History of Freeborn County, Minnesota, Part 76

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1220

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frame house, cultivated the soil and carried on general farming until 1893. During this year, Mr. Schoen rented his farm and moved to Albert Lea and purchased a house at Washington street, where he made his home for a period of time, later selling and moving to Sunset avenue, where he had erected a house. This house Mr. Schoen sold at a later date, after which he purchased the home located at 501 Fountain street, where he resided in retirement until his death, which occurred March 19, 1911. In 1864, Mr. Schoen joined the Union army and served until the close of the war, bravely fighting for the preservation of the Union. He was smitten with a sunstroke on a march near Rich- mond, but recovered, and was later honorably discharged. He was an independent voter and did not seek public office. He was a member of Robson Post, No. 5, G. A. R., Albert Lea, and a respected member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Schoen's years of industry and farsightedness enabled him to enjoy many of the comforts and luxuries of life during his later years. On October 17, 1856, he married Caroline Harold at New York city. She was born in Germany, December 4, 1833, daughter of Samuel and Caroline Harold. Mr. and Mrs. Schoen were the parents of seven children, of whom five are living: Adelia; Alfred, of Wells, Minn .; Mary, the wife of Samuel Beach, of Manchester ; Ella, now Mrs. John Stoa, of Albert Lea; Dora, married to Frank Yost, of Rochester, Minn .; Mary L. and John H., deceased.

Peter J. Tennis, a progressive farmer of Pickerel Lake town- ship, was born there April 10, 1871, the son of Peter and Barbara (Groosbusch) Tennis. Peter was a native of Germany and came to the United States and settled in Laporte county, Indiana, where he farmed a time. He came to Pickerel Lake in the fifties and located on section 26. He here followed general farming, living in the 13 x 13 log house which he erected soon after taking the land. Much of his time in the first years was taken up in clearing and breaking the land and in making the necessary improvements that the farm might become one of increasing value. He gave his efforts to establishing the com- munity on a firm basis for future prosperity, and held several public offices. He died January 20, 1892, only four days after the death of his wife. The subject of this biography attended the country schools till fourteen years of age, and then took up regular work on his father's farm. At the time of his father's death he took charge of the farm and has from time to time purchased other land; he now owns 310 acres in sections 25, 26, Pickerel Lake township. He keeps a good herd of grade short- horns and Shropshire sheep, and gives considerable attention to the feeding of steers for market. He annually raises from sixty to eighty hogs of Poland China breed and keeps several horses

J. E. SIMMS

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for farm and driving purposes. The brick house in which Mr. Tennis lives was built in 1885 and is one of the first of the thor- oughly comfortable and roomy houses to be built in this locality. On January 25, 1893, the subject of this biography married Mary Holscher, of Manchester, and to them have been born two chil- dren, Elizabeth B. and Agnes Annie. Mr. Tennis is a member of the Catholic church, which he attends in Albert Lea. In politics he is independent and has been a director in school district 102 seven years and has held several of the minor offices of the district. Mr. Tennis has made many improvements on his farm, having built a large and modern barn, 40 x 80 feet, and many outbuildings. He has also laid over 2,000 rods of tiling. He has been road overseer, and is a member of the M. W. A. of Albert Lea, as well as of the Albert Lea nest of Owls.

J. E. Simms, a territorial pioneer, has one of the oldest mercan- tile establishments in Freeborn county, having been in business in Albert Lea since 1877. He was born in New Jersey, July 26, 1845, son of H. T. and Anna B. (Moore) Simms, and came with them to Freeborn township, this county, with the earliest settlers in 1856. He attended the public schools, and later took a course in Milton College, at Milton, Wis. After teaching two years, he came to Albert Lea, and was employed in the county auditor's office. Then he was interested in the drug and music business a year, after which he opened a music store of his own, handling pianos, organs, and, in fact, all kinds of string, reed and wind instruments. With the invention of the phonograph, he added that line also, and, in addition to this, he also handles sheet music, his place at the present time being one of the musical headquarters of the county. His store at 126 West William street is well worth a visit. While in Freeborn, Mr. Simms served as a justice of the peace, but has not entered public life since his residence in Albert Lea. He is an independent voter, but a believer in the prohibition principles. His place of worship is at the Presbyterian church. The subject of this sketch was married in 1872 to Josephine Crandall, of Wisconsin, and this union has been blessed with four children : Elwyn is married and lives in Cleveland, Ohio; Jessie is the wife of John Lorenz, and lives in Jackson, Miss .; Hattie is the wife of Lawrence McCarthy and lives in New York city; Mildred is at home and assists her father in the store. The family residence is at 503 Park avenue. Mr. Simms has taken a deep interest in the early history of the county and has delivered several talks on the subject. May 11, 1909, he presented the Minnesota Territorial Pioneers with a poem entitled "The Vacant Chair," the third verse being his own composition, and the other verses being an entire rear- rangement of a favorite old song, from which the music also was

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derived. The words of Mr. Simms' song are as follows, the chorus being the first two lines of the first verse :

We shall meet but we shall miss them, there will be some vacant chairs

Which remind us of their absence, as we breathe our fervent prayers ;

When a year ago we gathered, joy beamed forth from their mild eyes,

But a golden chord is severed and our hope in ruin lies.

At our banquet we recall them and with greatest reverence hold In remembrance of the stories that our valiant heroes told ; How they strove to bear the burden that upon their shoulders fell, While with joy and hope they builded their new homes in which to dwell.

One by one our friends are passing to the better land away, And their memories still linger as we meet again to-day ; Soon the last of our companions will be numbered with the dead And the world will be made better by the noble lives they led.

True, they tell us crowns of glory ever more bedeck their brows, But this only soothes the anguish sweeping o'er our heartstrings now;

Sleep to-day, O noble heroes, in thy green and narrow beds, Dirges from the oak and willow mingle with the tears we shed.

W. J. Warwick was born in Winona county, Minnesota, in 1889, son of James and Ida (Clark) Warwick. His father, who was a native of Ireland, came to America when he was twenty- five years of age and located in Winona county, Minnesota, where he lived until his death. His mother was a native of Winona county, where she resides at the present time. W. J. Warwick was educated in the common schools of Winona county, and later took a short course in the Austin schools. Completing his early schooling, he secured a position as railroad station agent, in which capacity he was employed for several years. He gave up this position to take a course of study to fit himself for a chiropractic practitioner and went to Davenport, Iowa, for this purpose, Later he came to Alden and entered into partnership with J. E. Clayton and here they conducted a general merchandise business until January 1, 1911, when Mr. Warwick sold out to his partner. The subject of this sketch married Dolly Wolcott, a daughter of John Wolcott, of St. Clair, Minn. One child born to them died in infancy. Mr. Warwick is a Republican in politics.

THOMAS THOMPSON

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J. E. Clayton is one of the well known men in his community. His parents were Eastern people who came to Minnesota in 1863 and located at Money Creek, Houston county, where they engaged in farming until 1909, at which time the father, Samuel Clayton, passed away. His wife, Henrietta (Howes) Clayton, now making her home in Alden with her son, the subject of this biography. When a boy J. E. Clayton began his education in the schools in Houston county and later completed it in the Normal school at Winona. He then went to the northern part of the state and purchased a farm, on which he worked during the summer months, teaching school in the winter. For three years he con- tinued these occupations, after which he studied telegraphy and worked at this for ten years, finally securing the position of station agent in Alden, where he finally located. Later he and W. J. Warwick formed a partnership, purchased a building in Alden, and here established a general store. The partnership was dissolved January 1, 1911, when Mr. Clayton purchased the War- wick interest. Annie Warwick, a sister of W. J. Warwick, married Mr. Clayton, and they have one child, Estella. Mr. Clay- ton is a Republican in politics and is a member of the school board. He affiliates with the M. W. A. and belongs to the Metho- dist Episcopal church.

Thomas Thompson and Kari Jacobson, his wife, were early residents of this county. In 1852 they left their home in Norway and crossed the ocean to found for themselves a new home in a strange country. Upon arriving in the United States they pro- ceeded west as far as Wisconsin, where they remained for the following eight years, after which they came to Minnesota in 1860 and located in Bath township. They here reared their family of nine children : Bessie, Mary, Carrie, Jacob, Thomas, Henry, Louise, A. C. and Isaac. The latter has charge of his father's farm, which consists of 156 acres, of which about 100 acres are. cultivated and the rest is pasture and timber land. Thomas Thompson and his wife underwent all the hardships and priva- tions of pioneer days, but overcame their difficulties and made their home one which excites the admiration of all who see it. He is living with his children, Isaac and Mary, on the old home- stead, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, his wife having passed away in March, 1881. The family attends the Lutheran church and the sons are of independent political opinions. A. C. Thompson, who has given the material for this biography, was born in Bath township, May 4, 1870, and, with his brothers and sisters, worked on the home farm many years. He has recently been appointed to the responsible position of general manager of the store owned by the Clarks Grove Hardware & Implement Company.

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W. H. Walker, one of the energetic and successful business men of the village of Alden, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, March 11, 1859, son of Asa and Mary C. (Bruce) Walker, natives of Vermont, who brought him to Carlston township the year he was born. He was reared on his father's farm and received his early education in the district schools of Carlston township, com- pleting his studies in the Albert Lea public schools. After leaving school he taught several terms in the rural districts winters and farmed summers. Later he turned his whole attention to farm- ing until 1892, at which time he engaged in the agricultural implement supply business in Alden, in which vocation he con- tinued until 1899. He then, together with others, formed a stock company, now known as the W. H. Walker Milling Company, and purchased a flour mill at Alden, which was burned five years later. After the fire a much larger and more modern mill was erected, where the company now manufactures several leading brands of flour. In 1900 the company built an electric light plant which supplies the street lighting system and is also used for commercial purposes. Mr. Walker has always taken an active interest in the progress of the village. He is now president and a director of the First National Bank of Alden, director of the Security State Bank of Alden, treasurer of the Alden Co-Oper- ative Creamery, and was formerly first president of this latter association, which lie assisted in organizing. He is an independ- ent voter, is clerk of the school board of Alden, and a member of the Alden Fire Department. Mr. Walker is past grand of Alden Lodge, No. 192, I. O. O. F., and also affiliates with the M. W. A., the M. B. A., and the B. P. O. E. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Walker owns two farms of 400 acres in Carlston township. The subject of this sketch was married March 31, 1895, to Mary Whelpley, and this union has been blessed with three children, of whom one, Bruce, is living. The deceased were named Majorie and Robert.

William White. In 1760 there came to America from the north of Ireland a sturdy yeoman of Scotch-Irish ancestry by the name of White. He settled in Orange county, New York, and there, in 1772, was born a son, Thomas. This son, Thomas, after his marriage, located on a farm at Bemis Heights, in Saratoga county, New York, the homestead being on the historic battle ground where General Burgoyne and his army on September 9, 1777, surrendered to the Colonial forces under General Gates. Here on September 8, 1796, was born William White, son of Thomas White, and a prominent pioneer of Freeborn county, Minnesota. In 1798 the family moved from Saratoga county to Clinton county in the same state, and there William grew to manhood. In 1812 he enlisted in the United States army and did

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duty as a teamster about Platsburg. For this service he received a government land warrant, dated 1814. In the fall of that year the family moved to Tioga county, New York. Here William engaged in the lumber business and farming, operating his lumber business along the Susquehanna river for a period of forty-one years. In the spring of 1857, having in the meantime married and raised a family, he came to Minnesota, and June 17, of that year, located in Nunda township, this county. Here he attained considerable distinction. He was a justice of the peace for many years and from 1861 to 1867, inclusively, served as a member of the board of county commissioners, being chairman of that board a part of the time. He died January 17, 1876, strong in the faith of the religion which had sustained him throughout his life. The subject of this sketch was married in New York state to Margaret Lane. Nine children were born to this union. Joseph and Frederick H. are dead. Sarah lives in Spokane, Wash .; Mary Ann in Ortonville, Minn .; Charles in Oregon, Richard in Nunda township, this county ; Harriett in Rochester, Minn .; Rachael in Nunda, this county, and Addie in Faribault, Minn. Mrs. Margaret Lane White died February 18, 1778.

Richard A. White, a well known and honored resident of Nunda township, was born in Tioga county, New York, January 11, 1840, son of William and Margaret (Lane) White. At the age of seventeen years, in 1857, he came to Nunda township, this county, with his parents, and selected a claim, although too young to prove upon it. He erected a log cabin and developed the place until the outbreak of the Civil War. Leaving his claim under the protection of the act which secured soldiers in the possession of land upon which they were proving up, he enlisted in 1861 in Company F, Fourth Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and served until the close of the war, taking part in many engage- ments and battles, including the siege and battle of Corinth, the battles of Ramon, Jackson and Champion Hill, and the siege and fall of Vicksburg. He had the honor of being on guard duty when the Confederates marched out of the latter place and surrendered. Later he made the famous march to the sea with Sherman, and was mustered out at Savannah, Ga., December 22, 1864. He then went north, visited New York, received his pay at St. Paul, and was there mustered out. After this he returned to his claim, which he homesteaded under the new homestead act. In 1865 he built an addition to his cabin, and a few years later erected a frame house. Mr. White has devoted his life to agricultural pur- suits. He owns 640 acres, carries on general farming, raises from fifty to 100 hogs annually, keeps fifteen Norman horses, and thirty-five milch cows of the Guernsey breed, he being one of the first to engage in dairy farming in this county. He believes thor-

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oughly in co-operation among farmers, is a stockholder in the Clover Valley Creamery, was its president at one time, and is still one of its directors. Although over seventy years of age, Mr. White is hale and hearty and a most active worker. He has taken an active interest in all public affairs, votes the Republican ticket, has at different times been assessor, was for ten years clerk of his school district and has served some thirty-five years as justice of the peace. For two terms he was town supervisor. It is also interesting to note that Mr. White helped to lay out and organize the Bear Lake Cemetery and has been treasurer of its board for some time. He is also a member of Robson Post, G. A. R. The subject of this sketch was married March 26, 1872, to Jennie Rudler, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania. To this union have been born seven children, all of whom have grown to maturity in this county. Belle M. is the wife of O. Weston, of Faribault county, Minnesota ; William M. married Frankie Kelley, and they also live in Faribault county ; Allen married Emma Best, and lives in Nunda township; Ferris L. lives in North Dakota; Ray is at home; Lina married Clem. Lewis, and they live at Alberta, Can- ada; Lynn is at home.

Christ Stiehl, who has been a resident of Alden township for more than forty years, was born in Germany May 26, 1849. When he was twenty-one years of age he came to America with his brother, Louis, and proceeded west to Minnesota, where they secured employment of Hanibal Bickford. For four years they remained in the employ of Mr. Bickford, after which they began farming on their own responsibility. Mr. Stiehl eventually pur- chased. a farm in Alden and as opportunity has afforded he has added to and improved his property until at present he owns one of the finest and most productive farms in the community. The small house which stood on the place at the time he purchased it has now been replaced by a fine new one and he has also erected commodious barns and the necessary outbuildings. He has 600 acres of land and the necessary machinery for carrying on a profitable farming business, and his farm is thoroughly modern and well equipped. He makes a specialty of breeding Guernsey cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. He married Jennie Kasteng, and this marriage has resulted in the following children : Victor, Matta, Fred, Clara, Paulina, Arthur and Walter. Emma is deceased. Mr. Stiehl has always taken an active part in the offices of the township and is now serving as supervisor, this being his second term in office. He attends the German Lutheran Church, and is a man of sterling character, faithful in all that he undertakes and held in high esteem in his community. Mr. Stiehl is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Alden and in the

MR. AND MRS. CHRIST. STIEHL

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Conger creamery. He is trustee of the Presbyterian Church, of which for many years he has been a member.

C. M. Wilkinson, former register of deeds of Freeborn county, was born at Oswego, N. Y., April 20, 1850, the son of Allen and Mary (McGuire) Wilkinson. The father was a native of New York, the mother of Ireland. Allen Wilkinson, in his younger days, was a ship carpenter. With his wife he moved to Wisconsin in 1850, where he farmed until his death in 1861, his wife dying in 1903. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the rural schools of Wisconsin, finishing in Milton College, Milton, Wis. Upon leaving school, he entered the grain and livestock business in the state of Kansas, which occupation he followed from 1869 to 1872. Mr. Wilkinson then came to Freeborn county, where he again took up his former business in gra'1. and livestock until 1900, when he was appointed deputy sheriff. This position he filled for six years, and in 1906 was elected register of deeds, serving until January 1, 1910. Mr. Wilkinson was united in mar- riage to Ella C. Fuller in 1874. Their home has been made happy by three children-Gleam Cora, C. M., Jr., and Harvey A. Polit- ically Mr. Wilkinson is a Republican. He has served as mayor of. of Albert Lea for seven years, also as president of the city council for three years. He is a high degree Mason and belongs to other fraternities.

Sivert P. Knutson, a prosperous farmer of Hartland town- ship, was born June 11, 1870, in the township where he resides at the present time, son of Knut and Betsey Knutson, early settlers in the county. During the years of his boyhood the subject of this sketch attended the country school near home and assisted his father with the work on the farm. In 1893 he bought 160 acres of his father and later added to this eighty acres more, now owning 240 acres in all, located in section 22. Mr. Knutson has made many improvements on his property and has rendered it more pro- ductive and valuable each succeeding year. He carries on general diversified farming, and is most successful in his chosen occupa- tion. He affiliates with the Republican party, and he is a member of the Lutheran Church. He has the respect of a large circle of friends, and of those with whom he has to deal in business trans- actions. On June 14, 1893, Mr. Knutson married Turena Ander- son, and to them have been born five children-Nellie, Cora,. Elmer, Tilford and Alma.

Knut Knutson, a well known farmer residing in Hartland township, was born in Norway, where he spent the early years of his life and grew to manhood. In 1853 the subject of this sketch came to America and located in Wisconsin, where he resided for six years, after which he came to Minnesota and settled in the township where he now makes his home. He purchased 120

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acres of government land, and later bought another 120 acres, and as he worked and grew more prosperous he purchased 179 acres located in Freeborn township. For many years Mr. Knutson engaged in general farming, but in 1903 he divided his property among his children and now lives a retired life. He was married in his native land to Betsey Knutson, and to them a family of twelve children have been born, of whom but five are now living, Caroline, who married Ole Erickson, of Bath township; Sivert P., of Hartland township; Malline, the wife of John Swenson, of Bath ; Lewis, who resides in Freeborn township, and Clara, who is now the wife of Peter Johnson, of North Dakota.

Guttrom K. Winjum, one of the dairy farmers of Freeborn county, whose large farm of 240 acres is located in Bancroft town- ship, was born in Norway, July 2, 1853, son of Kjeld and Carrie (Otternes) Winjum, both of whom died in their native land. The subject of this sketch received his education in Norway and came to America in 1873. Coming to Minnesota he felt the need of knowing more of the English language and went to school at Austin for two years, working on the farm during his vacations. Leaving school he learned the trade of carpenter, which he pur- sued for more than a dozen years. June 14, 1886; he married Sophia C. Olson, a native of Sogen, Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Winjum have ten children. Sarah, who attended Luther Academy two and a half years ; Clara, a graduate of the Austin high school and Luther Academy; Minnie, who graduated from a business course at Luther Academy and is now a pupil in the National Business College at Albert Lea ; Arthur ; Louise, a pupil in Luther Academy; Clarence, who took a course in Luther Academy ; Gerhardt, Mabel, Nora, and Theodore R. The last named died May 10, 1910, at the age of five. During the twenty-five years that Mr. Winjum has lived on his present farm he has not only increased its number of acres to 240 but has very effectively drained it with tile, cleared it and built fine home and commodious buildings for livestock and grain. There are about 100 acres under the plow and the balance is in pasturage. He pays con- - siderable attention to the raising of draft horses, fine bred dairy cattle, Poland-China hogs and Shropshire sheep. He is a stock- holder in the Bancroft Co-operative Creamery, which he helped to build. Mr. Winjum is politically a Republican. He has never held public office but is public spirited and has an active interest in promoting good schools. He is especially interested in the Norwegian Parochial School of Bancroft, being one of its strong- est supporters.

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History of Freeborn County, Minnesota, Part 76

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1220

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1220