USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 26
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 26
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The Owatonna Manufacturing Company was started in 1865 as a partnership between Michael F. Lowth and Thomas J.
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Howe, the firm name being Lowth & Howe. In 1873, H. N. La Bare purchased one-half of Mr. Lowth's interest, and the firm continued until 1878 under the name of Lowth, Howe & LaBare. At this time, Mr. Lowth disposed of his interest, and the name was changed to Howe & Co. August 20, 1888, the company was incorporated under the name of the Owatonna Manufacturing Company. D. J. Ames was elected president and T. J. Howe was elected secretary and treasurer. In 1898, Frank LaBare, son of H. N. LaBare, was elected president, and in 1903, Harry C. Howe, son of T. J. Howe, was elected secretary, T. J. Howe remaining as treasurer and general manager. The present offi- cers are : Frank LaBare, president ; Geo. S. Barr, vice-president ; H. C. Howe, secretary and treasurer. The company manufac- tures grain drills and seeders and a combined churn and butter worker for creamery use.
Hon. Hector M. Hastings was one of the prominent millers of Minnesota and was universally esteemed both for his quali- ties as a man and his ability as a promoter. He was born in the little town of Horseheads, Chemung county, New York, in 1835. There he was reared to sturdy boyhood, receiving such advan- tages as the district schools of the neighborhood afforded. Dur- ing this period surrounded by the love of a devoted mother and the care of a just father he laid the foundation of that staunch character which was to individualize his after-life. At the age of twelve years, in 1847, he was taken by his parents to Illinois. While there, he was married in 1854 to Mary A. Roberts who proved a loving and faithful companion throughout his life. Two years later the young couple decided to try their fortunes in what was then the new Northwest and accordingly settled near Elys- ian, in LeSueur county. There they were residing during the great Sioux outbreak of 1862. Mr. Hastings' conduct during that trying period illustrated the indomitable and vigorous character of the man. First bringing his family to Owatonna for safety he then proceeded to buy all the powder in the com- munity, amounting probably to one keg. With this he set out in a sulky to join Colonel Brackett's force, which was then proceeding against the Indians. Alone he traveled through the country and finally joined the command somewhere near the present site of St. Peter. He took part in the battle of Fort Ridgely from which he escaped unharmed. Later he witnessed the hanging of the thirty-eight Sioux ringleaders at Mankato. With this experience he sought to enlist in the Civil War, but was refused on account of a slight physical disability. In 1863 Mr. Hastings moved to Steele county and settled in Lemond township where, in time, he acquired over two thousand acres of land. In 1885 he formed a partnership with O. E. Edson and
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W. H. Willsey to go into the milling business under the firm name of H. M. Hastings & Company, purchasing the Reidell mill. Shortly afterward Mr. Willsey's interest was purchased by the llon. J. M. Diment. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1891, but such a disaster, great as it was, the property being uninsured, did not discourage such energetic and forceful busi- ness men as Mr. Hastings and his partner. They took Lynard Virtue into partnership and the firm became Hastings, Diment & Company. This concern purchased the old Beynon & Maes mill building, which they remodeled, refitted and enlarged. The business prospered and the fame of the mill grew until the name of the Hastings flour became known throughout this country and abroad. considerable quantities being shipped to England. The firm underwent some changes in 1897 when Mr. Hastings bought out his partners and changed the firm name to The Hastings Milling Company. But shortly afterward Mr. Virtue again bought an interest.
Operated for a time by the estate after Mr. Hastings' death and eventually was sold to L. G. Campbell Milling Company.
Mr. llastings was a man of strong individuality. Trained amid the hardships and exigencies of early frontier life, he acquired a decision of manner and speech sometimes seemingly blunt, yet, on acquaintance proving a valued quality as men of plain and fearless speech are rare. Ile left no doubt in the mind of the hearer as to where he stood on any question and his energetie decision in business matters soon caused him to tower above most of his fellows as a successful man. He had many excellent qualities of mind and heart of which his liberality to the poor and the unfortunate deserves special notice. A staunch Democrat in polities, he was a delegate to nearly every Democratic state convention, and in 1879 he served with distine- tion in the legislature. Aside from his milling interests he was president of the Central Dakota Telephone Company. Mr. Has- tings died May 7, 1899. He was survived by three children. George W. Hastings, Mrs. Ida Slaid and Mrs. G. F. Cardoff.
Mrs. Mary Adelia Hastings, wife of the Hon. H. M. Hastings, was one of Steele county's pioneer women and was held in high esteem by all who knew her. She was a true type of that ad- mirable class of women-the wives of pioneers. Devoted to her husband, bright, unselfish and ambitious, she labored unceas- ingly and happily to found a home, to care properly for her family and to advance its material and spiritual fortunes. The important share which such women have in the success attained by their husbands cannot be overestimated, and it is certain that Mrs. Hastings proved a rare helpmate to her husband all her married life. She was an unusually bright woman and found
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her greatest happiness in searching out and performing such duties as she believed fell within her scope of action. One of her most prominent characteristics was the happiness and cheeriness of her disposition, which lightened the labors of all near her as well as her own. A reply she made not long before her death, in answer to the remarks that the early days must have been hard ones for women coming out into a new country to find homes, was characteristic of her. She declared that those carly days of hard work and privation were the happiest of all. Even when sickness had laid its heavy hand upon her, Mrs. Hastings lost not one whit of her cheerfulness and hopefulness and to the last viewed the future with happy optimism as a place of joy and peace. This fact is believed to have prolonged her life past the time when the average woman would have succumbed to the cares of life and to the weight of years. It is not strange that such a woman should have won respect and confidence even though she was of a retiring rather than of a naturally sociable disposition. Mrs. Hastings' maiden name was Mary Adelia Roberts. She was born in Pennsylvania, September 17. 1837. While she was yet a small child the family removed to Rockford, Illinois, where in later years she met Mr. Hastings and became his wife. Aside from the three children mentioned above Mr. and Mrs. Hastings had a son, Frank, who died in early youth. Mrs. Hastings passed to the Great Beyond May 1, 1903, and her death caused a vacancy in the hearts of friends and relatives which will never be filled until the Last Resurrection.
S. M. Hastings was one of the carly settlers of Stecle county, having come from Illinois in 1857. lle was a native of New York where little more than half of his life was spent, emigrating from there to Illinois in 1849. He lived to be one of the oldest residents of the county, and was highly respected by his many friends. Ile died in 1886.
Thomas L. Slaid, who, after giving unusual promise of becom- ing one of the leaders in the business life of this vicinity, was cut off in the prime of his young manhood, was a native of Wis- consin, born at Beaver Dam, March 8, 1853. His parents, Oscar and Emily (Ingraham) Slaid, were both natives of Massachu- setts. In 1844 they went to Wisconsin and there remained until 1869, when they moved their family to lowa. The father died in Dumont, Iowa, in 1905, and the mother passed away in 1884. Thomas L. received his carly education in the public schools of Wisconsin and Iowa. After leaving school he came to Owa- tonna from Ackley, Iowa, in 1874, and entered the employ of Buxton & McReynolds, Mr. Buxton being his uncle. He con- tinued in this employ and some three years before his death was taken into the firm as a full partner. The firm was doing a
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large business in the sale of agricultural implements and hard- ware at the time of his untimely death, which occurred February 12, 1881. In politics Mr. Slaid was a Republican. He affiliated with the Odd Fellows. Mr. Slaid was married October 13, 1880, to Ida L. Hastings, a daughter of H. M. and Mary Adelia (Rob- erts) Hastings. To this union one child, a daughter, Thomasia A., was born August 22, 1881. She was married December 28, 1904, to C. A. Tincher, and to this union one child, Richard S., was born December 25, 1906. Her death, April 2, 1907, caused profound mourning among those to whom her winning ways and lovable character had enshrined her in their hearts.
Louis F. Hammel, the well-known contractor and builder, is giving the city of Owatonna an able administration in the mayor's chair. He is a native of Bayfield county, Wisconsin, and was born October 1, 1862. After completing his school days in Owatonna, to which city his parents moved in 1864, he joined his father in the contracting business, the firm continuing until the latter's death. From that time until October 1, 1909, Louis F. and John L. Hammel conducted the same business, under the firm name of Hammel Brothers, general contractors and builders. Mr. Hammel is a practical man of affairs and has filled various local offices, having served eight years as alderman from the Fourth ward of Owatonna and six months as acting mayor before being elected to his present position in March, 1909. In the lat- ter office he succeeded himself one year later. He has also done good service on the library board. The Democratic party has found in Mr. Hammel a loyal supporter, and in religious faith he holds to the tenets of the Presbyterian Church. He is iden- tified with the Modern Woodmen of America and also with the Masons, U. C. T., and the Modern Workmen. On June 20, 1889, Mr. Hammel married Celia, daughter of William and Ann (Hart- becker) Severin, and this union has been blessed with five chil- dren : Irwin William, Louis, Maria, Sidney and Kenneth. The parents of Mrs. Hammel came from Germany, their native land, and settled at Cedar Falls, Iowa, where the father died and where the mother now resides. John C. and Maria (Steagut) Hammel, parents of Louis F. Hammel, were both natives of Ger- many. The father, who was a contractor and builder, settled in Wisconsin in 1854, and ten years later removed to Owatonna, where he followed his regular occupation a quarter of a century, passing away in 1889. The mother died in 1871.
Fred H. Joesting, proprietor of the Emporium store, Owa- tonna, was born at La Porte, Ind., January 5, 1870. He is the son of Fredrick and Catherine (Voebert) Joesting, natives of Germany. They immigrated to the United States in 1863, locat- ing at La Porte, Ind., where the father was engaged in railroad
1. F. HAMMEL
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1053
work until 1880. He then removed to St. Paul, Minn., where he had charge of city parks up to the time of his death, in August, 1893. The mother returned to La Porte, Ind., where she now resides. The subject of this sketch received his early education at the public schools of La Porte and St. Paul. In 1883 he began life as a salesman in a dry goods house at St. Paul. In 1892 the firm opened a branch store at Little Falls, Minn. There Mr. Joesting became manager, in 1900. The firm became incorporated, with Mr. Joesting as secretary and treas- urer, which position he filled with honor until 1905. He then sold his interest and came to Owatonna, where he opened the Emporium Department Store, of which he is sole owner and proprietor. He conducts an up-to-date establishment in every respect, and the fact that he enjoys a large and steadily increas- ing patronage proves his ability and honest dealings as a mer- chant. On June 19, 1899, Mr. Joesting was married, at La Porte, Ind., to Minnie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Decker, who are now living with Mr. and Mrs. Joesting, in Owatonna. Mrs. Joesting was born at La Porte, June 5, 1875. Five children have blessed their home, viz .: Theodore, born at Little Falls, July 11, 1900; Fredrick H., born in the same place, July 15, 1903; Her- bert A. was born at Little Falls, Minn., April 17, 1905; Clement H., born in Owatonna, April 17, 1907, and Regina E., born May 6, 1909. Mr. Joesting is a Republican in politics. In religions faith he belongs to the German Lutheran Church. The family resides at 227 East Mill street, Owatonna.
Richard H. Jahreiss, of Owatonna, was born in Germany, November 6, 1873, son of Leonard and Margaret Jahreiss (de- ceased). The parents spent their lives in their native land. Rich- ard received his early education in Germany. He then took up and learned the cabinetmaker's trade. He immigrated to Amer- ica when a boy of about seventeen years of age, in 1891. After arriving in America, he located in Owatonna, where he entered the employment of Fred Hagedorn. He continued to work at his trade here for five years. He then tended bar until 1903, when he entered the employment of Hammel Brothers, con- tractors, as foreman of their factory, which position he still retains. Mr. Jahreiss was married November 13, 1894, at Owa- tonna, to Mary, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. Her father is deceased; the mother still lives in Owatonna. Three children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jahreiss, viz .: Ella, born June 26, 1896; Edwin, Edna, born June 26, 1900. The chil- dren are all attending school in Owatonna. Mr. Jahreiss is Dem- ocratic in his political views. The family attends the Presby- terian Church. He is a member of the F. O. E. and Mystic Workers. Ile is also a member of the Owatonna fire department.
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The family lives in a pleasant residence at 122 West School street. Mr. Jahreiss is an enterprising business man, a hard worker, and has made his way in the world by his own efforts.
Michael H. Keefe, marble and granite worker of Owatonna. was born in Bombay township, Franklin county, N. Y., July 25. 1851, son of David and Elizabeth (Gardner) Keefe, natives of Ireland. The father came to America in 1840, locating in New York, where he engaged in farming. The mother emigrated to this country in 1847. The father was a stone mason and con- tractor, which trade he followed together with farming both in New York state and after coming to Minnesota. They moved to Minnesota in 1863, locating on a farm in Freeborn county, where they remained until 1896, when the father retired from active life and moved with his family to Austin, Minn .. where he passed away December 13, 1905. The mother died May 28. 1873. Michael received his early education in the district schools of New York state. He came to Minnesota with his parents when twelve years of age, and finished his education in the public schools of Austin. He then started life as a farmer in Bloom- ing Prairie township. Steele county, where he owned 160 acres of land. He also owned considerable land in Freeborn county. but sold all except the 160 acres in Blooming Prairie, which he still looks after in connection with his business at Owatonna. He came to Owatonna in 1905, engaged in what is known as the Star Granite & Marble Works, and has since conducted a pros- perous and constantly growing business. Mr. Keefe was mar- ried February 24, 1881, to Margaret L. Farrell. Seven children have been born to them, viz .: William R., who travels for his father; Charles J., who lives at Kenmare, N. D .; Mary J., de- ceased ; Florence, deceased, and George B., Margaret and John, residing at home. Mr. Keefe has made his way in the world by dint of hard work and persevering effort. Ile is a generous neighbor, a good husband. a loving father and a good citizen. He has served Blooming Prairie township as supervisor for sev- eral years, and as assessor for five consecutive years. He helped to organize the school district of which he served as clerk. Mr. Keefe is an independent voter. He adheres to the Catholic faith ; is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the M. B. A.
S. Grant Kinney, of the firm of Disbrow & Kinney, has inter- ested himself in the upbuilding of the county and is a thorough believer in the future possibilities of the agricultural resources of this vicinity. Ile was born in Lemond township, this county, May 24, 1869, and received his earlier education in the district schools, supplemented by wide reading and ideal home train- ing. His father, an advocate of higher education for boys, sent him to Pillsbury Academy, from which he graduated in 1888.
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At once upon graduation he took up work on the home farm, and there remained until 1895, when he went to Canby, Minn., and after a short period as a farm machine agent there, went on the road as a salesman for nursery stock, in which capacity his genial nature and knowledge of Northwestern farm conditions won him success and friends. Early in 1897 he was recalled to Steele county by the death of his father, and until late in 1898 he looked after the family farm and estate. Subsequently he again went on the road, selling nursery stock two years for the Cannon Falls Nursery Company. In the meantime he purchased a tract of land in Dodge county, which he gave more or less of his attention. In seeing the opportunity for a live real-estate agency in this locality, he started in that line of business, with L. A. Disbrow for a partner. The office of this firm is in the Kelley Block on Broadway, where is done a large business in real estate and insurance. Mr. Kinney also handles nursery stock for O. F. Brand, of Faribault. Aside from various holdings in the county, Mr. Kinney owns stock in the Dan Patch Air Line Company. He is an independent voter and a member of the I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A. The family affiliates with the Universalist Church. Mr. Kinney has never cared to engage act- ively in politics, but at one time he consented to serve as assessor of the township of Owatonna. His residence is at 219 East Mill street. S. S. Kinney was married February 29, 1904, to Sadie Shank, of St. Paul. To this union has been born one daughter, Leona M., July 22, 1905.
Judge Willis E. Kenyon, judge of probate for Steele county, is serving his first term in this position, and has already dem- onstrated his fitness for the office. He wisely adjudicates the matters which are brought before his court, and has given gen- eral satisfaction to the people at large. Willis E. Kenyon was born in Chautauqua county, New York, November 5, 1852, son of Thomas and Mary (Smith) Kenyon, the former an early phy- sician of Steele county. The subject of this sketch secured his early education in the public schools of his neighborhood, and after leaving school engaged in farming for six years in Summit township. He then purchased eighty acres in Somerset town- ship and there followed general farming until 1903, when he sold his farm and moved to Owatonna. In the fall of 1908 he was elected to his present position. This, however, is not the only public service he has rendered his county. He served five years as assessor of the township of Summit and one year as chairman of the same town. For three years he was assessor of the township of Somerset. Being interested in the advancement of the interests of the farmers, he served seven years as secretary of the River Point creamery. Judge Kenyon was married Janu-
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ary 10, 1884, to Annie Schweiso, and to this union have been born five children : Nellie M. is a public school teacher; Jessie M. is also a teacher; Irvin W., Orrissa M. and Ferna A. are students in the Owatonna high school. The family residence is beautifully located at 233 East University street.
Dr. Thomas Kenyon was one of the pioneer physicians of Steele county, and his qualities as a man as well as his ability as a physician merit the high esteem in which his memory is hield. Ile was born in New York state. November 29. 1812, being the oldest of a family of thirteen children. His schooling and his medical education were received in New York state, and there hie practiced until 1856, when he came to Steele county and located in Somerset township. Here he engaged in farming, and also practiced his profession. being of the true type of rugged country physician. Some years before his death, which occurred April 17, 1882, he had retired from active practice. Dr. Kenyon was married August 18, 1833, to Mary Smith, born in New York, August 14, 1818. To this union were born ten children. Marion Ambrosia, who married Thomas J. Clark; Phoebe, who married George Crooker; Eliza, who married L. Robinson ; Edgar. who married Allecia Twiford; Lois, who married S. Anderson; Wal- ter, who married Abbie Smith ; Willis, now judge of probate for Steele county ; Frank, who married Sarah Hurlbert; Darwin, who married Dora Mitchell. and Fred, who married Minnie Schweiso. Mrs. Kenyon died January 10. 1906, and is laid at rest beside her husband in Somerset township.
Emma A. Lewis, a skilled practitioner of osteopathy, is the only member of her particular profession in Owatonna, and has won much favor among a wide circle of patients. Dr. Lewis was born in Junction City, Ore., April 11, 1876, daughter of John and Rhoda (Thompson) Lewis. She received her early educa- tion in the public schools, graduated from the high school at Allison, Iowa, and took courses in the Minnesota School of Business at Minneapolis and the State Normal School at Winona. In 1890, after a thorough preparation, she was graduated from the Northern Institute of Osteopathy at Minneapolis. Her first office was at Prairie du Chien, Wis., where she successfully prac- ticed for two years. December 2, 1901, she came to Owatonna, and opened an office, her success being insured from the very start. Dr. Lewis has allied herself with the American and Min- nesota Osteopathic Associations. She has kept well abreast of her times, not only in her own profession. but also in the profes- sions closely allied to hers, and her wide circle of friends predict for her a successful future, even more felicitous than her past.
John Lewis, now living in retirement at Owatonna, was born in Indiana, and there spent his boyhood. He enlisted at Madi-
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1057
son, Wis., in Company K, Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- try, and served three years under General Sherman, being dis- charged at Chattanooga, Tenn. While in the army, Mr. Lewis contracted the typhoid fever, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. His wife, Rhoda Thompson, is a native of Ohio. They are the parents of four children: Nelson H. is a physician at McDonald, Kan .; Emma A. is practicing at Owa- tonna; Zerelda is now Mrs. Charles I. Norman, of Minneapolis; and Emillie is now Mrs. George Flood, of Allison, Iowa.
Peter Mallinger, since 1866 a resident of Owatonna, with the exception of seven years' residence in Barnesville, this state, was born in Germany, and there spent his early life, embarking for America April 6, 1855. His first residence in this country was in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, where he was living at the out- break of the Civil War. His excellent record during this con- flict is appended below. At the close of the war, Lieutenant Mallinger returned to Wisconsin, and five months later, in the fall of 1866, he came to Owatonna, engaging in the mercantile business, which he continued until 1882, when his store was destroyed by fire. He then retired from active commercial life, but remained in Owatonna until 1900, when he removed to Ban- ner City, Clay county, Minn., where he and his wife still reside. The Mallinger home has been blessed with six children: Anna, born July 29, 1868, is the wife of John Deviny, of Owatonna ; Minnie, born February 11, 1870, is the wife of Michael Ryan, of Hillyard, Wash .; Adolph is chief of police at Owatonna; Gustav, born June 16, 1873, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah; Charles, born March 4, 1875, lives in Minneapolis, Minn .; Mary, born December 3, 1877, is now Mrs. William Pennman, of De- troit, Mich.
The following record is carefully preserved in the Mallinger family: "Certificate of Service. State of Wisconsin. Adjutant General's Office. No. 682, United States, 1895. This is to cer- tify that the records of this office show that Peter Mallinger, late a sergeant in Company F. of the Ninth Regiment of Wiscon- sin Infantry Volunteers, was enrolled at La Crosse, Wis., ou the 4th day of November, 1861, was mustered into the military service of the United States at Milwaukee, Wis., on the 13th day of November, 1861, for the term of three years, and was mus- tered out with Company at Milwaukee, Wis., on the 3d day of December, 1864; appointed corporal October 10, 1862; sergeant, January 1, 1863. The records further show that Peter Mallinger enlisted in Company K, Forty-eighth Regiment of Wisconsin In- fantry, March 8, 1865, at Fountain City, Wis., was mustered into the U. S. service March 27, 1865, at Milwaukee, Wis .. for one year ; appointed first sergeant, April 5, 1865; commissioned sec-
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