History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 31

Author: Joseph A. Leonard
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 736

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The Gopher Count is an institution peculiar to Viola. The rav- ages of those pests led to the offering, about 1870, of prizes for the destruction, to boys of from twelve to sixteen years. The tails were gathered and counted once a year, and the occasion grew to be a great picnic celebration, which is still kept up, and held the third or fourth Saturday in June. The age limitation has been removed, and sports of various kinds are provided for, with prizes ranging from $10 to $1. The gophers are diminishing in numbers, but the holiday is losing none of its popularity.

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The Viola Anti Horse Thief Society was organized in December, 1874, with twenty-four members and the following officers: Presi- dent, Z. T. Newsham; secretary, Levi Ketchum; treasurer, C. A. Butterfield; chief, H. Stanchfield; riders, Robert Richardson, Will- iam Seamans, John Mulholland, William Woolley, Levi Ketchum and John Williams. It became a very efficient organization and its existence, comprising most of the best men of the township, pledged to pursue any thief, kept the town from such depredations for years, and it is still in existence and holds an annual supper in the early winter.

The North Viola postoffice was established in the northwest of the township in 1875, with John F. Pratt postmaster. The name was changed in 1880 to Corra, and Orange T. Dickerman was post- master. The office died with the birth of the rural free delivery system.

Mr. Dickerman was from Vermont, coming to Viola at the close of the War of the Rebellion, after service in a Vermont regiment. He was president of the Olmsted County Agricultural Society and vice president of the State Agricultural Society and commander of Custer Post. Grand Army of the Republic.

John Nevins, a farmer living on the west edge of the township, was killed by Frank Bulen, September 18, 1880. Nevins, when under the influence of liquor, was very abusive of his wife and her children by a former marriage. He came home from Rochester that afternoon and after putting his horses in the stable began cursing his wife, who was near by, and threatening to kick her. John Burk, a hired man, interfered for the woman's protection, and Nevins struck him in the face. The men grappled and had each other by the throat in a desperate struggle. One of the Coud girls, Nevins' stepdaughters, ran to the house and called to Bulen that Nevins was trying to kill Burk. Bulen ran out and told Nevins to let go of Burk or he would shoot him, but Nevins took no heed of the warning, which was repeated, and Bulen fired twice with a revolver, the first shot penetrating Nevins' right lung and killing him, the other going wild. He staggered, fell to the ground and in ten minutes was dead. Bulen ran away and was searched for that night, but not found. He spent the night in a stable on the adjoin- ing farm of John English, across the line in Haverhill, and sur- rendered himself to Mr. English early the next morning.

Bulen was about twenty-two years old, of ordinary intelligence, and of an amiable disposition. He had worked for Nevins about two years and had been frequently abused by him. He was indicted for murder, pleaded guilty of murder in the second degree, and was sentenced by Judge Mitchell to four years' imprisonment in the penitentiary.

WV. J. Boynton, a farmer of this township, prominent as a breeder

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of high grade sheep, was elected president of the Sheep Breeders' Association in 1905.

A more than centenarian, Mrs. Lydia Vine, died at the home of her son, William Vine, in this township, March 29, 1908, at the remarkable age of one hundred and four years, six months and thir- teen days. She was a widow and a native of the state of New York, born in 1802. She came to Viola in 1864. She was the mother of Wandell and William Vine, farmers of Viola, and grand- mother of Sheriff Elbert H. Vine.

The population of the township is given in the state census of 1905 as 808.

Village of Viola .- When the railroad from Eyota to Plainview was built through Viola township, a station was established with a grain elevator and the village of Viola was platted in September, 1878. It is located in a beautiful valley surrounded by rich farms and is a thriving little village. The population of the village com- prises about fifteen families.

Simeon Ford opened the first permanent store in 1878, and was postmaster. Plank & Watts were also early storekeepers. There are now two stores in the village, one a general store by George Toogood, built about 1888, and a hardware and drug store by M. L. Sawyer, which he has kept a number of years. Mr. Sawyer is a son of Caleb Sawyer, one of the pioneer settlers.

There are two churches in the village-the Methodist Episcopal, which was the first built, in 1866, and the United Brethren, built soon after, in 1867.

There is a camp of the Modern Woodmen of America and a lodge of the Modern Brotherhood of America.

There is a creamery, which was started about 1903.

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PERSONAL AND FAMILY REMINISCENCES

JOHN RAMSEY COOK, deceased, one of the oldest and best known residents of Olmsted County, was born at Clear Creek, formerly Richland County, now Ashland County, Ohio, May 31, 1825, a son of Thomas, of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and Mary Shields, and grandson of John ad Sarah (Clark) Cook. During boyhood days John R. Cook assisted his father and attended the common schools, studying also during leisure hours, and in this way secured a good, practical education. When twenty-four years old he started out in life on his own resources, came west to Indiana, and after hard work and strict economy opened a general store at Wolf Lake. He possessed the natural aptitude of a trader and his keen business judgment enabled him to accumu- late the nucleus of the competency he afterwards acquired. He did not confine his operations to merchandising, however, but dealt in farm lands, and with the profits of these transactions invested in "Fort Wayne" railroad stock. This, from a monetary stand- point, was eminently successful; the stock greatly appreciated in value and netted a handsome return on the investment. A good share of the money thus invested had been acquired by the cheap- ness of land occasioned by the rush of gold seekers to California, in which Mr. Cook was shrewd eough to invest and realize some $45,000. In 1856 he came to Rochester, Minnesota, then a small frontier village, and embarked in the dry goods, grocery and hardware business and for years was one of the leading business men of southern Minnesota. His activities, however, were not confined to mercantile pursuits, for he disposed of the aforemen- tioned interests in 1864 and became the prime factor in the organi- zation of the First National Bank, of which he was president until his death. At a cost of about $80,000 he built the Cook House, in 1869, and this has since been the leading hotel of Rochester. He also erected the Ramsey Block, corner of Zumbro and Main streets, and the Cook residence, which at that time was an imposing structure built of brick which was brought by team from Winona.

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Aside from his real estate holdings in Olmsted County Mr. Cook owned land in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin and the Dakotas, and was a partner in the milling firm of Mellen, Cook & Hurlbut, of Roches- ter. He also owned the establishment now operated by C. F. Massey & Company. On September 28, 1858, he was united in marriage with Miss Frances S. Olin, who was born in Jamesville, N. Y., August 11, 1834, the daughter of Salathiel and Rachel (Saeger) Olin, and to them were born the following named three children : John R., Jr., April 30, 1859; Frances May, May 21, 1862, who married Fred A. Gooding, and June, June 19, 1864.

Fred A. Gooding and wife were the parents of two children, named Frances, born November 12, 1892, and John Cook, born September 5, 1894. Mr. Gooding passed away May 6, 1910, and his widow is now residing in Casper, Wyoming. When but eighteen years old John R. Cook became a member of the Presbyterian Church, and when the church of that denominaton was erected in Rochester, he subscribed freely and was liberal in later donations. He was one of the forceful characters of Olmsted County, and while a close trader and observer of the human mind and nature, his honesty and uprightness of character were never questioned. In politics he espoused the belief of the Republican party and socially was identified with the Masonic fraternity. On September 10, 1880, Olmsted County lost by death one of her best and most deserving citizens, and many friends mourned that so good a man should be taken away. Quoting from one who knew him well, we will say the following in conclusion: "In the best and broadest sense he was an honest man; he pushed no man to the wall; he took advantage of no man's extremity ; he never had a law suit."

HON. MILO WHITE has lived at his present beautiful home in Chatfield since 1883. He is one of the oldest settlers and residents of the county, and, by reason of his long, industrious and useful life here, deserves more than a passing notice. He is the son of Josiah and Polly (Bailey) White, both of whom passed their entire lives in New England, the father dying in 1880 at the age of eighty years and the mother in 1847 at the age of forty-nine years. Both parents lie at rest in the cemetery at Fletcher, Franklin county, Vermont. There is good reason to believe that Mr. White is a descendant of Peregrine White, the first white child born in New England after the first passage of the Mayflower across the Atlantic to the shores of Massachusetts. In any event the family came originally from England and settled in Massachusetts, where they multiplied and scattered over the country with the passage of time. Milo White was born August 17, 1830, and in youth was given a fair education in the schools of his native town. He finished his education in the Bakersfield Academy, at which time he was fifteen

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years old. He then took a position as clerk in a general store, remained thus employed for two years and then went to Burlington and for several years clerked in another similar establishment. About nine years, altogether, were passed in this sort of work. In the spring of 1855 he came to Minnesota, located at Chatfield, where he has been permanently located ever since, and in the fall of 1856 opened a general store which he conducted for fifty years. When he first came here the town had only a few houses and they were mostly built of logs. He is the oldest living settler here today. For all these years his store was the place of business of farmers for miles around. When he first started out he had to take in trade anything and everything the farmers had to offer, and often parted with his goods for the products of the farm. As time passed he steadily prospered and added to his worldly possessions until he was in comfortable circumstances. He has seen the town grow, has assisted materially in its development and for years has been one of its landmarks. As time passed he acquired interests in other locali- ties and other local industries and institutions. He is now one of the directors of the First National Bank of Chatfield. At an early date Mr. White began to take an active interest in politics. Being an old line Whig, he of course espoused the cause of the Republican party. His ability soon won him recognition in his party ranks and he was placed in nomination for the State Senate and easily elected. He filled this position with great credit and was returned three times, serving in all four terms. He did so well in this important trust confided to him that his party nominated him for Congress and he was elected and served in the National Legislature with ability and distinction two terms. Perhaps the most important part taken by him in his legislative career was in preparing the first bill to pass Congress on the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine. For this

. he was heartily commended by press and public. During all his official career no breath of suspicion rested against his good name. For many years he was trustee and treasurer of the local Methodist church, and at all times has been the friend and helper of progress On June 26, 1858, at Chatfield, he married Miss Hannah, daughter of Joseph P. and Rachel (Ingram) Ellis, and they had five children, two, Clifton and Carolus, dying in infancy. Charles H. is the owner of the largest store at Chatfield; Milo, Jr., is a traveling salesman, and J. C., a lawyer and vice-president of the First National Bank of Mabel, resides at Mabel. Mr. White is now nearing the end of a long, industrious, honorable and useful life. It is a pleasure to write the above concerning a man who has done so much for the community and for progress and humanity generally. In closing this all too brief sketch of one of Minnesota's leading men, a letter from Senator Knute Nelson to Mr. White, dated August 14, 1910, is here appended :

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"DEAR FRIEND: Upon looking through an old Congressional Directory I find that within three days you will have reached your eightieth birthday, and there- fore take this occasion and method to congratulate you on the event. You have had a long, prominent and noted career in our State. You came here among, and was one of, our early pioneers and State builders. You have seen Minnesota grow from a mere frontier settlement into a great State of two million prosperous and happy people. And in this great work of developing and building up our State you have been one of the leaders, one of those great men to whom the State owes so much. I have served with you in our State Senate and in Con- gress, and in both places you took a prominent part and were always faithful and loyal to the best interests of the people. Your manly, fearless and inde- pendent course was always approved by the mass of our best people. The State owes you much, and our people will always hold you and your noble work in kind and lasting remembrance.

"Your most sincere friend and well wisher, (Signed) "KNUTE NELSON."

HON. CHARLES MONROE START, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Minnesota and for many years a practicing lawyer at Rochester, was born at Bakersfield. Franklin county. Vermont, October 4. 1839. a son of Simeon Gould and Mary Sophia ( Barnes) Start, both of whom were also natives of Vermont. His father, of English descent, was a farmer by occupation and his chief charac- teristics were sound judgment and a love of justice. In his native state he served as town representative, selectman and for some twenty-five years was a justice of the peace. Charles M. Start in youth was taught the gospel of hard work and self-reliance. In early manhood he worked as a farm laborer summers and taught school winters in order to obtain money to defray his expenses in securing a better education. He received his scholastic training in the common schools, Bakersfield Academy and Barre Academy, in his native State. In July, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company I, Tenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, was commissioned first lieutenant the following August, and in December, 1862, resigned from the service on the surgeon's certificate of disability. In 1863 he came to Rochester, Minnesota. During his residence here he served as city attorney of Rochester and as attorney for Olmsted county. He became attorney general of Minnesota, a position he resigned in 1881 to accept the appointment by Governor Pillsbury of judge of the Third Judicial District. He was unanimously elected to this position three terms, then resigned in 1895 to accept that of chief justice of the Supreme Court, to which office he has been elected three terms, the last two terms unanimously. Judge Start is a Republican in politics and a Congregationalist in religion. August 10, 1863, he married Miss Clara A. Wilson, of Bakersfield, Vermont, daughter of Judge William C. Wilson, and of the two children born to this marriage but one, Clara L., is now living.

DR. WILLIAM W. MAYO was born May 31, 1819. in Lancashire, . England. He is the son of James and Ann ( Bousal ) Mayo, an old

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English family whose history is traced back to the year 1527. James Mayo followed the sea as a profession with the rank of captain. It was during the boyhood days of William W. Mayo that the persecu- tion of all people who had assisted or sympathized with Napoleon supervened throughout Europe, and William Mayo's tutor in Greek and Latin was one of these expatriated noblemen. He secured his instruction in chemistry from the celebrated John Dalton at the University of Manchester. Educated as a chemist, he crossed the Atlantic in 1845 and for a short time acted as pharmacist in a New York City drug store. He then went to Lafayette, Indiana, and began to study medicine, practicing before he graduated, and con- tinued the practice afterward with his preceptor, Dr. Deming, of Lafayette, Indiana. In 1854 he went to the University of Missouri and graduated in medicine there, and was a pupil of the great sur- geon Hodges. In the fall of 1854, while suffering from fever and ague, he hitched up a horse to a buggy and started off with the intention to keep going until he recovered. When he arrived at Galena, Illinois, he left the horse and buggy and returned to Laporte by rail for his family and effects. Coming back to Galena, he boarded a boat for St. Paul, and while on the boat treated several patients who were afflicted with the terrible Asiatic cholera which was prevalent that year. In January, 1855, leaving his family in St. Paul, he traveled with a pack on his back in company with a companion to Duluth. He made a claim in St. Louis county where West Duluth is now situated and there practiced his profession until the spring of 1856. While residing in Duluth he was made chair- man of the first board of county commissioners. He finally returned to St. Paul and lived in Nicollet county until 1859, when he moved to LeSueur, Minnesota. During the progress of the Sioux war he was at the front as surgeon in New Ulm and he remained there through the great Indian massacre in 1862. In 1863 he was ap- pointed provost surgeon and came to Rochester on recruiting service. Liking the place, he located there one year later. He engaged in the practice of his profession in this city and continued until during recent years. In 1873 he was elected president of the Minnesota State Medical Society, of which he was one of the founders. The winters. of 1870 and 1871 he spent in Bellevue Medical College, New York, and he graduated therefrom, taking an addendum de- gree. He organized the Olmsted County Medical Society twenty- nine years ago, and he has been a member of the American Medical Association for fifty years. He is liberal in his religious views, a Democrat in politics and has served as mayor of his city on several occasions. His trials, hardships, experiences and successes, if pre- sented in detail, would fill a volume and would be well worth read- ing by all who are interested in the honest, the dauntless and the ambitious. In 1851 he married Louise A. Wright, of Scotch

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descent. The six children born of this union are as follows: Two died in infancy ; Gertrude, now Mrs. D. M. Berkman; William J .; Charles H., and Phoebe, who died in 1885. Dr. William W. Mayo has now attained the great age of over ninety-one years. He may look back through many years and view with just pride the work he has accomplished.

ALPHONSO GOODING was one of the foremost citizens of Olmsted county. Honored by the community in responsible positions of fidel- ity and trust, he signally fulfilled all the requirements demanded of him with unusual ability and conscientiousness. As a private citizen he was courteous and considerate and as a business man he won success.

He was born January 30, 1829, at Henrietta, New York, a son of Ebenezer and Mary (Marsh) Gooding. The first authentic record we have of the Gooding family was of Mathew Gooding. who was born in North Pemberton, Somersetshire, England, and served as a soldier under Cromwell. His son George was born in 1633 and was the first of the family to come to America. On Feb- ruary 9, 1685, he was married to Deborah Walker. His death oc- curred October 19, 1719. Their son, Mathew Gooding, the young- est of four children, was born at Dighton, Massachusetts, June 12, 1695, and in 1723 he married Abigail Richmond. He died March 15, 1756, leaving seven children. The fifth child, William, was born at Dighton, Massachusetts, August 25, 1736, and on September 4, 1760, was married to Bathsheba Walker, who was born in Massa- chusetts, October 18, 1743. William Gooding, with his brothers Joseph and Job, served in Capt. Elijah Walker's company, Colonel Pope's regiment, and marched to Rhode Island on the alarm of December 8, 1776. His death occurred April 2, 1778, and his wife died October 22, 1822. Their oldest son, William Gooding, 2nd, was born January 18, 1761, was married to Lydia Andrews, who was born September 3, 1760, and died January 30, 1803, his wife passing away May 29, 1813. Their third son, Ebenezer, was born January 15, 1787, and on December 8, 1808, married Mary Marsh, who was born June 13, 1788. They were the parents of nine children, of which family Alphonso Gooding was the youngest. Ebenezer Gooding died October 10, 1856, his wife's death occur- ing November 10, 1860.

After independence of the colonies had been secured, following the Revolutionary war, William Gooding, accompanied by his two brothers, James and Elnathen, moved from Massachusetts to Ontario county, New York. At a still earlier period in the history of the Colonies the family became connected by marriage with the well-known New England families-Phillips and Rogers-whose advent in America was coincident with the landing of the Pilgrim

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ORLEN L.

ARTHUR C. FRED A. MRS. HARRIET GOODING

FRANK G ALPHONSO GOODING

WILLIAM G. ADA (MRS. AINSLIE)

THE GOODING FAMILY

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Fathers. They are also direct descendants of Governor Winslow, who came on the Mayflower in 1620, and on May 17, 1621, mar- ried Susannah White, this being the first marriage of white persons in New England. Their daughter Elizabeth married Gilbert Brooks, whose daughter, Bathsheba Brooks, married James Walker, whose eldest son, Lieut. James Walker, married Sarah Richmond. Their son, Col. Elnathen Walker, married Bethia Tisdale, whose daughter, Bathsheba, married William Gooding, Ist.

Alphonso Gooding passed his boyhood life on a farm, receiving such education as could be afforded at the time. He was a keen observer and a discriminating reader, and thus in after life acquired an education most practical and valuable in the busy world. When yet a young man he came west to Illinois, where on March 18, 1852, he married Harriet Lacey, who was born in Cataraugus county, New York, August 4, 1831. He later moved to Wisconsin and from there in 1858 came to Olmsted county, Minnesota, and located on a farm eight miles from Rochester in Eyota township. In 1865 he moved to Rochester, which remained his home for the balance of his life. For a time he was engaged in the grocery business with C. H. Morrill. Succeeding this association he engaged in the milling busi- ness at Oronoco as a member of the firm of Gooding, Hebbard & Allis, subsequently known as Gooding & Allis. Their mill was de- stroyed by fire in 1879. Later he was in the grain business with G. W. Van Dusen and continued thus associated until the business was sold out to a British syndicate about 1890.

His prominence in this community, his reputation for the strictest integrity, and his high ability are shown by his nomination to the responsible position of county treasurer and by his triumphant elec- tion. During the two terms which he served he still further ad- vanced his excellent reputation as one of the most substantial and level-headed business men and financiers of this portion of the State. On October 5, 1906, Alphonso Gooding died, lamented by everyone who had the honor of his friendship and confidence.

The family of Alphonso and Harriet Gooding is as follows: Frank E., born January 29, 1853, married Isabella Phelps, of Ripon, Wisconsin, June 22, 1896, whose children are: Walter P., born December 21, 1897, and Isabella, born May 3, 1899; Fred A., born October 12, 1856, married Frances May Cook, March 28, 1889, died May 6, 1910, whose children are Frances, born November 12, 1892, and John C., born September 5, 1894; Ada L., born October 4, 1858, married Charles N. Ainslie, October 9, 1884, whose children are George G. Ainslie, born March 7. 1886; Arthur F. Ainslie, born November 19, 1889, and Kenneth C. Ainslie, born March 27, 1894; Will G., born September 5, 1862, married Ella Furlow, who died June 24, 1892, subsequently married Mae Sheridan; his child Lora, born October 25, 1885, by his first marriage ; Orlen L., born October

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History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 31

Author: Joseph A. Leonard Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Number of Pages: 736

Author: Joseph A. Leonard
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 736