History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 76

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 76

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GULIC A. MALAN is a native of Norway, born on the 16th of March, 1834. He came with his par- ents to America in 1857, direct to Minnesota, and located in the township of Harmony. Gulic was

joined in matrimony in 1860, with Miss Rachel Johnson. Their children are Edwin and Ole. He made his father's house his home until 1868, when he purchased two hundred acres in section four which is now well cultivated. Mr. Malan is largely interested in stock raising, his farm being peculiarly adapted for that purpose, with a stream and several springs. His residence is situated on an eminence which overlooks the villages of New- burg and Lenora.

JOHN MANUEL, a native of England, was born in Cornwall county, on the 29th of September, 1833. His advantages for obtaining an education were limited and when eleven years old he was em- ployed at the brickmakers' trade, but went to sea at the age of fourteen. He finally became em- ployed on the river as boatman, pilot, etc., and in 1855 came to America. The ship was wrecked off the coast of Newfoundland and the passengers were taken by the fishermen to Byron Island, where many died of starvation. Mr. Manuel fin- ally reached Canada and worked his way to the United States, coming to Iowa in the fall of 1855, and the spring following to this county. In 1861, he opened a small brick store in Elliota and is now one of the successful business men and extensive land owners of Fillmore county. He was married in July, 1862, to Miss Phoebe Demaray, who has borne him four children. Mr. Manuel was Post- master of Elliota for sixteen years. He opened a a general mercantile store in Canton in 1879, and has since continued in the business, his residence being Elliota.

JAMES MANUEL is also a native of Cornwall county, England, born on the 8th of October, 1850. When nine years old he was engaged in copper and tin mines near Redruth and Truro, remaining in that occupation ten years. He came to Ameri- ca in 1869, and directly to Elliota where he en- terred the store of his uncle, John Manuel, and in 1873, was chosen assistant Register of Deeds. At the expiration of the term he returned to his former position, and in 1879, when his uncle opened his store in Canton, took charge of the store at Elliota, and in June of the following year bought the busi- uess. He was joined in wedlock on the 19th of January, 1881, with Maryette Webster. They have one child, Susie Mary. In August, 1881, Mr. Manuel, moved to his present commodious quarters. He is Justice of the Peace.

ALBERT NICHOLS, who is supposed to be the first

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settler in this county, was born in Boonville, Onei- da county, New York, on the 17th of January, 1821. He was married in his native place and re- sided there until the 24th of September. 1844, when, with his wife and one child, he moved to Columbia county, Wisconsin. In the latter part of February, 1851, Mr. Nichols, with two compan- ions, started on foot in search of a home in Minne- sota. They followed up the Lemonweir River some distance above Portage City, thence by an Indian trail to La Crosse, which at that time con- tained one hotel, where they spent the night. The next day they crossed the Mississippi, and the Root River near where Hokah now stands, found a shanty in which they remained over night and on the morning of the 7th or 8th of March staked out their claims. As the line between Minnesota and Iowa had not yet been surveyed they did not know in which State their claims were located. They re- turned to Wisconsin by the way of Prairie du Chien, settled up their affairs there, and on the 14th of May a company consisting of Mr. Nichols, wife and two boys, Messrs. Kincaid and Stephens, and a hired man named Thomas, started with three wagons, five yoke of oxen and a cow for Fillmore county. Mr. Nichols' claim proved to be in the township of Canton and the others settled in Iowa, and for one year his was the only family in the township. In the spring of 1873, after a residence of twenty-two years in the place, Mr. Nichols moved to Jackson county in the southwestern part of this State and still resides there.

J. R. NELSON is a native of Loraine county, Ohio, and dates his birth the 8th of July, 1846. He attended school until he was seventeen years old, then enlisted in the One hundred and twenty- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company E, and served two years. After his discharge he con- tinued his studies at the Oberlin College. In 1866, he came to Fillmore county and bought land in Amherst, but soon after located in this township. On the 19th of March, 1870, he was joined in wed- lock with Miss Maria J. Hoyt. They have two children. Mr. Nelson at present holds the office of Chairman of the board of Supervisors.

GUNDER OLSON is a native of Norway, born in Christiania on the 6th of February, 1846. He came to America when twenty-three years old, di- rectly to Fillmore county, and was employed by farmers until 1870, when he worked a farm on shares. In 1873, he purchased land in section

thirty-two, which has since been his residence. He afterwards sent to Norway for his parents who have since lived with him, also his sister and brother-in-law, who likewise live in the town.

SILAS PENNOCK, who was among the earliest settlers in this place, was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, on the 23d of November, 1812. He was reared on a farm and employed in his father's tannery until the age of twenty years. Then com- ing to Illinois he was engaged in farming there twelve years, and came to Rock county, Wiscon- sin, and in 1854, to this township. He located a farm in section eleven which he has since improved and made his home. Mr. Pennock has filled several offices since his residence here.

J. C. RICE was born in Canada East, on the 20th of April, 1836. In 1856, he came to this town- ship and pre-empted land in section seventeen, but soon after traded it for a portion of his present farm. Mr. Rice came here with very little means, but by good management has become the owner of two hundred acres of fine farming land upon which are good buildings. He was married on the 15th of March, 1861, to Miss Catherine Bur- sell. They have five children.

DR. R. A. STURGEON, one of the successful and early physicians of this section, is a native of Ire- land, born in Belfast, on the 7th of June, 1830. When quite young he was sent to Dr. Bryee's Academy and afterwards to the Queen's College at Belfast, graduating in 1847. He subsequently spent two years in the Belfast Hospital and then went to Liverpool where he was appointed Medical officer on the ship "Silas Greenman," and sailed for America. He resided in Montreal, Canada, three years, then came to Burr Oak, Iowa, and two years later to this townshlp, remaining but a few months, however. During the war he was in Missouri, and at the close returned to Fillmore county; has since been actively engaged at his profession and has a large practice. He also owns a drug store in Elliota village, and is building another in Canton. Dr. Sturgeon was united in marriage with Miss Jane Young, a native of Fife county, Scotland, on the 18th of July, 1866. Of five children, the result of this union, two are liv- ing.

A. C. SEELYE, a native of Oneida county, New York, dates his birth the same as Queen Victoria. May 24, 1819. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and in 1845, commenced learning the

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moulder's trade. He was married on the 17th of October, 1843, to Miss-Selina Miller, who died just nine years later leaving one child. Mr. Seelye was again married on the 18th of October, 1854, the maiden name of his wife being Janette S. Washburn. They moved to Rockford, Illinois, in 1855, and a year later came to this township and resided one year. Mr. Seelye then purchased a farm in Preble upon which he lived several years and afterward in Newburg three years. In 1875, he bought the hotel in Lenora of which he has since been proprietor, also carrying on a farm in the township. He has filled a number of the local offices since his residence here. Mr. and Mrs. Seelye have been blessed with three children, two boys and one girl.

S. S. STARK is a native of Otsego county, New York, born on the 15th of March, 1838. He af- terward resided in Wyoming and Genesee coun- ties, and in 1859, came to Minnesota, locating a farm in Amherst township which he still owns. He built a hotel on his land near Highland Prairie, and carried it on many years; came to Canton vil- lage in 1882 and purchased the Canton Hotel which is now known as the Stark House.

T. C. TARVESTAD is a native of Norway and dates his birth the 29th of December, 1830. He resided on a farm with his parents until coming to America in 1850, and first located in Illinois. He was married to Miss Malinda Johnson in 1851, and they resided on a farm there one year. They af- terwards came to Iowa and a year later to Minne- sota and settled in this county. In 1866, Mr. Tarvestad purchased two hundred and forty acres in section twenty-four, Canton township, and has since devoted his time to its improvement, and also to raising live stock; has many fine cows and sells cream to several creameries. Mr. and Mrs. Tarvestad have had nine children, four are mar- ried, four living at home, and one is dead.

CHARLES B. WILLFORD, a pioneer of this place, was born in Pennsylvania, on the 5th of January, 1816. He was married in Marshallville, Wayne county, Ohio, to Miss Eliza Kerr, in the year 1836. They settled on a small piece of land in Big Lick township, Hancock county, the same year. The Indians at that time were very numerous in Ohio. After his children grew up, he determined to go west, that his four boys might have a chance to secure farms, and in June, 1854, came to Minne- sota. He pre-empted land in section fourteen, in

this township, and the following September moved his family here, driving the entire distance from Hancock county. The homestead in an early day was known as "Grubb Hill," and Mr. Willford owned it until after the death of his wife, when his son S. S. purchased, and has since carried it on. His father is now living with him.

WILLIAM WILLFORD, a son of the subject of our last sketch, was born on the 3d of March, 1837, in Big Lick, Hancock county, Ohio. He was edu- cated in the county schools, and in the spring of 1854, entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, with the intention of remaining two years, but as his parents came to Minnesota in September of the same year, he was pursuaded to accompany them. He was engaged in teaching in Allamakee county, Iowa, and in December, 1855, commenced a term in district No. 12, Fillmore county, it being the second winter term taught in what is supposed to be the first schoolhouse built in the county. Mr. Willford married Miss Mary J. Ward on the 10th of October, 1858, and settled on the southeast quarter of section fourteen. He has served as Assessor of the town of Canton eleven years, Town Clerk two years, and Notary Public one year. In June, 1881, in company with B. E. Edwards, of La Crosse, he purchased a one- half interest of Frank Adams, in the town site of Canton village, which is at present owned by Charles and William Willford, and B. E. Edwards. The subject of this sketch left his farm in the care of his brother, E. R., in July, 1881, and took charge of a lumber yard in the village, for Ed- wards & Osborne, of La Crosse. He is now sell- ing farm implements and lumber for the latter firm, and acting agent for the Canton proprietors, and doing a general conveyancing business.

CHARLES WILLFORD, one of the early settlers here was also born in Big Lick, Hancock county, Ohio on the 5th of June, 1839. When young he moved with his parents to Wayne county, but soon after returned to Hancock county, where he received his education. In the fall of 1854, the family came to this place, and Charles lived with his parents until his marriage on the 23d of July, 1862, bis wife being Miss Mary E. Swartwood, who was born on the 9th of January, 1842, in Amherst, Ohio. He then settled in section fourteen, and has since purchased two other farms, on one of which a por- tion of Canton village is located. He moved to the latter in 1880, his house being just ontside

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the village limits. Mr. and Mrs. Willford have three children.

M. J. WILLSIE, a native of Clinton county, New York, was born on the 24th of July, 1842. He moved with his parents to Canada when an infant, and resided there until 1856, when he came to this county. In 1863, he went to Kansas, and was en- gaged as clerk one year, thence to Illinois where he enlisted in the One hundred and thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company D, serving six months. After his discharge Mr. Willsie re- turned to Fillmore county, and in 1866, purchased a farm in Canton township, but in 1872, sold and removed to the western part of the State. The following year he again returned to this county, rented a farm for a time, and in 1877, moved to the village of Lenora, and the following year was appointed Postmaster. He was united in marriage on the 27th of December, 1877, with Miss Frances M. Plomteaux. They have had seven children, six of whom are living. In 1879, Mr. Willsie was second assistant Clerk, and in 1881, Engrossing Clerk in the House of Representatives.

J. M. WHEAT, M. D., was born in Delaware county, New York, on the 3d of April, 1825. He received an education in the schools of his native place and the high school at Franklin, after which he taught in Kentucky for eight months. He then returned to Delaware county, and entered the office of Dr. Albert Sullard, and also attended the Geneva and Albany Medical Colleges, from the

latter of which he graduated in 1853. Dr. Wheat practiced his profession for a time in Delaware county, then went to Tennessee, and in 1855, came to Iowa, and the following year to Fillmore county. Since his residence here he has probably traveled over more miles, and attended a greater number of patients than any other doctor in the county. He was married on the 10th of June, 1862, to Miss Almira E. Foote, who has borne him two children. Their home is pleasantly located on a farm adjoin- ing the village of Lenora, besides which he owns other property, the legitimate fruits of an active professional life. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1875 and '77, and the following year to the State Senate, which position he has since retained. He was on the Page impeachment case, and also that of Judge Cox. His legislative course has been marked by no feature of especial interest, except that he was author of the Consti- tutional Amendment of 1881, appropriating the remaining swamp land of the State to the schools and charitable institutions of Minnesota.

JOHN YOUNG is a native of Scotland, born in Dunfermline, Fifeshire, in 1812. When young he wasengaged in the manufacture of damask goods, and afterwards kept an inn and run an omnibus from his native city to Charleston. For a few years before leaving Scotland he was in the brew- ery business, coming to America in 1858, and directly to Fillmore county, since which time he has been a resident of this place where he owns a good farm.

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PREBLE.

CHAPTER LVI.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION -- EARLY SETTLEMENT-PO- LITICAL - RELIGIOUS - SCHOOLS - MANUFACTUR- ING INSURANCE COMPANY-BIOGRAPHICAL.

This township is the second on the eastern boun- dary of the county from the Iowa line on the south. It has Norway as a neighbor on the north, Black Hammer in Houston county on the east, Newburg on the south, and Canton on the west, and is identical with a town of government survey.

Nearly the whole area of the south half of the town is gentle, rolling prairie, with occasional small clumps of timber. Some of the most beau- ful farms imaginable are situated in this section of the town. The South Fork of the Root River comes in by two branches into the southwest part of the township, and following its winding way, after uniting in an average northeast course, makes its exit from that corner. In its course several small branches are received. Along this little river is the valley, which varies in width from one-fourth to one-half a mile. The timber along the bluffs is quite plenty and consists of oak, elm, poplar, and some pine, with a luxuriant growth of grass in the valley which furnishes an excellent quality of hay. The soil is not unlike other parts of the county contiguous, and is equally productive of like crops.

The inhabitants are almost exclusively Norwe- gians, and a majority of them from an identical part of Norway, the so called "Stavanger Pres- tegjeld Christiansand Stift." Along the eastern edge of the town there are some natives of Ireland.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first white men that settled within the pres- ent limits of Preble were Nelson Johnson "Nessa" and Thore Olsen "Faae," natives of Stavanger, Norway, who, coming to America in 1849, stopped

in LaSalle county, Illinois, and in 1853, removed to Minnesota and located in section thirty-three in this town. The property brought with them con- sisted of three yoke of oxen and a few head of other horned stock,two old ricketty lumber wagons, and a small amount of family goods.

They at once built a double tenement residence, each with a single apartment 10x12 feet, and cov- ered it with bass wood bark, no floors or carpets graced their new abode. These two men with their families, seven in all, dwelt in this hut for four months, when they succeeded in securing better quarters. The first year ten acres were broken up on the Newburg side of the line, and the following year Mr. Johnson commenced to cultivate his present farm in section twenty-two in the town of Preble, thus he was the first man to sow and reap a crop in the town.

That same year, 1854, several other settlers came in and secured farms in the vicinity; among them were Jacob Jacobson "Hage" Rasmus C. Spande, and Christian Christopherson, all of whom are still living in the town and owners of fine farms.

Among the first settlers in the north part of the town were Ole Gjermundson, Bjorn Larson "Egvene," and Lars C. Tarvestad. They still re- side on their first claims, except Mr. Tarvestad, who sold out and removed to the town of New- burg.

The first birth was that of Christrian Gustav, son of Thore Olsen "Faae." This happy occur- rence was on the 22d of October, 1854.

The first to be called by the angel of death was Ingee Maria Ellefson, a sister of Mrs. Jacob Jacobson "Hage," whose earthly strife ended in October, 1856. Her remains were interred on the farm of William Christopherson, in the north- west corner of the northeast quarter of section thirty-four, which thus became a cemetery and the

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many marble monuments and grassy mounds, now to be seen there, silently remind the observer that we all must journey the shadowy vale of death.

POLITICAL.

The first town meeting, to organize the town and elect officers, was held on the 11th of May, 1858. Thomas G. Hall, David Weisel, and Iver Thompson had been appointed by the County Commissioners as the judges of election. Mr. Hall being absent, A. C. Seelye was appointed to fill his place. J. C. Braden and I. B. Titus were appointed as clerks. The total number of votes cast was twenty-seven, and the following officers were unanimously elected:

Supervisors: Thomas G. Hall, Chairman, Iver Thompson, and Walter Braden; Town Clerk, J. C. Braden; Assessor, David Weisel; Collector, Nels Nelson; Overseer of the Poor, Christian Christo- pherson; Justices of the Peace, David Weisel and A. C. Seelye; Constables, Wm. G. Sutherland and Iver Thompson.

The house of Nels Nelson was designated by ballot as the place for holding elections.

On the 22d of May, 1858, the supervisors held a meeting, divided the town into four road dis- tricts and selected the following overseers: Lars C. Tarvestad, Ole Anderson, Justus Sutherland, and David Weisel. A tax of two and half mills was levied, and two days work for every man on the roads.

WAR RECORD .-- - On the 10th of September, 1864, a bounty fund was voted, of $3,200, one- half to be assessed in the year 1864, and one- half in 1865. On the 27th of March, 1865, a special town meeting was held, and the sum of $2,500 voted to be expended in the support of families of drafted men, but the close of the war suspended the tax. In 1864, a home guard was organized under the State law, with Norman Sutherland as Captain. They drilled a few times near the schoolhouse in district No. 9.

TOWN HALL .- On the 20th of November, 1877, a town meeting voted an appropriation of $200 toward building a town hall, and it was decided to build a basement under the schoolhouse of dis- trict No. 9, which was done, and that is the place where town meetings have since been held.

The town officers elected on the 21st of March, 1882, are: Supervisors, John Muns, Chairman, E. C. Erickson, and Embert Johnson; Town Clerk, Arne Anderson; Treasurer, Nels Johnson; Assessor,

Andrew H. Arneson; Justices of the Peace, Narve Larson and John N. Johnson; Constables, Andrew Peterson and Andrew Burns.

RELIGIOUS.

The first religious society organized was by Peter Asbjornson, a colporteur of the American Tract Society, in about 1855, at the house of Thore Olsen "Faae." The name bestowed was "The First Norwegian Lutheran Congregation of Newburg," which title it still bears, although the church is this side of the line, in section thirty- four. Rev. Lars Narheim was the first ordained minister stationed here, and he continued up to 1857, when Rev. A. Scheie assumed charge. Ser- vices were held at private residences until the school house in district No. 11 was built, when this was utilized for Sunday worship.

In 1864, the congregation succeeded in build- a neat church, 28x40 feet, and located as above mentioned. Mr. Scheie continued the pastor of the flock up to 1876, when he removed to Polk county, Minnesota, where he still resides, but has recently given up his ministerial duties. Rev. H. L. Haakonsen succeeded him and continued in the service of the congregation till the fall of 1881, when he removed to Coon Prairie, Wisconsin, where he has charge of a church

Late in the seventies, there was a controversy in relation to the selection of a minister, and some of the minority withdrew, abdicating their pro rata ownership in the church property, and forming a new society, which holds its meetings in the schoolhouse in district .No. 11. At the church Rev. Ole C. Jacobson is temporarily performing the service of minister.

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH .- This was put up in the year 1872. Previous to this time the services in the interest of this faith were at irreg- ular intervals by priests from the nearest available points where they were located.

Rev. Father Pendergast, of Winona, it is be- lieved, held the first of these services, at the house of Martin Horihan. This was on section twenty- four, about the year 1857, and from time to time, until the church was built, this has been a place for services. Rev. Father P. Shanahan, of Cale- donia, has services here on the second Sunday in each month.

HAUGES NORWEGIAN EVANGELICAL CONGREGA- TION OF THE SOUTH FORK .- This is the name of a society which came into existence in 1877, and

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the following year a church, 26x36 feet, was con- structed. Rev. A. Wright, of Rushford, is the pastor.

SOUTH FORK NORWEGIAN METHODIST EPISCO- PAL SOCIETY .- This church was organized in 1874 by Rev. A. Olsen, of Newburg, and under his supervision a neat little frame church was con- structed, 24x34 feet, near the residence of Ole Richardson, the following year. Revs. O. Hanson and A. Knudson have had charge of this society since, and at present the original founder, Rev. A. Olsen has charge.

SCHOOLS.

The first school building erected in town was completed in 1858 for district No. 11. The size of the structure was 16x18 feet. The walls were of oak logs with hand made oak shingles for the roof. The settlers were the architects and builders. It served the double purpose of secular and relig- ous teaching; until the church was put up in 1864.

DISTRICT NO. 9 .- This appears to have been the second one organized. In 1859, a log house was built, 14x16 feet, near the house of Nels Johnson. The school was opened by Mrs. Cameron of Hes- per, Iowa. In 1878 a new schoolhouse was put on a site further north than the old one, and on section twenty-one.

DISTRICT No. 7, wasorganized in 1863, and the following year a log house was built, Miss Anna Hall was the first teacher. On the subdivision of the district in 1871, the house was moved to a more central point in the northwest corner of section ten.

DISTRICT NO. 162 .- This was taken from No. 7 in 1871. In 1877, a new frame building was con- structed near the western boundary of section twelve.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 76

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

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