USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 32
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The subject of our sketch remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, and followed various employments until his marriage, April 10, 1859, withi Miss Rachel Russell, a native of Indiana. After his marriage he remained in Houston county until the fall of 1860, when, in company with Isaac Russell, Sr., and John Russell, he came to Meeker county, and followed hunting and exploring the county through that winter, and in the following autumn went to Illinois with the intention of enlisting in the United States army, but was rejected, and having disposed of his property in this State, re- mained in the "Sucker State" until 1866. IIe then came to Meeker county and took up a claim early in July, on section 10, of Das- sel township. He commenced to improve his place, working at the same time on the railroad. The next fall he worked in the Forest City grist mill. He did not neglect his farm, but got it in shape for next year's crop. In 1868 he helped clear the present site of the village, chopping cord-wood, etc .. and thus, while developing his farm, provided for the wants of his family until 1872, since which time he has devoted the most of his time to his calling. In 1876 he bought a threshing machine in company with George Brower, with the accompanying steam engine, and in 1879 became the sole owner of the ontfit, and carries on that business in con- nection with his farm. The latter consists of 160 acres of land on section 10, and besides this he is the half owner of 160 acres more on section 16.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of ten children-Stephen W., born December 29, 1859; Reuben B., born December 15, 1861; Mary J., born January 17, 1864; Wealthy M., born May 24, 1866; William E., born October 25, 1868; Isaac A., born December 25, 1870, died April 5, 1880; James II., born June 11, 1873 ; Emma B., born March 6, 1876; Annie Z., born November 2, 1878, and John E., born January 8, 1882. Stephen is married and lives in Dakota; Reuben, also married, makes his home on section 16, this town ; Mary J. (Mrs. C. G. Waller) lives at Kingston, and Wealthy (Mrs. W. Il. Bran- ham), resides in Litehfield.
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HARLES SHEPHERD, an ex-Union sol- dier, and one of the most intelligent. prominent and successful farmers in the northern part of the county, was born in Belgium, in the year 1826. His parents were John and Catharine (Shepelle) Shep- herd, the father being a native of England and the mother a native of Belgium. When Charles was eight or ten years of age the family removed from Belgium to England, and six years later they came to the United States and located in Massachusetts, where the parents died. Charles remained in Massachusetts until he had arrived at about the age of twenty-one, when he went to Rhode Island, but nine or ten months later he returned to Ballardvale, Mass. Two years later he started West, and for ten years lived in Wisconsin. While there. on the 27th of February, 1865, he enlisted in Company A. Fifty-first Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, and was mustered into the service. Ile remained with his regiment until the 22d of August. 1865, when he was honorably discharged and returned to Wis- consin. In 1866 he came to Meeker county, Minn., and located on a farm on section 20,
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Manannah township. He now has a vahi- able farm of 220 acres of land and is in com- fortable circumstances.
Mr. Shepherd was first married, when a young man, to Julia Higgins, who died. By this marriage he had three children.
On the 14th of Angust. 1857, he was mar- ried to Miss Adaline Hartman, who was born in Germany April 2, 1857. This mar- riage has been blessed with twelve children.
A LEXANDER L. GORDON. an intelli- gent and 'industrious farmer living . upon section 10, Collinwood township, is a native of Westchester county, N. Y., born August 1, 1850. and is the son of Will- iam and Jane (Ferguson) Gordon, who had come to America from the land of their birth, Scotland, some time previous. The family removed in the boyhood of our subject to Fond du Lac county, Wis., where he re- mained until eighteen years of age. At that time he commenced life for himself as brakeman on the railroad, which he followed for two years. The following summer he was in the employ of the Government. driv- ing team, on the line between the United States and Manitoba. From that time on, for several years, he was engaged in several occupations, all of them, however, attended by hard labor, sometimes in the pineries, and sometimes in the harvest field, until his marriage.
This happy event took place March 21. 1878, at which time he wedded Miss Martha Delong, the daughter of Madison and Eliza- beth (Lunsford) Delong, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this ALBUM. Mrs. Gor- don was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, March 10, 1858, and came to Meeker county with her parents in 1866.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Gordon settled down to farm life on section 10, where
he now lives and where he has some sixty acres of land mostly under cultivation. Ile has held several of the town oflices, chief among which is that of chairman of the board of supervisors, which he occupied for seven years. Hle is the parent of four chil- dren-Elizabeth Jane, born April 2, 1879 ; William, born December 15, 1880; Ehna, born March 11, 1883; and Grace, born Jan- uary 1, 1886.
LI BORING, an ex-Union soldier, is a famer who resides on section 10, For- est Prairie township. He is a native of Clin- ton county, Ohio, born May 22. 1836, and is a son of Absalom and Isabelle (Williams) Boring. Ilis father and mother were natives of Baltimore county, Md., and Harrison county. Va., respectively. They are both dead. The father died in Indiana. at the age of eighty-one years. April 28, 1888. He was a farmer; had settled in Indiana in 1836, and was one of the pioneers of that State. The mother was born in 1809 and died Feb- ruary 5, 1863. They were the parents of eleven children, eight boys and three girls. the names of whom were as follows-Thomas William, Lafayette, Eli, John A., Elizabeth, Sarah, Jesse E., Henry, Harrison, William and Eliza.
Eli Boring, the subject of this sketch. re- mained at home during his boyhood and school days. On the 20th of February. 1864, he enlisted in Company D, Eighth Indiana Cavalry, and went into the service. Ile saw active service and participated in numerous battles. engagements and skirmishes. Ile was shot in the side at the battle of Camp- bellton, Ga., and remained in the hospital for several weeks. On the 10th of September, 1864, he was taken prisoner and was held for some three months, after which he was in the hospital at Annapolis, Md., for three weeks,
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and, after a short furlough, returned to his regiment. Ile was finally mustered out July 20, 1865, near Raleigh, N. C., and returned to his home in Indiana. In the fall of 1868 he came to Meeker county, Minn., and located in Forest Prairie township. In 1882 he went to Minneapolis and engaged in the milling business, but spent his winters at lumbering. continuing this for three years, and then returned to Forest Prairie and settled where he now resides.
Mr. Boring was married on the 2d of No- vember, 1886. to Miss Victoria Spaulding, a daughter of Danville Spaulding, an old and respected citizen of Forest Prairie township. They were married at Litchfield by N. C. Martin.
Our subject is a man of the strictest integ- rity, and is respected by all who know him. In political matters he affiliates with the republican party.
"HARLES M. AHLSTROM. The subject of this sketch is an enterprising and successful farmer and stock-raiser, who re- sides on section 31, Harvey township. Ile is a native of Chisago county. Minn., where he was born on the Sth of August, 1859, and he is a son of Andrew M. and Carrie Ahlstrom. In 1864 he removed, with his parents, to Mecker county, and the family settled on section 30, where Charles M. still resides. His parents were both natives of Sweden. They came to the United States in 1854. They are both still living.
The subject of our sketch, Charles, grew to manhood in Meeker county, attending school as opportunity offered. and assisting his father on the farm. On the 27th of May, 1882, he was married to Mary Peterson, of Swede Grove township. Their marriage has been blessed with three children, whose names are Stacie, Carl M. and Clearence A.,
the last named being an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Ahlstrom are exemplary members and active supporters of the Lutheran Church.
In political matters Mr. Ahlstrom is a re- publican. Hle now owns 160 acres of land, and has a good start and good prospects for future success.
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LEXANDER D. ROSS, the present postmaster of Litchfield, was born in Upper Canada, July 25, 1845, and is the son of Alexander and Franees Bassett (Con- ners) Ross. the former a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and the latter of Bangor, County Down, Ireland. His parents came to Amer- iea, settling in Canada, prior to his birth, and there, in the town of Southampton, where the father was engaged in mercantile trade, our subject received his early education, and there grew to manhood. In 1866, he removed with his parents to Chicago, Ill., where he commeneed work with the American Express Company, with whom he remained until 1872, when he came to Minnesota. He located first at St. Cloud, but one year later removed to Litchfield, where, in August, 1873. he took charge of a grain elevator, now the M. and D. which he has superintended ever since. In July, 1887, he took charge of the postoffice of the village, having been appointed to that position a short time previously. Ile is a thorough democrat politically, and believes that in its principles lies the true germ of civil liberty. He is a member of the present coun- cil of Litchfield, and holds a high place in the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens.
Mr. Ross united in marriage, June 11, 1872. with Miss Elizabeth M. Beeker, a native of New York, and daughter of Herman and Margaret Becker. By this union there has been born two children, who bear the names of Carrie and George. Mr. Ross is a mem- ber of Golden Fleece Lodge, No. 86, A. F.
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and A. M., Rabboni Chapter, No. 39, R. A. M. ; Melita Commandery, No. 17, K. T., and with his estimable wife holds communion with the Presbyterian Church.
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OHN SMITH, a resident of Darwin township, lives on section 15, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. He is a native of the Grand Duchy of Lux- emburg, born in 1839. He was reared among the vine-clad hills of the land of his birth until he was nineteen years of age, when he came to America, and that year, 1858. settled near Aurora, Ill., where he made his home until eight years later, when he removed to Minnesota and located on the farm in Darwin township where he now lives. Like so many of his countrymen who seek to find in America the fortune and freedom they lack in their native land, Mr. Smith was a poor man when he came to this country, but by the perseverance in his work and the natural thrift that seems to be inherent in the average German. he has accu- mulated a fair share of this world's goods.
Mr. Smith was first married in 1865, to Miss Anna Peiffer, who became the mother of seven children, all of whom are living at the present but one. Their names are-John, Peter, Michael, Anna, Frank and William. Mrs. Anna Smith died in February, 1881, and Mr. Smith was married the second time. The bride on this occasion was Miss Maggie Kanzler, and the wedding occurred in No- vember, 1883. By this last marriage there have been born three children, only two of whom, however, are now living-Emma and Nicholas.
Both Mr. Smith and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church and good Christian people. Politically Mr. Smith is what may be termed an independent, not being bound to party.
UTHER W. LEIGHTON, the junior member of the firm of Osterlund & Leighton, general merchants of the village of Dassel, came to that place in the fall of 1872, and in the spring of 1874 opened the first wagon shop, in which he continued to carry on the business until 1881. Closing out, then, his interests in that mechanical trade, he entered into the hardware business in company with J. M. Johnson, and con- tinned in that line until January 1, 1887, when, after selling his interest to his partner, he entered into the new copartnership, the firm named above.
Mr. Leighton, who is a native of Penobscot county, Me., born March 25, 1850, and the son of Stillman W. and Thressa E. Leighton, re- ceived his education in his native State. lle left that portion of our great Republic in 1872, and came directly to this part. as above stated.
NDREW GUNDERSON, a carpenter and farmer who resides on section 15, Danielson township, was born in Norway on the 16th of August, 1836, and is a son of Gunder and Anna Ingebretson. ITis early life was spent in his native land, where he worked at various occupations and also learned the carpenter's trade. He remained in the land of his birth until 1870, when he came to the United States and came direct to Minneapolis, Minn., where he remained for six years employed at carpenter work. He was so poor at that time that he was obliged to leave his family in the old country. and had to borrow the money with which he paid his fare. During the first three years he was here he earned enough money to send for his family, which required five tickets at 861 each. Ilis oklest son came some two years before the balance of the family. The father, with the aid of his son, during this time. erected a comfortable honse for himself at Minneapolis.
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On the 4th of November, 1876, he moved his family to Mecker county, Minn., and set- tled on a farm in Cosmos township, but after getting his family settled he returned to Minneapolis and worked at his trade for two years, after which he returned and moved to the farm which he purchased on section 15, Danielson township, where he has since lived. Since that time he has continued to work at his trade most of his time while his family carried on the farm. IIe now has one of the most valuable farms in the township, con- sisting of 280 acres, upon which he has placed fine building improvements.
Mr. Gunderson was married before heleft Norway to Miss Berthia Olson, a daughter of Ole and Anna Peterson, who was born All- gust 20, 1830. Their marriage has been blessed with nine children, as follows-Gil- bert, born February 17, 1857; Nettie, born May 4, 1858; William, born January 15, 1860; Anna, born January 10, 1862 ; Au- gust, born September 6, 1863; Beathe, born August 9, 1864, died in 1867; Maria, born March 21, 1868; Beathe, born December 10, 1870; and Albert, born June 2, 1875. All were born in Norway except Albert, who was born in Minneapolis. Nettie married Ole Blaken, a merchant in Grafton, D. T .. and they have three children. William mar- ried Anna Amundson, and is a farmer in Dan- ielson township. Anna married Knute John- son, a railroad section boss at Minneapolis. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.
Mr. Gunderson has taken an active inter- est in public matters and has held the office of township supervisor for four years. In political matters he affiliates with the demo- cratie party.
LE NELSON, one of the leading agri- culturists of Acton, is a native of Nor- way, born February 16, 1842, and is the son
of Nels and Mary Nelson, and came to the United States in 1866, first stopping in Red Wing, Minn., where he was engaged in tailor- ing for one year. The next two years were passed by him in the same employment in Minneapolis, but growing tired of working for other parties after two years, and being anxious to better his financial condition, he removed to Acton, this county, and took a homestead on section 8, where he now lives. Ile has a fine farm of 200 acres of excellent arable land, all of which he has made by his own energy and perseverance.
Mr. Nelson was married in Norway, to Miss Martha J. Farrisdatter Haabetsbroen. They are the parents of the following chil- dren-Thorwald E., born October 4, 1864; Nikoline Marie, born September 28, 1868, died May 19, 1879; Nels, born January 5, 1870; Severin, born April 6, 1872 ; Odin, born Jan- uary 6, 1874 ; Mina, born February 16, 1877 ; Martin, born March 6, 1880; Jens II., born December 30, 1881; and Marius, born May 15, 1883.
Thorwald is attending the academy at Minneapolis, and Nels, the high school at Litchfield. The other children are at home with their parents. Mr. Nelson has occupied the office of road overseer for two or three terms, and that of school director for several years. Ile had learned the tailoring trade in his far away native land, but since his coming here he has devoted his attention solely to agricultural pursuits, and has met with abundant success in this calling. Ile devotes a large share of his labors to stock raising.
AMES H. THOMS, a resident of Union Grove township, is one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers in the northern part of the county.
The subject of our sketch is the son of James and Lucy (Brown) Thoms, and was
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born in the town of Sebec, Me. While he was quite young his parents removed to Kil- mornac. Me., where his father engaged in farming and Inmbering, but finding it a hard place to make a living in, he moved to Ban- gor, Me. When James II. was fourteen years of age he learned the carpenter's trade, . and remained at home until he was twenty; then, with some acquaintances, he left for the West, stopping in Wisconsin a short time. Ile came to Minnesota in the fall of 1849. It was then a territory, St. Paul and St. Anthony being small villages at that time, and Minneapolis was not even started. Haul- ing supplies to the Indians was the main busi- ness done outside the villages.
Mr. Thoms engaged for four years in haut- ing supplies from St. Paul to Fort Ripley, and any other points where the Indians were to be paid their annuities.
Some of the log hotels, or stopping places, had squaw landladies, and others were kept by bachelors. Mr. Thoms left the road and worked at his trade for two years, and finally took np a claim in Eden Prairie township, sixteen miles south of Minneapolis, in Henne- pin county.
On August 12, 1855, he married Miss Annette F. Hamblet, of Eden Prairie, a young lady. nineteen years of age. He remained on his farm a few years, then moved to Chanhassen, Carver county, where he stayed but a short time, then moved to Castle Rock, Dakota county, where he stayed a few years, engaged in farming. Then, hearing of the many virtues of Meeker county, he removed to Union Grove township in the fall of 1867. and took up a homestead on sec- tion 20. Five years later. he sold that place and bonght a farm of 160 acres, on section 25 and 36, where he has since lived.
The farm is one of the most valuable in the township, and the building improvements are a credit to the neighborhood in which they are located.
Mr. and Mrs. Thoms have been blessed with nine children, seven of whom are now living, two girls and five boys-Frank. the eldest, is married, and lives at Newark, D. T., where he is, in company with a partner, running a grain elevator. E. L. and D. C. Thoms, the two next oldest, own a roller flour mill at Ashby, Grant county, Minn. The fourth son, Ben. H., is a graduate from ('urtiss' Business College, Minneapolis, and is in Minnesota at the present time. One daughter is a stenographer, and the other is a seamstress ; both reside in Minneapolis at present. Earl W., the youngest, remains at home with his parents. In politics, Mr. Thoms is a strong democrat. He came to the county comparatively a poor man, but is now well fixed as to this world's goods, and is rated as one of the most solid and substan - tial citizens of the county. He is truly a pioneer in the State, and also of the county.
ANIEL F. SMITH. Among the quiet, sober, and industrious German citizens of Meeker county, who have left their beau- tiful fatherland to seek upon the Western Continent the freedom from conscription and military despotism denied them in their own country, there is no more prominent in- dividual than the gentleman here presented, who is a resident upon section 16, Ellsworth township. Ile is a native of Germany, and is the son of Henry and Dora Smith. Ilis parents were also born in that classic land, although of French ancestry.
Our subject was reared beneath his native skies, and there received the education com- mon to the youth of that land, and there, having attained the years of manhood, Sep- tember 12, 1837. he was united in marriage with Miss Fredericka Sinnerman. In 1862 the young couple left their home amid the hills and valleys of Germany, and crossed
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the ocean to seek a newer home in free America. They settled near the town of Nunda, McHenry county, III., where they lived until the fall of 1875, when they came to Meeker county and settled where they now live, and where Mr. Smith has a fine farm of 180 acres of excellent land, on sec- tions 15 and 16, and on which he has erected an excellent residence, commodious barn and neat granary. While a resident of Nunda he showed his enterprise by subscribing to the institution of the pickling and preserving works of that place, in which he owned sey- eral shares of stock : and since coming to this county he has ever been foremost in anything that seemed to be for the benefit of the community.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of eight children - Mary (Mrs. Joseph Barth, who was married September 12, 1878, the anniversary of her parents' wedding), Will- iam, Frederick, George, Emma (now Mrs. Ludwig Martens), Clara, Bertie, and Minnie. William is also married, and follows the trade of moulder in Minneapolis.
Mr. Smith is a republican, politically, and has held the offices of town supervisor, and of school director and justice of the peace. and is a representative man. Ile and his family belong to the Lutheran Church.
- HARLES H. DART, the enterprising and energetic flour and feed dealer of Litchfield, was born in Forest City, Meeker county, Minn., February 5, 1862, and is the son of Wait II. and Calista (Willis) Dart. llis father is one of the oldest settlers of the county, having come here in April, 1856, and the following July took up a claim two miles east of the prospective village of Forest City, upon which he settled, his family consisting of his wife and one child, coming here in November. He raised one crop upon his
farm, and then removed to this village. He was at that place during the tragic scenes of the Indian ontbreak, and was an active par- ticipant in most of the stirring events of that unhappy epoch. He entered into the mer- cantile business in Forest City about the time of the arrival of the soldiers, and from 1863 to 1865 had charge of the postoffice. In 1869 he removed to the town of Greenleaf, where he took up a homestead, upon which he remained until 1871, and then came to Litchfield, where he has resided ever since.
Charles remained at home, enjoying the opportunities for schooling afforded him during the winters, and working in the sum- mer months at whatever he could turn his hand to. At the age of eighteen, with a commendable enterprise, he initiated the business which he now follows, and is making it a success. Ile is ranked high among the rising young business men of the village, and is rapidly and surely extending his opera- tions.
On Christmas day, December 25, 1883, C. HI. Dart and Miss Nellie Lockwood, also a native of this county, were united in the bonds of wedlock. They are the parents of one child - Ray.
DETER LUND, a resident of section 17, Greenleaf township, is one of the lead- ing farmers and stock-raisers in the southern portion of the county. He was born in Sweden, on the 15th of August, 1846. His younger days were spent in his native land, and in 1872 he came to the United States, and located in Minneapolis, where he re- mained for eight years. He was at work in the Buell, Nutten & Co. flouring mill in 1878.when the terrible mill explosion occurred, in which eighteen were killed and others seriously injured. Ilis escape at that time was almost miraculous. Ile was attending to the machinery, and a few moments before
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the disaster he was talking with a fellow- employe, named Peter IIogberg. The latter suggested getting some water, but Mr. Lund told him to attend to the machinery and he would get the water. Accordingly, Mr. Lund took the pail and started, having to go about 200 feet. Ile had just stepped outside of the door, when he noticed a queer smoke coming from the suction pipe of the Wash- burn A mill, which stood about 100 feet from the mill in which he worked. He had only gone about 100 feet when the first ex- plosion occurred, and he was thrown to the ground. He scrambled to his feet and tried to run, when the next explosion took place, and he was again thrown down. On his hands and knees he crawled under a box car, and the debris was falling thick around him. A few moments later he ran to where the mill had been, to rescue Hogberg, but he found the mill leveled to the ground, and nothing was ever found of his companion except a few pieces of bones and a knife blade. Out of all the men who worked in the three mills, he, and one other, were the only ones who escaped unhurt.
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