USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 72
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 72
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1894 he attended the high school at Big Stone, and later pursued a course of study at a business college in Minneapolis, prepara- tory to going into business. In 1902 Mr. Von Eschen associated himself as a partner with Messrs. A. E. and S. R. Miller, under the firm name of Miller Brothers & Company, established the business that has since been conducted under that name at Morristown, dealing in all kinds of hardware and farm imple- ments, with all the modern and up-to-date methods. Mr. Von Eschen gives his attention especially to the bookkeeping of the house. Aside from his regular business, Mr. Von Eschen is active in other matters, and is recognized as one of the enter- prising and public-spirited men of the town. Since 1908 he has served as village recorder, and is also secretary of the Morris- town Telephone Company. On February 9, 1905, Mr. Von Eschen married Julia, daughter of Mr. John Walter, who was formerly connected with farming, but who now is retired from active business. Mr. and Mrs. Von Eschen have one child, a son, named Daro.
Edgar J. Vaux, a native of Warsaw township. Rice county. was born June 30, 1867. He passed his boyhood on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools, after which he assisted his father in the working of the family homestead till 1889. He rented land for a few years, then purchased a tract of thirty-five acres inside the city limits of Faribault, where he followed general farming until 1905, when he accepted the posi- tion of foreman of the Faribault Canning Company, which he has efficiently filled ever since. During the winter months he is entrusted with the entire management of the establishment. He is still carrying on the farm in connection with the canning factory work. In politics he is an adherent of the Republican party, but has never aspired to public office, his other affairs absorbing all his time and attention. He is identified with the Modern Brotherhood of America, his popularity being attested to by the numerous offices he has held in that body, having served two terms as vice-president and two as president. The Meth- odist Episcopal Church also numbers him among its supporters. Mr. Vaux was married October 2, 1891, at the First Methodist Church of Faribault, by Rev. Samuel H. Dewart, to Julia Cra- ven, daughter of John and Mary Craven. They have two chil- dren, Elroy, born April 5, 1894, a student of the local high school, and Harold C., born October 10, 1895, who attends the Central school. Ernest and Carrie (Johnson) Vaux, parents of Edgar J., were among the pioneer settlers of Rice county, the father coming from England to America in 1825; came to Minnesota in 1855, and engaged in farming in Warsaw township until his retirement from active work, a few years ago. He is now living
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in Faribault. The mother died April 25, 1907. John Craven, the father of Mrs. Edgar Vaux, followed market gardening in Faribault until his death in October, 1900. His wife is still living.
Emery F. Wheelock, a successful business man of Northfield, was born in Steele county, Minnesota, in 1877, and is a son of Edwin D. and Liza (McClalland) Wheelock. His father re- moved from the East and settled in Illinois prior to 1860, and in 1863 enlisted in Company G, Seventeenth Regiment. Illinois Vol- unteers cavalry and served through the Civil war. After his dis- charge from the service he settled in Steele county. Minnesota and lived there till 1878, and then moved to Watertown, S. D., where he still follows his trade as a miller, and where he has filled a number of important public offices. Our subject ac- quired his education in the public schools in Dakota. and sup- plemented this with a course of study in a business college. Thus equipped he, in 1901, took a position with the Laird-Norton Lumber Company, which was organized in 1857 and is one of the oldest in the Northwest. Mr. Wheelock has had charge of the Company's yards in different places, but in 1905 was placed in charge of the business at Northfield and moved thither. Mr. Wheelock has attained satisfactory success in his business and lives in a pleasant house on Union street. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. In political senti- ment he is a Republican. In 1904 Mr. Wheelock married Myrtle. a daughter of George E. Hopkins, who was one of the pioneers of Rochester, Minnesota, and who removed thence with his fam- ily to South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock have one child, named Winona.
Charles M. Whitney, a prominent business man of Faribault. is a native of Dummerston, Vt .. his date of birth being Feb- ruary 10, 1828. Received his education in the public schools of Keene, N. H., and in Franklin academy, of Ft. Covington, N. Y. Immediately thereafter, in 1842. he entered the general mer- chandise business as a clerk, being located in Franklin county. New York. This line of work claimed his attention for the next fifteen years, the last three years of which time he was in busi- ness for himself at Bangor, N. Y. In 1857, he disposed of his mercantile interests and came west, locating at La Crosse, Wis., April 6 of the same year. He was first employed as a clerk and then as overseer in a sawmill. Entered into partnership with Buttrick Brothers in the fall of 1857, and was engaged in the milling business for a time, starting one of the first flour mills of La Crosse. October 20, 1858, he entered the employ of the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railway Company, and remained there
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
till 1866. During this period he helped to organize the La Crosse and Minnesota Steam Packet Company of La Crosse, commonly known as the Davidson Line, running from La Crosse to St. Paul, of which he became secretary. Selling his interest in 1866, he started an individual line from La Crosse to Eau Claire and St. Paul, and devoted his entire attention to this work, meeting with much success. In 1879 he went to Canton, Mo., and en- gaged in opposition, for Com. William F. Davidson in grain and stocks, against the Keokuk and St. Louis Railway until Decem- ber 1884, when he came to Faribault and January, 1885, entered the First National Bank as assistant cashier, subsequently being promoted to cashier in 1892. There he remained till January 1, 1905, when he turned his attention to the insurance business, becoming manager for his son, George S. Whitney, which posi- tion he still holds. Mr. Whitney is a Democrat, in politics, and besides looking after his large and varied business interests, has always found time to lend a helping hand to all projects for the public good. He served as town clerk at Ft. Covington, N. Y., and was assessor in La Crosse one year. He is prominent in fra- ternal organizations, being a member of the Masons, Knights of Honor, and Royal Arcanum. In religious belief, he holds to the tenets of the Episcopal Church. October 7, 1850, at Fairfax. \'t., he was united in marriage to Delia M. Safford. They have two children. Harry E., professor at the Shattuck school at Faribault, and George S., who is assistant adjutant general of Minnesota, and also conducts a thriving real estate and insurance business at Faribault.
George L. Weinberger is a successful business man of Fari- bault, Minnesota, where he has carried on a successful grocery trade for more than twenty years. He is a native of Rice county and was born at Warsaw, March 28, 1868. His parents, Law- rence and Frances (Wood) Weinberger, natives of Germany and Scotland, respectively, came to this country in 1852 and settled in Wisconsin on a farm. In 1855 the family moved to Warsaw in Rice county, where the father pre-empted a quarter section of land, which he afterwards sold and bought the farm of two hun- dred and sixteen acres where he now lives and carries on general farming. George L. after finishing his schooling in the public schools of his home district worked on the home farm until he attained his majority in 1889 and then spent twelve years clerk- ing in the grocery house of A. J. Grant at Faribault. In 1901 he formed his present partnership with Mr. Eigenbrodt, and together they have conducted a successful grocery trade which has grown to large proportions, in the city and adjacent country, under their wise and conservative management. Mr. Wein- berger has devoted himself closely to his business, so that he
1466 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
had little leisure for outside affairs, and he has never sought or held any office. He is a Republican in his political opinions, and in his religious belief adheres to the faith of the Episcopal Church. He is a member of the commercial club of Faribault and belongs to the Masonic Order. On April 12, 1899, Mr. Weinberger married Laura Kirk, whose parents. Thomas and Mary (Thompson) Kirk, came from England, their native coun- try. and settled on a farm at Roberds Lake, Minnesota, in 1860, and there the father spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1869. The mother survived till 1909.
Harry W. Wolf, well known among the prosperous merchants of Faribault, is a native of Minnesota, and was born in Wheel- ing township, Rice county, May 10, 1873. His parents, John B. and Catherine E. (Filbert) Wolf, who now lives in Faribault. are natives of Germany and Buffalo, N. Y., respectively. The father came to this country when he was five years old with his father's family and lived near Chicago and there acquired his education. The family moved to Minnesota, June 1, 1855, and engaged in general farming in Rice county and established the family home there. In 1890 our subject's father retired from farming and with his wife took up his residence in Faribault. Harry W. attended the district schools in his native place, and also the public schools of Faribault, and began his business life clerking in a dry goods store there. When he was twenty-six years old, in 1899, he established himself in the dry goods busi- ness and has since that time carried it on with marked success in the same place; and to-day-1910-is proprietor of an up-to- date establishment, carrying a full and complete line of dry goods, cloaks, mens' and womens' furnishings, rugs, etc., in fact everything that belongs to the stock of first class, modern depart- ment stores. Mr. Wolf gives his attention closely to his busi- ness and finds little time for outside affairs, though he is a member of the commercial club of Faribault and has served on its committees. He is a Republican in political sentiments, and in religious belief adheres to the Evangelical Faith. On Sep- tember 21, 1897, Mr. Wolf married Lydia A., daughter of Christ. and Elizabeth (Bosshardt) Bauernfeind, the former a native of Wisconsin, and the latter of Philadelphia. They moved to Min- nesota about 1856 and settled on a farm. They are now living in the village of Nerstrand. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf have two chil- dren, viz: Harry W. and Catherine Elizabeth by name.
William Wachlin, a native of Prussia, Germany, was born July 17, 1841. He received a good education in the public schools of the Fatherland, afterwards emigrating to America at the age of sixteen and locating at Madison, Wis., where he spent four years learning the harness trade. At the completion of his
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1467
apprenticeship, he came to Faribault, Minn., the now populous city being but a village at that time. Shortly afterwards, dur- ing the Indian outbreak of 1862, he with the other pioncer set- tlers was called upon to fight for their lives against the savages. Mr. Wachlin followed the harness business for two years by himself, becoming known as an expert workman. He then en- tered into partnership with August Mortonson, the firm con- tinuing without change till 1898, when Mr. Wachlin retired and has since devoted his entire attention to his duties as super- intendent of the Maple Lawn Cemetery, which position he has occupied since 1897. In politics, he inclines toward the tenets of the Democratic party, but always casts his ballot for what he considers the best interests of the community. He has served his city as alderman of the third ward one term. Mr. Wachlin is a member of the Congregational Church. In May, 1866, hc was married to Jane Benson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chris- tian Benson who followed farming in Goodhue county till the father's decease in 1877. The mother died in '88. Mr. and Mrs. Wachlin have three children, William, born May 10. 1867, who died September 9, 1873: Albert H., who was born May 16, 1869, and died June 6. 1893; and Gertrude, married to J. II. Foster, assistant general superintendent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, located at Minneapolis. The Wachlin resi- dence is at 509 Second street, West. Frederick and Caroline Wachlin, parents of our subject, were natives of Germany where the father followed gardening all his life. Ilis death occurred in 1849, and the mother's in '54.
William M. Wickham, a pioneer of Minnesota, was born in Orange county, New York. June 2. 1832. He was reared in his native state and in 1855 came to Minnesota and settled in Fari- bault. In 1860 he went to Hastings, and there operated a lum- ber mill one year. In 1861, filled with a desire to serve his country, he offered himself for enlistment, but on account of the condition of his health, he was rejected by the army examining board. He thereupon purchased a farm in Warsaw township, Goodhue county, and remained there until 1879 when he came to Northfield and erected the home where he still resides. Mr. Wickham is liberal in political views, and has never sought or held public office. Fraternally he is a member of Northfield Lodge, No. 42. A. F. & A. M. He and his wife belong to the pioncer societies of Northfield and St. Paul. Mr. Wickham was married December 4, 1856, to Charlotte Crump, born in the city of London, England, December 19, 1838, a daughter of Thomas G. and Mary Crump, both natives of England, who came to Faribault in 1855. To Mr. and Mrs. Wickham was born one daughter. Ida M., who first saw the light of day in Hastings,
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Minn., November 24, 1860. She was married June 20, 1887, to Dr. H. C. Johnson. Dr. and Mrs. Johnson live in St. Paul and have one daughter, Charlotte Marie, born August 4, 1891. The family are members of the All Saints- Episcopal Church, of Northfield. The parents of William M. Wickham were Selah and Fannie ( Morrell) Wickham, both natives of Orange county. New York, the former born March 20, 1805, and the mother. March 22, 1809. They spent all their days in New York. The mother died April 9, 1848, and the father in October, 1887. The family consisted of eight children: Jane; William M .; Maria (deceased) ; John C. (deceased) ; J. B. of Faribault ; Charles, of Bradford county, Pennsylvania; Eliza Jane (deceased) ; and Mrs. Charles Boss, of Sauk Center, Minn.
Stiles M. West, for many years one of Faribault's most prom- inent and influential citizens, was born in Madison county, New York, June 21, 1841. While still an infant, his parents removed to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he passed his boyhood, re- ceiving his education in the public schools and in an academy at Albion, Dane county, Wisconsin. After school, he remained home with his parents for a time until about 1860, when he removed to Jackson county, Minnesota, and shortly afterwards was elected sheriff-an honor not usually bestowed on a nine- teen year old boy, especially in those virile pioneer times when the office demanded the services of a man of the utmost courage and resource-but he capably filled his position until the call to arms in '61, enlisting at Fort Snelling together with his father and two brothers in the Second Minnesota Cavalry. Ile entered as a private, but when the company was re-organized at St. Louis he was made Sergeant Major of his Battalion, and later was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant of the commissary department, which he held until mustered out in January, 1865. at Nashville, Tenn. The war over, he came to Warsaw township. Rice county, Minnesota, and purchased a farm to which he de- voted most of his time and attention until 1902, when he removed to Faribault and engaged in collecting for a time. He is now a traveling salesman. The Republican party claims him as an active adherent, and he has served the public in many places of trust, being a member of the State legislature in 1878, in the revenue service from '89 to '93, and a State inspector in the dairy and food department from 1895 to 1900. He was also chairman of the board of supervisors of Warsaw township for five consecutive years. The Masonic order and the Michael Cook post of the G. A. R. know him as a valued member of their organizations. November 16, 1865, at Faribault, he was married to Sarah Dawes, who died in 1902, leaving seven children, Marion, Charles and Herbert having previously deceased. The
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1469
names of the other children in the order of their births are: Stiles H., who conducts the old home farm in Warsaw township ; Susie A., wife of Elmer Heath, living in Washington ; Rollin M., cashier of the Cobden .State Bank of Cobden, Minn .; Angie, married to Edward Draper, of Warsaw township; and Nellie, a teacher in the schools of Jamestown, N. D .; George D., in the mercantile business at Miles City, Mont., with his brother Fred R. Mr. West was again married, October 14, 1904, to Nellie G. Bemis, of Faribault. The family are loyal members of the Episcopal Church. David M. and Angeline (Pease) West, par- ents of our subject, were born and reared in the state of New York. Migrating west in '43, they first located in Michigan, remaining here two years when they removed to Dane county, Wisconsin, where the father wrestled a living from the soil after the fashion of those wild pioneer times for six years, also serving as deputy sheriff. In 1851, he came with his family to Leon, La Crosse county, Wisconsin, and established a tavern at this place, and stage line from Prairie Du Chien to Black River Falls, attending to his duties as postmaser in addition. In 1859, he came to Jackson county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming till the breaking out of the war, in which he saw two years of active service, being honorably discharged on account of sickness. Coming to Warsaw township, Rice county, Minne- sota, he engaged in farming till 1870, when he moved with his family to California where he died November 24 of the same year, ending a well spent and useful life. His wife, now eighty years old, is still living at Oakland, Cal.
John M. Walden, of Northfield, well known in fraternal cir- cles, was born at Moosehead Lakes, Maine, October 28, 1848. He received his education in the public schools of Hastings and East Castle Rock, Dakota county. In 1868 he came with his parents to Webster, this county, and remained at home until 1893 when. upon the removal of his parents to Northfield, he became eu- gaged in gardening and bee culture. At one time, Mr. Walden kept as many as 200 stands of bees, but of late years he has reduced that number to 80 or 90. Mr. Walden is independent in politics, and in April, 1909, was elected alderman of the third ward by a non-partisan vote. His four years' service on the school board has been highly appreciated. Being of a social nature, Mr. Walden has for many years been identified with prominent fraternities. In the local lodge of Odd Fellows he has filled all the chairs, has represented the local lodge in the Grand Lodge, and has been for some years a director of the Odd Fellows home, located in this place. In Masonry he has been no less active, being at the present time the Worshipful Master of Social Lodge, No. 48, A. F. & A. M., in which position he has
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served three years, having previously been senior warden two years and senior deacon one year. He is also a member of Corinthian Chapter, No. 33, R. A. M. His religious duties have not been neglected, and for fourteen years he has served the local Methodist Episcopal Church as a member of the official board. Mr. Walden was married May 22, 1889, to Grace N. Glyzer, born in Webster twonship, Rice county, August 25, 1865, daughter of David and Caroline (Clapp) Glyzer, who settled in Webster township in the early days, both being now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Walden have been born two children : Florence E., born August 7, 1890 and Ruth D. born August 16, 1900. John G. Walden, father of John M., was born in New York and was married in Maine to Harriett D. Wilson, born in Maine. April 29, 1832. They located in Hastings in August. 1855, and the following spring pre-empted 160 acres in East Castle Rock. Dakota county, where they remained until 1860, when the father made a trip to Pike's Peak in search of gold. In 1868 he came back to Dakota county, and moved his family to Webster. Rice county, where he purchased a farm and remained until 1893 when he moved to Northfield and there resided until his death in October, 1893. His wife is still living. Beside John M., there were two daughters in the family. Mrs. S. B. Barlow is dead. Mrs. Lydia S. Burnett lives in La Sueur Center, Minn.
Herbert A. Whittier, railroad contractor and street commis- sioner of Northfield, was born in this city. November 5, 1863. son of Charles F. and Margaret (Wilmarth) Whittier. He at- tended the city schools and remained at home until attaining his majority, at which time he established a milk route which he conducted one year. In 1884 he leased land in Bridgewater township and opened a stone quarry, carrying on that business until 1896 when he started railroad contracting at which he has since been so successful. He has had many important contracts with different roads, among them being the building of fifteen miles for the Northern Pacific, fifty miles for the Great Northern at Towner, N. D., and sixty for the same road near Devils Lake. N. D., as well as ninety miles on the coast line of the C. M. & St. P. between the east line of Montana to Cato in the same state. He was married March 30, 1887. to Amarit Drake, born in Bridgewater township, Rice county, February 7, 1864. To this union have been born three children: Grace A., October 20, 1895 ; Glen H .. December 13, 1898 and Gladys R., July 21, 1904. Mr. Whittier is a Republican in politics and a member of the A. O. U. W.
The parents of Mrs. Herbert A. Whittier were E. S. and Martha (Clark) Drake, the former born in Lake county, Ohio, August 17, 1828, and the latter near Brocton, N. Y., August 11,
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1471
1831. They were married in Wisconsin and came to Rice county, Minnesota, in 1855 living first on a farm four miles south of Northfield. In 1864 they purchased a farm two miles south in Bridgewater township. Here E. S. Drake and his wife lived until 1895 when they retired from active life and moved to Northfield, where the father died, April 29, 1909, and where the mother is still living. In the family were eight children : Arthur I., of Northfield; Joseph E., of Northfield; Isabell M., married to Henry Harrison, of St. Paul; Mrs. M. E. Bullock, of Stillwater, N. D .; Mrs. H. A. Whittier, of Northfield : Sumner E., of Northfield; Mrs. Charles H. Wirtz, of Knox, N. D., and William E., of Northfield.
Charles F. Whittier was born in Newport, N. IL., and was there married to Margaret Wilmarth, a native of the same place. They came to Minnesota in the early days and pre-empted 120 acres in Northfield township, where they continued to reside for many years, moving to Northfield city in 1885. Mr. Whittier was a progressive farmer, and did much toward improving the blood strains of his stock, having on his place the Morgan horses and Suffolk hogs. He was also interested in dairying. and manu- factured the Cooley creamers. He also operated a cheese factory for some years. He was a member of the A. O. U. W. and a charter member of the Northfield Baptist Church and was deacon until the time of his death, in August, 1886, thus giving him the title of Deacon Whittier by which for many years he was well known. To Charles F. and Margaret (Wilmarth) Whittier were born two children, Eugenie E., married to Charles Stevens. of Hamline, Minn., and Herbert A .. of Northfield. After the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Whittier married Theresa Cutler, of Northfield, Minn., by whom he had two chil- dren, Blanche and Willis, both of whom died of diphtheria.
Robert C. Wilkins, pioneer, was born near Brighton, Eng .. December 13, 1827, and about a year later was brought to Amer- ica by his parents who settled near Rochester, N. Y. Here Rob- ert C. was reared, receiving a common education. Later he learned the blacksmith trade, and in 1849 opened a shop of his own at Bushnell's Basin, on the Canal. After four years he sold this shop, and worked in Rochester, N. Y., until 1855 when lie came to Minnesota, landing in what is now Minneapolis, August 11. Shortly afterward he opened a blacksmith shop, this being the third shop opened in Minneapolis. It was located on the rear end of the lot on the corner of Washington and Third avenue, South. After another year he opened a shop on the corner of Second street and First avenue, North, where he stayed about ten years. In 1869 he purchased a farm in Waseca county, Minnesota, remaining there until 1882 when he sold his
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