USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 80
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The following in regard to this town was publish- in 1877: "It was first settled by Milton Morey, in the fall of 1855, who immediately constructed a log house, which was burned down on the Christ- nias following. To him also belongs the honor of opening the first farm, which he did in the spring of 1856. E. C. Stacy, who settled in June, 1856, was the first lawyer, while his wife, who arrived in August following, was the first doctor. Rob- son and Jones were the first merchants, and com- meneed the sale of goods in July, 1857. Sehad and Drommerhausen, blacksmith and wagon-mak- ers, were the first mechanies. In the same summer of 1857, a Mrs. Clark tanght the first school in a log shanty at the village. The first schoolhouse was built by district No. 3, in 1858. In the sum- mer of 1857, Rov. Isaac MeReynolds held the first religious service. In 1858 the Catholics organized the first religious society, and built the first church in 1861. The Post-office was established in the winter of 1856-7, which was supplied by special service from Austin. E. C. Staey was the first Postmaster. The first child born was Ralph Freeborn Drake, on the 30th of July, 1856. Wil- liam Robson and Atlanta Smith were the first par- ties married, John Reed performing the ceremony in the summer of 1859. The first death was that of Mrs. Welcome Bacon, which occurred in Febru- ary, 1859. James A. Robson opened the first hotel in June, 1858, although Judge Stacy had thrown his house open to the publie ever since his first settlement. The first title to land was acquir- ed by Welcome L. Bacon, August 16th, 1858, the
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GENEVA TOWNSHIP.
selection being made on section thirty. The first board of officers was elected May 11, 1858, con- sisting of E. C. Stacy, W. S. Bacon, and John Brennan; H. Eustrom, Clerk."
GENEVA VILLAGE.
The village of Geneva was platted in the winter of 1856-57 by James F. Jones and James Robson, ou section eight, and contained about four hundred acres. This was one of the first crop of villages ever raised in the county, and was very pleasantly sit- nated, and of course calculated and expected to become the Chicago of the new Northwest.
In the spring of 1857, Jones and Robson started business and put up a store and hotel. They soon, however, dissolved partnership, Jones retaining the store which he managed for several years, part of the time in company with C. H. McIntire; but they afterwards sold out to Cabot & Lester, who continued the business but a short time, when they went to Martin county with their goods. The store was then occupied by Mr. Lor- ing, and was soon consumed by fire.
Two Swedes, named Lohyed and Matison, put up a store and placed a stock of goods in it. They soon sold out and it changed hands several times; finally it was purchased by Charles Kittle- son, now State Treasurer, and was burned while he owned it.
George and Warren Osborne began merchan- dising in 1865, and continued one year, when George secured his brother's interest and run it alone one year and then turned over his stock to Charles Kittleson.
The only store in town now is kept by Archi- bald Chamberlain, which was first opened by Dwight Brooks in 1880.
In 1857 Bernhard Schad and George Drom- merhausen started a blacksmith and wagon shop. Wagons and plows, custom work and general re- pairing were their specialties. In about a year Schad became sole proprietor, and he is still hammering away at the old stand.
The hotel which had been built was leased to Isaac Lyons who opened it with an appropriate flourish in 1858, and managed it for a year or twe and then sold to O. A. Jones, of Fillmore county. His father, H. R. Jones, kept it one winter and then his son, James F. Jones, bought and moved into it and is now the proprietor.
In 1857, in deference to a demand, Mr. Graham put up a building and opened a saloon, and as
the business increased he erected a larger build- iug, which afterwards changed hands and a store was opened there.
RELIGIOUS.
METHODIST .- The first religious meetings held in the village were in the store of Loyhed & Mati- son, in 1857, by a Methodist itinerant. Soon after an organization was effected. Elder Towne, a Baptist preacher, also had meetings at Deacon Brant's house, but as far as remembered, no or- ganization was perfected. The Methodist denom- ination still "holds the fort" with a garrison of twenty members. The meetings are in the school- house, with Rev. W. H. Burkaloo, who lives in Berlin, as pastor.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH .- The first mass known to have been said in this township, was in May, 1859, by Father Pendergast, in the resi- dence of Thomas Cushman. Services were fre- quently held in this house, until in 1866 the church edifice was erected. It is a frame building, and was put up under the care of Father McDermott. The congregation is now under the charge of Father Fleming of Albert Lea, of which it is an outlying mission.
UNITED BRETHREN .- Religious meetings were held in Johr Hime's house in 1858, also in John Brown's house in section twenty- three, that was also used as a schoolhouse. In 1859 a society was accumulated with abont a dozen members, by Rev. John Arnold, who also expounded in Geneva village. This society had sufficient attraction of cohesion to hold together for two or three years. when it became dis- rupted.
THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS .- The first time this peculiar doctrine was advocated in town was in the summer of 1876. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse by Elder Dimmick. On the 24th of September they organized with ten members, and a Sunday school was also commenced with Lucius Gibbs as Superintendent. Afterwards meetings were held in a tent. Rev. D. T. Curtis came after this and expounded the gospel as he understood it, once a month. Rev. Henry Ellis succeeded him and held the last meeting on the 20th of Januery, 1882.
UNIVERSALIST .- Elder Wakefield, a pioneer preacher in this faith, had a series of meetings here, and quite a society was gathered. Their meetings are held at stated times in the school-
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
house, with Rev. G. S. Gowdy as pastor, who has good congregations, which is a little remarkable in this western country where, as a rule, the 80 called liberal denominations do not meet with much encouragement.
SCHOOLS.
Distriet No. 3 .- The first school was opened in a private house belonging to John Brown. in sec- tion fifteen, in the summer of 1858. Mrs. Henry King wielded the ferule during this term. The next year the citizens succeeded in building a schoolhouse on seetion fourteen. Miss Lucy Thomas ealled the first school to order in the new house, which was a log affair, 20x24 feet, which was put up by a regular "Bee," each farmer con- tributing something. This served until 1877, when the frame building now standing was erected on seetion twenty-three, at a cost of about $400.
DISTRICT No. 4 .- A school was opened in a claim shanty on the town site in 1878. Mrs. Clark was the constituted authority during this term. Afterwards the school was kept in the store of Loyhed & Matison, and then in a building erected for a saloon. The schoolhouse was gotten up in 1865.
DISTRICT No. 97 .- This was organized in 1875, having been taken from the third district. That same year the schoolhouse was built on the north- west corner of section fourteen. The initial teacher was Miss Ella Davis.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HARRISON M. DAVIS, a native of New York. was born in Holland, Erie county, on the 19th of Jan- mary, 1832. He was married in 1851, to Miss Aurilla Benediet, and four years after they moved to Wisconsin. In the summer of 1858, he came to Minnesota, lived in Steele county until fall, then returned to Wisconsin. They came again to Steele county in 1862, and on the Ist of Decem- ber of the year following, Mr. Davis enlisted in the Second Minnesota Cavalry, went west on the frontier, and remained in service until November, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge. In 1866, he bought a farm in section six, Geneva, where he has sinco lived. He is the father of two children: Adelmar F. and Edwin W.
ELIAB EGGLESTON, deceased, one of the pio- neers of Geneva, was born in Whitehall, New York, on the 29th of July, 1808. When quite young he learned the carpenter and joiner trade,
and afterward was engaged as an architect. When about twenty years old he moved to Ohio, and a few years later to Indiana. On the 4th of Novem- ber, 1833, he was united in marriage with Miss Esther Chapman. They resided in Galena, Illi- nois, seven years, and in 1856 eame to Minnesota and settled on a farm in this place. He devoted his time to the improvement of his home until his death on the 9th of June. 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Eggleston had six ehildren; Charles, who enlisted in 1862 in the Fourth Minnesota volunteer infan- try, Company F, went south and was under Grant at Vicksburg, came home on a furlough and died on the 19th of October, 1863, aged twenty-eight years; Elmer, the only son now living, married on the 22d of October, 1861, Miss Catherine Gross, and they have two children. Burdette and Eliab J .; Burdette, the third son, died on the 28th of November, 1857, in his twenty-second year: Olive Ann died when two and a half years old: Alvanus enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota Regiment, Com- pany C. went south and died near Vieksburg on the 5th of July. 1863; and Seymour E. died on the 24th of December, 1857, aged fourteen years. Mrs. Eggleston lives on the old homestead with her son Elmer.
MICHAEL FENTON, one of the carly settlers of this place, is a native of Ireland, born on the 29th of September. 1811. He was brought up in Mid- dlesex county, England, and there learned the trade of a briekmaker. In 1830 he sailed with his parents for America, his father dying on the way. The remainder of the family proceeded from Quebec to Boston, and thence to Waterbury, Vermont, where Michael was engaged at his trade one summer. He then returned to Canada and worked in the lumber business for two years, from thence to Rochester and subsequently to Buffalo, Detroit, and back to Rochester. He was married in 1847 to Miss Mary White. While at Roches- ter he enlisted in the first United States artillery, went south to Florida, and after a service of three years was honorably discharged. He spent eight months in Georgia and from there went to New- burg, New York, thence to Vermont and worked" at his trade. He went to Michigan and settled on a farm about eleven miles from Jackson, and after a residence of five years moved to Ottawa, Illinois. lle served in the Mexican war under Gen. Shields, was wounded twice at the battle of Buena Vista, and confined in the hospital four
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months, after which he received his discharge and returned to Illinois by way of New Orleans and St. Louis. After reaching his home he was laid up two years on account of injuries received while in service. In 1857 he came to Minnesota, resided in Stillwater until 1858, then selected a farm in this place, and the following year moved his family. He is a member of the National Vete- rans' Association and is a Mexican pensioner, pro- bably, the only one in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Fenton have had three children; Johanna M., Michael J., and William R., the latter of whom died on the 10th of July, 1880, from the effect of injuries received from a falling capstan.
ROBERT P. FARR, one of the pioneers of this place, is a native of Missouri, born in 1827. When quite young he removed with his parents to Indi- ana, and at the age of nine years went to live with his grandparents in Pennsylvania. After four years he returned to his home, and four years later removed to Clayton county, Iowa, where he bought a saw-mill and run it until 1856. In the latter year he came to Minnesota, took a claim in section fourteen of this township, and has since made it his home. He has a fine orchard, and his farm contains four hundred acres. In 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Belle Hill, a native of Pennsylvania. They have had seven children, six of whom are living; Esther, May, Sarah, Robert, Alice, and Chiarles. George died when eighteen months old.
LUCIUS GIBBS was born in Pennsylvania on the 17th of February, 1831. He received an academ- ical education, and in 1862, his health failed, which necessitated a change of climate. He went to Illinois, thence to St. Louis up the Missouri river, and west to Montana. After an absence of three years he returned to his native State, where he married Miss Mary A. J. Maynard,and after a few weeks started for Minnesota. He located in Geneva, where he bought a farm and has since made it his home. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs have had five children, three of whom are living; Lester D., Carrie S., and Willie L. Stephen died on the 16th of January, 1881, aged nine years, and Henry died four days later at the age of four years.
JOHN L. GIBBS was born in Pennsylvania on the 3d of May. 1838. He acquired the fundamental principles of a good education in the common schools of his native State, and afterward attended Le Raysville Academy, and subsequently taught
school, using the proceeds for the advancement of his education. After a course at the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute and the Pokeepsie Law School of Indiana, he entered the law department of the university at Ann Arbor, Michigan, gradu- ating one year afterwards. He then taught school in Iowa, and in 1861, came to Albert Lea. The following year he was elected County Attorney, and in 1863, elected to the Legislature and again in '64, '75, and '76. Thus it will be seen by the public positions he has occupied, in what esteem he is held by his fellow citizens. He was married in 1868, to the widow of Capt. James Robson. Mr. Gibbs has always been a careful and method- ical student, and by his perseverance has overcome many obstacles that to an ordinary mind would seem insurmountable. As presiding officer of the House his qualifications are marked with that degree of firmness and ability that has so distin- guished some of his predecessors. In selecting the standing committees no man could have been more just and impartial, or displayed better judg- ment than did he.
O. C. GOODNATURE, one of the pioneers and most successful farmers of Freeborn county, is a native of Canada, born in 1825. When quite young he moved to Clinton county, New York, and was there employed in a saw-mill and in driv- ing a team. He was marrid to Miss Emily De- Marre and the issue of the union is nine children; Octave C., George, Peter, Nicholas, Eli, Emily, Rosalie, Michael, and David. Mr. Goodnature sought a home in Minnesota in 1856, and settled in section fourteen of this township where he has since resided.
CHARLES HENION, one of the early settlers of Genera, is a native of Albany county, New York, where he was born on the 17th of September, 1831. In 1854, he removed to Wisconsin, which was his home until coming to this place in 1857. He took a claim in section four and the same year returned to New York and married Clarisa Hubbs. The result of the union is five children; Ophelia, Alva, Cora, Lillie, and Bina. Immediately after marriage Mr. Henion returned to his farm and has since devoted his time to its improvement. Mrs Henion died on the 16th of July, 1872, and in 1876, he married his present wife, whose maiden name was Libbie Clipper. She is a native of Schenectady county, New York, born in 1842, and resided in her native county until coming to Min- nesota.
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456
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
JAMES F. JONES, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Orondaga county, New York, on the 15th of June, 1822. When quite young he was engaged in a tan yard and subsequently learned the trade of a tanner, currier, and shoe maker. At the age of twenty-one years he was married to Miss Adelpha Moon, and after a few days they started with a team for Milwaukee. Just before reaching their destination Mr. Jones was taken sick with fever, and when able was taken to his brother's house in the city and remained during the winter. In the spring he took some land which, the next year, he sold and moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm. After a residence of three years there his health fail- ed and they returned to New York where he was en- gaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, which he brought to Wisconsin every year and traded for wheat; that he took to Janesville and had made into flour, then to Milwaukee where he shipped it to Buffalo for sale. After continuing in this business for three years he returned to his farm in Rock county, and in 1856 came to this county, and in company with Captain Robson located the town site of Geneva, built a hotel and engaged in mercantile pursuits and farming. He is at pres- ent landlord of the hotel here and is also interes- ted in stock raising in the Missouri valley in Da- kota. Mr. and Mrs Jones have a family of six children; Hiram, Eugene, Helen, Adelle, Jay, and Mark.
GEORGE OSBORN, deceased, one of the early residents of this place, was born in Erie county, Ohio, on the 6th of September, 1832. He was married in 1857 to Miss Maria J. Gross, a native of New York, and the year following they came to Minnesota and located a farm in this place. They afterward resided for two years in Waseca county and then returned to Geneva. In 1862 Mr. Osborn enlisted in the Tenth Minnesota Regi- ment, Company E, and served as sergeant. He was in several battles and once was wounded; after a service of three years he received an hon- orable discharge, having gained the confidence and respect of every officer and soldier who knew him. While in the army he contracted a lung disease which resulted in consumption, and finally terminated his life. In the spring of 1866 lie opened a boot and shoe store which he carried on nine years; was also Postmaster a number of years. He was a Universalist, but his house was
always open to ministers of any denomination, and no man could be more thoroughly missed, his death occurring on the 23d of February, 1875. He left a wife and two daughters.
RICHARD QUINN was born in Ireland in 1828, and emigrated to America in 1851. He landed in New York on St. Patrick's Day, and after a month went to Indiana, where he was in the employ of the railroad company one year, then went to Day- ton, Ohio, and engaged in the livery business. He was afterward employed as porter in a hotel at Cincinnati, and there married, in 1854, Miss Mary Ann Hryes. For a time Mr. Quinn was engaged in the wholesale and retail liquor busi- ness at Dubuque, Iowa. He came to Minnesota and settled in the Crow River country, working at Dayton and afterward engaged in farming about four miles from that place. After a residence of four years there he sold and moved to Minneap- olis, where he was engaged in the lumber busi- ness, and in 1868 came to this township, locating in section fifteen, which has since been his home. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn have had thirteen children, ten of whom are now living; Mary Ann, Edmund J., Michael J., William F., Nora J., Mary F., Johanna A., John R., Philip P., and Monica C. The two eldest died in infancy, and Anne E. died in June, 1882, aged sixteen years.
BERNHARD SCHAD is a native of Germany, born on the 28th of April, 1834. At the age of four- teen years he began to learn the blacksmith trade, and after serving an apprenticeship of three years came to America. He located in Genesee county, New York, and three years later moved to Chicago, then to Red Wing, in this State, where he was married in 1856 to Miss Anna Andrist, who was born in Berne, Switzerland, on the 6th of October, 1834. They remained in Red Wing one year and then moved to this township and opened a blacksmith shop, which he still carries on. Mr. and Mrs. Schad have had seven children, six of whom are living; Anna Geneva, John B., Mary M., Katie Belle, Libbie E., and Frankie E.
MICHAEL QUINN is a native of Ireland, born in 1834, and left his birth place for America, in 1852. He went from New York to Elizabeth, New Jersey, and two months later to Lancaster, Ohio, thence to Cincinnati, and Newport, Kentucky. He eame to Debuque, Iowa, to visit friends, and in April, 1856, made a trip to St. Paul, traveled through the big woods to the prairie of
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Forest City with the early settlers and after a time went to Chicago and resided one year. He then returned to Minnesota and assisted a Mr. Dayton in laying out a townslte, building a saw and grist mill in the Crow River Valley. Mr. Quinn was united in marriage in Mobile, Alabama, with Miss Margaret O'Shea, on the 10th of April, 1860. In 1862, he enlisted in the First Alabama Mounted Cavalry, and after serving one year was transferred to a gun boat in Mobile bay, remaining till the close of the war. He then opened a grocery store in Mobile, and after running it two years sold out and came again to Minnesota and bought land in section nine, ten, and sixteen of this township and has since made this place his home. He has filled different offices of trust and is at present chairman of the board of Supervisors. He is the father of seven children; Edward, William, Mary A., Cath- arine A., Margaret, Honora, and John. Mr. Quinn has traveled quite extensively through both the northern and southern States.
CAPTAIN JAMES A. ROBSON, deceased, one of the early settlers of Freeborn county, was born in western New York, on the 23d of May, 1825. His father died when he was an infant, and he lived with his mother until 1847, when he remov- ed to Rock county, Wisconsin, and settled in Magnolia. He was joined in matrimony on the '26th of October, 1848, to Miss Martha Partridge, and the union was blessed with four children. In 1857, Mr. Robson came to Geneva, and in 1859 was elected County Sheriff and moved to Albert Lea, where he also carried on a hotel, the Webber House, during his term of service. In August, 1862, he took an active part in raising Company E, of the Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and by unanimous voice was chosen its Captain. . He was accidently shot by Lieut. McCarty of Company H, and died on the 9th of November, of the same year, two days after the accident. He was a popular man at home and in the army, and his death was a great loss to the community in which he lived.
ALEXANDER SCHUTT, one of the pioneers of Geneva, was born in Quebec, Canada, on the 28th of February, 1833. He remained at his birth- place until twenty-one years old, then was en- gaged at the carpenter trade for three years in Ontario. In 1866, he married Miss Elizabeth Car- son and the same year came to Minnesota. They came directly to this county and first settled in
Moscow, but the same year came to this township and took land in sections eleven and twelve. They have a family of eight children: Hiram, Francis, John, James, Albert, Maria, Lillie, and Alexander. Mr. Schutt now owns a fine farm of six hundred acres and good buildings.
DR. WILLIS H. TWIFORD was born on the 12th of May, 1821, in Fayette county, Ohio. His mother died when he was seven years old and left the family of ten children. In early life Willis improved all opportunities afforded him for obtaining an education, attending the Academy of Delaware, Ohio, for two terms. He afterward entered the office of Dr. J. Sidney Skin- uer at West Canaan, Ohio, and studied medicine three years, taking his degree as M. D. at the Starling Medical College of Columbus. In April, 1846, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Nancy R. Darning, daughter of Jeremiah Darning, Esq., of Madison county, Ohio. Dr. Twiford practiced his profession in Pleasant Valley, now Plain City, until August, 1853, when he removed to Union City, Indiana, and remained there till the war. He entered the Twenty-fifth Indiana Regiment as Assistant Surgeon, and was soon after commis- sioned Surgeon, being in charge of the hospital on the Antietam battle field. He was appointed by General Hooker, Surgeon in Chief of the First Division of the Twelfth Army Corps and held the same until July, 1864, when he resigned in con- sequence of an injury of the spine, resulting in partial paralysis. The same year he came to Minnesota, and settled at River Point, in Steele county. He was elected to the ninth Minnesota Legislature, and in 1870, resumed his practice of medicine, coming to Geneva in July, 1873.
CHARLES E. VINTON was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, on the 23d of January, 1826. When he was five years old his parents moved to Cattaraugus county, New York, and in 1856, to McHenry county, Illinois, settling on a farm. Charles was married in 1851, to Miss Brit- ana Hurlburt, a native of New York. After a resi- dence of two years in Illinois they came to Min- nesota, and took land in Summit, Steele county. In 1875 they removed to Geneva, where Mr. Vin- ton bought twenty-two lots in the town site, and has since added five more to his purchase. He is the father of three children; Mary, Martinette, and Charles W.
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