USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 71
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 71
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latter a Virginian, both being of Scottish descent. Colonel Tate received his title from his position in the Missouri National Guard. Both he and his wife are now deceased.
William A. Thompson was born in Prairieville, Cannon City township, Rice county, Minn., June 25, 1858. and is a son of John and Nancy Thompson. His father was a native of Scot- land, and his mother a native of the state of Ohio. His parents came to America when he was three years old and settled in Canada, where they remained until 1852. In that year they came to Faribault, Minn., remaining only a few months, when the father went to California, prospecting for gold. He remained there only a short time. Returning to Minnesota, he worked in a saw mill at Prairieville for several years, and then bought 120 acres of land in Cannon City, on which he has done general farming up to the present time. He is now eighty-nine years old, and his wife is in her seventies. William Thompson was educated in the district schools of Cannon City. After leaving school he worked on his father's farm until 1885, when he bought eighty acres in section 1 of Walcott township, where he has carried on general farming ever since.
In 1885 he was married to Dolly Orcutt, a daughter of B. and Sylvia (Dunning) Orcutt, both natives of the state of New York. Mr. Orcutt was a farmer by occupation. He came West and located first in Wisconsin and later in Cannon City. Minn., where he bought a farm on which he carried on general farming until his death. Mrs. Orcutt died in 1908. Mr. Thompson's first wife died in 1889, leaving three children : Neal, Francis W. and Mark C. All are living at home with their parents. In 1890 Mr. Thompson was married to Ottelia Zable, a daughter of William and Henrietta Zable. both natives of Germany, who came to America and located in Richland township, Rice county. where for a while he worked out on a farm, and later he bought eighty acres and did general farming until 1905, when he retired and moved to Faribault, where he died in 1906. Mrs. Zable is still living in Faribault.
Mr. Thompson had five children by his second wife: George M., John W., Walter J., Anna and William, all living at home with their parents. In politics Mr. Thompson is a Republican. He was elected as a member of the school board in 1899 and served for seven years. In 1905 he was elected town supervisor and is still holding that office. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company of Faribault. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Theodore Thom, a prominent farmer of Richland township. was born in Germany, January 20, 1837, to John and Katherine
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(Heins) Thom, natives of Germany. They came to America in 1847 and located in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, where the elder Mr. Thom bought 140 acres of farm land in Paris township, on which he did a general farming up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1865. The mother expired two months later the same year. The subject of this sketch acquired his educa- tion in Germany. After coming to this country, he worked on his father's farm until 1855; he then went to Pierce county. Wisconsin, where he bought 180 acres of wild timber land, remaining there until 1857. when he returned to his father's home, staying there until 1858. He then went back to Pierce county, sold his tract of timber land, buying in place of it 120 acres of prairie land, where he carried on general farming until 1861, at which time he sold this farm and bought the Union Ilotel at Prescott, Wis., following the hotel business until 1864. when he sold out. The month of June and July, 1864, were spent in traveling through the country for the purpose of finding a suitable location for a farm. This was found in Richland township. Rice county, Minn. Here he bought 160 acres of land in sections 17 and 18. Later he added an additional 240 acres, making a farm of 400 acres in all. By hard work and persevering effort, Mr. Thom has improved his farm until it is now one of the best farms in the country. In addition to carry- ing on general farming, he raised Coach and Percheron horses ; the raising of horses, however, was discontinued in 1898, and at that time he went into the raising of Shorthorn cattle for beef and dairy purposes, which he still follows with success. His farm is known as the Richland Stock Farm. It is modern in every respect, and is equipped with all the latest farm machin- ery. Mr. Thom is a good, broad-minded man, always willing to promote the welfare of his community. He has served on the school board in all its branches; has served on the town board as chairman, treasurer and supervisor : is a charter mem- ber and assistant in organizing the Walcott Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company ; and has served as president since the time of the organization. He is also president of the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company of Faribault. Mr. Thom was married in 1859 to Josephine, daughter of Joseph and Josephine Dauser, natives of Whitenburg. Germany. The father was a cabinetmaker by trade and emigrated to America in 1850. Hc located in Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania, working in the coal mines there until 1856. He then came West to Wisconsin and located in Pierce county, where he bought government land, which he improved and on which he did general farming until 1865, when he sold the farm and came to Minnesota, locating in Richland township, Rice county, where he bought 160 acres, on
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which he did general farming up to the time of his decease. Mrs. Danser is also dead. Mr. and Mrs. Thom have five chil- dren, named, in the respective order of their birth: Mary, who died May 28, 1879; Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Henricks, attend- ant at the state asylum at Faribault; Fredrick, who farmed in Richland township, died August 31, 1896; Joseph, who is mar- ried and conducts a grocery business in Faribault ; John is an electrician at the state asylum in Faribault. Mrs. Thom died in 1877. Mr. Thom was married a second time in January 21. 1878, to Miss Susian Henricks, daughter of Micholas and Mar- garet ( Hermies) Henricks, natives of Germany. The father, who is a farmer, came to America in 1862, located in St. Paul. where he worked as a general laborer until 1864, when he moved to Faribault, where he lived until his death, March 12, 1899. Mrs. Henricks died in 1882. To this union there were nine chil- dren born, viz .: Margaret died August 14, 1879; Mary, now Mrs. Nichol Schweistal, farmer in Warsaw township ; Josephine. who is married to Joseph McCall, farmer in Montana; Anna. Dominican Sister at Dubuque, Iowa ; Everet, Anthony, Christo- pher, Katherine and Verna, who are all residing with their par- ents. Mr. Thom does not favor any political party, but votes for the candidate whom he considers best fitted for the office. regardless of party affiliations. He with his family belong to the Roman Catholic Church.
Jonathan Peterson Temple, a retired farmer of Morristown. Minn .. is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, and is the second of a family of six children born to Jacob and Lucy (Eddy) Temple. The father, who was a homeopathic physician. was born at Heath, Mass., March 6, 1812. He married Decem- ber 31, 1834, his wife being a daughter of Leonard and Phœbe Eddy, of Coloraine, Mass. Dr. Temple went to St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1835 and practiced farming there till 1854, when he moved with his family to Mason City, Ill. Eleven years later he settled in Morristown, Minn., where he practiced medicine, and there died, February 16, 1884. Both Dr. Temple and his wife were active members of the Baptist denomination, she uniting with the church in 1831, at Coloraine, and his mem- bership extending over a period of more than fifty years; and in the churches of the different places where he lived he served in the various offices of clerk, trustee, deacon, etc. The mother died January 30, 1891, and her body rests beside that of her husband, in the Morristown cemetery. Dr. Temple was a mem- ber of the Masonic order.
Of their six children, the eldest, David A., was born June 10, 1836. and died at Morristown. The third child, Phoebe Olive, was born September 12, 1841, and on January 1, 1861, was mar-
THE NEW TURK
JOHN THOMPSON
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1457
ried to Sterling R. Hess, and lives in Mason City, Ill .; Lucy Belinda, born December 19, 1844, was married December 30, 1863, to Elisha O. Hess, and lives at Mason City, Ill .; Marshall Allen, born November 14, 1846, in Rice county, Minnesota, lives in Dundas, and Judson C., the youngest, born October 12, 1850, is employed as accountant with the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad Company. Our subject acquired his education in his native place, and at Mason City, whither the family removed in 1854. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-fifth Regi- ment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the Civil War. On his return home he engaged in farming. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Temple moved from Mason City to Rice county, Minnesota, settling on a farm he purchased, in the northwest corner of Morristown township, but two years later he bought a store and moved into the village of Morristown, and for twelve years was engaged in clerking. During that time the village received its first charter, and Mr. Temple was chairman of the council, after which he resumed farming, and continued it until his removal to the village in the fall of 1891. He then had charge of the elevator for seven years, and was postmaster for five years. Mr. Temple has always been more or less active in public affairs and has served in numerous offi- cial positions. He has been chairman of the township board. also served as clerk, assessor and school treasurer, and in 1906 was president of the village council, having held this office sev- eral times previously. In 1888 he was elected to the state legis- lature and served one term. In religious faith he is affiliated with the Baptist denomination and has served in the various church offices of trustee, clerk, etc. On January 1, 1861, Mr. Temple married Diantha Osborn, who was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1835. They have had a family of eight children, of whom Ida, the eldest, born September 27, 1861. is married to Lewis Youells; Arthur, born April 15, 1866, died in Washington, D. C .; Lewis, born January 8, 1868, lives on the home farm ; Irwin Osborn was born October 7. 1869 ; Rollin. born November 16, 1871, died in California, December 22, 1896; Vernon, born August 15, 1878, lives on the family homestead ; Gertrude, born January 15, 1878, is married to William Davis, and lives at Fergus Falls; and Cecil, the youngest, born Angust 7, 1881, is a farmer in Morristown township.
John Thompson, a retired farmer of Faribault, Minn., is a native of Perthshire, Scotland, and was born January 28, 1829, to Alexander and Cecelia (Robinson) Thompson, who came from Scotland, their native land, in 1832, and settled on a farm in eastern Ontario, and there passed their lives. Our subject acquired his education in the public schools of his Canadian
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home, and at the age of eighteen years began life on his own account, lumbering in the surrounding county. Going to Cali- fornia in 1852, he spent three years there prospecting, but in the fall of 1855 returned, and came to Minnesota, and worked at lumbering and in a saw mill at Faribault and in a grist mill at Cannon City. In 1859 he bought a tract of 160 acres of school land in section 36, Cannon City township, which he at once began to break up and improve, and where he reared his family and made his home till his retirement from active work. Be- sides carrying on general farming. Mr. Thompson operated a thresher for twenty-three years, and introduced and operated the first steam threshing machine in his section of the country. Mr. Thompson has been a representative man in his community and has filled numerous official positions. He served in the state legislature in 1878, 1879 and 1881, and in the last named year and again in 1882 he was called to serve in special sessions when the bond question was before the people. Mr. Thompson is a Republican in his political beliefs. His religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian Church. In July, 1857. Mr. Thomp- son married Miss Ellen, daughter of Bevins and Sarah ( McKey) Henderson, who moved from Ohio, their native state, to Indiana. whence in 1856 they removed to Minnesota and settled in Rich- land township. Rice county, where the father pre-empted two quarter sections of land, and where the family lived fifteen years. They afterwards lived three years at Faribault, and then moved to Dundas, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the mother dying in August, 1887, and the father in October, 1909, at the age of ninety-three years. Of three chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. William A., the eldest, is married and lives in the town of Walcott. Rice county; Alice, the youngest, died in infancy : George W., who was born No- vember 6. 1863, has had charge of the home farm since 1905, and carries on general farming and stock raising. He has served in local offices. such as supervisor. etc., and has served two terms (1905-1907) as representative. In polities he is a Repub- lican, and in religious faith a Presbyterian. On October 14. 1892, he married Miss Frances J. Mullan, whose parents. Robert and Etta Ilowk, moved from New York, their native state, in 1880, and settled on a farm in Walcott township, where the father died. The mother now resides at Faribault. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Thompson have five children, named, in order of their birth : Ella M., Cecelia G., Stanley, Eleanor and Frances.
Clarence H. Tripp, live stock dealer and farmer, is a native- born son of this county, born in Walcott township. December 9. 1861. He received his education in the district schools of Wal- cott township and the public schools of Faribault, after which
IIISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1159
he clerked for a time in a store. Subsequently he farmed in Wal- cott and Richland township, and also became a dealer in live stock, an occupation which he still continues. He has been a member of the school board several years, but aside from this has not cared to participate actively in public life.
Oliver and Hannah (Gillette) Tripp, the pioneers, parents of Clarence H. Tripp, assisted in the development of the county in the early days. They were natives of New York state and Pennsylvania, respectively, migrated to Wisconsin in the early days, and in 1855 came to this county, taking up 160 acres of wild land in Cannon City township, where they spent the remain- der of their days.
A. F. Uggen was born in Norway August 21. 1852; he is a son of Fingar and Anne Uggen, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1871 and located in Forest township, Rice county, where the father rented a farm for one year, and then bought 160 acres on which he did a general farming up to the time of his death, in 1883; the mother died in 1897. Mr. Uggen at- tended school in Norway, and came to America with his parents. In 1873 he bought 160 acres from his father. He has added to this and now has a farm of 278 acres in sections 13 and 14, on which he has carried on general farming up to the present time. He was married in 1874 to Oline Juvrud. Mrs. Uggen died in 1889. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Uggen: Fred- rica. Mary .A., Oscar, Albert, Martin E., Julia and Inga C. In 1893 Mr. Uggen was married a second time to Olina Olson, and has a family of five children: Alma, Carl. Anne. Mabel and Lillian. In politics Mr. Uggen is a Republican, and he is a member of the Lutheran Church. lle has served for many years as town treasurer. He was for several years a director on the school board, and has been clerk of the board for the past eight years. He is a stockholder in the Northfield Elevator and in the Forest Creamery.
Henry E. Vaux, a hustling and prominent citizen of Fari- bault, Minn., is a native of Warsaw township, and was born January 17, 1865. When about seven years old, his parents removed to a small farm near Faribault. After finishing his edu- cation in the district schools of Rice county, he took up farming with much success and followed that line until 1896, when he entered the employ of the Faribault Canning Company. The following year (1897) he was chosen superintendent of the com- pany, which position he has ably and satisfactorily filled ever since. Under his shrewd and judicious management, the Fari- bault Canning Company has grown and prospered, its products being sold all over the Northwest. Mr. Vaux is also a stock- holder in the Farmers' Elevator of Faribault. He is a Republi
1460 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
can in politics, but has never aspired to public office, his business demanding all his time and attention. On October 1, 1908, he married Lydia M. Hohenhaus, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hohenhaus, prominent farmers of Wells township. Mr. and Mrs. Vaux have a beautiful home in the residence district of Faribault. They attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ernest and Carrie (Johnson) Vaux, parents of Henry E. Vaux, are natives of England and Indiana, respectively. They migrated to Faribault, Minn., in 1856, and the father was a teamster for a time on the road from Faribault to Hastings. Later he pur- chased a forty-acre tract in Warsaw township, and there car- ried on general diversified farming up to the time of his retire- ment from active work, a few years ago. He now resides in the city of Faribault. The mother died April 25. 1907.
Anthony J. Vogelsberg, a native of Minnesota, was born at Faribault, November 10, 1873, and is a son of F. J. and Catherine (Detrich) Vogelsberg. natives of Germany. The father came to this country and for six years lived at Chicago, whence he moved in 1866 to Faribault; a little later he established himself in the retail flour and feed business, and followed it until his decease, January 13, 1890. The mother passed away October 27, 1908. Our subject supplemented his common-school educa- tion with a two years' course of study at St. Thomas' College, St. Paul, and then took charge of his father's business, which he closed out after the father's death. He then spent nine years clerking in the grocery house of Mr. A. J. Grant, of Faribault, then, in 1901, opened a grocery business in the store he now occupies, in company with Mr. George E. Devery. This part- nership lasted till April, 1904, and since that time Mr. Vogels- berg has conducted the business in his own name. He carries a first-class stock of groceries and family supplies, and in every respect conduets an up-to-date store, employing four clerks and two wagons, delivering goods to every part of the city. Mr. Vogelsberg has always devoted himself diligently to his business and has never held or sought any official position. He adheres to the Catholic faith in religion, and in polities is independent in his views and actions. He is identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters and B. P. O. Elks, and belongs to the Commercial Club of Faribault. On June 19, 1900, Mr. Vogelsberg married Julia K. MeCall, whose parents came from Ireland, their native country, and settled at Faribault, where the father, now retired, followed his trade as a stone cutter and contractor. The mother passed away in 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Vogelsberg have three children, named, in their order of birth, Francis, Thomas and Robert.
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1461
J. A. Valesh was born in Veseli, August 3, 1881. He is a son of Albert and Katherine (Lamac) Valesh, natives of Bo- hemia. The father came to America in 1877 and located in Veseli, Rice county, where he and his wife have lived up to the present time. Mr. Valesh was educated in the public schools of Veseli, and also attended a business college at Mankato in 1904 and 1905. After leaving school he learned the trade of a brick- mason, which he still follows. He was married January 23, 1905, to Maria M. Shimota, a daughter of W. T. and Anna (Vrtis) Shimota, the father a native of Bohemia, and the mother born at New Prague, Minn. The father died July 1, 1908, and the mother is still living in Veseli. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Valesh, Ernest, born November 24, 1906. Mr. Valesh is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and in his political views he is a Republican. On March 3, 1908, he was appointed postmaster of Veseli, and he is also a justice of the peace. He is a member of the Z. C. K. J., or the Western Bohemian Catholic Union, and carries an old line policy in the New York Life.
O. S. Vesledal, a thrifty farmer of Wheeling township, where he has lived for a number of years, was born in Rock Prairie, Wis .. December 15. 1854, to S. A. and Margaret (Haugen) Vesledal, both natives of Norway. The parents emigrated to America in the carly fifties. locating in Hudson county, Wiscon- sin, where they were engaged in farming until 1854. Selling out their interests in Wisconsin, they moved to Minnesota and located in Rice county, township of Wheeling, where the father bought 240 acres in section 10, which he improved, and on which he carried on general farming until 1906. He then sold his farm to his son, J. S., the parents continuing to live on the old home- stead with the son until his father expired, August 2, 1908. The mother died September 15, 1908. The subject of this sketch acquired his education in the district schools of Rice county. After leaving school he worked on his father's farm, continuing there until 1889. Then he bought 160 acres in section 1, town- ship of Wheeling. where he has been engaged in farming and dairying up to the present time. He also has a fine apple orchard, where he raises different varieties of this fruit.
Mr. Vesledal was married in 1889 to Severina, daughter of Syver and Magdelina (Hamre) Engesetter, who were both natives of Norway, and emigrated to America in 1850, locating in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they farmed until 1855, when they came to Minnesota and located in Rice county, Wheeling township, where they homesteaded 160 acres. The father was engaged in farming until the time of his decease, which occurred in 1888. Mrs. Engesetter died in 1871. The home of Mr. and
1462 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
Mrs. Vesledal is blessed with six children, viz .: Sigwart, born September 7, 1889; John G., born September 10, 1891, and died September 3, 1892; John G. was born July 15, 1892; Albert O. was born July 21, 1894; Margaret M., born January 11, 1900; Senora O. was born November 11, 1901. All the children are living at home. Mr. Vesledal is a Republican voter. He and his family adhere to the Norwegian Lutheran Church. He takes an active interest in public affairs and at this time (1910) is serving on the school board.
J. S. Vesledal was born in the town of Wheeling, Rice county, on July 16, 1869. He is a son of S. A. and Margarit (Haugen) Vesledal, both natives of Norway. The father was a farmer and came to America in the early fifties. He located in Hudson county, Wisconsin, and farmed there until 1854, when he sold his farm there and moved to Minnesota, locating in the town of Wheeling. Rice county, where he bought a farm of 240 acres in section 10, on which he carried on general farming up to 1906, when he sold his farm to his son, with whom he made his home up to the time of his death, on August 2, 1908. The mother died September 15, 1908. Mr. Vesledal was educated in the district schools of Wheeling. After leaving school he went back onto the farm, where he worked with his father until he bought the farm in 1906. Since then he has carried on general farming. He was married on June 29, 1905, to Inger R. Engesth, a daughter of Ingerbrit and Dorda (Hamre) Eng- estli, both natives of Norway. The father was a farmer, who came to America in the early fifties, and located in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he farmed for a few years, and then came to Minnesota and located in the town of Northfield, Rice county. Here he bought a farm, on which he did general farming until his death, November 11, 1892; the mother died September 15. 1898. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Vesledal : Mildred D. and S. Isabell, both living at home with their par- ents. Mr. Vesledal is a Lutheran in his religious belief, and his political affiliations are with the Republican party.
L. F. Von Eschen is an enterprising business man of Morris- town, Rice county, Minn. He was born in Le Sueur county in 1871. His father, Jacob Von Eschen, in early days was pastor of the German Evangelical Church, and later was a homeopathic physician, and for many years practiced his profession in Lac qui Parle county, Minnesota, with eminent success. He moved to Lac qui Parle county in 1878 and died in 1898. He married Margaret Flury, who still survives. They had a family of eleven children, seven of whom are still living (1910). Our subject passed his boyhood on a farm in Lac qui Parle county and ac- quired his preliminary education in the district schools. In
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