History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 95

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 95

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

SIMEON CRITTENDEN is a native of Ohio, born in Ashtabula county in 1832. He learned the trade of carpenter when a young man, and has been en- gaged in mechanical work most of his life. In 1854, he came to this place and has since devoted most of his time to the millwright trade. Mr. Crittenden has been twice married, first to Miss Caroline Morrill, a native of Bangor, Maine, who bore him one child, Harry. His present wife was Miss Georgia Atchinson. This union has been blessed with two children, Edith and John J.

R. A. CASE is a son of Lyman Case, one of the early settlers of Olmsted county, moving there in the fall of 1857. He was born in Vermont, and afterward resided in New York, where R. A. was born. They moved from Olmsted county to Chat- field, where Mr. Lyman Case died in 1876. R. A.

Digitized by Google

532

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

was for some time engaged with Joel S. Sawyer, dealer in real estate and pension solicitor. On the death of the latter, in May, 1875, Mr. Case suc- ceeded him in the business, and has since taken a partner, the firm name being Kingsley & Case. Mrs. Case was formerly Miss Jennie Whitney, daughter of J. W. Whitney. They have two children. Eva and William. Their oldest child, Lillian, died on the 27th of March, 1882.

D. C. CARTLICH, deceased, one of the earliest settlers in Spring Valley, was born in Ohio on the 24th of March, 1826. He was married on the 7th of April, 1853, to Miss Mary I. Stinson, and they enjoyed life together until the 27th of May, 1875, when death separated them, calling the husband and father to his last resting place. His remains were interred in the Chatfield cemetery. Mrs. Cartlich was also born in Ohio, on the 25th of De- cember, 1829. She came with her husband to the territory of Minnesota in the fall of 1855, and settled in Spring Valley. In 1862, they traded their farm for the one upon which she now resides, in section sixteen. She has had seven children' six of whom are living, one boy and five girls. The two eldest daughters are married, one living in Wells, Faribault county, and the other in El- mira, Olmsted county.

JOSEPH CAW was born in Warm Springs, Mor- gan county, Virginia, on the 28th of January, 1826. In 1848, he moved to Indiana where he was married on the 18th of September, 1850, to Miss Elmira Murphy. They came to this place in 1856, and were among the pioneers, settling in sec- tion eighteen. They built a log house in which they lived until 1862, when Mr. Caw erected his present residence. His wife died on the 5th of May, 1879, leaving eight children, four girls, and four boys. On the 23d of February, 1882, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Sarah A. Woods. They have. a good farm and a pleasant home.

J. C. DICKSON, M. D., is a native of Springfield, Illinois, born in 1837. In 1865, he began the study of medicine and chemistry in his native place, and attending lectures at the chemical de- partment of the University of Michigan, where he was a student one year, from the 1st of October, 1866, to the same day and month in 1867. He took two full courses of lectures upon the prin- ciples of chemistry and mineralogy, and prose- cuted the study and practice of the former in the laboratory of analytical and applied chemistry for

six months, and also a course in Querlitative analysis and practical pharmacy. During the winter of 1867 and '68, he attended medical lec- tures in the same institution, and the next winter a partial course in the Louisville Medical College of Kentucky. In the spring of 1869, he came to Chatfield, Minnesota, where he was engaged in mercantile business until 1871, then commenced the practice of medicine in Jasper county, Iowa, removing to Chatfield in 1873. Dr. Dickson was married to Miss Ida M. Johnson, who has borne him three children, two of whom are living, Fannie and Maud.

PATRICK DOYLE, a native of Ireland, was born on the 25th of December, 1822. He was reared on a farm, and came to America in 1847, landing in New York on the 11th of May. On the 25th of February, 1854, he married Miss Mary Nester. They came to Minnesota in 1858, and bought a farm in this township upon which they lived ten years, then moved to their present home in section nine. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle have seven children, all of whom are living, and four residing at home.

S. T. DICKSON is a native of Illinois, born in Sangamon county, in 1817, his parents having settled in that State in 1802. He moved to Wis- consin when a young man and engaged in min- ing, was also a resident of Iowa, California, and Minnesota while they were territories. Mr. Dickson is one of the earliest settlers of Chatfield, coming in 1855, and is numbered among the prominent business men. In 1855 and '56, he, with Colonel J. R. Jones, built the mill here, and he now owns the same alone. Mr. Dickson also built the North Branch mill in which he now owns a one-half interest. Mrs. Dickson was formerly Miss Jane James, a native of Kentucky.

. JASON CLARK EASTON, the most extensive banker and land owner in Minnesota, is a native of Lewis county, New York, and was born in West Martins- burg, on the 12th of May, 1823. His parents were Giles and Olive (Green ) Easton. His father, grandfather, and great grandfather were all born in Hartford, Connecticut, where the family settled in an early period in Colonial history. His mother's family was from Rhode Island. Mr. Easton prepared for college at Lowville in his native county, and entered Yale College in 1847, but his health failing, he left in the freshman year. On the 2d of February, 1848, he estab- lished, at Lowville, a newspaper called the "North-

Google

Digitized by

533

CHATFIELD TOWNSHIP.

ern Journal" and conducted it about four years. He was united in marriage on the 10th of Sep- tember, 1851, with Miss Sarah J. Johnson, daugh- ter of Abner A. Johnson, of Deer River, Lewis county. In the spring of 1856, they came to Minnesota and settled in Chatfield, where Mr. Easton opened a private bank. He also owns a similar establishment at Lanesboro, and is largely interested in several other banks, possessing larger banking interests than any other man in the State. He was for several years in the grain commission business in Chicago and Milwaukee, for two years bought grain at all stations on the Southern Minnesota Railroad, and subsequently became a director and the heaviest stockholder in this railroad; was also President of the Southern Minnesota Railway Extension Company. Mr. Easton owns about thirty improved farms which he rents, and a few near home which are cultivated under his own supervision, besides fifteen or twenty thousand acres of wild land in Minnesota and a large amount in Dakota. He has some of the best stock, cattle, hogs, and sheep in Southern Minnesota. Few men are his equal in the ability to grasp every detail of all branches of so vast a business as he conducts. Mr. and Mrs. Easton have one child of their own, Lucien Fred, who is

. a graduate of the Shattuck Military School at Faribault, and a graduate of the law department of the Michigan State University. They also have two adopted children of his deceased brother, Giles C. Easton, and Mrs. Easton's deceased sister, Esther A. (Johnson ) Easton; Hattie L. and Abner J., who are receiving a liberal education.

OLE ERICKSON, a native of Norway, was born on the 4th of August, 1834. He emigrated to America in 1848, and resided in Wisconsin until 1852, when he came to this township and pre- empted land in section twenty-seven. In June, 1856, he married Miss Leva Evanson. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living. Mr. Erickson built a log house in 1856, in which he lived until 1879, when he erected his present frame dwelling.

DR. J. C. FATE, a son of John Fate, one of the early settlers of Spring Valley, was born in Ohio in 1840. He came to Fillmore county in 1858, two years before his father, and in October, 1861, enlisted in the Third Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, and served till September, 1865, a period of nearly four years. After his return he attended

school; was for two years a student in the State Normal School, and afterward engaged in teach- ing a number of years. He began the study of medicine in 1876, and graduated at Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, in February, 1880, coming here the following April. He married Miss Josephine McAdams, a native of Ohio. She died on the 18th of July, 1874, leaving one daughter, Edith.

J. S. GovE, who dates his birth in 1846, in Vermont, came to Chatfield in 1868. Soon after coming here he entered the store of Levi Bemis as clerk; was afterward employed by Milo White, and also in the employ of G. H. Haven for several years. In 1876, he opened a drug store, in which business he has since continued. His wife was Miss Ruth Coe, a daughter of A. B. Coe, of New York.

ANDREW GALBREATH was born in Clermont county, Ohio, in 1819. His father, Robert Gal- breath, is a native of Scotland, and came to Amer- ica in 1816. Andrew moved from Ohio to Fill- more county in 1863, and settled on his present farm in section two, which now contains two hundred and seventy acres. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Shotwell, who was born in Ohio, in 1824. They have eleven children, four sons and seven daughters. Mr. Galbreath is the only rep- resentative of his father's family now residing in this State.

HENRY S. GRISWOLD was born in the town of Adams, Jefferson county, New York, on the 24th of January, 1833. His father, Jeremiah Griswold, was a soldier in the second war with Great Brit- ain, and participated in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. Henry received an academic education, and at the age of thirteen years was prepared to enter the second year in the Hamilton College, but was too young to be admitted. He therefore discontinued his studies, and became a clerk in the store of Henry W. Whipple, now Bishop of Minnesota. He was for four years clerk in Hun- gerford's Bank at Adams, one year in Fort Stan- wix Bank in Rome, and in the spring of 1857, came to this place and engaged as book-keeper for J. C. Easton. Two years later he was elected County Treasurer, and in 1861, became a pay- master's clerk in the regular army stationed at St. Paul, resigning at the end of ten months. On the 1st of May, 1861, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary L. Redway a native of Adams,

Digitized by Google

534

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

New York, the ceremony taking place in Cincin- nati, Ohio. They have one daughter; Marian Esther. In 1867, Mr. Griswold bought a half interest in the Chatfield Woolen Mills, but dis- posed of it in 1877. He was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1871.

THOMAS HOLMES, one of the early settlers of this place, was born in England on the 17th of February, 1815. He was married in March, 1842, to Miss Hannah Suggett. They came to America the fol- lowing year, arriving in New York on the 5th of July, thence to Cleveland, Ohio, where they re- sided until coming to this place in the spring of 1854. Mr. Holmes purchased his present farm the following year, built a small house, and in 1866, erected his present stone dwelling. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have had teu children, but four of whom are living.

GEORGE H. HAVEN is a son of Augustus Haven, one of the earliest business men of Chatfield, who was born in Vermont in 1808. He was engaged in the dry goods business in Boston for many years, then in the grocery business in Galena, Illi- nois, one year. In 1856, he came to this place and established a general store which he conducted until his death, which occurred in 1863. George H. succeeded his father in the business and has since conducted the same. He was born in Wind- sor county, Vermont, in 1841, and his wife is a native of New York. They have one child, Ruth. Mr. Haven had a sister, Emily, the wife of Rev. F. P. Dalrymple, who died in October, 1881.

REV. M. J. HANLY, pastor of St. John's (Cath- olic ) Church, was born and educated in Ireland. He came to America in 1861, and was ordained at Chicago the following year. Besides the church here, Father Hanly also has charge of one at Cari- mona and another at Fountain.

JOHN R. JONES is a native of Champaign county, Ohio, where he was born on the 18th of May, 1828. His father was a Protestant Methodist preacher, and moved to Indiana when John was about ten years old. In 1842, the family came to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where the subject of this sketch read law with George W. Green. He was married in 1849, to Miss A. D. Crawford of the latter place. They have no children of their own but have adopted two. In 1852, Mr. Jones visited and ex- plored southern Minnesota, thence to Dubuque, Iowa, finished his preparatory studies and was ad- mitted to the bar at Delhi. He was one of the

pioneers of this county, located in Chatfield in 1854, built the third shanty here and hung out the first shingle in this part of the State. His field of legal conflict extended from fifty to one hundred miles in all directions, and he has always had an extensive practice. In 1855 and '56, in company with S. T. Dickson, be built a flouring mill, which is now owned by the latter. Mr. Jones was Prose- cuting Attorney of Fillmore county in an early day, resigning to accept the office of State Sena- tor, to which he was elected in 1857. In August, 1862, when the Sioux war broke out, he was Col- onel of the Third Minnesota Militia, und took that regiment to the frontier. Two months later he en- listed as a private in the volunteer service, receiving a Lieutenant's recruiting commission, He was, however, mustered in as Captain of Company A, in the Second Minnesota Cavalry, promoted to Major and discharged in 1865, his regiment hav- ing participated in several battles with the Indians. Major Jones is a democrat in politics, and a Royal Arch Mason. He is a member of the Reformed Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, there being none of that denomination in this place.

REV. STEPHEN JONES, deceased, one of the pio- neer missionaries and clergymen of this county, · was of Welch extraction, and was born in Cham- paign county, Ohio, on the 2d of January, 1807. His father, Justice Jones, was in the war of the Revolution, and moved from Maryland to Ohio in 1800. His eldest brother, Captain Edward Jones, was in the war of 1812, and died of fever brought on by wounds, at Fort Meigs, Ohio, in 1814. While yet a child, the subject of our sketch took a deep interest in religious things, and before he was of age began teaching a Sabbath school, or- ganizing meetings for social conference, and preaching the gospel. He continued in the min- istry until his death, never asking or receiving a stated salary for his services, but taking what was offered him, which, very often, was nothing, or a mere pittance, but always had enough and to spare. He came to Chatfield in December, 1855, and lived here until his death, which occurred at his resi- dence on the 29th of January, 1879, of heart disease. During his residence here he traveled over most of the State, preaching and organizing churches, as far as known he was the first Methodist Protestant minister in Minnesota, and organized the first church of that denomination in the State. He was the first President of the conference, and

Digitized by Google

535

CHATFIELD TOWNSHIP.

was re-elected from year to year, with one or two exceptions, as long as he lived. He was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends all over the State. His widow, now seventy-three years of age, still survives him, also three children; Col. John R. Jones and Mrs. Samuel Fofres, of Chatfield, and Hon. Richard A. Jones, of Rochester, Minne- sota. He was a man of great benevolence, and was never known to utter an angry word, or even seem to be disturbed in his temper. He left be- hind him a memory and influence more lasting than a monument of marble, greater and better than words can express, which will be known only by the fruits gathered in that Haven to which he has gone. Gone! No.

"Doth the cloud perish when the beams are fled, Which steeped its skirts in gold. Doth it not through the path of night unknown, On outspread wings of its own wind upborne, Ponrs rain upon the earth.

JAMES JOHNSON is a native of Illinois, born on the 15th of July, 1858. He came with his parents to Minnesota in 1863, located in Pilot Mound, thence to Chatfield in 1865, where he remained until the spring of 1882, when he bought a farm in this township and has since made it his home. He was married on the 31st of December, 1880, to Miss Anna Dougherty. The union has been blessed with one child.

NATHAN C. KINGSLEY, County Attorney of Fill- more county, was born in Connecticut in 1850. He moved with his parents to La Salle county, Illinois, in 1857, and to this place in March, 1869. After coming here he learned the trade of a miller and attended to his legal studies in moments of leisure. He was admitted to the bar in Novem- ber, 1876, and began practice in February, 1877, with Charles N. Enos, Esq., of Rushford. The present firm of Kingsley and Case was established in 1878. Mr. Kingsley was elected to his present office in November, 1880, and is also President of the school board of Chatfield. His wife was Miss Clara Smith, a native of New York.

A. M. LOMBARD is one of the early business men of this place, having come in December, 1856. He was born and reared in the state of Maine where be learned the machinist trade and for many years was engaged in engineering. For a time after coming here he followed the occu- pation of putting up engines, and spent several years traveling in the interest of the business. He acted in the capacity of engineer'in the employ of

the government during the war, accompanied Gen. Banks in his Red River expedition, and remained in the service about one year. Mr. Lombard en- gaged in the tin trade in Chatfield in 1865, and in 1878, added to his stock, hardware, having since done a successful business. His wife is a native of Missouri and has borne him four children; Luther, Lulu, Abner, and Joseph.

ALPHEUS LOMBARD, one of the first who located within the present limits of the village of Chatfield, coming here in 1855, is a native of Maine, born in 1825. His father, Abraham Lombard, came to this place in the fall of 1859, and died in March, 1867. Mr. Lombard married Miss Ellen Edwards, who was born in Massachusetts. They have three children; Coleman, Mary E., and Lilly.

C. M. LOVELL, one of the early business men, and most successful merchant and capitalist of Chatfield, is a native of Windham county, Ver- mont, born in February, 1827. When eighteen years old he went to Boston, Massachusetts, and received a mercantile education in one of the houses of that city, remaining six years. He came to Minnesota in June, 1854, but soon went to McGregor, Iowa, where he was engaged in business one year, then bought a stock of goods and moved to Homer, Minnesota. In the spring of 1856, he came to Chatfield and the year follow- ing opened a store, since which time he has been continuously in business, not confining himself wholly to merchandising but is quite extensively engaged in loaning money, dealing in real estate, etc. Frank W. Shiner, who was employed by Mr. Lovell as clerk for ten years, is now a partner in the business, the firm name being Lovell and Shiner. Mrs. Lovell was formerly Miss Ellen M. Hartwell, born in Langdon, New Hampshire. They have two children, Annie H. andFrink.

N. MARSDEN was born in England in 1834, and came to this country with his parents in 1839. The family settled in Oneida county, New York, where Mr. Marsden was reared to the business of manufacturing. He came to Rock county, Min- nesota, in 1868, and two years later brought his family, and has since lived in this State. His wife is a native of New York. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Mr. Marsden has had ex- tensive experience in both cotton and woolen man- ufacturing. He and his son are the present own- ers and proprietors of the Chatfield Woolen Mills, which they bought in the spring of 1880. The firm name is N. Marsden and Son.

Digitized by

Google

536

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

EDWARD MCALEER, a native of Ireland, was born in 1848, and came to America in 1869. He resided in Wisconsin one year, then moved to Iowa, and in 1872, came to Minnesota, and three years later purchased his present farm in section twenty-seven, Chatfield. He was married on the 3d of October, 1875, to Miss Anna Lavin, and they have three sons. Her father, T. Lavin, one of the early settlers here, was born in Ireland, and came to this country in 1839. He remained in New York until 1846, then came to Wisconsin, and in 1856, to this township, locating in section twenty- seven where he has since lived. The maiden name of his wife was Ellen Conolly, whom he married in Ireland. They have two children, a son and a daughter.

JOHN HARRISON McKENNY, deceased, a man of mark in this part of the State, was among the older class of journalists. He was born in Cham- bersburg, Pennsylvania, on the 24th of October, 1813. When seven years of age he removed with his parents to Winchester, Virginia, where his father died in 1826, after which the mother moved with her family to Staunton where she died in 1829. Mr. McKenny learned the printing business in the office of the "Staunton Spectator," and was en- gaged at the same in various places until 1837. He was married in St. Louis in 1834, to Miss Mary E. Duval who died in July, 1836, leaving one son, Duval, now a farmer in this county. In 1837, Miss Mary A. Sleeth, a native of Virginia, became the wife of Mr. McKenny. This union was blessed with eight children, six of whom are yet living, two sons and four daughters. The sons, Sylvanus S. and Henry B., are the publishers of the "Chatfield Democrat," making it a strong ex- ponent of the principles which their father so long and ably advocated. The latter came to Burling- ton, Iowa, in 1837, and assisted the Hon. James Clark in the publication of the first number of the "Burlington Gazette." He became a partner in 1839, and was a resident of that State until 1848, when he came to Minnesota, but returned to Iowa and again became one of the proprietors of the "Gazette." In 1854, he was appointed, by Presi- dent Pierce, receiver of the United States Land office at Houston, Minnesota, and two years later removed with the Land office to Chatfield. In the spring of 1861, he and his younger brother, James S., purchased the "Chatfield Democrat," and conducted it the remainder of their lives.

Mr. McKenny was a member of the Democratic National Convention in 1864, for many years was the leading man of his party in Minnesota, and through his paper exerted a great influence in local politics. He died in Chatfield on the 23d of May, 1878.

MALCOLM MCLARTY, the popular and efficient Postmaster of Chatfield, is & native of Scotland, born in the town of Ayr on the 29th of February, 1824. He sailed from Liverpool, England, on the 4th of July, 1856, to New York, where he re- mained a short time, then came to Columbus, Wis- consin, where his father and two brothers had pre- ceded him. Mr. McLarty came to Chatfield in February, 1857, and was employed at the tailor's trade a short time, then engaged in the business for himself. In 1861, he succeeded his brother as Postmaster, and has since filled the office, except during the administration of Andrew Johnson. He also owns a book store, keeping a large assort- ment of school and miscellaneous books. His wife was formerly Miss Sarah McNash, also a native of Scotland. They have three daughters; Marian, Mrs. H. J. Young; Janet, and Sarah.

AMMOND NILSON is a son of Nels Nilson, de- ceased, who was born in Norway, on the 15th of August, 1819. He came to America in 1851, and located in Wisconsin, where Ammond was born on the 17th of November, 1852. Mr. Nilson moved with his family io this place in 1855, and was among the early settlers. He settled in section twenty-six where he resided until 1872, then left his farm in charge of his son and moved to Min- nesota Falls, where he died on the 13th of June, 1881. Ammond was joined in marriage on the 20th of February, 1874, with Miss Ingeborg Aslesen. They have five children, two girls and three boys.

OLE OLSON is a native of Norway, where he was born on the 23d of October, 1823. He came to America, landing in New York on the 9th of October, 1858, and directly to Wisconsin, where he resided one year. In 1859, he pre-empted his present farm and has since devoted his time to its improvement. He was joined in matrimony, in September, 1862, to Miss Helgi Erickson. They have two children; Ole, who is clerking at Preston for Conkey Bros., and Edward, still at home.

CALEB C. ONSTINE. was born in Ohio in 1831, and removed with his parents to Green county, Wisconsin, in 1847. His father, Michael Onstine,

Digitized by Google

537

CHATFIELD TOWNSHIP.

brought his father to Fillmore county in July, 1853, and settled on a farm in Amherst township where he died in 1859. He left a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. Caleb C. has lived in this county since 1853, with the exception of one year spent in' Freeborn county. He came to Chatfield in October, 1866. His wife was Lucinda Miller, a native of New York. She came to Fillmore county with her parents in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Onstine have four children; Sylves- ter M., William H., Henry L., and Lulu May.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 95

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

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