USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 97
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DANIEL GLYZER, a native of Indiana, was born on the 28th of October, 1850. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and came with his parents to Minnesota in 1862, first locating in Lawrence county, but a year later came to this place and bought a farm in section thirty-four. His father died in 1870, and Daniel has since had charge of the farm, his motner living with him.
HENRY GRAVES was born in Ireland in 1838, and spent eight years of his youth in school. He sailed for America in September, 1845, and set-
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
tled in Bureau county, Illinois, where, after reach- ing his majority, he was employed on the Chica- go, Burlington & Quincy railroad several years. On the 9th of September, 1858, Miss Catherine Duffy became his wife. In 1869, they came to this township, purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-one, and the same year erected their present house. Mr. and Mrs. Graves have had eleven children,- ten of whom are now living.
NILS HOAGENSON, a native of Norway, was born on the 14th of November, 1849. He remained at home engaged in farming until the 20th of July, 1868, when he set sail for America in company with his parents. They came direct to Minnesota and settled in Rushford, Fillmore county, where they remained five years and came to this town- ship. Mr. Hoagenson purchased a farm and im- mediately erected his present house. Miss Caro- line Larson became his wife on the 5th of Febru- ary, 1874, and they have a family of four chil- dren.
PETER JOHNSON was born in Norway on the 6th of March, 1831. He was married in his na- tive country in July, 1864, to Miss Carrie Thomp- son. They came to America in 1868, landed in New York and from thence came to Carver couuty, Minnesota, where they were engaged in farming until 1872. In the latter year they came to this township, purchased a farm in section twenty, and in 1875, erected their present fine house. They have a family of nine children; Eva, Peter, Carrie, Henry, John, Willie, Ola, Mary, and Charles.
JOHN KING, whose father came from New Jer- sey to Webster in 1856, being among the first set- tlers, was born in the latter State in 1853. All his school days amounted to but nineteen months, and when he was eight years old his father died. John has always resided on the old homestead, his sisters living with him. He is a member of the board of Supervisors.
JAMES KEEGAN, one of the pioneers of this place, was born on the 20th of March, 1828, in Ireland. In 1846, he came to America and settled in Wash- ington county, Maine, where he learned the tailor trade, remaining two years. From thence he went to New York and engaged at his trade, then to McHenry county, Illinois, and afterward resid- ed in Milwaukee and Chicago, and in 1865, came to St. Paul, in each of which places he worked at l.is trade. In 1856, he came to this township and
bought the land upon which he now resides. He was united in marriage on the 16th of November, 1862, to Miss B. H. Carroll, who has borne him two sons, James and Andrew.
ARTHUR KINSELLA, deceased, was born in Ire- land in 1821. He was reared on a farm and came to America in 1850, first located in Rockford, Illi- nois, but soon after came to Dakota county, Min- nesota. He was married in 1856, to Miss Anna Mangon. They came to this township in 1862, purchased a farm in section fourteen, and built a shanty in which they lived until 1870, then erected a fine frame house. Five children blessed this union; Andrew, John, Arthur, George, and Mary. Mr. Kinsella died on the 19th of June, 1874, mourned by a large circle of friends.
E. C. KNOWLES, one of the old settlers of Min- nesota, was born in Merrimack county, New Hampshire, on the 30th of August, 1820. In 1841, he married Miss Lucinda Atwood of his native place. He then engaged in farming for a time but finally sold and bought a shingle mill, which business and carpentering he continued until the fall of 1849, when he was employed by the North- ern Railroad Company and worked five years as a mechanic, building and repairing bridges, and was also in the repair shops. In 1855, he came west to seek a home, first pre-empted land in Dakota county near Hastings and worked at his trade in that city. In 1856, he bought a quarter section in this township but continued to reside in Hast- ings. In 1858, he went to Kenyon, Goodhue coun- ty, spent one season and then came to Northfield, and in 1860, settled in this place. The following fall he built the house in which he now lives. He has many times been elected to local offices of trust, and also represented this district in the State Legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Knowles have had eight children; John, Mary, Jane, Albert, Ezekiel, Frank, Ella, and Orrin. Mary died in 1858, at the age of fifteen, and Ezekiel in 1856, when six years old.
JAMES LEAHEY was born in Ireland on the 15th of August, 1840, and came with his parents to America when seventeen years old. They landed in New Orleans, and came from thence to Dakota conuty, Minnesota, where James attended school. He came to this township in 1859, now owns a good farm, and has held many offices of trust. He was united in marriage on the 5th of January, 1875, to Miss Mary Hagan, who has borne him
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WEBSTER TOWNSHIP.
four children; Daniel, John Henry, Mary Ellen, nd James.
JOHN MOLLOY was born in Ireland on the 12th of March, 1835, and emigrated to America in 1852. He was employed in a factory in Oswego county, New York, until 1857, then came to this township and pre-empted a claim which is his present home.
ANDREW NELSON, a native of Norway, was born on the 24th of August, 1830. His father died when he was one year old, and he lived with his mother attending school until the age of eleven; then engaged to work in the pineries, continuing, with the exception of two seasons, until 1869. In the latter year he came to America, landed in Que- bec, and came to Carver county, Minnesota. While there he married Miss Merrit Nelson in 1871. They came to this township in 1873, and built the house in which they now live in section twenty, where they have a good farm. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have had eight children; Annie, Merrit, Andrew, Henry, Mary, Cora. Herman, and Carrie, five of whom are dead.
NELS OLESON "HOLTE" is a native of Norway, born on the 25th of May, 1830. At the age of sixteen years he began to learn the carpenter trade, at which he was engaged until coming to America in 1866. He was married before coming, in 1855, to Miss Olianna Oleson. They first set- tled in Trempealeau, Trempealeau county, Wis- consin, where he was engaged at his trade. In 1868, he came to Dakota county, Minnesota, where he followed his trade for six years, then in St. Paul four years, and in 1874, came to this place, bought a farm and built a blacksmith shop, which he has since conducted. Mr. and Mrs. Holte have had ten children, eight of whom are living.
MAGNUS OLSON was born in Norway on the 15th of November, 1830, reared on a farm, and at the age of fifteen years began to learn the stone mason trade. He was married in 1858, to Miss Sophia Cyprans. In 1852, they left their native country and came to America, directly to Chicago, where Mr. Olson worked at his trade for two months, and came to Goodhue county, Minnesota. His wife died in 1868, and in 1870, he married Miss Anna Amundson. He remained in the latter place until 1876, when he moved to this township and bought a farm in sections four and nine, which he has since made his home. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have had two children, Simon and Carl.
HAAGEN OLSON was born in Norway on the 18th of September, 1839. In 1865, married Miss Mary Olson. The following year they came to America, to Dakota county, Minnesota, and after a residence of five years there moved to Dakota territory. In 1875, his wife died and the same year he came to this township, purchased a farm in section thirty, and has since made it his home. The maiden name of his present wife was Annie M. Swedeen, and this union has been blessed with two children; Julianna and Edwin. Mr. Olson has been a mem- ber of the Board of Supervisors and is at present Treasurer.
THOMAS REYNOLDS, one of the few Americans in this place, is a native of New York, born on the 1st of June, 1839. He remained at home at- tending school and in 1872 married; then came west to this township and resided with his brother- in-law until 1874. Having purchased a farm upon his arrival, be built a house in the latter year and has since made it his home. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have had seven children, four of whom are living; Catharine, Florence, Maggie, and Alice. Three died in infancy.
OLE RYGG was born in Norway on the 29th of January,1832. In 1860, he came to America, locat- ed in Door county, Wisconsin, thence to Chickasaw, Iowa, and in 1876, came to this township, pur- chased a farm and built the house which has since been his home. He was married in Wiscon- sin on the 3d of May, 1863, to Miss Mary Hovy, who has borne him three children; Oliver, Mary, and an infant who died. The oldest also died.
OLE A. SJOLI was born in Norway on the 21st of October, 1821, and there received a common school education and learned the gardener's trade. He was married in 1849 to Miss Amelia Lister. They came to America in 1867, landed in New York, and came directly to Rice county. His wife died in 1870, leaving seven children; Anna, Carrie, Adolph, Otto, Hannah, Olive, and Eminel. In 1873, Mr. Sjoli married Miss Isabel Peterson, and the same year they came to this township and purchased a farm in section thirty. This union has been blessed with three children; Peter, Mar- tin, and Charlotte.
ALBERT M. STRATE, a native of Norway, was born on the 18th of December, 1851. He came to America in 1868, landed in New York, from which place he came to Northfield, and thence to Dakota county, where he was engaged in farming
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
more or less for five years. During that time he made a trip to the western part of the State, and in 1874, came to this township and purchased a farm, which he sold in 1881, and bought his pres- ent land in section thirty-one. He was united in marriage in 1877, to Miss Carrie Sjoli, who has borne him two children; Berlothe and Alfred.
FERRIS WEBSTER, deceased, one of the pioneers of Rice county, was born in Franklin, Delaware county, New York, on the 2d of February, 1802. When he was quite young his parents moved to Ohio, where he was reared on a farm and received his education. He was married on the 12th of January, 1824, to Miss Susan Abbott, who died on the 5th of March, 1827, leaving two children. Pis second wife was Miss Adaline Mitcham, who bore him three children, and died on the 24th of January, 1844. In 1828, Mr. Webster built a ho- tel at Jefferson, Ashtabula county, and was its landlord until 1843, when he sold and purchased a farm in Kingsville in the same county. On the 28th of January, 1844, he married Miss Roxana Carpenter, who survives him. This union was blessed with two children. In 1854, he sold his farm and built a hotel in Geneva, in the same county, but sold soon after and went to Monroe- ville. In the spring of 1856, he came west to seek a home, and immediately upon his arrival here took Government land in section twenty-six of this township, which was his home until his death, which occurred on the 24th of August, 1880. Mrs. Webster resides on the old home- stead. She has two children. Her youngest son,
Morrow C., was born in Kingsville, Ashtabula county., Ohio, on the 13th of June, 1850, and came with his parents to this place where he received his education. He was married on the 7th of February, 1872, to Miss Elizabeth Walter. They have been blessed with two children; Archer Pearl and Daisy A. He resides on the homestead with his mother, and in 1878, built the house which they now occupy.
FRED WIESE was born in Germany on the twenty-third of February, 1853 When he was an infant his parents emigrated to America, settled first in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, then in Chicago, and from thence to Milwaukee, where Fred received his education. In 1870, he moved to New London, Minnesota, and thence to the northern part of Wisconsin, where he was engaged in the pineries two seasons, and also in rafting on the Mississippi two seasons. In 1874, he went to Michigan, was employed in the mines and railroading for a time and re- turned to New London, thence to Winona, and in 1875, came to this township. In June, 1881, he bought his father's farm and erected a new house. He was married to Miss Minnie Dodes in Septem- ber, 1881.
C. D. WALTER was born in Huron, Erie county, Ohio, on the 7th of April, 1842. He eame to Webster in 1872, bought a farm in sections twen- ty-five and twenty-six, and built the house in which he now lives. He was united in marriage in September, 1872, with Miss Alice Dilly. They have two children; Daniel Liston and Edith M.
WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP.
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WHEATLAND.
CHAPTER LXIII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - EARLY SETTLEMENT SCHOOLS - POST-OFFICE - RELIGIOUS - EARLY EVENTS-VESSLEY VILLAGE-BIOGRAPHICAL.
This, the northwest corner township of Rice county, has Le Sueur county on the west, Scott county on the north, the town of Webster on the east, and Erin on the south. It has the regular thirty-six sections of a government township. As to the name, whether it is derived from the Wheat- land which was the residence of President Bu- chanan, from some town further east, or from its intrinsic quality as regards the production of the leading cereal of the country, it perhaps matters little so long as it answers the two great purposes of a name, which are to characterize and also to distinguish it from all else with which it may be confounded.
The town may be described as a rolling prairie, being almost hilly in some parts. There was formerly some heavy timber, but much of it was brush prairie with scattering groves of small tim- ber. The soil is remarkably well adapted to hay or grain. There are three lakes, in addition to Phelps Lake which lays mostly in Erin but comes up into this town near the western corner, on the southern boundary. The largest of these lakes is Cody Lake, which is from a few rods to half a mile wide and about two miles long. The other two have not been honored with names that appear on the maps, but they are oval in form and half a mile in diameter, and certainly should have this distinction. The overflow from these lakes, which involve sections sixteen and seventeen for one, and nineteen and twenty for the other, finds its way into Cody Lake. There are two or three little rivulets in town but no streams of import- ance. The soil is a rich dark loam with clayey outcroppings on the elevated points.
The township is well settled with men who as a
rule carefully cultivate small farms, from which the best results may always be expected.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The earliest settlers to reach this town arrived in 1855. It appears that Joseph J. Frazier, a halfbreed, his father being a Scotchman, came here at an early day on a hunting and trapping expedition under the patronage of Gen. Sibley who was his fast friend. Being attracted by the location, in the year above named he made a claim on section thirty-two, between Cody and Phelps Lakes, and here he established a home, if a bachelor hermitage can be so called, and existed until 1861, when he was married and continued to reside on the spot until gathered in by the Great Reaper on the 23d of February, 1869. In mem- ory of his old friend, Gen. Sibley placed a slate at the head of his last resting place. Frazier was a noted hunter and Indian warrior, and was at Fort Ridgely when it was invested by the savages, and ran through the lines and gave the alarm at Fort Snelling so that relief was sent. At the time of his death, a sketch of his life written by Gen. Sib- ley was printed in the Pioneer Press.
Thomas Lambert, a native of Canada, came here from West St. Paul in 1855, and selected a place in section twenty-nine, but the next year went to Mendota. Returning the following Jan- nary he located in section thirty-two where his son Hercules now lives, and here he remained until the 12th of March, 1882, when his demise oc- curred.
Battice Bushman, also from Canada, came this year and his lot fell in section twenty; here be made improvements for five or six years and then moved to Nicollet county.
It is claimed that the first man after Frazier was Louis Plaisance, a Canadian who planted himself in section twenty-nine, but sold out in 1858, and transplanted himself to Mendota, but now lives in Minneapolis.
35
546
HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
Henry Bellend, another Canadian, came with Frazier from St. Paul and drove some claim stakes in section thirty-two. He lived there long enough to secure a title and then returned to West St. Paul where he now resides.
John Faulkner, David Valentine, Charles Smith, and John Taylor, natives of Scotland, formed a settlement in the eastern part of the town. Faulk- ner's place was in section thirteen which he culti- vated for fourteen years and then removed to Mc- Leod county where he now lives. Smith found a piece of land in section fourteen; Valentine in section thirteen; and Taylor struck a farm in sec- tion fourteen. Some years ago the whole party went to some place near Cannon Falls. Taylor was struck to death by lightning early in the sev- enties.
Elaire Legree, a Canadian Frenchman, secured a home in section twenty-one, and when the war broke upon the country he enlisted in the army and died on his way home.
Thomas McCormick surrounded a claim in sec- tion twenty, which he worked up to 1866, when he sold and went to Illinois and from thence to Missouri.
Titus Bunnell, of Nova Scotia, came here from Louisiana and placed his signet on a farm in sec- tion nineteen; after a few years he went to Can- non Falls and from there drifted over into Wis- consin.
Among others who came this first year of the settlement -- 1855-were Henry Bilon, William Quinn, John Berry, Nelson Marsh, John Irvin, John Cook, Benjamin LeDuc, and others.
In 1856, quite a number of new neighborhoods were formed and the settlement considerably thick- ened up. Three brothers, Louis,Joseph, and Gus- tavus Martin, in company with their father and an uncle named Paul, came together and secured homesteads. Louis dismounted in section twenty and proceeded to make himself comfortable un- til 1873, when he removed to Le Sueur county. Joseph made a home in section thirty-one and there he toiled on up to the year 1878, when he sold his place and moved to White Earth, Becker county, where he may be now found. Gustavus settled on a lot in section thirty-one and there he lived until 1875, when he went to Wisconsin. The father made his home with Joseph. Paul lived in section thirty-three until his departure hence in 1873.
Zenus Y. Hatch, of Maine, put his sign man- ual on a farm in'section seventeen where he made a home until 1870, when he sold and went to Red- wood Falls, and from thence to Sante Agency, Dakota, where he now is.
John Lynch, of Ireland, settled down to work in section six. In 1868, he sold the place and went to Goodhue county.
Peter Campbell and Charles Orr went into the same section. Orr died in 1862, and Campbell removed to Scott county.
Richard Browne, a native of the Emerald Isle, surrounded a farm in section thirty-five, upon which he has wrought to the present time.
The Wilson brothers, William and James, na- tives of Scotland, came onto section seven where they made improvements up to 1864, when they both sold out and joined the army. They may now be found in Scott county.
Barnard Durham, an Irishman, located his part of Uncle Sam's dominion in section eleven. He now resides near Faribault.
James Thompson, another son of the Ever Green Isle, took his acres in section thirty, and worked the farm for four years and then went to Mendo- ta. He took his place early in 1856, or late in the year previous.
Michael Fitzpatrick, of the same Celtic origin, found a spot in section twenty-three that met his requirements, and he has been digging away there ever since.
Onezian Berry, a native of Canada, pre-empted a place for a home in sections nine and ten. In 1882, he moved into Wells.
Thomas Lawler, another Celt, procured a farm in section eighteen, but he now lives in the town- ship of Northfield.
Among others who should be mentioned as mak- ing their appearance this year, although but few, if any, of them remain in the township are: John, William, and Thomas Barrett, Patrick Kirk, Pat- rick Littleton, Thomas Reily, Thomas Kilroy, and James Giblin, all natives of the "Shamrock Isle."
In 1857, the population received notable acces- sions and some of the best remembered will be mentioned.
Patrick Cody, a native Ireland, reported in per- son to remain, on a farm in sections twenty-nine and thirty-two, which he had selected the year previous.
James Lynn and Thomas Browne, from Ire-
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WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP.
land, came directly from California and selected a location in section thirty-four which he has suc- cessfully cultivated up to the present time.
Andrew Thompson, of the same nationality, came with his son James and settled in section thirty. Andrew, another son of the above, en- listed in Company B, of the 6th Minnesota, and returned at the close of the war, in June, 1865. He was an able man and filled several town and other offices and was three times a member of the State Legislature. In 1880, he removed to Mc- Leod county where he now resides.
Murdoch McLennan, a native of Scotland, se- cured a homestead in section twenty-three, and there he yielded up his life in 1865.
James Willey, from the land of the Shamrock, was transferred to section twenty-six, where he still is in a thriving condition.
Jabez W. Flavel, from England, came over and lived here until 1864, then sold out and went into the army, but returned to live in Scott county ..
Peter O'Brien had a stopping place here for a few years, when he moved on.
In the year 1858, the rear guard of the immi- gration army came in and dropped down on vari- ous unoccupied points.
John Montoul, a Canadian Frenchman, found an unoccupied spot in section nine, and there he stationed himself and stood guard for eighteen years, when he vacated the old post and camped on section thirty-four, where he is in command at the present time.
Thomas Horner came down from St. Paul on his way from the "Old country" and cast anchor in section five where he still remains.
Joseph Kartaka, a Bohemian, the advance guard of that small but determined army that has since followed, found some unoccupied acres in section sixteen which he captured, but he afterward moved on to Beaver Falls. Within a year or so afterward came Philip Plaisance, who served the town in various capacities, the State as a repre- sentative, and his adopted country as a soldier.
Mr. B. Stepson, another Bohemian, secured a local habitation in section four, but he is now on section fourteen. Of his two sons, John has a farm which he assiduously cultivates in section eleven, and Frank bustles around with the old gentleman. Thomas Lapic, of section ten, came here in 1862. At the present time the population
is largely Bohemian. Although but few of them can be said to be old settlers.
SCHOOLS.
DISTRICT No. 59 .- This has been designated as the mother of districts. It was organized in 1857 and a school opened in a building owned by Bat- tice Bushman, on which some repairs had been made by sawing the lumber with a whip-saw. Miss Ann Cody was the first to wield the ferule here. The next building to be pressed into the service in which to teach mental "shooting," was a claim cabin belonging to Mr. Simons of St. Paul. Miss Nancy Patterson was the next to try her hand in keeping the motley throng in order. In 1865, they constructed a schoolhouse of hewn logs, which was high toned even at that time, on section twenty-nine. Miss Jane Young then as- sumed the government of the school. In 1877, this house fell a victim to the devouring flames and a new frame house was put up that fall which still stands.
DISTRICT No. 76 .- On the 15th of January, 1862, this district was brought into existence, and Miss Lizzie Larkins opened a school in the house of James Welby in section twenty-six. The next year a log house was got together on the same section and Miss Larkins inaugurated the exer- cises. That building was made to answer until 1879, when another was built on the same section but about 80 rods west, more in accordance with the modern ideas. Miss Ella Lee was the initial teacher here.
DISTRICT No. 45 .- In 1863, this district assum- ed form and a log cabin was rolled together on section eleven. Miss Maggie Morrisey was the presiding genius of the establishment, and this building sheltered the school for about five years when the wants of the district demanded better quarters and the building that now stands on the same section was placed there.
DISTRICT No. 107 .- This is one of the newest districts as it had no existence until January, 1881. The first board of directors was made up of Ole Bigg, O. M. Strate, and J. Tossum. Dur- ing the year the house was erected. on section thirty-six. The first to take charge of the juven- iles when collected for instruction was Richard Lynch.
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