USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 43
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atrocities committed by the Indians. The next morning they went to Forest City, where the families were left. P. E. Hansen and his father, accompanied by several others, then started out to go back to the farm for provisions. When out a short dis- tance they met the remnant of a fleeing party, several of whom had been killed and mutilated, and then they realized that an Indian outbreak had really been inaug- urated, and that the previous killing was not an isolated or single case, but was merely the beginning of a terrible warfare on the part of the Indians to drive the whites from what they considered their hunting grounds.
* The party at once returned to Forest City, and a fort was at once built. Provisions were scarce, and it was some time before any one ventured out in search of any. Peter Hansen, however, with his gun, man- aged to keep his father's and several other families, supplied with will game. About a week later a party of eight or ten started out for the purpose of burying dead and picking up wounded. They got as far as Peter Loen's, on sec- tion 5. Swede Grove township. fifteen miles from Forest City, where they ex- changed several shots with Indians, no one being hurt, and then turned and came back. The next day the "company of forty-one" was organized, l'. E. Hansen, being among the number. After the return of this expe- dition to Forest City, they went to work and completed the fort, but not a family moved into it on that night, all sleeping in the huts they had been occupying. During the night the Indians made an attack, and every one scrambled for the fort immediately after the first volley, some in undress uniform, while others were covered with blankets and bed quilts. The Indians withdrew the following morning. After this, for a week or two, every one stayed pretty close to the fort. Provisions were very scarce : Hour was meted
out to the various families in equal parts, and was worth almost its weight in gold. About two weeks after the attack the Hansens started one evening for the farm for the pur- pose of getting provisions. They fastened their oxen, upon reaching the farm, and loaded the wagon with provisions, after which, as the father thought there was no danger, they went into the bed-room and laid down in order to get some rest. Just as they were about to fall asleep, they were aroused by a frightful crash in the outer room. In an instant they were wide awake, and as visions of painted, blood-thirsty sav- ages flashed through their brains their hair stood on end. A moment later they heard the welcome "meow" of a cat, and the attack was explained, much to their relief. The cat, in its attempt to gain admittance, had broken through the window. They then returned to Forest City, where their provisions were divided with their friends, and therefore the supply did not last over a week. In the meantime those coming in brought terrible reports of Indian ravages. Notwithstanding this fact, the father. Hans Peterson, decided to again go to the farm. He yoked the oxen, and, taking an old double-barreled shot gun, started. He found the cattle about the house and salted them, thinking their presence was a pretty safe indication that that there were no In- dians about, as they would stampede at sight or smell of a "redskin." Ile lit a lamp in the house and went to work in earn- est, and had loaded the wagon nearly full, when suddenly he heard the cattle running and bellowing. Ile dashed out and found the cattle on the run, and a few moments later he heard the Indians yelling about the cabin. Ile kept on in his northeast course, and laid all the next day in the Manannah woods, and at night made his way back to Forest City. There he told the story, and for two weeks no further attempt was made
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by them to reach the farm. At the end of that time, Peter Hansen, accompanied by several others. again visited the farm by night. and found the house burned to the ground, and while there were startled by hearing the Indians yelling in the distance. They at once took the back track and arrived in Forest City before day-break, having tramped over thirty miles during the night. No further trips were made until in November, when matters had quieted down somewhat. They then found the cattle all right, but the Indians had smashed every thing in the wagon and feasted on the sheep. evidently having camped near by for some time. The family remained at Forest City for about three years, and then, in 1865, the "Indian war" having closed, they returned to Swede Grove township and settled upon a homestead, which the father had taken on section 20. The old folks still live upon the place.
We now take up the personal history of Peter E. Ilansen. He remained at home until the 19th of June, 1867, when he was married to Rachel Halverson. The cere- mony was performed at Forest City by 'Squire James B. Atkinson, and the event was heartily celebrated by a large attend- ance of friends. Their union has been blessed with four children, as follows-Nellie O., born February 3, 1871 ; Harry A., born Feb- ruary 8, 1873; Jennie F., born August 16, 1875 ; and Lillie May, born February 5, 1886. Mr. Hansen has been successful beyond the lot of most men, and is now among the larg- est land-owners in the State. He is owner, either alone or jointly with a partner, of 78,000 acres of land, sitnated in Meeker, Renville, Kandiyohi, Stearns, Douglas, Pope Grant, Otter Tail and Wright counties, and besides has large landed interests in the city of Minneapolis and several villages. He is one of the directors and also vice president of the Meeker County Bank, and holds stock in
a number of local enterprises. In 1880 he was appointed as agent of the Manitoba Railway Company to handle their lands, and now has charge of the railroad lands in Meeker, Carver, Wright, and Renville coun- ties, and part of Stearns county. Hle is also loan agent for the Kelly Brothers, of Minneapolis. Mr. Hansen is recognized as one of the shrewdest and best busi- ness men in this part of the State. Ile has acquired immense property interests, and has always taken an active interest in all matters calculated to benefit the locality in which he lives. Mr. Hansen resides on sec- tion 18. Litchfield township, although he carries on business in the village ; and his residence and farm improvements are among the finest to be found anywhere in the State.
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RRIN WHITNEY. Among the old set- tlers of Meeker county, who are still spared to this world, there is none more worthy of mention in a work of this charac- ter than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He came to this county in March, 1857, with his brother, A. P. Whit- ney, S. B. Ilutchins and others, and settled at Kingston, where he still lives. He helped build the mill put up by Whitney, Averill & Hutchins, in 1857 and 1858, which was the first grist-mill in the county, and from the day of his first location here has always been identified with the onward progress and de- velopment of this region.
The subject of this biography was born in Somerset county, Me., August 18, 1815, and is the son of William and Olive (Parlin) Whitney, who were natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectively. Ile was reared in Penobscot county, in the " Pine Tree State," and there received the elements of his edneation. On attaining his majority, he commenced farming in his native State.
,
Orrin Whitney
Rebecca le Whitney
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He came to Minnesota in 1857, and as he had a knowledge of mill-wrighting, having worked at that business a few years, he helped put up the Hennepin Island Mill, the first grist-mill at Minneapolis. In 1857 he came to this county as above mentioned, and has been a resident nearly ever since. On his arrival in Meeker county, Mr. Whitney pre- empted 160 acres of land on section 21, where he now lives. In 1861 he went to California, where he remained until December, 1864, when he returned to this place, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and finely improved until it is as desirable a piece of property as any in the county.
Mr. Whitney and Miss Rebecca Carvill were united in the bonds of marriage, March 10, 1879. His life companion and helpmeet, who is a lady of rare accomplishments and intelligence, is a native of Lewiston, Andros- coggin county, Me., born December 23, 1827, and is the daughter of Sewell and Tama (Iliggins) Carvill, she being the sixth child in their family of thirteen. Of them there are seven, besides her, still surviving -Submit, Mary, Milton, Jefferson, Wesley, Alonzo and Alphonso. The latter was a physician, who came to Kingston in 1867, and made his home here for several years; Jefferson resides in Dassel township, this county ; most of the rest still live in New England. Mrs. Whit- ney having received considerable schooling, learned the trade of coat-making, at which she worked some thirty years. In the spring of 1848 she went to Boston, and in that city followed her trade twenty-nine years, board- ing at one place fourteen years. She has in the course of a busy life, with characteristic thrift, accumulated a nice property, owning as she does the East Kingston Mill, which cost her $7,000.
Mr. Whitney is a greenbacker in his poli- tics and a supporter of the Grange movement. Both he and his estimable wife are held in high esteem wherever known, and their many
years of residence has made them respected and well-known throughout nearly the whole county.
In another department of this ALBUM will be found portraits of both Mr. and Mrs. Whitney.
DWIN F. PROCTOR. Among the
leading citizens of the village of Das- sel there is none more prominent than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Ile is the son of William and Rhoda (Snow) Proctor, both of whom were natives of Ver- mont, who had gone with their parents into the wilds of St. Lawrence county, N. Y., the former at the age of twelve years, and the latter at the age of seven. There they at- tained the years of manhood and woman- hood, and were married, and made their home. At the time of the Mexican war, William Proctor, being impelled by the ardor that dwells in each patriot's breast, enlisted in Company D, Ninth United States Infantry, and was wounded in one of the battles at the gates of the city of Mexico. in 1847. and died shortly after in the general hospital in that "City of the Montezumas." Mrs. Proctor is now making her home with her son. Edwin F.
The subject of our present sketch was born at Massena, St. Lawrence county, N.Y., in 1840. and made his home in his native town until 1855, when he took Horace Greeley's advice and moved westward, set- tling at Madison, Wis., where he found em- ployment in a brickyard. In that city he remained until the fall of 1860, when he re- moved to Marshall, Wis., and attended school that winter. While peacefully pursuing his studies, in the eventful spring of 1861, the tocsin of war rang out, and thousands of hurrying feet pressed on to the front of bat- tle in defence of their country, and in res-
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ponse to the call of the General Government for troops to suppress the unholy rebellion. Mr. Proetor, with the spirit of his noble sire, came forward at once, and enlisted in Com- pany A. Third Wisconsin Infantry. on the 1st of April, 1861, for three-months service, but was not mustered in under this enlistment. On the 18th of April, he enlisted for three years or during the war; and on the 21st of December, 1863, he re-enlisted, in Tennessee, as a veteran for three years more, making, until his discharge, a term of service of four years and four months. In the three-months term he had been corporal, but in the spring of 1862 he was made duty sergeant, and in 1864 orderly sergeant. In April, 1865, he was duly commissioned second lieutenant for gallant and meritorious conduct, and in July following, received the rank of first lieutenant. During the first part of his term of service, he served with his regiment with the Armies of the Potomac and of the Shen- andoah, and participated in the engagements at Bolivar Heights, Winchester, Cedar Moun- tain, Antietam, Chancellorville and Beverly Ford. The command (Twelfth Corps) to which he was then attached, was transferred with the Seventh Corps to the Western Army, and under General Sherman, he was present with his regiment, in the thickest of the con- flicts that raged around Atlanta, and was actively engaged there, and in the subsequent March to the Sea, under that matchless General, and in the engagements that marked its progress. He participated in fourteen general engagements in all, and was slightly wounded in two battles-Chan- cellorville and Antietam. He took part in the grand review at Washington, in June, 1865, after which he received his discharge and came home, Cincinnatns like, laying the sword down for the plow handle. He came to Minnesota, and took up a homestead on section 4, of the town of Dassel, in the month of May, 1869. Upon this place he remained
engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1885, when he traded a portion of his estate for his village property, and sold the balance, and is now living a retired life, being unable physically to longer carry on agricultural labor. His exposure while in the army, brought on rheumatism, from which he has never recovered, and for which he now draws a small pension, $12 per mouth, from the government.
Mr. Proctor and Miss Emeline P. Frost were united in marriage January 18. 1864, while he was home on his veteran furlough. The lady is a native of Delaware county, Ohio, and is the daughter of Alva and Per- milla Frost. Her parents came to Ohio in 1816, and settled in Delaware county. July 7, 1847, they removed to Dodge county, Wis., where they lived until the death of Mr. Frost, June 29, 1867. His wife came to Minnesota in 1874, and died in this county April 6, 1883.
Mr. and Mrs Proctor are the parents of four children-Justin T., Elwin Z., Della D., and Elward J. Elwin died July 19, 1881, the rest are living. Mr. Proctor was one of the charter members of Colfax Post No. 133, G. A. R., Department of Minnesota, and its first commander, and is now the quarter- master of that post.
THO H. CAMPBELL. Prominent among the influential, leading citizens of Manannah township, and of Meeker coun- ty, is Mr. Campbell, of whom this narrative is written. He came to the village of Kings- ton in the year 1866, and entered into the general merchandise trade in connection with Whiting Bros., a Clearwater firm. One year later he purchased the interest of his partners, and for two years pursued the busi- ness alone. At the end of that time he re- moved to the new village of Litchfield, and,
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purchasing the Lake Ripley House, ran the hotel for two years, after which, disposing of all property in that place, he removed to Manannah, and purchased an interest with N. C. Hines in the flour and grist mill. In 1877 he became the sole proprietor, since which time he has added many improve- ments. In 1880 he put in steam engine and boilers, so that he can run either by steam or water. During 1887 the mill was remod- eled, and full sets of rolls placed in it, and it now ranks as one of the best in this part of the State.
O. II. Campbell was born in Hartford, Conn., Angust 1, 1844, and is the son of James and Esther (Griswold) Campbell. The father was a native of Vermont, and had removed to Connecticut, where he became an insurance agent. The mother, who was a representative of the noted Griswold fam- ily, was a native of Connecticut.
The subject of our sketch, at the age of seventeen, entered an insurance office in his native city, where he remained until Septem- ber. 1862. when he enlisted in Company B. Twenty-Second Connecticut Infantry, and served in the Army of the Potomac for some ten months, when he was discharged. Dur- ing this time the regiment had participated in the siege of Suffolk. Va., the capture of Forts IFuger and Nansemond, where it was under fire for two days. This was. while it was a part of the Twenty-Second Army Corps and in Abercrombie's Division. It was then sent to West Point, and. nnder General Gordon, made the advance on Rich- mond and the noted Blackberry road. On its return, its time being out, it was ordered home and discharged.
On his discharge, after another year spent - in the insurance business in Hartford, he came out West, and, after one year spent at Clearwater, came to Meeker county. lle was married April 24, 1867, at Clearwater, to Miss Isa Creath, a native of Washington I
county. Me .. and daughter of John and Mar- garet (Miars) Creath. By this union there have been born four children, namely-Ar- thur, born March 8, 1868; Ernest, born No- vember 9, 1869; Marian, born May 16, 1876; and Harry, born Angust 4, 1879.
Mr. Campbell has been prominently iden- tified with the official life of the county, hav- ing served as chairman of the board of town supervisors, as justice of the peace, and in the fall of 1887 was only defeated by a small majority for the office of State senator.
EORGE W. CLARK, one of the "brave boys in blue," makes his home in Collinwood township, on section 22, and is a valmed citizen. He is a native of Henry county, lowa, born December 29, 1843, and is the son of John A. and Sarah (Butler) Clark, whose birthplace was in Ohio. When about four years of age his parents removed to Jo Daviess county, Ill., where the father was employed in lead-mining until 1852. In April of that year they moved to St. Paul, and for two years the father of our subject was employed in a lumber mill. From there they migrated to Hen- derson, Sibley county, and in that place made their home. John Clark being engaged in transporting supplies for Indian Agent Brown until His death, which occurred An- gust 18. 1857.
The subject of this memoir commenced work, on the death of his father, in the office of the Henderson Democrat, to learn the printer's trade. While peacefully following the art he had chosen, he heeded the call of his country, then in the throes of civil war, vand enlisted in Company 1. Eighth Minne- sota Infantry, in August, 1862. and partici- pated in the expedition under General Sully. In the fall of 1864, he was sent Sonth to help suppress the rebellion, and the regiment be-
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came a part of the famous 23d Army Corps under General Scofieldl, and was present at many of the conflicts that terminated the war. He received an honorable discharge in 1865, and returned home, but shortly remov- ed to Meeker county, and made a settlement in Ellsworth township. He made his home there for two years and then purchased 200 acres of land on the section where he now lives, in Collinwood.
Mr. Clark was married December 15, 1876, to Miss Sarah Grant, a native of Indiana, born in Jennings county, August 31, 1856. By this union there has been born six ehil- dren, of whom the following is the record- Willis was born June 2, 1878; James was born August 16, 1880; Arthur, born July 7, 1879, and died August 20, following ; George R., born April 14, 1882; Clara J., born Feb- ruary 20, 1885 ; and Ida F., was born Decem- ber 7. 1887.
W. HAWKINSON, of Grove City. A large proportion of the citizens of Meeker county are of foreign birth, and are men who have brought with them to their new home in America the habits of industry and thrift so common in their own country. and with the chances afforded in the United States, have risen by their own efforts to an easy competence. Among these is Mr. Hawkinson, who was born at the home of his parents. William and Ellen Hawkinson, in Sweden, November 16, 1840. Ile was reared to manhood in the land of his birth, and there, April 24, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Nelson. Three years later, leaving his family, he came across the stormy Atlantic in search of a home in the free land of America, and coming at once to Minnesota, located at Cot- tage Grove, about fifteen miles from St. Paul, where he was engaged in wagon-mak- ing until December, 1869, and then came to
Litchfieldl, then a new village, just started, where he was employed in wagon-making and in earpentering until 1870, when, feeling assured of the future, he returned to the old country for his family, with whom he arrived in Litchfieldl May 15, 1871. He followed his trade until the succeeding November, when he removed to Swede Grove township, where he built him a house on his farm, and lived there for two years, renting the land and working at carpentering. Ile then com- menced farming himself, and at odd times pursued his trade, and in this manner put in his time for five years more. During this time he had erected, for C. E. Lundberg, an elevator of 60,000 bushels capacity, which, when he had finished, he took charge of for the owner, and operated for seven years. The most of this time he made his home upon his farm, driving in and out each morning and evening. By this time he had acquired some 280 aeres of land, but in 1SS1 he built a honse in the village and managed his farm by hired help. In the fall of 1886 he gave up running the elevator, and engaged in the business of selling lumber, farm machinery, wagons, buggies, paints, oils, etc., in com- pany with B. Bresden.
Mr. and Mrs. Hawkinson are the parents of five children-Andrew. Nels, Alfred, El- mer and Minnie. The eldest, Andrew, is a graduate of the Northwestern College at Minneapolis. In polities Mr. Hawkinson is a stanch adherent to the principles of the re- publican party.
REDERICK SPATH, living on section 10. Dassel township, is one of the leading farmers of that seetion of the county. He is a native of Würtemberg, Ger- many, born February 11. 1825, and the son of William and Catherine Spath, both of whom are also natives of the German Empire.
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Frederick, at the age of sixteen years left the fatherland for America, and on his arri- val in Philadelphia, Pa., commenced learn- ing the blacksmith trade in that city. He remained there until 1856. at which date he came to Minnesota, and settled in Hennepin county, and opened a blacksmith shop, about seven miles north of Minneapolis. About a year later he removed to Anoka county, among the earliest pioneers of that section, and preempted a farm in the town of Bethel. There he made his home until 1864. During the Indian outbreak of 1862, much excite- ment was felt in that county and most of the settlers left the town. Mrs. Spath kept her children dressed and ready to start at a moment's warning for three days and nights, while waiting for news of the appearance of the savages, who never came. The trouble died out and people soon came back to their homes, there as elsewhere. In 1864 Mr.Spath came toKingston, this county, where he opened a blacksmith shop, and continued to follow that calling for two years in that place. In 1866 he removed to the town of Dassel, then known as Swan Lake, and took a homestead of eighty acres of land in sec- tion 10, where his family lived nine years. He worked for a while on the construction of the railroad, and on the laying out of the village of Dassel opened a smithy in that place. His family moved into the latter in 1875, where they all remained until 1881, when he sold out his interests and returned to the farm, which is now increased to 120 acres, more than half of it under a high state of cultivation, and upon which he has erect- ed some fine buildings. On the organization of the town in 1867, he was appointed one of the town supervisors, and the following year was chairman of the board. He was, also, one of the first village trustees and held that oflice for three years consecutively.
Mr. Spath was married in the city of Philadelphia, September 10, 1849, to Miss
Catherine Phipps, a native of Philadelphia. By this union there have been born six chil- dren, namely -- William, living in Dakota; Ka- tie, Mrs.John Bunker,of the village of Dassel; Frank P, who is carrying on the blacksmith trade in the same village ; Susan, Mrs. M. Penny, of Dassel township; Fred P. and Sarah, at home.
ILAS W. LEAVITT, one of the lead- ing citizens of the village of Litchfield, is a native of Gilmanton, N. H., born in 1848, and is a son of Joseph S. and Hannah (Cotton) Leavitt. Ile remained at home with his parents until he had attained the age of seventeen years, when he enlisted in August, 1863, in Company A, Fifteenth New Hamp- shire Infantry, and with that gallant regi- ment served one year. Ile participated in the siege and capture of Port Hudson, and was discharged with the regiment in October, 1864. For the two years following he was compelled to suffer much from a disease of the eyes contraeted while in the service. Becoming able to use his eyes he went to Dover, in the same State, where he remained a year. From there he moved to Boston, and for three years was engaged in clerical labor in that city. Following the advice of Horace Greeley, he then came West, and for some time was prospecting through the country. After looking the State over, Mr. Leavitt decided to locate in Meeker county, and, in 1868, purchased a farm in the town of Greenleaf, where he made his home until the fall of 1871, when, being elected to the office of clerk of the district court, he re- moved to the village of Litchfield. For twelve successive years he filled that respon- sible position with the utmost credit, and de- clined a fourth re-election. During most of this time he was also engaged in the lumber business in Litchfield. Mr. Leavitt was
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