USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 38
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The family of Mr. and Mrs. Rails consists of four children-William HI., born April 26, 1865; Samuel F., born April 1, 1871 ; Leslie E., born July 28, 1874 ; Edith V., born July 23, 1879.
RS. MARY BELFOY (nee MeGannon), a resident of Litchfield, is a native of Jennings county, Ind., born July 8, 1843, and is the daughter of John and Mary (Carney) MeGannon, natives of Vir- ginia and Kentucky, respectively. She was united in marriage, June 11, 1862, with John Black well.
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John Blackwell was born in Gloucester- shire, England, January 4, 1832, and came to Meeker county April 15, 1857, and set- tled in Acton, where he was one of the pio- neers. He was a mason by trade, but found but little to do at that calling in the new country, so worked on his farm in summer and taught school in the winter seasons, being the first to teach in Litchfield town- ship. After his marriage he went onto his farm to live, and while there was interrupted by the news of the Indian outbreak. On the eventful night of August 17, 1862, he organ- ized a posse to go to the houses of Jones and Baker to assist the wounded, if any, and was the first to enter the Baker cabin, where with a steady hand he struck a hght, a peril- ous proceeding under the circumstances, as he made himself a mark for any lurking foe. He it was that found the little child at Jones' house and gave him into the hands of one of the men who accompanied him. Some time after this he went to Anoka with his young wife and there remained until 1865, when he returned to this county and opened a store in the township of Ripley, now Litchfield. In the fall of that year he was elected to the office of register of deeds and removed to Forest City. Shortly after assuming the duties of that position, James M. Harvey, the clerk of the district court, died, and that office was also conferred upon Mr. Black well, and a short time after he was also made school examiner, thus holding three offices at one and the same time. From this time on he was an occupant of some of the county offices until his death, which took place May 24, 1875, while he was judge of probate. He left five children - Minnie, wife of F. P. Olney, of Litchfield; Mary J., Mrs. Charles Downey, of Minneapolis ; Addie, George, and John at home, and Mattie, deceased. On the 7th day of January, 1881, Mrs. Blackwell was again married, this time to Frank Belfoy.
Frank Belfoy was a lawyer by profession,
and a native of Prescott, Province of Onta- rio, Canada, born November 1, 1827. He came to Forest City in 1868 and there estab- lished the pioneer journal of Meeker county, The News, which he edited in connection with his legal practice. In 1869 he removed to Litchfield and in 1874 he sold the sub. seription books and good-will of The News to Daggett & Joubert, who consolidated with The Ledger, and Mr. Belfoy devoted his sole attention to his profession. In 1876 Mr. Belfoy purchased an interest in the News- Ledger with Mr. Joubert, and assumed the greater share of the editorial labor, which he continued until July 16, 1881, when he was called to " that land elysian, whose portals we call death." Ilis widow is still a resident of the village of Litchfield. By her last union there was born one child, Frank, living at home with his surviving parent.
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USTOF BERGQUIST, an energetic and thrifty Swedish farmer of Collin- wood township, resides upon section 10, where he owns some eighty acres of land. Ilis home is pleasantly located, and is sur- rounded by his excellent outbuildings. His stock, to which he gives considerable atten- tion, is of good strains, and the place evinces the prosperity and care of the proprietor. Hle was born in Sweden August 2, 1831. and is the son of John and Eva Katrina Mag- ason. IIe made his home in his native land until he was about forty years of age, when, realizing the fact that it was almost impossi- ble in that section of the world for a man to achieve a competence, determined to seek in America a new home. Accordingly, in 1871, he sailed from there, and on landing in the United States, went at onee to Duluth, where he was employed three years in a saw-mill. From there he removed to Thomson, this State, where he ran a lath mill in summer
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and worked in the pineries during the winter. for two years. In 1876 he came to Collin- wood township, this county, where he pur- chased the farm where he now lives, and set- tled down to an agricultural life. Ile has prospered according to his merits since com- ing here, and richly deserves the esteem and respeet in which he is held by the people of the community. He has held the office of town treasurer for some three or four years, and being a striet member of the Lutheran Church, has acted as deacon and treasurer of that organization for some time.
Mr. Bergquist was married May 5, 1860, to Miss Anna Louisa Peterson, also a native of Sweden, and daughter of Peter and Ka- trine Carlson. By this union there has been born a family of eight children, of whom the following is a record-Axel Edward was born December 25. 1861; John Siegfried was born November 2, 1864; Jennie Augusta's birth took place November 4, 1867 ; France Augustus was born March 19, 1871, and died August 19, 1872 ; Ama Olize was born July 1, 1873, and died April 19, 1885; Walter Emanuel was born April 23, 1879 ; Carl Otto. born July 10, 1882; and August William was born March 24, 1885. Axel E. married Miss Hukła Swanson, and lives on section 15. Col- linwood ; and Jennie A., now Mrs. Theodore Premous, and is a resident of Dassel.
LE JOHNSON RENOS, is a respected and thrifty farmer of Acton town- ship. Meeker county, Minn. He is a son of John and Betsy Renos, and was born in Norway in 1825. The greater part of his life was spent in his native land, and he was married there, in October, 1860, to Miss Mary Gunderson. They came to the United States in 1872, and for two years after their arrival they lived in Minneapolis. At the expira- tion of that time they came to Acton town-
ship and purchased 120 acres of railroad land on section 19, where they still live, and where they now have a comfortable home in which to spend their declining years. Mr. and Mrs. Renos have but one child, a daughter, Betsy, who was born on the 27th of November, 1865.
Betsy Renos was married on the 13th of March, 1882, to Jolin Jacob Oestadt, and they are living with her parents. They have been blessed with one child, Mina Helen, who was born on the 27th of November, 1885. The family are all members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.
ENRY Mc CANN. The subject of this biographical sketch is a successful and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, who resides on section 9, Harvey township. He is a native of Lowell, Mass., and was born on the 1st of April, 1859. His parents, who were natives of Ireland, were Thomas and Alice (MeLaughlin) MeCann.
On the 1st of May, 1867, quite a party of settlers left Lowell, Mass., bent upon finding homes in Minnesota, the McCann family being among the number. They finally arrived at Clearwater, and from there, with teams. they made their way across the country to Forest City. Thomas McCann, the father of our subject, located on section 10, in Harvey township, where he remained for seven years, and then removed to Manan- nah township, where he still resides.
Henry MeCan remained at home until he had arrived at the age of twenty-one years, when he began making, his own way in the world. With the exception of one winter spent in the pineries, his home has been in Harvey township, constantly, since that time. He now has a valuable farm of 120 acres, and a comfortable home. A good share of his place is under a high state of
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cultivation, and, in connection with his general farming operations, he carries on stock-raising to a considerable extent. In political matters he votes the democratic ticket, and is regarded as one of the leading citizens of the township in which he resides.
Our subject was married on the 24th of November, 1884. to Miss Katie A. Mitchell, and they have been the parents of two chil- dren, as follows-Miss Allice, born March 1, 1886: and Harry, born March 15, 1888. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCann are devout and active members of the Catholic Church. The marriage of our subject and his lady took place at East Minneapolis, the cere- mony being performed by the Rev. Father O'Reilly, of St. Anthony church.
ANIEL McLANE. The subject of the following biography is one of the finest representatives of a class of foreign- born citizens, who have brought the thrift and energy, which was their only heritage in their native land, to this country, with its great possibilities, and are accomplishing the best results in their application under the influence of American institutions.
Mr. McLane is a native of County Antrim. Ireland, born October 9, 1854, and is the son of Patrick and Marian (Close) MeLane. Ile was reared in the Emerald Isle and remained in the land of his birth until 1879, when, with a natural wish to better his fortune, he crossed the stormy bosom of the Atlantic, landing at New York City. From there he proceeded to Chicago, but, a few months later, in 1880. came to Litchfield and opened the wholesale and retail grocery store now under the pro- prietorship of W. H. Dart, building the store building in the summer of 1881. lle re- mained in this line of trade until 1887, when, being desirous of a change in his business, he sold out to Mr. Dart, as he had the previous
year entered into a copartnership with L. D. Crowe, in the agricultural implement busi- ness. Devoting his abundant energies to this line of trade Mr. MeLane is rapidly and surely acquiring a prominent place among the business men of this section of the State, and has the warmest respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens.
PETER J. LUND, one of the pioneers of Meeker county, and the first set- tler in Acton township, still has his resi- dence on the southeast quarter of section 4, where he first located in 1857.
Mr. Lund is a native of Skone, Sweden, born October 2, 1821, and came to this coun- try in 1852. After short stays in Knoxville and Moline, III., he located in Chisago county, this State, where he remained until coming here. During the Indian troubles he suffered much loss of property, the savages burning his houses, stealing his horses and running off his stock. He heard of the out- rage and left his house in a hurry with his family to Forest City, and leaving them in safety returned to his place with six or seven neighbors, for he had considerable provi- sions, etc., in his house, which he had accu- mulated to sell to such of his neighbors as needed them. They approached the house cautiously, seeing everywhere the evidences of the Indians having been about, and did not dare to light a candle or even a match. The house had been broken open and Mr. Lund, entering, could see by the dim light that the drawers and trunks had been forced and their clothing stolen. Ile went up stairs and dropped two sacks of flour to the friends below, and, taking a trunk that was still intact. left. These depredations he lays to the Home Guards, as the Indians had not been there yet, but at the time he did not know it. After loading these things on a
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sled, they got a yoke of the neighbors' oxen which they hitched to it, and drove out on the prairie, where the others had congre- gated with their teams. All being afraid, he volunteered to lead, but confesses that he lay pretty close to the sled and kept his eyes wide open for Indians. They got through safely to Forest City, although the savages shortly afterwards burned his house and destroyed all the property they could. During the attack on the stockade at Forest City, on the morning of the 4th of Septem- ber, Mr. Lund says that an opening existed in the line of fortification on the north side, and that while he and another man held poles and planks across the opening, Hamlet Stevens, now the banker at Litchfield, calmly nailed them fast, although the bullets were singing round their heads pretty freely, and also says that Mr. Stevens built the first house in Grove City, while he boarded with Mr. Lund.
Mr. Lund has now a fine farm of 350 acres of land, although he was a poor man when he came here. Ile was married, in May, 1850. in Sweden, to Miss Ellen Nelson, who is the mother of seven children-Anna, deceased ; Ingra, Saralı, Joanna, Amy, and Nels, deceased.
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OUIS MARTENSON, a respected farm- er, residing on section 25, Litchfieldl township, is a son of Marten and Pernella Larsen, and was born in Sweden on the 6th of September, 1844. Ile lived with his parents in the old country until 1872, when he came to the United States with l'eter Martenson and Peter Olson, and the party settled in Meeker county, Minn.
In 1879 Louis Martenson was married to Anna Johnson. She was born in Sweden February 10, 1859, and came to America with her parents, Jonas and Lovisa Johnson,
in 1869. IIer father died in 1870, and her mother lives with Louis and his wife. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martenson, as follows-Emma Lovise, born May 28, 1880; Axel Albert, born October 15, 1882; Oscar Louander, born February 14, 1885 ; and Marten Edward, born August 14, 1887. Mr. Martenson devotes his entire time to farming and stock-raising and is very successful. Ilis good management, economy and enterprise have not been without their reward. and he is now in comfortable circum- stances and has a pleasant home. He has also met with some serious reverses in the way of loss of crops. In 1887 his crops were almost wholly destroyed by the terrific hail- storm which swept over this portion of the county.
EV. HUGH McDEVITT, resident priest of the Catholic Church at Manannah, is a native of County Donegal, Ireland, born on the 3d of February, 1843, and is the son of Winifrede O'Flaherty and William McDevitt. He received his education in the Missionary College of All Hallows, Dublin ; promoted to the order of priesthood on the 27th of June, 1865, and served for some years as a missionary in the diocese of Sydney, N. S. W. Returning to Ireland, with the per- mission of his superiors he came to America, and became affiliated with the Diocese of St. Paul many years ago. He is now under the jurisdiction of Bishop Ireland. Prior to his coming to Manannah, he served in the missions of Chatfield, Pine Island and Bell Creek, with excellent results. On the re- moval of Father King to St. Stephen's church, he was requested by the bishop to succeed Father King, and came to Litchfield on the 1st of May, 1885. Manannah was then united to Litchfield, services being held every alternate Sunday. Seeing the neces-
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sity of Manannah having a resident priest, he mentioned the matter to the bishop, who gave him every encouragement in his under- taking. IIe immediately began the erection of the pastoral residence, at a cost of $2,000. The congregation was rejoiced that a priest was to reside with them ; all subscribed nobly, and cooperated with their priest in providing every requisite. lle is a priest strict in all church matters, kind, but firm in what he considers his duty both to church and people. We wish him God-speed in all his undertakings and best endeavors for the wel- fare and good of his congregation, and to cul- tivate the portion of his Master's vineyard entrusted to his eare with Heaven's choicest flowers.
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OHN W. KNIGHT, dealer in tubular well machinery, wood pumps, rubber goods and engine extras, and one of the prom- inent business men of Litchfield, is an okl set- tler in Meeker county. Mr. Knight is a native of Burrilville, R. L., born on the 18th of August, 1841. Ilis parents were William and Abigail (Olney) Knight, both natives of Massachusetts, whose forefathers on both sides were among the first settlers of that region, and the mother's brother, Wilson Olney, was an Indian agent in Massachu- setts many years ago.
The subject of this sketch was one of a family of six children, as follows - William Henry, of Swanzey, N. H., where he has been steadily employed in a bucket factory for thirty years ; Abigail, now Mrs. C. C. Car- penter, of Graceville, Minn .; John W .; Liz- zie G., now Mrs. Fitch, of Swanzey, N. II .; Mary, now Mrs. White, of Keene, N. H .; Dutte S., of Hinsdale, N. Il., an overseer in a large blanket factory; and Hattie N .. now a Mrs. White, of Keene, N. H.
lolmn W. Knight remained with his parents
working on a farm and attending school when opportunity offered until he was eighteen years of age, when he purchased his " time " of his father and began life on his own account. He worked in factories and at whatever he found profitable until March 3, 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, Sec- ond New Hampshire Infantry for three years service. Ile was mustered in at Concord, N. II .. on the 4th of April and his regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. The first actual service was at the siege of Yorktown, Va., under Gen. G. B. Mcclellan. From there they went to Williamsburg with the division under General Hooker, and there Mr. Knight was seriously wounded by the concussion of a shell ; a comrade to his right having his head taken off, and one to his left having a leg amputated by the same shell. Mr. Knight was taken to the Williamsburg hospital and a short time later to the York- town hospital, and there remained until the latter place was evacuated. Ile was finally inustered out and discharged for disability July 31. 1863, at Concord, N. 11.
On the 27th of August, 1863, he was mar- ried by Rev. S. S. Dudley to Miss Abbie P'. Fletcher, a native of Aeworth, N. II., born March 18, 1845. A short time later they went to Winchendon, Mass., where Mr. Knight was engaged in the sewing machine factory of Goodspeed & Weyman, for about one year, when he went to Marlborough, N. II. A short time later he went to Bellows Falls, Vt., and remained there until May, 1866, when he came to Meeker county, Minn. Ile selected a homestead on section 28, in For- est City township, and commenced improv- ing his land, erecting the kind of a cabin customary with the early settlers. His fam- ily arrived in October of the same year. Mr. Knight remained on his farm for seven years, when he sold ont and removed to Litchfield, where for a year he followed ear- pentering and draying. In 1873 he went.
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DEmindall
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into the pump business which he has followed constantly since. In 1886, in company with his son, Wilner W., he opened a shop in Paynesville, Stearns county, which his son now conducts. Mr. and Mrs. Knight are the parents of five living children -Wilmer W., born in New Hampshire, November 28. 1864, now in Paynesville, Minn. ; Almon E. and Almina E., born in Forest City, April 21, 1869 ; Elsie V., born in Forest City, October 23, 1873 : Ernest A., died at the age of four- teen months; and Inez O., born at Liteh- field, May 31, 1879. The family are mem- bers of the Christian Church.
DAM BROWER, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Kingston town- ship, living on section 16, is a native of Jen- nings county, Ind., born June 29, 1840, and is the son of Adam and Jeannette (McMur- chey) Brower. His father, who was the son of Peter Brower, a native of Holland, who had settled in this country some time before, was born in Gloucester county, N. J., April 13, 1802, and moved with his parents to Claremont county, Ohio, in 1816, where he was married October 12, 1824, and there car- ried on brickmaking and farming. He was one of the representative men of that portion of the State, and on moving, in 1838, to Jen- nings county. Ind., carried his popularity with him. Ile was soon elected to the magis- trate's bench, upon which he served some thirteen years, and his decisions were such that but one was ever appealed from.
" Ripe in wisdom was he, but patient and simple and childlike." Ile connected him- self with the Methodist Church in 1825, and was licensed to preach in 1845. His voice was ever heard against slavery and intem- peranee, and his walk and conversation were in consonance with his teaching. He is still living in his Indiana home, having raised a
family of thirteen children, of whom the fol- lowing is the record-James, moved to Harri- son county, Mo., in 1853, and represented his district twice in the legislature; Sarah, living in Rush county, Ind .; Almeda, whose home is still in Jennings county: George and Adam, living in Minnesota : Margaret, in Jefferson county, Ind .; Jennette, in Marion county ; Lemnel, in Hendricks county ; and John. The latter, a brave and gallant sol- dier, died of starvation and exposure in one of the loathsome prison pens of the rebels during the late war.
The subject of this sketch enlisted, also, in April, 1861, in the Sixth Indiana Infantry, and. after serving his three months with that regiment, re-enlisted, September 14, in Com- pany HI, Twenty Seventh Indiana Infantry. and with that famous band of heroes partici- pated in many of the bloodiest battles of the war, among which were Winchester, Chan- cellorsville, Gettysburg, in the east, and, after they were transferred to the Cumberland, Resaca and Altoona. He was wounded in the latter conflict, and was laid up in the hospital for a few weeks. He was mustered ont, at Indianapolis, September 14. 1565. Hle was taken prisoner by the rebels at the bat- tle of Winchester, May 25, 1862, and kept by them until September 20th, following, when he was exchanged and resumed duty.
In February, 1867, our subject came to Meeker county, and purchased the place where he now lives. For the first three years of his residence here he was engaged in briekmaking in the village, but at the expiration of that time took up farming. Two seasons since that he has been in the same business, and a part of the time in the sawmill at Dassel.
Mr. Brower was married, October 4, 1869, to Miss Flora E. DeCoster, a native of Mas- saehnsetts, and daughter of Albert DeCoster, of Massachusetts. By this union there have been born four children, namely-Adam M ..
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whose birth took place August 3, 1870; Claude D., born September 28, 1871; Daisy. horn December 12. 1874; and Frederick G., horn January 6. 1583.
Mr. Brower is a republican in politics, and is the clerk of the school district in which he Jives.
OHN RALSTON, one of the most suc- cessful, prominent and leading farmers and stock-raisers in Meeker county. is a resi- dent of section 25, Harvey township. He was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada. of Scotch parents, on the 2d of March, 1837, and his early days were spent in his native Province, where he received the education afforded by the facilities of those days and he received the same training as to industry and frugality that is characteristic of the people of that nationality.
In March, 1858, he came to Meeker county, Minn., and spent one month in what is now Harvey township. At the expiration of that time he went to Minneapolis and spent the summer, returning to Meeker county in the winter, working at stone masonry most of the time during this period. Five years later he again returned to Minneapolis, where he remained three years, and since that time he has made his home in Harvey township. He has one of the most valuable and best im- proved farms in the county, and his success- ful and able business management is abund- antly evidenced by his present standing, as he is rated as one of the most solid and sub- stantial citizens in the northern part of Meeker county. Ile carries on diversified farming, together with stock-raising, exten- sively, and his place is well arranged for his work.
Mr. Ralston was married, on March 1s. 1869. to Miss Sarah L. Wilkinson, of the Province of Quebec, and they have been parents of two children-John E., deceased,
and Jane E., who is still at home. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ralston does not take an ac- tive part in political matters. at least so far as office seeking is concerned, and in those matters he does not follow the arbitrary dic- tation of party, but acts in an independent manner.
CONORABLE LOUIS RUDBERG, one of Dassel's respected and honored deceased citizens, who was identified with its early development, was a native of Sweden, and came to Meeker county in 1866 and took a homestead. Ile was at that time a young unmarried man, and did not remain upon the farms steadily. but when the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad was being built through the county in 1869, he entered their employ as carpenter, he having learned that trade. Ile remained with them until 1872, at which date he came to Dassel village and entered into the mercantile business, and remained in that line until his death, which occurred in January. 1884. While a resident here, in 1876, he was elected a member of the Minnesota State Legislature, and served one term with credit.
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