USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 46
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THE NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY
T
JUDGE B. W. WOOLSTENCROFT
Who Settled in the Graham Lakes Country July 4, 1867. and Became One of the County's First Settlers.
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tensive farmers and opened more land than any other two men in northwestern Nobles county.
REV. BENJAMIN HECK CREVER (1817- 1890). One of the most prominent and hest known residents of Worthington in the early days of its history was Rev. B. H. Crever, who played a very important part in the religious and educational history of the town during the days when the village claimed only a handful of residents.
Rev. Crever was born at Carlisle, Pa., March 16, 1817, the son of James and Mary Crever. He learned the printer's trade in his father's office in his native town, but did not follow that occupation for long. Hc became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Carlisle in 1835, with which denomi- nation he affiliated fifty-five years. and of which he was a minister fifty years. Soon after joining the church he became a stu- dent at Dickinson college for the purpose of preparing himself for the ministry, and in 1840 he was admitted to the Baltimore con- ference. He had not at that time completed his course of study in the college, but he was subsequently honored by his alma mater with the degree of A. M. and. D. D. He at once began his duties as a minister of the gospel in Virginia, and in the third year of his ministry was assigned to the well known Baltimore charge.
In 1846, because of impaired health, Rev. Crever, was compelled to give up regular work. He then took up educational work, which he followed four years, establishing a private school at Milton. l'a. He was also one of the founders of Williamsport Dick- inson - college, and for two years was an in- structor there. In 1850 he again took up ministerial work, and during the next de- cade was pastor of important churches in Maryland and Pennsylvania. He was assign- ed to the Frederick City, Maryland, church in 1861, the city which was the gateway for the federal armies to and from the hat- tlefields of Virginia. Rev. Crever was a stanch union man, and he was appointed by the government chaplain in charge of all the hospitals of Frederick City and vicinity. Не resumed his duties as a minister in 1866 and was assigned to the Carlisle district. Soon thereafter he became presiding elder
and served in that capacity four years. In 1868 he was honored with a seat in the gen- eral conference.
It was in 1872 that he and his family came with the colonists to Worthington, seeking a much needed rest. He at once be- came one of the prominent members of the little community, was one of the first to build a residence in the village, was pastor of the first church and for a time was prin- cipal of the Worthington seminary. He was one of the organizers of the Colony Christian Union, and was its pastor during the year of its existence. He then organized the Methodist church of Worthington, and was its pastor for some time.
In March, 1875, Rev. Crever returned to his own conference and preached the gospel until 1886, when he took a superanuated re- lation. He was taken ill in May, 1889, from which he never fully recovered. He took to his bed March 26, 1890, and died April 15, of the same year at the residence of his son-in-law, Rev. C. T. Dunning, in Hanover, Pa.
Rev. Crever was married, his wife dying in October, 1886. They were the parents of five children, only one of whom grew to ma- tnrity-Mary H., wife of Rev. C. T. Dun- ning, now residing at Mechanicsburg, Pa. An adopted son, Thomas H. Crever, is still a resident of Worthington.
BENJAMIN W. WOOLSTENCROFT, is judge of probate of Murray county and re- sides at Slayton. Although Judge Woolsten- croft has not been a resident of Nobles county for nearly thirty years, no man liv- ing is more entitled to recognition in a work of this kind than he. Without fear of con- tradiction, we will state that Mr. Woolsten- croft took a more prominent part in the early history making of Nobles county than any other man. He came to the county on July 4. 1867, when there were only two other settlers in the whole county-a county which now boasts a population of over 15.000 peo- ple. From the date of his arrival he took a prominent part in the affairs of the set- tlement, and more than anyone else, he was responsible for the organization of the county government in the fall of 1870, being desig- nated by Governor Austin as one of the three commissioners to perfect the organization. A
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complete sketch of the life of Judge Wool- starcraft would till a volume, and we regret that only a brief outline can be here given. The reader is referred to the history part of this work for many items of interest in the life of Mr. Woolstencroft.
Benjamin W. Woolsteueroft was born Feb ruary 22, 1546, in Jeffer-on Barracks. Mo., the son of Benjamin and Mary A. (Keer) Woolstencroft. Benjamin Woolstencroft, Sr., was a sollier in the regular army, being a sergeant in company K. First U. S. infantry. Soon after the birth of his son he started with his regiment for Mexico to take part ir the Mexican war, and Mrs. Woolstencroft moved with her children to their farm in Clayton county. Iowa, where our subject was raised and received his education. Although only a boy 16 years old at the time of the outbreak of the civil war Mr. Woolsten- croft enlisted as a private in company L. of the Sixth Jowa cavalry, and served from 1862 to 1864.
On Dec. 18, 1866, Mr. Woolstencroft was married to Susan D. Anscomb, and to them have been born seven children. as follows: Minnie M .. Arthur A. (deceased), James W .. Mark. Belle, John and Lulu.
The newly married couple decided to seek a new home in the west, and it was while out looking for a new location that Mr. Woolstencroft learned of the beautiful coun- try around Grabam lakes, and as it was on his route west he lecided to take a look at it. Arriving there with a party of friends who were on the same mission he was so delighted with the appearance of the country tiat he and his friends immediately took claims there. This was on the fourth day of July. 1867. and Joseph and Stephen Mnek were then the only settlers in the whole county. The lands were as yet unsurveyed, and these early settlers held their claims by "squatters'" rights. For several years Mr. Woolstencroft and his neighbors engaged in trapping for a living, there being no mills or market for any grain they might attempt to raise, but there was a good market for their furs, and fur hearing animals were then plentiful in Nobles county. After a few years when settlers began to come in mim bors Mr. Woolstencroft engaged in farming und civil engineering, and resided in the county until 1879, when he took up his resi- dence in Murray county. That county has
since been his home. In 1882 he bought the Fulda Farmer, changed the name to Murray County Republican, and published that for eight years.
Few men of his age can show a longer service as a public official than Mr. Wool- stencroft. He served as county commissioner of Nobles county from the time of the county's organization in October, 1870, till the election in the fall of Ist]. Then he was elected county surveyor and served six ycars. After his removal to Murray county he served IS years as county surveyor there. He was president of the Fulda school board ten years, president of the Fulda village vouneil two years, served a time as recorder. was chairman of the republican county con- tral committee, was secretary of the same organization. served twelve years as justice of the peace, has been assessor a number of years, and was elected to his present office, judge of probate of Murray county, in 189-1 and served continuously since. his present term expiring January. 1909. He was a charter member of Zach. Taylor Post No. 42. G. A. R., Fukla, and was its commander and adjutant for a number of years. He is now a member of Logan Post No. 162, Slay- ton.
[Since the above biography was put in type .Judge Woolstencroft has died, having passed away at his home in Slayton on Saturday, Oct. 17, 1908.]
WIRTER R. D. MeCHORD. Among the pioneer settlers of central Nobles county none is better known than the subject of this biography. who homesteaded in Dewald township in 1972 and who has ever since made his home there.
Mr. McChord was born in Proble county, Ohio, Sept. 16, ISIS, the son of R. W. and Sarah (Wolf) MeChord. Both parents were natives of Ohio and both died in Iowa. the father in 1973 and the mother on April 3. 1SS6. From Proble county, Ohio, the family moved to lee county, Iowa, in 1856, and there our subject grew to manhood, working on his father's farm.
In 1872 he came to the new Nobles county country and homesteaded SG acres in the southwest quarter of section IS, Dewald township, upon which place he has ever since resided. Settlers were few and far between
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at the time, and in Dewald there were not to exceed ten settlers. He erected a "shack" and began farming, experiencing many of the hardships incident to pioneer life.
On November 7, 1876,-the date of the election of President R. B. Hayes-Mr. Me- Chord was married in Dewald township to Miss Maggie Churchill, daughter of .J. B. and Margaret (Getman) Churchill. J. B.
Churchill was one of the first settlers of Dewald, taking his claim on section 20 in March, 1872. At the time his house was the only one on the line between Worthington and Luverne. He removed from the county in 1878 and went to California, buying prop- erty in Los Angeles and Ontario. He died at Santa Monica, Cal., Jan. 16, 1899, at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Churchill was a tive of New York state and died there in 1865. Mrs. MeChord was born in New York Ang. 14, 1860, and came to Nobles county with her father when a child twelve years old. To Mr. and Mrs. McChord have been born two children: Mary Olive (Mrs. R. F. Kerr), of Dewald, born Sept. 15, 1877; Bertha Elizabeth (Mrs. R. C. Thom), of Ol- ney, born Sept. 11. 1883. Mr. MeChord is a. member of the M. W. A. lodge and Mrs. MeChord belongs to the Rushmore Methodist church.
OLE NYSTROM. Among the very first settlers of Bigelow township was a small party of Scandinavians, among which was the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Jemtland, Sweden, April 12, 1849, the son of Peter and Martha (Hanson) Nystrom.
During the first twenty-one years of his life Ole Nystrom lived in his native land. When he was sixteen years of age he began working in the copper mines and followed that ocenpation during the greater part of his residence there, although he worked at farm work some. In company with his brother, Hans Nystrom, he came to America in 1870 and went to Milwaukee. In the vicinity of that city the brothers worked on the railroad for six weeks. They then went to Duluth, where they worked in the stone quarries till late in the fall, and thereafter engaged in railroad work in Wisconsin until the spring of 1871.
He then went to St. James, Minn., and
secured work on the railroad that was build- ing through southwestern Minnesota. There a partnership was formed by L. B. Bennett, Ole Nystrom, Hans Nystrom, Elof Nordquist, Erick Mahlberg, Peter Wickstrom and C. J. Wiekstrom, who secured a contract from the head contractor to do grading on the new road and worked along the line from St. James to Sioux City. During the month of June, 1871, the members of the party left their work at Windom and, under the lead- ership of Mr. Bennett. took claims south of the prospective town of Worthington, all in Bigelow township except Mr. Nordquist, who filed on land in Indian Lake. Ole Nystrom took as his claim the northwest quarter of section 24. A short time after making his filing he put up a little sod shanty but did not make his permanent residence there until two years later, putting in most of his time working on the road. He moved onto the place in 1873 and began farming. He lived in the sod shanty until 1877, when he ercet- ed his first frame house. On his original homestead he has lived ever since. He has added to his possessions by the purchase of 120 acres of land in the same vicinity.
Mr. Nystrom was married in Bigelow town- ship May 13, 1892, to Christine Moberg, daughter of the late Jonas Moberg and Eliza- beth Moberg. Mrs. Nystrom was born in Sweden, came to the United States in 1870 and to Nobles county in the fall of 187]. To them have been born the following child- ren: Myrtle, Alice, Reuben. Mr. and Mrs. Nystrom are members of the Swedish Bap- tist church of Indian Lake.
ATT.EN CHANEY (1811-1892) was a pioneer settler of Nobles county, having come in 1872 as a member of the National colony, and for many years took a prominent part in the affairs of the county and the com- munity in which he lived.
Allen Chaney was born at Barnard, Ver- mont, August 8, 1811, a descendant of one of the earliest colonial families, which came from England in the first half of the seven- teenth century. John Cheney (the spelling of the name has been changed by one branchi of the American family) was the founder of the American Chaneys and Cheneys. The first mention of the family in official re- cords is the following from the pen of that
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rubbe joan, Bev. John Eliot- "Apostle to the liliins"-whil. that preacher was at Rox- bury. In the record of his church Eliot wrote:
"John Clerey he came into the land in the yeare 1635. he brought 4 children, Miry. Martha, John Daniel. Sarah his 5t chill was borne in the last month of the - me veare 1635, cald February. he remove l from o' charch to Newbery the end of the Text sner 1636. Martha Cheney the wife of John Cheney."
The family was a respected one in New bury and intermarried with the best families there. John Cheney held office, bring on the board of selectmen more than once. The des- cent from this founder of the family to the subject of this sketch is direct. Daniel Cheney, son of John Cheney, was born in England about 1633 and died at New bury. Mass. Sept. 10, 1604. John Cheney, son of Daniel Cheney, was born in Newbury July 10. 1676_ and died in 1728. Moses Cheney, con of John Cheney, was born Oct. 20. 1715, and served in the war of the revolution. Moses Cheney. Jr. son of Moses Cheney, was Forn in Newbury Fch. 28. 1764. He removed to Orange, Mass, about the year 1790. It was this member of the family that brought. "bont the change in the spelling of the pirpe. Ore day Moses Cheney. Jr., purchased a volume at a book store and requested the bock seller to write his name in the book. The storekeeper explained to Mr. Cheney that the name was French and meant "oak." that in the French language the e had the sound of a. and that the proper pronuncia- ting of the name was Chaney. Moses Cheney. .Tr .. was so taken up with the explanation that he changed the spelling of the name. and the revised spelling has been followed by all his descendants, although a large part of the American family still spell the pame with the c. Luther Chaney was a son of Moses Chaney. Jr. He was born at Orange May 9. 1728, and was the father of our subject. Ile was an inkeeper. farmer and blacksmith, resided at Orange several vrare, and then removed to Barnard. Ver- mont, where he lived many years and where he died Dec. 2. ISIl. ITis wife and the mother of Allen Cheney was Sabra Allen, who died Iune 3. 1885, aged 96 years.
Allen Chaney lived in Barnard. Vermont, until 1829, when he went to Og lensburg. N.
Y., to accept a position as clerk in the hard- Ware store of his unele, E. B. Allen. A little later he took a partnership in the busi- nes-, and for many year- his home was at Oglensburg. later becoming a manufacturer of iron and steel goods. In 1866 he removed to Pe.roit, Mich., where he engaged in the mamifacture of agricultural implements and machinery, and that city was his home until his removal to Nobles county in 1872. Upon his arrival in Worthington he gave up his manufacturing pursuits and became a farmer, taking a homestead in Worthington town- ship, where he resided until his death, twenty years later.
During his long residence in Nobles county Mr. Chaney took an active part in the re- ligions, social and political affairs of the community in which he lived. lle took a leading and prominent part in the organiza- tion of the Westminster Presbyterian church of Worthingion, which was organized in Feb- rnary. 1873. and for many years he was rul- ing elder in that church in fact, from the date of organization until his death. In 1576 he was elected county surveyor and serv. el one term. He was an officer of Worth- ington township during all the time he was a resident there over twenty years. He held the offices of supervisor. treasurer, assessor, etc.
Allen Chaney was twice married. His first marriage was to Miss Susan Angelina Caryl, daughter of William Caryl. She was born in Barnard, Vermont. March 30. 1811. and died at Ogdensburg, N. Y .. Oct. 15, 1850. Ilis second marriage ocenrred in May, 1853. when he was united in marriage to Miss Candase Coan Rumsey, daughter of David Rumsey. She was born in IS26 and died in February, 1865. Mr. Chaney was the father of six children. as follows: JJulia Maria, born March 1. 1941. resides at Worthington; Catherine Rumsey, born Ang. 5, 1854. mar- ried June 19. 1873. to I. A. Town, died July 17. 1890; Allen Miller. born March 16. 1856. resites at Minneapolis: David Rumsey. born Jan. ! S. 1858, resides at Dundee, Minn .; Roberta Van Valkenburg, born Ang. 20, 1860. married Dec. 30, 1890. to James Mackay. re- sides at Worthington; William, born Feh. 10, 1865, resides at Worthington.
Allen Chaney died at his home in Worth- ington township Dec. 20, 1892.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
SEVERT A. JACOBSON. Among the early day settlers of Olney township is the gen- tleman whose name heads this sketch. he having made his home on the farm where he now lives (the southwest quarter of section 28) thirty-two years.
Mr. Jacobson was born in Norway April 28. 1852, the son of Andrew and Inger (Severson) Jacobson. the former born Jan. 12, 1804, the latter March 10, 1824. Andrew Jacobson died in his native land Jan. 12. 1871; his wife died there in August. 1904.
Severt grew to manhood on his father's farm in the old country. In the spring of 1872-the year following his father's death -- he emigrated to America, first locating in Lafayette county, Wis., where for four years he worked at farm work by the month. Ile came to Nobles county in March. 1876, and bought a relinquishment to the quarter sec- tion where he now lives. The only improve- ment on the land at that time was a little "shack," covered with a hay roof. Today he has a finely improved farm. one of the finest in southern Olney township. During his long residence in Noble- county Mr. Ja- robson has taken active part in local af- fairs. Tle has been a director of school dis- triet No. 43 during nearly the entire period of his residence in the county, and for many years was a member of the board of su- pervisors. He affiliates with the Odd Fel- lows, Woodmen and Workmen lodges and is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Mr. Jacobson was married at Monroe, Wis .. March 22. 1875, to Miss Mary JJohnson, a na- tive of Norway, and a daughter of John Johnson, who died in Norway. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson have been born seven chill- ren, of whom the following five are living: Albert, manager of a department store at Belgrade. Mont., horn Dec. 1. 1876; Samuel, living on the farm, born March 8. ISS); Annie (Mrs. Fred Schrader). of Belgrade, Mont .. born Oet. 6. 1886; Minnie, residing at home. horn July 12. 1888; Edwin. of Bel- grade, Mont .. horn Dec. 2. 1890. Of the other two children. John died in infancy. Charlie, who was manager of a department store in Montana, met his death by drowning July 23. 1906. at the age of 22 years. 10 months and 1 day.
DR. THOMAS G. NEWELL. practicing physician and dentist of Adrian, was one ot
the first settlers of the village, and has taken a very active part in the affairs of Jis town ile has the honor of having oper- ateil the first telegraph instrument in Adrian and of serving as the first mayor.
Dr. Newell was born in St. Clair, Mich .. Feb. 4, 1858, of Seoteh parentage. At the age of Il years he went to Rochester, Minn. At an early age he learned telegraphy, and for a time was employed on the Sioux City & St. Paul railroad as relief agent. On Sept. 19, 1877, he went to the new town of Adrian, on the newly constructed Worthing- ton & Sioux Falls railroad, and took the position of station agent and telegraph opera- tor. He installed and operated the first telegraph instrument, and was in charge of the office until 1885. Freight and passenger ratos were just about double what they are now. passenger rates being five cents per mile, and telegraph tolls were very high. Ninety cents was the cost of sending a telegram to St. Paul, and $1.55 to Chicago. During this first period of his residence in Adrian. Mr. Newell did much for the good of the town. Through his influence with the railroad company the village received its publie park of six aeres, the land being do- nated by the railroad company. When the town was incorporated in 1881 he was chosen the first mayor and was reelected the fol- lowing year and again in 1883. He gave up his position as agent in 1885, and was suc- ceeded by his brother. Henry Newell, who is now agent for the Santa Fe road at Red- lands, Cal. Ile was in turn succeeded by another brother. Geo. A. Newell, who is now assistant freight agent of the O. R. & N. railway, with headquarters at Wallace. Idaho.
After surrendering the station in 1885 Mr. Newell left Adrian, and was absent ten years, during which time he resided in several dif- ferent places. While away he attended a medical and dental school at Kansas City. Mo., from which he received diplomas in both medicine and dentistry. Dr. Newell re- turned to Adrian June 10. 1895. and began the practice of his profession, which he has since followed. In addition to his city property he owns two farms one of 160 aeres on section 5. Olney township: the other of 160 acres on seetion 27, Larkin town- ship.
Dr. Newell was married at Adrian Ang. 16, 1882, to Annie Clark, of Worthington. To
21
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
hem have been born eight chillren, as fol- Con - : Thomas W., born at Elysian. Minh., Inie 21. Iss ;: Raymond. born at Amenia. \ D. Aug. 27. 1oss: Annie, born at Cando. [ [ .. (Nt. 15, 159]: Rosa, born at Shako- 1ev. Minn., Sept. 1. 1-93: Opatvia, born at Mim Mus , Ison; Vetive, born at Adrian Ing. 16. 1\'\; Gemge. born at Alrian Ort. , 1900; Antonio, born at Adrian Det. 4. 1001.
ROBERT SELL is one of the pioners and liest known farmer- of Willmont township, having made his home on the farm where he now resides over thirty years. He i a native of Colberg. in the province of Pommern, Germany, and Ang. 27, 1851. was the date of his birth. His father is Louis Sell. who was born in Germany Feb. 9, 1828. and was the owner of a brick yard in his vative country. Ile came to America ant to Carver. Minn .. in IsGs. where he engaged in farming and where he now lives. Our subject's mother. Caroline (Dummer) Soll, died in Germany Oct. 5. Istiti, aged 34 years.
Robert Sell was raised on a farm and re- prived hi- education in his native country. lle came to the United States with his father, landing in Baltimore Inne 7. 1868. They located at Carver, Minn .. and near that village Robert worked on his father's farm until he was nineteen years of age. He then went to Stillwater and for five years worked in the sawmills and at other kinds of work.
During the month of March. ISTS, Mr. Sell came to Nobles county and became one of the early settler- of northwestern Nobles county. He homesteaded the west half of the northwest quarter of section 30. Will- mont township, and has ever since resided on tle place. Ile has added to his real estate possessions until today he owns 400 acres of land in Willmont and Leota townships. One eighty arre tract he bought at the time of ettling there for six dollars per aere. Another eighty he bought five years later at wien dollars, and recently he bought his last quarter at fifty dollars. Ilis first home was a frame building. 12x14 feed, and his barn was Imilt of cod. later he added to his house, and continued to live in it lill 1900 That year he erected his procent hand some farm home. Mr. Sell raises consister alle stock besides carrying on general farm-
ing. Ile has retired from active work him- self and the farm is managed largely by his -ons.
In the village of Adrian on Oct. 29, 1878. Mr. Sell was married to Mary Tabbert. daughter of John and Dora Tabbert, both de- ceased. Mrs. Sell was born near the city of Berlin. in Brandenberg, Prussia, March 12. Is56, came to the United States with her parents when three months old, and settled in Carver county, Minn. To Mr. and Mrs. Sell have been born eloven children, as fol- low -: Flizabeth, died Feb. 10. 1800, aged 10 years; Emma (Mrs. R. Bartell). of Brook- ings. S. D .; Edith. Loni-, Mathilda, Reinok, died March 30, 199. aged 10 years; Carrie, Roy. Bertha, Mary, Robert.
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