USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 29
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Two years' residence satisfied him, and sell- ing ont he purchased a farm in the same county, where he lived four years, and then disposed of that and removed to the village of Dassel, where he purchased an interest in the blacksmith shop of Eriek Renquist, that being his trade, and remained in partnership with him until two years later, when he bought out Mr. Renquist. Alone he then carried on the business until 1882, at which date, in company with L. W. Leighton, he established the second hardware store in the village. The firm, thus formed, continued until January 1, 1887, when our subject pur- chased his partner's interest, and for more than a year was alone in the concern. March 15, 1888, he admitted to a partnership John Osterman, and the present firm of J. M. Johnson & Co. was formed.
Mr. Johnson, although not partisan in his views, has decided opinions upon political questions, and particularly in all local matters. His excellent business tact and sterling up- rightness have drawn upon him the attention of the community, and he was duly elected to a position upon the board of village trus- tees in 1882, and was again chosen to fill that oflice in March, 1888. As a business man he is active and enterprising, and he has a finan- cial interest in both the woolen mill and the foundry, both institutions of great value to the community.
Mr. Johnson was united in marriage Jan- uary 27, 1870, while living in Wright county, with Miss Mary Clarquist, a native of Swe- den, and daughter of Lewis and Christine Clarquist, the latter of whom were early set- tlers on section 14, Dassel township. Mrs. Johnson has a fine millinery establishment in the village, which she instituted in 1884.
- NOTHER prominent citizen of Meeker county is G. W. FULLER, of Litchfield, a native of Broome county, N. Y., born
September 24, 1824. He is the son of Ira and Sallie (Barnes) Fuller, both of whom were born in the State of Connecticut, the former April 17, 1793, and the latter Janu- ary 12, 1795. His father and mother were married at Lisle, Broome county, N. Y., Sep- tember 14, 1814, and in 1833 removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, where they made their home until the death of Mr. Fuller, Sr., on his seventy-fourth birthday ; his wife sur- vived him until March 25, 1877.
The subject of our narrative remained with his parents until he was about fifteen years of age, when he commenced life by teaching for one term. He then entered the postffice at Warren, and was there employed during the great presidential campaign of 1840, be- tween W. II. Harrison and Martin Van Bu- ren. He remained in that position for about a year, and then attended the Farmington Academy for a time. He then entered what is now Dennison University where he re- mained over five years, graduating from there in 1847. He taught school for two terms subsequent to this and then entered the university, taking charge of the Baptist church at Birmingham, in the Buekeye State, where he remained some three years. The next three years were passed in the service of the Lord at Ashtabula, Ohio, after which he occupied the pulpit of the Baptist church at Meadville, Penn., for a like period. Having been sent by the Baptist Home Mis- sionary Society to Chatfield, this State, he came to Minnesota in 1858, and remained in the last mentioned eity some seven years, a faithful watchman upon the walls of Zion. From there he removed to Lake City, and during his labors in that place, extending over a period of seven years, missed but two Sabbaths' exereise of his beloved calling. His health becoming impaired, he came to Litch- field in 1872, and purchasing twenty-five acres of land, established his present nursery business.
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Mr. Fuller has three times been married, his present wife being Miss S. S. Garfield, a second cousin of our late lamented, martyred president, James A. Garfield. He is the pa- rent of nine children, five of whom are liv- ing. The record of these is Isabel, Mrs. Dr. Canney, of San Francisco, Cal .; Minnie E., whose husband, L. Swift, is business man- ager of the Minneapolis Evening Journal ; Annie, deceased wife of J. Q. A. Braden, who died October 25, 1879, at Santa Cruz, Cali- fornia : George Garfield, who is book-keeper for the Washburn Mill company, Minneapo- lis; Pauline, the lately deceased wife of E. B. Benson, the cashier of the Meeker County Bank, who died May 19, 1888; and Jewel and Lillian, living at home.
- ARION BOYER, a veteran of the late war, is engaged in carrying on both the meat-market and dray business in the village of Dassel, where he located in 1881. He is a native of Mercer county, Ohio, born January 1, 1840, and is the son of Louis and Nancy A. (Bowersock) Boyer, both of whom were also natives of the " Buckeye State." The parents of our subject, in 1855, removed with their family to Crawford, now Vernon county, Wis., where they remained upon a farm until the death of the father, in 1857. Later the mother came to Hastings, in this State, and died at St. Paul in 1887.
Marion, in 1860, at the age of twenty, was united in marriage with Miss Esther Buck- master, with whom he lived upon a farm until the spring of 1862 when the angel of death invaded his household and snatched away his wife from his embrace. He then gave up farming, and, Angust 6, 1862, enlisted in Company D, Thirty-First Wisconsin Infan- try, and served with that well-known regi- ment until the close of the war. The first battle in which he participated was that of
Peach Tree Creek, in the Atlanta campaign, and throughout the engagements around the last-named city, and at the capture of that place. Mr. Boyer was always present with regiment, which did excellent service. When Sherman cut himself off from his base of supplies and commenced his memorable march to the sea, the Thirty-First Wisconsin was a part of his columns, and our subject marched with his company. During the battle of Bentonville, N. C., when the con- federate general, Joseph Johnston, had turned the flank and surrounded our forces, the regi- ment, with others, faced about and charged the enemy, during which Mr. Boyer received a bullet and fell to the ground. Lying upon the ground, propped upon his elbow, he essayed to open the cartridge-boxes of his fallen comrades, and, in spite of his wound, passed the ammunition to his companions, and while doing so was again hit in the neighborhood of the spine, which disabled him entirely. His gallant comrades, out- numbered, were forced to retire, leaving him, as they supposed, dead upon the field, and the rebel line charged over him. Some time elapsed, and, coming to, he managed to crawl to a tree, but, on pulling himself erect, found he could not stand, so crawled on all fours toward the lines of his regiment, about half a mile away, and when his comrades saw him they came forth and carried him in and placed him in an ambulance. Four or five days later he moved along with the regi- ment, and in a month resumed duty. He participated in all the hardships of that famous march. and wound up with the grand review at Washington,after which he received his discharge, June 20, 1865, at Lonisville, Ky., and returned to Wisconsin. In the spring of 1866 he came to Minnesota, and settled in Dakota county, but in 1873 removed to Bird Island, and from there, the next spring, to Elk River, where he remained until coming here.
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Mr. Boyer, November 28, 1872, again en- tered the marriage state, being united on that day with Miss Annie Sheklon, a native of Elk River, Minn., and daughter of Henry HI. and Cynthia Sheldon. Her parents set, tled in Sherburne county, at Elk River, in May. 1856, and were among the earliest set- tlers of that section. By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have two children-Clara E. and Louis.
Mr. Boyer was quite prominent in the or- ganization of Colfax Post, No. 133,G. A. R., at this village, and was the first officer of the day. He was a member of the post at Elk River before coming here. He has been an oflicer in the Good Templars order, and is prominent in the prohibition movement.
J OHN MURRAY, who is numbered among the most extensive farmers and stock-raisers of Meeker county, is one of the pioneers of 1857. During that year he made his first appearance here, and immedi- ately took up a claim of 160 acres upon sec- tion 36, Forest City township, where he now resides. To his original farm he has added from time to time, until he has now one of the finest properties in the county. extending into the three townships of Dassel, Darwin and Forest City, embracing something like 800 acres.
Mr. Murray is a native of that "Gem of the Sea," Ireland, and was born in the year 1838. At the age of fourteen years, he left his native home and came alone to the United States. Arriving in New York, the young emigrant, after a few months spent in the metropolis, came out West, and spent the next five years in the city of Chicago. From there he came to this county by way of Minneapolis, and on his arrival, settled. and has ever since made this his home. During the Indian outbreak of 1862. he took
his family to a place of safety, but soon re- turned to help in the defense of his home. He has always been engaged in agriculture, and still follows that avocation.
Mr. Murray was married in March, 1857, to Miss Margaret Flynn, a native of the Emerald Isle, born in 1835. By this union there have been born a family of nine chil- dren, whose names are as follows-John, Michael, Thomas, William, James, Daniel, Catharine, Ellen and Margaret. John, the only one not single, married Miss Lizzie Hughes, and is a farmer.
In his political views Mr. Murray coincides with the democratic party, and accepts their doctrines and principles. In religion he is a zealous Roman Catholic, and socially is a genial hospitable gentleman, like all the Celtic race, and one whom it is a pleasure to meet.
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"OSEPH VOSSEN, the merchant of Watkins, came to that village in 1882, and opened a stock of general mer- chandise, in company with A. D. Spaulding, in a building 22x40, which they erected for the purpose. After carrying on the business for about six months, the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Vossen purchasing Mr. Spaulding's interest. Since that time he continued to operate the business alone.
Mr. Vossen was born in the Rhine Prov- inces of the German Empire, on the 17th of April, 1849, and is the son of Christian and Nella (Koenigs) Vossen. He passed his early years and received his education 'neath the genial skies and amid the vine- elad hills of his native land, but on attaining his thirteenth year commenced work for himself. In 1864 he came to the United States with his parents, landing at New York after a voyage of fifty-four days. They settled in Carver county, where they remained about four years, and then came to
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Meeker county and settled in Forest Prairie township, among the first to locate there, where the parents still make their home.
Mr. Vossen, of whom we write, was united in marriage with Miss Anna Weinman Janu- ary 29, 1877, at Burton, Carver county. She is the daughter of John W. Weinman, a farmer of that county. By this union there have been born a family of three children- Joseph, Nellie and John.
Mr. Vossen is entirely independent of party lines in discharge of his elective fran- chise. He has, however, held the post of town supervisor for eight or nine years. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
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P. NYGREN, a prominent citizen and a successful farmer, residing on section 9, Greenleaf township, was born in Sweden on the 24th of June, 1822. He was raised on a farm, learning the habits of industry and economy, which are a characteristic of the people of his nationality. In June, 1854, he was married at Kroneburg, Sweden, to Anna F. Petterson. He remained in his native land until 1868, when he came to the United States, and after making short stops at New York City, Rockford, Ill., and Watertown, Minn., he finally arrived in Meeker county in October, 1868, locating at once in Greenleaf township. He has as good a farm as any in the township, has it well stocked and has fine farm buildings.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Nygren, has been blessed with the following children- John P., born October 2, 1855; Matilda C., born January 22, 1857; Carl A., born in November, 1858; Christina M., born Decem- ber 15, 1860, and Charles O., born December 24, 1862; all of whom are still living except John P., who died October 14, 1877, m Greenleaf township; and Carl A., who died in Sweden when only fifteen months old.
Matilda C. is now the wife of W. II. Wilkins, and resides in St. Cloud ; Christina is now in Litchfield ; and the son Charles O., is still at home and carries on the business. Charles has a thorough knowledge of farm work, and has the reputation of being one of the most thorough and successful agri- culturists in the township.
J. P. Nygren is a republican in politics, and in religious matters he and his wife are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church. Mrs. Nygren is a native of the same country as her husband, having been born in Sweden on the 18th of July, 1828.
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AVID GORMAN, who carries on a liv- ery, feed and sale stable at Litchfield, is a native of Canada West, born in 1855, and is the son of John and Bridget (Tuberty) Gorman, natives of Ireland, who came to America in 1840. Ile remained in his na- tive country until he was thirteen years of age, when his parents removed to Minnesota and settled at Monticello, Wright county. David made his home with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, his time being spent upon a farm, attending common school as opportunity offered. On reaching his majority he went to the Black Ilills, and for a year remained there following min- ing, after which he returned to Minnesota and engaged in the liquor trade at Monticello. In 1880 he was employed at bridge building on the Manitoba railroad, and later took charge of the Howard Honse at Litchfield, in company with Richard Knights, and ran that a year, but at the expiration of that time sold ont to his partner, purchasing at the same time the livery business of Knights & Mc- Carger, at Litchfield, and has conducted it ever since.
Mr. Gorman was married on the 3d of May, 1882, to Miss Belle Knights, a native of Canada, but a resident of Meeker county at
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the time. Their union has been blessed by the advent of two children-Herbert Francis, born August 30, 1883, and Hattie Marie, born February 12, 1888.
HOMAS RYCKMAN, a well-known and highly respected old settler, and one of the most successful and prominent stock- raisers and farmers in the northern part of Meeker county, resides on section 14, Union Grove township.
Mr. Ryckman was born in Upper Canada, on November 2, 1834, and is a son of Mun- son and Fidella (Ganford) Ryckman. He remained on his father's farm, attending school during the winter months and work- ing on the farm during the summer, until he was about twenty-two years of age, when he started to make his own way in the world. In 1857 he came to Stillwater, Minn., and remained there for about three months, working some at harvesting, but putting in the most of his time looking for a suitable location. In September, 1877, he came to Meeker county and pre-empted land on sec- tion 28, in what is now Manannah township. He was married on the 11th of February, 1862, to Miss Harriet Maybee, a daughter of Charles and Harriet (Smith) Maybee. They were living on their farm when the Indian outbreak occurred. As a full history of that matter is given in another department of this work it is unnecessary to repeat it here. Mr. Ryckman took a prominent part in the moves of those times, and was on some of the most perilous and dangerous expeditions that were made. Upon hearing the news of the massacre at Acton, August 17, 1862, with the others they went to Forest City. and a day or two later, Mrs. Ryckman went to St. Paul. while Mr. Ryckman remained to look after his stock, and was back and forth between Forest City and his claim. Besides many other perilous trips he made, he was
with a party of eleven that went to Caswell's farm, and four of the party were killed, William Maybee, a brother of Mrs. Ryck- man, being among the slain.
After the close of hostilities they returned to their farm, and in 1865 they sold the Manannah farm and moved to their present place on section 14, Union Grove township. Ile now owns 550 acres of land, one of the most valuable farms in the county, and his buildings are by far the best in the township, being a credit to himself and also to the neighborhood. The residence alone cost $3,000.
Mr. and Mrs. Ryckman are the parents of the following children-Ella Jane, born April 13, 1863; John Nelson, born October 31, 1865; Cora Edna, born April 20, 1871; and Roy Franklin, born June 27, 18S2.
Mr. Ryckman has four brothers in Ore- gon-Tobias, James, Jolm and Descum, and four sisters in Canada-Abigail, Sarah, Ilar- riet and Ellen. His parents both died in Canada. The parents of Mrs. Ryckman reside in Litchfield. She has two sisters- Adelia, wife of James A. Lee of Litchfield, and Augusta Jane, wife of Wallace Smith, of Fair Haven, Stearns county, Minn.
Mr. Rvekman has taken an active interest in townshipand educational matters, and has held various offices of this nature. Ile is one of the leading and most influential citi- zens of his town.
ETER J. MALMQUIST, one of the blacksmiths at Grove City, is among the most respected citizens of the county. Ile is a native of Sweden, born July 13, 1833, and the son of Johannes and Ingrid Martins Olander. He came to the United States dur- ing the year 1871, and after a stormy passage, across the briny deep, came directly to this county. Ile remained here about a month
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and then went to Chippewa county, this State, where he took up a claim with a sol- dier's warrant. As he had paid for this be- fore he got it he was obliged to make many trips to Litchfield before he could lay his hands on it, but has finally accomplished it. His claim, which was the west half of the northeast quarter of section 26, Leenthrop township, Chippewa county, was a fine piece of land, and on it he made his home for some four years, and then sold out and came to Grove City and put up his smithy, where he has carried on business ever since.
Mr. Malmquist and Miss Petronella Eliza- beth Pearson were united in the holy bonds of matrimony December 26, 1860, and are the parents of three children, two of whom are living. Their record is as follows-Charles E. F., born May 26, 1864, died in March, 1866; Charles E. F., born December 1, 1867, and is now a clerk in the oflice of Dudley & Nelson's elevator, at Grove City; and Ernest II. E., born May 31, 1869, at home attending school.
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OHN TEBERG. Among the Swedish element which makes up so large a share of the population of Meeker county, and whose habits of industry and thrift, brought from their native land, that so soon raise them to competeney, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is living on section 32, in the town of Darwin, where he has a fine and extensive farm of 400 acres, 250 of which are under excellent cultivation, and upon which he has some forty two head of horses and cattle.
Mr. Teberg was born in Sweden Novem ber 5, 1839, and is the son of C'arl and Celia Teberg, natives of the same kingdom. Ile remained in the land of his birth until 1870. when, with a view to better his condition beyond what is possible in the mother
country, he emigrated to the United States. On his arrival in this country he came at onee to Meeker county, and with his family settled in what is now Litchfield township. After remaining there for about five years be removed to Darwin, and took up his residenee where he now lives, on section 32. HIe has passed most of his life in farm pur- suits, his parents being farmers in Sweden, where they both died.
On the 1st of July, 1866, in Sweden, Mr. Teberg was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Peterson, the daughter of Peter Larson and Elsie Larson Peterson. Her parents came to America in 1865, and settled in Litehfield township. By this marriage Mr. Teberg is the parent of two children, namely John, born September 11, 1866; and Martin, born October 15, IS69.
In his political views Mr. Teberg is with the republican party, although not a politician by any means. -
EWIS A. PIER, pastor of the Christian church at Litchfield, and editor and proprietor of the Saturday Review, is a native of Vermont, and was born on the 7th of October, 1855. His parents were R. A. and Lucy B. (Damon) Pier, both natives of the same State. The father, who was a farmer, came to Dodge county, Wis., in 1856, in the interest of a large real estate owner East, for the purpose of opening up the lands in that part of Wisconsin belonging to his prin- cipal. Ile remained there until 1863, when he settled in Dodge county, Minn., and bought a farm. In 1869 he was elected treas- urer of that county and located at Mantor- ville. At the expiration of his term of office he purchased the Mantorville Express, in connection with his son, but soon disposed of his interest to the latter. Ile is still a res- ident of Mantorville.
Lewis A. Pier remained with his parents
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until twenty-one years of age. He enjoyed the advantages of the common schools until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the office of the Mantorville Express to learn the printer's trade. In 1874 he became sole editor and proprietor of the paper and con- ducted it until 1876, when he sold out and went to Indianapolis, Ind., and entered But- ler University, from which he graduated in 1882. Previous to this, however, he had become pastor of one of the Christian churches of that city, of which he remained in charge until 1883. Ile then took charge of a church at Union City, Ind., remaining until the spring of 1884, when he settled at Litchfield, Minn., and took charge of the Christian church at that place. In July, of the same year, he established the Review, which he still condnets. Mr. Pier was mar- ried on the 31st of August, 1881, to Miss Clarinda C. Harriman, of Frankfort, Ind., who is also a graduate of Butler University.
HRISTIAN HALVORSEN, one of the thrifty farmers of Cosmos township, residing upon section 22, is a native of the Kingdom of Norway, born in November, 1844. He was reared in the land of his birth and made it his home until he was some twenty-five years of age, when he crossed the ocean to America. He resided for one year in Wisconsin and then came to Meeker county, arriving at Litchfield in the first passenger train run into that village. In 1870 Mr. Halvorsen bought the claim of O. K. Nelson to the place he now lives on, and the next year filed on it as homestead, he having declared his intention of becoming an Amer- ican citizen.
During that summer he broke up some five aeres of land and then took a trip elsewhere, returning the following winter, and in 1871 was married to Miss Annie Hanson. They
have a family of eight children - Minnie, Helen, Ilenry, Carl, Alma, Clara, Lena and Lawrence. Mr. Halvorsen is among the rising men of the township.
IBBITTS J. SOULE, superintendent of schools of Meeker county, is a native of Erie county, N. Y., born February 3, 1847. His parents were Stephen W. and Ruth (Munger) Soule, both natives of the Empire State. His father followed the profession of school teaching from the time he was eigh- teen until lie was sixty-seven years of age, his last term having been taught in Meeker county in the winter of 1886-7. He had come West on a visit and was prevailed upon to take a school for the winter term, and the following spring returned to his Eastern home.
Tibbitts J. remained with his parents until sixteen years of age, having up to that time attended school most of the time. At that age he enlisted in Company D, Second New York Mounted Rifles, was mustered in Janu- ary 27, 1864, and served in the Army of the Potomac until the close of the war. During his service he was in thirteen pitched battles; was wounded twice while in the trenches in front of Petersburg; at Bellefield raid he had his shin bone shattered by a minie ball, and as he says " had he entered the hospital would have worn a wooden leg to-day " ; but he remained with the "boys " and was soon on duty again. After receiving his discharge, on the 23d of August, 1865, he returned to his home in Erie county, N. Y., but shortly afterward took a trip through Kansas and Indian Territory, remaining West for some two years. After this he went back to New York and followed the profession of a school teacher until 1879, with the exception of two years, during which he was agent for A. S. Barnes & Co.'s school books through West- ern New York. In 1879 he came to Meeker
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