USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 44
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 44
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the trip necessitating a haul of sixty miles by oxen over mere trails-a stall in the mud every few miles being the regular thing. Two weeks was record time for the trip. They proved themselves true pioneers, patiently enduring these privations and living in a hay-roofed cabin with no floor between them and the ground. Indians were their only neighbors for miles. They lived, however, to see civilization gradually come to them, and to enjoy its comforts. Wencl and Anna Jirousek, parents of Mrs. Pichner, our subject's wife, were also pioneer settlers of Owatonna township, coming here shortly after the close of the Civil War. The father followed farming up to the time of his death. The mother has also passed to the Great Beyond.
Captain Lewis G. Nelson, now deceased, was one of those men whose death leaves a real vacancy in the community wherein they have lived. Of a staunch character and unswerving purpose, he attained success in life by his own efforts, and out- distanced many of his fellows who in youth had much wider advantages. Captain Nelson was a native of Norway, born May 9, 1841. He came to America when four years of age, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gunder Nelson, who took up their home in Wisconsin. There their son Lewis G. attended the district schools, this being the only schooling he ever re- ceived. Remaining on the farm, he faithfully assisted his parents until reaching twenty years of age, when, in 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was an actor in the battle at Island Number Ten, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, and those of the east Tennessee and Atlanta campaigns. He was shortly promoted to sergeant, and on his twenty-first birthday received his commission as first lieutenant. His superior officers were not long in discovering that he had talents and energy, and his services were called for in almost every department of the field. He commanded the roll of honor company under Rosecrans' plan for that dis- tinction ; was division commissary and adjutant ; fifteen months quartermaster, and served some time on the brigade staff under Colonels Gibson and Martin. He was promoted to the rank of captain some months before his discharge on February 13, 1865. At the close of the war he returned to Wisconsin and engaged in the general merchandise business for four months. In the fall of 1865 he came to Minnesota, and during the following spring purchased a store at Kasson, in Dodge county, where he engaged in the general mercantile business until 1881, when he purchased a drug store in the same town. After eleven years of success in this business he came to Owatonna, in 1892, and opened a similar establishment here. In 1897 he formed a partnership with his brothers, under the name of the Nelson Mercantile
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Company. The subject of this sketch was elected president and remained in this capacity until his lamented death, August 21, 1906. Aside from his military service, Captain Nelson attained dis- tinction in civil office. He was register of deeds in Dodge county four years, engrossing clerk for the Minnesota legislature one year, member of the lower house of the Minnesota legislature one term, and member of the state board of equalization four years. He was a prominent member of Goodwin Post, G. A. R .. and was also identified with the A. O. U. W., the Royal Arcanum, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Owatonna Com- mercial Club. Being a thoughtful reader, Captain Nelson pos- sessed a vast fund of information, which served his purpose in life better than an extensive academic training would have done. Highly respected throughout the community, he was reckoned as one of Owatonna's most successful men. Coupled with busi- ness acumen he was a man of lovable disposition when with his friends, and proved a loyal companion, a true husband, and a devoted father. Captain Nelson was married at Kasson, Minn .. to Etta Dibble, daughter of D. K. and Mary ( Chase) Dibble, and to this union one daughter, Laura, and one son, Arthur, were born. The parents of Mrs. Nelson were among the earlier pioneers. They came from New York, their native state, in 1857. and purchased a farm in Dodge county, this state, where they engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1874 Mr. Dibble was elected treasurer of Dodge county, and four years later, after retiring from office, served his successor one year as assistant. He then returned to the farm until 1900, when he retired and moved to Owatonna, where he now resides. His wife died January 23, 1901, at Owatonna.
R. R. Carpenter on April 10, 1874, was born on the same farm in Merton township on which he now lives. His educa- tion was obtained in the district school, supplemented by study at the Owatonna High School and Pillsbury Academy. After leaving school he busied himself on the farm with his father. Mr. Carpenter was a clerk in an Owatonna business house for a number of years and then took up land in North Dakota under the homestead law. Here he lived about five years. At the end of this time, returning to Owatonna, he engaged in the sale of cream separators for about two years. One year was spent at Brook Park, Minn. In the fall of 1908 Mr. Carpenter rented his father's farm in Merton township. Hle now owns one hun- dred and sixty acres and rents two hundred acres. Miss Laura A. Cotter became his wife in 1908. Mr. Carpenter has two brothers, Bert W. and Walter W., both living in Minneapolis, and two sisters, Alice and Mabel. Mr. Carpenter is a Universalist in his church preferences and a Republican in politics, and also a
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member of the K. of P. lodge. Asa Carpenter and his wife, Marion L. Wilkins, parents of R. R. Carpenter, were natives of Vermont. They moved on to the western frontier in 1856, first settling in Wisconsin and then in Minnesota. Mr. Carpenter bought land in Merton township and here continued to farm until 1904. Since that time Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have lived a retired life in Owatonna.
Gustavus F. Cardoff, a prominent land owner and farmer of Clinton Falls township, was born in Germany, December 12, 1865, passing his boyhood in Chicago and acquiring his edu- cation in the night schools, completing with a course in the Curtis Business College of St. Paul. In 1887 he came to Steele county, purchased three hundred and twenty acres in Clinton Falls township, and commenced farming operations. Eight years later he bought another quarter section, now owning four hundred and eighty acres of highly productive land, all in Clin- ton Falls township. In addition to general farming, Mr. Cardoff has made a signal success of dairying and stock raising, being the owner of one of the finest herds of thoroughbred Holstein cattle in the state. Poland-China hogs were formerly raised, but he has found Duroc-Jerseys a better paying proposition and now gives his attention to them. All modern buildings and machinery conducive to up-to-date agriculture are used. In politics he is a staunch Republican, chairman of the county committee, and has served on the state central committee. Though never an aspir- ant to office. he is one of the pillars of his party. The Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America count him a loyal brother. In 1891 he was married to Fanny E. Hastings. daughter of H. M. Hastings. They have four children-Bessie A., attending high school; Niel H., died in 1895: Earl F., and Thomas H. David HI. and Mary H. (Schmidt) Cardoff, parents of our subject, were natives of Germany, where the father was a shipbuilder by trade. Coming to this country in the early sixties, he located at Elgin, Ill., following his trade as a carpenter until his death, in 1869. The mother died in 1871. Four children were born to them-David H., deceased; Ida, living in Germany ; Gustavus F., our subject : and Mary E., wife of G. W. Brandon, of St. Paul.
L. S. Taylor, an enterprising Merton township farmer, was born here November 17, 1873, and received his primary educa- tion in the district schools, following which he spent two years at Pillsbury Academy. Leaving school, he worked as butter- maker in the creameries of Mankato and Glenville for cleven ycars, after which he sold creamery supplies on the road for three years. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres of his father's land in Merton township, where he has since conducted
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general farming, with a special interest in Holstein cattle, which his father first introduced into this state. In November, 1897, Mr. Taylor married Bertha Young, daughter of James Young and Ellen Wilson, his wife. They have one son, Angus, who is still at home. Mr. Taylor is a Republican in politics, has been associated with the K. of P. order, and also with the M. W. A. He is a member of the school board in district fifteen and a stockholder in the Merton creamery. E. P. Taylor and Ellen Hulett. his wife, parents of L. S. Taylor, were natives, respectively, of Massachusetts and Wisconsin. Coming to Min- nesota in 1857, they pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in section five, Merton township, where Mr. Taylor built a home and cultivated and improved his land until the outbreak of the Civil War. He then enlisted in the Tenth Minnesota, in which he served for three years, was discharged for disability, and returned to his home in Merton township. He soon bought one hundred and sixty acres in section five and later one hun- dred and sixty acres in Richland township, Rice county, giving him a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which he con- tinued to improve and cultivate until 1898, when he gave up active farming, rented the farm, and moved to Owatonna, where he and his wife now live.
A. J. Young, a native of Merton township, where he is now a thriving farmer, was born October 5. 1872. His education, begun at the district school, was supplemented by four years of study at Pillsbury Academy, Owatonna. Leaving school, he has ever since engaged in farming. In 1898 Mr. Young rented his father's farm, on which from that time he has been busy in tilling the soil and caring for his live stock. His especial interest is in Holstein cattle and Percheron horses. He was married to Lydia Greeley, daughter of James and Amelia Ribstein Greeley, in 1898. Three children bless their home-Clarence, Jay, and Loleita. A Republican in politics and an attendant of the Methi- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Young has been active in local affairs, serving as treasurer of the school district for a number of years, and also as township road overseer. He owns stock in and is a director of Merton creamery, and is also director and stockholder of the Merton Rural Telephone Company. James R. Young and his wife, Ellen Wilson, parents of A. J. Young, came to Minnesota in 1861 and located on a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Merton township. Mr. Young was a native of New York, while his wife was born in England. In 1863 he enlisted as a soldier in the Civil War, in Company C, Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the rebellion, when he was honorably discharged. Re-
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turning home, he worked on his farm until 1898, when he moved to Owatonna, where with his wife he still lives.
Edwin H. Naylor, a farmer of Steele county, was born on the farm he now occupies, December 25, 1868. His education was received in the district schools, after which he assisted his father on the farm, and, in 1908, he became its owner. He now has two hundred and sixty acres of fine tillable land, on which he still follows general farming, with marked success. His place is known as the Burr Oak Stock Farm, Mr. Naylor devoting much attention to stock raising, and having about sixty acres of fine pasturage. Shorthorn and Durham cattle, all thoroughbred, and high graded swine are raised. At one time he made a specialty of Poland China hogs, but has largely discontinued them. His milk finds a ready market at the nearest creamery, of which he is a director. In political convictions he is a Re- publican and is now serving as a county commissioner-his term expiring in 1912-and as a member of the school board. In 1897 he was united in marriage with Jeanette Case, daughter of Phelps Case, a prominent citizen of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Naylor have no children. They are loyal attendants of the Congregational Church of Owatonna. Edward and Marian (Hunter) Naylor, parents of our subject, were respectively na- tives of England and Canada. The father came over about the year 1850, and after a short stay in Illinois removed to Steele county, and homesteaded the hundred and sixty acres on which his son is now engaged in farming with his other hundred. He built the first creamery in his locality, and added many of the modern improvements now on the place. He is at present living retired at Owatonna, with his residence on Pearl street.
Harvey Stockwell was born September 4, 1862, in Merton township, Steele county. After receiving his education he en- gaged in farming for several years. In 1890 he moved to Owa- tonna, and resided there two years. Then he moved to West Concord, and engaged in the hardware, farm implements, pump and wind mill business. In 1896 he sold out and purchased a farm in the township of Clinton Falls, where he resides at the present time.
Herman W. Borchert, deceased, was born in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, May 22, 1865. Here he received his early education in the district schools, after which he engaged in farm- ing. In 1884 Mr. Borchert started in the farming business for himself on the old homestead, on sections three and ten in Blooming Prairie township. The farm comprised three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he worked diligently along progressive lines to improve. The buildings and machinery were brought to date and the farm conducted according to the
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most approved methods. December 6. 1887, at the home of the bride's parents, llerman W. Borchert was married to Mally Vaith. Mr. Borchert served the community in which he lived on the town board of supervisors and as an officer of district school No. 47, and was connected with the Union Creamery Association and Oak Glen Creamery Association of Bixby. Politically, he was a Republican and a staunch member of the Lutheran Church. His death, August 8, 1900, was a severe blow to his family. He is survived by his wife and four children-Frank, born Septem- ber 21, 1888; August, born May 17, 1891 ; Ida, born June 12, 1895; Fred, born August 29, 1898. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Borchert has shown exceptional ability in keeping up the farm with the same standard of excellence attained by Mr. Borchert. In this effort she is ably assisted by her eldest sons, Frank and August, who are capable, honorable young men, highly respected by the community. August Borchert and Rosa, his wife, parents of Herman W. Borchert, came from Germany to America in 1830 and first located in Wisconsin. Coming to Minnesota in 1870, he purchased a farm in Somerset town- ship, where he lived several years, gave the farm to his son, August, who still conducts it, and bought three hundred and twenty acres of wild land in Blooming Prairie township. which he broke and improved, carrying on a diversified farming busi- ness until 1884, when he gave the farm to his son, Herman W., and retiring from active work, spent the remainder of his life in Owatonna. He died September 25, 1893. She died September 29, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Vaith, parents of Mrs. Borchert, were prominent farmers of Summit township, where Mr. Vaith died in September 21, 1907. Mrs. Vaith died in February 14, 1909.
Edward Darmody, clerk of Summit township, is one of the distinguished citizens of Steele county, and has served his fellow citizens ably in various positions of public and private trust and honor. He has gained the implicit confidence of all who know him, and is honored as a good citizen, a loyal neighbor and an efficient official. The subject of this sketch was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, November 4, 1845. He came with his parents, Michael and Bridget (Dunn) Darmody, to America in 1848, and spent his boyhood in Rock county, Wisconsin. In 1862 the family decided to come to Minnesota, but Mrs. Darmody died on the way, June 20, 1862, and was buried at Spring Valley cemetery. This trip was made by team. In this party were the Darmodys, Patrick Fallon and family, John Anderson and family, Peter P. Thimsen and Nis Thimsen. Of these the only survivors are: Edward Darmody, Peter P. and Nis Thimsen. Michael Darmody purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
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land in Summit township, section ten, but died in November, 1866. Since his death Edward has successfully conducted this farm, and has added to it from time to time until he now owns five hundred acres of highly improved land, on which he has made improvements. He is a fancier of Red Polled cattle, and at the present time owns a splendid herd of over one hundred head. A Democrat in politics, he has served his township as chairman, assessor, town clerk and as clerk of school district No. 51. He was treasurer of the Summit Creamery from the organization until 1908. Mr. Darmody was married to Mary Welsh, who died in February, 1894, being survived by nine of their eleven children-Mrs. P. H. Tracy, of Austin; Nellie, Bridget, Michael, Thomas, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary and Alice (Edward and Agnes deceased).
John J. Morrison, manager of the Summit creamery, is one of the popular men of the county, and the excellence of the butter which the creamery produces has caused him to stand high among the butter-makers of this section. He was born in Vermont. February 5, 1856, and a year later was brought by his parents to Newry, Freeborn county, this state. He there re- ceived an excellent common school education and then attended the Austin High School. Subsequently he taught school with much success for seventeen terms. Then he learned the butter- maker's trade, which he has since followed. He assumed his present position in the spring of 1910. Mr. Morrison was married September 21, 1898, to Mary Langan, and to this union have been born four children-Anna, born March 25, 1901 ; Sylvester, born November 27, 1902; Katherine, born January 29, 1906. and Margaret, August 12, 1908. While at Newry he was assessor and school clerk. He is an independent voter, is a faithful mem- ber of the Catholic Church, and affiliates with the C. O. F. and the K. of C. James and Honora (Curtin) Morrison, parents of John J. Morrison, were born in Ireland, lived for a time in Ver- mont and settled in Newry, Freeborn county, in 1857. The father there engaged in farming until his death in 1872. The mother remained on the old homestead until her death in 1904.
Hynds Family. Thomas and Margaret (Hill) Hynds were both natives of the Keystone state, of Irish descent. They left their native state and located in Illinois at a very early day, com- ing to Minnesota in 1857. They lived in Freeborn county, and in Faribault county for a time, and in 1874 came to Steele county. Both are now deceased. In their family were two sons and four daughters. John and Thomas are farmers in Sum- mit township: Annie is Mrs. Bert Loomis, of Wells, Minn .; Mary Jane is Mrs. Foster Loomis, of Owatonna ; Harriett is now Mrs. Alva Ilenion ; Isabelle keeps house for her brothers. The
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family faith is that of the Universalist Church. John Hynds was born in Ogle county, Illinois, August 4, 1856, and Thomas was born in Geneva, Freeborn county, Minnesota, December 22, 1858. After receiving their respective educations they took up farm- ing. and in 1876 purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land in Summit township. On this they erected the buildings, and brought the land to a high state of cultivation. They now carry on general farming under the name of the Hynds Brothers, and are among the leading agriculturalists of the county. following the latest and most approved modern methods. Thomas served the township as chairman of the board of supervisors for twelve years and then resigned.
Elmer E. McFall is one of the representative citizens of the county, and has combined the sterling qualities of his Penn- sylvanian birth with the expansiveness and progress of the west. He was born during the stirring days of the Civil War, in Mc- Kean county, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1863, and was brought to Steele county as an infant in the fall of the same year. He received his education in the district schools, and then took up farming. In 1892 he purchased eighty acres of land in section seventeen, Summit township, built a home, made many improve- ments and brought his place to a fine stage of modern develop- ment and improvement. He is a staunch Republican in politics, and a supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married January 1, 1901, to Syble Hersey, born in Lemond township March 18, 1867, daughter of Charles G. and Narcissa D. Bush Hersey. To this union has been born one daughter, Esther L., December 14, 1901. Chester and Phoebe (Gerlick) McFall, parents of Elmer E. McFall, came to Steele county in the fall of 1863, from Pennsylvania, and engaged in farming, the father dying April 8, 1901, and the mother August 21. 1898. Charles G. and Narcissa D. (Bush) Hersey, parents of Mrs. Elmer E. McFall, were natives respectively of Maine and Con- necticut. They came west in the spring of 1864, purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Lemond township, and farmed the remainder of their lives, the father dying June 18, 1900, and the mother June 18, 1882.
Peter Jensen, a farmer of Summit township, has worked his way up in the world by hard work and frugality, and well de- serves the success he has achieved. He was born December 21. 1852, in Denmark, son of Jens Petersen, who is still living in the old country. In 1872 he landed in America with just $2.00 in his pocket. He found his way to Geneva, in Freeborn county, this state, and worked as farm hand there until 1877, when he came to Steele county, and out of his savings purchased sixty acres in section thirty-six. Later he purchased eighty acres
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and still later forty acres more in section twenty-five, making a fine farm on which he conducts general agricultural operations. He also buys and sells cattle and has a fine herd of Shorthorns. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and has served as clerk of school district No. 56, being in politics a staunch Republican. Mr. Jensen was married March 17, 1878, to Mary Jensen, and this union has been blessed with five children-Lillie, Henry, Edward, William and Hannah.
Joseph Soufal, retired farmer of Aurora township, was born in Germany November 25, 1842, and came to America in 1881. He located in Aurora township in 1890 and purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres in section twenty-one, where lie erected his home and buildings, and followed general farm- ing until 1910, when he rented the place to his son Philip, but still resides on the farm. He is a member of the Holy Trinity Church and owns stock in the Oak Glen creamery. He is a Democrat in politics, but has never sought public office. Mr. Soufal was married in 1875 to .Anna Reichesteter, and to this union have been born five children-Anton, of the firm of Kasper & Co .. Owatonna; Joseph, engaged in the meat business in Butterfield: Philip, who conducts the old farm; Edward, who lives in Butterfield : and Mary, who lives at home.
Philip Soufal, one of the younger farmers of Steele county. was born January 5, 1883, in Aurora township, where he still resides. He received his education in the schools of his neigh- borhood and worked on his father's farm until 1910, when he took charge of the place. He now successfully follows general farming, making a specialty of dairying and grain raising, his Durham and Holstein cattle being of a fine breed and well cared for. He also breeds a few Percheron horses. Mr. Soufal votes the Democratic ticket, attends the Catholic Church and is well liked by his associates.
E. S. Tuthill, one of the most substantial farmers of Meriden township, was born there July 29, 1861. He studied at the dis- trict school and afterwards at Minnesota Academy. He also took a business course at Owatonna. After a year on his aunt's farm Mr. Tuthill homesteaded land in South Dakota and devoted the next thirteen years of his life to general farming and stock raising. Selling his Dakota holdings at the end of that time and returning to Steele county, he bought several farms in Meriden township, until he now owns five hundred and seventy-one acres. He carries on a very successful farm and pays much at- tention to stock raising, his Hereford cattle being his special pride. Mr. Tuthill was married in 1882 to Emma L. Andrews, daughter of Robert Andrews and Louisa Andrews. Two chil- dren blessed this union-Bessie Halvorsen and John R., who
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