USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 76
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HIRAM L. COON, M. D., was born in Grafton, New York, on the 25th of August, 1828, and reared to agricultural pursuits. He removed with his parents to Milton, Rock county, Wisconsin, when twelve years of age, received an education at the common schools, Milton Academy, and Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which he graduated in 1854. He commenced the practice of his profession in Rutland, Dane county, Wis- consin, where he was married in 1855, to Miss Sarah Morton, daughter of Roger Morton. In 1856, he removed to Austin, this State, and in 1861 to Northfield, where he has been in con- stant practice since, giving especial attention to surgery. He is a member of the State and also of the American Medical Societies; was County Coroner several years. His children are Galen H., an attorney at this place, and George M., attend- ing medical lectures at Rush Medical College, in Chicago.
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
GALEN H. COON, a native of Rutland, Wisconsin, dates his birth the 21st of August, 1856, and came with his parents to this place. He first at- tended the common schools, then was a pupil at Carleton College and later at the State University of Wisconsin, graduating from the law depart- inent and was admitted to the bar at Madison in 1880. On the 29th of December, 1875, Miss Jen- nie S. Bush became his wife. They have had two children, both of whom are dead. Mr. Coon has continued at his profession here and is the City Recorder, elected in March, 1882.
ARTHUR W. DAMPIER was born in Meriden, Steele county, Minnesota, on the 3d of June, 1859. He is a son of Edward Dampier, former proprietor of the Dampier House, who in 1878, rented Archer's Hotel, which he conducted till the 20th of July, 1880, when he was succeeded by his son, Arthur W. The house is a four-story brick, containing about fifty rooms and is a first-class hotel. Mr. Dampier was married on the 12th of October, 1881, Miss Augusta M. Riddell being his bride.
H. D. DAVIS was born in Dodge county, Wis- cousin, in February, 1847, and came with his parents to Minnesota when eight years of age, lo- cating iu East Prairieville, Rice county, where he grew to manhood and received a common school education. He engaged in farming in the latter place but in 1871, went to St. Paul, where he en- gaged in a meat market for one year, then came to Northfield and carried on the same business. He was joined in matrimony in 1877, with Miss Eliza Spencer, a native of Vermont, born in 1847, He is now engaged in the livery business, under the firm name of Davis & Hibbard.
EZEKIEL C. DWINEL was born in Newport, Sul- livan county, New Hampshire, on the 29th of July, 1824. At the age of fourteen years he engaged to work in a saw-mill, and two years later in a machine shop remaining in the latter five years. When twenty-one years old, he went to Claremont engaged at his trade, and in two years removed to Union village, Washington county, New York, where he remained three years, employed in manu- facturing pails, then went to Fort Edward. In 1848, Miss Lonisa Tanner became his wife, the ceremony taking place on the 20th of April. In 1856, he came to Northfield and the first work he did was on the second frame house on the east side of the river, then was employed on the mill being
built by Mr. North where the flour mill now stands. After its completion he worked in it for a period of four years and the following six years was in the employ of Linus Fox in his machine shop and foundry. In 1866 or '67, in company with Frank Wyman, he built a planing mill and sash, door, and blind factory, which they operated about five years, when it was destroyed by fire, the loss being $15,000 and no insurance. He then built a small planing mill to which he added a feed mill, which he conducted till 1875, then sold to S. P. Stewart and went to his native town on a visit. He returned in the fall, worked for Mr. Fox until 1877, then went to the Black Hills and run a quartz mill for a Minneapolis firm one year, since which time he has been in the employ of the Ames' as machinist and engineer. He had 'one son, Charles C., who died at the age of seventeen years.
WILLARD E. ENSIGN was born in Wood county, Wisconsin, on the 23d of November, 1859, and when two years old removed with his parents to Wabasha county, Minnesota, and ten years later to Redwood county, where our subject lived till 1879. He then came to this place aud was a student at Carleton College two years, and in March, 1882, formed a partnership with C. F. Whittier for the manufacture of the Cooley Creamer, in which business he is now engaged. Miss Anna M. Shufeldt became his wife on the 12th of June, 1882.
F. FINKELSON was born in Racine, Wisconsin, in 1855, and remained there until fourteen years of age, then came to Minnesota and located in North- field, where he grew to manhood. He first at- tended the common schools and finished his edu- cation in Minneapolis, afterwards clerked in the general merchandise store of E. Lockwood and later became a partner in the same store. Mr. Lockwood retired from business in the spring .of 1882, and the firm is now Finkelson Brothers & Alfson. He was married in 1877, to Miss Minnie Gress, a daughter of C. W. Gress. They have been blessed with three children; Grace, Emme- line, and Charles.
LINUS Fox was born in Oswego county, New York, in 1828, and reared on a farm. When six- teen years old he removed with his parents to Lenox, in the same State, where he grew to man- hood and received a common school education. He learned the trade of a moulder and followed that business until 1859, when he came to Minne-
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CITY OF NORTHFIELD.
sota, located in Northfield and built the first foun- dry in the place which he still carries on in company with S. T. Ferris, having a machine shop in connection with the foundry. Mr. Fox was married in his native county in the spring of 1853, to Miss Mary L. Palmer. He has been Justice of the Peace two years.
HENRY S. FRENCH, a native of Stockton, Maine, was born on the 14th of September, 1843, and spent the first fourteen years of his life on his father's farm. The confines of the land became too narrow for his enquiring mind and he engaged as cabin boy on a ship, worked his way up until at the age of twenty-two he was master of a merchant vessel, sailing between the United States, West Indies, and Europe. When twenty-eight years old he sold the vessel of which he was a part owner at Boston, and in 1872, came to Northfield, where he engaged in the furniture business. On the 25th of April, 1876, he was appointed Postmaster and still holds the same position.
L. F. GORDON is a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, and dates his birth the 16th of February, 1851. In 1858, his parents came to Rice county and located on a farm near the village of Dundas, where his mother still resides, his father having died the 2d of April, 1882, and is buried in North- field cemetery. Mr. Gordon makes his home in Northfield at preseut. He owns a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Stevens county; one containing one hundred and sixty acres in Murray county, and one of the same size in Grant county. On the 11th of May, 1876, he married Miss Mary L. Rounce, a native of Rice county. They have two children; Edith E. and Eldora.
H. C. GRUSS, a native of Germany, was born in 1847. He grew to manhood in his native country, received a common school education and learned the cabinetmaker's trade. He came to Chicago in 1871, worked at his trade nine years, then was in the furniture business, and in 1881, came to North- field where he has a furniture store. He was mar- ried in 1865, to Miss Sarah Brandes, a native of St. Peter, Minnesota, the marriage ceremony tak- ing place at Rock Island, Illinois. He is the father of four children, three of whom are living; Albert, Annie, and Emma.
FRANKLIN HODGE was born in Madison county, New York, on the 25th of September, 1831, and grew to manhood on'a farm. When eighteen years of age he was obliged to depend on his own re-
sources. On the 21st of April, 1864, married Miss Mary Jane Avery, who was born in Perryville, New York. The same year he came to Minnesota and now owns a farm in Dakota county and .a beautiful residence and grounds in the city of Northfield. His father died on the 3d of July, 1850, and his mother when he was but a few months old.
J. A. HUNT was born in Franklin county, Mis- sissippi, in 1823, and grew to manhood in his native State, receiving a common school education. He learned the tanner's trade and remained at home on a farm until twenty-two years of age, then removed to Readsborough, Vermont, where he was married a few years later to Miss M. L. Hicks, who is a native of Vermont, born in 1825. He removed to Minnesota in the spring of 1856, and located in Northfield, where he opened a meat market, the first in the place. He was in that busi- ness seven years, then opened a grocery store, which he has since continued with the exception of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have had three children, two of whom are living, Hiram and Wil- liam.
A. C. HAMMANG is a native of Spring Prairie, Wisconsin, born the 27th of June, 1848, and came with his parents to this State in 1854. They lo- cated in Dakota county where they remained until their death. Our subject came to Northfield in September, 1859, and learned the trade of a blacksmith, at which he has been employed until recently. He is now in company with Jacob Diehl and conducts a meat market. Mr. Hammang was married in February, 1872, to Miss Mary A. Nash, a native of New Jersey. They have four children; Jobn W., Elizabeth May, Emma Adelia, and Frank L. He owns a good residence and lot in the city.
HIRAM A. HUNT, a native of Vermont, was born in Bennington, on the 27th of November, 1855, and while still an infant removed with his parents to Northfield. He received his education at the common schools and Carleton College, and was subsequently employed as clerk in a mercantile house. He was engaged in the insurance business for three years and has since been bookkeeper for Ames & Archibald.
JOHN HANDY is a native of England, born on the 11th of November, 1846, and emigrated to Canada when ten years old. In 1861, be removed to Pennsylvania, where he worked at the milling
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
business two years, then came to Dundas and was in the employ of the Archibalds in the mill until 1871. He then came to Northfield and with the exception of one year spent in California, was in the employ of the Ames' until 1876, then hecame a partner in the firm, having charge of the mill.
WILLIAM E. HIBBARD was born in the town of Orwell, Rutland county, Vermont, on the 12th of October, 1851, and removed with his parents to Dakota county, Minnesota, in 1855. They en- gaged in farming in Waterford, and William, when twenty-one years old, engaged with W. Gould in Minneapolis in selling farm machinery. In 1876, in company with Dwight Bushnell, he opened a livery stable and agricultural house, but disposed of it in a few years, and since October 25th, 1881, has been with H. D. Davis in the livery business, under the firm name of Davis & Hibbard. They own a fine two-story brick veneered building 33x110 feet with forty stalls. He married Miss Frankie Bushnell on the 26th of January, 1881, and they have one child, Ella L.
ELIAS HOBBS was born in Benton, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of February, 1830. His father died when Elias was six years old, and he made his home with his grandfather ten years, when the latter also died. Our subject thien learned the stone mason's trade and after- ward became a student of Hartford University in Susquehanna county. He then engaged in sur- veying and in 1855, came to Hudson, Wisconsin, at which place and River Falls he spent the winter. In the spring of 1856, he removed to Northfield and has since been engaged in surveying and real estate business. He has been Deputy Sheriff at different times, and was in the Legislature in 1873. He married Miss Emeline Stowell, a daughter of Hammon Stowell. The issue of the union is three children; Arthur C., Walter S., and Emily W.
JOHN HUNTER was born in Dumfries county. Scotland, on the 29th of May, 1826, and came to Canada with his parents in 1831. They located near Cornwall, where they resided till their death. In 1849, our subject married Miss Jane Fergu- son. In 1855, they came to Minnesota, locating in Dakota county, where they resided four years, then moved to Faribault, and in November, 1869, came to this city, where he has a fine residence and also owns a farm in the township. Mr. Hunter has a family of seven children; John F., Jane M., Barbara A., William H., Eliza H., Stephen A., and Marietta.
LOEL B. HOAG was born in Bristol, Vermont, on the 19th of January, 1830, but moved to west- ern New York with his parents wbile in his fifth year, and was reared on a farm. When twenty years old he learned the carpenter's trade, and al- ternated between that, school teaching, and at- tending school till 1856, when he came to Roch- ester, Minnesota, and engaged at his trade. In the fall of 1857, he removed to Cannon Falls, and with his brother, R. A. Hoag, began the publica- tion of a newspaper. In April, 1858, they moved the printing office to Northfield and published a paper several years. In August, 1862, he enlisted in. the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry as First Lieutenant, and was mustered out as Cap- tain three years later. He returned to Northfield and on the 21st of May, 1856, married Elizabeth Beach. They have had three children, two of whom are still living; Nellie E. and Lillian M. Poor health prevented him from working at his trade, so,as an experiment,in 1870,he moved on his farm in the township of Northfield, hut continued declining health compelled him to leave it after a stay of five years, and he returned to the city, where he still resides, but ill health has pre- vented him from engaging in any business since.
BENAIAH M. JAMES was born in Northwood, Rockingham county, New Hampshire, on the 2d of December, 1824, and lived in his native place until fifteen years old, receiving such an education as could be obtained at the common schools. In 1849, be married Miss Mary D. Haynes, of Deer- field, New Hampshire, and for several years was engaged in the wholesale and retail business, carry- ing a stock of fancy dry goods and confectionery. In 1854, he removed to Wisconsin, and in 1855, came to this State, locating near Rosemount, Da- kota county, remained six or seven years, subse- quently removing to St. Anthony, the schools be- ing the main inducement. In 1866, he came to Northfield, where he has a farm of sixty-five acres within the present city limits, building a cheese factory in 1871, which was one of the first enter- prises of the kind in the place, and conducted the same until recently. He has had five children, four of whom are living; his son Willis A. being Deputy County Treasurer of Hennepin county. Mr. James was elected to the State Legislature in 1874, by the Republican party.
CAPTAIN DUREN F. KELLEY was born in New- port, New Hampshire, on the 16th of November ,
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CITY OF NORTHIFIELD.
1839, and came to Northfield in 1855. He was a student in Hamlin University in 1860 and '61, and in August, 1862, enlisted in the Seventh Minne -. sota Volunteer Infantry. Marched to the relief of Fort Ridgely against the Indians; participated in the battle of Wood Lake on the 23d of Septem- ber, the capture of "Red Iron's" camp a few days later, and the release of his white captives; was with Gen. Sibley's expedition against the Sioux to the Missouri in 1863; went south with the regi- ment in September, and was appointed A. A. Q. M. and A. C. S., and served at Marganzie, Port Hud- son, and Baton Rouge, Department of the Gulf. Capt. Kelley was mustered- out in the winter.of 1867, after a continuous service of four years and a half. He married Emma I. Rounce, daughter of Rev. J. S. Rounce, the first resident Congrega- tional minister in Northfield, the ceremony taking place on the 2d of February, 1863. Mr. Kelley took the tenth Government census for the city of Northfield in 1880. He is now proprietor of the South-side dairy, comprising one hundred and sixty acres within the city limits, from which the town is supplied with milk. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have one daughter, Eva I., born on the 26th of October, 1866, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
A. F. KINGMAN was born in Massachusetts iu 1824, grew to manhood and received his education in that State. He taught school two years, then engaged in running a wholesale notion wagon, selling goods in different parts of the State twelve years. He was married in 1847, to Miss Marion Jenkins, who was born in 1824. She bore him four children, only one of whom is living, Rolden E. On account of his wife's failing health, he removed to Minnesota in 1857; was on a farm in Rice county until 1864, then removed to North- field, where he started a meat market, and several years later engaged in buying wheat, which he continued four or five years and has since been in the hardware business, the firm name being Bacon, Kingman & Co.
FRANKLIN KELLEY was born in Newport, New Hampshire, on the 24th of September, 1810. He received his education in his native town and at New Hampton Seminary, and afterwards taught vocal music and the district schools for several terms. He was married on the 26th of Novem- ber, 1835, to Miss Temperance Dwinell, of his native place. Mr. Kelley was engaged in farm- ing and the lumber business for about twenty
years, when, on account of his failing health, he came to Minnesota and settled in Northfield ou the 22d of April, 1855, pre-empting near what is now the city of Northfield. He was County Commissioner several terms before Minnesota was admitted as a State, was one of the building com- mittee for the first church edifice in Northfield, and has taken an active part in the religious insti- tutions of the place. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have had seven children, six of whom are living; Marha E., Duren F., Mary A., Seth C., Lura E., and Helen M., all but one of whom are married. Mr. Kelley resides in the city and still owns his old farm adjacent.
WILLIAM A. KING was born in Alexander, Gen- essee county, New York, on the 5th of April, 1820. He came to Illinois in 1840, where in 1855, he married Mrs. Marietta Brown, also a native of New York. In 1868, he came to Northfield where he has since resided, having fourteen acrss of land and a fine residenee in the city. .
HENRY E. LAWRENCE was born in Claremont, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, on the 26th of May, 1852. At the beginning of the war his father enlisted, went South, and died at Port Royal, South Carolina. The family came to Minnesota in the spring of 1861, and settled at Northfield. After Henry completed his education, he entered the Enterprise newspaper office at the age of six- teen, and afterward published the "Monday Morn- ing News" at Minneapolis for one year. On the 1st of November, 1876, he established the "Dun- das News," continued the publication in that vil- lage three years, when he removed to Northfield and changed the name of his paper to the "Northfield News." It has a large circulation in both towns.
JULIAN A. LAWRENCE was born in Claremont, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, on the 16th of April, 1852. In 1860, he came to Northfield and was engaged in agricultural pursuits several years. In 1875, he started a saloon and has a fine billiard hall on the corner of Fourth and Main streets. He is chief of the fire department, is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also an Odd Fellow.
EDGAR LOCKERBY, a native of Bridgewater, Michigan, was born on the 9th of August, 1838, and came with his parents to Rice county in 1855. They located in Bridgewater, where they remaincd five years, then removed to Northfield. Our sub-
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
ject went to Idaho in 1864, and remained eight months, and for one year after his return was en- gagen in mercantile business. Then, in company with Mr. Dwight Bushnell, he established a livery stable. Their building is on West Third street. Miss Ada Bullock became his wife on the 9th of September, 1866. They have two children; Ida F., and Charles E.
DREW H. LORD was born in Lathrop, Susqe- hanna county, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of June, 1844. He learned the carpeuter trade and when eighteen years old enlisted in the Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving nearly three years as musician. On receiving his discharge he went to Scranton, where for eight years he engaged in contracting, building, and lumbering. He was married to Miss Olive M. Lord on the 20th of April, 1870. He made a trip to Kansas but re- mained only a few months, and in December, 1873, came to this place and entered the employ of the Ames' as millwright.
C. W. MANN was born in Canada on the 20th of May, 1830, and removed with his parents to Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1845, where he received his education and grew to manhood. He removed to Minnesota in the spring of 1851, and four years later located in Northfield, in section thirty-four, where he engaged in farming ten years. He was married on the 4th of December, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth A. Bush, also a native of Canada, born the 10th of May, 1832, the marriage ceremony taking place in St. Paul. They have three chil- dren; Bion E., born the 11th of October, 1857; Lydia D., born the 12th of September, 1859; and Cora L., born the 31st of October, 1869. He re- moved to the city of Northfield in the fall of 1869, and has since been engaged in the lumber business.
ALEXANDER MERRITT was born near Waterford, New Jersey, on the 15th of April, 1815, and when young moved with his parents to Cayuga county, New York, and grew to manhood on a farm. He was married in 1839, to Miss Betsey Davis, a native of New York, born in 1817, and removed to Michi- gan where he engaged in driving stage. Iu the spring of 1856, he came to Minnesota, located near Hader, Goodhue county, and came to this place in 1877. He had a family of nine children, five of whom are living; Roseltha, Ann, Frederic S., Charles E., Melissa J., and William H.
PROF. T. N. MOHN was born near Skien, Nor- way, on the 15th of July, 1844, and came with his
parents to America at the age of eight years. They settled in Columbia county, Wisconsin. Our subject graduated from the Lutheran College at Decorah, Iowa. in the class of 1870, having taken the full classical course, and in 1873, from the Theological department of the Concordia College at St. Louis, Missouri. In 1874, he came to St. Paul; was engaged in the ministry a few months, then, when Rev. B. J. Muus founded St. Olaf's School at this place Prof. Mohn was sent to take charge of it. He is principal of the Institution and there are five or six teachers under his super- vision. He was married in 1875, to Miss Anna E. Ringstad, of Winneshiek county, Iowa. They have two children; Nils Ivar Edward and John Olaf Gerhard.
F. A. NOBLE was born in Vermont in 1825, and removed with his parents to New Hampshire when seven years old. He attended the common schools and finished his education at the Academy of New Hampshire. At the age of twenty years he en- gaged in the manufacture of lumber and followed the same for years, and subsequently went to Bos- ton where he was engaged in the music business. He was married in Sanbornton, New Hampshire, iu 1845, to Miss Lyda A. Smith who was born in the latter State in 1826. In 1860, they removed to Minnesota, located near Cannon Falls where Mr. Noble was on a farm one year and a half, then came to Northfield and engaged in the manufac- ture of leather and gloves. He has had a family of five children, four of whom are living; Lyda, wife of Charles Anderson; Clara Jane, Florence, and Flora.
A. W. NORTON was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on the 1st of June, 1852. He remained in his native county, living with his parents and receiving a liberal education, until the western fever reached the East, when they came to New Richmond, Wisconsin. Here he remained until 1871, and then transferred himself to this place and engaged in the dry goods store of Lee & Hitchcock for the ensuing four years. He next engaged in the insurance and loan business in company with his brother who had preceded him to Northfield, remaining in that business until the bank with which he is now connected was started by his brother, W. H. Norton, as a private enter- prise. The subject of our sketch took the position of cashier and when the Citizen's Bank was organ- ized under the State law in September, 1878, he
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CITY OF NORTHFIELD.
gave way to his brother and became assistant cashier to him. On the 1st of January, 1881, he was re-elected cashier and still holds the position. In 1876, Mr. Norton was married to Miss Hattie A. Strong, and one son has blessed the union.
W. H. NORTON, deceased, a brother of the sub- ject of our last sketch, was alo born in Cattaran- gus county, New York, in 1848. He came to Northfield in 1868, and made his home here until his death in 1880. He was most of the time en- gaged in banking, loaning and insurance business and was the founder of the Citizen's Bank, being first president of the same. Hc erected the hand- some bank building and did much toward making Northfield what it is. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him and left many friends to mourn his loss.
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