USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 47
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of 665 acres, including considerable timber. He has held the office of township supervisor a number of years, and is justly regarded as one of the " solid " men of the county.
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ONS A. BROWN came to Meeker county, Minn., in the first part of September, 1869, and settled where Litch- field is now located. At that time there was no depot nor passenger trains, only a con- struction train now and then, upon which all freight and passengers had to be trans- ported. At that time there was Ok Sol's so-called hotel, Brown's blacksmith shop, Truls Nelson had just commenced a small dwelling, and H. B. Johnson had some lumber on the place, while Messrs. Heard & Ward had also commenced a one-story build- ing. In the latter part of September he received 1,200 feet of lumber from Minneap- olis, and built a board shed, or shanty, in the rear of lot 14, corner of Second street and the alley. The board shanty was 12x16, with shingle roof. About the 8th of Octo- ber he opened up a tin-shop and stock of hardware -- the first hardware store and tin- shop Litchfield had-in a small way as it was. In November of that year he had an addition built to this shed, of 16x16, one and a half stories, with windows, sealed inside with flooring, where he moved his work- bench and hardware, and used the shed for stoves and warehouse. In 1870 he erected the frame building on lot 13, on Sibley ave- nue, which he occupied until 1882, and which still stands on the old site, and is now occu- pied by P. W. Johnson as a hardware store. In October of that year he moved his family to Litchfield, and moved in over the hard- ware store. The family consisted of his three children and Mrs. A. Brown, his mother, and Miss Susan Johnson, as the gov- erness. In 1882, after selling out his hard-
ware business to Mr. Johnson, he engaged in the brick business for four years, on part of section 6, town of Darwin, and then aban- doned the business. In 1884 he opened up a retail business in Grove City, of a general line, such as dry goods, groceries, clothing, hats, caps and notions. Mr. Brown has only held local offices ; has been twice town treas- urer. Hle served as first town clerk, when Litchfield was part of the incorporated town of Ness, and after being changed to town of Litchfield. He also served one year as pres- ident of the village council, and two years later as trustee on the village council.
M. A. Brown was born in Norway. His father emigrated to this country in 1850, where he landed in Chicago, Ill. Mr. Brown lived in Chicago for about fourteen years, where he was married, and where his chil- dren were born. In 1865 he moved to Water Valley, Miss., where he came from when he settled in Litchfield, Minn. Mr. Brown has been always on the side of enterprise, and has fully identified himself with all the mate- rial progress of the village and the county. He has erected several good buildings in the village, which are a credit to himself and an ornament to the place.
OHN QUINLAN, who is engaged in gen- eral farming on section 11, Darwin township, is a native of Fond du Lac county, Wis., born November 12, 1859, and is the son of Jeremiah and Sarah Quinlan, both of whom were natives of the Emerald Isle, and are now residents of the same township. John Quinlan remained in the Badger State until he was some twenty years of age, but in 1879 he left that portion of our country and came to Meeker county, and, taking up his residence where he now lives, has made this his home ever since.
March 28, 1882, he was united in marriage
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with Margaret Doyle, who died April 14, 1888, leaving the following children to mourn their loss-Jeremiah R., born April 21, 1883; Margaret C., born September 4, 1885; and John M., born March 21, 1888.
Mr. Quinlan has followed farming most of his life, and understands that business thoroughly. In his religion he is a devout Roman Catholic, and cheerfully fulfills his duties. In polities he is entirely independ- ent, not being bound by party lines.
- LAF PETERSON is one of the indus- trious foreign immigrants who have brought the thrift and economy so necessary in their native land to the fertile soil of the new world and are accumulating a comfort- able competence. He is the son of Jolin and Mary (Olson) Peterson, born in Sweden, January 24, 1860. When he was seven years of age he was brought to America by his parents, who settled in Carver county. The family afterward came to this county and settled in Collinwood township. Ile re- mained an inmate of the parental home until 1886, when he moved to his farm on seetion 36, where he has eighty aeres of fine land, forty of which is under cultivation. Ile learned the carpenter's trade in his early manhood and has followed that business a part of the time ever since, and also works at masonry and plastering. He has a neat and tasty residence and comfortable out- buildings. Mr. Peterson was united in mar- riage, August 4, 1883, with Miss Betsy Lar- son, and by this nion there has been born two children-Mary, born June 25, 1884; and John Imer, born March 9, 1886. Al- though a young man, he is rapidly coming the front and bids fair to achieve success. He is of an ingenious turn of mind and has made some excellent specimens of cabinet work which are very ereditable.
ALFRED RODGERS, one of the " brave boys in blue" during the late civil war, who is engaged in farming in Forest Prairie township, on section 18, where he owns some eighty aeres of land, is a native of Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y., born March 18, 1830. Ile is the son of Stephen and Sarah (Williams) Rodgers.
The father of our subjeet was a man of mark in the community in which he lived. Ile was the father of seven children by his first wife, of whom Alfred was one, the others being-Evaline, Hiram, Wesley, Clark, Har- riet, and Manfred. The latter died, while in the army; and Clark's decease occurred in Goodhue county, this State. The mother of our subject died in the Empire State, and after herdeath Steplien Rodgers married Mrs. Spencer, by whom he had four children- Sarah, Martin, Eliza, and Orilla. In 1856, or 1857, Stephen removed to Wisconsin with his family, where he resided until his death, which occurred about 1877.
The subject of this personal history learned the carpenter's trade in youth, and followed it for some ten years in his native State, and, sinee coming here, has worked at it more or less. He was married July 4, 1853, to Miss Marietta Spieer, a native of New York, who died in 1858. She was the mother of one child-Dalton, who died in childhood. Mr. Rodgers' second marriage was with Miss Euphemia Scribner, who became the mother of three children-Man- fred, Eliza and Eva.
In April, 1861, Mr. Rodgers enlisted in Company G, Thirty-fifth New York Infan- try, and participated in many of the most bloody battles fought by the Armies of the Potomae and Shenandoah, among which may be mentioned those of the first and second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and White Sulphur Springs. IIe was finally mustered out and discharged, and returned to New York. He came to Meeker county
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in 1869, and took up a homestead on section 8, in Forest Prairie, but later moved to his present locality. Ile is independent in political matters, and a representative man of the section of the county in which he lives.
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OSEPH LAWRENCE WAKEFIELD, dealer in dry goods and general furnish- ing goods, is one of Litchfield's most promi- nent merchants. He is a native of Providence, R. I., and was born in 1854. His parents, William and Harriet S. (Belcher) Wakefield, were both born and raised in the same State, and his grandfather, Joseph Beleher, belonged to the famous " Ilorse Marine Guards" in early times in New England. He was later a hardware merchant, which business is still carried on by his sons, and was the first per- son to introduce throughout the United States horse shoe nails made by machinery, contracting for and handling the entire pro- duction. Joseph Lawrence's father, William Wakefield, was connected with the banking business in Providence, but in 1856, with his family he went to St. Paul, Minn., for the purpose of settling up the estate of a deceased brother, and, becoming settled there, he has since made that his home.
J. L. Wakefield remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, when he went to Red Wing and attended school, and after- ward entered Ripon College, at Ripon, Wis. In the fall of 1877 he went to Chicago and was employed as salesman in the dry goods establishment of A. T. Stewart & Co., until the spring of 1880. He was then employed by Auerbanch, Finch, Culbertson & Co., at St. Paul, until November, 1883, when he came to Litchfield and opened the store which he still conducts. He carries an ex- tensive and a complete stock of everything pertaining to his line and does a large busi-
ness. Ile has taken an active interest in all public matters and is the present city recorder. Mr. Wakefield was married in October, 1882, to Miss Carrie A. McConnell, of LeRoy, Minn. They have one child - Henry Law- rence.
B ENGT HANSON, one of the most prominent old settlers in Meeker county, is a resident of Litchfield township, his extensive farm adjoining the village plat. Mr. Hanson was born in Sweden on the 6th of August, 1825. IIe was married in Octo- ber, 1853, to Miss Elna Larson, a daughter of John and Lissa Larson. Her parents both died in Meeker county, the father in Septem- ber, 1867, and the mother in February, 1887. Mr. Hanson's parents both died in Sweden.
On the 6th of May, 1857, Bengt Hanson and family left their native land for America, but were detained at Hamburg, Germany, for twenty days. They finally arrived in New York on the 3d of July, and proceeded to Dunkirk, then to Toledo and on to Chicago. There was no depot as yet at the latter place, and his goods were dumped on the ground, while the family were obliged to walk two or three miles through the mud to the other railroad. They took the line to Prairie du Chien, and, as there were no passenger cars, they rode to the latter point in box cars, and from there they took a boat up the river to Carver, Minn. At that place Bengt Hanson bought a span of horses and wagon, and leaving his family behind, he made a prospecting tour through several adjoining counties, but did not find a place to suit him. He then brought his family to Meeker county, and purchased 130 acres of land. He has since continually added to his place, until he now owns 500 acres of valuable land. He is recog- nized as one of the most solid and substantial
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farmers in the county, and his integrity and straightforward dealing, have won him a reputation which have made his word as good as a bond.
Mr. Ilanson, with the other pioneers, suf- fered a considerable loss and backset on account of the Indian outbreak. The red- skins stole several horses and other loose stock and destroyed most of his grain.
He has always taken a commendable inter- est in publie matters and has been promi- nently identified with the official history of the township in which he lives, having held the office of supervisor for over twenty years.
Mrs. Ilanson died on the 5th of April, 1877, aged forty-one years. She was a true and sincere Christian lady, and was held in high esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson were blessed with the following children-Emma. born in Sweden, December 10, 1854; Carl J. G. and Nels C. G. (twins), born in Ham- burg, Germany, May 14, 1857; Alfred Emanuel, born June 30, 1859, died Decem- ber 15, 1862 : Caroline, born September 4. 1862; Esther, born April 4, 1865; Alfred Emanuel, born November 14, 1869; Edła Victoria, born May 30, 1874. Emma mar- ried Olaf II. Peterson, and resides in Litehi- field township. Nels C. G. and Carl J. G. are mentioned elsewhere at length. Caro- line married Andrew Johnson, a resident of Litchfield township.
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M ARTIN J. PAULSON, one of the leading citizens of Meeker county, and for a number of years a resident of Grove City, is the son of Johnson and Emma (Olson) Paulson, and was born in Sweden on the 6th of November, 1851. He came to America with his parents in 1870, and on their arrival at Grove City found only two buildings in that place, the depot
and a store. He was poor and a foreigner who could not speak the language, but he buckled to his life work, and now reaps the reward. He did whatever he could find at hand for a couple of years, but learning the house-painting trade with A. Lofstrom, he followed that for about seven years. In 1879 Mr. Paulson purchased the Swede Grove House, the pioneer hotel of the village, open- ed in 1874 by L. A. Olson, and changed the name to Grove City House, and was the land- lord of it until the spring of 1888, when he removed to Lake Koronis where he now lives. He has, by his own industry and thrift, raised himself, unaided, from his penniless condition into comparative affluence. He owns the fine hotel property and a good farm in Stearns county. Ile has also grown in influence in the community and has hekl the office of member of the council since 1882; is the present village recorder ; and being the candidate upon the democratic ticket for member of the legislature, in the fall of 1886, was only defeated by the union of the three other parties, and then only by a small majority.
November 12, 1884, Mr. Paulson was uni- ted in marriage with Miss Siney Peterson, daughter of Andrew and Anna (Eskelson) Peterson-Clase. Both of Mr. Paulson's parents died in this county, his mother in 1887. and his father in 1886. Ilis wife's father resides with them, but her mother died here about the time of the Indian troubles.
ILLER C. WOOD, a respected citizen and a successful farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 20, Mannnah township, was born in Logan county. Ky .. on the 4th of August, 1818, and is a son of Miller and Melinda (Campbell) Wood. Ile left his native State with his parents in 1832
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and settled in Illinois, being among the ear- liest settlers of that region. He remained there for many years, but in 1864 came to Nicollet county, Minn., and settled, remain- ing one year. At the expiration of that time he came to Meeker county, and located on a farm in Union Grove township. In 1879 he removed to Manannah township and settled on section 20, where he has since continued to reside. He has eighty acres of land, and, in connection with a light general farming business, he devotes considerable attention to raising stock.
Mr. Wood was married in 1842, to Minerva Deatherage. She bore him seven children, and died in 1853.
In the year 1855 he was again married, Miss Lucinda S. Rogers becoming his wife. Thirteen children were born to them, ten of whom are still living. In political mat- ters Mr. Wood affiliates with the demo- cratie party.
T IRAM S. BRANHAM, the junior miem- ber of the banking firm of Stevens & Co., is a native of Johnson county, Ind., and was born January 30, 1856. llis parents, Jesse V. and Mary (Stark) Branham, were natives of Johnson county, Ind., and came to Meeker county in 1857, and located in what is now Litchfield township.
Iliram was reared upon a farm until he was about twelve years of age, since which time he has, until the formation of the pres- ent firm, been employed in some capacity in some of the county offices. He commenced in 1868, with his father, Jesse V. Branham, Jr., who was serving then as auditor, and later on was with his present partner, Ham- let Stevens, in the same office, having been appointed his deputy, and remained in that position for some eight years. The banking tirm was established by them in 1881, and
they are now doing a large business, real estate and farm loans being a specialty. Mr. Branham, who is recognized in the com- munity as one of its ablest and brainiest business men, by his long and faithful service in the auditor's office, became thoroughly posted in regard to the lands of the county, and this, together with his intuitive and sure judgment in all land matters make him an extremely safe guide in all real estate trans- actions.
Mr. Branham and Miss Jessie A. Greenleaf, the latter the danghter of Hon. W. H. Green- leaf, were united in marriage December 27, 1882. They are the parents of one child- Charles Greenleaf Branham, born December 26, 1884.
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OHN VOGEL, one of the prosperous and intelligent farmers of Dassel township, is a native of Germany, born in 1843. He was reared amid the scenes of his youth until he was about twenty-one years of age, when, starting out to seek his fortune, he turned his steps toward the west, to the land of the free, on this side of the ocean, whither he soon after arrived. For about two years he was engaged in the coal mines of Pennsyl- vania, but that work not being congenial to his taste, he came to Minnesota and for a time remained in the city of St. Paul. He then went to Howard Lake, and was in the employ of the railroad until 1877, when he gave that up, and with his family settled on the farm on seetion 20, Dassel township, where he now lives. The first year they lived here there was no floor to their house, and they suffered considerable privation in every respect. Much of his time was taken up in working for others in order to provide for his family, so that the development of his own farm was somewhat retarded, but the native thrift and economy of his race, and
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steady perseverance and undeviating dili- gence, in time met with a signal reward, and he has now one of the best farms in the town. It contains 120 acres. and is highly cul- tivated and cared for.
Mr. Vogel was married in St. Paul, Octo- ber 23, 1865, to Miss Emily Zeigler, a native of Germany, who came to this country the Angust preceding. They are the parents of eleven children, as follows-Edwin, born De- cember 7, 1867; Martin, born March 19, 1869; Adelia, born February 22, 1877 ; Louisa, born July 23, 1873; Albert, born March 3, 1875 ; Julia, born December 22, 1876 ; Emily, born November 26, 1878; Mary, born March 31, 1881 ; Hattie, born March 8, 1883 ; John, born April 1, 1885 ; and Mabel, born June 6, 1887.
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ALVER O. NESS, an enterprising farmer of Litchfield township, is a son of Ole Halverson and Mary Ness, and was born in Rock county, Wis., February 20, 1850. When he was but six years of age his parents removed to Meeker county, and set- tled on section 29, of what is now Litchfield township, where his entire life has been spent in the same industrious and upright manner that characterized the lives of his worthy ancestors. In 1877 he was married to Carrie M. Karn, who was born in Alama- kee county, Iowa, March 25, 1855. Iler parents, Helga and Hellen Ness, came to America in 1844, and are still residents of Iowa. Two children have been born to Halver and Carrie Ness-Mary, born June 1, 1878; and IIellen, born April 5, 1879. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Grove City. When the Indian outbreak came in 1862, Halver was but twelve years old, vet the work of a man devolved upon him, and he remembers many incidents of the memorable reign of terror.
ILAS H. CASWELL, one of the pio- neers of Union Grove township, is the son of Carlos and Anna Caswell, who were natives of Vermont. Ile was born at Bromp- ton, Quebec, Canada. October 22, 1827, and was reared upon a farm until his nineteenth year. For a few years he was sawyer in a sawmill, commeneing life on his own account when twenty-four years old. August 9, 1853, he was married to Miss Fannie R. McCrea, the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth P. McCrea, who was born March 4, 1832, at Castle Fin, Ireland, of Scottish parents. She had resided in the land of her birth until eighteen years of age, coming to Canada in 1850.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Caswell came to the United States, November 3, 1854, arriving in St. Anthony, Minn., with but $2.50 in their possession. The following February they removed to Monticello, Wright county, where he took up a claim and made his home until his removal to Union Grove township, this county, in 1857. While at St. Anthony, he was engaged in carpentering, and helped finish the first brick building erected in Minneapolis. In 1856 he came here, as detailed elsewhere, and, going back, sold out and moved his family here, as above mentioned.
IIe preëmpted some 160 acres of land on sections 23 and 24, in the town of Union Grove, where he lived at the time of the Indian outbreak in 1862, a history of which is given in detail elsewhere in this volume. Like all of the rest of the settlers here, that fall he and his family left, for safer quarters, and made their home on a farm in Wright county for two years. In 1864 he returned to Union Grove, where he made his home until 1876, during which time he had filled several local offices. At that date he removed to Stevens county where he lived for three years, afterward moving back to Union Grove, where he has a fine farm,
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besides owning a quarter seetion in Brown county, Dakota, having some 380 acres in all. Mr. and Mrs. Caswell are the parents of five children - Miranda F. E., born June 26, 1854. Brompton, Quebec, Canada ; Ed- win H., born April 22, 1857, Monticello, Minn. ; Addie J., born February 13, 1862, Union Grove, Minn. ; Oscar C., born Octo- ber 29, 1866 ; and Ernest F., born August 2, 1869, same place. The eldest, now Mrs. J. H. Murray, of Marshall county, Dak., is the mother of three children-Lura E., born April 7, 1876; Pearl C., deceased, born in 1878; and Berna D., born in January, 1887. Addie, Mrs. A. Matteson, of Castle, Mont., has two children living-Bertha G., born December, 16, 1879 ; and Earl L., March 31, 1884 ; she had three more, now deceased.
M. WANVIG, a resident of section 36, Acton township, is one of the most prominent citizens of Meeker county. He is a native of Norway, born June 20, 1831, and a son of Olaavis and Johanna Wanvig. His father followed the business of a general merchant in Norway until the time of his death. In 1861 D. M. Wanvig came to the New World, and settled in Quebec, Canada, where he engaged in farming and was also an interpreter for the Grand Trunk Com- pany in their emigration business. In 1868 he settled in St. Paul, having in the mean- time begun railroading, which he followed for a number of years. In the spring of 1870 he removed to Litchfield, being then engaged in railroad contracting,and in superintending the laying of tracks. In March, 1873, he purchased a farm on section 36, Acton town- ship, and moved his family upon it. This has since been his home, with the exception of the years from 1881 to 1885, inclusive, when he was a resident of Litchfield, and where he still owns a magnificent residence.
When Mr. Wanvig purchased his farm there was but fifty-two acres broke. He has added to the place until he now has 320 aeres in all, 160 of which is under cultivation, and it is one of the most valuable farms in the county. Mr. Wanvig devotes his attention to general farming and stock-raising, the latter particularly. Mr. Wanvig was mar- ried in Norway, in 1852, to Marie Louisa Enebo, and they were blessed with four chil- dren, as follows - Augusta, born March 31, 1853; John Olof, born December 1, 1854; George Martin, born February 16, 1856, and Mareus, born February 8, 1858. His first wife died in Norway, on the 16th of Febru- ary, 1858. After coming to Canada, Mr. Wanvig was married again, this time to Elizabeth Dudy. Three children have blessed this union - Daniel, Matilda and Adolph.
Mr. Wanvig has been prominently identi- fied with railroad building in the Northwest. When he began his railroad work the present Manitoba line was known as the St. Paul & Pacific, and he had a $16,000 contract on that hne. He built the Winona Road from Marshall west to Chachaska, now Water- town; also built the track on the line from Morris west to Breckenridge ; and the track from Barnesville to twenty-eight miles north of Crookston. When he settled at Litchfield the terminus of the line was at Benson. In political matters Mr. Wanvig is a republican, and is one of the leading members of that party in the county. From 1874 until 1883, he was, under the republican administration, railway postał clerk from St. Paul to St. Vincent, his home during this time, however, being in Meeker county. It is worthy of mention that the Indian battle which is mentioned at length in the historical depart- ment of this work was fought on section 35, of Aeton township, on land now owned by Mr. Wanvig. One of the victims was buried there, but the remains were afterward taken up and re-interred at Hutchinson.
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AMUEL .A. DORMAN, a prominent and respected old settler residing on sec- tion 17, Kingston township, dates his resi- dence in Meeker county the year 1857, and is therefore one of the best known citizens in the eastern part of the county. Mr. Dorman is a native of Washington county, Me., born on the 24th of January, 1843. His early life was spent in attending school in his native State, and in 1857, with his parents, he came to Meeker county, Minn., and they located on section 17, Kingston township, where he still resides. Ilis mother is dead and his father is still living. They were here all through the Indian ontbreak and all through the most trying times in the history of the county. Mr. Dorman, the subject of our sketeh. was married in December, 1873, to Miss Martha Gable, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of David Gable and wife. Her mother is dead and her father is still liv- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Dorman are the parents of four children-named, Jesse, Elmer, Hat- tie and Ada-two girls and two boys.
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