History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 79

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 79

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PAUL HALVORSEN, was born in Norway on the 8th of December, 1826, and lived with his parents until thirteen years old, from which time he was obliged to seek his own living. In 1850, he mar- ried Kari Halvorsen, and the same year emigrated to America. They resided first in Rock county, Wisconsin, moving to Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1854, where Mr. Halvorsen built a log cabin, 12x13 feet, with birch bark roof, in which they lived six years, then erected a more commodious residence. In about 1860, he visited his native country, also England, Germany, and Denmark, and on returning brought with him his aged mother and two sisters. The former died in 1877, at the age of ninety years. In 1866, Mr. Halvor- sen sold his real estate in Iowa, and the next year bought improved land in section five, Newburg

township, which is his present farm. His wife died in 1872. Helena Johnson was the maiden name of his present wife whom he married on the 20th of May, 1874. They have been blessed with three childen; Henry J., Caroline S. and Ida A.

STEPHEN W. HIATT, son of Eliel and Mary Hiatt, was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, on the 25th of December, 1834, where his father owned a small farm and worked at shoemaking. Stephen lived with his parents until the age of fourteen, when, being the oldest of several chil- dren, he went from home to provide for himself. He worked by the day or month as chance offered until 1853, when he bought a yoke of oxen and spent his time in logging until 1855. He was married on the 11th of August, 1853, to Miss Al- mira Hamlin, daughter of John and Lydia Ham.' lin, born in Stark county, Ohio, on the 6th of February. 1836. On the 27th of September, 1855, Stephen and his wife with their first born, & son fourteen months old, started for Winneshiek county, Iowa, with three yoke of oxen and one wagon. They arrived there in October and re- mained four years on a farm where the village of Hesper is now situated. Leaving there, they pur- chased a farm of forty acres in Newburg township, Fillmore county, on which they resided until 1870, then bought their present farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in section thirty-five. His farm is well cultivated, and has one of the finest orchards in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt have had seven children; Charlie A., Clarissa J., John H., Mariette A., Nellie L., who died at the age of two years and three months; Amy E., and Ste- phen W. The eldest son and the two elder daugh- ters are married and live in this vicinity.

GEORGE HARKNESS, Jr., was born in Richmond, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, on the 23d of June, 1809. He was the third child of George and Betsey Harkness. When he was fifteen years old his parents moved to Addison county, Ver- mont. His early life was spent in farming, and later as a wagon-maker. On the 9th of March, 1837, he was married to Miss Mary T. Battey. They came to Minnesota in 1857, and settled in section twenty-five, Newburg township, where they lived till the death of Mrs. Harkness, on the 8th of February, 1879. Ten children were born to this worthy couple, four girls and six boys. Susanna, the eldest, died in 1878; Lysander G. served in the Indian war of 1862, and perished in

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a snow-storm between forts Wadsworth and Ridgely in 1865; Lois B. died when fourteen years of age. The remaining ones are Betsey E., John W., Joel B., Mary P., Jesse S., Wilson J., and Newton L., all of whom, excepting the last, were born in Vermont and are now married.

JOEL B. HARKNESS, a son of George Harkness, was born in Addison county, Vermont, on the 9th of August, 1848. He came with his parents to . this place in 1857, and lived on his father's farm until twenty-six years old. He then married Miss Ruth A. Hall, of Hesper, Iowa, and a few years later purchased a farm in section twenty-five, near his father's, and has since lived here.

JOHN P. JOHNSON was born in Norway, on the 20th of November, 1841. He came to America with his parents in 1853. Resided in Dane county, Wisconsin, four years, then in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where his father, Peter Johnson, still lives. In 1865, John, in partnership with his brother Andrew, bought land in section fourteen, Newburg township, and afterward in section eleven, which farms they owned together several years, but subsequently dividing, John retained the latter. He was married on the 11th of July, 1871, to Miss Britha Nelson. The union has been blessed with five children; Julia A., Nels J., Betsey M., Peter A., and John.

ANDREW P. JOHNSON, brother of the subject of the preceding sketch, was also born in Norway, his birth dating the 29th of September, 1843, After coming to America he purchased land in company with his brother, as above stated, and now resides in section fourteen. He was united in matrimony, in Allamakee county, Iowa, in 1865, with Miss Rachel Severson. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living; Peter A., Annie, Julia, Sever, Oscar, Albert, and Henry Adolph.

BENJAMIN JOHNSON is a native of Norway, born in November, 1835. His father died when Benja- min was quite young, and until 1857, he worked for his older brother, then came to America, and direct to this township. A year later he went to Illinois, where, on the 25th of November, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifty-third Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, was in a number of skirmishes, and re- ceived a severe scalp wound at the battle of Mata- moras. His health was greatly impaired, and on the 9th of April, 1863, he received a discharge on account of disability. On the 2d of November, 1863, Miss Cordelia Olson became his wife. They

came to Fillmore county the same fall, and the following spring bought land in sections four and five, but a year later removed to their present farm near the village. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have bad seven children, five of whom are living; Mary H., Clara L., Henry E., James H., and Joseph E. Ingar C. died when eleven months old, and Ing- man when sixteen months old.

FRANK P. JONES is a native of Ohio, born in Jefferson county, on the 30th of November, 1846. When he was nine years old, his parents came to Fillmore county, and resided about fifteen years, then moved to Hesper, Iowa. Frank was engaged as clerk in a dry goods store at Hesper for eight years. In 1877, Mr. Jones, in partnership with C. J. Tannes, opened a hardware store in Hesper vil- lage, and when the Narrow Gauge railroad was completed to Mabel, they moved here and have since done a good business, carrying a full line of hardware, agricultural implements, sewing machines, etc.

REV. OLE CHRISTIAN JACOBSON is a native of Norway, born in Sandnas, on the 17th of May, 1852. After he had finished the navigation course, he went to sea, and in 1874, came to America. He resided in Chicago, where he studied theology in the Mission Seminary, com- pleting the term in 1881. He was afterward en- gaged by the American Bible Society a short time. On the 2d of July, 1881, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Bertha M. Hanson, whose birth dates the 5th of January, 1852, in Trondhjem, Norway. They came from Chicago to Decorah, Iowa, and thence to Beloit, Wisconsin, performing missionary work for the Norwegian Augustana Synod. In 1882, Mr. Jacobson received a tempo- rary call to his present charge, the Norwegian Lutheran congregation of Newburg.

WILLIAM LOOMIS, one of the pioneers of the town, is a native of Cattaraugus county, New York, where his birth occurred the 18th of April, 1824. He came to this place and located his pres- ent claim in 1853, beginning immediately to make improvements. Mr. Loomis has been married three times; first in 1857, and again ten years later to Mrs. R. Brace, who died in November, 1874. Mis present wife was formerly Catharine Maria Mccrary. When the Chicago, Milwaukee & Western railroad was in process of construc- tion, Mr. Loomis donated to the company a strip of land forty feet wide half way across his farm,

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and also a tract 75 rods by 160 feet for depot and elevators.

DUNCAN MCLACHLAN was born east of New- foundland, on board ship "Ellen," of which his father was Captain, his home being in Bentshire, Scotland. He finished his education when twenty-two years old, and came to America, locat- ing in Delaware county New York, where he was engaged in the butcher business. In 1858, he was married to Miss Eliza Munger, who died in 1872, leaving three children, who are now living with their grand-mother in New York. In 1873, Mr. Mclachlan came to Decorah, Iowa, and in 1880, to this place, still continuing in the butcher busi- ness, opening the first shop of the kind in town. He afterwards sold out, and is now engaged in buying stock and shipping to the Chicago mar- kets.

CAROLINE MILES, widow of George Miles, de- ceased, who was one of the pioneers of this town, and born in England, on the 7th of July, 1822. When he was ten years old, the family emigrated to America, stopped in Montreal about two years, and from thence to Addison county, Vermont, where his parents still live. George was a mill- wright and wheelwright by trade, which occupa- tion he followed until 1855, when he came to this town and selected a claim. During that summer he assisted in putting up a steam saw-mill at Hes- per, Iowa, and remained in that State till the next April, when he moved to his land and commenced improvements. On the 10th of April, 1845, his marriage with Miss Caroline Worth was solem- nized. The union was blessed with four children; Florence, now Mrs. C. G. Burt, lives at Hesper; George D., Estella C., and Carol H., the latter three still enjoying the comforts and shelter of the parental roof. Flora C. Cameron, a niece of Mrs. Miles, whose mother died when Flora was an infant, has been adopted by her. Mr. Miles died on the 30th of November, 1865. During his resi- dence he took a prominent part in the organiza- tion of schools, churches, etc.

GEORGE E. MILLER is a son of G. Miller, who was born in Vermont and moved to New York in an early day. George was born in the latter State on the 9th of March, 1852, and came with his parents to Minnesota when two years old. They located in Canton township, and resided there until 1875, then moved to Mason City, Iowa, where they still live. George was married on the

7th of October, 1875, to Miss Louisa Welch. They have since made their home in section six, Newburg township. Their children are Myrtle E., Lulu B., and Birnie Garfield.

JOSEPH G. MINER was born in Vermont, in March, 1835. When he was sixteen years old he came to America with his parents, located in Rock county, Wisconsin, and bought a farm in this place about two and a half years later. On the 9th of March, 1859, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Sarah T. Harkness, and moved to the farm he had previously bought. In 1872, they sold here and moved to Martin county, but three years later located in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and the year following, near Mabel, where they remained until the spring of 1881, and moved to their present home. Mr. Miner has held the office of Town Clerk, Constable, and for the past four years has been Assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Miner have had two children, only one of whom is living.

CHARLES M. MORGAN is a son of Harley M. Morgan, one of the pioneers of Jackson county, Iowa, where he was born on the 24th of August. 1847. In 1856 the family moved to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where they still reside. At the age of sixteen Charles began working at the carpen- ter trade which he has followed ever since. He had an interest in a foundry and machine shop at Hesper for a time. On the 13th of January, 1869, he was joined in marriage with Miss Laura L. Hubbell. For the last ten years Mr. Morgan has been the leading contractor and builder through this section; he built the public schoolhouse, the Friends, Lutheran, and M. E. churches at Hesper, the Lutheran church at Newburg, and the bank at Mabel, besides a number of minor buildings. In the fall of 1880, he moved his machinery and shops from Hesper to Mabel, where he now oper- ates some of the finest machinery for wood turn- ing, moulding, scroll work, etc.

JOHN M. MONROE, one of the oldest settlers now living in this place, was born in Cortland county, New York, on the 29th of November, 1811. His father died when .John was a child, leaving a widow and six children in nearly destitute circumstances. His mother and sisters found employment at weav- ing, and when John was twelve years old he was engaged by neighboring farmers. At the age of eighteen years he moved with his step-father (his mother having again married) to Cattaraugus

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county. While there he married Miss Roxy Willis, the event taking place on the 28th of July, 1833. They emigrated to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and remained five years when they returned to Cattaraugus county. In the fall of 1849, they came to Rockford, Illinois, and resided until the 3d of June, 1852. Then, with one span of horses and two yoke of oxen, the family set out for the "western wilds." They crossed the Mississippi at Dubuque, and after one month of hard traveling and exposure, reached this township and staked out a claim in what is now section twenty-six, where they have since lived. Mr. Monroe was one of the organizers of the town, and also of his school dis- trict, and Postmaster of Bellville Post-office for twelve years. Although having had bis full share of the privations and struggles of life, he is still hale and hearty.

CHRISTIAN T. OLSON, a son of Thore Olson, was the first white child born in the township of Preble, Fillmore county, his birth dating the 22d of Oc- tober, 1854. On the 1st of January, 1872, he was joined in marriage with Miss Anna Olson, who has borne him five children; Theodore, Anna, Ole, Charlie, and Casper. They resided in Polk county for one year, then returned to this county and bought a farm in section five, Newburg township, which has since been their home.

IRA MOREY was born in Vermont on the 13th of March, 1818, and lived with his parents on a farm until the age of twenty-one years. In 1844, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Elizabeth Good- rich, and soon afterward moved to Boone county, Illinois. Three years later they sold and came to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where they resided ten years, then removed to this place and bought a claim in section six where they have lived ever since.

CAPT. MAXSON L. POTTER is one of thirteen children born to Clark and Elizabeth ( Miller) Potter. His father was born in Rhode Island, in the year 1801, and his mother was of German parentage. They lived in Allegany county, New York, where Maxson was born on the 18th of Feb- ruary, 1832. When he was five years old his father moved with his family to Crawford connty, Pennsylvania, where our subject resided until the age of twenty-five years. . He then came to Minne- sota, took a claim in Mower county, but shortly after engaged in a saw-mill at Chatfield. On the 1st of March, 1857, he returned to Pennsylvania,

and in May following was married to Miss Adelaide Griswold, a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. He returned with his wife to Minnesota, and in 1859, settled in this township. In August, 1862,. he enlisted in Company E, of the Seventh Minne- sota Volunteer Infantry, was mustered into service the following September, and in the spring joined Gen. Sibley's expedition over the plains, met with several Indian skirmishes and returned in one year. In October, 1863, was ordered South, re- mained in St. Louis during the winter, but in the spring took to the field. Mr. Potter was made Second Lieutenant of his company, then after the First Lieutenant was killed assumed that position and finally was promoted to Captain. In the two day's fight at Nashville he was severely wounded in the arm while leading a charge, but recovered and participated in several engagements after- ward. Was in the capture of the city of Mobile on the 13th of April, 1865, the last battle of the war. Capt. Potter returned with his company to Fort Snelling that fall and received his discharge. After his return he opened a blacksmith shop on his farm, which he continued until 1872, then moved to Lenora, but is now iu company with C. O. Enger in the town of Mabel. Mr. Potter held. the office of Justice of the Peace four successive terms in this place, and was honored with three elections to the same office in Lenora, but then re- fused to serve longer. In 1877, he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the board of County Commis- sioners, was subsequently elected to the same, and still acts in the office.

CHARLES B. REYNOLDS, one of the early settlers of this place, is a native of Essex county, New York, his birth dating the 15th of August, 1826. He remained at home with his mother until the age of twenty-one years, his father having died when Charles was but a child. He was married to Miss Sarah J. Welch, but the union resulted in unhap- piness and was dissolved. Mr. Reynolds came to Minnesota in 1855, and located in sections twenty- five and twenty-six in this township. On the 11th of February, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, of the Tenth Minnesota Volunteers; went to Fort Snelling and thence South, and was immediately sent to the front. Participated in the three days' fight at Tupelo, Mississippi, soon after which he was taken sick, caused by the concussion received while lying on the ground near the artillery guns when in the above battle. His hearing became

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greatly impaired, which he has never fully re- gained. When partially recovered he had charge of the wards in the hospital, but persisted in being with his company. He was sent to Chicago in December, 1864, and thence to Louisville, Nash- ville, Paducah, and Eastport, Alabama, where he joined his old regiment. Was then ordered to New Orleans, and encamped for two weeks on Andrew Jackson's battle field of 1812. Was then ordered to Mobile Bay and took part in the siege of Spanish Fort, and thence to Montgomery and Selma, but was again compelled to submit to hos- pital care at the latter place. After one week he pursuaded the surgeon in charge to allow him to join his regiment, but remained only a short time when he was again sent to the hospital and the regiment went on to Meriden, Mississippi. He again prevailed on the physician in charge to allow him to be forwarded to his regiment and one month later, on the 1st of August, 1865, the regiment was ordered home. He arrived at Fort Snelling, and was discharged on the 19th of August. His weight was 166 pounds when he en- listed, but the day he left Fort Snelling he barely turned the beam at 116 pounds, and was upwards of two years recovering his strength. He was married in 1870 to Miss Sarah A. Cater. They have a family of several children, and are blessed with the necessary comforts of life.

WILLIAM ROBINSON, one of the leading stock raisers in this section, is a native of Ireland, born in county Antrim on the 22d of June, 1823. At the age of twenty-two he left his native country for America, landing in New York the 2d of De- cember, 1846. By hard labor and small specula- tions, in seven years he accumulated enough money to buy a farm in Rock county, Wisconsin, where he settled in 1854, although he had lived in Wisconsin since 1847. In 1858, he went to the Pacific coast, bought property at the terminus of the Canadian Pacific railroad and remained ten years. He married Miss Janett Haddin, a native of Scotland, in September, 1859. In 1870, Mr. Robinson sold his land in Wisconsin and pur- chased his present farm in this place, which for several years he has leased, devoting his time to raising live stock. He was the first to introduce the famous Clydesdale horses in this part of the country, having ten head of this race, the most prominent being "Emperor," who has taken six first prizes at the fairs in this and adjoining

counties. The next is his two year old "Baronet," and a $1,000 brood mare from Scotland. Mrs. Robinson died on the 3d of December, 1875, having borne three children, two of whom are now living; John and James.

LARS REIERSON "HALSTENRUD" is a native of Norway, and dates his birth in Sigdahl on the 3d of June, 1817. He lived on a farm with his par- ents until 1843, when he emigrated to America and located in Rock county, Wisconsin. On the 26th of November, 1846, he married Miss Inge- borg Narveson. They moved to this township in 1854, and took a claim in section one, where Mr. Reierson dug a cellar in the side of a hill, covered it with hay and sod, which served as a dwelling two months, then erected a more commodious building, in which they have since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Reierson have had five children; Helga, the eldest, was married to Ole J. Haug, and died on the 18th of May, 1874, leaving one son, who now lives with his grandparents; Reier began the study of theology in the Lutheran College in Decorah, Iowa, later in St. Louis, and was ordained as min- ister in the Lutheran faith in 1875, serving as assistant in the Spring Grove church until his death the 27th of October, 1879; Narve owns a farm near his father's; and Nels Stockfleth and Gunhild still reside with their parents.

DANIEL J. SHIRVEN, present Postmaster of New- burg village, was born in Norway on the 2d of April, 1853. At the age of seventeen years he en- gaged as a sailor, and continued the same until coming to America in 1872. He came directly to Fillmore county, and was employed by farmers in Preble township. He was married in 1878, to Miss Elizabeth R. Spande of the latter place; bought a farm and resided there till the fall of 1880, when he traded his property for a stock of goods and store in this place. He has since done a prosperous business, and owns the only store in the village. Mr. and Mrs. Shirven have two chil- dren; Julius and Raymond.

HIAL N. SHERBURNE, a son of Milton Sherburne, one of the early settlers here, was born in Essex county, New York, on the 8th of November, 1838. He came with his parents to this place in 1855, settling in section twenty-five, which was his home until 1866, when he purchased a farm in section thirteen. The year previous he married Miss Susie Copeman, who was born in Suffolk county, England, on the 31st of October, 1844. Thr.o

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children have been born to them; Luna, Fanny, and Frank. Mr. Sherburne has held the office of Supervisor two terms, Treasurer one, and been one of the school officers ever since district No. 150 was organized.

JUSTUS SEELYE, one of the representative men of this town, is a native of Niagara county, New York, born on the 17th of March, 1829. When he was three years old his parents moved to Chau- tauqua county, and were among the early settlers there. Three years later they went to Vail county, Pennsylvania, and soon after removed to Craw- ford county, where they lived until the death of the father in 1843. Justus then assumed charge of the family, and came to Minnesota and settled in this township in 1855. His mother died in 1864. Mr. Seelye was joined in matrimony on the 22d of October, 1869, to Miss Augusta C. Oren. One child, Minnie, is the issue of the union. The subject of our sketch has been a member of the board of Supervisors for a number of years.

BENJAMIN J. TABER was born in the town of Lincoln, Vermont, on the 8th of November, 1825. His native State claimed him as a resident twenty- seven years, having there married Miss Phoebe J. Meader on the 16th of September, 1846, and in 1853, they removed to Mount Gilead, Morrow county, Ohio, and in 1857, they came to Hesper, Iowa, and Mr. Taber was employed at farming by his two brothers, who had come some years pre- vious. In 1862, he bought land in this township, but did not move here till five years afterward. His wife died soon after coming west, on the 7th of January, 1860, leaving four children. Edwin G., the eldest, is now a minister of the Friend's Church, in Indian Territory; Julia E., now Mrs. Otis, lives in Poplar Ridge, New York; Francis W. died in St. Louis on the 22d of February, 1881; and Adelbert E. lives in Canada. Mr. Taber was again married on the 5th of January, 1862, the maiden name of his wife being Charlotte L. Rowe, daughter of W. H. Rowe, one of the pioneers of Spring Grove, Houston county, This union has been blessed with one daughter, Mary A. Mr. Taber's farm is well cultivated, and the buildings are substantial and tastefully arranged.

ELLEF L. TOLLEFSON, one of the leading busi- ness men in the village of Mabel, was born in Nor- way on the 18th of April, 1839. When seven years old he came with his family to America and lo-

cated in Wisconsin, remaining until 1862, when they removed to this township. Ellef, although a young boy, assisted in the establishment of a home in the wilderness and remained with his par- ents until the age of twenty-two years, when he commenced running a threshing machine. In 1864, he was joined in marriage with Miss Martha Benson, of Black Hammer, the ceremony taking place in Faribault. She died after seven years of married life, the three children that were born to them having gone before. About this time Mr. Tollefson opened a store at Newburg, and later, in Riceford, continuing in the latter place about five years. On the completion of the railroad to Ma- bel he erected a store and put in a large stock of furniture, is one of the proprietors of the Mabel Creamery and also engaged in buying and ship- ping live stock. He is the owner of considerable real estate, including four improved farms. The maiden name of his present wife was Betsey Inge- bretson, whom he married in 1874.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 79

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

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