treasurer  thirteen 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church. 

Helga  Esping,  born  in  Lyon  county  August 
S,  1878,  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Amundson 
November  20,  1902,  the  ceremony  having 
been  performed  in  Minneota.  Her  parents. 
Ole  H.  and  Helga  (Nelson)  Esping,  were 
born  in  Norway  and  were  early  settlers  of 
Lyon  county.  The  mother  died  in  1904;  the 
father  still  lives  in  Eidsvold  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amundson  have  the  following 
named  five  children:  Hilda  O,  born  August 
25,  1903;  Arthur  O.,  bom  April  25.  1905: 
Earl  J.,  born  January  18,  1907;  Newel  M., 
born  October  23, 1908;  George  A.,  born  March 
9,  1911. 


HENRY  MEEHL  (1878),  owner  of  the 
northwest  quarter  and  the  north  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  11,  Clifton  town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  township's  prosperous 
farmers. 

Mr.  Meehl  was  born  in  Sullivan  county, 
Pennsylvania,  December  15,  1856,  and  at  the 
age  of  six  years  moved  to  Rice  county,  Min- 
nesota, with  his  parents,  where  the  father 
took  a  homestead.  Henry  grew  up  on  the 
farm  in  Rice  county  and  when  twenty-two 
years  of  age  started  out  for  himself.  He 
came  to  Lyon  county  in  1878  and  bought 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  3  of  the 
township  in  which  he  now  resides.  That 
place  he  farmed  until  1900,  when  he  sold  out 
and  bought  his  present  farm.  There  he  has 
since  resided.  He  has  improved  the  place 
and  made  it  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the 
region.  Mr.  Meehl  raises  a  great  deal  of 
stock. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  active 
in  the  township's  affairs.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Township  Board  several  years  and 
clerk  for  seventeen  years.  He  was  also 
township  assessor  four  years  and  was  for 
fifteen  years  treasurer  of  school  district  No. 
42.    Mr.  Meehl  is  a  shareholder  and  president 


BKXiKAl'lllCAL  HISTORY. 


:;<>] 


of  tbe  Fanners  Elevator  Company  of  Milroy. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge. 

Henry  Meehl  was  married  in  Marshall  to 
Etta  McElwee,  the  wedding  occurring  De- 
ember  IT.  1884.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Indiana  and  died  April  6,  1891.  To  this 
union  the  following  children  were  born: 
Harry  E.,  born  September  25,  1885;  Mae  E., 
born  May  2,  1887;  and  Eve  E.,  born  August 
27,  1889. 

Agnes  Castle  became  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject March  9,  1893.  She  was  a  native  of 
Illinois,  and  by  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Meehl 
she  became  the  mother  of  one  child,  Viola, 
born  August  24,  1894.  Mrs.  Meehl  was  born 
November  29,  1868,  and  died  April  2,  1896. 

Mr.  Meehl  was  married  a  third  time,  to 
Mrs.  Bessie  Graham,  a  native  of  Scranton, 
Pennsylvania.  The  wedding  occurred  May 
30,  1901.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Eugene  and 
Lydia  (Brown)  Jaques,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Her  father  is  dead;  her  mother  lives 
in  New  York  State.  Mrs.  Meehl  was  born 
June  10,  1876.  She  and  Mr.  Meehl  are  the 
parents  of  six  children,  named  Clyde  E., 
Persey  M.,  Dorothy,  Ines,  Gladys  and  Marvin. 

Mr.  Meehl's  parents  were  Jacob  and  Hen- 
rietta (Peter)  Meehl,  natives  of  Germany. 
They  came  to  America  in  1851  and  settled 
in  Pennsylvania,  where  they  pursued  the 
occupation  of  farmers  and  where  they  re- 
sided until  coming  to  Minnesota. 


WARREN  S.  EASTMAN  (1870)  was  the 
first  veterinarian  to  locate  in  Marshall  and 
has  been  practising  his  profession  there  for 
thirty-three  years.  He  makes  his  headquar- 
ters at  the  City  Drug  Store. 

Warren  Eastman's  father,  T.  S.  Eastman, 
was  born  in  Salisbury,  New  Hampshire,  in 
1815  and  was  married  to  Sarah  Fifield,  a 
native  of  Hill,  of  the  same  state.  T.  S.  East- 
man and  wife  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1869 
and  filed  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
12,  Lynd  township,  as  a  homestead,  locat- 
ing on  the  place  in  the  fall  with  a  son  Isaac 
V.  T.  S.  Eastman  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  county,  and  the  organization  meeting 
was  held  in  A.  W.  Muzzy's  house  in  Lynd. 
Mr.  Eastman  was  one  of  the  county's  first 
commissioners  and  was  prominent  in  its 
early  history.  He  died  in  1880  and  his  wife 
in  1892. 

The   subject   of  this   sketch   was   born    at 


Andover,  New  Hampshire,  February  22,  1852. 
In  1864  the  family  moved  to  Wabasha  coun- 
i.\,  .Minnesota,  and  a  year  later  he  was  sent 
East  to  school,  attending  the  Old  New  York 
School's  medical  department  in  New  York 
City.  After  a  vacation  of  several  months 
spent  with  his  parents  in  Minnesota,  War- 
ren returned  to  New  York  and  took  the 
veterinary  course  in  the  college.  In  1872  he 
returned  to  Minnesota.  At  that  time  an 
epidemic  of  epizootic  was  creating  havoc 
among  horses  from  coast  to  coast  and  the 
young  veterinarian  found  plenty  of  employ- 
ment. 

Young  Eastman  remained  on  the  home 
farm  six  years,  practising  his  profession  and 
helping  on  the  farm.  In  1879  he  moved  to 
Marshall,  where  he  has  since  practised.  In 
1888  he  bought  the  drug  business  of  Shead 
&  Richardson  and  conducted  a  drug  store 
five  years  on  the  site  of  A.  J.  Gag's  present 
drug  store.  He  kept  up  his  professional 
work  during  that  time. 

July  9,  1876,  Warren  S.  Eastman  married 
Emma  Baldwin,  a  native  of  Warren,  Warren 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Her  family  located 
in  Lyon  county  in  an  early  day.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Eastman  had  one  daughter,  who  died 
in  March,  1893,  aged  fifteen  years.  An 
adopted  daughter,  Blanche,  died  November 
9,  1910,  aged  nineteen  years. 

Isaac  V.  Eastman,  the  only  other  child  of 
T.  S.  and  Sarah  (Fifield)  Eastman,  died  in 
1904.  He  had  lived  on  the  Eastman  home- 
stead since  coming  to  Lyon  county  with  his 
father  in  1869,  and  was  conducting  the  farm, 
which  he  had  bought  from  his  father,  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  His  widow  and  two 
daughters  reside  in  Marshall. 


WILLIAM  H.  GLOTFELTER  (1874),  owner 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  14,  Rock 
Lake  township,  is  the  son  of  George  A.  and 
Emily  A.  (Weymouth)  Glotfelter  and  was 
born  in  Vermont  August  5,  1861.  The  father 
is  dead  and  the  mother  is  living  with  Wil- 
liam on  the  farm.  William  has  two  brothers 
living,  George  T.,  a  mail  carrier  in  Minne- 
apolis, and  Charles  W.,  of  Waterville,  Min- 
nesota, president  of  the  Minnesota  State 
Fair  Board. 

The  parents  of  William  Glotfelter  were 
pioneers  of  Lyon  county,  coming  here  in  the 
spring  of  1874   and  locating  in   Rock  Lake 


302 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


township,  where  the  father  had  taken  a 
homestead.  The  family  before  coming  to 
Lyon  county  had  spent  some  time  in  Illinois 
and  in  Owatonna,  Minnesota.  William's 
early  education  was  received  in  Illinois,  and 
he  later  attended  school  in  Owatonna  and  in 
the  Rock  Lake  district,  finishing  his  scholas- 
tic work  at  the  age  of  twenty  years. 

In  1879  George  A.  Glotfelter  died  and  his 
son  William  took  up  the  management  of  the 
home  farm  after  his  schooling  was  com- 
pleted. He  takes  charge  of  additional  land 
besides  the  old  homestead,  farms  in  all 
216  acres,  and  raises  stock.  William  has  had 
care  of  the  place  during  the  last  thirty  years, 
with  the  exception  of  four  years  spent  in  St. 
Paul.  Mr.  Glotfelter  has  been  clerk  of  school 
district  No.  92  since  1892.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge  of  Balaton. 

Our  subject's  parents,  among  the  early 
pioneers  in  the  county,  experienced  the  in- 
teresting and  strenuous  times  of  early  days. 
Neighboring  settlers  were  few  and  widely 
scattered.  The  winters  were  long  and  bit- 
ter, and  younger  residents  do  not  realize  the 
immense  snowfall  which  was  characteristic 
of  many  winters  of  thirty  years  ago.  There 
were  several  years  of  grasshopper  scourge. 
During  those  years  George  Glotfelter  went 
to  Owatonna  and  worked  at  the  trade  of 
blacksmith  in  the  winter  to  keep  up  family 
expenses  at  home.  While  he  was  gone  the 
family  sometimes,  ran  out  of  flour  and  some 
member  would  drive  eighty  miles  to  New 
Ulm  to  bring  back  supplies.  Johnny-cake 
and  turnips  formed  the  principal  diet  in  the 
settlers'  homes  during  such  periods. 

The  elder  Glotfelter  conducted  a  black- 
smith shop  on  his  farm  and  did  work  for  the 
neighboring  farmers,  who  often  came  with 
their  work  from  miles  around,  and  while  Mr. 
Glotfelter  did  their  blacksmithing  the  cus- 
tomers took  his  place  in  the  field. 


ARNI  B.  GISLASON  (1879)  is  a  member 
of  the  Minneota  law  firm  of  Gislason  &  Gis- 
lason,  which  was  formed  in  January,  1911. 
He  is  a  native  of  Iceland  and  was  bora  Au- 
gust 6,  1877,  a  son  of  Bjorn  and  Adalborg 
(Johnsson)  Gislason,  both  natives  of  the 
northland. 

When  two  years  of  age  Arni  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Lyon  county,  the  family  lo- 
cating on  section  11,  Westerheim  township. 


There  Arni  grew  up  and  received  his  early 
education.  After  graduating  from  the  Mar- 
shall High  School,  he  moved  to  Minneota  in 
1898  and  engaged  in  the  hardware  business 
three  years  with  his  brother,  Walter,  under* 
the  firm  name  of  Gislason  Brothers.  He 
then  took  a  one  year  academic  course  and 
spent  two  years  studying  law  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota.  In  1902  he  entered 
the  Globe  Land  &  Loan  Company  and 
has  since  been  identified  with  that  institu- 
tion as  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1911,  he  was  admitted  to  tire  bar  and 
became  a  member  of  the  law  firm  above  men- 
tioned at  Minneota. 

Mr.  Gislason  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic, 
Maccabee  and  M.  W.  A.  lodges.  He  is  clerk 
of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Minneota  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Village  Council  and 
village  recorder  for  several  terms. 

On  September  30,  1906,  our  subject  was 
married  to  Cora  S.  Eastman,  a  native  of 
Yellow  Medicine  county,  Minnesota.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Arlon 
B.,  Anna  G.  and  a  baby  boy. 


ANDERS  E.  RYE  (1878)  is  a  pioneer  set- 
tler of  Nordland  township  and  a  man  who 
has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs 
of  his  precinct.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  half 
of  section  34  and  is  rated  among  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  western  Lyon  county.  When 
he  came  to  the  county  thirty-four  years  ago 
he  was  without  means  and  his  present  posi- 
tion has  been  gained  by  his  own  unaided  ef- 
forts. 

In  Vallers,  Norway,  on  May  6.  1858,  An- 
ders E.  Rye  was  born,  a  son  of  Esten  and 
Marit  I  Ranum)  Rye.  He  was  given  an  edu- 
cation in  his  native  land  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  in  1878,  he  severed  home  ties 
and  came  alone  to  America.  His  home  has 
ever  since  that  time  been  in  Lyon  county. 
For  two  years  he  worked  on  the  railroad 
and  in  1880  he  took  as  a  pre-emption  claim 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  34,  Nord- 
land township. 

Not  having  the  means  with  which  to  im- 
prove the  claim,  Anders  continued  working 
out  and  turned  the  management  of  his  claim 
over  to  his  father,  who  had  come  from  the 
old  country  in  1879.  Later  he  moved  to  the 
farm  and  has  since  had  his  home  there.  He 
has  prospered  and  in   1890  he  added  to  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


303 


holdings  by  the  purchase  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  34.  The  farm  is  well  Im- 
proved and  Mr.  Rye  has  a  fine  home.  He 
engages  in  stock  raising  and  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  Poland  China  hogs.  He  has  stock 
in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Min- 
neota.  For  twenty  years  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Xordland  Township  Board  of 
Supervisors  and  for  several  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  his  district. 
Mr.  Rye  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 

Sarah  Dovre  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Rye 
at  Canby  on  July  14,  1SS8.  She  was  born  in 
Vallers,  Norway,  December  2,  1866,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Ole  and  Ragnild  Dovre,  both  of  whom 
died  in  the  old  country.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rye 
have  nine  children,  as  follows:  Maria  O., 
Esten,  Otto,  Alma,  Clara,  Ragnild,  Agnes  and 
Lillian,  twins;  and  Sophia. 


SIGFINN  GOODMUND  (1878)  is  a  farmer 
and  land  owner  of  Lyons  township  who  has 
spent  nearly  his  entire  life  in  Lyon  and  Lin- 
coln counties.  He  is  the  owner  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  22  and  forty  acres 
on  secton  15. 

Mr.  Goodmund  was  born  in  Iceland  May  1, 
1870,  the  son  of  Gudmund  and  Ingeborg 
(Torkuldson)  Asmondson.  When  eight 
years  old,  in  1878,  he  came  to  America  with 
his  parents  and  direct  to  Lyon  county.  The 
family  spent  the  following  winter  near  Min- 
neota  and  the  next  spring  took  a  homestead 
on  section  6,  Lake  Stay  township,  Lincoln 
county.  On  that  farm  our  subject  grew  to 
manhood,  and  in  the  nearby  district  school 
he  received  his  education.  He  worked  for  a 
number  of  years,  but  when  he  reached  his 
majority,  in  1891,  he  bought  his  farm  in 
Lyons  township  and  has  lived  there  ever 
since. 

Our  subject  raises  lots  of  stock  in  addi- 
tion to  his  general  farming.  He  owns  stock 
in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Rus- 
sell and  for  five  years  has  served  as  a  direc- 
tor of  school  district  No.  10.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Workmen  lodge. 

In  Lyons  township,  on  June  8,  1892,  Mr. 
Goodmund  was  united  in  marriage  to  May 
Fifield.  She  was  born  in  Wabasha  county, 
Minnesota,  April  25,  1870,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Ira  and  Emma  (Rueber)  Fifield,  na- 
tives,  respectively,  of  New   Hampshire   and 


New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodmund  have 
three  children,  as  follows:  Ira  S.,  born  April 
11,  1893;  Oscar  J.,  born  December  24,  1894; 
Carrie  M..  born  March  30,  1896. 


C.  F.  CASE  (1874)  is  one  of  the  pioneer 
residents  of  Lyon  county  and  a  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  Marshall.  He  is  an  ex- 
receiver  of  the  United  States  Land  Office 
and  a  pioneer  journalist  of  Southwestern 
.Minnesota.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
the  development  of  his  home  city  and  has 
erected  several  of  its  business  blocks.  He 
erected  the  Messenger  Block  as  agent  and  put 
up  and  owns  the  brick  store  building  adjoin- 
ing the  opera  house  on  the  west  and  the 
Case  Block,  in  which  the  Reporter  has  its 
home.  He  also  owns  the  opera  house  build- 
ing at  Ivanhoe,  Minnesota,  and  farm  land  in 
Red  Lake  county. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born  in 
South  Manchester,  Connecticut,  November 
1,  1839.  When  he  was  about  fifteen  yrears  of 
age  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Waterloo, 
Iowa,  where  his  parents  died  soon  after, 
throwing  him  upon  his  own  resources.  After 
securing  a  high  school  education,  he  taught 
school  three  years  and  then  for  one  year 
was  a  student  in  Beloit  (Wisconsin)  College. 
Then  the  Civil  War  began,  and  young  Case 
left  college  to  fight  for  his  country.  He 
served  as  an  enlisted  man  in  Company  B,  of 
the  Fortieth  Wisconsin  Infantry.  He  was 
discharged  from  the  army  in  1864  and  be- 
came a  student  at  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan, from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1868. 

Shortly  after  his  graduation,  Mr.  Case 
bought  the  Clarksville,  Iowa,  Star  and 
entered  upon  'a  journalistic  career.  He  pub- 
lished the  Star  five  years  and  then  spent  one 
year  in  California.  Returning  to  Iowa,  he 
edited  the  Waverly  Republican  two  years. 
He  disposed  of  that  paper  in  1874  and  in 
December  of  that  year  arrived  in  Marshall. 
He  bought  of  J.  C.  Ervin  the  Prairie 
Schooner,  which  had  been  founded  by  Mr. 
Ervin  in  1873  and  was  the  first  paper  pub- 
lished in  the  county.  Mr.  Case  changed  the 
name  of  the  journal  to  Marshall  Messenger 
and  presided  over  its  destinies  until  1882, 
when  he  sold  the  paper  to  C.  C.  Whitney. 
Five  years  later  Mr.  Case  founded  the  Lyon 
County  Reporter  and  edited  the  paper  until 


304 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


1899,  when  he  turned  the  management  over 
to  his  son  Frank  Case. 

Just  before  retiring  from  the  newspaper 
business  Mr.  Case  was  made  receiver  of  the 
United  States  Land  Office,  which  was  then 
located  at  Marshall,  and  served  five  years. 
Thereafter  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Herman,  Minnesota,  until  the  spring 
of  1910,  when  he  again  became  a  resident  of 
Marshall.  Mr.  Case  served  as  mayor  of  Mar- 
shall in  1884  and  for  several  years  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Marshall  Library  Association. 
He  is  a  member  of  D.  F.  Markham  Post, 
G.  A.  R. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Case  to  Fannie  Waller 
occurred  at  Shellsburg,  Iowa,  November  6, 
1872.  Mrs.  Case  is  a  native  of  Illinois. 
They  have  three  children,  Frank  W.,  Fred 
H.  and  Dorothy  A. 


IVER  NELSON  (1876)  is  the  owner  and 
manager  of  a  209-acre  farm  on  section  2, 
Lucas  township.  He  has  made  his  home  on 
that  farm  thirty-six  years,  having  moved 
there  with  his  parents  when  two  and  one- 
half  years  of  age.  He  has  made  a  success 
of  farming  and  stock  raising  and  is  one  of 
the  influential  men  of  his  precinct. 

His  parents  were  pioneers  of  Minnesota 
and  of  Lyon  county.  Iver  Nelson,  the  father, 
was  born  in  Norway,  came  to  America  in  1845, 
and  shortly  afterward  enlisted  in  the  army 
and  fought  in  the  war  with  Mexico.  He 
served  five  years  in  the  army  and  during 
the  late  forties  was  stationed  at  Fort  Snell- 
ing,  Minnesota.  Later  Mr.  Nelson  was  a 
resident  of  Wisconsin  and  later  still  of  Fill- 
more county,  Minnesota.  He  located  in 
Yellow  Medicine  county  in  an  early  day,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1876  he  came  with  his  family 
to  Lyon  county,  purchased  a  homestead  right 
to  the  farm  now  conducted  by  his  son  in 
Lucas  township,  and  resided  there  until  his 
death  in  1895  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 
Aase  (Frygne)  Nelson,  our  subject's  mother, 
was  also  born  in  Norway;  she  died  in  Lyon 
county  in  1889. 

Besides  our  subject  there  are  six  other 
children  in  the  Nelson  family,  as  follows: 
Nicholas,  of  Ada,  Minnesota;  Thomas,  of 
Williams  county,  North  Dakota;  Henry,  of 
Lucas  township;  Martha  (Mrs.  Thomas  Joel), 
of  Canada;  Anna  (Mrs.  Erick  Roti),  of  Val- 


lers    township;     and    Caroline     (Mrs.    John 
Prestegaard),  of  Yellow  Medicine  county. 

Iver  Nelson  of  this  review  was  born  in 
Yellow  Medicine  county  October  2,  1873. 
He  was  brought  with  the  family  to  Lyon 
county  in  1876  and  has  ever  since  lived  on 
the  farm  in  Lucas  township.  He  attended 
the  district  school  until  eighteen  years  of 
age  and  then  took  a  one-term  course  in  Will- 
mar  Seminary.  He  worked  for  his  father 
until  he  attained  his  majority  and  in  the  fall 
of  1894  assumed  control  of  the  farm,  of  which 
he  later  became  the  owner. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Nelson  was  a 
member  of  the  Lucas  Township  Board  of 
Supervisors,  part  of  the  time  being  chairman, 
has  been  township  treasurer  the  past  three 
years,  has  been  clerk  of  school  district  No. 
19  for  the  past  twelve  years,  and  was  road 
overseer  one  year.  He  is  a  member  of  Silo 
Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  of  Cottonwood. 
Iver  Nelson  was  married  in  Yellow  Medi- 
cine county  December  1,  1897,  to  Mary  Cole. 
His  wife  is  a  native  of  Columbia  county, 
Wisconsin,  and  was  born  January  9,  1872. 
Her  parents,  Lars  and  Johanna  (Dahl)  Cole, 
were  pioneer  settlers  of  Yellow  Medicine 
county.  The  father  still  lives  in  that  county, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years;  the  mother 
died  in  1893. 

Six  children  have  been  born  to  Iver  Nel- 
son and  his  wife,  their  names  and  dates  of 
births  being  as  follows:  Lloyd  Ingren,  born 
November  13,  1898;  Arthur  Joseph  (de- 
ceased), born  November  10,  1900;  Herbert 
Ray,  born  November  24,  1902;  Wilbur  Ver- 
nand,  born  June  2,  1905;  Morris  Norman, 
born  November  10,  1907;  Kenneth  Joseph, 
born  February  23,  1910. 


ANTON  LORANZ  (1874)  is  a  homesteader 
and  early  settler  of  Lyon  county.  He  owns 
360  acres  of  land  in  Sodus  township  and  he 
and  his  sons  farm  the  entire  tract. 

Mr.  Loranz  was  born  in  Germany  in  Sep- 
tember, 1839,  and  he  lived  in  the  Fatherland 
until  1871.  Coming  to  America  that  year,  he 
spent  the  next  three  years  in  Wisconsin, 
working  as  a  farm  laborer  and  on  the  rail- 
road. He  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1874  and 
took  as  a  homestead  claim  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  26,  Sodus  township,  and  on 
that  place  he  has  ever  since  lived.  He 
added  his  other  land  later  by  purchase. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


305 


The  subject  of  this  biography  was  married 
in  Sodus  township  in  1883  to  Amelia  Olson. 
She  was  born  in  Sweden  September  16, 
1S48,  the  daughter  of  Joahn  and  Anna  M. 
Olson.  She  came  to  America  with  the  fam- 
ily in  1881  and  settled  in  Sodus  township. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Loranz.  named  as  follows:  Daniel, 
born  March  21,  1884;  John,  born  August  25, 
1SS5;  James,  born  June  4,  1S92:  Annie  M., 
born  February  S,  1889. 


JOHN  L.  CRAIG  (1872).  On  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  14,  Monroe  township, 
adjoining  the  city  of  Tracy,  stands  a  little 
12x14  hut,  weather-beaten  and  worn  but  still 
enduring  after  forty  years.  Also  on  the 
place  stands  a  modern  and  commodious  resi- 
dence which  is  in  accord  with  the  well-kept 
up-to-date  farm  of  the  owner.  Attending 
personally  to  the  management  of  the  place 
is  its  owner,  John  L.  Craig,  veteran  of  the 
Civil  War  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  county,  who  only  a  few  months  ago 
celebrated  his  seventy-sixth  birthday. 

There  was  no  Tracy  when  Mr.  Craig  came 
to  the  county  in  the  spring  of  1872  and  home- 
steaded  the  quarter  on  which  he  now  resides 
and  there  was  no  railroad  running  so  far 
west  at  that  time.  The  lumber  for  the  little 
house  which  still  stands  on  the  farm  was 
hauled  from  Marshall  and  this  small  hut, 
built  from  rough  boards,  was  Mr.  Craig's 
home  for  the  next  three  years.  In  the  fall 
of  1872  the  railroad  was  built.  Until  1875 
there  was  no  station,  the  trains  stopping  a 
mile  east  of  the  present  townsite  at  a  place 
called  Shetek  Crossing.  In  1875  and  for  a 
year  after,  trains  used  the  warehouse  of 
Neil  Currie  for  a  sitation,  and  Mr.  Craig  was 
the  first  station  agent.  The  town  was  then 
called  Big  Bend.  When  he  first  came  to  the 
county  Mr.  Craig's  only  neighbors  were  Ed. 
Healy  and  David  Stafford,  who  lived  on 
Lake  Sigel,  two  miles  south,  and  Ed.  Starr, 
whose  homestead  was  a  mile  east.  These 
were  all,  except  a  few  families  on  the  Cot- 
tonwood river. 

Those  early  days  were  strenuous  ones  for 
the  pioneers.  When  the  grasshoppers  were 
destroying  the  crops  in  Southwestern  Minne- 
sota in  the  seventies  Mr.  Craig  went  to  Olm- 
sted county  and  worked  to  support  his  fam- 
ily, while  they  remained  in  Lyon  county  on 


the  homestead.  During  the  first  years  of 
Tracy's  history  Mr.  Craig  started  the  first 
livery  stable,  in  1877.  Before  the  railroads 
entered  Pipestone  Mr.  Craig  had  the  con- 
tract for  carrying  the  mails  from  Tracy  to 
Flandreau,  South  Dakota.  His  son  John 
made  the  trips  and  a  relief  team  was  kept 
at  Haycock  Prairie,  near  Pipestone.  After 
running  the  livery  stable  for  a  few  years 
Mr.  Craig  sold  out  and  took  up  farm  work. 
He  had  always  made  his  home  on  the  farm, 
even  when  he  was  at  work  in  the  village. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Eymouth,  Scot- 
land, January  10,  1836,  and  in  1854  he  came 
to  the  United  States  and  first  settled  in 
Waukesha  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
farmed  for  United  States  Senator  I.  P. 
Walker.  Working  there  until  the  fall  of 
1861,  he  moved  to  Olmsted  county,  Minne- 
sota, and  continued  farming  until  he  enlisted 
in  1864.  He  served  actively  in  the  field  until 
the  battle  of  Guntown,  Mississippi,  where 
he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  thereafter  he 
was  confined  in  prison  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  Returning  to  his  Olmsted  county 
home,  Mr.  Craig  took  up  the  management  of 
the  farm  and  in  1872  came  West  and  took 
the  homestead  where  he  has  since  lived. 

On  August  12,  1858,  in  the  town  of  Pal- 
myra, Wisconsin,  John  L.  Craig  was  married 
to  Jeffery  Craig,  a  native  of  her  husband's 
old  home  in  Scotland.  Mrs.  Craig  was  a 
helping  partner  through  the  stern  years  of 
frontier  life.  There  are  seven  children  liv- 
ing, Oliver  L.,  John  A.,  Douglas  W.,  Arthur 
L.,  Carrie  M.,  Cora  B.  and  Jennie  J.  One 
child,  Lillie  D.,  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Craig  was  a  charter  member  of  Joe 
Hooker  Post  No.  15,  G.  A.  R.,  and  was  one 
of  its  early  commanders  and  its  first  adju- 
tant. 


THORE  K.  THOMPSON  (1877),  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  of  Westerheim  township,  was 
born  in  Vallers,  Norway,  April  22,  1859,  and 
is  a  son  of  Knut  and  Annie  (Olson)  Thomp- 
son. 

When  he  was  nine  years  of  age  Thore 
came  to  America  with  his  parents  and  the 
family  settled  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin. 
There  they  remained  until  1877,  when  they 
moved  to  Lyon  county  and  took  a  homestead 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  2,  West- 
erheim township.    There  our  subject  grew  to 


306 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


manhood,  received  his  education,  and  assist- 
ed his  father  with  the  farm  work.  In  1882 
the  boy  started  farming  for  himself  on  rented 
land,  and  two  years  later  he  bought  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  1.  He  still  owns 
and  farms  that  land  and  also  is  the  owner 
of  two  other  quarters  in  the  same  township. 
The  farm  in  Westerheim  is  one  of  the  best 
i mi ) roved  pieces  of  land  in  the  township. 
Mr.  Thompson  is  building  a  new  barn  which 
will  be  of  74x50  feet  dimensions  and  will  be 
one  of  the  largest  buildings  in  the  vicinity. 
Our  subject  is  paying  much  attention  to 
stock  raising  and  raises  the  Poland  China 
breed  of  hogs  for  market  shipment. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Isabel 
Iverson  occurred  in  the  township  May  17, 
1888.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Ole  and  Annie 
(Gunbjonson)  Iverson,  natives  of  Norway, 
and  was  born  in  Minnesota  May  5,  1863.  By 
her  marriage  to  Mr.  Thompson  she  became 
the  mother  of  seven' children,  as  follows: 
Knut  A.,  born  May  14,  1889;  Annie  O.,  born 
December  21,  1891;  Mary  O.,  born  July  23, 
1893;  Olaf  A.,  born  January  20,  1896;  Rosane 
L.,  born  September  4,  1900;  and  Marvin  T. 
and  May  I.,  twins,  born  February  9,  1903. 

Mr.  Thompson  has  been  prominent  in 
township  affairs,  having  served  on  the  town 
board  twrenty  years,  as  chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors,  as  clerk  of  the  school  dis- 
trict eighteen  years,  and  as  county  commis- 
sioner four  years.  He  owns  shares  in  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Cottonwood, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church. 


NELS  ANDERSON  (1877).  One  of  the  old 
and  highly  respected  residents  of  Coon  Creek 
township  is  Nels  Anderson,  who  has  lived  in 
Lyon  county  for  the  past  thirty-five  years. 
He  is  a  native  of  Jemtland,  Sweden,  and 
was  born  February  1,  1838,  a  son  of  Anders 
Jonson.     Both  his  parents  are  deceased. 

Nels  received  his  schooling  in  the  land  of 
his  birth  and  was  a  student  until  sixteen 
years  of  age.  He  then  assisted  his  father 
with  the  work  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  For  the  next  ten 
years  he  worked  out  at  farm  labor  and  in 
the  pineries.  , 

In  1869  Mr.  Anderson  immigrated  to  the 
United  States,  locating  in  Winona  county, 
Minnesota.    There  he  purchased  land,  which 


he  later  sold,  and  in  1877  he  moved  to  Lyon 
county.  He  homesteaded  the  north  half  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  2,  Coon 
Creek  township.  In  1889  he  purchased  sixty 
acres  on  section  3,  of  the  same  township,  and 
in  1892  purchased  160  acres  on  section  2, 
making  him  the  owner  of  300  acres  of  fine 
land. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church.  He  is  a  very  successful 
firmer  and  stock  raiser.  His  son,  John,  now 
has  charge  of  the  place. 

Magdalena  Erickson  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Anderson  early  in  1869.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Erick  and  Christina  (Halvorson) 
Erickson,  both  deceased,  and  was  born  March 
26,  1843,  in  Jemtland,  Sweden.  She  has 
three  brothers  and  two  sisters:  Carrie  (Mrs. 
Martin  Hammerberg),  of  Barron  county,  Wis- 
consin; Christine  (Mrs.  Christine  Skold). 
Erick  Erickson,  Halvor  Erickson  and  Nels 
Erickson,  all  of  Jemtland,  Sweden.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Anderson  are  the  parents  of  the 
following  named  three  children:  Andrew, 
born  October  17,  1869;  Christine,  born  Sep- 
tember 16,  1871,  died  in  August,  1872,  John, 
born  November  19,  1874.  Andrew  and  John 
both  reside  in  Coon  Creek  township. 


EDWIN  F.  WHITING  (1882),  member  of 
the  Minnesota  Legislature,  representing  the 
seventeenth  district,  comprising  the  counties 
of  Lyon,  Lincoln  and  Yellow  Medicine,  is  the 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Balaton  Press- 
Tribune  and  an  implement  dealer  of  that 
village.  He  has  lived  in  Lyon  county  thirty 
years  and  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the 
affairs  of  his  county. 

Mr.  Whiting  is  a  native  Minnesotan,  hav- 
ing been  born  at  Rochester  October  10,  1861. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Rochester  schools 
and  resided  in  that  city  until  he  reached  his 
majority.  He  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1882 
and  engaged  in  farming  in  Custer  township 
until  the  fall  of  1901.  That  period  of  resi- 
dence was  punctuated  occasionally  by  serv- 
ice as  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  year  or 
two  at  a  time. 

In  1901  Mr.  Whiting  located  in  Balaton  and 
bought  the  machinery,  furniture  and  under- 
taking business  of  Urbane  Wilhelm.  Later 
he  disposed  of  the  furniture  stock  and  has 
since  dealt  in  machinery  and  attended  to  the 
undertaking    business.      He    purchased    the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


307 


Press-Tribune  in  March,  1910,  and  has  since 
conducted  that  journal.  Besides  his  other 
interests  Mr.  Whiting  has  farming  interests. 
He  is  secretary  of  the  Union  Land  and  Credit 
Company,  an  incorporated  firm. 

During  the  time  of  his  residence  in  Balaton 
Mr.  Whiting  has  held  many  offices  within 
the  gift  of  his  neighbors.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Village  Council  since  1902, 
the  last  six  years  a^  village  recorder.  He 
was  clerk  of  the  School  Board  three  years 
and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health  ten 
years.  In  1910  Mr.  Whiting  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  on  the  Republi- 
can ticket  and  now  represents  his  district 
in  the  state's  law-making  body.  Our  subject 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Woodmen 
orders. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Whiting  to  Lois  M. 
Foster  occurred  at  Rochester,  Minnesota, 
April  8.  1881.  She  is  a  native  of  Elkhorn, 
Wisconsin.  They  have  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Vera  (Mrs.  O.  H.  Herrmann),  of  Oak- 
land, California:  Foster  P.,  of  Balaton;  Eva 
(Mrs.  C.  E.  Weeks),  of  Balaton;  Nina  B.  and 
Leda  M. 

The  parents  of  Edwin  F.  Whiting  were 
E.  P.  and  Sarah  A.  (Rice)  Whiting,  natives, 
respectively,  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  married  at  Princeton,  Wisconsin, 
and  in  1857  became  residents  of  Olmsted 
county,  Minnesota.  Mr.  Whiting  became  a 
prominent  man  in  that  county  and  served 
two  terms  in  the  Legislature  in  the  seventies. 
He  died  in  Olmsted  county  in  April,  1883. 
Mrs.  Whiting  died  at  the  home  of  a  son  at 
New  Richland,  Minnesota,  October  8,  1910. 
There  are  seven  children  living  of  the  family, 
as  follows:  Homer,  Frank,  Edwin  F.,  Etta 
(Mrs.  George  Struble),  Casius  P.,  Jenny  (Mrs. 
H.  A.  Bates),  Arthur  L.  The  eldest  child  of 
the  family,  Nelson  P.,  is  deceased. 


OLE  E.  PETERSON  (1872)  rents  his 
father's  farm,  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 34,  Custer  township,  land  which  the 
elder  Mr.  Peterson  took  as  a  homestead  in 
1872.  Henry  and  Annie  Peterson,  parents 
of  our  subject,  resided  on  the  homestead 
until  1904,  when  they  moved  to  Tracy, 
where  they  are  now  living. 

It  was  in  Dodge  county,  Minnesota,  that 
Ole  Peterson  first  saw  the  light  of  day,  on 
December  3,   1871.     The  family  moved  to 


Lyon  county  when  Ole  was  a  baby,  and  he 
has  been  a  continuous  resident  of  the  coun- 
ty since  that  time.  He  was  reared  on  the 
farm  and  attended  school  until  thirteen 
years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  hired  out 
to  a  neighbor,  herding  cattle.  That  em- 
ployment the  boy  followed  three  years; 
then  he  spent  a  year  at  farm  labor  and 
afterward  ran  a  herd  himself  six  years. 
He  was  an  industrious  young  fellow  and 
had  been  looking  forward  to  the  time  when 
he  should  be  farming  for  himself,  so  he 
rented  the  place  he  now  conducts  and  has 
been  on  the  place  since  that  time.  He 
raises  cattle,  horses,  hogs  and  chickens,  in 
addition  to  general  farming,  and  is  a  stock- 
holder of  the  Farmers  Independent  Ele- 
vator Company  of  Garvin  and  of  the  Gar- 
vin Telephone  Company. 

Ole  Peterson  and  Lena  Johnson  were 
joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  Oc- 
tober 25,  189  9.  Mrs.  Peterson  is  a  native 
of  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota,  and  was 
born  March  29,  1876.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Hans  J.  and  Annie  (Knutson)  Brede- 
veien,  the  former  of  whom  resides  in  Gar- 
vin and  the  latter  being  dead.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Peterson  have  one  child,  Arthur,  born 
September  11,  1900. 

The  church  affiliations  of  Mr.  Peterson 
are  with  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  organiza- 
tion of  Monroe  township. 


EVAN  C.  JONES,  SR.  (1877)  is  a  dealer 
in  caskets  in  the  village  of  Russell.  He 
is  a  native  of  Wales  and  was  born  January 
22,  1842.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
and  worked  at  it  in  the  old  country  until 
twenty-four  years  of  age.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Grace  (Jones)  Jones,  both  of 
whom  died  in  Wales.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children,  as  follows:  Win- 
nie (Mrs.  Morris  Jones),  of  Wales;  Jennett 
Thomas,  Jane  Jones  and  Griffith,  of  Wales; 
Ann  and  Richard  Jones,  of  Utica,  New 
York. 

Our  subject  came  to  the  United  States 
when  twenty-four  years  of  age  and  settled 
in  Rutland  county,  Vermont.  There  he 
worked  in  the  state  mines  thirteen  years. 
In  1877  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  home- 
steaded  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  8, 
Lyons  township.  He  secured  his  claim  in 
this  way:      The  man  who  held  the  quarter 


308 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


section  was  a  squatter,  having  failed  to 
secure  a  right  to  the  land.  Mr.  Jones  was 
looking  around  for  a  claim  and  came  across 
this  man  and  offered  to  buy  him  out,  and 
the  squatter  consented  to  sell.  Mr.  Jones 
paid  him  fifteen  dollars  in  cash  for  the 
farm  and  fifteen  bushels  of  potatoes. 

Mr.  Jones  lived  in  a  sod  shanty  on  the 
place  several  years.  During  the  snow 
year  (1881)  he  went  to  Balaton  for  pro- 
visions on  snow  shoes,  which  he  had  made 
from  red  elm  lumber.  At  that  time  the 
snow  was  over  the  telegraph  poles.  He 
resided  on  his  Lyons  township  farm  until 
1900,  when  he  sold  to  his  son  and  moved 
to  Russell,  where  he  now  resides.  Since 
moving  to  Russell  he  has  been  engaged  in 
selling  caskets  at  the  hardware  store  of 
his  son,  E.  C.  Jones,  Jr. 

Mr.  Jones  was  a  member  of  the  Town- 
ship Board  of  Supervisors  of  Lyons  town- 
ship and  was  chairman  of  the  board. 

On  January  4,  1860,  in  Wales,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Catherine 
Goodman,  a  daughter  of  Richard  Goodman. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  are  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  as  follows:  Jane  (Mrs.  David 
Stiefel),  Richard,  Kate  (Mrs.  E.  G.  Lorin- 
ger),  Evan  C,  Jr.,  all  of  Russell;  Emanuel, 
of  North  Dakota;  John,  of  St.  Paul;  Grace 
(Mrs.  James  J.  Sharratt),  of  Wadena. 

Mr.  Jones  has  in  his  possession  a  clock 
of  considerable  historical  importance.  It 
is  the  first  time-piece  bought  by  the  Lyon 
county  commissioners  and  for  many  years 
was  used  by  them  in  the  old  building  which 
stood  on  the  present  site  of  the  Lyon  coun- 
ty court  house.  Prior  to  moving  into  the 
new  court  house  the  officers  sold  some  of 
the  old  furniture  and  among  the  lot  was 
this  old  clock.  Mr.  Jones  was  present  and 
bid  it  in  for  twelve  cents.  The  clock  is 
still  doing  duty  and  keeping  good  time  in 
E.  C.  Jones'  hardware  store  at  Russell. 

GOTTLIEB  C.  GOLTZ  (1878)  farms  177 
acres  of  land  on  the  south  half  of  section  3, 
Rock  Lake  township,  and  has  been  a  con- 
tinuous resident  of  Lyon  county  since  com- 
ing to  this  country  from  Germany  in  1878. 
He  located  in  the  county  on  land  he  had 
purchased  from  the  Northwestern  Railroad 
Company.  Mr.  Goltz  today  has  one  of  the 
finest  improved  farms  and  one  of  the  most 
comfortable  homes  in  the  township. 


Our  subject  was  born  in  Germany  June 
2,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Christof  and  Chris- 
tine (Wagner)  Goltz,  both  deceased.  Gott- 
lieb in  his  boyhood  attended  the  German 
common  schools.  From  the  time  he  was 
fourteen  until  his  twentieth  year  he  helped 
his  father  on  the  farm,  after  which  he 
served  in  the  German  army  three  years. 
Leaving  the  army,  Mr.  Goltz  again  engaged 
in  farming  for  some  time  in  his  native 
land,  and  in  the  spring  of  1878  came  to 
America  and  located  on  the  farm  in  Rock 
Lake.  He  has  been  successful  in  his  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  has  devoted  much  of 
his  time  in  the  last  few  years  to  cattle  rais- 
ing. For  nine  years  Mr.  Goltz  was  a  direc- 
tor of  school  district  No.  40,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge  of  Bala- 
ton. 

Gottlieb  Goltz  was  married  June  22, 
1882,  to  Wrilhelmina  Frost,  a  native  of 
Germany,  the  marriage  ceremony  taking 
place  in  Rock  Lake  township.  His  wife 
was  born  December  17,  1859,  is  a  daughter 
of  August  and  Juliana  (Meyer)  Frost,  both 
now  dead.  From  this  union  are  four  chil- 
dren living,  as  follows:  Emma  (Mrs.  E.  C. 
Jones,  Jr.),  of  Russell,  born  April  4,  1883; 
Albert,  born  June  15,  1884;  Adelaide,  born 
February  28,  1886;  and  Martha,  born  No- 
vember 7,  1890.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  German  Lutheran  church  of  Bala- 
ton. 


THOMAS  P.  BALDWIN  (1879),  now  a 
resident  of  Forest  Grove,  Oregon,  was  for 
many  years  a  resident  of  Lyon  county  and 
prominent  in  public  affairs.  He  served  a 
term  in  the  Minnesota  Legislature,  was 
county  auditor,  and  held  other  offices  of 
trust. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  born  in  Yates  county, 
New  York,  May  27,  1836.  He  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Wisconsin  in  October,  184  6, 
and  in  May,  1856,  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota,  where  he 
secured  government  land.  He  engaged  in 
farming  in  that  county  twenty-two  years. 
He  was  in  the  army  one  year  during  the 
Civil  War,  as  a  member  of  the  Fourth  Min- 
nesota Infantry,  and  in  1873  represented 
his  district  in  the  Legislature. 

In  March,  1879,  Mr.  Baldwin  and  his 
family  moved  to  Lyon  county.     He  farmed 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


309 


two  years  in  Stanley  township  and  in  Jan- 
uary, 1881,  moved  to  Marshall.  That  city 
was  his  home  until  June  15,  1911,  when 
he  and  his  wife  moved  to  Forest  Grove. 
Oregon.  Mr.  Baldwin  was  deputy  post- 
master of  Marshall  from  1882  to  1888. 
He  was  elected  county  auditor  in  the  fall 
of  1888  and  was  re-elected  in  1890.  For 
eight  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  County  Commissioners  and  took  part  in 
important  county  legislation. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  married  on  Christmas 
Day,  1861,  to  Sarah  L.  Bird,  of  Winona 
county.  They  reared  three  children:  T.  J 
Baldwin,  for  many  years  a  successful  busi- 
ness man  of  Marshall  and  now  a  resident 
of  Portland,  Oregon;  Ray  D.  Baldwin,  for 
many  years  foreman  of  the  Marshall  News- 
Messenger  office  and  now  also  of  Oregon; 
and  Ellen  M.,  the  wife  of  H.  N.  Robinson 
for  many  years  a  practical  farmer  of  Lyon 
county  and  now  a  resident  of  Forest  Grove, 
Oregon.  For  more  than  half  a  century 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  P.  Baldwin  lived  together. 
Mrs.  Baldwin  died  at  her  Oregon  home  in 
the  spring  of  1912. 

The  subject  of  this  review  has  seven 
grandchildren,  as  follows:  Charles  L. 
Robinson,  Vinton,  Harold,  Irene  and  Lu- 
cile;  Ray  D.  Baldwin,  Jr.,  and  Gertrude. 


LESTER  F.  FOSTER  (1878).  An  old 
resident  of  Lyon  county  is  Lester  F.  Fos- 
ter, the  subject  of  this  review,  who  now  re- 
sides in  Lynd  township,  where  he  is  a  land 
owner.  He  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and  was 
born  at  Kirkland  September  20,  1861,  the 
son  of  Charles  S.  and  Sarah  J.  (Roberts) 
Foster.  In  1878  Lester  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Lyon  county  and  located  with 
then  on  section  9,  Lynd  township.  The 
father  died  May  7,  1909,  and  the  mother 
October  3,   1900. 

The  subject  of  this  review  received  his 
early  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Wabasha  county,  Minnesota,  and  later  in 
Lyon  county,  where  he  attended  school 
until  twenty  years  of  age.  He  then  worked 
for  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  In  1887  he  moved 
to  Nebraska,  where  he  resided  about  a 
year,  and  then  returned  to  Lyon  county. 
He  has  resided  here  continuously  since. 
In  April,    1905,  Mr.   Foster  purchased  the 


southwest  quarter  of  section  10,  Lynd 
township,  which  he  still  owns  and  operates. 
Besides  farming,  he  engages  quite  exten- 
sively in  stockraising.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Marshall 
and  of  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America 
lodge.  Mr.  Foster  is  a  member  of  the 
Township  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Lynd 
township,  on  which  he  has  served  four 
years.  He  was  treasurer  of  school  district 
No.  17  for  five  years.  Mr.  Foster  is  a 
stockholder  and  a  director  of  the  Farm- 
ers Elevator  Company  of  Lynd. 

August  29,  1886,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Foster  to  Anna  May  Whitscell,  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Whitscell,  of  Grand- 
view  township.  Mrs.  Foster  is  a  native  of 
Illinois  and  was  born  near  Rockford  on 
December  3,  1868.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  Bennie  Les- 
ter, born  December  6,  1887;  Hal  Eugene, 
born  August  30,  1889;  Fay  Ulmont,  born 
March  26,  1897.  All  reside  at  home  with 
their  parents. 


HALL  BENSON  (1878)  owns  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  19  and  the  west  half 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  17, 
Nordland  township,  and  is  one  of  the  town- 
ship's successful  farmers.  He  has  lived  in 
Lyon  and  Lincoln  counties  nearly  all  his 
life. 

Mr.  Benson  is  a  native  of  Iceland  and 
was  born  November  10,  1869.  He  accom- 
panied his  mother,  Sigerbjurg  Benson,  and 
his  stepfather,  Sigfinnur  Peterson,  to 
America  in  1878.  The  first  winter  the  fam- 
ily lived  in  Westerheim  towTnship  and  then 
moved  to  Lincoln  county,  where  they  took 
a  homestead  claim.  His  mother  and  step- 
father now  reside  in  Minneota.  On  that 
place  Hall  lived  until  1900;  then  he  bought 
his  Nordland  township  farm  and  returned 
to  Lyon  county.  He  raises  Poland  China 
hogs  and  grade  cattle. 

For  four  years  Mr.  Benson  was  assessor 
of  Nordland  township  and  he  has  served 
as  clerk  of  school  district  No.  2  9.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Icelandic  Lutheran  church 
and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 

Mr.  Benson  was  married  in  Lincoln  coun- 
ty July  12,  1897,  to  Ida  Johnson.  She  is 
also  a  native  of  Iceland  and  is  a  daughter 
of  John  Johnson,  of  Minneota.     Her  mother 


310 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


is  dead.  Seven  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benson.  They  are  Bjorn 
M.,  Caroline,  George,  Vivian,  Harold, 
Joseph  and  Francis  D. 

OLE  I.  LEE  (1873),  a  native  of  Lyon 
county,  is  manager  of  the  Eagle  Roller 
Mill  Company's  elevator  at  Minneota.  He 
was  born  August  8,  1873,  in  Grandview 
township,  on  his  father's  homestead,  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  18. 

His  parents  were  Christian  H.  and  Oline 
(Aal)  Lee,  pioneer  settlers  of  Lyon  county. 
The  father  was  born  in  Norway,  came  to 
the  United  States  in  18  66,  and  settled  in 
Iowa.  In  1873  he  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  homesteaded  land.  He  resided  here 
until  1892,  when  he  moved  to  Moody  coun- 
ty, South  Dakota,  where  he  now  lives.  The 
mother  died  in  1876.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  children:  H.  C,  G.  C, 
Ole  I.  and  Oline.  Christine  H.  Lee  was 
married  a  second  time,  in  1888,  to  Mrs. 
O.  I.  Leland.  To  this  union  have  been  born 
two  children,  Otto  and  Winnie.  The  father 
was  the  first  blacksmith  in  the  county,  hav- 
ing operated  a  shop  on  his  farm,  and  in 
1875  ran  a  shop  on  the  old  townsite  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Yellow  Medicine  river. 

Our  subject  resided  on  the  old  home 
farm  in  Grandview  township  until  nineteen 
years  of  age.  He  then  farmed  and  worked 
at  various  occupations  until  1905,  when  he 
accepted  the  position  as  manager  of  the 
elevator  at  Minneota.  This  elevator,  or 
part  of  it,  was  built  in  1879  by  the  L.  C. 
Porter  Milling  Company  and  was  one  of 
the  first  elevators  in  Minneota.  In  188  9 
a  farmers'  company  purchased  it  and  oper- 
ated it  several  years,  when  it  was  sold  to 
the  Atlas  Elevator  Company.  In  1905  it 
was  sold  to  its  present  owners,  the  Eagle 
Roller  Mills  Company,  of  New  Ulm,  Min- 
nesota. They  deal  in  grain,  coal  and  flour. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 

On  February  25,  1897,  at  Minneota,  Ber- 
tha Meyers  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Lee. 
Mrs.  Lee  is  a  native  of  Wisconsin  but  came 
to  Lyon  county  when  a  child.  They  are 
the  parents  of  six  children:  Lloyd,  Oren, 
Clarence,  Melba,  Barbara  and  Charlotte. 

JOHN  C.  PEDERSON  (1874)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of   32  0   acres   of  Lucas  township's 


best  farm  land  and  is  a  successful  farmer 
and  stock  raiser.  He  is  prominent  in  the 
township's  affairs  and  has  been  clerk  of 
school  district  No.  7  4  the  past  fourteen 
years.  He  served  nine  years  on  the  town 
board,  one  year  of  that  time  as  chairman, 
and  for  three  years  was  treasurer.  Mr. 
Pederson  is  a  stockholder  of  the  Home 
Telephone  Company  of  Cottonwood. 

Christopher  and  Beret  (Slette)  Pederson, 
our  subject's  parents,  were  natives  of  Nor- 
way, came  to  America  in  an  early  day,  and 
located  in  Rice  county,  Minnesota.  Later 
the  family  moved  to  Lyon  county  and  the 
father  took  one  of  the  first  homesteads  in 
Lucas  township,  filing  in  1874.  He  was 
one  of  those  hardy  pioneers  who  had  the 
fortitude  to  endure  the  early  privations 
and  lived  to  see  the  fruits  of  his  endeavors, 
for  at  the  time  of  his  death,  June  22,  1910, 
he  was  the  owner  of  12  00  acres  of  fine 
farm  land  in  Lyon  and  Yellow  Medicine 
counties.  His  widow  lives  at  Cottonwood. 
In  the  family  were  six  children:  Johan 
(deceased),  Hannah  (Mrs.  Hans  Yolden), 
of  Lucas;  Peter  C,  of  Lucas;  John  C,  of 
this  review;  Lewis  C,  of  Lucas;  and  Chris- 
tian (deceased).  The  living  children  are 
all  residents  of  the  township. 

•John  C.  was  born  in  Rice  county  June 
2  6,  1873,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
Lyon  county  when  a  child  of  three  weeks. 
Here  he  received  his  education  and  grew 
to  manhood,  and  he  worked  on  the  home 
farm  for  his  father  until  twenty-six  years 
of  age.  At  that  time  the  parents  moved 
to  Cottonwood  and  our  subject  assumed 
active  charge  of  the  farm,  and  he  has  since ' 
run  the  place. 

Mr.  Pederson  was  married  in  the  town- 
ship May  3,  1901,  to  Sina  Morken.  She 
is  a  native  of  Norway  and  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1877.  Mr  and  Mrs.  Pederson 
are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Christopher, 
born  September  16,  1902.  The  Pedersons 
belong  to  the  Silo  Norwegian  Lutheran 
church  of  Cottonwood. 


GEORGE  K.  BROUGHTON  (1872).  When 
he  was  one  year  of  age,  forty  years  ago, 
George  K.  Broughton  was x  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Lyon  county,  and  ever  since  that 
time  his  home  has  been  in  Westerheim  town- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


311 


ship.  He  is  thf  owner  of  200  acres  of  land, 
the  home  place  being  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  12,  land  taken  as  a  homestead  by 
his  father.  He  has  a  well-improved  farm 
and  a  nice  home. 

In  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  on  July  14, 
1871,  George  Broughton  was  horn,  a  son  of 
Knud  and  Martha  Broughton,  who  are  also 
residents  of  Westerheim  township.  He  ac- 
companied the  family  to  Lyon  county  in 
L872,  attended  the  district  school  until  eight- 
een years  old,  and  made  his  home  with  his 
parents  until  1902.  That  year  he  was  mar- 
ried and  began  farming  for  himself,  having 
come  into  possession  of  the  farm  three  years 
before.  He  is  a  successful  farmer  and  ex- 
tensive stock  raiser,  making  a  specialty  of 
Belgian  horses,  Poland  China  hogs  and  Dur- 
ham cattle.  He  is  one  of  the  stockholders 
of  the  Fanners  Elevator  Company  of  Minne- 
ota  and  has  membership  in  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  of  Normania  township. 
Yellow  Medicine  county. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Ingar 
Amundson  took  place  November  21,  1902. 
Ingar  Amundson  was  born  in  Norway  April 
24,  1875,  and  is  a  daughter  of  pioneers  of 
Lyon  county.  Ole  and  Martha  (Stensrud) 
Amundson  settled  in  Lyon  county  in  an  early 
day,  residing  here  a  few  years,  and  then 
made  their  home  in  Lincoln  county,  where 
they  are  still  living. 

Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Broughton:  Mabel,  born  July  2,  1903; 
Myrtle,  born  February  13,  1905;  Antonio, 
born  October  9,  1909;  and  Grace,  born  De- 
cember 28,  1911.    • 


JOHANN  A.  JOSEFSON  (1878)  has  lived 
in  Westerheim  township  thirty-four  years, 
all  except  the  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life. 
By  industry  and  thrift  he  has  prospered  and 
is  rated  among  the  progressive  and  sub- 
stantial men  of  the  township.  He  has  an  ex- 
cellent farm  and  one  of  the  finest  farm 
homes  in  the  county. 

Iceland  is  Mr.  Josefson's  native  land  and 
he  was  born  April  5,  1862.  In  1878  he  came 
to  America  with  his  parents  and  an  uncle, 
Joseph  Josefson,  and  has  ever  since  lived  in 
Lyon  county.  His  father  took  a  homestead 
claim  in  Limestone  township,  Lincoln  coun- 
ty, but  Johann  made  his  home  with  his  uncle, 
who    took    as    a    homestead    the    northwest 


quarter  of  section  8,  Westerheim  township. 
On  that  place  our  subject  grew  to  manhood, 
working  for  his  uncle  until  1895. 

Two  years  before  that  time  Mr.  Josefson 
had  become  a  land  owner,  having  bought  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  9,  Westerheim, 
in  partnership  with  his  relative,  and  he  still 
owns  the  south  half  of  that  quarter.  In  1895 
he  began  farming  for  himself  and  now  owns 
and  resides  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 4.  In  the  summer  of  1909  Mr.  Josefson 
erected  at  considerable  cost  a  re-enforced 
concrete  house  of  fine  architecture  and  the 
only  one  of  the  kind  in  the  county.  The 
building  has  nineteen  rooms,  including  the 
basement  rooms,  and  is  one  of  the  best  ap- 
pointed farm  homes  of  the  county. 

Air.  Josefson  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
school  district  No.  80  and  he  was  a  director 
and  later  treasurer  of  the  district  several 
years.  He  also  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Township  Board  of  Supervisors  several 
terms.  He  has  stock  in  the  Farmers  Ele- 
vator Company  of  Minneota  and  in  the  Lyon 
County  Fair  Association.  He  is  a  Mason, 
holding  membership  in  the  Minneota  Lodge 
No.  2::s. 

Vigfus  and  Sigurborg  Josefson,  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  came  from  Iceland  in 
1878  and  took  a  homestead  in  Lincoln  coun- 
ty, where  they  resided  until  Mrs.  Josefson's 
death  in  1895.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Josefson 
has  resided  with  his  sons.  There  are  five 
children  in  the  family,  namely:  Joseph  V., 
of  Minneota;  Sigurrin  V.,  of  Lincoln  county; 
Herman  and  Johann,  of  Westerheim  town- 
ship; and  Sigrid  (Mrs.  Ernest  Johnson),  of 
Minneota. 

The  first  marriage  of  Johann  Josefson 
occurred  in  Westerheim  township  Novemuer 
28,  1895,  when  he  wedded  Thordes  Snor- 
radottir.  She  was  born  in  Iceland  and  died 
February  27,  1900,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Josefson 
was  solemnized  in  Westerheim  township 
May  27,  1906,  his  bride  being  Gudny  Hofteig. 
She  was  born  in  Iceland  October  12,  1871, 
and  came  to  Lyon  county  with  her  parents 
from  the  old  country  in  1878.  S.  S.  Hofteig 
and  Steinunn  Hofteig,  her  parents,  took  as 
a  homestead  claim  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  2,  Westerheim,  and  still  reside  there. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Josefson  have  three  daughters. 
Thordis  S.  E.,  Isfold  S.  and  Johanna  G.  H. 
Mrs.  Josefson  is  a  member  of  the  Icelandic 


312 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Lutheran  church.  She  is  a  woman  of  un- 
usual educational  attainments,  having  been 
graduated  from  the  Advanced  Course  of  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Winona  with  the 
class  of  1897  and  from  the  Classical  Course 
of  Gustavus  Adolphus  College  at  St.  Peter 
with  the  class  of  1906. 


ERNEST  S.  SHEPARD  (1894),  auditor  of 
Lyon  county,  was  born  in  Worthington,  Min- 
nesota, September  4,  1877.  He  is  the  son  of 
C.  P.  and  Anna  V.  (Cowan)  Shepard,  natives 
of  New  York  and  Maine,  respectively,  and 
now  residents  of  Marshall. 

Ernest  received  his  education  in  the 
Worthington  High  School  and  in  the  Breck 
School  at  Wilder,  Minnesota.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  he  moved  to  Marshall  with 
his  parents,  and  that  city  has  ever  since 
been  his  home.  For  a  time  he  was  a  student 
at  the  Curtiss  Business  College  of  Minne- 
apolis, and  for  a  short  time  he  was  a  clerk 
in  the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Marshall, 
of  which  his  father  was  the  register.  For 
three  years  he  worked  in  the  office  of  the 
county  treasurer  and  for  eight  years  was 
deputy  county  auditor.  In  November,  1906, 
he  was  elected  auditor  and  has  since  held 
the  office. 

At  Marshall,  on  September  3,  1898,  Mr. 
Shepard  was  united  in  marriage  to  Esther 
Harrison.  She  is  a  native  of  Lyon  county 
and  is  the  daughter  of  E.  J.  Harrison,  a 
pioneer  settler.  Mr.  Shepard  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic,  Eastern  Star  and  Modern  Wood- 
men lodges. 


PETER  T.  DAHL  (1888)  is  the  manager 
of  the  North  Star  Implement  Company  of 
Cottonwood  and  has  resided  in  Lyon  county 
since  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  He  is  a 
native  of  Minnesota,  having  been  born  in 
Blue  Earth  county  January  30,  1873.  He  is 
the  son  of  T.  A.  and  Emma  (Oftedahl)  Dahl, 
who  were  born  in  Norway  and  who  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Blue  Earth  county 
over  forty  years  ago.  They  reside  on  their 
farm  in  Vallers  township.  There  are  six  liv- 
ing children  in  the  Dahl  family,  namely: 
Carrie,  Peter  T.,  of  this  sketch;  C.  T.,  of 
Madelia;  Barhard,  of  Yellow  Medicine  coun- 
ty; Ludvig,  of  Cottonwood;  and  Fred,  who 
resides  on  the  home  farm.     One  child.  Theo- 


dore, died  March  3,  1911,  aged  twenty-nine 
years,  and  another  child,  Bertha,  died  in 
1907,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years. 

Peter  accompanied  the  family  to  Lyon 
county  in  1888  and  until  1897  lived  on  the 
farm  of  his  father,  on  section  1,  Vallers 
township.  In  the  year  mentioned  Mr.  Dahl 
took  a  position  as  traveling  salesman  for  the 
Champion  Binder  Company,  served  with  that 
company  two  years,  and  during  the  next 
year  was  with  the  Deering  Company.  He 
then  located  in  Cottonwood  and  with  E.  P. 
Kelly  founded  the  implement  business  of 
Dahl  &  Kelly.  The  partners  conducted  the 
business  until  1905,  when  the  North  Star 
Implement  Company  was  formed  and  bought 
out  the  partners.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Dahl 
has  been  the  manager  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Dahl  was  married  in  Madison,  Minne- 
sota, October  26,  1905,  to  Lizzie  Brown. 
She  is  a  native  of  Rochester,  Minnesota,  but 
for  twenty  years  before  her  marriage  had 
resided  in  Madison.  They  have  no  children. 
Mr.  Dahl  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Vil- 
lage Council  and  for  the  last  two  years  he 
has  been  village  treasurer. 

The  North  Star  Implement  Company  is 
one  of  the  important  business  enterprises  of 
Cottonwood.  The  business  is  housed  in  the 
Bazaar  Building,  which  the  company  bought. 
The  company  was  organized  and  incorpor- 
ated in  1905  with  a  capital  stock  of  $25,000 
by  a  number  of  local  capitalists.  It  handles 
a  large  line  of  farm  implements  and  auto- 
mobiles. The  officers  and  directors  of  the 
company  are  as  follows:  J.  F.  Gibb,  presi- 
dent; J.  B.  Robertson,  vice  president;  L.  T. 
Reishus,  secretary  and  treasurer;  P.  T.  Dahl, 
manager;  David  Frank,  T.  A.  Lende,  Charles 
Catlin  and  I.  T.  Garry. 


FRED  W.  MELLENTHIN  (1879)  is  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  farmers  of  Lynd  town- 
ship and  Lyon  county,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
largest  land  holders.  He  is  a  native  of  Ger- 
many and  was  born  at  Frainenwalde  April 
26,  1859.  He  is  the  son  of  William  and 
Amelia  Mellenthin,  both  deceased. 

Fred  received  his  early  education  in  the 
land  of  his  nativity,  where  he  attended  school 
until  thirteen  years  of  age.  He  also  at- 
tended school  near  New  London,  Wisconsin, 
for  two  terms.  He  accompanied  his  parents 
to  America  when  thirteen  years  of  age  and 


TH*  NSW  YORK  I 


PUBLIC  LII1URY 


Wh,  Uh«*  AN* 
TU-BEN  fVUfctA?***. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


::i:; 


settled  with  them  near  New  London,  Wiscon- 
sin. Fred  worked  out  at  farm  labor  and  at- 
tended school  for  the  next  seven  years. 

In  1879  Mr.  Mellenthin  came  to  Lyon  coun- 
i\  and.  in  company  with  his  brother  August, 
purchased  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
9,  Lynd  township,  which  they  farmed  until 
1882,  when  they  divided  the  land.  Fred  im- 
proved his  eighty  acres  and  since  that  time 
has  hecome  the  owner  of  840  acres  more,  mak- 
ing him  the  owner  of  920  acres  of  fine  land. 
He  operates  between  five  and  six  hundred 
acres.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church.  He  has  been 
an  officer  of  school  district  No.  17  for  several 
years  and  wras  road  overseer  for  several 
years. 

On  February  12.  1883,  Mr.  Mellenthin  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Amelia  Schellin,  a 
daughter  of  Ferdinand  and  Rika  (Kruger) 
Schellin,  former  residents  of  Wisconsin. 
Both  her  parents  are  deceased.  Mrs.  Mellen- 
thin was  born  March  11,  1866.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mellenthin  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
named  children:  Ernest,  born  June  21,  1884; 
Louis,  born  October  7,  1886;  Emma,  born 
January  16,  18S9;  Robert,  born  November 
18,  1891;  Alma,  born  August  7,  1894. 


DR.  C.  E.  PERSONS  (1877)  is  the  oldest 
doctor  in  Marshall  in  point  of  service.  He 
was  born  in  Spencerville,  Allen  county, 
Indiana,  on  February  27,  1847.  He  is  the 
son  of  Salmon  M.  and  Mary  M.  (.Cutts) 
Persons,  natives  of  Orwell,  Vermont.  They 
moved  to  Spencerville  in  the  fall  of  1846. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  they  came  to  Min- 
nesota, locating  at  Northfield,  where  the 
mother  died  in  187  5.  The  father  died  in 
Lyon  county  in  18  80.  When  sixteen  years 
of  age,  our  subject  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Northfield,  where  he  remained  until 
1877  and  where  he  received  his  early  edu- 
cation, graduating  from  Carleton  College, 
Northfield.  He  was  also  graduated  from 
Ann  Arbor  College  in  the  spring  of  1877. 

In  the  latter  year  Dr.  Persons  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  engaged  in  the  practise 
of  his  profession,  and  he  has  continued 
here  since  that  date.  He  went  through  the ' 
struggles  of  a  young  doctor  in  pioneer  days 
in  Lyon  county,  he  being  the  oldest  doc- 
tor, in  point  of  service,  of  the  county.  He 
was  county  coroner  several  years,  has  been 


United  States  pension  examiner  since  1880, 
and  is  local  physician  for  the  Northwestern 
Railroad  Company.  He  has  been  county 
physician  and  has  been  treasurer  of  the 
school  board  a  number  of  years,  having 
been  on  the  board  at  the  time  of  the  erec- 
tion of  the  new  school  building. 

The  first  office  of  Dr.  Persons  was  up- 
stairs in  a  little  frame  building  on  the 
south  side  of  Main  Street,  where  the  City 
Meat  Market  is  now,  the  lower  floor  being 
occupied  as  the  postoffice.  Later  he  had 
his  office  in  a  frame  building  where  the 
Olson  &  Lowe  store  is  now,  and  later  he 
and  James  Lawrence  built  the  two  brick 
buildings  on  the  same  site,  where  our  sub- 
ject was  located  a  number  of  years.  Dr. 
Persons  built  the  residence  now  owned  by 
F.  J.  Parker  in  1891.  He  now  has  his 
office  in  his  residence,  which  he  built  in 
1906. 

Dr.  Persons  was  married  in  Marshall 
November  27,  1878,  to  Addie  E.  Gary,  a 
native  of  Winona  county,  Minnesota.  She 
was  born  June  12,  1858,  the  year  Minne- 
sota was  admitted  to  the  Union,  and  came 
to  Lyon  county  with  her  parents,  H.  B.  and 
Nancy  (Woodard)  Gary.  The  former  died 
in  1911,  the  latter  in  1905.  Mrs.  Persons 
wa's  a  school  teacher  and  taught  in  the 
Marshall  schools  several  years.  She  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Winona  Normal  School., 
.class  of  1877.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Persons  are 
the  parents  of  two  children:  Harris  Ed- 
ward and  Robert  Wayne. 

Our  subject's  parents  had  six  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living.  They  are  as  fol- 
lows: Dr.  C.  E.,  of  this  sketch1;  Emma  A. 
(Mrs.  C.  C.  Wagner),  of  Larimore,  North 
Dakota;  Orville  E.,  of  Clarkston,  Idaho; 
Mary  E.  (Mrs.  Albert  Dresser),  of  New 
Salem,  North  Dakota. 

Dr.  Persons  holds  membership  in  the 
American,  State,  County  and  local  physi- 
cians associations  and  is  secretary  of  the 
last  named. 


MRS.  CATHERINE  M1ELKE  (1874)  is 
the  widow  of  Herman  Mielke,  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Lucas  township.  She 
lives  on  the  farm,  directs  its  management, 
and  employs  help  to  attend  to  the  farm 
labor. 

Herman  Mielke  was  a  native  of  Germany 


314 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


and  was  born  May  23,  1834.  He  received 
his  bringing  up  in  his  home  country  and 
came  to  America  in  1872,  and  it  was  two 
years  later  that  he  took  a  homestead  in 
Lucas  township,  Lyon  county.  That  was 
his  home  until  his  death  December  26, 
1910,  and  his  widow  is  now  living  on  the 
old  homestead. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native 
of  Canada  and  was  born  August  22,  1858, 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Annie  (Bell) 
Rose,  both  now  deceased.  Our  subject 
accompanied  her  grandparents  to  the  States 
when  eleven  years  old,  and  the  family  were 
among  the  first  settlers  in  Lucas  township, 
the  year  1870  being  the  year  of  their  ar- 
rival. Mrs.  Mielke  received  her  education 
in  the  country  school  and  resided  with  her 
grandparents  until  1875. 

That  was  the  year  of  her  marriage,  the 
date  being  November .11,  and  the  ceremony 
being  performed  at  Marshall.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mielke  were  the  parents  of  thirteen 
children,  twelve  of  whom  are  living,  as 
follows:  Hermenne,  of  Minneapolis;  Wil- 
liam, of  Big  Horn,  Wyoming;  Matilda 
(Mrs.  William  Thiel),  of  Stanley  township; 
Augusta  (Mrs.  Edward  Broberg),  of  Das- 
sell;  August,  of  Canada;  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Sebert  Lien),  of  Dassel;  Elvine  (Mrs.  Ed- 
ward Schultz),  of  Franklin;  Bertha  (Mrs. 
William  Kahl),  of  Yellow  Medicine  county; 
Julius,  of  Fairfax;  Hattie,  of  Franklin;  and 
Mamie  and  Mabel,  at  home.  Mrs.  Mielke 
has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church. 


ANTON  A.  HELLICKSON  (1876),  of 
Westerheim  township,  has  lived  on  one 
farm  in  that  precinct  since  he  was  one  year 
of  age.  He  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Enger 
(Cliffgard)  Hellickson  and  was  born  in 
Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  May  8,  1875. 

Anton  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon 
county  when  one  year  old,  in  1876,  and 
has  ever  since  made  his  home  with  his 
parents.  He  received  a  good  education, 
taking  a  two-year  course  in  the  Minneota 
High  School  and  attending  the  Madison 
Normal  School  after  completing  his  pri- 
mary education.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  has  been  engaged  in  farming,  operating 
240  acres  of  his  father's  land  in  addition 
to  his  own  land,  the  southeast  quarter  of 


section  9,  .Westerheim,  which  he  bought 
in  1904.  Mr.  Hellickson  has  made  a  suc- 
cess of  his  farming  operations  and  is 
classed  as  one  of  the  successful  men  of  his 
township.  He  raises  Durham  cattle  and 
Duroc-Jersey  hogs. 

Mr.  Hellickson  was  married  in  Yellow. 
Medicine  county  February  22,  1897,  to 
Anneta  Brusven.  She  was  born  in  that 
county  November  29,  1877.  Her  parents, 
Olaus  and  Annie  (Roeberg)  Brusven,  were 
born  in  Norway  and  are  now  residents  of 
Yellow  Medicine  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hellickson  have  three  children,  Alice,  Alvin 
and  Amelia.  They  are  members  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 


FRED  C.  MARKS  (1876)  is  a  farmer 
and  land  owner  of  Clifton  township  who 
has  lived  in  that  precinct  since  he  was  five 
years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  Plainview, 
Wabasha  county,  Minnesota,  January  18, 
1871.  His  parents  are  Charles  and  Mar- 
garet (Mengild)  Marks,  natives  of  Ger- 
many and  now  residents  of  Granite  Falls. 

When  he  was  a  little  past  five  years  old, 
in  187  6,  Fred  Marks  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Lyon  county.  His  father  took  as 
a  homestead  claim  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  2,  Clifton  township,  and  on  that 
place  our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days. 
At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  began  working 
out  as  a  farm  hand  and  was  so  employed 
several  years,  spending  one  year  working 
on  a  railroad  in  North  Dakota.  In  the 
spring  of  1891  Mr.  Marks  bought  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  3,  Clifton  township, 
and  on  that  place  he  has  ever  since  made 
his  home,  excepting  the  year  1910,  when 
his  place  was  operated  by  a  tenant. 

Mr.  Marks  has  stock  in  the  Lyon  County 
Fair  Association.  He  served  one  year  on 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Clifton  town- 
ship and  was  treasurer  of  school  district 
No.  42  three  years.  He  is  a  Woodman  by 
lodge  affiliation. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Marks  to  Jennie 
Nelson  occurred  in  Marshall  October  30, 
.1896.  She  was  born  in  Denmark  May  7, 
1874,  and  died  March  19,  1911.  To  this 
union  the  following  named  five  children 
were  born:  Charles  F.,  Helen,  Alice,  Ray- 
mond and  Louis  (deceased). 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


315 


ANDREW  J.  SWENSON  (1872)  owns 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  23,  Mon- 
roe township,  and  -is  one  of  the  prominent 
•farmers  of  the  community.  He  is  a  warm 
advocate  of  the  co-operative  principle  in 
business  and  was  largely  responsible  for 
the  formation  of  the  Farmers  Co-operative 
Elevator  Company  of  Garvin  and  for  the 
advancement  of  the  co-operative  idea  in 
that  village  and  vicinity. 

Mr.  Swenson  was  born  in  Norway  Octo- 
ber 18,  1852,  and  at  the  age  of  nine  years 
came  with  his  parents,  John  and  Mary 
(Syverson)  Swenson,  to  America,  the  fam- 
ily locating  in  La  Crosse  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  the  father  died  in  1861.  An- 
drew resided  with  his  family  in  his  youth 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  In  1872  he  and  a  brother-in-law 
drove  with  an  ox-team  from  La  Crosse 
county  to  Lyon  county,  Minnesota.  They 
camped  on  the  way,  and  the  journey  was 
necessarily  slow.  The  boys  spent  the  spring 
and  summer  on  the  trip  and  looked  the 
country  over,  returning  that  fall  to  Wis- 
consin, where  Andrew  remained  until  1876. 

In  187  6  our  subject  moved  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  was  employed  the  next  four  years' 
in  farming  and  railroading.  In  the  fall  of 
1880  he  married,  and  then  in  company 
with  John  J.  Holden  he  rented  the  Cutts 
farm  in  Custer  township  and  farmed  the 
place  four  years.  Andrew's  mother  had 
remarried  after  the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band, and  in  1872  she  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  took  a  homestead  and  resided  here 
until  1894,  then  going  to  Washington, 
where  she  died  in  1901.  After  four  years 
on  the  Cutts  farm,  Andrew  moved  to  the 
homestead  which  his  mother  had  taken 
and  there  made  his  home  four  years.  He 
then  purchased  160  acres  in  Murray  coun- 
ty and  farmed  the  place  ten  years,  later 
adding  to  his  possessions  and  making  his 
total  holdings  280  acres. 

In  the  spring  of  1901  Mr.  Swenson  re- 
turned to  Lyon  county  and  located  on  his 
farm,  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  23. 
For  four  years  he  conducted  the  Sleepy 
Eye  elevator  at  Tracy,  and  for  about  one 
year  and  a  half  he  had  charge  of  the  farm- 
ers' elevator  at  Garvin,  but  for  the  most 
part  Mr.  Swenson  has  made  his  home  on 
the  farm  on  section  2  3  since  1901.  Our 
subject  has  held  various  offices  during  his 


residence  in  Murray  and  Lyon  counties. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  Town  Board  in 
both  Murray  and  Lyon  counties  several 
years.  During  his  entire  residence  in 
Murray  county  he  was  treasurer  of  his 
school  district,  and  he  has  held  the  office 
of  assessor. 

Andrew  Swenson  was  married  Novem- 
ber 15,  1880,  in  Murray  county,  to  Carrie 
Olson,  a  native  of  Wisconsin.  She  was 
born  January  3,  1858.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swen- 
son are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Hattie  Matilda  (Mrs.  Peter  O.  Nas- 
vik),  of  St.  Paul;  Julia  Mabel,  Clara 
Amanda,  Emma  Sophia,  Nina  Louisa  and 
Anna  Ovida.  Mr.  Swenson  is  a  member 
of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church,  and  his 
fraternal  affiliations  are  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodge. 


DR.  H.  M.  WORKMAN  (1884),  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  of  Tracy,  has  resided  in 
that  city,  engaged  in  -the  practice  of  his 
profession,  for  twenty-eight  years.  He  is 
one  of  two  children  (the  other  being  Mor- 
ris Workman,  of  Tracy)  born  to  Daniel  M. 
and  Virginia  (Gephardt)  Workman,  na- 
tives of  Ohio. 

Dr.  Workman  was  born  in  Circleville, 
Ohio,  May  14,  1855.  After  receiving  a 
high  school  education  he  matriculated  in 
Northwestern  University  of  Chicago  and 
was  granted  a  diploma  in  medicine  with 
the  class  of  1878.  He  practised  in  Chicago 
until  1880,  when  he  located  in  Huron, 
So;ith  Dakota.  A  short  time  later  he 
located  in  Sleepy  Eye,  and  in  1884  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  Tracy,  where  he  has 
ever  since  been  engaged  in  practice. 

The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  American 
Medical  Association,  the  state  association, 
the  Lyon-Lincoln  Medical  Association,  and 
the  American  Railway  Surgeons  Associa- 
tion. He  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge, 
Chapter  and  Commandery  of  the  Masonic 
order,  the  Eastern  Star,  Modern  Woodmen 
and  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodges. 

Dr.  Workman  was  married  at  Mankato, 
Minnesota,  January  27,  1887,  to  Nell  M. 
Gleason,  a  native  of  Winona  county,  Min- 
nesota. They  have  one  child,  Warner 
Gleason  Workman,  who  is  a  student  in  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota. 


316 


BIOGBAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ALVIN  L.  BLANCH  ARD  (1879)  has 
continuously  had  his  home  in  Lyon  county 
thirty-three  years.  He  owns  a  235-acre 
farm  on  section  4,  Rock  Lake  township, 
and  is  rated  as  a  successful  farmer.  He 
raises  Norman  and  Percheron  horses,  Here- 
ford cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs. 

Mr.  Blanchard  is  one  of  a  family  of  four 
children,  the  others  being  Clarence  A.,  of 
Blanchardville,  Wisconsin;  Kate  (Mrs.  Sam- 
uel Corbin),  of  Lily,  South  Dakota;  and 
William,  of  Blanchardville.  The  father  of 
these  children  was  Alvin  Blanchard,  after 
whom  the  city  of  Blanchardville  was  named. 
He  was  born  in  New  York,  settled  in  Wis- 
consin in  an  early  day,  and  died  in  1911. 
The  mother  of  the  children  is  Mary 
(Skiner)  Blanchard,  of  Balaton. 

Alvin  L.  Blanchard  of  this  review  was 
born  in  the  city  named  after  his  father  on 
August  6,  18  58.  When  he  was  seven  years 
of  age  he  accompanied  the  family  to  Free- 
born county,  Minnesota,  and  resided  with 
them  there  until  1879;  then  the  family 
came  to  Lyon  county.  Alvin  farmed  in 
Lyons  township  five  years  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  same  business  in  Rock 
Lake,  for  many  years  on  his  present  farm. 

Mr.  Blanchard  has  stock  in  the  Current 
Lake  Telephone  Company  and  the  Lyon 
County  Co-operative  Company  of  Balaton 
He  has  membership  in  the  Masonic  and 
Woodmen  lodges  of  Russell,  having  been  a 
charter  member  of  the  last  named. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Blanchard  to  Hat- 
tie  A.  Van  Fleet  occurred  in  Rock  Lake 
township  in  December,  1884.  His  wife  was 
born  in  Chatfield,  '  Minnesota,  June  14, 
1859.  Her  parents,  John  A.  and  Nancy  G. 
(Gere)  Van  Fleet,  were  pioneers  of  Lyon 
county,  homesteaded  a  part  bf  the  land 
now  owned  by  Mr.  Blanchard,  and  are  both 
dead.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blanchard  have  four 
children:  Gertrude  L.,  a  school  teacher 
of  Berlin,  North  Dakota;  Terresa  H.  (Mrs 
Henry  Erickson),  of  Sioux  Falls,  South 
Dakota;  Gladys  S.  (Mrs.  Milton  S.  Clark), 
of  Rock  Lake  township;  and  Llewellis  Van, 
who  lives  with  his  parents. 


DAVID  R.  ROBERTS  (1878),  Lyons 
township  farmer,  has  lived  in  the  county 
and  on  the  farm  he  now  occupies  since  he 
was  a  child  nine  years  of  age.     His  parents, 


Richard  R.  and  Mary  (Prichard)  Roberts, 
were  born  in  Wales  and  he  was  born  in 
Rutland  county,  Vermont,  July  2,  1869. 

When  David  was  two  or  three  years  of 
age  the  family  moved  to  Michigan,  where 
the  father  worked  at  the  slate  maker's 
trade  and  in  the  copper  mines  several  years. 
They  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1878  and 
took  as  a  homestead  claim  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  20,  Lyons  township, 
which  place  has  ever  since  been  the  home 
of  our  subject. 

Until  1901  David  worked  on  the  home 
farm  and  then  he  rented  the  place  from 
his  father  and  has  since  had  the  manage- 
ment. In  his  stock  raising  he  makes  a 
specialty  of  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle.  Mr. 
Roberts  owns  stock  in  the  Farmers  Ele- 
vator Company  of  Russell.  He  has  served 
ten  years  as  treasurer  of  his  township  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Workmen  lodge. 

Mr.  Roberts  was  married  in  Russell  on 
September  4,  1901,  to  Sadie  Jones,  a  native 
of  Illinois  and  a  daughter  of  John  N.  and 
Jemima  (Jenkins)  Jones.  The  three  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts  are  named 
Joe,  Ethel  and  Mildred. 


MRS.  MARIE  G.  OLSON  (1872)  is  the 
owner  of  the  south  half  of  section  30,  Mon- 
roe township,  a  well-improved  farm.  She 
resides  on  the  farm  and  is  assisted  in  its 
management  by  three  of  her  sons,  Emil, 
Edward  and  John,  who  own  land  adjoin- 
ing and  are  successfully  conducting  the 
home  place.  They  have  large  herds  of 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  Duroc-Jersey  swine 
and  a  number  of  fine  Percheron  horses. 

Mrs.  Olson  was  born  in  Holand,  Norway, 
November  27,  1844.  She  was  married  to 
John  Matteson  in  1866  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1869  and  located  in  Fillmore  county, 
Minnesota,  where  a  few  weeks  after  their 
arrival  her  husband  died.  Two  sons  were 
born  to  this  union,  Emil,  who  was  born  in 
1867,  and  Martin  J.,  who  was  born  in  1869. 

In  1871  our  subject  was  married  to 
Gunerius  Olson,  and  the  next  year  they 
moved  from  Fillmore  county  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty. They  took  as  a  homestead  claim  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  Monroe 
township,  and  later  they  bought  the  south- 
east quarter  of  the  same  section.  Mr. 
Olson,  who  was  born  in  Norway  in   1840, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


317 


died  in  1903.  Six  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olson,  as  follows:  Hilda  A.. 
born  1872;  Ragna  S.,  born  1875;  Olaf  C, 
born  1878;  Edward  G.,  born  1881;  John 
A.,  born  1884;  Elma  M.,  born  1889. 

Mis.  Olson  is  a  member  of  Holand  Luth- 
eran Church,  which  is  situated  on  her  farm. 


OLE  RIALSON  (1872).  There  are  few 
people  living  in  Lyon  county  today  who 
were  here  when  Ole  Rialson  came  more 
than  forty  years  ago.  He  is  a  veteran  of 
the  Civil  War,  a  homesteader  of  Lyon  coun- 
ty, and  a  man  who  has  been  prominent  in 
the  affairs  of  his  community.  He  now 
lives  a  retired  life  in  the  city  of  Tracy. 

Mr.  Rialson  was  born  in  Norway  Sep- 
tember 24,  1841.  He  accompanied  the  fam- 
ily to  America  in  1849  and  the  first  winter 
in  the  New  World  was  spent  in  Rock  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin.  The  next  year  the  Rialsons 
moved  to  Green  county  of  the  same  state, 
where  Rile  Rialson,  the  father,  pre-empted 
a  quarter  section  of  government  land.  The 
father  died  on  that  place  and  his  wife, 
Lucy  (Syverson)  Rialson,  died  at  the  home 
of  her  son  in  Tracy. 

Our  subject  was  brought  up  on  the  farm 
and  after  growing  up  engaged  in  that  pur- 
suit on  his  own  account.  On  August  11, 
1862,  at  Monroe,  Wisconsin,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  G,  Twenty-second  Wisconsin  In- 
fantry, and  served  in  the  army  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  From  the  time  of  the 
battle  of  Chattanooga  until  the  war  was 
over  Mr.  Rialson  was  in  General  Sherman's 
army  and  was  one  of  those  who  made  the 
memorable  march  to  the  sea.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  in  Tennessee  and  for  a  time 
was  confined  in  Libby  Prison. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Rialson  returned  to 
Green  county  and  farmed  until  his  removal 
to  Lyon  county  in  the  spring  of  1872. 
Upon  his  arrival  he  took  as  a  homestead 
claim  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  22, 
Monroe  township,  close  to  which  the  village 
of  Tracy  was  founded  three  years  later. 
He  built  a  sod  shanty  on  the  claim  and  in 
the  fall  was  joined  by  his  family.  Upon 
his  arrival  the  only  people  living  in  Monroe 
township  were  E.  W.  Healy,  David  Staf- 
ford, Ole  Anderson,  Ole  Helgeson,  Asle 
Olson  and  Charles  Christopherson. 

In  the  spring  of  1873  Mr.  Rialson  hauled 


lumber  from  Walnut  Grove  and  erected  a 
small  frame  building.  Later  that  was  re- 
placed by  a  more  pretentious  structure,  and 
Mr.  Rialson  and  his  family  resided  therein 
until  1892,  when  he  moved  to  Tracy  and 
retired  from  active  life.  While  he  was 
hauling  the  lumber  for  his  first  frame 
house,  Mr.  Rialson  had  his  first  view  of 
the  dreaded  grasshoppers,  which  wrought 
such  damage.  He  did  not  desert  the  coun- 
try, as  did  so  many  of  the  homesteaders, 
but  has  continuously  made  his  home  here 
since  his  first  arrival. 

The  name  of  the  township  in  which  he 
has  lived  for  so  many  years  was  bestowed 
by  Mr.  Rialson,  after  Monroe,  the  county 
seat  of  Green  county,  Wisconsin.  At  the 
election,  which  was  held  in  his  house,  the 
name  Monroe  was  suggested  by  Mr.  Rial- 
son  and  the  name  Chelsea  by  Mr.  Wells. 
The  voters  adopted  the  name  suggested  by 
our  subject.  Mr.  Rialson  was  also  one  who 
took  an  active  part  in  the  organization  of 
the  township  and  he  was  the  first  township 
treasurer,  as  well  as  the  first  treasurer  of 
his  school  district. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Rialson  to  Gunild 
Olson  occurred  in  Green  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, on  New  Year's  Day,  1866.  She  was 
born  in  Norway  and  died  in  Tracy  Febru- 
ary 12,  1902.  Mr.  Rialson  has  one  child, 
Robert,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 
Four  sons  born  to  the  union  have  died. 
The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Rialson  oc- 
curred March  26,  1903,  when  he  wedded 
Mis.  Ingeborg  Erlandson.  . 


JOHN  JOHNSON  (187  6)  has  spent  the 
entire  thirty-six  years  of  his  life  in  Lyon 
county.  He  owns  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  5,  Westerheim  township,  has 
made  all  the  improvements  on  that  place, 
and  has  a  fine  home.  He  was  born  in 
Nordland  township  August  21,  187  6,  and 
after  growing  to  manhood  bought  his  farm 
and  engaged  in  business  for  himself. 

Jens  B.  and  Annie  (Kittleson)  Johnson, 
his  parents,  live  on  the  old  homestead  on 
section  2,  Nordland.  They  came  from  Nor- 
way early  in  life  and  were  married  in  Wis- 
consin. Later  they  lived  in  Goodhue  coun- 
ty, Minnesota,  a  short  time,  a  few  years  in 
Yellow  Medicine  county,  and  in  1876  they 
bought    a    homestead    right    in    Nordland 


318 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


township  and  have  resided  there  ever  since. 
There  are  six  children  in  the  family,  as 
follows:  Bessie  (Mrs.  H.  B.  Nelson),  of 
South  Dakota;  Mary,  Sina  (Mrs.  John 
Wahl),  of  South  Dakota;  Annie,  John,  of 
this  review;  and  Gilbert,  of  Eidsvold  town- 
ship. 

John  Johnson  was  married  at  Canby 
May  1,  1901,  to  Bessie  Julia  Severson. 
She  was  born  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Anton  Severson,  who 
has  lived  in  Yellow  Medicine  county  the 
past  twenty  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
have  two  children,  Alice  S.  and  Gladys  J. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  of  Minneota  and  Mr.  John- 
son has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board 
of  district  No.  80  for  the  past  four  years. 


FRANCIS  GITS  (1883),  of  Ghent,  hav- 
ing retired  from  active  business  life  after 
a  long  and  active  career  and  having  reached 
the  good  age  of  sixty-six  years,  departed 
with  his  wife  in  1904  for  Belgium  with 
the  intention  of  making  the  land  of  their 
birth  the  home  of  their  declining  years. 
The  following  year  found  the  elderly 
couple  safely  back  in  Ghent,  Minnesota, 
in  the  land  of  their  adoption,  fully  decided 
that  Ghent  was  home.  Such  was  the  love 
for  this  country  that  had  been  instilled  into 
the  minds  of  Francis  Gits  and  his  wife  after 
they  had  made  America  their  residence 
since  immigrating  to  this  country  in  1883. 
It  does  not  seem  strange  that  here  Mr. 
Gits  should  find  contentment.  It  has  been 
the  field  of  his  earnest  endeavors,  his  busi- 
ness activity,  his  progress,  his  prosperity. 
His  children  are  in  business  there  and  the 
community  contains  many  friends. 

Born  October  6,  1838,  a  son  of  Louis 
and  Natalie  Gits,  Francis  was  reared  in 
Cortemork,  Belgium,  his  birthplace.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen,  his  schooling  being  com- 
pleted, he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade 
under  his  father  and  became  proficient. 
He  followed  that  calling  in  the  old  country 
and  continued  to  do  so  after  coming  to 
.America  and  locating  in  Ghent  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1883.  That  year  Mr.  Gits  also 
started  a  general  store  and  opened  a  hotel 
in  Ghent  and  continued  to  operate  all  three 
places  during  the  following  thirteen  years. 
He  added  a  hardware  stock  to  his  general 


store.  In  1901  Mr.  Gits  retired  from  active 
business.  He  has  been  very  successful, 
both  in  business  and  in  the  field  of  invest- 
ment, making  frequent  purchases  of  real 
estate  and  selling  at  good  advances.  He 
is  the  owner  of  two  residence  properties  in 
Marshall  and  three  in  Ghent,  and  is  a 
stockholder  of  the  First  State  Bank  of 
Ghent. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  a  loyal  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church  and  has  been 
a  trustee  of  the  Ghent  church  for  twenty 
years.  For  several  years  he  was  a  trustee 
of  the  village  board  and  was  for  several 
years  president  of  the  council.  '  For  several 
terms  he  was  on  the  school  board. 

January  15,  18  63,  Francis  Gits  wedded 
Louise  Cornette,  a  native  of  Belgium.  She 
was  born  June  22,  1836.  The  following 
children  were  born  to  this  union:  Paul, 
Julius,  Joseph,  Victor,  Edmund,  Arthur, 
Prudence  (Mrs.  Gustav  Vergote),  deceased, 
and  Clemence  (Mrs.  Charles  Foulon),  of 
Ghent. 


CASSIUS  M.  WILLFORD  (1878)  is  an 
old  resident  of  the  county  and  has  lived  in 
Custer  township  thirty-two  years.  He  was 
born  in  Winona  county,  Minnesota,  August 
14,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Ma- 
linda  (Joy)  Will  ford,  the  former  of  whom 
is  deceased  and  the  latter  being  a  resident 
of  Balaton.  His  parents  were  early  set- 
tlers in  Lyon  county,  the  father  having 
taken  as  a  homestead  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  22,  Custer  township,  where 
the  family  resided  until  the  fall  of  1891, 
when  the  parents  moved  to  Balaton. 

Cassius  received  his  education  in  Wi- 
nona county,  where  he  resided  until  sixteen 
years  of  age.  In  the  spring  of  1878  he 
and  his  brother,  Clinton,  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  engaged  in  preparing  the  land 
which  their  father  had  taken  the  previous 
year  as  a  tree  claim.  The  lad  continued 
to  make  his  home  with  his  parents  until 
thirty  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  mar- 
ried and  took  up  his  residence  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  15,  Custer 
township,  land  which  he  had  purchased 
in  188  5  and  where  he  has  since  resided, 
with  the  exception  of  five  years  spent  in 
Tracy.  Mr.  Willford  has  increased  his 
real    estate    holdings    and    now    farms    240 


H10GKAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


319 


acres  and  engages  quite  extensively  in 
stock  raising. 

The  marriage  of  Cassius  .M.  Willford  and 
Laura  Cutler  occurred  in  Tracy  January 
14,  1891.  To  this  union  one  child,  John 
Cutler,  was  born  March  21,  1892.  Mrs. 
Will  ford  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  her 
parents,  John  H.  and  Martha  (Fisher) 
Cutler,  are  both  dead.  They  were  early 
settlers  of  the  county,  coming  to  Custer 
township  in  1881  and  making  that  their 
home  until  their  deaths. 

Cassius  Wilttord  served  several  years 
on  the  Custer  township  board  and  is  a 
stockholder  of  the  Farmers  Independent 
Elevator  Company  of  Garvin.  Fraternally 
he  is  allied  with  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge  of 
Balaton,  the  Masons  of  Tracy,  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  lodge  of  Garvin. 

LOUIS  HELGESON  (1874)  is  one  of  Mon- 
roe township's  successful  farmers,  owning 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  28,  which 
adjoins  the  quarter  section  belonging  to  his 
brother  Ole.  He  was  born  April  3,  1874,  on 
his  father's  homestead,  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  28,  Monroe  township.  During 
his  boyhood  days  he  worked  for  his  father 
and  attended  the  school  of  district  No.  33. 
After  completing  his  schooling  he  worked  for 
neighboring  farmers  and  at  home  until  his 
father's  death  in  1892. 

After  the  father's  death  Louis  Helgeson, 
in  company  with  his  brothers  Ole  and  Helge, 
rented  a  half  section  of  land,  and  for  several 
years  the  three  boys  farmed  that  and  the 
homestead  in  partnership.  In  1906  Louis 
withdrew  from  the  partnership  and  bought 
the  land  which  he  now  owns,  which  he  has 
farmed  since  that  time.  He  has  a  well  im- 
proved piece  of  land  and  engages  in  raising 
cattle  to  some  extent. 

The  marriage  of  Louis  Helgeson  and  Elise 
Anderson  occurred  December  20,  1906,  in 
Monroe  township.  Mrs.  Helgeson  was  born 
April  25,  1885,  and  died  October  18,  1908. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Ole  Helge- 
son Brevig,  born  November  9,  1840,  and 
Isabel  (Olsdatti)  Helgeson,  both  natives  of 
Norway.  They  came  to  this  country  in  1869 
and  located  in  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota. 
They  resided  there  a  few  years  before  com- 
ing to  Lyon  county  in  1871  and  taking  a 
homestead  in  Monroe  township.  Both  par- 
ents are  now  dead. 


Louis  Helgeson  is  ;i  member  of  the  Holand 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church.  For  two  years 
he  served  on  the  Township  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  Monroe  township. 


A.  C.  CHITTENDEN  (1878),  a  retired  busi- 
ness man  of  Marshall  and  the  owner  of  Opera 
•  House  Block,  has  played  an  important  part 
in  the  history  of  that  city,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  resident  thirty-four  years. 

Mr.  Chittenden  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Westbrook,  Middlesex  county,  Connecticut, 
•luly  29,  1845,  a  descendant  of  old  colonial 
stock.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Cornelius 
Chittenden,  was  a  veteran  of  the  Revolution- 
ary War  and  died  in  Westbrook,  Connecticut, 
about  1857,  at  the  age  of  ninety-three  years. 
The  subject  of  this  review  attended  the 
funeral.  The  parents  of  our  subject,  Albert 
C.  and  Patience  L.  (Jones)  Chittenden,  were 
also  natives  of  Middlesex  county,  Connecti- 
cut. The  father  died  at  Boulder,  Colorado,  in 
1878,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  The 
mother  died  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  in  1900. 

In  the  Chittenden  family,  besides  our  sub- 
ject, are  the  following:  Richard  H.,  an  attor- 
ney of  New  York,  and  Albert  J.,  both  de- 
ceased; Newton  H.,  a  Civil  War  veteran 
and  an  explorer,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York; 
Adelaide  (Mrs.  James  Turner),  of  Brooklyn; 
Rev.  Ezra  P.,  an  Episcopal  minister  and  a 
graduate  of  Yale,  of  Clinton,  Missouri,  who 
is  the  author  of  "Pleroma,"  a  poem  of  the 
Christ,  published  in  book  form  in  1889;  and 
Carolin   (Mrs.  J.  Turner),  of  Brooklyn. 

When  A.  C.  Chittenden  was  thirteen  years 
of  age  he  accompanied  his  parents  from  the 
old  Connecticut  home  and  located  at  Ripon, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  resided  until  twenty- 
one-  years  of  age.  There  he  spent  the  sum- 
mer months  working  on  his  father's  farm 
near  Ripon  and  the  winter  months  attending 
the  Ripon  High  School.  He  completed  his 
education  in  Ripon  College.  In  the  early 
seventies  the  family  scattered,  the  parents 
moving  to  Boulder,  Colorado.  When  he 
reached  his  majority  our  subject  located  at 
Milwaukee,  where  he  was  a  bookkeeper  in 
a  commission  house  two  years.  He  then 
located  at  Atwater,  Minnesota,  and  engaged 
in  business  for  himself.  He  put  up  a  little 
building,  opened  a  store,  and  made  his  start 
in  life  Seven  years  after  locating  in 
Atwater,  Mr.  Chittenden  moved  to  Boulder, 


320 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Colorado,  where  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business.  By  a  bank  failure  Mr.  Chittenden 
lost  $4400.  He  then  went  to  Minneapolis, 
remained  there  a  short  time,  and  in  1878  be- 
came a  resident  of  Marshall. 

The  year  after  his  arrival  in  Marshall  Mr. 
Chittenden  erected  the  Opera  House  Block 
(in  which  he  still  maintains  an  office)  and 
opened  a  store  which  he  conducted  a  quarter, 
of  a  century.  This  old  building  has  been 
used  for  many  purposes — for  a  public  hall, 
opera  house  and  court  house,  the  district 
court  having  been  held  therein  before  the 
new  court  house  was  erected.  Mr.  Chitten- 
den engaged  in  other  business  enterprises. 
He  erected  a  hotel  at  Minnesota  Junction, 
conducted  a  store  at  Watertown,  South  Da- 
kota, and  a  branch  at  Ami  ret.  For  a  time  he 
was  also  connected  with  the  old  Lyon  County 
Bank.  The  double  brick  block  now  occupied 
by  the  Marshall  Furniture  Company  and  Dur- 
renburger's  harness  shop  was  erected  by  Mr. 
Chittenden.  After  retiring  from  active  busi- 
ness Mr.  Chittenden  spent  two  years  in  Red- 
lands.  California,  where  he  put  up  a  business 
block  to  rent.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  about 
1200  acres  of  farm  land  and  devotes  his  ener- 
gies to  their  management  and  to  real  estate 
deals.  Mr.  Chittenden  was  the  first  no-license 
mayor  of  Marshall. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
at  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  to  Agnes  Hill.  She 
is  a  native  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Hill.  The  family 
came  to  the  United  States  when  Agnes  Hill 
was  about  eight  years  of  age  and  settled  in 
Milwaukee.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chittenden  have 
four  children:  Rodney,  of  Ritzville,  Wash- 
ington: Walter,  of  Marshall;  Florence  (Mrs. 
Fred  Shardlow),  of  Marshall;  and  Alice,  a 
graduate  nurse  of  St.  Paul's  Hospital,  St. 
Paul.  Mr.  Chittenden  is  a  member  of  the 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 


LEWIS  C.  PETERSON  (1874)  has  been  a 
resident  of  Lucas  township  since  his  birth, 
November  27,  1874.  He  is  a  prominent  farm- 
er of  the  township,  is  the  owner  of  360  acres 
of  its  best  land,  and  has  all  but  forty  acres 
under  cultivation. 

Our  subject's  parents,  Christopher  and 
Bertha  (Berret)  Peterson,  were  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  Lyon  county,  the  father  taking  a 
homestead   in   Lucas   township   in    1872   and. 


residing  on  the  farm  until  1909,  when  he  and 
his  wife  moved  to  Cottonwood  to  live.  He 
died  one  year  later  and  Mrs.  Peterson  still 
lives  in  that  village.  Christopher  Peterson 
prospered  during  the  many  years  of  his  resi- 
dence in  the  township  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  the  owner  of  several  hundred 
acres  of  land. 

Lewis  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  district  and  completed  his 
schooling  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  after  which 
he  worked  for  his  father  until  1897;  then  he 
started  farming  for  himself  oifrthe  land  which 
he  now  owns  and  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  engages  in  grade  stock  raising  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  and  has  succeeded  in  his 
undertakings.  He  is  a  stockholder  of  the 
Home  Telephone  Company  of  Cottonwood. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Inga 
Slaan  at  Fergus  Falls,  Minnesota,  February 
1."),  1906.     She  was  born  in  Norway  October 

11,  1S84,  and  her  parents  reside  in  Norway. 
By  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Peterson  she  became 
the  mother  of  three  children,  as  follows: 
Alvena,  born  July  16,  1907;  Betsey,  born 
September  17,  1908;   and  Thorfin,  born  May 

12,  1911.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  belong  to 
Silo  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  of  Cotton- 
wood. 


GEORGE  A.  TATE  (1889)  is  the  former 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Bala- 
ton, the  proprietor  of  an  elevator  in  that 
village,  and  a  man  prominently  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  Lyon  county. 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  Balaton  a  quarter 
of  a  century  and  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Minnesota. 

George  A.  Tate  was  born  at  Elba,  Winona 
county,  Minnesota,  November  7,  1862,  the 
second  eldest  of  a  family  of  five  children 
born  to  George  WT.  and  Augusta  (Day)  Tate. 
The  father,  who  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
died  April  17,  1890.  The  mother,  a  New 
Yorker  by  birth,  is  living.  The  other  chil- 
dren of  the  family  are  Frank  D.,  Fred.  Nellie 
F.  and  Lelia  A. 

At  Elba  and  St.  Charles,  Minnesota,  young 
Tate  spent  his  boyhood  days  and  grew  to 
manhood.  He  located  in  Balaton  in  May. 
1889,  bought  grain  for  a  few  years,  and  then 
erected  an  elevator  and  engaged  in  business 
for  himself,  which  he  has  since  followed  in 
addition  to  his  banking  interests.     Mr.  Tate 


I » I OGR APHICAL  HISTORY 


321 


was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Citizens 
State  Bank  of  Balaton  in  IMrj  and  was  presi- 
dent of  the  bank.  When  the  reorganization 
into  the  First  National  Bank  was  brought 
about  in  1903  he  was  chosen  president  of  the 
new  concern  and  served  as  such  until  Febru- 
ary 1.  1912.  He  deals  quite  extensively  in 
real  estate. 

Mr.  Tate  was  a  member  of  the  Hoard  of 
Education  of  Balaton  six  years,  was  village 
trustee  one  year  and  president  of  the  Council 
one  year.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Maccabee 
and  Workmen  lodges. 

Lillian  M.  Dickinson  became  the  wife  of 
George  A.  Tate  at  St.  Charles,  Minnesota. 
They  have  two  children  living,  Harry  A.  and 
Lillian  Georgia. 


ANDREW  A.  CHRISTEXSOX  (1872)  is  a 
former  sheriff  ofsLyon  county  and  one  of  its 
pioneer  settlers.  He  served  the  county  in 
the  capacity  of  sheriff  twelve  years  and  was 
on  the  police  force  at  Tracy  five  years.  He 
is  assistant  sergeant  at  arms  of  the  Minne- 
sota State  Senate,  having  received  the  ap- 
pointment in  January,  1911.  He  is  a  native 
of  Norway,  born  October  19,  1863,  and  came 
to  the  United  States  when  one  and  one-half 
years  of  age.  He  located  in  Allamakee  coun- 
ty. Iowa,  where  he  resided  until  1872. 

In  tne  latter  year  our  subject  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  located  in  Monroe  township, 
where  his  father  homesteaded  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  28,  and  resided  there  sev- 
eral years.  He  then  started  the  struggle  of 
life  for  himself,  working  at  farm  labor,  on 
the  section,  and  for  two  years  was  a  fireman 
on  the  Northwestern  railroad.  He  later  served 
five  years  on  the  Tracy  police  force  and  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Lyon  in  1894  and  served 
twelve  years.  He  then  spent  four  years  on 
his  farm  in  Monroe  township  and  in  1910 
moved  to  Tracy,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Annie 
(Thorson)  Christenson,  the  former  of  whom 
resides  in  Tracy  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years,  and  the  latter  is  deceased.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children:  C.  A.,  of 
Roseau  county,  Minnesota;  Andrew  of  this 
sketch;  Christina,  of  Omaha;  and  Thomas, 
Ole-and  Martin,  all  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  member 
of  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter,  Commandery, 
Shrine    and    Eastern    Star    of    the    Masonic 


order.      He    also    holds    membership    in    the 
K.  F.  lodge  of  Tracy. 

On  December  23,  1890,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Christenson  to  Mattie  Hanson, 
who  was  born  in  Fillmore  county.  Minnesota, 
May  22,  1863. 


LAWREXCE  H.  FREESE  (1878)  is  a  farm- 
er of  Lynd  township.  He  is  a  native  of 
Sibley  county,  Minnesota,  and  was  born  July 
23,  1876.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were 
Henry  and  Sarah  Freese,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  in  May,  1911.  The  father  is  one  of  the 
early  settlers  in  Lyon  county  and  still  re- 
sides  in   Lake   Marshall  township. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education 
in  Marshall,  where  he  attended  school  until 
sixteen  years  of  age.  He  then  worked  out 
for  a  while  before  he  started  farming  for 
himself. 

Mr.  Freese  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
lodge.  Besides  farming,  he  engages  in  stock 
raising,  including  Duroc-Jersey  hogs  and 
Shorthorn  cattle.  He  operates  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  12,  Lynd  township.  Our 
subject  has  five  brothers  and  three  sisters: 
Will,  of  Meadows,  Idaho;  Arthur,  Xoah,  Ed- 
ward and  Roland,  of  Lyon  county;  Elsie,  of 
Lyon  county;  Lydia,  of  Seattle,  Washington; 
and  Mary,  of  Meadows,  Idaho. 

On  June  1,  1900,  Mr.  Freese  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Ada  Orr,  a  daughter  of  Sumner 
and  Celia  Orr,  of  Marshall.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Orr  are  pioneer  residents  of  Lyon  county 
and  Mrs.  Freese  is  a  native  of  the  county. 
They  are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren:   Allie,  Helen,  Gertie,  Ada,  Eleanor. 


LEWIS  L.  ROWELL  (1878)  came  with  his 
parents  to  Lyon  county  when  one  year  old, 
and  with  the  exception  of  about  one  and  one- 
half  years  he  has  been  a  continuous  resident 
of  Amiret  township  since  that  time. 

Lewis  was  born  in  Waukesha  county,  Wis- 
consin, Xovember  5,  1877.  The  next  year  he 
was  brought  by  his  parents,  Lewis  and  Pa- 
tience (Brooman)  Rowell,  #to  Lyon  county, 
and  the  family  settled  on  a  farm  in  Amiret 
township  which  the  father  had  purchased. 
The  elder  Rowell  resided  on  the  farm  until 
his  death.  Lewis  as  a  lad  received  the  edu- 
cation afforded  by  the  schools  of  the  district 
and  was  kept  busy  at  home  helping  with  the 


322 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


farm  work.  At  the  age  of  twenty  the  boy 
went  to  South  Dakota  and  made  his  home 
about  one  year  near  Huron,  being  employed 
as  a  farm  laborer.  Returning  to  Lyon  county, 
he  remained  here  one  year  before  again 
making  a  trip,  this  time  to  North  Dakota  and 
.Montana,  where  he  spent  several  months. 

After  his  return  to  Lyon  county  in  1899, 
Mr.  Rowell  took  up  farming  for  himself  and 
is  today  the  proprietor  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  10,  Amiret  township,  which  is 
the  farm  taken  by  his  father  as  a  tree  claim. 
Besides  his  own  farm  Mr.  Rowell  operates 
the  O.  M.  Covey  half  section  in  the  same 
township,  and  he  engages  in  stock  raising  in 
addition  to  his  general  farming.  He  raises 
Durham  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs.  He 
is  also  a  shareholder  of  the  Farmers  Co- 
operative Creamery  Company  of  Tracy. 

The  ceremony  which  united  Lewis  Rowell 
and  Maggie  Montgomery  in  the  holy  bonds 
of  matrimony  was  performed  at  Redwood 
Falls,  Minnesota,  December  18.  1902.  To  this 
union  have  been  born  the  following  children: 
Harold,  born  April  2,  1904;  Lucile,  born  June 
•15,  1906:  Donald,  born  April  6,  1908;  and 
Mark,  born  February  24,  1910.  Mr.  Rowell's 
mother  is  still  living  and  resides  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  William  Berry,  of  Amiret.  Mr. 
Rowell  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
and  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodges. 


HUGH  H.  JONES  (1874)  has  been  a  farmer 
in  Custer  township  since  1888  and  has  been 
on  his  present  farm,  the  south  half  of  sec- 
tion 13,  the  past  two  years. 

Mr.  Jones  was  born  in  Racine,  Wisconsin, 
May  10,  1858.  His  parents,  Richard  R.  Jones 
and  Margaret  (Hughes)  Jones,  were  both  na- 
tives of  Wales.  The  former  died  thirty-six 
years  ago  in  Lake  Crystal,  Minnesota,  and 
Mr.  Jones'  mother  is  a  resident  of  Garvin. 
Hugh  lived  in  Racine  until  nine  years  old, 
and  then  the  family  moved  to  Lake  Crystal, 
where  they  lived  until  1874,  coming  then  to 
Lyon  county  and  making  their  home  on  sec- 
tion 10  in  Custer  township.  Hugh  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Lake 
Crystal  and  in  the  district  school  of  Custer. 
He  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  his 
marriage  in  1888.  » 

Our  subject  was  married  February  13,  1888, 
in  Custer,  to  Elenor  Price,  a  native  of  Blue 
Earth  county.    Four  children  have  been  born 


to  the  union:  Ruth,  born  April  18,  1890; 
Mabel,  born  August  16,  1902;  Richard  and 
Reese,  twins,  bora  May  7,  1894. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Jones  began  farm- 
ing for  himself  in  Custer  township,  and  has 
been  a  continuous  resident  there  since  that 
time. 


M.  SULLIVAN  (1879),  of  Marshall,  was 
one  of  the  town's  early  business  men  and  is 
a  leading  spirit  in  many  local  enterprises. 
He  has  been  president  of  the  Marshall  Board 
of  Education  for  the  last  twenty-eight  years 
and  was  mayor  of  the  city  eight  successive 
years.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  served  four 
years  as  postmaster  of  Marshall  during  Pres- 
ident  Cleveland's  first   administration. 

Mr.  Sullivan  has  been  a  resident  of  Minne- 
sota since  1868.  He  spent  two  years  in 
Winona,  and  in  the  spring  of  1870  he  opened 
a  lumber  yard  in  St.  Charles,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  became  a  resident  of  Mar- 
shall in  1879.  Upon  his  arrival  here  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  which  he 
has  ever  since  been  interested. 

Mr.  Sullivan  was  married  at  Fort  Plain. 
Montgomery  county,  New  York,  in  1865  to 
Sarah  M.  Frink.  She  died  in  January,  1901. 
The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Sullivan  oc- 
curred in  1903,  when  he  wedded  Mary  Voss. 
He  has  two  sons,  Earl  Y.  and  Emmet  M. 


ROBERT  CUMMINGS  (1876)  lives  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  32,  Lucas  town- 
ship, land  he  took  as  a  homestead  thirty-six 
years  ago.  He  is  a  pioneer  of  that  precinct 
and  one  of  the  few  men  there  who  still  live 
on  a  homestead. 

Scotland  is  the  native  land  of  Robert  Cum- 
mings.  He  was  born  January  b,  1855,  and 
when  one  and  one-half  years  of  age  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  America.  The 
family  home  was  made  in  Wabasha  county, 
Minnesota  Territory,  and  there  our  subject 
grew  to  manhood.  Upon  reaching  his  major- 
ity in  1876  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  took 
his  homestead  in  Lucas  township.  About  the 
same  time  his  parents  located  in  Redwood 
county,  and  during  the  next  ten  years  Mr. 
Cummings  divided  his  time  between  his 
claim  and  his  parents'  home.  During  that 
dacade  he  farmed  his  land  part  of  the- time 


r.ltMiK.U'IliCAL   HISTORY. 


323 


and  the  rest  of  the  time  worked  out  in  Red- 
wood county. 

.Mr.  Cummings  took  up  his  permanent 
abode  on  the  farm  in  1887  and  has  ever 
since  resided  there,  engaged  in  its  cultiva- 
tion. He  is  not  married  and  keeps  a  Bache- 
lor's Hall.  On  numerous  occasions  Mr.  Cum- 
mings has  been  called  upon  to  serve  in  an 
official  capacity.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
township  board  one  year  and  was  treasurer 
of  his  precinct  seventeen  years.  For  the 
past  sixteen  years  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  board  of  school  district  Xo.  41.  Equity 
Lodge  No.  220,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  numbers  Mr. 
Cummings  among  its  members. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  John  and 
Isabelle  (Steward)  Cummings,  now  residents 
of  Redwood  county.  Mr.  Cummings  is  eighty- 
seven  years  old  and  his  wife  is  eighty-two. 
Nine  children  were  born  to  them,  as  follows: 
Annie,  of  Redwood  county;  Hugh,  of  Spo- 
kane. Washington;  John  A.,  deceased;  Bar- 
bara (Mrs.  William  Burr),  of  Pueblo.  Colo- 
rado; Donald,  of  Redwood  county;  Isabelle, 
Kate,  deceased;  Margaret  and  Robert. 


JOSEPH  H.  CATLIX  (1892)  is  president  of 
the  First  Xational  Bank  of  Cottonwood  and 
is  one  of  that  village's  leading  citizens.  He 
was  born  in  Xew  York  State  but  has  been 
a  resident  of  Minnesota  for  more  than  fifty 
years.  His  parents  were  William  and  Sarah 
E.  Catlin,  also  natives  of  Xew  York  State 
and  pioneers  of  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota, 
in  wrhich  county  they  both  died.  There  were 
eleven  children  in  the  family,  of  whom  the 
following  named  five  are  living:  Joseph  H., 
James,  Xelson,  Charles  and  Ellen. 

In  the  county  of  Orleans,  Xew  York,  on 
the  eleventh  of  August,  1846,  Joseph  H.  Cat- 
lin was  born.  When  he  was  five  or  six  years 
of  age  he  accompanied  the  family  to  Green 
Lake,  Wisconsin,  and  in  1861  located  with 
them  in  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota.  There 
the  father  bought  government  land,  and  on 
the  farm  Joseph  remained  until  he  attained 
his  majority.  Our  subject  then  located  in 
the  little  village  of  Cherrygrove,  Goodhue 
county,  where  he  conducted  a  general  store 
four  years.  The  next  thirteen  years  of  his 
life  were  passed  as  a  merchant  in  the  village 
of  Roscoe,  of  the  same  county. 

Mr.  Catlin  disposed  of  his  interests  in  Ros- 
coe and  in  1892  became  a  resident  of  Cotton- 


wood, where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  Upon 
his  arrival  he  erected  a  building  and  estab- 
lished Cottonwood's  first  financial  institution, 
the  Bank  of  Cottonwood,  a  private  bank.  The 
name  of  the  institution  was  changed  to  Se- 
curity Bank  in  1901,  and  two  years  later  it 
became  the  First  Xational  Bank.  In  addition 
to  being  president  of  the  bank  at  Cottonwood 
Mr.  Catlin  has  other  interests.  He  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Wood  Lake  State  Bank  and  is 
a  stockholder  of  the  Xorth  Star  Implement 
Company  of  Cottonwood.  He  owns  560  acres 
of  farming  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Cotton- 
wood, to  the  management  of  which  he  gives 
his  personal  attention.  For  several  years 
Mr.  Catlin  served  as  president  of  the  Cot- 
tonwood Village  Council  and  has  taken  an 
active  interest  in  local  affairs.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Eastern 
Star  of  the  Masonic  orders. 

In  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota,  on  the  sec- 
ond day  of  April,  1872,  Mr.  Catlin  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Catherine  Miller,  a  native  of 
Oak  Grove,  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin.  They 
have  two  children:  Charles,  who  is  vice 
president  of  his  father's  bank,  and  Belle,  who 
is  now  Mrs.  L.  McKechnie,  of  Cottonwood. 


OLE  S.  PETERSOX  (1878)  is  a  Wester- 
heim  township  farmer  and  a  pioneer  of  Lyon 
county.  He  owns  and  farms  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  9. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  born  in  Iceland  April  27, 
1863.  When  he  was  fifteen  years  old,  in  1878, 
he  accompanied  the  family  to  America  and  to 
Lyon  county.  They  resided  on  section  16, 
Westerheim  township,  one  year  and  then  the 
father  took  a  homestead  in  Limestone  town- 
ship, Lincoln  county.  There  young  Peterson 
worked  for  neighboring  farmers  until  the 
spring  of  1886.  At  that  time  he  bought  his 
present  farm,  and  he  has  ever  since  been 
engaged  in  farming  it.  The  first  three  years 
he  made  his  home  with  Joseph  Josephson, 
who  resides  across  the  road  from  his  place; 
then  he  built  on  the  place. 

Ole  Peterson  has  three  half-brothers,  Frank, 
Joseph  and  Sigrud.  He  also  has  two  step- 
brothers, Hal  and  George  Benson.  His  par- 
ents are  Segfinn  and  Segurborg  (Segertson) 
Peterson,  now  residents  of  Minneota. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Peterson  to  Mrs. 
Annie  Johnson  occurred  in  Winnipeg,  Can- 
ada, October  27,  1907.    She  also  was  born  in 


324 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Iceland,  came  to  America  in  1896,  and  prior 
to  her  marriage  lived  in  Winnipeg.  By  a 
former  marriage  she  is  the  mother  of  two 
daughters,  Mabel  and  Lizzie.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Peterson  have  had  two  children,  Seg,  who 
was  born  February  17,  1910,  and  died  August 
28,  1911,  and  Joseph  S.,  born  May  29,  1912. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  are  members  of  the 
Icelandic  Lutheran  church  of  Westerheim 
township. 


LEWIS  B.  LELAND  (1879)  is  a  farmer  of 
Xordland  township  who  has  a  thirty-three 
year  residence  in  Lyon  county  to  his  credit. 
He  lives  upon  the  farm  he  took  as  a  home- 
stead in  the  early  days,  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  28. 

Mr.  Leland  was  born  in  Vos,  Norway,  De- 
cember 11,  1847,  a  son  of  Bernard  and  Mag- 
lina  (Grimestad)  Leland.  The  family  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1849,  in  company 
with  Knute  Nelson,  now  United  States  sen- 
ator from  Minnesota,  and  landed  in  New 
•  York  on  the  nation's  birthday.  The  Lelands 
made  settlement  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin, 
and  in  1873  moved  to  Buffalo  county  of  the 
same  state. 

It  was  in  1879  that  Lewis  B.  Leland  left 
Wisconsin  and  came  to  Lyon  county.  He 
purchased  a  pre-emption  claim  to  his  present 
farm,  changed  the  filing  to  a  homestead, 
proved  up  on  it,  and  engaged  in  its  cultiva- 
tion until  1894.  That  year  he  moved  to 
Minneota  and  for  the  next  fifteen  years  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  con- 
ducted a  wagon  shop  there.  In  1909  Mr. 
Leland  returned  to  the  farm.  For  seven  or 
eight  years  he  was  clerk  of  school  district 
No.  25  and  for  four  years  he  was  a  justice 
of  the  peace.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Leland  is  a  man  of  family,  having  been 
married  in  Stoughton,  Wisconsin,  May  9, 
1872,  to  Martha  Gilderhus.  She  is  a  native 
of  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  and  was  born 
October  1,  1850.  Her  parents,  Ole  and  Mar- 
tha (Overland)  Gilderhus,  were  born  in  Vos, 
Norway.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Le- 
land are  Luella,  Josie,  Lillian.  Beatrice,  Mar- 
vin, Mabel  and  Winnifred. 


ALLEN  BATES  (1875).    Of  the  few  people 
who  were  living  in  the  little  village  of  Tracy 


when  Allen  Bates  and  his  family  located 
there  in  1875,  not  one  is  now  a  resident  of 
the  city  and  they  are  the  oldest  settlers. 
Mr.  Bates  was  engaged  in  business  for  many 
years  but  during  the  past  eight  years  has 
been  retired  from  active  pursuits. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  re- 
view was  born  July  15,  1845,  at  Dudley, 
Massachusetts,  the  son  of  John  and  Mary 
Ann  (Jacobs)  Bates.  The  former  died  April 
15,  1873,  and  the  latter  in  January,  1871. 
Allen  Bates  spent  his  boyhood  days  attend- 
ing school  and  made  his  home  in  his  native 
town  until  nineteen  years  of  age. 

At  that  age,  in  October,  1864,  he  enlisted 
as  a  member  of  Company  M,  First  Massa- 
chusetts Heavy  Artillery,  and  fought  for  the 
Union  cause  during  the  closing  days  of  the 
Civil  War.  He  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Petersburg  and  several  skirmishes.  At 
the  time  of  the  assassination  of  President 
Lincoln  he  was  in  Washington,  and  he  was 
on  the  detail  that  paraded  at  the  president's 
funeral.  Mr.  Bates  was  mustered  out  at 
Philadelphia  June  16,  1865. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Bates  returned  to  his 
old  home  and  in  the  fall  of  1866  he  was 
married.  After  engaging  in  the  shoe  manu- 
facturing business  for  a  short  time,  he 
moved  to  Ames,  Iowa,  where  for  eight 
months  he  was  employed  at  the  Northwest- 
ern Railroad  Company's  depot;  then  he  re- 
turned to  the  Hay  State  and  engaged  in 
his  former  occupation  until  moving  to  Lyon 
county. 

In  the  spring  of  1875  Mr.  Bates  became 
a  resident  of  the  village  of  Tracy,  then  being 
founded,  and  until  the  fall  of  1880  he  was 
engaged  in  business  there.  During  the  next 
seven  years  he  lived  at  Orange,  Massachu- 
setts, employed  as  an  engineer  by  the  New 
Home  Sewing  .Machine  Company.  Returning 
to  Tracy  in  the  spring  of  1887,  Mr.  Bates 
engaged  in  the  restaurant,  confectionery  and 
notion  business.  He  discontinued  the  res- 
taurant the  following  year,  but  conducted 
the  store  until  1904.  when  he  retired.  In 
the  fire  of  1893  he  was  burned  out,  but  he 
rebuilt  and  continued  the  business. 

At  Dudley.  Massachusetts,  en  September 
30,  1866,  Mr.  Bates  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Mary  C.  Wheelock.  who  was  born  in 
Mendon,  Massachusetts,  July  28,  1851.  Her 
parents  were  Henry  and  .Mary  (Thornton) 
Wheelock.       Her    mother    died    January    9, 


IJUMJKAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


325 


ist; I ;  her  fatb  t  December  8,  L882.  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  Hairs  have  two  children,  both  residents 
of  Tracy.  They  are  Esther  M.,  the  wife  of 
Charles  G.  Porter,  and  Clara  I.,  the  wife  of 
O.  J.  Rea.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Bates  are  members 
Of  the  Methodist  church  of  Tracy  and  he 
holds  membership  in  Joe  Hooker  Post,  G. 
A.  R.,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 

MAXWELL  J.  AURANDT  (187S),  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Shelburne  township,  is 
one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  that  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  An  rand  t  was  born  in  Blair  county, 
Pennsylvania,  April  29,  1S62.  In  1878  he 
came  to  Lyon  county  with  his  parents  and 
settled  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
26,  Shelburne,  his  father  taking  it  as  a 
homestead.  The  father  died  October  23, 
1885,  and  since  that  time  Maxwell  Aurandt 
has  had  Charge  of  the  old  home  place,  be- 
sides farming  the  east  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  23.  which  he  bought 
in  1900. 

The  parents  of  Maxwell  Aurandt  were  Da- 
vid and  Susan  (Bossom)  Aurandt,  both  de- 
scended from  good  old  German  stock.  David 
Aurandt  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  January 
in.  1824.  His  wife  was  born  May  16,  1824, 
in  Maryland,  and  still  lives  with  her  son, 
Maxwell,  on  the  old  homestead.  To  the 
Aurandts  have  been  born  the  following- 
named  children:  George  W.,  William  A., 
Daniel  W.,  Samuel  C,  Melinda  C.  (Mrs. 
George  Westbrook),  all  of  Blair  county,  Penn- 
sylvania; David  E.,  of  Carlton,  Minnesota; 
and  Maxwell,  of  this  sketch.  Two  other 
children,  Margaret  E.  and  Jacob  B.,  are  dead. 

Maxwell  Aurandt  was  married  in  Balaton 
December  13,  1893,  to  Jennie  V.  Crouch, 
daughter  of  James  Crouch,  a  homesteader 
of  Rock  Lake.  His  wife  died  May  1,  1895, 
since  which  time  his  aged  mother  and  his 
niece,  Anna  M.  Aurandt,  have  kept  house  for 
him. 

Mr.  Aurandt  has  held  various  offices  in 
the  county.  He  was  elected  treasurer  of 
school  district  No.  68  at  the  first  annual 
election  and  held  the  office  thirteen  years. 
He  is  at  present  clerk  of  the  district  and 
has  held  the  office  for  the  past  seven  years. 
He  has  served  on  the  township  board  con- 
tinuously for  seventeen  years  and  is  the 
present  chairman,  an  office  he  has  held  for 
s;x   years. 


ROY  W.  WILLIAMS  (1879)  is  a  young 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  residing  in  Lake 
-Marshall  township  and  owns  considerable 
land  in  that  township.  Roy  is  a  native  of 
Lyon  county  and  was  born  at  Marshall 
April  28,  1879,  a  sen  of  James  W.  and  Ada 
F.  (Webster)  Williams,  pioneer  residents  of 
the  county.  The  father  is  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut and  was  born  in  1847;  the  mother 
is  a  native  of  Ohio  and  was  born  in  1858. 

Roy  received  his  early  schooling  at  Mar- 
shall, where  he  was  a  student  until  eighteen 
years  of  age.  Then  he  took  a  course  in  the 
Minnesota  School  of  Business  at  Minne- 
apolis. After  completing  his  work  there  he 
purchased  the  farm  he  now  operates,  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  20,  Lake  Mar- 
shall township.  He  engages  in  stock  rais- 
ing, including  Durham  cattle,  Duroc-Jersey 
hogs  and  Shropshire  sheep.  He  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Masonic  and  Modern  Wood- 
men lodges.  Mr.  Williams  has  been  treas- 
urer of  school  district  No.  7  for  the  past 
six  years  and  was  road  overseer  in  Lake 
Marshall  township  three  years.  He  holds 
stock  in  the  Lyon  County  Agricultural  As- 
sociation. Our  subject  has  been  a  very 
successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

On  April  24,  1901,  Mr.  Williams  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Martha  Bellingham,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Louise  (Durst)  Belling- 
ham, pioneer  residents  of  Marshall.  Mr. 
Bellingham  was  born  in  England  and  Mrs. 
Bellingham  in  Maryland.  Mrs.  Williams  was 
born  in  Lake  Marshall  township  September 
13,  1879.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  are  the 
parents  of  two  children,  Margaret,  born 
August  20,  1904,  and  James  Roy,  born  June 
7,  1911. 

CARY  J.  WIMER  (1883)  is  the  proprietor 
of  a  drug  store  in  Minneota  and  one  of  that 
village's  pioneer  business  men,  having  been 
engaged  in  business  there  nearly  thirty 
years.  During  his  long  residence  in  Minne- 
ota Mr.  Wimer  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
the  affairs  of  his  village  and  community, 
having  served  as  president  of  the  Village 
Council  and  held  other  offices  of  trust. 

Mr.  Wimer  descends  from  two  old  Ameri- 
can families  who  established  residence  in 
the  colonies  prior  to  the  American  Revolu- 
tion. His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Wimer, 
was  born  in  Maryland  in  1785.  His  maternal 
great-grandfather,  Daniel  Ansley,  came  front 


326 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


England  before  the  war  and  served  in  the 
American  Army  under  General  Washington, 
taking  part  in  several  engagements  with  the 
British  forces  commanded  by  his  brother. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Thomas  R. 
and  Melinda  A.  (Ansley)  Wimer,  were  both 
born  in  Indiana  county,  Pennsylvania.  After 
their  marriage,  they  moved  to  Granville, 
Ohio,  where  the  former  studied  for  the 
ministry  and  was  later  ordained  as  a  Bap- 
tist minister.  He  enlisted  in  the  Forty- 
sixth  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  Com- 
pany I,  of  which  regiment  he  was  a  hospital 
steward  and  later  chaplain.  He  died  while 
taking  part  in  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea 
and  was  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery  in 
Georgia.  Mrs.  Wimer  resides  in  Dayton, 
Pennsylvania.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  three  children:  Cary  J.,  of  this 
sketch;  Ida  M.  (Mrs.  Thomas  J.  Starr),  of 
Kittanning,  Pennsylvania;  Thomas  H.,  who 
died  in  Marshall  April  17,  1907. 

To  these  parents  Cary  J.  Wimer  was  born 
October  6,  1854,  in  Indiana  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Cary  spent  his  boyhood  days  at  home 
and  attended  school,  fitting  himself  for  a 
teacher.  He  attended  the  Dayton  and  Glade 
Run  Academies*  one  term  each  and  spent 
two  summers  in  the  State  Normal  School  in 
Indiana  county.  He  then  taught  a  number 
of  years  in  Pennsylvania  and  one  year  in 
Kansas.  He  spent  the  winter  of  1881  study- 
ing medicine,  and  the  next  year,  in  company 
with  his  brother,  Thomas  H.,  he  purchased 
a  drug  store  at  Plumville,  Pennsylvania.  A 
year  later  the  brothers  sold  out  and  moved 
to  Minneota,  where  they  purchased  a  drug 
store.  In  the  meantime,  our  subject  was 
teaching  school  and  studying  pharmacy 
through  correspondence  with  the  National 
Institute  of  Pharmacy,  from  which  he  was 
graduated. 

The  Wimer  brothers  conducted  the  store 
in  partnership  two  years.  Then  Cary  pur- 
chased his  brother's  interest  and  has  con- 
ducted the  store  alone  since.  He  has  one 
of  the  largest  drug  stores  in  the  county  and 
carries  a  complete,  up-to-date  stock.  He  also 
has  other  interests.  He  is  a  stockholder 
and  a  director  of  the  Farmers  &  Merchants 
Bank  of  Minneota,  owns  a  farm  in  Yellow 
Medicine  county,  and  a  quarter  section  of 
land  in  Kanabec  county,  Minnesota.  He  has 
been  a  school  officer  of  Minneota  for  the 
past  twelve  years  and  has  served  as  justice 


of  the   peace.     Mr.  Wimer  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 

Mr.  Wimer  was  married  near  Frostburg, 
Maryland,  June  23,  1886,  to  Alice  M:  Durst, 
a  native  of  that  state  and  a  daughter  of 
Michael  Durst,  who  settled  near  Marshall 
in  grasshopper  days.  Michael  Durst  returned 
to  his  native  state  and  a  number  of  years 
later  came  back  to  Minnesota  and  died  at 
the  home  of  his  son  near  Preston,  Minne- 
sota. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wimer  are  the  parents 
of  the  following  named  five  children:  June 
L.,  Eva  F.,  Leon  A.,  Homer  E.  and  Alice  C. 
Their  daughter  June  L.  attended  Carleton 
College  and  is  now  a  music  teacher;  Eva  F. 
is  a  school  teacher  and  also  attended  Carle- 
ton  College;  Leon  A.  is  a  student  in  the 
Pharmacy  Department  of  Highland  Park 
College,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 


LUDVIG  E.  LARSON  (1876),  who  owns 
and  farms  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
18,  Lucas  township,  has  lived  in  Lyon  coun- 
ty since  he  was  three  years  of  age.  He  is 
a  prosperous  farmer  and  has  taken  a  leading 
part  in  the  affairs  of  his  community. 

His  parents,  Haldor  and  Engel  Marie  (An- 
derson) Larson,  were  born  in  Norway  in 
1849,  came  to  the  United  States  when  chil- 
dren, and  were  married  in  Wisconsin.  They 
came  to  Lyon  county  in  1876  and  home- 
steaded  the  farm  now  owned  by  their  son. 
The  mother  died  on  the  homestead  in  the 
spring  of  1880  and  the  father  two  years 
later.  There  are  two  other  children  in  the 
family,  Theodore,  of  Broderick,  Saskatche- 
wan, Canada,  and  Bergene  (Mrs.  Julius  An- 
derson), of  Tacoma,  Washington. 

Ludvig  was  born  in  Jackson  county,  Wis- 
consin, July  28,  1873.  He  came  to  Lyon 
county  with  his  parents  in  1876  and  until 
their  deaths  made  his  home  with  them. 
Thereafter  until  he  was  thirteen  he  lived 
with  an  uncle,  John  Anderson,  and  two  years 
after  that  with  another  uncle,  George  An- 
derson. At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  began  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world  and  has 
since  been  farming  except  for  a  time  when 
he  worked  at  the  livery  and  dray  business 
and  in  a  hardware  store  in  Cottonwood. 

The  homestead  had  remained  in  the  fam- 
ily and  in  the  spring  of  1896  Ludvig  and  his 
brother  began  its  cultivation.  The  partner- 
ship continued  until  1911,  when  our  subject 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


327 


purchased  his  brother's  interests  and  became 
sole  owner  of  the  farm.  All  the  improve- 
ments the  farm  has  were  made  by  the 
brothers. 

Mr.  Larson  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
school  district  No.  89  and  he  has  been  clerk 
of  the  district  since  its  organization.  He 
served  as  assessor  of  his  township  two  years 
and  was  a  member  of  the  township  board 
four  years,  three  years  as  its  chairman.  He 
is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  township 
clerk.  He  and  his  family  are  members 'of 
the  United  Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Larson  was  married  in  Cottonwood 
November  28,  1895,  to  Amelia  A.  Roberts, 
who  was  born  in  Yellow  Medicine  county 
February  13,  1876.  Her  father  is  Louis  Dib- 
ble, but  she  was  adopted  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Roberts.  Mr.  Larson  and  his  wife  have 
eight  children,  named  as  follows:  Harvard 
Eugene,  born  October  29,  1896;  Alfred  Les- 
lie, born  March  10,  1898;  Amy  Luella,  born 
July  5,  1900;  Haze!  Eunice,  born  March  15, 
1903;  Edward  Ludvig,  born  February  20, 
1905;  Walter  John,  born  March  6,  1907;  Mil- 
dred Ruth,  born  February  14,  1909;  Elfreda 
Marie,  born  December  IS,  1911. 


MRS.  C.  A.  JOHNSON  (1878)  is  the  widow 
of  Charles  A.  Johnson.  She  has  lived  in 
Lyon  county  thirty-four  years  and  resides  on 
the  old  homestead,  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  2,  Coon  Creek  township. 

Mrs.  Johnson  was  .born  in  Vallers,  Norway, 
September  28,  1850,  the  daughter  of  Nels 
and  Mary  (Olson)  Nelson,  both  of  whom  died 
in  this  country.  Miss  Betsey  Nelson  attended 
school  in  her  native  country  until  sixteen 
years  of  age  and  then,  in  1866,  accompanied 
her  parents  to  America.  The  family  lo- 
cated in  Winona  county,  Minnesota,  and 
there  two  years  later  Miss  Nelson  became 
the  wife  of  Charles  A.  Johnson,  the  date 
of  the  marriage  being  October  22,  1868. 

Charles  A.  Johnson  was  born  in  Stockholm, 
Sweden,  May  4,  1840.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
years  he  came  to  America,  spent  two  years 
in  Chicago,  and  then  until  the  outbreak  of 
the  war  resided  in  Winona  county,  Minne- 
sota. He  enlisted  in  1861  in  the  First  Minne- 
sota Light  Artillery  and  served  three  years 
and  nine  months  in  the  service.  After  the 
war  Mr.  Johnson  again-  settled  in  Winona 
county,  bought  land  there,  and  farmed  until 


moving  to  Lyon  county  in  1878.  He  took 
a  homestead  in  Coon  Creek  township  and 
engaged  in  farming  continuously  until  his' 
death  on   July   25,   1908. 

Since  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs. 
Johnson  has  made  his  home  on  the  farm, 
which  is  conducted  by  her  sons,  Carl  and 
Harry.  They  raise  Jersey  and  Shorthorn 
cattle  and  Duroc-Jersey  hogs.  The  family 
owns  250  acres  of  land  in  Coon  Creek.  Mrs. 
Johnson  has  stock  in  the  Farmers  Mutual 
Telephone  Company. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson,  as  follows:  Mary  Ann,  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1869;  Emma,  born  May  25,  1872, 
died  May  11,  1908;  Lillie,  born  February  19, 
1878;  John,  born  December  17,  1880;  Carl, 
born  February  20,  1885;  Oscar,  born  May  8, 
1886,  died  May  10,  1901;  Harry,  born  March 
24,  1892. 


ARTHUR  FREESE  (1879),  of  Lake  Mar- 
shall township,  was  born  in  Sibley  county, 
Minnesota,  November  15,  1872.  His  parents 
were  Henry  and  Sarah  (Schmidt)  Freese. 
The  latter  died  in  May,  1911,  and  the  former 
resides  in  Lyon  county  part  of  the  year, 
spending  the  winters  in  California.  Arthur 
attended  the  Marshall  schools  until  twenty 
years  of  age,  after  which  he  worked  for 
his  father  on  the  farm  nine  years. 

In  1902  he  purchased  from  his  father  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  7,  Lake  Marshall 
township,  where  he  has  resided  continuously 
since.  In  1910  he  erected  a  fine  residence 
on  his  farm  and  in  1911  a  fine  barn.  Mr. 
Freese  is  chairman  of  the  Township  Board 
of  Supervisors,  to  which  he  was  elected  in 
March,  1911,  and  was  a  member  of  the  board 
previous  to  that  time.  He  was  road  overseer 
in  Lake  Marshall  township  several  years. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic  lodge 
of  Marshall.  In  addition  to  farming,  Mr. 
Freese  raises  considerable  stock,  including 
full-blooded  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Duroc-Jer- 
sey hogs.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  selling 
blooded  stock  for  breeding  purposes. 

On  October  12,  1910,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Freese  to  Minnie  E.  Mellen- 
thin,  a  daughter  of  August  and  Anna  Mellen- 
thin.  Mrs.  Freese  was  born  November  12, 
1885,  in  Lynd  township.  She  is  the  second 
of  a  family  of  three  children. 


328 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


BJORN  B.  GISLASON  (1879)  is  a  lawyer 
and  real  estate  dealer  of  Minneota  and  has 
lived  in  Lyon  county  for  the  past  thirty- 
three  years.  He  was  county  attorney  in 
1905  and  1906.  Mr.  Gislason  is  a  native  of 
Iceland  and  was  hom  May  29,  1873,  coming 
to  Lyon  county  with  his  parents  in  1879  and 
locating  in  Westerheim  township.  He  is  a 
son  of  Bjorn  and  Adalborg  (Johnson)  Gisla- 
son. The  former  died  in  July,  1906.  aged 
seventy-nine  years;  Mrs.  Gislason  resides  on 
the  old  home  place  with  her  son,  J.  B.  Gisla- 
son. They  are  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, six  boys  and  three  girls,  as  follows: 
Eyjolfur  Bjornson  (Mrs.  John  Snidal),  of 
Westerheim  township;  Olive  and  Walter,  of 
Badger,  Minnesota;  John  B.,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Holm, 
Bjorn  B.,  Haldor  B.,  a  teacher  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota:   and  Ami  B. 

Bjorn  made  his  home  with  his  parents  on 
the  farm  for  several  years,  attending  the 
country  schools,  the  Minneota  schools  and 
the  Marshall  High  School.  He  served  in  the 
Spanish-American  War,  in  Company  A,  Thir- 
teenth Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
saw  service  in  the  Philippines,  his  regiment 
participating  in   thirty-two  engagements. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  army  Mr. 
Gislason  again  took  up  his  studies,  gradu- 
ating in  1900  from  the  Law  Department  of 
the  University  of  Minnesota.  After  his  grad- 
uation from  the  university  Mr.  Gislason  lo- 
cated in  Lake  Benton  and  practised  his 
profession  for  one  and  a  half  years.  He 
then  moved  to  Minneota,  where  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  In 
1900  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
Globe  Land  and  Loan  Company,  capitalized 
at  $50,000.  This  is  one  of  Minneota's  prin- 
cipal enterprises,  the  firm  doing  a  thriving 
business.  In  1900  its  land  sales  amounted 
to  half  a  million  dollars.  There  are  two 
branch  offices,  one  at  Elbow  Lake  and  one 
at  Badger,  Minnesota.  The  law  firm  has 
been  conducted  under  the  name  of  Gislason 
&  Gislason  since  January,  1911,  when  our 
subject  admitted  A.  B.  Gislason.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  review  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Modern 
Woodmen  lodges. 

Mr.  Gislason  was  married  in  Minneapolis 
October  7,  1904.  to  Joan  T.  Peterson,  a  na- 
tive of  Iceland.  They  have  three  children, 
Pjorn  B.,  Rose  and  Harry  Sidney  Payson. 


JOHN  J.  LAUDEXSLAGER  (1877),  of 
Marshall,  is  one  of  the  oldest  business  men 
of  that  city,  having  conducted  a  saloon  there 
for  the  past  thirty-five  years.  Besides  his 
saloon  business  he  engages  extensively  in  the 
ice  business  with  his  son,  Richard  S.  He 
and  his  sons  own  400  acres  of  Lyon  county 
real  estate  and  he  owns  his  residence  in 
the  city,  the  ice  houses  with  twenty-seven 
acres  of  land,  and  other  lots. 

John  Laudenslager  was  born  in  Gratz. 
Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania,  August  24, 
18.45,  and  resided  there  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age.  In  August,  1861,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  A,  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania  Regi- 
ment, at  Harrisburg,  and  served  a  two-year 
enlistment.  He  located  at  St.  Paul  in  1863 
and  re-enlisted  in  Company  A,  Fifth  Minne- 
sota, and  served  as  a  member  of  that  regi- 
ment until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Gettysburg,  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run  and  Fredericksburg  and 
participated  in  the  campaigns  in  Missouri 
and  Tennessee. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Laudenslager  located 
at  New  Ulm,  .Minnesota,  to  which  place  his 
parents  had  in  the  meantime  removed,  and 
there  he  resided  until  1875,  engaged  in  the 
saloon  business.  He  settled  in  Winona  and 
conducted  a  salcon  and  hotel  until  burned 
out  two  years  later.  He  lost  everything  he 
had  in  the  fire  and  moved  to  Marshall  in 
1877  with  just  $2.00  to  his  name.  Until 
February,  1878,  he  tended  bar  in  a  Marshall 
saloon,  and  the  next  month  he  engaged  in 
the  saloon  business  on  his  own  account  in 
a  little  shack  on  the  site  he  now  occupies, 
the  building  being  destroyed  by  fire  in  No- 
vember, 1892.  He  built  his  present  building 
in  1893.  Soon  after  locating  in  Marshall  he 
engaged  in  the  ice  business  in  a  small  way, 
the  beginning  of  his  present  prosperous  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Laudenslager's  son  Charles  con- 
ducts the  saloon  and  his  son  Richard  S.  is 
his  partner  in  the  ice  business.  Mr.  Lau- 
denslager is  a  member  of  D.  F.  Markham 
Post,  G.  A.  R. 

Our  subject  comes  from  an  old  Pennsyl- 
vania family  of  English  origin.  The  parents, 
Jonas  and  Sarah  (Smith)  Laudenslager,  were 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  their  ancestors  had 
lived  there  for  several  generations.  The  fam- 
ily located  at  New  Ulm,  Minnesota,  on  Janu- 
ary 1,  ise,:',,  only  a'  few  months  after  the 
town    had    been    attacked    during   the    Sioux 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


329 


War.  and  both  parents  lived  there  until  their 
deaths.  .Mrs.  Laudenslager  died  June  11, 
1S7_',  the  anniversary  of  both  her  birth  and 
marriage.  Jonas  Laudenslager  was  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  New  I'lm.  lie  was  probate 
judge  of  Brown  county  several  years  and 
was  one  of  those  instrumental  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  first  Lutheran  church  in 
the  city.     He  died  at  New  Ulin  in    1899. 

In  the  Laudenslager  family  were  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  the  following  named 
eight  are  living:  Harry,  John  J.,  Wilhelmina 
i.Mrs.  Conrad  Hamm),  of  St.  Paul;  Elizabeth 
(.Mrs.  Richard  Pferle),  of  New  Ulm;  Mary 
i.Mrs.  Peter  Penning),  of  New  rim;  Sarah 
i.Mrs.  Tobias  Pferle),  of  New  Ulm;  Jonas, 
of  St.  Paul;  Riley  (Mrs.  John  Sigler),  of 
Brookings,   South    Dakota. 


ARNE  SWExNNES  (1875)  owns  and  farms 
400  acres  of  land  in  Eidsvold  township  and 
Burton  township.  Yellow  Medicine  county, 
the  home  place  being  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  2.  He  has  been  a  resident  of 
Lyon  county  thirty-eight  years  and  is  rated 
as  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  his 
township. 

Mr.  Swennes  was  born  in  Nordre  Amdal, 
Vallers,  Norway,  September  10,  1858,  and  in 
June,  1870,  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
America.  The  family  lived  in  Walworth 
county,  Wisconsin,  five  years  and  came  to 
Lyon  county  in  1875.  The  northwest  quarter 
of  section  2,  Eidsvold  township,  was  taken 
as  a  homestead,  and  on  that  farm  Arne 
lived  with  his  parents  twenty-five  years. 

In  1900  Mr.  Swennes  moved  to  his  present 
farm,  which  he  had  purchased  eight  years 
before.  He  built  a  home  on  the  place,  other- 
wise improved  it,  and  has  since  resided 
there.  With  the  help  of  his  five  sons  he 
farms  his  entire  holdings.  During  the  Al- 
liance and  Peoples  Party  days  Mr.  Swennes 
took  a  prominent  part  in  local  politics.  He 
has  held  several  township  and  school  offices. 

On  the  old  homestead  in  Eidsvold,  on  June 
S,  1892,  Mr.  Swennes  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Effie  A.  Doane.  She  was  born  in 
Pepin  county,  Wisconsin,  June  16,  1870. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swennes  have  five  sons,  Sid- 
ney, Olaf,  Harold,  Arne  and  Lee. 

Ole  A.  and  Ingrid  (Ulvstad)  Swennes  were 
the  parents  of  our  subject.  The  father  died 
in  Eidsvold  in  190G  and  the  mother  in  1908. 


They  were  pioneer  settlers  of  the  township 
and  prominent  in  its  social,  business  and 
political  affairs.  There  are  five  living  chil- 
dren of  the  family. 


EDWARD  ANDERSON  (1879)  is  one  of 
the  early  day  settlers  of  Shelburne  township, 
having  lived  continuously  on  the  one  farm 
for  a  third  of  a  century.  His  home  is  on 
section  5,  a  couple  of  miles  north  of  Florence. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  born  in  Norway  Feb- 
ruary 1  1.  1848,  and  he  lived  in  his  native 
land  until  attaining  his  majority.  He  came 
to  America  in  1S69  and  lived  ten  years  in 
Fillmore  county,  Minnesota.  Upon  his  ar- 
rival to  Lyon  county  in  1879  he  purchased 
from  the  railroad  company  the  west  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  5,  Shel- 
burne township,  and  later  he  bought  the 
west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
8.  He  was  the  purchaser  of  the  first  rail- 
road land  sold  in  the  township  and  it  cost 
him  $4.00  per  acre. 

When  he  came  to  make  his  home  in  Shel- 
burne township  it  was  largely  prairie  land, 
the  township  had  not  been  organized,  and 
the  nearest  postoffice  was  Marshfield,  on 
Lake  Benton.  His  first  home  was  a  little 
14x16  feet  shack.  He  has  prospered  and  be- 
come one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  the 
community. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  served  as  a  member  of 
both  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  his  town- 
ship and  of  bis  school  district.  The  credit 
for  the  establishment  of  rural  mail  route 
No.  2  out  of  Tyler  belongs  to  Mr.  Ander- 
son, he  having  spent  time  and  money  in 
bringing  about  the  service.  He  also  assisted 
in  securing  the  establishment  of  the  first 
telephone  line  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Ander- 
son is  a  member  of  the  Masonic,  Woodmen 
and  Workmen  lodges. 

Edward  Anderson  is  the  oldest  child  in 
a  family  of  six  children  born  to  Andrew  and 
Karen  (Evenson)  Christenson,  who  came 
to  America  in  the  seventies  and  died  in  their 
adopted  country.  The  other  children  of-  the 
family  are  Karen  (Mrs.  Bore  Larson),  of 
Florence;  Evan  Berg,  Christina  (Mrs.  Hans 
Benson),  of  Shelburne;  Andrew  Anderson 
Berg  and  Carl  Anderson. 

Our  subject  is  a  man  of  family.  He  was 
married  in  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota, 
August  7,  1869,  to  Mathea  Johnson,  a  native 


'330 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


of  Norway.  As  a  result  of  this  union  seven 
children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Karen 
(Mrs.  Chris  Miller),  Olaus,  Amelia  (Mrs.  W. 
Innes).  of  Tracy;  Anton,  of  Florence;  Edwin, 
Martin  and  John,  who  reside  at  home. 


ORVIN  J.  REA  (1877)  is  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Tracy  Weekly  Herald  and  a 
former  postmaster  of  that  city.  He  is  an 
old-time  newspaper  man  of  Lyon  county  and 
has  devoted  his  entire  life  to  the  printing 
and  publishing  business.  He  has  taken  a 
leading  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  county  and 
city  and  is  rated  one  of  Tracy's  most  pro- 
gressive citizens. 

In  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  on  March  7,  1862, 
occurred  the  nativity  of  Orvin  J.  Rea.  He 
is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  the 
others  being  Ida  (deceased),  Art  A.,  Lilly 
(deceased),  Merch  C,  Clyde  W.  (deceased), 
Pearl  E.  and  Jesse  G.  The  parents  of  these 
children  were  James  A.  and  Lucinda  (Bar- 
ber) Rea,  the  former  born  in  Cumberland 
county.  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  near 
Akron,  Ohio.  They  were  pioneers  of  Osh- 
kosh, having  settled  there  in  the  fifties.  The 
father  died  March  31,  1894;  the  mother 
August  20,  1883. 

In  the  spring  of  1870  Orvin  accompanied 
his  parents  from  Oshkosh  to  Sparta.  Wiscon- 
sin, and  there  he  spent  his  boyhood  days. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Sparta  High  School 
and  among  his  classmates  were  John  J.  Esch, 
now  a  congressman;  James  Gillette,  later 
governor  of  California;  Judge  Bunn  and 
other  men  distinguished  later  in  life.  After 
his  school  days  young  Rea  worked  at  the 
printer's  trade  for  a  time  in  the  office  of  the 
Monroe  County  Republican  and  in  1877  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon  county  and 
located  with  them  in  Marshall. 

When  the  Lyon  County  News  was  estab- 
lished in  Marshall  by  Todd  &  Edes  in  the 
spring  of  1879  he  became  the  first  printer  on 
that  paper,  and  a  little  later  he  went  to 
Currie,  then  the  county  seat  of  Murray  coun- 
ty, and  accepted  a  position  on  the  Currie 
Pioneer.  He  removed  to  Marshall  in  the  win- 
ter of  1881  and  for  the  next  three  and  one- 
half  years  worked  for  C.  P.  Case  on  the 
Marshall  Messenger.  He  had  charge  of  the 
Temperance  Review  job  office  at  Minne- 
apolis for  a  time,  worked  over  a  year  for 
C.   C.   Whitney  on  the   Marshall   News-Mes- 


senger, and  spent  one  summer  in  Chicago, 
working  in  printing  offices  and  as  a  substi- 
tute printer  on  the  Times  when  Story  was 
the  editor. 

It  was  in  February,  1885,  that  Mr.  Rea 
located  in  Tracy  and  first  became  a  pub- 
lisher. At  that  time  he  bought  the  Tracy 
Trumpet  in  partnership  with  Harry  C.  Buck- 
ingham. Six  months  'later  the  firm  was  dis- 
solved and  Mr.  Rea  became  sole  proprietor, 
continuing  the  publication  until  1892,  when 
he  sold  to  V.  W.  Lothrop.  In  September, 
1894,  Mr.  Rea  founded  the  Tracy  Weekly 
Herald  and  has  ever  since  conducted  it. 

During  his  long  residence  in  Tracy  Mr. 
Rea  has  been  identified  with  many  local 
enterprises.  He  was  made  postmaster  dur- 
ing the  second  administration  of  President 
Cleveland  and  served  a  four-year  term,  and 
he  was  president  of  the  City  Council  in  1892. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Tracy 
Saving  and  Loan  Association,  was  elected 
its  first  president,  and  has  ever  since  held 
that  office.  He  was  also  one  of  the  incor- 
porators of  the  Houston  Pen  Company, 
formed  to  manufacture  the  fountain  pen  in- 
vented by  W.  H.  Houston,  of  Tracy. 

Mr.  Rea  is  a  man  of  family.  He  was  mar- 
ried at  Tracy  en  May  19,  18S8,  to  Clara  I. 
Bates.  She  was  born  in  Dudley,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  is  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Allen  Bates,  who  homesteaded  land  in  Mon- 
roe township  in  1876.  Six  children — three 
boys  and  three  girls — have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rea,  as  follows:  Nona.  Elgin  A., 
Doris,  Noel  B.,  Lois  and  Leon  I). 


NIELS  F.  LARSON  (18  83)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  general  merchandise  store  at 
Lynd,  carrying  dry  goods,  groceries,  crock- 
ery, glassware,  shoes,  etc.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  Lyon  county  since  he  was  four- 
teen years  old,  and  until  buying  the  store 
in  the  present  year  he  has  been  engaged 
in  farming. 

Mr.  Larson  was  born  in  Denmark  on  the 
last  day  of  the  year  1869,  the  son  of  Peter 
and  Stine  (Peterson)  Larson,  now  resi- 
dents of  Nordland  township.  In  1883  he 
came  to  America  with  his  parents,  and  his 
first  home  in  the  New  World  was  in  the 
old  town  of  Lynd.  For  two  seasons  he 
herded  cattle  and  then  for  several  years 
he  worked  out  as  a  farm  hand. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


331 


In  1893  Mr.  Larson  was  married  and 
started  farming  for  himself.  For  two 
years  he  rented  land  in  Lyons  township 
and  then  he  bought  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  2  of  that  township.  On  that 
place  he  farmed  and  made  his  home  until 
1910.  He  then  moved  to  section  33, 
Lynd  township,  having  bought  200  acres 
of  land  there  the  year  before,  and  his 
home  is  still  there.  In  May,  1912,  he 
traded  431  acres  of  land  in  Lyons  and 
Lynd  townships  for  the  stock  of  goods  in 
Lynd  and  is  now  in  charge  of  the  store. 
He  also  conducts  Ms  farm  on  section  33 
and  raises  and  ships  cattle.  He  raises 
thoroughbred  Polled  Angus  cattle  and 
Duroc-Jersey  hogs.  His  farm  is  a  place  of 
great  historic  interest,  having  been  the 
place  designated  as  the  first  county  seat 
of  Lyon  county,  known  as  Upper  Lynd. 
There  the  first  court  house  was  built  and 
there  Rev.  Ellis  had  his  store. 

In  the  city  of  Marshall,  on  March  15, 
1S93,  Mr.  Larson  was  married  to  Lottie  G. 
Watson.  She  is  a  native  of  the  county 
and  was  born  July  4,  1874.  Her  parents, 
Gordon  and  Mary  Watson,  natives  of  Ohio, 
were  among  the  very  early  settlers  of  Lyon 
county.  Mr.  Watson  came  in  18  69  and 
took  as  a  homestead  claim  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  2,  Lyons  township.  The 
family  moved  to  the  claim  the  following 
year  and  lived  in  the  county  until  their 
deaths.  The  following  named  seven  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lar- 
son: Oliver  G.,  Olive  F.,  Iva  E.,  Ida  P., 
Elva  M.,  Loyal  W.  and  Ruth. 


FERDINAND  AMUNDSON  (1878),  farmer 
of  Nordland  township,  is  a  native  of  Lyon 
county  and  a  son  of  pioneer  settlers,  Gre- 
gar  and  Annie  (Furgeson)  Amundson.  He 
was  born  in  the  township  of  Nordland 
March  9,  1878,  received  a  district  school 
education,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  homestead.  Two  years  were  spent 
working  in  the  Furgeson  blacksmith  shop 
in  Minneota;  except  that  he  has  always 
lived  in  his  native  township.  In  the  fall 
of  1911  he  rented  the  west  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  27  from  his 
father  and  started  farming.  He  now  has 
charge  of  a  160-acre  farm  and  is  meeting 
with  success. 


Mr.  Amundson  was  married  in  Island 
Lake  township  June  27,  1905,  to  Cora 
Christenson.  She  was  born  in  that  town- 
ship May  17,  1884,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Alma  (Russel)  Christenson.  Her 
parents  were  born  in  Denmark  and  Wis- 
consin, respectively,  and  now  live  in  Island 
Lake  township.  Three  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amundson,  as  fol- 
lows: Vivian,  born  April  11,  1907;  Arlo, 
born  June  10,  1908;  and  Laneda,  born  Oc- 
tober 13,  1910.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amundson 
are  members  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
church  of  Minneota. 

OLUF  ANDERSON  (1876)  has  been  a 
continuous  resident  of  Monroe  township,  on 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  28,  since 
his  birth  on  February  26,  1876.  His  par- 
ents, Ole  and  Thora  (Olson  Bjerkrud)  An- 
derson,, were  both  natives  of  Norway  and 
came  to  America  in  1869,  residing. in  Fill- 
more county,  Minnesota,  two  years  before 
locating  in  Lyon  county,  on  the  land  which 
Oluf  now  owns.  The  trip  from  Fillmore 
county  was  made  in  a  prairie  schooner,  and 
most  of  the  summer  of  1871  was  spent  in 
looking  for  a  suitable  location. 

Oluf  received  his  education  in  the  coun- 
try schools  of  the  township  and  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  completed  his  schooling,  but 
remained  on  the  farm,  helping  his  father. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  rented  the 
place  and  in  company  with  his  brother 
Anton  ran  the  farm,  afterward  renting  it 
alone  until  coming  into  full  ownership 
when  his  father  died.  He  has  since  been 
successfully  managing  the  farm  and  en- 
gaging in  stock  raising. 

The  marriage  of  Oluf  Anderson  and  Ida 
Amalia  Anderson  occurred  October  30, 
1901.  To  this  union  were  born  three  chil- 
dren: Oscar  Edgar,  born  July  6,  1902; 
Ruth  Christine,  born  June  12,  1904;  and 
Theodore  Arthur,  born  December  3,  1905. 
Mrs.  Anderson  is  also  a  native  of  Lyon 
county  and  was  born  October  13,  1882,  a 
daughter  of  Ellef  and  Ch'risti  Anderson, 
pioneer  settlers  of  Monroe  township. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of  the  Farm- 
ers Club  of  Tracy,  and  belongs  to  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church  of  Monroe  town- 
ship. One  sister  of  our  subject  is  living, 
Bertha  (Mrs.  H.  C.  Olson),  of  Petersburg, 
North  Dakota.      His  mother  died  in  1909. 


332 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


CHARLES  F.  TIBBIT  (1873),  a  well-to- 
do  farmer  of  Island  Lake  township,  was 
born  in  Wabasha  county,  Minnesota,  No- 
vember 12,  1861.  He  lived  on  the  Tibbit 
farm  in  that  county  twelve  years,  and  dur- 
ing that  time  received  several  years'  school- 
ing in  the  district. 

When  the  boy  was  twelve  years  of  age, 
in  1872,  his  parents  moved  to  Lyon  county, 
Minnesota,  and  the  father  took  as  a  home- 
stead the  south  half  of  the  south  half  of 
section  6,  Island  Lake  township,  and  there 
Charles  finished  his  education  and  assisted 
his  father  with  the  farm  work.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  years  he  bought  a  pre-emp- 
tion claim  of  eighty  acres  on  section  8, 
later  changed  it  to  a  homestead,  and 
proved  up  on  the  same.  He  has  since 
lived  on  the  place  and  has  recently  pur- 
chased an  additional  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 6  and  eighty  acres  on  section  5,  mak- 
ing him  the  owner  of  2  40  acres  of  the 
township's  best  land.  He  has  devoted 
much  time  to  the  raising  of  Durham  cattle 
and  Poland  China  hogs.  Mr.  Tibbit  has  a 
fine  home. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
in  Lyon  county  to  Eliza  McCurdy,  the  wed- 
ding occurring  March  2  5,  1884.  She  was 
born  in  New  York  and  is  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Anna  McCurdy.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  the  union:  Lee  E.,  Mae 
E.,  Ada  C.  and  Flora  A. 

Mr.  Tibbit  was  clerk  of  school  district 
No.  45  twenty  years  and  is  now  a  member 
of  the  township  board. 


FREDERICK  K.  WEIKLE  (1878), 
prominent  in  the  life  of  the  town  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  is  a  retired  business  man 
of  Marshall.  During  the  last  ten  years 
Mr.  Weikle  has  erected  four  residences  in 
the  city,  all  of  which  are  occupied  by  ten- 
ants. He  looks  after  this  property  and 
oversees  the  work  on  his  farm  in  Stanley 
township.  The  Weikles  are  members  and 
active  attendants  of  the  Congregational 
church. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  David  and  Sarah 
(Harnais)  Weikle,  natives  of  Germany  and 
Maine,  respectively.  He  was  born  in  Al- 
lentown,  Lehigh  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  7,  1843.  The  father  was  a  butcher 
and  Fred  learned  the  business  at  an  early 


age.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  enlisted 
at  Philadelphia  as  a  team  driver  in  the 
Ninth  New  York  Battery  for  three  months' 
service.  Later  he  served  as  watchman  for 
the  government  over  the  warehouses  and 
docks  at  Acqui  Landing  on  the  Potomac, 
eventually  joining  the  civil  engineer  corps 
and  driving  teams  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  Returning  home  after  the  war,  out- 
subject  was  in  the  cattle  and  hog  business 
for  six  months  and  then  went  to  Chicago 
and  ran  a  butcher  shop  for  a  Chicago  firm. 

Mr.  Weikle  left  Chicago  in  IS 6 6  and  re- 
turned to  his  native  town.  November  10, 
1866,  he  married  Barbara  Kinckiner,  of 
Mertztown,  Pennsylvania,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Julia  Ann  (Pierpont)  Kincki- 
ner, the  ceremony  taking  place  at  Allen- 
town.  He  then  engaged  in  the  tobacco 
manufacturing  business  for  a  few  years, 
later  opened  another  butcher  shop,  sold  out 
in  187  6,  and  went  to  Dixon,  Illinois,  for 
the  winter.  The  next  spring  he  worked 
for  his  brother  in  Plainview,  Minnesota. 

In  the  spring  of  1878  Mr.  Weikle  moved 
to  Marshall  and  bought  a  little  frame  build- 
ing on  the  present  site  of  Richtmyer's  pool 
hall,  in  which  he  conducted  a  meat  mar- 
ket several  years.  Mr.  Weikle  then  con- 
ducted a  shop  in  Redfield,  South  Dakota, 
one  year.  Returning  to  Marshall,  he 
opened  a  shop  on  the  north  side  of  Main 
street  and  when  the  Great  Northern  road 
came  he  took  the  contract  for  furnishing 
the  construction  crews  with  meat,  which 
he  held  until  the  road  reached  Sioux  Falls. 
Then  he  went  to  Tennessee,  Virginia  and 
Kentucky,  and  was  meat  contractor  for 
the  L.  &  N.  railroad  two  years.  Return- 
ing to  Marshall,  Mr.  Weikle  bought  the 
brick  building  he  now  owns,  and  his  son 
Harry  ran  a  market  there  for  a  time.  Mr. 
Weikle  meanwhile  engaged  in  buying  and 
shipping  stock,  a  business  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  ten  years  ago,  when  he  retired 
from  active  work. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederick  Weikle  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Harry 
O.  and  Frank  M.,  of  Sturgis,  Saskatchewan, 
Canada;  George  E.,  of  Dickinson,  North 
Dakota;  Anna  L.  (Mrs.  Harry  Addison), 
of  Marshall;  and  Malcolm  T.,  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Pelican  Rapids, 
Minnesota.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weikle  also 
brought  up   from  infancy  the  two  sons  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


333 


Mrs.  \Veikle"s  sister,  .Margaret  Crabtree, 
who  died  in  Marshall  when  the  boys  were 
little.  The  boys  are  Sam  H.  and  Will  T. 
Crabtree,  now  of  Enid,  Montana. 


HENRY  NELSON  (1876),  a  farmer  of 
Lucas  township  and  a  continuous  resident 
of  the  county  since  187  6,  was  born  in  Fill- 
more county,  Minnesota,  March  20,  1870, 
and  is  a  son  of  Evar  and  Aase  (Olson) 
Nelson,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 

The  parents  were  natives  of  Norway, 
and  some  idea  of  the  times  in  which  they 
immigrated  to  this  country  can  be  gained 
from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Nelson  was  on  the 
ocean  nineteen  weeks  when  coming  to  this 
country.  He  landed  in  New  Orleans  in 
184  5  and  served  five  years  in  the  Mexican 
War,  afterwards  coming  North  and  lo- 
cating in  Wisconsin.  On  his  journey  he 
visited  St.  Anthony  Falls,  Minnesota,  and 
at  that  time  Minnesota  was  still  a  terri- 
tory and  there  was  a  single  store  on  the 
present  site  of  St.  Paul.  Evar  Nelson  was 
married  in  Wisconsin,  and  after  a  few 
years'  residence  in  Fillmore  county,  Min- 
nesota, he  moved  to  Western  Minnesota 
and  purchased  land  in  Yellow  Medicine 
county  and  resided  there  four  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1876  the  Nelson  family 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  took  a  home- 
stead in  Lucas  township.  There  the  par- 
ents resided  until  their  deaths,  and  the  old 
homestead  is  now  operated  by  their  son 
Iver.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to 
Lyon  county  with  his  parents  when  six 
years  old,  and  he  attended  the  district 
schools  until  seventeen  years  of  age.  Aft- 
erward the  boy  helped  his  father  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age  and  then  engaged 
in  farming  for  himself  on  the  place  which 
he  now  owns,  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  11.  He  has  a  well-improved  place 
and  is  making  a  decided  success  of  stock 
raising  in  addition  to  his  general  farming. 
Mr.  Nelson  has  served  several  years  as 
assessor  of  the  township,  as  a  director  of 
school  district  No.  19,  and  for  several 
years  he  was  road  overseer. 

On  November  11,  1891,  our  subject  was 
married  at  Cottonwood  to  Minnie  Preste- 
gaard,  a  native  of  Yellow  Medicine  county. 
She  was  born  November  18,  1871.  Mr. 
and    Mrs.   Nelson   are   the   parents   of   the 


following  children:  Adelia  Louise,  born 
October  24,  1893;  Gerhardt,  born  June  29, 
1895;  Hulda,  born  November  16,  1897; 
and  Rudolph,  born  December  5,  1899.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nelson  are  members  of  Silo  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  Church  of  Cottonwood. 


PETER  ELBERS  (1883).  One  of  the 
old  residents  of  Lyon  county  and  a  mer- 
chant of  Ghent  is  Peter  Elbers.  He  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1883  and  spent  several 
years  working  on  farms  near  Ghent.  He 
then  went  to  Marshall  and  in  partnership 
with  Will  Boerboom  conducted  a  meat 
market  three  years.  Returning  to  Ghent, 
he  opened  a  meat  market,  later  adding  a 
stock  of  merchandise,  and  has  since  con- 
ducted the  business. 

Peter  Elbers  is  a  son  of  Theodore  and 
Johanna  (Tichlovan)  Elbers  and  was  born 
December  13,  1853,  in  Holland.  There 
are  seven  children  in  this  family  living, 
namely:  Bernard,  Dena,  Mena,  Dora  and 
Johanna,  all  of  whom  reside  in  Holland, 
and  Peter,  of  this  sketch.  A  daughter, 
Mary,  is  deceased.  The  parents  died  in 
the  old  country.  Our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church  and  the  Cath- 
olic Order  of  Foresters.  He  owns  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  12,  Amiret 
township,  a  quarter  section  of  land  near 
Aberdeen,  South  Dakota,  and  several 
buildings  and  lots  in  the  village  of  Ghent. 

On  July  3,  1889,  Rosa  Lee  Decock  be- 
came the  wife  of  Mr.  Elbers  at  Ghent.  She 
is  a  native  of  Belgium.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  El- 
bers are  the  parents  of  four  children,  as 
follows:  Annie,  Leo,  John  and  Henry. 
Another  child,  Mary,  died  in  infancy. 


OLE  E.  RYE  (1879),  one  of  the  large 
land  owners  of  Eidsvold  township  and  a 
successful  farmer  of  that  precinct,  has 
lived  in  Lyon  county  since  he  was  a  child 
eight  and  one-half  years  of  age.  He  has 
taken  a  leading  part  in  the  affairs  of  his 
community  and  is  rated  among  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  northwestern  Lyon  county. 
He  started  without  a  dollar  and  has  won 
his  way  to  the  top.  He  is  the  owner  of 
560  acres  of  land  in  the  township,  on  sec- 
tions 22,  23  and  33.  For  a  number  of 
years   he    farmed   his  entire   holdings,   but 


334 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


the  present  year  he  has  rented  out  a  part 
of  his  land. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Esten  and 
Margaret  (Ranon)  Rye,  came  to  Lyon 
county  from  Norway  in  1879  and  took  as  a 
homestead  claim  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  34,  Nordland  township,  where 
they  have  ever  since  resided.  He  is 
eighty-seven  years  old  and  she  is  eighty- 
one.  There  are  in  the  family  the  follow- 
ing named  six  children:  Andrew  E.,  who 
farms  the  old  homestead;  Annie  (Mrs. 
Charles  Furgeson),  of  Barnes  county, 
North  Dakota;  Inger  (Mrs.  O.  O.  Dovre), 
of  Eidsvold;  Mary  (Mrs.  A.  B.  Ruksted), 
of  Florence,  South  Dakota;  Julia  (Mrs. 
Harry  W.  Hecket),  of  Spokane,  Washing- 
ton;  and  Ole  E.,  of  this  review. 

Ole  E.  Rye  Avas  born  at  Norde  Urdhal, 
Valdres,  Norway,  December  7,  1870.  He 
came  to  America  and  to  Lyon  county  with 
his  parents  in  1879  and  until  he  was  sev- 
enteen years  old  lived  on  the  Nordland 
township  homestead.  In  1887  and  1888 
he  was  in  Barnes  county,  North  Dakota, 
working  on  farms.  Returning  to  Lyon 
county  in  the  fall  of  1888,  he  rented  the 
farm  in  Eidsvold  where  he  now  lives,  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  22.  Two  years 
later  he  bought  the  farm,  and  he  has  since 
added  to  his  holdings  until  he  has  become 
one  of  the  largest  land  owners  of  the  pre- 
cinct. 

Seventeen  years  ago  Mr.  Rye  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Township  Board  of  Su- 
pervisors and  served  two  years.  Eight 
years  ago  he  was  again  elected  to  the  of- 
fice and  has  held  it  continuously  since,  hav- 
ing been  chairman  of  the  board  four  years 
of  that  time.  For  the  past  two  years  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Lyon  County 
Republican  Committee.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge  and  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of  Minneota. 

Inger  Swennes  became  the  wife  of  Ole 
E.  Rye  on  June  28,  1894,  the  ceremony 
taking  place  at  the  Swennes  home  in  Eids- 
vold township.  Mrs.  Rye  was  born  in  Nor- 
way and  came  to  America  with  her  par- 
ents when  a  child.  The  family  lived  in 
Wisconsin  five  years  and  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  187  6,  taking  homestead  and  tree 
claims  in  Eidsvold  township.  Ole  A.  and 
Ingred  Swennes,  her  parents,  are  de- 
ceased.    Eight  children  have  been  born  to 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rye.  They  are  Knute,  Er- 
nest O.,  Harold,  Ida,  Lloyd,  Evelyn,  Bjorn 
and  Mabel. 

JAMES  McGINN  (1881),  of  Minneota,  is 
a  dealer  in  real  estate,  makes  loans  and 
writes  insurance.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  County  Commissioners,  an  office 
to  which  he  was  elected  in  November. 
1910.  James  McGinn  was  born  in  Ire- 
land on  January  11,  1863.  His  birth  in 
Ireland  came  about  in  this  way:  His 
father  and  mother,  who  were  natives  of 
Ireland,  came  to  America  when  children 
and  settled  in  New  York  City,  where  they 
were  married.  In  18  63  they  returned  to 
Ireland  to  take  charge  of  the  old  home 
place  and  while  in  that  country  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  was  born. 

Before  returning  to  the  United  States 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGinn,  Sr.,  visited  Scotland 
and  England.  They  again  located  in  New 
York  City,  but  in  1867  moved  to  Califor- 
nia, where  they  resided  until  1872,  at 
which  time  they  returned  to  New  York 
City.  The  family  remained  in  the  metrop- 
olis until  1881,  when  they  moved  to  Lyon 
county,  locating  near  Minneota.  The  par- 
ents of  our  subject  were  Patrick  and  Sarah 
(McBeth)  McGinn.  They  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Westerheim  township,  where  the  father 
was  accidently  killed  in  1889;  the  mother 
died  the  following  spring. 

James  McGinn  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  New  York  and  when  eighteen 
years  of  age  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Lyon  county,  where  he  assisted  his  par- 
ents on  the  farm  until  1892.  That  year 
he  moved  to  Minneota,  where  he  conducted 
a  general  store  four  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  postmaster.  After  his  term 
expired  he  went  to  Flandreau,  South  Da- 
kota, where  he  worked  a  year.  Then  he 
returned  to  Minneota  and  opened  a  cigar 
factory.  In  19  08  Mr.  McGinn  disposed  of 
the  factory  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate, 
loan  and  insurance  business  with  Anton 
Heymans,  the  firm  name  being  Heymans  & 
McGinn. 

When  a  young  man  and  before  he  had 
left  the  farm  for  good,  Mr.  McGinn  con- 
ducted a  cigar  factory  at  Spencer,  Iowa, 
which  he  sold  in  1889.  He  also  worked 
one  and  one-half  years  in  a  cigar  factory 
at  Watertown,  South  Dakota. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


335 


Mr.  McGinn  was  married  at  Minneota  on 
June  20,  1893,  to  Margaret  Kiley,  a  native 
of  Canada  and  a  daughter  of  James  Kiley, 
who  settled  in  Lincoln  county  in  1881.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McGinn  are  the  parents  of  the 
following  five  children:  Patrick,  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Minneota  High  School;  James, 
Ellen,  Sarah,  Arthur. 

Mr.  McGinn  is  a  member  of  the  Minneota 
School  Board  and  was  president  of  the 
Village  Council  in  1907.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  VY\  A.,  Yeomen  and  K.  C.  lodges. 


W.  R.  GREGG  (1880)  is  one  of  the 
early  business  men  of  Lynd  and  postmas- 
ter of  that  village  the  past  seventeen  years. 
Mr.  Gregg  is  a  native  of  Vermont  and  was 
born  at  Valatia  July  30,  1854,  a  son  of 
Rev.  Oren  C.  and  Betsey  (Mosher)  Gregg, 
natives  of  Vermont.  Our  subject  spent 
his  early  days  in  several  places  in  Ver- 
mont, accompanying  his  parents  to  the  dif- 
ferent pastorates  which  his  father  held. 
He  received  a  good  education,  attending 
high  school,  the  Montpelier,  Vermont,  Sem- 
inary and  Fort  Edward  Institute  of  New 
York.  His  father  died  in  1902  and  the 
mother  in  the  fall  of  1879. 

In  1880  Mr.  Gregg,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
six  years,  came  to  Lyon  county,  to  the 
farms  of  his  brothers,  O.  C.  and  Leslie 
Gregg,  in  Lynd  township.  His  first  sum- 
mer in  the  county  was  spent  working  at 
the  carpenter's  trade.  He  worked  for 
F.  S.  Wetherbee  at  Marshall  for  a  snort 
time  and  then  went  to  Minneapolis  for  a 
short  sojourn. 

Returning  to  Lyon  county,  Mr. .  Gregg 
conducted  a  store  at  Camden  for  Fred 
Healy,  of  Marshall,  later  buying  it  and 
running  it  for  five  years.  The  following 
eight  years  he  was  employed  on  the  Coteau 
Farm  in  Lynd  township.  In  November, 
1895,  he  moved  to  Lynd  and  purchased  the 
F.  W.  Cowham  store,  which  he  has  since 
conducted.  His  commission  as  postmaster 
dates  from  January,  1896. 

Mr.  Gregg  has  two  half-brothers,  Oren 
C,  of  Lynd  township,  and  David  A.,  of 
Boston,  Massachusetts.     He  is  unmarried. 


JAMES    C.    BURCHARD    (1878)    is    the 
general    land    agent    for    the    Chicago    & 


Northwestern  Railroad  Company,  with 
headquarters  at  Marshall.  His  territory 
embraces  Minnesota  and  North  and  South 
Dakota  east  of  the  Missouri  river.  He  is 
a  pioneer  of  Lyon  county  and  has  spent 
over  thirty  years  of  his  life  in  the  employ 
of  the  railroad  company  which  he  now 
represents. 

In  Clinton,  New  York,  on  August  13, 
1851,  James  C.  Burchard  was  born.  His 
parents  were  Henry  M.  and  Eliza  H. 
(Clark)  Burchard,  both  natives  of  New 
York  State.  On  his  father's  side  he  de- 
scends from  one  of  the  oldest  American 
families,  a  Burchard  having  come  to  Amer- 
ica in  1635  and  made  settlement  in  Con- 
necticut. 

In  the  fall  of  18  66  young  Burchard  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Winona,  Minne- 
sota, and  a  few  years  later  the  family  home 
was  made  in  Northern  Illinois.  After  se- 
curing his  education  James  began  work 
for  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad 
Company  in  a  clerical  capacity,  and  he  has 
been  connected  with  that  corporation  ever 
since.  He  located  in  Marshall  in  the  fall 
of  1878,  remained  one  year,  and  then  for  a 
year  was  station  agent  at  Watertown,  Da- 
kota Territory,  opening  the  station  when 
the  railroad  reached  that  place.  He  then 
made  his  home  in  Chicago  and  for  several 
years  was  in  the  general  office  of  the  Chi- 
cago &  Northwestern  Company. 

Mr.  Burchard  again  became  a  resident 
of  Marshall  in  1884.  At  that  time  he  en- 
tered the  land  office  of  what  was  then 
known  as  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company  as  cashier.  His  father  was  at 
the  time  the  general  lanu  agent  for  the 
railroad  at  that  point  and  had  been  since 
the  office  was  opened.  Upon  the  death 
of  his  father  in  July,  1898,  James  Bur- 
chard succeeded  him  as  general  agent  and 
he  has  since  held  the  position.  The  rail- 
road land  office  was  established  on  the  site 
it  now  occupies  in  1876.  For  a  number 
of  years  the  office  was  located  in  a  two- 
story  frame  building  which  was  burned. 
Then  the  present  brick  block,  which  also 
housed  the  United  States  Land  Office,  was 
erected. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Burchard  served 
as  a  member  of  the  City  Council  and  he 
was  mayor  of  Marshall  two  terms.  He  is 
a   prominent   member  of   the   Masonic   or- 


336 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ders,  holding  membership  in  the  Shriners; 
Scottish  Rites  and  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is 
a  Thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  is  the 
grand  commander  of  the  state  organiza- 
tion. 

Mr.  Burchard  was  married  in  Chicago 
in  1879  to  Sidonia  M.  Schupp,  a  native  of 
that  city.  They  have  three  children:  Si- 
meon J.,  of  St.  Paul;  John  E.,  Jr.,  and 
William  S.,  of  Marshall. 


MARTIN  C.  LARSON  (1877)  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother,  Anton  S.  Larson, 
farms  540  acres  of  land  in  Monroe  town- 
ship, 320  acres  of  this  being  the  estate  left 
them  by  their  father,  Hans  T.  Larson,  who 
died  August  7,  1908. 

Hans  T.  Larson  was  born  in  Norway 
April  11,  1846,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1866,  locating  in  Fillmore  county 
and  making  that  his  home  until  1871. 
Then  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  took  as 
a  homestead  the  west  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  10,  Monroe  township. 
The  next  year  he  took  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  10  as  a  tree  claim.  He  ex- 
perienced the  hardships  of  the  early  days, 
the  grasshopper  scourge  and  the  terrible 
blizzards  of  the  early  eighties.  He  pros- 
pered and  was  well  off  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  active  in  township  affairs. 
Turi  (Gullickson)  Larson,  his  wife,  was 
born  in  Norway  June  16,  1848,  and  came 
to  America  in  1870,  where  she  was  mar- 
ried two  years  later,  in  Monroe  township. 
She  died  in  1893. 

Martin  C.  Larson  was  born  on  the  Mon- 
roe township  homestead  March  5,  187  6, 
and  has  lived  on  the  farm  ever  since.  He 
was  educated  in  the  school  of  district  No. 
35  and  in  the  Tracy  High  School.  He 
remained  on  the  farm  and  worked  for  his 
father  until  the  latter's  death,  since  which 
time  Martin  and  his  brother  have  had 
charge.  Martin  was  township  assessor 
four  years.  He  has  stock  in  the  Farmers 
Elevator  Company  of  Tracy  and  in  the 
telephone  company.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  of  Tracy. 

Anton  S.  Larson,  brother  of  the  above, 
was  born  on  the  Monroe  homestead  Janu- 
ary  28,  1879,  and  was  brought  up  and  edu- 
cated in  the  township.  He  was  married 
May  29,   1907,   in  Tracy,   to  Adelia  Mont- 


gomery. To  this  union  have  been  born 
four  children.  Mildred  and  Manly,  the 
eldest,  are  twins.  The  other  children  are 
Frances  and  Gertrude  Clara.  Mrs.  Anton 
Larson  was  born  in  Redwood  county  March 
25,  1878,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Julia  (Steves)  Montgomery,  natives  of 
Canada  who  settled  at  Walnut  Grove  just 
after  the  Indian  outbreak.  The  father  is 
dead  and  the  mother  lives  with  her  daugh- 
ter. Anton  Larson  is  at  present  on  the 
school  board  of  his  district  and  he  has 
served  on  the  township  board. 

Martin  and  Anton  Larson  have  the  fol- 
lowing brothers  and  sister  living:  Louis, 
of  Braham,  Minnesota;  Hans  T.,  of  Cros- 
by, North  Dakota;  Tien,  of  Hastings,  Min- 
nesota; and  Clara  M.  (Mrs.  Ben  Cole),  of 
Amiret. 


JOSEPH  VERHAAKE  (1879),  a  farmer 
of  Island  Lake  township,  was  born  in  Rock 
Island  county,  Illinois,  December  31,  1863, 
and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Rose  (De 
Buscher)  Verhaake,  natives  of  Belgium. 

Joseph's  parents  came  to  America  when 
young  and  settled  in  Illinois,  where  our 
subject  was  born.  When  he  was  thirteen 
years  of  age,  in  1879,  the  family  moved  to 
Lyon  county  and  the  father  bought  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  2  6,  Wester- 
heim  township.  While  Joseph  was  living 
there  with  his  parents  he  finished  his 
schooling  in  the  district  and  attended 
school  one  year  in  Marshall. 

Our  subject  remained  on  the  farm  with 
his  parents  until  1898,  when  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad 
Company,  and  he  was  in  the  service  three 
and  one-half  years  in  the  yards  at  Mar- 
shall. He  then  rented  land  on  section  21, 
Grandview  township,  and  farmed  there  un- 
til 1907.  Then  he  moved  to  his  present 
farm,  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  2, 
Island  Lake  township,  and  for  several 
years  he  rented  and  farmed  480  acres  of 
land  on  that  section  and  on  sections  1  and 
11.  He  then  bought  the  property  and  has 
lately  sold  at  a  handsome  profit.  Mr. 
Verhaake  is  a  breeder  of  blooded  stock 
and  owns  one  of  the  best  Belgian  stallions 
in  the  county.  He  is  also  interested  in 
the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Mar- 
shall and  in  the  Lyon  County  Fair  Asso- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


337 


ciation.      He    was   clerk    of   school    district 
No.  1 2  five  years. 

The  marriage  of  Joseph  Verhaake  and 
Minnie  De  Belser  occurred  at  Ghent  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1903.  She  was  born  in  Bel- 
gium and  is  a  daughter  of  Peter  De  Belser. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Verhaake  have  two 
children:  Leona  C,  born  November  7, 
1904,  and  Lizzie  V.,  born  August  1,  1906. 
The  Verhaakes  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church. 


CHARLES  C.  RICHARD  (1881)  is  the 
proprietor  of  Richard's  Department  Store 
of  Tracy.  Although  a  young  man,  he  has 
attained  prominence  in  the  commercial 
circles  of  Tracy.  He  is  strictly  a  self- 
made  man,  having  arisen  to  his  present 
position  through  his  own  resources,  with- 
out financial  assistance. 

Mr.  Richard  has  lived  in  Tracy  since  he 
was  one  year  old  and  secured  his  educa- 
tion there.  When  eleven  years  of  age  he 
began  working  in  the  store  of  J.  D.  Owens 
as  delivery  boy  and  continued  to  work  in 
stores  during  the  summer  months,  attend- 
ing school  winters,  until  sixteen  years  of 
age.  Thereafter  for  six  years  he  devoted 
his  entire  time  to  clerking  in  the  store 
of  C.  P.  Hewitt.  At  the  end  of  that  time, 
in  January,  1902,  he  purchased  his  em- 
ployer's store,  conducted  it  at  the  old 
stand  until  1911,  when  he  erected  his 
present  store  building.  This  structure  is 
the  most  modern  building  in  Tracy.  Its 
dimensions  are  24x130  feet.  The  business 
is  carried  on  under  the  title  Richard's  De- 
partment Store.  He  deals  in  dry  goods, 
crockery,  shelf  hardware  and  tools,  wall 
paper,  paints,  toys  and  five-  and  ten-cent 
goods. 

During  1909  and  1910  Mr.  Richard  was 
mayor  of  Tracy  and  he  was  president  of  the 
Commercial  Club  four  years  prior  to  1911. 
He  is  a  stockholder  and  a  director  of  the 
Tracy  Savings  and  Loan  Association.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  Mason,  holding  member- 
ship in  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and  East- 
ern Star. 

Our  subject  was  married  at  Tracy  on 
March  27,  1903,  to  Emogene  Rogers,  a 
native  of  Iowa  and  a  daughter  of  H.  A. 
Rogers.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
and    Mrs.    Richard:      Lester    J.,    who    died 


-March  2  7,  19  11,  at  the  age  of  six  years: 
and  Maurine,  who  was  born  in  November, 
1910. 

Charles  C.  Richard  is  one  of  a  family 
of  five  children,  the  others  being  Lillian 
May,  Almeda  Belle,  Malcomb  M.,  who  died 
in  1909;  and  Stanley  J.  The  parents  of 
these  children  are  W.  J.  and  Alice  Rich- 
ard. The  former  was  born  in  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Tracy  in  the  spring  of  1881. 
He  lived  in  that  city  until  1902;  then  he 
moved  to  St.  Cloud,  where  he  has  since 
been  foreman  of  construction  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  state.  During  his  long  resi- 
dence in  Tracy  Mr.  Richard  was  a  promi- 
nent contractor  and  built  many  of  the  best 
business  houses  and  residences  there  after 
the  big  fire.  He  erected  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  building,  the  J.  D.  Owens 
store  building,  the  J.  W.  Beedle  store 
building,  several  business  houses  on  Front 
Street,  the  D.  H.  Evans  residence,  and 
many  others.  When  the  Lyon  county 
court  house  was  built  Mr.  Richard  was 
employed  by  the  county  commissioners  as 
building  inspector. 


OLAI  AAMODT  (1879)  is  the  owner  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northwest 
quarter  and  the  northeast  quarter  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  12,  Vallers 
township.  He  is  a  Lyon  county  product, 
was  born  May  30,  1879,  and  is  a  son  of 
Gulick  and  Liva  Aamodt,  who  were  early 
settlers  of  the  county. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  and  grew  to  manhood 
on  the  home  farm.  He  assisted  his  father 
with  the  farm  work  and  remained  at  home 
until  1905.  That  year  Olai,  in  company 
with  his  brother  Fred,  rented  700  acres 
of  land  in  Vallers  township,  and  the'  boys 
started  farming  for  themselves  and  were 
in  partnership  three  years.  Olai  then 
bought  his  present  place  and  has  since  been 
located  on  section  12.  Since  1900  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  threshing  business. 

The  marriage  of  Olai  Aamodt  and  Caro- 
line Kolhei  occurred  in  Yellow  Medicine 
county  January  2,  1907.  She  was  born 
in  that  county  June  29,  1879,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Ingebret  and  Corine  Kolhei, 
natives  of  Norway.  They  were  early  set- 
tlers of  Yellow  Medicine  and  now  live  in 


338 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Cottonwood.  One  child,  Carla  L.,  was 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aamodt,  on  January 
6,  1912.  The  Aamodts  are  members  of 
the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 


1892;  Glen  C,  born  February  16,  1894, 
died  April  22,  1908;  Elsie  M.,  born  De- 
cember 24,  1895;  John  L.,  born  April  24, 
1899;  Frank,  born  September  7,  1907;  and 
Robert,  born  February  28,  1909. 


CHARLES  H.  MIDDLETON  (1882)  is 
a  farmer  and  land  owner  of  Lake  Marshall 
township  who  has  lived  in  Lyon  county 
many  years.  He  is  a  son  of  John  Middle - 
ton,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  who  for  many 
years  was  a  boatman  on  the  Erie  canal. 
In  18  80  the  family  moved  to  Walworth 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  the  father  rented 
land  and  resided  two  years.  In  1882  a 
new  home  was  established,  in  Lyon  county, 
John  Middleton  buying  the  north  half  of 
section  3  4,  Lake  Marshall  township.  The 
father  died  September  30,  1898,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four  years.  The  mother  of  our 
subject,  Martha  E.  (Sheffield)  Middleton, 
was  born  in  New  York  State,  the  descend- 
ant of  an  English  family.  She  is  now 
eighty-four  years  of  age  and  resides  with 
her  son.  The  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily are  Fred  W.,  of  Canada;  Hannah 
Jeanette  (Mrs.  H.  J.  Benson),  of  Syracuse. 
New  York;  and  John  J.,  of  Marshall. 

Charles  H.  Middleton  was  born  in  Os- 
wego county,  New  York,  November  19, 
1863.  He  resided  with  his  parents  until 
1890,  when  he  was  married  and  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  own  account.  At  that 
time  he  bought  200  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 3,  Lake  Marshall  township,  upon 
which  he  has  ever  since  resided.  Later  he 
added  to  his  landed  possessions  by  the 
purchase  of  120  acres  on  section  2  and 
now  has  a  finely  improved  half  section 
farm,  adorned  with  substantial  buildings. 
He  engages  in  stock  raising  and  is  a  feeder 
and  shipper.  He  raises  Shorthorn  cattle, 
Oxford  sheep  and  Poland  China  hogs.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Mar- 
shall and  the  family  are  regular  attend- 
ants of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Marshall. 

In  Oswego  county,  New  York,  on  Febru- 
ary 17,  1890,  Mr.  Middleton  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Martha  J.  Loser,  a  native 
of  Missouri  and  a  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Caroline  (Spaulding)  Loser,  both  of  whom 
are  deceased.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Middleton 
have  been  born  the  following  named  six 
children:      Mae    L.,    born    December     11, 


CARL  O.  SKOGEN  (1879),  who  makes 
his  home  in  Minneota  and  who  farms  land 
close  to  that  village  in  Westerheim  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  the  county  and  a  son 
of  Ole  O.  and  Engeborg  (Sheldrew)  Sko- 
gen.  His  parents  were  born  in  Telle- 
marken,  Norway,  came  to  America  in 
1867,  lived  near  Neenah,  Wisconsin,  a  few 
years,  in  Boone  county,  Iowa,  a  short  time, 
and  located  in  Lyon  county  in  the  early 
seventies.  They  took  as  a  homestead  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  30,  Westerheim 
township,  close  to  which  the  village  of 
Minneota  was  later  founded. 

On  the  homestead  Carl  Skogen  was  born 
August  21,  1879,  and  there  he  grew  to 
manhood,  working  for  his  father.  He 
spent  one  and  one-half  years  in  the  Da- 
kotas,  and  in  1905  he  rented  from  his 
father  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  31, 
Westerheim,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
Three  years  later  he  moved  to  section  4, 
of  the  same  township,  farmed  there  one 
year,  and  then  moved  to  Minneota,  where 
he  purchased  a  residence  and  where  he  has 
since  lived.  He  now  rents  from  his  father 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  31. 

Mr.  Skogen  was  married  at  Porter  No- 
vember 7,  1904,  to  Eliza  Crogness.  She 
was  born  in  the  village  in  which  she  was 
married  September  1,  1886.  Her  parents, 
Bersven  and  Engebor  (Nelson)  Crogness, 
were  born  in  Sonmor,  Norway,  came  to 
America  in  the  seventies,  and  bought  a 
homestead  right  to  land  in  Yellow  Medi- 
cine county,  near  Porter.  The  parents 
both  died  on  the  homestead  in  1908.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Skogen  have  two  children:  Leola 
C.  and  Olinda  B.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Norwegian  Lu- 
theran church. 


CHARLES  C.  BREENING  (1880)  is  one 
of  the  big  farmers  of  Rock  Lake  town- 
ship and  has  lived  in  Lyon  county  thirty- 
two  years.  He  owns  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  9  and  rents  other  land,  farming 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


339 


840  acres.  He  engages  extensively  in  stock 
raising  and  feeding  for  market,  making  a 
specialty  of  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland 
China  hogs. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  one  of  a 
family  of  six  living  children,  the  others  be- 
ing Mary  (Mrs.  William  Darger),  of  Tracy; 
William,  of  St.  Paul;  Fred,  of  Balaton; 
John  H.,  of  Marshall;,  and  Henry  C,  of 
Balaton.  The  parents  of  these  children, 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Schenck)  Breening, 
came  from  Germany  in  1869,  lived  in  Du 
Page  county,  Illinois,  until  1880,  and  then 
came  to  Lyon  county.  The  head  of  the 
family  had  charge  of  the  section  at  Bala- 
ton for  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Rail- 
road Company  five  years  and  then  pur- 
chased land  in  Rock  Lake  and  engaged  in 
farming  until  his  death. 

Charles  C.  Breening  was  born  in  Verben, 
Germany,.  November  20,  1862,  came  to 
America  with  the  family  in  1869,  and  spent 
his  boyhood  days  in  Illinois,  attending 
school  and  working  for  the  Northwestern 
Railroad  Company.  He  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  1880  and  for  the  next  fifteen 
years  worked  for  the  railroad  company, 
with  headquarters  at  Tracy  and  Brookings, 
South  Dakota.  Since  severing  his  connec- 
tion with  the  railroad  company  Mr.  Breen- 
ing has  been  engaged  in  farming  in  Rock 
Lake  township  and  has  been  very  success- 
ful. 

Mr.  Breening  served  several  years  as  a 
member  of  the  Township  Board  of  Super- 
visors, for  eight  years  was  assessor  of  his 
township,  and  during  the  last  three  years 
he  has  been  clerk  of  school  district  No.  60. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic  lodge 
of  Russell  and  the  Workmen  lodge  of  Bala- 
ton. 

Anna  M.  Olson,  a  native  of  Norway,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Mr.  Breening  April  12, 
188  8,  the  ceremony  being  performed  at 
Balaton.  His  wife  was  born  April  12, 
1871,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin 
Olson,  pioneer  settlers  of  Murray  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Breening  have  thirteen  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  reside  at  home.  Their 
names  are  Arthur  J.,  Edna  E.,  Richard  O., 
George  W.,  Carl,  Alice,  Ora,  Bessie,  Maude, 
Eva,  Dorothy,  Luella  and  Irene. 


EARLE   S.    MILLER    (1869),   of  Tracy, 


was  one  of  the  very  first  of  the  present 
residents  to  visit  Lyon  county.  He  first 
came  in  1869,  but  his  permanent  residence 
did  not  begin  until  some  years  later. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Cook  county, 
Illinois,  May  25,  1847.  His  parents. 
Charles  D.  and  Mary  M.  (White)  Miller, 
were  born  in  New  York  and  Vermont,  re- 
spectively, and  both  are  deceased.  Earle 
attended  the  schools  of  Illinois  until  1866 
and  then  accompanied  .his  parents  to  Wi- 
nona county,  Minnesota,  and  resided  with 
them  until  18  69.  That  year  he  came  with 
the  Mitchell  and  Scriven  families  to  Lyon 
county,  remained  a  short  time,  and  then 
located  in  Jackson  county,  Minnesota. 

In  that  county,  a  few  miles  east  of  the 
present  city  of  Worthington,  Mr.  Miller 
took  a  homestead  claim,  on  which  he  re- 
sided two  years.  He  then  returned  to  Wi- 
nona county,  bought  land,  and  engaged  in 
farming  there  until  1876.  He  again  came 
to  Lyon  county  at  that  time  and  the  same 
year  took  a  pre-emption  claim  in  Pipe- 
stone county,  which  he  held  three  years 
and  then  sold.  He  was  one  of  the  crew 
that  surveyed  the  line  of  railroad  from 
Tracy  to  Pierre,  being  thus  engaged  one 
year.  Mr.  Miller  bought  grain  in  Tracy 
two  years  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  business  there. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married  in  Wabasha 
county,  Minnesota,  November  24,  1887,  to 
Jennie  Paine.  She  was  born  in  England 
October  11,  1857.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Tracy. 


JOSEPH  M.  MITCHELL  (1880)  is  the 
owner  of  a  fine  eighty-acre  farm  and  com- 
fortable home  in  Amiret  township,  and  he 
is  today  a  prosperous  farmer  after  more 
than  thirty  years'  residence  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Mitchell's  introduction  to  Lyon  county 
was  perhaps  not  one  to  lend  enthusiasm 
to  the  mind  of  a  new  settler,  inasmuch  as 
his  first  winter  in  the  county  was  the  one 
of  deep  snows,  blizzards  and  blockades. 
Our  subject,  however,  is  one  of  many  who 
regrets  not  that  he  has  made  his  home 
in  Lyon  county. 

Mr.  Mitchell  took  an  active  part  in  the 
Civil  War.  He  enlisted  January  5,  1864, 
as  a  private  in  Company  A,  Thirty-fifth 
New  Jersey  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  out 


340 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


July  2  0,  18  65.  During  that  time  he  took 
part  in  General  Sherman's  campaign  in 
Georgia  and  in  the  famous  "March  to  the 
Sea."  Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  member  of  D.  F. 
Markham  Post  No.  7,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Mar- 
shall, and  has  held  at  different  times  the 
office  of  post  commander,  senior  vice  and 
junior  vice. 

Joseph  Mitchell  was  born  in  Glen  Gard- 
ner, New  Jersey,  December  13,  1847,  and 
is  a  son  of  George  and  Lydia  (Narcross) 
Mitchell,  both  deceased.  His  parents  lo- 
cated in  Illinois  in  1871  and  resided  there 
until  their  deaths.  Joseph  received  a  com- 
mon school  education  in  New  Jersey  and 
during  the  later  years  of  his  residence  in 
that  state  worked  out  at  farm  labor.  He 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  and 
worked  out  in  Ogle  county  two  years.  He 
then  married  and  rented  land  in  Winne- 
bago county,  where  he  farmed  eight  years. 

In  March,  1880,  our  subject  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  purchased  the  land  he 
now  owns  on  section  23  from  the  Winona 
&  St.  Peter  Railroad  Company.  It  is  one 
of  the  nicest  farms  in  the  township,  and 
thirty-two  years  ago  Mr.  Mitchell  paid  for 
it  the  small  sum  of  $6  per  acre. 

In  various  capacities  Mr.  Mitchell  has 
been  called  upon  to  serve  in  an  official  ca- 
pacity. He  was  a  member  of  the  Township 
Board  two  years  ago  and  served  one  year 
as  chairman.  For  three  years  he  was  clerk 
of  the  township,  and  for  the  past  ten  terms 
he  has  been  the  assessor.  He  was  road 
overseer  several  years  and  was  for  eight- 
een years  the  clerk  of  school  district  No. 
23.  In  1895  and  1905  he  was  census  enu- 
merator. 

Our  subject's  marriage  to  Sarah  Seal  oc- 
curred at  Elida,  Illinois,  August  12,  1871. 
She  was  born  August  18,  1847,  in  New 
Jersey,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Jane  (Bellis)  Seal,  now  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mitchell  are  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
George  Purves),  of  Tracy;  Eleanor  (Mrs. 
Eleanor  Gary),  of  Marshall;  Lydia  (Mrs. 
M.  D.  Bair),  of  Amiret  township;  Agnes 
(Mis.  C.  J.  Armstrong),  of  St.  Paul;  and 
Belle,  who  lives  at  home.  The  Mitchells 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
of  which  Mr.  Mitchell  was  for  a  number  of 
years  a  trustee. 


KNUTE  O.  BAKKEN  (1876)  is  a  home 
steader  of  Eidsvold  township  and  has  lived 
in  that  precinct  thirty-six  years.  He  has 
lived  in  a  sod  shanty,  fought  grasshoppers, 
burned  hay,  and  performed  other  feats 
that  were  required  of  the  pioneers  of  Lyon 
county.  He  owns  a  quarter  section  of 
land.  His  homestead  is  the  north  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  10,  and  the 
east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 15  was  purchased  from  the  railroad 
company. 

His  parents,  Ole  and  Annie  (Knutson) 
Garlibakken,  died  in  Norway.  He  has  a 
brother  and  sister:  Knute  O.  Garlibak- 
ken, who  still  lives  in  Norway;  and  Carrie 
K.  T.  Monum,  of  Pope  county,  Minne- 
sota. 

In  Norway,  on  the  seventeenth  of  August, 
1851,  Knute  O.  Bakken  was  born.  He 
came  to  the  United  States  in  18  68  and 
settled  in  Manitowoc  county,  Wisconsin. 
There  he  resided  until  coming  to  Lyon 
county  in  1876,  working  on  farms  and  in 
the  pineries.  Mr.  Bakken  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  the  spring  of  187  6  and  filed 
upon  his  homestead.  He  erected  a  board 
and  sod  house,  in  which  he  resided  sev- 
eral years,  and  he  has  lived  on  the  home- 
stead ever  since.  The  grasshoppers  took 
the  best  part  of  his  first  crop  and  he  met 
other  discouragements,  but  he  persevered 
and  in  time  came  upon  more  prosperous 
times. 

Mr.  Bakken  served  as  director  and  treas- 
urer of  school  district  No.  79  many  years. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of  Minneota. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Bakken  to  Caro- 
line Olson  occurred  in  Manitowoc  county, 
Wisconsin,  in  April,  1876.  His  wife  is  a 
native  of  the  county  in  which  she  was 
married.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bakken  are  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Ole, 
of  North  Dakota;  Julia  (Mrs.  Helge  Helge- 
son),  of  Eidsvold  township;  Gusta  (Mrs. 
Herman  Esping),  of  Burton  township,  Yel- 
low Medicine  county;  Annie  (Mrs.  Charles 
Peterson),  of  Minneota;  Hattie  (Mrs.  Sel- 
ma  Quickstad),  of  Deuel  county,  South  Da- 
kota; Christina  (Mrs.  Martin  Erickson),  of 
Yellow  Medicine  county;  and  Emma,  a 
school  teacher. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


341 


G.  A.  DALMANN  (1879),  a  prominent 
and  influential  business  man  of  Minneota, 
has  resided  in  that  village  thirty-three 
years  and  has  been  identified  with  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  town  as 
have  few  others. 

Mr.  Dalmann  was  born  in  Iceland  Sep- 
tember 19,  1856,  the  son  of  Grimur  and 
Rose  (Davidson)  Dalmann.  He  was  the 
youngest  member  of  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  except  himself  are  de- 
ceased. His  parents  died  when  he  was  a 
child  and  he  grew  to  manhood  without 
school  privileges  and  without  aid  from 
relatives.  He  is  a  self-made  man  in  every 
respect  and  has  reached  his  present  stand- 
ing by  unaided  effort. 

Our  subject  was  brought  up  on  a  farm 
in  his  native  land.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1879  and  direct  to  Minneota, 
where  he  has  since  had  his  home.  One 
year  he  worked  on  the  railroad  and  then 
clerked  in  the  store  of  T.  D.  Seals  and 
later  in  that  of  Coats  &  Davidson.  In 
1886  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself, 
conducting  a  fruit  and  confectionery  store 
and  restaurant  for  about  two  years.  Then 
he  added  a  line  of  groceries  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  that  line  of  business.  He 
now  handles  groceries  and  crockery  ex- 
clusively and  has  a  model  store.  His  motto 
is:  "The  Best  of  Everything."  He  located 
in  his  present  commodious  quarters  in 
1909.  In  1894,  1895  and  1896  Mr.  Dal- 
mann was  on  the  road  buying  produce  for 
a  Winona  company. 

On  many  occasions  Mr.  Dalmann  has 
been  called  upon  to  serve  his  village  in 
an  official  capacity.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  president  of  the  Village  Council,  mem- 
ber of  the  Council,  assessor  and  street  com- 
missioner. He  has  been  active  in  school 
matters  and  has  taken  a  leading  part  in  all 
movements  for  the  betterment  of  the  pub- 
lic schools.  He  was  president  of  the  Board 
of  Education  when  the  schools  were  moved 
to  the  present  location  and  he  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  independent  dis- 
trict. In  fraternal  circles  Mr.  Dalmann  is 
also  prominent.  He  holds  membership  in 
the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows  and  Woodmen 
lodges.  He  was  the  first  master  of  Equity 
Lodge  No.  2  58  of  Minneota  and  has  the 
distinction  of  being  the  first  Icelander  to 
hold  the  office  of  worshipful  master  of  the 


Masonic  lodge  in  this  country,  so  far  as  is 
known. 

In  Minneota,  on  April  1,  1883,  Mr.  Dal- 
mann was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah 
Peterson.  She  is  also  a  native  of  Iceland 
and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1877. 
Four  children  have  blessed  this  union,  as 
follows:  Rose,  of  Aberdeen,  South  Da- 
kota, the  wife  of  R.  C.  Domehower,  who 
is  the  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Mil- 
waukee railroad  at  that  point;  Baldur  J., 
a  traveling  salesman  for  Scott  &  Dillon, 
tobacco  manufacturers,  married  October  4, 
1911,  to  Zelpha  Hall,  of  Smith  Mill,  Minne- 
sota; Christine,  who  clerks  for  her  father; 
and  Walter,  who  clerks  in  the  transfer 
office  at  Aberdeen,  South  Dakota. 


CHARLES  J.  SPONG  (1883)  located  in 
Clifton  township  immediately  upon  com- 
ing to  Lyon  county  in  1883.  He  purchased 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  2  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother  August  and  soon 
after  bought  the  brother's  interest.  Later 
Mr.  Spong  bought  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  1,  eighty  acres  on  section  11, 
and  sixty-four  acres  on  section  13,  and  he 
is  now  the  owner  of  464  acres  of  Clifton 
township's  choicest  farming  land.  Stock 
raising  is  also  claiming  much  of  Mr.  Spong's 
attention.  He  is  partial  to  Shorthorn  cat- 
tle and  Poland  China  hogs  and  he  has  a 
splendid  flock  of  Shropshire  sheep. 

Mr.  Spong  came  to  the  county  from  Illi- 
nois. He  was  born  in  Sweden  August  5. 
1855,  and  was  brought  up  in  the  old  coun- 
try. In  his  young  manhood  he  learned  the 
carpenter's  and  cabinet  maker's  trades  and 
worked  at  them  some  time  in  Sweden.  It 
was  in  1879  that  he  came  to  America  and 
located  in  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  worked  at  farm  labor  three  and  one-half 
years.  In  1883  he  came  with  his  brother 
to  Lyon  county  and  bought  land,  and  he 
has  since  then  been  a  resident  of  Clifton 
township.  He  is  a  director  and  share- 
holder in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company 
of  Milroy.  For  ten  years  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  district 
No.  4  2,  and  his  church  affiliations  are  with 
the  Evangelical  Association  church.  He 
has  been  a  class  leader  since  the  Clifton 
church  was  organized  and  Sunday  School 
superintendent  for  the  past  fifteen  years. 


342 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Charles  Spong's  ruamage  to  Gustava  C. 
Grip  took  place  in  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois, 
March  3,  1883.  She  was  born  in  Sweden 
February  13,  1853,  and  died  May  3,  1889. 
By  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Spong  she  became 
the  mother  of  two  children,  John  W.,  born 
February  21,  1884,  died  January  14,  1911, 
and  Oscar  M.,  born  July  2  9,  1886. 

On  December  24,  1889,  our  subject  was 
married  at  Marshall  to  Augusta  M.  C.  Dahl. 
She  is  a  native  of  Sweden  and  her  parents, 
Peter  and  Caroline  (Johnson)  Dahl,  still 
live  in  the  old  country.  She  and  Mr.  Spong 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Harry  B.,  born  October  25,  1890;  Paul  H., 
born  May  13,  1892;  Frank  A.,  born  Jan- 
uary 4,  1894;  and  Ruth  E.  A.,  born  August 
19,  1898. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Chris- 
topher and  Johanna  (Swenson)  Spong,  and 
they  are  still  living  in  the  Fatherland.  Be- 
sides his  fine  farm  land  Mr.  Charles  Spong 
owns  a  house  and  seven  lots  in  Marshall. 


WILLARD  J.  VAN  DUSEN  (1879)  farms 
the  south  half  of  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  4,  Monroe  township.  He  has 
lived  on  the  place  ever  since  his  father 
took  it  as  a  homestead  thirty-three  years 
ago,  and  since  the  father's  death  in  Febru- 
ary, 1907,  Willard  has  had  charge  of  the 
place. 

Willard's  father  and  mother  were  Charles 
E.  Van  Dusen  and  Fannie  E.  (Staley)  Van 
Dusen.  The  father  was  born  at  Canton, 
Ohio,  January  17,  1843,  and  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
he  moved  to  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  where 
he  made  his  home  several  years  and  where 
he  married  in  the  fall  of  1865.  In  1866 
the  young  couple  located  in  Medford,  Min- 
nesota, where  they  lived  several  years,  then 
moving  to  Lyon  county  and  taking  as  a 
homestead  the  farm  where  our  subject  now 
resides.  Mrs.  Charles  Van  Dusen  was  born 
in  Kalamazoo  May  24,  1845,  and  is  living 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Monroe  with  her 
son  Willard.  The  -Van  Dusens  and  the 
Staleys  are  both  descendants  of  old  colonial 
families,  and  the  family  histories  date  back 
to  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  colonies. 

Willard  Van  Dusen  was  born  in  Med- 
ford, Minnesota,  August  24,  1867,  and  lived 
on   the   farm   near   that  town   until    1879, 


when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Lyon 
county.  He  has  lived  on  the  Monroe  town- 
ship homestead  practically  ever  since.  Wil- 
lard had  some  interesting  experiences  dur- 
ing his  early  days  in  the  county.  During 
the  blizzardy  winter  of  1880-81  he  teamed 
between  Tracy  and  Sleepy  Eye  for  Tracy 
merchants  and  carried  passengers.  He 
made  five  trips  that  winter,  one  trip  taking 
him  fourteen  days. 

June  8,  1893,  Willard  Van  Dusen  was 
married  to  Annie  Lee,  who  was  born  in 
Norway,  March,  1876,  and  came  to  this 
country  at  the  age  of  ten  "years.  She  died 
February  6,  1904.  To  Willard  Van  Dusen 
and  his  wife  three  children  were  born,  Al- 
bert E.,  Clarice  E.  and  Frank  E. 


SPURGEON  ODELL  (1889),  president 
of  the  .Marshall  State  Bank  and  a  former 
clerk  of  the  district  court  of  Lyon  county, 
is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the 
county  seat — a  man  who  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  business  and  political 
life  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Odell  is  a  native  Minnesotan,  having 
been  born  at  Oronoco,  Olmsted  county, 
July  6,  18  60.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years 
he  moved  to  Faribault  county,  and  there 
he  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  graduates  of  the  Wells  High  School 
and  he  completed  his  education  with  a  two 
years'  course  in  a  college  at  Battle  Creek, 
Michigan.  In  1884  Mr.  Odell  moved  to 
Granite  Falls,  where  he  taught  school  and 
worked  at  the  painter's  trade  until  1889. 

In  the  month  of  August,  18  89,  Mr.  Odell 
became  a  resident  of  Lyon  county.  For 
five  years  he  was  associated  with  the  North- 
western Elevator  Company  at  Green  Val- 
ley station.  He  was  elected  clerk  of  the 
district  court  in  November,  1894,  moved  to 
Marshall,  and  during  the  next  eight  years 
held  the  county  office,  having  been  re-elect- 
ed in  1898.  From  the  first  of  1902  until 
November  1,  1905,  Mr.  Odell  was  travel- 
ing agent  for  the  Burchard  Hulburt  Invest- 
ment Company,  of  St.  Paul.  On  the  date 
last  mentioned  he  purchased  a  half  interest 
in  the  firm  of  D.  D.  Forbes  &  Company, 
real  estate,  loans,  collections  and  insur- 
ance, and  for  several  years  he  engaged  in 
that  business  with  James  A.  McNiven,  the 
firm   being   styled   Odel]    &   McNiven.      On 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


>  i.i 

•  >  1-t 


June  15,  1909,  Messrs.  Odell  and  McNiven 
and  S.  J.  Forbes  organized  the  Marshall 
State  Bank  and  have  since  been  associated 
in  its  management.  Mr.  Odell  is  president; 
Mr.  MeXiven,  vice  president;  and  Mr. 
Forbes,  cashier. 

For  three  years,  1907-09,  Mr.  Odell  was 
mayor  of  Marshall.  In  1902  he  was  the 
Democratic  nominee  for  secretary  of  state, 
on  the  ticket  headed  by  the  late  Leonard 

A.  Rosing,  but  was  defeated  with  the  rest 
of  the  state  ticket.  Mr.  Odell  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Chapter,  Blue  Lodge  and 
Commandery  of  Marshall,  in  Osmun  Shrine 
of  St.  Paul,  and  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  Elks  lodges. 

Mr.  Odell  was  married  June  27,  1894,  to 
Effie  M.  Bomeroy,  of  Sparta,  Wisconsin. 
They  have  three  children.  Lottie  M.,  Althea 

B.  and  Spurgeon  E. 


HERMAN  P.  MEYER  (1881)  is  the 
owner  of  a  fine  quarter  section,  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  1,  Rock  Lake  town- 
ship, and  120  acres  on  sections  35  and  36, 
Lyons,  and  he  farms  both  places.  Mr. 
Meyer  makes  his  home  on  the  Rock  Lake 
quarter. 

Michael  and  Julia  (Peters)  Meyers,  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many. Herman  was  born  in  the  Father- 
land August  10,  1879,  and  the  family 
moved  to  America  when  Herman  was  a 
baby  two  years  old,  settling  in  Rock  Lake 
township  in  the  spring  of  1881.  The 
father  died  in  1885;  the  mother  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Balaton.  Herman  grew  up  on  the 
Rock  Lake  farm  and  attended  country 
school  in  the  district  until  twenty  years  of 
age.  He  then  worked  out  at  farm  labor 
in  the  county  until  the  fall  of  1902,  in 
which  year  he  rented  the  Julius  Meyers 
farm  in  Rock  Lake  and  farmed  it  five  years, 
in  addition  to  farming  his  own  quarter  on 
section  1. 

In  the  spring  of  1907  Mr.  Meyer  greatly 
improved  the  buildings  on  his  farm.  In 
the  summer  of  1910  he  purchased  the  120 
acres  in  Lyons  and  now  has  280  acres  of 
fine  land  to  look  after. 

The  wedding  of  Herman  Meyer  and  Anna 
Stankey  occurred  January  9,  1903,  at  Bala- 
ton. Mrs.  Meyer  is  a  native  of  Wisconsin 
and   was   born   October   18,    1886.      She   is 


a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Albertina  (Leli- 
man)  Stankey,  pioneer  settlers  near  Ripon, 
Wisconsin,  and  now  residing  in  Lyons  town- 
ship, Lyon  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herman 
Meyer  are  the  parents  of  five  children, 
Elsie,  Alma  (deceased),  Myra,  Esther  and 
Viola.  The  Meyers  are  members  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church  of  Balaton. 


DR.  EDWARD  T.  SANDERSON  (1881) 
is  a  physician  of  Minneota  and  has  resided 
in  Lyon  county  for  the  past  thirty-one 
years.  He  is  a  native  of  Iowa  and  was 
born  at  Xenia  on  April  20,  1875.  When 
a  young  boy  he  moved  to  Nebraska  and  In 
1881  to  Lyon  county.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  the  schools  of  Lyon 
county  and  St.  Olaf's  College. 

When  thirteen  years  of  age  young  San- 
derson started  out  in  life  for  himself.  Ten 
years  were  spent  in  the  lumber  business, 
working  at  various  places  in  South  Dakota 
for  the  Laird-Norton  Lumber  Company,  in 
North  Dakota,  Nebraska  and  Iowa  for  the 
Smith  &  Rogers  Company,  and  in  Wiscon- 
sin for  the  Ellefson  Lumber  Company.  He 
also  spent  three  years  as  assistant  cashier 
in  a  bank  at  Lake  Preston,  South  Dakota. 
In  1901  he  went  to  Chicago  and  took  up 
the  study  of  medicine  at  the  Bennett  Med- 
ical College,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1905.  Dr.  Sanderson  was  secretary  of 
and  professor  of  anatomy  during  1906  and 
1907.  He  then  returned  to  Minneota  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  practice. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  son  of 
the  late  Dr.  Samuel  E.  Sanderson,  of  Min- 
neota, one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  of 
Lyon  county  and  one  of  the  best  known 
practitioners  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
He  was  married  to  Eliza  Ellefson.  Both 
were  natives  of  Dane  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  their  parents  settled  in  an  early  day, 
having  emigrated  there  from  Norway.  They 
made  settlement  in  SpkaskKonong  town- 
ship, which  was  the  original  settlement 
place  of  the  Norwegian  colony  in  that  state. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1902 
and  the  father  in  1910.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Ed- 
ward T.,  of  this  sketch;  Frederick  W.,  a 
lumber  dealer  of  Madison,  Wisconsin;  The- 
resa,  a  trained  nurse  of  Madison;    Docto  * 


344 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Anton  Sanderson,  who  is  practising  at  Min- 
neota;  Melville,  a  student. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  Masonic.. 
Elks  and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges  and  the 
Tau  Alpha  Ipsalon  fraternity.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion, the  Minnesota  State  Society  and  the 
Lyon-Lincoln  Medical  Society,  of  which  he 
is  censor  and  a  delegate  to  the  State  So- 
ciety.    He  is  county  physician. 

Dr.  Edward  Sanderson  was  married  at 
Eastman,  Wisconsin,  on  December  31,  1906, 
to  Miss  Harriett  Wallin,  a  native  of  that 
state.     They  have  one  child,  Elsie  Theresa. 


REV.  WILLIAM  JOSEPH  STEWART 
(1905),  pastor  of  St.  Edward's  Catholic 
Church  of  Minneota  since  September  10, 
1905,  is  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  was  born  in 
Cashel,  county  of  Tipperary,  July  14,  1875, 
and  is  the  eldest  son  of  Jamieson  and  Mary 
(Moloughney)  Stewart,  the  former  of  whom 
is  deceased,  and  the  latter  still  residing  at 
the  old  home  in  Ireland. 

Until  fifteen  years  of  age  the  boy  William 
attended  the  Convent  and  Christian  Brothers' 
Schools  in  his  home  town.  In  1890  he 
entered  Rockwell  College,  Cashel,  where  he 
began  his  classical  studies.  After  three 
years  at  that  college  he  continued  his  pre- 
paratory course  for  the  seminary  under  the 
private  tutorship  of  the  Very  Rev.  Daniel 
Canon  Ryan,  P.  P.,  Clonoulty,  county  Tipper- 
ary. Our  subject  entered  St.  Patrick's  Col- 
lege, Thurles,  Ireland,  as  a  student  in  1896, 
and  having  completed  his  two  years'  course 
of  philosophy  and  four  years'  course  of  the- 
ology, was  ordained  priest  for  the  Arch- 
dioceses of  Cashel  and  Emly  by  His  Grace 
the  Most  Reverend  Thomas  Fennelly,  D.  D., 
on  June  21,  1903. 

After  his  ordination  Rev.  Father  Stewart 
came  on  the  mission  to  America  and  received 
appointment  from  Archbishop  Ireland  as  as- 
sistant pastor  to  St.  Joseph's  Church,  St. 
Paul.  There  he  labored  until  he  was  sent 
as  pastor  to  St.  Edward's  Parish,  Minneota, 
in  1905. 


FRANK  W.  WEBB  (1886),  deceased,  was 
among  the  first  business  men  in  Amiret  and 
was  a  resident  of  the  village  twenty-six 
years.     He   was,   perhaps,    the   town's   most 


prominent  and  best  known  business  man. 
Mr.  Webb  was  a  stockholder  and  the  vice 
president  of  the  Amiret  State  Bank,  and  for 
many  years  he  directed  the  management  of 
his  480  acre  farm  in  Amiret  township. 

William  W.  and  Mary  Ann  Webb,  parents 
of  Frank  Webb,  were  natives  of  England, 
and  after  coming  to  America  both  located  in 
Buffalo,  where  they  were  married.  They 
then  moved  to  Jackson  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  they  made  their  home  until  their 
deaths.  They  left  three  children,  Thomas  H. 
Webb,  of  Tracy,  A.  J.  Webb,  of  Melrose,  Wis- 
consin, and  Frank  Webb,  of  this  sketch. 

Frank  Webb  was  born  in  Jackson  county, 
Wisconsin,  January  5,  1859,  and  he  grew  to 
manhood  in  that  state.  After  the  death  of 
the  parents  Frank  and  Thomas  Webb  came 
to  Minnesota  and  found  work  on  farms  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  state.  In  1886  they  be- 
gan their  business  career  in  Amiret.  The 
brothers  established  a  small  store  and  were 
identified  with  the  town's  development  in  no 
small  degree.  In  addition  to  his  mercantile 
business  Frank  conducted  the  Van  Dusen 
elevator,  the  first  in  the  town,  thirteen  years, 
and  held  the  office  of  postmaster  fifteen 
years.  In  the  late  eighties  the  brothers 
divided  their  interests,  and  Frank  remained 
in  control  of  the  store  at  Amiret. 

In  1908  our  subject  suffered  a  severe  loss 
in  the  burning  of  his  store  and  much  of  its 
contents.  The  business  had  grown  and  Mr. 
Webb  had  erected  a  large  building,  and  at 
the  time  of  the  fire  he  was  carrying  a  $10,(mm» 
stock  of  general  merchandise,  dry  goods, 
groceries,  shoes,  hardware,  etc.  The  owner 
was  fairly  well  insured  and  immediately  be- 
gan the  construction  of  a  fine  new  brick 
building  and  soon  had  replaced  his  stock  and 
was  actively  continuing  business.  There  is  no 
doubt,  however,  that  the  loss  of  his  building 
and  stock  by  fire  was  a  serious  blow  to  Mr. 
Webb,  and  while  he  was  able  to  rise  to  the 
situation  financially  his  health  refused  to 
stand  the  strain,  and  his  physical  break- 
down dated  from  that  time.  He  sought  medi- 
cal aid  at  St.  Paul  and  Rochester  but  his 
case  seemed  to  be  not  within  the  range  of 
medical  help.  Mr.  Webb's  death,  from 
anemia,  occurred  at  Amiret  August  13,  1911. 
Until  about  three  weeks  before  he  died  he 
was  able  to  be  around  and  in  a  measure  to 
attend  to  his  duties  in  the  store. 

In    1889   Frank   W.   Webb   was   married   to 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


345 


Inez  .Marshall,  a  native  of  Jackson  county, 
Wisconsin,  and  a  daughter  of  William  H. 
.Marshall.  To  this  union  were  born  four 
children,  Lester,  Hobart,  Marshall  and  How- 
ard, all  of  whom  are  living. 


KNUTE  SWENNES  (1875).  A  pioneer 
settler  and  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  Eidsvold  township  is  Knute  Swennes, 
who  owns  and  farms  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  2.  He  has  lived  on  the  farm 
he  now  owns  since  he  was  eleven  years  of 
age  and  he  has  seen  northwestern  Lyon 
county  develop  from  a  trackless  prairie  to 
one  of  the  best  farming  communities  of  the 
state. 

Knute  Swennes  was  born  at  Valders, 
Norway,  January  2,  1863.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  with  his  parents  in  1870,  and 
after  living-  in  Walworth  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, five  years  came  with  the  family  to 
Lyon  county  in  1875.  The  trip  was  made 
in  wagons  and  the  father  selected  as  his 
homestead  claim  the  land  now  owned  by 
the  son.  At  that  time  there  was  not  a 
house  within  sight  of  the  claim,  and  the 
nearest  neighbor  was  E.  K.  Kjorness,  three 
miles  southeast.  Ten  miles  to  the  east 
lived  Ole  Brusven,  there  were  a  few  set- 
tlers ten  miles  to  the  west,  and  there  was 
practically  nothing  nearer  than  thirty  miles 
to  the  north. 

The  Swennes  family  erected  on  their 
claim  one  of  the  best  homestead  cabins  of 
the  county.  The  lower  story  was  built  in. 
a  side  hill  and  sheeted  with  lumber;  the 
second  story  was  built  of  lumber;  and  it 
was  quite  a  comfortable  home  at  that  time. 
Five  years  later  the  pioneer  home  was  re- 
placed by  a  more  pretentious  building,  and 
later  still  the  present  two-story,  ten-room 
house  was  erected.  The  grasshoppers 
brought  destruction  to  several  crops,  but 
the  family  succeeded  each  year  in  harvest- 
ing enough  wheat  to  carry  them  through 
the  succeeding  winter.  They  were  obliged 
to  burn  hay  during  the  memorable  winter 
of  1880-81. 

Ever  since  coming  to  the  county  as  a 
boy  thirty-eight  years  ago  Knute  Swennes 
has  lived  on  the  old  homestead.  During 
boyhood  days  he  attended  the  district 
school  and  helped  with  the  work  on  the 
farm;    later   he   remained   to   manage    the 


farm  for  his  father.  He  came  into  posses- 
sion of  the  farm  in  1900  and  has  since 
operated  it  to  his  own  account.  Mr. 
Swennes  was  assessor  of  Eidsvold  town- 
ship a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 

Knute  Swennes  is  a  son  of  the  late  Ole 
A.  and  Ingrid  (Ulvestad)  Swennes,  who 
lived  on  the  Eidsvold  farm  many  years. 
The  father  died  in  1906,  the  mother  two 
years  later.  Ole  A.  Swennes  took  an  active 
part  in  the  business  and  political  life  of 
his  township  and  was  an  influential  citizen. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  39  and  held  school  office  many 
years.  With  O.  L.  Orsen  and  E.  K.  Kjor- 
ness he  organized  the  Norwegian  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  and  he  wrote  the 
by-laws  of  the  original  company. 

Three  sons  and  two  daughters  comprise 
the  Swennes  family.  They  are  Arne,  who 
resides  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 2,  Eidsvold;  Knute,  of  this  biography; 
Inger  (Mrs.  Ole  E.  Rye),  of  Eidsvold  town- 
ship; Ola,  Jr.,  a  hardware  merchant  of 
Flaxton,  North  Dakota;  and  Anna,  the  wife 
of  J.  O.  Hovland,  a  retired  merchant  of 
Flaxton. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  man  of 
family,  having  been  married  to  Marie  John- 
son December  16,  1903.  She  is  a  native 
of  Eidsvold  township  and  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1881.  Her  father,  L.  P.  Johnson, 
was  born  in'Sweden,  and  her  mother,  Marit 
(Nyhagen)  Johnson,  was  born  in  Norway. 
They  settled  in  Eidsvold  township  in  1877. 
Two  sons  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swennes:  Knute  B.,  on  December  5,  1904, 
and  Ola  Odin,  on  February  28,  1907. 


ED.  GITS  (1883),  dealer  in  general  mer- 
chandise at  Ghent,  first  came  to  that  vil- 
lage when  a  child  six  years  of  age,  when 
the  town  was  not  much  larger  than  he  was. 
Although  a  young  man,  he  has  built  up  a 
prosperous  business  and  is  meeting  with 
deserved  success. 

Ed.  Gits  was  born  in  Belgium  January 
19,  1876.  When  six  years  old,  in  1883, 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  America  and 
his  first  home  in  the  New  World  was  Ghent. 
He  lived  with  his  parents  until  sixteen 
years  of  age  and  then  went  to  Faribault, 
Minnesota,  and  clerked  in  a  store  for  sev- 


346 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


eral  years.  In  1898  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  Twelfth  Minnesota  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, for  service  during  the  war  with 
Spain.  He  was  stationed  with  his  regi- 
ment at  Chickamauga  and  Lexington  and 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  1899. 
Then  he  became  a  member  of  the  Home 
Guards  of  Duluth  and  went  to  Kootche- 
chink  and  assisted  in  suppressing  an  In- 
dian outbreak  on  the  international  bound- 
ary line. 

After  that  service  Mr.  Gits  returned  to 
Ghent  and  for  five  years  he  was  manager 
of  the  C.  M.  Youmans  lumber  yard.  In 
1907  he  bought  a  store  building  of  Joseph 
Pierard  and  stock  of  general  merchandise 
of  Aime  Vanhee  and  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in,  that  business.  He  handles  dry 
goods,  groceries,  shoes,  furnishing  goods, 
notions,  crockery,  etc. 

Mr.  Gits  was  married  in  Ghent  on  No- 
vember 8,  1904,  to  Louise  Schreiber,  they 
being  the  first  couple  married  in  the  new 
Catholic  church.  Mrs.  Gits  was  born  on 
her  father's  homestead  in  Westerheim 
township.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Mathews 
J.  and  Johanna  (Brewers)  Schreiber,  who 
settled  in  the  county  in  1883.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gits  have  two  daughters,  Juliet  and 
Prudence,  and  a  son,  Wilfred  Edward,  born 
November  14,  1911. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Gits  served  as 
recorder  and  treasurer  of  Ghent.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church  and  of 
the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  lodge,  of 
which  he  has  been  chief  ranger  since  its 
organization. 

Francis  and  Louise  Gils,  the  parents  of 
Ed.  Gits,  also  reside  in  Ghent  and  have 
done  so  since  they  came  from  Belgium  in 
18  83.  Francis  Gits  was  one  of  the  early 
business  men  of  Ghent  and  one  who  has 
done  much  to  bring  it  to  its  present  stand- 
ing. At  one  time  and  another  he  con- 
ducted a  blacksmith  shop,  general  store, 
hardware  store,  hotel  and  livery  barn  and 
erected  six  or  seven  of  the  buildings  in 
the  village.  He  has  also  engaged  quite 
extensively  in  farming  and  burned  the  first 
and  only  brick  ever  manufactured  in  the 
town. 

In  the  Gits  family  are  seven  children,  as 
follows:  Paul,  Julius,  Joe,  Victor,  Clem- 
ence  (Mrs.  Charles  Foulon),  Edmund  and 
Arthur.  Prudence,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Gustave  Vergote,  is  deceased. 


SNORRI  HOGNASON  (1877),  of  Minne- 
ota,  was  born  in  Iceland  May  13,  1846,  a 
son  of  Hogni  Gunlaugson  and  Kristin  Snor- 
radottir,  both  now  deceased.  Snorri  re- 
ceived in  his  youth  such  education  as  was 
common  in  Iceland  at  that  time.  He  was 
brought  up  and  worked  on  a  farm  until 
1873,  when  he  came  to  America  and 
worked  on  farms  in  Iowa  and  Green  coun- 
ties, Wisconsin,  three  years.  -In  1876  he 
located  in  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota,  and 
a  year  later  took  a  homestead  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  4,  Westerheim 
township,  Lyon  county,  where  he  farmed 
until   1885. 

That  year  Mr.  Hognason  located  in  Clark- 
field,  Minnesota,  where  he  built  the  first 
hotel  and  conducted  it  until  1890.  He 
sold  out  and  returned  to  Lyon  county, 
locating  in  Minneota,  where  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  real  estate,  loan  and 
insurance  business.  He  has  a  nice  resi- 
dence property  in  the  town,  is  one  of  the 
progressive  citizens,  and  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Icelandic  Lutheran  church.  Mr. 
Hognason  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Minneota  and  WTesterheim  and  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of,  and  for  three  years  a 
trustee  of,  the  school  district  in  which  he 
resided  in  Westerheim  township,  also  serv- 
ing on  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  While  a 
resident  of  Clarkfield  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education  three  years  and 
justice  of  the  peace. 

Mr.  Hognason  was  married  May  18, 
1879,  to  Wilborg  Peterson,  a  native  of  Ice- 
land, born  January  26,  1846.  They  are 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Wil- 
liam (deceased),  Johanna,  teacher  in  the 
Minneota  High  School;  Kristine  Lillie 
(Mrs.  Steven  Peterson),  of  Yellow  Medi- 
cine county;  Martha  (Mrs.  H.  G.  Johnson), 
of  Minneota;  and  Guy  Byron,  a  graduate  of 
the  Mining  Engineering  Department  of  the 
State  University.  The  children  have  all 
been  excellent  students  in  school,  the  three 
girls  having  taken  first  or  second  honors 
in  their  graduating  classes  at  high  school 
and  college. 


LAURITZ  E.  BLEGEN  (1879),  farmer 
of  Shelburne  township,  has  lived  in  Lyon 
county  all  except  the  first  two  years  of 
his    life    and    is    a   native    Minnesotan.      He 


motiKANIirAL   HISTORY. 


:*J7 


owns  and  farms  the  southwest  quarter  of 
seciion  21,  known  as  the  Calumet  Farm. 

Mr.  Blegen  was  born  in  Olmsted  county, 
Minnesota,  July  9,  1877,  the  son  of  Iver 
and  Christina  (Haugen)  Blegen.  The  par- 
ents came  from  Norway  in  the  early  seven- 
ties, lived  in  Olmsted  county  a  number  of 
years,  and  since  1879  have  lived  in  Shel- 
burne  township.  They  have  only  one  child, 
the  subject  of  this  biography. 

When  Lauritz  was  two  years  old  the 
family  came  to  Lyon  county.  The  father 
took  as  a  homestead  claim  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  32,  Shelburne,  lived  on 
the  place  until  after  proving  up,  and  then 
purchased  land  on  section  8,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  Lauritz  grew  to  manhood  on 
that  farm  and  secured  his  education  in  the 
nearby  district  school.  After  growing  up 
he  took  the  management  of  the  home  farm, 
and  in  1909  he  bought  his  present  property 
and  moved  thereon. 

Mr.  Blegen  was  chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  of  Shelburne  township  one 
year  and  is  the  present  township  assessor. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
lodge  and  is  clerk  of  Camp  No.  3871,  Flor- 
ence. He  is  a  member  of  and  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church 
of  Florence. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Lizzie 
Alsaker  occurred  at  Benson,  Minnesota,  on 
the  last  day  of  the  year  1903.  She  is  a 
native  of  Swift  county.  Three  sons  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blegen,  named 
Nestor,  Lloyd  and  Howard. 


MRS.  JAMES  A.  HARRIS  (1880)  is  the 
widow  of  James  A.  Harris,  who  was  one  of 
the  most  highly  respected  citizens  of  Lyon 
county.  Mrs.  Harris'  maiden  name  was 
Mary  A.  Foster.  She  is  a  daughter  of  the 
late  Charles  S.  and  Sarah  J.  (Roberts) 
Foster,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1854 
her  parents  moved  from  their  native  state 
to  DeKalb  county,  Illinois,  where  they  re- 
sided until  1865.  At  that  early  date  they 
moved  to  Minnesota  and  settled  in  Wabasha 
county.  The  family  became  residents  of 
Lyon  county  in  1879,  residing  in  Lynd  town- 
ship until  1896,  when  they  took  up  then- 
residence  in  Marshall.  Mrs.  Foster,  died 
October  3,  1900,  and  Mr.  Foster  on  May  7. 
1909. 


To  these  parents  Mary  A.  Foster  was  born 
in  DeKalb  county,  Illinois,  May  25,  1S57. 
Winn  eight  years  of  age,  in  1865,  she  accom- 
panied her  parents  to  Minnesota  and  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  Elgin,  Wabasha 
county,  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  Miss  Fos- 
ter continued  to  reside  with  her  parents  in 
Wabasha  county  until  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Harris  on  June  4,  1875. 

.lames  A.  Harris  was  of  Pennsylvania 
stock,  the  son  of  John  and  Cynthia  Harris. 
He  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio, 
January  15,  1849.  In  1873  he,  too,  be- 
came a  resident  of  Wabasha  county,  Minne- 
sota, where  he  resided  until  March,  1880. 
At  that  time  he  and  his  family  moved  to 
Lyon  county,  in  which  he  spent  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  took  a  homestead  in  Island 
Lake  township,  which  he  sold  two  years 
later.  He  resided  one  year  in  Lynd  town- 
ship and  seven  years  near  the  little  village 
of  Ghent.  Then  he  bought  a  farm  on  sec- 
tion 8,  Lynd  township,  later  added  to  his 
real  estate  holdings,  and  resided  on  that 
farm  until  his  death  on  June  28,  1911,  after 
an  illness  of  eight  years. 

Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harris,  named  as  follows:  William,  born 
September  26,  1876,  died  April  4,  1880; 
Frances  V.,  born  August  23,  1878;  Albert 
Lee,  born  September  30,  1880;  Charles  E., 
born  March  12,  1883;  Harry  R.,  born  Septem- 
ber 6,  1885;  George  E.,  bora  December  12, 
1887. 

All  the  children  except  Frank  and  Lee  re- 
side at  home  and  assist  their  mother  with 
the  management  of  the  home  farm.  The 
Harris  family  are  large  holders  of  Lyon 
county  real  estate.  Mrs.  Harris  owns  400 
acres  of  land  on  section  8,  Lynd  township. 
Frank  and  Lee,  who  are  independent  farm- 
ers, own  520  acres  in  Island  Lake  township. 
Charles,  Harry  and  George  are  the  possessors 
of  480  acres  on  section  5,  Lynd  township. 
In  addition  to  grain  farming,  the  Harris  fam- 
ily engage  extensively  in  stock  raising. 
Charles  Harris  is  a  director  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  17,  an  office  which  his  father  held 
continuously  from  1891  until  his  death. 
James  Harris  also  served  as  chairman  of 
the  Lynd  Township  Board  of  Supervisors 
for  ten  years. 

Mrs.  Harris  has  four  brothers  and  one  sis- 
ter, as  follows:  Elmer  Foster,  of  Marshall; 
L.  F.  and  Ulysses  Foster,  of  Lynd  township; 


:!4S 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


James  Foster,  of  Raymond,  South  Dakota; 
Oceana  (Mrs.  Henry  Wilson),  of  Cotton- 
wood. 


RICHARD  R.  BUMFORD  (1878),  who  con- 
ducts a  loan  and  real  estate  office  in  the  city 
of  Marshall,  has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon 
county  thirty-four  years.  He  is  a  native  of 
Racine  county,  Wisconsin,  and  was  born 
October  26,  1856.  He  was  educated  in  the 
district  school  and  in  the  grammar  school  at 
Racine. 

In  1876  Mr.  Bumford  moved  to  Blue  Earth 
county,  Minnesota,  where  he  engaged  in 
teaching  district  schools  two  years.  He  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  the  spring  of  1878,  took  a 
homestead  claim  in  Monroe  township,  and 
for  a  few  years  was  engaged  in  teaching 
school.  He  was  elected  register  of  deeds  in 
1882  and  held  the  office  three  terms,  until 
the  first  of  the  year  1889.  That  year  he  en- 
gaged in  his  present  business.  Mr.  Bumford 
makes  a  specialty  of  real  estate  loans  and 
has  built  up  a  very  large  business  along  that 
line. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married  at 
Marshall  in  June,  1886,  to  Lucy  Lewis,  a 
native  of  New  York  State.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bumford  have  two  children:  Gladys  E.,  a 
graduate  of  the  Marshall  High  School  and 
who  for  two  years  attended  the  Conservatory 
of  Music  of  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and  Truman 
Lewis,  who  was  graduated  from  the  Mar- 
shall High  School  in  1911  and  who  is  now 
attending  Carleton  College.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Congregational  church  of 
Marshall,  Mr.  Bumford  being  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  church. 

Richard  R.  Bumford  is  a  son  of  the  late 
David  and  Ellen  (Roberts)  Bumford.  The 
parents  were  born  in  Wales,  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  young,  and  were  married  in  Racine, 
Wisconsin.  David  Bumford  was  a  veteran  of 
the  Civil  War,  having  served  as  a  member 
of  Company  F,  of  the  Twenty-second  Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer  Infantry.  He  died  at  the  home 
of  his  son,  Abner  G.  Bumford,  in  Custer 
township  in  December,  1889.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  died  in  Wisconsin  a  number 
of  years  ago.  There  were  only  two  children 
in  the  family — Abner  G.  and  Richard  R. 
Bumford. 


JOHN  B.  CULSHAW  (1880),  farmer  and 
land  owner  of  Nordland  township,  has  lived 
in  that  precinct  since  he  was  eight  years  of 
age.  He  was  born  in  England  August  20, 
1872,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Helen  (Parker) 
Culshaw,  also  residents  of  Nordland. 

It  was  in  1880  that  the  Culshaw  family 
came  from  England  and  made  settlement  in 
Nordland  township,  the  father  having  pur- 
chased a  quarter  section  of  land  on  section  3 
through  Father  Hanly  the  year  before  their 
arrival.  John  received  his  schooling  and 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm.  After  grow- 
ing up  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  home  farm  and  was  so  engaged 
until  1909.  Then,  having  purchased  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  2  from  his 
father,  he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself. 

Mr.  Culshaw  raises  Guernsey  cattle  and 
Poland  China  hogs.  He  has  served  as  treas- 
urer of  Nordland  township  and  as  clerk  of 
school  district  No.  77.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  church  and  of  the  M.  W.  A.  and 
K.  C.  lodges. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Culshaw  to  Ann 
O'Brien  occurred  in  Minneota  November  8, 
1905.  She  was  born  in  Illinois  December  6, 
1879,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret 
O'Brien.  Her  father  was  born  in  Ireland 
and  died  in  Nordland  township  in  1896;  her 
mother  was  born  in  Scotland  and  died  in 
Nordland  township  in  1901.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Culshaw  have  five  children:  Helen  B.,  Mar- 
garet, Agnes,  Mary  J.  and  Ann  T. 


FRANK  E.  STARR  (1873),  of  Tracy,  is  the 
son  of  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  southeast- 
ern Lyon  county  and  has  lived  in  the  county 
all  except  the  first  four  years  of  his  life. 
He  engages  extensively  in  the  stock  business 
with  his  brother,  Charles  Starr,  the  firm  be- 
ing Starr  Brothers. 

The  brothers  are  sons  of  the  late  E.  L. 
Starr,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Tracy  and  a 
man  who  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  af- 
fairs of  his  community.  The  family  came  to 
the  county  in  1873  and  took  as  a  homestead 
claim  land  adjoining  the  future  city  of  Tracy 
on  the  east.  There  a  small  frame  house  was 
erected  and  a  sod  barn  was  put  up  to  shelter 
the  oxen.  On  the  claim  the  Northwestern 
Railroad  Company  established  the  first  sta- 
tion in  the  vicinity,  the  predecessor  of  that 
of  Tracy. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


349 


B.  L.  Starr  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
buying  and  conducted  a  butcher  shop  in 
Tracy  when  the  town  was  started.  Before 
that  time  the  household  supplies  were  hauled 
from  Currie.  The  elder  Mr.  Starr  served  as 
county  commissioner  in  the  early  days.  He 
died  in  190S.  The  following  named  seven 
children  are  members  of  the  family:  Mary 
A..  Frank  E.,  Charles  E.,  Lillian.  Lucy,  Eva 
and  Mabel. 

Frank  E.  Starr  was  born  near  Winona, 
Minnesota,  March  19,  1869,  and  when  four 
years  old  came  with  the  family  to  Lyon 
county.  Prior  to  his  father's  death  he  and 
his  brother  were  associated  in  business  with 
their  parent.  Frank  bought  his  present  place 
on  the  outskirts  of  Tracy  about  ten  years 
ago.  Besides  his  other  business  interests  he 
engages  in  farming.  He  also  owns  an  110- 
acre  farm  near  town.  Our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge. 

Mr.  Starr  was  married  in  Tracy  to  Cyn- 
thia Beeman,  a  native  of  Wisconsin.  They 
have  three  children,  Leroy  L.,  Warner  and 
Alice. 

MARTINUS  ANDERSON  (1S80)  farms  280 
acres  of  land  in  Lucas  township,  a  short  dis- 
tance west  of  Cottonwood.  The  farm  is  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  6.  He  was  born 
on  the  adjoining  farm,  the  homestead  of  his 
father,  October  14,  1880.  With  the  exception 
of  a  few  months  spent  in  Colorado  and  Can- 
ada, Martinus  has  always  lived  in  this  vicin- 
ity. The  farm  on  which  he  now  resides  he 
has  farmed  since  1905  and  he  has  since  made 
many  improvements  on  it,  including  a  large 
barn  built  in  1912.  v 

Gabriel  Anderson,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, superintends  the  farming  of  the  home 
place,  although  he  resides  in  Cottonwood. 
He  is  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  of  Lyon 
county,  having  purchased  about  1600  acres 
since  taking  up  his  residence  here.  He  was 
born  in  Norway  and  came  to  America  when 
one  year  old.  He  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
the  early  seventies  and  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Lucas  township.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  is  Margaret  (Olson)  Anderson, 
a  native  of  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota. 

The  oldest  child  of  the  Anderson  family, 
Edward,  was  drowned  when  five  years  old. 
The  other  children  are  Martinus,  Mrs.  Ber- 
nard Dahl,  Mrs.  J.  Von  Williams,  Mabel, 
Joseph,  Henrietta  and  Hartford. 


Martinus  Anderson  was  married  at  Granite 
Falls,  Minnesota,  October  18,  1905,  to  Annie 
Wangsness,  a  native  of  Fillmore  county. 
Their  only  child,  Gifford  J.,  died  at  the  age 
of  five  months. 


JAY  P.  PETERSON  (1886)  is  a  member  of 
the  Home  Land  Company  of  Russell  and  is 
interested  in  other  business  enterprises  in 
that  village.  He  is  an  early  settler  of  south- 
western Lyon  county  and  was  the  first  sta- 
tion agent  at  Russell. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  born  in  Denmark  May  4, 
1874,  the  eldest  of  four  children  born  to  Hans 
and  Ellen  Peterson,  who  now  reside  in  Rus- 
sell. The  other  children  of  the  family  are 
Hans  C,  William  C.  and  Carrie  K.,  the  wife 
of  Peter  Hanson,  of  Russell. 

When  Jay  was  nine  years  old  the  family 
came  to  America  and  made  settlement  at 
Maquoketa,  Jackson  county,  Iowa.  In  1886 
they  moved  to  Lyon  county,  bought  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  36,  Coon  Creek 
township,  and  on  that  farm  Jay  lived  with 
his  parents  a  little  over  a  year.  While  liv- 
ing there,  during  the  memorable  blizzard  of 
January  12,  1888,  Hans  Peterson  and  our 
subject  had  an  experience  that  will  never  be 
effaced  from  their  memory.  An  account  of 
their  experience  in  the  storm  can  be  found 
in  the  historical  part  of  this  volume. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  Jay  Peterson 
left  the  parental  roof  and  set  out  in  life  for 
himself.  His  first  work  was  on  the  grade  of 
the  Willmar  &  Sioux  Falls  road,  which  was 
then  building  through  the  county.  In  1891 
he  went  to  Tyler  and  in  the  railroad  station 
at  that  place  learned  the  telegrapher's  trade. 
On  September  12,  1892,  he  located  at  the  new 
station  of  Russell,  opened  the  station,  and 
had  charge  of  the  company's  interests  there 
until  1900. 

During  the  next  three  years  Mr.  Peterson 
was  agent,  respectively,  at  Lester  and  Doon, 
Iowa;  Yankton,  South  Dakota;  and  Pipe- 
stone, Minnesota.  He  was  then  promoted  to 
traveling  freight  agent  for  the  Great  North- 
ern, with  headquarters  at  Sioux  City,  and 
held  the  position  until  1909.  That  year  he 
gave  up  railroading,  returned  to  Russell,  and 
opened  a  general  store.  He  conducted  that 
one  year  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business.  In  1910  he  organized 
the  Home  Land  Company  in  company  with 


350 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


B.  Leknes,  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank. 
He  is  also  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business 
and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Russell  Tile  and 
Cement  Manufacturing  Company. 

Upon  the  incorporation  of  Russell  Mr. 
Peterson  was  chosen  the  first  village  re- 
corder, and  he  was  one  of  the  first  trustees 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Russell.  He 
is  a  Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter  Mason  and  a 
member  of  the  Woodmen  and  Workmen 
lodges.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Eastern 
Star,  Royal  Neighbors  and  Degree  of  Honor 
orders. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  occurred  in 
Russell  November  27,  1899,  when  he  wedded 
May  B.  Patton,  a  native  of  Lodi,  Wisconsin, 
and  a  former  resident  of  Esmond,  Kings- 
bury county,  South  Dakota.  Her  parents, 
James  and  Jane  Patton,  were  born  in  Scot- 
land and  in  the  early  seventies  located  in 
Kingsbury  county. 


JOHN  H.  HUGHES  (1876),  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Custer  township  and  a 
farmer  who  has  prospered  on  his  eighty- 
acre  farm  and  been  active  in  the  affairs 
of  the  community,  was  born  in  New  York 
State  March  22,  18  52.  When  a  small  child 
he  accompanied  his  parents,  Hugh  R.  and 
Ann  (Pew)  Hughes,  to  Wisconsin,  where 
the  family  resided  until  John  was  ten  years 
old;  then  the  family  moved  to  Blue  Earth 
county,  Minnesota. 

Blue  Earth  county  coutinued  to  be  the 
home  of  the  Hughes  family  until  John  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm  and  attended  school  in  the 
home  district.  He  had  been  helping  his 
father  on  the  farm  several  years  when,  in 
1876,  the  family  came  to  Lyon  county,  the 
father  and  John  each  taking  homesteads 
in  Custer  township.  The  parents  made 
their  homestead  their  home  until  their 
deaths,  and  John  has  been  a  continuous 
resident  on  the  west  half  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  14  ever  since  taking  it 
as  a  homestead  in  187  6.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder of  the  Garvin  Creamery  Company. 

John  Hughes  and  Margaret  J.  Owens 
were  united  in  marriage  January  1,  1877. 
Mrs.  Hughes  was  born  in  Waukesha,  Wis- 
consin, March  2  5,  1856.  'To  them  have 
been  born  six  children,  named  as  follows: 
Hugh,  Philip,  Hannah,  Mary,   Margaret  and 


Elizabeth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughes  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  church  of  Cus- 
ter township. 


THEODORE  JANSEN  (1885).  One  of 
the  most  prosperous  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  of  Lyon  county  is  Theodore  Jansen, 
of  Lake  Marshall  township.  He  was  born 
in  Beubwe,  Holland,  August  31,  1865,  and 
resided  there  until  twenty  years  of  age. 
Theodore  is  a  son  of  Albert  and  Annie 
(Boerboom)  Jansen,  both  deceased,  'the 
former  having  died  in  1891  and  the  latter 
in   1895. 

In  1885  our  subject  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Lyon  county  and  the  father 
bought  land  near  Ghent.  Albert  Jansen 
died  there  in  1891  and  Theodore  then  as- 
sumed charge  of  his  father's  farm  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother  Jacob.  They  farmed 
together  until  1901,  when  they  sold  out 
and  moved  to  Oklahoma.  Not  finding  the 
latter  country  to  their  liking,  they  returned 
to  Lyon  county  and  purchased  5  60  acres  of 
land  in  Lake  Marshall  township.  They 
farmed  together  until  19  05,  when  they 
divided,  and  our  subject  became  the  owner 
of  400  acres  of  improved  land.  He  raises 
a  great  deal  of  stock,  including  Shorthorn 
and  Durham  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs. 
Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
in  Ghent  June  30,  1891,  to  Caroline  Hen- 
nen,  a  native  of  Lemberg,  Holland.  Mrs. 
Jansen  was  born  October  19,  1872,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Arnold  and  Helena  (Becker) 
Hennen,  who  came  to  America  in  1884  and 
located  at  Ghent,  later  moving  to  Green 
Bay,  Wisconsin.  The  mother  died  in  19  05; 
the  father  is  living  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years.  Mrs.  Jansen  died  March  9, 
1907. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jansen  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Mary  H,  born 
July  20,  1892;  Albert  A.,  born  August  1, 
1893;  William  O.,  born  November  11,1894; 
Agnes  W.  J.,  born  October  12,  1896;  Leo 
T.,  born  April  24,  1898;  Annie  H-,  born 
May  4,  1899;  Helena  C,  born  February 
15,  1903;  Carolina  M.,  born  March  7,  1905. 
Mr.  Jansen  was  married  a  second  time, 
to  Maria  Vergot  on  February  28,  1911. 
She    was    born    in    Belgium    September    4. 


liMHJRAPIUCAL   HISTORY. 


351 


L878,    and    is    a    (laughter    of    Julius    and 
Louisa  (Nayeart)   Vergot. 


JAMES  GRIEVE  (1889),  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Grieve  &  Laingen,  is  a  prosperous 
merchant  of  Cottonwood.  The  proprietors 
built  the  large  and  commodious  two-story 
brick  building  which  they  occupy  and  the 
firm  handles  a  large  line  of  general  mer- 
chandise and  is  one  of  the  most  popular 
business  institutions  in  the  county.  Grieve 
&  Laingen  also  own  a  well  improved  quarter 
section  of  land  in  Lucas  township,  to  which 
they  give  their  personal  supervision. 

Mr.  Grieve  is  a  native  of  Ontario,  Canada. 
He  was  born  October  24,  1872,  and  when  a 
child  the  family  moved  to  Saginaw,  Michigan, 
where  James  resided  until  1889,  when  he 
was  seventeen  years  of  age.  At  that  time 
he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  worked  out  as 
a  farm  laborer  about  two  years,  finally  seek- 
ing employment  in  Cottonwood  and  securing 
a  position  as  clerk  in  the  store  of  Arneson 
&  Olson,  which  he  held  four  years.  The 
ambition  to  get  into  business  for  himself  led 
Mr.  Grieve  to  form  a  partnership  with 
John  Michie,  and  the  two  young  men  bought 
Dahl  Brothers'  general  merchandise  stock 
and  ran  the  store  under  the  firm  name  of 
Michie  &  Grieve  six  years.  In  1902  C.  R. 
Laingen  bought  out  Mr.  Michie,  and  the 
firm  name  has  since  been  Grieve  &  Laingen. 
In  1904  the  partners  built  the  present  mod- 
ern building. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Lucas  town- 
ship August  5,  1896,  to  Ellen  Garry,  a  native 
of  Canada  and  a  daughter  of  John  Garry, 
an  early  settler  of  Lucas  township.  In  the 
summer  of  1911  Mr.  Grieve  built  a  fine  resi- 
dence of  the  bungalow  type,  and  he  and  his 
wife  are  now  comfortably  installed  in  the 
new  home.  Mr.  Grieve's  mother  is  still  liv- 
ing and  makes  her  home  in  Cottonwood. 
The  father,  Joseph  Grieve,  died  in  the  early 
seventies. 

James  Grieve  was  a  member  of  the  Village 
Council  two  terms.  Fraternally  he  is  asso- 
ciated with  the  Masonic  lodge. 


PEDER  GILBERT  RONNING  (1879)  has 
spent  his  entire  life  as  a  resident  of  Shel- 
burne  township.  He  is  the  son  of  Thomas 
and   Maret    (Otton)    Ronning,   who   came   to 


Lyon  county  in   March,  1879,  and  have  ever 
since  resided  in  Shellmrne. 

Perler  was  born  on  section  18,  May  18, 
1879.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Florence  and  the  vicinity  and  was  a  student 
until  eighteen  years  of  age.  Thereafter  until 
he  reached  his  majority  he  worked  on  his 
father's  farm.  Since  becoming  of  age  he  has 
farmed  for  himself.  During  the  past  four 
years  he  has  farmed  the  east  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  28.  Besides 
general  farming,  Mr.  Ronning  raises  consid- 
erable stock,  including  Shorthorn  cattle, 
Poland  China  hogs  and  Percheron  horses. 

Randy  Christensen  became  the  wife  of 
Peder  Ronning  on  May  IS,  1902.  She  was 
born  in  Norway  June  8,  1876,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Rasmus  and  Andrena  Christen- 
sen, pioneer  settlers  of  and  still  residents  of 
Coon  Creek  township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ron- 
ning have  been  born  the  following  named 
children:  Alma  Matilda,  born  November  5, 
1903;  Torvel  Roy,  born  May -12,  1906;  Pleda 
Ruth  (deceased),  born  January  13,  1909; 
Aimer  Olea.  born  January  16,  1911. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  of  Florence.  Mr.  Ronning 
is  a  member  of  the  Modem  Woodmen  order 
and  was  formerly  one  of  the  officers  of  the 
local  lodge. 


LORENTS  KLAITH  (1875)  is  a  general 
merchant  of  Minneota  and  a  man  who  has 
resided  in  Lyon  and  Lincoln  counties  for 
thirty-seven  years.  He  is  a  native  of  Norway 
and  was  born  October  18,  1856,  one  of  a 
family  of  seven  children.  The  other  living 
members  of  the  family  are  Mrs.  Anna 
Spillum,  of  Racine  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
Mrs.  Oleni  Feste,  of  Williams  county.  North 
Dakota.  The  father  of  this  family  died  in 
Norway  when  Lorents  was  a  child;  the 
mother,  Marie  Klaith,  died  in  Lincoln  county 
about  1899,  aged  seventy-four  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1873  Lorents  came  to  the 
United  States  with  his  mother,  brothers  and 
sisters  and  located  in  Racine  county,  Wis 
consin,  where  he  remained  until  the  summer 
of  1875.  Then  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
worked  on  farms  near  Minneota  until  1879. 
That  year  he  homesteaded  land  in  Lime- 
stone township,  Lincoln  county,  when'  he 
lived  until  the  fall  of  190L  On  t lint  farm 
he  "batched"  for  two  years  in  a  dug-out  and 


352 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


then  built  a  log  house,  which  still  stands 
on  the  farm.  He  went  through  all  the 
hardships  of  early  days,  but  when  times 
bettered  he  became  a  prosperous  farmer. 
Mr.  Klaith  still  owns  the  old  farm  besides 
another  quarter  section  adjoining  it. 

In  1901  Mr.  Klaith  moved  to  Minneota, 
where  he  bought  livestock  for  a  year  and 
then  purchased  an  interest  in  the  general 
store  of  Christ  Urdahl.  Later  he  bought 
Mr.  Urdahl's  interest  and  has  continued  the 
business.  Mr.  Klaith  is  a  member  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church.  While  on  the 
farm  he  was  assessor  eight  consecutive 
years,  chairman  of  the  township  board  four 
years,  one  of  the  first  constables  in  the 
township,  and  was  clerk  of  the  school  dis- 
trict from  its  organization  until  he  left  the 
farm. 

Mr.  Klaith  was  married  in  August.  1886, 
to  Gorgine  Feste.  a  native  of  Norway  who 
was  then  a  resident  of  Nordland  township. 
They  have  five  children  living,  Martin,  Jo- 
sephina,  Annie,  Amanda  and  Laura.  Those 
deceased  were  Martin,  Annie,  Lewis. 


KASPER  FISCHER  (1888),  of  Lynd  town- 
ship, is  a  farmer  and  land  owner  of  Lyon 
county  who  has  resided  here  many  years. 
He  is  a  native  of  Germany  and  was  born 
at  Bavaria  August  1,  1847,  the  son  of  John 
and  Marguerite  Fischer.  Both  parents  are 
deceased. 

Kasper  Fischer  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  Germany,  where  he  attended  school 
until  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  then  wrorked 
for  his  father  on  the  farm  until  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  wiien  he  enlisted  in  the  Ger- 
man army  and  fought  in  the  Franco-German 
war,  spending  about  four  years  in  the  serv- 
ice. He  then  returned  home  and  worked  for 
his  father  until  1875. 

Mr.  Fischer  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1SSS 
and  has  been  a  very  successful  farmer  and 
stock  raiser.  Previous  to  coming  to  Lyon 
county  he  worked  in  Chicago  for  six  years. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church.  He  has  stock  in  the  farmers'  eleva- 
tor companies  of  Marshall,  Ghent  and  Lynd. 
He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the  Independent 
Harvester  Company  of  Piano,  Illinois.  Mr. 
Fischer  engages  extensively  in  sYock  raising, 
breeding  Hereford  cattle,  Red  Jersey  hogs. 
White    Plymouth    Rock    chickens    and    Bel- 


gian horses.  He  was  road  overseer  in  Lynd 
township  for  three  years.  He  owns  four  hun- 
dred eighty  acres  of  land  in  Lynd  township 
and  four  hundred  acres  in  Island  Lake  town- 
ship and  has  one  of  the  best  improved  farms 
in  Lyon  county.  He  drives  an  International 
automobile. 

On  February  1,  1875,  Mr.  Fischer  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Babata  Stachar,  a 
native  of  Germany.  To  this  union  were 
born  the  following  children:  Katherine, 
Anna,  Elizabeth  (deceased),  Joseph,  William 
and  Harry.  All  reside  at  home.  Mrs.  Fischer 
died  in  1905.  Joseph  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  W.  A.  lodge  and  a  graduate  of  the  Minne- 
sota State  Agricultural  College.  Katherine 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters. 


FREMONT  SHARPE  BROWN  (1880)  has 
practised  law  in  the  city  of  Tracy  for  the 
past  thirty-two  years  and  has  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  affairs  of  Lyon 
county  during  all  that  time.  He  has  served 
as  judge  of  probate  and  county  attorney  and 
held  many  minor  offices.  His  part  in  the 
political  and  business  affairs  of  the  county 
richly  entitles  him  to  a  place  in  this  History 
of  Lyon   County. 

Judge  Brown  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Indianapolis,  Indiana,  June  15,  1856.  His 
ancestry  can  be  traced  back  to  colonial  days 
in  New  England;  his  parents,  Myron  Holly 
Brown  and  Sarah  M.  (Sharpe)  Brown,  were 
both  born  in  New  York  State.  In  May,  1865, 
the  family  became  residents  of  Minnesota, 
locating  in  Wabasha.  There  young  Brown 
read  law  and  in  1879  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  He  practised  in  his  home  city  a  few 
months  and  then  located  in  the  young  but 
growing  town  of  Tracy,  which  has  ever  since 
been  his  home. 

Many  times  has  Judge  Brown  been  called 
upon  to  serve  in  an  official  capacity.  Before 
the  incorporation  of  Tracy  he  served  as  clerk 
of  Monroe  township,  and  after  the  incorpora- 
tion he  was  the  first  village  recorder.  He 
was  elected  county  judge  of  probate  in  1882 
and  was  re-elected  four  consecutive  times, 
serving  until  January,  1893.  He  was  chosen 
county  attorney  in  1896,  was  re-elected  in 
1898,  and  held  the  office  until  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1901.  In  1887  the  Minnesota 
Legislature   provided   that   the   governor  ap- 


moURAPIUCAL   HISTORY. 


3r>:.{ 


point  a  commission  of  three  members  to 
codify  and  revise  the  probate  laws  of  the 
state.  Judge  Brown,  who  was  then  serving 
as  probate  judge,  was  named  as  one  of  that 
commission  and  assisted  in  the  work.  In 
1SS9  the  Legislature  adopted  and  enacted 
into  law  the  probate  laws  as  revised  and 
codified  by  the  commission. 

In  business  affairs  Judge  Brown  has  also 
had  considerable  to  do.  having  perfected  the 
organization  of  several  incorporated  com- 
panies for  investment  in  lands.  In  Masonic 
circles  Judge  Brown  has  taken  advanced  de- 
grees. He  holds  membership  in  the  Minne- 
sota Consistory,  Paladin  Commandery  No.  21, 
Osman  Temple,  St.  Paul  Council,  R.  S.  M., 
Bower  Chapter  No.  44,  R.  A.  M.,  Tracy 
Lodge  No.  155,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Virginia 
Chapter  No.   14.   O.   E.   S. 

Judge  Brown  was  married  in  Mankato  to 
Sue  B.  Gleason.  She  died  in  September, 
1896.  To  them  were  born  two  children. 
Mary  Kathrine  and  Hoit  Sharpe.  The  sec- 
ond marriage  of  Judge  Brown  occurred  in 
February,  1907,  to  Flora  A.  Hartigan,  a  na- 
tive of  Plainview.  Minnesota. 


WILLIAM  J.  BRULL  (1884),  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Bocholtz,  Hol- 
land, July  17,  1860,  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Holland,  and  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  after  which  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  government  as  mail  carrier, 
and  during  that  time,  on  the  first  day  of 
May,  1882,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary  E.  Rycken,  to  which  union  Mary  Lizzie 
was  born  February  8,  1883. 

On  the  eleventh  day  of  April,  1884,  Mr. 
Brull  and  his  family,  accompanied  by  his 
father  and  mother,  immigrated  to  America, 
and  they  arrived  in  the  village  of  Ghent, 
Lyon  county,  Minnesota,  on  April  28  of  the 
same  year.  Soon  thereafter  he  rented  a 
farm  and  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  24  in  the  township  of  Lake  Mar- 
shall, at  which  place  and  on  the  nineteenth 
day  of  April,  1885,  his  only  son,  William  J. 
Brull,  Jr.,  was  born.  In  1887  he  purchased 
the  south  half  of  section  34  in  the  town- 
ship of  Grandview  and  moved  thereon  in 
the  spring  of  1888.  He  continued  to  operate 
the  farm  in  Grandview  until  1899,  at  which 
time  he  purchased  the  south  half  of  section 
36  of  the  same  township  and  moved  thereon 


and  on  that  place  he  has  resided  ever  since. 
Mr.  Brull  has  since  purchased  several  other 
farms,  making  his  land  holdings  at  the  pres- 
ent time  680  acres,  and  he  has  improved  the 
same  by  erecting  thereon  a  set  of  farm  build- 
ings equal,  if  not  superior,  to  any  in  the 
county,  including  a  residence  with  all  of  the 
modern  conveniences  at  a  cost  of  over  $6000, 
which  farm  and  home  are  within  two  miles 
of  the  city  of  Marshall,  the  county  seat. 

Mr.  Brull  has  prospered  in  all  of  his  under- 
takings and  investments  and  is  today  enjoy- 
ing the  results  of  an  active  and  well-spent 
career.  He  has  been  active  in  all  the  affairs 
of  his  township  and  in  addition  thereto  has 
been  traveling  salesman  for  the  Page  Woven 
Wire  Fence  Company  of  Adrian,  Michigan, 
and  is  a  director  of  the  Western  Mutual  Fire 
Insurance  Company  of  Balaton. 

Mrs.  Brull  was  born  at  Broeksittard,  Hol- 
land, on  January  13,  1861,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Henry  Rycken  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Pan- 
hausen)  Rycken,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased. 

His  only  daughter,  Mary  Lizzie,  became  the 
wife  of  Constant  Senden  on  September  25, 
1907,  who  died  on  the  sixth  of  June,  1908,  at 
which  time  she  returned  to  and  has  since 
made  her  home  with  her  father  and  mother. 
His  son  William  J.  Brull,  Jr.,  is  unmarried 
and  makes  his  home  with  his  parents. 

Mr.  Brull  is  an  active  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic church  and  in  politics  is  what  is  known 
at  the  present  time  as  a  Progressive  Repub- 
lican. 


JAMES  CHRISTENSON  (1886),  Stanley 
township  farmer,  is  a  native  of  Denmark 
and  was  born  January  6,  1862,  a  son  of 
Christ  and  Amelia  (Peterson)  Jensen. 

In  his  native  land  James  Christenson  was 
reared  and  educated.  In  1886,  when  twenty- 
four  years  of  age,  he  came  to  America  and 
direct  to  Lyon  county.  For  a  few  years  he 
worked  out  as  a  farm  hand  and  in  18S9  he 
rented  land  in  Stanley  township  and  started 
in  business  for  himself.  He  located  on  the 
present  place  in  1909.  He  farms  320  acres 
on  section  6,  Stanley,  and  30,  Lucas.  He 
raises  Poland  China  hogs  and  other  stock. 
For  seven  years  Mr.  Christenson  served  as 
a  director  of  school  district  No.  15.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 

The    marriage    of    James    Christenson    to 


354 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Maria  Sorenson  occurred  in  Marshall  August 
28,  1888.  She  was  born  in  Denmark  March 
13,  1865,  and  died  March  4,  1912.  Her  par- 
ents were  Paul  and  Bodel  (Peterson)  Soren- 
son, both  of  whom  are  buried  in  the  old 
country.  Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Christenson,  as  follows:  Paul, 
born  June  13,  1889;  Chris,  born  October  23, 
1890;  Fred,  born  October  19,  1892;  Henry, 
born  February  23,  1895;  Emma,  born  Janu- 
ary 28,  1898;  Jacob,  born  March  30,  1900; 
James,  born  April  7,  1903;  and  Mary,  born 
June   27,   1907,. 


A.  R.  CHACE  (1878). is  a  dealer  in  imple- 
ments, stock  and  grain  in  the  city  of  Mar- 
shall and  an  old-time  resident  of  Lyon 
county.  For  the  last  thirty-four  years  he 
has  lived  in  the  county  and  most  of  that 
time  has  been  spent  in  the  city  in  which  he 
now  has  his  home.  During  these  years  he 
has  been  active  in  the  affairs  of  the  city  and 
he  is  rated  among  the  men  of  integrity  of  the 
community. 

Mr.  Chace  was  born  in  Danby  township, 
Rutland  county,  Vermont,  on  May  1,  1838. 
rihe  first  twelve  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
in  his  native  state  and  then  he  moved  to 
Erie  county.  New  York,  where  he  resided 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War. 

For  three  years  and  one  month  Mr.  Chace 
served  in  the  Union  Army,  having  enlisted 
as  orderly  sergeant  in  Company  A,  Sixty- 
fourth  New  York  Infantry.  He  participated 
in  every  battle  in  which  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  took  part,  including  Gettysburg,  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Fredericksburg, 
Culpepper  Court  House,  Cold  Harbor,  the 
'Wilderness,  Fair  Oaks,  Antietam  and  York- 
town.  He  was  in  the  Fourth  Brigade  (Gen- 
eral John  R.  Brooks)  of  the  Second  Army 
Corps  (General  Hancock)  and  in  the  battle 
of  Antietam  was  under  General  Nelson  A. 
Miles.  After  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  Mr. 
Chace  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant, 
was  made  first  lieutenant  a  few  weeks  later, 
and  later  still  was  made  captain.  During 
the  last  year  of  his  service  he  was  brigade 
inspector  on  the  staff  of  General  John  R. 
Brooks. 

After  the  war  Captain  Chace  located  in 
the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania."  For  several 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  oil  industry, 
putting    down    wells    and    promoting    enter- 


prises. After  leaving  Pennsylvania  he  spent 
six  months  in  the  same  business  at  South 
Norwich,  Canada.  The  Fenian  raids  were 
taking  place  in  that  part  of  Canada  at  the 
time  and  Mr.  Chace  had  exciting  experiences 
in  them.  For  the  next  ten  years  Mr.  Chace 
was  a  resident  of  Chicago,  one  year  in  the 
merchandising  brokerage  business,  and  the 
rest  of  the  time  in  the  foreign  and  domestic 
fruit  trade.  In  the  great  fire  of  1871  he  lost 
everything  he  possessed,  but  later  recouped 
his' fortunes. 

It  was  in  1878  that  A.  R.  Chace  became 
a  resident  of  Lyon  county.  He  bought  a  pre- 
emption claim  to  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  14,  Sodus  township,  and  later  bought 
120  acres  of  railroad  land  adjoining.  He 
lived  on  the  farm  one  year  and  then  moved 
to  Marshall,  where  he  has  ever  since  re- 
sided. At  the  time  of  locating  in  the  county 
seat  Mr.  Chace  formed  a  partnership  with 
J.  P.  Watson  and  engaged  in  the  implement 
and  stock  business.  For  twenty-five  years 
the  firm  of  Watson  &  Chace  had  an  exist- 
ence. Then  William  Neill  bought  the  Wat- 
son interests,  and  the  business  has  since 
been  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Chace 
&  Neill.  Besides  his  other  duties  our  subject 
devotes  his  time  to  the  management  of  his 
farms.  He  owns  240  acres  of  land  in  Lake 
Marshall  township,  and  he  and  Mr.  Neill  own 
the  same  amount  in  Island  Lake  township. 

Watson  &  Chace's  first  store  was  at  the 
corner  of  .Main  and  Fourth  Streets,  on  the 
site  of  the  building  recently  vacated  by  the 
ten-cent  store.  Later  they  bought  the  yards 
of  the  Empire  Lumber  Company  and  those 
of  the  Hall  &  Ducey  Lumber  Company  and 
were  engaged  in  that  business  two  years, 
.selling  to  the  Ross  Lumber  Company.  Upon 
purchasing  the  business  of  the  Empire  Lum- 
ber Company  they  moved  into  that  company's 
building,  where  Chace  &  Neill  now  have  their 
office.  That  building  was  one  of  the  earliest 
erected  in  Marshall,  having  been  put  up  by 
the  Empire  Company  when  W.  M.  Todd  was 
their  agent. 

Mr.  Chace  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Marshall  Presbyterian  Church  and  is  a  ruling 
elder. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Ephraim 
and  Emily  (Rhodes)  Chace,  natives,  respect- 
ively, of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island. 
There  were  nine  children  in  the  family,  as 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


355 


follows:  Mary  (Mrs.  Ira  Vail),  deceased,  of 
Vermont;  Susan  (Mis.  Pliney  Bartlett),  de- 
ceased, of  Collins,  Erie  county,  New  York; 
Amelia  Vail,  of  Erie  county,  New  York; 
Eliza  Jacobs,  deceased;  Frances,  Clara  Wil- 
lett,  of  Erie  county;  Lydia  Wilbur,  deceased; 
and  A.  R.  Chace. 

The  marriage  of  A.  R.  Chace  to  Alice  G. 
Perry  occurred  in  Erie  county,  New  York. 
She  is  a  native  of  that  county  and  a  daughter 
of  Esquire  P.  H.  Perry.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chace 
have  one  child,  Naomi,  now  Mrs.  Edward  G. 
Campbell,  of  Owatonna,  Minnesota. 


ANDREW  HENRY  HATTLESTAD  (1878), 
one  of  Lucas  township's  farmers,  was  born 
at  Marshall  June  19,  1878,  and  is  a  son  of 
Ole  H.  and  Carrie  (Anderson)  Hattlestad. 
The  family  were  early  settlers  of  the  county, 
and  Ole  Hattlestad  is  still  a  prominent  figure 
in  county  affairs  and  resides  at  Cottonwood. 
His  wife  died  some  years  ago. 

Andrew  when  two  years  of  age  accom- 
panied his  parents  when  they  moved  to  a 
farm  in  Lucas  township.  He  grew  up  on 
the  farm  and  attended  district  school  until 
sixteen  years  of  age,  after  which  he  was  a 
student  in  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  College 
at  Madison,  Minnesota,  for  three  years.  After 
quitting  that  school,  Andrew  engaged  in  car- 
penter work  and  followed  that  calling  two 
years  at  Toronto,  South  Dakota.  Returning 
to  Lyon  county,  the  young  man  worked  three 
years  for  his  father  on  the  home  farm,  then 
married,  and  again  took  up  his  tradt-  for  a 
short  time  in  Cottonwood. 

Shortly  after  our  subject's  marriage  he 
moved  to  a  farm  in  Vallerg  and  commenced 
farming  for  himself,  in  which  occupation  he 
has  since  been  engaged.  Some  years  ago  he 
moved  to  Lucas  township  and  is  now  the  pro- 
prietor of  216  acres.  He  raises  considerable 
stock. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
November  28,  1900,  to  Emma  J.  Ludwig.  She 
was  born  near  the  town  of  Parker,  South 
Dakota,  June  1,  1883,  and  died  August  1, 
1910.  By  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Hattlestad  she 
became  the  mother  of  the  following  children: 
Carol  Sidney,  born  April  28,  1902;  Kenneth 
Olai,  born  June  10,  190?,,  died  June  20,  1903; 
Basil  Jerome,  born  December  15,  1904;  Clif- 
ford Orran,  born  June  15,  1907;  and  Erma 
Alsine,  born  June  20,  1909.     Mr.  Hattlestad 


is    a    in  mm  her    of    the    Norwegian    Lutheran 
church  of  Cottonwood. 


WILLIAM  C.  HENRICHS  (1887),  deceased, 
was  a  citizen  of  Russell  and  Shelburne  town- 
ship for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Bremer 
county,  Iowa,  December  6,  1876,  and  spent 
the  first  eleven  years  of  his  life  in  that 
state.  His  parents,  Fred  and  Rachael 
(Troosh)  Henrichs,  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many and  Ilion,  Illinois,  respectively,  and 
are  now  living  in  Todd  county,  Minnesota. 

The  Henrichs  family  moved  from  Iowa  to 
Lyon  county,  Minnesota,  in  1887  and  lo- 
cated in  Shelburne  township.  That  was 
William  Henrich's  home  for  many  years,  and 
he  conducted  a  farm  of  his  own  eleven  years 
before  moving  to  Russell  to  take  the  man- 
agement of  the  tile  plant. 

The  Russell  Cement  Tile  Manufacturing 
Company  was  started  by  John  Bengtson  in 
April,  1910,  and  in  August  the  plant  was 
bought  by  stockholders  and  incorporated  for 
$30,000,  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing 
cement  building  blocks,  drain  tile  and  other 
cement  work.  The  capacity  of  the  works 
was  increased  to  4000  tile-  per  day  and  the 
plant  was  equipped  with  the  latest  ma- 
chinery and  became  one  of  Russell's  best 
enterprises.  The  officers  of  the  new  company 
were  William  C.  Henrichs,  president  and 
general  manager;  John  Bengtson,  vice  presi- 
dent; J.  P.  Peterson,  secretary;  and  B. 
Leknes,  treasurer. 

Mr.  Henrichs  was  married  in  Coon  Creek 
township  October  14,  1899,  to  Eva  S.  Burck- 
hardt.  Two  children  were  born  to  this  union, 
Rudolph  and  Ida.  Mrs.  Henrichs  was  a 
native  of  Freeport,  Illinois,  and  died  May 
28,  1909.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
the  victim  of  an  automobile  accident  and 
came  to  his  death  in  the  summer  of  1911. 
Besides  his  two  children  he  left  nine  broth- 
ers and  three  sisters,  as  follows:  Fred, 
William  C,  Mary  Hamm,  Emma  Burckhardt, 
Herman,  Byron,  Albert,  Frank,  Henry.  Etta 
and  Ida.  Mr.  Henrichs  was  a  well  known 
and  well  liked  citizen  and  one  of  the  active 
and  reliable  business  men  of  Russell.  His 
death  was  a  universal  loss.  He  was  very 
prominent  in  lodge  circles  and  held  mem 
bership  in  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Modern  Wood- 
men, A.  O.  U.  W.  and  Royal  Neighbors 
lodges. 


356 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


JOHN  O'CONNOR  (1880)  is  the  proprietor 
of  Elder  Grove  Farm,  comprising  240  acres 
on  sections  11  and  13,  Eidsvold  township. 
When  he  came  to  Lyon  county  thirty-two 
years  ago  his  worldly  possessions  consisted 
of  $3.15.  He  worked  hard  and  economized 
to  pay  for  his  farm  and  improvements  and 
is  deserving  of  the  greatest  credit  for  what 
he  has  accomplished,  for  he  is  now  in  pros- 
perous circumstances  and  has  one  of  the 
fine  farm  homes  of  Eidsvold  township. 

Mr.  O'Connor  was  born  in  the  county  of 
Cork,  Ireland,  September  19,  1841.  His  par- 
ents, Edmund  and  Margaret  (Mullane) 
O'Connor,  died  in  the  old  country,  and  there 
are  three  living  children  of  a  family  of  six. 
The  children  are  Helen,  who  still  lives  in 
Ireland;  Margaret,  of  Washington,  District 
of  Columbia:  and  John. 

In  1868  Mr.  O'Connor  decided  to  seek  his 
fortune  in  the  New  World  and  he  landed  in 
Castle  Garden  on  April  23  of  that  year.  In 
the  metropolis  of  the  country  he  was  mar- 
ried and  resided  there  ten  years.  The  next 
two  years  were  spent  working  on  a  railroad 
in  Wabasha  county,  Minnesota,  and  then  he 
came  to  Lyon  county. 

The  trip  to  Lyon  county  in  1880  was  made 
by  train  to  Granite  Falls  and  thence  to 
Minneota  by  "Shank's  horses."  No  houses 
were  in  sight  for  many  miles  of  the  foot 
journey  and  the  first  night  he  slept  on  the 
prairie.  Upon  his  arrival  he  contracted  for 
the  purchase  of  his  present  farm  from  the 
railroad  company,  agreeing  to  pay  $6.00  per 
acre  for  the  same.  He  had  no  funds  and 
the  land  was  without  improvements.  He 
rented  a  little  shack  a  mile  south  of  his 
place,  in  which  he  lived  and  to  which  he 
brought  his  family  two  years  later,  and 
went  to  work  on  the  section  to  earn  money 
to  meet  the  payments  on  his  land  and  to 
support  his  family. 

For  twenty  years  Mr.  O'Connor  worked  on 
the  section,  for  the  last  twelve  years  of  the 
period  being  foreman  of  a  crew.  Thus  he 
struggled  to  gain  a  competence,  and  he 
finally  won  the  fight.  Three  years  after  his 
arrival  he  built  a  little  shack  on  the  land 
and  moved  his  family  there.  In  1898  he 
erected  an  eight-room,  32x36  feet,  well  ap- 
pointed house  and  other  buildings.  After 
quitting  the  railroad  he  began  farming  and 
has  since  been  so  engaged.  The  grove  of 
elder  trees   planted  in  the  early  days   sug- 


gested the  name  for  the  farm,  which  is  now 
recognized  as  one  of  the  fine  ones  of  the 
precinct.  Among  the  improvements  made  in 
1912  was  the  erection  of  a  100-ton  silo, 
thirty-six  feet  high,  and  the  expenditure  of 
$1000  in  tiling.  It  is  Mr.  O'Connor's  inten- 
tion to  feed  cattle  for  the  market. 

In  the  city  of  New  York,  on  January  8, 
1871,  Mr.  O'Connor  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Julia  O'Connor.  She  was  also  a  native 
of  County  Cork  and  arrived  in  America  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1868.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O'Connor 
were  born  nine  children,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing named  five  are  living:  Edmund,  who 
now  conducts  the  home  farm;  John,  of  Du- 
luth;  Mary,  of  Minneapolis;  Julia,  of  New 
York  City;  and  Veronica,  a  school  teacher. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Minneota. 

For  his  success  in  life  and  the  making  of 
his  home  he  desires  much  credit  given  to  his 
faithful  wife,  who  departed  this  life  on  April 
25,  1903. 


JOHN  \V.  WILSON  (1881)  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  360  acres  of  well-improved  farm  land 
in  Island  Lake  township  and  is  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  was  born  in 
Grant  county,  Wisconsin,  September  5,  1853, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Lucinda  (Rister) 
Wilson,  natives  of  Indiana  and  Illinois,  re- 
spectively. They  came  to  Wisconsin  in  an 
early  day  and  pursued  the  occupation  of 
farmers. 

John  was  brought  up  in  Wisconsin  and 
spent  the  first  twenty-eight  years  of  his  life 
in  that  state.  He  obtained  a  common  school 
education  and  afterward  remained  on  the 
farm  with  bis  father,  helping  with  the  work. 
In  1881  the  family  moved  to  Minnesota  and 
the  elder  Wilson  bought  160  acres  on  sec- 
tion 3,  Island  Lake  township.  The  property 
was  at  that  time  raw  prairie  land  and  the 
efforts  of  its  owners  have  brought  the  farm 
to  its  present  state  of  improvement.  Mr. 
Wilson  every  year  makes  a  shipment  of 
Durham  cattle  and  Duroc-Jersey  hogs  to 
market,  and  is  conducting  his  farm  with 
profit. 

He  was  married  in  the  township  to  Mary 
Helvig.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Catherine  Helvig,  natives  of  Germany,  who 
now  reside  at  Ivanhoe,  Minnesota.  Seven 
children    have   been    born    to   Mr.   and    Mrs. 


KHXiKAIMIKAL    HISTORY. 


357 


John  \V.  Wilson.  They  are  as  follows:  Cora, 
.Martha,  George.  Arthur,  Roy,  Frank  and 
Joseph.  The  Wilsons  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church. 


CAM1EL  F.  DE  SUTTER  (1882),  of  Grand- 
view  township,  was  horn  in  Belgium  Decem- 
ber 3,  1863,  and  was  brought  up  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  land.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  years  he  came  with  his  parents, 
Charles  F.  and  Mary  (De  Pauw)  De  Sutter, 
to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Wester- 
heim  township,  Lyon  county,  Minnesota,  the 
father  buying  land  on  section  29.  Charles  F. 
De  Sutter  made  that  his  home  until  1903, 
when  he  moved  to  Ghent,  and  there  he  died 
in  1906,  aged  seventy-eight  years;  Mrs.  De 
Sutter  died  on  the  farm  in  1897. 

Camiel  De  Sutter  remained  on  his  father's 
place  ten  years  after  the  family  located  in 
Lyon  county.  Then  he  married  and  bought 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  34  and  the 
northeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  33,  Westerheim  township,  and 
made  his  home  there  ten  years.  He  then 
moved  to  the  north  half  of  section  10,  Grand- 
view  township,  and  farmed  the  whole  sec- 
tion, later  buying  the  south  half.  There 
were  no  buildings  on  that  half,  and  Mr.  De 
Sutter  has  since  improved  the  farm.  He  con- 
ducts practically  all  the  520  acres  in  the 
two  townships.  He  donated  three  acres  of 
his  land  to  the  Catholics  and  they  built  their 
church  there. 

Camiel  De  Sutter  married  Mary  E.  Van 
Hee  in  Ghent,  the  wedding  taking  place 
July  6,  1892.  She  is  a  native  of  Belgium  and 
was  born  October  19,  1865,  a  daughter  of 
Angelus  Van  Hee,  who  located  in  Grand- 
view  township  in  1881  and  who  died  about 
eighteen  years  ago.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  De 
Sutter  have  been  born  nine  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Aime,  a  student  at  Sacred  Heart 
College,  Prairie  du  Chien,  Wisconsin;  and 
Charles,  Andrew,  Mary,  Joseph,  Rachael, 
Lucy,  Alice  and  Emil,  who  reside  at  home. 
Mr.  De  Sutter  has  seven  brothers  and  sis- 
ters living:  Andrew,  Nathalie,  August, 
Peter,  Louis,  Archer  and  Emil. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church  and  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters 
lodge. 


F.  W.  SICKLER  (1878),  cashier  of  the 
Lyon  County  National  Bank,  has  been  a 
resident  of  Marshall  since  1878.  He  is  one 
of  the  influential  citizens  of  the  city  and 
enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
people  of  the  entire  county. 

Mr.  Sickler  was  born  in  Rockford.  Illi- 
nois, October  21,  1856.  When  he  was  one 
year  of  age  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Rome,  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  where  he  received 
an  academic  education.  Later  he  moved  to 
Athens.  Pennsylvania,  where  he  resided  until 
1878.  That  year  he  located  in  Marshall  and 
has  ever  since  been  identified  with  the 
town's  prosperity. 

For  a  few  years  Mr.  Sickler  served  as 
deputy  register  of  deeds  of  Lyon  county  and 
as  deputy  county  treasurer,  doing  practically 
the  entire  work  of  both  offices.  In  1881  he 
was  made  assistant  cashier  of  the  Lyon 
County  National  Bank  and  has  since  been 
connected  with  that  financial  institution,  of 
late  years  as  its  cashier.  He  received  the 
appointment  of  postmaster  of  Marshall  in 
1898  and  served  a  four-year  term.  He  is  a 
Mason. 

At  Marshall,  on  July  25,  1895,  Mr.  Sickler 
was  married  to  Lillian  S.  Porter,  a  daughter 
of  Charles  Porter,  of  Lamberton,  Minnesota. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sickler  are  the  parents  of  the 
following  named  children:  Vivian  G.,  Flor- 
ence B.,  Frances  Porter,  Wallace  W.,  George 
Howard  and  Robert. 


ANDREW  OFSTAD  (1881),  who  owns  the 
northwest  quarter  and  south  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  19,  Shelburne 
township,  adjoining  the  village  of  Florence, 
is  a  well-to-do  farmer  and  stockraiser  of  the 
vicinity. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Trondhjem,  Nor- 
way, March  21,  1851,  his  parents  being  Guil- 
der S.  and  Mary  Ofstad,  both  now  deceased. 
Andrew  was  reared  in  the  land  of  his  na- 
tivity and  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion, attending  until  fifteen  years  old,  after 
which  he  worked  with  his  father  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  In 
1871  the  boy  immigrated  to  America,  lo- 
cating near  Ishpeming,  Michigan,  and  ob- 
taining employment  in  the  iron  mines,  where 
he  worked  for  the  next  four  years.     Thence 


358 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


he  went  to  Houghton,  Michigan,  and  worked 
four  years  in  the  copper  mines. 

In  the  spring  of  1881  Andrew,  then  a  man 
of  thirty,  determined  to  seek  a  less  confining 
occupation,  and  he  has  never  regretted  com- 
ing to  Minnesota  and  taking  up  farming  in 
Lyon  county.  He  bought  120  acres  of  his 
present  farm  at  that  time;  in  later  years  he 
has  purchased  additional  land  and  now  owns 
240  acres. 

Mr.  Ofstad  has  been  cpiite  active  in  affairs 
of  the  township,  having  been  a  member  of 
the  Township  Board  of  Supervisors  three  or 
four  years  and  a  director  of  school  district 
Xo.  78  two  terms.  He  was  also  road  over- 
seer in  Shelburne  two  terms.  He  has  been 
interested  in  the  Florence  Creamery  Com- 
pany and  was  president  of  the  company  two 
years.  Mr.  Ofstad  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O. 
U.  W.  lodge  of  Tyler  and  he  affiliates  with 
the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 

Andrew  Ofstad  was  married  August  14, 
1ST",,  at  Ishpeming,  Michigan,  to  Gurn  Ron- 
ning,  a  native  of  Norway  and  a  daughter  of 
Knute  and  Mary  (Gorseth)  Ronning,  both 
now  dead.  Gurn  Ronning  was  born  August 
7,  1852.  Andrew  and  Gurn  (Ronning)  Ofstad 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Gustad  A.,  Mary  (deceased),  Oluf  (deceased), 
Mary  (deceased),  Oliver,  Clara,  Martin,  Al- 
bert, Guy  and  Pauline.  Gustad  A.,  the  oldest 
son,  is  the  Great  Northern  Railway  station 
agent  at  Florence. 


STEVE  BLANCHETTE  (1884)  is  a  real 
estate  dealer  of  Marshall,  doing  business 
under  the  title  Marshall  Land  Company.  He 
handles  Southern  and  Central  Minnesota 
lands  exclusively  and  has  built  up  an  ex- 
tensive business.  He  first  came  to  Lyon 
county  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  and  his 
home  has  been  here  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  since. 

In  Kankakee  county.  Illinois,  on  August 
24,  1869,  Mr.  Blanchette  was  born.  He  at- 
tended the  district  school  and  completed  his 
education  with  a  course  in  Vieteurs  College 
at  Bourbonnais  Grove,  Illinois.  He  came  to 
Lyon  county  with  the  family  in  1884  and 
during  the  next  ten  years  worked  for  his 
father  on  the  farm  on  section  31,  Vallers 
township.  That  place  was  bought  two  years 
before  the  family  came  to  the  county  and  all 


the   improvements   on   the   farm  were  made 
by  the  Blanchette  family. 

After  leaving  the  farm  Steve  spent  a  num- 
ber of  years  railroading  for  the  Northwest- 
ern Company  on  the  line  between  Winona 
and  Tracy.  He  then  moved  to  Napoleon, 
North  Dakota,  and  during  the  next  seven 
years  operated  a  cattle  ranch.  In  1909  Mr. 
Blanchette  returned  to  Lyon  county  and 
entered  the  Marshall  State  Bank  and  he  has 
been  with  that  institution  practically  all 
the  time  since.  In  the  spring  of  1911  he 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  M.  W.  A.  and  K.  C. 
lodges. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Eli  and 
Desanges  (Boule)  Blanchette,  natives  of  Can- 
ada. The  father  located  in  Chicago  when 
that  place  was  a  village  and  later  located  in 
Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  making  the  fifty- 
mile  trip  from  Chicago  on  foot.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  that  now  populous 
county  and  land  there  sold  for  $1.25  per 
acre  when  he  arrived.  Eli  Blanchette  lived 
in  Kankakee  county  until  1884  and  then  be- 
came a  resident  of  Vallers  township,  Lyon 
county.  He  died  October  18,  1911,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-one  years.  Mrs.  Blanchette 
died  in  1905.  There  are  eight  children  in  the 
family,  as  follows:  Albert,  Steve,  Mitchel 
and  Jerry,  all  of  Lyon  county:  Mrs.  J.  J. 
Caron.  of  Detroit,  Minnesota;  Dr.  V.  J.,  of 
Walkerville,  Michigan;  Ivan  and  Homer, 
both  of  Marshall. 

Steve  Blanchette  was  married  at  Waseca, 
Minnesota,  September  13,  1892,  to  Catherine 
Shortell,  a  native  of  Mantorville,  Minne- 
sota. They  have  four  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, Harold,  Armend,  Genevieve,  Donald  and 
Raymond. 


JAMES  HALL,  SR.  (1897)  is  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Balaton  and  a 
retired  farmer  residing  in  that  village.  He 
is  a  native  of  Ireland  and  was  born  near 
Belfast,  coming  to  the  United  States  during 
the  Civil  War.  He  located  near  Kankakee, 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  with 
his  parents  for  some  time,  after  which  he 
took  up  agricultural  pursuits  for  himself. 
He  farmed  in  Illinois  until  1883,  when  he 
moved  to  Hand  county,  South  Dakota,  where 
he  took  a  homestead  and  also  purchased  160 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


359 


acres  of  land.  He  resided  in  South  Dakota 
until   1897. 

That  year  Mr.  Hall  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  purchased  land  in  Rock  Lake  township. 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  28,  which 
he  farmed  until  the  fall  of  1911,  when  he 
moved  to  Balaton,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. In  January,  1912,  he  was  made  presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Rank.  In  addi- 
tion to  looking  after  that  office,  he  engages 
quite  extensively  in  stock  buying.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  of 
Balaton  and  is  superintendent  of  the  Meth: 
odist  Sunday  School. 

Mr.  Hall  was  married  December  25.  1874, 
at  Chicago  to  Margaret  A.  Meglade,  a  native 
of  Illinois.  She  was  born  and  brought  up 
near  Chicago.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  James 
and  Walter,  of  Marshall;  Robert,  of  Rock 
Lake  township;  Eliza  (Mrs.  N.  H.  Olson),  of 
St.  Peter;  Anna  (Mrs.  F.  Bartlett),  of  Bala- 
ton; Iva  (Mrs.  Harry  Tate),  of  Balaton; 
Eva  and  Margaret,  of  Balaton.  One  child, 
William,  is  deceased. 


JOHN  HOLLO  (1881),  of  Marshall,  is  one 
of  the  largest  land  owners  of  Lyon  county. 
He  is  a  native  of  Norway  and  was  born  June 
13,  1864,  a  son  of  Matthias  and  Ella  Hollo. 
The  parents  died  in  Yellow  Medicine  county, 
the  father  in  1909  and  the  mother  in  1881. 
They  settled  in  that  county  in  1869,  being 
among  the  pioneers  and  being  the  first  to 
homestead  land  outside  of  the  river  districts. 

The  father  and  our  subject  helped  in  the 
construction  work  of  building  the  Northwest- 
ern railroad  through  Yellow  Medicine  coun- 
ty, using  eight  head  of  oxen  to  scrapers. 
They  did  their  first  trading  at  Granite  Falls, 
which  was  then  a  trading  post  with  no  rail- 
roads, and  had  to  go  to  New  London  for 
flour,  a  distance  of  eighty  miles,  by  ox  team. 
They  lived  the  first  ten  years  in  a  dug-out. 
The  other  children  of  the  Hollo  family  are 
Johanna  (Mrs.  M.  Martinson),  of  Yellow 
Medicine  county;  Annie  (Mrs.  Andrew  Vol- 
stan),  of  Harlan,  Montana;  Gunda,  of  Cot- 
tonwood; and  Ella  (Mrs.  Hans  Larson).  The 
two  last  named  are  deceased. 

When  three  years  of  age  our  subject 
accompanied  his  parents  to  the  United  States 
and  made  settlement  at  Le  Sueur,  Minne- 
sota, in  1867.     In  1869  the  family  moved  to 


Yellow  Medicine  county  and  made  settle 
in.  iii  on  a  homestead.  Our  subject  resided 
on  the  place  with  his  parents  until  1881.  In 
the  latter  year  he  moved  to  Marshall  and 
has  made  his  home  there  since.  The  fol- 
lowing spring  he  began  clerking  for  John 
G.  Schutz  in  a  general  store  and  was  with 
him  eight  or  nine  years.  He  then  went 
to  Cottonwood  and  had  charge  of  a  branch 
store  for  Mr.  Schutz  there  until  1890,  when 
he  returned  to  Marshall. 

On  his  return  to  the  county  seat,  Mr.  Hollo 
formed  a  partnership  with  John  H.  Schnei- 
der and  engaged  in  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Schneider  &  Hollo;  five  years  later 
they  took  in  Mr.  Schutz  as  a  partner.  The 
latter  continued  a  member  of  the  firm  three 
years  and  then  sold.  In  1905  Mr.  Hollo  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Mr.  Schneider  and 
conducted  the  business  under  the  name  of 
John  M.  Hollo  until  the  fall  of  1910,  when 
he  sold  to  F.  M.  Birkemyer  &  Company. 
Since  that  time  Mr.  Hollo  has  devoted  his 
time  to  farming  his  land,  including  2000  acres 
in  Lyon  and  Yellow  Medicine  counties.  In 
1911  he  put  in  650  acres  of  flax,  the.  largest 
tract  ever  sowed  to  that  crop  in  the  county 
by  one  individual. 

During  the  gold  excitement  in  the  Klon- 
dike in  1898  our  subject  made  a  trip  to  the 
Coffer  river  country,  Alaska,  near  Cook's 
inlet,  and  remained  there  that  summer.  Mr. 
Hollo  began  business  without  capital,  and 
by  hard  work  and  trading  he  has  become 
one  of  the  county's  largest  land  owners.  His 
first  work  was  for  Mr.  Schutz  at  four  dollars 
per  month. 

Mr.  Hollo  was  married  at  Minneota,  Minne- 
sota, August  28,  1886,  to  Lizzie  Prairie,  a 
native  of  Kankakee  county,  Illinois.  They 
are  the  parents  of  four  children:  Louise, 
Myrtle,  Raymond  and  Donald. 


JOHN  ANDERSON  (1877),  Coon  Creek 
township  farmer,  is  a  native  of  Winona  coun- 
ty, Minnesota,  where  he  was  born  November 
19,  1874.  His  parents  are  Nels  and  Magda- 
lena  (Erickson)  Anderson,  with  whom  he 
makes  his  home.  When  three  years  of  age 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon  county, 
and  he  has  resided  here  continuously  since. 

John  attended  school  in  Island  Lake  and 
Coon  Creek  townships  until  sixteen  years  of 
age.    He  then  was  a  student  in  Marshall  for 


360 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


some  time,  after  which  he  taught  school  in 
district  No.  70  several  terms.  He  then  took 
up  his  labors  on  the  farm  with  his  father 
and  has  continued  that  work  since.  In  addi- 
tion to  farming,  our  subject  raises  a  great 
deal  of  stock,  among  other  breeds,  Duroc- 
Jersey  hogs,  Jersey  cattle,  Shropshire  sheep 
and  Plymouth  Rock  chickens.  Mr.  Anderson 
is  a  member  of  the  Island  Lake  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  he  is  treasurer  and  an  eld- 
er. He  is  a  member  of  the  Workmen  lodge 
and  holds  stock  in  the  Farmers  Independent 
Elevator  Company  of  Russell  and  the  Farm- 
ers Mutual  Telephone  Company.  He  is  also 
a  stockholder  in  the  Independent  Harvester 
Company  of  Piano,  Illinois,  and  is  the  owner 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  33,  Island 
Lake   township. 

During  Mr.  Anderson's  long  residence  in 
Lyon  county  he  has  been  called  upon  to 
serve  several  times  in  an  official  capacity. 
He  formerly  held  the  following  offices:  As- 
sessor of  Coon  Creek  township  four  years, 
justice  of  the  peace  several  years,  road  over- 
seer several  years.  He  was  secretary  of  the 
Farmers  Independent  Elevator  Company  of 
Russell  two  years,  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day School  of  the  Island  Lake  Presbyterian 
Church  several  years  and  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Island  Lake  Cheese  Com- 
pany seven  years.  Mr.  Anderson  is  now  sec- 
retary of  the  Farmers  Mutual  Telephone 
Company,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Island  Lake  Cemetery  Association  and  so- 
licitor for  the  Hope  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  Tyler,  his  territory  being  Coon  Creek 
and  Island  Lake  townships.  Mr.  Anderson 
has  been  very  successful  in  his  undertakings. 


JOHN  B.  REGNIER  (1883),  Lake  Marshall 
township  farmer,  was  bora  in  Kankakee 
county,  Illinois,  October  29,  1865.  He  is  a 
son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Toushette)  Regnier, 
natives  of  Canada.  The  parents  moved  to 
Illinois,  where  our  subject  was  born,  re- 
ceived his  schooling,  and  grew  to  manhood. 

In  1883  John  Regnier  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Lyon  county  and  his  father  pur- 
chased land  in  Grandview  township.  John 
remained  with  his  parents  until  1888,  when 
he  started  farming  for  himself  on  eighty 
acres  in  the  same  township  which  had  been 
given  to  him  by  his  father.  He  later  sold 
this   and   purchased  a  half  section   in   Fair- 


view  township,  which  he  farmed  until  1907, 
when  he  sold  and  later  purchased  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  8,  and  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  17,  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship. On  March  1,  1912,  Mr.  Regnier  pur- 
chased the  east  half  and  the  east  half  of 
the  west  half  of  section  29,  Lucas  township, 
making  him  a  farm  of  480  acres  in  that  pre- 
cinct. 

Our  subject  also  engages  in  stock  raising, 
among  other  breeds,  Red  Polled  Angus  cat- 
tle, Poland  China  hogs  and  Belgian  horses. 
He  owns  stock  in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Marshall.  Mr.  Regnier  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  K.  of  C.  lodges  and  of 
the  Catholic  church. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
at  Ghent  December  29,  1890,  to  Severine 
Caron,  a  native  of  Canada.  Mrs.  Regnier 
was  born  September  29,  1864,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  and  Adaline  (Bosquet)  Caron, 
the  former  a  native  of  Canada  and  the  latter 
of  Vermont.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Regnier  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Oscar  A., 
born  September  16,  1891;  Edna  B.,  born 
October  24,  1892:  Charles  Henry,  bom  Au- 
gust 18,  1895;  Peter  N.,  born  September 
10,  1896;  Olivine  O.,  bom  October  1,  1897; 
Emil  L.,  born  February  28,  1902;  and  Adleine 
X..   bom   July  30,   1905. 


ANTON  E.  ANDERSON  (187  2)  is  pro- 
prietor of  the  A.  E.  Anderson  elevator  in 
Cottonwood,  having  in  1909,  in  company 
with  his  brothers,  George  and  Gabriel, 
bought  the  Northwestern  elevator.  The 
company  buys  grain  and  sells  coal  and 
wood.  Mr.  Anderson  is  secretary  and  a  di- 
rector of  the  Norwegian  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company  of  Eidsvold  and  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Home  Telephone  Company  of 
Cottonwood.  He  was  also  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers and  a  former  president  of  the  Cot- 
tonwood Hardware  Company. 

Anton  E.  Anderson  was  born  in  Coon 
Prairie,  Wisconsin,  August  6,  1869.  His 
parents,  Endre  and  Bertha  Anderson  Bar- 
stad,  were  pioneer  residents  of  Wisconsin 
and  were  among  the  first  settlers  in  Lucas 
township,  Lyon  county,  locating  there  in 
1872,  and  taking  as  a  homestead  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  8.  There  the  par- 
ents resided  until  their  deaths,  the  father 
in  18  85  and  the  mother  in  1899.      Our  sub- 


A.   E.   ANDERSON   AND    HIS    SEVEN    SONS 


ANTON  E.  ANDERSON 

Of    Cottonwood,    Who    Has    Lived    in    Lyon 

County  Forty  Years. 


THE  A.  E.  ANDERSON  ELEVATOR 


HOME    OF   A.    E.    ANDERSON 


p 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


:;i;i 


ject  attended  the  country  school  and 
worked  on  the  home  farm  until  the  age 
of  fifteen,  then  hiring  out  as  a  farm  hand 
for  a  number  of  years.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  engaged  in  business  in  Cotton- 
wood, continuing  until  his  marriage  three 
years  later. 

July  20,  1890,  occurred  the  ceremony 
which  made  Anton  E.  Anderson  and  Mar- 
tha Orwoll  man  and  wife.  To  this  union 
were  born  eight  sons:  Endre  B.,  Sylfest 
M.,  Virgil  L.,  Archie  M.,  Nuel  Fridtjof 
(deceased),  Fridtjof  B.,  Nordal  O.  and  Earl 
R.  Mrs.  Anderson  died  December  17, 
1907.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Anderson 
moved  to  his  farm  in  Lucas  and  ran  the 
place  five  years,  then  engaging  in  the  grain 
business  at  Cottonwood,  where  he  repre- 
sented the  Minnesota  <fe  Western  Grain 
Company  of  Minneapolis  fifteen  years,  un- 
til buying  the  Northwestern  Elevator  Com- 
pany's business. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  eight  years,  seven  years  of 
that  time  as  secretary.  He  is  active  in 
church  circles  of  the  Norwegian  Lutherans, 
being  secretary  of  Silo  Church  of  Cotton- 
wood. He  is  one  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  annuity  fund  and  financial  secretary 
of  the  Montevideo  district  of  the  United 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of  America. 

Our  subject  has  living  the  following  sis- 
ter and  brothers:  Dena  (Mrs.  O.  H.  Hatle- 
stad),  of  Cottonwood;  Tonnes,  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Lucas;  Henry  E.,  of  Minne- 
ota;  John,  of  Parkland,  Washington;  Ga- 
briel and  Anton,  of  this  sketch,  both  of 
Cottonwood. 

June  9,  1911,  Mr.  Anderson  married  a 
second  time,  taking  for  his  wife  Selma 
Nelson,  a  native  of  Pipestone  county,  born 
March    15,    1882. 


CHARLES  DOVE  (1885)  is  one  of  Ami- 
ret  township's  successful  farmers  and  stock 
raisers.  His  160-acre  farm,  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  11,  is  one  of  the  fine 
improved  tracts  in  the  township,  and  he 
is  also  the  owner  of  150  acres  in  Redwood 
county.  Mr.  Dove  in  his  stock  raising  is 
partial  to  the  Shorthorn  breed  of  cattle 
and  Duroc-Jersey  swine. 

Charles  Dove  is  a  native  of  Lincoln  shire, 
England,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Annie 


(Atkins)  Dove,  now  deceased.  Charles 
was  born  in  1855  and  was  brought  up  in 
England.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  years 
he  crossed  the  water  to  Canada,  where  he 
lived  one  and  one-half  years.  He  came  to 
Lyon  county  in  188  5.  He  settled  in  Ami- 
ret  and  for  several  years  was  employed  on 
farms  in  the  vicinity. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
in  Marshall  October  14,  1888,  to  Mary 
Amelia  Berkey.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Dove  rented  land  and  commenced  farming 
for  himself.  He  later  bought  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  11  and  is  still  farm- 
ing the  place.  He  is  a  stockholder  of  the 
creamery  company  at  Tracy. 

Mrs.  Dove  is  the  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Johanna  (Garver)  Berkey.  She  was  born 
in  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  March  4,  1856. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dove  two  children  have 
been  born,  Herbert  J.  and  Horace  A. 
Charles  Dove  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Brotherhood  of  America  lodge. 


JOHN  C.  ROGDE  (1877),  until  recently 
of  Eidsvold  township,  now  of  Dunn  county, 
Wisconsin,  was  born  in  Hardanger,  Nor- 
way, May  2  8,  18  51.  His  parents,  Chris- 
tian and  Bretha  A.  (Kragevik)  Rogde,  are 
buried  in  their  native  land.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  Mr.  Rogde  fought  in  the 
war  between  Norway  and  Sweden  in  which 
the  former  secured  its  independence. 

After  quitting  school  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years,  young  Rogde  spent  six  years 
on  a  fishing  vessel.  He  came  to  America 
in  the  spring  of  1872,  lived  in  Stoughton, 
Wisconsin,  a  short  time,  and  then  located 
near  Deerfiekl,  of  the  same  state,  where  he 
worked  at  farm  labor  five  years.  With 
money  he  saved  he  purchased  a  team  of 
horses  and  a  wagon  and  in  the  spring  of 
1877  drove  to  Lyon  county,  arriving  in 
Minneota  during  the  month  of  June. 

For  a  year  or  more  after  his  arrival  Mr. 
Rogde  worked  as  a  farm  hand.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  he  traded  his  team  and  wagon 
for  a  homestead  right  in  Westerheim  town- 
ship, and,  after  his  marriage  in  December, 
187  8,  he  moved  to  his  claim,  proved  up  on 
it,  and  engaged  in  farming  there  until  the 
spring  of  1902.  At  that  time  he  moved  to 
his  Eidsvold  township  farm,  which  he  had 
purchased    the    fall    before.      He    sold    his 


362 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Westerheim  farm  in  1911.  Mr.  Rogde  is 
now  the  owner  of  480  acres  in  Eidsvold 
and  a  2  00-acre  farm  in  Dunn  county,  Wis- 
consin, to  which  place  he  moved  in  the 
spring  of  1912. 

In  the  early  days  Mr.  Rogde  experienced 
the  hardships  encountered  by  all  the  early 
settlers  of  Lyon  county,  but  he  perse- 
vered and  has  come  upon  prosperous  times. 
In  1907  our  subject  paid  a  three  months' 
visit  to  his  old  home  in  Norway. 

Mr.  Rogde  was  a  member  of  the  Wester- 
heim Township  Board  of  Supervisors  a 
number  of  years,  was  treasurer  of  that 
township  several  years,  and  in  1884  and 
1885  he  was  the  assessor.  For  three  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Eidsvold  Town- 
ship Board.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Farmers  &  Merchants  Supply  Com- 
pany of  Minneota,  was  a  director  of  the 
company  for  a  number  of  years,  and  still 
has  stock  in  it.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
church  and  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Masonic  lodge  of  Minneota  and  the  Chapter 
of  Royal  Arch  Masons  at  Marshall. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Rogde  occurred 
at  Marshall  December  3,  1878,  when  he 
wedded  Anna  Thompson.  She  was  born  in 
Norway  February  14,  1851,  and  died  on 
Christmas  Day,  1888.  Four  children  were 
born  to  the  union,  as  follows:  Bertha 
(Mrs.  O.  H.  Sterk),  of  Marshall;  Albert, 
who  resides  near  Amiret;  Sarah  (Mrs.  Jo- 
seph White),  of  Minneota;  and  Carrie,  of 
Marshall. 

At  Marshall,  on  April  24,  1891,  Mr. 
Rogde's  second  marriage  occurred.  His 
bride  was  Nancy  Ann  Heimdal,  who  was 
born  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  Septem- 
ber 3,  18  52.  Mrs.  Rogde's  parents,  Olaf 
and  Haegae  (Bergstie)  Heimdal,  both  de- 
ceased, were  born  in  Norway  and  settled  in 
Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  in  1844.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  Rogde  and 
his  wife,  both  of  whom  reside  at  home. 
They  are  named  Oritha  Ann  and  Gerhart 
Christen. 


HENRY  J.  BOT  (18  87)  is  manager  of 
and  buyer  for  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Ghent.  He  was  born  in  Uithuizen, 
Province  of  Groningen,  Holland,  October 
14,  1876. 


In  1887  Henry  accompanied  his  parents 
to  America  and  Lyon  county.  The  family 
located  in  Grandview  township,  where  they 
owned  480  acres  of  land.  Henry  resided 
on  the  farm  with  his  parents  until  twenty- 
five  years  of  age  and  then  moved  to  Ghent 
and  bought  grain  for  the  Bingham  Broth- 
ers' Elevator  Company  until  1910.  He 
then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Farmers' 
Company  and  has  since  'been  with  that 
firm.  Mr.  Bot  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  in 
Vallers  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters  lodge.  He  is  the  village  re- 
corder and  was  justice  of  the  peace,  vil- 
lage treasurer  and  treasurer  of  the  town 
board  for  a  number  of  years. 

Mr.  Bot  was  married  August  15,  1908, 
in  Holland  to  Grada  Feters.  After  his 
marriage  he  made  a  trip  through  Germany, 
Switzerland,  England,  Italy,  Holland  and 
Belgium.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bot  are  the  par- 
ents of  one  child,  Debora  Mary,  born  May 
18,  1909. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  the  late 
William  H.  Bot  and  Debora  B.  (Schrender) 
Bot.  The  father  died  in  1907;  the  mother 
resides  in  Ghent.  To  them  were  born  the 
following  children:  Hero  W.,  Henry  J. 
and  William  H.,  of  Ghent;  Bernard,  Ren- 
ier,  John  H.  and  Catherina  (Mrs.  Joseph 
Senden),  all  of  Lyon  county.  One  daugh- 
ter, Theresa  (Mrs.  Edward  Maertens),  died 
in  1908. 

The  Ghent  Farmers  Elevator  Company 
was  organized  in  1909  by  the  farmers  in 
the  vicinity  of  Ghent  and  the  elevator  was 
built  at  that  time.  The  capitalization  was 
$10,000.  The  capacity  of  the  elevator  is 
20,000  bushels.  The  company  buys  and 
ships  grain  and  sells  coal,  flour,  oil  meal, 
bran,  shorts,  grain  and  seeds.  In  the  sea- 
son of  1910-11  they  bought  200,000  bush- 
els of  grain.  The  officers  of  the  company 
are  as  follows:  President,  John  Breen; 
secretary,  Edward  Maertens;  treasurer, 
Charles  Foulon;  manager,  Henry  Bot. 
These,  with  Mathew  Hennen,  John  Brewers 
and  Henry  Vanhee,  constitute,  the  board  of 
directors. 


JOSEPH  PRINCEN  (1883),  a  farmer 
residing  in  Lake  Marshall  township,  was 
born    in    Weert.    Holland.    October   21,    1873. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


363 


His  parents  are  Hubert  and  Fhelomina 
(Vuggen)  Princen,  who  conducted  a  soap 
and  salt  factory  and  a  brick  and  roofing 
factory  in  the  old  country.  When  two 
years  of  age,  in  1883,  Joseph  accompanied 
his  parents  to  America,  came  direct  to 
Lyon  county,  and  his  father  purchased 
land  near  Ghent.  There  our  subject  at- 
tended school,  working  at  home  until 
twenty-eight  years  of  age. 

In  1901  Mr.  Princen  commenced  farm- 
ing for  himself  on  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  3,  Grandview  township,  land 
which  he  had  purchased  from  his  father. 
He  operated  that  place  one  year  and  then 
rented  his  father's  farm  three  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  purchased  forty  acres 
more  in  the  same  township.  After  leaving 
his  father's  place  Mr.  Princen  moved  to  his 
own  farm,  which  he  conducted  until  1905, 
when  he  bought  320  acres  on  section  34, 
Grandview  township,  and  eighty  acres  on 
section  3,  Lynd  township.  He  moved  to 
the  latter  place  and  farmed  it  until  1909, 
when  he  purchased  400  acres  on  section  1, 
Lynd  township,  and  resided  on  the  place 
eight  months,  having  sold  the  place  the 
same  year  he  purchased  it.  He  then  moved 
to  the  east  half  of  section  21,  Lake  Mar- 
shall township,  which  he  had  previously 
bought  and  where  he  now  lives. 

Mr.  Princen  holds  membership  in  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  lodge  and  has 
served  on  the  Township  Board.  He  was 
treasurer  seven  years  and  clerk  two  years 
of  school  district  No.  12.  Mr.  Princen  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

On  December  12,  1904,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Leona  Monnet  to  our  subject. 
She  is  a  native  of  France  and  was  born 
September  2  9,  1877.  Her  parents  are  Ju- 
lian and  Stephanie  (Guillot)  Monnet.  Mrs. 
Princen  came  to  the  United  States  alone 
in  1902.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Princen  are  the 
parents  of  four  children:  Joseph  J.,  born 
September  21,  1905;  Maria,  born  August 
21,  1906;  Julian,  born  February  4,  1908; 
Bernadette,  born  July  22,  1911. 


MYRON  W.  HARDEN  (1891),  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Marshall, 
is  one  of  the  substantial  and  popular  busi- 
ness men  of  the  county  seat,  having  been 
cashier  of  the  bank  since  its  organization 


twenty-one  years  ago.  During  these  years 
he  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the 
business  and  social  affairs  of  his  com- 
munity. 

Myron  W.  Harden  is  of  colonial  stock, 
his  ancestors  having  settled  in  New  Eng- 
land before  the  Revolutionary  War.  His 
paternal  grandparents  were  John  and  So- 
phia i  Cook)  Harden,  who  were  natives  of 
New  York  but  of  New  England  descent. 
They  came  West  late  in  life  and  settled 
at  Burr  Oak,  Iowa.  At  that  place  John 
Harden  died  August  31,  1864,  aged  seven- 
ty-nine years;  Sophia  Harden  died  in  1872. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Halsted 
J.  and  Ellen  (Willsie)  Harden,  both  na- 
tives of  Clinton  county,  New  York.  The 
Willsie  family  is  also  of  early  American 
stock,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
having  been  a  veteran  of  the  Revolutionary 
War.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mr. 
Harden  were  John  and  Sabra  (Hutchison) 
Willsie,  natives  of  New  York,  who  in  1855 
located  in  Iowa  and  later  became  early 
settlers  of  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota. 
They  both  died  in  that  county  at  ages  of 
about  seventy-five  years.  Halsted  J.  Har- 
den and  family  came  West  in  1857  and 
settled  in  Burr  Oak,  Iowa.  Both  parents 
died  in  that  place,  Mrs.  Harden  at  the 
age  of  forty-three  years  and  Mr.  Harden 
aged  seventy-two  years.  They  were  t^he 
parents  of  six  children,  of  whom  four  are 
living. 

In  Clinton  county,  New  York,  on  May  6, 
18  51,  occurred  the  birth  of  Myron  W.  Har- 
den. When  six  years  of  age  he  accom- 
panied the  family  to  Burr  Oak,  Iowa,  and 
on  his  father's  farm  near  that  place  he 
grew  to  manhood.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  years  he  secured  the  appointment  as 
deputy  clerk  of  the  district  court  of  Winne- 
shiek county  and  held  the  office  from 
187  6  to  1880,  making  his  home  at  Decorah, 
the  county  seat.  After  serving  as  deputy 
four  years,  he  was  elected  clerk  of  court 
and  served  a  four-year  term.  In  June, 
1884,  Mr.  Harden  went  to  Grafton,  North 
Dakota,  and  from  that  date  until  he  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1891  he  was  assistant 
cashier  of  a  bank. 

In  the  year  last  mentioned  Mr.  Harden 
located  in  Marshall  and  in  partnership 
with  H.  M.  Langland  aud  R.  M.  Addison 
organized  the  First  National  Bank  of  Mar- 


364 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


shall.  He  served  as  cashier  until  recently 
elevated  to  the  presidency,  and  the  active 
management  of  the  bank  has  been  almost 
entirely  in  his  hands.  Under  his  able 
management  it  has  grown  in  favor  and  it 
ranks  today  as  one  of  the  strong  financial 
institutions  of  Southwestern  Minnesota. 
Mr.  Harden  has  large  real  estate  interests, 
owning  over  one  thousand  acres  of  Min- 
nesota land  and  a  pretty  home  in  Mar- 
shall. 

In  educational  matters  Mr.  Harden  has 
been  especially  interested  and  he  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  local  Board  of 
Education  for  the  last  fourteen  years.  He 
is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  holding 
membership  in  the  Scottish  Rite  and  Zurah 
Temple  of  Shriners,  Minneapolis. 

Mr.  Harden  married  May  Standing  at 
Decorah,  Iowa,  on  June  4,  1884.  She  was 
born  in  that  city,  the  daughter  of  Leonard 
and  Mary  (Prothroe)  Standing.  The  fam- 
ily came  originally  from  New  York  and 
settled  in  Iowa  about  1856.  Her  father 
was  a  banker  of  Decorah  and  died  there 
at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Harden  have  two  children,  Mate  and 
Leonard  S. 


EDWARD  MEYER  (1876)  was  for 
many  years  a  successful  farmer  of  Lyon 
county  and  now  lives  a  retired  life  in  the 
little  village  of  Garvin.  He  knows  the 
meaning  of  the  word  pioneering  and  is  an 
early  resident  of  the  county,  having  come 
to  the  county  thirty-six  years  ago  and  hav- 
ing lived  in  the  county  almost  continuously 
since  that  date. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Freystadt,  Prussia,  May 
26,  1841.  He  is  the  only  one  of  a  family 
of  three  children  to  come  to  America,  his 
sisters,  Caroline  and  Anna,  living  in  the 
Fatherland.  His  parents,  Leopold  and 
Caroline  (Mertius)  Meyer,  are  both  buried 
in  the  old  country.  Edward  came  to 
America  in  18  59,  lived  a  few  months  in 
Franklin  county,  Missouri,  and  then  settled 
at  Meredosia,  Illinois.  He  taught  a  Ger- 
man school  in  that  village  and  enlisted  in 
the  army  at  Jacksonville,  Illinbis,  on  April 
7,  1862. 

For  three  years  and  one  month  Mr. 
Meyer    served    in    the    army    as   a   member 


of  Company  A,  Twelfth  United  States  In- 
fantry. His  service  was  with  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  and  he  participated  in  all  the 
engagements  of  that  army  up  to  August 
19,  1864,  when  he  was  taken  prisoner  near 
Petersburg.  He  was  incarcerated  in  Libby 
Prison,  at  Bell  Island  and  at  Salisbury, 
North  Carolina. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Meyer  returned  to 
Illinois  and  for  two  years  lived  at  Jackson- 
ville, one  year  employed  in  the  insane  asy- 
lum and  one  year  as  a  clerk.  He  then 
lived  in  Sheboygan,  Wisconsin,  until  com- 
ing to  Minnesota  in  1876.  Mr.  Meyer 
came  to  Lyon  county  by  way  of  Mower 
county,  making  the  trip  in  a  prairie 
schooner  drawn  by  oxen.  Upon  his  arri- 
val he  traded  his  team  and  wagon  for  a 
tree  claim,  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 32,  Sodus  township.  His  first  home 
was  a  combination  log  and  sod  shanty. 

During  the  first  few  years  of  his  resi- 
dence in  Lyon  county  Mr.  Meyer  had 
trouble  to  make  both  ends  meet.  For 
several  years  he  worked  at  odd  jobs  to 
support  himself  and  during  the  hard  win- 
ter of  1880-81  he  worked  for  his  board. 
A  few  years  after  coming  to  the  county 
Mr.  Meyer  sold  his  tree  claim  to  A.  R. 
Chace,  of  Marshall,  and  took  a  homestead 
in  Johnsville  township,  Redwood  county, 
where  he  lived  two  and  one-half  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Lyon  county  and 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Custer  town- 
ship, later  adding  to  his  holdings  by  the 
purchase  of  railroad  lands.  He  made  his 
home  on  section  2  for  about  six  years  and 
thereafter  for  many  years  he  lived  on  sec- 
tion 3.  In  1901  Mr.  Meyer  gave  up  farm- 
ing and  has  since  lived  in  Garvin.  He  has 
never  married. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Meyer  was  a  director 
of  school  district  No.  4  and  for  the  same 
length  of  time  was  the  district  treasurer. 
He  served  one  term  as  township  treasurer. 
Mr.  Meyer  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church,  the  Grand  Army  order,  and 
has  taken  many  degrees  in  Masonry,  hold- 
ing membership  in  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chap- 
ter, Commandery,  the  Shrine  at  Minne- 
apolis, and  the  Scottish  Rite  at  Winona. 


HANS    BENSON    (1882)    is    one    of    the 
big  farmers  of  Shelburne  township,  where 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


365 


he  has  had  his  home  for  the  past  thirty 
years.  The  home  place  is  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  5  and  he  also  owns 
the  northwest  quarter  of  9,  the  northwest 
quarter  of  7,  and  the  southeast  quarter 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  6,  making  a 
farm  of  520  acres.  The  place  is  well 
improved  and  Mr.  Benson  has  one  of  the 
finest  homes  in   the  township. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Naes,  Norway, 
October  13,  1846,  a  son  of  Brnt  and  Rogn- 
lie  (Halborson)  Benson.  He  attended  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  land  until 
fourteen  years  of  age,  and  thereafter  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  old  he  worked 
on  the  farm  for  his  father.  Mr.  Benson 
came  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1868 
and  during  the  next  three  years  worked 
at  various  occupations  at  La  Crosse,  Wis- 
consin. He  moved  to  Fillmore  county, 
Minnesota,  in  1871,  where  he  worked  at 
farm  labor  until  coming  to  Lyon  county 
in  the  spring  of  1882. 

When  he  arrived  in  Lyon  county  Mr. 
Benson  had  only  $320.  To  meet  expenses 
he  worked  the  first  year  as  a  section  hand 
on  the  railroad  between  Tyler  and  Bur- 
chard.  He  experienced  trying  times  in 
getting  a  start,  but  persevered  and  came 
upon  more  prosperous  times.  He  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm 
from  the  railroad  company  upon  his  ar- 
rival and  from  time  to  time  added  to  his 
landed  possessions  until  he  now  owns 
nearly   a  section   of  land. 

Mr.  Benson  is  a  stockholder  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Florence.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of  Flor- 
ence and  was  formerly  a  trustee  of  the 
same.  For  three  years  he  was  a  director 
of  his  school  district  and  has  several  times 
served  as  road  overseer. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Benson  to  Christine 
Anderson  occurred  in  Fillmore  county, 
Minnesota,  in  1883.  Mrs.  Benson  was 
born  in  Norway.  They  are  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Bert,  Aletta 
(Mrs.  John  Anderson),  of  Tyler;  Randa 
(Mrs.  Victor  Anderson),  of  Florence; 
Clara,  Adolph,  Lena,  Emma,  Henry  and 
Elmer. 


PAUL  W.  GIESE   (1882)   is  manager  of 
the     Farmers     Co-operative     Company     of 


Balaton  and  is  interested  in  several  other 
business  enterprises  of  that  village.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon  county  many 
years  and  is  one  of  the  prosperous  busi- 
ness men  of  the  little  village  on  the  south- 
ern edge  of  the  county. 

Paul  Giese  is  the  eldest  of  five  children 
(the  others  being  Minnie,  Charles,  Albert 
and  Otto)  born  to  Charles  F.  and  Fred- 
ericka  (Mellenthin)  Giese,  who  reside  on 
a  farm  in  Murray  county.  He  was  born 
in  the  province  of  Pommern,  Germany,  Oc- 
tober 29,  1870.  On  the  twenty-second  day 
of  April,  1882,  he  arrived  with  the  fam- 
ily from  the  old  country  in  Tracy.  There 
he  lived  a  little  less  than  eight  years,  dur- 
ing the  last  few  years  of  which  time  he 
was  employed  as  clerk  by  the  railroad  com- 
pany. 

In  the  fall  of  1889  Mr.  Giese  took  charge 
of  a  Murray  county  farm,  not  far  from 
Tracy,  which  was  owned  by  his  father. 
Until  1895  he  conducted  that  during  the 
summer  seasons,  while  working  as  second 
man  in  Tracy  elevators  and  buying  stock 
for  E.  L.  Starr.  He  then  located  in  Bala- 
ton, was  employed  as  grain  buyer  for  the 
Winona  Mill  Company  until  the  failure  of 
the  company  two  years  later,  and  then  un- 
til August,  1900,  he  was  employed  in  a 
like  capacity  for  the  Atlas  Company,  which 
was  a  company  reorganized  from  the  for- 
mer company. 

On  the  date  last  mentioned  Mr.  Giese 
formed  a  partnership  with  C.  W.  Candee 
and  engaged  in  the  grain  and  live  stock 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Candee 
&  Giese  until  the  death  of  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  in  1903.  After  the  death 
of  his  partner  Mr.  Giese  continued  the 
live  stock  business.  In  1905  he  became 
the  manager  of  the  recently  organized 
Farmers  Co-operative  Company,  a  position 
he  has  since  filled.  He  still  engages  in 
the  stock  business  on  his  own  account  and 
is  the  proprietor  of  a  meat  market  which 
he  established  in  September,  1910. 

The  Farmers  Co-operative  Company  was 
incorporated  with  a  capital  of  $5000  in 
July,  1905,  for  the  purpose  of  dealing 
in  grain,  flour  and  feed,  and  the  new  ele- 
vator and  other  buildings  were  erected  at 
that  time.  The  present  officers  of  the 
company  are  as  follows:  C.  F.  Norwood, 
president;   H.  G.  Brockway,  secretary  and 


366 


RHXJKAIMIICAL  HISTORY. 


treasurer;  Paul  W.  Giese,  manager.  The 
directors,  made  up  from  farmers  of  the 
vicinity,  are  as  follows:  C.  F.  Norwood, 
H.  G.  Brockway,  James  Egan,  E:  E.  John- 
son, Justus  England,  George  Johnson,  E. 
John  Erickson,  L.  E.  Peterson  and  B.  M. 
Olson. 

Paul  Giese  was  married  near  Balaton  on 
November  28,  1906,  to  Anna  Smerling,  a 
native  of  Murray  county.  They  have  two 
children,  Sophia  and  Minnie.  Mr.  Giese  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows 
and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges.  He  served 
as  assessor  of  Balaton  for  a  number  of 
terms. 


JACOB  J.  JANSEN  (1885)  is  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  farmers  of  Lake  Marshall 
township  and  has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon 
county  over  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  is 
a  native  of  Holland  and  was  born  at  Bem- 
mel  September  15,  1867,  a  son  of  Albert 
and  Annie  (Boerboom)  Jansen.  The 
father,  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  1885  and  purchased  land  near 
Ghent,  which  he  operated  until  his  death 
ten  years  later.  The  mother  died  in  1893. 
Both   parents  are  buried  at  Ghent. 

Jacob  resided  with  his  parents  until 
their  deaths.  He  had  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  where  he 
attended  school  until  seventeen  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  America.  After  his  parents' 
death,  in  company  with  his  brother,  he 
purchased  680  acres  of  land  in  Lake  Mar- 
shall township,  which  they  farmed  together 
several  years  and  then  divided.  Our  sub- 
ject engages  extensively  in  stock  raising. 
He  raises  Poland  China  hogs  and  Durham 
and  Shorthorn  cattle.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  church.  He  holds  stock  in 
the  farmers'  elevators  of  Ghent  and  Mar- 
shall and  in  the  Lyon  County  Agricultural 
Association. 

Mr.  Jansen  was  married  June  7,  1904,  to 
Mary  Senden,  a  daughter  of  Hebert  and 
Mary  (Fossen)  Senden,  old  residents  of 
Lyon  county,  both  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Jansen  is  a  native  of  Hol- 
land and  was  born  September  12,  1881, 
at  Voerdaal.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jansen  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  He- 
bert, born  March  6,  1905;  Antonette,  born 


September  14,  1906;  Frank,  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1908.  Hebert  attends  the 
Catholic  Sisters'   School  at  Marshall. 


HERMAN  J.  ARNDT  (1882)  is  the 
owner  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
8,  Lyons  township,  and  has  lived  in  Lyon 
county  thirty  years.  He  is  a  native  of 
,  Germany  and  was  born  at  Rogasen  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1866,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Susan 
(Helwig)  Arndt.  Both  parents  are  de- 
ceased.    The  former  died  in  1901. 

Herman  received  his  education  in  the 
land  of  his  birth,  attending  school  until 
fourteen  years  of  age,  after  which  he 
worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  two 
years  and  then  came  to  America.  He  lo- 
cated at  Balaton,  and  near  that  place 
worked  at  farm  labor.  The  next  seven 
years  of  his  life  were  spent  at  farm  labor 
in  Yellow  Medicine,  Murray  and  Redwood 
counties. 

In  1897  the  subject  of  this  review  pur- 
chased 200  acres  of  land  in  Lyons  township 
and  later  bought  a  tree  claim,  which  he 
sold  in  1910.  He  has  one  of  the  finest 
improved  farms  in  the  county  and  raises 
a  great  deal  of  stock,  including  Poland 
China,  hogs,  grade  cattle  and  Rhode  Island 
Red  chickens.  Mr.  Arndt  is  a  member  of 
the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge  and  a  stockholder 
of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Rus- 
sell. He  has  been  director  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  69  for  twenty  consecutive  years 
and  was  road  overseer  in  Lyons  township 
two  years.  Mr.  Arndt's  undertakings  have 
been  very  successful. 

Mr.  Arndt  is  a  man  of  family.  He  was 
married  December  3,  188  9,  to  Emma  Bot, 
a  daughter  of  Gustaf  Hayes.  Mrs.  Arndt 
died  October  22,  1896.  On  May  23,  1897, 
he  was  married  a  second  time,  to  Pauline 
Degner,  a  daughter  of  Ludwig  and  Amelia 
(Hayes)  Degner.  Her  mother  died  in 
May,  1881;  the  father  resides  at  Gnesen, 
Germany.  Mrs.  Arndt  was  born  Septem- 
ber 2,  1877,  at  Rogasen,  Germany.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Arndt  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  children:  Anna  Elizabeth, 
born  March  3,  1898;  Henry  Ludwig,  born 
November  17,  1899;  Elsie  Wilhelmina, 
born  December  14,  1901;  Natalie  Gertrude, 
born  August  22,  1903;  Rudolph  Ernest, 
born   February    11,    1906;    Theodore  John, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


367 


born    September    L6,    1910.      All    the    chil- 
dren reside  at  home. 


HENRY  J.  PATTR1DGE  (1878)  is  the 
senior  member  of  the  Tracy  mercantile 
firm  of  Pattridge  Brothers  Company,  the 
largest  and  one  of  the  oldest  business  es- 
tablishments of  the  city.  The  business 
was  established  in  March,  1883,  by  Hen- 
ry J.  and  Otis  L.  Pattridge  and  was  con- 
ducted under  the  name  of  Pattridge  Broth- 
ers until  the  spring  of  1908.  Then  Clay  B. 
Pattridge,  son  of  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view, was  admitted  to  the  firm  and  Pat- 
tridge Brothers  Company  was  incorporated. 
The  officers  are  as  follows:  H.  J.  Pat- 
tridge, president;  Otis  L.  Pattridge,  vice 
president  and  treasurer;  Clay  B.  Pattridge, 
secretary.  The  first  home  of  the  store  was 
a  small  frame  building  on  the  site  adjoin- 
ing tbe  First  National  Bank.  The  present 
structure,  a  double-front,  two-story  brick 
building,  was  erected  in  1891  by  H.  J. 
Pattridge,  the  present  owner  of  the  build- 
ing. 

Henry  J.  Pattridge  was  born  in  Olmsted 
county,  Minnesota,  September  1,  1855,  and 
O.  L.  Partridge  in  Maquoketa,  Iowa,  Au- 
gust 12,  1853.  They  grew  to  manhood 
on  their  father's  farm,  which  had  been 
taken  as  a  pre-emption  claim  in  an  early 
day.  They  accompanied  the  family  to 
Spring  Valley  in  1875.  In  1878  H.  J. 
Pattridge  moved  to  Marshall  and  for  a 
few  years  was  employed  as  clerk  in  A.  C. 
Chittenden's  store.  He  moved  to  Tracy  in 
the  spring  of  1883  and  with  his  brother 
engaged  in  the  business  with  which  they 
have  ever  since  been  connected. 

The  marriage  of  Henry  J.  Pattridge  to 
Minniett  Savage  occurred  at  Marshall  May 
11,  1880.  Mrs.  Pattridge  is  a  native  of 
St.  Charles,  Minnesota.  They  have  three 
children,  Clay  B.,  now  a  member  of  the 
firm;  Vivian  and  Walter  H.  Henry  Pat- 
tridge has  served  as  member  of  the  City 
Council  and  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

O.  L.  Pattridge  was  married  to  Martha 
Parks  at  Pleasant  Grove,  Minnesota,  Oc- 
tober 11,  1877.  Three  children  were  born 
to  them,  only  one  living,  Mark  O.  Pat- 
tridge, a  practising  dentist  of  Minneapolis. 
Both  brothers  belong  to  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. 


OTIS  L.   PATTRIDGE    (1883)    is  one  of 

the  founders  and  members  of  the  firm  of 
Pattridge  Brothers  Company,  who  conduct 
the  leading  mercantile  establishment  of 
Tracy,  lie  was  born  at  Maquoketa,  Iowa, 
August    12,    L8.53. 

At  the  age  of  one  year  he  was  taken 
with  the  family  to  Olmsted  county,  Minne- 
sota, and  there  grew  to  manhood.  Later 
he  moved  to  Spring  Valley,  and  in  1883 
he  located  in  Tracy  and  in  partnership  with 
his  brother  engaged  in  business.  During 
the  twenty-nine  years  the  brothers  have 
been  in  business  in  Tracy  they  have  pros- 
pered. They  are  both  interested  in  the 
Citizens  State  Bank  and  in  partnership 
own  several  farms  in  Lyon  county  and  one 
in  Murray  county.  Otis  Pattridge  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  has 
served  on  the  Board  of  Education. 

Otis  Pattridge  was  married  to  Martha 
Parks,  of  Pleasant  Grove,  Minnesota.  They 
have  one  child,  Dr.  Mark  O.  Pattridge,  a 
dentist  of  Minneapolis. 

The  father  of  the  Pattridge  brothers  is 
Albert  Pattridge.  He  was  born  in  High- 
gate,  Vermont,  October  22,  1829,  and  in  an 
early  day  moved  to  Maquoketa,  Iowa. 
There  he  engaged  in  farming  and  the 
blacksmith  business.  He  pre-empted  land 
in  Olmsted  county,  Minnesota,  in  1854, 
lived  there  twenty  years,  and  then  located 
at  Spring  Valley.  He  was  in  business  in 
Minneapolis  several  years,  and  in  1891 
moved  to  Tracy  to  make  his  permanent 
home.  Although  over  eighty  years  of  age, 
Mr.  Pattridge  is  active  and  healthy  and 
puts  in  regular  hours  as  cashier  at  the 
store.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge.  The  mother  of  the  Pattridge 
brothers  was  Eunice  Bradish,  a  native  of 
Vermont.  She  died  August  13,  1869. 
The  two  sons  at  Tracy  are  the  only  living 
children  of  the  family.  One  daughter, 
Helen,  is  deceased.. 


ELLSWORTH  E.  DAVIS  (1893)  is  a 
farmer  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Coun- 
ty Commissioners  residing  in  Lynd  town- 
ship. Mr.  Davis  is  a  native  of  Wisconsin 
and  was  born  near  Oshkosh  May  7,  1862,  a 
son  of  Shadrach  and  Louise  (Sharatt)  Da- 
vis, of  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin.  The  father  is  a 
native  of  Wales  and  the  mother  of  Eng- 


368 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


land.  The  father  came  to  America  with 
his  parents  when  he  was  eleven  years  of 
age,  locating  in  Pennsylvania.  After 
reaching  maturity  he  went  to  Wisconsin, 
where  he  still  resides. 

Ellsworth  received  his  schooling  in 
Winnebago  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
attended  school  until  eighteen  years  of 
age.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  his 
father,  for  whom  he  worked  until  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  Then  he  went  to  work 
in  the  pineries,  where  he  worked  five  win- 
ters. He  again  took  up  farming,  this  time 
operating  his  father's  farm.  He  continued 
working  his  father's  place  until  he  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1893.  Mr.  Davis  pur- 
chased two  hundred  forty  acres  in 
Lynd  township,  which  he  still  owns  and 
manages.  Besides  farming,  Mr.  Davis 
raises  considerable  stock,  among  other 
breeds,  Duroc-Jersey  hogs  and  Shorthorn 
cattle,  besides  a  great  number  of  fowl. 
He  is  a  successful  farmer  and  stockraiser. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge.  He  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  following  enterprises:  Farmers 
Elevator  Company  of  Lynd,  of  which  he  is 
president;  the  town  hall  company  of 
Lynd;  Lyon  County  Agricultural  Associa- 
tion. He  was  an  officer  of  school  district 
No.  1  for  twelve  years  and  was  clerk  of 
Lynd  township.  In  the  fall  of  1910  he 
was  elected  county  commissioner  to  repre- 
sent the  fourth  district. 

On  September  2  9,  18  86,  Mr.  Davis  was 
married  to  Jennie  Fitzgerald,  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Mary  Fitzgerald,  of  Oshkosh, 
Wisconsin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fitzgerald  are 
natives  of  Ireland.  Mrs.  Davis  was  born 
in  Wisconsin  on  Christmas  Day,  1863.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Davis  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Homer,  born  June  20, 
1887;  Belle,  born  October  14,  1888;  Olive, 
born  January  16,  18  90;  Hazel,  born  May 
6,  1891;  Albert,  born  December  3,  1893; 
Bernice,  born  April  4,  1895;  Mark,  born 
July  22,  1897;  Hugh,  born  January  31, 
1899;  Yesta,  born  September  12,  1900; 
Alma,  born  July  26,  1902;  George,  born 
December  8,  1904.  All  reside  at  home 
with  their  parents. 


HENRY   J.   BURCKHARDT    (1887),   Coon 
.  Creek  township  farmer,  was  born  in  Stephen- 


son county,  Illinois,  April  29,  1874,  the  son 
of  John  and  Albertina  (Watzke)  Burckhardt, 
natives  of  Germany.  The  father  died  two 
years  ago;  the  mother  resides  on  the  old 
home  place  near  the  village  of  Russell.  They 
came  to  Lyon  county  in  1894. 

Henry  attended  school  near  his  home  in 
Illinois  and  when  thirteen  years  of  age  came 
to  Lyon  county  and  worked  for  his  brother- 
in-law,  John  Sullivan,  for  two  and  one-half 
years.  Returning  to  Illinois,  he  worked  for 
his  father  on  the  farm  until  1894.  Then 
his  father  sold  out,  came  to  Lyon  county, 
and  became  a  permanent  resident,  having 
purchased  sections  23  and  26,  Coon  Creek 
township,  in  1885.  Later  our  subject  pur- 
chased from  his  father  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  26,  upon  which  he  has  made  all 
the  improvements.  He  has  a  fine  home.  Mr. 
Burckhardt  raises  and  ships  a  great  number 
of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  the  M.  W.  A. 
and  R.  N.  A.  lodges.  He  holds  stock  in  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Russell  and  in 
the  Farmers  Mutual  Telephone  Company. 

On  January  23,  1898,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Burckhardt.  in  Coon  Creek  township, 
to  Emma  D.  Henrichs,  a  daughter  of  Fred 
and  Frederica  (Trust)  Henrichs,  who  now 
reside  in  Todd  county,  Minnesota.  Mrs. 
Burckhardt  was  born  in  Bremer  county, 
Iowa,  January  23,  1880.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Burckhardt  have  been  born  the  following 
named  eight  children:  John  F.,  born  March 
2,  1899;  Gladys  R.,  born  February  11,  1900; 
Florence  A.,  born  April  13,  1901;  Hazel  M., 
October  17,  1902;  Laura,  born  November  26, 
1903,  died  when  three  months  old;  Walter, 
born  June  24,  1905,  died  when  two  and  one- 
half  years  old;  Orville,  born  January  7,  1909; 
Robert,  born  October  2,  1910. 


THOMAS  P.  CULSHAW  (1881)  is  a  jew- 
eler and  optician  of  Minneota.  He  was  bom 
in  England  October  14,  1877.  His  parents 
are  Robert  and  Helen  (Parker)  Culshaw, 
who  were  early  settlers  of  Lyon  county. 
They  came  in  18S1  and  were  among  Arch- 
bishop Ireland's  colonists  who  purchased 
railroad  land  in  Lyon  county.  They  are  the 
parents  of  eleven  children:  Mrs.  Helen 
Buckley,  of  Lyon  county;  Joseph,  of  Wells, 
Minnesota;  Mrs.  Agnes  Bolton,  of  Porter, 
Minnesota;    Charles,    of    Minneota;    Robert, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


360 


of  Hopkins,  .Minnesota;  Mrs.  Winifred  Bol- 
ton, of  Porter,  Minnesota;  Theresa  Brod- 
erick,  of  Ballard,  Washington;  Thomas  P., 
of  this  sketch;  Mary,  who  resides  at  home; 
John  and  William  I.,  who  reside  near  Min- 
neota. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Lyon  county  in  1881.  He  re- 
sided with  them  on  the  farm  until  1902, 
when  he  went  to  Minneapolis  and  learned 
the  jewelry  business.  He  then  worked  one 
year  in  Marshall  and  one  year  at  Luverne, 
Minnesota.  In  1906  he  engaged  in  the  jew- 
elry business  at  Minneota  which  he  still 
owns.  He  carries  a  complete  line  of  jewelry, 
musical  goods  and  pianos,  and  does  all  kinds 
of  repair  work  in  the  jewelry  line.  Mr.  Cul- 
shaw  is  a  member  of  the  Village  Council. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Modern  Wood- 
men. Yeomen,  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters 
and  Knights  of  Columbus  lodges. 

Mr.  Culshaw  was  married  in  Minneota 
June  S,  1906,  to  Marie  Princen,  a  native  of 
Holland.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Culshaw  have 
been  born  the  following  three  children: 
Antoinette,  Helen  and  Gladys.  The  last 
named  died  in  infancy. 


M.  O.  GORSETH  (1881)  is  the  proprietor 
of  a  general  merchandise  store  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Florence.  He  is  vice  president  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Florence  and  ex-postmaster  of 
that  village.  Mr.  Gorseth  is  a  native  of  Nor- 
way and  was  born  November  30,  1861,  a  son 
of  Ole  and  Brit  Gorseth,  both  of  whom  died  in 
the  land  of  the  midnight  sun.  He  has  one 
sister,  Mrs.  C.  P.  Myran,  who  resides  in 
Lyon  county. 

When  twenty  years  of  age  our  subject 
came  to  the  United  States,  located  in  Lyon 
county,  and  worked  several  years  in  Shel- 
burne  township  as  a  farm  hand.  In  1891  he 
purchased  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
18,  Shelburne  township,  which  he  farmed 
ten  years.  In  1901  he  moved  to  Florence 
and  purchased  the  J.  A.  Martin  general  store, 
which  he  still  conducts.  He  carried  a  com- 
plete stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  furnish- 
ing goods,  shoes,  hats,  caps  and  notions. 
He  is  a  stockholder  of  the  State  Bank  of 
Florence  and  a  member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  and  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men lodge. 

Mr.  Gorseth  was  married  in  Lyon  county 


May  28,  1897,  to  Eva  Ceder,  a  native  of 
Sweden.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gorseth  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  children,  Sheldon  and  Ruth. 

PATRICK  FORD  (1880)  is  a  native  of 
Ireland  but  has  been  a  resident  of  this  coun- 
try since  he  was  one  year  old.  He  has  been 
a  farmer  of  Amiret  township  since  1880  and 
owns  240  acres  on  section  31. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  June 
12,  1849.  When  he  was  one  year  of  age  his 
family  came  to  America  and  located  in  New 
Jersey,  where  Patrick's  father  worked  in  a 
hat  factory  four  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  the  family  moved  to  Marquette  county, 
Wisconsin,  where  the  father  bought  land. 
There  young  Ford  received  his  education  and 
grew  to  manhood  amid  the  surroundings  of 
farm  life. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-four  Patrick  Ford 
was  married.  The  ceremony  occurred  in 
Wisconsin  January  11,  1874,  and  the  young 
lad\  who  became  his  wife  was  Margrette 
Curley,  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Rose  (Mc- 
Errinany)  Curley,  natives  of  Ireland.  Mrs. 
Ford  was  born  October  7,  1852.  By  her 
marriage  to  Mr.  Ford  she  became  the  mother 
of  eleven  children.  Their  names  are  Cath- 
rine,  Frank,  Martha,  Mary,  Charles,  Gertrude, 
Helen,  Henry,  Luella,  James  and  Vincent. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ford  started  farm- 
ing for  himself,  having  bought  eighty  acres 
near  Unity,  Wisconsin.  He  lived  in  the 
Badger  State  until  1880,  when  he  sold  his 
interests  there  and  moved  to  Lyon  county. 
The  journey  was  accomplished  by  ox  team, 
and  four  weeks  was  necessary  to  make  the 
trip.  Mr.  Ford  bought  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  Amiret  township  and  later  bought  an 
additional  quarter  section,  all  of  which  land 
he  has  since  farmed.  He  raises  Red  Polled 
cattle. 

Michael  Ford,  father  of  our  subject,  and 
his  wife,  Cathrine  (McDonough)  Ford,  were 
natives  of  Ireland.  Both  are  dead.  Mr. 
Ford  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

HELGE  K.  HELGESON  (1878)  is  one  of  the 
prosperous  and  up-to-date  farmers  of  Eids- 
vold  township  and  owns  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  2.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  Eidsvold,  in  which  precinct  he  has 
lived  since  he  was  three  and  one-half  years 
of  age. 


370 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  in 
Juneau  county,  Wisconsin,  December  14, 
1874,  the  son  of  Knute  and  Martha  (Forland) 
Helgeson.  The  former  was  bora  in  Roldahl, 
Norway,  the  latter  in  Suldahl,  Norway.  They 
came  to  America  early  in  life  and  were  mar- 
ried in  Juneau  county,  Wisconsin,  in  1869. 
Knute  Helgeson  died  in  Lyon  county  May  3, 
1889,  aged  sixty-three  years.  Mrs.  Helgeson 
resides  with  her  son  and  is  seventy-two 
years  old.  There  are  three  children:  Helge 
K.,  Sena  and  Annie  (Mrs.  Roy  Hathland),  of 
Clarkfleld,  Minnesota. 

In  1878  the  Helgeson  family  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  one  of  the  well-remembered  prairie 
schooners  and  the  father  took  as  a  home- 
stead claim  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
2,  Eidsvold  township,  the  farm  now  owned  by 
his  son.  After  their  arrival  in  the  new  home 
the  family  possessions  consisted  of  one  horse 
and  $100  in  cash.  The  only  improvement  on 
the  place  was  a  claim  shack  erected  by  a 
squatter. 

Ever  since  that  time  Helge  Helgeson  has 
resided  on  the  old  homestead,  attending 
school  and  working  for  his  father  during  his 
boyhood  days.  He  has  had  charge  of  the 
farm  during  the  past  thirteen  years  and  is 
now  its  owner.  Within  the  last  four  years 
Mr.  Helgeson  has  expended  many  thousands 
of  dollars  in  improvements  and  he  has  one 
of  the  best-improved  farms  in  the  county. 
On  the  place  is  a  two-story,  nine-room  mod- 
ern residence,  equipped  with  bath  rooms, 
hot  water  heating  system  and  waterworks. 
There  is  also  a  new  barn,  48x60  feet,  and  a 
clay  block  silo,  16x32  feet,  erected  in  the 
summer  of  1912.  It  is  the  intention  of  Mr. 
Helgeson  to  feed  stock  on  an  extensive 
scale  hereafter. 

.Mr.  Helgeson  has  a  complete  J.  I.  Case 
threshing  outfit,  an  automobile,  and  other 
conveniences  that  form  the  equipment  of  the 
present  up-to-date  farmer.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Eidsvold  Township  Board  of 
Supervisors  four  years  and  was  assessor 
two  years.  He  holds  membership  in  the 
Modern  Woodmen  and  Yeomen  lodges. 

Julia  Bakken  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Helgeson  on  May  16,  1900.  She  was  born 
on  her  father's  homestead  on  section  10, 
Eidsvold  township,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Knute  and  Carina  Bakken,  pioneer  settlers 
of  the  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Helgeson 
have  six  children,  as  follows:     Mildred,  born 


June  26,  1901;  Clarice,  born  September  30, 
1902;  Harvey,  born  October  2,  1904;  Mar- 
vin, born  August  5,  1906;  Laura,  born  Octo- 
ber 20,  1908;  and  Elva,  born  September  30, 
1911. 


BERT  WILLFORD  (1879)  has  been  a  con- 
tinuous resident  of  Custer  township  for 
thirty-three  years  and  is  the  owner  of  320 
acres  of  well  improved  farming  land  on 
sections  15  and  22. 

Mr.  Willford's  parents,  Daniel  and  Malinda 
(Joy)  Willford,  the  former  of  whom  is  de- 
ceased and  the  latter  a  resident  of  Balaton, 
came  to  Lyon  county  when  Bert  was  ten 
years  of  age,  taking  as  a  homestead  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  22,  Custer  town- 
ship, where  Bert  Willford  now  resides.  Bert 
grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  in  Custer,  at- 
tending the  country  school  and  assisting 
with  the  farm  work.  He  has  resided  con- 
tinuously on  the  one  place  since  he  came  to 
Lyon  county  with  his  parents,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  four  years  spent  on  his  other 
farm  on  section  15. 

Our  subject  was  married  June  2,  1896,  at 
Tracy,  to  Mary  Price,  a  native  of  Blue 
Earth  county.  She  was  born  December  30, 
1871,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Rees  and  Ruth 
(Thomas)  Price,  both  of  whom  are  residents 
of  Tracy.  Her  parents  came  to  Lyon  county 
in  the  spring  of  1872  and  located  on  a  home- 
stead in  Monroe  township,  where  they  made 
their  home  until  moving  to  Tracy  in  1910. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willford  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,  Danile,  bom  May  4,  1897,  and 
George  White,  born  March  15,  1902. 

Mr.  Willford  has  the  following  brothers 
and  sisters  living:  Cassius  M.,  of  Custer; 
Clinton,  of  Saskatchewan,  Canada;  Hattie 
(Mrs.  J.  H.  Call),  of  Birmingham,  Alabama; 
and  Mary  (Mrs.  J.  C.  Abernathy),  of  Willard, 
Montana.  Mrs.  Willford  has  two  brothers 
and  four  sisters:  Joseph  F.,  William  D.  and 
Winifred,  all  of  Tracy;  Eleanor  (Mrs.  Hugh 
H.  Jones),  of  Custer;  Mabel  (Mrs.  Philip  J. 
Hughes),  of  Mountain  Lake,  Minnesota;  and 
Diana  (Mrs.  Reuben  L.  Harris),  of  Kerman, 
California. 

Mr.  Willford  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodge  of  Garvin.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder of  the  Farmers  Independent  Elevator 
Company  of  the  same  village. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


371 


ROBERT  G.  MURRISOX  (1882)  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  livery  barn  at  Balaton  and 
has  an  auto  livery  in  connection.  He  was 
born  in  Poweshiek  county,  Iowa,  June  21, 
I^TS,  and  came  to  Lyon  county  with  his  par- 
ents, James  and  Rachael  H.  (Graham)  Mur- 
rison,  in  1882. 

The  father  was  born  in  Scotland  and  the 
mother  in  Canada,  the  former  emigrating 
from  Scotland  when  thirteen  years  of  age. 
They  were  married  in  Poweshiek  county, 
Iowa,  and  lived  there  until  the  spring  of 
1882,  when  they  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
bought  land  in  Lyons  township,  where  they 
resided  until  they  moved  to  Balaton  in  1903. 
Mr.  Murrison  died  July  6,  1908,  aged  sixty- 
three  years.  Mrs.  Murrison  resides  in  Balaton. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murrison  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  six  children:  Mrs.  James  Shand, 
of  Garvin;  Mrs.  Henry  Shand,  of  YYindom, 
Montana;  Robert  G.,  of  this  sketch;  Isabella 
G.,  of  YYindom.  Montana,  where  she  is  post- 
mistress; Maggie  G.  and  Mrs.  Alfred  E. 
Anderson,  of  Rock  Lake  township.  Mr.  Mur- 
rison, St.,  was  president  of  the  Balaton  Vil- 
lage Council  one  or  two  terms  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Western  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company  and  was  secretary  of  the 
company  eight  or  nine  years.  He  was  an 
elder  of  the  Balaton  Presbyterian  church 
for  several  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  resided  with 
his  parents  in  Lyons  township  until  1903, 
when  he  took  charge  of  the  farm  and  oper- 
ated it  until  the  fall  of  1908.  In  April,  1909, 
he  purchased  of  E.  G.  Gifford  the  livery 
which  he  now  owns  and  has  conducted 
since  that  date.  In  the  fall  of  1908  he  es- 
tablished an  auto  livery.  He  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  Masonic 
lodges. 


CYRUS  P.  SHEPARD  (1894),  city  re- 
corder of  Marshall,  is  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Lyon  county  and  a  man  who  has 
lived  an  eventful  and  useful  life.  For  many 
years  he  served  as  register  of  the  United 
States  Land  Office  at  Worthington  and  at 
Marshall. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  descends 
from  an  old  American  family  that  can -be 
traced  back  to  the  early  days  of  the  coun- 
try's history.     His  great  grandparents  were 


Thomas  and  Ann  Shepard,  whose  children 
were  Thomas,  Phineas,  Aaron,  Anne,  Judith. 
Rhoda  and  Orrel.  Our  subject's  grandfather 
was  Aaron  Shepard,  who  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut, married  a  Miss  Crocker,  and  became 
a  resident  of  Hartford  county,  of  his  native 
state,  in  1807.  Later  he  moved  to  George- 
town, Madison  county.  New  York,  where  he 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 

The  Shepards  were  well  represented  in  the 
service  of  their  country.  There  was  handed 
down  from  generation  to  generation  an  old 
file  which  had  been  carried  by  members  of 
the  family  in  the  French  and  Indian  War. 
the  Revolutionary  War  and  the  War  of  1812. 
This  interesting  instrument  was  lost  in  bat- 
tle during  the  Civil  War  while  being  carried 
by  another  member  of  the  family,  Myron 
Shepard. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Aaron  Shep- 
ard, Jr.,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut  and 
who  became  a  resident  of  Nunda,  New  York. 
He  was  married  -to  Hattie  Parker,  a  native 
of  Naples,  Ontario  county.  New  York.  Her 
father  died  when  Mrs.  Shepard  was  a  child 
and  her  mother  afterwards  married  Joseph 
Kibbee.  Her  grandfather  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Liberty,  New  York,  and  was 
a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  Aaron 
Shepard,  Jr.,  died  in  Livingston  county,  New 
York,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  and  his 
wife  died  in  the  same  place  at  the  age  of 
forty-four  years.  They  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  the  following  named  seven  are  living: 
Parker,  Melissa,  Myron,  Harvey,  Cyrus  P., 
James  and  Martha. 

Cyrus  P.  Shepard  was  born  in  New  York 
State  November  13,  1839,  and  until  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age  resided  on  the  home 
farm.  In  1861  our  subject  started  West  with 
the  intention  of  locating  in  Missouri,  but  he 
proceeded  to  Wisconsin  and,  manifesting 
the  same  loyal  spirit  as  was  shown  by  his 
ancestors,  he  joined  the  boys  in  blue.  He 
was  mustered  in  as  an  enlisted  man  in  Com- 
pany D,  of  the  Fourteenth  Wisconsin  In- 
fantry, under  Captain  Polleys,  of  La  Crosse. 
He  was  in  the  service  until  his  muster  out 
at  Mobile  on  October  11,  1865,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Corinth,  luka. 
Tupelo,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  Champion 
Hills,  Edward's  Ferry.  Nashville,  Mobile  and 
many    minor    enagements.      His    promotion 


372 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


was  quite  rapid  and  he  was  mustered  out  as 
captain   of  his  company. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Captain  Shepard 
returned  to  his  old  New  York  home  and 
rented  his  father's  farm.  In  1868  he  located 
in  Stillwater,  Minnesota,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  several  years. 
He  settled  in  Worthington.  Minnesota,  in 
1877  and  for  many  years  was  a  dealer  in 
lumber,  fuel  and  agricultural  implements. 

During  President  Cleveland's  first  adminis- 
tration, in  1886,  Mr.  Shepard  was  appointed 
register  of  the  United  States  Land  Office, 
then  located  at  Worthington,  his  territory 
comprising  the  country  between  the  Missis- 
sippi river  and  the  South  Dakota  line.  He  held 
the  office  under  the  appointment  until  the 
office  was  moved  to  Marshall.  During  Presi- 
dent Cleveland's  second  administration,  in 
1894.  Mr.  Shepard  located  in  Marshall,  hav- 
ing again  received  the  appointment  of  regis- 
ter, in  the  interim  the  office  having  been  held 
by  L.  M.  Lange.  Under  the  second  appointment 
our  subject  held  the  government  office  ten 
years,  until  the  office  was  moved  to  St. 
Cloud. 

Since  the  removal  of  the  Land  Office  from 
Marshall.  Mr.  Shepard  has  practically  lived 
a  retired  life  and  has  been  one  of  the  city's 
highly  respected  citizens.  Several  years  ago, 
when  the  recorder's  office  needed  the  serv- 
ices of  a  competent  man,  he  was  called 
upon  to  take  charge.  Later  he  was  elected 
to  the  office  and  has  ever  since  held  the 
position.  It  gives  him  light  employment  and 
a  down-town  office,  which  is  the  sole  reason 
for  his  holding  the  office. 

While  a  resident  of  Stillwater,  Captain 
Shepard  was  married,  on  January  12,  1870, 
to  Anna  D.  Cowan,  a  native  of  Oldtown, 
Maine.  She  is  also  a  descendant  from  an 
old  American  family.  Her  grandfather, 
Thomas  A.  Cowan,  was  born  in  Maine  Octo- 
ber 14.  1794,  and  was  married  to  Clementine 
Lovejoy,  who  was  born  in  Vassalboro,  Maine, 
June  4,  1800.  Their  marriage  occurred  April 
14,  1820.  The  former  died  in  Maine  June 
16,  1861;  the  latter  in  Stillwater  January  27, 
1890.  They  had  six  children,  and  Stephen 
L.  Cowan,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Shepard,  lo- 
cated in  Minnesota  in  an  early  day  and  for 
forty  years  was  a  prominent  lumberman  of 
Stillwater. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shepard  were  born  the 
following  named  children:      Cyrus,  of  Mar- 


shall; Eugene,  who  died  in  1908;  Ernest, 
who  is  the  auditor  of  Lyon  county;  and  Veda, 
who  is  a  stenographer  in  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Eberhart. 


EDWARD  P.  ELMER  (1888)  is  a  farmer 
residing  on  section  3,  Lucas  township,  about 
a  mile  from  the  village  of  Cottonwood,  and 
is  proprietor  of  the  Cottonwood  Dairy.  He 
has  under  cultivation  over  300  acres  of  land 
and  engages  extensively  in  dairying  and 
stockraising,  making  daily  deliveries  of  milk 
and  cream  in  the  village. 

John  Elmer,  his  father,  came  to  America 
from  Sweden  in  1879,  resided  a  number  of 
years  in  Pullman.  Illinois,  and  in  1S88  came 
with  his  family  to  Lyon  county.  He  pur- 
chased the  Lucas  farm  now  owned  by  his 
son  and  became  identified  with  the  history 
of  that  part  of  the  county.  He  erected  the 
first  store  building  in  Cottonwood  and  con- 
ducted one  of  the  first  blacksmith  shops  of 
the  village.  He  conducted  the  shop  until 
1908,  when  he  moved  to  Swanville,  Minne- 
sota, near  which  place  he  has  an  eighty-acre 
farm,  upon  which  he  resides.  The  mother 
of  our  subject,  Mary  (Peterson)  Elmer,  is 
deceased. 

To  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Elmer  were  born 
seven  children,  as  follows:  Helen  (Mrs. 
R.  H.  Price),  of  Lucas  township;  Annie, 
Louise,  Hulda  and  Clara,  all  deceased;  Clara 
(.Mrs.  Joseph  Nelson),  of  Cottonwood;  and 
Edward  P.,  of  this  review. 

Edward  P.  Elmer  was  born  in  Gothland. 
Sweden,  September  17,  1876.  He  accom- 
panied his  mother  and  the  other  children  to 
America  in  1882  and  joined  the  head  of  the 
family  in  Pullman,  Illinois,  he  having  come 
to  the  country  in  1879.  Edward  attended 
school  in  Pullman  and  came  with  the  family 
to  Lyon  county  in  1888,  completing  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  school  at  the, age  of 
seventeen  years.  He  worked  on  the  farm 
for  his  father  until  twenty-two  years  old; 
then  he  married  and  began  the  cultivation 
of  the  farm  for  himself,  buying  the  property 
from  his  father  the  year  after  his  marriage. 

Mr.  Elmer  was  married  at  Cottonwood 
January  13,  1898,  to  Clara  Jaenisch.  She 
was  born  in  Germany  August  11,  1877. 
They  have  five  children:  Clarence,  born 
June  1,  1900;  Ella,  born  February  26,  1902; 
Ervin,  born   October  20,  1905;    Alfred,  born 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


373 


March  25,  1908;  and  Dorothy,  born  April  25, 
1910.  The  family  are  members  of  Silo  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  Church  of  Cottonwood.  For 
a  number  of  years  Mr.  Elmer  was  treasurer 
of  school  district  Xo.  19. 


KXUTE  K.  MOHX  (1892),  chairman  of 
the  Xordland  Board  of  Supervisors  and  the 
owner  of  the  west  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  3  of  that  precinct,  has 
lived  in  Lyon  county  twenty  years.  The 
greater  part  of  his  life  has  been  occupied 
working  at  trades  and  he  has  taken  up  farm- 
ing in  recent  years. 

.Mr.  Mohn  was  born  in  Eggedal.  Xorway, 
March  12,  1868,  one  of  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren. The  others  are  Andrew,  of  Minne- 
apolis; Ole,  of  Xorway;  and  Annie  (Mrs. 
Jacob  Euju),  of  Xorway.  His  father,  Kittel 
Mohn,  died  in  his  native  land;  his  mother, 
Groe  (Knutson)  Mohn,  still  lives  in  the  land 
of  the  midnight  sun. 

Our  subject  attended  the  common  schools 
of  Xorway  until  fifteen  years  old.  He  worked 
two  years  at  the  shoemaker's  trade  and  then 
was  a  farm  hand  until  his  departure  for 
America  in  1888.  In  the  spring  of  that  year 
he  crossed  the  sea  and  located  in  Racine 
county,  Wisconsin.  After  working  as  a  farm 
hand  there  four  years,  in  the  spring  of  1892 
he  came  to  Lyon  county.  He  worked  at 
farm  labor  near  Cottonwood  two  years  and 
near  Minneota  three  years. 

During  the  war  with  Spain,  in  the  spring 
of  1898  Mr.  Mohn  enlisted  as  a  member  of 
Company  I,  Fourteenth  Minnesota  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  was  stationed  with  his  regi- 
ment at  Chickamauga  Park,  Georgia,  and  at 
Knoxville,  Tennessee,  and  was  mustered  out 
at  St.  Paul  Xovember  18,  1898. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  army  Mr. 
Mohn  worked  in  a  livery  stable  in  Minne- 
apolis a  few  months  and  then  took  up  his 
residence  in  Minneota.  He  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  until  August,  1903,  and 
then  became  the  first  rural  mail  carrier  out 
of  that  Lyon  county  village.  Ill  health 
caused  his  retirement  on  May  15,  1905,  and 
thereafter  until  June,  1909,  he  again  worked 
at  his  trade.  On  the  date  last  mentioned  he 
moved  to  his  eighty-acre  Xordland  farm, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Mr.  Mohn  has  been  a  member  of  the 
township  board  the   past   two   years   and   is 


now  chairman  of  the  board.  He  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Yeomen 
lodges  of  Minneota. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  married 
at  Minneota  July  10,  1902,  to  Maria  Hanson. 
She  was  born  at  Racine,  Wisconsin,  April  30, 
1879.  Her  parents,  Robert  and  Ellen  M. 
(Klaith)  Hanson,  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
an  early  day  and  resided  in  Nordland  town- 
ship and  Minneota  until  their  deaths.  The 
names  and  dates  of  births  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mohn's  four  children  are  as  follows:  God- 
frey Kenneth,  born  May  29,  1904;  Mildred 
Katherine.  born  September  21,  1905;  Chester 
Andy,  born  March  27,  1907;  Edgar  Raymond, 
born  September  4,  1909. 

OLE  OLSOX  GORSETH  (1881)  is  a  home- 
steader of  Lyon  county  and  has  a  residence 
of  thirty-one  years  to  his  credit.  He  owns 
and  farms  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
26,  Shelburne  township,  land  which  he  home- 
steaded. 

Mr.  Gorseth  is  a  Xorwegian  by  birth,  and 
the  date  of  his  nativity  was  December  9, 
1851.  His  father,  Ole  Paulson,  died  in  Me- 
nominie,  Wisconsin,  in  1872,  and  his 
mother,  Sigrid  (Johnson)  Paulson,  died  at 
the  home  of  her  son  in  Lyon  county  in  1885. 

Until  he  was  seventeen  years  old  Ole 
Gorseth  attended  school  in  his  native  land, 
and  then  he  worked  at  farm  labor  for  a  few 
years.  In  1871  the  head  of  the  family  came 
to  the  Xew  World  and  the  next  year  our 
subject  and  his  mother  came.  The  first 
home  was  at  Ishpeming,  Michigan,  but  a 
year  later  the  family  moved  to  Wisconsin, 
where  the  father  died.  Ole  and  his  mother 
lived  there  two  years  and  then  moved  to 
Fillmore  county,  Minnesota.  For  several 
years  Mr.  Gorseth  worked  there  as  a  farm 
hand  and  then,  in  1881,  he  and  his  mother 
moved  to  Lyon  county  and  he  took  his  home- 
stead claim. 

Mr.  Gorseth  encountered  many  hardships 
in  the  early  aays  but  perservered,  and  pros- 
perity has  been  his  lot.  His  mother  died  in 
1885,  and  since  that  time  Mr.  Gorseth  has 
lived  alone.  He  is  a  genuine  lover  of  Lyon 
county.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Xor- 
wegian Lutheran  church  of  Florence. 

ADOLPH  FURGESOX  (1S77)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  blacksmith  shop,  wood  yard  and 


374 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


feed  mill  in  Minneota.  His  birth  occurred 
in  Freeborn  county,  near  Albert  Lea,  Minne- 
sota, November  2,  1876. 

In  1877  Adolph  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Lyon  county,  his  father  homesteading 
land  in  Island  Lake  township.  On  that  farm 
our  subject  resided  twenty-five  years  and 
then  moved  to  Minneota.  He  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade  under  H.  E.  Knutson,  with 
whom  he  worked  three  years.  Then  he  and 
T.  K.  Thompson  purchased  the  H.  Halvorson 
blacksmith  shop  and  conducted  it  three 
years.  Our  subject  then  purchased  his  part- 
ner's interest  and  has  since  run  the  business 
alone.  Besides  his  blacksmith  business,  he 
conducts  a  wood  yard  and  feed  mill.  Mr. 
Furgeson  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Kittle  and 
Margaret  Furgeson,  natives  of  Norway 
They  came  to  the  United  States  in  an  early 
day  and  located  near  Winchester,  Wiscon- 
sin. They  later  moved  to  Freeborn  county, 
Minnesota,  where  they  resided  until  1877, 
when  they  moved  to  Lyon  county.  The. 
father  died  in  1902;  the  mother  is  still  liv- 
ing. They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Peter,  of  Canby:  Charlie,  of  Val- 
ley City,  North  Dakota;  Ole,  deceased; 
Henry,  of  Island  Lake  township;  ''arrie 
Strand,  of  Langmont,  Colorado;  Martin  and 
Betsey  Gjervold,  of  Nome,  North  Dakota; 
Annie  Amundson,  of  Lyon  county;  Mary  Hav- 
erson,  of  Ferndale,  Washington;  Adolph.  of 
this  sketch. 


OLE  P.  SLETTE  (1883)  owns  200  acres  of 
Lucas  township's  fertile  land  and  farms  in 
addition  250  acres  which  he  rents.  He  re- 
sides on  section  16;  his  own  property  is 
located  on  sections  22  and  28. 

Mr.  Slette  was  born  in  Guldbransdalen, 
Norway,  June  14,  1866.  His  parents,  Peder 
and  Sara  (Bergum)  Slette,  were  the  owners 
of  a  small  farm  in  the  old  country,  on  which 
our  subject  grew  to  young  manhood.  He 
came  to  America  in  1883  and  direct  to  Lyon 
county.  The  first  seven  years  were  spent 
working  at  farm  labor  near  Marshall.  Then 
he  bought  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
22,  Lucas  township,  engaged  in  farming  on 
his  own  account,  and  resided  on' that  farm 
until  1905.  At  that  time  he  moved  to  his 
present   residence.     Mr.   Slette   is   treasurer 


of  school  district  No.   74  and   a  member  of 
the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 

Mary  Odden  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Slette 
at  Cottonwood  on  October  7,  1893.  She  was 
born  in  Norway  November  25,  1868,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Amund  and  Kari  (Sather)  Odden.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Slette  have  two  children.  Alfred 
and  Leola. 


WILLIAM  R.  EDWARDS  (1887).  For 
a  quarter  of  a  century  W.  R.  Edwards  has 
resided  in  Tracy  and  during  all  of  that 
time  was  the  publisher  of  a  newspaper. 
His  newspaper  career  covers  a  period  of 
thirty-two  years,  and  for  fifteen  years  be- 
fore that  he  engaged  in  teaching.  He  has 
served  as  postmaster  of  Tracy  and  has  held 
many  offices  of  trust  within  the  gift  of  his 
neighbors. 

Mr.  Edwards  was  born  at  Ravenna,  the 
county  seat  of  Portage  county,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 4,  184  0,  of  Welsh  descent.  In  1849 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Oshkosh; 
Wisconsin,  and  there  gr«  w  to  young  man- 
hood. He  was  educated  in  a  normal  school 
at  St.  Louis  and  in  the  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois, Normal.  After  securing  his  educa- 
tion Mr.  Edwards  entered  the  teaching  pro- 
fession, with  which  he  was  identified  fif- 
teen years.  He  was  superintendent  of  the 
Faribault,  Minnesota,  public  schools  in 
18  7  0  and  18  71,  and  for  four  years  was 
principal  of  the  Osage,  Iowa,  schools. 

In  1878  Mr.  Edwards  gave  up  teaching 
and  became  a  journalist,  which  pursuit  he 
followed  until  his  retirement  from  active 
labors  in  1910.  He  published  the  New 
Hampton  Courier  from  1878  to  1882,  edit- 
ed the  Warren,  Minnesota,  Sheaf  four 
years,  was  connected  with  a  Minneapolis 
religious  paper  several  years,  and  pub- 
lished the  Hutchinson  Leader  for  a  time. 
He  located  in  Tracy  in  1887  and  bought 
the  Tracy  Republican,  added  the  Tracy 
Trumpet  in  1900,  and  published  the  Re- 
publican-Trumpet until  his  retirement  in 
1910. 

Mr.  Edwards  has  always  been  an  ardent 
Republican  and  has  been  active  in  the 
councils  of  his  party.  He  has  never  sought 
office  but  on  numerous  occasions  has  been 
called  to  serve  in  offices  of  trust.  He  was 
a  delegate  to  the  St.  Louis  convention  that 
nominated  President  McKinley,  and  when 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


375 


Knute  Nelson  was  governor  of  Minnesota 
he  \v;is  a  member  of  the  state  central  com- 
mittee. In  1888  he  was  appointed  county 
superintendent  of  schools  to  fill  a  vacancy 
and  at  the  next  election  was  chosen  to  a 
full  term.  For  ten  years  Mr.  Edwards  was 
secretary  of  the  Tracy  District  Fair  Asso- 
ciation, was  at  one  time  president  of  the 
Tracy  Board  of  Trade,  and  for  ten  years 
was  secretary  of  the  Tracy  Board  of  Edu- 
cation. 

Mr.  Edwards  is  a  Presbyterian  in  re- 
ligious faith  and  is  an  elder  of  the  Tracy 
church.  Fraternally  he  is  associated  with 
the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows  and  Modern 
Woodmen  lodges. 

Richard  and  Anne  (Jones)  Edwards,  the 
parents  of  our  subject,  were  born  and  mar- 
ried in  Wales.  Upon  their  arrival  to  Amer- 
ica they  settled  in  Ohio  and  in  1849  made 
settlement  in  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  where 
both  died.'  There  were  nine  children  in 
the  family,  of  whom  the  only  ones  living 
are  William  R.  Edwards  and  Mrs.  Margaret 
Gittings,  of  Oshkosh.  One  child  of  the 
family,  Richard  Edwards,  LL.  D.,  D.  D., 
born  in  1822,  had  a  national  reputation 
as  an  educator  and  lecturer.  The  deceased 
children  of  the  family  were  Richard,  David.. 
Elizabeth,  Isaac,  Mary,  John  and  Hugh. 

William  R.  Edwards  and  Josie  Bigelow 
were  married  at  Charles  City,  Iowa,  July 
19,  1870.  Mrs.  Edwards  is  the  daughter 
of  Chauncey  and  Laura  (Curtis)  Bigelow, 
old  New  York  State  settlers,  and  she  was 
born  in  Cattaraugus  county  of  the  Empire 
State.  Seven  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  R.  Edwards,  of  whom  the 
following  named  four  are  living:  Joseph- 
ine, the  wife  of  George  A.  Pearce,  Duluth; 
Vera  L.,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Don  Casselman, 
Tracy;  Hazel,  who  resides  at  home;  and 
Maurine,  a  graduate  of  the  Mankato  Nor- 
mal School  and  a  school  teacher. 


IVER  A.  OUSMAN  (1886)  is  a  farmer 
and  land  owner  of  Nordland  township  who 
has  lived  in  Lyon  county  since  he  was  a 
child.  Iceland  is  his  native  land  and  he 
was  born  November  2  6,  18  80.  Steffen 
Ousman,  his  father,  died  in  1907,  and  Rosa 
(Christenson)  Ousman,  his  mother,  lives 
in  Minneota. 

The    family   emigrated    from    the    north- 


land  in  1886  and  came  to  Lyon  county. 
After  residing  a  few  years  in  Westerheim 
township,  they  took  up  their  residence  in 
Nordland,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  the 
son.  Iver  attended  the  district  school  until 
seventeen  years  old  and  worked  for  his 
father  until  he  reached  his  majority.  Then 
he  purchased  the  east  half  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  9  and  commenced 
farming  for  himself.  In  1909  he  purchased 
the  home  place,  the  north  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  4,  and  makes 
his  home  there.  Besides  general  farming, 
Mr.  Ousman  raises  cattle,  horses,  sheep 
and  hogs.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Ed- 
ward's Catholic  Church  of  Minneota  and 
of  the  Yeomen  lodge  of  that  village. 

Mr.  Ousman  was  married  at  Minneota 
June  24,  1909,  to  Catherine  G.  Donnelly. 
She  was  born  in  Yellow  Medicine  county 
March  20,  1888,  a  daughter  of  Charles  and 
.Mary  Donnelly,  now  residents  of  Nordland 
township.  Mrs.  Ousman  died  February  1, 
1912.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ousman,  as  follows:  Catherine  Rose, 
born  June  21,  1910,  and  Magdeline,  born 
January  8,  1912. 

Iver  Ousman  is  one  of  a  family  of  thir- 
teen children,  of  whom  five  are  living.  His 
brothers  and  sisters  are  Arne,  of  Seattle; 
Sadie  (Mrs.  Maurice  Hennessy)  and  John, 
of  Two  Harbors,  Minnesota;  and  Johanna, 
of  Minneota. 


SAMUEL  J.  FORBES  (1880)  is  cashier 
of  the  Marshall  State  Bank  and  has  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Lyon  county. 
He  is  a  native  of  Wingham,  Ontario,  Can- 
ada, and  was  born  May  4,  1870.  He  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Lyon  county  in  1880 
and  during  the  next  ten  years  lived  on  the 
home  farm,  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 14,  Fairview  township,  a  few  miles 
north  of  Marshall. 

Mr.  Forbes  was  graduated  from  the  Mar- 
shall High  School  and  thereafter  for  sev- 
eral years  clerked  in  Marshall  stores.  He 
then  took  a  position  as  traveling  collector 
for  the  Milwaukee  Harvester  Company  and 
the  Champion  Machine  Company  and  in 
1900  located  in  Gary,  South  Dakota,  and 
engaged  in  the  banking  business.  One 
year  later  he  became  associated  with  the 
First    National    Bank    of    Canby    and    was 


376 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


cashier  of  that  institution  until  1909.  In 
the  year  last  mentioned  Mr.  Forbes  re- 
turned to  Marshall  and  in  partnership  with 
Spurgeon  Odell  and  J.  A.  McNiven  founded 
the  Marshall  State  Bank.  He  has  since 
been  cashier  of  the  bank.  •  Fraternally, 
Mr.  Forbes  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic, 
Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Wood- 
men and  Workmen  lodges. 

In  the  city  of  Marshall,  on  June  21,  1896, 
occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Forbes  to 
Sonora  M.  Simons,  a  native  of  Platteville, 
Wisconsin.  Her  parents,  Richard  and 
Anna  Simons,  were  born  in  Wales  and  set- 
tled in  Lyon  county  in  1881.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Forbes  have  two  children,  Vincent  L. 
and  Eleanor  E. 

The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view were  Alexander  and  Margaret  (Dun- 
das)  Forbes,  who  were  born  in  Canada  and 
died  in  Marshall.  They  were  parents  of 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  the  ten  follow- 
ing are  living:  John,  of  Ontario,  Can- 
ada; Rev.  Robert,  of  Philadelphia;  Isaac, 
of  Amiret  township;  William,  of  Fairview 
township;  Joseph  G.,  an  attorney  of  Wah- 
peton,  North  Dakota;  Eleanor  (Mrs.  Isaac 
Clendenning),  of  Marshall;  Mabel  (Mrs. 
John  Taylor),  of  Marquam,  Oregon;  Eliz- 
abeth (Mrs.  James  Springsteen),  of  Blen- 
heim, Ontario;  and  Mary  (Mrs.  John  La- 
monby),  of  Toronto. 


ALBERT  L.  BLANCHETTE  (18  86)  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  the  one  farm  in 
Vallers  township  for  the  last  twenty-six 
years.  His  farm  is  the  southwest  quarter 
and  the  west  half  of  the  Southeast  quarter 
of  section  31,  a  good  farm  and  improved 
with  substantial  buildings.  He  has  made 
the  farm  what  it  is,  for  when  he  came  it 
was  raw  prairie  land  without  a  building 
on   it. 

Mr.  Blanchette  is  of  French  descent  and 
was  born  in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois. 
February  27,  1868.  Eli  and  Bessauger 
(Boulez)  Blanchette,  his  parents,  were 
born  in  Canada  and  settled  in  Illinois  in 
the  fifties.  Albert  received  a  district  school 
education  and  lived  in  his  native  county 
until  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  came  to 
Lyon  county  in  1886  and  located  on  his 
present  farm,  which  his  father  had  bought 
three   years   before.      Mr.    Blanchette   is    a 


member  of  the  Catholic  church  and  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 

In  his  native  county,  on  February  1, 
1888,  Mr.  Blanchette  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Selina  Bouchard.  She  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Chicago  June  11,  18  67,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Godfrey  and  Esther 
(Desleaurier)  Bouchard,  natives  of  Canada. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blanchette  have  been  blessed 
with  children,  being  the  parents  of  the 
following  named  fourteen:  George  J., 
Louise,  Leah,  Agnes,  Annie,  Harry,  Archie, 
Arbu,  Neldeah,  Blanche,  Eli,  Eba,  Ella  and 
Elmer. 


HALVOR  K.  KVANBECK  (1877)  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  Jacob,  farms 
the  west  half  of  section  14,  Eidsvold  town- 
ship. He  owns  an  eighty-acre  farm  in  Bur- 
ton township,  Yellow  Medicine  county,  and 
for  several  years  he  has  been  engaged  in 
farming  that  land. 

His  father  is  Knute  Kvanbeck,  who  was 
born  in  Norway  April  5,  1853.  The  parent 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1873,  lived 
one  summer  in  Minneapolis,  and  then  took 
up  his  residence  in  Freeborn  county,  Min- 
nesota. He  was  married  in  Iowa  in  187  6 
to  Rosa  Halvorson,  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject. She  was  born  in  Norway  and  came 
to  America  when  four  years  of  age.  Knute 
Kvanbeck  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1876 
and  took  as  a  homestead  claim  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  14,  Eidsvold  town- 
ship, where  he  has  ever  since  lived.  The 
first  home  was  a  little  log  cabin,  and  Mr 
Kvanbeck  has  made  all  the  improvements 
on  the  place,  now  owning  also  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  14.  Knute  Kvan- 
beck has  been  prominent  in  the  affairs  of 
his  township.  For  the  past  eighteen  years 
he  has  been  township  clerk  and  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  a 
number  of  years. 

There  are  four  sons  and  two  daughters 
in  the  family,  as  follows:  Helen  (Mrs.  P. 
J.  Thorson),  of  Swede  Prairie  township, 
Yellow  Medicine  county;  Sven  (married  to 
Clara  Hall),  a  carpenter  of  Kansas  City; 
Jacob,  who  is  one  of  the  partners  in  the 
management  of  the  home  farm;  Halvor  K., 
of  this  sketch;  Nellie  (Mrs.  Rasmus  Ander- 
son), of  Eidsvold  township;  and  Albert,  of 
Minneota. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


377 


Halvor  Kvanbeck  was  born  in  Lyon 
county  and  has  always  made  his  home  here. 
The  date  of  his  birth  was  March  16,  1877, 
and  the  place  was  two  miles  southeast  of 
Minneota.  He  is  not  married  and  has 
always  resided  at  home.  Besides  farming 
his  own  land  in  Yellow  Medicine  county, 
he  assisted  with  the  work  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  in  the  spring  of  1912  he  and  his 
brother  rented  the  half  section  owned  by 
their  father  and  are  now  engaged  in  its 
management. 


HYPPOLIT  MAERTENS  (1883)  since 
August  10,  1911,  has  held  the  position  as 
buyer  for  the  Van  Dusen  Elevator  Com- 
pany at  Ghent.  Previous  to  that  time  Mr. 
Maertens  for  three  years  held  a  similar 
position  with  the  Mutual  Elevator  Com- 
pany at  Taunton. 

Mr.  Maertens  claims  Belgium  for  his 
native  land  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Annie  (De  Ruee)  Maertens.  Hyppolit  was 
born  September  25,  1875,  and  when  only 
eight  years  old  the  family  came  to  Amer- 
ica, the  father  buying  land  in  Grandview 
township,  Lyon  county.  His  father  re- 
turned to  Belgium  in  1895,  where  he  died 
four  years  ago.  The  mother  died  while 
the  family  were  on  the  Grandview  farm. 

Hyppolit  attended  the  Sisters'  School 
two  years  in  Belgium,  and  after  coming  to 
Lyon  county  he  received  a  good  education 
in  the  country  school  in  Grandview.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  took  up  farm- 
ing in  Grandview  and  continued  in  that 
pursuit  until  1907,  when  he  returned  to 
Belgium  for  a  sojourn  of  six  months.  Re- 
turning to  Lyon  county,  he  was  given  the 
position  with  the  elevator  people  at  Taun- 
ton. 

The  marriage  of  Hyppolit  Maertens  and 
Marie  De  Langhe  occurred  November  6, 
1907,  at  Minneota.  Mrs.  Maertens  is  a 
native  of  Belgium  and  she  and  her  hus- 
band are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children, 
Edward,   Henry  and   Margaret. 


GEORGE  B.  GIFFORD  (1879),  a  farm- 
er of  Custer  township,  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son county,  New  York,  November  3,  1862, 
and   is  a   son  of  Willard  W.   and   Jane  L 


(Spink)  Gifford,  both  natives  of  New  York 
State.  His  mother  died  when  George  was 
ten  years  of  age. 

George  was  brought  up  in  his  native 
state  and  there  received  his  schooling.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  he  accompanied  his 
father  and  stepmother  to  Lyon  county, 
where  the  father  filed  on  a  homestead  in 
Custer  township,  the  land  which  our  sub- 
ject now  owns.  Here  the  young  man  grew 
to  manhood  and  assisted  his  father  with 
the  farm  work  until  the  elder  Gifford's 
death  in  18  92,  since  which  time  George 
has  had  charge  of  the  place.  In  addition 
to  the  old  homestead  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  18,  Mr.  Gifford  owns 
120  acres  on  section  17  of  the  same  town- 
ship. He  raises  considerable  stock  and  has 
been  farming  successfully.  Mr.  Gifford 
owns  shares  in  the  creamery  company  of 
Balaton  and  is  a  director  of  the  company. 
He  is  serving  as  treasurer  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  52. 

March  30,  1887,  Mr.  Gifford  was  mar- 
ried to  Ruth  Hughes,  the  ceremony  being 
performed  in  Custer  township.  Mrs.  Gif- 
ford was  born  in  Blue  Earth  county,  Min- 
nesota, May  25,  1868,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Richard  and  Ann  (Thomas)  Hughes, 
natives  of  Wales  and  Maryland,  respective- 
ly. Mrs.  Hughes  died  in  1894  and  her  hus- 
band is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Gifford:  Lo- 
renta  R.,  born  December  16,  1888;  Elv- 
ridge,  born  April  23,  1890;  Mark,  born 
December  4,  1891;  Willard,  born  March  5, 
1894;  Anna,  born  August  1,  18  97;  Lydia, 
born  June  15,  1902;  and  Celia,  born  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1905.  Of  the  above  children, 
Lorenta  and  Elvridge  are  married;  the 
others  are  at  home.  Mr.  Gifford  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge. 


A.  ROSSLAND  (1899)  is  the  manager 
of  the  Cottonwood  Hardware  Company. 
He  was  born  in  the  land  of  the  midnight 
sun  October  12,  1873.  His  parents  died 
in  the  old  country.  They  were  Anders  and 
Martha  (Cleveland)  Rossland  and  were  the 
parents  of  four  children:  Andrew,  of  this 
sketch;  Signey  Tvedteras,  and  Maria  Rong- 
ved,  of  Norway;  and  Anna  Rossland,  of 
Cottonwood. 


378 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Our  subject  obtained  his  education  in  the 
land  of  his  birth,  where  he  resided  until 
nineteen  years  of  age.  Then  he  came  to 
the  United  States  and  settled  at  Maynard, 
Minnesota,  where  he  worked  as  second  man 
in  a  grain  elevator  in  the  summer  months; 
in  the  winter  months  he  attended  the  Nor- 
wegian College  at  Madison.  Mr.  Rossland 
continued  this  two  years,  when  he  secured 
employment  with  the  Northwestern  Ele- 
vator Company.  He  worked  for  the  latter 
company  at  Sherman,  South  Dakota,  four 
years  and  at  Corson,  South  Dakota,  one 
year. 

In  1899  Mr.  Rossland  came  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  located  at  Cottonwood,  where  he  was 
employed  by  the  above  named  grain  com- 
pany six  years.  He  resigned  in  1905  and 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Cotton- 
wood Hardware  Company,  which  was  es- 
tablished and  incorporated  in  January, 
1905.  He  has  been  treasurer  and  manager 
of  the  company  since  its  organization. 

The  Cottonwood  Hardware  Company  is 
the  outgrowth  of  a  company  of  the  same 
name  that  was  established  several  years 
ago  by  Thomas  McKinley.  He  sold  to 
Arneson  &  Anderson,  who  conducted  it 
until  1905,  when  it  was  reorganized  and 
incorporated.  It  is  capitalized  for  $20,000. 
The  following  are  officers  of  the  company: 
President,  A.  E.  Anderson;  vice  president, 
O.  A.  Anderson;  secretary,  O.  C.  Hovdes- 
ven;  treasurer  and  manager,  A.  Rossland. 
The  company  handles  hardware  and  imple- 
ments. It  owns  the  brick  block  in  which 
the  business  is  located,  which  was  erected 
in  1904.  The  store  and  stock  are  a  credit 
to  the  village  of  Cottonwood  and  is  the 
largest  and  best  stock  carried  by  any  little 
store  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Rossland  was  a  member  of  the  Vil- 
lage Council  one  term  and  was  assessor 
two  years. 

At  Elk  Point,  South  Dakota,  July  11, 
1901,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Ross- 
land to  Mamie  Holden,  a  native  of  Sioux 
City,  Iowa.  They  are  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Hazel  Agnes  Margaret,  Arden 
Oliver,  Dagny  Marie  and  Clayton  Holden. 


CHRISTIAN  E.  ETRHEIM  (1895)  is  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  County  Commis- 
sioners, representing  the  third  district,  and 


a  prominent  farmer  of  Shelburne  township. 
He  owns  the  east  half  of  section  36  and 
has  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  of  the 
county.  He  has  lived  in  many  parts  of 
the  country  and  engaged  in  many  occupa- 
tions, but  he  has  found  that  Lyon  county 
suits  him  better  than  any  place  he  has 
found  and  he  has  prospered  exceedingly. 

By  birth  Mr.  Etrheim  is  a  Norwegian, 
having  been  born  near  Odda,  Hardanger, 
on  May  26,  1864.  Both  his  parents  are 
deceased,  his  father,  Eilef  D.  Etrheim, 
having  died  in  1901,  and  his  mother, 
Syneva  (Tyssedal)  Etrheim,  having  passed 
away  in  1872.  The  boyhood  days  of  our 
subject  were  passed  in  the  land  of  his 
nativity.  He  received  a  good  education  in 
the  common  schools  and  high  school,  hav- 
ing been  graduated  from  the  Lofthus  High 
School  in  1881. 

After  his  graduation  Mr.  Etrheim  worked 
on  his  father's  farm  one  year  and  then 
came  to  America,  arriving  April  11,  1882. 
For  six  years  he  worked  at  farm  labor  and 
other  occupations  in  Lee  county,  Illinois, 
and  then  took  up  his  residence  at  Ells- 
worth, Iowa.  During  the  next  few  years 
he  was  employed  in  various  capacities. 
For  five  months  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand, 
for  two  months  canvassed  in  Hamilton 
county  for  the  Fort  Dodge  Nursery  Com- 
pany, and  during  one  season  sold  farm 
implements  for  W.  W.  Woods,  of  Ells- 
worth. 

We  next  find  our  subject  in  Chicago, 
where  he  worked  one  winter  for  the  Mc- 
Cormick  Harvester  Company.  For  one 
year  he  traveled  over  Iowa  as  a  salesman 
for  the  Warder,  Bushnell  &  Glesner  Com- 
pany, makers  of  the  Champion  binders  and 
mowers.  In  the  fall  of  1890  Mr.  Etrheim 
returned  to  Ellsworth  and  in  partnership 
with  Ole  Cragwick  purchased  the  W.  W. 
Woods  machinery  business.  After  one 
year  he  sold  his  interest  to  Nels  Sexe  and 
then  took  a  six  months'  course  in  a  busi- 
ness college  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Mr. 
Etrheim  again  took  a  position  with  the 
Warder,  Bushnell  &  Glesner  Company  and 
for  four  years  traveled  in  Iowa  and  Minne- 
sota. During  that  period  he  spent  one 
winter  in  the  repair  department  in  Chi- 
cago and  one  winter  in  the  collection  de- 
partment in  the  office. 

Mr.  Etrheim  turned  farmer  in  the  spring 


THE    ETRHEIM  FARM.  SHELBURNE  TOWNSHIP 


CHRISTIAN  E.  ETRHEIM 

Proprietor  Etrheim  Farm  and  a  County 

Commissioner. 


MRS.   CHRISTIAN  E.  ETRHEIM 


THE  NSW  YOKE 

PUBLIC  LlUKAK-y 


:**>;  AM 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


379 


of  1895.  Ten  years  before  that  date  he 
and  his  brother  Henry  had  purchased  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  36,  Shelburne 
township,  and  to  that  place  our  subject 
moved  after  his  marriage.  He  has  ever 
since  resided  on  the  farm  and  has  added 
to  his  holdings. 

For  four  years  Mr.  Etrheim  was  a  direc- 
tor of  the  Balaton  Farmers  Co-operative 
Company  and  he  is  still  one  of  the  stock- 
holders. He  has  been  a  county  commis- 
sioner for  the  past  four  years  and  has  held 
a  number  of  local  offices,  including  clerk 
of  school  district  No.  68  for  six  years  and 
justice  of  the  peace. 

Mr.  Etrheim  was  married  in  Chicago 
March  7,  189  5,  to  Celia  T.  Prestegaard. 
She  was  born  in  Odda,  Hardanger,  Norway, 
February  25,  1862,  a  daughter  of  Torgels 
K.  and  Britta  (Hildal)  Prestegaard.  The 
former  lives' in  Norway;  the  latter  died  in 
1874.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Etrheim  was  born 
one  child,  Eilif,  born  February  20,  1896,  and 
died  March  1,  1896. 


WILLIAM  F.  MTJLLANEY  (1873),  chief 
engineer  of  the  Marshall  Milling  Company's 
plant,  has  lived  in  Lyon  county  since  he  was 
a  baby  one  and  one-half  years  old.  He  was 
born  in  Nicollet  county,  Minnesota,  Septem- 
ber 29,  1871. 

The  parents,  Peter  and  Mary  (Powers) 
Mullaney,  were  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to 
America  when  children.  They  were  married 
in  Peoria,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Nicollet 
county  in  the  early  sixties.  They  took  a 
homestead  claim  in  Lynd  township,  Lyon 
county  in  1873  and  resided  on  the  farm  until 
1907.  They  have  since  lived  retired  lives 
in  Marshall.  In  the  family  are  six  children: 
Annie  (Mrs.  John  McColer),  of  Tracy;  Rich- 
ard, who  died  in  1891;  William  F.,  of  this 
biography;  Alphonsus,  of  Minneapolis;  Katie 
(Mrs.  John  Brennan),  of  Balaton;  Leo,  of 
San  Francisco;  and  Charles,  who  lives  at 
Fort  Warden,  Washington,  and  is  a  first 
sergeant  of  Company  No.  125  of  the  United 
States  Coast  Artillery. 

William  Mullaney  accompanied  the  family 
to  Lyon  county  in  June,  1873,  and  grew  up 
on  his  father's  homestead,  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  14,  Lynd  township.  As  a 
boy  he  worked  on  the  farm  and  operated 
threshing  machines,  getting  his  first  experi- 


ence in  mechanics.  In  1892  he  moved  to 
Marshall  and  took  a  position  as  fireman 
with  the  Sleepy  Eye  Milling  Company,  now 
the  Marshall  Milling  Company,  and  has  been 
connected  with  that  firm's  mill  ever  since. 

He  was  soon  made  assistant  engineer,  the 
first  six  months  of  that  service  being  given 
without  pay,  and  in  1896  he  was  promoted  to 
chief  engineer.  In  1904,  when  the  company 
built  the  present  mill — one  of  the  largest  in 
the  southwestern  part  of  Minnesota  and  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  state — Mr.  Mullaney  su- 
perintended the  installing  of  the  mammoth 
1000  horse-power  engine  of  the  cross-com- 
pound type,  and  he  has  since  superintended 
the  putting  in  of  the  other  modern  appli- 
ances. Mr.  Mullaney  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  best  engineers  and  mechanical  ex- 
perts in  this  part  of  Minnesota. 

During  the  past  three  years  Mr.  Mullaney 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  City  Council, 
representing  the  second  ward,  and  he  is  one 
of  the  valued  members  of  the  city's  law- 
making body.  He  holds  membership  in  the 
Modern  Woodmen  and  Workmen  lodges  and 
Is  one  of  the  managers  of  each  order. 

The  marriage'  of  Mr.  Mullaney  to  Susie 
Lee  was  solemnized  .at  Marshall  April  27, 
1897.  Mrs.  Mullaney-,  is  a  native  of  Illinois 
and  a  daughter  of  the  late  Richard  Lee,  a 
pioneer  of  Lyon  county.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mullaney,  named 
as  follows:  Irene,  Margaret,  Gladys,  Carle- 
ton  and  Verna. 


OLE  O.  DOVRE  (1879)  is  a  farmer  and 
land  owner  of  Eidsvold  township.  He 
owns  the  southeast  quarter  and  the  south 
half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  33. 
a  few  miles  southwest  of  Minneota.  In 
the  summer  of  1911  he  erected  a  house 
on  the  farm  that  cost  $5000.  It  is  modern 
in  every  respect  and  is  one  of  Lyon  coun- 
ty's fine  farm  homes. 

Ole  O.  Dovre  is  a  Norwegian  by  birth  and 
first  saw  the  light  of  day  May  15,  1859. 
His  father,  O.  N.  Dovre,  died  in  the  old 
country  in  1876,  and  his  mother,  Ragnhild 
(Thorson)  Dovre,  passed  away  there  in 
1910.  After  securing  an  education,  Ole 
Dovre  came  to  America,  in  the  spring  of 
1877.  He  located  at  Northfield,  Minne- 
sota, and  worked  at  the  printer's  trade 
there  two  years. 


380 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


In  the  summer  of  1879  Mr.  Dovre  first 
came  to  Lyon  county.  He  spent  eighteen 
months  visiting  and  working  and  then 
went  to  Brown  county,  Kansas,  where  he 
resided  one  and  one-half  years.  Returning 
to  Northfield,  he  had  his  residence  there 
until  1892,  engaged  in  horse  training  and 
later  in  the  mercantile  business.  Mr. 
Dovre  then  spent  a  year  traveling  through 
the  South  and  West,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1894  he  took  up  his  permanent  residence 
in  Lyon  county.  He  lived  in  Minneota 
and  vicinity  two  years  and  in  1895  bought 
his  present  farm. 

Our  subject  has  stock  in  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  a  director  of  the  Farm- 
ers Elevator  Company  of  Minneota.  He 
has  been  a  director  of  school  district  No.  55 
four  years  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church  of  Minneota. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Dovre  to  Inga  Rye 
occurred  at  Watertown,  South  Dakota, 
August  7,  1896.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Norway  November  28,  1865,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Esten  and  Marit  (Ranum) 
Rye,  early  settlers  of  and  still  residents  of 
Nordland  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dovre 
have  the  following  children,  all  of  whom 
reside  at  home:  Knute,  Nels  Edwin, 
Ragnhild  Marie,  Irene  Sophia,  Hilda,  Ruth 
Amelia,  Odin  Esten,  Harold. 


CORNELIUS  HUISENFELDT  (1893)  is  a 
farmer  and  land  owner  of  Lynd  township. 
He  is  a  native  of  Wisconsin  and  was  born 
November  1,  1853,  at  Depere.  He  is  a  son 
of  Stephen  and  Wilhelmina  Huisenfeldt,  na- 
tives of  Holland,  who  came  to  America  in  an 
early  day  and  located  in  Wisconsin.  It  was 
there  that  our  subject  received  his  education 
and  grew  to  manhood.  He  worked  for  his 
father  until  1877  and  then  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  and  at  the  house  moving 
business  for  several  years.  In  1880  he 
started  in  the  business  for  himself,  having 
in  his  employ  from  three  to  seven  men.  He 
worked  at  this  trade  in  Wisconsin  and  in 
Lyon  county  for  over  thirty  years. 

In  1892  Mr.  Huisenfeldt  purchased  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  4,  Lynd  town- 
ship, and  the  following  year  moved  with  his 
family  to  the  place.  He  has  purchased  more 
land  since  then  and  is  now  the  owner  of 
four  hundred  acres  of  fine  land. 


The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  church.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Township  Board  of  Supervisors  in  Brown 
county,  Wisconsin,  for  several  years.  He  is 
now  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  17  and 
was  road  master  for  two  years  in  Lynd 
township.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Farm- 
ers Elevator  Company  at  Ghent  and  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Lyon  County  Agricultural  As- 
sociation. He  engages  extensively  in  stock 
laising,  specializing  on  Shorthorn  cattle, 
Poland  China  hogs,  Percheron  horses  and 
Barred  Plymouth  Rock  chickens. 

On  May  15,  1877,  Mr.  Huisenfeldt  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Ardena  Van  DeVoort, 
a  daughter  of  Arnold  and  Mary  (Barten) 
Van  DeVoort.  Mrs.  Huisenfeldt  is  a  native 
of  Wisconsin  and  was  born  March  13,  1858. 
They  are  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
children:  Arnold,  bora  June  12,  1878;  John, 
born  September  3,  1880;  Stephen,  born  No- 
vember 27,  1882;  Minnie,  born  October  8. 
1888;  Martin,  born  October  19,  1892;  Joseph, 
born  May  23,  1895;  Annie,  born  October  18. 
1897;  George,  bora  December  13,  1900.  An- 
other child  died  when  two  and  one-half  years 
old. 


MICHAEL  B.  FORD  (1880),  Sodus  town- 
ship farmer,  is  a  native  of  Waseca  county, 
Minnesota,  where  he  was  born  March  25, 
1871.  His  parents  are  Bernard  and  Cather- 
ine (Haney)  Ford,  the  former  a  native  of 
Ireland  and  the  latter  of  Canada.  They  set- 
tled in  Waseca  county  in  an  early  day. 

When  nine  years  of  age  our  subject  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Lyon  county  and 
his  father  purchased  land  in  Sodus  town- 
ship, the  southwest  quarter  of  section  25. 
There  Michael  received  his  schooling  and 
grew  to  manhood,  and  he  has  resided  on  the 
home  farm  continuously  since  1880.  In  1900 
he  purchased  the  home  farm  from  his  mother 
and  has  since  conducted  it.  Our  subject  is 
clerk  of  school  district  No.  83.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church  and  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters  lodge.     He  is  unmarried. 


BERNARD  F.  CLAEYS  (1884)  is  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  farmers  of  Grandview 
township.  He  is  the  owner  of  880  acres  of 
fine  land  and  for  the  past  twelve  years  has 
also  been  operating  a  half  section  belonging 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


381 


to  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  De  Sutter,  who 
returned  to  Belgium  to  live  in  1900. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Belgium  September  18,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of 
Louis  and  Xaveria  (Vankersschaver)  Claeys. 
When  i lie  boy  was  two  years  of  age  his  fa- 
ther died.  The  lad  grew  up  on  the  home 
farm  and  was  well  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  land,  having  the  opportunity 
of  attending  college  two  years.  In  1884 
Bernard  and  his  mother  came  to  America, 
and  young  Claeys  bought  land  in  Grand  view 
township,  Lyon  county.  There  he  has  since 
lived  and  farmed.  He  has  acquired  consid- 
erable farm  land  and  has  prospered.  His 
mother  lived  with  him  and  his  brother  four- 
teen years  on  the  Lyon  county  farm  and 
then  returned  to  her  native  land,  where  she 
died  in  1904. 

Mr.  Claeys  is  a  stockholder  and  director  of 
the  Farmers -Elevator  Company  of  Ghent  and 
was  one  of  its  organizers.  He  has  served  the 
past  three  years  as  treasurer  of  Grandview 
township  and  was  a  member  of  the  Grand- 
view  Township  Board  of  Supervisors  nine 
years,  seven  years  of  the  time  being  chair- 
man. In  the  winter  of  1903-04  Mr.  Claeys 
enjoyed  a  four  months'  trip  to  the  Father- 
land, and  with  that  exception  he  has  been 
a  continuous  resident  of  his  Grandview  place 
since  coming  to  the  county. 

On  September  9,  1S90,  Bernard  Claeys  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Ida  Maertens,  a  native 
of  Belgium.  She  was  born  March  30,  1868, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Anna  (De- 
Ruwe)  Maertens,  now  dead.  Her  parents  lo- 
cated in  Grandview  township  in  1883,  and 
there  the  mother  died.  The  father  returned 
to  Belgium  soon  after  and  made  his  home 
there  until  his  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bernard 
Claeys  are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Louis,  Anna  (deceased),  Andrew, 
Mary,  Emmerence,  Irma,  Idalie,  Margaret. 
Bernard  (deceased),  Bernadette,  Eugenia,  Ida 
and  Alice.  Anna  and  Andrew  were  twins. 
The  children  reside  at  home  with  their 
parents. 

Mr.  Claeys  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Ghent  and  was  formerly  one  of 
the  trustees.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and  has  held 
various  offices  in  the  local  organization. 


H.   R.   SEARLES    (1879),   proprietor  of  a 
livery  and  sale  stable  and  a  dealer  in  agri- 


cultural implements  of  Tracy,  is  one  of  the 
early  residents  of  the  county,  having  lived 
here  a  third  of  a  century.  He  is  a  native 
of  Steuben  county,  New  York,  and  was  born 
November  29,  1863. 

In  his  native  county  our  subject  lived  until 
ls7!»;  then  lie  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Lyon  county.  The  father  bought  a  half 
section  of  railroad  land  in  Rock  Lake  town- 
ship, and  on  that  farm  H.  R.  Searles  lived 
until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age.  Then 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He  worked 
in  the  woods  in  the  north  part  of  the  state 
one  winter  and  then  returned  and  settled 
at  Balaton.  In  that  village  he  engaged  in 
teaming  and  operated  a  dray  line  five  years; 
then  he  bought  a  livery  barn  and  conducted 
it  five  years. 

Locating  in  Tracy  at  the  end  of  that  time, 
Mr.  Searles  rented  a  barn  from  Mr.  Slover 
and  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  a  year  and 
a  half  later  he  bought  the  lots  upon  which  it 
had  stood  and  erected  a  barn  of  his  own. 
Later  he  sold  out  and  erected  a  larger  livery 
stable  on  the  corner  opposite  Webb's  store, 
which  he  conducted  until  it  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  March,  1910.  Since  that  calamity  Mr. 
Searles  has  engaged  in  the  livery  business 
in  his  own  property  on  Third  Street. 

Besides  the  business  enterprise  mentioned 
Mr.  Searles  deals  extensively  in  farming  im- 
plements, carrying  a  large  line  of  machinery, 
engines,  wagons,  automobiles,  etc.  He  is  one 
of  the  stockholders  of  the  Tracy  Automobile 
Company  and  owns  two  Lyon  county  farms. 
He  served  as  alderman  from  the  second  ward 
for  a  number  of  years  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge. 

Mr.  Searles  was  married  at  Balaton  June 
6,  1895,  to  Lucy  A.  Hamm.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  William  Hamm,  a  Lyon  county  home- 
steader. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Searles  have  one 
child,  Gertrude. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  J.  W. 
and  Kate  (Bauter)  Searles,  who  now  re- 
side at  Balaton,  aged  eighty-one  and  eighty 
years,  respectively.  They  came  from  New 
York  State,  where  they  were  born,  to  Lyon 
county  in  1879,  and  before  retiring  from 
active  life,  farmed  in  Rock  Lake  township. 
To  them  were  born  eight  children,  of  whom 
seven  are  living.  Their  children  are  Rev. 
William  Searles,  of  New  York;  J.  D.  Searles, 
of  Minneapolis;  Frank  M.  Searles,  of  New 
Brighton,  Minnesota;  Fred  W.  Searles,  of 
Minneapolis;    Mrs.  Carrie  Wheeler,  of  Okla- 


382 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


honia  City,  Oklahoma;  Mrs.  J.  H.  Carlaw,  of 
Balaton.  Another  son,  Marshall  W.,  died  in 
1905. 

FRED  S.  BARTLETT  (1879)  is  a  con- 
tractor of  Balaton.  He  has  been  a  resident 
of  Lyon  county  for  thirty-three  years,  having 
come  here  with  his  parents  in  the  spring  of 
1879.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  January 
28,  1877,  a  son  of  E.  D.  Bartlett,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Balaton.  The  other  members  of  that 
family  are  Rose,  Minnie,  Ella,  Sadie  and 
Lue. 

Our  subject  attended  school  in  Balaton, 
and,  after  completing  his  course,  entered  the 
employ  of  his  father  and  learned  the  trade. 
When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  started 
out  for  himself.  He  has  put  up  the  principal 
buildings  in  the  village  of  Balaton,  including 
the  First  National  Bank,  the  Eng  Block,  the 
German  church,  Swedish  church,  and  the 
Lake  Avenue  Hotel.  He  also  erected  the 
new  building  on  the  county  poor  farm  and 
other  buildings  throughout  the  county.  Mr. 
Bartlett  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge 
and  the  Village  Council. 

Mr.  Bartlett  was  married  in  Balaton  De- 
cember 26,  1900,  to  Anna  Hall,  a  native  of 
Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bartlett  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  children,  Rachael  and  Maud. 

JULIUS  TEERLINCK  (1892)  came  to  the 
United  States  from  Belgium,  and  when  he  set- 
tled in  Fairview  township  in  1892  he  was  a 
poor  man.  He  spent  the  first  six  years  of  his 
residence  in  the  county  working  on  farms 
near  Ghent;  then  he  rented  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  18,  Fairview  township,  and 
has  been  a  resident  on  the  place  ever  since. 
In  1902  he  bought  the  place  and  has.  re- 
cently acquired  additional  land,  making  him 
the  owner  of  260  acres.  Hard  work  and 
perseverance  have  brought  Mr.  Teerlinck 
success  ,and  he  is  considered  one  of  the 
substantial  farmers  of  the  township  and  the 
proprietor  of  one  of  its  best  farms.  He  has 
had  great  success  in  the  raising  of  corn, 
and  fattens  hogs  and  cattle  for  market. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Bar- 
bara (Parton)  Teerlinck  and  is  one  of  four 
children.  His  father  died  many  years  ago 
and  his  mother  died  nine  years  ago  at 
the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  Julius  is 
the  only  child  living  in  America,  the  other 
children,  Charlie,  Sylvia  and  Natilie,  being 


residents  of  Belgium.  Our  subject  was  bora 
in  Belgium  January  20,  1857.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Fatherland  and  then  worked  as 
a  farm  hand  until  coming  to  America  in  1892. 
On  May  3,  1881,  Mr.  Teerlinck  was  mar- 
ried to  Barbara  De  Baker.  Her  mother, 
Mary  Vermech,  and  two  sisters,  Leona  and 
Valentine,  live  in  Ghent,  and  a  brother,  Ca- 
ndle De  Baker,  is  a  farmer  of  Fairview  town- 
ship. Two  other  sisters,  Natilie  and  Matilda, 
live  in  Belgium.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Teerlinck 
has  been  born  one  son,  Frank.  He  is  a  young 
man  and  gives  his  father  valuable  assistance 
on  the  farm.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

PALMER  O.  FRENCH  (1892),  owner  of 
several  lots,  two  residence  properties,  a  store 
building  and  hall  in  Minneota,  is  a  retired 
farmer  and  business  man  who  is  enjoying 
years  of  quiet  after  an  active  and  successful 
business  life.  He  is  a  stockholder  and  for 
two  years  was  secretary  of  the  Farmers  & 
Merchants  Supply  Company  of  Minneota.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
more  than  twenty  years  and  was  on  the 
Village  Council  four  years,  three  years  of 
that  period  as  president.  Mr.  French  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  he 
has  been  treasurer  ten  years.  A  charter 
member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows 
lodges  of  Minneota,  he  is  treasurer  of  the 
former  and  district  deputy  of  the  latter.  D.  F. 
Markham  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Marshall  num- 
bers Mr.  French  among  its  members. 

Our  subject  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in 
Bennington,  New  York,  October  6,  1837.  His 
parents,  Burton  and  Mary  (Fargo)  French, 
are  both  dead.  Palmer  was  well  educated, 
attending  graded  and  high  school  and  the 
Genesee  and  Wyoming  Seminary  at  Alexan- 
der, New  York,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  He  then 
went  two  years  to  Hillsdale  College  in  Michi- 
gan, after  which  he  taught  school  at  Litch- 
field, Michigan,  one  year. 

In  1864  Mr.  French  enlisted  in  the  Second 
New  York  Mounted  Rifles  and  served  until 
the  war  closed,  taking  part  in  the  siege  of 
Petersburg,  capture  of  the  Weldon  railroad, 
etc. 

Returning  North  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
Mr.  French  spent  some  time  at  his  old  home 
and  in  Litchfield,  Michigan,  and  in  1867  he 
engaged   in    the   retail   grocery    business    in 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


::s:; 


Chicago,  being  so  employed  the  next  two 
years.  In  1S70  at  Austin,  Minnesota,  Mr. 
French  went  into  the  wholesale  and  retail 
implement  business  and  for  four  years  had 
the  state  agency  for  the  Hollingsworth  hay- 
rake  and  the  Southwestern  Minnesota  agency 
for  the  Marsh  harvester,  the  first  machine 
of  its  kind  on  the  market.  Mr.  French  was 
on  the  Village  Council  and  was  mayor  of 
Austin  one  year.  He  was  also  secretary  of 
the  Board  of  Trade.  From  the  spring  of  1877 
until  that  fall  our  subject  conducted  the  first 
stage  line  between  Pierre  and  Deadwood,  in 
the  Black  Hills  district  of  South  Dakota. 

Returning  to  Minnesota  Mr.  French  took 
a  tree  claim  and  homestead  in  Yellow  Medi- 
cine county  and  in  the  spring  of  1S78  broke 
up  part  of  the  land.  The  township  of  Burton 
was  named  for  his  father,  and  Palmer  French 
was  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 
In  1879  Mr.  French  moved  his  family  from 
Austin  and  they  made  their  home  on  the 
Yellow  Medicine  farm  until  1892,  when  they 
moved  to  Minneota.  From  that  time  until  he 
retired  in  1897,  Mr.  French  was  engaged  in 
the  machinery  and  pump  business. 

At  Litchfield,  Michigan,  January  11,  1866, 
Palmer  O.  French  married  Nancy  A.  Wood, 
a  native  of  that  state.  To  this  union  was 
born  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
French  died  in  1868.  Mr.  French  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time,  January  4,  1870,  to  Rhoda 
W.  Gillett,  of  Bennington,  New  York. 


NELS  NELSON  (1S86),  of  Coon  Creek 
township,  is  a  native  of  Jemtland,  Sweden, 
where  he  was  born  December  31,  1858.  He 
is  a  son  of  Nels  and  Mollin  (Nelson)  Erick- 
son,  the  former  being  deceased  and  the  lat- 
ter residing  in  Sweden.  Our  subject  re- 
ceived his  schooling  in  the  land  of  his  birth, 
where  he  resided  until  twenty-eight  years 
of  age  and  then  came  to  the  United  States. 
The  first  fifteen  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
in  school,  and  from  the  age  of  fifteen  until 
twenty-eight  he  worked  out  at  farm  labor. 

In  1886  Mr.  Nelson  came  to  America,  lo- 
cating at  Balaton,  where  he  was  employed 
for  a  year  in  a  gravel  pit.  He  then  went 
to  the  northern  part  of  Wisconsin,  where 
he  worked  in  a  railroad  camp  four  years. 
Then  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Swe- 
den and  remained  a  year.  Returning  again 
to    America,    he    took    up    his    residence    in 


Lyon  county,  buying  the  land  in  Coon  Creek 
township  upon  which  he  still  lives.  He  has 
a  very  fine  home.  In  addition  to  general 
farming,  he  engages  in  stock  raising,  such 
as  Shorthorn  cattle,  Duroc-Jersey  hogs  and 
Langshang  chickens.  Mr.  Nelson  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  and  Modern  Woodmen 
lodges  and  has  been  treasurer  of  school 
district  No.  92  five  years.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder of  the  Farmers  Mutual  Telephone 
Company. 

In  1892  Mr.  Nelson  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Katherine  Lindstrom,  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Lindstrom.  She  was  born  in  1865  in  Jemt- 
land, Sweden.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Nels, 
born  August  23,  1S92;  Augusta,  bom  Janu- 
ary 6,  1894;  Oscar,  born  December  1,  1895; 
Ellen,  born  December  17,  1898;  Mary,  bom 
February  23,  1901;  Eva,  born  March  9,  1903; 
Albert,  born  November  18,  1905.  All  the 
children  except  Augusta  reside  at  home. 
Augusta  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Neigh- 
bors lodge,  Nels  of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge,  and 
Mrs.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the  Degree  of 
Honor. 

Mr.  Nelson  owns  280  acres  of  fine  land 
in  Coon  Creek  township  and  is  a  successful 
farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  has  two  broth- 
ers and  three  sisters,  as  follows:  Erick,  of 
Pine  county,  Minnesota;  Olaf,  Mary,  Inge- 
borg  and  Martha,  all  residing  in  Jemtland, 
Sweden.  Mrs.  Nelson  has  one  sister,  Mrs. 
Mathias  Johnson,  of  Sweden. 

ANTON  HEYMANS  (1892)  is  one  of  the 
progressive  men  of  Nordland  township,  a 
successful  farmer  and  a  large  holder  of 
Lyon  county  real  estate.  He  has  devoted 
many  years  to  business  life  and  only  re- 
cently has  he  engaged  in  farming. 

In  Weert  Holland,  Anton  Heymans  was 
born  October  22,'  1867.  He  is  the  only  one 
of  a  family  of  eight  children  residing  in 
America,  the  others,  Louis,  Frank,  Johanna 
(deceased),  Delphine,  Anna,  Josephine  and 
Dena,  being  in  their  native  land.  The  par- 
ents of  this  family,  Martin  and  Mary  (Ver- 
hagen)  Heymans,  died  in  Holland. 

Anton  received  a  good  education  in  his 
native  country,  attending  the  common 
schools  and  a  Catholic  college  until  twenty- 
one  years  old,  studying  the  Latin,  Greek, 
French,  German  and  Flemish  languages.  Aft- 


384 


BIOGEAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


er  his  school  days  he  worked  two  years  in 
a  wholesale  house  and  then  went  to  Germany 
and  was  there  employed  eighteen  months. 

In  1892  our  subject  came  to  the  New 
World  and  direct  to  Lyon  county,  his  worldly 
possessions  at  that  time  consisting  of  sixty 
dollars.  For  one  year  he  worked  on  a  farm 
near  Ghent  and  then  bought  land  near  Slay- 
ton,  Murray  county,  and  farmed  three  years. 
He  was  in  the  livery  business  in  Avoca  three 
years  and  in  the  real  estate  business  in  the 
same  town  one  year;  then  he  disposed  of  his 
interests  in  Murray  county  and  in  1900  again 
became  a  resident  of  Lyon  county.  At  Taun- 
ton he  was  in  the  real  estate  business  eight 
years  and  at  Minneota  two  years. 

Mr.  Heymans  purchased  the  farm  he  now 
operates  in  Nordland  in  August,  1911,  and 
began  farming.  The  home  farm  consists  of 
240  acres  on  section  3,  a  short  distance  from 
Minneota,  and  he  also  owns  640  acres  north 
of  Minneota,  making  him  the  possessor  of 
880  acres  of  Lyon  and  Yellow  Medicine  coun- 
ty lands.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  two  quar- 
ter sections  in  North  Dakota.  As  in  his 
other  business  ventures,  Mr.  Heymans  has 
been  successful  in  his  farming  operations. 
He  devotes  a  great  deal  0f  time  to  stock 
raising,  specializing  on  Hereford  cattle  and 
Poland  China  hogs. 

Mr.  Heymans  has  taken  a  leading  part  in 
local  affairs  since  coming  to  Lyon  county. 
For  several  years  he  was  treasurer  of  Taun- 
ton and  he  also  served  as  a  director  of  the 
Taunton  school  district  two  years.  He  is 
a  former  postmaster  of  Taunton  and  a  for- 
mer United  States  mail  carrier.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church  of  Minneota, 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge  of  the  same  village, 
and  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  of  Marshall. 

Antoinette  Princen,  who  was  born  in 
Weert,  Holland,  May  13,  1875,  was  married 
to  Mr.  Heymans  at  Ghent  on  July  17,  1895. 
Her  parents  are  Hubert  and  Philomena  (Vy-. 
gen)  Princen.  They  were  among  the  earliest 
of  the  Catholic  colonists  to  locate  in  the 
vicinity  of  Ghent  and  lived  there  until  two 
years  ago,  when  they  returned  to  the  old 
country,  where  they  now  have  their  home. 
The  following  named  six  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heymans  >and  reside 
at  home:  Alex,  Hubert,  Martin,  Eugene, 
Joseph  and  Marie. 


FRED  M.  HEALY  (1879),  proprietor  of 
a  book,  stationery  and  sporting  goods  store 
in  Marshall,  has  resided  in  that  city  for  the 
past  thirty-three  years  and  is  one  of  the 
oldest  business  men  of  the  city.  He  has 
built  up  a  successful  business  and  has  the 
largest  store  of  the  kind  in  Southwestern 
Minnesota. 

Mr.  Healy  was  born  in  Kendall  county,  Illi- 
nois, July  12,  1858.  When  he  was  ten  years 
of  age  he  moved  to  Faribault,  Minnesota,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated. 
When  he  was  seventeen  he  spent  one  year 
as  a  member  of  a  bridge  building  crew  at 
Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  but  during  most 
of  the  time  of  his  residence  in  Faribault  he 
was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  stores. 

In  1879  Mr.  Healy  located  in  Marshall, 
which  has  ever  since  been  his  home.  For 
three  years  he  clerked  in  the  grocery  store 
of  his  brother,  E.  L.  Healy,  and  in  1883 
started  a  store  of  his  own.  the  beginning  of 
his  present  business.  In  October,  1909,  Mr. 
Healy  admitted  his  son,  Charles,  to  partner- 
ship and  the  firm  is  now  styled  Healy  &  Son. 
Our  subject  served  as  mayor  of  Marshall  one 
term  and  was  city  recorder  two  terms. 

In  the  city  of  Marshall,  on  February  3, 
1887,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Healy  to 
Caroline  Strathers,  who  was  born  in  Rice 
county,  Minnesota,  near  Faribault.  They  have 
one  child,  Charles  E. 

The  father  of  our  subject  is  Lucius  Healy, 
who  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and  now 
resides  at  Red  Lake,  Minnesota.  Our  sub- 
ject's mother,  Amelia  (Boomer)  Healy,  died 
when  Fred  was  only  two  years  of  age.  There 
were  four  children  in  this  family:  E.  L.,  of 
Red  Lake,  Minnesota;  Emma,  Charles  and 
Fred  M.     Emma  and  Charles  are  deceased. 


HENRY  CHRISTENSON  (1883)  is  the 
owner  of  a  fine,  well-improved  200  acre 
farm  on  section  33,  Lucas  township,  and  has 
one  of  the  nicest  homes  in  the  precinct.  He 
engages  in  stock  raising  and  is  one  of  the 
prosperous  farmers  of  the  vicinity.  . 

Henry  Christenson  was  born  near  Copen- 
hagen, Denmark,  December  5,  1866,  and  is 
a  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Christian  Jenson. 
Henry  lived  in  Denmark  until  sixteen  years 
of  age  and  during  that  time  received  his 
schooling.  It  was  in  the  spring  of  1883  that 
the  boy  came  alone  to  America,  and  for  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


IJ85 


first  two  years  he  lived  at  Marshall  and  was 
employed  at  various  kinds  of  labor.  J.  W. 
Pike  then  hired  the  boy  to  work  on  his  farm 
in  Lake  Marshall  township,  and  there  Henry 
spent  three  years.  He  left  Mr.  Pike's  emploj 
to  engage  in  farming  for  himself  in  Stanley 
township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  farmed  in  Stan- 
ley township  four  years.  During  that  time 
his  parents  came  over  from  the  Fatherland, 
and  they  made  their  home  with  their  son 
until  they  moved  to  Marshall,  where  they 
lived  until  their  deaths.  After  his  four  years' 
residence  on  the  Stanley  farm,  Henry  bought 
the  farm  in  Lucas  township  where  he  has 
since  lived.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lucas 
township  board  and  for  the  past  seven  years 
has  been  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  41. 

Henry  Christenson  was  married  at  Mar- 
shall July  1,  1892,  to  Josephine  Engebretson, 
a  native  of  Fillmore  county.  They  have 
three  children:  Mabel,  born  July  20,  1895; 
Clarence,  born  January  3,  1898;  and  Alvin, 
born  July  21,  1905.  Mrs.  Christenson  was 
born  January  23,  1872.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Cottonwood,  of  which  Mr.  Christenson  was 
for  a  number  of  years  a  trustee.  Frater- 
nally he  is  allied  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men lodge. 


HANS  ANDERSEN  (1889)  is  a  prosperous 
farmer  residing  in  Coon  Creek  township. 
He  is  a  native  of  Denmark  and  was  born 
October  11,  1858,  a  son  of  Anders  and 
Kirsten  (Adams)  Sorensen.  Hans  received 
his  schooling  and  grew  to  manhood  in  the 
land  of  his  birth,  where  he  resided  with  his 
parents  until  1882,  when  he  came  to  this 
country. 

His  first  residence  in  America  was  in 
Grundy  county,  Iowa,  where  he  worked  as 
a  farm  hand  four  years  and  rented  land 
three  years.  In  1889  he  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  purchased  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  28,  Coon  Creek  township,  which 
he  still  owns  and  operates.  Since  buying 
this  farm,  however,  he  spent  four  years  in 
Tyler.  He  has  a  well  improved  farm  and 
a  fine  residence  in  Tyler.  Mr.  Andersen 
also  raises  considerable  stock.  He  is  a 
shareholder  of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Russell  and  of  the  Tyler  Lumber 
Company  of  Tyler,  Minnesota.     He  is  treas- 


urer of  Coon  Creek  township  and  a  member 
of  the  Danish  Lutheran  church  of  Tyler. 

Mr.  Andersen  was  married  in  Coon  Creek 
township  December  4,  1891,  to  Annie  K. 
Nelson,  a  native  of  Denmark  and  a  daughter 
of  Nels  and  Johannah  (Bertelsen)  Morten- 
sen.  Mrs.  Andersen  was  born  March  15, 
1860.  They  have  two  children:  Eiler  C, 
born  December  6,  1898,  and  Anton  S.,  born 
July  29,  1903. 


T.  H.  WEBB  (1884)  is  the  proprietor  of 
an  exclusive  grocery  store  at  Tracy  and 
has  resided  in  Lyon  county  twenty-eight 
years.  He  was  born  at  North  Bend,  Wis- 
consin, June  12,  1861,  and  in  that  state  he 
spent  his  boyhood  days.  He  was  educated 
in  a  college  at  Galesville,  Wisconsin,  and 
worked  at  the  telegrapher's  trade  before 
coming  to  Lyon  county. 

In  1884  Mr.  Webb  became  a  resident  of 
Lyon  county  and  the  first  year  taught  school 
at  Amiret.  The  next  year  he  took  the  posi- 
tion of  operator  and  station  agent  at  Amiret 
and  had  charge  of  that  station  seven  or 
eight  years.  About  the  same  time  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  brother,  the  late 
F.  W.  Webb,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business,  the  partnership  continuing  six  or 
seven    years. 

Mr.  Webb  became  the  leading  business 
man  of  the  little  village.  He  engaged  in 
the  lumber,  coal  and  grain  business  and 
opened  another  store.  He  was  appointed 
postmaster  by  President  Cleveland  in  1887 
and.  served  until  1896,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  brother.  During  his  residence 
in  Amiret  Mr.  Webb  served  as  a  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Amiret  township. 

In  1897  Mr.  Webb  sold  all  his  interests 
at  Amiret  and  became  a  resident  of  Tracy. 
There  he  engaged  in  the  grain  and  stock 
business,  erecting  the  grain  elevator  now 
owned  by  Louis  Rialson,  and  conducted  those 
enterprises  several  years.  He  branched  out 
in  business,  opening  a  general  merchandise 
store  at  Garvin,  although  he  did  not  move 
to  that  village.  He  conducted  the  store 
alone  for  several  years  and  then  sold  a  part 
interest. to  Norman  S.  Peterson.  In  1902  Mr. 
Webb  purchased  the  building  at  the  corner 
of  Fourth  and  Morgan  Streets,  put  it  in  re- 
pair, and  opened  an  exclusive  grocery  store, 
which   he  has  since  conducted.     Mr.   Webb 


386 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge. 

Mr.  Webb  is  the  father  of  two  sons  and 
one  daughter,  Roscoe,  Orphia  and  Harry. 
Roscoe  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  having  received  the  degree  of  B. 
A.,  and  is  now  a  student  at  Johns  Hopkins 
University  of  Baltimore,  taking  a  course  in 
medicine. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  three 
children,  the  other  two  being  the  late  F.  W. 
Webb  and  A.  J.  Webb,  of  Melrose,  Wisconsin. 
Their  parents  were  William  and  Mary  Ann 
(Cannon)  Webb,  natives  of  England.  They 
came  to  the  United  States  when  young  and 
were  married  at  Buffalo,  New  York.  They 
located  in  Wisconsin  in  1856  and  in  that 
state  both  died,  the  father  in  1881  and  the 
mother   in   1888. 

CHARLES  F.  WEDGER  (1887)  owns  and 
farms  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  23, 
Sodus  township.  Born  in  Germany  Septem- 
ber 27,  1872,  he  accompanied  his  parents 
when  nine  years  of  age  to  Fond  du  Lac, 
Wisconsin,  where  his  father  worked  until 
1887. 

In  the  last  mentioned  year  our  subject 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon  county 
and  his  father  purchased  a  quarter  section 
of  land  in  Sodus  township.  Charles  resided 
with  his  parents  until  1895,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  southwest  quarter  of  section  23, 
Sodus  township,  and  has  resided  there  since. 
He  has  a  fine  improved  farm  and  raises  a 
great  deal  of  stock  in  addition  to  his  gen- 
eral farming.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church  and  was  director  of 
school  district  No.  73  three  years. 

Mr.  Wedger  was  married  in  Sodus  town- 
ship April  3,  1895,  to  Helen  Wedger,  a  native 
of  Germany.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Margaret  (Schoer)  Wedger  and  was  born 
March  5,  1873.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wedger  have 
no  children. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Odda,  Hardanger,  Norway,  August  8,  1872, 
his  parents  being  Eilef  D.  and  Synneva 
(Tyssedol)  Etrheim,  both  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. The  boy  Eilef  received  a  high  school 
education,  being  a  student  until  eighteen 
years  old.  The  next  two  years  were  spent 
as  the  driver  of  a  tourist  rig. 

In  the  spring  of  1891  Eilef  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  went  to  work  on  a  farm  near  Ro- 
chelle,  Illinois,  where  he  stayed  for  seven 
months,  going  then  to  Chicago  and  working 
for  the  McCormick  Harvester  Company  one 
year.  For  the  greater  part  of  the  next  five 
years  he  made  that  city  his  home,  working 
for  the  MdCormick  company,  for  the  West 
Side  Street  Car  Company,  and  at  various 
kinds  of  labor.  Later  he  went  to  Washburn, 
Wisconsin,  and  worked  in  the  woods  for  a 
time  before  locating  in  Minneapolis.  Mr. 
Etrheim  remained  in  Minneapolis  and  vicin- 
ity only  a  short  time  and  in  November,  1897, 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  made  his  home 
with  his  brother,  C.  E.  Etrheim,  on  his  farm 
in  Shelburne  ten  years. 

In  December,  1906,  at  Eau  Claire,  Wis- 
consin, occurred  the  ceremony  which  joined 
in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  Eilef  E. 
Etrheim  and  Dena  H.  Etrheim.  In  the  spring 
of  1907  they  moved  to  a  farm  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  31,  Rock  Lake,  which 
Eilef  and  C.  E.  Etrheim  had  purchased  a 
short  time  before.  Eilef  later  bought  his 
brother's  interest. 

Mrs.  Etrheim  is  a  native  of  Norway.  She 
was  born  July  25,  1883,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Haldor  J.  and  Rognhild  H.  (Robbe)  Etrheim, 
the  former  being  dead  and  the  latter  resid- 
ing in  Norway.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eilef  E.  Etr- 
heim are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Eilef  E. 
Etrheim,  Jr.,  born  September  23,  1907. 

Six  years  ago  Mr.  Etrheim  made  a  trip 
to  Norway  to  visit  his  old  home  and  was 
absent  several  months. 


EILEF  E.  ETRHEIM  (1897)  is  a  successful 
farmer  of  Rock  Lake  township.  He  is  also 
a  stock  raiser,  paying  particular  attention  to 
the  Shorthorn  breed  of  cattle  and  Poland 
China  swine.  He  is  a  shareholder  of  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Balaton  and 
has  always  been  a  progressive  'resident  of 
the  township.  For  one  year  he  was  road 
overseer. 


E.  H.  CARSTENS  (1878)  is  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  E.  H.  Carstens  & 
Son,  general  merchants  of  Taunton.  He  was 
born  in  Germany  April  28,  1841,  a  son  of 
U.  A.  and  Ida  (Remmers)  Carstens,  who  died 
in  Illinois.  The  mother  was  killed  in  a  rail- 
road accident. 

In  1852  our  subject  accompanied  his  par- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  1 1 1  ST(  )RY. 


387 


ents  to  the  United  Stales  and  located  in  Will 
county,  Illinois,  where  the  family  purchased 
land.  He  resided  there  until  his  father's 
death  in  August,  1S62,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Company  1),  Eighty-second  Illinois  Regiment, 
and  served  during  the  war.  After  the  war 
he  returned  to  Illinois  and  farmed  until  1869. 
In  the  latter  year  he  came  to  Minnesota, 
locating  in  Renville  county,  where  he  set- 
tled on  railroad  land. 

Mr.  Carstens  resided  in  Renville  county 
until  1S78,  when  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
pre-empted  land  in  Eidsvold  township.  He 
built  a  small  frame  house,  bringing  the  lum- 
ber from  Cambria,  Minnesota,  on  hand-cars. 
He  resided  on  the  farm  four  years.  While 
living  there  he  was  elected  road  overseer, 
the  position  covering  a  whole  township  in 
those  days.  Mr.  Carstens  moved  to  Schoka- 
tan,  Lincoln  county,  where  he  conducted  a 
store  three,  years,  and  then  moved  to  Tyler, 
Minnesota.  He  opened  a  general  store  in 
the  latter  place  and  conducted  it  nine  years. 

The  next  move  of  our  subject  was  to  Taun- 
ton, where  he  bought  a  building  and  opened 
a  general  store  before  the  depot  was  built. 
At  that  time  there  were  only  two  elevators 
and  a  store  in  the  town,  conducted  by  Fred 
Smuhl.  Our  subject  remained  in  that  build- 
ing until  1902,  when  he  put  up  the  store 
building  he  now  occupies.  He  carries  the 
largest  stock  of  general  merchandise  in  the 
village.  In  1908  he  admitted  his  son,  Harry 
E.,  as  a  partner  in  the  business,  and  the 
firm  has  since  been  conducted  under  the 
name  of  E.  H.  Carstens  &  Son.  Our  subject 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Village  Council, 
and  he  served  thirteen  years  and  four  months 
as  postmaster  of  the  village. 

Mr.  Carstens  was  married  in  Renville  coun- 
ty to  Minnie  Lopine.  They  are  the  parents 
of  seven  children:  Mary,  Ida,  Willie  F., 
Paul,  Henry,  Harry  E.  and  Mabel. 


AMBROSE  A.  REGNIER  (1883),  of  Lake 
Marshall  township,  was  born  in  Kankakee, 
Illinois,  November  15,  1867,  a  son  of  Isaac 
and  Mary  (Touschette)  Regnier.  The  par- 
ents are  natives  of  Canada  and  moved  to  Illi- 
nois in  1847,  where  they  resided  until  1883, 
when  they  moved  to  Lyon  county. 

Ambrose  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon 
county  when  sixteen  years  of  age  and  lived 
with  his  parents  until  twenty-nine  years  old, 


when  he  married  and  started  fanning  for 
himself.  He  farmed  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  21  and  forty  acres  on  section  15, 
Grandview  township,  until  1895,  when  he 
moved  to  Ghent  and  worked  for  the  Western 
Grain  Company  ten  years.  He  also  worked 
for  the  same  firm  and  the  Youmans  Lumber 
Company  in  Marshall  two  years. 

In  1907  Ambrose  purchased  forty  acres  on 
section  3,  Lake  Marshall  township,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  also  owns  four  hundred 
acres  in  Sodus  township,  which  he  rents  out. 
Mr.  Regnier  is  assessor  of  Lake  Marshall 
township,  and  he  served  as  clerk  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Grandview  Township  Board  of 
Supervisors  fifteen  years.  He  also  served 
on  the  Ghent  School  Board  twelve  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Our  subject  was  married  at  Ghent  October 
20,  1896,  to  Judith  Prairie,  a  native  of  Kan- 
kakee, Illinois.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Clovis 
and  Mary  (Lord)  Prairie,  natives  of  Canada, 
and  was  born  July  30,  1872.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Regnier  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Maude,  born  November  28,  1898; 
Isabel,  born  July  19,  1900;  Vivian,  born  May 
15,  1907. 


GEORGE  I.  LE  BEAU  (1883),  of  Ghent, 
is  a  land  agent  and  owner  of  two  well  im- 
proved farms  in  the  vicinity  of  Ghent.  From 
1899  until  a  few  months  ago  he  was  in  the 
grain  business  in  Ghent,  being  the  local 
manager  and  buyer  for  the  Van  Dusen  Ele- 
vator Company. 

George  Le  Beau  was  born  in  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, March  6,  1867,  and  moved  to  Kankakee 
county,  Illinois,  with  his  parents  when  quite 
young.  In  1883  the  family  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  settled  in  Grandview  township, 
the  father  buying  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  1,  in  which  George  has  had  an  in- 
terest since  his  father's  death.  Our  subject 
lived  at  home  until  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years,  when  he  was  given  a  farm  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  6,  Fairview 
township,  by  his  father.  That  placs  he 
improved  and  farmed,  residing  there  until 
1899,  when  he  moved  to  Ghent  and  took 
charge  of  the  elevator.  Mr.  Le  Beau  since 
locating  in  Ghent  has  served  on  the  Village 
Council  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Ghent  October 


388 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


27,  1891,  to  Lea  Paradis,  a  daughter  of  An- 
toine  Paradis,  one  of  the  Lyon  county  set- 
tlers of  1883.  Her  people  came  from  Illinois, 
where  she  was  born.  There  are  two  chil- 
dren, Arthur  and  Victor,  in  the  family  of 
George   Le   Beau. 

George  Le  Beau  has  two  brothers,  William 
and  Robert,  living  in  Marshall,  and  a  sister, 
Agnes,  of  Fairview  township.  The  father, 
Victor  Le  Beau,  died  some  years  ago,  and 
the  mother,  Catherine  (O'Day)  Le  Beau,  is 
still  living. 


EGGERT  E.  FJELSTAD  (1878)  is  a  farmer 
and  landowner  of  Westerheim  township  who 
has  lived  in  Lyon  county  many  years.  His 
farm  is  on  section  14. 

Mr.  Fjelstad  is  a  native  of  Iceland  and 
was  born  October  30,  1840.  He  came  to 
America  and  Lyon  county  in  1878,  worked 
at  farm  labor  in  Yellow  Medicine  and  Lyon 
counties  one  year,  and  then  purchased  from 
the  railroad  company  his  farm  on  section  14. 
Westerheim.  He  has  resided  continuously 
on  that  place  since,  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising.  Mr.  Fjelstad  is  a  member  of 
the  Icelandic  Lutheran  church  of  Wester- 
heim township. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Sigridur 
Einarsdottir  occurred  in  Iceland  October  20, 
1868.  She  was  born  in  that  country  in 
1849.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fjelstad  have  two  chil- 
dren: Albert,  born  July  29,  1882;  and  Elena 
Groa,  born  April  13,  1890.  Both  live  with 
their  parents. 

The  deceased  children  of  the  family  were 
named  Karitas,  Fridfinnur,  Einar,  Maria, 
Maria,  Groa,  Gudbrandur  and  Elena.  Four  of 
the  children  died  in  Iceland  in  infancy;  three 
died  in  Westerheim  township  at  the  ages  of 
four,  seven  and  eleven  years.  The  oldest 
child,  Karitas,  was  married  to  H.  C.  Lee, 
of  Minneota.  In  1902  she  and  her  husband 
moved  to  Dooly  county,  Georgia.  Soon  after 
the  removal  to  that  place  Mrs.  Lee  was  taken 
ill  and  died  there  February  i,  1903.  She  left 
a  husband  and  five  children,  who  still  live  in 
Georgia. 


JOSEPH  SUPERNATZ  (1887)*  One  of 
the  old  residents  of  Lyon  county  is  Joseph 
Supernatz,  who  has  lived  here  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years.    He  resides  in  Coon  Creek 


township.  Joseph  is  a  native  of  Canada  and 
was  born  December  9,  1858,  a  son  of  Casimir 
and  Mary  Supernatz,  both  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  in  the  land  of  his  nativity.  After 
finishing  school  he  worked  for  his  father  on 
the  farm  until  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  In 
1887  he  came  to  America  and  located  in 
Lyon  county,  and  he  has  resided  here  con- 
tinuously since.  He  farms  240  acres  on  sec- 
tion 10,  Coon  Creek  township.  He  also  raises 
stock,  such  as  Duroc-Jersey  hogs  and  grade 
cattle,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers 
Co-operative  Store  Company  of  Russell.  Mr. 
Supernatz  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church. 

On  November  16,  1886,  Mr.  Supernatz  was 
married  to  Caroline  Cardinal,  a  daughter  of 
Beloni  and  Rose  Cardinal,  of  Canada.  Mrs. 
Supernatz  was  bom  November  5,  1858.  To 
them  have  been  born  the  following  named 
ten  children:  Mary  Louise  and  Deneige 
(twins),  born  September  27,  1887;  Leah,  born 
July  7,  1889;  Albertfne,  born  February  13, 
1891;  Oscar,  born  May  5,  1892;  Eugene,  born 
September  8,  1893;  Alexander,  born  Septem- 
ber 30,  1894;  Corinne,  born  December  15, 
1895;  Diana,  born  September  25,  1897;  Hilda, 
born  September  11,  1900.  All  the  children 
reside  at  home. 


FRANCIS  J.  PARKER  (1878),  who  carries 
on  his  business  under  the  title  F.  J.  Parker 
Land  Company  of  Marshall,  is  an  early  day 
resident  of  that  city.  He  was  born  at  Orwell. 
Oswego  county,  New  York,  July  27,  1848,  the 
son  of  John  and  Polly  Emmerson  (Bonner) 
Parker,  who  were  also  natives  of  New  York 
State. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm 
in  his  native  county  and  after  reaching  his 
majority  took  a  position  as  clerk  in  the  store 
of  George  Woodbury  at  Orwell.  One  year 
later  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  with 
which  he  was  connected  four  years.  He 
then  sold  his  interest  in  the  store  and  started 
a  store  of  his  own,  which  he  conducted  until 

1877.  He    served   as   postmaster   of   Orwell 
seven  or  eight  years. 

.   In  1877  Mr.  Parker  sold  his  store  and  lo- 
cated near  Rochester,   Minnesota.     In  July, 

1878,  he    began    his    residence    in    Marshall. 
For  thirteen  years  he  clerked  in  the  store  of 


BKHiKANIK'AL  HISTORY. 


389 


Ed.  L.  Heal;  and  for  the  nexl  eleven  years 
he  conducted  a  grocery  store.  He  then 
opened  a  real  estate  office,  which  he  has 
since  conducted.  He  deals  in  real  estate, 
makes  loans  and  writes  insurance.  .Mr. 
Parker  owns  several  farms,  which  he  man- 
ages. He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arca- 
num lodge. 

.Mr.  Parker  was  married  at  Orwell,  New 
York,  in  1870,  to  Flora  Woodbury,  a  native 
of  Oswego  county,  New  York.  She  died 
January  16,  1906,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four 
years.  Mr.  Parker  has  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Josephine  A.,  Bernice  (Mrs.  Charles 
YVilber),  of  Minneapolis;  Frances  (Mrs.  A.  C. 
Anderson),  of  Minneapolis;  Florence  (Mrs. 
O.  H.  Holman),  of  Minneapolis;  and  John  C. 


MRS.  AXXA  LOUISE  MELLENTHIN 
(1884)  is  the  widow  of  the  late  Charles  Mel- 
lenthin,  of  Lynd  township.  Mrs.  Mellenthin's 
maiden  name  was  Anna  Louise  Schellin  and 
she  is  a  daughter  of  Ferdinand  and  Riche 
Schellin.  When  five  years  of  age  Anna  ac- 
companied her  parents  to  America,  locating 
on  a  farm  in  Waupaca  county,  Wisconsin. 
She  made  her  home  there  with  her  parents 
until  1875,  at  which  time  she  was  married 
to  Mr.  Mellenthin. 

Charles  Mellenthin  was  a  son  of  William 
and  Amelia  Mellenthin,  early  residents  of 
Waupaca  county,  Wisconsin.  He  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Lynd  township  and 
one  of  its  prosperous  farmers.  Mr.  Mellen- 
thin died  March  22,  1898.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mellenthin  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  William,  born  December  22,  1879; 
Frank,  born  February  11,  1882;  George,  born 
May  15,  1883;  Clara,  born  July  12,  1885; 
Albert,  born  March  8,  1887;  Elsie,  born  Oc- 
tober 6,  1893.  All  except  William  and  Frank 
make  their  home  with  their  mother.  Since 
Mr.  Mellenthin's  death  Mrs.  Mellenthin  has 
continued  her  residence  on  the  home  farm, 
which  is  operated  by  her  sons. 


two  residence  properties  in  Tracy  and  has 
charge  of  many  acres  of  farming  land  in 
Ly.on  and  Redwood  counties,  among  them 
being  the  estate  of  W.  L.  Breckenridge, 
which  he  has  looked  after  the  past  six 
years. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Iowa,  October  29,  1852.  When 
about  six  weeks  old  he  was  taken  with 
the  family  to  Ripley  county,  Indiana,  and 
lived  there  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when 
the  family  again  moved,  tbis  time  settling 
in  Olmsted  county,  Minnesota.  There  Rob- 
ert resided  until  the  spring  of  1879,  work- 
ing on  the  farm.  Then  he  went  to  Wal- 
nut Grove,  Redwood  county,  and  made 
that  his  home  until  moving  to  Tracy  in 
188  6,  where  he  remained  until  taking  up 
his  residence  on  the  farm  in  1911. 

During  his  Tracy  residence  Mr.  Willis 
worked  ten  years  for  D.  H.  Evans  in  the 
elevator  and  hardware  store.  Three  years 
he  served  the  city  as  policeman,  and 
later  he  bought  grain  for  Finch  &  Parker 
and  for  the  Eagle  Roller  Mill  company. 
Mr.  Willis  conducted  a  dray  line  seven 
years.  Our  subject  was  alderman  from 
the  first  ward  two  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge  of  Tracy. 

Robert  E.  Willis  was  married  March  10, 
1879,  to  Anna  Dunnett,  at  Rochester, 
Minnesota.  Mrs.  Willis  was  born  near 
that  city  December  18,  18  56.  To  this 
union  have  been  born  two  children,  Ralph 
A.,  on  January  12,  1887;  and  Reid  R.,  on 
January  7,    1892. 

Robert  S.  Willis,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Kentucky  May  4,  1819,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years  in 
Minneapolis.  He  served  in  Company  A, 
Eighty-third  Indiana  Regiment,  during  the 
war  and  was  discharged  on  account  of 
poor  health  after  an  active  service  of  two 
years  and  seven  months.  His  wife,  Eliza 
(Richardson)  Willis,  was  born  in  New 
York  State  and  died  in  1883,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years. 


ROBERT  E.  WILLIS  (1886),  after 
many  years  of  business  life  in  Tracy, 
moved  to  his  farm,  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  12,  Monroe  township,  in  the  fall 
of  1911.  He  bought  the  farm  in  1892 
and  had  it  farmed  by  a  tenant  until  mov- 
ing on  the  place  himself.      Mr.  Willis  owns 


GUSTAV  THIEL  (1896)  is  one  of  the 
large  land  owners  and  progressive  farm- 
ers of  Stanley  township.  He  owns  three 
quarter  sections  of  good  farming  land,  has 
a  well  improved  farm  and  one  of  the  finest 
homes  in  the  precinct. 


390 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
review  was  born  in  Stiglite,  Germany,  De- 
cember 13,  1866,  the  son  of  Gutlip  and 
Ernestina  Thiel.  The  father  was  born 
February  29,  1820,  and  died  in  Stanley 
township  in  1905.  The  mother  was  born 
April  2  0,  1842,  and  still  resides  in  Stan- 
ley township. 

In  187  0  Gustav  Thiel  came  to  America 
with  his  parents,  and  until  his  arrival  to 
Lyon  county  in  1896  he  lived  in  Green 
Lake  county,  Wisconsin.  There  he  attended 
school  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  and 
after  that  he  worked  on  his  father's  farm. 
When  the  family  came  to  Lyon  county  the 
father  purchased  a  section  of  land  in  Stan- 
ley township.  Gustav  fell  heir  to  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  17  and  later 
purchased  the  west  half  of  the  same  sec- 
tion, making  him  a  farm  of  480  acres  in 
one  piece. 

For  twelve  years  Mr.  Thiel  has  been 
clerk  of  his  township  and  for  eight  years 
clerk  of  school  district  No.  90.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  church 
of  Cottonwood. 

Mr.  Thiel  was  married  at  Marshall 
March  16,  1904,  to  Marie  L.  Rigge.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  the  late  Gutlip  Rigge. 
who  died  July  18,  1911.  Her  mother, 
Fredericka  Rigge,  lives  in  Yellow  Medi- 
cine county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thiel  have  no 
children. 


ARCH  R.  ENGLISH  (1887)  is  a  lawyer 
of  Tracy  and  a  native  of  Lyon  county.  He 
was  born  in  Tracy  December  18,  1887, 
and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years 
spent  in  Waseca  he  has  ever  since  re- 
sided in  the  city  in  which  he  was  born. 
After  graduating  from  the  Tracy  High 
School  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  N.  J. 
Robinson  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
March  2,  1910.  On  that  date  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Mr.  Robinson  and  has 
since  engaged  in  practice  as  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Robinson  &  English.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Gopher  Club,  a  social 
organization. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Tillie  (Boydell)  English,  residents  of 
Tracy.  The  father  was  born  in  Vermont 
and  the  mother  in  Chicago.  They  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1887.     There  are  three 


children  in  the  family,  Bert  L.,  editor  of 
the  Tracy  Headlight;  Florence  A.  and 
Arch  R. 

Mr.  English  was  married  at  Watertown, 
South  Dakota,  January  1,  1912,  to  Pearl 
D.  Sturdevant,  a  native  of  Wisconsin  and 
a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  J.  Sturde- 
vant. 


.JOHN  WILLIAM  CASTLE  (1885),  of 
Clifton  township,  was  born  in  Will  county, 
Illinois,  November  16,  1866,  and  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Maria  (Wilkinson)  Castle, 
natives  of  England. 

The  parents  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1865  and  settled  in  Illinois,  where  the 
father  farmed.  There  John  William  was 
born,  and  he  was  brought  up  on  the  farm, 
receiving  an  education  in  the  country 
school  and  being  called  upon  to  help  his 
father  with  the  farm  work.  In  June, 
1884,  the  father  came  to  Lyon  county  to 
look  over  the  country  and  was  so  im- 
pressed that  he  bought  the  north  half  of 
section  4,  Clifton  township.  In  the  fall 
of  1885  our  subject,  then  a  boy  of  nine- 
teen, came  up  with  a  carload  of  horses 
and  machinery,  did  some  plowing  on  the 
place  and  prepared  the  land  for  the  next 
year's  crop.  The  following  spring  his 
parents  and  the  rest  of  the  family  moved 
from  Illinois  to  the  new  home. 

John  William  Castle  resided  with  his 
parents  on  the  farm  on  section  24  until 
1891.  That  year  he  bought  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  14  and  started 
farming  for  himself.  He  has  today  a 
well-improved  place  and  is  raising  cattle 
for  market  in  addition  to  his  general  farm- 
ing. He  is  active  in  township  affairs  and 
was  for  ten  years  on  the  district  school 
board.  He  served  three  years  as  a  member 
of  the  township  board. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
in  Balaton  January  1,  1891,  to  Lorinda 
Robinson.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Samantha  Anne  (Hillyar)  Robinson. 
Her  father  is  dead;  her  mother  lives  in 
Wisconsin.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  W.  Cas- 
tle the  following  children  were  born: 
Anna  L.,  born  February  2,  1893;  Hazel  I. 
(deceased),  born  May  20,  1894;  Paul  L.. 
born  June  5,  1895;  George  W.,  born 
March    13,    1897;    Dorothy   L.,   born   Octo- 


lUOfiKAPIIICAL  HISTORY. 


391 


ber  31,  1898;  Neenah  M.,  born  March  4, 
1901;  and  John  H.,  born  January  27, 
1906. 

.Mr.  and  Mrs.  Castle  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  church.  His  fraternal  associa- 
tions are  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  and 
Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen  lodges, 
to  the  last  named  of  which  Mrs.  Castle 
also  belongs. 

.Mrs.  Castle  is  the  owner  of  a  store 
building  in  Dudley  and  conducted  a  store 
and  postoffice  there  three  years.  Before 
her  marriage  she  was  a  teacher.  She 
taught  school  three  and  one-half  years 
in  Wisconsin  before  coming  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  she  taught  three  years  here.  In 
1888  she  was  recommended  for  county 
superintendent  of  schools,  but  refused  to 
run. 


ALBERT  J.  HELLUM  (1885)  is  a  Coon 
Creek  township  farmer  who  has  resided 
in  Lyon  county  over  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury. He  is  a  native  of  Svelveg,  Norway, 
where  he  wras  born  January  4,  1859,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Ingeborg  Louise 
Helium,  both  deceased. 

Albert  Helium  received  his  schooling  in 
the  land  of  his  birth,  attending  until  sev- 
enteen years  of  age.  He  then  assisted  his 
father  with  the  farm  work  until  twenty- 
two  years  of  age.  In  1881  he  came  to 
America  and  located  at  Tyler,  where  he 
resided  four  years,  engaging  in  various 
lines  of  work.  In  18  85  he  purchased  the 
land  upon  which  he  now  resides,  consist- 
ing of  120  acres  on  section  7,  Coon  Creek 
township.  In  addition  to  his  farm  labors, 
he  raises  some  stock,  including  Poland 
China  hogs,  Jersey  cattle  and  Rhode  Island 
Red  chickens.  Mr  Helium  is  a  member  of 
the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church,  has  been 
clerk  of  school  district  No.  66  for  several 
years,  and  was  road  overseer  three  years. 
He  is  a  stockholder  of  the  Farmers  Eleva- 
tor Company  of  Russell  and  is  a  successful 
farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

Mr.  Helium  was  married  to  Bergette 
Christensen  on  March  12,  1886.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  Rasmus  and  Andrina  Chris- 
tensen, of  Coon  Creek  township,  and  a  na- 
tive of  Helgeon,  Norway,  having  been  born 
August  19,  1868.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Helium 
are   the   parents   of   the   following   eleven 


children:     Annie    Louise,    born    December 
4,    188  6;    Eleanor   Marie,    born     April     1. 


1888 
1890 
1892 

1  Mi  ! 


Johann  Richard,  born  October  16, 
Robert  Alfred,  born  September  7, 
Bertha  Helma.  born  December  8, 
Carl  Oscar,  born  August  31,  1896; 
Alma  Regina,  born  June  22,  1898;  Ruth 
Olga,  born  February  9,  1901;  Alvin  Hen- 
ry, born  December  12,  1902;  Gerald  Ber- 
nard, born  November  5,  1906;  Alvina  Ju- 
liana, born  October  18,  1908. 


URBANE  WILHELM  (1894)  is  the  vice 
president  and  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Balaton.  He  is  a 
native  of  Minnesota  and  was  born  in 
Houston  county  December  27,  1872,  a  son 
of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Neisel)  Wil- 
helm,  pioneer  residents  of  Minnesota.  The 
parents  came  to  the  state  in  1859  and  re- 
sided in  Houston  county  until  their  deaths, 
the  father  having  died  in  18  81  and  the 
mother  in  1893. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Houston  county, 
which  he  attended  until  sixteen  years  of 
age.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  until 
18  93,  after  which  he  attended  La  Crosse 
Business  College  one  year.  The  year  1894 
was  the  date  of  arrival  of  Mr.  Wilhelm  to 
Lyon  county,  when  he  settled  in  Balaton. 
He  engaged  in  the  furniture  and  imple- 
ment business  with  a  brother,  O.  E.  Wil- 
helm, which  they  continued  five  years. 
Our  subject  then  continued  the  business 
alone  two  years,  aft^r  which  he  was  em- 
ployed as  expert  mechanic  for  the  Inter- 
national Harvester  Company  five  years. 

The  next  move  of  Mr.  Wilhelm  was  his 
return  to  Houston  county,  where  he  re- 
sided on  the  old  home  farm  two  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Balaton,  where  he 
was  employed  as  clerk  and  manager  for 
the  Lyon  County  Co-operative  Company  two 
years.  On  November  1,  1910,  Mr.  Wil- 
helm became  assistant  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  which  position  he  held  un- 
til he  was  made  first  vice  president  on 
January  1,   1912. 

Mr.  Wilhelm  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Balaton.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge  and  is 
assessor    of    the    village    of    Balaton.     He 


392 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


served  three  years  on  the  Balaton  Village 
Council. 

On  June  3,  1896,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  our  subject  to  Emma  Weeks,  a  native  of 
Lyon  county  and  a  daughter  of  E.  R. 
Weeks.  She  was  born  June  30,  1877.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wilhelm  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Glen  Wallace,  born  May  13,  1905. 


PETER  H.  OLSON  (1879)  is  a  furniture 
dealer  of  Tracy.  He  was  born  in  the  land  of 
the  midnight  sun  on  June  22,  1860,  a  son  of 
Ole  and  Belle  Olson.  The  father  died  in 
Norway.  The  mother  came  to  the  United 
States  with  her  son,  Peter,  in  1879  and  died 
in  Tracy  July  10,  1900.  Peter  is  one  of  a 
family  of  six  children,  as  follows:  Gilbert 
Iverson,  a  half-brother;  Alice,  Tora,  Henry 
and  Belle  Olson. 

Peter  resided  in  the  land  of  his  birth  until 
1879,  when  he  came  to  America  and  to  Lyon 
county.  He  located  at  Tracy  and  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  occupation  he 
followed  twenty  years.  He  was  then  en- 
gaged for  ten  years  as  clerk  and  as  cabinet- 
maker for  J.  W.  Campbell,  the  furniture  man, 
at  Tracy.  In  August,  1911,  Mr.  Olson  pur- 
chased a  stock  of  furniture  and  opened  a 
store  in  the  city  in  which  he  has  lived  so 
long.  He  also  does  repairing  and  upholster- 
ing. Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Sons 
of  Norway  lodge. 

On  October  12,  1883,  occurred  the  marriage 
at  Tracy  of  Mr.  Olson  to  Julia  Larson,  a 
native  of  Iowa.  Mrs.  Olson  died  March  23, 
1901.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Oluf  G.,  Clara  B.,  Ludwig  A., 
Clarence  B.,  Lillian  M.  and  Gilbert  H.  The 
last  named  died  August  8,  1901,  aged  four 
years. 


MRS.  ANGELINE  SANDERS  (1885) 
owns  a  160-acre  farm  on  section  19,  Val- 
lers  township,  and  is  assisted  in  its  man- 
agement by  her  sons,  Anton  F.  and  Peter 
J.  She  is  the  widow  of  Anton  J.  Sanders 
and  has  lived  in  the  county  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century. 

Angeline  Vanderburg  was  the  maiden 
name  of  our  subject.  She  was  born  in 
Holland  in  September,  1857.  She  was 
married  in  that  country  in  1885  to  Anton 
J.   Sanders  and  the  same  year  the  young 


couple  journeyed  across  the  water  to  Lyon 
county.  They  bought  a  farm  in  Grand- 
view7  township,  lived  there  awhile,  and  then 
sold  and  invested  in  Westerheim  town- 
ship. They  farmed  in  that  precinct  until 
1900  and  then  bought  and  located  on  the 
present  place.  Mr.  Sanders  died  in  1909. 
Mrs.  Sanders  is  the  mother  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  children:  John  A.,  a  black- 
smith of  Geyser,  Montana;  Theodore  F.,  a 
farmer  of  Stark  county,  North  Dakota;  Pe- 
ter, a  blacksmith  of  Sweetgrass,  Montana; 
Arnold  T.,  a  farmer  of  Red  Lake  Falls, 
Minnesota;  Bernard  A.,  of  Lyon  county; 
Anton  and  Peter  J.,  who  conduct  the  home 
farm. 


EDWARD  V.  BURT  (1878)  farms  the 
west  half  of  section  24,  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship, and  is  a  successful  farmer  of  that 
precinct.  He  has  resided  in  Lyon  county 
since  he  was  one  year  of  age  and  is  the 
son  of  the  first  settler  of  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship. The  farm  is  still  owned  by  the  pio- 
neer resident. 

Edward  is  a  son  of  Dallas  S.  and  Mary 
Burt.  Dallas  Burt  was  born  in  New  York 
State  September  11,  1845.  He  came  to 
Lyon  county  in  1876  and  took  a  claim  in 
Amiret  township.  Two  years  later  he 
homesteaded  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 24,  Coon  Creek  township.  He  now 
lives  at  Minetto,  New  York.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  born  in  Wisconsin  Sep- 
tember 11,  1856,  and  died  February  5, 
1911.  There  are  five  sons  in  the  family, 
as  follows:  Edward  and  Mynard,  of  Rus- 
sell; Benjamin,  of  Northcote,  Minnesota; 
Budd  H.,  of  Winnipeg,  Canada;  and 
Charles,  of  Russell. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born 
in  Minetto,  Oswego  county,  New  York, 
July  23,  1877,  and  when  one  year  of  age 
came  to  Lyon  county  with  his  parents. 
For  four  years  he  attended  the  school  of 
district  No.  63,  and  then  until  nineteen 
years  of  age  he  was  a  student  at  the  Rus- 
sell school.  Thereafter  for  a  few  years 
Mr.  Burt  worked  out  as  a  farm  hand.  He 
was  married  in  1901  and  moved  to  Russell, 
where  he  spent  two  years  working  on  the 
railroad.  In  1903  he  moved  to  the  farm 
which  he  now  operates. 


FIRST  LOG  CABIN  IN  COON  CREEK 

Erected  by  D.  S.   Burt   in   1870.     Indians  Assisted  the  Pioneer  in  Rolling  Up  the  Last 
Logs.     In  the  Photograph  are  Mr.  Burt  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  P.  Knapp. 


THE  BURT  HOME  OF  TODAY 
Erected  in  1900  bv  the  Man  Who  Erected  the  First  Log  Cabin  in  Coon  Creek  Township. 


hKXilv'AI'IlK'AL   IIISTOKY. 


393 


Mr.  Burt  raises  Durham  cattle,  Duroc- 
Jersey  hogs  and  Rhode  Island  Red  and 
Plymouth  Rock  chickens.  He  has  stock 
in  the  Lyon  County  Co-operative  Store 
Company  and  the  Farmers  Mutual  Tele- 
phone Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Russell  and  is 
treasurer  of  the  church  society.  -He  holds 
membership  in  the  M.  W.  A.  and  Royal 
Neighbors  lodges. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Burt  to  Pearl  May 
Clow  occurred  in  Lyon  county  June  18, 
1901.  She  was  born  in  Iowa  July  21, 
1885,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  W 
Clow,  of  Winnebago  City.  Mr.  Clow  was 
born  in  Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota,  in 
18  61.  Mrs.  Clow  was  born  at  Liscomb, 
Iowa,  in  1866.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burt  have 
four  children:  Earl  Le  Roy,  Jessie  May, 
Charles  Edward  and  Marion  Clare. 


HERMAN  JOSEPHSON  (1878),  Wes- 
terheim  township  farmer,  has  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  in  Lyon  county. 
He  was  born  in  Iceland  July  1,  1860,  and 
came  to  America  and  Lyon  county  in 
1878.  He  worked  as  a  farm  hand  until 
1892.  Then  he  bought  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  16,  Westerheim  town- 
ship, made  all  the  improvements  on  the 
place,  and  has  had  his  home  there  since. 
He  has  prospered  and  is  now  the  owner 
of  200  acres  in  one  body.  He  farms  all 
his  land  and  160  acres  additional. 

Mr.  Josephson  was  married  in  Lincoln 
county  to  Bertha  Josephson.  She  was  also 
a  native  of  Iceland  and  died  April  6,  1905. 
The  following  five  children  were  born  to 
the  union:  August,  John,  Rosa,  Lillian 
and  Adalbjorn.  The  second  marriage  of 
Mr.  Josephson  was  to  Christina  Thordar- 
son,  also  a  native  of  the  land  within  the 
Arctic  circle.  They  have  four  children, 
Sigpora,  Herman,  Johina  and  Josephina. 


PAUL  K.  RONNING  (1878)  is  a  retired 
farmer  living  in  the  village  of  Florence.  He 
is  a  pioneer  resident  of  Lyon  county,  having 
come  in  1878.  He  is  a  native  of  Norway  and 
was  born  at  Trondhjem  January  25,  1845,  a 
son  of  Knute  E.  and  Marit  (Paulsen)  Ron- 
ning. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education 


in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  attending  the 
common  schools  until  fifteen  years  of  age 
and  then  attending  a  Lutheran  religious 
school  one  year.  After  completing  his 
schooling,  Paul  worked  at  farm  labor  in  the 
land  of  the  midnight  sun  until  twenty-seven 
years  of  age.  Then  he  came  to  America  and 
located  at  Ishpeming,  Michigan,  where  he 
worked  in  the  mines  two  years.  He  then 
journeyed  to  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  where 
he  worked  in  the  woods  and  sawmills  three 
years.  Moving  to  Canada,  he  worked  on  the 
Canadian  Pacific  railroad  one  year  and  then 
returned  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  spent  one 
summer  on  the  railroad. 

In  the  fall  of  1878  Mr.  Ronning  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  took  as  a  homestead  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  32,  Shelburne 
township,  upon  which  he  resided  until  mov- 
ing to  Florence.  He  is  the  owner  of  260 
acres  of  fine  land  in  Shelburne  township  and 
a  fine  home  in  the  village  of  Florence.  Mr. 
Ronning  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church. 

On  January  3,  1880,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Ronning  to  Melina  Peterson,  a  native 
of  Norway  and  a  daughter  of  Peter  A.  and 
Carrie  (Corneliuson)  Sanden.  Mrs.  Ronning 
was  born  November  30,  1849.  Two  nephews, 
Clare  M.  and  Palmar  Carl  Sanden,  make 
their  homes  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ronning. 


HALVOR  A.  STORLIE  (1887)  is  the 
owner  of  over  200  acres  of  the  fertile  soil  of 
Shelburne  township  and  is  one  of  the  pre- 
cinct's substantial  farmers.  He  has  lived  in 
the  county  a  quarter  of  a  century.  His  farm 
is  in  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  county, 
a  couple  of  miles  south  of  Florence. 

Mr.  Storlie  is  a  native  of  Opdal,  Trondhjem, 
Norway,  and  was  born  January  27,  1866. 
Until  after  reaching  his  majority  he  lived  in 
his  native  land,  attending  school  and  work- 
ing at  farm  labor.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1887  and  direct  to  Lyon  county, 
arriving  in  the  county  October  12.  Prior 
to  1893  Mr.  Storlie  worked  for  the  farmers 
of  Shelburne  township;  then  he  purchased 
land  on  section  28,  of  that  township,  broke 
out  a  part  of  it,  and  started  in  business  for 
himself.  Soon  after  he  traded  that  farm  for 
one  of  100  acres  on  section  32,  and  there  he 
has  ever  since  lived.  He  added  to  his  hold- 
ings  in   January,   1910,   by   the   purchase  of 


394 


BIOGEAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


over  100  acres  on  section  31.  Mr.  Storlie 
raises  Percheron  and  Norman  horses,  Short- 
horn cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs. 

For  the  past  seven  years  Mr.  Storlie  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
of  his  township,  was  a  director  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  57  for  six  years,  and  was  road  over- 
seer three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of  Florence  and 
is  treasurer  of  the  church  society. 

Our  subject's  father,  Arnt  O.  Storlie.  died 
in  the  old  country  in  1883;  his  mother  still 
lives  in  Opdal.  The  children  of  the  family 
are  Sakarias,  Christopher  A.  and  Maret  (Mrs. 
Andrew  Sanden),  of  Lyon  county,  and  Ole 
and  John,  of  Norway. 

H.  A.  Storlie  and  Maret  Bakke  were  mar- 
ried in  Shelburne  township  April  15,  1897,  by 
Rev.  H.  Aanestead.  Mrs.  Storlie  was  born  in 
Norway  August  2,  1875,  the  daughter  of 
Severt  O.  and  Guri  (Standsdater)  Bakke. 
The  family  came  to  America  in  1883,  lived  in 
Yellow  Medicine  county  until  1891,  and  since 
that  date  have  resided  in  Lac  qui  Parle 
county.  Besides  Mrs.  Storlie  there  are  the 
following  named  children  in  the  family,  with 
one  exception  all  living  in  Lac  qui  Parle 
county:  Ole,  Oliver,  of  St.  John's,  Oregon; 
Robert,  John,  Ragna  (Mrs.  Jamep  Ravang), 
Hilda,  Olga  (Mrs.  William  Wilson),  Lena, 
Mena  and  Gena. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Storlie  have  two  children; 
Orla  Gevarda,  born  July  30.  1908;  Arnold 
Sherman,  born  August  19,  1911. 


ABNER  G.  BUMFORD  (1879),  clerk  of  the 
district  court  of  Lyon  county,  is  one  of  the 
homesteaders  and  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
county.  He  was  born  at  Racine,  Wisconsin, 
March  24,  1858,  and  there  he  resided  until 
past  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  secured  a 
district  school  education  and  during  the  win- 
ter of  1877-78  attended  Cobb  Business  Col- 
lege at  Paynesville,  Ohio. 

In  November,  1879,  Mr.  Bumford  arrived 
in  Lyon  county,  of  which  he  has  ever  since 
been  a  resident.  He  bought  a  homestead 
relinquishment  to  eighty  acres  on  section  22, 
Custer  township,  improved  the  place,  and 
proved  up  on  it.  Later  he  bought  an  adjoin- 
ing quarter  on  section  23.  In  1902  he  was 
elected  clerk  of  court  and  has  ever  since 
held  the  office,  making  his  home  at  the  coun- 
ty seat. 


During  his  residence  in  the  county  Mr. 
Bumford  held  several  local  offices.  He  was 
clerk  of  school  district  No.  47  for  twenty-one 
years  and  was  town  clerk  fourteen  years. 
He  served  as  clerk  of  Bethel  Congregational 
Church  for  many  years.  He  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Workmen,  Woodmen  and  Yeo- 
men orders.  Mr.  Bumford  was  one  of  the 
principal  organizers  of  the  Western  Mutual 
Insurance  Company  of  Balaton,  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  insurance  companies  in  this 
part  of  the  state,  and  was  a  director  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  also  served  as  secre- 
tary of  the  Garvin  Creamery  Company,  the 
only  farmers'  co-operative  creamery  in  Lyon 
county. 

Abner  Bumford  was  married  in  Lyon  coun- 
ty June  22,  1881,  to  Laura  A.  Davis.  She  is 
a  native  of  Wales,  came  to  America  at  the 
age  of  six  years,  settled  in  Blue  Earth  coun- 
ty. Minnesota,  in  1872  and  in  Lyon  county  in 
1874.  Her  parents  took  as  a  homestead 
claim  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  34, 
Sodus  township.  Mr.  Davis  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1887,  and  Mrs.  Davis  died  at  the  home  of 
her  daughter  August  31,  1910. 

Ten  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bumford,  of  whom  the  following  named 
five  are  living:  M.  Eleanor,  David,  of  Wind- 
ham, Montana;  Mary,  a  student  at  Grinnell 
College;  Laura  and  Gordon,  high  school  stu- 
dents. The  deceased  children  were  Myrthen, 
who  died  in  September,  1899,  at  the  age  of 
two  years;  William  O.,  who  died  in  March, 
1900,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years;  Jennie, 
who  died  April  1,  1903,  at  the  age  of  four 
years;  Clay,  who  died  June  2,  1903,  at  the 
age  of  two  years;  and  Cradoc,  who  died 
March  31,  1908,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  son  of 
the  late  David  and  Ellen  (Roberts)  Bumford, 
natives  of  Wales.  The  mother  died  in  July, 
1861.  David  Bumford  came  to  Lyon  county 
in  1877,  took  a  homestead  in  Monroe  town- 
ship, and  for  some  time  prior  to  his  death 
in  December,  1889,  made  his  home  with  his 
son  Abner. 


PETER  H.  JERPBAK  (1890),  of  Nordland 
township,  owns  and  farms  the  south  half  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  10.  He  be- 
came a  resident  of  Lyon  county  twenty-two 
years  ago,  but  his  residence  in  Lincoln  coun- 
ty dates  back  much  farther,  having  been  only 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


395 


seven  years  of  age  when  the  family  came  to 
Southwestern  Minnesota. 

.Jens  and  Hannah  Jerpbak,  the  parents  of 
our  subject,  came  from  Norway  in  1S75  and 
became  the  first  settlers  of  Limestone  town- 
ship, Lincoln  county.  They  took  a  home- 
stead there  and  for  a  few  years  the  family 
was  the  only  one  in  the  township.  Jens  Jerp- 
bak now  makes  his  home  with  our  subject: 
his  wife  is  dead.  There  were  eleven  children 
in  the  family,  of  whom  the  following  named 
are  living:  John  and  Iver,  of  South  Dakota; 
Jens,  of  North  Dakota;  Gilda  (Mrs.  John  Sol- 
seng),  of  Larimore,  North  Dakota;  Carrie 
(Mrs.  Silas  Edwards),  of  McKenna,  North 
Dakota;  Mary  (Mrs.  Guile  Olson),  of  Clear- 
water, Idaho;  Ingeborg  (Mrs.  Chris  Clemen- 
sen),  of  Bemidji,  Minnesota;  Dena  (Mrs. 
Gisla  Hanson),  of  Clearwater,  Idaho;  and 
Peter  H.,  of  this  review. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Norway  February  16, 
1868.  He  came  to  America  with  the  family 
in  1875  and  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the 
homestead  in  Lincoln  county,  securing  a  com- 
mon school  education  and  assisting  with  the 
farm  work.  In  1890  he  rented  land  in  Grand- 
view  township,  Lyon  county,  and  farmed  it 
two  years.  He  then  returned  to  the  parental 
home  and  resided  there  two  years,  working 
for  his  father,  conducting  a  threshing  ma- 
chine, and  farming  land  he  had  bought  on 
section  30,  Nordland  township. 

In  1894  Mr.  Jerpbak  was  married  and 
moved  to  his  240-acre  farm  on  sections  30 
and  19,  Nordland.  He  conducted  that  place 
until  the  fall  of  1910,  when  he  moved  to  his 
present  farm  on  section  10,  which  he  bought 
the  year  before,  having  sold  his  other  farm. 
He  has  a  well-improved  place  and  engages 
quite  extensively  in  raising  stock. 

Mr.  Jerpbak  is  a  member  and  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church 
of  Nordland  township.  He  holds  member- 
ship in  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge  of  Minneota. 
For  about  fourteen  years  he  was  clerk  of 
school  district  No.  29  and  he  served  as  road 
overseer  for  a  short  time.  Mr.  Jerpbak  has 
stock  in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of 
Minneota. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Hannah 
Teigland  occurred  in  Nordland  township  No- 
vember 21,  1894.  His  wife  is  a  native  of 
Lyon  county  and  was  born  October  3,  1874, 
a   daughter   of   pioneer   settlers,    Sever    and 


Anna  Teigland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jerpbak  have 
nine  children,  all  living  at  home.  They  are 
Selnier,  Jens,  Henry,  George,  Leonard,  Alma, 
Clara,  Anna  and  Luella. 


DR.  CARL  E.  WHITING  (1887),  Marshall 
dentist,  was  born  near  Rochester,  Minne- 
sota, June  1,  1883,  a  son  of  William  S.  and 
Aura  (Freeman)  Whiting.  The  family  lo- 
cated in  Balaton  in  1887  and  the  father  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  there  until 
1908.  He  has  since  been  a  traveling  sales- 
man and  he  and  his  wife  live  in  Northfield. 

Carl  Whiting  attended  school  in  Balaton 
until  1901.  He  then  took  a  one-year  com-se 
in  Macalester  College,  St.  Paul,  after  which 
he  was  a  student  in  the  Dental  Department 
of  Northwestern  University,  Chicago,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  May,  1905.  Dr. 
Whiting  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 
'at  Arlington,  South  Dakota,  and  remained 
there  until  1912.  That  year  he  located  in 
Marshall,  bought  the  dental  business  of  Dr. 
John  D.  Kennedy,  and  has  since  engaged  in 
practice.  He  has  a  well  equipped  office  and 
is  well  patronized. 

Dr.  Whiting  was  married  at  Marshall  June 
28,  1907,  to  Leora  Watkins,  a  native  of  the 
county.  Mrs.  Whiting  died  in  Marshall  May 
8,  1912.  There  is  one  child,  Frances  F.,  born 
July  28,  1908. 


JOHN  H.  LEAS  (1903)  is  the  owner  of  a 
well-improved  480-acre  farm  in  Stanley  town- 
ship and  makes  his  home  in  Cottonwood, 
where  he  has  a  fine  residence.  For  the  past 
five  years,  in  addition  to  looking  after  his 
farm,  he  has  made  a  specialty  of  tile  and 
drainage  engineering  and  has  done  consider- 
able of  this  work. 

Mr.  Leas  was  born  at  Rossville,  Iowa,  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and 
Susannah  (Henderson)  Leas,  both  of  whom 
are  living  a  retired  life  in  Rossville.  Our 
subject  received  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools  near  his  native  town  and 
later  attended  the  Waukon  Private  Seminary 
at  Waukon,  Iowa,  until  twenty-two  years  old. 
ITo  then  returned  to  the  home  farm  and 
worked  three  years.  Mr.  Leas  married  Ida 
May  Kelly  on  February  23,  1886.  She  was 
born  July  12,  1866,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and   Jane    (Lewis)    Kelly,    former   residents 


396 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


of  Rossville,  and  both  now  deceased.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Leas  engaged  in  farming 
near  his  old  home  seven  years  and  then 
went  into  Sunday  School  work. 

Mr.  Leas  affiliated  with  the  Presbyterian 
church  when  quite  young.  In  May,  1903,  the 
American  Sunday  School  Union  engaged  him 
to  do  Sunday  School  organizing  work  in 
Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  labored 
two  years.  Accepting  a  commission  under 
the  Mankato  Division  of  the  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Sabbath  School  Work,  Mr.  Leas  was 
engaged  for  the  next  ten  years  in  Minne- 
sota, finally  being  forced  to  give  up  his  work 
on  account  of  ill  health.  Our  subject  was 
responsible  for  the  organization  of  thirty- 
two  Presbyterian  churches  and  for  raising 
funds  for  building  several  churches  in  South- 
western Minnesota.  He  started  the  organiza- 
tion and  helped  to  raise  funds  for  the  Clif- 
ton and  Green  Valley  churches  in  Lyon, 
county. 

To  Mr.  Leas  is  due  much  credit  for  the. 
success  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  movement  in  Cot- 
tonwood. That  organization  has  a  member- 
ship of  twenty-nine  young  men,  aged  eleven 
to  seventeen,  in  Cottonwood  and  vicinity. 
The  organization  is  active  under  Mr.  Leas' 
leadership  and  is  increasing  in  numbers. 
Meetings  are  held  every  Tuesday  evening  at 
7:30  at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  rooms  in  Cottonwood, 
and  since  the  organization  was  started  in 
October,  1909,  much  interest  in  the  work  has 
been  evident.  Mr.  Leas  is  an  elder  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  and  has  for  a 
number  of  years  been  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  School. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Leas  have  one  child, 
Ida  Merle,  born  October  27,  1899.  Two  chil- 
dren died  in  infancy. 


ARNI  S.  JOSEPHSON  (1895)  is  one  of  the 
big  grain  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Eids- 
vold  township  and  one  of  the  most  progres- 
sive men  of  northwestern  Lyon  county. 
His  progress  is  an  example  of  what  can  be 
accomplished  by  intelligence  and  thrift. 
Less  than  twenty  years  ago  he  came  to  Lyon 
county  from  Iceland,  without  knowledge  of 
the  language  or  customs  of  the  country  and 
without  a  dollar  to  his  name.  So  poor  was 
he,  in  fact,  that  he  had  to  borrow  money  to 
buy  his  first  sack  of  flour.     His  first  employ- 


ment was  hauling  hay  at  twenty-five  cents 
per  day. 

Today  Mr.  Josephson  is  the  owner  of  400 
acres  of  improved  land  in  Eidsvold  town- 
ship, one  of  the  finest  farm  homes  in  Lyon 
county,  and  large  herds  of  cattle,  hogs  and 
sheep.  With  the  assistance  of  his  sons, 
Helgi  and  Frank,  he  farms  all  his  land.  In 
1910  he  threshed  6000  bushels  of  small  grain, 
and  in  1912  he  has  planted  one  hundred 
acres  of  corn  and  200  acres  of  grain.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1911-12  he  shipped  a  car 
load  each  of  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep. 

When  Mr.  Josephson  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm  a  few  years  ago  the  only  improve- 
ment it  boasted  was  an  old  house,  18x24 
feet.  Xow  there  is  not  a  farm  in  the  county 
that  is  better  improved.  He  has  erected  an 
entire  new  set  of  outbuildings,  including  two 
silos,  and  has  fenced  the  whole  farm.  The 
house,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $4000,  is  two  and 
one-half  stories  high  and  contains  thirteen 
rooms  besides  the  basement  rooms.  It  is 
modern  in  every  respect,  having  hot  and 
cold  soft  water,  bath  rooms,  and  is  heated 
by  a  hot  water  plant.  All  the  rooms  on  the 
lower  floor  are  finished  in  oak  and  three  of 
the  rooms  are  hand  decorated. 

The  gentleman  who  has  accomplished  this 
was  born  in  Iceland  August  27,  1861,  the  son 
of  Sigfus  and  Wilborg  (Arniedottir)  Joseph- 
son.  The  mother  died  in  the  old  country  in 
1890;  the  father,  who  is  now  eighty-one  years 
of  age,  lives  with  his  son.  The  only  other 
child  in  the  family  is  Mat  Josephson,  of 
Winnipeg,  Canada. 

Ami  lived  with  his  parents  in  Iceland 
until  his  mother's  death  in  1890.  Then  the 
father  came  to  America,  and  our  subject, 
who  had  married,  remained  behind  with  the 
rest  of  the  family.  He  followed  in  1895  and 
arrived  in  Minneota  on  August  29.  After 
working  at  farm  labor  one  year,  he  moved 
to  Marshall,  and  for  three  years  he  was  em- 
ployed by  a  contractor  there.  Mr.  Joseph- 
son  then  purchased  a  quarter  section  of 
land  on  section  6,  Limestone  township,  Lin- 
coln county,  and  farmed  there  nine  years. 
He  prospered,  bought  an  additional  eighty 
acres  in  Marble  township,  and  later  another 
quarter  in  Alta  Vista  township. 

In  1908  Mr.  Josephson  traded  his  400  acres 
of  Lincoln  county  land  for  an  equal  number 
of  acres  in  Eidsvold  township,  Lyon  county, 
moved  to  the  new  home,  and  has  made  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


397 


improvements  as  above  noted.  His  land  is 
described  as  follows:  The  south  half  of  the 
north  half  of  section  12,  Eidsvold,  and  the 
northwest  quarter  and  the  west  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  7,  Westerheim. 
.Mrs.  Josephson  and  the  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Icelandic  Lutheran  church  of 
Westerheim  township. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Josephson  oc- 
curred in  Iceland  in  1889,  when  he  wedded 
Predrickka  Helgadottir.  She  bore  him  two 
sons,  Helgi  and  Frank,  and  died  November 
27,  1896,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  Our 
subject's  second  marriage  was  to  Bjorg 
Jonesdottir,  who  died  three  years  later. 
Three  children  were  born  to  the  union, 
Anna,  Sigurd  and  Fredrickka.  In  February, 
1902,  Mr.  Josephson  was  married  to  Olina 
Sigridur,  also  a  native  of  the  land  of  snow 
within  the  Arctic  circle.  They  have  five 
children,  named  as  follows:  Margaret, 
Maria,  Oscar,  Olina  and  Gudrun. 


THEODORE  STASSEN  (1891),  saloon 
keeper  and  hotel  proprietor,  has  been  a 
resident  of  Lyon  county  for  the  past  twen- 
ty-one years  and  has  been  living  in  Ghent 
for  eleven  years.  Theodore  and  his  broth- 
er Mike  are  joint  owners  and  proprietors 
of  the  Exchange  Hotel  and  sample  rooms 
and  of  the  Stassen  Brothers  Saloon.  The- 
odore is  a  director  of  the  Ghent  Rural  Tele- 
phone Company  and  is  a  shareholder  of  the 
Lyon  County  Agricultural  Association.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church,  and 
fraternally  he  is  allied  with  the  C.  O.  F, 
lodge,  of  which  he  is  treasurer. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Belgium  May 
17,  1870.  His  parents  are  Louis  and 
Katrina  Elizabeth  (Mulleneers)  Stassen, 
both  of  whom  are  residents  of  Fairview 
township.  Theodore  received  his  educa- 
tion in  Belgium  and  later  worked  for  his 
father  at  farm  labor,  both  before  and  after 
the  family  moved  to  this  country  in  1891. 
The  family  located  in  Fairview  township, 
where  the  parents  now  live. 

In  1897  the  young  man  started  out  for 
himself  and  farmed  for  different  people  in 
the  county  for  the  following  four  years. 
In  company  with  Casper  Van  Allvorst  he 
then  engaged  in  the  saloon  business  at 
Ghent,  selling  out  to  Julius  Vander  Vanett 
after  one  year's  experience.      He   was  not 


long  idle,  however,  and  within  a  few  weeks 
had  purchased  the  saloon  of  Arthur  Gits, 
continued  the  business  at  its  former  loca- 
tion one  year,  and  then  moved  the  stock 
and  fixtures  to  the  Fred  Lerschen  building. 
In  this  building  for  the  past  seven  years 
the  saloon  has  been  conducted  under  the 
firm  name  of  Stassen  Brothers,  and  Theo- 
dore has  been  associated  with  his  brother 
Mike,  both  in  the  saloon  and  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  Exchange  Hotel. 

Theodore  Stassen  was  married  October 
27,  1903,  to  Delia  Bankers,  a  native  of 
Pierre,  Wisconsin.  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  this  union,  two  of  whom  are 
living.  Adeline  Annie  died  April  18,  1911, 
aged  four  months.  The  other  children,  a 
boy  and  a  girl,  are  named  Joseph  and 
Evelyn  Mary  Elizabeth. 


JOHN  ALLECKSON  (1886)  owns  and 
farms  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  6, 
Island  Lake  township.  Although  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  Lyon  county  only  twen- 
ty-five years,  he  is  a  pioneer  of  Southwest- 
ern Minnesota  and  a  homesteader  of  Lin- 
coln county. 

His  parents  were  Jens  and  Ragna  (Spll- 
de)  Alleckson,  who  came  from  Norway  in 
1846  and  made  settlement  in  Dane  county, 
Wisconsin.  They  later  moved  to  Juneau 
county  of  the  same  state,  and  there  the 
subject  of  this  review  was  born,  on  De- 
cember 10,  1855. 

In  his  native  county  John  Alleckson  se- 
cured his  education  and  grew  to  manhood 
on  the  farm.  In  1879  he  moved  to  Lin- 
coln county,  Minnesota,  and  took  a  home- 
stead. He  secured  title  to  the  land  and 
engaged  in  farming  there  seven  years.  In 
188  6  he  disposed  of  his  Lincoln  county 
property,  moved  to  his  Lyon  county  farm, 
and  remained  there  until  1894.  That 
year  he  moved  to  Minneota  and  for  thir- 
teen years  was  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Alleckson  bought  a  quarter  sec- 
tion farm  in  Eidsvold  township  in  1895 
and  disposed  of  it  in  1909.  In  1910  he 
moved  to  his  present  farm  in  Island  Lake. 

In  Juneau  county,  Wisconsin,  on  Octo- 
ber 15,  1872,  Mr.  Alleckson  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Torbur  Ortun.  She  was  born 
in  Norway  on  Christmas  Day,  1857,  and 
died    in    1886.      The    second    marriage    of 


398 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Mr.  Alleckson  occurred  in  Lyon  county 
July  22,  1889,  when  he  wedded  Augustine 
Wolfe.  She  was  born  in  Iceland  August 
17,  1872,  the  daughter  of  Arne  and  Sarah 
(Johnson)  Wolfe.  Mr.  Alleckson  has  ten 
children,  named  as  follows:  Bertha  C, 
Lulu,  Theodore  J.,  Alleck  J.,  Andrew  F., 
Mabel  J.,  Marvin  G.,  Antha,  Peter  J.,  Sam- 
uel A.  and  Freda  H.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church. 


HAXS  PETERSON  (1887)  owns  and 
farms  the  south  half  of  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  19,  Lyons  township.  He  is 
a  native  of  Denmark  and  was  born  May 
28,  1851.  Hans  received  his  schooling  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  land  of  his  birth 
and  served  one  and  one-half  years  in  the 
standing  army.  His  parents  are  Peter  and 
Kristina  (Jergenson)  Rasmusson. 

In  1883  our  subject  came  to  the  United 
States  and  located  at  Maquoketa,  Jackson 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  worked  four  years 
in  a  limekiln.  In  1887  he  came  to  Lyon 
county,  having  purchased  eighty  acres  in 
Coon  Creek  township.  Later  he  purchased 
the  eighty  acres  in  Lyons  township  where 
he  now  resides.  Mr.  Peterson  served  one 
term  on  the  Township  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  Coon  Creek  township  and  three 
terms  as  assessor.  He  served  as  assessor 
of  Russell  seven  or  eight  years  and  one 
term  on  the  Township  Board  of  Super- 
visor*. He  is  a  member  of  the  Danish 
Lutheran  church  and  the  Masonic  and 
Workmen  lodges. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  married  in  Denmark  to 
Ellen  Peterson,  a  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Ellen  Jensen.  Mrs.  Peterson  was  born  in 
Denmark  October  14,  1844.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Peterson  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
four  children:  Jens  P.,  Hans  C,  William 
C.  and  Carrie  K. 


ARTHUR  J.  KILE  (1883)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  harness  shop  in  Minneota  and 
is  the  oldest  merchant  in  the  village  in 
point  of  continuous  service,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Dr.  Seals.  He  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  village 
which  he  has  seen  grow  from  a  hamlet  of 
small  pretentions. 

Arthur  Kile  has  lived  in  Minnesota  all 


his  life.  He  was  born  in  Houston  county 
April  2,  1867,  and  in  1879  he  accompa- 
nied the  family  to  Lincoln  county.  The 
father  homesteaded  land  in  Limestone 
township,  but  the  following  year  the  fam- 
ily returned  to  their  former  home.  Ar- 
thur lived  with  his  folks  three  years  and 
then  became  a  resident  of  Lyon  county. 
For  a  short  time  he  worked  for  farmers 
in  the  vicinity  of  Minneota  and  in  1884 
he  started  a  harness  shop  in  the  village 
with  a  capital  of  $12  5.  He  had  no  previ- 
ous experience  in  the  business  and  learned 
the  trade  from  A.  E.  Winters  after  estab- 
lishing the  business. 

Mr.  Kile  met  with  success  in  the  busi- 
ness and  has  ever  since  continued  it,  a 
continuous  period  of  twenty-eight  years. 
He  manufactures  harness  and  deals  in  har- 
ness goods,  blankets,  whips,  robes,  etc. 
Mr.  Kile  is  one  of  the  stockholders  of  the 
Farmers  &  Merchants  Bank  and  during 
the  past  three  years  has  been  vice  presi- 
dent of  that  institution.  He  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  Village  Council  and 
is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge.  He 
has  a  one-half  interest  in  a  farm  in  Yel- 
low Medicine  county. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  George 
Kile,  who,  after  returning  to  Houston  coun- 
ty in  1880,  resided  there  thirteen  years 
and  then  moved  to  Madison,  Minnesota, 
and  lived  with  a  daughter  until  his  death 
on  February  28,  1911,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  Barbara  Kile,  our  subject's 
mother,  died  August  17,  1895.  Arthur  is 
the  youngest  of  a  family  of  six  children, 
the  others  being  as  follows:  Fred,  of  Hous- 
ton county;  Mrs.  Minnie  Kitzniger,  of  Mad- 
ison, Minnesota;  George,  of  Houston  coun- 
ty; Sam,  who  perished  in  the  October 
storm  of  1880,  an  account  of  whose  death 
may  be  found  in  the  historical  part  of  this 
volume;  Mrs.  G.  C.  Mantel,  of  Spokane, 
Washington. 

Arthur  Kile  was  married  in  Madison, 
Minnesota,  August  10,  1894,  to  Betsey  Ug- 
lem,  who  was  born  in  Norway  and  who 
came  to  the  United  States  when  seven  years 
old.  They  have  three  children,  Bulah,  Har- 
old and  Barbara. 


E.  JOHN  ERICKSON   (1887),  a  farmer 
and  landowner  of  Shelburne  township,  was 


r.hMlKAlMIICAL   111STMUY 


:;!)!! 


born  In  Sweden  June  7,  1859'  His  parents, 
Erick  and  Stena  (Johnson)  Erickson,  came 
to  America  in  1ST",  lived  at  .Mankato  two 
years,  and  then  took  a  homestead  in  Mur- 
ray county.  The  father  died  there  and  the 
mother  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead. 

When  he  was  eleven  years  of  age  our 
subject  came  to  America  with  his  mother 
and  sisters,  the  father  having  come  some 
time  before.  When  the  Winona  &  St. 
Peter  railroad  was  constructed  through 
Lyon  county  in  the  summer  of  1872,  al- 
though he  was  only  a  child,  John  Erick- 
son worked  with  the  construction  crew. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  moved  to  his 
father's  homestead  in  Murray  county  and 
for  several  years  lived  with  his  parents. 
He  then  worked  at  various  occupations  in 
different  parts  of  Minnesota.  In  1878  he 
went  to  Northfield  and  for  six  years  was 
engaged  in  farming  in  Scott  county. 

In  1885  Mr.  Erickson  sold  a  farm  he 
owned  in  Scott  county  and  purchased  the 
land  he  now  resides  on  in  Shelburne  town- 
ship, 240  acres  on  sections  36  and  35. 
Two  years  later  he  moved  to  his  farm  and 
has  ever  since  resided  thereon.  Mr.  Erick- 
son has  prospered  since  coming  to  Lyon 
county  and  has  been  very  successful.  He 
raises  Shorthorn  cattle,  Poland  China  hogs, 
Percheron  horses  and  full-blooded  chick- 
ens. 

Mr.  Erickson  was  married  in  Scott  coun- 
ty April  1,  1880,  to  Junala  Olson.  She 
was  born  in  Norway  February  22,  1862, 
and  came  to  America  with  her  parents 
when  four  years  of  age.  The  family  lived 
in  Goodhue  county  and  later  in  Scott  coun- 
ty, where  her  parents  still  reside.  The 
following  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Erickson:  Clara,  Sophia,  Erick, 
Anton,  Elmer,  Olda,  Manda  and  Hannah. 


FRED  NIELSEN  (1887).  One  of  the 
prosperous  farmers  of  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship is  Fred  Nielsen,  who  resides  on  the 
east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 36.  He  was  born  in  Denmark  June  28, 
1855,  and  received  his  education  and  grew 
up  in  that  country.  His  parents  are  Niels 
and  Annie  D.  (Jorgenson)  Jensen,  the  for- 
mer a  day  laborer  in  the  old  country. 

When  our  subject  was  but  six  years  of 
age   he  went  to  work   herding   cattle   and 


has  had  to  make  his  own  way  since.  When 
twenty-two  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  the 
army  and  served  one  and  one-half  years. 
He  then  worked  out  two  years,  after  which 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  in 
Jackson  county,  Iowa,  where  he  worked 
at  farm  labor  four  years. 

In  1887  Mr.  Nielsen  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  bought  the  farm  in  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship which  he  still  owns  and  operates.  He 
has  made  all  the  improvements  on  the 
place,  as  the  farm  was  all  prairie  when  he 
moved  there.  He  raises  Poland  China  hogs 
and  grade  cattle  and  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Russell. 
Mr.  Nielsen  is  a  member  of  the  Danish 
Lutheran  church  of  Tyler.  He  was  road 
overseer  in  his  township  two  years. 

Mr.  Nielsen  was  married  at  Tyler  Octo- 
ber 2,  1892,  to  Cecelia  Nielsen,  a  native 
of  Denmark  and  a  daughter  of  Chris  and 
Cecelia  (Dahl)  Nielsen.  Mrs.  Nielsen  was 
born  October  9,  1862.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  one  child,  Charles  A.,  born  Novem- 
ber 30,   1893. 


RAY  D.  BALDWIN  (1879).  For  more 
than  thirty-three  years  Ray  D.  Baldwin 
was  a  resident  of  Lyon  county;  in  April, 
1912,  he  moved  to  Forest  Grove,  Oregon, 
to  make  his  future  home.  During  his  long 
residence  in  Lyon  county,  most  of  the  time 
in  Marshall,  Ray  was  active  in  affairs  of 
a  local  nature. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  at 
Pilot  Mound,  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota, 
October  16,  1868,  and  on  his  father's 
homestead  near  that  place  spent  his  child- 
hood days.  He  accompanied  the  family  to 
Lyon  county  in  1879,  lived  on  the  farm 
in  Stanley  township  until  1881,  and  there- 
after resided  in  Marshall.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Marshall  High  School  and  then 
learned  the  printer's  trade.  His  first  work 
at  the  trade  was  in  the  News-Messenger 
office  in  1887  and  with  the  exception  of 
a  very  few  years  he  was  connected  with 
that  journal  until  his  removal  to  Oregon 
in  1912.  During  that  period  he  spent  one 
and  one-half  years  in  the  shingle  business 
at  Port  Orchard,  Washington,  and  in  1891- 
92  was  deputy  county  auditor  under  his 
father. 

Mr.   Baldwin  served  for  a  time  as  vice 


400 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTOEY. 


president  of  the  Marshall  Building  and 
Loan  Association  and  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Marshall  Fire  Department  from  the 
time  of  its  organization  until  he  left  the 
city.  He  was  chief  engineer  of  the  de- 
partment when  the  equipment  consisted  of 
the  old  fire  engine.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 

Alice  M.  Bellingham  became  the  wife  of 
Ray  Baldwin  on  September  27,  1898.  She 
is  a  native  of  Lake  Marshall  township  and 
the  daughter  of  Charles  Bellingham,  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  precinct,  who 
took  a  homestead  claim  on  section  2  0.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Baldwin  have  two  children:  Ray 
D.,  Jr.,  aged  twelve;  and  Gertrude,  aged 
seven. 


MRS.  MARY  TROUT  (1884)  is  the  own- 
er of  720  acres  of  land  in  Amiret  township 
and  makes  her  home  on  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  14. 

Our  subject's  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Reid,  and  she  was  born  in  New  York  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1864,  her  parents  being  John  and 
Jane  (Hunter)  Reid.  The  father  died  when 
Mary  was  three  months  old  and  the  family 
soon  after  moved  to  Canada,  where  our 
subject  resided  until  twenty  years  of  age. 
Her  mother  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1883 
and  made  her  home  with  a  son  in  Amiret 
township  until  eight  years  ago,  when  the 
son  died.  Since  that  time  Mrs.  Reid  has 
been  a  resident  of  Tracy. 

Mary  Reid  came  to  Lyon  county  in  the 
fall  of  1884  and  worked  out  as  a  maid 
several  years.  In  October,  1892,  occurred 
her  marriage  to  Joseph  Trout,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  an  early  resident  of  Lyon 
county.  Mr.  Trout  prospered  greatly  dur- 
ing his  residence  in  the  county  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  May  27,  1903,  he  was 
the  owner  of  400  acres  of  land  in  Amiret 
township.  His  family  have  since  then  in- 
creased their  holdings  to  7  20  acres.  By 
her  marriage  to  Mr.  Trout  our  subject 
became  the  mother  of  three  children,  as 
follows:  Benjamin,  born  September  16, 
1893;  Rufus,  born  December  9,  1896;  and 
Jennie,  born  November  15,  189*9.  All  the 
children  are  at  home  with  their  mother. 

Mrs.  Trout  was  married  a  second  time 
to  Leir  Ketchum,  a  resident  of  Wisconsin. 
He  died  March  29,   1911.     Our  subject  is 


a  member  of  the  Maccabee  and  the  Degree 
of  Honor  lodges  of  Tracy. 


HERMAN  F.  RISTOW  (1887)  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Russell  who  was  section  foreman 
on  sections  twelve  and  thirteen  of  the 
Great  Northern  railway  for  twenty-two 
years.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon 
county  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  was 
the  second  man  to  locate  in  the  village  of 
Russell.  Herman  was  born  in  Adle  Lan- 
tag,  Germany,  on  December  15,  18  54,  the 
son  of  Jacob  and  Katherine  Caroline 
(Draves)  Ristow,  who  died  when  our  sub- 
ject was  only  four  years  of  age. 

Herman  attended  school  in  Germany 
until  fourteen  years  of  age,  after  which 
he  was  engaged  in  the  following  lines  of 
labor  in  the  land  of  his  nativity  prior  to 
coming  to  the  United  States:  in  a  lock 
factory  seven  months,  in  railroad  construc- 
tion work  five  years,  in  the  whiskey  dis- 
tilleries three  years,  and  on  the  railroad 
doing  section  work  for  the  government 
three  years. 

In  August,  1885,  Mr.  Ristow  came  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  Traverse  coun- 
ty, Minnesota,  where  he  worked  with 
threshing  crews  and  at  farm  labor  two 
years.  Then  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
engaged  in  similar  work  two  years.  He 
then  worked  for  a  year  near  Camden,  help- 
ing in  the  construction  of  the  Great  North- 
ern railroad.  In  March,  1888,  he  moved 
to  the  new  village  of  Russell  and  worked 
as  a  section  hand  six  months,  after  which 
he  was  given  a  position  as  foreman,  which 
he  held  for  twenty-two  consecutive  years, 
resigning  in  June,  1911. 

In  1905  Mr.  Ristow  purchased  a  tract 
of  land  near  Russell  and  now  devotes  his 
time  to  farming  it.  Besides  his  farm  land 
he  owns  a  nice  home  and  two  lots  in  Rus- 
sell. He  is  a  member  of  the  German  Luth- 
eran church.  He  served  three  years  as  a 
director  of  the  Russell  School  Board  and 
one  year  as  a  member  of  the  Town  Board. 
Mr.  Ristow  has  prospered  since  coming  to 
Lyon  county.  He  came  to  America  penni- 
less and  experienced  trying  times  of  fron- 
tier life. 

Mr.  Ristow  is  a  man  of  family.  He  was 
married  to  Amelia  Bohlman,  a  native  of 
Germany    and    a    daughter    of    John    and 


r.HMJKAlMUCAL   HISTORY. 


mi 


Louise  (Sell)  Bohlman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ris- 
imv  are  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
lorn-  children:  Otto,  born  May  15,  1882; 
Max,  born  November  19,  1884;  Paul,  born 
May  6,  1887;  Albert  (the  first  white  child 
born  in  Russell),  born  July  29,  1889.  Otto 
and  Max  were  born  at  Eberstein,  Germany, 
and  Paul  was  born  in  Traverse  county, 
Minnesota. 


JOHN  FRANKLIN  BRANTNER  (1898)  is 
main  buyer  for  the  Western  Elevator  Com- 
pany at  Heckman.  He  was  born  in  Ogle 
county,  Illinois,  August  14,  1854,  a  son  of 
Michael  and  Mary  (Phillips)  Brantner,  na- 
tives of  Maryland.  Both  parents  are  de- 
ceased. 

John  resided  with  his  parents  in  Illinois 
until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  attending 
school  and  working  for  his  father  on  the 
farm.  In  1S79  he  went  to  Sioux  Falls,  South 
Dakota,  where  he  worked  in  a  lumber  yard 
two  years  for  Ed.  Sharp  &  Company,  after 
which  he  worked  one  year  at  farm  labor. 
The  next  four  years  were  spent  in  the  piner- 
ies near  Shell  Lake,  Wisconsin.  From  there 
he  went  to  Lake  Preston,  South  Dakota, 
where  he  homesteaded  a  quarter  section  of 
land  and  resided  three  years,  being  also  en- 
gaged in  buying  grain  for  the  G.  W.  Van 
Dusen  Elevator  Company.  He  then  moved 
to  Elkton,  South  Dakota,  where  he  had 
charge  of  the  O.  L.  Marfield  elevator  fifteen 
years. 

In  1901  Mr.  Brantner  moved  to  Marshall 
and  had  charge  of  the  O.  L.  Marfield  elevator 
three  years.  He  then  went  to  Heckman, 
took  charge  of  the  Western  Elevator  Com- 
pany's house,  and  has  resided  there  since. 
He  deals  in  grain  and  coal.  Heckman  is 
quite  a  shipping  point  for  hay,  grain  and 
stock.  In  1901  a  postoffice  was  established 
at  Heckman  and  Mrs.  Brantner  was  ap- 
pointed postmistress.  She  has  held  the  posi- 
tion continuously  since.  Mr.  Brantner  holds 
membership  in  the  Masonic  lodge. 

At  Elkton,  South  Dakota,  December  11, 
1888,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Brantner 
to  Julia  Enke,  a  daughter  of  John  C.  and 
Marie  (Schmelzer)  Enke,  of  Verdi,  Minne- 
sota. Mrs.  Brantner  was  born  at  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska, June  15,  1866.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brantner  have  been  born  the  following  four 
children:      Cecil  F.,   born   August  24,    1892; 


Claud  B.,  born  December  16,  1893;  Ada  M., 
born  June  6,  L901;  Harold  R.,  born  October 
31,  1903. 


JOHN  BREEN  (1S84),  one  of  Westerheim 
township's  well-known  farmers,  was  born  in 
the  county  of  Kerry,  Ireland,  October  7,  1849. 
His  parents  died  while  John  was  a  boy,  and 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  came  to  America. 
He  landed  in  Boston  and  immediately  found 
an  opportunity  to  learn  the  leather  finishing 
trade  in  a  courier's  leather  factory.  He 
worked  at  the  trade  eight  years,  part  of  the 
time  attending  night  school  and  finishing 
his  education. 

In  1875  young  Breen  went  to  Missouri,  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  in  Knox  county, 
and  farmed  five  years.  He  then  went  to 
Chicago  and  took  up  his  trade  again,  con- 
tinuing at  that  work  two  years.  He  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1884  and  purchased  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  35,  Westerheim 
township,  where  he  has  since  lived.  There 
were  no  improvements  on  the  place  and  Mr. 
Breen  has  planted  the  groves,  constructed 
the  buildings  and  farmed  the  land  to  its  best 
advantage;  today  he  has  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved pieces  of  farm  land  in  the  township. 
He  has  found  the  raising  of  cattle  a  profit- 
able business  and  every  year  ships  a  carload 
of  fattened  steers  and  hogs  to  market.  In 
addition  to  his  466  acres  of  Lyon  county 
land  Mr.  Breen  owns  some  good  lands  in 
Canada. 

Our  subject  is  a  stockholder  and  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Ghent,  and 
he  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  is  the 
president  of  the  Farmers  Co-operative  Ele- 
vator Company  of  the  same  place.  He  has 
been  active  in  township  affairs  and  has  been 
for  some  time  clerk  of  school  district  No.  44 
and  is  on  the  board  of  supervisors. 

John  Breen's  marriage  to  Margaret  Mc- 
Mahon  occurred  in  Chicago  in  1874.  To  this 
union  four  children  were  born,  as  follows: 
Maurice,  a  real  estate  agent  of  Minneapolis; 
John,  a  business  man  of  Lewiston;  Mary 
(Mrs.  William  C.  Ahem)  of  Minneota;  and 
Nellie,  a  school  teacher.  Mrs.  Breen  died  in 
1883. 

On  November  21,  1890,  our  subject  was 
married  a  second  time,  to  Mary  E.  Mc- 
Loughen,  the  wedding  taking  place  in  Lin- 
coln  county,   Minnesota.     She  was  born   in 


402 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  moved  with  her 
parents  to  Sleepy  Eye,  Minnesota,  where 
they  lived  several  years,  finally  locating 
in  Lincoln  county.  To  this  second  marriage 
the  following  children  were  born:  Sarah,  a 
clerk  in  Marshall;  Henry,  a  Marshall  High 
School  student;  Bessie,  Jerry  and  James,  at 
home  on  the  farm. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  six 
children  bom  to  Maurice  and  Ellen  (Court- 
ney) Breen.  The  other  children  are  Jerry, 
of  Winchester,  Massachusetts;  Maurice,  of 
Philadelphia;  Catherine  (Mrs.  Patrick  Sulli- 
van), of  Winchester;  and  Patrick  and 
Thomas,  deceased. 

Mr.  Breen  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Ghent  and  holds  membership  in 
the  Knights  of  Columbus  lodge. 


A.  M.  MOORE  (1880)  is  cashier  of  the 
First  State  Bank  of  Balaton,  treasurer  of  the 
Village  Council,  and  treasurer  of  the  West- 
ern Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Bala- 
ton, a  home  company  that  carries  two  and  a 
half  million  dollars  insurance.  Mr.  Moore 
was  made  assistant  cashier  of  the  bank  in 
1902;  in  1904  he  was  made  cashier,  which 
position  he  has  held  since. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  in 
Cottonwood  county,  Minnesota,  August  7, 
1878,  and  when  two  years  of  age  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Balaton.  After  finish- 
ing his  schooling  he  worked  five  years  for 
the  Northwestern  Railroad  Company  as 
agent  and  operator  in  Minnesota  and  in 
North  and  South  Dakota.  In  1902  Mr.  Moore 
entered  upon  his  duties  in  the  bank.  He  is 
a  son  of  J.  A.  and  Eva  D.  (Moore)  Moore, 
the  former  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and 
the  latter  of  Jackson  county,  Minnesota. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Masonic  and  Workmen  lodges. 

On  November  15,  1906,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Moore  to  Lulu  McNabb,  a  na- 
tive of  Balaton  and  a  daughter  of  Archie 
McNabb,  an  early  settler  of  that  village. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  have  one  child,  Archie 
M. 


ROBERT  M.  NEILL  (1874),  treasurer  of 
Lyon  county,  is  a  native  son  and  has  spent 
his  entire  life  within  the  county.  He  was 
bom  in  Lyons  township  May  3,  1874,  on  his 


father's  homestead  on  section  26.  He  is  the 
son  of  pioneer  settlers,  William  and  Agnes 
(Marshall)  Neill,  who  came  to  the  county  in 
1872,  they  having  been  born  in  Scotland. 
The  mother  died  in  1891;  the  father  now 
resides  in  Marshall  and  is  associated  with 
A.  R.  Chace  in  dealing  in  machinery  and  live 
stock. 

Robert  attended  the  district  school  and 
grew  to  young  manhood  on  the  farm.  In 
18S8  he  became  a  student  of  the  Marshall 
High  School  and  was  graduated  from  that 
institution  with  the  class  of  1893.  After  his 
school  days  he  entered  the  grocery  store  of 
F.  J.  Parker  as  clerk  and  was  so  employed 
several  years.  He  then  took  a  position  as 
bookkeeper  with  the  H.  W.  Ross  Lumber 
Company  and  two  years  later  was  promoted 
to  the  management  of  the  Marshall  yards. 
He  resigned  his  position  in  1906  to  become 
a  candidate  for  county  treasurer  and  was 
elected  (hat  fall.  He  has  been  twice  re- 
elected and  has  since  held  the  office.  Prior 
to  his  election  Mr.  Neill  served  two  years  as 
treasurer  of  Marshall.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  Chapter,  M.  W.  A.  and  B.  A.  Y. 
lodges. 

Mr.  Neill  was  married  at  Austin,  Minne- 
sota, August  17,  1897,  to  Minnie  B.  Andrew, 
a  native  of  Canada.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren: Alice  Marjorie,  Clarence  Leroy  and 
Alieen  Gwendolyn. 


OTTO  WEKING  (1885),  of  Lynd  township, 
is  a  homesteader  of  Lyon  county  and  has 
lived  on  the  place  he  filed  upon  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century  ago. 

Otto  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Sweden  August  22,  1859,  and  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  in  his  native  land.  He  is  the  only 
one  of  the  family  to  come  to  America.  He 
has  one  brother  and  two  sisters  living  in  the 
old  country;  both  of  his  parents  are  buried 
there.  In  1880,  when  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  Otto  came  to  America.  He 
worked  in  a  malt  house  in  Chicago  two  years, 
and  for  three  years  he  worked  in  the  coal 
mines  in  Grundy  county,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Weking  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1885, 
bought  the  homestead  right  to  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  6,  Lynd  township,  proved 
up  on  the  claim,  and  has  made  his  home 
there  ever  since.  He  has  a  fine  farm,  im- 
proved   with    substantial    buildings,    all    the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NISTOKY. 


-UW 


product  of  his  labors.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  and  for  eight- 
een years  has  been  treasurer  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  3S.     Mr.  W'eking  is  not  married. 


HENRY  C.  HEINE  (1879)  is  one  of  Tracy's 
first  merchants.  He  located  there  in  1879  and 
opened  a  hand-made  shoe  factory  in  a  little 
building  on  the  site  of  his  present  store. 
The  original  building  was  burned  in  1891  and 
Mr.  Heine  then  erected  the  fine  two-story 
brick  establishment  which  he  now  occupies. 
He  is  one  of  Tracy's  foremost  business  men. 

Henry  Heine  was  born  in  Germany  .March 
26,  1851.  At  an  early  age  he  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade.  In  1871  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  locating  at  Tomah,  Wisconsin, 
near  which  place  his  sister,  Mrs.  Zahret, 
lived.  He  worked  at  his  trade  in  Tomah  for 
some  time  and  later  in  the  towns  of  Oronoco, 
Dodge  Center,  and  Marshall,  Minnesota,  be- 
fore moving  to  Tracy  in  1879.  A  few  years 
after  locating  in  Tracy  Mr.  Heine  opened  a 
line  of  shoes  in  connection  with  his  trade, 
and  later  he  added  other  lines  to  the  shoe 
stock.  He  has  little  by  little  built  up  a  very 
successful  mercantile  trade  in  shoes,  gent's 
furnishings,  stationery,  periodicals,  etc. 

Our  subject  was  married  at  Tomah,  Wis- 
consin, to  Miss  Pauline  Hoffman,  July  3, 
1881.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  this 
union.  The  eldest  son,  Adolph,  died  March 
5,  1903.  The  living  children  are  George,  who 
is  with  his  father  in  the  store;  Edward,  of 
Snohomish,  Washington;  Walter,  a  high 
school  student;  and  Louise.  Mrs.  Heine  is 
a  native  of  Germany  and  came  to  this  coun- 
try when  a  girl,  locating  with  her  parents  at 
Tomah,  Wisconsin. 


ANDREW  E.  GREEN  (1893)  is  the  cashier 
of  the  State  Bank  of  Florence.  He  was  born 
in  Murray  county,  Minnesota,  on  September 
26,  1873,  on  his  father's  old  homestead.  He 
is  a  son  of  C.  F.  and  Maria  (Stina)  Green, 
both  natives  of  Sweden.  They  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1869  and  homesteaded  land 
in  Murray  county.  They  remained  there  un- 
til 1895,  when  they  moved  to  Florence,  where 
they  now  reside.  They  still  own  the  old 
homestead  and  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 29,  Shelbume  township,  which  they  took 
as  a  tree  claim  in  the  early  seventies. 


Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  Murray 
county  and  after  receiving  his  common  school 
education  attended  the  Sioux  Falls  Business 
College.  In  1893  he  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  hical eel  in  Florence,  where  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Inter-State  Grain  Com- 
pany as  grain  buyer.  He  continued  with  that 
firm  until  1896,  when  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Northwestern  Grain  Company  in  the 
same  capacity.  He  remained  with  the  latter 
company  until  1905,  and  then  conducted  a 
general  store  in  Florence  until  1907.  In  the 
latter  year,  in  company  with  S.  A.  Christian- 
son,  of  Hills,  Minnesota,  he  organized  the 
State  Bank  of  Florence  and  has  since  been 
its  cashier. 

The  State  Bank  of  Florence  was  estab- 
lished June  1,  1908,  and  began  business  Au- 
gust 11,  following.  The  bank  was  capitalized 
for  $10,000  with  the  following  officers:  Presi- 
dent, S.  A.  Christianson;  vice  president,  M. 
O.  Gorseth;  cashier,  A.  E.  Green;  assistant 
cashier,  H.  H.  Benson.  The  only  change 
made  in  the  officers  since  that  date  has 
been  in  the  presidency,  S.  A.  Christianson's 
brother,  Peter,  succeeding  him  as  president. 
The  above  named  men,  together  with  S.  A. 
Christianson,  H.  P.  Sanden,  Ed.  Anderson 
and  A.  B.  Larson,  constitute  the  board  of 
directors.  They  do  a  general  banking  and 
insurance  business.  The  building  which 
houses  the  institution  was  built  the  year  the 
bank  was  opened. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  member 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Commandery  of  the  Masonic 
lodge  and  also  belongs  to  the  Workmen 
order.  Mr.  Green  has  been  clerk  of  school 
district  No.  78  for  a  number  of  years  and 
has  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace. 

On  August  15,  1896,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Green  to  Annie  Johnson  at  Balaton. 
Mrs.  Green  is  a  native  of  Sweden.  They  are 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Alvin 
F.,  Harold  G.,  Wallace  V.,  Glen  G.  and  Ken- 
neth V. 


MRS.  JERDINE  LOE  (1886),  widow  of 
John  Loe,  owns  and  farms  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  3,  Lucas  township.  She 
was  formerly  Jerdine  Eikeland  and  was 
born  in  Sokhendal,  Norway,  December  7, 
18  69.      Her    parents,    Jacob    and    Bertine 


404 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


(Larson)  Eikeland,  were  the  owners  of  a 
small  farm  in  the  old  country. 

Her  father  died  when  she  was  ten  or 
eleven  years  of  age,  and  in  1886  she  crossed 
the  water  with  her  mother,  two  sisters 
and  a  brother,  the  family  establishing  a 
home  west  of  Cottonwood.  Miss  Eikeland 
was  married  to  John  Loe  October  8,  1888. 
He  was  born  in  Norway  September  30, 
1862,  a  son  of  Ole  and  Eline  Loe,  both 
of  whom  are  buried  in  the  old  country. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  and  Lyon 
county  in  188  5,  bought  the  farm  now  con- 
ducted by  his  widow,  and  resided  there 
until  his  death  in  1907.  He  improved  the 
farm  and  made  it  one  of  the  fine  homes 
of  the  township.  With  the  assistance  of 
her  children,  Mrs.  Loe  has  managed  the 
farm  since  her  husband's  death. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loe  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing named  ten  children:  Emelie  B., 
Hannah  (Mrs.  Albert  Cole),  Benjamin, 
Hilda  L.,  Clara  (deceased),  Ella,  Edwin, 
Joseph  G.  and  Judith  C.  All  the  children 
except  the  married  daughter  reside  at 
home.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 


CHRIST  JOHNSON  (1892)  is  the  owner 
of  240  acres  of  land  on  section  2  5,  Lyons 
township,  and  is  one  of  the  prosperous 
farmers  of  the  precinct.  He  has  lived  in 
the  county  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  in  Denmark  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1871,  the  son  of  Jens  and  Mar- 
gretta  (Anderson)  Olson.  When  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  came  to  America  with  his 
brother,  Andrew,  worked  in  a  stone  quarry 
at  Joliet,  Illinois,  one  year  and  then  be- 
came a  resident  of  Lemont,  Illinois.  He 
spent  two  years  working  on  the  Chicago 
drainage  canal  and  in  1892  came  to  Lyon 
county. 

Upon  his  arrival  Mr.  Johnson  bought  an 
eighty-acre  farm  on  section  31,  Sodus, 
farmed  it  four  years,  and  then  traded  for 
a  160-acre  farm  on  section  25,  Lyons, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  Later  he  bought 
another  eighty  acres  adjoining  and  now 
has  a  fine  farm  of  240  acres.  Mr.  John- 
son has  served  three  years  as  a  member 
of  the  Township  Board  of  Supervisors. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Johnson  to  Mar- 
garet M.  Neill  occurred  in  Sodus  township 


on  July  29,  1897.  Mrs.  Johnson  was  born 
in  Sodus  township  on  April  9,  1874,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Elizabeth 
(Marshall)  Neill,  of  Marshall.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Johnson  have  three  children:  Vera 
M.,  born  February  18,  1900;  Dwight  N., 
born  September  12,  1903;  Alice  H.,  born 
March   6,   1905. 


EDGAR  W.  SHAVER  (1877),  who  with 
his  son  conducts  the  Enterprise  Wood  Yard 
and  Feed  Mill  at  Marshall,  is  a  pioneer  set- 
tler of  the  county  and  one  of  its  enter- 
prising citizens.  His  parents  were  Almond 
and  Sinah  (Roberts)  Shaver,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Canada.  The  father  went 
to  California  in  the  fifties  during  the  gold 
excitement,  and  in  18  60  the  family  located 
in  Wisconsin.  Almond  Shaver  served  a 
four  years'  enlistment  in  the  Union  Army 
with  a  Wisconsin  regiment  during  the 
Civil  War.  He  became  a  land  owner  in 
Jackson  county,  Wisconsin,  and  there  he 
and  his  wife  both  died,  the  former  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years  and  the  latter 
aged  seventy-five  years. 

To  those  parents  Edgar  W.  Shaver  was 
born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  November  16, 
1850.  When  a  child  he  accompanied  the 
family  to  Canada,  but  in  1860  a  return 
to  the  United  States  was  made  and  a  home 
established  in  Jackson  county,  Wisconsin. 
There  young  Shaver  grew  to  manhood  and 
there  he  resided  until  he  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  1878. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  a  party  of  men 
who  in  1877  drove  from  Wisconsin  to  Lyon 
county.  He  spent  that  season  in  the  coun- 
ty, being  employed  in  breaking  prairie  land 
on  a  tree  claim  owned  by  E.  B.  Jewett. 
Mr.  Shaver  returned  to  his  old  home  but 
came  back  again  the  next  spring  to  be- 
come a  permanent  resident.  Upon  his 
arrival  his  earthly  possessions  consisted  of 
fifteen  cents,  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  span 
of  horses,  and  he  owed  for  the  horses.  He 
borrowed  twenty  dollars  and  sent  for  his 
wife.  He  went  to  work  with  a  will  and 
he  has  made  a  record  worthy  of  emulation. 

Mr.  Shaver's  first  home  was  in  Fairview 
township.  Two  years  after  his  arrival  he 
bought  the  Minor  Atherton  homestead,  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  32, and  farmed 
the  place  four  years.     He  then  traded  for 


HI ( K I K A P1IICAL  HISTORY. 


105 


land  on  sections  22  and  2  6,  Clifton  town- 
ship, and  resided  there  until  February, 
1911.  He  erected  all  the  buildings  on  the 
farm  and  made  many  improvements.  He 
now  rents  out  his  2  40  acre  farm.  Upon 
his  removal  to  Marshall  in  1911  Mr.  Shaver 
bought  of  C.  M.  Hauks  the  Enterprise  Wood 
and  Coal  Yards,  consisting  of  lour  lots, 
feed  mill,  barn  and  wood  yard,  and  he  has 
since  conducted  the  business  in  partnership 
with  his  son,  Vern  C. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Shaver  to  Emma 
C.  Frank  occurred  in  Jackson  county,  Wis- 
consin, in  April,  1875.  Mrs.  Shaver  was 
born  in  the  county  in  which  she  was  mar- 
ried. Seven  children  have  blessed  this 
union,  as  follows:  Clarence,  Nettie  (Mrs. 
William  Watson),  of  Amiret;  Minnie  (Mrs. 
Clarence  Twogood),  of  Lyon  county;  Vern 
C,  of  Marshall;  Gertie  (Mrs.  William 
Smith),  who  resides  on  the  Clifton  town- 
ship farm;   Nellie  and  Ethel. 

Mr.  Shaver  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge  for  the  past  forty-one  years, 
having  joined  the  order  at  Humbird,  Wis- 
consin, in  February,  1871.  Mr.  Shaver  is 
one  in  a  family  of  two  children.  His  sis- 
ter, Bertha,  who  is  twenty  years  his  junior, 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  Jackson 
county,  Wisconsin. 


OSCAR  H.  BURCKHARDT  (1893).  One 
of  the  enterprising  young  farmers  of  Coon 
Creek  township  is  Oscar  Burckhardt,  a 
graduate  of  the  Marshall  High  School  and 
the  Sioux  Falls  Business  College.  He  is  a 
native  of  Illinois  and  was  born  at  Florence 
Station,  Stephenson  county,  on  May  9, 
1890,  a  son  of  John  and  Albertina 
(Watzke)  Burckhardt,  early  settlers  of 
Lyon  county. 

The  father  was  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous farmers  in  the  county  and  also  one 
of  its  largest  land  holders.  He  passed 
away  on  March  15,  1909,  and  with  his 
death  Lyon  county  lost  one  of  its  best 
citizens,  one  who  did  nobly  his  part  in  the 
upbuilding  of  the  agricultural  district.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Burckhardt  were  born 
the  following  children:  John,  Alfred, 
Charles,  Henry  J.,  Oscar,  Mrs.  F.  J.  Hen- 
richs,  Mrs.  H.  Seibert,  all  of  Lyon  county; 
and  Mrs.  Annie  Sullivan,  of  Matlock,  Iowa. 
Mrs.  Burckhardt  resides  on  the  home  place 


near  the  village  of  Russell,  and  it  is  with 
her  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  lives. 
Mr.  Burckhardt,  Sr.,  served  two  years  in 
the  Civil  War  and  received  an  honorable 
discharge. 

The  .young  man  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon 
county  when  he  was  only  four  years  of  age. 
He  attended  school  in  district  No.  63,  in  the 
Russell  schools,  and  later  in  the  Marshall 
High  School  two  years.  He  also  attended 
the  Sioux  Falls  Business  College.  After 
finishing  his  course  at  the  college  Oscar 
worked  for  some  time  for  the  Tuthill  Lum- 
ber Company,  at  Sioux  Falls,  as  bookkeeper. 
After  his  father's  death  he  returned  home 
and  has  since  had  charge  of  the  home  farm. 
He  is  the  owner  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  26,  Coon  Creek  township,  and 
farms  340  acres  in  addition  to  that.  He 
raises  considerable  stock,  including  Duroc- 
Jersey  bogs  and  Holstein  cattle.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  church.  Mr. 
Burckhardt  is  unmarried.  He  is  a  successful 
farmer  and  stock  raiser. 


DR.  ANTON  G.  SANDERSON  (1883)  is  a 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Minneota,  where 
he  was  born  February  1,  1883.-  He  is  a  son 
of  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  Sanderson,  a  pioneer 
physician  of  Lyon  county.  The  father  settled 
at  Minneota  in  the  spring  of  1881  and  died  at 
Madison,  Wisconsin,  February  5,  1909.  There 
are  five  children  in  the  family  still  living:  Dr. 
E.  T.  Sanderson,  of  Minneota;  Fred,  of  Madi- 
son, Wisconsin;  Theresa,  a  trained  nurse  of 
Madison;  Anton  G.,  of  this  sketch,  and  Mel- 
ville,  a  student. 

Anton  grew  to  manhood  and  received  his 
early  education  in  Minneota.  After  finishing 
school  he  went  to  Madison,  Wisconsin,  and 
worked  for .  a  lumber  company  two  years. 
He  then  spent  two  years  with  the  Rogers 
Lumber  Company  at  Velva  and  Kenmare, 
North  Dakota.  In  1904  Mr.  Sanderson  went 
to  Chicago  and  attended  the  Bennett  Medi- 
cal College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1908.  After  his  graduation,  Dr.  Sanderson 
lived  one  year  in  Minneota,  after  which  he 
was  on  the  medical  staff  of  the  St.  Peter 
insane  asylum.  He  continued  in  the  latter 
capacity  six  months  and  then  went  to  Ruth- 
ton,  where  he  practised  until  November, 
1910.     On  the  latter  date  he  again  took  up 


406 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


his  residence  in  Minneota  and  has  practised 
there  since  with  his  brother,  Dr.  E.  T.  San- 
derson. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  member  of 
the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  M.  W.  A. 
lodges.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the 
T.  A.  E.,  a  medical  fraternity,  and  in  the 
Illinois  State  Medical  Association. 

Dr.  Sanderson  was  married  at  Ruthton 
November  IS.  1910,  to  Ida  Heacock,  a  native 
of  Kingsley,  Iowa.  They  are  the  parents  of 
one  child,  Donald. 


MARVIN  E.  MATHEWS  (1876),  a  Mar- 
shall attorney-at-law,  is  a  pioneer  of  Minne- 
sota and  of  Lyon  county.  He  has  lived  in 
Minnesota  nearly  sixty  years  and  in  Marshall 
thirty-six  years.  He  is  a  man  of  prominence 
in  his  profession,  but  of  a  retiring,  modest 
disposition,  adverse  to  notoriety.  He  is  rich- 
ly entitled  to  biographical  mention  in  this 
History  of  Lyon  County,  being  a  representa- 
tive man  and  an  eminent  member  of  the 
bar  of  Southwestern  Minnesota.  Not  only  in 
the  law  is  he  prominent,  but  also  in  business 
and  social  circles. 

Mr.  Mathews  descends  from  one  of  the  old 
American  families.  His  paternal  grandpar- 
ents were  Caleb  and  Margaret  (Van  Salis- 
bury) Mathews,  natives,  respectively,  of  Ver- 
mont and  Pennsylvania.  The  former  died 
near  Jamestown,  New  York,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years;  the  latter  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  The  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject were  Joseph  V.  and  Clarissa  (Chipman) 
Mathews.  Joseph  V.  Mathews  was  born  at 
Albany,  New  York,  and  at  the  age  of  five 
years  accompanied  his  parents  to  Gary,  New 
York.  He  located  in  Rochester,  Minnesota, 
in  1854,  took  government  land  in  Murray 
county  in  1872,  and  died  in  that  county.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  born  at  James- 
town, New  York,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
James  Chipman.  She  also  died  in  Murray 
county.  There  were  six  children  in  this 
family,  as  follows:  James  W.,  of  Tracy; 
Charles,  of  Minneapolis;  Edward,  of  Duluth; 
Ellen  J.  Endersbe  (deceased)  and  Sidney 
(deceased). 

M.  E.  Mathews  was  born  at  Jamestown, 
New  York,  September  25,  1849.  »  He  accom- 
panied the  family  when  it  moved  to  Roches- 
ter, Minnesota,  in  1854  and  he  has  ever  since 
been  a  resident  of  this  state.     He  spent  his 


boyhood  days  on  a  farm  near  Rochester.  At 
that  time  Southeastern  Minnesota  was  very 
thinly  settled,  the  country  being  marked  only 
occasionally  by  the  log  cabins  of  settlers,  the 
advance  guard  of  civilization.  For  the  most 
part  the  country  was  occupied  by  Indians 
and  wild  animals.  There  were  no  school 
laws,  teachers  or  schools  when  the  Mathews 
family  made  their  home  in  this  western 
country  and  it  was  several  years  before  a 
school  was  established  in  the  vicinity.  When 
one  was  finally  established  instruction  was 
given  only  a  few  months  of  the  year,  held 
in  some  claim  shanty  and  supported  by  sub- 
scription. In  the  school  which  our  subject 
first  attended  the  shanty  was  supplied  with 
seats  and  desks  made  by  splitting  logs  into 
slabs  and  placing  them  on  logs  driven  into 
the  ground;  the  school  room  had  no  floor 
except  that  provided  by  nature  and  it  was 
heated  by  an  open  fireplace  built  of  stone. 
No  certificate  or  qualification  and  but  little 
education  was  required  of  the  teacher.  Read- 
ing, writing,  spelling,  geography  and  arith- 
metic were  the  branches  taught,  and  those 
desiring  further  education  were  obliged  to 
obtain  it  by  their  own  unaided  exertions.  Mr. 
Mathews  studied  grammar  and  other  branch- 
es while  working  in  the  fields  and  soon  made 
the  contents  of  such  volumes  his  own,  and 
he  is  now  a  master  of  the  English  language. 

After  completing  the  course  provided  by 
the  country  school  Mr.  Mathews  continued 
his  studies  in  the  Rochester  High  School, 
which  had  then  been  established.  From  the 
age  of  seventeen  years  he  made  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  He  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  and  chopped  wood  in  the  forests  dur- 
ing the  winter  months  and  later  taught  a 
country  school.  For  a  time  he  studied  law 
in  the  office  of  R.  A.  Jones,  at  Rochester, 
and  in  1872  he  moved  to  New  Ulm  and 
taught  in  the  high  school.  While  thus  en- 
gaged he  continued  his  law  studies  in  the 
office  of  George  W.  Kuhlman  until  the  fall 
of  1873.  From  that  time  until  he  located  in 
Marshall  in  1876  he  practised  his  profession 
at  New  Ulm. 

From  1876  until  the  present  date  Mr. 
Mathews  has  engaged  in  practice  in  Mar- 
shall. He  took  a  course  in  the  Law  Depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Michigan  and  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1881.  He  has 
become  one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  the 
state    and    has    been    connected    with    much 


M.  E.   MATHEWS 

Who  Has  Practised  Law  in  Marshall  Since 

1876. 


MRS.  M.  E.  MATHEWS 


THE  MATHEWS  HOME  IN  MARSHALL 


UKXJUAIMIK'AL   HISTORY. 


407 


Important    litigation    in    this    section    of    the 
state. 

Mr.  Mathews  has  been  a  life-long  Demo- 
crat, a  recognized  leader  in  politics,  and 
prominently  identified  with  several  Demo- 
cratic organizations  of  the  state.  He  has 
served  as  mayor  of  Marshall,  county  attor- 
ney, and  was  receiver  of  the  United  States 
Land  Office  at  Marshall  during  President 
Cleveland's  second  administration.  He  was 
a  candidate  for  the  office  of  judge  of  the 
district  court,  but  was  defeated  by  the  pres- 
ent incumbent,  Hon.  I.  M.  Olsen. 

In  many  fraternal  orders  Mr.  Mathews 
holds  membership,  among  them  the  Council. 
Consistory,  Mystic  Shrine  and  Eastern  Star 
of  the  Masonic  orders,  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Mr.  Mathews  was  married  at  New  Ulm, 
Minnesota, '  on  August  21,  1875,  to  Minnie 
Boesch,  a  native  of  Brown  county  and  a 
daughter  of  Werner  Boesch.  To  them  were 
bora  four  children,  named  as  follows:  Wer- 
ner B.,  born  February  17,  1878,  died  April 
14,  1896;  Logan  B.,  born  March  31,  1880,  died 
March  27,  1891;  Sidonia  A.  (Mrs.  Howard 
Harmon),  of  Marshall,  born  June  16,  1887; 
Rolland  M.,  born  January  6,  1889.  Mr. 
Mathews  and  his  wife  are  great  lovers  of 
children  and  have  done  much  for  a  number 
of  them  in  Lyon  county,  having  assisted 
them  in  their  schooling  and  getting  a  start 
in  life.  Besides  their  own  they  have  two 
adopted  children  which  they  brought  up  from 
infancy.  They  are  Arloine,  at  one  time  a 
leading  nurse  in  Rest  Hospital,  Minneapolis, 
now  the  wife  of  Garfield  Jaeger  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Spokane,  Washington,  and  Joseph 
P.  Mathews,  a  student  at  the  University  of 
Minnesota.  They  are  the  daughter  and  son 
of  Edward  Mathews,  a  brother  residing  at 
Duluth,  Minnesota. 


PETER  P.  SLETTE  (1888),  of  Lucas  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Gubransdalen,  Norway, 
February  29,  1874,  and  is  a  son  of  Peder 
and  Sarah  (Bergum)  Slette.  The  former  now 
resides  in  Lucas  township;  the  latter  died  in 
Norway. 

The  elder  Slette  came  to  America  in  1886 
and  settled  in  Lucas  township,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  attended  the  common  schools  of  his 


native  land  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
two  years  after  his  father  came  to  America 
the  boy  followed.  He  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  until  1900  worked  out  for  various  men 
at  farm  labor,  most  of  the  time  in  Lucas 
township. 

In  1900  Peter  returned  to  the  Fatherland, 
where  he  remained  about  two  years,  and  two 
years  later  once  more  came  to  America  and 
resumed  farming  in  Lucas  township.  He  is 
at  present  farming  200  acres  of  rented  land 
on  section  16. 

The  ceremony  which  united  Peter  P.  Slette 
and  Tolvine  Sandbo  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  was  performed  at  Cottonwood  De- 
cember 4,  1903.  She  is  a  native  of  Norway 
and  was  born  August  1,  1884.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Slette  are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Malfrid,  born  June  4,  1905;  Sarah, 
born  October  3,  1906;  and  Valborg,  born 
February  26,  1909.  The  Slette  family  belong 
to  the  United  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of 
Cottonwood. 


ELMER  E.  FOSTER  (1878),  police  officer 
of  Marshall,  is  a  native  Minnesotan  and  a 
son  of  pioneers  of  Lyon  county. 

Charles  S.  Foster,  his  father,  was  bora  in 
Erie,  Pennsylvania,  July  22,  1828.  There  he 
spent  his  boyhood  days  and  resided  until 
twenty-six  years  of  age.  He  was  married 
in  1854  to  Sarah  J.  Roberts,  who  was  born 
in  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  30,  1837. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles 
S.  Foster  moved  to  Elgin,  Illinois,  resided 
there  until  1865,  and  then  located  in  the 
township  of  Elgin,  Wabasha  county,  Minne- 
sota. On  a  farm  in  that  township  they  lived 
until  1878. 

In  the  year  last  mentioned  the  family 
came  to  Lyon  county,  purchased  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  9,  Lynd  township, 
and  resided  thereon  eighteen  years.  The 
parents  then  bought  a  home  in  Marshall  and 
resided  in  the  county  seat  until  their  deaths. 
Mrs.  Foster  passed  away  September  3,  1900. 
Thereafter  Mr.  Foster  made  his  home  with 
his  children  until  his  death  on  May  8,  1909, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 

There  were  twelve  children  in  the  family, 
of  whom  the  following  named  six  are  living: 
Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  James  A.  Harris,  of 
Lynd  township;  Lester  F.  and  Ulysses  G., 
of  Lynd  township;    Elmer  E.,   of   Marshall; 


408 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Oleanna  R.,  the  wife  of  Henry  E.  Wilson,  of 
Redwood  county;  and  James  S.,  of  Raymond, 
South  Dakota. 

Elmer  E.  Foster  was  born  in  Elgin  town- 
ship, Wabasha  county,  Minnesota,  Novem- 
ber 3,  1866,  and  he  lived  there  on  a  farm 
with  his  parents  until  the  fall  of  1878.  He 
came  with  the  family  to  Lyon  county  at  that 
time  and  until  the  fall  of  1890  lived  on  the 
home  farm  in  Lynd  township.  Then  he 
rented  section  36,  Grandview  township,  and 
farmed  it  one  year.  Mr.  Foster  was  married 
November  25,  1891,  to  Annie  S.  Kiel,  daugh- 
ter of  M.  C.  Kiel.  She  was  born  in  Faribault 
county,  Minnesota,  June  6,  1873. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Foster  bought  the 
north  half  of  the  north  half  of  section  36, 
Lynd  township,  and  conducted  the  farm  nine 
years.  Then  he  purchased  the  home  farm 
of  his  father  and  operated  the  place  six 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  Mr.  Foster 
was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  of  Lyon  county 
and  served  four  years  and  four  months  under 
Sheriff  Grannan,  until  May  1,  1911.  In  the 
"latter  part  of  June  of  the  same  year  he  was 
appointed  to  the  police  force  of  Marshall. 

Mr.  Foster  has  held  other  local  offices.  For 
nine  years  he  was  assessor  of  Lynd  town- 
ship and  he  was  also  clerk  of  his  school 
district.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
lodge  of  Lynd  and  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and 
Chapter  of  the  Masonic  order  at  Marshall. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster  have  five  children,  as 
follows:  Ethel  A.,  born  September  14,  1894; 
Veo  G.,  born  June  25,  1898;  Lloyd  E.,  born 
January  27,  1903;  Maxwell  R.,  born  July  14, 
1905;  Prudence  M.,  born  June  20,  1911. 


HENRY  A.  MATTHEWS  (1883)  is  a  farm- 
er and  land  owner  who  resides  in  Lynd 
township.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany  and 
was  born  near  Breslau  on  November  4,  1846, 
the  son  of  Joseph  and  Hedwig  (Jopech) 
Matthews,  both  of  whom  died  in  1854  when 
Henry  was  a  boy.  It  was  in  the  land  of 
his  nativity  that  Henry  received  his  early 
education.  Until  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he  was  employed  as  an  engineer. 

When  twenty-one  years  of  age  Henry 
Matthews  came  to  America  and  worked  in 
New  York,  Connecticut,  Wisconsin  and  Mis- 
sissippi. After  a  residence  of  one  year  in 
Clayborn   county,    Mississippi,  he   moved  to 


Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  eight 
years  in  the  employ  of  a  florist.  He  then 
went  to  Chicago,  where  he  had  charge  of 
the  Dearborn  Avenue  Conservatory. 

In  1883  our  subject  immigrated  to  Lyon 
county  and  built  a  hut  on  the  farm  he  now 
operates,  which  he  purchased  from  the 
Northwestern  Railroad  Company.  He  is  at 
present  the  owner  of  four  hundred  acres  of 
fine  land  in  Lynd  township.  Mr.  Matthews 
is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  church, 
is  a  stockholder  of  the  Farmers  Elevator 
Company  of  Lynd  and  has  been  on  the 
board  of  school  district  No.  38  for  several 
years.  Besides  farming,  he  raises  a  great 
deal   of   stock. 

In  1880  Mr.  Matthews  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Annie  Fritsch,  a  native  of  Germany. 
Mrs.  Matthews  died  July  1,  1898.  They  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  named  children : 
Annie  (Mrs.  Frank  Mellenthen),  Hedwig, 
George,  Fred,  Henry,  Karl,  Mary,  Helen, 
Sophia,  Laura. 


EDMOND  VaN  MOER  (1891)  is  one  of 
Amiret  township's  successful  farmers  and 
lives  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  8. 
He  conducts  a  200-acre  farm  and  has  a  fine, 
well-improved  place. 

Mr.  Van  Moer  is  a  Hollander  and  is  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Pauline  (Pielaet)  Van  Moer, 
both  of  whom  died  in  their  native  land. 
Edmond  was  bom  January  28,  1870,  and  was 
brought  up  and  educated  in  his  native  land. 
At  quite  an  early  age  he  commenced  to  work 
out  at  farm  labor  in  Holland,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1891  the  young  man  came  to 
America. 

Upon  his  arrival  to  the  United  States,  Mr. 
Van  Moer  located  in  Lyon  county  and  worked 
Dut  at  farm  labor  near  Ghent  several  months. 
He  farmed  rented  land  in  Amiret  .township 
ten  years,  after  which  he  purchased  the 
north  half  of  section  17  in  company  with  his 
two  brothers,  John  and  August,  and  the 
three  boys  ran  the  farm  four  years.  Edmond 
then  purchased  the  land  where  he  now  re- 
sides, and  he  has  today  a  farm  well  im- 
proved with  substantial  buildings.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  general  farming  he  engages  suc- 
cessfully in  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Van  Moer  is  a  progressive  citizen  and 
is  interested  in  other  enterprises  besides 
farming,  being  a  stockholder  in  the  Amiret 


moaRAPlIICAL  HISTORY 


40!> 


State  Bank  and  the  Lyon  County  Agricultural 
Society.  He  is  also  a  shareholder  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Amiret-Marshall  Rural  Telephone 
Company.  Our  subject  was  justice  of  the 
peace  two  years  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  the  past  five  years. 
being  its  present  chairman.  He  was  road 
overseer   rive   years. 

.May  27.  1905,  occurred  the  marriage  of 
Edmond  Van  Moer  and  Florence  Loke.  a 
native  of  Lyon  county.  She  was  born  March 
26,  1885,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Franz  and 
Mary  ( Vaader  Kerkhoven)  Loke,  natives  of 
Holland  and  for  the  last  few  years  residents 
of  Clifton  township,  Lyon  county.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Van  Moer  five  children  have  been 
horn,  their  names  being  Elsie  M.,  Ida  P.. 
Bertha  C,  George  E.  and  Victor  Joseph. 
The  Van  Moers  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church. 


ABSALOM  LLOYD  WRIGHT  (1883),  who 
owns  and  farms  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  20,  Rock  Lake  township,  has  lived 
in  Lyon  county  nearly  thirty  years.  He  has 
met  with  success  in  his  ventures,  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  commu- 
nity, and  is  rated  high  among  the  men  of 
his  precinct. 

Mr.  Wright  is  a  Virginian  by  birth  and 
first  saw  the  light  of  day  November  10,  1861. 
Andrew  Wright,  his  father,  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, served  in  the  army  during  the  Civil 
War,  and  lost  his  life  in  the  sectional  strug- 
gle. Dorothy  (Davis)  Wright,  his  mother, 
died  in  1874. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  his 
native  state,  attending  school  and  working 
out  as  a  farm  hand.  He  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  the  fall  of  1883  and  this  county 
has  ever  since  been  his  residence.  He 
worked  out  four  years  and  then  started  in 
business  for  himself,  renting  land  and  farm- 
ing in  Sodus  township  three  years.  He  next 
farmed  rented  land  in  Rock  Lake  township 
six  years  and  then  took  up  his  residence  on 
his  present  farm,  which  he  had  purchased  six 
years  before. 

Mr.  Wright  served  one  year  as  clerk  of 
Rock  Lake  township  and  he  has  been  asses- 
sor for  the  past  two  years.  For  seventeen 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  school 
board  of  district  No.  18 — thirteen  years  as 
a  director  and  the  last  four  years  as  treas- 


urer.    He  has  stock  in  the  Farmers  Elevator 
Company  of  Balaton. 

Eliza  A.  Ford  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Wright  November  24,  1887.  She  was  born 
in  Wisconsin  May  8,  1865,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Margaret  (Marshall)  Ford, 
pioneers  and  still  residents  of  Sodus  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wright  have  two  chil- 
dren: Margaret,  born  December  7,  1888,  and 
Clarence,  born  January  6,  1894. 


HENRY  O.  HANSON  (1881)  is  the  man- 
ager of  the  Farmers  &  Merchants  Supply 
Company  of  Minneota  and  has  resided  in 
Lyon  county  for  the  past  thirty  years.  The 
company  by  which  he  is  employed  was  estab- 
lished in  1894  and  has  the  following  officers: 
President,  Gilbert  Hammer;  treasurer,  H.  A. 
Tillemans;  secretary,  K.  E.  Kjorness;  man- 
ager,  H.  O.  Hanson.  They  handle  grain, 
coal  and  twine.  Henry  was  born  in  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  June  20,  1859,  a  son  of 
Ole  and  Jane  (Peterson)  Hanson,  natives  of 
Norway  who  came  to  Dane  county  in  the 
days  of  the  early  Norwegian  settlements 
of  that  state.     They  are  both  dead. 

In  1879  the  subject  of  this  review  immi- 
grated to  Hancock,  Stevens  county,  Minne- 
sota, where  he  resided  until  1881,  when  he 
moved  to  Minneota — his  future  home.  He 
was  engaged  in  the  hardware  and  implement 
business  until  1885,  then  in  the  butcher  busi- 
ness, and  still  later  in  the  livery  business 
until  1895,  when  he  accepted  the  position  he 
now  holds. 

Mr.  Hanson  was  married  in  Minneota  to 
Annie  Werpe,  a  native  of  Iowa.  They  are 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows: 
Clara,  Ella,  Marvin,  Chester,  Edgar,  Milton, 
Klenora  and  Milo. 

Mr.  Hanson  has  served  several  terms  en 
the  Village  Council  of  Minneota.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  Maccabee 
lodges. 


KNUTE  SKAAR  (1892)  is  a  farmer  and 
blooded  stock  raiser  of  Nordland  township 
and  a  resident  of  Lyon  county  of  twenty 
years'  standing.  His  home  place  is  the  south 
half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  4. 
a  short  distance  from  Minneota,  and  he  also 
owns  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  9,  adjoining. 


410 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Knute  Skaar  was  born  in  Vallers,  Norway, 
September  27,  1884.  His  parents,  Ole  and 
Carrie  Skaar,  died  when  he  was  a  child,  and 
in  1892  he  came  to  America  with  his  sister, 
Barbara  Skaar.  He  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
made  his  home  with  an  uncle,  Knud  Dovre, 
in  Eidsvold  township.  His  boyhood  days 
were  spent  attending  the  district  school  and 
assisting  his  uncle  on  the  farm.  He  re- 
mained on  the  Dovre  farm  until  the  fall  of 
1908.  The  next  fall  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  his  present  farm  and  started  in 
business  for  himself.  The  next  year  he  be- 
came the  owner  of  the  other  eighty  acres 
of  his  farm. 

Mr.  Skaar  specializes  on  stock,  raising 
thoroughbred  Duroc-Jersey  swine.  He  ex- 
hibited his  registered  hogs  at  the  Lyon  coun- 
ty fair  in  1911  and  received  two  first  prizes 
and  one  sweepstake.  Mr.  Skaar  has  stock 
in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Minne- 
ota.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  of  Minneota  and  of  the 
Masonic,  Odd  Fellows  and  Yeomen  lodges  of 
the  same  village. 

Emma  Hanson,  who  was  born  in  Lyon 
county  April  9,  1887,  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Skaar  June  2,  1910,  the  ceremony  being 
performed  at  Minneota.  Her  parents,  Robert 
and  Ellen  (Klaith)  Hanson,  were  pioneer  res-" 
idents  of  Nordland  township  and  are  now 
deceased.  Mrs.  Skaar  is  one  of  five  children, 
the  others  being  Mrs.  Knute  K.  Mohn,  of 
Nordland  township;  Peter,  deceased;  Carl, 
of  Minneota;  and  Christine,  of  Nordland 
township. 


WILLIAM  F.  GIESEKE  (1892)  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Marshall  Milling  Company  and  at 
the  head  of  one  of  Lyon  county's  largest 
business  enterprises.  He  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Marshall  twenty  years  and  is  rated 
among  the  substantial  men  of  Lyon  county. 

William  Gieseke,  the  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  review,  was 'born  in  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, in  September,  1831.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  when  seventeen  years  of  age 
and  a  few  years  later  sent  to  the  old  country 
for  the  rest  of  the  family.  In  1861  he  located 
in  New  Ulm  and  that  was  his  home  for  the 
next  twenty-two  years.  During  his  residence 
there  he  served  nine  years  as  sheriff  of 
Brown   county. 

In    1883   William   Gieseke,    Sr.,   located   in 


Sleepy  Eye,  and  the  next  year  he  and  others 
founded  the  Sleepy  Eye  Milling  Company. 
He  was  president  of  the  company  many 
years  and  its  guiding  spirit.  He  became 
interested  in  the  mill  at  Marshall  in  1892 
and  became  a  resident  of  the  city.  He 
moved  to  Los  Angeles,  California,  in  1901, 
and  died  there  February  23,  1905.  Matilda 
(Roternund)  Gieseke,  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Addison.  Illinois,  and  now 
makes  her  home  in  Los  Angeles. 

In  the  Gieseke  family  are  five  children,  as 
follows:  William  F..  Lydia  (Mrs.  F.  J. 
Mclntyre),  of  Madison,  South  Dakota;  Mar- 
garet (Mrs.  Carl  A.  Plath),  of  Hood  River, 
Oregon;  Hugo  H.,  who  is  bookkeeper  and 
cashier  of  the  Marshall  Milling  Company; 
and  Blanche  (Mrs.  Paul  Wagner),  of  Los 
Angeles,  California. 

William  F.  Gieseke  was  born  in  New  Ulm, 
.Minnesota,  March  5,  1869,  and  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  there.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  in  Shattuck  College, 
of  Faribault,  Minnesota,  having  been  gradu- 
ated from  the  last  named  institution  in  18S8. 
After  his  school  days  Mr.  Gieseke  entered 
the  office  of  the  Sleepy  Eye  Milling  Com- 
pany and  was  with  the  company  in  Sleepy 
Eye  until  May  2,  1892.  On  that  date  he 
located  in  Marshall  to  take  charge  of  the 
company's  mill  there.  He  became  an  officer 
of  the  Marshall  Milling  Company  upon  its 
organization  a  little  later  and  is  now  the 
president  of  the  company. 

In  the  city  of  Marshall,  on  June  11,  1894, 
Mr.  Gieseke  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ethel 
R.  Paige.  Gordon  W.  Gieseke  is  their  only 
child. 


LOUIS  N.  REGNIER  (1883),  a  well-to-do 
farmer  of  Grandview  township,  was  born  in 
Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  August  15,  185S. 
He  was  brought  up  on  the  Illinois  farm  and 
in  1883  he  accompanied  his  brother  George 
to  L5ron  county.  Louis  bought  160  acres  of 
railroad  land  on  section  23,  Grandview,  and 
started  farming.  He  improved  the  farm  and 
in  1902  he  bought  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  24  in  the  same  township,  which 
is  known  as  the  James  English  tree  claim. 
Mr.  Regnier  has  done  well  since  coming  to 
the  county  and  now  farms  280  acres  of  his 
own  and  185  acres,  which  he  rents.  He  is 
ably  assisted  in  the  farm  work  by  his  sons. 


ISHXJKAIMIICAL  HISTORY 


411 


The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Isaac 
and  Mary  (Tonscheke)  Regnier,  natives  of 
Canada.  They  were  early  settlers  of  Kanka- 
kee county,  Illinois,  locating  there  at  a  time 
when  Chicago  was  a  mere  hamlet.  Coming 
to  Lyon  county  in  1SS4,  they  located  in 
Grandview  township,  where  Mr.  Regnier 
died  in  1896.  Mrs.  Regnier  is  living  with 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Gus  Durrenberger,  in 
Marshall.  Besides  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
the  elder  Regniers  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Joseph,  of  Marshall; 
Mary  (Mrs.  Patrick  Grant),  of  Kankakee; 
Florence  (Mrs.  Aime  Bennett),  of  Kankakee; 
Emma  (Mrs.  O.  Letournan),  of  Chicago: 
George,  of  Grandview;  John,  of  Cottonwood; 
Ambrose,  Harry  and  Louise  (Mrs.  Gus  Dur- 
renberger), all  of  Marshall. 

On  February  20,  1884,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  our  subject  to  Elizabeth  Caron,  a 
native  of  Kankakee.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Theodore  Caron,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  county.  To  this  union  have  been  born 
Archie,  Jerry,  Philip,  Eugenia,  Zephyre,  Rob- 
ert. John,  Henry  and  Sarah,  the  two  last 
named  being  twins. 

Mr.  Regnier  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  of  district  No.  21  for  about 
twenty  years  and  is  road  overseer.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 


CHARLES  MILLER  (1885),  who  farms  the 
north  half  of  section  4,  Stanley  township,  has 
lived  in  Lyon  county  since  he  was  a  child. 
He  is  the  son  of  William  and  Hulda  (Muel- 
ler) Miller.  The  former  was  born  in  Wis- 
consin August  7,  1852,  and  is  now  engaged 
in  farming  in  Lake  Marshall  township.  The 
mother  was  born  August  16,  1856,  and  died 
August  25,   1895. 

Charles  Miller  was  born  in  Wisconsin 
August  19,  1879.  He  came  to  Lyon  county 
with  his  parents  in  1885  and  until  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age  lived  with  them  and 
attended  school.  He  was  handy  with  ma- 
chinery and  when  only  fourteen  years  of  age 
began  to  work  with  engines.  Two  years 
later  he  was  granted  an  engineer's  license 
and  became  the  youngest  man  in  Minnesota 
to  hold  such  license.  During  the  next  ten 
years  he  operated  engines  exclusively.  Then 
he  began  farming  and  has  been  so  engaged 
ever  since. 

The    marriage    of   our    subject    to    Minnie 


Apfel  occurred  April  6,  1901,  at  Evansville, 
Wisconsin.  Mrs.  Miller's  parents,  H.  Apfel 
and  Fredericka  Apfel,  reside  in  Wisconsin. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  been  born  the 
following  named  five  children:  Jeanette, 
Violet,  Melvin,  Hazel  and  Hal. 


ARTHUR  H.  ROWLAND  (1881),  postmas- 
ter of  Tracy,  has  spent  all  except  the  first 
few  years  of  his  life  in  that  city.  He  was 
born  in  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  April  5,  1874, 
and  on  January  11,  1881,  he  accompanied 
the  family  to  Tracy.  With  the  exception 
of  the  winter  of  1881-82,  when  he  was  in 
Pierre,  South  Dakota,  Mr.  Rowland  has  ever 
since  made  his  home  in  Tracy. 

Arthur  received  his  education  in  the  Tracy 
school.  When  a  boy  he  served  one  year  as 
call  boy  in  the  employ  of  the  Northwestern 
Railroad  Company,  and  then  for  two  years 
he  was  employed  by  the  American  Express 
Company.  In  1897  he  and  his  father  opened 
a  grocery  store,  which  they  conducted  eleven 
years.  Mr.  Rowland  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  postmaster  on  April  1,  1908. 

Mr.  Rowland  was  city  recorder  six  terms 
previous  to  receiving  the  appointment  of 
postmaster.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
fire  department  since  1892  and  is  the  second 
oldest  member  of  that  organization.  Fra- 
ternally Mr.  Rowland  affiliates  with  the  Ma- 
sonic and  Workmen  lodges,  holding  member- 
ship in  both  the  Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter  of 
the  former. 

The  father  of  our  subject  is  Richard  Row- 
land, also  of  Tracy.  He  located  in  that 
village  in  1879  and  for  more  than  thirty 
years  was  a  conductor  of  the  Northwestern 
Line.  He  was  the  first  conductor  to  locate 
at  the  division  and  his  first  service  was  in 
charge  of  a  construction  train.  His  service 
has  been  confined  to  the  Dakota  division. 
The  mother  of  our  subject,  Harriet  S.  (Par- 
ker) Rowland,  is  deceased.  She  was  born 
at  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  and  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Captain  Parker,  a  member  of  Com- 
pany M,  Second  Wisconsin  Cavalry.  He  died 
in  the  service  at  Vicksburg.  A.  H.  Rowland 
has  three  brothers  and  one  sister,  namely: 
Leonard,  Robert,  Hattie  and  Harlan.  The 
last  named  is  deputy  postmaster. 

A.  H.  Rowland  was  married  in  Tracy  Sep- 
tember 6,  1910,  to  Annie  Lorenz,  a  native 
of  Madison,  Wisconsin. 


412 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


LEWIS  E.  SCOTT  (1880),  of  Amiret  town- 
ship, is  a  Lyon  county  boy,  having  been 
born  in  Sodus  township  July  29,  1880,  and 
having  been  a  resident  of  the  county  since 
his   birth. 

John  and  Mary  (Lewis)  Scott,  parents  of 
our  subject,  came  to  the  county  in  1874  aud 
located  on  a  homestead  in  Sodus  township, 
where  they  still  reside.  Lewis  was  born  on 
the  farm  and  grew  up  amid  a  farmer  boy's 
environments.  He  attended  the  country 
school  and  later  the  village  school  in  Ami- 
ret,  and  his  education  was  completed  when 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  then 
worked  for  his  father  on  the  old  homestead 
until  October,  1905,  when  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  himself.  During  his  Sodus  resi- 
dence Lewis  held  the  office  of  road  overseer 
for  the  township  two  terms. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  farmed  in  Cus- 
ter township  six  years,  and  in  November, 
1911,  he  moved  to  the  farm  he  now  operates, 
known  as  the  Webb  farm,  on  sections  17 
and  20,  Amiret  township.  He  has  since  rent- 
ed and  farmed  the  place,  having  charge  of 
a  half  section.  He  raises  considerable  stock, 
giving  his  attention  to  the  Shorthorn  and 
Hereford  cattle  and  the  Poland  China  hog. 

.Mr.  Scott  married  Ada  Edwards  in  Tracy, 
Minnesota,  October  18,  1905.  To  this  union 
were  born  three  children:  Paul,  born  August 
24,  1907;  Clarence,  born  December  23,  1908; 
and  William,  born  June  24,  1910.  Mrs.  Scott 
is  a  native  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Agnes  Edwards,  for- 
merly residents  of  Tracy  and  now  of  Sioux 
City. 


GEORGE  F.  FIFIELD  (1886)  has  lived  in 
Lyon  county  since  he  was  eleven  years  of 
age  and  is  a  farmer  and  land  owner  of 
Rock  Lake  and  Shelburne  townships.  He 
engages  quite  extensively  in  stock  raising, 
farms  380  acres  in  the  two  townships,  and 
owns  eighty  acres  in  Shelburne  township  and 
160  acres  in  Roseau  county,  Minnesota. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Ira  A. 
and  Emily  E.  (Rueber)  Fifield,  natives,  re- 
spectively, of  New  Hampshire  and  New- 
York.  They  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1886, 
bought  land  in  Lyons  township,*  and  resided 
on  the  farm  there  until  their  deaths.  The 
father  died  in  1903,  the  mother  in  1909. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  as 


follows:  Nellie  (Mrs.  William  Buell),  of 
Roseau  county,  Minnesota;  May  (Mrs.  S. 
Goodmund),  of  Lyons  township;  Ella  (Mrs. 
J.  W.  Andrews),  deceased;  Ann  (Mrs.  W.  E. 
Magandy),  of  Tyler;  George  F.,  of  this  re- 
view; James,  deceased;  Charles,  of  Minne- 
apolis; Walter  and  Elmer,  of  Lyons  town- 
ship. 

The  gentleman  whose  history  we  are 
chronicling  was  born  in  Wabasha  county. 
Minnesota.  October  10,  1875.  He  came  to 
Lyon  county  with  the  family  in  18S6,  attend- 
ed district  school  until  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and  worked  for  his  father  on  the  Lyons 
township  farm  until  after  reaching  his  ma- 
jority. Then  he  was  married  and  engaged 
in  farming  in  Lyons  township  three  years. 
He  conducted  a  meat  market  in  Balaton  six 
months  and  then  went  North,  to  Roseau 
county.  Minnesota.  There  he  secured  a 
homestead  and  resided  two  years.  Upon  his 
return  to  Lyon  county  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Shelburne  and  Rock  Lake  townships 
and  has  since  been  so  engaged.  He  raises 
Durham  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs. 

Mr.  Fifield  has  stock  in  the  Lyon  County 
Co-operative  Company  of  Balaton  and  he  has 
been  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  60  for 
the  past  six  years.  He  is  a  member  and 
one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Russell  and  holds  membership  in 
the  Workmen  and  Woodmen  lodges  of  the 
same  village. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Fifield  to  Mary  L. 
Persons  was  solemnized  in  Rock  Lake  town- 
ship June  28,  1899.  She  was  born  in  the 
township  in  which  she  was  married  August 
19,  1879.  Her  parents,  Orville  E.  and  Ella 
(Weeks)  Persons,  were  among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Rock  Lake  township  and  resided  on 
their  homestead  until  1905.  Then  they 
moved  to  Clarkston,  Washington,  where  they 
now  live. 

Six  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fifield,  of  whom  four  are  living.  Their 
names  and  dates  of  births  are  as  follows: 
Arthur  R.,  born  November  24,  1901;  Elsie, 
deceased,  born  November  6,  1902;  Harold  G., 
born  April  12,  1906;  Addie,  deceased,  born 
April  11,  1908;  Beatrice,  born  January  23, 
1910;    Ethel,   born   June   13,   1912. 


PAUL   GITS    (1883)    is   the   proprietor   of 
a   blacksmith   and   wagon    shop   in    the   city 


llMKiHAPIllCAL  IflSTORY 


413 


of  Marshall.  He  is  a  native  of  Belgium,  was 
horn  October  13,  L864,  and  resided  in  the 
land  of  his  nativity  until  nineteen  years  of 
age.  He  is  a  son  of  Francis  and  Louise 
(Corielt)  Gits,  who  reside  at  Ghent.  The 
other  children  in  the  family  are  Paul,  Julius, 
Joseph,  Victor,  Clement  (Mrs.  Charles  Fou- 
lon),  of  Ghent;  Edmund,  of  Ghent,  and  Ar- 
thur, of  St.   Paul. 

Paul  Gits  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade 
from  his  father,  whose  father  and  grand- 
father had  also  been  in  the  same  business. 
In  1883  the  Gits  family  immigrated  to  the 
United  States  and  located  at  Minneota, 
where  they  resided  a  few  months  and  then 
moved  to  Ghent.  At  that  place  Francis  Gits 
opened  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  our  subject 
worked  in  the  place  for  a  while,  after  which 
he  went  to  Faribault  and  engaged  in  his 
trade  two  years.  He  then  returned  to  Ghent 
and  started  a  shop  which  he  conducted  until 
1894,  when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Mar- 
shall, where  he  has  since  resided.  Upon 
his  arrival  to  Marshall  Mr.  Gits  entered  into 
partnership  with  Gustav  Vergote,  and  started 
a  blacksmith  shop  and  a  saloon.  They  built 
the  Klondike  saloon  building  and  were  in 
partnership  two  years,  when  they  dissolved 
and  our  subject  purchased  his  present  place 
of  business.  Mr.  Gits  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church,  the  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters and  the  Knights  of  Columbus  lodges. 

Mr.  Gits  was  married  at  Ghent  May  12, 
1887,  to  Judith  Vanhee,  a  native  of  Belgium. 
They  are  the  parents  of  eighteen  children, 
fourteen  of  whom  are  living.  They  are  as 
follows:  Albert,  Mary,  Ida,  Julius,  Louis, 
Edmund,  Victor,  Lucy,  Louise,  Gustav,  Celia, 
Victoria,  Julian  and  Margaret. 


OLE  S.  DAHL  (1892)  owns  160  acres  of 
farm  land  on  section  35,  Lucas  township,  and 
in  addition  farms  320  acres  of  rented  land 
on  section  25.  He  is  one  of  the  successful 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  the  township. 

Oxendal,  Norway,  is  the  birthplace  of  our 
subject  and  the  date  of  his  birth  was  May 
28,  1874.  His  father,  Sigbjorn  Dahl,  died  at 
the  age  of  ninety  years,  and  his  mother, 
Anna  (Jodestal)  Dahl,  is  living  in  Norway 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Ole  received  his 
education  in  Norway  and  attended  school 
until  fourteen  years  old,  after  which  he 
worked    out    at    farm    labor   until    1892.      In 


the  latter  year  he  came  to  America  and 
located  first  at  Cottonwood,  Minnesota,  near 
which  village  he  worked  for  some  months. 
Then  he  went  to  Superior,  Wisconsin,  where 
he  worked  the  following  summer,  and  then 
returned  to  Lyon  county. 

The  next  four  years  found  young  Dahl 
working  at  farm  labor  in  Blue  Earth  county, 
Minnesota,  in  Winnebago  county,  Iowa,  and 
in  Yellow  Medicine  county,  Minnesota.  At 
the  end  of  that  period  he  took  up  his  perma- 
nent residence  in  Lucas  township,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  has  been  active  in 
the  affairs  of  the  township  and  served  one 
year  as  road  overseer.  Mr.  Dahl's  church 
affiliations  are  with  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
denomination.  He  is  a  member  of  that 
church  in  Cottonwood  and  has  been  a  trustee 
for  several  years. 

On  June  16,  1901,  Ole  Dahl  was  joined  in 
marriage  to  Josephine  Johnson,  the  wedding 
taking  place  at  Cottonwood.  His  wife  is  a 
native  of  the  township  and  was  born  De- 
cember 28,  1877,  a  daughter  of  Joe  and 
Martha  Johnson,  pioneer  settlers  of  Lyon 
county.  The  father  died  in  1909;  the  mother 
lives  on  the  farm  in  Lucas  township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dahl  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Sam  Oliver,  born  January  22, 
1903;  Anna  Marie,  born  June  8,  1905;  Stella 
Amanda,  born  June  9,  1910;  and  Norman 
Nordahl,  born  March  17,  1912. 


DE  ALTON  PROUTY  (1887)  is  a  farmer 
and  stock  raiser  of  Amiret  township  and 
owns  240  acres  on  the  north  half  of  section 
25,  Amiret  township.  He  raises  Polled  An- 
gus cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs  and  buys 
and  ships  stock.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
sheep. 

Mr.  Prouty  was  born  in  Fond  du  Lac 
county,  Wisconsin,  May  11,  1869,  and  is  a 
son  of  Fosdiek  and  Catharine  (Blancherd) 
Prouty,  natives  of  Vermont  and  New  York, 
respectively.  The  parents  moved  to  Wis- 
consin in  the  early  days,  about  1845,  and 
were  farmers.  De  Alton  was  brought  up  in 
the  county  of  his  birth  and  his  earlier  edu- 
cation was  gained  in  the  country  school  and 
in  the  high  school  in  Brandon. 

The  family  moved  to  Minnesota  in  the 
eighties  and  bought  the  west  half  of  the 
southwest,  quarter  of  section  25,  Amiret 
township.      The      subject     of     this     sketch 


414 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


came  to  Minnesota  and  entered  the  state 
university,  where  he  took  a  two  years' 
course,  and  later  he  took  a  six  months' 
course  in  the  Curtiss  Business  College  of 
Minneapolis.  Mr.  Prouty  then  returned  to 
Lyon  county  and  taught  school  here  and  in 
Redwood  county  during  the  next  ten  years. 
It  was  in  1890  that  he  bought  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  25,  Amiret  township,  part 
of  his  present  holdings,  and  the  next  year 
he  made  his  home  in  Tracy.  He  then  went 
to  live  on  his  mother's  farm  on  section  25 
and  conducted  both  places  and  taught  school 
until  1902.  In  that  year  he  was  married 
and  since  then  has  been  farming  his  present 
place,  but  still  makes  his  residence  on  his 
mother's  farm. 

Mr.  Prouty  was  married  at  Marshall  to 
Vera  L.  Leavitt,  the  wedding  taking  place 
March  21,  1902.  Mrs.  Prouty  is  a  daughter 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Leavitt  and  was 
born  in  Redwood  county  in  April,  1881.  Her 
parents  live  in  Ashland,  Oregon.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Prouty  are  the  parents  of  five  children, 
Catharine,  Alice,  Ethel,  Charles  H.  and  D. 
Alton. 

Mr.  Prouty  served  one  term  as  a  member 
of  the  town  board  and  one  term  as  treasurer 
of  school  district  No.  36.  Fraternally  he  is 
allied  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  I.  O. 
O.  F.  lodges. 


EVAN  C.  JOXES,  JR.  (1879),  hardware 
dealer  and  undertaker  of  Russell,  has  grown 
to  manhood  in  Lyon  county,  having  lived 
here  since  he  was  eight  years  of  age.  He 
is  a  son  of  E.  C.  Jones,  Sr.,  and  Catherine 
(Goodman)  Jones,  an  account  of  whose  lives 
is  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Rutland  county, 
Vermont,  May  1,  1871,  and  eight  years  later 
he  accompanied  the  family  to  Lyon  county. 
He  grew  up  on  his  father's  homestead  on 
section  8,  Lyons  township,  attended  the  dis- 
trict school  two  miles  from  home,  and  spent 
his  boyhood  days  herding  cattle  on  the  prai- 
ries. When  he  became  of  age  his  father 
gave  him  an  eighty-acre  farm,  and  there- 
after he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count, making  his  home  with  his  parents. 
He  bought  the  home  place  jn  1900  and 
farmed  it  until  moving  to  Russell  in  the 
spring  of  1904.  He  bought  the  Purdy  stock 
of  hardware  and  implements  and  has  since 


carried  on  that  business,  dealing  in  real 
estate  also  to  some  extent. 

During  his  residence  in  Lyons  township 
Mr.  Jones  served  four  years  as  chairman  of 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  and  for  twelve 
years  was  clerk  of  his  school  district.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  is 
secretary  of  Coteau  Lodge  No.  244  of  Rus- 
sell. 

Mr.  Jones  was  married  in  Rock  Lake  town- 
ship September  21,  1910,  to  Emma  Goltz.  She 
was  born  in  the  precinct  in  which  she  was 
married  and  is  the  daughter  of  Gottlieb 
Goltz,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Rock  Lake. 


MRS.  LUDOVICA  H.  ENGELS  (1883),  of 
Westerheim  township,  is  the  widow  of  Vin- 
centius  Engels.  She  is  an  early  settler  of 
Lyon  county  and  the  largest  real  estate 
owner  of  her  precinct. 

Mrs.  Engels  was  born  in  Groede,  Holland. 
October  21,  1859.  She  married  Mr.  Engels 
in  1880  and  the  day  after  their  marriage 
they  sailed  for  America.  Their  first  home 
was  in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  they 
engaged  in  farming  three  and  one-half  years. 
They  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1883  and 
bought  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  26, 
Westerheim  township,  then  bare  of  improve- 
ments. Today  the  farm  is  one  of  the  best 
improved  in  the  vicinity  and  with  additions 
purchased  later  is  the  largest  farm  in  the 
township. 

Mr.  Engels  prospered  exceedingly  and  be- 
fore his  death  was  the  owner  of  1160  acres 
of  Lyon  county  soil,  920  acres  in  Wester- 
heim and  240  in  Fairview.  He  became  one 
of  the  big  farmers  and  substantial  men  of 
the  township  and  was  prominent  in  local 
affairs.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
school  district  No.  44,  gave  the  land  upon 
which  the  school  house  is  located,  and  was 
treasurer  of  the  district  until  his  death.  He 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  Westerheim  and  was  later  town- 
ship treasurer.  He  was  a  stockholder  and 
a  director  of  the  Ghent  State  Bank. 

Vincentius  Engels  was  born  in  Caprycke, 
Belgium,  July  26,  1850,  one  of  a  family  of 
twelve  children  born  to  Dominico  and  Jo- 
hanna C.  (Van  Hyfte)  Engels.  Only  two  of 
the  children  are  now  living:  Frank,  of  Illi- 
nois, and  John,  of  Belgium.  Mr.  Engels 
came  to  America  in  1880  and  to  Lyon  county 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


415 


in  Ins::.  He  died  at  Eecloo,  Melgium,  Febru- 
ary 13,  1  !tin,  while  in  the  old  country  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health,  and  he  was  buried  in 
the  cemetery  at  Ghent,  Minnesota.  He  was 
a  universally  esteemed  citizen.  All  good 
works  found  in  him  a  generous  helper  and 
he  was  a  father  to  the  needy  and  the  poor. 

There  are  nine  children  in  the  Engels 
family,  as  follows:  Amelia  (Mrs.  Mathew 
Hennen),  of  Westerheim  township;  Henry, 
who  conducts  his  mother's  farm  on  section 
29;  Levi,  John  and  August,  who  assist  in 
the  management  of  the  home  farm;  Eliza- 
beth, Joseph.  Aloysius  and  Vincent.  The 
eldest  child,  August,  died  in  Illinois  at  the 
age  of  eight  months. 

Since  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Engels, 
with  the  help  of  her  sons,  has  managed  the 
property.  They  have  added  to  the  farming 
lands  until  they  now  have  1560  acres.  The 
family  farms  880  acres  of  the  farm  and  rent 
out  the  balance.  They  engage  in  stock  rais- 
ing extensively,  feeding  and  shipping  from 
three  to  five  car  loads  per  year.  In  1912  they 
have  450  acres  in  small  grain  and  about  200 
acres  in  corn. 


LEE  SWIFT  (1892)  has  been  superintend- 
ent of  the  Tracy  schools  for  the  past  twenty 
years,  a  record  as  a  superintendent  sur- 
passed by  only  one  other  in  Minnesota.  Un- 
der his  management  the  Tracy  schools  have 
attained  a  high  standard  of  excellency. 

Lee  Swift  was  born  at  Cazenovia,  Wiscon- 
sin, December  5,  1859.  His  father,  Charles 
B.  Swift,  was  born  in  Ohio  and  died  in  Wis- 
consin. He  served  throughout  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  in  Arkansas  and  Missouri,  as 
a  member  of  Company  F,  Third  Wisconsin 
Cavalry.  The  mother,  Caroline  (Huntley) 
Swift,  was  born  in  Ohio  and  now  resides  at 
Ireton,  Wisconsin. 

The  subject  of  this  review  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Cazenovia  and  Ireton  and  was  graduated 
from  Ripon  College  in  1886.  After  receiving 
his  diploma  Mr.  Swift  made  teaching  his 
life's  profession.  He  taught  the  eighth  grade 
of  the  public  school  of  Elroy,  Wisconsin, 
one  year,  was  superintendent  of  the  Hills- 
boro,  Wisconsin,  schools  one  year,  of  the 
Faulkton  schools  one  year,  and  of  the  Clark, 
South  Dakota,  schools  two  years.  Professor 
Swift     took     the     superintendency     of     the 


Tracy  schools  in  the  fall  of  1892  and  has 
ever  since  held  the  position. 

In  addition  to  his  school  work,  Mr.  Swift 
is  the  owner  and  manager  of  the  Tracy  City 
Dairy,  which  he  has  conducted  for  the  pas! 
ten  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  and  of  the  Masonic  and  Work- 
men lodges. 

At  Ireton,  Wisconsin,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Swift  to  Carrie  May  Blanchard. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Orin  C.  and  Hannah 
Blanchard,  and  she  was  born  in  the  city 
in  which  she  was  married.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swift  have  three  children,  Carrie  May,  Vera 
Blanchard  and  Ernest  Fremont. 


JOHN  P.  NELSON  (1887)  is  a  Shelburne 
township  farmer  who  has  resided  in  Lyon 
county  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  His 
parents,  Nels  and  Aluf  Parson,  are  both 
deceased.  John  Nelson  was  born  October  21, 
1861,  in  Sweden,  where  he  attended  school 
until  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  then  worked 
out  as  a  farm  hand  two  years,  .when  he  went 
to  Denmark  and  worked  in  a  rope  factory 
two  years.  Returning  to  Sweden,  he  worked 
at  the*  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed 
until  1887. 

Mr.  Nelson  came  to  the  United  States  in 
the  year  last  mentioned  and  located  at  Bala- 
ton, where  he  resided  about  eight  months. 
Then  he  moved  to  Burchard  and  worked  on 
the  section  four  years.  Next  he  engaged  in 
carpenter  work  for  four  years,  two  years  for 
the  Marfield  Elevator  Company,  building  and 
repairing  elevators,  and  two  years  in  Lyon 
county.  He  then  purchased  the  eighty  acre 
farm  upon  which  his  buildings  now  stand, 
and  since  that  time  has  added  240  acres  to 
his  holdings.  This  land  was  all  prairie 
when  he  purchased  it,  and  he  has  improved 
it  until  now  he  has  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
Lyon  county.  He  raises  considerable  stock, 
including  Poland  China  hogs,  Shorthorn  cat- 
tle and  Plymouth  Rock  chickens.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  Lyon 
county. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church.  He  holds  membership  in 
the  following  lodges:  the  Blue  Lodge  and 
Chapter  of  the  Masonic  order;  the  United 
Workmen  and  the  Eastern  Star.  Mr.  Nelson 
has  been  a  director  of  school  district  No. 
49  nine  years  and  was  road  overseer  in  Shel- 


416 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


burne  township  five  years.  He  holds  stock 
in  the  Florence  Telephone  Company,  the 
State  Bank  of  Florence,  and  the  Farmers 
Co-operative  Store  Company  of  Balaton. 

On  November  28,  1S86,  Mr.  Xelson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Anna  Sanquist.  a  na- 
tive of  Sweden.  Mrs.  Xelson  was  born  No- 
vember 7,  1S63,  in  Lunskroom.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nelson  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
named  children:  Alfreada,  born  October  3, 
1887;  Charles,  born  February  4,  1889;  Emil, 
born  April  21,  1891;  Edwin,  born  March  9, 
1893;  Lawrence,  born  May  s.  1896.  All  ex- 
cept Charles  reside  at  home.  Alfreada  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Shorthand  Department  of  the 
Mankato  Commercial  College. 

Mr.  Nelson  has  two  brothers  and  one  sis- 
ter: Andrew  W.  Nelson,  of  Rock  Lake 
township;  N.  P.  Nelson,  of  Two  Harbors, 
Minnesota;  Annie,  of  Rutledge.  Minnesota. 


WILLIAM  B.  PENISTON  (1883),  of  Mar- 
shall, is  proprietor  of  Sunnyside  Feed  Ranch 
and  is  an  extensive  dealer  in  horses.  He 
has  built  up  a  prosperous  business  and  con- 
ducts one  of  the  big  institutions  of  Lyon 
county. 

Mr.  Penistcn  was  born  in  Bermuda  Islands, 
of  English  parentage,  September  10.  1864. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  went  to  sea 
and  led  a  seafaring  life  four  years.  He 
served  as  ordinary  seaman,  later  as  able  sea- 
man, and  became  second  mate  before  he  left 
the  sea.  For  two  years  his  service  was  on 
the  George  F.  Seymour,  which  plied  between 
the  West  Indies  and  London  and  back  to  the 
Bermudas,  carrying  English  government 
supplies.  The  other  years  of  his  service 
were  on  the  Eliza  Bars,  which  carried  cattle 
and  horses  from  New  Jersey  to  England  for 
the  English  government. 

In  1883  Mr.  Peniston  quit  the  sea  and  came 
to  Lyon  county.  He  was  a  perfect  stranger 
in  the  county,  and  at  the  time  of  his  arrival 
was  possessed  of  only  twenty-five  cents.  The 
first  year  he  worked  for  Alonzo  Peniston. 
to  whom  he  was  not  related,  on  section  33, 
Grandview  township.  His  wages  were  ten 
dollars  per  month,  and  at  the  end  of  the 
first  year  he    had  saved  twenty  dollars. 

With  that  start  Mr.  Peniston  began  farm- 
ing on  a  small  scale.  For  two  years  he 
rented  land  in  Camden.  Lynd  township:  then 
he  moved  to  Old  Lynd  and  farmed  two  years. 


At  the  end  of  that  time  he  purchased  the 
Charles  Goodell  farm  in  Lyons  township, 
paying  therefor  $10  per  acre,  and  farmed  it 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  rented  the  Baker 
farm  one  year  and  in  1901  bought  his  present 
place  in  Marshall — the  Van  Fleet  farm — 
then  known  as  Sunnyside  Stock  Farm.  He 
has  resided  on  the  place  ever  since.  The 
first  year  Mr.  Peniston  fed  cattle  and  hogs, 
and  since  that  time  he  has  dealt  in  horses 
exclusively. 

Mr.  Peniston's  love  for  horses  is  doubtless 
inherited.  His  father  was  a  veterinarian 
and  his  paternal  grandfather,  William  Penis- 
ton. was  a  dealer  in  horses.  His  maternal 
grandfather.  Nicholas  Hinson,  was  also  a 
horseman.  Our  subject  is  the  largest  dealer 
in  horses  in  Lyon  county,  buying,  feeding 
and  selling  F.  O.  B.  Marshall.  He  has  made 
shipments  to  New  York,  Boston,  Catskill, 
Chicago,  Omaha.  Cincinnati,  Sioux  City. 
Fargo,  Duluth,  Tacoma,  Seattle,  St.  Paul  and 
Minneapolis.  He  buys  in  Minnesota,  the 
Dakotas  and  Northern  Iowa. 

.Mr.  Peniston's  first  shipment  was  made 
twelve  years  ago  to  the  Bermuda  Islands. 
To  illustrate  the  increase  in  price:  The 
average  cost  of  the  first  load  was  $50  per 
head:  at  the  present  time  he  pays  from 
$150  to  $350  per  head.  Mr.  Peniston  claims 
to  have  sold  the  highest  priced  car  of  horses 
that  ever  went  out  of  Lyon  county.  In  1902 
an  express  load  of  sixteen  head  was  shipped 
to  Seattle,  the  average  price  of  which  was 
$365  per  head.  Among  the  number  was  a 
pair  of  matched  roans  weighing  3680  pounds. 
They  were  sold  in  the  barn  for  $900,  estab- 
lishing the  state  record. 

It  is  Mr.  Peniston's  estimate  that  Lyon 
county  annually  sells  $100,000  worth  of 
horses.  This  year  his  sales  alone  amount  to 
$40,000.  His  business  is  one  of  the  important 
industries  of  the  county,  and  he  has  done 
more  to  raise  the  standard  of  breeding  draft 
horses  than  any  other  agency  in  the  county. 
In  1907  he  sold  nine  draft  horses  in  the  coun- 
ty, from  which  nearly  all  the  best  draft 
horses  here  have  originated.  Mr.  Peniston's 
farm  of  320  acres  adjoins  the  city.  He 
raises  crops  as  well  as  horses. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Henry  M. 
and  Mary  Jane  (Hinson)  Peniston,  both  of 
whom  died  in  England.  There  were  five 
children  in  the  family,  as  follows:  Hulbert 
and  Ada  (Mrs.  Nathaniel  Vesey),  of  the  Ber- 


niuda  Islands;   William  B.,  of  this  biography; 
Alice,  of  St.  Paul:   and  Henry,  deceased. 

William  B.  Peniston  was  married  in  Mar- 
shall in  1886  to  Clara  Bennett,  a  native  of 
New  London,  Wisconsin.  She  died  in  1906 
at  the  age  of  forty-five  years.  Four  children 
were  born  to  the  union:  Helen  (Mrs.  Rich- 
ard Whitney),  of  Oregon;  George,  Ada  and 
Evelyn.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Penis- 
ton  occurred  January  22,  1908,  when  he 
wedded  Blanch  Robinson.  She  was  born  in 
Centerville,  South  Dakota,  and  her  parents 
are  the  late  William  Robinson  and  Roselle 
(Golden)  Robinson,  who  resides  in  Marshall. 


SOLOMON  JOHNSON  (1894)  owns  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  16,  Shelburne 
township,  a  short  distance  east  of  Florence. 
He  has  resided  on  that  farm  only  one  year, 
but  he  has'  been  a  resident  of  Lyon  county 
eighteen  years. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  in  Sweden  Septem- 
ber 7,  1859.  After  securing  his  education  he 
learned  the  cabinet  maker's  trade  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  his  native  country  until 
twenty  years  of  age.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1879  and  his  first  home  in  the  New 
World  was  at  Lockport,  Illinois.  After  a 
short  residence  there  he  moved  to  South 
Bend,  Indiana,  and  for  a  year  was  employed 
in  the  Studebaker  shops. 

We  next  find  Mr.  Johnson  in  Pullman, 
Illinois,  where  for  ten  years  he  worked  at 
his  trade  in  the  shops  of  the  Pullman  Car 
Company.  The  next  three  years  were  spent 
in  the  shops  of  the  Wagner  Car  Company  in 
Buffalo,  New  York,  and  one  year  in  a  shop  in 
Minneapolis.  Mr.  Johnson  gave  up  his  trade 
in  1894  and  turned  farmer.  He  bought  land 
in  Coon  Creek  township  and  engaged  in 
farming  it  until  1911,  when  he  purchased 
and  moved  to  his  present  farm. 

During  fifteen  years  of  his  residence  in 
Coon  Creek  township  Mr.  Johnson  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  district  No. 
56.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Mission 
church  and  for  fifteen  years  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  School  in  Coon  Creek. 

Solomon  Johnson  is  the  son  of  J.  N.  and 
Marie  (Orn)  Johnson,  who  came  from  the 
old  country  in  1889.  The  father  now  resides 
with  his  son;  the  mother  died  March  6, 
1912.     There  are  five  children  in  the  family. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ]      STORY.  417 

Mary,  John,  Solomon,    Hattie  and 


namely: 
Manda. 

Mr.  Johnson's  first  marriage  occurred  im 
Minneapolis  June  24,  18S4,  when  he  wedded 
Hilda  Swanson.  She  died  in  Buffalo,  Now 
York,  December  4,  1891.  Three  children 
were  born  to  the  union:  Elmer,  who  is  de- 
ceased, Edla  and  Leonard.  The  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Johnson  occurred  in  Marshall 
July  16,  1897,  and  his  bride  was  Augusta 
Larson.  They  have  four  children,  named 
Arnold,  Winnie,  Myrtle  and  Lilly. 


KNUT  LARSON  (1899),  of  Lyons  town- 
ship, is  a  farmer  and  land  owner.  He  was 
born  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  May  10, 
1866.  Knut  received  his  early  education  in 
Wisconsin,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 
When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  moved  to 
Lincoln  county.  South  Dakota,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  quarter  section  of  land,  which  he 
farmed  until  1899,  when  he  came  to  Lyon 
county.  At  that  time  he  purchased  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  32,  Lyons  town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  resided.  He  raises 
considerable  stock  and  has  fine  improve- 
ments on  his  place.  Mr.  Larson  also  has 
other  interests.  He  is  a  stockholder  of  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Russell  and 
is  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  93. 

On  March  27,  1887,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view was  united  in  marriage  to  Ella  Thomp- 
son at  Lincoln,  South  Dakota.  Mrs.  Larson 
was  born  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin,  July 
30,  1861,  a  daughter  of  Falkver  and  Gurie 
Thompson,  both  natives  of  Norway.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Larson  have  two  children:  Lula 
G.,  born  April  29,  1890;  Florence,  born  Octo- 
ber 15,  1894. 


GEORGE  W.  PURVES  (1886)  owns  115 
acres  of  good  farm  land  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  9,  Monroe  township,  and 
also  a  residence  in  Tracy,  where  he  makes 
his  home,  though  he  gives  personal  atten- 
tion to  the  management  of  his  farm. 

It  was  in  Waukesha  county,  Wisconsin, 
that  our  subject  first  saw  the  light  of  day 
November  25,  1862.  His  father,  Peter  Pur- 
ves,  was  born  near  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  and 
came  to  this  country  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  living  in  Waukesha  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, until  1886,  and  following  the  occupation 


418 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


of  a  farmer.  He  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
1886  and  .made  that  his  home  until  his  death 
two  years  later.  Elizabeth  (Johnson)  Purves, 
the  mother  of  George  W.,  was  also  a  native 
of  Scotland,  coming  to  America  at  the  age 
of  twenty,  and  marrying  Mr.  Purves  in  Wis- 
consin. She  died  in  1898.  Besides  George 
W.  there  were  four  children  in  the  family. 

The  first  twenty-four  years  of  our  sub- 
ject's life  were  spent  in  his  native  county  in 
Wisconsin,'  during  which  time  he  received 
his  education  in  the  country  schools  and 
worked  for  his  father  and  for  the  neighbors. 
In  1886  the  young  man  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  located  in  Amiret  township,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  and  made  his  home  eleven 
years.  In  1897  Mr.  Purves  moved  to  Tracy, 
where  he  has  since  lived,  but  has  spent 
much  of  his  time  on  the  farm.  While  a 
resident  of  the  township  of  Amiret  he  served 
as  a  school  director  and  as  an  elder  of  the 
Amiret  Presbyterian  church. 

Our  subject  married  Elizabeth  Mitchell 
September  17,  1890,  in  Amiret  township. 
Mrs.  Purves  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Mitchell 
and  Sarah  Mitchell,  of  Amiret  township,  and 
was  born  at  Elida,  Illinois,  June  19,  1872, 
coming  to  Lyon  county  when  s  child.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Purves  have  the  following  children: 
Ada,  born  June  14,  1891;  Elizabeth,  born 
July  21,  1892;  Vivian,  born  April  5,  1901; 
George  Harland,  born  November  2,  1902;  and 
Bertram  Norcross,  born  February  13,  1907. 
Mr.  Purves  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 


GEORGE  ARTHUR  FITCH  (1884)  is  the 
pioneer  piano  dealer  of  Tracy.  He  was  born 
in  Lake  Sarah  township,  Murray  county, 
just  over  the  line  from  Tracy,  on  March  25, 
1882.  When  a  child  two  years  of  age  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Tracy  and  that 
city  has  ever  since  been  his  home. 

Our  subject  is  a  graduate  of  the  Tracy 
High  School  and  he  completed  his  education 
with  a  course  in  Hamline  University.  His 
father  engaged  in  the  piano  business  in 
Tracy  in  an  early  day  and  his  son  grew  up 
in  that  business.  After  reaching  mature 
years  he  became  a  partner  in  the  business 
and  continued  so  until  1908,  when  the  elder 
Fitch  withdrew  from  the  firm,  since  which 
time  George  has  conducted  the  business 
alone.     He   handles   pianos,   organs,    sewing 


machines,  musical  merchandise,  etc.  His 
leading  piano  is  the  Busch  &  Gerts.  He 
handles  the  Edison  and  Victor  phonographs 
and  records. 

Mr.  Fitch  was  married  to  Alma  Lloyd  at 
Mankato  on  June  20,  1910.  She  is  a  native 
of  Blue  Earth  county  and  a  daughter  of 
Peter  Lloyd,  a  well-known  resident  of  that 
county  and  a  former  county  treasurer.  Mr. 
Fitch  holds. membership  in  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 
lodge  and  in  the  Illinois  Commercial  Travel- 
ers Association. 

George  D.  and  Louisa  (Bach)  Fitch  are 
the  parents  of  our  subject.  The  former  was 
born  in  Rochester,  Minnesota,  the  latter  in 
Wisconsin.  They  homesteaded  land  in  Lake 
Sarah  township,  Murray  county,  in  the  seven- 
ties, moved  to  Tracy  in  1884,  and  resided 
there  until  their  removal  to  South  Dakota 
in  1908.  There  are  seven  children  in  the 
family:  Mrs.  L.  Hillman,  of  Livingston, 
Montana;  George  A.,  of  this  biography;  Mrs. 
W.  J.  Priest,  of  Livingston,  Montana;  Caral, 
of  Tracy;  Lowell  G.,  of  Livingston.  Montana, 
an  employe  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway 
Company;  and  Madge  and  Tracy,  who  re- 
side with  their  parents. 


ALDOR  B.  SWAXSOX  (1896),  a  farmer 
residing  in  Coon  Creek  township,  was  born 
in  Aby,  Kalmarlane,  Sweden,  on  March  2, 
1871,  the  son  of  Adolph  and  Marie  (Johan- 
son)  Swanson.  The  mother  died  some  years 
ago;  the  father  resides  in  Sweden.  Aldor 
attended  school  in  Sweden  until  fourteen 
years  of  age. 

In  1892  our  subject  immigrated  to  America, 
locating  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  He  at- 
tended school  there  for -some  time  and  the 
next  four  years  were  spent  engaged  in  the 
following  lines  of  work:  Digging  cellars  and 
grading  lots  at  St.  Paul,  working  on  the  Soo 
railroad  in  North  Dakota,  working  at  the 
blacksmith's  trade  in  Minneapolis  and  at  the 
same  trade  on  the  iron  range  between  Vir- 
ginia and  McKinley,  Minnesota;  at  Wahpe- 
ton,  North  Dakota,  as  a  blacksmith;  work- 
ing for  the  government  at  Hastings,  Minne- 
sota, taking  out  rock  from  the  quarries;  cut 
ting  brush  along  the  Mississippi  river  for  the 
government,  in  the  lumber  camps  of  Wiscon- 
sin as  a  blacksmith,  on  a  government  boat 
on  the  Mississippi,  in  the  lumber  camps  near 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


41! 


Grand    Rapids,     Minnesota;     railroading    in 

Minnesota. 

In  1896  Mr.  Swanson  became  a  resident  of 
Lyon  county  and  hired  out  to  Archie  Ste- 
ward, who  lived  north  of  Marshall,  as  a 
blacksmith.  He  worked  there  some  time 
and  then  went  to  Marshall,  where  he  worked 
for  over  a  year  in  the  machine  shops.  Then 
he  returned  to  St.  Paul  and  went  to  the 
woods  for  the  winter.  The  next  summer  he 
returned  to  Marshall,  where  he  worked  a 
short  time  and  then  moved  to  Russell,  where 
he  operated  a  blacksmith  shop  two  and  one- 
half  years.  The  next  ten  years  were  spent 
in  Marshall,  two  years  in  the  machine  shops 
and  eight  years  conducting  a  blacksmith 
shop.  He  then  moved  to  the  farm  he  now 
operates  in  Coon  Creek  township,  consisting 
of  560  acres.  In  addition  to  general  farming, 
he  raises  considerable  stock,  among  other 
breeds,  Poland  China  hogs,  Shorthorn  cat- 
tle, Percheron  and  Coach  horses  and  White 
Plymouth  Rock  chickens.  Mr.  Swanson  is  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church. 
He  has  one  brother  and  one  sister,  both  of 
whom  reside  in  Kalmarlane,  Sweden.  They 
are  Albin  F.  and  Elvira  Swanson.  Mrs. 
Swanson  has  one  sister,  Ester,  who  resides 
at  Kalmarlane. 

On  April  9,  1898,  Ida  Victoria  West  be- 
came the  wife  of  Mr.  Swanson.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Per  August  and  Anna  Christina 
West.  The  former  is  dead  and  the  latter 
resides  in  Kalmarlane.  Mrs.  Swanson  was 
born  February  20,  1874.  Mr.  Swanson  and 
his  wife  are  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Carl  Robert,  born  October  17,  1903,  and 
Ruth,  born  February  10,  1909. 


BERNER  LEKXES  (1908)  is  cashier  of 
the  First  State  Bank  of  Russell.  His  mother 
died  when  he  was  eight  years  old,  and  his 
father  came  to  the  United  States  from  Nor- 
way and  located  in  Renville  county,  Minne- 
sota, where  he  still  resides.  Our  subject  has 
one  brother,  Ingvard,  who  is  a  banker  at 
Bricelyn,  Minnesota,  and  the  following  half- 
brothers  and  sisters:  Olaf,  of  Sacred  Heart, 
Renville  county;  Anna,  Edwin,  Emma  and 
Alma,  who  reside  at  home. 

Berner  was  born  in  the  land  of  the  mid- 
night sun  July  1,  1875,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  with  his  father  when  nine 
years  of  age.    They  settled  in  Renville  coun- 


ty, Minnesota,  where  our  subject  grew  to 
manhood  and  attended  school.  He  was  a 
student  at  the  Willmar  Seminary  and  later, 
in  1895-96,  attended  the  Namsos  Academy 
in  Norway.  Returning  to  Renville  county, 
Berner  lived  there  until  1900,  when  he  went 
to  Blue  Earth  and  engaged  in  the  banking 
business.  Later  he  went  to  Rake,  Iowa,  where 
he  conducted  a  bank  for  the  Ross  Bank- 
ing Company  one  and  one-half  years.  He 
then  went  to  Williston,  North  Dakota,  where 
he  was  assistant  cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank. 

In  May,  1908,  Mr.  Leknes  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  located  at  Russell,  where  he  has 
since  been  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank. 
He  is  also  a  stockholder  and  director  of  the 
bank,  which  was  organized  as  a  state  bank 
in  1903,  with  a  capital  of  $15,000.  It  does 
a  general  banking,  loan  and  insurance  busi- 
ness. W.  E.  C.  Ross  is  president  of  the  in- 
stitution 

Mr.  Leknes  holds  membership  in  Blue 
Earth  Lodge  No.  57,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Blue 
Earth,  Minnesota,  and  in  Mt.  Zion  Lodge,  R. 
A.  M.,  at  Blue  Earth.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodges  at 
Russell. 

Mr.  Leknes  was  married  at  Rake,  Iowa, 
June  27,  1906,  to  Dora  Engeseth,  a  native  of 
Faribault  county,  Minnesota.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Leknes  have  two  children:  Thelma  and  El- 
bert 


EMIEL  DE  SUTTER  (1882)  is  one  of 
Belgium's  native  sons  who  has  achieved 
success  and  prosperity  in  his  adopted  coun- 
try and  his  farm  is  one  of  the  finest  pieces 
of  real  estate  in  Westerheim  township.  He 
owns  the  southeast  quarter  and  eighty  acres 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  29 — 240 
acres — and  rents  eighty  acres  in  addition  to 
his  own  land. 

Emiel  is  the  son  of  Charles  and  Mary 
(Pauw)  De  Sutter  and  was  born  in  Belgium 
September  19,  1881.  When  he  was  one  year 
old  his  family  immigrated  to  America  and 
located  in  Lyon  county,  on  the  quarter  sec- 
tion where  our  subject  now  resides.  The 
farm  was  then  raw  prairie  land,  and  the 
skillful  and  progressive  methods  of  its  owner 
and  his  father  have  made  it  the  splendid 
property  which  it  is  today. 

Our  subject  has  lived  on  his  present  farm 


420 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


since  coming  to  America.  He  was  educated 
in  the  township  and  was  brought  up  with  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  farming.  The  boy's 
mother  died  on  August  28,  1896,  and  the 
father  a  few  years  later  moved  to  Ghent  to 
live,  where  he  died  in  1905  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years.  Young  De  Sutter  took 
charge  of  the  farm  after  his  father  moved 
to  Ghent  and  one  year  before  the  latter's 
death  Emiel  purchased  the  home  farm. 

The  wedding  ceremony  which  made  Emiel 
De  Slitter  and  Helen  Van  Hee  man  and  wife 
was  performed  in  Ghent  June  22,  1904.  She 
was  born  in  Grandview  township  and  is  the 
daughter  of  An  gel  us  Van  Hee,  one  of  the 
township's  well  known  farmers.  Emiel  De 
Sutter  has  seven  brothers  and  sisters  living, 
Andrew,  Nathalie.  Camiel,  August,  Peter, 
Louis  and  Archie.  One  sister,  Alphincine,  is 
dead. 

Archie  J.  De  Sutter,  brother  of  the  above, 
was  born  in  Belgium  April  8,  1879,  and  came 
to  America  with  his  parents.  He  was 
brought  up  on  the  home  farm  and  resided 
there  until  1907.  in  which  year  he  married 
and  purchased  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 29,  Westerheim  township,  and  has  since 
been  farming  the  place  with  profit.  He  also 
owns  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  the  same  section.  He  has  brought  his 
farm  from  its  original  unimproved  state  to 
its  present  one  of  substantial  buildings,  well 
cultivated  land  and  modern  advantages.  Mr. 
De  Sutter  has  been  road  overseer  and  is  the 
clerk  of  school  district  No.  54. 

Archie  J.  De  Sutter  and  Isabelle  Moors,  a 
native  of  Belgium,  were  united  in  marriage 
at  Minneota  on  November  12,  1907.  The  De 
Sutter  families  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church. 


AMUND  H.  AMUNDSON  (1882)  owns  and 
farms  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  20,  Monroe  township,  be- 
sides renting  and  farming  additional  land. 
For  the  past  five  years  he  has  been  a  director 
of  the  Garvin  Farmers  Independent  Elevator 
Company. 

Hallingdal,  Norway,  was  the  boyhood  home 
of  Amund  Amundson,  and  he  was  born  April 
14,  1863.  The  lad  was  brought  up,  on  a  farm 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  also  received  several  months' 
schooling   in    America   after  he   immigrated 


to  this  country  in  May,  1882.  During  his 
first  year  in  the  United  States  Amund  made 
his  home  with  an  uncle,  Ole  Amundson,  on 
section  20,  Monroe  township,  Lyon  county. 
The  next  year  his  parents  came  to  this 
country  and  rented  land  in  Lyon  county,  and 
Amund  made  his  home  with  them.  In  1888 
the  father  took  a  homestead  in  Monroe  town- 
ship, the  place  which  our  subject  now  owns 
and  which  he  bought  from  his  mother  in 
1910.  He  has  farmed  the  place  himself 
since  the  father's  death   in   1895. 

Helge  Amundson,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Norway  March  5,  1835.  Amund's 
mother,  Sigrid  (Anfindson)  Amundson,  has 
lived  on  the  farm  and  kept  house  for  her 
son  since  the  father's  death.  Amund  Amund- 
son is  clerk  of  Monroe  township,  a  position 
he  has  held  ten  years.  For  seven  years  he 
has  served  as  clerk  of  school  district  No. 
33,  and  he  was  for  several  years  one  of  the 
supervisors  of  the  township.  Mr.  Amundson 
is  affiliated  with  the  Holand  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Sons  of  Norway  organization  of  Tracy. 


F.  CHARLES  BURCKHARDT  (1895)  is 
one  of  the  successful  and  prosperous  farmers 
of  Coon  Creek  township,  where  he  has  re- 
sided the  past  seventeen  years.  He  was 
born  in  Stephenson  county,  Illinois,  Novem- 
ber 3,  1871.  His  father  was  the  late  John 
Burckhardt  and  his  mother  is  Albertina 
I  Watzke)  Burckhardt,  both  of  whom  woe 
born  in  Germany.  The  father  came  to 
America  when  four  years  of  age  and  located 
in  Illinois,  where  he  resided  until  his  re- 
moval to  Lyon  county  in  1895.  He  died  in 
March,  1908.  The  mother  resides  on  the  old 
home  place  near  Russell. 

Charles  attended  school  in  Illinois  until 
nineteen  years  of  age,  after  which  he  as- 
sisted his  father  on  the  farm  until  twenty- 
four  years  of  age.  In  1895  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Lyon  county  and  took  charge 
of  the  farm  which  he  now  operates,  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  23,  Coon  Creek 
township.  He  owns  2S0  acres  of  land.  He 
also  owns  village  property  in  Russell.  In 
addition  to  general  farming  Mr.  Burckhardt 
raises  a  great  deal  of  stock,  including  Duroc- 
Jersey  hogs,  Durham  cattle  and  Plymouth 
Rock  chickens.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
A.   O.   U.   W.  lodge  and  holds   stock  in   the 


I'.HMiKAlMHCAL  HISTORY. 


121 


Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Russell  and 
in  the  Farmers  Mutual  Telephone  Company. 
He  was  the  owner  of  the  first  automobile  in 
Coon  Creek  township,  a  Maytag  car. 

Mr.  Burckhardt  was  married  December  18, 
1896,  to  Rachael  Nina  Milner,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Ella  (Knapp)  Milner,  of  Russell. 
The  father  is  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the 
mother  of  Wisconsin.  Mrs.  Burckhardt  was 
born  April  23,  1880,  in  Coon  Creek  township. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  two  children: 
Allie,  born  June  26,  1899,  died  April  11,  1901; 
Allen,  born  May  20,  1901. 

Mr.  Burckhardt  has  four  brothers  and 
three  sisters,  as  follows:  Alfred,  Henry, 
John,  Oscar,  Lizzie  (Mrs.  Fred'  Henrichs), 
Ida  (Mrs.  Henry  Siebert),  all  of  Coon  Creek 
township;  and  Annie  (Mrs.  John  Sullivan), 
of  Matlock,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Burckhardt  has  one 
brother  and  one  sister:  Vernon,  of  Russell, 
and  Jessie' (Mrs.  Herbert  Webster),  of  Aber- 
deen, South  Dakota. 


AUGUST  DURRENBURGER  (1892)  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  Marshall  harness  shop  and 
has  lived  in  that  city  twenty  years.  -  He  is 
a  native  Minnesotan,  having  been  born  at 
Henderson  February  10,  1870.  His  father, 
Gephard  Durrenburger,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, came  to  America  when  a  young  man, 
bought  government  land  at  St.  Anthony 
Park,  and  made  his  first  home  in  the  new 
world  at  that  point.  Later  he  moved  to 
Henderson,  where  he  bought  land  and  re- 
sided- until  an  old  man.  He  died  in  Nicollet 
county  in  1903  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years.  Gephard  Durrenburger  was  married 
in  the  old  country  to  Tressie  Miller.  She 
now  resides  with  a  daughter  at  St.  Peter 
and  is  seventy-six  years  of  age.  There  are 
nine  children  in  the  family,  as  follows: 
Anton,  Tressie,  Gephard,  Joseph,  Lena,  Theo- 
dore, August,  Rose  and  Marie,  all  residents 
of  Minnesota. 

When  August  was  three  years  of  age  he 
accompanied  the  family  from  Henderson  to 
LeSueur  county  and  on  his  father's  farm 
there  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  learned  the 
harness  maker's  trade  at  LeSueur  and  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  there  until  locating 
in  Marshall  in  1892.  For  five  years  after  his 
arrival  in  Marshall  Mr.  Durrenburger  con- 
ducted the  harness  shop  of  J.  A.  Cosgrove. 
Then    he    and    Gilbert    Johnson    bought    the 


shop,  conducted  ii  under  the  firm  name  of 
Durrenburger  &  Johnson  two  years,  and 
then  our  subject  became  the  sole  owner. 

Mr.  Durrenburger  has  made  many  im- 
provements since  he  took  charge  of  the 
shop,  having  installed  the  latest  machinery 
and  putting  it  in  first-class  shape.  He 
manufactures  all  kinds  of  harness  and  other 
horse  goods  and  carries  in  stock  trunks  and 
traveling  bags.  Mr.  Durrenburger  also  owns 
a  half  interest  in  the  Marshall  hitch  barn, 
one  of  the  largest  livery  barns  in  the  county. 
His  partner  in  business  is  J.  V.  Williams,  in 
partnership  with  whom  he  also  owns  a 
farm. 

At  Marshall,  on  October  20,  1896,  Mr. 
Durrenburger  was  married  to  Louise  Reig- 
ner,  a  native  of  Illinois  and  the  daughter  of 
Isaac  Reigner,  an  early  settler  of  Lyon 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Durrenburger  have 
two  children,  Olivine,  aged  eleven  years, 
and  Horace,  aged  four  years. 

Mr.  Durrenburger  has  served  two  terms 
as  a  member  of  the  Marshall  City  Council. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  lodge. 


GRIFF.  HUGHES  (1885)  is  a  retired 
farmer  who  makes  his  home  in  Garvin  and 
who  has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon  county 
twenty-seven  years.  He  was  born  in  Wales 
on  the  fourth  of  July,  1867,  and  when  eight- 
een years  of  age,  in  1885,  he  came  to  America 
and  has  ever  since  been  a  resident  of  Lyon 
county. 

The  first  four  years  of  his  life  in  the  county 
Mr.  Hughes  spent  in  the  home  of  his  aunt, 
Mrs.  Benjamin  Thomas,  in  Custer  township. 
He  worked  on  the  Thomas  farm  for  one  year 
and  on  other  farms  in  the  vicinity  three 
years,  and  then  bought  a  160-acre  farm  on 
section  9,  Custer,  and  erected  the  first  house 
on  the  section.  Mr.  Hughes  maintained 
bachelor's  hall  on  that  place  and  engaged  in 
farming  continuously  until  he  retired  from 
active  pursuits  in  October,  1910,  and  moved 
to  Garvin.  Besides  his  farm  Mr.  Hughes 
owns  property  in  Marshall.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge.  At  the  present 
writing  Mr.  Hughes  is  visiting  at  his  old 
home  in  Wales. 

The  only  near  relatives  our  subject  has  in 
America  are  one  brother  and  two  nieces, 
Mrs.  Everett  Harris,  of  Blue  Earth  county, 
and  Mrs.  Ole  Olson,  of  Custer  township.     In 


422 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


his  father's  family  are  ten  children,  named 
as  follows:  Thomas,  John,  William,  who 
died  December  19,  1911,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
two  years;  Owen,  who  lives  in  Utica,  New 
York;  Hugh,  Griff.,  Richard  (deceased), 
James,  George  and  Jane.  All  the  children 
except  himself  and  Owen  live  in  Wales. 
The  parents  of  these  children  were  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Williams)  Hughes.  The 
mother  died  in  1872,  the  father  in  1907,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 


THEODORE  M.  THOMAS  (1874),  propri- 
etor of  the  Rexall  drug  store,  of  Marshall,  is 
a  native  of  Lyon  county,  having  been  born 
in  Grandview  township  July  9,  1874.  His 
parents  were  Jacob  and  Clara  (Baldwin) 
Thomas,  who  were  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  Lyon  county. 

Jacob  Thomas  was  born  in  Elmira.  New 
York,  and  his  wife  in  Warren,  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  came  to  Lyon  county  in  187:.'. 
before  the  railroad  was  built  to  the  county, 
and  they  hauled  their  supplies  from  Red- 
wood Falls.  Homesteading  in  Grandview 
township,  they  lived  the  first  winter  in  the 
usual  sod  shanty,  and  the  next  year  Mr. 
Thomas  assisted  in  making  the  survey  for 
the  Northwestern  railroad.  The  family  re- 
sided on  the  farm  until  1890,  when  they  lo- 
cated in  Cottonwood  and  Mr.  Thomas  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  with  his  son. 
He  moved  to  Sioux  Falls  in  1907  and  died 
there  November  22,  1909,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one  years.  Mrs.  Thomas  died  in 
Cottonwood  in  1906.  There  were  seven  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  of  whom  the  following 
three  are  living:  Frank,  of  Lemon,  South 
Dakota;  Mrs.  A.  M.  DeLand,  of  Watertown. 
South  Dakota;   and  Theodore  M. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  spent  the 
first  eighteen  years  of  his  life  on  the  farm 
in  Grandview  township.  He  completed  his 
education  in  the  Marshall  High  School  and 
clerked  in  the  drug  store  of  W.  W.  Salis- 
bury. He  took  a  course  in  the  Minneapolis 
School  of  Pharmacy  and  during  the  next 
four  years  was  employed  as  a  pharmacist 
in  the  West  Hotel  drug  store.  He  then 
located  in  Wood  Lake,  Minnesota,  where 
he  conducted  a  drug  store  six*  years.  Mr. 
Thomas  returned  to  Marshall  in  1907  and 
established  his  present  business  in  the  Dib- 
ble Block.     He   carries   a   complete  line   of 


drugs  and  specialties  .and  gives  special  at- 
tention to  prescription  work.  He  also  han- 
dles cigars,  tobacco,  ice  cream  and  soda. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  married  at  Cottonwood 
September  18,  1901,  to  Jean  Lowe.  She  is 
a  native  of  Lyon  county  and  the  daughter 
of  George  Lowe,  a  pioneer  settler.  Mr. 
Thomas  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic.  East- 
ern Star,  K.  P.  and  M.  W.  A.  lodges.  For 
three  years  he  was  master  of  the  Wood 
L^e  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  lodge.  He  has  been 
treasurer  of  the  city  of  Marshall  for  the 
past   three  years. 


SANDER  SANDERSON  (1892)  is  tin- 
owner  of  340  acres  of  land  on  sections  29 
and  28,  Shelburne  township,  upon  which  he 
has  resided  for  the  past  twenty  years.  He 
was  born  in  Hollingdahl,  Norway,  May  6, 
1847,  the  son  of  Sander  and  Turi  (Larson) 
Olson,  both  of  whom  are  deceased. 

Sander  lived  in  Norway  until  he  was 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  attended 
school  until  fourteen  and  thereafter  worked 
at  the  tailor's  trade.  He  came  to  America 
in  1869  and  for  the  next  twelve  years  worked 
in  Olmsted  county,  Minnesota,  as  a  farm 
laborer.  He  then  moved  to  Lac  qui  Parle 
county,  pre-empted  eighty  acres  of  land,  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  the  fall  of  1892. 
At  that  time  he  purchased  his  Shelburne 
township  farm  and  he  has  ever  since  resided 
on  it.  In  late  years  he  has  turned  the  man- 
agement of  the  property  over  to  his  sons. 

Mr.  Sanderson  was  a  member  of  the 
Shelburne  Board  of  Supervisors  one  year 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board 
of  district  No.  57  for  about  fifteen  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
Synod  church  of  Ruthton  and  was  formerly 
a  trustee  of  that  church. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Ingborg 
Starkson  occurred  in  Olmsted  county,  Min- 
nesota, March  17,  1882.  She  was  born  in 
the  county  in  which  she  was  married  May 
8,  1862,  and  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  B. 
Starkson,  a  pioneer  of  Olmsted  county.  The 
following  eight  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanderson  and  all  reside  at 
home:  Augusta  Turina,  born  March  6.  1883; 
Berton,  born  August  12,  1885;  Sander,  born 
September  21,  1887;  Louis,  born  July  29, 
1890;  William  and  Ida,  twins,  born  March 
28,  1893;  Lina,  born  October  8,  1895;  Simon, 
born  October  20,  1900. 


THEO.   M.  THOMAS,  DRUGGIST 
The  Rexall  Store. 


FAMILY   OF    S.    SANDERSON,    SHELBURNE   TOWNSHIP 


BIOGRAPHICAL  IIISTOKY 


123 


MICHAEL  G.  OFSTAD  (1SS6)  is  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Shelburne 
township  and  owns  L20  acres  of  land  on  the 
south  half  of  section  19.  His  brother  An- 
drew owns  land  on  the  north  half  of  the 
same  section. 

.Michael  Ofstad  was  horn  in  Trondhjein. 
Norway,  in  L853,  the  son  of  Gunder  S.  and 
Mary  (  Holstad)  Ofstad.  Both  parents  are 
now  dead.  Attendance  in  the  common 
schools  in  Norway  occupied  the  first  years 
of  the  boy's  life,  and,  as  was  the  custom, 
Michael  had  to  help  with  the  farm  work. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  discontinued  his 
school  work  and  gave  his  whole  time  to 
work  on  the  farm. 

Soon  after  passing  his  nineteenth  birth- 
day .Michael  left  his  native  land  for  the 
United  States, and  after  seeing  the  wonders  of 
the  city  of  Xew  York  he  journeyed  to  Michi- 
gan, where  he  had  heard  of  the  chances  for 
work  in  the  mines.  Xear  Ishpeming  he 
found  employment  in  the  iron  mines  and 
remained  two  years.  The  underground  work 
did  not  appeal  to  the  young  man  who  had 
been  accustomed  to  work  in  the  open,  and 
he  found  something  much  more  to  his  taste 
in  the  lumbering  camps  of  Wisconsin,  where 
he  worked  as  teamster  for  the  next  five 
years.  The  next  year  found  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  back  in  Ishpeming,  which  con- 
tinued to  be  his  home  for  the  next  five 
years. 

During  this  residence  in  Ishpeming  Mich- 
ael was  married,  on  January  6,  1881,  to 
Ingeborg  Henrickson,  a  girl  who  had  come 
to  America  from  Trondhjem,  Norway.  In 
the  fall  of  1886  the  Ofstads  came  to  Minne- 
sota and  located  in  Lyon  county.  Mr.  Of- 
stad purchased  the  land  upon  which  he 
now  has  his  home  and  where  the  family 
has  maintained  an  uninterrupted  residence 
of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Mr. 
Ofstad  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian  Lu- 
theran church  of  Florence.  He  was  road 
overseer  several  years  and  was  also  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  several 
terms. 

Eleven  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Michael  Ofstad.  Annie  (Mrs.  Mike 
Frink)  and  Gytia  live  in  Faribault.  Mary 
(Mrs.  Mont  English)  lives  in  Marshall, 
where  Carolina,  another  daughter,  is  a  high 
school  student.  Minnie  teaches  school  at 
Burchard.     Lida,  Gilbert,  Ralph,  Helma,  Em- 


ily and  Esther  live  at  home  with  their  par- 
ents. 


JOHN  TEGELS  (1899)  owns  a  quarter  of 
section  24  and  an  adjoining  quarter  on  sec- 
tion 25,  Fairview  township,  and  farms  the' 
whole  half  section.  He  bought  the  place 
one  year  after  he  arrived  in  Lyon,  made  all 
the  improvements  on  it,  and  now  has  a 
splendid  place.  He  raises  a  great  deal  of 
stock  in  addition  to  his  general  farming. 

Holland  is  .Mr.  Tegels'  native  land,  and 
he  was  born  May  17,  1856.  He  came  to 
America  with  his  parents,  Henry  and  Eliza- 
beth (Beckers)  Tegels,  in  1863,  and  the  fam- 
ily located  in  Wisconsin,  where  they  lived 
about  ten  years.  From  there  they  went  to 
Carroll  county,  Iowa,  where  the  parents 
lived  until  their  deaths.  John  received  his 
schooling  in'  Iowa  and  was  on  the  farm  with 
his  father  about  four  years,  after  which  he 
rented  land  in  the  county  and  farmed  for 
himself  several  years. 

In  1885  Mr.  Tegels  moved  to  Humphrey, 
Nebraska,  where  he  lived  three  years  and 
was  employed  on  the  section  and  in  an 
elevator.  His  next  residence  was  in  Sheri- 
dan county,  and  there  he  took  a  homestead, 
proved  up  on  it,  and  farmed  until  1899.  That 
year  he  came  to  Lyon  county-,  located  in 
Fairview  township,  and  one  year  later  moved 
to  his  present  place.  Mr.  Tegels  is  a  di- 
rector of  school  district  No.  86  and  has 
served  since  1901,  with  the  exception  of 
one   year. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
June  17,  1879,  to  Elizabeth  Horn,  the  wed- 
ding occurring  in  Carroll  county,  Iowa.  She 
was  born  in  Illinois  October  25,  1857.  To 
this  union  have  been  born  the  following 
children:  Catherine  (Mrs.  George  Ray- 
mond), born  February  22,  1880;  Matilda 
(Mrs.  John  Blake),  born  September  5,  1881; 
Frank,  born  August  21,  1883,  died  February 
29,  1884;  Anton,  born  December  1,  1884; 
Elizabeth,  born  June  20,  1887;  Stephen 
(killed  by  train  November  16,  1910),  born 
December  IS,  1888;  Henry,  born  March  10, 
189-0;  Mathias,  born  October  11,  1892;  May, 
born  December  2,  1894;  Joseph,  born  Fel> 
ruary  3,  1897;  and  Lawrence,  born  February 
1,  1899.  The  last  four  children  named  are 
at  home  with  their  parents.     The  other  liv- 


424 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


ing  children  are  residents  of  Stanley  town- 
ship. 

The  Tegels  family  are  members  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church.  Mr.  Tegels'  fra- 
ternal affiliations  are  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodge. 

david  l.  Mclaughlin   (isss)  is  the 

proprietor  of  a  blacksmith  shop  and  dealer 
in  farm  machinery  in  the  village  of  Amiret. 
He  was  born  at  Racine,  Wisconsin,  May  18. 
1S50,  the  son  of  William  and  Catherine 
(Gray)  McLaughlin,  natives  of  Scotland. 
They  came  to  the  United  States  in  1S48  and 
located  at  Racine,  later  moving  to  Sparta, 
Wisconsin,  where  the  father  died  in  1899. 
The  mother  died  in  1855,  and  the  father  was 
married  a  second  time,  to  Catherine  Hurley. 

David  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1888  and 
for  the  first  eighteen  months  was  stationed 
;n  ("amden,  working  on  the  grade  for  the 
Great  Northern  railway.  He  then  moved  to 
Amiret  and  opened  a  blacksmith  shop,  which 
he  has  since  conducted,  also  dealing  in  im- 
plements in  a  small  way.  Eight  years  ago 
he  put  in  a  complete  stock  of  farm  imple- 
ments in  partnership  with  his  son  Louis, 
the  firm  name  being  McLaughlin  &  Co.  Mr. 
McLaughlin  is  a  member  of  the  Yeomen 
ledge  and  was  a  school  director  for  nine 
years. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Steele  county, 
Minnesota,  April,  1869,  to  Hanna  E.  Ellis. 
They  are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Catherine  (Mrs.  William  Huddeston), 
of  Cottonwood;  Alice  (Mrs.  William  Curry), 
of  Amiret;  Agnes  (Mrs.  Fred  Shaffer),  of 
Amiret;    Louis,  of  Amiret. 

.Mr.  McLaughlin  has  two  brothers  and 
three  sisters:  Margaret  Ramsey,  of  Michi- 
gan; John,  of  Garrett  City,  Indiana;  Anna 
Ellis,  of  Owatonna;  Nettie  Schaffer,  of 
Sparta,  Wisconsin. 

DR.  W.  D.  JAMES  (1890)  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  dentistry  in  Tracy 
for  the  past  twenty-two  years,  having  been 
the  first  resident  dentist  to  locate  in  the 
city.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  city  in  which  he  has  lived  so 
long  and  was  mayor  in  1897  and  1898.  Dr. 
James  is  interested  in  several  Tracy  insti- 
tutions and  has  a  farm  in  Lyon  county  and 
one  in  Murray  county. 


In  Hudson,  Michigan,  on  July  30,  1866, 
Dr.  James  was  born.  He  attended  the  Hud- 
son High  School  and  then  took  a  course  in 
the  Baltimore  College  of  Dental  Surgery, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1889.  In 
May  of  that  year  he  and  his  brother,  Dr. 
P.  P.  James,  opened  an  office  for  the  prac- 
tice of  their  profession  at  Sleepy  Eye,  Minne- 
sota. One  and  one-half  years  later,  on 
October  1,  18  90,  Dr.  James  opened  his  office 
in  Tracy  and  has  ever  since  conducted  it. 
In  1905  he  admitted  as  a  partner  his  nephew. 
Dr.  Don  Casselman,  and  the  business  has 
since  been  conducted  under  the  firm  name 
of  James   &   Casselman. 

Dr.  James  is  the  son  of  William  D.  and 
Harriet  D.  (Perkins)  James.  They  were 
born  in  New  York  State  but  were  early 
settlers  of  Michigan,  the  father  having  lo- 
cated there  in  1856.  The  mother  still  lives 
in  Hudson,  Michigan ;  the  father  died  Oc- 
tober 27,  1897.  Besides  our  subject  there 
are  three  other  children  in  the  family,  name- 
ly: Dr.  Fred  P.  James,  of  Sleepy  Eye;  Mrs. 
Minnie  Hume,  of  Hudson,  Michigan;  and 
Dr.  Frank  S.  James,  of  Winona.     • 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  James  to  Susie  M. 
Steel  occurred  in  Tracy  December  9,  1901. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  G.  M.  and  Lucy  A. 
(French)  Steel,  of  Scotch-English  ancestry, 
and  was  born  in  Appleton,  Wisconsin.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  .lames  have  two  daughters,  Eloise 
and   Ruth. 

The  doctor  holds  membership  in  the  Ma- 
sonic, Knights  of  Pythias,  Modern  Wood- 
ni<  li.  Royal  Neighbors  and  Eastern  Star 
lodges. 


HERMAN  SHEUTZEL  (1882)  has  been  a 
resident  of  Lyon  county  for  thirty  years 
and  for  the  last  few  years  has  been  a  farmer 
of    Rock    Lake    township. 

Mr.  Sheutzel  was  born  in  West  Prusen, 
Germany,  June  27,  1854.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  and  he  was  raised  on  the  farm  and 
educated  in  the  country  school.  At  the  age 
of  fourteen  the  opportunity  was  given  him 
to  study  music,  and  he  devoted  himself  to 
this  three  years,  afterward  entering  the 
army  and  serving  five  years.  After  leaving 
the  army  our  subject  farmed  for  himself 
in  his  native  land  until  1882.  Then  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  located  in  Marshall, 
Lyon    county,    and    worked    on    the    railroad 


I'.MMJUAIMIICAL  HISTORY. 


125 


one  year.  He  moved  from  there  to  Tracy, 
and  for  twenty  years  was  employed  in  the 
car   shops   of  the   Northwestern   railroad. 

Our  subject's  farming  experience  in  Lyon 
county  began  when  in  1903  he  traded  his 
Tracy  residence  property  for  forty  acres  of 
land  in  Rock  Lake  township.  That  he  con- 
ducted six  years,  then  trading  it  for  a  quar- 
ter section  near  Crookston,  Minnesota.  Mr. 
Sheutzel  again  traded,  the  last  transaction 
finding  him  once  more  the  owner  of  a  Rock 
Lake  farm,  and  he  has  since  made  his  home 
on  the  north  half  of  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  21. 

Two  years  before  leaving  Germany,  Her- 
man Sheutzel  was  married,  on  December  10, 
1880,  to  Augusta  Weber,  daughter  of  Julius 
and  Albertine  Weber.  She  was  born  Febru- 
ary 2,  1855.  The  following  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheutzel:  Martha, 
Gust,  Lena,  Frank,  Harry,  Augusta,  Millie, 
Tillie.  Adolph  and  Rudolph.  Mr.  Sheutzel 
is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran  church. 


JAMES  WALTER  AT  WOOD  (1S80)  is  the 
owner  of  the  feed  mill,  wood  yard  and  dray 
line  in  the  village  of  Lynd.  He  was  born 
October  4,  1861,  a  son  of  James  L.  and 
Mariah  Atwood,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  father  died  in  1892  and  the  mother  in 
1869. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
early  education  in  Wisconsin,  where  he  at- 
tended school  until  fourteen  years  of  age. 
His  time  was  then  spent  working  in  a  chair 
factory  in  Fort  Atkinson,  Wisconsin,  until 
he  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  In  1880  Mr. 
Atwood  landed  in  Lyon  county  and  worked 
out  at  farm  labor  near  Lynd  during  the 
summer  months  and  in  the  woods  of  Wis- 
consin winters.  Mr.  Atwood  followed  that 
work  two  years  and  then  hired  out  as 
teamster  at  the  Camden  mill.  In  1892  he 
went  to  South  Dakota,  where  he  homestead- 
ed  land  fifteen  miles  from  Watertown.  He 
lived  on  that  place  six  years,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Lynd  and  purchased  land  in 
Lynd  township,  which  he  operated  six  years 
and  then  moved  to  the  village.  He  con- 
ducts a  feed  mill,  wood  yard  and  dray  line. 

Mr.  Atwood  has  been  town  treasurer  and 
a  director  of  school  district  No.  1  for  five 
years  and  is  treasurer  of  the  Lynd  Cemetery 
Association.  He  is  a  Modern  Woodman  and 
is  banker  of  that  lodge  at  Lynd. 


On  .March  29,  1S!K!,  Mr.  Atwood  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Jessie  Kiel,  a  daughter  ol 
L.  S.  Kiel,  who  was  a  pioneer  resident  of 
Lyon  county  but  who  now  resides  at  Rath- 
drum,  Idaho.  Mr.  Kiel  is  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Mrs.  Kiel  was  born  in  Michi- 
gan. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atwood  have  the  follow- 
ing children:  Howard  J.,  born  January  11, 
1895;  Clair  W.,  born  November  7,  1897; 
Donald  V.,  born  September  20,  1902.  All 
reside  at  home  with  their  parents. 


EUGENE  B.  KILEY  (1887),  manager  of 
the  Van  Dusen  Grain  Company  at  Minneota, 
has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  a 
resident  of  Lyon  county.  He  was  born  in 
Canada  June  27,  1872,  the  son  of  James 
and  Ellen  (Donnahue)  Kiley,  natives  of  Ire- 
land and  Canada,  respectively.  The  family 
settled  in  Lincoln  county,  Minnesota,  in  1881 
and  later  were  residents  of  Lyon  county. 
The  father  of  our  subject  died  in  March, 
1911,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years;  his 
mother  is  still  living.  There  are  eight  liv- 
ing children  in  the  family:  John,  James, 
Eugene  B.,  Cornelius,  Martin,  Margaret  and 
Jeremiah  and  Mary  Ann,  who  are  twins. 

Eugene  came  to  Minnesota  with  his  par- 
ents from  Canada  when  nine  years  of  age 
and  for  six  years  lived  on  a  Lincoln  county 
farm  with  them.  The  family  home  was  then 
made  in  Westerheim  township,  Lyon  county, 
where  our  subject  grew  to  manhood  and 
resided  until  1904.  That  year  he  was  mar- 
ried and  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own 
account  and  followed  that  occupation  until 
1909.  Since  that  time  he  has  resided  in 
Minneota,  acting  as  the  local  representative 
for  the  Van  Dusen  Company. 

The  date  of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Kiley  to 
Annie  Mullen  was  October  25,  1904,  and  the 
ceremony  was  performed  in  Minneota.  Mrs. 
Kiley  is  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Ellen 
Mullen.  She  was  born  in  England  and  came 
to  Minneota  with  her  parents  in  1880.  Mrs. 
Mullen  is  still  a  resident  of  Lyon  county, 
living  on  the  farm  south  of  Minneota.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kiley  have  been  born  four 
children,  named  as  follows:  Eugene  B., 
Patrick  T.  and  Daniel  J.  and  Mary  E.  (twins). 


CARL  R.  SWONSON  (1898),  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  farmers  and  stock  raisers 
of    Lake    Marshall    township,    was    born    in 


42  fi 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Sweden  January  18,  1871,  a  son  of  Swen 
and  Anna  (Carlson)  Williams.  Carl  started 
to  work  out  at  farm  labor  when  fourteen 
years  of  age.  At  twenty-one  years  of  age 
he  served  thirty  days  in  the  standing  army 
of  Sweden,  after  which  he  secured  a  leave 
from  the  king  of  Sweden  that  he  might  come 
to  America.  He  came  in  1892  and  located, 
at  Aledo,  Illinois,  near  which  place  he 
worked  for  his  uncle  on  the  farm  one  year. 
Later  he  went  to  Oakville,  Iowa,  where  he 
worked  at  farm  labor  three  years,  and  then 
rented  land  two  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1898  our  subject  came  to 
Lyon  county.  He  worked  at  threshing  that 
fall  and  purchased  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  16,  Lake  Marshall  township.  Later 
he  purchased  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
same  section,  making  him  the  owner  of  the 
east  half  of  section  16.  He  has  a  fine  place, 
known  as  Pleasant  View  Farm.  In  addition 
to  farming,  Mr.  Swonson  raises  a  great  deal 
of  stock,  among  other  breeds  Shorthorn  cat- 
tle. O.  I.  C.  and  Chester  White  hogs,  Oxford 
Down  Sheep,  White  Plymouth  Rock  chick- 
ens, White  Pekin  ducks,  Bronze  turkeys  and 
geese.  He  has  received  several  premiums 
at  the  fairs  with  his  stock.  Mr.  Swonson 
is  a  member  of  the  Maccabees  lodge. 

On  March  8,  1901,  at  Marshall,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Swonson  to  Gusta  B. 
Swonson,  a  native  of  Sweden.  She  was  born 
April  13,  1875,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Swan 
and  Enrin  Maria  S.  Williamson.  Mrs.  Swon- 
son came  to  America  in  1900.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Swonscn  have  been  born  the  following 
named  children:  Esther  E.,  born  February 
23,  1902;    Emma  M.,  born  October  11,  1903. 


CHARLES  F.  PAGEL  (1886)  has  been  a 
resident  of  Custer  township  the  past  six 
years,  having  purchased  in  1906  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  8,  where  he  now 
resides. 

Mr.  Pagel  was  born  in  Germany  April  19, 
1873,  and  the  first  thirteen  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  the  old  country,  where  he 
received  his  early  education.  The  family 
came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Amiret 
township,  the  father  buying  land  and  farm- 
ing. Charles  completed  his  education  in  the 
country  schools  and  helped  with  the  farm 
work.  In  1897  he  bought  eighty  acres  on 
section  36,  Sodus  township,  and  commenced 


farming  for  himself.  Nine  years  later  he 
bought  the  land  in  Custer  where  he  now 
resides.  Mr.  Pagel  raises  Hereford  cattle 
and  Poland  China  hogs  and  engages  in 
general  farming. 

Charles  Pagel  and  Martha  Bollmann  were 
joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  in 
Balaton  on  May  3,  1903.  To  this  union  have 
been  born  two  children,  Arthur  and  Kermet. 
Mrs.  Pagel  is  the  daughter  of  Carl  and 
Amelia  (Teske)  Bollmann  and  was  born  in 
Germany. 

Our  subject  is  a  shareholder  in  the  Cur- 
rent Lake  Telephone  Company  of  Balaton. 


PETER  HAXSEX  (1887)  is  a  prosperous 
retired  Shelburne  township  farmer  who  has 
made  his  residence  in  Russell  since  the  fall 
of  1909.  Since  making  his  home  in  town  he 
has  engaged  some  in  stock  buying  and  has 
operated  two  threshing  outfits  in  the  fall 
of  the  year.  Last  season  he  purchased  a 
steam  gang  plow,  which  he  operated  some, 
and  he  will  from  now  on  do  contract  work. 
Mr.  Hansen  has  a  fine  residence  in  town 
and  still  owns  a  well  improved  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land  in  Shelburne  township. 

Mr.  Hansen  was  born  August  18,  1876,  in 
Iowa  county,  Iowa.  His  parents,  Rasmus  and 
Mary  (Hansen)  Hansen,  were  natives  of 
Denmark  who  came  to  this  country  and 
located  first  in  Iowa,  moving  to  Lyon  county 
in  1887.  They  bought  land  in  Coon  Creek 
township  and  resided  there  until  their 
deaths.  The  father  died  in  1899,  and  Mrs. 
Hansen  died  in  1891.  Besides  Peter,  there 
were  five  brothers  and  one  sister,  named, 
respectively,  William,  Julius,  Henry,  Louis, 
Charles  and  Christina.  Charles  died  in  1911. 
The  others  are  living  in  or  near  Russell. 
Peter  lived  en  the  home  farm  until  the 
death  of  his  father;  then  he  purchased  the 
quarter  section  in  Shelburne  which  he  now 
owns  and  which  he  farmed  until  moving  to 
Russell. 

Our  subject  was  married  October  14,  1900, 
to  Carrie  Peterson,  a  native  of  Denmark 
and  a  daughter  of  Hans  and  Ellen  Peterson, 
who  now  reside  in  Russell.  Mrs.  Hansen 
was  born  April  3,  1882.  She  came  with  her 
parents  to  this  country  in  1883  and  the  fam- 
ily settled  in  Iowa,  coming  to  Lyon  county 
in  1887.  Three  brothers  live  in  or  near  Rus- 
sell, namely,  Jay  P.,  Hans  C.  and  William  C. 


IHOOKAIMIICAL   HISTORY. 


427 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Hansen  have  three  chil- 
dren, whose  names  are  Carl  Wallace,  born 
December  9,  1901;  Harry  Raymond,  born  No- 
vember 24,  1903;  and  George  Lewis,  born 
January  22,   1906. 

Mr.  Hansen  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  of  Russell.  Fraternally  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masons,  Workmen  and 
Degree  of  Honor  lodges.  He  is  master  work- 
man of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge.  For  several 
years  he  was  clerk  of  the  school  district 
and  at  different  times  has  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  and  road  overseer  in  Shelburne 
township. 


JOHN  BUCKLEY  (1880)  is  one  of  the 
oldest  settlers,  in  point  of  residence,  of  the 
township  of  Westerheim.  He  farms  240 
acres  of  his  own  on  sections  7  and  19  and  240 
acres  of  rented  land  and  is  ably  assisted  in 
the  work  on  the  farm  by  two  of  his  sons, 
Leo  and  Cyril.    . 

John  Buckley  is  the  son  of  George  and 
Catherine  (Terry)  Buckley  and  was  born 
in  Birmingham,  England,  in  1862.  He  at- 
tended school  in  England  and  worked  with 
his  father,  who  was  a  contractor  and  builder. 
In  1880  the  family  came  to  America,  and  in 
May  of  that  year  George  Buckley  purchased 
the  south  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  19,  Westerheim  township.  There  the 
family  made  their  home  and  there  our  sub- 
ject has  always  resided,  except  one  year 
when  he  was  in  St.  Paul.  The  first  home 
of  the  Buckleys  was  burned  by  a  prairie 
fire  and  they  endured  many  of  the  discom- 
forts of  the  early  days.  The  town  of  Ghent 
did  not  exist;  it  was  simply  a  flag  station. 
Among  the  few  farmers  in  the  township  at 
that  time  were  Knud  Kjorness,  O.  J.  Moe, 
Ole  Orsen  and  M.  Leeland. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Buckley  were  the 
parents  of  three  children:  Mary,  of  St.  Paul; 
Lizzie,  of  Fargo,  North  Dakota;  and  John, 
of  this  sketch.  Mrs.  Buckley  died  on  the 
farm  February  14,  1898,  aged  seventy-nine 
years.  Her  husband  then  sold  out  to  his 
son  and  moved  to  Minneapolis  with  his  two 
daughters,  and  he  died  there  in  May,  1906, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  John  has  since 
been  successfully  conducting  the  farm.  He 
is  active  in  township  affairs  and  has  served 
on  the  district  school  board. 

The   subject   of   this    sketch  was   married 


in  Minneota  on  January  21,  1885,  to  Helen 
Culshaw,  and  to  this  union  the  following 
children  have  been  born:  Edward  ,).,  of 
Eidsvold;  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Will  McMahon), 
of  Eidsvold;  Rose,  Leo,  Cyril,  Catherine, 
Lional,  Vincent.  Helen,  Agnes  and  Bernard. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Stafford,  England. 
March  18,  1866,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1881  with  her  parents,  Robert  and 
Helen  (Parker)  Culshaw.  The  father  died 
in  Minneota  May  7,  1912,  aged  seventy-two 
years;  Mrs.  Culshaw  died  in  1907  at  the 
age  of  sixty-six. 

The  Buckleys  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Minneota.  That  church  was  built 
by  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  his  father, 
who  constructed  many  of  the  houses  in  that 
village.  They  also  erected  the  first  building 
— a  store — in  Ghent,  then  called  Grandview. 


JAMES  H.  HALL  (1897),  county  attorney 
of  Lyon  county,  was  born  in  Kankakee  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  in  1876.  He  is  the  son  of  James 
and  Margaret  (McGlade)  Hall,  of  Balaton. 
Both  parents  were  born  in  Ireland  and  came 
to  America  when  children. 

In  1883  the  family  moved  to  Hand  county, 
South  Dakota.  Our  subject  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  country  schools  of  that  county 
and  in  Wessington  Springs  Seminary.  After 
his  school  days  he  taught  one  year  in  South 
Dakota,  and  in  1897  he  located  in  Lyon 
county.  After  teaching  two  years  in  Lyon 
county  Mr.  Hall  took  up  the  study  of  law 
in  the  offices  of  O.  E.  Maxson,  E.  C.  Patter- 
son and  V.  B.  Seward.  He  then  attended 
the  night  school  of  the  St.  Paul  College  of 
Law,  took  the  state  bar  examination,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1905.  He  formed 
a  partnership  with  E.  C.  Patterson,  of  Mar- 
shall, and  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Patterson  &  Hall  from  October,  1905,  until 
January  1,  1910.  Mr.  Hall  then  opened  an 
office  in  the  Dibble  Block.  'He  was  elected 
county  attorney  in  1910  and  took  office  the 
first  of  the  following  year. 

Mr.  Hall  was  married  December  31,  1905,  to 
Rose  Parfitt,  of  Sunnyside,  Washington.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  of 
the  Masonic  order. 


WILLIAM  C.   EHLERS    (1887)    is  one ...  of 
the  thrifty  young  farmers  of  Lynd  township 


428 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


who  has,  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word, 
"made  good."  He  is  a  native  of  the  Badger 
State  and  was  born  in  Greenville  June  20, 
1S69,  a  son  of  Louis  and  Mary  (Lorenz) 
Ehlers.  The  father  was  killed  in  a  runaway 
accident  in  1873  and  the  mother  died  at  the 
home  of  her  son  in  Lynd  township  Septem- 
ber 23,  1911.  William  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  country  schools  of  Greenville, 
which  he  attended  until  fourteen  years  of 
age. 

After  finishing  school  young  Ehlers  worked 
for  his  brothers  on  the  farm  for  three  years, 
moving  with  his  brother  Louis  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty in  1887,  where  he  spent  eight  years  more 
in  his  employ.  When  twenty-three  years  of 
age  he  rented  a  farm,  which  he  operated 
two  years,  and  then  he  purchased  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  6,  Lake  Marshall 
township.  He  farmed  that  three  years  and 
then  traded  the  place  to  his  brother  Fred 
for  the  farm  he  now  operates,  the  southeast 
cpiarter  of  section  2,  Lynd  township.  Be- 
sides farming,  our  subject  carries  on  stock 
raising.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers 
Elevator  Company  of  Marshall.  Mr.  Ehlers 
is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Association 
church  of  Marshall,  of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge, 
and  is  clerk  of  school  district  No.  9.  He 
was  road  overseer  in  Lynd  township  one 
year. 

Mr.  Ehlers  was  married  February  20,  1895, 
to  Minnie  C.  Friend,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Sophia  (Burmeister)  Friend.  To  this  union 
have  been  born  the  following  children:  Ray- 
mond L.,  born  May  26,  1897;  Lillian  M.,  born 
October  27,  1902 ;  Walter  W.,  born  February 
11,  1906;  Albert  C.  (deceased),  born  October 
20,  1899. 


HENRY  J.  CAIN  (1889)  is  district  man- 
ager of  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company 
of  New  York  and  a  man  who  has  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  in  Lyon  and  Red- 
wood counties.  He  was  born  in  the  little 
village  of  Dundee,  Osceola  township,  Fond 
du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  on  the  fourth 
day  of  April,  I860.  He  received  a  common 
school  education  and  was  brought  up  on 
his  father's  farm,  having  the  management  of 
the  farm  two  years  before  coming  to  Minne- 
sota. 

On  the  twentieth  day  of  August,  1879,  Mr. 


Cain  left  home  and  two  days  later  arrived 
in  Marshall.  He  did  not  remain  in  Lyon 
county  at  that  time  but  located  in  Redwood 
Falls,  where  he  held  a  position  as  hotel  clerk 
until  the  following  March.  He  then  squatted 
upon  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  24, 
Westline  township,  Redwood  county,  and  the 
next  year,  having  received  word  that  his 
claim  was  valid,  he  made  homestead  entry 
to  the  land.  He  improved  the  farm  and 
made  his  home  there  until  he  became  a  citi- 
zen of  Tracy  in  1889.  He  developed  the 
farm  until  it  came  to  be  recognized  as  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  county. 

Upon  his  removal  to  Tracy  Mr.  Cain  was 
made  district  manager  of  the  Mutual  Life 
Insurance  Company,  a  position  he  has  since 
held.  He  has  made  a  success  of  the  busi- 
ness and  has  won  many  state  prizes.  From 
November,  1903,  to  April,  1904,  he  wrote 
more  insurance  than  any  other  agent  of  the 
company  in  Minnesota,  and  received  as  a 
prize  a  free  trip  to  the  St.  Louis  exposition. 

Mr.  Cain  owns  land  in  Texas  and  a  beauti- 
ful home  in  Tracy.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Columbus  lodge.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  Redwood  county  he  served  as  as- 
sessor of  Westline  township. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Sarah  E. 
Hogan  occurred  at  Tracy  on  November  22, 
1887.  She  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and  was 
brought  up  in  LeSueur  county,  Minnesota. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cain  have  three  children: 
Jay  E.,  an  employe  of  the  Northwestern 
Railroad  Company;  Hazel  M.  and  Harry  P. 

Henry  J.  Cain  is  a  son  of  James  and  Mary 
Ann  (Corcoran)  Cain.  They  were  born  in 
Ireland,  crossed  the  water  to  Canada  in  an 
early  day,  and  were  married  there.  Later 
they  lived  in  New  York  State,  and  later  still 
engaged  in  farming  in  Fond  du  Lac  county, 
Wisconsin.  The  father  homesteaded  in  Red- 
wood county  and  later  became  a  resident  of 
Tracy.  He  died  in  Redwood  county,  at  the 
home  of  his  son,  John  F.  Cain,  in  1908,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  Mrs.  Cain  died 
in  Redwood  county  in  1888  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  years.  There  are  five  living  chil- 
dren in  the  Cain  family,  as  follows:  John  F., 
of  Redwood  county;  Margaret  (Mrs.  Andrew 
Holmes),  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin;  James, 
of  Staples,  Minnesota;  Edward,  who  is  in 
the  United  States  navy;  and  Henry  J.,  of 
this  sketch. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


41".) 


WILLIAM  CULSHAW  (1882),  who  owns 
and  farms  the  southwest  quarter  and  the 
north  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 9,  Nordland  township,  has  spent  the 
entire  thirty  years  of  his  life  in  that  pre- 
cinct. His  is  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
the  neighborhood  and  he  is  an  experienced 
agriculturist.  He  specializes  on  Duroc- 
Jersey  hogs  and  Shorthorn  cattle. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Robert 
and  Helen  (Parker)  Culshaw.  They  ar- 
rived in  Lyon  county  May  3,  1881,  pur- 
chased land  in  Nordland  township,  and  spent 
the  rest  of  their  lives  there.  The  mother 
died  on  the  home  farm  June  8,  1907;  the 
father  moved  to  Minneota  in  the  fall  of 
1911  and  died  in  that  village  May  7,  1912. 
They  were  highly  respected   residents. 

William  Culshaw  was  born  to  these  par- 
ents in  Nordland  township  February  2, 
18  82.  He  attended  the  district  schools  un- 
til sixteen  years  old  and  then  received  in- 
struction from  his  parents,  both  of  whom 
were  former  school  teachers.  He  lived  at 
home  until  1908.  Then  he  married,  bought 
his  farm,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits independently. 

Mr.  Culshaw  is  a  stockholder  of  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Minneota. 
He  served  as  road  overseer  two  years,  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church  of  Minne- 
ota and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge  of 
the  same  village. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Carrie 
Jeremiason  occurred  at  Minneota  May  12, 
1908.  She  was  also  born  in  Nordland 
township,  the  date  of  her  birth  being  May 
25,  1885.  Her  parents,  Swen  H.  and  Ber- 
tha (Bolsta)  Jeremiason,  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  homesteaded  land  in  Nordland 
in  1872.  They  still  live  in  that  precinct. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Culshaw  have  three  children: 
Ignatius  Robert,  born  November  30,  1909, 
and  Blanch  Mary  and  Beatrice  Sophia, 
twins,  born  January  9,  1912. 


from  the  academic  department  in  1903 
and  from  the  law  department  in  1905. 

After  his  graduation,  Mr.  Williams 
worked  in  a  Marshall  bank  for  a  few 
months  and  then  located  in  Fessenden, 
North  Dakota,  where  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  There  he  was  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law,  in  abstracting,  and  in  the 
insurance  and  real  estate  business  for  one 
year  and  eight  months,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  returned  to  Marshall.  He  has 
since  practised  his  profession  and  engaged 
in  the  insurance  business,  making  a  spe- 
cialty of  collections. 

Mr.  Williams  has  been  city  attorney  the 
last  two  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Blue  Lodge  (being  master  of  the  local 
lodge  in  1912)  and  of  the  Chapter  of  the 
Masonic  orders  and  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  lodge.  He  owns  land  in 
Lyon  and  Lincoln  counties  and  in  Colorado, 
the  cement  block  garage  on  Main  Street, 
and  a  half  interest  in  the  Hitch  livery 
barn,  his  partner  being  August  Durren- 
burger. 

The  father  of  our  subject  is  James  W. 
Williams,  who  was  born  in  Wisconsin, 
came  to  Marshall  in  the  early  seventies, 
and  is  still  a  resident  of  the  city.  For 
many  years  he  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  Minnesota  Legislature,  as  county  treas- 
urer and  clerk  of  the  district  court.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  is  Ada  Frances 
(Webster)  Williams,  a  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain S.  Webster,  a  homesteader  and  early 
settler  of  Lyon  county.  There  are  three 
children  in  the  family,  the  other  two  be- 
ing Roy  W.,  of  Lyon  county,  and  Helen  A. 
(Mrs.  C.  E.  Hall),  of  Gary,  Indiana. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married  at  Cottonwood 
November  8,  1911,  to  Amelia  Anderson, 
a  native  of  Lyon  county  and  a  daughter 
of  Gabriel  Anderson,  one  of  the  county's 
early  settlers. 


JAMES  VON  WILLIAMS  (1881),  attor- 
ney at  law,  is  a  native  of  Marshall  and  has 
spent  practically  his  entire  life  in  that  city. 
He  was  born  March  2  6,  1881.  After 
graduating  from  the  Marshall  High  School 
he  was  a  student  at  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota  for  six  years.      He  was   graduated 


LEO  HENNEN  (1883),  a  Westerheim 
township  farmer,  was  born  in  Holland 
January  3,  1870,  and  spent  the  first  thir- 
teen years  of  his  life  in  his  native  country. 
He  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm 
and  received  practically  all  of  his  schooling 
before  the  family  came  to  America  in 
1883. 


430 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


He  is  the  son  of  Arnold  and  Helen 
Hennen.  The  family  located  in  Ghent, 
Minnesota,  soon  after  their  arrival  to  this 
country,  and  after  spending  a  few  weeks 
in  that  village  they  moved  "to  Wisconsin, 
where  they  lived  on  a  farm  about  six  years. 
The  Hennens  then  returned  to  Lyon  county 
and  bought  a  quarter  on  section  21.  The 
father  still  lives  on  the  place;  Mrs.  Hen- 
nen died  in  1904.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hennen 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  the  following  are  living:  Leo,  of 
this  sketch;  Jacob  J.,  Mary  (Mrs.  Anton 
Van  Uden),  of  Westerheim;    and  Mathew. 

Leo  Hennen  lived  with  his  parents  until 
about  thirty-two  years  of  age.  Then  he 
purchased  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
32,  Westerheim  township,  and  he  has  since 
resided  on  the  place.  He  has  acquired  ad- 
ditional land,  and  the  original  quarter, 
which  was  an  unimproved  place  with  no 
buildings  on  it,  has  been  converted  by  our 
subject  into  a  model  farm,  with  buildings, 
fences,  groves  and  modern  conveniences. 
Mr.  Hennen  realizes  the  revenue  to  be  de- 
rived from  stock  and  every  year  feeds  a 
carload  of  cattle  for  shipment  to  market. 
He  deserves  credit  for  the  success  he  has 
made. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  married 
Christina  Van  Uden  in  Ghent  on  May  24, 
1904.  She  is  a  native  of  Holland  and 
came  to  this  country  in  1892.  Four  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  union,  their 
names  being  Annie,  Leo,  Dora  and  Ger- 
trude. 

Mr.  Hennen  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  and  belongs  to  the  Catholic  Order 
of  Foresters  lodge. 


F.  W.  RULIFFSON  (1893)  is  cashier 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Balaton. 
He  is  a  native  of  Lincoln  county,  Minne- 
sota, and  was  born  August  29,  1888,  a 
son  of  C.  P.  and  Alice  M.  (Sloan)  Ru- 
liffson,  who  were  pioneer  residents  of 
Steele  county,  Minnesota.  They  located  in 
Lincoln  county  in  an  early  day,  later  mov- 
ing to  South  Dakota,  and  still  later  to 
Lyon  county,  in  1893,  locating  near  Rus- 
sell, where  they  now  reside. 

Our  subject  accompanied  his*  parents  to 
Lyon  county  in  1893.  He  attended  the 
common   schools  until   1900,  when  he  en- 


tered the  Marshall  schools,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  June,  1907.  After 
completing  his  high  school  work,  Mr.  Ru- 
liffson  entered  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Balaton  as  bookkeeper  and  was  later  made 
assistant  cashier  of  that  institution.  In 
November,  1910,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
cashiership,  which  position  he  has  since 
held.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  of  the 
bank. 

Mr.  Ruliffson  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  of  Marshall.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Masonic,  Elks  and  A. 
O.  U.  W.  lodges.  He  has  stock  in  the 
Union  Land  and  Credit  Company  of  Bala- 
ton. 

Mr.  Ruliffson  was  married  at  Minneota 
May  23,  1912,  to  Amy  T.  Dahl,  who  was 
born  at  Granite  Falls,  Minnesota,  Decem- 
ber 2,  1890.  Her  parents,  Herman  N.  and 
Anna  (Hanson)  Dahl,  have  been  residents 
of  Minneota  since  1895.  Mrs.  Ruliffson 
was  graduated  from  the  Minneota  High 
School  in  1907,  took  a  two-year  course  at 
Carleto.n  College,  Northfield,  and  was  grad- 
uated as  a  nurse  from  the  Chicago  Baptist 
Hospital   in  October,   1911. 


HANS  VOLDEN  (1893),  who  owns  and 
farms  240  acres  of  land  on  sections  15  and 
22,  Lucas  township,  is  a  native  of  Guld- 
brans,  Norway,  and  was  born  October  28, 
1869,  a  son  of  Ole  and  Mare  (Bergum) 
Volden.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive land,  working  at  farm  labor  and  for 
four  years  in  a  flouring  mill. 

In  1893  Mr.  Volden  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  make  his  home  in  the  New  World.  He 
proceeded  at  once  to  Cottonwood,  Lyon 
county,  and  his  home  has  ever  since  been 
in  that  vicinity.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  worked  out  on  farms  and  in  1902  be- 
gan farming  for  himself.  He  has  made 
all  the  improvements  on  the  farm  and  has 
a  good  home  and  set  of  buildings.  He 
raises  Durham  cattle  and  Poland  China 
hogs.  Mr.  Volden  was  clerk  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  7  4  one  year  and  he  and  his  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  Norwegian  Lu- 
theran church. 

Mr.  Volden  was  married  to  Johanna  M. 
Peterson  at  Cottonwood  June  24,  1899. 
She  was  born  in  Rice  county,  Minnesota, 
August  8,  1868,  a  daughter  of  Christopher 


IUOGRA1MIICAL  IIISTOKV. 


4:U 


and  Keret  (Slette)  Peterson.  Her  parents 
came  from  Norway  to  the  United  States 
in  1  S t; 8,  lived  in  Rice  county  a  few  years, 
and  in  1S7i'  came  with  the  early  settlers  to 
I. yon  county  and  took  as  a  homestead 
claim  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  22, 
Lucas  township.  Her  father  died  in  1909; 
her  mother  lives  in  Cottonwood.  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  Volden  have  three  children,  Clark, 
.Mel vina  and  Oscar. 


WILLIAM  E.  H EAGLE  (1883)  is  a  pros- 
perous farmer  of  Lyon  county  and  makes 
his  home  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 9,  Clifton  township.  He  also  owns 
160  acres  in  Stanley  township  and  338 
acres  in  Redwood  county.  Mr.  Heagle  is 
interested  in  stock  raising  and  has  been 
doing  a  profitable  business  in  the  shipping 
of  Duroc-Jersey  hogs  and  Durham  cattle. 
He  is  a  shareholder  of  the  Farmers  Ele- 
vator Company  of  Marshall  and  of  the 
Lyon  County  Fair  Association. 

Mr.  Heagle  was  born  in  Winnebago 
county,  Illinois,  September  7,  1862.  His 
parents,  B.  J.  and  Clarisa  (Sweet)  Heagle, 
were  natives  of  New  York  State  and  located 
in  Illinois  in  an  early  day.  The  father 
was  a  farmer  and  was  also  interested  in  a 
flouring  mill.  William  received  his  school- 
ing and  grew  to  manhood  in  Illinois,  and 
in  1883  he  came  to  Lyon  county.  He 
rented  land  on  section  19,  Lake  Marshall 
township,  which  his  father  had  purchased 
the  year  before,  and  farmed  eleven  years. 

In  1894  Mr.  Heagle  sold  his  Lyon  county 
place  and  returned  to  Illinois,  where  he 
bought  land  and  farmed  five  years.  His 
experience  in  Lyon  county  had  given  him 
a  good  impression  of  this  region  and  he 
returned  in  1899  and  bought  the  place 
where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Heagle  was 
chairman  of  the  township  board  ten  years, 
and  for  several  terms  he  was  a  director  of 
his  school  district. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Sarah 
Carmichael  occurred  in  Illinois  December 
21,  1882.  She  was  born  in  Ogle  county 
of  that  state  August  19,  18  62,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Patrick  and  Jane  (Graham) 
Carmichael,  the  former  a  native  of  Ireland 
and  the  latter  of  Canada.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Heagle  one  daughter,  Etta  Josephine, 
was  born  February  25,   1889.      She  is  the 


wife  of  Neil  Van  Dorin,  a  farmer  of  Clifton 
township. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Heagle  is  associated 
with  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodges. 


NELS  PEHRSON  (1890)  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  Model  Clothing  and  Shoe  House 
of  Tracy,  one  of  the  progressive  business 
enterprises  of  that  city.  Mr.  Pehrson  has 
been  a  resident  of  Tracy  for  many  years 
and  is  a  notable  example  of  what  can  be 
accomplished  by  perseverance  and  applica- 
tion. He  came  to  the  country  from 
Sweden  when  a  young  man  without  a  dol- 
lar and  he  is  now  rated  among  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  the  county. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Malmo,  Sweden, 
March  3,  1867.  He  received  his  education 
in  his  native  land  and  there  learned  the 
goldsmith's  trade.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years,  in  1888,  he  came  to  America 
and  the  first  year  of  his  life  in  the  New 
World  was  passed  with  an  uncle,  Peter 
Swan,  in  Murray  county,  Minnesota.  Then 
he  secured  his  first  experience  in  the  mer- 
cantile business,  clerking  in  a  store  at 
Currie. 

Mr.  Pehrson  located  in  Tracy  in  1890. 
One  year  he  clerked  in  the  clothing  store 
of  Jacobi  Brothers  and  one  year  in  Martin 
Thurin's  store.  In  the  fall  of  1891  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  with  Pattridge  Brothers 
and  for  six  years  he  had  charge  of  the 
clothing  and  shoe  departments.  He  set  up 
in  business  for  himself  in  1898,  establish- 
ing a  clothing  and  shoe  store  in  the  old 
First  National  Bank  building  on  Front 
Street.  He  erected  his  present  handsome 
business  block  in  1903.  Mr.  Pehrson 
made  a  trip  to  his  native  land  in  1896  and 
in  1909  he  and  his  wife  made  another 
trip  to  the  old  country,  visiting  England, 
Denmark,  Sweden,  Germany,  Switzerland 
and  France.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of 
the  K.  P.  lodge  and  the  Tracy  Commercial 
Club. 

At  Walnut  Grove,  Redwood  county,  on 
New  Years  Day,  1906,  Mr.  Pehrson  was 
married  to  Laura  Lund,  a  daughter  of 
Charles  Lund,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Red- 
wood county.  Mrs.  Pehrson  was  educated 
in  Gustavus  Adolphus  College. 

The  parents  of  Nels  Pehrson  were  Pehr 


432 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


and  Elna  (Swanson)  Pekrson.  He  died  in 
his  native  land  in  1896;  she  continues  to 
make  her  home  in  the  old  country.  There 
are  six  living  children  of  the  family,  as 
follows:  Anna,  Nels,  Ida,  Ernest,  Ed- 
ward   and    Emil. 


LOUIS  E.  PETERSON  (1887)  is  a  thor- 
ough believer  in  the  value  of  Lyon  county 
farm  land,  and  his  judgment  should  be 
good,  for  Mr.  Peterson  has  prospered  since 
locating  on  the  west  half  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  31,  Rock  Lake  township. 
With  the  additional  forty  which  he  has 
charge  of  Mr.  Peterson  farms  120  acres 
and  also  raises  considerable  stock  for  mar- 
ket. He  has  outside  interests,  being  a 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  tbe 
Western  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company 
of  Balaton  and  of  the  Farmers  Co-operative 
Elevator  Company  of  the  same  village. 

Sweden  is  Louis  Peterson's  native  coun- 
try. He  came  to  America  in  1880,  lo- 
cating in  Knox  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  as  a  farm  laborer  seven  years.  In 
March,  1887,  he  was  married  at  Prophets- 
town,  Illinois,  to  Nellie  Olson,  a  native  of 
Sweden.  She  was  born  December  25, 
1854.  Immediately  after  their  marriage 
Mr.  Peterson  and  his  bride  departed  for 
Lyon  county  and  located  on  the  farm  which 
he  had  purchased  in  Rock  Lake  township 
from  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter  Railroad 
Company.  On  that  place  they  have  since 
made  their  home.  For  the  past  fourteen 
years  a  boy,  Leonard  Johnson,  has  made 
his  home  with  the  Petersons. 

Our  subject  has  been  clerk  of  the  town- 
ship board  of  Rock  Lake  the  past  five 
years  and  was  chairman  of  the  board  for 
a  "number  of  years.  He  has  also  been 
school  clerk  and  assessor  several  years  dur- 
ing his  Rock  Lake  residence.  Mr.  Peter- 
son is  a  member,  and  for  the  past  twenty- 
four  years  has  been  secretary  and  a  deacon, 
of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church  of  Scan- 
dia  township,  Murray  county. 

Louis  Peterson's  parents  were  Peter  and 
Ellen  (Johnson)  Larson,  both  of  whom  are 
now  dead.  Louis  Peterson  was  born  Oc- 
tober 3,  1857,  and  was  educated  in  Sweden. 
When  seventeen  years  old  he  commenced 
work  in  a  saw  mill  as  engineer  and  held 


the  position  three  years,  afterward  holding 
the  position  of  bookkeeper  two  years.  He 
resigned  that  position  to  come  to  America. 


H.  P.  FULTON  (1892)  is  a  general  con- 
tractor and  the  proprietor  of  a  wood  work- 
ing manufactory  and  an  automobile  garage 
in  the  city  of  Marshall.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  that  city  for  the  past  twenty 
years  and  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in 
the  affairs  of  his  city. 

Mr.  Fulton  is  the  son  of  the  late  Francis 
M.  and  Annie  M.  (Palmer)  Fulton,  natives, 
respectively,  of  Maryland  and  Ohio.  His 
father  settled  in  Iowa  in  1853,  was  married 
at  West  Liberty,  and  resided  there  until 
his  death.  The  mother  of  our  subject  also 
died  in  that  Iowa  town.  To  these  parents 
H.  P.  Fulton  was  born  at  West  Liberty  on 
August  20,  1868. 

Until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age 
young  Fulton  resided  in  his  native  county. 
At  that  age  he  went  to  the  Black  Hills, 
remained  one  year,  and  then  took  up  his 
residence  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  In  that  city 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
worked  at  it  there  until  locating  in  Mar- 
shall in  1892.  He  has  ever  since  been 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building  and 
has  erected  many  of  the  leading  business 
houses  of  the  city,  among  others  the  State 
Bank  Building,  library,  Schutz  business 
house,  Presbyterian  church,  Congregational 
church,  Dibble's  and  Harden's  residences 
and  many  others. 

In  1900  Mr.  Fulton  erected  his  factory 
building  for  the  purpose  of  making  all 
kinds  of  building  supplies  and  wood  work. 
In  July,  1910,  he  opened  a  garage  in  con- 
nection with  his  other  business  enterprises. 
He  handles  the  Mitchell,  Maxwell  and  Reo 
cars,  sells  automobile  accessories,  and  does 
repair  work.  This  establishment  is  one 
of  the  worthy  enterprises  of  Marshall  and 
from  ten  to  fifty  men  are  employed  the 
year  round.  Mr.  Fulton  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  lodge.  He  served  two  years 
as  a  member  of  the  Marshall  City  Council. 

In  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  on  June  16,  1891, 
Mr.  Fulton  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ida 
B.  Meyers,  of  Tekama,  Nebraska.  They 
have  three  children:  Ruth  E.,  a  stenogra- 
pher;  Ray  M.  and  Robert  C. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


433 


FRED  J.  GUELSOW  (1887),  farmer  of 
Lynd  township,  was  born  in  Germany  No- 
vember 2,  18  63.  His  parents,  William  and 
Minnie  (Romlo)  Guelsow,  died  in  the 
Fatherland. 

Fred  spent  the  first  twenty-four  years 
of  his  life  in  Germany  and  in  1887  he 
came  to  America  and  direct  to  Lyon  county. 
He  worked  as  a  section  hand  at  Marshall 
three  years,  farmed  rented  land  in  Lake 
Marshall  township  one  year,  worked  on 
the  section  again  for  a  year  and  as  a  farm 
hand  one  year.  Then  he  went  to  Mille 
Lacs  county,  Minnesota,  took  a  homestead, 
proved  up  on  it,  and  farmed  the  place 
nine  years. 

Mr.  Guelsow  then  sold  his  homestead 
and  returned  to  Lyon  county.  He  worked 
one  year  in  Marshall,  farmed  near  Ghent 
four  years,  on  section  21,  Lynd  township, 
a  short  time,  and  in  the  spring  of  1912 
rented  his  present  place,  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  20,  Lynd.  He  raises 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  grade  hogs. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Guelsow  occurred 
in  Germany,  his  wife's  maiden  name  be- 
ing Matilda  Tessmer.  She  was  born  June 
15,  1862,  a  daughter  of  Paul  Tessmer. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Guelsow,  Paul  and  Pauline. 


WILLIAM  P.  TILLEMANS  (1884),  live 
stock  dealer  of  Minneota,  has  resided  in 
Lyon  county  for  the  last  twenty-eight 
years.  He  was  born  in  Holland  January 
21,  187  5.  When  nine  years  of  age  he  im- 
migrated to  the  United  States  with  his 
parents,  who  located  on  a  farm  south  of 
Minneota  in  the  township  of  Nordland.  He 
remained  with  his  parents  and  worked  on 
that  farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years.  Then  he  moved  to  Min- 
neota and  has  since  dealt  in  live  stock 
principally.  In  June,  1911,  Mr.  Tille- 
mans  was  married  to  Katherine  Welch, 
daughter  of  Philip  Welch,  of  Tracy. 

His  parents,  Johannes  and  Katherine 
Tillemans,  are  both  dead.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  named  children: 
John,  Dena,  William,  Mary  and  Harry. 
Mr.  Tillemans  was  married  a  second  time, 
to  Christina  Hendrix.  To  them  were  born 
the  following  children:  Nellie,  Katherine, 
Sophia  and  Leon. 


ANDREW  CLAY  (1900)  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  one  of  the  finest  improved  farms 
of  Amiret  township  and  engages  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is  paying 
special  attention  to  the  Shorthorn  breed 
of  cattle  and  Poland  China  swine. 

A  native  of  Sweden,  born  August  14, 
1871,  Mr.  Clay  spent  the  first  eighteen 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  land.  The 
boy  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  his  education  was  acquired  in  the 
country  school.  In  18  90  he  accompanied 
his  parents,  Andrew  and  Mary  (Klej) 
Johnson,  to  this  country.  The  family  lo- 
cated at  Ironwood,  Michigan,  where  the 
boy  and  his  father  found  employment  in 
the  mines  for  several  years.  Later  the  boy 
spent  the  summers  and  falls  in  Minnesota, 
working  in  the  harvest  fields  in  Redwood 
and  Yellow  Medicine  counties. 

In  1895  the  Clay  family  moved  to  Red- 
wood county,  where  Andrew  and  his  father 
purchased  a  quarter  section  of  land,  and 
there  they  resided  until  1900,  when  they 
moved  to  Lyon  county,  the  father  pur- 
chasing land.  Our  subject  rented  land  in 
Amiret  township  seven  years  and  in  1907 
moved  to  the  north  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  2  0,  Amiret  township, 
which  he  purchased  in  1901  and  where  he 
has  since  resided. 

On  October  16,  1901,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Andrew  Clay  and  Emma  Larson, 
daughter  of  Lars  P.  and  Gustava  Larson, 
both  of  whom  are  living  in  Custer  town- 
ship. Her  parents  settled  in  Lyon  county 
in  1890  and  have  been  continuous  resi- 
dents ever  since.  Mrs.  Clay  died  in  1907. 
By  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Clay  she  became 
the  mother  of  three  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living:  Alma,  born  September  8, 
1902;  Anna,  born  March  29,  1904;  and 
Henry  (deceased),  born  November  10, 
1905. 

Mr.  Clay's  father  is  dead  and  his  mother 
resides  in  Dudley,  Minnesota.  He  has  one 
brother,  Charles,  living  in  Trego,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  two  sisters,  Ida  (Mrs.  Andrew 
Nelson),  of  Dudley,  and  Hulda,  of  Min- 
neapolis. One  sister,  Emma,  died  in 
Michigan  in   1890. 

Mr.  Clay  is  a  member'  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodge  of  Amiret.  For  one  term 
he  served  as  the  constable  of  Amiret  town- 
ship. 


434 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


WILLIAM  B.  THORBURN  (1880),  pro- 
prietor of  a  bus  and  dray  line  in  the  city 
of  Marshall,  is  the  only  child  born  to 
William  B.  and  Sarah  A.  (Stokes)  Thor- 
burn.  His  father  was  born  in  Scotland 
and  his  mother  in  Canada.  Both  are  de- 
ceased. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Sarnia,  Canada, 
February  8,  1862.  When  a  child  he  ac- 
companied the  family  to  Red  Wing,  Min- 
nesota, later  lived  in  River  Falls,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  in  1880  came  to  Lyon  county.  He 
was  then  a  boy  eighteen  years  of  age  and 
for  a  year  he  worked  on  the  farm  of  W.  L. 
Watson,  near  Lynd.  He  then  located  in 
Marshall  and  began  work  in  the  L.  B. 
Nichols  livery  barn,  which  was  then  con- 
ducted in  the  same  building  which  houses 
the  business  now  carried  on  by  our  sub- 
ject. After  being  employed  in  the  livery 
barn  one  and  one-half  years  Mr.  Thor- 
burn  took  a  homestead  claim  in  South  Da- 
kota. He  lived  on  that  a  short  time  and 
was  in  Wisconsin  a  short  time  before  again 
becoming  a  resident  of  Lyon  county.  Un- 
til 1886  he  worked  at  various  occupa- 
tions; then  he  married  and  started  a  dray 
line,  which  he  has  ever  since  conducted. 
In  1907  he  bought  the  Nichols  barn  and 
has  since  been  in  the  dray  and  bus  busi- 
ness. For  twenty-two  years  he  was  the 
local  agent  for  the  Standard  Oil  Company. 

Mr.  Thorburn  was  married  in  Marshall 
September  6,  1885,  to  Stella  M.  Chap- 
man, a  native  of  Austin,  Minnesota.  To 
this  "union  have  been  born  five  children, 
named  as  follows:  Lloyd  M.,  William  B., 
Jr.,  Neil  O.,  Marvel  E.  and  Norine  E.  Mr. 
Thorburn  holds  membership  in  the  Ma- 
sonic, Elks,  Modern  Brotherhood,  Work- 
men and  Yeomen  lodges. 


WILLIAM  BEASLEY  (1884)  is  a  young 
farmer  of  Lyons  township  and  a  native  of 
Lyon  county,  the  date  of  his  birth  being 
August  1,  1884.  He  is  the  son  of  Reuben 
and  Mary  (Wilcox)  Beasley,  pioneer  resi- 
dents of  the  county.  The  mother,  a  na- 
tive of  England,  died  in  1901.  The  father 
resides  with  his  son,  Frank,  in  Lynd  town- 
ship. 

William  Beasley  received  his*  schooling 
in  the  district  schools  of  Lyon  county 
and    later    attended    the    Normal    College 


of  Austin.  Minnesota.  After  completing 
his  education  he  worked  a  year  for  his 
father  on  the  farm,  and  in  1906  he  rented 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  6,  Lyons 
township,  which  he  still  operates. 

Mr.  Beasley  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  He  raises  considerable 
stock,  among  other  breeds.  Duroc-Jersey 
hogs,  Durham  cattle,  Black  Langshang 
chickens  and  Percheron  horses.  He  is  a 
successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  Mr. 
Beasley  has  two  brothers  and  one  sister 
living,  as  follows:  John  T.  and  Daisy  J., 
of  Lynd  township;  and  George,  of  Water- 
town,  South  Dakota.  Our  subject's  father 
is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  having  served 
through   the   entire   struggle. 

Mr.  Beasley  was  married  November  9, 
1905,  to  Lettie  Kendall,  a  native  of  Lin- 
coln county,  Minnesota.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  J.  W.  Kendall,  a  former  business 
man  of  Tyler,  and  later  proprietor  of  a 
hotel  at  Russell.  Mrs.  Beasley  was  born 
in  March,  1887,  at  Tyler.  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Beasley  are  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Wanda,  born  June  22,  1906,  and  Leonard 
William,  born  September  9,  1909. 


MARTIN  PETERSON  (1875)  is  the  ef- 
ficient marshal  of  the  village  of  Minneota. 
He  is  a  native  of  Lyon  county  and  was 
born  in  Nordland  township  September  20, 
187  5.  On  a  farm  in  that  precinct  Martin 
grew  to  manhood.  When  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  began  farming  for  him- 
self and  continued  in  that  work  nine  years. 
He  then  moved  to  Minneota,  where  he 
operated  the  dray  line  two  years,  when  he 
was  made  marshal  of  the  village,  a  posi- 
tion he  still  holds. 

On  December  28,  18  99,  Mr.  Peterson 
was  married  to  Clara  Johnson,  a  native  of 
Lyon  county.  They  are  the  parents  of 
three  children:  Elmer,  Martin  and  Clif- 
ford. 

Martin  Peterson  is  a  son  of  Swen  and 
Christina  (Amundson)  Peterson,  natives 
of  Norway  who  came  to  the  United  States 
when  they  were  very  young.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Peterson,  Sr.,  were  married  in  Olm- 
sted county,  Minnesota.  They  came  to 
Lyon  county  in  187  4  and  homesteaded  in 
Nordland  township,  where  they  still  re- 
side.    They  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 


BHHJKAlMlh'AL   HISTORY. 


435 


ing  five  childen:      Tinnie,  .Martin,  Charlie, 
Andrew,   Sophia,   Alfred. 


HERBERT  L.  STARR  (1881)  is  a 
farmer  of  Monroe  township,  living  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  1"),  which  has 
been  his  home  since  Norman  H.  Starr,  his 
father,  bought  the  placejrom  the  railroad 
company  in   1881. 

Norman  Henry  Starr  was  born  in  Roe, 
Massachusetts,  in  1834,  and  after  coming 
to  Lyon  county  in  1881  he  lived  on  the 
farm  in  Monroe  township  until  his  death, 
July  18,  1909.  His  wife,  Martha  (Welch) 
Starr,  was  born  in  Washington,  Vermont, 
in  July,  1844,  and  is  living  with  her  two 
sons,  Herbert  and  Samuel,  on  the  farm 
near  Tracy.  Another  son  of  Nathan 
Starr,  Fred,  is  station  agent  for  the  North- 
western railroad  at  New  Ulm,  and  the 
fourth  child,  Frank,  is  now  dead.  Fred 
and  Frank  were  twin  brothers. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in 
Beaver,  Winona  county,  Minnesota,  Octo- 
ber 25,  1863.  He  was  educated  in  Wi- 
nona county  and  in  the  Tracy  school,  and 
afterward  went  on  the  farm  with  his 
father,  taking  charge  of  the  place  after  the 
father's  death.  Herbert  has  made  a  spe- 
cialty of  the  poultry  business  for  the  past 
twenty  years.  He  raises  Barred  Plymouth 
Rocks  exclusively  and  has  gained  a  repu- 
tation with  the  birds,  having  a  sale  for 
them  all  over  the  country,  and  during 
the  last  three  years  being  unable  to  sup- 
ply the  demand.  Herbert  has  attended 
many  of  the  famous  poultry  shows  and 
conventions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Tracy. 

Samuel  H.  Starr  (1880),  brother  of  the 
above,  was  born  in  Winona  county  March 
12,  1866,  where  he  lived  until  coming  to 
Lyon  county  with  his  parents.  After  mak- 
ing his  home  on  the  farm  some  time  the 
boy  commenced  railroading  at  Tracy,  serv- 
ing as  call  boy  first,  and  later  at  different 
times  as  baggageman,  car  clerk  and  brake- 
man,  remaining  in  the  railroad  service  un- 
til five  years  ago,  when  he  retired  to  the 
home  farm  near  Tracy  and  has  been  as- 
sisting his  brother,  Herbert,  in  conducting 
the  place. 


OLE  H.  STERK  (1888),  civil  engineer 
of  Marshall  and  surveyor  of  Lyon  county, 
has  resided  in  the  county  many  years.  He 
is  a  native  Norwegian  and  was  born  June 
3,  1864.  After  securing  a  common  school 
education,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years, 
he  entered  the  engineering  branch  of  the 
military  college  at  Throndhjem  and  was 
a  student  there  five  years,  learning  civil 
engineering.  He  secured  his  diploma  in 
1888  and  in  August  of  that  year  he  im- 
migrated to  America. 

The  first  stopping  place  of  Mr.  Sterk 
in  the  New  World  was  Cass  county,  North 
Dakota,  where  he  remained  only  a  few 
months.  He  then  took  up  his  residence  in 
Lyon  county,  where  he  has  ever  since  re- 
sided. For  many  years  he  lived  on  the 
farm  on  section  4,  Vallers  township,  and 
for  ten  years  he  served  as  postmaster  of 
Brenner  postoffice,  which  was  located  on 
his  place  and  which  had  been  established 
in  pioneer  times.  During  six  years  of  the 
time  he  was  residing  on  the  farm  Mr. 
Sterk  served  as  county  surveyor,  having 
taken  office  in  1893.  He  was  also  assessor 
of  Vallers  township  five  years  and  justice 
of  the  peace  four  years. 

From  the  farm  Mr.  Sterk  moved  to  Min- 
neota  and  lor  eight  years  was  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business  there.  He 
moved  to  Marshall  in  the  spring  of  1906 
to  accept  the  office  of  city  engineer.  The 
same  fall  he  was  again  elected  county  sur- 
veyor and  has  since  held  the  office.  He  is 
also  city  engineer  of  Marshall.  Besides 
his  official  duties  Mr.  Sterk  makes  esti- 
mates for  ditches,  sewers  and  waterworks 
systems.  He  has  recently  published  a 
valuable  wall  map  of  Lyon  county,  which 
is  one  of  the  most  complete  and  exhaus- 
tive maps  of  the  kind  in  the  state. 

Mr.  Sterk  was  married  at  Minneota  in 
1900  to  Bertha  Rogde.  She  was  born  in 
Westerheim  township,  Lyon  county,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  John  Rogde,  an  early  set- 
tler. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sterk  have  two  children, 
Adelaide  and  Vigo.  Mr.  Sterk  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows  and 
Woodmen  lodges. 

Hans  and  Indiana  (Peterson)  Sterk 
were  the  parents  of  our  subject.  They 
came  from  Norway  in  1891  and  for  many 
years  resided  in  Vallers  township.  In 
1908  they  moved  to  Kidder  county,  North 


436 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Dakota,  and  there  Mr.  Sterk  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1911,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  Mrs.  Sterk  resides  in  that  county. 
There  are  three  boys  in  the  Sterk  family: 
Ole,  of  this  review;  Hartwig  and  Carl,  of 
Kidder  county,  North  Dakota. 


LARS  H.  ORDLOCK  (1888)  is  half 
owner  of  the  Hynden  store  in  Florence 
and  is  actively  engaged  in  the  handling  of 
groceries,  dry  goods  and  shoes.  The  pro- 
prietors also  handle  fresh  meats  and  buy 
and  sell  cream. 

Lars  Ordlock  was  born  in  Ringbo,  Nor- 
way, June  13,  1864,  a  son  of  Hans  and 
Mariet  (Bredevien)  Ordlock.  He  attended 
school  in  the  land  of  his  birth  until  six- 
teen years  of  age,  coming  then  to  America 
and  locating  in  Goodhue  county,  Minne- 
sota. There  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand 
until  1888,  when  he  came  to  Lyon  county. 
He  worked  in  Tracy  three  months  and 
then  went  to  Custer  township  to  work  on 
a  farm.  During  the  next  three  or  four 
years  Lars  worked  in  and  around  Bala- 
ton and  Garvin  at  different  pursuits,  and 
for  six  months  being  employed  in  the 
creamery  at  Balaton  and  for  a  year  drill- 
ing wells  in  the  vicinity.  The  balance  of 
the  time  was  spent  in  farming  and  in 
threshing  in  the  falls.  For  nine  months 
our  subject  drove  the  stage  between  Currie 
and  Tracy.  About  this  time  Mr.  Ordlock 
made  his  first  investment  in  land,  buying 
140  acres  in  Murray  county,  but  continuing 
to  work  in  the  vicinity  of  Garvin. 

October  29,  1896,  Lars  Ordlock  mar- 
ried Louisa  Larson,  a  native  of  Fillmore 
county  and  a  daughter  of  Bure  Larson. 
The  young  married  couple  located  in 
Coon  Creek  township,  where  Lars  farmed 
for  the  next  thirteen  years.  Then  he  sold 
and  moved  to  Florence  to  engage  in  his  pres- 
ent business.  While  a  resident  of  Custer 
township  Mr.  Ordlock  was  a  school  officer 
two  years. 

Mrs.  Lars  Ordlock  was  born  June  19, 
1877.  She  and  her  husband  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 
They  have  three  children:  Clara,  born 
August  28,  1897;  Bayard,  born  August  24, 
1900;  and  Lillie,  born  August  6,  1909. 


FERDINAND  A.  RIVARD  (1901)  is  a 
farmer  and  land  owner  residing  in  Lake 
Marshall  township.  He  is  a  native  of 
Illinois  and  was  born  August  21,  1862,  a 
son  of  George  and  Adeliade  (Drollette) 
Rivard,  both  natives  of  Canada.  The  lat- 
ter settled  in  Illinois  in  an  early  day, 
where  our  subject  received  his  early  edu- 
cation and  grew  to  manhood. 

Mr.  Rivard  resided  at  home  until  twen- 
ty-two years  of  age,  when  he  married  and 
farmed  rented  land  two  years.  He 
then  received  eighty  acres  from  his  father, 
which  he  farmed  until  1901.  During  the 
latter  year  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
purchased  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
19,  Lake  Marshall  township,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  has  a  well-improved 
farm.  Mr.  Rivard  has  served  several 
terms  on  the  school  board  of  his  district 
and  is  a  shareholder  in  the  Farmers  Ele- 
vator Company  of  Lynd.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church  and  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters  lodge. 

On  October  6,  1884,  our  subject  was 
married  to  Emelia  Vandepoorten,  a  native 
of  Illinois  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Aurila  (Bunker)  Vandepoorten.  Mrs.  Riv- 
ard was  born  January  18,  1862.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rivard  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing named  children:  Angeline  Alice, 
born  August  22,  1885,  died  August  5, 
1894;  Eglantine  Henrietta,  born  October 
1,  1886;  Eurilia  Albertine,  born  May  8, 
1888;  Lydia  Ella,  born  February  2,  1891. 
Mrs.  Rivard  died  July  15,  1891.  Mr. 
Rivard  was  married  a  second  time  Febru- 
ary 1,  1893,  at  Manteno,  Illinois,  to  Clem- 
entine Langlois,  a  native  of  Kankakee 
county,  Illinois.  She  was  born  December 
25,  1866,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Napoleon 
and  Ella  (Longton)  Langlois,  both  na- 
tives of  Canada. 


W.  A.  HOUSTON  (1895),  patentee  and 
founder  of  the  Houston  fountain  pen,  was 
born  June  2,  1872,  at  Hadley,  LaPeer 
county,  Michigan,  where  he  received  a 
common  school  education,  leaving  school. at 
the  age  of  seventeen  to  come  West  to  work 
on  a  farm  at  Manchester,  South  Dakota, 
for  his  brother-in-law.  This  business  he 
continued  for  two  or  three  years;  then  he 


lUOGKALMILCAL  HISTORY. 


437 


farmed  on  his  own  account  until  18  93. 
Soon  after  this  he  learned  the  barber 
trade,  which  business  he  followed  until 
1901,  operating  successfully  two  shops  in 
Tracy,  Minnesota,  for  several  years,  one 
shop  consisting  of  five  chairs,  bath  parlor, 
cigar  stand,  etc.  He  is  the  former  owner 
of  the  property  where  now  stands  Rich- 
ard's Department  Store,  Mr.  Richard  hav- 
ing purchased  the  same  in  1909.  While 
engaged  in  the  barber  business,  he  worked 
out  the  idea  of  drying  the  face  by  com- 
pressed air.  This  is  now  used  in  many 
places  and  was  soon  adopted  in  general  by 
barber  supply  dealers,  and  thousands  of 
outfits  have  been  sold. 

In  the  year  1901  Mr  Houston  sold  his 
business  and  went  on  the  road  as  traveling 
salesman  and  was  quite  successful.  After 
trying  several  different  lines,  he  took  up 
the  fountain  pen  line,  which  proved  to  be 
the  one  that  pleased  him  most.  In  190S 
he  received  a  patent  on  his  first  pen  and 
soon  after  commenced  manufacturing  the 
same  on  the  upper  floor  of  his  building, 
one  skilled  rubber  turner  and  himself  con- 
ducting the  business.  The  business  was 
continued  this  way  for  the  first  year,  its 
growth  being  wonderful.  In  the  second 
year  the  Houston  Pen  Company  was  incor- 
porated with  a  capital  of  $50,000.  The 
business  was  moved  to  Opera  House  Block 
and  some  of  the  best  business  men  bought 
freely  of  the  stock  and  put  their  "shoulders 
to  the  wheel." 

At  this  time  the  company  is  located  at 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  has  a  capital  of  $100,- 
000,  and  is  destined  to  be  one  of  the  larg- 
est pen  manufacturing  companies  in  the 
world.  Tracy  business  men  still  hold  con- 
trolling stock  in  the  company,  of  which 
W.  A.  Houston  is  president. 


EDWARD  P.  KELLY  (1898)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  furniture  store  and  conducts  an 
undertaking  establishment  in  connection  at 
Cottonwood.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Gopher 
State  and  was  born  at  Mankato  November 
22,  1873.  His  parents,  Severt  and  Louisa 
Kelly,  were  born  in  Norway  and  came  to 
the  United  States  when  very  young.  They 
were  married  in  Blue  Earth  county,  Minne- 
sota. The  mother  died  in  1894.  aged  sixty- 
three  years;   the  father  resides  at  Mankato, 


aged  seventy-two  years.  There  were  four 
children:  Edward  P.,  of  this  sketch;  Louis 
L.,  of  Minneapolis;  Mrs.  O.  J.  Olson,  of  Man- 
kato; and  Mrs.  Charles  Catlin,  of  Cotton- 
wood. 

When  five  years  of  age  our  subject  moved 
with  his  parents  to  a  farm  west  of  Lake 
Crystal  and  lived  there  until  he  reached  his 
majority.  He  then  moved  to  Madelia,  where 
he  conducted  a  furniture  store  one  year.  In 
1898  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  located  at 
Cottonwood,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Olson,  Kelly  &  Laingen.  He  was  in  that 
firm  five  years,  and  then  he  assisted  in  the 
organization  of  the  North  Star  Implement 
Company,  of  which  he  had  charge  of  the 
furniture  department  five  years.  In  1908  he 
purchased  the  furniture  department  of  that 
company  and  has  since  conducted  the  busi- 
ness alone.  He  is  located  in  the  Prestegaard 
Building  and  carries  a  full  line  of  furniture, 
carpets,  pianos  and  undertaking  goods. 

Mr.  Kelly  holds  membership  in  the  Ma- 
sonic, Knights  of  Pythias  and  Modern  Wood- 
men lodges.  He  has  served  six  years  on  the 
school  board  and  two  terms  on  the  Village 
Council.  He  was  the  organizer  of  the  Home 
Telei,hone  Company  and  has  since  been  its 
general  manager  and  a  director,  and  he  was 
formerly  president  of  the  Commercial  Club. 

Mr.  Kelly  was  married  at  Mankato  Decem- 
ber 24,  1897,  to  Matilda  Hanson,  a  native  of 
Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota.  They  are  the 
parents  of  three  children:  Olive,  Ruth  and 
Edith. 


GEORGE  REGNIER  (1883)  is  the  own- 
er of  24)  acres  of  fine  land  located  on 
sections  2,  3  and  23,  Grandview  township, 
and  a  modern  home  in  the  village  of  Ghent. 
He  has  made  his  home  the  past  two  years 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  3,  and 
he  farms  the  entire  place-  with  the  assist- 
ance of  his  only  son  Albert. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary 
(Touchette)  Regnier,  who  were  natives  of 
Canada  and  who  came  to  America  in  1847 
and  settled  in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois. 
They  were  among  the  first  settlers  in  that 
county  and  became  owners  of  a  small 
farm.  They  sold  their  interests  there  in 
1883  and  located  in  Grandview  township, 
Lyon    county,    where    they    bought    land. 


438 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Isaac  Regnier  died  on  his  farm  sixteen 
years  ago,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years;  his 
widow  lives  in  Marshall  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  August  Durrenberger. 

George  was  born  in  Kankakee  county, 
Illinois,  August  27,  1864,  and  was  brought 
up  and  educated  in  the  country  schools  of 
that  county.  He  lived  with  his  parents 
until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  in  1883 
he  and  his  parents  moved  to  Lyon  county 
and  located  in  Grandview  township.  A 
few  years  later  George  bought  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  23  from  the  rail- 
road company.  There  he  built  a  small 
shack  and  commenced  farming.  He  was 
married  soon  after  and  continued  to  make 
his  home  on  the  place  twenty  years — until 
moving  to  his  present  farm  in  1910,  with 
the  exception  of  two  years,  during  which 
time  he  retired  from  active  farming  on 
account  of  his  health  and  resided  in 
Ghent.  He  was  one  of  the  incorporators 
of  that  village  and  served  on  the  council 
one  year. 

The  marriage  of  George  Regnier  and 
Cecile  Caron  occurred  in  Ghent  November 
25,  1891.  Mrs.  Regnier  is  a  native  of 
Kankakee  county,  Illinois.  By  her  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Regnier  she  became  the 
mother  of  four  children,  Denage,  Albert, 
Virginia  and  Alma. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  ten  living  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Regnier.  The 
others  are  Joseph,  Louis,  Ambrose,  John, 
Harry,  Mary,  Florence,  Emma  and  Louise. 
The  Regnier  family  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church. 

JOHN  HARTZELL  (1886),  proprietor  of 
the  Lone  Tree  Farm  of  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Sweden  June  15,  1855, 
the  son  of  Andrew  and  Nellie  (Nelson) 
Johnson.  At  twenty  years  of  age  he  came 
to  the  United  States  and  located  at  Mon- 
mouth, Illinois,  near  which  place  he  worked 
at  farm  labor  summers  and  in  the  coal  mines 
winters  for  three  years.  He  then  went  to 
Chicago,  where  he  worked  for  the  Union 
Iron  &  Steel  Company  five  years  and  for 
the   Pullman    Car   Company   three   years. 

In  1886  Mr.  Hartzell  moved  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  purchased  the  north  half»of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  27,  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship. The  next  year  he  bought  the  north 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  28, 


of  the  same  township,  and  was  the  owner 
of  that  land  until  he  sold  in  1910.  In  1897 
he  purchased  the  south  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  22,  and  he  is  now 
the  owner  of  160  acres  of  Coon  Creek's  fer- 
tile soil. 

Upon  his  arrival  to  Lyon  county  in  1886 
Mr.  Hartzell  lived  for  nine  months  on  the 
Charley  Swanson  place  on  section  32.  Then 
he  moved  to  Burchard  and  for  the  next  two 
years  worked  for  the  Northwestern  Railroad 
Company.  During  the  next  three  years  he 
rented  the  Carl  Hanson  farm  on  section  21, 
also  farming  his  own  place  during  that  time. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  built  on  his  own 
farm  and  has  ever  since  lived  thereon.  His 
place  is  now  known  as  the  Lone  Tree  Farm. 

Mr.  Hartzell  was  married  at  Pullman,  Illi- 
nois, in  1883  to  Emily  Maguusen,  who  was 
born  in  Sweden  December  14,  1867.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Bjork)  Mag- 
nusen.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartzell  are  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  named  eight  children: 
Annie,  Joseph,  Winnie.  Edith.  Adolph. 
George,  Irene  and  Earl. 


NELS  ANDERSON  (1882)  owns  600  acres 
of  land  in  Eidsvold  township  and  he  and  his 
sons  farm  it  all.  The  home  place  is  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  10  and  he  owns 
in  addition  160  acres  on  section  2,  eighty 
acres  on  section  11,  120  acres  on  section  9 
and  eighty  acres  on  section  16.  Mr.  Ander- 
son has  an  exceptionally  fine  farm  and  is  one 
of  the  big  farmers  of  Eidsvold  township, 
being  rated  among  the  substantial  men  of 
northwestern  Lyon  county. 

The  birth  of  Nels  Anderson  occurred  in 
Denmark  November  16,  1857,  one  of  two 
sons  born  to  Nels  and  Sophia  Anderson.  His 
parents  are  deceased.  His  brother  is  Ras- 
mus Anderson,  of  Vernon  county,  Wisconsin. 
In  1872  Nels  accompanied  his  parents  to 
America.  He  lived  in  Allamakee  county, 
Iowa,  a  few  years  and  in  Brookings  county. 
South  Dakota,  a  few  years,  and  in  1882  be- 
came a  resident  of  Lyon  county.  At  that 
time  he  bought  the  home  quarter  section  of 
his  farm,  which  at  that  time  contained  as 
the  only  improvement  a  little  shack  built  by 
a  man  who  took  the  land  as  a  tree  claim. 
Mr.  Anderson  has  lived  on  that  farm  thirty 
years  and  has  prospered  exceedingly. 

Mr.    Anderson    was   married    in     Eidsvold 


HOME  OF  NELS  ANDERSON 
Who  Has  Lived  on  This  Farm  in     Eidsvold  Township  Thirty  Years. 


MR.    AND    MRS.    JOHN    HARTZELL 
Of  Coon  Creek  Township,  From  a  Photograph  Taken  When  They  Started  Farming. 


\ 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


439 


township  in  the  fall  of  1880  to  .Mary  Fod- 
ness.  She  was  born  in  Norway  and  came 
to  the  United  States  when  a  child.  The  fam- 
ily came  to  Lyon  county  in  the  early  se\ 
enties.  Following  are  the  names  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson:  John,  who 
farms  a  quarter  section  of  his  father's  land; 
Carl,  a  banker  of  Aneta,  North  Dakota;  Ras- 
mus, who  farms  another  of  his  father's 
farms;  Edwin,  who  lives  at  home;  and  So- 
phia, a  graduate  of  the  Madison  Normal 
School.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of  Minneota  and 
Mr.  Anderson  has  stock  in  the  Farmers  Ele- 
vator Company  of  Minneota. 


SWAN  A.  DILLBERG  (1897)  is  a  promi- 
nent farmer  and  stockman  of  Coon  Creek 
township  and  has  resided  in  that  township 
fifteen  years.  He  owns  the  west  half  of  sec- 
tion 25,  a  short  distance  from  the  village  of 
Russell. 

Mr.  Dillberg  was  born  in  Sweden  Septem- 
ber 13,  1857,  the  son  of  Anders  and  Matilda 
(Swanson)  Dillberg,  both  of  whom  are 
buried  in  their  native  land.  Swan  was 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  received 
his  education  in  the  Swedish  schools.  He 
served  one  year  in  the  standing  army  and 
for  four  years  belonged  to  a  corps  of  sharp- 
shooters. 

In  1881  Mr.  Dillberg  came  to  America, 
and  from  that  time  until  he  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  1897  he  resided  in  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago. During  those  years  he  was  employed 
by  the  Union  Steel  Mills  Company,  Blake 
Brothers  Company,  Gem  Machine  Repair 
Company,  the  Woolkfolk  Manufacturing 
Grading  Machine  and  Dumping  Box  Com- 
pany, and  for  two  years  was  employed  on 
the   World's  Fair  buildings. 

The  year  of  arrival  to  Lyon  county  was 
1897.  For  three  years  Mr.  Dillberg  rented 
and  farmed  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
31,  Coon  Creek  township,  and  then  moved  to 
his  present  farm,  which  he  had  bought  the 
year  previous.  He  has  a  modern  house  and 
a  fine  set  of  outbuildings,  all  the  improve- 
ments having  been  made  by  our  subject.  He 
raises  considerable  stock,  and  for  the  past 
eleven  years  he  has  bought  and  shipped 
stock.  He  owns  stock  in  the  Farmers  Ele- 
vator Company  of  Russell  and  in  the  Farm- 
ers   Telephone    Company,    having   been    one 


of  the  organizers  and  a  director  of  the  latter. 
Mr.  Dillberg  affiliates  with  the  Swedish  Lu- 
theran church  and  the  Woodmen  and  Work- 
men   lodges. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Dillberg  to  Dorethy 
Swanson  occurred  in  Sweden  on  October  10, 
1878.  Their  children  are  named  Ernest, 
Fred,  Harry,  Gertie,  Rose,  Otto  and  Salma. 


CHARLES  A.  LAUDENSLAGER  (1878),  in 
partnership  with  his  father  and  brother,  is 
engaged  in  the  saloon  and  ice  business  in 
Marshall.  That  city  has  been  his  home  since 
he  was  a  boy  seven  years  of  age. 

The  father  of  our  subject  is  John  J.  Lau- 
denslager.  He  is  a  native  of  Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War. 
He  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Fiftieth  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers,  and  served  with  the 
eastern  army.  He  was  discharged  on  ac- 
count of  injury,  located  in  St.  Paul,  and 
later  enlisted  in  the  Fifth  Minnesota  Volun- 
teers. After  the  war  he  located  in  New  Ulm, 
where  he  was  married  and  where  he  re- 
sided until  locating  in  Marshall  in  1877. 
Upon  his  arrival  in  Marshall  the  elder  Mr. 
Laudenslager  founded  the  Pioneer  saloon  on 
the  site  of  the  present  building  and  has 
since  conducted  the  same — at  the  present 
time  in  partnership  with  his  sons,  Charles  A. 
and  Richard  S.  Another  child  of  the  family 
is  Alice  (Mrs.  Herman  Guttmann),  of  Man- 
kato.    Addie  died  when  fifteen  months  of  age. 

Charles  A.  Laudenslager  was  born  in  New 
Ulm  September  8,  1871,  and  when  seven 
years  of  age  he  located  with  his  parents  in 
Marshall.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  city  and  after  growing  up 
engaged  with  his  father  in  the  saloon  busi- 
ness and  ice  business.  The  pioneer  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  November,  1892,  and 
the  next  year  it  was  replaced  by  the  present 
two-story  building.  The  ice  business  was  es- 
tablished in  an  early  day  from  a  small  be- 
ginning. There  were  only  four  customers 
when  the  business  was  established  and  de- 
livery was  made  in  a  hand  cart. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  not  married. 
He  makes  his  home  with  his  parents.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  order. 


WILLIAM  SCHULTZ    (1884)    is  a   farmer 
residing  in  Lynd  township.     He  is  a  native 


440 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


of  Lyon  county  and  was  born  at  Marshall 
June  10,  1884.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
Julius  Schultz,  an  early  resident  of  the  coun- 
ty  who   died   several   years   ago. 

William  received  his  early  education  in 
Marshall,  where  he  attended  school  until  fif- 
teen years  of  age.  He  then  worked  at  farm 
labor  until  twenty-four  years  of  age;  later 
he  rented  a  farm  and  "batched"  for  two- 
years.  In  March,  1911,  the  subject  of  our 
sketch  rented  the  A.  J.  Tucker  farm  in  Lyud 
township,  which  he  operated  one  year  and 
then  moved  to  the  C.  R.  Madden  farm  in  the 
same  township.  Besides  farming  Mr.  Schultz 
engages  in  stock  raising,  including  Durham 
cattle  and  grade  hogs.  He  is  a  successful 
farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

On  March  9,  1910,  Mr.  Schultz  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Elsie  Lahman  at  Wautoma, 
Wisconsin.  Mrs.  Schultz  is  a  daughter  of 
Fred  Lahman  and  was  born  January  25,  1890, 
at  Wautoma. 


ARTHUR  J.  McGINN  (1881)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  cigar  factory  in  Minneota.  He 
was  born  in  New  York  February  21,  1875. 

In  May,  1881,  Arthur  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Lyon  county  and  located  in  Wester- 
heim  township,  where  the  father  had  pur- 
chased land.  He  resided  on  the  farm  and 
worked  for  his  father  until  the  latter's 
death  in  1889.  He  then  took  charge  of  the 
farm,  having  bought  the  interests  of  the 
other  heirs.  He  continued  farming  until  1899, 
when  he  moved  to  Minneota  and  learned  the 
cigar  maker's  trade  under  his  brother, 
James,  who  is  now  a  county  commissioner. 
He  worked  for  his  brother  until  1908  and 
then  worked  for  L.  T.  Thompson  until  the 
following  spring. 

In  the  spring  of  1909  our  subject  pur- 
chased the  Exchange  Cafe  and  conducted  it 
until  May,  1911.  On  the  latter  date,  in  com- 
pany with  M.  J.  Moore,  he  purchased  the 
L.  T.  Thompson  cigar  factory.  The  following 
August  he  purchased  Mr.  Moore's  interest 
and  has  since  conducted  the  factory  under 
his  own  name.  Mr.  McGinn  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Modern  Woodmen,  Knights  of 
Columbus,  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and 
Yeomen  lodges. 

At  Seaforth,  Minnesota,  November  26, 1901, 
occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  McGinn  to 
Laura  Cassady,  a  native  of  Lyon  county.   She 


is  a  daughter  of  Ed.  and  Stella  Cassady.   Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McGinn  have  one  child,  Arthur  J. 

The  man  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  is 
a  son  of  Patrick  and  Sarah  (McBeth)  Mc- 
Ginn, the  former  a  native  of  Ireland  and 
the  latter  of  New  York  City.  Both  are  de- 
ceased, the  father  having  been  killed  on  his 
farm  in  1889  by  a  well  caving  in  on  him. 
The  mother  died  in  May,  1890.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  as  follows: 
Mary  Ellen  Grossburger  of  New  York;  Sarah 
Ellis,  of  New  York  City;  James,  of  Minne- 
ota; Rachael  Lumphrey,  of  Beardsley,  Min- 
nesota; Rosabelle  Walsh,  of  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois; Maggie  Cassady,  of  Saskatchewan,  Can- 
ada; Susie  Schaeffer,  of  New  York;  Arthur 
J.,  Frances  E.  Milton,  of  New  York  City. 


SOLOMON  GREELEY  (1S98).  One  of  the 
largest  landholders  in  Lyon  county  is  Solo- 
mon Greeley,  who  lives  on  the  northwest 
cpiarter  of  section  23,  Sodus  township.  He 
is  the  owner,  together  with  his  sons,  of  1180 
acres  of  land  in  Lyon  county.  He  is  a  vet- 
eran of  the  Civil  War,  having  enlisted  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1864,  served  two  years  and  three 
months,  and  having  been  discharged  at  Sel- 
ma,  Alabama. 

Solomon  Greeley  was  born  in  Green  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  on  December  3,  1847,  a  son 
of  Solomon  and  Charity  Arville  (Chaffee) 
Greeley,  natives  of  Vermont.  They  settled 
in  Wisconsin  in  an  early  day.  When  our 
subject  was  only  two  years  of  age  his  mother 
died.  In  1861  he  accompanied  his  father  to 
Worth  county,  Iowa,  where  he  resided  until 
he  enlisted  in  the  Civil  War.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  he  returned  to  Worth  county,  rented 
land,  and  resided  there  several  years.  Then 
he  moved  to  Winnebago  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  bought  land  and  farmed  until  1898,  the 
year  of  his  arrival  to  Lyon  county.  He  lived 
on  section  27,  Sodus  township,  until  1909, 
at  which  time  he  moved  to  his  present  resi- 
dence, the  northwest  quarter  of  section  23, 
Sodus  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Yeomen  lodge  and  has  served  one  term  on 
the  township  board.  He  is  a  stockholder  and 
a  director  of  the  Amiret  State  Bank. 

On  January  31,  1871,  Mr.  Greeley  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Eudora  S.  Boynton,  a 
native  of  Windsor  county,  Vermont,  and  a 
daughter  of  Freeman  and  Lois  (Gannett) 
Boynton,    also    natives    of    Vermont.      Mrs. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


441 


Greeley  was  born  March  10,  1851.  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  Greeley  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  George,  F.,  Walter  E.,  Otis  M., 
Ray  O.  and  Hazel  M. 

BERT  L.  ENGLISH  (188S)  is  the  editor 
and  publisher  of  the  Tracy  Headlight,  the 
successor  of  one  of  the  early  established 
papers  of  that  city.  He  was  born  in  Waseca 
county,  Minnesota,  September  26,  1883,  the 
son  of  Michael  and  Matilda  (Boydell)  Eng- 
lish, natives  of  Vermont  and  Massachusetts, 
respectively,  and  now  residents  of  Tracy. 

In  1888  Bert  accompanied  the  family  to 
Tracy,  resided  there  five  years,  and  then  re- 
turned with  his  parents  to  Waseca,  where  he 
remained  several  years.  Returning  to  Tracy, 
Mr.  English  grew  to  manhood  in  that  city. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  Tracy  High 
School  and  during  his  school  days  learned 
the  printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Tracy 
Republican,  securing  his  first  taste  of  news- 
paper work  that  was  destined  to  shape  his 
career. 

When  twenty  years  of  age,  in  1903,  Mr. 
English  went  to  Rolla,  North  Dakota,  and 
took  a  position  as  bookkeeper  in  the  State 
Bank  of  Rolla.  Later  he  was  assistant  cash- 
ier of  the  Farmers  Bank  of  Garrison,  North 
Dakota,  and  later  still  was  cashier  of  the 
Citizens  State  Bank  of  Douglas,  North  Da- 
kota. 

In  the  spring  of  1908  Mr.  English  gave  up 
the  banking  business  to  engage  in  newspaper 
work.  He  moved  to  Parkers  Prairie,  Minne- 
sota, bought  the  Independent,  and  edited  it 
until  he  moved  to  Tracy  in  May,  1910.  At 
that  time  he  purchased  the  Republican,  on 
which  he  had  learned  his  trade,  changed  the 
name  to  Headlight,  and  has  since  presided 
over  its  destinies.  The  Headlight  is  a  Pro- 
gressive Republican  paper.  Mr.  English  has 
been  president  of  the  Tracy  Commercial 
Club  for  the  past  two  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  K.  of  C.  lodges. 

Mr.  English  was  married  to  Rosella  J. 
Mich  at  Rochester,  Minnesota,  on  June  23, 
1908.  She  was  born  in  Olmsted  county, 
Minnesota.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  English  have  one 
child,  Dorothy,  born  at  Parkers  Prairie  June 
9,  1909. 

REINIER  J.  BOT  (1886)  owns  and 
farms   300  acres  of  Grandview  township's 


best  farm  land  and  makes  his  home  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  22,  where  he 
has  a  very  comfortable  dwelling. 

It  was  in  Holland  that  our  subject  first 
saw  the  light  of  day,  and  the  date  of  his 
birth  was  October  23,  1866.  The  boy  was 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  attended 
the  country  schools,  and  did  his  share  of 
the  farm  work.  In  1886  the  family 
came  to  this  country  and  the  father 
bought  land  from  B.  F.  Jellison  in  Lyon 
county.  The  boy  was  twenty  years  of  age 
when  the  family  located  on  the  south  half 
of  section  11,  Grandview  township,  and  he 
made  his  home  with  his  parents  until  he 
was  married  in  1896. 

In  November  of  that  year  he  married 
Julia  Maertens,  the  wedding  occurring  in 
Ghent.  His  wife  is  a  native  of  Belgium. 
To  this  union  nine  children  have  been 
born,  Henry,  William,  Anna,  Edward,  Ida, 
Emma,   Bertha,   Alfonsis  and   Maria. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Bot  bought  a 
quarter  section  of  land  three  miles  south 
of  Minneota  and  made  that  his  home  seven 
years — until  buying  his  present  farm  nine 
years  ago.  He  is  conducting  his  farm 
with  profit  and  is  one  of  the  community's 
progressive  citizens.  Mr.  Bot  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  son  of 
William  H.  and  Debora  (Schroeder)  Bot. 
The  father  died  on  his  Grandview  township 
farm  in  1907  and  the  mother  lives  in 
Ghent  with  her  son  Hero.  The  elder  Bots 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Hero,  Bernard,  Reinier  J.,  Cath- 
rena,  Henry,  John  and  William. 

JAMES  A.  McNIVEN  (1883),  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Marshall  State  Bank,  is  an 
early  day  settler  of  Southwestern  Minne- 
sota and  has  been  a  resident  of  Marshall 
for  nearly  thirty  years.  He  was  born  in 
Bruce  county,  Ontario,  Canada,  August  14, 
1862,  the  son  of  Malcolm  C.  and  Mary 
(Mclntyre)  McNiven.  The  father  was 
born  in  Scotland,  the  mother  in  Pictou, 
Nova  Scotia. 

When  our  subject  was  a  child,  in  1873, 
the  family  moved  to  Redwood  county, 
Minnesota,  where  the  father  homesteaded 
land.  On  the  paternal  farm  James  A.  Mc- 
Niven grew  to  manhood,  securing  an  edu- 


442 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


cation  in  the  public  schools  and  in  Curtis 
Business  College.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self, moving  to  Marshall  in  1883.  For 
two  years  he  was  a  traveling  salesman  for 
the  Marder  Bushell  &  Glessner  Company, 
of  Chicago,  and  for  three  years  traveled 
for  the  Piano  Harvester  Company  and  the 
Easterly  Machine  Company. 

In  1889  Mr.  McNiven  entered  into  part- 
nership with  D.  D.  Forbes  in  the  real  es- 
tate, loans,  collections  and  insurance  busi- 
ness, with  offices  over  the  Lyon  County 
Bank,  a  business  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected for  many  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1905  S.  Odell  bought  the  interests  of  Mr. 
Forbes  and  the  business  was  continued  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Odell  &  McNiven. 
On  June  1,  1909,  Messrs.  Odell  and  Mc- 
Niven, in  partnership  with  S.  J.  Forbes, 
established  the  Marshall  State  Bank,  tak- 
ing over  the  business  of  the  real  estate 
firm.  The  officers  of  the  bank  are  as  fol- 
lows: S.  Odell,  president;  James  A.  Mc- 
Niven, vice  president;  S.  J.  Forbes,  cash- 
ier. 

Mr.  McNiven  is  affiliated  with  several 
Masonic  orders — the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter, 
Knight  Templar  and  Shrine. 


LINCOLN  L.  ANDERSON  (1887)  is  one 
of  the  largest  farmers  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  county,  renting  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  12  in  Rock  Lake,  upon 
which  he  makes  his  home,  and  farming  in 
addition  other  land  in  Rock  Lake,  Sodus 
and  Custer  townships,  bringing  up  his  total 
farming  acreage  to  600  acres. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  Lyon  county  product, 
having  been  born  December  14,  1887,  in 
Custer  township.  His  parents,  Charles  A. 
and  Mary  (Erickson)  Anderson,  pioneer 
settlers  of  Custer  township,  are  now  re- 
siding on  their  farm  in  Rock  Lake,  near 
Balaton.  Lincoln  attended  the  country 
school  in  his  district  in  Sodus  when  a  boy 
and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  the  quarter  section 
in  12,  where  he  now  lives.  Our  subject 
devotes  much  of  his  time  to  the  raising 
of  Hereford  cattle,  Chester  White  swine 
and  sheep. 

Lincoln  Anderson  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen   lodge   of  Balaton.      He 


was  married  June  2,  1909,  in  Custer  town- 
ship, to  Lorenta  Gifford,  a  native  of  Lyon 
county.  Her  parents,  George  B.  and  Ruth 
(Hughes)  Gifford,  were  pioneer  residents 
of  Custer.  Mrs.  Anderson  was  born  De- 
cember 16,   1888. 


EYOLFUR  BJORNSON  (1880),  Wester- 
heim  township  farmer,  was  born  in  Iceland 
July  20,  1850.  He  came  to  America  in  1880 
and  his  home  has  ever  since  been  in  Lyon 
county.  He  worked  out  one  year  and  in  1881 
he  bought  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
16,  Westerheim  township,  upon  which  he  has 
ever  since  had  his  home. 

At  that  time  there  were  very  few  residents 
in  his  neighborhood,  among  them  Joseph 
Josephson,  A.  Hellickson  and  the  Orsens. 
Mr.  Bjornson  added  to  his  original  farm  by 
the  purchase  of  the  east  half  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  17,  and  he  has  one 
of  the  best  improved  farms  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. His  home,  erected  in  1905,  is  one  of 
the  finest  in  the  county.  Mr.  Bjornson 
feeds  cattle  and  hogs  and  raises  sheep. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Bjornson  to  Gudrun 
Goodman  son  occurred  in  Iceland  in  October, 
1875.  They  have  one  child,  Adalbjorn,  born 
February  8,  1888.  He  lives  at  home  and 
assists  in  the  management  of  the  farm.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


WILHELM  BURNS  (1885)  conducts  a 
harness  shop  and  restaurant  in  the  village 
of  Balaton.  He  was  born  in  Sweden  June 
2,  1876,  and  when  nine  years  of  age  came 
to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Balaton. 
There  he  has  resided  since,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  seven  years  spent  in  Rock  Lake 
township.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Carrie 
Burns,  the  former  of  Murray  county  and  the 
latter  of  Balaton.  They  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children:  Sadie,  Wilhelm,  Ray,  Vira, 
Anna,  Alma  and  Lida. 

In  1903  the  subject  of  this  review  opened 
a  restaurant  and  confectionery  store  in  Bala- 
ton, which  he  has  since  conducted.  He 
operated  a  harness  shop  in  Marshall  for 
several  months,  purchasing  from  Tom  John- 
son, later  moved  the  stock  and  tools  to  Bala- 
ton, and  has  since  conducted  a  harness  shop  in 
connection  with  the  restaurant.  Mr.  Burns  is 
local   agent   for   the    Albert    Lea    Gas    Light 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTOJ I V . 


II: 


Company,  the  American  Gas  Machine  Com- 
pany of  Albert  Lea,  and  the  Bolte  &  Weyer 
Gas  Light  Company  of  Chicago.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  Yeo- 
men   lodges. 

.Mr.  Burns  was  married  on  November  24, 
1910,  to  Fannie  Stovve,  of  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
sota.   Mrs.  Burns  is  a  native  of  Minnesota. 


HANS  L.  OFTEDAL  (1891)  is  one  of  the 
prosperous  farmers  and  land  owners  of  Val- 
lers.  township.  He  was  born  in  Stavanger, 
Norway,  November  10,  1864.  His  father,  Lud- 
vig  G.  Oftedal,  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade 
and  followed  farming  also.  His  mother  was 
Kara  (Nesse)  Oftedal. 

Hans  was  twenty-one  years  old  in  1885  and 
at  that  time  he  severed  his  home  ties  and  im- 
migrated to  the  United  States.  He  worked 
at  odd  jobs  in  Minneapolis  two  years,  spent 
one  year  in  Dakota  county,  Minnesota,  and 
then  located  in  Yellow  Medicine  county, 
where  he  worked  out  until  1891.  That  is  the 
year  of  his  arrival  to  Lyon  county.  He  pur- 
chased 160  acres  of  his  present  farm  on  sec- 
tions 26  and  27,  Vallers  township,  and  has 
ever  since  resided  there.  He  added  to  his 
farm  by  purchase  and  is  now  the  owner  of 
280  acres.  He  raises  improved  Yorkshire 
hogs  and  grade  cattle. 

Mr.  Oftedal  has  been  active  in  local  af- 
fairs. He  served  several  years  as  a  member 
of  the  Township  Board  of  Supervisors  and 
has  been  treasurer  of  his  township,  as  well 
as  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  71.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  United  Lutheran  church. 

In  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota,  on  March 
23, 1898,  Mr.  Oftedal  was  married  to  Matilda 
Johnson.  She  was  bom  in  Red  Wing,  Min- 
nesota, October  3,  1871.  Her  parents,  Ole 
and  Louise  Johnson,  were  born  in  Sweden 
and  now  live  in  Goodhue  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Oftedal  have  four  children:  Hazel  L., 
born  November  22,  1899;  Francis  L.,  bora 
July  14,  1901;  Raymond  L.,  born  October  8, 
1903;  and  Morris  H.,  bora  November  17, 
1905. 


BURL  STORY  (1878),  agent  for  the  John 
Gund  Brewing  Company  at  Marshall,  is  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  and  homesteaders  of 
Lyon  county,  having  resided  here  for  the 
past   thirty-four   years.     He   is    the    son    of 


Hulet  and  Emma  (Glidden)  Story,  natives  of 
New  York  State,  and  he  was  born  atJanes- 
ville,  Wisconsin,  on  the  fourth  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1855. 

On  a  farm  near  Janesville  Mr.  Story  was 
brought  up,  and  he  resided  there  until  com- 
ing to  Lyon  county  in  1878  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years.  He  bought  railroad  land 
on  section  15,  Grandview  township,  adjoining 
the  village  of  Ghent.  He  built  a  little  shack 
on  the  place  and  made  his  home  there  until 
1880,  when  he  moved  the  building  to  Ghent, 
which  at  that  time  had  only  one  other  build- 
ing of  any  importance,  a  grocery  store  con- 
ducted by  Jerry  Fagan.  After  moving  the 
building  Mr.  Story  built  an  addition  and 
during  the  next  six  years  conducted  a  hotel, 
the  first  in  the  village.  The  building  is  now 
a  part  of  the  Ed.  Gits  store  building. 

Mr.  Story  sold  his  hotel  to  a  Mr.  Paradis 
and  bought  a  claim  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  32,  Stanley  township.  He  proved 
up  on  the  place  and  resided  there  about  ten 
years,  moving  to  Marshall  at  the  end  of  that 
time  and  erecting  a  home  in  the  city.  Dur- 
ing the  next  few  years  he  conducted  a  ma- 
chine shop  and  served  one  year  as  chief  of 
police.  His  wife  died  in  1900  and  the  next 
year  Mr.  Story  went  to  Alaska,  where  he 
spent  some  time  mining  and  prospecting. 
Since  his  return  he  has  lived  in  Marshall, 
one  year  serving  as  chief  of  police  and  since 
as  distributing  agent  for  the  John  Gund 
Brewing  Company.  Mr.  Story  is  a  member 
of  the  Elks  lodge.  In  Stanley  township  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

At  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  on  September  13, 
1877,  Mr.  Story  was  married  to  Henrietta 
Zimmerman,  a  native  of  that  place.  The 
date  of  her  death  was  August,  1899.  Two 
children  were  born  as  a  result  of  this  union: 
Laura  (Mrs.  James  Ladenberg),  of  Lyon 
county,  and  Roy,  who  died  in  California  in 
1896  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years. 


GUST  M.  BAERT  (1892)  is  a  farmer  of 
Lynd  township  and  a  true  lover  of  Lyon 
county.  Mr.  Baert  is  a  native  of  Belgium  and 
was  born  December  29,  1867,  a  son  of  Con- 
stand  and  Mary  (Haas)  Baert.  The  father 
died  in  1870  of  smallpox;  the  mother  still 
lives  at  the  old  home  in  East  Flanders. 

Gust  Baert  received  his  early  education 
in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  where  he  attended 


444 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


school  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  He  then 
worked  for  his  parents  on  the  farm  until 
twenty-three  years  old.  On  February  7,  1891, 
he  left  Antwerp  for  America  and  arrived  at 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  February  23.  He 
worked  in  the  Oliver  plow  factory  one  year 
and  then  came  to  Lyon  county  and  worked 
on  a  farm  near  Ghent  one  year.  After  spend- 
ing about  two  months  in  Montana  and  Idaho, 
looking  over  the  country,  Mr.  Baert  returned 
to  Ghent,  where  he  resumed  his  labors  on 
the  farm  for  one  year.  At  the  close  of  that 
year's  work  he  left  America,  going  to  London 
and  thence  to  Belgium  and  other  parts  of 
Europe,  traveling  three  months.  He  then 
returned  to  America  and  located  at  Moline, 
Illinois,  where  he  worked  for  the  Mutual 
Wheel  Company  for  a  year  and  then  returned 
to  Lyon  county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Baert  operates  487  acres  of  land  in 
Lynd  township.  He  also  raises  considerable 
stock,  including  Duroc-Jersey  hogs,  Red 
Polled  Angus  cattle  and  Plymouth  Rock 
chickens,  and  he  is  a  stockholder  of  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Lynd.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church  and  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters.  Mr.  Baert  was 
road  overseer  two  years  in  Lynd  township. 

At  Moline,  Illinois,  December  11,  1895, 
occurred  the  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Hur- 
burtina  Cuipers,  a  daughter  of  Henrick  Cuip- 
ers,  who  died  in  North  Dakota  in  1908.  Mrs. 
Cuipers  resides  at  Edgeiey,  North  Dakota. 
Mrs.  Baert  was  born  in  Belgium.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Baert  have  been  born  the  following 
eleven  children:  Harry,  Frank,  John,  Ma- 
tilda, Victor,  Camial,  Alfons,  Louise,  Valerie, 
Lizzie  and  Rosa.  All  reside  at  home  with 
their  parents. 


WILLIAM  HALL  (1899).  One  of  the  most 
prosperous  farmers  of  Lyon  county  is  Wil- 
liam Hall,  of  Shelburne  township.  He  was 
born  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  July  15,  1859,  and 
is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Hannah) 
Hall,  both  deceased.  The  first  twenty-seven 
years  of  our  subject's  life  were  spent  with 
his  parents.  Until  fifteen  years  of  age  he 
attended  school  in  and  near  Chicago.  The 
other  twelve  years  were  spent  assisting  his 
father  on  the  farm.  After  his  father's  death 
he  rented  the  old  home  farm  near  Chicago 
and  operated  it  until  1899. 

In  the  fall  of  1888  Mr.  Hall  purchased  a 


cpiarter  section  of  land  in  Shelburne  town- 
ship. In  1899  he  moved  with  his  family  to 
that  farm  and  they  have  resided  there  since. 
In  1906  he  purchased  forty-five  acres  adjoin- 
ing his  land  from  the  railroad  company, 
making  him  the  owner  of  over  200  acres  of 
Lyon  county  land.  Mr.  Hall  raises  consider- 
able stock,  including  Poland  China  hogs, 
Hereford  cattle,  Plymouth  Rock  chickens, 
Clyde,  Belgian  and  Norman  horses.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  of  the 
Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  the  Masonic 
orders.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  49  for  twelve  years  and  was  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Shelburne  township  two 
years. 

On  March  18,  1889,  Mr.  Hall  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mary  E.  Templeton,  a  daughter 
of  Richard  Templeton,  of  Kankakee  county, 
Illinois.  She  was  born  May  23,  1869.  Mr. 
and  Mrs..  Hall  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing named  children:  Robert,  born  January 
19,  1892;  Richard,  born  July  30,  1894;  Annie, 
born  April  24,  1900;  Viola,  born  March  17, 
1903.     All  reside  at  home. 

Mr.  Hall  has  three  brothers  and  two  sis- 
ters, as  follows:  James,  of  Balaton;  John, 
of  Iowa;  Robert,  of  Battle  Creek,  Michigan; 
Mary  (Mrs.  John  Nixon),  of  Balaton;  Belle 
(Mrs.  Frank  Snow),  of  Momence,  Illinois. 


DR.  C.  B.  FRASER  (1903)  is  a  dentist  of 
Cottonwood.  He  is  a  native  of  Woodstock, 
Ontario,  Canada,  where  he  was  born  June 
23,  1879.  His  parents  are  Angus  and  Anna 
(Dunn)  Fraser,  the  former  a  native  of  Iver- 
ness,  Scotland,  and  the  latter  of  Kingston, 
Ontario,  Canada.  They  reside  at  Woodstock 
and  have  three  children,  as  follows:  Dr. 
C.  B.,  of  this  sketch;  George,  an  express 
agent  for  the  Dominion  Express  Company 
for  Wayburn,  Manitoba;  and  Blanch  (Mrs. 
Roy  Brown),  of  Ingersoll,  Canada. 

Our  subject  received  his  schooling  in  the 
Woodstock  Academy,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1900.  He  then  attended  the 
University  of  Toronto's  Dental  Department 
two  years,  after  which  he  attended  the 
Chicago  Dental  College,  graduating  in  1903. 

In  the  last  named  year  Dr.  Fraser  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  located  at  Cottonwood, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession.     He  is  a  member 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


445 


of     the     Masonic     and     Modern     Woodmen 
lodges. 

At  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  June  28,  1904,  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  Dr.  Fraser  to  Camille 
Brownell,  a  native  of  Westplains,  Missouri. 
They  are  the  parents  of  four  children: 
Donald  G.,  Edward  A.,  Scott  B.  and  Frank  C. 


JOHN  R.  CASTLE  (1883)  is  the  owner  of 
200  acres  of  the  land  in  Clifton  township 
originally  purchased  by  his  father  upon  com- 
ing to  the  county  in  1883.  He  raises  consid- 
erable stock  and  has  made  a  success  of  his 
farming  operations.  It  was  in  1899  that 
John  Castle  rented  land  of  his  father  in 
Clifton  township  and  started  farming  for 
himself.  He  farmed  the  rented  land  two 
years  and  then  bought  a  quarter  section 
from  his  father.  Later  he  added  an  addi- 
tional forty  acres,  giving  him  his  present 
acreage. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Will  county,  Illi- 
nois, July  9.  1S75.  His  parents,  Robert  and 
Agnes  (Watson)  Castle,  natives  of  England 
and  Scotland,  respectively,  came  to  the 
United  States  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in 
Illinois.  When  John  was  a  lad  of  eight  years 
the  family  moved  to  Lyon  county  and  located 
in  Clifton  township,  and  John  was  brought 
up  on  the  farm. 

The  father  originally  owned  the  entire 
south  half  of  section  26,  which  he  later  sold, 
and  then  he  bought  560  acres  on  section  21, 
and  forty  acres  on  section  28.  John  attended 
the  country  school  and  helped  with  the  farm 
work  and  in  time  came  to  be  the  owner  of 
part  of  the  land  originally  owned  by  his 
father.  Our  subject  was  a  member  of  the 
school  board  of  district  No.  81  and  clerk  of 
that  body  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  his  fraternal 
allegiance  is  with  the  Yeomen  lodge. 

The  ceremony  which  joined  John  Castle 
and  Hattie  I.  Mead  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  was  performed  in  the  township 
January  1,  1901.  His  wife  was  born  in  Lyon 
county  November  30,  1880,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Fannie  (Moulton)  Mead,  na- 
tives of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  respec- 
tively. The  father  died  in  1911  and  the 
mother  lives  in  the  township.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Castle  have  been  born  three  chil- 
dren:   Gilbert  G.,  born  November  23,   1901; 


.Maud  E.,  born  March  8,  1906;   and  Fern  L., 
born  January  7,  1912. 


J.  S.  LEAS  (1900)  is  a  successful  farmer 
of  Stanley  township,  where  he  has  lived  for 
the  past  twelve  years.  He  owns  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  10.  Mr.  Leas  has  a 
fine  set  of  buildings,  erected  in  1902,  and  a 
well  improved  farm  in  other  ways.  He  en- 
gages quite  extensively  in  stock  raising, 
making  a  specialty  of  full-blooded  Chester 
White  hogs. 

Iowa  is  the  birthplace  of  Mr.  Leas  and 
June  6,  1S69,  is  the  date  of  his  nativity.  His 
parents,  Jeremiah  and  Susana  (Henderson) 
Leas,  were  both  born  in  Ohio,  the  former  in 
1827,  the  later  in  1828.  Until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  our  subject  attended  school. 
During  the  next  three  years  he  worked  on 
the  farm  for  his  father  and  then  started  in 
the  business  for  himself. 

In  1899  Mr.  Leas  bought  his  Lyon  county 
farm  and  the  following  year  he  took  posses- 
sion. Most  of  the  improvements  on  the 
place  were  made  by  him.  Mr.  Leas  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Swan 
Lake  and  he  has  held  the  office  of  treasurer 
of  school  district  No.  34  for  five  years. 

J.  S.  Leas  and  Hester  Olive  Kelly  were 
married  at  Waukon,  Iowa,  in  1894.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Leas,  John  and  Jane  Kelly, 
are  dead.  The  following  named  six  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leas:  Leo, 
born  April  7,  1895;  Lauren  Reid,  born  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1899;  Glen  Vernon,  born  January  16, 
1903;  Velva  Ruth,  born  December  30,  1905; 
Beryl  Wayne,  born  September  11,  1909; 
Cecil  Eugene,  born  March  24,  1911. 


MONTGOMERY  E.  DRAKE  (1897)  is  the 
register  of  deeds  of  Lyon  county.  He  was 
born  in  Wright  township,  Hillsdale  county, 
Michigan,  July  31,  1869.  In  his  native  coun- 
ty he  grew  to  manhood  and  secured  his  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he 
went  to  Faulk  county,  South  Dakota,  took  a 
homestead  claim,  and  taught  school  four 
years. 

Mr.  Drake  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1897. 
He  located  in  Minneota  and  for  several  years 
was  in  the  employ  of  Bingham  Brothers, 
grain  brokers.  Upon  the  death  of  S.  N. 
Harrington,  the  register  of  deeds,  in  Septem- 


446 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ber,  1903,  Mr.  Drake  was  appointed  to  fill 
the  vacancy,  and  he  has  ever  since  held  the 
office.  While  a  resident  of  Minneota  he 
served  as  village  recorder  and  clerk  and  as 
treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Education.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  and  incorporators 
of  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  National  Bank 
of  Minneota  and  for  a  number  of  years  was 
a  director  of  the  same. 

Our  subject  is  affiliated  with  a  number  of 
worthy  fraternal  orders.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  the  Ma- 
sonic orders  and  has  filled  all  the  chairs  of 
the  last  named,  including  high  priest.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star  and  for  three 
years  was  its  worthy  patron.  He  also  holds 
membership  in  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge  and  the 
Methodist  church.  At  Minneota  he  was 
secretary  of  the  Masonic  lodge. 

Mr.  Drake  was  married  at  Hudson,  Michi- 
gan, March  31.  1892,  to  Hattie  L.  Masters, 
who  was  born  at  Pioneer,  Ohio,  just  over  the 
Michigan  line.  Seven  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drake,  of  whom  the 
following  named  thi-ee  are  living:  Mildred, 
Aileen  and  Vivian. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Alonzo  H. 
and  Laura  A.  (Thorne)  Drake,  natives,  re- 
spectively, of  Michigan  and  New  York  and  of 
English  descent.  Besides  M.  E.  Drake,  there 
are  three  children  in  the  family,  namely: 
Morton  B.,  of  Pittsford,  Michigan;  Ethel,  of 
Hudson,  Michigan;  and  Louise  (Mrs.  F.  W. 
Burt),  of  Pittsford,  Michigan. 


MICHAEL  F.  AHERN  (1883)  is  cashier  of 
the  State  Bank  of  Taunton  and  one  of  the 
prominent  citizens  of  that  village.  He  owns 
an  elegant  home  in  Taunton  and  480  acres 
of  Lyon  county  soil.  For  the  past  six  years 
he  has  been  treasurer  of  the  village. 

Mr.  Ahern  is  a  native  of  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, and  was  born  September  15,  1876.  When 
a  child,  in  1883,  he  came  to  Lyon  county  with 
his  parents  and  lived  on  the  farm  on  section 
8,  Eidsvold,  until  fifteen  years  old.  During 
the  next  four  years  he  was  a  student  of  the 
Marshall  school  and  then  for  three  years  was 
manager  of  the  Western  Elevator  Company 
at  Taunton.  He  spent  three  years  as  assist- 
ant cashier  of  the  Farmers  8c  Merchants 
Bank  of  Minneota  and  then  in  1905  organized 
the  State  Bank  of  Taunton,  of  which  he  has 
since  been  cashier. 


Mr.  Ahern  married  Alice  G.  Langan  at 
Minneota  on  June  27,  1906.  She  is  a  native 
of  Westerheim  township  and  is  the  daughter 
of  Pat  Langan,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
that  precinct.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ahern  have 
three  daughters:  Genevieve,  Catherine  and 
Dorothy.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Ahern,  Garrett  A.  and 
Catherine  A.  (Brown)  Ahern,  came  from 
Ireland  in  the  fifties  and  were  married  in 
Illinois.  They  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1883 
and  he  died  on  the  farm  in  Eidsvold  in 
1899,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  Mrs. 
Ahern  lives  with  a  son  on  the  Eidsvold  farm. 
In  the  family  are  the  following  named  ten 
children:  Philip  P.,  of  Taunton;  Josie,  Wil- 
liam, Ellen  (Mrs.  Thomas  Welch),  of  Minne- 
ota; James  J.,  Michael  F.,  of  this  review; 
Catherine  (Mrs.  Morris  Breen),  of  Minne- 
apolis; Thomas,  assistant  cashier  of  the 
Farmers  Bank  of  Hampden,  North  Dakota; 
Garrett  F.,  of  Montana;   and  Annie. 


LARS  F.  MONSETH  (1897)  is  the  owner 
of  a  240-acre  fertile  farm  on  sections  5  and 
8,  Nordland  township,  and  is  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  his  precinct. 

He  was  born  in  Orkdalen,  Norway,  Octo- 
ber 1,  1872,  a  son  of  Frederick  F.  and  Ellen 
(Larson)  Roe,  both  of  whom  are  still  living 
in  their  native  land.  Lars  attended  school 
until  fifteen  years  of  age  and  then  worked 
out  on  the  farm  until  he  came  to  America 
in  1895. 

Upon  his  arrival  to  the  New  World  in  the 
spring  of  that  year,  he  located  in  Minne- 
apolis and  spent  the  summer  working  in  a 
lumber  yard.  The  next  winter  he  was  in  the 
woods  near  Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin;  then  he 
went  back  to  Minneapolis  and  again  took 
employment  in  a  lumber  yard.  He  took  a 
course  in  Wreeman's  Academy,  Minneapolis, 
during  the  winter  of  1896-97  and  the  next 
spring  became  a  resident  of  Lyon  county. 

For  eight  months  Mr.  Monseth  was  em- 
ployed on  the  farm  of  C.  K.  Melby,  who  then 
lived  in  Nordland  township,  and  the  next 
winter  was  again  spent  in  the  Wisconsin 
woods.  In  St.  Paul  he  was  a  motorman  in 
the  employ  of  the  St.  Paul  Street  Railway 
Company  for  six  months.     He  came  back  to 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


447 


Lyon  county  in  September,  1898,  and  has 
ever  since  resided  here. 

Mr.  Monseth  rented  land  near  Minneota 
three  years  and  then  bought  his  present  farm 
in  Nordland.  He  has  a  well-improved  farm 
and  is  a  successful  agriculturist.  He  gives 
a  great  deal  of  attention  to  raising  Short- 
horn cattle  and  blooded  Duroc-Jersey  swine 
and  has  fine  herds.  His  other  business  in- 
terests consist  of  an  interest  in  the  Farmers 
Elevator  Company  of  Minneota. 

For  the  past  ten  years  Mr.  Monseth  has 
been  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  24  and 
he  served  as  road  overseer  of  his  district 
one  year.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  church 
worker,  being  a  member  of  Hemnes  Norwe- 
gian Lutheran  Church  of  Nordland  township. 
He  is  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
that  organization  and  is  choir  master. 

Mr.  Monseth  was  married  at  Minneapolis 
October  2-1,  1898,  to  Marit  Metlie,  who  was 
born  in  Norway  November  13,  1873.  They 
have  five  children:  Elvina,  born  May  18, 
1900;  Cora,  born  April  24,  1903;  Frithjof, 
born  December  18,  1904;  Lillian,  born  Sep- 
tember 30,  1906;  Mildred,  born  June  4,  1909. 


CHARLES  R.  LAINGEN  (1898)  is  the 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Grieve  & 
Laingen,  general  merchants  of  Cottonwood. 
He  was  born  in  Blue  Earth  county,  near 
Lake  Crystal,  May  26,  1872,  and  resided 
there  until  twenty-six  years  of  age.  When 
seventeen  years  of  age  he  became  a  clerk 
in  a  general  store  at  Lake  Crystal  and  then 
worked  six  years  for  the  Northwestern  Rail- 
road Company. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Peter  K. 
and  Ronaug  (Loftsgaard)  Laingen,  natives  of 
Norway.  Peter  K.  Laingen  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1860  and  resided  in  Cali- 
fornia ten  years.  In  1870  he  moved  to  Blue 
Earth  county,  Minnesota,  where  he  bought 
land  and  was  married.  He  resided  in  that 
county  until  his  death  on  December  16,  1911. 
The  mother  died  in  1873. 

In  1898  our  subject  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  located  at  Cottonwood,  where  he  entered 
the  firm  of  Olson,  Kelly  &  Laingen,  general 
merchants.  In  1902  he  bought  out  John 
Michie,  of  the  firm  of  Michie  &  Grieve,  and 
the  firm  has  since  been  Grieve  &  Laingen. 
Michie  &  Grieve  were  the  successors  of 
Dahl  Brothers,   the  original   owners   of  one 


of  the  first  stores  in  Cottonwood.  They  oc- 
cupied a  little  building,  25x40  feet,  on  the 
site  of  the  present  two-story  brick  building, 
which  is  26x80  feet  and  which  they  erected 
that  spring.  Grieve  &  Laingen  handle  dry 
goods,  groceries,  furnishings,  shoes  and 
crockery.  They  entered  their  present  build- 
ing in  1904.  Mr.  Laingen  is  a  member  of 
Equity  Lodge  No.  221,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  was 
village  recorder  two  terms. 

Mr.  Laingen  was  married  in  Minneapolis 
May  14,  1908,  to  Anna  Pettersen,  a  native 
of  Blue  Earth  county. 


ANDREW  ANDERSON  (1890)  is  the  own- 
er of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  27, 
Coon  Creek  township,  where  he  has  resided 
for  twenty-two  years.  He  was  born  in  Swe- 
den December  5,  1851.  His  parents  are  Peter 
and  Ellen  (Olson)  Anderson,  with  whom  he 
resided  in  the  old  country  until  1882)  at- 
tending school  and  learning  the  cabinet- 
maker's and  housebuilding  trades,  which  he 
followed  several  years. 

In  1882  Mr.  Anderson  came  to  the  United 
States  and  located  in  Chicago,  where  he 
worked  eight  years  for  the  Pullman  Car  Com- 
pany. In  1890  he  immigrated  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty, having  purchased  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  27,  Coon  Creek  township,  in  1884. 
He  has  made  all  the  improvements  on  the 
place  and  has  a  very  comfortable  home.  He 
raises  a  great  number  of  cattle  and  hogs 
and  has  stock  in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany and  Farmers  Telephone  Company  of 
Russell.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Baptist  church. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  in  Sweden 
March  6,  1874,  to  Elna  Nelson,  a  daughter 
of  Pehr  Nelson  and  Hanna  Nelson.  Mrs. 
Anderson  was  born  September  9,  1850,  and 
died  in  1900.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson 
were  born  five  children:  Peter,  John,  Emily, 
Olive  and  Hattie. 


G.  J.  1NHOFER  (1906)  is  a  merchant  and 
manager  of  the  Western  Grain  Elevator  at 
Ghent,  He  is  a  native  of  the  Gopher  State 
and  was  born  in  Nicollet  county  July  8, 
1870.  The  parents  of  our  subject  are  George 
and  Agnes  (Michels)  Inhofer,  natives  of 
Germany,  the  former  of  Bavaria  and  the 
latter  of  Saxony.     They  came  to  the  United 


448 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


States  in  1856.  The  father  resided  in  New- 
York  two  years  and  in  1858  moved  to  Nicol- 
let county,  where  he  settled  on  railroad  land 
and  was  married.  They  farmed  until  1910, 
when  they  retired  and  moved  to  New  Ulm. 
They  are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: George,  of  this  sketch;  Joseph  and 
Louis,  of  Nicollet  county;  John,  of  Brown 
county;  William,  Mary  and  Annie,  of  New 
Ulm.  Two  sons,  Michael  and  Charles,  are 
deceased. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  Nicollet  county  and  later 
farmed  in  that  county  for  himself.  In  No- 
vember, 1906,  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
settled  at  Ghent,  where  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  W.  C.  Hess  in  the  general 
merchandise  business.  They  carry  dry 
goods,  groceries,  men's  furnishings  and 
shoes.  Mr.  Inhofer  has  been  manager  of  the 
Western  Grain  Elevator  since  August,  1909. 
He  is  village  recorder  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Village  Council  one  term.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church  and  of  St. 
Joseph's  Benevolent  Society  of  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Inhofer  was  married  in  Nicollet  county 
February  22,  1895,  to  Annie  Huelskamp,  a 
native  of  that  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Inhofer 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Raymond,  Alice,  Agnes,  Mildred  and  Be- 
atrice. 


WILLIAM  GROVER  SHEQUEN  (1887) 
was  born  and  brought  up  in  Lyon  county  and 
since  1908  has  been  one  of  the  farmers  of 
Custer  township. 

William  N.  Shequen  and  Vesta  (Grover) 
Shequen,  the  father  and  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Lyon 
county.  The  father  is  a  native  of  Vermont 
and  the  mother  of  Wisconsin.  The  parents 
located  in  Lyon  county  in  1872,  taking  as  a 
homestead  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
32,   Sodus   township. 

William  Grover  Shequen  was  born  on  the 
Sodus  township  farm  and  was  there  brought 
up,  receiving  his  education  in  the  country 
school  and  assisting  with  the  farm  work  as 
he  grew  older.  In  1908  he  purchased  the 
land  in  Custer  township  on  which  he  has 
since  resided.  Mr.  Shequen  has  been  raising 
some  stock  in  addition  to  his  general  farm- 
ing, and  makes  a  specialty  of  Berkshire  hogs. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Sodus  town- 


ship to  Nellie  E.  Moore,  the  ceremony  taking 
place  July  29,  1908.  One  child,  Milo  Grover 
Shequen,  was  born  to  this  union,  December 
2,  1911.  Mrs.  Shequen  was  born  in  Ida 
county,  Iowa,  February  10,  1888,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Frank  P.  and  Katie  Machemer 
Moore,  natives  of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania, 
respectively. 

Mr.  Shequen  served  as  director  of  school 
district  No.  37  one  year.  Fraternally  he  is 
allied  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
church. 


FRED  S.  COOK  (1896)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  Hotel  Atlantic  in  Marshall,  and 
under  his  direction  the  Atlantic  has  be- 
come one  of  the  popular  hostelries  of 
Southwestern  Minnesota.  Mr.  Cook  took 
charge  of  the  hotel  in  189  6,  and  the  genial 
good  nature  of  a  veteran  railway  passen- 
ger conductor  was  instilled  into  the  man- 
agement, gaining  for  the  proprietor  a  host 
of  friends  among  the  traveling  public  and 
in  his  home  city. 

Our  subject  wras  born  in  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
October  31,  1852,  and  in  1857  the  family 
came  to  Minnesota  and  the  father  pre- 
empted land  in  Mower  county.  Fred  was 
nineteen  when  he  left  home  to  find  em- 
ployment in  the  train  service  of  the  Illi- 
nois Central  in  Iowa,  with  headquarters  at 
Fort  Dodge.  After  several  years  in  the 
employ  of  that  company  he  moved  to  Se- 
dalia,  Missouri,  and  worked  as  trainman 
for  the  Missouri  Pacific.  Then  Mr.  Cook 
gave  his  services  to  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western, moved  to  Chicago,  and  continued 
in  the  service  for  an  uninterrupted  term 
of  many  years  as  a  passenger  conductor. 
Resigning  from  railway  service  in  1896, 
Mr.  Cook  moved  to  Marshall. 

Fred  S.  Cook  was  married  in  Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin,  June  20,  1901,  to  Cath- 
erine A.  Farmer,  a  native  of  Chicago.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cook  are  popular  in  the  social 
life  of  Marshall  and  in  Congregational 
church  activities,  and  Mr.  Cook  is  identi- 
fied with  the  progressive  activities  of  the 
city.  He  is  president  of  the  library  board, 
was  president  of  the  Marshall  Commercial 
Club  in  1908,  and  treasurer  of  the  Marshall 
Development  Club  in  1908-1910.  He  is  chair- 
man of  the  county  committee  of  the  Y.  M.  C. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


44!) 


A.,  is  chairman  of  the  trustee  board  of  the 
Congregational  church,  and  is  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  School.  Fraternal- 
ly, Mr.  Cook  is  a  member  of  Marshall  Com- 
mandery  Knight  Templars  and  of  the  Mys- 
tic Shrine  of  Chicago;  also  of  the  A.  O. 
U.  W.  lodge,  and  he  is  a  life  member  of  the 
Order  of  Railway  Conductors  of  Chicago, 
Division  No.  1. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  William  W.  Cook 
and  Martha  Brown  (Little)  Cook,  natives 
of  New  York  and  Ohio.  They  resided  in 
Austin,  Mower  county,  until  the  time  of 
their  deaths.  Besides  Fred  S.  of  this 
sketch  there  are  three  children:  W.  W. 
Cook,  of  Marshall;  Jennie  (Mrs.  W.  W. 
Noble),  of  Oakland,  California;  and  Min- 
nie  (Mrs.  F.  E.  Noble),  of  St.  Paul. 


JOSEPH  M.  SENDEN  (1883)  is  one  of 
the  prominent  farmers  and  stock  raisers 
of  Grandview  township.  He  is  a  native 
of  Holland  and  was  born  October  1,  1866, 
a  son  of  William  Hubert  and  Hubertina 
(Vaesen)  Senden,  both  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. The  parents  located  in  Lyon 
county  in  1883,  coming  direct  to  this  county 
from  their  old  homes  in  Holland. 

The  father  purchased  land  in  Wester- 
heim  township,  where  the  family  resided 
six  years.  They  then  moved  to  the  farm 
now  occupied  by  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view, where  they  resided  two  years,  after 
which  they  purchased  the  Youmans  farm 
in  Lynd  township.  The  father  died  at  the 
latter  place  in  1901,  and  the  mother  re- 
sided there  until  1909,  when  she  took  up 
her  residence  with  her  son,  Louis.  She 
died  at  the  home  of  the  latter  on  Novem- 
ber 2,  1909.  They  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living: 
Frank,  John,  Hubert,  Minnick  and  Louis, 
all  of  whom  reside  in  Holland;  Joseph  M., 
of  this  review;  Antonette  (Mrs.  Frank 
Deutz),  of  Fairview  township;  Mary  (Mrs. 
Jacob  Jansen),  of  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship; Constant,  deceased.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  at  the  time  of  his  death 
one  of  the  largest  land  holders  in  the 
county,  his  holdings  consisting  of  124(T 
acres  of  fine  land. 

The  subject  of  this  review  received  his 
early  education  in  Holland,  where  he  at- 
tended   the    common    schools    until    thirteen 


years  of  age,  after  which  he  worked  for 
his  father  on  the  farm  until  1883.  Then 
he'  accompanied  his  parents  to  America 
and  to  Lyon  county  and  resided  with  them 
until  1905,  when  he  moved  to  his  present 
farm  in  Grandview  township.  He  is  the 
owner  of  440  acres  of  fine  land  and  has  a 
well-improved  farm.  In  addition  to  farm- 
ing our  subject  engages  somewhat  in 
stock  raising,  among  other  breeds  raising 
Durham  cattle,  Duroc-.Jersey  hogs  and 
Belgian  horses.  He  is  The  owner  of  three 
full-blooded  Belgian  horses — two  mares 
and  a  horse.  Mr.  Senden  is  a  successful 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  and  has  been  a 
continuous  resident  of  Lyon  county  since 
18  83.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Ghent. 

On  November  28,  1905,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Senden  to  Katherine  Bot, 
a  native  of  Holland.  She  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1873,  and  accompanied  her  par- 
ents to  Lyon  county  in  the  early  eighties. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Senden  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living. 
The  oldest  child  died  in  infancy.  The 
others  are:  Mary  (deceased),  born  June 
5,  1907;  Hubert  (deceased)  and  William 
(twins),  born  June  2,  1908;  Mary,  born 
June  10,  1909;  Hubert,  born  June  25, 
1910;  Debora,  born  February  18,  1912. 


ARCHIBALD  J.  CHAMBERLAIN  (1896), 
proprietor  of  a  Marshall  grocery  store, 
has  spent  nearly  thirty  years  in  the  gro- 
cery business,  the  last  half  of  that  time 
in  Marshall.  He  was  born  in  Cattaraugus 
county,  New  York,  July  22,  1856,  the  son 
of  Horace  F.  and  Hannah  (Hulbert) 
Chamberlain,  both  of  old  New  England 
stock  and  both  natives  of  Cattaraugus 
county,  New  York.  The  family  located  in 
Freeborn  county,  Minnesota,  in  1864, 
where  Mrs.  Chamberlain  died  in  1888. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born 
in  1828,  resides  in  Marshall.  There  are 
two  children  in  the  family  besides  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography:  Leona  Manning, 
of  Minneapolis;  and  Alice  Jones,  of  Ge- 
neva,   Minnesota. 

When  Archibald  was  seven  years  of  age 
he  accompanied  the  family  to  Minnesota, 
the  journey  from  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  to 
Freeborn    county     being     made     overland. 


450 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


That  was  before  the  days  of  railroads  in 
Southern  Minnesota,  and  Albert  Lea  was 
a  hamlet  of  only  a  few  hundred  people. 
The  father  bought  land  near  Geneva,  and 
on  the  farm  our  subject  grew  to  manhood, 
attending  the  country  schools  near  by.  In 
1882  he  moved  to  Geneva,  bought  a  gro- 
cery store  and  conducted  the  business  un- 
til 1890.  That  year  he  sold  out  and 
moved  to  New  Richland,  Waseca  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
three  years.  The  next  three  years  were 
spent  in  the  same  business  in  Janesville. 

In  1896  Mr.  Chamberlain  located  in 
Marshall  and  bought  the  grocery  store  of 
Joseph  Addison,  which  was  located  in 
the  building  now  occupied  by  the  Palace 
Grocery.  He  conducted  that  business 
seven  years,  then  sold  and  bought  the 
Frank  Parker  store,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  business  three  years.  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain has  been  in  his  present  location  in 
the  Messenger  Block  since  December, 
1909.  He  carries  an  excellent  line  of 
fancy  groceries  and  crockery.  Mr.  Cham- 
berlain is  affiliated  with  the  Chapter,  Com- 
mandery  and  Shrine  of  the  Masonic  orders 
and  with  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge. 

At  Albert  Lea,  on  April  26,  1879,  Mr. 
Chamberlain  was  married  to  Lilly  Phelte- 
place,  a  native  of  Richland,  Richland 
county,  Wisconsin.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Alice  (Mrs.  George  A. 
Joehning),  of  Redwood  Falls,  born  at 
Geneva  August  4,  1881 ;  George  H.,  a  Mar- 
shall business  man,  born  at  Geneva  July 
11,  1884;  and  lone,  born  at  Janesville  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1895. 


GEORGE  ALBERT  VAN  DUSEN  (1883)  is 
a  farmer  of  Monroe  township,  renting  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  9.  His  parents, 
Charles  E.  Van  Dusen  and  Fannie  E.  (Sta- 
ler) Van  Dusen,  took  a  homestead  in  Monroe 
township  in  1879.  George  was  born  on  the 
Monroe  homestead  farm  June  13,  1883. 

Our  subject  was  brought  up  on  the  farm 
and  received  his  education  in  the  country 
schools.  He  then  went  to  work  for  his  fa- 
ther and  lived  on  the  parental  farm  until  two 
years  after  his  father's  death  in  1907.  He 
then  rented  the  place  where  he  now  lives 
and  started  farming  for  himself. 

The  marriage  of  George  Albert  Van  Dusen 


and  Hannah  Rydberg  occurred  February  4, 
1908,  at  Tracy.  Mrs.  Van  Dusen  was  born 
in  Sweden  August  4,  1890,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  April  8,  1904.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Van  Dusen  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren, Harry  Edwin  and  Clarence  Edward. 
Mr.  Van  Dusen  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows lodge  of  Tracy. 


HENRY  VOSS  (1890)  has  been  a  resident 
of  Clifton  township  since  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age.  In  1900  he  bought  the  east 
half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  4 
from  his  father  and  since  that  time  has 
been  farming  for  himself.  He  later  pur- 
chased the  west  half  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter and  in  1911  forty  acres  on  section  t 9, 
which  makes  him  the  owner  of  200  acres  of 
well-improved  farming  land.  Mr.  Voss  raises 
considerable   stock. 

Henry  and  Amelia  (Ladwig)  Voss,  parents 
of  our  subject,  were  natives  of  Germany  and 
immigrated  to  this  country  when  young. 
Henry  was  born  February  9.  1872,  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Rice  county,  Minnesota.  His 
boyhood  was  passed  there  and  he  completed 
his  education  before  the  family  moved  to 
Lyon  county  in  1890.  The  father  at  that 
time  bought  the  eighty  acres  on  which  Hen- 
ry now  makes  his  home,  and  the  boy  lived 
at  home  and  helped  his  father  with  the 
farm  work  until  buying  the  place  for  him- 
self. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Salma 
Ladwig  March  18,  1896.  To  this  union  seven 
children  were  bom,  named  Walter,  Arthur, 
Lila,  Raymond,  Florence,  Orien  and  Louise. 
Mrs.  Voss  was  born  in  LeSueur  county, 
Minnesota,  April  13,  1879,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Augusta  (Malzhan)  Ladwig, 
natives  of  Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Voss  are 
members  of  the  Evangelical  church  of  Clif- 
ton. 


JAMES  E.  DOYLE  (1883)  is  a  retired 
railroad  engineer  of  the  Northwestern  rail- 
road. He  was  born  in  Stoughton,  Wiscon- 
sin, August  22,  1862,  and  when  three  years 
of  age  accompanied  his  parents  to  North 
McGregor,  Iowa,  where  he  resided  several 
years.  He  then  moved  to  Independence, 
Iowa,  where  he  obtained  a  common  school 
education. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


45] 


The  parents  of  our  subject  are  John  and 
Margaret  (Oneill)  Doyle,  natives  of  Ireland. 
They  came  to  the  United  States  when  young 
and  were  married  at  LaPorte,  Indiana,  in 
1860.  The  mother  died  in  1895  and  the  father 
in  1904.  They  wrere  the  parents  of  one  child, 
the  subject  of  this  review. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age  James  Doyle 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  Railroad  Company  at  North  McGregor 
as  brakeman  and  was  so  engaged  for  two 
years.  In  May,  1883,  he  went  to  Huron 
South  Dakota,  where  he  worked  for  the  Chi- 
cago &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company  as 
fireman,  and  in  1892  he  was  promoted  to  en- 
gineer, his  run  being  on  a  passenger  from 
Huron,  South  Dakota,  to  Alton,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Doyle  took  up  his  residence  in  Lyon 
county  in  18S3,  when  he  located  at  Tracy, 
and  there  he  has  since  made  his  home.  On 
November  10,  1908,  he  retired  from  service 
and  has  since  .led  a  life  of  ease.  He  is  the 
owner  of  two  farms  in  Lyon  county  and  also 
owns  land  near  Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  K.  P.  lodge. 


JAMES  J.  LAUGHLIN  (1891)  is  auditor 
of  the  Hayes-Lucas  Lumber  Company  and 
the  manager  of  that  company's  yards  at 
Tracy,  having  held  the  position  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years.  He  has  devoted  his  entire 
life  to  the  lumber  business,  as  did  his  father 
before  him. 

James  J.  Laughlin  was  born  at  Blooming 
Grove,  Orange  county,  New  York,  March  11, 
1863.  He  accompanied  his  parents  to  Wino- 
na, Minnesota,  when  five  years  of  age  and 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated  in  that 
city.  When  a  young  man  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  WTnona  Lumber  Company.  In 
1891  Mr.  Laughlin  located  in  Tracy  and  took 
charge  of  the  company's  yards  there.  Ten 
years  later  the  Hayes-Lucas  Lumber  Com- 
pany purchased  the  interests  of  the  Winona 
Lumber  Company  and  Mr.  Laughlin  has  since 
been  in  that  company's  employ.  For  fifteen 
consecutive  years  Mr.  Laughlin  was  secre- 
tary of  the  Tracy  Board  of  Education. 


CHARLES  H.  TOPEL  (1896),  born  in  Ger- 
many November  28,  1856,  and  reared  in  his 
native  land,  came  to  America  at  the  age  of 


sixteen.  He  is  now  a  successful  farmer  of 
Rock  Lake  township,  owning  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  26,  upon  which  he  has  one 
of  the  nicest  homes  in  the  precinct.  Like 
many  other  farmers  of  the  vicinity,  he  raises 
stock  and  pays  particular  attention  to  Per- 
cheron  and  Belgian  horses,  Hereford  cattle 
and   Poland  China  swine. 

Our  subject's  father  and  mother  were  Carl 
and  Mary  Topel,  both  deceased.  Charles 
completed  his  education  in  Germany  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  and  then  worked  for  an  uncle 
one  year.  In  the  spring  of  1872  he  came  to 
America  and  located  at  Chicago,  living  there 
some  time  and  working  at  various  kinds  of 
labor.  The  great  fire  had  swept  the  city  the 
year  before  and  Chicago  was  the  Mecca  for 
the  'man  seeking  employment,  as  the  new 
city  was  springing  up  as  fast  as  human 
power  could  rush  the  work. 

Leaving  Chicago,  Mr.  Topel  spent  a  short 
time  at  Des  Plaines,  Illinois,  and  later  did 
farm  labor  for  a  few  years  in  Kankakee 
county,  going  from  there  to  Benton  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  worked  five  years  at  farm- 
ing. Returning  to  Kankakee,  he  worked  in 
a  linseed  oil  mill  two  years.  In  the  spring 
of  1883  our  subject  located  on  a  homestead 
and  tree  claim  in  Hand  county,  South  Da- 
kota, and  farmed  there  until  1896,  when  he 
moved  to  Lyon  county  and  made  his  home 
on  his  present  farm.  While  in  Hand  county 
Mr.  Topel  was  township  treasurer  for  several 
years,  and  he  became  a  member  of  the  A.  O. 
U.  W.  lodge  at  Wessington  Springs. 

At  Manteno,  Illinois,  Charles  Topel  was 
joined  in  marriage  to  Maggie  Moat,  January 
24,  1883.  Mrs.  Topel  is  a  native  of  Kankakee 
county.  The  following  children  have  been 
born  to  this  union:  William,  of  Waseca; 
Lillian  (Mrs.  Roy  Root),  of  Balaton;  Myrtle 
(Mrs.  Earl  Zollar),  of  Waterloo,  Iowa;  Kath- 
ryn  (Mrs.  Adolph  Ronbeck),  of  Minneapolis; 
Eliza  and  Beatrice,  of  St.  Paul;  and  Mar- 
garet, Charles  and  Ruth,  residing  at  home. 


ANDREW  E.  HEAIRET  (1885)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  livery  barn  in  Minneota.  He  is 
a  native  of  Minneota  and  was  born  May  25, 
1885.  His  parents  were  Andrew  C.  and  In- 
diana (Paulson)  Haeiret,  natives  of  Chris- 
tiania,  Norway.  In  the  fall  of  1860  they  were 
married  and  nine  years  later  came  to  Amer- 
ica, settling  in  Galesville,  Wisconsin,  where 


452 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


they  lived  ten  years.  In  the  spring  of  1879 
they  came  with  their  family  to  Minneota, 
where  they  lived  until  their  deaths.  The 
father  died  October  1,  1909,  and  the  mother 
died  November  25,  1893.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  twelve  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
living,  as  follows:  Albert,  Pete,  Andrew  E., 
Edith,  Sarah  and  Mary.  Those  who  have 
died  were  Emma,  Christena,  Annie,  John 
and  Albert. 

Andrew  E.  Heairet  attended  the  Minneota 
schools  and  later  took  a  business  course.  In 
April,  1905,  he  purchased  the  M.  J.  Kiley 
dray  line  and  continued  in  the  business  until 
the  fall  of  1908.  On  the  latter  date  he  sold 
the  dray  line  and  the  next  spring  purchased 
the  A.  E.  Tibbits  livery  stable.  He  has 
since  been  engaged  in  that  business.  He 
has  both  teams  and  autos. 


AIME  VANHEE  (1880)  is  a  dealer  in  gen- 
eral merchandise  of  Ghent  and  a  former 
postmaster  of  that  village.  He  has  taken 
a  most  important  part  in  the  affairs  of  his 
village  and  with  his  father  formed  the  ad- 
vance guard  of  the  colony  of  Belgian  Cath- 
olics who  located  in  Lyon  county  in  the  early 
eighties. 

Aime  Vanhee  was  born  in  Belgium  May 
12,  1S62,  the  son  of  Angelus  and  P.  (Van- 
stechelmon)  Vanhee.  The  father  was  born 
March  23,  1839,  was  married  July  29,  1862, 
came  to  America  in  1880,  and  died  in  1895. 
The  mother  died  November  6,  1909,  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years.  There  are  nine  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  named  as  follows:  Aime, 
Bruno,  Mary,  Modest,  Achille,  Charlie,  Peter, 
Emily  and  Helen. 

In  1880  Angelus  Vanhee  and  his  son  Aime 
left  their  native  land  and  came  to  Lyon 
county  to  view  conditions  in  this  country  and 
report  to  their  neighbors  in  Belgium.  They 
were  pleased  with  the  looks  of  the  country 
about  the  little  village  of  Ghent  and  before 
their  return  purchased  the  east  half  of  sec- 
tion 17,  Grandview.  They  returned  to  Bel- 
gium and  through  their  influence  came  the 
colony  that  settled  largely  the  townships  of 
Grandview  and  Westerheim  and  part  of  Val- 
lers. 

The  Vanhees  returned  to  Lyon,  county  and 
were  the  first  Belgian  settlers  in  Grandview 
township.  They  located  on  the  farm  they 
had  bought  and  later  purchased  other  lands 


and  became  known  as  the  fathers  of  the 
Catholic  colony.  From  1881  to  1883  there 
were  many  additions  to  the  settlement  from 
the  old  country. 

Aime  remained  on  his  father's  farm  until 
1894,  assisting  with  the  work.  That  year  he 
moved  to  Ghent  and  rented  the  Gits  build- 
ing, in  which  he  is  still  doing  business.  At 
the  same  time  he  bought  the  Gits  hardware 
stock,  but  soon  after  disposed  of  that  and 
has  since  dealt  in  general  merchandise.  The 
building  was  later  bought  by  Mr.  Vanhee's 
mother,  in  whose  name  it  is  still  held.  Mr. 
Vanhee  sells  dry  goods,  groceries,  shoes, 
notions  and  furnishing  goods  and  buys  cream 
for  the  Tracy  creamery. 

When  he  located  in  Ghent  in  1894  Mr. 
Vanhee  was  appointed  postmaster  and  held 
the  office  eight  years,  turning  it  over  at  the 
end  of  that  time  to  Mrs.  Matilda  Blodgett. 
the  present  incumbent.  He  has  stock  in  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Ghent,  in  the 
Ghent  Rural  Telephone  Company,  and  in  the 
county  fair  association.  For  several  terms 
he  was  village  treasurer.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church  and  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  lodges. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Vanhee  to  Dora  A. 
Van  Emelan  was  solemnized  at  Ghent  July 
16,  1895.  She  was  born  in  Kinmundy,  Mar- 
ion county,  Illinois,  August  25,  1875,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Louis  and  Magdelina  (Rapp) 
Van  Emelan,  natives,  respectively,  of  Illinois 
and  Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vanhee  are  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  named  as  follows: 
Angelus,  Mary,  Joseph,  Lucy,  Agnes,  Ange- 
line  and  Helen.  One  daughter,  Katherine, 
died  August  29,  1903,  at  the  age  of  three 
and  one-half  years. 


MRS.  HELENE  FURGESON  (1881)  is 
the  widow  of  Ole  K.  Furgeson,  who  was  a 
homesteader  and  one  of  the  prominent  farm- 
ers of  Island  Lake  township.  She  still  makes 
her  home  on  the  homestead  and  she  and 
her  sons  Gisle  and  Orvin  conduct  the  farm. 

Mrs.  Furgeson's  maiden  name  was  Helene 
Gresdalen.  She  was  born  in  Muskego,  Wis- 
consin, March  25,  1855.  Her  parents,  Lars 
O.  and  Ragnild  (Gisselesson)  Gresdalen, 
came  from  Norway  in  1850  and  1851,  re- 
spectively, and  were  married  in  Wisconsin. 
When  the  subject  of  this  review  was   two 


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BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY. 


453 


years  old  the  family  moved  to  Freeborn 
county,  .Minnesota,  and  there  her  parents 
lived  until  their  deaths,  the  father  in  1897 
and  the  mother  in  1909. 

.Miss  Gresdalen  spent  her  girlhood  days  in 
Freeborn  county  and  she  was  married  there 
on  June  28,  1881,  to  Ole  K.  Furgeson.  Mr. 
Furgeson  was  born  in  Winnebago  county, 
Wisconsin,  September  15,  1851.  His  parents, 
natives  of  Norway,  were  Kittel  and  Mar- 
grette  (Peterson)  Furgeson.  Immediately 
after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ole  K.  Fur- 
geson came  to  Lyon  county  and  took  as  a 
homestead  claim  the  farm  on  which  Mrs. 
Furgeson  still  lives.  Mr.  Furgeson  farmed 
that  place  until  his  death  on  June  19,  1908. 
He  was  an  influential  man  and  one  highly 
esteemed  by  his  neighbors  in  Island  Lake 
township. 

The  children  of  the  family  are  Rudolph, 
Oscar,  Palma,  Rachel,  William,  Martin,  Gisle, 
Anne  and  Orvin. 


GEORGE  W.  MADDEN  (1904).  Among 
the  substantial  and  influential  farmers  of 
Lynd  township  is  George  W.  Madden,  who 
has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon  county  for  the 
past  eight  years.  George  is  a  native  of 
Iowa  and  was  born  in  Bremer  county  Decem- 
ber 6,  1867,  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Sarah 
( Martin)  Madden,  natives  of  Virginia  and 
pioneer  settlers  of  Bremer  county.  Mrs. 
Madden  was  born  October  24,  1831,  and  died 
September  8,  1911,  at  her  home  in  Sumner, 
Iowa.  Mr.  Madden  died  June  5,  1889.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children. 

The  man  whose  name  heads  this  sketch 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
of  Bremer  county,  where  he  attended  school 
until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  then 
worked  at  farm  labor  and  bridge  work  five 
or  six  years,  after  which  he  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  at  Fayette,  Iowa,  continuing 
in  that  work  three  years,  when  he  sold  and 
worked  for  a  hardware  dealer  two  years.  He 
again  returned  to  farm  work,  this  time  for 
himself.  He  farmed  three  years  in  Fayette 
county  and  one  year  on  the  old  home  farm 
in  Bremer  county.  In  1899  he  purchased  one 
hundred  sixty  acres  on  section  36,  Lynd 
township,  which  he  rented  out  until  1904, 
when  he  moved  to  the  place  and  has  since 
resided  there.  He  has  since  that  time  put 
up  almost  all  new  buildings. 


Mr.  Madden  is  a  member  of  the  Yeomen 
lodge.  He  is  one  of  the  directors  of  school 
district  No.  1  and  was  road  overseer  one 
year  in  Lynd  township.  He  raises  consid- 
erable stock,  including  Poland  China  hogs, 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  Barred  Plymouth  Rock 
chickens,  and  is  a  stockholder  and  a  director 
of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Lynd. 

.Mr.  .Madden  was  married  June  5,  1895,  to 
Emma  Bloxham,  a  daughter  of  Sam  Bloxham, 
of  Winneshiek  county,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Madden 
was  born  in  1869  and  died  May  9,  1904.  To 
this  union  were  born  the  following  three 
children:  Glenn,  born  June  28,  1896;  Geor- 
gie,  born  April  22,  1901;  Charles,  born  March 
30,  1904.  Mr.  Madden  was  married  a  second 
time,  to  Alice  Bloxham,  on  October  3,  1906. 
She  died  in  October,  1907.  He  was  married 
a  third  time,  to  Louise  Tiedje,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Gusta  Tiedje,  natives  of  Germany 
and  early  settlers  of  Carroll  county,  Iowa. 
Her  father  died  in  February,  1910;  her 
mother  resides  near  Lynd.  Mrs.  Madden  is 
a  native  of  Iowa  and  was  born  in  Carroll 
county  January  24,  1886.  To  this  union  have 
been  born  the  following  children:  Abraham, 
born  February  12,  1909;  Clarence,  born  Octo- 
ber 22,  1910. 

Mr.  Madden  has  seven  brothers  and  six 
sisters,  all  living:  Ed.,  Charles,  Marcellus, 
of  Lyon  county;  John,  of  Spokane,  Washing- 
ton; Price,  of  Anthony,  Kansas;  James,  of 
Sumner,  Iowa;  Joe,  of  Haifa,  Iowa;  Mrs. 
Will  Triptow,  of  Burt,  Iowa;  Jennie,  of 
Sumner,  Iowa;  Maggie,  of  Sumner,  Iowa; 
Mrs.  A.  H.  Bixby,  of  Spirit  Lake,  Iowa; 
Mrs.  Julius  Robinson,  of  Oelwein,  Iowa;  Mrs. 
Joe  Stuffelbeam,  of  Denver,  Colorado. 


TELESPHORE  PARADIS  (188  6)  en- 
gages in  farming  and  stock  raising  upon 
his  farm  on  section  27,  Lake  Marshall 
township,  where  he  has  resided  several 
years.  He  is  a  native  of  Canada  and  was 
born  January  22,  1851.  His  parents  are 
Lawrence  and  Florence  (Lenone)  Paradis, 
natives  of  Canada. 

Telesphore  attended  school  and  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm  during  his  minor- 
ity. In  188  6  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
purchased  land  in  Fairview  township, 
where  he  lived  several  years,  later  selling 
there  and  buying  his  present  farm  in  Lake 
Marshall.     He    owns    a    fine    240-acre    farm 


454 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


in  that  township,  where,  in  addition  to 
general  farming,  he  engages  in  the  raising 
of  cattle  and  hogs.  Mr.  Paradis  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church. 

Mr.  Paradis  was  married  in  Canada  on 
September  10,  1878,  to  Celina  Desmareis, 
who  was  born  in  that  country  in  1858, 
and  died  in  August,  1892.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Paradis  were  born  the  following 
named  children:  Helen,  Vergina,  Vade- 
line,  Bernedette,  Teles,  Phillip,  Adel, 
Laura,  Wilfred.  Mr.  Paradis  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time  at  Ghent,  in  1896,  to 
Lea  Surprenant,  a  native  of  Canada.  She 
was  born  December  17,  1861,  and  came 
to  Minnesota  in  1896.  To  this  union  have 
been  born  two  children:  Diana,  born 
March  8,  18  97,  and  Leo,  born  July  21, 
1900. 

HORATIO  R.  PAINTER  (1897),  super- 
intendent of  schools  for  Lyon  county,  has 
devoted  his  entire  life  to  educational  pur- 
suits, for  the  past  fifteen  years  as  a  resi- 
dent of  Lyon  county.  He  was  born  at 
Washington  C.  H.,  Fayette  county,  Ohio, 
June  23,  1875,  the  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Mary  (Pruddy)  Painter.  The  parents 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  but  settled 
in  Ohio  when  children.  The  father  died 
a  number  of  years  ago;  the  mother  now 
lives  at  Connersville,  Indiana.  In  the  fam- 
ily are  seven  children,  as  follows:  Har- 
vey, Earl  H.  and  Minnie  (Mrs.  John  R. 
Gray),  all  of  Connersville,  Indiana;  Lora 
(Mrs.  Sherman  Bilby),  of  Munsie,  Illinois; 
Alice  (Mrs.  U.  T.  Ellis),  of  Wilmington, 
Ohio;    and  H.   R.,  of  this  biography. 

When  our  subject  was  eleven  years  of 
age  he  accompanied  the  family  from  his 
native  state  to  Connersville,  Indiana,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood,  having  graduated 
from  the  Connersville  High  School.  He 
located  in  Lyon  county  in  1897  and  for 
one  year  was  employed  as  a  teacher  in 
Island  Lake  township.  He  taught  at 
Hanley  Palls  one  year  and  at  Russell  four 
years,  during  part  of  which  time  he  at- 
tended Drake  University,  at  Des  Moines, 
Iowa.  Mr.  Painter  engaged  in  teaching 
at  Garvin  two  years  and  in  the  fall  of  1906 
was  elected  county  superintendent  of 
schools,  an  office  he  has  since  held.  Mr. 
Painter  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and 
Eastern  Star  lodges. 


At  Russell,  in  May,  1902,  Mr.  Painter 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Inez  C.  Coyle, 
a  native  of  Sodus  township.  Her  father 
was  Joshua  Coyle,  who  settled  in  the  coun- 
ty in  the  seventies  and  died  in  1903.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Painter  one  child  has  been 
born,  Louise,  who  was  born  February  21, 
1909. 


HENRY  BURCKHARDT  (1902).  One 
of  the  enterprising  farmers  of  Coon 
Creek  township  is  Henry  Burckhardt,  the 
owner  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
10.  Henry  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and 
was  born  in  Freeport  on  October  26,  1880, 
a  son  of  J.  J.  and  Bertha  (Watzke) 
Burckhardt,  of  that  city. 

Henry  received  his  schooling  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  near  Freeport,  which  he  at- 
tended until  sixteen  years  of  age,  after 
which  he  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm 
until  twenty-one  years  old.  Leaving  home 
at  that  time,  he  spent  some  time  in  Iowa 
and  South  Dakota,  finally  locating  in  Coon 
Creek  township  in  1902.  He  has  farmed 
there  since  that  date  on  the  quarter  sec- 
tion which  he  owns.  He  also  farms  320 
acres  of  rented  land.  Besides  farming  he 
raises  considerable  stock,  among  other 
breeds,  Poland  China  hogs  and  Durham 
cattle. 

Mr.  Burckhardt  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church  and  of  the  Masonic 
and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges.  He  holds 
stock  in  the  following  enterprises  of  Rus- 
sell: Farmers  Elevator  Company,  Farm- 
ers Mutual  Telephone  Company  and  Farm- 
ers Co-operative  Store  Company.  In  an 
official  capacity  Mr.  Burckhardt  has  sev- 
eral times  been  called  upon  to  serve.  He 
holds  the  office  of  clerk  of  school  district 
No.  70  and  was  director  of  the  Farmers 
Mutual  Telephone  Company  for  two  years. 
Mr.  Burckhardt  is  a  successful  farmer  and 
stock  raiser. 

Mr.  Burckhardt  is  a  man  of  family.  On 
February  24,  1904,  he  was  married  to 
Florence  V.  Thurston,  a  native  of  Lyons 
township  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Viola  (Wait)  Thurston.  She  was  born 
October  26,  1882.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burck- 
hardt are  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Helen  Bertha,  born  December  1,  1905; 
and  Leon  Henry,  born  October  31,  1907. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  BISTORT. 


i.v. 


.Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thurston,  the  parents  of 
Mrs.  Burckhardt,  are  pioneer  residents  in 
Lyon  county,  having  come  here  when 
Lynd  was  the  county  seat  and  located  in 
us  township.  They  hauled  lumber  for 
their  home  from  New  Dim.  Mrs.  Thur- 
ston's father,  Ransom  Wait,  was  a  Pres- 
byterian  minister  who  organized  several 
churches  in  Murray  and  Lyon  counties. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thurston  now  reside  at 
Moore,  Fergus  county,  Montana.  Mr. 
Thurston  is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War, 
having  served  three  years  as  a  member  of 
Company  E,  Fourth  Minnesota  Regiment. 
His  eldest  son,  C.  W.  Thurston,  is  a  veter- 
an of  the  Spanish- American  War. 

Mr.  Burckhardt  has  two  sisters  and  two 
brothers:  Katie  Sophia,  Augusta  and  Al- 
bert Cleveland  Burckhardt,  of  Freeport, 
Illinois,  and  Frank  J.,  of  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship. Mrs.  Burckhardt  has  five  brothers 
and  one  sister,  as  follows:  Stanley  and 
Eugene  Thurston,  of  Moore,  Montana: 
Leon  and  Floyd  Thurston,  of  Stanford, 
Montana;  C.  W  Thurston,  of  Oregon;  and 
Ada  Thurston,  of  Moore,  Montana. 


FRANK  L.  HOLLEY  (1898)  is  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  farmers  and  stock  raisers 
of  Lake  Marshall  township.  He  was  born 
in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  November  3, 
1867,  and  is  a  son  of  Steven  and  Mariette 
(Fairchild)  Holley,  natives  of  New  York. 
The  parents  moved  to  Illinois  in  an  early  day 
and  settled  in  Kankakee  county. 

Frank  received  his  early  education  and 
grew  to  manhood  near  his  parents'  home  in 
Illinois.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
rented  land  and  started  farming  for  himself. 
In  1898  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  pur- 
chased 240  acres  of  land  in  Island  Lake 
township,  which  he  farmed  four  years  and 
then  returned  to  Illinois,  where  he  farmed 
two  years.  He  again  took  up  his  residence 
in  Lyon  county  and  purchased  280  acres  on 
section  2,  Lake  Marshall  township,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  In  addition  to  grain 
farming,  Mr'.  Holley  raises  considerable 
stock,  including  Shorthorn  cattle,  Duroc- 
Jersey  hogs  and  Shropshire  sheep.  He 
feeds  and  ships  his  own  stock.  He  is  a 
shareholder  and  director  of  the  Farmers 
Elevator  Company  of  Marshall.  He  is  also 
a  director  of  the  Lyon  County  Fair  Associa- 


tlon,  a  member  of  the  Township  Hoard  of 
Supervisors,  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge. 

Mr.  Holley  was  married  in  Illinois  Decem- 
ber 25,  L891,  to  Minnie  A.  Corliss,  a  native 
of  that  state,  she  was  born  August  29,  1872, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  John  I.  and  ('.  Jennie 
(Switzer)  Corliss.  The  lather  is  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  the  mother  of  Illinois.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Holley  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Merlin  C,  born  December  1, 
1899:   Arlo  J.,  born  December  29,  1904. 

Mr.  Holley,  with  three  neighbors,  built 
the  first  farmers'  telephone  line  in  Lyon 
county.  It  is  known  as  the  Big  Four  tele- 
phone line. 

H.  RAYMOND  SEITER  (1883)  is  a  native 
of  Lyon  county  and  was  born  at  Tracy  July 
10.  1883.  a  son  of  H.  F.  and  Emma  C.  (Swan- 
son)  Seiter,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Ulm 
and  the  latter  of  Sweden.  They  came  to 
Tracy  in  1882,  where  the  father  still  resides, 
a  retired  business  man  and  president  of  the 
Citizens  Bank.  Mrs.  Seiter  died  in  1902. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children: 
Winona  (Mrs.  I.  W.  Bedle),  of  Spokane, 
Washington;  H.  Raymond  and  Dudley  H. 
Our  subject  has  made  his  home  in  Tracy 
nearly  all  his  life. 

The  subject  of  this  review  received  his 
education  in  the  Tracy  High  School  and  was 
a  member  of  the  original  Tracy  High  School 
orchestra.  While  yet  a  young  man  he 
entered  the  Citizens  State  Bank  and  re- 
mained about  four  years.  He  then  removed 
to  Kansas  City,  where  he  remained  four 
years — one  year  in  the  National  Bank  of 
Commerce  and  three  years  representing  the 
Lake  Erie  Seed  &  Silo  Company.  He  re- 
turned to  Tracy  in  July,  1911,  and  still  repre- 
sents the  last  named  ■  firm,  with  headquar- 
ters at  Tracy. 

Mr.  Seiter  was  married  in  Kansas  City  on 
May  2,  1907,  to  Louise  Maderia,  a  native  of 
that  place.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Herman  Ridgley. 

TOLLEF  T.  MOULAND  (1890),  the  owner 
of  240  acres  of  well-improved  land  in  Vallers 
township,  was  born  in  Stavanger,  Norway, 
February  27,  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  Tonnes 
and  Berthae  (Holen)  Mouland.  Both  the 
parents  of  our  subject  are  dead. 


456 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Tollef  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  his  native 
land  and  received  the  customary  education 
of  the  farmer  lad.  He  was  twenty-two  years 
of  age  when,  in  1886,  he  came  to  America 
and  located  in  Yellow  Medicine  county,  Min- 
nesota. There  he  worked  at  farm  labor  for 
a  time,  and  later  worked  one  year  in  the 
pineries  of  Northern  Wisconsin.  His  advent 
to  Lyon  county  occurred  in  1890,  in  which 
year  he  took  up  his  residence  on  160 
acres  of  the  north  half  of  section  27,  Vallers 
township,  having  purchased  the  land  two 
years  before.  The  next  year  Tollef  bought 
an  additional  eighty  acres,  and  he  has  since 
been  farming  successfully  the  whole  piece. 
He  raises  considerable  stock.  Mr.  Mouland 
is  active  in  the  township's  affairs,  has  been 
assessor  four  years,  a  member  of  the  town 
board  one  year,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  school  board  of  district  Xo.  71  eleven 
years. 

Our  subject's  marriage  to  Bertha  M.  Lende 
occurred  in  the  county  December  27,  1890. 
She  was  born  in  Norway  May  3,  1870,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Oli  and  Grette  M.  (Kverne- 
land)  Lende.  Her  parents  came  to  America 
in  1879  and  settled  in  Yellow  Medicine  coun- 
ty, later  moving  to  Lyon  county  and  taking 
a  homestead  on  section  22.  Vallers  township. 
After  a  few  years  they  sold  that  farm  and 
moved  to  Lucas  township,  where  Mr.  Lende 
died  in  1909  and  where  Mrs.  Lende  still  lives 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mouland  have  the  following  children: 
Bertha  E.,  born  October  6,  1891;  Oscar,  born 
August  4,  1893;  Tonnes  R.,  born  July  27, 
1895;  Conrad  M.,  born  October  2,  1897; 
Thomas  B.,  born  October  20,  1900;  and 
Grette  M.,  born  July  23,  1903.  The  family 
belong  to  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 


HERMAN  C.  STANKEY  (1874),  who  car- 
ries on  a  business  in  Marshall  under  the 
title  Marshall  Auto  Company,  has  resided  in 
Lyon  county  all  except  the  first  twelve  years 
of  his  life.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany  and 
was  born  February  24,  1862.  At  the  age  of 
five  years  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
America,  the  family  settling  at  Chatfield,  Min- 
nesota. His  mother  died  when  he  was  seven 
years  old,  and  at  the  age  of  ten  years  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself,  leaving  home 
in  the  fall  of  1872  to  go  to  Gary,  Minnesota, 


to  make  his  home  with  the  family  of  Alfred 
Edwards. 

In  1874  young  Stankey  accompanied  the 
Edwards  family  to  Lyon  county,  a  homestead 
and  tree  claim  being  taken  in  Fairview 
township.  Mr.  Stankey  remained  on  the 
home  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age; 
then  he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself  in 
the  same  precinct.  He  prospered  and  pur- 
chased land  until  he  was  the  owner  of  40& 
acres  of  Lyon  county's  productive  soil,  the 
home  place  being  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  4,  Fairview.  He  engaged  in  farming 
until  1900.  when  he  moved  to  Marshall. 

For  a  few  years  Mr.  Stankey  worked  at 
the  machinery  business  and  then  engaged  in 
the  auto  livery  business,  opening  the  first 
auto  repair  shop  in  the  city.  In  the  fall  of 
1910  Mr.  Stankey  erected  a  fire-proof  cement 
block  garage,  44x80  feet,  and  the  following 
January  opened  the  place  with  a  large  stock 
of  cars.  The  capacity  of  the  garage  is  thirty 
cars.  He  conducts  a  repair  shop  in  connec- 
tion and  deals  in  automobile  accessories. 

Mr.  Stankey  was  married  in  Lyon  county 
December  23,  1885,  to  Emma  Marshall,  a 
native  of  Canada.  They  have  one  child, 
Bertha  (Mrs.  Bert  Robbons).  During  his 
residence  in  Fairview  township  Mr.  Stankey 
served  three  years  as  a  supervisor  and  for 
several  years  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board. 


EDWARD  MARCOTTE  (1900),  of  Sodus 
township,  is  a  native  of  Kankakee  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  was  born  April  1,  1852. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  county 
^where  he  was  born,  living  with  his  parents 
until  his  marriage  in  1875.  In  the  latter  year 
he  rented  his  father's  farm,  which  he  oper- 
ated one  year,  after  which  he  moved  to  an 
eighty-acre  farm  which  he  received  from 
his  father.  He  operated  the  latter  farm  three 
years  and  then  he  sold  out  and  moved  to 
Cloud  county,  Kansas,  where  he  purchased 
a  homestead  right,  on  which  he  proved  up. 
He  resided  in  Cloud  county  twenty  years. 

In  1900  Mr.  Marcotte  moved  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  rented  land  in  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship nine  years.  In  1909  he  bought  the  west 
half  of  section  5,  Sodus  township,  and  has 
resided  thereon  since.  Mr.  Marcotte  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church.  His  parents 
are  Antoine  and  Louise  (Belouin)  Marcotte, 


UKMHiAIMIlCAI.   HISTORY. 


457 


natives  of  Canada,  "who  were  among  the  first 
settlers  in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois. 

At  Manteno,  Illinois,  April  5,  1875,  oc- 
curred  the  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Joseph- 
ine Brosseau,  a  native  of  Kankakee  county. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Peter  and  Julia 
(Pilotte)  Brosseau,  natives  of  Canada.  .Mrs. 
Marcotte  was  born  April  25,  1858.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Marcotte  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  George  L.,  born  December  5, 
1S76:  Nellie  C,  born  August  9,  1880;  Antonie 
P.,  born  September  26,  1S82;  Hector  A.,  born 
August  24,  1SS4;  Victoria  J.,  born  November 
12,  1SS6,  died  October  7,  1903;  Fred  J.,  born 
August  27,  1S88;  Leon  C,  born  January  12. 
1892;  Meria  A.,  born  March  28,  1S97;  Juliett, 
born  March  19,  1899. 


Orsen  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian  Luth- 
eran church. 

Louis  Orsen,  brother  of  the  above,  was 
born  on  his  father's  homestead  in  Wester- 
heim  township  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
farm.  He  left  home  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  and  started  out  for  himself,  working 
at  farm  labor.  In  1910  he  took  a  homestead 
in  Perkins  county,  North  Dakota,  and  proved 
up  on  the  place  the  next  year.  He  then 
rented  the  farm  he  now  conducts  on  section 
18,  Westerheim  township,  from  his  grand- 
mother, Mrs.  Magnild  Orsen.  He  farms  in 
addition  eighty  acres  on  section  19. 

The  marriage  of  Louis  Orsen  and  Irene 
Melhus,  a  native  of  Norway,  took  place  in 
Minneota  March  26,  1911.  They  have  one 
son,  Ole. 


NICKOLAI  ORSEN  (1882)  is  a  native  of 
Lyon  county  and  was  bora  on  his  father's 
homestead  in  Westerheim  township  August 
2").  1882.  He  has  always  lived  on  the  place, 
with  the  exception  of  ten  months  spent  in 
Stanley  county,  South  Dakota,  in  1907-08. 
At  that  time  he  filed  on  a  homestead  and  ac- 
quired land  which  he  still  owns. 

Ole  L.  and  Theoline  (Nelson)  Orsen,  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  came  to  the  United 
States  from  Norway.  Ole  L.  Orsen  emi- 
grated in  the  early  seventies  and  settled 
first  in  Iowa,  where  he  lived  several  years, 
and  then  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  took  a 
homestead  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 18,  Westerheim  township.  He  married 
Theoline  Nelson  and  they  have  the  following 
children  living:  Louis,  Amelia  (Mrs.  C.  G. 
Lee),  Nickolai,  Alfred,  Olai,  Theoline,  Magn- 
hild,  Mamie  and  Nora.  A  daughter,  Mattie, 
died  a  few  years  ago  and  another  child  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orsen  retired  to 
Minneota  to  live  in  1904. 

Nickolai  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  township  and  in  the  Agri- 
cultural College  at  St.  Paul,  and  later 
helped  his  father  on  the  home  farm,  having 
conducted  the  old  homestead  since  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Minneota  He  also  owns  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  18,  which  he 
bought  in  1911,  and  farms  400  acres  in  all. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  the  township 
December  13,  1905,  taking  for  his  wife  Bea- 
trice Olevson,  a  native  of  Watertown,  South 
Dakota.  To  this  union  four  children  were 
born,    Ivan,    Irven,    Tillie    and    Orval.      Mr. 


JACOB  A.  RICKERT  (1907),  of  Tracy, 
was  born  in  Byron,  Olmsted  county,  Minne- 
sota, December  31,  1881,  a  son  of  Jacob  A. 
and  Annie  E.  Rickert.  He  received  a  com- 
mon and  high  school  education  at  Wahpeton, 
North  Dakota,  where  his  parents  reside. 

Mr.  Rickert  completed  a  course  in  the  Law 
Department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota 
in  1902  and  practised  law  at  Spokane,  Wash- 
ington, two  years.  He  had  banking  ex- 
perience with  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Wahpeton,  North  Dakota,  and  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Lidgerwood,  North  Dakota. 
He  moved  to  Tracy  January  1,  1907,  to  take 
the  position  of  assistant  cashier  of  the  Citi- 
zens State  Bank,  and  was  elected  cashier  one 
year  later,  a  position  he  still  holds. 

At  Spokane,  Washington,  in  1908,  Mr. 
Rickert  was  married  to  Eva  C.  Lowry.  Mr. 
Rickert  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion and  treasurer  of  the  school  district.  He 
is  treasurer  of  the  Tracy  Savings  and  Loan 
Association. 


HARRY  A.  TATE  (1890)  is  manager  of  the 
Tate  elevator  of  Balaton.  He  was  born  in 
St.  Charles,  Minnesota,  June  19,  1885,  and  is 
a  son  of  George  A.  and  Lillian  M.  (Dickin- 
son) Tate,  natives  of  Minnesota  and  resi- 
dents of  Balaton.  The  father  is  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Balaton  and  is  a 
large  land  holder  and  grain  dealer.  They 
are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Harry  A. 
of  this  sketch  and  Georgia. 


458 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Harry  Tate  accompanied  his  parents  when 
four  years  of  age  to  Oshawa.  Minnesota, 
where  they  resided  a  year,  moving  to  Bala- 
ton in  1S90,  where  they  have  since  lived. 
Harry  attended  the  schools  of  Balaton  and 
later  the  Marshall  High  School,  from  which 
he  was  graduated.  He  then  attended  Carle- 
ton  College  at  Northfield,  Minnesota,  two 
years.  In  1906  he  took  charge  of  his  father's 
elevator  at  Balaton  and  has  had  charge 
since.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic 
and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Balaton  July 
13,  1910,  to  Iva  H.  Hall,  who  was  born  near 
Wessington  Springs,  South  Dakota.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tate  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Eva 
Louise,  born  May  27,  1911. 

The  Tate  elevator  of  which  our  subject  has 
charge  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  Winona 
Grain  Company's  elevator,  which  was  built 
twenty-seven  years  ago.  It  was  purchased 
in  1900  by  George  A.  Tate,  who  rebuilt  the 
house,  making  it  the  largest  in  the  county, 
with  a  capacity  of  40,000  bushels.  He  con- 
ducted it  several  years  after  buying  and 
then  installed  his  brother-in-law,  W.  E.  Dick- 
inson, as  manager.  The  latter  had  charge 
until  1906,  when  our  subject  took  charge 
and  has  managed  it  since.  He  handles  grain, 
coal,  feed  and  flour. 


GEORGE  H.  BAMFORD  (18S2),  of  Lake 
Marshall  township,  was  born  in  Waukesha, 
Wisconsin,  April  23,  1877.  His  parents 
are  William  E.  and  Catherine  (Cairns)  Barn- 
ford,  the  former  a  native  of  Rhode  Island 
and  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 

When  five  years  of  age  George  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Lyon  county  and  his 
father  purchased  land  in  Sodus  township. 
He  has  resided  in  the  county  since  that 
date.  Our  subject  worked  at  home  until 
1896,  at  which  time  his  father  died  and  he 
took  charge  of  the  home  farm.  In  1906 
he  became  the  owner  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  30,  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship, where  he  now  resides.  He  has  a  fine 
farm.  Mr.  Bamford  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is  clerk 
of  school  district  No.  7. 

The  subject  of  this  review, was  married 
at  Marshall  November  14,  1906,  to  Caroline 
F.  Buchert,  who  was  born  in  Appleton, 
Wisconsin.      Mrs.    Bamford    was   born   De- 


cember 12,  1882,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Emily  (Lippoldt)  Buchert,  the 
former  a  native  of  Wisconsin  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Germany. 


GEORGE  A.  HANSEN  (1902)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  meat  market  and  grocery  store 
at  Tracy,  where  he  has  resided  the  past 
ten  years.  He  is  a  native  of  Denmark  and 
was  born  April  23,  1872.  When  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  came  to  America  and  for 
a  number  of  years  made  Sioux  City,  Iowa, 
his  home.  There  he  learned  the  butcher 
business  and  there  he  afterward  engaged 
in  the  business  for  himself.  He  conducted 
a  shop  at  Plankinton,  South  Dakota,  four 
or  five  years  and  then  engaged  in  the  mill 
and  elevator  business  at  Dakota  City,  Ne- 
braska. 

From  the  last  named  place  Mr.  Hansen 
moved  to  Tracy  in  1902.  He  purchased 
the  John  W.  Beedle  meat  market  on  Front 
Street  and  conducted  it  five  years.  Then 
he  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  part- 
nership with  Al.  Swoffer  for  a  short  time 
and  afterwards  was  in  the  ice  business 
two  years.  During  that  time  he  also  had 
an  interest  in  a  meat  market  in  partnership 
with  C.  M.  Duus.  In  1909  Mr.  Hansen 
bought  the  general  store  of  Vilwock  & 
Reetz,  in  the  John  Owens  Building.  He 
disposed  of  the  merchandise  stock  and  now 
handles  only  meats  and  groceries. 

Mr.  Hansen  owns  his  home  in  the  city, 
village  property  in  Tyler,  and  a  Lyon  coun- 
ty farm.  He  is  a  member  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil and  holds  membership  in  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows, Workmen  and  Woodmen  lodges. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  the  five  named  reside 
in  America:  George  A.,  of  this  biography; 
Olaf  W.,  of  Los  Angeles,  California;  Peter 
C.  and  Carrie  Boe,  of  Sioux  City;  and  Fer- 
dinand, of  Aberdeen,  South  Dakota.  The 
parents,  Hans  Andersen  and  Bodel  M. 
(Hansen)  Andersen,  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Hansen  was  married  at  Plankinton, 
South  Dakota,  April  22,  1896,  to  Anna  K. 
Clark,  who  was  also  born  in  Denmark  and 
came  to  America  when  a  child.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hansen  have  been  born  seven 
children:  Flora,  George,  Bernice,  Leo, 
deceased;  Edith,  Gladys  and  Clark  A. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


4:»!  i 


STEPHEN  NICHOLSON  (1901)  is  a 
hardware,  stock  and  lumber  dealer  of  the 
village  of  Lynd.  He  also  deals  in  full- 
blood  Duroc-Jersey  hogs.  Mr.  Nicholson 
is  a  native  of  New  York  and  was  born  in 
Livingston  county,  near  Rochester,  on  May 
11,  1854,  a  son  of  William  and  Hanna 
Nicholson,  natives  of  England.  The  par- 
ents were  at  various  times  residents  of 
New  York,  Illinois  and  Bremer  county, 
Iowa.  From  the  latter  place  they  moved 
to  Pasadena,  California,  where  both  died. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children: 
Mrs.  C.  E.  Banks  and  Miss  Jennie  Nichol- 
son, of  Algona,  Iowa;  Stephen  and  Fred 
Nicholson,  of  Lynd. 

When  two  years  of  age  the  subject  of 
this  review  accompanied  his  parents  to  Bel- 
videre,  Illinois.  They  resided  there  until 
1867  and  then  moved  to  Bremer  county, 
Iowa.  It  was  there  that  Stephen  received 
his  early  education  and  grew  to  manhood. 
He  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  crockery 
business  in  that  county  three  years  and 
then  moved  to  Burt,  Kossuth  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  engaged  in  a  similar  business 
until  1900. 

In  1901  Mr.  Nicholson  located  in  Lynd 
and  built  his  present  hardware  store  and 
lumber  yards  and  put  a  complete  stock  in 
each.  A  year  later  his  brother,  Fred  D. 
Nicholson,  joined  him  in  the  business  and 
the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Nicholson 
Brothers.  Besides  carrying  on  their  lum- 
ber and  hardware  business,  they  buy  and 
ship  stock.  They  are  the  largest  breeders 
of  Duroc-Jersey  hogs  in  the  state,  their 
sales  extending  throughout  Minnesota  and 
Iowa.  They  hold  public  sales  of  thorough- 
bred sows  every  February.  Our  subject  is 
a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge  and  has 
been  president  of  the  school  board  of  dis- 
trict No.  1  for  a  number  of  years. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
at  Waverly,  Iowa,  April  16,  1884,  to  Mabel 
N.  Kelley.  They  are  the  parents  of  four 
children  as  follows:  Frank,  a  graduate  of 
the  Mechanic  Arts  School  of  Saint  Paul, 
now  a  student  of  Cornell  University;  Rich- 
ard, Paul  and  Helen,  who  reside  at  home. 
Fred  D.  Nicholson  is  a  native  of  Illinois 
and  was  born  at  Belvidere.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Nicholson  Brothers  and 
movedrto  Lynd  in  1902,  where  he  associ- 
ated himself  with  his  brother  Stephen. 


Fred  Nicholson  is  also  a  man  of  family. 
He  was  married  at  Waverly,  Iowa,  to  Agnes 
Kelley.  They  have  four  children:  Mrs. 
A.  C.  Boomer,  of  Owatonna*  Minnesota; 
Roy,  .Maurice  and  Robert,  of  Lynd.  Mr. 
Nicholson  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 
lodge. 


JOHN  W.  MOORE  (1899)  is  the  owner  of 
eighty  acres  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 4,  Lyons  township,  where  he  has  re- 
sided the  past  thirteen  years.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  New  York  and  was  born  in  Belfast, 
Allegany  county,  September  13,  1855,  a 
son  of  German  R.  and  Almina  (Orcutt) 
Moore,  natives  of  Vermont.  They  came  to 
Minnesota  in  the  seventies  and  located  in 
Martin  county,  where  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject homesteaded  land. 

John  Moore  received  his  schooling  in  Mar- 
tin county  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  ex- 
periencing  many    of   the   inconveniences    of 
frontier  life,  notably  the  grasshopper  scourge 
and  blizzards.     He  assisted  with  the  work  on 
the  home  farm  several  years  and  homesteaded 
land  adjoining  his  father's  homestead.     He 
also  purchased  120  acres  of  state  land,  which 
he    farmed    until    1899.     Then    he    sold    and 
came   to   Lyon   county,   buying  the   land   in 
Lyons  township  upon  which  he  still  resides. 
Besides  farming,  Mr.  Moore  raises  consid- 
erable stock,  among  other  breeds  the  Duroc- 
Jersey    and    Poland    China    hogs.     He    is    a 
member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  was  clerk 
of  school  district  No.  14  five  or  six  years. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Township  Board 
of  Supervisors  in  Martin  county  and  served 
several  terms. 

Mr.  Moore  was  married  at  Houston,  Min- 
nesota, in  August,  1884,  to  Mary  McCann,  a 
native  of  Wisconsin  and  a  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Margrette  McCann,  natives  of  Ireland. 
Mrs.  Moore  was  born  in  Plymouth,  Wiscon- 
sin, April  29,  1862.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore 
have  been  born  the  following  children:  Bet- 
tie  L.,  born  April  3,  1886;  May  M.,  born  June 
7,  1888;  Nina  E.,  born  April  26,  1890;  Dora 
M.,  born  December  11,  1891;  Harry  J.  and 
Hatty  M.,  born  October  12,  1897;  Leslie  R., 
born  September  27,  1899;  John  W.,  born  Au- 
gust 10,  1901;  Marilla  J.,  born  October  25, 
1903;  Pearl,  born  November  5,  1905. 


460 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


JOHN  F.  FINXEGAN  (1880)  is  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Finnegan  &  Huyck,  who  con- 
duct a  butcher  shop  and  buy  live  stock  in 
Minneota.  He  was  born  in  Durham,  Eng- 
land*, November  17,  1875,  and  when  five  years 
of  age  accompanied  his  parents  to  the  United 
States.  The  family  located  in  Nordland 
township,  Lyon  county,  where  the  father  pur- 
chased land  from  the  railroad  company. 
His  father  having  died  when  John  was 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  our  subject  then 
operated  the  home  farm  five  years. 

In  1901  the  subject  of  this  review  moved 
to  Minneota  and  worked  two  years  for 
George  Geiwitz,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
the  butcher  business,  and  he  has  since  con- 
ducted a  shop.  In  July,  1910,  he  sold  a  half 
interest  in  the  business  to  Smith  Huyck,  the 
firm  name  now  being  Finnegan  &,  Huyck. 
They  also  deal  in  live  stock.  Mr.  Finnegan 
continues  to  operate  the  old  home  farm. 
which  is  owned  by  himself  and  his  sister, 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Kelly,  of  Gilroy,  California.  Mr. 
Finnegan  holds  membership  in  the  K.  C.  and 
M.  W.  A.  lodges  and  was  banker  of  the  latter 
order  nine  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Village  Council  two  terms.  He  has  three 
sisters:  Mrs.  W.  P.  Fessler,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Kelly 
and  Mrs.  Martin  Murry,  of  Redwood  county, 
Minnesota. 

Mr.  Finnegan  was  married  at  Minneota 
April  17,  1900,  to  Mary  Tillemans,  a  native 
of  Holland.  Her  father,  John  Tillemans,  lo- 
cated in  Nordland  township  in  1883.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Finnegan  are  the  parents  of  six 
children:  Marie,  Bernice,  Dolores,  John,  Fe- 
licia and  Katherine. 


ALBIN  W  NELSON  (1890),  a  Rock  Lake 
township  farmer,  is  a  native  of  Lyon  county, 
having  been  born  at  Burchard  June  8,  1890. 
His  father,  Andrew  W.  Nelson,  also  lives  in 
Rock  Lake  township;  his  mother,  Annie 
(Munson)  Nelson,  is  deceased.  The  family 
made  settlement  in  the  county  in  the  late 
eighties. 

Albin  attended  the  district  school  until  six- 
teen years  of  age  and  thereafter  worked  on 
his  father's  farm.  He  was  married  in  1912 
and  is  now  engaged  in  farming  for  himself. 
He  owns  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  9. 
Mr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church  of  Balaton. 

In  Rock  Lake  township,  on  February  21, 


1912,  Mr.  Nelson  was  married  to  Ellen  Ot- 
tida  Nelson.  She  was  born  in  Ida  Grove, 
Iowa,  April  21,  1894,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Gust  and  Tilda  (Larson)  Nelson,  of  Rock 
Lake  township.  Her  parents  were  born  in 
Sweden,  came  to  America  early  in  life,  and 
have  lived  in  Lyon  county  since  1907. 


HARRY  W.  ADDISON  (1876)  is  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  hardware  business  at 
Marshall.  They  are  the  largest  dealers  in 
the  city,  carrying  a  full  line  of  hardware  and 
dealing  in  implements,  farm  machinery,  auto- 
mobiles, gas  engines  and  carriages.  Much 
of  the  firm's  success  has  been  due  to  the 
energy  which  Harry  has  displayed. 

Our  subject  was  born  January  21,  1869, 
at  Waseca,  Minnesota,  and  when  seven 
years  of  age  the  family  moved  to  Marshall, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Marshall  High 
School's  first  graduating  class,  in  1888.  When 
a  lad  he  commenced  to  work  in  his  father's 
hardware  store  and  has  always  been  asso- 
ciated with  him,  being  admitted  to  partner- 
ship in  1892,  since  which  time  the  firm  has 
been  R.  M.  Addison  &  Son. 

Harry  Wood  Addison  is  a  son  of  R.  M. 
Addison  and  Ella  (Wood)  Addison.  His 
mother  died  January  18,  1908.  The  father 
is  one  of  the  city's  pioneer  business  men, 
having  located  here  in  the  seventies.  R.  M. 
Addison  has  another  son,  Robert  M.,  Jr.,  who 
is  a  resident  of  Marshall  and  associated  with 
the  firm,  and  a  daughter,  Edith  D.  (Mrs.  S. 
McKennan),  of  Helena,  Montana. 

At  Marshall,  in  February,  1899,  occurred 
the  wedding  of  Harry  W.  Addison  and  Anna 
L.  Weikle.  Mrs.  Addison  is  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  K.  Weikle,  of  Marshall,  and 
her  birthplace  is  Allentown,  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Addison  are  the  parents 
of  two  children,  Ella  Barbara  and  Harry 
Wood. 


THOMAS  I.  CASTLE  (1885)  conducts  a 
farm  in  Clifton  township  and  is  the  owner 
of  the  south  half  of  section  26.  He  raises 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs  and 
has  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  the 
township. 

William    and    Maria    (Wilkinson)    Castle, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


461 


parents  of  our  subject,  were  born  in  York- 
shire, England,  and  came  to  America  in 
L865,  settling  in  Illinois  and  pursuing  the 
occupation  of  farmers.  Thomas  I.  was  born 
in  Will  county,  Illinois.  August  20,  1S75.  He 
lived  with  his  parents  on  the  Illinois  farm 
until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  at  which  time 
the  family  moved  to  Lyon  county. 

Thomas  Castle  received  his  early  schooling 
in  Illinois  and  later  attended  country  school 
in  Lyon  county.  His  father  upon  coming  to 
Lyon  county  had  purchased  the  homestead 
right  to  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  26 
and  a  tree  claim  to  the  southeast  quarter 
of  the  same  section,  Clifton  township. 
Thomas  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  when 
twenty-two  years  of  age  he  rented  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  26  and  later  bought 
both  quarters  from  his  father,  and  he  now 
conducts  the  half  section. 

July  4.  1903,  occurred  the  wedding  of 
Thomas  I.  Castle  and  Leora  Dickerman.  To 
this  union  have  been  born  three  children: 
Florence  I.,  born  April  5,  1904;  Morris,  born 
August  27,  1905;  and  Mildred,  born  January 
30,  1907.  Mrs.  Castle  was  born  January  6, 
1877,  in  Olmsted  county,  Minnesota,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Eugene  and  Maribah  (Temple- 
ton)    Dickerman,  natives  of  Vermont. 

The  Castles  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  and  Mr.  Castle  is  clerk  of 
school  district  No.  50. 


LEWIS  A.  WEWETZER  (1889)  is  one  of 
the  comparatively  young  farmers  of  Island 
Lake  township  and  owns  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  13,  where  he  has  farmed  since 
1898. 

Mr.  Wewetzer  was  born  in  Lake  county, 
Illinois,  May  8,  1871,  and  is  a  son  of  Gustav 
and  Malvina  (Boettcher)  Wewetzer,  natives 
of  Germany.  The  parents  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  1869  and  1870,  settled  in  Illinois, 
where  Lewis  was  born,  and  in  1889  the  fam- 
ily moved  to  Lyon  county.  The  father  had 
purchased  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  1, 
Island  Lake  township,  the  previous  year,  and 
upon  their  arrival  in  the  county  the  Wewet- 
zers  took  up  their  residence  on  that  land. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  received 
his  education  in  Illinois,  and  after  the  fam- 
ily's arrival  in  Lyon  county  the  boy  helped 
his   fatlter   with   the   farm   work   until   1896, 


when  his  mother  died  Then  Lewis,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brothers,  G.  C.  and  F.  C. 
Wewetzer,  took  charge  of  the  home  farm 
and  managed  it  until  189S,  when  Lewis 
moved  to  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives  and 
which  he  had  bought  the  year  before.  On 
that  place  he  has  since  made  his  home  and 
has  done  very  well  and  prospered  from  his 
farming  and  from  his  stock  raising.  Mr. 
Wewetzer  every  year  ships  blooded  Duroc- 
Jersey  hogs  to  market. 

Lewis  Wewetzer  and  Rosie  Clark  were 
married  at  Marshall  July  27,  1898.  His  wife 
was  born  in  Lake  Marshall  township  Octo- 
ber 16,  1873,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Josiah 
and  Charlotte  (Currier)  Clark,  natives  of 
Maine  and  now  deceased.  The  Wewetzers 
have  three  children:  Lewis  J.,  born  Janu- 
ary 30,  1901;  Millicent  A.,  born  March  20, 
1903;   and  Harold  C,  born  April  18,  1905. 

Mr.  Wewetzer  is  treasurer  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  62  and  has  served  fourteen  years  in 
that  capacity.  He  has  served  as  chairman 
of  the  township  board  six  years,  was  assessor 
two  years,  and  one  year  was  clerk  of  the 
board.  His  fraternal  associations  are  with 
the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America. 


A.  BLANCHARD  (1893)  is  secretary  of  the 
Marshall  Milling  Company  and  the  superin- 
tendent of  that  company's  mill  at  Marshall. 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  Marshall  nineteen 
years. 

Mr.  Blanchard  was  born  in  Green  Lake 
county,  Wisconsin,  April  17,  1856.  His  par- 
ents were  N.  H.  Blanchard  and  Mary  Jane 
(Ellsworth)  Blanchard,  both  natives  of 
Maine.  The  family  moved  to  a  farm  in  Wi- 
nona county,  Minnesota,  in  1860,  and  there 
the  subject  of  this  review  grew  to  young 
manhood.  In  1876  he  took  employment  in  a 
flour  mill  at  Minnesota  City  and  in  1881  he 
moved  to  Sleepy  Eye,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  the  grain  business  until  moving  to  Mar- 
shall in  1893.  Mr.  Blanchard  was  one  of  the 
incorporators  of  the  Marshall  Milling  Com- 
pany, one  of  the  big  institutions  of  Lyon 
county,  and  was  the  first  treasurer  of  the 
company.  For  the  past  five  years  he  has 
been  secretary  and  superintendent. 

Grace  F.  Kennedy  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Blanchard  at  Minnesota  City  on  April  22, 
1880.     They  have  two  boys,  Guy  and  Cliff. 


462 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


IYER  O.  SATHER  (1S90)  is  a  farmer  in 
Lucas  township  and  has  heen  a  continuous 
resident  of  that  precinct  since  1890.  He  was 
born  in  Gubrandsdalen,  Norway,  January  31, 
1862,  a  son  of  Ole  and  Mary  (Erlandson) 
Sather.  The  former  is  deceased;  the  mother 
is  still  living  in  the  Fatherland  at  an  ad- 
vanced age. 

Iver  received  the  customary  bringing  up  of 
the  farmer  boy  of  his  time  and  attended  the 
common  schools  of  his  country  until  fifteen 
years  of  age.  After  completing  his  educa- 
tion, farm  labor  claimed  his  attention  until 
1884,  in  the  spring  of  which  year  the  young 
fellow  set  out  for  America.  Upon  his  arrival 
in  the  United  States  Mr.  Sather  went  to 
Otter  Tail  county.  Minnesota,  and  for  the 
next  five  years  he  found  employment  there  as 
a  farm  laborer,  afterward  going  to  Richland 
county.  North  Dakota,  and  working  there  sev- 
eral months. 

The  spring  of  1890  found  Mr.  Sather  in 
Lyon  county.  For  two  years  he  worked  on 
farms  and  then  purchased  the  land  in  Lucas 
township  which  he  now  operates,  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  21.  He  has  a  well- 
improved  farm  and  a  comfortable  home.  In 
addition  to  his  general  farming  he  is  en- 
gaging to  some  extent  in  stock  raising. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
to  Carrie  Slette  in  1890,  and  to  this  union 
two  children  have  been  born:  Peter,  born 
November  27,  1894,  and  Olaf,  born  January 
30,  1899,  both  residing  at  home.  Mrs.  Sather 
is  a  native  of  Norway.  She  and  her  husband 
are  members  of  Silo  Norwegian  Lutheran 
Church.  Mr.  Sather  was  a  trustee  of  the 
church  for  six  years. 


JOHN  LINDHOLM  (1892)  is  a  farmer  and 
land  owner  of  Coon  Creek  township,  where 
he  has  resided  twenty  years.  He  was  born 
in  Sweden  March  1,  1870.  His  parents  are 
Carl  and  Johannah  (Johnson)  Larson.  John 
received  his  schooling  and  grew  to  manhood 
in  the  land  of  his  nativity. 

In  1892  John  Lindholm  came  to  America 
and  located  in  Lyon  county.  He  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Coon  Creek  township, 
which  he  later  sold  and  bought  the  land  he 
now  owns  and  operates,  160  acres  on  section 
27,  Coon  Creek  township.  He  worked  out 
for  several  years  as  a  farm  hand  after  com- 
ing  to    Lyon    county    and    then    engaged    in 


farming  for  himself.  The  land  which  he 
now  owns  was  all  prairie  when  he  purchased 
it.  He  has  improved  the  place  and  has  a 
very  fine  home.  He  raises  considerable 
stock  in  addition  to  his  general  farming. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Mission 
church  and  owns  stock  in  the  Farmers  Ele- 
vator Company  of  Russell. 

Mr.  Lindholm  was  married  in  Coon  Creek 
township  April  3,  1903,  to  Olive  Anderson,  a 
native  of  Sweden.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Andrew  and  Elna  Anderson.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lindholm  were  born  three  children: 
Reuben,  Melvin  and  Alvira.  Mrs.  Lindholm 
died  March  5,  1904.  Mr.  Lindholm  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time,  to  Betty  Nelson,  a  native 
of  Pullman,  Illinois.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Andrew  F.  and  Carolina  Nelson,  of  Coon 
Creek  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lindholm 
were   married    November   11,    1905. 


R.  A.  RIGHAM  (1896)  is  manager  of  the 
Ross  Lumber  Company  at  Russell  and  a  man 
who  has  taken  much  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  his  village.  While  his  residence  in  Lyon 
county  does  not  date  back  to  pioneer  times, 
he  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Lincoln 
county  and  a  prominent  man  of  affairs  there. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  old 
town  of  Marshfield,  which  is  now  in  exist- 
ence only  in  the  memory  of  the  older  set- 
tlers. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  re- 
view was  born  in  Huntingdon  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, September  22,  1853.  His  parents, 
both  deceased,  were  natives  of  Northern  Ire- 
land. They  were  John  C.  and  Mary  (Han- 
nah) Bigham.  When  two  years  of  age  R.  A. 
Bigham  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois, 
lived  there  one  year,  and  then  in  1857,  when 
Minnesota  was  yet  a  territory,  the  family 
settled  in  Wabasha  county.  There  young 
Bigham  lived  on  his  father's  homestead  un- 
til twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  then,  in 
1876,  he  set  out  in  life  for  himself. 

That  year  he  settled  in  the  little  village 
of  Marshfield,  near  the  present  site  of  Lake 
Benton,  and  a  few  months  later  he  was  ap- 
pointed county  treasurer  to  complete  an  un- 
expired term  and  at  the  next  election  was 
chosen  by  the  electors.  He  resigned  the 
office  in  the  spring  of  1881,  moved  to  Le 
Beau,  Walworth  county,  South  Dakota,  and 


BIOGKAIMIKAL  HISTORY. 


463 


was    appointed    clerk   of   the    district   court, 
holding  the  office  three  years. 

Returning  to  Minnesota,  Mr.  Bigham  began 
work  for  a  grain  company  and  for  several 
years  was  so  employed,  being  stationed  at 
Burchard,  Verdi  and  Florence.  At  the  last 
named  place  he  was  manager  of  a  lumber 
yard  for  a  few  years.  He  then  took  a  posi- 
tion as  manager  of  the  W.  11.  Curren  yard 
at  Tyler  and  was  so  engaged  until  he  lo- 
cated at  Russell  on  April  1,  1896,  to  take  the 
position  he  has  ever  since  held. 

The  Ross  Lumber  Company  is  the  succes- 
sor at  Russell  of  F.  S.  Purdy,  who  was  the 
first  to  engage  in  the  lumber  business  in 
the  village  and  who  sold  to  the  Ross  com- 
pany in  1893.  The  yard  at  Russell  has  been 
built  up  to  one  of  the  large  concerns  of 
the  county.  It  carries  in  stock  a  complete 
stock  of  lumber,  coal,  lime,  cement  and  build- 
ing material-  The  company  maintains  yards 
in  Minnesota  and  South  Dakota.  The  gen- 
eral offices  are  in  Minneapolis,  but  it  is  a 
South  Dakota  concern,  organized  under  the 
laws  of  that  state.  C.  H.  Ross  is  the  presi- 
dent and  treasurer,  and  H.  E.  Ross  is  vice 
president   and   secretary. 

During  his  residence  in  Russell  Mr.  Big- 
ham  has  held  several  local  offices.  He  has 
been  president  of  the  Village  Council  and 
village  recorder,  holding  the  last  named  of- 
fice at  the  present  time.  He  is  also  treas- 
urer of  his  school  district.  The  Masonic, 
Workmen  and  Degree  of  Honor  lodges  have 
admitted  Mr.  Bigham  to  membership. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Lucinda 
Hughes  occurred  at  Marshfield  on  Septem- 
ber 23,  1880.  Mrs.  Bigham  was  born  in  Mis- 
souri but  just  before  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  War,  when  she  was  a  child,  the  family 
moved  to  Wisconsin,  and  in  1878  they  lo- 
cated in  Lincoln  county.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bigham:  Joseph 
E.,  manager  of  the  Ross  Lumber  Company's 
yard  at  Bancroft,  South  Dakota;  and  Harold 
R.,  who  is  employed  as  teller  in  the  Sioux 
Falls  Savings  Bank. 


JAMES  J.  HENNEN  (1888)  is  a  farmer 
and  land  owner  of  Lake  Marshall  township 
who  has  lived  in  Lyon  county  many  years. 
He  is  a  native  of  Holland  and  was  born 
April  8,  1871.  His  parents  were  Peter  A. 
and    Helena    (Beckers)    Hennen.     The    first 


eleven  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  the 
land  of  his  nativity,  coming  to  America  with 
his  parents  when  lie  was  that  age.  On  their 
arrival  in  this  country  the  family  went  to 
Ghent,  where  they  stayed  about  a  month  and 
then  moved  to  Brown  county,  Wisconsin. 
There  they  resided  until  1888,  when  they  re- 
turned to  Lyon  county  and  purchased  land 
near  Ghent.  The  father  of  our  subject  still 
resides  on  that  place;  the  mother  died  in 
1907. 

In  1901  Mr.  Hennen  bought  two  hundred 
forty  acres  of  land  on  section  22,  Lake 
Marshall  township,  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence there.  In  the  spring  of  1911  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  more  in  the  same  sec- 
tion, so  that  he  is  now  the  owner  of  the 
north  half  of  section  22.  His  land  is  finely 
improved.  He  raises  a  great  deal  of  stock. 
He  is  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  6  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church  and 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 

At  Ghent,  Lyon  county,  on  March  25,  1897, 
Mr.  Hennen  was  united  in  marriage  to  Annie 
Vanuden,  a  native  of  Holland  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Anne  (Hermsen)  Vanuden. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  the  following 
named  ten  children:  Arnold,  John,  Theo- 
dore, Herbert,  Hellen,  Annie,  Christina, 
George,  Joe  and  Henry. 


WILLIAM  H.  BOT  (1886)  is  a  successful 
young  business  man  of  Ghent.  He  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  pool  hall  and  handles  con- 
fectionery, cigars  and  soft  drinks  in  connec- 
tion. He  owns  240  acres  of  land  two  miles 
east  of  Ghent  and  160  acres  on  the  White 
Earth  Reservation,  in  Northern  Minnesota. 
Mr.  Bot  is  also  a  shareholder  of  the  Farmers 
Elevator  Company  of  Ghent. 

Mr.  Bot's  parents,  William  H.  and  Debora 
(Schrueder)  Bot,  were  Hollanders,  and  Wil- 
liam was  born  in  Holland  December  23, 
1880.  His  father  died  in  1908;  the  mother 
lives  in  Ghent.  William  went  to  school  for 
several  years  in  his  native  land  and  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  America  in  1886.  The 
father  bought  480  acres  of  land  one  mile 
east  of  Ghent  and  the  family  made  their 
home  on  the  farm.  The  lad  worked  on  the 
farm  with  the  father  until  twenty-eight  years 
of  age.  In  July,  1909,  he  moved  to  Ghent 
and    purchased    his    present    business    from 


464 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Theodore  Sanders,  which  he  has  since  con- 
ducted with  success. 

November  11,  1908,  occurred  the  ceremony 
which  united  William  H.  Bot  and  Mary 
Stassen  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony. 
Mary  Stassen's  parents  were  natives  of  Bel- 
gium, and  she  was  born  there.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bot  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Louis  and  Debora  Elizabeth.  The  Bots  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  church  and  Mr. 
Bot  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters. 


JOHN  MATTSON  (1883)  is  one  of  the 
older  residents  of  Eidsvold  township,  hav- 
ing lived  on  the  farm  he  now  conducts  nearly 
thirty  years.  He  is  a  successful  farmer  and 
one  of  the  respected  men  of  his  precinct. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Mattson  occurred  in 
Sweden  October  9,  1849,  and  in  that  country 
he  lived  until  twenty-three  years  of  age.  He 
came  to  America  in  1874,  worked  on  a  farm 
in  Illinois  one  year,  and  then  went  to  Red- 
wood City,  San  Mateo  county,  California. 
There  he  and  a  brother,  Isaac  Mattson,  and 
M.  M.  Stram  engaged  in  the  wood  business 
three  years. 

Returning  to  the  old  country  at  the  end 
of  that  time,  Mr.  Mattson  was  married  and 
spent  six  months  in  the  land  of  his  birth. 
He  came  again  to  the  United  States,  lived 
three  years  in  Denver,  Colorado,  a  few 
months  in  Minneapolis,  and  in  1883  became 
a  resident  of  Lyon  county.  At  that  time  he 
bought  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  3.  Eidsvold  township,  and 
began  its  cultivation.  He  set  out  the  grove 
on  the  place,  erected  the  buildings,  fenced 
the  land,  and  has  made  all  the  improvements 
on  the  farm.  In  1891  Mr.  Mattson  purchased 
the  north  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
his  home  section  and  in  1912  he  bought 
the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter 
of  the  same  section,  making  him  the  owner 
of  a  240-acre  farm  in  one  piece.  With  the 
help  of  his  sons,  Alfred,  Albert  and  David, 
Mr.  Mattson  farms  his  entire  acreage. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Magnus 
and  Lena  M.  (Watterstrom)  Isaacson.  Both 
died  in  1880,  the  mother  on  February  29, 
the  father  in  March.  There  were  ten  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  of  whom  the  following 
'  named  eight  are  living:     Anne   Stina  Wal- 


mon,    Isaac,    John,    Anders.    Maria.    Magnus, 
Inga  Pearson  and  Peter  U. 

John  Mattson  was  married  in  Sweden  May 
30,  1879,  and  his  bride  was  Annie  S.  Ber- 
gerson.  Their  children  are  Ernest,  who  is 
married  and  lives  in  Minneota;  Alfred,  Al- 
bert, David  and  Bertha,  who  live  at  home. 
All  have  been  well  educated. 


EDGAR  T.  MAXSOX  (1873)  is  engaged 
in  the  insurance  business  in  Marshall,  where 
he  represents  the  Pacific  Mutual  Life  of 
Los  Angeles,  California,  the  State  Farmers 
Mutual  of  Waseca,  and  the  Indiana  &  Ohio 
Live  Stock  Insurance  Company  of  Crawfords- 
ville,  Indiana. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Winnebago  City. 
Minnesota,  April  7.  1S68,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  T.  and  Adelia  (Woodruff)  Maxson, 
the  former  of  whom  died  in  1904  and  the 
latter  being  still  a  resident  of  Marshall. 
William  T.  Maxson  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  War.  enlisting  from  Mankato  in  Com- 
pany D.  Ninth  Minnesota  Volunteers,  in 
1861  and  serving  throughout  the  war,  being 
honorably  discharged.  He  was  a  charter 
member  of  D.  F.  Markham  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
of  .Marshall.  He  and  his  wife,  natives  of 
New  York  and  Vermont,  took  as  a  homestead 
in  1873  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  19, 
Grandview  township,  Lyon  county.  They 
moved  to  Marshall  when  Edgar  was  twenty- 
one  years  old. 

Edgar  worked  on  his  father's  farm  in  his 
youth,  and  when  the  family  moved  to  Mar- 
shall father  and  son  went  into  the  dray  and 
transfer  business  together.  Edgar  ran  the 
first  street  sprinkler  through  Marshall's 
business  streets,  getting  the  water  from  the 
river.  In  1903  the  father  sold  his  interest 
to  his  son  and  retired  from  active  work,  Ed- 
gar carrying  on  the  business  three  years 
longer.  He  then  sold  out  and  with  his 
brother  William  started  the  Maxson  Brothers 
Bottling  Works  and  put  in  the  deep  well 
which  has  made  the  "Silver  Springs"  soft 
water  so  well  known.  After  a  few  months 
our  subject  bought  his  brother's  interest  and 
conducted  the  plant  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  sold  to  A.  C.  Porter,  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  insurance  business. 

Edgar  Maxson  was  married  at  Rose  Hill  on 
November  12,  1896,  to  Dora  L.  Buchert,  a 
native  of  Wisconsin.     They  have  four  chil- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


165 


dren,  Inez,  Verne,  Marvel  and  Violet.  Guy 
Edgar,  a  son  by   Mr.  Maxson's  firsl   wife,  is 

agent  for  the  Great  Northern  railway  at  Cor- 
son, South  Dakota.  Edgar  Maxson  has  two 
sisters.  Mary  H.  (Mrs.  R.  F.  Laythe),  of 
Hanley,  Canada,  and  .Maud  (Mrs.  \V.  G.  Wel- 
doni,  of  Redwood  Falls,  and  a  brother,  Wil- 
liam, of  Marshall. 


EDWARD  MILLER  (1887 >  nuts  and  farms 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  3,  Rock 
Lake  township.  He  was  born  in  Outa- 
gamie  county,  Wisconsin.  July  25,  1866,  and 
is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Dora  (Schroeder) 
Miller,  the  former  of  whom  is  deceased  and 
the  mother  being  a  resident  of  Marshall. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Miller  became  Lyon 
county  residents  in  the  nineties  and  farmed 
one  year,  afterward  moving  to  Marshall. 

Edward'  received  his  education  in  Wis- 
consin, where  he  went  to  country  school  un- 
til the  age  of  fifteen,  after  which  he  worked 
for  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-one.  Coming  to  Lyon  county  in  the 
spring  of  1887,  he  worked  on  a  farm  near 
Marshall  one  year  and  the  next  year,  in 
company  with  his  brother.  Will,  rented  land 
near  Marshall  and  farmed  four  years.  He 
then  purchased  land  in  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship and  farmed  four  years  for  himself. 
Selling  his  Lyon  county  property,  Edward 
moved  to  the  northern  part  of  the  state 
and  bought  land  near  Brainerd.  He  and 
his  wife  were  postmaster  and  assistant  post- 
master at  Neutral,  near  Brainerd,  three 
years,  and  after  six  years  they  returned  to 
Marshall,  where  he  worked  as  teamster  two 
years,  after  which  he  resumed  farming  near 
the  town  four  years. 

In  1906  Mr.  Miller  moved  to  the  Forbes 
farm  near  Lynd  and  farmed  one  year.  The 
succeeding  four  years  he  spent  on  the 
Schroeder  farm  in  Lyons  township,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1911  our  subject  moved  to  the 
place  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Miller  was 
married  November  25,  1889,  to  Ella  WTunder- 
lich,  at  W7atertown,  South  Dakota.  His  wife 
was  born  August  6,  1867,  in  Wisconsin,  and 
her  parents,  Wolf  and  Emma  (Graetz)  Wun- 
derlich,  were  for  twenty  years  residents  of 
Lynd  township,  Lyon  county,  later  moving 
to  Brainerd,  where  the  father  still  is  living. 
The  Millers  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.     They  are  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 


dren, as  follows:  Fern  (Mrs.  Wilmar 
Soul  i,  of  Custer  township;  Iva,  Frances, 
Elva,  Roy,  Erna  and  Eugene. 


JOHN  SXIDAL  (1882),  who  owns  and 
farms  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  4. 
Westerheim  township,  has  lived  in  Lyon 
county  main  years.  He  was  born  in  Iceland 
October  27,  1848,  the  son  of  Sever  and  Inga 
Snidal.  His  mother  died  in  Iceland  and  his 
lather  in  Lyon  county  in  1910  at  the  age 
of  ninety-nine  years.  For  twenty-seven  years 
before  his  death  he  had  made  his  home  with 
his  son. 

At  the  age  of  thirty-one  years,  in  1879, 
John  Snidal  left  his  native  land  and  settled 
in  a  colony  of  his  countrymen  in  Canada. 
Three  years  later  he  joined  the  Lyon  county 
colony  and  he  has  ever  since  been  a  resident 
of  the  county.  The  first  year  he  worked 
for  Bjorn  Gislason,  the  next  two  years  he 
farmed  school  land  in  Westerheim  township, 
the  next  year  he  resided  in  Marshall.  After 
having  farmed  rented  land  several  years,  in 
1890  he  bought  his-  present  land.  He  has 
made  all  the  improvements  on  it  and  has 
ever  since  resided  on  the  place. 

Mr.  Snidal  was  married  in  Westerheim 
township  November  6,  1884,  to  Christine 
Gislason,  also  a  native  of  Iceland.  Their 
children  are  Sarah,  Mary,  Alfred,  Bjorn,  Carl, 
Engie,  Oluf,  Dena  and  Lilly.  Bjorn,  Carl  and 
Alfred  assist  their  father  in  the  management 
of  the  farm.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Icelandic  Lutheran  church. 

THOMAS  U.  JOHNSON  (1886),  a  farmer 
of  Amiret  township,  is  the  owner  of  the  south 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  24. 

He  was  born  and  brought  up  in  England, 
having  been  born  in  1845.  He  is  the  son  of 
Robert  and  Jane  Johnson,  who  were  farm- 
ers, and  they  gave  their  son  his  bringing  up 
and  his  education  in  the  country  schools  in 
England.  At  the  early  age  of  fifteen  Thomas 
began  to  learn  the  stone  mason's  trade,  and 
he  was  employed  at  that  work  most  of  the 
time  until  coming  to  the  United  States  in 
1882. 

That  year  Mr.  Johnson  came  to  this  coun- 
try and  found  employment  at  his  trade  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  four  years. 
He  then  moved  to  Lyon  county  and  decided 
to    farm.     Accordingly    he    bought    a    tree 


466 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


claim  right  to  the  south  half  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  24,  Amiret  township, 
which  he  later  changed  to  a  homestead.  On 
that  place  he  has  since  resided,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in  Tracy 
and  other  parts  of  the  county,  working  at 
his  former  trade. 

Thomas  U.  Johnson  was  married  in  Eng- 
land to  Margrette  Charlton.  To  this  union 
five  children  have  been  born,  named  Rob- 
ert, Annie,  Thomas,  Margretti  and  Rachel. 


KNUTE  RONNING  (1872),  son  of  early 
settlers  of  Lyon  county,  is  the  owner  of  one 
of  Shelburne  township's  well  improved  quar- 
ter sections.  He  lives  on  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  19. 

Knute  Ronning  was  born  March  10,  1870, 
in  Fillmore  county,  this  state.  His  parents, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erick  Ronning,  were  natives 
of  Norway  and  came  to  this  country  in 
1869.  Knute  has  since  1872  lived  in  Lyon 
county.  He  attended  school  in  Tyler  during 
his  youth  and  from  the  time  he  was  sixteen 
until  he  became  of  age  worked  on  his 
father's  farm.  Later  he  bought  grain  for 
a  few  years  at  Florence  and  continued  to 
help  with  the  work  on  the  home  farm  for 
several  years,  working  with  a  threshing 
outfit  during  the  falls.  After  his  marriage 
in  1903  Mr.  Ronning  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  A  few  years  ago  our  subject 
purchased  the  quarter  upon  which  he  now 
resides  and  engaged  in  farming. 

Mr.  Ronning  was  married  June  13,  1903, 
to  Olava  Olsen,  a  native  of  Fillmore  county. 
Mrs.  Ronning  was  born  in  1879  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Ole  and  Mary  Olsen.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ronning  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Edgar,  Paul  and  Carl.  One 
child,  Clifford,  died. 

Knute  Ronning  is  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  lodge.  For  fifteen  years  he 
has  been  township  clerk,  was  justice  of  the 
peace  six  years,  and  constable  four  years. 
He  is  an  ardent  sportsman,  and  every  fall 
when  the  hunting  season  opens  he  takes  a 
"hike"  to  Northern  Minnesota  or  Wisconsin 
to  spend  a  week  deer  and  moose  hunting. 


HUGH  L.  EDWARDS  (1899)  is  a  farmer 
of  Sodus  township  who  has  resided  in  Lyon 
county   for  the   past  thirteen   years.     He  is 


the  owner  of  120  acres  of  land  on  section  23. 
Hugh  is  a  native  of  the  Gopher  State  and 
was  born  in  Blue  Earth  county  January  29, 
1875,  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Mor- 
gan) Edwards. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
early  education  in  the  county  in  which 
he  was  born  and  later  attended  the  Tracy 
High  School  two  years.  He  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  1899,  when  he  came 
to  Lyon  county,  where  his  father  bought 
land.  With  his  father  Hugh  made  his  home 
until  1905,  when  he  bought  the  farm  which 
he  still  owns  and  operates,  120  acres  on 
section  23,  Sodus  township.  In  addition  to 
farming,  Mr.  Edwards  raises  stock,  includ- 
ing Duroc-Jersey  hogs  and  Buff  Wyandotte 
chickens.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
lodge  and  a  stockholder  of  the  Current  Lake 
Telephone  Company. 

Lillie  B.  Williamson  became  the  wife  of 
our  subject  in  Tracy  on  June  16,  1902.  Mrs. 
Edwards  is  a  native  of  Wisconsin  and  was 
born  in  Trempealeau  county  December  23, 
1871.  They  have  one  child,  Clifford  L.,  born 
May    19,    1903. 


REV.  B.  B.  JONSSON  (1894)  is  the  pastor 
of  the  Icelandic  Lutheran  church  of  Min- 
neota.  He  is  a  native  of  Iceland  and  was 
born  June  19,  1870,  a  son  of  Bjorn  and 
Thorbjorg  (Bjornsdottor)  Jonsson.  The 
father  died  some  years  ago  and  the  mother 
resides  with  the  subject  of  this  review. 

Our  subject  immigrated  with  his  parents 
to  Canada  in  1876  and  attended  the  schools 
in  the  Province  of  Manitoba  until  fifteen 
years  of  age.  He  then  took  a  course  in  the 
Winnipeg  Business  College,  from  which  he 
was  graduated.  Later  he  attended  Gustavus 
Adolphus  College,  at  St.  Peter,  Minnesota, 
taking  a  classical  course.  He  attended  the 
English  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at 
Chicago,  where  he  matriculated  in  the  clas- 
sics and  was  graduated  in  theology  in  May, 
1893. 

Rev.  Jonsson  was  ordained  the  following 
June,  but  later  took  post-graduate  work  at 
the  same  school.  He  spent  one  year  as  trav- 
eling missionary  for  the  Icelandic  Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran  Synod  of  America,  in  Canada, 
visiting  congregations  already  established 
and  organizing  new  ones.  His  work  was  in 
Western  Canada. 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


467 


In  1894  Rev.  Jonsson  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  located  at  Minneota,  where  he  has  since 
served  as  pastor  of  the  Icelandic  Lutheran 
church  and  more  recently  of  the  English  Lu- 
theran church,  also.  He  served  as  secretary 
of  the  Icelandic  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod 
of  America  eight  years  and  was  elected  to 
the  presidency  in  June,  1908.  He  served  as 
chaplain  of  the  State  Senate  of  Minnesota 
in  1909.  Rev.  Jonsson  has  also  served  as 
editor  and  assistant  editor  of  several  pub- 
lications and  is  still  engaged  in  this  work. 

DAX  HASBARGEN  (1895),  in  partnership 
with  his  brother-in-law,  John  H.  Johnson, 
engages  in  farming  on  an  extensive  scale  in 
Shelburne  township.  The  partners  own  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  25,  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  24  and  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
23,  and  they  farm  the  entire  tract. 

The    subject    of    this    review    was    born 
in    Iroquois     county,     Illinois,     February    6, 
1869,  and  resided  on  his  father's  farm  in  that 
county   until  twenty-four  years  of  age.     He 
then    left  home   and   for  a   couple   of  years 
was  engaged   in  various   occupations.      He 
came  to  Lyon  county  in  1895,  and  for  a  year 
was    employed    as    a    farm    hand    and    with 
threshing  and  hay  baling  crews.     Mr.  Has- 
bargen  spent  the  next  year  in  his  old  home, 
but  in  1897  he  returned  to  Lyon  county  with 
his   brother-in-law  to  make   permanent   resi- 
dence.    One   quarter  was   purchased   at  the 
time   of   arrival   and   was   improved   by   the 
partners;   later  they  added  by  purchase  the 
other  property. 

Dan  Hasbargen  is  the  son  of  Kayson  D. 
and  Elizabeth  (Greenhoff)  Hasbargen.  The 
parents  were  born  in  Germany,  came  to 
America  in  1864,  were  married  in  Iroquois 
county,  Illinois,  and  have  ever  since  resided 
on  a  farm  purchased  soon  after  their  arrival. 
Mr.  Hasbargen  is  seventy-six  years  of  age, 
his  wife  seventy-four.  Of  eight  children 
born  to  them  the  following  four  are  living: 
Henry,  Dan,  Breke  and  Maggie. 

Rachael  Johnson  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Hasbargen  on  March  30,  1899.  She  was 
born  in  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Henry  Johnson. 

PETER  DIERICKX  (1901)  is  one  of  the 
prosperous  farmers  and  large  land  owners  of 


Fairview  township.  His  landed  possessions 
consist  of  349  acres  on  section  7,  Fairview, 
and  160  acres  on  section  8,  Grandview. 
The  home  place,  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  7,  Fairview,  is  improved  with  fine 
buildings  and  is  an  exceptionally  fine  farm. 
A  flowing  well  of  soft  water  is  on  the  place 
and  the  water  is  piped  to  the  house  and 
barn. 

The  gentleman  who  conducts  this  farm  was 
born  in  Belgium  October  9,  1846,  a  son  of 
Engel  and  Emely  (Deroo)  Dierickx.  In  his 
native  land  he  received  his  schooling  and 
grew  to  manhood.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  years,  in  1S71  Mr.  Dierickx  came  to 
America  and  spent  many  years  in  Henry 
county,  Illinois.  The  first  five  years  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  and  then  engaged 
in  farming  for  himself.  From  Henry  county, 
Illinois,  he  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1901, 
bought  his  Fairview  farm  at  that  time,  and 
later  added  to  his  possessions  by  the  pur- 
chase of  the  quarter  section  in  Grandview. 
Mr.  Dierickx  raises  Shorthorn  cattle  and 
Poland  China  hogs. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Rosa  Over- 
mire  occurred  in  Illinois  November  29, 
1880.  She  was  born  in  Belgium  September 
30,  1862.  Her  parents,  Peter  and  Jane 
( Paquer)  Overmire,  died  in  Illinois.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dierickx  have  four  children:  John,  Ju- 
lia, Charles  and  Edward.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  church  of  Ghent. 


GEORGE  B.  CALEY  (1879),  a  missionary 
of  the  American  Sunday  School  Union,  has 
spent  all  except  the  first  year  of  his  life 
in  Lyon  county  and  now  resides  in  Marshall. 
He  was  bora  in  Dover,  Racine  county,  Wis- 
consin, May  15,  1878,  and  the  next  year  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Lyon  county.  He 
resided  on  the  farm  in  Sodus  township  until 
1895,  when  the  family  located  in  Marshall. 

Mr.  Caley  received  his  education  in  the 
Marshall  High  School  and  thereafter  en- 
gaged in  several  occupations.  He  took  a 
home  collegiate  course  and  was  ordained  a 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  St.  Paul  in  October,  1910.  He  has  devoted 
much  time  to  Sunday  School  and  church 
work  and  is  now  a  missionary  of  the  Ameri- 
can Sunday  School  Union,  his  district  em- 
bracing the  counties  of  Lyon,  Lincoln,  Red- 
wood, Yellow  Medicine  and  Lac  qui   Parle. 


468 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


He  conducts  services  at  the  various  churches 
throughout  his  district.  Mr.  Caley  holds 
membership  in  the  Masonic  and  Modern 
Brotherhood  lodges. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  son  of 
the  late  Charles  E.  Caley  and  Martia  E. 
(Cady)  Caley,  who  resides  in  Marshall.  The 
father  was  born  in  the  Isle  of  Man.  He  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1879,  took  a  tree  claim 
on  section  6,  Sodus  township,  and  resided 
there  until  1895,  when  he  located  in  Mar- 
shall. He  died  in  September,  1910,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-six  years.  There  are  five  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  as  follows:  H.  Delano, 
of  Glenwood,  who  was  formerly  a  merchant 
of  Marshall;  Lottie  L.  (Mrs.  D.  W.  Harvey), 
of  St.  Paul;  Harry  E.,  of  St.  Paul;  George 
B.  and  Edith  Joyce  (Mrs.  Frank  W.  Case), 
of   Marshall. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Nettie  S. 
Bates  occurred  in  Marshall  September  19, 
1900.  She  was  born  in  Grandview  town- 
ship, Lyon  county,  March  17,  1881,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Lewis  Bates,  who  came  to 
the  county  in  the  early  seventies.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Caley,  as  follows:  Evelyn  M.,  Marjorie  R., 
G.  Burdette  and  Millicent  E.  The  last 
named  died  April  4,  1907,  at  the  age  of  two 
and  one-half  years. 


KAY  C.  HUMPHREY  (1900)  is  a  Sodus 
township  farmer  and  land  owner.  He  was 
born  in  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  December 
9,  1869,  the  son  of  Albert  N.  and  Lina 
(Baldwin)  Humphrey.  The  parents  were 
born  in  New  York  State  and  settled  in  Wis- 
consin  in   an  early  day. 

When  Kay  was  four  years  of  age  the  fam- 
ily moved  to  Monroe,  Jasper  county,  Iowa, 
and  there  our  subject  received  his  school- 
ing and  spent  his  boyhood  days.  In  1882 
his  father  died,  and  Kay  and  his  mother  re- 
turned to  Wisconsin,  to  the  village  of  Broad- 
head.  That  was  Kay  Humphrey's  home  for 
the  next  fifteen  years,  during  which  time  he 
was  engaged  as  a  store  clerk  and  at  farm 
labor.  Two  year  were  spent  with  an  uncle 
in  Grundy  county,  Iowa,  and  then  in  1900 
Mr.  Humphrey  became  a  resident  of  Lyon 
county.  » 

Upon  his  arrival  Mr.  Humphrey  purchased 
his  present  farm,  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section   16  and  the  west  half  of  the  south- 


west quarter  of  section  15,  Sodus  township. 
He  engages  quite  extensively  in  stock  rais- 
ing as  well  as  grain  farming.  He  is  clerk 
of  school  district  No.  84  and  has  been  town- 
ship clerk  for  eight  years.  Mr.  Humphrey 
is  a  member  of  the  Yeomen  lodge. 

In  his  native  county  in  Wisconsin  Mr. 
Humphrey  was  married  on  February  12. 
1899,  to  Nellie  Hulbert.  She  is  a  native  of 
that  county  and  was  born  on  New  Year's 
Day,  1870.  Her  father.  John  Hulbert.  was 
born  in  New  York;  her  mother,  Lorinda 
(Smiley)  Hulbert.  in  Wisconsin.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Humphrey  have  one  child,  Helen  May, 
born  May  30,  1911. 


EDWARD  MAERTENS  (1883)  commenced 
farming  for  himself  in  Grandview  township 
in  1892  with  little  or  no  capital  to  start  on. 
and  by  industry  and  intelligent  farming  he 
has  accumulated  713  acres  of  the  township's 
best  land  and  made  himself  one  of  Grand- 
view's  prosperous  farmers. 

He  was  born  in  Belgium  October  2.  1864, 
and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Anna  (DeRuwe) 
Maertens,  now  deceased.  The  parents  came 
to  America  and  located  in  Lyon  county  in 
the  fall  of  1883,  the  father  purchasing  land 
in  Grandview  township.  Edward  received 
his  early  education  in  Belgium  and  later  at- 
tended a  country  school  in  Lyon  county 
until  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  then 
worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  1892,  in 
which  year  he  married,  purchased  land,  and 
started  farming  for  himself.  He  moved  to 
his  present  place  in  1899  and  is  now  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing. 

Our  subject's  mother  died  on  the  Grand- 
view  farm  in  1895.  The  father  soon  after 
returned  to  his  native  land,  where  he  died 
June  26,  1908.  Edward  is  one  of  eight  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows: 
Clemence,  of  Belgium;  Anna  (deceased),  Ed- 
ward, of  this  sketch;  August,  of  Ghent;  Ida 
(Mrs.  B.  F.  Claeys),  of  Grandview  township; 
Henry  (deceased),  Julia  (Mrs.  Regnier  Bot), 
of  Grandview  township;  and  Hippolet,  of 
Ghent. 

Edward  Maertens  was  married  June  29, 
1892,  to  Theresia  Bot,  the  ceremony  taking 
place  at  Ghent.  Mrs.  Maertens  was  born 
November  29,  1870,  and  died  August  21,  1907. 
She    was    a    daughter    of    William    H.    and 


1". I < GRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


469 


Debora  (Schrueder)  Bot,  of  whom  the  former 
is  deceased  and  the  latter  is  a  resident  of 
Ghent.  Her  parents  were  early  settlers  of 
the  township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maertens 
\  ire  born  the  following  children:  Gustave 
Joseph,  born  May  22,  1S94;  William  \1- 
phonse,  born  October  26,  1896;  Hero  Jo- 
seph, born  May  .">,  1S9S;  Henry  Edward, 
born  July  25,  1900;  and  Bernard  Edward. 
born  June  2,  1905.  Another  child  died  in 
infancy. 

Mr.  Maertens  served  six  years  as  chair- 
man of  the  Township  Board  and  several 
terms  as  road  overseer.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  and  is  a  stockholder  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of 
Ghent.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Ghent  and  was  formerly  one  of  its 
trustees. 


GEORGE  D.  TRACY  H903)  is  a  whole- 
sale dealer  in  poultry,  eggs  and  butter  at 
Tracy  and  carries  on  one  of  the  largest  busi- 
ness enterprises  in  the  city.  He  handles 
more  poultry  than  any  other  house  in  Min- 
nesota. During  1911  more  than  sixty  car 
loads  of  poultry  were  shipped,  representing 
a  cash  value  of  $100,000,  and  about  twenty- 
five  car  loads  of  eggs  were  handled.  A  large 
territory  is  covered,  extending  into  South 
Dakota.  The  business  is  housed  in  a  three- 
story  36x56  feet  building  erected  in  1908. 

The  gentleman  who  carries  on  the  busi- 
ness was  born  in  Jesup,  Iowa,  April  5,  1874. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  moved  to 
Spencer,  Iowa,  where  he  secured  his  educa- 
tion and  grew  to  manhood.  There  in  1896 
he  engaged  in  the  poultry  business,  which 
he  has  ever  since  followed.  From  the  year 
mentioned  until  he  moved  to  Tracy  in  No- 
vember, 1903,  Mr.  Tracy  was  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Culbertson  &  Tracy. 

Mr.  Tracy  is  a  stockholder  of  the  Tracy 
Garage  Company  and  owns  a  half  section 
farm  in  Shetek  township,  Murray  county. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
Workmen  lodges. 

Albert  G.  and  Angeline  P.  (Starkey)  Tracy, 
the  parents  of  our  subject,  were  born  in 
Ohio  and  moved  to  Jesup,  Iowa,  in  the  early 
seventies.  Later  they  moved  to  Spencer, 
where  both  died.  They  were  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Addie,  the  wife  of 
Dr.    W.    P.    Woodcock,    of    Spencer,    Iowa; 


George  D.,  of  this  biography;  Minnie,  the 
wife  of  A.  J.  Cuttell,  of  Spokane,  Washing- 
ton;  and   Hert.  of  Peterson,   Iowa, 

George  D.  Tracy  was  married  March  7, 
1900,  at  Sutherland,  Iowa,  to  Leonora  M. 
Barry,  a  native  of  Iowa.  They  have  three 
children.  Margaret,  Addison  and  Donald. 


WILLIAM  F.  HAACK  (1899),  owner  of 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  24,  Rock 
Lake  township,  was  born  in  Germany  May 
L8,  L865,1  his  parents,  Joahim  and  Mary 
Haack,  being  now  deceased. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education 
in  Germany,  in  a  graded  school,  and  during 
the  greater  part  of  his  teens  he  worked  as 
a  hack  driver,  continuing  at  that  work  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  then  enlisted 
in  the  German  Army  and  served  three  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1889  William  immigrated  to 
the  United  States  and  made  his  home  for 
thf  next  five  years  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Redfield,  South  Dakota,  where  he  worked  as 
a  farm  hand.  Young  Haack  was  ambitious 
to  get  into  farming  for  himself  and  made  the 
first  step  in  that  direction  when  he  rented 
land  near  Redfield  and  farmed  three  years, 
moving  from  Redfield  to  Waterville,  Minne- 
sota, and  again  worked  as  a  farm  hand  two 
years. 

Lyon  county  was  Mr.  Haack's  destination 
after  leaving  Waterville,  and  he  located  in 
Sodus  township,  where  he  rented  land  and 
farmed  two  years.  He  then  purchased  his 
farm  in  Rock  Lake  and  has  farmed  there 
ever  since.  Mr.  Haack  raises  considerable 
stock  and  ships  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland 
China  hogs  to  the  markets. 

October  1,  1899,  in  Lyons  township  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  William  Haack  and 
Sophia  Klucas,  a  native  of  Germany.  Mrs. 
Haack  was  born  October  18,  1878,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  William  Klucas,  of  Lyons  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haack  have  eight  chil- 
dren, named  as  follows:  Walter,  Otto,  Hel- 
mot,  Hannah,  Martha,  Luther,  Elsie  and 
Arthur.  Mr.  Haack  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Methodist  church. 


LEE  O.  ALEXANDER  (1885)  is  a  farmer 
who  resides  in  the  village  of  Lynd.  He  is 
a  native  of  Lyon  county  and  was  born  in 
Lynd   township   on   June    8,   1885.     He   is   a 


# 


470 


BIOGBAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


-*- 


son  of  A.  E.  Alexander,  a  real  estate  dealer 
of  Lynd.  His  parents  are  natives  of  New 
York  State. 

Lee  received  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Lynd  township.  Later  he 
attended  the  Marshall  High  School,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1905,  and  then 
attended  the  Mankato  Normal  School  one 
term.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lynd  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church.  He  bought  grain  for 
the  Northwestern  Elevator  Company  at 
South  Shore,  South  Dakota,  and  later  at 
Lynd,  working  for  the  company  about  three 
and  one-half  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
implement  business  for  one  year,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  he  sold  to  O.  M.  Larson,  who 
still  conducts  the  business.  Mr.  Alexander 
was  census  enumerator  for  Lynd  township 
in  1910. 

He  owns  and  operates  what  is  known  as 
the  Gilman  quarter  (the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  26),  the  Morgan  Homestead  (the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  34),  and  the 
Judge  Rice  Grove,  consisting  of  eleven  acres, 
which  was  an  Indian  camping  ground  when 
the  first  white  settlers  came  to  Lyon  county. 

On  July  8,  1908,  Mr.  Alexander  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Susie  G.  Oliver,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Susan  G.  Oliver.  Mrs.  Alexander 
is  a  native  of  Lyon  county  and  was  born 
October  25,  1886.  They  have  a  daughter, 
Marian  S.,  born  January  3,  1912. 


HERMAN  F.  WEIDAUER  (1906)  is  the 
owner  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
18,  Lake  Marshall  township,  where  he  has 
resided  six  years.  He  was  born  in  Saxony, 
Germany,  January  1,  1875,  and  is  the  son  of 
August  and  Dakle  (Derckle)  Weidauer. 
When  seven  years  of  age  Herman  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  America,  locating  near 
Philo,  Illinois,  where  the  father  purchased 
land  and  farmed  until  1892.  At  that  time 
the  father  sold  his  Illinois  land  and  moved 
to  Calhoun  county,  Iowa,  where  he  purchased 
land  and  has  resided  since. 

Herman  resided  with  his  parents  until  he 
reached  his  majority,  when  he  married, 
bought  land,  and  started  farming  for  him- 
self. In  1904  he  sold  his  Iowa  land  and 
rented  for  two  years.  In  1905,  while  living 
in  Iowa,  Mr.  Weidauer  purchased  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  18,  Lake  Marshall 
township,  which  he  still  owns  and  operates. 


In  1906  he  moved  with  his  family  to  this 
place.  Mr.  W'eidauer  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Evangelical  church  and  is  treasurer 
of  school  district  No.  94. 

In  Calhoun  county,  on  March  11,  1896, 
Anni  R.  Hout  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Weid- 
auer. She  is  a  native  of  Princeton,  Illinois, 
and  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Matilda  (Cas- 
kup)  Hout,  the  farmer  born  in  Germany  and 
the  latter  in  Illinois.  Mrs.  Weidauer  was 
born  October  15,  1874.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Weidauer  have  been  born  the  following 
named  children:  Matilda,  born  December 
30,  1896;  Bertha,  born  May  28,  1898;  Laura, 
born  September  19,  1899;  Emma,  born  Octo- 
ber IS,  1900;  Henry,  born  May  9,  1902; 
August,  born  October  16,  1905;  Joseph,  born 
March  31,  1909. 


ERNEST  SMITH  (1893)  is  manager  of  the 
Willmar  Milling  Company's  Elevator  at  Rus- 
sell. He  was  born  in  the  Wolverine  State,- in 
Allegan  county,  October  10,  1868.  When  he 
was  a  child  the  family  moved  to  Montcalm 
county,  Michigan,  where  they  resided  until 
1886.  During  that  time  our  subject  attended 
school  and  grew  to  manhood.  In  1886  he 
moved  to  Brown  county,  South  Dakota, 
where  he  farmed  two  years,  and  then  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  business  at  Port  Emma, 
North  Dakota,  and  at  Yale,  South  Dakota, 
until  189::. 

In  the  last  named  year  Mr.  Smith  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  located  at  Russell,  where 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Northwestern 
Elevator  Company.  He  worked  for  that 
company  five  years.  The  next  four  years 
Mr.  Smith  was  out  of  business,  and  in  1902 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Willmar  Milling 
Company. 

The  elevator  now  owned  by  the  Willma.' 
Milling  Company  was  built  in  1900  by  An 
drews  &  McGandy,  who  conducted  it  two 
years  and  then  sold  to  Reinke  Brothers,  of 
Iona  Lake.  Reinke  Brothers  operated  it 
three  years  and  sold  to  the  present  owners. 
The  home  office  of  the  Willmar  Milling  Com- 
pany is  at  Willmar,  Minnesota.  Marcus 
Johnson,  of  Minneapolis,  is  president  of  the 
company.  Their  house  at  Russell  has  a  ca- 
pacity of  15,000  bushels.  They  handle  grain, 
fuel,  flour  and  feed.  Mr.  Smith  has  had 
charge  of  the  elevator  since  it  was  purchased 
in  1902  bv  Reinke  Brothers. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


471 


The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Stephen 
J.  and  Charlotte  J.  (Everest)  Smith,  natives 
of  New  York  State.  They  came  West  when 
young  and  located  in  Michigan,  where  they 
were  married.  In  1886  they  moved  to  South 
Dakota.  Mrs.  Smith  died  in  1895  at  West 
Superior,  Wisconsin,  and  Mr.  Smith  in  Rus- 
sell September  8,  1909.  Ernest  Smith  is  the 
only  child. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  June  4,  1894,  at 
Iroquois,  South  Dakota,  to  Jennie  Patton,  a 
native  of  Lodi,  Wisconsin. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodges.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Village  Coun- 
cil and  served  one  term  as  village  recorder. 


WILLIAM  LA  VOIE  (1892)  owns  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  32,  Amiret  town- 
ship, and  -  rents  and  farms  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  16  of  the  same  township, 
on  which  place  he  makes  his  home. 

William  La  Voie  was  born  in  Kankakee 
county,  Illinois,  March  1,  1872.  He  is  a  son 
of  Cyril  and  Sarah  (La  Rue)  La  Voie,  na- 
tives of  Canada,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  and  located  in  Illinois  during  the 
Civil  War.  Cyril  La  Voie  served  in  the 
Union  army  during  part  of  the  war,  and 
afterwards  the  parents  resided  on  their 
farm  in  Kankakee  county  until  their 
deaths.  William's  boyhood  was  spent  in 
Kankakee  county  and  there  he  went  to 
the  country  school  and  helped  his  father 
on  the  farm,  and  when  his  education  was 
completed  he  assumed  his  share  of  the  farm 
work  until  1892. 

Our  subject  had  then  reached  his  twen- 
tieth year,  and  he  left  home  to  make  his 
own  way  in  life.  He  located  in  Lyon  county 
and  was  employed  on  John  Craig's  dray  line 
for  some  months  and  worked  on  a  threshing 
rig  in  the  fall.  M.  D.  Hahn  then  obtained 
his  services  for  one  year  on  his  farm.  Since 
that  time  Mr.  La  Voie  has  been  farming  for 
himself,  having  rented  at  different  times 
farms  in  Amiret  and  Monroe  townships.  In 
the  spring  of  1911  he  purchased  the  quarter 
on  section  32,  but  he  continues  to  farm  his 
rented  place  on  section  16.  Mr.  La  Voie  is 
devoting  much  of  his  time  to  stock  raising 
and  favors  the  Shorthorn  cattle  and  the 
Duroc-Jersey  and  Poland  China  hogs.     He  is 


a   shareholder  in   the   Farmers   Co-operative 
Creamery  Company  of  Tracy. 

The  marriage  of  William  La  Voie  and 
Mary  Van  Dusen  took  place  in  Monroe  town- 
ship February  24,  1895.  Mrs.  La  Voie  is  a 
native  of  Rice  county,  Minnesota,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Fannie  (Staley) 
Van  Dusen.  They  were  pioneer  settlers  of 
Lyon  county,  having  located  here  in  the 
spring  of  1878.  The  former  is  deceased; 
Mrs.  Van  Dusen  is  a  resident  of  Monroe 
township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  La  Voie  the  fol- 
lowing children  have  been  bora:  Marie, 
born  April  8,  1896;  Mark,  born  September  2, 
1897;  Lawrence,  born  August  5,  1902;  Wil- 
liam, born  January  6,  1906;  Van,  born  Octo- 
ber 31,  1907;  and  Kenneth,  born  January  20, 
1911.  'All  the  children  are  at  home  with 
their  parents. 

Mr.  La  Voie  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Tracy.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 


MIKE  STASSEX  (1891)  conducts  a  hotel 
and  saloon  in  the  village  of  Ghent.  Mr. 
Stassen  was  born  in  Belgium  March  27, 
1873,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1891. 
settling  in  Fairview  township  on  his  father's 
farm,  where  he  resided  until  1906.  That 
year  he  moved  to  Ghent  and  purchased  a 
half  interest  in  his  brother's  saloon  and 
hotel. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  son  of  Loui 
and  Elizabeth  Stassen1,  who  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1891  and  located  in  Fair- 
view  township,  buying  land  on  section  19, 
where  they  still  reside.  They  have  the  fol- 
lowing ten  children  living:  Jacob,  Cathe- 
rine, John,  Theodore,  Mike,  Joe,  Mary, 
Mattie,  Loui  and  Milline. 

At  Minneota,  May  29,  1907,  Mr.  Stassen 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  Bankers,  a  native 
of  Wisconsin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stassen  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  named  three  chil- 
dren:    Helen,  Louise  and  Loui. 


LAWRENCE  McDOXALD  (1882)  owns  a 
farm  of  400  acres  in  Eidsvold  township  and 
has  a  well-improved  place.  He  is  rated  as 
one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his  precinct, 
in  which  he  has  resided  thirty  years.  His 
home  place  is  the  south  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  28. 


472 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Mr.  McDonald  was  born  in  County  Carlow, 
Ireland,  February  5,  1842.  His  parents  are 
Michael  and  Bridget  (Breen)  McDonald,  both 
of  whom  died  in  the  old  country.  Lawrence 
lived  at  home  until  fifteen  years  of  age  and 
his  next  three  years  were  spent  on  the  sea, 
as  a  hand  on  a  sailing  vessel.  He  landed  in 
New  York  City  June  3,  1860,  and  has  ever 
since  resided  in  America.  Mr.  McDonald 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  in  New  York  State 
until  1874,  and  thereafter  until  1882  hew  as 
foreman  of  a  large  farm  in  Essex  county, 
Massachusetts. 

While  living  in  Massachusetts,  Mr.  Mc- 
Donald came  in  contact  with  literature  sent 
out  by  Bishop  Ireland,  advertising  the  oppor- 
tunities to  be  found  in  the  West  and  in  that 
gentleman's  colony  in  Lyon  county  in  par- 
ticular. Mr.  McDonald  was  impressed  and 
in  February,  1882,  he  left  his  employment  in 
the  East  and  came  to  Lyon  county.  At  that 
time  he  purchased  a  homestead  right  to 
eighty  acres  in  Eidsvold  township  for  $625, 
sent  for  his  family,  and  began  farming  on 
his  own  account.  He  experienced  hard- 
ships incident  to  life  in  Lyon  county  in  the 
early  eighties,  but  he  overcame  all  difficul- 
ties and  has  prospered. 

Mr.  McDonald  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  church  of  Minneota  and  he 
was  one  of  the  first  members  of  that  church. 
Several  years  he  was  road  overseer  of  his  dis- 
trict. He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Minneota  and 
he  still  has  stock  in  the  company. 

At  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  on  September 
15,  1874,  Mr.  McDonald  was  married  to  Rose 
Ann  McGovern,  also  a  native  of  Ireland. 
They  have  five  children:  Lawrence,  Joseph 
and  Margaret,  who  reside  at  home;  John,  of 
Hopkins,  Minnesota;  and  Edward,  of  Poca- 
tello,  Idaho. 


HOMER  R.  SWIFT  (1889)  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  7,  Amiret  township. 

He  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
September  14,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Homer 
C.  and  Samantha  (Wicks)  Swift,  natives  of 
Connecticut.  The  former  is  deceased  and 
the  latter  is  now  a  resident  of  Waseca,  Min- 
nesota. The  father  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
the  early  seventies  and  traded  his  team  and 
wagon  and  $100  in  cash  for  a  quarter  section 


of  land  in  Amiret  township.  He  made  his 
home  in  Lyon  county  several  years. 

Homer  Swift  received  his  early  education 
in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  attended  school 
until  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  then  moved 
to  Summit  county,  Ohio,  and  worked  in 
factories  in  Akron  several  years.  He  was 
married  in  1S78  and  bought  land  and  farmed 
near  Akron  until  the  spring  of  1889,  when 
he  moved  to  Lyon  county  and  purchased  his 
present  land  from  the  Winona  &  St.  Peter 
Railroad  Company.  He  has  been  a  contin- 
uous resident  of  the  county  ever  since.  He 
is  at  pi-esent  engaged  in  stock  raising  in  ad- 
dition to  his  general  farm  work.  Mr.  Swift 
was  a  member  of  the  Amiret  Township 
Board  of  Supervisors  one  term. 

August  4,  1878,  Homer  Swift  married 
Sarah  A.  Snyder  at  Akron,  Ohio.  She  is 
a  native  of  that  state  and  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 1,  18  62.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  Mrytle  (Mrs. 
Oliver  Swift),  of  Minneapolis;  Fay  Ar- 
thur, May  and  Jay,  at  home;  and  Pearl, 
of  Marshall.  Mr.  Swift  has  two  broth- 
ers and  three  sisters  living:  Arthur,  of 
Raymond,  Minnesota;  Frank,  of  Copley, 
Ohio;  Rose  (Mrs.  Charles  Whipple),  of  Wa- 
seca; Hattie  (Mrs.  Lobal),  of  Oil  City, 
Pennsylvania;   and  Flora,  of  Chicago. 


MICHAEL  E.  GRANNAN  (1895),  sheriff 
of  Lyon  county,  was  born  in  Livingston 
county,  Illinois,  November  3,  1869.  He  re- 
sided on  a  farm  in  that  county  until  seven- 
teen years  of  age  and  received  a  common 
school  education.  He  lived  in  Streator,  Illi- 
nois, one  year,  and  then  made  his  home  in 
Chicago  until  coming  to  Lyon  county  in 
1895.  In  Chicago  he  was  engaged  in  sev- 
eral different  occupations,  being  on  the 
police  force  two  years. 

Upon  his  arrival  to  Lyon  county  in  1895, 
Mr.  Grannan  took  employment  by  the  month 
on  the  farm  of  Peter  White.  The  next  year 
he  engaged  in  farming  in  Lynd  township  and 
was  so  engaged  four  years.  He  located  in 
Marshall  after  quitting  the  farm,  and  that 
city  has  since  been  his  home.  He  conducted 
a  saloon  one  year  and  then  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Peter  White  and  engaged  in  buy- 
ing and  shipping  stock,  the  firm  being  styled 
White  &  Grannan.  He  was  so  engaged  two 
years,    and    for    the   next   two    and    one-half 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


473 


years  was  chief  of  police.  He  resigned  that 
position  to  engage  in  the  campaign  for 
election  to  the  office  of  sheriff,  to  which  he 
was  elected  in  the  fall  of  1906.  He  has  been 
twice  re-elected. 

Sheriff  Grannan  was  married  in  Marshall 
February  16,  1904,  to  Henrietta  Riley.  She 
was  bora  near  Dodge  Center,  Minnesota,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  John  Riley.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Grannan  have  two  children,  Ethlyn 
Mary  and  Stephen  Vincent.  Mr.  Grannan  is 
a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  and 
Knights  of  Columbus  orders. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  is  a  son  of 
Bernard  and  Katherine  (Conroy)  Grannan. 
They  were  born  in  Ireland,  came  to  America 
in  their  youth,  and  were  married  in  New. 
York.  They  settled  at  Morris,  Grundy  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  about  1859  and  later  moved  to 
Livingston  county,  where  they  died.  There 
are  seven  living  children  in  the  family,  as 
follows:  John,  of  Chicago;  Stephen,  of 
Streator,  Illinois;  Ellen,  of  Livingston  coun- 
ty; Mary  (Mrs.  Bernard  Kelley),  of  Liv- 
ingston county;  Bernard,  a  police  officer 
of  Chicago;  Daniel  J.,  deputy  sheriff  of 
Lyon  county;  and  Michael  E.  The  oldest 
son,  Joseph  W.,  died  in   1906. 


LEON  CARON  (1883)  has  resided  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  4,  Grandview 
township,  ever  since  coming  to  the  county 
twenty-nine  year  ago.  He  is  the  owner  of 
560  acres  in  the  township  and  rents  out  all 
the  land  except  the  home  quarter,  which  he 
conducts  himself. 

Theodore  and  Julia  (Constantine)  Caron, 
parents  of  our  subject,  were  born  in  Canada 
and  moved  to  Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  in 
the  early  days.  In  1883  they  moved  to  Lyon 
county  and  the  father  bought  the  quarter 
where  he  now  lives  with  his  son  Leon,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years.  His  wife 
died  several  years  ago.  There  were  seven 
children  born  to  Theodore  and  Julia  Caron, 
as  follows:  Cecile  Regnier,  Lizzie  Regnier, 
Bertha,  Patriode,  Maria,  Leon  and  Phil. 
Maria  and  Phil  reside  on  the  old  home  place 
with  their  father  and  their  brother  Leon. 
There  were  two  other  children:  Peter,  who 
died  in  1899,  aged  forty-four  years,  and 
George,  who  died  in  1879  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 


Bourbonnais,  Illinois,  May  15,  1876.  He  came 
with  his  parents  to  Lyon  county  in  lss::,  has 
always  lived  at  home,  and  of  late  years  has 
had  charge  of  the  home  farm.  The  Caron 
family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 


THOMAS  F.  WALSH  (1880)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  blacksmith  and  repair  shop  in 
Minneota.  He  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and  was 
born  in  Bloomington  March  6,  1S72.  His 
parents  were- Walter  and  Bridget  (Donovan) 
Walsh,  natives  of  Ireland.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Illinois  and  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
the  spring  of  1880.  The  father  died  in  1907 
and  the  mother  in  August,  1901.  They  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Nel- 
lie, Maggie,  Bessie  (deceased),  Annie,  Wal- 
ter, Cornelius  and  Thomas  F. 

Thomas  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon 
county  in  1880  and  has  resided  in  the  county 
since,  with  the  exception  of  four  years  spent 
in  North  and  South  Dakota.  He  attended 
school  and  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Westerheim  township,  where  he  re- 
sided sixteen  years.  He  then  moved  to  Mar- 
shall and  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade, 
after  which  he  worked  at  Watertown,  South 
Dakota,  and  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  four  years. 
In  1896  he  went  to  Taunton,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  blacksmith  shop  five  years;  then 
he  went  to  Minneota  and  has  since  con- 
ducted a  shop  there.  Mr.  Walsh  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  K.  C.  lodges.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Minneota  Village  Coun- 
cil one  year. 

Mr.  Walsh  was  married  at  Taunton  No- 
vember 4,  1902,  to  Nellie  Ahern,  a  native  of 
Springfield,  Illinois.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Garret  Ahern,  an  early  settler  of  Taunton. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walsh  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,   Thomas  W.  and  Garrett  F. 


HANS  J.  BREDEVEIEN  (1884)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Garvin  dray  line  and  an 
early  settler  of  Lyon  county.  He  is  a  native 
of  Norway  and  was  born  December  29,  1841, 
a  son  of  John  and  Annie  (Peterson)  Larson, 
both  of  whom  are  deceased. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  in  the 
land  of  his  nativity,  where  he  attended 
school  until  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  then 
engaged  as  a  farm  hand.  His  first  year's 
compensation  was  three  dollars  in  cash  and 


474 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


a  suit  of  clothes,  and  the  highest  wages  he 
received  in  the  old  country  was  fourteen  dol- 
lars a  year  and  a  suit  of  clothes.  In  1867 
Mr.  Bredeveien  came  to  America  and  located 
in  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota,  where  he 
purchased  land  and  resided  until  1884. 

At  that  time  our  subject  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  purchased  land  in  Custer  town- 
ship, buying  240  acres,  which  he  later  sold. 
In  the  spring  of  1904  Mr.  Bredeveien  moved 
to  Garvin,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
in  the  dray  business.  He  is  the  owner  of 
several  lots  and  a  fine  residence  and  is  the 
possessor  of  160  acres  of  land  in  Northern 
Minnesota. 

Mr.  Bredeveien  was  marred  July  15,  1868, 
to  Annie  Knutson,  a  native  of  Norway.  She 
died  in  March,  1911.  They  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Annie  (Mrs.  Carl 
Holden),  of  Garvin;  Betsey  (Mrs.  Evon  Roil- 
ing), Lena  (Mrs.  Ole  Peterson),  Lizzie  (Mrs. 
L.  Coburn),  Julia  and  Christine,  all  of  whom 
reside  in  or  near  Garvin. 


GEORGE  MOPFATT  (1890)  is  manager  and 
grain  buyer  for  the  E.  S.  Mooers  Elevator 
Company  at  Lynd.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  in  that  village  for 
three  years  and  is  a  land  holder  in  Lyons 
township  and  a  property  holder  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Lynd. 

George  is  a  native  of  Scotland  and  was 
born  in  Glasgow  on  November  22,  1872,  a 
son  of  George  Moffatt,  a  stock  broker,  and 
Isabella  (Morton)  Moffatt.  The  former  died 
in  1905;  the  mother  lives  in  Scotland.  The 
other  children  of  the  family  are  Rev.  James 
Moffatt,  Annie,  Ella,  Winifred,  all  of  Scot- 
land. George  received  his  schooling  in  the 
land  of  his  nativity,  attending  school  until 
seventeen  years  of  age.  He  attended  Glas- 
gow Academy  and  Glasgow  University. 
When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  took  a  posi- 
tion as  bookkeeper  for  a  firm  of  East  Indian 
merchants  and  worked  for  them  two  years. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age  George  Moffatt 
came  to  America  and  to  Lyon  county  for  a 
visit  and,  liking  the  country  so  well,  he 
stayed  with  friends  in  Island  Lake  town- 
ship, for  whom  he  worked  several  years. 
Later  he  farmed  for  himself  in  Lynd  town- 
ship several  years  and  then  moved  to  the 
village  of  Lynd  and  entered  the  employ  of 
the  New  London  Milling  Company  as  grain 


buyer,  serving  as  such  two  year?.  The  firm 
sold  to  the  E.  S.  Mooers  Elevator  Company, 
and  our  subject  has  worked  for  the  firm 
since  as  manager  and  grain  buyer.  Mr. 
Moffatt  is  a  member  of  the  following  lodges: 
Blue  Lodge  of  Masons,  Modern  Woodmen 
and  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  He  was 
clerk  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge  at  Lynd 
six  years. 

On  January  25,  1894,  Mary  A.  Burr  became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Moffatt.  To  them  have  been 
born  two  children,  George  M.  and  Evelyn. 


JOHN  F.  DE  KIERE  (1888)  is  manager  of 
the  Philhower  Implement  Company  at  Mar- 
shall. He  was  born  on  Faroe  Island,  Den- 
mark, March  31,  1869,  and  came  to  America 
in  1881.  He  spent  four  years  at  Alpena. 
Michigan,  and  three  years  in  the  city  of 
Detroit,  where  he  attended  school. 

Mr.  De  Kiere  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1888 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  Minneota  engaged  in 
farming  until  1890.  The  next  five  years 
were  spent  in  the  employ  of  the  E.  I.  Leland 
Grain  and  Implement  Company.  Mr.  De 
Kiere  then  returned  to  Detroit  and  there  en- 
listed in  the  United  States  Infantry  and  saw 
service  in  Arizona.  After  his  term  of  service 
expired  he  re-enlisted  in  the  regular  army 
and  in  June,  1898,  went  with  his  regiment  to 
the  Philippine  Islands,  where  he  had  an 
extended  service  in  the  campaign  against  the 
Insurrectos.  He  was  discharged  at  San 
Francisco  with  the  rank  of  sergeant  on  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1901. 

After  his  army  service  Mr.  De  Kiere  re- 
turned to  Lyon  county.  For  two  years  he 
had  charge  of  the  Marfield  elevator  at  Burch- 
ard  and  then  for  three  years  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  Western  Elevator  Company 
at  Marshall.  From  that  time  until  March, 
1911,  Mr.  De  Kiere  lived  at  Ceylon,  Martin 
county,  Minnesota,  employed  by  the  Mutual 
Elevator  Company.  On  the  last  named  date 
Mr.  De  Kiere  entered  the  employ  of  L.  H. 
Philhower  as  manager  of  the  implement 
business   in   Marshall. 

At  Balaton,  on  June  5,  1903,  Mr.  De  Kiere 
was  married  to  Annie  M.  Peterson,  of  Burch- 
ard.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
Leona,  Irene,  Irvin  and  John.  Mr.  De  Kiere 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic,  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 

Joseph  De  Kiere,  the  father  of  our  subject, 


BHHJKAIMUCAL  IIISTOKY. 


17  :» 


was  born  at  Roulers,  Belgium,  and  died  in 
this  country.  The  mother,  Amelia  (Paulson) 
De  Kiere,  was  born  on  Faroe  Island,  Den- 
mark, and  now  resides  at  Minneota.  There 
are  four  children  in  the  family,  Mary,  Vir- 
ginia, Gertrude  and  John  F. 


JOHN  A.  KARLEN  (1S92),  Coon  Creek 
township  fanner,  was  born  September  2, 
1857,  in  Goteborg,  Sweden.  His  parents 
were  Andrew  and  Brigita  Manson,  both  of 
whom  are  deceased.  John  received  his 
schooling  in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  where 
he  attended  school  until  fifteen  years  of  age. 
He  then  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade 
with  his  father,  who  was  a  contractor,  until 
twenty-three  years  of  age.  In  1881  he  came 
to  America  and  located  in  Chicago,  where  he 
was  employed  by  the  Pullman  Car  Company 
eleven  years. 

In  1892  Mr.  Karlen  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  purchased  land  in  Coon  Creek  township, 
which  he  farmed  three  years.  Then  he  re- 
turned to  Chicago,  where  he  again  worked 
for  the  Pullman  Company,  this  time  for 
eight  years.  He  then  moved  to  Langlade 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  purchased  land 
and  farmed  until  July,  1910.  He  sold  out  at 
that  time  and  the  following  October  pur- 
chased the  land  he  now  owns  and  operates 
in  Coon  Creek  township,  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  12.  In  addition  to  grain  farm- 
ing, Mr.  Karlen  raises  considerable  stock, 
including  Duroc-Jersey  hogs,  Shorthorn  cat- 
tle and  Plymouth  Rock  chickens.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Svithiod  of  Chicago. 
Mr.  Karlen  was  a  member  of  the  Town 
Board  of  Supervisors  one  year  and  is  a 
stockholder  of  the  Farmers  Mutual  Tele- 
phone Company. 

On  October  1,  1888,  Elida  Danielson  be- 
came the  wife  of  our  subject.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Annie  (Anderson) 
Olson,  both  deceased,  and  was  born  March 
19,  1863,  in  Wermland,  Sweden.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Karlen  are  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Arthur,  born  September  27,  1889,  and  Cecilia, 
born  March  13,  1892.     Both  reside  at  home. 

Mr.  Karlen  has  two  brothers  and  four- 
sisters,  namely:  Otto,  of  Chicago;  Albein, 
Ida,  Annie,  Tekla  and  Alma,  all  residing 
near  Goteborg,  Sweden.  Mrs.  Karlen  has 
three  brothers  and  two  sisters:     Edward,  of 


Sturgeon  Lake,  Minnesota,  Emma,  of  Werm- 
land, Sweden;  Andrew,  Olaf  and  Nettie,  of 
Christiania,  Norway. 


EDWIN  C.  STILWELL  (1905)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Tracy  Sheet  Metal  Works.  He 
is  a  native  of  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan, 
and  was  born  August  17,  1844.  When  a 
young  man  he  moved  to  Dowagiac,  Michigan, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  learned  the 
tinner's  trade.  He  enlisted  from  that' place 
in  Company  C,  Twelfth  Michigan  Infantry, 
in  1861  and  served  four  years  and  three 
months  in  the  service.  He  participated  in 
the  following  battles:  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Vicks- 
burg,  and  many  minor  engagements. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Stilwell  returned  to  his 
home  and  was  engaged  in  the  tinner's  trade 
several  years.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  the 
business  in  several  Ohio  towns.  He  re- 
turned to  Michigan  and  conducted  a  hard- 
ware and  tin  store  in  Schoolcraft  ten  years, 
after  which  he  went  to  Clark,  South  Dakota, 
and  engaged  in  the  same  business  ten  years. 
He  then  moved  to  Minneapolis  and  was  en- 
gaged in  the  business  there  fourteen  years. 

In  1905  Mr.  Stilwell  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  located  at  Tracy,  and  in  October,  1910, 
he  started  his  present  business.  He  does 
all  kinds  of  tin  and  furnace  contract  work. 
Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
lodge  and  the  Grand  Army  post. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Foster  and 
Mary  Ann  (Townsend)  Stilwell,  the  former 
a  native  of  Kentucky  and  the  latter  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  James  T.,  George  H.,  Ed- 
win C,  Amanda  E.,  Lydia  A.,  Ida,  Emma, 
Mertie. 

Mr.  Stilwell  was  married  in  Oxford,  Ohio, 
in  1868  to  Mrs.  M.  E.  Olds,  a  native  of  that 
place.  To  them  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Newton  H.,  of  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia; Abbie  M.  (Mrs.  T.  P.  Hopp),  of 
Bridgeport,  Washington;  and  Maud  E.  (Mrs. 
R.  E.  Crosby),  of  Minneapolis.  Mrs.  Stil- 
well is  deceased.  Mr.  Stilwell  was  married 
a  second  time,  to  Mamie  Noss,  in  January, 
1895,  at  Minneapolis. 


JAMES  EGAN  (1899),  farmer  and  stock 
raiser  of  Rock  Lake  township,  came  here 
from  Illinois  in  February,  1899,  and  settled 


476 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


on  his  farm  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 24,  land  which  he  had  purchased  the 
preceding  fall. 

James  Egan's  parents  are  natives  of  Ire- 
land. Patrick  S.  and  Johanna  (Houlihan) 
Egan  came  to  America  and  were  early  set- 
tlers of  Illinois.  James  was  born  in  Manteno, 
Kankakee  county,  December  9,  1865.  His 
father  is  dead  and  his  mother  still  resides 
in  Manteno.  The  young  boy  received  the 
customary  country  school  education  of  the 
farmer  lad,  attending  until  the  age  of  eight- 
een years;  then  he  worked  at  home  on  the 
farm  until  1895.  In  the  latter  year  he  started 
out  for  himself,  rented  land  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  home,  and  farmed  for  himself  four 
years.  During  the  fall  of  his  last  year  in 
Illinois  he  bought  his  Lyon  county  land  and 
moved  the  next  spring. 

Mr.  Egan  has  prospered  on  his  farm.  Be- 
sides farming  he  devotes  considerable  time 
to  the  raising  of  Shorthorn  cattle,  Poland 
China  hogs  and  Percheron  horses,  special- 
izing in  the  latter.  He  is  the  owner  of 
"Pap,"  a  registered  Percheron  stallion  which 
he  raised  himself.  Mr.  Egan  is  on  the  board 
of  directors  of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Balaton.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church  of  Tracy. 

February  13,  1895,  James  Egan  was  mar- 
ried at  Manteno,  Illinois,  to  Susanna  Moat, 
a  native  of  Kankakee  county.  She  was  born 
November  17,  1868,  her  parents,  William  and 
Mary  (Story)  Moat,  being  natives  of  Ireland 
and  pioneer  settlers  of  Illinois.  Both  par- 
ents are  now  living  in  Manteno.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Egan  are  parents  of  six  children.  Their 
names  are  Marie  Anita,  James  Harold,  Law- 
rence Merrill,  Elizabeth  Lucilla,  Gladys 
Helen  and  William  Edward. 


HERMAN  ANDERSON  (1884)  is  man- 
ager of  the  C.  M.  Youmans  Lumber  Com- 
pany's yards  at  Marshall  and  is  an  old 
resident  of  Lyon  county.  He  was  born 
in  Sweden  January  8,  1855,  and  that  coun- 
try was  his  home  until  1880.  There  he 
was  educated  and  there  he  worked  as  a 
farm  laborer,  at  the  carpenter  trade  and 
as  a  coachman.  Upon  his  arrival  to  the 
United  States  Mr.  Anderson*  located  in 
Winnebago  county,  Illinois,  resided  there 
four  years,  and  then  came  to  Lyon  county. 

The    first   two   years   of   his    residence    in 


the  county  Mr.  Anderson  farmed;  then  he 
entered  the  employ  of  M.  Sullivan,  the 
pioneer  lumber  dealer  of  Marshall,  and  he 
has  been  identified  with  the  one  yard  for 
the  past  twenty-five  years.  The  yard  was 
established  by  Mr.  Sullivan  in  1879.  Un- 
der the  latter's  proprietorship  Mr.  Ander- 
son had  practical  charge  of  the  yards  and 
the  stock,  and  since  1905  he  has  had  the 
management  of  the  entire  business.  The 
present  owners  purchased  from  Mr.  Sulli- 
van in  May,  18  99.  The  yard  is  the  oldest 
and  largest  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  one  of  a  family  of  three 
children  living  and  he  is  the  only  one  in 
America.  The  two  children  residing  in  the 
old  country  are  Victor  and  Clara.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church 
and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  M.  W.  A.  lodges. 

In  Marshall,  on  the  sixth  of  March,  1889, 
Mr.  Anderson  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Sophia  Carlson.  To  them  have  been  born 
the  following  named  children:  Emory,  Sel- 
ma,  Ellis  and  Violet. 


BEN  F.  VAN  BREASEN  (1904)  is  the 
owner  of  the  west  half  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  10  and  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  9,  Lyons  township,  which 
he  purchased  in  company  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  I.  Eben,  in  1904.  He  is  a  native 
of  Germany  and  was  born  June  29,  1867, 
a  son  of  Fred  and  Himke  (Daniels)  Van 
Breasen.  Ben  received  his  schooling  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  land  of  his  nativ- 
ity. He  served  six  months  in  the  standing 
army  and  then  worked  at  day  labor  until 
twenty-seven  years  of  age. 

In  1894  Mr.  Van  Breasen  came  to  Amer- 
ica, locating  at  George,  Lyon  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  worked  one  year  at  farm  labor 
and  the  next  three  years  on  the  section  for 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  in 
Hamilton  county,  Iowa.  He  then  returned 
to  Lyon  county  and  rented  land  near 
George,  which  he  operated  seven  years, 
after  which  he  came  to  Lyon  county,  Min- 
nesota, and  purchased  the  land  above  de- 
scribed. Mr.  Van  Breasen  raises  a  great 
deal  of  stock  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Lynd.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Germany  on 
January   27,   1891,   to  Minnie  Van   Hoorn, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


477 


a  daughter  of  F.  and  Rixke  (Dierks)  Van 
Hoorn.  Mrs.  Van  Breasen  was  born  June 
19,  1874.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Breasen  are 
the  parents  of  the  following  named  chil- 
dren: Hattie,  born  August  16,  1893;  Tina, 
born  September  4,  1895;  Fred,  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1897;  Annie,  born  May  12, 
1900;   Freida,  born  November  18,  1902. 


CHARLES  L.  DE  REU  (1887),  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Williams  &  De  Reu, 
attorneys,  is  a  rising  young  professional 
man  of  Marshall.  Besides  his  legal  work 
Mr.  De  Reu  is  actively  interested  in  an 
effort  to  improve  the  farming  conditions 
of  the  county  in  respect  to  its  stock  and 
industries.  There  is  a  large  Belgian  popu- 
lation in  and  around  Marshall,  and  Mr. 
De  Reu,  owing  to  his  splendid  education 
and  natural  qualities,  is  prominent  in  Bel- 
gian circles,  its  societies,  churches,  etc. 
In  December,  1911,  he  was  instrumental 
in  the  organization  of  the  Belgian  Nether- 
landish Association,  of  which  he  is  presi- 
dent. He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters  and  is  agent  for  the 
Belgian  newspapers  in  Marshall.  He  is  a 
member  of  city  and  farmers'  clubs. 

Charles  De  Reu's  parents,  Felix  and 
Mary  (Steyaert)  De  Reu,  natives  of  Bel- 
gium, came  to  the  United  States  in  1882 
and  settled  in  Westerheim  township.  They 
now  reside  in  town.  In  July,  1890,  their 
Westerheim  farm  was  visited  by  a  tornado, 
and  everything  in  the  way  of  buildings  and 
equipment  was  destroyed.  The  oldest  son, 
Cyril,  was  killed.  A  sister,  Bertha,  and 
the  mother  were  so  severely  injured  that 
their  lives  were  despaired  of  for  a  time, 
and  another  son,  Julius,  suffered  a  broken 
leg.  The  family  could  not  bring  themselves 
to  resume  farming  on  the  place,  and  they 
rented  a  farm  of  James  Williams  for  three 
years.  During  that  time  misfortune  again 
visited  them,  three  children  dying  from 
diphtheria.  After  three  years  on  the  rent- 
ed farm  Felix  De  Reu  bought  section  35, 
Fairview,  and  the  family  made  that  their 
home  until  moving  to  Marshall  several 
years  ago.  In  the  family  were  thirteen 
children,  three  of  whom  only,  Charles, 
Bertha  and  George,  are  now  living. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  the  farm  in 
Westerheim   December    28,    18  87.      He   at- 


tended school  in  Marshall,  later  went  to 
St.  Michael's  School  in  New  Ulm,  and  then 
returned  to  Marshall  and  entered  St.  Jo- 
seph's Academy.  When  he  was  fifteen 
his  parents  took  him  to  Europe,  and  he 
attended  in  turn  the  Little  Seminary  in 
Rouler,  Belgium,  and  the  St.  Joseph  Insti- 
tute at  La  Lauviere,  French  Belgium, 
learning  at  these  schools  to  read  and  write 
Netherlandish,  French  and  German. 

Returning  to  Marshall,  Charles  was 
graduated  from  the  Marshall  High  School 
in  1908,  and  in  the  fall  he  entered  the 
State  University  with  twenty-three  full 
high  school  credits,  gained  in  Europe  and 
the  Marshall  High  School.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Law  Department  of  the  State 
University  in  1911  and  in  April  of  that 
year  entered  into  partnership  with  James 
Von  Williams,  a  Marshall  boy,  and  under 
the  firm  name  of  Williams  &  De  Reu  they 
have  since  practised  law,  having  offices  on 
the  second  floor  of  the  Williams  Building 
on  Main  Street.  Both  young  men  are  well 
educated,  young,  hustling  American  citi- 
zens, and  the  firm's  success  seems  assured. 


HERMAN  A.  VAN  UDEN  (1892)  is  the 
proprietor  of  Riverside  Farm,  the  north- 
east quarter  and  the  north  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  3  5,  Shelburne 
township.  Mr.  Van  Uden  has  lived  in  Lyon 
county  since  he  was  twenty  years  of  age 
and  all  his  business  operations  have  been 
here.  He  started  with  nothing,  but  by 
hard  work  he  has  prospered  and  accumu- 
lated a  nice  little  fortune.  He  is  a  true 
lover  of  Lyon  county  and  its  institutions. 

By  birth  Mr.  Van  Uden  is  a  Hollander, 
and  April  27,  1872,  was  the  date  of  his 
nativity.  His  father,  John  Van  Uden,  came 
to  America  in  1892,  purchased  land  three 
miles  west  of  Ghent,  and  resided  there  until 
his  death  in  June,  1909.  The  mother, 
Anna  (Hermsen)  Van  Uden,  now  lives  in 
Ghent. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were 
spent  attending  school  in  Holland,  and  in 
1892  he  came  with  the  family  to  America 
and  Lyon  county.  For  two  years  after  his 
arrival  he  attended  an  English  school  near 
Ghent  and  then  for  several  years  worked 
on  the  farm  for  his  father. 

Mr.    Van   Uden   started   in   business   for 


478 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


himself,  renting  a  farm  near  Marshall  and 
conducting  it  three  years.  He  then  rented 
the  two-section  farm  of  Mr.  Hamilton  near 
Tracy  and  for  a  year  engaged  in  stock 
raising.  After  that  Mr.  Van  Uden  bought 
a  farm  near  Tracy  and  operated  it  five 
years.  In  January,  1910,  he  purchased  his 
present  farm  and  has  since  lived  on  it. 
He  has  erected  new  buildings  on  the  place 
and  has  a  fine  little  home.  Mr.  Van  Uden 
makes  a  specialty  of  stock,  raising  graded 
cattle,  Chester  White  hogs,  Percheron  and 
Clyde  horses,  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  and 
Red  Leghorn  chickens  and  full-blooded 
Bronze  turkeys.  He  has  prospered  and  is 
rated  among  the  substantial  farmers  of  the 
vicinity. 

In  the  county  seat  of  Lyon  county,  on 
June  9,  1903,  Mr.  Van  Uden  was  married 
to  Mary  Peters.  She  was  born  in  Holland 
February  26,  1878,  and  came  to  America 
two  years  before  her  marriage.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Van  Uden  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Mary,  born  June  4, 
1905;  Minnie,  born  February  27,  1907; 
Herman,  born  March  12,  1911. 


JOHN  ZVORAK  (1886)  is  one  of  Rus- 
sell's young  business  men  who  has  built 
up  a  very  satisfactory  and  well-paying 
trade  during  the  four  years  since  he  pur- 
chased the  confectionery  and  restaurant 
business  of  John  Bengtson.  He  has  been 
attending  strictly  to  his  business  and  to 
the  wants  of  his  customers — a  sure  guar- 
antee of  success. 

John  Zvorak's  parents,  Frank  and  Jane 
(Roberts)  Zvorak,  were  early  residents  of 
Lyon  county.  July  24,  1886,  was  the  date 
that  marked  John's  entry  into  the  world. 
His  boyhood  days  were  passed  on  the  farm 
in  Lyons  township,  and  he  attended  the 
Russell  school  until  fifteen  years  old.  The 
next  seven  years  were  spent  on  his  father's 
farm;  then  the  young  farmer  lad  decided 
that  he  would  make  a  venture  into  busi- 
ness life.  Accordingly  he  bought  the  store 
of  Andrew  Bengtson  and  made  a  success 
of  his  business  from  the  start. 

October  28,  1909,  occurred  the  cere- 
mony which  joined  John  Zvor^ak  and  Jen- 
nie Hollgrenn  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matri- 
mony. The  bride  was  a  native  of  Sweden 
and  was  born  October  1,  1883.     This  union 


has  been  blessed  with  one  child,  Emery  J., 
born  May  13,  1911. 

Mr.  Zvorak  has  the  following  brothers 
and  sisters  living:  Bertha,  Sophia,  Rachel, 
Bessie,  Mary,  Frank,  Roy,  George,  Robert, 
Arthur  and  Wesley. 


THOMAS  MULVANEY  (1898)  owns  the 
west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 18,  Amiret  township,  which  he  farms 
and  where  he  makes  his  home.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  eighty  acres  he  operates  his 
brother's  eighty  in  the  same  township. 

John  and  Julia  (Cary)  Mulvaney,  the 
parents  of  our  subject,  were  born  near 
Dublin,  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in 
an  early  day.  They  settled  in  Wisconsin, 
and  in  Dodge  county  of  that  "state  Thomas 
was  born  September  5,  18  58.  The  boy 
was  brought  up  and  educated  in  his  native 
state;  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  hired 
out  at  farm  labor  and  was  employed  at 
that  work  until   1898. 

in  the  fall  of  the  last  named  year  Mr. 
Mulvaney  came  to  Lyon  county  and  located 
on  li is  present  farm,  which  he  had  pur- 
chased a  year  previous.  He  is  now  operat- 
ing a  quarter  section  and  is  raising  con- 
siderable stock  for  market. 

The  marriage  of  Thomas  Mulvaney  and 
.Mary  Bolger  took  place  June  24,  1903,  in 
Wisconsin.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  this  union:  Margaret,  born  April  9, 
1904,  and  John,  born  July  10,  1905.  Mrs. 
Mulvaney  is  a  native  of  Wisconsin.  Mr. 
Mulvaney's  father  died  in  Wisconsin  and 
in  1905  his  widow  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  lived  two  years  with  her  son,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  afterward  moving  to 
Tracy,  where  she  died  February  10,  1909. 

Mr.  Mulvaney  is  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic church  of  Tracy.  He  served  two  years 
as  a  member  of  the  Amiret  Township 
Board  of  Supervisors. 


CHRIST  K.  MELBY  (1890)  is  a  former 
member  of  the  Minnesota  Legislature  and 
a  dealer  in  hardware,  farm  implements 
and  vehicles  of  Minneota.  He  has  been 
a  resident  of  Lyon  county  twenty-two  years 
and  has  been  prominent  in  the  affairs  of 
his  community. 

Mr.  Melby  was  born  in  Norway  January 


liKHJKAPIUCAL  HISTORY. 


47!) 


11,  1868.  He  immigrated  to  America  with 
his  parents  in  1881  and  the  first  three 
years  of  his  life  in  the  New  World  were 
spent  in  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota.  He 
went  with  the  family  to  Griggs  county, 
North  Dakota,  and  there  grew  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  homestead,  living  in 
a  sod  shanty  during  the  first  three  years. 
The  parents  now  live  in  Wells  county, 
North  Dakota. 

Alter  reaching  his  majority,  in  the  fall 
of  1889,  Mr.  Melby  left  home  and  started 
in  life  for  himself.  The  next  year  he 
located  in  Lyon  county,  which  has  ever 
since  been  his  home.  He  became  the 
owner  of  a  240-acre  farm  on  sections  14 
and  11,  Nordland  township,  and  farmed 
the  place  until  1910,  adding  to  his  farm 
by  the  purchase  of  a  quarter  section  ad- 
joining. Although  he  continued  to  farm 
until  1910,  Mr.  Melby  moved  to  Minneota 
in  1905  and  has  lived  there.  He  served 
one  year  as  cashier  of  the  Farmers  &  Mer- 
chants Bank  and  then  engaged  in  various 
occupations  until  he  purchased  W.  A. 
Crowe's  hardware  store  in  May,  1911.  He 
has  one  of  the  largest  hardware  stores  in 
the  county. 

Mr.  Melby  has  many  times  been  called 
upon  to  serve  in  an  otficial  capacity.  He 
was  assessor  of  Nordland  township  nine 
years  and  was  chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  two  years.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  County  Commis- 
sioners from  1903  to  1906,  inclusive,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1906  was  elected  to  the 
Lower  House  of  the  Minnesota  Legislature, 
was  re-elected  in  1908,  and  served  until 
1911. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Melby  to  Mary  Lar- 
son occurred  in  Lyon  county  October  3, 
1891.  She  was  born  on  her  father's  home- 
stead in  Nordland  township.  Her  father, 
Arne  Larson,  settled  in  Nordland  in  the 
summer  of  1872  and  resided  there  until 
his  death  in  1886.  Mrs.  Larson,  who  is 
now  sixty-nine  years  of  age,  resides  with 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Melby.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Melby  have  been  born  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  nine  are  liv- 
ing: Clarence  A.,  George  M.,  Elmer  J., 
Grace  R.,  Orvin  L.,  Clifford  M.,.  June  A., 
Olga  M.  and  Lillian  R.  The  deceased  chil- 
dren were  named  Julius  O.,  Agnes  G.  and 
Kermit  O. 


Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Knute  O.  and 
Guri  Melby,  who  reside  on  their  homestead 
in  North  Dakota.  They  have  ten  children 
living,  all  married.  They  are  Guri  Ranum, 
Ole  K.,  Christ  K.,  Knute  K.,  Nellie  Wol- 
ding,  Gilbert  K.,  Mary  Satterberg,  Caro- 
line Anderson,  Martin  K.  and  Oscar  J. 


HARRY  J.  TILLEMANS  is  cashier  and 
a  director  of  the  Farmers  &  Merchants 
National  Bank  of  Minneota  and  a  director 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Balaton. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Katherine  (Hen- 
ricks)  Tillemans,  both  deceased.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
children:  John,  Diuphina,  William,  Har- 
ry J.,  Marie,  Nellie,  Katherine,  Sophia  and 
Leon. 

Harry  was  born  in  Holland  and  when 
three  years  of  age  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  America.  The  family  located  in 
Lyon  county,  where  our  subject's  early 
days  were  spent  in  a  log  cabin  on  the 
plains.  His  father  purchased  a  farm  in 
Nordland  township,  upon  which  Harry 
worked  and  attended  a  nearby  school. 
Later  he  attended  the  Minneota  High 
School  and  taught  school  one  term.  In 
1904  he  entered  the  Farmers  &  Merchants 
National  Bank  as  bookkeeper  at  a  salary 
of  twenty  dollars  per  month.  The  next 
year  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
assistant  cashier  and  in  January,  1906, 
became  cashier,  a  position  which  he  has 
since  held. 

Mr.  Tillemans  holds  membership  in  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters  and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 
He  is  chief  ranger  of  the  Foresters  lodge 
and  venerable  consul  of  the  Woodmen 
lodge.  He  was  formerly  clerk  of  the  Board 
of  Education  and  is  treasurer  of  the  dis- 
trict at  present. 

Mr.  Tillemans  was  married  in  Boone, 
Iowa,  to  Lillian  Hall,  a  native  of  that  city. 
They  were  married  on  August  17,  1910. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Kate  Hall.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tillemans  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Katherine  Hall  Tillemans. 


L.  T.  THOMPSON  (1893)  is  a  dealer 
in  cigars,  tobacco,  confectionery,  pipes  and 
all  kinds  of  smokers'  articles  at  Minneota. 


480 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


He  was  born  at  Cambridge,  Dane  county, 
Wisconsin,  December  17,  1869.  He  lived 
there  a  few  years  and  then  went  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  resided  until  thirteen  years 
of  age.  Our  subject  then  moved  back  to 
Dane  county  and  attended  the  public 
schools  and  Albion  Academy.  At  twenty 
he  returned  to  Chicago  and  attended  the 
Metropolitan  Business  College.  After  fin- 
ishing the  latter  institution  he  was  book- 
keeper two  years  for  Murray  &  Company. 

In  18  93  Mr.  Thompson  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  located  on  his  uncle's  farm, 
known  as  the  T.  G.  Thompson  Ranch. 
This  farm  embraces  480  acres  of  land, 
and  our  subject  operated  the  place  twelve 
years.  He  spent  one  year  traveling,  after 
which  he  purchased  the  James  McGinn 
cigar  factory  in  Minneota.  He  had  pool 
tables  installed  and  moved  the  cigar  fac- 
tory upstairs.  He  sold  the  cigar  factory 
in  May,  1911,  to  McGinn  &  Moore.  Since 
that  time  our  subject  has  conducted  the 
pool  hall  and  handles  cigars,  tobacco,  con- 
fectionery and  soft  drinks.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son was  assessor  of  Minneota  two  terms. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  in  Minne- 
apolis March  30,  1904,  to  Esther  E.  Wal- 
Vander,  a  native  of  Sweden.  She  was,  at 
the  time  of  her  marriage,  a  resident  of 
Swanville,  Minnesota.  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Thompson  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Torger  and  Esther. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Knute 
and  Belle  (Anderson)  Thompson,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Wisconsin  and  the  latter 
of  Norway.  The  father  died  in  1905  and 
the  mother  in  1871.  The  father  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time.  There  was  only  one 
child  by  the  first  marriage,  Lewis,  of  this 
sketch. 


AUGUST  PRINCEX  (1883)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  jewelry  store  in  Minneota, 
having  bought  the  jewelry  stock  of  C.  J. 
Wimer,  druggist,  in  1902.  Mr.  Princen 
is  a  first-class  hand  engraver  and  dec- 
orator and  makes  a  specialty  of  furnish- 
ing cut  flowers  for  funerals,  weddings,  etc. 

Our  subject's  parents,  Hubert  and  Philo- 
mena  (Vigen)  Princen,  came  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty from  Holland  in  18  83  and' settled  on  a 
farm  one  mile  north  of  Ghent,  where  they 
lived  until  moving  to  Ghent  in  1901.     After 


a  four  years'  residence  in  Ghent,  and  later 
a  residence  of  two  years  in  Minneota,  they 
returned  to  Holland,  which  has  since  been 
their  home. 

August  Princen  was  born  in  Limberg, 
Holland,  February  6,  1881,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  and  lived  with  his  par- 
ents until  they  moved  to  Ghent  in  1901. 
He  then  learned  the  jewelry  business  under 
Charles  Johnson  at  Marshall  and  D.  D. 
Smith  at  Pipestone,  working  as  an  appren- 
tice. Prior  to  entering  business  for  him- 
self at  Minneota  Mr.  Princen  spent  four 
months  traveling,  visiting  Chicago  and 
other  points  of  interest. 

Mr.  Princen  owns  his  store  building  and 
carries  a  complete  stock  of  jewelry,  silver- 
ware and  novelties.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  church  and  of  the  Knights  ot 
Columbus  lodge.  Five  winters  ago  Mr. 
Princen  spent  several  months  along  the 
Gulf  Coast,  and  in  the  summer  of  1908 
he  was  in  Chicago  and  Indianapolis. 


JOHN  D.  GRIFFITH  (1S91),  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  of  Custer  township,  is  a  native 
oi  Wales  and  came  to  this  country  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years,  locating  near  Utica, 
New  York,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm. 
Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota,  was  Mr. 
Griffith's  next  home,  and  there  he  lived 
until   1891,  renting  land  and  farming. 

It  was  in  1891  that  our  subject  moved 
from  Blue  Earth  to  Lyon  county  and 
bought  his  present  land,  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  2  5,  Custer.  Mr.  Griffith 
has  greatly  improved  his  farm  and  has 
gone  into  the  stock  raising  business  quite 
extensively.  He  is  a  shareholder  of  the 
Garvin  Creamery  Company,  the  Garvin  In- 
dependent Elevator  Company  and  the  Cur- 
rent Lake  Telephone  Company.  The  past 
ten  years  he  has  served  as  a  director  of 
school  district  No.   7  2. 

December  6,  1893,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  John  Griffith  and  Maggie  Williams,  in 
Custer  township.  There  are  five  children, 
as  follows:  Mary,  born  October  12,  1894; 
Hugh,  born  August  18,  1896;  Milton,  born 
July  6,  1898;  Luther,  born  August  4, 
1900;  and.  Rachael,  born  July  23,  1907. 
Mrs.  Griffith  was  born  in  Blue  Earth  coun- 
ty, Minnesota,  December  25,  1868. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch   was  born  in 


CHRIST   K.  MELBY 
.Minneota  Business   Man   and  Former  Mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature. 


HARRY  J.  TILLEMANS 
Cashier   of   the   Farmers    &    Merchants   Na- 
tional Bank  of  Minneota. 


L.  T.  THOMPSON 

Proprietor    of    a    Billiard    Hall    and    Cigar 

Store  at  Minneota. 


AUGUST  PRINCEN 
Who    Conducts   a   Minneota   Jewelry    Store. 


9Ki  LfetHlK  » 


BIOGRAPHICAL  IIISToKY. 


1M 


Wales  December  17,  1865.  His  parents, 
Thomas  Griffith  and  Hannah  (Jones) 
Griffith,  are  both  dead.  Thomas  Griffith 
was  a  farmer  in  Wales,  and  he  and  his 
wife  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living  and  only  one  of 
whom,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  is  a  resi- 
dent of  America. 

Mr.  Griffith  is  a  member  of  the  Welsh 
Methodist  church  of  Custer  township  and 
is  affiliated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
lodge  of  Garvin. 


WILLIAM  E.  MAXSON  (1877),  of 
Marshall,  is  one  of  the  early  day  settlers 
of  Lyon  county,  having  first  come  to  the 
county  when  eight  years  of  age.  He  was 
born  in  Winnebago  City,  Faribault  county, 
Minnesota,  August  11,  1869,  and  in  1877 
came  with  his  parents  to  Lyon  county. 

The  family  home  was  on  section  20, 
Grandview  township,  where  they  became 
the  owners  of  480  acres  of  land.  On  that 
farm  William  B.  Maxson  lived  until  sev- 
enteen years  of  age.  Then  he  began 
"working  out  and  finished  his  education 
with  a  course  in  the  St.  Paul  Business 
College.  He  then  located  in  FaribauL 
county,  bought  a  farm,  and  during  the 
next  five  years  conducted  the  place.  His 
next  place  of  residence  was  Winnebago 
City,  where  for  five  years  he  operated  a 
pool  hall  and  bowling  alley. 

Mr.  Maxson  sold  out  at  Winnebago  City 
in  19  04  and  since  that  time  has  been  a 
resident  of  Marshall,  engaged  in  a  number 
of  different  enterprises.  He  and  his  broth- 
er Ed  started  the  famous  "Silver  Spring" 
water  well  and  established  a  factory  on 
the  site  of  the  present  Porter  factory. 
Later  they  bought  the  Estey  pop  factory 
and  merged  it  with  theirs,  conducting  the 
business  until  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved six  months  later.  The  brothers  also 
conducted  a  dray  line  which  our  subject's 
father  and  brother  had  operated  pre- 
viously. 

After  retiring  from  business  Mr.  Maxson 
was  employed  in  the  Curtis  pool  hall  one 
year  and  then  worked  for  La  Veau  two 
years  in  the  same  business.  Later  he  was 
in  the  same  business  at  Granite  Falls  a 
few  months.  Mr.  Maxson  was  on  the 
Marshall   police   force   one  year.      He   is  a 


member  of  the  fire  department  and  of  the 
M.  \V.  A.  lodge. 

The  marriage  of  .Mr.  .Maxson  to  Carrie 
E.  Rector  occurred  at  Marshall  September 
20,  1894.  Mrs.  Maxson  is  a  native  of 
New  York  State.  They  have  one  child, 
Marjorie. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  W.  T. 
Maxson,  who  was  born  in  New  York  and 
died  in  Marshall;  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject is  Adelia  S.  (Woodruff)  Maxson,  who 
was  born  in  Vermont  and  now  resides  in 
Marshall.  There  are  four  children  in  the 
.Maxson  family,  as  follows:  Mary  (Mrs. 
R.  F.  Laythe),  of  Hanley,  Canada;  Ed, 
of  Marshall;  William  E.,  of  this  biogra- 
phy; and  Maud  A.,  the  wife  of  W.  G.  Wel- 
son,  clerk  of  the  district  court  of  Red- 
wood county  and  a  resident  of  Redwood 
Falls. 


WILLIAM  MOAT  (1899)  is  a  Rock 
Lake  township  farmer  and  owns  12  0  acres 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  27, 
where  he  does  general  farming  and  raises 
Hereford  cattle,  Poland  China  swine  and 
Percheron  horses.  Mr.  Moat  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company 
of  Balaton. 

William  Moat,  a  son  of  William  and 
Mary  (Story)  Moat,  was  born  in  Kanka- 
kee county,  Illinois,  October  27,  1864. 
The  parents  were  pioneer  residents  of  Illi- 
nois and  both  are  now  living.  William  at- 
tended the  graded  schools  in  his  native 
state  until  eighteen  years  of  age  and  then 
worked  on  the  farm  for  his  father  until  he 
had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-three,  when 
he  rented  his  father's  place  and  farmed 
for  himself  until  1899.  The  year  previous 
he  had  purchased  the  land  upon  which  he 
now  resides,  and  in  1899  our  subject  and 
his  family  came  to  Lyon  county. 

The  wedding  of  Mr.  Moat  and  Mary 
McMahon,  a  native  of  Illinois,  occurred  at 
St.  George,  Illinois,  January  17,  1894. 
Mrs.  Moat  was  born  July  30,  1870,  and 
her  parents,  Patrick  and  Julia  (Cantillon) 
McMahon,  early  pioneers  in  Illinois,  are 
both  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moat  are 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Gilbert, 
born  December  3,  1894;  Leonard,  born 
February  18,  1896;  Samuel,  born  July  14, 
1897;  Clifford,  born  April  8,  1899;  Elmer, 


482 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


born  November  18,  19  00;  Gordon,  born 
November  8,  1902;  William,  born  July  18, 
1904;  Joseph  (deceased),  born  August  3, 
1905;  Bernard,  born  December  21,  1906; 
Harvey,  born  December  12,  1907;  and 
Walter,  born  September  21,  1910. 

Mr.  Moat  and  family  are  members  of 
the  Catholic  church  and  he  is  affiliated 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge  of  Bala- 
ton. 


DR.  THEODORE  THORDARSON  (1897) 
is  a  physician  and  surgeon  of  Minneota 
and  is  president  of  the  Board  of  Health 
of  that  village.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lyon  and  Lincoln  County  Medical  Society, 
the  Minnesota  State  Medical  Association, 
and  the  American  Medical  Association. 

Dr.  Thordarson  was  born  in  Iceland  in 
January,  1866,  and  secured  a  seminary 
education.  When  twenty-two  years  of  age 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  located  in 
Chicago,  and  for  several  years  worked  as 
an  electrician.  In  1891-92  he  was  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Electrical  Department  of  Cor- 
nell University,  and  a  year  later  he  took 
up  the  study  of  medicine  in  Chicago,  grad- 
uating from  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  in  1897.  In  the  latter  year  he 
moved  to  Minneota  and  has  practised  there 
continuously  since.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  lodge. 

At  Minneota,  on  July  12,  1905,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Dr.  Thordarson  to  Sarah 
Benson,  a  native  of  Canada.  They  have 
two  children,  William  and  Mary. 


LEON  M.  TAYLOR  (1882),  proprietor  of 
a  Marshall  jewelry  store,  is  a  native  son  of 
Lyon  county,  having  been  born  on  his  father's 
homestead  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  22,  Sodus  township,  on  April  8,  1882. 
Until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  he  lived 
on  the  farm  and  attended  the  district  schools 
and  public  schools  of  Marshall. 

In  March,  1902,  Mr.  Taylor  entered  upon 
the  career  which  he  has  since  followed.  At 
that  time  he  entered  the  jewelry  store  of 
C.  H.  Johnson  and  worked  at  the  jeweler's 
trade  under  that  gentleman  for  about  three 
years.  The  next  two  years  were»spent  work- 
ing at  the  trade  in  different  places.  Return- 
ing to  Marshall,  in  January,  1907,  he  bought 


a  half  interest  in  the  store  of  the  gentleman 
under  whom  he  had  learned  his  trade,  and 
two  years  later  Mr.  Taylor  became  the  sole 
owner  of  the  store.  He  conducts  a  repair 
shop  in  connection  and  has  one  of  the  up-to- 
date  jewelry  stores  of  Southwestern  Minne- 
sota. His  business  is  housed  in  the  building 
formerly  occupied  by  the  Bank  of  Marshall. 
Mrs.  Taylor,  who  is  a  graduate  optometrist, 
has  charge  of  the  optical  department  which 
is  conducted  in  connection  with  the  store. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  John  C. 
and  Mary  A.  (Bornes)  Taylor,  who  reside  on 
the  farm  in  Sodus  township.  The  father,  a 
miller  by  trade,  was  born  near  Waukesha, 
Wisconsin,  and  after  his  marriage  moved  to 
River  Falls,  of  the  same  state.  The  family 
came  to  Lyon  county  in  1880  and  the  home 
has  ever  since  been  in  Sodus  township. 
There  are  four  sons  in  the  family,  as  fol- 
lows: Charley  B.,  of  Sodus  township;  Leon 
M.,  of  Marshall;  Francis  G.,  of  Sodus  town- 
ship; and  Verner  L.,  of  Amiret  township. 

Leon  Taylor  was  marred  at  Garvin  August 
19,  1908,  to  Mildred  M.  Coyle,  who  was  born 
in  Lake  Sarah  township,  Murray  county,  De- 
cember 11,  1882.  Mr.  Taylor  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Masonic,  Degree  of  Honor  and 
M.  W.  A.  lodges. 


WILLIAM  TOLZMAN  (1906)  purchased 
his  155-acre  farm  on  section  3  6,  Lucas 
township,  in  February,  1906,  and  has  been 
a  resident  there  since. 

His  parents,  Carl  and  Augusta  (Sper- 
ber)  Tolzman,  who  now  live  at  Redwood 
Falls,  are  natives  of  Germany  and  came 
to  America  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in 
Wisconsin,  where  they  made  their  home 
two  years.  They  then  came  to  Minnesota 
and  located  first  at  St.  Paul  and  later  in 
Le  Sueur  county,  where  the  family  re- 
sided seven  years.  Moving  then  to  Ren- 
ville county  the  Tolzmans  made  their 
home  on  a  farm  in  that  county  thirty-two 
years,  and  in  1904  the  father  and  mother 
moved  to  Redwood  Falls,  where  they  are 
living  a  retired  life. 

William  was  born  in  Le  Sueur  county 
February  11,  1869.  The  family  moved  to 
Renville  county  when  the  lad  was  young 
and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the  lat- 
ter county.  In  his  young  boyhood  days 
William  herded   cattle   for  his  father  and 


r.HHIRAPIIICAL   HISTORY. 


483 


neighbors  two  years  and  for  three  years 
was  employed  by  Dr.  Sherige,  one  of  the 
county's  physicians.  During  that  time 
William  accompanied  the  doctor  on  trips 
to  Kandiyohi,  Swift  and  Big  Stone  coun- 
ties and  became  well  acquainted  with  the 
country.  Later  he  worked  for  his  father 
until  thirty  years  of  age,  and  during  that 
time  traveled  quite  widely  throughout  the 
United  States. 

When  our  subject  was  thirty  years  old 
he  purchased  land  in  Wilkinson  county, 
Minnesota,  where  he  lived  but  a  short  time 
before  returning  to  Renville  county  and 
again  working  for  his  father.  He  pur- 
chased land  in  Yellow  Medicine  county, 
which  he  farmed  six  years,  and  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1906,  sold  out  and  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  Lucas  township.  He  is  farm- 
ing with  success  and  is  also  successful  in 
the  raising  of  Durham  cattle  and  German 
coach  horses. 

Mr.  Tolzman  is  fraternally  associated 
with  the  Masonic,  Modern  Woodmen  and 
Eastern  Star  lodges.  He  is  junior  war- 
den of  the  former  lodge  in  Cottonwood. 
Mr.  Tolzman  has  served  the  past  five  years 
as  constable  of  the  township. 


JOHN  BLOMQUIST  (1895)  for  the  last 
fourteen  years  has  conducted  his  farm,  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  34.  Rock  Lake. 
Since  coming  to  the  county  seventeen  years 
ago  with  no  property  and  practically  no 
money,  Mr.  Blomquist  has  prospered  until 
today  he  owns  a  fine  farm  and  one  of  the 
nice  homes  in  Rock  Lake  township.  Mr. 
Blomquist  raises  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland 
China  swine  in  addition  to  his  general  farm- 
ing. 

■Mr.  Blomquist  is  a  son  of  Christopher  An- 
derson and  Hannah  (Jepson),  natives  of 
Sweden  and  both  now  deceased.  John  was 
born  in  Holmby,  Sweden,  September  4,  1856, 
and  ^as  reared  in  the  old  country,  where  he 
attended  school  until  fifteen  years  of  age. 
He  then  learned  the  brick  and  stone  mason's 
trade  and  followed  the  pursuit  eleven  years. 
In  the  spring  of  1882  Mr.  Blomquist  came 
to  America  and  took  a  homestead  in  Spink 
county,  South  Dakota,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  1895. 

In    the   fall   of   1895    our  subject   came   to 
Lyon  county  and  rented  the  O.  O.  Loff  farm 


in  Rock  Lake  for  the  next  three  years.  Dur- 
ing the  second  year  of  his  residence  he 
bought  his  present  farm  and  a  year  later 
moved  to  the  place  with  his  family.  For  the 
past  four  years  Mr.  Blomquist  has  been  on 
the  township  board  of  Rock  Lake.  He  has 
also  become  one  of  the  stockholders  in  the 
Current  Lake  Farmers  Telephone  Company 
of  Balaton.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church 
and  is  a  deacon  in  the  Balaton  church. 

John  Blomquist  married  Elna  Anderson  at 
Harlosa,  Sweden,  September  14,  1878.  Mrs. 
Blomquist  was  born  June  2,  1851.  Their 
children  are  Carl,  Martin  and  Eda,  all  resi- 
ding at  home,  and  Garda  (Mrs.  Albert  Shutt), 
of  Rock  Lake  township. 


CARL  XORDLI  (1904)  is  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Xordli  Brothers,  blacksmiths,  of 
Cottonwood,  who  have  one  of  the  finely 
equipped  shops  of  Lyon  county.  He  is  a 
native  of  Norway  and  was  born  June  28, 
1878.  He  learned  his  trade  in  the  old  coun- 
try and  for  several  years  was  employed  in 
a  shop  in  Christiania. 

Mr.  Nordli  came  to  America  in  the  spring 
of  1904  and  located  in  northern  Lyon  county. 
For  a  while  he  worked  on  a  farm  in  the 
vicinity  of  Cottonwood  and  then  began  work 
in  Casper  Johnson's  shop  in  that  village. 
Two  years  later  he  went  to  Butte,  Montana, 
but  returned  to  Cottonwood  at  the  end  of 
two  years.  He  and  his  brother  Hans  then 
bought  the  Johnson  shop  and  they  still  con- 
duct it. 

While  still  a  resident  of  Norway,  on  De- 
cember 8,  1901,  Mr.  Nordli  was  married  to 
Theoline  Meland.  To  them  have  been  born 
the  following  named  three  children:  Col- 
bjorn,  Amanda  and  Georgia.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 

Hans  Nordli  was  also  born  in  Norway,  on 
January  8,  1885.  He  learned  his  trade  there 
and  came  to  America  in  the  fall  of  1904. 
He  is  unmarried  and  makes  his  home  with 
his  brother.  The  parents  of  the  Nordli  broth- 
ers are  Christian  and  Karen  Arneson,  who 
reside  in  Norway.  There  are  eight  living 
children  in  the  family. 


ANDREW  NELSON   (1890)    is  the  propri- 
etor  o-   Maplegrove   Farm   of   Clifton   town- 


484 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ship  and  has  lived  in  that  township  since  he 
was  eight  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in 
Sweden  August  17,  1880.  His  father,  Peter 
Nelson,  lives  in  Dudley;  his  mother,  Ida 
(Mortenson)  Nelson,  died  in  1910. 

In  1884  the  family  came  to  America  and 
for  six  years  lived  in  Michigan.  They  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1890  and  bought  the  east 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  17, 
Clifton  township.  On  that  farm  Andrew 
grew  up  and  in  the  nearby  district  school 
he  was  educated.  He  assisted  his  father 
with  the  farm  work  until  he  reached  his 
majority.  Then,  his  father  having  given  him 
the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  8,  Clifton,  he  started  farming  for 
himself.  In  190.8  he  bought  the  home  place 
from  his  father  and  an  eighty-acre  tract  on 
section  17.  He  has  a  fine  home  and  a  well- 
improved  farm.  He  raises  stock  and  makes 
a  specialty  of  the  single-comb  White  Leg- 
horn chickens. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  married  in  Marshall  June 
28,  1907,  to  Ida  Clay,  who  is  also  a  native  of 
Sweden.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Mary  (Clay)  Johnson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson 
have  two  children,  Florence  M.  and  Iva  A. 


GEORGE  BENSON  (1894)  is  manager  of 
the  Western  elevator  and  a  dealer  in  imple- 
ments at  Minneota.  He  is  a  native  of  Ice- 
land and  was  born  July  10,  1872,  the  son  of 
Bjorn  (Hallason)  and  Sigurbjorg  (Sigurdar- 
dottir)  Benson.  The  father  died  in  1874; 
the  mother  resides  in  Minneota.  There  are 
five  children:  Hall,  of  Lyon  county;  George, 
of  this  sketch;  Frank  Peterson,  of  North 
Dakota;  J.  S.  Peterson,  a  mining  engineer 
of  Guayaquil,  Ecuador,  South  America;  S.  H. 
Peterson,  a  teacher  of  Corvallis,  Oregon. 

George  came  to  America  when  six  years 
of  age  and  settled  in  Lincoln  county,  where 
his  step-father  homesteaded  land.  He  re- 
sided there  sixteen  years  and  then  moved  to 
Minneota,  where  he  has  since  lived.  The 
first  business  our  subject  engaged  in  was 
d raying.  He  then  spent  four  years  in  the 
real  estate  business  with  the  Globe  Land  and 
Loan  Company.  After  that  he  clerked  in  the 
big  store  of  Anderson  &  Company. 

Some  time  later  our  subject  engaged  in 
managing  the  grain  elevator  and  machinery 
business  of  the  Mutual  Elevator  Company 
for  one  year.     He  then  purchased   the  ma- 


chinery end  of  the  business  and  in  1910  sold 
a  half  interest  to  J.  H.  Jonathan,  the  firm 
name  now  being  Benson  &  Jonathan.  They 
handle  a  full  line  of  farm  machinery  and 
wagons.  In  1910  Mr.  Benson  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Western  Elevator  Company  as 
buyer  at  Minneota  and  has  held  that  position 
since.  The  Western  elevator  was  built  about 
twenty  years  ago  by  the  Western  Elevator 
Company.  The  main  office  of  the  company 
is  at  Winona. 

Mr.  Benson  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodge.  He  held  the  office  of  con- 
stable six  years  and  was  on  the  police  force 
one  year.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Village  Council  the  past  three  years. 

Mr.  Benson  was  married  in  Minneota  Sep- 
tember 30,  1906,  to  Ella  Frost,  a  native  of 
Minneota.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children.  Donald  George  and  Bjorn  Frost. 


MRS.  NELLIE  SMEDSRUD  (1900)  is  the 
widow  of  the  late  Hans  Smedsrud,  of  Coon 
Creek  township.  Hans  Smedsrud  was  born 
in  Norway  in  1862  and  when  twenty  years 
of  age  came  to  America  and  was  engaged 
in  farming  all  his  life.  He  was  the  owner 
of  240  acres  on  section  7,  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship, and  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
30,  Lyons  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smeds- 
rud were  the  parents  of  five  children,  as 
follows:  Henry,  born  February  8,  1891,  who 
has  had  charge  of  the  home  place  since  the 
father's  death;  Emelia,  born  October  15, 
1892;  Melvin,  born  December  11,  1894;  Jo- 
seph, born  February  27,  1901;  Hilda,  born 
March  6,  1903.    All  reside  at  home. 

Mrs.  Smedsrud's  maiden  name  was  Nellie 
Paulson  and  she  is  a  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Maren  Paulson,  of  Christiania,  Norway,  both 
of  whom  are  deceased.  Nellie  received  her 
schooling  in  Norway  and  in  Clayton  county, 
Iowa.  She  then  worked  out  until  twenty- 
four  years  of  age,  and  in  1890  she  was  mar- 
ried to  Hans  Smedsrud.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  lived  in  Winnebago  county,  Iowa, 
ten  years,  where  they  operated  a  farm  which 
Mr.  Smedsrud  owned.  In  1900  they  moved 
to  Lyon  county  and  purchased  267  acres  of 
land  in  Monroe  township.  They  conducted 
that  farm  two  years,  when  they  sold  out  and 
purchased  the  present  farm  in  Coon  Creek 
township.  Mr.  Smedsrud  died  August  23, 
1910,   of  cancer,   after  an   illness   extending 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


is:, 


over  two  years.     With  his  death,  Lyon  county 
lost  one  of  its  best  citizens. 

Since  Mr.  Smedsrud's  death,  their  oldest 
son,  Henry,  has  taken  charge  of  the  farm. 
Jn  addition  to  general  farming  they  raise 
some  stock,  including  Chester  White  hogs, 
Polled  Angus  and  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Plym- 
outh Rock  and  White  Leghorn  chickens. 
Mrs.  Smedsrud  is  a  member  of  the  Norwe- 
gian Lutheran  church.  She  is  a  stockholder 
of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Rus- 
sell and  the  Farmers  Mutual  Telephone  Com- 
pany. Mrs.  Smedsrud  has  two  sisters,  Anna 
(Mrs.  Parry  Juel),  of  Canton,  South  Dakota, 
and  Martha  (Mrs.  Louis  Saug),  of  Mitchell 
county,  Iowa. 


MARGARET  E.  CLENDENNING  (1883)  is 
the  proprietor  of  a  grocery  and  crockery 
store  in  Marshall  and  has  been  a  resident 
of  Lyon  county  since  girlhood.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Eleanor  (Forbes) 
Clendenning,  natives  of  Canada.  They  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1883  and  moved  to  Mar- 
shall several  years  later.  Mr.  Clendenning 
was  one  of  the  first  rural  mail  carriers  out 
of  Marshall.  He  and  his  wife  still  reside  in 
Marshall.    They  have  six  children  living. 

Miss  Clendenning  was  born  in  Ontario, 
Canada,  and  came  to  Lyon  county  with  her 
parents  in  1883.  She  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Marshall,  in  the  Mankato 
Commercial  College,  and  in  the  Albert  Lea 
Presbyterian  College  for  girls.  After  school 
days  she  engaged  in  teaching  several  years 
and  then  took  up  stenography.  For  eight 
years  she  was  stenographer  and  bookkeeper 
for  D.  D.  Forbes  &  Company  and  later  served 
in  the  same  capacity  for  Odell  &  McNiven 
and  the  Marshall  State  Bank.  She  then  went 
to  St.  Paul  to  take  the  position  of  bookkeeper 
for  the  St.  Paul  Ditcher  &  Carrier  Company. 

In  the  fall  of  1910  Miss  Clendenning  re- 
turned to  Marshall  and  purchased  the  G.  J. 
Hardy  &  Company  grocery  store,  which  is 
located  in  the  Marshall  State  Bank  Building. 
She  deals  exclusively  in  groceries  and  crock- 
ery. In  the  conduct  of  the  store  she  has  the 
help  of  her  brothers,  Forbes,  Walter,  Joe  and 
Harry. 


FRANK  BUYSSE   (1885)   is  the  owner  of 
800  r.cres  of  fine  farm  land  in  Westerheim 


and  Fairview  townships  and  is  one  of  the 
prosperous  farmers  of  the  county.  His  home 
farm  is  in  Westerheim  and  he  rents  out  240 
acres  in  that  township. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Belgium  June  1, 
1866,  and  is  a  son  of  Bruno  and  Sophia  (Cat- 
toir)  Buysse.  They  died  in  the  old  country, 
and  Frank  is  one  of  four  children,  the  others 
being  Bruno,  of  Ventura  county,  California; 
Emma  (Mrs.  Emil  Christian),  of  Belgium; 
and  Mary  (Mrs.  Bruno  De  Clerk),  of  Belgium. 
One  son,  Peter,  died  in  April,  1907. 

Frank  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  land  and  helped  his  father  until  1885. 
Then  the  boy  of  nineteen  years  came  to  this 
country,  located  in  Minneota,  and  worked 
three  years  at  farm  labor.  In  1888  he  bought 
a  homestead  right  from  John  Wissiers  to 
land  on  section  22,  Westerheim  township, 
and  after  farming  it  five  years  sold  out  and 
purchased  a  half  of  section  15,  Wester- 
heim. He  lived  on  that  seven  years  and 
then  bought  his  present  place.  He  has  im- 
proved the  place  wonderfully  and  has  pros- 
pered. 

In  Ghent  our  subject  was  married  to  Leo- 
nora Wambeke,  the  date  of  the  wedding 
being  February  21,  1889.  His  wife  was  born 
in  Belgium  and  came  to  America  in  1888. 
Her  parents  were  Ferdinand  Wambeke  and 
Rosilie  (De  Fouw)  Wambeke,  both  deceased. 
The  family  settled  in  Fairview  township 
upon  their  arrival  in  this  country  and  later 
moved  to  Westerheim.  Mrs.  Buysse  is  one 
of  eight  living  children,  the  others  being 
Charlie,  Henry,  Peter,  John,  Matilda,  Marie 
and  Christina. 

Eight  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Frank  Buysse.  The  oldest  child,  Camil, 
died  when  he  was  four  years  old.  The  living 
children  are  Leo,  John,  Peter,  Henry,  Lizzie, 
Emma  and   Mary. 

Mr.  Buysse  is  a  director  of  school  district 
No.  54.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church. 


RUSSELL  G.  DONALDSON  (1890)  is  the 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Donaldson  & 
Son,  of  Tracy,  dealers  in  wood,  coal,  ma- 
chinery, hay  and  grain.  He  is  a  native  of 
Mower  county,  Minnesota,  and  was  born 
May  15,  1870,  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Mary 
E.  (Hoag)  Donaldson,  natives  of  New  York 
State. 


486 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


The  father  was  born  in  1847  and  served 
in  the  Civil  War.  He  was  in  Company  H, 
Sixty-six  Ohio  regiment,  and  later  was  in 
the  Fifteenth  Ohio  and  took  part  in  Sher- 
man's march  to  the  sea.  After  the  war  he 
came  to  Minnesota  and  located  in  Mower 
county,  where  he  lived  until  1890,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in  Lyon 
county,  when  he  came  here  and  homesteaded 
land.  He  was  driven  out  by  the  grasshop- 
pers, remained  away  a  year  and  a  half,  came 
again  for  a  short  period  and  in  1890  he  took 
up  his  permanent  residence  en  the  land  he 
had  homesteaded. 

Russell  Donaldson  broke  up  the  place  for 
his  father  and  remained  on  the  farm  until 
1901,  when  he  moved  to  Tracy  and  with  his 
father  opened  a  coal  and  wood  yard  under 
the  firm  name  of  Donaldson  &  Son.  Our 
subject  owns  a  farm  adjoining  his  father's 
old  homestead  in  Amiret  township  and  a 
home  in  Tracy. 

In  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  W. 
Donaldson  are  the  following  children:  Rus- 
sell G.,  of  this  sketch;  Mamie,  deceased; 
Mabel  (Mrs.  S.  Selix),  of  Woodlake,  Minne- 
sota, who  was  one  of  the  first  teachers  of 
the  consolidated  schools  in  the  county,  hav- 
ing taught  four  years  in  Lynd;  Caroline 
(Mrs.  Bert  Blakesley),  of  Marshall;  Mazie 
(Mrs.  F.  Whitmore),  of  Spokane,  Washing- 
ton; Dasie  (Mrs.  Ernest  Hunter),  of  Ames, 
Iowa;  Rev.  Charles  Donaldson,  of  Fort  Ben- 
ton, Montana;  and  Alice  (Mrs.  George  Ad- 
ams), of  Spokane,  Washington. 

The  subject  of  this  review  spent  the  first 
eighteen  years  of  his  life  at  his  home  in 
Mower  county  and  then  came  to  Lyon  county 
to  take  charge  of  his  father's  homestead 
in  Amiret  township,  and  he  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  county  since  that  time  He  is 
a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge  and 
was  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  32  for 
some  time. 

In  Redwood  county,  Minnesota,  on  Sep- 
tember 7,  1897,  Jessie  Moses  became  the 
wife  of  our  subject.  She  is  a  native  of  Tracy 
and  was  the  first  girl  born  in  that  city.  Her 
father,  W.  W.  Moses,  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Redwood  county,  just  over  the 
line  from  Lyon  county,  and  one  of  the 
large  landholders  in  that  county.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Donaldson  have  been  born  the 
following  named  seven  children:  Dale,  Doris, 
Ruby,  Lawrence,  Myrl.  Rosemond  and  Callie. 


JOSEPH  E.  REGXIER  (1883)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  fine  half  section  of  land  in 
Grandview  township  and  has  lived  in  the 
county  since  he  was  two  years  of  age. 

January  30,  1881,  was  the  date  of  Joseph 
E.  Regnier's  birth  in  Kankakee  county,  Illi- 
nois. Two  years  later  he  accompanied  his 
parents,  Joseph  I.  and  Zepharine  (Mongeau) 
Regnier,  to  Lyon  county  and  the  father 
bought  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  20, 
Grandview  township.  The  boy  was  educated 
in  the  country  school,  brought  up  on  the 
farm,  and  has  been  living  on  the  old  home 
place  since  the  rest  of  the  family  moved  to 
Marshall.  In  addition  to  the  original  quarter 
section,  Mr.  Regnier  farms  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section   21. 

The  marriage  of  Joseph  E.  Regnier  and 
Margaret  Lynch  took  place  August  30,  1905. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  five  children: 
Philip,  Margaret,  Joseih,  Maurice  and  Marie. 
Mrs.  Regnier  is  a  native  of  New  York  City. 

Mr.  Regnier  was  on  the  school  board  of 
district  No.  12  three  years.  He  is  associated 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Joseph  I.  Regnier,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois. 
He  was  brought  up  there,  married  there, 
and  lived  in  the  house  of  his  birth  when 
his  own  son,  Joseph  E.,  was  born.  His  wife 
was  a  native  of  Canada.  She  died  in  1901 
and  Mr.  Regnier  now  lives  in  Marshall.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  two  of 
whom,  Lucy  and  Isaac,  are  dead.  The  other 
children  are  George,  Marie,  Thomas,  Philip, 
Florence,  Agnes,  Alex,  Blanche,  Atwood  and 
Lea 


JOHN  J.  STURGEON  (1878),  stock  buyer 
and  shipper  of  Marshall,  has  resided  in  that 
city  since  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age,  a 
continuous  residence  of  thirty-four  years.  He 
has  been  engaged  in  business  many  years 
and  has  been  a  prominent  "booster"  for 
Marshall.  He  is  also  a  thirty-second  degree 
base  ball  fan  and  was  manager  of  the  suc- 
cessful Marshall  team  of  1911. 

John  Sturgeon  was  born  at  Lampton,  On- 
tario, Canada,  twenty-two  miles  west  of  the 
city  of  Montreal,  on  June  8,  1865.  At  the 
age  of  six  years  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Austin,  Minnesota,  resided  there  seven  or 
eight  years,  and  then  in  August,  187S,  came 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


487 


with  his  parents  to  Marshall,  where  he  has 
ever  since  resided.  He  learned  the  butcher 
trade  early  in  life,  working  three  years  in 
the  shop  of  Johnson  &  Woodruff.  Then  he 
opened  a  shop  of  his  own  in  the  building 
now  occupied  by  the  Serlet  saloon  and  was 
engaged  in  the  business  until  January  1, 
1900,  occupying  later  the  building  in  which 
is  now  the  Shardlow  music  store  and  later 
still   the  John   Schutz   building. 

In  June,  1900,  Mr.  Sturgeon  left  Marshall 
with  two  loads  of  stock  for  Cape  Nome, 
Alaska,  and  was  absent  until  September  1, 
of  the  same  year.  Upon  his  return  he  en- 
gaged in  the  stock  business  and  has  since 
been  buying  and  shipping  cattle,  sheep  and 
hogs.  For  the  past  four  years  he  has  also 
engaged  in  the  breeding  of  thoroughbred 
horses.  The  head  of  his  stud  is  Allie  Dale, 
with  a  trotting  record  of  2:15^4.  He  built 
the  hitch  barn  and  the  four  residences  ad- 
joining and  still  owns  the  barn  and  one  of 
the  residences.  In  the  summer  of  1911  he 
erected  for  his  home  one  of  the  prettiest 
little  residences  in  the  city.  It  is  of  the 
California  bungalow  style,  has  six  rooms, 
and  is  modern  in  every  particular.  He  also 
owns  a  120-acre  farm  southeast  of  Tracy. 

Mr.  Sturgeon  was  married  in  Marshall 
January  30,  1889,  to  Lucile  Phillips,  a  native 
of  Michigan.     They  have  one  child,  Lila  R. 

Our  subject  is  of  Canadian-French  origin. 
His  parents,  John  and  Zoie  (Morin)  Stur- 
geon, were  natives  of  Canada,  located  at 
Austin,  Minnesota,  in  1871,  at  Marshall  in 
1878,  an,d  at  DeSmet,  Kingsbury  county, 
South  Dakota,  in  1882.  In  that  city  the  fa- 
ther died  in  1903,  and  there  the  mother 
still  has  her  home.  There  were  sixteen 
children  in  the  family,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing named  nine  are  living:  Nellie,  Henry, 
John  J.,  Millie,  Emma,  George,  Hattie,  Wil- 
ford  and  Hattie. 


FREDERICK  W.  VANSTROM  (1910), 
cashier  of  the  Lynd  State  Bank,  is  a  product 
of  Minnesota.  He  was  born  in  Lac  qui  Parle 
county  March  19,  1879,  a  son  of  Jacob  Van- 
strom,  a  native  of  Sweden  who  came  to  the 
United  States  when  thirty-five  years  of  age 
and  settled  in  Carver  county,  Minnesota. 
Later  he  went  to  Lac  qui  Parle  county, 
where  he  homesteaded  land.  The  elder  Mr. 
Vanstrom  was  married  in  Carver  county  to 


Malena  Johnson.  They  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  as  follows:  Josephine  M., 
Julius  E.,  Frederick  VY..  George  I.,  Edna  ML, 
Ella  L.,  Eunice  M.  and  Florence  L.  The 
parents  still  reside  on  the  old  home  place  in 
Lac  qui  Parle  county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  and  high  schools, 
later  attending  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1905.  He 
then  accepted  the  position  of  superintendent 
of  the  Welcome  High  School,  which  he  held 
five  years.  In  the  spring  of  1910  he  assisted 
in  the  organization  of  the  Lynd  State  Bank, 
of  which  he  "is  cashier  and  manager.  Mr. 
Vanstrom  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
lodge. 

Mr.  Vanstrom  was  married  at  Truman, 
Minnesota,  June  23,  1908,  to  A.  Mabel  Hen- 
ton,  a  native  of  Martin  county  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  W.  B.  and  Mary  Henton.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vanstrom  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren:   Malena  Josephine  and  Mary  Gladys. 


N.  W.  HANSON  (1897),  farmer  of  Rock 
Lake  township,  was  born  May  4,  1870,  and 
is  a  son  of  Hans  and  Tillie  (Nelson)  John- 
son, the  former  of  whom  is  deceased  and 
the  latter  being  now  a  resident  of  Sweden. 
Our  subject  was  born  and  brought  up  in 
Sweden  and  attended  the  common  schools 
until  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  then  worked 
at  farm  labor  until  the  age  of  twenty-three 
years. 

In  the  fall  of  1894  N.  W.  Hanson  came  to 
America  and  located  at  Dundee,  Minnesota, 
where  he  was  engaged  as  a  section  hand 
on  the  railroad  for  some  months,  and  later 
as  a  farm  laborer.  It  was  in  December,  1897, 
that  he  came  to  Lyon  county,  and  he  rented 
and  farmed  for  himself  in  Rock  Lake  and 
Custer  townships  for  seven  years.  With  the 
idea  of  trying  town  life,  Mr.  Hanson  went 
to  Illinois  and  after  investigating  condi- 
tions there  accepted  employment  in  a  hard- 
ware store  in  Moline,  where  he  worked  sev- 
eral months.  He  had  become  very  well  sat- 
isfied with  Lyon  county,  however,  and  he 
resigned  his  position,  returned  to  Lyon 
county,  and  again  engaged  in  farm  labor  for 
six  months.  Later  he  returned  to  Moline 
and  accepted  his  old  position  for  one  year. 

Leaving  Moline  in  the  spring  of  1907,  Mr. 
Hanson    spent    the    summer   months    in    his 


4ss 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


old  home  in  Sweden.  Returning  to  Lyon 
county,  ■  lie  has  since  conducted  the  farm 
which  he  rents,  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  1,  Rock  Lake.  He  has  been  suc- 
cessful and  his  farm  is  one  of  the  town- 
ship's fine  farms. 

Our  subject  was  married  July  2,  1910,  at 
Marshall  to  Tillie  Johnson.  She  is  a  na- 
tive of  Sweden  and  was  born  May  17,  1880. 
To  this  union  has  been  born  one  child,  Harry 
William.  Mrs.  Hanson's  parents,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Swan  Johnson,  former  residents  of 
Hinckley,  Minnesota,  are  both  deceased. 


ALEXANDER  KOLHEI  (1904)  is  assistant 
cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Cottonwood. 
He  is  also  interested  with  his  father  in  the 
Eickschen-Kolhei  Company,  the  largest  gen- 
eral merchandise  store  in  Cottonwood,  and 
with  his  father  has  considerable  real  estate 
holdings  in  the  vicinity  of  Haworden,  Sas- 
katchewan,  Canada. 

Alexander  was  born  in  Yellow  Medicine 
county,  in  Roumania  township,  on  the  fa- 
ther's homestead,  January  2,  1882,  and  lived 
on  the  home  farm  until  coming  to  Cotton- 
wood in  1904.  That  year  the  young  man 
was  given  the  position  of  assistant  cashier 
of  the  state  bank  and  has  filled  it  ever 
since,  being  now  a  stockholder.  Our  subject 
is  unmarried  and  resides  with  his  parents 
in  Cottonwood.  Alexander  has  six  brothers 
and  sisters  living,  their  names  being  Hag- 
bort  L.,  Caroline  (Mrs.  Olai  Aamodt),  of 
Lyon  county;  Carl  J.,  of  Cottonwood;  Hilda, 
Ida  and  Alfred. 

Alexander  Kolhei  is  the  son  of  Ingebret 
L.  Kolhei  and  Korina  (Haraldson)  Kolhei, 
both  natives  of  Norway.  They  came  to  the 
United  States  and  first  settled  in  Wiscon- 
sin, moving  later  to  Towa,  and  in  1867  going 
to  Yellow  Medicine  county,  Minnesota, 
among  the  first  settlers.  The  elder  Kolhei 
took  a  homestead  in  Roumania  township. 
There  were  then  but  three  other  settlers 
between  Redwood  Falls  and  Yellow  Medi- 
cine, and  they  were  Ingebrit  Johnson,  Ger- 
hart  Gooman,  and  an  Englishman.  The  first 
home  on  the  farm  was  a  log  hut,  for  several 
years  all  the  trading  had  to  be  done  at  New 
Ulm,  and  the  nearest  railroad  station  was 
at  Janesville,  in  Waseca  county.  In  1869 
the    Great    Northern    railroad    was    built    to 


Willmar  and  the  elder  Kolhei  hauled  grain 
several  times  to  Willmar. 

In  1905  Ingebret  Kolhei  sold  his  Yellow 
Medicine  farm  to  his  son  H.  L.  Kolhei,  now 
on  the  place,  and  moved  to  Cottonwood.  In 
1897  he  had  helped  organize  the  Cottonwood 
State  Bank,  of  which  he  is  now  vice  presi- 
dent. Since  moving  to  Cottonwood  he  has 
been  active  in  other  business  enterprises. 
He  is  interested  with  his  son,  Alexander,  in 
the  Eickschen-Kolhei  Mercantile  Company,  is 
treasurer  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Norwegian  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
which  was  organized  about  thirty  years  ago 
and  which  is  one  of  the  largest  mutual  com- 
panies in  this  part  of  the  state,  doing  busi- 
ness in  Lincoln,  Lyon,  \ellow  Medicine  and 
Redwood  counties.  The  amount  of  insurance 
in  force  in  1911  was  over  $5,000,000. 


ERNEST  A.  MICHEL  (1906)  is  the  junior 
member  of  the  law  firm  of  Davis  &  Michel, 
of  Marshall.  He  was  born  at  Appleton, 
Minnesota,  October  15,  1887,  and  spent  his 
boyhood  days  in  that  town.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Appleton  High  School  and 
then  took  a  year's  course  in  a  business 
college. 

In  1906  Mr.  Michel  located  in  Marshall. 
He  entered  the  employ  of  Thomas  E.  Davis 
as  a  stenographer  and  at  the  same  time 
read  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1909,  and  in  July,  1910,  entered  into 
partnership  with  his  employer.  Mr.  Michel 
is  a  member  of  the  Elks  and  Modern  Wood- 
men lodges. 

Ernest  Michel  is  the  son  of  the  late  Ernest 
Michel  and  Caroline  (Schmidt)  Michel.  They 
came  from  Germany  when  children,  were 
married,  and  located  in  Michigan.  They  be- 
came residents  of  Willmar,  Minnesota,  in 
the  early  days  and  for  a  time  conducted  a 
hotel  in  that  city.  Then  they  moved  to  Ap- 
pleton, where  Mr.  Michel  died  and  where 
Mrs.  Michel  now  resides.  Ernest  is  the 
youngest  in  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  of 
whom  ten  are  living. 


ROBERT  ALTON  STRUTHERS  (1881)  is 
a  son  of  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  and  he  was  born  in  and  has  always 
been  a  resident  of  Amiret  township.  James 
and    Jane    (Mitchell)    Struthers,    parents    of 


r.KHiHAlMIKAL   IIISTOKY. 


4  VI 


Robert  Struthers,  were  pioneers  and  are 
still  living  in  the  township. 

Robert  Alton  was  born  February  9,  1881, 
on  the  home  farm  near  Amiret  and  was 
brought  up  amid  the  environments  of  farm 
life.  He  attended  the  country  school  and 
finished  his  education  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years.  The  next  seven  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  on  the  farm  helping  his  father,  and 
he  and  his  father  then  purchased  section  9, 
Amiret  township,  and  one  year  later  the 
land  was  divided,  Robert  taking  as  his  in- 
terest the  south  half,  which  he  has  since 
owned  and  operated.  The  320  acres  make 
a  splendid  farm,  upon  which  Mr.  Struthers 
has  put  many  modern  improvements. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  stockholder 
of  the  Amiret  State  Bank.  He  is  always 
awake  to  the  interests  of  his  community 
and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Mar- 
shall-Amiret  Telephone  Company,  of  which 
he  is  now  secretary.  The  company  was 
organized  in  the  winter  of  1909  by  nine  of 
the  farmers  of  the  township.  The  other 
officers  are  James  Mitchell,  president;  Jo- 
seph Shake,  vice  president;  and  Edmond 
Van  Moer,  treasurer. 

The  marriage  of  Robert  Struthers  to  Be- 
atrice Coyle  took  place  November  27,  1907, 
at  Marshall.  To  this  union  one  child,  Lucile 
Beatrice,  was  born,  September  20,  1908. 
Mrs.  Struthers'  parents,  Joshua  and  Eliza- 
beth Coyle,  were  pioneer  residents  of  Sodus 
township,  and  she  was  born  in  that  precinct 
May  5,  1885.  Her  father  is  dead;  her  mother 
still  resides  in  the  township. 


WALLACE  A.  GOODRICH  (1S76)  is  man- 
ager of  the  poultry  and  fur  business  of  Max 
Becker,  of  Marshall.  He  was  born  at  Lake 
City,  Wabasha  county,  Minnesota,  December 
14,  1863,  and  is  the  son  of  William  R.  and 
Margaret  Goodrich.  The  former  is  a  native 
of  Connecticut  and  the  latter  of  New  York 
State,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Charles  W.,  who  resides 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Grandview  town- 
ship; Franklin  H.  and  Louis  W.,  who  are 
deceased;  and  Wallace  A.,  of  this  sketch. 
The  mother  died  in  1S93,  and  the  father 
resides  at  St.  Charles,  Louisiana.  The  latter 
enlisted  in  Wisconsin,  in  Company  I,  First 
Cavalry,  and  served  a  little  over  a  year  in 
the  Civil  War. 


Our  subject  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Lyon  county  in  187G.  The  father  home- 
steaded  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  12, 
Grandview  township,  and  there  Wallace  re- 
sided until  1888.  He  moved  to  Marshall  that 
year  and  has  made  his  home  there  since, 
with  the  exception  of  two  winters  spent  in 
Nebraska  and  one  year  in  California.  In 
the  early  nineties  Mr.  Goodrich  started  a 
feedmill  in  Marshall  in  the  building  on  Main 
Street  now  occupied  by  Finnell  &  Son.  He 
conducted  the  mill  seven  years,  after  which 
he  was  employed  by  the  McCormick  Harves- 
ter Company  as  an  expert  and  later  by  the 
International  people,  which  occupied  his 
time  until  February,  1908.  He  then  entered 
the  employ  of  Max  Becker,  in  the  produce 
and  fur  business,  as  manager.  That  firm 
handles  the  majority  of  the  poultry  business 
of  Marshall,  about  fifteen  cars  a  year  besides 
the  local  shipments,  and  about  $50,000  worth 
of  furs  was  handled  by  the  firm  in  1911.  Mr. 
Goodrich  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge 
and  Chapter  of  the  Masonic  order  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  lodge.  He  holds  the  of- 
fice of  noble  grand  in  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Marshall  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1910,  to  Lena  Rask,  of  Russell. 


PETER  PETERSON  (1895)  is  the  owner 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  10,  Shel- 
burne  township.  He  was  born  in  Torenby, 
Denmark,  December  14,  1845.  His  parents 
were  Peter  and  Karen  Christenson,  both  of 
whom  are  deceased. 

Our  subject  attended  school  in  the  land 
of  his  nativity  until  fourteen  years  of  age 
and  thereafter  worked  at  farm  labor.  In 
1881  Mr.  Peterson  located  at  Racine,  Wis- 
consin, and  for  the  next  nine  years  was 
employed  by  the  Mitchell  Lewis  Wagon 
Company.  During  the  next  five  years  he 
farmed  rented  land  at  Berryville,  five  miles 
south  of  Racine.  He  came  to  Lyon  county 
in  1895  and  purchased  the  farm  he  now 
operates  in  Shelburne  township. 

On  June  16,  1871,  Mr.  Peterson  was  mar- 
ried to  Christine  Nelson,  a  daughter  of  Nels 
and  Annie  Nelson,  of  Denmark.  Mrs.  Peter- 
son was  born  July  17,  1843.  The  following 
four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Peterson:  Hans  Christian,  born  June 
24,  1872;    Anton,  born  April  22,  1882;   Anna 


490 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Magdalena,    born    December    9,    1884;    Xels 
Lawrence,  born  October  26,  1887. 

Mrs.  Peterson  has  one  brother,  James  Nel- 
son, of  Racine,  Wisconsin. 

ALFRED  AMUXDSOX  (1888),  who  farms 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  29.  Xordland 
township,  has  spent  the  twenty-four  years 
of  his  life  in  Lyon  county.  He  was  born  in 
Grandview  township  June  6,  1888,  received 
a  district  school  education,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  farm  in  the  town  of 
Xordland. 

His  parents,  Ambros  and  Gunhild  (Shel- 
rud)  Amundson,  were  born  in  Tellemarken, 
Norway.  They  came  to  Lyon  county  in  an 
early  day  and  took  a  homestead  in  Grand- 
view  township,  where  they  resided  many 
years,  and  then  moved  to  a  farm  in  Xord- 
land, ten  miles  southwest  of  Minneota.  They 
now  live  in  Minneota. 

Alfred  was  married  in  the  fall  of  1910  and 
the  following  spring  he  and  his  bride  took 
up  their  residence  in  Xordland  township, 
having  rented  the  farm  from  his  father. 
They  have  a  good  farm,  improved  with  new 
buildings.  Mr.  Amundson  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Xorwegian  Lutheran  church 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
lodge. 

The  marriage  of  Alfred  Amundson  and 
Sophia  Furgeson  took  place  in  .Minneota  No- 
vember 2,  1910.  Mrs.  Amundson  was  born 
in  the  county  June  20,  1889,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Ellen  (Johnson)  Furgeson,  of 
Island  Lake  township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Amundson  has  been  born  one  child,  Winfred 
Raymond,  born  October  19,  1911. 

DR.  AXDREW  D.  HOIDALE  (1904)  is  a 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Tracy.  He  was 
born  in  Norway  February  3,  1877,  the  son 
of  Andrew  and  Dorothy  (Lund)  Hoidale. 
When  three  years  of  age,  in  1880,  he  was 
brought  with  the  family  to  America  and 
spent  his  boyhood  days  on  a  farm  on  the 
present  site  of  Dawson,  in  Lac  qui  Parle 
county,  Minnesota. 

In  the  schools  of  Lac  qui  Parle  county 
young  Hoidale  secured  his  primary  educa- 
tion. His  first  employment  was  newspaper 
work,  being  employed  by  his  brother,  Einar, 
as  manager  of  the  Dodge  County  Herald,  at 
Hayfield,  Minnesota.    He  completed  his  high 


school  work  and  then  entered  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1904. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  Dr.  Hoi- 
dale opened  an  office  at  Tracy  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, now  having  offices  in  the  Heine  Block. 
Dr.  Hoidale  holds  membership  in  the  Ameri- 
can, Minnesota,  and  the  Lyon-Lincoln  Medi- 
cal Associations.-  For  three  years  he  held 
the  position  of  city  health  officer.  Frater- 
nally he  is  associated  with  the  Odd  Fellows, 
Elks,  Woodmen,  Workmen  and  Degree  of 
Honor. 

Dr.  Hoidale  was  married  at  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  December  27,  1905.  to  Pauline  Ma- 
deira, the  ceremony  being  performed  by  the 
bride's  grandfather,  Rev.  Addison  D.  Ma- 
deira, who  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  is 
now  eighty-three  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Hoidale 
was  born  in  Kansas  City,  a  daughter  of 
Frederick  R.  and  Oak  (Porter)  Madeira. 
The  Madeira  family  are  of  old  Kentucky 
stock,  of  Spanish  descent.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Hoidale  have  two  children,  Porter  Madeira 
and   Dorothy   Ellouise. 

In  his  father's  family  are  eight  children, 
as  follows:  Aage,  a  druggist  of  Seattle; 
Inga  (Mrs.  K.  O.  Rice),  of  St.  Paul;  Einar, 
an  attorney  of  Minneapolis;  Gudrun  (Mrs. 
Edward  Jackson),  of  Dawson.  Minnesota; 
Andrew  D.,  of  this  sketch;  Anna  (Mrs.  E. 
H.  Murray),  of  Chicago;  Hjalmar,  an  attor- 
ney of  Minneapolis;  and  Margaret,  of  Daw 
son,  Minnesota. 


GUSTAVE  VERGOTE  (1883),  proprietor  of 
a  blacksmith  shop  in  Marshall,  has  spent 
his  entire  life  at  his  trade  and  has  operated 
a  shop  in  Lyon  county  nearly  thirty  years. 
He  has  a  wide  reputation  as  a  workman  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  shoeing  fast  horses. 

Mr.  Vergote  was  bora  in  Belgium  April 
21.  18.35.  There  he  was  educated  and  grew 
to  manhood.  He  learned  the  blacksmith  and 
horseshoeing  trades  in  a  government  school 
and  for  fourteen  years  worked  in  his  father's 
shop  in  the  old  country.  In  1883  he  came 
to  America  with  the  colony  and  located  in 
the  little  village  of  Ghent.  For  two  years 
he  conducted  a  shop  there  and  in  partner- 
ship with  Charles  Fou Ion  operated  a  farm 
under  the  firm  name  of  Foulon  &  Vergote. 


I'.UMiliAlMNCAL   IIISTOKY. 


401 


In  the  old  country  Mr.  Vergote  had  learned 
music  and  the  members  of  the  Marshall  band 
induced  him  to  sell  his  shop  at  Ghent  and 
move  to  the  county  seat.  He  played  with  the 
Marshall  band  fifteen  years  and  taught  band 
music.  He  was  also  the  leader  of  the  Cath- 
olic choir  five  years.  When  he  moved  to 
.Marshall  Mr.  Vergote  purchased  the  Gibson 
shop  and  he  has  ever  since  conducted  the 
same.  He  has  other  city  property  and  owns 
one  of  the  fine  homes  of  Marshall.  He  has 
160  acres  of  land  on  section  29,  Island  Lake 
township,  land  in  the  St.  Louis  Valley  of 
Colorado,  and  twenty  acres  in  Florida. 

Mr.  Vergote  was  married  in  Ghent  in  June, 
1885,  to  Prudence  Gits,  a  daughter  of  Francis 
Gits,  of  Ghent.  Mrs.  Vergote  died  November 
15,  1900,  aged  thirty-two  years.  To  them 
were  born  seven  children,  named  as  follows: 
Julian,  Albert,  Emma  and  Julia  (twins). 
Henry,  Florence  and  Prudence.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Gustave  Vergote  is  one  of  a  family  of  nine 
children  born  to  John  and  Urisule  (DuPrey) 
Vergote.  The  five  living  children  of  the 
family  are  Jule,  Mary,  Palmyre,  Charles  and 
Gustave.  The  deceased  children  were  Flor- 
ence, Alfonse.  Peter  and  Odile. 


CHARLES  AAMODT,  grain  buyer  at  Cot- 
tonwood for  the  Anderson  Elevator  Company, 
is  a  native  of  Lyon  county.  He  was  born  on 
his  father's  homestead,  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  2,  Vallers  township,  and  continued 
to  reside  on  that  place  until  1907.  Thai, 
year  he  spent  on  a  homestead  claim  in  Dunn 
county,  North  Dakota. 

Mr.  Aamodt  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Cottonwood  and  in  Toland's  Busi- 
ness College  of  Mankato.  After  having  re- 
turned from  his  claim,  on  August  6,  1909, 
Mr.  Aamodt  entered  the  employ  of  the  An- 
derson Elevator  Company  at  Cottonwood  and 
has  since  been  its  local  manager. 

On  October  23,  1910,  in  Lyon  county,  Mr. 
-Aamodt  was  married  to  Clara  D.  L.  Nelson, 
who  was  born  in  Pipestone  county.  Mr. 
Aamodt  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  G.  O.  and 
Liv  (Gullickson)  Aamodt.  They  were  bora 
in  Norway,  came  to  America  in  the  late 
seventies,  and  took  a  homestead  claim  in 
Vallers  township,  upon  which  they  still  re- 


side. They  have  seven  children,  as  follows: 
Hilda,  Mary,  Olie,  Fred,  Charles,  John  and 
George. 


LEVI  PRAIRIE  (1886)  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  35, 
Westerheim  township,  the  farm  bought  by 
his  father  in  1880. 

Levi  was  bora  in  Kankakee  county,  Illi- 
nois, February  14,  1876,  and  is  a  son  of 
Clovis  and  Mary  (Lord)  Prairie,  now  de- 
ceased. The  parents  were  of  French  de- 
scent and  were  born  in  Canada.  They 
moved  to  Illinois,  being  among  the  early 
settlers,  and  for  a  number  of  years  were 
residents  of  that  state;  later  they  lived 
in  Missouri  and  Wisconsin.  In  the  spring 
of  1886  they  came  to  Lyon  county  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  where  Levi  now  resides. 
The  elder  Prairies  moved  to  Ghent  to 
live  in  1902  and  there  resided  until  their 
deaths.  The  mother  died  in  1905  and  the 
father  in   1910. 

Our  subject  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Lyon  county  when  ten  years  of  age  and 
resided  with  them  until  1902,  being 
brought  up  on  the  farm  and  educated  in 
the  district  school.  In  the  latter  year 
Levi  married  and  engaged  in  farming  for 
himself  on  rented  land  in  the  township, 
and  after  his  father's  death  in  1910  he  be- 
came the  owner  of  the  home  place.  He 
has  a  fine  place  and  is  engaging  profitably 
in  general  farming  and  in  stock  raising. 

The  marriage  of  Levi  Prairie  and  Geor- 
giana  Pilotte  occurred  at  Ghent  January 
7,  1902.  She  was  born  in  Kankakee  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  July  25,  1882,  and  is  a  daughr 
ter  of  Lucian  and  Louise  (Savoy)  Pilotte, 
both  of  whom  are  living  in  the  township. 
They  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1900  and 
engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Prairie 
are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Howard  Ru- 
dolph, born  March  3,  1904.  The  boy  is 
now  attending  the  Sisters  School  at  Ghent. 
The  Prairies  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church. 

Our  subject  has  the  following  brothers 
and  sisters  living:  Mary  (Mrs.  Raphael 
Supernaut},  of  Murray  county;  Clovis,  of 
Momence,  Illinois;  Madrid  (Mrs.  Cyril 
Paradis)  and  Ambrose,  of  Fairview  town- 
ship; Lizzie  (Mrs.  John  Hollo),  of  Mar- 
shall;   Joseph,    of   Oregon;    Matilda    (Mrs. 


492 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Charles  Blodgett),  of  Ghent;  Julia  (Mrs. 
Ambrose  Regnier)  and  Celia  (Mrs.  Felix 
Rivard),  both  of  Lake  Marshall  township. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Prairie  is  allied  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen   lodge  of  Ghent. 


A.  GORDON  FORBES  (1886),  although 
a  young  man,  is  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Marshall.  He  is  a  native  of 
that  city,  having  been  born  July  28,  1886. 
His  education  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools  and  he  was  a  member  of  the 
graduating  class  of  1905. 

Our  subject's  family  moved  to  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  soon  after  the  boy's  graduation 
from  high  school,  and  U.  D.  Forbes,  the 
father,  became  associated  with  the  Bur- 
chard-Hulburt  Investment  Company.  He 
was  also  the  president  of  a  manufacturing 
establishment  in  the  city,  and  Gordon  and 
his  older  brother,  Malcolm,  assisted  in  the 
management.  D.  D.  Forbes  died  in  May, 
1908,  and  after  the  settling  of  the  estate 
Gordon  and  his  younger  brother,  Harold, 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  in 
Vancouver,  Washington. 

Mr.  Forbes  was  a  resident  of  Vancouver 
until  1911,  when  he  and  his  brother  sold  their 
real  estate  business,  and  he  has  since  been 
located  in  Marshall.  He  is  engaged  in  real 
estate  transactions  and  owns  considerable 
farm  land  and  town  property,  the  overseeing 
of  which  takes  much  of  his  time.  Mr.  Forbes 
makes  his  office  in  the  Marshall  State  Bank, 
of  which  institution  his  uncle,  S.  J.  Forbes, 
is  the  cashier.  He  is  popular  among  the 
young  people  of  the  town  and  is  fraternally 
associated  with  the  Elks  lodge. 

D.  D.  Forbes,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Canada  January 
9,  1856.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he 
came  to  Lyon  county,  locating  in  Fairview 
township.  There  he  farmed  until  his  mar- 
riage to  Elizabeth  A.  McNiven  November  2, 
1883.  His  wife  died  September  14,  1895. 
One  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Forbes 
moved  to  Marshall  and  for  five  years  worked 
for  a  machinery  house;  then  he  went  into 
the  real  estate  business. 

For  several  years  he  was  associated  with 
his  brother,  and  after  the  latter's  death 
D.  D.  Forbes  formed  a  partnership  with 
J.  A.  McNiven,  and  for  many  years  the 
firm    of    Forbes    &    McNiven    conducted    a 


large  real  estate,  loan  and  insurance  busi- 
ness in  Marshall.  The  senior  partner  re- 
tired from  the  firm  in  1905  and  moved  to 
St.  Paul,  where  he  resided  until  his  death. 
There  were  four  sons  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  D.  D.  Forbes.  Bruce  V.,  the  young- 
est boy,  died  in  St.  Paul  in  1907.  The 
other  boys  are  Malcolm  C,  a  farmer  re- 
siding near  Marshall;  A.  Gordon,  of  this 
sketch;  and  Harold  H.,  of  Vancouver, 
Washington. 


EMIL  O.  GREEN  (1896)  is  one  of  the 
big  farmers  and  fancy  stock  raisers  of 
Shelburne  township.  He  resides  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  32,  which  he 
rents  from  his  father,  and  farms  about 
300    acres   of   land. 

Emil  O.  Green  is  the  son  of  C.  F.  and 
Mary  (Carlson)  Green,  who  now  live  a  re- 
tired life  in  the  village  of  Florence.  The 
family  we're  early  settlers  of  Murray  coun- 
ty, having  located  there  in  the  early  sev- 
enties. They  took  up  their  residence  in 
Florence  in  18  9  6,  where  the  elder  Mr. 
Green  erected  the  first  hotel  and  where 
he  later  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  fuel 
business. 

To  these  parents  Emil  was  born  in 
Murray  county  November  11,  1884.  He 
secured  his  primary  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Murray  county  and  of 
Florence,  which  he  attended  until  eighteen 
years  of  age.  After  his  school  days  Mr. 
Green  was  in  the  hardware  business  with 
his  father  at  Florence  two  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1904  he  attended  the  Superior 
(Wisconsin)  Business  College  three 
months,  after  which  he  entered  Sioux 
Falls  Business  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated   May    11,    1905. 

Mr.  Green  then  rented  his  father's  farm 
and  has  since  conducted  it.  He  engages 
extensively  in  stock  raising,  making  a  spe- 
cialty of  sheep,  which  he  raises,  feeds  and 
ships.  He  has  a  number  of  imported 
Shropshires.  He  al30  raises  fancy  poul- 
try, having  White  Holland  turkeys  and 
Buff  Wyandotte  chickens. 

Hannah  E.  Sanden  became  the  wife  of 
Emil  Green  at  St.  Paul  on  July  5,  1911. 
She  was  born  in  Lyon  county  June  21, 
1888,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Hans  P.  and 
Mary  Sanden,  pioneer  settlers  of  Shelburne 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


4!))5 


township.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Current  Lake  Swedish  Lutheran  church 
and  Mr.  Green  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge  of  Ruthton. 


SHERMAN  HILL  (1907),  Lake  Marshall 
township  farmer,  is  a  native  of  Iroquois 
county,  Illinois,  and  was  born  November 
21,  1866.  His  parents  are  Joseph  and 
Laura  (Moffit)  Hill,  natives  of  Vermont 
who  came  to  Illinois  in  an  early  day. 
Sherman  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  near  his  home  in  Kanka- 
kee, Illinois,  and  in  1886  rented  his 
father's  farm.  He  operated  that  several 
years  and  later  purchased  the  same. 

Mr.  Hill's  wife  died  July  25,  1907,  and 
that  year  he  and  the  family  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  rented  the  land  in  Lake  Mar- 
shall township  upon  which  he  still  lives. 
He  raises  a  great  deal  of  stock,  including 
thoroughbred  Jersey  cattle,  Berkshire 
hogs  and  Percheron  horses. 

On  March  30,  1886,  at  Kankakee,  Illi- 
nois, occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hill 
to  Elizabeth  Collins,  a  native  of  Hillsboro, 
Ohio.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Theodore 
and  Leah  (Leatherwood)  Collins,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.  Mrs.  Hill  was  born  March  5,  1867. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing named  twelve  children:  Bessie 
E.  (Mrs.  Arthur  Manning),  born  Janu- 
ary 2  6,  1887;  Mattie  E.  (Mrs.  Henry  Du- 
sharme),  born  April  10,  1888;  Joseph  T., 
born  October  9,  189  0;  Ray  M.,  born  Au- 
gust 4,  18  91;  Harry  H.,  born  October  8, 
1893;  Neva^M.,  born  March  16,  1895; 
Merrill  V.,  born  February  29,  1896;  Ber- 
tha L.,  born  December  26,  1899;  George 
T.  C,  born  October  29,  1900;  Sherman  S., 
born  July  14,  1904;  Shirley  S.,  born  July 
14,  1904;  Dortha  N.  S.,  born  July  9,  1906. 


A.  C.  PORTER  (1904)  is  a  resident  of 
Marshall  and  the  proprietor  of  the  Mar- 
shall Bottling  Works.  He  is  a  native  of 
North  Troy,  Vermont,  and  was  born  June 
15,  1852,  the  son  of  Eleazer  and  Mary  Ann 
(Culver)   Porter,  also  natives  of  Vermont. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  Mr.  Porter 
moved  to  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
spent   the   next   eleven   years    of   his   life. 


There  he  completed  his  education  and 
later  learned  the  drug  business  and  jew- 
eler's trade.  There  he  also  worked  in 
the  machine  shops  of  C.  C.  &  E.  G.  Smith, 
railroad  contractors.  Mr.  Porter  later  had 
charge  of  the  pile-driver  that  drove  the 
piles  in  the  bridge  at  Lake  St.  Croix  for 
the   West  Wisconsin   railroad   in   1872. 

In  1879  Mr.  Porter  located  at  Volga, 
South  Dakota,  where  he  conducted  a  drug 
and  jewelry  store  and  where  he  later  en- 
gaged in  the  general  merchandise  business. 
When  the  St.  Louis,  Fort  Scott  &  Wichita 
railroad  was  built  in  1882  Mr.  Porter  was 
the  purchasing  agent  and  had  headquar- 
ters at  Fort  Scott,  Kansas.  He  was  also 
paymaster  and  bookkeeper  for  the  C.  D. 
&  M.  railroad  at  Dubuque  when  that  road 
was  built. 

From  Volga  Mr.  Porter  went  to  Water- 
town  in  1902  to  take  a  position  as  travel- 
ing representative  for  an  eastern  firm. 
Later  he  established  the  Watertown  Car- 
bonating  Company,  Incorporated,  but  sold 
out  in  1904  and  located  in  Marshall.  Upon 
his  arrival  to  the  capital  city  of  Lyon 
county  Mr.  Porter  purchased  two  small 
bottling  works  and  established  the  Mar- 
shall Bottling  Works,  of  which  he  has 
ever  since  been  the  head.  He  manufac- 
tures many  kinds  of  carbonated  beverages. 
Mr.  Porter  is  also  the  proprietor  of  the 
famous  Silver  springs,  which  are  located 
at  the  bottling  works.  There  is  a  thou- 
sand barrel  reservoir  and  there  is  ready 
sale  for  all  the  water.  Samples  of  the 
water  were  taken  to  Washington  by  Oscar 
E.  Meinzer,  of  the  United  States  Geo- 
logical Survey,  and  analyzed  by  govern- 
ment officials.  It  was  pronounced  pure 
and  soft  and  the  very  best  spring  water 
found   in   this   section   of   the   state. 

Mr.  Porter  is  a  man  of  family,  having 
been  married  at  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  to  Nellie 
A.  Schriver,  a  native  of  Lincoln,  Illinois, 
and  the  daughter  of  Henry  Schriver.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Porter  have  two  children:  Burt 
F.,  who  conducts  the  Lyric  Picture  House, 
and  Ethel  C. 

In  several  worthy  fraternal  orders  Mr. 
Porter  is  identified.  He  has  been  a  Mason 
since  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
having  joined  lodge  No.  18  at  Troy,  Ver- 
mont, in  1873.  He  is  a  charter  member 
of   the   Blue   Lodge   at  Volga,    South   Da- 


494 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


kota,  and  a  charter  member  of  the  Royal 
Arch  Masons  at  Arlington,  South  Dakota. 
Mr.  Porter  also  holds  membership  in 
the  Elks,  M.  W.  A.  and  United  Commercial 
Travelers. 


CHARLES  FOULON  (1883)  is  cashier 
of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Ghent  and  is 
president  of  the  Village  Council  of  that 
village.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon 
county  nearly  thirty  years  and  has  taken 
a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Foulon  was  born  in  Belgium  De- 
cember 7,  1856.  His  parents,  E.  Foulon 
and  J.  (Deleplanque)  Foulon,  died  in  the 
old  country  and  our  subject  is  the  only 
one  of  the  family  residing  in  America. 
Charles  made  his  home  on  a  farm  in  the 
old  country  and  received  a  college  educa- 
tion. He  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1883  and  settled  near  the  village  of  Ghent 
when  there  were  only  a  few  little  buildings 
in  the  town. 

Upon  his  arrival  Mr.  Foulon  purchased 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  4,  Grand- 
view  township,  and  farmed  the  place  two 
years.  During  the  next  two  years  he  was 
at  Currie,  woiking  in  the  flour  mill  of 
Currie  &  Crowl.  Returning  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty, Mr.  Foulon  engaged  in  farming  on  sec- 
tion 1,  Stanley  township,  until  1899.  That 
year  he  moved  to  Ghent  and  for  four 
years  conducted  the  C.  M.  Youmans  lum- 
ber yard.  Then  with  several  others  he 
organized  the  Bank  of  Ghent  and  was  made 
its  cashier,  a  position  he  has  since  held. 
A  reorganization  was  effected  in  1908  and 
the  institution  became  the  First  State 
Bank  of  Ghent. 

Besides  his  banking  interests  Mr.  Foulon 
devotes  some  of  his  time  to  the  manage- 
ment of  his  Lyon  county  farms.  He  has 
prospered  since  coming  to  the  county  and 
is  rated  among  the  successful  men  of 
Lyon.  Mr.  Foulon  has  served  as  president 
of  the  Village  Council  a  number  of  terms 
and  has  held  other  offices  of  trust,  hav- 
ing been  clerk  and  treasurer  of  the  Board 
of  Education  and  president  of  the  Ghent 
Fire  Department.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  of  the  Catholic  Order 
of  Foresters. 

The    marriage    of    Mr.    Foulon    to    Clem- 


ence  Gits  was  solemnized  at  Ghent  May 
31,  1892.  She  is  also  a  native  of  Bel- 
gium. To  them  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing named  three  children:  Helen,  a 
graduate  of  St.  Catherine's  College  of  St. 
Paul;  Mary,  a  graduate  of  the  same  school; 
and  Emma,  who  attends  school  in  Bel- 
gium. All  the  children  have  studied 
French  in  Belgium. 


EDWARD  SCHREIBER  (1884).  proprie- 
tor of  a  hardware  and  implement  store  at 
Ghent,  has  resided  in  Lyon  county  all  his 
life.  He  is  a  Lyon  county  product  that 
has  certainly  "made  good."  Although  a 
young  man,  he  has  built  up  an  enormous 
business  and  is  rated  as  one  of  the  most 
successful  business  men  of  the  county, 
accomplished  through  a  strict  application 
to  business,  an  indomitable  purpose  and 
honest  dealing.  He  has  great  faith  in  the 
future  prosperity  of  his  town  and  has  done 
his  share  toward  its  present  standing  of 
one  of  the  best  little  towns  in  Southwest- 
ern  Minnesota. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  his  father's 
farm,  the  east  half  of  section  2  5,  Wester- 
heim  township,  on  May  11,  1884,  and 
grew  to  manhood  on  that  farm.  After 
completing  the  course  provided  by  the 
district  school,  he  attended  St.  Michael's 
Convent  at  New  Ulm  three  terms,  the 
Marshall  High  School  two  years,  the  Mar- 
shall Business  College  one  year,  and  com- 
pleted his  education  in  St.  Thomas  College 
at  St.  Paul. 

Mr.  Schreiber  located  in  Ghent  in  1904 
and  the  first  year  worked  for  Lerschen 
Brothers  in  the  hardware  and  implement 
business.  Then  he  bought  the  firm's 
business,  including  the  buildings  and 
grounds,  and  has  since  conducted  the 
store.  He  has  more  than  doubled  the 
stock  and  busmess  and  has  made  the 
business  a  paying  one.  He  deals  in  hard- 
ware, farm  implements,  wagons,  buggies, 
gasoline  engines,  pumps,  automobiles  and 
furniture  and  buys  and  ships  live  stock. 

For  several  terms  Mr.  Schreiber  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Ghent  Village 
Council.  He  belongs  to  the  Catholic, 
church,  the  C.  O.  F.  lodge,  of  which  he  is 
an  officer,  and  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge,  having 
been    the    first    venerable    counsel    of    the 


CHARLES  FOULON 

Cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Ghent. 


THE  LATE  DR.  E.  F.  ST.  DENIS 
Former  Medical  Practitioner  of  Ghent. 


EDWARD  SCHREIBER 

Proprietor  of  a  Ghent  Hardware  and  Imple- 
ment  Store. 


ABEL  D.   SCHAEFFER 
Proprietor   of    a   Ghent    Harness    Store. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


4!).", 


local  lodge  of  the  last  named  order.  Mr. 
Schreiber  is  a  stockholder  of  the  Ghent 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  and  a  charter 
member  of  the  Ghent  Fire  Department. 
He  is  president  of  the  Ghent  Rural  Tele- 
phone Company,  owned  by  the  business 
men  of  Ghent. 

Mr.  Schreiber  was  married  in  Ghent 
June  19,  19  07,  to  Julia  Dierick,  a  native 
of  Illinois.  They  have  two  children,  Alfred 
and  Alice. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Jo- 
seph and  Johanna  (Brewers)  Schreiber. 
They  came  from  Germany  to  Lyon  county 
in  1883,  bought  the  east  half  of  section 
25,  Westerheim  township,  improved  the 
farm,  and  resided  thereon  until  their 
deaths.  Mr.  Schreiber  died  in  1891  at  the 
age  of  forty-six  years  and  his  wife  in 
1903,  aged  fifty-six  years.  To  them  were 
born  the  following  named  children,  all 
born  on  the  Westerheim  township  farm: 
Garhard,  who  resides  on  the  old  home 
farm;  Edward,  of  this  review;  Louise 
(Mrs.  Ed  Gits),  of  Ghent;  and  Mary  (Mrs. 
Philip  Paradies),  of  Marshall. 


ABEL  D.  SCHAEFER  (1901)  is  a 
dealer  in  harness  goods  in  the  village  of 
Ghent.  He  was  born  in  Beveren  Via  Au- 
denaerde,  Belgium,  January  21,  1874, 
and  is  a  son  of  Alfonso  Schaefer,  who  re- 
sides in  France.  The  mother  died  in  1883. 
Abel  has  two  brothers  and  one  sister  in 
this  country:  Rev.  Fr.  Schaefer,  of  Lu- 
can;  Camille,  of  Ghent;  and  Mary  Philo- 
mena,  of  Lucan. 

Our  subject  learned  the  trade  of  har- 
ness making  and  carriage  upholstering 
from  his  father.  When  fifteen  years  of 
age  he  went  to  France,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  some  time.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Belgium  and  remained  two  years. 

In  November,  1901,  Mr.  Schaefer  came 
to  the  United  States  and  to  Lyon  county. 
He  located  at  Ghent,  where  his  brother. 
Rev.  Fr.  Schaefer,  then  resided.  The  fol- 
lowing January  our  subject  lost  all  his 
belongings  in  a  fire  which  destroyed  the 
Catholic  church  and  the  priest's  home.  In 
February,  19  02,  Mr.  Schaefer  engaged  in 
the  harness  business  at  Ghent.  Since 
that  time  he  has  built  up  a  fine  business 
and  has  prospered.      He  carries  a  full  line 


of  harness,  trunks,  bags,  saddles  and  har- 
ness hardware.  He  purchased  the  building 
which  he  occupies  in  December,  1902. 
and  in  the  summer  of  1911  built  an  addi- 
tion, which  he  uses  for  a  residence. 

Mr.  Schaefer  is  a  member  of  the  Catho- 
lic church  and  the  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters lodge,  of  which  he  is  secretary.  He 
is  collector  for  the  National  Casualty  Com- 
pany and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Rural  Telephone  Company  of  Ghent.  He 
is  vice  president  of  the  Ghent  Fire  Depart- 
ment. 

On  May  22,  1894,  in  France,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Schaefer  to  Mary  C. 
Guesquiere.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Amandine. 


DR.  E.  F.  ST.  DENIS  (1906),  deceased, 
was  a  physician  and  surgeon  of  Ghent. 
He  was  born  at  St.  Anne  de  Bellevene, 
Montreal,  Quebec,  Canada,  a  son  of  An- 
thony and  Angeline  (La  Marche)  St. 
Denis,  the  former  a  resident  of  Canada, 
the  latter  deceased.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children,  all  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. 

Dr.  St.  Denis  received  his  education  in 
the  land  of  his  nativity  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Medical  Department  of  Laval 
University  in  1896.  The  next  year  he 
came  to  the  United  States  and  located 
at  Bradley,  Illinois,  where  he  practised  his 
profession  until  1906.  Then  he  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  located  at  Ghent,  in 
April,  1906,  where  he  practised  until  his 
death  in  May,  1912.  Dr.  St.  Denis  was 
a  member  of  the  Minnesota  State  Medical 
Association  and  the  County  Physicians  As- 
sociation. He  was  medical  examiner  for 
the  M.  W.  A.  and  C.  O.  F.  lodges  and 
held  membership  in  both  orders.  He  was 
also  health  officer  of  Ghent. 

Dr.  St.  Denis  was  married  at  Rockford, 
Illinois,  May  15,  1906,  to  Mary  DuBois,  a 
native  of  Chicago.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren,  Edward   and   Clara. 


JOHN  H.  BOT  (188  6)  is  the  owner  of 
a  fine  farm  in  Grandview  township,  one 
mile  from  Ghent.  His  place  is  part  of 
the  original  farm  owned  by  his  father. 
It  is  well  improved,  and  besides  conduct- 


496 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ing  a   successful    farm    Mr.    Bot   is   raising 
cattle  and  hogs  for  market. 

William  H.  and  Debora  (Schrueder) 
Bot,  parents  of  our  subject,  were  Holland- 
ers and  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1886, 
locating  in  Grandview  township,  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  their  son  John. 
The  father  prospered  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  in  April,  1906,  was  the  owner 
of  1200  acres  of  Lyon  county  farm  land. 
Mrs.  William  H.  Bot  lives  in  Ghent. 

John  Bot  was  born  in  Holland  Septem- 
ber 13,  1879,  and  came  to  America  with 
his  parents  at  the  age  of  seven  years.  He 
grew  up  on  the  farm  in  Grandview  town- 
ship and  was  educated  in  the  country 
school.  After  his  father's  death  John 
and  his  brother,  William  H.  Bot,  rented 
the  home  farm  two  years,  and  then  John 
took  full  charge  and  later  bought  the 
place,  which  he  has  since  conducted.  He 
is  one  of  the  progressive  young  farmers  of 
the  township  and  is  well  known  through- 
out the  neighboring  country.  Mr.  Bot  has 
served  the  past  seven  years  as  clerk  of  the 
township  board  and  for  several  years  has 
been  clerk  of  school  district  No.   31. 

Our  subject  has  five  brothers  and  one 
sister  living.  They  are  Hero  W.,  Henry 
J.  and  William  H.,  all  of  Ghent;  Bernard 
H.  and  Regnier  J.,  of  Grandview  town- 
ship; and  Kate  (Mrs.  Joseph  Senden),  of 
Grandview  township.  John  Bot  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church  and  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Catholic  Order  of  Fores- 
ters lodge. 


J.  X.  WIESNER  (1891)  has  for  the  past 
eight  years  been  the  proprietor  of  a  confec- 
tionery, cigar  and  tobacco  store  in  Tracy. 
From  the  time  Mr.  Wiesner  moved  to  Tracy 
in  1891  until  1904  he  was  local  agent  for  the 
John  Gund  Brewing  Company  of  Milwaukee. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  Bohemia  July 
2  5,  1854,  and  when  twelve  years  old  start- 
ed out  in  life  for  himself.  He  first  went 
to  Vienna  and  two  years  later  came  to 
the  United  States  with  his  uncle,  John 
Wiesner,  in  the  spring  of  18  69.  The  two 
men  located  in  New  Ulm,  where  J.  N. 
Wiesner  worked  for  eight  years.  Thence 
he  went  to  Owatonna  and  later  to  Alden, 
in   Freeborn   county,   where   he  engaged   in 


the  saloon  business  for  the  next  two 
years. 

The  John  Gund  Brewing  Company  en- 
gaged Mr.  Wiesner's  services  at  that  time, 
and  for  the  next  few  years  he  was  in 
that  company's  employ,  part  of  the  time 
in  Alden  and  part  of  the  time  in  Owatonna. 
In  1885  J.  N.  Wiesner  and  his  brother, 
J.  J.  Wiesner,  started  in  the  butcher  busi- 
ness in  the  town  of  Wells,  this  state.  This 
was  continued  for  two  years,  the  brothers 
then  moving  to  Owatonna,  where  they  con- 
ducted a  meat  market  four  years.  In 
18  91  J.  N.  Wiesner  again  entered  the 
John  Gund  Brewing  Company's  employ 
and  located  in  Tracy  as  their  local  agent, 
which  position  he  held  for  fourteen  years 
prior  to  opening  his  confectionery  and  to- 
bacco store,  which  he  bought  from  George 
Town. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married 
at  Owatonna  on  June  8,  1881,  to  Barbara 
Huffman.  The  young  lady  who  became 
his  wife  came  to  this  country  with  her 
parents  when  she  was  one  year  old.  The 
Wiesners  have  two  children.  The  son, 
Fred,  is  a  civil  engineer  in  the  employ 
of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad  Company 
and  is  located  at  Great  Falls,  Montana. 
Gladys,  the  daughter,  lives  at  home. 

Mr.  Wiesner  served  en  the  City  Council 
of  Tracy  four  years.  During  three  years 
of  that  time  he  was  president  of  the  coun- 
cil. Fraternally  he  is  associated  with  the 
A.  O.  U.  W.  and  the  K.  of  P.  lodges. 

Two  sisters  of  Mr.  Wiesner  are  living 
in  this  country.  Annie  Wiesner  lives  in 
New  Ulm  and  Kate  Wiesner  is  a  resident 
of  Owatonna. 


RASMUS  B.  SAMPSON  (1902),  farmer 
and  land  owner  of  Island  Lake  township, 
was  born  in  Sonhorland,  Norway,  Febru- 
ary 13,  1873,  and  his  parents  still  live  in 
the  old  country.  They  are  Sampson  R. 
Bjelleboe  and  Britha  (Aarthum)  Bjelle- 
boe. 

Rasmus  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation, in  his  native  land  and  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  years  set  out  alone  for  Amer- 
ica to  seek  his  fortune.  He  located  at 
Story  City,  Iowa,  where  he  had  relatives, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  worked  out  as 
a  farm  hand,  during  the  first  year  receiv- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


497 


ing  $12  per  month.  He  rented  land  in 
Hamilton  county  in  1898  and  farmed  the 
next  four  years. 

In  190  1  Mr.  Sampson  bought  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  16,  Island  Lake 
township,  and  the  next  year  he  and  his 
family  moved  to  their  new  home.  He 
feeds  and  ships  stock,  making  a  specialty 
of  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Duroc-Jersey  hogs. 
Mr.  Sampson  has  stock  in  the  Farmers 
Elevator  Company  of  Lynd  and  is  justice 
of  the  peace  of  his  precinct.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Norwegian  Lu- 
theran  church. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Sampson  to  Gu- 
rena  Sunnoe  occurred  in  Hamilton  county, 
Iowa,  June  16,  1896.  His  wife  was  born 
in  Stavanger,  Norway,  November  14,  18  68, 
and  her  parents  were  Narve  and  Gunhild 
(Sunnoe)  Olson,  both  of  whom  died  in  the 
old  country.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sampson  are 
the  parents  of  the  following  named  chil- 
dren: Selmer  B.,  Gerhart  N.,  Alwin  S., 
Gladys  R.,  Richard  O..  Martha  G.,  Bertha  S. 
and  Chris. 


DR.  WARD  AKESTER  (1909)  is  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Mar- 
shall, and  he  has  attained  a  prominent  place 
in  the  city's  professional  and  social  affairs. 
The  doctor  was  born  at  Washington,  Indiana, 
May  17,  1880.  He  was  graduated  from  the 
Farina,  Illinois,  High  School  and  took  a  two 
years'  academic  course  at  Austin  College, 
Effingham,  Illinois.  Then  he  entered  the 
Medical  College  of  Indiana,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in   1902. 

Soon  after  his  graduation  Dr.  Akester  be- 
gan the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Clay 
City,  Illinois,  and  later  was  for  some  time 
the  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  State  Hospital 
at  Chester,  Illinois.  He  located  in  Marshall 
in  1909  to  make  his  permanent  home.  He 
has  built  up  a  splendid  practice  and  enjoys 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  public. 
His  office  is  in  nicely  appointed  rooms  over 
the  Marshall  State  Bank.  Dr.  Akester  is  a 
member  of  many  of  the  leading  medical  and 
surgical  societies  of  the  country.  He  is  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason  and  a  member  of  the 
Eastern  Star,  Odd  Fellows  and  Woodmen 
lodges. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  also  born 
in  Indiana.     Washington  Akester  still  lives 


in  Washington,  Indiana;  Martha  (Ward) 
Akester  died  in  March,  1900.  Dr.  Akester 
has  one  brother  and  one  sister.  Dr.  J.  Akes- 
ter, of  Farina,  Illinois,  and  Cora  Akester, 
of  the  Indiana  State  University. 

Dr.  Akester  was  married  at  Clay  City,  Illi- 
nois, June  30,  1906,  to  Bess  Pauline  Kemp- 
shall.  She  is  a  native  of  New  Britain,  Con- 
necticut, and  a  daughter  of  William  F.  and 
Nell  (Drausfield)  Kempshall.  Mrs.  Akester 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  and  of 
the  Eastern  Star  and  Rebekah  lodges. 


ANDREW  P.  LINDEN  (1893)  is  a  farmer 
and  land  owner  of  Coon  Creek  township. 
He  is  a  native  of  Sweden  and  was  born 
near  Granna  March  25,  1868,  the  son  of 
Swan  Anderson  Linden.  The  father  died  in 
February,  1910;  the  mother  is  still  living 
and  resides  at  Belgrade,  Minnesota. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  where 
he  attended  school  until  fifteen  years  of  age. 
In  1884  he  came  to  Minnesota  and  located 
at  Belgrade,  Steams  county,  where  he 
worked  at  farm  labor  eight  years.  He  also 
worked  in  Minneapolis  for  a  short  time.  In 
1892  he  purchased  a  quarter  section  of  land 
in  Coon  Creek  township,  which  he  still  owns 
and  operates.  He  raises  Poland  China  hogs, 
Hereford  cattle  and  Barred  Plymouth  chick- 
ens. Mr.  Linden  is  a  member  of  the  Swe- 
dish Free  Mission  church.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Farmers  Mutual  Telephone 
Company. 

On  July  10,  1897,  Mr.  Linden  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Amanda  Johnson,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  (Peterson)  Johnson,  who 
reside  at  the  home  of  our  subject.  Mrs. 
Linden  is  a  native  of  Sweden  and  was  bora 
November  8,  1873. 

Mr.  Linden  is  a  successful  farmer  and 
stockraiser.  He  has  four  brothers  and  one 
sister:  August  and  Frank,  of  Stearns  coun- 
ty; Edward  and  John,  of  Chicago,  Illinois; 
Mrs.  August  Anderson,  of  Stearns  county. 

Mrs.  Linden  has  two  brothers  and  two 
sisters:  Nels  and  Solomon  Johnson,  of  Shel- 
burne  township,  and  Mrs.  Hattie  Enell,  of 
California,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Elison. 


OLUF  G.  OLSON   (1901)    is  the  manager 
and    buyer    for   the    grocery,    shoe    and    fur- 


498 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


nishing  goods  departments  of  the  L.  Abra- 
hamson  store  at  Cottonwood.  He  was  born 
in  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  October  14,  1866. 
He  is  a  son  of  Nels  B.  Olson,  who  home- 
steaded  land  in  Monona  county,  Iowa,  in 
1861.  The  latter  served  in  a  Wisconsin 
company  during  the  Civil  War.  After  the 
war  he  returned  home  and  later  moved  to 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  where  he  resided  ten  years 
and  died  in  1906.     The  mother  died  in  1903. 

Oluf  accompanied  his  parents  to  the  West 
when  he  was  but  one  year  old  and  resided 
with  them  on  the  farm  until  eighteen  years 
of  age.  Then  he  went  to  Beloit,  Iowa,  and 
attended  Augustana  College,  after  which  he 
went  to  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  took  a  course 
in  the  Sioux  City  Business  College.  For 
the  next  seven  years  Mr.  Olson  was  con- 
nected with  the  United  States  Clothing 
Company  and  then  spent  eight  years  as  sales- 
man for  the  Browning-King  Clothing  Com- 
pany. 

In  the  spring  of  1901  our  subject  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  located  at  Cottonwood.  In 
company  with  William  B.  Olson  and  A.  O. 
Anderson,  he  opened  a  mercantile  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  the  Anderson-Olson 
Company.  They  conducted  the  business 
three  years  and  then  reorganized  and  estab- 
lished the  Cottonwood  Mercantile  Company, 
A.  O.  Anderson  selling  his  interest  and  the 
new  firm  being  composed  of  A.  B.  Anderson, 
O.  G.  and  W.  B.  Olson.  Mr.  Olson  was  a 
member  of  that  firm  two  years,  when  he 
sold  his  interest  to  Anderson  Brothers.  He 
then  went  to  Normania,  Yellow  Medicine 
county,  where,  in  company  with  M.  S.  Runs- 
old,  he  opened  a  mercantile  store  and  con- 
ducted it  until  1908.  They  sold  the  business 
and  our  subject  returned  to  Cottonwood  and 
has  since  been  associated  with  L.  Abraham- 
son  as  buyer  and  manager. 

Mr.  Olson  was  president  of  the  Cotton- 
wood Commercial  Club  two  and  one-half 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  and  the  Norden  Mandskor, 
a  vocal  organization,  of  which  he  was  sec- 
retary. 

At  Sloan,  Iowa,  June  4,  1887,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Olson  to  Matilda  S.  Strand, 
a  native  of  La  Crosse  county,  Wisconsin. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olson  are  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Ella  M.,  Harry  N.,  Ruth 
and  Herbert.  Their  oldest  child,  Mabel,  died 
at  the  age  of  four  years. 


TELES  PARADIS,  JR.  (1884)  is  a  farmer 
of  Lake  Marshall  township.  He  was  born 
in  St.  John,  Canada,  May  30,  1881,  a  son  of 
Teles  and  Selina  (Demery)  Paradis,  natives 
of  Canada. 

When  three  years  of  age  our  subject  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  America  and  lo- 
cated in  Lyon  county,  the  father  purchasing 
160  ceres  of  land  in  Fairview  township. 
There  the  family  lived  sixteen  years,  when 
the  father  sold  and  purchased  240  acres  on 
section  27,  Lake  Marshall  township.  Teles, 
Jr.,  resided  with  his  parents  until  1907,  when 
he  rented  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
34,  Lake  Marshall  township,  and  has  lived 
there  since.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic church. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
in  Marshall  on  May  7,  1907,  to  Alma  Boud- 
reau,  a  native  of  Chicago.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Hermine  (Morin)  Boudreau, 
who  now  live  in  Fairview  township,  Lyon 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paradis  are  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  Louis,  born 
April  1,  1908;  Jennevive,  horn  March  12, 
1909;  Bernice,  born  May  7,  1910;  Luella 
Agnes,  born  December  25,  1911. 


GEORGE  G.  LOWE  (1884),  junior 
member  of  the  Marshall  clothing  firm  of 
Olson  &  Lowe,  is  a  native  of  Lyon  county, 
having  been  born  in  Stanley  township 
February  28,  1884.  He  is  the  son  of 
George  and  Maggie  (Glashen)  Lowe,  who 
now  reside  in  Cottonwood.  His  mother 
is  a  native  of  Wisconsin  and  his  father 
of  Scotland.  The  latter  came  to  the 
United  States  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  and  settled  in  Lake  City,  Minne- 
sota, where  he  was  married.  The  family 
came  to  Lyon  county  in  1874  and  took  as 
a  homestead  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 6,  Stanley  township.  They  resided 
on  the  farm  until  1902,  when  the  father 
moved  to  Cottonwood  to  engage  in  the 
grain  business.  There  are  four  children 
in  the  family,  namely:  Alex,  cashier  in 
a  bank  at  Wood  Lake,  Minnesota;  Mrs. 
Theodore  M.  Thomas,  of  Marshall;  Mrs. 
Hugo  H.  Gieseke,  of  Marshall;  and  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review. 

George  Lowe  spent  his  boyhood  days  on 
the  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict   schools    and    in    the    Marshall    High 


liKHiKAlMIICAL  HISTORY. 


499 


School.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he 
took  employment  with  Olson  Brothers  and 
he  has  been  connected  with  that  store  ever 
since.  He  was  employed  as  a  clerk  until 
the  death  of  John  Olson  in  1904,  when  he 
became  the  manager  of  the  store.  In 
January,  1909,  he  became  a  member  of 
the  firm. 

The  firm  of  Olson  Brothers  was  estab- 
lished in  October,  1900,  by  John  G.,  Mar- 
tin G.  and  Ed.  C.  Olson,  and  that  was  the 
title  until  Mr.  Lowe  became  a  member  of 
the  firm.  The  store  is  the  oldest  exclu- 
sive clothing  store  in  the  city.  The  com- 
pany deals  in  clothing,  men's  furnishings, 
trunks,   shoes,   etc. 

Mr.  Lowe  was  married  at  Le  Roy,  Min- 
nesota, January  20,  1912,  to  Lura  B. 
Wells,  a  native  of  the  city  in  which  she 
was  married  and  a  daughter  of  George 
Wells.  Mr'.  Lowe  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic and  Woodmen   orders. 


WILLIAM  H.  EDWARDS  (1S94)  owns 
and  operates  240  acres  of  land  on  section 
2  9,  Sodus  township.  He  was  born  in 
Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota,  December 
6,  1867.  His  parents  are  William  and 
Margaret  (Davis)  Edwards,  both  natives 
of  Wales.  They  came  to  the  United 
States  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Blue 
Earth  county,  where  our  subject  was  born 
and  grew  to  manhood.  He  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  until   1894. 

In  the  year  last  named  our  subject  came 
to  Lyon  county  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  on  section  29,  Sodus  township.  Later 
he  purchased  the  northeast  quarter  of  the 
same  section.  He  operates  the  entire  240 
acres.  Mr.  Edwards  is  a  member  of  the 
Township  Board  of  Supervisors. 

On  June  27,  1897,  Mr.  Edwards  was 
married  to  Jane  Scott,  a  native  of  Lyon 
county.  She  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Ann  (Lewis)  Scott,  of  Sodus  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards  have  three 
children:      Edwin,  Mary  and  Irene. 


DR.  DON  CASSELMAN  (1886)  is  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  James  &  Cassel- 
man,  dentists,  of  Tracy.  He  is  the  son  of 
John  J.  Casselman,  of  Tracy,  who  was 
born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  and  who  for  the 


past  twenty-six  years  has  been  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Northwestern  Railroad  Com- 
pany. 

Don  Casselman  was  born  in  Sleepy  Eye, 
Minnesota,  September  8,  1884.  Soon 
after  his  birth  the  family  moved  to  Hu- 
ron, South  Dakota,  and  two  years  later  to 
Tracy.  After  a  residence  there  of  seven 
years,  the  family  again  moved  to  Huron, 
but  in  1900  returned  to  Tracy  for  per- 
manent residence.  Don  attended  the 
Tracy  High  School,  for  one  year  was  a 
student  in  the  Chicago  College  of  Dental 
Surgery,  and  then  took  a  course  in  the 
.Minnesota  University,  from  the  Dental  De- 
partment of  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1905.  After  his  graduation  Dr.  Cassel- 
man formed  a  partnership  with  his  uncle, 
Dr.  W.  D.  James,  and  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  practice. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Casselman  to  Vera 
Edwards  occurred  at  Tracy  October  16, 
1907.  She  is  the  daughter  of  W.  R.  Ed- 
wards, who  for  so  many  years  published 
the  Tracy  Republican-Trumpet.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Casselman  have  one  child,  Genevieve. 


GEORGE  H.  JOHNSON  (1893)  owns 
and  farms  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 19,  Rock  Lake  township.  He  raises 
considerable  stock  and  during  the  fall  sea- 
sons he  operates  a  threshing  rig  in  his 
part  of  the  county.  He  is  a  shareholder 
and  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Farmers 
Elevator  Company  of  Balaton. 

George  Johnson's  parents  came  from 
Iroquois  county,  Illinois.  His  father, 
Henry  H.  Johnson,  moved  to  this  county 
in  1891  and  settled  in  Shelburne  town- 
ship, on  the  south  half  of  section  25.  The 
mother  and  the  rest  of  the  family  came  in 
1893. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Iroquois  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  January  14,  1875.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  his  native 
state  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm.  He 
was  eighteen  years  old  when  the  mother 
and  her  children  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
18  93  to  join  the  father,  who  had  preceded 
them  two  years.  George  helped  his  father 
on  the  farm  and  worked  out  for  others 
until  1901,  when  he  purchased  the  farm 
which  he  now  owns  and  started  farming 
for  himself. 


500 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Mr.  Johnson  was  married  February  2  6, 
1908,  to  Myrtle  Blanchard,  a  native  of 
Clear  Lake,  Iowa.  The  wedding  occurred 
at  Marshall.  Mrs.  Johnson  was  born 
March  31,  1888,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  O.  W.  Blanchard,  now  residents 
of  Balaton.  Her  father  is  a  native  of 
Wisconsin  and  her  mother  was  brought  up 
in  Iowa.  Our  subject's  father,  Henry 
Johnson,  died  in  1901,  and  his  mother, 
Annie   (Gerdes)   Johnson,  died  in  1895. 


WESLEY  W.  SIMMONS  (1892),  real 
estate  and  insurance  agent  of  Marshall,  has 
passed  his  entire  life  in  Southern  Minne- 
sota and  first  came  to  Lyon  county  twenty 
years  ago.  He  was  born  in  Hector,  Ren- 
ville county,  August  11,  1874,  the  son  of 
pioneer  residents  of  Southern   Minnesota. 

The  father,  William  H.  Simmons,  was  born 
in  England  and  came  to  the  United  States 
when  nine  years  of  age.  He  settled  in 
Renville  county  forty  years  ago  and  home- 
steaded  land.  He  was  living  there  during 
the  terrible  grasshopper  scourge  of  the  early 
seventies  and  was  named  by  a  committee 
of  citizens  of  his  neighborhood  to  go  to  St. 
Paul  to  solicit  aid  from  the  governor.  He 
walked  practically  the  entire  distance — some 
sixty-five  or  seventy  miles — and  through  his 
efforts  aid  was  granted  to  the  sufferers  of 
his  county.  He  was  married  to  Mrs.  Fannie 
French,  also  a  native  of  England.  They  lo- 
cated in  Lyon  county  in  1892  and  bought 
land  in  Lynd  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sim- 
mons now  reside  in  Marshall.  There  are 
four  children  in  the  family,  as  follows:  Ed- 
ward and  Lizzie  (Mrs.  William  F.  Markus), 
of  Duluth,  who  are  children  of  Mrs.  Sim- 
mons by  her  former  marriage;  Laura  (Mrs. 
C.  K.  Gillett),  of  Weyerhauser,  Wisconsin; 
and  Wesley  W.  There  were  two  other  chil- 
dren in  the  Simmons  family.  Arthur  died 
in  1892  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years; 
Frank  died  January  22,  1910,  aged  thirty- 
eight  years. 

At  the  age  of  seven  years  Wesley  W. 
Simmons  accompanied  the  family  from  Ren- 
ville county  to  Minneapolis,  but  three  years 
later  a  return  to  his  native  county  was 
made.  In  1892  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Lyon  county.  The  first  home  was  on  sec- 
tion 35,  Lynd  township,  where  Wesley  en- 
gaged in  farming  with  his  father  until  1898. 


Then  he  and  his  brother  bought  land  on 
sections  26  and  35  and  for  a  time  farmed 
in  partnership.  Our  subject  left  his  brother 
in  charge  of  the  farm,  went  to  St.  Paul,  and 
until  1905  he  clerked  in  a  hotel.  That  year 
he  located  in  Tracy  and  bought  grain  for  the 
Sleepy  Eye  Milling  Company.  One  year  later 
he  located  in  Marshall  and  for  three  years 
was  agent  for  the  Marshall  Milling  Company. 

In  recent  years  Mr.  Simmons  has  been 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance 
business.  He  is  district  manager  for  the 
Central  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Des 
Moines,  his  territory  embracing  the  counties 
of  Lyon,  Redwood,  Yellow  Medicine,  Lac  qui 
Parle  and  Lincoln.  He  is  the  owner  of  240 
acres  on  section  35,  Lynd  township,  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  2,  Lyons  town- 
ship, and  farm  land  in  Colorado.  In  Mar- 
shall he  owns  the  brick  block  occupied  by 
the  Birkenmeyer  dry  goods  store  and  the 
Adair  millinery  store  and  two  residence 
properties. 

Mr.  Simmons  was  married  at  Ackley,  Iowa, 
September  18,  1907,  to  Anna  M.  Krumling,  a 
native  of  the  city  in  which  she  was  mar- 
ried. Mr.  Simmons  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  and  Eastern  Star  lodges. 


PEDER  FRO  LAND  (1891)  is  one  of  the 
substantial  farmers  of  Vallers  township,  be- 
ing the  proprietor  of  200  acres  of  some  of 
the  finest  farming  land  of  the  township.  The 
place  is  well  improved  and  Mr.  Froland  is 
engaging  quite  extensively  in  stock  raising. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Hjorenfjord,  Nor- 
way, February  23,  1865,  and  is  a  son  of  Ole 
and  Maghild  (Salret)  Froland,  both  of  whom 
are  dead.  Peter  was  educated  in  his  native 
land  and  lived  at  home  with  his  parents, 
assisting  with  the  farm  work,  until  twenty 
years  of  age.  He  then  came  to  America  and 
located  in  Yellow  Medicine  county,  Minne- 
sota. There  he  worked  out  at  farm  labor 
three  years  and  then  purchased  eighty  acres 
and  started  farming  for  himself,  renting 
additional  land  and  later  buying  another 
eighty  acres.  The  young  man  prospered 
and  in  1890  sold  out  and  made  a  trip  back 
to  the  Fatherland. 

While  on  this  trip  Peder  was  married  to 
Jacobine  Willi,  on  March  31,  1891.  She  was 
born  in -Norway  April  17,  1870,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Ole  and  Johanna  Willi,  both  liv- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


501 


ing  in  the  Fatherland.  Peder  and  his  young 
wife  returned,  to  America  in  the  spring  of 
1S91,  and  he  bought  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  9,  Vallers  township,  which  has 
been  his  home  since  and  to  which  he  has 
added  an  additional  forty  acres.  Mr.  Fro- 
land  is  chairman  of  the  school  board  of  dis- 
trict No.  56  and  is  one  of  the  progressive 
men  of  the  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Froland  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children:  Margaret  A.,  Johannah  P., 
Odella  J.,  Laura  W.,  Pearl  J.,  Bennie,  Ruth 
C.  and  Frances  I.  S. 


CELFSTE  AMPE  (1901),  a  resident  of 
Ghent  since  coming  to  Lyon  county  in  1901, 
is  proprietor  of  a  blacksmith  and  wagon 
repair  shop.  He  is  conducting  a  well  paying 
business,  owns  the  shop  he  is  in,  and  owns 
also  two  nice  residence  properties  in  the 
village.  Mr.  Ampe  is  a  member  of  the  Town 
Board  of  Ghent  and  served  on  the  Village 
Council  two  terms. 

Aluis  and  Lena  (Cysello)  Ampe,  parents 
of  Celeste,  were  natives  of  Belgium,  and  our 
subject  was  born  there  November  17,  1875. 
The  parents  never  came  to  this  country,  and 
the  father  is  still  living  in  Belgium,  the 
mother  being  deceased.  Celeste  received  his 
school  education  in  the  land  of  his  birth, 
and  from  the  time  he  was  fourteen  until  his 
twenty-fourth  birthday  he  worked  at  home 
for  his  father.  Coming  to  America  in  1899, 
Celeste  located  at  Brainerd,  Minnesota, 
where  he  was  employed  in  the  Great  North- 
ern railroad  shops. 

In  1901  our  subject  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  located  at  Ghent,  where  he  worked  in  a 
blacksmith  shop  eight  months.  He  then 
moved  to  Marshall  and  worked  in  Paul  Gits' 
blacksmith  shop  one  year.  Returning  to 
Ghent,  he  purchased  the  Victor  Mileone 
blacksmith  shop,  which  he  has  since  con- 
ducted. 

Celeste  Ampe  was  married  February  6, 
1906,  to  Nellie  Moors,  a  native  of  Belgium. 
They  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  Peter, 
Mathew,  John  and  Alouis.  Mr.  Ampe  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church  and  con- 
ductor of  the  C.  O.  F.  lodge. 


JAMES    J.    AHERN    (18S2),    of    Eidsvold 
township,  has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon  coun- 


ty thirty  years,  since  he  was  eight  years  of 
age.  He  farlns  400  acres  of  the  560  acres 
of  his  father's  estate,  the  home  place  being 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  8,  ad- 
joining the  village  of  Taunton. 

Mr.  Ahern  is  a  son  of  the  late  Garrett 
Ahem  and  Kate  (Brown)  Ahern.  The  par- 
ents came  from  Ireland  and  were  early  set- 
tlers of  Illinois.  They  came  to  Lyon  county 
in  1882  and  took  up  their  residence  in  Eids- 
vold township.  The  father  died  in  1897  and 
the  mother  now  makes  her  home  with  the 
subject  of  this  review. 

To  these  parents,  in  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  on  October  9,  1874,  James  J.  Ahern 
was  bora.  In  1882  he  came  with  the  family 
to  Lyon  county,  and  his  home  has  ever  since 
been  in  Eidsvold  township.  He  assisted  in 
the  management  of  the  home  farm  until  1903 
and  since  that  time  he  has  had  full  charge. 

Mr.  Ahern  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Minneota,  of  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus lodge  of  Marshall,  and  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodge  of  Taunton.  Of  the  last 
named  he  is  one  of  the  managers.  Mr. 
Ahern  is  not  married.  His  brothers  and 
sisters  are  Garrett,  Philip  P.  and  Michael, 
of  Taunton;  Thomas,  of  Hampden,  North 
Dakota;  William,  of  Eidsvold  township; 
Josie  and  Nance,  who  live  at  home;  Nellie 
(Mrs.  Thomas  Walsh),  of  Fargo,  North  Da- 
kota; and  Katherine  (Mrs.  M.  J.  Breen),  of 
Minneapolis. 


W.  W.  COOK  (1900),  of  Marshall,  is  the 
proprietor  of  one  of  the  largest  department 
stores  in  Lyon  county  and  is  a  man  who 
has  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  mercantile 
business.  He  was  born  in  Ohio,  but  in  1857 
located  in  Austin,  Minnesota,  where  he  grew 
to  young  manhood.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  completed  his  education  in 
Oberlin  (Ohio)  College,  after  which  he  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  pursuits. 

Mr.  Cook  clerked  a  few  years  in  a  dry 
goods  store  in  St.  Paul  and  then  returned 
to  Austin,  where  he  engaged  in  the  business 
for  himself.  The  next  ten  years  were  spent 
in  business  in  Chicago,  and  then  for  four- 
teen years  he  had  charge  of  the  dry  goods 
department  of  a  department  store  in  St.  Paul. 
At  Duluth  Mr.  Cook  was  the  manager  of 
the  Patton  &  Watson  department  store. 
Thereafter  for  several  years  he  was  in  busi- 


502 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ness  at  St.  Cloud  and  Melrose.  In  1900  Mr. 
Cook  located  in  Marshall  and  opened  a  stock 
of  goods  in  the  Chittenden  building,  where 
he  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  business. 
He  carries  a  large  stock  of  dry  goods,  notions 
and  shoes  and  his  store  is  known  as  "The 
Big  Store." 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  W.  W.  and 
Martha  B.  (Little)  Cook.  They  were  born 
in  New  York  State  but  moved  to  Oberlin, 
Ohio,  in  an  early  day.  They  later  settled  in 
Austin,  Minnesota,  where  the  father  died  at 
the  age  of  forty-five  ■  years.  The  mother 
died  in  Marshall  in  1907. 

Mr.  Cook  has  always  taken  an  active  part 
in  the  affairs  of  his  city,  doing  more  than 
his  share  in  the  promotion  of  every  worthy 
cause.  He  is  imbued  with  patriotism  for  his 
home  city  and  is  an  enthusiastic  supporter 
of  every  institution  that  will  add  to  the  re- 
nown of  Marshall.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church  and  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  Royal  Arcanum  lodges. 

By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Cook  has  one 
son,  William  W.  Cook,  Jr..  who  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  in  Marshall 
in  partnership  with  his  father.  Mr.  Cook, 
Jr..  is  a  young  man  of  great  business  ability 
and  has  become  an  important  factor  in  the 
business  life  of  the  city. 


GUSTAV  A.  DEXXIX  (1882),  Rock  Lake 
township  farmer  and  for  thirty  years  a 
resident  of  Lyon  county,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many August  27,  1872.  His  father,  Charles 
Dennin,  died  in  Germany,  and  his  mother, 
Hannah  Dennin,  died  in  Dempster,  South  Da- 
kota, where  she  had  resided  since  coming 
to  America  in  1890. 

Gustav  came  to  America  with  an  uncle, 
Gust  YVendland,  when  a  lad  of  ten  years  and 
resided  with  his  uncle  the  next  seven  years, 
meanwhile  going  to  school  at  Balaton  and 
Tracy.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  secured 
work  with  James  Collins,  manager  of  the 
Hunter  &  Able  stock  ranch  in  Murray  coun- 
ty, and  he  held  that  position  fourteen  years. 
For  about  one  year  after  that  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  George  Tate  elevator  at  Bala- 
ton, returning  to  work  for  a  few  months 
on  the  Hunter  &  Able  ranch  in  Murray 
county,  and  later  working  a  few  months  in 
the  employ  of  a  butcher  in   New  Ulm. 

The    subject    of    this    sketch    engaged    in 


farming  for  himself  in  the  spring  of  1903, 
having  bought  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 4,  Rock  Lake,  in  1907.  He  now  owns 
210  acres  on  section  4,  and  his  fine  herd  of 
Polled  Angus  cattle  is  among  the  best  in 
the  county.  All  Mr.  Dennin's  land  is  in  a 
fine  state  of  cultivation  and  he  has  pros- 
pered. He  is  a  shareholder  in  the  Farm- 
ers Elevator  Company  and  the  Farmers  Co- 
operative Company  of  Balaton. 

Gustav  Dennin  and  Martha  Baer  were 
joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  at 
Balaton  on  June  28,  190.6.  Mrs.  Dennin  is  a 
native  of  Lyon  county  and  was  born  August 
28,  1887,  her  parents  being  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Alfred  Baer,  of  Lyons  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gustav  Dennin  are  the  parents  of  three 
children,  Erma,  Arthur  and  Anna.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church  of  Balaton. 


CHRISTIAN  M.  DUUS  (1904)  is  proprie- 
tor of  the  City  Meat  Market  of  Tracy.  He  is 
a  native  of  Denmark  and  was  born  June  21, 
1868.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  came  to 
America  and  located  at  Tyler,  Lincoln  coun- 
ty, Minnesota,  where  he  conducted  a  meat 
market  two  years.  He  then  went  to  Min- 
neapolis, where  he  worked  at  his  trade  about 
thirteen  years.  Returning  to  Tyler  he  con- 
ducted a  meat  market  until  1904. 

In  the  latter  year  Mr.  Duus  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  located  at  Tracy,  where  he  pur- 
chased the  G.  A.  Hanson  meat  market,  which 
he  has  since  conducted.  He  handles  all 
kinds  of  meats  and  canned  goods  and  has 
one  of  the  most  up-to-date  meat  markets 
in  Tracy,  with  all  the  latest  improved  ma- 
chinery. Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  W.  A.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodges. 

On  December  5,  1895,  at  Minneapolis,  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  Mr.  Duus  to  Thoro 
Jacobson,  a  native  of  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Duus  are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren:    Cecelia  Lydia  and  Raymond. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  son  of 
Peter  Hanson  and  Catherine  Duus,  both  of 
whom  are  deceased.  They  were  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Hans,  of  Lincoln 
county;  Peter,  a  retired  farmer;  Kristan,  a 
retired  farmer  of  Tyler;  Lars  H.,  of  Tyler: 
Henry,  of  Pine  county,  Minnesota:  Elsie. 
Annie  and  Mary,  of  Minneapolis. 


I'.MXJWAIMIICAL   HISTORY. 


503 


CHARLES  A.  ILLIAN  (1900)  rents  a  large 
farm  in  Monroe  township,  having  charge  of 
the  east  half  of  section  16  and  200  acres  on 
section  9,  land  belonging  to  J.  A.  Hunter. 

Mr.  Illian  was  born  in  Prussia  August  14, 
1N44,  being  the  son  of  Frederick  William 
Illian  and  Louisa  Illian.  The  mother  died 
when  Charles  was  a  baby  and  the  father  died 
in  1858.  When  Charles  was  seven  years  old 
he  came  with  his  father  to  the  United  States 
and  they  settled  in  Scott  county,  Iowa,  where 
the  father  died,  and  where  our  subject  lived 
until  May,  1864.  In  that  month  he  enlisted 
in  Company  I,  Forty-fourth  Iowa  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  served  until  the  following 
September,  being  detailed  on  skirmish  duty 
and  in  guarding  railways  in  Mississippi  and 
Tennessee. 

After  the  war  our  subject  returned  to 
Scott  county  and  engaged  in  farming  about 
six  years;  then  he  moved  to  Benton  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  farmed  three  years.  While 
living  in  Benton  county  Mr.  Illian  was  mar- 
ried, September  22,  1872,  to  Amelia  Knaack, 
who  was  born  in  Prussia  November  4,  1854. 
After  their  marriage  the  young  couple  went 
to  Plymouth  county,  Iowa,  where  they  lived 
on  a  farm  until  1898,  moving  then  to  Red- 
wood county,  Minnesota,  and  farming  two 
years  in  the  vicinity  of  Walnut  Grove.  In 
1900  Mr.  Illian  took  charge  of  Mr.  Hunter's 
farm  in  Monroe  township,  where  he  has  re- 
mained. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Illian  have  eleven  children 
living:  Paulina  (Mrs.  Mons  Larson)  and 
Richard,  of  Amiret  township;  Otto,  of 
O'Brien  county,  Iowa;  Louis,  Barnard  and 
Olga  (Mrs.  Fred  Miller),  of  Blackhawk  coun- 
ty, Iowa;  Oscar,  of  Waverly,  Iowa;  and 
Frank,  Charles,  Emilie  and  Arthur,  at  home. 
The  oldest  child,  Fred,  died  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  months. 

Mr.  Illian  while  a  resident  of  Benton  coun- 
ty, Iowa,  held  the  office  of  school  director  in 
his  township. 


AUGUST  PETERSON  (1890)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  hardware  store  in  the  city  of 
Tracy.  He  was  born  in  Sweden  April  2, 
1873,  a  son  of  Peter  and  Allan  (Hawkinson) 
Anderson.  The  father  died  in  1911,  and 
Mrs.  Anderson  resides  in  Sweden.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  fol- 
lows:     Mrs.    Rettig,    of    Denver,    Colorado; 


August  and  Henry,  of  Tracy;  Vendla,  of 
San  Diego.  California;  Pete,  Xels,  Freda 
and  Fritz,  of  Sweden. 

August  Peterson  resided  in  the  land  of  his 
birth  until  1890,  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  located  in  Lyon  county.  He  has 
resided  in  the  county  almost  continuously 
since  that  time.  He  spent  one  year  in  Min- 
neapolis and  farmed  a  year  in  Murray  coun- 
ty, after  which  he  moved  to  Tracy,  and  he 
has  since  lived  there.  He  worked  four  years 
for  Dr.  Farrell,  and  then  tended  bar  one  and 
one-half  years.  Then,  in  company  with  John 
Lindeman,  he  started  a  saloon,  which  he 
conducted  two  years.  Mr.  Peterson  spent 
some  time  as  agent  for  the  Standard  Broom 
Company  of  Mankato,  after  which  he  again 
engaged  in  the  saloon  business  for  two  years. 
On  January  1,  1909,  he  purchased  of  H.  E. 
McKenzie  the  hardware  store  he  now  con- 
ducts. He  handles  shelf  and  heavy  hard- 
ware. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  married  at  Ruthton,  Min- 
nesota, August  2,  1901,  to  Selma  Johnson. 
They  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Delpha 
and  Bernetta. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Tracy  Garage  Company  (incorporated), 
which  was  established  in  1910. 


NELS  P.  JOHNSON  (1892)  is  a  farmer 
and  land  owner  of  Coon  Creek  township. 
He  was  born  in  Denmark  October  27,  1863, 
a  son  of  Jens  and  Margaret  (Anderson) 
Olson.  He  grew  to  manhood  and  received 
his  education  in  the  land  of  his  birth  and 
when  nineteen  years  old  immigrated  to 
America.  He  located  in  Cook  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  worked  a  short  time  in  a 
stone  quarry  and  six  years  on  a  dairy  farm. 

In  1892  Mr.  Johnson  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  rented  land  east  of  Russell  four  years. 
He  then  purchased  120  acres  on  section  36, 
Coon  Creek  township,  which  he  still  owns 
and  operates.  He  raises  considerable  stock, 
including  Durham  cattle  and  Poland  China 
and  Duroc-Jersey  hogs.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  and  Workmen  lodges. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  school  board  of  dis- 
trict No.  92  six  years  and  has  served  on  the 
Township  Board  three  years. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  in  Chicago  July 
10,  1888,  to  Marie  J.  Jergenson.  She  is  a 
native  of  Denmark,  a  daughter  of  Nels  and 


504 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Maria  (Jacobson)  Jergenson,  and  was  bora 
July  16,  1871.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  named  five  children: 
Nils  Alfred,  born  October  30,  1889;  Louis  J., 
born  November  29,  1891;  George  C,  born 
March  7,  1893;  Cecilia  M.,  born  March  6, 
1895;  Etlar  A.,  born  April  9,  1902. 


LOUIS  VERMEERSCH  (1892)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  pool  hall  in  Ghent  and  is  inter- 
ested in  different  business  enterprises.  He 
is  a  stockholder  of  the  First  State  Bank  and 
of  the  Ghent  Farmers  Elevator  Company. 
Mr.  Vermeersch  is  a  member  of  the  Village 
Council,  having  served  three  years. 

Our  subject  was  born  September  6,  1860, 
in  Belgium.  His  parents,  Peter  and  Coletta 
(De  Bert)  Vermeersch,  are  both  dead.  Louis 
was  educated  in  the  land  of  his  birth  and 
later  worked  at  the  shoemaker's  trade  in 
Belgium  until  1892,  when  he  immigrated  to 
this  country.  Upon  his  arrival  he  located 
in  Marshall,  resided  there  six  months,  and 
then  moved  to  Ghent,  where  he  worked  at 
various  forms  of  labor  until  1900.  He  then 
bought  lots  in  Ghent  and  engaged  in  truck 
gardening,  a  pursuit  to  which  he  still  gives 
some  attention.  During  the  last  few  years 
Mr.  Vermeersch  has  also  erected  the  building 
in  which  he  conducts  his  pool  hall  and  a 
comfortable  residence  in  the  village.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 


ANDREW  KELSON  (1903)  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  160  acres  of  well-improved  farm  land, 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  8,  Custer 
township.  He  raises  considerable  stock  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  Hereford  cattle  and 
Berkshire  hogs.  Mr.  Kelson  owns  shares  in 
the  Farmers  Elevator  Companies  of  Garvin 
and  Balaton. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Denmark  June  17, 
1S65,  and  at  the  age  of  six  years  went  to 
live  with  an  uncle,  the  boy's  mother,  Johanna 
C.  (Sorenson)  Kelson,  having  died.  Andrew 
Kelson,  the  lad's  father,  died  before  Andrew 
was  born.  The  youth  was  reared  in  his 
uncle's  family  and  received  his  schooling  in 
his  native  land.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  he  came  to  this  country  in  company 
with  a  cousin,  Engar  Sorenson.  The  boys 
located  at  St.  Mary's,  Iroquois  county,  Illinois, 
where    Andrew    worked    on    a    farm    about 


fifteen  years,  later  renting  land  and  farming 
for  himself.  The  fall  of  1903  found  Mr.  Kel- 
son in  Lyon  county.  He  bought  the  land  in. 
Custer  on  which  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Kelson's  marriage  to  Mary  E.  Soren- 
son occurred  at  Kankakee,  Illinois,  February 
27,  1SS8.  She  was  born  in  Denmark  Sep- 
tember 26,  1869,  and  her  mother,  Annie  Sor- 
enson, is  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years.  The  father,  Andrew  Sorenson,  died 
in  1S99  in  South  Dakota.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelson. 
They  are  James,  born  November  25,  1889; 
Alfred  C,  born  September  21,  1891;  Annie 
C,  born  March  4  1893;  and  Louise  A.,  born 
June  12,  1897. 

The  Kelsons  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  Mr.  Kelson  is  affiliated  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 


JOHN  M.  ANDERSON  (1891)  is  pro- 
prietor of  the  Liberty  Lunch  Room  in  Cot- 
tonwood, having  purchased  the  business 
from  Henry  Hanson  in  May,  1907.  He 
serves  short  orders  and  lunches  and  han- 
dles cigars,  candies,  ice  cream  and  soft 
drinks.  He  has  been  enjoying  a  liberal 
patronage,  owns  his  store  building,  and 
has  a  nice  residence  in  the  village.  In 
May,  1912,  he  purchased  T.  Fossum's  res- 
taurant and  moved  to  his  new  location 
June  1.  He  carries  on  the  business  under 
the  old  name. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Crawford  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  January  2,  1877,  and  is  a 
son  of  Magnus  and  Ingeborg  Anderson,  the 
former  of  whom  is  now  a  resident  of  Clark- 
field,  Minnesota,  the  latter  having  died  at 
Cottonwood  in  May,  1903.  John  received 
his  early  education  in  Dakota  and  about 
four  years  of  schooling  in  Lyon  county 
after  the  family  moved  from  Dakota  and 
settled  on  a  farm  near  Cottonwood. 

From  his  eighteenth  year  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority  John  worked  on  the 
farm  and  then  hired  out  to  Bolsted  &  Mero, 
liverymen  of  Cottonwood.  He  worked  for 
that  firm  a  while  and  later  for  George 
Anderson  several  years.  He  then  engaged 
in  the  livery  and  dray  business  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Sam  Olson,  and  at  the  end 
of  six  months  bought  his  partner's  interest 
in  the  dray  line.  He  continued  that  busi- 
ness two  and  one-half  years  and  then  was- 


1U0GKAPIILCAL  EISTORY. 


505 


compelled  by  ill  health  to  sell  and  cease 
active  work.  One  year's  rest  found  Mr. 
Anderson  greatly  improved  and  he  engaged 
in  the  dairy  business  for  a  little  over  two 
years,  after  which  he  bought  the  Liberty 
Lunch  Room  and  took  charge. 

John  M.  Anderson  and  Hulda  Larson 
were  married  September  20,  1902,  in  Yel- 
low Medicine  county.  The  bride  was  born 
November  2  9,  1882,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Ole  Larson,  a  Yellow  Medicine  county 
farmer.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of 
Silo  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church  of  Cot- 
tonwood. He  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  Village  Council  of  Cottonwood  for  the 
past  two  years. 


PHILIP  A.  NELSON  (1893)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a"  well-improved  half  section  of 
land  three  and  one-half  miles  north  of 
Tracy,  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Amiret 
township.  Besides  this  place  Mr.  Nelson 
owns  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Redwood 
county.  He  raises  Shorthorn  cattle  ex- 
tensively and  may  well  be  proud  of  his 
stock. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  born  in  Nicollet  county, 
Minnesota,  July  5,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of 
C.  J.  and  Emily  (Pierson)  Nelson,  natives 
of  Sweden.  His  parents  came  to  America 
in  18  59  and  remained  in  New  York  one 
year,  where  C.  J.  Nelson  found  employ- 
ment. They  then  moved  to  Fillmore  coun- 
ty, Minnesota,  and  after  spending  one  year 
in  that  county  settled  in  Nicollet  county, 
where  they  had  taken  a  homestead.  It 
was  during  the  family's  ten  year  residence 
in  that  county  that  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born. 

The  Nelson  family  moved  to  Minneapo- 
lis from  Nicollet  county,  and  after  one 
year's  residence  in  that  city  they  went  to 
Redwood  county,  in  1873,  and  took  pre- 
emption and  tree  claims.  There  Philip 
received  his  education,  remaining  at  home 
until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  then 
bought  eighty  acres  of  railroad  land  in  the 
county  and  started  farming  for  himself, 
shortly  after  buying  an  additional  eighty. 
After  three  years  of  farming  our  subject 
traded  his  quarter  section  for  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  36,  Amiret  town- 
ship, Lyon  county,  and  has  since  acquired 
additional  land. 


.Mr.  Nelson  was  married  in  Redwood 
county  December  31,  189  5,  to  Anna  John- 
son. She  was  born  in  England  September 
7,  1871,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Margaret  (Charlton)  Johnson,  natives  of 
England.  The  parents  now  reside  in  Ami- 
ret township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson 
three  children  have  been  born:  William, 
born  April  7,  1897,  and  Dorothy,  born 
October  12,   1906. 


FRED  W.  COPELAND  (1874)  is  a 
painter  and  paperhanger  of  Marshall.  He 
was  born  in  Olmsted  county,  Minnesota, 
on  October  22,  1868,  a  son  of  Dr.  J.  F. 
and  Lydia  (Crossman)  Copeland,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  died  in  June,  1875; 
Mr.  Copeland  is  a  resident  of  Marshall. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
as  follows:     J.  L.,  Fred  W.  and  Lydia  A. 

Fred  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1874  and 
located  at  Marshall,  where  he  has  prac- 
tically made  his  home  since,  receiving  his 
education  in  the  Marshall  schools.  In  De- 
cember, 1883,  he  commenced  learning  the 
trade  of  painter  at  St.  Charles,  Minnesota, 
where  he  resided  a  little  less  than  three 
years.  He  also  learned  carriage  and  wagon 
painting  while  there.  He  then  returned  to 
Marshall  and  has  since  lived  there,  follow- 
ing his  trade.  , 
,  Mr.  Copeland  was  married  at  Minneapo- 
lis on  March  14,  1906,  to  Mabel  Crane,  a 
native  of  Canada. 


OTTO  M.  KEEHL  (1893)  is  a  man  who 
has  seen  a  good  deal  of  farm  life  and  has 
become  well  acquainted  with  business  life 
in  the  great  American  city.  With  expe- 
rience in  both  he  seems  to  prefer  farming 
good  Lyon  county  land,  and  he  rents  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  12,  Rock  Lake 
township. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Germany  May 
14,  187  6,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
America  in  1882.  The  family  made  their 
residence  for  some  years  in  New  York  City, 
and  there  Otto  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  In  the  fall  of 
1893  the  family  came  to  Lyon  county,  the 
father  purchasing  land  in  Rock  Lake. 
Otto  had  preceded  the  family  in  the  spring 
and  worked  on  the  farm  of  Charles  Breen- 


506 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ing  in  Rock  Lake  one  year.  After  his  par- 
ents located  in  the  county,  the  boy  worked 
on  the  home  farm  three  years  and  then 
returned  to  New  York  City  and  worked 
at  the  painter's  trade  one  year.  Then 
enlisting  in  the  United  States  army,  he 
served  six  years.  During  that  time  he 
was  stationed  in  various  parts  of  the  world 
and  was  advanced  to  the  office  of  first 
sergeant. 

Resigning  from  the  army,  Mr.  Keehl 
entered  business  life  in  New  York,  becom- 
ing agent  for  the  Metropolitan  Life  Insur- 
ance Company  and  serving  several  months, 
later  becoming  assistant  superintendent  of 
the  Staten  Island  and  the  Buskirk  dis- 
tricts. For  six  months  Mr.  Keehl  was  home 
office  inspector  of  the  company.  In  March, 
1912,  our  subject  returned  to  Lyon  county 
and  rented  the  land  which  he  now  operates. 

Otto  Keehl  and  Margaret  Schroeder  were 
married  in  New  York  October  22,  1902. 
Mrs.  Keehl,  a  native  of  New  York  City, 
was  born  November  18,  187  6,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Julius  and  Magdalene  Schroe- 
der, the  former  of  whom  is  dead  and  the 
latter  a  resident  of  New  York.  The  Keehls 
have  one  child,  Mabel  Lillian,  born  August 
24,  1903.  They  are  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church  of  Balaton.  Mr. 
Keehl's  parents  resided  in  Lyon  county 
until  1899,  in  which  year  they  returned 
East  and  are  now  residents  of  New  Jersey. 


D.  M.  KING  (1895)  has  devoted  almost 
his  entire  life  to  railroad  work  and  for  the 
past  seventeen  years  has  been  agent  of  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company 
at  Marshall. 

In  Orleans  county,  New  York,  on  Sep- 
tember 20,  1857,  D.  M.  King  was  born. 
He  was  brought  up  in  that  county  and 
until  he  was  past  twenty-two  years  of  age 
he  lived  on  the  farm.  In  the  spring  of 
1880  he  came  West  and  for  one  year 
studied  telegraphy  in  an  office  at  Grand 
Rapids,  Wisconsin.  He  was  then  assigned 
to  the  office  at  City  Point,  Wisconsin,  and 
held  the  office  until  1888.  That  year  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Northwestern, 
and  until  he  moved  to  Marshall  in  18  95 
he  was  agent  at  Stockton,  Wijiona  county, 
Minnesota. 

Mr.  King  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 


tional church.  He  holds  membership  in 
the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter,  Commandery  and 
Eastern  Star  of  the  Masonic  orders  and  in 
the  Workmen  and  Royal  Arcanum  lodges. 

Mattie  M.  Brooks  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  King  at  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  on,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1882.  She  is  a  native  of  the 
city  in  which  she  was  married.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  King  have  two  children,  Erna  M.  and 
Vera. 

John  and  Mariah  (Vessey)  King  were 
Uie  parents  of  our  subject.  They  came 
from  England  in  1853  and  lived  in  Orleans 
county,  New  York,  until  their  deaths.  The 
other  children  of  the  family  are  John,  of 
Seattle,  Washington;  Mrs.  F.  J.  Ames,  of 
Penn  Yan,  New  York;  Sarah,  Jennie  and 
Alice,  all  of  Albion,  New  York. 


DR.  F.  D.  GRAY  (1911),  a  physician 
and  surgeon,  is  proprietor  of  the  Marshall 
Hospital  and  also  maintains  a  training 
school  for  nurses  in  connection,  the  latter 
branch  having  been  opened  in  September. 
1911. 

Dr.  Gray  is  a  son  of  Robert  J.  and  Eliza- 
beth A.  (Porteus)  Gray,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland  and  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  born  at  Lisbon,  New  York, 
April  4,  1870.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  the 
town  in  which  he  was  born  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Ogdensburg  Free  Academy 
and  from  the  University  of  Michigan.  He 
then  went  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  Med- 
ical Department  of  Northwestern  Univer- 
sity, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1899. 
He  was  an  interne  at  St.  Joseph's  Hospital, 
St.  Paul,  for  a  time  and  then  opened  a 
hospital  at  Vesta,  Minnesota,  which  he  con- 
ducted nine  years. 

In  1911  Dr.  Gray  located  in  Marshall 
and  in  March  of  that  year  he  opened  the 
hospital.  This  is  one  of  the  large  medical 
institutions  of  Southwestern  Minnesota  and 
has  met  with  marked  success.  It  was 
opened  through  the  solicitation  of  the  busi- 
ness men  and  the  Commercial  Club  of 
Marshall.  The  hospital  has  a  forty-bed 
capacity  and  is  modern  in  every  respect, 
being  one  of  the  best  equipped  hospitals 
in  the  state.  Three  hundred  operations 
were  performed  during  the  first  year  after 
the  institution  was  opened. 

At  great  expense  Dr.   Gray  has  had  in- 


DR.  F.  D.  GRAY 
Proprietor  of  the   Marshall   Hospital. 


THE    MARSHALL   HOSPITAL 
And  Training  School  for  Nurses. 


::::: 

A 

Knk 

■:  ^B|§£,       B : 

R.   B.   DANIEL 
"The  Corn  Land   Man,"  Marshall. 


H.   M.  CLARK 
Secretary  Lyon  County  Fair  Association. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


507 


stalled  a  deep  soft-water  well,  by  drilling 
250  feet.  That  supplies  the  hospital  with 
all  its  water.  An  excellent  system  of  fire 
protection  has  been  installed,  and  every 
precaution  has  been  taken  to  make  the 
building  as  near  fire-proof  as  possible. 
This,  with  the  spacious  grounds  which  sur- 
round the  building,  which  is  constructed 
of  stone  and  brick,  makes  it  very  safe. 
Hot  water  heat,  electric  lights,  elevator, 
and  a  modern  operating  room,  make  it  an 
institution  that  Marshall  and  surrounding 
towns  are  proud  of. 

During  his  surgical  career,  Dr.  Gray  has 
operated  on  about  tljree  thousand  patients. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  county,  state 
and  national  medical  societies,  and  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge. 

On  July  14,  1908,  at  Vesta,  Minnesota, 
occurred  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Gray  to  Net- 
tie W.  Urbach.  They  are  the  parents  of 
two  children,  Elizabeth  Anna  and  Robert 
Fred. 


HORACE  M.  CLARK  (1905),  of  Mar- 
shall, has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon  county 
only  a  few  years,  but  during  that  time  he 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
affairs  of  his  city  and  county.  The  part 
he  has  played  in  local  affairs  during  the 
seven  years  he  has  been  in  the  county  has 
resulted  in  good.  His  most  noticeable 
achievement  is  that  in  connection  with  the 
Lyon  County  Fair  Association,  of  which 
he  has  been  secretary  since  1910.  To  Mr. 
Clark  and  R.  B.  Daniel  belongs  much  of  the 
credit  for  putting  the  association  on  a  pay- 
ing basis  and  bringing  the  county  fairs  to 
their  present  high  standard.  Mr.  Clark 
is  richly  entitled  to  biographical  mention 
in  this  history  of  Lyon  county. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
review  was  born  in  Burlington,  Iowa,  July 
29,  1858.  When  the  Civil  War  came  on 
his  father  entered  the  Union  Army  and  at 
the  close  of  the  war  the  family  located  in 
Washington,  where  the  elder  Clark  held  a 
government  position.  In  the  capital  of  the 
country  Horace  Clark  spent  his  boyhood 
days  and  secured  his  primary  education. 
In  1872  he  accompanied  the  family  to  Wa- 
hoo  Valley,  Nebraska,  where  his  parents 
homesteaded  land  and  where  our  subject 


resided  practically  all  the  time  until  com- 
ing to  Lyon  county  in   1905. 

Horace  Clark  matriculated  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Nebraska,  but  because  of  the 
ravages  of  the  grasshoppers  he  was  obliged 
to  give  up  his  studies  and  work  to  help 
support  the  family.  He  taught  school  sev- 
eral years  in  his  home  county  and  later 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He 
was  successful  and  in  time  accumulated 
considerable  land.  He  took  an  active  part 
in  politics  and  held  several  offices  of  trust, 
among  them  being  auditor  of  Saunders 
county  four  years,  assistant  secretary  of 
the  Nebraska  State  Senate  two  terms,  and 
superintendent  of  the  State  Industrial 
School  for  Girls  from   1900   to   1905. 

In  1905  Mr.  Clark  bought  two  farms  in 
Fairview  township,  Lyon  county,  and  since 
that  date  he  has  made  his  home  in  Mar- 
shall, devoting  his  time  to  their  manage- 
ment and  other  duties.  He  is  chairman  of 
the  Republican  County  Central  Committee 
and  is  quite  active  in  local  politics.  Mr. 
Clark  holds  membership  in  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Workmen  and  Woodmen  lodges. 

At  Mead,  Nebraska,  on  March  3,  1880, 
occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Clark  and 
Tilla  Larson,  she  being  a  native  of  Sweden. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  six  children,  named 
as  follows:  Jessie,  Henry,  Helen,  Arthur, 
Bernice  and  Thomas.  Two  children,  Flor- 
ence and  Ruth,  are  deceased. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Thomas 
C.  and  Mary  (Martin)  Clark,  both  deceased. 
The  former  was  born  in  Martinsville,  Indi- 
ana, in  1831  and  located  in  Burlington, 
Iowa,  in  1834.  During  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  he  was  chaplain  of  the  Eighth 
Iowa  Cavalry.  Mrs.  Clark  was  a  native 
of  England.  The  following  five  sons  and 
one  daughter  constitute  the  children  of 
this  family:  Horace  M.,  William,  Fred, 
Walter,  Oscar  and  Lulu. 


RICHARD  B.  DANIEL  (1901),  real  es- 
tate dealer  of  Marshall,  is  a  man  who  has 
been  active  in  the  affairs  of  his  city  and 
county  during  his  eleven  year  residence 
here  and  one  who  has  done  much  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  his  community.  He 
has  been  a  moving  spirit  in  the  county 
fair  association  and  has  assisted  largely 
in  making  that  popular  institution  a  sue- 


:,(»s 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


cess.  Perhaps  his  greatest  claim  to  dis- 
tinction is  the  success  he  has  met  in  the 
development  of  corn  and  the  interest  he 
has  aroused  in  its  culture.  For  the  past 
ten  years  he  has  expended  time  and  energy 
in  that  direction  and  he  has  a  wide  repu- 
tation all  over  the  Middle  West  as  the 
"Corn  Land  Man"  among  real  estate  men. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  at 
Logan,  Kentucky,  November  23,  1860. 
When  he  was  ten  months  of  age  the  family 
moved  to  Macoupin  county,  Illinois,  and 
there  our  subject  grew  to  manhood  and 
made  his  home  until  18  89.  He  received 
a  good  education  and  was  graduated  from 
the  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  College  with  the 
class  of  1888. 

Mr.  Daniel  took  up  teaching  as  his  pro- 
fession and  in  1889  he  moved  to  Marble 
Rock,  Iowa,  and  for  two  years  was  prin- 
cipal of  the  public  schools  there.  There- 
after until  1901  he  held  like  positions  in 
the  schools  of  Dows,  Sanborn  and  Prim- 
ghar,  all  in  Iowa. 

In  1901  Mr.  Daniel  became  a  resident 
of  Marshall.  He  purchased  the  abstract 
business  of  L.  D.  Fosket,  which  had  for- 
merly been  owned  by  the  Lyon  County  Na- 
tional Bank,  and  conducted  the  business 
one  year.  On  August  1,  1902,  he  entered 
into  partnership  with  J.  W.  Humphrey  and 
engaged  in  the  real  estate,  insurance,  loan 
and  abstract  business  as  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  R.  B.  Daniel  &  Company. 
The  partnership  was  dissolved  in  1904  and 
since  that  date  Mr.  Daniel  has  conducted 
the  business  alone.  He  has  met  with  suc- 
cess and  has  built  up  an  enormous  busi- 
ness. 

In  many  lines  of  endeavor  besides  his 
personal  business  has  Mr.  Daniel  been  in- 
terested. He  was  one  of  the  prime  mov- 
ers in  the  county  fair  organization  and  was 
made  its  first  secretary.  He  resigned  the 
office  after  two  months'  service  but  served 
again  during  the  years  1906,  1907,  1908 
and  1909  and  he  has  since  been  assistant 
secretary.  He  served  as  alderman  two 
terms  and  during  his  incumbency  and 
largely  through  his  instrumentality  the 
city  electric  lighting  plant  was  developed 
to  its  present  efficiency. 

Mr.  Daniel  holds  membership  in  several 
worthy  orders,  among  them  the  Blue 
Lodge,   Chapter,   Shrine   and   Eastern    Star 


of  the  Masonic  orders  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  While  a  resident  of  Marble  Rock, 
Iowa,  he  served  as  chancellor  commander 
and  he  has  been  eminent  commander  of 
the  Commandery  at  Marshall. 

At  Primghar,  Iowa,  on  October  24,  1900, 
Mr.  Daniel  was  united  in  marriage  to  Helen 
Seckerson,  a  native  of  Wisconsin  and  a 
former  county  superintendent  of  schools 
of  O'Brien  county,  Iowa.  She  died  May  3, 
1904. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Daniel  oc- 
curred at  Marshall  March  24,  1909,  when 
he  wedded  Mrs.  Hannah  Olson,  the  widow 
of  John  G.  Olson,  a  former  clothing  mer- 
chant of  Marshall.  By  her  first  marriage 
Mrs.  Daniel  has  one  child,  Agnes. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Addison  N.  and 
Mary  F.  (Brake)  Daniel,  both  natives  of 
Kentucky.  The  Daniel  family  is  of  Vir- 
ginia stock  and  the  Brake  family  were 
originally  from  North  Carolina. 


BOYD  T.  REESE  (1900).  One  of  the 
younger  and  progressive  farmers  of  Lyon 
county  is  Boyd  T.  Reese,  who  owns  and 
operates  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  3, 
Lynd  township.  He  engages  in  general 
farming  and  raises  thoroughbred  Shrop- 
shire sheep,  Shorthorn  cattle,  Poland  China 
hogs  and  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  chickens. 
He  has  resided  on  his  present  place  for  the 
past  twelve  years. 

Boyd  Reese  was  born  in  Evansville,  Wis- 
consin, December  3,  1878,  a  son  of  Ed- 
ward and  Jane  (Swancutt)  Reese,  who  still 
reside  at  Evansville.  From  the  age  of 
seven  until  fifteen  our  subject  attended  the 
country  school  near  Evansville,  later  at- 
tended high  school  three  years  and  the 
Evansville  Seminary  two  years.  He  then 
worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  for 
about  a  year  and  also  clerked  and  worked 
as  a  bookkeeper  for  some  time  in  Evans- 
ville. In  1899,  in  company  with  R.  L. 
Finn,  Mr.  Reese  purchased  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  3,  Lynd  township,  and 
moved  to  the  place  the  following  year.  In 
1909  Mr.  Reese  purchased  his  partner's 
interest  in  the  farm. 

On  January  21,  1900,  Sophia  Larson 
became  the  wife  of  our  subject  at  Evans- 
ville, Wisconsin.  She  is. the  daughter  of 
Louis    and    Lena    (Gilbertson)    Larson,    of 


lUOCKANIh'AI.   HISTORY. 


509 


Janesville,  Wisconsin.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reese 
aii'  tin'  parents  of  the  following  named 
children:  Warren,  horn  October  27,  1901; 
Leroy,  horn  March  25,  1  !M»4 ;  Arthur,  horn 
October  17,  1908.  One  child  died  when 
eleven  days  old. 


I1ALDOR  G.  JOHNSON  (1902)  is  the 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Johnson  & 
Son,  general  merchants  of  Minneota.  lie 
was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Minnesota, 
January  30,  1882,  and  grew  to  manhood 
on  his  father's  farm  in  that  county. 

In  1903  our  subject  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Minneota  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  G.  A.  Dalmann  &  Company.  In 
1908  he  and  his  father  purchased  the  busi- 
ness of  Mr.  Dalmann  and  have  since  con- 
ducted it  under  the  firm  name  of  John- 
son &  Son.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Village  Council 
in  1910  and  is  at  present  village  recorder. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
in  Minneota  June  14,  1911,  to  Martha  L. 
Hognason,  a  native  of  Lyon  county.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  S.  .Hognason,  a  pioneer 
resident  of  the  county. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Arngrim 
and  Johanna  Johnson,  natives  of  Iceland. 
The  father  was  born  August  5,  18  49,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1876,  locat- 
ing in  Westerheim  township,  Lyon  county. 
He  resided  in  that  precinct  one  and  one- 
half  years  and  then  moved  to  Lincoln  coun- 
ty and  homesteaded  land  in  Royal  town- 
ship. He  resided  in  Lincoln  county  until 
1902.  In  the  fall  of  the  latter  year  he 
moved  to  Minneota  and  in  1903  bought  an 
interest  in  the  general  store  of  G.  A.  Dal- 
mann. The  firm  name  was  then  changed 
to  G.  A.  Dalmann  &  Company. 

In  February,  19  08,  Arngrim  and  Haldor 
Johnson  purchased  Mr.  Dalmann's  interest 
in  the  store,  and  the  firm  name  was 
changed  to  Johnson  &  Son.  They  enlarged 
the  store  and  carry  a  fine  line, of  goods. 
Mr.  Johnson  was  chairman  of  the  Town- 
ship Board  of  Supervisors  in  Limestone 
township  and  a  member  of  the  board  of 
Royal  township.  He  also  was  a  member 
of  the  school  board  in  Royal  township. 
Mr.   and   Mrs.   Johnson  are  the  parents  of 


three  children:      John  A.,  a  tanner  of  Lin- 
coln  county;    Haldor  G.   and   Winnie  .1. 


1IATTHKW  D.  HAHN  (1892)  is  a  well- 
known  farmer  of  Ainiret  township.  He 
was  horn  in  Prusen,  Germany,  November 
2,  1.858,  and  is  a  son  of  Frank  and  Mary 
Hahn. 

The  parents  of  Matthew  Hahn  brought 
the  boy  to  America  when  he  was  two  and 
one-half  years  of  age,  and  the  family  set- 
tled in  Chicago,  where  the  father  worked 
at  the  carpenter's  trade.  Matthew  was 
brought  up  in  the  city  and  was  educated 
in  the  schools  there.  When  eighteen  years 
he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  army  and 
served  ten  years.  In  1886  he  returned  to 
Chicago  and  for  six  years  was  employed 
as  a  street  car  conductor. 

It  was  in  1892  that  Mr.  Hahn  came  to 
Lyon  county,  having  a  short  time  before 
bought  200  acres  of  land  on  section  16, 
Ami  ret  township.  There  he  located  and 
lived  until  the  fall  of  1905,  when  he  sold 
his  land  and  bought  the  south  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  20,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  Mr.  Hahn  is  a  success- 
ful farmer  and  is  devoting  much  time  to 
the  raising  of  Red  Polled  cattle  and  Poland 
China  hogs.  His  Barred  Rock  chickens 
and  Toulouse  geese  are  prize  winners  and 
he  has  taken  several  first  prizes  with  them 
at  county  fairs  and  at  the  state  fair.  In 
his  general  farming  Mr.  Hahn  is  making 
a  specialty  of  corn  and  vegetables.  He 
received  first  premium  on  potatoes  and 
vegetables  at  the  state  fair  and  several 
county  fairs  in  1911.  He  raised  fifty-four 
bushels  of  Whimple  Yellow  Dent  corn  per 
acre,  shelled  net  weight,  in  1911. 

In  Chicago,  Illinois,  Matthew  Hahn  was 
married  to  Jane  O'Rourk,  the  ceremony 
taking  place  January  16,  188  5.  His  wife 
was  born  at  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  April  2  3, 
1868,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Ann 
(Conroy)  O'Rourk,  natives  of  Ireland.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hahn  have  been  born  the 
following  children:  Mary  K.,  born  March 
31,  1886;  Clara,  born  December  16,  1889; 
Annie,  born  September  12,  1891;  Matthew, 
born  September  16,  1893;  Timothy,  born 
March  8,  1895;  Frank,  born  December  16, 
1897;  Joseph,  born  October  4,  1899;  John, 
born  May  20,   1902;   Thomas,  born  March 


510 


BIOGKAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


7,  1904;  and  William,  born  June  22,  1909. 
Mr.  Hahn  is  a  member  of  the  Minnesota 
Field  Crop  Breeders  Association  and  is 
president  of  the  Lyon  County  Corn  Grow- 
ers Association.  He  has  been  an  active 
man  in  the  affairs  of  the  township  and  is  a 
progressive  farmer.  Mr.  Hahn's  mother  is 
still  living  in  Chicago.  Her  husband  died 
there  in  1902. 


L.  P.  SOUCY  (1902)  is  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Marshall  Furniture  Com- 
pany and  is  the  manager  of  the  company's 
store  at  Marshall.  He  is  a  native  of  Que- 
bec, Canada,  and  was  born  November  2  5, 
1867.  When  a  baby  he  was  taken  to  Man- 
ville,  Rhode  Island,  and  there  he  lived  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  then  engaged 
in  the  undertaking  business  with  a  brother, 
Samuel,  at  Fall  River,  Massachusetts,  and 
in  1892  he  located  in  Minneapolis,  Minne- 
sota. After  ten  years  spent  in  the  under- 
taking business  in  the  metropolis  of  Min- 
nesota, in  1902  Mr.  Soucy  located  in  Mar- 
shall, where  he  has  ever  since  resided. 

Upon  his  arrival  Mr.  Soucy  bought  the 
Josh  Goodwin  stock  of  furniture,  conducted 
the  store  three  years,  and  then  organized 
the  Marshall  Furniture  Company.  The 
company  was  incorporated  May  1,  1908. 
by  L.  P.  Soucy,  Edward  Birkner  and  Al- 
fred Birkner.  In  August,  1910,  the  Birk- 
ner brothers  sold  their  interests  to  Joseph 
Fisher  and  the  officers  of  the  company  are 
now  as  follows:  Joseph  Fisher,  president; 
Chris  Rock,  vice  president;  L.  P.  Soucy, 
secretary,  treasurer  and  manager.  Our 
subject  has  charge  of  the  store  and  car- 
ries on  the  business.  The  store  is  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  state  outside  of  the  Twin 
Cities.  Large  lines  of  household  furniture, 
carpets,  rugs,  etc.,  are  carried  in  stock. 
Undertaking  parlors  are  also  maintained. 

Mr.  Soucy  was  married  at  Minneapolis 
to  Alice  B.  Garneau  and  to  them  have  been 
born  three  children,  Emile,  Argerie  and 
Blanch.  Mr.  Soucy  is  a  member  of  the 
Yeomen,  Knights  of  Columbus  and  Modern 
Woodmen  lodges. 


HENRY  LEITCH  (1890)  farmed  on  rent- 
ed land  two  or  three  years  after  coming 
to  Lyon  county,  but  for  practically  twenty 


years  he  has  resided  continuously  on  the 
west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 36,  Monroe  township. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  North  Ireland 
in  the  fall  of  1850.  His  parents,  James 
Leitch  and  Elizabeth  Ann  (Whiteford) 
Leitch,  are  no  longer  living.  Henry  lived 
in  Ireland  until  1872,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion and  helping  with  the  farm  work. 
Coming  to  the  United  States  in  1872,  he 
spent  one  year  in  Ohio  and  then  moved 
to  Winnebago  county,  Iowa,  where  he  lived 
six  years,  working  at  farm  labor.  For 
several  years  thereafter  he  divided  his  time 
between  Lyon  and  Blue  Earth  counties,  in 
Minnesota,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town 
of  Waseca,  working  on  farms  for  the  most 
part.  In  1890  Mr.  Leitch  came  to  Lyon 
county,  and  after  renting  for  about  two 
years  and  a  half  he  bought  the  land  where 
he  now  resides  and  which  he  has  greatly 
improved  in  late  years. 

■Mr.  Leitch  was  married  December  28, 
1898,  in  Monroe  township,  to  Esther  Wil- 
son, a  native  of  Canada.  They  are  affili- 
ated with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Mr.  Leitch  has  served  on  the  township 
board,  having  been  a  member  for  three 
years. 


HALVOR  E.  FINSETH  (1898)  is  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm  doing  business 
as  the  Central  Creamery  Company  of  Tracy. 
He  is  a  native  Minnesotan  and  has  spent 
a  large  part  of  his  life  in  the  creamery 
business. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  township 
of  Holton,  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota,  on 
March  17,  1867.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Northfield  and  in  a  busi- 
ness college  at  Decorah,  Iowa.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  years  he  went  to  Minneapolis 
and  for  the  next  few  years  was  engaged  in 
several  different  lines  of  business  there, 
conducting  a  shoe  store,  dealing  in  real 
estate,  and  operating  a  small  creamery. 
He  was  married  in  1896  and  the  next  year 
conducted  the  old  home  farm  in  Goodhue 
county. 

In  1898  Mr.  Finseth  located  in  Tracy. 
For  six  months  he  was  employed  as  butter- 
maker  for  the  Success  Creamery  Company 
and  during  the  following  winter  took  the 
management    of    a    creamery    in    Hawley 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


511 


township,  Murray  county.  After  giving  up 
the  position  in  Tracy  Mr.  Finseth  devoted 
his  entire  time  to  the  management  of  the 
Murray  county  institution  and  conducted 
it  three  years.  He  then  located  in  Will- 
mar,  managed  the  creamery  of  the  Farm- 
ers Co-operative  Creamery  Company  two 
years,  and  then  bought  that  company's 
plant,  organized  a  $10,000  stock  company, 
built  a  cold  storage  plant,  combined  the 
two  enterprises,  and  then  sold  out.  His 
next  location  was  Early,  Iowa,  where  he 
was  in  the  machinery  business  a  short 
time,  and  then  spent  a  year  and  a  half 
on  the  road  for  a  cream  separator  com- 
pany. 

Mr.  Finseth  again  became  a  resident  of 
Tracy  in  1906.  The  same  year  he  or- 
ganized the  Central  Creamery  '  Company, 
bought  a  plant  already  established,  and 
a  year  and  a  half  later  took  in  as  a  part- 
ner W.  E.  Westberg.  The  latter  sold  his 
interest  in  July,  1911,  to  John  Klabunde, 
the  butter-maker,  and  that  gentleman  and 
Mr.  Finseth  are  now  the  proprietors.  The 
firm  manufactures  butter  and  ice  cream 
and  deals  in  crushed  fruits  and  soda  foun- 
tain supplies. 

In  the  city  of  Minneapolis,  on  June  26, 
189  6,  Mr.  Finseth  was  married  to  Alma  C. 
Henderson.  They  have  two  children,  Cora 
and  Herbert. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Herbrand  and 
Guri  (Qui)  Finseth.  They  were  born  in 
Norway  but  came  to  America  in  early  life, 
in  1852  or  1853,  and  homesteaded  in  Good- 
hue county,  Minnesota.  The  father  died 
there  in  1901;  the  mother  still  lives  on 
the  old  homestead.  There  are  five  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  named  as  follows: 
Halvor  E.,  Mary,  Emma,  Knute  and  Anna. 

An  uncle  of  our  subject,  A.  K.  Finseth, 
who  now  lives  a  retired  life  in  Goodhue 
county,  has  taken  quite  a  prominent  part 
in  the  political  affairs  of  Minnesota.  He 
served  as  a  state  senator  six  terms  and 
served  as  state  food  commissioner,  having 
been  appointed  by  Governor  Merriam. 


WALTER  R.  CHITTENDEN  (1880),  of 
Marshall,  is  a  native  of  the  city  in  which 
he  lives.  He  descends  from  an  old  colonial 
family  with  a  Revolutionary  War  record. 
He  is  the  son  of  pioneers  of  Lyon  county. 


A.  C.  and  Agnes  (Hill)  Chittenden,  who 
also  reside  in  Marshall. 

Walter  was  born  May  6,  1880,  and  until 
he  reached  his  majority  resided  in  the  city 
of  his  birth.  His  primary  education  was 
secured  in  the  Marshall  public  schools,  and 
it  was  supplemented  with  a  one  year  course 
in  Ames  College  and  a  two  years'  course 
in  Kearney  Military  Academy,  of  Kearney, 
Nebraska.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years 
he  went  to  Oliver  county,  North  Dakota, 
took  a  homestead,  resided  on  the  place  two 
years,  and  commuted. 

After  obtaining  title  to  his  land  Mr.  Chit- 
tenden located  in  Ritzville,  Washington, 
and  during  the  next  four  years  was  a  mem- 
ber- of  the  firm  of  Chittenden  Brothers, 
grocery  dealers.  He  sold  his  interests  in 
the  store  and  located  in  Canby,  Minnesota. 
There  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness two  years  and  at  Gary,  South  Dakota, 
two  years.  Mr.  Chittenden  then  returned 
to  Marshall  and  has  since  been  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness. He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic, 
Elks  and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 

Walter  Chittenden  was  married  at  Spo- 
kane, Washington,  June  5,  1906,  to  Louise 
M.  Dawell,  a  native  of  Sprague,  Washing- 
ton, and  a  daughter  of  August  and  Han- 
nah Dawell,  of  that  place.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chittenden  have  one  child,  Rodney  D.,  born 
November  1,  1909. 


OLE  PAULSON  (1891),  Coon  Creek 
township  farmer,  was  born  in  Denmark 
June  15,  1860.  His  parents  are  Paul  and 
Annie  (Matson)  Jenson.  He  received  his 
early  schooling  in  Denmark  and  worked 
at  farm  labor  until  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States. 
He  located  in  Shelby  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  worked  at  farm  labor  two  years.  He 
then  moved  to  Le  Sueur  county,  Minne- 
sota, near  St.  Peter,  where  he  worked  in 
the  stone  quarries  and  on  the  railroad  four 
years,  after  which  he  came  to  Lyon  county. 

Prior  to  his  arrival  to  Lyon  county  in 
1891  Mr.  Paulson  had  purchased  the  east 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  32, 
Coon  Creek  township.  That  property  he 
later  sold  and  purchased  the  land  he  now 
owns  and  operates,  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  29,  of  the  same  township.      He 


512 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


has  made  all  the  improvements  on  the 
place  and  has  a  fine  farm.  When  Mr.  Paul- 
son came  to  Lyon  county  he  had  two  cows, 
one  pair  of  oxen,  a  wagon,  fifty  dollars  cash 
and  had  $140  paid  down  on  his  eighty  acre 
tract.  He  holds  stock  in  the  Lyon  County 
Co-operative  Store  Company  of  Russell  and 
is  a  director  of  school  district  No.  7  6.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  Modern  Woodmen 
and  Danish  Brotherhood  of  America  lodges. 
Mr.  Paulson  was  married  at  Avoca,  Iowa, 
on  May  28,  1885,  to  Mary  Nelson,  a  native 
of  Denmark.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Nels 
and  Johanna  (Christenson)  Mortenson  and 
was  born  July  20,  1862.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Paulson  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
named  six  children:  Katie,  born  July  21, 
1889;  Charles  J.,  born  March  10,  1891; 
Chris  P.  and  Fred  M.  (twins),  born  March 
2,  1894;  George  W.,  born  April  1,  1902; 
Magdaline,  born  November  1,  1903. 


GEORGE  GEIWITZ  (1898)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  one  of  the  leading  hardware  and 
implement  stores  of  Minneota  and  is  one 
of  the  progressive  citizens  of  that  thriving 
town,  where  he  has  resided  since  1898. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  state,  having  been  born 
in  Houston  county  August  13,  1857,  where 
he  lived  until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He 
then  moved  to  Lincoln  county,  Minnesota, 
and  homesteaded  in  Limestone  township, 
where  he  resided  until  June  6,   1898. 

That  year  Mr.  Geiwitz  moved  to  Minne- 
ota and  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  Peter 
Ferguson  hardware  store.  The  business 
was  run  under  the  firm  name  of  Ferguson 
&  Geiwitz  one  and  a  half  years,  when  Mr. 
Geiwitz  bought  his  partner's  interest  and 
ran  the  business  two  years.  He  then  sold 
a  half  interest  to  Dahl  &  Deen,  and  the 
firm  name  became  Geiwitz  &  Company. 
During  their  regime,  in  19  02,  the  present 
large  business  block  was  erected.  The 
main  part  is  40x7  5  feet,  with  a  south 
front  of  60x50  feet,  and  is  one  of  the 
largest  store  buildings  of  the  kind  in  the 
county.  In  1908  Mr.  Geiwitz  bought  the 
interests  of  his  partners  and  took  into  the 
business  his  son,  John  G.  Geiwitz.  The 
firm  is  now  styled  Geiwitz  &  Son.  The 
firm  deals  extensively  in  hardware,  imple- 
ments, automobiles,  wagons  and  buggies. 

Mr.    Geiwitz    is   the   son    of   George    and 


Walberga  Geiwitz,  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1848. 

Our  subject  was  married  at  La  Crosse, 
Wisconsin,  March  24,  1885,  to  Sophia  Gas- 
sert,  who  was  born  in  Houston  county, 
Minnesota.  They  have  eight  children, 
namely:  Sarah  (Mrs.  O.  H.  Werpy),  of 
Minneota;  Edward,  of  British  Columbia; 
John,  of  Minneota;  Dora  and  Cora  (twins), 
Fritz,  Peter  and  Priscilla. 

Mr.  Geiwitz  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
lodge.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Village 
Council  one  year. 


ADOLPH  B.  LARSON  (1887)  is  man- 
ager of  the  Christianson-Innes  lumber  yard 
at  Florence.  He  is  a  native  of  Minnesota 
and  was  born  in  Fillmore  county  March  9, 
1879,  a  son  of  Borce  and  Carrie  (Christian- 
son)  Larson.  The  parents  came  to  the 
United  States  from  Norway  in  the  early 
sixties  and  settled  in  Fillmore  county, 
where  they  resided  until  1878,  when  they 
came  to  Lyon  county.  In  1910  they  re- 
tired from  farm  life  and  moved  to  Flor- 
ence to  live.  They  have  six  children,  as 
follows:  Louise  (Mrs.  Lars  Ordlock), 
of  Florence;  Adolph  B.,  of  this  sketch; 
Carl,  of  Lyon  county;  Lena  (Mrs.  G.  A. 
Ofstad),  of  Florence;  Anton,  the  post- 
master of  Florence;  and  Clara,  of  Florence. 

The  man  whose  name  heads  this  sketch 
made  his  home  with  his  parents  in  Shel- 
burne  township  and  attended  school  until 
sixteen  years  of  age.  He  then  started 
hustling  for  himself,  working  at  farm  labor 
and  threshing.  When  twenty-one  years  of 
age  he  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise 
business  at  Ruthton  and  continued  that 
business  three  years.  He  then  farmed  the 
home  place  several  years  and  in  1908 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Christianson- 
Innes  Lumber  Company  at  Florence  as 
local  manager.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge  and  a  director  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Florence.  Mr.  Larson  is  a  justice 
of  the  peace  and  was  assessor  of  Shelburne 
township   in    1908. 

October  14,  1908,  Mr.  Larson  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Ida  E.  Green,  a  native  of  Lyon 
county  and  a  daughter  of  C.  F.  Green,  one 
of  the  older  residents  of  the  county,  for- 
merly owner  of  the  lumber  yards  of  which 


I'.HHJRAIMHCAL  HISTORY 


51  a 


our  subject  now  has  charge.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Larson  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Wyvil  B.  and  a  baby  boy. 

OLAUS  M.  LARSON  (1901)  is  manager 
of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  at  Lynd. 
He  also  handles  farm  machinery  and  ve- 
hicles in  connection  with  his  elevator  work. 
Mr.  Larson  was  born  at  Deerfield,  Wiscon- 
sin, November  4,  1871,  where  he  received 
his  early  education  and  assisted  his  broth- 
ers on  the  farm.  He  also  taught  school  for 
three  years.  His  mother  died  when  he  was 
a  young  man.  Olaus  received  a  high  school 
education. 

In  1901  Olaus  Larson  located  in  Lynd 
and  a  while  later  went  to  Muskoda,  where 
he  bought  grain  for  the  Federal  Elevator 
Company.  He  also  bought  grain  for  the 
same  company  at  Portland.  He  returned 
to  Lynd  in  1904  and  purchased  grain  for 
the  New  London  Milling  Company  two  years. 
then  went  to  Hereford  Minnesota,  and 
bought  grain  for  the  Federal  Company. 
He  also  engaged  in  the  same  work  one  year 
at  Bird  Island,  Minnesota,  for  the  Colum- 
bian Elevator  Company,  and  at  Maynard 
one  year  for  the  Northwestern  Elevator 
Company.  Mr.  Larson  again  took  up  his 
residence  in  Lynd  in  1909  and  has  since 
managed   the   farmers'   elevator   there. 

The  Lynd  Farmers  Elevator  Company 
was  incorporated  in  1909,  organized  by 
about  seventy-five  farmers  of  the  vicinity. 
They  purchased  the  Northwestern  Elevator 
Company's  building,  with  a  capacity  of 
30,000  bushels.  They  handle  grain,  coal 
and  feed.  The  following  are  the  officers: 
President,  E.  E.  Davis;  vice  president, 
Peter  Frahm;  treasurer,  A.  A.  Sharratt; 
secretary,  Frank  Harris;  manager,  O.  M. 
Larson.  The  following  are  directors: 
Frank  Graves,  Let  Foster,  George  Madden, 
Frank  Harris,  A.  A.  Sharratt,  Peter  Frahm, 
E.  E.  Davis. 

Our  subject  was  married  at  Lynd  on 
February  8,  190  5,  to  Belle  Robertson,  a 
native  of  Illinois.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren:    Geraldine  R.,  Wilber  B.  and  Reolf  E. 

Mr.  Larson  is  a  son  of  Gullick  and  Anna 
(Brennberg)  Larson,  natives  of  Norway 
and  early  settlers  of  Deerfield,  Wisconsin, 
where  they  both  died.  They  have  eight 
children  surviving  them:  Martha,  Lewis, 
John,  Andrew,  Nels,  Dora,  Albert  and  Olaus. 


ALBERT  VOLK  (18S9)  is  a  dealer  in 
electric  supplies  in  the  city  of  Marshall, 
and  has  been  chief  of  the  Marshall  Fire 
Department  the  past  sixteen  years.  Albert 
was  born  at  St.  Peter,  Minnesota,  January 
24,  1870,  and  received  his  education  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  that  city.  He  was  a 
schoolmate  of  the  late  Governor  John  A. 
Johnson.  When  a  young  lad  he  learned 
the  cigar-maker's  trade  and  worked  at  it 
in  St.  Peter  until  1889. 

In  the  last  named  year,  in  company  with 
another  young  man,  Herman  Walter,  Mr. 
Volk  came  to  Marshall  and  started  a  cigar 
factory.  They  had  worked  together  in  St. 
Peter  and  their  object  was  to  better  their 
conditions.  The  firm  name  was  Volk  & 
Walter,  and  they  continued  in  partnership 
until  19  08,  when  our  subject  sold  his  in- 
terest in  the  factory.  At  the  same  time 
he  purchased  the  electric  supply  depart- 
ment of  the  city  of  Marshall  and  has  since 
conducted  that  business.  His  work  con- 
sists in  installing  electric  lights,  motors 
and  domestic  appliances.  He  employs  sev- 
eral men  and  carries  a  large  stock  of  elec- 
trical supplies,  electric  glassware,  electric 
heating  devices  and  motors.  Mr.  Volk  was 
a  member  of  the  City  Council  during  1904 
and  1905.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic- 
church. 

Albert  Volk  is  the  son  of  Rudolph  and 
Louise  (Lahnus)  Volk,  natives  of  Baden, 
Germany.  They  came  to  the  United  States 
when  young  and  were  married  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  moving  to  St.  Peter  in  18  68. 
Rudolph  Volk  was  engaged  in  running  a 
cooper  shop  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
died  March  2  0,  1910.  Mrs.  Volk  died 
March  2  4,  1911.  They  were  the  parents 
of  three  children:  Albert,  of  this  sketch; 
Charles  Volk,  of  the  firm  of  Danby  &  Volk, 
cigar  manufacturers;  Lena  (Mrs.  William 
Balsted),  of  Minneapolis. 


GUY  H.  KIEL  (1890)  is  the  proprietor 
of  a  grocery,  crockery  and  china  store  in 
Marshall  and  has  resided  in  Lyon  county 
since  he  was  four  years  of  age.  He  is  a 
native  of  Lafayette  county,  Wisconsin,  and 
was  born  October  1,  18  86.  He  is  one  of 
a  family  of  eight  children  born  to  Milton  C. 
and  Mary  A.  (Hatfield)  Kiel,  now  residents 
of   Marshall.      The    other    children    of    the 


514 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


family  are  Abner,  Robert,  Orion  K.,  John, 
Willie,  Annie  and  Prudence. 

The  Kiel  family  came  to  Lyon  county 
in  1S90  and  Guy  resided  on  the  Lynd  town- 
ship home  farm  until  a  young  man.  He 
was  graduated  from  the  Marshall  High 
School  in  1906.  During  the  next  year  he 
clerked  in  grocery  stores  in  Marshall  and 
in  a  china  and  crockery  store  at  Water- 
town,  South  Dakota.  He  returned  to  Mar- 
shall in  1907  and  opened  the  store  which 
he  has  since  conducted.  Mr.  Kiel  is  a 
member  of  the  Elks  lodge. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Alice 
Whistler,  of  Watertown,  South  Dakota,  oc- 
curred June  16,  1908. 


CHRISTINE  HANSON  (1885)  owns  and 
lives  on  a  well-improved  120-acre  farm  on 
section  16,  Nordland  township.  Miss  Han- 
son does  not  farm  the  land  but  has  a  ten- 
ant on  the  place.  . 

She  was  born  in  Lyon  county  June  8, 
1885,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Robert  and 
Ellen  (Olson)  Hanson.  Her  parents  were 
early  settlers  of  the  county  and  homestead- 
ers of  Nordland  township.  Miss  Hanson 
attended  the  district  school  until  seventeen 
years  of  age  and  resided  on  the  farm  with 
her  parents  until  the  fall  of  1905.  Her 
parents  then  moved  to  Minneota,  where 
they  resided  until  their  deaths.  She  spent 
eighteen  months  in  Logan  county,  North 
Dakota,  keeping  house  for  her  brother  on 
a  claim.  She  returned  to  her  native  county 
in  November,  1908,  and  in  March,  1911, 
she  located  on  her  present  farm.  She  be- 
came part  owner  of  the  property  in  1909 
and  sole  owner  in  the  spring  of  1912.  Miss 
Hanson  is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  of  Minneota. 


L.  M.  LERWICK  (1910)  is  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Minneota  and 
is  one  of  the  substantial  and  popular  cit- 
izens of  that  prosperous  village.  He  was 
born  in  Norway  on  July  18,  1862,  and  in 
18  68  he  came  to  America.  With  his  par- 
ents he  located  in  Fillmore  county,  Minne- 
sota, and  two  years  later  moved  to  Otter 
Tail  county,  Minnesota,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood.  After  an  academic  education, 
he  taught  school  for  eight  years. 


In  18  90  Mr.  Lerwick  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Madison,  Minnesota,  and  began 
his  banking  career.  He  entered  the  Lac 
qui  Parle  County  Bank  and  remained  with 
that  institution  three  years.  He  then 
moved  to  Canby,  Minnesota,  and  was  con- 
nected with  the  Bank  of  Canby  until  1900, 
when  he  moved  to  Hendricks  and  organized 
the  Lincoln  County  State  Bank,  which  was 
changed  into  a  national  bank  two  years 
later.  He  remained  at  Hendricks  until 
1909,  when  he  left  Minnesota  and  took  up 
his  residence  in  Morgan  Hill,  California. 
There  he  bought  orchard  lands  and  en- 
gaged in  fruit  cultivation.  In  July,  1910, 
he  returned  to  Minnesota  to  accept  the 
position  of  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Minneota,  a  position  he  has  since 
held. 

Mr.  Lerwick  was  married  at  Sheffield, 
Iowa,  December  30,  1900,  to  Emma  Tre- 
ganza,  who  is  a  native  of  Linden,  Wiscon- 
sin. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  the  son  of 
Iver  and  Rebecca  (Johnson)  Lerwick,  na- 
tives of  Norway,  both  of  whom  are  dead. 
They  have  two  sons  living,  Olie,  of  Dalton, 
Minnesota,  and  L.  M.,  of  this  sketch;  and 
two  daughters,  Hannah  Olufson  and  Mar- 
garetha  Swenson,  both  of  Canby. 

Mr.  Lerwick  is  a  member  of  the  Blue 
Lodge  and  Scottish  Rite  bodies  of  Mason- 
ry, the  Mystic  Shrine,  Odd  Fellows  and 
M.  W.  A.  lodges.  While  a  resident  of  Lin- 
coln county  he  was  chairman  of  the  Repub- 
lican County  Central  Committee. 


CHARLES  II.  ANDERSON  (1903)  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  harness  shop  and  shoe  store 
at  Balaton,  where  he  has  resided  nine  years. 
He  was  born  in  Sleepy  Eye,  Minnesota,  on 
October  16,  1882.  The  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject were  Jens  P.  and  Johanna  (Nyberg) 
Anderson,  the  former  a  native  of  Denmark 
and  the  latter  of  Sweden.  They  settled  in 
Sleepy  Eye,  where  Mr.  Anderson  died  in 
1885.  To  this  union  were  bom  two  children: 
Charles  R.,  of  this  sketch,  and  Frank  R.,  of 
Minneapolis.  After  her  husband's  death 
Mrs.  Anderson  married  H.  A.  Hanson,  and 
to  that  union  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Louise  E.  (Mrs.  Jens  Jensen),  of 
Sleepy  Eye;  Hulda  C,  Ferdina  C.  M.  Han- 
son, of  Canby. 


IJKMJKAHIICAL   HISTORY. 


515 


Charles  Anderson  made  his  home  with  his 
parents  at  Sleepy  Eye  until  twelve  years  of 
age,  when  he  entered  a  harness  shop  in  that 
village  and  learned  the  trade.  For  several 
years  he  worked  at  various  places  at  his 
trade  and  other  occupations.  In  May,  1903, 
he  moved  to  Balaton  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  N.  H.  Wahlgren  as  a  harnessmaker. 
In  January,  1908,  he  purchased  the  busi- 
ness and  stock  of  Mr.  Wahlgren.  He  con- 
ducts a  harness  and  repair  shop  and  deals 
in  shoes.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  and  Royal  Neighbors  lodges  and 
of  the  Balaton  Fire  Department. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  at  Balaton 
October  24,  1907,  to  Anna  Griese,  a  native 
of  Germany  and  a  daughter  of  Albert  Griese. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  are  the  parents  of 
two  children,  Leona  J.  and  Willard  C. 


JOE  R.  McELVAIN  (1892)  is  superintend- 
ent of  the  Tracy  Electric  Light  and  Water- 
works plant,  a  position  he  has  held  since 
1905.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Tracy 
since  1892. 

Mr.  McElvain's  parents  were  James  and 
Sarah  (Purcellt  McElvain,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois  and  the  latter  of  Tennessee. 
They  settled  in  Nebraska  in  1858  and  farmed 
in  that  state  until  1863,  when  they  moved  to 
Worth  county,  Missouri.  Their  next  move 
was  to  Idaho  in  1877,  where  Mrs.  McElvain 
died  the  following  year;  then  her  husband 
returned  to  Missouri,  where  he  died.  There 
are  seven  living  children  in  the  family:  John, 
of  Missouri;  Joe  R.,  of  this  sketch;  Commo- 
dore B.,  of  Colorado;  Andrew,  of  North  Da- 
kota; Ida  M.  Fouts,  of  Allendale,  Missouri; 
and  Elmer,  of  West  Virginia. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  near 
Humbolt,  Richardson  county,  Nebraska,  on 
January  27,  1861,  and  when  he  was  three 
years  of  age  the  family  moved  to  Worth 
county,  Missouri.  There  Joe  resided  with 
his  parents  until  attaining  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years;  then  he  went  to  Idaho  and  re- 
mained two  years.  Returning  to  his  old 
home  in  Missouri,  he  remained  only  a  few 
months  and  then  took  up  his  residence  in 
his  native  state,  where  he  resided  until 
1892.  During  that  time  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing five  years,  was  in  the  well-drilling  busi- 
ness two  years,  and  worked  at'various  other 
occupations. 


In  1892  Mr.  McElvain  located  in  Tracy 
and  entered  the  railroad  shops  of  the  North- 
western Railroad  Company,  and  for  the  next 
ten  years  he  was  employed  as  a  machinist 
and  engineer.  In  1902  he  was  employed  by 
the  city  as  an  engineer  of  the  municipal 
electric  light  and  waterworks  plant.  He 
served  as  engineer  three  years  and  was  then 
promoted  to  the  superintendency  and  has 
since  satisfactorily  served  the  city  in  that 
capacity. 

The  plant  was  built  by  the  city  in  1892 
and  the  original  plant  is  still  operated  by 
the  city.  The  present  capacity  is  two  boil- 
ers of  350  horsepower  and  American  ball 
engines,  one  of  120  and  one  of  sixty  horse- 
power. An  all-day  electric  light  service  is 
maintained. 

Mr.  McElvain  was  married  in  Fullerton, 
Nebraska,  November  7,  1883,  to  Charlotte  A. 
Gress,  a  native  of  Illinois.  They  have  six 
children,  as  follows:  Ned  O.,  assistant 
postmaster  of  Webster,  South  Dakota;  Mary 
J.,  of  Seattle,  Washington;  Mary,  Jay,  Floyd 
and  Robert.  Mr.  McElvain  is  a  member  of 
the  Workmen  and  Modern  Brotherhood 
lodges. 


MATHEW  HENNEN  (1883)  is  one  of  the 
successful  farmers  and  large  land  owners  of 
Westerheim  township.  His  home  place  is 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  21  and  he 
is  owner  of  520  acres  of  land  on  that  section 
and  on  27.  He  has  lived  in  the  county  since 
he  was  a  child. 

Mathew  Hennen  was  born  in  Holland  No- 
vember 9,  1878.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  parents  in  1883,  and  for  a 
few  months  the  family  lived  in  the  village 
of  Ghent.  The  next  four  and  one-half  years 
were  passed  in  Wisconsin,  but  in  1888  the 
family  returned  to  Lyon  county  and  have 
since  been  residents  of  Westerheim  town- 
ship. They  located  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  21  in  1892,  and  on  that  farm 
Mathew  worked  until  his  marriage  in  19  06. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hennen  moved  to 
the  farm  which  he  has  ever  since  operated. 
He  made  all  the  improvements  now  on  the 
farm,  has  prospered,  and  added  to  his  hold- 
ings until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  nearly  a 
section  of  land.  Mr.  Hennen  is  a  stock- 
holder and  director  of  the  Farmers  Elevator 
Company  of  Ghent.     He  has  been  township 


516 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


treasurer  the  past  five  years,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church  of  Ghent,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Knights  of  Columbus  order. 

Mathew  Hennen  is  a  son  of  Arnold  and 
Helena  Hennen.  His  mother  died  in  1904; 
his  father  makes  his  home  with  a  daughter, 
Mrs.  Anton  Van  Uden.  Four  children  of  the 
family  are  living:  Leo,  of  Westerheim  town- 
ship; John,  of  Marshall;  Marie  (Mrs.  Anton 
Van  Uden),  of  Westerheim;  and  Mathew,  of 
this  review.  The  oldest  child,  Joseph,  died 
June  20,  1903,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years. 
Caroline,  the  wife  of  Theodore  Jensen,  of 
Marshall,  died  in  March,  1907.  Hubert  died 
April  1,  1902. 

Amelia  Engels  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Hennen  on  September  12,  1906.  She  was 
born  in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  February  21, 
1882,  and  has  lived  in  the  county  since  she 
was  one  year  of  age.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Mrs.  Ludovica  Engels,  of  the  same  town- 
ship. The  following  named  three  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hennen: 
Arnold  Hubert,  born  October  22,  1907;  Marie 
Caroline,  born  June  29,  1909;  and  Alice 
Saraphine,  born  June  12,  1911. 


CARL  R.  HOLDEN  (1896)  is  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  hardware  dealers, 
Holden  &  Hughes,  of  Garvin.  He  was  born 
in  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota.  April  11. 
1872.  A  few  years  after  his  birth  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Murray  county,  and 
until  1896  he  made  his  home  on  his  father's 
homestead  in  Lake  Sarah  township. 

In  the  year  last  mentioned  Mr.  Holden  set 
out  in  life  for  himself.  He  farmed  one  year  in 
Custer  township,  Lyon  county,  and  then 
located  in  Garvin.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  engaged  in  the  well  drilling  business  and 
in  1902  formed  a  partnership  with  Richard 
T.  Hughes  and  established  the  present  busi- 
ness. Holden  &  Hughes  carry  a  complete 
line  of  hardware,  gas  engines,  paints,  oils, 
etc. 

Mr.  Holden  was  clerk  of  Custer  township 
a  number  of  years,  succeeding  A.  G.  Bum- 
ford  to  that  position.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  local  school  board  and  belongs  to  the 
M.  W.  A.  lodge. 

In  Garvin,  on  December  17,  1896,  Mr. 
Holden  was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna 
Bredeveien,    a    native    of    Fillmore    county, 


Minnesota.     Herman,   Clarence   and   Marvin 
are  the  names  of  their  children. 

Carl  Holden 's  parents  are  John  J.  and 
Karen  (Peterson)  Holden.  They  were  born 
in  Norway  and  were  married  at  Madison, 
Wisconsin.  Later  they  moved  to  Dodge 
county,  Minnesota,  and  in  the  late  seventies 
homesteaded  land  in  Lake  Sarah  township, 
Murray  county,  where  they  still  reside. 
Their  children  are  Sophia  Jacobson,  Julius, 
Carl  R.,  Charlotte  Brown,  Anna  Halstensrud, 
John  J.,  Jr.,  and  Matilda  Norwood. 


CHARLES  SCHMITZ  (1896)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Klondike  saloon  at  Marshall 
and  the  leader  of  the  Schmitz  orchestra. 
He  was  born  October  4,  1869,  on  the  island 
on  which  is  located  the  Statue  of  Liberty, 
New  York.  The  father,  who  was  a  United 
States  soldier,  was  living  on  the  island  with 
his  family  at  the  time  of  the  birth  of  our 
subject.  The  elder  Mr.  Schmitz  served 
twenty-nine  years  in  the  army,  commencing 
his  military  career  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Civil  War.  He  was  killed  in  1885  at  Cald- 
well, Kansas.  He  was  a  German  by  birth 
and  was  married  to  Tressie  Schmitz,  a  native 
of  Hoboken,  New  Jersey. 

The  childhood  days  of  Charles  Schmitz 
were  spent  at  various  army  posts.  The 
family  resided  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  for  a 
time  and  later  were  in  Montana.  From 
1879  to  1885  the  father  was  stationed  at  El 
Reno,  Indian  Territory.  Young  Schmitz 
secured  his  education  at  the  various  army 
posts  and  when  a  boy  began  making  his  own 
living.  When  a  young  man  he  took  up 
circus  work,  and  for  several  years  w^as  with 
Barnum  &  Bailey's  and  Lemon  Brothers' 
shows.  While  with  the  last  named,  in  1S96, 
the  circus  played  at  Tracy.  There  Mr. 
Schmitz  left  the  show  to  become  a  perma- 
nent resident  of  Lyon  county. 

For  a  few  years  Mr.  Schmitz  conducted 
the  Van  Dusen  elevator  at  Tracy  and  for 
two  years  conducted  a  restaurant  in  the 
same  city.  The  next  three  years  he  was  in 
Walnut  Grove,  Redwood  county,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  hotel  and  restaurant 
business.  During  his  residence  in  Walnut 
Grove  he  served  as  deputy  sheriff  and  vil- 
lage marshal  for  three  and  one-half  years. 
In  1903  Mr.  Schmitz  became  a  resident  of 
Marshall.     For  a   little   over  four  years   he 


niOGKAlMUCAL  HISTORY. 


517 


was  landlord  of  the  Duluth  Hotel  and  then 
he  became  the  proprietor  of  the  Klondike 
saloon,  taking  charge  on  January  15,  L908. 

Besides  his  saloon  business  Mr.  Schmitz 
conducts  the  Schmitz  family  orchestra, 
which  is  noted  over  a  large  territory.  Mr. 
Schmitz  plays  the  clarinet,  his  daughter, 
Lilly,  the  niano,  his  son,  Charles  A.,  the 
violin,  and  John  Johnson,  the  trombone. 

At  Tracy,  Minnesota,  on  September  30, 
1898.  Mr.  Schmitz  was  married  to  Ida  Schu- 
macher, the  daughter  of  Martin  Schumacher, 
proprietor  of  a  Tracy  hotel.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schmitz  have  three  children:  Lilly,  Esther 
and  Charles. 


CHARLES  E.  BLAKE  (1887)  is  one  of 
Grandview  township's  young  farmers.  While 
a  young  man,  Mr.  Blake  is  making  a  success 
of  farming  and  has  prospered  since  renting 
his  place,'  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
13. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  June 
15.  1SS7,  in  Fairview  township,  Lyon  county, 
Minnesota,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard  and 
Mary  (Versnick)  Blake.  His  parents  were 
pioneer  residents  of  the  county,  having 
come  to  America  from  their  native  countries 
of  Ireland  and  Belgium,  respectively.  They 
located  in  Lyon  county  in  1873  and  now  live 
in  Lake  Marshall  township. 

Charles  received  his  early  education  in 
the  country  school  and  later  attended  the 
Marshall  High  School  one  year.  He  then 
spent  several  months  in  the  Marshall  Busi- 
ness College,  concluding  his  scholastic  ca- 
reer at  the  age  of  seventeen  years.  The  boy 
then  worked  for  his  father  on  the  home 
farm  and  later  worked  one  year  at  tiling. 
His  first  experience  at  farming  for  himself 
came  in  1911,  when  he  conducted  his  father's 
place  one  year.  Since  that  time  he  has 
been  conducting  the  farm  which  he  rents  in 
Grandview  township. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Blake  to  Josephine 
Grandpre  occurred  in  Marshall  November 
15,  1910.  She  is  a  native  of  Fowler,  Indiana, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Victor 
Grandpre,  residents  of  Fairview  township. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blake  was  born  one  child, 
Mary  Louise  Vina,  who  died  February  8, 
1912,  only  a  few  days  after  its  birth. 

Charles  E.  Blake  is  one  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren  born   to   Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard   Blake. 


The  others  are  Sylvester,  Richard,  Margaret, 
Elizabeth,  Irene.  William,  Leonard.  I'M  waul 
and  Vincent,  all  at  home;  James,  a  student 
of  civil  engineering  at  Ames,  Iowa;  John, 
a  Sodus  township  farmer;  and  Mary  (Mrs. 
William  Flaig),  of  Sanborn,  Minnesota.  Our 
subject  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church 
and  is  fraternally  allied  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodge. 


F.  M.  BIRKEXMEYER  (1910)  is  the  man- 
ager of  the  F.  M.  Birkenmeyer  &  Company 
general  merchandise  store  at  Marshall.  He 
was  born  at  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  April  21, 
1866.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he 
moved  to  Redwood  Falls,  Minnesota,  and 
was  employed  in  general  merchandise  stores 
there  until  1905.  for  seventeen  years  of  that 
time  in  the  employ  of  one  firm,  Francois  & 
Schmahl,  the  latter  of  whom  is  now  his 
partner.  In  1905  Mi-.  Birkenmeyer  went  to 
Montezuma,  Iowa,  and  was  manager  of  the 
H.  G.  Moore  &  Company  store  for  nearly 
five  years. 

In  December.  1910,  Mr.  Birkenmeyer  located 
in  Marshall  and  in  partnership  with  H.  G. 
Schmahl,  of  Redwood  Falls,  bought  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  stock  of  John  M.  Hollo, 
in  the  Messenger  Block.  The  firm  of  F.  M. 
Birkenmeyer  &  Company  deals  in  dry  goods, 
shoes,  ladies'  ready-to-wear  garments  and 
groceries.  Mr.  Birkenmeyer  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  and  Workmen  lodges. 

In  Redwood  Falls,  on  April  21,  1893,  Mr. 
Birkenmeyer  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Rose  Lichlwarck,  a  native  of  New  Ulm,  Min- 
nesota, and  for  a  number  of  years  a  resident 
of  Redwood  Falls.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren:     Hazel,   Frank  and   Helen. 


OLE  PEDERSEN  (1897)  is  a  farmer  and 
land  owner  of  Clifton  township  and  has 
lived  in  Lyon  county  fifteen  years.  He  was 
born  in  Denmark  July  1,  1858,  and  his  native 
land  was  his  home  until  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  of  age. 

Upon  his  arrival  to  the  New  World,  Ole 
Pedersen  located  in  Grundy  county,  Iowa, 
and  worked  at  farm  labor  two  years.  The 
next  two  years  were  spent  working  in  the 
paper  mills  at  Neenah,  Wisconsin,  after 
which  he  went  to  Brule  county,  South  Da- 
kota,   and    took   a   homestead   claim.     After 


518 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


proving  up  on  the  claim  Mr.  Pedersen  re- 
turned to  Wisconsin,  bought  a  forty-acre 
tract  of  timber  land  in  Clark  county,  farmed 
it  two  years,  and  then  sold. 

Our  subject  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1897, 
farmed  rented  land  in  Lake  Marshall  and 
Clifton  townships  until  1905,  and  then  pur- 
chased his  present  farm,  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  25,  Clifton.  He  raises  stock 
quite  extensively  and  is  a  shareholder  of  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Milroy. 

Mr.  Pedersen  was  married  in  Iowa  Sep- 
tember 28,  1882,  to  Bertha  Katarie.  She 
was  born  in  Denmark  June  16,  1864,  the 
daughter  of  Nels  and  Anna  C.  (Jensen)  Nel- 
son. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pedersen  have  been 
born  thirteen  children,  as  follows:  N.  Fred- 
erick, born  August  2,  1883;  Emelia  M.,  born 
February  20,  1885;  Anna  S.,  born  October 
19,  1886;  Christ,  born  August  21,  1888;  Lorine 
C,  bom  January  24,  1890;  William,  born 
January  20,  1892;  Andrew,  born  March  12, 
1894;  died  July  3,  1899;  Tovil,  bora  Novem- 
ber 26,  1896;  Albert,  born  May  5,  1899; 
Clara  E.,  born  August  21,  1901;  Sarah  B., 
born  February  8,  1905;  Harold,  born  June 
28,  1907;  Gladys  H.,  born  October  17,  1908. 


J.  A.  LAWRENCE  (1910),  furniture  dealer 
of  Marshall,  spent  almost  his  entire  life  in 
Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  moving  from  that 
county  to  Marshall  early  in  1910.  His  par- 
ents were  Louis  and  Louise  (Martin)  Law- 
rence, who  were  born  in  Canada  but  who 
located  in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  in  the 
early  forties  and  engaged  in  farming.  The 
father  went  to  California  during  the  early 
gold  excitement  and  made  enough  money  to 
purchase  a  farm  in  his  old  home.  He  died 
there  in  1898;  the  mother  died  two  years 
later.  » 

On  the  farm  in  Kankakee  county  our  sub- 
ject was  born  July  18,  1859,  and  he  made 
his  home  with  his  parents  until  twenty-eight 
years  of  age.  Then  for  nine  years  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  his  own  account,  after 
which  he  resided  with  his  mother  at  Bour- 
bonnais,  Illinois,  until  her  death  on  April  12, 
1900.  Mr.  Lawrence  then  engaged  in  the 
undertaking  business  at  Bourbonnais  until 
his  removal  to  Marshall  February  26,  1910. 
He  purchased  a  building  at  that  time  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  undertaking 
business,   dealing   in    furniture   and   musical 


instruments.  Besides  his  city  property  Mr. 
Lawrence  owns  a  half  of  section  16,  Vallers 
township,  which  he  purchased  about  ten 
years  ago. 

In  Wilmington,  Illinois,  on  May  24,  1889. 
Mr.  Lawrence  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Jennie  Murphy.  She  was  born  in  Wilming- 
ton and  died  eighteen  months  after  her 
marriage,  leaving  one  child,  Neil  Lawrence. 
The  second  marriage  of  our  subject  oc- 
curred in  August,  1902,  when  he  wedded 
Albina  Brosseau,  a  native  of  Bourbonnais. 
Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  have  one 
child,  Pearl. 


ALBERT  O.  REINKE  (1904),  proprietor 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  10,  Rock 
Lake,  is  one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  the 
township.  He  raises  stock  and  ships  to  the 
St.  Paul  and  Omaha  markets.  Mr.  Reinke  is 
a  shareholder  of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Balaton. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Green  Lake  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  August  2,  1862.  His  parents, 
Carl  and  Wilhelmina  (Miller)  Reinke,  both 
of  whom  are  now  deceased,  were  for  many 
years  farmers  in  Wisconsin.  Albert  received 
his  education  in  Wisconsin  and  worked  on 
his  brother's  farm  until  he  attained  the  age 
of  fifteen  years.  He  then  worked  on  his 
father's  farm  until  1889.  In  the  spring  of 
that  year  Albert  came  to  Minnesota  and 
located  in  Murray  county,  buying  land  and 
residing  there  until  1904. 

Mr.  Reinke  sold  his  Murray  county  farm 
in  1904  and  immediately  resumed  farming 
on  land  which  he  had  purchased  in  Lyon 
county,  and  on  which  he  has  since  lived. 
Since  moving  here  he  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  affairs  of  the  township  and  is  a 
progressive  member  of  the  community.  He 
has  been  treasurer  of  school  district  No.  40 
four  years.  Mr.  Reinke  is  allied  with  the 
German  Lutheran  church  of  Balaton. 

January  26,  1893,  at  Tracy,  Minnesota, 
occurred  the  wedding  of  Albert  Reinke  and 
Minnie  Giese,  a  native  of  Germany.  Mrs. 
Reinke  was  born  November  13,  1872,  and 
her  parents,  Charles  and  Frederica  (Mellen- 
thin)  Giese,  settled  in  Murray  county  in 
1881,  where  they  have  since  resided.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Albert  Reinke  have  the  following 
children,    all    at    home    with    their    parents:- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


519 


Bernhart,  Paul,  Henry.  Gerald.  Elsie,  Ernest, 
Pearl  and  Elmer. 

REV.   OLAF  GULLERUD    (1906)    has    for 
the  nasi   five  and  a  half  years  been   pastor 

of  Zion  Norwegian  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  of  Tracy.  In  addition  he  supplies 
Holand  Norwegian  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,    near    Tracy. 

Olaf  Gullerud's  parents  were  natives  of  , 
Norway  who  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota.  The  father. 
Michael  Gullerud,  died  in  the  fall  of  1902 
and  the  mother.  Karen  (Lunde)  Gullerud. 
still  lives  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Goodhue 
county.  Olaf  was  born  on  the  parental 
farm  near  Zumbrota  June  19,  1876.  He  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education,  attending 
until  the  age  of  sixteen.  Then  he  spent  a 
year  each  at  the  well  known  Luther  College 
of  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  at  Valder's  Business 
College. 

It  was  the  boy's  ambition  to  enter  the 
ministry,  and  the  next  few  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  with  that  end  in  view.  A  year 
of  work  on  his  father's  farm  and  a  year 
spent  as  clerk  in  a  St.  Paul  store  furnished 
the  means  for  a  course  in  the  Luther  Nor- 
mal School  of  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota, 
from  which  Olaf  was  graduated  in  June, 
1902.  After  one  year's  teaching  at  Cashton, 
Wisconsin,  the  subject  of  our  sketch  at  last 
realized  his  hope  of  attending  Luther  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  St.  Paul,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1906.  At  his  graduation 
a  call  from  the  charge  which  he  now  oc- 
cupies was  awaiting  him.  He  accepted  the 
call  and  moved  to  Tracy  in  the  fall  of  that 
year. 

Just  previous  to  taking  up  his  pastoral 
labors  in  Tracy  Rev.  Gullerud  was  married, 
September  12,  1906,  to  Sarah  Tyssen,  a  na- 
tive of  Iowa  and  a  daughter  of  Knute  K. 
and  Anna  Tyssen,  residents  of  that  state. 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  Gullerud  have  a  son,  Karl 
Monrad,  born  May  6,  1908,  and  a  daughter, 
Adele  Kristine,  born  February  15,  1910.  Our 
subject  has  two  brothers,  John  Melven  and 
Hans  Peter,  living  on  the  old  Goodhue  coun- 
ty farm,  and  one  sister,  Mary  (Mrs.  Rogn- 
lie),  of  Franklin,  Minnesota. 

STGURDITR    M.    ASKDAL    (1882),    a    suc- 
cessful farmer  of  Westerheim  township,  was 


born   in   Iceland   November    12,   1862.    When 
he  was  five  years  old  his  mother  died  and 
after  the  age  of  ten  years  he  made  his  home 
with  a  minister,  by  whom  he  was  educated. 
In    18S2    young  Askdal    came    to   America 
and  after  living  in   Duluth   three   weeks  he 
located  in  Minneota.     There  he  resided  ten 
years,  winking  at  the  carpenter's  trade.    He 
bought  his  160-acre  farm  on  section  5,  West- 
erheim. in  1892.     At  that  time  not  a  furrow 
had  been  turned  on  the  land,  it  had  no  im- 
provements,  and   he   paid   the   railroad   com- 
pany eleven  dollars  per  acre  for  it.     He  set 
out  the  grove  and  erected  the  buildings  on 
it    and   now   has   a   fine   farm.      Mr.    Askdal 
breeds  thoroughbred  Duroc-Jersey  hogs  and 
Shropshire    sheep    and    feeds    hogs    for    the 
market. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Sigurbjorn 
Christianson,  lives  in  Yellow  Medicine  coun- 
ty; his  mother,  Oddny  (Sigurdordottir) 
Christianson,  died  in  Iceland  in  1867.  Be- 
sides our  subject  are  two  other  children: 
Sigurbjorn,  a  Minneota  butcher,  and  Ellen 
Horsford.  Mr.  Christianson  was  married  a 
second  time,  to  Willborg  Einarson,  and  they 
have  three  children,  Runa,  Jona  and  Mar- 
garet. 

Sigurdur  Askdal  was  married  at  Granite 
Falls  October  14,  1892,  to  Finna  Gunlaug- 
son.  She  was  born  in  Iceland  and  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1879.  They  have  four 
children:  Sigurd  M.,  Haraldur  M.  S.,  Lilly 
O.  S.  and  Jonas  S.  E. 

Mr.  Askdal  is  a  firm  believer  in  educa- 
tion and  is  giving  his  children  the  advan- 
tage of  village  schooling.  For  this  purpose 
■  he  maintains  a  residence  in  Minneota,  where 
his  family  resides  during  the  school  months. 
Two  of  his  sons  attend  the  Minneota  High 
School  and  the  daughter  is  through  the  sec- 
ond  grade. 

For  twenty-four  years  Mr.  Askdal  has  been 
a  Mason  and  he  now  holds  membership  in 
both  the  Blue  Lodge  and  the  Chapter.  In 
1908  he  was  master  of  Equity  Lodge  No. 
238,  Minneota.  For  fifteen  years  he  served 
as  clerk  of  school  district  No.   80. 


ALEXANDER  J.  LORD  (1883)  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Ghent  and  devotes  his  time  to  thresh- 
ing, machine  work  and  engineering.  He  is 
a  native  of  Illinois  and  was  born  in  Kan- 
kakee   April    18,    1877.      In    1883    he   accom- 


520 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


panied  his  parents  to  Lyon  county,  locating 
on  the  father's  farm  in  Grandview  town- 
ship. He  resided  with  his  parents  on  the 
farm  for  fifteen  years,  when  he  commenced 
threshing,  and  he  has  continued  in  that  line 
of  work  since. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Edmund 
and  Angeline  (Paradis)  Lord,  natives  of 
Canada  who  came  to  Illinois  when  children 
and  were  married  there.  They  came  to 
Lyon  county  in  1883  and  resided  on  their , 
farm  in  Grandview  township  until  1905, 
when  they  moved  to  Marshall  to  reside.  Mr. 
Lord  died  January  9,  1903;  Mrs.  Lord  re- 
sides in  Marshall.  They  were  the  parents 
of  four  children,  as  follows:  George,  of  Mar- 
shall; Alexander  J.,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs. 
Lizzie  Ryan,  of  Minneapolis;  Mrs.  Ida  Bergh, 
of  Marshall. 

Alexander  Lord  is  a  member  of  the  M. 
W.  A.  lodge  and  the  Ghent  Fire  Department. 
He  was  elected  assessor  of  the  village  but 
resigned  because  of  his  continued  absence 
from  the  village. 


M.  D.  BAIR  (1895),  a  successful  farmer 
of  Amiret  township,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania May  4,  1874.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
H.  and  Agnes  (Coons)  Bair,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  now  deceased.  The  fa- 
ther moved  to  North  Dakota  after  his  wife's 
death  and  took  a  homestead.  He  died  in 
1906. 

Our  subject  lived  in  his  native  state  until 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  During  that 
period  he  received  his  education,  and  when 
he  attained  his  majority  he  was  ready  to 
start  out  in  life  for  himself.  The  boy's 
mother  had  died  the  previous  year,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1895  young  Bair  came  to  Lyon 
county.  He  worked  at  farm  labor  three 
years  in  Amiret  township  and  then  pur- 
chased the  farm  he  now  owns,  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  22.  He  rented  land 
in  the  township  three  years  before  he  moved 
to  bis  present  place,  and  during  his  eleven 
years'  residence  on  his  own  farm  he  has 
several  years  rented  and  farmed  additional 
land.  His  farm  is  well  improved  and  is  one 
of  the  best  quarters  in  the  township.  Mr. 
Bair  engages  extensively  in  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Bair  married  Lydia  Mitchell  in  Amiret 
township  March  9,  1899.  She  was  born  in 
Illinois  October  10,  1875,  and  is  a  daughter 


of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Mitchell  of  the 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bair  have  two  chil- 
dren, Esther  Agnes,  born  September  17,  1906, 
and    Mack   Donald,   born   July    11,   1910. 

The  Bair  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Yeomen  lodge  of  Amiret,  of 
which  he  is  the  master  of  accounts.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Amiret  Township 
Board  the  past  three  years  and  served  as 
chairman  of  the  board  one  year. 

ORLANDO  J.  OESTERN  (1900)  has  been 
the  manager  of  the  Atlantic  Hotel  of  Mar- 
shall for  the  last  twelve  years.  He  is  a 
native  of  Luverne,  Minnesota,  and  was  born- 
March  3,  1882.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  that  city  and  when  a 
young  man  took  a  position  as  clerk  of  the 
old   Luverne   Hotel. 

In  1900  Mr.  Oestern  moved  from  Luverne 
to  Marshall  and  has  ever  since  been  the 
manager  of  the  city's  leading  hotel.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic,  Elks  and  Modern 
Woodmen  lodges.  He  has  taken  the  thirty- 
third  degree  in  baseballdom  and  is  one  of 
Marshall's  most  ardent  "fans." 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Olof  J.  and 
Martha  (Greenland)  Oestern,  were  born  in 
Lansing,  Ohio,  and  Rushford,  Minnesota,  re- 
spectively, and  were  homesteaders  of  Rock 
county.  The  father  was  traveling  auditor 
for  the  Walter  A.  Wood  Harvester  Com- 
pany. While  transacting  business  at  a  bank 
in  Sherburn  in  1896  he  was  shot  and  killed 
by  robbers,  who  held  up  the  bank.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  resides  at  Alhambra, 
California.  There  is  one  other  child  in  the 
family,  Rose,  an  instructor  in  the  schools 
of  Alhambra. 

DAVID  LIEDTKE  (1903),  farmer  and  land 
owner  of  Lynd  township,  is  a  German  by 
birth.  His  nativity  occurred  October  18, 
1861,  and  his  parents  were  David  and  Augus- 
ta   (Weis)    Liedtke. 

Our  subject  was  educated  and  grew  to 
man's  estate  in  his  native  land,  and  he 
served  three  years  in  the  German  army.  He 
came  to  America  in  1886  and  located  in 
Poweshiek  county,  Iowa.  There  he  worked 
out  several  years  and  then  rented  land  and 
fanned  until  he  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
1903.     Upon  his  arrival  he  bought  the  south- 


moiJUAl'HICAL  HISTORY. 


52] 


«ast  quarter  of  section  19,  Lynd  township, 
and  resided  there  until  1909.  Then  he  moved 
to  his  present  home,  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  26,  only  a  short  distance  from  the 
village  of  Lynd,  which  he  had  purchased  in 
1906. 

Mr.  Liedtke  was  married  in  Iowa  in  1S92 
to  Bertha  Weis.  She  was  horn  in  Germany 
April  1.  1S73,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ludwig  Weis.  To  this  union  the  following 
seven  children  have  been  born:  Olga,  Min- 
nie, Benno,  Alma,  Otto,  Emma  and  Arnold. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran   church. 


GCXXAR  B.  BJORXSOX  (1877),  postmas- 
ter of  Minneota  and  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  Minneota  Mascot,  is  one  of  the  prom- 
inent and  respected  citizens  of  his  village 
and  county.  As  a  newspaper  man  Mr.  Bjom- 
son  ranks  high,  and  his  paper  is  one  of 
the  most  liberally  quoted  of  the  country 
weeklies  of  the  state.  He  is  a  fearless  and 
able  writer  and  his  editorials  on  political, 
economic  and  social  questions  attract  state- 
wide attention.  Mr.  Bjornson  is  a  self-made 
man  and  a  Lyon  county  product  in  which 
its  citizens  take  pride. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  in 
Iceland  August  17,  1872.  His  father,  Bjom 
Bjornson,  died  in  1885;  his  mother,  Kristin 
(Benjaminsdottir)  Bjornson,  resides  with 
her  son  in  Minneota.  Gunnar  Bjornson  ac- 
companied his  mother  to  the  United  States 
in  1877  when  a  child  five  years  of  age. 
Until  1885  he  resided  on  farms  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Minneota  and  then  moved  to  the 
village.  For  two  years  he  had  charge  of 
the  town  herd,  attending  school  during  the 
winter  months.  Thereafter  for  several  years 
he  did  carpenter  work  and  clerked  in  stores. 

In  1895  Mr.  Bjornson  bought  a  half  inter- 
est in  the  Minneota  Mascot,  helped  in  its 
production  less  than  a  year,  and  then  sold 
to  his  partner.  The  next  year  he. attended 
the  Gem  City  Business  College  of  Quincy, 
Illinois,  and  for  another  year  had  charge  of 
a  general  merchandise  store.  He  then  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  C.  M.  Gislason  and 
read  law  two  and  one-half  years,  attended 
to  the  collections  and  other  matters. 

Mr.  Bjornson  again  entered  the  newspaper 
field  in  the  spring  of  1900,  bought  the  Mas- 
cot  at   that   time,   and   has   since    published 


it.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  by  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  in  April,  1903,  and  has  since 
served  in  that  capacity.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  the 
last  nine  years,  president  of  that  body  for 
the  last  four  years,  and  several  years  ago 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace.  Mr.  Bjorn- 
son is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and 
of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  R.  A.  M.,  M.  W. 
A.,  Maccabee  and  Yeomen  lodges. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Minneota 
March  28,  1903,  to  Ingebjorg  Augusta  Hurdal, 
a  native  of  Iceland  and  a  former  resident 
of  Winnipeg,  Manitoba.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  three  boys:  Edward  Hjalmar,  Krist- 
jan  Valdimar  and  Gunnar  Bjorn. 


PHILIP  P.  AHERN  (1883)  is  one  of  the 
old  residents  of  Taunton  and  has  been 
prominent  in  business  and  social  circles 
in  that  village.  He  has  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Village  Council  ever  since 
Taunton  was  incorporated  in  the  spring  of 
1900.  Mr.  Ahern  is  local  manager  of  the 
C.  M.  Youmans  Lumber  Company  and  is 
interested  in  other  lines  of  business. 

Mr.  Ahern  was  born  in  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, September  22,  18  67.  When  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age,  in  1883,  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Lyon  county,  and  until 
he  was  twenty-three  years  old  he  lived 
with  them  on  the  farm  on  the  west  half 
of  section  8,  Eidsvold  township,  just  north 
of  Taunton  station.  Then  he  located  in 
the  little  village  and  for  seventeen  years 
bought  grain  for  O.  L.  Marfield,  of  Winona. 
After  July,  1898,  he  also  had  the  manage- 
ment of  the  C.  M.  Youmans  Lumber  Com- 
pany's yard  and  elevator,  an  assistant  look- 
ing after  the  grain  department  until  he 
gave  up  that  part  of  the  business  in  1905. 
Since  that  time  Mr.  Ahern  has  given  his 
time  to  the  management  of  the  lumber 
yard. 

In  other  lines  of  business  Mr.  Ahern  has 
been  interested.  In  the  spring  of  1895  he 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Mutual 
Elevator  Company,  served  as  its  secretary 
three  years,  and  then  severed  his  connec- 
tion with  the  company.  He  is  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  State  Bank  of  Taunton  and 
owns  a  quarter  section  of  land  on  section  5, 
Eidsvold.     Mr.  Ahern  is  a  member  of  the 


522 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Knights  of  Columbus  and  Modern  Wood- 
men lodges. 

Philip  Ahern  is  a  son  of  the  late  Garrett 
Ahern  and  Catherine  { Brown)  Ahern,  na- 
tives of  Ireland.  The  father  came  to  Amer- 
ica about  18  55,  the  mother  a  short  time 
later,  and  they  were  married  at  Spring- 
field,  Illinois.  They  settled  in  Eidsvold 
township,  Lyon  county,  in  1883,  and  in 
that  precinct  Mr.  Ahern  died  in  1899,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  Mrs.  Ahern 
lives  on  the  old  home  farm  with  her  son, 
J.  J.  Ahern.  Our  subject  is  the  eldest  of 
ten  children  in  this  family,  the  others 
being  as  follows:  Josie,  William,  Ellen 
(Mrs.  Thomas  Welch),  of  Minneota;  James 
J.,  Michael  F.,  Catherine  (Mrs.  Morris 
Breen),  of  Minneapolis;  Thomas,  assistant 
cashier  of  the  Farmers  Bank  of  Hampden, 
North  Dakota;  Garrett  F.,  of  Montana;  and 
Annie. 

Philip  P.  Ahern  was  married  at  Minneota 
in  June,  1894,  to  Catherine  Salmon,  who 
died  July  3,  1905.  As  a  result  of  this  union 
a  son,  Philip,  was  born.  The  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Ahern  occurred  at  Chatfield, 
Minnesota,  to  Agnes  Moore,  a  native  of  that 
place.  To  them  two  children  have  been 
born,  named  Garrett  and  John. 


GUS  KNUTSON  (1903)  is  the  proprietor 
of  a  saloon,  an  auctioneer,  and  a  dealer  in 
horses  and  resides  in  Minneota.  He  is  a 
native  of  Norway  and  was  born  May  24, 
1878.  His  parents  are  Knute  and  Soneva 
Knutson,  who  reside  in  Norway.  They  are 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  T. 
Knutson  and  Knute  Knutson,  of  Iowa;  Ole 
and  Gus,  of  Minneota;  Ingebritson  Knut- 
son, of  Norway. 

Gus  came  to  America  on  his  sixteenth 
birthday  and  lived  in  Morris,  Illinois,  one 
year.  He  then  moved  to  Wright  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  farmed  until  1903,  the 
year  of  his  arrival  to  Lyon  county.  He 
located  at  Minneota,  purchased  an  interest 
in  the  saloon  of  B.  H.  Cleminson,  and  a 
year  later  became  sole  proprietor.  He  has 
conducted  the  place  since  that  time.  Mr. 
Knutson  is  also  an  auctioneer,  having 
taken  up  that  line  of  work  in  1909,  and 
he  has  been  very  successful  Jn  that  work. 
Another  line  is  trading  and  selling  horses. 

On    June    22,    1907,    occurred    the    mar- 


riage of  Mr.  Knutson  to  Edna  Williamson, 
who  was  born  near  Glencoe,  Minnesota. 
She  was  a  school  teacher.  They  were  mar- 
ried at  Glencoe.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knutson 
are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Vivian  and 
Dudley. 


STURLAUGUR  GILBERTSON  (1878), 
manager  of  the  Laird-Norton  Yards  at 
Minneota,  is  a  homesteader  and  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  northwestern  Lyon  county.  He 
is  a  native  of  Iceland  and  was  born  Decem- 
ber 29,  1850,  the  son  of  Gulbrand  and  Sig- 
ridar  Gilbertson,  both  deceased.  He  is  one 
of  a  family  of  five  children,  the  others  be- 
ing Olena,  of  British  Columbia;  Haflide,  of 
North  Dakota;  and  Helga  and  Thorsden, 
of  Iceland. 

Mr.  Gilbertson  came  to  the  United  States 
in  187  8  and  direct  to  Lyon  county.  He 
took  as  a  homestead  claim  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  S,  Nordland  township, 
and  resided  on  the  farm  seven  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  pre- 
cinct, and  the  shack  that  he  built,  14x16 
feet,  eight  feet  high,  was  considered  a  very 
comfortable  dwelling  in  those  days.  He 
lived  in  that  dwelling  during  the  memor- 
able winter  of  188  0-81  with  his  family  and 
experienced  exceedingly  hard  times.  The 
wheat  he  had  raised  had  not  been  threshed 
and  as  he  had  no  fuel  he  was  obliged  to 
borrow  straw  from  a  neighbor  to  burn. 
There  was  no  flour  to  be  had  and  the  fam- 
ily prepared  their  meal  by  grinding  wheat 
in  a  coffee-mill.  His  live  stock  consisted 
of  a  pair  of  oxen  and  a  cow,  which  were 
kept  in  a  dug-out  on  the  bank  of  a  ravine. 
This  was  completely  covered  many  times 
during  the  long  winter  and  Mr.  Gilbertson 
had  trouble  in  keeping  them  alive  until 
spring. 

After  seven  years  on  the  farm  Mr.  Gil- 
bertson moved  to  Minneota  and  that  vil- 
lage has  since  been  his  home.  He  took 
a  position  with  the  Laird-Xorton  Company 
when  he  located  in  the  village  in  1886  and 
has  been  with  the  company  ever  since — as 
manager  since  1897.  Mr.  Gilbertson  is  a 
stockholder  and  director  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank.  He  served  as  president  of 
the  Village  Council  five  years  and  was  vil- 
lage recorder  eight  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 


PHILIP  P.  AHERN 

Business  Man  of  Taunton  and  President  of 
the  Village  Council. 


GUS  KNUDSON 
A  Business  Man  of  Minneota. 


ST.  GILBERTSON 

A    Homesteader    of    Lyon    County 
and  a  Minneota  Business  Man. 


G.  B.  BJORNSON 

Postmaster    of    Minneota    and    Editor 
Minneota  Mascot. 


v^ 


UKHJKAIMIICAL  HISTORY. 


523 


Mr.  Gilbertson  was  married  in  Iceland 
November  25,  1877,  to  Aslaug  Johnson. 
They  have  four  children:  Gilbert,  of  Mil- 
waukee; John,  of  Minneapolis;  Holm,  of 
North  Dakota;   and  Frieda. 


PETER  A.  PETERSON  (1901)  is  the 
owner  of  a  section  of  fine  land  in  Coon 
Creek  township  and  resides  thereon.  He 
was  born  December  24,  1844,  in  Sweden, 
the  son  of  Peter  Neilson.  He  attended 
school  in  his  native  land,  and  after  finish- 
ing school  worked  at  farm  labor  until  1867, 
when  he  immigrated  to  the  United  States. 
He  first  located  at  De  Kalb,  Illinois,  where 
he  worked  on  a  farm  two  years,  then  went 
to  Chicago,  where  he  was  a  teamster  three 
years.  Returning  to  De  Kalb,  he  remained 
there  until  1880,  when  he  moved  to  Sac 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  bought  land  and 
farmed  until  18  97.  In  the  last  mentioned 
year  he  moved  to  Clay  county,  Iowa,  bought 
land,  and  resided  there  until  1901,  when  he 
sold  his  land  and  moved  to  Lyon  county. 

Mr.  Peterson  has  improvements  on  each 
quarter  of  his  land,  upon  which  his  sons 
reside.  He  raises  considerable  stock, 
among  other  breeds,  Duroc-Jersey  hogs  and 
Hereford  cattle.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Peterson 
holds  stock  in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Russell.  He  has  one  sister,  Mrs. 
Andrew  Larson,  who  resides  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  a  man  of  family.  Jan- 
uary 20,  1869,  he  was  married  to  Annie 
Petersen,  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Chris- 
tina Petersen,  natives  of  Sweden.  Mrs. 
Peterson  was  born  August  12,  1840.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of 
the  following  named  children:  Ebenezer, 
born  August  10,  1870;  Annie  (Mrs.  A.  P. 
Carver),  born  August  29,  1872;  Julia 
(Mrs.  H.  N.  Carver),  born  in  1875;  Joseph 
E.,  born  July  8,  1877;  Monvil,  born  August 
30,  1879;  Martin,  born  September  2,  1881; 
Mary  (Mrs.  O.  C.  Willard),  born  Novem- 
ber 18,  1883.  Joseph  Peterson  was  mar- 
ried October  25,  1911,  to  Carrie  A.  Nelson, 
a  daughter  of  Nels  and  Katherine  Christine 
Nelson,  of  Coon  Creek  township. 


HOMER   D.    SHARRATT    (1896)    is   the 
assistant   cashier   of   the   Lyon    County   Na- 


tional Bank  of  Marshall.  He  was  born  in 
Green  Lake  county,  Wisconsin,  November 
29,  1880,  the  son  of  George  and  Celestia 
(Hodgson)  Sharratt,  the  former  a  native 
of  Staffordshire,  England,  and  the  latter 
of  Syracuse,  New  York,  of  English  ances- 
try. In  1892  the  father  came  to  Lyon 
county,  purchased  land,  and  has  since  led 
a  retired  life  in  the  city  of  Marshall.  They 
are  the  parents  of  only  one  child,  the  sub- 
ject, of  this  sketch. 

When  twelve  years  of  age,  Homer  moved 
to  Madison,  Wisconsin,  where  he  received 
a  common  school  education.  In  189  6  he 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  located  at  Mar- 
shall, where  he  attended  the  Marshall  High 
School  and  was  graduated  therefrom,  later 
taking  a  course  in  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota. In  1902  Mr.  Sharratt  entered  the 
Lyon  County  Bank  as  bookkeeper  and  was 
promoted  January  1,  1911,  to  assistant 
cashier.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge. 

On  February  15,  1898,  at  Stillwater, 
Minnesota,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Sharratt  to  Selma  C.  Magnuson,  a  native 
of  Stillwater. 


WILL  BANKS  (1909)  is  a  farmer  and 
land  owner  of  Lynd  township  who  has  re- 
sided in  Lyon  county  only  a  few  years. 
Will  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and  was  born 
near  Belvidere  November  19,  18  66,  a  son 
of  C.  E.  and  Sarah  (Nicholson)  Banks. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Maine,  born  in 
1835,  and  when  only  nine  years  of  age 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois.  On 
May  18,  1911,  he  was  struck  by  the  North- 
western train  in  Marshall  and  killed.  The 
mother  is  a  native  of  Nottingham,  England, 
and  was  born  in  1846.  She  resides  at 
present  with  our  subject  in  Lynd  township. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
review  received  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Bremer  county,  Iowa. 
Later  he  attended  high  school  at  Waverly, 
Iowa,  and  Elliott's  Business  College  at 
Burlington,  Iowa,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1887.  He  then  went  to  Pasadena, 
California,  and  obtained  a  position  with 
the  Pasadena  Nursery  Company  as  book- 
keeper. He  continued  in  that  capacity  a 
year,  after  which  he  was  employed  by  an- 
other nursery  company  for  several  months. 


524 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Mr.  Banks  later  became  an  officer  in  the 
Salvation  Army,  which  he  held  for  five 
years,  during  which  time  he  toured  the 
state  of  California.  He  also  spent  one  win- 
ter as  bookkeeper  for  the  Pacific  Coast 
division  of  the  Army. 

In  1894  Mr.  Banks  located  in  Kossuth 
county,  Iowa,  and  moved  on  a  farm  which 
he  owned  there.  He  later  bought  more 
land  adjoining  that  farm,  making  him  320 
acres  of  land.  He  operated  the  farm  four- 
teen years,  raising  blooded  Duroc-Jersey 
hogs  and  a  great  number  of  cattle  and 
sheep.  While  in  Iowa  he  shipped  a  num- 
ber of  his  blooded  stock  all  over  the  coun- 
try. He  was  awarded  first  prize  for  his 
stock  at  the  Minnesota  State  Fair  in  1909. 
His  son,  Fisk,  when  fifteen  years  of  age, 
secured  first  prize  and  sweepstakes  at  the 
corn  show  which  the  Iowa  Corn  Breeders 
Association  holds  each  year.  He  also  se- 
cured two  first  premiums  at  the  Minnesota 
State  Fair  in    1911. 

In  November,  1909,  Mr.  Banks  sold  his 
interests  in  Iowa,  in  April  of  the  same  year 
having  purchased  the  land  he  now  owns 
and  operates  in  Lynd  township.  He  is  the 
owner  of  400  acres  known  as  the  "Coteau 
Farm,"  formerly  owned  by  O.  C.  Gregg. 
He  raises  considerable  stock,  including 
Duroc-Jersey  hogs,  dairy  cattle  and  west- 
ern sheep. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist church.  In  Kossuth  county,  Iowa,  he 
held  the  following  positions:  Township 
trustee,  president  of  the  School  Board, 
president  of  the  Creamery  Association,  di- 
rector of  the  County  Fair  Association.  Mr. 
Banks  has  been  a  successful  farmer  and 
stockraiser. 

On  February  2  4,  18  90,  Mr.  Banks  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Catherine  Oates,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Ann  Oates.  Mrs. 
Banks  was  born  in  Durham  county,  Eng- 
land, in  18  67.  They  are  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Grace,  Fisk, 
Charles,  John,  Will,  George,  Gladys,  Gale 
and  Lee. 


FRED  E.  BUTLER  (1896)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Tracy  Feed  'Barn,  which  he 
has  conducted  since  1911.  He  was  born 
in  Burlington,  Vermont,  March  4,  18  63, 
a  son  of  Isaac  and  Eliza  Butler,  natives  of 


Vermont.  They  have  only  two  children 
living:  Fred  E.,  of  this  sketch,  and  Au- 
gusta, of  Rutland,  Vermont. 

Fred  lived  in  Vermont  until  reaching 
twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Ne- 
braska City,  Nebraska,  and  entered  the 
Grand  Central  Hotel  as  cook  at  twelve 
dollars  per  month.  One  year  later  he  was 
made  chef  of  the  same  hotel  at  a  salary 
of  $100  per  month.  He  remained  in  Ne- 
braska about  five  years  and  then  went  to 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed two  years  as  chef  for  Ezra  Young, 
a  son  of  Brigham  Young  and  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  Templeton  Hotel.  He  then  came 
to  Minnesota,  locating  at  St.  Cloud,  where 
he  worked  as  cook  one  year. 

In  189  6  Mr.  Butler  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  located  at  Tracy,  where  he  worked  as 
chief  cook  in  the  Depot  Hotel  about  a 
year.  He  then  returned  to  St.  Cloud, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Tracy  and  worked  about 
three  years  in  the  Depot  Hotel.  Mr.  But- 
ler went  to  Watertown  and  worked  in  the 
Grand  Hotel  three  years,  and  to  Marshall, 
where  he  conducted  a  livery  barn  two 
years.  In  1911  he  returned  to  Tracy  and 
purchased  the  Tracy  Feed  Barn,  which  he 
has  since  conducted. 

Mr.  Butler  was  married  in  Fairmont, 
Minnesota,  on  October  12,  1895,  to  Lottie 
Sturdevant,   a  native  of  Wisconsin. 


ERICK  M.  SWANSON  (19  02),  a  resi- 
dent of  Coon  Creek  township,  was  born 
in  Dalsland,  Sweden,  July  22,  1854.  The 
parents  of  Mr.  Swanson  were  Swan  and 
Christine  (Erickson)  Swanson,  who  immi- 
grated to  America  in  1882  and  located  at 
Rockford,  Illinois.  Both  parents  are  de- 
ceased. Erick  attended  school  in  Sweden 
until  fifteen  years  of  age  and  then  clerked 
in  a  store  for  one  and  a  half  years. 

In  18  72  Mr.  Swanson  came  to  the  United 
States  and  located  in  Vermont,  where  he 
resided  several  months.  From  that  time 
until  1885  he  resided  in  Sibley  county, 
Minnesota,  and  Scott  county,  Iowa,  work- 
ing at  farm  labor,  and  at  Rockford,  Illinois, 
four  years,  working  in  a  sash  and  door  fac- 
tory. In  188  5  he  moved  to  Nobles  county, 
Minnesota,  where  he  conducted  a  rented 
farm  until  1902,  the  year  of  his  coming  to 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


525 


Lyon  county.  On  his  arrival  he  located 
on  section  9,  Coon  Creek  township,  where 
he  still  resides.  He  raises  some  stock, 
among  other  breeds,  Poland  China  hogs, 
Durham  cattle  and  Plymouth  Rock  chick- 
ens. He  was  a  school  director  for  several 
years  in  Nobles  county  and  has  been  road 
overseer  tor  several  years  in  Coon  Creek 
township.  He  holds  stock  in  the  Farmers 
Elevator  Company  of  Russell  and  in  the 
Farmers  Mutual  Telephone  Company. 

On  February  10,  1882,  Elizabeth  Levine 
became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Swanson.  Mrs. 
Swanson  is  a  native  of  Sweden  and  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Levine,  of 
Nobles  county.  She  was  born  October  6, 
1860.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swanson  are  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  Albin  O., 
born  April  21,  1883;  Rudolph,  born  Janu- 
ary 11,  1885;  Amy,  born  September  1, 
1886;  Edward,  born  July  24,  1888;  Mabel, 
born  June  14,  1890;  Charles,  born  June  9, 
1892;  Elmer,  born  October  17,  1896;  Flor- 
ence, born  December  26,  1898;  Gustaf, 
born  February  10,  1903.  All  the  children 
except  Mabel  reside  in  Lyon  county. 

Mr.  Swanson  has  two  brothers,  Charles 
and  August  Swanson,  of  Rockford,  Illinois. 
Mrs.  Swanson  has  three  sisters  and  two 
brothers:  Nina,  of  Rockford,  Illinois; 
Carrie,  Emily  and  Martin  Levine,  of  No- 
bles county,  Minnesota;  Axel,  of  Seattle, 
Washington.  Her  parents  reside  in  No- 
bles county. 


MRS.  JULIANNA  BUYSSE  (1883),  of 
Westerheim  township,  is  one  of  the  early 
members  of  the  Catholic  colony  that  lo- 
cated in  Lyon  county.  She  is  the  widow 
of  Peter  Buysse,  who  was  one  of  the  well- 
known  and  respected  residents  of  the  pre- 
cinct. 

Mrs.  Buysse's  maiden  name  was  Ju- 
lianna  Vertrest,  and  she  was  born  in  Hol- 
land April  22,  1857.  In  her  native  land 
she  made  her  home  until  her  marriage  to 
Mr.  Buysse  on  March  1,  1883.  The  young 
couple  came  to  America  that  year  and  di- 
rect to  Lyon  county,  and  Mrs.  Buysse  has 
ever  since  been  a  resident  of  the  county. 

Peter  Buysse  was  born  in  Belgium 
March  18,  1858,  a  son  of  Bruno  and  Sophia 
Buysse,  both  deceased.  He  came  to 
America    in    1881,    lived    in    Illinois    two 


years,  and  then  after  his  marriage  in  the 
old  country  in  the  spring  of  1883,  came 
to  America  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Lyon  county.  For  some  time  he  engaged 
in  farming  in  Eidsvold  township  and  then 
located  in  Westerheim,  where  the  family 
has  ever  since  lived  and  where  Mr.  Buysse 
died  on  April  5,  1903. 

Since  the  death  of  the  head  of  the  fam- 
ily the  farm  has  been  under  the  manage- 
ment of  his  sons.  The  family  farm  720 
acres  of  land  and  own  1280  acres  in  Wes- 
terheim township,  being  among  the  pre- 
cinct's heaviest  land  owners.  Mrs.  Buysse 
and  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Ghent.  She  has  stock  in  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Ghent. 

Mrs.  Buysse  is  the  mother  of  the  follow- 
ing named  children,  all  of  whom  reside  at 
home:  Mary,  born  April  16,  1885;  Frank, 
born  June  9,  1886;  August,  born  August 
12,  1887;  Charles,  born  January  20,  1891; 
Julius,  born  December  3,  189  2;  Joseph, 
born  September  6,  189  6.  The  first  born 
died  in  infancy  and  two  other  children,  Leo 
and  Joseph,  are  deceased. 


MRS.  ANNETTE  HARDEN  (189  6)  is 
the  proprietor  of  a  general  store  in  the 
village  of  Russell.  She  was  born  in  La- 
salle  county,  Illinois,  September  23,  1849, 
a  daughter  of  Clement  and  Susan  (Wors- 
ley)  Eastman,  both  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Mrs.  Harden  received  her  schooling  in  Illi- 
nois, where  she  resided  with  her  parents 
until  twenty-four  years  of  age. 

January  1,  1873,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view was  married  to  Eugene  Furbush,  a 
native  of  Lasalle  county.  To  this  union 
was  born  one  child,  Mrs.  Stella  Carlaw,  of 
Russell,  the  widow  of  the  late  Archie  Car- 
law.  Mrs.  Carlaw  is  the  junior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Carlaw  &  Harden,  general  mer- 
chants of  Russell.  In  1877  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Furbush  moved  to  Redfield,  South  Dakota, 
where  they  resided  twelve  years,  when 
Mrs.  Furbush  and  her  daughter,  Stella, 
returned  to  Illinois,  where  they  remained, 
with  the  exception  of  a  year  spent  in 
South  Dakota,  until  189  6.  That  year  our 
subject  was  married  at  Lake  Benton  to 
H.  W.  B.  Harden,  of  Russell.  Mrs.  Har- 
den has  resided  in  Russell  since  that  date. 
For  the  past  fourteen  years  she  has  been 


526 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


identified  with  the  mercantile  business  of 
that  village. 

For  ten  years  Mrs.  Harden  conducted 
the  store  now  known  as  the  Farmers  Co- 
operative Store,  selling  to  the  co-operative 
company  in  June,  1907.  In  June,  1910, 
in  company  with  her  son-in-law,  Archie 
Carlaw,  she  purchased  the  Jay  Peterson 
stock  of  general  merchandise.  October 
13,  1911,  Mr.  Carlaw  died,  and  since  that 
time  his  wife  has  had  charge  of  the  in- 
terest formerly  held  by  him.  They  handle 
a  complete  stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries, 
notions  and  millinery.  They  have  a  neat, 
up-to-date  stock  and  have  been  very  suc- 
cessful. 


PETER  C.  NELSON  (1890).  One  of 
the  most  prosperous  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  of  Coon  Creek  township  is  Peter 
Nelson,  who  resides  on  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  5.  Mr.  Nelson  was  born  in 
Ringsta,  Denmark,  on  January  31,  1861. 
He  is  the  son  of  Nels  Peter  Christianson, 
who  resides  with  a  son,  Sam  Nelson,  in 
Coon  Creek  township. 

Peter  Nelson  attended  school  in  the  land 
of  his  birth  until  thirteen  years  of  age. 
Then  he  came  to  America  with  his  father 
and  located  near  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  where 
he  worked  at  farm  labor  twelve  years.  He 
then  rented  land  in  that  vicinity  and 
farmed  for  himself  two  years.  In  1890 
he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  farmed  rented 
land  near  Tyler  three  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  bought  land  in  Coon  Creek 
township,  which  he  farmed  four  years  and 
sold,  later  buying  the  farm  he  now  owns 
and  operates,  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 5,  Coon  Creek  township.  He  raises 
stock,  among  other  breeds,  Duroc-Jersey 
hogs,  Polled  Angus  cattle  and  Brown  Leg- 
horn chickens.  He  is  a  stockholder  of 
the  Farmers  Mutual  Telephone  Company. 
Mr.  Nelson  has  been  a  successful  farmer 
and  stock  raiser.  He  has  two  brothers, 
Sam,  of  Coon  Creek  township,  and  Andrew, 
of  Lincoln  county. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  man  of  family.  He  was 
married  June  11,  1895,  to  Louise  Benson, 
a  daughter  of  Bangt  Benssn,  of  Sweden. 
She  was  born  February  18,  18  63.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nelson  are  the  parents  of  one  child, 
Bennie,  born  May  5,  1896. 


DR.  FRED  H.  POWERS  (1910),  prac- 
tising physician  of  Marshall,  was  born  in 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  February  8,  1869. 
When  a  child  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Shelbyville,  of  the  same  state,  where 
he  was  graduated  from  the  high  school 
and  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  After 
his  high  school  days  he  .went  to  Chicago 
and  secured  the  degree  of  Ph.  G.  from  the 
Chicago  Department  of  Pharmacy  of  the 
University   of   Illinois. 

Mr.  Powers  practised  pharmacy  in  Chi- 
cago seven  years  and  then  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine.  He  was  graduated 
from  Rush  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  in 
1900.  After  his  graduation  Dr.  Powers 
served  as  an  interne  in  the  Chicago  Lying- 
in  Hospital  and  Dispensary.  He  became 
a  member  of  the  staff  of  the  Julian  Burn- 
ham  Hospital  at  Champaign,  Illinois,  and 
was  appointed  to  the  chair  of  obstetrics 
and  gynecology  and  later  bacteriology  in 
the  Burnham  Hospital  Training  School  for 
Nurses.  During  his  residence  in  Illinois, 
Dr.  Powers  was  secretary  of  the  Twin  City 
Physicians  Club,  was  censor  and  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Champaign  County  Medical 
Society,  was  a  member  of  the  Illionis  State 
Medical  Society,  the  Aesculapian  Medical 
Society  of  the  Wabash  Valley  and  the 
American  Medical  Association. 

In  1907  Dr.  Powers  returned  to  Chicago 
to  become  an  associate  of  Professor  E. 
Fletcher  Ingals,  of  Rush  Medical  College. 
In  1910  he  located  in  Marshall,  succeeding 
Dr.  F.  C.  Wheat. 

Dr.  Powers  is  a  son  of  the  late  John  W. 
Powers.  The  latter  was  born  in  Flem- 
ingsburg,  Kentucky,  later  moved  to  Louis- 
ville, and  later  still  to  Illinois,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  banking  business.  He  was 
a  soldier  of  the  Union  army  during  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion.  The  mother  of  our 
subject,  Mary  E.  Larrimore,  was  a  native 
of  Springfield,  Illinois,  her  parents  having 
been  natives  of  Maryland. 

At  Vienna,  Maryland,  on  June  19,  1901, 
Dr.  Powers  was  married  to  Celeste  Webb, 
of  Baltimore.  One  child,  Margaret,  has 
been  born  to  this  union. 


CHRIST  E.  SIGURDSON  (1891),  farmer 
of  Nordland  township,  was  born  in  Lyon 
county    January    15,    1891.      He    attended 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


527 


school  until  sixteen  years  of  age  and 
thereafter  worked  for  his  father  on  the 
[arm.  In  the  spring  of  1912  he  took  the 
management  of  the  place  and  is  now  farm- 
ing it  on  shares  with  his  father.  He  also 
conducts  the  12  0-acre  farm  of  Christine 
Hanson  on  the  same  section,  16.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Icelandic  Lutheran  church 
of  Minneota. 

The  parents  of  Christ  Sigurdson  are 
Einar  and  Lena  (Bergson)  Sigurdson,  who 
live  on  the  farm  conducted  by  their  son. 
They  came  from  Iceland  to  Lyon  county 
in  1882  and  have  ever  since  lived  in  Nord- 
land  township.  Ten  children  were  born 
to  them,  named  as  follows:  Otto  and 
Bjorn,  who  are  deceased;  Paul,  a  farmer 
of  Nordland  township;  Lena  (Mrs.  Andrew 
Nelson),  of  Lake  Hendricks,  Minnesota; 
John,  Ole,  Christ  E.,  Otto,  Marvin  and 
Bjorn,  who  reside  on  the  home  farm. 


HENRY  THAVIS  (1904).  Numerous 
private  residences  in  Tracy  are  equipped 
with  heating  plants  installed  by  Henry 
Thavis,  plumber  and  installer  of  heating 
systems,  whose  place  of  business  is  on 
Third  Street.  During  the  three  years  that 
Mr.  Thavis  has  been  in  the  plumbing  and 
heating  business  he  has  established  a  repu- 
tation for  reliability  and  good  workman- 
ship. The  heating  plants  in  the  Central 
school,  and  in  the  Gund  Brewing  Com- 
pany's depot  were  put  in  by  Mr.  Thavis. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Sibley  county,  Minnesota,  March  5,  1879. 
He  went  to  school  in  St.  Peter  and  at  an 
early  age  commenced  to  learn  the  plumb- 
ing trade.  In  the  early  part  of  1904  Hen- 
ry moved  to  Marshall,  where  he  worked 
for  a  local  plumber  several  months;  then 
he  moved  to  Tracy,  where  he  had  been 
given  employment  with  the  Northwestern 
Railroad  Company,  as  plumber  in  the 
Tracy  roundhouse.  That  position  he  held 
six  and  one-half  years,  and  in  June,  1909, 
he  started  in  the  plumbing  business  for 
himself.  While  a  resident  of  Tracy  Henry 
has  become  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
lodge. 

The  marriage  of  Henry  Thavis  and  Miss 
Martha  Ferrell  took  place  at  Marysberg. 
Minnesota,  in  November,  1900.  Miss  Fer- 
rell's  home  was  in  Le  Sueur  county.      The 


union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children: 
Lawrence  Glenn,  Paul  Ferrell  and  Leon- 
ard Jerome. 

The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  are  Mathias  and  Margaret  (Hames) 
Thavis,  natives  of  Sibley  and  Nicollet 
counties,  respectively.  They  now  reside 
at  Spokane,  Washington,  and  with  then! 
are  three  of  their  children,  Anna,  John 
and  Margaret.  Mary  (Mrs.  Andrew  Boh- 
rer),  another  sister  of  Henry  Thavis,  lives 
in  St.  Peter. 

VERNON  B.  TUBBS  (1896)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  one  half  section  of  Clifton  town- 
ship's best  farm  land.  He  is  giving  much 
attention  to  stock  raising  in  addition  to 
his  general  farm  work  and  raises  Short- 
horn cattle  and   Poland  China  hogs. 

Vernon  B.  Tubbs  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  Wisconsin,  October  2  0,  1871,  and 
is  a  son  of  Benjamin  P.  and  Julia  (Moore) 
Tubbs,  natives  of  New  York  and  Ohio,  re- 
spectively. The  parents  moved  to  Wiscon- 
sin in  184  5  and  located  on  a  farm.  Ver- 
non received  his  schooling  in  Wisconsin, 
and  when  seventeen  years  of  age  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Kossuth  county, 
Iowa,  and  there  lived  until  1896. 

It  was  in  that  year  that  our  subject 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  bought  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  1,  Clifton  township, 
where  he  now  resides.  Later  he  pur- 
chased the  northeast  quarter  of  section  1, 
and  now  farms  the  entire  half  section. 
Mr.  Tubbs  is  one  of  the  progressive  farm- 
ers of  the  vicinity  and  though  a  compara- 
tively young  man,  he  is  today  one  of  the 
township's   most   prosperous   farmers. 

The  marriage  of  Vernon  B.  Tubbs  and 
Eva  H.  Ranney  occurred  in  Iowa  October 
18,  1893.  She  was  born  September  4, 
1876,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Frank  L.  and 
Hannah  (Peck)  Ranney,  natives  of  Wis- 
consin and  now  residents  of  Algona,  Iowa. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tubbs  have  been  born 
three  children,  as  follows:  Joseph  W.. 
born  September  9,  1894;  Walter  C,  born 
May  16,  1899;  and  Beatrice,  born  May  14, 
1906.  The  Tubbs  family  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

CAMIL  DEBUF  (1906)  is  a  recent  ad- 
dition   to   the   farming   fraternity   of   Fair- 


528 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


view  township,  moving  from  Ghent  to  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  29  in  the 
spring  of  1911. 

Mr.  Debuf  was  born  in  Belgium  Febru- 
ary 15,  1871,  and  received  his  education 
in  that  country,  living  at  home  and  work- 
ing for  his  father  until  1904,  when  the 
boy  came  to  America.  North  Dakota  was 
his  destination,  and  Camil  spent  the  first 
two  years  in  the  new  land  on  a  ranch  in 
Billings  county.  It  was  during  his  resi- 
dence in  Dakota  that  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried at  Dickinson,  to  Marie  Lemmertyn. 
Mrs.  Debuf  was  born  in  Belgium  and  she 
came  with  her  parents  to  this  country  in 
1905. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Debuf  came  to 
Lyon  county,  worked  in  Ghent  six  months, 
and  then  rented  the  land  in  Fairview  where 
he  took  up  his  residence  one  year  ago. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Camil  Debuf  are  the  par- 
ents of  five  children,  Joe,  Constant,  Carel, 
Alfons  and  Mary.  The  Debufs  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  church. 


PETER  VANGHELUWE  (1893),  a  well- 
to-do  farmer  of  Grandview  township,  was 
born  in  Belgium  January  27,  1865,  and 
was  brought  up  and  educated  in  that 
country.  He  finished  school  and  helped 
his  father  on  the  home  place  until  coming 
to  the  United  States  in  18  93. 

In  that  year  he  came  to  this  country 
and  located  in  Lyon  county,  working  as  a 
farm  laborer  around  Marshall.  In  1895 
he  married  and  rented  a  farm  in  Lake 
Marshall  township,  which  he  conducted 
three  years.  Later  he  bought  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  2  4,  Grandview  town- 
ship, at  the  time  an  unimproved  piece  of 
land.  Mr.  Vangheluwe  has  put  up  modern 
buildings  on  the  place  and  has  made  it  a 
model  farm  in  all  respects.  In  addition 
to  his  home  place  he  also  farms  eighty 
acres  on  section  2  5,  which  he  purchased 
in  1909. 

Peter  Vangheluwe  is  one  of  a  family  of 
ten  children  born  to  Bruno  and  Louise 
Vangheluwe.  The  father  died  in  1901  at 
the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  and  the 
mother*  is  still  living  in  the  ,old  country. 
Peter  is  the  only  one  of  the  children  in 
this  country.  He  has  made  wonderful 
progress  since  coming  to  America,  begin- 


ning as  a  common  laborer  without  any 
means.  He  now  is  the  owner  of  240  acres 
of  valuable  land,  improved  with  substan- 
tial buildings.  Mr.  Vangheluwe  is  one  of 
the  township  supervisors  and  is  clerk  of 
school  district  No.   21. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Marshall. 
He  took  as  his  wife  Sylvia  DeVos,  the 
wedding  ceremony  taking  place  December 
27,  1895.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  church. 

GEORGE  LONG  (1897)  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  a  bakery  and  restaurant  in  the  city 
of  Marshall.  He  was  born  at  Lafayette, 
Indiana,  July  25,  1861,  the  son  of  Bar- 
ney and  Mary  Long.  Both  his  parents 
were  natives  of  Germany  and  both  are 
deceased.  Besides  George  there  are  two 
other  children  in  the  family:  Fred,  of 
Lafayette,  Indiana,  and  Mary  Bilby,  of 
Terre  Haute,   Indiana. 

When  twelve  years  of  age  George  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Terre  Haute. 
From  there  he  went  to  Chicago,  where 
he  conducted  a  lodging  house,  and  later 
to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  where  he  worked 
in  the  Scotch  oat  meal  factory.  In  1889 
Mr.  Long  went  to  Alaska  and  during  the 
next  two  years  he  was  engaged  in  mining 
and  freighting.  Thereafter  for  a  time 
he  worked  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
road Company  in  Tacoma,  Washington, 
and  during  the  World's  Fair  resided  in 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Long  came  West  in  1895,  resided 
two  years  in  Redwood  county,  and  then 
came  to  Lyon  county.  For  a  few  years 
he  worked  at  farm  labor  and  in  1900 
opened  a  restaurant  in  Marshall.  After 
conducting  that  three  years  he  moved  to 
a  new  location  and  opened  a  bakery  and 
ice  cream  establishment  in  connection.  He 
has  an  up-to-date  bakery  and  conducts  a 
first-class  restaurant. 

In  the  city  of  Marshall,  on  December 
13,  1895,  Mr.  Long  was  married  to  Fannie 
Schoak.  They  have  no  children  of  their 
own  but  have  an  adopted  daughter,  Addie. 
Mr.  Long  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic, 
Woodmen,  Maccabees  and  Eagle  lodges. 

JOHN  H.  JOHNSON  (1897)  is  a  farmer 
of     Shelburne     township.     He     and      his 


lSKMJWAI'lIM'AL   HISTORY 


52!) 


brother-in-law,  Dan  Hasbargen,  own  360 
acres  of  land  in  that  precinct  and  they 
farm  the  entire  tract.  They  are  successful 
farmers  and  are  rated  among  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  southwestern  Lyon  county. 

Near  the  city  of  Peoria,  Illinois,  on 
March  23,  1867,  John  H.  Johnson  first 
saw  the  light  of  day.  When  he  was  yet  a 
baby  the  family  moved  to  Danforth,  Iro- 
quois county,  and  there  John  grew  to  man- 
hood. Until  he  became  of  age  he  worked 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  then  for  a  year 
or  two  he  worked  for  other  farmers  in  the 
vicinity.  Mr.  Johnson  then  engaged  in 
farming  for  himself,  which  he  followed  in 
Illinois  until  coming  to  Lyon  county  in 
1897. 

Mr.  Johnson  came  to  the  county  with 
Dan  Hasbargen  and  the  two  have  ever 
since  been  partners  in  their  farming  oper- 
ations. They  planted  the  grove  on  the 
farm  and  made  all  the  improvements  on 
the  place.  Mr.  Johnson  has  not  married 
and  makes  his  home  with  his  partner.  He 
bas  served  as  road  overseer  of  his  dis- 
trict. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Henry 
and  Annie  (Gertis)  Johnson.  They  were 
born  in  Germany  and  for  many  years  were 
residents  of  Illinois.  They  moved  to  Lyon 
county  in  18  93,  purchased  the  south  half 
of  section  2  5,  Shelburne  township,  and 
resided  there  until  their  deaths.  The 
mother  died  in  the  fall  of  1895,  the  father 
about  1901.  There  are  seven  living  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  named  as  follows: 
John  H.,  Paul  H.,  Christ,  George,  Rachael 
(Mrs.  Dan  Hasbargen),  Onno  and  Mary 
(Mrs.  Albert  Loats).  Another  son,  Henry 
Johnson,  died  in  August,  1910,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-eight  years. 


PETER  M.  BERG  (1905)  is  a  general 
merchant  of  the  village  of  Minneota.  He 
is  a  native  of  Sweden  and  was  born  Janu- 
ary 6,  1862.  His  parents  were  Swen  Pe- 
ter and  Inga  Mary  (Johnson)  Peter,  both 
of  whom  are  deceased.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  children:  Peter  M.,  of  this 
sketch,  and  Andrew,  who  is  farming  in 
Swede  Prairie  township,  Yellow  Medicine 
county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  the 
United  States  in  18  81  and  located  in  Yel- 


low Medicine  county,  where  he  worked  on 
farms  for  a  few  years,  near  Hanley  Falls. 
He  purchased  a  farm  in  Burton  township 
in  1887  and  operated  it  until  1905,  when 
he  moved  to  Minneota  and  purchased  the 
general  merchandise  stock  of  Sterk  Broth- 
ers, which  he  has  since  conducted.  He 
still  owns  his  farm. 

Mr.  Berg  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church  and  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  M 
W.  A.  and  Yeomen  lodges.  He  is  also 
justice  of  the  peace  of  the  village  of  Min- 
neota. While  in  Yellow  Medicine  county 
he  held  various  offices,  including  justice  of 
the  peace,  member  of  the  school  board, 
and  a  member  of  the  Township  Board  of 
Supervisors. 

Mr.  Berg  was  married  at  Hanley  Falls 
October  24,  1884,  to  Helen  Knuteson,  a 
native  of  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Berg  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing ten  children:  Hilda  (Mrs.  P.  J. 
Brantnum),  of  Canby,  Minnesota;  Andre 
W.  and  Clara  E.,  who  clerk  for  their 
father;  Henry  A.,  a  student;  Carl  F.,  grain 
buyer  for  Bigham  Brothers  at  Minneota; 
Emma  E.,  Peter  S.,  George  A.,  James  A. 
and  Arby,  who  reside  at  home. 

To  our  subject  is  largely  due  the  splen- 
did rural  mail  service  from  the  village  of 
Minneota,  he  circulating  the  petition  for 
the  establishment  of  route  No.  1.  K.  K. 
Mohn  was  the  first  carrier  on  that  route, 
which   was   established    in    1902. 


IVER  OPDAHL  (1881)  is  a  native  of 
Lyon  county  and  with  the  exception  of 
four  years  has  lived  in  Westerheim  town- 
ship all  his  life. 

Mr.  Opdahl  is  a  son  of  Helge  and  In- 
geborg  Opdahl,  natives  of  Norway.  They 
came  to  the  United  States  about  1870  and 
lived  in  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota,  until 
1879,  in  which  year  they  moved  to  Lyon 
county  and  purchased  the  east  half  of 
section  32,  Westerheim  township.  Ex- 
cepting one  year  spent  in  North  Dakota, 
Helge  Opdahl  made  his  home  there  until 
his  death  on  September  12,  1908,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-eight  years.  Mrs.  Opdahl  is 
now  living  in  Barnes  county,  North  Dakota. 
She  and  her  husband  were  the  parents  of 
seven    children,    Albert,    Ida,    Annie,    Iver, 


530 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Henry,  Andrew  and  Betsy.  The  three  last 
named  are  dead. 

Three  years  previous  to  his  father's 
death  Iver  Opdahl  took  charge  of  the  old 
home  place.  In  1907  he  went  to  North 
Dakota  and  farmed  four  years,  but  with 
that  exception  he  has  always  resided  on  his 
present  place. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  the  town- 
ship on  December  5,  1907,  and  took  for 
his  wife  Hilda  Christianson,  a  native  of 
Norway  who  came  to  the  United  States 
when  thirteen  years  of  age.  By  her  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Opdahl  she  became  the 
mother  of  three  children,  Isabelle  Juliett, 
Henry  Clifford  and  Ingulf  Harold.  The 
Opdahls  are  members  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church. 


JOEL  MENARD  (1902),  of  Marshall, 
was  born  in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois, 
July  2,  1868,  the  son  of  Prudent  and  Hen- 
rietta (Fortin)  Menard.  His  parents  were 
born  in  Canada  but  moved  to  Kankakee 
county  when  children  and  were  married 
there.  Mr.  Menard  died  there  about  1900; 
the  mother  still  lives  there.  The  other 
children  of  the  family  are  George,  Philip, 
Alfred,  Almyra  and  Alex. 

Until  he  reached  his  majority  Joel  Me- 
nard lived  on  his  father's  farm,  and  then 
he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account 
in  Kankakee  county  until  moving  to  Mar- 
shall in  1902.  He  has  since  devoted  his 
time  to  looking  after  his  farming  inter- 
ests and  breeding  Percheron  horses.  He 
has  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the 
city. 

Mr.  Menard  was  married  in  his  native 
county  on  New  Years  Day,  1891,  to  Emma 
Caron,  who  is  also  a  native  of  Kankakee 
county  and  who  was  born  August  25,  1873. 
They  have  six  children,  namely:  Pru- 
dent, Clara,  Rachel,  Andrew,  Hugo  and 
Virgil.  A  son,  Marshal,  died  July  4,  1909, 
at  the  age  of  seven  years. 


JOHN  K.  SPENCER  (1900),  a  resident 
of  Amiret,  was  born  January  16,  1859,  in 
Jefferson  county,  Indiana.  He  is  a  son 
of  Benjamin  and  Roda  (Warfleld)  Spen- 
cer, natives  of  Kentucky,  and  when  six 
years    of    age    his    parents    moved    to    Van 


Buren  county,  Iowa.  His  father  bought 
land  in  the  vicinity  of  Melton,  and  John 
grew    up    on    the    farm. 

The  boy  received  his  schooling  in  the 
district  in  which  the  farm  was  located, 
and  until  the  age  of  twenty-five  years  he 
lived  at  home  with  his  parents,  assisting 
with  the  work  on  the  home  farm.  In 
1884  young  Spencer  decided  to  strike  out 
for  himself  and  went  to  Beadle  county, 
South  Dakota,  where  he  took  a  quarter 
section  of  land  as  a  homestead  and  eighty 
acres  as  a  pre-emption  claim,  and  farmed 
until   1900. 

That  year  Mr.  Spencer  moved  to  Lyon 
county  and  rented  the  640  acres  on  sec- 
tion 2  0,  Amiret  township.  He  staid  on 
that  place  one  year  and  then  moved  to 
Custer  township,  where  he  rented  160 
acres  on  section  10  the  next  four  years. 
He  then  moved  to  Redwood  county  and 
spent  one  year  there  before  returning  to 
Lyon  county  and  locating  on  section  20, 
Amiret  township.  Later  he  located  on  sec- 
tion 4  and  farmed  five  and  one-half  years 
before  moving  to  Amiret  village,  where 
he  has  since  been  the  proprietor  of  a 
boarding  house. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
in  Melton,  Iowa,  February  17,  1879,  to 
Arvilla  Davis.  She  was  born  in  Van  Bu- 
ren county,  Iowa,  November  12,  1859,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Wamouth  and  Rebecca 
(Hargrove)  Davis,  natives  of  Indiana  and 
Delaware,  respectively.  Her  parents  were 
early  settlers  of  Van  Buren  county  and 
lived  there  until  their  deaths.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spen- 
cer: Nellie  May,  born  August  6,  1883; 
Clerance  Sidney,  born  November  14,  1884; 
and  Ruth  Pearl,  born  November  28,  1898. 
Mr.  Spencer  is  fraternally  allied  with  the 
Yeomen  lodge. 


CASSIUS  M.  GIBBS  (1893),  of  Mar- 
shall, has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  in  Lyon  county  and  is  a  native  son 
of  Minnesota.  He  was  born  in  Le  Sueur 
county  December  13,  1881,  and  when  one 
year  old  was  taken  with  the  family  to 
Minneapolis.  He  moved  to  Marshall  with 
his  parents  in  1893  and  has  since  lived  in 
that  city. 

He  attended   the  Marshall   schools  until 


BKHiKAlMlICAL  HISTORY. 


531 


sixteen  years  of  age.  Then  he  entered 
the  News-Messenger  office,  learned  the 
printer's  trade,  and  was  connected  with 
the  office  nine  years.  He  engaged  in  the 
restaurant  business  two  years  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  various  occupations. 
He  is  not  married  and  makes  his  home 
with  his  parents.  For  the  past  ten  or 
twelve  years  Mr.  Gibbs  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Marshall  Fire  Department  and 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
lodge. 

James  G.  Gibbs,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, is  also  a  resident  of  Marshall.  He 
was  born  in  Post  Creek,  Chemung  county, 
New  York,  August  3,  1835,  and  is  a  vet- 
eran of  the  Civil  War.  He  served  four 
years  and  five  months,  under  two  enlist- 
ments, in  the  First  New  York  Light  Ar- 
tillery, and  participated  in  thirty-seven  en- 
gagements. He  was  with  General  Mc- 
Clellan  during  the  entire  campaign  in 
Virginia  and  participated  in  many  engage- 
ments on  the  Peninsula.  Some  of  the  more 
important  battles  of  that  campaign  in 
which  Mr.  Gibbs  participated  were  York- 
town,  Lees  Mills,  Dam  No.  2,  Fair  Oaks, 
Grapevine  Bridge,  Seven  Pines,  Ganes 
Farm,  Cold  Harbor,  Front  of  Richmond, 
Mechanicville,  Seven  Days  Fight  and  the 
Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run.  Mr.  Gibbs* 
second  enlistment  was  with  General  Meade, 
under  whose  command  he  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Antietam,  Fredericksburg, 
Marys  Heights,  Chancellorville,  Winches- 
ter, Cedar  Creek,  Mount  Jackson,  The 
Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  Bermuda  Hun- 
dred and  Petersburg. 

After  the  war  James  Gibbs  lived  on  his 
father's  New  York  farm  a  few  years  and 
about  1870  came  West  and  located  in  Le 
Sueur  county,  Minnesota.  There  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  at 
farming  until  1882,  worked  at  his  trade  in 
Minneapolis  until  1893,  and  in  Marshall 
until  19  04.  Since  then  he  has  lived  a  re- 
tired life.  Elenora  (Smith)  Gibbs,  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  is  also  a  native  of 
Post  Creek,  New  York. 

Four  children  of  James  Gibbs'  family 
are  living:  Eva  (Mrs.  A.  T.  Drew),  of  Mar- 
shall; Rose  (Mrs.  D.  N.  Hunt),  of  Minne- 
apolis; Pina  (Mrs.  H.  S.  Corning),  of  Min- 
neapolis; and  Cassius,  of  this  biography. 


OSMUND  N.  MITCHELL  (1900),  of 
Shelburne  township,  owns  and  farms  360 
acres  of  the  precinct's  fertile  soil.  He  is 
not  a  pioneer  resident  of  Lyon  county  but 
he  has  prospered  and  is  rated  as  one  of  the 
substantial  farmers.  His  home  place  is 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  33,  on 
the  southern  boundary  of  the  county. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch  was  born  near  Stavanger,  Norway, 
April  26,  1866.  His  father,  Nels  Mikkel- 
son,  died  in  1887;  his  mother,  Ingeborg 
(Osmundson)  Mikkelson,  two  years  later. 
Until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  young 
Mitchell  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
land.  Then  he  spent  four  years  working 
as  a  farm  laborer,  three  years  for  an  uncle 
and  one  year  on  the  home  place. 

In  1887  Mr.  Mitchell  came  to  America. 
The  first  two  years  in  the  New  World  were 
spent  working  on  the  railroad  in  Living- 
ston county,  Illinois;  then  he  worked  at 
farm  labor  in  Lasalle  county  two  years. 
He  was  married  in  1891  and  moved  to 
Kossuth  county,  Iowa,  where  he  bought 
land  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1900. 

In  the  spring  of  that  year  Mr.  Mitchell 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  purchased  200 
acres  of  land  on  the  west  half  of  section 
33,  Shelburne  township,  upon  which  he  has 
ever  since  resided.  In  the  fall  of  1910 
he  purchased  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 32,  making  him  a  farm  of  3  60  acres. 
Mr.  Mitchell  raises  considerable  stock,  in- 
cluding Hereford  cattle,  Duroc-Jersey  hogs 
and  Barred  Plymouth  Rock  chickens. 

Mr.  Mitchell  is  interested  in  several 
other  enterprises.  He  has  stock  in  the 
State  Bank  of  Florence,  the  Farmers  Ele- 
vator Company  of  Ruthton,  and  the  In- 
dependent Harvester  Company  of  Piano, 
Illinois.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  school 
district  No.  57  for  the  past  ten  years. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Mitchell  to  Lena 
Olson  occurred  in  Streator,  Illinois,  De- 
cember 26,  1890.  Mrs.  Mitchell  was  born 
in  Norway  April  30,  1875,  the  daughter 
of  Andrew  and  Martha  (Severson)  Olson. 
The  head  of  the  family  came  to  America 
in  1886  and  the  rest  of  the  family  in 
1890.  They  lived  in  Lasalle  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  Kossuth  county,  Iowa,  and  in 
1903  moved  to  Cottonwood  county,  Minne- 
sota, where  they  now  reside.  Mrs.  Mitch- 
ell has  two  brothers,  Severt  Olson,  of  Cot- 


5:32 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


tonwood  county,  and  John  Olson,  of  Lac 
qui  Parle  county.  Mr.  Mitchell  has  one 
brother,  James,  of  Kossuth  county,  Iowa. 
Ten  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mitchell,  as  follows:  Ida,  of  Elrua, 
Washington,  born  November  11,  1891; 
Mary,  born  September  2  3,  1893;  Moses, 
born  November  18,  1895;  Hannah,  born 
August  14,  1897;  Jennie,  deceased,  born 
March  18,  18  99;  Esther,  born  December 
24,  1901;  Frances,  born  April  21,  1903; 
Oscar,  born  February  24,  1906;  Genevieve, 
deceased,  born  April  11,  1909;  Levain, 
born  April  6,  1911.  All  except  the  old- 
est child  reside  at  home. 


PHILIP  HOFNER  (1905),  proprietor  of 
a  Tracy  meat  market,  has  been  a  resident 
of  that  city  since  April,  1905.  The  shop, 
which  is  largely  in  the  management  of  his 
two  sons,  Charlie  and  Paul,  is  situated  on 
the  corner  of  Third  and  Morgan  Streets, 
and  the  proprietor  handles  all  kinds  of 
fresh  and  salt  meats. 

Philip  Hofner  was  born  in  Germany 
January  23,  1851,  and  came  to  America 
when  a  boy  of  sixteen.  He  settled  in  Du- 
buque, Iowa,  and  lived  in  that  state  until 
moving  to  Tracy.  Learning  the  butcher 
business  soon  after  his  arrival  in  this 
country,  young  Hofner  started  in  business 
for  himself  and  conducted  a  meat  market 
during  all  the  years  he  was  a  resident  of 
Iowa. 

He  was  married  in  Dubuque  to  Lizzie 
Liebarnt,  a  native  of  the  city  in  which 
she  was  married.  Eight  children  were 
born  to  them,  as  follows:  Lena,  William, 
Barney,  Louise,  Lizzie,  Loui,  Charlie  and 
Paul. 

Charlie  Hofner,  who  with  his  brother 
Paul  manages  his  father's  market,  was 
born  at  Oelwein,  Iowa,  December  31,  1883. 
Paul  was  also  born  at  Oelwein,  on  July  28, 
1889.  While  young  boys  the  family 
moved  to  Riceville,  Iowa,  where  the  chil- 
dren received  their  early  education  and 
where  they  were  taken  into  their  father's 
market  and  taught  the  butcher  business. 
When  the  elder  Mr.  Hofner  bought  the 
shop  of  Lynch  &  Shellhorn  in  Tracy  the 
boys  came  from  Iowa  to  help  conduct  the 
business.  At  that  time  the  shop  occupied 
the   building   which   now   houses   the  Fitch 


music  store,  and  it  was  later  moved  to  its 
present  location. 


PHIL  CARON  (1883)  assists  his  brother 
Leon  conduct  the  farm  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  4,  Grandview  township. 
He  was  born  in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois5.. 
October  15,  1875,  and  was  brought  up  on 
his   father's  farm. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Theo- 
dore and  Julia  (Constantine)  Caron,  natives 
of  Canada,  having  been  born  in  Three  Riv- 
ers and  Louisville,  respectively.  They  were 
early  settlers  of  Kankakee  county,  Mr.  Caron 
moving  there  when  twenty-two  years  of  age. 
He  soon  after  married  and  he  and  his  family 
lived  in  Illinois  until  coming  to  Lyon  county 
in  1883.  Mr.  Caron  is  still  living  on  his 
old  farm  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 4  with  his  sons  Leon  and  Phil  and  his 
daughter  Marie.  His  wife  died  in  1899,  aged 
sixty-six   years. 

Phil  has  always  lived  at  home  with  the 
family  and  has  had  a  continuous  residence 
on  the  Grandview  township  farm  with  the 
exception  of  three  years  when  the  family 
lived  in  St.  Paul.  He  was  married  in  Ghent 
on  January  15,  1900,  to  Vitiline  Paradis,  a 
native  of  Canada  and  a  daughter  of  Teles 
Paradis,  a  farmer  living  south  of  Marshall. 
Mrs.  Caron  died  May  15,  1900,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years. 

Phil  Caron  has  the  following  sisters  and 
brothers  living:  Lizzie  (Mrs.  Louis  Reg- 
nier),  Bertha  (widow  of  I.  R.  Patriaude), 
Cecile  (Mrs.  George  Regnier),  Marie,  who 
lives  at  home;  and  Leon,  who  conducts  the 
home  farm  with  his  brother. 


CARL  LINDSTROM  (1S98),  proprietor  of 
the  Marshall  Steam  Laundry,  was  born  in 
Sweden  December  19,  1867.  He  secured  his 
education  and  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  the 
old  country  working  on  a  farm.  He  came 
to  America  in  1886  and  for  five  years  worked 
in  the  Pullman  car  shops  in  Chicago.  He 
then  learned  the  laundry  business  and  was 
the  manager  of  a  laundry  in  Chicago  for  sev- 
eral years. 

Mr.  Lindstrom  located  in  Marshall  in  1898, 
bought  the  laundry  of  Gieseke,  Sullivan  & 
Addison,  installed  new  machinery  through- 
out, and  has  since  conducted  the  business. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


533 


He  has  installed  porcelain  tubs  and  conducts 
a  bath  house  in  connection.  Mr.  Lindstrom 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Modern 
Woodmen    lodges. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Johannes 
Carlson  and  Alary  Katherina  Carlson,  who 
reside  in  Sweden.  Five  children  of  the  fam- 
ily, Alfred,  Gustaf,  Carl,  Frank  and  Otto,  re- 
side in  the  United  States,  while  August, 
Adolph  and  Emma  live  in  Sweden. 


WILLIAM  C.  PALMER  (1897),  of  Coon 
Creek  township,  was  born  in  Marshall  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  July  14,  1867,  a  son  of  E.  B. 
and  Gurtrud  (Vincent)  Palmer,  both  natives 
of  New  York.  When  two  years  of  age  Wil- 
liam accompanied  his  parents  to  Keokuk 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  received  his  educa- 
tion and  grew  to  manhood.  In  1888  he  rent- 
ed land  in  Iowa  and  started  farming  for  him- 
self. 

In  1897  Mr.  Palmer  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  purchased  land  in  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship. He  owns  a  fine  farm  of  280  acres  and 
raises  considerable  stock,  including  Hereford 
cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs.  Mr.  Palmer 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  following  enterprises: 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Russell,  Tyler 
Telephone  Company  and  the  American  Here- 
ford Cattle  Association  of  Kansas  City,  Mis- 
souri. He  is  chairman  of  the  Township 
Board  and  clerk  of  school  district  No.  76. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic  lodge, 
being  a  charter  member  of  McKinley  Lodge 
of  Tyler. 

At  What  Cheer,  Iowa,  December  27,  1888, 
Mr.  Palmer  was  married  to  Minnie  Law- 
rence, a  native  of  Iowa  and  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  A.  D.  and  Elizabeth  (Thomas)  Law- 
rence, natives  of  New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Palmer  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
named  children:  Mildred,  Ethel,  Helen, 
Carrie  and  Rubey. 


TENNES  A.  LENDE  (1900)  is  a  butcher 
and  dealer  in  live  stock  in  Cottonwood.  He 
was  born  on  his  father's  farm  near  Hanley 
Falls,  Minnesota,  August  23,  1874,  a  son  of 
Andrew  O.  and  Martha  M.  (Hanson)  Lende, 
natives  of  Norway.  They  settled  in  Minne- 
sota in  an  early  day.  They  resided  in  Yel- 
low Medicine  county  until  1895,  when  the 
father  moved  to  Cottonwood  and  engaged  in 


the  live  stock  business.  In  1900  the  family 
moved  to  Cottonwood.  Mr.  Lende  died  Oc- 
tober 9,  1905,  aged  fifty-nine  years.  The 
mother  resides  in  Cottonwood. 

Tennes  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Yellow 
Medicine  county.  There  he  received  his  edu- 
cation, completing  it  with  a  course,  in  1893- 
94,  in  the  Willmar  Seminary.  He  lived  on 
the  farm  until  1900,  when  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Lyon  county  and  located  at 
Cottonwood.  There  he  engaged  in  the  butch- 
er and  live  stock  business  with  his  father, 
taking  full  charge  after  his  father's  death. 
He  has  conducted  the  business  since  that 
time  with  the  exception  of  twenty-one 
months,  when  Keehn  Brothers  were  in 
charge.  He  again  bought  the  business  in 
1910. 

Mr.  Lende  is  a  stockholder  of  the  First 
National  Bank  and  of  the  North  Star  Imple- 
ment Company.  He  served  three  terms  on 
the  Cottonwood  Village  Council.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  following  lodges:  Ma- 
sonic, Modern  Woodmen,  Eastern  Star  and 
Maccabees. 

Our  subject  is  a  brother  of  State  Senator 
O.  A.  Lende.  He  has  five  brothers  and  five 
sisters:  Senator  Olai  A.,  Tennes  A.,  Minnie 
(Mrs.  W.  L.  Gray),  Lorinda,  Mattie,  Elmer, 
Mihlo,  Elfta,  Rebecca,  Corillan  and  Norman. 

Mr.  Lende  was  married  in  Cottonwood  No- 
vember 9,  1910,  to  Daisy  Edna  Gibb,  a  resi- 
dent of  that  village  and  a  native  of  Lyon 
county.  She  was  born  May  21,  1884,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  J.  F.  Gibb,  an  early  settler 
of  the  county. 


MRS.  KATHERINE  McMAHON  (1884),  of 
Eidsvold  township,  is  the  widow  of  Joseph 
James  McMahon,  one  of  the  early  day  set- 
tlers of  the  township.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Katherine  O'Connor  and  she  was  born 
in  Washtenaw  county,  Michigan,  November 
7,  1862.  Her  father,  James  O'Connor,  was 
born  in  Michigan  and  her  mother,  Sarah 
(McLaughlin)  O'Connor,  was  born  in  Rhode 
Island.  The  former  died  in  1892  and  the 
latter  in  1907.  Miss  O'Connor  received  her 
education  and  grew  to  womanhood  in  her 
native  state,  and  in  1882  she  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mr.   McMahon. 

Joseph  James  McMahon  was  also  a  native 
of  Michigan  and  was  born  January  15,  1855. 
His  father,  Francis  McMahon,  and  his  moth- 


534 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


er,  Mary  (McGar)  McMahon,  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  1882  and  located  in  Eidsvold  town- 
ship, where  they  resided  until  their  deaths. 
Mrs.  McMahon  died  on  Christmas  Day,  1893, 
and  Mr.  McMahon  on  December  11,  1908. 

In  his  native  state  James  McMahon  grew 
to  man's  estate.  He  was  married  in  1882, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1884,  largely  as  a  re- 
sult of  the  advertising  matter  sent  out  by 
the  Catholic  colonization  people,  he  and  his 
wife  came  to  Lyon  county  and  bought  land 
in  the  extreme  northwestern  corner  of  the 
county,  on  section  6,  Eidsvold.  There  he 
resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Jan- 
uary 13,  1905,  and  there  his  family  still  lives. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  McMahon  the  fol- 
lowing named  children  were  born:  William 
Francis,  born  January  5,  1883;  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, born  March  5.  1885;  Margaret  Ellen, 
deceased,  born  December  17,  1887;  Zita  Ann 
(Mrs.  Edward  Buckley),  of  Minneota,  born 
February  28,  1889;  Katherine,  deceased,  born 
May  16,  1891;  Joseph,  born  May  2,  1895; 
Katherine  Ann,  bora  June  28,  1898;  Lucy 
Ellen,  born  December  20,  1900.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  church  of 
Minneota. 


EDWARD  DE  CLERK  (1890),  senior  pro- 
prietor of  the  Marshall  Bottling  Works,  was 
born  in  Holland  August  15,  1868,  and  is  a 
son  of  Bernard  De  Clerk  and  Mary  (De 
Smet)  De  Clerk.  Edward  has  one  brother, 
Peter,  living  in  Indiana,  and  a  sister,  Rosa, 
residing  in  Fargo,  North  Dakota.  His  par- 
ents came  to  this  country  from  Holland  in 
1892  and  live  in  Marshall. 

Edward  De  Clerk  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1889  and  lived  eight  months  in 
New  York  before  settling  in  Westerheim 
township,  Lyon  county,  in  December.  1890. 
There  he  made  his  home  for  the  next  four 
years,  then  bought  200  acres  in  Clifton  and 
Stanley  townships,  and  farmed  for  himself 
until  the  spring  of  1911,  when  he  rented  his 
place  and  moved  to  Marshall.  In  March, 
1911,  Mr.  De  Clerk  and  Emery  Fuller  bought 
the  Marshall  Bottling  Works  and  deep  water 
well  from  A.  C.  Porter  and  are  continuing 
the  business  under  that  name.  They  bottle 
all  kinds  of  carbonated  drinks  and  find  a 
large  market  for  the  celebrated  Silver 
Springs  water. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Europe  in  1900 


to  Leonie  Van  De  Veire.  Three  children 
were  born  to  this  union,  all  of  whom  are 
dead.  The  wife  died  in  1910.  Mr.  De  Clerk 
was  married  a  second  time,  to  Emma  De- 
fever,  a  native  of  Belgium.  Our  subject  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 


MILTOX  S.  CLARK  (1905)  is  a  farmer 
and  owner  of  Lyon  county  real  estate  and 
resides  in  Rock  Lake  township.  He  farms 
162  acres  of  land  on  the  north  edge  of  the 
precinct. 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  near  Creighton,  Ne- 
braska, May  13,  1886,  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  that 
state,  and  later  took  a  course  in  Wayne 
College,  of  Wayne,  Nebraska.  After  work- 
ing out  on  farms  in  his  native  state  for  a 
time,  he  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1905.  worked 
on  farms  for  awhile,  and  then  engaged  in 
the  livery  business  at  Lynd  one  winter.  For 
a  few  months  he  worked  in  the  horse  barns 
of  William  B.  Peniston  at  Marshall  and  then 
for  a  time  worked  out  at  various  forms  of 
labor. 

In  1910  Mr.  Clark  started  in  business  for 
himself  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
farming  in  Rock  Lake.  He  raises  Holstein 
and  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs. 
He  has  been  quite  successful  in  his  under- 
takings. 

Gladys  Blanchard  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Clark  December  7,  1910.  She  was  bora  in 
Rock  Lake  township  June  22,  1890,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  L.  Blanchard,  pio- 
neers of  the  county.  One  child  was  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark,  Ruby,  born  May  1, 
1912,   and   died  the  following  day. 

Edward  and  Hattie  (Hughton)  Clark,  the 
parents  of  our  subject,  were  born  in  Wis- 
consin and  Kansas,  respectively,  and  are 
now  residents  of  the  last  named  common- 
wealth. Milton  is  one  of  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  the  others  being  as  follows:  Wal- 
ter, a  veteran  of  the  Spanish-American  War 
and  now  a  resident  of  Brockton,  Montana; 
Frank,  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  George,  of  Rock 
Lake  township;  Charles,  of  Norfolk,  Nebras- 
ka; Harry,  of  South  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  Ro- 
land and  Warren,  of  Rock  Lake  township; 
and  Harley,  Oscar.  Grace  and  Nina,  all  of 
Norfolk,  Nebraska. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


cor 


REV.  HENRY  VICTOR  VAX  WAL- 
LEGHEM  (1905),  pastor  of  the  Catholic 
Church  of  St.  Eloi  in  Ghent,  was  born  in 
Belgium  March  IS,  1866.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  and  colleges  of 
his  native  land.  After  a  course  at  Bruges 
he  was  ordained  a  priest,  and  at  Louvain  he 
later  studied  philosophy,  taking  a  post-grad- 
uate course  in  that  subject  and  in  science. 

Rev.  Van  Walleghem  was  graduated  from 
Louvain  in  1892,  and,  returning  to  Bruges, 
he  was  a  teacher  of  mathematics  and  the 
sciences  in  the  college  until  1903.  In  the 
latter  year  he  came  to  America  and  spent 
six  mouths  in  Rochester,  New  York,  as 
assistant  pastor  of  the  Franco-Belgian 
church,   Our  Lady  of  Victory,   in   that   city. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1903  Rev.  Van  Wal- 
leghem was  called  to  the  assistant  pastor- 
ate of  St.  Luke's  Parish  in  St.  Paul,  where 
he  remained  one  year.  He  was  then  sent 
to  Ghent  to  take  charge  of  the  Church  of 
St.  Eloi.  where  he  has  since  served. 


WILLIAM  C.  AHERN  (1884),  farmer  of 
Eidsvold  township,  has  resided  in  that  pre- 
cinct since  he  was  eleven  years  of  age.  He 
was  bora  in  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  May 
6,  1873,  and  in  1884  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Lyon  county.  The  father  purchased  land 
on  section  8,  Eidsvold,  and  eventually  be- 
came the  owner  of  the  whole  section. 

William  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  1903, 
engaging  with  his  brothers  in  its  manage- 
ment after  the  father's  death  in  1896.  In 
1903  he  was  married  and  bought  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  22  and  forty  acres 
on  section  21.  He  moved  to  his  new  home, 
improved  the  place,  and  has  since  made 
his  home  there.  Mr.  Ahern  served  one  term 
as  a  member  of  the  township  board. 

Garrett  and  Kate  (Brown)  Ahern,  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  were  born  in  Ireland 
and  came  to  America  when  children.  They 
resided  in  Springfield,  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  for  many  years  and  after  1884  in 
Lyon  county.  Garrett  Ahern  died  on  the 
farm  November  27,  1896;  his  widow  still 
lives  on  the  home  farm  with  her  son  James 
and  two  daughters.  There  were  thirteen 
children  in  the  family,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing named  ten  are  living:  Philip  P.,  of 
Taunton;  Josie,  Nell  (Mrs.  Thomas  Walsh), 
of  Fargo,  North  Dakota;  William  C,  of  this 


biography;  James,  who  farms  the  home 
place;  Mike  F.,  cashier  of  the  State  hank 
Of  Taunton;  Katherine  (Mrs.  Maurice 
Breen),  of  Minneapolis;  Thomas  G.,  a  bank- 
er, of  Hampden,  North  Dakota;  Garrett,  a 
merchant  of  Taunton;  and  Annie,  a  school 
teacher. 

William  C.  Ahern  was  married  in  Mar- 
shall June  10,  1903,  to  Mamie  Breen,  a  na- 
tive of  Missouri  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Breen,  cue  of  the  prominent  farmers  of 
Westerheim  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ahern 
have  five  children:  .  Margaret,  Lucile,  Eve- 
lyn, Joseph  and  Eleanor. 


VICTOR  VERGAUWE  (1909)  is  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  which  owns  the  City 
Meat  Market  of  Marshall.  He  was  born  in 
Flanders,  Belgium,  September  29,  1880,  and 
there  he  was  educated  and  resided  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  During  the  next 
six  years  he  was  engaged  in  working  at  the 
butcher  trade  in  various  towns  of  Belgium. 
Germany  and  France. 

From  the  city  of  Paris  Mr.  Vergauwe  de- 
parted for  the  United  States,  arriving  in 
New  York  in  October,  1908.  For  some  time 
he  was  employed  as  a  meat  cutter  in  a 
New  York  shop  at  the  corner  of  Sixth  Ave- 
nue and  Twenty-fourth  Street.  Mr.  Ver- 
gauwe took  up  his  residence  in  Marshall  in 
October,  1909,  at  which  time  he  bought  the 
City  Meat  Market.  He  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness alone  until  March  21,  1911,  when  he 
took  as  a  partner  Cyrille  Feryn.  The  part- 
ners deal  in  all  kinds  of  fresh  and  salt 
meats,  fish,  etc. 

Mr.  Vergauwe  is  not  married.  He  is  the 
son  of  Jacob  and  Clemencs  (Jacksons)  Ver- 
gauwe, both  of  whom  died  in  their  native 
land.  Victor  is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of 
seven  children,  the  others  being:  Camille, 
Jule,  Leon,  Henry,  Louise  and  Pharailde. 
Leon  Vergauwe  lives  in  Marshall,  Henry  in 
Edmonton,  Alberta,  Canada,  the  other  chil- 
dren in  Belgium. 


CHARLES  W.  CADY  (1892)  is  the  efficient 
mail  carrier  on  the  Lynd  route.  Mr.  Cady 
is  one  of  the  oldest  carriers  in  point  of  serv- 
ice in  the  state  of  Minnesota,  having  been 
in  the  service  twelve  years — ten  years  as 
regular  carrier  and  two  years  as  substitute. 


536 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


He  is  a  native  of  Vermont  and  was  bora  at 
YYilliston  on  April  11,  1860. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education 
in  the  district  schools  of  Vermont,  later  at- 
tending Essex  Classical  Institute  of  Ver- 
mont, where  he  finished  at  twenty-two  years 
of  age.  He  then  traveled  for  two  years  in 
Pennsylvania,  New  York  and  Ohio  for  a 
drug  house,  after  which  he  clerked  and 
worked  at  farm  labor  until  1892.  In  that 
year  he  came  to  Lyon  county,  worked  two 
years  for  O.  C.  Gregg  and  one  year  for 
the  state  on  the  Coteau  Farm.  Later  he 
moved  to  Camden  and  purchased  ten  acres 
of  land  and  engaged  in  truck-farming,  which 
occupation  he  followed  until  he  was  burned 
out  in  1905. 

.Air.  Cady  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  of  Lynd  and  is  recording  steward 
of  the  church.  He  was  director  of  school 
district  Xo.  14  for  three  years.  He  has  a 
comfortable  home  and  several  lots  in  the 
village   of  Lynd. 

On  March  21,  1892,  Mr.  Cady  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Bessie  Gregg  Mosher,  a 
daughter  of  William  E.  and  Julia  A.  (Bow- 
ers) Mosher,  of  Vermont.  Mrs.  Cady  is  a 
native  of  Vermont  and  was  born  at  St. 
Albans  Bay  June  IT,  1862.  They  have  an 
adopted  daughter,  Mrs.  Andrew  Larson,  of 
Hamill,   South   Dakota. 

Mr.  Cady's  grandfather  was  a  veteran  of 
the  War  of  1812,  and  some  of  his  other  an- 
cestors were  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 


DR.  EARL  L.  HALL  (1902)  is  a  phy- 
sician and  druggist  of  Russell.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  Badger  state  and  was  bora  at 
Eau  Claire  May  26,  1877.  He  is  a  son  of 
'Frank  A.  and  Nancy  M.  (Mcintosh)  Hall, 
the  former  a  native  of  Massachusettts  and 
the  latter  of  Maine.  Mrs.  Hall  died  in  1905. 
The  father  resides  at  San  Francisco.  They 
were  the  parents  of  two  sons:  Dr.  E.  L., 
of  this  sketch,  and  Neale  C,  of  Lead,  South 
Dakota.  The  latter  is  county  treasurer  of 
Lawrence  county. 

Our  subject  was  graduated  from  the  Eau 
Claire  High  School  in  the  modern  classical 
course.  He  later  attended  the  Medical  De- 
partment of  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1902.  After 
that  he  was  house  physician  in  the  Minne- 
apolis City  Hospital  one  year. 


Dr.  Hall  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1902  and 
located  at  Russell  for  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  has  practised  there  continu- 
ously since  that  date  and  has  been  very 
successful.  In  April,  1911,  he  purchased  the 
C.  J.  Wimer  drug  store  at  Russell.  He  has 
put  up  a  splendid  building  next  to  the  post- 
office  and  has  one  of  the  neatest  and  best 
arranged  drug  stores  in  this  section  of  the 
state. 

Dr.  Hall  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic 
and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges  and  has  served 
as  master  of  Coteau  Lodge  Xo.  244  two 
years.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Vil- 
lage Council  of  Russell  the  past  six  years 
and  was  president  of  that  body  three  years. 

Our  subject  was  married  at  Eau  Claire 
April  28,  1906,  to  Florence  Pickett,  a  native 
of  that  place.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,    Robert   and   Richard. 


EVAN  M.  JONES  (1897)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  general  merchandise  store  at 
Garvin,  postmaster  of  that  village,  editor 
of  the  Garvin  Leader,  and  interested  in 
several  other  enterprises  of  his  town.  He 
has  resided  in  the  county  fifteen  years  and 
has  become  prominently  identified  with 
Garvin's  business  and  social  interests. 
During  the  entire  forty-five  years  of  his 
life  he  has  lived  in  Minnesota. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Blue  Earth 
county  January  19,  1867,  and  spent  his 
early  years  there.  He  was  educated  in 
the  Mankato  Normal  School  and  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  years  began  teaching  school,, 
which  he  followed  several  years.  He  lo- 
cated in  Murray  county  in  1890  and  for 
seven  years  engaged  in  farming.  Mr. 
Jones  became  a  resident  of  Lyon  county 
in  18  97,  when  he  located  at  Russell  and 
established  a  general  merchandise  store. 
One  year  later  he  disposed  of  that  and  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Garvin,  being  the 
third  merchant  to  become  established  in 
that  village.  He  erected  at  that  time  the 
building  in  which  he  has  since  conducted 
the  business. 

Mr.  Jones  has  served  as  postmaster  of 
Garvin  since  September,  1900,  and  he  has 
edited  the  Garvin  Leader  since  June,  1911. 
He  is  treasurer  of  the  Garvin  Creamery 
Company,  secretary  of  the  local  Board  of 
Education,    and    one    of    the    directors    of 


EVAN  M.  JONES 
Postmaster,  Merchant  and  Editor  of  Garvin. 


FRANK  D.  PINCKNEY 
Cashier  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Garvin. 


CHARLES   W.  CADY 

One  of  Minnesota's  First   Rural  Mail 
Carriers. 


DR.   E.   L.   HALL 
Physician  and  Druggist  of  Russell. 


I'.hHlKAl'IllCAL   HISTORY. 


:»:;? 


the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Garvin.      Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  Mason  and  a  Woodman. 

In  Blue  Earth  county,  on  October  19, 
18  89,  Mr.  Jones  was  wedded  to  Maggie  J. 
Williams.  She  was  born  in  Wisconsin  and 
died  March  7,  1901,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
two  years.  As  a  result  of  this  union  three 
children  were  born,  Allen,  Benjamin  and 
Margaret.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr. 
Jones  occurred  May  30,  1902,  when  he 
wedded  Clara  Helleson,  a  native  of  Lyon 
county  and  a  daughter  of  Clemet  Helle- 
son, an  early  settler.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones 
have  two  children,  Mabel  and  Vivian. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  is  of 
Welsh  descent.  His  father,  William  P. 
Jones,  was  born  in  Wales  July  15,  1828, 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1847,  lived 
in  Jackson  county,  Ohic,  until  1856,  and 
then  became  a  resident  of  Blue  Earth 
county,  Minnesota.  There  he  became  a 
prominent  citizen.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Home  Guards  at  the  time  of  the  In- 
dian War,  and  in  1877  he  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Minnesota  Legislature.  He  died 
at  Lake  Crystal  May  28,  1908.  Our  sub- 
ject's mother,  Margaret  (Walters)  Jones, 
was  born  in  Wales  in  1831  and  now  re- 
sides at  Lake  Crystal.  There  were  sixteen 
children  in  the  family,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing named  thirteen  are  living:  John, 
William,  Ursula,  Maggie,  Ann,  Mary, 
Stephen,  Thomas,  Elizabeth,  Evan  M.,  Wal- 
ter, Samuel  and  Dorothy. 


FRANK  D.  PINCKNEY  (1905)  is  cash- 
ier of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Garvin 
and  a  member  of  the  Garvin  Real  Estate 
Company.  He  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and 
was  born  in  Astoria  February  25,'  1882,  a 
son  of  Howel  and  Mame  (Watkins)  Pinck- 
ney,  the  former  a  native  of  New  York 
and  the  latter  of  Wisconsin.  They  reside 
at  Lake  Benton.  There  are  four  children 
in  the  family:  Frank  D.,  of  this  sketch; 
Watkin  T.,  of  Lynchburg,  Virginia;  Leon 
and  Jennette,  who  reside  at  home.  Mr. 
Pinckney,  Sr.,  has  a  national  reputation 
as  an  auctioneer. 

When  two  years  of  age  Frank  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Western  Kansas, 
where  they  resided  eight  years,  returning 
at  the  end  of  that  period  to  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,   where   they   lived    five   years   and 


where  Frank  attended  school.  They  then 
moved  to  Pike  county,  Missouri,  where 
they  farmed  for  two  and  one-half  years, 
after  which  they  moved  to  Lake  Benton, 
Minnesota,  near  which  place  they  farmed 
and  where  Frank  completed  his  schooling. 
In  June,  1905,  our  subject  moved  to  Gar- 
vin and  entered  the  Lyon  County  Bank  as 
cashier,  a  position  he  held  until  that  bank 
was  absorbed  by  the  Farmers  State  Bank. 
Since  that  time  he  has  held  the  position 
of  cashier  of  the  last  named  institution. 
Mr.  Pinckney  holds  membership  in  the 
Modern  Woodmen  and  Elks  lodges. 

Mr.  Pinckney  was  married  June  16, 
1909,  to  Winnie  Lybarger,  a  native  of  St. 
Charles,  Minnesota. 


JOHN  KNUDSON  (1899)  is  one  of  the 
progressive  farmers  of  Eidsvold  township 
residing  a  few  miles  north  of  Minneota.  He 
owns  the  north  half  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  14  and  the  north  half  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  13. 

John  Knudson's  parents,  Knut  Follinglo 
and  Gertrude  Follinglo,  are  dead.  Our  sub- 
ject is  the  only  one  of  the  family  living  in 
America.  The  others  are  Knute,  Carrie, 
Mary  and  Annie. 

In  Norway,  on  January  14,  1859,  John 
Knudson  was  born.  He  attended  school  and 
spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  father's  farm. 
In  May,  1884,  he  came  to  America,  lived  two 
years  at  Glencoe,  Minnesota,  and  then  took 
up  his  residence  in  Minneapolis,  where  he 
resided  for  the  next  thirteen  years.  During 
that  period  of  residence  he  worked  for  the 
Standard  Oil  Company,  in  a  planing  mill,  and 
for  a  piano  house. 

Mr.  Knudson  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1899, 
rented  the  farm  he  now  owns  two  years, 
and  then  purchased  it.  At  the  time  he  be- 
came the  owner  the  only  improvements  the 
farm  boasted  were  a  little  shack  and  a  few 
cottonwood  trees.  Now  it  is  one  of  the 
best  improved  farms  of  the  township,  con- 
taining a  two-story,  eight-room  house,  barn 
and  other  buildings,  fences,  groves,  and  a 
brick  tile  silo  of  ninety-ton  capacity,  erected 
in  the  summer  of  1912.  Mr.  Knudson  is  one 
of  the  first  four  farmers  in  Lyon  county  to 
erect  a  silo  of  this  kind.  The  others  are 
John  O'Connor,  Helge  Helgeson  and  Andrew 
Jacobson.     Mr.   Knudson   intends  to  engage 


538 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


extensively  in  the  feeding  of  cattle  and  hogs. 
The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Marie  T. 
Swennes  occurred  in  Minneapolis  May  14, 
1892.  She  was  born  in  Norway  and  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1889.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Knudson  have  nine  sons  and  one  daughter, 
named  as  follows:  George,  Ingwald,  Edwin, 
Martin,  Knute,  Theodore,  Otto,  Johann,  An- 
drew and  Gertrude.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of 
Minneota.  Mr.  Knudson  has  been  township 
supervisor  the  past  six  years. 


A.  C.  DALE  (1893)  is  the  proprietor  of  a 
blacksmith  and  repair  shop  in  Minneota. 
He  was  born  in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  June 
27,  1858,  a  son  of  Sarah  L.  (Harris)  Dale,  a 
native  of  Ohio.  Our  subject  was  the  only 
child.  The  mother  was  married  a  second 
time  to  C.  M.  Hopkins.  To  this  union  have 
been  born  the  following  seven  children: 
William,  Edward,  Forest,  Bertrand.  Nettie, 
Hattie  and  Susie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hopkins 
reside  at  Rochester,  Minnesota. 

Our  subject  accompanied  his  parents  when 
a  child  to  Michigan,  Iowa,  and  later  to  Olm- 
sted county,  Minnesota.  At  the  latter  place 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  learned  the  black- 
smith's trade.  After  finishing  his  apprentice- 
ship he  conducted  shops  at  the  following 
places:  Orien  Mills,  Minnesota;  Grand 
Meadows,  Minnesota;  Douglas  Station,  Min- 
nesota; Hadley,  Minnesota;  Ireton,  Iowa; 
Rochester,  Minnesota;  and  Slayton,  Minne- 
sota. 

In  the  spring  of  1893  our  subject  came 
to  Lyon  county  and  located  at  Tracy,  where 
he  conducted  a  blacksmith  shop  until  March, 
1895.  He  then  moved  to  Minneota,  where  he 
has  since  conducted  a  shop,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  three  years  spent  at  Des  Moines, 
Iowa.  At  the  latter  place  he  was  employed 
by  his  half-brothers,  the  Hopkins  Brothers, 
who  conducted  a  bicycle  and  repair  shop. 
Mr.  Dale  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge. 

Mr.  Dale  was  married  in  Murray  county 
June  11,  1882,  to  Mary  E.  Luce,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dale  are  the 
parents  of  seven  children:  Maud,  William. 
Anna,  Hattie,  Hazel,  Earl  and  Norma. 


JULIUS  T.  DAHL  (1908)  is  the  proprietor 
of  a  photograph  gallery  at  Marshall.    He  was 


born  in  Winona  county,  Minnesota,  but  when 
a  child  accompanied  his  parents  to  Richland 
county,  North  Dakota,  where  he  resided  on 
a  farm  until  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He 
then  learned  photography  and  later  con- 
ducted a  gallery  at  Mayville.  North  Dakota,' 
three  years.  The  next  four  years  were  spent 
in  the  business  at  Kindred,  North  Dakota. 
Then,  in  1908  he  located  in  Marshall,  con- 
ducted a  gallery  in  the  Opera  House  Block 
a  short  time,  and  then  bought  the  Oftey 
gallery  in  the  rooms  over  the  Hollo  store, 
where  he  has  since  been. 

Mr.  Dahl  is  the  son  of  Tom  Olson  and 
Mary  (Uldrickson)  Olson.  His  parents  were 
born  in  Norway,  located  at  Winona  upon 
their  arrival  to  America,  and  now  reside  at 
Walcott,  Richland  county,  North  Dakota. 
There  are  five  children  in  the  family,  as  fol- 
lows: Rhoda,  Ole,  Julius  T.,  Theodore  and 
.Martin. 

In  North  Dakota,  during  the  month  of 
June,  1897,  Mr.  Dahl  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Carrie  Fatland.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  the  following  named  daughters:  Cla- 
rissa, Mabel,  Louisa  and  Dora. 


WILSON  HERRON  (1904)  is  a  farmer 
and  land  owner  of  Rock  Lake  township.  He 
was  born  in  Newton  county.  Indiana,  August 
1,  1872.  His  parents,  Samuel  and  Elenor 
(Waren)  Herron,  were  born  in  Ohio,  moved 
to  Indiana  during  the  Civil  War,  and  resided 
in  that  state  until  their  deaths. 

Wilson  attended  the  schools  of  the  Hoosier 
State  until  seventeen  years  of  age  and  from 
that  time  until  he  was  twenty-two  he  con- 
ducted the  home  farm.  He  operated  a  livery 
barn  at  Morocco,  Indiana,  four  years,  and 
for  three  years  thereafter  he  engaged  in 
farming  near  that  place. 

Mr.  Herron  engaged  in  farming  in  Poca- 
hontas county,  Iowa,  eight  months  and  in  the 
fall  of  1904  came  to  Lyon  county,  where  he 
has  since  farmed.  He  purchased  his  present 
place,  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  20,  in 
L908.  Mr.  Herron  is  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist church  of  Balaton  and  he  has  been  a 
director  of  school  district  No.  18  for  the 
past  three  years. 

At  Rensselear,  Indiana,  on  November  15, 
1896,  Mr.  Herron  was  married  to  Cora  Brown. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Jasper  county,  Indiana, 
April  3.  1874.     To  them  have  been  born  the 


IJKHJKAPIIICAL   IIISTOK'V 


:,:::• 


following  named    five   children:      Estal,    de- 
ceased; Cleo,  Beryl,  Palmer  and  Chester. 


WILLIAM  H.  CARROLL  (1909),  now  a 
retired  farmer  and  a  former  proprietor  of  the 
Exchange  Hotel  of  Tracy,  is  one  of  the  new- 
residents.  Mr.  Carroll  purchased  the  hotel 
property  in  October,  1909,  from  Edward 
Meyer  and  in  January,  1910,  moved  here 
from  Illinois  and  took  charge  of  the  business. 
In  August,  1911,  he  rented  the  building  and 
furnishings  to  J.  S.  Bartlett  &  Son.  who 
have  since  conducted  it. 

Mr.  Carroll  farmed  in  Illinois  for  many 
years  prior  to  coming  to  Minnesota.  He 
was  born  at  Kinderhook,  Columbia  county. 
New  York,  February  12,  1861,  his  parents 
being  John  and  Margaret  (Reid).  Carroll. 
His  mother  died  in  May,  1901,  and  his  father 
in  1909.  The' Carroll  family  moved  to  Illinois 
in  1865  and  engaged  in  farming,  the  father 
and  mother  residing  on  the  farm  at  the  time 
of  their  deaths. 

Our  subject  attended  the  common  schools 
in  Dekalb  county,  Illinois,  in  his  early  youth, 
and  later  attended  the  high  school  at  Malta, 
where  he  was  graduated  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  in 
Dekalb  county  until  1910,  at  which  time  he 
moved  to  Tracy,  having  purchased  the  hotel 
property  there  the  previous  year.  Before 
moving  to  Tracy  he  disposed  of  his  Illinois 
interests.  Mr.  Carroll  held  the  office  of 
school  director  for  a  number  of  years  before 
leaving  Illinois. 

On  March  28,  1898,  at  Chicago,  William  H. 
Carroll  was  married  to  Mary  Fischer,  a  na- 
tive of  Switzerland.  She  was  born  March 
26.  1865,  a  daughter  of  Christian  and  Kath- 
rina  (Spiech)  Fischer,  both  of  whom  died  in 
the  old  country.  Mrs.  Carroll  has  one  child, 
Mamie  H.  (Mrs.  Frank  Bzoskie),  of  Tracy. 
Mat  Zehman  and  Frank  Fischer,  two  brothers 
of  Mrs.  Carroll,  live  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Carroll 
has  one  sister,  Mary  (Mrs.  Frank  Young), 
who  lives  in  Malta,  Illinois. 


GEORGE  B.  CUTLER  (1900),  of  Lake 
Marshall  township,  was  born  in  Marshall, 
Wisconsin,  August  10,  1881,  a  son  of  George 
W.  and  Laura  (Mayhew)  Cutler,  who  located 
in  Lyon  county  in  1900.  Mr.  Cutler,  Sr., 
died  in  February,  1905.    The  mother  and  two 


daughters,  Fannie  and  Ruby,  reside  in  Mar- 
shall. Another  daughter  resides  in  Tracy 
and  a  son  at  Athol,  South  Dakota. 

Practically  the  first  twenty  years  of  our 
subject's  life  were  spent  in  and  near  Mar- 
shall. Wisconsin,  with  his  parents.  It  was 
there  that  he  received  his  schooling  and 
grew  to  manhood.  In  1900  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Lyon  county  and  spent  the 
first  year  working  south  of  Marshall.  For 
the  past  ten  years  Mr.  Cutler  has  operated 
the  home  farm.  He  holds  membership  in 
the  M.  W.  A.  lodge  at  Dudley,  Minnesota,  is 
a  stockholder  and  secretary  of  the  Lake  Mar- 
shall Rural  Telephone  Company,  and  is  a 
stockholder  of  the  Lyon  County  Agricultural 
Association.  Mr.  Cutler  is  a  breeder  of 
Black  Polled  Angus  cattle  and  Duroc-Jersey 
hogs,  with  which  he  has  taken  prizes  for 
several  years  at  the  Lyon  county  fair. 

May  18,  1910,  Mr.  Cutler  was  married  to 
Mabel  M.  French,  a  daughter  of  LeRoy  and 
Clara  French,  of  Chatfield,  Minnesota. 


OSCAR  A.  BURLINGAME  (1898)  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  Minneota  restaurant  and  a 
member  of  the  Yeomen  lodge  of  that  village. 
He  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Iowa,  August 
19,  1874.  When  he  was  eight  years  of  age 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Polk  county, 
Nebraska,  lived  there  three  years,  on  a  home- 
stead in  Keith  county,  Nebraska,  five  years, 
and  then  accompanied  his  parents  back  to 
Warren  county,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Burlingame  farmed  in  Warren  county 
seven  years,  was  proprietor  of  a  butcher 
shop  in  New  Virginia.  Iowa,  one  year,  and  in 
1898  came  to  Lyon  county.  He  worked  out 
one  summer  and  then  engaged  in«  farming 
and  operating  a  threshing  machine  until 
1906.  That  year  he  located  in  Minneota, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  following  lines  of 
work:  bought  cream  one  summer,  worked 
in  a  furniture  store  eighteen  months,  and 
worked  in  a  butcher  shop  sixteen  months. 
In  April,  1911,  Mr.  Burlingame  purchased  the 
McGinn  restaurant,  which  he  still  conducts. 

Mr.  Burlingame  was  married  in  Warren 
county,  Iowa,  February  7,  1900,  to  Emma  E. 
Nevins,  a  native  of  Illinois.  She  moved  to 
Warren  county,  Iowa,  when  a  child.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Burlingame  have  one  child,  Raymond 
A.,  born  September  17,  1909. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Josiah  and 


510 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Rachael  (Latnb)  Burlingame,  the  former  a 
native  of  Iowa  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  They 
reside  at  Bristol,  South  Dakota.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Oscar  A.,  Alta,  Malissia,  Lena  and 
Christmas. 


REV.  TH.  TYCHSEX  (1909)  has  been  pas- 
tor of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of 
Tracy  since  July,  1909.  In  addition  to  his 
Tracy  charge  Rev.  Tychsen  on  alternate 
Sundays  supplies  the  German  Lutheran  pul- 
pits at  Walnut  Grove  and  Cobden.  During 
the  winter  the  pastor  conducts  confirmation 
classes  among  his  congregations. 

Rev.  Tychsen  was  born  in  Schleswig-Hol- 
stein,  Germany,  October  21,  1882.  His  par- 
ents were  Peter  J.  and  Brigitta  Amalia  (Lor- 
enzen)  Tychsen,  both  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing in  Schleswig-Holstein,  Germany.  Our 
subject  received  his  early  education  in  Ger- 
many, attending  both  German  and  Danish 
schools  and  mastering  the  two  languages. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  took  up  farm 
labor  for  a  few  years,  later  attending  the 
German  Ministers  Seminary  near  Husum, 
Schleswig-Holstein,  Germany,  two  years. 

The  opportunity  to  come  to  America,  for 
which  he  had  been  waiting,  came  in  1905, 
and  the  close  of  that  year  found  our  sub- 
ject in  St.  Paul,  a  student  at  the  German 
Lutheran  Seminary.  The  intervening  years 
until  the  ordination  of  the  young  pastor  on 
June  20,  1909,  were  divided  between  study 
at  the  seminary  and  various  pulpits  which  he 
was  called  upon  to  supply.  During  the  win- 
ter of  1907  and  1908  our  subject  had  charge 
of  five  congregations  near  Regina,  Saskatche- 
wan, Canada.  He  was  there  seven  months 
before  returning  to  his  work  at  the  seminary. 
In  the  summer  of  1906  he  had  charge  of  the 
German  Lutheran  congregation  of  Pine  Val- 
ley, Wisconsin,  and  another  time  had  charge 
of  three  congregations  in  Wisconsin,  namely, 
the  Burlington,  Lyons  and  Elkhorn  churches. 
Soon  after  the  pastor's  ordination  he  ac- 
cepted the  call  to  the  Tracy  church.  Since 
taking  the  Tracy  church  Rev.  Tychsen  has 
served  as  assistant  secretary  of  the  Minne- 
sota district  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Joint  Synod  of  Ohio  and  other  states. 

Rev.  Tychsen  was  married,  July  15,  1909, 
at  Morgan,  Minnesota,  to  Lilly  Kamholz,  a 
native  of  Minnesota.  She  was  born  May  18, 
1888.       The     Tychsens    had    one    daughter, 


Brigitta  Wilhelmina  Victoria,  born   October 
18,  1910,  and  died  January  24,  1911. 


THOMAS  R.  DOHERTY  (1902)  is  the 
owner  of  347  acres  of  land  in  Monroe  town- 
ship and  is  interested  in  various  enterprises. 
He  is  a  stockholder  of  and  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Tracy  and  served  as  the  first  presi- 
dent, holding  the  position  four  years.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  organizers  and  the  first 
president  of  the  Farmers  Co-operative  Cream- 
ery Company  of  Tracy. 

Mr.  Doherty  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  March  26,  1855,  and  is  a  son 
of  Simon  and  Bride  (Carbery)  Doherty,  both 
of  whom  died  in  1901.  The  parents  were 
early  settlers  of  Illinois,  where  they  lived 
nineteen  years  and  then  moved  to  Franklin 
county,  Iowa,  where  they  made  their  home 
until  their  deaths.  Thomas  received  his 
education  in  Illinois  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  accompanied  his  family  to 
Iowa.  That  state  was  his  home  for  the  next 
twenty-four  years,  and  with  the  exception 
of  several  years  spent  in  teaching  he  was 
engaged  in  farming.  He  acquired  consider- 
able land,  but  in  1901  he  sold  his  Iowa  inter- 
ests and  purchased  land  in  Monroe  township, 
Lyon  county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Doherty  was  married  January  24,  1886, 
at  Iowa  Falls,  Iowa,  to  Ruth  Eveline  Cran- 
dall,  a  native  of  Marquette,  Wisconsin.  She 
was  born  August  14,  1863,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  De  Witt  and  Diana  (Lyon)  Crandall,  both 
of  whom  are  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doher- 
ty have  four  children:  Fayette  Carbery,  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Minnesota; 
Cecil  Walter,  a  student  at  the  University; 
Leila  Ruth,  a  student  of  the  Tracy  High 
School;  and  Cora  Esther,  born  August  23, 
1906. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Farmers  Club  of  Tracy,  and  fraternally  he 
is  allied  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 


JOSEPH  C.  WOODRUFF  (1902)  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  dray  and  transfer  line  in 
Marshall.  He  is  a  native  of  Minnesota,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Prescott  township,  Fari- 
bault county,  on  April  10,  1871.  His  parents 
are  Wallace  A.  and   Sarah    (Snyder)    Wood- 


moGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY. 


541 


ruff,  who  reside  in  Marshall  and  are  natives 
of  Vermont  and  Illinois,  respectively.  There 
is  one  other  child  in  the  family.  Frank  Wood- 
ruff. 

Joseph  was  brought  up  on  his  father's 
farm  and  resided  on  the  farm  of  his  birth 
until  his  arrival  to  Lyon  county  in  1902,  with 
the  exception  of  nine  months  spent  working 
for  the  Northwestern  Railroad  Company  and 
three  months,  when  he  operated  a  billiard 
hall  at  Winnebago  City.  Upon  his  arrival 
to  Lyon  county  he  spent  one  year  in  .Mar- 
shall and  for  the  next  year  and  a  half  con- 
ducted a  general  store  at  Milroy.  He  then 
conducted  his  father's  farm,  twelve  miles 
northeast  of  Marshall,  one  season,  and  since 
that  time  he  has  lived  in  Marshall.  He 
worked  on  the  dray  line  for  Al  Dewitt,  C.  M. 
Hanks  and  Bert  Blakesley,  and  on  January 
20,  1906,  he  established  the  business  which 
he  has  since-  followed.  Mr.  Woodruff  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  Yeomen  lodges. 

The  marriage  of  Joseph  Woodruff  to  Mar- 
garet McCue  occurred  in  Prescott  township. 
Faribault  county,  Minnesota,  on  September 
16,  1895.  She  is  a  native  of  Ripon,  Wiscon- 
sin. Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Woodruff,  named  as  follows:  Mar- 
garet B.,  Fay  E.,  Joseph  E.  and  Manerva  C. 


HENRY  G.  MOHR  (1882),  who  farms  240 
acres  of  land  a  short  distance  from  Taunton, 
in  Eidsvold  township,  has  spent  his  entire 
life  in  Lyon  county  and  is  the  son  of  a 
homesteader.  The  father,  William  Mohr, 
still  lives  on  the  farm  he  homesteaded  in 
an  early  day;  the  mother,  Emilie  (Freiheit) 
Mohr,  died  May  10,  1909. 

Henry  Mohr  was  born  in  Eidsvold  town- 
ship July  25,  1882.  He  attended  the  district 
school  until  seventeen  years  of  age  and 
worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  his  mar- 
riage in  1907.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
farming  for  himself  on  section  20.  He  is  a 
successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Mohr  to  Emma 
Sternke  occurred  in  Eidsvold  township  Sep- 
tember 26,  1907.  She  is  a  native  of  Wausau, 
Wisconsin,  and  was  born  August  13,  1887. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mohr,  as  follows:  Alfred,  born  Septem- 
ber 2,  1908,  died  September  26,  1908;  Robert, 
born  November  20,  1909;  Esther,  born  De- 
cember 16,  1911. 


.JOSKl'H  I'..  WILLIAMS  (1905)  is  assist- 
ant cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Rus- 
sell. He  was  born  in  Watonwan  county, 
Minnesota,  November  30,  1885,  the  son  of  B. 
Williams  and  Carrie  (Newgard)  Williams. 
The  parents  came  from  Norway  to  the 
United  States  at  early  ages  and  both  died 
here,  the  mother  when  Joseph  was  one  year 
of  age  and  the  father  in  1903. 

After  his  mother's  death  Joseph  was 
adopted  by  Mrs.  Louise  Johnson  and  spent 
his  boyhood  days  in  Faribault  county.  There 
he  received  his  primary  education,  complet- 
ing it  with  a  course  at  St.  Ansgar  College, 
of  St.  Ansgar,  Iowa,  and  a  business  course 
at  the  Mankato  Business  College. 

In  1905  Mr.  Williams  moved  to  Russell  and 
took  a  position  with  the  First  State  Bank, 
a  few  months  later  being  made  assistant 
cashier.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic, 
Woodmen  and  Royal  Neighbors  lodges. 

Mr.  Williams  has  four  brothers:  William 
and  Andrew,  of  Minneapolis;  Christ,  of 
Bricelyn,  Minnesota;  and  Martin,  of  Glen- 
wood,  Minnesota. 


RUDOLPH  A.  T.  MEYER  (1901)  is  the 
owner  of  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Vallers 
township.  It  is  improved  with  a  good 
set  of  buildings  and  is  tiled  and  fenced. 
The  farm  consists  of  240  acres  and  is  de- 
scribed as  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 20  and  the  north  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  21.  Mr.  Meyer 
engages  in  general  farming  and  raises  Dur- 
ham cattle  and  Chester  White  hogs. 

Mr.  Meyer's  early  life  was  spent  in  other 
occupations  than  farming,  many  years  hav- 
ing been  devoted  to  a  mercantile  career. 
He  is  a  German  by  birth,  having  been  born 
in  the  province  of  Mecklenburg  June  2, 
1852.  When  he  was  one  year  old  he  was 
brought  by  his  parents,  Ludvig  F.  and  Car- 
oline (Groth)  Meyer,  to  America.  The 
family  home  was  made  in  Clayton  county, 
Iowa,  and  there  our  subject  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  received  a  good  education,  com- 
pleting it  with  a  course  in  a  commercial 
college  at  Dubuque. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  young  Meyer 
started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He  taught 
school  in  Clayton  county  four  years  and 
in  1875  he  and  J.  W.  Ward  opened  a  gen- 
eral store  at  Postville,  Iowa.     For  the  next 


542 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


eleven  years  they  carried  on  the  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  Ward  &  Meyer. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  the  stock  was 
divided  and  Mr.  Meyer,  who  had  erected 
a  store  building,  engaged  in  business  alone. 
Two  years  later  a  fire  destroyed  his  build- 
ing and  all  except  a  small  part  of  his 
stock.  He  closed  out  the  business  and 
turned  farmer.  After  renting  land  for  sev- 
eral years  in  Iowa,  he  came  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty in  1901,  bought  his  Vallers  farm,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  its  management. 

Mr.  Meyer  served  on  the  township  board 
five  years,  was  justice  of  the  peace  eight 
years,  and  has  been  treasurer  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  4  8.     He  is  a  German  Lutheran. 

Bertha  Bander  and  Rudolph  Meyer  be- 
came man  and  wife  at  Lansing,  Iowa,  on 
October  16,  1876.  She  is  also  a  native  of 
Germany  and  was  born  November  12,  1853. 
To  them  have  been  born  seven  children, 
named  as  follows:  Amanda,  the  wife  of 
H.  F.  Maroude;  Rudolph,  of  Vallers  town- 
ship; Albert,  deceased;  Elsa,  the  wife  of 
J.  H.  Johnson;  Paul,  of  Roseau  county, 
Minnesota;  Malinda,  the  wife  of  Peter  Par- 
adis;  and  Ulrich,  who  lives  with  his  par- 
ents. 


JOHN  WILSON  (1897)  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  a  livery  and  feed  stable  and  engages 
in  buying  and  selling  horses  in  Marshall. 
He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Lucita  Wilson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
the  latter  of  Ohio.  The  parents  are  both 
deceased. 

John  Wilson  moved  to  Iowa  in  the  spring 
of  1881.  On  November  28,  1888,  he  was 
married  to  Carrie  Cleghorn,  daughter  of 
A.  M.  and  Mary  Cleghorn,  of  Gaza,  Iowa, 
upon  whose  farm  the  town  of  Gaza  is  sit- 
uated. In  1897  Mr.  Wilson  moved  to  Min- 
nesota, located  on  a  farm  he  had  purchased 
in  Custer  township,  Lyon  county,  and  re- 
sided there  three  years.  Then  he  moved 
to  Marshall,  purchased  the  William  Thor- 
burn  livery  stock  and  the  old  Blakesley 
barn,  and  for  six  years  engaged  in  the 
livery  business.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  sold  to  B.  Snyder. 

Mr.  Wilson  then  went  to  Sauk  Center, 
where  he  conducted  a  barn  six  weeks,  then 
to  Cottonwood  and  conducted  a  barn  one 
year.    Later  he  went  to  Minneapolis,  bought 


a  home  on  Fremont  Avenue,  and  bought 
and  sold  horses  five  years.  He  returned 
to  Marshall  and  purchased  the  Fred  Wat- 
son barn,  which  he  has  since  conducted. 
He  still  retains  his  Custer  township  farm, 
which  he  rents.  Our  subject  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge. 


TONY  W.  KAECHELE  (1902)  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  furniture  store  and  under- 
taking parlors  in  Tracy.  He  is  a  native 
of  Revere,  Minnesota,  and  was  born  May 
20,  187  9.  His  parents  are  Alouis  and 
Annie  (Schmid)  Kaechele,  natives  of  Ger- 
many. They  settled  at  New  Ulm  in  an 
early  day.  In  the  early  seventies  they 
immigrated  to  Redwood  county  and  home- 
steaded  land,  where  they  lived  until  their 
deaths.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Joseph,  Louis,  Tracy, 
Victoria  and  Tony. 

When  a  boy  our  subject  went  to  Spring- 
field, where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  re- 
ceived his  education.  At  fourteen  years 
of  age  he  entered  a  furniture  store  and 
clerked  several  years.  He  then  attended 
the  Chicago  College  of  Embalming,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1896.  The 
next  two  and  one-half  years  were  spent 
in  the  employ  of  a  firm  of  undertakers 
in  Minneapolis.  In  1898,  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  Spanish-American  War,  Mr.  Kae- 
chele enlisted  in  Company  A,  Twelfth  Min- 
nesota Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  sta- 
tioned at  Chattanooga,  Georgia  Park  and 
Louisville.  After  the  war  he  went  back 
to  Springfield  and  worked  in  a  furniture 
and  undertaking  establishment  over  three 
years. 

The  next  move  of  our  subject  was  to 
Tracy,  where  he  worked  for  H.  E.  McAllis- 
ter one  year.  Then  he  and  his  brother 
Louis  opened  a  furniture  store  at  Tracy 
under  the  firm  name  of  Kaechele  Brothers, 
which  they  conducted  about  three  years. 
After  that  our  subject  in  company  with 
E.  M.  Schmid  formed  the  Tracy  Furniture 
Company.  Messrs.  Kaechele  and  Schmid 
conducted  the  store  two  years,  when  Kae- 
chele Brothers  again  became  the  proprie- 
tors. They  sold  later  to  John  Filkins.  In 
January,  1911,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
opened  a  furniture  store  in  the  W.  R.  Ed- 
wards Building.      He  makes  a  specialty  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


543 


undertaking  work  and  he  is  also  in  the 
repairing  business.  Mr.  Kaechele  holds 
membership  in  the  M.  W.  A.,  A.  O.  U.  W. 
and  K.   P.  lodges. 

On  February  15,  1901,  at  Springfield, 
Minnesota,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Kaechele  to  Cora  D.  Knudson,  a  native  of 
that  city.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Sylvia. 


WILLIAM  G.  STORCK  (1911)  is  a  Lynd 
township  farmer  who  is  a  comparatively 
new  settler  in  Lyon  county.  He  was  born 
in  Chicago  April  3,  1870,  a  son  of  Philip 
and  Katherine  (Xeitz)  Storck.  The  father 
died  in  1873;  the  mother  resides  with  our 
subject. 

William  spent  the  first  fourteen  years  of 
his  life  with  his  parents  in  Chicago,  and 
it  was  there  that  he  received  his  early 
education.  When  nine  years  old  he  ap- 
prenticed himself  to  a  job  printing  firm 
and  was  so  engaged  until  fifteen  years  of 
age.  At  fifteen  he  went  to  work  as  a  farm 
hand  near  Hampshire,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  for  two  and  one-half  years,  and 
then  went  to  Manhattan,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  until  1893.  From  1893  until  1896 
he  was  engaged  as  a  teamster  in  Chicago. 
He  then  farmed  in  Illinois  until  he  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1911.  Upon  his  arrival 
to  Lyon  county,  Mr.  Storck  purchased  400 
acres  of  land  on  section  1,  Lynd  township, 
the  well-known  Youmans  Farm. 

Mr.  Storck  is  one  of  Lyon  County's  pros- 
perous farmers,  engaging  extensively  in 
raising  and  shipping  stock,  as  well  as  gen- 
eral farming.  He  has  stock  in  the  Farm- 
ers Elevator  Company  of  Marshall.  Dur- 
ing twelve  years  of  his  residence  in  Illi- 
nois Mr.  Storck  was  a  director  of  his 
school  district.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Evangelical  church. 

In  189  5  Mr.  Storck  was  married  to  Mary 
Schaaf,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Agnes 
Schaaf,  of  Manhattan,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Storck 
was  born  November  18,  1868,  at  Manhat- 
tan. They  have  one  child,  Norman,  born 
July  20,  1896. 


SIGURDUR  B.  ERICKSON  (1885),  as- 
sistant cashier  of  the  Farmers  &  Merchants 
National  Bank  of  Minneota,  is  a  Minneota 


product.  He  entered  the  employ  of  the 
bank  as  bookkeeper  when  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  his  integrity,  attention 
to  duty  and  good  business  instincts  have 
earned  him  his  present  responsible  posi- 
tion. 

Sigurdur  was  born  in  Minneota  Septem- 
ber 24,  1885.  His  parents,  Oddur  and  Elin 
(Sigurdurdottir)  Erickson,  still  reside  in 
Minneota.  They  were  pioneer  settlers  of 
Lincoln  county  and  in  later  years  moved 
to  Minneota,  where  they  have  long  been 
residents. 

Sigurdur  was  reared  in  the  parental 
home  and  given  a  good  education  in  the 
common  schools.  When  the  opportunity 
was  offered  of  taking  the  position  as  book- 
keeper in  the  local  bank  he  accepted  and 
has  been  with  the  institution  since.  He 
is  now  assistant  cashier  and  a  director. 
Mr.  Erickson  is  a  member  of  the  Icelandic 
Lutheran  church.  He  is  associated  with 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Modern  Woodmen 
lodges,  filling  the  office  of  treasurer  of  the 
former  and  clerk  of  the  M.  W.  A. 

August  24,  1911,  Sigurdur  Erickson  was 
married  to  Ella  E.  Ross.  Miss  Ross  was 
born  and  brought  up  in  the  state  of  Kan- 
sas. The  wedding  occurred  in  Jackson- 
ville, Illinois. 


DR.  J.  F.  SMITH  (1908)  is  one  of  the 
leading  veterinary  surgeons  of  Marshall 
and  has  an  office  near  the  "Hitch  Barn." 
The  doctor  was  born  in  LaPorte,  Indiana, 
December  1,  1855,  and  when  a  child  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Benton  Harbor,  Mich- 
igan, where  he  resided  until  seventeen 
years  of  age.  Then  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  and  re- 
sided there  two  and  a  half  years.  He 
moved  to  Otter  Tail  county,  Minnesota,  in 
1876,  and  while  engaged  in  farming  went 
through  two  trying  years  in  the  grasshop- 
per days.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until 
1899  and  on  account  of  ill  health  quit  that 
occupation  with  the  view  of  taking  up  vet- 
erinary work.  He  attended  the  Kansas 
City  Veterinary  College,  from  which  he 
was  graduated,  and  returned  to  Otter  Tail 
county  and  practised  there  four  years.  He 
then  moved  to  Benson,  Swift  county,  and 
practised  five  years,  or  until  1908,  when 
he  moved  to  Marshall.     The  doctor  is  qual- 


544 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ified  in  every  way  for  the  profession  he  has 
chosen  and  is  enjoying  a  splendid  and 
growing  practice  in  Marshall  and  the  sur- 
rounding territory. 

The  doctor  is  not  married.  He  is  the 
son  of  Samuel  and  Almyra  E.  (Cotten) 
Smith,  who  were  natives  of  Cuyahoga  coun- 
ty, Ohio.  They  were  married  near  Chi- 
cago and  settled  in  Indiana  in  the  late  fif- 
ties. Both  are  dead.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  six  children:  Alva,  of  Otter  Tail 
county;  J.  P.,  of  this  sketch;  Eli  E.,  of 
North  Dakota;  William  H.  H.,  of  North 
Dakota;  Mary  E.  (Mrs.  A.  T.  Finley),  of 
North  Dakota;  and  George  T.,  of  Otter 
Tail  county,  Minnesota. 

Dr.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  Minne- 
sota State  Veterinary  Medical  Association 
and  of  the  K.  P.  lodge. 


ANTON  E.  ANDERSON  (1881)  is  man- 
ager of  the  Northwestern  Elevator  Com- 
pany at  Florence.  He  is  a  native  of  Lyon 
county  and  was  born  in  the  township  in 
which  he  has  spent  his  entire  life  January 
27,  1881.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days  with 
his  parents  on  the  farm  and  attended  the 
district  schools,  later  attending  the  Sioux 
Falls  Business  College.  After  finishing 
school  he  worked  one  year  in  the  State 
Bank  of  Tyler.  In  the  fall  of  1907  Mr. 
Anderson  returned  to  Florence  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  buying  grain  for  the 
above  named  firm.  This  elevator  was  built 
in  18  87  by  the  firm  which  now  owns  it  and 
was  the  first  elevator  in  Florence. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  son  of  Edward  and 
Mattie  (Olson)  Anderson,  natives  of  Nor- 
way who  came  to  Fillmore  county,  Minne- 
sota, in  the  sixties,  and  to  Lyon  county  in 
the  early  seventies.  Their  first  home  was 
in  Shelburne  township,  where  they  still 
reside.  They  are  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Carrie  (Mrs.  C.  M.  Mil- 
ler), of  Raymond,  Minnesota;  Mollie  (Mrs. 
W.  P.  Innes,  of  Tracy;  Anton  E.,  of  this 
sketch;  Louis,  Edwin,  Martin  and  John, 
who  reside  at  home.  One  child,  Tillie, 
died  when  six  or  seven  years  of  age.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  holds  membership 
in  the  Masonic  and  M.  W.  A.  lodges. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  July  21,  1909, 
at  Florence,  to  Pauline  Oftsad.  She  also 
was  born  in  Shelburne  township  and  is  a 


daughter  of  Andrew  Ofstad,  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  that  precinct.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Anderson  have  one  child,  Edmund  A. 

MAURICE  GROTTA  (1902),  who  is  a 
prosperous  farmer  of  Clifton  township,  was 
born  in  Ramsdal,  Norway,  December  16, 
1865,  and  is  a  son  of  Ellif  and  Male  (Al- 
ness) Grotta.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
and  cooper.  When  Maurice  was  four  years 
of  age  the  family  came  to  this  country  and 
settled  in  Brown  county,  Minnesota,  where 
the  father  took  a  homestead  and  where 
our  subject  grew  to  manhood. 

Maurice  obtained  his  education  in  a 
country  school  and  worked  on  the  home 
farm.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
bought  forty  acres  and  started  in  for  him- 
self, later  adding  to  his  holdings  until  he 
was  the  owner  of  a  half  section  in  Brown 
county.  He  later  sold  and  for  several 
years  was  in  the  land  business,  in  1892 
returning  to  Norway. 

It  was  in  1902  that  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  came  to  Lyon  county  and  bought 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  3  5,  Clif- 
ton township.  He  moved  on  the  place  in 
19  09.  For  several  years  he  was  interested 
also  in  land  around  Milroy.  He  raises  cat- 
tle for  market,  in  addition  to  his  general 
farming,  and  owns  stock  in  the  Farmers 
Elevator  Company  of  Milroy  and  in  the 
Nelson  &  Albion  Mercantile  Company  of 
Nelson,   Minnesota. 

On  December  1,  1906,  occurred  the  cere- 
mony which  joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  Maurice  Grotta  and  Julia  Ellif- 
son.  She  was  born  in  Norway  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Bord  and  Jensine  Ellifson, 
who  still  live  in  the  land  of  the  midnight 
sun.  To  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been 
born  three  children,  Emma,  Ernest  M.  and 
Jennie  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grotta  are  members 
of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church. 


KNUTE  NYLIN  (1886)  is  a  merchant 
tailor  of  Tracy.  He  was  born  in  Sweden 
May  23,  1866,  a  son  of  Otto  and  Mary 
Nylin.  The  father  died  in  1877  and  the 
mother  in  1910.  They  were  the  parents 
of  .six  children:  Knute,  of  this  sketch; 
Jennie,  of  St.  Paul;  Andrew,  Clara,  Amelia 
and  Lottie,  of  Sweden. 


1 J 1  ( ^GRAPHICAL  HISTOE  V. 


545 


Knute  learned  the  tailor's  trade  in  the 
old  country  under  his  father's  instruction. 
In  188  6  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  locat- 
ed at  Tracy,  where  he  worked  in  a  shop 
several  months.  He  then  spent  several 
months  working  at  his  trade  at  Canby, 
Minnesota,  and  Miller,  South  Dakota.  Re- 
turning to  Tracy,  he  has  made  that  his 
home  ever  since.  On  his  return,  he  and 
Gust  Abrahamson  opened  a  tailor  shop  and 
engaged  in  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Abrahamson  &  Company.  They  con- 
tinued in  partnership  eight  years,  when 
Mr.  Nylin  purchased  his  partner's  interest, 
and  he  has  since  conducted  the  business 
alone.     He  is  the  oldest  tailor  in  Tracy. 

Mr.  Nylin  has  a  fine  business,  employing 
four  or  five  men.  He  does  all  kinds  of 
merchant  tailor  work,  repairing,  cleaning. 
Mr.  Nylin  is  a  member  of  the  K.  P.  and 
M.  B.  A.  lodges.  He  owns  a  fine  residence 
in  Tracy,  which  he  had  built  in  1910. 

In  1889  Mr.  Nylin  was  married  at  Tracy 
to  Nellie  Larson,  a  native  of  Norway.  They 
are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Esther 
and  Victor. 


J.  W.  MATHIS  (1909)  is  proprietor  of 
one  of  Marshall's  up-to-date  jewelry  stores, 
and  while  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
city  for  only  three  years,  his  business  has 
grown  to  very  satisfactory  proportions. 
This  is  because  of  the  high  quality  of  the 
goods  he  carries  and  because  he  thoroughly 
understands  the  business  in  which  he  has 
devoted  a  number  of  years. 

On  moving  to  Marshall  in  October,  1909, 
Mr.  Mathis  opened  a  jewelry  store  in  the 
building  now  occupied  by  the  Marshall 
State  Bank,  occupying  those  quarters  until 
December,  1910,  when  he  moved  to  his 
present  quarters.  The  optical  department 
of  the  store  is  in  charge  of  a  specialist  in 
that  line,  and  he  also  carries  a  neat  stock 
of  musical  instruments. 

Mr.  Mathis  was  born  in  Saes,  Graubeu- 
ten,  Switzerland,  May  24,  1863.  When 
three  years  of  age  he  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in 
Chaska,  Minnesota,  where  he  resided  until 
fourteen  years  of  age.  After  a  residence 
in  Durand,  Wisconsin,  of  three  years,  he 
moved  to  Belleplaine,  Minnesota,  where  he 
learned  the  jeweler's  trade.     His  next  move 


was  to  Morgan,  this  state,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  jewelry  business  for  eight 
years,  or  until  moving  to  Marshall. 

Mr.  Mathis  was  married  in  Belleplaine, 
Minnesota,  May  23,  1889,  to  Louisa  H. 
Bierlein,  who  was  born  near  Chaska,  Min- 
nesota. To  this  union  three  children  have 
been  born,  as  follows:  May,  a  student  at 
the  Winona  Normal  School;  Elmer,  a  high 
school  student;   and  Mabel. 

Mr.  Mathis  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodge  and  the  family  affiliate 
with  the  Presbyterian  church. 


JUSTUS  ENGLAND  (1900),  farmer  of 
Rock  Lake  township,  is  proving  that  the 
farmer  on  a  comparatively  small  scale  can 
prosper,  for  he  has  been  very  successful 
on  his  eighty  acres,  the  west  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  16.  He  is 
a  stockholder  in  the  Current  Lake  Tele- 
phone Company  and  has  been  a  stock- 
holder and  director  of  the  Farmers  Co- 
operative Company  of  Balaton  since  its 
organization,  serving  as  vice  president 
three  years.  Mr.  England  is  the  Rock 
Lake  representative  of  the  Southern  Min- 
nesota Better  Development  League. 

Justus  England  was  born  in  Sachsen- 
hausen,  Germany,  August  30,  1869,  a  son 
of  John  William  and  Kunna  Yunda  (Wald- 
man)  England,  the  former  of  whom  is  de- 
ceased. The  mother  is  living  in  Germany. 
In  the  Fatherland  Justus  received  his  edu- 
cation, which  was  finished  when  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age.  His  father  was  a 
blacksmith  and  the  boy  worked  in  the  shop 
one  year  after  his  school  work  was  fin- 
ished. In  1884  he  came  to  America,  locat- 
ing at  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  and  working  for 
an  uncle  a  few  months,  and  then  going  to 
Grundy  county,  where  he  worked  at  farm 
labor  two  years.  After  working  four  years 
in  Franklin  county  as  a  hired  hand,  young 
England  rented  land  and  farmed  for  him- 
self five  years,  later  buying  property  in  the 
county  and  farming  it  two  years. 

Mr.  England  traded  his  Iowa  holdings 
in  18  97  for  land  in  Murray  county,  Min- 
nesota, and  then  for  two  years  farmed 
rented  land  in  Iowa.  In  the  spving  of 
1899  he  traded  the  Murray  county  land  for 
the  eighty  acres  which  he  now  farms  in 
Rock    Lake    and    made    his    home    on    the 


546 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


place.  He  has  served  the  last  seven  years 
as  a  member  of  the  Rock  Lake  town  board, 
for  three  years  as  chairman,  and  was  road 
overseer  one  year.  Mr.  England  for  the 
past  nine  years  has  been  a  deacon  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church  of  Balaton. 

Our  subject  married  Margaret  Meyer 
March  13,  1896,  in  Morgan  township, 
Franklin  county,  Iowa.  She  was  born  Sep- 
tember 2  6,  187  6,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Henry  R.  and  Mutge  (Stohr)  Meyer,  both 
of  whom  are  living  at  Latimer,  Iowa.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  England  are  parents  of  one  child, 
Henry  William,  born  November   22,   1905. 


BYRON  G.  HENRICHS  (1892)  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  blacksmith  shop  at  Russell. 
He  was  born  in  Bremer  county,  Iowa,  May 
27,  1884.  His  mother  died  when  Byron 
was  an  infant,  and  he  was  adopted  by  his 
uncle  and  aunt,  Fred  and  Rachael  Hen- 
richs,  who  now  reside  in  Todd  county,  Min- 
nesota. 

When  four  years  of  age  our  subject  ac- 
companied his  foster  parents  to  Hand  coun- 
ty, South  Dakota.  Four  years  later  the 
family  came  to  Lyon  county  and  purchased 
land  in  Shelburne  township.  There  Byron 
resided  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
went  to  Tyler,  entered  a  blacksmith  shop 
and  learned  the  trade.  He  then  went  to 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  and  Lewistown, 
Montana,  working  at  his  trade  at  both 
places.  In  1908  he  purchased  the  Swan 
Swanson  blacksmith  shop  at  Russell  and 
has  conducted  it  since. 

Mr.  Henrichs  was  married  at  Marshall 
on  December  22,  1909,  to  Mary  Zvorak,  a 
native  of  Lyon  county.  They  have  one 
child,  Blanch  Marie.  Mr.  Henrichs  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Russell. 


CHRIST  TEHART  (1901),  who  has  been 
a  Custer  township  farmer  since  March  1, 
1911,  claims  Holland  as  his  native  land. 
He  was  born  in  that  country  January  3, 
1863,  received  his  education  and  was 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm  there,  and 
later  worked  out  at  farm  labor  until  1901. 

In  the  spring  of  1901  our  subject  came 
to  America  and  located  in  Lyon  county, 
in  Amiret  township,  where  he  rented  land 
and   farmed  three  years.      He  then   moved 


to  Custer  township  and  farmed  rented  land 
two  years.  Murray  county  was  his  next 
home,  and  there  he  remained  five  years, 
returning,  in  March,  1911,  to  Lyon  county 
and  renting  the  farm  he  now  operates,  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  14,  Custer 
township.  Mr.  Tehart  raises  cattle  and 
hogs,  making  a  specialty  of  the  Shorthorn 
and  Duroc-Jersey  breeds. 

Mr.  Tehart  was  married  May  15,  1895, 
to  Jennie  Heidekamp,  who  was  born  in 
The  Netherlands  July  6,  1866.  Her  par 
ents  died  when  she  was  a  child.  Mrs. 
Tehart  died  June  25,  1911.  The  follow- 
ing children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Tehart:  Tena,  born  February  9,  1896; 
Grace,  born  April  30,  1897;  Frank,  born 
November  9,  1898;  Thomas,  born  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1902;  Henry,  born  October  20, 
1903;  and  Annie,  born  May  2,  1905.  All 
are  at  home  with  their  father. 

Our  subject's  parents,  Frank  and  Tena 
(Rosenbaum)  Tehart,  came  to  America  in 
1902,  and  the  father  is  still  a  resident  of 
Lyon  county.     The  mother  died  in  1911. 


ARLOW  S.  KINCH  (1910)  is  the  junior 
member  of  the  firm  styled  the  Lawler- 
Huntting  Clothing  Company,  of  Marshall. 
The  company  was  founded  in  the  fall  of 
1910  by  F.  F.  Huntting  and  T.  A.  Lawler, 
two  successful  young  business  men  of  Fair- 
mont, and  Mr.  Kinch.  The  firm  handles 
clothing,  furnishings  and  shoes. 

A.  S.  Kinch  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Fill- 
more county,  Minnesota,  November  8,  1878, 
the  son  of  James  K.  and  Elsie  J.  (Howe) 
Kinch.  The  parents  make  their  home  in 
Marshall  with  their  only  child.  The  father 
is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  the  mother  of 
Fillmore  county,  Minnesota. 

At  the  age  of  ten  years  Arlow  moved 
to  Spring  Valley,  Minnesota,  where  he  was 
educated  and  where  he  lived  until  nineteen 
years  of  age.  He  clerked  in  a  dry  goods 
store  at  Austin  two  years,  in  the  dry  goods 
department  of  a  large  department  store  at 
Winnebago  City  one  and  one-half  years, 
and  for  six  years  in  department  stores  at 
Jackson.  He  then  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  at  Fairmont  in  partnership 
with  K.  F.  Woodard,  and  was  so  engaged 
three  years.  In  1910  he  located  in  Mar- 
shall and  engaged  in  business  as  stated. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


547 


Mr.  Kinch  was  married  in  Jackson  Aug- 
ust 10,  1905,  to  Clara  Olson.  They  have 
one  child,  Maxine  O.,  born  June  29,  1911. 
Mr.  Kinch  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge  of  Fairmont. 

PEDER  J.  ALMJELD  (1893),  a  success- 
ful farmer  of  Shelburne  township,  was  born 
in  Norway  September  29,  1874,  his  parents 
being  John  P.  and  Marih  P.  (Ottem)  Alm- 
jeld.  Both  parents  died  in  the  old  coun- 
try. The  children  all  journeyed  to  Amer- 
ica, except  Marie,  who  still  lives  in  Nor- 
way. Peder  has  two  sisters,  Rende  and 
Paulina  (Mrs.  Hens  Ely),  and  two  broth- 
ers, Peter  M.  and  Ole,  living  in  Center- 
ville,  South  Dakota.  Two  sisters,  Marih 
(Mrs.  Andrew  Berg)  and  Ingrid,  and  one 
brother,  Lars  J.,  are  residents  of  Lyon 
county. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  came  to  this 
country  from  Norway  in  1893,  taking  up 
farm  work  in  Lyon  county,  Minnesota,  im- 
mediately upon  his  arrival.  He  farmed 
for  different  people  for  nine  years,  then 
rented  and  farmed  for  himself.  In  1911 
he  bought  the  northeast  -quarter  of  sec- 
tion 9,  Shelburne  township.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  Mr.  Almjeld  farms  that  quarter 
and  rents  and  lives  upon  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  2  0. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  Clara  R. 
Berg,  of  Shelburne  township.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  E.  Berg;  the  family  came  here 
from  Fillmore  county.  Peder  J.  Almjeld 
and  Clara  R.  Berg  were  married  in  Lyon 
county  February  23,  1901.  Three  children 
have  been  born  to  this  union:  Clifford, 
Floyd  J.  and  Earl  L.  Mr.  Almjeld  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge. 

GEORGE  A.  SCHAIN  (1911)  is  one  of  the 
young  attorneys  of  Lyon  county  and  resides 
in  the  city  of  Tracy.  He  was  born  in  Browns 
Valley,  Minnesota,  September  17,  1887.  His 
parents  ai'e  Jacob  and  Irene  (Burdick) 
Schain,  the  former  a  native  of  Norway  and 
the  latter  of  New  York.  They  located  in 
Willmar  in  1860.  In  1880  they  moved  to 
Browns  Valley,  where  the  father  is  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business.  The  mother  died 
in  September,  1911.  There  are  three  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  Charles  R.,  Josephine 
and  George  A. 


George  grew  to  manhood  and  attended 
school  at  Browns  Valley,  having  been  gradu- 
ated from  the  high  school  of  that  city.  He 
then  attended  the  University  of  Minnesota 
and  was  graduated  from  the  law  department 
in  1911.  While  attending  school  he  clerked 
and  read  law  in  an  office.  On  June  26,  1911, 
he  moved  to  Tracy  and  opened  an  office  over 
the  Boston  Cash  Store. 


ALBERT  WREATH  (1902),  who  rents  the 
O.  R.  Owens  farm,  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  26,  Custer  township,  was  born  in 
Kansas  September  25,  1879,  and  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Clara  (Cargill)  Wreath,  who 
reside  in  Monroe  township,  Lyon  county. 
The  parents  have  been  residents  of  the 
county  since  1904.  William  Wreath  is  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  War. 

Albert's  family  moved  to  Iowa  when  he 
was  three  years  of  age,  and  there  he  grew 
to  manhood,  receiving  his  education  and 
assisting  his  father.  During  his  Iowa  resi- 
dence he  also  worked  out  at  farm  labor  six 
years.  In  February,  1902,  when  Albert  was 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  found  employment  as  a  farm  hand 
near  Dudley  the  next  two  years,  later  hiring 
out  one  year  at  the  same  work  in  Custer 
township.  The  past  six  years  Mr.  Wreath 
has  been  engaged  in  farming  for  himself  in 
Custer  township  and  has  been  doing  well. 

He  was  married  September  16,  1903,  to 
Alice  Moore,  a  native  of  Ida  Grove,  Iowa, 
the  wedding  taking  place  in  Lyon  county. 
Mrs.  Wreath  is  a  daughter  of  F.  P.  and  Katie 
A.  (Machemer)  Moore.  -Her  mother  is  de- 
eased  and  her  father  is  a  resident  of  Monroe 
township.  Her  father  located  in  Lyon  coun- 
ty in  1902.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wreath  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Edith, 
born  June  5,  1904;  Amy,  born  April  27,  1906; 
Ruth,  born  March  29,  1908;  and  Edna,  born 
April  17,  1910.  Mr.  Wreath  is  affiliated  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge  of  Garvin. 


F.  J.  LONGTIN  (1901)  is  the  genial  pro- 
prietor of  a  Marshall  saloon.  He  was 
born  in  Cloud  county,  Kansas,  on  December 
17,  1874,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He 
took  up  his  residence  in  Aurora,  Kansas,  and 
for  five  years  was  in  charge  of  the  hardware 
department    in    a    large    department    store. 


548 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


While  there  he  was  deputy  postmaster  dur- 
ing Cleveland's  last  administration,  his 
father  being  postmaster. 

In  1901  Mr.  Longtin  located  at  Marshall 
and  for  two  years  tended  bar  in  the  Atlantic 
Buffet.  Then  he  moved  to  Tracy,  where,  in 
company  with  his  father,  F.  Longtin,  he 
conducted  a  saloon  two  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Marshall,  and  on  May  19,  1905,  he 
bought  the  saloon  of  J.  D.  Lanoue,  which  is 
situated  on  Main  Street,  two  doors  from  the 
Atlantic  Hotel.  There  he  has  since  been 
in  business. 

Mr.  Longtin  was  married  in  Jamestown. 
Kansas,  on  April  19,  1898,  to  Xelda  Marcott, 
who  was  born  in  Illinois.  To  them  have 
been  born  the  following  named  children: 
Loretta,  Adolph,  Freddie,  Josephine,  Flavius 
and  Amedie. 

Mr.  Longtin  is  the  son  of  Flavius  and  Julia 
Longtin,  the  former  a  native  of  Canada  and 
the  latter  of  Illinois.  They  located  in  Tracy 
in  1903,  where  they  now  reside. 


X.  J.  ROBINSON  (1872),  attorney-at-law  of 
Tracy  and  ex-county  attorney,  is  a  native  of 
the  county  and  a  son  of  two  of  the  very  early 
settlers.  He  is  a  successful  practitioner  and 
is  interested  in  many  business  enterprises  of 
his  city. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  his  father's  home- 
stead on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  1, 
Custer  township,  March  8,  1872,  and  on  that 
farm  he  made  his  home  until  moving  to 
Tracy  in  1900.  He  was  graduated  from  the 
Tracy  High  School  in  1897  and  from  the 
Law  Department  of  the  University  of  Minne- 
sota in  1900  with  the  degree  of  L.  L.  B. 
He  at  once  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Tracy  and  has  been  so  engaged 
ever  since. 

In  local  politics  Mr.  Robinson  has  taken 
an  active  part.  He  served  two  terms  as 
mayor  of  his  city,  has  been  city  attorney 
for  the  past  six  years,  and  for  the  same 
length  of  time  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Water  and  Light  Board.  He  was  elected 
county  attorney  on  the  Republican  ticket  in 
1906,  was  re-elected  in  1908,  and  served  four 
years.  In  business  matters  Mr.  Robinson 
has  also  been  active.  In  1910  he  organized 
the  Tracy  Garage  Company  and  has  since 
been  president  of  the  company.  It  is  one  of 
the   big  institutions   of   Tracy,    the   building 


which  houses  it  being  one  of  the  largest  in 
the  county.  He  is  also  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Tracy  Building  and  Loan  Association, 
which  was  founded  in  1910,  and  is  its  at- 
torney and  a  director.  Mr.  Robinson  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Mac- 
cabee  lodges.  For  six  years  prior  to  1910 
he  was  chancellor  commander  of  the  local 
lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Tracy  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1911,  to  Leah  M.  Mongeau.  She 
was  born  in  Manteno,  Illinois,  and  came  to 
Lyon  county  when  a  child  with  her  parents, 
Adler  and  Agnes   (Smith)  Mongeau. 

N.  J.  Robinson  descends  from  cue  of  the 
old  New  England  families  whose  coming  to 
America  dates  back  to  the  earliest  known 
settlements  in  the  Colonies.  On  his  father's 
side  he  is  Scottish-German  origin;  his 
mother  was  of  New  York  parentage  and  of 
Scottish  descent. 

His  father,  George  S.  Robinson,  was  born 
April  7,  1S36,  at  Springwater,  Livingston 
county.  New  York,  being  the  son  of  Joseph 
and  Cathreen  (Spangler)  Robinson,  the 
former  a  Methodist  minister.  His  mother, 
Nellie  (Gould)  Robinson,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 15,  1846,  in  North  Adams,  Massachusetts. 
The  parents  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1868 
and  took  as  a  homestead  claim  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  1,  Custer  township.  On 
it  the  father  built  a  log  cabin,  in  which  was 
held  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Coun- 
ty Commissioners  of  Lyon  county. 

George  Robinson  was  identified  with  the 
early  history  of  the  county  and  held  many 
offices  of  trust  in  his  township.  He  died 
August  24,  1906.  Mrs.  Robinson  still  lives 
and  makes  her  home  in  Tracy.  There  are 
seven  children  in  the  family.  Evan  D.,  the 
eldest,  resides  in  Montana.  The  others  re- 
side in  Lyon  county  and  are  as  follows: 
George  M.,  Ella  (Mrs.  J.  E.  Morgan),  Fred 
R..  Frank  D.,  Earl  H.  and  N.  J. 


OLE  OPHIEM  (1905)  is  manager  of  the 
Tracy  Cement  Drain  Tile,  Brick  and  Block 
Comp'any,  one  of  the  big  and  prosperous 
business  concerns  of  Tracy.  Mr.  Ophiem 
was  one  of  the  gentlemen  who  organized 
the  company  in  1907  and  he  has  since  been 
the  manager  of  the  concern.  It  was  re- 
organized and  incorporated  in  1911  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $50,000. 


f    iT9         ^*+ 

m  •  ^ 

'Ml 

> 

I 

OLE  OPHIEM 

Manager  of  the   Tracy   Cement  Drain   Tile, 

Brick  and  Block  Company. 


J.   S.   BARTLETT 
Proprietor    of    the    Exchange    Hotel,    Tracy. 


REV.  L.  E.  SJOLINDER  AND  FAMILY 
Rev.  Sjolinder  is  Pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lu- 
theran Church  of  Tracy. 


N.  J.  ROBINSON 

An  Attorney  of  Tracy  and  a  Native  of 
Lyon  County. 


moCJRAlMIK'AL  HISTORY 


549 


Over  15,500  blocks  were  sold  during  the 
year  1911.  Among  the  cement  block  build- 
ings the  company  has  erected  are  two  for 
Mr.  Ophiem,  the  Donaldson  coal  office,  the 
jail  at  Lucan,  Minnesota;  the  Berge  store 
at  Porter,  Minnesota;  the  farmers'  co- 
operative creamery  at  Porter;  an  ice  house 
at  Hendricks,  Minnesota,  and  the  electric 
light  plant  at  that  place;  the  large  garage 
building  at  Tracy.  Blocks  were  also  fur- 
nished for  the  farmers'  co-operative  cream- 
ery at  Tracy,  the  Richard  Department  Store 
at  Tracy,  and  for  a  creamery  at  Ivanhoe. 

Ole  Ophiem  was  born  in  Norway  July 
14,  1876.  In  1887  he  came  to  America 
with  his  parents  and  located  in  Minnehaha 
county,  South  Dakota,  where  he  lived  until 
seventeen  years  of  age.  He  then  moved  to 
Canby  with  his  parents,  and  when  he  was 
twenty-three  years  old  he  engaged  in  the 
cement  business,  which  he  has  ever  since 
followed.  He  located  in  Tracy  in  1905 
and  two  years  later  organized  the  com- 
pany as  stated.  Mr.  Ophiem  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodges. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Tracy  Octo- 
ber 15,  1905,  to  Lena  Thompson  and  to 
them  have  been  born  four  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Stella  B.,  Alice  J.,  Bernice  V.  and 
John  A. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  John  and 
Bertha  (Kail)  Ophiem.  They  came  from 
Norway  in  1887  and  after  having  lived  a 
few  years  in  Minnehaha  county,  South  Da- 
kota, they  located  in  Yellow  Medicine  coun- 
ty, Minnesota,  where  they  still  reside.  They 
have  the  following  named  eight  children: 
Ole,  Olaf,  Nellie,  Lena,  Bertha,  Josie,  Tom 
and  Ella. 


JAMES  S.  BARTLETT  (1903)  was  born 
in  Troy,  New  York,  January  16,  1848. 
There  he  was  educated  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  went  to  Rock  county,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  farmed  for  the  next  twenty  years. 
The  Par  West  brought  its  appeal  to  Mr. 
Bartlett,  and  he  spent  one  year  in  Southern 
California,  thence  going  to  Fairbury,  Ne- 
braska, where  he  lived  during  the  next  ten 
years.  While  at  Fairbury  he  started  in 
the  hotel  business,  which  occupation  has 
claimed  his  attention  since  that  time.  Mr. 
Bartlett  conducted  a  hotel  in  Madison, 
South  Dakota,    for  two  years,   and   during 


the  next  eight  years  conducted  at  different 
times  hotels  at  Salem,  South  Dakota; 
Northfield,  Minnesota;  Sioux  City,  Iowa; 
and  Minneota,  Minnesota.  From  Minne- 
ota  Mr.  Bartlett  moved  to  Tracy  and  has 
since  conducted  the  Exchange  Hotel,  in 
partnership  with  his  son  Clarence  E.,  who 
is  also  a  real  estate  dealer. 

Mr.  Bartlett's  parents  were  Elisha  W. 
and  Margaret  (Corcoran)  Bartlett,  the 
former  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  the 
latter  of  Cork,  Ireland.  Margaret  Cor- 
coran came  to  this  country  when  a  child 
and  her  parents  settled  in  Troy,  New  York. 
To  Elisha  and  Margaret  Corcoran  were 
born  four  children,  namely:  Henry, 
Louisa,  Mary  and  James  S.  Our  subject 
is  the  only  child  living.  Margaret  (Cor- 
coran) Bartlett  died  sixty-two  years  ago. 
Elisha  Bartlett  later  married  Palmyra 
Lewis,  a  native  of  Petersburg,  New  York. 
To  this  union  six  children  were  born. 
Emma,  Julia,  Anna  and  Fanny  are  living, 
and  a  daughter,  Lucy,  and  a  son,  Lewis, 
died  a  number  of  years  ago. 

On  March  10,  1872,  James  S.  Bartlett 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma  J.  Bul- 
lock, the  ceremony  taking  place  in  Rock 
county,  Wisconsin.  The  wife  died  in 
Salem,  South  Dakota,  February  14,  1903. 
Three  children  were  born  to  the  couple,  as 
follows:  Henry,  who  died  in  Orange,  Cal- 
ifornia, at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  and  was 
buried  at  Santa  Anna,  California;  Clarence 
E.,  a  real  estate  dealer  and  associated  with 
his  father  in  conducting  the  Exchange  Ho- 
tel; and  Cora  (Mrs.  Sam  Carroll),  of  Dell 
Rapids,  South  Dakota.  Mrs.  Carroll  has 
one  son,  Glenn,  aged  thirteen  years. 

Clarence  Bartlett,  son  of  the  subject  of 
this  biographical  sketch,  was  married  to 
Ethel  Shephard,  a  native  of  Lake  county, 
South  Dakota,  the  marriage  taking  place 
at  Madison,  South  Dakota.  They  are  the 
parents  of  two  children,  both  girls.  May 
is  aged  ten  years  and  Margaret  is  seven. 


REV.  LAURENT  ERIK  SJOLINDER  (1906) 
is  pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church 
of  Tracy,  having  been  called  to  the  charge 
six  years  ago.  Rev.  Sjolinder  also  sup- 
plies the  pulpit  at  Walnut  Grove,  in  Red- 
wood county,  and  makes  visits  to  a  church 
at  Ivanhoe,  in  Lincoln  county. 


550 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Sweden  is  the  native  home  of  Rev.  Sjo- 
linder.  He  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Vester-Norrland  on  April  22,  1859,  a  son 
of  Olaf  P.  and  Anna  Marie  (Brown)  Sjo- 
linder.  The  family  immigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1882,  resided  for  a  short  time  in 
Union  county,  South  Dakota,  and  later  in 
Charles  Mix  county,  of  the  same  state, 
where  the .  father  died  in  December,  1883. 
Laurent  attended  the  common  schools  and 
finished  a  three  years'  academic  course  in 
his  native  land  prior  to  the  coming  of  the 
family  to  America.  In  this  country  he 
continued  his  studies  at  the  Augustana  Col- 
lege and  Theological  Seminary  in  Rock  Is- 
land. Illinois,  graduating  from  the  college 
in  1886  and  from  the  seminary  in  1888. 
He  was  ordained  June  24,  1888,  and  took 
his  first  pastorate  in  Union  and  Lincoln 
counties,  South  Dakota,  preaching  in  that 
field  until  189  6.  For  three  years  there- 
after he  served  as  a  missionary  for  his 
denomination  in  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul. 
North  Dakota  was  the  scene  of  the  young 
minister's  next  pulpit  work,  and  he  served 
a  continuous  pastorate  of  seven  years  with 
the  church  at  Grand  Forks,  moving  from 
there  to  Tracy  in  1906.  The  pastor's 
widowed  mother  died  in  Tracy  May  20, 
1907,  and  is  buried  in  the  Swedish  Luth- 
eran cemetery. 

On  May  12,  1897,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  Rev.  Laurent  Erik  Sjolinder  and  Marie 
B.  Yttreness.  The  bride  is  a  native  of 
Albert  Lea,  Minnesota,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  John  B.  and  Bertha  Yttreness,  who  now 
reside  at  Beresford,  South  Dakota.  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  Sjolinder  are  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Lawrence,  born  March 
21,  1898;  Anthony,  born  March  15,  1901; 
and  Julius,  born  September  24,   1907. 


JOHN  THOLEN  (1884)  is  a  large  land 
owner  of  Westerheim  township  and  lives 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  2  8.  He 
owns  1230  acres  of  good  farming  land  and 
is  one  of  the  well-to-do  men  of  the  town- 
ship. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Holland  Decem- 
ber 24,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Chris- 
tian and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Bergbens)  Tho- 
len,  now  deceased.  John  received  his  early 
education  in  Holland,  where  he  attended 
the   common   schools   until    nineteen   years 


of  age.  He  then  worked  at  home  for  his 
father  until  1880.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
the  young  man  came  to  America  and  locat- 
ed in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  three  years.  In  the' 
summer  of  18  84  he  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  settled  on  the  place  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

The  marriage  of  John  Tholen  and  Ger- 
trude Dircks  occurred  February  6,  1883, 
in  Carver  county,  Minnesota.  She  was 
born  in  Holland.  By  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Tholen  she  became  the  mother  of  three 
children,  as  follows:  Leo  C,  Hubert  A. 
and  Mary  E.  Mrs.  Tholen  died  March  19. 
1887. 

Our  subject  was  married  a  second  time, 
to  Matilda  "Wambecke.  The  marriage  oc- 
curred at  Ghent  February  18,  1889.  She 
is  a  native  of  Belgium,  born  October  7, 
1864,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Ferdinand 
and  Rosalie  (Fau)  Wambecke.  They  set- 
tled in  Lyon  county  in  188  8  and  both  are 
deceased.  By  this  second  marriage  nine 
children  were  born:  Joseph  H.,  William 
V.,  Leonora  M.,  Elizabeth  B.,  John  C, 
Henry  A.,  Albert  J.,  Lambert  J.  and  Frank 
W.     All  the  children  live  at  home. 

Mr.  Tholen  has  been  director  of  school 
district  No.  44  for  five  years.  He  is  a 
stockholder  of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Com- 
pany of  Ghent.  His  church  affiliation  is 
with  the  Catholic  church. 


HERMAN  SCHURZ  (1886)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  City  Hotel,  a  restaurant  and 
a  feed  barn  in  Marshall.  He  is  a  native 
of  Germany  and  was  born  May  29,  1862, 
a  son  of  Edward  and  Christine  Schurz,  both 
of  whom  are  deceased.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  two  children:  Marie,  of  Germany, 
and  Herman,  of  this  sketch.  In  1880  our 
subject  came  to  the  United  States  to  seek 
his  fortune  and  lived  three  and  one-half 
years  in  New  York.  Later  he  located  in 
Chickasaw  county,  Iowa,  where  he  farmed 
three  years. 

In  1886  Mr.  Schurz  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  spent  two  years  working  on  farms  in 
the  county,  after  which  he  returned  to  Iowa 
and  was  married.  He  returned  to  Marshall 
and  on  May  11,  1888,  opened  a  hotel  and 
restaurant  in  the  building  now  occupied  by 
the  City  Meat  Market.      He  conducted  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


551 


business  in  the  latter  building  three  years, 
when  he  purchased  the  two-story  brick 
building  which  he  now  occupies.  Mr. 
Schurz  conducted  the  business  seven  years 
longer  and  then  rented  out  his  hotel  busi- 
ness and  purchased  a  farm  in  Lake  Mar- 
shall township,  which  he  conducted  three 
years.  He  sold  his  farm  and  again  took 
up  the  hotel  business,  bought  the  lot  ad- 
joining his  building,  put  up  a  two-story 
addition,  and  has  since  conducted  the  hotel 
and  restaurant.  In  1911  Mr.  Schurz  pur- 
chased the  Hayes-Lucas  lumber  sheds  and 
converted  the  property  into  a  hitch  and 
feed  barn. 

Mr.  Schurz  owns  considerable  property 
in  addition  to  his  business  interests  in  Mar- 
shall. He  owns  farms  in  Amiret  township 
and  in  Red  Lake  county,  eighty  acres  one- 
half  mile  from  Russell,  and  two  and  one- 
half  acres  in  the  city  of  Marshall,  besides 
several  lots.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  lodge  and  served  on  the  City 
Council  four  years. 

At  Tona,  Iowa,  April  1,  1888,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Schurz  to  Carrie 
Schenfeldt,  a  native  of  Wisconsin.  Thev 
are  the  parents  of  two  children:  Charles 
and  Helen. 


AUGUST  SCHROEDER  (1895),  of  Sodus 
township,  was  born  in  Benton  county,  Iowa, 
June  1,  1870,  a  son  of  Gustav  and  Catherine 
Schroeder,  deceased.  He  was  brought  up 
on  a  farm  and  secured  his  schooling  in  his 
native  county. 

Mr.  Schroeder  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
1895  and  for  a  number  of  years  worked  out 
on  farms  and  with  threshing  crews.  He 
moved  to  Lac  qui  Parle  county  in  1904, 
farmed  there  two  years,  and  then  returned 
and  took  up  his  residence  in  Marshall.  Sev- 
eral years  later  he  again  engaged  in  farming, 
one  year  on  section  18,  Sodus  township,  and 
since  then  at  his  present  location.  He  owns 
the  northwest  quarter  and  the  west  half  of 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  21,  has  a 
fine  farm,  and  has  just  completed  a  new 
home. 

On  the  fourth  day  of  May,  1904,  at  Mar- 
shall, Mr.  Schroeder  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Inga  Ueland,  who  was  bora  in  Norway 
September  22,  1878.  Her  father,  Rasmus 
Ueland,    lives    in    Cottonwood;    her   mother, 


Malina  (Viand,  died  in  1909.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schroeder  have  four  children:  Geo,  Ro>, 
Laurence  and   Albert   William. 


JESSE  E.  FINNELL  (1905)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  City  Feed  Mill  of  Marshall. 
He  was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Iowa,  May 
16,  1887,  the  youngest  son  born  to  T.  J.  and 
Malinda  (Wolf)  Finnell,  natives,  respective- 
ly, of  Coshocton  and  Mount  Vernon,  Ohio. 
The  family  moved  to  Defiance,  Iowa,  in  an 
early  day  and  engaged  in  farming  there  until 
moving  to  Lyon  county  in  1905.  The  other 
children  of  the  family  are  as  follows:  Mary 
(Mrs.  J.  C.  Marshall),  WTheeler  and  Jane,  all 
living  in  Lyon  county. 

Jesse  resided  with  his  parents  in  Shelby 
county,  Iowa,  until  he  came  to  Lyon  county 
with  them  in  1905.  For  several  years  he  and 
his  father  farmed  a  place  southwest  of 
Ghent.  In  the  fall  of  1910  Mr.  Finnell' 
located  in  Marshall  and  established  the  City 
Feed  Mill  in  the  Goodwin  Building  on  Main 
Street.  He  put  in  new  machinery,  engine, 
feed  mill,  shellers,  etc.,  and  manufactures 
all  kinds  of  feed  and  does  custom  work. 
The  business  has  increased  greatly  since  he 
engaged  in  the  business. 

Jesse  Finnell  is  unmarried  and  makes  his 
home  with  his  parents,  his  father  assisting 
him  with  the  management  of  the  business. 
Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
and  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodges. 


JOHN  A.  BURCKHARDT  (1887)  is  a  son 
of  the  late  John  Burckhardt,  Sr.,  and  a  land 
owner  of  Coon  Creek  township.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Stephenson  county,  Illinois,  and  was 
born  April  2,  1877.  When  seven  years  of 
age  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon 
county,  the  family  locating  in  Coon  Creek 
township,  where  his  father  bought  land  and 
where  our  subject  received  his  schooling 
and  grew  to  manhood. 

In  1907  the  subject  of  this  sketch  took 
charge  of  the  farm  which  he  now  owns  and 
operates.  Besides  farming,  he  raises  a  great 
number  of  cattle  and  hogs.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.,  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  R.  N.  A. 
lodges. 

Mr.  Burckhardt  was  married  at  Tyler,  Min- 
nesota, on  January  16,  1907,  to  Anna  M.  Lar- 
son, a  native  of  Nebraska  and  a  daughter  of 


552 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Casper  and  Julia  (Quaine)  Larson,  of  Tyler, 
the  former  a  native  of  Denmark  and  the 
latter  of  Iowa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burckhardt 
have  two  children:     Alice  V.  and  Bernice  V. 


EUGENE  SIMMONS  (1903)  has  been  the 
superintendent  of  the  Marshall  Power  & 
Light  Company's  plant  for  the  past  nine 
years.  He  was  born  in  Howard  county, 
Iowa,  January  20,  1869,  and  during  the  first 
thirteen  vears  of  his  life  resided  with  his 
parents  in  several  different  places.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen  he  located  in  Minneapolis, 
lived  in  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  for  a  time, 
and  then  settled  permanently  in  Wadena, 
Minnesota. 

In  the  city  of  Wadena  Mr.  Simmons  se- 
cured a  high  school  education  and  then  took 
up  railroad  work.  For  a  year  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  shops  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad  Company  at  that  point,  and  for  the 
next  five  and  one-half  years  he  was  a  fire- 
man on  the  Northern  Pacific.  Thereafter 
for  a  time  he  operated  stationary  engines 
and  for  six  years  had  charge  of  the  Wadena 
lighting  and  waterworks  plant.  In  1903  he 
gave  up  that  position  and  located  in  Mar- 
shall to  assume  his  duties  as  superintendent 
of  the  city  plant. 

Mr.  Simmons  is  an  electrician  of  more 
than  local  fame.  He  is  first  vice  president 
of  the  Minnesota  Electrical  Association  and 
is  an  associate  member  of  the  American  In- 
stitute of  Electrical  Engineers.  He  is  a 
member  of  several  Masonic  orders  and  of 
the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge.  In  the  local  Royal 
Arch  Chapter  he  is  high  priest. 

At  Wadena,  Minnesota,  on  December  23, 
1896,  Mr.  Simmons  was  married  to  Hattie  M. 
Brate,  who  was  born  in  Hancock  county, 
Iowa,  and  who  moved  with  her  parents  to 
Wadena  when  a  child.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sim- 
mons have  four  children:  Arthur  B.,  Eugene 
C,  Margaret  L.  and  Peter. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Samuel  W. 
and  Sarah  C.  (Ellis)  Simmons,  who  are  now 
residents  of  Portland,  Oregon.  The  father 
was  born  in  Kingston,  Canada,  the  mother 
in  Lewis  county,  New  York.  There  are  four 
children  in  the  family,  as  follows:  Sarah  E., 
of  Portland;  Nora  L.  Knight,  of  Otter  Tail 
county,  Minnesota;  Eugene,  of  Marshall; 
and  Guy  R.,  of  Portland. 


ALFRED  KELSON  (1903)  is  a  young 
farmer  of  Rock  Lake  township  who  in  com- 
pany with_  his  brother  James  rented  the 
north  half  of  section  13  four  years  ago  and 
has  since  been  farming  the  place.  The  boys 
are  wide-awake  lads  and  hustlers,  and  they 
have  been  successful  in  their  venture.  They 
are  realizing,  as  are  so  many  of  the  farmers 
in  this  section,  the  wisdom  of  entering  into 
the  stock  raising  business  in  addition  to 
general  farming,  and  are  raising  cattle  for 
market  every  year. 

Alfred  was  born  in  Kankakee  county,  Illi- 
nois, October  21,  1S90,  and  is  a  son  of  An- 
drew and  Mary  (Sorenson)  Kelson,  early 
settlers  of  Illinois.  The  family  came  to 
Lyon  county  in  March,  1903,  and  the  father 
purchased  land  in  Custer  township,  where 
the  parents  now  reside.  Our  subject  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  Illinois  and 
later  attended  the  country  school  of  Custer 
township  and  the  village  school  at  Balaton. 
When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  and  his 
brother  started  in  their  farming  venture. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Degree  of 
Honor  lodge  of  Balaton,  of  which  he  is  in- 
side watchman. 


CARL  F.  BERG  (1906)  is  the  manager  of 
Bingham  Brothers'  grain  elevator  at  Minne- 
ota.  He  is  a  native  of  Yellow  Medicine 
county,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1887,  and  there  grew  to  manhood. 
His  father,  P.  M.  Berg,  was  an  early  settler 
of  Yellow  Medicine  county  and  is  now  a 
merchant  of  Minneota.  Carl  located  in  Min- 
neota  in  1906,  worked  a  few  years  in  his 
father's  store,  and  then  ran  a  dray  line  one 
year.  He  then  returned  to  his  parents'  old 
farm  and  conducted  that  one  year.  In  March, 
1911,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Bingham 
Brothers  and  has  since  bought  grain  and 
managed  the  elevator  for  that  firm. 

Carl  F.  Berg  was  married  at  Canby,  Min- 
nesota, August  7,  1908,  to  Sarah  Josephson, 
a  resident  of  Minneota  and  a  daughter  of 
Asbjorn  Josephson.  Two  children  have 
blessed  their  union — Henry  and  a  baby  girl. 

Mr.  Berg  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
lodge  and  of  the  Minneota  Fire  Department. 


ANTON    K.    LIEN     (1902),    a    prominent 
farmer  of  Lucas  township,  was  born  in  Dane 


r.HMJKAPIIICAL   HISTORY. 


.V>:! 


county,  Wisconsin,  November  13,  1S79.  His 
parents,  Knut  and  Lena  Lien,  came  from 
Norway  in  an  early  day  and  made  settlement 
in  Wisconsin,  where  they  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. 

Anton  secured  his  education  in  Wisconsin 
and  resided  there  until  1900.  That  year  he 
accompanied  the  family  to  Cottonwood  coun- 
ty. Minnesota,  lived  with  them  there  two 
years,  and  then  the  family  came  to  Lyon 
county.  Knut  Lien  bought  the  west  half  of 
section  26  and  forty  acres  on  section  35, 
Lucas  township,  and  established  a  home 
there.  Anton  Lien  has  ever  since  lived  on 
that  farm.  In  1907  he  rented  the  land  from 
his  father  and  has  since  conducted  it  to  his 
own  account.  His  parents  moved  to  Cotton- 
wood, where  the  father  died  soon  after  and 
where  the  mother  still  has  her  home.  Anton 
Lien  is  a  director  of  school  district  No.  17. 

The  marriage  of  Anton  Lien  and  Ronog 
Mattestad  occurred  in  Cottonwood  March  21, 
1908.  Mrs.  Lien  was  born  in  Guldbrundalen, 
Norway,  September  3,  1886,  a  daughter  of 
Hans  and  Rande  (Olson)  Mattestad.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lien  have  two  children:  Lila  V., 
born  December  30,  1908;  and  Arden  K.,  born 
May  9,  1910. 


ARCHIE  S.  MONGEAU  (1887)  is  the  man- 
ager and  grain  buyer  for  the  Northwestern 
Elevator  Company  at  Marshall.  He  was 
born  in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  January 
11.  1885.  His  parents  are  Atler  and  Agnes 
(Smith)  Mongeau,  the  former  a  native  of 
Canada  and  the  latter  of  Illinois.  They  came 
to  Lyon  county  in  1887  and  located  in  Fair- 
view  township.  The  mother  died  in  1897. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  as 
follows:  Josephine  (Mrs.  M.  D.  Devereant), 
of  Illinois;  Leah  (Mrs.  N.  J.  Robinson),  of 
Tracy;  Archie  S.,  of  this  sketch;  Edmond, 
a  fireman  on  the  Northwestern  railroad  at 
Huron,  South  Dakota;  Napoleon,  a  student 
of  the  Tracy  High  School;  Oscar,  a  student 
at  Kankakee,  Illinois;  Emma  and  Ziphere. 

When  two  years  of  age  our  subject  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Lyon  county  and  lo- 
cated in  Fairview  township.  There  he  grew 
to  manhood  and  obtained  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  and  in  the  Marshall  High 
School.  He  then  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  until  March  15,  1910.  On  the,  latter 
date   he   entered   the   employ  of  the   North- 


western Elevator  Company  at  Marshall  as 
manager  and  grain  buyer,  lie  has  held  this 
position  since  that  date. 

The  elevator  was  built  by  the  Northwest- 
ern Elevator  Company  about  fifteen  years 
ago.  The  company  buys  and  ships  grain 
and  handles  coal  and  seed.  The  home  office 
is  at  Minneapolis  and  C.  A.  Magnuson  is 
president.  The  company  owns  105  elevators 
on  the  Great  Northern  Railroad,  with  a 
storage  capacity  of  5,500,000  bushels. 


ALBERT  WILD  (1902),  of  Lake  Marshall 
township,  was  born  in  Germany  November 
4,  1859.  His  parents  are  Defter  and  Mary 
(Hacker  I  Wild.  Albert  worked  at  home  un- 
til twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  came 
to   America. 

Upon  his  arrival  to  America,  Mr.  Wild  first, 
located  in  Illinois,  where  he  worked  as  a 
farm  hand  three  years.  He  then  moved  to 
Nobles  county,  Minnesota,  where  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  and  farmed  ten  years, 
when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Lincoln 
county,  Minnesota.  He  resided  in  the  latter 
county  until  1902  and  then  came  to  Lyon 
county  and -purchased  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  18,  Lake  Marshall  township,  where 
he  now  lives.  Mr.  Wild  is  a  member  of  the 
German   Evangelical   church. 

In  Nobles  county,  May  30,  1889,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Wild  to  Anna  Suhler, 
a  native  of  Germany.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Margrette  (Hahn)  Suhler  and  was 
born  June  9,  1863.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wild 
have  been  born  the  following  children:  Ed- 
ward J.,  born  November  6,  1891;  John  A., 
born  March  7,  1893;  Alfred  N.,  born  No- 
vember 25,  1898;  Esra,  born  January  12,  1902. 


OSCAR  VANDEN  BERGHE  (1906),  propri- 
etor of  the  Corner  Saloon  in  Ghent,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Belgium  and  was  born  August  12, 
1884.  His  father,  Joseph  Vanden  Berghe,  is 
deceased,  and  his  mother,  Sophia  (Vergote) 
Vanden  Berghe,  resides  with  her  son  in 
Ghent. 

Oscar  was  brought  up  and  given  his  edu- 
cation in  Belgium.  At  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  he  gave  up  school  and  became  an 
employe  of  a  can-making  factory  in  Eeghem, 
Belgium,  where  he  worked  four  years.  Com- 
ing to  America  in  1904,  our  subject  located 


554 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


at  Duluth,  Minnesota,  and  there  worked  on 
the  ore  docks  for  three  years. 

Our  subject  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1906, 
located  in  Ghent,  and  engaged  in  farm  labor 
in  the  vicinity  for  two  years.  Mishawaka, 
Indiana,  was  his  home  for  the  next  three 
years,  Oscar  being  employed  in  a  shoe  fac- 
tory during  that  time,  but  he  had  become 
attached  to  Lyon  county  and  returned  to 
Ghent  in  August,  1911.  He  purchased  the 
Corner  Saloon  from  Ernest  De  Keyser  and 
has  since  conducted  the  place,  handling 
wines,  liquors  and  cigars.  Oscar  Vanden 
Berghe  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 


JOHN  DeVOS  (1883)  owns  and  farms 
450  acres  of  land  on  sections  29  and  32,  Val- 
lers  township,  and  has  a  well-improved  place. 
He  has  lived  in  Lyon  county  since  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age  and  has  been  farming 
on  his  own  account  nineteen  years. 

Belgium  is  the  native  land  of  John  DeVos 
and  September  21,  1868.  was  the  date  of  his 
birth.  His  mother,  Matilda  (Lambrecht) 
DeVos,  died  in  1876,  and  in  1883  he  came 
with  his  father,  Charles  DeVos,  to  Amer- 
ica. The  first  home  was  in  Minneota  and 
later  John  and  his  father  lived  at  Ghent. 
For  several  years  our  subject  worked  out  at 
farm  labor,  but  in  1893  he  rented  his  fa- 
ther's farm  and  started  in  business  for  him- 
self. In  1899  he  bought  his  Vallers  farm  and 
the  next  year  moved  to  his  new  home.  Mr. 
DeVos  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church 
and  was  a  director  of  school  district  No.  48 
for  two  years. 

Mr.  DeVos  was  married  in  Ghent  to  Clem- 
ense  Van  Daele,  who  is  also  a  native  of 
Belgium.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Serel  and 
Melae  (Cuman)  Van  Daele.  Our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  eight  children,  Mary,  Camiel, 
Serel,  Sadie,  Lizzie,  Elsie,  Julia  and  Bertha. 


PRANK  L.  WOODRUFF  (1906)  was  born 
in  Faribault  county,  Prescott  township,  Min- 
nesota, January  10,  1879,  and  made  that 
place  his  home  until  moving  to  Marshall. 
His  parents,  Wallace  A.  and  Sarah  Jane 
(Snyder)  Woodruff,  natives  of  Vermont  and 
Illinois,  located  in  Faribault  county  in  1863, 
in  company  with  Wallace  A.  Woodruff's  fa- 
ther, Joseph  C.  Woodruff.  Joseph  C.  took 
a    homestead    and    bought    forty    acres    and 


resided  in  the  county  until  1S90,  when  he 
moved  to  Marshall,  and  he  resided  there  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1893. 

Wallace  A.  and  his  wife  located  in  Mar- 
shall in  1902,  where  they  now  reside.  They 
bought  240  acres  of  land  in  Stanley  town- 
ship, which  they  still  own,  and  also  the 
Beebe  place  of  six  acres  just  east  of  town, 
where  they  make  their  home.  They  have 
two  children  living,  J.  C.  Woodruff,  propri- 
etor of  a  dray  line  in  Marshall,  and  Frank 
L.,  who  after  coming  to  Marshall  assisted 
in  running  his  father's  farm. 

The  grandfather,  Joseph  C.  Woodruff,  was 
a  participant  in  the  Indian  outbreak  of  1862, 
being  a  member  of  the  Winnebago  City 
Guards.  Wallace  A.  Woodruff  enlisted  in 
Company  H,  First  Minnesota  Heavy  Artil- 
lery, and  served  during  the  last  year  of  the 
Civil  War,  and  at  the  time  of  the  assassina- 
tion of  Lincoln  he  was  stationed  at  Chat- 
tanooga. 


DANIEL  F.  SALMON  (1890)  is  manager 
of  the  Western  Elevator  Company's  elevator 
at  Taunton.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Ellen  (Gould)  Salmon,  both  natives  of  Ire- 
land. They  came  to  the  United  States  when 
young  and  settled  in  Illinois,  where  they 
were  married.  In  1881  they  came  to  Lyon 
county,  where  the  father  died  a  few  years 
later.  The  mother  now  resides  in  Minne- 
apolis with  a  daughter.  The  family  still 
own  the  old  farm  in  Lyon  county. 

Daniel  was  born  in  Bloomington,  Illinois, 
June  27,  1872,  and  resided  there  with  his 
grandparents  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  In 
1890  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  joined  his 
parents,  who  had  moved  here  in  1881.  He 
resided  with  them  about  nine  years.  He  at- 
tended the  Marshall  High  School  and  taught 
school  five  terms.  Later  he  returned  to  the 
farm  and  operated  it  several  years. 

In  1898  Mr.  Salmon  went  to  Minneapolis 
and  worked  three  years  as  a  motorman  for 
the  Twin  City  Rapid  Transit  Company.  His 
next  move  was  to  Waverly,  South  Dakota, 
where  he  had  charge  of  a  grain  elevator  and 
lumber  yard.  In  1903  he  moved  to  Taunton, 
where  he  has  since  been  manager  of  the 
Western  elevator.  Mr.  Salmon  is  also  en- 
gaged in  the  butcher  business,  having  start- 
ed a  shop  in  1908.  Our  subject  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge  and  has  been  justice 


BI0GKAIMI1CAL  HISTORY. 


_  _  _ 

555 


of  the  peace  in  Taunton  eight  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Village  Council  and  the 
School  Board. 

Mr.  Salmon  was  married  at  Ghent  June 
1.  1904.  to  Mary  L.  Regnier,  a  native  of 
Kankakee  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Salmon  are  the  parents  of  three  children: 
Joseph  D.,  Edwin  and  Allen. 


FRANK  E.  HOOK  (1901)  is  proprietor  of 
the  Mint  Saloon  in  Tracy.  He  was  born  in 
West  Bend.  Wisconsin,  September  10,  1866. 
His  father  was  Eugene  F.  Hook,  a  native 
of  Germany  who  came  to  the  United  States 
when  a  year  old  with  his  parents  and  set- 
tled on  the  land  where  the  city  of  Milwaukee 
now  stands.  At  that  time  Milwaukee  was  a 
hamlet  of  eight  or  ten  houses.  He  was  mar- 
ried there  to  Mandeline  Strahmyer.  They 
moved  to  Grundy  Center,  Iowa,  and  to  Cedar 
Falls  in  1881.  In  1901  they  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  bought  land  in  Monroe  township 
where  the  father  died  November  16,  1907, 
aged  sixty-three  years.  Mrs.  Hook  resides  in 
Tracy. 

In  1872  Frank  Hook  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Grundy  Center,  Iowa,  and  in  1881  to 
Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  where  he  resided  on  the 
farm  with  his  parents  until  twenty-seven 
years  of  age.  He  then  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Diamond  Joe  Line  of  steamers,  which 
plied  between  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and 
Stillwater,-  Minnesota.  He  served  as  fire- 
man two  years,  was  promoted,  and  served 
as  chief  engineer  ten  or  eleven  years.  His 
headquarters  were  at  St.  Louis  during  that 
service. 

In  1901  Mr.  Hook  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  farmed  in  Monroe  township  seven  years. 
In  April,  1908,  he  purchased  the  Mint  Sa- 
loon of  J.  W.  Alexander  and  has  since  con- 
ducted the  place.  Mr.  Hook  is  a  member  of 
the  Eagles  lodge.  He  was  school  treasurer 
four  years  and  has  served  as  road  overseer 
in   Monroe  township. 

At  Tracy,  on  June  28,  1910,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  our  subject  to  Zetta  Rudd. 


EMIL  J.  KRUEGER  (1906),  after  being  in 
business  more  than  twenty  years,  came  to 
Lyon  county  six  years  ago,  bought  the  south 
half  of  section  21,  Monroe  township,  and 
engaged    in    agricultural    pursuits.      He    has 


made  many  improvements  on  his  farm,  in- 
cluding tiling,  fencing,  etc.,  and  is  becoming- 
interested  in  stock  raising.  He  is  president 
of  and  was  responsible  for  the  organization 
of  the  Farmers  Club  of  Tracy  in  March,  1912, 
the  club  now  having  a  membership  of  100. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Hamburg,  Ger- 
many, October  6,  1866.  His  father,  Carl 
Krueger,  was  a  steel  mill  worker.  He  died 
some  years  ago  in  Germany.  The  mother, 
Mary  (Wauteg)  Krueger,  lives  in  Hamburg. 
Emil  was  brought  up  and  educated  in  Ger- 
many, and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  he  came 
to  America  and  located  at  Peotone,  Illinois, 
where  he  lived  until  1898,  most  of  the  time 
being  employed  in  a  general  store.  In  1898 
he  moved  to  Manteno,  Illinois,  and  engaged 
in  the  general  merchandise  business  for  him- 
self, making  his  home  in  Manteno  eight  years 
and  then  coming  to  Lyon  county  and  buying 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  While  a 
resident  of  Manteno  Mr.  Krueger  was  a 
member  of  the  Village  Council  four  years, 
and  hp  was  city  clerk  two  years  during  his 
residence  in  Peotone. 

Emil  J.  Krueger  was  married  at  Manteno, 
Illinois,  to  Grace  Smith,  the  ceremony  taking- 
place  April  16,  1900.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Manteno  May  3,  1878.  To  this  union  a  daugh- 
ter, Dorothy,  was  born  March  16,  1910.  Mr. 
Krueger  has  one  son,  Walter  Krueger,  by 
a  former  marriage.  Our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church.  His  fraternal 
affiliations  are  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
lodge  of  Tracy. 


HARRY  C.  MILLER  (1905),  painter,  pa- 
perhanger  and  decorator  of  Marshall,  was 
born  at  Sterling,  Nebraska,  August  15,  1873. 
"When  he  was  a  child  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  where  he  re- 
sided many  years  and  learned  his  trade. 

After  mastering  his  trade  Mr.  Miller 
worked  as  a  journeyman  painter  for  several 
years  in  that  part  of  the  country  extending 
from  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  Chicago  to  the  Pa- 
cific Coast.  He  was  at  Ottumwa,  Iowa, 
three  years,  and  in  1905  he  located  in  Mar- 
shall, opened  a  shop,  and  has  ever  since 
resided  in  that  city.  He  has  decorated  and 
painted  the  interior  of  the  Methodist  church, 
the  Carnegie  library,  city  hall,  the  M.  W.  A. 
building,  and  a  number  of  residences. 

Mr.    Miller   was   married    at   Montgomery, 


556 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Minnesota,  October  5,  1898,  to  Lydia  Wolf, 
a  native  of  the  village  in  which  she  was 
married.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  three 
children:    Edna,  Evelyn  and  Matah. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Oliver  and  Kate 
(Greenfield)  Miller,  who  were  pioneers  of 
Nebraska,  having  settled  at  Sterling  before 
the  coming  of  the  railroad.  The  father  was 
born  in  Germany,  the  mother  in  New  York. 
There  are  six  sons  in  the  family,  as  fol- 
lows: Luther,  of  Sterling,  Nebraska;  Harry, 
of  this  sketch;  Frank,  of  Ottumwa,  Iowa; 
Lester,  of  Marshall;  Clyde  of  Adams,  Ne- 
braska; Robert,  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska. 


JOHN  WAMBEKE  (1886)  owns  480  acres 
of  land  in  Westerheim  township  and  is  one 
of  the  successful  farmers  of  the  community. 
He  was  born  in  Belgium  July  8,  1872.  His 
parents  were  Ferdinand  and  Rosalie  Wam- 
beke,  who  came  to  this  country  and  settled 
in  Fairview  township  in  1886.  John  received 
his  early  education  in  his  native  land  and 
attended  the  country  schools  for  a  short  time 
after  the  family  came  to  this  country.  His 
mother  died  in  1910  and  his  father  one  year 
later. 

John  began  farming  when  a  young  man. 
He  has  always  been  a  hard  worker  and  a 
careful  manager,  and  those  cpialities  with  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  best  methods  of 
farming  have  brought  him  success.  He  has 
in  the  last  ten  years  bought  4S0  acres  of 
fine  land,  which  is  increasing  in  value  every 
year. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Sadie  Van 
Daele,  a  native  of  Belgium,  occurred  in 
Ghent  February  4,  1902.  To  this  union  six 
children  have  been  born,  named  Ferdinand, 
Bertha,  Lenora,  Elizabeth,  Anna  Maria  and 
Leona   Maria. 

John  Wambeke  has  living  three  brothers 
and  four  sisters,  as  follows:  Charlie,  Henry, 
Peter,  Mrs.  John  Tholen,  Mrs.  Frank  Buysse, 
Mrs.  Adolph  De  Vose  and  Mrs.  August  De 
Sutter.  Mr.  Wambeke  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church  of  Minneota. 


ANDREW  JOHNSON  (1902)  is  manager 
of  the  Laird-Norton  Yards  at  Balaton  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  that  village  ten  years. 
Sweden  is  the  country  of  his  nativity  and 
he  was  born  October  10,  1873.     He  came  to 


America  in  1892  and  has  ever  since  lived  in 
Minnesota. 

Mr.  Johnson  located  at  Stewartville,  Olm- 
sted county.  Near  that  place  he  engaged 
in  farming  for  a  number  of  years,  and  for 
three  years  he  worked  in  a  lumber  yard  in 
the  village.  He  moved  to  Balaton  in  1902, 
worked  in  the  Hayes-Lucas  yard  until  1907, 
and  then  accepted  the  position  of  manager 
of  the  Laird-Norton  Yards,  which  he  has 
since  held. 

The  company  for  which  Mr.  Johnson  works 
was  the  first  to  engage  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness in  Balaton.  It  was  established  as  the 
Laird-Norton  Company,  Incorporated,  in  1855 
and  changed  to  its  present  title  in  1900.  The 
general  offices  are  at  Winona  and  the  officers 
are  M.  G.  Norton,  president;  F.  A.  Thatcher, 
vice  president;  F.  S.  Bell,  secretary  and 
treasurer;  O.  M.  Batchford,  manager.  The 
company  has  110  yards  in  South  Dakota  and 
Minnesota  and  deals  in  all  kinds  of  building 
material,  coal,  etc. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  at  Balaton  De- 
cember 29,  1910,  to  Nora  S.  Sorenson,  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois.  They  have  recently  erected 
a  fine  home  in  the  village.  Mr.  Johnson  is 
a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  and 
Workmen  lodges. 


JOHN  E.  KLEINE  (1903),  Lake  Marshall 
township  farmer,  was  born  in  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, December  28,  1871.  He  received  a 
common  school  education  in  the  land  of  his 
birth,  coming  to  the  United  States  when 
seventeen  years  of  age  and  locating  at  Le 
Mars,  Iowa.  He  worked  on  different  farms 
near  Le  Mars  until  1899,  when  he  married, 
rented  land,  and  started  farming  for  himself. 

In  1903  Mr.  Kleine  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  purchased  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 30,  Lake  Marshall  township,  where  he 
now  lives.  Later  he  purchased  the  east  half 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  25,  Lynd 
township.  Mr.  Kleine  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church.  He  served  four 
years  as  director  of  school  distinct  No.  7. 

Mr.  Kleine  was  married  at  Le  Mars,  Iowa, 
March  8,  1899,  to  Katherine  Ahlfs,  a  native 
of  Hanover,  Germany.  '  She  is  a  daughter  of 
John  H.  and  Anna  (Renkin)  Ahlfs.  The 
former  died  in  Germany  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-one years  and  the  latter  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three.    Mrs.  Kleine  was  born  August 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HIST(  >K  Y. 


19,  1876.  To  this  union  was  born  one  child, 
Anna  L.,  born  July  16,  1901,  died  April  14, 
1911. 


HARVEY  H.  ADAIR  (1895)  is  a  well  drill- 
er and  a  dealer  in  windmills  and  pumps  in 
Marshall.  He  was  born  in  Green  county, 
Wisconsin,  May  23.  1866,  a  son  of  Ezra  and 
Elizabeth  (Cummins)  Adair,  the  former  a 
native  of  Canada  and  the  latter  of  the  United 
States.  The  parents  are  deceased.  In  the 
family  are  eight  children:  Harvey  H.,  of 
this  sketch;  Charles,  of  Marshall;  Alex. 
Ezra,  Maud  and  Josephine  (Mrs.  Fred  Wil- 
lard),  of  Artesian,  South  Dakota;  Bertha 
(Mrs.  Ed.  Willard),  of  Pierre,  South  Dakota; 
and  Libbie  (Mrs.  Carl  Santee),  of  South 
Dakota. 

When  four  years  of  age  our  subject  went 
to  Parsons,  Kansas,  and  lived  on  a  farm 
with  his  parents  until  1885,  when  he  moved 
to  Sanborn  county,  South  Dakota,  where  he 
farmed  and  conducted  a  well  drilling  ma- 
chine until  1895.  In  the  latter  year  he  came 
to  Lyon  county,  located  at  Marshall,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  the  well  business. 
He  is  one  of  the  best  and  oldest  well  drillers 
in  the  county,  having  learned  the  business 
under  his  father,  who  was  an  expert  at  the 
business.  He  makes  all  kinds  of  tubular 
wells  and  handles  windmills  and  pumps.  Mr. 
Adair  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
and  Royal  Neighbors  lodges. 

On  January  4,  1887,  at  Carthage,  South 
Dakota,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Adair 
to  Louise  Boudine.  To  this  union  were  born 
the  following  children:  Ethel,  Clyde  and  Les- 
lie. Mr.  Adair  was  married  a  second  time 
at  Northville,  South  Dakota,  on  January  24, 
1905,  to  Magdaline  Pluman,  a  native  of  Min- 
neapolis. They  have  two  children:  Margaret 
and  Angeline. 


CLAUS  FRAHM  (1904)  is  the  blacksmith 
in  the  village  of  Lynd.  He  is  a  native  of 
Schleswig-Holstein,  Germany,  and  was  bora 
March  16,  1849.  He  is  the  son  of  Jerry  and 
Wibke  Frahm.  The  father  died  in  1852,  in 
Germany,  and  the  mother  died  in  1889,  in 
Tama  county,  Iowa. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  in  the 
land  of  his  nativity,  where  he  attended  school 
until   seventeen   years   of   age.     In   1866   he 


moved  to  Scott  county,  Iowa,  where  he  re- 
sided a  short  time,  working  at  farm  labor. 
He  then  went  to  Jackson  county,  where  he 
remained  a  year,  engaged  in  the  same  work, 
and  then  went  to  Clinton  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  remained  a  year.  We  next  find  our  sub- 
ject in  Tama  county,  Iowa,  where  he  resided 
eighteen  years.  While  there  he  and  an  older 
brother  conducted  a  blacksmith  shop.  In 
1SSS  he  moved  to  O'Brien  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  rented  a  farm  and  operated  it 
until  1904.  During  that  time  he  was  super- 
intendent of  the  county  farm. 

In  1894  Mr.  Frahm  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  rented  a  farm  near  Lynd,  which  he  op- 
erated for  seven  years  and  then  moved  to 
the  village  of  Lynd,  where  he  opened  the 
blacksmith  shop  which  he  still  operates.  Mr. 
Frahm  is  a  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church. 

In  1876  the  subject  of  this  biography  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Annie  Klink,  a  native 
of  Germany  and  a  daughter  of  Jerry  Burns. 
Mr.  Burns  died  several  years  ago.  Mrs. 
Frahm  died  February  27,  1906.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frahm  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Julius,  Herman,  Theodore,  George, 
Frank,  Annie,  Ella. 


NELDER  ERIKSRUD  (1902)  has  lived 
within  a  short  distance  of  Tracy  since  he 
was  two  years  old.  For  the  last  ten  years 
he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  city,  working 
at  teaming  and  engaging  in  buying  and  sell- 
ing horses.  In  1910  he  was  made  police 
officer  of  the  city. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in 
Fillmore  county,  Minnesota,  January  21,  1876. 
In  1878  the  family  moved  to  Murray  county 
and  located  just  south  of  Tracy.  Nelder 
grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  worked  with 
his  father  for  some  years.  He  and  his 
brother  Lawrence  eventually  bought  the 
farm  and  ran  it  until  ten  years  ago,  when 
Nelder  moved  to  Tracy.  He  still  owns  the 
farm  south  of  town. 

Nelder  Eriksrud  is  the  son  of  Martin  and 
Mary  Eriksrud,  natives  of  Norway  who  came 
to  this  country  and  located  in  Wisconsin 
early  in  life.  They  were  married  in  Wis- 
consin and  later  moved  to  Fillmore  county, 
Minnesota.  In  1878  the  family  moved  to 
Murray  county  and  bought  land  just  over  the 
Lyon-Murray  county  line.  Mrs.  Eriksrud  died 


558 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


about  twenty  years  ago;   the  father  lives  in 
Tracy,  aged  seventy-five  years. 

Mr.  Eriksrud  has  made  an  able  and  effi- 
cient officer  and  his  attention  to  his  duty 
is  appreciated. 


HERMAN  HEXRICHS  (1891)  was  born  in 
Bremer  county,  Iowa,  October  5,  1883.  He 
resides  in  Coon  Creek  township,  where  he 
has  operated  his  brother's  farm  for  the  past 
three  years.  His  parents  are  Fred  and 
Frederica  (Froest)  Henrichs,  the  former  a 
native  of  Germany  and  the  latter  of  New 
York  State.  They  settled  in  Bremer  county 
in  an  early  day.  In  1887  they  moved  to  Hand 
county,  South  Dakota,  where  the  father 
homesteaded  land,  which  he  later  sold,  and 
the  family  moved  to  Lyon  county.  Mr.  Hen- 
richs purchased  land  near  Burchard,  and  it 
was  there  that  our  subject  received  his 
schooling  and  grew  to  manhood.  He  resided 
with  his  parents  until  1906,  when  he  rented 
a  farm  near  Russell  on  which  he  resided 
until  moving  to  his  brother's  farm.  Our 
subject  raises  considerable  stock. 

Mr.  Henrichs  was  married  in  Marshall, 
Minnesota,  to  Nettie  Peterson,  a  native  of 
Iowa.  They  were  married  February  21, 
1907.  Mrs.  Henrichs  is  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Amelia  (Hansen)  Peterson.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Henrichs  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Glen,  born  March  21,  1908; 
Evelyn,  born  February  7,  1910;  and  Earl, 
born  September  5,  1911. 


ANTON  HOMMERBERG  "(1904)  is  man- 
ager of  the  Lyon  County  Co-operative  Com- 
pany's store  at  Balaton.  He  was  born  in 
Scandia  township,  Murray  county,  Minnesota, 
July  24,  1877.  His  parents  are  Carl  M.  and 
Ingre  Hommerberg,  natives  of  Sweden  who 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1870  and  lo- 
cated in  Murray  county,  where  they  still 
reside.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren: John,  a  farmer  of  Murray  county; 
Anton,  of  this  sketch;  Edwin  and  Wilhelm, 
who  reside  at  home. 

Antcn  made  his  home  with  his  parents  in 
Murray  county  until  1902.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  in  Gus- 
tavus  Adolphus  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1908.  In  1903  he  went  to  Cur- 
rie,  Minnesota,   and  clerked  in  a  store  one 


year,  then  to  Balaton,  where  he  clerked 
three  years  in  the  general  store  of  F.  J. 
Breening.  In  May,  1908,  the  Lyon  County 
Co-operative  Company  was  organized  and  he 
was  engaged  as  manager,  a  position  which 
he  has  held  since. 

The  Lyon  County  Co-operative  Company 
was  organized  in  May,  1908,  by  a  number 
of  farmers  in  the  vicinity  of  Balaton.  The 
company  is  capitalized  for  $50,000  and  is 
incorporated.  The  officers  are  as  follows: 
President,  F.  F.  Norwood;  vice  president, 
F.  S.  Bartlett;  treasurer,  J.  E."  Miller;  sec- 
retary, Morton  Hjermstad;  manager,  Anton 
Hommerberg.  They  carry  a  complete  line 
of  hardware,  machinery  and  general  mer- 
chandise. The  store  occupies  the  fine  new 
store   block  of  the  First  National   Bank. 


ISAAC  N.  OLEVSON  (1891)  bought  land 
on  section  19,  Westerheim  township,  in  the 
seventies,  but  it  was  many  years  later  when 
he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  commenced  to 
farm  his  land.  He  has  a  well-improved  place 
of  400  acres,  farms  it  all,  and  raises  con- 
siderable stock  for  market.  Mr.  Olevson  has 
just  completed  one  of  the  largest  barns  in 
the  township,  the -structure  being  52x80  feet. 

Nels  and  Betsey  (Brien)  Olevson,  parents 
of  Isaac,  came  to  this  country  from  Norway 
in  1857,  settled  in  McHenry  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  remained  three  years,  and  in 
1859  moved  to  Chicago.  That  city  was  then 
only  a  village,  and  Nels  Olevson  ran  a  dairy. 
He  and  his  wife  were  residents  of  the  city 
until  their  deaths  in  1873  and  1881,  respec- 
tively. 

Isaac  was  born  in  Norway  July  3,  1846,  and 
came  to  this  country  with  his  parents.  The 
boy's  youth  was  mostly  spent  in  Chicago, 
and  when  a  lad  of  only  eighteen  years  he 
enlisted  in  Company  F,  Eighth  Illinois  Cav- 
alry, and  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac during  the  latter  part  of  the  war, 
being  honorably  discharged  in  1865.  He 
then  returned  to  Chicago  and  entered  the 
railroad  business  in  the  capacity  of  fireman. 

Young  Olevson  in  a  few  years  was-  pro- 
moted to  engineer  on  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western line  and  ran  for  many  years  between 
Chicago  and  Clinton,  Iowa,  and  later  between 
Watertown  and  Brookings,  South  Dakota. 
His  health  failed  and  in  search  of  other 
occupation  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  has 


mOGKAIMIICAL  HISTORY. 


559 


since  been  farming  the  land  he  bought  many 
years  ago.  Mr.  Olevson  was  in  Chicago  at 
the  time  of  the  great  fire  of  1871,  and  during 
the  time  that  the  city's  drinking  water  sup- 
ply was  destroyed  he  hauled  water  by  train 
from  Elmhurst  to  the  stricken  city. 

Isaac  Olevson  married  Martha  Leland  in 
Chicago  in  1872.  She  is  a  native  of  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  and  by  her  marriage  to 
Mr.  Olevson  became  the  mother  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Fillmore,  of  Washington 
State;  Mabel  (Mrs.  Asa  Conger),  of  Lyon 
county;  Beatrice  (Mrs.  Nickolai  Orsen),  of 
Westerheim;  Bertrand,  on  the  farm;  George 
and  Williard,  at  home.  Mr.  Olevson  has 
one  sister  living,  Josephine,  a  resident  of 
Chicago. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge,  having  joined  in  Watertown,  and  has 
taken  the  degrees  admitting  him  to  the  Com- 
mandery  and  the  Knight  Templars.  Mr. 
Olevson  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  two 
years. 


CHARLES  M.  SNAPP  (1885),  of  Marshall, 
has  lived  in  Lyon  county  since  he  was  fif- 
teen years  old.  He  was  born  in  Bourbon 
county,  Kentucky,  October  5,  1870,  lived  in 
Illinois  with  his  parents  from  1881  to  1885, 
and  since  then  has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon 
county,  most  of  the  time  engaged  in  farming. 

Jacob  and  Sarah  (Mann)  Snapp,  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  were  born  and  married 
in  Nicholas  county,  Kentucky.  The  former 
served  in  the  Kentucky  Home  Guards  during 
the  Civil  War.  The  family  moved  to  Mar- 
shall in  1885  and  Mr.  Snapp  has  since  lived 
in  that  city,  spending  most  of  his  summers 
with  his  children  in  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Snapp 
died  in  Marshall  July  14,  1908,  at. the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  Mr.  Snapp  is  now 
eighty-five  years  of  age. 

The  children  of  the  Snapp  family  are  as 
follows:  Marian,  Aaron  and  William,  of 
Kentucky;  Floyd,  Corilla  (Mrs.  Wesley 
Holt),  Samuel,  Charles  M.,  Annie,  deceased; 
Stella  and  Calla  (Mrs.  Victor  J.  LaVoy),  of 
Marshall. 


GEORGE  O.  LARSON  (1896)  farms  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  13,  Nordland 
township.  He  was  born  in  Woonsocket, 
South   Dakota,  July   22,   1886,   a  son  of  An- 


drew and  Metsey  (Hauge)  Larson.  The 
father  was  born  in  Denmark  and  the  mother 
in  Iowa.  For  a  number  of  years  Andrew 
Larson  operated  a  bus  line  in  Woonsocket. 
In  1896  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Lyon 
county  and  farmed  rented  land  in  Eidsvold 
township  ten  years. 

George  began  his  schooling  in  Woonsocket 
and  completed  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Minneota.  In  1904  he  began  to  work  out 
at  farm  labor  and  in  1905  and  1906  he 
worked  in  the  railroad  shops  at  Brainerd 
and  Two  Harbors,  Minnesota.  In  the  fall 
of  the  year  last  mentioned  he  and  his  brother 
Louis  bought  eighty  acres  of  timber  land  in 
Todd  county,  Minnesota,  and  spent  the  fol- 
lowing winter  there.  He  returned  to  Lyon 
county  in  the  spring  of  1907,  worked  as  a 
farm  hand  two  years,  married  in  1909,  and 
commenced  farming.  He  now  makes  his 
home  with  his  mother-in-law  and  farms  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  13.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Free  Norwe- 
gian church. 

Mr.  Larson  was  married  in  Minneota  July 
15,  1909,  to  Josephine  B.  Bjerkan.  She  was 
born  in  Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin,  November 
3,  1873,  was  educated  in  the  Appleton  High 
School  and  in  the  Minnesota  Business  Col- 
lege at  Minneapolis,  and  for  nine  years 
taught  Lyon  county  district  schools.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Larson  have  one  child,  Alfred  O., 
born   March  4,   1911. 

Mrs.  Larson's  father  was  Ole  J.  Bjerkan. 
He  was  born  in  Trondhjem,  Norway,  June 
5,  1826,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1865, 
and  to  Lyon  county  in  1878.  He  bought  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  13,  Nordland 
township,  and  engaged  in  farming  it  until 
his  death  on  May  13,  1905.  Mrs.  Larson's 
mother  is  Karen  (Larson)  Bjerkan.  She  was 
born  in  Nanestad,  Norway,  June  25,  1844,  and 
came  to  America  and  located  in  Rushford, 
Minnesota,  in  1869.  She  still  makes  her 
home  on  the  old  farm  in  Nordland. 


A.  G.  BETOURNE  (1897),  proprietor  of 
the  Monogram  Saloon  of  Tracy,  was  born 
in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  August  4,  1859. 
He  is  one  of  a  family  of  six  children  born 
to  Mose  and  Rosa  Lee  (Beniouw)  Betourne, 
natives  of  Canada.  The  former  is  deceased; 
the  latter  makes  her  home  in  Kankakee 
countv,  Illinois. 


560 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age 
A.  G.  Betourne  lived  on  his  father's  farm; 
then  he  located  in  Kankakee  and  engaged, 
in  the  saloon  business  until  moving  to  Lyon 
county  in  1897.  The  first  year  of  his  resi- 
dence in  the  county  Mr.  Betourne  tended  bar 
for  Gits  &  Vergote,  at  Marshall.  He  took 
up  his  residence  in  Tracy  thereafter,  tended 
bar  for  W.  B.  Keller  four  years,  and  then 
purchased  the  business  he  has  since  con- 
ducted. Mr.  Betourne  owns  his .  home  in 
Tracy.    He  is  a  member  of  the  Eagles  lodge. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
in  Chicago  March  8,  1897,  to  Amy  Rexstrew. 
who  is  also  a  native  of  Kankakee  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Betourne  have  three  children, 
Fern,  Euclide  and  Alice. 


critics    in    as    many    different    positions,    as 
half-back,  guard  and  end. 

His  prowess  on  the  cinder  path  was 
scarcely  less.  Among  his  numerous  records 
are  the  following:  Fifty-yard  dash,  5  3-5  sec- 
onds; one  hundred-yard  dash,  10  2-5  seconds; 
running  high  jump,  5  feet  5  inches;  running 
broad  jump,  22  feet  4  inches;  running  hop, 
step  and  jump,  44  feet  4  1-2  inches;  16-pound 
shot  put,  37  feet  7  inches.  Mr.  Kennedy  was 
also  a  member  of  the  baseball  and  basket- 
ball teams  of  Hamline  and  enjoyed  the 
unique  distinction  of  being  the  first  student 
at  the  university  who  made  every  athletic 
team  during  his  freshman  year.  In  addition 
to  these  various  athletic  honors,  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  "Class  of  1905"  dur- 
ing his  freshman  year. 


DUNCAN  L.  KENNEDY  (1887)  is  a  law- 
yer of  the  city  of  Marshall.  He  is  a  native 
of  Wisconsin  and  was  born  December  30, 
1881,  a  son  of  D.  Ward  and  Flora  (Keter) 
Kennedy,  natives  of  Wisconsin. 

When  six  years  of  age  our  subject  came 
to  Lyon  county  and  made  his  home  with  his 
grandfather,  Judge  D.  A.  Kennedy,  on  a 
farm  in  Island  Lake  township,  one  year,  after 
which  he  moved  to  Marshall  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Marshall  High  School  in  1900. 
He  then  attended  Hamline  University  two 
and  one-half  years,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Marshall  and  was  employed  in  the  law 
office  of  Thomas  E.  Davis  two  years.  He 
then  went  to  Wisconsin  and  learned  the 
printer's  trade,  which  he  followed  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1909,  when  he  returned  to  Marshall 
and  read  law  in  the  office  of  Davis  &  Michel. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  state  bar  in  June, 
1911,  and  entered  the  firm  of  Davis  &  Michel, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  and  the  M.  W. 
A.  lodges. 

Mr.  Kennedy  has  been  prominent  in  ath- 
letics since  boyhood  and  while  at  Hamline 
University  took  an  active  part  in  athletic 
sports  and  was  a  member  of  the  Hamline 
University  football  teams  of  1902-03-04.  He 
was  equally  prominent  in  other  branches  of 
athletics  while  at  Hamline.  He  was  admit- 
tedly one  of  the  best  all-around  athletes  that 
ever  attended  Hamline  University.  During 
his  three  years  of  football  he  was  placed  on 
the  "All-Minnesota"  team  by  the  newspaper 


OSCAR  A.  KROOK  (1886),  postmaster  of 
Marshall,  has  resided  in  Lyon  county  many 
years,  most  of  the  time  as  a  resident  of  the 
county  seat  city.  He  was  born  in  Sweden, 
the  son  of  Nels  Olson  Krook  and  Boel 
(Ljungberg)  Krook,  both  of  whom  are  buried 
in  their  native  land.  There  are  seven  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  as  follows:  Edward  O. 
Krook,  of  Clinton,  Minnesota;  Augusta  (Mrs. 
John  Leveau),  Carl  O.  and  Theodore,  all  of 
Sweden;  Oscar  A.,  of  this  sketch;  Anna  A. 
(Mrs.  Nels  Nelson)  and  Marie,  both  of  Swe- 
den. 

During  his  boyhood  days  Oscar  Krook  at- 
tended school  and  when  a  young  man  left 
Sweden  and  came  to  America.  He  first  land- 
ed at  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  where  he  worked 
in  a  furniture  factory  during  the  summer 
months  to  earn  the  means  to  continue  his 
studies  in  the  English  schools  during  the 
winter  months.  He  came  to  Marshall  in 
1886  and  learned  the  tinner's  trade  in  the 
store  of  J.  P.  Watson,  working  continuously 
five  years.  Mr.  Krook  then  went  to  Min- 
neapolis and  took  a  course  in  the  Minnesota 
School  of  Business.  Returning  to  Marshall, 
he  again  entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  Watson, 
as  bookkeeper  and  clerk,  and  continued  in 
his  employ  one  year. 

Our  subject  then  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware and  furniture  business  at  Balaton  as 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Krook  &  Tyler. 
Five  months  after  the  business  was  estab- 
lished the  store  was  destroyed  by  fire  and 
Mr.    Krook   was    left    practically    penniless. 


DR.  L.  E.  IJAMS 

Physician  of  Osteopathy  of  Marshall. 


0.  A.  KROOK 

Postmaster   of   Marshall. 


D.  L.  KENNEDY 

Member  of  the  Marshall  Law  Firm  of  Davis, 

Michel  &  Kennedy. 


FRANK  CASE 

Sporting  Editor  of  the  Lyon  County 

Reporter. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


561 


He  again  took  up  his  residence  in  the  county 
seat  and  for  a  time  was  employed  as  book- 
keeper for  Watson  &  Chace.  Mr.  Krook 
then  went  to  Winona  and  took  employment 
with  R.  D.  Cone  &  Co.,  wholesale  and  retail 
hardware  dealers.  For  three  years  he  was 
manager  of  the  retail  department  and  for 
four  years  was  a  traveling  representative 
of  the  firm.  At  the  end  of  that  period  Mr. 
Krook  again  located  in  Marshall  and  for 
some  time  was  in  the  office  of  Thomas  E. 
Davis,  working  at  the  insurance  business  and 
other  work.  He  was  appointed  postmaster 
of  Marshall  by  President  Roosevelt  in  1907 
and  was  reappointed  by  President  Taft  in 
1911. 

Mr.  Krook  was  married  in  Marshall  on 
August  31,  1900,  to  Mary  A.  Davis,  daughter 
of  Reese  Davis,  who  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Lyon  county.  Mrs.  Krook  was 
born  on  her  father's  homestead  near  Tracy. 
Three  children  have  been  born  as  a  result 
of  this  union,  namely,  Alfred  T.,  born  in 
September,  1902;  Marion  J.,  born  in  January, 
1909;  and  Robert  D.,  born  May  12,  1911.  Mr. 
Krook  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and 
Yeomen  lodges. 


FRANK  W.  CASE  (1875),  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Lyon  County  Reporter,  has 
spent  all  except  the  first  six  months  of  his 
life  in  Marshall.  He  was  bora  at  Waverly, 
Iowa,  September  20,  1874,  the  son  of  C.  F. 
and  Fannie  (Waller)  Case,  who  are  also 
residents  of  Marshall. 

When  Frank  was  six  months  of  age  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Marshall,  \  the 
family  making  the  trip  from  New  Ulm  by 
wagon  and  arriving  at  their  destination  in 
a  raging  blizzard.  He  received  his  primary 
•education  in  the  Marshall  High  School  and 
then  spent  one  year  working  in  his  father's 
printing  office.  He  then  became  a  student 
in  the  University  of  Minnesota,  from  which 
institution  he  was   graduated  in   1898. 

After  his  school  days  Frank  assumed  the 
management  of  the  Reporter  and  later  be- 
came sole  owner.  He  has  built  the  paper 
up  to  its  present  standing — one  of  the  lead- 
ing publications  of  Southwestern  Minnesota 
with  a  great  influence. 

Mr.  Case  was  married  at  Marshall  June  28, 
1901,  to  Edith  Joyce  Caley.  She  is  a  native 
of  Lyon  county  and  a  daughter  of  Charles 


Caley,  a  pioneer  settler.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Case 
have  four  children,  Maurine,  Eugene,  Mertia 
and  Beatrice. 

Mr.  Case  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic, 
Woodmen  and  Brotherhood  lodges  and  is 
secretary  of  the  last  named  order.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Marshall  Fire  Depart- 
ment a  number  of  years  and  has  been  its 
president. 


DR.  L.  E.  IJAMS  (1910)  is  a  practising 
doctor  of  osteopathy  of  Marshall.  He  is  the 
son  of  Thomas  L.  and  Rosetta  (Walker) 
Ijams,  the  former  a  native  of  Zanesville, 
Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Bloomington,  Illi- 
nois. The  father  died  in  1908;  the  mother 
lives  at  Farmer  City,  Illinois. 

In  DeWitt  county,  Illinois,  on  September 
30,  1877,  the  subject  of  this  biography  was 
bom,  and  on  his  parents'  farm  in  that  county 
he  grew  to  manhood.  He  received  his  gen- 
eral education  in  the  district  schools,  in  the 
high  school  at  Farmer  City,  and  in  the 
schools  of  Quincy.  For  a  time  he  clerked 
in  clothing  stores  and  was  a  traveling  sales- 
man with  the  Dayton  Spice  Mill  Company. 
Mr.  Ijams  then  took  up  the  study  of  oste- 
opathy as  his  life's  profession.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  Still  College  of  Osteop- 
athy at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  practice.  He  opened  an  of- 
fice in  Marshall  in  June,  1910,  has  built 
up  a  lucrative  practice,  and  is  popular  in 
church  and  social  circles. 

Dr.  Ijams  was  married  at  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, on  September  7,  1905,  to  Ethel  E.  Hall, 
a  native  of  the  city  in  which  she  was  mar- 
ried. Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ijams  have  three  chil- 
dren: Byron,  Walker  and  Elouise.  The  doc- 
tor is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  East- 
ern Star  and  Calumet  fraternities  and  of 
the  Methodist  church.  He  has  membership 
in  the  American  Osteopathic  Association,  as 
well  as  in  the  state  and  Southern  Minne- 
sota associations. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, five  boys  and  five  girls.  Their  names 
are  Harvey,  Hattie,  Ida,  George,  Millard, 
Lewis  E.,  John,  Ella,  Edyth,  Edna,  and  all 
are  living. 


JAMES  T.  ROGAN  (1880),  who  farms  the 
southwest    quarter    of    section    11,    Eidsvold 


562 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


township,  has  lived  on  that  place  since  he 
was  less  than  three  years  of  age  and  for 
the  past  twenty  years  has  had  the  man- 
agement of  the  farm. 

Thomas  and  Catherine  (Boland)  Rogan, 
the  parents  of  our  subject,  were  born  and 
married  in  Ireland.  After  their  marriage 
they  came  to  America  and  for  a  number 
of  years  lived  in  Chicago.  The  father  was 
a  prospector  and  miner  and  before  the  fam- 
ily became  residents  of  Lyon  county  he  was 
engaged  in  mining  in  the  West.  A  few 
years  after  his  family  moved  to  Lyon  county 
he  came  and  made  his  home  here  until  his 
death  in  1900.  There  are  five  children  in 
the  family,  as  follows:  Mary  (Mrs.  Ed.  Kel- 
ly), of  Alberta,  Canada;  Ann  (Mrs.  Pat 
Kiley),  of  Minneota;  Kate,  who  lives  at 
home;  Bridget  (Mrs.  John  Kiley),  of  Min- 
neota;  and  James  T. 

James  T.  Rogan  was  born  in  Chicago  Au- 
gust 15,  1877,  and  in  the  spring  of  1880  he 
accompanied  his  mother,  brothers  and  sisters 
to  Lyon  county.  Mrs.  Rogan  bought  the 
farm  at  that  time  and  still  makes  her  home 
there.  James  was  brought  up  on  that  place 
and  has  always  lived  there.  He  is  unmar- 
ried and  makes  his  home  with  his  mother 
and  sister.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Minneota  and  of  the  Yeomen  lodge. 


PAR.  O.  ANDERSON  (1897)  since  May  1, 
1903,  has  been  the  buttermaker  at  the  Gar- 
vin creamery.  He  is  a  native  of  Sweden 
and  was  born  June  5,  1868,  a  son  of  Andrew 
O.  and  Ingar  Anderson,  who  located  at  Clear 
Lake,  Sherburne  county,  Minnesota,  upon 
coming  to  the  United  States.  Andrew  O. 
Anderson  died  August  31,  1901.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living:  Par.  O.,  of  this  sketch;  Andrew 
O.,  Noven,  Adel  and  Hjalmar.  One  son, 
Oscar,  is  dead. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  with  his 
parents  to  Clear  Lake,  Minnesota,  in  1888, 
and  in  1893  he  located  at  Richmond,  Stearns 
county,  where  he  operated  a  creamery  two 
years.  He  then  moved  to  Tracy,  where  he 
conducted  a  creamery  five  years,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  he  took  employment  with 
the  Thompson  Creamery  Company  of  Mar- 
shall and  operated  one  of  their  creameries 
at  French   Lake,  Wright   county.     Then   he 


went  to  the  Marshall  Creamery  Company 
and  was  buttermaker  eight  months.  He 
moved  to  Garvin  May  1,  1903,  where  he  has 
had  charge  of  the  creamery  since  that  date. 
Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  and  the  Modern  Woodmen 
and  Maccabee  lodges. 

At  Tracy,  Minnesota,  on  December  6,  1902, 
Emma  Busk  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Ander- 
son. She  is  a  native  of  Sweden  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  Busk.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Anderson  have  two  children,  namely,  Ernest 
and  Sigfrid. 


CHARLES  E.  PLANTZ  (1907)  farms  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  11,  Island  Lake 
township,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon 
county  five  years.  He  was  born  in  Black- 
hawk  county,  Iowa,  November  26,  1872.  His 
father  and  mother,  Jacob  and  Sarah  ( Sands) 
Plantz,  were  natives  of  New  York  and 
Michigan,  respectively,  and  both  are  dead. 
They  were  early  settlers  of  Iowa. 

When  he  was  ten  years  old  Charles  ac- 
companied the  family  to  Humboldt  county, 
Iowa,  and  there  he  finished  his  schooling  and 
grew  to  manhood.  He  worked  out  several 
years  and  in  1897  he  rented  land  and  began 
farming  for  himself.  He  owned  a  half  in- 
terest in  a  120-acre  farm  there,  his  brother 
Elias  owning  the  other  half,  but  he  later  dis- 
posed of  that  property. 

In  1906  Mr.  Plantz  moved  to  Rothsay,  Wil- 
kin county,  Minnesota,  and  farmed  rented 
land  there  four  years.  He  spent  one  year 
in  Superior,  Wisconsin,  working  in  the  ship 
yards  and  the  railroad.  His  arriyal  to  Lyon 
county  was  in  1907.  The  first  season  he 
worked  out  and  during  the  next  two  years 
he  farmed  200  acres  of  O.  C.  Gregg's  farm. 
He  rented  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
15,  Island  Lake  township,  one  year,  and  in 
1911  he  moved  to  his  present  place. 

At  Humboldt,  Iowa,  on  January  15.  1902, 
Mr.  Plantz  was  married  to  Mrs.  lone  J.  Don- 
aldson. She  is  the  daughter  of  O.  J.  and 
Mary  (Larson)  Conklin,  now  of  Livermore, 
Iowa,  and  she  was  born  at  Lake  Mills,  Iowa, 
December  30,  1879.  They  have  two  children, 
Viola  I.  and  Darial  L.  By  her  former  mar- 
riage Mrs.  Plantz  has  one  son,  Roy  Don- 
aldson. Mr.  Plantz  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic lodge. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


563 


EMERY  G.  FULLER  (  1SU0)  is  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Marshall  Bottling  Works. 
In  March,  1912,  he  and  Edward  De  Clerk 
bought  the  establishment  from  A.  C.  Porter 
and  are  now  actively  pushing  the  sale  of 
bottled  soft  drinks  and  of  Silver  Spring 
water. 

Mr.  Fuller  is  a  native  of  Lyon  county  and 
was  born  January  1,  1890,  on  his  father's 
farm,  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  13, 
Lake  Marshall  township.  He  was  brought 
up  on  the  farm  and  came  to  Marshall  in  1908, 
entering  the  employ  of  A.  C.  Porter  in  the 
bottling  works  and  holding  the  position  of 
foreman  up  to  the  time  of  buying  the  plant 
with  Mr.  De  Clerk.  The  business  is  a  good 
one  and  should  keep  growing  under  the  effi- 
cient management  and  hustling  qualities  of 
the  owners. 

Emery  Fuller  is  a  son  of  Walter  A.  and 
Emily  Jane  (Buck)  Fuller,  who  have  been 
residents  of  Lyon  county  for  nearly  thirty 
years.  His  father  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and 
Mrs.  Fuller  is  a  New  York  State  woman. 
The  parents  still  live  on  the  Lake  Marshall 
township  farm  where  they  made  their  home 
when  first  coming  to  Lyon  county.  Besides 
Emery,  they  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Carrie,  Frank,  Linus,  Clar- 
ence, Harry,  Bertha,  Roy,  Eva,  Hattie,  Ernest 
and  Robert. 


FRED  LARSON  (1896),  a  successful  farm- 
er and  stock" raiser  of  Shelburne  township, 
was  born  in  Thorning,  Sogn,  Denmark,  April 
25,  1869.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and 
Katrina  (Lair)  Larson,  both  of  whom  are 
now  dead. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education 
in  Denmark,  where  he  attended  the  common 
schools  until  fourteen  years  of  age.  He 
then  worked  for  his  father  on  the  home 
farm  for  eight  years.  Like  many  of  his 
countrymen,  he  believed  the  United  States 
offered  great  opportunities  to  the  young  man, 
and  in  1891  he  came  to  this  country,  locating 
in  Washington  county,  Nebraska,  where  he 
remained  one  year.  Moving  to  Clay  county, 
Iowa,  Fred  worked  as  a  farm  hand  three 
years,  then  rented  a  place  and  farmed  for 
himself  one  year. 

In  the  spring  of  1896  Mr.  Larson  came  to 
Minnesota  and  located  in  Pipestone  county, 
near  Ruthton,  where  he  purchased  fifty  acres 


of  land.  During  the  rest  of  that  year  he 
worked  out,  teaming.  In  February  of  the 
following  year  our  subject  purchased  the 
farm  upon  which  he  now  resides.  He  con- 
ducts a  splendid  cattle,  horse  and  hog  rais- 
ing business  in  addition  to- his  general  farm- 
ing. Mr.  Larson  is  a  member  of  the  Danish 
Lutheran  church  of  Ruthton  and  is  chairman 
of  the   board  of  school  district  No.  57. 

On  October  20,  1896,  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried to  Johanna  Christine  Paulson,  a  resi- 
dent of  Shelburne  township  and  a  native  of 
Denmark.  She  was  born  September  28, 
1878,  and  her  parents  were  Jess  and  Chris- 
tina (Jacobson)  Paulson,  who  now  reside  at 
Ruthton. 

Three  children  have  been  born  to  Fred  and 
Johanna  Larson:  Jess,  born  June  27,  1899; 
Dewey  Thomas,  born  July  18,  1905;  and 
Geneva  Christina  Katrina,  born  February  12, 
1908. 


J.  DELBERT  GILPIN  (1912),  editor 
of  the  Tracy  Headlight,  was  born  near 
Dunkirk,  Ohio,  January  10,  1876.  J.  P. 
and  Lucindia  (Tidrick)  Gilpin,  his  par- 
ents, were  also  natives  of  Ohio  and  died 
in  Nebraska. 

The  subject  of  this  review  attended 
school  in  his  native  state  until  sixteen 
years  of  age  and  then  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Nebraska.  In  that  state  he 
attended  school  a  short  time,  clerked  in  a 
store,  and  taught  school.  He  became  a 
student  of  the  University  of  Nebraska  and 
later  entered  the  Minnesota  University, 
from  the  Academic  Department  of  which 
he  was  graduated. 

After  his  graduation  Mr.  Gilpin  was  su- 
perintendent of  the  Wayzata  public  schools 
two  years.  In  May,  1912,  he  purchased 
the  Tracy  Headlight  and  has  since  con- 
ducted that  journal.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church  of  Tracy. 

Mr.  Gilpin  was  married  at  Tracy  Au- 
gust 1,  1906,  to  Luella  Grace  Larson,  who 
was  born  in  Redwood  county  in  February, 
1886.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilpin  have  one 
child,  Gladys  Lucile,  born  August  7,  1907. 


GEORGE  OSSEN  (1900)  is  one  of  the 
most  extensive  farmers  and  stock  raisers 
of  Lyons  township.     He  was  born  in  Ber- 


564 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


gen,  Norway,  May  2,  1851.  His  parents 
were  Ole  and  Sunive  Ossen,  both  of  whom 
died  in  the  old  country.  George  received 
his  schooling  and  grew  to  manhood  in 
the  land  of  his  nativity. 

When  seventeen  years  of  age  our  sub- 
ject came  to  America  with  his  brother, 
Severt,  and  located  in  Winneshiek  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  worked  at  farm  labor 
three  years.  He  then  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Hancock  county  and  farmed 
eight  years.  His  next  move  was  to  Winne- 
bago county,  where  he  purchased  240  acres 
of  land  and  farmed  until  1900. 

In  the  latter  year  Mr.  Ossen  sold  his 
Iowa  farm,  came  to  Lyon  county,  and 
purchased  441  acres  of  land  on  section  31, 
Lyons  township.  He  has  made  his  home 
there  continuously  since.  In  addition  to 
his  extensive  farming  interests,  Mr.  Ossen 
makes  a  specialty  of  feeding  and  shipping 
cattle  and  hogs.  He  is  a  shareholder  of 
the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  and  of  the 
First  State  Bank  of  Russell.  He  is  presi- 
dent of  the  former  company'  and  a  director 
of  the  bank.  Mr.  Ossen  was  chairman  of 
the  Township  Board  of  Supervisors  eight 
years.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  land  own- 
ers of  Lyons  township. 

In  Winneshiek  county,  June  24,  1874, 
Mr.  Ossen  was  united  in  marriage  to  Bet- 
sey T.  Fosse,  a  native  of  Bergen,  Norway. 
She  was  born  October  23,  1851,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Torkield  and  Christie  (Tweet) 
Fosse.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ossen  are  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  named  eight  chil- 
dren: Sophia  S.,  born  February  3,  1875; 
Thireld  O.,  born  November  16,  1876;  Jo- 
seph A.,  born  May  8,  1881;  Lawrence, 
born  July  9,  1883;  John  M.,  born  Decem- 
ber 20,  1888;  Bessie  S.,  born  September 
3,  1885;  Alice  R.,  born  March  13,  1892; 
Gertrude,  born  January  29,   1896. 


WILLIAM  A.  MOORE  (1884),  proprie- 
tor of  a  Marshall  dray  line,  was  born 
in  Clark  county,  Wisconsin,  November  20, 
1882.  When  he  was  two  years  old  he 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty, the  family  home  being  established  on 
section  18,  Lake  Marshall  township, 
where  the  father  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land. 

On   the   Lake   Marshall   township    farm 


William  Moore  spent  his  boyhood  days, 
working  for  his  father  until  eighteen 
years  of  age.  Since  then  he  has  been 
shifting  for  himself.  He  worked  out  for 
a  year  and  then,  his  father  having  died, 
he  returned  to  the  farm  and  conducted 
it  until  19*07.  That  year  he  located  in 
Marshall  and  for  four  and  one-half  years 
was  employed  on  the  J.  C.  Woodruff  dray 
line.  In  April,  1912,  he  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself,  establishing  the  third 
dray  line.  Mr.  Moore  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  and  Royal  Neighbors 
lodges. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight 
children,  the  others  being  Daniel,  Mary, 
Sarah,  Rose  Ann,  Martin,  Robert  and 
Theresa.  Their  parents  are  the  late  An- 
thony Moore  and  Charlotte  E.  (Minnick) 
Moore.  The  father  was  born  in  Ireland 
and  the  mother  in  Philadelphia.  They 
came  West  when  young  and  were  married 
in  Wisconsin.  Anthony  Moore  died  on  the 
farm  in  Lake  Marshall  township  in  1900 
at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  Mrs.  Moore 
resides  in  town,  and  William  A.  makes 
his  home  with  her. 


CHRISTIAN  H.  KELLER  (1909)  is  a 
new  arrival  to  Lyon  county  and  farms 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  11,  Lynd 
township.  He  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and 
was  born  at  Kankakee  February  2,  1867, 
a  son  of  Conrad  and  Elizabeth  (Meier) 
Keller.  The  father  of  our  subject  resides 
at  Kankakee,  Illinois,  where  he  moved 
after  his  retirement  from  active  farm  la- 
bors. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  his  native  town.  After  leaving 
school  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  father 
on  the  farm,  where  he  worked  until 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  when  he  started 
farming  for  himself. 

Mr.  Keller  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with 
the  M.  W.  A.  and  the  Yeomen  of  Ameri- 
ca lodges.  He  is  a  stockholder  of  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Marshall. 
For  two  years  he  was  an  assessor  in  Kan- 
kakee county,  Illinois,  and  was  trustee  of 
school  district  No.   1   in  the  same  county. 

On  March  19,  1890,  Christian  Keller 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Hartung, 


IHOURAPIIICAL  HISTORY. 


565 


a  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Louisa  (Stanton) 
Hartung.  To  this  union  have  been  born 
the  following  six  children:  Harry  Wil- 
liam, born  July  13,  1891;  Hattie  Eliza- 
beth, born  December  16,  1893;  Frank  El- 
mer, born  August  2  0,  1898;  Bertha  Louise, 
born  November  12,  1900;  Lester  C,  born 
April  22,  1903;  Weldon  Conrad,  born  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1911.  All  reside  at  home  with 
their  parents. 


JOSEPH  L.  NELSON  (1904)  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  billiard  and  pool  hall  in 
Cottonwood.  He  is  a  native  Minnesotan 
and  was  born  at  Pipestone  October  12, 
1879.  His  parents  are  John  and  Annie 
Randena  (Okre)  Nelson,  natives  of  Alla- 
makee county,  Iowa.  The  father  died  in 
1890.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, named  as  follows:  Ofto,  Selma, 
Clara,  Hulda  and  Joseph  L.  The  mother 
was  married  a  second  time,  to  Ole  Osten- 
son.  The  grandparents  of  our  subject  are 
Ole  and  Aslank  Nelson,  natives  of  Nor- 
way, who  came  to  the  United  States  in  a 
very  early  day  and  settled  in  Allamakee 
county. 

Joseph  Nelson  resided  at  Pipestone, 
where  he  received  his  education  and  also 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  until  1903. 
In  1904  he  came  to  Lyon  county  with  his 
mother  and  sisters  and  located  at  Cotton- 
wood. He  later  went  to  Hanley,  Sas- 
katchewan, Canada,  and  worked  at  the  car- 
penter's trade  a  year.  He  then  worked 
at  Minot,  Aneta  and  Cooperstown,  North 
Dakota,  at  the  same  trade  two  years,  when 
he  returned  to  Cottonwood.  Upon  his  re- 
turn he  purchased  his  mother's  restau- 
rant and  conducted  it  until  February, 
1911,  when  he  sold  and  opened  a  pool  and 
billiard  hall.  He  installed  an  entirely  new 
outfit. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  married  at  Cottonwood 
June  29,  1910,  to  Clara  Elmer,  a  native 
of  Cottonwood  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Elmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  have  one 
child,  Rudolph,  born  April   12,  1911. 


ANTON  RASMUSSEN  (1900)  is  a  farm- 
er and  land  owner  of  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship. He  is  a  native  of  Denmark  and 
was  born  January  20,   1868,  a  son  of  Peter 


and  Singer  Christenson.  He  received  his 
schooling  in  the  land  of  his  birth  and 
grew  to  manhood  there. 

When  nineteen  years  of  age  our  subject 
immigrated  to  the  United  States  and  for 
nine  years  resided  in  Chicago.  There  he 
worked  on  the  railroad,  drove  a  coal  wagon 
and  operated  a  dairy.  He  then  went  to 
Lincoln  county,  Minnesota,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  quarter  section  of  land,  which 
he  operated  two  years.  Then  he  returned 
to  Chicago,  where  he  conducted  a  dairy  one 
year  more.  He  came  to  Lyon  county  in 
1900  and  upon  his  arrival  purchased  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  30,  Coon 
Creek  township,  upon  which  he  still  re- 
sides. Besides  farming,  Mr.  Rasmussen 
raises  a  great  deal  of  stock.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Danish  Lutheran  church  and 
the  Danish  Brotherhood  of  America  lodge. 
He  has  stock  in  a  farmers'  co-operative 
lumber  yard  and  creamery  at  Tyler. 

On  September  19,  1889,  at  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, the  subject  of  this  review  was  mar- 
ried to  Annie  Meyer,  a  native  of  Germany 
and  a  daughter  of  Nels  and  Annie  Meyer. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rasmussen  have  been 
born  three  children,  Peter,  Lizzie  and 
Degma. 


GEORGE  A.  MULLEN  (1911)  is  the 
junior  member  of  the  firm  styled  the  Mul- 
len Land  Company  of  Marshall.  He  is  a 
native  of  Iowa  and  was  born  at  Fort  Dodge 
April  24,  1887,  where  he  resided  until 
twelve  years  of  age.  His  parents  are 
M.  A.  Mullen  and  Mildred  (Babbit)  Mul- 
len, natives  of  Watertown,  Wisconsin. 
After  their  marriage  in  1883  they  moved 
to  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  where  they  resided 
until  1892.  Then  they  moved  to  Gilmore, 
Iowa,  lived  there  until  1899,  and  then 
moved  to  Palo  Alto  county,  Iowa.  They 
lived  in  the  latter  place  until  1905,  when 
they  moved  to  Pipestone,  where  they  now 
reside.  They  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Anna,  Adelaide,  Joseph, 
Marie  and  Bernice,  of  Pipestone;  George 
A.,  of  this  sketch;  James  of  Weyburn,  Sas- 
katchewan,   Canada. 

When  twelve  years  of  age  George  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Palo  Alto  county 
to  reside.  He  attended  school  there  and 
grew    to    manhood.      He   spent    four   years 


566 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


as  collector  for  the  Raleigh  Medicine  Com- 
pany, with  headquarters  at  Madison  and 
Egan,  South  Dakota.  For  a  year  he  was 
disciplinarian  at  the  Pipestone  Indian 
School,  after  which  he  was  district  mana- 
ger for  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  New  York  at  Pipestone.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1911,  he  moved  to  Marshall  and 
launched  the  Mullen  Land  Company, 
which  is  comprised  of  himself  and  his 
father,  M.  A.  Mullen.  They  deal  in  real 
estate  and  are  a  strictly  reliable  firm.  They 
have  some  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county 
on  their  list.  They  also  have  listed  many 
acres  in  other  parts  of  the  state,  having 
offices  at  Morris  and  Pipestone,  Minnesota, 
and  Grand  Forks,  North  Dakota. 


HENRY  L.  TRAEN  (1884)  is  a  fanner 
and  land  owner  of  Eidsvold  township.  He 
was  born  in  Belgium  August  25,  1871, 
and  came  to  America  and  to  Lyon  county 
with  his  parents  in  1884.  His  education 
was  begun  in  the  old  country  and  fin- 
ished   in    Lyon    county. 

Henry  attended  school  until  eighteen 
years  old  and  thereafter  until  19  04  he 
worked  on  his  father's  farm.  Louis 
Traen,  the  father,  still  lives  in  Eidsvold 
township;  the  mother,  Rose  Traen,  died  in 

1910.  Our  subject  was  married  in  1904 
and  began  farming  for  himself  at  that  time 
on  the  place  he  now  owns.  The  northeast 
quarter  of  section  19  became  his  property 
in  the  spring  of  1912.  Mr.  Traen  has  a 
well-improved  place  and  engages  in  stock 
raising  to  some  extent. 

Mr.  Traen  was  married  in  Taunton  in 
1904  to  Kate  Fear.  She  was  born  in  Ger- 
many September  25,  1885,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Antone  and  Mary  (Szazynski)  Fear. 
Her  parents  reside  in  Lincoln  county.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Traen  have  three  children: 
Louis,  born  January  26,  1905;  Paul,  bom 
May  21,  1907;   and  Anton,  born  April  26, 

1911.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  Mr.  Traen  has  been 
road  overseer  two  years. 


DONALD  H.  RULIFFSON  (1895),  book- 
keeper of  the  Farmers  &  Merchants  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Minneota,  was  born  March 
18,     1893,     in     Lincoln     county,     Minnesota. 


His  parents,  Charles  P.  and  Alice  M.  (Sloan) 
Ruliffson,  were  early  settlers  of  Lincoln 
county  and  located  in  Lyons  township,  Lyon 
county,  in  1895,  where  they  now  own  one  of 
the  largest  farms  in  the  vicinity. 

Donald  attended  country  school  in  Lyons 
township  and  the  village  school  in  Russell, 
later  attending  high  school  for  a  time  in 
Ortonville  and  spending  one  year  in  the 
Marshall  High  School.  He  discontinued  his 
high  school  course  in  June,  1910,  and  worked 
on  the  home  farm  that  summer,  and  in  Sep- 
tember he  took  a  position  with  the  local 
bank  as  bookkeeper. 

Mr.  Ruliffson  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  of  Russell.  He  made  many 
friends  throughout  the  county  during  his 
school  days  at  Marshall  and  Russell  and  is 
popular  among  the  young  people  of  Min- 
neota. 


ANDREW   HOOK    (1901)    is   a    farmer   of    , 
Monroe    township,    being   the    proprietor    of 
160  acres  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 15.     Mr.  Hook  raises  stock  in  addition 
to  his  general  farming. 

Mayville,  Wisconsin,  is  the  birthplace 
of  Andrew  Hook,  November  10,  1869,  being 
the  date  of  his  birth.  His  father,  Eugene 
Hook,  died  December  12,  1907,  and  his 
mother,  Madeline  (Stromyer)  Hook,  lives  in 
Tracy.  When  our  subject  was  a  child  the 
family  moved  to  Grundy  Center,  Iowa,  where 
they  made  their  home  until  1901.  Andrew 
was  brought  up  on  the  farm  and  educated  in 
the  country  schools,  and  later  fanned  in 
Iowa. 

It  was  in  1901  that  Andrew  Hook  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  bought  his  present  farm, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  was  married 
February  21,  1895,  to  Minnie  Miller,  at  Finch- 
ford,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Hook  is  a  native  of  Galena, 
Illinois.  To  this  union  have  been  born  three 
children,  as  follows:  Veronica,  bom  Decem- 
ber 12,  1895;  Nettie,  born  June  4,  1898;  and 
Harold,  born  October  24,  1902. 


WALTER  P.  WOHLHETER  (1911),  man- 
ager of  the  farmers'  elevator  at  Marshall, 
was  born  in  Chamberlain,  South  Dakota,  De- 
cember 4,  1886.  He  is  the  son  of  C.  L.  and 
Florence  (Downie)  Wohlheter,  natives  of 
Iowa  and  residents  of  White.  South  Dakota. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


567 


The  mother  of  our  suhject  is  a  daughter  of 
E.  B.  Dowie,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Marshall.  There  is  one  other  child  in  the 
family,  Verne  Q. 

When  Walter  was  six  years  of  age  the 
family  moved  from  Chamberlain  to  White, 
Brookings  county,  South  Dakota,  and  there 
he  grew  to  young  manhood.  After  securing 
a  high  school  education,  he  attended  the 
State  College  at  Brookings  two  terms  and 
completed  his  education  in  the  Mankato 
Commercial  College.  He  then  entered  the 
grain  business,  being  manager  of  the  E.  A. 
Brown  elevator  and  that  of  the  farmers' 
company  at  White  prior  to  his  removal  to 
Marshall  on  July  17,  1911.  Since  that  date 
he  has  had  charge  of  the  Marshall  elevator. 

Mr.  Wohlheter  was  married  at  White, 
South  Dakota,  June  3,  1908,  to  Jessie  Den- 
hart.  She  was  bora  in  Pipestone  county 
and  is  a  daughter  of  W.  B.  Denhart,  an  early 
settler  of  that  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wohl- 
heter have  two  children,  Phyllis  and  Clem- 
entine. Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  and  Woodmen  lodges. 


GEORGE  DANDURAND  (1887),  Sodus 
township  farmer,  is  a  native  of  Indiana  and 
was  born  at  Milford  February  28,  1875.  His 
parents  are  Marcle  and  Mary  (Bourgret) 
Dandurand,  natives  of  Canada.  They  settled 
in  Indiana  in  an  early  day. 

In  1887  George  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Lyon  county,  the  father  renting  a  half 
section  of  land  in  Lynd  township.  They 
resided  there  three  years  and  then  moved 
to  Lake  Marshall  township,  where  they 
farmed  four  years.  In  1895  our  subject  was 
married  and  took  up  farming  for  himself. 
He  farmed  a  part  of  the  time  in  Lake  Mar- 
shall township  and  part  of  the  time  in  Sodus 
township.  He  also  spent  one  year  in  Canada. 
In  1905  he  purchased  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  8,  Sodus  township,  which  he  later 
sold,  and  he  now  rents  the  same.  Mr.  Dan- 
durand is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 

On  July  25,  1895,  at  Marshall,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Jennie  Melencon  to  Mr.  Dan- 
durand. She  was  bom  in  Milford,,  Indiana, 
on  July  3,  1873,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Eugene 
and  Salina  (Shopin)  Melencon,  natives  of 
Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dandurand  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  five  children:     Bes- 


sie M.,  born  September  25,  1896;  Frances 
Lucy,  born  December  25,  1899;  Hurby  E., 
born  December  1,  1901;  Bernice  D.,  bom 
October  23,  1903;  Roland  O.,  born  May  24, 
1908. 


FRED  E.  CHILD  (1909)  is  editor  and  pub- 
lisher of  the  Russell  Anchor  and  has  spent 
his  entire  life  in  the  printing  and  newspaper 
business.  He  was  born  in  Nevada,  Story 
county,  Iowa,  December  22,  1877.  After 
securing  an  education  he  learned  his  trade  in 
the  local  newspaper  offices,  the  Nevada 
Representative  and  the  Nevada  Journal. 

Thereafter,  before  he  became  a  resident 
of  Lyon  county,  Mr.  Child  worked  on  many 
different  papers  in  Iowa  and  Minnesota. 
He  was  employed  for  a  year  on  the  Algona, 
Iowa,  Upper  Des  Moines  and  for  a  time  on 
the  successor  of  that  journal,  the  Upper 
Des  Moines-Republican.  Mr.  Child  worked 
two  years  on  the  Reveille  at  Redwood  Falls 
and  one  year  on  the  Times-Messenger  at 
Madelia  and  then  for  two  years  had  charge 
of  the  Wabasso  Standard.  He  next  had 
charge  of  the  mechanical  department  of  the 
Herald  at  Wabasha  for  more  than  a  year, 
and  in  March,  1909,  he  became  the  owner 
of  the  Russell  Anchor.  Mr.  Child  has  greatly 
improved  the  paper  and  made  a  success  of 
the  venture.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W. 
A.  lodge  and  was  chief  officer  of  the  local 
order  in  1910. 

Mr.  Child  was  married  at  Redwood  Falls 
September  18,  1904,  to  Lutie  Lenore  Robin- 
son, a  native  of  Redwood  county  and  the 
daughter  of  Lafayette  Robinson,  one  of  the 
early  day  treasurers  of  that  county.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Child  have  three  children:  Doris 
Marie,  Donald  William  and  Fay  George. 

Fred  Child  is  the  youngest  child  of  a 
family  of  seven  children,  the  others  being 
Hattie  Stevens,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Willie, 
of  Ames,  Iowa;  George,  of  St.  James,  Minne- 
sota; Harry,  of  Boone,  Iowa;  Bert  B.,  of  Ne- 
vada, Iowa;  and  Mollie  Glasco,  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa. 

The  parents  of  these  children  were  George 
and  Lavina  (Hall)  Child.  The  former  was 
born  in  Bath,  New  Hampshire,  settled  in 
Illinois  when  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  at 
Nevada,  Iowa,  in  an  early  day  and  acquired 
land  there.  He  served  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany   K,    Thirty-second    Iowa    Infantry,    as 


568 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


first  and  second  lieutenant  and  quartermas- 
ter. He  was  sheriff  of  Story  county  eight 
years  and  later  was  in  the  livery  business. 
He  died  in  1902  and  his  wife  in  1S80. 


FRANK  HAMILTON  (1902)  has  been 
farming  in  Monroe  township  since  1908  and 
rents  the  north  half  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  S. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Johnson  county,  Iowa,  September  3,  1868. 
His  parents,  A.  J.  and  Harriett  (Cleghorn) 
Hamilton,  were  natives  of  Indiana  but  set- 
tled in  Iowa  in  an  early  day.  When  Frank 
was  very  young  the  family  moved  to  Poca- 
hontas county,  and  there  he  received  his 
schooling  and  grew  to  manhood. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  young 
Hamilton  started  out  in  life  for  himself, 
renting  land  in  Iowa  and  farming  thirteen 
years.  In  1902  he  moved  to  Lyon  county 
and  located  in  Balaton,  soon  afterward  rent- 
ing land  near  the  village  and  farming  the 
place  until  1908.  During  that  year  he 
changed  his  residence  to  Monroe  township 
and  has  since  been  on  his  present  farm. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  married  in  Pocahontas' 
county,  Iowa,  April  1,  1890,  to  Emma  Garton. 
They  have  four  children,  Herbert  L.,  Ethel, 
Dora  E.  and  Harry.  Mrs.  Hamilton  is  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois  and  is  a  daughter  of  J.  P. 
and  Elizabeth  Moulton  Garton.  She  was 
born  May  28,  1871. 

Frank  Hamilton's  fraternal  associations 
are  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  A.  O. 
U.  W.  lodges. 


DONALD  R.  MIHILLS  (1909)  is  part  owner 
and  manager  of  section  16,  and  240  acres  on 
section  15,  Stanley  township,  which  he  owns 
in  partnership  with  his  father.  He  is  a 
native  of  Wisconsin  and  was  born  in  Fond 
du  Lac  October  20,  1887,  a  son  of  G.  U.  and 
Antonette  C.  (Carpenter)  Mihills,  the  former 
a  native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Wis- 
consin. The  parents  reside  at  Fond  du  Lac, 
where  the  father  is  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  and  also  owns  a  section  of  land. 
He  engages  extensively  in  breeding  Per- 
cheron  horses,  established  the » county  fair 
there,  and  has  been  quite  prominent  in  the 
development  of  his  part  of  the  country. 
They    were    the    parents    of    two    children: 


Genevieve,  who  is  a  graduate  nurse  of  St. 
Luke's  Hospital,  at  Chicago;  and  Donald  R.» 
of  this  sketch. 

Donald  attended  the  schools,  in  the  city  of 
his  birth  and  later  attended  Northwestern 
Military  Academy  and  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin. He  was  graduated  from  the  former  in 
1904  and  the  latter  in  1909.  The  latter  year 
is  the  date  of  the  arrival  of  our  subject  to 
Lyon  county.  He  took  charge  of  the  above 
mentioned  farm,  which  had  been  purchased 
by  his  father  in  1S87,  in  connection  with 
several  hundred  acres  more,  which  have 
been  sold. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Elks  and 
Masonic  lodges  and  is  treasurer  of  Stanley 
township.  His  great  grandfather.  Colonel 
Calvert  Pier,  was  the  first  settler  of  Fond 
du  Lac. 


FREDERICK  W.  E.  MALZAHN  (1S96)  is 
the  efficient  tailor  in  the  city  of  Marshall. 
He  was  born  in  Germany  December  1,  1S57„ 
and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  came  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  Le  Sueur,  Min- 
nesota. He  is  a  son  of  Frederick  William 
and  Henrietta  (Schwandt)  Malzahn,  natives 
of  Germany.  Both  parents  are  deceased. 
They  were  the  parents  of  two  children:  Fred- 
erick W.  E.,  of  this  sketch,  and  Augusta 
i  Mrs.  William  Ladwig),  of  Clifton  township. 

Our  subject  served  his  apprenticeship  as 
a  tailor  at  Le  Sueur,  where  he  resided  five 
years,  and  then  went  to  Faribault,  where  he 
resided  three  months.  He  later  went  to  St. 
Paul  and  worked  at  his  trade  till  1891,  and 
then  to  St.  Cloud,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  one  season.  The  next  few  years  were 
spent  at  his  trade  in  Minneapolis,  Chicago 
and  Columbus. 

In  1896  Mr.  Malzahn  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  located  in  Marshall,  where  he  worked 
as  tailor  two  years  for  Ed.  Cartier.  He  then 
engaged  in  business  for  himself,  which  he 
has  since  continued. 


JAMES  M.  HANSON  (1903),  Coon  Creek 
township  farmer,  was  born  in  Denmark 
September  15,  1876,  a  son  of  Hans  and  Annie 
(Christensen)  Christopherson.  James  re- 
ceived his  schooling  in  the  land  of  his  na- 
tivity, where  he  lived  until  eighteen  years 
of    age,    when    he    immigrated    to    America. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


569 


He  located  at  Alden,  Freeborn  county,  Min- 
nesota, and  worked  at  farm  labor  there 
until  1903,  the  year  of  his  arrival  to  Lyon 
county. 

Mr.  Hanson  purchased  160  acres  on  section 
17,  Lyons  township,  which  he  held  until  the 
fall  of  1911,  when  he  sold  and  bought  land 
on  section  21,  Coon  Creek  township,  where 
he  now  lives.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Danish 
Lutheran  church  and  was  treasurer  of  school 
district  No.  69  one  year. 

Mr.  Hanson  is  a  man  of  family.  He  was 
married  in  Lyons  township  March  10,  1905, 
to  Damie  Stiefel,  a  native  of  Lyons  town- 
ship and  a  daughter  of  David  and  Jane 
(Jones)  Stiefel,  of  Russell.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hanson  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Olga  and  Margrette. 


E.  W.  ANDERSON,  D.  C.  (1911),  Doctor 
of  Chiropractic,  is  a  recent  addition  to 
Tracy,  having  moved  there  from  Canby  in 
November,  1911.  Dr.  Anderson  has  offices 
on  the  second  floor  of  the  W.  J.  Coles  Build- 
ing on  Third  Street  and  has  been  achieving 
success  in  his  profession  during  his  short 
residence  there. 

Burt  county,  Nebraska,  is  the  birthplace 
of  our  subject,  who  first  saw  the  light  of 
day  on  June  16,  1886.  His  boyhood  was 
spent  for  the  most  part  in  Custer  and  Daw- 
son counties,  Nebraska,  and  during  much  of 
his  early  life  he  was  in  the  saddle  on  the 
plains  of  Nebraska,  tending  cattle  and  ranch- 
ing. The  new  profession  of  chiropractic  ad- 
justments claimed  his  interest,  and  deter- 
mining to  study  the  science  the  young  man, 
then  in  his  early  twenties,  enrolled  in  the 
Palmer  School  of  Chiropractics  in  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  in  1908.  Graduating  in  November, 
1910,  the  doctor  first  located  in  Canby, 
where  he  remained  about  a  year  before  he 
moved  to  Tracy.  Dr.  Anderson  is  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  A.  C.  and 
Lizzie  (Stenman)  Anderson,  both  natives  of 
Stockholm,  Sweden.  They  came  to  this 
country  about  fifty  years  ago.  The  father  is 
dead;  the  mother  lives  in  Gothenburg,  Daw- 
son county,  Nebraska.  Ernest  W.  of  this 
sketch  has  the  following  brothers  and  sister 
living:  Julius  and  Oscar,  of  Big  Springs, 
Nebraska;  Jesse,  of  Gothenburg,  Nebraska; 
and  Nena,  of  Gothenburg,  Nebraska. 


JOHN  E.  BERG  (1892),  farmer  of  Wes- 
terheim  township,  was  born  in  Norway  De- 
cember 19,  18  69.  His  mother  died  in  the 
old  country  when  he  was  five  years  old 
and  his  father,  Erick  Haug,  died  in  Rock 
county,  Minnesota,  in  1S83,  soon  after  his 
arrival  to  the  New  World. 

When  John  Berg  was  eleven  years  of 
age  he  came  to  America  and  joined  his 
father  in  Rock  county.  The  father  had 
come  the  year  before  and  taken  a  home- 
stead in  Rose  Dell  township,  of  that  coun- 
ty. After  his  father's  death  John  was 
obliged  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world, 
although  he  was  but  a  boy  in  his  early 
teens.  Until  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
worked  on  farms  in  Rock  county,  and  then 
he  learned  the  miller's  trade,  working 
three  and  one-half  years  in  the  mill  at 
Luverne. 

At  Slayton  Mr.  Berg  resided  a  year, 
working  in  the  mill  and  at  carpenter  work. 
The  next  nine  months  were  passed  work- 
ing in  a  mill  at  Winnebago  City,  and  then 
he  located  in  Minneota  and  was  employed 
in  the  mill  two  years.  He  worked  at  his 
trade  in  Lamberton  a  short  time  and  in 
Madison  two  years.  In  1896  Mr.  Berg 
gave  up  that  work  and  turned  farmer.  At 
that  time  he  bought  the  north  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  6,  Westerheim 
township,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  has 
resided  on  that  farm,  since,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  five  years  spent  in  Eidsvold  town- 
ship, where  he  bought  a  farm  which  he 
later  sold.  Mr.  Berg  farms  480  acres  of 
land,  owning  besides  his  Lyon  county  farm 
400  acres  in  Burton  and  Swede  Prairie 
townships,  Yellow  Medicine  county. 

Mr.  Berg  was  married  at  Minneota  Aug- 
ust 15,  1894,  to  Helen  Hellickson,  a  native 
of  Wisconsin  and  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
Hellickson.  They  have  two  daughters, 
Jane  Esther  and  Hazel  Iverine.  Mr.  Berg 
is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Wood- 
men orders. 

In  Mr.  Berg's  father's  family  are  four 
children,  the  others  being  Edward,  of  Ta- 
coma,  Washington;  Martha  and  Ingeborg, 
both  of  Norway. 


GEORGE  H.  CHAMBERLAIN  (1894), 
of  Marshall,  is  a  son  of  A.  J.  Chamberlain, 
a  native  of  New  York  and  a  Marshall  gro- 


570 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ceryman,  and  Lillis  (Fettiplace)  Chamber- 
lain, a  native. of  Wisconsin. 

He  is  a  native  Minnesotan,  having  been 
born  at  Geneva,  Freeborn  county,  July  11, 
1884.  He  came  to  Marshall  with  his  par- 
ents in  1894  and  was  educated  in  the  Mar- 
shall High  School.  For  three  years  he  was 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with  his 
father.  He  then  spent  one  year  in  Water- 
town,  South  Dakota,  where  he  was  in  the 
mercantile  business.  Thereafter  he  learned 
the  printer's  trade  and  for  about  three 
years  conducted  a  job  printing  establish- 
ment in  Marshall. 

In  January,  1911,  Mr.  Chamberlain  again 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with  his 
father.  He  will  shortly  become  engaged 
as  advertising  solicitor  and  ad-writer.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Elks  lodge  at  Water- 
town,  of  the  Commandery  at  Marshall,  and 
of  the  Shrine  at  Minneapolis. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Chamberlain  to 
Blanche  L.  Davis  occurred  in  Richland,  Os- 
wego county,  New  YorK,  June  27,  1907. 
She  is  a  native  of  the  county  in  which  she 
was  married  and  spent  her  high  school 
days  with  an  aunt  in  Marshall.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  union,  Mary 
Louise,  born  July  27,  1910,  and  Horace 
Franklin,  born  December  26,   1911. 


JOHN  HULBURT  (1900)  is  a  farmer 
and  stock  raiser  residing  in  Lake  Marshall 
township.  He  was  born  in  Green  county, 
Wisconsin,  September  17,  1874,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Lorinda  (Smiley)  Hul- 
burt,  natives  of  Wisconsin.  John  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  he  reached 
his  majority  and  then  farmed  rented  land 
in  Green  county  until  1900. 

In  the  year  last  mentioned  our  subject 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  purchased  the 
north  half  of  section  34,  Lake  Marshall 
township,  and  has  resided  there  since.  He 
has  a  nicely  improved  farm.  He  deals 
quite  extensively  in  stock,  feeding  and 
shipping  a  great  number  each  year. 

Sarah  Kennedy  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Hulburt  at  Madison,  Wisconsin,  October  2, 
1895.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Delia  (Clary)  Kennedy,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Ireland. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kennedy  reside  at  Dayton, 
Wisconsin.     To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hulburt  have 


been  born  the  following  named  four  chil- 
dren: William  B.,  born  January  12,  1897; 
Ellin  L.,  born  December  17,  1898;  Maud 
I.,  born  September  4,  1903;  Mary,  born 
January  21,  1905. 


MATHEW  J.  MOORSE  (1898).  Prom- 
inent among  the  rising  young  business  men 
of  Minneota  is  the  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  review.  Although  a  young  man 
he  holds  the  responsible  position  of  assist- 
ant cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Minneota. 

Mr.  Moorse  is  a  native  of  Belgium  and 
was  born  February  6,  1886.  He  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  in  1898  and  until 
he  was  twenty  years  of  age  lived  with  them 
on  the  farm  in  Nordland  township.  He 
was  educated  in  the  Marshall  High  School 
and  in  the  Normal  School  at  Mankato  and 
took  up  teaching  as  a  profession.  He 
taught  in  country  schools  two  years  and 
two  years  was  principal  of  the  Taunton 
school.  In  July,  1910,  Mr.  Moorse  entered 
the  First  National  Bank  as  bookkeeper  and 
in  January,  1911,  he  was  made  assistant 
cashier.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  of  the  Knights  of 
Columbus  and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 

Our  subject  was  married  at  Ghent  Octo- 
ber 4,  1911,  to  Bertha  DeCock,  a  native  of 
Ghent  and  a  daughter  of  Julius  DeCock. 

Peter  and  Christine  (Jacobs)  Moorse, 
our  subject's  parents,  settled  in  Nordland 
township  in  1898,  bought  land  on  section 
19,  farmed  it  five  years  and  then  bought 
600  acres  in  Lincoln  county,  where  they 
now  reside.  There  are  seven  children  in 
the  family  as  follows:  Nellie,  John, 
Mathew  J.,  Isabelle,  Harry,  Lizzie  and 
Sophia. 


WILLIAM  SEILER  (1906)  is  a  farmer 
of  Lynd  township  who  has  resided  in  Lyon 
county  for  the  past  six  years.  He  is  a 
native  of  Germany  and  was  born  at  Baden 
January  13,  1860,  a  son  of  Alex  and  The- 
resa Seiler.  The  former  died  in  1895  and 
the  latter  in  1893. 

The  subject  of  this  review  received  his 
early  education  in  Germany,  where  he  at- 
tended school  until  fourteen  years  of  age. 
He    then    worked    in    the    breweries    until 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


571 


twenty  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he 
started  farming,  which  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed in  Germany  until  twenty-four  years 
of  age.  In  1884  Mr.  Seiler  immigrated  to 
America,  located  at  Utica,  New  York,  where 
he  worked  in  a  dairy  and  as  a  farm  hand 
for  six  years,  and  then  went  to  Morgan 
county,  Tennessee,  where  he  worked  in  a 
dairy  two  years.  From  that  southern  state 
he  went  to  Calhoun  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  three  years. 

In  1905  Mr.  Seiler  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Pocahontas  county,  Iowa,  which 
he  operated  until  1905.  The  next  year  he 
purchased  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
24,  Lynd  township,  which  he  has  broken 
up  and  improved.  He  has  a  fine  farm  with 
good  improvements.  Besides  farming,  he 
raises  some  stock,  including  Duroc-Jersey 
hogs  and  Shorthorn  cattle.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Evangelical  church  and 
was  trustee  in  that  church  in  Calhoun 
county  for  eight  years. 

In  1895  Mr.  Seiler  was  married  to  Selma 
Widauer,  a  daughter  of  August  and  Teklah 
Widauer,  of  LeMars,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Seiler  is 
a  native  of  Germany  and  was  born  Janu- 
ary 20,  1871,  coming  to  America  with  her 
parents  when  ten  years  of  age.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Seiler  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing ten  children:  Freida,  born  February 
4,  1896;  William,  born  April  15,  1897; 
Rosa,  born  July  7,  1898;  Louis,  born  Aug- 
ust 22,  1899;  Minnie,  born  October  4, 
1900;  Carl,  born  February  18,  1902;  Wal- 
ter, born  December  21,  1904;  Emma,  born 
March  8,  1906;  Herman,  born  September 
29,  1908;   Clara,  born  May  7,  1910. 


WILLIAM  E.  PHILLIPS  (1897)  en- 
gages in  painting  and  paperhanging  in 
Marshall.  He  was  born  in  Hennepin  coun- 
ty, Minnesota,  on  November  11,  1852,  and 
is  a  son  of  Corlis  and  Mercelia  (Ailsworth) 
Phillips,  natives  of  Providence,  Rhode  Is- 
land. They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows: 
Abbie  (Mrs.  N.  W.  Wood),  of  Excelsior, 
Minnesota;  Luella  (Mrs.  E.  W.  Walworth), 
deceased;  William,  of  this  sketch;  Edward, 
of  Glencoe;  Eugene  N.,  a  state  rural  school 
commissioner,  of  St.  Paul. 

Our  subject  resided  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity  until  thirteen  years  of  age,  when 


he  moved  to  Shakopee,  Minnesota.  There 
he  attended  school  and  learned  the  paint- 
er's, paperhanger's  and  decorator's  trades. 
Later  he  returned  to  Hennepin  county  and 
followed  his  trade  until  1893.  Thereafter 
he  lived  in  Minneapolis  a  year  and  in  Daw- 
son two  years. 

In  1897  Mr.  Phillips  came  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  located  at  Marshall,  where  he  has 
since  followed  his  trade.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Yeomen  and  Modern  Woodmen 
lodges  and  owns  a  fine  residence  in  Mar- 
shall. He  is  better  known  among  his 
friends  as  "Dad."  Mr.  Phillips  is  a  great 
sportsman  and  a  firm  believer  in  out-door 
life,  being  one  of  the  crack  shots  of  the 
county  and  having  won  many  medals  for 
his  marksmanship  in  the  Marshall  Gun 
Club,  of  which  he  is  an  honored  member. 

Mr.  Phillips  was  married  at  Shakopee  in 
March,  18  65,  to  May  Schooley,  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Alberta  (Mrs.  Claud  Roebuck),  of 
Marshall. 


LARS  OSCAR  FURGESON  (1886),  a 
farmer  of  Eidsvold  township,  was  born  in 
Lyon  county  and  has  spent  his  entire  life 
here.  Island  Lake  township  is  his  native 
precinct,  and  the  date  of  his  birth  was 
February  1,  1886. 

Ole  and  Helen  (Grasdalen)  Furgeson, 
the  parents  of  our  subject,  were  early  set- 
tlers and  homesteaders  of  Island  Lake 
township.  The  father  continued  to  reside 
on  the  old  homestead  until  his  death  on 
June  19,  1908;  the  mother  still  makes  her 
home  there  with  two  sons  and  a  daughter. 
There  were  twelve  children  in  the  family, 
as  follows:  Rudolph,  of  Freeborn  county, 
Minnesota;  Leneda,  Dicka  and  Otto,  who 
are  deceased;  Rachael,  Gisley,  Anna  and 
Orvin,  who  reside  at  home;  Alma  (Mrs. 
Julian  Burg)  and  William,  of  Minneapolis; 
Martin,  of  Freeborn  county;  and  Lars  Os- 
car, of  Eidsvold. 

Lars  Oscar  Furgeson  attended  the  school 
of  Island  Lake  township  until  seventeen 
years  old  and  then  until  his  marriage  in 
the  spring  of  1908  he  worked  at  home  and 
for  neighboring  farmers.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  farmed  two  seasons  in  Coon  Creek 
township  and  two  seasons  in  Island  Lake 
township.     In  the  fall  of  1911  he  moved  to 


572 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


his  present  location  in  Eidsvold,  farming 
the  northeast  quarter  and  the  north  half 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  33. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Furgeson  to  Ruby 
Wahlstrom  occurred  in  Island  Lake  town- 
ship February  26,  1908.  Mrs.  Furgeson 
was  born  in  Rockford,  Illinois,  February 
11,  1890,  and  she  is  a  daughter  of  Emel 
and  Selma  (Johnson)  Wahlstrom.  The 
family  came  to  Lyon  county  in  March, 
189  5,  and  now  live  in  Nordland  township. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Furgeson:  Bernice,  born  March  4, 
1909,  and  Stanley,  born  July  17,  1911. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church  of  Minneota. 


DR.  J.  B.  ROBERTSON  (1892)  is  a 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Cottonwood.  He 
is  also  county  coroner,  a  position  he  has 
held  the  past  ten  years.  He  was  the  first 
licensed  physician  to  settle  in  the  village 
of  Cottonwood. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  in 
Freeborn  county,  Minnesota,  December  4, 
18  66.  The  parents  were  Peter  and  Helen 
(Robertson)  Robertson,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Glasgow  and  the  latter  of  Edin- 
burgh, Scotland.  Soon  after  their  marriage 
they  came  to  the  United  States  and  set- 
tled in  Wisconsin,  in  1850.  The  father 
and  a  brother  John  conducted  a  store  in 
Cook  county,  Wisconsin.  In  1864  Peter 
Robertson  came  to  Minnesota  and  located 
in  Freeborn  county,  where  he  soon  after- 
ward died.  The  mother  died  when  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  six  years 
of  age. 

Left  without  parents  at  an  early  age, 
our  subject  and  his  brothers  began  life's 
struggle.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  Free- 
born county  and  in  Mitchell,  Iowa,  where 
he  worked  at  various  occupations  and  at- 
tended school.  He  also  attended  school 
three  years  at  Willmar  and  taught  in  Free- 
born and  Kandiyohi  counties  several  years. 
He  then  spent  two  years  in  Day  county, 
South  Dakota,  where  he  pre-empted  a 
claim  and  taught  school. 

J.  B.  Robertson  attended  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  State  University  and 
was  graduated  from  Rush  Medical  College 
in  April,  1892.  He  spent  several  months 
practising    at    Waseca,    Minnesota,    and    in 


September,  1892,  located  at  Cottonwood, 
where  he  has  since  practised  his  profes- 
sion. Dr.  Robertson  was  president  of  the 
Cottonwood  Village  Council  two  terms  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
nine  years.  He  has  been  county  coroner 
the  past  ten  years  and  is  chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Health.  He  is  a  director  and 
stockholder  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Cottonwood  and  is  president  and  direc- 
tor of  the  North  Star  Implement  Company. 
Dr.  Robertson  holds  membership  in  the 
M.  W.  A.,  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 
lodges. 

Dr.  Robertson  was  married  at  Austin, 
Minnesota,  April  7,  1893,  to  Rose  B.  Marsh, 
who  was  born  near  Waupun,  Wisconsin. 
She  died  November  30,  1897.  To  this 
union  were  born  two  children,  Exine  and 
Lew.  Dr.  Robertson  was  married  a  sec- 
ond time  at  Rochester  on  January  1,  1898, 
to  Olga  L.  Paulson,  a  native  of  Chicago 
Her  father,  Ole  Paulson,  conducted  a  hard- 
ware store  in  Chicago,  which  was  burned 
in  the  big  fire  of  1871.  He  then  moved 
to  Dakota  and  later  to  Yellow  Medicine 
county,  Minnesota,  where  he  died.  To  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Robertson  have  been  born  two 
children,  Mini  and  Gwen. 

Our  subject  has  the  following  brothers 
and  sisters:  David,  a  lawyer  of  Conde, 
South  Dakota;  Dr.  E.  P.,  president  of 
Wesley  College  of  Grand  Forks,  North  Da- 
kota; William,  who  was  professor  and 
superintendent  of  the  Crookston,  Minne- 
sota, Agricultural  College  at  the  time  of 
his  death  in  January,  1910;  and  Helen 
(Mrs.  H.  P.  McConnell),  of  Brush,  Colo- 
rado. He  also  has  a  half-brother,  Thomas 
G.  Bonnallie,  the  mayor  of  Tracy;  and  a 
half-sister,  Lora  (Mrs.  J.  A.  McNiven),  of 
Marshall. 


JOSEPH  V.  MATHEWS  (1907),  attor- 
ney at  law  of  Cottonwood,  is  a  native  of 
Southwestern  Minnesota,  having  been  born 
on  his  father's  homestead  on  section  8, 
Shetek  township,  Murray  county,  on  March 
30,  1879.  He  grew  to  young  manhood  on 
the  farm  and  in  1902  was  graduated  from 
the  Tracy  High  School.  He  then  took  a 
one  year's  preparatory  course  in  Macales- 
ter  College,  after  which  he  matriculated  in 


JOSEPH  V.  MATHEWS 
A  Practising  Attorney  of  Cottonwood. 


DR.  J.   B.   ROBERTSON 

Coroner  of  Lyon  County  and  a  Physician  of 
Cottonwood. 


VICTOR  J.  LA  VOY 
Proprietor  of  a  Marshall  Saloon. 


PETER  H.  BLY 

Manager    of    the    Ross    Lumber    Com- 
pany's Yard  at  Cottonwood. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


573 


the  St.  Paul  College  of  Law,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  June,  1906. 

.Mr.  .Mathews  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
on  June  22,  1906,  and  was  admitted  to 
practise  before  the  United  States  district 
and  circuit  courts  on  November  4,  1910. 
After  his  admission  to  the  bar  Mr.  Math- 
ews practised  seven  months  with  Judge 
L.  S.  Nelson,  of  Slayton,  and  on  March  12, 
1907,  became  a  resident  of  Cottonwood, 
where  he  has  since  practised  his  profes- 
sion, with  offices  on  the  second  floor  of 
the  Grieve  &  Laingen  Building.  Mr.  Math- 
ews has  been  very  successful  in  the  law. 
He  is  a  self-made  man  and  has  had  to 
rely  almost  wholly  on  his  own  exertions, 
having  worked  his  way  through  college. 
Mr.  Mathews  takes  a  leading  part  in  the 
affairs  of  his  community.  He  is  secretary 
of  the  Cottonwood  Commercial  Club  and 
was  village  attorney  in  1906  and  1907. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Wood- 
men orders. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  J.  W,  and 
Alice  (Robins)  Mathews,  are  pioneers  of 
Southwestern  Minnesota.  The  father  is  a 
native  of  New  York  State,  the  mother  of 
Rochester,  Minnesota.  They  settled  in 
Murray  county  in  1870  and  still  reside 
upon  the  farm  which  they  took  as  a  home- 
stead. They  have  five  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, as  follows:  Clara  J.  (Mrs.  P.  M. 
Hart),  of  Hillyard,  Washington;  Joseph 
V.,  of  this  review;  John  E.,  of  Murray 
county;  James  A.,  of  Murray  county;  Ar- 
thur R.,  Murian  and  Mildred  M. 


PETER  H.  BLY  (1903)  has  for  eight 
years  and  more  been  manager  of  the  H.  W. 
Ross  Lumber  Company's  yard  at  Cotton- 
wood. The  company  handles  lumber,  coal 
and  all  kinds  of  building  material.  Mr. 
Bly  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  residence  and 
is  active  in  the  town's  affairs.  He  is  clerk 
of  the  Cottonwood  school  board,  a  position 
which  he  also  held  while  a  citizen  of  Hills, 
Minnesota,  prior  to  moving  to  Cottonwood. 
He  served  on  the  Village  Council  two  years 
and  was  its  president  one  year.  Mr.  Bly  is 
a  member  and  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
English  Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Bly  was  born  in  Lee  county,  Illi- 
nois, June  3,  1860.  His  parents,  Helge  P. 
and   Julia    (Sexe)    Bly,   are  both  deceased. 


Our  subject  received  his  early  education 
in  his  native  state  and  when  eighteen  years 
old  entered  Northwestern  College  at  Na- 
perville,  Illinois,  remaining  one  year.  The 
next  two  years  Peter  taught  district  school 
near  his  home,  and  in  1882  he  accepted 
a  position  as  manager  of  the  Farmers 
Lumber  &  Grain  Company's  yard  at  Lee, 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  seven  years. 
In  1889  our  subject  moved  to  Bruce,  Min- 
nesota, was  manager  of  the  A.  T.  Sexe 
lumber  and  grain  business  one  year,  and 
then  went  to  Hills,  Minnesota,  and  worked 
for  the  same  man  three  years.  In  18  93 
the  business  was  sold  to  the  Tuthill  Lum- 
ber Company,  and  Mr.  Bly  continued  as 
manager  ten  years,  when  he  took  charge 
of  the  Cottonwood  yard  for  H.  W.  Ross 
Lumber  Company. 

Our  subject  married  Inga  Severson  at 
Lee,  Illinois,  June  27,  1S82.  His  wife  was 
born  September  16,  1864,  and  is  a  native 
of  Kendall  county,  Illinois.  The  Blys  are 
the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Julia  (Mrs.  C.  E.  Colby),  of  Russell;  John 
P.,  of  Estelline,  South  Dakota;  Martha 
(Mrs.  Edward  Risty),  of  Brooklyn,  New 
York;  Helge,  a  student  at  the  University 
of  Minnesota;  Helen,  a  clerk  in  Larson's 
store,  Cottonwood;  James,  Pearl,  Gertrude, 
Eva,   students   in  the   Cottonwood   schools. 


VICTOR  J.  LaVOY  (1895),  proprietor 
of  a  saloon  in  Marshall,  was  born  in  Chi- 
cago August  28,  1879.  His  parents,  George 
and  Louise  (Boudreau)  LaVoy,  were  born 
in  Canada  but  located  in  Chicago  when 
children.  The  mother  lives  in  Chicago; 
the  father  died  in  Lyon  county  in  Septem- 
ber, 1895.  Nine  children  of  the  family 
are  living,  as  follows:  Rame,  Amma, 
Louise,  Lucy,  Henry,  Josie,  John,  George 
and   Victor. 

Victor  made  his  home  with  the  family 
in  Chicago  until  a  young  man  and  was 
educated  there.  In  March,  1895,  he  ac- 
companied the  family  to  Lyon  county  and 
made  his  home  on  the  farm  in  Fairview 
township.  A  few  months  after  the  arrival 
of  the  family  the  father  died,  and  the  man- 
agement of  the  farm  then  devolved  on  our 
subject  and  his  brother,  George.  They  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1904.  Since  that 
time  Victor  has  lived  in  Marshall.     For  a 


574 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


number  of  years  he  was  employed  as  a 
bartender  and  since  December,  1910,  has 
been  engaged  in  business  for  himself. 

Mr.  LaVoy  was  married  in  Marshall  Oc- 
tober 8,  1909,  to  Calla  Snapp,  who  was 
born  in  Kentucky.  They  have  one  child, 
William  H.  LaVoy.  Jacob  and  Sarah 
(Mann)  Snapp,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  LaVoy, 
were  born  and  married  in  Nicholas  county, 
Kentucky.  The  former  served  in  the  Ken- 
tucky Home  Guards  during  the  Civil  War. 
The  Snapp  family  moved  to  Marshall  in 
1885  and  Mr.  Snapp  has  since  lived  in 
that  city,  spending  part  of  his  time  with 
his  children  in  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Snapp 
died  in  Marshall  July  14,  1908,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  Mr.  Snapp  is  now 
eighty-five  years  of  age. 


JOHN  W.  WELSH  (1908)  is  a  farmer 
residing  in  Lake  Marshall  township.  He 
is  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  was  born 
February  21,  1861,  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (Kingsley)  Welsh,  the  former 
a  native  of  Ireland  and  the  latter  of  Massa- 
chusetts. When  our  subject  was  eleven 
years  of  age,  the  family  moved  to  Lyon 
county,  Iowa,  where  our  subject  received 
his  schooling  and  grew  to  manhood. 

When  eighteen  years  of  age,  the  subject 
of  this  review  started  out  for  himself,  en- 
gaging in  various  occupations.  In  1908 
he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  rented  a  quar- 
ter section  of  land  on  section  29,  Lake 
Marshall  township,  where  he  still  resides. 
Mr.  Welsh  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
at  Marshall  in  September,  18  92,  to  Ellen 
A.  Meehan,  a  native  of  Wisconsin.  Mrs. 
Welsh  was  born  December  13,  18  61,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Merick  and  Charlotte 
(Harding)  Meehan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Welsh 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
three  children:  Gertrude  E.,  born  Novem- 
ber 15,  1893;  Francis  T.,  born  October  7, 
1900;   Ellend  M.,  born  April  4,  1903. 


OSCAR  A.  HOLLAND  (1907),  a  Monroe 
township  farmer,  is  a  native  of  Cotton- 
wood county,  Minnesota,  where  he  was 
born  October  30,  1879.  His  parents,  Mar- 
tin  and   Anna    (Albertson)    Holland,   were 


born  in  Norway  and  came  to  America  in  an 
early  day,  the  father  taking  a  homestead 
in  Cottonwood  county. 

Until  twenty-two  years  of  age  Oscar 
lived  on  his  father's  farm  in  Cottonwood 
county.  There  he  attended  the  country 
schools,  and  when  his  education  was  fin- 
ished he  helped  writh  ihe  work  on  the 
home  place.  When  he  left  the  farm  his 
first  employment  was  in  W.  W.  Rounds' 
hardware  store  at  Conde,  South  Dakota, 
where  he  remained  five  years.  In  1907 
Mr.  Holland  moved  to  Tracy,  where  he 
worked  two  years,  first  in  the  employ  of 
D.  H.  Evans  and  later  for  E.  F.  Klocow. 
Mr.  Holland  then  rented  land  in  Monroe 
township  and  commenced  farming;  in  1911 
he  rented  his  present  place,  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  16.  He  is  making  the 
raising  of  Hereford  cattle  a-specialty  and 
has  a  fine  lot  of  White  Leghorn  chickens. 

Mr.  Holland  was  married  June  5,  1907, 
to  Martina  Bjorn,  the  wedding  taking 
place  at  Lamberton,  Minnesota.  To  this 
union  three  children  have  been  born:  Ar- 
nold, born  May  12,  1908;  Hazel,  born 
March  8,  1910;  and  Orval,  born  October 
27,  1911.  Mrs.  Holland  was  born  at  Clin- 
ton, Iowa,  December  5,  1882,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  J.  F.  and  Gertrude  (Nelson) 
Bjorn,  natives  of  Denmark. 

The  Hollands  are  members  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Holland  be- 
longs to  the  Tracy  Farmers  Club  and  the 
Southern  Minnesota  Development  League, 
and  his  fraternal  associations  are  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  lodge^  He  is  chairman 
of  the  board  of  school  district  No.  33. 


WILLIAM  C.  BAMFORD  (1885)  is  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Bamford 
Brothers,  proprietors  of  the  City  Livery 
Barn  of  Marshall.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
county  and  was  born  on  his  father's  farm 
in  Lake  Marshall  township  August  5,  188  5. 
His  parents,  William  E.  and  Catherine 
Bamford,  natives  of  Wisconsin  and  Mary- 
land, are  both  deceased. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  1911. 
On  February  27  of  that  year  he  and  his 
brother,  C.  Fred  Bamford,  bought  the  City 
Livery  Barn  from  John  Wilson  and  have 
since  conducted  the  business. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


575 


There  are  four  children  in  the  Bamford 
family,  as  follows:  George,  who  farms 
in  Lake  Marshall  township;  William  C, 
Charles  F.  and  Nell  (Mrs.  Daniel  H.  Min- 
nick),  of  North  Dakota. 

BERNT  E.  LUND  (1898)  came  to  Amer- 
ica from  his  native  Norway  in  18  91,  but 
has  been  a  resident  in  Lucas  township  only 
about  three  years.  He  first  saw  the  light 
of  day  on  June  23,  1873,  in  the  county  of 
Trondhjem,  Norway.  His  mother,  Meta 
(Sunde)  Lund,  is  still  living  in  Norway; 
his  father,  Einar  Lund,  died  some  years 
ago.  Bernt  received  his  education  in  Nor- 
way, and  as  was  usual  for  the  farmer  boy 
of  that  country  his  schooling  was  finished 
when  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  After 
leaving  school  thj  lad  worked  out  at  farm 
labor  for  .about  one  year  and  a  half  and 
then  decided  to  come  to  America. 

In  the  summer  of  1891  young  Lund 
landed  in  the  United  States,  and  his  first 
home  in  the  new  country  was  in  Jackson 
county,  Minnesota,  where  he  worked  at 
farm  labor  for  about  seven  years.  In  1898 
he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  found  work 
with  a  farmer  near  Cottonwood  the  follow- 
ing two  years  and  a  half.  He  later  worked 
in  and  around  Cottonwood  until  1903  and 
has  since  then  been  engaged  in  farming  for 
himself  on  rented  land  in  Lyon  and  Yel- 
low Medicine  counties.  For  the  past  three 
years  he  has  been  conducting  the  quarter 
section  on  23,  Lucas  township.  He  is 
doing  well  and  is  successfully  engaging 
in   stock    raising. 

Our  subject's  marriage  to  Bessie  Gran- 
mo  occurred  in  October,  1898.  She  is  a 
native  of  Norway  and  was  born  March  5, 
1872.  One  child  has  been  born  to  this 
union,  Alfred,  born  October  26,  1899.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lund  belong  to  the  Norwegian 
Lutheran  church   of  Cottonwood. 

FRED  H.  CASE  (1882)  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Marshall,  having  been  born 
in  that  city  March  17,  1882.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  Marshall  High  School 
and  then  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  his 
father's  office,  the  Lyon  County  Reporter. 
His  father  gave  him  a  half  interest  in  the 
paper,  having  previously  given  a  half  in- 
terest to  another  son,  Frank  W.  Case. 


Our  subject  sold  his  interest  in  the  pa- 
per to  his  brother  in  1905  and  during  the 
next  three  years  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business  in  Marshall.  He  sold  out  at  the 
end  of  that  time  and  has  since  been  con- 
nected with  the  Reporter. 

Mr.  Case  was  married  January  19,  1906, 
to  Minnie  Johnson.  She  was  born  at 
Tracy  and  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
Johnson,  now  in  the  real  estate  business  at 
Marshall. 

C.  F.  Case,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Lyon  county 
and  a  pioneer  journalist.  Our  subject's 
mother  is  Fannie  (Waller)  Case.  There 
are  three  children  in  the  family,  Frank 
W.,  Fred  H.  and  Dorothy  A. 

ELBRIDGE  GIFFORD  (1890),  a  success- 
ful farmer  of  Rock  Lake  township,  rents  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  14  and  also 
farms  land  on  section  11  in  the  same  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Gifford  was  born  in  Custer  township 
April  23,  1890,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Ruth  (Hughes)  Gifford,  pioneer  residents 
of  Lyon  county.  In  the  early  days  they 
moved  to  the  county  and  have  lived  here 
ever  since,  witnessing  the  growth  of  the 
county  and  experiencing  all  the  trials  and 
hardships  of  the  early  settlers. 

Elbridge  received  his  education  in  Bala- 
ton, where  he  attended  school  until  the  age 
of  eighteen  years.  He  then  went  into  busi- 
ness, conducting  a  livery  and  feed  barn  in 
the  village  about  a  year  and  a  half.  Farm 
labor  occupied  his  time  for  the  period  of  one 
year  after  he  disposed  of  the  livery  business, 
and  in  November,  1911,  Mr.  Gifford  rented 
the  farm  which  he  has  since  conducted. 

Our  subject  was  married  November  8, 
1911,  at  Balaton.  His  wife,  formerly  Lucy 
Anderson,  is  a  native  of  Lyon  county.  She 
was  born  May  20,  1890,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Mary  Anderson,  of  Rock  Lake 
township. 

WILLIAM  MURPHY  (1903)  is  the  owner 
of  the  Riverside  Hotel  at  Russell  and  an 
employe  of  R.  E.  Benson,  the  implement 
dealer.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Lyon 
county  only  nine  years,  but  for  many  years 
he  lived  just  over  the  line  in  Redwood 
county. 


576 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


He  is  a  son  of  the  late  John  and  Elizabeth 
Murphy.  They  were  born  in  Ireland  and 
came  to  America  when  children.  They  set- 
tled in  Wabasha  county,  Minnesota,  in  the 
early  sixties  and  in  Redwood  county  in  1881. 
The  father  died  there  and  the  mother  in 
Cass  county.  Besides  our  subject  there  are 
two  other  children  in  the  family,  Tom,  of 
Russell,  and  Martha  O'Connell,  of  Mitchell, 
South  Dakota. 

William  Murphy  was  born  in  Wabasha 
county,  Minnesota,  March  17,  1872.  He  at- 
tended the  schools  of  Lake  City  and  in  1881 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Redwood  county. 
The  father  homesteaded  in  Westline  town- 
ship, and  on  that  farm  our  subject  lived 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  Then  he 
engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account  for 
a  number  of  years.  In  1903  Mr.  Murphy 
located  in  Russell  and  bought  the  Riverside 
Hotel.  After  leasing  the  hotel  to  his  father- 
in-law  two  years,  Mr.  Murphy  took  charge 
and  was  the  landlord  two  years.  Since  that 
time  the  hotel  has  been  conducted  by  Tom 
Murphy.  For  two  years  our  subject  worked 
for  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  and  then 
was  with  the  International  Harvester  Com- 
pany until  taking  his  present  employment  in 
the  implement  house.  Mr.  Murphy  was  a 
member  of  the  Village  Council  in  1909. 

Mary  Jones  became  the  wife  of  William 
Murphy  at  Tracy  on  June  8,  1897.  She  was 
born  in  Danville,  Illinois,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  Ex-Senator  J.  N.  Jones,  of  Redwood  coun- 
ty, now  assistant  state  grain  weigher  at  St. 
Paul.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murphy  have  three  chil- 
dren:    John,  Elsie  and  Cleo. 


RASMUS  N.  ANDERSON  (1887),  Eids- 
vold  township  farmer,  has  spent  his  entire 
life  in  Lyon  county.  He  is  a  son  of  Nels 
and  Mary  Anderson,  early  settlers  and  still 
residents  of  Eidsvold  township.  He  is  one 
of  a  family  of  five  children,  the  others  being 
John,  Carl,  Edwin  and  Sophia. 

Rasmus  was  born  on  his  father's  Eids- 
vold township  farm  March  7,  1887.  He  at- 
tended the  district  school  and  St.  Olaf  Col- 
lege at  Northfield,  being  graduated  from 
the  academy  in  1907.  Two  years  after  his 
graduation  Rasmus  moved  on  »one  of  his 
father's  farms,  the  east  half  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  16,  Eidsvold,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  its  cultivation. 


On  December  22,  1909,  Mr.  Anderson  was 
married  to  Nellie  Kvanbeck.  She  is  also  a 
native  of  Lyon  county,  having  been  born  on 
her  father's  Eidsvold  township  farm  April 
23,  1886.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Knute  S. 
Kvanbeck,  one  of  the  county's  early  settlers. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  have  one  child,  Agnes 
Maria,  born  September  30,  1911. 


ADOLPH  TRUDEAU  (1901)  is  in  the  em- 
ploy of  R.  B.  Daniel,  the  real  estate  man 
of  Marshall.  He  was  born  in  Iroquois  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  November  10,  1882,  and  resided 
in  Illinois  until  nineteen  years  of  age.  The 
parents  of  our  subject  are  Alexander  and 
Mary  (Shortsleeve)  Trudeau,  the  former  a 
native  of  Canada  and  the  latter  of  Illinois. 
The  father  immigrated  to  Illinois  when 
eight  years  of  age,  was  married  in  Iroquois 
county,  and  resided  there  until  1901. 

In  the  last  named  year  the  father  of  our 
subject  came  to  Lyon  county,  locating  near 
Tracy,  where  he  conducted  a  large  ranch  for 
a  year.  He  then  returned  to  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  until  1910,  when  he  came  back 
to  Lyon  county.  He  has  since  conducted 
the  farm  of  his  son,  Adolph,  in  Grandview 
township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  Tru- 
deau were  born  the  following  children: 
Adolph,  of  this  sketch;  Arthur,  of  Illinois; 
David,  of  Green  Valley;  Aldea,  of  Manteno, 
Illinois;  Lida,  Zephine,  Oscar  and  Leo,  who 
reside  at  home. 

The  man  whose  name  heads  this  sketch 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon  county  in 
1901  and  worked  with  his  father  until  the 
following  spring.  Then  he  went  to  work 
for  J.  B.  Regnier  at  farm  labor  and  was  so 
employed  until  the  fall  of  1902.  After  spend- 
ing a  few  months  at  his  old  home  in  Illinois, 
Mr.  Trudeau  returned  to  Marshall  and  en- 
tered the  G.  A.  Dewey  barber  shop  to  finish 
learning  the  trade  which  he  had  started  at 
St.  Anne,  Illinois.  He  worked  in  that  shop 
two  years  and  then  purchased  the  Anderson 
barber  shop,  which  he  conducted  two  years 
and   nine   months. 

After  selling  his  barber  shop  he  purchased, 
in  company  with  his  brother,  David,  the  gro- 
cery and  crockery  business  of  F.  L.  Sar- 
gent. They  converted  the  store  into  a  gen- 
eral merchandise  store  and  conducted  it  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Trudeau  Brothers. 
They  conducted   the  store  until  September, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


577 


1910,  when  they  were  burned  out,  suffering 
the  loss  of  their  entire  stock.  Our  subject 
then  entered  the  employ  of  R.  B.  Daniel,  the 
real  estate  man  of  Marshall,  and  has  since 
been  in  his  employ. 

Our  subject  owns  the  north  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  28,  Grandview 
township,  and  a  residence  in  Marshall.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters  and  Knights  of  Columbus  lodges. 


GARRETT  F.  AHERN  (1884)  is  associated 
with  Henry  Scheweyen  in  a  general  store  in 
Taunton.  The  firm  handles  dry  goods,  gro- 
ceries, shoes  and  notions,  and  has  been  re- 
ceiving   a    liberal    patronage. 

Mr.  Ahern  is  a  Lyon  county  boy,  having 
been  born  and  brought  up  in  Eidsvold  town- 
ship. He  first  saw  the  light  of  day  February 
27,  1884,  and  is  a  son  of  Garrett  and  Kath- 
erine  (Brown)  Ahern,  early  settlers  of  the 
county.  Garrett  in  his  early  youth  attended 
the  country  school  in  Eidsvold  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  entered  the  Minneota  High 
School  for  a  one  year's  course.  Later  he 
spent  one  year  in  Mankato  attending  the 
commercial   college. 

Our  subject's  first  employment  after  fin- 
ishing school  was  with  a  railroad  contract- 
ing firm  of  Chicago,  where  he  remained  one 
year.  He  next  spent  a  year  each  at  Good- 
win and  South  Shore,  in  South  Dakota,  in 
the  employ  of  local  banks.  Moving  to  Kari- 
nen,  South  Dakota,  Garrett  first  went  into 
business  for  himself,  conducting  a  general 
store  two  years.  In  September,  1911,  he 
returned  to  Taunton,  and  in  company  with 
his  present  partner  bought  the  J.  F.  Shimek 
stock  of  general  merchandise. 

Mr.  Ahern  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Minneota,  and  fraternally  he  is 
associated  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 


ALMON  HENRY  FINCH  (1904),  of  Rock 
Lake  township,  was  born  in  Steele  county, 
Minnesota,  October  28,  1879,  a  son  of  Minne- 
sota pioneers.  Alfred  Wallace  Finch  and 
Helen  (Ward)  Finch,  his  father  and  mother, 
were  born  in  Vermont  and  Indiana,  respect- 
ively, settled  in  Steele  county  in  1856,  and 
are  now  residents  of  Montevideo. 

Almon    attended    the    common    schools    of 


Steele  county  until  fifteen  years  of  age  and 
after  securing  his  education  worked  on  a 
farm  two  years.  He  then  learned  the  but- 
termaker's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  the 
next  ten  years  of  his  life.  He  learned  the 
trade  at  Clinton  Falls,  Minnesota,  and  there- 
after worked  at  it  in  several  different  locali- 
ties. He  came  to  Lyon  county  in  the  fall  of 
1904  and  for  one  and  one-half  years  con- 
ducted the  creamery  at  Balaton.  Mr.  Finch 
then  turned  farmer  and  has  since  operated 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  17,  Rock 
Lake  township. 

Mr.  Finch  was  married  at  Montevideo, 
Minnesota,  May  28,  1902,  to  Emma  Ewert. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Germany  April  10, 
1880.  They  have  five  children:  Pearl,  born 
May  20,  1903;  Maynard,  born  October  18, 
1904;  Vernon,  born  July  25,  1906;  Laurene, 
born  December  4,  1910.  Mr.  Finch  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge.  He  served  one 
year  as  road  overseer. 


HOWARD  ADAMS  (1903),  proprietor  of 
the  Hotel  Atlantic  barber  shop,  came  to 
Marshall  July  20,  1903,  from  Luverne,  Min- 
nesota, where  he  learned  his  trade  in  the 
barber  shops  of  F.  A.  Larkin  and  Eugene 
Barck.  He  worked  at  his  trade  in  Marshall 
before  buying  C.  W.  Eckes'  shop  in  Sep- 
tember, 1906.  Mr.  Adams  conducts  a  well 
appointed,  three-chair  tonsorial  parlor  and 
enjoys  a  liberal  patronage. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Oxford  Mills, 
Iowa,  September  25,  1881.  At  the  age  of 
eleven  years  he  moved  with  the  family  to 
Luverne  and  there  learned  his  trade  in  the 
local  shops.  July  1,  1908,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Howard  Adams  and  Louisa  Oest- 
reich  at  Worthington,  Minnesota.  She  is  a 
native  of  Iowa.  Mr.  Adams  is  prominent  in 
local  fraternal  orders,  being  a  member  of 
the  Elks,  Modern  Woodmen,  Royal  Neigh- 
bors and  Yeomen  lodges. 

Howard  Adams  is  one  of  nine  children 
born  to  S.  J.  Adams  and  Anna  L.  (Brinn) 
Adams,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Mis- 
souri, respectively.  The  other  children  are 
Ida,  Nora,  Myrlti,  Bud  D.,  Vera,  Glenn  and 
Inez.     One  daughter,  Gertrude,  is  deceased. 


WILLIAM  E.  TWOGOOD  (1904)  has  been 
renting  and   farming  the   southeast  quarter 


578 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


of  section  6,  Clifton  township,  since  1907. 
He  was  born  in  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan, 
February  2,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles 
and  Juliette  (Stebbins)  Twogood,  natives  of 
New  York  State.  When  a  child  of  two 
years  William  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Benton  county,  Iowa,  where  the  father 
bought  land  and  where  William  grew  to 
manhood.  .  At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he 
commenced  to  farm  for  himself  on  land  he 
had  purchased,  and  he  resided  on  the  farm 
until  he  moved  to  Belle  Plain,  Iowa,  in  1886. 

In  that  city  he  conducted  a  livery  and 
feed  stable  two  years,  and  after  selling  out 
Mr.  Twogood  worked  four  years  in  a  cream- 
ery, following  that  with  ten  years'  work  as 
a  contractor  in  railroad  construction  work. 
In  1904  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  rented 
land  in  Clifton  township,  and  in  1907  he 
rented  his  present  place.  Mr.  Twogood  is 
a  member  of  the  Township  Board  of  Super- 
visors, having  served  two  years,  and  he  has 
also  been  for  three  years  a  member  of  the 
school    board   of   district   No.    81. 

The  marriage  of  William  Twogood  and 
Mary  E.  Yoiingman  took  place  in  Tama 
county,  Iowa.  To  this  union  have  been  born 
seven  children,  Myrtle,  Gertrude,  Judson, 
Nadim,  Clarence,  Larina  and  Alta.  Mrs.  Two- 
good  was  born  near  Fulton,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Twogood  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  and  fraternally  is  allied  with 
the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Eastern  Star,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Rebekah,  Yeomen  and  Iowa  L.  of  H.  lodges. 


CHARLES  F.  BAMFORD  (1887),  one  of 
the  proprietors  of  the  City  Livery  Barn  of 
Marshall,  was  born  in  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship December  2,  1887,  the  son  of  William 
C.  and  Catherine  Bamford.  His  parents,  who 
were  natives  of  Wisconsin  and  Maryland, 
are  deceased. 

Mr.  Bamford  grew  up  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  was  born  and  received  a  district 
school  education.  He  moved  to  Marshall 
early  in  1911  and  with  his  brother,  William 
C,  bought  the  livery  barn  of  John  Wilson. 
The  boys  are  hustlers  and  are  doing  a  good 
business. 


BEN  BORSON  (1907)  is  one  of  the  big 
and  successful  farmers  of  Eidsvold  town- 
ship and  an  extensive  feeder  of  cattle  and 


hogs.  He  farms  all  of  section  4,  one  of  the 
best  improved  farms  in  the  precinct.  He 
raised  6000  bushels  of  corn  in  1911  and  has 
220  acres  planted  in  1912.  In  1910  he  raised 
8000  bushels  of  small  grain. 

Mr.  Borson  was  born  in  Norway  July  20, 
1877,  and  came  to  America  in  1893.  He  lo- 
cated in  Iowa  and  for  a  number  of  years 
farmed  in  Sac  county.  He  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  the  fall  of  1907,  rented  his  present 
farm,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  its 
management. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Baard  Grotta  and 
Ingerid  (Grotta)  Grotta,  still  residents  of 
Norway.  The  nine  children  of  the  family 
are  Ben,  Ingrid  (Mrs.  Knute  Knutson),  of 
Norway;  Oluf,  of  Yellow  Medicine  county; 
Ole,  of  Lyon  county;  Inga  (Mrs.  Haas 
Grong),  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  Eilert  and 
Bertha  (twins),  Anna  and  Signe. 

Mr.  Borson  was  married  in  Sioux  City, 
Iowa,  January  28,  1899,  to  Anna  Helland, 
who  was  born  in  Norway  and  who  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1892.  They  have 
three  children,  Inga,  Albert  and  Henry.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Borson  are  members  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church  of  Minneota. 


OLE  BERGE  (1906)  is  the  manager  of 
the  Gund  Brewing  Company's  beer  depot  at 
Tracy.  He  is  a  native  of  North  Dakota  and 
was  born  at  Fort  Abercrombie  June  21,  1876. 
He  is  a  son  of  Erick  and  Isabelle  Berge, 
natives  of  Norway.  They  settled  at  Grand 
Forks  in  1876.     Both  parents  are  deceased. 

Our  subject  moved  to  Grand  Forks  when 
a  child  and  grew  to  manhood  and  attended 
school  in  that  flity.  When  twenty  years  of 
age  he  accepted  a  position  as  traveling  sales- 
man for  the  Pabst  Brewing  Company,  with 
headquarters  at  Grand  Forks.  Later  Mr. 
Berge  moved  to  Graceville,  Minnesota,  and 
resided  in  several  Minnesota  towns  until 
1906,  when  he  came  from  Breckenridge, 
Minnesota,  to  Tracy,  where  he  has  since 
lived.  At  the  latter  place  he  has  had  charge 
of  the  Gund  Brewing  Company's  beer  depot. 
Mr.  Berge  is  a  member  of  the  Elks  Club, 
No.  952,  of  Willmar. 

The  Gund  beer  depot  is  one  of  the  oldest 
in  Tracy,  having  been  established  there 
twenty-two  years  ago.  In  the  spring  of  1911 
a  large  new,  modern  depot  and  offices  were 
built.     The  depot  has  a  capacity  of  five  car 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


579 


loads.     Mr.   Berge  has   been   local   manager 
since  1906. 


EARL  A.  COLBY  (1908)  is  the  proprietor 
of  a  grocery  store  and  bakery  in  the  city 
of  Marshall.  He  was  born  in  Rockford,  Win- 
nebago county,  Illinois,  July  28,  1881,  and 
in  that  city  he  grew  to  manhood  and  re- 
ceived his  education. 

In  1904  Mr.  Colby  entered  the  government 
service  as  a  railroad  mail  clerk  and  during 
the  next  three  years  he  was  on  the  run 
between  Chicago  and  Dubuque.  The  next 
year  was  spent  in  the  service  between  Chi- 
cago and  Minneapolis.  He  resigned  his  po- 
sition in  1908  and  became  a  resident  of 
Marshall.  At  that  time  he  bought  the  gro- 
cery and  bakery  business  of  J.  R.  Wolff  and 
has  since  conducted  it.  He  has  doubled 
the  business  of  the  store  and  has  one  of  the 
neatest  stores  of  the  kind  in  Lyon  county. 

Mr.  Colby  was  married  in  Rockford,  Illi- 
nois, June  9.  1908,  to  Florence  G.  Hollister, 
a  native  of  Chicago. 

Our  subject  is  prominent  in  Masonic  cir- 
cles. He  holds  membership  in  the  Blue 
Lodge,  Chapter,  Commandery,  Mystic  Shrine 
and  Eastern  Star,  all  of  Rockford  except  the 
pastern  Star.  He  is  worthy  patron  of  the 
last  named  order  in  Marshall.  He  held  the 
office  of  illustrious  recorder  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  Rockford  and  was  active  in  the 
work  of  that  lodge. 

Earl  A.  Colby  is  the  eldest  in  a  family  of 
four  sons,  the  others  being  Richard  L., 
Harry  F.  and  Nathan  D.  His  parents  are 
Frank  L.  and  Loreno  O.  (Drury)  Colby, 
residents  of  Durand,  Illinois.  Both  parents 
are  natives  of  Wisconsin  and  of  old  Ameri- 
can  stock. 


GEORGE  HOOK  (1901),  well-to-do  farmer 
of  Amiret  township,  was  born  in  Blackhawk 
county,  Iowa,  May  5,  1876,  and  is  a  son  of 
Eugene  F.  and  Madeline  (Stromeyer)  Hook, 
the  former  of  whom  is  deceased  and  the 
latter  being  a  resident  of  Tracy. 

George  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon 
county  in  the  spring  of  1901  and  the  family 
located  in  Monroe  township,  where  the  fa- 
ther purchased  land.  They  resided  there 
seven  years.  Upon  the  death  of  the  father 
in  the  fall  of  1908,  the  mother  moved  to 
Tracy,  where  she  has  since  made  her  home. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early 
education  in  Iowa  in  attendance  at  the  coun- 
try school.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  the  boy 
had  to  give  up  the  idea  of  further  schooling 
and  hired  out  at  various  kinds  of  labor  until 
nineteen   years  old. 

November  26,  1896,  George  Hook  was  mar- 
ried to  Ella  Gerholdt,  a  native  of  Blackhawk 
county,  Iowa,  the  wedding  taking  place  in 
that  state.  Mrs.  Hook  was  born  April  20, 
1879,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robert  Gerholdt,  natives  of  Blackhawk 
county.  Three  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hook,  as  follows:  Ruth,  born 
December  8,  1897;  Bert,  born  May  27,  1904; 
Leslie,  born  September  25,  1907;  and  Hazel, 
born  April  5,  1910.     . 

During  the  first  year  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Hook  ran  a  general  store  in  Iowa.  He 
then  engaged  in  farming  three  years  in  the 
same  state,  and  in  the  spring  of  1901  moved 
to  Lyon  county  and  took  up  his  residence 
on  the  farm  he  now  owns  and  operates,  the 
north  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 24,  Amiret  township.  He  owns  in  addi- 
tion to  that  farm  240  acres  in  Redwood 
county,  and  he  farms  an  additional  quarter 
on  section  12,  Amiret  township.  Mr.  Hook 
raises  a  great  deal  of  stock  for  shipment. 

Besides  his  farming  interests  Mr.  Hook 
has  invested  in  stock  in  the  Amiret  State 
Bank  and  holds  shares  in  the  Tracy  Co-oper- 
ative Creamery  Company  and  the  Farmers 
Elevator  Company. 


JOHN  ENGESSER  (1909)  is  a  compara- 
tively new  comer  to  Lyon  county  and  is  the 
owner  of  a  fine  improved  half  section  of  land 
on   section  9,  Custer  township. 

Our  subject's  parents,  Thomas  and  Rosa 
(Manch)  Engesser,  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many, came  to  America  when  young  and 
settled  in  Washington  county,  Wisconsin. 
There  John  was  born  December  26,  1864, 
and  was  brought  up,  receiving  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  the  district  and  during  his 
early  teens  helping  his  father  on  the  farm. 
When  John  was  eighteen  years  of  age  the 
family  moved  to  Blackhawk  county,  Iowa, 
and  farmed  rented  land  one  year,  afterward 
going  to  Kossuth  county  and  buying  a  quar- 
ter section,  where  they  made  their  home, 
later  increasing  their  land  holdings  to  360 
acres. 


580 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


When  John  was  twenty-six  years  of  age 
he  was  given  120  acres  of  land  by  his  father, 
left  the  home  place,  and  commenced  farm- 
ing for  himself.  He  remained  on  his  Kos- 
suth county  farm  until  1899,  when  he  sold 
and  moved  to  Texas,  buying  a  section  there 
and  farming  nine  years.  He  sold  his  Texas 
property  and  returned  to  Kossuth  county, 
where  he  rented  one  year  before  coming  to 
Lyon  county  and  buying  the  south  half  of 
section  9,  Custer.  Mr.  Engesser  has  a  splen- 
did farm  and  raises  Duroc-Jersey  hogs  and 
Hereford  cattle  in  addition  to  his  other  farm 
work. 

The  ceremony  which  made  John  Engesser 
and  Kate  Klein  husband  and  wife  was  per- 
formed March  31,  1S91,  in  Kossuth  county, 
Iowa.  Mrs.  Engesser  was  born  in  that  coun- 
ty February  14,  1873,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Cathrine  (Bear)  Klein,  both 
natives  of  Germany.  Eleven  children  have 
been  born  to  John  Engesser  and  wife:  Peter 
W.,  born  February  18,  1892;  Clotilda  R.,  bom 
April  13,  1894;  Martha  A.,  born  January  6, 
1896;  Bertha  M.,  born  June  12,  1898;  Thomas 
A.,  born  December  31,  1899;  Pearl  R.,  born 
March  20,  1902;  Mary  A.,  born  December 
25,  1903;  William  J.,  born  September  12, 
1907;  Francis  M.,  born  October  20,  1908; 
John  H.,  born  March  8,  1910;  and  Margarette 
L.,  born  August  17,  1911. 

The  Engessers  are  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic church.  Mr.  Engesser  is  treasurer  of 
school  district  No.  85. 


HARRY  E.  CALEY  (1879),  manager  of  the 
Mutual  Elevator  Company  of  Marshall,  has 
resided  in  Lyon  county  since  he  was  a  child. 
He  was  born  in  Dover  township,  Racine 
county,  Wisconsin,  August  11,  1876,  the  son 
of  Charlie  and  Mercia  (Cady)  Caley.  The 
father  died  in  1910;  the  mother  makes  her 
home  with  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Frank  W.  Case. 
There  are  four  other  children  in  the  family, 
namely:  Delano,  George,  Lottie  and  Edith 
Joyce. 

When  a  child  Harry  E.  Caley  came  to 
Lyon  county  with  his  parents.  Until  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  lived  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Sodus  township,  attending  the  dis- 
trict school  and  assisting  with  the  farm 
work.  He  moved  to  Marshall  from  the  farm 
and  completed  his  education  in  the  Marshall 
High   School.     For  several  years   thereafter 


he  was  employed  in  vaiious  capacities.  For 
one  year  he  was  conductor  of  a  Seventh 
Street  car  in  St.  Paul,  and  for  two  years  he 
was  with  the  dining  car  department  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  on  the  run  between  St. 
Paul  and  Portland.  He  returned  to  Mar- 
shall and  for  two  years  clerked  in  his  fa- 
ther's grocery  store. 

In  1909  Mr.  Caley  took  the  position  with 
the  Mutual  Elevator  Company  and  has  since 
been  the  manager  of  that  business.  The 
elevator  is  the  largest  one  in  the  city  and 
has  a  capacity  of  45,000  bushels.  It  was 
built  by  the  Marfield  Tearse  Company  fifteen 
or  more  years  ago  and  was  bought  in  1907  by 
E.  I.  Leland,  since  which  time  the  business 
has  been  carried  on  under  the  name  of  Mu- 
tual Elevator  Company. 

Mr.  Caley  was  married  August  12,  1908. 
to  Lucy  Jones,  a  native  of  Redwood  county, 
Minnesota,  and  a  daughter  of  Senator  John 
N.  Jones.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caley  have  a  son, 
Robert  Jenkins.  Our  subject  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge. 


WILLIAM  D.  WILLARD  (1899)  is  the 
owner  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
17,  Sodus  township.  He  was  born  in  Marion. 
Iowa,  May  14,  1866,  .a  son  of  Porter  and 
Cynthia  (Holcomb)  Willard,  the  former  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of 
New  York.  They  came  to  Iowa  in  an  early 
day  and  the  father  followed  the  stone-mason 
and  brick-layer's  trades  and  later  farmed. 
WTilliam  resided  at  home  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  after  which  he  worked  out 
and  farmed  for  himself.  He  later  worked 
three  years  in  a  cheese  factory.  In  1898 
he  moved  to  Redwood  county,  Minnesota, 
where  he  farmed  one  year. 

In  1899  our  subject  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  rented  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
20,  Sodus  township,  which  he  still  operates. 
He  owns  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
17,  Sodus,  having  bought  eighty  acres  in 
1907  and  eighty  in  1910. 

Mr.  Willard  was  married  at  Anamosa, 
Iowa,  December  29,  1897,  to  Clara  Cockell, 
a  native  of  Jones  county,  Iowa.  She  was 
born  December  20,  1874,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Leggett)  Cockell. 
the  former  a  native  of  England  and  the 
latter  of  New  York.  The  father  died  in 
1874;  the  mother  lives  in  Jones  county.     Mr. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  1 1 1  ST(  >RY. 


581 


and  Mrs.  Willard  are  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Porter  F.,  born  September  1,  1899; 
Vernon  \Y..  born  October  22,  1901;  Joseph 
L.,  born  February  16,  1903;  Eva  L.,  bom 
January  10,  1906. 


WILLIAM  L.  LUCAS  (1911)  is  a  farmer 
living  near  Balaton.  He  rents  and  farms  the 
south  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 21,  Rock  Lake,  owned  by  Mrs.  Henry 
Johnson. 

Mr.  Lucas  was  born  in  Peoria  county,  Illi- 
nois, September  12,  1873.  His  father  is  no 
longer  living,  and  his  mother,  Catherine 
( Schenck)  Lucas,  is  a  resident  of  Knox- 
ville,  Illinois.  The  parents  were  early  set- 
tlers of  Illinois.  William  received  his  early 
education  in  Illinois  in  the  country  school, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty  took  up  his  share 
of  the  farm  work  with  his  father,  remaining 
at  home  the  next  three  years.  He  then 
engaged  in  farming  for  himself  in  Illinois 
four  years.  Just  prior  to  coming  to  Lyon 
county  Mr.  Lucas  was  engaged  for  several 
months  as  conductor  on  the  street  car  lines 
in  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

In  Knoxville,  Illinois,  William  Lucas  was 
married  to  Mertie  A.  Barr,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  the  wedding  occurring  September  25, 
1907.  Mrs.  Lucas  was  born  August  25,  1876. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lucas  are  the  parents  of  Ro- 
salia May,  born  January  20,  1909,  and  Bertha 
Helen,  born  April  30,  1911. 


BIRNEY  L.  CHENEY  (1904)  is  manager 
of  the  elevator  of  G.  W.  VanDusen  &  Com- 
pany at  Marshall.  He  is  a  native  of  Hills- 
dale county,  Michigan,  and  was  born  Decem- 
ber 16,  1875.  At  the  age  of  nine  years  he 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Gratiot  county, 
of  the  same  state,  and  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age  resided  on  the  farm.  He  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education  and  for 
fourteen  years  engaged  in  teaching,  during 
that  time  taking  a  course  at  the  Michigan 
State  Normal  School  and  a  business  course 
at  Yerrington  College,  St.  Louis,  Michigan. 

Mr.  Cheney  came  to  Lyon  county  in  Au- 
gust, 1904,  and  during  the  fall  months  he 
engaged  in  threshing.  He  taught  school  in 
his  old  Michigan  home  the  next  winter  and 
the  following  fall  located  permanently  in 
Marshall.      In    October,    1905,    he    took    the 


position  of  engineer  with  the  Union  Heating 
Plant  Company,  an  enterprise  founded  by 
eight  business  men  of  the  town  to  furnish 
heat  for  several  business  houses  on  the  east 
side  of  Main  Street.  Mr.  Cheney  was  so  em- 
ployed two  years.  In  June,  1907,  he  took 
a  position  with  the  Marshall  News-Messen- 
ger and  worked  at  the  printer's  trade  two 
years,  being  obliged  then  to  give  up  the 
work  on   account  of  defective  eyesight. 

On  October  26,  1909,  Mr.  Cheney  took  the 
position  of  manager  of  the  VanDusen  ele- 
vator and  has  been  so  employed  since.  The 
elevator,  which  has  a  capacity  of  25,000 
bushels,  is  owned  by  Minneapolis  people. 
George  VanDusen  is  president  of  the  com- 
pany and  F.  O.  Yates  is  secretary. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Byron  E.  and 
Lydia  A.  (Bird)  Cheney,  natives,  respective- 
ly, of  New  York  State  and  Hillsdale  county, 
Michigan.  The  mother  died  July  4,  1907; 
the  father  lives  in  Gratiot  county,  Michigan. 
There  are  six  children  in  the  family,  as  fol- 
lows: Birney  L.,  Nellie  I.,  Reuben  B.,  Marion 
P.,  Amy  J.  and  Ray.  Mr.  Cheney  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge  and  of 
the  Marshall  Fire  Department. 

Mr.  Cheney  was  married  at  Ithica,  Michi- 
gan, May  22,  1907,  to  Mary  A.  Crozier,  a 
native  of  Gratiot  county,  Michigan. 


OTTO  WAHLQUIST  (1900)  just  recently 
located  on  his  present  farm,  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  9,  Custer  township,  but 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  township  during 
the  past  five  years. 

Coming  to  America  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, our  subject  located  in  Chicago,  where 
he  worked  four  years  in  the  E.  A.  Hartwald 
planing  mills.  His  next  home  was  in  Kos- 
suth county,  Iowa,  and  Otto  engaged  in  farm 
labor  the  next  five  years,  leaving  Iowa  to 
come  to  Minnesota.  He  and  L.  Larson 
bought  240  acres  of  land  in  Sodus  town- 
ship, Lyon  county,  and  farmed  the  place  in 
partnership  two  years.  Selling  his  interest, 
Otto  bought  a  quarter  section  near  Marshall, 
rented  the  farm  two  years  to  H.  O.  Robbins, 
and  then  sold  it.  He  resided  in  Marshall 
four  years  and  conducted  the  Enterprise 
wood  and  feed  yard. 

It  was  after  our  subject  had  sold  his  farm 
near  Marshall  that  he  first  located  in  Custer 
township,  renting  and  farming  240  acres  on 


582 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


section  3  the  following  five  years.  During 
that  time  he  purchased  the  quarter  on  sec- 
tion 9  and  a  year  later  moved  to  the  place 
where  he  now  resides,  which  is  a  well  im- 
proved farm. 

Otto  Wahlquist  and  Mary  Ford  were  mar- 
ried in  Sodus  township  April  23,  1902.  Mrs. 
Wahlquist  was  born  in  that  township  October 
26,  1876,  and  her  parents,  Henry  and  Mar- 
garet Ford,  are  living  in  Sodus.  Two  chil- 
dren, Pearl  and  June,  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Otto  Wahlquist.  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in 
Sweden  June  28,  1874,  and  was  brought  up 
and  educated  in  that  country.  His  parents, 
Erick  and  Annie  (Olson)  Erickson,  both  died 
when  Otto  was  a  child. 


THOMAS  CLAUSEN  (1907)  is  a  black- 
smith of  the  village  of  Balaton.  He  was 
born  in  Germany  January  28,  1888,  and  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1907.  He  located 
in  Balaton  at  that  time,  purchased  the  Nord 
blacksmith  shop,  and  has  conducted  it  since. 
He   engages    in    general    blacksmithing. 

Our  subject's  father,  Thomas  Clausen, 
died  in  Germany  in  1908.  After  that  event 
Mr.  Clausen  furnished  funds  and  brought  the 
family  to  America.  The  mother,  Katrina 
Clausen,  resides  with  her  son,  Fred  Clausen, 
in  Rock  Lake  township.  The  other  members 
of  the  family  are  Christ,  a  blacksmith  at 
Russell;  Anna  (Mrs.  Hans  Mork),  of  Rus- 
sell; Sophia  (Mrs.  R.  W.  Nelson),  of  this 
county.  The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Yeomen  lodge. 

Mr.  Clausen  was  married  in  Balaton  Oc- 
tober 28,  1910,  to  Johanna  Mark,  a  native  of 
Denmark  who  came  to  the.  United  States  in 
1909. 


FORBES  CLENDENNING  (1884)  sells 
Texas  land  and  is  at  present  connected  with 
the  George  Schain  Land  Company  of  Tracy. 
His  home  is  at  Marshall. 

Born  at  Ragland,  Ontario,  Canada,  May 
24,  1880,  Forbes  at  the  age  of  four  years 
came  with  his  parents  to  Lyon  county,  and 
the  family  located  on  a  farm.        , 

When  Forbes  was  fourteen  the  family 
moved  to  Marshall  and  there  the  young  man 
grew  up  and  attended  school,  taking  his  last 


year  of  high  school  work  in  Lake  Benton. 
After  his  schooling  was  finished  he  clerked 
in  a  Lake  Benton  grocery  store  one  year  and 
then  worked  for  his  uncle,  Samuel  J.  Forbes, 
in  Marshall  one  year.  Following  this  term 
of  service  our  subject  clerked  for  several 
years  and  was  finally  appointed  the  first 
rural  mail  carrier  out  of  Marshall,  holding 
that  commission  about  three  years  and  re- 
signing to  take  a  homestead  in  South  Da- 
kota, near  Bowbells,  in  Ward  county.  After 
proving  up,  Mr.  Clendenning  returned  to 
Marshall  and  was  employed  by  attorney 
Thomas  E.  Davis,  collecting  and  writing  in- 
surance. Prior  to  engaging  in  the  land  busi- 
ness in  the  spring  of  1912,  our  subject  had 
been  again  for  several  years  clerking  in 
stores. 

Forbes  Clendenning  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Elenor  (Forbes)  Clendenning,  natives  of 
Canada  and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  They 
reside  in  Marshall  and  have  six  children 
living:  Maggie,  Forbes,  Mary  (Mrs.  Harry 
Chatman),  Walter,  Harry  and  Joseph. 


VICTOR  SOMMER  (1910)  is  a  farmer  of 
Stanley  township  and  owns  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  34.  He  has  lived  in  the 
county  only  two  years,  although  he  has 
owned  his  property  for  a  much  longer  time. 

In  the  province  of  Mecklenburg,  Germany, 
on  the  seventeenth  day  of  April,  1857,  Victor 
Sommer  was  born,  the  son  of  Jacob  and 
Mary  (Eppke)  Sommer.  He  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  attending  school  in  his  native 
country  and  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  in 
1869,  came  to  America  with  his  parents.  Un- 
til he  reached  his  majority  Mr.  Sommer  lived 
with  his  parents  in  Cook  county,  Illinois, 
and  worked  as  a  farm  hand.  He  then  took 
up  stationary  engineering,  which  he  followed 
until  moving  to  Lyon  county  in  1910. 

When  a  young  man  Mr.  Sommer  struggled 
against  great  odds  and  was  the  sole  support 
of  his  father  and  mother.  By  industry  and 
hard  work  he  has  prospered  and  is  in  good 
circumstances.  Ten  years  ago,  while  living 
in  Gilberts,  Illinois,  Mr.  Sommer  purchased 
his  Lyon  county  farm,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1910  he  located  on  the  place  and  engaged 
in  farming.  He  engages  in  stock  raising 
quite   extensively. 

Mr.  Sommer  was  married  in  Cook  county, 
Illinois,  on  November  2,  1879,  to  Dora  Lau- 


IJKXJKAIMIM'AL  HISTORY. 


583 


ing,  a  native  of  the  county  in  which  she  was 
married.  She  was  born  March  27,  1862.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sommer  have  the  following  chil- 
dren: Lillie,  born  December  4,  1881;  Robert 
and  Minnie  (twins),  born  January  25,  1883; 
Mary,  born  August  10,  1884;  Sophia,  born 
April  14,  1S86;  Victor  J.,  born  September 
10,  1888;  Emma,  born  December  27,  1892, 
died  April  2,  1912;  Dora,  bora  November  12, 
1894;  Laura,  bora  July  12.  1897.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  church 
of  Marshall. 


MARVIN  PETERSON  (1911)  is  the  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Peterson  Brothers, 
of  Garvin,  dealers  in  dry  goods,  groceries, 
shoes,  notions  and  crockery.  He  is  a  native 
of  Murray  county  and  was  born  in  Lake 
Sarah  township  February  28,  1889,  a  son  of 
Godfrey  and  Anna  (Olson)  Peterson,  who 
now  reside  in  Murray  county. 

Marvin  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Slayton  and  Tracy  and 
later  attended  Humboldt  College,  of  Hum- 
boldt, Iowa.  He  was  graduated  from  the 
commercial  department  of  the  latter  insti- 
tution in  1908,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
farming  with  a  brother  in  Murray  county. 
Mr.  Peterson  continued  his  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  January,  1909,  at  which  time  he 
engaged  as  a  drug  clerk  at  Crosby,  North 
Dakota,  for  a  short  time.  He  was  later  en- 
gaged as  assistant  cashier  of  the  Security 
State  Bank  of  Crosby,  North  Dakota,  until 
January  1,  1911,  when,  in  company  with  his 
brother,  Clarence  Peterson,  he  engaged  in 
the  general  merchandise  business  at  Garvin. 
They  have  enjoyed  a  very  prosperous  trade 
in  their  late  venture,  carrying,  as  they  do, 
a  stock  valued  at  between  six  and  seven 
thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  a  member  of  the  Norwe- 
gian Lutheran  church.  He  is  a  stockholder 
of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Garvin  and 
in  the  company  which  publishes  the  Garvin 
Leader. 

On  September  22,  1911,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Peterson  to  Ida  Stageberg,  a 
native  of  Lac  qui  Parle  county,  Minnesota. 
She  was  born  March  29,  1891. 


JULIUS  ZABEL   (1906)   is  the  proprie- 
tor of  a  well-improved  farm,  the  east  half 


of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  17,  in 
Custer  township.  He  is  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, the  son  of  Fred  and  Elizabeth 
(Zasch)  Zabel,  and  was  born  in  West 
Prusen  January  31,  1868.  His  father  died 
in  Germany  and  his  mother  is  still  living 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 

The  first  twenty-one  years  of  our  sub- 
ject's life  were  spent  in  his  native  land, 
during  which  time  he  was  educated  and 
spent  several  years  helping  his  father.  In 
1889  Julius  and  a  sister  came  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  O'Brien  coun- 
ty, Iowa.  There  Mr.  Zabel  worked  two 
years  on  the  railroad  and  several  years  on 
a  farm  as  a  hired  hand.  He  then  rented 
land  and  farmed  for  himself  several  years, 
later  moving  to  Grant  county,  Minnesota, 
where  he  also  rented  land.  In  1906  Mr. 
Zabel  came  to  Lyon  county  and  bought  the 
land  which  he  has  since  farmed. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  O'Brien 
county,  Iowa,  May  22,  1896,  to  Augusta 
Dahlke,  who  was  born  in  Germany  May 
19,  1874.  Mrs.  Zabel  is  a  daughter  of 
Christ  and  Augusta  (Goltz)  Dahlke,  of 
Custer  township.  She  and  her  husband 
are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church.  Their  children  are  Walter,  born 
March  25,  18  97;  Martha,  born  July  29, 
1900;  Agnus,  born  September  15,  1904; 
and  Bernhart,  born  July  7,  1906. 


HANS  P.  SANDEN  (1872)  is  a  resident 
of  Florence,  near  which  place  he  has 
farmed  for  a  great  many  years,  having 
been  a  resident  of  Lyon  county  forty  years. 
He  was  born  in  Opdahl,  Trondhjem,  Nor- 
way, October  30,  1852,  a  son  of  Peter  A. 
and  Karen  (Sanden)  Torseth.  Hans  grew 
to  manhood  and  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  Norway,  where  he  resided  until 
eighteen  years  of  age.  In  1871  he  came 
to  America  and  located  at  Fountain,  Fill- 
more county,  Minnesota.  He  worked  on 
the  railroad  then  being  built  between  St. 
James  and  LeMars,  Iowa,  and  later  the 
railroad  near  Mankato. 

In  the  fall  of  1872  our  subject  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  took  as  a  homestead  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  20,  Shel- 
burne  township,  which  he  made  his  home 
continuously  until  a  few  years  ago.  In 
1888  the  Great  Northern  railroad  was  built 


584 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


and  he  sold  the  north  half  of  his  home- 
stead to  the  railroad  company  for  a  town- 
site  and  that  is  where  the  present  village 
of  Florence  is  located.  Later  Mr.  Sanden 
purchased  his  father's  homestead,  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  20  and  the 
south  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 21,  making  him  the  owner  of  320 
acres  of  fine  land  in  Shelburne  township. 
The  first  three  years  our  subject  was  in 
the  county  the  crops  were  a  complete  fail- 
ure on  account  of  the  grasshoppers,  but 
the  fourth  year  was  a  good  one.  During 
Mr.  Sanden's  first  winter  here  provisions 
had  to  be  hauled  from  New  Ulm,  a  trip 
which  required  three  weeks'  time  to  make 
with  oxen,  which  was  all  they  had  at  that 
time.  Two  years  ago  our  subject's  wife 
died  and  he  has  made  his  home  in  Flor- 
ence since  that  time. 

Mr.  Sanden  is  a  member  of  the  Norwe- 
gian Lutheran  church.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder and  a  director  of  the  State  Bank 
of  Florence  and  is  treasurer  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  78.  He  has  served  eleven  years 
as  assessor  of  the  township,  having  served 
as  its  first  assessor,  and  has  been  on  the 
Township  Board  of  Supervisors.  He  served 
as  chairman  of  the  board  two  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  and  A.  O.  U. 
W.  lodges. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
in  Shelburne  township  August  18,  1883, 
to  Mary  Lein,  a  native  of  Faribault  county, 
Minnesota.  She  was  born  April  11,  18  63, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Bent  and  Johannah 
Lein,  natives  of  Norway.  Mrs.  Sanden 
died  October  30,  1907.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sanden  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
named  children:  Petra,  born  June  4,  1884; 
Hannah  A.,  born  June  21,  1888;  Carl  B., 
born  November  21,  1891;  Burt  C,  born 
July  5,  1898. 


HENRY  H.  BENSON  (1884)  is  the  ef- 
ficient assistant  cashier  of  the  State  Bank 
of  Florence.  He  is  a  native  of  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  was  born  in  Shelburne  township 
September  17,  1884,  the  son  of  Hans  and 
Christina  (Christianson)  Benson,  who 
came  from  Norway  to  Lyon  county  in  the 
early  seventies  and  settled  in  Shelburne 
township,  where  they  still  reside. 

The  father  assisted  in  building  the  rail- 


road west  from  Tracy  through  the  county. 
He  purchased  land  at  different  times  until 
now  he  is  the  owner  of  5  60  acres  of  fine 
land  in  the  township  in  which  he  has  re- 
sided so  long.  They  are  the  parents  of 
the  following  named  nine  children:  Lottie 
(Mrs.  John  Anderson),  of  Tyler,  Minne- 
sota; Bert  and  Adolph,  who  reside  on  the 
home  farm;  Ragna  (Mrs.  A.  B.  Anderson), 
of  Florence;  Henry  H.,  of  this  sketch; 
Hulda,  who  died  when  three  years  of  age; 
Clara,  Lena,  Emma  and  Elmer,  who  reside 
with  their  parents. 

Henry  Benson  resided  at  home  until 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  attending  school 
and  assisting  in  the  work  on  the  farm. 
After  finishing  a  common  school  education, 
he  went  to  the  Sioux  Falls  Business  Col- 
lege for  two  terms.  In  February,  1910, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  State'  Bank 
of  Florence  as  bookkeeper  and  continued 
in  that  capacity  until  January,  1911,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  assist- 
ant cashier.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in 
the  bank.  Mr.  Benson  is  a  member  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church  and  of  the 
Masonic  and  Modern  Woodmen  lodges. 


OLIVER  A.  KILLIUS  (1903).  One  of 
the  most  prosperous  farmers  of  Lyon  coun- 
ty is  Oliver  A.  Killius,  the  proprietor  of 
Star  Farm  on  section  17,  Sodus  township. 
He  has  lived  in  the  county  nine  years,  has 
been  successful  in  his  farming  operations, 
and  is  rated  .among  the  substantial  men  of 
his  precinct. 

Mr.  Killius  is  a  native  of  Mason  county, 
Illinois,  and  was  born  July  12,  1878.  His 
father,  George  Killius,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many November  28,  1848,  came  to  Amer- 
ica at  the  age  of  two  years,  was  brought 
up  in  Mason  county,  Illinois,  lived  for 
many  years  in  Nebraska,  later  in  Iowa, 
and  is  now  a  resident  of  Sodus  township. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  is  Catherine 
(Arnold)  Killius.  She  was  born  in  West 
Virginia  March  22,  1848,  and  was  married 
in  Mason  county,  Illinois. 

When  Oliver  was  three  years  of  age  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Fillmore  coun- 
ty, Nebraska.  There  he  received  his 
schooling  and  spent  his  boyhood  days,  mov- 
ing with  the  family  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen to   Franklin  county,  Iowa.      He  lived 


HANS   P.   SANDEN 

For   Forty   Years   a    Resident    of   Shelburne 

Township. 


HENRY  H.  BENSON 

Assistant  Cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of 
Florence. 


MR.    AND    MRS.    OLIVER   A.    KILLIUS 
Proprietors  of  Star  Farm,  Sodus  Township. 


F.  T.   SHAEFFER 
Cashier  of  the  Amiret  State  Bank. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


585 


in  that  Iowa  county  until  his  removal  to 
Lyon  county. 

In  the  fall  of  1902  Mr.  Killius  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  purchased  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  17,  Sodus  township. 
The  following  spring  he  and  his  wife 
moved  to  their  new  home,  which  has  ever 
since  been  their  place  of  residence.  At 
the  time  of  purchase  the  place  was  wild, 
unimproved  land — far  different  from  the 
well-improved  farm  of  the  present  day. 
Mr.  Killius  has  made  all  the  improvements 
and  justly  takes  pride  in  his  achievements, 
for  he  has  one  of  the  fine  farm  homes  of 
the  county. 

Mr.  Killius  raises  considerable  stock,  in- 
cluding thoroughbred  Duroc-Jersey  hogs. 
In  the  raising  of  swine  he  has  gained  a 
wide  reputation,  and  shippers  declare  that 
Mr.  Killius'  hogs  are  the  finest  turned  in 
at  the  local  market.  He  turns  from  fifty 
to  seventy-five  head  per  year.  Mrs.  Killius 
is  a  chicken  fancier  and  takes  great  pride 
in  her  birds,  raising  about  400  full-blooded 
Black  Langshangs  each  year. 

Ella  McKinnon  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Killius  in  Dixon,  Missouri,  on  May  8,  1902. 
She  was  born  March  26,  1881,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Ning  and  Mary  (Null)  Mc- 
Kinnon, natives  of  Missouri  and  descend- 
ants of  pioneer  settlers  of  that  state.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Killius  have  no  children.  They 
are  members  of  Easter  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Sodus  township. 


ALVIN  E.  WEIDAUER  (1901)  is  a 
farmer  and  land  owner  of  Lake  Marshall 
township  and  has  lived  in  Lyon  county  for 
several  years.  He  is  a  native  of  Saxony, 
Germany,  and  was  born  March  16,  1873. 
He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in 
1881,  locating  at  Philo,  Illinois.  There 
they  resided  for  thirteen  years  and  Alvin 
attended  school.  In  18  94  Alvin  moved  to 
Calhoun  county,  Iowa,  where  the  family 
had   moved   two   years   previous. 

Our  subject  spent  two  years  in  Calhoun 
county  and  then  went  to  Chester,  Nebras- 
ka, where  he  resided  six  months,  working 
out.  He  then  took  a  trip  through  Kansas, 
Oklahoma,  Indian  Territory  and  Texas,  re- 
turning to  his  home  in  November.  In  the 
spring  of  18  97  Mr.  Weidauer  rented  the 
home   place    of    his    father    for   one    year. 


He  also  operated  a  threshing  machine  for 
several  years.  He  then  rented  land  in  Po- 
cahontas county  for  three  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1901  Mr.  Weidauer 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  in  February  of 
that  year  he  purchased  one  hundred  sixty 
acres  of  section  19,  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  resided,  with  the 
exception  of  a  year  spent  in  Iowa.  Our 
subject  raises  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland 
China  hogs.  He  is  a  shareholder  of  the 
Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Marshall. 
He  has  membership  in  the  German  Evan- 
gelical church  and  the  Modern  Woodmen 
lodge.  In  partnership  with  his  brother 
Herman,  Mr.  Weidauer  engages  in  the 
threshing  business. 

At  Marshall,  on  February  8,  1904,  Mr. 
Weidauer  was  united  in  marriage  to  Ida 
Coon,  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Frederica 
(Hass)  Coon,  natives  of  Germany.  To 
this  union  have  been  born  the  following 
four  children:  Orvel  L.,  born  December 
19,  1904;  Edward  W.,  born  October  30, 
1906;  Dora  E.,  born  April  4,  1908;  Mabel 
E.,  born  December  2,  1910. 


F.  T.  SHAEFFER  (1899)  is  the  cashier 
of  the  Amiret  State  Bank.  He  is  a  native 
of  Ames,  Iowa,  where  he  was  born  June 
14,  1875,  a  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Hanson)  Shaeffer,  the  former  a  native  of 
Indiana  and  the  latter  of  Sweden.  They 
were  early  settlers  of  Boone  county,  Iowa. 
The  father  died  in  March,  1909,  aged  fifty- 
eight  years;  the  mother  resides  at  Burt, 
Iowa.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  John  A.,  of  Clear  Lake, 
Iowa;  F.  T.,  of  this  sketch;  Henry  W.,  of 
Dolliver,  Iowa;  Annie  (Mrs.  Dr.  D.  W. 
Pratt),  of  Burt,  Iowa;  Maud  (Mrs.  Will 
Fish),  of  Iroquois,  South  Dakota;  Ralph, 
of  Lewistown,  Montana;  and  William,  of 
Minot,  North  Dakota. 

In  1882  F.  T.  Shaeffer  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Burt,  Iowa,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood  and  where  he  was  graudated 
from  the  high  school.  In  1898  he  went  to 
Revere,  Minnesota,  where  he  was  employed 
one  year  by  the  Standard  Lumber  Com- 
pany. On  January  1,  1899,  Mr.  Shaeffer 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  located  at  Ami- 
ret,  where  he  has  since  resided,  having 
been    the    local    manager   of   the    Standard 


586 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Lumber  Company  since  that  date.  He  is 
one  of  the  organizers  and  stockholders  of 
the  Amiret  State  Bank  and  has  been  its 
cashier  since  the  bank  opened  its  doors. 
Mr.  Shaeffer  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic, 
Modern  Woodmen  and  Yeomen  lodges  and 
is  township  clerk. 

The  Amiret  State  Bank,  of  which  our 
subject  is  cashier,  was  established  October 
1,  1910,  by  a  number  of  the  business  men 
and  farmers  of  Amiret  and  vicinity  and  was 
capitalized  for  $10,000.  It  has  enjoyed  a 
prosperous  business.  Tbe  officers  and  di- 
rectors are:  President,  Lester  J.  Fitch; 
vice  president,  R.  A.  Mitchell;  cashier  F.  T. 
Shaeffer;  Solomon  Greeley  and  C.  S.  Row- 
ell.  Mrs.  F.  T.  Shaeffer  is  assistant  cash- 
ier. The  bank  building  was  erected  by 
the  institution.  The  bank  does  a  general 
banking,  insurance,  real  estate  and  farm 
loan  business. 

Mr.  Shaeffer  was  married  in  Amiret  Oc- 
tober 4,  1900,  to  Agnes  McLaughlin,  a  na- 
tive of  Steele  county,  Minnesota.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  David  McLaughlin,  of  Ami- 
ret. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaeffer  have  one  child, 
Floyd. 


ALBERT  B.  DANE  (1895)  is  the  ef- 
ficient clerk  for  F.  M.  Healy  &  Son,  of 
Marshall.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Gopher 
State  and  was  born  at  Janesville,  Waseca 
county,  Minnesota,  February  9,  1876.  He 
grew  to  manhood  there  and  was  graduated 
from  the  high  school  of  that  place  in  1893. 
Thereafter  he  clerked  in  stores  at  Janes- 
ville eighteen  months. 

In  November,  1895,  our  subject  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  worked  as  a  baker's 
apprentice  for  H.  E.  Barnum,  working 
also  for  the  same  gentleman  later  at  Tracy 
and  Kasota  Junction.  He  returned  to 
Marshall  and  was  in  the  employ  of  George 
Rose,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Barnum  in  the 
bakery  business,  and  later  he  returned  to 
Janesville,  where  he  worked  a  year.  Re- 
turning to  Marshall,  he  entered  the  employ 
of  F.  M.  Healy,  for  whom  he  worked  two 
years.  In  March,  1900,  Mr.  Dane  returned 
to  Janesville  and  engaged  in  the  confec- 
tionery and  restaurant  business  for  him- 
self, continuing  until  November  5,  1910. 
He  then  came  back  to  Marshall  and  has 
since  been  in  the  employ  of  F.  M.   Healy 


&  Son,  as  clerk.  Mr.  Dane  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic,  Modern  Woodmen  and 
Ancient  Order  of'  United  Workmen  lodges. 
On  July  10,  1901,  at  Marshall,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Blanch 
Goodwin,  a  daughter  of  Joshua  Goodwin, 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Lyon  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dane  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Dorothy  Zadia. 


ADOLPH  T.  ANDERSON  (1886)  has 
spent  the  entire  twenty-six  years  of  his  life 
in  Nordland  township.  He  is  the  son  of 
pioneer  settlers  and  homesteaders,  Lewis 
and  Stena  Ellefson.  His  father  was  born 
in  Norway,  his  mother  in  Wisconsin.  They 
came  to  Lyon  county  in  the  seventies  and 
took  a  homestead,  later  buying  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  33,  Nordland. 

On  that  farm,  on  November  24,  1886, 
Adolph  Anderson  was  born,  and  there  he 
has  ever  since  had  his  home.  He  received 
a  district  school  education  and  worked  for 
his  father  until  1909.  Then  he  rented  the 
farm  and  has  since  conducted  it  to  his 
own  account. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  in  Minneota 
to  Rena  Skogen.  She  is  also  a  native  of 
the  county  and  is  a  daughter  of  Halvor  O. 
and  Christie  Skogen,  of  Nordland  town- 
ship. Lila  and  Harvey  are  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Anderson's  children. 


JOHN  HOLDEN,  JR.  (1901)  is  the 
manager  of  the  Hayes-Lucas  Lumber  Com- 
pany's yard  at  Garvin.  Although  he  has 
been  an  actual  resident  of  Lyon  county 
less  than  a  dozen  years,  he  was  born  just 
over  the  county  line  in  Murray  county  and 
has  practically  spent  his  life  here.  He  is 
one  of  the  progressive  young  business  men 
of  the  little  city  in  which  he  lives. 

Lake  Sarah .  township,  Murray  county, 
is  the  birthplace  of  Mr.  Holden  and  Sep- 
tember 30,  1879,  was  the  date  of  his 
birth.  He  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation and  remained  on  his  father's  farm 
until  twenty  years  of  age.  Then  he  took 
a  course  in  the  Sioux  Falls  Business  Col- 
lege and  in  1900  located  at  Beresford, 
South  Dakota,  where  for  one  year  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  F.  M.  Slagle  Lumber 
Company.      He  spent  one  year  working  for 


I;|ih;k.\NIK'AL   HISTORY. 


;,st 


the  Hayes-Lucas  Lumber  Company  at 
Marshall,  and  in  the  summer  of  1902  he 
was  given  the  management  of  the  yards 
at  Garvin,  where  he  has  since  lived. 

Mr.  Holden  is  interested  in  several  local 
enterprises.  He  is  a  stockholder  of  the 
Farmers  State  Bank  of  Garvin,  secretary 
of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company,  and 
was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Garvin 
Telephone  Company  and  its  first  president. 
He  is  the  clerk  of  Custer  township  and 
has  held  the  position  for  four  or  five  years. 
Mr.  Holden  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Ma- 
son, holding  membership  in  the  Blue  Lodge 
at  Tracy  and  in  the  Scottish  Rite  at  Wi- 
nona. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  lodge. 

Maud  Edwards,  a  native  of  Lyon  county 
and  a  daughter  of  Ed.  Edwards,  became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Holden  at  Garvin  on  De- 
cember 16,  1903.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, Maurice,  Mildred  and  Maxson. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  John  J.  and 
Karen  (Peterson)  Holden.  They  were 
born  in  Norway,  came  to  America  early 
in  life,  and  were  married  at  Madison, 
Wisconsin.  After  their  marriage  they 
moved  to  Dodge  county,  Minnesota,  and 
in  1876  to  Lake  Sarah  township,  Murray 
county,  where  they  homesteaded  and 
where  they  still  live.  They  have  seven 
children:  Sophia,  Julius,  Carl,  Lottie, 
Annie,  John  and  Matilda. 


GUSTAV  RADKE  (1908)  bought  the 
north  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 3  6,  Amiret  township,  from  his  father 
in  the  fall  of  1911,  and  has  since  been 
farming  the  place.  He  has  built  on  the 
farm  and  has  a  modern  and  well-improved 
place  in   every  respect. 

Gustav  is  the  fourth  in  age  of  a  family 
of  seven  children  born  to  Julius  and  Jo- 
hannah  (Shultz)  Radke,  natives  of  Ger- 
many. He  was  born  in  Germany  August 
25,  1878,  and  when  five  years  old  he  ac- 
companied the  family  to  America.  They 
located  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  and  the 
elder  Radke  worked  out  at  farm  labor  two 
years  and  then  moved  to  Wood  Lake,  Ne- 
braska. There  Gustav  received  his  edu- 
cation and  grew  to  young  manhood. 

In  1896  the  subject  of  this  sketch  went 
to  Hancock  county,  Iowa,  where  he  worked 


on  a  farm  until  1908,  in  which  year  he 
came  to  Lyon  county.  His  parents  had 
preceded  him  several  years,  and  after 
moving  to  the  county  Gustav  worked  for 
his  father  and  also  ran  a  threshing  rig 
in  the  falls.  In  1911  he  bought  eighty 
acres  from  his  father  and  has  since  been 
farming  for  himself. 


ANTON  MACK  (1910)  was  until  re- 
cently the  proprietor  of  a  pool  hall  in 
Tracy.  He  is  a  native  of  Iowa  and  was 
born  at  Dubuque  May  8,  1882.  The  par- 
ents of  our  subject  are  John  and  Marga- 
retta  (Kreck)  Mack,  natives  of  Germany. 
They  came  to  America  about  thirty-five 
years  ago  and  located  at  Dubuque.  The 
father  died  at  Bancroft,  Iowa;  the  mother 
resides  in  Minneapolis.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children:  John,  Sebas- 
tian, Maggie,  Lizzie,  George,  Anton,  Louis 
and  Frank. 

Anton  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  at 
Doland,  South  Dakota,  and  later  engaged 
in  contracting  at  Fort  Pierre  and  Miller, 
South  Dakota.  In  1910  our  subject  came 
to  Lyon  county,  buying  the  Sam  A.  Pittin- 
ger  pool  hall  at  Tracy,  which  he  con- 
ducted until  May,  1912.  At  that  time  he 
sold  his  interests  in  Tracy  and  moved  to 
Sauk  Center,  Minnesota,  where  he  is  now 
engaged   in   the  real   estate   business. 

Mr.  Mack  was  married  at  Bancroft, 
Iowa,  August  28,  1906,  to  Julia  Higgins. 
They  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Arthur 
Murl. 


EMIL  DAHLKE  (1908),  who  rents  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  28,  Custer 
township,  was  born  in  Germany  April  22, 
1872,  and  until  the  age  of  seventeen  lived 
in  his  native  land,  receiving  an  education 
in  the  common  schools. 

He  accompanied  his  parents,  Christ  and 
Vasta  (Goltz)  Dahlke,  to  America  in  1889. 
The  family  settled  in  O'Brien  county, 
Iowa,  where  they  rented  land  and  farmed 
ten  years,  Emil  assisting  his  father.  The 
young  man  then  set  out  for  himself,  mov- 
ing to  Minnesota  and  locating  in  Trav- 
erse county,  where  he  rented  land  and 
farmed  seven  years.  In  1908  he  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  rented  the  farm  in  Cus- 


588 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


ter    which    he    now    conducts.      He    raises 
DurOc-Jersey   and    Poland   China   hogs. 

While  living  in  Traverse  county  Emil 
Dahlke  was  married  to  Christina  Bowers, 
the  wedding  occurring  March  3,  1903. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Germany  April  1, 
1883,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Christ  and 
Christina  (Vollmer)  Bowers.  The  follow- 
ing children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dahlke:  Carl,  born  March  1,  1904; 
Elsa,  born  October  12,  190  6;  Mary,  born 
December  24,  1908;  Emil,  born  January 
13,  1910;  and  Willie,  born  December  9, 
1911. 


PETER  PILOTTE  (1895)  is  the  renter 
of  a  fine  quarter  section  of  land  in  Vallers 
township,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since 
coming  to  the  county  in  1895. 

Mr.  Pilotte  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Reste- 
dude  (Pronix)  Pilotte,  who  moved  to  Illi- 
nois in  1848  from  Canada  and  settled  in 
Kankakee  county,  where  Jacob  Pilotte 
bought  land  at  $1.25  per  acre.  Peter 
grew  up  in  Kankakee  county  and  received 
his  education  in  the  district  schools.  He 
remained  on  the  home  farm  after  his 
schooling  was  finished,  and  it  was  not  un- 
til he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years  that  the  young  man  started  farming 
for  himself,  on  land  which  he  had  pur- 
chased a  few  years  previously. 

Our  subject  sold  his  farm  in  1893  and 
moved  to  Iowa,  buying  forty  acres  in 
Woodbury  county  and  farming  there  one 
year.  He  then  sold  out  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Lyon  county,  renting  320 
acres  of  land  on  section  16,  Vallers  town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
raises  considerable  stock  and  is  partial  to 
the  Durham  breed  of  cattle  and  the  Duroc- 
Jersey  breed  of  hogs.  Every  year  Mr. 
Pilotte  makes  a  shipment  of  cattle  to  the 
large  markets. 

Peter  Pilotte  and  Cecilia  Lawrence  were 
married  in  Illinois  October  16,  1877.  Mrs. 
Pilotte  was  born  in  Kankakee  county  Jan- 
uary 1,  1849,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Lewis 
and  Louise  (Martin)  Lawrence,  natives  of 
New  York  and  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pi- 
lotte are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Archie,  born  March  18,  1881;  Ar- 
thur, born  September  11,  1889;  Leo,  born 
March  28,  1891;   Galix,  born  February  14, 


1893;  Fred,  born  July  12,  1897;  and 
Marie,  born  January  28,  1900.  The  Pi- 
lottes  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 


HANS  P.  NELSON  (1906)  is  one  of 
Clifton  township's  farmers  and  he  rents 
the  north  half  of  section  36.  He  has  a 
well  improved  farm  and  raises  considerable 
stock. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  a  son  of  Nels  Albertson 
and  Annie  Hanson  and  was  born  in  Den- 
mark May  2  9,  1857.  There  he  was 
brought  up  and  there  he  received  the  cus- 
tomary education  of  the  farmer  boy  of 
that  country.  He  was  fourteen  years  of 
age  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
tailor's  trade  and  he  continued  in  that 
business  in  the  Fatherland  until  1879. 
That  year  heN  came  to  this  country,  lo- 
cated in  Chicago  and  worked  at  his  trade 
a  few  months.  Then  he  moved  to  St. 
Paul  and  continued  working  at  his  trade. 

After  working  in  St.  Paul  several  years 
Mr.  Nelson  started  a  shop  of  his  own  and 
remained  in  that  city  two  years.  He  then 
sold  out,  and  during  the  next  seven  years 
at  different  times  he  conducted  shops  in 
Pipestone  and  Redwood  Falls.  Finally  he 
sold  his  business  and  invested  in  160  acres 
of  farm  land  in  Redwood  county,  near 
Redwood  Falls,  which  he  operated  eighteen 
years.  He  sold  his  land  in  1906  and  came 
to  Lyon  county.  He  has  since  been  living 
on  the  north  half  of  section  36.  While 
in  Redwood  county  Mr.  Nelson  served 
seven  years  as  school  clerk  and  six  years 
as  a  member  of  the  township  board. 

The  marriage  of  Hans  Nelson  and  Le- 
nora  C.  Peterson  was  celebrated  in  St. 
Paul  February  2,  1881.  She  was  born  in 
Veile,  Denmark,  April  20,  1862,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Annie  (Raarup) 
Peterson,  both  of  whom  died  in  the  old 
country.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  are  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  Nels,  Edward, 
Walter,  Anton,  Dewey,  Louis,  Ida,  Selma, 
Helga,  Daisie  and  Alice. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Norwe- 
gian Lutheran  church  and  his  fraternal 
associations  are  with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge. 


MICHAEL   W.    SCHOUWEILER    (1912) 
is    proprietor    of    the    Klondike    Saloon    of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


589 


Marshall.  He  is  a  native  Minnesotan, 
having  been  born  in  Wabasha  county  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1863.  Until  he  reached  his 
majority  he  resided  on  his  father's  home- 
stead in  that  county,  and  then  he  started 
out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world. 

Mr.  Schouweiler  has  engaged  in  a  great 
many  occupations  and  has  resided  in  many 
parts  of  the  country.  He  farmed  near 
Warren,  Minnesota,  one  and  one-half 
years,  lived  in  Butte,  Montana,  five  months, 
worked  for  a  brother-in-law  in  Wabasha 
county  one  year,  and\  then  completed  his 
education  with  a  year's  course  in  the  Wi- 
nona High  School.  He  spent  a  short  time 
in  North  St.  Paul  thereafter,  lived  in  Lac 
qui  Parle  county  one  season,  farmed  in 
Wabasha  county  one  year,  conducted  a 
saloon  in  North  St.  Paul  two  years,  in 
Wabasha  county  two  years,  and  then 
bought  a  farm  in  that  county  and  operated 
it  two  years. 

Plainview,  Minnesota,  was  the  next 
home  of  our  subject.  There  he  was  the 
proprietor  of  a  saloon  one  year  and  of  a 
restaurant  and  pool  hall  four  or  five  years. 
At  Pollock,  Campbell  county,  South  Da- 
kota, Mr.  Schouweiler  erected  a  building 
and  engaged  in  the  saloon  business  ten 
and  one-half  years.  He  operated  a  saloon 
at  Sanborn,  Minnesota,  six  months,  and 
on  January  22,  1912,  he  located  in  Mar- 
shall and  purchased  the  Klondike  Saloon. 
He  has  met  with  success  during  his  short 
residence  in  the  city  and  has  built  up  a 
good  trade.  Mr.  Schouweiler  owns  a 
farm  in  Campbell  county,  South  Dakota. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Schouweiler  to 
Katie  Losch  occurred  in  New  Richmond, 
Wisconsin,  July  5,  188  8.  She  is  a  native 
of  Iowa.  They  have  seven  children: 
Lilly,  the  wife  of  Louis  Traxinger,  who 
tends  bar  for  Mr.  Schouweiler;  Laura,  Ag- 
nes, Olevia,  Rosa,  Jesse  and  Magdelin. 

Frank  and  Eva  (Leonard)  Schouweiler, 
the  parents  of  our  subject,  were  born  in 
Germany,  came  to  America  in  1854,  lived 
in  Iowa  a  few  months,  and  then  took  a 
homestead  claim  in  Wabasha  county,  Min- 
nesota. On  that  farm  they  lived  the  rest 
of  their  lives.  They  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  on  June  6,  1904,  and  died 
a  few  years  later.  They  had  fourteen 
children,  of  whom  the  following  named 
six    sons    and    five    daughters    are    living: 


John  N.,  Michael  W.,  Frank,  Peter,  Gar- 
rett, Andrew,  Katie,  Maggie,  Jennie,  An- 
nie and  Lizzie. 


JOHN  MAHER  (1911),  who  owns  and 
farms  240  acres  of  land  on  section  16, 
Rock  Lake  township,  is  a  recent  arrival 
to  Lyon  county,  having  spent  his  entire 
previous  life  in  Wisconsin.  He  has  a 
well-improved  farm  and  raises  Duroc- 
Jersey  and   Poland   China  hogs. 

His  parents,  Thomas  and  Julian  (Mc- 
Donald) Maher,  are  deceased.  The  father 
was  born  in  Ireland,  the  mother  in  Shells- 
burg,  Wisconsin.  John  Maher  was  born 
in  Monroe,  Wisconsin,  October  1,  1873. 
He  attended  school  until  sixteen  years  of 
age  and  worked  on  the  home  farm  until 
he  was  twenty-three.  He  then  engaged  in 
farming  for  himself,  bought  land  in  his 
native  state,  and  resided  there  until  1911. 
That  year  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
purchased  his  Rock  Lake  township  farm. 

Mr.  Maher  was  married  at  Monroe,  Wis- 
consin, February  15,  1897,  to  Ella  Ward, 
who  was  born  in  the  city  in  which  she 
was  married  February  9,  1878.  They 
have  one  child,  Mary  Genevieve,  born  May 
30,  1899.  Mr.  Maher  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  church  of  Russell  and  of  the 
K.  C.  and  M.  W.  A.  lodges. 


PAUL  FRUKE  (1891)  was  born  in  Har- 
din county,  Iowa,  August  23,  1890.  He 
is  the  son  of  Frederick  and  Wilhelmina 
(Blossy)  Fruke,  who  came  to  this  country 
in  1881.  The  parents  were  born  near 
Rugenwalde,  Germany. 

The  Fruke  family,  coming  to  the  United 
States  in  1881,  settled  in  Iowa.  In  1891, 
when  Paul  was  one  year  of  age,  the  family 
moved  to  Lyon  county  and  located  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  24,  Shel- 
burne  township,  where  they  lived  during 
the  next  four  years.  The  father  then 
bought  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  25, 
which  has  since  been  the  home  of  our  sub- 
ject. 

Paul  is  one  of  seven  children.  The 
others  are  Bertha,  Charles,  Minnie,  Au- 
gust, Ernest  and  Mary.  The  father  died 
July  30,  1909,  after  the  family  had  made 
their  home  on   the  Lyon  county  farm   on 


590 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


the  northeast  quarter  of  section  2  5.     Mrs. 
Fruke  died  May  25,  1910. 

After  the  death  of  Paul's  father  he  and 
his  sister  Mary  bought  the  home  farm, 
which  they  now  own,  and  of  which  Paul 
has  the  active  management. 

REV.  PAUL  SCHERF  (1905)  is  the 
pastor  of  the  German  Lutheran  church 
of  Balaton.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany 
and  was  horn  in  Lichtenstein  March  21, 
1871,  a  son  of  Herman  and  Caroline 
(Heuchler)  Scherf,  both  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education 
in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  where  he  at 
tended  school  until  fourteen  years  of  age. 
He  then  worked  at  the  cabinet-maker's 
trade  until  nineteen  years  of  age.  In 
August,  1890,  our  subject  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  located  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
where  he  entered  the  Concordia  Seminary 
as  a  student.  He  was  graduated  from  the 
latter  institution  in. June,  1895,  and  then 
came  to  Minnesota,  locating  at  Fairmont, 
where  he  had  accepted  the  pastorate  of 
St.  John's  German  Lutheran  Church.  He 
served  as  pastor  of  the  latter  church  until 
January,  1905. 

The  latter  date  marks  the  arrival  of 
Rev.  Scherf  to  Lyon  county.  He  located 
at  Balaton,  where  he  has  since  served  as 
pastor  of  St.  Peter's  German  Lutheran 
Church. 

On  February  17,  1898,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Rev.  Scheri  to  Anna  Ritz,  a 
native  of  Illinois.  She  was  born  March 
31,  1875.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Scherf  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Her- 
man, Helen,  Martin,  Arthur  and  Harold. 
One  child,  Gustaf  Adolph,  died  in  infancy. 

WALTER  O.  BREMER  (1903)  is  one 
of  Amiret  township's  farmers.  He  en- 
gages extensively  in  stock  raising  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  Shorthorn  cattle  and 
Duroc-Jersey  hogs.  Mr.  Bremer  also  is  a 
breeder  of  Belgian  draft  horses. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Germany  February  17,  18  87.  He  is  a  son 
of  Andrew  and  Dorothy  (Else)  Bremer, 
both  of  whom  are  living  in  New  Ulm,  Min- 
nesota. The  family  came  to  America  in 
1893     and     located     in     Big     Stone     county, 


South  Dakota,  where  they  lived  three 
years  before  moving  to  Iowa  and  later  to 
Minnesota. 

Walter  was  only  six  years  old  when  he 
came  to  America.  His  school  education 
was  begun  in  South  Dakota  and  finished 
while  the  family  were  in  Iowa.  During 
that  time  the  father  purchased  land  in 
Lyon  county,  and  in  1903  the  family  came 
to  this  county  and  located  on  the  farm  in 
Sodus  township.  That  was  Walter's  home 
until  1907.  The  following  spring  he 
rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  lor 
himself  in  Sodus  township.  He  then 
moved  to  the  farm  he  now  operates  in 
Amiret  township,  and  has  been  conducting 
the  place  with  success. 

Clara  Pearl  Forbes,  a  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Etta  (Brown)  Forbes,  became  the  wife 
of  Walter  Bremer  September  30,  1908,  the 
ceremony  being  performed  in  Sodus  town- 
ship. To  this  union  two  children  have 
been  born:  Donald,  born  August  19, 
1909,  and  Dorothy,  born  May  23,  1911. 
Mrs.  Bremer's  parents  were  pioneer  resi- 
dents of  Lyon  county  and  are  now  living 
in  Amiret  township. 


ANTON  VAN  UDEN  (1892)  is  one  of 
the  big  farmers  of  Westerheim  township 
and  one  of  its  influential  citizens.  He 
owns  320  acres  of  land  on  sections  21,  22 
and  1G  and  farms  it  all,  making  a  specialty 
of  feeding  cattle  and  hogs.  The  home 
place  is  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 21. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Holland  December  6, 
1870.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, the  others  being  Herman,  John, 
Henry,  Berdina,  Mary,  Annie,  Christine 
and  Gertie.  His  father,  John  Van  Uden, 
died  in  1907  at  the  age  of  seventy  years; 
his  mother,  Johanna  (Hermsen)  Van 
Uden,  lives  with  a  daughter  in  Ghent. 

In  his  native  land  Anton  Van  Uden  se- 
cured his  education  and  made  his  home 
until  past  twenty-one  years  old.  In  1892 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  America  and 
direct  to  Lyon  county.  Until  1906  he. 
lived  in  Grandview  township,  conducting 
his  father's  farm;  then  he  purchased  his 
Westerheim  township  farm,  and  he  has 
since  made  his  home  thereon. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


:•!)! 


Mr.  Van  Uden  was  married  in  Ghent 
May  9,  1906,  to  Mary  Hennen.  She  was 
born  in  Holland  and  is  a  daughter  of  Ar- 
nold Hennen.  They  have  four  children, 
Annie,  John,  Hubert  and  Caroline.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Van  Uden  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church  of  Ghent. 


PETER  F.  KELLY  (1903)  is  the  owner 
of  the  Monarch  Saloon  in  Tracy.  He  is 
a  native  of  Goodhue  county,  Minnesota, 
where  he  was  born  June  3,  1875,  and  is 
a  son  of  the  late  James  Kelly.  The  latter 
was  born  in  Ireland,  came  to  America  in 
the  early  seventies,  and  located  in  Good- 
hue county.  Later  he  moved  to  Swift 
county,  where  he  died. 

At  the  age  of  three  years  Peter  accom- 
panied his  father  to  Swift  county  and 
grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  home- 
stead. When  twenty-six  years  of  age, 
he  moved  to  De  Graff,  Minnesota,  where 
he  conducted  a  saloon  two  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1903  he  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  purchased  the  saloon  he  now  conducts 
at  Tracy  from  Lindeman  &  Peterson.  Mr. 
Kelly  owns  a  fine  farm  in  Swift  county. 

On  June  11,  1901,  at  De  Graff,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Kelly  to  Annie  C. 
Heimer,  a  native  of  Adams,  Minnesota. 
They  are  the  parents  of  six  children: 
Evelyn,  Lawrence,  Eugene,  P«ter,  Leo  and 
Francis. 


CHARLES  DONNELLY  (1907),  who 
owns  and  farms  a  214-acre  farm  on  sec- 
tions 4  and  3,  Nordland  township,  has 
been  an  actual  resident  of  Lyon  county 
only  a  few  years,  but  since  the  early  days 
he  has  lived  just  over  the  line  in  Yellow 
Medicine  county.  He  has  a  good  farm 
and  is  a  successful  agriculturist. 

County  Derry,  Ireland,  is  the  birthplace 
of  Mr.  Donnelly  and  he  was  born  in  1847. 
His  parents,  Alexander  and  Ann  (Larkin) 
Donnelly,  are  both  buried  in  the  old  coun- 
try. Charles  attended  school  until  twelve 
years  of  age  and  until  he  was  twenty-two 
worked  on  his  father's  farm.  He  came 
to  America  in  the  spring  of  1869  and  for 
the  next  twelve  years  worked  in  a  stove 
factory  in   the   city   of  Philadelphia. 

Mr.     Donnelly     came     West     in     1882, 


bought  land  near  St.  Leo,  in  Yellow  Medi- 
cine county,  and  engaged  in  farming  there 
until  the  fall  of  1907.  Then,  having 
bought  his  present  farm  in  Nordland  town- 
ship, he  moved  to  his  new  home  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  its  management. 
For  ten  years  he  served  as  town  clerk  of 
Burton  township,  Yellow  Medicine  county. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church 
of  Minneota. 

Mary  Campbell,  also  a  native  of  Ireland, 
became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Donnelly  in  1874. 
Ten  children  have  been  born  to  them,  of 
whom  eight  are  living.  Their  names  are 
as  follows:  Anna  (in  religion,  Sister 
Sunniva),  of  St.  Paul;  Levina,  at  home; 
Rose,  deceased;  Sallie,  of  Westby,  Mon- 
tana; Mary,  at  home;  Margaret,  of  Phila- 
delphia; Kate,  deceased;  Theresa  (in  re- 
ligion, Sister  Norbert),  of  St.  Paul;  Rob- 
ert and  Charles,  at  home. 


NELS  CHRISTIAN  SORENSEN  (1909) 
owns  and  farms  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  31,  Shelburne  township,  in  the  ex- 
treme southwestern  corner  of  Lyon  county. 

He  was  born  near  Alborg,  Denmark, 
May  3,  1880,  and  spent  his  boyhood  days 
in  the  land  of  his  nativity.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  until  fourteen  years  of 
age  and  then  worked  on  the  farm  three 
years.  *  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  be- 
gan working  at  the  blacksmith's  trade  and 
was  so  engaged  three  and  one-half  years 
in  the  old  country. 

Mr.  Sorensen  came  to  America  in  1900 
and  made  his  first  home  in  Franklin  coun- 
ty, Iowa.  There  he  worked  at  his  trade 
and  at  other  lines  of  work  five  years.  He 
worked  at  his  trade  in  Omaha,  Nebraska, 
one  and  one-half  years,  at  Arlington,  Ne- 
braska, six  months,  and  at  Omaha  again 
one  year.  In  1908  Mr.  Sorensen  moved 
to  Ruthton,  Minnesota,  conducted  a  shop 
a  year  and  a  half,  and  then  turned  farmer. 
It  was  in  1909  that  he  located  on  his  farm 
in  Lyon  county.  Besides  general  farm- 
ing Mr.  Sorensen  engages  in  stock  raising, 
making  a  specialty  of  Shorthorn  cattle 
and  Poland  China  hogs. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Lars  P. 
and  Ingeborg  (Nelson)  Sorensen.  They 
came  to  America  in  1902,  lived  in  Frank- 
lin county,  Iowa,  five  years,  farmed  a  few 


592 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


years  in  Lyon  county,  and  on  May  2,  1911, 
moved  to  Mille  Lacs  county,  where  they 
now  reside. 

Nels  Sorensen  was  married  in  Pipestone 
August  8,  1908,  to  Lena  Paulson.  She 
was  born  in  the  house  in  which  she  now 
lives  on  July  5,  1892.  Her  parents,  Jess 
and  Christine  (Jacobson)  Paulson,  settled 
in  Lyon  county  in  1880  and  resided  on  a 
farm  in  Shelburne  township  until  they  re- 
moved to  Ruthton  in  the  spring  of  1911. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sorensen  have  two  children: 
Evelyn  Eleanor,  born  November  20,  1909; 
and  Irene  Beatrice,  born  March  24, 
1911. 


WILLIAM  E.  WATKINS  (1901)  has 
been  conducting  the  farm  on  section  29, 
Amiret  township,  since  he  purchased  the 
place  in  1901.  He  is  a  well-to-do  farmer 
and  raises  Durham  cattle  and  Duroc-Jersey 
hogs  for  market. 

William  Watkins  was  born  in  Green  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  November  17,  1865.  He  is 
a  son  of  John  H.  and  Eliza  (Griffith)  Wat- 
kins,  natives  of  England  and  Wales,  re- 
spectively. The  parents  came  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Green  county, 
where  they  engaged  in  farming.  William 
was  brought  up  a  farmer  boy  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  country  schools. 
He  afterward  helped  on  the  father's  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He 
then  commenced  to  work  out,  and  in  the 
fall  months  he  ran  a  threshing  rig.  He 
threshed  four  falls  in  Minnesota  prior  to 
moving  to  the  state   in   1901. 

In  that  year  young  Watkins  came  to 
Lyon  county  and  bought  the  north  half  of 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  29,  Ami- 
ret  township,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  has  improved  the  place,  has  a  comfort- 
able home,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  val- 
uable 240-acre  farm. 

The  ceremony  which  joined  in  marriage 
William  E.  Watkins  and  Nettie  Shaver  was 
performed  at  Tracy  November  15,  1900. 
She  was  born  in  Lyon  county  November  8, 
1881,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Edward  and 
Emma  (Flick)  Shaver,  of  Clifton  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watkins  ase  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  John  E., 
born  January  26,  1902;  Lyle,  born  June 
15,  1904;  Leslie  (deceased),  born  Novem- 


ber 5,  1906;  Persey,  born  October  24, 
1908;  and  Ruth,  born  December  21,  1910. 
Mr.  Watkins  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  lodge. 

ELMER  JOHNSON  (1906).  One  of  the 
young  farmers  of  Coon  Creek  township  is 
Elmer  Johnson,  who  has  resided  in  Lyon 
county  the  past  six  years.  He  is  a  native 
of  Iowa  and  was  born  in  Pocahontas  coun- 
ty September  27,  1884,  a  son  of  Moody 
and  Matilda  Johnson,  the  former  a  native 
of  Sweden  and  the  latter  of  Norway. 

Our  subject  resided  with  his  parents  in 
Iowa,  attending  school  and  assisting  his 
father  on  the  farm,  until  1906,  when  he 
came  to  Lyon  county.  The  first  year  in 
Lyon  county  was  spent  working  at  farm 
labor,  after  which  he  rented  land  near 
Florence  for  two  years.  He  tben  rented 
the  farm  he  now  operates,  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  33,  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship. Besides  general  farming,  he  raises 
a  great  number  of  cattle  and  hogs. 

At  Pipestone,  Minnesota,  February  15. 
1906,  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to  Ida 
Johnson,  a  native  of  Murray  county  and  a 
daughter  of  Nels  and  Carline  (Larson) 
Johnson,  both  natives  of  Sweden.  Mrs. 
Elmer  Johnson  was  born  August  16,  1887. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren: Edith,  born  March  25,  1907;  Roy, 
born  June  5,  1908. 


MATHIAS  O.  BUE  (1910),  a  Cotton- 
wood photographer,  was  born  in  Norway 
March  5,  1889.  In  his  native  country  he 
received  a  common  school  education  and 
began  to  learn  the  photographer's  busi- 
ness. He  came  to  America  in  January, 
1907,  and  located  at  Granite  Falls.  For 
a  time  he  engaged  in  farm  work  and  ama- 
teur photography  and  for  a  short  time 
worked  in  a  gallery  at  Granite  Falls.  In 
April,  1910,  Mr.  Bue  located  in  Cotton- 
wood and  bought  the  gallery  of  A.  N.  Hop- 
land. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Ole  and  Jo- 
hanna (Hagge)  Bue,  who  reside  in  Nor- 
way. There  are  seven  children  in  the 
family,  named  as  follows:  Hans,  Knute 
and  Mathias  O.,  who  are  in  America; 
Maria,  Anton,  Ole  and  Margaret,  who  live 
in  the  old  country. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


I 


593 


ANDREW  OLSON  (1909),  a  Coon  Creek 
township  farmer,  was  born  in  Skanna, 
Sweden,  June  27,  1878,  and  is  a  son  of 
Ole  and  Christina  (Enbon)  Anderson,  of 
Krageholm,  Skanna,  Sweden.  Andrew  at- 
tended school  in  his  native  land  until  four- 
teen years  of  age.  He  also  attended  the 
Pullman  School  in  Chicago  after  coming 
to  the  United  States. 

May  21,  1901,  Mr.  Olson  came  to  Amer- 
ica, locating  at  Chicago,  where  he  worked 
in  Johnson's  chair  factory  for  a  short 
time.  He  then  secured  employment  from 
the  Pullman  Car  Company  as  a  carpenter, 
working  eight  years.  In  1908  he  purchased 
the  farm  he  now  owns  and  operates,  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  16,  Coon 
Creek  township,  and  moved  to  the  place 
in  the  spring  of  1909.  He  has  made  a 
great  many  improvements  upon  the  place. 
He  raises' some  stock,  including  grade  cat- 
tle, Poland  China  hogs  and  Plymouth 
Rock  chickens.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Olson  has 
been  very  successful  since  coming  to  Lyon 
county. 

Mr.  Olson  was  married  on  June  1,  1903, 
to  Elna  Nelson,  a  daughter  of  Nels  and 
Elna  (Anderson)  Martinson,  of  Skanna, 
Sweden.  She  was  born  November  26, 
1878.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olson  have  two  chil- 
dren: Edith  Caroline,  born  February  24, 
1904,  and  Roy  Herbert,  born  April  28, 
1907. 

Mrs.  Olson  has  two  brothers  and  one 
sister,  namely:  John  Nelson,  of  St.  Louis, 
Missouri;  Martin  Nelson,  of  Skanna, 
Sweden;  Mrs.  Nels  Hallen,  of  Chicago, 
Illinois.  Mr.  Olson  has  one  sister,  Mrs. 
Andrew   Olson,   of   Skanna,   Sweden. 


PRUDENT  B.  MENARD  (1902),  of  the  job 
department  of  the  News-Messenger  office  in 
Marshall,  was  born  in  Kankakee  county,  Illi- 
nois. His  parents,  in  company  with  many 
other  Kankakee  county  farmers,  moved  from 
Illinois  in  1902  and  located  on  a  farm  in 
Lyon  county.  Joel  A.  Menard  purchased  a 
large  farm  near  Marshall,  but  the  family 
have  made  their  home  in  town. 

Our  subject  attended  the  public  schools  in 
Marshall  several  years  and  while  yet  a  stu- 
dent commenced  learning  the  printer's  trade 
in  the  job  office  of  Elmer  A.  Hukee.    He  was 


later  employed  in  the  job  office  of  George 
Chamberlain  and  in  the  newspaper  plant  of 
C.  C.  Whitney.  During  the  summer  and  fall 
of  the  year  Mr.  Menard  was  employed  by 
the  F.  E.  Murphy  Auto  Company  of  Minne- 
apolis, and  in  November  of  that  year  he 
returned  to  Marshall  and  in  company  with 
H.  E.  Persons  operated  a  job  printing  office 
until  April,  1912,  when  he  accepted  his  pres- 
ent position  with  C.  C.  Whitney  in  the  News- 
Messenger  office. 

Joel  A.  Menard  and  Emma  M.  Menard  are 
the  parents  of  six  living  children,  of  whom 
Prudent  is  the  eldest.  The  other  children 
are  Clara,  Rachel,  Andrew,  Hugo  and  Virgil. 


HECTOR  A.  MARCOTTE  (1900)  is  a  farm- 
er and  land  owner  of  Sodus  township.  He 
was  born  in  Cloud  county,  Kansas,  August 
24,  1884.  His  parents  are  Edward  and  Jo- 
sephine (Brosseau)  Marcotte,  natives  of  Kan- 
kakee, Illinois.  Hector  received  his  school- 
ing in  the  district  schools  of  Cloud  county. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age  our  subject 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon  county  and 
resided  with  them  until  1911,  when  he  rented 
the  farm  he  now  lives  on,  the  east  half  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  6,  Sodus 
township.  He  owns  and  farms  in  partner- 
ship with  his  father  the  west  half  of  section 
5,  Sodus  township.  Mr.  Marcotte  engages 
extensively  in  stock  raising  and  is  a  suc- 
cessful farmer.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge. 

At  Marshall,  April  20,  1910,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Marcotte  to  Helga  Davidson, 
a  native  of  Marshall,  born  May  3,  1883.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Emma  (Rafuson) 
Davidson,  natives  of  Iceland.  The  mother 
died  in  1898,  and  the  father  lives  in  Mar- 
shall. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marcotte  have  one 
child,  Fern  M.,  born  May  30,  1911. 


GUST  NELSON  (1907),  Rock  Lake  town- 
ship farmer,  was  born  in  Motolo,  Sweden, 
June  9,  1862.  His  parents,  Anders  P.  and 
Matilda  Nelson,  are  deceased,  the  father 
having  passed  away  in  the  old  country  and 
the  mother  in  New  York  City. 

Gust  was  a  student  of  the  public  schools 
until  fifteen  years  old  and  thereafter  until 
1881  he  worked  at  farm  labor  in  his  native 
land.     In  June  of  the  last  named  year  Mr. 


.) 


<J4 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


Nelson  crossed  the  sea,  worked  in  a  black- 
smith shop  in  New  York  City  one  year,  was 
in  Chicago  for  a  time,  and  then  located  in 
Ida  county,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing eighteen  years.  Mr.  Nelson  then  bought 
land  in  Murray  county,  Minnesota,  and  re- 
sided on  the  farm  until  the  fall  of  1907.  At 
that  time  he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  has 
since  farmed  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 17,  Rock  Lake  township.  He  engages 
in  stock  raising  as  well  as  grain  farming  and 
has  been  successful.  He  is  a  stockholder  of 
the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of  Lake  Wil- 
son. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  married  in  1890  to  Anna 
Matilda  Larson,  who  was  bom  in  Sweden 
June  9,  1863.  They  have  two  children,  Al- 
bert and  Ellen  (Mrs.  Albin  W.  Nelson),  both 
of  Rock  Lake  township. 


ARTHUR  GARROW  (1884)  is  engaged  in 
tending  bar  for  V.  L.  LaVoy  at  Marshall. 
He  was  born  at  Faller,  Indiana,  January  5, 
1879.  He  is  the  son  of  Frank  and  Mary 
(Danderand)  Garrow,  the  former  a  native 
of  Canada  and  the  latter  of  Indiana.  They 
settled  in  Indiana,  in  1884  came  to  Lyon 
county,  and  now  reside  in  Lake  Marshall 
township.  They  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing seven  children:  Arthur,  Frank,  Wil- 
ford,  Fred,  George,  Ida  and  Louise. 

When  five  years  of  age,  Arthur  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Lyon  county  and  lo- 
cated in  Marshall,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. For  several  years  after  reaching 
maturity,  our  subject  operated  traction  en- 
gines during  threshing  seasons.  Then  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Marshall  Tile  & 
Sidewalk  Company  and  engaged  in  the  lay- 
ing of  sidewalks  for  about  three  years.  Later 
he  was  employed  by  John  Sturgeon  in  the 
hitch  bam,  for  whom  he  worked  over  three 
years,  and  afterwards  he  worked  three 
months  for  William  Thorburn.  In  the  early 
part  of  1911  he  entered  the  employ  of  his 
brother-in-law,  V.  L.  LaVoy,  as  bartender,  a 
position  he  has  since  held. 

Mr.  Garrow  was  married  in  Marshall  May 
11,  1910,  to  Stella  May  Snapp,  a%  native  of 
Kentucky.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
son,  Everett  Charles  Garrow,  born  June  22, 
1911. 


SAMUEL  McDANIEL  (1904)  is  one  of  the 
prosperous  farmers  of  Island  Lake  town- 
ship. He  has  been  in  the  county  about  eight 
years  and  farms  the  west  half  of  section  9. 

Mr.  McDaniel  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Sinda 
(Detrice)  McDaniel,  natives  of  Indiana  and 
Tennessee,  respectively,  and  was  born  in 
Harrison  county,  Indiana,  May  23,  1881. 
Samuel  lived  with  his  parents  in  Indiana 
until  1899,  during  which  time  he  received 
his  schooling.  In  the  last  named  year  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  and  went  to 
Leroy  county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  at 
farm  labor  two  years. 

After  the  brief  period  spent  in  Illinois, 
young  McDaniel  went  to  Nobles  county,  Min- 
nesota, and  worked  on  a  farm  two  years. 
He  located  in  Lyon  county  in  1904,  rented 
land  near  Minneota  two  years,  and  in 
1906  rented  his  present  place.  He  raises 
considerable  stock  and  has  found  this  in- 
dustry to  be  a  profitable  venture  in  the  con- 
duct  of  his   farm. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Irene  Hurd 
occurred  in  Minneota  February  28,  1906,  and 
to  this  union  three  children  have  been  born, 
Beatrice,  Adrian  and  Orvil.  Mrs.  McDaniel 
was  born  in  Iowa  and  is  a  daughter  of  Alfus 
and  Ellen  (Palmer)  Hurd,  natives  of  New 
York  and  England,  respectively,  and  now 
residents  of  Island   Lake  township. 


ISAAC  BUGHER  (1905)  is  the  proprietor 
of  an  auto  and  horse  livery  at  Garvin.  Until 
1905  he  was  actively  engaged  in  farming; 
then  he  retired  and  moved  to  Garvin,  en- 
gaging in  his  present  business  in  April,  1911. 

Mr.  Bugher's  parents  were  Illinois  people. 
He  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1862,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth 
(Hillard)  Bugher,  neither  of  whom  is  now 
living.  Isaac  Bugher  grew  to  young  man- 
hood and  received  his  education  in  Illinois 
and  moved  to  Iowa  with  his  parents  when  he 
was  nineteen  years  old.  There  he  resided 
until  1900,  farming  for  himself  after  he  be- 
came of  age.  In  1900  Mr.  Bugher  journeyed 
to  Murray  county,  Minnesota,  buying  land 
and  farming  until  1905.  That  year  he  gave 
up  active  work  and  moved  to  Garvin.  Mr. 
Bugher  prospered  on  his  farm  and  has  been 
enjoying  a  lively  business  in  his  present 
pursuit. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  1883  to  Nettie 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


595 


Ingram,  a  Wisconsin  girl.  To  them  were 
born  the  following  children:  Alpheus,  Frank, 
Marietta  (deceased),  Archie  and  Lila.  Mr. 
Bugher's  second  marriage  was  to  Ida  Frost, 
a  native  of  Germany.  To  this  union  one 
child.    Vernice,    has    been    born. 


P.  A.  LINDSTROM  (1904),  Coon  Creek 
township  farmer,  was  born  in  Sweden  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1S63,  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Pe- 
terson) Carlson.  He  attended  school  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  land  of  his  birth, 
where  he  resided  until  twenty  years  of  age. 
At  that  age  he  came  to  the  United  States 
and  located  in  Chicago,  where  he  worked 
ten  years  for  the  Pullman  Car  Company.  He 
then  moved  to  Redwood  county,  Minnesota, 
where  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  and 
farmed  until  he  sold  and  moved  to  Lyon 
county. ' 

Nineteen  hundred  four  is  the  date  of  Mr. 
Lindstrom's  appearance  in  Lyon  county,  at 
which  time  he  purchased  240  acres  on  sec- 
tion 28,  Coon  Creek  township,  which  he  still 
owns  and  operates.  In  addition  to  general 
farming,  he  raises  some  stock,  including 
Black  Polled  Angus  cattle  and  Poland  China 
hogs.  Mr.  Lindstrom  was  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Coon  Creek  township  four  years. 

On  October  1, 1887,  at  Chicago,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Lindstrom  to  Caroline  John- 
son, a  native  of  Sweden,  born  March  1,  1858. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lindstrom  are  the  parents  of 
three  children,  Alma,  Walter  B.  and  Esther 
E.  Walter  is  now  attending  Agriculture 
School  at  St.  Anthony  Park. 


JOHN  WILLIAM  FROEHLICH  (1908)  is 
a  farmer  and  thresher  of  Eidsvold  township, 
residing  a  short  distance  north  of  Taunton. 
Although  he  has  had  his  official  residence 
in  Lyon  county  only  a  few  years,  he  was 
brought  up  just  over  the  line  in  Yellow 
Medicine  county  and  has  a  wide  acquaint- 
ance in  northwestern  Lyon  county. 

His  parents  are  Charles  G.  and  Anna 
(Horn)  Froehlich.  They  located  in  Yellow 
Medicine  county  in  1889,  bought  land  there, 
and  made  their  home  there  until  their  re- 
moval to  Hamel,  Minnesota,  in  February, 
1911. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  city  of  Min- 
neapolis March  18,  1884,  and  when  five  years 


old  he  moved  with  the  family  to  Southwest- 
ern Minnesota.  He  was  educated  in  the 
Yellow  Medicine  county  public  schools  and 
worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  and  in 
the  threshing  business  until  1908.  That  year 
he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account 
on  section  6,  Eidsvold  township.  He  farms 
a  quarter  section  of  land,  raises  some  stock, 
and  in  partnership  with  his  father  conducts 
a  threshing  machine  during  the  fall  months. 
He  has  had  thirteen  years'  experience  as  a 
thresher. 

Mr.  Froehlich  was  married  in  Burton  town- 
ship, Yellow  Medicine  county,  April  10,  1906, 
to  Freda  Oetzmann.  She  was  born  in  Onawa 
county,  Iowa,  July  20,  1887.  They  have  three 
children:  Bernard,  born  August  24,  1907;  Es- 
ther, born  June  28,  1909;  and  Elmer,  born 
April  14,  1911. .  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Froehlich  are 
members  of  the  German  Lutheran  church 
and  he  was  road  overseer  of  his  district  one 
term. 


EDWIN  S.  RICH  (1906)  is  the  station 
agent  at  Garvin  for  the  Northwestern  rail- 
road and  a  dealer  in  hay  of  that  village.  He 
was  born  at  Baraboo,  Wisconsin,  June  29, 
1870,  and  spent  his  young  manhood  on  a 
farm.  He  began  his  railroad  career  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age  as  baggageman  for 
the  Northwestern  road  at  Wonewoc,  Wis- 
consin. 

Ever  since  he  took  that  employment  Mr. 
Rich  has  been  with  the  same  company,  as 
station  agent  since  his  first  position.  Prior 
to  taking  charge  of  the  Garvin  station  in  1906 
he  was  agent  at  various  stations  in  Wis- 
consin, the  Dakotas  and  Minnesota.  He  is 
the  proprietor  of  the  Garvin  Hay  Company 
and  in  1910  shipped  over  300  cars  of  hay. 
He  owns  a  home  in  Garvin. 

Mr.  Rich  is  married  and  has  four  chil- 
dren, Rodney,  Edna,  Esther  and  Alic.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Alfred  and 
Josie  (Hazeltine)  Rich,  now  residing  in 
Sauk  county,  Wisconsin.  His  father  was 
born  in  London,  England,  came  to  America 
in  a  sailing  vessel  when  a  young  man,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  lived  in  Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin.  During  the  war  he  served  in 
the  navy  and  as  a  member  of  a  Wisconsin 
infantry  regiment.  After  the  war  he  was 
engaged  for  a  number  of  years  as  a  stage 


596 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


driver  on  the  western  frontier.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  born  in  Walworth  county, 
Vermont.  Of  the  family  there  are  eight  liv- 
ing children:  William  A.,  Edwin  S.,  Mrs. 
C.  H.  Hall,  Robert  M.,  Colonel  P.,  Orlando 
S.  and  Flora  B. 


HENRY  PATNEAUDE  (1900)  is  the  own- 
er of  one  of  Vallers  township's  fine  quarter 
sections,  his  farm  being  located  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  25.  He  has  a 
well-improved  farm,  a  comfortable  home,  and 
is  prospering  from  his  farm's  returns  and 
from  his  quite  extensive  stock  raising. 

Illinois  is  the  native  state  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  and  he  was  born  in  Iroquois 
county  November  8,  1855.  His  parents,  Eu- 
gene and  Julia  (Blain)  Patneaude,  were  na- 
tives of  Canada  and  were  early  settlers  in 
Iroquois  county.  Henry  was  born  and 
brought  up  on  the  farm  and  received  his 
schooling  in  the  district.  He  remained  on 
the  home  farm  until  the  death  of  his  par- 
ents and  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Lyon 
county  in  1900.  He  purchased  200  acres  on 
section  25  and  has  since  lived  on  the  place. 

The  ceremony  which  united  Henry  Pat- 
neaude and  Mary  Adams  in  the  holy  bonds 
of  matrimony  was  performed  in  L'Erable, 
Illinois,  October  4,  1880.  Mrs.  Patneaude 
was  born  in  that  place  January  6,  1861,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Frank  and  Matilda  (Mar- 
cotte)  Adams,  natives  of  Illinois  and  Canada, 
respectively.  Five  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patneaude,  their  names  be- 
ing Wilford,  Celia,  Pearl,  who  is  now  a  Sister 
of  St.  Paul;  Edward  and  Felician.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic church. 


A.  O.  HOVDESVEN  (1875),  for  the  past 
fourteen  years  cashier  of  the  Cottonwood 
State  Bank,  is  one  of  the  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city.  Mr.  Hovdesven  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Cottonwood 
Hardware  Company,  one  of  the  large  firms 
of  the  county,  and  with  A.  E.  Anderson  was 
at  the  head  of  the  business  until  January, 
1912.  He  helped  organize  the  company  in 
1905  that  erected  the  large  two-story  brick 
building  in  which  the  company  has  its  quar- 
ters. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Norway  June  18, 


1860.  His  parents  were  Ole  A.  Hovdesven 
and  Marn  Hovdesven.  When  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  was  seven  years  of  age  the  fam- 
ily came  to  this  country,  locating  in  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  and  residing  on  a  faru* 
until  moving  to  Lyon  county  in  1875. 

The  Hovdesvens  were  among  the  pic  ._rs 
when  they  came  to  the  county  and  took  a 
homestead  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 6,  Vallers  township,  and  a  tree  claim 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  8,  of 
the  same  township.  At  that  time  there  were 
only  three  families  living  between  the  H  - 
desven  homestead  and  the  town  of  Marshall. 
Their  only  neighbors  were  Johannes  Ander- 
son, Ole  Broughton  and  Ole  O.  Brenna. 
Messrs.  Anderson  and  Broughton  are  still 
living  on  the  river  in  Vallers  township.  The 
old  postoffice  of  Brenner  took  its  name  from 
the  fact  that  it  was  located  on  Ole  Brenna's 
farm.  The  elder  Hovdesven  lived  on  the 
homestead  until  his  death  in  1898,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 

A.  O.  Hovdesven  lived  with  his  parents 
during  his  youth,  helping  with  the  farm 
work  and  later  buying  the  tree  claim  which 
his  father  had  taken  upon  his  arrival  to 
Lyon  county.  There  the  young  man  resided 
up  to  the  time  he  moved  to  Cottonwood  in 
1897. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Hovdesven  was  still  on 
the  farm  that  he  was  married  to  Emillie  Sven, 
of  Chippewa  county,  Minnesota.  The  mar- 
riage occurred  June  21,  1888.  Miss  Sven 
is  a  native  of  Wisconsin.  The  Hovdesvens 
have  four  children:  Orvin,  a  student  at  the 
University  of  Minnesota;  Elmer,  a  stu- 
dent at  St.  Olaf  College,  Northfield,  Minne- 
sota; Myrtle,  a  high  school  student  of  Cot- 
tonwood;   and   Evelyn,   aged   eleven. 

Since  moving  to  Cottonwood  Mr.  Hovdes- 
ven has  been  called  upon  to  serve  in  various 
official  capacities.  He  is  president  of  the 
Village  Council  and  president  of  the  Board 
of  Education.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  school  district.  Mr.  Hovdesven  has 
a  brother,  Andrew  O.  Anderson,  who  lives 
in  Vallers  township,  and  another  brother,  C. 
O.  Anderson,  who  is  an  attorney  in  Arizona. 


JASPER  A.  CARON  (1894),  of  Vallers 
township,  was  born  in  Kankakee  county, 
Illinois,  March  6,  1887.  He  is  a  son  of  Jo- 
seph and  Mary  (Dandurand)  Caron,  also  resi- 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


597 


dents  of  Vallers  township.  They  were  born 
in  Canada,  settled  in  Illinois  when  children, 
and  have  lived  in  Lyon  county  since  1894. 

Jasper  was  seven  years  old  when  the  fam- 
ily moved  to  the  county.  For  two  years  his 
father  farmed  rented  land  near  Ghent  and 
then  moved  to  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 15,  Vallers,  a  farm  he  had  bought  pre- 
vious to  coming  to  the  county.  On  that  farm 
Jasper  grew  to  manhood  and  in  the  nearby 
district  school  he  received  his  education.  He 
resided  on  the  home  farm  with  his  parents 
until  the  fall  of  1911;  then  he  moved  to  his 
own  farm,  which  is  improved  with  new  build- 
ings. He  received  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  28  from  his  father  and  later  bought 
eighty  acres  on  section  33. 

Mr.  Caron  was  married  in  Marshall  Sep- 
tember 11,  1900,  to  Emma  Grandpre,  who 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Chicago  May  27,  1881. 
Her  parents,  Victor  and  Louise  (Lavoi) 
Grandpre,  were  born  in  Illinois  and  are  now 
residents  of  Fairview  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Caron  have  three  children:  Armand, 
born  June  26,  1901;  Irven,  born  August  11, 
1903;  and  Lorine,  born  July  12,  1907.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church 
and  Mr.  Caron  holds  membership  in  the 
Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 


M ANNIE  G.  ALLEN  (1910)  has  been  a 
farmer  in  Fairview  township  since  Decem- 
ber, 1910.  He  was  born  in  Richeson  county, 
Nebraska,  October  15,  1882.  His  father  was 
a  farmer,  and  the  first  eight  years  of  the 
lad's  life  were  spent  on  the  farm  and  he 
commenced  to  attend  the  country  schools. 
When  the  family  moved  to  the  town  of  Bor- 
deaux the  boy  continued  his  education  in 
the  village  school  and  helped  his  father,  who 
had  established  a  store.  Until  twenty-three 
years  of  age  young  Allen  remained  at  home. 
He  then  went  out  into  the  world  to  make 
his  own  way. 

His  first  work  was  at  Kansas  City,  where 
he  was  employed  one  year  in  the  stock 
yards.  From  there  he  went  to  St.  Joseph, 
and  there  learned  the  barber  trade,  working 
at  that  occupation  three  years.  The  year 
1910  saw  the  beginning  of  Mr.  Allen's  farm- 
ing career,  when  he  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  located  in  Fairview  township,  where  he 
has  since  remained. 

The  marriage  of  Mannie  G.  Allen  and  Lucy 


Smith  occurred  at  Marshall  in  October,  1910. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  E.  and  Kate 
Smith,  natives  of  Kansas.  Mrs.  Allen  was 
born  in  Bordeaux,  Nebraska,  July  8,  1888. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  have  one  son,  Ralph. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Charles 
Allen  and  Alice  (Spickler)  Allen.  The  lat- 
ter is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  both  the 
parents  are  now  living  with  a  son  in  Zion 
City,  that  state. 


THOMAS  C.  JONES  (1901)  is  the  owner 
of  the  north  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  17,  Lyons  township.  He  has  resided 
in  Lyon  county  eleven  years.  Thomas  Jones 
was  born  in  Wales  February  13,  1854,  and  at 
fourteen  years  of  age  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  parents  and  located  in  Ohio. 
There  he  worked  in  the  coal  mines  four 
years  and  at  Danville,  Illinois,  until  1881. 

In  the  year  last  mentioned  our  subject, 
accompanied  by  his  brother,  John,  immi- 
grated to  Redwood  county,  Minnesota.  He 
worked  at  farm  labor  several  years,  after 
which  he  spent  ten  years  as  a  collector,  be- 
ing employed  by  John  H.  Bowers,  an  attor- 
ney at  Redwood  Falls.  In  1901  Mr.  Jones 
came  to  Lyon  county,  purchased  his  Lyons 
township  farm,  and  has  resided  there  since. 
He  was  clerk  of  Lyons  township  eight  years, 
treasurer  one  year  and  clerk  of  school  dis- 
trict No.  69  for  six  years.  Mr.  Jones  has 
stock  in  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company  of 
Russell  and  is  secretary  of  the  company. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Modern  Wood- 
men and  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America 
lodges. 

Mr.  Jones  was  united  in  marriage  to  Rose 
A.  White  at  Renville,  Minnesota.  Mrs.  Jones 
was  born  in  Lesueur  county,  Minnesota, 
September  21,  1864,  a  daughter  of  Nathan  D. 
and  Urane  (Frazer)  White,  natives  of  New 
York.  During  the  Sioux  outbreak  of  August, 
1862,  Mrs.  White  was  taken  captive  by  the 
Indians  and  was  held  six  months  before 
being  released.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  are  the 
parents  of  the  following  named  children: 
William  N.,  Evan  C,  T.  Harold,  Myrtle  U. 


EDWARD  LeCUYER  (1897)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Duluth  House,  of  Marshall. 
He  is  a  native  of  Cloud  county,  Kansas,  and 
was  born  August  30,  1880.     He  lived  on  the 


598 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


farm  of  his  parents  in  his  native  county 
until  seventeen  years  of  age  and  then  moved 
with  them  to  Lyon  county.  He  lived  en 
the  farm  in  Clifton  township  for  a  few  years 
and  then  went  to  Ward  county,  North  Da- 
kota, and  in  the  village  of  Tagus  conducted 
a  hotel  two  years,  or  until  1910.  In  October 
of  that  year  he  moved  to  Marshall,  rented 
the  Duluth  House,  and  has  since  conducted 
it.  He  has  improved  the  hostelry  and  en- 
joys a  good  patronage. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Fortuna 
and  Nancy  (Marcotte)  LeCuyer,  natives  of 
Kankakee,  and  Bourbonnais,  Illinois,  respec- 
tively. They  moved  to  Kansas  about  forty 
years  ago  and  homesteaded  in  Clay  county, 
later  moving  to  Cloud  county,  where  they 
resided  twenty-four  years.  They  farmed  in 
Lyon  county  four  years,  lived  in  Red 
Lake  eighteen  months,  farmed  in  North 
Dakota  a  few  years,  and  in  September, 
1910,  moved  back  to  Lyon  county  and  are 
now  engaged  in  farming  in  Grand  view  town- 
ship. There  are  ten  children  living  of  this 
family,  as  follows:  Alfred,  Alma,  Ada,  Med- 
rick,  Marie,  Dora,  George,  Blanch,  Eli  and 
Edward.  All  live  in  Lyon  county  except 
Alma,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Joseph  St.  Peter 
and  resides  in  North  Dakota,  and  Dora,  who 
is  now  Mrs.  Alex  Lawscn  and  lives  at  Grove 
City,  Minnesota. 

Edward  LeCuyer  was  married  in  North 
Dakota  July  25,  1907,  to  Sarah  Peterson, 
who  was  born  in  Blooming  Prairie,  Steele 
county,  Minnesota.  They  have  one  child, 
Raymond,  born  August  16,  1909. 


PETER  CHRISTENSEN  (1909)  is  one  of 
the  more  recent  additions  to  this  farming 
community,  having  been  a  resident  of  Shel- 
burne  township  only  about  two  years.  In 
November,  1909,  he  moved  here  from  South 
Dakota  and  purchased  136  acres  on  the  south 
half  of  section  30.  He  engages  successfully 
in  cattle  raising  besides  general  farming. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Sjaland,  Den- 
mark, January  16,  1871,  his  parents  being 
Peter  and  Sophia  Christensen.  The  mother 
is  still  living  in  Denmark.  Peter  received 
his  early  education  in  Denmark  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
discontinued  his  school  work  and*  hired  out 
at  farm  labor  for  the  next  four  years.  In 
1889  Peter  came  to  America  and  located  in 


Buena  Vista  county,  Iowa,  where  he  worked 
as  a  farm  hand  until  1S96.  February  25  of 
that  year  he  married,  at  Newell,  Iowa, 
Augusta  Capion,  and  soon  afterward  engaged 
in  farming  for  himself  in  Buena  Vista  coun- 
ty, making  that  his  home  for  seven  years. 
In  1903  the  family  moved  to  Lake  county, 
South  Dakota,  from  which  place  they  recent-  ■ 
ly  came  to  Lyon  county. 

Mrs.  Peter  Christensen  was  born  May  3, 
1875,  her  parents  being  Chris  and  Bolettie 
(Olsen)  Capion.  Her  father  lives  at  the  old 
home  in  Newell,  Iowa;  her  mother  died 
September  23,  1905. 

-  Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Christensen:  Albert  Holger,  born  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1901;  Eva  Eldona,  born  August  30, 
1905;  and  Alvin  Wilbur,  born  April  14,  1910. 

Peter  Christensen  has  three  brothers  liv- 
ing in  this  country:  Hans,  of  Newell,  Iowa; 
Chris  P.,  of  Chicago;  and  Nels  C,  of  Dag- 
mer,  Montana.  Mrs.  Christensen  has  three 
sisters  living,  all  of  whom  are  married.  Ida 
Matilda  (Mrs.  Hans  Mathisen)  and  Fannie 
Berthalena  (Mrs.  Niel  Mayland)  reside  in 
Newell,  Iowa,  and  Mamie  Wilmine  (Mrs. 
James  Haahr),  at  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota. 


LARS  BERG  (1902),  the  owner  of  160 
acres  on  section  27  and  a  well-to-do  farmer 
of  Lucas  township,  was  born  in  Valders, 
Norway,  October  27,  1864.  He  is  a  son  of 
Lars  and  Ingeborg  Berg,  of  whom  the  former 
is  living  in  Norway  and  the  latter  is  de- 
ceased. 

Our  subject  attended  the  common  schools 
in  Norway  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  after 
which  he  worked  at  farm  labor  in  his  native 
land  until  1886.  In  the  spring,  of  that  year 
young  Berg  came  to  America  and  located  in 
Monona  county,  Iowa,  where  he  resided 
about  eleven  years,  and  then  moved  to  Clay 
county,  Minnesota,  where  he  purchased  land 
and  lived  until  1902,  pursuing  the  occupation 
of  a  farmer. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1902  that  Mr.  Berg 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  purchased  the 
south  half  of  the  south  half  of  section  27, 
Lucas  township.  On  that  place  he  has  since 
made  his  home  and  devoted  himself  to  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising.  He  has 
prospered  and  his  quarter  section  is  one  of 
the  fine  pieces  of  real  estate  in  the  town- 
ship. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY. 


,")!)!) 


Mr.  Berg  was  married  October  16,  1885, 
in  Norway  to  Siri  Olson.  She  was  born 
April  25,  1861,  and  died  November  18,  1909. 
She  and  Mr.  Berg  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living  at  home 
with  their  father.  Their  names  are  Louis, 
Olaf,  John,  Anna,  Lillian,  Harry,  Clarence 
and  Ida.  Mr.  Berg  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Norwegian  Lutheran  church  of  Cot- 
tonwood. 


HECTOR  HOFMAN  (1900)  holds  the  posi- 
tion of  clerk  in  the  Edward  Schreiber  hard- 
ware store  in  Ghent,  and  though  only  recent- 
ly an  employe  Mr.  Hofman  brings  to  the 
store  business  experience  of  his  own  and  is 
proving  his  worth. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Belgium  March  31, 
1871,  and  is  a  son  of  Camiel  and  Constantie 
(Van  Dendacle)  Hofman.  The  former  par- 
ent is  dead  and  the  mother  is  still  a  resident 
of  the  old  country.  Hector  received  a  good 
education  in  his  native  land,  attending  the 
grade  and  high  schools  and  later  the  College 
of  St.  Marys  in  Audenarde,  Belgium.  His 
schooling  was  finished  when  he  was  seven- 
teen and  for  the  next  twelve  years  the  boy 
helped  his  father  on  the  farm. 

Coming  to  America  in  1900,  Mr.  Hofman 
was  employed  in  a  laundry  seven  months. 
He  then  came  to  Lyon  county  and  worked  as 
a  farm  hand  near  Ghent  three  years  and  one 
year  as  a  laborer  on  the  new  Catholic  church 
building.  The  Farmers  Elevator  Company 
engaged  Mr.  Hofman's  services  and  he  was 
grain  buyer  for  that  firm  the  next  five  years. 
He  resigned  his  position  to  investigate  the 
West  and  for  two  years  our  subject  con- 
ducted an  irrigated  farm  near  Fountain, 
Colorado.  He  decided  that  Lyon  county  was 
much  the  better  country  and  returned  to 
Ghent,  where  he  has  since  been  employed 
in  the  hardware  store. 

Mr.  Hofman  married  Louisa  De  Maeght 
November  23,  1903,  his  wife  being  a  native 
of  Belgium.  They  have  six  children,  Ed- 
mund, Herman,  Esther,  Alfrede,  Elvere  and 
Baldwin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hofman  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  church. 


JULIUS  SWEEN  (1895).  Among  the 
prosperous  farmers  of  Westerheim  town- 
ship is  Julius   Sween,  who  resides  in  the 


extreme  northeastern  corner  of  the  pre- 
cinct. His  farm  consists  of  160  acres  in 
Lyon  county  and  forty  acres  in  Yellow 
Medicine  county,  the  home  place  being  on 
section  1,  Westerheim. 

Julius  Sween  is  a  native  Minnesotan, 
having  been  born  in  Chippewa  county  Oc- 
tober 20,  1875.  His  parents,  Ole  and 
Mattie  Sween,  came  from  Norway  in  an 
early  day,  lived  in  Wisconsin  for  a  time, 
and  then  became  residents  of  Minnesota. 
They  were  pioneer  residents  of  Chippewa 
county  and  Ole  Sween  was  a  homesteader 
there.  They  resided  there  until  1900  and 
have  since  made  their  home  in  Granite 
Falls. 

Until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  Julius 
attended  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
county.  He  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1895, 
worked  for  his  brother-in-law  two  years 
and  then  farmed  the  place  for  himself  four 
years.  In  1901  he  became  a  land  owner, 
having  purchased  at  that  time  the  farm 
he  now  conducts.  He  resided  on  the  place 
until  1909,  then  moved  to  Granite  Falls 
and  for  three  years  conducted  a  garage 
in  partnership  with  his  brother,  O.  B. 
Sween.  Mr.  Sween  returned  to  his  farm 
in  March,  1912.  He  has  a  well-improved 
farm  and  is  a  successful  farmer.  He  has 
stock  in  the  Home  Telephone  Company  of 
Cottonwood.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church 
of  Normania  township,  Yellow  Medicine 
county. 

Mr.  Sween  was  married  in  Yellow  Med- 
icine county  June  6,  1898,  to  Emma  Sever- 
son.  She  was  born  in  Barron  county,  Wis- 
consin, July  24,  1877,  a  daughter  of  An- 
drew O.  and  Rangneld  (Brenden)  Sever- 
son,  former  residents  of  Lyon  county.  Mrs. 
Sween's  parents  sold  their  Lyon  county 
farm  to  Mr.  Sween,  bought  land  in  Yellow 
Medicine  county,  and  now  reside  there. 
Ruby  Marion,  born  April  11,  1900,  is  the 
only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.   Sween. 


JACOB  C.  MARSHALL  (1906)  is  the 
proprietor  of  the  farm  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  18,  Grandview  township. 
His  parents,  Jacob  Marshall  and  Eliza- 
beth (Muller)  Marshall,  were  natives  of 
Germany  and  came  to  the  United  States 
when  young,  both  locating  in  Erie  county, 


600 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


New  York.  Shortly  after  their  arrival  in 
this  country  they  were  married  and  lived 
for  many  years  in  Erie  county,  where  they 
farmed.  They  were  the  parents  of  thir- 
teen children,  as  follows:  Sophia,  Mag- 
gie, John,  Katie,  Lizzie,  Peter,  Annie,  Ja- 
cob C,  Joseph,  Alesius,  Albert  and  Dennis. 
One  child,  Bertha,  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years.  Mrs.  Marshall  died  in  Erie  county 
in  1887,  and  a  few  years  afterward  Mr. 
Marshall  and  some  of  the  children  moved 
to  Chicago,  where  the  father  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1907. 

Jacob  C.  Marshall  was  born  in  East 
Aurora,  Erie  county,  New  York,  January 
21,  1872.  He  was  educated  at  an  academy 
in  his  home  county  and  grew  to  young 
manhood  on  the  farm.  Two  years  after 
his  mother's  death  he  moved  to  Iowa  and 
made  that  his  home  until  1901,  then  mov- 
ing to  Redwood  county,  Minnesota,  and 
farming  five  years.  It  was  in  1906  that 
he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  located  in 
Island  Lake  township.  Mr.  Marshall 
farmed  in  that  township  three  years  and 
in  January,  1909,  moved  to  the  place  which 
he  now  owns. 

Our  subject  married  Mary  Finnell  in 
Lucan,  Minnesota,  January  21,  1904.  She 
is  a  native  of  Iowa,  and  she  and  her  hus- 
band are  the  parents  of  three  children, 
Jacob,  Linda  E.  and  John. 


ESTEN  MYRAN  (1892)  has  been  a  res- 
ident of  Shelburne  township  ever  since 
coming  to  this  country  from  Norway  in 
1892,  having  made  Florence  his  home  the 
greater  part  of  the  time.  For  the  period 
of  a  year  and  a  half  our  subject  was  em- 
ployed in  South  Dakota  as  a  farm  hand. 

The  parents  of  Esten  Myran  were  Svend 
Myran  and  Guri  Lien,  natives  of  Norway. 
Born  in  Opdahl,  Trondhjem,  Norway,  Oc- 
tober 12,  1871,  our  subject  lived  his  early 
life  at  home  with  his  people.  He  attended 
school  for  a  few  years,  engaging  in  the 
livery  business  when  a  boy  of  only  four- 
teen. He  followed  that  pursuit  until  twen- 
ty years  of  age,  when  he  decided  to  seek 
his  fortune  in  the  United  States,  and  the 
year  1892  found  him  a  resident  of  Lyon 
county.  Since  locating  here  Mr.  Myran 
has  farmed  and  has  prospered.  During 
every  fall  season  he  operates  a  threshing 


outfit,  of  which  he  is  the  owner.  For  two 
years  Mr.  Myran  was  called  upon  to  fill 
the  office  of  constable  of  his  precinct. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Norwe- 
gian Lutheran  church  and  belongs  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen  lodge.  He  has  one 
brother  living  in  America,  John  Myran,  of 
Yankton  county,   South  Dakota. 


HENRY  SAVOIE  (1902)  is  a  farmer  of 
Lake  Marshall  township  who  has  resided 
in  Lyon  county  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
is  a  native  of  Cloud  county,  Kansas,  and 
was  born  February  14,  1885.  He  is  the 
son  of  Mike  and  Julia  (Lagess)  Savoie  and 
accompanied  them  to  Lyon  county  when  he 
was  seventeen  years  of  age.  His  parents 
rented  land  in  Kansas,  and  it  was  during 
this  period  that  our  subject  received  his 
early  education.  Upon  their  arrival  in 
Lyon  county  the  father  rented  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship. Henry  worked  with  his  father  until 
1905,  when  he  rented  the  east  half  of  sec- 
tion 21,  Lake  Marshall  township,  where 
he  lived  until  the  spring  of  1911.  At  that 
time  he  rented  four  hundred  acres  in  the 
same  township,  where  he  now  lives.  Hen- 
ry's parents  were  born  and  raised  in  Kan- 
kakee county,  Illinois.  They  are  both  of 
French-Canadian  descent. 

Besides  farming,  Mr.  Savoie  engages  ex- 
tensively in  stock  raising.  He  raises  Short- 
horn cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church  and 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge. 

In  Marshall,  on  January  9,  1906,  Mr. 
Savoie  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma 
Paquette,  a  native  of  Cloud  county,  Kan- 
sas. Her  parents  were  John  and  Agnes 
(Labance)  Paquette,  who  homesteaded 
land  in  Kansas  in  an  early  day.  To  this 
union  have  been  born  the  following  named 
two  children:  Fred,  born  January  11, 
1907,  died  June  4,  1907;  Eugene,  born 
November   6,   1908. 


WILLIAM  JACOB  COIL  (1909)  is  a 
farmer  of  Eidsvold  township  and  the  own- 
er of  a  2  4  0-acre  farm  in  that  precinct,  his 
farm  being  described  as  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  30  and  the  north  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  29. 


BKHJKAPIIH'AL  HISTORY. 


tiul 


Mr.  Coil  was  born  in  Broad  Ripple, 
Marion  county,  Indiana,  April  10,  18  56. 
Jacob  Conrad  Coil  and  Katherine  (Dun- 
ahoo)  Coil,  his  parents,  died  in  Indiana 
in  1878.  The  father  was  born  in  that  state 
in  1818  and  the  mother  in  Virginia  in 
1830.  William  was  brought  up  on  a  farm 
and  has  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life. 
He  attended  school  until  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  worked  for  his  father  two  years 
after  reaching  his  majority,  and  then  start- 
ed out  in  life  for  himself. 

In  Indiana  Mr.  Coil  engaged  in  farming 
for  a  short  time  and  then  moved  to  Cham- 
paign county,  Illinois,  where  he  purchased 
land  and  resided  four  years.  The  next 
twenty  years  of  his  life  were  spent  farm- 
ing in  Story  county,  Iowa,  and  then  for 
a  few  years  prior  to  1909  he  was  engaged 
in  the  same  business  in  Boone  county, 
Iowa.  In  '  the  spring  of  1909  Mr.  Coil 
located  on  his  Eidsvold  township  farm, 
which  he  had  purchased  the  preceding 
fall  and  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
raises  full-blooded  Percheron  horses  and 
Poland  China  hogs. 

During  his  residence  in  Iowa  Mr.  Coil 
was  frequently  called  upon  to  serve  in 
an  official  capacity.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church  and  of  the  Mystic 
Workers  of  the  World,  holding  member- 
ship at  Boone,  Iowa. 

William  Coil  and  Mary  Katherine  Blaze 
were  married  in  Marion  county,  Indiana, 
October  24,  1877.  Mrs.  Coil  was  born  in 
Cambridge,  Indiana,  March  26,  1857.  Chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  union  as  fol- 
lows: Otto  J.,  of  Lincoln  county,  Minne- 
sota, born  September  10,  1878;  Mary  Kath- 
erine (Mrs.  Oliver  M.  Barker),  of  Algona, 
Iowa,  born  March  23,  1880;  Bertha  Ne- 
vada (Mrs.  Frank  Thomas),  of  Boone, 
Iowa,  born  January  25,  1882;  Ira  Theo- 
dore, of  Minneapolis,  born  February  8, 
1885;  Leslie,  deceased,  born  February  7, 
1887;  Isa  Lulu,  of  Minneapolis,  born  Aug- 
ust 11,  1889;  Inez,  deceased,  born  June 
20,  1892;  Virgil  B.,  at  home,  born  July 
23,  1895;  Vera  Theresa,  at  home,  born 
August   10,   1899. 


ROBERT  S.  MOSS  (1905)  is  the  ton- 
sorial  artist  in  the  village  of  Russell.  He 
was   born    at   Toronto,    Canada,    November 


2  0,    187  7,    a   son    of   Joseph    and    Kathryn 
(Smith)  Moss,  of  Hector,  Minnesota. 

Robert  received  his  education  in  the 
places  where  the  Moss  family  resided  dur- 
ing his  minority,  at  Superior,  Wisconsin, 
and  Port  Huron  and  Croswell,  Michigan, 
attending  school  until  twenty  years  of  age. 
He  then  worked  three  years  as  an  under- 
taker at  Morg,  Wisconsin,  when  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Hector,  Minnesota,  near 
which  place  he  worked  at  farm  labor  three 
years.  Then  Robert  began  learning  the 
barber's  trade  at  Hector,  where  he  worked 
one  year.  Cottonwood  was  the  next  place 
to  claim  him  as  a  resident,  and  there  he 
worked  in  a  shop  three  years.  Later  he 
bought  the  Palace  barber  shop  at  Russell. 
Mr.  Moss  has  been  successful  in  his  chosen 
vocation  and  is  a  first-class  workman,  his 
best  advertisement  being  his  pleased  cus- 
tomers. He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  married 
May  4,  1909,  to  Mary  Carlson,  a  daughter 
of  Olaf  Carlson,  of  Cottonwood.  Mrs.  Moss 
was  born  near  Cottonwood  October  12, 
1873.      They  have  no  children. 


JOHN  M.  PLACE  (1902)  is  a  farmer 
residing  on  section  2  0,  Coon  Creek  town- 
ship, who  has  lived  in  Lyon  county  for 
the  past  ten  years.  He  is  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  was  born  in  March,  1860,  a 
son  of  John  and  Margrette  (Feninger) 
Place,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  John  re- 
ceived his  schooling  and  grew  to  manhood 
in  his  native  state,  locating  in  McHenry 
county,  Iowa,  when  nineteen  years  of  age, 
where  he  farmed  until  1902. 

In  1902  our  subject  came  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  rented  the  farm  he  new  operates  in 
Coon  Creek  township.  In  addition  to  farm- 
ing, he  raises  considerable  stock,  includ- 
ing Hereford  and  Black  Polled  Angus  cat- 
tle and  Duroc-Jersey  hogs.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge. 

Mr.  Place  was  married  in  Iowa  to  Cath- 
erine Kouch,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a 
daughter  of  Christ  and  Barbara  (Curly) 
Kouch,  the  former  born  in  Germany  and 
the  latter  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Place  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  William,  Clem,  Eva,  Ada,  Ethel 
and  Annie 


602 


BIOGRAPHICAL  III  STORY 


HENRY  BRUNS  (1910)  is  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  Lyon  County  Garage  at  Minne- 
ota  and  conducts  an  auto  livery  in  connec- 
tion. He  was  born  in  Germany  February 
9,  1870,  and  when  twelve  years  old  came 
to  this  country  with  his  parents  and  set- 
tled in  Otoe  county,  Nebraska.  There  he 
lived  on  the  farm  with  his  parents  until 
1892. 

In  the  year  last  mentioned  Mr.  Bruns 
moved  to  Murray  county,  Minnesota,  en- 
gaged in  farming  awhile,  and  then  located 
at  Lake  Wilson,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
blacksmith  and  machine  business.  He 
moved  to  Minneota  in  the  spring  of  1910 
and  conducted  a  blacksmith  shop  one  year. 
Then  he  built  the  Lyon  County  Garage,  a 
30x60  feet  building,  equipped  it  with  ma- 
chinery and  tools  for  repairing,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  that  business.  Mr. 
Bruns  is  an  able  workman  and  conducts 
a  model  institution. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John 
and  Rebecca  (Kleinsmidt)  Bruns.  They 
came  from  Germany  in  1882  and  settled 
in  Nebraska,  where  Mrs.  Bruns  died.  The 
father  later  moved  to  Murray  county,  Min- 
nesota, and  died  there  in  18  97.  Henry 
Bruns  has  one  brother,  Fred,  of  Otoe 
county,  Nebraska. 

The  marriage  of  Henry  Bruns  to  Ellen 
Heymnes  occurred  at  Lake  Wilson,  Min- 
nesota, April  20,  1898.  Mrs.  Bruns  is  a 
native  of  Murray  county  and  a  daughter 
of  L.  J.  Heymnes,  a  homesteader  and  early 
settler  of  Murray  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bruns  have  one  child,  Chester.  Mr.  Bruns 
is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A.  lodge. 


JOHN  B.  FLINN  (1911)  is  one  of  Clif- 
ton township's  farmers  and  resides  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  10.  He  was 
born  in  Lafayette  county,  Wisconsin,  on 
October  4,  1881.  His  father  and  mother 
were  Fred  and  Mattie  (Severson)  Flinn, 
natives  of  Wisconsin  and  Norway,  respect- 
ively. When  John  was  a  child  the  fam- 
ily moved  to  Cerro  Gordo  county,  Iowa. 
There  the  father  bought  land  and  for  sev- 
eral years  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
Later  he  moved  to  Rockwell,'  a  neighbor- 
ing village,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
grew  to  manhood  in  Rockwell  and  finished 
his  education   in  the  public  school. 


The  elder  Mr.  Flinn  opened  a  livery  and 
feed  stable  in  Rockwell  and  also  conduct- 
ed a  barber  shop.  John  learned  the  bar- 
ber's trade  and  was  with  his  father  until 
1899,  in  which  year  he  moved  to  Minne- 
sota, locating  in  Lac  qui  Parle  county, 
where  he  rented  land  and  farmed  until 
1911.  That  year  he  came  to  Lyon  county 
and  bought  the  place  where  he  now  re- 
sides, one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  town- 
ship. Mr.  Flinn  has  already  taken  up 
stock  raising  in  connection  with  his  gen- 
eral farming,  and  with  his  good  location 
and  his  industry  seems  assured  of  success. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
in  Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota,  August 
29,  1906.  The  young  lady  he  chose  for 
his  wife  was  Carrie  Guddal,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Rachel  (Swenson)  Guddal,  na- 
tives of  Norway  and  now  residents  of  Blue 
Earth  county.  Mrs.  Flinn  was  born  June 
18,  1882.  To  this  union  has  been  born 
one  child,  Erwood,  on  September  6,  1911. 
Mrs.  Flinn  taught  school  several  years  be- 
fore her  marriage,  in  her  home  county  and 
in  Lac  qui  Parle  county. 


NELS  O.  ERICKSON  (1910)  is  a  dealer 
in  live  stock  and  farm  implements  in  Flor- 
ence. He  is  a  native  of  Sweden,  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1879,  and  in  company  with  his 
parents  came  to  the  United  States  when 
five  months  old.  The  family  settled  in 
Union  county,  South  Dakota,  where  our 
subject  resided  until  coming  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty in  1910. 

The  father  of  our  subject  died  in  1892 
and  thereafter,  in  company  with  the  rest 
of  the  children,  Nels  conducted  the  home 
farm.  He  began  the  struggle  of  life  for 
himself  when  sixteen  years  of  age.  His 
first  undertaking  was  farming  and  stock 
buying,  which  he  continued  in  the  South 
Dakota  home  until  he  became  a  resident 
of  Lyon  county,  which  was  in  August, 
1910. 

On  his  arrival  in  Lyon  county,  Mr.  Erick- 
son  purchased  the  implement  house  he  now 
owns  from  H.  P.  Sanden  and  immediately 
installed  a  complete  stock  of  farm  imple- 
ments, wagons,  pumps,  automobiles  and 
buggies.  He  also  buys  and  ships  stock 
and  in  company  with  his  brother,  E.  O. 
Erickson,    deals    extensively    in    hay    and 


I'.l'HihWlMIH'AL  HISTORY. 


603 


straw,   which   they  buy  and   bale  for  ship- 
ment. 

Mr.  Erickson's  mother  was  married  a 
second  time,  to  Ole  Bergstrom,  of  Tyler. 
There  are  five  boys  and  one  girl  in  the 
family:  Erick,  Nels  O.,  Betsy,  Jona,  Ole 
and  Joe. 


FRANK  PETERSON  (1912)  has  only 
recently  become  a  resident  of  Custer  town- 
ship, locating  on  the  south  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  3  during  the 
month  of  February,  1912.  That  farm  Mr. 
Peterson  purchased  in  1910,  at  which  time 
he  was  farming  in  Redwood  county. 

In  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  Frank  Peter- 
son first  saw  the  light  of  day,  on  April  12, 
1876.  His  father,  Peter  Peterson,  is  a  res- 
ident of  New  Windsor,  Illinois,  and  Frank's 
mother,  Lena  Peterson,  is  not  living.  Frank 
received  his  education  in  Illinois  and  grew 
to  young  manhood  on  his  father's  farm. 
Later  he  hired  out  for  several  years  as  a 
farm  laborer,  and  he  spent  about  eight 
years  farming  for  himself  in  his  native 
state. 

Our  subject  left  Illinois  and  located  in 
Redwood  county,  Minnesota,  in  the  spring 
of  19  05,  and  there  he  conducted  a  farm 
until  taking  up  his  residence  in  Lyon  coun- 
ty in  1912.  Mr.  Peterson  has  done  well 
since  he  engaged  in  farming  and  seems 
bound  to  continue.  The  Custer  farm  is 
valuable  land  and  our  subject  has  a  fine 
home  on  the  place.  Besides  his  general 
farming,  Mr.  Peterson  is  devoting  much 
of  his  time  to  stock  raising. 


EDWIN  K.  KELLER  (1901)  is  the  man- 
ager of  Richtmyer's  pool  hall.  He  is  a 
native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  born  July  26,  1872.  His 
parents  are  Edwin  S.  and  Adeline  (Kurtz) 
Keller,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
now  reside  near  Holdridge,  Nebraska.  They 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Edwin,  Clara,  Lilly,  Mary,  Kate,  Addie, 
Charles,  Thomas  and  Ruben. 

When  six  years  of  age  our  subject  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Grundy  county, 
Iowa.  In  188  4  the  family  moved  to  Sher- 
idan county,  Nebraska,  where  Edwin  re- 
sided  on  his  father's   farm   until   reaching 


his  majority.  The  next  winter  he  went 
to  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  and  worked  on  a 
fruit  farm,  being  employed  there  about 
four  years.'  He  then  went  to  York  county, 
Nebraska,  where  his  parents  then  lived, 
and  resided  with  them  several  years. 
Later  he  went  to  Fullerton,  Nebraska,  and 
conducted  a  pool  hall  until  the  next  year, 
1901,  when  he  located  in  Marshall.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  carpenter 
work,  working  in  the  pool  hall,  and  con- 
ducting a  threshing  rig.  He  and  his  broth- 
er-in-law, E.  W.  Richtmyer,  own  the  thresh- 
ing machine. 

Mr.  Keller  was  married  in  Marshall  in 
December,  1904,  to  Carrie  Sitts,  a  native 
of  Wisconsin. 


FRANK  BUSSE  (1901)  owns  and  oper- 
ates the  northwest  quarter  of  section  34, 
Sodus  township.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
Badger  State  and  was  born  at  Burlington 
May  3,  1877.  His  parents  are  John  and 
Mary  (Mecklenburg)  Busse,  natives  of  Ger- 
many. When  Frank  was  seven  years  of 
age  his  parents  moved  to  Sioux  county, 
Iowa.  They  resided  there  seven  years  and 
then  moved  to  Jerauld  county,  South  Da- 
kota, where  the  father  homesteaded  land. 
Our  subject  remained  with  his  parents 
until   1901. 

In  the  latter  year  the  subject  of  this 
review  came  to  Lyon  county  and  purchased 
the  farm  he  now  operates  in  Sodus  town- 
ship. He  also  engages  extensively  in  stock 
raising.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Busse  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Mr.  Busse  was  married  in  Clifton  town- 
ship on  June  24,  1908,  to  Myrtle  Knieff, 
a  native  of  Lyon  county.  She. is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Edward  and  Sarah  (Castle)  Knieff, 
the  former  a  native  of  Illinois  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Minnesota.  Mrs.  Busse  was  born' 
January  28,  1888.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Busse 
are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Edna,  born 
November  2  9,  1910. 


GEORGE  OVERLEE  (1908)  is  proprie- 
tor of  the  East  Side  Saloon  at  Tracy.  He 
is  a  native  of  the  Gopher  State  and  was 
born  in  Brown  county  January  19,  1876,  a 
son  of  John  and  Carrie  Overlee,  natives  of 
Norway.     They  came  to  the  United  States 


604 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


about  forty  years  ago  and  located  in  Brown 
county,  where  the  father  homesteaded  land. 
The  mother  is  dead  and  the  father  resides 
in  Lincoln  county,  Minnesota.  There  are 
four  children  in  the  family,  as  follows: 
Rena,  George,  Albert  and  Carl. 

George  resided  in  Brown  county  until 
eighteen  years  of  age  and  there  received 
his  schooling.  He  then  moved  to  Redwood 
county,  where  he  farmed  until  twenty-six 
years  of  age.  In  1903  he  purchased  a 
saloon  at  Revere,  which  he  conducted  four 
years,  going  from  there  to  Arco,  where  he 
conducted  a  saloon.  He  was  in  business 
at  Arco  six  months,  when  he  was  burned 
out.  On  March  21,  1908,  Mr.  Overlee 
came  to  Lyon  county  and  purchased  Peter- 
son Brothers'  saloon  at  Tracy,  known  as 
the  East.  Side  Saloon. 

At  Revere,  November  28,  1903,  Mr.  Over- 
lee was  married  to  Mary  Hendrickson,  a 
native  of  Cottonwood  county.  They  are 
the  parents  of  three  children,  Clarence. 
Myrtle  and  James. 


CLAUD  DAYTON  NELLIS  (1908)  is  a 
farmer  and  land  owner  residing  in  Lynd 
township.  He  is  a  native  of  Iowa  and  was 
born  in  Kossuth  county  July  23,  1880.  He 
is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Harriett  Nellis, 
early  residents  of  Kossuth  county.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  New  York  and  the 
mother  of  Canada. 

The  subject  of  this  review  received  his 
early  education  near  Whittemore,  Iowa. 
He  worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  until 
twenty  years  of  age,  and  after  that  farmed 
for  himself  in  Kossuth  county  until  he 
came  to  Lyon  county  in  1908.  In  1907 
Mr.  Nellis  purchased  the  northeast  quar- . 
t.er  of  section  35,  Lynd  township,  which  he 
still  owns  and  operates.  He  moved  to  this 
farm  in  February,  1908.  He  raises  Duroc- 
Jersey  hogs,  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Plymouth 
Rock  chickens. 

Mr.  Nellis  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  and  he  is  a  Modern  Woodman.  He 
is  a  stockholder  of  the  Farmers  Elevator 
Company  of  Marshall,  is  road  overseer,  and 
has  been  constable  in  Lynd  township  for 
two  years.  » 

On  March  22,  1905,  Mr.  Nellis  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Myrtle  Bixby,  a  daughter 
of  Mr.   and   Mrs.   A.   H.   Bixby,   of  Kossuth 


county,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Nellis  is  a  native  of 
Iowa  and  was  born  July  19,  1882.  Pre- 
vious to  her  marriage  she  taught  school 
for  seven  years  in  one  district.  Her  par- 
ents are  natives  of  Iowa.  The  father  died 
January  2  6,  1909;  the  mother  resides  at 
Spirit  Lake,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Nellis  has  three  brothers  and  five 
sisters  living:  Edward,  Emery,  Russell, 
Myrtle,  Maggie,  Kate,  Etta,  Olive.  Mrs. 
Nellis  has  three  brothers  and  four  sisters: 
Frank,  Warren,  Charles,  Cora,  Mabel,  Neva, 
Nellie. 


HENRY  DeVINCK  (1903),  a  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  of  Lyons  township,  was  born 
in  Belgium  March  22,  1862,  and  spent  the 
first  twenty-five  years  of  his  life  in  the 
land  of  his  nativity.  His  parents  were 
Henry  and  Mary  (Delobel)  DeVinck,  both 
of  whom  died  in  the  old  country.  Henry 
attended  school  and  grew  to  manhood  in 
Belgium  and  worked  out  at  farm  labor 
until  coming  to  the  United  States. 

He  located,  on  first  coming  to  this  coun- 
try, at  Attica,  Indiana,  near  which  place 
he  worked  as  a  farm  hand.  Upon  coming 
to  Lytm  county  in  1903,  he  purchased  a 
one-third  interest  in  24  0  acres  of  land  in 
Lyons  township,  where  he  still  resides. 
Besides  general  farming,  he  raises  and 
sells  horses  and  Duroc-Jersey  hogs.  Mr. 
DeVinck  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  and  is  director  of  school  district 
No.  2,  an  office  he  has  held  for  eight  years. 
At  Attica,  Indiana,  October  8,  1892,  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  Mr.  DeVinck  to 
Mary  Phillips,  a  native  of  France  and  a 
daughter  of  Fred  and  Annie  (Van  Cock) 
Phillips.  The  Phillips  family  came  to 
America  in  1889  and  settled  in  Chicago 
and  later  in  Attica,  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
DeVinck  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
three  children:  Mary,  born  July  8,  1893; 
Elizabeth,  born  June  17,  1896;  Flora,  born 
January  11,   1900. 


JOHN  STASSEN  (1891),  of  Lake  Marshall 
township,  was  born  in  Belgium  January 
20,  1868,  a  son  of  Louise  and  Elizabeth 
(Mulleneers)  Stassen.  John  received  his 
early  education  and  grew  to  manhood  in  the 
land  of  his  nativity.     He  also  served  three 


1  \  I  (^GRAPHICAL  HIST<  >RY. 


605 


ears  in  the  Belgian  army  and  resided  with 
his  parents  until  1891,  when  he  came  to 
America  with  them. 

The  family  moved  to  Marshall  that  year 
and  our  subject  was  employed  on  farms 
until  1896,  when  he  married  and  rented  land. 
In  1908  he  rented  the  240  acres  of  land  on 
section  28,  Lake  Marshall  township,  where 
he  now  resides.  In  addition  to  general 
farming,  Mr.  Stassen  engages  in  stock  rais- 
ing. 

Mr.  Stassen  was  married  at  Ghent  January 
26,  1896,  to  Helen  Paradis,  a  native  of 
Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stassen  are  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  named  children:  Al- 
bert, Laura,  Vadeline  and  Florence. 


ARTHUR  E.  ARNTSON  (1909)  is  an  at- 
torney-at-law  of  Minneota  and  a  graduate 
of  the  Law  Department  of  the  University  of 
Minnesota.  He  was  born  at  Cannon  Falls, 
Minnesota,  October  10,  1885.  In  1887  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Red  Wing,  Min- 
nesota, where  he  resided  until  1909.  While 
residing  in  that  city  our  subject  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  high  school  and  the  University 
of  Minnesota. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  Emanuel 
and  Xelia  (Reid)  Arntson,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Iowa  and  the  latter  of  Minnesota. 
They  reside  at  Red  Wing  and  are  the  par- 
ents of  five  children:  Arthur  E.,  Neal, 
Helen,  Evelyn  and  Florence. 

After  graduating  from  the  University,  our 
subject  was  engaged  three  years  in  his 
father's  real  estate  office,  having  charge  of 
the  law  and  collection  department.  In  1909 
he  came  to  Lyon  county  and  located  at  Min- 
neota, where  he  engaged  in  practice  with 
Bjorn  B.  and  A.  B.  Gislason.  The  firm  name 
is  Gislason,  Arntson  &  Gislason.  The  firm 
also  deals  in  real  estate  under  the  name  of 
the  Globe  Land  &  Loan  Company.  Our 
subject  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic, 
Elks,  Modern  Woodmen  and  Ancient  Order 
of  United  Workmen  lodges. 


BENTON  J.  COLE  (1896),  who  farms  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  35,  Amiret  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Winona  county,  Minnesota, 
January  12,  1883.  His  father,  James  H. 
Cole,  was  born  in  Hillsboro,  Wisconsin,  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1856,  and  was  married  to   Hannah 


Bryson,  a  native  of  Canada,  born  September 
5,  1853.    The  parents  now  live  in  Tracy. 

When  a  child  Benton  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Minnesota  and  the  family  located 
near  Currie,  Murray  county,  where  the  father 
purchased  land.  Benton  spent  his  youth  in 
that  county,  went  to  the  district  school,  and 
later  attended  high  school  at  Tracy.  In  1896 
his  father  bought  the  southeast  quarter  and 
the  south  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  35,  Amiret  township,  Lyon  county, 
and  the  family  moved  to  the  new  home. 
Benton  helped  on  the  home  farm  until  1907, 
when  he  rented  land  in  Redwood  county, 
and  there  he  lived  until  1912.  He  then 
rented  the  farm  of  his  father,  the  family 
having  moved  to  Tracy,  and  Benton  has 
since  conducted  the  farm. 

Mr.  Cole  was  married  April  4,  1906,  to 
Clara  M.  Larson.  Clara  Larson  was  born 
in  Lyon  county  January  26,  1883,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Hans  T.  and  Turi  (Gullickson) 
Larson,  natives  of  Norway.  They  came  to 
America  in  1869  and  both  died  in  Lyon 
county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole  two  children 
have  been  born:  Bernice  V.,  born  June  9, 
1907,  and  Helen  T.,  born  January  18,  1909. 

The  Coles  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  and  Mr.  Cole  is  a  member  of 
the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge. 


CHRIS  MORK  (1911)  farms  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  30,  Shelburne  township. 
He  was  bom  in  Lincoln  county,  South  Da- 
kota, November  19,  1876.  His  father,  Halvor 
Mork,  resides  near  Sioux  Falls;  his  mother, 
Ingre   (Ode)   Mork,  died  March  12,  1906. 

When  Chris  was  ten  years  old  the  family 
moved  to  Minnehaha  county,  South  Dakota. 
In  the  public  schools  of  East  Sioux  Falls 
he  secured  his  education  and  after  his  school 
days  he  assisted  his  father  with  the  work 
on  the  farm.  He  moved  to  Lyon  county  in 
February,  1911,  rented  the  200-acre  farm  of 
Gullick  Rogness,  and  has  since  been  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  own  account.  Mr.  Mork 
is  a  member  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran 
church  of  Florence. 

Gertrude  Nelson  became  the  wife  of  Chris 
Mork  at  Sioux  Falls  on  March  11,  1908.  She 
is  a  native  of  that  city  and  was  born  May 
3,  1888.  Mr.  and  Mrs  Mork  have  one  child, 
Alfred  Harold,  born  .June  23,  1909. 


606 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


OSCAR  J.  ANDERSON  (1910),  farmer  and 
renter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
21  in  the  township  of  Monroe,  is  a  native  of 
Sweden  and  has  made  his  home  in  the 
United  States  since  he  was  seventeen  years 
of  age. 

Our  subject  was  born  December  1,  1889. 
His  parents,  Anders  Anderson  and  Siverina 
(Bengtson)  Anderson,  are  still  living  in 
Sweden.  Oscar  received  his  education  in 
the  Swedish  common  schools.  In  June,  1906, 
the  boy  came  to  America  and  located  in 
Kankakee  county,  Illinois.  For  four  years 
that  was  his  home,  and  most  of  the  time  be 
found  employment  at  farm  labor.  It  was 
in  April,  1910,  that  Oscar  came  to  Lyon 
county,  where,  after  working  out  one  year, 
he  rented  the  place  where  he  now  resides. 

On  January  30,  1912,  in  Tracy.  Minnesota, 
occurred  the  ceremony  which  joined  Oscar 
Anderson  and  Mabel  Surprenant  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  matrimony.  Mrs.  Anderson  is  a 
native  of  St.  George,  Kankakee  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  was  born  December  24,  1892.  Mr. 
Anderson  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Luth- 
eran church. 


AXAL  L.  BLADHOLM  (1891)  is  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Bladholm  Brothers, 
proprietors  of  the  Marshall  Machine  Shops. 
He  was  born  in  Sweden  December  10,  1866, 
the  son  of  Frans  O.  and  Johanna  Bladholm. 

In  his  native  land  Axal  learned  the  ma- 
chinist's trade  and  when  twenty  years  of 
age  came  to  America  and  located  in  South 
Chicago.  He  worked  in  a  shop  there  eight 
months  and  then  took  a  position  as  ma- 
chinist in  the  shops  of  the  Pullman  Car  Com- 
pany. Two  years  later  he  accepted  a  posi- 
tion in  the  machine  shops  of  Frazer  &  Chal- 
mers and  was  employed  by  that  firm  until 
he  located,  in  Marshall  in  May,  1891.  He 
has  ever  since  conducted  a  machine  shop 
in  that  city,  part  of  the  time  in  partnership 
with  others  and  now  as  a  member  of  the 
firm   of  Bladholm  Brothers. 

In  1903  the  brothers  added  to  the  shop  a 
steel  and  concrete  bridge  building  depart- 
ment and  installed  heavy  machinery  for  that 
purpose.  They  do  heavy  forging  and  ma- 
chinery work  and  manufacture  a  boiler  feed 
pump  of  their  own  design.  They  have  a 
well  equipped  shop  for  the  kind  of  work 
they    do    and    both    brothers    are    first-class 


workmen.  They  construct  from  twelve  to 
seventeen  bridges  a  year,  among  others  they 
have  put  in  being  two  over  the  Redwood 
river  in  Marshall,  one  at  Minneota  over  the 
Yellow^  Medicine  river,  one  over  Three-Mile 
creek  between  Marshall  and  Ghent,  and  one 
in  Yellow  Medicine  county  over  the  river 
of  the  same  name.  Bladholm  Brothers  keep 
on  hand  a  stock  of  structural  steel  for  bridge 
work.  They  also  handle  the  Glyco  babbit 
metal,  being  agents  for  this  territory.  An- 
other important  device  they  have  recently 
begun  to  manufacture  is  a  boiler  safety  plug. 

For  two  years,  1903  to  1905,  Mr.  Blad- 
holm was  state  boiler  inspector,  with  head- 
quarters at  Marshall.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  and  Modern  Woodmen   lodges. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Anna  Pher- 
son  occurred  in  Marshall  July  15,  1897.  Mrs. 
Bladholm  was  born  in  Sweden  and  came  to 
the  United  States  when  eleven  years  of  age 
with  her  parents.  Before  her  marriage  she 
lived  with  her  parents,  John  and  Mary  Pher- 
son,  on  their  farm  four  miles  north  of  Mar- 
shall. Her  father  is  dead;  her  mother  now 
resides  in  Marshall.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blad- 
holm have  been  born  five  children,  named 
Myrtle,  Oscar,  Albin,  Clifford  and  Evelyn. 
All  the  children  were  born  in  Marshall. 


JOHN  P.LADHOLM  (1891)  is  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Marshall  Machine  Shops, 
which  is  engaged  in  several  enterprises, 
among  others  the  building  of  steel  and  con- 
crete bridges.  The  institution  is  the  leading 
one  of  the  kind  in  Lyon  county  and  Blad- 
holm Brothers,  the  proprietors,  do  an  enor- 
mous   business. 

John  Bladholm  is  a  native  of  Sweden  and 
was  bom  July  21,  1871.  His  father,  Frans 
O.  Bladholm,  still  resides  in  his  native  land. 
His  mother,  Johanna  Bladholm,  died  in  Swe- 
den when  John  was  only  seven  years  of 
age.  There  are  five  living  children  in  the 
family,  as  follows:  Emily,  of  Paxton,  Illi' 
nois;  Axal,  Herman  and  John,  of  Marshall; 
and  Agada,  of  Sweden. 

After  his  mother's  death  the  family  was 
broken  up  and  from  the  tender  age  of  seven 
years  John  Bladholm  had  his  own  way  to 
make.  He  came  to  America  at  the  age  of 
ten  years  and  made  his  home  with  an  uncle 
in  Chicago,  Peter  Thorell,  a  cabinet  maker 
bv   trade.      When    about   thirteen    years   old 


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BHHJKAl'lIH'AL   HISTORY. 


607 


he  took  employment  with  the  Pullman  Car 
Company  as  messenger  boy,  was  promoted 
■several  times,  and  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  company  until  1S91.  Three  years  after 
he  took  employment  with  the  company  he 
began  working  in  the  machine  shop  and 
learned  his  trade. 

During  the  last  few  years  of  his  employ- 
ment for  the  Pullman  Car  Company  Mr. 
Bladholm  and  his  brothers,  Axal  and  Her- 
man, and  Alfred  Stone  conducted  a  little 
experimental  machine  shop,  working  in  it 
during  the  evenings  and  making  designs, 
engines,  etc.  They  collected  a  good  deal  of 
machinery,  and  in  1891  they  decided  to  leave 
the  Pullman  Company  and  set  up  in  business 
for  themselves.  They  located  in  Marshall 
that  year  and  established  a  machine  shop, 
the  beginning  of  the  present  immense  busi- 
ness of  Bladholm  Brothers.  Five  years  after 
its  founding  the  other  partners  sold  to  Axal 
Bladholm,  and  our  subject  returned  to  Chi- 
cago and  for  the  next  six  years  was  again 
an  employe  of  the  Pullman  Car  Company, 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  time  being  in 
charge  of  the  machine  repair  and  blacksmith 
shops.  He  returned  to  Marshall  in  1902  and 
rebought  an  interest  in  the  machine  shop, 
which  in  the  meantime  had  been  conducted 
by  Axal  Bladholm,  and  the  firm  of  Bladholm 
Brothers   was   formed. 

In  1903  the  brothers  added  to  the  shop  a 
steel  and  concrete  bridge  building  depart- 
ment and  installed  heavy  machinery  for  that 
purpose.  They  do  heavy  forging  and  ma- 
chinery work  and  manufacture  a  boiler  feed 
pump  of  their  own  design.  They  have  a 
well  equipped  shop  for  the  kind  of  work 
they  do  and  both  brothers  are  first-class 
workmen.  They  construct  from  twelve  to 
seventeen  bridges  a  year,  among  others  they 
have  put  in  being  two  over  the  Redwood 
river  in  Marshall,  one  at  Minneota  over  the 
Yellow  Medicine  river,  one  over  Three-Mile 
creek  between  Marshall  and  Ghent,  and  one 
in  Yellow  Medicine  county  over  the  river  of 
the  same  name.  Bladholm  Brothers  keep  on 
hand  a  stock  of  structural  steel  for  bridge 
work.  They  also  handle  the  Glyco  babbit 
metal,  being  agents  for  this  territory.  An- 
other important  device  they  have  recently 
begun  to  manufacture  is  a  boiler  safety  plug. 

Mr.  Bladholm  was  married  in  Marshall 
June  3,  1892,  to  Sigrid  Johnson,  who  was 
also  born  in  Sweden  and  who  came  to  Amer- 


ica al  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  To  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  Bladholm  have  been  born  four  children, 
of  whom  the  following  three  are  living: 
Oscar,  Arthur  and  Grace.  One  child,  Albert, 
died  June  27,  1906. 


PATRICK  J.  McGUIGAN  (1906),  of  Mar- 
shall, was  born  in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  March  18, 
1874,  and  when  a  baby  of  eleven  months  his 
family  moved  to  Farley,  Iowa,  where  Patrick 
grew  to  manhood.  The  farm  on  which  the 
boy  spent  his  youth  was  taken  as  a  home- 
stead by  his  grandfather,  Laurence  Mc- 
Guigan,  who  located  in  that  country  in  1846, 
and  the  old  stone  house  built  by  the  grand- 
father is  still  standing  on  the  place. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  Patrick  left  the 
old  home  and  went  to  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and 
there  learned  the  plumbing  trade.  He  re- 
mained there  four  years  and  then  located 
in  Chicago  and  worked  at  his  trade  six 
years.  It  was  in  1906  that  our  subject  came 
to  Lyon  county.  He  made  his  residence 
in  Russell  four  years,  working  at  his  trade 
the  greater  part  of  the  year  and  running  a 
traction  engine  in  the  falls.  In  1910  he 
moved  to  Marshall  and  entered  the  employ 
of  Adams  &  Son,  plumbers.  He  was  with 
that  firm  until  January,  1912,  when  Mr. 
McGuigan  opened  a  shop  of  his  own,  and  he 
has  since  been  doing  plumbing  and  heating. 

Patrick  J.  McGuigan  is  a  son  of  Laurence 
and  Grace  (Bradley)  McGuigan,  natives  of 
Londery,  Ireland.  Patrick  is  the  only  child 
living,  and  his  parents  are  deceased. 


WALLACE  W.  CLARK  (1910)  is  a  com- 
paratively new  arrival  to  Lyon  county.  For 
the  past  two  years  he  has  farmed  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  34,  Stanley  township, 
and  engages  quite  extensively  in  the  rais- 
ing of  horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  Calhoun  county, 
Michigan,  October  17,  1877.  His  father, 
George  A.  Clark,  was  born  in  1846  and  died 
in  1893;  his  mother,  Juliette  (Jennings) 
Clark,  lives  at  Bolivar,  Missouri.  When  our 
subject  was  a  child  the  family  moved  to 
Missouri,  and  there  young  Clark  grew  up. 
He  attended  school  until  sixteen  years  of 
age.  Then  he  worked  on  his  father's  farm 
two  years,  on  farms  in  Kansas  three  years, 
at  the  same  occupation  in  Iowa  three  years, 


608 


HJOGRAPH1CAL  HISTORY. 


and  then  for  a  number  of  years  was  em- 
ployed as  a  coachman  in  Webster  City,  Iowa. 
In  1910  he  rented  the  Stanley  township  farm 
which  he  has  since  conducted. 

Alma  Segar  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Clark 
in  1903.  Her  father,  Benjamin  E.  Segar, 
died  February  19,  1912;  her  mother,  Maria 
Segar,  lives  in  Blairsburg,  Iowa.  Six  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark. 
Their  names  and  dates  of  births  are: 
Gladys,  born  November  20,  1904;  Bernice, 
born  December  22,  1905;  Robert,  born  July 
1,  1907;  Francis,  born  October  16,  1908; 
Hazel,  born  April  25,  1910;  Edman,  born 
July  11,  1911.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  church. 


HENRY  A.  TEUFEL  (1885)  is  a  clerk  in 
the  hardware  store  of  J.  H.  Carlaw  at  Bala- 
ton. He  is  a  native  of  Lyon  county  and 
was  born  in  Lyons  township  August  5,  1  ssr. . 
The  parents  of  our  subject  are  F.  W.  and 
Bertha  Teufel,  natives  of  Germany  who 
came  to  America  in  the  seventies.  In  the 
early  eighties  they  moved  to  Lyons  town- 
ship, where  they  still  reside.  They  are  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  as  follows:  Henry 
A.,  Ernest,  Lena,  Minnie,  Mary.  Gustav. 
Louise,  Erna  and  Eddie. 

Henry  Teufel  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Lyon's  township  and  at- 
tended the  country  schools.  In  1910  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  but  in  February  of  the 
following  year  he  entered  the  employ  of  J. 
H.  Carlaw  at  Balaton  as  clerk.  He  has  prac- 
tically had  charge  of  the  hardware  store 
since  that  date. 


IRA  W.  HEXDRICKSOX  (1911)  is  a 
new  arrival  to  Lyon  county.  He  farms 
240  acres  of  land  on  section  3,  Eidsvold 
township,  and  engages  in  breeding  and 
feeding  Duroc-.Iersey  hogs  quite  extensive- 
ly, having  on  hand  about  100  head  of 
thoroughbred  animals. 

Washington  county,  Iowa,  is  the  birth- 
place of  Mr.  Hendrickson  and  July  23, 
1878,  was  the  date  of  his  birth.  He  at- 
tended the  district  schools  of  his  native 
county  and  until  he  was  twenty-two  years 
of  age  lived  on  his  father's  farm.  Then 
he  started  in  business  for  himself,  farmed 
one   year   in    his   native  county,   and   came 


North,  to  Yellow  Medicine  county.  He 
farmed  rented  land  in  Norman  township 
of  that  county  nine  years  and  in  the  fall 
of  1911  rented  his  present  place  from  his 
father-in-law.  During  his  residence  in 
Yellow  Medicine  county  Mr.  Hendrickson 
served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

Mr.  Hendrickson  was  married  in  Mar- 
shall November  17,  1909,  to  Alma  Pearson. 
His  wife  was  born  in  1887  on  the  farm  on 
which  she  now  resides  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Swen  Pearson,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Eidsvold  township  and  now  a  resident 
of  Minneota. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Hendrickson  are  Aus- 
tin and  Isabelle  (Tindall)  Hendrickson 
They  were  born  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
moved  to  Washington  county,  Iowa,  in  the 
early  seventies,  and  still  live  on  a  farm 
there.  There  are  seven  children  in  the 
family,  named  as  follows:  Thomas,  an 
auctioneer  of  Columbus  Junction,  Iowa; 
Charles  and  George,  of  Louisa  county, 
Iowa;  Ira  W.,  of  this  biography;  lone,  of 
Little  Rock,  Arkansas;  Lettie  (Mrs.  Da- 
vid Owens),  of  Colorado;  Minnie  (Mrs. 
Edgar  Todd),  of  Louisa  county,  Iowa. 


AMOS  S.  MORGAN  (1901),  of  Lake 
Marshall  township,  was  born  in  Orleans 
county,  New  York,  June  7,  1857.  His  par- 
ents are  Courtland  and  Lois  (Colton)  Mor- 
gan, the  former  a  native  of  Connecticut 
and  the  latter  of  Massachusetts. 

At  eight  years  of  age  Amos  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Kankakee  county,  Illinois, 
where  the  father  purchased  land.  There 
our  subject  received  a  district  school  edu- 
cation and  later  attended  the  high  school 
of  Kankakee.  He  then  assisted  his  father 
with  the  farm  work,  worked  out  as  a  farm 
hand  falls,  and  was  employed  in  the  coal 
mines  of  Illinois  for  some  time. 

In  1901  Mr.  Morgan  came  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  with  his  brother,  James  O,  and  sis- 
ter, Grace,  purchased  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  30,  Lake  Marshall  township, 
and  he  has  since  made  his  home  there. 
The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge  and  he  is 
a  director  of  school  district  No.  7.  He  is 
unmarried. 


iJKMJKAl'IIK'Ali   HISTORY. 


609 


WALTER  PBARCY  (1906)  farms  240 
acres  of  land  on  section  19,  Lynd  town- 
ship. He  is  a  native  of  Benton  county, 
Indiana,  and  was  born  February  9,  1877. 
His  parents,  John  and  Carrie  (Walls) 
Pearcy,  were  born  in  Canada  and  located 
in  Indiana  in  1875. 

Walter  received  his  schooling  in  Indiana 
and  was  brought  up  on  a  farm.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  he  moved  to  Hum- 
boldt county,  Iowa,  and  until  his  marriage 
in  the  fall  of  1899  he  worked  at  farm 
labor.  Then  he  commenced  farming  for 
himself  and  was  so  engaged  in  Humboldt 
county  until  1906.  That  year  he  moved 
to  Lyon  county  and  rented  the  farm  on 
which  he  has  ever  since  lived.  He  con- 
ducts the  place  in  partnership  with  his 
brother,  William  Pearcy.  They  raise  Aber- 
deen Angus  cattle  and  Chester  White  hogs. 
Mr.  Pearcy  has  stock  in  the  Farmers  Ele- 
vator Company  of  Lynd. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Pearcy  to  Alma 
Plantz  occurred  in  Humboldt  county,  Iowa. 
August  30,  1899.  His  wife  was  born  in 
the  county  in  which  she  was  married  on 
September  16,  1880,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Sarah  (Sands)  Plantz.  Her 
lather  is  a  native  of  Michigan,  her  mother 
of  Illinois.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearcy:  Fern,  born  July 
17,  1900,  and  Helen,  born  January  20, 
1905. 


SORN  A.  ANDERSON  (1910)  has  been 
farming  in  Island  Lake  township  since 
1910,  in  which  year  he  moved  there  from 
South  Dakota  and  bought  the  northeast 
quarter  and  the  north  half  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  1.  He  is  success- 
fully farming  the  2  40  acres  and  is  devot- 
ing some  time  to  stock  raising. 

Our  subject's  parents  were  natives  of 
Norway.  Hans  and  Ronoge  (Hagen)  An- 
derson came  from  Norway  when  quite 
young  and  were  married  in  this  country. 
The  father  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and 
followed  that  occupation  many  years  in 
Mankato,  Minnesota.  Sorn  was  born  in 
that  city  July  9,  1876,  and  was  brought  up 
there  and  attended  school  until  the  age 
of  fifteen  years.  The  family  then  moved 
to  Kossuth  county,  Iowa,  where  the  father 


rented  land  and  became  a  farmer  and  later 
bought  eighty  acres. 

Sorn  was  at  home  with  his  parents  until 
1900;  then  he  went  to  Brown  county, 
South  Dakota,  bought  a  half  section  of 
land,  and  commenced  farming  for  himself. 
He  later  sold  160  acres  and  then  farmed 
his  remaining  quarter  until  1910,  in  which 
year  re  sold  out  and  came  to  Lyon  county. 
He  purchased  the  land  where  he  now  re- 
sides and  has  made  a  well-improved  prop- 
erty out  of  it. 

The  ceremony  which  united  Sorn  Ander- 
son and  Hannah  Quist  in  the  holy  bonds 
of  matrimony  was  performed  in  Nicollet 
county,  Minnesota,  February  12,  1903.  To 
this  union  three  children  were  born,  Olive, 
Victor  and  Throdore.  Mrs.  Anderson  was 
born  in  Nicollet  county  April  3,  1876,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nels  Quist. 


REV.  J.  H.  SLANEY  (1910),  pastor  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Cotton- 
wood since  1910,  was  born  in  Kenilworth, 
Warwickshire,  England,  May  2,  1856.  His 
parents,  Robert  Emery  and  Sarah  Ann 
(Wayman)  Slaney,  are  deceased.  The 
early  education  of  our  subject  was  ob- 
tained in  the  common  schools  of  the  dis- 
trict, and  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  he 
was  sent  to  the  Congregational  college  at 
Sheffield,  England,  from  which  the  young 
student  was  graduated  in  1882. 

Serving  five  years  as  a  lay  minister  in 
England  and  with  a  good  education  and  a 
season  of  practical  experience  for  assets, 
young  Slaney  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  where  he  served 
in  the  capacity  of  city  missionary  for  the 
next  four  years.  In  1891  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  First  Congregational  Church 
of  Morton,  Illinois,  where  he  was  ordained 
and  filled  the  pulpit  two  years.  The  Con- 
gregational Home  Missionary  Board  per- 
suaded him  to  again  take  up  missionary 
work,  and  Rev.  Slaney  again  entered  thaj; 
field,  which  received  most  of  his  attention 
until  1904.  During  that  time  he  spent  an- 
other year  in  Brooklyn  and  returned  to 
England  for  a  stay  of  a  year  and  a  half. 

Rev.  Slaney  had  by  this  time  decided  to 
devote  himself  to  ministerial  work,  and  in 
1903  took  charge  of  the  church  at  Fort 
Madison,   Iowa,   where  he  served  as  pastor 


610 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


and  from  which  place  he  also  supplied  sev- 
eral- of  the  surrounding  churches  until 
1906.  That  year  he  moved  to  Minneapolis 
and  under  the  Minneapolis  Presbytery  had 
charge  of  the  churches  at  Waverly  and 
Eden  Prairie.  In  October,  1910,  he  moved 
to  Cottonwood  and  has  since  been  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Rev.  Slaney's  marriage  to  Jennie  Coulton 
occurred  in  England  March  2,  1881.  Mrs. 
Slaney  was  born  in  England  July  14,  1854. 
To  this  union  one  child  has  been  born,  Al- 
fred Ploughton,  on  October  13,  1896. 


AUGUST  C.  PRECHEL  (1904)  rents  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  10,  Lucas 
township,  farms  very  successfully  240  acres, 
and  engages  in  the  raising  of  grade  cattle 
and  hogs  for  marketing. 

Christ  and  Bertha  Prechel,  parents  of 
our  subject,  both  now  living  in  Posen  town- 
ship, Yellow  Medicine  county,  were  born  in 
Germany  and  came  to  this  country  and  lo- 
cated in  Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota,  in 
1868,  where  they  resided  until  1900,  mov- 
ing to  their  present  home  that  year.  They 
had  fifteen  children,  twelve  of  whom  are 
living,  as  follows:  Augusta  (Mrs.  Charles 
Meyer),  of  Blue  Earth  county;  Paulina 
(Mrs.  Herman  Preuss),  of  Yellow  Medi- 
cine county;  Minnie  (Mrs.  Alfred  Radke), 
of  Crookston;  Henry,  of  St.  Paul;  August 
C,  of  this  review;  and  Fred,  Rudolph, 
Ernest,  Edward,  Bertha,  George  and 
Freida,  all  of  Posen  township. 

August  Prechel  was  born  in  Blue  Earth 
county,.  Minnesota,  June  4,  1883.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools 
and  resided  in  his  native  county  until  sev- 
enteen years  of  age.  During  the  last  two 
years  of  his  residence  in  Blue  Earth  county 
he  worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm  and 
for  a  neighbor,  and  after  the  family  moved 
to  Yellow  Medicine  county  in  1900  August 
continued  to  live  with  his  parents  the  next 
two  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  young 
"Prechel  started  out  for  himself  and  after 
working  out  two  years  he  came  to  Lyon 
county  and  continued  his  work  in  Lucas 
township  eighteen  months,  after  which  he 
rented  the  Eliason  farm  and  conducted  it 
five  years.  Mr.  Prechel  then  moved  to  the 
farm  he  now  runs  and  where  he  has  since 
resided. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
October  19,  1906,  at  Marshall  to  Constance 
Twedt,  a  native  of  Norway,  born  February 
24,  1889.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children:  Arvied,  born  February  4,  1908, 
and  Esther,  born  November  19,  1909.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Prechel  are  members  of  the  Eng- 
lish Lutheran  church  of  Cottonwood. 


LUCIEN  PILOTTE  (1899)  owns  and 
farms  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  2  6, 
Westerheim  township,  and  is  rated  among 
the  substantial  men  of  his  precinct.  He 
has  a  finely  improved  farm  and  is  a  suc- 
cessful stock  raiser,  making  a  specialty  of 
Percheron  and  Norman  horses,  Poland 
China  hogs  and  Shorthorn  cattle. 

Jacob  and  Restitude  (Proulx)  Pilotte 
were  the  parents  of  our  subject.  The 
father  was  born  in  France,  the  mother  in 
Quebec.  They  located  in  Kankakee  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  in  18  43  and  had  residence  there 
until  their  deaths.  The  father  died  in 
1880,  the  mother  in  1886. 

To  these  parents,  in  Kankakee  county, 
Illinois,  on  June  20,  1851,  Lucien  Pilotte 
was  born.  He  was  given  a  good  educa- 
tion, a  good  start  in  the  battle  of  life. 
Until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age  he  was  a 
student  in  the  common  schools  of  Kanka- 
kee county  and  Bourbonnais  College;  for 
two  years  he  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Iroquois  county;  for  three  years  he  was 
a  student  at  Notre  Dame  Academy,  of 
Notre  Dame,  Indiana,  taking  a  commercial 
course. 

After  securing  his  education  young  Pi- 
lotte engaged  in  farming  with  his  father  in 
Illinois  until  he  reached  his  majority.  Then 
he  purchased  an  eighty-acre  farm  in  Kan- 
kakee county  (which  was  later  increased  to 
a  quarter  section),  was  married,  and 
started  in  life  for  himself.  After  eight 
years  on  the  farm  Mr.  Pilotte  moved  to  the 
city  of  Kankakee.  He  served  six  months 
on  the  police  force  and  for  six  and  one- 
half  years  he  clerked  in  a  hardware  store. 
He  returned  to  the  farm,  conducted  it  one 
year,  and  then  sold  and  moved  to  Salix, 
Woodbury  county,  Iowa. 

Near  that  village  Mr.  Pilotte  bought  a 
quarter  section  farm,  which  he  conducted 
six  years.  During  his  residence  there  his 
place  was  struck  by  one  of  the  most  de- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


till 


struetive  cyclones  that  ever  visited  Iowa. 
Five  children  of  one  family  were  killed  and 
great  damage  was  done.  Mr.  Pilotte  lost 
most  of  his  buildings.  In  the  spring  of 
1899  the  subject  of  this  review  and  his 
family  came  to  Lyon  county  and  located  on 
the  farm  they  now  own — land  which  had 
been  purchased  the  fall  before.  On  that 
place  they  have  since  lived.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  church  of 
Ghent. 

Mr.  Pilotte  has  held  a  number  of  offices 
of  trust.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  city  of 
Kankakee  one  year,  and  for  three  years  he 
was  a  highway  commissioner  of  Kankakee 
county.  He  was  clerk  of  his  school  district 
in  Iowa  six  years,  and  for  three  years  he 
was  clerk  of  school  district  No.  44,  Lyon 
county. 

Louise  Savoie  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Pilotte  at  Sainte  Marie,  Illinois,  October  21, 
1872.  She  was  born  in  Kankakee  county 
August  15,  1853,  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Rosalie  (Beland)  Savoie.  Her  parents 
were  born  in  Quebec.  Her  mother  died  in 
19  06;  her  father,  who  is  now  eighty-four 
years  of  age,  resides  with  his  daughter. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pilotte  are 
as  follows:  Eveline  (Mrs.  Joseph  Leri- 
gier),  of  Sloan,  Iowa,  born  November  9, 
1875;  Herman,  of  Fairview  township,  born 
March  29,  1878;  Georgiana  (Mrs.  Levi 
Prairie),  of  Westerheim  township,  born 
July  25,  1879;  Joseph,  of  Sodus  township, 
born  July  11,  1881;  Alexina,  born  Septem- 
ber 9,  1889;  Paul,  born  April  22,  1894. 
The  two  last  named  reside  at  home. 


ANTON  PETERSON  (1895),  the  newly 
elected  constable  of  Shelburne  township,  is 
one.  of  the  successful  farmers  of  the  com- 
munity. He  lives  on  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  12,  Shelburne  township, 
which  he  has  rented  since  December,  1911. 
Mr.  Peterson  was  elected  constable  of  the 
township  in  March,  1912.       , 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Racine,  Wiscon- 
sin, April  22,  1882,  and  in  1895  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Lyon  county,  the  family 
first  locating  in  Coon  Creek  township. 
There  they  remained  only  one  year,  the 
father  buying  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 10,  Shelburne.      Anton  resided  on  the 


home  farm   until   recently,  when  he  rented 
the  quarter  where  he  is  now  living. 

Anton's  parents  are  Peter  Peterson  and 
Christina  (Nelson)  Peterson,  both  natives 
of  Denmark,  now  living  on  the  home  farm 
on  section  10.  There  were  four  children 
born  to  them,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Hans, 
of  Racine,  Wisconsin;  Lawrence,  at  home; 
Anton  and  Magdelina  (Mrs.  John  De 
Kiere),  of  Marshall. 

On  December  2,  1911,  Anton  was  mar- 
ried to  Elsie  Peske,  a  native  of  Germany 
who  came  to  the  United  States  with  her 
parents  when  thirteen  years  of  age.  Her 
father  is  Albert  Peske,  now  living  in  Shel- 
burne township. 

WILLIAM  DENNIS  CARNINE  (1906)  is 
a  young  Lyon  county  farmer  who  has  re- 
sided here  for  the  past  six  years.  He  is  a 
native  of  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  and 
was  born  April  29,  1879.  He  is  the  son 
of  Calvin  and  Sarah  (Chambers)  Carnine. 
His  father  died  when  William  was  fifteen 
years  of  age. 

Mr.  Carnine  attended  country  school  un- 
til sixteen  years  of  age.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  German  Evangelical  church  of  Clif- 
ton township  and  is  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  lodge  at  Dudley,  Minnesota. 
He  engages  extensively  in  stock  raising, 
making  a  specialty  of  Shorthorn  cattle  and 
Duroc-Jersey  hogs. 

At  Fonda,  Iowa,  on  September  27,  1904, 
Mr.  Carnine  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Lydia  M.  Cross,  a  daughter  of  August  and 
Marguerite  Cross,  of  Marshall.  To  this 
union  has  been  born  one  child,  Leona,  born 
May  14,  1905,  at  Fonda,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Carnine  rents  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  12,  Lake  Marshall  township,  and 
is  a  successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

THOMAS  H.  MURPHY  (1906)  is  the 
proprietor  of  the  Riverside  Hotel  at  Rus- 
sell. He  is  a  native  of  the  Gopher  State, 
and  was  born  in  Wabasha  county  August 
27,  1856.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Elizabeth  Murphy,  natives  of  Ireland  who 
came  to  the  United  States  when  young. 
They  settled  in  Wabasha  county  in  the 
early  sixties  and  moved  to  Redwood  county 
in  1881,  where  the  father  homesteaded  land 
in  Westline  township. 


612 


B I  ( )GK  A  I'll  I CAL  HISTORY. 


The  father  died  there;  the  mother  re- 
sides in  Cass  county,  Minnesota.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Thomas  and  William,  of  Russell;  Martha 
O'Connell,  of  Mitchell,  South  Dakota.  In 
early  days,  before  schools  were  organized, 
the  father  had  a  school  in  his  house  for 
two  years  in  Wabasha  county. 

In  1872  our  subject  moved  to  Redwood 
county  and  resided  on  his  father's  farm  un- 
til 1901.  After  his  father's  death  he  pur- 
chased the  place,  in  1896.  In  1901  he 
moved  to  Cass  county,  where  he  purchased 
a  farm  and  operated  it  five  years.  He 
still  owns  that  place. 

In  1906  Mr.  Murphy  came  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  located  on  a  farm  in  Coon  Creek 
township,  where  he  resided  until  the  spring 
of  1911.  Then  he  moved  to  Russell  and 
has  since  had  charge  of  the  Riverside  Ho- 
tel. He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  lodge 
While  a  resident  of  Redwood  county  Mr. 
Murphy  was  chairman  of  the  Township 
Board  of  Supervisors.  They  were  in  need 
of  another  school  in  his  district  and 
through  his  efforts  it  was  obtained  and  he 
was  a  member  of  its  board  for  several 
years. 

Mr.  Murphy  was  married  in  Vernon 
county,  Wisconsin,  February  27,  1889,  to 
Annie  O'Connell,  a  native  of  that  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murphy  are  the  parents  of  ten 
living  children:  John,  William,  Mary,  Ag- 
nes, Bernard,  Thomas,  Leo,  James,  Michael 
and  Clement.    Three  children  are  deceased. 


XELS  POLSOX  (1910)  is  a  farmer  of 
Custer  township  who  rents  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  34.  In  addition  to  gen- 
eral farming,  he  raises  Shorthorn  cattle  and 
Duroc-Jersey   swine. 

Mr.  Poison  was  born  in  Sweden  May  16, 
1865,  and  is  a  son  of  Per  and  Christine  (Lar- 
son) Poison,  both  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Our  subject  attended  the  common  school  in 
Sweden  until  fifteen  years  of  age  and  then 
worked  on  his  father's  farm  two  years.  About 
six  months  were  spent  by  the  lad  in  learn- 
ing the  carpenter's  trade,  but  he  discon- 
tinued that  occupation  to  return  to  farm 
labor,  which  occupied  his  time  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1887  Mr.  Poison  came  to 


America  and  located  in  Minneapolis,  work- 
ing on  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  two  years  and 
then  finding  employment  as  a  teamster  in 
the  city  and  working  there  three  years.  Mr. 
Poison  then  found  a  good  situation  with  the 
Wisconsin  Central  Railroad  and  for  sixteen 
years  was  in  the  service  of  that  company 
as  car  inspector,  with  headquarters  in  Min- 
neapolis. Desiring  to  return  to  country  life. 
Mr.  Poison  in  the  spring  of  1908  moved  to 
.Murray  county,  rented  land,  and  farmed 
two  years:  then  he  moved  to  Lyon  county 
and  rented  the  farm  he  now  operates. 

Our  subject  was  wedded  to  Marie  Ander- 
con  in  Minneapolis  January  18,  1890.  To 
this  union  the  following  children  have  been 
born:  Olga,  born  April  23,  1895;  Hydey, 
born  June  9.  1897;  Henning,  born  April  14, 
1900;  Donald,  born  March  28,  1906;  and 
Kenneth,  born  July  31,  1908.  Mr.  Poison  is 
a  native  of  Sweden  and  was  born  July  20. 
1868. 


HERMAN  P.  WEIDAUER  (1906)  is  one 
of  Grandview  township's  farmers.  He  was 
born  in  Germany  June  7,  1884,  and  is  a  son 
of  Frederick  and  Selma  (Los)  Weidauer. 
The  parents  are  both  living  in  Germany. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
early  education  in  the  Batherland,  and  he 
attended  school  until  fourteen  years  of  age. 
He  then  had  employment  in  a  weaving  fac- 
tory two  years  before  coming  to  America  in 
the  spring  of  1901.  That  year  Herman  and 
his  brother  Ernest  located  in  Calhoun  coun- 
ty, Iowa,  where  the  former  worked  out  at 
farm  labor  until  1906. 

It  was  in  January  of  the  latter  year  that 
Mr.  Weidauer  came  to  Lyon  county  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  Lake  Marshall  town- 
ship. After  one  year's  residence  there  he 
rented  land  and  farmed  in  Fairview  town- 
ship three  years,  from  there  moving  to  his 
present  farm,  the  south  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  13,  Grandview  town- 
ship. He  also  conducts  the  A.  L.  Rivard 
240-acre  farm  in  the  same  township.  Mr. 
Weidauer   raises   considerable   stock. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Emma 
Cross  occurred  in  1906,  at  Marshall.  Mrs. 
Weidauer  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and  was 
born  May  9,  1888,  a  daughter  of  August  and 
Margaret  (Stauter)  Cross.  To  this  union 
three   children    were   born:     Ravmond,    born 


BKXJKAIMIICAL  HISTOKY. 


613 


March  30,  1907;  Le  Roy,  born  July  8,  1909; 
and  Iola,  born  September  13,  1911.  Mrs. 
Wciclauer's  parents  are  living  and  reside  at 
Marshall. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Evangelical  church  of  Marshall  and  is  allied 
with  the  fraternal  order  of  Modern  Wood- 
men. 


FRED  CLAUSEN  (1906)  is  a  young  farm- 
er residing  near  Garvin  who  has  lived  in 
Lyon  county  for  the  past  six  years.  He 
is  a  native  of  Germany  and  was  born  at 
Alsan  September  6,  1884,  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Katherine  Clausen.  The  former  died  in 
1909:  the  latter  resides  with  her  son  near 
Garvin. 

Fred  Clausen  attended  school  in  Germany 
until  fourteen  years  of  age  and  then  worked 
out  as  "a  farm  hand  seven  years.  In  1906  he 
came  to  America  and  located  at  Russell, 
where  he  worked  a  year;  then  he  worked 
four  years  on  farms  near  Balaton.  In  the 
sniing  of  1911  he  rented  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  12,  Coon  Creek  township, 
which  he  operated  until  the  fall  of  that 
year,  when  he  moved  to  the  farm  in  Custer 
township. 

Mr.  Clausen  has  two  brothers  and  two 
sisters  living,  as  follows:  Chris  and  Mrs. 
Hans  Mork,  of  Russell;  Tom  and  Mrs.  An- 
drew Nelson,  of  Balaton. 


WILLIAM  VAN  SADELHOFF  (1905)  is 
the  manager  of  the  Van  Dusen  elevator  at 
Amiret.  He  is  a  native  Hollander  and  was 
born  November  3,  1882,  the  son  of  Theodore 
and  Mary  (Lucassen)  Van  Sadelhoff.  The 
former  is  deceased  and  the  latter  resides 
in  Holland.  William  is  the  only  one  of  the 
family  in  America.  Mr.  Van  Sadelhoff  came 
to  the  United  States  when  twenty-two  years 
of  age  and  settled  in  Martin  county,  South 
Dakota,  where  he  resided  one  year.  In  1905 
he  moved  to  Ghent,  where  he  engaged  one 
year  in  the  livery  business  and  one  year  as 
grain  buyer  for  the  Western  Elevator  Com- 
pany. He  then  located  in  Marshall  and 
worked  in  the  Leland  elevator  one  year.  In 
1908  he  moved  to  Amiret  and  has  since  been 
engaged  as  manager  of  the  Van  Dusen  Ele- 
vator  Company's   house   at  that   plac?.      Air 


Van  Sadelhoff  holds  membership  in  the  Cath- 
olic church  and   the  M.  W.  A.   lodge. 

Mr.  Van  Sadelhoff  was  married  at  Ghent 
June  9,  1909,  to  Adelle  Paradis,  a  native  of 
Lyon  county  and  a  daughter  of  Teles  Par- 
adis, an  early  settler  of  the  county. 


ERNEST  DE  KEYSER  (1909)  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  saloon  in  the  village  of  Ghent, 
where  he  has  resided  the  past  three  years. 
He  was  born  in  Belgium  July  22,  1878,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1904,  located 
in  South  Bend,  Indiana,  and  later  went  to 
Mishawaka,  where  he  worked  four  years  for 
the  Ball  Band  Rubber  Company.  In  1909 
Mr.  De  Keyser  moved  to  Ghent  and  pur- 
chased the  Matt  Van  Der  Hegen  saloon, 
which  he  has  since  conducted.  Mr.  De  Key- 
ser's  parents  are  both  dead.  He  has  two 
brothers  and  four  sisters  who  reside  in  Bel- 
gium, namely:  Fulma,  Gustaaf,  Alfred,  Irma, 
Laura   and   Alice. 

Ernest  De  Keyser  was  married  in  Misha- 
waka on  April  28,  1905,  to  Elizabeth  Van 
Hove,  a  native  of  Belgium  who  came  to  the 
United   States   in    1902. 


ERICK  O.  ERICKSON  (1911)  has,  since 
August  27,  1911,  been  proprietor  of  the  hotel 
and  livery  business  at  Florence  formerly 
owned  by  Andrew  Sanden.  Mr.  Erickson 
has  realized  the  necessity  of  making  the 
automobile  a  part  of  the  modern  livery  equip- 
ment. He  has  been  enjoying  a  liberal  pat- 
ronage in  both  lines  of  his  new  enterprise. 
In  addition  to  this  he  has  other  interests 
requiring  his  attention.  Mr.  Erickson  owns 
a  280-acre  farm  near  Tyler  and  a  share  in 
the  old  parental  farm  in  Union  county. 
South  Dakota.  He  is  also  a  shareholder  in 
the  Tyler  Lumber  Company,  of  Tyler,  Min- 
nesota. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Sweden  Novem- 
ber 18,  1877,  being  a  son  of  Olof  and  Chris- 
tine (Neilson)  Erickson.  The  former  is  de- 
ceased and  the  mother  resides  at  Tyler, 
Minnesota.  The  Ericksons  came  to  this 
country  when  Erick  was  twenty  months  old 
and  settled  in  Union  county,  South  Dakota, 
where  Erick  grew  up  and  where  he  attended 
school  until  seventeen  years  of  age.  He 
then  worked  on  the  home  farm  for  the  next 
five  ve:irs.      At    that   time  he  moved  to   Lin- 


614 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


coin  county,  locating  on  a  farm  near  Tyler 
in  September,  1904,  having  bought  the  land 
the  year  before.  There  he  farmed  until 
buying  the  hotel  and  livery  business  in 
Florence  and  moving  to  that  town.  The 
Norwegian  Lutheran  church  numbers  Mr. 
Erickson  among  its  membership,  and  he  is 
also  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodge. 

The  marriage  of  Erick  O.  Erickson  and 
Margret  Nelson  occurred  in  Union  county, 
South  Dakota,  December  22,  1902.  The 
bride  was  a  native  of  Norway  and  was  born 
November  22,  1877.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erickson 
are  the  parents  of  three  children.  They  are 
Oscar,  born  March  31,  1904;  Clara,  born  De- 
cember 14,  1905;  and  Ernest,  born  January 
10,   1909. 


ica  and  to  Lyon  "county.  For  several  years 
he  worked  for  farmers  in  the  vicinity"  of 
Ghent;  in  1906  he  was  married  and  com- 
menced farming  for  himself.  For  three  years 
he  fanned  on  section  10  and  moved  to  his 
present  location  in  1909,  buying  the  farm  at 
that  time.  He  has  made  a  success  of  his 
operations. 

Mr.  Tiemessen  was  married  in  Minneota 
March  7,  1905,  to  Johanna  Thompson,  a  na- 
tive of  Whitewater,  Wisconsin,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oscar  Thompson.  Her 
parents  were  born  in  Norway  and  now  re- 
side in  Minneota.  Mr  and  Mrs.  Tiemessen 
have  five  children,  Bernice  J.,  Irene  M., 
Agnes  O,  Catherine  L.  and  Lillian  T.  Mr. 
Tiemessen  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Minneota. 


HENRY  COMO  (1906),  of  Vallers  town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Delvina  (Bud- 
reau)  Como.  His  father  was  born  in  Canada 
and  his  mother  in  Illinois.  They  moved  to 
Kansas  and  engaged  in  farming  near  Clyde. 
They  came  to  Lyon  county  in  1906  and  are 
now  engaged  in  farming  near  Green  Valley. 

To  these  parents,  in  Clyde,  Kansas,  Henry 
Como  was  born  September  7,-  1888.  There 
he  secured  his  education  and  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm.  He  came  with  the  family 
to  Lyon  county  in  1906  and  lived  on  the 
farm  with  his  father  until  the  spring  of  the 
present  year.  Then  he  was  married  and 
engaged  in  farming  for  himself,  renting  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  28,  Vallers  town- 
ship. He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Florence  Paradis,  who  was  born  in  Lyon 
county  January  3,  1892,  was  married  to  Mr. 
Como  at  Marshall  on  April  16,  1912.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Lawrence  and  Josephine 
(Cheaubeneau)   Paradis,  of  Lucas  township. 


FRANCIS  J.  TIEMESSEN  (1898),  one  of 
the  younger  farmers  of  Nordland  township, 
has  charge  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 19.  He  was  born  in  Loo.  Holland,  No- 
vember 1,  1880,  a  son  of  John  W.  and  Jo- 
hanna  (Staring)    Tiemessen. 

Francis  secured  a  common  school  educa- 
tion in  his  native  land  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years,  in  1898,  he  came  to  Amer- 


JOSEPH  WALQUIST  (1911)  is  a  native 
of  Sweden  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
United  States  about  seven  years.  Since 
moving  to  Tracy  in  1911  he  has  been  in  the 
employ  of  Knut  Nylin,  merchant  tailor. 

Joseph  WTalquist  was  born  May  10,  1888. 
His  father,  John  A.  Walquist,  and  his  moth- 
er, Josephine  A.  (Saxburg)  Walquist,  are 
both  living  in  Wargarda,  Sweden.  Joseph 
learned  his  trade  in  Sweden  and  worked 
there  for  some  time  as  a  journeyman.  In 
1905  he  came  to  this  country  and  was  em- 
ployed two  years  on  a  farm  near  New  Lon 
don,  Minnesota.  Finding  employment  in 
Minneapolis,  he  worked  at  his  trade  four 
years,  moving  from  there  to  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  in  1911  locating  in  Tracy.  Mr. 
Walquist  is  a  member  of  the  K.  P.  lodge. 

Joseph  Walquist's  father,  John  A.  Wal- 
quist, is  a  sergeant  in  the  Swedish  army. 
Besides  Joseph  there  are  four  other  children 
in  the  family,  Ellen,  Iver,  Arved  and  Fritof. 


WILLIAM  SCHOEL  (1901)  is  a  farmer  of 
Lyons  township,  a  native  of  Muscatine  coun- 
ty, Iowa,  and  a  son  of  Chris  and  Florence 
(Markley)  Schoel,  the  former  a  native  of 
Germany  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  William 
was  born  January  18,  1883,  and  received  his 
schooling  and  grew  to  manhood  at  the  fam- 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY. 


615 


ily  home  in  Iowa.  When  nineteen  years  of 
age  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lyon 
county  and  resided  with  them  until  1908, 
when  he  moved  to  the  farm  he  now  operates, 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  8,  Lyons 
township.  He  has  been  engaged  in  thresh- 
ing five  years  in  connection  with  his  farm 
labors. 

Our  subject's  uncle,  William  C.  Schoel, 
resides  with  him.  The  latter  is  a  native 
German  and  was  born  in  1851.  He  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1871  and  located  at 
Rock  Island,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  a 
short  time.  Then  he  went  to  Scott  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  worked  at  farm  labor  until 
coming  to  Lyon  county  in   1901. 


erty,  came  to  Lyon  county,  and  purchased 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  30,  Sodus 
township,  in  September  of  that  year.  In 
February,  1910,  he  moved  here  and  took  up 
his  residence  on  the  place,  which  is  a  fine 
farm.  Mr.  Peterson  is  chairman  of  the 
school   board  of  district  No.  51. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  married  in  Wisconsin 
September  24,  1902,  to  Jennie  E.  Whinnery, 
a  native  of  Dunn  county.  She  was  born 
June  2,  1881,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Matilda  (Smith)  Whinnery,  the  former 
a  native  of  Iowa  and  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  are  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children:  Jessie  A., 
born  November  29,  1903;  Lois  I.,  born  Sep- 
tember 2,  1907;  Edna  L.,  born  May  27,  1911. 


FRANK  E.  FULLER  (1906),  of  Rock  Lake 
township,  is  a  recent  addition  to  the  farming 
population  of  Lyon  county.  He  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Clara  (McNeil)  Fuller,  residents 
of  Sodus  township.  His  father  was  born 
in  Indiana,  his  mother  in  Ohio.  There  are 
two  other  children  in  the  family,  Floy,  a 
school  teacher  of  Balaton,  and  Edith,  of  the 
same   village. 

Frank  Fuller  was  born  in  Benton  county, 
Indiana,  February  9,  1887,  and  in  that  county 
he  resided  until  nineteen  years  of  age.  He 
attended  school  until  fifteen  years  old  and 
thereafter  worked  on  his  father's  farm.  He 
came  with  the  family  to  Lyon  county  in 
1906  and  until  his  marriage  six  years  later 
worked  for  his  father.  Then  he  rented  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  20,  Rock  Lake 
township,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
farming  for  himself. 

The  date  of  Mr.  Fuller's  marriage  was 
January  3,  1912,  and  occurred  at  Watseka, 
Illinois.  His  bride,  Margaret  Collins,  was 
born  at  Wellington,  Illinois,  July  6,  1887. 


ALBERT  E.  PETERSON  (1910),  of  Sodus 
township,  was  born  in  Dunn  county,  Wis- 
consin, January  13,  1877,  a  son  of  Adolph 
and  Gunild  (Christopher)  Peterson,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Norway  and  the  latter  of 
Wisconsin.  Albert  resided  at  home  until 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  when  he  married 
and  purchased  a  quarter  section  of  land 
near  Cedar  Falls,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
farmed    until    1909. 

That    year    he    sold    his    Wisconsin    prop- 


CHRIS  NELSON  (1908),  proprietor  of  the 
Garvin  meat  market,  was  born  in  Denmark 
December  29,  1877.  In  the  old  country  he 
worked  at  the  brick  mason's  and  butcher's 
trades  and  in  1901  came  to  America.  He 
settled  in  Redwood  county  and  for  two  or 
three  years  worked  as  a  farm  laborer  and 
in  a  livery  stable  at  Milroy. 

Mr.  Nelson  went  to  Lake  Shetek  in  1905 
and  for  the  next  three  years  worked  in  a 
hotel.  He  located  in  Garvin  in  1908  and  for 
several  years  worked  as  a  mason  and  butch- 
er. He  bought  the  meat  market  in  March, 
1911.  Mr.  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutheran  church  and  the  M.  W.  A. 
lodge. 

Anders  and  Agnes  Marie  Nelson,  the  par- 
ents of  Chris  Nelson,  reside  in  Denmark. 
Chris  is  the  only  one  in  America  of  a  family 
of  nine  children.  The  other  children  are 
Inger,  Nels  O,  Agnes,  Maries,  Edgar,  Chris- 
tian, Karen  and  Senna. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  married  at  Tracy  Sep- 
tember 13,  1911,  to  Emma  M.  Nelson.  She 
was  born  in  Lyon  county  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  one  of  the  early  settlers,  Thomas  Nel- 
son, who  lives  near  Garvin. 


GROVER  C.  WHITLATCH  (1910)  is  a 
farmer  of  Monroe  township,  renting  170 
acres,  the  northeast  quarter  of  section   2. 

.Mr.  Whitlatch  was  born  in  Marion  county. 
Iowa,  March  30,  1885,  and  lived  in  that 
county  until  1910.  He  was  educated  in  the 
country    schools    of    his    district     and     was 


616 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


brought  up  on  the  home  farm.  After  he 
had  reached  young  manhood  he  divided  his 
time  between  the  home  farm  and  helping 
neighbors.  For  two  years  he  had  charge  of 
his    father's    place. 

In  1910  Mr.  Whitlatch  came  to  Lyon  coun- 
ty and  has  since  farmed  for  himself  on 
rented  land.  He  moved  to  the  place  he 
now  farms  in  the  spring  of  1912.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  of  Tracy. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Whitlatch  and  Elma 
Phelps  took  place  in  Marshall  January  21, 
1911.  To  this  union  one  child  has  been 
born,  Maria  Elizabeth,  the  date  of  her  birth 
being  February  22,  1912.  Mrs.  Whitlatch 
was  born  in  Marion  county,  Iowa,  January 
20,  1890. 

Mr.  Whitlatch's  parents  live  in  Marion 
county.  Iowa.  His  father,  R.  J.  Whitlatch. 
was  born  in  that  county,  and  his  mother, 
Emma  (Nickell)  Whitlatch,  was  born  in  Mon- 
roe  county,  Iowa. 


HARRY  E.  CARSTENS  (1893)  is  the  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  E.  H.  Carstens  &  Son, 
general  merchants  of  Taunton.  He  is  a 
native  of  Tyler,  Minnesota,  and  was  born 
March  6,  1888.  When  five  years  of  age. 
Henry  accompanied  his  parents  to  Taunton, 
where  he  attended  school,  later  entering 
his  father's  store  as  clerk.  In  1908  he  was 
admitted  as  a  partner,  the  firm  name  being 
changed  to  E.  H.  Carstens  &  Son.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Taunton  Fire  Department. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  E.  H.  and 
Minnie  (Lopine)  Carstens,  both  of  whom  are 
living.  They  are  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing named  seven  children:  Mary  (Mrs.  N. 
A.  Rudning),  of  Bellingham,  Minnesota; 
Paul  and  Ida  (Mrs.  H.  J.  Prelwitz ,  of  Bel- 
lingham: William  F.,  of  Altamont,  South 
Dakota;  Henry,  of  Little  Falls,  Washington; 
.Mabel,  a  school  teacher. 


3 


°* 


V 


DEC  10    193 


i