USA > Minnesota > Waseca County > Child's history of Waseca County, Minnesota : from its first settlement in 1854 to the close of the year 1904, a record of fifty years : the story of the pioneers > Part 73
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
MR. SERENAS HOWARD FARRINGTON.
Editor Farrington, of the Waterville Advance, was born Oct. 31, 1859, in Otisco, Waseca county, Minn. He was reared on a farm, but learned the printer's trade on attaining his majority. He has been editor and publisher of the Advance for twenty years. He married Miss Nellie Berner, at St. Charles, Minn., Oct. 15, 1884. She was born at Manches- ter, Wis., Feb. 25, 1862. They have living one son, William S., and two daughters, Mary Helen and Minnie Etta. One daughter, Myrtle, died in infancy. Mr. Farrington was school director at the age of twenty-one, in Waseca county. Since residing in Waterville he has been village recorder four years, member of the school board six years and for three years president thereof; was appointed postmaster Jan. 19, 1899, and served five years. He is a member of the Waterville lodge.I. O. of O. F .; of the K. P. lodge, being past C. C .; of the Sakatah Masonic lodge No. 32, now serving as its Master; and is King of Royal Arch Chapter No. 56. Mr. Farrington owns the only paper published in the village and is doing a good business, and serving well the village of his choice.
MR. JOHN FAIRLEY.
This gentleman hails from Scotland, being a native of Lanarkshire. He came to America in 1862, and lived near Janesville, Rock county, Wis- consin. He spent five years in that state and then came to Wilton, in this county, in the spring of 1867. He was accompanied by his brother, Hugh, and settled on what was known as the Baker claim, in section number 15. He served as clerk of school district No. 91 for twenty years. He married Miss Bessie Henderson, April 1, 1869. She is also a native of Scotland, having been born in Sterlingshire.
They have two sons and four daughters. A few years ago they retired from their farm and have since lived in Owatonna where their children
797
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
may enjoy the advantages of Pillsbury Academy. Their son Andrew carries on the Wilton farm and is also town clerk of Wilton.
JAMES ERWIN CHILD.
The family name of Child, or Childs, as some write it, is English with- out any doubt. History agrees with tradition in that respect. Josiah Child, born in 1630, was for many years at the head of the East India Company. Charles II. made him a baronet and his son became Earl of Tylney, but with him the peerage expired and the name sank to the com- mon level. Since then every Child has been called upon to "paddle his own canoe."
According to the family record as handed down from father to son, Elijah Child stands at the head of this branch of the Child family in America. He, in company with two brothers, came from Old England to New England in Colonial days, some years prior to the American Revolu- tion. It is said that he married a Welsh woman, but the writer has never been able to get her father's name. Elijah first settled in Connecticut on the banks of the river of that name, and engaged in the flour or grist- mill business. He afterwards moved to Sharon, Windsor county, Vermont, where he again engaged in the milling business on White river. Elijah served for a time in the Continental army, but was obliged to return home on account of illness. Shortly after the War of the Revolution, he lost nearly everything by a flood, his mill dam giving way, and he and his fam- ily were reduced to moderate circumstances in his declining years. Elijah's children, seven in number, were all boys: Stephen, David, Abner, Artemas, Daniel, Simeon , and Elias. Daniel, J. E. Child's progenitor, was born Nov. 10, 1777, in the state of Vermont. There he grew to manhood and was bred a miller. When twenty years of age he married Rebecca Howe, who was seven- teen. She was born April 13, 1780, of Irish parents. Daniel followed his trade as miller at Royalton, Vt., until about 1824, when he moved to the town of DeKalb, St. Lawrence county, N. Y. Here he bought a small farm which he carried on until his death, which occurred in 1849, his age being seventy-two years. Daniel and Rebecca had eight children whom they named as follows: Delani, Avery, Hannah, Zabina, Clarinda, Martha, Simeon and Eliza.
Zabina, father of James E., was born Nov. 22, 1808, in Vermont, and at the age of fourteen years was apprenticed to learn the carpenter and joiner trade. At the age of twenty, having one year more to serve, he bought his time of "Boss" Dustin, and went to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where he worked as contractor and builder. He married Miss Orrilla Rice (originally Roice), of Jefferson county, N. Y., Feb. 14, 1833, and they settled in the town of DeKalb. Orrilla was a native of Jefferson county and was born March 2, 1810, being one of the younger children of Eneas Rice by his second wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Parmenter.
798
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
Both Eneas and Sarah were natives of Connecticut. Eneas was of Scotch parentage and Sarah of English stock. Rice was a Revolutionary soldier and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga, Oct. 17, 1777. He was the father of nineteen children and died at the age of seventy-five years. Grandfather Parmenter was also a soldier of the Revolution.
Zabina and Orrilla were the parents of seven children: James Erwin, born in Jefferson county, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1833; Simeon Potter, born in Medina, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1835; Sarah Minerva, born in Ohio, Aug. 23, 1837; Reuben Parmenter, born in DeKalb, N. Y., Ang. 10, 1840; Julia Maria, born in DeKalb, N. Y., Oct. 26, 1842; Stephen Rice, born in Trenton, Dodge county, Wis., July 2, 1848; and John Benton, born near Appleton, Wis., Aug. 14, 1854. John B. died in his native town Nov. 21, 1861. Zabina moved with his family in 1834 from his New York home to Medina, Ohio, by horse team. Ohio was then a new country. There was a severe drouth and extremely hard times about 1836-7, and the family returned to DeKalb, N. Y., in the fall of 1837. They remained there on a farm until 1844 when they again moved to Ohio-this time to the town of Perry, Lake county. The next spring, leaving his family in Perry, the father pushed on to Wisconsin, where he worked during the season and sent for his family in the fall. The mother and children, late in the fall, took boat at Fairport and after a stormy passage landed in Sheboygan, the last days of November, 1844. The father had already selecteda claim, in Dodge county, Wis., five miles south of Waupun, and in January, 1845, moved his family thither. He remained in Dodge county-a part of the time in the town of Herman-until 1853, when he removed with his fam- ily to Ontagamie county, near Appleton, Wis.
James E. taught school in Herman, Dodge county, in the winters of 1851-2, 1852-3 and 1853-4. In October, 1854, he made a trip into the Oconto pineries where he worked on the river and in camp until Dec. 19, when he returned to Dodge county and there made arrangements for a winter trip to Minnesota, as elsewhere related in this work. He married Miss Justina Krassin April 19, 1856. She is the youngest daughter of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Gadske) Krassin, deceased, and was born near Posen, Prussia, March 3, 1834. She came to America with her married sister, Mrs. Gottlieb Prechel, in August, 1853. Her parents and brothers followed soon after. Her family owned a small farm in Posen, but con- cluded to sell it and come to a country where they could get more land for less money.
Nine children have been born to James and Justina, three of whom died in infancy. The living are Capt. Walter Child, of Superior, Wis .; Ste- phen M., of Jackson county, Minn .; George E., of Kenmare, North Dakota; Annie E., now Mrs. Frank A. Wood; Orrilla Justina, now Mrs. George H. Goodspeed; and Dora M., now Mrs. Mark D. Ashley, of Jackson, Minn.
James E. carried on his farm in South Wilton from 1855 to 1863, when
799
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
he entered upon the practice of law in Wilton. In the fall of 1863, he commenced newspaper work, and with the exception of about four years spent on a farm in Jackson county, from 1881 to 1885, has made newspaper work his principal business. He was chairman of town supervisors, school district clerk, county attorney, member of the legislature in 1861, and justice of the peace while on his farm in Wilton. He was deputy United States marshal in 1863-4, and had charge of the draft in several towns of the county. After that he served as county attorney, judge ot probate, superintendent of schools, municipal judge of Waseca from 1890 to 1892, member of the state senate in 1872, member of the house of rep- resentatives in 1874, and again in 1883. The latest work of his life thus far is the production of this history-labor more pleasant than prontable. He has served as president of the Waseca charter commission since its appointment and organization in 1902.
MR. FRED W. MAHLER,
senior member of the hardware firm of Mahler and Habein, of Waseca, was born in Neinburg, Province of Hanover, July 27, 1857. He landed at New York May 6, 1874, and arrived at Meriden on the 11th of the same month. For seven years he worked as a farm hand in Steele and Waseca counties. He then purchased what was known as the old Par- melee place in Woodville. He married Miss Sophia Beese, of Deerfield, March 11, 1881. She was born in Waukesha county, Wis., Jan. 6, 1861, and came to Minnesota with her parents when she was five or six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Mahler at once made their home on their farm, which they improved and cultivated until March, 1898, when Mr. Mahler bought the half interest of Mr. W. H. Roesler in the hardware business of Goodman and Roesler. In 1900 he bought Mr. Goodman's interest also, and carried on the business alone until 1903, when Mr. William Habein bought a half interest. The firm name is now Mahler and Habein. They do an extensive business. Mr. and Mrs. Mahler are the parents of seven children, two sons and five daughters. The elder son, George E., was born August 1, 1884, and is now clerk in the store. Mr. Mahler was town assessor of Woodville for three years and is a member of the charter commission of Waseca.
HARLOW S. LEWIS.
Mr. Lewis, a Waseca hoy, son of the late B. S. Lewis, Esq., was born July 10, 1872. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in the milling business and has followed that husiness ever since with the exception of two years when he was engaged in the banking business at Madison Lake, Minn. While at Madison Lake he was mayor from January, 1898, to July, 1898, the only public office he has ever accepted. He married Miss Grace L. Everett of Waterville, Oct. 12, 1898. She was horn in Waterville, Minn., Dec. 19, 1874. They have two sons: one born April 4, 1901, the other
800
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
May 15, 1904. In 1903, Mr. Lewis bought an interest in the Mapleton mill, and since April of that year, has been general manager of the business of the Mapleton Milling Company. Recently the capital stock of the company was increased to $100,000, and Mr. Lewis was chosen president and general manager. He is a young man of marked business ability.
THE TIMLIN GROUP.
This group, published in this work, is the only one of five generations of which the author has a record. Mrs. Patrick Burke, Mrs. Michael Haley, Mrs. John Timlin, Mr. F. J. Timlin and Master A. Donald Flaig, constitute the group. The first three came from Pennsylvania to Min- nesota in 1858 and have since resided in Iosco. John Timlin, with his parents, brothers and sisters, came to Minnesota .from Wisconsin in 1868, and settled in Iosco. F. J. Timlin was born and reared in Iosco, and A. Donald Flaig, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John Timlin, was born in Seattle, state of Washington.
HERBERT CLEVELAND HOTALING,
editor and proprietor of the Blue Earth County Enterprise, was born at Mankato, Minn., Aug. 5, 1865. He received his education in the public schools of Mankato and at the Mankato state normal. At the age of sixteen years, he entered the employ of the late John C. Wise, publisher of the Review at Mankato, as "printer's devil." At the age of twenty, he performed his first journalistic work in the publication of the "Third District Messenger," a monthly paper devoted to temperance. Always an active temperance worker, he joined the Prohibition party, and at the age of 23 years, attended the state convention and had the honor of being chosen its secretary. As a journeyman printer he worked in the follow- ing offices for a time: the Janesville Argus, the North Star, at New Rich- land, and the Waseca County Herald. He also edited and managed the North Star at Lake Mills, Ia., for a short time. In 1888, he founded the Mapleton Enterprise, one of the successful county papers of the state. June 26, 1889, he married Miss Janie L. Mann, an educated and ac- complished lady of Brownton, McLeod county, Minn. Mr. Hotaling is at present clerk of the Mapleton board of education, president of the public library association, a director of the Mapleton bank, of the Maple- ton Milling Co., of the Mankato Citizens Telephone Co., president of the Euclid Avenue Land Co., of Seattle, Wash., and was for a long time village recorder of Mapleton. He attributes his success in life to the fact that he nas never used intoxicants or tobacco and has attended strictly to the work he found to do.
PROF. V. G. PICKETT,
now at the head of the Waseca public schools, was born on a farm near Albert Lea, Minn., June 20, 1874. His parents, located there in 1860.
MRS PATRICK BURKE
MRS MICHAEL HALEY
A.DONALD FLAIG
F. J.TIMLIN
MAS JOHN TIMLIN
HON. I. C. TROWBRIDGE.
801
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
He attended country school at first, graduated from the Albert Lea high school, took a course at the state university and graduated therefrom in 1896. He commenced teaching as principal of the Stewartville, Minn., schools; taught one year at Long Prairie and six years at Janesville. He took charge of the Waseca schools in September, 1904. He married Miss Zada McMillen of Albert Lea, in 1898. She died at Janesville in 1903 without issue. Professor Pickett has traveled in America quite ex- tensively. Last year he visited many of the Southern states, Northern Mexico and also Western Canada. During his vacation in 1905 he trav- eled in Eastern Canada and through many of the Eastern states, spend- ing considerable time in the large cities. He is enthusiastic in his work as an educator and seems to be very successful in his chosen vocation.
HON. IRA C. TROWBRIDGE.
The most prominent figure in the early history of Waseca was Mr. Ira C. Trowbridge, who, according to his own statement, was born in Lyle, Broom county, in the state of New York, March 16, 1823. He was the son of Henry and Betsey (Lockwood) Trowbridge; they being among the early settlers of that section. He learned the tanner's trade with his father, and remained in his native state until he was of age. About that time he came west as far as Chicago, and engaged as clerk in a boot and shoe store. There he remained until the spring of 1846, when he located in Woodstock, Ill., and opened a boot and shoe store of his own. In the early fall of 1846 he returned to Lyle, and was mar- ried to Miss Judith Church, who was born Sept. 28, 1826.
He did an extensive business both as a merchant and real estate dealer in Woodstock; but after a time, as we are informed, he met with some reverses of fortune, and in 1866, made a trip to this county and secured an option on the farm of Mr. Meyers, the present city of Waseca. He came here with his family early in 1867. He labored un- ceasingly for everything that he thought would build up Waseca and promote his own interests.
To say that he was sometimes mistaken as to methods is no more than to say that he was human. That he met with fair business success is evident from the large property interests which he left to his family at the time of his death, which occurred Oct. 3, 1893.
He was a man of nerve and iron will and allowed no man to thwart his plans without suffering for his temerity sooner or later. Many of his plans were wise and many of his public acts were highly praiseworthy.
As soon as the cars arrived in 1867, Mr. Trowbridge obtained lumber and erected a large temporary hotel for the convenience of the incoming throngs that were to build Waseca. In this enterprise, Mrs. Trowbridge will be remembered with a kindly feeling by the many who found her a kind and obliging hostess, although suffering from ill health.
In the early days of Waseca, Mr. Trowbridge was ably assisted by Hon. W. G. Ward and J. H. Jenkins, Esq., the former being chief civil 28
802
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
engineer of the W. & St. P. railroad, and the latter his first assistant, both of whom became sons-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge, the first year of the city's growth.
He died suddenly of heart failure Oct. 3, 1893.
[This sketch of Mr. Trowbridge was mislaid by the author, and that is why it does not appear in its appropriate place among biographical sketches.]
MR. CHARLES LEUTHOLD,
resident manager of the extensive clothing store of Leuthold Brothers, of Waseca, was born in Kasson, Minn., August 16, 1868. His life business has been that of merchant clothier. He is one of five brothers, all of whom are engaged in the same line of business. The Leuthold Brothers now own fourteen clothing stores, located in different towns, and their joint custom is sought for by all wholesale dealers and manufacturers. Their joint purchases constitute a valuable asset in their business. Mr. Charles Leuthold married Miss Josie E. Preston, daughter of S. H. Pres- ton of Waseca, Nov. 30, 1894. They have a very fine home in the eastern part of Waseca, and are the parents of three daughters and one son. In 1887, Charles carried on a store in Winnebago City, and in 1888 came to Waseca with his stock of goods. He has never sought or held any office but accepted a membership on the charter commission of Waseca and has been an able and efficient member of that body.
DR. M. M. DAVIDSON.
Matthew McDougall Davidson was born in Breckville, Canada, Dec. 19, 1857, an 1 came to Waseca July 23, 1884. He attended school in his native town and took a dental course in Milwaukee, Wis. He has practiced dentistry constantly since he became a resident of this county. His father, Alexander Davidson, was born in Coldingham, Scotland, June 3, 1822. His mother, Ellen McDougall, was a native of Moffit, Scotland, born May 13, 1825. She died some two years ago. His father is still living. Dr. Davidson married Miss Minnie Howard, of Tomah, Wis., Sept. 17, 1890. They have had two children: a daughter that died in in- fancy, and a son, Howard McDougall, born August. 15, 1897. They are members of the M. E. church and prominent in the social life of Waseca.
JOHN M. WOLLSCHLAEGER,
register of deeds, was born Sept. 19, 1858, at Lichtenau, Germany, and came to America with his parents in 1871, locating in Waseca the same year. The next year while playing on a horsepower with other boys, he nad one foot injured so severely that he has been crippled for life. He was a faithful student at our public schools and learned harness making of his father. In the spring of 1890 he was elected city assessor of Waseca, and in the fall of 1890 he was nominated by the Democratic party for register of deeds and elected by a large majority. He has been
803
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
elected at each subsequent election by large majorities. At the last election his majority was 672, while the majority against his party averaged 625. Mr. Wollschlaeger married Miss Louisa Ida Neidt, of Waseca, April 18, 1900. She died of cholera morbus July 17, 1901, with- out issue. He is very correct as a copyist and keeps his records in fine shape.
A. LINCOLN,
of Morley, Michigan, who was born in that state Oct. 10, 1853, came to Minnesota in the fall of 1875, arriving in this county October 17. He resided in Waseca county until July 4, 1883, when he married Miss Matilda Hol- lander, of Wilton, and settled in Mankato where they resided until 1897, when they moved to Morley, Mich., where they bought a farm upon which they now reside. Mrs. Lincoln was born in Indiana in 1856, and came to Wilton with her parents about 1860. She is a daughter of the late Florian Hollander.
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR,
one of the early settlers in Blooming Grove, was born in England, Feb. 12, 1845, and came to America with his parents when eighteen months old. The family first settled in New Orleans where they remained until 1850 when they moved to Missouri. Soon after they located in Illinois and in 1857 came to Waseca county when the father bought a farm in Blooming Grove. William H., upon attaining his majority, bought a farm in Byron. Soon after he married Miss Emma E. Barnes, whose parents were among the early settlers in Wilton township. Mrs. Taylor is a native of Nunda, McHenry county, Ill., and was born Nov. 8, 1849. They spent several years farming in this county and then sold their farm here and moved to a sheep ranch near Saco, Montana, where they have met with good fortune and are meeting with marked financial success in sheep farming. They reared a family of children some of whom are married.
GOVERNOR JOHN A. JOHNSON.
There was an uprising of the people in 1904-not an organized, per- manent movement, but an intuitive, spontaneous protest against machine politics. The gold and corporation combines that manipulated the so- called Democratic national convention drove many Democrats from the polls and others to the support of the Republican candidates. The lum- ber barons and hoodlers of the Republican party of Minnesota controlled the state convention and the masses repudiated them hy going to the support of Hon. John A. Johnson, of St. Peter. Democrats in Wisconsin supported Republican LaFollette, Republicans in Missouri voted for Democratic Folk, and Republicans in Massachusetts elected Democratic Douglas. All over the country there was an unorganized, independent movement in repudiation of the party slavery which for years had held
.
804
CHILD'S HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY.
the masses enthralled' to combined greed and dishonesty. The people of Minnesota made no mistake. Governor John A. Johnson is a native son of Minnesota, born in the midst of poverty in pioneer days. By the efforts of his brave, noble mother and his own exertions, he arose from the depressing surroundings of his infancy and made for himself a bright home, with a fairly lucrative business. With every surrounding influence to induce him to join the dominant party of the state, he re- mained loyal to the honest sentiments of his own brain and conscience and attained local prominence in a community where his chosen party was in a hopeless minority. The people recognized his honesty, his ability, his devotion to fundamental principles, and more than all else, they expressed their condemnation of the timber and other thieves of the state. To American boys the life of John A. Johnson is an object lesson. Born one of the poorest of the poor, deprived from infancy of a father's protection and care, he arose to the highest official position in the state. What he has done another American boy may do. And the spirit of the American people in conferring honors upon men like Abraham Lincoln and John A. Johnson is admirable and commendable and speaks volumes for our nation notwithstanding the demoralizing influence of "graft" which works from everlasting to everlasting in all countries and among all peoples. All honor to John A. Johnson and to the independent Re- publicans who thus rebuked their unworthy leaders. May Governor John- son forever remain worthy of the confidence of the American people.
MISCELLANEOUS MENTION.
Christian Melchior, of St. Mary, is one of those who made early settle- ment in this county. He came from Germany and landed in New York. Soon after he came to this county where he worked as a farm hand two or three years when he married Caroline Arndt, who came to Waseca county in 1855 with Mrs. Krassin. They at once settled on a farm in section thirty where Mr. Melchior now owns a farm of 235 acres. They are the parents of two daughters, one of whom, with her husband, Mr. Oswald Baer, resides on the farm and keeps house for the family. The other daughter, Mrs. C. Dobberstein, resides in Waseca. Mrs, Mel- chior was very unfortunate. She became ill some time after ber marriage and finally became blind and insane and has for years been an inmate of the Rochester asylum.
John Sell, a native of Germany, arrived in Waseca county in 1857, first working as a farm hand and afterwards purchasing a quarter section of Indian Reservation land on section 31, in St. Mary, which he still owns. He married Miss Amelia Arndt, who came to Waseca county with her sister, Mrs. Martin Krassin, in 1855. They remained on their farm until a few years ago when they rented it to their son, Rudolph, who still carries it on, and they moved to Waseca where they have a nice home in Broughton's addition.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.