History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 69

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 69

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STORES.

Mr. George Dyer, in 1866, erected a store, and is now the oldest trader here, except Mrs. Ward, who succeeded her husband as above mentioned. Mr. Dyer keeps a general assortment of goods, carrying good stocks of groceries, dry goods, hardware, drugs, etc.

The first drug store, and the one now in opera- tion, was opened in 1873, by Weiser & Ring. Mr. Ring soon became the sole owner, who soon after sold to the present owner, A. Backman.

The same season, 1868, when the village started, another store was built by Joseph Olson and Thomas Anderson. It was rented to John Iverson who kept it up to 1869, and then moved to a store opposite Mr. Dyer, which had been put up by Mr. J. Whaalahan, but the business was closed out about a year afterwards. Since that time this store has been occupied by quite a procession of merchants, among them may be mentioned the following: Johnson & Peterson, Ole Osten, Greaser & Co., J. Walker, John Russell, Mr. Downing, and John Streeter. The last mentioned began in 1878, but has since moved to a building formerly used as a saloon, and located next west of the hotel where he keeps a stock of general merchandise.

WHALAN LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

An organization of this church was effected in 1874, by Rev. Kr. Magelssen. The first Trustees were: Ole Stenson, Jacob Olson, and Andrew An- derson; Clerk, Cornelius Nelson; Treasurer, Peter Paulson; Mr. Magelssen continued to break the bread of the word to them until 1879, when Rev. Paul Gotaas took his place and he still remains.

The present officers of the church are: Trustees, S. Stenson, Anton Anderson, and Isaac Isaacson; Clerk, Cornelius Nelson; Treasurer, P. Paulson. No church building has yet been crected.

POST-OFFICE.

This was early established with John Carr as the Postmaster, and was opened in the store of Carr & Smith. When Mr. Ward became the storekeeper, the mail key was turned over to him. J. Walker has since been Postmaster, and it was finally moved to the drug store, and Dr. Ring became the Post- master. A. Backman is the incumbent now and has held the place since 1879.

WHALAN CORNET BAND.

This æsthetic institution began its musical vibra- tions in the spring of 1878. The leader was Anton Hanson who manipulated the E. flat cornet. H. J. Ring fingered the 1st B. flat, and Andrew Han- son the 2nd B. flat; J. A. Van Lieu, the 1st Alto; C. Canfield, 2d Alto; Anton Anderson, Tenor; A. Backman, Tuba; P. Brennan, Bass drum and cym- bals; James Brown, Snare drum. The number is now reduced to seven members, Mr. Hanson is still the leader.

HIGHLAND VILLAGE.

This is a good specimen of a country village. Its location is on the boundary line between sec-

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tions thirty-five and thirty-six, which brings it in the southeast corner of the county.

The village, as it now exists, is made up of two general stores, one blacksmith shop, one harness shop, & Lutheran church, a hotel, and quite a number of residences. A northeast and south- west road intersects the section line road at this point, and N. A. Graves and Andrew Shattuck, who had farms here, realizing the need of a black- smith shop, induced Christian Flohr to locate here, by each donating a piece of land, the one for a residence and the other for a shop. This was in 1860, and he kept hammering away until 1872, when the shop was disposed of to Westley & Olson, who had a short time before started a rival concern. After some years Olson sold out to Westley who still carries it on alone.

In 1866, a store was started by two Norsk broth- ers, Ole & James Gjermundson, in the house built by the first blacksmith for a residence. They kept it running for about eighteen months and sold to Onstine & Jones. Two years later it was disposed of to Graves & Son, who kept up the stock for a year when it was turned over to Mr. Rye, who at the end of a year failed in business. Andrew Olson was the next incumbent, and he kept turning over the goods for eight years.

Some time in 1880, the store was rented to J. D. Elliot who, in 1882, sold his stock of goods to Christianson & Co., who are the present proprie- tors.

HIGHLAND POST-OFFICE. - Mr. N. A. Graves pro- cured the establishment of a Post-office in 1857, and was the first Postmaster. The office was at his residence up to 1861, when the place was given to Mr. Shattuck. After one year it went to the store of Jones & Onstine, and it has since been kept there, Mr. A. D. Elliot is the present. Postmaster.

When first established, the mail was brought by different persons for some time until a route was opened from LaCresent by the way of Hokah, Houston, Dedham or Yucatan, Highland, and Preston, the carrier making the trip weekly, and not unfrequently on foot when the roads were im- passable for teams. Since the railroads the service has been daily.

HIGHLAND LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH .--- In 1867, the society was organized by Andrew Shay with fourteen members. Before this time service had been held in private houses. Mr. .

Shattuck donated a lot, and a church was built, which is a neatly painted frame building, 30x50 feet, with a spire, but as yet no bell. Mr. Shay remained for five or six years when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. G. C. Wright. This church is at- tended by Amherst people in considerable num- bers.

HARNESS SHOP .- In July, 1881, W. H. Mitchel opened a harness shop. He keeps a stock and manufactures and repairs.

THE VILLAGE PUMP .- One of the institutions of the village is the Well, which, if it should escape no- tice here, the slight would probably never be for- given or condoned. This was completed in De- cember, 1870, and previous to this time the de- pendence for water was upon cisterns, surface ponds, and the creek, a mile distant. This well is situated in the public street and is sixty feet deep, the last thirty-seven being through solid rock, and the cost was $200, one half of which was borne by Mr. Shattuck and the rest by other citi- zens. In this region there are but a few other wells, and they are 200 or more feet in depth.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JOHN ANDERSON, a native of Norway, was born in the province of Bergen on the 12th of January, 1813. He was united in marriage with Miss Bet- sey Ellinson in 1844. She was born the 18th of November, 1821. They came to America in 1847, and located on a farm in Wisconsin, about twenty- five miles from Milwaukee. In June, 1856, they removed to this township, where Mr. Anderson purchased land upon which he has since resided. Mrs. Anderson died on the 3d of October, 1864, leaving nine children, six of whom are now living; Betsey, Carrie, Annie, Maria, Ellen, and Josephine Anderson. Andrew died in the army in 1864, and Annie and Josephine on the 17th of March, 1867. Mr. Anderson's present wife was Miss Mary Paul- son, who was born on the 24th of December, 1837. The result of this marriage is one child, P. A. Gun- dersen.

ANDREW BACKMAN is a native of Norway, born on the 14th of June, 1854. His parents left the "Old Country" and landed in Quebec the 5th of June, 1866; thence to Chicago, Milwaukee, and finally to La Crosse. In 1867, they came to Rushford and erected a house, in which he boarded the men engaged in the construction of the South- ern Minnesota railroad. In December, 1871, they moved to Lanesboro, and Andrew was engaged in

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drug stores there and at Preston until 1875. In the latter year he was married to Miss Jane Ring, the ceremony taking place at Rushford on the 6th of August. The same fall they moved to Man- kato, and in 1877, to Whalan. For about a year he had charge of his present drug store; then purchased the same and has since continued in the business. Mr. Backman has been Justice of the Peace one year, Town Clerk four years, and Postmaster for the past three years. He has three children; J. Ogden, Henry S., and Alpha O.

NELSON CANFIELD was born in Tompkins county, New York, on the 15th of October, 1817. Since the age of sixteen years he has spent a great amount of time traveling. His first voyage was on a whaling expedition, touching the coast of New Zealand, the Sandwich Islands, thence around Cape Horn and home, thus making the entire cir- cuit of the globe. He then embarked on a mer- chant vessel, sailed to Africa, thence to the Islands of St. Thomas and St. Helena, where he visited the grave of Napoleon Bonaparte. He then made a trip to the Indian Ocean, engaged in catching sea elephants and seals. He afterward made a trip to Brazil, two to the West Indies, two to Germany, and several to England. In 1844, he left the sea, and for two years was on the Lakes between Buf- falo and Chicago. He was joined in matrimony with Miss Jane Dunham, of Cortland county, New York, in 1856. They settled in Jackson county, Iowa, in 1864, but the following year came to Minnesota, locating in Saratoga, Winona county. Mr. Canfield came to this place in 1876, and pur- chased the Whalan House, of which he is now the proprietor. He is the father of a large family, in whom he takes just pride. Herman, the eldest, is a farmer in Winona; Alvin, an engineer of the St. Paul & Sioux City railroad; Augusta is the wife of Neil Currier, who owns a grist-mill in Murray county where they live; Nettie, the wife of Wil- liam Culbertson, resides in this town; Jennie mar- ried Albert Culbertson, and also lives in this place; Nelson, Jr., is telegraph operator at Winnebago; Charles teaches school in this county; Annie is the wife of F. Fancett, agent for a machine company at Belleville, Illinois; and Robert, the youngest, is the telegraph operator here and resides at home.

J. LEVI DIKEMAN is a native of New York, born in Columbus county the 14th of December, 1818. He resided on a farm until 1848, when he moved

to Lime Rock, Litchfield county, Connecticut, where he was engaged in an iron foundry and blast furnace. During his residence in the latter place he was married to Miss Margaret Irving. In 1857, they moved to Lake county, Ohio, and in 1875, to this place, locating on a farm in section twenty-one. Mr. and Mrs. Dikeman have had seven children, four of whom are living; Wallace W. owns a farm near his father's; Josephine mar- ried J. F. Walker, who owns a mill in this place; Helen died when quite young; Alice is the wife of George Burt, of St. Leo, Yellow Medicine county; H. Elizabeth married Henry Griswold and died in 1875, while at her father's house, leaving one child, Arthur, now residing with his grandparents; Hortense married George Cooley, and died in July, 1881; and Agnes is still at home.

GEORGE H. DYER, one of the representative men of Fillmore county, and the leading merchant of Whalan, was born in Westerlo, Albany county, New York, on the 10th of January, 1816. His father, George H. Dyer, was born in Rhode Is- land, and moved to New York in 1794. He mar- ried Mrs. Nickerson, whose maiden name was Hannah Jones, a neice of Commodore Jones. The family moved to Oneida county in 1833, where George, the subject of our sketch, was married to Miss Ann Eliza Dana in 1840. He was engaged in farming a few years; then began his mercan- tile career in Empyville, continued in the same one year, and returned to his farm near his old home. His wife died in 1858, leaving eight chil- dren. In 1860, he married Miss Rebecca Mur- . dock, who died eighteen months later. In 1861, he removed to Palatine, Cook county, Illinois, and three years later to Minnesota, locating a farm in Houston county. Mr. Dyer was united in matri- mony with Mrs. Nancy Wilber in 1865. In 1867, he opened a general store in the village of Hous- ton, and four years later transferred the same to his son Dwight C., who now carries on the busi- ness. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer came to Whalan in 1871. He erected his present store the same year, keeping a general line of groceries, dry goods, hardware, etc. He was a member of the first vil- lage council, and is now the President; has also held other local offices. His grandfather, Charles Dyer, was a native of Rhode Island, and distin- guished himself as major in the battle of Bunker Hill, in consequence of which he was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and engaged in a number of

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important battles. The father of the latter was born in Belfast, Ireland, and among the early settlers of Rhode Island. He was Captain in the British navy in the war against the French, in which he was severely wounded in the face and discharged in consequence. Mr. Dyer has a sis- ter, Miss Elsie Dyer, living in Houston. His only brother died when young, in Albany county, New York.

CHARLES A. GRAVES, who was the first Ameri- can white child born in this township, dates his birth the 20th of December, 1856. He resided with his parents until the fall of 1876, when he was married to Miss Ada M. Otis, whose father, Joseph Otis, was one of the early settlers in Rush- ford and now resides in Moody county, Dakota Territory, where he is County Surveyor. Mr. and Mrs. Graves are the parents of two children, Charles E. and George Philip. His brother, Lewis O. Graves, was born in Cayuga county, Ohio, on the 14th of January, 1849. He came to this place with his parents in 1856. In 1869 and '70, he was in company with his father in a store at Highland; then purchased the farm upon which he now lives. He was joined in matrimony with Miss Helen Pennock, in December, 1872. They have one child, Irving.

MIKKEL HANSEN was born in Norway, on the 13th of January, 1838. He came to America in 1869, directly to Minnesota, and bought land in section two, Holt township. He was married to Miss Anna Olson in 1872. Their children are, Hans, Ole and Theodore.

AUSTIN INGEBRETSON is a native of Norway, born the 19th of April, 1825. He came to Amer- ica in the year 1862, and located in section eleven in this township. In 1853, he married Miss Julia Swenson. The result of the union is eight chil- dren; Ellen, wife of Mikkel Holverson, residing in Yellow Medicine county; Carrie, living in Granite Falle; Randa, at Minneapolis; Lizzie, Margaret, Svend, Holver, and Ingebret, are still at home.

JOHN L. IVERSON is a son of Lars Iverson Berg, who was born in Norway, in 1825. When he was quite young he commenced teaching school, and in 1845, engaged on a merchant vessel trading between Bergen and seaport towns south of it, continuing in the business until the ship was wrecked. John was born in Norway on the 18th of January, 1852, and when two years old came with his parents to America. They located in

Dane county, Wisconsin, where Mr. Berg was engaged in teaching school until 1857, when they moved to Pilot Mound. In 1868, they came to this township, and purchased land in section twenty-nine. Mr. Berg died in the spring of 1869, since which time John has carried on the farm. He was married in June, 1870, to Miss Regnilde Hermansdatter, who died the following autumn, leaving one child. Amanda Johnson was the maiden name of his present wife, whom he married in December, 1872. The result of the marriage is three children. Mr. Iverson held the office of constable for two years.

OSMAN JOHNSON is a native of Norway, born on the 2d of February, 1828. He was married a short time before coming to America, in 1854. They located in Wisconsin, and remained until 1858, when they moved to Holt township, settling in section twenty-two, which has since been their home. In 1862, Mr. Johnson enlisted in the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He par- ticipated in the battle of Murfreesborough, after which he was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison, but in a short time was exchanged and returned to his regiment. In the battle of Chick- amauga he was wounded, again taken prisoner and confined nineteen months, during which time he suffered greatly for want of food and water. He was liberated on the 28th of April, 1865, and returned to his home in this place.

DAVID F. JONES, a native of New Jersey, was born on the 2d of January, 1838. When he was about eight years old his parents moved to Ohio. David came to Minnesota in 1858, and located in this township, in section thirty-six. In 1868, he engaged in business in company with H. M. Ons- tine, at Highland, and continued two years; then built the Whalan mills, which he operated two years, since which time he has been dealing in grain. Mr. Jones held the office of Town Clerk a number of years, Constable five years, Justice of the Peace for five years, and was Town Treas- urer for a time. On the 13th of May, 1858, he was married to Miss Alvira A. Ward.

HOLVER KITTELSON, deceased, was born in Nor- way on the 27th of November, 1828. He came to America in 1853, and settled near Madison, Wis- consin, remained about two years and moved to this township. In 1859, he married Miss Isabel Olson, who died four years later, leaving one child, Kittel H., born the 2d of April, 1861. Miss

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Isabel Johnson became his wife in the autumn of 1864. On the 15th of September, 1866, Mr. Kit- telson died, and is buried in the Lutheran Ceme- tery in the town of Norway.

WILLIAM H. MITCHELL is a son of Catherine (Evans) and J. D. R. Mitchell, the latter of whom was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He acquired a fortune in the city of New York in the manufac- ture of quill pens. When the steel pen was in- vented he gave up his business and went to Eng- land where he was married. After a residence of eight years there, he returned with his wife to America, settling in New York City. Four years later they came to Wisconsin where they were among the early settlers. William was born in Woodland, Sauk county, on the 29th of July, 1855. His father, who was one of the prominent business men, and hell a number of important offices in the latter place, died on the 22d of De- cember, 1866. Mr. Mitchell and his mother came to this place in 1878. On the 25th of August, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Shattuck. Their children are Effie and Aurelia. Mr. Mitchell was Postmaster of Highland for one year, and in 1880, opened a harness shop to which he has since added a general store. His mother now resides with him.

CHARLES MICHALSON is a native of Norway and came to America with his parents in 1855. They resided in Wisconsin two years, then came to this township and settled in section one. In the spring of 1867, Charles was married to Miss Sarah Han- son and removed to the farm adjoining his father's. Their children are Randa H., Hans, Ole, Oliver, and Bertha M.

OLE MIKKELSEN was born in Norway on the 10th of March, 1810. He came to America in 1853, locating in Wisconsin, and in the fall of 1855, moved to Holt township and took land in section one where he has since lived. Before leaving his native country he was married to Miss Betsey Kittelson. Their children are, Helen, who married Ole Gunderson and died in 1864, leaving two children, Gunder and Carrie; Mikkel, who is married and lives near his father; Betsey, the wife of Tolof Olson, lives in Arendahl; Isabel married Charles Gunderson and resides in Rushford; and Anna, who married Mikkel Hansen, lives near her father.

CORNELIUS NELSON is a native of Norway, born the 21st of January, 1841. He left home when

thirteen years old and was engaged in farming and at the cooper trade, coming to America in 1869. The two years following he was engaged on the railroad in Iowa. On the 28th of Novem- ber, 1871, he was joined in marriage with Miss Bea Thompson. They came to this town in 1873, Mr. Nelson taking charge of the cooper shop con- nected with the Whalan Mills. He is one of the prominent business men and a member of the village council.

KNUD OLSON is a native of Norway, born the 13th of September, 1810. He learned the shoe- maker's trade when eighteen years old, after which he was in military service for five years. On the 26th of December, 1834, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Bereth Knudson. Mr. Olson, with his wife and four children, emigrated to America in the spring of 1853, and two years later the re- mainder of the family, four children, joined them in Wisconsin. In the spring of 1856, they drove an ox team to this place and took a claim in section twenty-three. The older children were employed by the farmers, and Mr. Olson was engaged in manufacturing wooden bowls which he sold to the settlers, and thus kept his family from want. The following year they raised a good crop and have since been prospered. His son, Christian, enlisted in Company K, of the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volun- unteer Infantry, participated in the battle of Chickamauga and others, was confined in the Libby and Andersonville prisons, in the latter of which he died in consequence of hardship and want.

HENRY M. ONSTINE was born in Seneca county, Ohio, on the 14th of September, 1838. He came with his parents to Wisconsin when he was ten years old, and to Fillmore county in 1853, locating in Canton. Three years later they moved to Doug- las, Olmsted county, where the father died the 27th of January, 1859. Henry remained in the latter place till 1869, when he came to Highland, Holt township, and, in company with D. F. Jones, opened a general mercantile store. Onstine and Jones removed to Whalan about 1870, and with Mr. Russell built the Whalan Mills and a store, continuing for several years. Since selling his in- terest in the latter business, Mr. Onstine has been engaged in farming. He is at present one of the village council, has held the office of Town Clerk, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and in 1875 and '76 represented this district in the State Legis- | lature. His children are Laura L. and Allen B.

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ALBERT J. PARKER was born in Wales, Erie county, New York, on the 1st of October, 1833. He lived at home on his father's farm which he finally purchased. In 1858, he came to this town- ship with J. Russell and pre-empted land, but soon returned home. He married Miss Mary Adams on the 21st of October, 1861. Mr. Parker returned to this place in 1869, and bought a farm of George Onstine in section twenty-five, where he now lives, and upon which he has a good house, barn, etc. He is engaged in stock-raising and has fine horses and cattle.

ANDREW SHATTUCK was born in Grafton coun- ty, New Hampshire, on the 4th of July, 1823. When he was young his parents moved to Ver- mont, located in Irasburgh, Orleans county, and in 1840 to St. Lawrence county, New York. He Cume west in 1848, resided in Indiana a year and a half; thence to Loraine county, Ohio. While in the latter place he married Miss Julia A. Graves, the ceremony taking place the 28th of June, 1853. They came to Fillmore county in 1859, settling on a farm in section thirty-five, Holt township, where he has since resided. Mrs. Shattuck died in Ang- ust, 1877, leaving eight children; Julia E., George W., Andrew J., Frederick W., Rosa E., Adelbert N., Alice C., and Abbie M. Julia, the eldest, mar- ried William Mitchell and lives in the village of Highland. Andrew, Sen. has held the offices of Town Treasurer and Supervisor, and has also done much towards the growth of the town. He was Postmaster from 1861 to 1868.

MARSHAL F. TERWILLIGER is a son of John Ter- williger, who was one of the first settlers in El- mira, New York, born in Ulster county in 1789. He served in the war of 1812, and died on the 26th of October, 1857. Marshal was born in Elmira on the 22d of December, 1838. He remained at home until coming west in 1867. Miss Rebecca J. Weed became his wife on the 12th of September, 1860. The result of the union is two children, Charles and Nora. They came to Fillmore county and re-

sided in Lenora for one year; thence to this town- ship which has since been their home. Mr. Ter- williger held the office of Town Clerk several years and has been Justice of the Peace for the past eight years.

J. F. WALKER, a native of Lake county, Ohio, is a son of Tyler Walker who now lives with J. F. He was born in Croydon, New Hampshire, on the 12th of May, 1794, and served in the war of 1812. He is a blacksmith by trade and came to Lake county, Ohio, in 1837. In 1862, Mr. Walker, the subject of our sketch, was married to Miss Jose- phine Dikeman. He came to Holt township in 1869, and with his brother built the "Stone Mill," near Whalar. He then returned to Ohio and in 1872, brought his family to this place. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace for two years. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have two children, Helen May and Franklin H.

ALFRED WARD, deceased, was a native of Eng- land, born the 22d of February, 1818. His par- ents came to Canada when he was thirteen years old. In 1840, he went to Philadelphia and opened a restaurant. In 1845, he made a trip through this county up as far as St. Paul, and it is said the only white man he saw was a Norwe- gian who lived near Greenfield in this county. Mr. Ward located in Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1848, and engaged in farming. On the 10th of August, 1852, he was united in marriage with Misa Amanda M. F. Bigelow, a great-niece of Ethan Allen. They moved to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and two years later to Charles City; thence to Floyd, where the family remained while Mr. Ward made a trip to California. On his return he sold his property and moved to Riceford, Houston county; thence to Amherst, Fillmore county, where he opened a store and establiseed the Post- office in 1867. In 1871, he came to this place and opened the store which, since his death, his wife has continued. He died on the 5th of March, 1879.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 69

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

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