USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 24
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but no one would venture, so he went alone. On reaching the farm he met some twenty parties who had started from Forest City to bury those killed at Acton, but they had been chasing Indians into Kandiyohi county and had made their way back this far in the night. Mrs. Lasher got supper and break- fast for them and they then started for For- est City. The family returned to Cedar Mills, and Peck, with his team, hauled 1,600 pounds of flour and other provisions from the farm to the same place. When they got there they found some eight or ten families gathered from the surrounding country, all bent on fleeing for safety, but after some talk it was decided to build fortifications and remain. While they were talking, Dr. Earl, from Beaver Falls, Renville county, came up and stated that all were killed in his neighborhood except a very few, and that his three boys were wandering on the prairie somewhere southwest of them. Mr. Lasher and L. S. Weymouth started out and soon found and brought in the boys. They had met three Indians on the prairie who had passed through Greenleaf and Cedar, and had given them food and traded guns with them. These Indians they recognized as Little Crows. When Lasher and Wey- mouth got back, however, all the rest had fled. They were soon overtaken and brought back. Mr. Lasher was appointed captain, and they decided to fortify "the Point " in Cedar Lake and remain there until the trouble was over. Weymouth and Lasher stood guard at the crossing by the mill. On Wednesday a party of thirty or forty refugees from Yellow Medicine county came np, accompanied by the friendly Indian, "Other Day." With them was a Mr. Garvey, who had been wounded, and who died the following day at Mr. Lasher's house. Thursday all the new-comers left for a safer place, and a few days later the "Point " was evacuated, and all the settlers
went to llutehinson, through the advice of "Other Day," Mr. Lasher and several others returned to the farm to care for the grain, Mrs Lasher, Miss C. Jewett and Mrs. Geo. Wills accompanying them to do the cooking. While there Strouts' company came through from Minneapolis on their way to Acton, and the next morning were surprised by the Indians, and ronted and returned to Hutch- inson. The others also went back except Mr. Lasher and Frank Jewett, who remained upon a hill till they saw the Indians passing east and west, when they also started for Hutchinson, and met a party in search of them. The following day the Indians made the attack on Hutchinson. The next day Lasher and Weymouth returned to Cedar Mills and set loose all the stock. They found the mill running, it having been started by the Indians, who had stolen all the flour. They returned to Hutchinson, and the next day Mr. Lasher organized a company, went back and repaired the mill and ground some flour for the settlers, who were sadly in need of it. Shortly after this a portion of the Third Minnesota Regiment, under command of Major Welch, came through, and Mr. Lasher joined them as a scout, and remained in the service with Gen. H. II. Sibley for three years and a half, participating in all its expeditions and battles, being in the engage- ments at Wood Lake and Lae qui Parle, etc. At the latter place they captured a number of Indians, thirteen of whom were after- ward hung at Mankato,
During this time, Mr. Lasher's family had returned to the old home in New York. In the fall of 1864 they returned to Hutchinson, and in the following summer again settled on the farm. In 1869 Mr. Lasher removed to Litchfield, where he followed his trade until 1881, when they again settled upon the farm, and have since remained there. While in Litchfield Mr. Lasher took an active interest in band matters, and was leader of that
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organization for six years. Ile has now a valuable farm of 400 aeres, with good improvements and has it well stocked.
Mr. and Mrs. Lasher are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Lasher has always taken an active interest in church matters. He was one of the prime movers in securing the organization of the church in this township. He had charge of the eree- tion of the building, and besides devoting much time, he personally became responsible for $200 to complete the edifice. He was also chosen superintendent of the first Sun- day school organized in the township in 1860, and when they removed to their farm on section 4, they organized a Sunday school there.
Mr. and Mrs Lasher have been the parents of eight children. Only four of them are living, as follows-IIulda C., now Mrs. II. P. Pfaff of Greenleaf: Albert P., Sarah A. and Daniel B. The last three are still at home.
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ETER N. HANSON, a young and enter- prising farmer of Cosmos township, has his home upon seetion 2, where he has 160 acres of land, as well as another quarter on section 9, making his farm to consist of 320 aeres. Ile is the son of Ilans H. and Mary Hanson, natives of Norway, who came to the United States in 1863. His father with his family came to Meeker county in 1865, and located in Greenleaf township. In the spring of 1867, he came to Cosmos and put up the elaim shanty of Daniel Hoyt, the first settler in the town, and later the same year took up a elaim for himself on section 10. The same fall he removed with his wife and children to this place, and they were the first family in the township. They lived in a "dngout " that winter, but erected a house in the spring. Mr. Hanson resided on this farm until 1883, when he removed to Dakota,
where he now lives. He raised the first crop in the town, having some fifteen acres in wheat the summer of 1868.
Peter N. remained with his parents until his marriage December 13, 1876, with Miss Mary Olson, the daughter of Marten and Karn Olson, who was born in Norway. He then strnek ont for himself and bought a farm on section 2, and on this spot has lived ever since.
Although a young man in years, Mr. Han- son has a shrewd head on him, and this be- ing appreciated by the community, they have elected him to the office of town supervisor, which olliee he now holds: he has also been road supervisor.
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OHN GIBNEY, an enterprising and suc- cessful farmer residing on section 27, Manannah township, is one of the most in- telligent and one of the best read and posted men in the county, and a man of a great deal of natural as well as acquired ability. Ile is a self-educated man, but a thorough course of reading on seientifie, theological and other subjects has made him a ripe scholar, and because of his attainments he is one of the most prominent citizens in the northern part of the county.
Mr. Gibney was born in County West Meath, Ireland, on the 22d of June, 1819, and is a son of Timothy and Mary E. (Car- ney) Gibney. His early life was spent in the land of his birth, but in 1836 he came to the new world, landing at New York, and settled in the county of Madison, in New York State. In 1838 he removed to Canada, and remained there until 1865, when he came to Meeker county, Minn., and settled in Manan- nah township, where he has since lived.
In 1848 Mr. Gibney was married to Miss Anna Heaney. and their union has been blessed with ten children, five girls and five boys, whose names are as follows-Timothy,
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Mary, James, Owen, Katie, Ann, Patrick, Christopher and Eliza, all of whom are living. The family are members of the Catholic Church.
During twenty-two years of his life, Mr. Gibney followed railroading, but the balance of the time he has been farming. In political matters he is an independent voter, and acts regardless of the dictation of party or creed. Ile has taken an active interest in his town- ship affairs, and has held several local offices, one of which was that of township assessor.
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J AMES A. KLINE, who has been engaged so successfully in carrying on farming and stock-raising on his fine farm on section 22, Kingston township, is a native of Amsterdam, Montgomery county, N. Y., born December 17, 1813. IIe remained in the place of his nativity until some twenty- two years of age, when he emigrated to the wilds of Michigan, settling in Genesee county, where he was engaged in farming and lumbering. From there about 1855, he removed to Winnebago county, Ill., where he made his home until 1867, when he came to Meeker county, and settled where he now lives. He received in his youth the elements of a good common- school education and by a diligent use of it has well-informed himself on all general subjects. While a resident of Michigan he went to Tuolumne county, Cal., where he engaged in mining for two years and then returned home. Most of his life has been actively engaged in agricultural pur- suits, but having succeeded in achieving an easy competence, he is spending his declining years in the enjoyment of home.
Our subject is the son of Adam and Eliza- beth (Cryslor) Kline, both of whom were na- tives of the Empire State, and who emi- grated to Michigan in 1838, where the father
died at the age of fifty-two years. Ilis wife, the mother of our subject, died after attain- ing some eighty-three years. They had a family of twelvechildren-William A., born August 21, 1810, died April 15, 1840; A. C., born May 31, 1812; James A., born Decem- ber 17, 1813; John, born January 24, 1851; Joseph, born August 20, 1823; George, born November 10, 1827; Sarah Jane, born March 23, 1830; Henry, born May 15, 1832, enlisted in the Eighth Michigan Infantry, and was killed July 12, 1864; Maria, born April 28, 1819, died August 1, 1822; Margaret, born November 17, 1822, died August 8, 1823; and Elizabeth J., born January, 1826, died November 8, 1826.
James A. Kline was first married on the 11th of October, 1840, in Michigan, to Mary Ann Perry. They had one son, who is liv- ing-George P. Kline, a resident of Dakota.
Mr. Kline's second marriage occurred De- cember 12, 1848, when he was wedded to Mrs. Ann Talbott, née Shimin, who was born in England, a daughter of John and An (Corris) Shimin. The date of her birth was November 21, 1815. A sketch of the Shimin family is given elsewhere in this ALBUM. By this union Mr. and Mrs. Kline have had two children-Anna, wife of Mr. Hiram Ramsey, and James E., a farmer of this township, who married Miss Emma Baker. Mrs. Kline by her former marriage had twochildren-Henry T., killed in the army November 25, 1863, at Lookout Mountain, a member of the Seventy-Fourth Illinois Infantry, and William, born Jannary 18, 1846, married in 1868 to Miss Amelia Boom.
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WAN AUGUST SCARP, of Litchfield, is a native of Sweden, born August 20, 1845, and emigrated to the United States when he was about twenty-seven years of age. On landing he came direct to this village,
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where he remained until the following spring, when he moved to a farm near that place, where he spent the next two years. Return- ing to Litchfield he erected his residence, and entered the employ of S. Almquist, in the saloon business and remained with him some six years and a half, at the expiration of which time he entered into the same line of business for himself and continues to carry on the saloon. In 1887 he erected one of the finest residences in the village, at a cost of over $5,000, superintending its erection himself.
Mr. Scarp, November 16, 1873, was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Johnson, a na- tive of Sweden, and daughter of John and Ingra (Parson) Johnson, who became the mother of four children-Annie C., Julia L., Franeis E., and Jennie. Mr. S. is a member of the Order of United Workmen.
J. P. Scarp, a native of Sweden, was one of Litchfield's earliest business men, coming here in 1871, and engaging in sale of agricult- nral implements. He continued in that line of trade until 1882, when he made a visit to the land of his birth to see the old home and his parents, and on the voyage baek, the ves- sel upon which he sailed was wrecked and he was drowned in the Baltic Sea. He car- ried a policy of insurance in the Redwing company, which provided partially for his family, who still are residents of the village, and this, with his other estate, places them far above any necessity. He was a charter mem- ber of the Workmen's Lodge in Litchfield, the insurance from which was also $2,000. He was a man who possessed the respect and esteem of the whole community, and was widely known as everybody's friend. His cruel death was a sad blow to his bereaved family, who still mourn his loss.
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EORGE BECKER, a snecessful and prominent farmer and stock-raiser, who resides on section 23, Greenleaf town-
ship, has the distinction of being one of the oldest settlers of Minnesota, who now resides in Meeker county. He is connected with a family that has given a number of pioneers and prominent publie men to the State.
Mr. Becker was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., September 30, 1842. When he was three years old his parents settled in Michi- gan, and remained there until 1855, when they came to Minnesota, and located near the present site of St. Cloud, in Stearns county. They made part of the journey by railroad, a portion by steamboat and the latter part by team. They arrived at their destin- ation in May, 1855, and were among the very first settlers in that county. The gov- ernment survey had not yet been made ; the old " Territorial Road " was opened that far, but that was the terminus so far as settlement was concerned. The father made arrangements, in 1854, to claim the land which afterward became the original plat of St. Cloud, but, through the duplicity of one in whom he had placed confidence, he was cheated out of it. There they lived through the most trying times in the history of the State, and there our subject, George, grew to manhood.
His father, Harmon Becker, was born in 1797, and for years was a hotel-keeper in Schoharie county, N. Y. He was married to Margaret M. Efner, and they reared a family of eight children - five boys and three girls. Harmon Becker was a man of prominence and ability, and in the prime of his life had a great deal of influence in the locality where he lived. He took a great interest in stock-raising, and imported the first thorough-bred stallion of Duroc blood ever brought to the United States. In slav- ery days he was a slave-owner, but at the time of the abolition movement he gave his slaves their freedom, and presented them with a forty-acre farm on which to live, not- withstanding their protestations that they
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preferred to continue their old relation of master and servant. In 1846 Harmon Becker removed to Washtenaw county, Mich., settling near Ann Arbor. While in that State he erected a large hotel, and later, sold it for $8,000 to a man named Grovener, but lost it; and besides this, lost another $8,000 by becoming surety for an- other party and having to pay it. After this he followed farming until 1854, when he came to Minnesota to see the country, and, being pleased with it, he made arrangements to locate the land on which the city of St. . Cloud is now located. J. L. Wilson was sent for a compass to survey the site, and, immed- iately upon his return, he ran out the lines, and built a shanty of tamarac rails and slept on the place that night. The next day, when search was made for him, there he was, in the first house on the site, and he, accord- ingly, claimed the land. Harmon Becker then returned to Michigan, and, the follow- ing year, settled in Stearns county, as stated above. He lived there until the time of his death, in January, 1857, aged sixty-six years. The widow, Margaret M., was very sickly at the time of leaving Michigan. She gained strength, however, and recovered, living until Jannary, 1886, when her death occurred at Litchfield. She was eighty years of age. She was a woman of rare personal cour- age, which stood her in good need during the Indian outbreak. Both Mr. and Mrs. Har- mon Becker were members of the Presby- terian church, and exemplary Christian peo- ple.
Times were very hard during their first few years' settlement in Stearns county, as all pioneers will realize, and at times it seemed as though starvation stared them in the face. But with that indomitable persever- ance and hope for the future which is of necessity a characteristic of the pioneer, they lived through it all. Just as times began to look a little brighter the Indian outbreak
occurred, but they stood their ground and lived at or near St. Cloud during all the ex- citement. Shortly after this, George joined the Sully expedition, and followed the move- ments of that brigade, acting as sutler's clerk. Upon his return he remained at St. Cloud until 1865, when he went to the Pa- cific coast, by way of New York city, and as his journeys, hardships and adventures form an interesting narrative, we will briefly review them in this connection. He shipped from the metropolis on the steamer "Golden Rule" for Central America. They crossed the Isthmus by way of the Nicaragua river and lake, their steamer striking a rock and sinking, but the passengers continued their journey on other crafts. The river was so low that a part of the way they were con- veyed in small boats, manned by the natives. George Becker finally reached the Pacific ocean and shipped for San Francisco. The second day out they learned from a passing vessel the news of the death of Abraham Lincoln, and the flags were placed at half- mast during the rest of the voyage, and upon their arrival at the metropolis of California, they found the city a solid mass of emblems of mourning in honor of the martyred pres- ident. The trip from New York to this point had consumed forty-five days, and George at once sailed for the city of Victo- ria, Vancouver's Island, and, in a small boat crossed Puget sound to Whatcom county. There he remained for three years, follow- ing lumbering, and then returned to St. Cloud, Stearns county, Minn., on which trip he ex- perienced many dangers and hardships. He first shipped on the steamer "California" for San Francisco. When within thirty-five miles of the harbor of the latter place they encountered one of the worst storms ever known on the Pacific and they were driven 500 miles to sea by the gale. The cabin was partly filled with water by the waves rolling over the vessel and the stateroom doors were
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broken in by the force of the water. When the vessel pitched and rolled, those in the lower berths were carried to the floor by the water. Some were erving, some were pray- ing, some swearing, and others, as the saying goes. "were throwing up Jonah." After three days the storm subsided, but the waves were mountain high and it was not until the fifth day that they reached San Francisco. Their vessel had been given up for lost and reported wrecked with about eighty others that shared this fate. George Becker then shipped for Panama and on this voyage the vessel he was in took fire. When the alarm was given it created a terrible panic and for a time it looked as though all were lost, but the engine, with a capacity of 320-horse power was attached to the hose, and the flames were extinguished. Four days later, the vessel ran out of fuel, and the masts, yardarms, deck, cattle pens, bacon, rezin and all other loose material was used for fuel, to get ashore at Saline Bay, twelve miles from San Juan del Sura. There they anchored and sent boats to San Juan for coal, while the passengers and crew went ashore in small boats, to cut mahogany wood, securing about forty cords by the time the coal arrived. That night the crew mutinied, and those who refused to do their duty, were bronght to time by being tied to the masts. Upon his arrival at Panama, George Becker crossed the Isthmus on the railroad, the trains being queer affairs and running only at the rate of five miles an hour, mak- ing no stops. Our subject then shipped on the Atlantic for New York. When two days ont, the vessel was wrecked or disabled by the cylinder head being blown ont, and for twenty-four hours they were left at the merey of the sea. They were then taken in tow by another steamer and piloted to the Gulf Stream, off the coast of Cuba, and were then left to drift in to Savannah, Ga. By this time, George Becker had had enough
of that kind of life, as for the last three days out, the cabin passengers had nothing to eat but rice, crust coffee and hard tack. Accord- ingly, he purchased another ticket for New York by rail, through the Southern States. This was shortly after the war, and General Sherman had left Georgia a hard looking country. Provisions were very scarce, and the conductors were obliged to telegraph ahead for supplies for the passengers. Mr. Becker stopped off at several points, includ- ing Richmond, Washington and New York, and finally arrived at St. Cloud on February 14, 1868. Hle remained there, following the vocation of a policeman and various other lines of business until June, 1871, when he returned to the Pacific coast by way of the Central Pacific Railroad, proceeding from San Francisco to Puget Sound. Ile remained there until the winter of 1876, when he came to Litchfield. Meeker county, Minn. In 1878 he settled on the farm where he now lives, on section 23, Greenleaf township. He has one of the largest farms in the township, and one of the most valuable in the county, and has justly earned the reputation which he bears, of being one of the most desirable citizens, and from his extensive travels and wide association with business, is one of the most intelligent and best-posted men in the connty.
On July 18, 1885, Mr. Beeker was married to Sophia Vanberg, and they are the parents of two children-William H., born April 28, 1886, and Lillie M., born August 18. 1887, both of whom are living. Mr. Becker is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Hle and his wife attend the Presbyterian Church.
We take pleasure in presenting a portrait of Mr. Becker on another page in this ALBUM.
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OHN MARTIN, an intelligent, thrifty and enterprising farmer, residing on section |5, Harvey township, was born in County
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Cavan, Ireland, in May, 1824. His parents, who were Hugh and Elizabeth Martin, were natives of the same county. The father died in Ireland in 1830. The mother came to the United States in 1851, and lived in Pennsyl- vania until the time of her death, in 1876.
John Martin, the subject of our sketch, grew to manhood in his native land, acquir- ing the same habits of enterprise, industry and frugality which are so characteristic of his race. In 1848 he left Ireland and came to the United States, landing at New York city on the 23d of May, and two days later he went to Bucks county, Pa., where he remained for four years. At the expiration of that time he went to Schuylkill county, Pa., and remained there from the year 1852 until 1877. While in that State he was em- ployed in mining coal for twenty-seven years. In 1877 he came to Meeker county, Minn., and located on a farm on section 5, in Har- vey township, where he has since lived. Since his residence here he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising, and now has a valuable farm of 160 acres, a good share of which is under cultivation.
Mr. Martin was married on the 25th of July, 1852, to Mary Farrelly, and their mar- riage has been blessed with the following- named children: Ellen, born August 22, 1853, died January 25, 1855; IIugh, born October 31, 1855, died October 12, 1857; Joseph, born September 28. 1857; Bridget and Lizzie, born November 17, 1859; John, born November 3, 1861; Mary, born Sep- tember 18, 1863, died December 17, 1863; Thomas, born January 30, 1870, died same day. Mrs. Martin's parents were both na- tives of Ireland, where they lived until . the time of their death.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin are both active and exemplary members of the Catholic Church. In political matters Mr. Martin affiliates with the democratic party.
ELS EKBOM is one of the prominent farmers of Swede Grove township. He was born in Sweden on the 16th of December, 1849, and came to the United States in 1857, with his parents, Anna and Andrew Ekbom. They settled in Carver county, Minn., where Nels worked part of the time for his father, and the balance of the time for other farmers. In 1865 they came to Meeker county, and from Nels Swanson they rented a farm, on which the village of Litchfield is now located. A year later they removed to Swede Grove town- ship, and took a homestead on section 34, where Nels has since lived. He has been industrious, and the results prove that he is an excellent manager, as he has accumulated a fine property. Ile now has 120 acres of land, with fine buildings located on the edge of a beautiful grove. He has a goodly lot of stock, and all the necessary farm machinery.
Mr. Ekbom was married on the 16th of July, 1870, to Miss Betsey Nelson, a daughter of Nels and Ellen Peterson, and the couple have had the following children-Anna (deceased), born July 5, 1871, died Septem- ber 15, 1871; Oscar, born July 22, 1873; Eugene, born August 15, 1875 ; Ellmer, born November 3, 1878; Anna, born May 8, 1882 ; and Joseph, born October 8, 1883. Mrs. Ekbom's father is dead and her mother is living in Sweden. Mr. Ekbom's mother is dead, and his father resides with a brother, Simon. Nels Ekbom and wife are members of the Baptist Church, in which he is a deacon. Mr. Ekbom is a prohibitionist in pohtical matters, and takes an active interest in township matters. He has held various local offices, including those of side-super- visor and road overseer.
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