History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 101

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 101

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O. TREAT was born in Orange county, Vermont, on the 4th of April, 1816. When he was eight years old his father died. His native State claimed him as a resident twenty-five years, work- ing on a farm the last four years. In 1839, he moved to Ohio, and followed the same employment until 1852, returning to Vermont once in that time. He the came to Linn county, Iowa, and staked out a claim near Cedar Rapids, which he sold in 1855, and came to his present farm in Spring Valley. In 1856, he was married to Miss Marcia Wright, the ceremony taking place on the 2d of January. They have one child, Lydia E.

FRENCH W. THORNHILL, M. D., is a native of Ohio, born on the 18th of July, 1843. His father, Samuel P. Thornhill, was of English de-

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scent, a man of considerable experience, and had a large practice in Ohio. In 1848, the family re- moved to Wisconsin, and after attending school there French entered his father's office. In 1853, he attended the academy at Joliet, Illinois, after which he lived at home. During the war his father was appointed surgeon of the celebrated Eighth Wisconsin, or the "Live Eagle Regiment," and French was appointed Second Assistant Sur- geon of the same. In 1866, he attended the Cin- cinnati Medical College, graduating in 1867, then returned to Horicon and commenced practicing with his father. In 1867, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Minnie C. Smith, the ceremony taking place on the 29th of January. In 1869, he and his father were located in Austin, Minnesota, where they had a large practice, and in 1872, our subject came here and located as a resident physi- cian. Besides his practice he has a farm of thir- teen hundred acres in this and Mower counties. He is the father of four children, three of whom are living.

C. W. TAYLOR, for many years one of the active business men of Spring Valley, was born in Cat- taraugus county, New York, in May, 1838. Lived with his parents on a small farm until he was thir- teen years old, then worked on neighboring farms. When twenty-one years of age he came to Wis- consin and learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and worked at it seven years. In 1860, he came to Minnesota, living in different places until 1866. On the 21st of October, 1861, he married Marietta Trumon. He came to Spring Valley and opened a small store, but his rapidly increasing business demanded the erection of a fine brick block, in which he did business until 1875, when he sold and opened a grocery store in Austin. He has since conducted it, spending much of his time there but living here. He also has a farm of five hundred and fifty acres of improved land, and buys and sells horses. He is the father of three children, only one of whom is living.

CUTTER COLONEL THAYER, deceased, was one of the prominent religious workers of Spring Valley, and died on the 29th of June, 1882, in his sixty- ninth year. From the "Spring Valley Vidette" we clip the following:

"In his seventeenth year he experienced religion and identified himself with the First Baptist Church in Chateangay. After some years the township was divided, and a Baptist Church was

then organized in the new town of Burke, of which he then became a member, and was appointed dea- con of said church, which office he held up to the time of his removal to Minnesota.

On the 8th of March, 1837, he was married to Miss Sarah L. Turner, of Clinton county, New York. She soon after united with the church, and they worked side by side for many years in the Master's service.

He was a true Christian, and a worker in the cause of Christ's Church, lending his energies and means to upbuild the cause he so much loved. About the year 1853, he had the supervision of the erection of the church edifice built by the Baptist Church and Society in Burke, and spent much time and money in its completion. Some years afterward the house was destroyed by fire, and he went forth with a determination, and succeeded in rebuilding a fine edifice on the old church grounds, and during his arduous labors in the Master's cause he lost his health, and in the year 1862, at the advice of his physician, made a trip for his health to Spring Valley, and during his sojourn in this place he, with the scattering few, succeeded in effecting the organization of the first Baptist Church in Spring Valley, with thirteen members. He returned to his home in Burke, New York, and after disposing of his effects there, in the spring of 1864, he re- moved with his family to Spring Valley. He united with the Baptist Church, was made Dea- con, which office he held until death retired him therefrom.

About the year 1868, he purchased the High School building with his own means-afterwards sold it to the church-which was soon afterward removed to a new site, and rearranged and dedi- cated as the First Baptist Church of Spring Val- ley, and is now used and occupied by the Church as a house of worship.

His efforts have always been to maintain and build up the Church of Christ here on earth. In February, 1873, he was called to mourn the loss of his dear companion, after which he made his home with his only son, H. B. Thayer, of Spring Valley. In the year 1881, and the month of Oc- tober, his health began to fail, and his labors in an active form for the church ceased, and he was con- fined to his home; still his heart was in the work and welfare of the church, and among his last efforts was to contribute to the support of the

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preached word in Spring Valley, feeling that it was his last opportunity of doing for the cause.

He was a man of sterling qualities, a true Chris- tian; self-denying, ever ready to do for bis Mas- ter; and while we mourn his loss and miss his cheerful presence and valuable counsels, we can truly say and feel-in the language of the Scrip- tures-'Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' His work is done, and well done. He has gone to re- ceive the crown that awaits him in that beautiful home over there.

The funeral took place from the residence of H. B. Thayer, Saturday, July 1st, 1882, at 2 o'clock P. M., Rev. S. S. Utter, pastor of the Baptist Church, assisted by Revs. T. F. Allen and E. W. Merrill, officiating.

The pall bearers who bore the remains to their last resting place were E. Rose, Charles Beverley, Silas Hubbell, O. C. Stoddard, A. Payne, and Geo. Lyman.

The choir, Minnie Johnson, Mrs. Mary Rossman, George and Luther Payne, sang a most beautiful dirge, aud thus was committed to earth all that death could wound or destroy of Deacon Thayer. Our fathers! where are they ?

The deceased leaves Mrs. Irena Dodge, Mrs. M. E. Robinson, of Plainview, Minnesota; Mrs. Nellie Crane, and H. B. Thayer, of this city, children, to mourn his loss."

"Close his eyes; his work is done! What to him is friend or foemau, Rise of moon, or set of sun, Hand of man, or kiss of woman? Leave him to God's watchful eye; Trust him to the hand that made him: Mortal love weeps idly by ;

God alone has power to save him."

HENRY C. VAN LEUVEN was born in Schoharie county, New York, on the 19th of March, 1844. In 1856, the family came west to Milwaukee, from whence they drove an ox team across Wisconsin to Prairie du Chien, thence into Howard county, Iowa, to the Upper Iowa River, where they located a claim. There Henry assisted on the farm, study- ing at home during his leisure moments, as school privileges were very limited. At the early age of fifteen he began teaching school, and in 1860 en- listed in the army for three years. Returning from the war he was appointed Postmaster of Lime Spring, Howard county, Iowa, on the recommend- ation of Hon. William B. Allison, now U. S. Sen- ator from Iowa. His father, George M. Van Leu-

ven, assisted in building up the latter village, and has lived there twenty-six years. During Andrew Johnson's administration, Henry C. tendered his resignation as Postmaster, for the reason that he could not endorse the "My Policy" programme of the President. He was afterwards commissioned by the Postmaster General, Mail Route Agent from McGregor to Algona, on which route he was four years, resigning to accept the office of Special Mail Agent, his appointment coming directly from President Grant. Retiring from the mail service after ten years of continuous labor, he went into the office of the "McGregor News," published by W. L. Osborne, now of the "La Crosse Chronicle." He served for two years, dividing his time between the type and the I. N. G., a military organization that has become the pride of the Hawkeye State. He was joined in marriage in 1866, with Miss Dora Carey, of Freeport, Illinois, the ceremony taking place on the 27th of March. They have three children; Maude, Mabel, and Carl Schurz. In June, 1877, the Governor of Iowa appointed him Quartermaster of the First Light Artillery Regiment, I. N. G., subsequently he was elected Colonel thereof, with only five dissenting voices. He went to Lime Spring and established "The Tribune, an enterprising newspaper now, and in August, 1879, came to Spring Valley and pur- chased the "Vidette" of Hon. J. Q. Farmer, and has since managed the same with marked success and growing popularity. In February, 1881, Governor Pillsbury appointed him Colonel and Aid de camp of the M. N. G., which position he now holds. Colonel Van Leuven is a graduate of Osage College, having earned the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

G. B. WARNER, one of the pioneers of the vil- lage, was born in Upper Canada, on the 30th of September, 1827. He is a son of Zara A. War- ner, who was born in New York, where he lived until twenty-five years old, then he went to Can- ada and engaged in farming and also conducted a distillery. Then he came to Michigan and car- ried on a farm twelve years, and in the summer of 1853, came here with his family, taking land in sections twenty-seven and twenty-eight, on which he lived until the time of his death. G. B. learned the joiner's trade, and worked at it at different times. In January, 1854, he came here and staked out a claim in section twenty-eight, which is still his home. On the 25th of

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July, 1864, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Ellen Cole. The result of this union is eight children. His wife died on the 8th of March, 1882. Mr. Warner has a fine brick ven- eered house, and two hundred and ten acres of land. All of which has been acquired by his own industry.

W. W. WASHBURN was born in Milton, Ver- mont, on the 11th of May, 1854. His father, Reuben Washburn, was a Methodist minister and preached in the latter State until about 1866, when he came with his family to Northfield, Minnesota, and subsequently moved to Owatonna. W. W. lived with his parents until 1874, when he entered the La Crosse Business College, and after graduating taught school for a time. In 1876, he opened a grocery store in this place, and has since continued in the business, having taken a partner, the firm is now Washburn & Horton.

DR. ALVAR F. WHITMAN is a native of New York, born in Saratoga county ou the 29th of November, 1830. When eight years old he came to Illinois with his parents who were among the pioneers of Peoria county. He attended school there, and when young began teaching. Entered the Wisconsin State University in 1851, where he remained three years, teaching during his vaca- tions and thus earning the means with which to complete his education. He commenced the study of medicine in Waupun, Wisconsin, and completed at the Ann Arbor University, Michigan, grad- uating from the latter in 1865. He was joined in matrimony on the 2d of October, 1865, to Miss S. Matilda Smith. Dr. Whitman began practice in Charles City, Iowa, and in 1868, came to this place and has since received a good patronage.

CHARLES H. WAGNER, M. D., M. F. H., a native of Wisconsin, was born at Wyocena, Columbia county, on the 12th of February, 1853. He lived with his parents, who moved to St. Charles, Wi- nona county, in 1860, his father being a boot and shoe dealer and a farmer. Having received the full instruction of a High school, Charles entered the State University in 1870, where he continued the study of medicine, as he had previously done, to prepare himself to enter a medical college which he did in the winter of 1871 and '72, at the Home- opathic Hospital College, Cleveland, Ohio. The following spring he engaged in the practice of medicine, continuing the same until fall when he re-entered college to complete his studies, graduat-

ing on the 12th of February, 1873, when, for liter- ary merit, he received the degree of M. F. H. He permanently located here in 1873, has been County Physician three years, and is now Chairman of the Village Board of Health. Dr. Wagner is progres- sive, being liberal in his views, not confining him. self to any school of medicine. He was united in marriage on the 5th of June 1874, with Miss Luella F. Brown. They have had four children, three of whom are living.

JAMES E. WHITMAN, a member of the firm of Whitman & Brown, a manufacturing company of this village, was born on the 14th of June, 1839, When he was eight years old his father died, and three years later his mother again married. They moved to Dane county, Wisconsin, then to Fond du Lac county. In 1857, James attended the Northern Illinois Institute, at Henry, returned home and taught school for some time. In 1864, he enlisted in the Forty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served four months in Company B. The same year he came to this county and com- menced farming in Bloomfield and also taught school. In 1866, he commenced manufacturing in this place, which he still continues, owning a half interest in the business, which is being successfully conducted.

CHARLES E. YEARIAN was born in Richland county, Ohio, on the 15th of September, 1836. Three years later he removed with his parents to Perry county, Illinois, where he lived on a farm until fourteen years old, then was engaged in a retail store six years. He next located on a farm of his own, where he remained until 1862, and en- listed in the Eighty-first Illinois, serving one year and a half as Drum Major. He then returned to his farm, and in 1866, engaged in mercantile busi- ness, but three years later went to farming again. In 1873, he came to Washington, in this county, and was in a store until 1880, then came to Spring Valley, and was landlord of the Valley and Central Hotels. In the fall of 1881, he started a store with a stock of groceries and crockery, in which business he is still engaged.

JOHN QUINCY FARMER, once Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and still later a member of the State Senate, is a native of Cale- donia county, Vermont, having been born in the town of Burke, on the 5th of August, 1823. His parents were Hiram and Selina (Snow) Farmer, the father belonging to the hardy yeomen of the

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"Green Mountain State." The grandfather of our subject, Benjamin Farmer, who was early in the struggle for American independence, was among the pioneers in Caledonia county, being of Eng- lish descent. The Snows were originally from Scotland. When John was nine years old the family moved to the Western Reserve, Ohio, set- tling on a farm in Madison Lake county, on which the son lived till about nineteen years old. Not satisfied with the education he received in a dis- trict school during the winter terms, he now spent portions of three or four years at academies in Painesville, Twinsburgh, and Austinburgh, teach- ing five or siz winters. He supported bimself entirely while engaged in securing his education. Mr. Farmer read law with Perkins & Osborne, of Painesville; attended the law school at Ballston Spa, New York, one year; was admitted to the bar at Painesville in 1851; practiced law at Conneaut, Ohio, six years, and the same period at Ashtabula, in company with I .. S. Sherman, now Judge of the court of common pleas in Ohio, and in 1864, re- moved to his present home, coming here on account of the poor health of his wife. In company with his younger brother, James Duane Farmer, he has had a law office ever since settling in Spring Val- ley. Here, as he had in Ohio, Mr. Farmer has an extensive practice. He is well read in law, a candid and strong reasoner, and has great influence with a jury. In addition to law, Mr. Farmer has done considerable farming, largely, however, by proxy. He has sixty acres well improved in Spring Valley, and farms at Grand Meadow and Austin, west of his home,-in all, five hundred or six hundred acres. As a business operator, he is a success. He is president of the Minnesota Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Association, and is well known all over the State for his strong mental qualities.

While a resident of Ashtabula county, Ohio, Mr. Farmer served ( ne term as County Attorney was a member of the Minnesota House of Representa- tatives in 1866, 1867 and 1868, and speaker the last two years, and was a member of the State Senate in 1870 and 1871, being Chairman of the judiciary committee both sessions. Intellectnally, he was a tall man in either branch of the Legisla- ture. In 1880, he was elected Judge of the dis- trict court, and still holds the position. He was originally a whig, and since 1855, has been a re- publican. He would not be called a bitter parti- san, and has striven to keep out of politics as much as he could, Office has sought him, not he office. Mr. Farmer is deeply interested in school matters, and is president of the Spring Valley board of education. In all that pertains to the best in- terests of the village he is a leading man. He is & blue-lodge Mason,-in religious sentiment, is quite liberal. Mr. Farmer has a second wife. His first was Miss Maria N. Carpenter, of Painesville, Ohio; married on the 17th of Novem- ber, 1852. She died of consumption on the 18th of March, 1866, leaving two sons; George R., who is in the law office with his father, and Charles J., a student in the graded school of Spring Valley. The second wife, who was Miss Susan C. Sharp, of Fillmore county, and a native of Ohio, was mar- ried on the 13th of January, 1869. She has five children, all sons; John Frederic, John Coy, Dan, Earnest, and Frank. Mr. Farmer is a disciple of Izaak Walton, being one of the most noted anglers in southern Minnesota. He has done a great deal toward replenishing the local streams with the choicest kinds of fish, and drew the bill for the present fish law of the State, which bill passed in the session of 1877.

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FILLMORE.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

PHYSICAL FEATURES -EARLY SETTLEMENT-POLITI- CAL-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES - MANUFACTURING - FILLMORE VILLAGE - WYKOFF VILLAGE - BIO- GRAPHICAL.

Now comes the town with the county name, whatever advantage that may have, although it is certain that less confusion is created than if it were the county seat, and it is possible that it had an ambition in that direction when this cog- nomen was decided upon. The town is the south- east of the four northwest corner townships, and its contiguous surroundings are Jordan on the north, Fountain on the east, Forestville on the south, and Spring Valley on the west. It is one of the seven towns in the county that the South- ern Minnesota railroad winds through, which it does by cutting across the township in a diagonal way, between the center of the eastern boundary and the southwest corner.

Bear Creek, Deer Creek, and Spring Valley Creek, or as it is commonly known, Middle Branch of Root River, and their tributaries monopolize the northwestern part of the town, and of course none of them make any unnecessary loitering to get into Root River.

There are two villages, Fillmore and Wykoff, which will receive attention in the proper place.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The early settlement and initiatory steps which led to the founding and subsequent development of this thriving township, in common with the majority of Fillmore county's sub-divisions, dates back well into the fifties. Its early pioneers and hardy backwoodsmen were not men who came for speculation, nor were they meu who expected or even hoped to accumulate a fortune in a day; but men who knew there would be hardships and trials to endure, and they were not mistaken. One with-

out the experience cannot realize the tribulations incident to such a life.

In the year 1853, Walker and Foote, the re- nowned stage men, were operating an extensive stage line through Fillmore county, and this town- ship laid directly in its path. As early as 1853, the site of the village of Fillmore was one of the points made by the stages, and it is claimed by a few that as early as that time there was a little hewn log hut on that site, in which was kept a limited stock of dried meats, bacon, crackers and provisions, and an unlimited stock of poor whiskey, to cheer the weary traveler. But this is uncertain, as the time of its coming and the date its departure, is a mystery. During this year, while a few passed through the town on the stage line, there were no settlers, and none who examined the surrounding country with a view to settlement.

In the year 1854, while the autumn leaves were falling, in the month of August, a party of three pushed their way into this township with the view. of establishing a home. They were John Crain, his son Charles W. Crain, and Jacob Ham, all having made their way from McHenry county, Illinois, via Iowa. They settled near one spot on section thirty-three in the southern part of the town, and commenced putting up rude huts. The first year was spent by them in almost entire soli- tude, it only being interrupted by the arrival of John K. Ells, who came in the same year and settled in section twenty-five. Of the entire party who arrived that year, only two, John and his son Charles W. Crain, remain to relate their exper- iences, Ham having since moved away, and the others long since passed into that mysterious hereafter. Charles W. Crain is now a resident of Wykoff, and his father, John Crain, lives on sec- tion thirty-three. In the meantime, the northern part of the town was making evolutions toward civilization. Paul Jones and son, and son-in-law

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Beverstock, had arrived early that year and located and platted the village of Fillmore on section three. With this scanty settlement, the progress of the town remained at a standstill until the fol- lowing spring.

In 1855, many acquisitions were made to the settlements, which began to embrace all parts of the town. P. M. Mosher and father arrived in the spring and planted their stakes in section three. Isaac Decou put in an appearance and located in the northern part of the town; he re- mained but a few years. E. S. Smith came and located near Fillmore village and commenced the erection of a saw-mill. A number of others also put in an appearance, some to file on land for homes, but mostly transients who remained at the village.

This was a very trying period for the settlers. Their nearest market was Winona, and supplies were brought from Iowa. In getting provisions it became customary among the settlers to club to- gether and hire a man to ride down into Iowa and obtain supplies for the entire settlement.

The year 1855 opened the era of immigration to this town; and the following are among those who came to prepare those already here for the rush of the following year. O. O. Wallace arrived and settled on section twenty-six. E. D. Kellogg from New York, put in an appearance, and located on section one, where he may yet be found. M. Gerry, an Irishman, brought his family, consisting of his wife and twelve children, and commenced calling section two his home.

In 1856, F. H. Bartlett, from New York, accom- panied by his wife and two children, arrived and laid claim to one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-two, where he still resides. With Bartlett came A. Clifford and William Odell, both of Wis- consin. Clifford located in section twenty-one, and remained until late in the sixties. Odell be- came disheartened and returned to Wisconsin, where he died some two years since. W. H. Prosser arrived in June and made himself at home on section thirty-three, where he still is. Thos. Pulford arrived in the summer, and now occupies a farm on section sixteen. Daniel S. Hoff, a native of New York State, arrived in the fall and commenced managing a hotel in Fillmore village. J. A. Pulford arrived and located on section fifteen. George Sheppard, formerly of Germany, put in an appearance, and after drifting around a time,

located on sections nine and ten. Others who arrived in this year are treated under the head of "Biographical," and as to those who arrived later, the stream of immigration which poured in makes it impossible to specifically notice them here, and we refer the reader to the department above men- tioned for the most prominent arrivals.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 101

Author: Edward D. Neill Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: