USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 40
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the immediate vicinity they had been pre- ceded by only two settlers, John Chris Johnson and Ole Flling-on. There were two or three families residing on Indian lake; otherwise the nearest settlers were miles away. The two Fauskees walked to Jackson, where the land office was then located, and on June 8, 1870, filed on their claims. The subject of this sketch took as a homestead the northwest quarter of seetion 6, Indian Lake township, on the north bank of the lake, which his brother preempted a quarter on the same section.
After making their filings the brothers walked back to the camp, and from that point drove up to their new homes. Finding a few logs that had been left by the Indian trappers, who by that time had left the weighborhood, the Fauskees erected a house. They banked sods up around the logs and covered the whole with hay. In this the family lived five years, at the end of which time a house of lumber was erected. Jackson was then the nearest town, and there all the trading was done until Worthington was founded. Before the coming of the railroad, Mr. Fauskee farmed on only a small seale, and raised nothing for market. The grass- hopper days and prevailing hard times prov- od a severe blow to the Fauskee family, but the storm was weathered, and today Mr. Fauskee is in comfortable circumstances, lle has made his home on his original claim over since taking it up. but has added to it, until he now has a well improved farm of 255 acres.
Mr. Fanskee was married in Norway Dee. 26, 1863, to Ingeborg Snortum. To them have been born thirteen children. as follows: Ole, of Indian Lake; Julia (Mrs. Collier). of Chicago; Newton, of Worthington; Merle, died in infancy; Mary, of Wisconsin; Albert, died January. 1907; Lena. (Mrs. M. Wright). of Spencer, lowa: Anna, of Canada; Emma, deceased: Gilbert, deceased; Emma, at home; Emil, of Worthington; Joseph, deceased.
JOHN HART. There are few men living in Nobles county today who can claim a longer period of continuous residence than can JJohn Hart, who lives on his original soldier's homestead in Graham Lakes town- ship, taken in the year 1870. le came at a time when there were only about one hun-
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dred inhabitants-men, women and children -- residing in the whole of Nobles county, and of these original settlers only a very few remain. He passed through all the trials and hardships of pioneer life in this, cheu, new country, and his biography is well en- titled to a place in this volume.
He was born in East llanover, Pa., Oct. 15, 1837, and there he passed his boyhood days, securing a common school education and working on the farm. When the civil war broke out he was among the first to offer his services to his country. He enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment in May, 1861, for a three months service, at the end of which time he received his discharge. He immediately reenlisted for a three years' term, and served until his term expired in 1864, taking part in the battle of Gettysburg and many other famous battles of the eivil war. Not content to returu to private life while there was fighting to be done, MIr. Hart reenlisted as a veteran and served until the close of the war, taking part in the grand review at Washington in May, 1865.
Immediately after his retirement from the army he came west and located in Wabasha county, Minn. For a year or two he was engaged in logging and rafting on the Mis- sissippi, but thereafter devoted himself ex- clusively to farming. During his residence at Wabasha be was married (in 1867) to Miss Bridget Maher, who was born near Galena, Ill., but who had come to Wabasha in 1862. To Mr. and Mrs. Hart have been born six children, as follows: James, Jennie (Mrs. Burgess Jones), John, George, Fred and HIarry.
Mr. Ilart moved with his family to Blue Earth in 1869. Looking for a home in the new country to the west, Mr. Hart came to Nobles county in the spring of 1870, and took as a soldier's homestead the southeast quarter of section 20, Graham Lakes town- ship, at a time before the county was or- ganized. He then returned to his home in Blue Earth, but returned to his new home with his family in 1871, and ever since that date has resided here, devoting himself to farming.
During his long residence in Graham Lakes he has held various townships offices, and for 27 years has held the office of treasurer of the school district in which he lives. IIe
is a member of the Catholic church and of the Odd Fellows lodge.
R. L. ERSKINE, now a resident of Moun- tain Grove, Mo., was one of the very earliest settlers of Nobles county, having taken up his residence in Indian Lake township when the Indians living there outnumbered the whites. When he came here Nobles county had not yet been organized and there were not 100 white people living in the whole county. Ile took a prominent part in the affairs of the county in the early days and was one who helped to bring about the or- ganization of Indian Lake township, the sceond one to be vested with township or- ganization.
Mr. Erskine was born Jan. 16, 1832, on board a sailing vessel on which his parents were taking passage from England to Ameri- ca. The family first settled in Maine, and there the subject of this sketch was raised. After growing to manhood he located in Ala- bama, Kentucky, Tennessee and other south- ein states. During the time he was in the south three years were spent in the business of starting saw mills, instructing the crews, etc. Five years of his early life were spent on the sea.
Mr. Erskine finally settled in Illinois and engaged in farming, and there we find him at the time of the outbreak of the civil war. He enlisted in an Illinois regiment and served 18 months as a private. During this service he was wounded in the leg, but not seriously. After his muster out he re- turned to his old home in Illinois, where he lived for a few years, and then moved to Chiekasaw county, Iowa. In 1868 he moved to Okoboji lake, Dickinson county, Iowa, where he lived for one year. Then, desiring to find a home in the new and unsettled country, he came to Nobles county in the fall of 1869 and builded himself a home on the east shore of Indian lake. That was his home until 1894, when he sold out his hold- ings here and with his wife moved to Moun- tain Grove, Wright county, Mo., where they still reside. He has now retired from aetive life.
R. L. Erskine was married in Illinois in 1855 to Louisa Fletcher, who had been born and arised in that state. They were the parents of ten children, of whom nine are still living.
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HANS NYSTROM. of Bigelow township, is one ut the pioneer settlers of that townsbip, having come with the very first settlers there. Ile was born in Jemtland, Sweden, Ajuil 6, Isit. His parents were Peter and Martha (Hanson) Nystrom, both of whom died in Bigelow township, the former in 1-92, the latter in 1898.
Hans received an education in the Swed- i h schools and was raised on a farm. After reiching an age when he was able to do a man's work he began work in the copper mines. At this work he was engaged four years in Sweden and three years in Norway. He exme to America in 1870, arriving in Quebec, Canada, on May 9. From there he went to Milwaukee, Wis., and then direct to Holland, Mich., where he worked for a short time on the railroad. In the latter part of the year 1870 he went to Duluth, where he worked three months, and then proceeded to St. Paul. There he secured work for a short time on the Wisconsin Central railroad, and in the carly part of March, 1871, se- cured work on the Saint Paul & Sioux City railroad, which was then building through southwestern Minnesota. While thus em- ployed, in the sunner of that year, he came to Nobles county with several of his com- panions and took as a homestead claim the southwest quarter of section 24, Bigelow township. After making his filing he con- tinued his work on the railroad, but carly in the spring of 1872 moved onto his claim, and that has been his home ever since. llis place is finely improved and he has one of the finest groves in the vicinity, the start of which was from cuttings seenred from a place near the village of Jackson. Mr. Nys- trom made the journey on foot to seenre them in the early days. Ile farmed his land until the year 1908, when he retired from active business, having turned the management of the place over to his sons. In addition to his homestead Mr. Nystrom owns a quarter section of land adjoining.
In Sweden Mr. Nystrom was united in marriage to Anna Olson. They are the par- ents of the following named children: Tilda (Mrs. Frank Blixt), of Indian Lake; O. Il., a farmer of Bigelow township; Hannah (Mrs. A. J. Olund), of Worthington; Emma (Mrs. Anton F. llohn), of Indian Lake; Peter 11., Minnie, Dan and Henry, who reside at home. Mr. and Mrs. Nystrom and all the children
are members of the Swedish Baptist church of Indian Lake, the parents having held their member-hip since 1875. For several years Mr. Nystrom served as director of the school district in which he lives.
CAPTAIN CHARLES B. LOVELESS (1823 1890) was one of the prominent resi- dents of Worthington during the early days and took an active part in local affairs. Captain Loveless was born in Maine in 1823. llis father was a native of Connec- tient and his mother of Nova Scotia. At the age of ten years he shipped as cabin buy on a coasting vessel, and followed the sea two years. Returning, he learned the trade of blacksmith and machinist and be- came very skilled in his work. lle learned luis trade in Schenectady, N. Y., but most of his business lifo was spent in Syracuse, \. ). lle was the inventor of several useful articles, and the opening of the war of the rebellion found him on the highway to distinction and wealth as an inventor, machinist and business man.
When the war broke out Mr. Loveless was in Portland, Maine, the proprietor of a patent gas works. lle at once sold his business and set about recruiting a regi- ment of cavalry, using his own means while so doing. He raised part of two regi- ments and was mustered into the service in July, 1861, as captain of company B, third regiment New York cavalry. served two years with fidelity and gallan- try.
After leaving the army Captain Loveless engaged in the manufacture of stoves in the city of New York, part of the time traveling over the country selling his goods. lle came to Worthington in 1872 with the Vanguard of the colonists, built the Lake View hotel and opened a blacksmith shop and carriage mannfactory. He sold his vehicles quite extensively in the new set- tlements of southwestern Minnesota. became prominent in anti-saloon matters, as he had been in anti-slavery matters before the war, and identified himself with the temperance movement in Worthington. In this he became a leader. He was Worth- ington's first justice of the peace, hav- ing been chosen at the first election in
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March, 1873. Ile was elected a member of the village council in 1875 and again in 1877. He died at Worthington Dec. 29, 1890.
Captain Loveless was married in 1847 to Miss Mary C. Page, who died in February, 1889. To them were born the following children: William W. and Joseph P., both residents of Worthington; Alida, Ella and Charles, all of whom died in infancy. On Oct. 29, 1890, just two months before his death, Captain Loveless was married to Mrs. Sylvia E. Wood, of Syracuse, N. Y.
REZEAU B. PLOTTS. Among the pio- neer settlers of Nobles county few have taken a more active part in the affairs of the county than has R. B. Plotts, of Worthington. Coming to the county with the vanguard of the colonists early in 1872, he at once became identified with the in- terests of the community, and took part in many of the stirring events of pioneer days.
The life of R. B. Plotts has been an eventful one. ITe was born at Mount Holly, N. J .. Jan. 29, 1837, the town of his birth being but eighteen miles from the city of Philadelphia. His great-great-grandfather was a native of Germany, who came to the United States and became one of the early settlers of New Jersey, founding the Ameri- can branch of the Plotts family. Our sub- ject's father was Rev. Conley Plotts, a Princeton graduate and a man of consider- able prominence in educational circles in the eastern states, a teacher as well as a preacher, who for many years was owner of the academy at Mount Holly, which he and his brother John founded. and in Philadelphia was engaged in school work in several educational institutions. Our sub- jeet's mother was Anna F. (Frankfort) Plotts, who was a native of Philadelphia, and the descendant of another old Amer- ican family. Both the Plotts and Frank. fort families were prominent in Revolu- tionary times. One member of the Frank- fort family was a personal friend of Gen- eral Washington, and Mr. Plotts, of this sketch, has in his possession an old desk which was his grandfather's and at which General Washington' has sat. Another one of Mr. Plotts' ancestors was a member of the
Boston tea party, and another served with John Paul Jones.
R. B. Plotts began his education when four years of age, receiving instruction from his father. In 1842 the family moved to Philadelphia, and there he completed his education graduating from the central high school a school corresponding to the pres- ent day college-in 1853. Upon quitting school Mr. Plotts entered the employ of Reany, Neafie & Levy, in Kensington, Phila- delphia, and remained with that firm four years. learning the machinist's trade. There- after he worked as a journeyman machinist in different parts of the country whenever he could find work. When not able to obtain work at his trade he taught school in Iowa and Wisconsin. In the spring of 1859 he moved to Williamsport, Pa., to which place his parents had moved while he was learning his trade. There he re- mained until carly in the year following. working part of the time in the railroad
shops. After a short sojourn in Norfolk, Va., Mr. Plotts went to Richmond, Va., where he made his home until February or March, 1861. On the last train that loft Richmond for the nation's eapital be- fore the opening of hostilities between the north and south had ent off communication Mr. Plotts was a passenger.
He went at once to Williamsport and made application for admission to the navy, and on July 1, 1861, was accepted. In Angust the sloop of war Richmond, to which he was assigned, sailed from the Brooklyn navy yard, and cruised for about a month in pursuit of the rebel ship Sump- fer. Then the vessel reported for duty at Pensacola, and was sent to blocade the mouth of the Mississippi river, where it relieved the Brooklyn. After being on blockade duty for a short time the Rich- mond, on October I. sailed to the head of the passes, where it remained until the morning of October 12. That day it en- gaged in battle with the rebel ram Manas- sas. In the engagement the rebel ship collided with the Richmond, broke a large hole in its side and did considerable damage. After fighting for about an hour and a half the vessels separated. neither having gained a victory.
Mr. Plotts participated in many hard
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Al it- on box 1 thr Richmond 0 1-00 1 19. In the list nimed year Op , tterred to he Nisic. and dur- Er th: mit i'ne morth. was with the of vel we trustop. in the vi mity ( which i participated in many en- moment -. In July, 1864, Mr. Plotts was and to the by Qđtor. la, on which he Sivel dning ten severe engagements, hi- wood Heading in the fight in Mobile lay amir -1 Fort Mormon. The squadron con timvel in the vicinity of Mobile bay until the close of the war. For some time Mr. Phdt- was in the hospital as the result of Farklips and exposure through which he hal jassel. Later he was ordered to New Orleans, whence he was ordered north on sick leave. He returned home. where he remained until 1866, being retired from Ity in January, and late in the same year was ordered on duty again and was stationed at Leaoue Island, Philadelphia. where he was four years. In 1867 he was given the office of past assistant engineer. with the rank of lieutenant. He was re- tired from active duty Oct. 1. 1870, and is still on the retired list. On June 20, 100G. lle was promoted to the office of Chief engineer, with the rank of lieutenant.
After lemy placed on the retired list Mr. Plotts returned to Williamsport. Pa .. where he remained a little over a year. Ile decided to cast his lot with the west a 1 on March 6. 1572, arrivel with the alanist- in Nobles county. He settled on foin in Elk township. where he engaged in farming until February. 1877. He then moved to Worthington, which has since been his home. During his long residence in the county Mr. Plotts has been very ative along many lines of endeavor and lus many times been called upon to serve in an official capacity. He was the first clerk in FHl- township. On May 29, 1880, he was appointed village recorder to sue. You V. A. Parlow, resigned, and was elected to the office in 1881 82 83 81 85-86. He was Village - or in 1594 and village clerk in int. In the early days be served several ferias a- de poly sheriff. and was peting sher- itt during the later part of Sheriff Miller's hast term. He wi dertel and served several terms as county coroner. Mr. Plotts has
been a member of the Masonic order since 1873. and for twenty years has been secre- fary of the Worthington lodge. He is also a member of the G. A. R.
At New Orleans, La., on July 23, 1864, Lieutenant Plotts was married to Miss Kate Slavin. daughter of Edward and Anna (Davis) Slavin, nativos, respectively, of Ire- land and England. Mrs. Plotts was born Pt Galveston. Texas, June 23. 1845, and died in Worthington April 2. 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. Plotts were born the following child- Emily V., Martha W., Lillian C., Nellie M .. Phillip F .. John Manning and Wal- for J. All are living except the last named. who died in September, ISSS. The first born, a son. died at birth: also two daugh- ters died in infancy.
ARTHUR J. RICE, of Adrian, is one of the pioneer residents of that city, having resided there continuously since September. 1877. During all these years he has been closely identified with the development of the west end metropolis, and in later years he has had a part in the history of two other Nobles county villages, Ellsworth and Lis- more. In the farmer town he conducted a branch drug store for a number of years, and in the new town of Lismore he has worked energetically for its development.
Mr. Rice descends from colonial stock. The founder of the American branch of the Rice family was among the very earliest arrivals in the new world, and located in the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts. The family later became residents of Connerti- ent, and finally permanently settled in New York state. On his mother's side Mr. Rice also comes from one of the old families of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The father of our subject was Nelson Rice, the mother Phoche (Welch) Rice. To these parents was born Arthur J. Rice on August 28, 1856, in Har- rison township. Potter county, Pa., where his parents were residing temporarily. His boyhood days were spent on a farm near Whitesville, in Allegany county, N. Y. There he attended the public schools, and there he learned the drug business under Dr. J. G. Horton.
At the age of twenty years Mr. Rice came to Nobles county, arriving in Worthington in September, 1876. For one year he was
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employed as clerk in Dr. R. D. Barber's drug store. Then he moved to the new town of Adrian, started in the drug business for himself, and has ever since made that city his home. He continued in the drug busi- ness until 1893, when he disposed of his property and engaged in the fand business on a small scale. Later he became the trav- eling representative of the Western Bridge company, of Chicago, his territory being Min- nesota, North Dakota. South Dakota and northwestern Iowa. In 1896 he was elected county commissioner and served a four year term. He organized the State Bank of Lis- more, in the new town on the Rock Island road, in September, 1900, and has since held the office of cashier in that institution. The greater part of his time is now taken up with his duties in Lismore, but he still remains a resident of Adrian.
Mr. Rice was married May 22, ISTO. to May Hitchins. They are the parents of four sons, Dr. Geo. D. Rice, born Ang. 30, 1880, of Pipestone, Minn .; Dr. A. N. Rice, born Jan. 23, 1881, of Adrian; Kenneth Rice, born Oct. 4, 1890, and Carl Rice, born Sept. 12. 1893. both of Adrian.
Mrs. Rice is the daughter of (co. and Anna Hitchins, who moved to Adrian from Little Rock township in 1883. and where they both died. She was born in Iowa county. Wis., March 22. 1857.
Mr. Rice is a Mason, being the first to receive the Third degree in Adrian when the lodge was working under dispensation. In after years he was Master of Roman Eagle lodge. A. F. & A. M., No. 175, Adrian.
E. L. WEMPLE (1835-1908). One of the oldest and most respected citizens of Rush- more was E. L. Wemple, who was one of the founders of that village and who made his home there from 1878 until his death in August, 1908. Well educated and well in- formed, he kept postel on all current af- fairs, and was a competent critic of all lit- erary and musical subjects. He was a man of decided opinions on all questions of right and wrong, and was a power in the com- munity in which he lived so long.
E. L. Wemple descended from one of the old American families, some of his ancestors taking a very prominent part in the war of the revolution. He was born at Fonda, N
Y., May 31, 1835, and there he lived till six- teen years of age. Then he went to New York city, obtained employment in a whole- sale house, in which business he was en- gaged for many years. In 1866 he accepted a position of art decorator for the Singer Manufacturing company and was engaged in that work for twelve years.
In ISTS Mr. Wemple gave up his position in the metropolis and came to the little vil- lage of Rushmore, being among the first to locate there. His family caine the next year, and it was decided to make Nobles county their future home. In the spring of 1879 he erected the first hotel building in the town-the building now nsed as the family home-and engaged in the hotel business, a business which he followed for just a quar- ter of a century. Owing to feeble health he closed the hotel in 1904.
During his long residence in Nobles county Judge Wemple took a prominent part in the affairs of the county. In 1886 he was elected judge of probate on the republican ticket and served one term. lle was post- master of Rushmore from 1898 to 1903, when he resigned. For twenty-one years he was treasurer of the Rushmore school board. He held the office of treasurer of Dewald town- ship for six years, and served as justice of the peace many years.
January 17. 1858, Mr. Wemple was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Seeber at New York city. Mrs. Wemple also de-conds from one of the old American families who took prominent parts in. the revolutionary war. She was born June 20, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Wemple are the parents of five children, all of whom are living. They are: Edwin S., born in New York city Jan. 19, 1859, now living in Rushmore; A. S., born July 11, 1861, living in Minneapolis; Lillian (Mrs. Anton Schaefer), born Nov. 24, 1865, living in St. Paul: Grace R. (Mrs. W. II. Booth). born Jan. 13, 1869, living in Sioux Falls, S. D .; James. born Dec. 15. 1872, living in New York state.
WILLIAM THOM (1834-1907). During a residence of thirty-five years in Nobles coun- ty. the late William Thom, of Oluey town- chip, was one of the most highly respected residents of central Nobles county. When he came to the county in 1872 he was possessed
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of very little means, and during the grass- Hopper priol they were reduced to almost Nothing. Ho stayed with the country, how. ever anl lecime one of the largest land- owners in bis vicinity. at the time of his leith in 1907 being the owner of 1,500 acres of land in Nobles county; also a tract in (ar in anl a quarter section in North Da. kota.
William Thom was born in Aberdeen, Scof- land, Sept D. 1834, and in his native land was reared and educated. In 1951 ho severed home ties and sought his fortune in the new world, landing in America in the spring of that year. He was then without means. but had plenty of pluck and ambition. Im- me liately upon his arrival he went fo Keno- sha. Wis, where for three years he worked on his uncle's farm. In the spring of 1857 he moved to Steele county. Minn., preempted 160 acres of land, upon which he seltled and lived until 1865. Fle then disposed of his property in Steele county, moved to Houston county, purchased a farm there, and engaged in farming until his arrival in No- bles county.
In May. 1872. Mr Thom "came To This in Ohio. He is now living with a daughter county, took a claim of eighty.acres ,int ney township (the west half of the south- west quarter of section 12), and soon there after became a resident of the wormdas ale When Oscar was four years old the family moved to Buchanan county, lowa, and that was his home until past eighteen years of age. On Feb. 29, 1864, he enlisted in company F. of the Fifth Iowa volunteer infantry. Captain Daniel S. Lee, and served in the army until the close of the war. lle was transferred to company G, of the Fifth cavalry. Aug. 8. 1861. and served as bugler of that company until he was mustered out at Nashville. Tenn., on Ang. 11. 1865. created a house on his claim : in +873, and the following year brought his family to the new home. On that place he resided until his death on Jan. 20. 1907. He took I commendable interest in local affairs, di- retting his influence along the line of pro gress and for the good of the community. For many years he held office in his town- ship. He was a charter member of the Rushmore Presbyterian church, of which he was ruling eller at the time of his death. He was one of the founders of the First Na- tional Bank of Rushmore, which came into existence in 1903, and was its president from the time of organization until his death. Ile owned the majority of the stock of that francial institution.
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