USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 40
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Mr. Linnell strongly supported temperance legislation, and a reduction of interest on money. He served with honor to himself and credit to the district.
Mr. Linnell was married on the 24th of June, 1884, to Carolina Sophia Anderson, a daughter of C. M. and Kaisa Anderson. She was a native of Smaland, Sweden, born November 11, 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Linnell have been blessed with the following named children - Luther A., Medora E., Emely L., Herbert M., William Sabin, Mary A., Albert T. and Annette E. The daughter Medora is now a teacher in the graded schools at Grove City. Mr. Linnell has all his life been a worthy member of the Lutheran Evangelical Church, and is now one of its trustees and treasurer. He is a man of the strictest honor and integrity, and his word is recognized as
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being as good as his bond, wherever he is known. He is well read and well posted on all public topies and justly holds the confi- dence and esteem of all who know him.
OHN WHALEN, one of the first pio- neers that broke the way for progress and civilization into the wilds of Mecker county, came here with a party of his coun- trymen, and made a settlement upon section 24. of Forest City township, where he now lives.
He is a native of Ireland, born in County Waterford, in the year 1824. He made his home in the " Emerald Isle" until 1846, when he crossed the ocean in search of a home in America. He landed at Montreal, Canada, reaching that place by way of the St. Lawrence River, and from there by way of Montpelier, Vt., he drifted to Boston and Lowell, Mass. After some time spent in those places, he turned his steps toward New York and New Jersey, and finally to Phila- delphia, seeking employment wherever it offered, for he was of an industrious disposi- tion, and had his living to provide for. Mak- ing up his mind that in the great West there was a greater chance for him, he accordingly came to Indiana, where he passed some six years and a half in farming, having adopted that calling. In the spring of 1856, a party consisting of the Whalens, the Flynns, the Fitzgeralds and others left Crown Point, Ind., for California, but reaching Dubuque, Iowa, heard of this country, and determined to in- vestigate it. John Whalen and John Flynn pushed on ahead of the others, and on reach- ing Meeker county, and being pleased with it, returned for the train containing their families and friends, meeting them at Roches- ter, this State. They at once headed for this country, and crossed the county line on the 9th of July, that year, and made their
settlement. Mr. Whalen located upon the place where he now lives, the others else- where, as related in their memoirs. Mr. Whalen has added to his place from time to time, until he is now the owner of 714 acres, and is classed among the wealthiest farmers in the county. In 1856 he was married to Miss Mary Flynn, and they are the parents of five children-Thomas, James, Ellen, Mary and John.
Politically, Mr. Whalen is a democrat of the Andrew Jackson type, and religiously is a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church.
JOSEPH PLUMADORE, one of the act- ive, thorongh-going agriculturists of Kingston township, living upon section 15, came to Meeker county in 1870, and settled at the village of Litchfield, where he plied his craft of carpenter. A few years later he removed to Minneapolis, where he followed the same avocation for abont two years, when he returned here and took up his pres- ent homestead, knowing that "here lands may be had for the asking, and forests of timber with a few blows of the axe are hewn and framed into houses." Although the place was covered with the primeval forest, still, by extreme energy and perseverance, he has succeeded in clearing it and developing a fine farm of eighty acres in extent.
The subject of this memoir is a native of New York, born May 11, 1836, and is the son of William and Mary (Laurie) Plumadore. Ilis father was a native of la belle France, and was engaged in all kinds of speculating and barter and sale. After attending school, our subject took up his handicraft, in which he served a full apprenticeship, and followed regularly until settling down to agricultural pursuits. He was united in marriage, Sep- tember 11, 1873. with Miss Mary Apfield, a
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native of Germany, whose parents had crossed the ocean with her in her infancy, and set- tled in Scott county, where she was reared and edneated. By this union Mr. and Mrs. Plumadore are the parents of an only daugh- ter-Edith, born April 22, 1875.
In his political views Mr. Plumadore coin- cides with the principles formulated in the platforms of the republican party, and has always been an adherent of that organiza- tion. Ilis sterling integrity and honorable dealing has won him hosts of friends in the community, and his name is synonymous with easy good nature and genial hospitality.
ILS MARTENSON, one of the most highly respected and prominent farm- ers in the western part of Meeker county. resides on section 4, Swede Grove township. IIe was born in Sweden on the 10th of No- vember, 1848, and is a son of Marten and Alice (Olson) Anderson. Nils was reared in his native land, but in 1868, when twenty . years old, he came alone to America, landing in Quebec, making his way on to St. Paul, Minn., and one day later came to Litchfield, in Meeker county. He worked two weeks for Ole Ingerman, four for Andrew Nelson, and then went to Cutt's Grove, where he was siek for six weeks. Upon his recovery he went to St. Paul, and one month later to Louisiana, where he remained six months. He then returned to Minnesota, working for six months at St. Paul and Cutts' Grove in Washington county. After this he worked for six months in Louisiana, and then went to St. Paul to meet his parents who had just arrived from Sweden, and together they came to Meeker county and settled on the land where Nils now resides. This was in 1871. He is now in comfortable circumstan- ces, all of which is the result of his own enterprise, industry and good management.
Ile owns one of the most valuable farm's in the township, comprising 320 acres, a good share of which is under a high state of cul- tivation.
Mr. Martenson was married on the 11th of August, 1873, to Ellen Trulson, whose parents still reside in Meeker county. Mr. and Mrs. Martenson have been the parents of eight children, the three oldest of whom are dead. The names of those living are Judet M., Ruth, Samuel, Rhoda, and Lydia. The family are members of the Baptist Church and are exemplary Christian people. In political matters Mr. Martenson affiliates with the republican party.
The parents of Mr. Martenson were natives of Sweden. Both of his parents died in this county.
ATRICK ENRIGHT, one of the most prominent and enterprising farmers and stock-raisers in the northern part of the county, resides on section 18. Manannah township. He was born in County Limerick, Ireland, March 25, 1834, and is a son of John and Eliza (Blake) Enright. He left his native land in 1847 with his parents, and settled in Canada, where his parents remained until the time of their death. Our subject re- mained in Canada until 1874, when he came to Meeker county, Minn., and settled on sec- tion 18, Manannah township, where he still lives. He is now in comfortable circum- stances, and is one of the largest land owners in the township, having 400 acres of land. A good share of his place is under cultiva- tion, and in connection with diversified farm ing he devotes considerable attention to rais- ing stock. In political matters Mr. Enright alliliates with the democratic party, and has taken an active interest in public matters. Ile has been prominently identified with the ollicial history of the township, and has held
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various local offices, including that of town- ship supervisor, which office he has held for six terms.
Mr. Enright was married in December. 1855. to Miss Mary Fitzpatrick, and their marriage has been blessed with nine children, as follows-Patrick, Mary, Eliza, James, William, Catherine, Michael, Marguaret and John, all of whom are still living. Mrs. Enright's parents were natives of Ireland. The mother died in Canada and the father in Meeker county.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Enright are exemplary members and active supporters of the Cath- olie Chureh.
ILLIAM GRONO is the proprietor of the marble works at Litchfield, the first and only establishment of the kind ever started at the county seat. Mr. Grono was born at Pontiac, Oakland county, Mich., October 4, 1860, and is the son of William and Minnie (Zelhime) Grono. Both of his parents were natives of Prussia. who had settled in Michigan in 1856. In 1872 they settled at Worthington. Min., taking up government land in Nobles county, on which the parents still reside. William Grono, Jr., remained with his parents until he was tif- teen years of age when he went to Owa- tonna. Minn., and learned the marble entter's trade. Ile remained in that city until 1883, when he went to Montevideo, and in company with J. R. Seaman, engaged in the marble trade. A year later he sold his interest to his partner and came to Litchfield, and on the first of March, 1885, established the mar- ble works of which he is still proprietor. Ile carries on an extensive business.
Mr. Grono was married on the 10th of October, 1884, to Miss Rosa Maw, of Steele county. Minn. They have one child-Maudie May, born January 25, 1886.
CALVER O. HALVERSEN, one of eton township's representative farmers, is one of the best known citizens in the western part of Meeker county. Hle is a native of Wiseonsin, born on the 26th of October, 1850. His parents were Henry and Marga- rette Halversen, both natives of Norway. They came to the United States in 1846, and settled in Wisconsin, where they engaged at farming, and remained until 1856, then came to Meeker county, Minn., and settled upon a farm, which the father purchased in Litch- field township. In 1883 they sold this, and the father purchased a farm in Aceton town- ship. which he still owns. At this writing the father is visiting in Washington Terri- torv.
H. O. Halversen, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on a farm. Upon attaining his manhood he was married to Mrs. Hattie Olson, in 1873, widow of Gutrom Olson, who died in 1567. By her first marriage his wife had one child, Gurine, who was born December 5, 1867, and died July 21, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Halversen have been blessed with the following children-Mattie A., born May 13, 1875 ; Henry C., born February 27, 1877, and died July 22, 1882; and Ida O., born January 10, 1879, and died July 19, 1882 (these three children died of diphtheria, and were buried on the same day); and the following children, who are living-Mattie A., born May 13, 1875; Ole L., born August 22, 1881; and Ida Gurine Henrietta, born December 29, 1883. Mr. Halversen has been very successful in his farming operations, and is well-off in this " world's goods." HIe has in all 291 aeres of land, and lives on the northwest quarter of seetion 24, where he has a neat and comfortable residenee, and splendid barn, and other farm buildings. In addition to his farming and stock-raising interests, he runs a steam thresher during the threshing season. At the time of the Indian out break, although Mr. Halversen was but a
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lad of twelve. he has a distinet recollection of the events during that trying time. His parents fled with the family from their Litehfield farm. and went to Forest City for safety. A year later, however. Halver re- turned with his father and helped put in the crops. This matter receives full attention in the chapter relating to the massaere. In religion Mr. Halversen and family are mem- bers of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, and in politieal matters, Mr. Ilalversen is a republican.
EORGE DICKSON, for many years a banker in Scotland and India, retired in broken health in 1572. on a life pension of five thousand dollars per annum. After recruiting his health for over two years in England, he traveled through the United States and Canada, during 1874 and 1875, and in 1880 purchased from Col. W. S. King. the property of "Oakwood." in Danielson township. Meeker county, Minn.
This is one of the best equipped farms in the State of Minnesota, the buildings being of a very superior description and well fin- ished. It contains 150 acres of well matured timber. skirting "Lake Diekson," two miles long. by one and three-quarters of a mile in breadth. The soil is remarkably good. gently rolling throughout : is well watered, and is subdivided by over eight miles of sub- stantial feneing.
The herd of short horn cattle usually num- bers from 130 to 180 head, and has been graded up to a high state of perfection. The interior accommodation, with numerous box stalls for wintering 130 head of cattle and eighteen horses, is very complete.
The loft of the cattle barn. 195 by 40 feet. with two large wings, has a capacity of 200 tons of hay ; and the stable, 50 by 40 feet, a capacity of 100 tons.
Over 500 acres are under cultivation : two separate holdings, each of 160 aeres. have hitherto been let to tenants. and the main farm, usually held by a tenant " on shares " is under a regular cereal rotation, and has ample provision of natural and cultivated grasses, orchard and blue grass. red clover and timothy.
A school house and postoffice have recently been established here. Otherwise consider- able improvements in building. draining and fencing have been effected on the property since 1880. So that it is now one of the most valuable and desirable among Minne- sota's " Bonanza farms."
RICK BYLUND is a prominent old set- tler who resides on section 6. Liteli- field township. He was born in Sweden on the 16th of February. 1824. and is a son of John E. and Anna Bylund. His early life was one of incessant toil and bitter hardship. and during four years of the earlier period of his life. from 1837 to 1840. he lived on nothing but fish and bread made from pine bark. In 1850 he came to the United States and after living one winter in Illinois he came to Minnesota, settling at Taylor's Falls. Chisago county. There were but very few settlers in the Territory of Minnesota at that time and none away from the east territorial line. Erick worked for several years in the pineries striving to get money enough together to transport his father and brother from the old world to the new. In 1563 he eame to Meeker county and located on see- tion 6. in Litelifield township, where he still lives. During that summer he helped build a fort near his farm and his own and four other families occupied it for several weeks during the Indian seare.
In 1557 Mr. Bylund was married to Cath- erine Nordin, a native of Sweden. who bore
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him two children -John, born December 7, 1858, died when four years of age ; and Nels, born June 12, 1860. Nels has always fol- lowed farming with his father, and now has charge of the farm. Mrs. Bylund died on the 1Sth of May, 1884, and Mr. Bylund and son. Nels, have since lived on the old home- stead, which is beautifully situated in the northwestern part of the township. The farm is well located and well improved.
EORGE NEUBAUER, an intelligent, respected and prominent farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 9, Forest Prairie township, was born in Baiern, Ger- many, on the 7th of April, 1832, and is a son of George and Catherine (Martin) Neubauer. His father and mother were the parents of eleven children, some of whom, however, died in infancy.
George Neubauer, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood days in his native land, at- tending school regularly until he was twelve years old, and for six years thereafter, at- tended a school held every Sunday. He re- mained at home with his parents until he was twenty years of age, when, in 1852, he, in company with Ins brothers and sisters, John, Michael, Mary and Barbara, came to the United States. They landed in New York and then went to Jersey City, where they re- mained two years, George being at work in a cement factory. In 1854 they removed to Silver Creek, Penn., and lived there until 1879, when George came to Minnesota.
In 1881, George Neubauer came to Meeker county and located on section 22, Forest Prairie township. Two years later he set- tled upon the place on section 9, where he still resides. He has a valuable farm of eighty acres and devotes his attention to general farming and stock-raising.
Our subject was married before leaving his
native land, on the 15th of August, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth Sehreivogel. They have eight children living, six boys and two girls, as follows-John, Michael, Mary. Joseph, Lawrence, Lizzie, George and Daniel.
In political matters, Mr. Neubauer is a democrat. The family are respected mem- bers of the Catholic Church.
AMBROSE T. DORMAN. Another pio- neer family of Mecker county is the Dormans, some of whom have passed away, some have removed from the county, but there are a few here still. One of them, and a prominent one, is the gentleman whose name heads this article.
Ambrose Dorman was born in Harring- ton, Washington county, Me., May 29, 1836, and was there reared to manhood. Ile re- ceived the elements of the excellent education which is the privilege of every citizen of New England, in the schools of his native town. In 1858, with a view to the betterment of his fortunes, he came to Minnesota and settled in Meeker county, where he now resides.
Nathaniel Dorman, the father of the sub- jeet of this memoir, came to Meeker county in 1857, with the first settlers of the town- ship, and took up a claim. The old gentle- man, although some eighty-four years of age, still survives, a monument to the regularity of the lives of the former generation, whose habits have preserved them to a ripe old age. Mrs. Nathaniel Dorman died in 1870, and her remains are buried in the Kingston cem- etery. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, seven of whom are living-John F., Phobe S., Ambrose T., Harry Y., Samuel A., Ellen E. and Leonard L.
Ambrose T. Dorman made a trip to Cali- fornia in 1863, and remained in that Eldo- rado, engaged in mining, for some three years, and then returned to Meeker county.
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Ile is somewhat of an adventurous disposi- tion, having followed the sea for some five years in his youth, and spent one year in Maine, one in Wisconsin, and one in the Minnesota pineries. April 18, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Goble, a native of Kentucky, born July 27, 1847, and the daughter of William and Edith (Phelps) Goble. Her father died here in June, 1876, and his body lies at rest in the cemetery of Kingston ; her mother is still liv- ing. The latter is a native of Virginia, where she grew to the years of womanhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Dorman have an interesting family of five children, whose names are as follows-Willie A., Edith V., Silva Jane, Martha Ann, and John P. Mr. Dorman is a stanchi adherent to the principles of Jeffer- sonian democracy in his politics, and is a worthy and public spirited citizen .of the county.
OHN HILL. The subject of this bio- graphy, a resident of section 28, Manan- nah township, is one of the most intelligent, leading and successful farmers and stock-rais- ers in the northern part of the county. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1829. and is a son of Francis and Mary (Campbell) Ilill. Ilis early life was spent in his native land, where he acquired the habits of industry, perseverance and frugality, which are so characteristic of the race from which he springs. In 1851 he came to the United States, landing in Boston and proceeded to Lowell, Mass., where he remained for eleven years, working in a cotton factory. He then went to San Francisco, Cal., where he lived for five years, engaged at firing on an engine. Ile then returned to Lowell, Mass., and six- teen months later he came to Meeker county, Minn. From Clearwater he came by stage to Forest City, and the next day he arrived
at the house of Owen Quinn, in Manannah township. A few days later he purchased the farm on seetion 28, where he still resides. He has 240 acres of land, and devotes his attention to farming and stock raising.
Mr. Hill was married on the 21st of Feb- ruary, 1855, to Hannah McAloon. Their marriage has been blessed with three chil- dren, whose names were Francis, John and Charles H. John is the only child living, the other two having died, and are buried in Lowell, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are exem- plary members and active supporters of the Catholic Church.
In political matters Mr. Hill affiliates with the democratic party.
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HARLES A. GILMAN, a prominent and energetic farmer of Cosmos township, has his beautiful home upon sections 20 and 29, where his fine farm of 240 acres is sit- nated. He came to this locality in 1877, and for about a year lived on section 26, and then three years on 33. In 1881 he took np his present homestead. One hundred acres of his land is well cultivated and the improve- ments are of a high class.
Mr. Gilman was born at Sangerville, Piscataquis county, Me., Angust 25, 1846, and is the son of Jonathan C. Gilman and wife, natives of Gilmanton, N. II. His parents removed to Maine in 1826, and lo- cated at Sangerville and made their home there until 1850, when they moved to Dex- ter, Penobscot county, where they still live. Charles remained at home until he was about twelve years of age, when he commeneed working for other parties, and was thus em- ployed until 1863. About that time the gov- ernment. needing more men to suppress the rebellion, had just issued a new call for vol- unteers, and in September, 1863, our subject eulisted in Company E, Second Maine Cay-
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alry, and served with the Nineteenth Army Corps in all its campaigns and marches. Ile was discharged at the close of hostilities, at Augusta, Me., September 11, 1865, and going to Dead river, Franklin county, that State, bought a farm, upon which he settled, and where he made his home until 1872, when, selling out, he came to Minneapolis and went into the lumber business. He came to Meeker county from there in 1877.
Mr. Gilman was married, October 27, 1865, to Miss Angelina S. Fisher, a native of Parkman, Piscataquis county, Me., and daughter of A. J. and Laura A. (Sargent) Fisher. They have a family of two children- George F. and Charles A. Mr. Gilman is a member of Frank Daggett Post, No. 35. G. A. R., and has served the town as justice of the peace from 1883 until the present time.
LENRY E. DANIELSON, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, who resides on section 31, Cedar Mills township, is a native of Meeker county, and is a member of one of the most prominent pioneer fami- lies in the county. He was born in Acton township, Meeker county, Minn., on the 25th of April, 1858, and is a son of Nels and Randi Danielson, after whom the township of Danielson was named. A full history of his parents will be found elsewhere in this work. Henry was the fifth in a family of six chil- dren. He remained at home with his fath- er's family until 1881, when he struck out for himself to earn his own way in the world. He first went to Atwater, where he remained for some three months, and then went to Minneapolis, where he spent one winter in Archibald's Business College. The follow- ing spring he entered the employ of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Com- pany as car repairer, and remained in that position until May, 1884. During the fol-
lowing season he was engaged at carpenter work and various other lines of employment. In the spring of 1885 he located on section 31, Cedar Mills township, where he still lives. He has a valuable farm of 160 acres, a good share of which is under cultivation, has comfortable buildings, and is in good circumstances. He devotes his attention to general farming and stock-raising, and by his enterprise and industry he now ranks with the leading and most substantial citizens of of the township.
Mr. Danielson was married while in Glyn- don, on the 25th of June, 1883, to Miss Mary Eller, and one child has been born to them- Daniel D., born February 27, 1886. Mrs. Danielson was born at Baiern, Germany. on the 10th of January, 1864. Her parents' names were Johan and Maria Eller.
T OHN KONSBRICK, of the city of Liteli- field, is a native of the duchy of Luxem- burg, Germany, born in the year 1839. He was reared in the land of his birth, among its picturesque and vine clad hills, and remained there until he had reached the age of one and twenty. IIe then emigrated to the shores of the new world to better his fortunes, and on arrival in this country set- tled at Aurora, Ill., where he lived for some two years, and at the expiration of that time came to Minnesota. For two years he was employed in farming in Dakota county, after which he spent a couple of years more at Bellevue, Jackson county. Iowa. From the latter place he returned to Dakota county. this State, and after a trip to the Territory of Dakota he came to Litchfield, and for three years was in the employ of John Rodange. a fellow countryman and an acquaintance of his boyhood. In 1883 our subject started for himself in the retail liquor business, but some two years later his
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