USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 22
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stock, arriving at the appointed place four or five days before the return of the father. At that time there was only one house at Rochester-a little 14×20 feet log cabin, which served the purpose of store, hotel, saloon, etc. When the father returned he told them that he had looked over Meeker county and had decided to locate here. They then started north, crossing the river at Monti- cello on the 4th of July, having to swim the stock, finally arriving and taking up land in this county, as above stated. Mr. Flynn at once began improvements and remained upon the farm until the time of his death, in June, 1859. The family remained there until the time of the Indian outbreak, at which time the women folks went to Clearwater, where they remained a month or so. The boys remained here or returned immediately to get in their erop (for it was harvest time), and participate in the action against the Indians. Their house was not molested by the redskins, but served as a headquarters for all of the friends and neighbors south and west of them.
John Flynn was a native of County Wa- terford, Ireland, born in 1805, and was a gardener by profession in the old country. About the year 1836 he emigrated to Amer- ica and lived for some time at Buffalo, N. Y., whence he removed to Chicago. In the lat- ter city he married Miss Ann Lynch. From there he moved to Elgin, Ill., where he set- tled on a farm. Ile afterward made several removals previous to coming here, and wasat one time engaged in contracting on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad, in Indi- ana, just before starting for this locality.
ELS ELOFSON is one of the pioneers of Swede Grove township. Ile is a son of Elofson and Bertha Anderson, and was born in Sweden on the 14th of June,
1834. He came to the United States with his mother in 1857, coming to Meeker county, Minn., direct, and filed a claim on land on section 33. He later sold that place and now owns 240 acres on seetions 26 and 27, where he now lives. On the 31st of August, 1861, he was married to Miss Ellen Eckbom, a daughter of Andrew and Anna Eekbom, who was born in Sweden August 20, 1841. Their union has been blessed with the following children-Edward N., born October 9, 1862 ; Andrew N., born March 21, 1864; William, born April 11. 1866 ; Betsy, born May 16, 1868; Anna, born December 26, 1869; Alice Bertha, born January 18, 1876, and Fred, born November 18, 1880. Edward is in business at Grove City ; An- drew N. is foreman in a store at Paynesville ; and Betsy is a dressmaker at Litchfield. The other children are at home. Mr. Elofson learned the carpenter's trade before he left his native land. The first work he did in the United States was in that line, finishing a house for a Mr. Yates in the fall of 1857. Being unable to speak English, Mr. Elofson was made to understand what was wanted by signs, and when the job was finished he received his pay in flour, and was perfectly satisfied.
The following spring he had hard work to find employment, but finally about six miles below St. l'anl, he got a job of digging a cel- lar, laving the wall and foundation-his first mason work-and building the house. After finishing this he went to Carver and took charge of a widow's farm for about a year and a half. when he again returned to his claim, but soon went back to Carver and for a few months was engaged in a furniture shop. After his marriage he returned to his claim and his mother, his brother, Peter, and sister, Betsy, lived with him.
Mr. Elofson took an active part in the Indian warfare and was present through all the Indian troubles. On the 17th of August,
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1862, a meeting of some of the settlers was held at Mr. Elofson's house for the purpose of raising three men to fill a draft, which had been made on the town of Swede Grove. At about ten o'clock in the morning his neiglibor Monson's children came and informed them that the Indians were about and they were afraid to stay there. Upon learning this Mr. Monson and Swan Nelson went over to see what was the trouble and met the Indians, who were mounted, on the way. One of the red skins reached down and caught Nelson by the whiskers and pointed to the east, but he did not understand what they meant. They soon arrived at Elofson's and the latter found that he was acquainted with several of the party. The Indians would not talk English but stated that they were on their way to the " Big Woods " for the purpose of killing some Chippewas, that had been kill- ing the whites. They then rode off and soon met an aunt of Mr. Elofson's and frightened her by brandishing their knives, but offered no violence. After the murder of the Jones and Baker families the news of the outbreak spread very rapidly, and in the evening Mr. Elofson and Nels Hanson went to the seene of the murder where others had gathered before their arrival. There they learned the details of the affair and were told to come back the next morning and help bury the dead, which they did. While they were there nine Indians came in sight and several shots were exchanged, but no one was hurt. Mr. Elofson then returned to his home and helped to start his own and all neighboring families for Lake Ripley (now Litehfield); while he with a couple of others awaited developments. On the 22d they saw Indians at a distance in pursuit of whites and decided that it was time for them to go to some place of safety. Mr. Elofson learned that his family had gone from Lake Ripley to Forest City, then Clearwater, and then St. Paul, and knowing they were safe he returned to
Forest City and participated in the organiza- tion of the " Home Guards." Mr. Elofson was also at Forest City at the time it was attacked by the Indians, and took an active part in the defense. Mr. Elofson remained at Forest City until October, when, he in company with others, started out in search of stock and found considerable of it. All of the houses in Grove City had been burned except two. Not having heard from his wife and child since the beginning of the outbreak, and not knowing where they were, he went to St. Paul to look them up. There he met a friend who informed him that they had gone to his wife's parents at Carver, whither he went, and remained until the fol- lowing spring. He then worked at carpen- ter work until August, when he removed to Anoka. In February, 1864, he rented the farm where Litchfield is now located, and re- mained there until fall, when he bought a house at Forest City, and lived there until the following spring, then returned to his farm, and has since made this his home. In January, 1870, he went to Sweden, and returned the following June, bringing 300 emigrants with him ; he was the first post- master in Swede Grove township and held the office for seven years. From 1872 to 1876 he was in the agricultural implement business. He also spent about five months in the employ of the map publishing house of Warner & Foote. Mr. Elofson is a demo- crat in politieal matters, and has taken an active interest in all matters of a public nature. IIe has held various offices, inelnd- ing those of coroner, chairman of supervisors, school elerk, etc.
- IMOTHY DUNN, one of the earliest settlers of Meeker county, made a pre- emption claim on a part of section 3, Darwin township, in July, 1856, and upon that same piece of land makes his home at the present.
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He was a native of County Tipperary, Ire- land, who had come to the free shores of America in 1847, landing at New York. After a few days spent in the metropolis of the western world, he went up the Hudson river to Rondout, New York, but a few weeks later came westward and settled at Milwaukee, Wis., where he labored for five years. About that time the gold excitement in California was at its height, and Mr. Dunn, then a young and vigorous man, started for that land of the sunset and passed three years of his life in that part of our country.
Returning to the "States," as it was termed in those days, Mr. Dunn then came to Meeker county, as stated above. He was one of the first settlers of Darwin township, and, it is believed, plowed the first furrow in that part of the county. Ilis boy, Edmund, who died in 1862, was the first death in the township. The first season that Mr. Dunn was here he planted some potatoes, but says that the grasshoppers took them about as fast as they showed above the ground.
In August, 1862, Mr. Dunn was assisting in stacking grain at the Widow Powers' place, when he heard of the cowardly mur- ders at Acton and the first news of the Indian outbreak. Leaving at once, he found, on reaching his own place, that a notice was fastened upon the door of his cabin, warning him of his danger, and that the Indians were up for mischief. He ac- cordingly went to Forest City, and from there to Kingston, where he remained some three weeks. Going on, finally, to Minne- apolis, he there remained imtil October fol- lowing, when he returned to his farm. Ile found everything destroyed here, and had to commence forthwith to rebuild his place as from the very beginning.
Mr. Dunn was married July 4, 1861, to Miss Mary A. Deavey, who became the mother of nine children, all of whom are
dead but two. The family are devotedly attached to the Roman Catholic Church. and fulfili their proper duties. In polities Mr. Dunn is a steady, warm-hearted democrat, and a good citizen.
OPHIA C. PRATT is postmistress at Greenleaf village. and also carries an extensive stock of general merchandise. She- is a native of Otsego county, N. Y. After receiving a thorough education, attending school in New York and Canada, she be- gan teaching school and followed that pro- fession for some time in Canada. On the 17th of September, 1859, she came to Meeker county, Minn., with her sister, Eliza, the father having arrived here on the 6th of June, 1859, they being among the early settlers, and she resumed her vocation as a teacher in her new home. She was one of the first teachers in the county, having held one term at the house of Mr. Cross, at Cedar Mills, as early as 1860. She was paid by subscription and " boarded round." When the Indian outbreak occurred she was teaching school at Greenleaf village. At an early day Miss Pratt clerked for W. II. Greenleaf. On November 30, 1886, Miss Pratt was ap- pointed postmistress at Greenleaf village, the office having become vacant through the resignation of her brother Ira, and since that time she has retained the position to the entire satisfaction of all the patrons of the office. Miss Pratt's connection with the business in- terests of Greenleaf has been an active one, and she is prominently identified with the history of the southern part of the county.
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ANIEL FLYNN, of Litchfield, is a son of John Flynn, who has already been mentioned in this department. Daniel is a native of Elgin, III., born May 18, 1843,
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and came to Meeker county, with his parents, in 1856, when still a boy. He remained principally with the family until 1873. During the Indian troubles the family was taken to Clearwater, but Daniel, with others, remained to fight the redskins. In 1873, he rented ont the old homestead and came to Litchfield. The following year, in company with his brother, Michael J., he engaged in the lumber trade and in the winter of 1875-6, they took up agricultural implements. Later they sold out their lumber business to W. H. Greenleaf. In 1879 the firm purchased the Butler elevator, and since that time have carried on a very extensive business in grain and farm machinery. During the season of 1887 they handled over 175,000 bushels of wheat alone. In 1884 Mr. Flinn was elected sheriff of Meeker county, and held the office for three years. Ile has filled various other offices and was for several years one of the village aldermen, and has always taken an active interest in all matters affecting the welfare of his town or county.
Mr. Flynn was united in marriage, Decem- ber 25, 1874, with Miss Mary A. MeNamara, a native of Jefferson City, Mo. By this union there have been born a family of eight children, whose names are respectively- Jolın Arthur, Daniel, Thomas, Michael, Francis, Louise, Mary and Elizabeth.
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LE AMUNDSON, a pioneer of Meeker county, who is now a resident of sec- tion 29, Litchfield township, is a native of Norway, born April 9, 1823, and a son of Amund and Bertha Christophdatter Olson, both of whom are dead. Ole came to Amer- ica in 1855, and after living for two years in Rock county, Wis., came to Meeker county, Minn., arriving here in July, 1857. He first selected a timber claim on section 25, Acton
township, and he and Nels Danielson and Amos Nelson Fosen proved up on their land together and then divided it, he retaining one forty-acre traet in the timber. and three forties on section 29, in what is now Liteli- field township. After the close of the war he took an eighty-aere homestead, and five years later built the house on section 29, where he now lives.
On the 10th of October, 1860, he was mar- ried to Oline Marie Syvertsdatter, who was born in Norway on the 5th of February, 1832, and who died on the 27th of August, 1883. She bore him seven children-Albert, born July 30, 1861; Betse, born Jannary +, 1863; Syvert, born October 20, 1864, died October 6, 1865; Syvert, born March 21, 1866: Johanne Marie, born Angust 9, 1869; Carl, born September 3, 1871 ; and Olaven, born October 3, 1873.
At the time of the Indian ontbreak Mr. Amundson was living on his original claim. Hle received the news of the beginning of the massacre from Mrs. Baker, widow of one of the murdered men, and another woman, who came to his house on Sunday, August 17, 1862. After assisting in the burial of the victims, he removed his family to Forest City, and assisted in building the stockade, living in the meanwhile in a house just outside of it. When the town was so suddenly attacked by the Indians, he lost no time in getting his family into the fort for refuge. When the danger seemed to have passed, he and several others went to Ever Jackson's place to cradle wheat, taking with them Mrs. Ever Jackson and Mrs. llelena Danielson, to keep house for them. They cradled wheat on one Saturday, and on Sunday went out and found the cattle, which had strayed off, and drove them into the yards. That night they noticed that the dogs were in a state of alarm all night, and it became evident that Indians were prowl- ing around. The next morning Andrew
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Olson and Nels Danielson went over to the corrals to salt the cattle, while Mr. Amund- son and Burger Anderson were engaged in grinding their cradles. Presently they heard five shots fired, and taking the two women with them, started to run for their lives. Finding that the women coukl not hold ont, they secreted them in a thicket and then went on to Forest City. The next morning they returned with a squad of men and found the women still safely hid, but Olson had been killed and scalped. They buried him on the spot, but his remains were subsequently interred in the Ness cemetery.
In the spring, after the ontbreak, Mr. Amundson moved his family back to his farm. Ile has met with three disasters since, having his crops destroyed once by a hailstorm, and twice by the grasshoppers ; but his untiring energy has enabled him to overcome all, and he now has a splendid farm of over 200 acres. His family are members of the Ness Norwegian Lutheran church, and he is sexton of the cemetery. It may be of interest to state in this connec- tion, that the State monument over the first five massacre victims is located in this burial ground.
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RIN B. VOSE, the present township 6 clerk of Union Grove township, is an enterprising and respected farmer residing on section 22. Mr. Vose was born in Waldo county, Maine, on January 28, 1840, and is a son of Edwin and Nancy J. (Custis) Vose. His mother died when he was eight years old, and for two years he lived with Daniel HIeriman, near Frankfort, Maine. He then went to Montville and lived with Samuel Dodge for four years, after which for eight- een months he worked for Ames Sprawl. He then went to Boston, Mass., where he was apprenticed to George Robinson, to |
learn the carpenter's trade, remaining with him three years. He then worked at his trade for two years, when he had a serious fall while working on an ice house at Lin- field, Mass., which laid him up for six months. When he had recovered sufficiently from his injuries he found employment driv- ing the horse cars between Chelsea and Bos- ton, which he followed for a year and a half. He then enlisted in Company H, Fiftieth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, for nine months' service, and was mustered in on the 29th of September, 1862. After the expiration of his term of service he was mus- tered out on the 24th of August, 1863. IIe then went back to the horse cars, and served as condnetor on the line between Roxbury and Boston for two years and a half. At the end of that time he came to Minnesota, and for one summer stopped at St. Joseph, Stearns county. In the fall of 1866 he came to Meeker county, and took a homestead on section 22, Union Grove township, and soon afterward spent two and a half months in the pineries. Ile then settled on his homestead, building a log cabin, but two months later took his family to St. Joseph, Stearns county, and remained there four months. Ile then settled again upon his homestead and has since lived here, with the exception of one year spent in California.
Mr. Vose was married on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1864, to Miss Sarah F. Merrill, a daughter of John and Mary (Wilson) Merrill, who was born April 2, 1848. Their marriage has been blessed with one child-Bessie Lynn Vose, who was born September 17, 1881. Mrs. Vose lost one brother, Charles F., in the first battle of Bull Run. She has three sisters living in Minnesota, and one in Maine, besides one brother in Maine and one in Ohio. Mr Vose lost one brother, Edwin, in the battle at Petersburg.
Mr. Vose has taken an active interest in public affairs, and has been closely identified
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with official business of the township. Ile has held various ofliees, including the follow- ing : supervisor, one year; constable, eight years ; school clerk ten years, and town clerk since 1884.
J AMES PETER BERG, of Acton township, is a native of Denmark, and was born on the 29th of December, 1844. Ilis parents were Hans Peter and Mary Berg ; the father died in Denmark in 1870 and the mother is still living in his native land. James Peter came to the United States in 1865, and first stopped at Chicago, where he was employed in a lumber yard for several weeks. Hle then went to Dakota county, Minn. where he remained until the spring of 1867, and then settled in Acton township, Meeker county, having previous to this time taken a homestead on section 34, in that township, where he still lives. Ile was a poor man when he came to America, in fact was almost penniless, but by thrift and economy he has accumulated a fine property. IIe now has 172 acres of land and a great deal of it is under a high state of cultivation. Ile has excellent farm buildlings, an abundance of farm machinery, and has considerable valuable stock gathered about him.
Mr. Berg was married on the 23d of October, 1869, to Miss IJelena Sophia Maria Thompson, a native of Denmark, born April 10, 1850. She came to Meeker county, in 1869, with Nels K. Brown and worked for different parties until her marriage. Her parents came to the United States in 1877 and are now living in Big Stone county, Minn. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Berg has been blessed with the following named children : Hansina Maria, born October 12, 1870; Thomas, born March 27, 1873; Karo- line, born June 13, 1875; Jennie Sophia, born February 13, 1878 ; Ilans Peter, born
June 15, 1880 ; Dagmar Anneta, born Febru- ary 13, 1883; and Rose Marinda, born August 15, 1885. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. In political matters, Mr. Berg acts independent of party lines or party ties.
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R EUBEN S. HERSHEY, proprietor of the "Fairview Stoek and Dairy Farm," in Greenleaf township, is a lineal descendant of the Swiss Mennonites of that name who first settled in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1719. Reuben IIershey was born in Lancaster county, and was reared on the farm with his parents, Martin and Elizabeth Ilershey. After reaeliing manhood he was engaged for a time in the forwarding and commission business, and in 1872 he came to Meeker county, Minn., and bought his present farm property in Greenleaf town- ship. In 1873 he purchased the James H. Morris interest in the Litchfield flouring mills, retaining the interest about three years, remodeling the mill and giving it a reputation second to none in this part of the State. After his retirement from the milling business, he began devoting all his time, energy and talents to the stock and dairy business and the improvement of his beautiful farm home. The farm consists of about 1,000 acres, but a goodly portion is tenanted, Mr. Ilershey's attention being for the most part given to his stock and dairy interests. Ile operates a dairy on the place, the butter of which always commands an advance in price over the best creamery but- ter generally on the market. Mr. Hershey has in the past suffered some heavy losses through grasshopper ravages and hailstorms, vet he has taken but few backward steps, and to-day " Fairview " is justly regarded as one of the most beautiful and most valuable farms in this portion of Minnesota.
Peter Johnson
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MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
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OHN ESBJORNSSON is one of the most prominent lumber merchants, and is also one of the first settlers of Litchfield. IIe arrived at Litchfield on the 28th of June, 1869, coming as far as Smith Lake, then the end of the railroad, on a train, and walking from there to Litchfield. At that time the site of the village only contained one black- smith shop, and the site of the present depot was covered with a wheatfield.
In August, 1869, in company with C. Peter- son, he engaged in the Inmber trade, start- ing the first lumber yard in the village. The following winter the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Esbjornsson engaged in the wheat trade. This he followed until the fall of 1887. In 1876 he bought out S. W. Leavitt's lumber yard, and has since continued m that busi- ness, handling sash, doors, blinds and every- thing pertaining to that line of trade. Mr. Esbjornsson has taken an active interest in public matters, has been elected alderman a number of times, and at present is the mayor of the village, having been elected to that position in the spring of 1888.
Mr. Esbjornsson is a native of Sweden, where he was born January 30, 1845. His younger days were spent upon a farm, and his earlier education was that afforded by common schools, but when he was twenty- two he took a course in an agricultural col- lege. Shortly after this he decided to come to America, and from that time until his emi- gration, in 1869, he devoted his time to edu- cating himself in the English language. IIe was married in 1879 to Miss Enreca A. Ro- senquist, of Meeker county.
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OHN A. QUICK, one of the energetic citizens of Collinwood township, is engaged in carrying on farming operations on lot 5, section 20. He is the son of Elijah and Phobe (Clark) Quick, and was born
in Grayson county, Ky .. August 24, 1838, but when he was about a year old his parents emigrated to Perry. county, Ind., where they died. Our subject worked at home on his father's farm, and his educational facili- ties were extremely limited. He obtained but five months' attendance upon a subscrip- tion school, but diligent study and an extended course of reading have given him an excellent education, which is altogether self-acquired. On attaining his majority he went back to Kentucky, and for several years was employed in various laborious busi- nesses. He finally returned to Indiana and rented a piece of land and put in a crop. While here, June 29, 1862, he was wedded to Miss Margaret Waggoner, who was born in Frankfort, Germany, February 27, 1841, and daughter of William and Elizabeth (Haydener) Waggoner. He then purchased the homestead of his mother, and carried on farming until December, 1863, when he enlisted in Company L, Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, and participated in the engage- ments at Huntsville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Nashville and Mobile, and in many of the raids, skirmishes and expeditions. For over thirty-seven days they were in the saddle constantly on one raid, and they had several of them. Ile was mustered out of ser- vice. as blacksmith, in December, 1865, and for a short time after followed that trade in Indiana. lle then sold out and came to Minnesota, settling in McLeod county in 1866, where he lived two years and then came to Meeker county. He has held various township offices, and also that of notary public and county coroner. He taught school somewhat after coming here, and holds two teacher's certificates now. He is a zealous Methodist in religion, a licensed exhorter and has held the office of church steward and class-leader for several years. He is the parent of the following children- Lucy Jane, who was born October 2, 1863,
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