History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 81

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264

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HISTORY OF GOODIGE COUNTY

Benevolent Society. His political belief is that of the Republican party. Mr. Dahl was married at Red Wing, in the fall of 1870, to Elizabeth Peterson, of this city, a native of Sweden, both of whose parents are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Dahl have been born ten children, seven of whom are living. Martin W., born March 28, 1872, died in September, 1873. Emil A., born July 16. 1873, is married and works in a bakery establishment in Minneapolis. Hjalmar M., born September 15, 1875, is mar- ried, and like his father, is a stone mason in Red Wing. Axel H .: born December 15. 1877. is married and is employed by the Red Wing Furniture Company. Agnes Elizabeth, born July 15, 1880, is deceased. George II., born July 28. 1879, like his brother Emil, is a baker in St. Paul. Herman W., born May 18, 1882, is dead. Arthur E .. born Jannary 16. 1884, and married, is a stone mason, and lives in Red Wing. Ilarry W., born April 21, 1887, lives at Minneapolis, and Alvin A., born April 28. 1888, works in a wholesale shoe house in St. Paul. The family residence is at 902 South Park street, Red Wing.

Orrin Densmore, Sr., was born in Sullivan county. New Hamp- shire, September 22, 1805, and as a child moved with his father's family into the then "out west." settling in the township of Riga, Orleans county, New York. He possessed an unusually studious mind and began teaching at the age of sixteen years. He was soon made a "school inspector," an office which in some form came to him in each and every new place of his residence : in fact, there was little time in all his years when he was not interested in and intimately connected with the advancement of school work. He drew up the Minnesota state school law of 1861, and was a clerk in the office of the superintendent of public instruction, when at the age of seventy years a break down in health obliged him to relinquish all labor. He was a silversmith by trade, but the unfavorable confinement sent him back to farm life. which he followed in New York and in Wisconsin until the 1855, when he engaged in the lumber business in the city of Janesville, Wis., coming in May 8, 1857, to Red Wing, to take . charge of the Freeborn & Co. sawmill, which the new firm of Densmore, McLaren & Co. had purchased. Two years later he was elected as judge of probate and subsequently as county treasurer, which office he held two terms. In 1866 he was elected city recorder, and was made a member of the board of trustees of the State Insane Asylum of St. Peter. He was appointed deputy collector of United States revenue for Goodhue county in 1867. In 1869 and again in 1870 he was elected to the house of representatives, being chairman of the committee on education during both terms. In taking the census of 1870 he acted as as- sistant marshal for the eastern distriet of the county. In 1871,

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at the close of his legislative term, he was given the position of clerk in the office of the superintendent of public instruction, as before recorded, under the late H. B. Wilson. Judge Densmore's forte lay in an ever active, independent, and critical mind, a minute and untiring attention to detail, a strong sympathy for the struggling citizen, and an unswerving integrity. Prof. Wil- son feelingly remarked concerning him: "I never knew a man who so thoroughly detested a trickster as did Judge Densmore." All scientifie topics held a great interest for him, and for many years of the early times of the Smithsonian Institute he sent in his regular monthly reports of weather observations. He died June 3. 1872. In 1828 he was married to Elizabeth Fowle, of New York. She was ever his tactful coadjutant, and was an active worker in the social affairs of early Red Wing. The gloomy days of the Civil War saw her serving most effectively with that band of patriotic Red Wing women who maintained gratuitously - a soldiers' rest, where every journeying soldier was sure to find, day or night. a sympathetic welcome and a warm meal. IIer death occurred in January, 1891.

Peter Joseph Erbar, now living in retirement at Red Wing, where he is enjoying a well deserved rest after years of faithful toil. is a native of Prussia, Germany, born March 2, 1828, son of Ilubert E. and Marggalena (Korp) Erbar, both natives of Germany, the father being a farmer in that country all his life. He was killed by his team of horses, June 28, 1842, and the mother followed him to the grave in the following autumn. Peter Joseph attended the schools of his native kingdom, and like other Ger- man youths of strong physique, served in the standing army of Germany. his period of service being for three years and three months. In 1852 he came to America, and worked a year in New York city as a carpenter. From 1853 to 1856 he worked in Kings county, New York state, and in the latter year came to Olmstead county, Minnesota. where he bought 160 acres and remained until 1858. In the fall of 1859 he first set foot in Red Wing. The following spring he purchased 160 acres in Hay Creek township, and later 160 acres more. This farm was largely wild at that time and he at once set to work breaking and clear- ing the land. Ile erected a comfortable home and remained umtil .1906, when he rented his farm and came to Red Wing, tak- ing up his home with his son. S. M. An independent Democrat in politics, Mr. Erbar served three years a supervisor of the town- ship of Hay Creek and fifteen years as town clerk. July 1, 1863, . P. M. Erbar was appointed a captain of the Tenth Regiment, state militia, by Commander-in-chief Henry A. Swift. He is a good cit- izen, of quiet disposition, and well liked by everybody. Mr. Erbar was married at Red Wing, in September, 1858, to Cath-

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erine N. Burns, daughter of John Burns, Town of Root, Kings county, N. Y. She was born December 8. 1827, and died at the old homestead in Hay Creek, July 25, 1905. Both her parents are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Erbar were born six children. Joseph, the oldest, died in 1881. Engelbert is a sign painter in this city. Ida L. is a milliner in St. Paul. Jessie F. married Edward Reit- man. of Lake City, and has two children, Florence and Lueille. Charles C. is a sign painter in Red Wing. For ten years he was town clerk of Hay Creek, succeeding his father. S. M., the youngest son, was educated in the public schools of his neigh- borhood, and then learned the art of sign painting, at which he is an expert. For several years he practiced this art in Winona, owning a large establishment. Several years ago he sold out and came to Red Wing. He still follows his trade, and is also the proprietor of the Idle Hour billiard hall, a venture of which he has made a pronounced success, showing that such an estab- lishment can be made a place of high class recreation. S. M. Erbar was married April 26, 1905, at Winona, Minn., to Elizabeth Nimz, of that place. The family faith of the Erbars is that of the Episcopal Church.

John H. Elder, an influential citizen of the early days in Red Wing. the builder of the first warehouse in this city, and also one of the first steamboat agents at this point, was born in Elders- ville, Pa., and there attended the primitive schools of his time. His active business eareer was started as a lumberman at Black River Falls, Wis. His integrity and popularity won for him the position of sheriff of Crawford county, an office which in those days required personal strength and moral bravery. Later he became a pioneer merchant at MeGregor, la., and in 1854 caine to Red Wing, which at that time had little to indicate what in the future it was to become. ITere he located and started the ware- house and commission business under the firm name of Elder & Hoffman. He also took the agency for the steamboats, which were then the great carriers of commerce up and down the Mississippi. The warehouse erected by Elder & Hoffman is still standing, a testimony to the stability with which buildings were constructed in those days. The Pike's Peak rush then drew him like a magnet to the westward. At Council Bluffs he joined one of the original overland parties to the peak. They debated for several days whether or not to take the Smoky Hill route or whether they should take another route. Finally they divided. into two companies, one of the parties taking the Smoky Hill route and the other party the other route. Mr. Elder went with the latter party. Not one of the former was ever heard from again. The strain, however, of mining life, proved too much for Mr. Elder, and he succumbed at Denver, Col., February 29. 1859.

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His widow now resides in Red Wing with her daughter, Mrs. Henry Brown. Mr. Elder was a Democrat in politics, a Mason in fraternal associations and in religious faith is a Presbyterian. He was married in May. 1850, at Prairie du Chien, Wis., by the Rev. Alfred Bronson, to Hannah P. Lockwood, daughter of John S. and Margaret (Miller) Lockwood. natives of Plattsburg, New York state. They located at Prairie du Chien in 1839, and there the father became a leading merchant. receiving also.the appoint- ment as postmaster. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood are both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Elder were born four children, Lizzie L., Mar- garet L., Mary S. and John H. Lizzie L. was born February 15, .1852, at MeGregor. Ia., married Henry Brown, a hardware mer- chant at Red Wing. Mr. Brown died September 7. 1897, at Red Wing. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born four children. Fred L., Harry M., Bessie II. and Leland P. The latter died in 1892 at the age of five years. Margaret L. Elder was born July 23, 1854. at McGregor, la. She married Albert DeKay, at Red Wing, December 6, 1876. Mr. DeKay is a traveling salesman. To Mr. and Mrs. DeKay have been born four children-Charles A., Eliza- beth A., II. Eugenia and Ferris W. Mary S. Elder was born Au- gust 13, 1856, at Red Wing, married Earl B. Woodward, of Morris, Min., and is now located at Bismarck, N. D. John H. Elder, Jr., was born at Red Wing July 12, 1858. He married Della Knox, of Livingston, Mont., and is now a leading attorney in Seattle, Wash. He has one son, Henry K., a pupil in a college at Grin- nell, Ia.

John G. Kappel, eity mail carrier, is a native born son of Red Wing, who has chosen to make his home in this city the whole of his life. He was born October 11. 1869, when the country had begun to recover from the ravage of the Civil War, and Red Wing was beginning to show some indications of modern industrial growth. His father. John Kappel, married to Margaret George, a native of New York state, was born in Worfelden, Hessen Darmstadt. Germany, and came to America in the early fifties, locating for a time in Wisconsin. He came to Red Wing in 1864, and engaged in the wagon-making business until 1888, when fail- ing health necessitated his retirement from active business. John G. Kappel attended the public school and business college of this city, and started in life as a dry goods clerk. Jannary. 1888, he entered the civil service as city mail carrier in Red Wing, and in this capacity he still remains. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters. Knights of Pythias and Yeomen. Ife is an independent voter. The family attends the German Lutheran Church. J. G. Kappel was married May 30, 1895. at Featherstone, this county, to Anna D. German, daughter of Henry and Rosena German, of that township, natives of Germany. They

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came to. America and located first in Indiana, later coming to Featherstone in the early sixties and engaging in general farm- ing. Both parents are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Kappel have been born five children-Florence, born March 12, 1896; Ruth, born March 12, 1898; Herbert .I., born March 10, 1900 (de- «eased), Harriet, born July 30, 1903, and Sivilli, born April 22, 1907. The family residence is at 723 Central avenue, Red Wing. Mr. Kappel is the oldest of four children. Lillian, born August 11, 1872, died August 11. 1893. Frederick, born March 13, 1875, is a barber residing at Albert Lea, Minn., and is married to Ger- trude Towle. a native of Goodhue county. Emily, born May 6, 1878, is married to S. H. Moody. of Excelsior, Minn., and resides at Minneapolis, Minn.

James O. Dow, now deceased, many years a prominent stock dealer, was a native of Gorham, Me., born November 13, 1834, son of Abram and Cornelia (Steel) Dow. He attended the public schools of Portland, Me .. and in that vicinity grew to young manhood, later learning the machinist trade. Hle made a trip to Chicago in the early days, remained a short time and returned to Portland, Me. In 1855 he came to Red Wing and a year later located at Cannon Falls. as a stock buyer, combining his business with the lumbering industry. In 1864 he returned to Red Wing and continued to buy stock until his retirement in 1904. Mr. Dow was a Republican in politics and a member of the Knights of Pythias. By his first wife, Angeline Moody, he had one son, Henry J., now in California. After her death Mr. Dow was mar- ried, November 13, 1866, to Marie Ilawkins, and to this union were born seven children-Charles E. (deceased), Mrs. Etta F. Wooders, of Red Wing; Mrs. Minnie L. Drew. of Red Wing; Adeline, of Red Wing; George A. (deceased); Mrs. Grace J. Wing, of Seattle, and Fannie I., of Red Wing. The family attends the Presbyterian Church. At the time of Mr. Dow's death, June 27. 1909, it was written : "The death of J. O. Dow marks the turn- ing of another leaf in the history of our city, another page finished. The record of one of our oldest and most respected citizens is closed. 'To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die,' and thus in a very marked sense will the name of J. O. Dow be cherished, leaving, as he does, besides a large circle of friends, a wife whose loving care softened the pains of a long illness, and a family of whom any father might well be proud.

Levi Woodbury, a retired hardware merchant, of Zumbrota village, and possesor of considerable real estate, was born in Craftsbury, Orleans county, Vermont, July 9, 1852, son of Lorenzo and Catherine (Glidden) Woodbury, the former a native of Or- ford, N. II., and the latter of Greensboro, Vt. The family, con- sisting of the father and mother and five children. Mernetta D.,

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Edwin, Viola, Kate and Levi, came west in 1865. Of tliese Levi is the only one living. After their arrival here they lived for a time at Mazeppa, Minn., and in 1869 came to Zumbrota township, where the father purchased 160 acres of land on section 25, which he broke and improved. and upon which he carried on general farming until 1876. He then moved to Zumbrota, pur- chased a pleasant home, and engaged in the retail implement business, also selling organs, pianos and sewing machines. In 1883 he retired from active life, and continued to reside in the vil- lage until his death, September 10, 1894. Levi received his early schooling in Vermont and at Zumbrota, and spent his summers and spare time farming with his father. At the age of nineteen years he started teaching school on the prairie and continued in this profession three years until entering the implement busi- ness with his father in 1876. In 1883, when this business was sold, he became interested in horses, breeding and shipping Percherons, Hamiltonians and French coach horses until 1894, when he again took up the general hardware and implement business. In 1907 he sold out and retired. In addition to his village property, Mr. Woodbury owns two homesteads of 160 acres each in Big Stone county, which were taken up in 1879 and 1880 by himself and Mary Jane Maley, who was to become his wife. Mr. Woodbury is a Republican in politics, and affiliates with the Modern Woodmen. He was married November 11, 1880, at Benson, Minn .. to Mary Jane Maley, born September 20, 1858, daughter of William and Lizzie (Leonard) Maley, natives of Ire- land. After coming to America they located first in Bridgeport, Conn .. and in 1856 came to Zumbrota. Here the father died, March 17, 1875. and the mother passed away at Aberdeen, Wash., November 10, 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodbury have been born five children. Edwin D., born July 4. 1882, is a hardware mer- chant at Ortonville. Minn., married Francis B. Schrodeski and has one child. Marion Wagner. Leslie M., born November 9, 1884, is a graduate of the State University and a leading dentist of Zumbrota. He married Selma M. Strand, daughter of O. A. Strand. Mark G., born August 18. 1886, is a hardware dealer at Clinton, Minn. Elsie M. is the fourth child. born February 10. 1888. Levi R. A., born November 5, 1894. lives at home. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Henry Blanchard, now deceased. was for many years a memor- able figure in Zumbrota. where his voice was ever raised. and his most zealous work ever given, in the interests of all that was good and desirable, and all that tended to advance the moral, busi- ness and social interests of the village and township. In dying he bequeathed a record of unsullied honor to his children, and left the public a name which would always be the epitome of a

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spotless private life and inspiring public career. Mr. Blanchard was a New Englander, born at St. Johnsbury, Vt .. August 16, 1825. son of an old New England family. He attended the district schools of the Green Mountain state, and in early manhood be- rame a shoemaker, which trade he thoroughly mastered as a youth. In 1857 he came to Zumbrota, then in the first days of its settlement, and like the other pioneers set to work at breaking the land and making for himself a home. After three years, when the face of the wilderness had taken on the aspects of a habitation of man, he again resumed the shoemaking business, which he followed several years, still continuing farming also. He and I. C. Stearns then saw the opportunity for a retail boot and shoe establishment, which. in partnership, they accordingly opened and conducted many years. In 1875 he was appointed postmaster and the office was removed to his shoe store from the store of T. P. Kellet. Mr. Blanchard retained this position until 1887, when he was elected justice of the peace, serving until 1906, when he retired. He served as president of the village council, and as a member of the school board. Until the time of his death he was a member of the library board, in which position he is now succeeded by his daughter, Mrs. G. P. Murphy-a tribute to the respect in which his memory is held and also to her own ability. The Republican platform embodied his political faith, and he was a devout member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Blanchard died August 29. 1908. He was married Septem- ber 27, 1849, at Orford, N. H., to Alavoisa Palmer, who proved a most loving and faithful helpmeet throughout their lives, He preceded her to the grave a few months, dying April 19, 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard were born five children, all of whom, with the exception of one who died in infancy, were given the advantages of an excellent education. Edwin K., born February 16. 1854, graduated from Dartmouth. class of 1878, and is now a civil engineer at Seymour, Minn. Charles H., born in 1856, died the following year. Arthur P., born June 25, 1862, attended the village schools, took a two years' course at Carleton College. read law with his uncle. Judge Charles Blanchard, and is now an attorney at Little Falls. Minn. Caroline M. was born September 8, 1864, attended the schools of her neighborhood. studied at the State University two years, taught school successfully at Zumbrota six years, and is now Mrs. A. E. Drew. of MeHenry, N. D. Mary L., born September 28, 1865, received the best edu- cation that Zumbrota afforded and graduated from the State University in 1888. She was a teacher of languages in the high schools of Minnesota for eight years, her longest term being with the high school at Minneapolis, where she taught German and

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English. She married Gilbert P. Murphy, a traveling salesman, and makes her home in Zumbrota ..

Edwin Woodbury, deceased. was a sturdy figure of respect and honor in Zumbrota for nearly four decades, and passed to the Great Beyond surrounded by the love and regard of those with whom he had for so long been associated. He was born in Ver- mont. April 9. 1846. and there received his education. It was in 1865, at the age of nineteen years, that he came west to Minnesota and located in Mazeppa. Two years later he moved to Zumbrota township, purchased 160 acres of land, which he broke and im- proved, and carried on general farming for many years. In 1888. having acquired a comfortable income. he rented his farm and moved to Zumbrota village. occupying his time in buying and selling real estate and stock. This line of business he followed until his death. June 8. 1906. During his active days he served as president of the village council. as a member of the school board and in other public positions. He was an enthusiastic worker for the cause of Masonry. and was known by the members of that fraternity throughout the state. Mr. Woodbury was mar- ried December 14, 1869, at Mazeppa. Minn., to Roseltha Judd. daughter of George W. and Amanda ( Emmons) Judd, natives of New York, who moved to Mazeppa in 1855. There the father conducted a blacksmith establishment until 1889, when he retired and came to Zumbrota. remaining here until the time of his death. in September. 1900. His wife is also deceased.

James Cram came to Zumbrota in 1856 and for many years after his arrival followed his trade as a joiner. He worked on many of the earliest dwellings in the village. and assisted greatly in the material upbuilding of the place. In 1878 he purchased a stock of furniture and started in the retail business, which he has since followed very successfully, building up a large trade. More recently he has added an undertaking and funeral directing de- partment to his store. After establishing himself here he married Lucinda D. Diekason. daughter of Elbert and Obedience Dicka- son, who were among the earliest settlers of Columbia. Wis. The father died in Wisconsin in 1849 and the mother in California in 1901. Three children have crowned the happy marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cram. Marion L. was born February 7. 1867. Florence J. was born August 5. 1868, and married D. C. Pierce. of Goodhue. Clyde MI .. born April 11, 1882, is an army engineer for the government at San Francisco. Mr. Cram is a Republican in politics, has taken an active interest in public affairs. and has served on the village council and school board. The family faith is embodied in the religion of the Congregational Church. Mr. Cram was born in Scotland. June 18, 1836. His father, who bore the same name, brought his family to America in 1840. and im-

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mediately upon his arrival on the shores of the new country his wife died. After laying her to her eternal rest, the family went from New York city, where they first landed, to Roxbury. Mass., where the father engaged in the weaving industry. he being one of that band of Seotehmen who came to this country for the pur- pose of installing 120 looms for weaving Brussels carpets. In 1848 the family moved to Tariffville, Conn., where the father died. The subject of this sketch started work in a store at the early age of twelve years. Five years later he learned the joiners' trade, which he followed until coming to Zumbrota.

Edward G. Hammer, of Zumbrota village, is prominently iden- tified with the dairy interests of this county. He was born in Stor- dalen, Norway. November 8, 1865, son of Gunder P. and Inge- borana Hammer, the former of whom is a carpenter by trade. These sturdy old people are still living in Norway, the mother being eighty-six and the father seventy-six years old. Edward was given the advantage of excellent training in the schools of his native village, and then learned the shoemaking trade. It was in 1885 that he came to America and located in Zumbrota. Three years later he went to Hallock. Minn., and learned the cheese- making business; subsequent to which he took a two years' course in the Red Wing Seminary. For seven years he engaged in butter and cheese making in Wanamingo, and was the prime factor in establishing the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery. Following this he engaged in the butter business in Goodhne and then re- turned to Wanamingo for two years, after which he came to Zumbrota and purchased the creamery at Goodhne. which he also

owns. While in Goodhue he took the agency for the Lavelle cream separator, which he has since retained, having sold over 1,000 in this county. Mr. Hanner is a member of the village council of Zumbrota. He has served as treasurer of his school district, and while in Goodhue was treasurer of the village school board. In addition to his creamery interests he is vice president of the Zumbrota Clay Manufacturing Company. December 17, 1893, he was married at Red Wing to Ama Sletten, of Wana- mingo, daughter of Ole and Hansena Sletten, the former of whom is a Wanamingo merchant. The fruits of this union are two children as follows: Emma J., born September 21. 1894, and Ottelle G., born July 12, 1897, both of whom are at home. The family worships at the Lutheran Church.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 81

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1264

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264