USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 35
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stead, and now has a farm of 270 acres, well stocked and improved, and has fine farm buildings. Mr. Thorp was a poor man when he came to America, but the industry and economy, so characteristic of his country- men, have been successful in his case, and he is now well-off.
Mr. Thorp was married in July, 1869, at Acton, to Miss Bereth Malvig. They have had the following children-Ole, born August 23, 1870, died same day; Regine, born December 9, 1871, died March 11, 1877; Severt, born August 17, 1873, died in Oeto- ber, 1877; Severt, born August 5, 1874; Pauline, born December 18, 1876, died same day ; Bertha, born April 12, 1879, died in September, 1879; and Olena, born January 31, 1884. In political matters, Mr. Thorp is a republican, and in religious affairs the family are members of the Norwegian Luth- eran Church. Mr. Thorp devotes his atten- tion to diversified farming and stock-raising. He has met with some reverses, but nothing of a very serious character, except during the grasshopper raids, when he lost about half his erops.
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RANK NELSON, one of the represent- ative young farmers of Cosmos town- ship, has his home upon section 16, where he now owns some 200 acres of fine land. This place, or, rather, 160 acres of it, he purchased in 1886, it being school land. To it he has since added forty aeres more, and has some 115 acres of it under cultivation. Ilis dwell- ing, ete., which he erected in 1887, are of an excellent character, and the whole place man- ifests the thrift and care of its owner.
Mr. Nelson, who is the son of Swan and Louisa Nelson, was born in Goodhue county March 2, 1864, and came to Meeker county with his parents on the 26th of September, 1876. The family located in the town of
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Litchfield, where our subjeet remained until coming here. June 10, 1887, he and Miss Mary Peterson were united in marriage, and took up the duties of life upon their farm.
Our subject has always manifested consid- erable interest in all town and educational matters, and since coming here has been intrusted with the office of clerk of school distriet No. 81.
OHN CARNEY, the able representative of the hardware trade at Eden Valley, came to that village in the fall of 1886, and the next spring established his present busi- ness. In addition to the usual lines handled, he gives a share of his attention to farm ma- chinery and pumps.
Mr. Carney is a native of Rutland county, Vt., born February 17, 1856, and a son of Jeremiah and Catherine (McConnell) Carney, natives of Ireland and Vermont, respectively. When our subject was only about four years of age his parents removed to Rice county, Minn., where they settled on a farm. In the spring of 1878 they moved to Chippewa county and took a homestead and timber claim, where they still live. In Rice county John Carney grew up, receiving his educa- tion in the district schools of the vicinity. He made his home with his parents, and learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1886 he came to Eden Valley and opened a smithy, but the next spring commenced dealing in hard- ware, which business he still follows.
ILTON GORTON. Foremost among the old pioneers of Meeker county, who yet remain here, is the gentleman who is the subject of this memoir. Coming here in 1857, the second year of the county's ex- istence, he has, more or less, been identified
with its history, ever since. He is a resident of the town of Forest City, on his farm on section 29 and 30, which he preempted on his arrival in this locality.
Mr. Gorton was born in the county of Steuben, N. Y., May 22, 1822, and is the son of Silas and Betsey (Spring) Gorton, both of whom were natives of the " Empire State." He was one of a family of nine children born to his parents, the others being- Horatio, Betsey, Jane, Stephen D., Elmira, Hiram, William and Milo. Milo, a member of a New York Regiment, was killed at the battle of Resaca, Ga.
Our subject is the grandson of Peleg Gorton, one of the six proprietors of Painted Post, N. Y., and was reared in that vicinity, and there received the elements of a common school education. On the 3d of July, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Harriett C. Marks, a native of New York State, also.
At the time of the Indian outbreak, Mr. Gorton's wife and he took refuge in Forest City, and upon the memorable morning of the 23d of August, when nearly everybody had fled from the county, Milton Gorton was one of the little band of heroes who remained to make a stand at Forest City, in defense of their homes, as detailed in the history of the massacre in this volume. Mr. Gorton lost heavily by these troubles, the Sioux burning his house and its contents, and destroying everything else that they could about the place. Ile has, however, fully recovered from the setback, and is one of the large land owners and prosperous farmers of the county, owning over a full section of some of the best land in the town of Forest City.
Mr. Gorton, having no children of his own, adopted Ida A. Fergerson, when she was but five years of age. She was born April 17, 1873, and is the daughter of George Fergerson.
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Our subject is a stanch republican in his political views, but has had but little desire for political preferment, although he has, at . times, been induced to accept several town offices.
OHN BIRCH, of the firm of Birch & Nelson, Litchfield. is a native of Sweden, born August 21, 1846, and is the son of An- drew and Martha (Johnson) Birch. He re- mained in his native land until 1868, when, with a natural wish to better his financial condition, he bade adieu to the old world and sought in America a new home. He had served a long apprenticeship in the land of his birth, to the trade of tailor, and on land- ing on these shores, worked at journey work in that trade in the city of St. Paul, whither he had come, until 1880, when he removed to Litchfield, and in company with Andrew Nelson, founded the business now represented by Mr. Birch and Rasmus Nelson, trading under the firm name of Birch & Nelson, in the clothing and gents' furnishing goods line. Mr. Birch is a member of the I. O. O. F., having joined that order while in St. Paul.
Mr. Birch was married January 4, 1878, to Miss Sarah Johnson, a daughter of Olaf Johnson, of this county, and a native of Sweden. They have three children-Aman- da Elizabeth, Ella Hannah and Horace John.
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DETER SANGREEN, a hard-working and industrious farmer, living on section 9, Collinwood township, was born in Sweden in 1856, and is the son of Andrew Peter and Eve Anderson. When he was about sixteen years of age he left his native shores and emigrated to America, and located in St. Louis county, Minn. For three years there
he was employed in railroad work, and then came to Collinwood, where his parents had come, that year, 1876, and took up his home beneath their roof. One year later he rented a farm, upon which he carried on the avoca- tion of a farmer, and then purchased forty acres of land where he now lives. The neat improvements in the way of Irouse, granary, stable, etc .. have all been erected by himself, and he is in a fair way to achieve success in life through energy, industry and frugality. HIe has held the office of town clerk five years; chairman of the board of supervisors one year; side supervisor two years, and the responsible position of county commissioner for two years, and always with credit to him- self and honor to the judgment of those who placed him in those capacities.
Mr. Sangreen was united in marriage March 6, 1880, with Miss Caroline Dohlman, a native of Sweden, born August 5, 1858, and daughter of Olaf and Caroline Dohlman.
OHN S. LARSON, a prominent citizen of Dassel village, is engaged in the retail liquor business. Born in Vaermlan, Sweden, March 24, 1857, he is the son of John and Mary Larson, natives of Sweden. Ile came to Meeker county with his parents in 1870, when he was about twelve years of age. The family settled upon a farm in section 30, Dassel township, where his par- ents still live.
John remained at home, assisting his father in the labors incident to farm life, until 1874, when he entered the employ of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad, at St. Paul, with whom he remained for a couple of years. In 1879 he returned to this county and settled at the village of Dassel, where he entered the service of Andrew Linquist, as bartender, and fulfilled the duties of that position until 1882. In the latter year he
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entered into a proprietorship with John Thomas, in the same line, but shortly after J. II. Remick, having bought out Mr. Thomas, the firm of Remick & Larson was formed. In February, 1883, their place of business was destroyed by fire, and our subject lost his entire stock of clothes, except those he had on and considerable of his stock in trade. At once, in company with J. II. Remick and Thomas Gallagher, he commenced the erec- tion of the Dassel house, but before its com- pletion Mr. Larson sold out his interest in the hotel, only reserving the saloon part, where he now carries on the business.
Mr. Larson was married, in 1883, to Miss Emma J. Bunting, who was called away by death May 31, 1885, leaving without a mother's love and care, their little girl, Ella May.
LA NELSON, a thrifty and successful farmer, who resides on section 36, Litchfield township, is a native of Sweden, born October 9, 1848. His father, Nels Swanson, was born in Sweden in 1822, and died in Meeker county in 1875, having settled here in 1872. Ola's mother, Hannah Swan- son, was born in 1819, came to America in 1871, and died in 1884.
Ola Nelson came to the United States in 1866, and in 1869 he located on section 36, Litchfield township, Meeker county, Minn., where he has since lived. During that time he has continually followed farming, and has been reasonably successful, notwithstanding the reverses which he has met, including the destruction of his crop two seasons by grass- hoppers and hail, and the burning of his residence, with all its contents, March 2, 1873.
In 1878 Mr. Nelson was married to Ellen Hawkinson, a daughter of Hogan Peterson. Their marriage has been blessed with four
children-Amanda, Mary, Alice and Anna. Mr. Nelson has a valuable farm and devotes his attention to stock raising and general farming.
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ILLIAM ROACH, an enterprising, industrious and energetic farmer of Forest Prairie township, living upon see- tion 4, is the son of Michael J. and Sarah J. (Wynn) Roach, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere in the pages of this volume. Will- iam was born in Cass county, Indiana, July 1, 1848, and received his earlier schooling in that locality. In 1866 he came to this county with his parents and passed his time between that and his majority in attending school and in assisting his father to carry on the farm. About the year 1871 he commenced the bat- tle of life for himself, engaging in agricult- ural pursuits upon the place where he now resides, and where he has met with merited success.
Mr. Roach was united in marriage Febru- ary 26, 1871, with Miss Matilda Kisinger. The lady is a native of Fulton county, Ind., and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kising- er. Her mother is among those who have gone to their rest in the land of the blest ; but her father is still living. By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Roach have a family of eight children - Matilda, Emma, Henry, Rosa, Nettie, William, Monroe, all living at home, and George and John deceased.
Mr. Roach is a democrat politically, and has served in some of the local offices in this town- ship. He is a veteran of the late war, enlist- ing in 1862 in the Twenty-first Indiana Heavy Artillery, but was honorably dis- charged from the service, after a short term, and returned to his home.
In regard to his pioncer life here, Mr. Roach writes -" When I first came to this county, in 1867, I got my living by hunting
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and trapping. In 1871 I threw down the gun and trap and went to farming. About the first money I earned I carried a bushel of potatoes from Forest City for William M. Abbott."
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J OHN OLSON, a steady, thrifty farmer of Kingston township, came to Meeker county in 1868, and took a homestead of eighty acres of land on section 34, where he now lives. He was born in Sweden, Novem- ber 8, 1830. In 1865 he determined to seek in the new world his fortune, and emigrated thither, landing at New York, but came at once West and was engaged at various kinds of labor in St. Paul, Stillwater and in the ยท pinery, until he came to this county. He is the son of Ole and Anna Flink, the former of whom was always a farmer. Onr subject was one of a family of ten children, but he is the only survivor.
Mr. Olson was married to Miss Sabrina Olson, by Rev. John L. Fasig, and they are the parents of six children-Selina, born November 5, 1870; Obenius, born August 31, 1872 ; Alva Josia, born August 24, 1874; Johan Adolph, born May 23, 1876; Ifilma, born March 26, 1878, and Caleb Sethur, born September 30, 1881. This was Mr. Olson's second marriage, he having wedded Miss Josephine Peterson, at Stockholm, Sweden, but she died after about eighteen monthis' time. Mr. Olson and his family are zealous members of the Missionary Church at Kings- ton. In polities he is a republican.
- ICHAEL LOVETT, deceased, was at one time a prominent citizen of Manannah township. He was a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and came to the United States about the year 1848, and
located in the city of Boston, Mass. Two years later he went to the State of New York, where he also lived for about two years, after which he removed to Canada. That Dominion was his home for about eighteen years, and then, in 1870, he came with his family to Meeker county, Minn., and located on a farm in what is now Manan- nah township, where he remained until the time of his death, on the 29th of April, 1879. He was married to Miss Bridget Fanley, who still survives him. They had a family of nine children, five girls and four boys, whose names were as follows-Bridget, Alice, l'eter, Catherine, Mary, Ann, John, Michael and James. All of the children are still living, except Mary and Alice. The widow still carries on the place, which consists of eighty acres of land. She is a member of the Cath- olic Church, and holds the respect of all who know her.
James Lovett, a son of Michael, who owns forty acres of land in the township of Manan- nah, was born in Canada on the 13th of November, 1865, and still resides with his mother. He is also a member of the Catho- lic Church, and in political matters he aets independently of party creed, and votes for the man rather than party.
TALBERT VITZTHUM VON ECK- STAEDT, of Litchfield, was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1845, and is the son of Frederic and Lonisa (Manns) von Eckstaedt. His father was a captain in the army of Prus- sia, and served in the wars of Napoleon. Later in his life he was the occupant of an important position in the custom house of that State, and died in his native land in 1854. He was of the aristocratic class, as the "von " before his name plainly shows.
Albert, at the age of thirteen, was sent to the military school at Berlin, where he re-
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mained some three years, and at the age of sixteen received a commission as lieutenant in the Second Pomeranian Lancers, and served in the army for four years. In 1865 he left the fatherland and came to Amer- ica, where he traveled for a couple of years, most of the time on the Pacific slope. In 1878 he came to Litchfield, and for two years was in the employ of John Rodange, and at the expiration of that time entered into part- nership with the same gentleman in the sa- Joon business. In 1882 the subject of this memoir opened his present place of business on Sibley avenue.
Albert V. von Eckstaedt has always taken great interest in military affairs, especially in the militia, and was largely instrumental in the organization of Company HI, First Regi- ment M. N. G., of this place, and also helped organize the bucket brigade of the fire de- partment. IIe is a valued citizen and much respected member of the community.
Our subject was married November 11. 1881, to Miss Lizzie Mittwer, a native of Prussia, Germany, and daughter of Martin and Busche (Radise) Mittwer. By this union there have been born two children-Adelia and Theresa.
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PROMINENT among the farmers of Swede Grove township, is N. L. NEL- son, who has a good farm and comfortable home on section 33. IIe was born in Swe- den on the 25th of February, 1845, his parents being Lewis and Johanna Nelson. N. L. Nelson came to the United States with his father in 1871. He came direct to Swede Grove township, and worked for several farmers in that part of the county for seven years, when he bought a farm on section 22 and lived there for nine years. He then sold that and bought his present place on section 33.
Mr. Nelson was married on the 24th of March, 1868, to Emily Anderson, and they have had the following children-Ole, who was born January 28, 1869; Albert, born May 24, 1874; and Lewis, born May 16, 1877. When Mr. Nelson came to this coun- try he was a poor man, but by industry and economy he has acquired a competency and a comfortable home. He now has 155 acres of land and has a good lot of stock gathered about him. He is a republican in political matters and ranks as one of the leading farmers of his township.
ADISON DELONG, a prominent member of the farming community of Collinwood township, has his home upon section 4, where he owns and cultivates nearly his entire farm of 163 acres. Ilis house, which is a neat and tasty cottage, is sur- rounded with all the necessary conveniences and comforts for carrying on his business, and is a home in the true sense of the word. Mr. Delong was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, June 1, 1836, and is the son of Francis and Naney (Gillilan) Delong, natives of Penn- sylvania and Ohio, respectively. He remained beneath the parental roof until his marriage, March 5, 1857, on which date he led to the nuptial altar Miss Elizabeth Lunsford, a na- tive of Augusta county, Va., and daughter of Reuben and Nancy Lunsford. He then commenced work at a smelting furnace where he was engaged until 1866, when he came to Carver county, Minn., but one year later removed to Scott county. While vari- ously engaged there he came to this connty and took up a claim on section 34, Dassel, on the site of the present village of that name, where he resided, keeping " bach " that win- ter. He returned to Scott county where his family were, and in coming back to his claim found that it had jumped by Parker Simons,
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a railroad man. A law-suit ensned, which was carried up to the Secretary of the Inte- rior, and finally Mr. Delong's title to the claim was canceled. 'The claimant then com- promised with our subject, who removed to Collinwood township, and settled where he now lives. He was a poor man when he came to this country, and his law-suit and loss of his claim still further set him back, but by his energy and industry he has been the architect of his present excellent finan- cial condition. Mr. Delong has held the of- fice of town supervisor for some eight years, and that of assessor for four, and holds the latter position now.
Mr. and Mrs. Delong have a family of eight children, as follows-Martha, born March 10, 1858, married Alexander S. Gor- don, March 21, 1877; Nancy C., born Au- gust 7, 1859, married William Compton, July 31, 1887; Rachel, born July 17, 1861, mar- ried Lemuel L. Sison, December 25, 1878; Edmund, born May 13, 1863; Lewis, born March 19, 1866; Napoleon, born August 16, 1869; Francis, born April 10, 1873; and William, whose birth took place April 23, 1876.
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IRGIL H. HARRIS, the popular drug- gist of Litchfield, is the descendant of one of the colonial families of Virginia, and was born in Hanover, Licking county, Ohio, May 14, 1840.
John Harris, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of Hanover county, Va., where he remained until his death. His sons drifted to North Carolina, where they became prominent men, and were prime movers in the movement for Independence passed at Charlotte, Mecklenburgh county, N. C., May 20, 1775, antedating the Declaration of Inde- pendence of the Continental Congress over one year, and furnishing many of the ideas
for that celebrated document. Subsequently they removed to South Carolina, and settled on the Santee river, from which place Ephraim Harris, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, in company with Daniel Boone, who was a wann friend of his, made a trip into the wilderness that is now the State of Ohio. After prospecting over that territory, Mr. Harris, about 1820, took np a homestead on the Licking river, in what is now Licking county, and there made a settlement. The old homestead now forms a part of the site of the busy city of Newark. Ephraim Harris remained upon this place for about twenty years, when he removed to the town of Han- over, in the same county, near his son Daniel's farm, and there made his home until he was killed in breaking a pair of colts, in his ninety-eighth year.
Daniel Harris, the father of the subject of this memoir, who was a tanner as well as a farmer, remained upon the farm which he had purchased in Licking county until about 1848, when he sold out and removed to Day- ton, Ohio, where he followed his trade for about a year, when he died, leaving a wife and five children to mourn their loss. The children bore the names of Virgil II., Emma E., Cynthia A., Louis E., and David M.
The mother of Virgil was formerly Miss Martha Dowling. Her father was a native of Ireland, who had left the land of his birth on account of some trouble with a landlord, which culminated in Mr. Dowling pulling him off of his horse and beating him. This, in that oppressed land, was a terrible offense, so he emigrated to this country, and settled in Juniata county, Penn., where the future Mrs. Harris was born. When her brothers moved to Ohio, she went with them, walking the whole distance, some 700 miles, driving their cattle all the way. Later she married Mr. Harris, and after his death returned to Licking county, from whence, two years later, she removed to Marion county, in the
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same State, where her people had settled. Subsequently she married John Baker, and made her home in Ohio until 1883, when they removed to Indiana, where she died in 1887.
Virgil remained with his mother after his father's death until about 1852, when, being but twelve years of age, he went to Macon county. Ill., where for four years he was engaged in herding some 4,000 head of sheep. In the fall of 1859 he returned to Ohio, and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln in 1860. In May, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Infan- try, and served until the close of the war. He participated, with his gallant regiment, in some twenty-eight engagements, the princi- pal of which were Perryville, Green River Bridge, Bowling Green, Crab Orchard, Lou- donville, Knoxville, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Allatoona, Spring Hill, Franklin, Nashville, Fort Fisher and others. He received his discharge as orderly sergeant, June 28, 1865, and on returning home attended college for a year and a half at Indianapolis. Ind., and Ashland, Ohio. He was married, December 25, 1868, to Miss Lizzie IIill, a native of Marion county, Ohio, and daughter of John and Catherine Hill, who were among the pioneer families of the Buckeye State. For two years after that Mr. Harris followed farming in Marion county, Ohio, whither he had moved. In December, 1870, in company with George Lyon, he came to this part of the State, and, determining to settle at Litchfield, brought his family here in January, 1871, when the place was but in embryo. In company with S. Y. Gordon he started a meat market and remained in that two years, and then opened a drug store, which business he has followed ever since.
In politics Mr. Harris is a republican and has filled many offices in village and county. He was one of the first justices of the peace
of the village of Litchfield, and has, since then, been alderman, recorder, mayor and county commissioner, and is now serving as chairman of that board, having been a mem- ber of it for five years. He is a member of Frank Daggett Post, G. A. R., holding the third rank in the department of Minne- sota, and belongs to the A. O. U. W.
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EWIS OSTERLUND, of the mercantile firm of Osterlund & Leighton, promi- nent dealers in general merchandise, in Das- sel village, came to Meeker county in the vear 1881. In March, 1882, he entered the postoffice in this place as clerk, under Lonis Rudberg, postmaster, with whom he re- mained until January 1, 1883, when he was himself appointed postmaster. He occupied this official position until May 1, 1887, after which the present firm was formed and the store opened under their auspices. He is a native of Sweden, born October 17, 1853, and remained a resident of his native land until he had attained the age of twenty- seven years, but on the 23d of May, 1881, embarked for the promised land. the home of the poor man beneath the folds of our starry banner, and upon setting foot upon the free soil of America, came to Meeker county as mentioned above. After a short time he went to Minneapolis, but five months later returned to Dassel where he now lives.
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