USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 82
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In the latter part of the winter of 1835-36, Lea resigned his commission in the army, to take effect June 1, in the meantime having obtained a leave of absence, which he improved by writing up for publication in book form a sketch of this expedition, in- cluding a map of the country, which was published in Phila- delphia by H. S. Tanner. In May, 1836, the Colonel was married to Ellen Shoemaker, of Philadelphia. For a time he was lo- cated at the mouth of Pine river, below Rock Island; to survey some lands, which being completed he received the appointment of chief engineer of the state of Tennessee, with headquarters at Nashville, and for some time he was engaged in prosecuting internal improvements in that state. Soon afterward he was
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appointed by Martin Van Buren to establish the southern boun- dary of Iowa, which he did. Afterwards he was in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as locating engineer. In March, 1841, he was appointed chief clerk in the War Depart- ment, and in September of that year, upon the resignation of President Harrison's cabinet, he became secretary of war, a po- sition which he held for six weeks. In 1844, he accepted the ap- pointment of professor of mathematics in the East Tennessee Uni- versity at Knoxville, which position he held until 1851. In the meantime, having lost his wife, he married Catherine S. D. Heath. He then started a new enterprise, the manufacture of glass in Knoxville, which proved a financial failure. In railroad interests he afterwards went to Texas, and on the breaking out of the war between the two sections of the country he offered his services to the Confederacy, and served in various capaci- ties. His son Edward, who adhered to the Union cause, was killed at Galveston, Texas, while acting as chief officer of the steamer "Harriet Lane." After the close of the war, Colonel Lea resided for a time in Galveston, but afterwards removed to Corsicana, Texas. In June, 1879, on a special invitation of the municipality, he visited Albert Lea, and was given a royal welcome, delivering an interesting address to the Old Settlers' Association. He died January 15, 1891, at Corsicana, Texas.
William Morin, one of the successful financiers of southern Minnesota, was born in 1827, at Maryborough, Ireland. He grew up in his native country, where he acquired a fair common school education, which was supplemented by the special training of a civil engineer. He was about twenty years of age when he came to America, and his first five years in this country were spent in New York. He secured the position of chief engineer on the Niagara Gorge railroad, and was engaged upon this and other lines of railroad until 1856, the year in which he came west. After some time spent in deciding upon a favorable location, Mr. Morin selected Freeborn county, Minnesota, where he invested in large tracts of land and became one of the founders of the town of Albert Lea. He owned about one-half of the present site, and at the time of his death, which occurred March 17, 1887, was the largest land owner in Freeborn county. He was an energetic and public-spirited man, and played a prominent part in developing the material interests of city and county. He was a member of the first city council of Albert Lea and served continuously up to the time of his decease. He was the first county auditor and the first register of deeds of Freeborn county. He was also a member of the board of county commissioners, being one of those appointed by the governor to locate the school for indigent children. During the Civil War Mr. Morin
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served as deputy United States assessor and deputy United States marshal. In 1860 Mr. Morin was married to Margaret E. Wedge, sister of Dr. A. C. Wedge. Three children were born to them. One of them died in infancy and the two surviving are William A. and Margaret Bell (now the wife of M. D. Purdy, of Minneapolis, formerly federal judge of United States District Court). Mr. Morin was a Knight Templar, and as a staunch Republican ex- erted an active influence in politics. He was never a "place hunter." but his characteristics of quick perception, common sense, sound judgment and integrity made him in demand for public office, and he accepted the proffered honors out of loyalty to the state and particularly to the city of Albert Lea. In his later days Mr. Morin bought a fine winter home in Los Angeles, Cal., and it was here that he passed away. At the news of his death a great wave of regret swept through his home community, and the following is quoted from the local press at that time: "Mr. Morin was a commissioner of the State Indigent School, at Owatonna, a member of the county board and the city council, and for over twenty-five years he was a leading, if not the most prominent factor in the prosperity and progress of Albert Lea and Freeborn county. He was a man of remarkable executive ability, and in the business world few, with his opportunities, have been more capable and successful. He was an upright man, and in his habits and example a model man and citizen. Honest, honorable, charitable, kind and true, the ending of his career in the prime of his manhood was a public sorrow."
Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Morin was born in the village of Washington, Ohio, March 29, 1840. Her father was Rev. Albert Wedge, a Baptist clergyman, who a short time previous to her birth had removed from the state of New York to Ohio, then designated as the far West, where he was engaged in mission work. Her mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Clark, of Lewis county, New York, who, young and enthusiastic, sought to share the burden of her husband's task in the hard life of a missionary. Within six months after the birth of her daughter, the mother, then but twenty-eight years old, fell a victim to the noble cause she so earnestly espoused. In 1851 Rev. Albert Wedge died. Shortly after this event Margaret was sent to relatives in New York, there to be cared for and educated, and there she re- mained until 1857. In that year her brother, Dr. A. C. Wedge, then about to graduate from the Cleveland College and intend- ing to come west, sent for his sister to join him. Speaking of her at this period, the doctor tenderly says: "I had not seen her since she was a child; she had grown and was now a very beautiful girl of sixteen years, bright, earnest and intellectual." In that year the young people came west as far as Wisconsin,
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where the doctor intended to locate, but an uncle having some property here induced the young man to come to Albert Lea and give it his attention. He did so, leaving his sister at Ripon, Wis., near which place she taught school until the following year, when she, too, came to Albert Lea, and joined her brother, with whom she lived until the following year, when she was united in marriage to William Morin. Three children were born of this union, one of whom died in infancy. The two surviving are W. A. Morin and Mrs. M. D. Purdy, of Minneapolis, Minn., the wife of ex-Judge M. D. Purdy, of the United States Federal Court. Mrs. Morin was one of the early pioneers of Freeborn county and to the rude and untamed life in the midst of which her life was cast the charm of her youth, the grace of her accomplish- ments and her splendid intellect lent a polish and an influence which aided materially in giving a high tone to the life and morals of the young town. Her life was marked by Christian zeal and charity and during the early days when want and sick- ness could not find such ready succor as today, her sympathy and her purse were always at the command of the needy, and many found in her an angel of mercy. To her active efforts were due the early organization of the Baptist church in this city, of which she was a life-long and constant member. During the long years of her residence in this city Mrs. Morin endeared herself to a large circle of friends. She died February 11, 1906.
William A. Morin was born at Albert Lea, on July 29, 1864. He obtained his fundamental education in the public schools and at fifteen entered Pillsbury Academy at Owatonna, Minn., from which he graduated with the class of 1884. Upon leaving school he became associated with his father in his extensive real estate operations at Albert Lea and soon became prominent in busi- ness and public affairs. For several years he served as county surveyor, and at a later period as county commissioner ; and he succeeded his father on the board of city aldermen. At the age of twenty-two he was obliged to assume the entire responsibility . of managing his father's estate and while the load seemed quite heavy for so young a man, nevertheless by hard work and close attention to business the outcome of his work has been very grat- ifying both to himself and his friends. The construction of the Illinois Central railway into Albert Lea was brought about by the unaided efforts of Mr. Morin and the building of this line com- pelled the B. C. R. & N. railway (now Rock Island) to extend their tracks from Albert Lea to the Twin Cities. The Hotel Albert, the finest hotel building in any Minnesota town outside of St. Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth, was financed and constructed through his efforts, and during the entire business career of
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Mr. Morin he has been one of the foremost supporters of Albert Lea and Freeborn county, and while his land transactions have covered a number of states he still stands loyal to the county of his birth, and he says, "The sun never shown on better farm- ing land than we have in Freeborn county." In politics Mr. Morin has usually voted the Republican ticket and has been honored by numerous local offices, and he takes his share as a responsible citizen without any personal political ambition. He is a member of all the Masonic bodies, which constitute prac- tically all his fraternal affiliations. On August 16, 1893, at Waverly, Iowa, Mr. Morin was married to Katherine Trusdell, a native of that state, but nearly all of her life had been spent at Albert Lea, where she attended the public school and the Albert Lea College. Mr. and Mrs. Morin are the parents of two sons, William T., born August 1, 1894, now a student of Shattuck School, at Faribault, Minn., and Richard W., born December 11, 1902.
C. M. Hobart was born at Ripon, Fond du Lac county, Wiscon- sin. When about ten years old he removed with his parents to Jackson county, Wisconsin, where he passed his boyhood days upon a farm. Entering the office of the "Badger State Banner," at Black River Falls, Wis., Mr. Hobart worked for a time in the mechanical end of the business, but preferring the news part, he took that up, and during the next few years was connected with two or three Wisconsin papers in an editorial capacity. In October, 1891, Mr. Hobart came to Minnesota and accepted a position on the editorial staff of the "Mankato Free Press," where he remained for eleven years, going from there to Hutchinson, Minn., where he purchased an interest in the "Independent- Times," and was in editorial charge for four years. Disposing of his interest in 1906, he spent several months at Minot, N. D., in newspaper work, but the country not agreeing with his health, he returned to Minnesota early in the summer of 1907, and accepted a position with the "Times-Enterprise," and continued with the paper until its consolidation with the "Tribune," when he accepted a position on the editorial staff of the two papers. On the retirement of J. P. Hurley on the first of October, 1911, Mr. Hobart became editor of the "Evening Tribune" and the "Weekly Times-Enterprise." Mr. Hobart was married at Black River Falls, Wis., in September, 1884, to Carrie Smith, and they have two children, Murray and Helen.
Lewis H. Emmons, business man, stock breeder and village official of Emmons, was born in Nunda township, this county, December 30, 1856, son of Henry G. and Christina (Larson) Em- mons, being one of the first white children born in Freeborn county. He was reared on the home farm, attended the public
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schools, and had the additional advantage of a complete com- mercial course in the LaCrosse (Wis.) College of Business. In 1881 he and his brother, George H., erected a store in Norman, Iowa, but about 1886 the business was moved to the present site of the village of Emmons. In 1898 the partnership was dissolved, George H. continuing the business. In 1891 Lewis H. Emmons took charge of an elevator and lumber yard, both of which proved very successful. In 1905, the lumber business having grown to large proportions, a stock company was formed by the citizens of Emmons and vicinity, for the purpose of taking it over and conducting it. This venture, thanks to the foundation of pros- perity so carefully laid by Mr. Emmons, had proven a profitable venture for all concerned. In 1907, owing to increased demands on his time, Mr. Emmons retired from the active management of the elevator. At the present time he turns most of his attention to the live stock industry, being greatly interested in pure blooded cattle and swine. Indeed, he may be called the pioneer in this locality in the matter of pure blooded breeds, and his neigh- bors declare that his; bringing to this locality of registered Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China swine was the real beginning of the breeding of blooded stock in this part of the country. Of late years, in addition to raising stock, Mr. Emmons has been an extensive dealer, buying in this neighborhood and shipping to the packing-house points, sometimes, however, doing consider- able fatting before sending to market. He is also considerable of an agriculturist, owning village property in Emmons and farm lands in Nunda and Mansfield townships, this county, as well as in Worth county, Iowa. In politics a Republican, he has been honored with many public positions, serving the village of Emmons as president two successive terms, recorder sev- eral terms, member of the council, and assessor, as well as in minor capacities. Fraternally Mr. Emmons is a member of the Sons of Norway. He is a firm believer in the future of southern Minnesota and has been a tireless worker for those things which he believes will best promote the welfare of the whole locality and build the foundation for still better things in the future. The high esteem in which he is held in the county is due not so much to the fact that he has been successful as to the value of his character as a member of the community. The subject of this sketch was married in 1889 to Inger Larson, whose parents came to Iowa in the fifties and followed farming. This union has been blessed with four children, of whom the living are Hamlet, Earnie, Victor and Herbert. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
William Elmir Todd, of Albert Lea, a well known public man of southern Minnesota, was born in Geneva, Kane county,
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Illinois, August 14, 1853, and died at Mankato, Minn., November 11, 1899. His sudden and untimely death was a great loss to the community and the state. Mr. Todd was in the prime of his manhood and his usefulness and he was withal, a man of strong parts and rare accomplishments, a brilliant lawyer, a faithful public official and a kindly gentleman. As a boy he was naturally a student, and of scholarly tastes. After attending the high school at Columbus, Wis., he, in 1869, entered the Jefferson Liberal Institute, a Universalist school at Jefferson, Wis., where he remained two years, paying his way through school by out- side work. He taught country schools in 1871 and 1872, and in the spring of the latter year entered the Wisconsin State Uni- versity. The next fall, however, he left the university, returned to the Jefferson Institute, and taught Latin and mathematics in that institution; the following year he taught in the town of York, Wis. In the fall of 1874 he again entered the University of Wisconsin, taking a modern course, and graduating with honors in 1877. While in college he was noted for his proficiency in Latin and history, and a portion of the time he was assist- ant instructor in chemistry. A few months after his gradua- tion Mr. Todd assumed the principalship of the public school at Lodi, Wis., and in connection with his other work he began to study law. February 22, 1880, he married Alice I. Coapman, who was at the time teacher in the Lodi schools. The following summer he entered the law office of A. J. Cook, of Columbus, Wis., and continuing his legal studies for a year, was then admitted to the bar at Portage, Wis. In the fall of 1881 Mr. Todd removed to Albert Lea and formed a law partnership with the late Judge E. C. Stacy. His total income the first year was only about four hundred dollars, but his ability and application to business were recognized and appreciated and his business increased in due time. He continued in partnership with Judge Stacy for about two years, when he became associated with the late Judge John Whytock. This association was dissolved in a comparatively short time, and thereafter Mr. Todd engaged in the practice on his own account, until 1897; when he formed a partnership with Henry C. Carlson, under the firm name of Todd & Carlson. Mr. Todd early became prominently identified with the inter- ests of Albert Lea. He had not been in the city very long when he became a member of the school board, and was its clerk for fifteen years, retiring in 1897, after positively declining a re-election. Though that position was not at all remunerative or distinguished, he regarded it as a place of high responsibility and one of great honor and trust. He would not have exchanged it for any other position within the bestowal of his fellow citi- zens and he did not retire from it until, largely by his efforts and
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influence, the schools were running under a perfect system, and his increasing personal duties made it imperative upon him to resign the routine work to others. In 1886, after serving two terms as city attorney of Albert Lea, he was elected county attorney of Freeborn county; he was re-elected in 1888, hold- ing the office for two terms. It is needless to say that his service in both positions was most faithful and of the highest proficiency. He was not an office seeker, or he might have become distinguished in public positions. For he was an enthusi- astic Republican and took an active interest in the affairs of his party, which during his residence in Minnesota, was dominant in Freeborn county and the state. He was frequently a delegate to his party's conventions, often took part in political campaigns, was a noted public speaker, and at the time of his death was an executive member of the Republican State Committee. But Mr. Todd's chief ambition was to excel in the chosen profession of the law. As he grew in it its governing principles fascinated him, and he was a student until the hour of his death. He literally "died in the harness," being stricken down by apoplexy while in the Federal courtroom at Mankato, engaged in the trial of a case. Mr. Todd had secured a large clientage and a lucrative practice; was the attorney for numerous business firms and associations, a number of railroad corporations, and had an extensive general practice as well. He was a prominent mem- ber of the state bar association, and for three successive years this organization sent him as a delegate to annual conventions of the National Bar Association. A brother lawyer thus describes Mr. Todd's professional character: "His knowledge of the law was reinforced by an almost intuitive understanding of human nature, and these qualifications were the real foundation of his success as a practitioner in the District and Supreme courts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. His analytic mind rarely failed to discover the flaws in the testimony of a witness or the weakness in the argument of an opposing counsel, and his earnest manner and persuasive voice impressed the logic of his case upon the hearer with convincing force. The office of county attorney made him acquaintances, and his practice grew rapidly until he not only represented almost every impor- tant business interest in Freeborn county, but was often called to far distant points to conduct important cases. He always tried his cases promptly and fairly. Despite his liberal dona- tions to charity and public enterprises, his expenditures in the purchase of a large and valuable law and private library, etc., his accumulations were considerable, and he left a com- fortable estate " The personal qualities of William Elmir Todd were most striking. He was a man of attractive presence, bright,
7
LYMAN T. WALKER AND FAMILY.
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spirited and debonair. His large warm heart matched his active and intelligent brain. From his boyhood his character was pure and noble. As has been stated, Mr. Todd was married February 22, 1880, to Alice I. Coapman. Mrs. Todd and her daughter Liela, Mrs. Laurence J. Paulson, are living in Albert Lea. Other surviving members of Mr. Todd's family are two sisters, Mrs. Henry Mead, of Shell Lake, Wis., and Mrs. Eugene Chrisler, of Wapato, Wash .; also four brothers, Charles, Lewellyn and Willard Todd, of Merrimac, Wis., and Miles Todd, of Winni- peg, Manitoba. Rev. Miles G. Todd, father of William Elmir Todd, was a Universalist minister, born at Homer, N. Y., and descended from Scotch-Irish ancestors, who were early settlers in New York state. Miles G. Todd and Helen M. Parker, also a native of New York state, were married in Illinois in September, 1852. In 1855 they moved to Wisconsin, first locating at Mer- rimac. and two years later at Lodi. On his removal to Lodi, Mr. Todd began to teach, but later was called to the pastorate of the Universalist church. While in the ministry at Mazomanie, he entered the army as chaplain, and served. until the close of the war. After his discharge he returned to Mazomanie, and for the next twenty years was in charge of the Universalist church, successively at Columbus, Oshkosh, Columbus again, and Lodi. He died suddenly of hemorrhage of the brain, at Mason City, Iowa, in 1888. Mrs. Helen M. Todd, his wife, died June 28, 1906.
W. E. Todd, M. D., one of the successful practitioners of Free- born county, was born in Wisconsin, April 26, 1861; son of Rev. J. D. and Susan S. (Webster) Todd. W. E. was reared in his native state, and in Winnebago City, Minn., attended the pub- lic schools, and in 1890 graduated from the Chicago Medical College. After receiving the usual hospital practice and thus perfecting his medical and surgical knowledge, he took up prac- tice in the logging and mining regions about Neaunee, in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Then he practiced in Madison, Minn., for five years, and in 1896 came to Albert Lea, where he has since been engaged in general practice. He is a Repub- lican in politics, affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and at- tends the Presbyterian church. The subject of this sketch was married November 23, 1890, and has five children, Gertrude, James R., Helen M., William O. and Florence.
L. T. Walker was born in Vermont on January 25, 1821; was reared on his father's farm in that state, and also taught school there. As he grew to manhood he decided to try his fortunes in the West. Accordingly he left his old home and went to Wisconsin, where he was overseer in the lime quarry owned by Daniel Williams. In 1858 he came to Minnesota and was united
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in marriage with Amy Hoag, at High Forest, Minn., on Septem- ber 28, 1858, daughter of Russell and Mary (Williams) Hoag, natives of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Walker came to Freeborn county in 1858 and bought a farm in Carlston township, where they lived for several years. From there they moved to Alden, in which they made their home. On May 27, 1875, he was ap- pointed postmaster and also was engaged in the mercantile business. He held the office of postmaster for eighteen years, until the time of his death, which occurred April 7, 1893, at the age of seventy-two years. Mrs. L. T. Walker was born on January 16, 1834, at Cowlesville, N. Y. She moved with her parents near High Forest, Minn., in 1857, and there her father passed away. Her mother was born in the state of Rhode Island and was a descendant of Roger Williams. She died at the remark- able age of 102 years. Mrs. L. T. Walker was engaged in the millinery business for twelve years. After the death of her husband she was appointed as postmaster and is serving in this capacity at present. Her appointment dates from October 21, 1893. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Walker four chil- dren: Addie is the wife of Hudson Pettitt, who resides on a farm near Alden; Frank married Eva Putnam and is at present assistant postmaster at Alden; Daniel married Belle Emerson, resides at Mankato, Minn., and is the present agent for the C., M. & Puget Sound; Amy is the wife of Henry B. Cottrell, rural mail carrier, and resides at Alden.
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