USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 65
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A. S. BLOXAM was born of English parents in Ridgway, Iowa county, Wisconsin, in June, 1853, When thirteen years old he worked at the cabinet maker's trade, and at the age of fifteen years went to Dixon, Illinois, where he learned the gunsmith trade, and worked at the same there for eight years. In 1875, he came to Faribault, opened a store and shop, in which he put a small stock of guns, but has since greatly increased his stock to accommodate his rapidly growing trade. . Mr. Bloxam was married on the 1st of January, 1881, to Miss Martha M. Schmutz.
JOHAM J. BLANK, one of the pioneers of Rice county and the first man to take a claim in Wheeling, was born in Germany, on the 15th of September, 1821. He attended school until four- teen years old, then engaged at work on the farm and in 1843, emigrated to America, landing in New York, and came directly to Cook county, Illi- nois, where he conducted a farm on shares. In 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- beth Veell, aud ten years later came to Rice coun- ty, Minnesota, and staked out a claim in Wheel- ing, in sections twenty-two and fifteen. He im- proved the land and erected a log house. In October, 1878, he sold his farm and purchased a residence in Faribault, corner of Thirteenth and Main streets, where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Blank have been blessed with nine children; Delia, Mary, Wilhelmina, who died with the diph- theria in 1864, aged thirteen years; Elizabeth, Caroline, Hannah, Sophia, who also died with diphtheria, in 1872, thirteen years of age; Ma- tilda, who died of consumption in 1864, three years of age; and John Jacob.
A. BLODGETT, an old settler of the county, and one of the leading lumber merchants, was born in Alexander, Genesee county, New York, on the 3d of May, 1831. He clerked for five years in a dry goods store, and when about nineteen years old went to New York city, where he engaged in a paint and varnish shop. In 1856, he came to Rice county, locating on a farm in Warsaw town- ship, and in 1874, moved into town, engaging in mercantile pursuits. In 1880, he opened his pres- ent lumber yard under the firm name of A. Blod- gett & Son. The junior partner, W. E. Blodgett, was born in Warsaw on the 16th of August, 1857, and received his education at the public schools and at Shattuck School. He kept books one year in this place, aud studied music two years in Min- neapolis. In 1881, he became a member of the lumber firm above mentioned.
GREGOR BJORNSTAD was born in the stift of of Christiania, Norway, on the 17th of October, 1856. He was reared on a farm, and when a young man engaged in buying and selling cattle. In 1870, he emigrated to America, came directly to Minnesota and located in Red Wing where he attended the public school two years. He subse- quently worked eighteen months on a farm, and for six months clerked in a store. In March, 1882, he came to Faribault and became landlord of the Scandinavian Hotel, which he has since conducted.
PARTICK BYRNES, deceased, was born in Ireland and came to America when young, located in Wis- consin until 1863, then came to this county and settled in Walcott, where he carried on a farm. In 1865, he move to this city, engaged in merchan- dising, and was elected County Sheriff in 1871, on the Democratic ticket. He was defeated once after that by a small majority. His death oc- curred in April, 1878. John J. Byrnes was born in Winnebago county Wisconsin, on the 15th of July, 1853, and came with his parents to this county. He attended the Catholic school, the public school, Shattuck School, and St. John's College, in Stearns county. He then studied law in the office of Gordon E. Cole, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He taught school a few months, and then formed a partnership with J. F. Walsh, in Henderson, Sibley county, which was soon dissolved, and Mr. Byrnes returned here. He was married on the 15th of October, 1878, Miss Olive La Rose being his bride. He is Justice of
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the Peace, elected in 1879, and also City Recorder.
E. H. Corrs is a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, born on the 31st of May, 1831. His ancestors were among the pioneers of that locality, having settled at Portsmouth and on Cutts' Is- laud about 1640. When our subject was two and a-half years old the family moved to Vermont and located ou a farm. E. H. attended Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, New Hampshire, when he was thirteen years old, and two years later became a pupil at Thetford, Vermont, and afterward at Norwich University, finishing the scientific course in 1849. He then studied for a civil engineer, worked at that for a year, and then on his father's farm. In 1853, he came to Wisconsin. and in December of that year started on the old Indian trail from Hastings to Maukato on foot. Passing through Faribault into what is now Wal- cott, he staked out a claim on sections twenty-one and twenty-two, then went on to Mankato. He soon returned to Wisconsin, and in February, 1854, came with two yoke of oxen and commenced to improve his land, being the first actual settler and building the first house in Walcott. In 1875, he removed into the city of Faribault, and now de- votes his time to overseeing his farms in this and Lyon counties. In 1862, he enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company B, serving two months against the Sioux. In June, 1864, he was appointed Captain of Com- pany C, of the Forty -fifth United States Colored Regiment, and served until the close of the war. He has had nine children, four of whom are living.
THOMAS CARPENTER was born in England in 1832, and learned his trade there. He came to Faribault in 1857, and the following spring en- tered into partnership with Alexander Smith, in merchant tailoring. They have since added to their business ready-made clothing and gents' furnishing goods, hats, caps, etc.
J. G. CLARK, one of the old settlers of this city, is a native of Franklin county, Massachusetts, born on the 4th of February, 1820. He was rear- ed on a farm and when sixteen years old went to Brattleborough, Vermont, where he learned the carpenter trade, and with the exception of two years worked at the same in that State for twenty-one years. On the 7th of August, 1849, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Sarah Jane Miller, and the union has been blessed with one boy, Dwight E. In 1857, Mr. Clark came to this city and built a planing mill which he operated with a partner
until 1865, then engaged in farming two years, and since 1869, has conducted a livery stable, keeping good horses.
CAPTAIN CHARLES A. CURTIS, U. S. Army, Com- mandant of Shattuck School, was born in Hallo- well, Maine, October 4, 1825. He graduated at Norwich University, Vermont, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1860. He served as military instructor of volunteers in Maine, from April, 1861 to June of the same year, going to the Potomac with the Sixth Maine as instructor to the officers. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the regular army, April 14, 1862, and served in Vir- ginia, Texas, and New Mexico, until the close of the rebellion. He then served iu the Indian war with the Apaches and Navajos, in New Mexico and Arizona, in 1865 and 1866. Was placed on the re- tired list for wounds received in action December 15th, 1870. In 1866, the Captain married Har- riette L. Hughes, and in 1869, was detailed as Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Nor- wich University, serving in that capacity until 1875, when he was elected president of the college, In 1880, he resigned and accepted his present po- sition. He has had five children, four of whom are living.
CAPTAIN D. CAVANAUGH, an early resident of the county and a leading business man of this city, claims Canada as his native place and his birth dates the 3d of December, 1838. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and in 1856, came with his parents to this place and continued tilling the soil until 1862, when he enlisted in the Tenth Minne- sota Volunteer Infantry, Company H. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant and soon after to Captain of Company C, serving in that office until the close of the war, when he was honorably dis- charged. After returning to Faribault Captaln Cavanaugh was engaged in the milling business four years, and in 1871, opened a store in which he keeps hardware and agricultural implements, doing an extensive and successful business under she firm name of Cavanaugh & Co.
M. H. COLE was born in Albany, New York, on the 24th of November, 1836, attended school there and in Cooperstown until fourteen years old, then clerked for a time, after which he went to school until twenty years of age. He then engaged with the Boston & Albany Railroad Company until 1861, when he enlisted in the Forty-fourth New York Infantry as Second Lieutenant of Company E. His senior officer being absent, he acted as
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
Captain of the company for three years, was then discharged and re-enlisted in the Ninety-fourth New York Infantry, and was immediately detailed to the enrolling office of which he became head clerk at Hart Island, New York harbor, and served till the close of the war. He went to New York City and engaged as a commercial traveler, then came west, and after visiting different parts of the country came to Faribault in 1872. In 1875, he was appointed Deputy Register of Deeds, which office he has since filled with credit. Mr. Cole was married in 1875, to Miss Laura Wheeler, the adopted daughter of Mrs. John Nelson. They have been blessed with two children.
WILLIAM CLOSE is a native of Ohio, born on the 9th of September, 1827. When he was six years old his parents sold their interests there and re- moved to Indiana, locating in the Wabash valley. In 1855, they came to Minnesota, and on the 12th of June of that year settled in Richland township where they were pioneers. William and his brother John helped to organize the place, and the former was the first school clerk, hiring Miss Debby Newcomb to teach the first school in his district, No. 21; was first Town Collector, and after . the town was fully organized was elected Assessor. In the fall of 1870, he was a member of the State Legislature, and in 1871, was appointed Marshal and Enumerator for seven townships, comprising the east district of Rice county. While living in Richland he pre-empted land in Walcott, but sold a short time after and bought more in the former place, remaining in the township engaged in farm- ing for twenty-five years. In 1876, he came to this city, and resides on Eighth and Sycamore streets. In 1881, he was appointed Enumerator for the seventh ward of the city of Faribault. He is engaged in the insurance business for the St. Paul Fire & Marine Company and several other promi- nent firms. He was married on the 19th of August, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Fiers, who has borne him nine children, of whom eight are living, four boys and two girls were born in Rice county. Mr. Close served a short time as recruit in the first Minnesota Regiment.
GORDON EARL COLE, for six years Attorney - General of the state of Minnesota, is a son of Lansing J. Cole, a physician, and Laura Brown; his parents living at the time of his birth, June 18th, 1833, at Cheshire, Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts. His great-grandfather was an early settler at Saybrook in that State, and moved
thence into the western county. Gordon received his literary education mainly at the Suffield Aca- demy, Connecticut; read law in the office of Gov- ernor Briggs, at Pittsfield, and then with Gaunnell & Adams, and graduated from the Dane Law School, Harvard University, in 1854. He prac- ticed two years in his native town; came to Minne- sota in the autumn of 1856, and after spending two or three months at Chatfield, removed to Fari- bault on the 1st of January, 1857, having been in the practice of his profession here since that date. He has a deservedly high reputation in his pro- fession, and for many years has held a leading position at the bar of the State, some good judges placing him at the head. He was the attorney that procured the payment of the State bonds last winter, (1881 and '82.) Everybody who heard him will admit that he has wonderful power before a jury, being self-poised, conscious of his own strength, clear, forcible, and eloquent. In the autumn of 1859, Mr. Cole was elected Attorney- General of the State, and held the office three consecutive terms; was elected a State Senator, to fill a vacancy in the Eightli district, a short time before his third term expired; served one session and declined a renomination. He had previously been elected one of the Commissioners for revising the statutes, serving in that capacity about one year. For the last eleven or twelve years he has confined himself very closely to his profession, doing an extensive and very remunerative practice. He has also interested himself very much in local enterprises of various kinds. He is a trustee of Saint Mary's Hall, located at Faribault, an insti- tution of learning for young ladies, under the direction of Bishop Whipple; and is chairman of a railroad committee, interested iu building the Cannon Valley railroad from Red Wing to Man- kato. He has been the attorney of the Iowa & Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company since the enterprise was completed. In politics, Mr. Cole has been a republican since there was such a party, and was chairman of a Fremont club in his native town in 1856, losing his vote that year by emigrating to Minnesota. During the forty or fifty ballotings for United States Senator in 1875, when at length the republicans dropped the names of Messrs. Ramsey and Davis, on one or two days Mr. Cole led on the republican side, the votes being divided among three or four strong men. We do not use the word candidates, for, in the case of Mr. Cole,
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he was not a candidate-the act was sprung upon the Legislature without his knowledge-though, had he been elected, he would hardly have refused to serve. He has the ability to fill with credit any office which the people of Minnesota can bestow upon him. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a vestry- man in Bishop Whipple's cathredal, and a trustee of the corporation known as the "Minnesota Foun- dation," which is designed to afford an income for the support of the bishop. Mr. Cole is living with his second wife, being first married in August, 1855, to Miss Stella C. Whipple, of Shaftsbury, Vermont, she dying in June, 1872; she had four children, three of them yet living. His present wife was Miss Kate D. Turner, of Cleveland, Ohio, chosen on the 14th of February, 1874.
ADOLPHE CRAIG, one of the early settlers here, was born in Lower Canada on the 5th of Febru- ary, 1829. He is of Scotch-French descent, lived at home until 1852, then came to Shokopee and took charge of a farm of Mrs. Oliver Fari- bault. He also had charge of a farm of Gen. Sibley's for a time, and in 1853, came to this place and conducted a farm for Fred. Fari- bault, near the junction . of Straight and Can- non Rivers. He subsequently took land near Mendota, but in 1856, came here and engaged in the freighting business. In 1857, he was joined in marriage with Miss Julia Paquin, the ceremony taking place on the 18th of January. This was the first Catholic marriage preformed in the place, it being during the mission of Father Rovoux. In 1862, Mr. Craig made a trip to Colorado and later visited Canada, and upon his return settled on a farm in this county, which he carried on four years. Since leaving the latter he has made this city his home and is a prominent member of the Catholic church.
MAJOR MICHAEL COOK, deceased, was among the very early settlers in Faribault, and one of the he- roic men who fell in the late civil war. He aided in building some of the first frame houses in this place, and was honored with a seat in the terri- torial council and the State Senate-a self-edu- cated man of a noble type. He was a son of Rich- ard Cook, and was born in Morris county, New Jersey, on the 17th of March, 1828; had a com- mon school education; learned the carpenter's trade in New York City, and worked there as a journeyman several years, attending a night school while an apprentice. He early formed the
acquaintance of Horace Greeley, who encouraged him in his struggle for knowledge. Major Cook came to Faribault in 1855. He was in the State Senate continuously from ahout 1858 to 1862, and took a prominent part in legislative work. He was a diligent worker, with very few words, and stood well in the legislative body. Honesty in him was personified. In the the summer of 1862, he raised a company for the Tenth Minnesota; was made Captain of the company; was subsequently promoted to Major of that regiment, and killed in the battle of Nashville, Tennessee. The memory of very few deceased men who ever lived in Faribault is more warmly cherished than that of Major Cook.
C. B. CASE, one of the proprietors of the popular "bus" line, was born on the 21st of March, 1823, in Monroe county, New York, where his ancestors were among the first settlers. In his youth he at- tended the district schools, and when quite young commenced driving stage, in which business he has since spent most of his time, going to Chicago in 1840, and two years later to Missouri. Dur- ing the Mexican war he was engaged in shipping horses for the American government. He was afterwards general agent for the Mississippi, Ala- bama, and Tennessee stage line. On the 10th of Jan- uary, 1855, he was married to Miss Hannah Harris, the ceremony taking place in La Grange, Tennessee. She was formerly from Litchfield county, Connecti- cut. For a time Mr. Case was in the livery business in Tallahasse, Florida, and during the war was agent for the quarter-master in the Confederate army, having charge of the transportations for the State of Florida. In 1865, he came uorth, and the following year to this city, where he has since been connected with the business, as previously mentioned. Mrs. and Mrs. Case have had four children, three of whom are living ..
H. N. CROSSETT is a native of Canada, born on the 15th of June, 1832. When four years old he moved with his parents to Vermont, where he received his education. For eight years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Albany, New York, and there he was married on the 9th of April, 1857, to Angeline E. Hawley. In 1858, they came to Juneau, Dodge county, Wisconsin, where Mr. Crossett clerked one year, then entered the employ of the American Express Company, as local agent; was soon made route agent, and located at different places in the State.
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
He came to this city in the employ of the com - pany, and in 1869, was made Division Superinten- dent for the United States Express Company, and now has under his supervision Minnesota, Wis- consin, southern Dakota, northern Iowa, and northern Illinois. Of seven children born to the union, five are living.
HENRY CHAFFEE was born in Berkshire county, Massachussetts, on the 9th of April, 1827. He was reared on a farm, and when eighteen years old entered a store, in his native county, as clerk. In 1856, he came to this place and opened a gro- cery store; two years later pre-empted a claim in Waseca county, hut continued to reside here. He now owns a well-cultivated farm of four hun- dred acres about a mile and a half south of this city. Mr. Chaffee was married in 1871, to Miss Charlotte Carter, who has borne him three chil- dren. From 1866 to 1872, he operated a saw and stave mill in Wells township, and has since been a member of the Walcott Milling Company.
S. L. CROCKER was born in Genesee county, New York, on the 12th of December, 1845. He attended the common schools and completed his education at Batavia Academy, in his native State. He then engaged as clerk in a drug store in Hills- dale, Michigan, for over two years; then, after fol- lowing the same employment in Buffalo, New York, one year, he came to Hastings, Minnesota, and in 1868, to Faribault. After clerking for a time he purchased a drug store of W. T. Hunter, and now has a full line of drugs, medicines, and fancy goods. Mr. Crocker was joined in matrimony on the 2d of November, 1876, with Miss Carrie Mee. He has been Alderman for four years.
J. C. N. COTTRELL was born in Canada on the 26th of February, 1827, and is of English parent- age. He attended school near home, and finished his education in Brownington, Vermont. In 1849, when but twenty-one years old, he went to Cali- fornia, where he opened a store on Feather River, with a stock of general merchandise and miner's supplies. He was there three years and met with great success; then returned to Canada and opened a store in London. He was united in marriage on the 2d of September, 1856, with Miss Elizabeth Clinton. In 1857, they removed to Minnesota and located in this place, where Mr. Cottrell opened a hardware store opposite the Bar- ron Honse, but in 1870, went to Chicago where
he engaged in business four years; then returned here and purchased his former stand.
THOMAS BURR CLEMENT, Senator from Rice county, is a son of Frederick and Olive Mallory Clement and was born in Manlius, Onondaga county, New York, on the 19th of June, 1834. His paternal ancestors were early settlers in Dutchess county, New York, his great-grandfather being a member of the continental army, who was taken and held captive for some time on a British prison ship. Thomas lived on a farm till sixteen years old, with such education as a district school furnished; commenced business as a clerk in the store of his elder brother, Stephen M. Clement, at Fredonia, in western New York; went into trade there for himself at nineteen years of age. He re- moved to Faribault in Jannary, 1864. Here he traded four years; organized the First National Bank of Faribault in 1868; was made its president and still holds that position. It is regarded as one of the soundest institutions of the kind in the Cannon valley. Mr. Clement was a member of the Minnesota house of representatives in 1875, Mayor of the city in 1877, and a member of the State Senate in 1878. During the first session that he attended he was Chairman of the committee on insurance, and of the committees on finances, and banks and banking. He makes a wise and pru- dent Legislator. He is one of the directors of the institution for educating the deaf and dumb and the blind, and has held other local offices of trust and responsibility, being at one time Chairman of the board of County Commissioners. He is a re- publican, but not a strong party man. Blind zeal of any kind never led him an inch. He is wedded to business much more than to politics, and office seeks him or he would never be found in official positions, either in the city or out of it; yet he is a public spirited man, one of the leaders in local enterprises, proud of his adopted home, glorying in her progress and prospects, and shirking no re- sponsibility which his fellow-citizens insist on his assuming. He is a solid man in business and moral as well as financial standing. Mr. Clement was first married in May, 1856, his wife being Miss Emma Johnson of Fredonia, New York; she died in 1865, leaving one child. His present wife was Miss Ellen F. Johnson, sister of his first wife, chosen in 1867; he has two children by her.
GEORGE CHESROUN is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1829. In 1852, he came to the territory
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of Minnesota, and located in Walcott, where he married Miss Augusta Durston in 1858. Mr. Chesroun is a cabinet maker in the employ of M. M. Flint.
THOMAS DONOHUE, a native of Ireland, was born in Wexford county, on the 15th of February, 1847. His parents died when he was young, and when eighteen years old he came to America, clerked in New York City six months and then to Cincinnati, Ohio, in a hotel. Miss Bridget Quinn became his wife on the 13th of May, 1871. They came to Faribault the same year and he opened a saloon, but a few years later added a stock of merchandise and in 1879, erected a brick building which he occupies with general merchandise and a saloon. Mr. and Mrs. Donahue have a family of five chil- dren.
H. T. DETERT is a German, born in Prussia on the 1st of July, 1837. He came to America when seventeen years old and located in St. Louis, Mis- souri, where he learned the harnessmaker's trade. In 1863, he enlisted in the Thirteenth New York Cavalry, Company H, and served till the close of the war. Mr. Detert was married on the 1st of July, 1866, to Miss Caroline Speck. They have had nine children, eight of whom are living. At the close of the war, Mr. Detert located in St. Louis and opened a harness shop, which he con- ducted till 1870, then came here and soon after engaged in the same business, manufacturing horse collars which have the name of being the best in the market, the demand having grown so rapidly he intends to manufacture more exten- sively. He is also the inventor and patentee of a neck collar pad, which has a large sale.
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