History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 75

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 75

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S. AVERY, manager of the county poor farm since 1881, is a native of Rensselaer county, New York, born on the 11th, of April, 1834. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and when twenty- two years old came to Green Lake county, Wis- consin, where he was engaged in different occu- pations and finally employed as clerk in a store at Ripon. In 1861, he came to Olmsted county, Min- nesota, and the following year enlisted in the Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving three years; first on the frontier and then in the South. After his discharge he returned to Olmsted county and opened a general mercantile store in Pleasant Grove. He was united in marriage with Miss Helen D. Wooldridge on the 11th of November, 1868. They moved to Spring Valley in 1874, and Mr. Avery was interested in the wheat market and lumber transactions until 1881, when he was chosen to his present responsible office. He has a family of two children.

WILLIAM WALLACE BRADEN, a native of Iberia, Ohio, and the present State Auditor, is a son of Walter Braden and Margaret A. Bodley, and was born on the 3d of December, 1837. The Bradens and Bodleys were early settlers in Ohio, and are numerous and prominent in some parts of that State. The subject of this sketch received an or- dinary district school education, and was reared to farming, which has always been his business. In November, 1854, he came to Fillmore county with his father, who is still living here, and is upwards of eighty years of age; his mother is also living, being several years younger. Fill- more county was very sparsely settled twenty- seven years ago, the Bradens being among the pioneers, settling at Lenora, where our subject now owns a well improved farm. Mr. Braden was a member of the legislature in 1866-67, and served eight years as County Treasurer. He is one of the most popular men of the younger class, in the county or State, being eminently trustworthy and true, alike to his friends and the public interests which he serves. In June, 1862, he enlisted in

the Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, became First Lieutenant of Company K, and was soon after promoted to Captain. Before the regiment received marching orders southward, the Indian outbreak occurred, and in the autumn of 1862, it accompanied General Sibley in the Fort Ridgely and Camp Release campaign, and in 1863, shared in the toils and privations of the expedition across the plains to the Missouri River. Returning, the regiment went south as far as the Gulf of Mexico, and was mustered out in September, 1865. He was Provost Marshal, for some time, of the district of Southwest Missouri, comprising over one-third of the State, with headquarters at Springfield.

In politics Mr. Braden is a republican, straight, unwavering, prominent in the party, and a con- scientious, as well as an earnest worker for its in- terests. In the Masonic Fraternity he is a Knight Templar, and prominent in local organizations. He was married to Miss Addie Griswold, of Spring Valley. in 1866. The have four children.

J. S. BEACH was born in Dunham, Lower Cana- da, on the 13th of October, 1826. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and remained in his native place until twenty-four years old, when he moved to Wayne county, New York. While there he married Miss Martha Dumelt and soon after re- moved to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where he purchased a farm and resided about ten years. His wife died in 1863, and Mr. Beach sold his farm, and in 1867 came to this place, which has since been his home, his farm being located in sec- tion thirty-two. The maiden name of his present wife was Velzora Remick, a native of Massachu- setts.

SIDNEY BOYD was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, on the 27th of September, 1850. His par- ents came to this place in 1864, and located a farm which Sidney made his home until he commenced learning the blacksmith trade in 1872. He after- wards opened a shop on his father's farm, which was the first in this township. On the 1st of No- vember, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Emily A. Sutherland, who died in 1876, leaving one child. Mr. Boyd opened his present shop in the village of Canton, in 1879. He was married a second time on the 8th of June, 1881, his bride being Miss Dora Townsend.

A. S. BUSSE is a native of Germany, born near Berlin, Prussia, on the 18th of December, 1846. When he was five years old his parents came to

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America, resided for three years in Philadelphia and then moved to Rock Island, Illinois. In 1855, they came to this township, and when seventeen years old the subject of this sketch commenced learning the blacksmith trade in Decorah, Iowa. His eyes failing him after about three years he was obliged to engage in other occupations, but in 1873, came to the village of Lenora and opened his present blacksmith shop. Miss Emma C. McDonald became the wife of Mr. Busse on the 20th of April, 1873. They have been blessed with three children.

GORWOOD BURSELL, deceased, who was one of the pioneers of this place, was born in England in 1808. He was a blacksmith by trade, and worked at it in his native place until coming to America in 1830. He lived in Canada until 1855, when he came to this town, which was his home until his death on the 7th of June, 1879. His wife died the following September. Their son Thomas now owns the homestead. He was born in Canada on the 25th of June, 1845, and resided with his par- ents until their death. Miss Alvina Brode was the maiden name of his wife, whom he married on the 22d of September, 1865. They have four children.

PETER BRODE was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on the 7th of April, 1836. At the age of seventeen years he moved with his parents and located in Lee county, Illinois, where he remained, engaged in farming two years. In 1855, he be- came one of the pioneers of this place and selected a claim which he has since cultivated and made his home. He was joined in matrimony, on the 27th of September, 1863, with Miss Lucy B. El- liott, a native of Moline, Illinois, and a daughter of Captain Elliott, the pioneer settler of Elliota. Eight children have been born of this union, seven of whom are living. Mr. Brode gives a por- tion of his time to stock-raising, and is interested in a large sorghum mill located on his farm. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors for three years.

GEORGE BACON, a native of New York, was born in Oneida county on the 4th of November, 1831. He left home at the age of seventeen years, was engaged as traveling salesman for several years, and afterwards at the carpenter trade. He married Miss Sarah M. Payne on the 14th of March, 1858. The following year they came to Fillmore county, and in 1860, purchased their

present farm. For a short time after coming Mr. Bacon was employed at carpentering, but has since devoted his time to farming and stock-rais- ing, giving considerable attention to the dairy business. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon have had eight children, six of whom are living.

JOSIAH CASTERTON is a native of England, born in Rutland county on the 9th of August, 1832. He resided with his parents until 1856, when he came to America and located in Illinois, thence, a year later, to Winneshiek county, Iowa. While there he married Miss Jane Kew on the 27th of February, 1864. The same year they moved to this township and purchased a farm in section thirty-one which is now well cultivated and has good substantial buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Caster- ten have had seven children, six of whom are now living.

S. A. CAPRON is a Canadian, his birth dating the 11th of August, 1840. When eighteen years old he came with his parents to Beloit, Wisconsin, re- mained thirteen years and came to this place where his father died. Mr. Capron then carried on the farm for a few years and still owns the same. He was married to Miss Nancy Penrod in Decem- ber, 1875. One child, Nina, is the issue of this union. In 1878, they moved to Elliota and pur- chased the hotel there, but sold the following year and resided on a farm two seasons. In 1881, Mr. Capron opened his present restaurant and billiard hall.

JOHN O. COOK was born in Gloucester, England, on the 14th of August, 1817. In 1854, he left his native place with just money enough to come across the ocean; remained one year in Canada and came to Fillmore county, taking a claim in Harmony township, but was employed in the ho- tel in Elliota. He bought a house and lot in 1857, in which he put a stock of general merchandise and carried on the business five years, since which time the village has been his home. At the same time he carries on his farm in Harmony. He owns about three hundred and sixty acres in this vicinity. On the 22d of September, 1861, Miss Maria E. Marley became his wife. The union has been blessed with five children.

DAVID DONALD, the first white child born in this township, dates his birth the 7th of January, 1853. He lived with his parents in section thirty-six un- til after his father's death. On the 25th of De- cember, 1879, he was joined in marriage with Miss

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Eliza J. Frego. In 1881, he moved to his present farm in section thirty-five and has since devoted his time to its improvement.

WILLIAM DONALD was born in Scotland on the 17th of February, 1845. He came with his par- ents to America when about seven years old. Lo- cated in Milwaukee where he resided until the death of his father, soon after which he came to this place. He purchased a farm in section thirty- five to which he has since added, his lands now aggregating three hundred and fifty acres, a por- tion being across the State line in Iowa. Mr. Donald was Assessor of this town in 1881.

W. J. DEMARAY is a native of Canada West, born on the 15th of September, 1825. When twenty- one years of age he commenced life for himself, and in 1863, came to this county and was engaged in farming pursuits near Elliota for two years. He was married before coming here to Miss Rebecca A. Smith, the ceremony taking place on the 30th of June. 1860. They have two children, Melvin J., and Sarah H. A. Mr. Demaray has a fine farm near the village, well cultivated, good buildings and some fine stock.

JOHN DAGEN is a native of Ohio, born in Well- ington, Loraine county, on the 2d of August, 1853. In 1860, the family moved to Ashtabula county, and six years later to Winneshiek county, Iowa. They have been residents of this place since 1669, John making his home with his parents until 1880, having purchased a farm just east of the village in 1875, on which he erected a fine $2,000 house in 1880. On the 28th of July, of the latter year, Miss Lucinda Jane Ryan became his wife, and they immediately moved to their new house.

ARCHIBALD DONALD, deceased, one of the pio- neers of this place, was born in Scotland in 1875. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and for some time had charge of an extensive estate in the "Highlands." He came to America in 1850, and two years later settled in this place, in section thirty-six. In 1865, while on his way to Roches- ter, he was drowned in the river. He left a wife and five children, all of whom are now living and reside in this vicinity.

JULIUS W. ELLIOTT, deceased, the founder of the village of Elliota, was born in Vermont in 1822. He learned the blacksmith trade in his native State and was engaged at the same in the middle and western States. He came to this section of the country in an early day, and returning to Moline,

Illinois, organized a company who were among the first settlers of this county, and located in different parts of the same. This was in May, 1853, and Mr. Elliott took land on which he afterward laid out the village of Elliota. He was the first Post- master and first blacksmith in this place. In 1871, he moved to Missouri, where he died in 1876. He left a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, all of whom now live in Minnesota and Dakota.

THOMAS ELLIOT, a native of Ireland, dates his birth the 11th of June, 1802. When thirteen years old, he commenced learning the weaver's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years, after which he worked at the same until coming to America in 1831. He located in Renssalaer county, New York, where he engaged at his trade for a time, then gave his attention to agricultural pur- suits, and in 1855, came to Fillmore county and purchased a farm in Harmony township. He soon returned to New York, and a year and a half later brought his family west, and resided on his farm in Harmony until coming to his present land in this place. The maiden name of his wife was Jane Lunda, who has borne him four children, three of whom are living. Mr. Elliot is the oldest member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of this lo- cality.

GODFREY FREGO is a Canadian, his birth dating in Maskinonge, Quebec, on the 17th of February, 1840. Since the age of fourteen years he has sup- ported himself, engaging with farmers, and finally purchased land upon which he lived four years. On the 2d of May, 1860, he married Miss Mary E. Bates. In 1864, they came to this place and bought their present farm which contains three hundred and thirty-six acres, a portion of which is culti- vated and the balance in timber. For two years Mr. Frego rented his farm, and was engaged in buying and shipping live stock, but has since de- voted his time to farming. Mr. and Mrs. Frego have had five children, four of whom are living; Eliza J., George E., Murray I., and Hiram W.

C. W. GRAHAM is a son of James Graham, who was one of the pioneers of this place. C. W. was born on the 1st of May, 1843, in Hancock county, Ohio. He came here with his parents in 1854, and attended the first school in the township, and one of the first in the county. In 1864, he enlisted in the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, Company B, and served one year. His wife was formerly

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Miss Irene Nelson, whom he married on the 27th of October, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Graham resided in Lenora village for a time, then moved to their farm which has since been their home. He has been Justice of the-Peace for the past six years, and has also held other local offices.

G. M. GRAHAM, a brother of the subject of our last sketch, was one of the first white children born in this place, his birth dating the 20th of January, 1856. His father, James M. Graham, was one of the prominent early citizens of this place, giving liberally to all school and church purposes, and to him mainly is due the building of the Methodist church. He filled many town and county offices, and was a member of the Territorial Legislature in an early day. He was born in Madison county, Ohio, on the 19th of December, 1816, and married on his twenty-first birthday, his bride being Miss Susan Willford. Mr. and Mrs. Graham came to this township with their family in 1854, and located on a farm in section twelve. He died on the 31st of March, 1866. The farm has since been divided among the children, G. M. retaining that part on which the house was located. He attended the schools of this town, completing his education in Rushford, and afterward taught for five winters. In 1878, he returned to the farm, and has since made it his home, his mother living with him. His wife was formerly Carrie Dibble, the marriage taking place on the 6th of March, 1879. They have two children.

SIMON HOUCK was born on the 26th of February, 1819, in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. His father died when Simon was quite young, and his mother was afterward married to Samuel Brode. They moved to Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1828, and Simon learned the carpenter trade. He was joined in matrimony with Miss Elizabeth Gray, on the 5th of October, 1843. They resided on a farm in the latter county until 1851, when they removed to Rock Island, Illinois, from which place they drove to this township in 1856. Mr. Houck took land in section twenty-six, and erected a house in which they lived for a time, but has since built a more substantial dwelling, near which is a fine spring. Mr. and Mrs. Houck have had four children, three of whom are living. Besides his farm labor he is engaged in the manufacture of sorghum.

AVERY HERRICK is a native of Massachusetts, born in Berkshire on the 26th of January, 1823.

In 1840, the family removed to New York, and re- sided on a farm until 1856, when Avery started with a team to Minnesota. Arrived in Yucatan, Houston county, and remained a few weeks, then made a trip through the western and central part of the State, but finally returned to New York. Six years later he again came to Minnesota and lo- cated on a farm in Yucatan. While there he was married to Miss Nancy Barton, the event taking place on the 4th of October, 1869. In 1870, Mr. Herrick moved to a farm in Amherst township, and in 1875, took charge of the County poor farm, remaining there five years, when he purchased land in this place and has since made it his home.

P. H. HARSH was born in Hancock county, Ohio, on the 27th of June, 1858. He attended the schools of his native place, and afterward the Heidelberg College, of Tiffin. He left school when his father died, in 1875, and took charge of the farm. On the 31st of October, 1878, he was joined in marriage with Miss Ida A. Hoyt. They moved to this place in 1880, and Mr. Harsh opened a hardware store, where he keeps a large stock and also sells farm implements. Mr. and Mrs. Harsh have been blessed with two children.

HARMON HOYT is a native of Wayne county, New York, and dates his birth the 7th of August, 1818. He was married on the 27th of December, 1842, and remained at home until 1845. They then moved to Hancock county, Ohio, purchased a farm and made it their home until coming to this township in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt have had six children, one of whom is dead.

HENRY HELLIKSON may be numbered among the early births in this county, his place of nativ- ity being Newburg, and the date the 12th of October, 1853. His parents came here in 1852, and Henry resided with them until the age of twenty-one years when he entered the employ of C. N. Goddard, of Decorah, Iowa, and remained with him three years. While in that place he was joined in matrimony will Miss Annie Larson, the ceremony taking place on the 18th of Septem- ber, 1880. In February, 1882, Mr. Hellikson opened a general store in this village, and has since done a good business. He has one daughter, Eva Maria.

O. F. HOLMES was born on the 22d of March, 1825, in Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio. His father died when he was sixteen years old, and he, with three other brothers, carried on the farm for nine

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years. Miss Charlotte J. Bryant became the wife of our subject on the 2d of March, 1848. The four brothers started west in 1857, O. F. coming up the river to Brownsville, from whence he came to this place by team and located a farm in sec- tion three. In 1876, he rented his farm and moved to the village of Lenora, which he has since made his home. Mr. Holmes was the first Chairman of the board of Supervisors, and held the office three successive years, was appointed a member of the board of County Commissioners, and afterward elected to the same office, holding the position three years. He has a family of four children, one died when young.

H. H. HASKINS, M. D., was born in Middlesex, Vermont, on the 10th of September, 1844. He came with his parents to Columbia county, Wis- consin, when seven years old. In 1864, he en- listed in the Forty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving about one year in detached ser- vice in St. Louis, Missouri. After his discharge, he came to Fillmore county and was engaged in various pursuits until 1874, when he entered the employ of the Winneshiek Paper Mill Company, for whom he traveled three years. He subse- quently studied medicine in the Iowa State Uni- versity, graduating on the 7th of March, 1877. He was married in October, 1873, to Miss Mary W. Adams, who has borne him one child, Leon L. Dr. Haskins was engaged in the practice of his profession one year in Iowa, then came to this vil- lage and soon after opened a drug store, in which business he has since continued, and has a good trade.

JOHN JACOBSON, one of the old settlers and successful farmers of this section, is a native of Norway, born on the 29th of December, 1830. In 1842, he came to America with his parents and located in Racine county, Wisconsin, where his father died. John afterward supported himself, and in 1853, moved to Winneshiek county, Iowa, but the following year came to this township. He was married on the 3d of September, 1853, to Miss Annie Johnson. They have had eight chil- dren, four of whom are living. By good man- agement, Mr. Jacobson has withstood the hard times, and is now the owner of 530 acres of land in this vicinity, has fine buildings and a well im- proved farm near the village of Lenora.

SEYMOUR V. KINGSBURY, one of the oldest res- idents of this place, is a native of New York, born

in Booneville, Oneida county, on the 27th of Jan- uary, 1830. He resided at home with his parents until 1852, when, in company with three brothers, he started for the West. On reaching this town- ship, they made their home with Albert Nichols for a short time, Seymour finally locating a farm in section thirteen, and the following spring com- menced improving the same, and has since made it his home. He was obliged to go to Decorah, Iowa, a distance of twenty miles, for mail, and fifty miles to mill. On the 31st of August, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Streeter. The result of the union is two children, Frank S. and LaDesha F. Mr. Kingsbury attended the first religious meeting and assisted in the organiza- tion of the first Sabbath school in Fillmore county.

HORACE KINGSBURY was born in Halifax, Wind- ham county, Vermont, on the 22d of February, 1826. He was raised on a farm, and when old enough commenced work on the construction of a railroad, afterward operating a chair factory in his native State. In 1849, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Medelia Eames, the ceremony dating the 17th of May. They moved to Frank- lin county, Massachusetts, in 1853, and three years later came to Fillmore county, and pre-empted land in Newburg township, upon which they lived eleven years. In 1867, Mr. Kingsbury purchased the hotel at Lenora and carried on the same six years, then bought his present farm, which is just east of the village. Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury had seven children; Horace E., Della E., Stella E., Charles H., William E., Clara B., and Gertrude Blanche. They are now childless, three having died in Newburg and four more in as many weeks in this place in 1877. His mother, who was born on the 8th of August, 1791, in Massachusetts, is living with Mr. Kingsbury.

A. KIMBALL is a son of C. H. Kimball, de- ceased, who was born in New Hampshire in 1809. He learned the cabinet-maker's trade when young, but devoted most of his life to farming. He located in Kane county, Illinois, in 1833, where the subject of this sketch was born in June, 1854. The family came to Fillmore county the same year and settled on a farm near Elliota, where the father died on the 13th of December, 1873. Our subject was married on the 26th of January, 1861, to Miss Emily Peacock. They resided on a farm near his father's, until 1878, when they removed to the village of Elliota. On the organization of

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the village of Canton, Mr. Kimball opened a wag;on repair shop, and in 1882, put in a stock of furniture and undertaker's goods. He was Justice of the Peace from 1873 to. 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball have been blessed with two children.

JOHN MILLER, a native of Seneca county, New York, was born on the 16th day of March, 1821. When young he learned the blacksmith trade, at which he was employed abont ten years in Geneva and afterwards in Indiana. He was married at Havana, New York, on the 28th of October, 1849, to Miss Eveline Gifford. The result of the union is two daughters. In 1856, they came to Burr Oak, Iowa, but the following year located in Le- nora, where Mr. Miller opened a blacksmith shop. While living in Burr Oak he took a farm in sec- tion twenty-seven of this township, to which he moved from Lenora some time after, and has since lived, giving a portion of his time to his trade.

GEORGE MCMASTER was born on the 27th of April, 1830, in the state of Massachusetts, where he was reared and learned the spinner's trade. In 1849, he moved to Vermont where he married his wife, who was Miss Martha Cadman, and resided until 1853. They then came to Illinois, and in February, 1855, drove from Galena to Decorah, Iowa, where they joined Captain Elliott's company and came to Fillmore county. Mr. McMaster lo- cated a farm in section thirty upon which he lived a number of years. He enlisted in Company D, of the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, in 1864, aud served one year. He built the first shanty be- tween Elliota and Big Spring, on the St. Paul and Dubuque territorial road, and in 1869 sold his former farm and moved to his present, which is in section twenty-eight, near the village of Canton. His house is built of hewn blocks, six inches square, and one hundred and twenty acres of the farm is well cultivated. He devotes considerable time to stock raising. Mrs. McMaster died on the 12th of September, 1869, leaving six children; E. J., born the 27th of October, 1855; M. M., the 16th of November, 1858; John, the 16th of August, 1860; G. J., the 18th of August, 1862; David, the 3d of October, 1864; and M. J., the 26th of March, 1867. The two youngest, a son and daughter, are with their father.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 75

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

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