History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 63

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

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out the county, where he is well known as a stock buyer. Since disposing of his meat market Mr. Rommel has not been actively engaged in any particular line of business. He is a public spirited man, and takes an active interest in any movement that tends toward the betterment of the county and community.

THOMAS E. KENNEDY was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1845, and is a son of Michael and Mary Ann (Bender) Kennedy, who were prominent farmers of the Keystone state, the father being a native of Ireland and the mother of Germany. Thomas E. spent his youth on his father's farm assisting at the routine of work and in the meantime secured a fair education at the district schools. He left home at the age of 15 years, and began for himself. In 1861, when 15 years old, he worked for $4 per month, and at that time was obliged to pay $4 for a pair of boots. In 1862 he began work on a farm for $7 per month, and was thus occupied for seven months. He was the youngest of four brothers to serve in the Union army. His brother Charles volunteered under the first call for 75,000 men. His brother Domi- nick enlisted in September, 1861, in Company E, Fifty-fifth Penn- sylvania regiment. He served two and a half years in South Carolina, at Port Royal and Fort Beaufort, and was in several sharp skirmishes. In April, 1864, the regiment was in the James · River campaign, under Gen. B. F. Butler, and participated in the bloody battle of Cold Harbor. Later it participated in other battles and skirmishes. Dominick was finally taken prisoner at the battle of Fort Harrison, in October, 1864, while assisting to carry a wounded comrade from the field. He fianlly died in rebel prison February 18, 1865. His brother Augustine enlisted in September, 1861, in Company K, Third Minnesota regiment, and served three years and eleven months, and was in numerous pitched battles, skirmishes and harassing campaigns. Thomas E. enlisted in Sep- tember, 1862, in the Fourth regiment of Pennsylvania state troops, under the special call of Governor Curtin for men to assist in repel- ling General Lee from Maryland. This regiment was under Gen- eral Reynolds in McClelland's right wing at the battle of Antietam. On the night of the 19th of September, 1862, the regiment helped to guard the Potomac river at Williamsport, and while thus engaged were shelled by the Rebel batteries. On September 20 the regiment marched from Williamsport to Greencastle, sixteen miles, in the afternoon, to assist in heading off General Stuart's cavalry. In this march the regiment were without tents, and were working for $1I per month, and were obliged to forage for most of their rations. In March, 1864, Thomas E. came to Rochester, Olmsted county, Minnesota, and worked on a farm the first summer for $14 per month. He enlisted April 6. 1865, in Company H, First Minne-

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sota regiment, was mustered in at Fort Snelling, and sent to Chicago, where his company did guard duty during the obsequies of President Lincoln. Company H then went to Washington, D. C., and Alex- andria, Virginia, and soon afterward at Munson Hill became a part of the First Brigade, Second division, Second army corps. After the grand review at Washington, Company H saw service in West Virginia and Kentucky, and were finally discharged a Fort Snelling July 28, 1865. Subject was mustered out as a corporal. He is now Past Commander of the G. A. R. at Stewartville. He returned home and rented a farm, which he worked until 1870, when he bought 80 acres in section 12, High Forest township, and here his home has been ever since. He gradually added to the place until now he owns 300 acres of excellent land, with good buildings, etc. He is up-to-date in all his business operations, and is promi- nent and public spirited. He is a charter member of Father Mathew's Total Abstinence Society, of which he was the first vice president, and afterward president and treasurer. He was chair- man of the building committee which erected the hall at a cost of $2,500. He helped to organize the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery Company in 1897 at Simpson. He raises Norman horses, Durham cattle, Poland China hogs, Shropshire sheep, Toulon geese, Bronze turkeys, Pekin ducks and Brown Leghorn poultry. He is a Repub- lican, and has served as school treasurer and supervisor. He is both popular and prominent. In 1871 he married Miss Mary Twohey, whose parents were pioneers of this township. Her father is dead, but her mother is yet living at the age of 93 years, and resides with her. This old lady is clear-headed and quite strong, and takes much interest in the advancement of her grandchildren. To Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy the following children were born: Mary E., born July 10, 1872, married J. P. Griffin and has two children; Timothy F., born September 6, 1874, married, is assistant postmaster of Rochester; William B., born September, 1876, died in infancy; Anna, born August 3, 1879, has taught school, but is now at home with her parents; Gertrude K., born July 11, 1881, married C. Enright, has one child; Clara, born February 7, 1883, with her parents; Celia R., born December 23, 1886, with her parents ; Walter J., born August 4, 1888, now a student at the State Agricultural College. Mr. Kennedy served as school clerk for fifteen years, and until he resigned, and was the first farmer to take his children to school by team in the winter. He has always advo- cated good and better schools.

JOHN LA BARE was born in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, Jan- uary 14, 1876, and during the same year was brought to Viola township, Olmsted county, by his parents, and here he has resided ever since. His father, Elihu La Bare, was born in Hinckley, Ohio,

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May 23, 1842, and came with his parents in the fall of 1864 to Viola township, and with the exception of five or six years spent near St. James, Minnesota, resided here continuously until his death, November 13, 1907. The father was married in the state of Wisconsin to Miss Emma Jones, of Juneau, November 29, 1868. She was born March 8, 1852. To this union seven children were born, as follows: Mrs. Hattie Cunningham, of Viola township, born June 9, 1870; Miss Anna, born January 8, 1873; John, born January 14, 1876; Mrs. Susie Williams, of Viola township, born September 23, 1879; Dora, born June 1, 1885; Ralph, born Sep- tember 28, 1890, died March 25, 1898; Clifford, born October II, 1894. Four of the children, John, Anna, Dora and Clifford, remain on the old homestead in section 15, Viola township. They own 425 acres here, besides 120 acres in Langlade county, Wisconsin. This family might have remained residents near St. James had it not been for the grasshoppers. When they went west they drove with an ox team, and by the time they had a shanty built they had to borrow money of a brother who lived near with which to start housekeeping. They bought some stock as soon as they could raise the means. When they came away they had a lot of cattle, which helped to sell the place. On account of the grasshoppers the land was not worth much at that time, for those pests had been through that part of the country three years in succession. When grasshoppers had been present twenty-four hours the crops were not worth anything. The family sold out for about $1,200. When they returned from that point they purchased the place where four of the children now reside. John is a member of the Methodist church at Viola, and is a member of the Republican party. He is prominent and public spirited, and takes interest in all things calculated to benefit the community. Their fine modern home tells of their thrift, intelli- gence and comfort.

ARTHUR E. VROMAN, residing on section 31 in Kalmar town- ship, was born June 12, 1858, in Madison, Wisconsin. He is one of four children, two now living, born to the marriage of William Vroman and Elizabeth Pratt, and is a grandson of Abraham Vroman and great grandson of Barney Vroman, of Dutch descent. When Arthur E. was 4 years old his father died, and he then went to live with Sim Dresbach, with whom he came to Olmsted county in 1863, and one year later Mr. Dresbach enlisted in the Union army. Then Arthur E., at the age of 6 years, went to live with A. J. Dibell who, in 1864, bought the farm where Byron now stands. In those days there was no Byron, and no railroads, noth- ing but log houses everywhere. Mr. Vroman has lived near Byron ever since. While he lived with Mr. Dibell he was well treated and had a good home. He was reared to hard work on the farm

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and in youth secured only a common school education. For a period of twelve years he worked for one man, but for the last several years has rented land, and by industry and economy has acquired considerable property, and has earned the reputation of being an excellent farmer and an honest, upright citizen. While interested in all that pertains to the general good of the community, and a Republican in politics, he confines his attentions, largely, to carrying on his farm work. January 6, 1881, he married Miss Hattie Schnover, of this township, by whom he is the father of ten children, named Ethel, Myrtle, George, Harry, Frank, Stella, Annie, Cora, Arthur and Marjorie.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON was born August 29, 1838, in Cumberland county, England, and is a son of John and Mary (Newton) John- ston, who came to the United States in 1850 and for a short period resided in the state of New York. They then moved west to Illinois and located near the city of Elgin, and there resided six years, engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1856 William came with his father to Olmsted county and located in Kalmar township, where he purchased 160 acres in section 23, and there continued to reside until 1885, when he located permanently in Byron. He is one of the oldest settlers of the county, and well recollects when Rochester had only a few dozen inhabitants. He has ever been prominent in the locality where he lived, and has always had the respect of his neighbors. He has held the various township offices, and has other- wise shown his interest in public affairs. He is an Episcopalian and a member of the Workmen of America. He is a Democrat, but cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. On Feb- ruary 24, 1870, he married Mary Jackson, a daughter of Joseph Jackson, a native of England. Four children were born to this union : Clarence Joseph, Cora Bell (deceased), William and Jennie.

HENRY N. REYMORE was born in Oswego county, New York, August 20, 1861, and is a son of Nelson R. and Louretta Reymore. He attended the common schools in the state of New York until he was 13 years old, when he branched out for himself. He arrived in Olmsted county in 1874, and here ever since he has resided. He worked for some time by the month on farms, and saved his sur- plus money, and before long was able to buy a farm of his own in Rochester township. This he occupied until 1909, when he sold out and retired from active operations. During his residence on the farm he carried on extensive operations, raising grain, hay and live stock. In 1898 he was appointed superintendent of the Olm- sted county poorfarm, and served as such for three years. He is · a Republican, and takes great interest in the success of his party tickets. He is modern and public spirited, and has the reputation

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of being a thoroughly honest man. In February, 1882, he married Miss Manetta, daughter of J. D. and Carrie ( Richards) Terry ; she was born in Oronoco village, July 26, 1857. Her father was for many years a carpenter in Olmsted county. To Mr. and Mrs. Reymore the following children were born: Carrie, born Octo- ber 3, 1883; Louretta, born January 12, 1885, died October 1, 1894; George Henry, born June 3, 1887, married Josephine Worthington, and resides in Rochester; Mary E., born February 8, 1893, yet in school. The family are members of the Methodist church. He is an Odd Fellow and his wife a member of the Rebeccas. He has passed through all the chairs of the local Odd Fellows lodge, and has served as an officer of the grand lodge. He served as delegate to several lodge conventions.

JAMES C. TRACY, engaged in the grain and coal business at Rochester, was born in Westchester county, New York, May 25, 1870, a son of John P. and Rose Ann (Smith) Tracy. The father was a native of County Galway, Ireland, his birth occurring May 21, 1836, early in life he immigrated to America, and after finishing his education in the public schools of this country, engaged in farm- ing in Westchester county, New York, until 1874. He then emi- grated west to Minnesota and bought the "John Plank" farm, in Eyota township, Olmsted county, on which he followed agricultural pursuits until 1902. Sickness prevented any further participation in the active business cares of life, and he removed to Wabasha, Minnesota, where he died in 1907. His remains were laid at rest in St. John's cemetery, at Rochester. His wife still survives him and makes her home in St. Paul, Minnesota. To Mr. and Mrs. Tracy the following children were born: Dr. John Smith, deceased, a well-known practicing physician of Winona, who died at Honolulu, aged 42, while in search of health; Sister M. Leo, directress of the Winona Seminary for Young Ladies; Mary, wife of James Keating, editor of Wabasha, Minnesota, Herald; Mrs. Dr. F. J. Halloran, of St. Paul; Mrs. T. J. Ryan, of St. Paul; and Matilda A., teacher in St. Paul high schools.

Of the above named children James C., the subject of this review, received his early education in the public schools of Olmsted county. This was supplemented by courses in the Christian Brothers College, of St. Joe, Missouri, and the Business College, of the same place. Subsequently Mr. Tracy returned to Olmsted county and has since been actively and successfully engaged in the grain and coal business. On May 6, 1908, he was married to Miss Anna Kelly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Ford, of Rochester. She was born Feb- ruary 16, 1880, at Fountain, Minnesota, and to this union one daughter has been born, named Rose Ann, February 10, 1909. Mr. Tracy has been prominent in local public affairs, is a Democrat

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in his political views, and was town clerk of Eyota for about eight years. As the Democratic candidate for county auditor he was twice defeated, and is now the nominee of his party on the state ticket for warehouse commissioner. He is a member of St. John's Catholic church, and is identified with the Commercial club and the Coal Dealers' and Grain Dealers' associations of Minnesota.

JOHN W. MERCER was born in Licking county, Ohio, 1832, and is a son of Aaron and Mahala Mercer, both of whom were born in Virginia, and were of Irish descent. The father was a fuller and carder by trade during his early years, but later in life took up farming and continued the same until his death. John W. spent his boyhood at work on his father's farm and in the meantime secured a limited education in the country schools. When he was 17 years old he began to run a carding machine, having learned how from his father, and continued thus employed for two years. This work was done in Indiana, where the parents had settled in 1844. After that he worked around among the neighbors and was thus engaged until 1853, when he married Miss Cathrine Haney, and to this union the following children were born: Mary Ann (deceased) ; Mrs. Susan E. Whited; Mrs. Elizabeth Kepler; Nancy J. (de- ceased) ; Liddie R. (deceased) ; Mrs. Ellen Whited; Jacob (de- ceased ) ; George W .; Mrs. Katie A. Tyler; Mrs. Jessie B. Weeks; Mrs. Clara Bell (deceased) ; Mrs. Daisy Baker (deceased). In 1862 John W. Mercer enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Infantry regiment, under Capt. James Bis- sell, and was with General Sherman in the Atlanta campaign. He participated in twenty-three different engagements besides many skirmishes and hard campaigns. He served with high credit until the end of the war in 1865, when he was honorably mustered out and returned to his home. Soon after his discharge at Indianapolis he came to Minnesota and bought a tract of 65 acres in section 3, Pleasant Grove township, Olmsted county, and upon this farm he has remained ever since. During his long life here he has become well known and has the high regard of all who know him. He is a member of the G. A. R. and of the United Brethren church. He is a strong Republican, and takes much interest in the success of the party ticket. He has ever been public spirited and willing to aid all worthy movements.

CHRISTOPHER ISAACSON TVEDT was born in Norway Novem- ber 26, 1827, and immigated in 1853 to the United States by sailing vessel, which required ten weeks to cross the Atlantic ocean. He and his wife and a brother, T. B. I. Tvedt, came first to Wisconsin, where they remained a few months, and then came to Olmsted county, Minnesota, and pre-empted 160 acres (40 acres being in

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Dodge county) mostly in section 7, Salem township. They built a small log cabin, in which they resided many years, and in that rude home their children were born. On June 13, 1853, Christopher I. married Miss Martha Svenom, who was a native of Norway, but she died at a comparatively early age October 12, 1869. Their children were as follows: Isaac, born February 8, 1854; Thomas, born March 2, 1855; Ingeborg Marie, born February 19, 1857; Christopher, born October 16, 1859; Johanna Marie, born Feb- ruary 26, 1861 ; Olivia K., born January 10, 1862; George, born October 22, 1863; Martha J., born June 5, 1865; William Cornelius, born February 7, 1868. When the youngest child was one and a half years old, the mother died and left the care of this large family of small children upon the shoulders of Christopher I. With great effort he reared the children and gave them a start in life. Inge- borg Marie married Ole Vosje in Wisconsin; she died September 18, 1907, without issue. Johanna Marie married T. T. Emertsen in Cottonwood county, Minnesota. She died March 5, 1903. Isaac married Mary Evinson and has nine children. Thomas married Julia Evinson and has eight children. Olivia K. married Carl Vegger. George married Tomine Farsje and has four children. Martha J. married E. L. Tweite and has four children, as follows : Leonard Alfred, Marvin Curtis, William Ardean and Ida Luella, all living with their grandfather. William Cornelius died Decem- ber 13, 1897. Christopher I. is now well advanced in years, but is yet well preserved, and resides with his daughter Martha J. As time passed he added to his landed possessions, buying 160 acres in Dodge county, Minnesota, and 160 acres in South Dakota, and yet owns the old homestead also. He became prominent during his active career, and was always ready to assist charitable, religious, educational and other worthy measures and movements. He gave a helping hand to many good causes. He has always been a mem- ber of St. Olaf church, Lutheran synod. In politics he is a Repub- lican.

JOSEPH ALEXANDER LEONARD died December 28, 1908. He was born January 24, 1830, in Cambridge, Maryland, the youngest of five children of Rev. William and Harriet (Laverty) Leonard, natives of Salisbury, Maryland, and Berks county, Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was a member of the Philadelphia con- ference of the Methodist church. The family lived at West Chester and Columbia, in Pennsylvania, and in 1840 moved to Philadelphia. There Joseph A. received his early education, and worked in a dry goods store and in a book publishing house. When 17 years old he entered the office of Prof. James McClintock, lecturer on anatomy and surgery in the Philadelphia Medical College, from which insti- tution, after three years, he was graduated in 1851, then being about

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six months under legal age. He practiced at Dowagiac, Michigan, until the summer of 1853, then moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin, where he continued practicing about one and one-half years. Dur- ing this time he was local editor of the Whitewater Gazette, after- wards becoming one of the owners of the paper. In December, 1856, the owners moved it to Waukesha, Wisconsin, and consoli- dated it with the Waukesha Plain Dealer, the name then becoming the Waukesha Republican. Mr. Leonard was editor of the Repub- lican until the spring of 1858, when he went to Madison, the state capital, and became clerk of the committee of the state legislature appointed to investigate loans of the state school funds. In June, 1858, he came to Rochester, Minnesota, studied law under the direction of Hon. M. W. Fay, was admitted to the bar and became a partner of Mr. Fay in the practice of law under the firm name of Fay & Leonard. He subsequently retired from the firm, and in 1859 was elected county attorney, he being the first elected to that office in Olmsted county, the new office superceding under the state organization the office of district attorney which had existed under the territorial organization. Mr. Leonard occupied the posi- tion two years. In April, 1861, he was appointed by President Lincoln the first Republican postmaster at Rochester. In May, 1864, he was appointed by the president captain of commissary and, resigning as postmaster, he was assigned to the First Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps, a command which included four Min- nesota regiments. At the close of the war he was stationed at Selma, Alabama, as depot and post commissary, and in August, 1865, returned to Rochester with the brevet rank of major. In November, 1865, in partnership with Walter S. Booth, he purchased the Rochester Post, Mr. Leonard acting chiefly as editor of the paper. In January, 1868, he was elected president of the Minnesota Editorial association, serving as such two terms. In 1868 he was elected state senator from Olmsted county. In May, 1874, he was appointed by President Grant register of the United States land office at Jackson, Minnesota, and held that office until August, 1875. In the latter year he was appointed by Governor Davis a member of the first board of directors of the Minnesota Inebriate Asylum at Rochester, since made the State Insane Hospital, and was treasurer of the board. In 1876 he resigned the office, and the same year, upon the retirement of Mr. Booth from the Post, Mr. Leonard con- tinued the publication of that paper. As the appointee of President Hayes, in June, 1877, as one of the visitors to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis at the annual examinations and gradu- ation exercises, he was selected by the board of visitors to write their report. July 1, 1881, he received the apointment of President Garfield as United States consul at Leith, Scotland, later being appointed consul general at Calcutta, India. In 1885 he returned

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to Rochester and resumed control of the Post, continuing thus until 1889, when he was appointed consul general at Shanghai, China. Again Mr. Leonard returned to Rochester and resumed editorship of The Weekly Post and of the Daily Post. In 1896 he was elected judge of probate for Olmsted county, a position he occupied until 1903. Too much work and advancing years lead to the disposal of his newspaper holdings in February, 1899. During the latter part of his life he lived practically retired, the greater part of his time being devoted to gathering data and writing a history of Olm- sted county. The historical part of this volume is the result of his labor. October 30, 1861, he married Miss Kate Cowles, daughter of Zalmon J. Cowles, and they were the parents of two daughters: Miss Maud Leonard, of Rochester, and Mrs. Kate Leonard Kelly, of Chicago. Judge Leonard was a man of distinctive personality. He was a Republican of the uncompromising kind. Olmsted county has been greatly benefited by his life. Mrs. Leonard died Jan- uary 17, 1909. She was born in New York December 19, 1842, and came with her parents to Olmsted county in 1858. Coming as she did when the town was young, she identified herself in a quiet, supplemental way to the notable achievements of her husband. She won many friends and succeeded in retaining their friendship.

D. B. BRAKKE was born in Blue Earth, Minnesota, December 9, 1870. His father, Lais K., was a native of Norway, his birth occur- ring in 1830. When a young man he came to this country and located in North Dakota, but later moved to Dane county, Wis- consin, where he resided for some time. He then came to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, but in 1879 moved to Olmsted county and settled in section 35, in Salem township. His wife, Christe, died in Chicago, Illinois, in 1900, but lies buried in East St. Olaf's ceme- tery, Rock Dell township. D. B. Brakke was reared on a farm and has made that branch of industry his occupation through life. He received a meager education at the district schools, but when 15 years old attended the Lutheran College at Decorah, Iowa, where he spent three years and came out well equipped for the struggle of life so far as education was concerned. He then taught school until he was 20 years old, but about that time bought 210 acres in sec- tion 5, Rock Dell township, and there he has resided until the present time, engaged in farming and stock raising. He keeps Poland China hogs and registered Durham cattle, and raises large quantities of grains and fruits. His farm is well provided with good buildings of all kinds. He is one of the leading farmers of the western half of the county. He is a member of East St. Olaf's Lutheran church, of which he was secretary for several years and at the present time is trustee. He has been quite prominent in politics, and has served as delegate to several county conventions, his politics being Republican.

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History of Olmsted County, Minnesota, Part 63

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

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