USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 55
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Mr. McConkey is a member of the Presby- terian church and the M. W. A. lodge. He owns two farms, one of 160 acres in Ewing- ton township, Jackson county, and the other of 160 acres in Cottonwood county.
JAMES R. SELBY owns and farms the northwest quarter of section 32, 1Jersey township, that township having been his home for the last twenty-eight years. He was born in Vernon Center, Blue Earth county, Minn., Feb. 18, 1865, the son of Thomas W. Selby and Adeline A. (Crowe) Selby. Ifis father, a native of Indiana, is still living, his home also being in Hersey. His mother was a native of Nova Scotia. She died Feb. 8, 1900.
James R. lived with his parents at dif- ferent points in Blue Earth county until past fifteen years of age. There he secured a common school education in the district schools, and like most boys raised on the farm, he spent the summer months assisting in the farm work. In November, 1880, he moved with his parents to Nobles county, and until his marriage in 1887 he lived- with his parents on their farm on section 28, Her- sey township.
On December 22, 1887, occurred his mar- riage to Miss Minerva J. Paine. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Paine, now residing at Worthington. Four children have blessed this union. Orval and Myrtle are liv- ing with their parents; two died in in- fancy. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Selby purchased the quarter section farm where he now resides, and has since made that place his home.
During his residence in llersey township
Mr. Selby has been honored on numerous occasions by election to office by the votes of his neighbors. For six or seven years he held the office of township treasurer, and during the last eight years he has been clerk of the school district in which he resides. Other offices he has held are justice of the peace, road overseer and constable. Ile is a member of the A. O. U. W. lodge of Worth- ington.
DANIEL W. CHUTE, retired farmer and merchant of Worthington, is one of the pio- neer settlers of Nobles county, having come during colony days and having made his home here thirty-six years.
Mr. Chute is of English descent, both his grandfathers, Daniel Chute and Pharaoh Raudal, having been born in England and having come with a colony to Nova Scotia in an early day. The parents of our sub- ject were Daniel and Mary (Randall) Chute, both natives of Nova Scotia. The father was born in 1807 and died in Nevada in 1873. The mother was born in 1816 and died in 1906.
Daniel Chute, of this sketch, was born in Mount Clemens, Mich., in 1851. On Dec. 1, 1854, the family moved from Michigan to Evota, Olmsted county, Minn., and the North Star state has been the home of our sub- ject ever since. Southern Minnesota was very thinly settled at the time of the ar- rival of the Chute family, and they suf- fered all the hardships incident to pioneer life. The head of the family took a pre- emption claim, and the family home was there for about six years. The next location was Albert Lea, near which city Mr. Chute, Sr., became the owner of over a section of farming land. Our subject made his home there until 1872. securing an education in the public and high school of Albert Lca and engaging in farming. He secured a start in life there, and when he arrived in Worth- ington on September 18, 1872, had about three thousand dollars.
Two days after his arrival Mr. Chute filed on the southeast quarter of section 18. Summit Lake township, as a tree claim and the south half of the northeast quarter of the same section as a homestead- property which he still owns. During the winter of 1872 73 he returned to his old home in Al-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
bert Lea, completed his education, and in the spring returned to his claims. Hle engaged in farming and stockraising there for many years. During the early days he had many ups and downs, at one time losing all his possessions except his tree claim and home- stead (which were practically valueless at the time) and a few cattle. He lost seven crops by grasshoppers and five by hail in the days when the country was new. By fortunate real estate speculations Mr. Chute has prospered, and is today rated as being worth over $50,000. In addition to his Sum- mit Lake township farm, he owns the south- west quarter of seetion two. Bloom town- ship, about $20,000 worth of Worthington city property and $8,000 worth of Wilmont city property.
In 1895 Mr. Chute retired from active farm work and moved to Worthington., In that city for three or four years he engaged in the hotel, grocery and meat business. Ile returned to his farm again in recent years, but during the present year retired from ac- tive work and is again a resident of Worth- ington. During his residence in Summit Lake township Mr. Chute served as clerk of the school district in which he resided, and was road overseer about ten years.
Mr. Chute was united in marriage at War- saw, Ill., on Oct. 3. 1875, to Emma Howard, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of William A. and Sarah (Kieser) Howard. They have no children.
JOHN E. SHORE is one of the pioneer residents of Ransom township, having made his home there since he was a boy seven- teen years of age. Ile is the son of Robert and Eliza (Greenhalgh) Shore, also of Ran- som township, and was born in Grant county. Wis., May 2, 1856. On his father's farm in that county he passed his boyhood days, and there he received a common school education.
During the month of April. 1873, he came to Nobles county with his parents and for several years resided on his father's home stead in Ransom township, working on his father's place and for neighboring farmers. In 1585 he began farming for himself, hay- ing rented the northwest quarter of section 10, Ransom. In 1889 he moved onto hi- present farm, the northeast quarter of ser. tion 22, which he had purchased some time
before. lle erceted the buildings and made the other improvements, the land having been raw land when he purchased it. In ad- dition to the home farm he now owns the southwest quarter of section 14.
Mr. Shore was married at Parker, S. D .. July 1. 1885, to Libbie Guernsey, daughter of Amasa and Loretta (Copeland) Guernsey, who were natives of New York state. Mrs. Shore was born in New York state Jan. 13, 1865. To them have been born the following chil- dren. all of whom are living at home: Alice, born July 13. 1886; Harold, born Nov. 23. 1989; Raymond, born Feb. 25, 1893; Howard, born May 5. 1897; Loretta, born Aug. 20. 1904. Mr. Shore served as treasurer of Ransom township for several years and has held other minor offices. lle is a member of the M. W. A. of Bigelow.
WILLIAM KERR, now a resident of Eugene City. Oregon, was one of the early settlers of Nobles county and for many years made his home here. He was born in Mill- port. Scotland, Ang. 16, 1848; came to Am- erica with his parents when a boy, and locat- ! noar Springfield, Ill. Later he moved to Houston county, Minn .. and in June. 1872. came to Nobles county. He took a home- stead and for three years in succession lost wverything by the grasshoppers. Discouraged with the outlook, he returned to eastern Minnesota, locating in Steele county. where he worked out during the winter months. The third year he went to Houston county, and for five years farmed on rented land there. In March. 1882. he returned to Nobles county. For five years he lived in Dewald township, then moved to Larkin township. which was his home mutil September. 1902. when he and his wife went to Engene City, Oregon, which place has since been their home. During his residence in Nobles county Mr. Kerr held many offices of trust in the township and school district in which he lived.
William Kerr was married at Owatonna, Minn .. . Jan. 5. 1871. to Margaret Thom, who was born in Aberdeenshire. Scodand, Feb. 8, 1849. They are the parents of eight chil- dren : Daniel Walker, born Oct. 31, 187]; Robert Francis, born Aug. 29. 1873; Helen 1 ... born Jan. 29, 1876; JJessie Belle, born April 6, 1878; Arthur Fredric, born March 12, 1884;
THE LATE REV. LATHER C. J. KNAUF
A Pioneer Settler of Adrian, Resident Manager of the Catholic Colony Company, and an Active Participant in the Early History Making of Western Nobles County.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Alice Winifred, born March 12, 1884; Ray- mond Earle, born April 28. 1888; William Bryce. born March 9, 1802.
JOHN B. FEENEY, Little Rock township farmer, has resided on the farm where he now lives for twenty-eight years. He is a native of Kings county, Ireland, and the son of Keran Feeney and Dora (Scully) Feeney, both of whom are dead.
When he was five years old he came with his parents to America and located in New York city, which was his home for thirty- five years. After growing to manhood lie be- came a sailor and for many years was en- gaged in the coast trade. Ten years of his life were spent as a canal man, operating on the Delaware & Hudson canal.
In the spring of 1880 Mr. Feeney decided to go west and make himself and family a home there. Ile started for Douglas county. Minn., but when he arrived in St. Paul he met Bishop Ireland, who induced him to come to the Nobles county country. in which he was then interested. and Mr. Feeney did so. It was in the month of March that he first set foot on the soil of Nobles county. He at onee bought a timber claim right to the north half of the southeast quarter of section 18, Little Rock township, his present home. later changed it to a homestead filing. and proved up on the property. Two years later he purchased the northeast quarter of section 27, in the same township. Although he had had no previous experience in farming. Mr. Feeney set to work to im- prove the place and has been engaged in farming over since. Hle is a member of the Catholic church of Adrian.
Mr. Feeney was married in New York city to Annie Cummings, a native of that city. To them were born the following children: K. J .. of Little Rock township; Annie Ger- trude (Mrs. John O'Hearn). of Seattle, Wash .: Mary Agnes and Elizabeth V., who reside at home.
JOIN CROWLEY. senior member of the firm of Crowley & Bratsberg. proprietor of Ellsworth's "Big Store," has been in business in that village for many years. Ile is a na- tive of Grundy county. III., where he was
born Dec. 22, 1869, the son of Cornelius and Ellen (Reiley) Crowley. The father was born in Marseilles, Ill., where he lived during his entire life, having died there in June. 1897, aged 55 years. Our subjeet's mother was born in County Meade, Ireland, and came to the United States when three years of age. She died in February, 1905, aged 56 years.
In his native county Mr. Crowley lived eighteen years. He was educated in the pub- lie schools and in the Northern Indiana Nor- mal school of Valpariso. Leaving home after his school days he went to Chicago, where for some time he worked for the South Side street car company. He then came west and for one year was on a farm at Rock Rapids, Iowa. During the next two years he engaged in farming in Rock county, Minn., where he purchased a farm. Giving up farming he moved to Ellsworth, where for one year he clerked for F. J. Schoweiler. Ile tlen formed a partnership with Barney Ball and engaged in the clothing business, which the firm conducted only one year. In January, 1898, the firm of Scholtes. Crow- ley & Bratsberg was formed, which engaged in the general merchandise business and had an existence until 1906. At that time Mr. Scholtes severed his connection with the firm. which was succeeded by the firm of Crowley & Bratsberg. The store is housed in a hand- some brick block which was erceted in 1900, and carries one of the largest stocks of gen- eral merchandise 'in Nobles county. Messrs. Crowley & Bratsberg are also members of the Ellsworth Proluce company. which was founded in March, 1908. to conduct a whole- sale business 'in eggs, poultry, potatoes and melons, buying from the merchants of the surrounding towns and shipping in car load lots. Within two months after beginning business the firm had shipped eight car loads of eggs and five of potatoes.
Mr. Crowley was married in Ellsworth Oct. 6, 1898, to Miss Margaret Carey, a native of New Jersey and a daughter of Thomas and Margaret Carey. Mr. and Mrs. Crowley are the parents of the following children: Francos, Emmett, Redmond, Arthur, Barnard and Margaret. Mr. Crowley is a member of the Catholic church and of the M. W. A. lodge. He is one of the trustees of the Ells- worth village council.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
NICK EPPERS has resided on his farm in Grand Prairie township for twenty-four years and is one of the many successful farmers of southwestern Nobles county. He was born in Kenosha county, Wis .. Oct. 26, 1957, the son of Nick and Katherina (Lenz) Eppers. The father was born in Germany in 1829, came to the United States and located in Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1857, just one month after the birth of his son. Our subject's mother was also a native of Ger- many. She came to America and was mar- ried in Wisconsin. She now resides in Kenosha county and is 72 years of age.
Nick was raised on a farm in Kenosha county, which was his home until past 26 years of age. During the last two years of his residence there he engaged in farming for himself. Some of his acquaintances and neighbors had come to Nobles county. Minn., and it was due to their representations that Mr. Eppers decided to locate in the same community. On the last day of October, 1884. he arrived in the county, having dis- posed of his interests in Wisconsin. He at once purchased the northeast quarter of see- tion 2. Grand Prairie, and ever since has made his home there. Later he purchased other property and now owns. in addition to his original purchase. 40 acres in the south- east quarter of section 2, and the south half of the southwest quarter of seetion 36, Westside township.
In Scott county, Minn., on Feb. 16. 1885, Mr. Eppers was married to Gertrude Bonzlet, who was born in Kenosha county, Wis .. Jan. 21, 1860. To this union have been born the following children: Sophia. born June 17, ISSS; Clara, born Jan. 16, 1890; Bertha, born Oct. 25, 1891; Oscar, born Jan. 3. 1891; Matilda, born Dec. 4, 1895.
Mr. and Mrs. Eppers are members of the Catholic church of Adrian and he is a mem- ber of St. Joseph's society. Since residing in the county he has served nine years as clerk of school district No. 19 and now holds the office.
Mr. Eppers has a finely improved farm and is a suceessful farmer. lle makes a specialty of thoroughbred stock, raising large numbers of Shorthorn cattle and O. 1. C. swine.
A. M. FEATHERS, of Larkin township, is one of the carly day settlers of Nobles county, having resided here continuously since 1876. Ile was born at Dodgeville, Wis., Dee. 14, 1864. Ilis father was a native of Canada and was of Irish descent. His mother was born in Dodgeville, and was of Scotel, Irish and French deseent.
In November, 1876, at the age of twelve years. Mr. Feathers came to Nobles county and for three years worked on J. Il. Jones' farin near Bigelow. Ile then went to Adrian and for twenty years was in the general mer- chandise store of Mr. Jones, acquiring an in- terest in the business before severing his connection therewith. In 1901, he sold out at Adrian and moved onto the Larkin town- ship farm, where he has since resided. The farm is the northwest quarter of section S. and was purchased in 1893.
In ISSS Mr. Feathers was elected recorder of Adrian village and served one year. He is now chairman of the Larkin township board of supervisors and is serving his see- ond term. He is a member of the Unitarian church and of the Masonic and Woodmen lodges.
Mr. Feathers was married at Adrian in 1887 to Miss Francos laislet, daughter of the late S. S. Hlaislet, founder of the Adrian Guardian. She was born in New Hampton, Towa, and moved with her parents to Heron Lake in 1880 and to Adrian a few years later. She taught school in Adrian before her mar- riage. Mrs. Feathers died in 1892. The see- ond marriage of our subject occurred in 1895, when he wedded Miss Sallie Prideaux, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Prideaux. of Worth- ington. She was born in Dodgeville, Wis .. and eame to Nobles county with her parents in 1872. Mr. Feathers has eight children. named as follows: Rowena. Clifford. Clara. Dorothy, Lyman. Louise. McDonald and Mary.
JOSEPH HARTMAN, of Willmont town- ship, is one of the carliest settlers of that preeinet, having located there at the time of the arrival of Fred Hartman. Peter Leh- ens, Robert Sell, Fred Pank and Emil Graf the township's pioneers. He owns 320 acres of land on sections 34 and 35 and has resided on his farm since his arrival thirty years ago.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Joseph Hartman's parents were Fredolin and Carrie (Kleever) Hartman. Both parents died in Germany, the mother in January, 1867, at the age of 42 years, the father in Germany on April 25, 1908, at the age of $2 years. Josephi was the eldest of a family of three children, two sisters living in Ger- many. He was born in Germany Oct. 23, 1854, and came to the United States in 1871, arriving during the month of October. The first four years of his life in the new world were spent in Boston and the next two near Minneapolis.
Our subject came to Nobles county October 3. 1877, and filed a homestead claim to the farm upon which he now resides. In March of the next year he moved down to his land and hegan farming. Later he bought 160 acres adjoining. Ile has improved the place with groves and buildings, and today has a fine home. He erected his present house in 1888.
Mr. Hartman was married at Waconia Minn., Jan. 21, 1879, to Frances Adelman, who was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1867. She died on the home farm March 1, 1897. To this union nine chil- dren were born: Annie, George, Frank, Fredo, Mary, Leo, Bannie, Francis and Carrie. Mr. Ilartman's second marriage occurred at St. Kilian in September, 1900, when he wedded Mrs. Carrie Hartman, who was born in Ger- many in 1852.
Mr. and Mrs. Hartman are members of the Catholic church of St. Kilian. In the early days he served as a director of school district No. 16.
WILLIAM WHEATLEY, retired farmer and capitalist of Ellsworth, has been an ac- tual resident of Nobles county only eight years, but he was an early settler of Mid- land township, Lyon county, Iowa, just over the line from Nobles county.
Mr. Wheatley is an Englishman by birth and spent his early days in that country. He was born May 21, 1847, the son of Charles and Mary (Middlewood) Wheatley, and is the next oldest of eight living chil - dren. The living brothers and sisters are: George, who is sheriff of Lyon county, Iowa; Charles and M. W., Lyon county farmers; Mrs. Josephi Bramley, of Little Rock, Iowa; Mrs. E. Walker, of St. Croix Falls, Wis .;
Mrs. M. L. Counsell, of England; Mrs. E. F. Lambert, of Scotland. The father of our sub- ject and of these children died in England in the fall of 1876, aged 52 years. Ilis wife was born in England, but came to the United States when a child. She returned to her native land at the age of nineteen years and was there married to Mr. Wheatley. She remained in England until a few years after her husband's death, then took up her resi- dence in the United States, lived here a few years, and then returned to England, where she died in 1896, aged 72 years.
William Wheatley was raised and educated in England, and after reaching manhood en- gaged in the wholesale mercantile business in Manchester. He came to the United States in April, 1884, and located on a farm in Lyon county, Iowa. His decision to come to the new world was made through the representa- tions of an uncle, Geo. Middlewood. The lat- ter had come to the United States when a loy and had accumulated considerable wealth in lands and stocks, having been engaged in the malting and brewing business in Cin- cinnati. To each one of the Wheatley chil- dren-eight in all-he gave a farm in Lyon county, Iowa. The uncle returned to Eng- land at an old age and died there about fifteen years ago, aged 85 years.
On his Lyon county farm Mr. Wheatley re- sided sixteen years. During his residence there he prospered and added considerable to his holdings. He now owns 1,040 acres of land there all in one body and all well im- proved. In 1900 he moved to Ellsworth vil- lage and has sinee lived a retired life, look- ing after his farms, all of which are rented. Of Midland township, Lyon county, he served ten years as treasurer. He is a member of the Congregational church and of the Knights of Pythias lodge.
In Chicago, Ill., on June 14, 1884, Mr. Wheatley was married to Mrs. Jennie Thomp- son, a native of England. To them has been born one child, Raymond A., born in Lyon county July 21. 1887. The boy is now a student at Drake university.
CHARLES J. SMALLWOOD, of Worthing- ton, is proprietor of the Worthington tele- phone exchange and of several connecting lines, and is president of the Midland Tele- phone company, an incorporated organiza-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
tion with headquarters at Adrian, which also owns several connecting county lines. lle has been a resident of Worthington since 1893, has engaged in several different lines of business, and has been prominent in the affairs of the community in which he lives. Mr. Smallwood was born in Mlelleury county, IN., Sept. 25, 1865, the son of Thomas B. and Sarah
(James) Smallwood. The father of our subject was born in York- shire, kengland, in 1810, came to the United States when a young man, and located in ellenry county, fil. In that county and in Milwaukee, Was,, he lived practically all his Ine, dying in the latter city June, ISDS. Our subjec. > momner was a daughter of Mir. and Aus. James, carly settlers of Milwaukee. She died in that city in 1855.
when Chares J. Smallwood was a mere lad the sanaly moved to Milwaukee, and in that enty he was reared anu educated, attenumg ene public schools and an academy of that city. After his school days Bir. Smallwood learned telegraphy and entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road company, holding the position of tele- graph operator at various pois along the me of that road and learning train dispaten- ing. About 1881 he took a position as train wisjatcher with the Chicago, St. Paul, Min- .lajons a Umaha road with headquarters at Mt. laul, and there he was employed one year. he was then promoted to the position of eniet tram dispatcher for the Omaha com- jan3. Wali headquarters at Omaha, Neb., and he was this employed until 1893.
AAiter giving up his work with the rail- roaa company. Mr. Smallwood moved with his family to worthington. For several years i was engaged in the lumber and grocery In-ine-s. and then he jut in the first tele- phone exchange in the city. Starting with about 45 subscribers, Mr. Smallwood has built up the business until today he has 400 -nie-cilais in the city, with numerous rural line- operated in connection.
Mr. Smallwood was president of the vil- lage council in 1995. For the past eight years he has served as a member of the school board, as treasurer of that body. lle is a member of the Carnegie library board and i- secretary of the chantalqua association. Mt Rochester, Minn .. Aug. 11. 188], occurred the marriage of Mr. Smallwood to Miss Florence Moulton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
J. P'. Moulton, of Worthington. Mr. Moulton Was one of the prominent business men of Worthington. Ile died at Los Angeles, Cal., Oct. 29, 1893, where he had gone in the nope of benelitting his health. Mrs. Moulton wird at Worthington Feb. 13, 1891. Mlr. and Mrs. Smallwood are the parents of three children. Justin T. was born at Worthington June 23, 1882, was graduated from the Worthington high school in 1902, studied three years at Carleton college and then entered the medical department of the Minnesota state university, from which he was gradu- ated in June, 1908. Mary E., now the wife of J. A. Cashel, a Worthington at- torney, was born at Omaha, Neb., Oct. 27, 1888. Charles Moulton was born in Worth- ington, Minn., Nov. 29. 1895.
[Mr. Smallwood died at his home in Worth- ington, Oct. 22, 1908, after the above biogra- phy was put in type. ]
FRANCIS A. STEVENS, of Worthington, is court commissioner for Nobles county. He has resided in the county thirty years. He is a native of New Hampshire, boru at Charleston Sept. 21, 1835, the son Henry and Dorothy (Gove) Stevens, na- tives of the same state.
In the schools of his native state Frank Stevens received his education, and when about twelve years old was employed in a cotton mill, which occupation he followed two years. Hle next worked at the cutler's trade, bring employed in a shop for several years. Mr. Stevens came west in 1860, and located at Claremont, Dodge county, Minn. There he purchased a farm and eu- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1878. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in the Second light battery, Minnesota Volunteers, and ser- ved in the war until the fall of 1865. The battery took part in several important bat- tles of the war, including Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga.
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