USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 48
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 48
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During his sojourn in Michigan he met Miss Ella A. Eeles (an English lady), of Waterloo, N. Y., and on July 5, 1877, was united with her in marriage and moved to Owatonna, Minn.
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He is actively associated with James A. Goodwin Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and was a charter member at its organiza- tion.
The doctor has served sixteen years upon the Owatonna United States board of pension examining surgeons, which through his instrumentality was established at Owatonna, and is still a member of the board. In 1864 he joined the Christian Church, there not being a church of that denomination in Owa- tonna ; and believing that every person should be identified with some form of a Christian church organization, joined the Metli- odist Episcopal denomination and in later years, with his family, united with the First Congregational Church. He is a member of Steele County Medical Society, the Southern Minnesota Med- ical Society, the Minnesota State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and was an accredited member of the ninth session of the International Medical Congress held at Washing- ton, D. C., in 1887, from which he received full and voluminous reports of the complete papers read before the congress by the representative members of the medical and surgical profes- sion of the world. In early life, the doctor became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fra- ternities ; many years ago was honored by being promoted to the offices of high priest in Chapter 15, Royal Arch Masons, and eminent commander of Cyrine Commandery, No. 9, Knights Templar, at Owatonna, and at the age of 68 years is still an active member of the Masonic Orders, and also a member of Osman Temple, Ancient Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at St. Paul, Minn.
Among the papers contributed upon medical topics he has stood staunchly in favor of advanced sanitation and as early as in 1875 read a paper before the Washtenaw County Medical Society at Manchester, Mich., in support of what at the time was called his pet theory "that tuberculosis was a contagious disease and that all cases should be isolated and be placed under govern- mental control before its ravages could be brought under subjec- tion," a theory he has always since held and from time to time advocated before medical associations, and while the different states are now rendering aid in that direction he still believes it to be the general government's duty to take the matter in hand and give its full force to the end that the disease may be wiped from our country. Dr. Bigelow was always enterprising in doing his full part in the upbuilding and beautifying the city of Owatonna, and for a time owned and published the Owatonna Daily and Weekly Journal.
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Edward T. Archibald is a native of Canada, and came to the United States in 1856, and located in Rice county, Minn., where he remained a short time, and subsequently went to Hastings, where he engaged in the real estate business. Ilis brother, John S., came to Rice county in 1857 and purchased about 1,100 acres of land where the present village of Dundas is located, and in the spring of the same year built a dam across the Cannon river, and erected a four mill, which was the second mill of its kind in the county, the first having been built by Hon. John North, at Northfield, the previous year. The mill was of small capacity and was built for custom trade, and was conducted by John S. until 1865, when Edward T. bought a half interest, and the mill was rebuilt in 1870, with better equipments of machin- ery and a capacity of 800 barrels per day. In 1894 this mill was destroyed by fire, and they decided not to rebuild, but sold the site. The brothers operated another mill on the Little Cannon river, known as the Oxford mill, which was built in 1867, and was sold in 1875. Mr. Archibald's son bought half interest in a flour mill which was located on Third street, St. Paul, in 1878, in partnership with Mr. Shurmier, the firm name being Archi- bald & Shurmier, which they operated for about two years. Mr. Archibald was married in 1848 to Jane Morse, of Hammond, St. Lawrence county, New York, and they had two sons, both of whom are dead. They were John and Frank. Mrs. Archibald died in 1882, and the only living relative of Mr. Archibald is Alice, daughter of his son John. Mr. Archibald is a prominent man in the county, and was one of the incorporators of the First National Bank of Northfield, and also one of the directors. He was at one time a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of St. Paul. He was born June 14, 1827.
Walter K. Adams, banker, was born in East Prairie, Walcott township, March 4, 1864, son of Thomas C. and Georgia (Vose) Adams, early pioneers. He received his education in the district schools of Walcott, and in the public schools of Faribault. He entered Carleton college in 1883, and left that institution in 1886, taking up farming on the old homestead. In 1891 he entered the employ of the Sheffield Milling Co., as bookkeeper two years. then purchased the old homestead and again engaged in farming until 1900, when he was elected county auditor. He served until 1904, then went to Montana and engaged in the banking business at Sidney, Dawson county, organizing the Sidney National Bank in company with Thomas C. Gardner, of Faribault. Mr. Adams served at one time as town clerk in the town of Walcott. He is a high degree Mason and belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the United Workmen. He was married September 4, 1889, at East Prairie, Minn .. to Elizabeth C. Herrington, daughter of
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
Elias and Mary Herrington, the former of whom is now dead while the latter lives in North Dakota. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born four children: Georgia K., Mabel J., Mary E. and Winnifred.
Thomas C. Adams and Georgia (Vose) Adams, his wife, were early pioneers, greatly esteemed in their community. They were born in Vermont, came to Minnesota in 1859, located in East Prairie, Walcott township, took a homestead of 160 acres, broke and improved the land, and continued farming until 1889. They then came to Faribault, lived four years, and subsequently went to Louisiana, which is now their home. Thomas C. Adams was closely connected with the politics of Rice county. He was county commissioner four years, supervisor many years in Wal- cott township, prominent in his school district and town treas- urer during the war period.
George L. Anderson, Faribault manufacturer, was born in Stillwater, Minn., November 30, 1880, son of Axel and Hannah Anderson, whose sketch will appear elsewhere. He came to Faribault at the age of four with his parents and here received a public school education. After leaving school he followed clerking for one year and then took up butter making at Forest Creamery one year to learn the business, then in the Grant Creamery of Faribault for five years. In April, 1904, he went to Wayzatta and engaged in machine work for the Campbell Motor Co., until 1905. He then entered the employ of Rawson & Anderson, of the Faribault Machine Shop and Foundry. June 1. 1905, he and his brother, Axel R., purchased the interest of Mr. Rawson, and since then it has been known as the Anderson & Son Machine Shop and Foundry, George L. becoming secretary and treasurer, which position he has since occupied. Mr. Ander- son lives on West Third street. He is a Republican in poliites and belongs to the Maccabees. He attends the Methodist church. Mr. Anderson has risen in life by his own efforts and deserves much credit for the place he has carved out for himself in the business life of Faribault.
John J. Alexander, now deceased, was one of the early pio- neers of Rice county, where he came in June, 1854, with his father, and established a home in what was then a wilderness, but lived to see it blossom into beautiful farms, of verdant fields and substantial homes. It is said that they built the first house between Hastings and Faribault. Mr. Alexander was a lifelong farmer, and became very prominent and influential in the county, where he held several important offices, and also represented his district in the state Legislature, to which he was elected in 1888. He was a man of quiet habits and domestic taste, and who loved his home above everything else. He was born in Erie county,
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New York. February 15, 1833, son of Jonathan and Lydia (Davis) Alexander. The father was born in Vermont in 1801, and died in 1887 in Rice county. In the Alexander home was a family of seven children: Mrs. Joseph Wise, of Sharon, Wis. : Mrs. John Lamphere, of Northfield: John J. (deceased). and the subject of this sketch: Jonas, of Washington; Mrs. Sylvester Shirpey, of Northfield: Ira, deceased: Mrs. Charles Holt. de- ceased. John J. Alexander remained at home until his marriage, which occurred May 1. 1855. to Mary Ann Lake, who was born in Rock County. Wis .. January 24, 1836. daughter of Stewart and Miranda ( Willis) Lake, and they were the parents of two chil- dren: John Palmer, born March 9. 1857. and James W., born June 13. 1863. Mr. Alexander was a lifelong Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died February 11. 1891, and his wife resides in Northfield in a home which she built in 1907.
James W. Alexander, of Northfield township. was born on the farm where he now resides, June 14, 1863, son of John J. Alex- ander and Mary Ann ( Lake) Alexander. He received his edu- cation in the public schools of Northfield, and completed his studies with a high school course, and after finishing his educa- tion he took up farming at home and has since remained, carry- ing on general farming. He was married November 11. 1884, to Frona Chamberlain, who was born at Honesdale. Penn .. Janu- ary 25, 1866. daughter of Hiram and Mary ( Kimble) Chamber- lain. natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born in 1821, and the mother in 1841. They spent their entire lives in their native state, the father dying in 1867 and the mother in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have two children: Mary Ellen, born May 22. 1887. and James G .. born October 19, 1891. Mr. Alexander, like his father before him, is a firm believer in the principles of the Democratic party, and although never having sought or held public office, is always interested in the affairs of the community. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' and Merchants' Elevator at Northfield, of which he is also the president, which office he has held since 1901. Fraternally he is associated with the A. O. U. W. and the Social Lodge, No. 48, A. F. & A. M.
Henry F. C. Albers, a prosperous and well-to-do farmer of Bridgewater township, was born in Bridgewater. December 21, 1861, to Henry and Christinia (Clute) Albers, natives of Ger- many. His father, a farmer in his native land, came to America in 1853 and located near Milwaukee, Wis., where he remained until 1855 : he then came to Minnesota, driving across the coun- try with an ox team, and located in Bridgewater township. Rice county, where he preempted land in section 31 and on which he has carried on general farming and made extensive improve-
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ments. Ile also served in Company II, Fourth Minnesota Regi- ment, during the Civil War. Our subject attained his education in district schools of Bridgewater. After leaving school he worked on a farm and in 1892 bought 120 acres of land, to which he has added additional purchases until he now has a farm of 280 acres, well cultivated and up to date in every respect. He also has 160 acres in St. Louis county. In addition to carrying on farming successfully, he also conducts a lumber yard at Dundas, Minn. Mr. Albers was married November 15, 1894, to Miss Lonisa, daughter of Aug. and Catherine (Suess) Zimmerman, natives of Germany, who in 1881 came to America and located in Bridgewater township, from whence they later moved to Northfield township, where they still live. Mr. and Mrs. Albers have seven children, named in respective order of their birth : Freemont. Clarence, Hattie, Frances, Edward, Carl and Harold, all living at home. Mr. Albers affiliates with the Democratic party. In religions faith he, with his family, adheres to the Ger- man Moravian church at Northfield. He is also a member of the United Workmen. Besides conducting his own business suc- cessfully, Mr. Albers is a public spirited man, and has done a good deal to promote the welfare of his community. He is a stockholder and director in the Farmers Elevator Company, in Northfield Telephone Company, stockholder in Forest Creamery Company, and stockholder in Independent Harvester Company, of Plano, 111. Ile has filled a number of local offices, such as assessor, which office he filled for five years, also supervisor and justice of the peace.
W. Ward Allen, of the Sheffield-King Milling Company, was born in Oswego. N. Y., April 15, 1855, son of H. B. and Arte- mecia Allen, natives of New York state, where the father fol- lowed milling in his adult days, dying in January, 1905. His wife, the mother of W. Ward, is still living in Oswego, N. Y. The subject of this sketch received his early education in his native city and then attended the Academy at Mexico, in the same state. He then took up milling with his father until 1874. That year he came west and lived in River Falls. Wis., remaining until 1881. After working at his trade in Rush City, Minn .. and Jordan, Minn., he came to Faribault in July, 1903, acquired an interest in the Sheffield-King Milling Company, and has since been its superintendent. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the Elks, and is a Republican in politics. Ilis home is a pleasant residence at 610 Fourth street. Mr. Allen was married in September. 1881, at Mexico, N. Y., to Lillah E. Howard, of that place. daughter of George H. Howard. Mr. Howard died in March. 1910; Mrs. Howard died in December, 1906. Mr. and
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Mrs. Allen have one son, Howard C., of Faribault, who is con- nected with the Faribault Gas and Electric Company.
John P. Andrews, nurseryman, of Faribault, has taken a deep interest in the agricultural development of Minnesota. He was born in Grant county. Wisconsin, December 16, 1846, and came to Faribault in 1864. After receiving a good education in the public schools he took up nursery work in fall, 1868, and in 1872 started in the nursery business, of which he has since made so great a success. He now owns 365 acres of good land. partly in the city limits, and has a wide trade for his output throughout the Northwest. His home is just outside the city limits. Mr. Andrews was married December 16, 1873, to Eliza- beth Howard, of Hallowell, Maine. To this union have been born seven children : Charles H., with his father in the nursery business ; Grace B., a graduate of the Agricultural college of the university of Minnesota, and now teaching in that institution ; Elizabeth K .. a graduate of the State university, wife of W. S. Weston, of Faribault ; Eleanor G., a kindergartner; John K .. a graduate of the Agricultural school of the State university, also interested in the nursery, married to Helen Dixon. of Mora. Minn .: Lulu D., stenographer, in nursery office ; Rufus H., stu- dent. The family faith is that of the Congregational church. The parents of John P. Andrews were Daniel and Almira (Bacon) Andrews, natives respectively of New York state and Vermont. They migrated to Michigan, and in 1844 to Grant county, Wisconsin, and farmed there until 1863. when family came to Faribault, where the mother died in 1866. The father went South and in 1876 died there.
Samuel B. Bauernfiend, bookkeeper for the Citizens National Bank, was born in Wheeling township, Rice county, September 29, 1873, and received his education in the district schools. He remained on the home farm until attaining his majority, then came to Faribault, and became a bookkeeper in the dry goods store of Charles Hutchinson, for a period of three years. In partnership with H. W. Wolf. he then engaged in the dry goods business, but after two years sold out his interest to his partner. going to St. Paul and taking up the grocery business. After four years there sold out to S. Bosshardt and in 1905 returned to Faribault, where he became bookkeeper for the Security Bank. In the spring of 1908 he accepted a similar position with the Citizens National Bank, where he is now engaged. Mr. Bauern- fiend is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Yeomen. He attends the Evangelical Associa- tion church. Mr. Bauernfiend is a self-made young man, highly esteemed by all who know him. He was married October 16,
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1899, to Ida L. Wolf, born September 27, 1875, daughter of J. B. Wolf. To this union one son, Harry B., was born April 24, 1905.
Martin Bauernfiend, deceased, came to Rice county before the Civil War, and spent the span of his adult days here. He was born in Bavaria, October 16, 1849, and was brought by his parents to America at the age of nine years. They located for a time in Jefferson, Wis., and then came to Rice county, taking up farming in Wheeling township. Here Martin and his wife, Mar- garet, became highly esteemed citizens. Martin was an ener- getic and hard-working farmer, and successfully conducted farm- ing operations, owning at the time of his death, August 3, 1904, 215 acres of land in Wheeling township and 160 acres in Todd county, this state. His widow now lives at Faribault. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Banernfiend had fourteen children: Samuel B., bookkeeper for the Citizens Bank, Faribault; Aaron, of Sauk Center, Minn .; William H., of Wheeling township; Rachael, deceased ; George, of Sauk Center, Minn. ; Alvin J., of St. Paul ; Arthur, living on the old homestead in Wheeling township; Jesse, deceased ; Mandor, of St. Paul; and Sarah, Edna, Susan, Lillian and Sadie, who live with their mother. The family faith is that of the Evangelical Association.
Paul Borehardt, who is counted among the prosperous mer- chants of Morristown, Minn., has attained his position in the face of many obstacles, by persevering, hard work and a firm deter- mination to succeed. He is a native of Germany and the young- est of a family of five children born to Karl and Pauline (Alden- burg) Borchardt. The father was a farmer by occupation and attained the age of eighty years, his death occurring in 1907, at Morristown. The mother died in Germany. Their other chil- dren are : John, who lives at Morristown; Lena, who is married to A. Severin, and lives at Detroit, Mich .; Herman, who is deceased, and Albert, who resides at Morristown. Paul came to this country in 1893 and began his life here working by the month for Robert Hedge. of Morristown. A little later he rented and worked Jolin S. Hedge's farm, and still later worked for R. V. Hedge. During all this time he improved every spare moment studying and mastering the English language. Paul was successful in his farming and continued at it till 1905, when he turned his attention to the mercantile trade. In this he got little encouragement from others, who looked upon his venture as ill-advised. But he had faith in himself, and the results of his mercantile experience have shown the wisdom of his choice. He began in a modest way, opening a small store on Devishen street, opposite his present establishment, with a stock of gen- eral merchandise not to exceed two thousand dollars in value. At the same time he kept up his study of English. By careful
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management and wise planning his trade prospered and soon outgrew the little place where he began, and at this date-1910- he has a splendid up-to-date store equipped in modern style, with a six-thousand dollar stock of finely assorted goods and an estab- lished trade that is constantly expanding. Mr. Borehardt is thoroughly progressive in his ideas and business methods, and he believes in keeping abreast of the times. He is a loyal mem- ber of the German Lutheran church. In Morristown Mr. Bore- hardt married Wilhelmina, daughter of Mathias Baur, a pioneer of the German colony of Rice county. Mr. and Mrs. Borehardt have six sons, named in the order of their births, respectively. Alvin, Werner, Arnold, Barnhard, Harold and Oswald.
Oscar W. Ball, proprietor of the carriage and wagon manu- facturing establishment bearing his name, at Faribault, Minn .. was born in Albany county, New York, July 25, 1851. His par- ents, Jacob and Anna (Stong) Ball, natives of New York and Germany, respectively, settled at Faribault in 1869, and there passed the remainder of their lives. The father was a blacksmith by trade. The mother died in 1871. Oscar W. passed his boy- hood in his native place, and there attended the public schools and worked as a farmer boy. After the family settled at Fari- bault, he being then eighteen years old, he worked in the employ of Messrs. Andrews & Stafford some fourteen years, and in 1883 engaged in business on his own account as junior member of the firm of Westerveld & Ball, and continued that relation twenty- five years. In 1908 Mr. Ball purchased his partner's interest and since that time has carried on the business at the same stand in his own name with eminent success. Mr. Ball makes a specialty of the manufacture of carriages and delivery wagons and doing all manner of job, order and repair work in that line, having a fine establishment thoroughly fitted and equipped to meet the demands of his extensive trade. He has always been an indus- trious, hard-working man and enjoys his well-merited success. He is a Republican in political sentiment and action, and in relig- ious matters and belief is affiliated with the Congregational church. He is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has passed through all the chairs of the order. In 1885 Mr. Ball married Libby, daughter of C. A. and Elizabeth Sherwood. Mrs. Ball departed this life March 25, 1895, leaving one child, Harold S. Ball, of Faribault.
Homer G. Best, dairyman, living just outside the city limits of Faribault, was born in Nova Scotia, May 3, 1858, son of John B. and Isabelle (Woodworth) Best. He received his early edu- cation in Nova Scotia, and in 1880 came to Rice county. In 1887 he went back to the land of his birth, but in 1892 again came to Faribault, purchased a farm in Cannon City township, just out-
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side the city limits. He sold this place and purchased a farmi, where for the past ten years he has conducted dairy farming, retailing milk to the select trade of the city. He makes a spe- cialty of raising high-grade Holstein cattle. While in Cannon City township Mr. Best served as path master and as assessor. He is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Modern Wood- men. Mr. Best was married June 30, 1882, at Faribault, to Emma A. Shepard, daughter of Horace C. and Mary A. (Holt) Shepard, of Faribault. To this union have been born five chil- dren ; Ethel is the wife of George A. Collard, of Valley City, N. D .; Harry V. manages the home farm; Ella B., a teacher, is a graduate of the Faribault High school; Walter F. assists his father on the farm; Ruth H. is still attending school. John B. and Isabelle (Woodworth) Best, parents of Homer G. Best, were natives of England, and came to Halifax, N. S., in the early days. They had ten children: Leverett E., of Berry Plain, Mass. : Homer G., of Faribault ; Olive F., a physician, of Providence, R. I .; Clarence W., a farmer of South Dakota ; Anna Belle, wife of J. C. Jenkins, of Collinsville, Conn .; Fenwick B., of Massachusetts; Herbert E., a physician of West Pembroke, Maine; Bertha Blanche, wife of Richard Hood, of Waltham, Mass. : Maude, wife of Grant Foot, who lives on the old home- stead in Nova Scotia, and Lillian G., wife of the Rev. Harlim. president of the Toronto university, Toronto, Canada. Horace C. and Mary A. (Holt) Shepard, parents of Mrs. Best, were natives of Massachusetts. They came to Minnesota in 1869, located in Cannon City, and engaged in farming. The father died July 9, 1897, and the mother, December 6, 1892. Mrs. Best was born at Springfield, Mass., December 16, 1862. In the Shepard family there were six children: Lizette, deceased wife of Everett Sanborn ; Herbert E., of Minneapolis ; Emma A. Best: Edward B., of Faribault; Albert C., of St. Cloud, Minn. : Gazella, married to Oliver Thomas, of Canada.
Andrew Jackson Bell, for many years a prosperous merchant of Faribault, Minn., is a native of Berkshire, Mass., his date of birth being February 12, 1834. His boyhood was passed on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools, and later supplementing this with a course in the Jonesville Seminary of New York. After leaving school he clerked for a time in a grocery store and then taught school until his removal to St. Anthony Falls, Minn., September 17, 1854, being among the early pioneers of the state. Here he was engaged in driving team from Wayzatta, on Minnetonka lake, to St. Anthony, for a year, and then moved to Steele county, where he used his right of pre- emption upon a quarter section of land which he somewhat im- proved and lived upon for a couple of years. Then selling it and
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