USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 90
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
Isaac Larson, whose well tilled farm and comfortable home on section 32, Mansfield, are notable marks of prosperity in this
826
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
township, is a native of Denmark and was born October 2, 1860, the son of Lars and Katrina Nelson. Not until he was 20 years of age, in 1880, did he leave his native land for the United States. He settled first in Lake Mills, Iowa, where he worked at common labor for six years. He then bought a creamery, which he oper- ated three years and later sold out to the farmers of the locality, after which he came to Mansfield and bought his present home farm of 160 acres. By tiling and making many other improve- ments he has made this into one of the most valuable farms of the township. On November 13, 1889, he married Hilda Aleta Peterson, of Lake Mills, and they now have a family of nine children. The children are Alfred, Selmer, Ida, Melvin, Wilford, Harold, Alma, Katerina and Margaret. Though Mr. Larson has been a very hard worker for himself and his family, he has always found time to serve the public with the same success which has attended his private endeavors. He is an active member and worker in the Lime Creek Lutheran church. In politics he is with the Republican party. In school district 41 he has been a mem- ber of the board fourteen years; he has been supervisor of the town eight years; he was president of the Scarville Creamery four years, and director of the Emmons Telephone Company four years. Mr. Larson is a man who, though born in a foreign land, came here and in a comparatively short time has made himself one of the leading men of the community and a man as well liked as he is respected for his ability to overcome difficulties and bring success to his endeavors whether for his own personal or for public benefit. He is president of the Farmers Elevator Com- pany, of Scarville, and a stockholder in both the Lake Mills, Ia., and Emmons, Minn., lumber yards.
W. L. Palmer, M. D., one of the foremost physicians and sur- geons of Freeborn county, was born in this county, having first seen the light of day in Glenville, September 22, 1867, son of Rev. Daniel and Mary (Buck) Palmer. He received his common school education in Glenville, and graduated from the Albert Lea high school in 1885. Upon finishing his high school course he taught in the country two years and then went to Monticello, Wis., where he conducted a milling business for four years. Then he entered the Rush Medical College at Chicago, in 1893, gradu- ating three years later. After receiving the necessary hospital practice he located in Glenville, where he practiced some ten years. coming in 1906 to Albert Lea, where he has built up a large practice. He has taken post-graduate courses in the New York Polytechnic and in Chicago institutions, and has kept well abreast of the most modern trend of medical progress, his library being unusually full and complete. Dr. Palmer owns a pleasant home at 401 Fountain street and his office is over the Freeborn
827
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
County State Bank. He belongs to the county, state and national medical associations and also to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. The subject of this sketch was married June 27, 1891, to Ida M. Trow, daughter of A. C. and Arinda (Wiggins) Trow, and they have one son, Foster C. Rev. Daniel Palmer is mentioned in several places in this history. He and his wife, Mary Buck Palmer, were natives of New York state and came to Minnesota in 1863, Rev. Palmer being sent here as a clergyman of the Baptist denomination. Rev. Palmer died in Glenville in 1872 and his wife lived until 1887.
Fred H. Mallory, the efficient manager of the Broadway The- ater, and owner of a dray and transfer line, is a native of Albert Lea, born February 9. 1871, son of Z. K. and Mary Mallory, natives of New York state. The parents came to Wisconsin in an early day and to Freeborn county in 1869. After farming two years, Z. K. engaged in the fuel and dray business in Albert Lea, in which he continued until his death, in 1903, serving also for a time as rural mail carrier. Mrs. Mary Mallory still lives in Albert Lea. The subject of this sketch attended the graded schools of Albert Lea and graduated from the high school in 1887. Leaving high school, he attended the Albert Lea Business College, where he took a course in shorthand and typewriting. He spent two years in Iowa after leaving the college, and then returned to Albert Lea and went into business with his father. In 1903. after his father's death, he sold out the fuel business, but continued in the dray and transfer business. His business is at present in a flourishing condition. In the year 1902 Mr. Mal- lory was married to Julia A. Niles. She died in December, 1906. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member of the Elks and K. of P. lodges, but has never aspired to the holding of any pub- lic office.
Oscar Subby, the efficient and courageous sheriff of Freeborn county, was born in Denmark, February 14, 1875, son of N. P. and Christine (Hansen) Subby, who came to America in 1880, and took up their residence in Albert Lea, where they now live. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools, and later engaged in the meat business four years. Then he joined the police force and did excellent service until his election as sheriff in 1905. Since then he has been re-elected three times, and has made a splendid officer, feared of evildoers and admired and respected by all law-abiding citizens of the county. Mr. Subby was married December 30, 1903, to Lillian Jones, and one child, Dor O., has been born. Mrs. Subby also has two children by a former marriage, Nellie and Harry Jones. Sheriff Subby is a Republican in politics. He is a member of Albert Lea Lodge, No. 813. B. P. O. E .; member of the Freeborn County Game Pro-
828
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
tective Association ; member of the Business Men's League ; mem- her of the Albert Lea Fire Department ; vice-president of State Sheriff's' Association ; member of Albert Lea Gun Club ; member of Danish Brotherhood (Dannebrog Lodge, No. 75), and has been secretary of the Freeborn County Central Republican Club since 1908.
George P. Lattin, educator, agriculturist and man of affairs, has taken an active part in the modern life of Freeborn county. He has been chairman of the board of supervisors of Freeborn town one year and town clerk eight years. He was county com- missioner in Freeborn county from 1896 to 1901 and county superintendent of schools from January, 1901, to January, 1909, doing excellent service in all these several capacities. He has also been connected with the school board of Albert Lea, and is one of the trustees of the Albert Lea College for Women, at Albert Lea. In a business way he is connected with the People's Building & Loan Association of Albert Lea, the First State Bank of Freeborn, and the Citizens' National Bank of Albert Lea. Fraternally he associated with the Masonic order and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, and his religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church. George P. Lattin was born in Fox Lake, Wis., March 25. 1859, son of Richmond E. and Martha (Calkins) Lattin. He graduated from the public schools and spent one year at college in Fox Lake, Wis. He came to Minne- sota in 1878, locating at Freeborn. He taught in a rural school, and afterward became principal of the semi-graded school at Freeborn village winters and farmed during the summer months. In 1880 he purchased a farm in Faribault county, near Winne- bago City, but later sold that and purchased another in Free- born county, near Freeborn village, which he now operates. He conducted a general store in Freeborn village twelve years. Mr. Lattin was married November 2, 1882, to Nettie E. Scott. Earl, an adopted son and only child, died in November, 1897, at the age of nine years.
Victor Gillrup is one of the leading citizens of Freeborn county, his ability, his force of character and uprightness of principles having won for him the esteem, respect and admira- tion of all with whom he comes in contact. Although a man of wide interests and many duties he is affable and approachable, and always willing to give assistance and encouragement to any- thing which tends toward the progress of the community. He was registrar of deeds of Freeborn county from 1884 to 1889; has been mayor, president of the council and alderman of Albert Lea ; has done good service on the State Board of Equalization ; was chairman of the Republican County Committee four years ; was postmaster at Albert Lea four years; has served as president
829
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
and member of the Albert Lea Board of Education; and is director and president of the Albert Lea Building & Loan Asso- ciation. He is a member of the G. A. R. and the A. F. & A. M. Mr. Gillrup was born in Denmark, May 29, 1840, and graduated from the high school there. He came to America December 10, 1862, enlisted in Co. G, 1st N. Y. Vol. Engineers, and served to the end of the Civil War. He located in Watertown, Wis., about August 1, 1865, and reached Albert Lea November 27, 1868. He started a general store at Shell Rock City, now Glenville, in the fall of 1870, and remained there until January 1, 1884, when he came to Albert Lea, having in the fall of 1883 been elected regis- trar of deeds. Since then he has made his home in Albert Lea. He was married July 29, 1872, to Lillie I. Carter, and has four living children: Harriet G. Edwards, of Acapulco, Mexico; Harry S. and Walter, at Albert Lea : and Genevieve in San Diego, Calif.
D. K. Stacy, for many years city justice of Albert Lea, was born in Columbus, Warren county, Penn., November 16, 1842, son of Edwin Clark and Elizabeth D. (Heath) Stacy, the pio- neers. The family moved to Minnesota when D. K. was fourteen years old, and here he spent his boyhood, first in Geneva and then in Albert Lea. He was the first to take mail into the village of Geneva, carrying it on his back. In February, 1862, he en- listed in Co. C., Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Indian campaign and in the South, receiving several pro- motions. He was mustered out in October, 1865. Since then he has continued to make his home in Albert Lea. He has been postmaster several terms, and from 1870 to 1874 was deputy sheriff. He belongs to the Masons and the G. A. R. His serv- ices as a starter at the state fair for many years have been highly appreciated. The subject of this sketch married Lelia G. Moon, and this union has been blessed with three children.
Eugene H. Brown, popular druggist of Albert Lea, comes of one of the pioneer families, his parents and paternal grand- parents having come to Minnesota during territorial days. He was born in Minneiska, Minn., April 5, 1869, and as a boy at- tended the public schools. Then he entered the Chicago College of Pharmacy, a department of the Illinois State University, and thus equipped spent some time as employe in various retail drug stores in Chicago, Ill., Moorhead, Minn., and Superior, Wis. Afterward he was chemist in wholesale drug houses in Duluth, Minn., and Minneapolis, Minn. He purchased his present store in November, 1906. Being a keen student of current events, he has joined the Fortnightly Club, of Albert Lea, and was presi- dent of that organization in 1909 and 1910. He was married
830
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
July 23, 1895, to Minna R. Adams, who has taken an active part in church and charitable work.
David R. P. Hibbs, now deceased, veteran of the Civil War, and esteemed citizen of Albert Lea, was a typical American gen- tleman, descended from a famous revolutionary officer, and him- self one of the members of the heroic Loyal Legion. He was born in Hulmeville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1838, son of Jacob and Sarah Ann (Worstall) Hibbs. He was reared on a Pennsylvania farm, attended such schools as his neighbor- hood afforded, and then took courses at the Millersville Normal School, Millersville, Penn., and at the Attleborough Academy at Attleborough, Penn. He taught public school a while and was also assistant teacher in Attleborough Academy while preparing for college. His educational career was cut short by the gather- ing war clouds, and the news of the battle of Bull Run in July, 1861. Soon afterward he began recruiting for Co. F., 104th Penn. Vol. Inf., was commissioned first lieutenant, and mustered into service September 12, 1861. He commanded his company at the battle of Fair Oaks and during the Seven Days' Battles. For sixteen months he was adjutant, and for some time he served in South Carolina as acting assistant adjutant general of Hart's Brigade. After being mustered out October 1, 1864, he entered the Frankford Arsenal, at Philadelphia, and was in charge of the department for preparing ammunition until the close of the war. Soon afterward he returned home and in 1865 married Anna C. Vandegritt. He farmed three years and studied law for a time, coming to Albert Lea in 1872. In 1874 he was admitted to the bar, opened a law office, and practiced until 1876. Centennial year he entered into partnership with Horatio D. Brown .in the banking business, the firm being known as H. D. Brown & Co. In 1892, when the Albert Lea National Bank was organized, he became its vice-president and in 1901 assumed the presidency. In 1902 at the organization of the Albert Lea State Bank he became its president, but in 1909 retired to the vice-presidency, a position he still retained at his death. Mr. Hibbs was always interested in educational affairs, and served as a member of various school boards in Pennsylvania and in Albert Lea for some twenty-six years. He owned 280 acres of land in Albert Lea and Freeman townships, which he conducted in a successful manner, making a specialty of breeding to Holstein-Friesian cattle. Mr. Hibbs was a prominent member of Robson Post, No. 5, G. A. R. To his union with Anna C. Vandegrift three children were born. Frank W. graduated from the Naval Academy, at Annapolis, and is now engaged in constructing sub-marines for the Electric Boat Co., at Seattle, Wash. Anna is now Mrs. D. C. Armstrong. of Albert Lea. Alice H., wife of Dr. O. A. Burton,
831
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
lives in Sarasota, Fla. Mr. Hibbs died August 24, 1911, at a hospital in Minneapolis. His death was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends. His life-long friend, Dr. A. C. Wedge, followed him to the grave a few months later, one of the last labors of the doctor's being to prepare a loving tribute to Mr. Hibbs for publication by the Loyal Legion. The parents of David R. P. Hibbs were Jacob Hibbs and Sarah A. Worstall Hibbs, both natives of Bucks county, Penn., where was spent the span of their years. The great grandfather of David R. P. Hibbs, Edward Heston, was a lieutenant colonel of a Pennsylvania regi- ment during the Revolution, was one of the noted heroes of that conflict, and afterward rose high in official life in the Keystone state.
Harwood G. Day, the dean of Freeborn county journalism, has edited the Freeborn County Standard since 1883, and has made that paper not only a powerful organ in the county but also in the state. He has taken an active part in every public movement, and few indeed are the committees for the upbuild- ing of the city or county on which he has not served. An enumeration of the offices he has held, the committees he has headed and the business concerns he has assisted in starting would fill several pages. He was born in Jericho, Vt., July 15, 1844, son of Jonas Galusha and Betsey Washburn (Stroud) Day : was educated in the common and select schools of Attica, Wis., and Evansville (Wis.) Seminary ; read law in the office of Judge James Knowlton, of Chicago, Ill., completed his law courses in an office at Webster City, Iowa, and was there admitted to the bar May 18, 1868. Thus equipped he engaged in the practice of law at Estherville, Iowa, from 1868 to 1878, and at Lanesboro, Minn., from 1878 to 1883, engineering some important railroad deals in connection with the Southern Minnesota. In the mean- time he had enlisted as a private in the Civil War, and was detailed to act as clerk in the assistant quartermaster's depart- ment in the Army of the Cumberland. In 1870 and 1871 he was a member of the lower house of the Iowa legislature, and for ten years he served as county attorney of Emmet county, Iowa. It was with this record that he came to Albert Lea in 1883 and assumed control of the Freeborn County Standard, established in 1857. In this capacity the scope of his influence cannot be meas- ured. During the nearly thirty years of his residence here he has fearlessly and staunchly stood by his convictions, and his paper, which has a wide circulation, represents the sane, law abiding sentiment of the substantial people of Freeborn county. Mr. Day has served the Democratic party in various important positions, and is a close personal friend of many of the Demo- cratic leaders. He is also an influential member of the Minne-
832
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
sota Editorial Association. His fraternal affiliation has been chiefly with the Masonic body. The subject of this sketch was married at Blue Earth, Minn., May 22, 1871, to Mary Howland, who has proved a most able and sympathetic helpmeet. This union has been blessed with the following children: Carlyle Harwood Day, Mary Pearl Day and Howland Carroll Day. Mary Pearl Day was born March 6, 1874, at Estherville, Iowa, educated at the Albert Lea high school and Albert Lea College, and was married at Albert Lea December 28, 1896, to Carl E. Day, of New York city, which is his headquarters as member of a large manu- facturing company. They have two children: Mary Dorothy and Carl E. H. Day.
Carlyle Harwood Day was born at Estherville, Iowa, October 10, 1872, graduated from the Albert Lea high school, married Marguerita Harvey Dwight at Albert Lea June 20, 1900, was associate editor of the Standard ten years, served as first lieu- tenant in Co. I., 12th Minn. Vol. Inf. during the Spanish-Ameri- can war, and was deputy state fire marshal at St. Paul, and member of the late Gov. John A. Johnson's "Kitchen Cabinet." . He has since been manager of an extensive real estate business at Omaha and Chicago. They have three children: Dwight Har- vey, Elinor Harwood and Priscilla H. Day.
Howland Carroll Day, who is associated with his father in the editing and publishing of the Freeborn County Standard, was born in Albert Lea April 8, 1888, son of Harwood G. and Mary (Howland) Day. He attended the Albert Lea schools, graduated from the Albert Lea high school in 1907 and at once took up work with his father. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is one of Albert Lea's popular young men.
A. J. D. Haupt, D. D., clergyman, author, educator and man of affairs, has been in the county too short a time to have taken à part in its past history, but his work is already having its in- fluence on the people of Albert Lea and vicinity. Dr. Haupt comes of a distinguished family, his father, General Herman Haupt, having not only been a distinguished officer in the Civil War, but also an engineer of international reputation, some of the most difficult tunneling and construction work in the United States having been accomplished under his direction. He was also a professor of higher mathematics in Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Penn., for many years. A. J. D. Haupt was reared in a home where the influences were those of refinement and beauty. In 1882 he graduated with high honors from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and the following year came to Minne- sota and started his pastorate of the Memorial English Lutheran church, in West Sixth street, St. Paul. In this relation he con- tinued for over a quarter of a century, starting with a congre-
833
1
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
gation of six members, and leaving a large congregation well established as one of the leading churches of the city. When he first came to St. Paul he served as private tutor in the Univer- sity. Having been a teacher in free hand and mechanical drawing free night classes, Rev. Haupt has utilized this talent in his church work, and several churches still standing are a monu- ment to his skill as an architect. While pastor at St. Paul he was appointed in 1906 by Gov. John A. Johnson, along with Justice E. A. Jaggard, a state commissioner to the National Divorce Congress. As one result of this appointment the Penn- sylvania College at Gettysburg, Penn., in which his father served as a professor in 1837-39, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in June, 1907. After serving as divorce com- missioner for the state, the people of Pittsburgh, Penn., made insistent demands that he begin the work of the Inner Mission in that city. Seeing the field for abundant results, Dr. Haupt accepted the call, and during his three years in Pittsburgh made a special study of the causes and prevention of crime. The work was vastly important, but after three years' strenuous work Mrs. Haupt's health broke down, and the doctors ordered her back to Minnesota. Consequently in the fall of 1910 Dr. Haupt accepted the pastorate of the Salem Lutheran church, of Albert Lea. He has done much toward upbuilding this church and has made an especial effort in behalf of the young people. Dr. Haupt is the author of books and articles on the life, work and career of his father, as well as upon various historical subjects, espe- cially along the lines relating to the growth of the English Lutheran church in America. He himself has had a part in the making of history, being one of the pioneers in the English Lutheran pastorate in the Northwest.
Andrew J. Luther was born in Jefferson county, New York, August 8, 1837, moved to Wisconsin in 1856 and came to Minne- sota in 1857. He located on a farm in Bancroft township, this county, and farmed until 1898, when he retired and moved to the city. He married Florence Hamilton and has two children. February 24, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, 5th Minnesota Vol- unteer Infantry, and served until mustered out, being wounded in the right thigh at Fort Ridgely.
Philip Herman was born in Germany May 11, 1828. He came to America in 1854 and to Freeman township in 1857, taking land and farming until 1901, when he retired and moved to Glenville. He died January 28, 1908, and his wife died April 7, 1909. Of their children nine are living and two are dead.
Henry N. Ostrander was born in New York state in 1824, and as an infant was taken to Canada. While still a boy he was taken back to New York by his father and on November 22, 1846,
834
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
married Sarah A. Smith. In June, 1849, they located in Wiscon- sin, and June 12, 1859, Mr. Ostrander staked out a claim in sec- tion 26, Bancroft township, this county. He served in town and school office and was county commissioner some five years. He had eight children. Henry N. Ostrander died in 1899, and his wife in 1905.
C. N. Ostrander, of Alden, the firefighter, was born in Clinton county, New York, and lived with his parents as an infant in Wis- consin, before coming with them to Bancroft township in 1859. He was reared on the home farm and also worked on the rail- road. In 1877 he came to Alden, and has since been engaged in the jewelry, machine and wagon business. He has been school director, was engineer of the water works fourteen years and has been chief of the fire department many years. In 1873 he mar- ried Jennie Comstock, and has three daughters, Mabel, Leona and Ruby.
Simon Strauss is a native of the grand duchy Hessen, Ger- many, where he attended the folkschool. At the age of thirteen he entered the Gymnasium at Frankfort-on-the-Main, and after graduating, took employment as correspondent in a bank. In the year 1876 he came to America and located in Iowa. Two years later, in September, 1878, he came to Albert Lea, and opened a clothing store. In this business he engaged for twenty- nine years. Then he retired in fairly comfortable circumstances. He was one of the organizers of the Albert Lea National Bank and of the Albert Lea State Bank, and is now one of the prin- cipal stockholders in the First National Bank of Albert Lea.
Mrs. Ellen Thompson. Ellen Gascoyne was born January 8, 1830, at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England. She was married to William Thompson in 1851 and came to America with her husband four years later, locating at Burlington, Wis. In 1858 they moved onto a farm a few miles east of Albert Lea and lived there until Mr. Thompson enlisted in the army. He served as a corporal in Company C of the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, was severely wounded at Corinth and died at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., August 25, 1863. Mrs. Thompson displayed the characteristic courage of the pioneers and she was able to fight prairie fires, ward off Indians and endure all the hardships of those early days with remarkable bravery. She was a woman of great strength of character and her life has been marked by the great- est kindness and most unselfish devotion to the welfare of others. Though she frequently revisited England, she made her home in' Albert Lea and died there February 3, 1908.
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.