History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 92

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

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Nelson B. Gaylord, first settler of Belvidere, was a man well suited for pioneer life. Stauneh of mind and body, fearing neither difficulties nor hardships, he worthily carved the way for the prosperity of modern times. He was born in Pennsyl- vania, November 1, 1823, migrated to Illinois in 1837 and came

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to Goodhue county. with his brother George, in the spring of 1855, taking up his residence on Rock creek, in the northern part of what is now Belvidere. Later he moved to a location near Wells creek. In 1858 he started the milling business by grinding grain and coffee for his neighbors with a large hand coffee mill. In 1861. he erected a grist mill. which had a large business. He opened a general store and in 1878 was appointed postmaster. Mr. Gaylord took an active part in public affairs, and served in various township and school offices. He also served in the Civil war and later joined the G. A. R. He was married July 8, 1847, to Hanna Lewis. Of the children born to this union, Edwin, Ada. Lot, Archard and Osmer are living. On April 10. 1895, he was married to Caroline Maze Cook, born in Albany, New York, April 6, 1848, daughter of W. II. and Christina (Garrett) Maze, natives of New York. The family came to Columbia county, Wis- consin, in the early days and purchased 160 acres, where the father carried on general farming for a time and then moved to Pine Island township. where he farmed until his death. The mother died in Belvidere. Caroline Maze married her first hus- band. Jacob C. Cook. at Pine Island. April 5, 1865. Mr. Cook was born in Freedom. Cattaraugus county, New York, March 13, 1825. A carpenter and wheelwright by trade, he came west in the early days and worked for a time in the employ of D. C. Hill, also living for a time in Pine Island. He died in Red Wing, July 28, 1878. By this marriage three children were born : William P., who died at the age of three months; Allan C., who after twenty years in the mail service is still employed as a Red Wing mail carrier. and Ralph E .. now employed at the Red Wing Sewer Pine works. After her marriage to Mr. Gaylord. Mrs. Gaylord lived with him at Belvidere Mills until his death, December 27, 1903, after which she moved to Red Wing. where she now resides at 707 Potter Street.

Perry George, of Belvidere township. was born in Sheldon. Wyoming county. New York. April 8, 1847, son of Peter and Anna Maria (Wagner) George, natives of Luxemburg, Belgium, who came to America in 1834 and located in Wyoming county. New York. where they purchased land and carried on a general line of farming until the spring of 1861, when they sold the farm. emigrated west to Minnesota, and settled in Hay Creek township, remaining until the spring of 1862. when they removed to Bel- videre township and bought eighty acres of land, which the father improved, erecting a home, barn and other outbuildings, and carrying on a diversified line of farming. In 1870 they retired and lived with the son on the homestead. The father died in August. 1890, and the mother February, 1901. Perry received his education in the public schools of New York state

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and Red Wing, being taught at the latter place by Rev. J. W. Hancock. He worked on the farm with his father until 1868, when he rented eighty acres which he farmed, also running a threshing machine for five years. In 1869 he purchased eighty aeres in Belvidere township. This was wild land, which he broke, improved and cultivated. In 1872 he purchased the homestead, adding eighty acres, making a farm of 240 acres, on which he conduets general farming and stock raising. Mr. George was married June 10, 1874, to Caroline Isensee of Belvidere township, daughter of Henry and Caroline (Opperman) Isensee, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. George have been blessed with ten children : Alex H., a druggist of Chicago, died at the age of 26 years ; Charles L., is a dentist of Park Rapids, Minn .; Maud married Martin McHugh of North Dakota; Alfred P. is a dentist of Chicago; William II. lives at home; Caroline L. is a teacher living at home ; Julia M., Grover C. and Florence E. live at home, and Julius died in infancy. Mr. George is a Democrat in his political views and has taken an active interest in public life, being a representative in the State Legislature from Goodhue county in 1879. He has also served as county commissioner, was town supervisor one year, chairman for fifteen years, also clerk of school district 33 for twenty years, assessor for twelve years, and justice of the peace for twenty-five years. The family attend the Lutheran and Episcopal churches.

Julius H. Isensee, Belvidere township, was born in Frontenac, August 14, 1860, son of Henry and Caroline (Opperman) Isensee, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1853, locating in Lockport. N. Y .. where the father was employed on the suspen- sion bridge for a short time. He came west to St. Paul, Minn., the same year and in 1854 located in Frontenae, where they pur- chased a home, later taking a homestead of 160 acres in Florence township, where the father carried on general farming and worked at his trade of stone mason until the spring of 1869. when he sold his home and farm and bought 160 acres in Belvi- dere township, to which he added until he had 240 acres. They retired from active life in 1889. The father died in May, 1907, and the mother in September, 1906. Julius II. received his edu- cation in the public schools of Frontenac and Belvidere, after which he took up farming until 1881, when he learned the black- smith's trade, which he followed for five years, in Red Wing. In 1886 he purchased eighty acres of improved land and carried on general farming for five years. Later he sold this land, pur- chasing another eighty acres, where he built a home and other necessary buildings, adding to his land until now he has 240 aeres under cultivation. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and has erected a modern stock barn. He was

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married June 15, 1893, to Alvina H. Kriett, daughter of Peter and Mattie (IIendrick) Kriett, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1860, locating in St. Louis, where the father worked on vessels. Coming to Minnesota in 1875, he took up a home- stead of 160 acres, where he continued a general line of farming until his death in 1881. The mother was married later to John Boesch of Lake City, where she still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Isensee have four children : Henrietta M., Julia A., Alvin L. and Henry D. Mr. Isensee is a Democrat in politics, has served as supervisor for six years, and has been constable and director of school district 117. The family attend the German Lutheran church.

Ammon Larson, one of the early settlers of Belvidere, was born in Norway and brought his family to America in 1855, lived in Wisconsin a year and then in 1856 coming to Belvidere town- ship, where he farmed 160 acres of land, which when he pre- empted it was wild and uncultivated. IIe built the first frame house that was erected on the prairies of Belvidere, and in many other ways assisted in the development of the township. An account of his death is found in the sketch of David A. Larson.

Lewis A. Larson, clergyman, was born in Norway, son of Ammon Larson, and came to this country with his parents at the age of five years. He worked on the home farm in Belvidere township until attaining his majority, at which time he studied for the Methodist ministry, in which holy calling he continued until his death, August 9, 1908. During his long ministry he was stationed at St. Paul; Chicago; Racine, Wis .; Minneapolis ; New- burg. Minn .; Freeport, Iowa, and Lansing, Iowa. His wife, who was Martha Hanson, is living.

Otto A. Larson, son of Lewis A. Larson, was born in St. Paul, February 8, 1879, and there received his early education, also attending the high school at Racine, Wis. Soon after leaving school he came to Belvidere township and took up work on his grandfather's old homestead, where he now carries on general farming, owning, in addition, a neighboring tract of eighty acres. In 1908 he erected a fine new barn. Mr. Larson is a Republican in polities and belongs to the Norwegian Methodist church, in which denomination his father was a clergyman. Otto A. was the fourth of a large family of children. The others are as follows: Marion A., wife of Oscar Swan, of Beach. N. D .; Jennie E., wife of Andrew Tollefson, a Chicago printer; Abner B., of Belvidere ; Lillian M., wife of Lester Hanson, a railroad mail clerk in South Dakota: Dennis J., a timekeeper for Turner & Johnson at Chi- vago; Caleb F., who lives at home; George W., also a timekeeper for Turner & Johnson, at Chicago. For three generations the

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family has been highly esteemed, and its members all occupy an honorable place in the community.

David A. Larson was born in Belvidere township, August 4, 1859. son of Ammon E. and Bertha (Davidson) Larson, natives of Norway, who came to America and located in Iowa in 1855. July, 1856, they came to Goodhue county and started as new beginners on the farm that their son, Rev. L. A. Larson, bought about ten years ago. Ammond Larson was born February 20, 1823, and was drafted to serve in the Civil war. He was mustered May 27, 1864, in Company D, Second Minnesota Volunteer Infan- try, and was discharged for disability May 22, 1865. He was taken ill and came home, where he died a month later, September 2, 1865, and was buried beside the Methodist Episcopal church in Belvidere. His wife, Bertha, who is still living, was also born in Norway, July 24, 1827. They had seven children, of whom only two are living. David, and John A. of Tennessee. David received his education in the public school of Belvidere and worked on the farm until 1880, when he rented eighty aeres, and five years later purchased eighty. In 1886 he bought his present farm in Belvidere township and has since sold his eighty acres. He now carries on general farming and dairying. He was married November 10, 1886, to Helena Olsen, of Gilman, Pierce county, Wisconsin. She was born in Norway, December 27, 1859, daughter of Christopher Olsen, born in Norway, August 3, 1825, and Anna Maria (Peterson) Olsen, born April 5, 1823, also a native of Norway. They came to America in 1865, and located in Racine, Wis., where they lived for five years, the father a carpenter by trade, being employed at woodwork. In 1870 they moved to Gilman, Pierce county, Wisconsin. and purchased eighty acres of land and farmed until 1886, after which they removed to Hutchinson, Minn., where the father had charge of the Norwegian Methodist Episcopal church for two years. Then they returned to the farm, where the father died November 17, 1890 and was buried in Martell, Pierce county, Wisconsin. The mother died in St. Paul. Minn., May 7, 1899, and was buried at Forest Home cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Larson had four children : Clarence Alvin, born August 12, 1887, now an electrical student, of St. Paul; Alison Bernard, born November 3, 1889; Edwin Fletcher, born July 2. 1894, and Lilly Ruth Delia, born June 10, 1898, all of whom are at home. Mr. Larson is a Republican in his polities. He has served as township supervisor for the past three years, road master for four years, and clerk of school dis- trict 32 for the past twelve years. The family attend the Meth- odist Episcopal church in Belvidere.

William H. Labbitt, proprietor of Maple Lawn farm, Belvidere township, was born in Wabasha county, Minnesota. July 21, 1865,

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son of George and Mary (Hutchinson) Labbitt, natives of Eng- land and New York state. The father, a farmer, came to America in 1839 and located in New York state until 1856, when he emigrated west to Minnesota, and settled in Winona, remain- ing one year, after which he removed to Lake City and purchased 160 acres of land, where he carried on general farming until his death, December 10, 1901. The mother died November 4, 1900. William received his education in the public schools and worked on the farm until 1890, when he bought eighty acres of land in Belvidere township, later purchasing 160 aeres more, making many improvements on the land and buildings, and erecting a modern barn in 1900. He raises fine horses, short-horn cattle and other stock and carries on general farming. Mr. Labbitt was married September 10. 1890. to Ella M: Brown, daughter of Walter and Mary (Pearson) Brown, natives of New York and England. The father. a carpenter and shipbuilder, came to Minnesota in 1857 and located in Lake City, where he pre-empted land and carried on general farming until he retired in 1894, and removed to Lake City, where he died JJuly 25, 1901. The mother died January 21. 1906. The father was a veteran of the Civil War. The old homestead remained in the Brown family until the death of Mrs. Brown. Mr. babbitt's father and Mr. Brown were of the early settlers, who used shingles as currency, there being no money in circulation. Shingles denoted so much money and were considered legal tender. Mr. and Mrs. Labbitt . have three children : Raymond W .. born June 21. 1891; Ralph II., born May 30, 1896, and Herbert W., born Angust 5, 1900. Mr. babbitt is a Prohibitionist in his political views, and has served as treasurer of school distriet 33. He is now serving as constable. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.

John Martens, Belvidere township, was born in Hanover, Germany, July 23, 1846, son of Deitrick and Margaret (Hatrig) Martens, natives of Germany. The father died in August, 1846, and the mother passed away in Belvidere. John received his edu- cation in the public schools of Germany, after which he learned the trade of brick and stone mason, which he followed until 1865. He then went to England. where he was employed in a sugar factory, remaining nine months. In 1866 he emigrated to America, coming to New York, where he stayed for a short time, working in a sugar factory, then came west to Minnesota, set- tling in Belvidere township, where he purchased 160 acres of wild land in section 14, which he cleared and improved, later purchasing an additional 160 acres in section 22. Here he built a home, barn and other outbuildings and now carries on general farming. He also has 160 acres in section 26 and 160 aeres in

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Gilford township, Wabasha county, all of which is under cultiva- tion. He raises Percheron horses and fine stock, including full- blood and short-horn Durham cattle. In November, 1871, Mr. Martens was married to Anna C. Schmidt, daughter of Hans and Mary (Fitch) Schmidt, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1865 and located in Belvidere township, where they purchased land and carried on general farming until the death of the father in 1893. The mother is still living at Red Wing. Mr. and Mrs. Martens have had thirteen children : Mary, married to Diek Burfiend, now of Washington: John, a granite worker at Lake City ; Margaret, married to Henry Reinke, of Belvidere; Katie, married to Adolph Amundson, of Belvidere; Johanna, married to Henry Siewert, of Gilford, Wabasha county; Edward S., now of Montana; Henry, who lives near Goodhue; Frank, Emma, Bernard. Charles, W. and Lawrence, who are at home, and Diek, who died in infancy. In his political views Mr. Martens is a Republican. He has been director of school district 33 for seven years and is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator of Goodhue, in which township he also owns other property. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church, of which he has been a trustee for thirteen years.

Anton Schafer, Belvidere township, was born in Hay Creek township January 27. 1868, son of John and Gertrude (Strom- berg) Schafer, natives of Germany, who came to America July 26, 1866, and settled in Hay Creek, where they rented eighty acres of land and carried on farming for a period of five years. In 1871 they purchased 160 acres in Belvidere township. A part of this land was improved and had a log house on it. The father continued to improve the place, built a home, barn and other necessary buildings, and added more land from time to time. until he owned at the time of his death 600 acres, of which 160 acres are in Wabasha county. Hle retired from active life in 1895 and died November 11, 1905. The mother is still living on the homestead, at the age of seventy-six years. Anton Schafer re- ceived his education in the public schools of Hay Creek and worked on the farm at home until 1896, when he came into possession of 240 acres of improved land, and has since carried on general farming and stock raising. February 2. 1898. he was married to Margaret Meyer, daughter of John and Katie (Bur- fiend) Meyer, the father a native of Germany and the mother of America. The father came to Ameriea August 6. 1868, and was employed at farm work in Belvidere township six years. In 1874 he purchased 160 acres in the same township and carried on a diversified line of farming. He is now retired and lives in Lake City. Mr. and Mrs. Schafer have two children: Arthur .J .. born September 12, 1900, and Vincent A., born September 14,

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1905. Mr. Schafer is a Republican in his polities and has served four years as town supervisor, has been chairman for the past three years, and clerk of school district 23 for fourteen years. He is a director in the Hay Creek Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany. The family attend the German Lutheran church.

Howard M. Scovell, president of the First National Bank of Goodhue, is a native of Minnesota. born at St. Charles. Winona county, April 22, 1861, son of Harris and Sarah (Owens) Scovell, natives of New York state. The father conducted a foundry and milling enterprise and was also interested in various other busi- ness affairs. He sold out and came west in 1856, locating at St. Charles, this state, where he was proprietor of a hotel five years, He then sold out and located at Waseca county, Minnesota, where he was also proprietor of a hotel and general store. Ilis hotel was destroyed by fire, so, selling his general store, he removed to Murray county, this state, where he procured a number of aeres of land. This he broke and cultivated, following a diversi- fied line of farming until his death, in 1895. Everything was then sold and Mrs. Scovell took up her home with her son, where she died in 1899. Howard M. received his education in the public school. after which he took up farming with his father until twenty-one years of age. Ile then became operator and station agent for the Omaha & Northwestern railroad. which work he followed until 1883, when failing health compelled him to resign. Returning to his farm. he remained there two and one-half years, after which he resumed his work as railroad station agent. holding this position two years. In 1897 he entered the banking business as cashier for Dunlap Brothers' bank, at Leadyard, Iowa, which changed hands and became known as the First City bank. In July, 1900, Mr. Scovell was elected viec- president of the City Bank at Goodhuc. F. W. Speneer was president and C. A. Arpke was cashier. At the reorganization in 1905 Mr. Scovell was elected president, which position he now folds. Mr. Scovell was married October 26, 1889, to Matilda J. Bunnworth, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Monahan) . Bunnworth, of Elmore. Her father, a native of New York, was as veteran of the Civil War. He served in Company D, New York Light Artillery, and was badly wounded. After his dis- charge he eame west and carried on general farming until his death. His wife is still living at Elmore, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Seovell have five children: Marion, born in July, 1891; Myrtle, born in July, 1894; Franees, born in March, 1896; Esther, born in November, 1902; Archer B., born in November, 1906. Marion in 1909 graduated from the Red Wing high school, Myrtle grad- uated from the public school in Goodhue in 1909, and Frances in 1908, while Esther and Archer are at home. The family attend

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the Methodist Episcopal church at Goodhe. Fraternally Mr. Scovell is a member of Mason lodge, of Elmore, and also of the Woodmen, of which he is treasurer. Politically he is a Repub- lican and has served five terms as mayor of the village. He has been treasurer of the school district since 1901. The Goodhue Telephone Company, in Goodhue, was organized by him and he was manager for a mumber of years, until he sold out to Parkins & Meyers, who now have 500 subscribers. Mr. Scovell occupies an important position both in business and social life, and he and his family are highly regarded throughout the community. It is to the men of his stamp that the county owes its financial and business stability.

John O'Reilly has been a conspicuous figure in the life of Goodhue township for many years. He has served as town supervisor three different times, and has occupied a position on the school board for the past twenty years, being at the present time treasurer of district 37. At the organization of the Good- hue Farmers' Elevator in 1906 he was appointed manager and held that position for abont a year. The Catholic Temperance Society will long remember him as one of its charter members, he being one of the six still living who were present at the organ- ization in 1872. The others are: George and David Franklin, John Connell, Edward and George Rowles. In the Catholic Foresters, of which Mr. O'Reilly has long been a member, he is at the present time treasurer. The subject of this sketch first saw the light of day in Wisconsin, November 22, 1857, and came to this county with his parents in 1864, receiving his edu- eation in the public schools of Belle Creek township. He farmed with his father until 1882, when he purchased eighty acres, to which he later added eighty more. He now carries on general farming, raising the usual erops and breeding horses, sheep and cattle. He was married February 15, 1882, to Bridget Keane, daughter of John and Margaret (O'Connors) Keane, natives of Ireland, who came to America in 1849 and located in New Haven township, Olmsted county, where they farmed 480 acres. The father is now deceased, but the mother still lives on the old homestead, making her home with her son. She is still in comparatively good health at the venerable old age of ninety years. Five children have blessed the O'Reilly home. Dennis W., the only one living, was born August 4, 1888, and took a four years' course in St. Thomas College, after which he re- turned to the home farm, where he now lives. John and James, who were twins, are dead, as are two others who did not survive early infancy. James and Hanora (Benton) O'Reilly, parents of John O'Reilly, came from Ireland in 1851, and located in Troy, N. Y., where the father worked as a farm laborer three

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years. Then he moved to Wisconsin and worked on farms until 1864, when he brought his family to Belle Creek and purchased 183 acres of prairie land. on which he carried on general farm- ing. Later he bought eighty acres more, which he also operated until his death. in 1892. His wife passed away in June, 1880.

Conrad Meyer, formerly an active farmer of Goodhue town- ship. has now rented his large farm and is enjoying a life of comparative rest, after many years of hard work. He has served as town supervisor and road overseer and in many other ways has assisted in the general prosperity of the township. Mr. Meyer was born in Germany April 3. 1850. and after receiving his schooling in his native country took up farming and car- penter work: In 1866 he came to America. and followed his trade three years as a carpenter in Milwaukee. subsequently working on farms in Goodhne until 1873, when he purchased eighty acres of his own. To this he soon added 160 acres more, and on the homestead of 240 acres carried on farming until 1901. when he retired. Since that date he has rented his farm to others. Politically he has always been a Republican, and religiously he is a member of the German Lutheran church, of which he has been trustee nine years. Mr. Meyer was married in July. 1875, to Maggie Tipke. of Goodhue. daughter of Peter and Catherine (Behrens) Tipke, natives of Germany, who, after migrating to America in 1868. located in this township and pur- chased first eighty acres and then 160 acres, where they carried on farming many years. The mother died March 4, 1900, but the father is still living, having reached the advanced old age of eighty years. Henry Meyer and Dorry (Dickman) Meyer, par- ents of Conrad Meyer. came to America in 1860 and located in Towa, later going to Illinois, in which state the father died in 1870, the mother having passed away in Germany in 1861. Aside from Conrad, they have three children living. William is a real estate dealer in Iowa. and the sisters are Lena and Annie.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 92

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