USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 36
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- RIC P. EKLUND, one of the black- smiths of the village of Grove City, is a native of Sweden, born July 3, 1836, and is the son of Peter and Lisa Kranz. Having acquired the blacksmith's trade in his youth and early manhood, he worked at that eall- ing in his native land until he was about twenty-five years of age, when he went to Russia and purchased a smithy, and for
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three years labored among the Muscovites at his calling. While there Mr. Eklund was united in marriage with Miss Julia Paulina Elizabeth Kruger. the ceremony taking place October 13, 1863. The lady, a daugh- ter of Henry and Louisa Kruger, was born in Russia, July 25, 1843. The same year Mr. Eklund returned to Sweden, where he worked at his trade for two years more and then emigrated to the United States in search of a fortune more consonant with his ideas than was to be found in the Old World. He remained in New York for some ten months, where he found ample employment at the forge, but at the end of that time came west and located at St. Paul, where he remained employed as usual until 1868, in which year he came to Meeker county and took a home- stead in section 14. Swede Grove township, on which he made his home for five years. During this time he erected a blacksmith shop in the village of Grove City, where he now carries on his trade. Three years later he built his fine residence in the same block as his smithy, where he now lives.
Mr. and Mrs. Eklund have been the par- ents of thirteen children, as follows-Leon- tina Lonisa, born November 7, 1864, died January 8, 1877 ; Engelbert, born September 27, 1866; Amanda Julia, born April S, 1868 ; Alga Matilda, born December 4, 1869 ; Gott- lieb Waldimar, born September 22. 1871; Otilia Valeria, born September 3, 1873; Ida Almira, born August 15, 1875, died Decem- ber 29, ISSO ; Elida Paulina, born September 25, 1876, died January 16, 1881; Leonhard Eric and Leontina Elizabeth, twins, born October 27, 1879; the first of whom died February 22, 1881 : Arthur Eric, born June 20, 1881 ; Hilger Conrad Anton, born June 11, 1883; and Henry Oscar Edwin, whose birth took place October 26, 1885. Amanda J. is married, and with her husband, Nels S. Strand, is engaged in running a boarding- house and dining-room at Helena, Mont.
A LBERT H. DELONG. The subject of this sketch is a resident of section 25, Greenleaf township, and is one of the most prominent and respected old settlers in Meeker county. Ile is a native of St. Law- renee county, N. Y., born April 12, 1842, and his parents, Iliram and Maria Delong, were natives of Grand Isle, Lake Champlain. The mother died in the village of Greenleaf in 1>70, while the father, who was born in 1799, is still living, making his home with Albert H. The family emigrated from New York to Wisconsin when Albert was seven years of age. His time was divided between school and work on his father's farm, and at the age of seventeen he came to Meeker county, Minn. After entering and paying for a claim in what is now Ellsworth town- ship, he leased the flouring mill on the outlet of Cedar Lake, known as Cedar Mill, and there he was engaged when the Indian out- break began. A few days previous to the massaere at Acton, Mr. Delong, while at the ageney, met an old Indian known as Charley Minnetonka, whose friendship he had gained by various acts of kindness. He had always worn citizen's clothes but was then robed in a bright red blanket. Ile acted strangely and took occasion to inform Mr. Delong, sub rosa. that there was going to be "a big fight." Little or no attention was paid to the old fellow's warning. for it was thought he had reference to some fight in project between the Indians. When the news of the massacre reached the mills, on the morning of August 18. 1862. Mr. Delong and Vincent Coombs started out to learn whether or not there was any truth in the reports. Learning nothing definite, they went on to Acton and found the people assembled there preparing to bury the bodies of the five who were slain. When the Indians came upon the scene, Albert joined the party which chased them to the Kandivohi woods. Having a keen sense of the duties of a scout, he was made
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useful in that capacity many times during the terrible weeks and months that followed. At Hutchinson he was enrolled with a com- pany of volunteers as a scout, and for six weeks never missed a day in the saddle, riding sometimes as much as forty miles a day. When the detail of the Ninth Minnesota Regiment was sent to Forest City he joined. them as a scout, and was riding in advance, and was first to discover the redskins in ambush at the time of the battle near Acton. The Indians were crawling in a wheat field and the glimmer of a bright gun was dis covered by Mr. Delong, who rode back and informed the captain. When the Indians saw they were discovered they rose and fired a volley at the whites, and then commenced surrounding them. In this battle three men were killed and twenty-one wounded out of a total of forty-nine in the command. Although left behind by the command, and once almost completely surrounded by Indi- ans, he escaped unhurt. In the summer of 1863 he was with the Sibley expedition as a scout, and in the fall of the same year again put his mill in operation. Two years later he bought an interest in the Greenleaf saw- mill, which he retained about three years, and then purchased an interest in the Greenleaf flouring mill, he and his partner subsequently buying the old Cedar Mill. Matters became seriously complicated with the firm, and the outcome was a complete collapse. Albert then went to the Black Hills and spent the summer; and the following year went out and remained nearly two years, when he returned to Meeker county and purchased the fine farm where he at present makes his home, on section 25, Greenleaf township.
IIe has been twice married, his first wife. Cecilia Nichols Delong, to whom he was married in 1863, bore him one child, Francis. born September 21, 1867. His first wife died in 1869. and in 1871 Mr. Delong was married to Mary Post, daughter of Abram and Sarah
Post, of Greenleaf. She was born Septem- ber 10, 1852, in the State of New York.
Mr. Delong has taken an active interest in the affairs calculated to benefit either his town or county, and is rated as one of the most prominent citizens in the south half of Meeker county. He is a member of Golden Fleece Lodge, No. 89, A. F. and A. M.
HARLES SMITH. Among the influen- tial citizens of Cosmos township, is the gentleman whose name heads this article. He has been prominently identified with the growth and development of Minnesota since 1855, although he did not come to Meeker county until 1879. He is the son of Alex- ander and Henrietta (Sutphin) Smith, and was born in Upper Stillwater, Maine, on the 19th of July, 1835. When he was only two years of age his parents removed to the State of New York, and settled at Plattsburgh, Clinton county, where they remained until taken from this world by death.
The subject of this memoir resided beneath the parental roof until attaining his nine- teenth year. when he came to Minnesota, coming from Chicago with a team. In that year. 1854. there was but one building in either St. Anthony or Minneapolis, except the public edifices. Ile remained in St. Paul some six months, and then returned to New York, but in the following fall returned to this State. Ile made his home in Minne- apolis until the year 1860, when he removed to Aitkin county, where he engaged in luum- bering. He was a resident of that county when it was organized, and was appointed by Governor Pillsbury as one of the organizing commissioners. and filled that office by elec- tion for some thirteen years.
In the spring of 1861, when traitorons hands essayed to rend the Union in twain, Mr. Smith enlisted in Company D. First
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Minnesota, and with that noble regiment, whose name brings up so many gallant deeds, participated in the first battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. He was there wounded by a ball in the right shoulder, and was laid up for some seven months, but on recovery re-enlisted in his old regiment, and stood with them in the awful flood of fire, that so nearly annihilated them, at Antietam, and in the battle of Mill Spring.
After his discharge Mr. Smith came back to Minnesota, and in 1879 removed to this county and purchased a farm on section 22, where he now lives, in Cosmos township. Of his fine place of 200 acres, some 125 are under cultivation.
OCTOR WILL E. CHAPMAN, while not among the old practitioners of the county, has, by elose attention to the duties of his profession and a remarkable success in grappling with the dread destroyer, death, taken a prominent position among the medi- cal fraternity of this county, and ranks high in the estimation of the community.
Dr. Chapman is a native of Hill, Merrimack county, N. Il., born February 9, 1857, and is the son of John W. and Charlotte (Taplin) Chapman, natives of New Hampshire and New York respectively. Our subject received his primary education and was reared among the hills and valleys of the " Granite State," upon the paternal aeres. At the age of fifteen years he entered a drug store, where he remained about two years. Having then attained a sufficient age, he matriculated at the medical department of the Vermont State University, at Burlington, Vt., and after a rigid course of study was graduated from that celebrated institution of learning, in July, 1879. The next year he located at North Branch, Chisago county, Minn., where he was engaged in the practice of his chosen
profession for about two years. In 1882 he came to Meeker county, and opened an oflice in Forest City, but, after two years' labor in that field removed to Litchfield, and, com- mencing practice here, has rapidly grown into favor with the people of the city and the surrounding country. His pleasant man- ners in the sick-room, his love for his ealling and his rare judgment in diagnosis are fast gaining him friends and patrons, and by eare- ful study to keep abreast of the times he merits the warmest encomiums.
The Doctor assumed the duties of matri- mony December 24, 1883, while a resident of Forest City, on which day he led to the hymeneal altar Miss Georgie Kimball, a na- tive of New Hampshire and a daughter of Edwin and Phoebe (Manwell) Kimball.
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(HILIP DECK, deceased, who fell by the deadly rifle of the ruthless Sioux dur- ing the tragie days of the Indian massaere in 1862, was born in France May 24, 1825. He learned the trade of baker in his native land, and there made his home until his twenty- first year, when he came to America and settled at Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y. He remained there until 1854, at which date he removed to Sault Ste. Marie, and was the fore- man on the ship canal then in course of con- struction there. He staid there until that work was finished and then went to New York, but in the spring of 1836 eame West, to Mil- waukee. Wis., where he made his home until July, 1860, when he came to Meeker county, arriving here the 5th of that month. He purchased 160 acres of land, which was par- tially improved, on section 29, Manannah township, of William Wilcox, taking every- thing on the place, house, furniture, stock, crop in the field, etc. He then returned to Mil- wankee for his family, who arrived at St. Paul after numerous mishaps and troubles, and
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there made a stay of a day, and from there to their place, where they located the same fall.
Mr. Deek remained upon this farm until the time of the Indian outbreak. The news of the murders in Acton reached the house about 11 o'clock in the forenoon of Monday, August 18th. Mrs. Deek was sick in bed, and Mr. Deck was away from home helping a neighbor harvest. Mrs. Ryckman brought the news, and took Mrs. Deck and her fam- ily to Silas Maybee's, where they were left while the men were sent for. The women soon saw some Indians approaching, and were terribly scared, but the savages did not come to the house. Mr. Deck rejoined his family that night, and remained there until morn- ing. The next night they spent at the house of N. C. Caswell, but learning that the outbreak was general, the entire body of set- tlers removed to Forest City. Friday Mr. Deck took his family to Kingston, where he remained until the following Monday, when, provisions running short, he returned to For- est City, with the intention of trying to get to his farm for clothing, provisions, etc. In company with Wihnot Maybee and others, they started, and met with the fate told in the history of the Indian massacre in this vol- ume. Shot in the very dooryard of Carlos Caswell's house, Mr. Deck was found some ten or twelve rods from where his wagon had stood, lying on his face, with eight bullet holes in his back, and it is supposed that, not being hit at the first fire, he jumped to the ground and ran that distance before he was shot. The home guard turned out the second day after and buried the dead, all except Wilmot Maybee, whose body was not found until three months after. Deck, Howe and Page were buried in one grave in Manannah cemetery, where, owing to the exertions and liberality of Mrs. Deek, there is erected a fine and appropriate monument to mark the place where rests the remains of her murdered husband and his companions.
Mrs. Deck remained at Forest City until the following fall and then returned to Wayne county, N. Y., with her family of five children, where she remained until April 22, 1879. On that date she returned to this county, having all these years had a hard struggle to keep her little family and pay the taxes on her farm. Almost everything upon the latter was destroyed by the savage maranders, the loss amounting to some $1,100, which Mrs. Deck did not receive from the State until nearly twelve years after, owing to the carelessness of those intrusted with her business.
Mr. and Mrs. Deek were united in mar- riage April 23, 1849, at Lyons, N. Y. The lady, whose maiden name was Miss Salome Shimpf, was born at Salza, France, November 21, 1830, and came to the United States in 1840. They were the parents of five children, as follows-Philopena, born December 4, 1850, now married and living in New York ; Mag- dalena, born May 18, 1852, also married and living in the same place; Josephine, born March 11, 1856, married, making ber home in the Empire State ; Franklin, in this county ; and Marie Louise, born December 22, 1860, died December 9, 1862.
FRANKLIN DECK, who was born August 2, 1858, in Humboldt, Milwaukee, Wis., came back to Meeker county with his mother in 1879, and purchasing eighty acres on section 28, Manannah, carries on agricultural pur- suits on it and upon the family homestead, and with him the widowed mother makes her home.
DETER D. RINGSTROM, the landlord of the Grove City House, is a native of Sweden, born March 17, 1844, and is the son of Nels and Ingra Ringstrom. His pa- rents were farmers in that country, and he was reared to agricultural pursuits and re-
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ceived the elements of a fair education. Ile re- mained at home until some twenty-seven years old, when, bidding adieu to the parental roof and all whom it sheltered. he crossed the ocean to a home in America. On landing, he came direet to Atwater, this State, arriv- ing at that place May 24, 1871. Entering the employ of Pahrs Pahrson he was en- gaged in farm work that summer and on the railroad during the fall and winter. Going to Breckenridge he was employed as hotel clerk and bartender for about six months, after which he worked on the railroad in the neighborhood of Alexandria, where he re- mained until October 3, 1872. He then made his home for a short time with Peter Chris- toferson, with whom he always remained when out of employment, while waiting for money due him from his Breckenridge em- ployer, intending to go back to Sweden, but falling in love with Mr. Christoferson's daughter Joanna, he gave up the prospective trip and married the young lady. The young couple moved on her homestead elaim and Mr. Ringstrom commeneed farming and con- tinued to follow this avocation until 1885, when he rented the farm and sold agricultu- ral machinery. They made their home upon their place, however, until March 28, 18SS, when, renting the Grove City House, he re- moved with his family to the village, and is now running the hotel. March 31. 1888, he was elected chief of the police of the village and fills that position.
Mrs. Ringstrom is a native of Sweden, horn April 8, 1844, and came to the United States with her parents in 1864. She was at the time of her marriage with the subject of this sketch, the widow of Charles JJohnson, who died in Illinois on their road to Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Ringstrom are the parents of four children-Nels Peter, born April 8, 1876; Carl Oscar, born October 17. 1878; Alice, born April 10, 1853 ; and Sarah, born April 20, 1887.
VAICHAEL FINNEGAN, one of the most prominent and successful farmers and stock-raisers in Meeker county, is a resident of section 28, Harvey township. He has one of the most valuable farms in the county, and his building and other improve- ments are a credit to the township in which he lives.
Mr. Finnegan was born in Ireland, on the 2d of December, 1852. When he was less than two years of age, his parents came to the United States, and for several years they moved about considerably, the father follow- ing the trade of blacksmithing. In 1857, the father, Patrick Finnegan, came to Meeker county, Minn., and purchased a farm in Har- vey township, and lived on the farm carry- ing on his farming operations, and at the same time working at his trade. He was living on the farm with the family at the time of the Indian outbreak. The same day as the massacre at Aeton, a neighbor brought them the news of the killing. and they went to Forest City with the rest to decide what course to pursue, returning to the farm the next day. The following day they went to Clearwater, where they remained until the fall of 1862. During the winter they lived at Elk River, and then settled at Minneapolis, where they remained until the ensuing fall. During that winter the father worked on the Omaha railroad. and the family lived at Fort Snelling, and in the spring they returned to Minneapolis. In July, 1865, they returned to their farm in Harvey township, where the family have since lived. The father died in Ilar- vey May 23, 1885, and was buried at Litch- field. In his death the county lost a worthy and substantial citizen, and a respected old settler. ILis widow still lives in Harvey.
Michael Finnegan, the subject of this sketch, is an active member of the Catholic Church. In political matters he affiliates with the democratie party. He has been very successful in his farming operations, and
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has the reputation of being one of the best business men in the township. In connection with diversified farming, he carries on stock- raising extensively, for which the farm is conveniently arranged.
ARRY H. HINES, an intelligent and trusted citizen of the village of Dassel, the superintendent and manager of the Min- nesota and Dakota elevator, is a native of Colchester, Chittenden county, Vt., born in August, 1848, and is the son of Benjamin and Emily (Rolfe) Hines. His paternal grand- father, William Ilines, was one of the earliest settlers of the town of Colchester, as was the maternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob Rolfe, and these two gentlemen and one other owned, at one time, nearly the entire town. William Hines lived and died among the ver- dant hills of the " Green Mountain State," where he settled, and on his death the home- stead descended to his son Benjamin, the father of our subject, who, besides managing three good farms in that portion of the country, was engaged in mercantile pursuits. Jacob Rolfe, the grandfather of Harry, mentioned above, was a colonel in command of the "Green Mountain Boys " during the last con- flict with Great Britain, 1812-15, and was a gallant and able soldier, and our subject recollects his telling of war experiences, in his younger days.
Harry H. Hines came to Meeker county in 1868, and settled in what is now Litchfield township, on section 31, where he followed agricultural pursuits for some ten years, after which he removed, after selling his property. to the village of Darwin, where he purchased wheat and other grain for the Davidson Ele- vator Company. In August, 1886. he came to Dassel and assumed charge of the elevator where he is now located. He has, since first coming here, taken a lively interest in all
educational and political affairs, and is now serving as one of the school directors of the the village. In his political affiliations he is in thorough accord with the republican party, and supports the candidates of that organiza- tion. IIe is a member of the Golden Fleece Lodge, No. 89, A. F. & A. M., having been made a Mason at Litehfield in 1882. Mr. Hines was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Harding, October 10, 1870. Ilis life com- panion is a native of Jennings county, Ind., and a daughter of Mitchell and Mary Ann (Reeves) Harding. By this marriage there have been six children-Maud, Grace, Bessie, Benjamin, Blanche and the baby.
HE PRESENT county treasurer of Mec- ker county, N. W. HAWKINSON, an old settler of the village of Litchfield, is a native of Skone, Sweden, and was born in 1837. lle remained in his native country until he was thirty-two years of age. His father died when he was about fourteen years of age, and shortly after this he began learning the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he spent an apprenticeship of three years and then followed as a trade for four years. He then learned the carpenter's trade, and followed that until he was twenty eight, when he entered the mercantile business and remained in that until 1869, when he sold ont and came to Minnesota, coming direct to Meeker county. For a time he stayed at Forest City, following the carpenter's trade, but in No- vember of the same year he went to Califor- nia, and followed his trade there for about one year, working up and down the Pacific coast. At the end of that time he returned to Sweden, going by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York. Hle remained in his native land until the following June, 1871, and then came again to Meeker county, Minn., locating at Litchfield, where he has
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since lived. For a number of years he fol- lowed his trade, but in the fall of 1883 he was elected to the office of county treasurer. and, being re-elected in the fall of 1886, he is the present incumbent of that office. He is a careful and painstaking official, and has filled the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. Mr. Hawkinson is a prominent member of the Masonie fra- ternity, holding membership in Golden Fleece Lodge, No. 89; Rabboni Chapter, No. 37; and Melita Commandery, No. 17, Knights Templar, and has held various offices in these organizations. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. and was one of the charter members of the organization at Litchfield, of which he is the present financier.
Mr. Hawkinson was married in 1862 to Miss Nellie Hanson, of Sweden, and they were blessed with three children-Andrew, Ellen and Annie. The wife and mother died shortly after their removal to the United States. Mr. Hawkinson was again married, in 1873, to Annie Katharena Anderson. They have one child-Harry. All of the children are still at home, except Andrew and Ellen, who are now residents of Minneapolis.
EORGE PAULSON, a farmer of Acton township, has probably the most famous and historie piece of land in Minne sota. Ile owns the place where the Jones and Baker families were killed by the In- dians on the 17th of August, 1862-the spot where the first blood was shed in the memor- able Indian massaere of 1862. Mr. Paulson is a native of Norway, and was born on the 3d of March, 1855, his parents being George and Anna Panlson. The family came to the United States in 1568, and after stopping for one year in Iowa, they came to Meeker county, Minn., and took a homestead on sec
tion 33, in Acton township. In 1877 they went to Dakota, where George Paulson, Jr., took a homestead, and remained until 1886, when he sold out and returned to Minnesota, and purchased the farm in Acton township, where he still lives. Ile has a valuable farm and devotes his attention to general farming and stock raising. The farm is often visited by sight-seers, who wish to look upon the old cabin and the site which has become famous in Minnesota's history. The subject of this sketch was married at Litchfield, January 25, 1875, to Miss Christina Kittelson, who was born in Wisconsin March 3, 1854, and their union has been blessed with the follow- ing-named children -Clara Josephine, who was born April 28, 1877, died a few months later; Carl Johan, born June 29, 1878 ; Ella, born September 27, 1880; James Christan, born October 18, 1883 ; Anna Josephine, born March 13, 1884; and Cora, born December 30. 1887. Mr. Paulson's parents still reside in Dakota.
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