History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 49

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

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DR. WILLIAM W. CLIFTON, of Rochester, is a native of Fountain county, Indiana, where his parents, Housen and Permelia (Seeley) Clifton, were early settlers and respected citizens. Housen Clifton, his father, was a physician and came to Olmsted county in 1866, settling on a farm on section eight, Rochester township, where he farmed and engaged in the practice of his profession. He attained much success as a cancer specialist and his patients came from all over the country. Dr. William W. Clifton was born De- cember 9, 1848, and reared to early manhood in, and educated in the public schools of, his native county. He came to Olmsted county with his parents when eighteen years old, and two years

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later was converted to Christianity. He subsequently took up the study of theology, was ordained a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal church, but never followed the ministerial calling. Under his father's tutelage he studied medicine and succeeded him in his prac- tice. In the treatment of external or surface cancer he has had more success than usually comes to the average practitioner, and his fame has extended to remote localities throughout the land. Dr. Clifton's medical education was obtained in the Metropolitan School of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he was regularly gradu- ated. In politics he is a Republican with a strong leaning to prohi- bition and other reforms tending toward the general good of the country.

OLE STEVENSON, deceased, was born in Norway on January I, 1833. Together with his parents he came to America and in 1844 located in La Salle county, Illinois. In 1849 he went to California in company with a caravan of Illinois men to seek gold. They crossed the plains with ox teams and were six months in making the trip. They were in almost constant danger from Indian attacks and thrilling adventures were of almost daily occurrence. They finally reached the Sacramento valley, which was their destination. Mr. Stevenson remained there four years. Upon his return he took a vessel at San Francisco, sailed to the Isthmus of Panama, crossed that fever-stricken neck of land on foot, and then sailed to New York city and came West to his Illinois home. In 1856 Ole Stevenson came to Olmsted county, Minnesota, and, pre-empting 160 acres from the government in section twenty-nine, Salem town- ship, built him a cabin and began clearing and improving the land. The date of his location here was two years after the first settle- ment was made in the township, at a time when everything was wild and unimproved. Mr. Stevenson was one of the best men in Salem township. He worked hard that he might establish a home for himself, wife and children, and in all his actions he was re- garded as a good neighbor, honest in all his dealings, charitable and a conscientious, God-fearing man. He was one of the organ- izers of St. Olaf's church, of which he continued a member until his death in 1873. In the year 1856 he was united in marriage with Esther Saettre, whose parents were among the pioneers of this locality and appropriate mention of whom is included in this pub- lication. To their union these children were born: Severt, in March, 1858; Anna, in January, 1860; Louis, in June, 1862, now married and the father of three children; Inger, in 1865; Martha, in July, 1868, now Mrs. Benedict, of Stewartville, and the mother of four children; and Olena, born in 1872 and died in infancy. The old home farm of 240 acres is now, as it always has been, in the possession of the family. Inheriting the integrity, thrift and

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economical traits of their parents, the children of Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have prospered and are a credit to Olmsted county.

HENRY O. NELSON was born in this township March 16, 1874. (For an account of his parents see the sketch of Theodore Nelson. ) His early life was passed on the farm assisting in all sorts of work and in attending the local district schools. At the early age of six teen years, having finished his education, he rented the old home- stead and, associated with his brother Theodore, worked the place for three years. His brother then buying a farm of his own, Henry O. assumed full charge of the old place and was thus en- gaged until 1898, when he bought the homestead, which consisted of 160 acres, to which he has steadily added until now he owns a total of 240 acres in section fourteen. The place has two sets of good buildings with an abundance of modern machinery, imple- ments and live stock. Everything about this farm has the appear- ance of thrift, industry and good taste. On August 31, 1892, Henry O. married Miss Mathilda Severson, daughter of Stone and Martha, pioneer settlers of Rock Dell township, and both natives of Norway. Her father served four years in the Union army, en- listing in a Wisconsin regiment. He was in several battles and many hard campaigns and was honorably mustered out at the end of the war. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson the following children have been born: Clara M., born January 20, 1894; Stella T., born Feb- ruary 8, 1896; Roy E., born August 17, 1897; Hazel M., born July 23, 1899; a child born October 6, 1901, died unnamed; Esther R., born June 11, 1903 ; James T., born July 15, 1905, lived one year; Alice J., born April 27, 1907; James T., born September 4, 1909. The family worship at the United Lutheran church. Mr. Nelson is a Republican and a member of the M. W. of A. He holds a policy in the Mutual Life Insurance Company, of New York. He owns stock in the Farmers' Elevator at Stewartville, in the Farmers' Lumber Yard and in the Zumbro Creamery.

JOHN A. KENNEDY, one of the farmers and stock raisers of Marion township, Olmsted county, was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1851, a son of Domnick and Elizabeth Kennedy. In April, 1855, he came to Minnesota. John A. was the oldest son, and he was educated and reared to manhood in Marion township. Early in life he decided to follow farming, as had his father, and has thus been engaged all his life.

He now owns and resides on a fine farm of 120 acres in Marion township, located four miles south of Rochester, called "Midway Farm," fully equipped with all modern conveniences, and he is recognized as a most successful farmer in the community. Aside from his stock raising and farming, Mr. Kennedy is also interested

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in dairying. On October 20, 1879, he was married at Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Marion Johanna Andersen. Three children, all living, were born to them, their names being Adelaide Marion, Genevieve Louise, and John Amos. In politics Mr. Kennedy is a Democrat ; he is public spirited and progressive, and although he has always taken an active interest in the administration of local affairs, has never been an office seeker. Mr. Kennedy is a member of the fraternal order of A. O. U. W.

CHARLES IHRKE, chairman of the board of supervisors of Oro- noco township, is a native of the state of Wisconsin, his birth oc- curring near Fond du Lac, December 3, 1866. His parents, John and Frieda Ihrke, were married in Germany, but at an early date came to the United States and for years followed farming near Pine Island, Minnesota. There the father died in 1901, his wife having passed away many years previously. Mr. Ihrke was mar- ried three times, and by his first wife had the following children: Fred S., a farmer in South Dakota; Minnie (deceased ) ; John, farming in Goodhue county. To his second marriage was born one child, Henry. To his third marriage were born two children, Albert, on the old Ihrke homestead, and Mary, now Mrs. 'Mary Ebert, of Zumbrota, Minnesota. When a young man Charles Ihrke worked for several years as a farm hand at wages of $20 a month. By careful saving of his earnings he was enabled in 1893 to pur- chase on time the 260-acre Godell farm in Oronoco township. This has long since been paid for, and on it Mr. Ihrke has erected one of the finest farm houses to be found in the neighborhood. He also has built spacious barns and outhouses, and altogether his farm is considered one of the most prosperous in the county. Mr. Ihrke has experienced all the hard times of the farmer in debt and justly takes pride in having surmounted all obstacles. His acres are in- telligently cultivated and at present Mr. Ihrke and family have an automobile and all necessities for comfort. He has served on the township board of supervisors for eight years, being chairman of same the last two years. In 1893 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Goetsch, daughter of Mr. A. Goetsch, of Wabasha county, and to them have been born the following six daughters : Meta, Valeria, Melinda, Frieda, Leona, and Ella. The family all affiliate with the Lutheran church, of which body Mr. Ihrke has been a trustee for many years.

IRVING ALKER, a native of Olmsted county, is the son of Samuel and Eliza (Searls) Alker, of Oronoco. He was educated in the public schools, and has made farming his vocation through life. For eight years he has owned and resided on his present farm of 140 acres in New Haven township, which is devoted to the cultiva-

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tion of small grain, stock raising and dairying. In April, 1893, he was united in marriage with Miss Hettie Packard, who was born January 25, 1862, on the site of the present Central school prop- erty in Rochester, Minnesota. Mrs. Alker is the twin sister of Mrs. Helen Truax, daughter of Henry Clinton Packard. Mr. Packard was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Rochester, Minnesota, in 1858, and here met and in 1860 married Martha O. Carpenter. The Packard home was in Rochester several years, but later removed to a farm in New Haven township, which is yet in possession of the family. Mr. Packard died November 22, 1903, and was buried in Pine Island cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Alker there have been born three sons, as follows: Lee H., October 29, 1895; Lynn C., June 1, 1897; and Walter I., May 22, 1904. Mr. Alker is one of the modern, intelligent farmers of the county. He is a Republican with independent tendencies, and is now filling his second year as township supervisor. He belongs to the Odd Fel- lows, having filled all the offices of his lodge, and also holds mem- bership in the Modern Woodmen of America. The mother of Mrs. Alker makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Alker, and they have also taken into the family John Snyder, born April 12, 1899. The mother of John Snyder was Mary (Packard) Snyder, born in Rochester, February 6, 1864, and died May 9, 1899, and was buried in Pine Island cemetery.

AMOS WELCH, for forty-six years a resident of Olmsted county, and one of its most respected citizens, was born in Jefferson county, New York, August 27, 1832. His parents, Aaron and Rebecca Welch, came West and for a time resided in Rock county, Wiscon- sin, then removed to Olmsted county, Minnesota, where they passed the remainder of their days. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, as follows: Louise, deceased ; Nancy, deceased; Edwin F., died in 1909; William H., a farmer in Brookings county, South Dakota; Charles P., of Brookings, South Dakota; George R., of Occidental, California; Sidney, at New Salem, Ohio; and Amos. Amos Welch was reared on a farm and has always made farming and stock raising his occupation. He came first to Olmsted county in 1863 and at that time purchased his present farm. In 1864 he moved here permanently. He is the owner of 240 acres in section twenty-seven, Farmington township, and for many years has been a leader in the community where he resides. In 1860 he married Katherine Greenman, who died in 1898, a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Welch four children were born, named, Frances L., a resident of Cascade township; Elmer A., who farms the old homestead; Arthur E., a merchant at Devil's Lake, North Dakota, and Cora May, whose untimely death when a young married woman grievously saddened the lives of her

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husband, parents, bothers and sister. Mr. Welch is a Republican, and while he has never sought public office, he believes it the duty of all men to aid in the good government of the country. He served on the school board for years and as road commissioner, assessor and supervisor.

ELMER A. WELCH, who resides with his father, Amos Welch, and operates the home farm, married Miss Belle Boynton, daughter of Wilbur J. and Emma ( Ellis) Boynton, and they are the parents of these children: Josephine, born November 26, 1895; Cora May, born December 19, 1897; Lelia Belle, born October 19, 1898; and Howard Boynton, born June 17, 1900. The Boynton family were among the earliest settlers of Olmsted county and have always been highly regarded by all who know them. Frances Louise Welch, a former teacher in the schools of the county, married James A. Clason, of Cascade township, county commissioner of the Fifth district ; they are the parents of two children: Cecil Amos, born October 1, 1898, and Verla Katherine, born October 12, 1903. With them also resides Maurice C., born November 10, 1891, son of Mr. Clason and his first wife, Cora May, the second daughter of Amos Welch. Arthur E. Welch married Inez Georgia Hallenbeck, daughter of George and Wealthy (Evens) Hallenbeck, old and highly respected residents of Quincy township, Olmsted county.

ERNEST H. PATTERSON has resided all his life on the farm where he now lives on sections two and eleven, Elmira township, the tract now consisting of 240 acres of excellent land. He is a son of Thomas and Lizzie Patterson, natives of Ireland, who came many years ago from that country to Boston, Massachusetts. The father was brought here as an infant by his parents. After growing up the father engaged in ship building in the East. After continuing that occupation for several years he moved West to Wisconsin and there resided until about 1870, when he came to this county and settled where his son now resides. He first bought a tract of 160 acres. At that time the country was yet very wild and excel- lent land could be had for a song. He selected the farm he did because it had on it an abundance of excellent water, a very im- portant item to a farmer who understands his business. The tract bought was wild and unimproved, but he and his family went to work in earnest and soon had a large part of it under cultivation and good buildings erected thereon. He prospered and ere long added to the first purchase another tract of 160 acres, which he later sold to good advantage. He and his wife had all they could do to rear and educate and clothe their large family of ten children and otherwise prepare them for the duties and pleasures of life. Their home was one of the first in the neighborhood, and the

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E. H. PATTERSON AND WIFE

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family became well known and universally respected. The father at all times was a citizen who had the good of the community at heart. After a useful and active life he finally passed away on December 31, 1907, at the age of seventy-six years. All his chil- dren attended the funeral of their father. The mother died in September, 1875.

Ernest H. was born on the farm here on May 27, 1873, and was educated in the district schools and in the Rochester high school. Finishing his education at the age of nineteen years, he returned to the farm and assisted his father, and in the end inherited the property. In 1908 he added to the farm another tract of eighty acres and since he has held the place has made many valuable im- provements, including a new house, the old one having been de- stroyed by fire. At present he is doing a large mixed farming. He is a Republican; has been treasurer of the Board of Education. He is a member of the United Brethren church. On September 12, 1900, he was united in marriage with Miss Maude, daughter of Sylvester and Carrie Crow, prominent and successful farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have one daughter, who is now in school- Gladys, born November 12, 1901.

ROBERT GEORGE WALDRON, one of Olmsted county's largest land owners, was born in Kalmar township, this county, June 14, 1864, a son of George W. and Anna (Bird) Waldron, natives of Michi- gan and Canada respectively. The grandparents of our subject, Robert and Nancy Waldron, accompanied by their son George W., came to Olmsted county, Minnesota, in 1856, and located in Cascade township, where the grandfather purchased a farm of 400 acres. He resided thereon with his family until his death in 1876. He was born in New York state, later removing to Michigan, and from there coming to Olmsted county. He was a very successful farmer, possessing at the time of his death 720 acres of fine land, and also was interested extensively in the breeding and raising of fine Dur- ham cattle. He was regarded by all who knew him as an extraordi- nary man, and left many friends behind to grieve at the loss of so good a man and citizen. George W. Waldron, the father of our subject, settled in section nineteen, Kalmar township, and remained there until 1883. He then retired from the active duties of life and made his home in the city of Rochester until his death in 1907. While a resident of that place he took an active interest in the ad- ministration of all local affairs, and as a Democrat in politics was chairman of the county central committee for several years. He also served as alderman two terms, and was a recognized leader of his party throughout the community. Socially Mr. Waldron was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, being a master workman of that organization, and in his religious views was a

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member of the Episcopalian church. He was a stanch friend to the unfortunate, and when death halted his career he died a man re- spected and beloved by all who knew him.

ROBERT GEORGE WALDRON, the immediate subject of this memoir, received his education in the grammar and high schools of Minne- sota, and also took a course in Darling's Business College at Roches- ter. He started out in life for himself by learning the carpenter's trade, which has been his principal vocation through life. He spent twelve years in Louisiana as manager of some lumber concern, and also was engaged as timekeeper in the mining districts of Kansas and Missouri for two seasons. He then returned to Minnesota for two years and then spent two years in southern California; then returned to Minnesota and resumed his trade and was thus en- gaged until his father's death in 1907. Since that time he has been actively engaged in the management of the family estate, which at present consists of 700 acres in Olmsted county and elsewhere. On February 4, 1893, Mr. Waldron was united in marriage with Miss La Vira Van Kirk, and to them two sons have been born: George W., born June 21, 1904, and Robert G., Jr., born August 26, 1910. Mr. Waldron is prominently identified with several social organi- zations, being a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbor Society. Politically he is a Democrat and in his religious views an Episcopalian.

WALTER B. SMITH was born in Richland county, Wisconsin, November 12, 1850, and is a son of J. Henry and Melissa (Thomp- son ) Smith, natives of New York state. (For more concerning the parents and their children, see sketch of Nick Smith herein.) Walter B. was educated at the common schools and in youth as- sisted his parents on the farm. On July 6, 1873, he married Miss Ella Vine, of Viola township, she being the daughter of Wendal and Henrietta (Howard ) Vine. She was born July 2, 1855. To this marriage the following children were born: Jay, born Decem- ber II, 1874, now a resident of this township; Ernest, born Decem- ber 28, 1876, now residing in New Mexico just across the line from Oklahoma; Lula Busian, born November 6, 1879, a resident of Dover, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have eight grandchildren. He owns 140 acres of excellent farm land in section seventeen, this township, and is engaged in mixed farming. He raises hay, grain and live stock for the markets. He and family are in comfortable circumstances. In politics he is a Republican, and takes much in- terest in the success of his party ticket. He is a member of the Masonic order at Elgin and of the M. W. A. at Viola.

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JOHN BUSH was born in Massachusetts June 22, 1832, and came to Olmsted county in 1856, where he met and married Miss Matilda Cummings, also a native of Massachusetts, her birth occurring in 1840, and who had been a resident of Olmsted county since 1854. In coming to this locality Mr. Bush traveled by stage from Dubuque to Rochester via Winona. He first settled on a farm near Dover, where he lived several years, and then disposed of that tract and bought another in Eyota township. On this latter farm the father passed the remainder of his days, dying May 6, 1908, a successful man and a good citizen. He was a member of Ashler Lodge, No. 61, A. F. & A. M .; a Republican in politics. The old homestead is still in possession of the family, situated just north of Eyota, and on it Mrs. Bush still resides. To Mr. Bush and wife the following ten children were born: George Henry, our subject; Lewis, who now resides on the old homestead; Mrs. Addie Lewis, of Wisconsin; Mrs. Elizabeth Hobson, of Sparta, Wisconsin; Edna, residing at home; John Avery, of Wells, Minnesota; Eva, Martha, Lawrence, and Howard, at home.

George Henry Bush was the oldest of the children and received his early education in the public schools of his community. At an early date he began the study of drugs, learned the business thor- oughly, and in 1892 started in Eyota, locating in the store which he now occupies. Success was assured him from the start and he now enjoys a large and profitable business. He carries a full and complete line of drugs, medicines, paints, oils, toilet articles, etc. In his political views Mr. Bush is a Republican and socially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Ashler, No. 61. A. F. & A. M., and Orient Chapter, No. 19, R. A. M., of St. Charles, Minnesota.

AMOS BOURQUIN has been engaged in farming and stock raising in Olmsted county since starting out in life for himself. He was born in Rochester township. September 4, 1866, the son of John and Elizabeth ( Newerth ) Bourquin, who were born, reared, edu- cated and married in Germany. Early in life the parents immi- grated to America and settled on a farm in Rochester township, Olmsted county, Minnesota, and this has been the home of the Bourquin family ever since. Amos, the immediate subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Rochester township and his boyhood days were spent in assisting his father with the work on the home farm. He early decided to follow farming as his life's vocation and has always been actively and successfully en- gaged in that line of work. On December 30, 1903, he was united in marriage with Miss Salome S. Kennedy, daughter of Domnick and Elizabeth ( Arble ) Kennedy, old pioneers of Olmsted county, appropriate mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work, and

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they are residing on the old Kennedy homestead in section twenty- two, Rochester township, which consists of 160 acres of finely culti- vated and productive farm land. Mr. Bourquin is a well-read man and bears an exceptionally fine reputation in the community where he resides. In politics he is a Democrat. Mrs. Bourquin is a mem- ber of, and attends, the Catholic church, and Mr. Bourquin is a Methodist.

ORSON R. PEASE, retired farmer, was born at Evans, Erie county, New York, in 1834, and was a son of Charles G. and Cordelia (Smith) Pease, and a grandson of Nathaniel Pease, who came to America from England about 1800 and was a sea pilot in the American navy during the War of 1812. He died at the age of seventy-seven, a patriotic gentleman and an athletic man even in old age. His son, Charles G. Pease, the father of our subject, was a tanner, currier and shoemaker by occupation, and a stanch Demo- crat in his political views. For years he held the office of justice of the peace, having been elected to that position by the Whigs of Allegany county, and he was well known throughout western New York from the fact that he seldom held court, personally ad- justing differences between aggrieved parties before they appeared in his court. His wife, formerly Miss Cordelia Smith, was a de- scendant of an old American Vermont family and a Quaker in her religious views. Their son, Orson R. Pease, was educated in the public schools of Allegany and Chautauqua counties, New York, and until seventeen years of age assisted his father. He then started out in life for himself, learning the carpenter's and joiner's trade, and then for a year and a half followed same at Jamestown, New York. Shortly thereafter he emigrated west to Dubuque, Iowa, and then engaged in contracting which took him to Memphis, Tennessee; Cairo, Illinois, and other cities in the Central States. Subsequently he returned to his native state and in August, 1862, enlisted in the Union cause in Company L of the One Hundred and Twelfth New York Volunteer Infantry. In the service of his coun- try he attained the rank of corporal, and on June 7, 1865, at Elmira, New York, was honorably discharged by the War Department of the United States government. Mr. Pease's service, briefly out- lined, was as follows: Battle of Blackwater, siege of Suffolk, Virginia, near Richmond under General Getty, then to Yorktown, Virginia, thence by transport to Washington, District of Columbia, then to Frederick, Maryland, and then joined the Army of the Po- tomac at Berlin, Maryland. There he was transferred to the First brigade of the First Army Corps of the First division. August 19, 1864, he was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison, Belle Isle and Sealsburg. At Goldsboro, North Carolina, he was paroled. When peace was declared he returned to New York and until 1870

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History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 49

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

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